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TOUGH TRAVELING — MONSTERS

Posted on October 30, 2014 by Bookwraiths

Every Thursday, Nathan over at Fantasy Review Barn hosts a weekly party where blogs get to follow along with Diana Wynne Jones’ hilarious book The Tough Guide to Fantasyland: The Essential Guide to Fantasy Travel listing their favorite books with a particular fantasy trope. So sit back and enjoy the fun.

30th September, 2014 – MONSTERS

MONSTERS are likely to lie in waste areas, caves, and old ruined cities. You can usually detect their presence by smell.

Wow, monsters are so . . . like a decade ago. I mean, fantasy these days focuses more on three dimensional characters shaded all in grey, not evil monsters, so this category is going to force me to dig deep (or broadly interpret the definition) to actually find some “monsters” that fit that description.

8. DRAGONSLAYER by WAYLAND DREW

Yeah, this is a movie adaption. Of a movie that was not particularly well loved when it was released in the early 1980s, but one I always enjoyed for what it was: a fast paced, fun, adventure story.

So, anyway, this story focuses on . . . yeah, you got it, a dragon!

More specifically, the quest to find a particular dragon, kill that dragon, and survive the process.

And, for those that are interested, this dragon is a true monster. There isn’t any goodness or misunderstanding or justification for his killing, pillaging, destruction, and eating of maidens. Nope, he is a smelly dragon who hides in his lair, only venturing out to lay waste to the puny humans who are good for only one thing — eating!

Buy Dragonslayer at Amazon.

7. THE IRON WOLVES by ANDY REMIC

This novel has an abundance of “monsters” scattered throughout its pages. We have the protagonists of the story, the Iron Wolves, who are some of the grimmest grimdark heroes I’ve encountered. Their numbers including a pit fighter, drug addict, serial killer, and child molester/torturer. And then we have the antagonists in the tale who are more traditional monsters called mud orcs, raised from the mud pits by vile, blood magic, and their companion soldiers in the dark army labeled “splice”, which is a fairly adequate explanation for what they are (a forced melding of human and animal into one physical creature.) Leading the orcs and splice is Orlana the Changer; a strange, inhuman villainess who eats human flesh one moment before satiating her sexual appetite on a man slave, literally eating him alive as she spread her taint within him. Lots of “monsters” here — though they don’t live in caves.

Buy The Iron Wolves: Book 1 of The Rage of Kings at Amazon.

6. MOTHER OF WINTER by BARBARA HAMBLY

Set after the end of the Darwath trilogy, this story sees the world growing colder, and the survivors of the rising of the Dark attempting to rebuild their civilization (albeit on a smaller scale) in a harsh, new land. Now, though, they find themselves facing a new menace as the ice that is creeping down from the north has awoken an ancient force determined to freeze the globe in a perpetual winter. And with a near indestructible weed beginning to grow in the fields, monsters begin to appear outside the Keep of Dare . . . as well as inside it, the hardships of the survivors of the Dark only grows worse!

Thought I’d add a different sort of monster with this one.

Buy Mother of Winter (Darwath) at Amazon.

5. SHADOWS LINGER (THE BLACK COMPANY #2) by GLEN COOK

The Black Company (well, what remains of it, anyway) are sent out by Lady to investigate a mysterious black castle that seems to be organically growing in a small seaport far to the west. The residents of this castle are hooded monstrosities who pay for any corpses delivered to them and will give extra money for anyone brought to them still alive!

While the story doesn’t focus solely on these monsters and their business at the dark castle, I still thought their role in this tale was central to the whole book. Plus, they are just really creepy, intriguing monsters.

Buy Shadows Linger: A Novel of the Black Company (Chronicles of The Black Company) at Amazon.

4. THRONE OF THE CRESCENT MOON by SALADIN AHMED

This is not one of my favorite fantasy books. For the reasons why read my review HERE .

Be that as it may, the author has some pretty cool monsters in the ghuls.

These zombie-like creatures come in all shapes and in numerous forms. Each different ghul having specific powers at its command. While zombies by another name at first glance, they shape up into far more than just that.

Of course, we don’t actually see much of the ghuls, but when we do, they are interesting.

Buy Throne of the Crescent Moon (Crescent Moon Kingdoms) at Amazon.

3. DRAGONSBANE by BARBARA HAMBLY

The monster in this story is obviously the dragon, right?

Well, it is, sort of. But Ms. Hambly does something really cool in this Tolkien-inspired adventure of a group of dragonslayers, she turns the dragon into something more than just an evil beast.

Back when this one was first published, I had personally never seen a story that did that. Normally, we had good guys versus evil monster, and that was that. But Dragonsbane did the ol’ switcharo, creating a really memorable monster.

Buy Dragonsbane at Amazon.

2. WOLVES OF THE CALLA (THE DARK TOWER #5) by STEPHEN KING

Okay, the “wolves” are not the traditional fantasy monster, but they are “monsters” who ride into the Calla on their fierce steeds, stealing children and striking the fear of god into all the residents. And they appear from a mysterious land across the river where an ominous mountain stands.

Sounds like some pretty cool monsters to me.

For all these reasons — and the fact this was the last Dark Tower novel that I actually liked — these monsters have to be on my list.

Buy Wolves of the Calla (The Dark Tower, Book 5) at Amazon.

1. THE HOBBIT by J.R.R. TOLKIEN

How can any monster list be complete without Smaug the Magnificent?

As he himself says:

“My armour is like tenfold shields, my teeth are swords, my claws spears, the shock of my tail is a thunderbolt, my wings a hurricane, and my breath death!”

Sounds like one bad monster to me, so the ultimate dragon is on my list.

Buy The Hobbit at Amazon.

BE SURE TO CHECK OUT MY BEST OF FANTASY LISTS.

Posted in Fantasy, Lists, Tough Traveling | Tagged Andy Remic, Barbara Hambly, Chronicles of the Black Company, Dargonslayer, Dragonsbane, Glen Cook, J.R.R. Tolkien, Mother of Winter, Saladin Ahmed, Shadows Linger, Stephen King, The Black Company, the dark tower, The Hobbit, The Iron Wolves, Throne of the Crescent Moon, Tough Traveling, WOLVES OF THE Calla | 12 Comments

THE FREE by BRIAN RUCKLEY

Posted on October 29, 2014 by Bookwraiths

My rating is 3 out of 5 stars.

The Magnificent Seven. Seven Samurai. These action-packed, adventure movies supposedly inspired Brian Ruckley when writing this tale of a band of fantasy land mercenaries taking one last contract before retiring.

I’m sure that doesn’t wow many of you. Truthfully, it didn’t excite me either when I got this ARC. But after finishing The Free, I have to admit it was a fun, exciting adventure with lots of interesting ideas and concepts.

The story is set in a land ripped apart by civil war, as a rebellion of the nobility sweeps aside the royal line of kings who have kept the ominous “Orphans” of the south at bay using the threat of a Permanence known only as The Bereaved.

Remaining neutral in this epic societal clash is the realm’s “clevers,” or magic-users, who use a very exotic form of elemental magic to cause mass destruction.

One group that does take sides (albeit for a price) is the mercenary company known as the Free. This legendary band of warriors, clevers, and their horrifying Permanence, the Clamour, are completing their final contract, fighting for one of the nobles in his struggle against the remaining kingsmen. And as the war nears its end, its members are eager to disbanding for good; their leader, Yulan, being the one most ready for his companions to drift off into retirement and enjoy their well-earned gold.

But wait! Yulan is offered a final contract. A very lucrative one. A deal that will not only pay an ungodly sum of gold to the company but also allow them to rectify an old failure. And though he resists the idea, ultimately, Yulan cannot pass up the gold or, more important, the chance to legally slay (there is a contract after all!) the member of the royal family who dealt the Free its only embarassment.

Accompanying the mercenaries on their final mission is Drann, a young peasant who is a volunteer in the noble’s army. He has little training, less worldly experience, but more than a little respect and awe for the legendary Free company. And through good luck (or bad, according to your point of view) Drann finds himself riding among his childhood heroes, bearing the noble’s contract, sworn to witness the completion of this business arrangement and report back such news to his lord. But nothing in Drann’s past has prepared him for the wild adventure he has stumbled into!

As I mentioned earlier, there are lots of interesting elements in this novel. Let me list just a few.

What are clevers, and how do their powers work?

Who are the Orphans that everyone is afraid of?

What are the Permanences that are so carefully guarded and only whispered about in awe?

What is the terrible failure that the Free are so eager to rectify?

And how will the School of Clevers get involved in the whole situation, and how?

The story that slowly reveals the answers to all these questions is a well-written, tightly-woven, and exciting adventure. There are lots of intense battles, some cool “clever” action, and more than a few exciting characters. And while the world building is sparse, it is satisfying, revealing a very intriguing land with lots of lore and history hiding just under the surface.

The only issue I had with The Free was that the story used too many standard tropes and character archetypes for my taste. The grizzled, famous mercenary company taking one last ride into the sunset has been done before in books and movies. And the characters tended to fall into the usual categories: the naive, new guy (Drann); the haunted, well-loved leader (Yulan); the grizzled, kind veteran (Hamdan); the broken, spiteful female warrior (Akrana); and the list goes on. While none of this kept me from enjoying the story, it did cause me to read a little less closely at times, because, honestly, I could guess what each character was going to do and say in most situations.

Sounds a lot like watching The Magnificent Seven and Seven Samurai, doesn’t it?

That is because it is, except you are reading (as opposed to watching) an action-adventure extravaganza that might not overwhelm you in its complexity, but will definitely keep you entertained until the end.

I received this ARC from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review. I’d like to thank them both for allowing me to receive this review copy and inform everyone that the review you have read is my opinion alone.

Buy The Free at Amazon.

Posted in 3 Stars, Fantasy, Low, Military | Tagged best fantasy books 2014, best standalone fantasy novel, BRIAN RUCKLEY, fantasy standalone novel, new fantasy series 2014, THE FREE | 2 Comments

SLEEPING BEAUTY by MARK LAWRENCE

Posted on October 26, 2014 by Bookwraiths

Sleeping Beauty by Mark Lawrence

Genre: Fantasy – Grimdark

Series: The Broken Empire #2.5

Publisher: Self Published (July 2013)

Author Information: Website | Twitter

Length: 33 pages

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

Jorg Ancrath as sleeping beauty?

Sounds crazy, right? Especially since most of us know Jorg from Mr. Lawrence’s seminal grimdark novel Prince of Thorns and its sequel King of Thorns, and recall that he is far from the embodiment of nobility and goodness. Somehow, someway Mark Lawrence makes it work, however, crafting a twisted story of the young king (this one is set between book two and three of the trilogy) as a “sleeping beauty” of sorts.

The story itself focuses on Jorg and a traveling companion making the mistake of seeking shelter from a storm in a haunted cave. While they are aware of the rumored ghosts that inhabit the place, Jorg is never one to let silly things like specters hold him back from his chosen course of action, and soon he finds himself a “sleeping beauty,” wondering when he will wake up and to what fiendish horrors. I really can’t tell you more, or I’ll ruin the wicked fun.

Overall, this was another grimdark tour de force from Mark Lawrence, filled with creepy images, fierce combat, and shadowy revelations about the world of the Broken Empire. Not only is it a must-read for series fans looking for a fix of Jorg, but its easy accessibility makes it a great introduction for new readers wanting to just try the series out. Sure, our grimdark hero has a habit of being terribly lucky, unbelievably knowledgeable, and gifted in that perfect way to overcome his current set of challenges, but a reader really must not let that detract from the fun, because it is merely part of the legend that is Jorg. I’d recommend it to all grimdark devotees, Jorg Ancrath lovers, and fans of fantasy-horror genre benders, because it is a not-to-be-missed fairy tale retelling.

Buy the story at Amazon.

Read my reviews of other Mark Lawrence stories.
During the Dance

Posted in 4 Stars, Fantasy, Grimdark, Short Stories | Tagged best free grimdark, best grimdark 2014, best grimdark fantasy series, best grimdark short story 2014, Jorg, Jorg Ancrath, King of Thorns, Mark Lawrence, Prince of Throns, sleeping beauty, the broken empire | 1 Comment

MY FAVORITE 100 FANTASY COVERS (#100-91)

Posted on October 24, 2014 by Bookwraiths

I am one of those people who has no problem admitting I judge books by their covers.

I mean, why lie about it.

Can’t we all just admit that when we look over the bookshelf at our local Barnes & Noble or online at Amazon the first thing we gravitate toward is the cover of the books. If it’s amazing, we will generally want to find out more about it. If the cover totally sucks, we will, more than likely, second guess any thought to actually reading it.

To me, no where is cover art more important than the fantasy genre.

Why do I say that, you ask?

Because fantasy is a genre that hopes to inspire wonder in people. The stories themselves are usually epic adventures with breathtaking magic, awe-inspiring miracles with blade or wand or metal elements, and unusual people. So the cover to a fantasy MUST let a potential reader sense the fantastical elements contained within those pages.

Naturally, there are numerous ways to do that. And, every prospective reader has his or her own idea of what is awe-inspiring artwork. That is why the fantasy shelves of any bookstore is an amazing place to browse for art, because each novel is like a portal to some amazing world unlike our own; each representing one art teams expression of the fantastical.

Now, I’ve been reading fantasy most of my life. (At least thirty-four years, but whose counting, right?) And there have been certain book covers that have captured my imagination and remained with me even though years have passed between my first sight of them and the present day. Some of those novels went on to become my favorite stories. Others are ones I enjoyed reading but forgot about soon after. A few went in the “I Didn’t Like It” list. And a couple I appreciated the cover art but never even bought the book. But the one thing all these covers had in common was a perfect vision of what I personally thought was an intriguing, fantasy world that I wanted to journey to.

So, without any further ado, here are my Favorite Fantasy Covers (#100-91) . . .

100. SWORD OF THE ARCHON BY D.P. PRIOR

“Deacon Shader has dreamt of the Sword of the Archon since a child, and now, as a veteran warrior, he is finally within reach of winning the holy blade in a tournament at the heart of the Templum’s empire.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the world, plague breaks out in the streets of Sarum, and a horde of undead rises from the sacred burial mounds of the Dreamers.

Prompted by a voice from the Abyss, the liche Dr. Cadman has discovered a piece of the mythical Statue of Eingana and corrupted its power, but worse than that, an ancient enemy has noticed and turns his eyes once more upon the Earth.

Those with understanding know all too well the threat that hangs over Creation and have taken great pains to ward against it.” — Goodreads

Love the cover of this warrior of faith from a post-apocalyptic future. I especially dig the hat. Honestly, it reminds me of my witch-hunter on Warhammer Online from several years ago.

99. TOMORROW THE KILLING – DANIEL POLANSKY

“Once he was a hero of the Great War, and then a member of the dreaded Black House. Now he is the criminal linchpin of Low Town. His name is Warden. He thought he had left the war behind him, but a summons from up above brings the past sharply, uncomfortably, back into focus. General Montgomery’s daughter is missing somewhere in Low Town, searching for clues about her brother’s murder. The General wants her found, before the stinking streets can lay claim to her, too.” — Goodreads

Dark, moody, and mysterious are the descriptive words that come to mind when I see this cover. Plus the fact that it makes me really interested in what is going on. Take a look at more of cover artist Rhett Podersoo’s work Here

98. RANGE OF GHOSTS – ELIZABETH BEAR

“Temur, grandson of the Great Khan, is walking away from a battlefield where he was left for dead. All around lie the fallen armies of his cousin and his brother, who made war to rule the Khaganate. Temur is now the legitimate heir by blood to his grandfather’s throne, but he is not the strongest. Going into exile is the only way to survive his ruthless cousin.

Once-Princess Samarkar is climbing the thousand steps of the Citadel of the Wizards of Tsarepheth. She was heir to the Rasan Empire until her father got a son on a new wife. Then she was sent to be the wife of a Prince in Song, but that marriage ended in battle and blood. Now she has renounced her worldly power to seek the magical power of the wizards. These two will come together to stand against the hidden cult that has so carefully brought all the empires of the Celadon Highway to strife and civil war through guile and deceit and sorcerous power.” – Goodreads

It sounds good. Plus, it has this absolutely stunning cover by Donato Giancola. One day, I’m going to actually read it. Take a look at more of Donato Giancola’s art Here

97. ELANTRIS — BRANDON SANDERSON

“ELANTRIS WAS A PLACE OF GLORY.

The capital of Arelon, the home to people transformed into magic-using demigods by the Shaod.

But then the magic failed, Elantris started to rot, and its inhabitants turned into powerless wrecks.

And in the new capital, Kae, close enough to Elantris for everyone to be reminded of what they have lost, a princess arrives. Sarene is to be married to unite Teod and Arelon against the religious imperialists of Fjordell. But she is told that Raoden, her husband to be, is dead.

Determined to carry on the fight for Teod and Arelon’s freedom, Sarene clashes with the high priest Hrathen. If Hrathen can persuade the populace to convert, Fjordell will reign supreme.

But there are secrets in Elantris, the dead and the ruined may yet have a role to play in this new world. Magic lives.” — Goodreads

This UK version of the cover is stunning to me. Not sure why, but the gate opening with the green light streaming out just peaks my curiosity. Anyone know who the artist was?

96. THIEVES WORLD — ROBERT LYNN ASPRIN and LYNN ABBEY

“Shared World anthologies. What a brilliant idea! The concept was that a setting would be provided and some basic rules set down, such as ‘no killing another author’s character without permission.’ And then recruit some top notch writers to come and play.

This book still has a nice fat place on my shelf.” — Robin Hobb, author of The Farseer Trilogy

I recall picking this one up over and over again when I was a teenager, trying to decide whether I should buy it. At the time, I really didn’t love short stories or anthologies, preferring grand, sweeping epic fantasy series, but the sight of that cover would not let go of me. Eventually, I broke down and purchased the book, even read it. I can’t recall much about it, but that cover has always been a favorite of mine. Artwork by Garry Ruddell.

95. THE MISENCHANTED SWORD – LAWRENCE WATT-EVANS

“The old wizard wasn’t exactly happy with Valder, who’d led his enemy to his hut. Now hut and magical supplies were destroyed. But he’d promised the young scout a magic sword to get him safely back to his own lines — and a much enchanted sword Valder would get!

The resulting sword gave perfect protection — sometimes! It could kill any man — or even half demon. In fact, once drawn, it had to kill before it could be put down or sheathed.

Army wizards told Valder that the sword would keep him alive until he’d drawn it 100 times; then it would kill him! It wouldn’t prevent his being wounded, maimed or cut to pieces, but it wouldn’t let him die. If his new job as Chief Assassin for the army didn’t make him use up the spell, he’d be practically immortal.

Not bad, it seemed. There had to be a catch somewhere.

There was — and it was a lulu!” — Goodreads

Have to admit to never reading this novel, though I’ve enjoyed more than a few of Mr. Watt-Evans fantasy stories. Be that as it may, this cover by Darrell K. Sweet really mesmerized me back in the day.

94. ACROSS THE FACE OF THE WORLD – RUSSELL KIRK PATRICK

For 2000 years, Kannwar, the Immortal Destroyer, Lord of Bhrudwo, has been planning revenge on the Most High.

Mahnum has escaped the Destroyer’s prison, but on his way home to Loulea, he and his wife are captured. His sons, Leith and Hal, set off in pursuit with a small group of villagers to free their parents and to warn their world of the coming war. But not all of the Company agree that so few can make a difference, or think that anyone will listen to them.

So begins a dangerous quest to challenge darkness, fulfill a prophecy and change the course of their world’s history.

Sounds interesting enough in that epic fantasy sort of way. What is absolutely brilliant is that cover though. After looking at it, I want to jump on a horse and ride out on an epic quest myself. As long as I can be home before my favorite shows come on, that is. Take a look at more of Steven Stone’s art Here

93. THE DESERT SPEAR – PETER V. BRETT

“The sun is setting on humanity. The night now belongs to voracious demons that arise as the sun sets, preying upon a dwindling population forced to cower behind ancient and half-forgotten symbols of power. These wards alone can keep the demons at bay, but legends tell of a Deliverer: a general-some would say prophet-who once bound all mankind into a single force that defeated the demons. Those times, if they ever existed, are long past. The demons are back, and the return of the Deliverer is just another myth . . . or is it?” — Goodreads

This cover is brimming with action, from the spear of the desert warrior to the promise of death in his stern eyes. Without this stellar cover, I really wonder if I would have ever picked up The Warded Man to see what this series was all about. Take a look at more of Larry Rostant’s art Here

92. THE MIRROR OF HER DREAMS by STEPHEN R. DONALDSON

“The daughter of rich but neglectful parents, Terisa Morgan lives alone in a New York City apartment, a young woman who has grown to doubt her own existence. Surrounded by the flat reassurance of mirrors, she leads an unfulfilled life—until the night a strange man named Geraden comes crashing through one of her mirrors, on a quest to find a champion to save his kingdom of Mordant from a pervasive evil that threatens the land. Terisa is no champion. She wields neither magic nor power. And yet, much to her own surprise, when Geraden begs her to come back with him, she agrees.

Now, in a culture where women are little more than the playthings of powerful men, in a castle honeycombed with secret passages and clever traps, in a kingdom threatened from without and within by enemies able to appear and vanish out of thin air, Terisa must become more than the pale reflection of a person. For the way back to Earth is closed to her. And the enemies of Mordant will stop at nothing to see her dead.” — Goodreads

Great Michael Whelan cover. Take a look at more of his art Here

91. THRONE OF GLASS – SARAH J. MAAS

“Meet Celaena Sardothien.
Beautiful. Deadly.
Destined for greatness.

In the dark, filthy salt mines of Endovier, an eighteen-year-old girl is serving a life sentence. She is a trained assassin, the best of her kind, but she made a fatal mistake: she got caught.

Young Captain Westfall offers her a deal: her freedom in return for one huge sacrifice. Celaena must represent the prince in a to-the-death tournament—fighting the most gifted thieves and assassins in the land. Live or die, Celaena will be free. Win or lose, she is about to discover her true destiny. But will her assassin’s heart be melted? — Goodreads

After reading some reviews, I do not think this book is for me, no matter how stunning that cover. Anyone know who the artist is of this one?

Part I is now complete. So tell me which ones you like and which ones you hate

Posted in Cover Lover, Fantasy, Lists | Tagged ACROSS THE FACE OF THE WORLD, best fantasy covers, Brandon Sanderson, D.P. Prior, DANIEL POLANSKY, Darrell K. Sweet, Donato Giancola, Elantris, ELIZABETH BEAR, fantasy covers, Garry Ruddell, Larry Rostant, Lawrence Watt-Evans, list of great fantasy covers, Lynn Abbey, Michael Whelan, Peter V. Brett, RANGE OF GHOSTS, Rhett Podersoo, Robert Asprin, RUSSELL KIRK PATRICK, Sarah J. Maas, Shader, Steven Stone, The Desert Spear, The Misenchanted Sword, Thieves World, Throne of Glass, TOMORROW THE KILLING | 7 Comments

TOUGH TRAVELING — ELVES

Posted on October 23, 2014 by Bookwraiths

23rd OF OCTOBER, 2014 – ELVES

ELVES claims to have been the first people in Fantasyland. They are called the Elder Race. They did not evolve like humans, but sprang into being just as they are now.

Now, this one is easy. All I have to do is narrow my picks down to a manageable number.

1. J.R.R. TOLKIEN’S MIDDLE-EARTH

My favorite elves. Whether they are Vanyar, Noldor, Teleri, Avari, Eldar, Nandor, Sindar, or Silvan, it doesn’t matter to me. These guys are the true Elder Race, who walked with the gods and exhibit all the wisdom and grandeur that I expect in my elves. Of course, my fondness might be because Tolkien was my first introduction to fantasy and t o fantasy elves in general, but no matter, that just makes them my first love, which means that they hold a special place in my heart above those that came after.

Buy The Silmarillion at Amazon.

2. WARHAMMER

I have not read many of the Warhammer Time of Legends novels, but what I have read has made me a huge fan of the elves of this land. From their peaceful past to the Chaos Wars to their old world empire to the Sundering and their ongoing battles with their Dark Elf kin, these people never fail to amaze me in their mesmerizing history. I can’t recommend these elves more highly.

Buy Malekith (Time of Legends) at Amazon.

3. MORIGU by MARK C. PERRY

This unfinished fantasy tour de force is filled with larger than life heroes and villains, gore-coated combat, huge battles, gods and goddess, and every fantasy race imaginable — including elves. While at first glance, Mr. Perry’s elves seem to be clones of the LoTR elven people of Tolkien, this quickly begins to change as the elves of Morigu morph into many shapes: noble elves, wise elves, mad elves, bloodthirsty elves, crazed elves, and haunted elves. But the one thing they never are, no matter how different from each other they appear, is boring. And when dealing with elves, the thing I will not tolerate is boring, so Mr. Perry’s version of elves is definitely on the list.

Buy at Morigu: The Desecration at Amazon.

4. THE LEGEND OF DRIZZT by R.A. SALVATORE

I know lots of people have always hated Drizzt, have grown to hate him, are tired of him, or don’t particularly care for Mr. Salvatore’s writing style, but all of you have to admit that The Legend of Drizzt has some pretty spectacular elves in the drow. These vile (Well, mostly) subterranean dwellers have a unique society, culture, religion, and mythos that is pretty spectacular and well worth a try — even if you don’t exactly dig Drizzt himself. So, while I can understand some of your disdain for the series itself, I really could never conceive of anyone NOT rating the drow as some of the best fantasy elves out there.

Buy Homeland: The Legend of Drizzt, Book I at Amazon.

5. THE RIFTWAR SAGA by RAYMOND E. FEIST

The elves in this series start off as pretty much a clone of Tolkien’s silvans, but slowly, as the tale evolves, they and their shadowy origins turn into something a lot more surprising and interesting. While I don’t want to reveal any spoilers for those of you who haven’t yet read this fantasy classic, let me just say that Mr. Feist’s interesting twist on the normal elven myths was pretty cool and unexpected for the time, though I realize it isn’t as earth shattering now. Even with that being said, the elves in the Riftwar Saga are never the “stars” of the show, but they do become bigger and bigger players in the ongoing storyline until finally they are at the center of it all by the conclusion. Well worth a try for elf lovers.

Buy Magician: Apprentice at Amazon.

6. VLAD TALTOS by STEVEN BRUST

While not as exceptional as when I first read about them in the 1980s, the Dragaean (or elves, as the humans call them) are an amazing example of the Elder Race of creatures. These guys basically control the world, allow the humans to exist because they are not too much of a problem, and spend most of their time in political machinations, magical research, and general killing of time, because, you know, it gets boring when you live forever. For those and many other reasons, the Dragaean of Mr. Brust were some really cool elves when I first encountered them, and I still have to recognize them as one of my favorite elven people of all time.

Buy The Book of Jhereg at Amazon.

7. THE ORIGINAL SHANNARA TRILOGY by TERRY BROOKS

I’m not what you would call a Shannara fan. Sure, I read the original trilogy during my teenage days in the 1980s, but I went almost thirty years before I returned to Terry Brooks fantasy world. What I have always remembered about Shannara was the really cool elves, especially the central role they played in book two of the trilogy, The Elfstones of Shannara, where their historical enemies and their magical realm are the epicenter of an apocalyptic event that could destroy the world. So while the Elves of Shannara might not be much more than LoTR-prototypes, they are still interesting LoTR-prototypes, so they have to be on my list.

Buy The Sword of Shannara at Amazon.

8. DRAGONLANCE

Absolutely a clone of the Middle-Earth elves of Tolkien, but be that as it may, I always enjoyed reading about the Qualinesti and Silvanesti elves of the Dragonlance world. The Elven Nations trilogy being a favorite of mine during its day and the one that focused the most on these Dragonlance elves and their diverse realms. I will grudgingly admit that these elves do not excite me as much now that I am older and, hopefully, wiser and more well read, but I felt it appropriate to, at least, tip my hat to these old favorites.

Buy Firstborn: Elven Nations (Elven Nations Trilogy Book 1) at Amazon.

9. MITHGAR by DENNIS L. McKIERNAN

Many critics of this series says that Mr. McKiernan basically “copied” Tolkien’s ideas. Well, in The Iron Tower Trilogy, I generally agree (though almost all fantasy series after Tolkien copied him to some level), but after those first few books, the author expanded upon Tolkien’s ideas and slowly evolved beyond them until the Mithgar series became more than just a “copycat” Lord of the Rings. But no matter all that, though, the elves in this series are definitely in the LoTR mold, which isn’t a bad thing for those of us who can’t get enough of Tolkien’s elves. Since I’m one of those people, reading about the Mithgar elves is as close to reading another Tolkien book as I’m going to get, so for that reason, these elves are definitely on my list.

Buy The Iron Tower Omnibus (Mithgar) at Amazon.

10. CORUM by MICHAEL MOORCOCK

This might be cheating, since the list is about “Elves”, but I have to give a shout out to my favorite elven character outside LoTR: Corum Jhaelen Irsei, the Prince in the Scarlet Robe, last of the noble race of the Vadhagh and avenger of his Chaos-ravaged world. While the Vadhagh do not call themselves “elves”, everyone else labels them as such, and since Corum is my favorite Eternal Champion and an “elf”, he had to make an appearance on my list whether he fits the actual criteria or not.

Buy Corum: The Coming of Chaos (Eternal Champion) at Amazon.

BE SURE TO CHECK OUT MY BEST OF FANTASY LISTS.

Posted in Fantasy, Lists, Tough Traveling | Tagged Corum, Dennis L. McKiernan, Diana Wynne Jones, Dragonlance, Drizzt Do'Urden, J.R.R. Tolkien, Lord of the Rings, Magician, margaret weis, Mark C. Perry, Michael Moorcock, Mithgar series, Morigu, R. A. Salvatore, raymond e. feist, Riftwar Saga, Steven Brust, Terry Brooks, The Elven Nations, The eternal champions, The Iron Tower, The Legend of Drizzt, The Tough Guide to Fantasyland, Tolkien, Tolkien's elves, tracy hickman, vlad taltos | 10 Comments

WARHAMMER AGE OF LEGEND edited by CHRISTIAN DUNN

Posted on October 22, 2014 by Bookwraiths

My rating is 3 out of 5 stars.

Age of Legend is an anthology of tales devoted to one of the most interesting fantasy lands around – Warhammer! While I haven’t read many of the stories from this brainchild of Games Workshop, I have enjoyed a few, and that sword and sorcery fun led me to dig up this book of ten, pulse-pounding, gore-coated, sorcery-singed short stories. So let me tell you about them.

A SMALL VICTORY by PAUL S. KEMP (3 STARS)

I realize that it is hard to find very interesting zombie stories these days. There are just so many of them it seems they all recycle the same tired, old ideas. But, even though this one started out as a pretty standard zombie apocalypse (fantasy-style, of course), its twisted ending made it stand out from the zombie hordes.

BLOODRAVEN by SARAH CAWKWELL (3 STARS)

I’m a sucker for dwarves. Just love the bearded dudes. The warhammer dwarves are some of my favorites, because they are just so stubborn, vicious, and brilliant. So this tale about a dwarven stronghold being overrun by a vile horde of Chaos followers from the icy north was right up my alley. The only reason I only gave it three stars is because I didn’t like the ending. Dwarves are too damn vindictive not to take everyone down with them.

CITY OF DEAD JEWELS by NICK KYME (3 STARS)

A monster has overrun a dwarven keep. A group of warriors sent in by a dying king to destroy the monster within. Lots of fighting and dying. Plus, there are dwarves. I mentioned that I dig dwarves, right? But anyway, this story was a really entertaining monster hunt.

THE LAST CHARGE by ANDY HOARE (2 STARS)

An aged knight of Bretonnia who wants to die in glorious battle rather than succumb to the decrepit state of old age. His prayer to a goddess does not go unanswered. The arrival of an enemy well-worthy of the famous knights final battle. I couldn’t have written a better setup for a story, but the ending left me flat. It was too abrupt and not epic enough.

THE NINTH BOOK by GAV THORPE (3 STARS)

A group of mercenaries ends up in a crumbling hunting lodge in the middle of a dark forest. Little do they know they are being followed by Chaos followers – and by another entity who is far more dangerous. The nightmarish tale that follows is sword and sorcery fun – even if you, sort of, know how it will all end.

THE GODS DEMAND by JOSH REYNOLDS (3 STARS)

A city in the Empire is being attacked by a vicious horde of beastmen, led there by Gorthor the Beastlord upon the orders of the Chaos gods themselves. The valiant defenders are led by their elector duke, who is almost as bloodthirsty and mad as his enemies. Soon, both the duke and the beastlord discover what the gods really demand of them. What follows is a very nice, twisted ending. Exactly what I love in short stories.

PLAGUE DOCTOR by C.L. WERNER (3 STARS)

Plague has struck the Empire, spreading its misery across the land as it devastates whole villages and towns. But desperate times are also the best time to make gold for some people, and so it is that our main characters find themselves traveling the land, pretending to be plague doctors, who – for a considerable sum – will help any township ward off or cure themselves of the deadly disease. But naturally, fate has a terrible sense of humor.

THE CITY IS THEIRS by PHILIP ATHANS (3 STARS)

An orc and goblin horde is about to overrun a major city of the Empire. There doesn’t seem to be anyway for its duke to save his people – until an alchemist comes to him with a possible secret weapon. Now, the only problem is how to use its devastating power to best affect with killing anyone in the city as well. This one was a decent story, just a bit too sappy in some parts for me.

THE SECOND SUN by BEN COUNTER (4 STARS)

A human wizard braves the icy north to uncover a mysterious entity. He hopes to awaken it and gain untold knowledge and power. In the future, a mysterious book is discovered. It winds up in the hands of an Associate Comprehender at the Bright College of the Empire. This studious flame wizard braves the most secret knowledge of his order to piece together a forgotten secret. But neither man knows the twisted fate that awaits them. Great story with a really intriguing ending.

AENARION by GAV THORPE (5 STARS)

The First Phoenix King of the Elves has spent years attempting to hold back the Chaotic hordes. His unbreakable will and mighty prowess in battle are the foundation upon which his race’s hopes of salvation have been built. But what happens when a grief so great occurs that Aenarion himself begins to lose faith? And how can this indomitable king be turned aside when he has chosen to journey down a path so terrible that it will lead to the downfall of his entire race? Read this one and find out. As for me, I love anything Aenarion related, so this story was going to be a 5 star no matter what.

Overall, this was a really enjoyable collection of warhammer stories. Sure, they tended to be heavy on the gore-coated combat and vile twists of fate, but still, every one of them was very enjoyable to read and a few were outstanding. So if you love warhammer, dwarves, elves, fierce combat, vile villains, and twisted endings, I’d recommend you picking this one up.

Buy Age of Legends (Time of Legends) at Amazon.

Check Out My Reviews Of Other Warhammer Novels
MALEKITH
SHADOW KING
CALEDOR

Posted in 3 Stars, Anthology, Fantasy, High, Warhammer | Tagged Aenarion, Age of Legend, ANDY HOARE, BEN COUNTER, C.L. WERNER, Christian Dunn, Games Workshop, Gav Thorpe, JOSH REYNOLDS, NICK KYME, PAUL S. KEMP, PHILIP ATHANS, SARAH CAWKWELL, sword and sorcery, Time of Legends, Warhammer, warhammer dwarves, Warhammer Fantasy (setting), warhammer short stories, warhammer universe | 2 Comments

SCOURGE OF THE BETRAYER (BLOOSOUNDER’S ARC #1) by JEFF SALYARDS

Posted on October 20, 2014 by Bookwraiths

My rating is 4 out of 5 stars.

Scourge of the Betrayer is one of those rare books. A novel that takes the familiar tropes of a particular genre, tweaks them ever so slightly until you (a long time reader) find that your expectations of that genre have been suddenly raised to a new level.

And how did Jeff Salyards do that, you ask?

Well, mainly, he did it by refusing to be confined by the familiar, formulaic pattern of grimdark fantasy. Where most “grims” cover their pages with equal parts gore-coated combat, cynical characters, sexual situations, harsh language, and gritty worlds, Scourge embraces those elements but does not stop with them, adding a layer of realism and attention to detail that elevates this standard “grim” story into a realistic, tour-de-force of fantasy. Indeed, Mr. Salyards creates a world where armor actually does protect you in combat. Where there are no “Chosen Ones” or godlike heroes or all-powerful villains. Where magic is present but not scattered around like motes of dust. Where your favorite character might appear as a “good guy” one moment only to seem a “bad guy” the next. And where anyone, ANYONE can die if plans do not work out or a blow is mistimed or too many foes appear. All things that might sound like normal grim but are so much more in this story.

Mr. Salyards throws readers into his realistic grimdark world from the first page; the first person narrator of the tale being a young man named Arkamandos (or Arki for short.) This youth has just been hired by Captain Braylar Killcoin, leader of a band of Syldoon soldiers, to be their company’s scribe. And while Arki is very wary of his new employers (They are the fiercest, most vicious soldiers in the world), he explains his reason for joining up with them as:

I had no family, or none that had claimed me as such for years, and no friendships of any lasting duration. The promise of being part of something larger than my life—which admittedly, up to this point hadn’t exactly been consequential or noteworthy—was exciting, even if my involvement was restricted to observing and recording. At least it would presumably be something worth setting to parchment for once. And there was no denying the draw to that.

This desire to be part of a grand, epic adventure is exactly why Arki is the perfect narrator for the story that follows, for he is in the exact same shoes as his audience: a spectator completely in the dark as to what is actually going on. For there doesn’t seem to be any dark lord to defeat here or epic war to wage or apocalyptic event to stop – well, not that Arki knows about anyway. Instead, Captain Braylar and his men have their own secret agenda; a plan that they have no intention of willingly sharing with anyone. And so, Arki is left to listen to the conversation of his employers, gather clues as to their intentions, and piece together theories about their motives, goals, and true aims. All the while never knowing if his guesses are anywhere close to accurate.

And as Arki leads readers along on this grand adventure to discover the why of it all, Mr. Salyards carefully uses the interactions between the young scribe and the other characters to slowly sculp vibrant people, not grimdark caricatures of humanity, but real, living, breathing people who gradually come into focus. Don’t be surprised when there are not any long soliloquies where the characters intentionally reveal their inner demons or hidden desires or troubled past to you, because Mr. Salyard does not spoon feed anyone. Instead, he forces you to live day to day along with Arki, reading his interpretations of his traveling companions, his beliefs about their personalities, and his assessment of their actions, making you use the youth’s observations to form your own opinions about these three-dimensional people who surround him.

While this gradual development of plot and characters could have ruined the pacing of the story, it did not do so. For even though the beginning is slow and a tad confusing, Mr. Salyards deftly places clues throughout the narrative, stringing a reader along. Each suspected insight into Braylar’s plans building a little more excitement, each small revelation about his history adding a touch more drama to the tale until you can’t wait to turn the page, hoping to find the next part of the puzzle that Mr. Salyards has so expertly hidden from view.

But this is a grimdark, so where is the bloody combat, you ask?

Oh, it is here. Braylar is a man of action, willing to trade a few humorous slurs with his opponent before wielding his exotic flail to crush their skulls, and his Syldoon are constantly in the thick of the action. Blood and gore coat the pages, especially after the halfway point of the book, with the fighting coming fast and furious (though Arki presents it more from the point of view of a witness than a participant), and always Mr. Salyards deftly crafts these fights with utmost realism. No overpowered godlike warriors here. Even the most experienced fighter only one step away from getting struck down in battle. A fact that makes the fights even more gripping, as you wonder if anyone is safe from the grim reaper in this world.

As you can tell, I thoroughly enjoyed this novel, and there are lots of further things I’d like to say about the story, but I can’t – to do so would reveal too many spoilers and ruin the fun for you. Perhaps it will suffice for me to write that Scourge of the Betrayer took everything that I love about grimdark, added in a touch of realism, and coupled those things with a slow-developing, character-driven story that made me constantly strive to figure out what was going on. It is quite simply a great fantasy read.

So, with all that being said, I highly recommend this one to grimdark fans, lovers of character-driven stories, fantasy fans, and all those that just adore tales that make you think. Have fun reading!

Posted in 4 Stars, Fantasy, Grimdark, Low | Tagged Arki, best grimdark 2014, best grimdark fantasy series, best new grimdark series, BLOODSOUNDER'S ARC, Braylar Killcoin, Captain Braylar, grimdark fantasy series, JEFF SALYARDS, SCOURGE OF THE BETRAYER | 13 Comments

FLASHBACK FRIDAY: SPLINTER OF THE MIND’S EYE by ALAN DEAN FOSTER

Posted on October 17, 2014 by Bookwraiths

Back in the late 1970s and early 1980s, I was all about Star Wars all the time, which is why I immediately picked this book up when I saw that Darth Vader cover. And while Splinter of the Mind’s Eye isn’t the greatest Star Wars story I have ever read, it has always held a fond place in my memory, because not only was it the first Star Wars novel I ever read but it also was a really fun story from the King of Movie Novelizations: Alan Dean Foster.

Here the story begins with Luke and Leia traveling to a rendevous with the Rebel Alliance. Naturally, though, things immediately do awry as the Princess’ fighter forces them to make an emergency landing on the planet Mimban, and almost immediately they stumble upon an unknown Imperial mining operation.

At the small Imperial town, our rebel heroes are hoping to find a way to repair the ship but instead meet an old lady named Halla, who senses that Luke is more than he seems and is “strong” in the Force. After revealing herself to the pair and finally getting them to grudgingly acknowledge Luke’s abilities, Halla tells them a great secret: upon Mimban lies a fantastical jewel that will magnify a person’s ability with the Force; the reason that the Imperials are on the jungle planet in the first place.

From this revelation, the fun really begins as Leia and Luke frantically try to find the jewel and get off the planet before Darth Vader shows up. Because yes, the Dark Lord is definitely on his way.

Like I said, I still fondly recall reading this book as a young teen. In the intervening years, I have reread it a few times, and it is still fast paced, fun, action-packed, and spotlights some of my all-time favorite characters: Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, and Darth Vader. So even if it isn’t the best science fiction or Star Wars novel that I have ever read, it is definitely not the worst. However, the reason I wanted to spotlight Splinter of the Mind’s Eye is because Alan Dean Foster’s story could have been the second Star Wars movie if “A New Hope” had not been a wild success. Something that I personally had never known until reading this article that was linked to my Goodreads friends review. (Shout out to Rabindranauth, whose great review blog you should now check out.)

So with that interesting fact in mind, I’d recommend this forgotten Star Wars classic to all Star Wars fans, cravers of sci-fi adventures, and lovers of all things Vader. Hope you enjoy reading this one!

Buy Splinter of the Mind’s Eye: Star Wars (Star Wars – Legends) at Amazon.

Posted in 3 Stars, Flashback Friday, Science Fiction, Space Opera, Star Wars | Tagged Alan Dean Foster, Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Splinter of the Mind's Eye, Star Wars, Star Wars Expanded Universe | 6 Comments

TOUGH TRAVELING — DESERT NOMADS

Posted on October 16, 2014 by Bookwraiths

16th OF OCTOBER, 2014 – DESERT NOMADS

DESERT NOMADS occupy the hot parts to the south, which is either desert or rather parched grass. For some reason this is ideal terrain for breeding horses, of which nomad clans have in large numbers.

I know that there has to be lots and lots of these in fantasy, right?

Well, at least, I thought there was, but for the life of me, I can’t seem to recall that many. So here are my four nominees.

1. KRASIANS – THE DEMON CYCLE by PETER V. BRETT

In a land destroyed by demons who arise every night and hunt mankind, only the desert born and bred Krasians are willing to venture beyond their defensive wards and fight, bringing death and destruction to the innumerable legion of their tormentors. And while they can’t breed herds of horses and do live in warded cities of stone, these fierce warriors are still some serious “Desert Nomads” in my book.

Buy The Warded Man: Book One of The Demon Cycle at Amazon.

2. THE HAMMAD al NAKIR – DREAD EMPIRE by GLEN COOK

These desert people were once the core of a mighty continental empire, but with the crumbling of that kingdom, they have splintered back into tribes who war with one another, spreading destruction across the vast reaches of the thristy land. In this chaos arises a young heretic called El Murid, who begins a mad crusade to unite the tribes and build for them a new empire raised upon the bodies of their enemies! Some very religious and fanatical “Desert Nomads” here.

Buy A Fortress In Shadow: Chronicle of the Dread Empire at Amazon.

3. THE AIEL – WHEEL OF TIME by JORDAN and SANDERSON

Okay, I know this might be cheating a bit. Yeah, the definition of desert nomads has them having herds of horses that they presumably ride into battle on. But the fact of the matter is that whenever I hear “Desert Nomads” mentioned in the same sentence with fantasy series the Aiel are who come to my mind immediately. These guys are the epitome of what fierce, desert nomads are suppose to be like. Sure, they might not overwhelm anyone with their mounted cavalry, but these desert warriors have to be on the list of best all time.

Buy The Eye of the World: Book One of ‘The Wheel of Time’ at Amazon.

4. THE CALORMEN – THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA by C.S. LEWIS

These dark-skinned men with beards, flowing robes, turbans and scimitars come from a land of deserts and their main method of warfare is their mighty horsemen. In The Horse and His Boy, Mr. Lewis portrays these slave holders and ostentatious people as residents of huge cities, so I don’t know if they are exactly “Desert Nomads” but they are definitely desert horsemen. For that reason, they are on my list.

Buy The Horse and His Boy: The Chronicles of Narnia at Amazon.

So what Desert Nomads did I miss?

BE SURE TO CHECK OUT MY BEST OF FANTASY LISTS.

Posted in Fantasy, Lists, Tough Traveling | Tagged A Fortress in Shadow, Aiel, C.S. Lewis, Calormen, Dread Empire, Glen Cook, Krasians, Peter V. Brett, robert jordan, The Chronicles of Narnia, THE DEMON CYCLE, The Desert Spear, The Eye of the World, The Horse and His Boy, THE WARDED MAN, The Wheel of Time | 7 Comments

CRIMSON & CREAM by C.M. SKIERA

Posted on October 15, 2014 by Bookwraiths

My rating is 3 out of 5 stars.

Crimson & Cream is a fantasy tale that focuses on 13-year-old twins Eadriel and Elvar, who have fallen on hard times and are desperately trying to unravel their tortured past and create a magic future. While following the familiar coming-of-age trope, the book is an engaging YA novel that will quickly win over lovers of that genre.

Born to teachers at the revered school of magic at Dwim-Halloe, these twins seemed to have a wonderful future set for them: a privileged life, loving parents, reserved spots at the school of magic, and an endless supply of books to devour. But that brilliant future came crashing down the day the king outlawed magic in his realm.

Not only outlawed it, but made it a crime for anyone to teach it. And soon, the king’s guards arrived at the twin’s front door, taking away their parents to imprisonment and death, and leaving them desperate, homeless orphans in a city that hated them.

Thankfully, an orphan street gang takes the two in, renaming them Flotsam and Jetsam and teaching them how to eke out a living on the unforgiving streets. Thereafter, every night the twins scavenge and pilfer for their sustenance and profit before slinking off into the sewers at night with the other members of their gang to hide from the morning sun and the local authorities. And while this existence is far removed from their life before, the boys have readily accepted it and thrived in their new family.

But things never remain the same – even in the sewer of human existence. And soon, one of their nightly forays finds Flotsam and Jetsam fleeing for their lives down an abandoned well and into the darkness beyond, where they encounter something that will change their lives forever!

Well written and throughly edited by C.M. Skiera, Crimson & Cream is an adventure tale of daring escapes and desperate discoveries filled with interesting characters, evil villains, frightening monsters, and black magic. Yes, it is definitely a YA fantasy, targeted more toward the adolescent audience, but that merely means it is filled with more excitement, more fun, and more light-hearted escapades. So if you are a lover of fantasy YA, YA in general, magical adventures, or coming-of-age tales, then this is a novel you should definitely pick up.

I received this book from the author, in exchange for an honest review.

Buy Crimson & Cream (The Oxbow Kingdom Trilogy Book 1) at Amazon.