The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle - Stuart Turton

The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is such a unique concept, and was pulled off superbly too. It's a mystery that must be solved by Aiden, who relives the day of the murder 8 times by waking up each day in the body of a different witness. If he doesn't solve the mystery in 8 days, he'll have his memory wiped and repeat the loop. He has no memory of his own life or why he's there, and he also has rivals who are trying to get the answer first, which adds another layer to the suspense.

The story isn't told in a completely linear fashion, so not only are you piecing together the clues from different perspectives of the day, but you're busy keeping track of the movements of each of Aiden's 8 hosts.

It does feel a lot like Ground Hog Day, but here the previous days are not wiped out. Aiden has to work around his other selves and avoid undoing what he's done in previous hosts or contaminating their timeline. This was so much fun, and happily the potential time travel paradoxes remained consistent.

It may sound complicated, but it was so well written that I was never bored or lost, just completely absorbed by the layers of the puzzle before me. The ending had a great payoff with some turns I didn't expect. Once all was revealed, I was satisfied by the final picture. Wonderful!

Assassin's Fate - Robin Hobb

Assassin's Fate by Robin Hobb
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I don't think I've ever been rendered such an emotional mess by a book. I am completely wrung out. I'm actually not sure how to move on with my life.

It was a perfect ending on so many levels, so many things from all the previous series tied together and brought to a rightful conclusion, but I still can't accept that it's the end. Maybe it won't be, although some things are without a doubt finished.

My initial reaction still stands. There really are no words.

Oath of Fealty - Elizabeth Moon

Oath of Fealty by Elizabeth Moon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed every moment of reading this book. It had a cozy feeling of homecoming to it that I didn't want to rush through. I enjoyed the multiple viewpoints, and was disappointed every time the viewpoint switched, but then got sucked into the new one very quickly. I can't think of a time that I was bored. It's very much a 'setting the stage' novel, but I felt no impatience. I just really enjoyed the experience of following the characters as they figured out their new roles and set things to rights wherever they could.

I love that all the main characters are honorable and deserving, even though they still have a lot to learn and plenty of growing to do. Some readers may think they're too good, but I find it so refreshing in these days of grim and morally gray fantasy. These are characters that I can like and root for.

Tigana - Guy Gavriel Kay

Tigana by Guy Gavriel Kay
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I first heard about Guy Gavriel Kay shortly after joining Goodreads, and have just finally managed to get around to reading my first book. It won't be the last!

Tigana was a wonderful reading experience. Complex, nuanced characters captured my heart and I hoped against hope that everyone could somehow be saved in the end. It was beautiful and tragic, full of loss, hope and redemption. I wanted to spend more time in the aftermath and follow them all home. It finished too soon.

Heir to Sevenwaters - Juliet Marillier

Heir to Sevenwaters by Juliet Marillier
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was not quite as good as the books of the original trilogy, but that's such a high standard to meet. I still couldn't put it down. Sevenwaters is the same magical place, but this time a new foe appears, and another daughter of Sevenwaters rises to the challenge of defending her family and loves. I can't wait to see where the next one takes it all.

4.5 stars?

Restoration - Carol Berg

Restoration by Carol Berg
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What a fantastic conclusion to the trilogy! From almost the first page, I was holding my breath. There was no slow build here. It just jumped right in and punched me in the gut, then ran away. Seyonne goes through so much. More than ever before. Aleksander too. The empire undergoes some upheavals that bring him into his own transformation. I loved that he is much more prominent than he was in the second book. Seyonne and Aleksander's friendship... just wow. Heartwrenching at times, but also so worth it.

This book built on both the first and the second of the series, but wasn't just a continuation. It was a synthesis of everything that came before, and a new height of revelation. Each part of the trilogy stood so well on its own, but together they're so much more. And just in case you're reading the description for the first book and thinking it's all about demons, it's really not. Not even close. Nothing is ever quite as it seems.

I feel as if I've been hollowed out and filled back up. Fantastic.

River God - Wilbur Smith

River God by Wilbur Smith
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

River God is one of those historical novels that broke open a whole new world to me. I have been to Ancient Egypt, lived, lost and triumphed there, and then resurfaced in my own time as if coming out of a vivid dream. The images are still with me, but what makes it truly wonderful is the main character, Taita. He is the star of this book, not the two star-crossed lovers who dominate the book description.

Taita is a slave, a eunuch, but a highly educated and privileged one. He's an artist, an inventor, a scholar, a physician, a strategist, and more. He's a genius at the middle of everything important, driving it all from the humble position of a trusted, good-natured slave. Taita can do almost anything, think a way out of most situations and turn them somehow to advantage. But there's a sense of tongue-in-cheek to his abilities at times that makes me think he's laughing at himself just a little even though his attitude is one of natural superiority. He thinks the world of himself, but is also compassionate and selfless.

What a great character. I loved seeing events through his eyes, seeing his curiosity and his innovations and ideas, and what fruit they bore. I loved the steadfastness and depth of emotion that he felt for those he loved, and those relationships made the history much more poignant in the end.

Yes, Taita's pretty much perfect, and Tanus and Lostra are also beautiful, godlike, and amazingly talented and well-loved. Readers who prefer their characters to have many shades of gray might have some qualms. This is not full of gritty realism, but is more akin to a heroic epic with characters that are larger than life. In a time when heroes could be elevated to god status in the eyes of the people, I didn't find this to be out of place.

I almost forgot to mention the adventure, the machinations, the betrayals, the hunts and the battles. Life on the Nile is wrapped all around it, teeming with life yet unmarred by humans. There are many opportunities for barbarism and civilization to clash and mingle. There are gruesome deaths aplenty that don't allow you to forget the savageness of the times (including many animals). Just in case you think it might be boring following the life of a noble slave-genius. I was mesmerized.

Cast In Secret - Michelle Sagara

Cast In Secret by Michelle Sagara
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

These books read like police procedurals with a smart-mouthed officer with a blinding weakness for children, but in a world overflowing with mysterious magic and cool species. So not really action-oriented, but gripping if you enjoy investigations that involve talking to witnesses and putting the pieces together. All of that builds to the end, when I find myself reading so fast I forget to blink. All without swords! (However, there are knives.)

The investigations are centered on crimes, but the more fascinating mysteries are the magic and world with its multiple species, and these really take center stage. Each book so far has illuminated a new aspect of the world and magic, becoming more intriguing as the picture clears. I don't always understand everything at first, but I get a general idea and carry on, and it becomes more clear as it goes. I love that it feels like there's so much left to learn in future books, too.

This book in particular illuminates the Tha'alani, one of the mortal races. I really enjoyed them much more than I expected!

Kaylin is still impulsive and driven mostly by instinct when it comes to magic, but she's learning. She's also learning to keep her mouth shut occasionally. To say anymore than that would be to spoil it, so I won't. Enjoy.

The Lake House - Kate Morton

The Lake House by Kate Morton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

So when is she writing another one?

Kate Morton is one of those authors whose settings are so vivid, they make you nostalgic for a similar time or place even when you've never been there. She also draws fully dimensional characters, and along with that comes sadness and failing, and reality of life. Normally I don't enjoy books that drag me into acknowledging harsh realities, but Morton is one author who does it in such a way that I can't help admiring it. This is another wonderfully written book, a joy to read even with the pain that is uncovered along the way.

The atmosphere in The Lake House is warm and nostalgic on the one hand, and full of overgrowth and decay on the other. As the story switches back and forth from the 1930s to modern day, you get such a sense of innocence and paradise lost, and can't help but fear knowing how the tragedy happened.

The mystery is explored in the modern timeline, with character perspectives from the past interspersed. The past timelines bring the tragedy alive so that it's not just a distant memory being uncovered.

The discoveries kept me involved, but I guessed some of the big twists before the characters did. Probably because I had extra information from seeing the past firsthand. But there were a couple of surprises in there for me still. I'm still not sure what I think about the final surprise. It was almost one coincidence too many. That's just a minor point, however, and the pieces do fit.

I also didn't hate the book once I knew everything, which can happen when the ending is too disturbing or senselessly tragic (I'm looking at you, The House at Riverton!). Thankfully, I was satisfied with this conclusion. Every tiny clue and action was accounted for. My only complaint is that I didn't get more of the characters. I wanted to follow them further, away from the Lake House. That's never a bad feeling to have at the end of a book.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

Child of the Prophecy - Juliet Marillier

Child of the Prophecy by Juliet Marillier

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



This is such a hard review to write because I loved this book so much. There is something about Marillier’s writing that is completely absorbing. I’ve only read her original Sevenwaters Trilogy so far, but each of those books has succeeded in captivating me with a full range of real emotion. The characters are so real, and their trials so heartbreaking and rewarding that I can’t turn away. She combines tragedy and desperation with hope and love - romantic and familial love, love of the forest or the sea, love of the old ways that are dying out. They are all bittersweet, some more bitter than others. At first, I wasn't sure I liked being made to feel all these things, but the experience is so rich that this is now one of my favorite series of all time.

Each book has a unique story, and each affected me at a level that few books have touched before. I usually avoid sad books because the emotion often feels contrived, but these are not tearjerkers. I really care about the characters and what is happening to them, and sadness is just part of their experiences. It’s so real. I’m in awe of Marillier’s ability to make me feel it and not make it feel cheap or fake.

I wasn’t sure if the first two books were just flukes, but with the third, Marillier has made it onto my favorite authors list, and books 2 and 3 are solidly on my favorites shelf. (Book 1 was still a bit too dark for me, in spite of everything I just said). I am now greedily hoarding everything else she has written, and am glad there are so many left for me to read. I just hope they are half as good.

Enough general raving. Now to the specific review. Child of the Prophecy was often not an easy book to read. I was frustrated at Fainne, at her naiveté and the weakness that led her to betray herself and everyone else who mattered. I wanted to shake her at times! I wanted to reach in and prevent her from making terrible mistakes, or do something to help her find her way.

But Fainne's growth and discovery from beginning to end was a journey that I found totally worth it. 100%. The last third of the book had me completely glued to the pages, hardly breathing. It had me fearing, grieving and hoping all in one. And the ending was perfect. It was magnificent. I had to go read it over again immediately. I want to do it again right now. I still don't want to move on.

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January 4, 2015

Loved it - review to come hopefully later when I have recovered my senses.

The Way of Kings - Brandon Sanderson

The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson

My rating: 5 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.

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. However, it lingered with me for several days afterwards, and I had trouble finding something else to hold my interest. That only happens with 5 star books. So for now I'm settling on 5 stars, although it's a bit of a wishy-washy rating.

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’ 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.

Review: Stories of the Raksura: The Falling World & The Tale of Indigo and Cloud

Stories of the Raksura: The Falling World & The Tale of Indigo and Cloud by Martha Wells

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



First of all, for those of you who already know these gems that are the Raksura and love them, I found both novellas to be complex and surprisingly satisfying for their shorter length. They sucked me right back into the world, and I really loved them. There are also two short stories included, which were a fun bonus when I wasn't ready to let go yet, but they were too short for me. I just can’t be satisfied with such tiny snippets, but the novellas did feel complete enough to be filling little bites.

Now, if you are a Fantasy fan at all and you haven’t read the original trilogy yet, go do that right away! It starts with The Cloud Roads. I highly recommend the whole series. It is unlike anything else I've read, one of the most imaginative worlds I've experienced, and deserves so much more attention. If there’s one series that I believe more people need at least to try, it’s this one. It’s so different from any typical Fantasy that I have a hard time describing it. It's truly a breath of fresh air.

I really love the world of the Raksura - the individuals, their culture and even their mannerisms. When the trilogy ended, I was so sad to leave them all behind. But Wells apparently agrees with me that there is plenty of room for more, and delivered these new novellas to read. I'm desperately hoping there will be many more, including - dare I? - more full length novels. But for now, I am happy.

The first novella, The Falling World, takes place about six months after the end of the trilogy, so we get to see all of our old friends again. The scrape they get into has plenty of danger and suspense packed into it, as well as details of a more settled court life and politics between courts.

The second novella, The Tale of Indigo and Cloud, is a prequel that takes us back to the story of what happened when Indigo stole Cloud. This one focuses more on tense court politics, and we get to see the Reaches back when they were more populated and the courts were stronger. I was afraid I wouldn’t be as interested because it was all new characters (except for one surprise cameo appearance), but I loved it just as much.

So, if you haven’t read the original trilogy yet, start there, and then be thankful that you have some more crumbs to eat when you’re finished because these novellas are fantastic as well. I wanted to read slower so I could stay in the world for a while, and I'm eagerly awaiting the next lot.

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Sept 8, 2014:

I really loved these novellas and I'm sad to be finished with Raksura stories again. Review to come.

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September 2, 2014:

I might have to bump all my other currently-reading books for this tonight. So excited!

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March 7, 2014:

Wait - a new Raksura book??? This could save 2014.



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