The Trials of Empire (Empire of the Wolf #3) by Richard Swan
15 February 2024
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Book Reviews, Empire of the Wolf #3, Fantasy, Richard swan, The Trials of Empire
My Five Word TL:DR Review : I’m Missing This Series Already
Wow. Just wow.
Okay, the Empire of the Wolf has been a truly amazing series. In fact I hardly know where to begin with this final review.
I was in fact scared to pick up this final instalment, I always feel a little worried when I’m on the last book of a series, especially one that has been so very good. Will it continue to impress – in fact sometimes I think that’s why I have so many incomplete series in my past – fear that things would go pear shaped at the very end and ruin my happy glow. Basically, right now, I’m procrastinating because I can’t get my thoughts into order.
I would mention that I’m going to dive straight into my review without too much description of plot, I hope to avoid spoilers but I can’t promise anything more and I would say if you’re reading this review without having read the first two books you should go back and start from the beginning. This is a series that has gone from strength to strength, the characters have grown – not always in ways you may like, some have fallen along the way and the plot has developed into this terrific melting pot of religious zealotry, horrific infernal beings that threaten the existence of humankind and one man’s stand for justice and peace – even if he’s becoming a little frayed around the edges.
TToE drops us back into the story where we left off. Lets just be brutally honest, the Empire is having a nightmare of a time, it’s basically teetering on the brink and faces almost certain destruction. Vonvalt, one of the few men with the strength and faith to make a difference is living in exile, outlawed by the Emperor but still not ready or prepared to accept defeat. In this final hour he is determined to rally together allies from the most unexpected quarters. at the end of the day (which coincidentally is nigh), when all humanity is faced with evil and chaos, well, the enemy of your enemy is your friend (for a short time at least). So, yes, Vonvolt looks to all quarters for aide. Of course he has some explaining and convincing to do because why should these old enemies help the Empire now?
This third in series does have a different feel to the previous two books. Previously there’s been a mystery of some description taking place that Vonvalt has been called to investigate and mete out justice. This time round, well, there’s no time for such niceties. There’s much racing across the country in search of allies. The tension is ratcheting up nicely, nerves are fraught and the main two characters are definitely not getting on well.
Which brings me to Helene. I love her as a narrator and in fact love the choice that the author made to have her as the storyteller. She surprised me a little in this edition. She’s always been quite a steadfast character but in this final edition she becomes a little too inflexible at times. She judges Vonvalt for his actions. Lets just say she’s always had him on a pedestal, a paragon of virtue and now he is sullied by his actions – in her eyes at least. Of course, he isn’t acting totally within the parameters that he would have previously. Vonvalt is a man of the world, he’s older and more experienced than Helene and he realises that sometimes you have to sacrifice some of your values for the greater good.
In this final edition not only the tension is ramped up – there is plenty of action. Vonvalt manages to rally some of the strangest allies to the cause and for a brief moment you begin to feel almost hopeful. Then things get absolutely crazy and literally go to hell – with or without a handcart. The finale, well, what can I say. There was so much going on, so much death and destruction on both the mortal and spiritual plane – which actually leads me into another trail of thought. Swann has given us such a lot to think about with this series. Ultimately, it feels like everything revolves around right and wrong, good or evil, but at the same time it shows us that nothing is ever quite that simple be it religion or justice.
And, I think I should end there. I don’t want to inadvertently give anything away although I also feel like I’ve said not nearly enough – and such it is when reviewing a book that has stolen your heart.
To conclude the Empire of the Wolf is an absolutely brilliant series. It took my breath away and completely surpassed any and all expectations that I had. The third was perhaps a little heavier on action and missing the mysteries that I had enjoyed previously but regardless was a perfect end to an absolutely fantastic fantasy trilogy. If you haven’t started this series, or maybe you’re sitting on the fence a little, I would encourage you to jump on board and give this a try. Frankly I’m hopeful of a return to this world.
I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.
My rating 4.5 of 5 stars
An Education in Malice by ST Gibson
14 February 2024
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: An Education in Malice, Book Review, Books, Horror, ST Gibson, Vampires
My Five Word TL:DR Review : I wanted to love it
I don’t know whether I just over egged the pudding for myself with An Education in Malice and raised it up onto such a high pedestal that it was perhaps never going to be able to achieve those lofty heights but this didn’t work as well for me as I’d anticipated. Dark Academia. Obsession. Secret desires and vampires – so much promise that felt to me a little lacking in direction.
The story is brought to us by two of the central characters, Laura and Carmilla. The setting is a prestigious all girls school and the real hook of the piece is a Professor, known as DeLafontaine, who most of the girls seem desperate to please. To gain a place on one of her selective courses is practically impossible, only a few achieve it and the rivalry and jealousy is intense.
Laura is a new student at Saint Perpetua’s College. She is a shy naive girl who feels a little out of place amongst all these other seemingly worldly wise students. In particular Carmilla. Laura has managed to achieve the unthinkable, a place on DeLafontaine’s poetry course – a year early no less – and Carmilla, always the favourite pupil has her nose put out of joint when this latest newbie arrives and somewhat steals the show. We then have a love/hate relationship between the two, spurred on by the teacher in an attempt to lead them to new heights of brilliance.
So, I will say Immediately that I loved the writing for this. Gibson easily creates this fantastic gothic setting in the mind’s eye and its incredibly atmospheric and I confess that I found the story very easy to get into due to the lush style.
To be honest, I’m finding it really difficult to pin down what didn’t work so well for me with this. I mean, I don’t really want to be overly negative because it’s not a bad book, just something kept it from knocking my socks off.
I actually think there was too much going on – possibly slight spoilers ahead. We have the love hate relationship between Laura and Carmilla – which suddenly clicked into something much more – and, yes,it felt rushed, like a light switch being flicked on. One minute they hated each other, then the next they didn’t. Then you have this sideline infatuation that Carmilla has for the professor – and, lets just say it as it is, the professor is being very unprofessional to say the least and definitely taking advantage of both students. Okay, DeLafontaine is a vampire. This element of the story felt kind of unnecessary really – particularly as it eventually involved a return love interest from the past and a number of grisly murders on campus – all of which seemed to remain very low key, not to mention all too easily resolved.
Looking at the above, the relationship with Laura and Carmilla. I think this was supposed to have a sensual/borderline erotic feel. I found it a bit lacking in chemistry and in one particular scene it lost all credulity with one character acting in a way that didn’t feel plausible.
Then the vampire aspects. DeLafontaine came across almost like an immature child at times. Her emotions were up and down and she went from being a polished, in control professor to someone who was clearly jealous of her students’ relationship. I understand the underlying theme here is all about obsession and that does come across really well with an almost love triangle situation playing out – but, I think I hoped for something more controlling, or in control from DeLafontaine.
I think I’ll finish there. I realise this probably comes across as overly critical and that isn’t really my intention. This is beautifully written and I imagine that it will probably work better for some readers than it did for me.
I received a copy through Netgalley courtesy of the publishers, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.
My rating 3 of 5 stars
Can’t Wait Wednesday : The Drowning House by Cherie Priest
13 February 2024
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Can't Wait Wedesday, Cherie Priest, The Drowning House, Wishful Endings
“Waiting On Wednesday” is a weekly meme that was originally created by Breaking the Spine. Unfortunately Breaking the Spine are no longer hosting so I’m now linking my posts up to Wishful Endings Can’t Wait Wednesday. Don’t forget to stop over, link up and check out what books everyone else is waiting for. If you want to take part, basically, every Wednesday, we highlight a book that we’re really looking forward to. This week my book is : The Drowning House by Cherie Priest. I love this author so I have a serious case of grabby hands now I’ve seen this expected relase. Here’s the description and cover:
A violent storm washes a mysterious house onto a rural Pacific Northwest beach, stopping the heart of the only woman who knows what it means. Her grandson, Simon Culpepper, vanishes in the aftermath, leaving two of his childhood friends to comb the small, isolated island for answers―but decades have passed since Melissa and Leo were close, if they were ever close at all. Now they’ll have to put aside old rivalries and grudges if they want to find or save the man who brought them together in the first place―and on the way they’ll learn a great deal about the sinister house on the beach, the man who built it, and the evil he’s bringing back to Marrowstone Island. From award-winning author Cherie Priest comes a deeply haunting and atmospheric horror-thriller that explores the lengths we’ll go to protect those we love.
Expected publication July 2024
What Moves the Dead/What Feasts at Night (Sworn Soldier books 1 and 2) by T Kingfisher
13 February 2024
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Book Reviews, Fantasy, Horror, Sworn Solder books 1 and 2, T Kingfisher, What Feasts at Night, What Moves the Dead
Today I’ve decided to deliver two reviews in one post. Two reasons, I read both books almost one after the other and as they’re novellas I will try to keep both reviews short and succinct.
What Moves the Dead (Sworn Soldier #1) by T Kingfisher
My Five Word TL:DR Review: House of Usher excellently reimagined
Well, I love the original story by Poe but I would say that I don’t think it’s necessary to have read that story before picking this one up – although I would also say why not? Basically, Kingfisher takes the bones of the original story and gives them a totally new makeover in her own unique style.
So, we have the dilapidated family mansion, creakily gothic and slowly disintegrating. We have the Usher twins, both suffering their own maladies and there are of course other areas that are lifted straight from the original but given new meaning and a life of their own here.
Alex Easton is a retired lieutenant who has returned to the home of his childhood friends following a letter beseeching his presence. On arrival Alex is stunned to find that both Ushers are suffering, Madeline seems not far from death’s door and behaves strangely, sleepwalking and muttering to herself. Her brother Roderick seems to be a bag of nerves and is also behaving oddly.
Alex and his companion Angus slowly set about trying to get the twins to eat more and bolster their constitution but to be frank, the efforts seem in vain and the two instead take to exploring the grounds – startled, shocked and horrified by what they find. The strangest and creepiest hares ever, lots of fungus, and a lake that glows at night. As though fungi wasn’t already creepy enough Kingfisher has now decided to also give us possessed hares!
I loved this. It’s perfectly paced and can be read in one sitting. I listened to the audio version which was wonderfully narrated.
The writing and pacing are really good and it never ceases to amaze me how Kingfisher manages to combine horror and humour. Alex is a great character and the introduction of the eccentric Ms Potter adds an extra element – both fun and serious at the same time.
I thoroughly enjoyed this. A great reimagining of a well loved classic.
I bought an audio copy. The above is my own opinion.
My rating 4.5 of 5 stars
What Feasts at Night (Sworn Soldier #2) by T Kingfisher
I was actually very pleasantly surprised to discover that the author had a sequel planned bringing back to us the character Alex Easton and his companion Angus.
This time the two are journeying to an old hunting lodge, once part of the larger family estate but now owned by Alex. They have invited Ms Potter from the first story who is keen to continue her study of fungi and explore the surrounding woods.
When the two arrive at the hunting lodge something is immediately not right. The woods are spookily quiet, no natural noises of critters and birds, the lodge is unattended and has clearly been empty for some weeks, the place in disarray. Upon investigation it seems that the old caretaker has passed away in unusual circumstances. The nearby villagers are all acting cagey and close lipped and the two barely manage to secure a housekeeper to help them cook and clean – a woman who only agrees out of desperation.
This is a story based in old folklore and in particular involving a Moroi. A type of ghost that leaves the grave to feed off the dead – in this case by stealing the breath from it’s victims.
Okay, I liked this story – but – and you knew there was a but coming. It feels a little as though it lacks direction. It almost feels like it wants to go in two directions. Firstly, we take a much stronger look at Alex and the PTSD caused by warfare and then we have the story of the Moroi. I think what surprised me was Alex’s resistance to the Moroi – given the previous experiences I think a bit more open mindedness could have been expected. And, although I enjoyed the deeper character study I felt like it give the story a much slower pacing. That being said I like Alex’s no nonsense style, I love the sense of humour, I enjoyed the return of Ms Potter although she doesn’t really get a chance to shine here – the new housekeeper instead seems to take that role this time and is a perfect foil for Alex, constantly chatting to herself in pretend whispers – addressing the ceiling and muttering about ‘wastrels in general.
As you can see, I enjoyed much about this story, but at the same time it left me feeling a little perplexed. The writing is good. I enjoyed returning to this world and although this might not be my favourite instalment of the Sworn Soldier series I heartily hope that we return to this world and these characters – I think there is so much scope here.
I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.
My rating 3.5 of 5 stars
Also – I have to give a shout out to both of these covers – they are absolutely superb.
The Briar Book of the Dead by AG Slatter
12 February 2024
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: 'Gothic', AG Slatter, All the Murmuring Bones, Book Review, Fantasy, fiction, The Briar Book of the Dead, The Path of thorns
My Five Word TL:DR Review: Put Simply – Read This Book
AG Slatter has firmly placed herself onto my favourite authors list, I’ve loved all the books I’ve read so far (and perhaps need to take a jaunt back to those I’ve missed) and The Briar Book of the Dead is no exception. I practically inhaled this book. This is a deliciously gothic tale that brings to us a family of witches who have long protected the village in which they live from the darklands that lies at their border. Gothic-fantasy at it’s absolute best.
As the story begins we make the acquaintance of Ellie, the only Briar family member who doesn’t possess the family magic making her something of a second class citizen who needs to work extra hard to prove her worth. The Briars have much family lore that has been passed down from generation to generation. They avoided the witch hunt that so many others fell victim to by striking a deal with the church, one in which they protect the rest of the country being overrun by the leeches that live on the other side of their land – they also submitted to the scrutiny of a priest who sends regular reports to confirm that they are not practicing the dark arts but simply maintaining the villagers good health. The family are on the cusp of a change in power, one that threatens everything they’ve worked so hard to achieve and on top of that they are keeping secrets that are now threatening their very existence.
I don’t want to give away any more of the plot but instead discuss what worked so well for me with this book.
Firstly, I confess, I love stories about witches. I don’t know why but I simply do. Good witches, bad witches, old crones, sweet old granny types, they all work their magic on me and I’m just a sucker for such stories. So, you could be forgiven for thinking that I’m an easy touch and this was always going to win me over with ease. But, this is definitely not the case. Slatter has a fantastic imagination and a wonderful way with words. The way she tells her stories gives me this lovely sense of nostalgia that takes me back to childhood and bedtime fairytales – but, make no mistake, these stories are not for children. These stories are creepy, sometimes sinister and definitely on the dark side.
Secondly, the writing and the pacing are perfection. It’s like Goldilocks and the three bears finding her perfect bowl of porridge, it wasn’t too hot, it wasn’t too cold,it was just right. There are moments of drama, there are moments where the atmosphere could be cut with a knife, where the forests fall silent and something sinister seems to watch from the shadows. Then the plot really comes into its own and the tension ramps up.
On top of that I adored Ellie. She is such a relatable character. She cares about others but she’s not Snow White, she can be selfish and immature at times but she takes her role within the family seriously and although I personally think she should have reached certain conclusions in a slightly quicker fashion I also understand that her own niggling insecurities play a role in keeping her from questioning things too deeply and also, deep down, she knew something wasn’t quite right – which is why she was keeping her own secrets. She has a great sense of humour too which I always appreciate. Also, Ellie is about to discover something about herself that, well, I can’t tell you – you need to discover it for yourself, but I loved this element to the story. Sorry to be such a tease but I don’t want to be that person that chucks spoilers around like confetti.
I don’t know what else I can say to tempt you. Gothicky goodness, at times darkly disturbing, witches, ghosts and vampires (off page). An adult fairytale that knocked my socks off. What more can you possibly ask for? I can’t wait to see what the author comes up with next and I admit I would love to visit the Darklands.
I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.
My rating 5 of 5 stars
Books and travelling with Lynn 