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THE FIRST DRAGONEER by M.R. MATHIAS

Posted on July 29, 2015 by Bookwraiths

The First Dragoneer by M.R. Mathias

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy

Series: The Dragoneer Saga #0.1

Publisher: Self Published (August 8, 2010)

Length: 77 pages

Author Information:Website

My Rating: 3 out of 5 stars.

The First Dragoneer is a short introduction to The Dragoneer Saga by M.R. Mathias. Never having encountered any of the books from this young adult series, I went into this read without any pre-conceived like or dislike for it.

As the misty haze begins to fade from a new reader’s eyes, two teenage boys, Bren and March, begin to take shape upon the pages of this tale. They have been friends for years, growing up together in a tiny settlement on the edge of nowhere, but now, it is time for them to be parted, as March prepares to leave the village forever.

Wanting to send off his best friend with good memories, Bren convinces March to take one last hunting trip together. And so, they trek off into the hilly countryside seeking laughter and adventure only to stumble upon unexpected creatures and a large, ominous cave that they can’t help but explore.

What will the two friends find inside the cave? How will it change their lives? And will they survive their last grand adventure together? These questions and more are answered in this novella!

While reading this one, I couldn’t help but compare it to another young adult fantasy with dragons and dragonriders. You might have heard of it; it is called Eragon. And whether it is fair for me to look at The First Dragoneer and view it as a simulacrum of Paolini’s work, I can’t help but do it. Teenager(s) out hunting in the wilds. Boy(s) find(s) mysterious object. This object changes his (their) life (lives) forever. And there are dragons involved. You have to admit, those are some fairly significant similarities.

But even with that being said, reviewing a story always comes down to “Was it entertaining and worth reading?”

And with that simple criteria in mind, I can say that I enjoyed The First Dragoneer. No, I didn’t love it. Nope, it isn’t on my all-time favorites list. Nah, I don’t believe it truly reflects M.R. Mathias’ storytelling abilities. Definitely, it could have used a bit more characterization. But, it was still a solid, straightforward YA fantasy with enough mystery and action to entertain a true Dragoneer fan, a YA fantasy lover, or just a bored reader looking for a quick fantasy fix. So feel free to give it a try, it won’t hurt at all.

Buy the story at Amazon.

Posted in Fantasy, Low, Young Adult | Tagged dragonriders, dragons, eragon, fantasy short stories, free fantasy short stories, M.R. Mathias, The Dragoneer Saga, The First Dragoneer, young adult fantasy, young adult fantasy novellas | 1 Comment

LEVIATHAN WAKES by JAMES S.A. COREY

Posted on July 28, 2015 by Bookwraiths

Leviathan Wakes by James S.A. Corey

Genre: Science Fiction

Series: Expanse #1

Publisher: Orbit (June 2, 2011)

Length: 561 pages

Author Information:Website | Twitter

My Rating: 3 out of 5 stars.

Leviathan Wakes is yet another novel where the hype hurt it rather than helped it with me.

What do I mean by that?

Simply put, I went into the read expecting this space opera to reinvent the genre! Blow me away! Render me speechless! Astonish me! And, while it was an entertaining science fiction novel, it didn’t do those things, so in my mind, it was a major disappointment. But I’m jumping ahead of myself, let us begin at the beginning.

The story itself starts where it should: space in the future! A time when human colonies cover the solar system, and man-made crafts swarm from Earth to the Moon to Mars to the asteroid belt and beyond (though not the stars yet) carrying people and goods on the zero gravity highways of this future.

Our guides through this era are Jim Holden, XO of an ice miner starship running between Saturn and the Asteroid Belt, and Detective Miller, a law enforcement officer from the Belt who has become obsessed with finding a missing woman. And as readers follow along behind these very different men, they are shown glimpses of an amazing but sad future; one where humanity has escaped Earth, but has not left behind its flawed tendencies toward racism, political machinations, warmongering, and megalomania. These self-destructive traits taking center stage in the story as our two heroes are sucked into a world of intrigue they never imagined possible, where a solar system wide war threatens to erupt even as an ancient alien technology is unleashed upon all of humankind!

Sounds interesting I know. But from the first, I really had trouble getting invested in this story.

Now, as my reading friends will tell you, I’m a character guy. I absolutely need, at least, one character I can empathize with or care about. They do not have to be just like me, share all my beliefs, look like me, or anything else, but there has to be something about them that I care about. Some trait which makes me hang on the edge of my seat wanting to see them succeed or survive or whatever. And if I don’t get that one character, it is difficult (though not impossible) for a story to hold my attention.

In Leviathan Wakes, I do not think I’m stretching the truth when I say that Holden and Miller were pretty much the whole show. Sure, there were other characters introduced, named, and talked about here and there, but they were just scenery for our two archetype characters to interact with. And so either I had to “connect” with one of these two or not have anyone to rout for throughout this scifi mystery.

Let us take a closer look at our two bachelors. Bachelor number one is Holden; a young, tough, attractive, optimist, who believes people will always make the right decision if given the truth. Bachelor number two is Miller; this middle aged detective is beaten down, rugged and uber pessimist, believing humanity is composed of dumb sheep ready to follow the next person who comes along promising a nice meal and a place to lie down.

They both sound pretty simple, don’t they? And they really are simple as simple can be. Instead of names, the authors (Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck writing as James S.A. Corey.) could have just as easily given them nicknames like Mr. Sunshine and Mr. Rain Cloud. Holden and Miller are that one dimensional.

For whatever reason, I decided not to pick either of these charming bachelors to rout for. Instead, I disregarded my foreboding of future frustration and forged on with the story, holding tight to those great reviews I’d read, which gushed about how amazing this space opera mystery would eventually be.

In fairness, those reviewers were not misleading me, because the mysterious plot in Leviathan Wakes was a good one. Missing woman, dangerous rebels, political intrigue, megalomaniacal plots, and alien entity. The authors included them all, creatively retooling these scifi themes from the past into something new and shiny. But, for me, it ultimately came down to a real simple question: Why do I care about any of it?

Unfortunately, I didn’t. Holden and Miller having left me cold. No other characters of any note arising for me to care about. And all the scifi fun just useless fluff without any real meaning.

Am I saying that Leviathan Wakes is a horrid novel that no one should read?

Nope. It just wasn’t for me. Like I’ve explained, the lack of a character to care about ultimately ruined all the good time scifi mystery, suspense, action, and horror that the authors wove into the narrative. But you are you and I am me, and perhaps this novel might be the perfect story for you. So give it a try and see for yourself.

Buy the novel at Amazon.

Posted in 3 Stars, Science Fiction, Space Opera | Tagged Daniel Abraham, Expanse, Expanse series, James S.A. Corey, Leviathan Wakes, science fiction series | 13 Comments

FUN DAY MONDAY, OR THE BOOKS THAT WILL HELP ME SURVIVE THE WEEK AHEAD (JULY 27, 2015)

Posted on July 27, 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 is one of the novels I will be giving a try this week.

BOMBS AWAY: THE HOT WAR (THE HOT WAR #1) by HARRY TURTLEDOVE

In his acclaimed novels of alternate history, Harry Turtledove has scrutinized the twisted soul of the twentieth century, from the forces that set World War I in motion to the rise of fascism in the decades that followed. Now, this masterly storyteller turns his eyes to the aftermath of World War II and asks: In an era of nuclear posturing, what if the Cold War had suddenly turned hot?

Bombs Away begins with President Harry Truman in desperate consultation with General Douglas MacArthur, whose control of the ground war in Korea has slipped disastrously away. MacArthur recognizes a stark reality: The U.S. military has been cut to the bone after victory over the Nazis—while China and the USSR have built up their forces. The only way to stop the Communist surge into the Korean Peninsula and save thousands of American lives is through a nuclear attack. MacArthur advocates a strike on Chinese targets in Manchuria. In actual history, Truman rejected his general’s advice; here, he does not. The miscalculation turns into a disaster when Truman fails to foresee Russia’s reaction.

Almost instantly, Stalin strikes U.S. allies in Europe and Great Britain. As the shock waves settle, the two superpowers are caught in a horrifying face-off. Will they attack each other directly with nuclear weapons? What countries will be caught in between?

The fateful global drama plays out through the experiences of ordinary people—from a British barmaid to a Ukrainian war veteran to a desperate American soldier alone behind enemy lines in Korea. For them, as well as Truman, Mao, and Stalin, the whole world has become a battleground. Strategic strikes lead to massive movements of ground troops. Cities are destroyed, economies ravaged. And on a planet under siege, the sounds and sights of nuclear bombs become a grim harbinger of a new reality: the struggle to survive man’s greatest madness.

About the Author:

Harry Turtledove is the award-winning author of the alternate-history works The Man with the Iron Heart, The Guns of the South, and How Few Remain (winner of the Sidewise Award for Best Novel); the War That Came Early novels: Hitler’s War, West and East, The Big Switch, Coup d’Etat, Two Fronts, and Last Orders; the Worldwar saga: In the Balance, Tilting the Balance, Upsetting the Balance, and Striking the Balance; the Colonization books: Second Contact, Down to Earth, and Aftershocks; the Great War epics: American Front, Walk in Hell, and Breakthroughs; the American Empire novels: Blood & Iron, The Center Cannot Hold, and Victorious Opposition; and the Settling Accounts series: Return Engagement, Drive to the East, The Grapple, and In at the Death. Turtledove is married to fellow novelist Laura Frankos. They have three daughters—Alison, Rachel, and Rebecca—and one granddaughter, Cordelia Turtledove Katayanagi.

Praise for Bombs Away

“[Harry] Turtledove is an undisputed centerpiece of the alternate-history genre, and now, to his already grand display, he’s adding the ambitious tale of a WWIII that could have happened. . . . Turtledove’s thorough research and grounded imagination work to create a frighteningly realistic past where world leaders act out of desperation and fatalism, and a large cast of common folk suffer the consequences. . . . The vicarious sense of eschatological dread is always powerful and personal.”—Booklist

“Alternate-world warrior extraordinaire Turtledove delivers the opening barrage of a new speculative conflict: What if President Harry Truman had ordered nuclear weapons to be used in the Korean War? . . . Those familiar with Turtledove’s distinctive method, however, know the focus will remain on ordinary characters and how they cope with their particular circumstances. . . . Definitely worth a try for Turtledove fans and armchair warriors in general.”—Kirkus Reviews

Praise for Harry Turtledove

“Turtledove is the standard-bearer for alternate history.”—USA Today

Buy at Amazon.

Posted in Alternative History, Funday Monday | Tagged alternate history, Bombs Away, Cold War alternate history, Harry Turtledove, Korean War alternate history, The Hot War | 3 Comments

SOLSTICE DAY GIFTS (THE EMPEROR’S EDGE SHORT STORY) by LINDSAY BUROKER

Posted on July 24, 2015 by Bookwraiths

Solstice Day Gifts by Lindsey Buroker

Genre: Fantasy

Series: The Emperor’s Edge #7.5

Publisher: Self published (December 2, 2013)

Length:15 pages

Author Information:Website | Twitter

My Rating: 3 out of 5 stars.

After toppling an empire, what can the leader of a group of secretive operatives and its deadly assassin do for relaxation?

Well, in Lindsay Buroker’s The Emperor’s Edge series, they take a cruise to a tropical island for some well deserved rest, relaxation, and romance. At least, that is what Amaranthe has in mind for herself and her significant other, Sicarius, as this short story begins.

There is only one problem: on this island vacation spot, Sicarius is still a criminal, whose portrait graces numerous wanted posters all over town!

Should this war-weary couple flee back to the stuffy confines of their two person submarine, showing utmost caution as Sicarius suggests, or should they cast their cares into the sea, do a little shopping, find a cozy beach cottage for two, and have a little quality playtime with one another as Amaranthe wishes?

Tsk, tsk, tsk. I’m not going to tell you what they decide. You have to read this one to find out for yourself.

As those that are familiar with The Emperor’s Edge series know, it is a rather campy fantasy series that doesn’t take itself seriously, so when you pick up one of these stories, you need to go into the read not expecting serious, grimdark literature. And “Solstice Day Gifts” is a great example of Lindsay Buroker’s light-hearted approach to fantasy, as she crafts a very short, very satisfying romantic comedy with enough action and funny moments to keep even an action guy like me satisfied.

Did this short story “Wow!” me? Not really. But I didn’t go into it expecting that. All I was looking for was a change of pace read that was light, fun, yet still a bit fantastical. “Solstice Day Gifts” definitely met those limited expectations, which is why I’d recommend it to anyone else who enjoys rom-com fantasies.

Buy the story at Amazon.

Posted in 3 Stars, Fantasy, Low, Romantic, Short Stories | Tagged fantasy short story, Lindsay Buroker, rom-com fantasy, romantic fantasy short story, Solstice Day Gifts, The Emperor's Edge | 1 Comment

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.