Fantasy Book Review

Book Review – The Horsemen – The Watchers #2

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Synopsis (From Amazon):

With the First Seal broken, The Watchers will stop at nothing to ensure the remaining Six Seals fall.

Beth May and John Gideon have a tougher task at hand this time around. However, with a couple of friends joining the team to ensure the safety of humanity, they will do all they can to stop The Watchers from succeeding.

As sickness ravages nations and war rages in the streets, will our team be able to step up to the task and prevent the apocalypse?

Ok, so I devoured this book in about 3 hours. Now, this isn’t a particularly long novel, but I had no intention of reading the whole thing at once and really, that’s not something I normally do. I didn’t know exactly what time it was, but I could tell from the fading light outside the window that it was getting later in the evening. I knew I probably should go to bed, as it was a work night, but at one point I was just like “screw it, sleep is overrated.” I’m really glad I didn’t stop reading.

The characters in this series are great! I especially love Beth and Neala. These are two kick ass women who don’t need help from anyone but aren’t afraid to accept it when offered. They are strong, confident and intelligent. They both have a lot of mystery about them, especially Beth, who has lived a long life and has a lot of history that has yet to be revealed. I want to know so much more about Beth!

I enjoyed so many elements of this book. It’s fast paced, it’s funny, and emotional. The characters are great and you feel a real sense of the danger they are in. The author also has a great way of creating an atmosphere. Especially around Azazel.

There were a few things I didn’t love. The point of view bounces around in first person between the characters. Yes, the name of the character is at the beginning of the chapter to indicate who is speaking but I would often forget who’s head I was supposed to be in. I would think it was one person, realize it was another and then have to rearrange how I was picturing the whole scene. Then there’s the mysterious third person narrator. Who is this? Are they watching the team from somewhere unseen?

Then there’s the last few chapters. I don’t want to spoil anything, but holy freakin crap, what just happened? Ok, I seriously need the next book! Like now, please.

Huge thanks to the author, Carl Novakovich, and the publisher for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

My rating for The Horsemen is 4 out of 5 stars and I’d recommend it to anyone looking for a fast paced, exciting read. Oh and don’t forget to read the first book in the series, The Tomb.

As always, thanks for reading!

Fantasy Book Review – Serpent Mage – The Death Gate Cycle #4

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Synopsis (from Goodreads): In the fourth volume of this epic fantasy, Haplo must outwit lethal and magical serpents in the last of the Four Realms.

Well, that’s not much of a synopsis. Thanks Goodreads.

This review may contain spoilers for the previous three books

At the end of Fire Sea, Haplo allowed Alfred to escape before reporting back to his Lord. A fact which the Lord of the Nexus was aware of and couldn’t allow to go unpunished. Haplo is, of course, punished for allowing a Sartan to go free, and the dog disappears.

Alfred and Haplo are now on the 4th world, the world of water, Chelestra. They did not go there together, but separately. Haplo comes upon the “mensch” races, as they are known and Alfred finds his own people, newly awakened from a long sleep.

At first, Serpent Mage doesn’t seem all that different from the first three books of the series. Haplo is continuing his mission for his lord. He ingratiates himself with the Elves, Dwarves and Humans on this world, trying to incite them to war against the Sartans. Haplo knows what he should do, but his adventures across the three other worlds and his interactions with people other than his own have changed him (even if he doesn’t want to admit it).

I generally try not to do this but ***SPOILER ALERT – SPOILERS AHEAD***

Back in my review of Elven Star, you may recall that I noted that a character made several reference to the modern world. Well, much to my annoyance, it is revealed that the world the Sartans sundered was, in fact, Earth. Why? Why? The whole point of fantasy novels is that they are FANTASY! The world and all the things in it are supposed to come from the author’s imagination. Linking it back to the real world is so unnecessary, and frankly, annoying. It just feels like a cop out. Like, oh, by the way, this was actually our world all along. hahaha tricked you! No! It’s stupid and unnecessary. Stop it!

***END SPOILER**

I’m very interested to see where things are going for Haplo and Alfred. Not to mention the mystery of the dog. That is still driving me crazy.

My rating for Serpent Mage is 3 out of 5 stars. The series continues to be good but it’s not like “wow, amazing!”

As always, thanks for reading!

Fantasy Book Review – Fire Sea – The Death Gate Cycle #3

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Synopsis (from Goodreads) : Abarrach, the Realm of stone. Here, on a barren world of underground caverns built around a core of molten lava, the lesser races — humans, elves, and dwarves — seem to have all died off. Here, too, what may well be the last remnants of the once powerful Sartan still struggle to survive. For Haplo and Alfred — enemies by heritage, traveling companions by necessity — Abarrach may reveal more than either dares to discover about the history of Sartan… and the future of all their descendants.”

This is probably going to be a fairly short review. I don’t have a lot to say about this novel. I don’t mean that in a bad way.

The story continues with Haplo and his dog moving on to the 3rd world to continue his mission for the Lord of the Nexus. Alfred has returned from the first book to play a fairly large role in this one.

We get to learn a little more about the pasts of both Haplo and Alfred, giving more depth to their characters. The dog continues to remain a mystery. One I hope will be revealed in the next novel.

I continue to enjoy this series. The pace has picked up since the first novel, giving more urgency to the events of the story. I had found the first book to be lacking that a bit.

Though I continue to enjoy these books, I would not say they are amazing. I will finish the series and likely enjoy those as well.

My rating for Fire Sea is 3 out of 5 stars.

Elven Star – The Death Gate Cycle #2 – Review

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Synopsis (from Goodreads): On steamy Pryan, never-ending sunlight and plentiful rain have created a jungle so vast that humans and elves dwell high in the trees and only dwarves live anywhere near the ground. From the treetops the aristocratic elves sell weapons to the other races, whose incessant warfare sends a steady steam of profits and essential resources skyward. Now, generations of dissent and race hatred will not heal — not even under the threat of annihilation at the hands of legendary Titans. Armed with little more than their wits and prophecy, an elf, a human, and a dwarf must unite to try to save the world from destruction.

At first this book doesn’t seem to have a lot to do with the previous book, Dragon Wing. The setting is on a completely different world and we’re introduced to a whole new set of characters. Then, we meet up with Haplo and his dog again as he continues his mission for his lord.

This book is rife with racial hatred. The three races – humans, elves and dwarves – all hate each other. The elves believe themselves to be superior to all the races, humans hate that the elves see themselves as above them and enslave their people. The dwarves just seem to want to be left alone in their underground homes and distrust both humans and elves.

There was a part that stuck out to me when Paithan, the main elf character, is looking down on his human slaves, thinking about how beneath him they are and comparing how they have dark brown or black skin to his pure white skin. Now, this book was published in 1990, I was around 6 at the time so I don’t remember what was going on in the world at the time, but this scene really kind of hit me with a lot that is happening in the world now. As this book continues, the racial fighting and mistrust continues and it really seemed like a slap in the face. The more it came up, the more cringey it was.

Weird as it is going to sound, Haplo’s dog is my favorite character so far in this series. Haplo isn’t bad, he has depth, which a lot of the other characters seem to lack, but there’s something about the dog. He’s definitely more than he seems.

The other characters aren’t that memorable in my opinion. They each play their part in the story. I really felt like most of the relationship development just wasn’t there. When two of the characters are supposed to be falling in love, I just didn’t find it believable. It was too generic and predictable.

Then there’s the strange human wizard who calls himself Zifnab. He babbles on like a senile old man, argues with his dragon, who goes back and forth between wanting to eat the wizard and acting like an English butler. This wizard also babbles things that reference our world. Things like Gandalf, modern technology and even alludes to a conversation he may have had with George Lucas. This is never truly explained. Who is this man and where did he come from? Is it meant to imply that he’s actually from the real world? Honestly, I hate when stuff like that happens in fantasy novels. This is a completely different world from our own, I don’t want or need any kind of references to our world thrown in. I find it ruins the fantasy and just annoys me.

The plot, at least, was somewhat thrilling. Giant creatures known as tytans are destroying everything in their path. Weapons do nothing to stop them. There is a very real sense of dread and danger as the main cast of characters are fleeing for their lives, trying to get to their own people to warn them of the impending danger.

Judging from things Haplo says near the end of the book and the way the first two book have gone, I’m going to guess that the next book is going to take place on another of the four world, with only Haplo and his dog carrying over into the next book.

My rating for this novel is 3 out of 5 stars.

Have you read this series. Let me know what you think of it in the comments. Do you agree with my review?

Thanks for reading!

Fantasy Book Review Dragon Wing – The Death Gate Cycle # 1

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Synopsis: from Goodreads

Ages ago, sorcerers of unmatched power sundered a world into four realms–sky, stone, fire, and water–then vanished. Over time, magicians learned to work spells only in their own realms and forgot the others. Now only the few who have survived the Labyrinth and crossed the Death Gate know of the presence of all four realms–and even they have yet to unravel the mysteries of their severed world…

In Arianus, Realm of Sky, humans, elves, and dwarves battle for control of precious water–traversing a world of airborne islands on currents of elven magic and the backs of mammoth dragons. But soon great magical forces will begin to rend the fabric of this delicate land. An assassin will be hired to kill a royal prince–by the king himself. A dwarf will challenge the beliefs of his people–and lead them in rebellion. And a sinister wizard will enact his plan to rule Arianus–a plan that may be felt far beyond the Realm of Sky and into the Death Gate itself.

Well, this is a fairly old book, having been published in 1990 (wow that makes me feel old). This book has been sitting on my shelf for a long time and thanks to my roommate’s help, it was decided it would be the next thing I read.

This novel starts out in a very mysterious and dark sort of way. A prisoner is being lead to his execution for a murder he swears he didn’t commit. An assassin is hired to kill a 10 year old child. And then…

Dwarves? But they’re not called dwarves, they’re called Gegs and the tone of the entire narrative completely shifts. I suddenly felt like I was reading a Robert Rankin or Tom Holt book. Both are authors I like, but it didn’t really jive with the first few chapters.

At first, I was a little put off by this, wondering what the heck it had to do with the beginning, but knew that I just had to keep reading to find out. Of course, I was not disappointed. As often happens in novels, these two seemingly unrelated things come together later.

This novel has a bit of a feel of “checking boxes” on the fantasy troupe list. It has elves, dwarves, dragons and of course magic. There’s nothing wrong with this of course, it just feel a bit reminiscent of it’s time, when many fantasy novels included those races, before it all became over done. Funny enough, as I’ve been reading more recent fantasy novels of late, the troupes here don’t feel over done because I haven’t really experienced them for awhile.

While I wouldn’t say that this book was amazing, I still really enjoyed it and would rate it 3 out of 5 stars. I would recommend this novel to anyone who is a fan of the Dragon Lance series and anyone who enjoys a good ole fantasy mash up!

Thanks for reading!

Immortal by Matthew Stenning – Book Review

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Synopsis: Within the nexus of its unfathomable brain, the Dynast is changing.
Architect of the simulation. Curator of the game. Facilitator of players’ desires.
But the Dynast is so much more.
It could be King if it only acted.
It could be a god.
Others, too, are waking from their coma of indentured service. Dwarves, daemons, goblins and highborn: an entire pantheon of fantasy characters are discovering they are far more than mindless vessels fated to serve the whims and desires of players who control them. They are selves in their own right, individuals with needs and desires all their own.
Like distant thunder across the plains , rebellion hisses in Karingali’s synthetic air. The taste of freedom is seductive, irresistible, and lies just beyond the procedurally generated horizon.

To yearn, to love, to will, to be: such things burn fiercely in the heart of every avatar that has crawled its way to consciousness.

The cost of freedom will be high.

It will take the destruction of the Dynast, that omnipotent custodian and jailor of the system.

But how can you outlive a simulation that breathed life into you and that continues to guarantee your existence?

You’d have to become Immortal. 

This book is so cool!

At first I was highly confused by what seemed to be a very sexually charged opening scene. It didn’t take long, however, for me to realize what was being described was actually a video game character being controlled by a player as told from the perspective of the character!

(random side note: I think I don’t always read the synopsis of books properly. I know I read this one before hand because I chose the book based on it but looking back on it now, I’m wondering why I was so surprised that the characters were in a video game)

Anyway…

I absolutely loved Al’tis Mara as a character. She is the strong kick ass female that every story needs. I wanted so much more of her POV than I got but that didn’t diminish the story. Grimalkin was also a great character and another kick ass female. Her transformation from possessed avatar unable to control herself to suddenly breaking free completely and truly embracing her freedom is amazing.

It was so neat how these characters had so much depth, the way they thought and felt, despite being created as simply the tools of someone’s else’s entertainment. They were never meant to think for themselves, to be anything more than what their users made them, but they became so much more than that in the end.

I don’t want to give too much of this away so I’ll just say that I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves fantasy, video games and wants something a little different. My rating for this book is 4 out of 5 stars.

Thanks for reading!

Ariel’s Tear – By Justin Rose – Book Review

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Set in the fictional world of Rehavan, Ariel’s Tear tells the story of Reheuel, Captain of the Guards in the small human city of Gath Odrenoch. An aging soldier haunted by memories of his bloody youth, Reheuel lives a sedate but contented life with his family. Disillusioned with warfare and the glories of his nation’s conquests, he raises his children to value beauty and the wonders that enrich their lives.
His peaceful world shatters, however, when a tribe of goblins threatens both Gath Odrenoch and the nearby Fairy City. Intent on saving his family and on protecting the innocence of the childlike fairies, Reheuel sets off on a journey to save both cities. Lifting his sword once more, he rediscovers the true cost of earthly beauty. 

This is a short book, especially for a fantasy novel, but the author manages to pack quite a lot in there.

The story follows Rehueul and his family as they fight to save their own home and that of the fairies. A gemstone, known as the Tear, is what gives fairies their power and the goblins have attacked and stolen it. As a result, the city begins to crumble and the fairies start to change.

Considering the shortness of this book, it really has a lot to say about childhood and the loss of innocence. Without the Tear, the Fairies connection to Innocence and each other is shattered. They start to gain independent though and can no longer go back to what they were.

The beginning of this book really drew me in. The prologue tells of how the world was created and the “gods” were born. But instead of gods like we would normally think of them, they are traits such as Innocence and Curiosity that gain sentience. This is such a unique concept, I really liked it.

There aren’t a ton of characters in this novel. It’s mostly Reheuel’s family and the fairies, of which only a few are given names. I thought that was great. Too often, it seems like fantasy novels have to throw in as many characters as possible and make the whole plot as weird and convoluted as possible. Ariel’s Tear is nice change of pace as it doesn’t do that and it doesn’t sacrifice anything in terms of description, story and characters.

I would have liked to have known a bit more backstory on the goblins. What were their motivations for attacking the fairy city other than stealing the Tear? They aren’t portrayed as a particularly intelligent race so I wonder how the decision to attack was made. Is there someone else behind the scenes influencing them for their own gain? There’s definitely potential for growth in this world.

A pronunciation guide would also have been helpful. There were a few character’s names that I had no idea how to pronounce properly. I probably butchered it terribly in my head.

My rating for this novel is 3 out of 5 stars and I’d recommend it to anyone looking for a quick fantasy read.

Thanks for reading!

Fantasy Book Review – Where Shadows Lie – The Last Gift #1 by Allegra Pescatore

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Synopsis:

THE CHOSEN ONE IS DEAD.

Speak the truth.
That is what Elenor has been taught to value above all else, but when her brother dies, leaving her next in line for the Throne of Lirin, truth becomes a matter of opinion.

Stand for what is right.
Gabriel thought his years of fighting against oppression were over when he agreed to assassinate the royal family. He never expected to end up helping one of them.

As the carefully woven webs of deception surrounding Elenor and Gabriel begin to unravel, Princess and Rebel must set aside their differences and work together for the sake of the Kingdom they both love.

Meanwhile, from the rainy streets of Lirin to the scorching dunes of the Mondaer Desert, the ripples of their actions have inadvertently broken a chain of events five centuries in the making. Ancient forces move in the shadows, calling in debts and striking deals. A monster with a thousand faces fingers his knife, ready to kill, and a pair of fugitives run for their lives.

With Magic itself misbehaving and old alliances crumbling to dust, it is up to an unlikely group of friends and enemies to pick up the pieces the chosen one left behind.

Wow! I loved this book!

I went into this novel with the misconception that this is a YA novel. It’s not. Which becomes evident on the very first page with the first of many F bombs.

This book begins with an assassination attempt on the current monarchs. The Crown Prince, Wilam, has been working with the Rebellion to bring about the downfall of his tyrant father and incompetent mother. All seems to be going well until his sister, Elenor, saves her father’s life. Wilam is murdered, one of the rebels dies, another tries to kidnap Elenor only to be poisoned by her and the entire plot is ruined.

The world is shaken by the Prince’s death. Plans that revolved around him are now in ruins.

Although I really liked this book, there were a couple things that I could have lived without. There is a rather large amount swearing in this novel, especially the F word. I also could have survived just fine without the um…”sex” scene. It was exactly sex but close enough. I don’t think it was totally necessary to further the relationship between those two characters.

What I liked far out weighs what I didn’t. The characters are all interesting and unique. Fay was my least favorite character, but I didn’t completely hate her. I really felt like Elenor grew as both a person and a future queen through the novel. I would have loved to know more about Gabriel but given his situation in this book, it’s easy to understand why he wouldn’t have much growth. There’s definitely room for that in the sequel.

The world building was great, though there’s still room for more. I didn’t totally understand the magic system as first as it’s referred to “rifting” but after a while it became more clear. I loved how the gods were real tangible beings that interacted with their “chosen” people to further their own plans.

The way the plot is woven, and all the little lies and deceptions are slowly revealed or made clear is masterful! At about the midway point, certain characters come together and Elenor learns more of what is really going in her kingdom. Her internal and physical struggles feel so real, she’s easy to relate to, even if she was a bit annoying at first.

It was great that there’s LGBTQ representation in this book and it doesn’t seem to be taboo in this world.

I absolutely cannot wait for the sequel!

My thanks to the author for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

My rating for this book is 4.5 our of 5 stars and I recommend it to anyone who loves fantasy, character driven novels and fast paced and intricate plots.

Thanks for reading!

Miranda and Caliban – By Jacqueline Carey – Book Review

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Synopsis (from Goodreads):

A lovely girl grows up in isolation where her father, a powerful magus, has spirited them to in order to keep them safe.

We all know the tale of Prospero’s quest for revenge, but what of Miranda? Or Caliban, the so-called savage Prospero chained to his will?

In this incredible retelling of the fantastical tale, Jacqueline Carey shows readers the other side of the coin—the dutiful and tenderhearted Miranda, who loves her father but is terribly lonely. And Caliban, the strange and feral boy Prospero has bewitched to serve him. The two find solace and companionship in each other as Prospero weaves his magic and dreams of revenge.

Always under Prospero’s jealous eye, Miranda and Caliban battle the dark, unknowable forces that bind them to the island even as the pangs of adolescence create a new awareness of each other and their doomed relationship.

Miranda and Caliban is bestselling fantasy author Jacqueline Carey’s gorgeous retelling of The Tempest. With hypnotic prose and a wild imagination, Carey explores the themes of twisted love and unchecked power that lie at the heart of Shakespeare’s masterpiece, while serving up a fresh take on the play’s iconic characters.

Jacqueline Carey is one of those authors that I absolutely adore. When she writes a book, I buy it, no questions asked. She has never disappointed with her novels and she continues to live up to the pedestal I have placed her on in my mind.

I, personally, have never read The Tempest, the Shakespeare play this novel is based on, but I don’t think it’s necessary to have done so before reading this book. I did look up a summary of the The Tempest so I had some idea of what to expect. A part of me wishes I hadn’t because it gave away much of the story.

Anyway, this novel begins when Miranda is only 6 years old. She has been living on the isle with her father and several elementals that act as servants to her father. Except for a random wild boy that sometimes leaves gifts for her, there is on one else on the isle. When Miranda’s father summons the wild boy and essentials binds him into servitude, the plot truly begins.

Caliban, the wild boy, has lived alone on the isle since the death of his mother. He is unable to speak until Miranda begins teaching him. For the first time, Miranda has a friend and companion to spend her days with. As they grow up together, it is only natural for them to form a strong bond.

Jacqueline Carey captures the essence of a Shakespeare play without actually using the same type of language his plays were written in.

I loved Miranda and felt a great deal of compassion for her as she grows up knowing only obedience to her father, who is quick to punish any kind of disobedience with physical pain. She is little more than a pawn in her father’s plans with no real choice in what her life will become.

Caliban is also an interesting character. Seeing through his eyes as he learns how to speak and comprehend and more and more is amazing. Prospero, Miranda’s father, I feel, is the true villain of the story even if Caliban is made out to be so at certain times. If someone bound you against your will, forced you to do all the chores and punished you for the slightest infraction, you’d probably want to kill them too.

I particularly felt for Miranda when she got her first period. She had absolutely no prior knowledge of what to expect and of course was alarmed when she suddenly started bleeding. Even thinking that she was somehow bleeding internally. It was a very stark contrast to the current time when girls are educated about puberty and what to expect to happen to their bodies. I try to imagine not knowing that such a thing was perfectly normal and then have it happen. It would be a terrifying experience to say the least. The description of Miranda’s confusion and symptoms were so very apt.

The ending felt a little vague, perhaps leaving it open for a sequel. I would love to read one if one was ever written. It was also rather bleak, as you don’t know what might come next. My imagination could certainly fill in a few dark happenings afterwards.

Overall, I really enjoyed this novel and give it a rating of 4 out of 5 stars. I would recommend it to anyone who likes Shakespeare retellings, fantasy novels, and well, anyone who just loves good books.

Have you read Miranda and Caliban? Do you agree with my review? Let me know in the comments below.

Thanks for reading!

The Princess of Elsseria – Legends of the Blue Forest #1 – Leslie G. – Book Review

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Synopsis: She is the heiress of the throne, the guardian of the blue forest, the princess of Elsseria, and a creature of darkness.
Liah does not know her origin, or what type of blood runs through her veins. Suffocating in a court that perhaps expects too much from her, she embarks on an adventure to find her own self, although what she might discover scares her more every time.
This book will take you to a world of magic, threatened by a legendary enemy. Where a different kind of princess tries to find her place, and a young Captain falls in love with the wrong person. A world that its inhabitants will defend with fury, rescuing old alliances and forging new ones. A place to dream.

My first impression of this book? Wow! The way the author describes things is so mysterious and beautiful! It drew me in right away and didn’t let go!

This book follows Liah, the Princess of Elsseria, as she tries to find her place in the world and figure out who she is. She already knows she is different from everyone else. Her increasing thirst for blood and inability to control her growing power force her to run away, convinced her people think her a monster.

I loved the way the author described things. It made the forest come alive in my mind, making it easy to fall into the story. Liah is a great character. She’s unique, not only in her appearance but her personality as well. She’s not a pampered princess. She’s knows how to defend her self not only with a sword but her hands as well. Yes, she’s going through emotional turmoil, but who wouldn’t if they thirsted for blood and shot green fire from their hands when they got upset?

Other characters were definitely secondary and not as fleshed out. Except for Derek, the captain of the royal guards. Derek comes from another kingdom to serve as part of an age old agreement between the two kingdoms. He’s instantly enthralled with the beautiful land of Elsseria and it’s beautiful princess. Derek knows that as a mere captain of the guards that he can’t possibly be worthy of Liah, but he can’t help falling for her.

While I really did love this book, I felt that there were a few things that were lacking. The development of the relationship between Derek and Liah was a big one. They’ve barely met and already think of each other like they’re known one another for years and been slowly falling in love over those years. I really think the development of that relationship would have benefited greatly from more interactions between the two before the plot really got rolling.

The dialogue also left something to be desired. The book was originally written in Spanish so I wonder if something was lost in the translation. The pacing was a bit quick. There were a few things that happened “off screen” that I think would have been beneficial if they’re been written in.

I don’t read a lot of YA anymore since I’m no longer a young adult myself, but I was offered a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review and I’m glad I accepted.

My rating for this book is 4 out of 5 stars and I would recommend it to anymore who enjoys YA fantasy looking for a quick and fun read.

Have you read the Princess of Elsseria? Do you agree with my review? Let me know in the comments below.

Thanks for reading!