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TOUGH TRAVELING — MIDDLE AGED HEROES

Posted on July 22, 2015 by Bookwraiths

tough-traveling

Every Thursday, Nathan over at Fantasy Review Barn hosts a weekly party where blogs set out with Diana Wynne Jones’ hilarious book The Tough Guide to Fantasyland: The Essential Guide to Fantasy Travel in hand to explore all the tropes from their favorite stories. So sit back and enjoy the fun.

23rd July, 2015 – MIDDLE AGED HEROES

This hero stuff is usually a young person’s game. And, occasionally, a grizzled old veteran can get involved. It is a true rarity for someone to join the good fight for Fantasyland living in that in between ground.

A topic near and dear to my heart, since I am now a middle aged man. So let’s give the old dudes some love, okay!

CROAKER – THE BLACK COMPANY by GLEN COOK

Yeah, I always seem to find a way to put a Glen Cook novel onto these weekly list, but this time I didn’t even have to make it work, because this topic is tailored made for one of my favorite fantasy characters of all times: Croaker!

The battle-scarred, salty, and world-weary man who spends as much time bitching and moaning about life as he does fighting is the perfect example of what all middle aged heroes sound like when they are forced to get out of their comfortable recliner and go save the world one mowed lawn at a time.

Buy The Black Company (Chronicles of The Black Company #1) at Amazon.

BRODAR KAYNE — THE GRIM COMPANY by LUKE SCULL

Okay forty is the new thirty, right? So that means sixty is the new fifty, which means this elderly northman with one hell of a right hook is on the list.

Brodar Kayne is a hero who desperately tries to avoid bloodshed, not because he can’t generally kill his opponents but because he is really hates all the aches and pains the next morning. Plus there is the swollen prostrate that makes taking a piss an absolute nightmare.

Honestly, it is hell to be a middle aged hero nowadays!

Buy The Grim Company at Amazon.

ROLAND DESCHAIN — THE DARK TOWER by STEPHEN KING

The exact age of this tall gunslinger with the blue bombardier eyes is never mentioned by Stephen King, but throughout the series, it becomes fairly apparent he is middle aged and probably looks older than he really is. So he has to be included on this list.

If Croaker is my favorite fantasy middle-aged character, then Roland is a close second. Everything about this guy reminds me of what a middle aged hero should be: mature, strong, confident, quiet, and able to take care of himself when the need arises.

Buy The Gunslinger: (The Dark Tower #1)(Revised Edition) at Amazon.

EDDARD STARK — A SONG OF ICE AND FIRE by GEORGE R.R. MARTIN

The middle aged man who is the center of attention in A Game of Thrones before becoming the first Stark sacrificed upon the SOIF altar by George R.R. Martin.

While Eddard doesn’t stick around long in the tale, he was the epitome of all that a middle aged fantasy hero should be: brave, loyal, merciful, a good father . . . but he was a tad bit too trusting. Everyone has their faults, I suppose.

Buy A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire, Book 1)
at Amazon.

KING CONAN — CONAN by ROBERT E. HOWARD

What could be better than seeing (arguably) the most famous sword and sorcery hero of all times grown up with a wife, kids and as ruler of the most powerful nation in the world?

Not much. At least, I always found the middle aged Conan to be a fun character to read about, especially how he somehow kept his fierce zest for life even as his wild youth escaped him and the clutches of horrible responsibility surrounded him.

Buy King Conan at Amazon.

INGOLD INGLORION — DARWATH by BARBARA HAMBLY

The wizard who would give old Gandalf a run for his money!

This guy can do it all: berate you, drink you under the table, slice-and-dice you with a sword, zap you with some magic, portal you to another world, and make you want to lay down your life for his grumpy ass. A wonderful middle aged mentor if ever there was one.

He is also someone not enough new fantasy readers have heard of, so go pick up Barbara Hambly’s horribly underappreciated portal fantasy and get to know him.

Buy The Darwath Series: The Time of the Dark, The Walls of Air, and The Armies of Daylight at Amazon.

MERROS DULVER — SEVEN FORGES by JAMES A. MOORE

Nope, that isn’t Captain Dulver on the cover to the right, but rather one of the mysterious Sa’ba Taalor, whom the good captain discovers after traversing the inhospitable Blasted Lands and becoming the first person to reach the fiery mountains at their center.

So why is Dulver on here? Well, he is middle aged, retired, and finds himself thrown into the terrible situation of being anointed a hero before seeing something terribly happen due to his actions. All of which means he is pretty interesting to read about — though he doesn’t get enough page time.

Buy Seven Forges: Seven Forges, Book I at Amazon.

CAMBER MacRORIE — THE LEGENDS OF CAMBER OF CULDI by KATHERINE KURTZ

An oldie for you here. Camber is a Deryni noble, who finds himself in the unenviable position of serving a crazed king. Thus, he retires from court, allowing his son to take his place while he enjoys a welcome bit of peace and quiet.

Unfortunately, a middle aged heroes work is never done, and soon Camber finds himself embroiled in a tangled web of deceit to free his land from a tyrant and also spearhead a conspiracy to save his people, the Deryni, from inevitable massacre at the hands of normal humans.

Buy Camber of Culdi, Volume 1: In the Legends of Camber of Culdi at Amazon.

LORD MHORAM — FIRST CHRONICLES OF THOMAS COVENANT by STEPHEN R. DONALDSON

While Lord Mhoram is a fairly constant presence throughout the first chronicles, it is in the final volume that he comes into his own as the desperate, worn middle aged man who finds that the survival of the Land rests almost solely upon his shoulders. And in his despair, he discovers a way to not only aid his erstwhile friend Thomas Covenant in his quest but perhaps rediscover the power of the Lords of Old!

I really can’t emphasize enough how much I like Mhoram in this book. He was really the star as far as I am concerned.

Buy Lord Foul’s Bane (The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever, Book 1) at Amazon.

GERIN THE FOX — GERIN THE FOX by HARRY TURTLEDOVE

This series follows Gerin from his youth until he is an emperor. All of which mean that by the end of the series, he is a middle aged man with kids, grandkids, and is dealing with all that on top of the other stresses of being a ruler.

What Turtledove does a good job of doing in this series is touching upon the real life issues Gerin obviously faces during his life: an adulterous wife, raising a son as a single parent, remarrying, having a mixed household, and other real life problems. Something that I really enjoyed, even if the story itself is a pretty standard Turtledove fantasy.

Buy Werenight (Gerin the Fox Book 1) at Amazon.

VARTHLOKKUR — DREAD EMPIRE by GLEN COOK

Oh yeah, I snuck two Glen Cook series on the list this week. High five for me!

Anyway, Varthlokkur is a wizard who is probably older than middle aged, but I’m throwing him in here because he is basically one of my favorite Cook characters. He has the power to cripple empires, shake the foundations of the world, but he is paralyzed by not having the love of one woman. What?

Yeah, I know it sounds a bit ridiculous, but Cook makes it work somehow with Varthlokkur sounding like a cranky middle aged guy most of the time.

Buy A Cruel Wind (Dread Empire) at Amazon.

So who did I miss?

Posted in Fantasy, Lists | Tagged Croaker, Eddard Stark, Game of Thrones, middle aged heroes, middle aged heroes in fantasy, Roland Deschain, The Black Company, the dark tower, Tough Traveling, Tough Traveling Thursday | 15 Comments

THE JESTER (RIYRIA SHORT STORY) by MICHAEL J. SULLIVAN

Posted on July 22, 2015 by Bookwraiths

The Jester by Michael J. Sullivan

Genre: Fantasy

Series: The Riyria Chronicles #2.5

Publisher: Self Published (July 17, 2014)

Length: 33 pages

Author Information: Website | Twitter

My Rating: 3 out of 5 stars.

“The Jester” is a Riyria story that throws readers directly into — a well. Literally! You begin this tale following along with Hadrian as he, Royce, a candlemaker, and a pig farmer plunge down an open well and crash into the underground pool below.

As Hadrian and Royce frantically attempt to save themselves and their companions from the dark waters, it becomes apparent that they are on a mission to uncover a jester’s treasure hidden somewhere in this dwarven mine, that they are having a pretty tough go of it, and that they threw themselves down the well to escape something horrible that is after them.

At this point, things look really bleak for Riyria. So much so that long time fans will be gripping their seats wondering how their favorite fantasy duo will be able to escape this seemingly insurmountable situation and complete their contract. And the truth is they DON”T!

No, that isn’t a spoiler, it is a warning. This is a short story that pulls the rug out from under our heroes, showing them struggling to survive. Sure, Hadrian and Royce still crack a few sarcastic jabs at one another, mock the others view on life, but here getting out alive is the name of the game, not witty repertoire — though there is a bit of that, as I mentioned. And even the conclusion is more morality play than standard fantasy ending, though Mr. Sullivan still pulls all the tangled story threads together to deliver the nice, tight climax that he is known for.

Does all that gushing mean this is the best fantasy short story I’ve ever read? No, it doesn’t. What it does mean is that “The Jester” is an entertaining way to visiting our old friends Hadrian and Royce while we wait for The Death of Dulgath (The Riyria Chronicles #3) to hit bookshelves.

Buy the story at Amazon.

Posted in 3 Stars, Fantasy, Swashbuckling | Tagged Hadrian and Royce, Michael J. Sullivan, Riyria, Riyria short stories, The riyria Chronicles | 5 Comments

SUICIDE SQUAD: PURE INSANITY, VOL. 1

Posted on July 21, 2015 by Bookwraiths

Suicide Squad: Pure Insanity, Vol. 1 by Sean Ryan

Genre: Superhero Comics

Series: New 52 Suicide Squad

Publisher: DC Comics (July 21, 2015)

Length:192 pages

My Rating: 3 1/2 out of 5 stars

Confession #1: I received this book from DC Comics and Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. I’d like to inform everyone that the review you are about to read is my opinion alone.

Confession #2: I preferred Amanda Waller as the overweight, non-politician she was in the past.

Confession #3: Captain Boomerang, Deadshot, Man-bat ninjas, and Joker’s Daughter (at least as she is portrayed in this collection) really suck.

Confession #4: Harley Quinn is an interesting lady, especially when she is constantly pissed off and trying to kick people’s asses.

Confession #5: I love Deathstroke, even when he is no where near as prominently featured in the actual story as he is on the front cover of the book.

Confession #6: I enjoy things going BOOM! If enough things go BOOM!, I tend to enjoy the comic, tv show, or movie where said things are going BOOM! It is a side effect of too much testosterone I’ve been told.

Confession #7: If sexy ladies are involved in making things go BOOM! I enjoy said BOOMS! even more.

Confession #8: I swear that I will not complain if Man-bat ninjas disappear from DC comics forever, because they suck. Oh, I already mentioned that? Sorry — but they do suck.

Confession #9: If someone — perhaps Harley Quinn — where to kill Joker’s Daughter while attempting to shut her constant yapping about wearing Joker’s face, I would actually pay extra for that comic.

Confession #10: I enjoyed this comic collection. Things went BOOM!; Harley was kicking ass; and the art (though it had rough patches) was fairly good. For those reason, I could overlook the problems with the story and enjoy this delicious time killer for what it really is: the DC version of the Expendables!

Buy the book at Amazon.
New Suicide Squad Vol. 1: Pure Insanity (The New 52)

Posted in 3 Stars, DC, Graphic Novels, The New 52 | Tagged DC Comics, Harley Quinn, Suicide Squad, The New 52 | 10 Comments

THE COLOUR OF DISHONOUR by RAYNE HALL

Posted on July 20, 2015 by Bookwraiths

The Colour of Dishonor by Rayne Hall

Genre: Fantasy

Series: Storm Dancer World

Publisher: Self Published (2013)

Author Information: Website | Twitter

My Rating: 3 out of 5 stars.

This is a collection of six short stories set in the ancient past of the Storm Dancer world, mixing both fantasy and horror themes into a delicious concoction that never fails to surprise, disturb and entertain.

“Kin” begins the collection in fine morality play fashion. Here Leha has three daughters; the first two she is proud of, and the third she has disowned. After a terrible natural disaster lays low the land, Leha journeys to the city to take succor from the two daughters whom she loves. Her journey and what she discovers there teaches her much about kindness, selfishness, true love, and forgiveness.

“Greywalker” is a zombie-like tale that is morbidly delightful. From the beginning, it is clear what is going to inevitably happen, but the main character has such noble intentions you find yourself hoping that he will escape his fate. My favorite story of the collection.

“The Water of Truth” is another morality play; this time based around the folly of greed. Here a young man becomes educated before returning home to monetize the well of truth that his family controls. While he glorifies in the riches that begin to pour in, his uneducated sister sees the folly in his actions and their inevitable consequences.

“Each Stone” centers on a princess’ desperate internal struggle to master a game of chance and save her loyal supporters before they are executed. Naturally, though, there is a catch to the game.

“The Colour of Dishonour” is a very clever fantasy take on Edgar Allan Poe’s classic horror short story “The Tell-Tale Heart.” I really enjoyed it, but if I told you more, I’d ruin the surprises in store for you.

“A Horse for a Hero” ends this collection on a high note with the tale of a winged horse who dreams of finding “a knight in shining armor” to become his rider. Things don’t go exactly as he plans though, and his life leads him to places he never dreamed possible. The ending is especially ironic.

In scope and depth, The Colour of Dishonour collection reminded me of reading Greek myths, where those too foolish, too proud, or too hasty get themselves into circumstances they never intended to be in. And if you — like me — enjoy those type of entertaining but weighty morality tales, then these stories by Rayne Hall will not disappoint.

Buy the book at Amazon.

Posted in 3 Stars, Anthology, Fairy Tale, Fantasy, Short Stories | Tagged fantasy short stories, indie fantasy, Rayne Hall, self-published fantasy, Storm Dancer, The Colour of Dishonour | 5 Comments

TOUGH TRAVELING — EXTREME CLIMATES

Posted on July 16, 2015 by Bookwraiths

16th July, 2015 – EXTREME CLIMATES

Perhaps the handsome prince lives in a castle surrounded by green countryside and sunny days. The rest of the land is forced to deal with freezing cold, searing heat, and every other extreme climate mother nature can throw at you..

Easy one. Here are my picks.

DUNE by FRANK HERBERT

Can anyone think of another speculative fiction series that relies so heavily on its environment as does the scifi classic Dune?

Neither can I. Honestly, the desert planet of Arrakis, its sand worms, the priceless spice of the desert, and the hardy Freeman who inhabit its waterless expanse are as much the star of the show as Paul and all the rest of the characters. So, naturally, I have to start any list of this sort with Dune!

Buy Dune at Amazon.

THE SECOND CHRONICLES OF THOMAS COVENANT by STEPHEN R. DONALDSON

In the First Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, the Land is introduced as a living, vibrant place with a life all its own. But as the second chronicles starts, Covenant returns to the Land and finds that everything has changed!

What this reformed (Well, sort of) leper discovers is that thousands of years have passed, the Earthpower is gone, and the people of the Land are afflicted with the Sunbane: an unnatural cycle whereby each day is alternately rain, desert, pestilence or unnatural fertility that destroys everything in its path.

Sounds pretty extreme to me, so it is on the list.

Buy The Wounded Land (The Second Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, Book 1) at Amazon.

THE ROAD by CORMAC McCARTHY

I really hate to even think about this novel. I read it years ago when I had not been a father very long, and so this tale of a father attempting to take care of his son after a horrible apocalyptic event has turned the world into a dead, desperate place hit me hard. When I finished it, I really felt like I’d been hit by a baseball bat in my gut. Be that as it may, this tale revolves around the extreme conditions that now engulf the world and make life nearly impossible on the earth.

If you are brave enough, buy The Road at Amazon.

A SONG OF ICE AND FIRE by GEORGE R.R. MARTIN

“Winter is coming!” It is the phrase that continues to warn a reader of the horrible things that are to come in the series, as if the routine killings aren’t vicious enough, but it also clearly illustrates that Westeros is a land of extreme climate changes. Years of endless summer. But occasionally, there comes an era of endless winter, where vile things hunt the living and seek to blot out all life!

Isn’t it about time for the next book in this series?

Oh, we have to wait until the tv series ends. That is cool, I guess.

Buy A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire, Book 1) at Amazon.

DARK STAR by OLIVER LANGMEAD

Having just finished this interesting scifi-mystery told in verse, its unique world was very much in my mind, so I had to include it on this list of extreme climates.

At least for me, Vox’s situation as a world orbiting a sun that burns without light was amazing. A whole civilization that lives in complete darkness, because light bulbs are so precious that only the rich can afford them, and this has caused people to turn to the use of Prometheus, liquid light, to give themselves the illusion of living in a world of shiny sunlight!

It really is a unique story with an amazing planetary climate of complete darkness.

Buy Dark Star at Amazon.

SEVEN FORGES by JAMES A. MOORE

This fantasy series begins with a group of explorers traversing an inhospitable land of ice and sand that is appropriately dubbed the Blasted Lands. And as the first two books in the series continue, the significance of this land becomes more and more apparent until it seems that the Blasted Lands and its people hold the keys to the world’s shadowy past and its very uncertain future.

While I know that the Blasted Lands do not necessarily describe a world-wide climate condition like in Dune, I still thought it was so important to the story as a whole that it warranted inclusion of this list.

Buy Seven Forges: Seven Forges, Book I at Amazon.

DARWATH by BARBARA HAMBLY

At first glance, this portal fantasy about an apocalyptic rising of the Dark in the land of Darwath doesn’t seem to have anything at all to do with extreme climate, but it actually does. You just don’t realize it unless you read the whole trilogy, where it is slowly and masterfully revealed.

I really wish I could explain to everyone why the Darwath series has to be on this list of extreme climates, but if I did, I’d ruin one of the best surprises of the whole series. So you guys are just going to have to trust me that extreme climate change is absolutely a central focus of this series.

Buy The Darwath Series: The Time of the Dark, The Walls of Air, and The Armies of Daylight at Amazon.

THE LION, THE WITCH, AND THE WARDROBE by C.S. LEWIS

Like Dune, this is a book where the climate of the world (Narnia here) is an important element in the overall plot of the story. As the picture to the right shows, in C.S. Lewis classic fantasy that extreme climate condition is a perpetual winter, which has encased Narnia in a cold that has existed for generations.

Indeed, once Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy get to Narnia, everything they do revolves around finding a way to break the White Witch’s curse that has brought the eternal winter to the land. So, yeah, that means this book is definitely on the list.

Buy The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (The Chronicles of Narnia, Book 2) at Amazon.

ICE FORGED by GAIL Z. MARTIN

This ongoing series began with its main character, Blaine McFadden, being convicted of a crime and banished to a prison at the edge of the world. Once there, Blaine finds he has entered a land of near eternal winter, where the harshness of life makes survival almost impossible for the few hardy folk who cling to the coast of Edgeland.

While later books in the series shift the focus away from Edgeland to the more temperate regions of the world, I felt like the cold and harsh climate was such an integral part of this novel that it really warranted inclusion on this list.

Buy Ice Forged (The Ascendant Kingdoms Saga) at Amazon.

STAR WARS

Whether it be the burning desert planet of Tattoine, the frigid ice of Hoth, the steamy jungles of Dagoba, the verdant forest world of Endo, the metal plated surface of Coruscant, the molten lava of Mustafar, this series is all about extreme climate conditions all the time it seems. So much so, that I couldn’t really pick just one, so I decided to lump them all in together.

Buy The Star Wars Trilogy, Episodes IV, V & VI at Amazon.

MISTBORN by BRANDON SANDERSON

A whole land ruled by one man. A world where ash falls from the sky in a never ending sprinkle. So much of the stuff blankets the ground that it has to be constantly removed day after day. And everything in the world has a perpetual gray, or dirty, cast to it.

And if the ash wasn’t enough, at night a cloud of mist obscures everything. A mist that is haunted by creatures out of a nightmare that are said to feed on living!

Sounds pretty damn extreme to me.

Buy Mistborn: The Final Empire (Book No. 1) at Amazon.

THE IRON TOWER TRILOGY by DENNIS McKiernan

This Lord of the Rings clone (It really doesn’t pretend to be anything else.) is an epic fantasy where a dark lord is attempting to conquer the world. The first step in his plan is to send forward a wall of darkness that covers the land, making it easier for his night loving minions to swarm over the free people of the world.

I also need to mention that once the darkness descends the weather also goes crazy. Ice, sleet, snow, rain as well as areas where the land is like a tundra.

Buy The Iron Tower Omnibus (Mithgar) at Amazon.

THE WHEEL OF TIME by ROBERT JORDAN

In this sprawling fantasy series, Jordan and Sanderson introduce readers to several very extreme environments. The two that stand out in my memory are the Aiel Waste and the Blight.

The Aiel Waste is a fantasy version of Dune (At least, in my eyes) with a waterless desert, fierce tribes of desert folk, and hallucinogenic herbs used in tribal rituals. Okay, okay, there aren’t any sand worms, but I bet Jordan trid to think of a way to include them. 🙂

The Blight is a Mordor-like place of evil, which spits out its vile denizens to terrorize the world, and seems to grow and expand as it corrupt the land near it.

I’m sure I’m forgetting other examples of extreme climates in this one, but that is all I can recall at this time.

Buy The Eye of the World (The Wheel of Time, Book 1) at Amazon.

THE DARK BORDER by PAUL EDWIN ZIMMER

A world where evil entities have crossed the fabric of the universe, conquered huge swashes of the world, and begun laying it waste, corrupting the very earth and turning the land into a poisonous desert of vile red dust where no living things can survive. Only the eternal vigilance of a race of immortal wizards (Hasturs) has contained the Dark Ones to the lands which have already fallen to them. Fighting along side these wizards are every man and woman of the world; each willingly pledging their service to defend the Dark Border, where the magical towers of the Hasturs hold back the vile magic of the Dark Things and their evil minions. Every day, the war goes on. An eternal conflict that will never end until the world itself ceases to be!

Can’t get much more extreme than that.

Buy The Lost Prince (THE DARK BORDER, VOLUME 1) at Amazon.

DARKWAR by GLEN COOK

This fantasy/scifi genre blender by one of my favorite authors features a world where winter is coming. (And Cook coined the phrase decades before George R.R. Martin!) A winter so severe that it will send the people of the land to the brink of extermination, where they will resort to cannibalism to survive! Unless someone can determine a way to avert said disaster.

The story that develops probably has less to do with the extreme climate than others on this list, but it is still at the core of everything which happens in this trilogy. Plus, I always have to find a way to get Cook on these lists.

Buy Darkwar at Amazon.

THE GRIM COMPANY by LUKE SCULL

A world where the gods have been killed by a cabal of wizards and still lie dying upon the earth, where they landed as they fell from heaven. And as these divine beings breath their last breaths, the world slowly dies, turning into an uninhabitable wasteland, which grows worse and worse every year, no matter the efforts of its people.

Not sure if that description warrants this series inclusion on the extreme climate list, but it is my favorite of the moment, so I’m including this kick ass grimdark on here anyway.

Buy The Grim Company at Amazon.

CHRONICLES OF THE NAMELESS DWARF by D.P. PRIOR

This is a fantasy series set upon a world where its sleeping god-creator lies just under the surface. His eternal sleep marred by nightmares that play out in reality upon the world itself. A situation which has caused the land to be disrupted by extreme conditions where whole sections of the planet will complete dissolve and reform before its denizens eyes. Forests will vanish to be replaced by deserts. Mountains become plains. Nothing ever seems to stay the same forever, because the sleeping god’s dreams come alive on the world he dreamt into existence.

Buy The Nameless Dwarf: The Complete Chronicles at Amazon.

THE DARK TOWER by STEPHEN KING

A world (or worlds, if you will) that has moved on. This has resulted in weird permutations in reality. Deserts, technological ruins from other worlds, and vanished lands appearing and disappearing before the Gunslingers eyes as his travels take him ever closer to the Dark Tower!

Yeah, I know there isn’t any rhyme or reason for the extreme climate shifts in this series, but it was all frustrating fun from beginning to end — even if King did write himself into the damn story.

Buy The Gunslinger: (The Dark Tower #1)(Revised Edition) at Amazon.

THE CHRONICLES OF AMBER by ROGER ZELAZNY

While this series starts off in the (then) modern world, it quickly expands into other worlds that run the gamut from the beautiful forests and mountains of Amber to the vile, fiery lands of Chaos. In between those two are numerous weird worlds with extreme climates to numerous to detail here.

Okay, maybe, these alternate world aren’t truly extreme climates, but it is my list, so I’m going to push the boundaries a bit every now and then, which means Amber is on here. 🙂

Buy The Great Book of Amber: The Complete Amber Chronicles, 1-10 (Chronicles of Amber) at Amazon.

So what did I miss?

Posted in Fantasy, Lists, Science Fiction, Tough Traveling | Tagged Barbara Hambly, C.S. Lewis, Chronicles of Narnia, Cormac McCarthy, Dark Star, Darwath, Dune, frank herbert, Gail Z. Martin, Ice Forged, James A. Moore, Oliver Langmead, Seven Forges, STEPHEN R. DONALDSON, The Road, thomas covenant, Tough Traveling, Tough Traveling Thursday | 10 Comments

SHADOW’S SON

Posted on July 16, 2015 by Bookwraiths

Shadow’s Son by Jon Sprunk

Genre: Fantasy

Series: Shadow Saga #1

Publisher: Pyr (January 1, 2010)

Author Information: Website | Twitter

My Rating: 4 stars

After reading and enjoying the first two novels of Jon Sprunk’s Book of the Black Earth, I discovered that he had already completed a previous series: the Shadow Saga trilogy. Naturally, I had to give this assassin tale a try.

What I found in Shadow’s Son was a well-written tale, which masterfully interweaves intrigue, action, magic, and interesting characters as it propels itself forward through a fully realized sword-and-sorcery world at a breakneck pace.

The tale itself is set in the ancient city of Othir (think Rome); the Holy Church ruling all, dominating all aspects of life in this center of an ancient, world spanning empire. But within the shadows of this City of Light, an assassin with no loyalties and no conscious can make a fortune killing those the clergy and the remaining nobility deem unworthy to continue living. And Caim is just such a man.

At least, he was until his latest contract killing takes him into the home of a noble where – instead of a quick, clean assassination – Caim finds himself immersed in a web of lies; conspiracies of the powerful entangling him and turning him from the hunter into the prey. And, as he flounders in these unfamiliar waters, Caim discovers that his conscious might not be as dead as he thought, that his tragic past might hold the key to his continued survival, and that he must finally face what he truly is!

What I really loved about this book was the streamlined nature of the narrative. Jon Sprunk does an excellent job of getting to the point without unnecessary wordiness. No needless info dumps. No never-ending dialogue. No endless foreshadowing of future events. Nope, this story of Caim the assassin is in perpetual motion; Sprunk providing all pertinent information for the ongoing action in carefully measured doses before quickly immersing his readers back in the sword-and-sorcery narrative. A writing style that reminded me of several of my all-time favorite fantasy authors, such as Michael Moorcock and Glen Cook, as well as newer ones, such as Brandon Sanderson and Brent Weeks.

Now, was Shadow’s Son ultra-realistic? No, which could turn some readers off. Did it show signs of being the authors first novel? Well, naturally. Was there more than a few familiar assassin tropes included in the narrative? Absolutely. Did the characters sometimes make head-scratching decisions? I guess you could say that. Was the novel a fun, addictive read anyway? For me, at least, it definitely was.

My final opinion on this novel is simple: if – like me – you’re looking for a fun read, then you should definitely pick up Shadow’s Son. While the plot and characters don’t reinvent the fantasy assassin genre, I don’t Jon Sprunk was really aiming for that type of story. Instead, he seemed to be providing his readers with a sword-and-sorcery vehicle where they can forget about reality for a few hours and live the life of a fearless assassin slinking through the darkness in a magical, medieval-like city filled with known and unknown enemies. And in this, he is wildly successful. I personally found Shadow’s Son difficult to put down, devouring it as quickly as I could find time to read it, and I’d encourage others to pick this one up and try it as well. I really think you will be happy that you did.

Buy the book at Amazon.

Posted in 4 Stars, Assassin, Fantasy, Sword and Sorcery | Tagged assassin series, Blood and Iron, Caim, fantasy assassins, Jon Sprunk, Shadow Saga, Shadow's Son, Storm and Steel, The Book of the Black Earth | 3 Comments

BATMAN ETERNAL, VOL. 2

Posted on July 15, 2015 by Bookwraiths

Batman: Eternal, Vol. 2 by Scott Snyder

Genre: Superhero Comics

Series: Batman: Eternal

Publisher: DC Comics (July 14, 2015)

Length:304 pages

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Top Ten Cool Things About Batman Eternal, Vol. 2 (that should make you want to read it now.)

10) Dark, edgy setting. Gotham is shown in all its dark glory.

9) Bat family appearances. I mean, why have all these Bat people if you don’t ever use them when things get tough in Gotham.

8) Non-stop action. Cool characters trying to kill one another constantly to entertain us.

7) Moody artwork, which clearly captures the setting and action in HD quality.

6) Realistic situations for Bats.

5) Arkham Asylum mayhem. Nothing better than bad guys trying to beat the crap out of one another.

4) Complex plot lines that challenge the Caped Crusader.

3) Vile villains having fun. Diabolic plot after diabolic plot is unveiled in this one.

2) Catwoman, because you can never have too much.

1) Serious consequences for our hero!

I could go on an on with this list, but hopefully, you get the picture: I really liked this comic collection.

Yeah, yeah, I know Batman is pretty damn cool in any story, but here, surrounded by other interesting characters (both allies and enemies) and having to unravel a tangled web of deceit and cunning, the Dark Knight kicks major ass — even when he seemingly fails.

Uh-huh, you heard me right: fails! So go ahead and read this collection to see exactly how entertaining Batman Eternal is.

I received this book from DC Comics and Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. I’d like to inform everyone that the review you have read is my opinion alone.

Buy the book at Amazon.

Posted in 4 Stars, Batman, DC, Graphic Novels, The New 52 | Tagged Batman, batman eternal, batman eternal vol. 2, batman the new 52, dustin nguyen, justin fabok, scott synder | 2 Comments

BATMAN: ARKHAM KNIGHTS VOL. 1

Posted on July 14, 2015 by Bookwraiths

Batman: Arkham Knights, Vol. 1 by Peter J. Tomasi

Genre: Superhero Comics

Series: Batman: Arkham Knights

Publisher: DC Comics (July 14, 2015)

Length:144 pages

My Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Now calling the case of Batman: Arkham Knights, and whether it is worth reading or not.

OPENING STATEMENT: In this prequel to the video game of the same name, it has finally happened: Batman has killed the Joker! The Clown Prince of Crime having crossed a line that even the Dark Knight cannot overlook. The death has resulted in Arkham City (North Gotham’s Arkham Asylum) being locked down tight, but there is no time for Bats to recuperate from his physical and emotional injuries, because the Joker has left a posthumous surpise for Gotham City!

ARGUMENT #1 (OR WHY THIS IS GREAT!): This comic collection has it all: action, humor, vibrant art, a cool video game tie in, and great villains (Joker might be dead, but he still manages to put in an appearance!)

ARGUMENT #2 (OR WHY THIS ISN’T GREAT.):The story jumps around a lot, so much so that it seems you need a more than passing familiarity with the video games to fully appreciate the plot. A plot that really is nothing more than the standard Bat tale of our hero trying to thwart a villain from unleashing destruction on Gotham; something that seems to happen every other day. And during it all, Harley Quinn kisses the Penguin, which was really beneath her. (You can do better than that, girl!)

CLOSING STATEMENT: This is an entertaining Bat story. Sure, you might appreciate it more if you are already a fan of the video games, but your unfamiliarity with them won’t keep you from understanding what is going on and being amused by it all. Honestly, this comic collection is a must read merely because of Joker’s video will. I mean, the scenes of (arguably) Bats greatest villain leaving him and Gotham a gift is too twisted not to cherish.

I received this book from DC Comics and Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. I’d like to inform everyone that the review you have read is my opinion alone.

Buy the book at Amazon.

Posted in 3 Stars, DC, Graphic Novels | Tagged Arkham Knights, Batman, batman graphic novels, DC Comics, graphic novels | 2 Comments

FUN DAY MONDAY, OR THE BOOKS THAT WILL HELP ME SURVIVE THE WEEK AHEAD (JULY 13, 2015)

Posted on July 13, 2015 by Bookwraiths

The work week begins. 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 grind, deep down, I’m not, so I’m going to escape dreary reality by reading some great books. Without any further ado, here are the novels I will be giving a try this week.

In The Grim Company, Luke Scull introduced a formidable and forbidding band of anti-heroes battling against ruthless Magelords and monstrous terrors. The adventure continues as the company—now broken—face new dangers on personal quests…

As Davarus Cole and his former companions were quick to discover, the White Lady’s victorious liberation of Dorminia has not resulted in the freedom they once imagined. Anyone perceived as a threat has been seized and imprisoned—or exiled to darker regions—leaving the White Lady’s rule unchallenged and absolute. But the White Lady would be wiser not to spurn her former supporters: Eremul the Halfmage has learned of a race of immortals known as the Fade, and if he cannot convince the White Lady of their existence, all of humanity will be in danger.

Far to the north, Brodar Kayne and Jerek the Wolf continue their odyssey to the High Fangs only to find themselves caught in a war between a demon horde and their enemy of old, the Shaman. And in the wondrous city of Thelassa, Sasha must overcome demons of her own.

Because the Fade are coming…

About the Author:

Luke Scull is the author of The Grim Company. A videogame designer who has worked on numerous bestselling fantasy roleplaying game franchises, Luke was born in Bristol, England and now divides his time between the UK and Argentina.

Connect with the Author: Website | Twitter

Praise for Luke Scull and The Grim Company:

“Luke Scull has a very distinct style and an imagination bursting with intriguing ideas. It’s definitely worth giving him a chance to see if his tale can sink its hooks into you!” — Mark Lawrence, author of The Broken Empire series

“[F]un yet fearsome, gritty and gripping in equal measure…The Grim Company is pretty brilliant.” —Tor.com

“[A] grisly, compelling read…hugely enjoyable.” —The Daily Mail

“A noteworthy and gripping debut that promises to develop into an altogether superior series–one well-worth getting hooked on at the outset.” —Kirkus Reviews

“[S]pins a gripping tale with expertise and relish.” —The Guardian

“This is one debut not to be missed and marks Luke Scull as one of epic fantasy’s talented debutants.” —Fantasy Book Critic

“[O]ne of the best fantasy books you will read this year.” —SFBook.com

Buy at Amazon.

Posted in Fantasy, Funday Monday | Tagged Funday Monday, Luke Scull, Sword of the North, The Grim Company | 2 Comments

THE DARKLING CHILD by TERRY BROOKS

Posted on July 10, 2015 by Bookwraiths

The Darkling Child by Terry Brooks

Genre: Fantasy

Series: The Defenders of Shannara #2

Publisher: Del Rey (June 9, 2015)

Length:300 pages

Author Information: Website

My Rating: 3 out of 5 stars.

The Darkling Child is another solid installment in Terry Brooks long-running Shannara series. No, it doesn’t vary far from its predecessors in scope or tone, but if you enjoy classic fantasy with a young adult feel, then this novel will definitely satisfy you.

Set five years after events in The High Druid’s Blade, Paxon Leah is now a well-respected paladin of the Druid Order; his role that of a trusted protector to the druids; and his weapon to ward off evil the Sword of Leah passed down to him from his forefathers. Standing opposite this bulwark of goodness is the dark wizard Arcannen, who might not be as powerful as he once was, but who is still an evil force to be reckoned with due to his cunning and powerful sorcery. And caught directly in between them is a young man named Reyn, who possesses a powerful magic that he does not understand and which Arcannen desperately wishes to obtain control over!

Sounds fairly simple, I know, but despite its basic, triangle dynamic, there is a degree of suspense throughout the narrative due to the unclear nature of Reyn’s power, the unexplained use Arcannen intends for him, and the machinations of a young woman who might or might not be manipulating both Reyn and Arcannen. Added to this, Mr. Brooks transforms both Arcannen and Paxon, changing them from clear representatives of good and evil into more three dimensional characters; their individual personalities clearly having evolved during the intervening five years and their motives making each easy to empathize with. All of which means The Darkling Child is an entertaining read, but it still has flaws, though in the scope of things, they might be more correctly labeled personal preferences on my part than missteps by Terry Brooks.

First, this story is, at its core, still a standard quest fantasy. Here each of the main characters is on his own quest. Paxon Leah is on a quest to find and persuade Reyn to join the druids. Arcannen is on a quest for revenge that leads him to find and persuade Reyn to join his cause. And Reyn himself is on a quest to evade capture and learn how to use his powers. Quest, quest, and quest.

Second, like many Shannara tales, this is a coming-of-age story. Where book one of the series was about a young, naive Paxon Leah who had a magic sword thrust upon him and had to overcome obstacles in his path to control it (Arcannen was the obstacle there as well.), here Terry Brooks has merely inserted young Reyn into that same role. Obviously, there are distinct differences in Paxon and Reyn’s journey, but they are both coming-of-age tales.

Lastly, the main characters are really striking in their naivete. Reyn’s missteps can be overlooked to a certain extent (though his instant infatuation and sudden love for a young woman is a bit difficult to swallow), but the older, more experienced Paxon’s head scratching choices are really mystifying. Even Arcannen, who acts much more adult-like than his co-stars, does some bizarre things that brand this tale as clearly a young adult story.

Even having struck a cord with several of my personal pet peeves, I still found The Darkling Child to be a superior book to The High Druid’s Blade in almost every way. The ongoing personal conflict between Paxon and Arcannen was more well-developed; their individual personalities were more complex; Reyn was a nice addition to the cast; and a final confrontation between all the parties has been neatly foreshadowed for the next book. So, if you enjoy Terry Brooks or classic fantasy, I’d encourage you to give this one a try, because it will not disappoint but entertain.

I received this book from Del Rey and Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. I’d like to inform everyone that the review you have read is my opinion alone.