A Sorcerer’s Treason, book one of the Isavalta Trilogy by Sarah Zettel
7 August 2012
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: A Sorcerer's Treason, book No.1, Sarah Kettel, The Isavalta Trilogy
Just finished reading a Sorcerer’s Treason by Sarah Zettel. This is my first time reading Sarah Zettel but definitely won’t be my last. I thought this was a great fantasy adventure, the worlds were well drawn and interesting to read about and, although I’m a bit late to read this series, the added bonus of my tardiness means no wait for books 2 and 3. So all good to me!
The Sorcerer’s Treason tells the story of Bridget. Bridget is a light keeper living on Sand Island during the early 19th century (think it was the early 19th c anyway). She is an outcast from the general population due to her past, a child born out of wedlock that mysteriously died, and also because of her strange psychic abilities which give her vivid images of both the past and the future. Bridget lives a very solitary and quite sad life although she takes her duties very seriously. During a storm she rescues a stranger from certain death on the rocks. This stranger has either hit his head harder than Bridget at first suspected or he is a sorcerer from a distant world reached through the land of death and spirit. A world of magic where animals are not always what they seem. This stranger, Kalami, wants to take Bridget to this world where her own magic will elevate her status hugely – and where she’ll be able to help the Grand Dowager protect her realm – Isavalta – from those who would wish to harm it. It all sounds too good to be true!
I really enjoyed this, in fact I thought it was quite captivating. There’s plenty going on and it moves forward at a fairly rapid pace. The characters are well described and well rounded. Both worlds are equally good to spend time in and I think Zettel manages to write in such a way that makes the scenes easy to conjure to the mind.
On top of this we have this strange folklore wound into the story. Witches (Baba Yaga) who reside in curious, chicken legged houses, crows who are not all they seem and the fox spirits led by the Vixen. Not to mention a caged and flaming phoenix, courtly intrigue and an interesting form of magic where spells can be woven into belts and clothing and worn about the person.
I just really liked the way this book was laid out. We have different points of view and lots of different threads coming together, not in a confusing way at all but in a way that just makes you want to turn the pages faster.. And, what I particularly liked was the way that the author made me feel as wondrous and new to the world as Bridget was. It was quite bewitching really and I’m really looking forward to reading the rest of Bridget’s tale.
In terms of characters – there’s plenty of interest. My particular favourite was Ananda and her sorcerer and protector Sakra. I also liked the strange animal spirits who have their own powerful magic and live in a different plain where the rules are all different.
I don’t really have any criticisms. I suppose you could say that this is a fantasy tale in the more traditional fashion rather than the more modern style fantasies that we are all currently enjoying – but this was written about 10 years ago, and this isn’t a criticism really because I really like this style and I think the author succeeds in weaving a great tale.
I would certainly recommend this and look forward to continuing this story.
A sorcerer’s treason
The Book of Crows by Sam Meekings
Just finished reading The Book of Crows by Sam Meekings and before I go any further will say what a really good book this is. I love the writing style and, because of the different stories visited, there is a wealth of information that is fascinating to read about.
The book contains a number of different stories that all weave together ranging in years from as early as 80 BCE to almost present day c.1990s and is based on a mythical book called the Book of Crows. A book that relates the entire history of the world and as such is sought after by many.
I really liked this. The writing style is easy to read but evokes the places, the people and the times and makes for really interesting reading. Sam Meeks manages to write five different stories and yet produce a different voice for each and really seems to have a grasp of Chinese culture.
We visit the whorehouse of a Thousand Sighs where a young, kidnapped girl has just been brought and now looks set to spend the rest of her life. We spend time with an alcoholic civil servant on his pursuit of truth following the disappearance of his friend after a landslide that appears to be covered up by the authorities. We travel with a 13th century Franciscan monk and listen to his deathbed confession and we take a look at the life of a grieving poet who has been summoned to spend time at the Emperors’s palace.
There’s a lot going on but it isn’t overwhelming or difficult to keep track of. There are no major info dumps that break the story but just a gradual build up to the story with enough description to pull you into each story and keep you intrigued. I found that with each different story I wanted to stay exactly where I was and continue to read the life story of that individual to such an extent that when the next chapter took me to another time and place I would be momentarily cross at the switch – but that feeling was very short lived as the next protagonist just draws you in all over again. I find myself really impressed by Meek’s ability to make all the stories compelling. It’s not an easy task and quite often with this type of narrative you have definite favourites and definite areas that you’re not enjoying as much. I must admit that I enjoyed the House of Sighs stories and the harsh existence of the women contained within. But, I also really enjoyed the other stories. The alcoholic civil servant is really interesting reading. His life just seems to be in turmoil as he lurches from place to place in a drunken stupor – there’s an excellent twist to this particular story that for a second made me gape and then made me laugh.
On the whole a really impressive book. I will definitely go back and check out Meeking’s first book and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this, particularly if you enjoy reading about different cultures throughout the ages.
The Book of Crows
The Well of Ascension by Brandon Sanderson blogtour part V
21 July 2012
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Brandon Sanderson, Mistborn Book Two, The Well of Ascension
So today we finish the final chapters in Book Two of Sanderson’s Mistborn series. The previous week’s discussions have been hosted by Carl, Grace, Sue and Adam and their posts can be read as follows:
If you haven’t read the Well of Ascension the above discussions and next few chapters will contain spoilers so be aware!
I find it amazing how Sanderson seems to have managed to pack so much into these final few chapters. Sometimes I feel like the end of a book can have a rushed feel as though the author was in a hurry to finish. Not so here. We started the final chapters with Vin and Elend newly married and leaving the City under the premise of searching for the Well of Ascension. The remainder of the crew were left behind at Luthadel to figure out how to hold the City against what seemed like an impossible threat from the Koloss and Straff’s armies. There were a few surprises here – firstly that Tindwyl refused to go along with the party leaving and secondly Allrianne who seemed to be using this as a way of returning to her father to try and persuade him to help Luthadel (or to help Breezy!) I can’t help feeling now, given the eventual outcome that Sazed’s idea to send Vin and Elend away, whilst made with the best intentions, was a poor decision. The eventual war that the Koloss raged on the City was horrible and it was pretty grim reading about all the casualties not to mention it all seemed so overwhelming and helpless. I suppose a part of me can’t help wondering if Sazed made this decision also as a way of trying to save Tindwyl and yet in the end it seems like if Vin had been in the City from the beginning the deaths of so many may have been avoided. Hindsight hey! How did you feel about Sazed and the rest of the Crew planning to remove Vin and Elend from the City? Also, what did you make of Sazed actually getting involved in the fighting and no longer just standing back and witnessing events? It seems to me he did a remarkable job with very little resources.
Then we had Vin’s return and her discovery about the Koloss – I did think it was a pretty cool moment when Sazed, who finally thought his end had arrived, watched as the Koloss who approached went quiet and parted and Vin stepped out from amongst them! This tiny young girl stepping out of the middle of this group of huge monsters. On reflection I wonder why The Lord Ruler created the Koloss and the Kandra. He built in his little failsafes to keep them under control but given how he controlled the Skaa anyway he didn’t seem to need either as an army? In fact he didn’t seem to use them at all. Perhaps he created them by accident or just as experimentation that went wrong.
The final chapters seemed to reveal quite a bit and yet still leave so many unanswered questions. What was going on with Marsh – was he hearing the same voices that Zane had heard, or more to the point has he now been taken over by something – and is that something the same thing that has now been released from the Well?
What is this entity that has been released and why was it trapped there in the first place, and by who?
What was this mist creature – I can understand the reason why it attacked Elend at the end but who or what is it?
What was this piece of metal that Elend swallowed at the end that seemed to turn him into a mistborn – is that where the whole allomancy ‘thing’ began. Would this metal work on everyone?
And, why are the Steel Inquisitors now attacking the Terris people?
Oh dear, so many questions! I think I’ve finished the book with more queries than I started!!
Finally, how much did you enjoy this book and how does it compare to book number one?
The Pleasures of Men by Kate Williams
18 July 2012
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Kate Williams, The Pleasures of Men, Victorian horror
Just finished reading The Pleasures of Men by Kate Williams which brings to us Catherine, an orphan living in her uncle’s house in Spitalfields in the East End of London. To quote Amazon
“The Pleasures of Men, is a gothic thriller with a splash of brutal murder.
A murderer nicknamed The Man of Crows.
A heroine with a mysterious past and a vivid imagination.
…..When a murderer strikes, ripping open the chests of young girls and stuffing hair into their mouths to resemble a crow’s beak, Catherine is fascinated, and devours news of his exploits.”
To be honest I was totally gripped with this as soon as I saw it, the cover was enough to catch my attention straight away and the description on the jacket sealed the deal. Gothic horror!! I understand that Kate Williams is a historian and it shows in her writing. I think she manages to evoke a wonderfully sinister, dark, foggy and corrupt side of London that portrays the vast differences during that period between the wealthy and the poor and also gives a view of women’s place within that society. It certainly didn’t seem to be a particularly happy place to be for women of the era – no matter what your social status.
All that being said, and in spite of the fact that I wanted to love this book, I just didn’t. There are certainly a lot of plus points. I think KW knows her facts, she’s come up with a really intriguing story revolving around a mysterious woman whose background is gradually revealed and a serial killer who seems to be picking women off the streets of London and causing terror and panic amongst its inhabitants. I think my real problem lay in the fact that most of the characters are unlikable or unsympathetic, almost to the point where I suspected everyone at one point of being the murderer! Everybody seems to be manipulative or scheming. Added to that is the internal ramblings of Catherine. Catherine has had a bit of a troubled life so far and has in fact spent some time in an institution, she basically thinks she is evil and thinks she attracts evil and with this in mind her internal thoughts can be a bit perplexing to say the least. I would say that sometimes the story telling can be confusing and sometimes disjointed. On top of that I think parts of this come across a bit disturbing – well, there’s a serial killer roaming the streets after all so I suppose that’s inevitable.
And yet, I did feel compelled to read on. The start is fairly gripping and I think that’s because we’re given one of the victims stories – which does occur again in the novel. And these little stories make for really fascinating reading which I think the novel could have greatly benefitted from having more of, little glimpses of the lives of different people.
On the whole, I wouldn’t say I disliked this and I certainly did feel like I needed to read to the end, but, I wouldn’t say I found it totally satisfying. I thought there were too many strands trying to come together, it was a bit disjointed and the characters were just all too unappealling. However, I would certainly keep my eye on KW because she clearly has a lot of talent. This one just wasn’t for me and that’s perhaps because I was expecting a more old fashioned type of read and this felt like more of a modern take.
The Pleasures of Men
Fated by Benedict Jacka
17 July 2012
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Alex Verus, Benedict Jacka, Fated, Urban Fantasy
Just finished reading Fated by Benedict Jacka, a new urban fantasy series starring Alex Verus. Alex is a probability mage who runs a small magic shop out of Camden in London. He spends very little time in the world of magic, his apprenticeship didn’t go well and the magic Council are not exactly impressed with him, hence the need for him to keep a low profile. However his attempt at leading a quiet life are about to become a lot less easy, particularly as his talents as a seer are suddenly going to become greatly in demand from both light and dark mages. An ancient artefact has turned up at the British Museum and everyone is interested in accessing it’s secrets.
As first books in series goes this was very enjoyable. It obviously has similarities to other urban fantasy series and, in fact, contains a reference within the first few pages to a certain magician who advertises his investigative services in Chicago, but they are different enough to co-exist. Alex is not an investigator, his ability as a probability mage allows him to see the path that a course of action will lead to, he’s therefore very useful at predicting trouble before it arrives or finding the right course of action, he’s not however very powerful, in fact he’s rather vulnerable to be honest and has to rely on his wit and a few simple magical items or friends to keep him alive.
This book pretty much gets straight into the action and to a certain extent I think it relies on the fact that the readers will bring a certain level of knowledge to the reading. I quite liked that, we obviously have a certain amount of looking back and world building but no major info dumps which can be a bit of a dampner on the plot. It’s a fairly basic plot, not in a bad way, and also bearing in mind this is the first in the series. We have this relic and within it is contained an artefact of great magical import. The light and the dark mages are both in a fight to obtain the relic and claim it’s power for themselves and Alex is needed to help overcome the protections surrounding this object. I hope I haven’t given too much away there, I don’t want to spoil the plot after all.
The characters are an interesting bunch. I can’t say too much about Alex as I haven’t got a really strong feel for him yet. I like him but I’m waiting to read more before I get a fuller picture of his true identity. We have Luna, one of Alex’s friends whose family has a deadly curse upon it that has lasted for centuries and affects all who come into contact with the bearer. Then we have Starbreeze, an air elemental who Alex calls upon to help him out of a tight spot occasionally. She’s very whimsical and childlike and I like her. She’s simple and innocent.
I like the magical system that Jacka has set up. The Mages are not ‘all’ powerful. Their magic is usually focused in a particular way, for example fire, whereby a fire mage can manipulate, use and control fire. Alex is therefore a seer and this is the extent of his magical ability, he relies heavily on others for protection. On top of that we have the light and dark mages but this is in no way as black and white as it at first appears for whilst the dark mages can be quite evil and manipulative the light mages are definitely not knights in shining armour. The villains, the dark mages, are most assuredly an unfriendly bunch. They take what or whoever they want and the fact that they are able to take something merely reflects the weakness in whatever it is they take, therefore if they don’t take it someone else will.
In terms of criticisms, well, I wouldn’t say that I truly understood everything around the light and dark mages but I guess this will be explored in future novels, for me they come across at this point not so much as light and dark more bad and badder! I’m not exactly clear either about developments at the end of the book but I don’t want to really go into that further for fear of plot spoilers. No major criticisms really. Probably the only irritation I had was initially to do with Alex who, appeared to be incredibly lax in terms of his own safety and the security of his place – particularly when he seemed to have a good idea what he was up against and also given his own abilities which he, admittedly, under utilised at the beginning.
Other than that this is a good start to the series. It was a quick read and the last third I found really engaging in a sort of explorer/Indiana Jones type of way. Yes, you could compare this – the Dresden Files, the Druid Chronicles or even Rivers of London – and there are obvious similarities but that being said I think it stands on it’s own. If you’re looking for a new urban fantasy this could be the one for you.
Fated
