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BEST READS OF 2015 (SO FAR!)

Posted on July 2, 2015 by Bookwraiths

Thankfully, I spent, at least, some of the last six months reading some great books. And in an effort to look back on those reading experiences (and give my favorites a little hype), I decided to post this list of my top ten reads of the year — so far. So, sit back and get ready to discover some great books!

10. THE IRON SHIP by K.M. McKINLEY

Series: Gates of the World

Publisher: Rebellion (June 1, 2015)

My Rating: 3 out of 5 stars.

My Review: Here

What places this book on my list is its sheer potential. This amazing world and its denizens have a solid foundation upon which a grand story can be told. And while book one was a bit uneventful after an amazing beginning, I’m betting McKinley puts it all together in the second novel.

Buy The Iron Ship at Amazon.

9. VENGENANCE OF THE IRON DWARF by R.A. Salvatore

Series: Companions Codex | Legend of Drizzt

Publisher: Wizards of the Coast (March 3, 2015)

Author Information:Website | Twitter

My Rating: 3 out of 5 stars.

My Review: Here

As I always say, you either appreciate Salvatore’s sword and sorcery books, or you don’t. I, for one, enjoy experiencing some fun daring-do in a familiar fantasy land like the Forgotten Realms from time to time, and if you want to escape reality and just enjoy a fun, sugar-coated sword and sorcery tale, there isn’t anything wrong with the Drizzt series.

Buy Vengeance of the Iron Dwarf (Forgotten Realms: Companions Codex) at Amazon.

8. THE BLADE ITSELF by JOE ABERCROMBIE

Series: The First Law

Publisher: Pyr (September 6, 2007)

Author Information:Website | Twitter

My Rating: 3 out of 5 stars.

My Review: Here

This was a book that collapsed under its hype. Yes, it was a fine fantasy read. Sure, there were a couple memorable characters. Yeah, Abercrombie turned the traditional fantasy tropes on their hands. But it just wasn’t that overwhelming to me. I’d still encourage others to give it a try, just don’t go into it thinking you’re about to experience the next Lord of the Rings, because you aren’t.

Buy The Blade Itself (The First Law: Book One) at Amazon.

7. STORM AND STEEL by JON SPRUNK

Series: The Book of the Black Earth

Publisher: Pyr (June 2, 2015)

Author Information: Website | Twitter

My Rating: 3 1/2 out of 5 stars.

My Review: Here

A sequel that exceeds its predecessor in almost every respect, Storm and Steel is a good, old-fashioned, sword and sorcery tour de force that perfectly mixes a sweeping fantasy world with non-stop action. It might not reinvent the fantasy wheel, but it definitely uses the familiar in a manner that never fails to entertain.

Buy Storm and Steel (The Book of the Black Earth) at Amazon.

6. HEIR OF THE JEDI by KEVIN HEARNE

Series: Empire and Rebellion

Publisher: Lucas Books (March 3, 2015)

Author Information: Website | Twitter

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

My Review: Here

Okay, this is another book that you either like, or you don’t. Naturally, I fall into the “like” category. My reason for really enjoying Hearne’s entry into the Star Wars canon is his stellar portrayal of the young Luke Skywalker. As a kid growing up when the original movie trilogy was released, I was a Luke Skywalker fan, finding in him a mirror of myself: naïve, wet-behind-the-ears country boy, and Hearne reminded me of why I always loved this Skywalker .

Buy Heir to the Jedi: Star Wars at Amazon.

5. SPELL BLIND by DAVID B. COE

Series: JUSTIS FEARSSON

Publisher: Baen Books (January 6, 2015)

Author Information: Website | Twitter

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

My Review: Here

This is another entry into the crowded urban fantasy genre. Here we have a supernaturally powered hero (Here our ex-cop and current private investigator is a weremyste!) who finds himself stumbling into ever increasing trouble with the shadowy side of reality that normal people don’t even know exists. And while Spell Blind might remind UF junkies of other series out there, for a relative newbie like myself this one was a real pleasure to read.

Buy Spell Blind (Case Files of Justis Fearsson) at Amazon.

4. THE GRIM COMPANY by LUKE SCULL

Series: The Grim Company

Publisher: Roc (February 4, 2013)

Author Information:Website | Twitter

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

My Review: Here

A novel that took me completely by surprise. I was expecting a typical grimdark and discovered that Mr. Scull had concocted something even better: A grimdark that was fun. I know that sounds ridiculous, but give this one a try and you will see exactly what I am talking about.

Buy The Grim Company at Amazon.

3. MISTBORN: THE FINAL EMPIRE by BRANDON SANDERSON

Series: Mistborn

Publisher: Tor (July 25, 2006)

Author Information:Website | Twitter

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

Another series that had all the hype. I’d heard nothing but amazing tales of how absolutely awesome this book was before I finally broke down and tried it, but while other novels crumbled under my high expectations, this one didn’t. Yeah, it started out fairly slow, but eventually the main characters sucked me into this world and had me hanging on the edge of my seat as I was mesmerized by the twists and turns as well as the amazing allomancy fights.

Buy Mistborn: The Final Empire at Amazon.

2. LORDS OF THE SITH by PAUL S. COOK

Series: Star Wars

Publisher: Del Rey (April 28, 2015)

Author Information:Website | Twitter

My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars.

My Review: Here

After a lifetime of being a Star Wars fan, it takes a lot for a novel in this series to blow me away, but Lords of the Sith did. Mr. Kemp delivering the perfect mixture of Anakin angst, Vader violence, and Emperor machinations to keep me riveted to my e-reader throughout this fast-paced adventure.

Buy Lords of the Sith: Star Wars at Amazon.

1. KNIGHT’S SHADOW by SEBASTIEN DE CASTELL

Series: Greatcoats

Publisher: Jo Fletcher Books (June 2, 2015)

Author Information: Website | Twitter

My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars.

My Review: Here

After reading this one, I quickly declared it my frontrunner for best book of 2015, and so far, nothing has changed has my mind. Mixing swashbuckling fun with Game of Thrones-like deception and destruction, this second installment of the Greatcoats series is, by far, the best novel that I have read this year!

Buy Knight’s Shadow (Greatcoats) at Amazon.

THE GREAT BAZAAR & BRAYAN’S GOLD by PETER V. BRETT

Posted on July 1, 2015 by Bookwraiths

The Great Bazaar & Brayan’s Gold
by Peter V. Brett

Genre: Fantasy

Series: Demon Cycle #1.5

Publisher: Tachyon (July 7, 2015)

Author Information:Website | Twitter

Length: 192 pages

My Rating: 3 out of 5 stars.

Anyone who has enjoyed Peter Brett’s Demon Cycle series has, undoubtably, longed for more tales of Arlen’s days as a messenger. And now the wait is over, because The Great Bazaar and Brayan’s Gold chronicles a few of Messenger Arlen’s most exciting adventures as well as adding a few other extras for fans of the series.

The fun begins in Brayan’s Gold, where Brett allows a reader to tag along behind Arlen on one of his first messenger trips. While this is a rather short journey (geographically and novella length wise), there is still more than enough suspense, demon fighting, and character development packed into the tale to make it a must read for fans – if, for no other reason, than Arlen’s personality and deeply held beliefs shine through.

The Great Bazaar catches up to our young messenger years later. Now, Arlen has been seasoned by years on the road, has earned a reputation as a fearless adventurer, and has attracted friends who are willing to aid in his obsession for ancient wards – in return for help in other areas. And so this novella finds Arlen traveling the desert near Fort Krasian on an errand to uncover priceless pottery for his merchant friend Abban.

Once Arlen gets to the abandoned town, however, he finds that it is thoroughly demon infested (Where isn’t in this world?) by a variety he has not encountered before. Excitement ensues immediately thereafter and continues when Arlen later confronts Abban about not warning him of these unique demons.

The next two stories in this collection are actually deleted scenes from The Warded Man. The first is the proposed prologue to the book, which focuses on Arlen as a child. The second story is about Leesha and an encounter she has with a former friend. Both are relatively short, but each adds another layer to each character that all fans of the series will definitely enjoy.

The book finishes up with a Krasian Dictionary and a ward grimoire. Neither of these add much to the overall story but are great reference materials for the series itself.

As I reflect on this story collection, the most enjoyable element for me was how Brett presents Arlen as a regular person. He is driven. He is talented. He might even be special, but . . . he makes mistakes. Mistakes that cause him harm: Physical, emotional, and spiritual. Nor is Arlen’s judgment with people supernatural. He does trust the wrong people. He gets tricked by them. And when he should admit their duplicity, he tends to ignore it, because of his very human fondness for them. All of which made Arlen much more relatable and easy to empathize with than the superhuman, infallible “Chosen Ones” who litter fantasy literature these days.

Now, The Great Bazaar and Brayan’s Gold isn’t a story collection that will astound you or turn the Demon Cycle on its head, but it is a very entertaining companion piece to The Warded Man, which every fan of the series will definitely want to read. I’d also encourage fantasy fans in general to check it out, because reading about a demon infested world is always a blast.

I received this book from Tachyon Publishers and Netgalley 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.

Purchase this Demon Cycle story collection at Amazon.

Posted in 3 Stars, Epic, Fantasy, Short Stories | Tagged Arlen, Brayan's Gold, Demon Cycle, Demon cycle novellas, Demon Cycle short stories, epic fantasy series, Leesha, Messengers, Peter V. Brett, The Desert Spear, The Great Bazaar, THE WARDED MAN | 3 Comments

KNIGHT’S SHADOW by SEBASTIEN DE CASTELL

Posted on June 25, 2015 by Bookwraiths

Knight’s Shadow by Sebastien de Castell

Genre: Fantasy

Series: Greatcoats #2

Publisher: Jo Fletcher Books (June 2, 2015)

Length:400 pages

Author Information: Website | Twitter

My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars.

Traitor’s Blade was a novel that took me by surprise. Yes, it sounded interesting, but I never expected to love Sebastien de Castell’s mixture of Three Musketeer-esque swashbuckling fun and Game of Throne-like gritty realism as much as I did. It really was one of the Best Books of 2014.

Flash forward to 2015. Knight’s Shadow is being released. Yes, I’m overwhelming anxious to get my hands on it, but I’m apprehensive as well. I mean, can the author catch lightning in a bottle twice? Can he find a way to include all those great elements from book one, yet minimizing the less stellar ones – like the constant Falcio flashbacks?

Well, after finishing the novel, I can honestly declare that my doubts were unfounded. Not only did Sebastien de Castell meet my wildest expectations, but exceeded them by far, and by doing so set a ridiculously high standard for all books that follow. Knight’s Shadow is truly a masterpiece of storytelling; one that I hereby declare “THE BEST FANTASY NOVEL OF 2015!”

The tale itself picks up shortly after book one’s ending, but does so in a most fascinating way; our hero Falcio val Mond, swordsman extraordinaire and First Cantor of the Greatcoats, finding himself paralyzed. A state he endures every morning. Poison administered by his vilest enemy the cause. But Falcio must overcome, because time is running out to place Aline securely on the throne, and to accomplish this, he has to find a way to persuade the hated Dukes of the land to support her cause.

At this point, Knight’s Shadow content to be a straight forward political story. One that included enough hilarious scenes with Falcio, Kest, and Brasti in full swashbuckling mode to be entertaining, but did not reach for anything other than a credible retelling of book one. But then something happened: Sebastien de Castell pulled the proverbial rug out from under me, revealing a devious plot that might involve the most heinous participation by the Greatcoats themselves, leaving the poisoned Falcio, in his loyal naivete, frantically trying to discover the truth before he dies!

Wow! I hadn’t experienced such a twisted plot line since I first read Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire many years ago. And this was merely the beginning of the surprises, as Knight’s Shadow jetted into the stratosphere, keeping me turning the pages, as I desperately tried to discover the fate of Falcio and all the other spectacular characters.

That brings up one of the stellar improvements in this book from Traitor’s Blade : the characters development. While Kest, Brasti, Aline, Valiana, and all the rest had their moments in book one, here they come into their own. The joker Brasti, who never seemed serious, displaying an unexpected depth of character, as he deals with the utmost despair and devastation. Kest, the Saint of Swords, struggling to balance his devotion to Falcio and his fellow Greatcoats with his desire to seek out opponents worthy of his time. Aline desiring a normal life away from the Dukes and the deadly machinations of the land, but choosing to forego her own personal happiness to try to help others. Valiana, the spoiled noble turned peasant, who slowly evolves from a hopeless wretch into a woman who is willing to change herself and lay down her own life for a cause she deems right. And Darriana, who is revealed late in the story but plays such a pivotal role in its resolution.

Another area where this installment of Greatcoats excels is in the world building. We find out more about the history of the Greatcoats, the true story of their beloved king, and who the legendary Dashini are. Conflicts that were mentioned in broad terms before, filtered through Falcio’s naive eyes, are now show in all their tangled complexity. Hidden motives, vile betrayals, and devious machinations layered one upon the other until every absolute truth of this world is turned upside down, contorted into amazing new directions that never fail to surprise.

Mixing swashbuckling fun with twisted Martin-esque grimness and set in an amazing world, Knight’s Shadow is an absolute triumph. Creative, brilliant, twisted, emotional, and unforgettable, every one of those labels can be fairly assigned to this novel. “THE BEST BOOK OF 2015!” I declared earlier, and I stand by that pronouncement. Now, all I have to do is patiently wait for book three to be published.

I received this book from Jo Fletcher Publishing and Netgalley 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 novel at Amazon.

Posted in 5 Stars, Fantasy, Low, Swashbuckling | Tagged best fantasy series 2014, best fantasy series 2015, best fnatasy books 2015, Greatcoats, Knight's Shadow, Sebastien de Castell, swashbuckling, swashbuckling fantasy, Three Musketeers | 14 Comments

THE SHADOW REVOLUTION by CLAY GRIFFITH and SUSAN GRIFFITH

Posted on June 24, 2015 by Bookwraiths

The Shadow Revolution by Clay Griffith and Susan Griffith

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Series: Crown & Key #1

Publisher: Del Rey (June 2, 2015)

Length:320 pages

Author Information: Website | Twitter

My Rating: 2 out of 5 stars.

Other reviewers have compared The Shadow Revolution to a summer blockbuster movie, which is an apt description. However, I personally like to think of it as a Victorian Era roller coaster; it bursts from the pages going full speed, slows down long enough for you to catch your breath before plunging you down into the next pulse-pounding adventure. Werewolves, magic, mad science and alchemy zip by in a whirlwind, as our cast of colorful characters speed from the beginning to the end of this first installment of Crown & Key with nary a stop along the way.

Sound like exactly what you have been waiting for? Well, keep reading then.

The hero here is spell-casting scribe Simon Archer and his mentor Nick Barker. Simon is that handsome rogue with the impeccable manners of a gentleman; you know, the one who is always turning the ladies eyes, even as he thumbs his nose at conventions. His sidekick . . . I mean, mentor is Nick, who is as disheveled as Simon is impeccable and as negative as Simon is positive. (These two have a strange relationship for mentor/student.) And lastly, there is Kate Anstruther; this independent, Victorian lady is as beautiful as she is intelligent and naturally catches Simon’s eye very quickly.

In chapter one, this ride creaks off from the start with Simon and Nick running afoul of a lycanthrope, who kills an old friend of Simon. This act triggers our gentleman rogue to begin a search not only for who was behind this vicious supernatural murder, but also what is causing evil things to stir within the dark alleys of the city.

Meanwhile, Kate Anstruther finds herself embroiled in the rearing of her younger sister Imogen; a young woman who has become involved with an unseemly ex-soldier and who refuses to act appropriately for a girl her age. Something that Kate feels the need to put to a halt, especially since she finds her sister’s suitor not only troublesome but suspiciously troublesome. And did I mention, Kate is one hell of an alchemist, who uses her own concoctions to drive away unwanted male advances upon her person? I didn’t. Well, I just did.

From this beginning, the authors bring the three companions together under intriguing circumstances, setting the story into full motion. One act of daring-do leads to another and then another until eventually the story is at an end. Or rather, I should say this part of the tale is at an end and the next two are soon forthcoming, since books two and three will be released within the coming months!

Of course, all this non-stop action comes at a price. With so many pages dedicated to thrilling urban fantasy adventure, the character development and world building are sparse in this tale. Oh, there are still mentions of Simon’s inner turmoil or explanations about where this cities magical arts arose, but they are few and far between, serving as bookmarks between the action sequences.

All in all, though, The Shadow Revolution was an entertaining novel; it definitely grabbed my attention and held it, packing as much excitement as it could into its relatively short three hundred pages. However, it was a little too action oriented for my current tastes. I’ve been drawn to more character driven stories lately, and while Simon and Katherine hold lots of potential for growth in their individual persons and their relationship, I just can’t envision the next two books pulling back on the brakes and slowing this urban fantasy coaster down long enough to delve into those things. Nope, for good or bad, this feisty story is a non-stop action tour de force. So if you’re dying for some roller coast thrills, pick this one up, strap yourself in, and hold on, because this is book is going take you on a bumpy ride through urban fantasy-land.

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.

Buy the novel at Amazon.

Posted in 2 Stars, Fantasy, Urban Fantasy | Tagged 2015 urban fantasy series, Clay Griffith, Susan Griffith, The Shadow Revolution, urban fantasy series, Vampire Empire series, Victorian Era urban fantasy, Victorian urban fantasy | 3 Comments

WONDER WOMAN: BLOOD, VOL. 1

Posted on June 24, 2015 by Bookwraiths

Wonder Woman: Blood, Vol. 1 by Brian Azzarello

Genre: Superhero Comics

Series: Wonder Woman Vol. IV

Publisher: DC (May 30, 2012)

Length:160 pages

My Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Recently, I read J. Michael Straczynski’s 2011 WW reboot Odyssey. While there were some weaknesses in that story line, I liked it overall. The younger Diana, the new costume, and the different take on the Amazons and the gods were refreshing, but not so different I felt like I was reading some character others than Wonder Woman. So I decided why not take the plunge and give Brian Azzarello’s New 52 Wonder Woman a try.

Well, I’ve finished volume one, and all I can say is this is really different. A story that doesn’t reinvent Wonder Woman so much as it creates a whole new one. Here the age-old WW mythos regarding her conception, her relationship with her mother and sisters, her role with the gods, and her general attitude toward killing are completely rewritten. Indeed, we quickly see that this Diana is mocked by her fellow Amazonians, routinely willing to chop off appendages of her enemies, and has a casually acceptance toward killing that makes Batman and Superman’s less bloodthirsty attitudes seem antiquated. Added to this, we have what I thought was a pretty weird take on the gods. So Hades has a candle for a head, Hermes is part bird, and Poseidon is a . . . puffer fish? Okay, that is certainly a new take on things.

As for the art, Cliff Chiang’s style (while certainly different and creative in its simplicity) left me scratching my head, wondering what was I missing, because it was a bit ho-hum for my tastes. Not that it wasn’t adequate to tell Azzerollo’s story and didn’t fit the obvious mood Azzarello was going for here, but it just didn’t seem grand enough for Wonder Woman. I know that sounds a bit stupid, but it is the only way I can express my feelings.

For me to say that I wasn’t impressed by Wonder Woman: Blood is an understatement. Honestly, my gut reaction after putting it down was that I rather disliked it. While I had previously read Wonder Woman: War, Vol. 4 in 2014 and not loved it, I now found myself believing that War was much superior to this story arc in every way. Blood was portraying a Wonder Woman I was not at all familiar with, and I didn’t think I wanted to be. But after further reflection (and a reread of WW: War, Vol. 4), I can admit the story here is okay (I should give the team some leeway since this is the first story arc, after all), if not what I was expecting from the New 52 WW reboot, and I could see how Azzarello had progressed Diana and her story since (though I’ve yet to read volumes 2 and 3, there seemed to be a lot of changes in her character between volume 1 and 4), so, while I was initially inclined to skip the rest of this creative team’s WW run, I don’t think I will. Rather, I’ll keep reading, if only to see how strange this whole thing gets.

Buy the book at Amazon.

Posted in 3 Stars, DC, Graphic Novels, The New 52, Wonder Woman | Tagged Blood, Brian Azzerollo, Cliff Chiang, The New 52, Volume 1, Wonder Woman | 4 Comments

SUPERMAN: EARTH ONE, VOL. 1 by J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI

Posted on June 24, 2015 by Bookwraiths

Superman: Earth One, Vol. 1 by J. Michael Straczynski

Genre: Superhero Comics

Series: Superman: Earth One

Publisher: DC (January 1, 2010)

Length:136 pages

My Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

I’d heard that this story was the basis for the Man of Steel movie from a few years ago. Now, that film wasn’t my favorite, but I was curious to see if this was better. And I guess it was . . . slightly.

Straczynski doesn’t really try to reinvent the wheel here. Clark Kent is still the Smallville kid we’ve all grown up with. Jonathan and Martha Kent having rescued him from his space capsule, reared him as their own adopted son, taught him to hide his super human powers, and shaped him into the caring person that he is. And this story begins with Clark settling into Metropolis, desperately trying to decide what kind of man he wants to be going forward, because, quite frankly, he can be anything he wants: a world class athlete, a research scientist, a wall street whiz kid, or even Superman. All he knows for certain is he wants to be normal. His entire life he has been different: an alien living among his fellow humans. Now, though, he can begin a new life, be whatever he wants to be, and the idea of donning the homemade Superman costume and abandoning the dream of normalcy isn’t too tempting.

Naturally, our good-hearted twenty-something needs a swift kick-in-the-pants to encourage him to suit up. Some villain or world-wide crisis to convince him that the world needs a hero. A hero just like Superman!

I know that sounds okay. Realistic even. And until the “bad” guy shows up I thought the story line was fairly interest. Afterwards, though, this one turned into a never ending fight that definitely reminded me of why I didn’t love Man of Steel.

As for the art, it was above average. Clark and other familiar characters were updated in a tastefully modern way; the actions scenes were well done; and the times of introspection were alive with representations of Clark’s thoughts and options. So, I have nothing but positive love for the art work here.

That leads me back to the story. I can’t put my finger on it, but I really found this collection pretty “meh.” It isn’t bad. It isn’t great. It is somewhere in the middle. And (for me anyway) it is terribly forgettable. The only thing that perhaps saved it was a really great Clark Kent. And who would have ever thought that.

Buy the comic collection at Amazon.

Posted in 3 Stars, DC, Graphic Novels, Superman | Tagged Clark Kent, DC Comics, J. Michael Straczynski, Man of Steel, Superman, superman: earth one, vol 1 | 1 Comment

FUN DAY MONDAY, OR THE BOOKS THAT WILL HELP ME SURVIVE THE WEEK AHEAD (JUNE 22, 2015)

Posted on June 22, 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.

From New York Times bestselling author Terry Brooks—the second stand-alone Shannara novel in the Defenders of Shannara series, following The High Druid’s Blade, easily accessible to new readers.

After taking up his enchanted sword against the dark sorcerer Arcannen, Paxon Leah has become the sworn protector of the Druid order. Now a critical hour is at hand, as a beloved High Druid nears the end of her reign and prepares to pass from the mortal world to the one beyond. There is little time for Paxon to mourn his friend and benefactor before duty summons him. For in a distant corner of the Four Lands, the magic of the wishsong has been detected. Paxon must accompany a Druid emissary to find its source—and ensure the formidable power is not wielded by the wrong hands.

But danger is already afoot in the village of Portlow. Gentle traveling minstrel Reyn Frosch possesses the uncanny gift, and curse, of the wishsong. And now his coveted abilities have captured the malevolent interest of none other than Arcannen—whose quest for power is exceeded only by his thirst for vengeance. The lone survivor of a brutal assault on a notorious pirate city, the sorcerer is determined to retaliate against the Federation’s elite military guard—and use the devastating power of the wishsong as his ultimate weapon.

About the Author:

Terry Brooks is the New York Times bestselling author of more than thirty books, including the Dark Legacy of Shannara adventures Wards of Faerie and Bloodfire Quest; the Legends of Shannara novels Bearers of the Black Staff and The Measure of the Magic; the Genesis of Shannara trilogy: Armageddon’s Children, The Elves of Cintra, and The Gypsy Morph; and The Sword of Shannara. The author was a practising attorney for many years but now writes full-time. He lives with his wife, Judine, in the Pacific Northwest.

Connect with the Author: Website

Praise for Terry Brooks:

“If Tolkien is the grandfather of modern fantasy, Terry Brooks is its favorite uncle.”
—Peter V. Brett, New York Times bestselling author of The Desert Spear

“I can’t even begin to count how many of Terry Brooks’s books I’ve read (and reread) over the years. From Shannara to Landover, his work was a huge part of my childhood.”
—Patrick Rothfuss, New York Times bestselling author of The Name of the Wind

“Terry Brooks is a master of the craft and a trailblazer who established fantasy as a viable genre. He is required reading.”
—Brent Weeks, New York Times bestselling author of The Night Angel Trilogy

Buy the novel at Amazon.

A unique blend of science fantasy, hardboiled crime and epic verse.

The city of Vox survives in darkness, under a sun that burns without light. In Vox’s permanent night, light bulbs are precious, the rich live in radiance and three Hearts beat light into the city. Aquila. Corvus. Cancer.

Hearts that bring power to the light-deprived citizens of the city of Vox whilst ghosts haunt the streets, clawing at headlights. Prometheus, liquid light, is the drug of choice. The body of young Vivian North, her blood shining brightly with unnatural light, has no place on the streets.

When Cancer is stolen, the weaponisation of its raw power threatens to throw Vox into chaos. Vox needs a hero, and it falls to cop Virgil Yorke to investigate.

But Virgil has had a long cycle and he doesn’t feel like a hero. With the ghosts of his last case still haunting his thoughts, he craves justice for the young woman found dead with veins full of glowing. Aided by his partner Dante, Virgil begins to shed light on the dark city’s even darker secrets.

Haunted by the ghosts of his past and chased by his addictions, which will crack first, Virgil or the case?

Buy the novel at Amazon.

Posted in Fantasy, Funday Monday, High, Science Fiction | Tagged Dark Star, Defenders of Shannara, High Druid's Blade, Oliver Langmead, Shannara, Terry Brooks, The Darkling Child | 4 Comments

BOOK SPOTLIGHT & GIVEAWAY: KNIGHT’S SHADOW by SEBASTIEN de CASTELL

Posted on June 21, 2015 by Bookwraiths

Book Details:

Following his beloved debut, Traitor’s Blade, Sebastien de Castell returns with volume two of his fast-paced fantasy adventure series, inspired by the swashbuckling action and witty banter of The Three Musketeers. Knight’s Shadow continues the series with a thrilling and dark tale of heroism and betrayal in a country crushed under the weight of its rulers’ corruption.

A few days after the horrifying murder of a duke and his family, Falcio val Mond, swordsman and First Cantor of the Greatcoats, begins a deadly pursuit to capture the killer. But Falcio soon discovers his own life is in mortal danger from a poison administered as a final act of revenge by one of his deadliest enemies. As chaos and civil war begin to overtake the country, Falcio has precious little time left to stop those determined to destroy his homeland.

About the Author:

Sebastien de Castell had just finished a degree in archaeology when he started work on his first job. Four hours later he realized how much he hated archaeology and left to pursue a very focused career as a musician, ombudsman, interaction designer, fight choreographer, teacher, project manager, actor, and product strategist. These interests and experiences provided fodder for his burgeoning writing career. He lives in Vancouver, Canada, with his wife and is director of strategic program development at the Vancouver Film School.

Connect with the Author: Website | Twitter

Praise for Traitor’s Blade:

“Traitor’s Blade is a swashbuckling romp packed with charisma, camaraderie, quick wit and even quicker swordplay. That said, it’s far from candy-coated – and it packs some serious substance . . . darkness is served up deliciously in Traitor’s Blade – only de Castell uses it as the sauce, not the soup . . . What makes the book truly sing, though, is its rich historical backdrop . . . De Castell’s fight scenes are as sumptuously detailed as the world Falcio inhabits. . . In its own way, Traitor’s Blade is as grim and dark as the edgiest fantasy series on the shelves. It’s also shot through with heroics, hope and a dazzling aptitude for fun.”
―Jason Heller, NPR

“Like the sword its disgraced protagonist carries, Traitor’s Blade is short and sharp and smart, and very well wielded, really . . . With a tip of his hat at Alexandre Dumas, Sebastien de Castell make a fine first impression in this entertaining debut.”
―Tor

“The best Musketeers trope since Dumas’s original . . . Fights are well-thought out as de Castell is a former “fight choreographer” (I dare you to put that on your tax return). Fighting, swordplay, and escaping from same form most of the action alongside ten kinds of witty banter, bravado and brio- make no mistake, this is a fun read. The light tone is challenged by ruthless villains, especially Duchess Patriana who, though truly repugnant, is as notably well-constructed as other female characters. An energetic, fun adventure that puts the “musk” back in “musketeer.” Guaranteed to increase household swashbuckling by 100%.”

A Library Journal Best Debut of 2014: “A triumph of character, with every protagonist a fascination…this swashbuckling series launch…shows huge potential.”
-Library Journal

Book Giveaway Update 6/30/2015

Congratulations to Brad Stephens for winning the giveaway. The book is in the mail!

Posted in Author Spotlights, Fantasy, Giveaway, Swashbuckling | Tagged fantasy book giveaway, Greatcoats, Knight's Shadow, Knight's Shadow free, Sebastien de Castell, Traitor's Blade | 1 Comment

THE IRON SHIP by K.M. McKINLEY

Posted on June 20, 2015 by Bookwraiths

The Iron Ship by K.M. McKinley

Genre: Fantasy

Series: The Gates of the World #1

Publisher: Rebellion (June 1, 2015)

Length:384 pages

My Rating: 3 out of 5 stars.

The Iron Ship grabs your attention from the prologue’s first paragraph. The descriptions of a barren land of buried roads, volcanic glass obelisks, rustless metal ruins, and undiscovered artifacts tantalizing. When a lone woman treks across this Red Expanse to a hidden temple where her forgotten god and his sacred rites are revealed, the anticipation of ominous, wonderful things to come only grows. Even when the priestess gives way to a Guider named Aarin Kressid making his way along the Paths of the Dead in Karsa City, the story loses none of its charm, as the vision of a world ruled by the Great Tide, islands of floatstone riding upon its crest, and a “priest” raising dead spirits seamlessly assumes the spotlight.

At this point, the novel seemed to be a dream come true for a fantasy fan like me who was craving something familiar, yet wonderfully different. This world a grand fusion of primitive sorcery and magic-powered science, ancient history and modern mysteries, medieval upper class and growing bourgeois that was amazingly addictive. But then something happened: Nothing.

“Nothing.” It is an ominous word when used to describe certain things. When a person asks how much money they have in their bank account and the answer is “nothing” that is definitely a bad thing. Similarly, when speaking of the story line in a book, the idea that “nothing” happens with the plot is not a good thing. And, unfortunately, in The Iron Ship, nothing much happens after that amazing beginning; an occurrence that is terribly disappointing.

Now, to be fair, some things do happen in the book. I mean, it doesn’t spin its wheels for hundreds of pages, after all. And K.M. McKinley does nurture a few story elements into very interesting epic fantasy faire.

One of those is the cast of memorable characters; the majority of which are the Kressid siblings. There is the already mentioned Aarid Kressid, who guides spirits to the afterworld; Trassan Kressid, an engineer of immense skill who is building the iron ship herself; Guis Kressid, a playwright haunted by dark magic and personal mental illness; Rel Kressid, a roguish soldier banished to the edge of civilization for impropriety; Katriona Kressid, a brilliant woman trying to use her business skills in a male-dominated society; and Garten Kressid, the dedicated family man and bureaucrat. Joining them are others, such as the living god of wine, Elturion, the Hag of Mogawn, and her loyal servant Mansanio. All of them taking their turns as the central focus of the narrative; their personal struggles adding layer upon layer to this story of a magical world going through the birthing pains of an industrial revolution.

The other is that amazing world, which I’ve just mentioned. Modern and ancient, magic and science co-existing side by side. A vast land dominated by the Great Tide, but not solely about it. Culture after culture mentioned in passing. Social change and class upheaval clearly suggested, as brewing problems lying right below the surface. And numerous mentions of past civilizations that have disappeared, must now be rediscovered, and which might hold the keys to unlocking a growing mystery.

No matter those stellar elements, however, The Iron Ship was a very frustrating novel for me. Every single story line, every character’s personal plot reading like foreshadowing of future events. The book quickly turning into one long prologue, one huge buildup to the next book of the series. Not that I expected the story to be wrapped up in a single volume (This isn’t a standalone novel.), but it would have been nice if something, anything had been resolved. Nothing was, however, and that disappointed me immensely.

Does that mean I won’t read the next book of the series?

No, it doesn’t. Actually, I fully intend to pick it up. The foundations of this world and its cast of colorful characters have too much potential for me to cast aside The Gates of the World series that easily. But K.M. McKinley definitely needs to reward my perseverance with more resolutions and less foreshadowing in book two.

This book was provided to me by Rebellion and Netgalley in exchange for a fair review. The above review is my personal opinions of this novel and was not influenced by anyone else.

Purchase the novel at Amazon.

Posted in 3 Stars, Epic, Fantasy, High | Tagged epic fantasy with technology, fantasy books with science, K.M. McKinley, The Gates of the World, The Iron Ship | 12 Comments

GUEST POST: “THE LAND OF THE BLACK EARTH” by JON SPRUNK

Posted on June 19, 2015 by Bookwraiths

If you haven’t noticed, Bookwraiths has spent this week spotlighting Jon Sprunk’s The Book of the Black Earth series, so if you’ve missed any of it, be sure to check out my reviews of Blood and Iron, Storm and Steel and Jon Sprunk’s interview as well as enter the Storm and Steel Giveaway. Today, I’m excited to welcome Mr. Sprunk back to talk more about the wonderful world of the Black Earth, his inspiration for it, and the struggles he encountered creating creating it.

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THE LAND OF THE BLACK EARTH

by JON SPRUNK

Hello, everyone. I’m Jon Sprunk, author of the Book of the Black Earth fantasy series. The first book, Blood and Iron, was published in 2015, and the second volume, Storm and Steel, just came out this month.

I’m excited to talk about the fictional world I’ve created for my books. I’ve always loved history, especially the ancient world. Two of my favorite locations/periods were Egypt and Mesopotamia, and so I drew from both of them when creating the setting for my books, the empire of Akeshia.

For me, setting begins with the look. I’m a visual person, so I need to “see” a place in my head before I can make it my own. With Akeshia, I started with the architecture. I imagined ziggurats and palaces built of stone, obelisks and colossal statues of mythological creatures, streets paved in baked clay, brick homes, and so on. I envisioned towns encircled by high walls and bronze gates.

Description extends into geography, which in turn affects the story. Beyond the fertile valley of the Typhon River, Akeshia is flanked by large deserts. These natural boundaries protect the empire from foreign enemies, but also insulate the empire from the rest of the world, resulting in a stagnant society.

After I get the “visual” of my setting, I move to the people living there. In Akeshia, I took some elements from history and morphed them. For instance, Akeshia has a caste system that is fairly rigid with some notable exceptions. People are born into the class they will have for the rest of their lives unless they are demoted by a ruler as punishment for some disservice, or if they exhibit signs of magic.

Ah, yes. Magic: the special enzyme of a fantasy setting.

In Akeshia, magic is rare but very potent. It’s often (but not always) passed down by bloodline, so that powerful sorcerers tend to run in families. And in Akeshia, magic is tied to religion because the people believe it comes directly from their gods. So if, for example, a low-born person develops a talent for sorcery, they are immediately lifted to the highest caste – the zoanii (which translates to ‘Children of the Stars.’)

The deeper I delved into the setting, the more I realized how magic and its divinely-attributed source would change my world. Akeshia, like Egypt, is heavily invested in its religion of a polytheist pantheon of gods. Most of the lives of the common people are controlled by and devoted to the local temples. With magic being considered a gift from the gods, belief has changed over the centuries to reflect that those can use magic are likewise semi-divine. This has created a society where the most powerful magic-users have become the heads of powerful dynasties, ruling their cities like God-Kings (and –Queens).

And we can’t forget about language. Now, I’m no Prof. Tolkien, but I had fun including a little dose of the Akeshian tongue in these books. I started with words and phrases of ancient Sumerian and Babylonian (found in various reference books and internet sources) and added some Persian-inspired root words as well, curbing the language to fit how I imagined Akeshians might talk.

Lastly, building a realistic setting is all about the small details. The foods that people eat, the animals they have domesticated, the way they pray or mourn, their choices in clothing and adornment, and so on. I like to sprinkle these kinds of details throughout the story to lend atmosphere. By the time the first draft is finished, the setting is fixed in my mind like an actual place complete with sounds, smells, and sights.

So that’s how I approach setting in my books. It’s one of my favorite aspects of writing—creating a new world filled with endless possibilities and people.

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Author Bio:

Jon Sprunk is the author of The Book of the Black Earth epic fantasy series as well as the Shadow Saga trilogy. His first book, Shadow’s Son, was a finalist for the Compton Crook Award, as well as a nominee for the David Gemmell Award for Best Debut Novel and Best Fantasy Novel.

For more on Jon’s life and works, visit him at his Website or on Twitter.

BE SURE TO CHECK OUT MY REVIEWS OF THIS SERIES
Iron and Blood (The Book of the Black Earth #1)
Storm and Steel (The Book of the Black Earth #2)

Purchase the novels at Amazon.