Top Ten Tuesday : The Natural World of Fantasy
11 May 2021
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Books with Nature on the covers, Fantasy creatures, That Artsy Reader Girl, Top Ten Tuesday
Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme where every Tuesday we look at a particular topic for discussion and use various (or more to the point ten) bookish examples to demonstrate that particular topic. Top Ten Tuesday (created and hosted by The Broke and Bookish) is now being hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl and future week’s topics can be found here. This week’s topic :
Books with Nature on the Cover (flowers, trees, landscapes, animals, etc.)
The Month of May is the month of Wyrd and Wonder and so in recognition of the event my top ten this week does indeed depict nature – ‘a la fantasy style’. I recommend all these books and hope you enjoy looking at all the fantasy critters on display.
The Shadow of the Gods (The Bloodsworn Saga #1) by John Gwynne
10 May 2021
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: In the Shadow of the Gods, John Gwynne, The Bloodsworn Saga #1
My Five Word TL:DR Review : Brilliant
I absolutely loved The Shadow of the Gods, in fact it’s possibly the best book I’ve read in a long time. It made me happy every time I picked it up, I was caught in the age old dilemma of racing to the end to discover what happens at the same time as wanting to slow down my reading so that the story wouldn’t end too quickly. This is a story that feels refreshingly unique and yet epicly familiar and it had me talking out loud in awe at certain points. In a nutshell this book gave me a warm glow, it made me smile more often than I thought possible, it was gripping and heart wrenching and the kind of book that reminds me why I love reading fantasy so very much. Mr Gwynne, I salute you for bringing back to me the joy of reading. This review will be unabashadley gushing in nature. I want everyone to read this book, in fact I want to read it again to see what I missed the first time around.
As soon as I heard that Gwynne was writing a Norse inspired story I was onboard. What better type of story for a talented writer of battle scenes than a Viking style saga set in a world of dead Gods and filled with mythical creatures and monsters? This story from this author – what can I say, it’s like a perfect match.
Shadow of the Gods is set in a world shattered and reformed following the demise of warring Gods. Relics and bones are sought after for their magical qualities and descendents of the Gods still exist, their god blessed blood giving them strange abilities. Such people are known as ‘tainted’. They generally keep their natures secret as they’re feared and loathed in equal amounts and also hunted down and enslaved more often than not.
The story is told by three characters, each sets out on their own path although ultimately their stories converge (remember that patience is a virtue). I won’t deny that I had a firm favourite amongst the three and so I’ll start with that particular character. Orka is a huntress and former warrior. She now lives a quiet life with her husband and son (Thorkell and Breca) but the peace they have found is about to be shattered. Children are being taken, stolen in the night or violently torn from their parents for unknown purposes. In one night Orka’s world is changed and she sets off on a path that is awe inspiring to behold. Orka is such a great character. She’s an absolute tigress and yet at the same time her maternal instincts, although initially buried beneath a stern exterior, are so emotionally touching. Don’t get me wrong, she made me so frustrated with the way she rushed into situations with very little thought of her own safety or how she’d get back out of such situations but her reckless behaviour and furious onslaughts were certainly never dull to read about and I just couldn’t help but become attached to her in very short order. We also meet Varg, an escaped slave (or thrall) who seeks vengeance for his murdered sister. Unfortunately Varg has no idea who commited the crime and seeks magical aid to recreate her last moments and uncover her murderer. Varg, hunted himself, becomes embroiled with a band of mercenaries known as The Bloodsworn. In this company he finds friendship, respect and a camaraderie that he has never experienced before which leaves him warring with the desire to stay with his new found friends and the need to fulfill the oath he has sworn to his sister. I loved The Bloodsworn, their endeavours and stories made for some excellent smile inducing reading. Finally we have Elvar. A woman with a secret past. Elvar dreams of renown earned through battles and brave deeds. Taken in and trained by the Battle Grim she finds herself taking part in an adventure that could possibly be sung about throughout the ages (if all goes to plan that is).
The driver of the plot is the missing children but underlying this is the nagging at the back of your brain that these children are being taken for a definite purpose and it’s this undercurrent that really ramps up the tension.
I loved the world building here. Vigrið is the perfect combination of warm familiarity and uniquely new creation. There are trolls and other critters living in the woods, creatures that will hunt and kill. Orka, for example, seems to be bonded to two incredibly strange creatures. One with a venomous sting that seems to live under a rock and has the creepiest description ever and the other that seems like a tiny flying dragon with a penchant for teeth! And really, was there a need for Night Wyrms! Seriously, their particular brand of horror will haunt my dreams for a while yet to come. Everything about this world just screams epic. The landscape itself, the dead Gods, magnificent beasts such as Snakes, Wolves and Dragons. The battleground on which their remains lie buried. Tree spirits or protectors. The attention to detail about everyday life that brings the place to life. The magnificently depicted fight sequences, bloody and brilliant to read. And the writing which is simply spot on and evocative with little extras such as Svik, one of the Bloodsworn, who likes to tell funny stories.
What I thought was really well done here – is that Gwynne makes you invest in all three storylines, you become attached to the characters and their flaws. The motivations at play are well realised and there’s an ever increasing sense of dread for what’s about to happen. And yet, the conclusion also makes you realise that these groups are quite likely to come into conflict in future instalments and for me this felt masterfully executed. Certainly, one of the groups is truly mercenary, their ‘heroic’ deeds driven by the love of coin as much as the desire to earn fame for their fighting prowess. Basically, though I had little doubting moments at the back of my mind, I still found myself liking the characters which for me is a testament to how well written they are. They feel believable. Flawed, conflicted, motivated, strong, likable, secretive, sneaky, sometimes funny, relatable characters basically.
I think I may have mentioned that this review may be ‘gushing’ in nature and to reinforce that I would just clarify – this book is excellent. I can’t recommend it enough to be honest. It has this wonderful old school feel to it that invokes Tolkien, Beowolf and tales of Ragnarok but at the same time it stands on it’s own feet in the most refreshingly unique way.
Masterfully done.
I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.
My rating: Five dazzlingly sparkly stars
Booking Ahead/Weekly Wrap Up
I’m trying to get back into the habit of doing a round-up of the week just completed and also take a look at my plans for the forthcoming week. I rather got out of the habit of doing this last year but I would like to reinstate this type of post as I feel it keeps me on track. So, I’m linking up to The Sunday Post over at Kimberly’s Caffeinated Reviewer. Without further ado:
Last week:
This week, I was a bit busy so a lot of my best laid plans went askew. Consequently I’ve still got lots of catching up to do this forthcoming week. In terms of reading I read The Shadow of the Gods by John Gwynne – which was brilliant. Review to follow on Monday. I also completed the Ikessar Falcon by KS Villoso. I started this some time ago but then put it down and got distracted. So, I decided to start it again. This is a very character focused read indeed which is something I love. I also made a start on my second Pratchett Discworld book and read the first third. I still need to finish The Helm of Midnight by Marina Lostetter and I’ve also started the Wolf Den by Elodie Harper.
Complete The Helm of Midnight and The Wolf Den. I think I’d also like to make a start on one of my other review books. Perhaps Day Zero by C Robert Cargill. And of course continue my Discworld adventure.
Reviews Posted since last Sunday:
- Ariadne by Jennifer Saint
- The Girl and the Mountain by Mark Lawrence
- Murder of Crows by Anne Bishop
- A Darker Shade of Magic by VE Schwab
- The Shadow of the Gods by John Grynne
- The Ikessar Falcon by KS Villoso
Friday Face Off : A Series where the cover changed midway through – which style do you prefer most
Here we are again with the Friday Face Off meme created by Books by Proxy . This is a great opportunity to feature some of your favourite book covers. The rules are fairly simple each week, following a predetermined theme (list below) choose a book (this doesn’t have to be a book that you’ve read), compare a couple of the different covers available for that particular book and choose your favourite. Future’s themes are listed below – if you have a cover in mind that you’re really wanting to share then feel free to leave a comment about a future suggested theme. I’ve also listed events that take place during the year, that I’m aware of, so you can link up your covers – if you’re aware of any events that you think I should include then give me a shout. This week’s theme:
A Series where the cover changed midway through – which style do you prefer most
May is the month of Wyrd and Wonder so for the FFO themes I’m choosing fantasy books:
I can’t wait to see what people come up with for this week’s theme – changes in covers mid series can definitely be infuriating for people, especially when they’ve been collecting a series and already own quite a number of the books. With that in mind this week I’ve gone for the Sookie Stackhouse covers:
Unfortunately for me, when I started the series the top selection of covers were the ones available. These seemed to be stopped from book 9 onwards for some reason so I was never able to complete the set (although similar covers in different languages were still available). I think my preference is for the top set, the newer covers feel almost like they’re aiming at comedy, which there is a strange mix of comedy in the books, but the original covers felt more appropriate somehow. Which do you prefer:
I’ve updated the list now to include themes for next year. If you know of an event that’s coming up let me know and I’ll try and include covers that work for the event itself so that you can link up to the Friday Face Off and, as always, if you wish to submit an idea then leave me a comment – or if you’d like to host a week then simply let me know. Also, I would just mention that it’s very possible that some of these might be repeats from previous FFOs although I have tried to invent more ‘open ended’ prompt that can be interpreted differently and also prompts that relate to emotions. Finally, don’t struggle with any of these, this is meant to be a fun way of highlighting books. If you can’t come up with a book you think fits for a particular week use a freebie – perhaps a recent read for example:
Next week – The start of Wyrd and Wonder. A month long celebration of fantasy. The earliest fantasy you recall reading – or the first fantasy book you really loved, maybe the book that kickstarted your love of fantasy
2021
May
Month of Wyrd and Wonder
7th – A Series where the cover changed midway through – which style do you prefer most
14th – The earliest fantasy you recall reading – or the first fantasy book you really loved, maybe the book that kickstarted your love of fantasy
21st – The Top Hat
28th – The Hood
June
4th – The nose boop – any animal, or human, with a close up shot.
11th – A cover that annoyed you and why
18th – Out of Perspective, or make you feel a bit dizzy
25th – Upside down, back to front or topsy turvy
July
2nd – A book with a landscape you’d like to visit
9th – A Wicked Grin
16th – Books with ‘book’ in the title
23rd – A Black Hole – could be in the universe or going deep into the ground
30th – Chaos – maybe too much going on in this one
August
6th – “They cluck their thick tongues, and shake their heads and suggest, os so very delicately!” – The Motel
13th – A favourite holiday read
20th – Dressed to kill (could be literally someone dressed to kill, or someone dressed up for a big night out
27th – Sunbathing or on the beach
September (RIP event)
3rd – 1920s feel, noir detective
10th – I’m Henry the Eighth I am – let’s look at Kings or other Emperors/rulers
17th – Books with ‘Murder’ in the title
24th – A favourite thriller
October
1st – A Halloween read
8th – Chills – anything at all that almost makes you too scared to pick up the book (your own pet hate)
15th – Your favourite book of magic
22nd – Books with ‘Queen’ in the title
29th – Must be gothic
November – Sci Fi Month
5th – Your earliest sci-fi read or the first sci-fi you reviewed
12th – A book with ‘star’ in the title
19th – Futuristic vista
26th – A Black Hole – in the universe or going deep into the ground
December
3rd – Windswept, the classic figure, stood majestically, with wind blowing out in a fetching way
10th – A fairytale retold
17th – Winter Solstice approaching – anything cold and seasonal
24th – All things fire – red hair, red covers, fire breathing dragons, simply fire?
31st – What’s your catnip – if it’s on a cover you have to pick it up
Ariadne by Jennifer Saint
My Five Word TL:DR Review : Two sides to every story
I really enjoyed Ariadne by Jennifer Saint and was also incredibly impressed to learn that this is a debut novel. Here we have a reimagining of one of Greek mythology’s most famous stories. This is a beautifully told story, totally immersive, shocking and ultimately bittersweet.
I would start this by saying Greek mythology is an area that I have only a brief spattering of knowledge of but like most people I’m familiar with the most famous stories, King Minos and the Minotaur being a story that I was briefly aware of although I’d never read about how the Minotaur came to exist so this was certainly an eye opener and another example of the Gods and how they meddle in the lives of those that worship them.
For me, there are two sides to every story. Throughout history, stories are told from the POV of the ‘winner’ and the other perspective is usually lacking sometimes even completely obliterated over the course of time. Tales of mythology are similarly dominated by the males of the story, the heroes, fighting wars and gaining fame and status and the Gods, powerful and vain, playing with the lives of the mortals that worship them. What I’m really enjoying from the recent spate of such retellings is the opportunity to read those stories from a fresh perspective.
So, to be clear, these are not reimaginings, the story and outcomes remain consistent to the original myth, they’re not an attempt to change the fate of the women involved, instead, they gave a voice to those females involved, tell their story and take the focus away from the traditionally male dominated one to the lesser known females of the piece. And I have to say that I’m loving this trend and would love more such books.
Ariadne is the daughter of Minos and sister to Phaedra. The tale of the minotaur is particularly grim and in fact really sad and the girl’s early years are blighted by gossip, shame and fear. I’m not going to dwell on the earlier aspects of the story other than to say it’s told in the most captivating way. This is a modern story and easy to get on board with and the author does a fantastic job of giving Ariadne a compelling voice. The two sisters are very close and yet quite different in nature and we have the opportunity to explore this by the addition of Phaedre’s pov chapters. I’m not going to discuss the plot. It would be easy enough to check out the stories that already exist, however, if like me, you’re new to the story of Ariadne and her sister Phaedra then I would suggest picking this up without any prior knowledge. It’s a compelling story that I read with almost indecent haste in my rush to discover the outcome
Through events, lies and deception Ariadne and Phaedra come to live very different lives. They don’t see each other for many years and when they rediscover each other anew they unfortunately part on poor terms that ultimately lead to sorrow.
Why I really loved this. I think the way the story is told is superb. The writing is simply gorgeous. It’s evocative and immersive. I really bought into both women’s storylines with equal fascination and mounting fear and dread. I like the play on the idea around monsters. Is Minotaur a monster or simply acting in his nature? Minos certainly acts monstrously and Theseus seems to put himself about, in the guise of a hero, handsome, dashing and brave and yet his actions don’t appear so magnificent when viewed under a different lens. The Gods themselves play with the lives of ordinary people and themselves behave quite abominably, often taking out their spite and vengeance on those that have done nothing to earn such punishments. So there is the dilemma that looking at stories through a different perspective delivers.
In terms of criticisms. I have very little. Of course the ending was a shock, it felt a little rushed too, like the author was in a hurry to get the dreaded deed done (which I kind of understand to be fair). And, I confess that I felt sad about the outcome. But, ultimately, I love that Saint has given both these females their own opportunity to be stood up and counted. Here they have an opportunity to tell their story, sometimes a little less than flattering but with some excellent motivations along the way not to mention change in psyche that is inevitable, particularly Phaedre who, out of the two, seems to live a very precarious life filled with doubt, unease and suspicion that ultimately leads her onto a misled path of delusion and pain.
I thoroughly enjoyed this and would have no hesitation in picking up more books in the same vein. Gripping, beautifully written, uplifting at times, sad at others. A wonderful opportunity to really reimagine what these women’s lives were perhaps like. To take the bare bones of a story and build a body of work that gives a different angle and voice to the myths. Beware of certain triggers though, parts of this are quite brutal, although not in a sensationalist or shock value way, and may be upsetting to some readers.
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
Books and travelling with Lynn 