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The Horus Road by Pauline Gedge – Book REview

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The Horus Road, book 3 of the Lords of the Two Lands by Pauline Gedge

Title: The Horus Road

Author: Pauline Gedge

Series: The Lords of the Two Lands

Sexual Content: Minimal

Objectional Content: Incest, Infant death

Target Audience: Adults

Synopsis: The Horus Road is the riveting conclusion of Pauline Gedge’s three-volume epic, the Lords of the Two Lands, which chronicles the courageous and often tragic struggle of the Tao Princes to free their country from the foreign rule of the Setiu king Apepa.

Ahmose vows to continue the struggle that has taken the life of his father and brother. It is up to him to devise a strategy to capture the Setiu capital, Het-Uart, in order to free Egypt once and for all. But the devious Apepa will stop at nothing, no matter how ruthless, to rob the Tao family of its chance for total victory. Military might alone will not be enough for Ahmose to breach the city’s walls. He will need a miracle from Amun.

My Review

I always try to be as honest as possible in my reviews so I’m just going to admit from the start that I considered not finishing this book multiple times. My mind was constantly wandering while reading and there were whole paragraphs, maybe even pages, that my brain didn’t absorb at all. The reason I didn’t give up on it was because I still wanted to know how it would all end.

The Horus Road is engaging in spurts, but for the most part, I found it to be quite tedious. This trilogy is more about the characters than it is about the plot to retake Egypt.

I had certain expectations going into the book, as it is the third in a trilogy. My expectations were met but not in any way I might have predicted. That is one thing about these books that I really enjoyed. I honestly didn’t know what was going to happen next.

Sadly, the ending didn’t really do it for me. It felt like it was all building up to a victorious moment but when that moment came, it fell flat. It just wasn’t climactic.

I did really enjoy the writing style. It is clear that Pauline Gedge has done her research on ancient Egypt and knows how to incorporate that knowledge into her writing and characters. The characters themselves were relatable and interesting. They showed proper development throughout, though I never knew when someone was going to die.

Overall, my rating for the Horus Road is 3 out of 5 stars. I would recommend it to anyone who has read the first two books.

Thanks for reading!

Top Five Urban Fantasy Series

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Urban Fantasy is something I’ve only gotten into in recent years. Previously, I was kind of a fantasy snob.

Anyway, here are the top five Urban Fantasy series that I have read (so far)

The Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews is by far one of the best series I have read. Kate is a kick ass character who doesn’t take shit from anyone, even if it get her in trouble.

The series features all the fun stuff you’d expect from an urban fantasy, including shapeshifters, vampires and magic users. The vampires aren’t like in some others series though. No sexy vamps here.

Probably one of the more well known urban fantasy series, the Dresden Files features Harry Dresden, wizard and private investigator. This series is fast paced and darkly comedic. You’ve got all the typical players like vampires, werewolves, witches and fae. Each book is an adventure and you never know what is going to happen next.

I think the Mercy Thompson series was what really got me into Urban Fantasy. Mercy is a coyote shifter who was raised among werewolves. She isn’t exactly kick ass like Kate Daniels but she can hold her own and will go toe to toe with the Alpha of the local pack. Mercy goes through a lot in her life and there’s still more to come!

To date, the Kitty Norville series is by far the best werewolf series I’ve read. Kitty was turned into a werewolf against her will and has to learn to adapt to her new life. I found her growth as a character to be amazing. She starts out as a rather timid person, at the bottom of her pack and rises up out of her shell and become Alpha of her own pack. Her journey is fun and exciting. The series is finished as far as I know, which is a little too bad but I think that Carrie Vaughn did an amazing job of wrapping up such a long series.

I’m slightly iffy about including the Cal Leandros series as one of my Top Five, but only because the author had some controversy on the internet some years back and she is no longer being published.

That being said, Rob Thurman is a really good writer. I’ve read just about everything she has published and loved it all.

Cal is half human half…something else. Along with his older brother Niko, the two act as a kind of supernatural bounty hunters.

Cal is a smart ass and sarcastic. He is one of my favorite characters and it makes me sad that the series wasn’t finished. If you do choose to read this series, avoid the last book, Nevermore, as it ends on a cliffhanger and the next book, Everwar, was never published.

So, what do you think of my top five urban fantasy series? Do you agree with my picks? Are there ones that you add or replace. Remember, this is only my top five out of what I have read so far. This list could easily change in the future.

Let me know what you think in the comments.

Thanks for reading!

The Oasis by Pauline Gedge – Book Review

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The Oasis, book 2 of the Lords of the Two Lands trilogy by Pauline Gedge

Title: The Oasis

Author: Pauline Gedge

Series: The Lord of the Two Lands

Sexual Content: None

Objectional Content: Incest

Target Audience: Adults

Synopsis: Using subtle means of political power and economic control, a foreign power known as the “Rulers of the Upland” has taken over Egypt to plunder its riches and eradicate its religion and culture. In “The Hippopotamus Marsh”, the stunning first volume of Pauline Gedge’s Lords of the Two Lands trilogy, the family of the last true King of Egypt chose to end 200 years of submission to King Apepa, and attempted to resurrect a dynasty, Seqenenra Tao began a courageous and tragic revolt that almost led to the destruction of his family. In this thrilling second volume, Seqenenra’s surviving son Kamose refuses an inheritance of failure, and chooses instead to continue his father’s fight for the freedom of Egypt and his family. He begins his desperate sweep north, collecting fighting men from the loyal towns and villages he passes. Will his savage brilliance bring him victory or defeat? And will his acts redeem him or drive him to the brink of madness?

My Review

The Oasis picks up where The Hippopotamus Marsh left off. Kamose begins his campaign to retake Egypt from the Setiu.

For a novel all about a war, The Oasis isn’t really that exciting. The focus is less on the war that is happening and more the mental and emotional impact it has on Kamose. This novel feels much like a character study and an in depth look at the toll being the leader of an army can have. The guilt of the things he has done weighs heavily on him. While at the same time he knows it is the only way to recapture Egypt and restore his family to their rightful place on the throne.

I never knew what to expect from this book. If I had any expectations, I don’t know what they were. I find that something amazing about Pauline Gedge’s books. I truly don’t know what to expect and I can’t predict how anything will go. Her writing is amazing. I love how well she describes the world without having to go into great detail. You can practically feel the hot Egyptian sun beating down on you.

The Oasis is a bit slow at points but in the last 100 pages it really picks up and I’m pumped for the next book!

My rating for The Oasis is 4 out of 5 stars and I would recommend it to anyone who likes Egyptian fiction. Just read the Hippopotamus Marsh first.

The Executioner of Yrecep Forest – ARC Book Review

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The Executioner of Yrecep Forest by Laura DiNovis Berry

Title: The Executioner of Yrecep Forest

Author: Laura DiNovis Berry

Genre: YA Dark Fantasy

Sexual Content: None

Objectional Content: Violence

Synopsis: Pesdari grew up in the Coven, a place of murder, ancient magic, and sacrifice. When an opportunity arises to escape she must make a choice — betray her only friend for a chance at freedom or face the threat of becoming a sacrifice to the gods?

My thanks to the author for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

My Review

How should I begin this?

I stated in a previous review that I’m not a fan of the third person omnipotent point of view, which The Executioner of Yrecep Forest was written in. Unfortunately, this was quite a bother for me as the pov would swift suddenly and I would get confused as to why I was getting the thoughts of a donkey.

What did I like about this book? Well, I liked Pesdari as a character. She has a goal and she’s willing to do some pretty harsh stuff to achieve it. In spite of herself, she cares for others who need her help, even if she doesn’t really want to. I love the fact that there was absolutely no sexual content and there wasn’t even a romantic interest. After some of the books I’ve read lately, that was a breath of fresh air.

The magic system was interesting. I like that it was elemental magic and that each element had a corresponding god, and that those gods actually spoke to their worshippers. I did find it odd that killing someone and offering them as a sacrifice was a way of getting a major “power up” though. This needed to be fleshed out more as I could see some major consequences to such a thing. Consequences begin to show but I got the feeling that the Coven had been around for a long time and that a crazed power hungry person should have gone on a murderous rampage long ago to get all the power they could.

There was a lot I felt could have been fleshed out. This book is quite short and I felt like there was no real world building at all. Other than the forest and the villages near it, we know nothing at all about this world, not even what it’s called. There wasn’t a lot of character development and more time could have been spent on certain events that might have given them more impact.

I had to remind myself that this is a YA book and if I look at it through that lens then I think it’s the kind of book my teenage self would have loved. Don’t get me wrong, I did like this book, I just wanted more from it.

My rating for The Executioner of Yrecep Forest is 3 out of 5 stars. I would recommend it to those who enjoy YA dark fantasy and a quick, fun read.

Thanks for reading.

Clear the Shelf Reading Challenge 2023 – Update #1

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Books I’ve finished since last update:

Seer of Sevenwaters by Juliet Marillier, Flame of Sevenwaters by Juliet Marillier and the Hippopotamus March by Pauline Gedge.

Were these books on the list? YES!

What am I reading now?

The Executioner of Yrecep Forest by Laura DiNivos Berry.

Is this book on the list? No

Why am I reading it? I was offered a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

What do I plan to read next?

The Oasis by Pauline Gedge

Is it on the list? Yes, it is.

The list is down to 50, which is great but I’m feeling impatient and want the number to go down faster!

The Best Shoujo Manga

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I used to think of Shoujo manga as something of a guilty pleasure. Then I started to wonder why. After all, it’s not like I’m ashamed to read it. I enjoy it and it’s fun, so who cares.

Anyway, today I’m going to share with you by favorite Shoujo manga.

I think Vampire Knight has got to be my favorite of them all. Years ago, when this first came out and the anime was being released I really wanted stuff to do with vampires. Like any kind of media involving vampires. Lo and behold, I found the anime online, watched it and then started collecting the manga. It satisfied that craving and then some. I love both Zero and Kaname!

Fruits Basket is a very close second to Vampire Knight. If I remember correctly, I saw a couple episodes of the anime at Animethon one year and loved it. I bought the anime and have watched it several times. Of course, the anime didn’t cover the whole of the manga so I had to buy that too to get the whole story. Talk about an emotional rollercoaster. This one is just GOOD!

I don’t entirely remember how I came across Black Bird. I think I found it randomly in the bookstore. To my knowledge, there isn’t an anime adaptation of it. This one pushes things in a bit of a more x rated direction but it’s still meant for teenage girls so it doesn’t go too far.

This one was recommended to be by a bookstore employee while I was browsing around. Honestly, I can’t remember all that much about it other than really liking it.

Alice in the Country of Hearts is, of course, an Alice in Wonderland type story, just a lot more violent. I mean, the Mad Hatter is actually a mafia boss. It is weird and crazy and a lot of fun.

I think Kamisama Kiss might be another one that I saw a few episodes of at Animethon. Once again, the anime adaptation didn’t cover all of the manga so I collected all of that as well. Such a good story, though I don’t totally know how I feel about the ending, even now.

Bride of the Water God is actually Korean not Japanese, but I think it belongs here anyway. The artwork in this one is pretty amazing. Sadly, it looks unlikely that the last volumes will be published in English.

Ouran High School Host Club is another that I saw the anime first and bought the manga to know the rest of the story. It is very funny and a fun read.

Say I Love You is yet another one that I saw the anime first and needed the manga to get the rest of the story. The manga and the anime differ a fair amount, with the manga leaning more towards sex related stuff. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing but it was a bit of a shock to me after watching the anime.

I’m rounding this off with Inu x Boku. It’s a bit hard to say that I liked this one, which is why it’s at the end. The relationship between the two main characters is NOT healthy and sometimes a little disturbing in the “obsession” kind of way.

Well, those are my favorite Shoujo manga that I have read so far in my life. Have you read any of these? Which are your favorite? Recommend me some of your favs in the comments.

And as always, thanks for reading!

Fantasy Book Review – Flame of Sevenwaters by Juliet Marillier

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Synopsis: Maeve, daughter of Lord Sean of Sevenwaters, was badly burned as a child and carries the legacy of that fire in her crippled hands. After ten years she’s returning home, a courageous, forthright woman. But while her body’s scars have healed, her spirit remains fragile, fearing the shadows of her past.
 
Sevenwaters is in turmoil. The fey prince Mac Dara is desperate to see his only son, married to Maeve’s sister, return to the Otherworld. To force Lord Sean’s hand, Mac Dara has caused a party of innocent travelers on the Sevenwaters border to vanish—only to allow their murdered bodies to be found one by one.
 
When Maeve finds a body in a remote part of the woods, she and her brother, Finbar, embark on a journey that could bring about the end of Mac Dara’s reign—or lead to a hideous death. If she is successful, Maeve may open the door to a future she has not dared to believe possible….

I had certain predictions going into this book, that I thought would happen. I’m happy to say that those predictions didn’t exactly come true. I don’t want to say what those were because I don’t want to spoil anything.

It’s unusual to see a disabled protagonist in fantasy novels, at least in my experience, especially one who can’t use her hands. Maeve was burned in a fire as a child and as a result her hands are basically useless. She’s aware of her limitations and has accepted there are things in life she will never have. But Maeve has a gift that most others don’t: an affinity with animals.

I really liked Maeve. She is brave and practical, but she still has the longings of woman her age. As the reader, it’s hard not to feel for her, to want her to have the things she knows she can’t.

Honestly, I can’t think of a lot to say about this book. It’s a very good book and a satisfying end to the Sevenwaters series (at least as far as I know). I enjoyed the entire series overall and would recommend it to any and all lovers of fantasy, especially Celtic fantasy.

My rating is 4 out of 5 stars.

5 Fantasy Series I Will Never Stop Recommending

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We’ve all seen those threads in one place or another on the internet when the poster is looking for recommendations. We all have those books that we always recommend and here are my top 5!

Kushiel’s Legacy by Jacqueline Carey is an amazing series. It is made up of 3 trilogies and if you only read one I’d highly suggest Phaedre’s trilogy. It is by far the best.

There is some graphic sexual and violent content that some readers may not like.

The Black Jewels series by Anne Bishop is another series that I adore. The magic system is unique and the characters can be quite intense. Anne Bishop is an author that I will auto buy her books without knowing anything about them.

The Witches of Eileanan series by Kate Forsyth is one that I read near the end of high school and it has stuck with me to this day (over 20 years later lol). I may not remember all the details but I remember how much I enjoyed it at the time.

The Sirkara trilogy by Laura Resnick is one that I really resonated with me when I read it. In this world, people with red hair and/or green eyes are persecuted as they are believed to be evil. I have red hair so I felt this.

Also, Tansen is amazing.

I bought the Night Angel trilogy by Brent Weeks for a friend of mine and she passed it around her friend group. As far as I know most of them didn’t read fantasy novels, but they all loved it.

It’s been quite awhile since I’ve read it so I can’t think of much to say, so just read it. It’s amazing, I swear!

The order I put these books in does not a ranking of any sort. I love and recommend all these books for lovers of fantasy.

Have you read an of this? Which are your favorites? What are books you always recommend?

Fantasy Book Review – Seer of Sevenwaters by Juliet Marillier

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Synopsis: Prior to making her final pledge as a druid, the young seer Sibeal visits the island of Inis Eala, where the Sight leads her to Felix, a survivor of a Norse shipwreck who has no memory of his past. As the island’s healers struggle to keep Felix alive, he and Sibeal form a natural bond. But Sibeal’s vocation is her true calling, and she must choose between the two things that tug at her soul-her spirituality and a chance at love…

I have so many mixed feelings about this book that it’s driving me a little crazy. I apologize in advance if this gets a little ranty and possibly contain some spoilers.

To begin, Sibeal was first introduced in Child of the Prophecy when she is quite young. She appears again in Heir to Sevenwaters. In both books she is established to be destined to become a druid. She is a seer with many talents, always calm and serene even as a young child. Seer of Sevenwaters begins with Sibeal on Inis Eala, sent there for the summer by her mentor before taking her final vows as a druid. On the first day there, a shipwreck happens just off their coast and Sibeal saves the life of a man who nearly drowned. Feeling a responsibility for him, she spends a great deal of time with him during his recovery.

Everything seems all fine and dandy until around 100 pages in when Sibeal is interacting with some of the other women on the island and they start asking her about her vocation. She’s happy to answer as best she can. Then it’s brought up that becoming a druid means she will never know love and the joy of having children. This is where the problems start for me.

Now, I know that this takes place in a different time when that is exactly what is expected of women: get married, have babies. However, though likely unintentional, I really feel a parallel here with things I have been experiencing in the real world. Even now, in 2023, there is this pervasive idea that people, women especially, cannot possible live a happy and fulfilled life without having children. As a woman who doesn’t want children I have gotten all kinds of comments from people about my choice. Like how I will regret it and I’ll die alone etc.

With this feeling, I continued on reading this book, both loving it and feeling annoyed by the inevitable outcome. I suppose I should have known better considering all the previous books have a romantic plot and the idea of love prevailing over all. I don’t mind romantic plots, I really don’t (it’s long descriptive sex scenes that bother me) but I felt like Sibeal was supposed to be different. She knew what her life was going to be and then it just all changes because of a man.

Don’t get me wrong. This book is great and I loved it. Reading through the first person point of view really makes me feel like I’m in the character’s head, feeling what they feel. Because of that, I felt Sibeal’s longing and her conflict. There was a part of me that wanted them to end up together, but I still felt annoyed by it.

Like I said at the beginning, I have very mixed feelings. However, this shouldn’t deter anyone from reading it. This book is amazing, it’s a great addition to the series and you should definitely read it.

My rating is 4 out of 5 stars.

Thanks for reading even if this was a little ranty.

Fantasy Novels with (Almost) no Sex in Them

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This is a topic I’ve been thinking about for awhile now. If you’re anything like me, you’re not interested in all those so called “steamy” or “spicy” scenes in books. A lot of what I see on Bookstagram and the like are often about those types of books. Hot and spicy romance which is really just long extended sex scenes that I’m really not interested in reading. I want world building, character development and plot twists, not fifty pages of his “rod” or her “love juices” *gag*

I scrolled through my entire read list on Goodreads to try to come up with as many fantasy books/series with as little sex as possible in them. This was more difficult than I anticipated. Surely I must have read at least one series that didn’t have any sexy time, right? Well, yes and no. Just about every fantasy book I’ve read has a love interest or romantic subplot of some kind. So with that in mind, here is the best I could do based on my own read, fantasy novels with (almost) no sex in them:

  • Sevenwaters Series by Juliet Marllier
  • Death Gate Cycle by Margaret Weis
  • Codex Alera by Jim Butcher
  • Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan
  • Riyria Revelations by Michael J Sullivan
  • Valdemar series by Mercedes Lackey
  • Princess series by Jim C Hines
  • Cloud Mages by S.L. Farrell
  • Tears of Artamon by Sarah Ash
  • Deverry series by Katharine Kerr
  • Chronicles of the Cheysuli by Jennifer Roberson
  • The Griffin Mage by Rachel Neumeier

These are the ones I came up with though keep in mind that some of these I haven’t read for years and I can’t remember precisely if they had sex scenes or not. Some, like the Sevenwaters series, have romantic plots in them but no long descriptive sex scenes. I will be updating this list as I continue to read and find more series with little to no sex.

If you have any to add to this list, I’d really love to know, so please leave titles and/or authors in the comments. If you are interested please also check out my Urban Fantasy With (Almost) No Sex list.

As always, thanks for reading!

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