Category: Fiction

Book Review: The Emerald Storm by Sullivan (2.5 Stars)

The Emerald Storm by Michael J. Sullivan

2.5 out of 5 stars

Read in August 2010

Many new characters, bit part cast members, introduced in this episode, and just like their infamous red shirted ST:TOS forebearers, they dropped like flies before the credits rolled. I felt disconnected from most of the characters, with the exception of Modina and Wesley. The plot jerked, jumped and ultimately crumbled. Not even the expected banter between Royce and Hadrian could inspire a smile.

Continue reading “Book Review: The Emerald Storm by Sullivan (2.5 Stars)”

Book Review: Fuzzy Nation by Scalzi (4 Stars)

Fuzzy Nation by John Scalzi

4 out of 5 stars

Read in Sep/Oct 2011

I read Scalzi’s reboot of Piper‘s Little Fuzzy one right after the other. And I’m hard pressed to tell you which one I liked better. I really loved the addition of a dog to the story. I also appreciated the renewed emphasis on environmental consequences to disrupting and/or destroying ecological systems for the sole purpose of reaping (or ripping or raping … take your pick) natural resources for profit. And John Scalzi just has a flare for funny. I laughed out loud many times. Read both of them. You won’t regret it. Continue reading “Book Review: Fuzzy Nation by Scalzi (4 Stars)”

Book Review: The Warded Man by Brett (4 Stars)

The Warded Man by Peter V. Brett

4 out of 5 stars

Fantasy Book Club April 2010 Selection

Read from March 31 to April 04, 2010,

I devoured this book, ravenous as a coreling in the night. Excellent world building, great character development, driving plot and riveting action. I’m panting and sweating just thinking about the last desperate battle.

Some of my favorite bits of the world building include a post apocalyptic setting, almost an alternate history of our own reality, where humanity is facing extinction from supernatural elements (demons) holding people hostage with terror as they roam the nights freely; ward magic lost in the mist of time and only rediscovered sparingly and with great difficulty; and, the presence of religious and racial prejudices dividing rather than unifying at the expense humanity’s survival.

About two-thirds finished, I yearned to give a five star rating because I became so invested in the characters I wept for their pain, misadventures, obsessions and short-sightedness. But the characters I loved were abandoned, left behind, or symbolically sacrificed and reborn into even more crazed incarnations.

The healing of mind and soul attempted during the last few chapters stretch my believability nearly to the breaking point and left me wishing that men really could walk in a woman’s shoes (or her body) before assuming we overcome, endure or recover like men. Without spoiling, I can’t convey how soured I became with the author for that one pivotal event.

Notwithstanding the sour taste in my mouth for that plot point, I couldn’t put this book down or turn pages fast enough. I plan to seek out the sequel, The Desert Spear, when I return this book to the library tomorrow.

Book Review: Well of Ascension by Sanderson (4 Stars)

Well of Ascension by Brandon Sanderson

4 out of 5 stars

Read in October 2008

I read Well of Ascension immediately on the heels of Mistborn The Final Empire, which was a relief and a race. I wanted to finish the second book since the third book was “in the mail” to me, signed by the author.

While not as riveting as the first book of the series, I enjoyed the continued struggles of Vin and Elend, as they pick up the pieces after shattering the Lord Ruler’s Empire. Most of the characters from the first book are present, except for Kelsier, of course, who sacrificed himself at the end of the first book to become a martyr and start a religion which would give hope to the skaa.

Vin barely sleeps as she guards Elend from assassination attempts. Elend has his hands full crafting a democratic government and a siege by two hostile armies. Sazed returns to his calling and strives to teach the skaa relevant religions but soon stumbles upon the returning horrors of the Mists. Vin, Elend, Sazed and others finally find the Well of Ascension, but with no time to spare, have they done the right thing?

Since this is the second book of the series, it carries on the story, but must leave us with something to hope for in the final installment. A very enjoyable work and I highly recommend it to all lovers of fantasy.

Book Review: Hero of Ages by Sanderson (4 Stars)

Hero of Ages by Brandon Sanderson

4 out of 5 stars

Read in November 2008

Warning: Spoilers

Strangely, this third and final book of the Mistborn trilogy was more depressing and tragic to me than the middle one, The Well of Ascension. It was also disturbing on a theological front for me.

It’s been a year since Elend and Vin were married and they are still struggling to hold their new empire together. It’s becoming increasingly apparent that nothing they are doing will stop the inevitable – the world is dying, ending, destroying itself. Sazed has lost all faith. Where he used to preach and believe in all religions, he has spent the year studying and dismissing all the religions in his research as false.

Meanwhile, even in the face of Sazed’s crisis of faith, we actually meet and get confirmation of two deities locked in a futile struggle. They are Ruin and Preservation. I long suspected, even back in the first book, that the voices in people’s heads where not internal memories or insanity, but an external force pressuring them emotionally and psychologically into actions that met it’s ends.

The one pleasant surprise was learning the true origins of the kandra.

It was a compelling story and I read it almost non-stop for three days. I was very saddened by the fates of the main characters – nearly all of whom don’t make it to the end credits. Even though we lose so many, there is hope and a resurrection of sorts in the end.

Back to my theological concerns – I could see increasing influence of Mormonism throughout this book. It’s subtle, but the Mormon worldview fits.

In the end, Sazed was raised to godhood, but limited in his knowledge and by the laws of the universe. Even with his metalminds, he was not omniscient.

He was always one of my favorite characters and Feurchemy was the essence of Balance so he was the perfect mediator for the elemental forces of Ruin and Preservation.

Since there are still two Alomantic metals undiscovered and Spook has been left in charge with the blessing of Sazed, I imagine we will have more opportunities to visit the newly rejuvenated world of the Mistborn.

Article: Grammar Girl : Apostrophes in Science Fiction and Fantasy Names

Grammar Girl : Apostrophes in Science Fiction and Fantasy Names

http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/education/grammar/apostrophes-in-science-fiction-and-fantasy-names

I’ve read most of the Pern novels and never found the apostrophes annoying.   The romance subplot usually did that.

Book Review: Daughter of the Forest by Marillier (3 Stars)

Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier

3 out of 5 stars

Read in August 2008

Part of me wanted desperately to give Daughter of the Forest four stars. Perhaps if I hadn’t read six or eight additional books during the time it took me to finish this one.

Sorcha is the seventh child (she has six older brothers) of the household of Seven Waters in Erin. Her mother died bearing her and her father seemingly can’t interact with his daughter because she reminds him of his beloved wife. He throws himself wholeheartedly and ruthless into the defense of Seven Waters.

This is a re-telling of an old Celtic faery tale (the Wild Swans). The ‘evil’ stepmother arrives, seduces and blinds the father and drives a wedge between the siblings. This culminates in an enchantment or curse that transforms the six brothers into swans. Sorcha barely escapes the spell.

To break the spell and save her brothers, she is required to never speak, never to tell her story by any means and to weave and sew six shirts for her brothers out of a spiny weed called starwort.

Sorcha struggles on for years. Since this tale is told in the first person from her point of view, it is easy to identify with her travails. However, even though it seems like if it weren’t for bad luck she would have no luck at all, I grew bored at times with the internal dialogue.

Sorcha has a nearly impossible task to complete that at times requires superhuman strength of will to inch forward. I was deeply moved by her plot and the few individuals who saw her strength and struggled and helped as the could without any understanding of her task.

I guess the biggest disappointment for me was that the second half of the tale seemed to be a thinly veiled romance. I literally saw that coming from miles away and it ended just as nearly all faery tales do, happily ever after.

Book Review: The Help by Stockett (4 Stars)

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

4 out of 5 stars

Read in April 2012

I found this book to be a quick read. I can’t speak to its veracity or historicity, since I was born after most of these events took place and at a significantly northern latitude. I hope Kathryn Stockett portrayed the Help with empathy. I believe she succeeded, for I came away from the book with a better understanding of the plight of African-Americans at the cusp of the Civil Rights movement.

Book Review: The Master of White Storm by Wurts (4 Stars)

UK cover shown above

The Master of White Storm by Janny Wurts

4 out of 5 stars

Read from January 30 to February 03, 2010

I am at a loss for words still this morning. I finished The Master of White Storm last night but my mind is still reeling. Somewhere along the way, amongst Korendir’s numerous impossible feats and adventures, I despaired of his receiving relief. The death and danger, most often voluntarily pursued, seemed designed to harry Korendir to the brink and beyond of sanity and hope. What few pockets of peace and love dotted his bleak life’s landscape hardly seemed enough to fuel his reserves or resolve.

I did struggle to connect with Korendir throughout the story, but his predicaments spurred me on. The characters that touched me most profoundly included Haldeth, a taciturn smith, steadfast friend of Korendir, his touchstone and conscience and Vwern, a brave villager who brought tears to Korendir’s eyes and mine as well.

With such a relentless pace, you won’t be disappointed reading The Master of White Storm. One of the best standalone fantasy novels I’ve read recently, the only one better which comes to mind is another Janny Wurts’s novel called To Ride Hell’s Chasm.

Book Review: One Corpse Too Many by Peters (3.5 Stars)

One Corpse Too Many by Ellis Peters

3.5 out of 5 stars

Read in February 2009

Brother Cadfael is thrust into the heart of political intrigue via his herb garden. Or rather, an unlikely new addition to the herb garden – a lay servant of youthful boyish appearance. Cadfael soon realizes his new assistant’s secret, and agrees to lend aid as he is able.

It is the time of King Stephen’s war upon the Empress Maude, granddaughter of William the Conqueror. Lines are drawn and England is divided. Stephen, also a grandson of William, has laid siege to Shrewsbury, on his way to fight Robert of Gloucester.

Stephen takes Shrewsbury but fails to acquire the prize personages who had been within it’s walls – FitzAlan and Adeney. After a thorough search of the town, these two are missing and the remaining garrison leader, Hesdin, does not reveal their whereabouts, even under torture. Adam Courcelle, one of Stephen’s captains, suggests that mercy to the garrison would be seen as a sign of weakness, so Stephen orders the entire garrison, and Hesdin, hanged immediately. Stephen’s Flemish mercenaries carry out this grim duty.

Brother Cadfael beseeches the Abbott and the king to allow the monks of the abbey to retrieve the bodies, prepare them for burial and allow the townsfolk to claim the bodies of their kin. While laying out the bodies, Cadfael discovers there are ninety-five, instead of ninety-four, bodies. And the extra corpse is a young squire, not a seasoned soldier. He reports this discrepancy to King Stephen, who agrees to allow Brother Cadfael to investigate and bring about justice.

The rest of the tale involves Cadfael’s continuing investigation, discoveries and battle of wits with various players in and around Shrewsbury. A medieval murder mystery well worth the reading.