REVIEW: BANISHED

Cover design by Jo Thomson using Shutterstock images.

BANISHED

THE BLACKHART LEGACY: BOOK ONE

BY

LIZ DE JAGER

ISBN: 978-4472-4765-4

Pages: 387

Publisher: Tor UK

Published: 27 February 2014

On the cover:

A Blackhart's Calling:

to banish evil and hold back the night

Kit is proud to be a Blackhart, now she's living with her unorthodox cousins and sharing their strange lives. Especially since their home-schooling includes spells, fighting enemy fae and using ancient weapons.

But it's not until she rescues a rather handsome fae prince, fighting for his life on the edge of Blackhart Manor, that her training really kicks in. With her family away on various missions, Kit must protect Prince Thorn, rely on new friends and use her own unfamiliar magic to stay ahead of Thorn's enemies.

As things go from bad to apocalyptic, fae battle fae in a war that threatens to spill into the human world. Then Kit pits herself against the Elder Gods themselves - it's that or lose everyone she's learnt to love.

   What do you get if you cross Urban Fantasy, Fairy Tale retelling, Lovecraftian Elder Gods, and add a bit of romance? Well, if you are Liz de Jager you'd have the mix necessary to write a great book.

   After a very nice introduction to our main character, Kit Blackheart, we quickly learn about how special she is. This may give you a moments pause, it did for me, there are a lot of characters that have something special about them or who outright are the chosen one in modern Urban Fantasy/Portal Fantasy. (Harry Potter arguably belongs to that "slash"-genre.) Actually, that is an unnecessary worry. It didn't take long before I completely forgot about it, and it doesn't come into play in that sense in the story.
   Kit is nowhere near a carbon copy chosen one, she comes across as a fully formed person that isn't necessarily the brightest, strongest, fastest, etc. in the room. And that made her all the better in my opinion. Even though she is not an average young woman, she is very relateable. She seems like the sort of person you will meet at some point in your life, someone who despite what makes her special is not too far removed from someone you might meet in your local bookshop.
   This is the type of Fantasy that demands good characters, and de Jager handles characters very well. Kit isn't the only one that feels very real, all of them comes vividly to life on the page. Even the villains of this story are really fleshed out, and although their motives are definitely otherworldly they make perfect sense in context. Something I feel is a necessity for immersion into Fantasy, and something de Jager delivers on.

   Characters aren't everything in Urban Fantasy/Portal Fantasy, and once you are satisfied they are up to scratch (, which they certainly are here), what you usually look at is the setting. The Fae world as a setting predates Fantasy as a genre, and it takes a deft touch to use it without it feeling stale. De Jager manages it with aplomb though. It's clear that she has done her research, but she has made her own spin on the source material, the myths and Fairy Tales, and made a world of her own that feels fresh to the reader.
   Infodumping can sometimes be a problem in Fantasy, de Jager manages to avoid it by integrating it very well into the text. A lot of information is passed to the reader in conversations and other character interactions, but it always flows very well and never feels like showing off the structural supports of the story. Some extra bits are left for chapter introductions, and I really liked those. They give lots of interesting little snippets of information that feels like garnish on a good meal.

   So far I've spent a lot of time on the framework the story is built on, the characters and their world, time to move on to the story itself. It's a really fast-paced one. Not that it always moves along at break-neck pace, because it doesn't. There are some passages where we get to know the characters, and discover what is really going on. Those passages are however far from boring. However de Jager has a tendency to drip feed things, and I did get impatient at times. Although I have to stress that it wasn't the bad impatience, but the good type where you just have to keep reading to see what will happen next.
   I said above that this was fast-paced, and there is a lot going on. At times there is so much happening that it leaves you almost breathless. Fortunately de Jager manages to steer the reader through events with a deft hand. Even when there is a multitude of things happening at once the author manages to keep it focused so that it never gets confusing. Tension levels are high throughout, and there are some cliff-hangers that does not make stopping reading a real option. The last quarter of the book is not a good place to take a break from reading, you'll probably need to know how it will end at that point - I did.

   This is an excellent Urban Fantasy novel, especially for those that like a helping of Fairy Tale in their Fantasy. Kit Blackhart is an excellent main character, and the supporting cast are also a joy to get to know. Add in great worldbuilding and a fast-paced story that refuses to let the reader go, and you have the ingredients for what is in my opinion a must-read for fans of both Contemporary Fantasy and Fairy Tale retellings.
   De Jager's debut leaves you with an appetite for more. I am certainly looking forward to the next volume in The Blackhart Legacy.

LINKS: Liz de Jager  PanMacmillan (Tor UK)  Tor UK Blog
  

REVIEW: SNAKE AGENT

SNAKE AGENT

DETECTIVE INSPECTOR CHEN BOOK 1

BY

LIZ WILLIAMS

ISBN: 978-1-48043-819-4

Pages: 410

Publisher: Open Road Media

First published: 15 September 2005

This edition published: 17 September 2013

On the cover:

 (From the publisher's website.)

When a soul goes missing, an occult detective ventures into Hell to retrieve it

When the fourteen-year-old daughter of Singapore Three’s most prominent industrialist dies of anorexia, her parents assume that Pearl’s suffering has come to an end. But somewhere along the way to the Celestial Shores, Pearl’s soul is waylaid, lured by an unknown force to the gates of Hell. To save their daughter from eternal banishment, they come to Detective Inspector Wei Chen, whose jurisdiction lies between this world and the next.

A round-faced cop who is as serious as his beat is strange, Chen has a demon for a wife and a comfort with the supernatural that most mortals cannot match. But finding Pearl Tang will take him further into the abyss than ever before—to a mystifying place where he will have to cooperate with a demonic detective if he wants to survive. It’s easy, Chen will find, to get into Hell. The hard part is getting out.

   In some ways this book sits in the crossroads between several SFF subgenres. There's plenty of Urban Fantasy here, but there's a slight twist in that the "Urban" here doesn't necessarily signify a city on earth. You  could argue that this is Portal Fantasy, as there is extensive travelling in another realm - Hell to be precise. But it isn't really the kind of Fantasy that uses the Bible for inspiration. Hell here means Hell in the sense it is described in Chinese mythology. So the supernatural beings are not the ones you'd expect if you grew up in a society influenced by Old Testament culture. This means that the setting itself is quite different from what you would expect when you hear that you are dealing with demons.

   Williams has done a great job of making the setting come alive. You get a very good feel for the atmosphere of the earthly city of Singapore Three, a bustling Asian metropolis of the not too distant future. However that is not what I would call the main location here, although we spend a lot of time in it. The main location is without a doubt Hell.
   As I said above, this is Chinese Hell, which is a quite different place from the Christian one. It's actually a very interesting place, maybe even worth a visit if you are the adventurous type. There's lots of details about what goes on in this version of Hell, and it really comes alive in the pages of the novel. It's described in such a way that you can see it before you, and it doesn't feel any less real than the Earthly city the rest of the story takes place in.

   Storywise this starts out with what is really become a cliche, a women walks into a detective's office. But we have already been warned by the prologue that this isn't an ordinary Crime novel, and it's a matter of moments before everything takes a completely different turn. Once the supernatural elements are firmly introduced the story really gets going, and when it does it rarely lets up on the fast pace. 
   There is a lot of things happening, and there's several story threads to encompass them all. Although this means that we do jump around a bit in location and point of views, it doesn't mean that it feels disorganised or confusing. Williams manages to keep things going in the direction they are meant to be, and she seems very disciplined in how and when she introduces new viewpoints. There's no feeling of changes cluttering up the forward motion of the narrative.

   There are some of the elements of the Crime novel in the story, we get a central mystery that draws us in. This mystery build very nicely, and it twist and turns around satisfyingly. There are surprises coming at several points, and some cliffhangers will make it a necessity to keep reading. Sometimes the structure of the pacing will remind you of an Action-Adventure Thriller, although the novel stays in the Fantasy bookshelf throughout.
   There's some situations here that are quite humorous, but that doesn't mean the book is Humorous Fantasy, it stays well away from that. This is played straight. Although it must be stressed that this is a fun novel, with plenty of happenings that will bring a smile to your face.

    I always feel that the characters are important in this type of novel,. They are the ones we see the world through, and as such how they function is important to the readers experience. D.I. Chen is a very good character in that respect. He has a lot of depth to him, including the flaws that are so important to adding that third character dimension. Chen is in fact a very welcome acquaintance. He feels like a very natural supernatural detective, an "everyman" supernatural detective if you want. You're very much left with the feeling that this is how such a person would be. To put it very shortly; he feels real.
   Chen isn't alone in the book. He has the support of some very interesting characters. Especially his wife Inara and Zhu Irzh. The latter could almost be said to be the main character, and in some parts of the novel he steals the show. He is however subservient to Chen when it comes to getting this story told, but his importance is near the D.I.'s.
   There are other characters here too that have lesser roles than these three. And all of them are well drawn. Williams is very good at creating characters you can relate to on some level. Even some of the evil denizens of Hell comes across as interesting to know. (But perhaps not spend time visiting.)

   All in all this is very well written Urban Fantasy with a solid world behind it. The setting alone will give this a lot of freshness for those that read this kind of story. It isn't just decorating that sets this story in an Asian locale, the setting is very much integral to the story being told. And the story is a very entertaining one, it's a story that actually could justify the description "fun romp".
   I would recommend this to anyone who likes an action filled and fun Urban Fantasy story, and especially those that want stories set in a city outside Europe or North America. This is highly entertaining, and I for one will try to get hold of the other novels in the series.

NOTE: An e-ARC was provided to me by the publisher/NetGalley.

LINKS: Liz Williams  Open Road Media

REVIEW: ETIQUETTE & ESPIONAGE

ETIQUETTE & ESPIONAGE

FINISHING SCHOOL BOOK THE FIRST

BY

GAIL CARRIGER

ISBN: 978-1-907411-58-8

Pages: 312

Publisher: Atom

Published: 5 February 2013

On the cover:

It's one thing to learn to curtsy properly.

It's quite another to learn to curtsy and

throw a knife at the same time. 

Welcome to finishing school.

Fourteen-year-old Sophronia is a great trial to her poor mother. Sophronia is more interested in dismantling clocks and climbing trees than proper manners, and the family can only hope that company never sees her atrocious curtsy. Mrs. Temminnick is desperate for her daughter to become a proper lady. So she enrolls Sophronia in Mademoiselle Geraldine's Finishing Academy for Young Ladies of Quality

But Sophronia soon realizes the school is not quite what her mother might have hoped. At Mademoiselle Geraldine's young ladies learn to finish . . . everything. Certainly, they learn the fine arts of dance, dress, and etiquette, but they also learn to deal out death, diversion, and espionage - in the politest possible ways, of course. Sophronia and her friends are in for a rousing first year's education...

   Etiquette & Espionage is set in the same world as the Parasol Protectorate series. However it is not necessary to read any of those books before you read this, it is set before them but is not a prequel. But if you have read the Parasol Protectorate series, you will welcome seeing characters from that series making an appearance.

   The novel contains a lot of the same combination of humour and action, in a Victorian Steampunk setting, that has made Miss Carriger a name in SFF circles. If you are unfamiliar with that, a short description would be Humorous Alternate History Victorian Steampunk Fantasy. (That is not really an established SFF subgenre by the way.)

   The tone of this novel is set early on. By the end of the first chapter we have gotten a good glimpse into the feel of the novel. We have also learned quite a bit about where Sophronia comes from and what kind of person she is. But that is just the beginning of the story, as the book progresses, we follow Sophronia on what is essentially a discovery of one of the hidden sides of the world she lives in.

   Miss Carriger has a knack for creating characters that it is pleasant to spend time with. I found Sophronia to be a very enjoyable character to follow. She's smart, tough, resourceful, and not afraid to go her own ways when she feels it is called for. That doesn't mean she's perfect, but the flaws she has make her all the more realistic and relatable.

   Sophronia is joined by quite a diverse group of supporting characters, most of which are more than interesting enough to follow in their own right. Although some of them exist to fulfil certain task in the narrative, they still come across as believable characters. And the whole cast of this novel put together makes for great company in your reading.

   From early one it's clear that the story contains both action and mystery. Mostly we follow Sophronia's unravelling of what is actually going on, something that is handled very well,. The revelations come naturally, and that Sophronia is ignorant of what the school really is allows us discover it along with her instead of in infodumps. This makes the narrative flow more organically.

   I have to make a brief mention of the setting, or more precisely, the school. I won't tell you what form it physically takes, because I thought that was a very nicely done revelation in the book. But I will tell you that I really liked the way the school functioned. It seems natural when you get it described in the way it is, despite of course being wholly fantastical in nature. Miss Carriger has really managed to create something that feels realistic while still being a wonderful Fantasy creation. In some ways the school itself becomes a character itself, and it has several layers to it.

   So to sum up, another brilliant novel by Miss Carriger. A seamless blend of Steampunk, humour, and Victorian boarding school drama -with a good dollop of action, mystery, and adventure. Definitely a recommended read for those who like their Steampunk to have a sense of humour, and anyone who likes a good rollicking story. It is a great starting point for anyone not familiar with Miss Carriger's work.

   Fans of Miss Carriger who have put off getting this because of the Young Adult label should head for the nearest bookstore at once (, or maybe wait until tomorrow if it's not open). This doesn't fall short in comparison to the Parasol Protectorate books in terms of depth (, although to be fair...there's a lack of werewolf sexing in it.)

   After reading this book, I must say that the knowledge that there's three more books to come in this series is very welcome, this is the beginning of what looks to be another greatly enjoyable series from Miss Carriger.

REVIEWS: The Parasol Protectorate books

LINKS: Gail Carriger  Atom

REVIEW: GOD SAVE THE QUEEN

Cover image: Steward Noack/Don Sipley

Cover design: Lauren Panepinto

GOD SAVE THE QUEEN

BOOK ONE OF THE IMMORTAL EMPIRE B

BY

KATE LOCKE

ISBN: 978-0-356-50143-7

Pages: 342 +extras

Publisher: Orbit

Published: 5 July 2012

On the cover:

LONDON PRESENT DAY – AND QUEEN VICTORIA STILL RULES WITH AN IMMORTAL FIST.

She’s the undead matriarch of a Britain where the Aristocracy is made up of werewolves and vampires, where goblins live underground and mothers know better than to let their children out after dark. A world where technology lives side by side with magic, where being nobility means being infected with the Plague (side-effects include undeath) and Hysteria is the popular affliction of the day.

Xandra Vardan is a member of the elite Royal Guard, and it’s her duty to protect the Aristocracy. But things get complicated when her sister goes missing. Xandra will not only realise she’s the prize in a dangerous power struggle – but she’ll also uncover a conspiracy that threatens to topple the empire itself.

   This novel stretches the usual Steampunk setting into the present day. But it is not the present day as we know it, but an Alternate History present day that is the home to the denizens we are with familiar seeing in Victorian times.
   The setting itself is pretty much what you would expect from a Steampunk novel that has the werewolves and vampires from modern Urban Fantasy, but that doesn't mean that this is a formulaic novel. There are lots of great ideas here, and Locke manages to take the elements that make up the novel and make a very entertaining story out of them.

   Locke puts a very nice twist on the origin of werewolves and vampires that I found very interesting. In fact he whole worldbuilding is very nicely done, there's much history too it, and it has many very interesting elements. There's actually quite a bit to take in here, and that is something I really appreciated. It shows that Locke can create a vivid world, and has the skill to make it come alive on the page.

   The characters are also done in a realistic fashion. Xandra comes especially alive, and we get a very good insight into her. That events take her to places that are unfamiliar and uncomfortable to her adds to both her depth and her strength. She's a strong female, who is both special, and for what she is, also feels realistic. Xandra is definitely a character who is worth spending some time with.
   Supporting Xandra are quite a few diverse characters, along with some historic persons who add to the realistic feel of the novel. All of these are well realised, and are interesting in their own right. They never feel like they exist just to be "scenery" for the main character.

   On to the story. Locke gives us a story that has action and mystery from the start. Central to it is a conspiracy that Xandra is thrown into. Along the way there are lots of twist and turns, the pace is fast and there is plenty of tension.
   Locke is very good at getting the balance been a fast pace and the building of tension. There is a sense of never quite being in the know that runs through the whole novel, and as we learn more we get dragged into the events. There's a real sense of the story developing before our eyes, and being taken along for the ride. And it is a thoroughly entertaining journey to go on.

    This is a very good example of the Steampunk/Urban Fantasy crossover genre done right. The setting is well developed enough to satisfy fans of Alternate History, and the werewolf/vampire elements will be great for fans of that type of Urban Fantasy.
   Locke has created a great world, and some great characters well worth spending time with. And I look forward to future installments in this series.

LINKS: Kate Locke  Orbit

REVIEW: BLACKWOOD

Cover art: Steven Wood

BLACKWOOD

BY

GWENDA BOND

ISBN: 978-1-90884-406-4

Pages: 352

Published by: Strange Chemistry

Published: US/CAN/e-book 4 September 2012, UK 6 September 2012

On the cover:

On Roanoke Island, the legend of the 114 people who mysteriously vanished from the Lost Colony hundreds of years ago is just an outdoor drama for the tourists, a story people tell. But when the island faces the sudden disappearance of 114 people now, an unlikely pair of 17-year-olds may be the only hope of bringing them back.Miranda, a misfit girl from the island’s most infamous family, and Phillips, an exiled teen criminal who hears the voices of the dead, must dodge everyone from federal agents to long-dead alchemists as they work to uncover the secrets of the new Lost Colony. The one thing they can’t dodge is each other.

   I'm a big fan of history, so I was immediately drawn in by the historical connection this novel has. The Lost Colony at Roanoke Island will be familiar to anyone who's ever had an interest in the "mysterious disappearances sub genre" of history, and Bond really does use it to great effect in her novel. I was especially pleased with the appearance of one historical figure who is connected to magic. It seems so logical when you read it, and it brings the supernatural elements from history to the present in a completely natural way.

   The novel doesn't take long to show us the present day mystery that is the main focus of the story, and the novel is "up and running" before the reader has time to get settled in. Bond is great at setting a fast pace, the story moves along so quick that the slower passages feel like a welcome opportunity for the reader to take a deep breath. The fast pace of the novel doesn't mean that it feels rushed, the pace of events flows naturally from the page.

   The fast pace of the novel is not caused by the action, although there is enough of that to satisfy, instead the story is driven by mystery. Bond presents the reader with events that deepens the mystery and suspense throughout the novel. There are a lot of twists and turns to what is happening and although one element is not a surprising revelation that doesn't mean it is predictable. It is very hard to see what is coming, and the answers to mystery we do get doesn't take away from that. Bond manages to keep up the level of suspense all the way to the end, and when all is finally resolved it is a satisfying ending.

   A novel isn't only driven by its story, it has to have characters that you care about in it. Bond has created some really great ones here. The main characters, Miranda Blackwood and Phillips Rawling, come very well to life. Miranda is the protagonist of the novel, she is very well drawn and manages to feel both familiar and original. That there's something special about Miranda and Phillips will not come as a surprise, but the way Bond presents them, it doesn't feel out of place but just as a natural part of who they are.

   The supporting characters are also very well done, and they come with their own stories. We may not get to see it, but they are so alive on the page that you just know it is there. Even Miranda's father, who frankly gives a cliched first impression is shown to be much more than that later in the novel.

   To sum up, this is really a great novel. It has a great supernatural suspense story at it's center, and the pacing of a good action-thriller. The Urban, or in this case rather Rural, Fantasy elements are suitably fantastic while still managing to be realistic. We get great characters whose story is a joy to follow, and who I wouldn't mind seeing again.

   Bond has written a Young Adult novel that shows the strengths of YA, and how good YA can be when done right. Despite not being anywhere near the YA age group I found this a great read, and I can recommend it to anyone who likes Urban/Contemporary Fantasy. 

   This is a great debut novel by Gwenda Bond, and it is a novel that deserves a place on the shelves of any Fantasy fan. And for those that are partial to Young Adult, this is a must buy.

NOTE: An ARC of this book was provided to me by the publisher.

LINKS: Gwenda Bond  Strange Chemistry

REVIEW: JACK OF KINROWAN

Book design: Victoria Kuskowski

JACK OF KINROWAN

BY

CHARLES DE LINT

ISBN: 0-312-86959-2

Pages: 412

Publisher: Orb

First Published: Jack the Giant Killer - 1 November 1987, Drink down the Moon - 1 June 1990

This edition published: 2 July 1999

On the cover:

Jack, the Giant Killer

 
A faceless gang of bikers on Wild Hunt through the streets of present-day Ottawa hurtles young Jacky Rowan across the threshold into the perilous land of Faerie. There, to her dismay, she is hailed as the Jack of Kinrowan, a once-and-future trickster hero whose lot is to save the Elven Courts from unimaginable evil.

Drink Down the Moon

Once the realm of Faerie drew its power from the Moon herself. But now a ghastly creature has stolen that power and enslaved the Fair Folk--and Jacky Rowan herself. Only Johnny Faw, a handsome fiddler unaware of his magical gifts, has the power to set them free.

   This is an edition collecting two novels, I'll review each of them underneath.

JACK THE GIANT KILLER

   This story is written very much in the tradition of Fairy Tales, and it bases its world on the Faerie worlds of Celtic legends.

   The hidden world, one that co-exists with our own, is in this case located in Ottawa, Canada. Maybe not the first, or tenth for that matter, location for a Contemporary Fantasy you'll think of. But the real world setting is not really relevant to this story. It could have been any urban area that is over a certain size. (As could most of the London/New York/Chicago/etc set Urban Fantasy novels with the same premise.)

   Here the hidden world is the one of Faerie (, not to be confused with faeries) , a very good setting for a Fantasy tale. De Lint doesn't actually do that much worldbuilding as such, we only get glimpses into the world of Faerie. But I didn't feel that this detracted from the novel, an Epic Fantasy style description, with or without a map, would have served no purpose here. And I think it would only have detracted from the story.

   The story kicks off without any build-up, we are thrown into events just as the main character Jacky Rowan is. We make the journey along with her, and it is a great journey.

   There is plenty of action and suspense along the way, and there's enough suspense to make this a very compelling read. When the story ends we get a resolution that fits in very nicely with previous events, and it feels like this is the destination we were heading for all the time.

   The characters are also very well done. Especially Jacky and her friend, Kate Hazel. Both are fully realised and realistic young women, and their actions and development throughout the story feel very much natural.

DRINK DOWN THE MOON

   This story continues and expands on the tale of Jacky Rowan. But it also introduces us to new characters, most importantly Johnny Faw and Jenni Pook. 

   The story here is split into to strands, Johnny Faw's is arguably the main one, but Jacky Rowan's is equally important. De Lint makes these two parallel stories compliment each other to great effect. They both add layers to the overall story, and they drive each other along for the reader, making this a very fast paced narrative at times.

   Adding several new characters could have made the story a bit cluttered, but de Lint completely avoids making it feel as if there is too much going on. The link between the two storylines is established early on.

   The addition of new players in the Farie world of Ottawa also makes for a seamless way of expending our knowledge of how it works. We get to see parts of the Faerie world that are completely new to us, and this makes for some very interesting revelations.

   Both Johnny and Jenni are interesting to get to know, but it is Johnny who gives us a better understanding of how alien the hidden world is to our own in the early stages of the story. This is very well done by de Lint, and adds an extra layer of believability to the Fairy Tale based narrative.

   The story is pretty much packed with action and suspense when it gets going. There are some very tense passages here. And that there is a relatively large number of characters adds an extra layer of suspense for the reader, as it is impossible to know who will play the central role in the resolution of the story.

OVERALL IMPRESSION

   There is no doubt that de Lint is a great writer, and I am pretty annoyed with myself for not reading any of his books before now despite hearing good things about him since the '90s.

   I found de Lint's writing style to be very compelling. He doesn't overwrite, but manages to tell what is needed in relatively few pages. He's also very good at creating tension, and there is a pace to his stories that are at times break-neck. De Lint has found his way into my must-buy author list with these two stories.

   This is a great Urban Fantasy book, and it shows the roots of that genre off to great effect. Anyone who has any interest in where Urban Fantasy came from should without a doubt get hold of it at the earliest opportunity.

   It is also a great Fairy Tale, based around Celtic myth and legends. And I think it will be a great read for anyone interested in that storytelling tradition.

   Basically this is a book that should be in any fan of Fantasy's collection.

LINKS: Charles de Lint  Orb

REVIEW: CHANGES

Cover illustration: Chris McGrath

Cover design: Peter Cotton

CHANGES

THE DRESDEN FILES BOOK 12

BY

JIM BUTCHER

ISBN: 978-1-84149-714-3

Pages: 540

Publisher: Orbit

Originally published: 8 April 2010

This edition published: 3 March 2011

On the cover:

Meet Harry Dresden, Chicago's first (and only) Wizard P.I. Turns out the ‘everyday’ world is full of strange and magical things - and most of them don't play well with humans. That's where Harry comes in.


But even a career of narrow escapes and supernatural shenanigans hasn’t prepared Harry for this. A vampire with a grudge has kidnapped his daughter - a daughter he never knew he had. Furthermore, this vampire plans to use her blood in a violent ritual sacrifice - designed to kill Harry, his ex-partner Susan and their child.


As allies are perilously thin on the ground, Harry must find a new source of strength. In the past, there had always been a line he wouldn’t cross, and he’s never given in to the full fury of his own untapped dark powers. But then, only his own life was at stake.

MAGIC - IT CAN GET A GUY KILLED

   Before we start I'll just have to admit this is the first Dresden Files book I've read. I don't usually start in the middle of a series, and this is one of the few times I've done that. The reason I did it this time was that I won this book from Stefan Fergus over at Civilian Reader. (Thank you, Stefan!)

   So when you read this review, keep in mind that I have not read any other novel in The Dresden Files series.

   Reading this book was a very strange experience. It's book twelve in a series, but I didn't really feel I missed out on anything by jumping in that late. At first I liked how previous events were explained, so I got a good idea of what has happened before, but as the novel progressed I started to find the constant detailing of past events rather unnecessary and quite frankly boring. I can't imaging how tedious I would have found it had I read the previous books. But I imagine I'd be pretty pissed off at all the repetition.

   I'd go so far as to say that this reads like a first book in a series that starts in the middle of the main character's story. I was baffled by it to be frank, and it made reading the book a tedious task at times.

   This sort of infodumping is prevalent throughout the book. Butcher seems to have made it his mission to hammer into the reader who everyone is, and their place in the magical society that is the setting for the novel.

   There were a couple of instances where for no logical reason little or no information was given. Considering how the rest of the book was structured I found this very jarring.  And there are a couple of times were the events happening in the books are glossed over too, which felt even stranger. It was like the infodumping took precedence over the story.

   The story itself is not very original. There is an abundance of Fantasy cliches, and some of the characters introduced seem to be brought in from history/mythology for no good reason other than that it was easier than thinking up something original.

   Butcher is however pretty good at writing action. When events are moving along at a fast pace, the narrative flows much better. But even here the flow is hampered by Butcher having Harry Dresden's thought function as narration. This goes on the whole book, but it is especially noticeable in the action scenes.
   The plot is also strangely bland. The characters seems to have an incredible talent for being dense, right up until the moment when they are about to be killed by it. Then they inexplicable act like people in total control of themselves and exhibit great amounts of quick thinking.

   When the book ends you also feel a bit cheated as to how easy it was. And it isn't hard to see how events could have been totally different if the characters were allowed to display the level of competence they exhibit in the final battle earlier in the book.

   

   I think Harry Dresden is at surface level a very interesting character, but I really wish there was some more depth to him. He feels a bit like a cardboard cut-out of a wizard, one who functions more like a Deus ex machina than a real protagonist.

   The rest of the characters are mostly the same way. They don't really seem to have any personality and agenda outside of what they need to be to make the plot hang together. (Which it barely does.)

   When I started this book I was hoping I'd like it, I enjoy reading long series and getting to know the characters really well. Unfortunately what this book did more than anything else was annoy me, and I really can't understand how this series has become so popular based on what I read in this novel.

   The story was popcorn-fiction, there was no real depth to it. It may have worked as part of an ongoing TV-series, but as a novel it fails to engage. There's some good ideas in there, but they never get a chance to be more than that. The novel felt almost unfinished, like there was details to be added to flesh out the story.

   This is not really a novel I can recommend. I can however not speak for the rest of the series, only what I have read, but if this is at all representative I'd steer clear. There are so many Urban Fantasy books out there that are so much better than this, and I urge you to seek them out rather than read this.

   I must say though, that I can see how this would work very well as light entertainment for some people. And if you are just after reading something that doesn't require you to engage much, this could work for you. 

LINKS: Jim Butcher  Orbit

SFF WRITTEN BY WOMEN

Cover illustration by Ilon Wikland

(Norwegian edition published by Cappelen Damm)

SFF WRITTEN BY WOMEN

   There's an ongoing debate online about SFF written by female authors, and if there is too little visibility of it, I won't go into that debate here. Instead I'll tell you a bit about my experience with reading SFF by women. And give you some suggestions on some great female authors I have read, and where you can find suggestions from others online.

WHERE I STARTED

   The image at the top of this article is the Norwegian cover for Ronja Røverdatter [Swedish: Ronja Rövardotter, English: Ronia, the Robber's Daughter] by Astrid Lindgren. This was the first book I was actually looking forward to being published, and I remember waiting for the Norwegian edition to come out. This was back in 1981, and there was quite a buzz about it among my friends at the time. 

   At the time we had seen lots of movies based on Lindgren's books. The Pippi Longstocking movies and Emil in Lönneberga movies were hugely popular with the kids back then(, and they still are, Emil was shown on Norwegian television not long ago). And The Brothers Lionheart movie, that was made in 1977 was re-released in 1981 (,according to wikipedia, I had probably seen it by then but can't really remember - it was a long time ago).

   Pippi Longstocking is of course very well known internationally. But since I write about SFF here, I will focus on her two Fantasy books for children: Ronia, the Robber's Daughter and The Brothers Lionheart. 

   Ronia, the Robber's Daughter is about a girl who grow up with a father who is a robber in a castle ruin in the forest. She befriends Birk, who is the son of a rival robber, and much of the book concerns their adventures together. But Ronia is the main character, and everything is focused on her. There are many fantastical creatures in the book. And it is a great children's Fantasy novel.

   The Brothers Lionheart is set in a pretty standard Fantasy setting. And it concerns the titular brothers as they join the resistance against the evil dragon Katla who rules the land. This is also a great Fantasy novel, and is probably the first Epic Fantasy I read.

   Both of these books were filmed, The Brothers Lionheart in 1977 and Ronia, the Robber's Daughter in 1985. There's also a longer TV version of the former, although the internet seems to not know about this.

   Both of these books are available in English, and I had no trouble finding the English editions for sale online. They have also been translated to many other languages.

   I would urge people to get these books for their children, I'm sure they are going to love them as much as I did at that age.

   I would like to point out here, that reading these books at an early age made me see it as natural that women wrote SFF. I have never thought of it as strange, and if you get these books into the hand of a seven year old boy maybe he will grow up with the same mindset. And in any case they are a great start for any kid on a life of reading SFF.

SOME OF MY FAVOURITE SFF BY WOMEN

   I noticed that I had read a lot of great SFF by women lately, and when it came to reviewing it just happened that three of the four books I planned to review this week were by women. So that was a good opportunity, I booted out the male author, and there will be two more SFF books by women reviewed here this week. Making this an all women week on the blog.

   I haven't read nearly as much SFF by women as I should, but I am in the process of rectifying that. Here are some suggestions on SFF by women that I have read, and I think you should read too.

THE PARASOL PROTECTORATE SERIES BY GAIL CARRIGER

These are fun, Steampunk/Urban Fantasy/Alternate History books. I have read and reviewed all of them. The review for the latest one, Timeless can be found here and at the bottom of that review you'll find links to my reviews of all the other books in the series.

 THE INHERITANCE TRILOGY BY N. K. JEMISIN

These Fantasy books are set in a world were the gods live among the humans. Jemisin has written a great saga about gods that are reminiscent of the old Norse and Mediterranean gods in their human-like ways, but there are clear influences from the pantheons of other cultures.

I have read all three books, and I really loved them. Reviews will be coming up on the blog in the not to distant future.

THE VALDEMAR BOOKS BY MERCEDES LACKEY

The Valdemar books are set in what is a pretty standard Epic Fantasy setting. I have only read the first trilogy, The Heralds of Valdemar, and I really enjoyed them. These books are a good antidote to the "gritty" Fantasy that seems to be everywhere at the moment, and despite being lighter in tone they are absolutely worth reading for anyone who loves Fantasy.

I have reviewed Arrows of the Queen here, and I will publish reviews of the other two books in that trilogy this week and next week.

THE CLOCKWORK CENTURY BY CHERIE PRIEST

Priest's books are Steampunk/Alternate History that is set in the USA. The Alternate History setting is very well realised, and there are lots of Steampunk machines present in the books.

I have reviewed the first book, Boneshaker, here. And will review the two other books tomorrow, and next week.

THE DEVERRY BOOKS BY KATHERINE KERR

These are set in a traditional Fantasy setting, but Kerr have given them a very good twist that makes them stand out from the crowd.

I read the first Deverry books some years ago in Norwegian translation, and I really liked them. I plan to re-read them in English sometime in the future, and when I do I will review them on the blog.

THE REALM OF THE ELDERLINGS BY ROBIN HOBB

Hobb has written three trilogies in this setting, The Farseer Trilogy, The Liveship Traders Trilogy, and The Tawny Man Trilogy. These are followed by the ongoing The Rain Wild Chronicles, that is now up to its third book.

These are among my favourite Epic Fantasy books, and if you haven't read them before I strongly urge you to do so. Start at the beginning with Assassin's Apprentice.

I have reviewed the three books that has so far been published in The Rain Wild Chronicles, you can find the latest, City of Dragons, here. And there is a link two my reviews of the first two books at the bottom of that review. I'll review the earlier trilogies on the blog when I re-read them later this year.

A COMIC SERIES YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED

Panel from Elfquest Fire and Flight, art by Wendy Pini

   Elfquest is an Epic Fantasy series written by Wendy and Richard Pini and drawn by Wendy Pini, the first issue was published in 1978. I have loved this series since I first read it in the mid eighties, and if you love Fantasy and/or comics it is one series you really ahould read.

   Unfortunately it is not available in print at the moment, but you can read it for free online here, on the official site. Start with the first issue of the Original Quest, and go on from there.

FINDING SFF BY WOMEN ONLINE

   There are many hundreds, if not thousands, of blogs online that review Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, and/or Young Adult SFF written by women. But if you are looking for women authors in other SFF subgenres it may be a bit more difficult to find a place that gives you suggestions.

   I'm not really good at finding these blogs myself, but I will give a few suggestions underneath.

A FANTASTICAL LIBRARIAN

Mieneke van der Salm regularly reviews Fantasy by female authors. You can find many of them in her review index, and her two series tabs has lots of Fantasy by women.

FLOOR TO CEILING BOOKS

This blog has not been updated since Amanda Rutter started as editor of Angry Robot Books' Young Adult imprint Strange Chemistry. But if you go to the Book Review Archive there you'll find lots of SFF books written by women, including the Katherine Kerr books I mentioned above.

SF MISTRESSWORKS

Run by Ian Sales, this blog is set up to provide a resource for reviews of Science Fiction books by women. You can also submit any reviews you have made of Science Fiction written by women for publication here.

   There are lots of female SFF writers online, I know because I follow many of them on Twitter. And you should be able to find them easily if you want to, there are some on my Twitter Author list. 

   I'm also sure there are lots of blogs reviewing SFF written by women. I have certainly forgotten some (, and I apologize for that), and there must be many that I am not familiar with. But I didn't want to spend a week or so collecting links, so see below for a way to give them some attention.

LINK TO YOUR REVIEWS OF SFF BY WOMEN

   If you are a blogger that regularly reviews SFF by women outside the UF/PR/YA genres, please leave a link to your blog in the comment, and if you have reviewed just a few of the books I am talking about please leave a link to the reviews. If you are not a blogger, but know of anyone who fits the description given above, feel free to leave a link too.

REVIEW: TIMELESS

 Cover photo: Pixie Vision Productions

Cover design: Lauren Panepinto

Cover model: Donna Ricci

TIMELESS

PARASOL PROTECTORATE:

BOOK THE FIFTH

BY

GAIL CARRIGER

ISBN: 978-0-316-12718-9

Pages: 386

Publisher: Orbit

Published: 1 March 2012

SPOILER WARNING! If you haven't read the

four previous books, this will contain spoilers.

On the cover:

Alexia Tarabotti, Lady Maccon, has settled into domestic bliss. Of course, being Alexia, such bliss involves integrating werewolves into London High society, living in a vampire’s second best closet, and coping with a precocious toddler who is prone to turning supernatural willy-nilly.


Until, that is, she receives a summons from Alexandria that cannot be ignored. With husband, child and Tunstells in tow, Alexia boards a steamer to cross the Mediterranean. But Egypt may hold more mysteries than even the indomitable Lady Maccon can handle. What does the vampire Queen of the Alexandria Hive really want from her? Why is the God-Breaker Plague suddenly expanding? And how has Ivy Tunstell suddenly become the most popular actress in all the British Empire?

   This book begins two years after the last in the series, Heartless, ends. This may seem like a strange choice considering how much we are used to is going on in Alexia Tarabotti's life. But it means that her daughter, Prudence, is grown enough to become a larger part of the story than she would have otherwise.

   And Prudence is a wonderful character who adds a lot of humour to what is already a funny series of books. Discovering how the daughter of a soulless and a werewolf functions is very interesting, It also adds quite a bit to the supernatural lore of the world Miss Carriger has created.

   One of the strengths of the Parasol Protectorate series has been the world it is set in, and this time around is no different. We get to know even more about how werewolves and vampires function, and there are some very interesting revelations about how preternaturals work here.

   In this story we also get to leave Europe altogether and go to Egypt. And this trip shows us some interesting glimpses of how the Alternate History of this world is different from our own. But more importantly the setting is used to reveal several things that are important to the history of some of the characters. 

   Egypt is not the only setting, there is a parallel plot going on in London where some of the supporting characters from previous books get to show us more of who they are. Miss Carriger has managed to balance the two plot lines very well, both of the stories are very much part of the whole, and I would in no way call the one without Alexia a "B-plot".

   There is quite a bit of mystery to the plot this time around. Miss Carriger is very good at giving the reader enough to keep them reading while still maintaining the suspense. Some of the revelations we get in this novel are shining a light on things that have been brought up earlier in the series, and it is good to see that we get answers to what has been brought up before.

   Many of the characters we have encountered before also get to have their stories told here, and some of what happens to them here is very surprising. There are still stories to be told for many of them, and I suspect some of the events in this story will resonate into the planned follow-up series Parasol Protectorate Abroad. (And that's not really a very bold prediction when the first book is titled Prudence.)

   There's always reason to be a bit concerned when a series is coming to an end, sometimes they can end in unsatisfying ways. That is not the case here, Miss Carriger has managed to build the series up from where it started in Soulless, and it is finishing on a high note. And when I speak of finishes, I must say that the one in Timeless really blew me away. There was so much happening towards the end that it was nearly exhausting, in a good way.

   I don't think anyone who has followed this series from the beginning will be disappointed in this final volume. It is satisfying on many levels to end the journey here, it seems like this is the natural end of at least this chapter of the saga. (That a follow up series has been announced is a great bonus.)

   If you are reading this without having read any of the books in the series, I would strongly urge you to pick it up. You have missed out on a great series.

   I would like to thank Gail Carriger for giving me lots of fun, action, mystery, and engaging characters in an Alternate History I wouldn't mind living in. And I look forward to reading what she comes up with next.

Reviews: Soulless  Changeless  Blameless  Heartless 

Links: Gail Carriger  Orbit

REVIEW: DEPARTMENT 19

Cover illustartion: Bose Collins; logo images. Shutterstock

Cover design: Harper Collins Publishers

DEPARTMENT 19

BY

WILL HILL

 ISBN: 978-0-00-736356-8

Pages: 489

 Publisher: Harper Collins Children's Books

Published: 31 March 2011

On the cover:

DEPARTMENT 6 IS THE ARMY.

DEPARTMENT 13 IS MI5.

DEPARTMENT 19 IS THE REASON YOU'RE ALIVE.

When Jamie Carpenter's mother is kidnapped by strange creatures, he finds himself dragged into Department 19, the government's most secret agency.

Fortunately for Jamie, Department 19 can provide the tools he needs to find his mother, and to kill the vampires who want him dead. But unfortunately for everyone, something much older is stirring, something even Department 19 can't stand up against…

   I've always liked reading about covert government branches,  especially in non-fiction. So I must say that I was a bit skeptical going into this novel, (in fact if it hadn't been for a blogger friend of mine I probably wouldn't have gotten it,) too much knowledge of how these things function in real life can make it hard to suspend your disbelief at times.

   I did have some trouble with this in a part of this novel, there is a section that I felt was a bit poorly done in that regard. It certainly fits the story of the novel, but it did feel like realism was put aside for the convenience of getting the action going. And I think it could just as easily have been done in a realistic fashion without impacting anything else happening in the story.

   But as I said above I have read a lot about these things and I doubt many people will even notice it. And it didn't impact my overall enjoyment of the novel.

   It's a pretty gutsy move by Hill to use vampires in his book, and the way he integrates them into previously known fiction lore takes even more guts. (Nope, won't tell you which vampire mythos he's building on, it's a nice thing to discover for yourself.) The back story of both vampires and Department 19 are linked, and Hill presents much of this in retrospective chapters that are spread throughout much of the book.

   This technique doesn't always work in a novel, but here it works perfectly. What could have been irritating interruptions to the main story instead works as a welcome history lesson. The choices on when these retrospective chapters come is also very well done, mostly they serve as breathing space in a very action filled and fast-paced story. And they also adds most of the excellent world-building that makes this novel stand out from many of those that have a similar theme.

   As said in the previous paragraph, this is an action-filled story. There's a lot happening in the few days that the story takes place. At times it feels more like an action thriller than the Urban Fantasy it arguably is. And there is absolutely nothing wrong with this, and as already said the action is backed up by great world-building. 

   The main character, 16 year old Jamie Carpenter, is also an interesting character. At times he may seem to adult for his age, but only in a minor way. He never feels like someone twice his age that is "shoehorned" into being a teenager for the sake of being a Young Adult protagonist.

   Hill has also managed to create a cast of supporting characters that are interesting in their own right. They all feel real and not like part of the scenery of Jamie's story.

   All in all this is an excellent novel for anyone interested in vampires, covert military organisations, or just wants to have some action in their SFF stories, whatever their age is. It is also has a great male Young Adult protagonist, and should suit a teenage boy who wants to read something in a SFF setting perfectly.

   I am really looking forward to the next installment in Hill's Department 19 series, this is a great "light" read with dept to it.

Bonus: Check out the author's website for a free Department 19 story.

Links: Department 19 Site Will Hill Harper Collins Children's Books

REVIEW: HEARTLESS

Cover design: Lauren Panepinto

Cover photograph: Pixie Vision Productions

Cover model: Donna Ricci

HEARTLESS

THE PARASOL PROTECTORATE:

BOOK THE FOURTH 

BY

GAIL CARRIGER

 ISBN: 978-0-315-12719-6

Pages: 374

Publisher: Orbit

Publishing date: June 28 2011

SPOILER WARNING! If you haven't read the

three previous books, this will contain spoilers.

On the cover:

Lady Alexia Maccon, soulless, is at it again, only this time the trouble is not her fault. When a mad ghost threatens the queen, Alexia is on the case, following a trail that leads her deep into her husband's past. Top that off with a sister who has joined the suffragette movement (shocking!), Madame Lefoux's latest mechanical invention, and a plague of zombie porcupines and Alexia barely has time to remember she happens to be eight months pregnant.

Will Alexia manage to determine who is trying to kill Queen Victoria before it's too late? Is it the vampires again or is there a traitor lurking about in wolf's clothing? And what exactly has taken up residence in Lord Akeldama's second best closet?

   In this forth installment of The Parasol Protectorate series we get a slightly different story than in the previous books. Nothing radically different, but there is a bit more sleuthing on Alexia's part than in the other books. Which is only natural when you consider her condition. But of course we are talking about Alexia Tarabotti here, so she doesn't exactly sit still knitting while she waits for the baby to come.

   The novel opens with a nice set-up and a good refresher of previous events and it isn't long before we get introduced to the central mystery of the book. I won't say to much about the mystery, but it is an interesting one. And Miss Carriger uses it to give us information of events happening in the past.
   This is one of the great strengths of the novel., there is an almost constant trickle of backstory here. It really helps flesh out the world Alexia inhabits, and gives it a history that makes it feel more real than it could otherwise have been. A credit to Miss Carriger's writing is that some of the revelations from the past took me completely by surprise.

   There is a certain domesticity to parts of this story. This is because of Alexia's pregnancy, but it also brings the series firmly back to the London setting it started with in book one. Alexia and Connall's new living quarters certainly add to the story, this could easily have become boring but Miss Carriger manages to make it both fun and interesting.

   As with the history of the world of Alexia I mentioned above, there is also quite a bit of lore being revealed in this book. We learn more about all three supernatural classes, vampires, werewolves and ghosts. Again this strengthened the story for me, I like it that what is in essence a fantasy world has a history that makes it come alive.
   I must add that Miss Carriger manages to give us all the backstory and lore without it feeling infodumpy [If that wasn't a word before, it is now.] , it all flows naturally in the narrative and I don't think anyone will feel it is distracting or takes you out of the story.

   The story is fast paced throughout, even when there is not really any physical action Miss Carriger manages to makes the pages fly by with her excellent writing style. I have already mentioned the central mystery, it has some surprising revelations for the reader, at least it caught me off guard several times.
   There are also some action scenes in this book that would probably make Michael Bay wet his pants if he got hold of them. The action is by no means over the top, but it is really nice to see Miss Carriger take it to the level it is on here.

   As with the previous books in the series, I really enjoyed this one. Miss Carriger writes very good action-adventure, and her lighter style of storytelling is a nice break from all the "gloom and doom" we find in fantasy these days.
   If you like steampunk or urban fantasy, The Parasol Protectorate series is really a must-read; it is also a good starting point if you are curious as to what these genres is about. And if you have followed the series so far, this installment will certainly not be a disappointment. Miss Carriger has added another great installment in the saga of Alexia Tarabotti.

Reviews: Soulless  Changeless  Blameless

Links: Gail Carriger  Orbit

REVIEW: THE INHERITANCE

Cover Art: Jackie Morris

THE INHERITANCE

BY

ROBIN HOBB

AND

MEGAN LINDHOLM

ISBN: 978-0-00-727377-5

Pages: 400

Publisher: Harper Voyager

Published: 31 March 2011

On the cover:

In The Homecoming, Lady Carillion Carrock and a number of other Jamaillian nobles are sailing to the Cursed Shores. Their journey is not by choice: for plotting against the Satrap, their wealth has been confiscated and they have been exiled. Until now, Carillion has done nothing but lead a life of privilege. She believes they are bound for wondrous cities, cities where ancient kings and queens dusted their skin with gold and wore jewels above their eyes. But when she is marooned by the ship’s unscrupulous captain, she will soon discover the grim reality of what survival in the Rain Wilds entails.

The Silver Lady is a would-be writer, ekeing out a dull existence by working in a Sears store. The one day a man comes in: fortyish, pleasant-looking. Nothing out of the ordinary. Except he says his name is Merlin, and he’s about to change her life.

Rosemary got involved with the wrong man. Pell is lazy, good for nothing, a bully. Her best friend Hilia knew it and so did her tom cat, Marmalade. But love is blind: Rosemary had Pell’s baby, renovated the cottage his grandfather left in his will, turned its land to good use; and then he left her for another woman. Now he’s back, and something must be done…

   This book is split into two parts, at least in the table of contents, one for each author. And as the author(s) herself writes in the preface (, and after reading the book I agree with,) they are two distinctly different authors even though they are only one person. But it is kind of an interesting question if this is an anthology, because it has stories by two different authors, or a collection, since it is written by one person.
   As usual I will review each story by itself with a short summary at the end.

LINDHOLM

A TOUCH OF LAVENDER

   It's very hard to say anything about this story without spoiling it, and I want any other reader to come to it fresh, like I did. So this will be rather short on details.
   The setting is our planet, but with the difference that humans co-exist with alien exiles, this is also a large part of the premise of the story. Lindholm has really nailed the setting, it feels very believable, and also original.
   As for the story, I'm not exactly revealing anything when I say that I really liked it. It is well worth reading, even if you don't consider yourself a Science Fiction fan.

   This is actually the first story I have ever read by Lindholm, (I write these reviews after each story, so I have only read this one from the book as I write this,) and I find myself wondering what took me so long. It's a great way to start a collection, and has me excited for the rest of the book.

SILVER LADY AND THE FORTYISH MAN

   A love story that (may) have some magic thrown into the mix. For me this story didn't really stand out in any way. It is by no means bad, in fact it does what it does very well, but it was just not for me. But although I didn't connect with it, I am sure there are many others who will like it a lot.

CUT

   Set in the future, this story is about the alterations we do to our bodies and the bodies of our children. It walks a very fine line between being preachy or not, and Lindholm resists the temptation to make anything too black and white.
   I think this would have worked better for me as a longer story. The central idea is good, and the society in which it is set deserves a closer(/longer) look in my opinion.

THE FIFTH SQUASHED CAT

   This is one of those stories that I can't really decide if I like or not. It has a central theme that is about magic, and it is well written. But yet I always come out of reading this type of story a bit unfulfilled and wondering if there is really any point to it at all. It is not something I connected with. I am sure others will feel satisfied by the theme and the philosophy, and connect with it more than I did. But I come away with feeling that I want there to be more story in a story.
   That being said, the theme here is not dissimilar to Silver Lady and the Fortyish Man, and I would probably have liked it better if I had read this on its own and not so close after that story.

STRAYS

   A story of social realism with a magical twist, and cats as a central part of it. 

   I found this a very thoughtful story. Some of its themes are very important ones, and Lindholm handles them with the respect they deserve. It is a very good story. And if you love cats it is a must.

FINIS

   This is a vampire story. But it is not the type of story that you would normally associate with vampires. The originality of it makes it stand out from the pack (,or is that swarm or maybe brood?) That being said, the ending is not really surprising, you can see it coming very early in the story. But that does not really matter in this case. The journey to the ending is both enjoying and very interesting, and a well written one.

DRUM MACHINE

   The last story from Lindholm is a Science Fiction story that is set in a society that have some differences to the one we live in that makes for an unpleasantly possible future scenario.

   I liked this story a lot. Both the characters and the story are engaging, and Lindholm manages to tell a lot about its setting in a few pages. 

HOBB

HOMECOMING

   This story was first published in the anthology Legends II, edited by Robert Silverberg, in 2004. In order of publication it follows The Liveship Traders trilogy, and although in the internal chronology of Hobb's world it tells of the beginning of the Rain Wilds settlement, I'd urge any reader to first read The Liveship Traders trilogy before this story. If you start with this, some of the events in that trilogy will be spoiled for you.

   Since I love The Liveship Traders trilogy I found this tale absolutely wonderful, and I think this could very well be Hobb's best work. The narrative is framed as a diary, and this works very well. The woman writing it comes of as a sympatetic and well rounded character, and her voice is very well suited to the story.

   Despite knowing, or at least strongly suspecting, where the story is going to end up, Hobb manages to make it suspenseful. There is a doubt throughout as to the faith of the expedition this story tells of that makes it a real page-turner. 

   This is a story every fan of Hobb should read, and especially thosethat enjoyed The Liveship Traders trilogy. And I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to anyone who likes Fantasy, it is a great Novella.

THE INHERITANCE

   Set in the world of The Liveship Traders trilogy, this is an excellent little story of a woman coming into her Bingtown inheritance. As with Homecoming it is best read after The Liveship Traders trilogy. But it will also serve as a great introduction to Hobb for those who are funfamiliar with her work, as it stands on its own as a story.

CAT'S MEAT

   This story is set in Buck in the Six Duchies. And those who have read Hobb's two trilogies about FitzChivalry will recognise both names and elements from those. But this is set on the opposite ened of the social scale from the royalty of those two trilogies.

   The story is a very powerful one, and Hobb really manages to make the reader feel for the characters in this story. If you don't feel sympathy for the characters here you must have a heart of stone. It really is a story that deserves to be wider read than the obvious appeal it will have to the fans of Hobb's Six Duchies stories.

SUMMARY

   This is a great introduction to the two authors. I'm sure many, like me, who are fans of Hobb have not read Lindholm, and this is a good place to start. I may not have connected with all the stories, and especially the Lindholm part took some being used to after reading a lot of Hobb's work previously. But I really enjoyed Lindholm's style too, and have already purchased a couple of her books on the strength of this collection/anthology.

   For Hobb fans it is an essential purchase. The novella Homecoming in itself justified the purchase to me, and there is a lot of other great stories here.

REVIEWS: Dragon Keeper  Dragon Haven

LINKS: Robin Hobb   Harper Voyager  Voyager Blog