The Copper Promise by Jen Williams
Just finished reading The Copper Promise which frankly I just loved and Jen Williams is an author that I now have my beady eye on (that’s right, I’m looking at you!) What an incredibly enjoyable read. Well written, gory in parts but with a very healthy injection of humour. Does it bring anything new to fantasy – not really. But, in spite of that it’s one damned enjoyable read and anyway it has DRAGONS – or, more to the point A DRAGON – or, okay, a God who is in the form of A DRAGON! Just go read it!
The story starts with an intriguing look at a Castle which has been overtaken by rogues. They’ve heard about the famed wealth of the ruling family and are determined to find it and they’re not taking any prisoners when it comes to having the ways and means of extracting information!
We have an interesting snippet with a couple of people clearly sneaking around in some underground tunnels. A bit of sneaking which they may regret.
Finally we arrive at the start of the journey. A couple of sell swords in a tavern meeting their latest discerning customer and agreeing terms. The Copper Promise.
Frankly, I’m not giving any more of the plot away! There is your typical band of characters that come together through a loose arrangement to find ‘something’ who then become bound together and set off against great adversity and terrible odds to set things to right.
So, why did I enjoy this so much. Well, the characters mainly. I loved The Copper Cat (Wydrin) plus Sebastian and even Frith (in spite of himself). They all go through rough times. They all reach points in the book where they are literally on their own. And they’re all good to read about. There’s no sighing in despair as you move to a character’s POV that you don’t really like so much and only begrudgingly read. We even get to read the POV from some of the members of the strange army that the main protagonists come into conflict with and also a brief journey through the mind of a God.
Plus, the imagination. I loved the inventiveness of so many things that take place in the story. The different Gods and the way they manipulate. The strange army known as ‘the brood’. The magic system and the two different types of magic plus the way the magic is wielded. Just such a lot of really creative ideas – such as the different glass – sorry to be cryptic but I don’t want to spoil things. Extraordinary suits of armour, islands shrouded in mystery and fog.
The worldbuilding maybe takes a slight back seat to the characters, but not in a way that detracts at all. It may be a back seat but it’s one of those back seat passengers that wants to be heard! There are no major info dumps and I felt like the author managed very easily to portray the world here – which may not be too big a surprise, as I said I don’t think The CP is groundbreaking in particular – it’s just so entertaining. The plot moves along at a fair old pace. There are plenty of ups and downs and new threats to deal with and frankly I just thoroughly enjoyed Jen Williams style of writing.
If I had any criticisms at all they would probably be in relation to the book ending too soon, or not being long enough or some such. Happily would I return to this world and these characters and even more happily that looks like a very real possibility. For the haters of cliff hangers – you won’t be disappointed. A tied up finish with the promise of more goodness to come. I think this was originally separate stories and I think that there was maybe one part of the book where that showed a little in terms of feeling like a break in the narrative but this was very brief and really barely noticeable.
Really, keep your eyes on Jen Williams, she’s a keeper. Great pace, characters, plot and writing. What’s not to love really?
Get thee to a bookshop! I definitely recommend reading this.
I received a copy of this through the publisher’s in return for a honest opinion. My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley.
Difficult to read???
30 September 2014
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: The Broke and the Bookish, Top Ten Tuesday
This week over at the Broke and Bookish the topic for TTT is:
‘Top Ten Books That Were Hard For Me To Read’
This was a tricky one and I’m not sure as I write this that I will actually come up with 10. I tend to not finish a book these days if I’m not enjoying it as life is simply too short. I’ve decided to think of different reasons that made even picking up the book difficult:
Reading the book of a film that I already love (what if I don’t like the book or am put off the film):
1. The Shining by Stephen King – I actually have seen the film more than once and love it so was worried about reading the book as I read that the author was never totally in love with the film. The book was excellent to be honest and whilst the film wasn’t totally true to the story I still really like the film as well so win win!
2. Similarly, The Princess Bride – I have seen the film many times but not read the book (inconceivable, right?) As it happens reading the book was just brilliant and it didn’t put me off the film – I love both equally and was picturing many of the scenes as I read along. Very amusing book and film and highly recommended.
Rereads (was that book really as good as you thought or is it coming off its pedestal?)
3. Lord of the Rings by JRTolkien – read this first when I was a teenager and it’s just one of those books that stays with you (let’s face it – I romantacised it!). When it came to a reread a few years ago I wondered if I might be wearing rose tinted glasses. Very happy to report that this book stood the test of time and I love it still.
4. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. I read this book, quite a few times when I was younger. Always in December – due to some sort of teenage whimsy! I read it again a couple of years ago and really enjoyed it. I suppose that’s why it’s a classic!
Didn’t live up to expectations (makes me feel guilty even saying that but sometimes a book just doesn’t work for you!)
5. Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. My fault really but this book just didn’t work for me. I felt disappointed not to find out more about all the places visited. As I said, my problem really was I went in with the wrong expectations
6. Shadow Master by Craig Cormick. I think that I simply wasn’t in the right place when reading this. The humour didn’t work for me and the storyline felt a bit too scattered.
Difficulty of Subject
7. A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness
8. Before I Die by Jennie Downham
Both the above books deal with cancer and death and are sad reads. They’re also very good reads but probably not ones to tackle in a certain frame of mind.
Will the Ending be Awesome? Scared to finish a series or simply don’t want the series to end
9. The Broken Empire by Mark Lawrence. I simply can’t say enough good things about this series as I really did love it. The first book just grabs you, the second book is absolutely compelling and then the third brings the series to an amazing conclusion. No disappointment awaits here. Difficult to believe how an author can keep upping the ante with each successive book but Lawrence definitely does so.
10. The Gentlemen Bastard series by Scott Lynch – this series isn’t concluded but, let’s just say I’m so personally invested in the characters that I’m always a bit scared to pick up the next book in case something bad happens to one of them (particular Jean Tannen – there, I admit it!!)
I guess I could have actually chosen a few more as it happens – like War and Peace or Les Miserables – which would fall under the ‘difficult to pick up because they weigh so much and I might pull a muscle!’ theme) I will read both one day – it’s a personal challenge and I won’t be beaten.
The Splendour Falls by Susanna Kearsley
The Splendour Falls is my second Kearsley book and I confess it was an enjoyable and easy read. A mystery story with (a little) romance. This really falls outside my usual type of book ‘comfort zone’ but it was a good holiday read and I fancied a bit of a mystery.
The story starts as Emily sets off to France to join her, somewhat unreliable, cousin Harry in the town of Chignon. Harry’s fascination with the plantagenets lead him to France where he wants to uncover the secret hidden treasure of Queen Isabelle. He persuades his cousin to accompany him and promises faithfully to join her. Of course, Harry is about as reliable as the British summer and so of course he doesn’t arrive.
As Emily arrives in Chignon alone she meets almost immediately with the other main characters of the book. We have the local vineyard owner. Handsome and sophisticated he seems to take a shine to Emily. We have the divorced wife of a local man recently deceased. She’s a very attractive young widow and is romantically linked to a number of other young men! Two brothers, guests at the same hotel, immediately befriend Emily and take her under their wing she also makes the acquaintance of another more elderly couple staying at the hotel. The other two relevant guests are a musician and artist. Quite an eclectic and interesting bunch of characters.
The rumour mill is already running riot following the death of the local man whose funeral is about to take place. Did he fall down the stairs or was he pushed?? It’s quite plausible, being something of a drunk, that he simply tumbled to his death however he was acting a little ‘oddly’ not long before his accident. Along with this Emily becomes embroiled with a couple of would-be pursuers but not all is as rosy as it seems and it isn’t long before she beings to feel concern over her cousin’s none appearance.
I enjoyed this story. It’s well written and easily calls the people and place to mind. The plot is, whilst not exactly gripping, entertaining. The romance is very mild which is how I prefer my romance novels and in terms of good holiday reads this one did work for me in terms of feeling almost like a ‘chill out’ read.
In terms of criticisms. Well, some people may be disappointed with the ‘romance’ element but the minimalist approach worked for me. The novel is a little wieldy in terms of the size and the amount of real ‘plot’ and it could certainly have been condensed a little. Again, I didn’t mind this as I’ve never really found descriptive narratives difficult. I think my main problem with this book was probably with Emily. I certainly didn’t dislike her but I found her difficult to understand. She comes across as quite cynical and yet upon reading this all seems to stem from the fact that her parents have divorced. Okay, I’m not saying divorce is nice, or easy, but she was an adult when this happened and so I found it a stretch that all her cynicism stems from their parting ways. I also would have liked a little more inclusion of the historical elements as these were only very brief and I think I went into this expecting something of a dual time line – which isn’t the case here.
On the whole, I enjoyed this book. It was just exactly the type of book I wanted to read at the particular time I picked it up. That doesn’t necessarily mean I can’t have a few niggles here and there and so if you want a book a bit more punchy, faster paced, less wordy or more forthcoming on the historical front or even a bit more romantically involved then this might not be the book you’re looking for. If you want something of a mystery, a number of threads coming together over the course of the novel with interesting back stories and a lovely French setting then give this a whirl.
I received a copy from the publisher through Net Galley for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.
Brood by Chase Novak
Brood by Chase Novak was one of my holiday reads – not exactly a beach read (but then I’m not really a beach person!). The story starts with Aunt Cynthia winning her custody case to take Adam and Alice, her niece and nephew back to their old home. Adam and Alice have been kept in a string of foster homes since the violent deaths of their parents. Apparently Brood is the follow up to Breed. I haven’t read Breed but I don’t think that was detrimental to this read as I think it stands very well on it’s own. There is some backstory but not enough to be annoying, just enough to clue you in to a story that takes off at a rather rapid pace.
The back history to this is that Cynthia’s sister and husband were struggling to conceive children and in a last ditch, not to mention rather expensive, attempt they undertook radical and painful treatment that resulted in the twins birth. Unfortunately the side effects were severe and most of the parents who took the treatment were little able to cope with the changes which seemed to turn them almost into animals themselves. It was from this that Alice and Adam escaped and as the story picks up we realise that they are in a desperate struggle themselves. They already know that the onset of puberty could start to bring about drastic changes to their own nature and they’re desperately trying to fight time.
I did enjoy this book and found it quite a compelling read. It’s also quite a thought provoking novel in more than one way looking at family and how miscommunication or lack of communication can be fundamental to huge gaps in understanding.
Cynthia, Adam and Alice make an attempt at trying to become a family but whilst Cynthia may think she loves the twins she really has very little notion of their true character. They also, whilst wanting to be ‘regular’ kids and wanting to contain their inner nature are actually most comfortable when running with their own kind. A feral pack of children who were the result of similar treatment and have now converged to live together in Central Park. Hidden from most people they are free to roam there and let their true natures roam free.
On top of this there is the added element whereby somebody seems to be seeking out these children and abducting them for who knows what reason. This person currently has his sights set on Alice and Adam and his stalking their home.
The home itself adds another element to the story. The house bore witness to all sorts of atrocities before the children escaped and was left in a ravaged state overrun by vermin and partially destroyed. Cynthia, always a little envious of her sister’s wealth coveted this house and now, with the custody of the children, she finally moves in. Frankly, I confess, I wouldn’t want to live there! Not just because of it’s horrific past but it’s so damn big – you wouldn’t know if somebody was living in one of the other rooms. You’d certainly never hear them. And, on top of that the house still seems to play host to a number of critters, living in the walls and cellar. Bats and Rats!
This is a fairly short and quick read so I’m not going to elaborate further.
As I said, I enjoyed this but I did have criticisms. For example, as someone wanting to start afresh would I personally take these children back to their former home. No. I just don’t think I would. (Although this could have been difficult to get round in terms of the custody agreement). On top of that I think there could have been a little more psychological build up. I wanted more chills really and think there was just a touch of creepiness missing and a missed opportunity in a way.
Having said that the author definitely achieves horror aplenty from the attacks in the park to the horrible guy who is stalking the children. There’s also the whole element that you want to believe that the children will behave like children, that they’re just misunderstood somehow!
A book of nature vs nurture with nuances of ‘be careful what you wish for’! On top of this there is an underlying theme of parenting and the struggles that occur as their children, once so angelic, turn into beastly teenagers. Okay, it’s a very exaggerated look but nonetheless! Whilst I might not have absolutely loved this I think it does perfectly what it sets out to. It’s a little chilling, particularly at the start of the novel, it’s scary, in terms of being scared for your children and also being scared of them. It has a certain level of tension and also scenes of horror. Really very readable and well written although if you’re a little squeamish you might not like certain elements of the story.
I received a copy of this through the publishers through Netgalley, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.
I’m submitting this for one of my RIP reads over at Stainless Steel Droppings.
Temples and winged things
Fan Art Up is a weekly meme hosted by Tabitha over at Not Yet Read. The idea being to see if you can come up with some inspiration for a little sketch or doodle from your last week’s reading or just anything else in general. This last week I returned from holiday. I read a few books whilst away. One of these is a rather poor sketch of an archaeological site we visited (drawn in situ and my only excuse is it was very hot and there was no shade). The other is a horrible doodle of a baby from a book I just finished. Brood. I think this doodle turned out a little more evil looking than I intended. I couldn’t come up with much inspiration this week I’m afraid but check out the site above and see some lovely designs.
