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STAR WARS: DARTH VADER AND THE GHOST PRISON

Posted on March 28, 2015 by Bookwraiths

A long time ago in a galaxy far,
far away . . . .

EPISODE III . . . and a little bit more

THE SITH DEPOSED

The Galactic Republic has been
erased from the pages of history by the Sith.
Palpatine and his apprentice Darth Vader
having destroyed the Jedi Order and
founded the Galactic Empire!

But loyal supporters of Chancellor Palpatine
have become disgusted by his imperial hubris.
These member of his inner circle have conceived
A daring plan to overthrowing the newborn Empire
and restore peace and security to the galaxy.

But the Sith are not so easily vanquished
especially when their strength attract young people
desperate for their own power.
And if that is not enough, there is always Lord Vader,
the seemingly indestructible henchman of Palpatine
who no one knows how to kill. . .

The story crafted by the Dark Horse Comics team of Haden Blackman (script), Agustin Alessio (art), and Michael Heisler (lettering) begins there: A young imperial cadet Tohm landing on Coruscant with hundreds of his fellow soldiers for a lavish graduation ceremony. Naturally, the crippled and scarred man is an outcast with only a handful of friends, but his social isolation has resulted in him because somewhat obsessed with becoming the finest Imperial officer possible. And his carefully developed skills are soon put to the test when a group of high level Imperial officers use the ceremony as cover for a elaborate assassination attempt on Palpatine and Vader.

Quickly, young Tohm is forced to make a difficult decision: Side with his friends who are part of the overthrow attempt or help save Palpatine and Vader?

After reading this comic collection I really have mixed feelings about it.

First off, I have to tip my hat to Agustin Alession on the art in Darth Vader and the Ghost Prison. It is absolutely gorgeous. Viewing this comic collection was like sitting in a movie theater watching a wonderfully filmed Star Wars movie play before my eyes: Every panoramic scene breathtaking, each action sequence heart-stopping, and each close-up full of emotional power. Alession’s art is, honestly, that good here.

As for the story itself, it is well plotted, well scripted, and well executed. And while it is 100% Star Wars, this is a more realistic Star Wars than most I’ve experienced, grounded in political upheaval and group dynamics. When reading it, I couldn’t help but compare it to the movie Valkyrie starring Tom Cruise from some years ago. In that silver screen retelling of history, a group of high ranking Nazis plan an assassination attempt on Hitler and his closest henchmen while also coordinating a simultaneous takeover of the government. And that basic tale is what Haden Blackman emulates in Ghost Prison with Palpatine and Vader attempting to escape assassination and putdown a very legitimate takeover attempt, which – coupled with Star Wars lore and hidden Jedi secrets – makes for enough pulse-pounding entertainment to satisfy any Star Wars fan.

But . . .

Well, you knew there was a “but”, right?

But, the main character Tohm (No, Palpatine and Vader aren’t the narrators here.) is very irritating. He is naive at best and stupid at worst. While his physical condition and his personal history give him a valid reason for his decision making throughout the story, his inability to sense the danger of his situation and his absolute trust in people who are telling him over and over again that they are not trustworthy is really perplexing. I mean, if he is smart enough to have survived Imperial officer training and help root out a palace revolt, shouldn’t he be intelligent enough to sense his own precarious position? But, maybe, that is merely my personal preferences regarding characters coming out.

All in all, though, this is a fine addition to the Star Wars Expanded Universe. (Yeah, I know the EU isn’t canon anymore, but it is for me until I’m convinced the upcoming replacement is better.) Darth Vader and the Ghost Prison has stellar artwork, a complex and exciting Star Wars tale, and a lot of Vader-being-a-bad-ass action scenes. All of which means, it should have earned a four star rating from me, but . . . it didn’t, because of Tohm detracting from what otherwise was a great Star Wars tale. Try it for yourself though, because the positives in this one still outweigh the negatives.

Buy Star Wars: Darth Vader and the Ghost Prison at Amazon.

Posted in 3 Stars, Graphic Novels, Science Fiction, Space Opera, Star Wars | Tagged Darth Vader, Darth Vader and the Ghost Prison, Star Wars, Star Wars comics, Star Wars Dark Horse, Star Wars graphic novels | 1 Comment

FLASHBACK FRIDAY — THE RIDDLE-MASTER TRILOGY by PATRICIA A. McKILLIP

Posted on March 27, 2015 by Bookwraiths

A long time ago in a decade far, far away . . .

I was a teenager! Not only that, I was a fairly arrogant one, who believed that he knew everything, had seen everything worth seeing, done everything worth doing, and had read every fantasy series that mattered.

When admitting that, I realize how immensely naive and prideful it all sounds – especially that last bit. However, at the time, I felt my observation about fantasy were completely justified. I mean, I had read J.R.R. Tolkien’s books (all of them at the time), swung swords with Howard’s Conan and Kull, devoured Stephen R. Donaldson’s Thomas Covenant stories, inhaled McCaffrey’s Pern, went through the wardrobe with C.S. Lewis, fought for and against chaos with more than a few of Moorcock’s eternal champions, drifted through the shadows of Amber with Zelazny, and . . . I’ll stop already. You get the idea I’m sure.

Anyway, I was pretty well read in the fantasy genre for a teenager of my time . . . I thought. Then I picked up The Riddle-Master Trilogy by Patricia A. McKillip. I can’t remember exactly when, or how it came into my hands. I do know the covers weren’t really my cup of tea at the time nor did the description promise testosterone-driven adventure. But for some reason, I read it anyway.

The story was simple enough. Many generations in the past, the wizards had vanished from the world; all the remaining magical knowledge hidden in riddles. The Prince of Hed, Morgon, had a talent for riddles and had decided to try to win a crown from the dead Lord of Aum.

However, Morgon had awoken something sibilant by his riddling. Ancient evils were stirring. They stalked the land after him. His friends began to disappear; some even replaced with what had to be shape changers. And so, Morgon was forced to flee his simple kingdom, journeying the land to uncover the secrets to reach the High One who ruled from mysterious Erlenstar Mountain.

Naturally, our prince did not go alone. His main companion on this quest was Deth, the High One’s Harper. And as the two stumble blindly from one terrifying encounter to another, Morgon begins to see that only by solving the riddle of the three stars upon his forehead can he uncover his own destiny!

I know, I know it sounds like a standard fantasy stories from the time period. And I suppose it is . . . to a certain extent. But McKillip writes it all with such elegant prose that it still remains fresh in my memory; the wonderful imagery, the powerful themes, and the subtle plot lines still alive within me. Even now, I recall the ending of book one and the beginning of book two as if I had just read them yesterday; the powerful emotions of both scenes etched into my memory more so than many recent novels that I have read.

No, Riddle-Master might not be a novel read often anymore, but it is one that should be. With the series, McKillip brought an elegance and beauty to the fantasy genre that I personally had not experienced to that time. And, while certain parts of the story have left me, the feelings that it invoked never have – nor, I hope, ever will.

Buy Riddle-Master at Amazon.

Posted in 3 Stars, Epic, Fantasy, Flashback Friday, High | Tagged best fantasy series, best fantasy series 1980s, Harpist in the Wind, Heir of Sea and Fire, Patricia A. McKillip, Riddle-Master of Hed, The Riddle-Master Trilogy | 8 Comments

TOUGH TRAVELLING — BELOVED MOUNTS

Posted on March 26, 2015 by Bookwraiths

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.

26th March, 2015 – BELOVED MOUNTS

A combination of suggestions from several people, as it seems many want to talk about the various animals that people in fantasyland ride. So be they horse, bear, or other let’s talk about favorite rides.

Now, this is a great topic. We all love those heroic mounts that take our favorite hero into battle. I mean, there has to be a lot of these out there, right? Let’s see which ones we can find.

SHADOWFAX (LORD OF THE RINGS)

If you are going to start listing beloved mounts Shadowfax must be on the top of that list.

The Lord of Horses was said to be the greatest steed of Middle-earth. He was so intelligent that he could comprehend human speech, and the legends suggest that he could outrun the wind! Untamable by the Rohirrim, he was later given to Gandalf the White by Théoden, the 13th king of Rohan, and strode upon the fields of the mighty during the War of the Ring.

Yeap, old Shadowfax. He is a legendary mount. He almost makes me wish I could ride a horse.

Buy The Lord of the Rings: 50th Anniversary, One Vol. Edition at Amazon.

INDRAUGNIR (WARHAMMER: AGE OF LEGENDS)

Mightiest of the ancient dragons who were awakened by Caledor Dragontamer, Indraugnir was both the mount and companion of the Phoenix King of the Elves in the Warhammer Universe. To say the dragon was both a boon and a curse to Aenarion sounds too prophetic, but in reality, only by the might of Indraugnir was the Phoenix King able to accomplish an impossible deed that cursed both him, his family and the whole world.

While others point out that with his dying breath Indraugnir took Aenarion back to the site of the ill deed to rectify it somewhat and save the world from total destruction, it might be said that such prowess by this mighty dragon was too little, too late.

Buy Age of Legends (Time of Legends) at Amazon.

RUTH (THE DRAGONRIDERS OF PERN)

The only white dragon ever mentioned in any of the Pern books, Ruth is a unique dragon for many reasons.

First, his hatching was very peculiar, as young Lord Jaxom actually aided his emergence from his shell.

Two, Ruth’s small size causes him to be ridiculed by most other dragons.

And three . . . well, let’s just say Ruth turns out to be a very gifted dragon.

For all those reasons (plus his humorous personality), Ruth has always been my favorite dragon of Pern.

Buy The Dragonriders of Pern: Dragonflight, Dragonquest, and The White Dragon (Pern: The Dragonriders of Pern) at Amazon.

TALAT (THE HERO AND THE CROWN)

Whenever a warrior is going out to do battle with vicious, fire-breathing dragons, it is always good for him (or her) to have a steadfast steed along to help out. And young Aerin finds that steed in her father’s old warhorse Talat.

As the story progresses, Aerin and the readers begin to understand not only the bond these two companions have for one another but the importance Talat plays in everything Aerin does. For I am not exaggerating when I say that Aerin would not have survived her adventures without good, old Talat along to ride.

Buy The Hero and the Crown at Amazon.

BLACKJACK (PERCY JACKSON & THE OLYMPIANS)

Okay, I have to admit it: I actually like Percy Jackson. At first, his novels were just some interesting stories to read my kids at night and get them to fall asleep, but along the journey from The Lightning Thief to The Last Olympian Seaweed Brain grew on me. So much so that I’ve been trying to convince my sons to read some more of the novels.

One of my favorite characters in the series is old Blackjack. Not because he has a large role or is included in all the action, but because who wouldn’t like to soar the skies on a black Pegasus. It would be a childhood dream come true for me, at least.

Buy Percy Jackson and the Olympians 5 Book Paperback Boxed Set (new covers w/poster) (Percy Jackson & the Olympians) at Amazon.

FARAN (THE ELENIUM and THE TAMULI)

Sparhawk is a grizzled, veteran knight who has been at the heights of power only to find himself banished from his own homeland. Many fear him, but all respect him — except for his warhorse Faran.

This horse is a spirited steed, who finds ways to communicate his displeasure to his knightly master. To say the two of them have a less than happy relationship is an understatement, but perhaps this isn’t all Faran’s fault, because the child-goddess Aphrael once tells Sparhawk that Faran only has a bad temper because he is trying to duplicate Sparhawk’s own. But no matter their differences (or similarities), Faran is a steed and companion who Sparhawk can always depend on when things go wrong. And they always seem to!

Buy The Elenium: The Diamond Throne The Ruby Knight The Sapphire Rose at Amazon.

BREE (THE HORSE AND HIS BOY — THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA # 5)

This is a list of animals, right?

How could I go a whole list and not include at least one anthropomorphic animal from The Chronicles of Narnia?

Well, obviously, I couldn’t. I mean, it is impossible. And Bree is the Narnian beloved steed I have to point to. A horse that rescues a young boy from slavery, helps him escape from his pursuers, and teaches him more than a few lessons along the way. Bree is definitely a steed that any person would love to have, especially a youth in need of love and guidance.

Buy The Horse and His Boy at Amazon.

BAZIL BROKETAIL (BAZIL BROKETAIL SERIES)

To this point in the list, we have dealt with several trusty steeds. Whether they were horses or dragons hardly matters, since, in their relationships, they were all definitely the one carrying the human or elf around. But in Mr. Rowley’s military fantasy adventure Bazil Broketail, the tables are turned.

In this fantasy land, the elite fighters are the dragon legions, who are armored, fight side-by-side with their reptilian brethren, and have orphan boys who act as their squires. And while Bazil’s orphan boy is one of the stars of the show, he spends a great deal of time feeding, grooming, and taking care of the needs of his “battle dragon.”

Needless to say, this series was a great twist on the usual human-dragon relationship. But just so you know, the orphan boys still ride to battle on the backs of their battle dragon (though these dragons are hardly mounts), so technically, I’m including Bazil on the list.

Buy Bazil Broketail at Amazon.

BE SURE TO CHECK OUT MY BEST OF FANTASY LISTS.

Posted in Fantasy, Lists, Tough Traveling | Tagged Aenarion, Bazil Broketail, best fantasy mounts, Blackjack, Bree, Christopher Rowley, Chronicles of Narnia, David Eddings, Dragonriders of Pern, fantasy tropes, Faran, favorite mounts, Indraugnir, JRR Tolkien, Lord of the Rings, Percy Jackson, Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Ruth, shadowfax, The Elenium, The Hero and the Crown, The Horse and His Boy, The Tamuli, Tough Traveling, Tough Traveling Thursday, Warhammer | 17 Comments

THE DRAWING OF THE THREE (THE DARK TOWER #2) by STEPHEN KING

Posted on March 25, 2015 by Bookwraiths

My rating is 2 out of 5 stars.

The Drawing of the Three (The Dark Tower #2) is usually proclaimed by readers as either “The book that truly got me hooked on The Dark Tower series!” or as “The book that made me give up on The Dark Tower series.” Honestly, this novel is such a huge change from book one that it produces that wide a range of reactions.

The story itself picks up almost immediately after the end of The Gunslinger. Roland Deschain, our forlorn hero, has awakened from a magical slumber to find himself years older and the man in black gone! But more, he soon is pressed past the point of exhaustion, assaulted by unexpected enemies and poisoned to boot on the seemingly endless shores of a unfamiliar ocean. The only way for him to survive to open three doorways to another world (our Earth) and find three people who are destined to not only save him from his current plight but become his new ka-tet on the road to the Dark Tower! (Or, Roland might just be delirious; his fevered brain crafting a way for him to hold off death until true salvation can be found.)

Now, obviously, that sounds like the beginnings of an interesting story. And it is. Stephen King does a stellar job of making a journey up and down a beach by a sick man, who is opening doors (which might be figments of his own imagination) interesting beyond any reasonable expectation. The problem is that the focus of this tale is so different from volume one that it is almost like reading another series entirely.

For those not familiar with The Gunslinger (The Dark Tower Book #1), it is an amazing fusion of western, post-apocalyptic, horror, and fantasy themes which drags a reader along behind Roland Deschain as he pursues the shadowy “Man in Black” across a world “that has moved on.” The action all takes place in this mystical land of gunslingers and wizards with only a few brief nods being made to the modern world. Other than those few modern touches, the tone is very definitely NOT modern.

The Drawing of the Three, however, has only a small portion of the novel taking place in this other world environment. Instead, the above mentioned magical doors take Roland into our own world (albeit at different historical times) where he interacts with normal people, who are dealing with very “real” world issues like drug addiction, drug smuggling, the mafia, mental illness, racial discrimination, bad parenting, and other very “modern” problems. (Yes, these type of issues have always been part of human existence. However, the way in which they were dealt with during the past three millennia is absolutely different than how they are dealt with now, and this story definitely deals with them in a very modern, American way.) Sure, Roland brings a unique view to the mentioned ills, but the narrative still reads like a contemporary fiction piece. In other words, Drawing is a one-hundred and eighty degree turn from the fantastical, post-apocalyptic western The Gunslinger.

So is it “bad” that Mr. King changed the tone from book one to book two?

Well, the answer to that is based upon the individual reader’s personal preferences. I mean, The Drawing of the Three is a really good book in my opinion – but I didn’t enjoy it very much at all.

Huh? It’s a good book, but you didn’t like it?

Yeah, that is what I am saying. You see, I fell in love with The Gunslinger because of the amazing world Stephen King produced by his amalgamation of different writing genres. While reading it, I found myself on the edge of my seat every moment, wondering what else was different about this world and how Mr. King was going to surprise me next. And while Drawing reproduced a portion of that excitement in the modern world struggles of Roland and the people he found behind the doors, the majority of their adventures were too “normal” for my reading tastes.

Even with that being said, however, Drawing was not the death knell for my Dark Tower journey like it has been for others. Sure, this book was a chore for me to read. Yes, I found myself plodding through some parts of the narrative, dying for it to end. However, just like Roland on that beach, I discovered that my desire to reach the Dark Tower and learn more about the mysteries of the world was greater than any obstacle – including my dislike of The Drawing of the Three. Whether that is how you will feel as well is a decision that only you can make after giving the novel a try.

Buy The Drawing of the Three: (The Dark Tower #2) at Amazon.

Posted in 2 Stars, Cross-Genre, Fantasy, Post-apocalyptic, Science Fiction | Tagged Dark Tower, Dark Tower The Gunslinger, Roland Deschain, Stephen King, the dark tower, The Drawing of the Three, The Gunslinger | 6 Comments

REFLECTIONS OF ETERNITY (FANTASY SHORT STORY) by J.M.D. REID

Posted on March 24, 2015 by Bookwraiths

My rating is 4 out of 5 stars.

Reflections of Eternity is a fantasy short story that I stumbled upon a few weeks ago. Since I’m generally turned off by photographic fantasy covers, it was the story description which persuaded me to download it – specifically the sword-in-the-stone fantasy trope.

I know lots of people are tired of standard fantasy tropes. The farm-boy-finds-magic-sword-saves-world and all the other familiar tropes are not only boring but an insult to the reading I.Q. of most people. However, whenever my mind is tired of complex stories, I like to take a break by returning to the comfortable fantasy tropes of my youth. And nothing gets me closer to that innocent and joyous time than a good sword-in-the-stone story.

In this particular tale, the world is hurtling toward its end. The soothing lullaby of the goddess Heljina having stopped, and the dark god Zarketh rousing toward wakefulness and destruction. All is in chaos. Civilization is crumbling. The naive and stupid people of the world are lining up to draw the magic blade dubbed Bedko from the holy stone. And all Rehman can do is laugh at the absurdity of it all, desperately trying to get so drunk he doesn’t care anymore.

But then something amazing happens: Rehman is forced to draws forth Bedko’s Blade. Immediately, he is anointed the savior of his people. Only problem being that our young, drunk hero doesn’t want anything to do with what his new destiny entails.

For, you see, the legends say that once there were two swords within the holy stone, but the last time Zarketh began to awake (five centuries in the past) a warrior-woman named Zella pulled forth the other blade, marched down into Zarketh’s tomb to fight the god, and triumphed. (Well, everyone assumes she triumphed because the world didn’t end.) Only problem being that no one ever saw Zella again!

Now Rehman finds himself forced toward the caves where Zella supposedly disappeared, and while all he really wants to do is run for his life, he tries to find bravery in knowing that Zella walked this same path years before. But soon, all his courage begins to fade, as he finds that in the dark depths time itself does not matter anymore!

Having read more than a few fantasy stories that used the sword-in-the-stone trope I can tell you honestly most authors really don’t add much to the classic Arthurian legend. Oh, they might package it differently, change the “why” or “how”, but ultimately, it is the same rehashed fantasy trope that we are all accustom to. But J.M.D. Reid has not done that with Reflections on Eternity. Instead, he has crafted an interesting and entertaining story that twists the sword-in-the-stone mythos around until it has become something new. A feat that I personally never saw coming until the last sentence.

J.M.D. Reid is another fantasy author I was not familiar with until reading a fantasy short story. But unlike other shorts, this tale actually sold me on Mr. Reid’s story crafting skill, so I will definitely be checking out his novel The Assassin’s Remorse sometime in the future. And I would encourage you to as well.

Buy Reflections of Eternity: (A Dark Fantasy Short Story) at Amazon.

Posted in 4 Stars, Fantasy, High, Short Stories | Tagged indie fantasy series, indie fantasy stories, J.M.D. Reid, Reflections of Eternity, The Assassin's Remorse | 5 Comments

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

Posted on March 23, 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 from wrongful incarceration. 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.

LEVIATHAN WAKES (EXPANSE #1) by JAMES S.A. COREY

“Humanity has colonized the solar system – Mars, the Moon, the Asteroid Belt and beyond – but the stars are still out of our reach.

Jim Holden is XO of an ice miner making runs from the rings of Saturn to the mining stations of the Belt. When he and his crew stumble upon a derelict ship, “The Scopuli,” they find themselves in possession of a secret they never wanted. A secret that someone is willing to kill for – and kill on a scale unfathomable to Jim and his crew. War is brewing in the system unless he can find out who left the ship and why.

Detective Miller is looking for a girl. One girl in a system of billions, but her parents have money and money talks. When the trail leads him to “The Scopuli” and rebel sympathizer Holden, he realizes that this girl may be the key to everything.

Holden and Miller must thread the needle between the Earth government, the Outer Planet revolutionaries, and secretive corporations – and the odds are against them. But out in the Belt, the rules are different, and one small ship can change the fate of the universe.” Goodreads Description.

I’ve read about 225 pages of this one so far. It is an entertaining mystery set in space, but I’ve yet to understand why so many people say this is “THE” space opera to read. Not giving up, but something stupendous needs to happen quickly to keep me interested.

THE DARKNESS THAT COMES BEFORE (THE PRINCE OF NOTHING #1) by R. SCOTT BAKKER

“Strikingly original in its conception, ambitious in scope, with characters engrossingly and vividly drawn, the first book in R. Scott Bakker’s Prince of Nothing series creates a remarkable world from whole cloth-its language and classes of people, its cities, religions, mysteries, taboos, and rituals-the kind of all-embracing universe Tolkien and Herbert created unforgettably in the epic fantasies The Lord of the Rings and Dune. It’s a world scarred by an apocalyptic past, evoking a time both two thousand years past and two thousand years into the future, as untold thousands gather for a crusade. Among them, two men and two women are ensnared by a mysterious traveler, Anasûrimbor Kellhus-part warrior, part philosopher, part sorcerous, charismatic presence-from lands long thought dead. The Darkness That Comes Before is a history of this great holy war, and like all histories, the survivors write its conclusion.” Goodreads Description.

I’ve had this one sitting around for a while, and since my ARCs are caught up, it seemed the perfect time to give it a go. I’m a bit apprehensive though, because I’ve read so many less-than-stellar review. Guess I’ll see for myself.

Happy reading this week!

Posted in Fantasy, Funday Monday | Tagged Expanse, James S.A. Corey, Leviathan Wakes, R. Scott Bakker, The Darkness That Comes Before, The Prince of Nothing | 4 Comments

SABAZEL (SABAZEL #1) by LILLIAN STEWART CARL

Posted on March 21, 2015 by Bookwraiths

My rating is 2 out of 5 stars.

Sabazel is a thinly disguised fantasy take on Alexander the Great: The Macedonian who led the Greek world in their crusade against the Persian Empire and won himself a world spanning empire as well as eternal glory. The only difference between that historical figure and the protagonist in this fantasy novel is that they have different names; here, Alexander is called Marcos Bellasteros.

The story begins with our mighty conqueror leading his armies in their crusade. Before the final battle for control of the empire, however, fate leads Marcos to Sabazel. This small nation-state is a land of warrior-women (Amazons) who worship their goddess and only consort with men at certain religious holidays throughout the year. The leader of Sabazel is named Danica.

Naturally, Alexander . . . err, I mean, Marcos and Danica initially hate one another but eventually fall in love; they then discover that their respective gods wish them to join forces to overthrow the Persian Empire . . . err, I mean the fantasy empire that just kinda, sorta resembles the Persian Empire. Together, they then set out on a quest to recover a magical sword, navigate through inevitable political intrigue, fight the final battle of the war and attempt to remain faithful to the love they share – even though they both realizes they can never truly be together.

If all that sounds like a rather straightforward 1980s fantasy, well, it is. But, all in all, Sabazel is still a decent read. Lillian Stewart Carl does a fine job portraying the Macedonian and Greek culture (albeit in a fantasy context), and the story she crafts has plenty of godly magic, political machinations, racial tensions, and even a bit of warfare – though not as much attention was paid to that as the romantic plot – to keep a reader entertained. But, unfortunately, the novel suffers from the same flaw as many fantasy works from this period: A bit of magic, some weird names, and a few fantasy tropes does not automatically make an epic fantasy.

So if you find this one on a used bookshelf somewhere, ask yourself a few questions before you pick it up. One, do you like Alexander the Great, Greek myths, and Amazons? Two, do you prefer your fantasy more romantic than violent? And three, does knowing what is ultimately going to happen detract from your enjoyment of the story?

If you answered “Yes” to the first two questions and “No” to the last one, then you should pick this one up. If not, you better just stay away. 80s fantasy isn’t for everyone after all.

You can buy Sabazel: The Sabazel series, Book One at Amazon.

Posted in 2 Stars, Fantasy, High | Tagged Alexander the Great, Amazons, fantasy alternate history, fantasy amazons, Lillian Stewart Carl, Sabazel | 1 Comment

THE SWORDSMAN OF TANOSA (TALE OF THE MIDDLE SEAS) by DUNCAN M. HAMILTON

Posted on March 20, 2015 by Bookwraiths

My rating is 4 out of 5 stars.

“The Swordsman of Tanosa” is a short story set in the Middle Sea world of Duncan M. Hamilton, which has also been the setting for his Society of the Sword Trilogy and the standalone novel The First Blade of Ostia. And while I was totally unfamiliar with the author or his world before this story, I fully intend to pick up one of the Middle Sea novels in the near future.

The story itself centers on one Bafion: a swordsman who has seen his better days. The way he carries himself, his tattered clothes, his skill with a blade, and his courtly manners all suggest to his underworld employers that he once was much more than a sword-for-hire. But no one can say for sure, because Bafion will not speak of his past. It is a subject strictly off-limits. Any attempt to pry into it sure to result in blood being drawn.

But now Bafion is going to be called upon to face that mysterious past. For you see, a boss of the underworld has a job. A rather lucrative opportunity that he has offered to the swordsman. If Bafion fulfills said contract, he will finally have enough money to start a new life for himself. But in order to do so, he will have to go back to the place and the people he once left behind.

Call me a sucker for Three Musketeer-like swashbuckling but I really, really liked this story. It had a mystery, a down-on-his-luck and past-his-prime main character, and people dueling with rapiers. How can anyone not adore that type of fantasy? My only complaint was it was too short.

So if you – like me – really dig dueling rapiers, buy The Swordsman of Tanosa: A Short Tale of the Middle Sea at Amazon.

Posted in 4 Stars, Fantasy, Low, Short Stories, Swashbuckling | Tagged best independent fantasy, best swashbuckling fantasy, Duncan M. Hamilton, Middle Sea, Society of the Sword, The First Blade of Ostia, The Sword of Tanosa | 4 Comments

THE FALL OF FAIR ISLE by ROWENA CORY DANIELLS

Posted on March 19, 2015 by Bookwraiths

My rating is 3 out of 5 stars.

Upon Fair Isle, the garnet-eyed, silver-haired, pale-skinned, twelve-fingered T’En have nearly become a thing of legend, as years of intermarriage have made the race of conquerors nearly identical to their human subjects. But even so, T’En blooded nobles still rule the land, and, occasionally, that blood will show, resulting in a pure blooded “throwback”, causing a disruption of the tranquility as the specter of the violent past rears its ugly head. Imoshen is one of these blessed (and cursed) individuals.

For most of her life, Imoshen’s family has sheltered her from the revulsion and novelty that her condition causes among the nobility, but as dutiful adherents of the laws, they have taught her that as a “throwback” she must devote her life to one of service, abandoning any selfish desires for a family of her own. (Throwbacks are forbidden to marry or sire offspring.) And until recently, Imoshen accepted her fate in silence, but then her path crossed the only male throwback upon Fair Isle.

To say Imoshen and Roethe have sexual chemistry when they meet would be too mild a term for it. For once they are together the magic inherit within them ignites, drawing one to the other. Each touch of the other’s hand is lightning; each kiss is ecstasy; and each caress is pure nerve-tingling erotica. Quickly, Imoshen and Roethe cast societal conventions aside, announcing their intentions to wed. A decision that the nobility find frightening and somewhat abhorrent. But before the two can begin their life together, the wrath of the gods falls upon Fair Isle.

To the north, across the narrow seas, the Ghebite Empire has been spreading across the continent like a plague, engulfing each kingdom it touched. The barbaric horsemen too mighty for even coalitions of nations to hold back. And now – unlooked for – these conquerors have landed upon Fair Isle, intent on destroying the soulless “dhamfeer” as their religion labels the magical T’En.

Armies are raised. Battles are fought. And Fair Isle begins to lose.

All too soon, Imoshen finds herself the last of her family, Roethe’s fate unknown, beset with the legions of the famous General Tulkhan, the son of the Ghebite King and a mighty conqueror. And while every instinct within the young T’En screams for her to bar the gates to her small city, rally the remaining people and fight, the ancient T’En known as the “Aayel” – and Imoshen’s mentor – counsels something different: surrender! Not only of the city itself but of Imoshen to Tulkhan’s carnal desires to bed a pure blooded T’En. The Aayel warns that only by such a sacrifice can Imoshen save herself and all of Fair Isle!

Pretty interesting story. At least, I thought it would be as I began, and overall, it delivered on that promise – with a few exceptions that is. But let’s start with the positives about The Fall of Fair Isle.

As followers of Rowena Cory Daniells’ T’En novels already know, there is a lot of history and legend in the series. Not the general retreaded Tolkien fantasy or even the older Arthurian type that many fantasy aficionados are accustom to but something fresh yet still familiar. And in Fall, Daniells doesn’t make the mistake of unveiling her world in huge info dumps but deftly allows it to be revealed slowly and consistently as the story progresses, so that by the end many of a reader’s questions about Fair Isle and its T’En inhabitants have been answered without them even realizing it.

But the strength of this novel is definitely the romantic love triangle. From the first chapter, the attraction, distrust, and political machinations between Imoshen and General Tulkhan are front and center. The constant shifting of the viewpoint from one to the other allowing a reader to experience each person’s feeling as their first violent meeting leads to an even more complex relationship later on. And while Roethe enters and exits the narrative quite frequently, his presence and pull on Imoshen’s emotions and decisions never totally ceases. So if romantic love triangles and all their wicked twists and turns is something that you adore, The Fall of Fair Isle will not disappoint.

For all its interesting and compelling qualities, Fall did not entertain me as much as I would have liked, however. Mainly, this was due to my preconceptions of the novel. Perhaps I’ve read too many traditional grimdark fantasy series, but whatever the reason, I went into this novel expecting a great deal of combat, warfare, and intense political upheaval in the vein of Martin’s Song of Ice and Fire and instead found myself presented with a novel very light on the violence and warfare and heavy on the romance and emotional turmoil of the characters. A turn of events that was not necessarily bad but which did not meet my needs of the moment.

So should you give this novel a try?

It really depends upon your favorite type of fantasy faire. If that is grimdark or the violent variety of fantasy on the shelves, then The Fall of Fair Isle might not have what you are looking for. But if romantic fantasy is something you enjoy, then I’d recommend you pick this novel up.

Rebellion Publishing and Netgalley provided this book to me for free in return for an honest review. The review above was not paid for or influenced in any way by any person, entity or organization, but is my own personal opinions.

Buy The Fall of Fair Isle from Amazon.

Posted in 3 Stars, Fantasy, Romantic | Tagged Fair Isle, Rebellion Publishing, Rowena Cory Daniells, T'En, The Chronicles of King Rolen's Kin, The Fall of Fair Isle, The Outcast Chronicles | 2 Comments

VENGEANCE OF THE IRON DWARF by R.A. SALVATORE

Posted on March 17, 2015 by Bookwraiths

Vengeance of the Iron Dwarf by R.A. Salvatore

Genre: Fantasy

Series: Companions Codex #3 | Legend of Drizzt #27

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

Author Information: Website | Twitter

Length: 352 pages

My Rating: 3 out of 5 stars.

War! The Silver Marches have been consumed by it.

Across the land, the years of peace and plenty are a thing of the past. The drow cast Darkening obscures the very sun. Nesme is a burned out shell. Sundabar exists as a conquered city, filled with enemies. Elven Silvermoony lies besieged. The dwarven citadels of Mithral Hall, Felbarr, and Adbar are ringed about – above and below ground – with enemies too numerous to count. And the Companions of the Hall have been unable to stem the tide, finding themselves separated and fearful of their comrades survival!

Definitely, the fate of the Silver Marches appears bleak. The evil alliance of frost giants, white dragons, Many Arrows’ orcs, and the drow seemingly invincible. Yet even in apparent victory, the true designs of Matron Mother Quenthel Baenre has yet to be revealed – even to her friends and allies.

From this powder keg of fantasy warfare, Mr. Salvatore crafts another fine addition to the Legend of Drizzt. It has all the elements of an entertaining, fantasy romp that fans have come to expect from their favorite drow: a huge war raging, individuals acts of bravery, diabolical schemes, mysteries revealed, and more than a few moments of laughter. And here the author has even saw fit to add several moments of sobriety into the fantasy stupor that are both thought-provoking and emotionally jarring.

The best example of the latter is Bruenor’s reunion with his “mother”; a woman who reared him believing that he was not a long-dead king reborn but rather the infant child of her loving marriage. When the two face one another again with the truth of Bruenor’s resurrection between them, Mr. Salvatore does an excellent job of showing a realistic portrayal of a mother’s questions and despair at the fate of her own child – including the possibility that she might truly reject the son who was never really her son.

Even with all its positives, I have to admit that Vengeance of the Iron Dwarf did not entertain me as much as the last volume in the series, Rise of the King. The reason is simply that there was too much going on with too many characters, and Mr. Salvatore tried to wrap it all up too quickly. The frantic conclusion to this narrative so rushed that it was almost impossible for me to savor the grandness of the whole spectacle of diverse characters, races, and nations fighting a war to the finish. Something that marred an otherwise great Drizzt story.

At this point in my review of a Legend of Drizzt book I always seem to find myself saying the same thing: “If you are already a fan of the drow and his friends, then you will undoubtably enjoy this novel.” (Duh, right? I mean, it is a fantasy swashbuckling series whose longevity surely speaks to all those who love it.)

This first statement is unerringly followed by the “But, if you don’t like Drizzt or these types of classic fantasy fare (perhaps preferring more modern takes on the genre or narratives that diverge away from traditional elements) then there is nothing in this novel that is going to win you over.”

And I suppose I could say all that again, but I’ve decided not to. Rather, I’ve chosen to end this review by encouraging those who haven’t picked up a Drizzt book to go find one and give it a try. While Mr. Salvatore generally stays true to the traditional fantasy elements, the stories are always entertaining, blending fantasy fun with a very readable narrative that flows seamlessly. Not only that but he inevitably inserts moments in the stories when these seemingly simplistic characters are forced to stop looking at things in a black-or-white manner and contemplate the reality of their actions and their own personal views; their decisions then going on to actually mean something in the ongoing story. So before you cast disdain on this drow led caravan, you really should give it a go. I mean, you might find that you actually enjoy it.

Wizards of the Coast and Netgalley provided this book to me for free in return for an honest review. The review above was not paid for or influenced in any way by any person, entity or organization, but is my own personal opinions.

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