Michael Cummings
“The Demon King” is a novel from two disparate perspectives that eventually begin to weave together. We have Han Alister, who at sixteen years old is already a former thief and gang leader, trying to live his life honestly. But even when staying out of town, trouble still finds him, and before long he is tangling with wizards and getting into worse trouble than he ever did as a gang leader.
The flip side of the novel follows Raisa, princess and soon to be heir to the Queendom of the Fells. Life isn't as sweet and simple as it should be for a princess as Raisa becomes more and more aware and involved in politics that are as old as the Queendom. The closer Raisa gets to her 16th birthday and “Name Day,” the more convinced she becomes of something running afoul in the Queendom. And somehow, her mother the Queen seems to be at the heart of it.
First, the con. The novel makes so many allusions to past events and history in this first novels that I spent the first third of the book convinced that I had missed a preceding volume or even series. No such book existed, sadly, which makes it even more baffling. I understand the desire to start a story already in motion, so that the reader can discover the world of the characters. Sometimes, that works. Sometimes, it doesn't. In this case, it almost didn't work.
However, if you can plow forward in the book, things will snap together and start to make sense. As soon as they do, the book is a rush of action and revelation even when it quickly becomes evident that there is going to be little conclusion in this volume. The stories of Han and Raisa loosely weave together and apart in a way that will leave the reader eagerly anticipating the next page. And for every revelation we receive, there is a hint that we are only hearing a part of the story.
This first volume of the Seven Realms offers a lot of promise, and I'm looking forward to reading the next volume to see if Chima pays off. If you're looking for a story with conflicting love interests, magic, and the threat of a kingdom spiraling into war, the first act of the Seven Realms series is a good place to start. Enjoy!
Its no small talent to find yourself sympathizing with a character that, when you take a step back, you know is a horrible example of humanity. The Dragon's Path delivered as an introduction to a new epic, though the entire 500+ page book felt more like the prelude to the story rather than the first chapter. If Abraham delivers with book two, that won't be a problem, but if not, well - that's why I gave it three stars. It was a fun read, but except for one plot line I spent most of the book wondering when it would pick up.
As readers of epic fantasy, we are spoiled. We've come to expect that anything labeled epic must be epic in all regards. It must require epic feats of strength to carry it; it must be epic in length and effort to read it; it must have an epic length cast. Reading Erin Hoffman's debut novel, “Sword of Fire and Sea,” will be a shock to the system for most epic fantasy readers who haven't experienced fantasy from the recent batch of new to the scene fantasy authors. Hoffman employs an economy of words that is near terse - there are no wasted descriptions, no wasted scenes.
As the blurb from Pyr goes, three generations ago Captain Vidarian Rulorat's great-grandfather gave up an imperial commission to marry a
fire priestess. For love, he unwittingly obligated his descendants to an allegiance with the High Temple of Kara'zul, domain of the fire priestesses. Now Vidarian, the last surviving member of the Rulorat family, struggles to uphold his family's legacy. All of this, of course, is background, and this is about as much as is revealed in the novel itself. You can easily disregard the rest of the back flap's description of the book, because the book quickly changes course more than once as you weave through the story. Hoffman does a great job of keeping you turning those pages, though, so that it isn't until the novel is done and you glance at the back of the cover that you remember to ask yourself, whatever happened with that plot point?
For a time of the year when the northern hemisphere fantasy readers are looking for “beach books,” preferably something shorter than the tomes the likes of Rothfuss and Sanderson are putting out (which are great, but ruin your tan by blocking out the sun as you struggle to hold a thousand page monstrosity up and turn the page), Hoffman's debut will be a fun delight.
My only complaint about the novel, and I'm phrasing this so it isn't a spoiler, is - really? “Correctamundo?” “See you later, alligator?” You've got a lot of explaining to do, Ms. Hoffman :)
Before I even get into my review of this book, I should explain my past with this series. I first tried getting into the Shadows of the Apt series when book one, “Empire in Black and Gold,” came out - tried, and failed. I thought the ideas were interesting, but the execution was a little too predictable even for me, and I gave up. I watched as successive novels came out, each one sounding awesome. I even read a few short stories set in this world of the Apt, but I never tried to go back to the full series.
And then book five fell into my hands. I could still remember the characters and world setting from the first book, but would that be enough for me to get through “The Scarab Path”? Just barely, and now I know I've missed out on some awesome reading. Comparing book one to book five, it's easy to see Tchaikovsky's growth and maturation as a writer. The action scenes are well paced, and there are plenty of them. But this isn't just an excuse to chronicle some series of RPG born campaigns - there is no want on violence, and every scene serves to further the plot.
The only drawback of this novel is that it doesn't work as a stand alone story. If you've only read the back covers of the other four in the series, you know about the rise of the Wasp empire, and how by the end of book four the Wasps were halted, at least for now. In that respect, this novel is a new direction for the series. But without at least a basic familiarity of the cast involved, the Scarab Path would be confusing to navigate. Many names are just casually referred to, even when critical to the plot. In this novel we bring back Che and Thalric as our principal view point characters, with a mix of new and old supporting cast to round out the story narration. The story is set in the distant city of Khanaphes, a city consigned to myth where a strange kinden of beetles live their lives according to the laws of their mysteriously absent Masters. Che is there to find answers to the confusing questions she was left with at the end of the last book. And where Che goes, others will follow, all suspecting secret strategy in her visit to such a remote corner of the Nem desert.
“The Scarab Path” was a good read that kept me up late reading often. Its always fun to read a book that is so stock full of high magic (the Art of the Apt can be described no other way) but where the characters are blind to it, seeing only the fantastical of the rare low (Inapt)magic. A wonderful blend of steampunk and epic fantasy, “The Scarab Path” makes a good addition to the Shadows of the Apt series.
Pevel returns to seventeenth century France in this second novel of the Cardinal's Blades. A new threat rises to threaten the future of France. La Donna, an Italian spy known for her subterfuge and intrigue and, of course, inescapable and beguiling beauty, possesses information of a plot against the King and is willing to share it, for a price.
As a French adventure story that is supposed to remind us of Dumas - if Alexandre had had a penchant for dragons, dragonnettes, and dracs running rampant in the streets of Paris and the French countryside alongside the musketeers, that is - Pevel succeeds.
There is a flavor to this novel that is very reminiscent of nineteenth century adventure
novels, doused liberally with fantasy elements. This novel isn't without its difficulties, though. As a sequel, it stumbles a little. Certain revelations from the first book are largely ignored in this sequel, a flaw that only can be overlooked thanks to stronger writing on Pevel's part. The reader has to be prepared to do a little bit of work as Pevel traces a path through Paris street by street in what can be a confusing list of streets. Pevel, like Dumas (but sometimes without the same grace), suffers the crime of random information dumps, which mire this story in unnecessary complexity at times. Too much information, especially when revealed in a story utilizing the third person omniscience of the all knowing, all seeing, all explaining author, lends a detachment to the reader that makes it difficult to invest fully in the characters.
“The Alchemist in the Shadows” is a good read, but you may have to
work for it a little bit. .
“Eon”, the first book of this series, did a fantastic job of givingthe reader glimpses of something deeper to the story, then taunting usby keeping it a foot out of reach. Does the sequel live up to the first volume?
For the most part, yes. “Eona” is the counter to it's predecessor, aconstant torrent of action and motion that rapidly drives the readerto the conclusion, which is really a shame. So many authors these days seem to perpetuate a series long past the point it should have ended, dragging their readership along because, as readers, they've already invested so much into it. If anything, though, Alison Goodman doesn't draw the story out long enough.
This sequel begins hot on the tail of the first book. Eona has just realized the truth of her dragon, but she is still untrained. Sethon has named himself emperor, and Eona's only hope at mastering herselfand her power lies in Ido, the Dragoneye responsible for all of the destruction. “Eona” dashes off from there, as Kygo struggles to secure the empire from his uncle, while Eona learns the secret of both her ancestor and the String of Pearls. Along the way, Eona learns what sheneeds to.
Goodman does too good a job though - even as we narrow in on the final pages, you can't help but wish there was another volume or three to the story. I don't believe we ever got a satisfactory answer about the compass, and Goodman's world is certainly rich enough that you want to spend more time in it. If you enjoyed Eon, you'll enjoy this conclusion.
Let me caveat this by saying that where this anthology shone, it was blinding. There were a few stories that could have used an editorial redraft, though, with strong ideas but awkward execution. And then there were those stories that made this anthology completely worth it - “Twisted Words” by Andy Stockton is so reminiscent of a good gothic that its scary to think this might be one of his first publications; Rebecca Snow's “He's Not Heavy” is just awesome; “Forgive Me, Father, For I Have....Burp” is a touch comic, but certainly a fresh (and senses engaging) story; “The Overpass” by John Lemut really should be expanded and made into a novel in its own right. 4 out of 5 to balance the yin with the yang - all had strong stories and concepts, the balance of the stars coming from polished and still rough.
Good read! I'm looking forward to getting my hands on the arc so I can review this for YAFantasyGuide.com. As with all “epic fantasy” novels, it isn't whether we can read what the author telegraphs us in advance (no spoilers, but if you read this and don't see some things coming, bah!) - but its the anticipation and reveal that makes it worth it. Certainly a worthy read.
Lamentation, in my opinion, was a little rough to start off, but by the end you knew you had a decent tale you were dealing with. Certainly a good show for a debut. Canticle takes that precipice that Lamentation left off on and just hurls you into the stratosphere. It feels like you are constantly pumped up on scout magicks as the novel races across the landscape of the Nine Lands (and a glimpse beyond). Book two of the arc is largely a book of reveals, where our perception of the characters doesn't change much (much), but what we know of the world around them grows a lot. While its hard to say whether its critical to have read this book yet for its reveals versus the scope of the series, if you enjoyed Lamentation, really, how could you not read it? (plus, I gave it 4 stars. Surely that counts for something!)
Let me see if I can do this without giving away spoilers, ie, stick only to the info that's already relayed on the back cover. The writing is bad, it moves along at a nice pace, which is why the novel got the stars it got. My problem with it is I spent the first quarter of the novel thinking I'd heard this story, or something similar to it, before - and I had, in Stephen King's short “The Night Flyer.” The rest of the novel read like a loose modernization of the classic Brahm Stoker, which for a vampire novel isn't unexpected, but still, I'd been hoping for something a little more. You can definitely see Del Toro's influence in the vignettes that are interspersed through the novel, which are very movie-like in their quick glimpses. But there were no major surprises or seat gripping moments, either. Good for a beach read or home sick.
AWESOME. This trilogy certainly doesn't get the popular attention it deserves. While other popular fantasy authors get touted for their complex magic systems, Weeks dives in with characters and plows straight through with action and a little emotional tugging to give you a satisfying read. Please don't take my stars on this series compared to past recommendations as valuing this book less - I've been too liberal with stars in the past, and this series deserves top notches. Think epic fantasy without the million cast member, 20 volume set.
Sadly, I found the third book a little disappointing. The first half of the book spent far more time than it should have trying to bring everyone up to speed, leaving the last half feeling a bit rushed. There were reveals, and things you wondered about this world were finally explained, but the good moments were evenly balanced out by the droll, leaving me with a 3 star review where I expected to give better.
Perhaps not as whiz bang as the first book in the trilogy, Before They Are Hanged was still a good read. As with any trilogy, this book was more about the getting from point A (book 1) to point B (book 3, presumably, where there is resolution), full of nice bits of action and the building up of tension for the third book.
I've tried to read a few Sanderson books, but this is the first I've actually followed through all the way. While slow to start (beginnings, although not exposition full, are a little awkward/slow to build), Sanderson provides a stunningly well thought out magic system (something he's known for and for good reason), as well as high paced, well written fantasy action. If the beginning of the book had captivated me a little quicker I would have given it all five stars, but as it is I was still more than happy with the book.
As someone who grew up in the 80's, I can only point at this book and say this - this is where all of my favorite TV shows were born. This is where the Rockford Files were seeded, Simon and Simon conceived, Riptide docked. This is where the Burn Notice was lit. If you've ever watched a show where the good guys are only mostly good, and every week they are helping some other unfortunate soul that's been dealt a rough hand fight back, then this book is for you.
The Deep Blue Good-By isn't a deep novel. What it is a great escape from the mundane, to a world where a guy living on a houseboat can solve crimes, right wrongs, and still has time to sip a beer at sunset. While at times a little dated, given the fact that it was published in the 60's, it stands up pretty well.
I'm 2 or 3 chapters into the book. Hoping the horrific data drops stop soon.
[update]
I just can't do it. The book is beyond my ken for enjoyability.
I want to enjoy this one (it's Brooks!!), but it just felt too repetitive of the book before this.
A fine finish to a great series.
Alas, the series ends here. It grew a little slow around the halfway mark, then rammed its way to the end in a blazing path of glory.
Read this volume on recommendation (trying to break my ties with the M universe). It was definitely a pleasant way to spend the afternoon.
Loved the Troop, enjoyed the Deep, but this...I didn't like our characters even before things went downhill.
Ken has a lot of enthusiasm, and you can see that the story is just tensing up, ready to explode. The story wasn't unpredictable or without its flaws, but it was still a fun read.