Pawn’s Gambit (A Mortal Techniques novel) by Rob J Hayes #PawnsGambit #MortalTechniques
18 January 2021
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: #MortalTechniques, #PawnsGambit, A Mortal Techniques novel, Pawn's Gamit, Rob J Hayes
Today I’m very happy to be taking part in the blog tour for Pawn’s Gambit by Rob J Hayes. I’ve listed lots of information below so please check out the other blogs taking part and take a chance to look at the author bio.
Pawn’s Gambit is the second book in Rob Hayes’ Mortal Techniques series and it’s impressive. This isn’t my first book by this author and it certainly won’t be my last but what it shows beyond any doubt is that Hayes has some writing chops and he seems (unbelievably) to improve with each successive novel.
Never Die and Pawn’s Gambit are set in the same world but are two horses of a very different nature, although, they share a common thread. That of heros. I think I can confidently say that you could read this book as a standalone although I think personally it makes sense to start with the first. There are small references in here that readers of Never Die will enjoy but at the same time I have the feeling that the author is really going somewhere with this series. Like, yeah, you can read them alone, but also they’re going to collectively build into something fantastic.
So, Pawn’s Gambit is set in the same fantastic world as Never Dies but a few years down the line. We meet up with our central protagonist Yuu. Yuu is at a low point in her life. She has massive guilt for things that happened in her past and usually loses herself in a bottle by midday each day, although she’s still sharp enough to regularly beat anyone who wants to stand against her at chess. Each day is much the same as the last until one day a new pretender sits opposite, a young girl called Natsuko who turns Yuu’s world on its head again, and in using that phrase ‘turn on it’s head’ I’m also picturing one of those hourglass devices – because, put bluntly, the time is ticking.
Let’s go back to the beginning. Imagine, if you will, a pantheon of the Gods. The ruler of the Gods is currently the God of War, and you might be able to imagine the bloodshed he has wreaked upon his mortal worshippers during his time on the seat of power. But now, his fellow Gods have the opportunity to challenge him. Each may seek a champion who will, on the mortal world, seek relics on behalf of the God which they serve. The idea is that eventually a challenge will occur and perhaps a new God will sit upon the throne – one that doesn’t harvest lives but instead creates harmony? Maybe yes, maybe no – at the end of the day all the Gods have their own agenda. Let the games begin.
At its heart Pawn’s Gambit is a quest, All the champions are racing the clock to find the most relics and each is assisted by the God they’ve signed up with. Now, this isn’t the quick, all swords blazing thrill ride that Never Ride was. This is more a story of redemption and, whilst it’s not a slow burn, it certainly provides some character development that is impressive.
So, Yuu is a strategist. In a former life she was known as the Art of War although that is both a mask and a moniker that she left behind long ago. Natsuko is a God. The God of lost or forgotten things in fact. Sometimes a young girl, sometimes a crone. In spite of mutual distrust the two strike a deal.
Look, I’m basically not going to talk about the plot. It’s good. That’s all you need to know. Trust me on this if you please.
The Writing. Well, I just think Hayes gets better and better – the crazy thing is, I loved both of his books that I already read and so I can understand you might be thinking how reliable is this woman – how can things keep improving if they were already so good. Look, I’m not here to explain the laws of the universe but I can tell you that this author reinvents and improves himself on a continual basis and it’s fascinating and compelling. This is a book set in the same world as Never Dies, it has little shout outs which are great if you read the first book, but at the same time not necessary if you haven’t, but it has a totally different style and feel. The first is all fighting, furious paced and something of a thrill ride. The second is a game of strategy, with some incredibly thrilling individual set pieces that are both unique and gripping.
But, the best part of Pawn’s Gambit. Well, I say the best part but always bear in mind that I’m a sucker for the long game which is definitely a factor here, is the characters. The potential that is explored and the variety. Hayes seems to be a master of gathering together the most unlikely contingent of characters and making them gel together in a way you couldn’t conceive and then making them into something more.
Anyway, at this moment, apart from the fact that I clearly loved this book I’m struggling to decide which I like more. At the end of the day I don’t think one is better than the other. These are two entirely different beasts. both full of captivating scenes, shocks and heart. One fast paced and furious. The other a mind game that, don’t get me wrong has plenty of action, but that builds to a grand finale of brains against brawn.
Seriously, people, read Hayes. That is all.
My rating – 5 of 5 stars
Blog Tour:
- Novel Notions – review
- Grimmedian – review
- Out of this World sff reviews – review
- The Book Prescription – review
- Realms of My MInd
- Maxine’s Obsessions
- Grimdark Magazine
- Fantasy Book Critic
Official release date: 26th January 2021
Website : http://www.robjhayes.co.uk/default.htmWinner of Mark Lawrence’s 3rd Self Published Fantasy Blog Off (SPFBO) with Where Loyalties Lie
Rob J. Hayes was born somewhere south of the cockney wastelands in a small town called Basingstoke. He grew up with all the usual boy toys including Lego, Star Wars figures (complete with working lightsaber action) and plenty of Transformers. Playing with these toys inspired his imagination and as soon as he was old enough he started playing with swords… OK, wooden sticks.
At the age of fourteen he started writing but, like most fourteen year old boys, everything had to be either a vampire, a werewolf, or have superpowers. Thankfully, like most fourteen year old boys, he eventually grew up… a bit.
After four years at University studying Zoology and three years working for a string of high street banks as a desk jockey/keyboard monkey, Rob ran away to live on a desert island in Fiji for three months. It was there he re-discovered his love of writing and, more specifically, of writing fantasy.
When he’s not madly scribbling his next epic, Rob has a variety of hobbies that, unsurprisingly, are fantasy themed. He regularly plays card games based on the A Game of Thrones and the Netrunner universes and attends tournaments throughout the UK. Rob also enjoys Airsofting: the act of running around a forest with fake guns shooting (being shot by) his friends.
A Skinful of Shadows by Frances Hardinge
My Five Word TL:DR Review : Loved it. History and Ghosts
A Skinful of Shadows is my second Hardinge book and to date this is an author with a 100% track record because both this and Deeplight were excellent. Without doubt I will be checking out more backlist books from this author and in fact have a copy of The Lie Tree already lined up.
A Skinful of Shadows is an excellent historical story of ghosts and possession set during the turbulent times of the English Civil War. We make the acquaintance of Makepeace as she is but a child and learning some hard lessons from her mother which usually consist of enduring a night on her own in the local cemetery. Makepeace’s mother is not the softest of women but she has her reasons and in spite of the harshness has Makepeace’s best interests at heart.
Makepeace and her mother live a quiet life in a small puritan village, you could be forgiven for thinking they’re in hiding as they keep a low profile and Makepeace knows nothing of her own father or other family members however tension is building, as Makepeace gets older she is less inclined to accept her mother’s lack of answers or punishing nighttime spooky training sessions. The two argue and tragedy follows. In fairly quick succession Makepeace finds herself alone, still searching for answers and vulnerable and this is when her troubles really begin.
I won’t say more about the story as part of the joy is discovering this strange tale without prior knowledge.
What really worked well for me in no particular order.
Makepeace is a great, sympathetic and easy to like narrator. She’s clever and flexible, quick witted and generous, both in terms of the way she treats others but also with the information she shares with the reader. It’s remarkably easy to get on board with her story and in fact I felt myself anxious to return at every opportunity, desperate in fact to see where Makepeace’s unusual story would take me next. In fact characters are something that Hardinge excels at and there is a superb cast here all replete with their own motivations. One character in particular steals the show and I wish I could say more but it would be such a spoiler so my lips are sealed.
The story itself is a wonderful combination of history and fantasy and the speculative elements are included with such a deft and subtle hand that the concept comes across as horribly plausible. Set in turbulent times when the wrong decision could make or break a family’s reputation scheming runs rife, blackmail is not unheard of and ruthless people will be, well, ruthless.
I love the way Hardinge writes. She is a wonderful storyteller with a way of spinning words that lure you in in the most deceptively easy way. Here she manages to create tension at the same time as providing a convincing backdrop and she quite simply made me love the characters and care very much what happened to them.
I have to hand it to this author. I’ve only read two of her books but they were so completely different that it leaves me thinking that Hardinge’s imagination knows no bounds. What’s also really impressive is that she has a penchant for standalone novels which is such a breath of fresh air.
I bought an audible copy and highly recommend it – the narration was absolutely wonderful
I can’t wait to pick up my next Hardinge novel and I suggest if you enjoy speculative fiction this is an author you should read.
My rating 5 of 5 stars
Friday Face Off : Spaceships and Explosions #VintageSciFi
15 January 2021
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Books by Proxy, Firday Face Off, Robert A Heinlein, The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, Vintage Sci Fi
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 week’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. I’m currently linking up with Vintage Sci-Fi and if you also want to link up then please do so but this isn’t a requirement simply my way of highlighting events. This week’s theme:
An Aerial encounter – spaceships and explosions
This week I’ve gone for another vintage sci-fi book and one that I read previously (I think for a previous Vintage sci fi event). The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert A Heinlein and here is a small selection of the covers:
My favourite. I may have mentioned that I’m quite often a sucker for the SF Masterworks covers and this week is no exception. I love the colours and this fits the bill so perfectly:
Do you have a favourite? And have you read this book?
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 – An Alien Encounter – ‘we come in peace’ or maybe not.
2021
January
Vintage Sci-Fi month – if you’re taking part you could try and find some vintage style covers
22nd – An Alien Encounter – ‘we come in peace’ or maybe not.
29th – A favourite classic or vintage sci-fi
February
5th – A Book with a romance that you enjoyed
12th – Furry – a beast, something cuddly, or a fur covering
19th – Serpentine – could be a snake, could be a snake-like font, could be a snakeskin style cover
26th – A book with ‘Magic’ in the Title
March
5th – March is named for the Roman God of War – a Roman style cover or a cover with a God or Gods or simply a book about war
12th – Middle Grade – choose whatever pleases you
19th – Ruin or derelict, old and worn, could be the book itself, a building, a place
26th – A picture within a picture
April
2nd – A train or tram – travelling down the track, could be old style, futuristic, overhead, down below.
9th – Cartoonish or graphic
16th – I have to have it – a cover that gave you ‘grabby hands’
23rd – Your current read (if it has covers to compare) or any recent read
30th– A series that you love – highlight all the books in the series
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
The Betrayals by Bridget Collins
My Five Word TL:DR Review : Didn’t Quite Work for Me
The Betrayals is a book that I part read and part listened to and I will say before starting this review that I do love the way that Bridget Collins writes. She has a way of instilling her works with so much atmosphere that even though the story wasn’t quite my ‘thing’ I still wanted to continue reading.
This is a novel with a historic feel although I’m not entirely sure the year in which this takes place. We begin by making the acquaintance of Léo Martin, a disgraced politician. Basically Léo had the temerity to disagree with one of the party lines and as a result finds himself demoted to a backsticks position that actually involves a return to his old school. Montverre is an old school academy where bright young things pitch their wits against each other in an old fashioned game known as the Grand Jeu. Léo left the school after a tragedy and his return now sets in train a strange unwinding of the past and some startling revelations along the way.
This is a story with a few POVs. Obviously Léo. Léo has become complacent over the years, used to his own importance and lulled, in fact, into thinking that his opinions matter much more than they do. He’s forgotten to keep his head down and is now facing the outcome of his own overblown self importance. In fairness to Léo he is actually making a stand against a party line that is very harsh and his removal from office gives him time to stand back and see just how extreme things have become. The politics here are not particularly named but there is an almost fascist feel to the place as though things are on the brink of change, tolerance is low and there’s an underlying current of fear and suspicion. We also have Léo’s pov from his days as a student told through the pages of a journal that he wrote at the time and so from this you would be right in thinking that the story does jump back and forth in order for us to discover what happened way back when. The third pov is Magister Ludi – this is the highest office that can be held at Montverre and is currently held by a woman called Claire Dryden. As the story unfolds it becomes apparent that this shocking admission of a female into a very male centred world and a much sought after position came about through some sleight of hand and it would be an understatement to say that not all the old bastions within the Academy are happy with the ways things have panned out. Finally, a character known as the Rat – a very unusual perspective and one that I won’t elaborate on here for fear of spoilers.
So, what I liked about this first. I loved the writing. As I mentioned above Collins is really amazing at setting the tone and The Betrayals is brimming over with atmosphere. On top of that I am a little bit of a sucker for any story that’s set within the walls of a school or other learning establishment and the one here is a grand old building with plenty of dusty corridors, dark spaces and secret histories. There is also a lovely slow reveal of past secrets that went in a direction that was surprisingly and happily unexpected.
What didn’t work too well for me was a combination of wanting more clarity on the grand jeu and what the school was actually about and an overall feeling of not only missing something fundamental along the way but also that the plot didn’t really live up to it’s promise somehow. I’m not really phrasing that very well but for me it felt like there was going to be a lot more substance to this than the actual outcome left me feeling. Again, I think this is probably down to me not picking up an underlying message or perhaps expecting there to be more to this than was actually intended.
Overall, although this one didn’t totally win me over I would still not hesitate to pick up more books by this author. She has a style of writing that really works for me and so even though the content for this one didn’t work it’s magic I remain only too happy to read more books by her in the future.
I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publishers, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.
Mr Rating 3 of 5 stars
Can’t Wait Wednesday : The Shadow of the Gods (The Bloodsworn Saga #1) by John Gwynne
13 January 2021
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Can't wait Wednesday, In the Shadow of the Gods, John Gwynne, The Bloodsworn Saga #1, 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 Shadow of the Gods (The Bloodsworn Saga #1) by John Gwynne. I have been waiting for a description and book cover so that I could display this book. I am so excited for this book. Literally, I want this book. I really do. Anyway, here goes:
Set in a brand-new, Norse-inspired world, and packed with myth, magic and bloody vengeance, The Shadow of the Gods begins an epic new fantasy saga from bestselling author John Gwynne.
After the gods warred and drove themselves to extinction, the cataclysm of their fall shattered the land of Vigrið.
Now a new world is rising, where power-hungry jarls feud and monsters stalk the woods and mountains. A world where the bones of the dead gods still hold great power for those brave – or desperate – enough to seek them out.
Now, as whispers of war echo across the mountains and fjords, fate follows in the footsteps of three people: a huntress on a dangerous quest, a noblewoman who has rejected privilege in pursuit of battle fame, and a thrall who seeks vengeance among the famed mercenaries known as the Bloodsworn.
All three will shape the fate of the world as it once more falls under the shadow of the gods . . .
Expected publication : May 2021
Books and travelling with Lynn 