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TO CATCH A KILLER: BOOK SPOTLIGHT & GIVEAWAY

Posted on February 7, 2017 by Bookwraiths

Since I am always looking for ways to bring books to my readers, I jumped at the chance to participate in the Release Day Blitz for Sheryl Scarborough’s new novel, To Catch a Killer. Thanks to the good people over at Tor Teen we are not only spotlighting the novel but giving away one copy of the book to a winner in the US or Canada. More about that a little later. First, let us take a closer look at To Catch a Killer and its author.

BOOK SPOTLIGHT

To Catch a Killer by Sheryl Scarborough

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Series: Stand Alone

Publisher: Tor Teen (February 7, 2017)

Author Information: Website | Twitter

Length: 320 pages

In this contemporary mystery by debut author Sheryl Scarborough, a teenage girl uses forensic science to solve the cold-case murder of her mother.

Erin Blake has one of those names. A name that, like Natalee Holloway or Elizabeth Smart, is inextricably linked to a grisly crime. As a toddler, Erin survived for three days alongside the corpse of her murdered mother, and the case—which remains unsolved—fascinated a nation. Her father’s identity unknown, Erin was taken in by her mother’s best friend and has become a relatively normal teen in spite of the looming questions about her past.

Fourteen years later, Erin is once again at the center of a brutal homicide when she finds the body of her biology teacher. When questioned by the police, Erin tells almost the whole truth, but never voices her suspicions that her mother’s killer has struck again in order to protect the casework she’s secretly doing on her own.

Inspired by her uncle, an FBI agent, Erin has ramped up her forensic hobby into a full-blown cold-case investigation. This new murder makes her certain she’s close to the truth, but when all the evidence starts to point the authorities straight to Erin, she turns to her longtime crush (and fellow suspect) Journey Michaels to help her crack the case before it’s too late.

AUTHOR INFORMATION

Sheryl Scarborough worked as a story writer and series developer in children’s television before receiving her MFA in Writing for Children & Young Adults from Vermont College, where she studied under Rita Williams-Garcia, Tom Birdseye, and Susan Fletcher, among others.

She currently lives and works in Kalama, Washington. To Catch a Killer is her debut.

GIVEAWAY DETAILS

With thanks to Tor Teen, this giveaway will be for one copy of To Catch a Killer. This giveaway is open to residents of the US and CANADA. To enter, check out the Rafflecopter giveaway. The winner will be randomly selected, then be notified by email of the great victory!

Posted in Giveaway, Young Adult | Tagged mystery, Sheryl Scarborough, thriller, To Catch a Killer, To Catch a Killer Book Giveaway, Tor, Tor Teen, Young Adult | 3 Comments

BOOK TRAVELING THURSDAY: A BOOK WITH CHARACTERS I LOVE TO HATE

Posted on February 2, 2017 by Bookwraiths

booktravelingthursdays5 Book Traveling Thursday is a weekly meme hosted by Catia and Danielle. Each week everyone picks a book related to that week’s theme, then you write a blog post explaining explain why you choose that book and spotlight all the different covers from different countries. To find out more check out about BTT go to the Goodreads group!

This week’s theme is: A Book with Characters I Love to Hate!

There were more than a few books which immediately came to mind when I read this topic. Thomas Covenant. Prince of Thorns. But why settle for a book where I don’t like one or a few characters when there is a volume out there with dozens of characters I despise: A Game of Thrones.

ORIGINAL COVER

a-game-of-thrones-book-cover

The book cover I recall when I first purchased this at my local store long, LONG ago. (Never would have dreamed this series would still not be finished.)

FAVORITE COVERS

I like these covers for different reasons. Left: Sure, it is a homage to the first season of the television show, but I like seeing a Stark on the throne. Middle: Black and white, classic, uncluttered look that appeals to me. Right: I’m a sucker for paintings of dramatic scenes, and you can’t get much more dramatic than walking toward the Iron Throne of Westeros.

LEAST FAVORITE COVERS

A few of these covers are terribly to me. Not only do they exhibit sub-par artwork, but they are so generic they fail to capture anything of the essence of A Game of Thrones. Several others are very minimalist, featuring only a sword, dragon head, throne, or wolf head. Nothing inherently wrong with any of them, but they are just fairly MEH to me.

So what do you think? Agree or disagree?

Posted in Book Traveling Thursday, Cover Lover, Fantasy | Tagged A Game of Thrones, Book Traveling Thursday, fantasy covers, george r.r. martin | 9 Comments

BLOOD OF AENARION

Posted on February 1, 2017 by Bookwraiths

Blood of Aenarion by William King

Genre: Fantasy — Warhammer

Series: Tyrion & Teclis #1

Publisher: Games Workshop (November 29, 2011)

Author Information: Website | Twitter

Length: 320 pages

My Rating: 4 stars

Sometimes, I find myself craving pure old-fashioned sword and sorcery escapism. You know, tales of action, adventure, and intrigue with vile villains and jaded heroes. Books where the exploits of legendary figures are chronicled, as they stride across a world, meting out death and destruction to their enemies, even while they carry around their own personal crosses upon their back. And Warhammer novels are tailor made for these moments.

The best part of these sugar-coated fantasy stories are the characters. Every Warhammer fan has their personal favorite. But few of them are as interesting or as ill-fated as Aenarion, the first Phoenix King of the Elves; the warrior who braves death by godly flames and the Curse of Khaine (when he draws the vile sword of the God of War and Murder) not for personal glory but to obtain the power to defend his people from the endless hordes of Chaos. So, naturally, when I saw this book, realized it was all about Aenarion’s descendants and promised to reveal, at least, a sliver of lore about the legendary Phoenix King, I had to read it.

Blood starts things off with a mesmerizing tale of Aenarion’s final battle. This too brief introduction to the Phoenix King taking a reader into the head of the doomed legend, revealing his true feelings about his life’s choices, exploring his complicated relationship with Caledor Dragontamer and Morathi, and, ultimately, setting the stage for the stories main villain, N’Kari the immortal Daemon prince.

Shifting from the ancient past, the story finally comes to rest on a pair of Aenarion’s ancestors: Tyrion and Teclis. These twins reared in the wilds of the continent of Ulthuan by their widowed father, who is more obsessed with repairing the ancient battle armor of Aenarion than spending time with his children. Tyrion is the athletic twin, endowed with amazing physical ability and with a mind for strategy; Teclis is a sickly youth, whose mind is better suited for magic. The two of them content with their current life, shielded by their father from the truth of what it means to be of the blood of Aenarion.

But peace never lasts. Things changing abruptly for the twins when their aunt arrives unexpectedly. The current Phoenix King having decreed that Tyrion and Teclis must be examined for the taint of Khaine’s curse. The fear of the elves that Aenarion’s ancestors will be born with the taint of the Bloody-Handed God of War and Murder, causing them to slip into some form of madness and bring untold misery to their race. And, thus, are our ill-starred twins ripped from their isolated childhood home and immersed in a world of power and intrigue they are not prepared to handle.

While I usually do not warm to coming-of-age stories anymore (too old and grumpy, I think), I enjoyed this one. William King doing a wonderful job of fleshing out the twins (especially Tyrion here), creating real individuals who lived up to their legendary Warhammer status but also were more complex. The pair exhibiting moments of confusion, sadness, weakness, and actual mistakes! Not Chosen Ones in the usual sense (though the twins are definitely gifted in different ways and viewed as having potential by those who wish to be their benefactors) but youths who have much to learn and seemingly not enough time to do so before doom befalls them. This personal portrait of the real Tyrion and Teclis, not the legends, a huge reason I enjoyed the narrative from start to finish.

The other element I thoroughly enjoyed throughout Blood was William King’s simple yet perfect observations regarding the differences (or lack of differences) between the Elves of Ulthuan and their Druuchi cousins. Specifically, I am referring to how the author deftly and subtly shows the High Elves and their demented cousins to not be so terribly different after all; each people merely a different side of the same coin. The Druuchi of Naggaroth and the Elves both flawed races, overflowing with intense passions and hopeless hubris. This seemingly simple and insignificant observation clarifying the eternal conflict for me better than any multi-page info dump ever could have.

The only problem I had with this story was the lack of suspense. Anyone who is the least bit familiar with Warhammer knows Tyrion and Teclis are important figures in the lore, legendary figures even, so the possibility of their tale ending here was basically zero. Certainly, all stories have a tendency to never ask more of their heroes than they are able to overcome, but with specific details of Tyrion and Teclis’s lives already set down in stone, William King had his hands tied to a certain extent as to what he could actually do with and to these characters. Unfortunately, that did hold back the narrative from reaching its full potential.

Blood of Aenarion had its grip on me from the first page of Aenarion’s story, building in me a deep desire to know who and what his ancestors would be. Tyrion and Teclis definitely lived up to my expectations, providing me with a nice action and adventure story in a world which I found comfortable yet intriguing. And, yes, I did like it enough to immediately move on to book two of the series.

Purchase the book at Amazon

Posted in 4 Stars, Fantasy, Warhammer | Tagged Aenarion, ancestors of Aenarion, Blood of Aenarion, Tyrion and Teclis, Ulthuan, Warhammer, William King | 4 Comments

TOP TEN TUESDAY

Posted on January 31, 2017 by Bookwraiths

Welcome to Top Ten Tuesday! This is a weekly feature hosted by The Broke and the Bookish, where a new top ten list hits the web every week!

This week our topic is …

TOP TEN FAVORITE GRAPHIC NOVELS/COMICS

10. GREEN ARROW: Quiver/Sounds of Violence

As a long suffering Green Arrow fan, I was always a little disappointed in the treatment Oliver Queen received back in the day. All that changed when writer/director Kevin Smith of Clerks, Chasing Amy, and Dogma fame took the helm with this title and brought GA back to life in more than one way.

9. X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST

I arrived on the comic scene just a little too late to enjoy the famous Claremont/Byrne run on Uncanny X-Men, so I picked this title up to see what all the gushing was about. Needless to say, I was amazed by this story, which introduced me to the world of the X-Men and turned me into a fan for years to come.

8. THE LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN

Okay, I am only talking about the graphic novels here, not the Hollywood movie of the same name. Loved the concept. Dug the story. Thought the time period was cool. Even the art (which would not normally be my favorite) worked with this tale, penned by Alan Moore.

7. THE AUTHORITY: Relentless/Under New Management

After having been away from comics for a number of years, I picked this one up on a whim one day and was blown away by Warren Ellis’ amazing writing and Bryan Hitch’s artwork. Sure, it was a superhero team book with stories about superhero clones and alternate reality villains, but the subtle satire added a nice touch that made the story even more entertaining.

6. THE WALKING DEAD

What can you say about this comic that hasn’t already been said a thousand times over? Not much. Honestly, I still recall picking this up at a Barnes & Nobles to see what this zombie comic was that had spawned the tv show. I actually read it before ever watching the show. Blew me away. Still think it is a great story — at least the first several years before things became rather repetitive.

5. THE ULTIMATES

As an Avengers fan from the time I first picked up a comic in the late 1970s, I adored these characters. Captain America, Thor, Iron Man, and all the rest among my favorite heroes. As I got older though, I wanted a more mature, realistic version of their adventures. With The Ultimates, I got my wish. Sure, the characters and their issues were a little bit different; the world more gray than black and white; but it was still superhero fun — just for the older me.

4. KINGDOM COME

Writer Mark Waid and artist Alex Ross created an instant classic in my opinion when they put the final touches on this story of the DC Universe decades in the future. Seeing Superman and everyone else as old, past their prime heroes struggling to deal with a future they cannot allow to stand was a reading experience I won’t ever forget.

3. PLANETARY

Writer Warren Ellis and artist John Cassaday turned this story about mystery archaeologists of the late 20th Century into a must read for me. All the exciting adventures of the team — from uncovering unknown paranormal secrets to hidden historical events to lost island of dying monsters — were simple and entertaining yet mesmerized in how they mimicked comic history itself.

2. WATCHMEN

A legendary graphic novel which deserves every bit of praise which is heaped upon it, in my opinion anyway. It was especially mesmerizing when it was first published back in the 1980s, turning the superhero genre on its head and showing what supers in the real world might be like. Having read it back upon initial release and several times since, it still is a dramatic story — even if it isn’t quite as shocking as when I first encountered it.

1. THOR: Walter Simonson

Hands down the greatest comic run of any writer ever! At least, in my eyes it is, but I am far from an impartial judge, because this is the comic which made me fall in love with the medium during those awkward preteen years when I wondered if I could continue to read comics. Yeah, Walt Simonson put a stop to me wandering away, trying to act like I was “too cool for comics.” Nope, he showed me I had to keep reading, because, otherwise, I’d be missing out on these epic adventures like the ones he dazzled me with during his time on Thor. Was the best comic then, still is! ( I did warn you I wasn’t at all impartial.)

Posted in Graphic Novels, Top Ten Tuesday | Tagged alan moore, Kevin Smith's Green Arrow, Kingdom Come, Planetary, The Authority, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, The Ultimates, The Walking Dead, Thor, Top Ten Tuesday, Walter Simonson, Warren Ellis, Watchmen, X-men Days of Future Past | 5 Comments

FUNDAY MONDAY, OR THE BOOKS THAT WILL HELP ME SURVIVE THE WEEK AHEAD (JANUARY 30, 2017)

Posted on January 30, 2017 by Bookwraiths

funday-monday

It might be 2016 instead of 2017, but the same old routine continues. And so I quickly slip into my business suit and head back into the office to save a few innocent people. But while I try to fool myself into being excited about the promise of a new year and the continuation of the regular grind, deep down, I’m not, so I’m going to escape dreary reality by reading some great books.

This week I’m spending my time with the upcoming release by Mark Lawrence.

Red Sister by Mark Lawrence

Genre: Fantasy

Series: Book of the Ancestor #1

Publisher: Ace (April 4, 2017)

Author Information: Website | Twitter

Length: 432 pages

I was born for killing – the gods made me to ruin.

At the Convent of Sweet Mercy young girls are raised to be killers. In a few the old bloods show, gifting talents rarely seen since the tribes beached their ships on Abeth. Sweet Mercy hones its novices’ skills to deadly effect: it takes ten years to educate a Red Sister in the ways of blade and fist.

But even the mistresses of sword and shadow don’t truly understand what they have purchased when Nona Grey is brought to their halls as a bloodstained child of eight, falsely accused of murder: guilty of worse.

Stolen from the shadow of the noose, Nona is sought by powerful enemies, and for good reason. Despite the security and isolation of the convent her secret and violent past will find her out. Beneath a dying sun that shines upon a crumbling empire, Nona Grey must come to terms with her demons and learn to become a deadly assassin if she is to survive…

Purchase the book at Amazon.

Posted in Fantasy, Funday Monday | Tagged April 2017 fantasy releases, Book of the Ancestor, Fantasy, Mark Lawrence, Red Sister, upcoming fantasy releases 2017 | 7 Comments

BATTLESTAR GALACTICA:SIX

Posted on January 27, 2017 by Bookwraiths

Battlestar Galactica: Six by J.T. Krul

Genre: Science fiction

Series: Battlestar Galactica

Publisher: Dynamite Entertainment (December 27, 2016)

Author Information: Twitter

Length: 120 pages

My Rating: 2 stars

As I’ve admitted several times in reviews, I am a Battlestar Galactica fan. It all started back in the 1970s when, as a little kid, I sat in front of my family’s television set every week watching the original. Sure, it had its share of corny and ridiculous moments, but I loved every minute of it.

bsg-1

Certainly, my fandom went into hibernation for many years before Richard Hatch’s BSG novels in the late 1990s and early 2000s rekindled it somewhat. But, really, the love of all things BSG was taken to new heights by the SciFi series. The new, modern, and more serious tone of this show really pulled me in, making me anxious every week to see what was going to happen next with all my favorite characters (and, honestly, I found myself loving them all). Hell, I still binge watch the complete show every couple of years.

bsg-2

So, when I saw this graphic novel promising to take a closer look at Number 6’s early years in the Twelve Colonies I had to grab it.

As the story begins, Number 6 has no real memory. She recalls being a miner before tragedy strikes her group, leaving her the lone survivor. But her memories of this event are jaded, coming back to her in fits and starts, because she seems to be recalling multiple lives at the same time. Each one attempting to crowd out the life she is currently leading. The chaotic nature of her thoughts leading her into a mental health hospital to get help controlling her outbursts. The story progressing from there, as she slowly discovers who and what she really is.

bsg-3

For those unfamiliar with BSG, Number 6 is a complicated character, but throughout the tv series, her unique nature is slowly revealed with scenes of emotional feelings, near irresistible sexual seduction, and methodical Cylon brutality. Her evolving role a fascinating amalgamation to witness play out in her ongoing story. And that complexity is exactly what I was hoping this comic series would capture and explore.

Sadly, my hopes were dashed. The story dreamed up by Krul a huge letdown. The choppy storytelling horribly confusing. Number 6’s confusion and motives not very well detailed or explained. The whole story line more like a hodgepodge of memories, scenes, and reveals rather than a coherent start-to-finish narrative.

But the book has great art, right?

bsg-4

Well, the covers are amazing. I loved every one of them. Problem being that the interior art is not close to the same quality. Key characters are barely recognizable from page to page. The action scenes do not convey any sense of movement at all. The layout of most pages are disorganized and make you second guess whether you are following along correctly. At best, the art was serviceable, and that is the kindest description you can give it.

As a BSG fan, I really wanted to like this graphic novel, and it was nice to see Number 6 get her own story, even if it was a jumbled, chaotic mess, but this book was a disappointment on every level. From J.T. Krul’s story to the uneven artwork, Six disappoints — though I honestly hate to type that. Perhaps as a nostalgia read, this one is worth the time investment, but don’t pick it up expecting a great story or dazzling artwork, because you are not going to find either here.

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

Purchase the book at Amazon

Posted in 2 Stars, Battlestar Galactica, Battlestar Galactica, Graphic Novels, Science Fiction | Tagged Battlestar Galactica, Caprica Six, Dynamite Entertainment, Igor Lima, J.T. Krul, Six | 1 Comment

SUNSET MANTLE

Posted on January 26, 2017 by Bookwraiths

Sunset Mantle by Alter S. Reiss

Genre: Fantasy

Series: Stand Alone

Publisher: Tor.com (September 15, 2015)

Length: 192 pages

My Rating: 4 stars

Another of Tor.com’s impressive novellas, Sunset Mantle by Alter S. Reiss is a complex, beautifully written tale of an outcast warrior who finds a home and companion in a city doomed to destruction. The political machinations, personal relationships, battle scenes, and concise world building infused in this narrative combining together to create a tale epic in scope yet with a feeling of intense intimacy; all done in less than two hundred pages.

Cete is a disgraced warrior, cast out from his homeland for following his conscious. Wandering into Reach Antach (A new colony still bound to its founding city by ties of blood and trade.), his intention is to do his business then leave due to his unerring feeling that the Reach is doomed. However, a beautiful cloak and the blind woman, Marelle, who crafted it causes Cete to follow another path, resulting in his joining the Reach’s military and quickly finding himself unwittingly embroiled in the schemes of various factions within (and without) the city. His personal journey leading him to both pyrrhic victories, deep despair, and personal triumphs, as this lone man tries to protect the city and people he has grown to love and cherish.

After finishing Sunset Mantle, I was torn on exactly what rating to give it. On one hand, the condensed epic scope of the narrative dazzled me with its amazing handling of intrigue, world building, and characterization; Reiss wasting no words or time in unerringly creating a magnificent world and intriguing people to populate it. Yet, on the other hand, there was an unsatisfied feeling lingering at the back of my mind, caused by the number of significant events which transpired outside my view, only revealed to me by the mentions of certain characters. A situation which I intellectual understood from a standpoint of this being a novella, but which emotionally my reading side could not accept. Eventually, my fondness for Cete, his story, and this world silenced the negative voices in my head (Yes, I do have them!), resulting in the 4 star rating.

What might surprise many people is my favorite aspect of this novella was not the world building, which I have mentioned several times already, or the battle scenes, or even the politics, but the evolution of Cete and Marelle’s relationship. This romantic union not merely one of physical attraction but also mutual respect and absolute trust between partners. Neither of them the master of the other, but each one part of a whole; both their focuses on supporting and counseling the other through dangerous times, lending support and strength even when they did not completely agree with the other’s decisions. This unexpected and healthy relationship a pleasant surprise, which lent this fantasy story a very mature feeling.

My least favorite aspect of Sunset Mantle would have to be the blistering pace of the story and the quick turns in our character’s fortunes. Truly, Cete’s star in Reach Antach rises and falls, then rises and falls again at such a pace as to make one’s head spin. Perhaps such huge peaks and valleys in personal fortune are entirely plausible, but they seemed rushed and somewhat forced at times here, certainly necessary to keep the momentum going in the limited page count yet not always fully justified in my opinion. A small criticism on my part, to be sure, but a feeling which I retained after careful contemplation.

No matter its flaws, there is a certain intangible quality to Sunset Mantle which makes it special. Yes, the main characters are compelling, and, certainly, the epic scope of such a concise novella is praiseworthy, but for me personally, I believe the emotional tug of a man willing to die for a woman and his adopted home is what set this story apart for me. Perhaps it is an antiquated and old-fashioned notion, but I like to believe at times that love will truly overlook hate, goodness triumph over evilness, and with Sunset Mantle, Alter S. Reiss reminded me of those deeply held beliefs and tugged on my heart strings. And that is why I’d encourage all my reading friends to give this novella a try.

Purchase the book at Amazon

Posted in 4 Stars, Fantasy, Low, Short Stories | Tagged Alter S. Reiss, best fantasy novellas, fantasy novellas, Sunset Mantle, Tor novellas, Tor.com | 3 Comments

INDIE WEDNESDAY: INFINITE WATERS

Posted on January 25, 2017 by Bookwraiths

Along my reading journey, I’ve made a conscious decision to not only read the books on the shelves at my local Barnes & Nobles store, or online at Amazon, but to also try self-published, or indie, works as often as I can.

Now, I know several of you are snickering in the background or rolling your eyes at my idiot crusade to bring a few good indie works to light. And, believe me, I understand why you’d do that. Several years into this, I have to admit that I’ve probably stopped reading more indie stories than I’ve finished, but if I don’t share those triumphs and failure, then no one else will know whether these self-published stories are worth investing their time into or not. And, today, I’m happy to share with you a triumph!

Infinite Waters by Nicholas C. Rossis

Genre: Multiple genres represented

Series: Short Story Collection

Publisher: Self-Published (June 28, 2015)

Author Information: Website | Twitter

Length: 124 pages

My Rating: 3 stars

With Infinite Waters, Nicholas C. Rossis has put together another imaginative, quirky, and eclectic collection of speculative fiction short stories in the mold of his previous offering The Power of Six. Focusing mainly on characterization and twist endings, Infinite Waters uses the structural trope of unconnected tales being told to a character to give it a cohesive feel, as the author dazzles readers with tales of the bizarre, the cynical, the comical, and the shocking. And it was a journey I definitely enjoyed.

Instead of attempting to describe each of the ten short stories included here without spoiling them, I will instead focus on a few of my very favorites.

In “Infinite Waters”, a young woman visits a fortune teller desperate for validation regarding her dream of becoming a famous writer. As the overarching story holding the entire collection together, readers return to this narrative throughout (generally between each new story), and while adding cohesion to the whole, it also serves up an unexpected ending.

“The Things We Do For Lust” is a classical tale of a wife reconnecting with her husband upon his return from war. While it is clearly set in ancient Greece and plays around with mythology, the twist at the end is pure magic. Or is it?

“Two’s a Crowd” sees twin brothers at each other’s throats. One sibling viewing the other as his most bitter rival; a person who has lived his life to exceed him in every way. This bitter sibling antagonism taking a shocking turn — though the ultimate really isn’t.

As with all Rossis’ works, the strength of Infinite Waters is the fast-paced, easily digested writing style of its author. Mr. Rossis providing quick character development, thought provoking concepts, and zinging conclusions (which always surprise you in some way) written to be appreciated in one quick sitting.

Having read several of Mr. Rossis’ books and considering myself an appreciator of his talents, the only negative I can point to in this collection would be the tendency to pull the shocking conclusions out of thin air rather than slowly develop and foreshadow them throughout the narrative. Nothing fundamentally wrong with this approach to story telling (since it definitely increases the surprise factor of reveals), but, at times, it did cause several of the endings in this volume to seem only tenuously connected with the rest of the story.

An eclectic blend of paranormal, science fiction, and other genres, Infinite Waters is another Nicholas C. Rossis work not to be overlooked. With its humor and twists, lovers of inventive, entertaining speculative fiction will find their small time investment in this book rewarded many times over, as Rossis proves yet again his special affinity for the short fiction form.

Purchase the book at Amazon

Posted in 3 Stars, Indie Wednesday, Self-Published, Short Stories | Tagged Indie authors, indie science fiction, indie wednesday, Infinite Waters, Nicholas C. Rossis, Nicholas Rossis, Pearseus, Rise of the Prince, speculative fiction short stories, The Power of Six | Leave a comment

MARTIANS ABROAD:BOOK SPOTLIGHT & GIVEAWAY

Posted on January 24, 2017 by Bookwraiths

After reading and enjoying Martians Abroad (If you missed my review click here), I inquired of the good people over at Tor if I could have the privilege of running a giveaway for Carrie Vaughn’s new Young Adult science fiction novel. Thankfully, they said yes. (I believe all the begging and pleading made a huge impression on them.) So here it is: THE MARTIANS ABROAD GIVEAWAY!

BOOK SPOTLIGHT

Martians Abroad by Carrie Vaughn

Genre: Science Fiction

Series: Stand Alone

Publisher: Tor (January 17, 2017)

Author Information: Website

Length: 288 pages

A great new stand-alone science fiction novel from the author of the Kitty Norville series.

Polly Newton has one single-minded dream, to be a starship pilot and travel the galaxy. Her mother, the director of the Mars Colony, derails Polly’s plans when she sends Polly and her genius twin brother, Charles, to Galileo Academy on Earth—the one planet Polly has no desire to visit. Ever.

Homesick and cut off from her desired future, Polly cannot seem to fit into the constraints of life on Earth, unlike Charles, who deftly maneuvers around people and sees through their behavior to their true motives. Strange, unexplained, dangerous coincidences centered on their high-profile classmates begin piling up. Charles may be right—there’s more going on than would appear, and the stakes are high. With the help of Charles, Polly is determined to find the truth, no matter the cost.

GIVEAWAY DETAILS

With thanks to Tor, this giveaway will be for one hardcover copy of Martians Abroad. This giveaway is open to residents of North America. To enter, check out the Rafflecopter giveaway. The winner will be randomly selected, then be notified by email of your great victory!

Posted in Author Spotlights, Giveaway, Science Fiction, Space Opera, Young Adult | Tagged Carrie Vaughn Book giveaway, Carrie Vaughn science fiction book, Martians Abroad, Martians Abroad Book Giveaway, science fiction book giveaway, Tor, Tor Books, young adult science fiction, young adult space opera | 7 Comments

MARTIANS ABROAD

Posted on January 23, 2017 by Bookwraiths

Martians Abroad by Carrie Vaughn

Genre: Science Fiction

Series: Stand Alone

Publisher: Tor (January 17, 2017)

Author Information: Website

Length: 288 pages

My Rating: 3 stars

The latest novel from best-selling author Carrie Vaughn, writer of the Kitty Norville urban fantasy series, Martians Abroad is a space opera for the Young Adult genre. Told in first person, this tale of Polly Newton, our narrator, and her twin brother Charles is filled with optimistic hope, adolescent travails, and scientific fun.

Set in a future where humanity has colonized the solar system, Polly and Charles are Martians, having happily lived out their short life on this colonial world ,where their mother is the director of operations. But while Polly is perfectly happy with her plans to be a starpilot and Charles with studying colony administration, the twins’ mother decides to enroll them in the prestigious Galileo Academy on Earth. The twins the first Martians to be accepted at Galileo, which means this should be a great honor, but, of course, it really isn’t viewed that way by either of them.

Polly’s dislike of her new school and home quickly turns into pure disgust and anger after she and her better-than-thou classmates begin to have problems. The usual juvenile peer disputes turn into something even more sinister however, as a mysterious conspiracy rears its ugly head, placing Polly right in the middle of the dangerous action.

Obviously, the focus of this story is the coming-of-age of Polly Newton. This youth having to accept responsibility for her life and attempt to emulate the capable, confident women she looks up to. But while Polly tends to triumph in her numerous trials, she always remains a realistic character. She has strengths, weaknesses, and does need direction and support from those around her. Nor does our young hero wallow in teen angst or dreary dystopian misery. Nope, she attempts to be optimistic and strong without ever slipping into the Mary Sue mold — unlike so many other Young Adult heroes.

But this is a space opera, right? So how can it have a space feel if it is set on Earth?

Actually, despite most of the story taking place on old Mother Earth, it keeps its decidedly science fiction feel by deft writing from Carrie Vaughn. Constantly, the author finds ways to integrate Mars and the Martian way of life into the narrative mix. The science fiction aspects of living on another planet always turn up in plausible ways. Physical differences between Polly and Charles and their fellow students are acknowledged and explained. The Martian colonial spirit highlighted and celebrated. Technological aspects of humanity in space are intelligently explored, creating a realistic political and societal setting for the tale. All of these elements (and more!) merging to create a satisfying space opera setting for the YA fun.

The only criticism I have with Martians Abroad is the ending. As so many other reviewers have also stated, it ends rather suddenly and unsatisfactorily, leaving one to wonder where the rest of the story can be found. Perhaps this issue can be chalked up to me just wishing to know even more than I did about the story and the characters, but I felt I should, at least, state that the ending left me a bit disappointed.

Space opera for the Young Adult crowd, Martians Abroad is futuristic, optimistic, and refreshingly fun. This tale sure to evoke an innocent sense of wonder in every person who reads it and remind them of a more hopeful time in the world when we all spent our days dreaming of the stars.