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BATMAN ETERNAL, VOL. 2

Posted on July 15, 2015 by Bookwraiths

Batman: Eternal, Vol. 2 by Scott Snyder

Genre: Superhero Comics

Series: Batman: Eternal

Publisher: DC Comics (July 14, 2015)

Length:304 pages

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

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

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

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

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

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

6) Realistic situations for Bats.

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

4) Complex plot lines that challenge the Caped Crusader.

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

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

1) Serious consequences for our hero!

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

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

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

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

Buy the book at Amazon.

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

BATMAN: ARKHAM KNIGHTS VOL. 1

Posted on July 14, 2015 by Bookwraiths

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

Genre: Superhero Comics

Series: Batman: Arkham Knights

Publisher: DC Comics (July 14, 2015)

Length:144 pages

My Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

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

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

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

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

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

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

Buy the book at Amazon.

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

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

Posted on July 13, 2015 by Bookwraiths

The work week begins. I quickly slip into my business suit and head back into the office to save a few innocent people. But while I try to fool myself into being excited about the grind, deep down, I’m not, so I’m going to escape dreary reality by reading some great books. Without any further ado, here are the novels I will be giving a try this week.

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

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

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

Because the Fade are coming…

About the Author:

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

Connect with the Author: Website | Twitter

Praise for Luke Scull and The Grim Company:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Buy at Amazon.

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

THE DARKLING CHILD by TERRY BROOKS

Posted on July 10, 2015 by Bookwraiths

The Darkling Child by Terry Brooks

Genre: Fantasy

Series: The Defenders of Shannara #2

Publisher: Del Rey (June 9, 2015)

Length:300 pages

Author Information: Website

My Rating: 3 out of 5 stars.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Posted in 3 Stars, Fantasy, High, Young Adult | Tagged new fantasy series, Shannara, Terry Brooks, The Darkling Child, The Defenders of Shannara | 2 Comments

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.

Posted in Fantasy, Lists | Tagged best books 2015, best fantasy books 2015, Drizzt Do'Urden, Greatcoats, Kevin Hearne, MISTBORN, Spell Blind, Star Wars, Star Wars canon, The Book of the Black Earth, the first law, The Grim Company, The Iron Ship | 8 Comments

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.