#SPFBO 7 : My Second Batch of Books
SPFBO 7 got off to a great start. I’ve read my first batch of books – you can find my feedback here plus links to reviews for all four books. I have to say my first batch was very good and has set the bar high. Let’s see what comes next – I’m hoping for lots of good reads.
For those of you unfamiliar with SPFBO here and here are two posts that might provide some enlightenment. Basically, SPFBO is the Self Published Fantasy Blog Off, brainchild of Mark Lawrence. 300 hopeful authors submit their word babies. 10 Judges are allocated 30 books each. Each judge chooses a finalist, the competition narrows to 10 hopeful candidates. Alas, there can be only one winner so following an intense reading session where all the judges read and score each others finalists a winner finally emerges.
The main change for myself this year is that I am joining up with the wonderful Critiquing Chemist and her lovely boffin. We are very excited to start reading our batch (at the moment equally divided between the two blogs). I love this part of the competition, it’s full of expectations and hope. As in previous years I will give a brief introduction to the books and authors that I’m picking up that month together with an update at the end of the month where I may roll some books forwards and cut others. I know! It’s a part of the competition that I’m not overly fond of but it is unavoidable. Personally, I like to think that as the competition begins we already have 300 winners who each took that bold step to throw their hat into the ring and join in. So, enjoy yourselves, take the opportunity to make friends and become part of the community.
This month the four books that I will be reading from me second batch are:
Berserker (Apocosmos #1) by Dimitrios Gkirgkiris
Alex is a game developer though he’d much rather stream RPG classics or spend time with Louie. That’s his adorable corgi.
He also hates people. Not in a homicidal way but rather in an extremely-antisocial one.
Unless you hurt Louie.
In such an instant, Alex is pulled in the Apocosmos, where our whole world is just a blip in a colorful tapestry of million others.
A multiverse ruled by a strict system.
Where Norse, Greek, and Celtic pantheons clash.
Where dwarves craft, dragons hoard, and vampires don’t glitter.
A world that is as cruel as epic.
Alex wants none of that though. He just wants to earn an early retirement somewhere in Spain.
There’s money to be made in the Apocosmos.
Alex will take advantage of the market just like he did in his MMORPG days, in what seems like an error-proof plan.
But it’s a zero-sum game and some would do anything to eliminate competition.
About the Author
The three things Dimitrios would grab in case of a fire, would be his Lord of the Rings book collection, his Chrono Trigger SNES game, and his dog, Poko.
July 2020 marked the beginning of his author career with the release of the Mana Trilogy, an epic fantasy saga focusing on world and civilization-building.
Dimitrios was born in Thessaloniki, Greece and is now living in Berlin with his partner and his doggo.
Stone Magus (Hidden Gems Saga #1) by Stephanie C. Marks
In life, love, and family, there is always strength in numbers.
Something is off balance between the Windsong Sisters, and for Opal and Ruby, the terrible might of their powers may just lead them to catastrophe—or clarity. As half-elf mages in the service of the Order of Aiuna, the sisters spend their days collecting and preserving anything that magic touches, and as their mission takes them further back into their past, the darkness that awaits them there threatens to destroy everything they hold dear.
Despite the dark smoke rising around them, Opal is finding it hard to ignore the flames flickering between herself and Baerdun. There’s just something about it that makes her feel weak, and not just in the knees. With so much happening around them, it’s becoming much harder to keep her head above water and her heart her own.
After everything they’ve lost—what if they lose themselves as well?
Enter a world where shadows exist within and without, and follow Opal, Ruby, and Baerdun down a path that will either bring them together or force them apart.
About the Author:
Book of Secrets (Merged Series #1) by Claudia Blood
Joshua Lighthouse never wanted to save the world, but now he has no choice.
Three hundred years ago, the human world and the world of Myth underwent a cataclysmic Merge. Those who survived – both human and Others – formed factions. Joshua led one faction, the Human Protection Agency, which is charged with maintaining the safety of the humans in his city. He secretly protects an artifact more powerful than even he knows…
About the Author :
In spite of a busy life wrapped around a military husband, two young children, a dog, bunnies, and a day job, Claudia Blood manages to pen epic, urban, and science fantasies.
Dragonbirth byRaina Nightingale
In a world where dragons are considered demons and Dragonriders are hunted and killed as witches…
A devout village-girl, Silmavalien, meets a dragon hatchling and discovers a love she could never have dreamed. At the same time, her world is ripped apart as she discovers the gods she has worshipped and everything she has ever been taught or believed is a monstrous lie. Not knowing what to believe – or even if she can trust her engaged, Noren, with her new secret – she must find a way to care for herself and her dragon, Minth, in a wild and hostile world, a world which only grows stranger as the days pass.
***
Finally, good luck to everyone. Don’t forget, if you want to pay me a visit here on the blog you’re more than welcome. Just email or leave a comment.
Friday Face Off : A book with a landscape you’d like to visit
2 July 2021
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: A book with a landscape you'd like to visit, Books by Proxy, Friday Face off
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 book with a landscape you’d like to visit
Well, I had a more difficult time with this one than you might expect. A lot of the places I read about are violent or war soaked places, there are crazy magicians and dark overlords tring to rule the world, armies of orcs and trolls rampaging around – and basically I’m a huge coward so to be honest I don’t want to go there thank you very much. So I had to try and think outside the box a little bit. I thought of using Narnia, the Shire (definitely not Mordor) or Hogwarts but I’ve probably used these before. Instead I’ve gone for a book/series that is perhaps something of a cheat – The Invisible Library series by Genevieve Cogman. Now, okay, I admit I said it’s something of a cheat but – those who are allowed access to this library can open doors to an infinite number of worlds. In fact through the books I’ve read from the series I’ve already travelled to a steampunk London and an alternate Venice where Carnival never stops and St Petersburg’s Winter Palace. So – lots of places to visit in this series – who am I kidding, I’d probably just stay in the library – it has a strange warped sense of time and the librarians barely age at all – think of all that reading time.
This week I’ve picked all the covers from the series:
Do you have a favourite? I’ve been back and forth but find myself drawn to :
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 – A Wicked Grin
2021
July
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
Hyde by Craig Russell
My Five Word TL:DR Review : Clever reimagining of a classic
I read and enjoyed the Devil’s Aspect by Craig Russell just over a couple of years ago, it was a creepy gothic horror story and so when I saw that Russell had written another gothic horror, this time set in Victorian Edinburgh I simply couldn’t resist, and, to be honest, I think I enjoyed this one even more.
This is a very clever story. It isn’t a retelling of The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, which is what I was expecting somehow, but it uses the influence of duality, which is the premise of the original classic and spins it into a very dark tale incorporating so much more. On top of this readers will be familiar with at least a couple of the characters and the interesting ideas, combined with celtic folklore, a gothic setting and a murder mystery all combine to make a really good read.
The pov character is one Captain Edward Hyde. He’s recently returned from serving in India and is now under the employ of The City of Edinburgh Police. As the story kicks off we’re immediately thrown into a grisly murder scene where the victim appears to have been thrice murdered. Hyde doesn’t immediately connect this murder with ancient rituals, he’s a bit pre-occupied given that he cannot remember why he was in fact so close to the crime scene himself. Hyde suffers from a form of epilepsy that leaves him unable to remember things and to lose time completely. He begins to worry about being so close to the site where the victim was found. Is he committing dark deeds when he loses control? Now on top of this there are a series of strange things happening in the City. A heiress goes missing, a man is executed for a crime that he is believed innocent, banshees cry, another murder victim is discovered and events point to the resurrection of a strange Dark Guild. To be honest I’m not going to elaborate further on the plot because there are a number of threads taking place in this one. Don’t let that worry you as everything comes together really well as events unfold and the tension is ramped up.
What I really liked about this was the central character. He’s a character that I could sympathise with in that he genuinely didn’t know if he was committing dark crimes. Hyde is being treated for his epilepsy by his friend Dr Samuel Porteus. What he is unaware of – although he does start to suspect – is that Porteus is experimenting with the treatments he provides, keen to make a breakthrough he is using Hyde as his own personal experiment. Of course Porteus reassures Hyde that he isn’t capable of such heinous crimes but reading from Hyde’s pov you’re very conscious of his own doubts and concerns and the trouble he has to expend to keep his secret close to his chest.
I think the gothic setting is excellently portrayed and there’s a creeping pervasiveness to the story that leaves your neck feeling prickly – that feeling as though you’re being watched. I actually picked up the audio version for this one and part read/part listened to this and the audio is so good – and definitely added to the chill factor.
Russell is certainly an author that can write horror. He has a wonderful ability to conjure up malicious and evil characters and his scenes are just excellently portrayed. I mean, he doesn’t go overboard with either descriptions or background information but seems to have the ability to make each word really count.
On top of this I think, and I did mention this above, that this is very clever. We have Hyde of course, working to try and discover the source of evil whilst at the same time not entirely trusting that he isn’t hiding something himself (or should that be Hyding? – sorry). Hyde is definitely a likeable character, even at the same time that you start to have doubts you can’t help wanting everything to resolve well for him and there’s also a brilliant case of misdirection here which I simply have to applaud.
I don’t think I can say too much without sinking into the world of spoilers. I really enjoyed this. I think the only criticism I could level at it would be a slight busyness of plot but the threads all do tie up in the end. For me, I liked the use of Hyde as a detective, I liked the inclusion of the author of the classic story and I thought there was plenty of food for thought, not only in terms of duality but the inclusion of other real life characters such as Deacon Brodie who apparently Robert Louis Stevenson wrote about in his earlier life. I was so fascinated by this and the way Brodie’s dual lifestyle was possibly the inspiration for the classic we know today.
I can’t wait to see what this author comes up with next.
I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the author, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.
My rating 4.5 of 5 stars
#SPFBO : My First Batch of Books – Update
30 June 2021
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Ashley Capes, CE Page, Deathborn, Graves Robbed, ML Roberts, My first batch of books - update, One of Us, Rosalind Tate, SPFBO, Stranded
Today I’m posting an update for my first batch of SPFBO books (which can be found here). This year I’m teaming up with the lovely ladies from the Critiquing Chemist and we split the batch of books equally – which gives me a little more time this year.
This month I read and reviewed my first four books and today I’m providing my feedback on which books will be cut or rolled forward. At this point I’m not making any decisions on semi-finalists as the semi finalists will be decided by both blogs before agreement on a finalist is reached. We will each put forward hopefuls and then take it from there.
I would mention that this is ultimately the most difficult part of the competition for judges and authors. I don’t find making cuts easy to be honest however it’s the nature of the competition. There can be only one. I would also like to thank the authors of the books that are highlighted today for taking the decision to throw their hat into the ring. It can’t be easy and I definitely applaud you for taking this step.
This month certainly got off to a great start. I completely read all four books and I don’t think I could have asked for four more different reads. A historical, alternate reality, portal book, UF with a unique concept, epic/high fantasy with intriguing magic and a YA high school adventure with witches and fae. This is why I love fantasy.
All that being said I won’t keep you waiting longer, below are my first four books.
Stranded (The Shorten Chronicles #1) by Rosalind Tate
Sophie Arundel is stranded in history, stuck in a grand house in 1925 England. Thankfully, she has her faithful dog Charlotte with her. Oh, and fellow student Hugo, annoying and charming in equal measure.
Baffled by upper-class rules, courted by boring suitors, Sophie is desperate to get back to the twenty-first century, but the only way home is through a hidden portal — and she must work with Hugo to unlock its secrets.
As one clue leads to another, Sophie and Hugo discover that history is unfolding differently. Mobs rule the streets. And when chaos turns into a deadly revolution, anyone in a grand house is fair game.
Sophie and Hugo are running out of time…
My review is here.
In a nutshell, Stranded is a very easy to read, cosy mystery. There is a slow romance building and the attention to detail in terms of the period is very well done and interesting. Clearly the author enjoyed writing this and it shone through. I did have a couple of criticisms but nothing that left me wanting to put the book down. It is a little light in terms of the fantasy elements however.
Conclusion: Cut
***
Graves Robbed, Heirlooms Returned (Reed Lavender #1) by Ashley Capes
At least when you’re Death’s nephew the bad guys literally have nowhere to hide, right?
Meet Reed Lavender, a mostly-human detective with the uncanny ability to hear the final words of the dead. But on this case he’ll need more than his usual tricks to solve the murder of a teen runaway – he’ll need something that just might be more trouble than it’s worth – the help of his ragtag Reaper-cousins.
But the deeper Reed digs the more he realises there’s something far bigger and darker beneath his city, something vast, something that is ripening to rot…
In a nutshell this is urban fantasy. I loved the concept of this one and also the writing. The pacing is very fast, probably, for me, a little too fast as I found myself wanting to slow down a little and let things develop, take a breather maybe. I have to say though that this was entertaining to read and I would definitely pick up more books in the series to see what the author comes up with next. I think my real issue is I would have liked this to maybe take a little more time with the set up as I felt like I wanted more somehow.
Conclusion : Cut
***
Deathborn (Sovereigns of Bright and Shadow #1) by CE Page
Corruption is a disease with no cure that ends with a rapid descent into madness and violence. And until now it only targeted mages.
When an infected warden shows up challenging everything Margot thought she knew she is thrown into the chase to find the impossible cure. But to understand this new revelation she needs someone who knows possession … She needs Nea and lucky for Margot, her warden friend Garret has been tasked with tracking the rogue necromancer down.
Garret is used to dealing with dangerous mages so this should be like any other job: find the mage and deliver her to the king. But from the moment he finds Nea he is dragged into a deadly game of dark secrets and brutal machinations. Now he must make a choice: deliver Nea as promised and place a weapon in the hands of a madman or deny his king and change the lives of wardens and mages forever.
My review is here.
Conclusion : Roll Forward (I won’t elaborate further at this point, my review is linked above)
***
One of Us: the City of Secrets by ML Roberts
The witch wants her dead, the fae want her alive, the police want to bring her in for questioning. High school should not be this way.
Olivia knows the rules: study hard, never lie, do unto others, but when a witch makes the rules and the others are fae, telling the truth will get her locked up.
Last month she saw the impossible, now she sees it again. She tells herself it’s all in her head. How else explain a shining man who fell out of nowhere or a student who died but still lives?
She carries on with her usual activities: volleyball, pop quizzes, a favor for Mom, but denial won’t make it go away. When she thinks it can’t get any worse, it does.
Friends, enemies, the police, someone is lying. If not one of them, one of us.
My review is here.
In a nutshell this is YA high school fantasy. I think it got off to a slightly shaky start, maybe a little bit of clunky dialogue here and there and perhaps a little overly drawn out in terms of really getting started. But, once the action began I confess to being very entertained. For me, it felt like the author gained in confidence as the story progressed and there was a chaotic, crazy popcorn munching vibe going on. Yes, I enjoyed this,,the story hooked me as things progressed and I wanted to know what was going on. There, however, is the rub. I did finish the story on a slight note of confusion, I know that there are more books (or is it book?) planned but I didn’t come away from this with a real understanding of motivations in terms of the central ‘baddies’. I admit that I’m not really the target audience for this one, but I think with a little more polish it would definitely be a series I could see myself continuing to read.
Conclusion : cut
My thanks again to the authors.
I will be posting my second batch of books very soon.
Can’t Wait Wednesday : The Quicksilver Court (Rooks and Ruin #2) by Melissa Caruso
30 June 2021
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Can't wait Wednesday, Melissa Caruso, Rooks and Ruin #2, The Quicksilver Court, 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 Quicksilver Court (Rooks and Ruin #2) by Melissa Caruso – because I really enjoyed the Obsidian Tower. Here’s the description:
The Quicksilver Court continues the wildly original epic fantasy series bursting with intrigue and ambition, questioned loyalties, and broken magic that began with The Obsidian Tower.
Ryxander, Warden of Gloamingard, has failed. Unsealed by her blood, the Door hidden within the black tower has opened. Now, for the first time since the age of the Graces, demons walk the world.
As tensions grow between nations, all eyes-and daggers are set on Morgrain, fallen under the Demon of Discord’s control. In an attempt to save her home from destruction, Ryx and the Rookery set out to find a powerful artifact. But powerful enemies are on the hunt and they’re closing in fast.
Expected publication : October 2021
Books and travelling with Lynn 