Weekly Wrap Up : 8 July 2018
Another very warm week. Hope you’re all enjoying the summer weather and chilling out with a good book. My reads this week:
- One of Us by Craig DiLouie
- Wrath of Gods by Dyrk Ashton
Next Week’s Reads:
- Hunted by GX Todd
- Redemption’s Blade by Adrian Tchaikovsky
Upcoming reviews: –
- Starborn by Lucy Hounsom
- Envy of Angels by Matt Wallace
- Noir by Christopher Moore
- The Burning Chambers by Kate Mosse
- Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik
- One of Us by Craig DiLouie
- Wrath of Gods by Dyrk Ashton
I’d love to know what you’re reading this week.
The Wisdom of Sally Red Shoes by Ruth Hogan
The Wisdom of Sally Red Shoes is another book that’s slightly out of my comfort zone but I really enjoyed the Keeper of Lost Things last year and so decided to give this one a shot. There’s no elements of fantasy in this at all. It’s a story of loss, guilt, redemption and it has a strong thread of hope in terms of self forgiveness and allowing yourself to live on after terrible events have created sadness and loss.
The story revolves around a central character called Masha. You can feel Masha’s overwhelming sadness even though at this point you’re unclear as to what is the cause. Hogan writes emotions so well. It feels like Masha is drowning in despair and guilt and her feelings very much flood over into the lives of her surrounding friends and family causing them too to suffer alongside her. It’s like Masha feels too guilty to live and in some respects almost pushes herself to the brink. But, before I make this sound too overwhelming, things begin to slowly change in the subtlest ways. Primarily with the introduction of new friends into Masha’s life, friends who she can open up to finally and actually begin to forgive herself and allow her own life to continue. I suppose there’s something about sharing stories and in doing so lightening the load.
I don’t really need to say too much about the plot. This isn’t a convoluted story and I don’t want to give too much away. There is a side plot to the story that introduces a mysterious element to the tale To be honest, I’m not totally sure this element was really necessary although I can see why the author would wish to include it.
I liked Masha. She has a lovely family and friends although in her presence they’re all on pins a little, like they’re afraid to laugh in case it breaks her somehow or they simply don’t know how to handle the situation. I guess grief brings out the awkwardness. I really enjoyed watching Masha go through a kind of metamorphosis and finally allow herself to begin feeling again.
The story is full of quirky and eccentric characters, the writing is accomplished and the settings veer between social events that Masha is strong armed into attending, her time spent at the local lido which is at once where she tortures herself with memories and also the place where she finally learns to live again, and the cemetery. I loved Masha’s time spent in the cemetery with her large hairy hound. I find cemeteries quite fascinating to be honest so I loved this aspect to the story, almost like I’d found a like minded character.
In terms of criticisms. Like I mentioned, I really don’t think the parallel plot was necessary. I think the story could have stood on it’s own two feet as it was – a story of loss and redemption, the additional element felt a little sensational and, to be honest, a tiny bit predictable. It didn’t spoil the story for me but even now, having sat on this review, I still don’t feel like it was needed.
On the whole, and personal preferences to one side, this is a lovely read. I didn’t enjoy it as much as Hogan’s first work but I still think it was a quick and easy read and managed to really pack emotion into the tale.
As I mentioned, this isn’t my usual type of novel but if you want something charming quirky and hopeful this could make a very enjoyable summer read.
I received a copy from the publisher, courtesy of Netgalley, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.
#SPFBO – Cover Competition
6 July 2018
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: #SPFBO 2018, Cover Competition, Final Three Contenders
A part of the Self Published Fantasy Blog Off is the cover competition that is held before all the reading and judging commences. This is a lovely way to get the ball rolling and gives all the entrants another shot at having their book highlighted in a really positive way. All ten judges pick three favourite covers from their own batch of books. There is then a vote to decide the favourite out of the 30 covers submitted.
I can’t tell you how difficult this was. I definitely wanted more than three. Now, being a sole blogger I can’t really vote on the books so I just have to go with my gut feeling. No amount of humming and ahhing has helped. I’ve been backwards and forwards deliberating and I can say for the record that you people (my authors) have made this almost impossible. At the end of the day there are some quality covers – check them out here. I eventually narrowed it down to about eight contenders but the three I’m entering into the competition are as follows:
My 3 cover contenders:
Sorry to all the others, I realise it’s not much consolation but I liked so many of your covers and the standard this year is fantastic. To check out the other entries put forward this year look here.
Friday Face Off : The north wind doth blow, and we shall have snow
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, compare a couple of the different covers available for that particular book and choose your favourite. Future week’s themes are listed below – the list has been updated to help out those of you who like to plan ahead – 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. This week’s theme:
The north wind doth blow, and we shall have snow – a cover that is windswept
Wow, I struggled with this theme. I could have used a book that I’ve previously used but didn’t want to do so. And I did come up with another couple but they didn’t work out either. Then I came across The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms (Inheritance Trilogy #1) by N.K. Jemisin – some of these covers are definitely windswept (or windy at least) – phew:
My favourite is:
Which is your favourite?
Next week – a cover featuring a ghost or spectre
Future themes: (if you’re struggling with any of these themes then use a ‘freebie’ of one of your favourite covers)
13th July –‘There’s more of gravy than of grave about you’ – a cover featuring a ghost or spectre
20th July -‘In winter with warm tears I’ll melt the snow’ – A cover featuring icicles or snow
27th July – “I saw huge buildings rise up faint and fair, and pass like dreams.” – a cover that is steampunk
3rd August – “Moonlight drowns out all but the brightest stars.” – a cover featuring a starry sky
10th August – ‘…Christine, who have torn off my mask and who therefore can never leave me again! – A cover with a mask
17th August – ‘Knock, knock… ‘who’s there?’ – A cover featuring a door ajar or closed
24th August – ‘To be a legend, you’ve either got to be dead, or excessively old!’ – A cover with a title featuring the word ‘legend’
31st August – ‘“Come buy our orchard fruits, Come buy, come buy’ – A cover featuring a goblin or dwarves
7th September – ‘Mirror, Mirror on the wall – A cover featuring a queen
14th September – “He had killed man, the noblest game of all, and he had killed in the face of the law of club and fang.” – A cover featuring a wolf or wolves
21st September – ‘I wandered lonely as a cloud’ – a cover featuring clouds
28th September – Eyes wide shut – a cover featuring eyes
5th October – “He sounded like a man who had slept well and didn’t owe too much money.” – A cover that is ‘noir’
12th October – “The impossible could not have happened, therefore the impossible must be possible in spite of appearances.” – A cover for a mystery novel
19th October -“If I cannot inspire love, I will cause fear!” – A horror cover
26th October – Trick or treat – A halloween inspired cover
2nd November – ‘Remember, remember the fifth of November,’ – A cover inspired by Bonfire Night
9th November – ‘All right! They’re spiders from Mars! You happy?’ – A cover feturing a critter of the eight legged variety
16th November – There is no terror in the bang, only in the anticipation of it.’ – A scary cover
23rd November – ‘The child is in love with a human. And not just any human. A prince!’ – A cover featuring a mermaid/man
30th November – “..the children of the night. What music they make!” – a cover with a vampire
7th December – ‘I am Aragorn son of Arathorn; and if by life or death I can save you, I will.’ – A cover featuring a hero
14th December -“Heavy is the head that wears the crown” – A cover featuring a crown
21st December – ‘ho, ho, ho’ – A seasonal cover
28th December – A freebie – choose one of your favourite titles and compare the covers
2019
4th January – A cover that is fresh – New beginnings for a New Year
11th January – ‘I know I have the body of a weak and feeble woman, but I have the heart and stomach of a king’ – A cover that depicts a novel set in the Tudor period
18th January – A cover featuring an Amulet – either in the cover or title
25th January – ‘Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.’ – A cover featuring a monk/priest/person of the cloth
1st February – A comedy cover
8th February – ‘Hi little cub. Oh no, don’t be ssscared.’ – A cover with snakes
15th February – A heart – for Valentine’s day past
22nd February – “Woe, destruction, ruin, and decay; the worst is death and death will have his day.” – A cover with abandoned building/s
1st March – ‘who will buy this wonderful morning’ – A cover featuring a shop or market
8th March – ‘Two little fishes and a momma fishy too’ – A cover featuring a fish/fishes or other sea creatures
15th March – ‘Beware the moon, lads.’ – A cover with a shapeshifter
22nd March – ‘A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse’ – A cover featuring a king
29th March – “I thought unicorns were more . . . Fluffy.” – A cover featuring a unicorn
5th April – ‘nomad is an island’ – A cover featuring a desert landscape
12th April – ‘Odin, Odin, send the wind to turn the tide – A cover featuring a longboat
19th april – ‘It was the best of times, it was the worst of times – A cover featuring a school
Ravencry (Raven’s Mark #2) by Ed McDonald
Blackwing (Raven’s Mark #1) was one of my favourite books last year. Ed McDonald was a new voice on the grimdark scene, his debut was rich in creativity and it was one of those books that although it brimmed with brutality also managed to maintain a sense of hope and an element of much needed humour. Ravencry is the second in series and I was very keen to pick this one up and read once again the trials and tribulations of Captain Ryhalt Galharrow. I will say from the outset that Ravencry does not disappoint.
It’s been four years since the siege. Galharrow seems to be fairly settled in terms of an important position, a decent home and the respect of his colleagues. It doesn’t take a genius though to see that he hasn’t fully come to terms with certain events and alcohol plays a large part in keeping him propped up.
Within a few chapters it becomes fairly obvious that trouble is once again brewing, although on the face of it it’s difficult to pin down exactly what shape it will take. A stolen artefact, countless visions of a ‘bright lady’ that have led to a disturbing growth in numbers of a new religious cult coupled with the appearance of some suspicious characters – who become even more suspect when it’s discovered that they’ve already died at least once already – these things just don’t sit well.
I’m not really going to go into the plot at all. For me, I did find that it meandered a little at the beginning before becoming a real threat – which, is fair enough. It took time for Ryhalt to investigate things and at first he was floundering a little until the penny finally dropped and the realisation of what was actually about to take place became evident.
What I thoroughly enjoyed about Ravencry was the return to a world that has been so well established and the joy of spending time with characters that are simply great to read about. Galharrow, and Nenn, are such persuasive characters. Galharrow in particular. He’s so easy to read and such a great narrator. He gets himself into countless desperate situations that there really doesn’t seem any likelihood of coming back from and yet with sheer determination he manages to find a way, be it swimming through a filthy canal, scouring the sewers or once again tracking into the very heart of the Misery with all its evil critters and haunted beings in order to stop a force against seemingly impossible odds.
I also admit that I love the style of writing. Mr McDonald has a vivid imagination and a way with words that makes the world and the terrors it holds simply jump off the page. There’s no shortage of death and heartbreak in these pages and the author undoubtedly made some difficult decisions. There are numerous fights and skirmishes and unspeakable crimes and I’m hard pressed to decide which is worse between the horrors unfolding in the City or Galharrow’s own personal journey through hell when he spends more time than is wise in the Misery. I’m probably painting a grim picture here but with good reason I think. Strangely enough, although the overall threat didn’t seem quite as real in this instalment (or at least the focus seems to have changed) the death and subsequent despair undoubtedly reached a high.
In terms of criticisms. No deal breakers here fortunately. Thankfully this doesn’t fall victim to ‘middle book syndrome’. I think the only thing I would mention is that I felt the pacing of the first half stalled a little. I also felt an element of near death experience fatigue on behalf of Galharrow – in fact I don’t know how he just didn’t fall over into a ditch and stay there at one point because he seemed to have had such a lot thrown at him and certainly more than most people could survive. That being said – I am relieved that he didn’t fall into said ditch.
Overall this was a great read and one that really sets the stall out for the final instalment. A fine demonstration of writing prowess and an author to keep firmly on the ‘must read’ list.
I received a copy through Negalley, courtesy of the publishers. for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.
