#SPFBO X Review: Through Blood and Dragons by RM Schultz
26 October 2024
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: #SPFBO X, Dragons, Fantasy, Review, reviews, RM Schultz, Through Blood and Dragons
For those who don’t know about SPFBO (the Self Published Fantasy Blog Off) – this is a competition created and run by Mark Lawrence. The competition is now in its tenth year and you can find out more about all the other entrants and judges over on Mark Lawrence’s blog.
I have now completed all my reading for the first phase of SPFBO X. Over the next few days I hope to publish reviews for the three books chosen by the Critiquing Chemist followed by a post in which we will announce our finalist.
Today’s review is for a high fantasy story called Through Blood and Dragons by RM Schultz.
If you love stories with dragons then this will surely appeal. Dragons are integral to the story. They are used by warring nations and in fact can tip the balance of whether you win or lose. They share a bond with their rider and there is a dragon realm that will hopefully be explored more in future editions.
This is the land of Cimeren, torn by a history of war between the north and south there is an uneasy peace which rests on a knife edge. Instability threatens to once again push the nation into war and so when a terrible event leads to the death of the King of Murgare and his Queen being taken hostage the infamous Dragon Queen of the north decides to take action. And so the scene is set for these two nations to once again go to war.
However, here is so much more to this story than the simple overview above. This is a story with intrigue and mystery, corruption and bravery.
The landscape of this world has largely helped to prevent the constant outbreaks of war that are always looming. The two are separated by a dark forest and a huge lake. Both of these are obstacles to war when your main threat comes from a host of dragons. The forest gives little chance of respite for the larger dragons to rest as does the lake, and so nature helps to keep these warring nations apart. They are, of course, constantly trying to keep ahead in terms of recruiting more dragons – a kind of arms war if you will. There are many types of dragons, the larger of which wear armaments and carry warriors into the fray. The author has clearly thought this through in depth with different breeds and abilities.
As the story begins we meet Cyran Orendain, a squire at an outpost called Nevergrace. Cyran is an easy to like character, he’s good natured and friendly, he cares about the dragons, he dreams of better things, he has a secret fancy for one of the young women from the outpost and he has a strong sense of duty. We follow Cyran for much of the story taking us back and forth into the large city of Belvenguard where the plot thickens and back to the outpost where war has raised its bloody head. There are of course other characters and Cyran’s sister, Jaslin, is definitely one to watch.
The world building is impressive and there are plenty of unexpected elements to the story to hold your attention. I was surprised by how ruthless the author was in terms of not only the characters but also the dragons.
I mentioned intrigue. Not all of the story elements are concluded by the end of the story. Clearly, there is more to this war than at first meets the eye. Of course there is the natural enmity between the north and south given their history, however, other forces are at play and maybe the start of this war is not as straightforward as it first appears. Certain members of the King’s court come across as decidedly suspicious, someone is sending out secret messages to a number of the key players warning them to be careful and on top of this the dark forests seem to be coming alive with death and mystery, strange magic, enchanted music and unusual artefacts.
In terms of criticisms. I didn’t have anything that spoiled the story for me. There are a number of threads, some of which are ongoing at the conclusion of the tale and there is a lot to take on board but this feels natural for epic fantasy of this scope. In that respect it has a typical start to a series feel. there are many characters to become familiar with, plus the layout and backstory which can slow the story down a little at points but not to the point that I wasn’t enjoying the read.
In conclusion, I enjoyed Through Blood and Dragons, it’s a great start to a promising series.
I received a copy courtesy of the author, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.
Friday Face Off : The House at Watch Hill by Karen Marie Moning
25 October 2024
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Book Review, book-blog, Books, Friday Face off, Karen Marie Moning, reading, The House at Watch Hill
Today I’m returning to the Friday Face Off, originally created by Books by Proxy). I’ve missed these for the past few months and so would like to get back to comparing covers (and hopefully I will be updating this page with a new banner. This is an opportunity to look at a book of your choice and shine the spotlight on the covers. Of course this only works for those books that have alternative covers (although sometimes I use this to look at a series of books to choose a favourite). . So, if you have a book that has alternative covers, highlight them and choose your favourite. If you’re taking part it would be great if you leave a link so I can take a look at what you’ve chosen.
This week I’ve chosen another book that is on my shelf waiting to be read. The House at Watch Hill by Karen Marie Moning. I’m looking forward to picking this one up soon. Only two covers, take a look:
My favourite this week:
Have you read this book already? What did you think and which is your favourite?
Join me next week in highlighting one of your reads with different covers.
Review: And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie
24 October 2024
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Agatha Christie, And Then There Were None, Book Reviews, Books, Mystery, Review
My Five Word TL:DR Review: Loved It, especially the reveal
And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie is a book that I’ve wanted to read for some time. I bought, a few years ago, a copy of a paperback version and I think I also might have had a kindle version but when I saw this on Netgalley, well, firstly, I knew that it would give me the push I needed to pick it up and secondly, I was fascinated about this collector’s edition and the way the ending is revealed.
So, if you’re not familiar with And Then There Were None its a closed room mystery that takes place on an island where a number of guests have been invited for a mystery weekend. One by one the guests begin to die and it soon becomes apparent that a murderer is amongst the party.
I had such a good time with this.
Having read Christie before I had an idea of what to expect with the style. The writing is very easy to get along with. The style is, I suppose, dated, I think the original was probably written in the 1940s and the characters, the dialogue and the set up is reflective of that but I loved it.
As mentioned, we have a number of characters that arrive at Soldier Island to be met by the housekeeper and butler. Only ten people in total. The island is completely cut off from the mainland and stormy weather makes it impossible for the inhabitants to leave once the murders begin.
In each room is an old nursery rhyme and on the dining room table are ten pottery soldier statues – which slowly but surely disappear in line with the murders.
None of the characters know each other (apart from the butler and housekeeper who are man and wife).
Quite early in the story an ominous and intimidating record is played to the guests in which they are all accused of murder. This of course causes immediate outrage and much stomping about followed by loud declarations of innocence. Within fairly short order we have our first victim. To begin with the guests think this may have been a suicide and although they all still feel uncomfortable and wish to leave the island they don’t at this point have any other fears – until the next body appears – two dead bodies in such a short period, even though they don’t immediately stand out as murder, it’s a bit of a coincidence. And then the third body turns up and it becomes clear to all that their lives are in danger.
So, much searching of the island and the house ensues. Some of the party have taken to solitary confinement and reflection, almost with a resigned feeling of the inevitable. Of course, the island is small and practically barren with no hidey holes. Likewise the house is a modern structure, clean lines and also very little room for evasion.
What I really liked about this.
The pacing is great. There’s always something going on.
The mystery. I’m pretty certain I’ve seen an adaptation of this but if I have I still didn’t guess the ending correctly. To be fair my impatience got the better of me. I started trying to work things out methodically and, not blowing my own trumpet, I thought I’d made quite a good job of coming up with the answer – but – well, firstly I was wrong, secondly there is a rather large clue which I’d completely overlooked and thirdly, there’s an element to the solution that I was totally closed off to. Plus, as I mentioned, my impatience got the better of me and I was so excited to read the ending I just went for the first person that I thought sounded feasible. Perhaps if I’d have taken long and reasoned things through – well, I don’t know.
The characters, I don’t think any of them are particularly easy to like – which isn’t to say I strongly disliked any of them. But, they’re all keeping secrets and some of them are definitely guilty and guilt ridden. I don’t think you’re supposed to love them to be honest which is just as well because the body count rises very quickly.
I have absolutely no hesitation in recommending this. If you like a fast paced murder mystery, short, snappy and full of intrigue then you need to give it a shot. The clues are all there, my only advice, don’t be like me and rush into your conclusion.
I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.
My rating 4.5 of 5 very entertaining stars
Review: Magic by Sarah Pinborough
23 October 2024
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Beauty, Blood, Fairy Tales, Fantasy, Magic, Poison, Rapunzel, Review, Sarah Pinborough
My Five Word TL:DR Review: Pinborough, such a great storyteller
I love a good fairytale, but sometimes better still a good fairytale reimagined. If this is something you enjoy then I can’t recommend Pinborough enough. She has a wicked sense of humour, she turns everything on it’s head and I love the way she writes. Magic has been recently released as the first in the Tales from the Kingdom series. I’ve already read Poison, Charm and Beauty and loved them. I nearly had a conniption when I saw on Netgalley two new titles Magic and Blood. Magic is, as I understand it (although, ahem, I have been known to be wrong) being marketed as the first in the series, followed by the aforementioned three and then another new book, Blood, being the fifth instalment.
So, Magic is a retelling that predominantly focuses on Rapunzel but also captures so many other elements of stories that I’ve loved over the years. Aladdin plays a role, and believe me when I say he’s the furthest thing from the Disney imagined version than you’ll believe. Pinborough captures so many different elements and gives them all her own unique twist, I was filled with a lovely sense of nostalgia whilst reading at the same time as being dumbfounded at the creativity on display that takes all my ideas of tropes and characters and stamps them into the earth, followed by a quick dusting off of the hands and a hearty harrumph – take that you fairytale stereotypes. I mean literally, I loved this. I confess that I am a fan of the author and maybe I’m predisposed to like her work, I don’t know, but this book picked me up just when I needed it.
In fact the other three books are also available and as I no longer have copies (having given by beautiful hard copies to some scoundrel to read (and we all know how that goes) I’m tempted to request the others so I have the full set again, that way I could enjoy myself quite spectacularly reading all five in almost back to back fashion – is that greedy though?
As I said, this is Rapunzel’s tale. Rapunzel is a beautiful, sheltered, young woman who lives in a tower with her Aunt Gretel (we all know the tale of Hansel and Gretel and the gingerbread house – well, be patient). Anyway, Gretel is a witch, she makes charms or curses that are usually woven into spindles and she has many spinning wheels already imbued with such magic. Gretel has hidden herself away from the world, she’s raised Rapunzel to mistrust other folk, especially men. There’s no such thing as true love and men simply can’t be trusted (feels like a little play on Miss Havisham and Estella). Except, Gretel is becoming curious about the outside world and when she is given a book, by a friend, about love and romance, she finds herself longing to meet her very own Prince Charming.
Meanwhile, we have a King, he’s exploring the kingdoms (mainly sowing his wild oats) before he takes up his position of authority. He bumps into a young man who tells him of a beautiful maiden trapped in a tower by a cruel witch and he immediately imagines himself as the dashing hero rushing to rescue her. The young man who told him the story has his own motives, a room full of magic spindles seems too good to resist.
I think I’ve already told you too much of the plot so I’ll stop there. Pick these up and enjoy them for yourselves.
What I loved.
The writing. It’s clever and well plotted. The stories are written with Pinborough’s wicked sense of humour and it comes across so well. There’s a determined tongue in cheek poking of fun at everything you may have come to expect from such tales and it ultimately comes together in a perfect package.
I really enjoy the way the author turns the characters around. We have Aladdin, we even have a genie and a lamp, but they’re so unexpectedly different. I won’t say more.
All of the books are set within the Kingdoms and this is another reason why I’m tempted to read all of them in order, why deny myself such fun after all. They’re all connected in small ways so I highly recommend picking up all five and reading them all in order.
I can’t add too much more, well, other than the fact that these books are so easy to read and are good stories packed with humour and a little bit of sizzling sexiness. And, the cherry on top – this is ultimately a story of true love.
This book was the pick-me-up that I didn’t know I needed.
I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the author, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.
My rating
5 of 5 intoxicatingly delicious stars
Can’t Wait Wednesday: At the Bottom of the Garden by Camilla Bruce
23 October 2024
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: At the Bottom of the Garden, Camilla Bruce, Can't Wait Wedesday, Wishful Ending
“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: At the Bottom of the Garden by Camilla Bruce. Here’s the cover and description:
A dark gothic adult fairytale with a murderous aunt, witches and a vengeful housekeeper.
Clara Woods is a killer. At the bottom of the garden is a flowerbed, long overgrown, where her late husband rests in peace – or so she always thought. Until the girls arrived.
Lily and Violet are her adolescent nieces, recently orphaned and in urgent need of care. Raising teenagers is certainly not what Clara had envisioned for herself, but her funds are drying up and the girls come with a hefty sum attached.
There is only one both girls are untrained witches, with newly heightened powers which they inherited from their mother when she died. Lily can literally see how people feel and knows when they lie. And young Violet can see the dead man at the bottom of the garden. She can see all the dead, and call them back.
Soon Clara is surrounded by apparitions, and at war with the gifted girls in her care. The latter have become a liability – and know far more than they should. There is a war waging in this house, and only one side can win…
Expected publication : January 2025
Books and travelling with Lynn 