Evil is a Matter of Perspective [Oct 13, 2018]

[Jenna, I'd be free if not for Temper & Edgewalker]

October 13th.

[Virginie]

Contents:

✔ 11/10 Foreword - R. Scott Bakker + Introduction - Adrian Collins
✔ 11/11 The Broken Dead - Michael R. Fletcher

✔ 11/17 Every Hair Casts a Shadow - Teresa Frochock
✔ 11/18 The Divine Death of Jirella Martigore - Alex Marshall

✔ 11/24 A Royal Gift - Mark Alder

01/05 Old Blood - Adrian Tchaikovsky
01/06 The Syldoon Sun - Jeff Salyards

01/12 The Darkness Within the Light - Shawn Speakman
01/13 The Greater of Two Evils - Marc Turner

01/19 Exceeding Bitter - Kaaron Warren
01/20 A Game of Mages - Courtney Schafer

01/26 The Tattered Prince and the Demon Veiled - Bradley P. Beaulieu
01/27 A Storm Unbound - E.V. Morrigan

02/02 The Game - Matthew Ward
02/03 Blood Penny - Deborah A. Wolf

02/09 Better than Breath - Brian Staveley
02/10 Foundation of Bones - Mazarkis Williams

02/16 The Aging of a Kill - Peter Orullian
02/17 The Carathayan - R. Scott Bakker

[Karishma]

Hi Empress, I forgot about this - I'm so sorry I'm in a terrible reading slump. I haven't read anything this week and I can't bring myself to read anything at all - plus you know I'm overall in a sad funk. I don't think I will be able to join in this now.

Maybe once my slump clears up. Sorry again.

[Virginie]

No worries Kari :)
Let's shelve this one, and maybe come back to it when you're in the mood & have more time?

[Karishma]

Thanks for understanding!

[Virginie]

😊

I've had my share of reading slumps this year, so I can empathize. Hope you'll get your reading mojo back soon :)

[Jenna, I'd be free if not for Temper & Edgewalker]

Empress Virginie wrote: "Contents: [spoilers removed]"

I don't think you need to make this a spoiler, but up to you :)

[Jenna, I'd be free if not for Temper & Edgewalker]

For whenever you do end up picking this up, I just popped in to say that this is a great collection.

[Virginie]

Jenna wrote: "Empress Virginie wrote: "Contents: [spoilers removed]"

I don't think you need to make this a spoiler, but up to you :)"

Ah. I'm usually putting spoilers everywhere in BR & challenge threads to avoid it being clunky. Did it here out of habit :O

[Jessica]

I own this book and keep putting off reading it, so I'd be interested in joining you guys whenever you start! I've heard there's a lot of good stories in this collection

[Karishma]

We can start on the 9th if it's okay with you V?

[Virginie]

Jessica wrote: "I own this book and keep putting off reading it, so I'd be interested in joining you guys whenever you start! I've heard there's a lot of good stories in this collection"

Nice!

[Virginie]

Karishma wrote: "We can start on the 9th if it's okay with you V?"

Sure! Are we still planning for week-ends only? :)

[Karishma]

Yes!

[Virginie]

Updated the schedule. Is it OK with you? :)

[Karishma]

I have exams even on the weekends between 12/20-12/31. (For another course) So apart from that all okay.

Thanks :-)

[Karishma]

Sorry for being such a bother.

[Virginie]

Changed the schedule :)

Karishma wrote: "Sorry for being such a bother."

Nonsense! I'm just happy to have someone to read this with. Going at a pace that suits you is normal :)
I'll travel to Paris to spend Christmas with my brother so I wasn't sure I would be able to read around that time anyway.

[Virginie]

Read the foreword (a bit preachy/stuffy) and the introduction, as per the schedule.

Are we still on for this, Kari? :)

[Virginie]

The Broken Dead - Michael R. Fletcher [★★★★]

This story takes place in the world of Manifest Delusions; I haven't read the series so I probably missed a lot. As someone not familiar with the world, the 'magic' terms were a bit confusing. The writing was very good, and I'm really pumped to read the series in 2019 now :D

(view spoiler)[ Anomie was a great character. The description of how she voluntarily abandoned her free will just to feel valued was mesmerizing.

"Come," he said. Releasing her hand, he turned and walked away as if he knew beyond any doubt she would follow.
With the weight of those blue eyes gone she felt guttered. She was nothing; her father was right. Anomie wanted those eyes again, needed to feel their attention on her skin. Crushed was better than empty.
She didn't want to be alone. Had never been alone. Didn't know how to be alone.

(hide spoiler)]

[Jenna, I'd be free if not for Temper & Edgewalker]

Virginie wrote: "The Broken Dead - Michael R. Fletcher [★★★★]

This story takes place in the world of Manifest Delusions; I haven't read the series so I probably missed a lot. As someone not familiar with the world..."

I read this story before reading his books too and now I really want to go back and read this story again. I really highly recommend his Manifest Delusions series. :)

[Karishma]

Yes V. We are on. I have fever today and a carry on of the acidity attack I had yesterday. I will catch up in a day or two.

[Virginie]

Oh! I hope you get better soon :/

[Virginie]

Every Hair Casts a Shadow - Teresa Frochock [★★★★☆] (Los Nefilim)

A smile twisted Alvaro’s mouth as he caressed his scorpion coat. Hadn’t he once advised a certain Italian by the name of Machiavelli to never waste an opportunity offered by a crisis?

Showcasing angels, daimons and nefilims (the sons and daughters of angels or daimons), this story follows Alvaro, a former nefilim turned god by merging his soul with the daimon Moloch. After a chance encounter with Rafael, his grandson, Alvaro decides to try to win the boy's affections... and control him.

The magic system is very interesting and quite unique; Nefilim, angels and daimons use their souls' song to create sigils and wards. The world built by Theresa Frohock seems to be at war, with various factions of supernatural beings battling each other.

I participated in a Q&A with the author a few weeks ago, and she told me that she signed a contract to extend her Los Nefilim novella series with at least 3 novels. I'm definitely adding it to my TBR now!

[Chris]

This really is a great collection..

[Virginie]

The Divine Death of Jirella Martigore - Alex Marshall [★★★☆☆] (The Crimson Empire)

“We are together in this, my child, and while we pay lip service to the corrupt queen we shall work tirelessly to depose her once and for all. This is all part of our saviour’s grand design. She has chosen you, Jirella. Are you willing to accept her call?”
“Yes.” The word left her wine-numb lips before she was even aware of it, as though the divine spirit were already moving through her. “Yes.”

Jirella has been selected by the Fallen Mother, the god she worships, to succeed her uncle as the Black Pope.

In this story, we clearly see Jirella's uncle is planning to use her fanaticism to make her his puppet. This really felt like a descent into evil, with each ordeal, each assassination attempt and betrayal hardening Jirella.

[Silvana]

Can't wait to know your opinion on The Greater of Two Evils by Marc Turner. It is my fave story from the collection.

[Virginie]

Chris wrote: "This really is a great collection.."

Only read 3 stories, but I agree so far!

[Virginie]

Silvana wrote: "Can't wait to know your opinion on The Greater of Two Evils by Marc Turner. It is my fave story from the collection."

Oooh, good to know!

[Chris]

The only issue I had with this book was that I'd only read a few of the source material books. I think I would have gotten more out of most of them if I had already been familiar with the worlds.

Which is probably why Fletcher's story was a favorite (that and it was pretty awesome). I do want to read most of the stuff these tales were taken from now.

So it's basically a TBR inflator. lol

[Laura]

Are you guys still reading this? I thought it got over longer time back and didn't even bother to check the thread.

Are you reading it according to that fixed schedule? Cause then I've got time to catch up till the next scheduled story. If you'll have me that is. :D

[Silvana]

Chris wrote: "The only issue I had with this book was that I'd only read a few of the source material books. I think I would have gotten more out of most of them if I had already been familiar with the worlds.

..."

I think we discussed it in the other thread but I really want to read Turner's books after this but then someone told me the main character is different.

[Karishma]

I volunteered at a 4 day book sale - look at my remuneration XD

https://imgur.com/a/nbU32vf

I will catch up with these on the weekend.

[Silvana]

Karishma wrote: "I volunteered at a 4 day book sale - look at my remuneration XD

https://imgur.com/a/nbU32vf

I will catch up with these on the weekend."

those are great looking titles! saw some Discworld novels in there.

[Jenna, I'd be free if not for Temper & Edgewalker]

Chris wrote: "The only issue I had with this book was that I'd only read a few of the source material books. I think I would have gotten more out of most of them if I had already been familiar with the worlds.

..."

I agree - the only author I had read before was Jeff Salyards' so it was my favourite. I did like a lot of the stories, but I am looking forward to going back and reading some of the stories after reading more of the authors' works.

[Virginie]

Chris wrote: "The only issue I had with this book was that I'd only read a few of the source material books. I think I would have gotten more out of most of them if I had already been familiar with the worlds.

..."

Looking at the table of contents, the only associated series I've read (partly) is Shattered Sigil by Courtney Schafer; I'm really looking forward to reading this story :)

I like that the 'world' those stories are taking place in is clearly stated at the beginning of each story. It really makes for a TBR inflator though, as you said ;)

[Virginie]

Laura wrote: "Are you guys still reading this? I thought it got over longer time back and didn't even bother to check the thread.

Are you reading it according to that fixed schedule? Cause then I've got time to..."

Yes and yes! You've got plenty of time to catch up, as Kari and I agreed to read this only the weekends :)

[Virginie]

Karishma wrote: "I volunteered at a 4 day book sale - look at my remuneration XD"

😍😍😍

[Karishma]

Silvana wrote: "Karishma wrote: "I volunteered at a 4 day book sale - look at my remuneration XD

https://imgur.com/a/nbU32vf

I will catch up with these on the weekend."

those are great looking titles! saw some ..."

Yes, I got 3. I had found and saved some more in that series - but 2 boxes of books which I and two other volunteers had kept our selections in as we found them disappeared :/

At least half of those books are ones which I had to pick out at the last minute because my box didn't fill up due to those books which had disappeared. I still don't understand who took those boxes :@

[Karishma]

Virginie wrote: "Read the foreword (a bit preachy/stuffy) and the introduction, as per the schedule.

Are we still on for this, Kari? :)"

The foreword is so very very preachy. It's going over my head. I dont know if it's worth trying to read it several times to understand what he is trying to say.

[Virginie]

Yeah, I skimmed a lot to get through it. I have enough books to read that I don't need to spend time trying to understand some obscure foreword (not even a introduction!) :p

[Virginie]

Looking forward to read what you think of the first three stories (when you get to 'em) Kari :D

[Virginie]

A Royal Gift - Mark Alder [★★☆☆☆]

A devil is a creature of order, a noble servant of God under God’s greatest servant Satan, jailer of the upstart Lucifer. [...]
A prince and a devil. A thing born to rule and to serve. An impossibility.

The Black Prince contemplate what his future would be in the event of the death of King Edward, his father.

I was bored the entire story. A fanatic POV is something that is very difficult to integrate in a story IMO; done well, it can be a rewarding study of madness and obsession. In this case however, it felt contrived.

To be fair, religion is always a wild card in a story for me, since I identify as an atheist, and moreover a very logical person. (How could it have been otherwise, with parents coming from two highly different cultures with different religions?).

[Virginie]

Btw, a quote from The Way of Kings by Sanderson whose atheist/humanist Jasnah was spot on!

“Just because I do not accept the teachings of the devotaries does not mean I've discarded a belief in right and wrong."
"But the Almighty determines what is right!"
"Must someone, some unseen thing, declare what is right for it to be right? I believe that my own morality -- which answers only to my heart -- is more sure and true than the morality of those who do right only because they fear retribution.”

[Karishma]

Virginie wrote: "The Broken Dead - Michael R. Fletcher [★★★★]

This story takes place in the world of Manifest Delusions; I haven't read the series so I probably missed a lot. As someone not familiar with the world..."

Very well written. I agree with not understanding a lot of it and wanting to read more!

(view spoiler)[Anomie watched herself wither as Matthäus grew. She was caught in his shadow. As he shone brighter and brighter she withered and died. He would rise up to take his place among the greats of the world, remembered and worshipped by everyone. She would die, no one and nothing. Her death, however, wasn't without meaning. The loss of her would forever change him. His sadness, the absolute misery at losing her and the loneliness he'd suffer, brought tears to the eyes of all gathered to witness his poem. Somehow he'd have to go on. Somehow he'd find the strength to survive the loss of his love.

She saw then the truth: For his poem to truly work, for it to be real, she would have to die. He needed her death.

A life-time of self-hatred shaped her thoughts and a massive auslösekugeln overdose made them real.

She killed her reason to live. She betrayed him at the moment when he needed her most.

(hide spoiler)]

[Karishma]

Virginie wrote: "Every Hair Casts a Shadow - Teresa Frochock [★★★★☆] (Los Nefilim)

A smile twisted Alvaro’s mouth as he caressed his scorpion coat. Hadn’t he once advised a certain Italian by the name of Machiav..."

3 stars. I found this one to be just okay. I am not interested enough to continue with the series.