tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6792643081777860752024-03-05T14:22:00.246-08:00CS fantasy reviewsCraighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04344917148662934359noreply@blogger.comBlogger259125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-679264308177786075.post-39686036594070675942022-12-16T12:08:00.000-08:002022-12-16T12:08:13.080-08:00Advent Ghosts 2022: Silent Night<p> The Tailor
smiled at your snowy beard as she sowed buttons onto your crimson coat. You
smiled back, a half-conscious response. You knew exactly what she was thinking.
‘He looks just like Santa Claus’.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The store-clerk nodded approvingly as you
handed him an oversized sack. The same thoughts were flashing through his brain
and it was second nature to encourage them. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The man at the gun shop was different. Didn’t
even bother to glance up from his copy of ammunition weekly as he handed you
the silencer. You smirked, ‘Silent night’ indeed. At Christmas red was better
camouflage than black. <o:p></o:p></span></p>Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04344917148662934359noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-679264308177786075.post-40587841884035088582022-12-16T12:06:00.004-08:002022-12-16T12:06:58.607-08:00Advent Ghosts 2022: I told you so<p> A bill
outlawing Christmas presents? You were ecstatic. No more hard-earned money siphoned
to corporations.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I wanted to get our son something small anyway.
You waved away my concerns, pronounced it was like pulling off a band-aid. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">There was that Academic on TV warning about an
ancient manuscript and gift-giving keeping evil spirits pacified. As Christmas approached
his message never changed but he grew disheveled, desperate to be heeded. You scoffed.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Christmas morning. The bedroom door burst open,
revealing the silhouette of our son, blood-stained knife in hand, eyes rolled
back in his skull. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">‘I told you so’ isn’t enough. <o:p></o:p></span></p>Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04344917148662934359noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-679264308177786075.post-61423408955499723552021-12-17T12:07:00.004-08:002021-12-17T12:07:58.361-08:00Advent Ghosts 2021:The Cracker<p> Multihued lights
spiraled their way around the Christmas tree mesmerizing the families clustered
around the restaurant’s sea of tables. Jeff ignored them, mechanically chomping
down on a mouthful of ham. Christmas had been his life for the decades he’d worked
at Hallmark crackers. ‘Budget cuts,’ explained his boss, an upstart who
couldn’t tell a cracker snap from tissue.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Jeff
chuckled. Safety checks were another victim of those cuts. Scattered explosions
would bury Hallmark under an avalanche of lawsuits. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Buck up
mate.” A jovial fellow exclaimed, offering a cracker. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The blood
drained from Jeff’s face when he discerned a familiar logo.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04344917148662934359noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-679264308177786075.post-89943640369041163772020-12-18T12:15:00.000-08:002020-12-18T12:15:42.166-08:00Advent Ghosts 2020: Christmas Lights<p> “Oh, look
how pretty the lights are John!” Sarah exclaimed, practically bouncing in her
boots.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Seemingly
endless rows of fairy lights lit up the house like the constellations on a
clear night.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Can we
take a closer look?” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“I don’t
see why not?” John shrugged, “That’s what Christmas lights are for right?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The
creature hunched in the shadows as still as the mountains it had outlived, cold
eyes intently staring as it’s prey ambled closer. It was a trick almost as old
as the creature itself and had served it well in the depths. Food always came
to the light. <o:p></o:p></span></p>Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04344917148662934359noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-679264308177786075.post-46214698977584448522019-12-20T13:18:00.000-08:002019-12-20T13:18:14.030-08:00Advent ghosts 2019: The DealMartin flopped into bed. The sheets engulfing him and dispelling whirling thoughts of litigations.<br />
<br />
"Did you put the milk and cookies out?" Sarah asked "Timmy will be devastated if you haven't.<br />
<br />
"All sorted" Martin lied.<br />
<br />
An empty glass and a few sprinkled crumbs and Timmy wouldn't know the difference.<br />
<br />
Santa was furious. Somehow these short-lived mortals kept the memory of their deal alive, binding him with libations through guest rights that no Fae could break. Although perhaps not here. Santa smirked as he spotted the bare kitchen counter. He stalked towards the child's bedroom, licking his lips all the way.Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04344917148662934359noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-679264308177786075.post-38486381487608656702018-03-16T12:51:00.000-07:002018-03-16T12:51:17.524-07:00Review: The Core by Peter V. Brett<img alt="Image result for the core brett" src="http://www.petervbrett.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/IMG_0415.jpg" height="241" width="320" /><br />
Having captured the lead mind demon Alagai Ka and discovered that queen demon is set to lay a new set of queens leading to a civil war of sorts between that demons that will result in humanity's destruction, Arlen, his wife Rena and Ahmann hatch a desperate plan to have Alagai Ka lead them to the core and stop it. While they are gone the leaders of the rest of humanity need to try and keep their people alive through sustained attacks by the demons.<br />
<br />
Pacing has been an issue in the middle books in this series but is well handled in the finale. I found a good balance between the main and secondary plots. I also found Brett cleverly introduced material for outrigger series without compromising on what was happening in this one.<br />
<br />
It was particularly interesting to see the issue of faith addressed particularly between the interactions between Arlen and Ahmann. For me this was the strongest development in Ahmann's character throughout the entire series.<br />
<br />
Overall a well balanced finale. 8.5/10.Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04344917148662934359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-679264308177786075.post-76267380690737960892017-11-23T10:55:00.002-08:002017-11-23T10:55:18.651-08:00Review: The Witchwood Crown by Tad Williams<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Thirty years have passed since the events of <i>Memory, Sorrow and Thorn</i>, King Simon and Queen Mirimele have seen their kingdom of Asten Ard move from strength to strength but not everything has gone their way. Thier son and heir John Josua died from illness in his early tenties, leaving behind two children. The Eldest, prince Morgan , is a wastrel who doesn't have any interest in learning how to rule a Kingdom, much to the despair of his grandparents.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile <span class="a-size-base review-text" data-hook="review-body">Utuk’ku, the </span>Norn queen, has apparently awoken and preparations are made to invade the lands of men once more. A small squad is dispatched on a seemily impossible mission to catch a living dragon. Among them is <span class="a-size-base review-text" data-hook="review-body">Nezuru,the half blood daughter of </span><span class="a-size-base review-text" data-hook="review-body"><span class="a-size-base review-text" data-hook="review-body">the Hikeda’ya Lord Viyeki and his mortal slave concubine Tzoj, who begins to question her place in Norn society. This is excabated when she meets </span></span><span class="a-size-base review-text" data-hook="review-body"><span class="a-size-base review-text" data-hook="review-body"><span class="a-size-base review-text" data-hook="review-body">Jarnulf, a human seeminly working for the Norns who has his own agenda.</span></span></span><br />
<span class="a-size-base review-text" data-hook="review-body"><span class="a-size-base review-text" data-hook="review-body"><span class="a-size-base review-text" data-hook="review-body"><br /></span></span></span>
<span class="a-size-base review-text" data-hook="review-body"><span class="a-size-base review-text" data-hook="review-body"><span class="a-size-base review-text" data-hook="review-body">One of the things Williams did extremely well in the briding novel <i>The Heart of What was Lost </i>was humanize the Norn characters, making the reader root for both sides of the conflict. However none of that is present in this novel sadly, with all of the Norns even Viyeki coming across as arogant. </span></span></span><br />
<span class="a-size-base review-text" data-hook="review-body"><span class="a-size-base review-text" data-hook="review-body"><span class="a-size-base review-text" data-hook="review-body"><br /></span></span></span>
<span class="a-size-base review-text" data-hook="review-body"><span class="a-size-base review-text" data-hook="review-body"><span class="a-size-base review-text" data-hook="review-body">Pacing is generally quite slow with lots of streches without the plot seeming to advance much.</span></span></span><br />
<span class="a-size-base review-text" data-hook="review-body"><span class="a-size-base review-text" data-hook="review-body"><span class="a-size-base review-text" data-hook="review-body"><br /></span></span></span>
<span class="a-size-base review-text" data-hook="review-body"><span class="a-size-base review-text" data-hook="review-body"><span class="a-size-base review-text" data-hook="review-body">Through Simon (and a lesser extent Mirimele) Williams is able to delve into the struggle of aging and brings a real depth to these charcaters.</span></span></span><br />
<span class="a-size-base review-text" data-hook="review-body"><span class="a-size-base review-text" data-hook="review-body"><span class="a-size-base review-text" data-hook="review-body"><br /></span></span></span>
<span class="a-size-base review-text" data-hook="review-body"><span class="a-size-base review-text" data-hook="review-body"><span class="a-size-base review-text" data-hook="review-body">One of the most intriguing things for me was the vast discrepancies between Simon and Mirimele's meomories of John Josua and that of Morgan's. </span></span></span><br />
<span class="a-size-base review-text" data-hook="review-body"><span class="a-size-base review-text" data-hook="review-body"><span class="a-size-base review-text" data-hook="review-body"><br /></span></span></span>
<span class="a-size-base review-text" data-hook="review-body"><span class="a-size-base review-text" data-hook="review-body"><span class="a-size-base review-text" data-hook="review-body">Overall I found this novel a mixed bag, with some issues with pacing and characterization. 7/10. </span></span></span>Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04344917148662934359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-679264308177786075.post-90803185298129899272017-06-16T00:27:00.000-07:002017-06-16T00:27:25.235-07:00Review: The End of The Day by Claire North<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
Charlie was looking for a job where he could travel. Landing the role of the Harbinger of Death comes as something of s surprise to him. He has no special qualifications, just a love of people and music but the previous harbinger sees something in him. Death is well meaning and sends a harbinger sometimes as a curtsy and sometimes a warning. Initially all goes well and Charlie meets interesting people and experiences things he never could have imagined but that all changes due to unforeseen events. Charlie falls in love and the travel becomes burdensome with something to miss and he also becomes exposed to the darker side of humanity.<br />
<br />
The three previous books under the author's North pseudonym all had a similar concept; a protagonist effected by an unexplained condition that the majority of the population was unaware of. I was concerned that she would be unable to breakaway from this theme and am very glad to see that she has. I love character-driven novels and Charlie is wonderfully drawn human being flavored with a touch of awkwardness. His development and growth is really the crux of this novel.<br />
<br />
In a world where the four horsemen of the Apocalypse are real entities (Death even has his own firm to look after Charlie's travel needs) I found the support characters reaction to them highly inconsistent. I was also disappointed in the finale which just sort of fizzled out.<br />
<br />
Overall Claire has delivered a wonderfully character driven novel that proves she is not just a one trick pony, although with all new things you can't expect to reach perfection the first time around. 8/10. Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04344917148662934359noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-679264308177786075.post-55202374928356626672017-04-24T21:50:00.000-07:002017-04-24T21:50:41.015-07:00Review: The Heart of what was Lost by Tad Williams<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Following the defeat of the Storm King the remaining Norms flee through the land's of men back to their ancient city of Nakkiga. Lord Isgrimnur leads an army that intends to take thefight to Nakkiga itself and wipe out the Norms and their sleeping queen. Porto a man from the South has found himself part of the army, though all he really wants is to get himself a young man from a nearby village safely home. Viyeki a mid-ranking engineer of the Norns finds himself embroiled in the politics of the high ranking members of his society, who even in the face of destruction jockey for position.<br />
<br />
Williams does a brilliant job delving into characters from both sides of the conflict, humanizing them so effectively you can't help but root for both of them. The shorter length of this novel means Williams pacing is markedly improved. Just how much action and political intrigue Williams is able to cram into this one is impressive, he quite cleverly has lots happen 'offscreen' that Viyeki has to piece together as best he can.<br />
<br />
Overall Williams make a welcome return to his signature world of Osten Ard with the great character development I always expect from him, combined with welcome improved pacing. 8.5/10. Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04344917148662934359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-679264308177786075.post-74916117735950280962017-04-22T19:44:00.001-07:002017-04-24T14:16:42.626-07:00Review: The Lost Prince by Edward Lazellari<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Thirteen years ago a young Prince from another world was spirited to earth when his medieval style kingdom was invaded. Due to a magical mishap Daniel and his guardians were separated and had their memories stripped away. Daniel ended up in an abusive household that eventually lead to a fatal confrontation with his stepfather that led to Daniel hiding in a trailer park from the police. His guardians have unwittingly found themselves as targets of agents of the invading force that have found their way to earth (although no time has passed in the magical world). After a centaur sorceress restores their memories the guardians find themselves in a race to find the prince. The guardians also have to reconcile their new memories with the lives and families they have built on earth.<br />
<br />
The characterization was mixed, particularly among the villains whose leader is very 80's cartoon villain dimensional. Magical explanations aside they also should have had more trouble adjusting and fitting into modern society. Some of the minor villains had more interesting motivations thankfully and I enjoyed the adjustments the guardians had to make to their new memories.<br />
<br />
Pacing was uneven due to too many points of view, especially early on, that hurt any momentum that could have developed.<br />
<br />
This novel is a mixed bag, a solid concept but not delivered as well as it could have been. 6/10.Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04344917148662934359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-679264308177786075.post-15730648028221886402017-03-06T20:36:00.001-08:002017-03-06T21:11:35.937-08:00Review: The Ruling Mask by Neil McGarry and Daniel Ravipinto<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Duchess' reputation among the Gray is in jeopardy. Rumors abound that she is a bloody murderer for hire hurting her standing in the Gray and threatening to put her at odds with the Red, who have a monopoly on assassination. Duchess must find the source of these rumors and put a stop to them or risk losing everything. Meanwhile Castor turns to Duchess for help as his son is being hunted due to his connection to the aristocracy. The success of Jana and Duchess's weaving business has attracted attention and leaves them with a difficult choice. Rodass is also on the cusp of a religious war and Duchess is bound to be dragged into it as well.<br />
<br />
The most notable element to this third installment in the series is the way the authors keep track of the web of plot lines and are able to successfully incorporate them into the larger story. The foreshadowing was very impressive. With so many plot threads (my brief synopsis doesn't do them justice) there is a risk of the narrative being bogged down. Thankfully the authors don't fall into this trap and use them to add a degree of tension throughout the story, reminiscent of the way Jim Butcher does it.<br />
<br />
As always Duchess is the heart of this story and I really feel like she matures as a character (she even gains some insight into her father;s choices and why he made them.) and has come a long way since the first book.<br />
<br />
Well managed story-telling and a character driven narrative make this a must read. 9/10. Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04344917148662934359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-679264308177786075.post-70787862546681969452017-02-20T20:56:00.001-08:002017-02-20T20:56:30.453-08:00Review: The Tiger and the Wolf by Adrian Tchaikovsky<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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In the cold, crown of the world the wolf tribes are in ascendancy. They broke the Tiger's power over a decade ago and drove them to the peripheries. Maniye is the daughter of Akrit Stone River, chieftain of one of the wolf tribes. However her mother was a queen among the Tiger.a result she as always been an outsider in her own tribe. She holds a secret that could destroy her, she has two souls and can shift her form to both that of a wolf and a tiger. Things begin to look up when she passes a coming of age trial and thinks she may at least win her father's approval even if she never wins his love. However she learns that Akrit his plans for her to subjugate the remaining Tiger tribes and to marry her to Broken Axe, the loner he tasked with killing her mother. Horried Maniye flees taking with her an aging snake priest who was going to be sacrificed to the Wolf. Akrit tasks Borken Axe with retrieving them. Meanwhile Asmander, a stranger from the South, journeys North seeking the famed iron wolves to prevent a civil war from spilling over.<br />
<br />
I have been thoroughly impressed with Tchaikovsky's works since he concluded his <i>Shadow of Apt </i>series and he has ensured that, as good as it is, it will not define him as an author. The characterization is top notch with Maniye being a credible protagonist on a journey of self-discovery and acceptance. What's more impressive is the way Tchaikovsky gives every character introduced such depth of their own without being bogged down. It truly feels like an intersection of different stories.<br />
<br />
The world-building is an exceptional with the stone-age tribal society of the wolf described in depth and pieces of other cultures wetting the appetite without slowing the story. Pacing was also even throughout.<br />
<br />
Overall Tchaikovsky delivers a great story defined by it's vivid characters. 9/10.Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04344917148662934359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-679264308177786075.post-65605169322860626992017-01-14T11:52:00.001-08:002017-01-14T11:52:34.051-08:00Review: The Copper Promise by Jen Williams<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Frith, the crippled, last surviving son of a noble house arrives in a foreign city intent on exploring the caverns beneath a vast and ancient Citadel. Rumours say it belonged to the lost mages and that great power is there for the taking, power Frith intends to use to take back his home and get revenge on those who killed his family. To aid him he hires two mercenaries, Sir Sebastain a knight who was forced to leave his order due to his sexual orientation and Wydrin, better known as the copper cat, a sassy thief and daughter of a pirate. The two adventurers have a reason of their own for entering the citadel, one of their companions ventured in weeks before and never returned. Together the three manage to find what Frith seeks but unwittingly unleash an angry god, bent on nothing but destruction on the world.<br />
<br />
While the three protagonists have a certain charm to them, I found all three unoriginal and based on tired sword and sorcery tropes. Pacing was uneven being slow and steady throughout most of the novel before rushing through a finale. World-building was adhoc and unconvincing and I couldn't help but feel that names and places were thrown together without the author having any idea of their relation in her own mind. The villains were one-dimensional and lacked any depth. While the writing was tidy enough it often felt clumsy.<br />
<br />
Overall this novel had multiple problems and was a chore to slog through. 4.5/10. Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04344917148662934359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-679264308177786075.post-46391141982580267422016-12-22T11:24:00.000-08:002016-12-22T11:24:31.413-08:00Review: The King's Justice by Stephen R. Donaldson<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This was a collection of two novellas by Donaldson.<br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>The Kings Justice</i>: A stranger named Black arrives at the isolated village of Settler's Crossing tasked with investigating the brutal murder of a child. While Black is much more than he seems so is the murder. 8.25/10<br />
<br />
<i>The Augur's Gambit</i>: Mayhew Gordian is a self-effacing <span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">Hieronomer</span> who is attempting to aid the queen of an isolated island nation to avoid two fates of enslavement from an unknown power from across the ocean or a descent into barbarism after protracted civil war. What's more Mayhew is in love with the queen's daughter. 8.5/10.<br />
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My experience with previous shorter fiction by Donaldson is that he is able to effortlessly create intriguing world's in minimal words that leave the reader wanting to see more. These two pieces are no exception. Both stories were well-paced with well developed protagonists and support casts. I enjoyed the The Augur's Gambit slightly more as I found Mayhew quirky and more human that Black and for that reason I'm glad of the order the stories were printed in.Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04344917148662934359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-679264308177786075.post-3340941518077674002016-12-21T17:41:00.000-08:002016-12-21T17:42:09.055-08:00Review: The Sudden Appearance of Hope by Claire North<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hope Arden is afflicted with a rather peculiar condition. When she was a teenager those around her gradually came to forget she existed until even her own family forgot they had a daughter. Now everyone she comes into contact with will forget her within a few minutes of being out of her company. Hope uses her peculiar condition to become a master thief. After a woman Hope has grown found of kills herself due to a mobile phone application called perfection, Hope decides to publicly embarrass it's creators, not knowing that there may be far more sinister forces in play.<br />
<br />
The concept is similar to North's two previous novels, a protagonist who is afflicted with an unexplained condition that the majority of the population are not effected by. Hope is an interesting character and North captures the emotion of her plight beautifully. The little nuances she adopts to help herself cope are cleverly incorporated into the prose and make this a very human story. I found the support characters slightly inconsistent especially towards the end of the novel where their actions did not gel with what had gone before. Once the plot moves away from Hope's personal struggle I found the perfection angle less engaging. <br />
<br />
Overall North once again has built a very human and engaging protagonist, less care with the support characters and plot detract slightly from what could have been a masterpiece. 8/10. Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04344917148662934359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-679264308177786075.post-53658716558100630012016-12-16T13:14:00.002-08:002016-12-16T13:14:27.362-08:00Advent Ghosts 2016: Under the Mistletoe and Tree<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 5.65pt; text-indent: 30.35pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Matt lurched,
almost falling, as he mounted a table. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 5.65pt; text-indent: 30.35pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">His boss
frowned but screw it Matt was salesperson of the year. Noticing his empty glass
Matt made a beeline for the bar. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 5.65pt; text-indent: 30.35pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Pamela from
accounts glanced at mistletoe above them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 5.65pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">“Not on your life Pimply Pam.”
Matt scoffed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 5.65pt; text-indent: 30.35pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">“Mistletoe
wards away evil spirits.” The bartender huffed and poured a shot of whisky. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 5.65pt; text-indent: 30.35pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">“This is the
only spirit I’m interested in.” Matt countered snatching the bottle.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 5.65pt; text-indent: 30.35pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">“A woman scorned
is nothing to scoff at either.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">Just as he found a quiet corner to enjoy his whiskey
icy fingers encircled his neck. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 11.35pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">Carya eyed the river of stone distrustfully. All was quiet but recent experience
had made her wary. Without warning one of those mechanical monstrosities could
appear in a blaze of flashing lights and howling noise. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 11.35pt; text-indent: 24.65pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">Taking a deep breath she dashed across. After
all she had nothing left to lose. Her daughter was dead and she would know why.
</span><br />
<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">Then…….she didn’t know.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-indent: 24.65pt;">The increasingly faint pulse of her daughter’s
heart tree had led her to this strange dwelling. Steeling herself she peered
inside and keened in agony. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-indent: 24.65pt;">Why had they desecrated her daughter’s body in
garish colours and twinkling lights?</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-indent: 24.65pt;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-indent: 24.65pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif;"> </span></span>Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04344917148662934359noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-679264308177786075.post-46188446709869179502016-11-19T00:25:00.000-08:002016-11-19T00:25:48.443-08:00Review:Treachery's Tools by L.E. Modesitt Jr.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Alastar has settled well into role as Maitre of Colleguim. However the promise of a poor grain harvest exacerbates already existing problems between the Upper Class High Holders and the increasingly powerful merchant class. Alastar attempts to assist Solidar's barley competent rex to navigate through these problems but when someone begins assassinating students of the Colleguim he realizes a bigger game is afoot.<br />
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I found Alastar to be an engaging protagonist and thought his own struggles with a mid-life crisis added a very human element to him. The supporting cast are well-developed and the plot interesting and well-paced. World-building was subtly and effectively incorporated and I felt up to speed throughout despite never having read a Modesitt Jr book before and coming in mid-series.<br />
<br />
Overall engaging characters and unobtrusive yet effective world-building make for a solid read. 8.25/10. Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04344917148662934359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-679264308177786075.post-78440896200767024852016-10-30T21:32:00.000-07:002016-10-30T21:32:28.056-07:00Review: The Redemption of Althalus by David and Leigh Eddings <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Athalus is a talented bronze-age who has gone through an extended spell of bad luck. In desperation he accepts a job from Ghend, a shady-figure who wants Athalus to steal a book from a house at the edge of the world. Athalus finds himself trapped in the house and is befriended by a talking cat who is more than she seems. Soon Athalus realizes he is caught up in clash between the gods themselves with the fate of the world at stake.<br />
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The main characters all have that certain charm (aside from the villains who are one-dimensional) that all Eddings' characters share, though as usual I find the shared sense of humour is a bit hard to accept. Pacing is a real struggle with lots of repetition of events whenever a new character is introduced. This leads into another issue of too much telling rather than showing the reader. The biggest issue was a lack of tension throughout the novel as the villains are so incompetent it is impossible to believe they could actually succeed.<br />
<br />
Overall this novel suffers from some major pacing and character issues which made it a slog to get through it. 5/10.Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04344917148662934359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-679264308177786075.post-81516130176873037832016-09-29T23:39:00.003-07:002016-09-29T23:39:58.022-07:00Review: Fire by Kirsten Cashore <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Fire is a "monster" an impossibly beautiful woman who can entrance people with her beauty and influence and even control their minds. This ability comes with costs. Animal "monsters" are drawn to her blood and wish to devour her. While Fire's father misused his power to manipulate the former king for his own personal gains. Fire does not want to follow in her father footsteps so has chosen to live a quiet life on the outskirts of the kingdom. However events conspire to draw Fire into a larger world, a mysterious poacher with a strangely empty mind is murdered under strange circumstances and The new king Nash and his brother seek Fire's aide in averting civil war.<br />
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This novel's biggest strength is the the well realized protagonist and her journey of self worth and discovery. She is well supported by a well developed cast of support characters. However pacing is a major issue with a very slow beginning and conclusion. I think the story could have been better balanced by perhaps including another point of view character as since Fire lacks knowledge and interest in some of the wider events in the war it can seem very vague.<br />
<br />
Overall Fire is a wonderful example of character-driven story-telling but could have been a better balanced read. 7/10.Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04344917148662934359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-679264308177786075.post-73822682443685079252016-07-16T21:36:00.000-07:002016-07-16T21:36:41.202-07:00Review: Calamity by Brandon Sanderson <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
With Prof having succumbed to his powers and turned evil, David leads the remaining Reckoners in an effort to stop him. David has hopes that Prof will be able to face his fears and come back to himself but not all of the Reckoners are so convinced. Prof heads to Ildithia, formerly Atlanta, and takes over the local epics intent on fulfilling a plan of his own. Through Megan's powers David glimpses a world without Calamity and realizes there may be a way to save their world.<br />
<br />
Throughout this series I have had a major issue with David as a protagonist, supposedly driven by vengeance in world fulled with super-powered villains he comes across as a goofball obsessed with bad puns. This series finale was no exception and again this is highly distracting in the beginning but eases off as Sanderson gets distracted by the plot moving forward.<br />
<br />
On the plus side I found the plot was cleverly thought out and the finale was cleverly foreshadowed throughout the series, which reminded me of how well Sanderson finished the first Mistborn series.<br />
<br />
Overall Calamity suffers from the same issues of the previous books but on the plus side shows just how well the series was plotted. 6.5/10, Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04344917148662934359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-679264308177786075.post-72247942233035709282016-06-24T15:59:00.000-07:002016-06-24T15:59:41.464-07:00Review: Antrax by Terry Brooks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The company that the druid Walker gathered to search for the lost books of magic is destroyed, while some dead and others scattered. Walker was able to enter the tunnels below Castledown but finds himself trapt and ceaselessly hunted by creepers he can't seem to escape. Bek tries to confront the Isle Witch about the truth of her origins and their connection but it backfires and he and the shifter Truls Ruk are pursued by her through the countryside, Ahren Elessedil and the seerer Ryer Ord Star seek to save Walker and gain redemption for themselves, Ahren for his perceived cowardice and Ryer for betraying Walker earlier. Antrax, the intelligence behind Castledown, meanwhile makes a cyborg out of the fallen Ard Patrinell, hoping to use him to trap the various magic-users. When Quentin Leah and Tamis realize what has been done to their friend they are horrified and wish to set him free from his torment.<br />
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I found the various sub-plots interesting and reasonably well-paced. However the exception to this was the Quetin/Tamis arc which felt like filler and didn't get enough 'screen' time. This was compounded by a major issue of telling rather than showing, especially when they are being chased by Patrinell. I would have much rather been shown how clever he was in tracking them then to be told about it in a rather long-winded fashion. This problem also manifested in some rather long and unnecessary paragraphs of introspection at the beginning of several sections.<br />
<br />
Antrax, a self-aware, artificial intelligence was an interesting villan and was quite well realized. There was also a well-worked plot twist in regards to this and the 'books' of magic.<br />
<br />
Overall while the plot is interesting a few issues distract from it. 6.75/10. Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04344917148662934359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-679264308177786075.post-88790213841180554052016-06-10T15:28:00.001-07:002016-06-10T15:28:13.261-07:00Review: The Weaver's Lament by Elizabeth Haydon <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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For a thousand years the allied states of the Cymrian alliance have been at peace. However, tensions are on the rise. The Bolg are being short-changed in trade and Grunthor, the sergeant major who has arguably the best trained army in history at his disposal, is not afraid to cross the border and collect the short fall. Having such a well-trained and restless army on their doorstep leaves Ashes and the military leadership of his alliance very uneasy and a misspoken word leads to tragic consequences.Ashes and Achmed are pitted against each other and Rhapsody is caught in the middle.<br />
<br />
Ashe is beginning to show the signs of age while his wife Rhapsody seems as young as ever. Ashe fears dying and losing Rhapsody and of losing control of the dragon that dwells with him. As a result he begs Rhapsody to help him transform into a dragon like his father did before him, something Rhapsody fears will cost Ashe his soul. their relationship is tested more than it has ever been in a thousand years.<br />
<br />
I found the previous volume in this series to suffer from severe pacing issues and most notably some big moments, that had been built up for several books, were highly rushed. Thankfully the series finale does not suffer from this issue and some really big moments get the time they deserve to really shine.<br />
<br />
Time has been a central theme across the series and the decision to set a book a thousand years after the previous events was an inspired one. Having some long-lived characters and some seemingly eternal creates an interesting conflict when faced with other characters who are not blessed to the same degree. Ashe in particular is handled well and having him develop an almost 'grumpy old man' side was well worked. His legitimate fear of losing Rhapsody combined with his somewhat irrational and selfish reaction to it makes for an emotional conflict. I would have liked to see more of Grunthor's perspective as he alone of the three has had to deal with the loss of children that have aged faster than him.<br />
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The choices that face Rhapsody, Ashe and Achmed and the brilliant foreshadowing of their consequences reminded me of some of the all time classic tragedies. Both beautiful and so very sad. My only minor gripe is I would have liked to have seen Ashe's reaction when faced with the full consequences of his actions.<br />
<br />
The plot itself brings the books into line with the original trilogy (and to an extent the short story as well) more than we have seen in a long time. The mix of well realized and beloved characters, their relationships and subtle humor at the right moments that have made this one of my all time favorite series are all present.<br />
<br />
The Symphony of Ages could have ended with the previous book but I'm glad it it didn't. This is the finale it truly deserved. 8.75/10. Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04344917148662934359noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-679264308177786075.post-75878601966707783322016-06-03T00:14:00.001-07:002016-06-03T00:14:18.008-07:00 Review: The Aeronaut's Windlass by Jim Butcher <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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With the surface of the world teeming with deadly monsters humanity has sheltered high above in massive spires. Trade and communication are effected through airships, powered by energized crystals, though so is espionage and warfare. Captain Grimm commands airship <i>Predator. </i>Years before he was drummed out of the Albion navy as a scapegoat for political reasons and now acts as a private merchant in a cold war of sorts with a rival spire. After the predator sustains massive damage in an action against a much more powerful airship, <i>Predator </i>is forced to return for repairs that Grimm simply can't afford.<br />
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Bridget, daughter of a noble house that has fallen on hard times, is sent to the Albion guard to complete her mandatory service, accompanied by her cat and friend Rowl himself a prince of a feline house. There her inexperience in dealing with other nobility quickly leads her into a dual but receives the aid of Gwen and Benedict members of a very important house. During the duel Spire Albion is attacked by warships of Aurora. Bridget and her friends and Captain Grimm and his crew both distinguish themselves in the attack and bring them to the attention of the monarch who sends them on a mission to aid the <i>Etherealist </i>(read magician with a price) Ferus and his apprentice Folly. The attack was a distraction for something more sinister.<br />
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Unlike Butcher's most famous work the Dresden Files this novel is told from a third person perspective and Butcher does an excellent job in creating a number of distinct and interesting points of view (though I found Bridget's first chapter made her feel much younger than she actually was but that is a minor gripe). This includes a cat, with a very different view on the world, and a character whose magic has made her suffer a social disorder (more on that later). Butcher includes point of view chapters from Auroran characters which explains their (reasonable) motivations and fleshes them out nicely. I'm glad he did this as it prevented them from being one dimensional or portrayed simply as 'bad guys',<br />
<br />
The world-building is excellent, with lots of showing how things work from the way characters perceive the world around them rather than long paragraphs of unnecessary intrusive information.<br />
Magic comes with a price with each character who utilizes it effected by a social disorder. Technology is steampunk-like but powered by vat-grown crystals and society is Victorian era-like.<br />
<br />
Overall Butcher delivers a refreshingly character-driven novel. 8.5/10. <br />
<br />Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04344917148662934359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-679264308177786075.post-41231075321271870482016-04-03T00:09:00.001-07:002016-04-03T00:09:11.921-07:00Review: Shadows of Self by Brandon Sanderson<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The City of Elendel is threatening to boil over. Industrial advances are keeping some of the city's workers unemployed while forcing others to work ridiculous hours. Wax and Wayne are called to investigate the strange murder of the governor's brother's among a massacre of the city's criminal elite. Wax is convinced that someone or something is intent on destroying the city and when Wax catches sight of an old enemy, who he knows is dead' he realizes things maybe personal.<br />
<br />
Biggest plus for me in this book is the world-building. Taking a look at a world hundreds of years after some very important events gives an excellent opportunity to look at the impact of these actions and this is certainly evident from the religious and social aspects of the society represented. Another area Sanderson excels in is demonstrating the impact of technological advances on this society.<br />
<br />
Character development is both superb and seamless with all of the major characters getting fleshed out. The plot moves along at a decent clip with the odd surprise thrown in.<br />
<br />
An ongoing issue with Sanderson is his efforts to incorporate humour into his books. In this series it is often through the character of Wayne and unfortunately Sanderson has no idea how to incorporate this subtly. I found Wayne antics distracting at the beginning but gradually it starts to fit a bit better into the story.<br />
<br />
Overall delivers most of Sanderson's usual strengths (and the odd flaw). 8.25/10. Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04344917148662934359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-679264308177786075.post-86337740205177169582016-01-11T22:28:00.002-08:002016-01-11T22:28:52.172-08:00Review: Shadowmarch by Tad Williams <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The Kingdoms in the Northern Continent are becoming nervous as the Autarch, the god-emperor of Xi's, has consolidated his hold on the Southern continent and is seeking new conquests. King Olin of Shadowmarch sought to unite the Northern Kingdoms in alliance of protection against this threat but was captured by the bandit ruler of Hierosol who demands a considerable ransom for his release. Olin's heir Prince Kendrick attempts to hold Shadowmarch together but tragedy thrusts his two younger siblings to prominence. Briony is tired of being judged on her gender is determined to show her worth while her twin brother Barrick is plagued by nightmares that make him question his sanity. Meanwhile the Twilight people, fairy folk driven off by humans centuries ago, have plans to take back what was taken from them.<br />
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Like many of Williams books the pacing of the novel, especially in the beginning, is exceedingly slow. However it is well worth persisting with. Williams is able to create a brooding atmosphere throughout which kept me turning the pages. World-building is solid and while the characters might seem to adhere to genre stereotypes at first glance they are very well developed.<br />
<br />
Overall pacing issues aside Williams delivers a very strong, character-driven novel. 8/10.Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04344917148662934359noreply@blogger.com0