The postman arriveth!!
7 January 2015
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Little Red Reviewer, Not Yet Read, Recent acquisitions, tenacious reader, The Bibliosanctum
I love it when my books start to arrive! These are some of the books I ordered with the vouchers I received over Christmas (excuse the poor picture quality!):
Dreamers Pool by Juliet Marillier – super excited to pick this one up – everyone is loving it and I got this from a good recommendation right here at The Bibliosanctum.
Defenders by Will McIntosh – couldn’t use my own photo for this because the quality was too bad!! Got this book from a recommendation here at the Little Red Reviewer. *scary covers*
And lastly:
The Bloodbound by Erin Lindsey – and this comes from a recommendation I picked up from Not Yet Read.
Also, and finally, check out this link which Lisa at the Tenacious Reader has put together – a list of anticipated books for 2015. Check it out here! If you think something needs to be added don’t be shy!
Debut Authors…
5 January 2015
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: 2015 Debut authors, The Broke and the Bookish, Top Ten Tuesday
This week over at The Broke and Bookish the Top Ten Tuesday topic is:
‘Top Ten Most Anticipated Debut Novels For 2015’
Now, I’m going to admit I find this one a tough one! Really, I do. The thing is I always have books that I have my beady eye on, books that I’m waiting to come out – but more often than not I couldn’t say whether they’re an author’s debut or not! My bad I guess but there it is!!
So, I’ve had a look to see what I fancy on the Goodreads list – because you can’t have enough book wants after all. I’ve not got the full ten but here are five debuts that I like the looks of (I’ve pinched the write ups because, I’m lazy, and, if it’s not broke don’t fix it!:
- Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard – The poverty stricken Reds are commoners, living under the rule of the Silvers, elite warriors with god-like powers.
- An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir – Set in a terrifyingly brutal Rome-like world, An Ember in the Ashes is an epic fantasy debut about an orphan fighting for her family and a soldier fighting for his freedom. It’s a story that’s literally burning to be told.
- The Creeping by Alexandra Sirowy – Twelve years ago Stella and Jeanie vanished while picking strawberries. Stella returned minutes later, with no memory of what happened. Jeanie was never seen or heard from again.
- A Wicked Thing by Rhiannon Thomas – Rhiannon Thomas’s dazzling debut novel is a spellbinding reimagining of Sleeping Beauty and what happens after happily ever after.
- The Edge of Forever by Melissa E Hurst – In 2013: Sixteen-year-old Alora is having blackouts. Each time she wakes up in a different place with no idea of how she got there. The one thing she is certain of? Someone is following her.
Tainted Blood by M L Brennan
5 January 2015
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: A Generation V novel, M L Brennan, Tainted Blood
Do I love this series or what! Let me count the ways in which I love it. Well, firstly, I seem to have gobbled up the first three books in fairly short order, secondly, it’s got two very likable leads – one of which is a very cool Kitsune, thirdly, it’s fast paced, action packed and pretty funny, fourthly it brings something a little new to what could be deemed as a genre that is becoming a bit jaded, fifthly – what the hell, do you need any more, really – a Kitsune people!!
(Note: obligatory spoiler statement – I do try and avoid spoilers but it you’re new to this series it’s probably best not to start reading here! So, for the record ‘I told you so!’). The series revolves primarily around a young, not-yet-grown-into-his-teeth vampire called Fortitude Scott and his family, it’s set in our world but populated with supernatural types that most of us regular folks are thankfully oblivious to – at this point we’ve only been introduced to a number of these supes and this installment focuses on the werebears. At the start of the story the Head of the local were pack is murdered and the Scotts are called in to investigate! Fort has to step up to take on the task as he’s currently covering the role for his brother who is somewhat distracted. I may have mentioned this but the Scott’s come across a little like the Mob of the fantasy underworld. They, ahem, offer ‘protection’ to the others and closely regulate their territory to prevent action that draws too much attention to their kind!
Now, I’m not going to go specifically into the plot here – you have your basic investigation taking place and the usual drama that follows Fort and Suzume around as huge critters chase them around the woods! The storyline is fast paced and compelling as ever but more importantly than that (to me at least) is the underlying shift in balance that seems to be taking place between the Scotts and the rest of the supernaturals together with the change in the family dynamic. Clearly, things are going to come to a head and in this installment you can feel the tension not only within the family, where there will clearly be a struggle for dominance as certain events transpire, but also in the community where lines in the dirt are already being drawn.
Let’s face it, some of the supernaturals who fall under the Scott’s control aren’t happy with their lot and with a change looking imminent they’re keen to set out their stalls early. Fort is young, he isn’t set in his ways and he’s clearly willing to listen and, more than that, sympathise with people who feel they have an axe to grind. It’s going to be very interesting to read No.4 in the series. There is definitely the potential for so many things, in so many ways, to just blow up and become either completely unmanageable or to cause a major rift!
What I particularly like about this series is the way the author is introducing us to things at the same pace as Fort. It’s like we’re all learning about his world with him and I think this is so clever to be honest. Importantly, she establishes a link with the reader and Fort (and Suzume) really early on and then she builds with each installment providing another little piece of his world. On reflection, it’s easy now to look back at Fort’s early impressions of his family and think that he’s perhaps an unreliable narrator when it comes to his family – but this is based more on the fact that Fort has been largely brought up in the care of regular humans, he hasn’t spent much time with his vampire family and consequently he’s only just learning about them and about the boundaries – just like us! Fort is definitely a character who will grow on you without a doubt. Suzume – won’t grow on you – it won’t be necessary for any growing-on at all, you’ll simply read her and love her immediately. She’s just fun, confident, cool, cocky – what can I say – she’s an excellent work of fiction!
Anyway, that’s it for me. If you like urban fantasy and you’re looking for a new series give Generation V a shot. Credit where it’s due: I have the lovely Mogsy at The Bibliosanctum to thank for putting me onto this series!
Vital Statistics!! And other random information
Just for curiosity’s sake I thought I’d have a look at my reading for 2014 and run some figures (I will point out that mathematics is not my strong point so there could be discrepancies!!)
Out of the books I read:
- Total No. of books read 100
- Bought – 38% (this only includes those read to date!)
- Gifts – 6%
- Publishers/authors direct – 12%
- Netgalley – 32%
- Library – 12%
- Female authors – 45.5%
- Male authors – 54.5%
Challenges/Events:
- 100 books in a year – complete
- Vintage Sci Fi (Little Red Reviewer) – books read – 2
- Sci Fi 2014 (Stainless Steel Droppings) – books read – 3
- Classics Book Club – books read 3
- Once Upon a Time (Stainless Steel Droppings) – books read – 13
- Readers Imbibing Peril (RIP) (Stainless Steel Droppings) – books read – 7
- Readalongs: Maze Runner, Way of Kings, Words of Radiance
Them’s my numbers for 2014.
A Princess of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs
3 January 2015
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: 2015 Sci Fi Experience, A Princess of Mars, Edgar Rice Burroughs, Little Red Reviewer, Stainless Steel Droppings, Vintage Sci Fi
I finished reading A Princess of Mars just before New Year. I’ve read this book as one of my reads for the Little Red Reviewer’s Vintage Sci Fi event and also Stainless Steel Droppings 2015 Sci Fi Experience.
I’m glad I finally got round to reading ERB and whilst I don’t think this is going to be one of my all time favourites it was a good read.
This is like an adventure story really, there’s plenty of action and fighting, a damsel in distress, aliens and war – all set on a different planet that is slowly dying.
The plot – in a very summarised way is: John Carter is a gentleman and soldier out of Virginia who, at the conclusion of the war turns to prospecting and then in the most unusual circumstances finds himself transported to the planet of Mars (Barsoom). Here he falls into the captivity of a strange race of aliens called Tharks. The Tharks are a tall race, up to 15 feet apparently, with green skin. They value fighting and strength above all and have little value for feelings, compassion or love. Carter befriends one of this race called Tars Tarkas and in fact begins to gain a reputation as a warrior as his muscles and strength are greatly increased upon Mars due to the change in gravity. Carter, at first bides his time. He learns a little more of this race from Sola – a member of the race who is charged with looking after him, and also guarding him along with a strange, dog like creature called Woola. As time progresses Carter’s standing within the community changes and he almost has free will to roam (within reason) but all changes when the Tharks capture a young woman, a princess of Helium called Dejah Thoris. Helium is populated by a human like, red skinned race who appear to be the dominant factor on Barsoom. They live in great cities and appear organised unlike the Tharks who are portrayed as uncivilised, savage and warlike. Carter finds himself rather enamoured of the Princess and following this the main thrust of the story is one of rescue, escape and recapture! I won’t go overly much into the plot as it’s already fairly well discussed elsewhere.
The story takes the form of a travelogue narrated by Carter. I enjoyed the writing and particularly the detail concerning the planet and it’s inhabitants. There was certainly never a lack of action and the story was taken forward at a fairly rapid pace swiftly moving from one fairly unique situation to the next.
In terms of the characters I confess myself a little perplexed. I wouldn’t say they made a great impact on me really which is an unusual feeling to have – particularly when the main aim of the story revolves around our hero of the piece rescuing the object of his affection – I just felt oddly detached from both characters. I’m not saying I disliked them, because I didn’t, they just came across a little bland somehow – in fact that’s probably a little harsh sounding as I think that the plot and the adventure feel definitely took centre stage. For me personally, I felt like Tars and Sola came across with more personality and I found I enjoyed their personal stories. Curiously I also found myself liking and caring for the strange dog like creature called Woola who had become very attached to Carter during the time he was in the Thark’s captivity.
On the whole I found this an enjoyable and easy story to read. I think you need to pick this up with the age it was written clearly in mind as the writing and storytelling that we are now used to has definitely evolved. And, curiously, if you normally avoid sci fi stories – as I tend to do a little, usually because I think they’ll go over my head! – well, you’ll have to forgive me for saying the sci fi element is a tad skimpy, I mean, okay, it’s set on Mars and there are different races involved but if you’re expecting any eye openers in terms of different technology – or for that matter the whys and wherefores of how and why Carter found himself mysteriously transported to Mars – then you may be disappointed. I can’t say I suffered the lack of such detail but just thought I’d chuck this in there for your general consumption.
Overall I thought this was an entertaining read, I didn’t love it but I enjoyed the narrative style and I certainly had no problems in completing the book. I would definitely recommend this – I think it’s worth reading for a number of reasons, not least of all the impact it has since had on sci-fi fiction.
