C. J. Daley
Yet another down in my quest to read all my fellow authors in The Book of Spores Anthology. And a big thanks to Saga for sending me a physical arc! I did not realize I also had this on Audible, so I had copies all over. Zoe Mills did a fantastic job bringing the characters (especially Ryia IMO) and world to life.
Carrowwick is a city filled to the brim with secrets, theft, and worse. Ryia has become a prominent name in the thieving and assassination circles, her own crew not even knowing how she slips in and out the way she does. But she has a secret, one her crew doesn’t know either. And while they may all be out for their own good, they will have to work together, as their next (desperate) job is to pull off a heist on the Guildmaster’s very own island…the one who controls the most power, and the man who wants each of them gone.
This gave me notes of Assassin’s Creed, Six of Crows and Andy Peloquin’s Queen of Thieves. A ragtag crew of pirates, disguise artists, thieves and assassins, all led by one calculating mastermind. A thief/assassin (especially with the hood on the cover) will always bring AC to mind, a comparison I always love. With its collective group of desperate people this felt like an aged-up cast from the likes of Six of Crows, the climactic heist certainly adding to the feel. Then there’s the lead of Ryia, who brought to mind Peloquin’s thieves guild and main character, Ilanna, blending the feel of this one as somehow wholly familiar and yet unique.
The city reads quite bleak, an utter cesspit of unlawfulness, almost grimdark, while the characters themselves feel like they’re only there out of necessity. They’ve learned to navigate this darkness simply so they don’t succumb to it. I thought all of them were interesting on their own, and every single one of them has a secret part to play. I did find the shifting POV to be a little on the stranger side, as there does seem to be a leading arc with Ryia, but it added depth to everyone for sure.
The magic system, which felt similar to Krystle Matar’s Tainted Dominion in the sense that it is only revealed in general shape, not its entirety, was another piece that felt both new and familiar…a new sweater from the same brand. And what I particularly enjoyed about it is the fact that it takes a sort of seat on the back burner. It is both present and not the lead, and with that, the author can really go so many places as the world doesn’t rely on any hard rules yet.
This one has a sort of reluctant found family, an honor among thieves that melds into a kind of dysfunctional family. They rely on each other, they learn trust, but even family can be hard…and some of the family members carry axes.
Yet another down in my quest to read all my fellow authors in The Book of Spores Anthology. And a big thanks to Saga for sending me a physical arc! I did not realize I also had this on Audible, so I had copies all over. Zoe Mills did a fantastic job bringing the characters (especially Ryia IMO) and world to life.
Carrowwick is a city filled to the brim with secrets, theft, and worse. Ryia has become a prominent name in the thieving and assassination circles, her own crew not even knowing how she slips in and out the way she does. But she has a secret, one her crew doesn’t know either. And while they may all be out for their own good, they will have to work together, as their next (desperate) job is to pull off a heist on the Guildmaster’s very own island…the one who controls the most power, and the man who wants each of them gone.
This gave me notes of Assassin’s Creed, Six of Crows and Andy Peloquin’s Queen of Thieves. A ragtag crew of pirates, disguise artists, thieves and assassins, all led by one calculating mastermind. A thief/assassin (especially with the hood on the cover) will always bring AC to mind, a comparison I always love. With its collective group of desperate people this felt like an aged-up cast from the likes of Six of Crows, the climactic heist certainly adding to the feel. Then there’s the lead of Ryia, who brought to mind Peloquin’s thieves guild and main character, Ilanna, blending the feel of this one as somehow wholly familiar and yet unique.
The city reads quite bleak, an utter cesspit of unlawfulness, almost grimdark, while the characters themselves feel like they’re only there out of necessity. They’ve learned to navigate this darkness simply so they don’t succumb to it. I thought all of them were interesting on their own, and every single one of them has a secret part to play. I did find the shifting POV to be a little on the stranger side, as there does seem to be a leading arc with Ryia, but it added depth to everyone for sure.
The magic system, which felt similar to Krystle Matar’s Tainted Dominion in the sense that it is only revealed in general shape, not its entirety, was another piece that felt both new and familiar…a new sweater from the same brand. And what I particularly enjoyed about it is the fact that it takes a sort of seat on the back burner. It is both present and not the lead, and with that, the author can really go so many places as the world doesn’t rely on any hard rules yet.
This one has a sort of reluctant found family, an honor among thieves that melds into a kind of dysfunctional family. They rely on each other, they learn trust, but even family can be hard…and some of the family members carry axes.
Another read I grabbed on audible in my quest to read all my fellow authors in The Book of Spores anthology. While folks usually think to recommend me their darker, more horror-turning tales, I actually started with reading all fantasy and sci-fi. I was right at home. The narration by Cricket The Narrator was solid, particularly in voice, delivery and tone for the lead character, and I was engaged for the full four hours.
Charlus is a teen, a refugee, a person who has witnessed too much loss for her age. She’s also actively on the run while secrets from the past keep her in hot pursuit. But after a run in with a pirate crew, who take her in, you have to wonder if she’s found somewhere worth staying after all this time, if something good might finally stick. Not that it’ll be easy though…
This was awesome. Like a little pocket-sized space opera. It had elements that felt like Star Wars, with a droid that felt similar to K2SO, and a crew with hearts of gold. It also reminded me of iRobot with its AI genocide and threat of human extinction. And then with its subtle dark humor (like a ship called the MTV) it felt reminiscent of the crew from Guardians of the Galaxy. The blend lends itself to something that felt wholly Rook for me, as opposed to just an amalgamation of other things, and I be happy to see more of this world to come.
And while I did find multiple things about this one to be humorous, it also tackled some darker themes/topics. For Charlus to be toppled with the loss of her parents so early on, especially while on the run in a world where having a guardian could keep you going, she’s really shown to be a strong female lead. She sees death and destruction, she finds out the truth about secrets kept, and yet she keeps persevering all the same. It’s a testament to the author’s writing and also one of the things I think is the most crucial about the science fiction genre as a whole: hope. This novella displays it well. Even on the verge of human extinction, people pull together and pull through, and that’s a topic I will continue to read on and on.
I thought the ending happened a tad abruptly, too easily, but then I was of course faked out and there was a climax within the climax. I am happily surprised that even within such a short piece of writing I could forget to keep track of the things seeded throughout the story by the author. I’m hoping you’ll enjoy it too! This one needs more sci-fi reading eyes on it stat.
Another read I grabbed on audible in my quest to read all my fellow authors in The Book of Spores anthology. While folks usually think to recommend me their darker, more horror-turning tales, I actually started with reading all fantasy and sci-fi. I was right at home. The narration by Cricket The Narrator was solid, particularly in voice, delivery and tone for the lead character, and I was engaged for the full four hours.
Charlus is a teen, a refugee, a person who has witnessed too much loss for her age. She’s also actively on the run while secrets from the past keep her in hot pursuit. But after a run in with a pirate crew, who take her in, you have to wonder if she’s found somewhere worth staying after all this time, if something good might finally stick. Not that it’ll be easy though…
This was awesome. Like a little pocket-sized space opera. It had elements that felt like Star Wars, with a droid that felt similar to K2SO, and a crew with hearts of gold. It also reminded me of iRobot with its AI genocide and threat of human extinction. And then with its subtle dark humor (like a ship called the MTV) it felt reminiscent of the crew from Guardians of the Galaxy. The blend lends itself to something that felt wholly Rook for me, as opposed to just an amalgamation of other things, and I be happy to see more of this world to come.
And while I did find multiple things about this one to be humorous, it also tackled some darker themes/topics. For Charlus to be toppled with the loss of her parents so early on, especially while on the run in a world where having a guardian could keep you going, she’s really shown to be a strong female lead. She sees death and destruction, she finds out the truth about secrets kept, and yet she keeps persevering all the same. It’s a testament to the author’s writing and also one of the things I think is the most crucial about the science fiction genre as a whole: hope. This novella displays it well. Even on the verge of human extinction, people pull together and pull through, and that’s a topic I will continue to read on and on.
I thought the ending happened a tad abruptly, too easily, but then I was of course faked out and there was a climax within the climax. I am happily surprised that even within such a short piece of writing I could forget to keep track of the things seeded throughout the story by the author. I’m hoping you’ll enjoy it too! This one needs more sci-fi reading eyes on it stat.
Grabbed this one on Audible in my continued quest to read something by all my fellow authors in The Book of Spores anthology. This one was on my radar for a while, but I won’t lie, its length made it a tad daunting! Thanks to the audio, with great narration by Felicity Munroe and Paul Woodson, I was finally able to tackle it.
Tashué has always been a man of the law, even when those very same laws cost him family. Tainted members of society must register or face imprisonment in the Rift. Even Tashué son, Jason, is not immune to the sting of resisting. His father visits him, sneaking in food and sweets, the fresh figs a desperate extension of love, grief, and guilt. But as he watches his son deteriorate, Tashué has to come to the dark realization that not all things are just, not all laws can be abided. As a caseworker, he was never meant to investigate the death of a child, a mutilated one at that. But he’s haunted by the death and what it could mean for his world. Will a new case, a costly mistake, and stumbling into love finally break down the cone of ignorance he’s built around himself for so long?
This author is one hell of a tale weaver. For a novel that’s blurb starts with “follow the law and you’ll stay safe. But what if the law is wrong?” I felt that the author really engaged readers in a deft manor. Readers, through Tashué, are not beat over the head with this. Rather they watch this seed of doubt grow into realization as he continues to lose and suffer at the hands of those that created his “just” laws. The plot isn’t forced, often even leading readers away from the point as he lives his life and experiences each new hurdle. The layering of him getting to experience rich people doing whatever the hell they want, the way his son is beaten and starved, how his new lover is in constant danger, and how horrifically the death of his son’s mother is handled, are just a few examples of how the author melds this change in him into his psyche. Tashué is complex and engaging, with all the natural drivers of a man and character, but he’s also allowed to come into this heroic, take-no-shit role by the end.
The world of the Dominion is really intriguing, giving readers this sort of gaslamp-grimdark feeling. It reminded me in a way of Sarah Chorn’s world in Of Honey and Wildfires, and the unidentified tattooed-child opener felt similar to Mushroom Blues’ (which I happened to read first). Tashué is a war veteran, cigarillo smoker, kind of victorian-era-dressing lead that also felt reminiscent of a cowboy. Then there’s the tainted, or rather “gifted,” which layer in a subtle magic system. We know that these folks can do different things with this magic, and although it is the reason for many of their imprisonment, the powers themselves are not the forefront of the story. That worked well for me and made it feel equally unique as well.
I will say this does leave you on quite a cliffhanger ending, which I was not expecting…and yet after a 23.5hr audiobook, I really just wanted to start right up into the second one! Beautiful prose, incredible storytelling, and a uniquely crafted world make this a must read for all fans of fantasy and even mystery!
Grabbed this one on Audible in my continued quest to read something by all my fellow authors in The Book of Spores anthology. This one was on my radar for a while, but I won’t lie, its length made it a tad daunting! Thanks to the audio, with great narration by Felicity Munroe and Paul Woodson, I was finally able to tackle it.
Tashué has always been a man of the law, even when those very same laws cost him family. Tainted members of society must register or face imprisonment in the Rift. Even Tashué son, Jason, is not immune to the sting of resisting. His father visits him, sneaking in food and sweets, the fresh figs a desperate extension of love, grief, and guilt. But as he watches his son deteriorate, Tashué has to come to the dark realization that not all things are just, not all laws can be abided. As a caseworker, he was never meant to investigate the death of a child, a mutilated one at that. But he’s haunted by the death and what it could mean for his world. Will a new case, a costly mistake, and stumbling into love finally break down the cone of ignorance he’s built around himself for so long?
This author is one hell of a tale weaver. For a novel that’s blurb starts with “follow the law and you’ll stay safe. But what if the law is wrong?” I felt that the author really engaged readers in a deft manor. Readers, through Tashué, are not beat over the head with this. Rather they watch this seed of doubt grow into realization as he continues to lose and suffer at the hands of those that created his “just” laws. The plot isn’t forced, often even leading readers away from the point as he lives his life and experiences each new hurdle. The layering of him getting to experience rich people doing whatever the hell they want, the way his son is beaten and starved, how his new lover is in constant danger, and how horrifically the death of his son’s mother is handled, are just a few examples of how the author melds this change in him into his psyche. Tashué is complex and engaging, with all the natural drivers of a man and character, but he’s also allowed to come into this heroic, take-no-shit role by the end.
The world of the Dominion is really intriguing, giving readers this sort of gaslamp-grimdark feeling. It reminded me in a way of Sarah Chorn’s world in Of Honey and Wildfires, and the unidentified tattooed-child opener felt similar to Mushroom Blues’ (which I happened to read first). Tashué is a war veteran, cigarillo smoker, kind of victorian-era-dressing lead that also felt reminiscent of a cowboy. Then there’s the tainted, or rather “gifted,” which layer in a subtle magic system. We know that these folks can do different things with this magic, and although it is the reason for many of their imprisonment, the powers themselves are not the forefront of the story. That worked well for me and made it feel equally unique as well.
I will say this does leave you on quite a cliffhanger ending, which I was not expecting…and yet after a 23.5hr audiobook, I really just wanted to start right up into the second one! Beautiful prose, incredible storytelling, and a uniquely crafted world make this a must read for all fans of fantasy and even mystery!
Huge thanks to Scholastic for the physical arc! I thought the cover was good and the rest is history.
An older kid’s locker caught on fire. Everyone in school is speculating about it: arson, revenge, accident. Everyone seems to be an expert. But when four students who share the locker alcove where the fire started are called to the office, all that speculation now has faces to point the blame at. Can Gabe, Liam, Dani and Kate solve the crime before they’ve lost to the court of public opinion? And regardless of what happened to the locker, was there something more serious that caused it to happen?
For me, this was just a really nice, brain off kind of read. I read it on vacation, and while the mystery is quite simple, I did enjoy the characters. Gabe is a troublemaker, perhaps some would even call him a bully. But after seeing a fight go too far, he’s determined to turn a new leaf, even if others struggle to believe it. Liam is shy, nerdy, and uncomfortable being the new kid in school. While that temperament wouldn’t normally lend itself to vandalism, he was seen being interviewed by the locker’s owner. Kate and Dani are both part of the school’s paper, and if anyone was going to know secrets or gossip, their classmates are bound to assume it’s them. All four of them share lockers near his, and with minimal poking it could be blamed on any of them. But are they guilty?
This is definitely a mystery for younger ages. It isn’t overly complicated, and if you are looking for the clues, you can see the twist, but it is perfect for middle grade readers. The school features a diverse student body, which was very similar to the school I attended, but for those that don’t live in that type of area, this would be great to have on hand to show them.
For me, the best part of this is the main four. Some Scooby Doo references sprinkled in, this is just such an unlikely group to smush together. Liam could so easily have been one of Gabe’s victims, Dani and Kate are actual ex-best friends. The author does well to show how everyone can be complex and multilayered enough for introspection and growth. Sometimes the real bullies are those pretending to be the nicest.
Huge thanks to Scholastic for the physical arc! I thought the cover was good and the rest is history.
An older kid’s locker caught on fire. Everyone in school is speculating about it: arson, revenge, accident. Everyone seems to be an expert. But when four students who share the locker alcove where the fire started are called to the office, all that speculation now has faces to point the blame at. Can Gabe, Liam, Dani and Kate solve the crime before they’ve lost to the court of public opinion? And regardless of what happened to the locker, was there something more serious that caused it to happen?
For me, this was just a really nice, brain off kind of read. I read it on vacation, and while the mystery is quite simple, I did enjoy the characters. Gabe is a troublemaker, perhaps some would even call him a bully. But after seeing a fight go too far, he’s determined to turn a new leaf, even if others struggle to believe it. Liam is shy, nerdy, and uncomfortable being the new kid in school. While that temperament wouldn’t normally lend itself to vandalism, he was seen being interviewed by the locker’s owner. Kate and Dani are both part of the school’s paper, and if anyone was going to know secrets or gossip, their classmates are bound to assume it’s them. All four of them share lockers near his, and with minimal poking it could be blamed on any of them. But are they guilty?
This is definitely a mystery for younger ages. It isn’t overly complicated, and if you are looking for the clues, you can see the twist, but it is perfect for middle grade readers. The school features a diverse student body, which was very similar to the school I attended, but for those that don’t live in that type of area, this would be great to have on hand to show them.
For me, the best part of this is the main four. Some Scooby Doo references sprinkled in, this is just such an unlikely group to smush together. Liam could so easily have been one of Gabe’s victims, Dani and Kate are actual ex-best friends. The author does well to show how everyone can be complex and multilayered enough for introspection and growth. Sometimes the real bullies are those pretending to be the nicest.
Had the opportunity to read this for the Indie Ink Awards and happened to grab myself a copy on Audible. The narration, done by the author, was awesome!
I don’t usually read too many sailor/pirate books, but this intrigued me. The first sentence of the blurb mentions demon-binding and 200 ghosts trapped in someone’s head…what’s not to be interested in? Sally is haunted, not just by the ghosts, but by past decisions and mistakes. On the run from the navy, with only alcohol to drown out the tumult of voices, it’s not exactly like they are amounting to much. But with an offer from a navy captain—one promising enough coin for ghost eviction and a new life—it’s all a bit too enticing to refuse. They survive on a flooded world, landmasses being an almost entirely extinct thing of the past. These demons, or abyssals, come from far below and may even hold hints to the old world. And while the ‘why’ of the navy’s request might mean little to Sally, it might just end up carrying more weight than previously thought.
This novel carried a well written and easy to follow prose, with deeply imaginative characters, and world building to match. The idea behind the world reminded me of the movie Waterworld or the novel Blind Waves by Steven Gould, however this has a much more fantasy based feel. There are characters with powers, though they may seem more like curses, and the piratey, high-seas nature of this makes it feel more like you’d run into some kind of galleon rather than something scifi. And that feeling reminded me of Emmie Hamilton’s When Stars Become Shadows.
The character work is the real star here. Sally is the tortured soul, the destitute fellow. The ghosts require constant silencing, so even though there’s such natural talent, he must avoid going insane at all costs. The growth shown in both caring for the girl that helped keep him alive, as well as Mary, the ship’s first mate, displays a layer of depth readers needed to root for him. Mary, whose power is the opposite of Sally’s, which for some reason makes these people usually hate each other, is slowly turned toward caring due to the helplessness she witnesses at the hands of the ghosts. She’s not heartless, and won’t just stand by when she can help the suffering. I also really liked the captain, the large bearded guy that is exactly who you’d imagine the captain being, and yet he can also be a very soft person. One that doesn’t give up easily.
There are some great action sequences as well, with swords and destruction. I liked how the author weaved injury and powers into each other, a kind of reminder that this isn’t our world, but also that it doesn’t mean they can survive anything they want. Bedridden characters with the will to command demons from the depths to eternal service…
The ending was a little surprising in how muted it was. But I was glad that with its LGBTQ representation that not everything had to end in such suffering. For me, it ended up being kind of nice, even if it was a soft exit for the climax.
Had the opportunity to read this for the Indie Ink Awards and happened to grab myself a copy on Audible. The narration, done by the author, was awesome!
I don’t usually read too many sailor/pirate books, but this intrigued me. The first sentence of the blurb mentions demon-binding and 200 ghosts trapped in someone’s head…what’s not to be interested in? Sally is haunted, not just by the ghosts, but by past decisions and mistakes. On the run from the navy, with only alcohol to drown out the tumult of voices, it’s not exactly like they are amounting to much. But with an offer from a navy captain—one promising enough coin for ghost eviction and a new life—it’s all a bit too enticing to refuse. They survive on a flooded world, landmasses being an almost entirely extinct thing of the past. These demons, or abyssals, come from far below and may even hold hints to the old world. And while the ‘why’ of the navy’s request might mean little to Sally, it might just end up carrying more weight than previously thought.
This novel carried a well written and easy to follow prose, with deeply imaginative characters, and world building to match. The idea behind the world reminded me of the movie Waterworld or the novel Blind Waves by Steven Gould, however this has a much more fantasy based feel. There are characters with powers, though they may seem more like curses, and the piratey, high-seas nature of this makes it feel more like you’d run into some kind of galleon rather than something scifi. And that feeling reminded me of Emmie Hamilton’s When Stars Become Shadows.
The character work is the real star here. Sally is the tortured soul, the destitute fellow. The ghosts require constant silencing, so even though there’s such natural talent, he must avoid going insane at all costs. The growth shown in both caring for the girl that helped keep him alive, as well as Mary, the ship’s first mate, displays a layer of depth readers needed to root for him. Mary, whose power is the opposite of Sally’s, which for some reason makes these people usually hate each other, is slowly turned toward caring due to the helplessness she witnesses at the hands of the ghosts. She’s not heartless, and won’t just stand by when she can help the suffering. I also really liked the captain, the large bearded guy that is exactly who you’d imagine the captain being, and yet he can also be a very soft person. One that doesn’t give up easily.
There are some great action sequences as well, with swords and destruction. I liked how the author weaved injury and powers into each other, a kind of reminder that this isn’t our world, but also that it doesn’t mean they can survive anything they want. Bedridden characters with the will to command demons from the depths to eternal service…
The ending was a little surprising in how muted it was. But I was glad that with its LGBTQ representation that not everything had to end in such suffering. For me, it ended up being kind of nice, even if it was a soft exit for the climax.
Huge thanks to the author for the eARC! I swear I uploaded my star rating much sooner, I’m just behind on written reviews!
Look at this cover, dudes! This might actually rival book one’s cover and that’s a tall order. It perfectly encapsulates those old school movie posters that you just know were gonna get slapped onto the front of the VHS release. Scantily-clad spring breakers, a religious fanatic, nods to the infected animals, and of course the cast and crew. I need physical copies of both, stat.
It’s just months after the recently titled (and covered up) Meteor Murders took place. With so much chaos, and so many lives lost, a mass funeral procession took place, and while Realene is sinking into her sorrow, something sinister is on the horizon. Nate tries desperately to get her out of her funk, to join in on the spring break plans. A trip to Canada, a week away from the sadness at home, and even better, all taken care of by Harmon. The family friend has continued to look after Realene since the death of her mother, but why Canada??
So, how does this stack up as a sequel? For me, leaps and bounds better than the first, and I thoroughly enjoyed book one. The character work is something special, the action is well crafted, and the location shift kept the setting exciting. The author even manages to shift the focus off of infected animals (although they are still there, and bigger than ever…), and we get to see the way it interacts with the human body. At first this gives it more of a zombie feature feel, but the author doesn’t seem to do anything in half measures. The memory loss is amped up, so those not infected with rage are losing what seems to be years of themselves. It was an added layer of anxiety-inducing close calls for the gang. The switch to Canada was a great idea. Dragging the gang out of Demise allowed for the introduction of new characters, overall made everything feel new, and the fact that they didn’t know where they were, in a blizzard no less, was just another thing keeping me on the edge of my seat.
Cold Snap also takes a darker turn. The fun-filled 90s references and neon colors are still there for us, but the subject matter is dark! Realene is deep in her loss and grief. She’s pushing away the only close people left. Not only that, but the climax’s reveal futures some implications for her that really successfully drove home the depths the author was taking us (as spoiler free as possible for ya). And of course, there’s Nate, the lovingly endearing bestie that can’t let her stay down. The juxtaposition of the best friends’ diverging paths after the Meteor Murders was deftly handled, and really made for such an enticing read. Nate lost his father, who frankly, was kind of a bad dude. So for him, his struggle is how he wants to move on with his life. His mother may be struggling to forgive him, but he also has a new girlfriend, so he has reason to look forward. If anything, Realene feels there’s little reason to look anywhere but back. While her mother was suffering from dementia before, and slowly losing herself, her abrupt death has now left Realene with neither parent. The author does a fantastic job of crisscrossing the friends’ behavior/mindsets by the end.
This sequel features one hell of a climactic twist. Not only that those close to you can deceive, but that your entire perception can shift at the drop of a hat…as if an alien worm that turns anything it touches into mindless, rageful freaks wasn’t enough. A military bunker and a whole bunch of secrets await those who read (and everyone should), and if I don’t get a sequel soon Dark Matter Ink will be hearing from me!
Huge thanks to the author for the eARC! I swear I uploaded my star rating much sooner, I’m just behind on written reviews!
Look at this cover, dudes! This might actually rival book one’s cover and that’s a tall order. It perfectly encapsulates those old school movie posters that you just know were gonna get slapped onto the front of the VHS release. Scantily-clad spring breakers, a religious fanatic, nods to the infected animals, and of course the cast and crew. I need physical copies of both, stat.
It’s just months after the recently titled (and covered up) Meteor Murders took place. With so much chaos, and so many lives lost, a mass funeral procession took place, and while Realene is sinking into her sorrow, something sinister is on the horizon. Nate tries desperately to get her out of her funk, to join in on the spring break plans. A trip to Canada, a week away from the sadness at home, and even better, all taken care of by Harmon. The family friend has continued to look after Realene since the death of her mother, but why Canada??
So, how does this stack up as a sequel? For me, leaps and bounds better than the first, and I thoroughly enjoyed book one. The character work is something special, the action is well crafted, and the location shift kept the setting exciting. The author even manages to shift the focus off of infected animals (although they are still there, and bigger than ever…), and we get to see the way it interacts with the human body. At first this gives it more of a zombie feature feel, but the author doesn’t seem to do anything in half measures. The memory loss is amped up, so those not infected with rage are losing what seems to be years of themselves. It was an added layer of anxiety-inducing close calls for the gang. The switch to Canada was a great idea. Dragging the gang out of Demise allowed for the introduction of new characters, overall made everything feel new, and the fact that they didn’t know where they were, in a blizzard no less, was just another thing keeping me on the edge of my seat.
Cold Snap also takes a darker turn. The fun-filled 90s references and neon colors are still there for us, but the subject matter is dark! Realene is deep in her loss and grief. She’s pushing away the only close people left. Not only that, but the climax’s reveal futures some implications for her that really successfully drove home the depths the author was taking us (as spoiler free as possible for ya). And of course, there’s Nate, the lovingly endearing bestie that can’t let her stay down. The juxtaposition of the best friends’ diverging paths after the Meteor Murders was deftly handled, and really made for such an enticing read. Nate lost his father, who frankly, was kind of a bad dude. So for him, his struggle is how he wants to move on with his life. His mother may be struggling to forgive him, but he also has a new girlfriend, so he has reason to look forward. If anything, Realene feels there’s little reason to look anywhere but back. While her mother was suffering from dementia before, and slowly losing herself, her abrupt death has now left Realene with neither parent. The author does a fantastic job of crisscrossing the friends’ behavior/mindsets by the end.
This sequel features one hell of a climactic twist. Not only that those close to you can deceive, but that your entire perception can shift at the drop of a hat…as if an alien worm that turns anything it touches into mindless, rageful freaks wasn’t enough. A military bunker and a whole bunch of secrets await those who read (and everyone should), and if I don’t get a sequel soon Dark Matter Ink will be hearing from me!
Huge thanks to Aethon for the hardcover review copy and to Andy Peloquin for setting it up! I requested this one based on the cover, and the fact that I do believe in CJ supremacy, naturally.
So, I have definitely dabbled in progression or progression-y books before, but I believe this is a first in LitRPG for me. I absolutely loved this. Like a video game world inscribed right onto the page. Including all the leveling up, experience and achievement farming, and action your heart could desire.
The floating rock of Fallen Reach is ruled by power, success, and status. Sadly for Hiral, he has none of these things. His people, the Makers, are powered by the sun. Unlocking this strength allows them to craft items from the tattoos on their bodies. And while Hiral can feel this power, has some of the most powerful tattoos available thanks to his artist parents, he still can’t seem to access it. They call him Everfail, ten years of trying, ten fails and counting. But during what should be a routine day at work, Hiral is thrust into unimaginable perils as he joins a group of Growers (a second class of people that live on lower, following rocks) on their trip to save family members…all the way on the ground. Surprise attacks, a mysterious big bad, dungeons with spawned enemies, and no way home.
I didn’t expect to dislike this, of course, but I was surprised just how much I liked it. Right off the bat I got into the flow of the writing. The opening took its time, which I think in a book over 500 pages its earned the right to, and it is a good thing too, as the rest of the novel is off-the-rails fast paced. It also lent the story a real-world feel, grounding itself in a fantasy/scifi setting for the RPG aspects to build on. This really felt like playing/watching through a video game. Travel interrupted by random attacks, character developing dialogue scenes almost like a game’s cutscenes, and full on battles. Like many games, some of the fights felt random or repetitive, but I think that is part of what you’re signing up for. And I personally thought the achievements were fun and a kind of cheeky way to add humor. The holographic doctor teaching the team at the dungeons reminded me of scenes from Horizon Zero Dawn, which really enhanced the game feel.
One of the surprises for me, was how solid the cast of characters were. Hiral is multilayered, juggling both a supportive(ish!) family and a past peppered with failure. He should be a fantastic Maker (if he only knew) and his perseverance is definitely up there with some of the top reigning characters in fantasy. Seena is a capable leader, both caring and competent. Her team is filled with different personality types, all of which coalesce into a pretty well developed sort of found family for Hiral. As social anxiety, as well as being used and mistrusting, are focal points in terms of tension, it was nice to see Hiral finally settle in on some solid trust with his adoptive team, both allowing them in and also believing their friendship is real. It was a surprisingly well balanced novel.
The action, which of course included progression—sometimes even involuntarily—allowed for dangerous and seemingly insurmountable odds to become just one more surprising feat. The idea that each fight, and even each dungeon, was just the next step in prepping the team for the mysterious bad guy actually worked for me. Layered in as if it was simply another piece of the story, it was so video game/RPG coded that I loved it.
Not only has LitRPG now been put on my mental map, it may have even progressed to hold a place in my heart. This was a fast paced, exciting first in the series, and I for one cannot wait for more.
Huge thanks to Aethon for the hardcover review copy and to Andy Peloquin for setting it up! I requested this one based on the cover, and the fact that I do believe in CJ supremacy, naturally.
So, I have definitely dabbled in progression or progression-y books before, but I believe this is a first in LitRPG for me. I absolutely loved this. Like a video game world inscribed right onto the page. Including all the leveling up, experience and achievement farming, and action your heart could desire.
The floating rock of Fallen Reach is ruled by power, success, and status. Sadly for Hiral, he has none of these things. His people, the Makers, are powered by the sun. Unlocking this strength allows them to craft items from the tattoos on their bodies. And while Hiral can feel this power, has some of the most powerful tattoos available thanks to his artist parents, he still can’t seem to access it. They call him Everfail, ten years of trying, ten fails and counting. But during what should be a routine day at work, Hiral is thrust into unimaginable perils as he joins a group of Growers (a second class of people that live on lower, following rocks) on their trip to save family members…all the way on the ground. Surprise attacks, a mysterious big bad, dungeons with spawned enemies, and no way home.
I didn’t expect to dislike this, of course, but I was surprised just how much I liked it. Right off the bat I got into the flow of the writing. The opening took its time, which I think in a book over 500 pages its earned the right to, and it is a good thing too, as the rest of the novel is off-the-rails fast paced. It also lent the story a real-world feel, grounding itself in a fantasy/scifi setting for the RPG aspects to build on. This really felt like playing/watching through a video game. Travel interrupted by random attacks, character developing dialogue scenes almost like a game’s cutscenes, and full on battles. Like many games, some of the fights felt random or repetitive, but I think that is part of what you’re signing up for. And I personally thought the achievements were fun and a kind of cheeky way to add humor. The holographic doctor teaching the team at the dungeons reminded me of scenes from Horizon Zero Dawn, which really enhanced the game feel.
One of the surprises for me, was how solid the cast of characters were. Hiral is multilayered, juggling both a supportive(ish!) family and a past peppered with failure. He should be a fantastic Maker (if he only knew) and his perseverance is definitely up there with some of the top reigning characters in fantasy. Seena is a capable leader, both caring and competent. Her team is filled with different personality types, all of which coalesce into a pretty well developed sort of found family for Hiral. As social anxiety, as well as being used and mistrusting, are focal points in terms of tension, it was nice to see Hiral finally settle in on some solid trust with his adoptive team, both allowing them in and also believing their friendship is real. It was a surprisingly well balanced novel.
The action, which of course included progression—sometimes even involuntarily—allowed for dangerous and seemingly insurmountable odds to become just one more surprising feat. The idea that each fight, and even each dungeon, was just the next step in prepping the team for the mysterious bad guy actually worked for me. Layered in as if it was simply another piece of the story, it was so video game/RPG coded that I loved it.
Not only has LitRPG now been put on my mental map, it may have even progressed to hold a place in my heart. This was a fast paced, exciting first in the series, and I for one cannot wait for more.
Preordered this one as soon as I saw it was available. I absolutely love the cover and color choice. Luckily, and thanks to Blackstone and Netgalley, I was able to complete this way ahead of schedule with an audio arc!
I have not read any of his books, so I suppose I didn’t realize they were friends, but a foreword by Murr from Impractical Jokers was a real surprise. So was the AI joke right out of the gate. I too love Stine and his Goosebumps and Fear Street series, but I’ve never been asked for a foreword…
The Ferber family move into their new home on Nightmare Street. Twelve-year-old Joe finds it creepy, from the street’s name to the house itself. So is it any surprise that he immediately begins having nightmares? In these dreams, he dreams of a boy named Shawn, whose sister is Addie, and it’s almost as if Joe IS Shawn and Sadie (Joe’s sister) IS Addie. Are these just really detailed, really real feeling nightmares? What’s happening on Nightmare Street?!
In the introduction, Stine talks about how he had the idea for this story one day while eating an everything bagel. Many people’s favorite bagel features every topping, so what about a book with everything his fans love? Werewolves, haunted houses, spooky dolls, tombstones, spiders, dummies and more! For me, I love the idea, but when you throw everything at the wall, not all of it tends to stick. That happened here unfortunately.
The flipping between Joe and Shawn erased a lot of the character and emotional depth for me. It is nightmarish, as it’s intended, but it gives off this sort of fever-dream feeling where nothing seems real. And when things lose their base in reality, the stakes plummet for me as you’re sort of just expecting him to wake up again and again. It also kills a lot of the building suspense for the same reason. Sadly, this one needed more to make the “everything bagel” idea work. Stine promises something that will work for all ages, and while this could be considered somewhere between middle grade and young adult, and I happened to love all the horror pop culture references in the novel, it just felt like it needed to be twice as long. Building that otherworldly, lost feeling would have gone a long way for this, but then again, maybe I’m just not the targeted reader.
Perfect for fans of midway horror that’s fast paced and features a lot of fan favorites.
Preordered this one as soon as I saw it was available. I absolutely love the cover and color choice. Luckily, and thanks to Blackstone and Netgalley, I was able to complete this way ahead of schedule with an audio arc!
I have not read any of his books, so I suppose I didn’t realize they were friends, but a foreword by Murr from Impractical Jokers was a real surprise. So was the AI joke right out of the gate. I too love Stine and his Goosebumps and Fear Street series, but I’ve never been asked for a foreword…
The Ferber family move into their new home on Nightmare Street. Twelve-year-old Joe finds it creepy, from the street’s name to the house itself. So is it any surprise that he immediately begins having nightmares? In these dreams, he dreams of a boy named Shawn, whose sister is Addie, and it’s almost as if Joe IS Shawn and Sadie (Joe’s sister) IS Addie. Are these just really detailed, really real feeling nightmares? What’s happening on Nightmare Street?!
In the introduction, Stine talks about how he had the idea for this story one day while eating an everything bagel. Many people’s favorite bagel features every topping, so what about a book with everything his fans love? Werewolves, haunted houses, spooky dolls, tombstones, spiders, dummies and more! For me, I love the idea, but when you throw everything at the wall, not all of it tends to stick. That happened here unfortunately.
The flipping between Joe and Shawn erased a lot of the character and emotional depth for me. It is nightmarish, as it’s intended, but it gives off this sort of fever-dream feeling where nothing seems real. And when things lose their base in reality, the stakes plummet for me as you’re sort of just expecting him to wake up again and again. It also kills a lot of the building suspense for the same reason. Sadly, this one needed more to make the “everything bagel” idea work. Stine promises something that will work for all ages, and while this could be considered somewhere between middle grade and young adult, and I happened to love all the horror pop culture references in the novel, it just felt like it needed to be twice as long. Building that otherworldly, lost feeling would have gone a long way for this, but then again, maybe I’m just not the targeted reader.
Perfect for fans of midway horror that’s fast paced and features a lot of fan favorites.