World Soul – Liz Williams (Review)

Paperback, 288 pages
Expected publication: June 6th 2012 by Prime Books
Source: Net Galley

Synopsis:

What if being a librarian was the most dangerous job in the world?

Worldsoul, a great city that forms a nexus point between Earth and the many dimensions known as the Liminality, is a place where old stories gather, where forgotten legends come to fade and die—or to flourish and rise again. Until recently, Worldsoul has been governed by the Skein, but they have gone missing and no one knows why. The city is also being attacked with lethal flower-bombs from unknown enemy. Mercy Fane and her fellow Librarians are doing their best to maintain the Library, but… things… keep breaking out of ancient texts and legends and escaping into the city. Mercy must pursue one such dangerous creature. She turns to Shadow, an alchemist, for aid, but Shadow—inadvertently possessed by an ifrit—has a perilous quest of her own to undertake.

Review:

Never have I been more frustrated by a book than this one. I know that info-dumping is not cool however I need context especially since this is the first novel in a series. I didn’t get that context. I got NO information whatsoever about the world – there is no worldbuilding whatsoever – no, that’s wrong. There is a world, it seems like a fascinating world but I have no idea where it is – is it a different planet as I suspected? And if so, how was it populated by humans? Are they still humans? What is the time context? How far off in the future is this world located? The religions and the divisions seem to be similar to ones found on earth but are the sections all found in one city? But if so how can the different climates all exist in the same city? And if it’s not the same city, why is it that traveling from one place to another seems so easy? And who (or what) exactly is this Skein? Why are there so many female characters in the novel but the men, when present, are the ones who are powerful and corrupt in their power? What the heck is going on exactly?

From the above questions you might be able to discern my state of mind while reading and after reading. The book is well written and with a bit more care taken to the world building and information, it would easily have been a favourite. However, there are so many characters being introduced, left, right and center, that you are unable to make any lasting connection for a good chunk of the novel. And then there are the “interludes” where Williams becomes all mysterious and the character is either “He” or “She” to add to that mystery and it just made me angry because I was fast running out of patience with a novel that refused to let me read and enjoy it. Not that the characters are poorly developed – they are not. There are just way too many of them and they serve to scatter attention. Also, I thought the focus was going to be the library and it is but only in the loosest sense. Most of the focus is on the “rent” in the books and the “Storyways” which are never explained. There are angels and “Dukes of Hell” but they are also not explained and it all a bloody soup that Williams keeps adding ingredients to.

The narrative mentions “modern” architecture which again begs the question of time – what time is modern and is my modern the same as their modern and is that even possible because contemporary modern is not possible for a world that does not exist on Earth. Gah. Frustrating doesn’t even cover it.

Listen, I know that readers are supposed to glean a world from between the lines but not like this! Never like this! There were things I liked about this novel, in fact, I could have LOVED this novel had it been clearer and more explicit. What a freaking waste, man. Also, you spend the novel thinking that one aspect, the villainous aspect is what the main conflict is but it turns out you’re wrong at the 11th hour. And the villain? Well, he’s not much of a villain. Gah. I apologise for this is not a very coherent review but considering the novel, you should not be too surprised.

Can I recommend it to you? I don’t know, man. Maybe it’s me and I’m too dumb to completely understand and comprehend the intricacies present in this novel. I just think that the story of the two different women, their friendship and their journey together could have been presented way better than it was.

Castle in the Air (Castle #2) – Diana Wynne Jones

Paperback, 383 pages
Published April 22nd 2008 by Eos
Source: Purchased

Synopsis:

Young merchant Abdullah leads a humble life. Or he did until a stranger sold him a threadbare–and disagreeable–magic carpet. Now Abdullah is caught in the middle of his grand daydreams. Waking one night in a luxurious garden, he meets and falls instantly in love with the beautiful and clever Flower-in-the-Night. But a wicked djinn sweeps the princess away right before Abdullah’s eyes, leaving the young man no choice but to follow. This is no ordinary quest, however, for Flower-in-the-Night isn’t all the djinn has stolen. Abdullah will have the so-called help of the cantankerous carpet, a cranky genie in a bottle, a dishonest soldier, and a very opinionated black cat. Will this motley crew be able to find the djinn’s mysterious dwelling and rescue a castle full of princesses?

Review:

I really love the tongue-in-cheek tone in the two Diana Wynne Jones books that I have read. It makes the novel clever and pushes the humorous aspect of it to the forefront even when the events in the novel are of a rather serious nature. Castle in the Air tells the story of poor Abdullah who is manipulated without even knowing it into fulfilling the prophecy made at his birth. There is a genie, there is a shape or rather size-changing cat (and kitten), princes, princesses (a whole lot of them), true love, grasping greedy family members and adventure. The flying carpet that has a personality of its own and Abdullah’s one true love “Flower By Night” whose innocence hides a razor sharp, logical mind that won me over.

More than all of the stuff already mentioned, I believe it is the latter half of the story that will win your love. It is very clever and subtly done that I can’t say anything at all without giving it away. And it would be such a pity to give it away and take away your chance to discover the story for yourself. If you haven’t tried Diana Wynne Jones yet, I urge you to do so. I, too, took a while before reading her most famous series (Howl’s Moving Castle immortalized by the animated movie by the same name) but I am determined to read as much of her work as possible. Strongly recommended

The Killing Moon – N. K. Jemisin (A Review)

Paperback, 448 pages
Published May 1st 2012 by Hachette Book Group
Source: Publisher

Synopsis:

The city burned beneath the Dreaming Moon.

In the city-state of Gujaareh, peace is the only law. Along its ancient stone streets, where time is marked by the river’s floods, there is no crime or violence. Within the city’s colored shadows, priests of the dream-goddess harvest the wild power of the sleeping mind as magic, using it to heal, soothe… and kill.

But when corruption blooms at the heart of Gujaareh’s great temple, Ehiru—most famous of the city’s Gatherers—cannot defeat it alone. With the aid of his cold-eyed apprentice and a beautiful foreign spy, he must thwart a conspiracy whose roots lie in his own past. And to prevent the unleashing of deadly forbidden magic, he must somehow defeat a Gatherer’s most terrifying nemesis: the Reaper.

Review:

Sometimes, if you are very lucky, books come along when you need them to. I was very lucky that The Killing Moon arrived when it did and I chose to read it when I did. The Killing Moon is Jemisin’s second trilogy after her widely successful Inheritance Trilogy and as I had read and enjoyed her debut work, I figured I would try the Dreamblood series. Jemisin’s world building is so detailed and exquisite and hey, she is blurbed by Kate Elliott. I am not one to usually read a book by the success of the author blurbing a book but since Elliott herself is such an accomplished writer, I felt comfortable taking her word for it. And wow, I’m babbling. Sorry. The point is, I had high expectations going in and fortunately, all those expectations were fulfilled. Actually, way more than fulfilled.

Jemisin uses a large variety of literary techniques to tell her story. Let’s talk about the structure. There are epigraphs that situate the chapter in the context of a greater narrative. There are multiple perspectives, the book itself is a frame narrative though I am not sure who the person doing the narrating is. There are myths presents, Gods, Goddesses, a bit of romance, bildungsroman (Nijiri) and many others. There is also a foreword written by the author that is reminiscent of those found in historical novels. You would think that juggling a hotchpotch variety of techniques would make for a messy narrative but that could not be further from the truth. In the hands of a master, and no doubt that is what Jemisin is, the narrative falls neatly into place. In fact, I found The Killing Moon to be much stronger than her first trilogy. The narrative and plot are stronger, tighter and more able, in my opinion, to properly convey the story.

There are many, many characters in the novel and Jemisin infuses them all with a personality that never feels stilted or stereotyped. The depth of her research is reflected in the richness of her imagery and her creativity finds a wide canvas in the landscape she sets her story in. While she does borrow from history, it is kept to a minimum and integrated smoothly into the narrative. There is never a sense of her manipulating historical thoughts and events into a shape that fits her plot.

Her characters are complex, the core conflict is well thought out and the conclusion, when it is finally reached, is satisfactory. There are some books that you can rip through, inhale from the start to finish and then there are other books that you linger over, read slowly to make them last and, for me, The Killing Moon belonged to the latter group of books. The pace of the narrative remains steady until it speeds up and then slows again as suits the needs of the narrative.It’s a rollercoaster ride.

Do I recommend the book to you? You bet I do. If you like dense fantasy that is rewarding and extremely satisfying, you will enjoy this one. A lot.

When the Sea is Rising Red – Cat Hellison (A Review)

Hardcover, 296 pages
Published February 28th 2012 by Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
Source: Library

Synopsis:

After seventeen-year-old Felicita’s dearest friend, Ilven, kills herself to escape an arranged marriage, Felicita chooses freedom over privilege. She fakes her own death and leaves her sheltered life as one of Pelimburg’s magical elite behind. Living in the slums, scrubbing dishes for a living, she falls for charismatic Dash while also becoming fascinated with vampire Jannik. Then something shocking washes up on the beach: Ilven’s death has called out of the sea a dangerous, wild magic. Felicita must decide whether her loyalties lie with the family she abandoned . . . or with those who would twist this dark power to destroy Pelimburg’s caste system, and the whole city along with it.

Review:

People do not seem to like this one too much so obviously I, contrary creature that I am, like it a lot. I liked how courageous the book and obviously it’s author are to present something that is so very different than what is flooding the market nowadays. All books try to be different but ultimately conform to the standard. Ms. Hellison’s novel, in my not so humble opinion, succeeds in not just being different but being different in a good way.

Felicita is a very likable protagonist and as a woman, I immediately felt myself able to empathize with her predicament. Whether I would have gone to the lengths she did to extricate myself from the future her brother laid out for her…well, I don’t know but the fact that she does, that she has the courage to go forth and take her destiny in her own hands shows the spunk and um, guts she has and I find that very admirable. (We’ll get to you later, Cate.) The attraction of the book came from the careful and detailed world building. There is a strong sense of whimsy, a sense of surreality that surrounds it – a parallel universe that is full of magic and strange creatures – the imagery is very strong and I found myself easily calling to mind the streets, the beaches and the people described in the novel.

Felicita’s attempt to become Firel, to become someone with a whole lot less than she is used to makes for an interesting read. The strange motley of people who give her a home and offer her friendship and new experiences are also fascinating. The plot is perhaps my favourite part of the book and I can’t say too much about it without giving it away. The Sea is Rising Red very much resembles a fairytale come to life with its intriguing mix of legend and supernatural creatures.

The reason most people probably have trouble with this novel is the interesting way in which romance is approached. If you want fervent confessions of true, everlasting love, you might want to give this one a miss. The romance in this is a bit capricious, a bit playful and, maybe only to me, a bit exploratory in tone and even execution. There are two love interests but not quite a love triangle. I sincerely hope that this is a series because one of the love interests fascinates me. None of the characters are superhotbeautifulgorgeous and I love, love, love that.

You will like this book if you like curious things, if you are open to something different than hot boy notices plain girl, there are fireworks and then a kiss. The folklore-ish feel of the novel will be a hit with some and a miss with others. Ah, if you liked The Folk Keeper by Franny Billingsley, you will certainly like this one.

Hidden Warror (Tamir Triad #2) – Lynn Flewelling

Mass Market Paperback, 551 pages

Published November 26th 2008 by Bantam Dell

Source: Purchased

Synopsis:

As the orphaned nephew of the king, trusted companion to his cousin, and second heir to the throne of Skala, Prince Tobin’s future is clear. But not as clear as the spring in which a hill witch shows him his true face–and his secret destiny….

Now Tobin carries a burden he cannot share with even his closest friend, Ki, his squire. He is to rule–not as he is but as he was born: a woman. Given the shape of a boy by dark magic, Tobin is the last hope of the people of Illior–those who desperately seek a return to the old ways, when Skala was ruled by a line of warrior queens. They still believe that only a woman can lift the war, famine, and pestilence that have run rampant through the land since the king usurped his half sister’s throne. It is these outlaw wizards and witches who protect Tobin–and it is for them that Tobin must accept his fate.

With the unsuspecting yet fiercely loyal Ki at his side, Tobin must turn traitor against the only blood ties he has left. He must lift the masks of Skala’s rulers to show their true colors–before he can reveal the power of the woman within himself.

Review:

The second novel in The Tamir Triad trilogy loses none of the charm of the first. In fact, it makes an already intriguing world downright amazing. I loved how the characters are developed and the faint stirrings of romance between the two main characters promises that the conclusion to the trilogy will pack a punch in more than one way.

So the pace continued in its languid manner and I’m not gonna lie, I did for a minute or two wish they could just hurry up and get the reveal over with. However, at the end of the novel I was glad that Flewelling took the time she did because it has more momentum when it happens the way it did. I was surprised by how Korin’s character was developed and I thought that Flewelling’s careful attention to the grey in a person’s character was well done. The novel is populated by such wonderful characters that I wouldn’t mind reading all their individual stories. There’s Lutha and Nikides, Una, Ahra – it is actually an awesome compliment from me (ahem ahem) that I remember the names of the characters in the book because usually I don’t even remember the name of the main character.

And this book won my love by having cats being mini characters. I am a cat person (future cat lady? ha) and Flewelling’s portrayal of the felines was entertaining. Of course, on the other side of it, Niryn became slimier than ever. What is he doing with that Nalia? Okay, I’ll stop pretending this is a review because honestly, I just want to talk about the book. I thought that Tobin going naked in front of all those people took balls he didn’t have. I understood why it had to be done and I don’t even have to any trouble with it. I just thought it interesting.

Oh also, I hope Flewelling keeps Tobin/Tamir as ordinary as possible and not, you know, on a pedestal. That would interfere with the original dynamic too much and I don’t know…I kinda like it the way it is right now. I am not looking forward to see what that wizard has up his sleeve but I am looking forward to seeing how Ki copes with a female best friend.

Shadows on the Moon – Zoe Marriott (A Review)

Hardcover, 464 pages
Expected publication: April 24th 2012 by Candlewick Press
Source: Net Galley

Synopsis:

Trained in the magical art of shadow-weaving, sixteen-year-old Suzume is able to re-create herself in any form – a fabulous gift for a girl desperate to escape her past. But who is she really? Is she a girl of noble birth living under the tyranny of her mother’s new husband, Lord Terayama? Or a lowly drudge scraping a living in the ashes of Terayama’s kitchens? Or is she Yue, the most beautiful courtesan in the Moonlit Lands? Whatever her true identity, Suzume is destined to use her skills to steal the heart of a prince in a revenge plot to destroy Terayama. And nothing will stop her, not even the one true aspect of her life- her love for a fellow shadow-weaver.

 

Review:

Gorgeously crafted, intricately detailed, Shadows on the Moon illustrates Marriott’s remarkable story weaving skills. Suzume’s evolution from the carefree girl who frolicked with her cousin under the cherry blossoms to the strong woman at the end of the novel is particularly compelling. The novel is reminiscent of Alison Goodman’s Eona series in its depiction of the struggles of a girl against severely adverse situations. I remember thinking that Marriott has done her research in the writing of this novel (a bit more on this  later) and I am right, Marriott has done a lot of research and it shows in the way her story unfolds.

The pacing, the plotting, everything is spot on and the tiny shades of a Cinderella story blooming here and there does not take away from the overall. Suzume is a fascinating character but she is not the only one. All the side characters serve to make the story more intriguing. Also, the love story itself is fun to read and I like how the sexuality in the main characters is approached. The novel contains a bit of everything and anyone who likes fantasy novels will enjoy this one. So really, the novel itself is completely readable and comes highly recommended by yours truly.

What I did take umbrage with (somewhat, really) is how in the acknowledgements or maybe it is the note at the end, Marriott claims that the world is a new one and has no connection to any Asian country and I find that remiss of her as the Japanese influences are very obvious and credit should go where it deserves to go. I believed the country the story is set in is Japan, albeit not a Japan that exists in history but one in which some things have been altered. I don’t understand why she does not acknowledge the richness of Japanese culture that influenced her writing so that threw me off balance. I mean, the language used in the book is Japanese and that definitely points to a specific Asian country so…really, I don’t get it. At all. As a contrast, I offer Eon/Eona. While that series definitely had Asian influences, it did not name any, nor was it specific to any and as such it was easy enough to believe that there were no specific Asian countries.

You may think I am hung up on something that is admittedly slight but it bothers me. Because I believe that authors who write about cultures (and from perspectives not belonging to them) walk a fine line between appropriation and misappropriation.

But anyway, I believe the book, without the author’s note, is extremely readable and satisfying and you should totally read it. The other stuff I mentioned (I only did because I couldn’t not mention it, that’s the way I roll) is something you will notice if you study literature and if you are concerned with the same things I am.

Grave Mercy – Robin LaFevers (A Review)

Hardcover, 1st Edition, 549 pages
Published April 3rd 2012 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Source: Net Galley

Synopsis:

Seventeen-year-old Ismae escapes from the brutality of an arranged marriage into the sanctuary of the convent of St. Mortain, where the sisters still serve the gods of old. Here she learns that the god of Death Himself has blessed her with dangerous gifts—and a violent destiny. If she chooses to stay at the convent, she will be trained as an assassin and serve as a handmaiden to Death. To claim her new life, she must destroy the lives of others.

Ismae’s most important assignment takes her straight into the high court of Brittany—where she finds herself woefully under prepared—not only for the deadly games of intrigue and treason, but for the impossible choices she must make. For how can she deliver Death’s vengeance upon a target who, against her will, has stolen her heart?

 

Review:

Right now I shall attempt, with all the skill I have in my arsenal as a somewhat itinerant reviewer (okay, not really, I just wanted to use that word) to give you wonderful people my thoughts about the book that is being touted by (mostly) all and sundry as the next best thing since sliced bread (being a non-native English speaker, I fail to see why sliced bread is so wonderful but that just might be my failing as a heathen). Anyway, forgive the digression and let’s turn ourselves to the glorious bounty that is Grave Mercy, the first in what is definitely a trilogy.

What did I think about it?

Well, to be completely honest (so help me God), at first? Not much. I have, as you might not know, very little fondness for romance novels (which is not to imply that they don’t tell a good story because they do but I’ve read too many of them) and Grave Mercy really resembled a romance novel disguised as a YA novel. Okay, what I mean by this is – the focus was on the romance and I was like “Ehhhhh!” Don’t get me wrong, I like romance in YA, in fact, it might be a requirement for me but I don’t want the focus to be on it. What I mean by my babbling is that for a while Grave Mercy and I were at odds with me saying “please, do go on” while Grave Mercy said “but I want to discuss how he sits in my bedroom while I’m sleeping and there’s no sexytimes.” Ya know?

But then, Ismae, who had been about to join the hallowed ranks of Heroines Who Annoy Nafiza (it’s a long list) became fantastic.

I kid you not.

It’s like LaFevers decided a quarter into the book that her heroine needed more to be more (yes, I am quite articulate tonight) and so she gave her more. And I was like “YES, KILL THAT VILLAINOUS BASTARD!” I love heroines who kick ass and dear people reading this review and refraining from rolling their eyes, Ismae kicked ass and she kicked plenty of them. And I even liked the romance. LaFevers managed to tamper what could have been a mushfest and made the book more about the kingdom, the dynamics, the politics, delicious stuff like that and less about heaving bosoms and moony eyes.

The pace was quite exhilarating because things kept happening (after the first quarter, that is). There was no lull in the narrative where they watch daisies grow or curl up in a ball and bemoan their broken hearts. They are on the brink of a war and things just…happen. (Yes I know, don’t be intimidated by my eloquence.) I liked the characterizations, the pacing, and the plot (more elaboration this later). The writing felt a bit raw and I thought that the chapter transitions could be a bit smoother though this just may be because I was reading the ARC version.

I liked how LaFevers managed to sustain a skein of realism into something that is clearly fantastic. Oftentimes happy endings are too happy and tie up so neatly that they ruin the entire book but the term “pyrrhic victory” applies to this novel and I appreciated that. I didn’t think the violence was excessive nor did I feel that the sexytimes in the book was forced or illogical (you shall understand after you read the book and then if you want to discuss it, I shall happily oblige).

And I cannot freaking wait for the next story. Sybella sounds just as kickass as Ismae except in a crazier sort of way. I like insane. And I wonder if it features Beast. I hope so. Unlikely protagonists make me happy.

Do I recommend this book? Yeah I do, just stick with it through the somewhat slow beginning and it will pick up and stun you with its awesomesauciness.

Storybound (Storybound #1) – Marissa Burt

Hardcover, 416 pages
Expected publication: April 3rd 2012 by Harper Collins Children’s
Source: Publisher (Thanks Shannon!)
Link: Go hear to learn more about Storybound

Synopsis:

In the land of Story, children go to school to learn to be characters: a perfect Hero, a trusty Sidekick, even the most dastardly Villain. They take classes on Outdoor Experiential Questing and Backstory, while adults search for full-time character work in stories written just for them.

In our world, twelve-year-old Una Fairchild has always felt invisible. But all that changes when she stumbles upon a mysterious book buried deep in the basement of her school library, opens the cover, and suddenly finds herself transported to the magical land of Story.

But Story is not a perfect fairy tale. Una’s new friend Peter warns her about the grave danger she could face if anyone discovers her true identity. The devious Tale Keeper watches her every move. And there are whispers of a deadly secret that seems to revolve around Una herself….

With the timeless appeal of books like A Wrinkle in Time and the breathtaking action of Inkheart, Storybound has all the makings of a new classic. Brimming with fantastical creatures, magical adventure, and heart-stopping twists, Storybound will leave readers wishing they too could jump through the pages into this enchanting fairy-tale world.

Review:

I’ve heard people comparing Storybound to books like the Inkheart series by Cornelia Funke and I think it’s an apt comparison because like Inkheart, Storybound, too, crosses several boundaries and blurs several lines between fiction and reality. However, unlike the Inkheart series, I found that, as a matter of personal taste, Storybound seems more relatable and accessible. But that’s not really the point. The objective here is to tell you that Storybound is an exciting middlegrade debut by an author with an extremely creative streak.

I immediately found myself drawn to Una, like, from the very sentence. She is a foster child with all the issues and feelings that comes with being a child seemingly alone in a world where other children are snug in the middle of families they belong to. Her unplanned sojourn to Storybound, a land where story book characters live, is the impetus to the adventure she has spent her whole like yearning for. The book takes you on a ride, it tosses you in the air and forgets to catch you and then as you flail, it plucks you out of the air and places you on the ground and then you lurch and the ride begins again. What I’m trying to say is that the novel is not predictable. Not in its characters, not in its twists and turns and certainly not in its plot. I liked how Burt keeps me guessing.

The world building is off to a great start. Burt knows how to keep the balance between imagery and action – something that is necessary for the younger readers, I believe – and I think she’ll easily keep younger readers’ attentions as Una meets her new friends and goes on an adventure of a lifetime. I also liked the characterization. There is a lot of spunk in Una and Peter is well created too. I especially like Snow because though, initially, I was scared there was going to be an emergence of the Mean Girls, Burt proves me wrong and shows me a complicated character who can exist beyond the pages of the universe she has created.

This would make a fantastic movie. I hope Disney is listening. Hee. The mythology is intriguing and I cannot wait to see what other morsels the next book gives us. I also was surprised by the big reveal near the ending. I had not expected it and its existence makes the book and the themes in it interestingly complicated. There are heavy questions asked about being the person you are and how much of the person you are is determined by who you are and the things you do and how much of it depends on who sires you. And as you all know, I love questions like these popping up unexpectedly in books that seem, on the surface, relatively simple.

The book ends on the verge of a cliffhanger. Not a cliffhanger but almost a cliffhanger and I can’t wait to read the next book in the series. Now, what I am saying with this overly long review is that you need to put this on your reading list – either buy it as a gift for the middle schooler in your family or buy it for your own self if you like younger characters who kick ass despite their age, adventure and an interesting story.

The Bone Doll’s Twin (The Tamír Triad #1) – Lynn Flewelling

Mass Market Paperback, 524 pages
Published October 21st 2009 by Bantam Spectra(first published July 16th 2001)
Source: Purchased

Synopsis:

ometimes the price of destiny is higher than anyone imagined….

Dark Magic, Hidden Destiny

For three centuries a divine prophecy and a line of warrior queens protected Skala. But the people grew complacent and Erius, a usurper king, claimed his young half sister’s throne.

Now plague and drought stalk the land, war with Skala’s ancient rival Plenimar drains the country’s lifeblood, and to be born female into the royal line has become a death sentence as the king fights to ensure the succession of his only heir, a son. For King Erius the greatest threat comes from his own line — and from Illior’s faithful, who spread the Oracle’s words to a doubting populace.

As noblewomen young and old perish mysteriously, the king’s nephew — his sister’s only child — grows toward manhood. But unbeknownst to the king or the boy, strange, haunted Tobin is the princess’s daughter, given male form by a dark magic to protect her until she can claim her rightful destiny.

Only Tobin’s noble father, two wizards of Illior, and an outlawed forest witch know the truth. Only they can protect young Tobin from a king’s wrath, a mother’s madness, and the terrifying rage of her brother’s demon spirit, determined to avenge his brutal murder….

Review:

Okay, so I love fantasy when it is well done. There’s something so immensely satisfying about reading a well constructed world. All that “world-is-going-to-end-and-then-a-hero-comes-along” (see what I did thurr?) stuff is totally my thing, ya know? So when the lovely Dominique (I was stalking your book haul youtube clips) said this was one of her favourite books, I pounced on it like a cat on string of yarn only not as graceful. Anyway, so, this book, I had great expectations and I am pleased to announce to all and sundry that my expectations were FULFILLED.

Lynn Flewelling uses the framing technique to tell this story and does some very interesting things with time that can, at moments, confuse the hell out of in by which I mean that you are unaware if you are in a flashback within a flashback or just in the first flashback…you get my point. Anyway, so the whole story, because of the initial framing, gets a grandiose, epic feel to it and I totally expected to see Mordor burning when the old Wizard whose name I have forgotten, woe is me, is looking out the window talking about history. Anyway, for a second there I paused and wondered what I had gotten myself into but then the narrative got over its hiccup and we righted ourselves and got back to the starting line.

I love it when the world building is well done. No, seriously, I totally (what’s a stronger word than love?) adore? (that sounds weird) – okay, let me just say I love it a LOT when things are logical and the fabric of the world created makes sense and is solid instead of constructed flimsily and borne on the backs of other much better fantasy novels. The Bone Doll’s Twin, by dint of the childhood years spanning the entire first book, allows not just for character development but also detailed world building. Now when I say detailed, I don’t mean that everything is described because it’s not, I mean that Flewelling builds a world that is very easy to visualize and she populates this world with characters who can be actual people and are not two dimensional renderings of characters plucked from the stock trade. I also appreciate how she doesn’t take the easy way out and paint people either as black or white. It’s all about the gray areas for Ms. Flewelling.

The novel is told in third person omniscient so it’s possible, at times, to get glimpses of everyone’s thoughts and this is not an easy style at all, not matter what anyone else says. I like how the narrative has this skein of melancholy, of poignancy running through it that is only reiterated by the visage of the dead twin who despite his few lines is one of the strongest characters in the novel. The mythology is well thought out and the divisions of magic also smart. I particularly liked the distinctions made between the two types.

There’s some sexy times in the novel and they are a bit weird but I liked the fact that this time around, the one with the power is the female and there are some very interesting gender reversals that might make a fascinating essay. I liked where the book ended. There are so many possibilities and so many directions that it can go on in the next two books. Anyway, I really liked this one and I recommend it to you if you like high fantasy. It is very readable and lacks the usual verbosity that are usually a trademark of high fantasy.

The Rook – Daniel O’Malley (Review)

Hardcover, 1st Edition, 486 pages
Published January 11th 2012 by Little Brown & Co (T)
Source: Net Galley

Synopsis:

“The body you are wearing used to be mine.” So begins the letter Myfanwy Thomas is holding when she awakes in a London park surrounded by bodies all wearing latex gloves. With no recollection of who she is, Myfanwy must follow the instructions her former self left behind to discover her identity and track down the agents who want to destroy her.
She soon learns that she is a Rook, a high-ranking member of a secret organization called the Chequy that battles the many supernatural forces at work in Britain. She also discovers that she possesses a rare, potentially deadly supernatural ability of her own.
In her quest to uncover which member of the Chequy betrayed her and why, Myfanwy encounters a person with four bodies, an aristocratic woman who can enter her dreams, a secret training facility where children are transformed into deadly fighters, and a conspiracy more vast than she ever could have imagined.
Filled with characters both fascinating and fantastical, THE ROOK is a richly inventive, suspenseful, and often wry thriller that marks an ambitious debut from a promising young writer.

Review:

Daniel O’Malley is Australian, you guys and call me biased but I had high expectations of this book. The premise is so fantastic that I was completely sold on the book before I turned a page (or okay, clicked a page, hur). I admit though that I went into the book thinking that it was YA (I don’t know why) but I was totally fine with it not being one. Now, let us harken back to where I said I had high expectations. I did. And they were met to a large extent.

Mr. O’Malley has a very engaging turn of phrase and his story has an admirable flow to it. The characters are well created and there is no one dimensional stuff going on. I did think the book was well constructed and was quite entertained by it as I’m sure the rating reflects (4 stars). However. Yes, there is a however and I must speak out about the however right now.

O’Malley often utilizes (way too many times, in my opinion) this technique that almost made me stop reading the book. Imagine if you will, you are hurtling down a rollercoaster, the ride of your life and you are JUST about to jump off the steep incline and someone stops your ride RIGHT AT THAT MOMENT and tells you to listen to a soporific commercial that may have some redeeming value but not at that moment. And that, my darlings is what O’Malley does. He places his character in a tense situation (often involving life and death) and then inserts one of his information dumping (more on this later) letters on the next page. Which means that I most skipped these letters in favor of finding out what happened to the character. This? Is not a good technique. What this does to the narrative is make it cluttered and makes for a jarring reading experience. It also messes the pace of the novel, think of it as something like someone pulling the emergency lever on a train and it screeches to an unwilling stop. THAT’s how I felt, you guys.

And then the information dumping. Okay, I understand that the letters are necessary but there HAD to be a better way to get all that information out. My head ached, my eyes went blurry and I began to dread the italicized font that augured the advent of these information dumps, I mean, letters. The information was interesting and yes, necessary but there was way too much of it. I would have much rather received the information in flashbacks than letters.

And then the end seemed way too neat. The villain of the piece gives in way too easily and I don’t know, I was just disappointed that the lead up went flat in the climax. I think O’Malley should have spent a lot more time developing his black character than he did. Really.

Okay, now that I have gotten that off my chest, I want to say that despite it all, despite all my quibbles with this book, I still found it intriguing. I thought it was very readable and the world building was admirable. I wish this was a series. Do I recommend this to you? Oh definitely. I think you should read it and then recommend it to other people too. :)