My next ten reads queued:
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 is :
Books to Read By the Pool/Summer Reads
The next ten upcoming reads look something like this (the best laid plans not always going according to plan being taken into consideration) – all books linked to Goodreads for descriptions:
Ravencry by Ed McDonald
Witchmark by CL Polk
Bitter Sun by Beth Lewis
The Queens of Innis Lear by Tessa Gratton
Hunted by GX Todd
The Oddling Prince by Nancy Springer
Spinning Silver by Naomi Novak
One of Us by Craig DiLouie
Redemption’s Blade by Adrian Tchaikovsky
Little Eve by Catriona Ward
The Last Sun (The Tarot Sequence #1) by K.D. Edwards
18 June 2018
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: KD Edwards, the Last Sun, The Tarot Sequence #1
The Last Sun was a blast of a novel, refreshing, quite different and downright more fun reading than I had any expectations of when I picked it up. For a debut novel I confess myself truly impressed.
I would start out the review by saying this book will probably steam roller you. It’s action packed and it’s written very much with the expectation that readers will hit the ground running. There’s no handholding, the world building develops as the story unfolds and the action is intense, so be prepared to just dive onboard and hold on tight.
The story begins in an almost James Bond/Mission Impossible style fashion with a dramatic opening in which we encounter Rune Saint John as he takes part in his latest derring-do. It’s a great way to start a story and certainly serves to hook you from the get go as well as introduce you to two of the main characters. Rune and Brand. It’s pretty easy from hereon-in to conclude that Rune and Brand are available for hire – they quite often work for a powerful character known as The Tower. I guess they’re mercenaries of a sort and their latest job involves a mystery surrounding a missing person from one of the more influential families.
The world building is, to be honest, a little on the skimpy side, but that being said I’m hopeful that this is one of the first in a series in which case I’m assuming the world building will be developed as things progress. The setting is New Atlantis – A city on an island – built after the destruction of Atlantis itself. Here all sorts of supernatural types live alongside each other. The noble families seem to be named for the Major Arcana of a tarot deck – Sun, Tower, Hermit, Judgement, etc. Magic is wielded through the use of items, powered by sigils that can be ‘charged’ and worn – for example rings. It’s a really interesting magical system although I don’t feel I’ve got a good enough handle to discuss it in depth just yet.
To be honest what really sold this story to me was the characters. I will just mention that this is a predominantly male cast but frankly I enjoyed reading their interactions so much that I ddn’t particularly notice that until I was well into the story. There is Rune. His past is dark and dreadful and you will hear more of his suffering as the story progresses. It helps to get a handle on what he’s been through and also gives added impetus as to why Brand, who is a companion and bodyguard who shares a special bond, is so protective of him. The relationship between Rune and Brand goes back many years, and Brand can be almost a little too overprotective at times. The surrounding cast is made up of a young man named Max – who Rune has unwittingly taken as a ward and Addam – but I won’t elaborate because this will possibly lead to spoilers. There is a relationship that starts to blossom in The Last Sun but it’s not the main focus of the story.
The writing is very well balanced with snarky banter and slow reveals helping to lift the story and prevent it becoming too bogged down with action. In fact I think my only real quibble here was perhaps that there is a little too much action and it monopolises the book a little, almost becoming too overwhelming at one point. But, it wasn’t a deal breaker and I can completely understand the desire to make this into a whirling dirvish of a story. The author has definitely succeeded in coming up with a creative world combining strange creatures, ghosts, zombies, dark magic and more.
Without doubt I thoroughly enjoyed this story and I can’t wait to read more. I hope to learn more of the mysteries behind the downfall of Rune’s family, the political background of which has been hinted at within this first instalment.
I have no hesitation in recommending The Last Sun. A fascinating world full of intrigue and machinations, a wonderful cast of characters that are just easy to become attached to. A thrilling plot that takes a dark turn and just a wonderful start to a very promising series. I can’t wait for more.
I received a copy courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.
Weekly Wrap Up : 17/06/18
Hope you’ve all had a great week. I’ve not managed much reading this week for one reason or another. Just the one book: The Burning Chambers by Kate Mosse:
- The Burning Chambers by Kate Mosse
Next Week’s Reads:
- Bitter Sun by Beth Lewis
- Witchmark by C L Polk
Upcoming reviews: –
- Starborn by Lucy Hounsom
- Envy of Angels by Matt Wallace
- School for Psychics by K C Archer
- Noir by Christopher Moore
- Behind Her Eyes by Sarah Pinborough
- Cross Her Heart by Sarah Pinborough
- The Wisdom of Sally Red Shoes by Ruth Hogan
- The Last Sun (The Tarot Sequence #1) by K.D. Edwards
- The Burning Chambers by Kate Mosse
I’d love to know what you’re reading this week.
Friday Face Off : Live in the saddle. Die on the hog
15 June 2018
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Books by Proxy, Firebrand, Friday Face off, Gillian Philip
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:
Live in the saddle. Die on the hog – a cover featuring riders
This week I thought I had a cover but I thought wrong so I had to dig around a little and came up with Firebrand (Rebel Angels #1) by Gillian Philip (although I could have used the book that I took the quote from – thought I’d keep that one for future themes maybe):
Only two choices this week. I really like the first because it’s the book I owned but I like the action in the second. On balance I think my choice has to be:
Which is your favourite.
Next week – a cover featuring a murder scene
Future themes: (if you’re struggling with any of these themes then use a ‘freebie’ of one of your favourite covers)
22nd June -‘Murder most foul, as in the best it is’ – a cover featuring a murder scene
29th June – ‘Lips as red as the rose’ – a cover that is predominantly red
6th July – ‘The north wind doth blow, and we shall have snow, ‘ – a cover that is windswept
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
Legendary (Caraval #2) by Stephanie Garber
Legendary is the second instalment of Stephanie Garber’s Caraval Trilogy. It’s another colourful confection with sumptuous descriptions of balls, palaces and tricky games played out following a trail of cookie crumbs.
I think it’s probably safe to say that if you liked Caraval you’ll almost certainly like Legendary. I admit that I enjoyed both books although on balance I probably liked the first the most. I found myself having reservations along the way and both books definitely led to a feeling of indulgence – which, I think stems from the fact that I’m aware of the issues that I have and yet I still can’t help reading in fairly short order and just plain enjoying the read.
To the plot. The story this time around is told from Tella’s POV. Tella has her own reasons for wanting to succeed and it seems that she’s made a pact with an unknown man who seems to be of a risky persuasion. Tella and Scarlett’s mother disappeared from their lives many years ago and until now her whereabouts have been a mystery. Winning Caraval could change all of that. Names are powerful things and it seems that somebody is very keen to have Legend’s true name. Can Tella succeed in finding out about the man behind the spectacle.
The characters. Well, as mentioned, this time the story is told from Tella’s pov. She’s playing the game and although Scarlett wanted to join in she seems indisposed for the majority of the story. We do have the addition of two extra characters. One called Dante who seems determined to follow in Tella’s footsteps. Dark of hair and of nature Dante is a conundrum and yet somehow he feels fair rather than foul. The other character, Jack, has a more dangerous feel. Both of them are mysteries when it comes to their identities. Of course we have other secondary characters who are there as props of the game and we of also have a few flashbacks to Tella’s mother.
The writing is again lush and although I can see how some might find Garber’s flowery prose a bit too much I find myself wallowing in it. I just like her style and find it very easy to read. It’s sugary sweet and uses all sorts of colours, feelings and food to pull together descriptions.
My criticisms are probably similar to the first book. I don’t really buy into the strength of feelings between the two sisters – which might be simply because they barely spend any time together in either of the books. I thought Legendary lost some of the fun of the game itself – but again, I think that’s because the author is taking things down a slightly darker route – the potential outcomes certainly seemed a lot more dangerous, in fact when I really think about it there was very little of the actual game involved this time. And, there is a romance taking place – not really a criticism to be honest just thought it worth mentioning.
In terms of what I really enjoyed. I liked the introduction of the Tarot cards and the fates all being intertwined. As with the first I loved the creativity and magic around Caraval itself. I thought we had a real opportunity to find out more about Tella and her strengths and weaknesses. And, can’t tell a lie – I enjoyed the romance elements and I think plenty of other readers probably will do so as well. The conclusion leaves the way open to a number of possibilities and I’m certainly intrigued to see what comes next – not least of all who the POV of the third instalment will be.
Overall, I had issues with this book but at the same time I found myself completely unperturbed by them. This was an easy read for me and an enjoyable one in spite of any quibbles I picked up along the way.
I received a copy through Netgalley courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.
