Rebecca - Daphne du Maurier

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The atmosphere in this book is so thick. The descriptions are evocative, with nature mirroring all the tensions, and with a broody mansion, musty and closed up with secrets.

At first, I was impatient with the heroine's spinelessness. Rebecca, her dead predecessor, sounded much more interesting to me. But as time went on and it - slowly - built in intensity, that mattered much less. Then I was afraid of the creepy Mrs. Danvers and what havoc she could wreak on an impressionable mind, and the benign facades all started falling apart deliciously. What a great story of misdirection and twisted minds, of leaping to conclusions and faulty assumptions. When I turned the last page and realized that was the end, I really expected more. There should be more! Yet it was completely fitting. I can see why this is a classic.

I'm toying around with a 5 star rating after seeing the whole picture, but for now it's 4.5 rounded down instead of up. Just because it took so long to get going, and the heroine did annoy me for quite a while.

The Burning Sky - Sherry Thomas

The Burning Sky by Sherry Thomas
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the kind of Fantasy that I can just devour in a day. It's light, adventurous, romantic, and hard to put down. Soooo not epic. It's not that I don't enjoy Epic Fantasy, too. It's just such an investment, and you have to have patience, and often the characters are just a little too remote. Usually I have to take breaks from the Epics, both during and between installments.

Sometimes I just want to jump in and enjoy. I want a couple of characters that I can like, with problems that are a bit smaller so I can just enjoy hanging out in the world and getting to know them. It doesn't have to be impeccably detailed. It can have elements of what some people might call tropes, because - let's be honest - the tropes are the core of what I love about Fantasy in the first place. So although I do appreciate the grand, epic tales, I have to admit that I like this kind of Fantasy better. This is the kind I save up for days when I have plenty of time to read because the hours are going to fly by.

So, I really enjoyed reading The Burning Sky. It has fun magic (and plenty of it), romance (but not overwhelming), 19th Century London set alongside mage realms, British boarding school experience, a girl disguised as a boy, and magical training in a virtual reality type world. Oh yes, there are also wyverns! And just to keep it from being boring, there's overarching danger and a suitably detestable villain or two. But it's the development and interaction of the two main characters that really carries the story. Pure fun. I can't wait to see what comes next.

A Lady of Resources - Shelley Adina

A Lady of Resources by Shelley Adina
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I liked A Lady of Resources, but I struggled a bit with Claire not being the main character anymore. Sure, I liked the Mopsies as side characters, but it was a lot different with them being center stage. Even though they had potential to be interesting as former thieves, they really weren't. Lizzie, the main POV in this one, was too focused on wanting to pretend to be a lady to allow time for antics. She was also kind of a brat. I think by the end I warmed up to the change, and to Lizzie, but it's a much more reluctant feeling than with the original story arc, which I simply inhaled.

Due to the passing of time and shift in POV, there was a lot of time spent on re-setting the stage. I found it a bit slow (again, unlike the original books). There was also less Steampunk engineering and less adventure, and I missed both. But since the action picked up towards the end, now I do find myself wanting to read the sequel. I'm hopeful that it will keep the pace now that we've been reintroduced to the characters.

So, I liked it well enough. It was a fast read, at least mildly entertaining most of the time. I'm just not as entranced as I was with the original series.

The Unknown Ajax - Georgette Heyer

The Unknown Ajax by Georgette Heyer
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

This is the weakest Heyer I've read. I can see why it's not one of the well known ones. Frankly, it's boring! There's way too much dialect (something that I find tends to get in the way in some of her other works as well), and nothing much actually happens. Even the action at the end isn't action. There's some smuggling potential, but that all happens off the stage. There certainly isn't enough going on to justify the hero and heroine deciding they love each other. They just decide it.

I really struggled to finish this because it was so boring, but pushed through mainly because I've enjoyed so many others by Heyer and couldn't bear to leave this one hanging out there. It did pick up in the last quarter, but still was pretty lackluster. Not recommended, even for Heyer fans.

Lonesome Dove - Larry McMurtry

Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

Lonesome Dove is a gritty, realistic depiction of life on the old frontier, where death is random and swift and brutal, and so is life. This book does a very good job at taking you there and forcing you to experience every ugly aspect of the old West, which is probably why it has such high ratings and won a Pulitzer Prize.

For me, however, these types of books are not enjoyable, especially when the point seems to be to show the capricious nature of life and death. I didn't like any of the characters, but the ones I sort of liked a little bit mostly got killed off completely senselessly. This is one of those books I would have thrown at a couple points if I still read paper books. That's one aspect of hard copies that I truly miss. I had to internalize my outrage, and it will probably give me an ulcer.

I kept hoping that in the end there would be a point of redemption for any single character that would make it all worthwhile, but the ending left me feeling unsatisfied for pretty much every character that was left alive (not many). I didn't like any of them, and they all ended up worse than they were when they started. The bottom line is that this was just too realistic for me - so depressing. This is officially my reading feat of 2015 - to make it through all 1100 pages of this heavy piece of work.

Rivals in the City - Y.S. Lee

Rivals in the City by Y.S. Lee
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was another enjoyable installment in the series, bringing back some loose ends from the mystery in the first book, and answering some lingering questions about the fate of Mary's father. I'm sad that this is the last one in the series. Why can't we have more of Easton & Quinn? The Agency can still be there, right? I love the dynamic between James and Mary, and would love to read more about their partnership as it evolves.

Paladin of Souls - Lois McMaster Bujold

Paladin of Souls by Lois McMaster Bujold
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Updated Review Sept 12, 2015:

I always find it really difficult to review those books that I experience at a gut level and love completely irrationally. This was one of those. I simply enjoyed reading every moment of it, and don't know how to explain why. Now I've put it off for too long, and I'm going to try anyway.

First of all, if you've read The Curse of Chalion, you need to know that the pacing and focus of this book is completely different. That one was epic, full of political intrigue and kingdom-wide conflicts. This is not. It mostly takes place in a remote fortress and focuses on characters more than kingdom. So the pace is much different, and may seem slow if you're expecting action-driven plot. Now that that's out of the way...

I really loved that the main character is a middle-aged woman. It's not often that you get someone with more experience as a main character in Fantasy. In this case, Ista has already lived a life. She was married to the (now dead) king, and has grown children who are out of the picture. But although everyone around her believes that's all she's allotted to get out of life, she is not by any means old and is completely stifled. She still needs to find out who she can be, just as much as any young protagonist out there. So we get a mature woman who escapes from home and her caretakers to find adventure and a new life for herself. Hurray!

Maybe it's the fact that I am no longer a fledgling myself, but her story really resonated with me. Her observations about life and people were so spot on for someone who has lived more than 30 years. Plus, I really liked her. I wanted to be her. Since this is a character-driven story, that's kind of important.

Aside from Ista, there's a full cast of characters to complement her, and I enjoyed all of them (except the ones I wasn't supposed to). It's been a couple months since I read this, and I still remember at least six of the characters even if I've forgotten their names. There's the monk, two soldier brothers who actually have their own personalities, a female messenger turned lady's maid, and a dynamic lord of the fortress whose brother is mysteriously ill. The mystery of the brother's illness is where the story really gets going, in case you haven't been hooked yet by that point.

What drives the plot are the mystery behind the brother's illness, and problems of god-possession and demon-possession. Ista has been touched by a god before, and was considered insane for years. Now she wants to avoid anything to do with gods because they can't be trusted. Yeah, that doesn't work out so well for her. Once a god notices you, it's impossible to ignore them.

Maybe it built a little slowly, but it captivated me, really from the start. I loved the development of the characters through it all, and the complexity that was revealed over time. How it turned out left me breathless. I was enjoying it so much that I was afraid the ending would disappoint, so I was almost giddy with relief that it didn't. I really loved it. And I know I haven't explained why well enough at all, and used too many words to do it.


Initial Review June 27, 2015:

I loved pretty much every minute of this. Why did I wait so long to read it?? I'll try to write a proper review later.

Boneshaker - Cherie Priest

Boneshaker by Cherie Priest
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Boneshaker is very different from other Steampunk books that I've read (and enjoyed). I think it's considered Steampunk because there are airships (not enough, though!) and a few machines that could be considered in the historical Sci Fi realm. Other than that, it does not have any of the characteristics that I look forward to in Steampunk. No adventure. No cool gadgets or scientific experiments (the breathing masks just don't count).

And there's far too much grit and gore. I've never really been interested in zombies. They make a boring enemy, in my mind. This book only confirmed that. Far too much of it is spent running from 'rotters' or shooting them. When I realized it was a zombie book, I knew I was in for a challenge.

This is an apocalyptic dystopia set in the past with some barely recognizable Steampunk elements. It's the bleakest dystopia I've read so far, one where people can't even breathe the air. Most of the time not spent running from rotters is spent trying to breathe through masks that filter out the yellow sludge that turns people into rotters. Let's just say this is not a pleasant place to be. And let's say that unpleasant things happen when people are unable to take their masks off for any reason. Too much time is spent on every little detail of how hard it is to get by there, on details I'd really like to get out of my head somehow.

I could have used more focus on the people and their interactions, because that's when it started to get more interesting (in the last quarter of the book).

I'm actually not sure why I'm giving this a second star. Maybe because I managed to finish it and was actually ok with the ending? Or maybe I liked a couple of the characters (not the main ones), even though I didn't get enough of them. But I really didn't enjoy the experience of reading it much at all and I'm glad it's over.

The Silver Pear - Michelle Diener

The Silver Pear by Michelle Diener
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

More like 3.5 stars. For some reason, I liked this a little less than the first one. I think I missed the time spent in the forest (sucker for magical forests here). Also, I was a bit let down by the final confrontations with the sorcerers. I expected them to be more difficult. I do like that the girls are the ones that keep rescuing the guys and have all the power (but that the guys are needed, too).

I did like it, and found it very readable, and still light and fun. I'll be reading more from this author.

The Golden Apple - Michelle Diener

The Golden Apple by Michelle Diener
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Golden Apple is a fairytale retelling, but it's not a fairytale that I'm familiar with so it read more like a light Fantasy to me. This is very light Fantasy - not much world-building, not a huge cast, and the magic system is not a full-blown system. But it's fun and fast-paced.

Sometimes all I need is magic and adventure and a bit of romance without it being in that higher class, and this was just what I needed after some heavier books. It went really quickly, and I had to grab the sequel right away, which I'm also tearing through right now. (This is a duology, and the first novel does not stand alone.)

Is it perfect? Is every character well-developed? Well, no. There's not a lot of depth. But that's ok. I would recommended this for anyone needing a lighter read, not willing to invest in the couple to three hundred pages it often takes to get into a Fantasy world.

Sweet Revenge - Andrea Penrose

Sweet Revenge by Andrea Penrose
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a fun Regency historical mystery. Fairly predictable, I still really enjoyed it, and it was a quick read. This is one that I think Regency fans would enjoy, and it's a shame more of them don't know about it. There's not much romance so far, but it looks like that might change in the next book. The Regency flavor is there, though.

I have to say all of the chocolate descriptions and recipes made my mouth water, and may have influenced my rating. Yum. I'm off to eat some truffles.

Lady Fiasco - Kathleen Baldwin

Lady Fiasco by Kathleen Baldwin
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I normally read series in order, but this time I went off reviews and started with a later book - I found that good advice. I liked this one much less than the other I've read so far.

Aunt Honore is more than just notorious here - she's scandalous. Her soiree was just a bit too much for me. In the later book, she's feisty and unconventional, but not crude. I found myself really being turned off by several episodes. I would not classify this as a 'clean' romance because of them, even though it had nothing to do with the actual couple's interactions.

The romance was also just all right. If the couple didn't have a history of knowing each other since childhood, it would have been a terrible case of instalove. There wasn't really any development of their feelings for each other. It was just an on switch and then a lot of running away and denial in between kisses. I didn't find their relationship very satisfying, especially when the main character was being a jerk whenever he wasn't kissing the girl.

Off to Be the Wizard - Scott Meyer

Off to Be the Wizard by Scott Meyer
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Off to Be the Wizard has an interesting concept that I really liked. The world is a huge computer program (no one knows it), and Martin discovers a file that controls the world that he can hack and give himself all kinds of money and powers. That was really cool.

He does start out making a fool of himself over it at first, but I liked it a lot more once Martin met a few other people and started training on how to manipulate reality properly. There are a couple of side characters that I really liked, and eventually there's a bad guy situation that needs to be sorted out, which steps the last half of the book up a bit. And I was even entertained by the humor, some of the time. So generally, I liked it. It was fun.

But a couple of books I've read lately have led me to the realization that straight humor and I don't have a very good relationship. I get tired. I get bored. I want some depth and seriousness so that the humor catches me off guard and lightens the whole mood. I prefer irony to poop falling out of the sky onto a statue (nope, no laughs from me on the toilet humor, sorry).

I've discovered that I like a side dish of humor, but get sick of it when it's a three course meal. So I wished there was something more to this, and there really wasn't. But if you enjoy this kind of comedy, you might really like it.

Grey Mask: A Miss Silver Mystery - Patricia Wentworth

Grey Mask: A Miss Silver Mystery by Patricia Wentworth
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Grey Mask is the first in one of the classic Golden Age detective mystery series, one that seems to have been largely forgotten. I really enjoyed it, apart from some excessive use of the word "frightfully" and one character who was unbelievably silly.

This is my first author from the era, so I'm not sure if this is normal or not, but Miss Silver (the detective) is just a minor side character. Her clients are the main characters here, and she pops up to help along the way. I don't even know enough about her to know whether I like her or not. I'm curious to see whether this pattern continues in the series.

As far as the mystery goes, it wasn't one that I really tried to figure out. I just went a long for the ride, learning things as the characters did, often being told them by Miss Silver or someone else. So it wasn't the puzzle kind of mystery for me. Still entertaining though.

I definitely plan to read on, but I also need to read some of the more well-known Golden Age authors for comparison. For now, this is 4 stars for entertainment value.

The Rabbi - Noah Gordon

The Rabbi by Noah Gordon
My rating: 0 of 5 stars

I've enjoyed Noah Gordon's style in his Historical Fiction books. There's an earthiness to his writing that makes the past feel immediate and his characters real.

Unfortunately, I like those qualities much less in a contemporary setting. Even though The Rabbi focuses on a way of life that is less familiar to me, that earthiness becomes too realistic and depressing - and even boring - in a setting that is too close to current day for my comfort. Contemporary here is the 1960s, but it feels very much like the type of contemporary that I read in school and ran away from as fast as I could once reading it was no longer required.

I will continue to pursue Gordon's other historical work, but I'll be steering clear of anything set in the 20th Century or later.

Hunter's Trail - Melissa F. Olson

Hunter's Trail by Melissa F. Olson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This series grew on me. It started out fine, but nothing special. Just one of those that I liked but didn't love. Mainly that's because of the whole love triangle thing. I'm happy with how that went, and that it didn't consume the entire book/series, although it had moments. It wasn't how I thought it was going to go either, so bonus points for that.

The Old World happenings were interesting, too. I do like the world and the concept of nulls, and I ended up really liking this last book. It may have convinced me to give the new spin-off series a try.

Enchantress - James Maxwell

Enchantress by James Maxwell
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

My experience with this book:

✔ Cool cover.
✔ Prologue is intriguing.
✗ Nope, prologue is a lie - it's not even about that character, and we don't get to know them at all. Clue number one about the rest of the book.
✗ Amateurish writing.
✔ Light fantasy tone with cozy, comfy clichés, which are good sometimes.
✔ Girl who's going to study to be an enchantress.
✔ Brother who's learning the sword.
✗ Except we don't get to see any of the actual learning.
✔ Until we do!
✗ Except it's just so that we can have a reason to witness...
✗ Sudden, gratuitous death (murder!) of an innocent, stray animal.
✗ Followed shortly by sudden, gratuitous death of characters that you just barely start to know, let alone like. What?

Now it's just going downhill fast.
✗ The random-seeming gruesomeness of the deaths seems out of place with the tone of the rest of it.
✗ Who to be invested in?? What's the point of anyone??
✗ World-building all over the place, too many names and places that mean nothing.
✗ Starting not even to care about the main characters because of the choppiness.
✗ Where is this even going, and what's the point of anything?
✗ Now we're going to war and don't understand the world we're at war with because the world-building is so bad, and death is sure to follow, and sure to be meaningless.
✗ The knowledge that more random gruesomeness is to come. More characters that you glimpse and start to like will inevitably die just because you thought you might like them. You don't even have time to care.

Yet all is relayed in a light tone.

Incongruous and jarring...

DNF.

The Cuckoo's Calling - Robert Galbraith

The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was needing a really good mystery where the murder actually gets investigated methodically and the picture is gradually revealed through interviews and evidence gathering. I know that might sound boring, but it's totally not! I've had my eye on The Cuckoo's Calling for a long time and finally decided to go for it. I'm so glad I did because it was completely satisfying as a mystery. It kept me on the case while I wasn't reading it, trying to put the clues together.

I had a couple of decent theories, but I was nowhere close to being right. I love a mystery that gives me enough to chew on but still surprises me in the end. Especially when the answer fits all the pieces together instead of adding something new - of course I can't figure it out if I don't have all the information. But that was not a problem here, so the 'clicking into place' was very satisfying.

The characters are really well done. Even more than the mystery, they are what kept me up late reading. Cormoran is such a great character, full of tension. He's real and deep, and I loved seeing his progression throughout the book. I'm looking forward to seeing how he develops in the sequels. The story really is about him, not just about a murder that happens to need a detective as a byproduct.

I also really loved Robin, his temp secretary. She's enthusiastic, smart, enterprising, and empathetic. She provides a good balance for Cormoran's older, broken-down, gritty brilliance. They both feel like real people with more than enough depth to sustain a series.

Add to this a vivid setting with a real sense of current day London and interesting details about the lives of the rich and famous (it's not all roses), and you have a truly rich novel, not generic in any way.

The book lingered with me after I finished it, and is still vivid in my mind a few days later. It's safe to say I loved it. If I hesitate to give it 5 stars, it's only because of how realistic it was - something that I appreciate but don't always enjoy when it comes to the darker, seedier side of life. But, although it was dark at points, it wasn't bleak, and I can deal with that. I'm even getting better at enjoying that (gasp!).

Aside: If I hadn't already known J.K. Rowling wrote this, I wouldn't have had a clue. She uses a completely different voice, style, and genre - hence the pseudonym. In my mind, the high quality and maturity of this book proves her versatility and growth as a writer. I'm thrilled that she's found a new creative direction that I can enjoy based on its own merits. Keep 'em coming!

The Infinity Concerto - Greg Bear

The Infinity Concerto by Greg Bear
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

I quit at 29%. If this wasn't a book club read, I would have stopped a lot sooner. It's too dark for me. The main character is too isolated, the world too hostile. It's all grayscale in my mind. Faerie shouldn't be ugly and colorless and full of death and despair, even when dangerous to humans. There should at least be an alien beauty to it. But this was all ugliness and hardship.

I was forcing myself to continue reading (because - book club), but I was getting depressed even when I wasn't reading it (NOT good, and completely against all the reasons why I read), so I moved onto something else and really haven't looked back since.

Not for me.

The Curse of the Pharaohs - Elizabeth Peters

The Curse of the Pharaohs by Elizabeth Peters
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I enjoyed this less than the first book in the series, partly because a lot of it was so similar to that book. An archaeological dig is in peril due to local superstitions about a curse, exacerbated by disappearances, ghostly sightings and deaths. If I hadn't just read the first book last month, I might have liked it better.

I also missed some of the cast from the first book. Walter and Evelyn were absent, and there were no new characters who balanced the intensity of Amelia and Emerson (which is needed, I think) or that I really cared about. There was lots of shouting and arguing, all very humorously, but I wished there was more about the excavation and less of the people. I was actually thankful when Amelia used her parasol on one of the characters!

Now to the mystery. Amelia is sure she knows who is behind all the dead bodies, but we don't get many clues along the way, and don't know what she's thinking until all is revealed. There were enough possible culprits that I really had no idea who it was until the end, but I didn't feel like I had enough information to figure it out, so the mystery was a bit lacking. It was more like a suspense novel with an abundance of 'calm in the face of calamity' and witty conversation along the way.

All that said, I still found Amelia and Emerson entertaining, even if they are a bit over the top. And the 19th Century Egyptian archaeology setting is fun. I think I just need to wait longer between installments so that I don't mind the recycled elements. That, and expect the mystery to be solved for me by mysterious logic and intuition behind the scenes because it's more about Amelia being right than the mystery itself.

The Thief Lord - Cornelia Funke

The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Set in contemporary Venice (around the time of both answering machines and cell phones), this is not exactly what I expected, which was a historical fantasy with lighthearted, adventurous thieving in it. What I got was a more realistic tale of runaways and orphans trying to make it in a contemporary city. Still, bonus points for Venice!

There was a little bit of thieving, but it was more desperate, the group of kids scraping by while living in an abandoned movie theater. It was sad, but heartwarming as well because of the friendships that they found. It honestly took me a while to warm up to it, until the second half when the focus shifted away from their sparse lives and into more of an adventure - what I'd been expecting in the first place.

There's a little bit of magic to it towards the end, enough to shake things up. There's payback that doesn't end up being malicious, and wishes coming true that end up not being quite what was hoped for. That made a bittersweet ending for some of the characters, and an arguably happy one for others, whether they deserved it or not. I like how it wasn't all black and white.

One drawback for me is that it was told in a very juvenile tone - it's definitely for middle grade readers. That, and some of the word choices in the translation didn't fit and were distracting (for example, "darn it" was used a lot). I'd probably give it 2 stars, given how much I don't usually enjoy contemporary, realistic stories. But it was good for its target age group, and I probably would have loved it when I was younger, so I'm bumping it up a star.

Uprooted - Naomi Novik

Uprooted by Naomi Novik
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Uprooted is a standalone Fantasy with Polish fairytale elements. I loved how whimsical Nieshka's magic was, and how she learned to use it. I loved the dark, twisted magic of the Wood. I hated the 'Dragon' wizard at the beginning (what a jerk!), but he grew on me quickly, and I loved him too. I found almost the whole thing compulsively readable and let myself fall under its spell.

I didn't love the part when Nieshka left the valley, and I was surprised at how many people were killed (I wasn't expecting it to be quite that dark). I also felt that the romance could have used a bit more focus, especially at the end. Also, there were not any real dragons in this, so don't expect them.

It might not have been perfect, but I had a really hard time putting the book down and couldn't get it out of my head when I wasn't reading it. The Polish flavor was different and refreshing, and I loved how the magic and the Wood all tied together. Nieshka was a strong and resourceful heroine. What a great story. It was so much fun to read.

Stories of the Raksura: The Dead City & The Dark Earth Below - Martha Wells

Stories of the Raksura: Volume Two: The Dead City & The Dark Earth Below by Martha Wells
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

For those of you who haven't discovered the world of the Raksura:

Seriously, if you have more than a passing interest in fantasy and enjoy being immersed in a lush world with interesting cultures and a huge variety of sentient species - not to mention a full cast of endearing characters - you need to read the Books of the Raksura. Start with The Cloud Roads. You will appreciate the novellas much more if you're already invested in the world.

It's not your typical western-medieval-style epic fantasy with huge, world-devastating conflicts of one or two peoples who wield swords and maybe bows and spears (not that those aren't fun). This is an entire world full of wonder with a huge variety of life and endless possibilities for danger and adventure. Plus, winged shape-shifters with retractable claws for weapons make for some different types of fight scenes.

We see danger up close as it affects a clan of Raksura and those around them, but this world is too vast and varied for it to be so simple as good vs. evil. It's definitely not like any other world I've read about, and certainly not any version of ours that I can recognize. It's much more complex and imaginative than that, and I love it.

This world is seriously one of my all-time favorites. There's a lot of competition out there for the top spots, and these are solidly on that list. I've never read anything like them, and that's saying a lot.

It's OK if you don't love it as much as I do (that is allowed!), but you could really be missing out on something wonderful if you don't give it a try. Go read it!

Now for existing Raksura fans:

This is another set of fantastic stories about the Raksura. I only wish they were longer, and I want more! I don't usually find shorter fiction very satisfying, especially series tie-ins, but these novellas are so much more than that. They are explorations of a world that are told at just the length that’s needed for the story. They’re not teasers. They are gripping and fully textured, even when there's not a lot of action going on. There are so many details about life in the Court that I wish I lived there, and then when something does happen, the sense of danger is immediate.

I miss it all when I'm done - just the feel of the world and my friends there. That's rare, I think, and is what makes all of the Raksura books an easy 5 stars for me, even the novellas.

The Dead City

This is the first novella in the collection. It takes us back to Moon before he found his people when he was routinely ostracized, and so it was hard to read at times. It's amazing that with all the abuse he receives from Groundlings, he still wants to help them when their village is threatened by a hostile species. There is plenty of shifting and claw action in this one, but I did miss the other Raksura. Even though the story is very good, it's sad because Moon is so alone. Raksura should not be alone! I had to remind myself that he does find his way later on.

Bonus Short Stories

Three short stories are included between the novellas that are not listed in the book description. They are:

★ Mimesis - Jade and her hunting group run into some trouble.
★ Trading Lesson - A very short snapshot of another court coming to trade at Indigo Cloud. (No action here.)
★ The Last Voyage of the Wind-ship Escarpment - A wind-ship's crew is hired to ransom a ship captured by pirates and runs into trouble. I hope to read more about the crew someday. It was short, but I'm attached to them already. This just proves that there's much to explore in this world beyond the Raksura. Endless possibilities, I hope.

I still find short stories just too short to be satisfying, but these were nice as bonuses. I'm really glad that they were in the middle, because it saved the best for last...

The Dark Earth Below

I really loved this story. It's a bit longer than the first novella, and there are actually two story lines, which adds depth. First, waiting for Moon and Jade's first clutch to arrive. This offers a good view of the colony's life at peace after they've settled in to their home. Then of course, that peace is broken and things get exciting. (Yes!) All of my favorite characters receive a moment or two in the spotlight, and we also learn more about the Kek and the ground level of the Reaches. Lots of fun!

This last story was enough to make me homesick at the end of it. You know that gaping hole you feel when you realize you have to leave one of your favorite worlds again? Yep.

At least I know there's a new series of full-length Raksura books starting next year (!!!). I can't wait for The Edge of Worlds: A Novel of the Raksura. Funny how the future looks brighter just knowing that it's coming.

Sprig Muslin - Georgette Heyer

Sprig Muslin by Georgette Heyer
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Sprig Muslin was just OK most of the way through. I can see why this is one of the more obscure Heyer Regencies. The hero and heroine are apart for most of the time, the hero off chasing after a capricious (and annoying) girl, trying to keep her out of trouble. That got a bit old, even though there were entertaining parts of it. I liked it better once the heroine entered the picture again, with not much left in the book. The relationship didn't get much development time!

Fall of Giants - Ken Follett

Fall of Giants by Ken Follett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Fall of Giants is a door stopper, one of those books that makes me glad I have an e-reader for the sake of my wrists. At close to 1000 pages, it's long, and at times it feels like it. The first time I tried to read it, I didn't have the patience, but this time, I settled in for the long haul, determined to give it some time. That patience made all the difference.

This is an astounding historical epic. It takes the events leading up to World War I and the Russian Revolution and fills them with characters on all sides that you can relate to and feel for. I didn't like all of the characters, but I understood them and their motivations, and they were so real. Follett paints them in neat brushstrokes - just a few lines here and there for each character that bring them to life. And then he proceeds to take you through the war and its aftermath through their eyes, through dashed hopes and picking up the pieces of lives.

It is surprisingly not bleak, and surprisingly spends little time on the actual battles of the war. Those are only the focus when they move something forward, when they are pivotal for a character or for the direction of the war. Even then, the focus is more on strategy or what is happening to the character than on the violence. (Not that you don't get a sense of that, too, but it's not a battle slog.)

I really appreciated that it didn't get bogged down in the trenches, dwelling on the horror and slaughter. Instead, it stepped back and looked at the reasons why people did what they did, and how the world got into such a mess and then couldn't get back out. It's been a while since I learned about the Great War in school, so this was a fantastic way to refresh my memory - and to realize with my more adult understanding that there was good and bad on all sides, humans exploiting others and grasping for power, and other humans just trying to find a way to live in peace.

If anyone was bad in this take on history, it was the upper classes, not restricted to any nation - although Russia got the worst of it. It was the elite who dragged the poor working people into the war, who oppressed them and allowed them to starve while they continued living in style. It was the elite men who didn't want working women to have the right to vote, etc. So this addresses social issues such as class and women's rights, and just briefly, race. And it does it in such a readable way. There were only a couple of times that I felt it was slow, and that was when the focus was on characters that I wasn't so interested in.

I'm amazed at how easy it seems for Follett to bring all of these strings of sweeping historical and social change together in real people that you fear for, and make it understandable as well as engrossing. It is magnificent and deeply personal at the same time. Highly recommended to anyone who reads historical fiction and is in the mood for a rewarding epic.

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Initial DNF Review, September 19, 2012:

I gave this a decent try, but just couldn't get into it. I really enjoyed the The Pillars of the Earth - it was one of the first historical fiction novels that I discovered and loved - but I felt more connected to the characters and their challenges, not to mention the epic cathedral project, from the beginning. This one is more 'sweeping' as it has been described. For me, that's not necessarily a good thing.

The difference of time period may also be a factor - I enjoy reading about the Medieval Era, but have never really been able to get into books about the 20th Century wars. Pillars was centered around a priory town with lots of political intrigue and the building of a cathedral (cool architectural stuff!) and how ordinary people were affected by these things. Since that initial experience, I've discovered by trial and error that not all historical fiction is for me (it turns out I'm picky), and I think this is simply another mismatch for me.

Whatever the reason, I put it on hold when I was tired of trying so hard to like it, and never felt compelled to come back to it. I suppose that could still change, but for now I'm happy to leave it where it is.

Crocodile on the Sandbank

Crocodile on the Sandbank by Elizabeth Peters
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Very enjoyable. There's no murder in this historical mystery, just a mummy terrorizing an archaeological site, and Amelia terrorizing everyone else with her parasol in a much more violent fashion than genteel or flirtatious. Feisty isn't quite a strong enough word for Amelia. I thought she was a bit too much at first, but decided I liked her once Evelyn began to have an effect on her. And Emerson - he was just right for a hot-headed archaeologist and as an opponent for Amelia, and I liked how their relationship played out.

There was also more to the mystery than I thought at first, which made this more than just a pleasant bit of fun in Egypt with artifacts laying around everywhere. Although, if you're looking for the kind of mystery that actually gets investigated and solved with clues, this is not that kind of mystery. It's more of a (polite, Victorian-style) adventure with some suspense and then all is revealed. The setting is a big part of the fun, and what makes it different from other Victorian cozy mysteries. Very enjoyable.

Anne of Avonlea

Anne of Avonlea by L.M. Montgomery
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I think for me, this is a case of loving the TV adaptation too much. I had always wanted to read the books that inspired it, but now I can see why there are so many more books than episodes. There's a lot that was left out of the TV version, and I'm glad. It was a much tighter story.

The rambling of the book was alternately too boring or too painful, except for a couple of scenes with Gilbert and a few others that felt warmly familiar here and there. Other than that, the stories of Anne trying to control school children and adopting a naughty boy were too much for me. The first time I tried to read this, I stopped half way through. I just now decided I needed push through to finish it, even if I had to skim to get past those parts, and I'm glad I did go back and finish. I just feel like I need to go back and watch the show again to remind myself of why I love it.

Sign of the Four - Arthur Conan Doyle

The Sign of Four by Arthur Conan Doyle
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

3.5 Stars, rounded up.

I did enjoy the mystery a lot, and am warming up to Watson and Holmes, but the extra story of the villain that was tacked on the end was again too much of a tangent. It was enough for me to take off half a star from my rating. At least I knew about it beforehand this time, so I wasn't too surprised when the last quarter was a second story. I was still waiting for it to get over with, although there were a few interesting parts in there. I heard that this is the last Sherlock Holmes story with the entire story of the crime dumped at the end, and that Doyle found his style after this. If so, I am looking forward to the more mature stories to come.

Scarlet - Marissa Meyer

Scarlet by Marissa Meyer
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I'm still liking this series - it still has that unique feel to it, with the cyborgs and sci fi world barely recognizable as our own future. But this was a lot slower to get going than the first book. It was very much one of those build-up to the next book kind of installments.

I do like the addition of the new characters and thought the fairy tale tie-in was well done. I'm looking forward to seeing the results of all the build-up - and to finding out how in the world the next fairy tale fits the story that needs to happen.

The Shadowy Horses - Susanna Kearsley

The Shadowy Horses by Susanna Kearsley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Shadowy Horses was another quick, enjoyable read by Susanna Kearsley. It's not a time-slip like the others that I've read, but more of a contemporary ghost story, although it's really not what you would call a chilling one. I expected a bit more of an eerie, Gothic atmosphere, and got more Scottish flavor instead (which is really not a bad thing).

The story centers on an archaeological dig in an old fishing town where a mad old scholar believes he's found the final resting place of the Roman Ninth Legion. I enjoyed the details of the dig and the cast of characters involved. I even liked the romance aspect of it. All-in-all, it was just the kind of escape I was looking for at the beginning of my summer holidays.

The Steel Queen - Karen Azinger

The Steel Queen by Karen Azinger
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

This was a fairly ambivalent 3 star Medieval-type fantasy right until the end, which I hated. It felt like an attempt to be shocking like Game of Thrones, but came completely out of left field. I was not happy. I am also not happy with the cliffhanger but I don't think I care enough to find out what happens next.

There were a few characters here that I liked, and a few that I hated (as I was supposed to - POVs are alternating from good vs. evil characters). I didn't really like having to read the viewpoint of the evil ones, but that's me. I don't enjoy getting into the minds of the dark side, and began skimming those. But it was an interesting approach to see how evil actively built its influence.

I suppose it was actually pretty good for a self-published novel, just a bit too dark for me. There were some spelling errors that I had to ignore, and some jumps in character that could have been developed more smoothly. But it did hold my attention, and like I said, I 'liked it' when it was focused on the 'good' characters, right until the end.

Silent in the Grave - Deanna Raybourn

Silent in the Grave by Deanna Raybourn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Lady Julia Grey series is one of my favorites series ever. It's one of those that jumped out with the first line and grabbed me in: "To say that I met Nicholas Brisbane over my husband’s dead body is not entirely accurate. Edward, it should be noted, was still twitching upon the floor." From that line onward, I was completely besotted with it. I was a bit nervous for this re-read in case it didn't match up. Thankfully, I loved it almost as much the second time around. Knowing the culprit took some of the tension out this time, but being able to revisit the characters more than made up for it.

I've read other books in the Historical Mystery genre since this, which was my "discovery book" for the genre, so I now have a more judgmental eye. I still think the mystery is decent, although the actual investigation is much less of a focus than Julia and her journey from a mouse of a widow into a woman finding out who she is. I am also less tolerant of romance these days, and this was a lot more romance than I remember it being! But as far as romances go, this is a good one, and one I enjoyed re-reading. Seriously, Brisbane is one of my favorite male leads ever.

I'm keeping my rating at 5 stars, in part because this was my first discovery of a genre that now (almost) rivals Fantasy in my affections. It brought me back my love of Victorian times after I had (mostly) exhausted the classics and become tired of re-reading my favorites. The added suspense, romance and wit made it irresistible to me. I've since found a huge cache of books earmarked for my future, all thanks to this one little library find. It goes on the shelf of life-changers in that respect.

I've found that the witty humor is unique to Deanna Raybourn in this genre. I actually chuckled out loud a couple of times before I caught myself. I have read other historical mysteries that feel dry and dark in comparison, even if they are more focused on the mystery than the adventurous spirit of the heroine.

The characters are where Raybourn really shines. I remember all of them as if they are friends, and fully realized people. Even the minor characters. This series has some of my favorites of all time - the mysterious and tempestuous Brisbane, full of barely restrained energy. The intelligent, unconventional, and sometimes idiotic and impulsive Julia. (Sometimes I want to shake her as much as Brisbane must!) Fleur, Portia, Julia's brothers, the gypsies, the raven, the former prostitute turned lady's maid. All add something fresh to the story.

The Victorian setting is lush and filled with atmosphere, and the mystery and suspense, and even the romance, just add more depth and purpose to the story. The small touch of paranormal also sets this apart from many other Victorian mysteries. It's a great combination. I fell for it completely. Twice.

Raybourn earned a place on my favorite authors list through this series the first time around. She maintained her spot as a favorite with the 1920s standalones that she wrote afterwards - she is capable of diversity! And now re-reading this just confirms it. I love her. I can't wait for her new series coming out in the Fall. I'm going to lap it up.


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Original Review 4/23/2012:

I've discovered a new favorite genre! I love the mix of historical fiction, mystery, and little bit of love story. The characters are full, intriguing, mysterious, and witty. The setting is fully realized, the atmosphere intoxicating. The mystery is twisting, convoluted, and absolutely satisfying. Fantastic!

Prince of Dogs - Kate Elliott

Prince of Dogs by Kate Elliott
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is definitely a slow-moving series. I knew it from the first book, but I didn't feel it as much then. Maybe I should have taken a break before starting book two, because I found myself a bit impatient at the slowness this time around. I felt like events had built to a point in the last book that I was anxious for more to happen, only to have it spread out more and begin to build all over again.

So, the pace is slow. Not much actually happens in this installment. It is a second book, and it feels like it. I couldn't believe that one character's situation really did not change at all until near the end. And Liath went back to the same problem she had before, and I really, really want some major development in that area soon!

I already knew it wasn't an action-driven series. But being character-driven means I care about those I already know and want to get back to them, and to see changes for them. It felt like a long time before I had any quality time with Alain or Liath. They were mainly viewed through minor characters' eyes at first. That's the main reason I was feeling impatient.

I did like the perspective of Rosvita, the scholar nun, and I hope we get plenty more of her in future books because she's one of my favorites. But there were other new and side characters who got a lot more attention for the first half of the book and I was just waiting to see how they fit into anything important. I'm still kind of waiting on that. I'm sure it's coming if I can just be patient. For a seven book series, some development is to be expected.

Although I enjoy character-driven books, I do also like something to happen. It did, eventually. There was just a lot of buildup with the minor points of view. It didn't really start to pick up until after the halfway mark when the main characters finally came back into focus.

Although I was a bit impatient until that point, I really miss reading this. I keep thinking about it and wanting to get back to it. I'm loving the world, which feels so real, and there are moments of real emotion about the characters. That includes loathing - it's impossible not to loathe Hugh! I can't wait to see him brought low. I hope it's truly satisfying. And Sanglant - his part was so horrifying. I can't wait to read more about how he adjusts after what happened to him. I hope I don't have to wait long.

I am really tempted to go ahead and jump into the next book already, but I feel like I should take a break this time. I just know I need to be in the mood for savoring a slow mover. Maybe just a short break is enough and I'll be ready to get back into it.

Heaven's Queen

Heaven's Queen by Rachel Bach
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I had a lot of fun reading this series, and was happy with the ending. So much has changed by book 3 that it felt very different from where the series began. I did kind of miss the merc serving on a ship with a strange crew. But I was satisfied with how everything came out, both for the universe and for Devi. It was fast-paced and entertaining. Pretty much, I loved it!

King's Dragon - Kate Elliott

King's Dragon by Kate Elliott
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really loved this book. It was one of those rare ones that I took my time to savor without thinking about what I was going to be reading next. As with many books that I've loved, it's hard to explain why. I really just love Kate Elliott's writing. Her world is so vivid and real, with a deep sense of history and of hidden things that will be revealed. At the same time, she also makes me care about and fear for the characters so effortlessly, and because of the characters, the world feels very immediate rather than overwhelmingly epic.

I honestly had no idea where the story was headed for much of the time - this isn't a quest-type fantasy with a stated goal. It takes place in an alternate medieval kingdom teeming with heresy, hypocrisy, treachery, and violence. Kingdom politics and inhuman coastal raiders. Ancient magic, forbidden knowledge, reverence for learning, true piety, and evil sorcery. The feeling of the world is amazingly real with both awe and danger. I loved the sense of place. This was really great historical fantasy, both recognizable and foreign to our own medieval time.

Some people might find the plot slow, but I didn't find it dull. I enjoyed both of the main viewpoints. Two young, unrelated characters find themselves caught in the middle of affairs they don't understand. Both start out in very humble circumstances and have much to learn and sometimes much to suffer. Although they are important to events, they are not instantly transformed into saviors of the world. They have their parts to play, but they don't grow too far beyond themselves and their beginnings. I am really looking forward to seeing where this is going and what they grow into, and to having more of the world revealed. I have six more books to savor, and I plan to take my time.

I highly recommend this to fans of both historical fiction and fantasy - it's a fantastic blend of both.

Mort - Terry Pratchett

Mort by Terry Pratchett
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

So Terry Pratchett is definitely witty and clever, and I do enjoy his asides when I forget I'm searching for a story in the midst of it. The thing is, each of the three Discworld books I've completed so far took me some effort to get into in spite of appreciating the humor. Because the characters remain caricatures as the humor takes center stage. And I actually find it kind of boring.

It's not until late in each book that I started to be interested in what was actually happening. And the characters never quite made it out of caricature status. So I think that I can enjoy Pratchett's humor on a certain level, but I'm always a bit bored until the plot and characters actually start moving and doing something. Once that happens, I end up liking the books overall, and look forward to reading another one - only to be bored at first, wondering why I enjoyed the ones I read before.

And I leave you with that rambling attempt to understand how I both do and don't enjoy the books in this series, and will most likely continue to have this ambivalent experience for several more books in the future just because they end up being fun and clever in the end. They are a bit of a stretch for me, comfort-wise, and not what I would decide to read when I want to be completely absorbed in a book. But I still like them. I think.

Paragon Walk - Anne Perry

Paragon Walk by Anne Perry
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was another good historical mystery from Anne Perry. There was plenty of dirt to uncover in the lives of all the characters, and it kept me guessing all the way through. I was convinced I had it right up until the very end, and I didn't! But everything fit once I knew all the pieces. The ending was just a little abrupt - I could have done with even just a paragraph or two more to wind it down.

The Paper Magician - Charlie N. Holmberg

The Paper Magician by Charlie N. Holmberg
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The paper magic was really fun, but literally half the book is spent in someone's memories, which started to drag, and didn't seem to serve much of a purpose besides fostering a one-sided infatuation that I didn't care for much.

Then there's the blood magician threat, which an entire force of magicians and police have been fighting - but Ceony doesn't even get questioned seriously about what happened?

Towards the end, I also began to notice an increase in modern concepts and American words and phrases, when this is supposed to be set in London around the turn of the 20th Century. Needless to say, I found it jarring and irritating.

So it sounds like I didn't like this much. But I liked it well enough. The concept of paper magic was really interesting, and I enjoyed all the details of folding. It just had some distracting aspects and was not as developed as I like. I can see why some people are calling it YA even though Ceony is 18 and out of school. There's something too simple about it to be adult. I was hoping for it to be more than it was, that's all. I think I will probably still pick up the sequel at some point.

Dirty Magic - Jaye Wells

Dirty Magic by Jaye Wells
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this! It's Urban Fantasy, with more emphasis on the 'Urban.' Kate is a cop in a run-down city that has a drug problem (I mean magic potion problem). People are addicted to illegal potions that eventually alter you from the inside out - or kill you - and a new killer potion has hit the streets. Kate has insider knowledge from her past to help the FBI (I mean MEA) find out who put it there.

For much of the book, this is very much a police procedural. Kate is a cop who is constrained by procedures, and actually follows orders even when she doesn't want to. Well, mostly. I thought that was refreshing. Often you get these tough heroines who flaunt the rules because rules don't apply to them. I immediately respected Kate because she tried really hard to work within constraints. I liked her and her sense of honor, even though she's so blind and stubborn about magic. She is carrying around a boat load of guilt from her dirty potion-cooking days, and she has to deal with that mess during the investigation. I can't wait to see how she changes in the next book. There's definitely room for growth.

I also liked several of the supporting characters - this wasn't a one-person show. I'm looking forward to getting to know them all more. And hoping to see more potion cooking! Aside from the opening scene, magic only really makes an appearance in the last third of the book, which is the exact point at which I could no longer put it down. With some twists I didn't see coming and some nail-biting scenes, I was completely satisfied with the mystery-suspense aspect of this. Especially as solving the mystery revealed more complexity that only makes me hope the sequel lives up to my expectations.

The Secret History of the Pink Carnation - Lauren Willig

The Secret History of the Pink Carnation by Lauren Willig
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

If you go into this expecting historical fiction with Napoleonic spy action, you’re likely to be disappointed. I was expecting more of a historical mystery / spy adventure, but soon caught on and was able to adjust and enjoy it for what it is. And what it is, is a fairly typical fluffy Regency Romance, except that it’s set in the French court and does have a dose of spies to make it more interesting. Confirming its status as a Romance series is the fact that the main characters change in each book.

It's also very light on historical accuracy, but that didn't stop me from having fun reading it. It's purposely silly and far-fetched, and I do enjoy silly. So instead of being horrified at the liberties taken with the time period, I found it mostly fun.

There were times when I found it a bit long-winded, though. And I still could have done with less of the romance, especially the sex scenes. I always feel that those scenes are out of place in a Regency novel - they drag something too modern into the historical setting.

There’s also a second story-line set in the present day about a woman who is researching the Pink Carnation for her dissertation. It looks like it will span the sequels as she discovers more about the past. It also looks like there will be a romance in her future. I thought the framing story was OK, but could have done without it. It made the book longer, and I'm not sure I liked being pulled out of the other story for this one. But I think it might grow on me as the series progresses. We’ll see.

I do intend to continue reading when I’m in the mood for something silly, light and fluffy, with a bit of derring-do in the court of Napoleon.

The Iron Wyrm Affair - Lilith Saintcrow

The Iron Wyrm Affair by Lilith Saintcrow
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I did not like the writing style of this at all. It was choppy and jumped all over the place. The changing POVs were confusing because I couldn't always tell at first that they had changed, and the world-building was basically non-existent. I feel like I missed an entire book that actually explained the world, the magic, and all the terms that were randomly thrown at me throughout.

There were many scenes that I had to go back and re-read because I realized that I had no idea what I had just read. They were garbled and confused, and re-reading didn't always help. That's when I started to skim. I skimmed until I found explanations and scenes that I could actually understand. And I skimmed until I had enough of a sense of the story that I was half-way interested in what was going to happen, and then I managed to care enough to finish the book (while still skimming the confusing parts!).

The thing is, I think there's a good story in there somewhere. I had to dig really hard to find it, and it was obscured by choppy and chaotic scenes. But it was enough in the end for me to give this two stars instead of one, if only because I'm a sucker for historical fantasy / steampunk settings like this.

Be Buried in the Rain - Barbara Michaels

Be Buried in the Rain by Barbara Michaels

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I really enjoyed this Gothic suspense novel. I was afraid it might be cheesy, especially since it was published in the 1980s, but it wasn't. I also didn't know what I would think of a Gothic novel set in contemporary Virginia, but the old manor house, its occupants, and the surrounding woods were broken down, overgrown, and eerie enough for a mystery of old bones.

The atmosphere was all you could wish for in this kind of book. It reminded me of Susanna Kearsley without the dual time periods, except this was more creepy (I think it was the bones). It was creepy enough to disturb me in the dark the last couple of nights - not that that's saying much, since I am easily affected by such things and avoid horror like the plague.

Also, I really enjoyed the dog.

I'll definitely be reading more of this author's work. I'm glad to see there's plenty to choose from.

Temple of a Thousand Faces - John Shors

Temple of a Thousand Faces by John Shors

My rating: 2 of 5 stars



Temple of a Thousand Faces wasn't bad, it just wasn't for me. I'm sure it was quite realistic about the fates of a conquered people in Cambodia in the 12th Century. Based on the title, that's not the story I was expecting. I somehow thought it was going to be about something besides conquering, pillaging, raping and slaughtering. It was really much darker and more desperate than I like, as the story was told from the perspectives of several different people who were affected by the pillaging, raping and slaughtering. Oh, don't forget torture. That was in there, too.

The POV characters range from the Khmer prince and one of his wives to a lowly fisherman and his family, one of whom is almost blind as well as smart and brave, and possibly my favorite character. Also included is one of the officers of the Chams (the invaders) who is a decent fellow, increasingly sickened by his king's actions. Finally, there is a young woman who is enslaved by the Chams at her wedding - what an awful fate.

I liked all of these characters, and feared for them. That's why I kept reading in spite of the violence, which I actually found boring. (Blah blah, slaughter 500 hundred men to teach a lesson, blah blah blah.) I needed to know that they ended up well, an outcome that was not guaranteed. Unless you know this part of history, which I didn't.

The conquering king was one of those vile characters without a shred of goodness to him. His assassin was another. If it hadn't ended how it did for those two, this review would have a 1 star rating. But the ending was at least vindicating, and thankfully (for me) it was a happy ending for most of the characters involved.

The Way of Kings - Brandon Sanderson

The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Days after finishing The Way of Kings, I still wasn't sure how to rate it or review it, but now I finally have a few thoughts put together. So here goes.

>> Edit 4-25-2015: Initially I settled on 5 stars, but after some time to reflect, I am downgrading to 4 stars. Let me explain why...

The fact that I didn't put the book down and instantly proclaim my awe gave me pause. Usually I rate a book 5 stars when it grabs me and doesn't let go, when I lose sleep over it, or when it moves into the realm of irrational emotion that overshadows all flaws. I didn't have this feeling about The Way of Kings. In fact, I was bored at times because it moved soooo slowly. I had to take a couple breaks from reading it because it was just so long and slow. That is not a 5 star book for me, even though I recognize that this 1000 page behemoth is essentially a prologue for the rest of the series. Let's face it, Sanderson fan or not, that's a long prologue. I am not that into epic-ness for its own sake.

The first half of the book, I felt like I was going to have to give it 3 stars because of the boredom factor. Then the second half it slowly raised itself to 4. Only the fact that it lingered with me for several days afterwards, and that I had trouble finding something else to hold my interest, made me consider giving it 5 stars. That, and a couple of really awesome scenes at the end. And the fact that it was Brandon Sanderson biased me towards a 5 star rating as well, I have to admit. But ultimately, I rate books based on reading experience, and this one was too slow for too long. So my complicated choice of rating is going to be 3 stars rounded up to 4 for the last fifth when it finally came together.

>> End of edit

This may be one of the most epic-feeling epics I've ever read. There is the overwhelming sense that this book is only a long beginning to a hugely epic tale, one that is going to span 10 novels and be extremely vast and sprawling. The first book has only barely scratched the surface with its 1000 pages! And after 1000 pages of introduction, I do feel that I am ready for more.

The world feels very vast and old, and the magic system is very well developed (of course - this is Sanderson we're talking about!), but it is still very limited in scope for such a long book. The story so far takes place in mainly three locations with three main characters. So the world feels vast and detailed, but we don't actually get to see a clear picture of all of it yet.

Let me talk about the characters, since building them is the main focus of this book. First the most minor (in this installment), Shallan. I really struggled to like her, since her motives were less than pure, and I didn't want her to succeed at all. Thankfully, this changed by the end of the book, and now I'm looking forward to seeing what happens with her story. But there were times when I was impatient to get back to the other two main characters because I liked them much better, and they were closer to the action.

Dalinar, I really liked. He is a high prince commanding an army in a pointless war, and he's also uncle / advisor to the young king whose power is shaky a few years after his father was assassinated. Dalinar is having embarrassing visions, and - also incredibly embarrassing for his sons - he is finding purpose in honorable ideals that go beyond blood lust in battle and the petty squabbling of the other high princes. His parts are full of internal conflict and philosophical ideals that pit him against his contemporaries, who think he's going crazy and/or soft (they are seen as kind of the same thing).

I loved the scenes where Dalinar proved them all wrong. He had a couple of the really great action scenes, and I loved where his story ended up.

I do have to say, his visions were kind of confusing at times, adding to the 'where is this going?' feeling. They showed a lot of history, which was good for world-building, but I feel as if a second reading would make things a lot more clear now that I know where it's headed.

But by far, the best character is Kaladin. He is a slave, formerly a soldier and a surgeon (we get to see his former life through flashbacks). At the beginning it's really difficult to read about him because of his treatment and the despair and hopelessness of his situation. Every time you think he's at the bottom, he goes lower. Normally I don't enjoy reading things full of despair and bleakness, so for a while I didn't like his story. But thankfully it doesn't continue that way for the whole book. Kaladin finds a way to drag himself out of the seemingly bottomless pit of hell. Bit by bit, his story gains hope, and his were some of the most awesome action scenes in the entire book. This is a character who is transformed and who he becomes is amazing.

So I enjoyed two out of three main characters, and was mesmerized by the world - but not to the point of losing sleep. I never had a problem putting it down. At times I wondered what it was all getting at when there was just lots of character building and only spurts of action. But the feeling of it still pervaded me. I enjoyed being in the world and missed it when I finished.

This reminds me of my feelings when reading Tad Williams’ The Dragonbone Chair. That's another one with a very slow building world with lots of character development and not a lot of action at first. That series became one of my favorite epic fantasies because of the feeling of just being in it, savoring it. That's how I feel about The Way of Kings. It is subtle, but it has me.

I am very much looking forward to the next book, now that I understand the world and am ready to learn more about it. I'm glad I started the series instead of waiting for more books to be released. The first one ends in a place that I'm happy with for now, and with such huge books, I actually don't mind taking a break between them. I think this is a series I can savor over years instead of gorging them down all at once.

All the Paths of Shadow - Frank Tuttle

All the Paths of Shadow by Frank Tuttle
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

All the Paths of Shadow is kind of a whimsical fantasy that stands well on its own even though it's part of a series. I've seen it referred to as Steampunk, and there are some very slight Steampunk elements - dirigibles in the sky, and a more scientific approach to magical gadgets. But, it was just a slight Steampunkish flavor.

I think what I enjoyed most about this was actually the non-human characters. Meralda is a court mage, and has the most unique familiar I've ever heard of - a plant! He was one of my favorite characters, and the difficulties of him being a plant familiar kept me entertained. Then there are all sorts of magical gadgets in her laboratory, some of them taking on character status as well. There are a couple of human side characters that I also found entertaining, although I wouldn't say any of them were very deep. I felt a very low-key amusement at this strange conglomeration of characters and magic and the daily life of a court mage, and I enjoyed how they all bumbled together to win the day in the end.

The world-building and magic-building are a bit sparse, and there's not a lot of action. At the beginning, there is a lot of activity, but it's not the kind that really furthers the plot. It just made me feel how busy Meralda is. The king is very demanding and unreasonable in his expectations. So there's lots of Meralda running around trying to get ready for the upcoming Accord between nations. The king is planning to give a speech at the big tower, and wants her to move the shadow for it. I felt really sorry for how much the king was making her do meaningless magic for entertainment when there was real work to be done.

So the plot moved really slowly at first, but once the representatives began to arrive for the Accord, it finally caught my interest. Sinister plots were revealed, and the magic of moving the tower's shadow also became more complicated and dangerous. The thing is, the tower is believed to be haunted, and what Meralda discovers when she tries to attach her magic to it endangers the entire city and the future of all the nations at the Accords. Now we're talking!

I ended up really enjoying it, although I wouldn't recommend it for everyone. The slow start and meandering pace would bore some people to tears. But, this might work for you if you're in the mood for something lighter and whimsical and you're not so picky about intricate world-building. I thought it was imaginative and fun, and plan to pick up the sequel.

The Haunting of Maddy Clare - Simone St. James

The Haunting of Maddy Clare by Simone St. James

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

 

 Once again, a Simone St. James book read in one sitting. My eyes are now blurry (did I forget to blink?), and I am surprised and disappointed to realize that I am back in the real world. A full review may follow at some point, but I loved this, ghost, romance, mystery and all.

Honor's Knight - Rachel Bach

Honor's Knight by Rachel Bach

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



It's so refreshing to read a book without any slow or boring patches to get through! There was not one dull moment that I can think of in this book. I enjoyed the first book, but this one is way, way better.

The situation is no longer murky, and lots of new complications come out, making this a really strong middle book in a trilogy. This is not one of those filler novels. It takes what was introduced in Fortune's Pawn and blows it wide open, adding all sorts of new information and conflicts and surprises.

The action wasn't overpowering, either. I still felt like I got plenty of character time. I'm really loving Devi. She's not just kick-butt physically (but her fights are pretty awesome). She's also emotionally strong. I love how her brains don't just turn to mush over Rupert. She doesn't just brush off what he does to her like it doesn't matter. But she doesn't write him off either. She's very - adult. I love that she's not immature, but she is also confused by how love changes her, and she fights to adjust to it and still stay true to herself.

Safe to say, I'm really enjoying this series! With another whopping cliffhanger, I can't wait to see what happens in Heaven's Queen.