FUN DAY MONDAY, OR THE BOOKS THAT WILL HELP ME SURVIVE THE WEEK AHEAD (JULY 7, 2014)

Posted on July 7, 2014 by Bookwraiths

It is that most horrible of times: Monday. The day I have to put my big boy suit on and jump back on the corporate escalator to nowhere. But while my body languishes in my office, the books I’m reading will help my mind escape the boredom and be transported to amazing new worlds where people do actually change the world.

So without any further explanation, here are the books I will be reading this week.

THE LASCAR’S DAGGER (THE FORSAKEN LANDS #1) by GLENDA LARKE

lascarsdagger
Goodreads description:

Saker appears to be a simple priest, but in truth he’s a spy for the head of his faith. Wounded in the line of duty by a Lascar sailor’s blade, the weapon seems to follow him home. Unable to discard it, nor the sense of responsibility it brings, Saker can only follow its lead.

The dagger puts Saker on a journey to distant shores, on a path that will reveal terrible secrets about the empire, about the people he serves, and destroy the life he knows. The Lascar’s dagger demands a price, and that price will be paid in blood!

THE WHITE TOWERS (THE RAGE OF KINGS #2) by ANDY REMIC

thewhitetowers
Goodreads description:

Vagandrak is broken, and a new threat has arisen that threatens to defeat even the mighty Iron Wolves.

The twisted, deviant Elf Rats have gathered in the toxic realm beyond the White Lion Mountains… swiftly they invade the troubled land of Vagandrak, killing for profit and pleasure.

The now-disgraced Iron Wolves are the realm’s only hope, but there’s a problem: they’ve been sentenced to death by the insane King Yoon for the dark sorcery in their blood.

In the mountains of Zalazar lie the White Towers, pillars of legend said to contain the Heart of the Elves. The Iron Wolves must journey north to steal the Heart, and purify the evil in the land, but the land belongs to the Elves – and they won’t give it up without a fight!

So what are you going to be reading? 🙂

Posted in Fantasy, Funday Monday | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

TOUGH TRAVELING — NECROMANCERS!

Posted on July 3, 2014 by Bookwraiths

tough-traveling

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.

3rd July, 2014 – Necromancy

For those unfamiliar with “Necromancy”, it is simply the art of raising the dead! Most people consider it evil, but that isn’t always the case.

So without any further explanations, here is my favorite necromancers in fantasy!

1. THE DAMNED — CHASERS OF THE WIND by ALEXEY PEHOV

CHASERSOFTHEWIND

Within this book lie the Damned! These eight necromancers are the most feared and reviled people in their world. Once great Walkers (Alexey Pehov’s term for magic-users in this world), they uncovered the power to rise the desiccated flesh of the dead to do their bidding, revolted against their magical order, and unleashed death and destruction on the whole of the lands. They control the dead, use living bombs called Fish (Think corpses covered with steel rigs that explode, sending shrapnel in all directions) to commit terror strikes on their enemies, can take control over living people’s bodies, and if they are killed, their spirts unleash a zombie apocalypse in the area of their death. And these guys were not even the main focus of book one! Can’t wait to see how bad Alexey Pehov makes them.

READ MY REVIEW OF CHASERS OF THE WIND

BUY THE BOOK AT AMAZON

2. THE EMISSARY – ECHOES OF EMPIRE by MARK T. BARNES
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This servant of the Drear shows up at the end of GARDEN OF STONES, book one of this series, and things are never the same again. While this austerely beautiful woman can appear normal to even the most powerful entropy user (magic user) in her world, those that are allowed to see her true face will be horrified by the “scabrous green stone that glow[s] balefully from the center of her forehead, like an infected wound. Blackened veins radiat[ing] from it, dark against pallid flesh.” The stink of the tomb permeates the air around her, and over her death has no hold. She is the Emissary of the Drear, woe be unto anyone who does not meekly accept her masters’ plans.

Great necromancer. Keeping my fingers crossed that Mr. Barnes will be able to write the rest of this exciting story.

BE SURE TO CHECK OUT MY REVIEWS OF THE SERIES SO FAR
THE GARDEN OF STONES
THE OBSIDIAN HEART
THE PILLARS OF SAND

BUY THE BOOKS AT AMAZON.

3. CHELLA – THE BROKEN EMPIRE TRILOGY by MARK LAWRENCE
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She is evil. Not like so-so evil, but hardcore, down to the bone, evil. She can appear sexy and alluring — even though she is a rotting corpse of a woman. She will taunt you. Horrify you. Dead folks rise to do her bidding. Her boss is the absolutely terrifying Dead King. And she is so damn freaky, even sociopath Jorg is more than a bit bothered by her – though he would never truly admit it.

What is not to love about this lady necromancer?

I mean, other than what I said about her earlier. You know, she is evil and all that. Anyway, great necromancer.

BE SURE TO CHECK OUT MY REVIEWS OF THE SERIES
PRINCE OF THORNS
KING OF THORNS

BUY THE BOOKS AT AMAZON

That is my short list. Not enough time to put every necromancer on here. But do tell me your picks!

BE SURE TO CHECK OUT MY BEST OF FANTASY LISTS.

Posted in Fantasy, Lists, Tough Traveling | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 22 Comments

CHASERS OF THE WIND (THE CYCLE OF WIND AND SPARKS BOOK 1) by ALEXEY PEHOV

Posted on July 2, 2014 by Bookwraiths

CHASERSOFTHEWIND
My rating is 4 out of 5 stars.

If Robert Jordan, Glen Cook, and George R.R. Martin had ever written a fantasy book together, Chasers of the Wind would be it. The book is fun, engaging and action-packed, mixing assassins, massive world building, vile necromancers, and ancient mysteries to create a damn fine fantasy novel. I can’t recommend it enough for lovers of massive worlds and epic fantasy.

As this tale begins, a reader is thrown into a centuries long conflict between the Empire and its neighbor, Nabator, as a simple soldier named Luk is caught up in a sudden attack on the Gates of Six Towers. However, while the attack itself is shocking since peace has reigned for years, what horrifies Luk is that among the Nabatorians soldiers walk the risen dead. Something that means only one thing: the Damned have returned to the Empire!

You see, the Damned are the most feared and reviled people in history. Eight great Walkers (the Empire’s term for magic-users) who used their power to rise the desiccated flesh of the dead to do their bidding, and with this vile magic, they brought fire and death to the whole of the lands until their defeat sent them fleeing into the remote south beyond even Nabator. Ever since, the Damned have been the stuff of legend and myth; their names used to frighten small children into behaving. But no one thought they were real or that they would ever return to their old home, the Empire. So when the impregnable Gates of the Six Towers is breached and the enemy hordes unleashed upon the unsuspecting Empire, Luk’s fear of the Damned is so great that all he can do is flee into the wilderness, desperate to hide himself from the ancient evil.

Not too far away from the gates, the tiny hamlet of Dog Green is utterly ignorant of the goings on in the rest of the world. That isn’t unusual nor bothersome to the simple people who live there. Actually, they like their peace and quiet, which is a good thing since – surrounded by forests and swamps – the few travelers who do pass through the town usually only do just that: pass through without ever stopping. So when four men show up in town looking for a man and a woman named Gray and Layen, it is out of the ordinary and raises a few eyebrows, but no one in Dog Green could ever have guessed why.

For you see, more than six years ago in the far off city of Al’sgara beside the Oyster Sea, two Giijan, or master assassins if you will, did the impossible. These two – called Gray and Layen – assassinated an un-killable Walker (sorcerer). Someone so powerful – both magically and politically – that it rocked the foundations of power. Before these two could be found and punished, however, they were themselves murdered. A fire destroying their home and their bodies.

Some few called the conflagration a clever subterfuge by the two Giijan. A way to conceal their obvious escape from Al’sgara. But no one – not even the practitioners of magic – could ever find any trace of them. So finally, people accepted that Gray and Layen had really been killed.

Now, however, these four men show up in Dog Green, asking about the two infamous Giijan or any couples who only appeared in Dog Green during the last few years, and this eventually leads the strangers to a certain house on the edge of town. A place where the two, dead assassins ae found living a life of marital bliss, eager to not be pulled back into the underworld they left behind. Yet now Gray and Layen might not have a choice, because they discover that a huge sum has been placed upon their head, and they must either go back to Al’sgara and kill those hunting them or attempt to flee yet again.

While Gray and Layen grapple with their discovery and their choices, the vanguard of the Nabatorian army reaches Dog Green. With the invaders covering the town and a necromancer sniffing out any magic users, there seems nothing left for Gray and Layen to do but sit back and wait it out – until one of the Damned enters the township looking for a powerful Walker (Empire’s name for magic users). A Walker that could only be Layen!

From this beginning, Alexey Pehov crafts an epic fantasy that has it all. If you love world building, it is here. Evil villains with centuries old axes to grind? No problem, the Damned fit the bill. Clever assassins? Check. Empires clashing? There is a war going on here, even if it is in the background in this book. Unique, inventive races? Mr. Pehov has them in the story. How about a married couple who actually love and care about one another? Wow, it is here. And we must not forget the mysterious sorcerers of the world: the Walkers, whose society is only teased a bit but promises to be further delved into in the next book. Honestly, Mr. Pehov has included all the necessary elements to make this a page-turning epic in my opinion.

With all that being said, there are a few issues with the novel. Nothing that unduly affected my enjoyment, but rather, things which other people have complained of. Allow me to explain.

Mr. Pehov is Russian, so naturally, this novel was written in Russian and translated into English, which is the language I am reading it in. While I felt that the translator did an excellent job, there are sections of the book which seem a bit wordy or do not read smoothly. So keep that in mind.

The book moves slowly. I would make the analogy of a heavy object rolling down a hill and gradually picking up speed until it is moving at warp speed by the bottom. To me that is how Chasers of the Wind reads. Mr. Pehov meticulously starts off the book setting up the story, introducing people and filling in lore. It reads slow, because there is so much foundation being laid. Once that is done, however, the story pace picks up until by the end of the novel things are moving along rapidly. At least, that was my feelings.

As I mentioned, I really enjoyed Chasers of the Wind and would recommend it to anyone who likes grand, sweeping epic fantasy that has lots of characters and plot lines going on. So if that is you, give this one a try.

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

BUY THE BOOK AT AMAZON.

Posted in Fantasy, High, Sword and Sorcery | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

INTERVIEW WITH JAMES A. MOORE, AUTHOR OF THE SEVEN FORGES SERIES

Posted on July 1, 2014 by Bookwraiths

Author Bio:

James A. Moore is the author of over twenty novels, inlcuding the critically acclaimed jamesamoore.2
Fireworks, Under the Overtree, Blood Red, Deeper, the Serenity Falls trilogy, Blind Shadows, and his most recent volume of the Seven Forges series, The Blasted Lands. He has twice been nominated for the Bram Stoker award and spent three years as an officer in the Horror Writers Association, first as Secretary and later as Vice President. He cut his teeth in the industry writing for Marvel Comics and authoring over many role-playing supplements for White Wolf Games, including Berline by Night, Land of 1,000,000 Dreams and The Get of Fenris tribe. He also penned the White Wolf novels Vampire: House of Secrets and Werewolf: Hellstorm. He currently lives in the suburbs of Atlanta, Georgia.

Hi James, welcome back to Bookwraiths and thank you for taking your time to answer these few questions.

Who is your favorite author in the fantasy genre?

That’s like asking what flavor of chocolate I like best. There really are a lot of variables. Current crop I’ll say Joe Abercrombie. Back in the day? Fritz Leiber with a healthy side of Michael Moorcock. Honorable mention goes to Lloyd Alexander.

What is your favorite fantasy book?

That’s easy. THIEVES WORLD, edited by George R. R. Martin. Great writing, great series, several strong voices united in one damned fine read.

The best book you have read this year is ________?

SNOWBLIND by Christopher Golden.

Having been a writing of comics and horror in your career, was there any particular reason you decided to write a fantasy series?

The idea wouldn’t leave me alone. I’ve said before and probably will straight through to my deathbed, that I don’t pick a genre. I write a story. The rest of it will sort itself out.

What was the inspiration behind the Seven Forges series?
SEVENFORGES
I rather like the idea of an immovable object getting hit by an unstoppable force. I got it into my head one day while driving to work that it would be interesting to see the equivalent of knights in armor against people who had been trained in entirely different sorts of combat. I mean a truly alien assault from something that makes no sense to their way of thinking. The thought just sort of settled in and started whispering to me.

How long was the idea for book one, Seven Forges, floating around in your head before you actually put it down onto paper?

I made notes about this three years before I put word one down on paper. I was planning to work out something for it for a while but frankly personal issues got in the way for a spell and it was longer still before I could sit down and start the series proposal. That, by the way, is something I almost never do. I usually write the bloody book and then worry about the proposal. This was the exception to the rule for me.

Favorite horror movie of all time?

Family scares: POLTERGEIST.
Nostalgia kick: THE CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON.
Flat out affective horror? DOG SOLDIERS.

What, if anything, was the seed for the Sa’ba Taaor and their mysterious culture?

I’d say I was trying to come up with something truly original, but you know when I talked to a few friends about concept they came back with, “Oh, so like the Spartans?”

So I guess it’s fair to say the Spartans were a part of it. But, honestly, I wanted a race that has no fear of pain or injury or death. I also wanted to justify that lack of fear. They have literally been hammered at until fear of pain and injury isn’t even a part of them any more.

I’ve read some reviewers who have hypothesized that the clash of the Sa’ba Taalor and the Fellein cultures in the novels is a metaphor to the clash between European explorers and Native Americans in the real world’s past. Any truth to this belief your work has this hidden message, or are those fans reading too much into the series?

Any hidden messages have been interpreted by someone else and not added by me. Again, though, that doesn’t mean they aren’t there. If anything, that means I’m doing it right in my eyes. I want people to fill in any gaps they find and I want them to consider the possibilities. I have written about Native Americans and their conflicts with the Europeans who came into the area, but it certainly wasn’t my intent in this case. I can see the similarities. Like I said, the big thing for me was two cultures who are effectively completely alien to each other having to get into a bloody war.

I also need to emphasize that I really don’t plot out much of anything before I write, so it’s possible that there are a lot of factors getting into my head and adding themselves in without me consciously being aware of them.

How many books do you tentatively have planned in the Seven Forges?

I could easily see six or more in the series. For the first major war? Four. Two have been finished. Now I want to have fun wreaking havoc and watching what the characters do with what I throw at them.

Any desire to write a novel or series about what happened in this world’s shadowy past and caused the Blasted Lands?
theblastedlands
I’d love to. Given the chance I might even get around to it. I think there’s a story there that’s worth telling but I also like the fact that most of that story is hidden in shadows and mist currently.

Did you draw a map of the world of the Sa’ba Taalor, or is it just in your head?

Just in my head. It’s very likely that I’m going to break down and draw a proper map in the near future.

Any intentions of putting a map into the books in the future?

And that would be the reason for drawing the map. I might even put up a few maps online if it comes to that because several different areas of the world will be explored in future books. Hell, we haven’t even seen the entire Taalor Valley as yet.

As a self-proclaimed bike lover, what type of motorcycle would be your dream ride?

Big damned Harley Davidson, of course. Maybe a Fat Bob.

Is there anything you cut from either Seven Forges or The Blasted Lands prior to publication that you now kick yourself for doing or is there something you later wished you would have done different in either book?

Nothing at all got cut from either book. As you know I added several stories on the side. None of the stories were integral to the novels, and I didn’t think they were necessary for the entire arc of the storyline, but I liked the notions and so I wrote them and sent them out at different sites so people could get a sample of the world and toy with whether or not they wanted to try out the bigger narratives.

That said, I think we have to go back to the map thing, because several people have grumbled about the lack of one on the books.

Also, there are always things I’d do different in the books I write. All of them. But once the piece is done I don’t let myself worry too much about it. They either sink or swim without any extra help from me. The good news is that Lee Harris did a brilliant job as an editor and so did Marc Gasciogne. They helped a great deal.

Which one of the characters in the series is most like you?

Probably Drask. He tends to study things before acting. I would rather weigh options for a while before I make a decision.

Did you use any real world history as the mold for the cultures and people in the book? If so, who or what?spartans-300-2507463-1024-768

Nope. At least not consciously. Again, I had a few trusted friends suggest a link to the Spartans, but I think that’s mostly because of the exhaustive training the Sa’ba Taalor go through.

I’ve read you work at Starbucks, so why doesn’t coffee play more of a major role in all the characters life? I don’t recall Tuskandu sitting around the camp fire gently holding onto his cup of joe.

I have worked for Starbucks for several years now. I love their coffee, I love the company’s mentality on many things and the benefits rock. It also stops me from becoming a complete hermit. I’m fairly certain that the world where the Fellein and the Sa’ba Taalor live is not ready for a heavily caffeinated Tuskandru. It’s that sort of folly that likely lead to the creation of the Blasted Lands.

What is the hardest beverage order at Starbucks to remember and correctly concoct?

One of my regulars likes her drink very,very specifically: A grand, non-fat latte, steamed to 110 degrees, with one pump of mocha, two pumps of peppermint, stirred, in a vente cup, with whipped cream to the top and finished with caramel brulle toppings.

You try fitting all of that on the side of a cup.

Do you love, hate, or feel indifferent to the major role social media plays in the success of novels in this era?

It’s a double edges sword, really. On the one side I can interact with my peers, with my fans, with readers in general and I can promote my works with a much smaller amount of cash flow. That’s a good thing, as I haven’t exactly broken into the millionaire range yet. Having resources like Facebook and Goodreads out there are extremely beneficial.

On the other hand, yes, I work full time and I write full time and doing interviews, writing guest blogs, handling my presence on several different sites can drain a lot of time away. I think you to learn to balance them out properly and that can be a challenge.
And then there’s the online reviews. Now THAT is a double edged sword….

How did the publication process for Seven Forges go and how long did it take?

Well, I submitted the requested number of chapters and a simple outline. In this case that was five chapters, a quick synopsis and a more detailed outline, and then I promptly went on to other projects. I honestly didn’t expect to hear back any time soon and I had deadlines. Then the folks over at Angry Robot wanted to see the rest of the novel. That was a bit of a crunch because I hadn’t finished it. I sat down, ignored the social media for a few weeks and hammered out a first draft.

They made an offer a few weeks later. It was really a very pleasant experience for me.

What is it like to work with Angry Robot Books, which has become something of a rock star publishing house among fantasy readers?

angry-robot-books

I have had an absolute blast working with Angry Robot. I mean that. They’ve been delightful to work with on so many levels that it’s hard to define. That social media insanity? They make that easier. They actually send out review copies and they actually EDIT the manuscript. That all sounds mild, but it’s not. Charles L. Grant used to say that publishing houses liked to “advertise the Cadillacs,” meaning the only books they did any promotion for were the books that, ironically, needed the least help. Stephen King? George R. R. Martin? Sure! We got a budget for that! Let’s get some copies sold! Everyone else went to the curb. Every book Angry Robot puts out gets the same treatment or close enough that it doesn’t matter. They treat the books and the authors involved with respect. That’s as good as it gets. So, yeah, kind of loving them.

Any words of wisdom for aspiring fantasy authors – besides writing as much as possible?

Yes. FINISH THE DAMNED THING. Number one mistake new writers make, in my honest opinion, is trying to write too many things at once. Rather than finish that novel, they put the novel aside to write a screenplay, or they write a novella, or they move on to another novel. They get to chapter seven, realize they made a mistake in chapter three, go back and rewrite chapter three, which means that chapter five is now completely wrong, so they work on chapter five and eliminate half of what was so important in chapter four and go back and fix that but now the very first encounter between Character A and Character M no longer makes sense so that has to be mended which in turn leads to….

Just finish the damned thing. Listen, any edits should nbe done after the fact. Editing while you are writing slows down the creative process. Have a problem with chapter seven? Write yourself a note. MAKE A PASSAGE IN THE CHAPTER IN BOLD, ITALICS and UNDERLINED and then move on to chapter eight. The first draft is just that, the first draft. Trust me, you’re gonna be editing the bloody thing anyway, so save the changes for the editing process and keep the writing momentum going.

In mythology Sisyphus was condemned to rolling a boulder up a hill and having it roll down just as he reached the top, thus never letting him complete the task put before him. Stopping halfway through a first draft has the same effect on most people.

Weirdest thing a fan of your books has asked you to sign?

That would be a breast. The lady in question wanted my signature tattooed on her bosom. It was a flattering request. My wife said “No.” Pretty much put an end to that request. 😉

GUEST POSTS BY JAMES A. MOORE
DIVINE INSPIRATION
ON WRITING SEVEN FORGES
THE ART OF WRITING
WORLDBUILDING

SEVEN FORGES SHORT STORIES
THE WOUNDED
SCARS
WHEN KORWA FELL

BE SURE TO CHECK OUT MY REVIEWS OF THIS SERIES
SEVEN FORGES (PART 1)
THE BLASTED LANDS (PART 2)

Purchase the novels at Amazon.

Posted in Author Spotlights, Interview | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

FUN DAY MONDAY, OR THE BOOKS THAT WILL HELP ME SURVIVE THE WEEK AHEAD (JUNE 30, 2014)

Posted on June 30, 2014 by Bookwraiths

It is that most horrible of times: Monday. The day I have to put my big boy suit on and jump back on the corporate escalator to nowhere. But while my body languishes in my office, the books I’m reading will help my mind escape the boredom and be transported to amazing new worlds where people do actually change the world.

So without any further explanation, here are the books I will be reading this week.

REIGN OF ASH (ASCENDANT KINGDOMS VOLUME 2) by GAIL Z. MARTIN

reignofash

Goodreads description:

Survival is just the beginning.

Blaine McFadden endured six long years in the brutal Velant prison colony, exiled for murder. War devastated his homeland of Donderath and destroyed the magic on which the Ascendant Kingdoms relied. Now Blaine and a small group of fellow exiles have returned to a lawless wasteland, where unrestrained magic storms wreak havoc and monsters roam free.

Yet, amidst the chaos, rumors persist of a new magic that could restore the kingdoms. But the key lies with a dangerous, ancient ritual and a group of vanished survivors. Now McFadden’s only hope is a small, desperate, quickly rallied army. Together they must make one last stand knowing that if they fail, the civilization of the Ascendant Kingdoms dies with them.

BEGINNING OF A HERO by CHARLES E. YALLOWITZ

beginningofahero

Goodreads description:

Luke Callindor was born into Windemere’s most decorated family of adventurers. Since his birth, he has been treated with the greatest amount of respect and awe. Now, with a lifetime of training and the reckless cockiness of youth, Luke has set out to prove that he deserves the admiration that comes from being a Callindor.

Luke gets his chance when he convinces a royal messenger to hire him to protect the heir of Duke Solomon. This future leader is secretly attending Hamilton Military Academy, an esteemed school run by the former mercenary, Selenia Hamilton. It is a dangerous secret mission requiring that Luke pretend to be an average student while keeping an eye out for any sign of danger. Unfortunately, Luke has no idea which student the heir is and a demonic assassin is already several steps ahead of him. Finding himself in over his head and constantly in trouble, the young warrior realizes that the only things he has on his side are some new friends and his unwavering courage.

Can Luke find and protect the heir while keeping his own head attached to his neck? And, can he avoid being suspended long enough to see his mission through to the end?

So that is what I will be reading, how bout you?

Posted in Fantasy, Funday Monday | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

KING’S WATCH (Volume 1)

Posted on June 28, 2014 by Bookwraiths

kingswatchMy rating is 3 out of 5 stars.

This is one of those graphic novels that I read because I wasn’t in the mood for ultra-realistic, deeply complex or serious. Nope, I wanted something mindless to pass the time, introduce me to some new characters and have a little bit of harmless fun with. The graphic novel equivalent of a B movie, I guess, and with King’s Watch I got exactly what I was looking for.

Does that mean this was a star studded comic that dazzled me with its artwork or its stellar story?

Naw. Like the three stars shows, it was just an okay graphic novel, not anything more than that.

The main reason it is even a 3 star is due to the art. Honestly, Mark Laming impressed me. He showed a diverse range of abilities from penning some fairly ferocious monster men and magical spells to big battle scenes and normal day-to-day activities. Whether the characters were in the jungles of Africa or the urban jungles of America/Europe or space, I never felt anything looked out of place. Hell, he even did a good job of making the Phantom not look too corny, and that, my reader, is a damn hard task to accomplish. So anyway, the artwork was top notch in my opinion.

The problem with the graphic novel was simply the characters. Honestly, how was Jeff Parker going to come up with a dazzling story teaming up Flash Gordon, the Phantom, and Mandrake the Magician? Not to even mention who the main super villain turns out to be.

It might be possible, I guess, but it has got to be highly unlikely. I mean, let us look at our tremendous trio.

Tops on our list is Flash Gordon: a rich guy who is a great athlete and a brave dude but has absolutely zero super powers. How is he even involved in a group of supers trying to save the world? He wouldn’t be, but here he is at ground zero, trying to turn back an alien invasion on a global scale.

Then there is the Phantom. This is the Purple Shadow we are talking about here. You know, the guy who runs around in his striped underpants in the African jungle, lives in the Skull Cave, fights crime with his two pistols and rides into action on his white horse. Yet somehow, he gets pulled into a group of heroes fighting an interstellar invader. It seemed somewhat implausible, but whatever.

And finally, there is Mandrake, who was the only one of the group that really made sense being in this position. I mean, the Magician is a master of illusions, has been fighting against an international crime organization for years, and would probably try to stop his nemesis from unleashing a global invasion. Unfortunately, for everyone, the Mandrake is a horribly boring dude.

When you put these guys together, I honestly think Jeff Parker was given the most atrocious super team since the Legion of Super Pets, but even with such a tough draw, he gave it a decent go, crafting a story that – while not terribly realistic – made it, at least, sound plausible that these three would get together. He even kept the unrealistic concoction fun until the last few chapters when it sunk into the realm of nonsense, making even me begin to shake my head at the absolute ridiculousness of it all.

So anyway, to summarize, King’s Watch is like a decent B movie; it has some really pretty pictures, some bad characters, and an okay story, . Maybe, it isn’t great, but it is still very suitable to waste an hour or two following along with. I don’t regret reading it, and honestly, if the book did nothing else, it helped me not hate the Phantom as much as I did before. Don’t get me wrong, he still sucks, just not so bad now.

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

Buy Kings Watch Volume 1 at Amazon.

Posted in Graphic Novels, Pulp Fiction | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

INTERVIEW: IGOR LJUBUNCIC, AUTHOR OF THE LOST WORDS

Posted on June 27, 2014 by Bookwraiths

THEBETRAYED
How long have you been a fan of the fantasy genre?

I guess since I was ten or so. The moment I picked up The Hobbit and got hooked for life.

Who is your favorite author in the genre?

Uh-oh, that’s a tricky question. Mostly because time skews my perspective and taste. Furthermore, fantasy is not a single block of text and style, so it’s hard to judge the entire genre this way. But I really enjoy the works of Martin, Pratchett and Abercrombie. I hope that’s a fair answer.

What is your favorite book?

Another difficult one. Well, if I have to choose just one work, and ignore nostalgia and childhood illusions, then I would say Night Watch, by Terry Pratchett. It’s simply a book that touches you deep inside. You feel like you are part of a story, even though you know it’s just fantasy.

The best book you have read this year is ______?

So far, I’d have to say Wool, by Hugh Howey. True, it’s a novella, or even a novelette by some word count standard, but it’s also a magnificent piece of prose.

Are you a fan of grimdark fantasy?

Is there any other kind? Seriously, I think books should touch upon the tricky, unpleasant areas of humanity. If you cannot relate to the character, it’s boring. Grimdark actually means realistic, even though it may not be pretty.

If so, do you consider Joe Abercrombie, Mark Lawrence, or someone else the current master of the genre?

You may be surprised to hear (or rather, read) that I don’t think Joe or Mark write grim. Joe is cynical, Mark is somewhat brutal, but their topics are fairly easy to digest. I might be jaded, emotionally unavailable – I guess that’s the popular term – or just raised in a different culture slash mentality and to different standards, but I find myself enjoying and liking their books. No grimness there, no despodency, just solid fun. For me, the king of grimdark is Paul Kearney. If you’ve read The Monarchies of God and The Sea Beggars, there’s a guy who can squash the hope out of your soul.

Was there a certain book that made you decide you wanted to write a fantasy novel?

It’s hard to say. I’d like to believe that. But by the time I started writing fantasy, which was around the time I turned seventeen or so, I’ve probably read more than a hundred fantasy books. I guess it’s a combination of Tolkien, Jordan and Goodkind, at that time, who kind of paved the way for me.

What was the inspiration behind The Lost Words series?

I simply sat down and started writing. There was no critical mass of inspiration boiling in my head.

How long was The Betrayed floating around in your head before you actually put it down onto paper?

Probably seconds. Sorry for the corny answer. Now, I did take time elaborating the concept into a four-book series later on. That sure did some deep thinking. But the premise of the series was an instanenous, almost impulsive choice.

Do you consider The Lost Words series to be grimdark fantasy? Why or why not?

I think yes. And from the feedback I’ve received from my readers, definitely so. Most of the Amazon reviewers recommend keeping children away, and I agree. Some of the chapters can be a little grim. And it’s a rule that I make my wife cry at least once while reading each one of the four books, so there.
THEBROKEN

There are a lot of serious themes regarding organized religion in the book. Did you ever worry that such deeply philosophical commentary would scare off readers?

I try to avoid preaching, because I don’t like it when ideas are shoved down your throat, or in this case, pushed into your eyes. There’s one particular chapter in The Betrayed where a character does get a bit fascistesque, but I hope I got away with it. Now, overall, I write for myself, for my own fun and pleasure. Otherwise, the whole exercise of writing and enjoying oneself loses the point.

How many books do have you tentatively planned in The Lost Words series?

The series is complete. It’s a four-book work. The second volume, The Broken, has been released in 2013. The Forgotten, the penultimate volumes comes out next month. And the last book is slated sometime for mid 2015. So if you like the books, don’t worry, it’s 100% done.

Is there anything you cut from The Betrayed prior to publication or something you later wished you would have done different?

As a perfectionist, there’s always something I wish I’ve done differently. It never ends. The whole point is to let go and make your future works better, smarter, smoother, more eloquent. My wife does the editing. She is fairly brutal and objective in her judgment, and she can yank entirely chapters out if she thinks they are unnecessary or stupid or anything of that sort. Small bits and pieces went out, but not too much. And I wouldn’t add. The mistakes of books past are the lessons for the books to be.

Which one of the characters in The Betrayed is most like you?

I really don’t know. All of them have a bit of me. But I try really hard to be apersonal and avoid having one character repeated over and over. Now, whether I succeeded, you tell me.

Did you use any historical leaders as the mold for the people in the book?

Yes. Oliver Cromwell was an inspiration. And some of the Russian tsars.

Do you love, hate, or feel indifferent to the major role social media plays in the success of novels in this era?

Mostly indifferent. It’s just another communication dimension. As a technical blogger for quite some time, I’ve found that you either use the media, or you don’t. But there’s no point fretting about it, fighting it, or trying to subvert your writing to match public expectations. Fun and self-truth first, everything else later, if at all.

How has the publication process treated you?

The Lost Words series is a self-published body of works, so that’s the one I should talk about. Simply put, I’ve learned a ton in the past two years. It’s amazing how much you can learn, even when it comes down to optimizing your publication package, working with artists, growing your following, and so forth. I have been working with CreateSpace, and overall, they are okay. I guess they do offer a slightly more comprehensive package than most other publishing houses, but you do sometimes feel you’re just a ticket number waiting its SLA in a mail queue. Still, I’m trying to learn and optimize. I’ve recently hired my own external artists for the cover work. I believe that most of the extras in publishing packages, like reviews and marketing and others, are completely unnecessary. Comprehensive editing and proofing is a must, though.

Any words of wisdom for aspiring fantasy authors?

Just write for your own sake. The glory and money will come later. Or they won’t, but at least you’ll be enjoying yourself. Did I mention you should be writing? A lot? All the time?

What is next for you in writing?

I’ve quite a few new ideas lined up. I’ve completed a gunpowder-era anti-hero book recently, and I will probably self-publish this next year. I’ve also finished the first volume in a first-person zombie-themed series. A novella really. I’ve also written about 35% of a Biblical fantasy book, which I will try to peddle to the traditional market. And I’m currently working on a modern fantasy book with an agent, and we will try to approach one of the big houses out there, but at the moment, I’m not at liberty to divulge any details yet. There’s an anthology coming, too, World War One, and it will feature a story of mine in there. Grimdark to the core. Finally, I’m also writing a technical book on Linux problem solving in high-performance compute environment, but by now, you’re all deeply bored. 🙂

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
IGORIgor Ljubuncic is a physicist by vocation and a Linux geek by profession. He is the founder and operator of the cool and highly popular website dedoimedo.com, where you can learn a lot about a lot. He really likes to write, particularly in the fantasy genre, and has been doing so since the tender age of ten summers. You can learn more at his blog.

ENTER THE LOST WORDS GIVEAWAY
THE LOST WORDS GIVEAWAY

BE SURE TO CHECK OUT MY REVIEWS OF THIS SERIES
THE BETRAYED (THE LOST WORDS:VOLUME 1)

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THE LOST WORDS GIVEAWAY

Posted on June 26, 2014 by Bookwraiths

Igor Ljubuncic, author of the grimdark fantasy series The Lost Words, was nice enough to provide copies of the first two novels in his series to Bookwraiths for a giveaway.

And — DRUM ROLL PLEASE — David Goransson of Australia is the Winner. Congratulations, David! The books are in the mail. 🙂

For anyone else interested in this series, please read the about the books.

THE BETRAYED

THEBETRAYED

In the ancient land of the Realms, where armies clash and heroes arise, only the most cunning and courageous can redeem a war torn land from certain annihilation. The Betrayed, Igor Ljubuncic’s epic, gritty fantasy novel, spins a searing tale of a world in the throes of war. With furious, fast-paced action and fascinating characters, this wildly inventive saga will thrill anyone who demands fantasy at the top of its game.

A war is brewing in the Realms. When the new religious sect of Feor from Caytor invades the Safe Territories, the home of the old gods, Commander Mali of Eracia scrambles to counter its advance. To that end, Adam, an Eracian prostitute who awaits hanging, is spared to join the army. In the Territories, a former criminal Ayrton and his young protégée Ewan face the threat of the invaders. Can the ruthless followers of Feor be stopped, and the old faith be saved?

As nations clash, old rivalries are set aflame and nothing seems sacred, sinister and ancient secrets are revealed. With wit and adrenalin, The Betrayed weaves a taut and textured landscape of warring factions, foes and allies, to deliver a full-on fantasy tale for the ages.

THE BROKEN

THEBROKEN

Eighteen years after Adam defeated the Kingdom of Parus and proclaimed himself emperor of Athesia, he dies peacefully in his sleep. When his daughter Amalia crowns herself empress and takes nobles from neighboring Eracia and Caytor hostage, the political situation in the Realms is primed to explode. Meanwhile, exiled god Damian has resumed his quest to flee his eternal prison and kill the remaining gods. With Damian renewing his murderous quest and tensions boiling over in the Realms, the conflicts breathlessly march toward an overwhelming conclusion. Will Athesia prevail, or will it take a new leader to keep the empire intact? Will King Sergei of Parus be successful in his plans to avenge his family? Can Damian succeed in breaking the bonds of his imprisonment, or will he succumb to the one emotion he’s had all along? Bringing back the series’ signature tone and styling, the novel’s gritty realism, intense atmosphere, and intricate storyline make The Broken more than live up to the promise of The Betrayed. A harsh lesson in morality, The Broken will leave readers clamoring for more.

BE SURE TO CHECK OUT MY REVIEWS OF THIS SERIES
THE BETRAYED (THE LOST WORDS:VOLUME 1)

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THE BETRAYED

Posted on June 26, 2014 by Bookwraiths

the betrayed

The Betrayed by Igor Ljubuncic 

Genre: Fantasy -Grimdark

Series: The Lost Words #1

Publisher:  Self Published (April 1, 2012)

Author Information: Website 

Length:  384 pages

My Rating: 3 stars

The Betrayed is a grimdark fantasy that impresses in its scope, themes and ambitious narrative. Deftly juggling multiple main characters and plot lines, Igor Ljubuncic slowly creates an extraordinary world where religious ideology begets bloodthirsty wars, battles lead to sadistic violence, and the killing of humans begin to destroy the very gods. Written in a style distinctly its own, The Betrayed still reminds one of other grimdark fantasy penned by the likes of Mark Lawrence, Joe Abercrombie and Paul Kearney, where even the supposed “heroes” of the story are not so very different from the “villains.”

This gripping tale begins with the invasion of the Safe Territories by bloodthirsty armies. For centuries, this kingdom of the gods has been treated as sacrosanct by all its neighboring realms, off limits to their aggressions and lovingly cultivated as a place open to all gods and all people. Criminals are sent there to be changed into better people. Those disillusioned with life go there to start anew. And everyone is governed by the patriarchs, who dedicate their lives to spreading the love of the gods to their flocks. But now the fanatical leader of the god Feor sweeps into the peaceful land, putting everyone to the sword, burning and pillaging, and seemingly determined to wipe the Safe Territories, its people and the gods themselves from the face of the world

This unexpected and barbaric attack by the Feors takes all the realms by surprise, but they quickly respond. The Kingdom of Eracia sends its own army into the northern territories, and soon the King of Parus marches from the south into the land of the gods. Yet their appearance does little to halt the genocide there, for many of the powerful in both realms see the destruction of the Safe Territories as a way for their own kingdoms to gain more land and power. Quickly, all thoughts of saving the patriarchs is cast aside as a struggle to divide the realm of the gods ensues, and the war begins to spiral out of control, threatening to engulf the whole land in flames and forever transform the world.

As the blood flows and the divinity of the gods wanes, unexpected people begin to rise to prominence in the world. Individuals who would have died unknown vagrants or simple peasants begin to strut upon the world stage and control the fate of whole countries. The young prostitute Adam being one such person.

Convicted by the courts and sent to the army as his punishment, Adam finds himself trying to just survive. Soon, however, fate presents him an opportunity to rise higher than a man sentenced to death should ever hope for. But hidden behind his angelic facade and military genius, Adam has a heart that – if not completely black – is filled with so much pain and anger that neither enemies nor friends are safe from his wrath.

Seemingly a world away is Ayrton. A man who left behind his mass murdering ways when he entered the the Safe Territories. The patriarchs promised him a new lease on life; one where he could become something better than what he had been before. Where others merely pretended to change, Ayrton had truly done so, and when the Feors begin to destroy his new homeland, he joins the ragtag forces opposing them. Yet defeat after defeat and the realities of real war begins to make him doubt the very truths of his new life until he finds his feet set on a path to save the very existence of the gods.

And these are only two of the multi-faceted characters that Igor Ljubuncic gifts a reader with.

In The Betrayed, one will also be introduced to Ewan, a young priest from the Safe Territories, cast from his home by the war and slowly driven by divine inspiration to cross the ravaged lands for some unknown fate. Armin, a master investigator, who is hired to uncover the murderer of several important Caytorian businessmen only to find himself delving into the true nature of the god Feor and its fanatical leader. Mali, general of the Eracian army, who finds herself trying to harness the evil brilliance of Adam and ride it to victory without being destroyed by it herself. And so many more.

Without a doubt, The Betrayed is an undeniably well written novel that is thought provoking, fast paced, and full of dramatic action. It relies on its sweeping storyline and constant narrative shifts to create suspense and leave a reader thoughtfully introspective about the story’s serious themes. The characters are gritty and raw, the battles gory and realistic, and the atrocities of war and of sadistic people plainly described. However, unlike other grimdark authors, Igor Ljubuncic has not forgotten that no matter how deep the grimdark that there must be a hint of light for a great story to exist. For that reason, I thoroughly enjoyed The Betrayed and believe that fans of epic fantasy as well as grimdark will find this novel a satisfying read and a wonderful introduction to The Lost Words series.

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THE LOST WORDS GIVEAWAY

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WAITING ON WEDNESDAY: VALOR (BOOK 2 OF THE FAITHFUL AND THE FALLEN) BY JOHN GWYNNE

Posted on June 25, 2014 by Bookwraiths

“Waiting On” Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.

My pre-publication “can’t-wait-to-read” selection is:

VALOR

Valor by John Gwynne
Paperback, 640 pages
Expected publication: July 22, 2014 by Orbit

From Amazon UK:

The Banished Lands are torn by war as the army of High King Nathair sweeps the realm challenging all who oppose his holy crusade. Allied with the manipulative Queen Rhin of Cambren, there are few who can stand against him. But Rhin is playing her own games and has her eyes on a far greater prize . . .

Left for dead – her kin have fled and her country is overrun with enemies – Cywen fights to survive. But any chance of escape is futile once Nathair and his disquieting advisor Calidus realize who she is. They have no intention of letting such a prize slip from their grasp. For she may be their one chance at killing the biggest threat to their power.

Meanwhile, the young warrior Corban flees from his conquered homeland with his exiled companions, heading for the only place that may offer them sanctuary. But to get there they must travel through Cambren, avoiding warbands, giants and the vicious wolven of the mountains. And all the while Corban struggles to become the man that everyone believes him to be – the Bright Star and saviour of the Banished Lands.

Embroiled in struggles for power and survival, the mortal world is unaware of the greatest threat of all. In the Otherworld, dark forces scheme to bring a host of the Fallen into the world of flesh to end the war with the Faithful, once and for all.

I read Malice (Book 1 of The Faithful and the Fallen) earlier this year, finding it a fun filled fantasy, and I can’t wait to see where Mr. Gwynne is going to go with this story.

CHECK OUT MY REVIEW OF MALICE

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