Black Fire Concerto by Mike Allen
I was given a copy of Black Fire Concerto for review by its author Mike Allen. You can find a little bit more information about Mike and his work here and also check out this interview with the Bookstore Blogger Connection. With other links here and here – Mike Allen certainly seems to be generating a lot of interest!
Black Fire Concerto is set in a new and harsh world. Plagued by terrible storms the world has changed beyond recognition. Ghouls exist, dark magic and completely new species have evolved from the fall out. At the start of the story Erzelle is captive aboard the Red Empress. A sinister place, the Red Empress is the place where the elite come to dine. But, before you start dashing to book yourself a table be aware that some of the guests of honour who come to dinner will play a much bigger part in the dining experience than they ever imagined (think Hannibal Lecter). Erzelle’s parents were lured aboard under similar circumstances, believing that they would be part of the entertainment on board but once there they were brutally murdered leaving behind Erzelle who now lives aboard, playing her harp, witness to atrocities and murders and basically living on borrowed time until she reaches an age where her worth will change from harpist to something else completely. Living in constant fear of death Erzelle’s fate is about to change when the next guest to board the Empress and partake of the strange fayre comes aboard. Olyssa is that guest. She’s on a journey, seeking to find her sister and rescue her. In the process she’s going to rescue Erzelle and the two will strike up a friendship at first based on gratitude and survival but later turning to one of respect and akin to teacher/pupil as they cross this strange land in search of Lilla. Of course nothing is ever that straightforward and the two are going to run from one crisis to the next culminating in a dark showdown.
Now, this is only a fairly short novel so I don’t want to give away too much in terms of the plot and what’s going on. It’s basically a rescue mission with a difference. There’s dark magic involved and it would be remiss of me at this point not to mention that this is a fairly brutal world. I would describe this as fantasy/horror I suppose if pushed. There is certainly no lack of dead bodies and ick.
In terms of characters the main characters are as described above with a couple of additions. Erzelle and Olyssa, Olyssa’s sister Lilla and Reneer. So what can I tell you about the characters? Erzelle is only young, 12 I think, in fact I was surprised at first at just how young the author had made her but on second thoughts it seems you can do a lot with these young characters. I know at first there’s an element of ‘oh really’ but people brought up in different circumstances will react in different ways and will become completely different in character to those who live a charmed and protected life. I also think that by making Erzelle fairly young this gave the author the ability to some times make her seem immature and petulant without it being unrealistic in the eyes of the reader. Almost, yes, she’s young, she’s a product of her circumstances but also she’s still a child and that sometimes comes across. Olyssa is a great character. She strides around full of confidence. She doesn’t have a plan really just goes bursting into things with the self belief that things will be okay. She’s strong if somewhat misguided and also a little bit naive when it comes to her sister. Reneer was my favourite. He’s one of the mutations that have come about as result of the strange environment. Almost foxlike and tall. He’s witty and snarky and just the sort of person who it seems you can depend on in a fix. He made me laugh and he was also kind of cool in that whilst he was protective of those he cared for he didn’t overtake the show.
The world building isn’t really deep although the current circumstances are explained when Olyssa flashes back to the two sisters earlier home life. It seems that the magic is something that both sisters were born with inherent in their beings but in order to use this magic they have to embrace the dark side with possibly extreme results.
In terms of criticisms – I have two which are both relatively minor. I don’t quite understand the motivation for Lilla – short of wanting to be their father’s favourite maybe – I don’t understand how she could desire to achieve such destruction but then I suppose she’s just crazy with the desire for power. The second minor point is that I would have enjoyed more. I think that at the moment this is fairly compactly written and could have been expanded but perhaps that’s just me being greedy. It’s more usual to say that a book could be cut to make it more punchy but in this case I would have liked a bit more flesh on the bones.
I certainly would like to think that this was a starter to something more. I could easily see these characters taking on more adventures in a sort of chase between good and evil. I would definitely like more from these characters and a chance to see this world expanded upon
Lets hope for some more instalments. And, on a really cheeky note perhaps the author would like to stop on over for an interview so that I could throw some questions his way? Hey, stranger things have happened right??
Follow the Yellow Brick Road??
Each month the wonderful Classics Club come up with a new question to tease us with. This month’s teaser is:
‘What classic book has changed your view on life, social mores, political views, or religion?’
Now, I wasn’t sure that a book had changed my view as such, or at least I thought about this for a while and nothing immediately sprung to mind but that’s because I was trying to think of a particular example. Of course I was sure that I’d think of a million examples and be kicking myself all over as soon as I read everyone else’s thoughts. That’s what happens isn’t it. As soon as somebody else comes up with an idea you think of a cartload yourself but of course it’s too late! Then it dawned on me that a book, or more to the point books, had changed me.
To be frank I’ve always loved books. I was fascinated by the illustrations when I was young, even before I could read. Then of course I had the bedtime stories read to me at night by my parents – stories of incredible imagination, fairies, beasts, giants and wolves – either blowing down houses or following you through the wood to grandmas house – and now that I put it like that what exactly were they thinking reading those books to me at night – it’s dark, have they not heard about the closet monster or the creature under the bed, not to mention the sandman and the huge hand that grabs you from between the banisters as you run up the stairs!!
This was followed by my own first experimentation into choosing books.
The first book I actually remember reading was at age 7/8 and, inspired by my teacher at the time who I liked, was the Borrowers closely followed by The Wizard of Oz. From there came a love of not only listening to stories at bedtime but reading and choosing them for myself. Of course as I grew up I predominantly read the books that were available, my dads, to be frank – which were mainly classic book choices.
Then, I moved on, okay I read my brothers books first – which was a somewhat interesting experience that I won’t elaborate upon too much here! And then, I got a job and with my new found money I discovered that I could choose books for myself! Book independence!! Freedom and the opportunity to experiment. Since then I’ve read a lot of books, and by that I do mean quite a few and yet in spite of all the choice available out there, all the wealth of books available on the market today, I find myself returning more often than not to fantasy and classical novels. Clearly my early experiences, coupled with a desire to enjoy stories that provoke the imagination and a secret wish to stay young of mind, had an impact that I never really saw until now and moulded my reading tastes more than I realised.
So there it is, my early books had a big influence on my later reading choices! Now. What about you??
The Girl Who Ruled Fairyland – for a Little While by Catherynne Valente
30 June 2013
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Catherynne M Valente, The Girl Who Ruled Fairyland - for a Little While
The Girl Who Ruled Fairyland is a lovely short story, a prequel, to CV’s other Fairyland stories. I’m not going to go into great depth about it in this review because it’s only a very short story that you could devour in one quick sitting. I don’t advise you to do so however, take your time a little and linger over the words. In typical Valente style we have a beautiful little story filled with magic, lovely characters and whimsical writing. Valente is a master of words and it’s a joy to read her stories. The only problem with this being that it’s so quickly over! On the other hand of course there’s always the option to reread.
The story features Mallow, who simply wants to stay at home and read her books. She practices magic, a little. She likes to be left alone, apart from trading for goods with the other inhabitants of Fairy. I don’t suppose she’s a recluse, any more than I would be if I had the opportunity to stay at home and do exactly what I want!! However, times seem to be changing. The residents of fairyland are being called to a gathering and a tithe will be called for. None of them can really recall what a tithe is to be fair as it’s been so long since one was last taken but a general sense of foreboding takes hold.
Rather than say much more I wanted to give a couple of quotes from the book that I loved and highlighted as I read:
“a life is only so long. It should be spent in as much peace and good eating and good reading as possible and no undue excitement. That is all I am after”
“Curiosity woke with sharp teeth within her”
I highlighted more but thought better of regurgitating the full book here. Instead go and buy it and read it for yourself.
A lovely tale, beautifully written.
The Anvil of the World by Kage Baker
29 June 2013
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Kage Baker, The Anvil of the World, WoGF, Worlds Without End
Just finished reading The Anvil of the World by Kage Baker which I absolutely loved.
KG has brought to us a fantasy world filled with demons, gods, and different species. A whole world filled with Children of the Sun and other species. But, more than that, she’s brought us a romp of a novel. This book is fantasy and fun combined and I loved it. It’s like everything I love in my fantasy novels brought into a new world and looked at in a different way. Really, I totally recommend this book without hesitation. Okay, you might like your grimdark but you can also take an amusing look at the premise occasionally and that is what happens here.
The tale basically revolves around a character called Smith (an alias of course). Smith was an assassin, and he was a damn good one – he can practically stop a would-be-murderer in his tracks just using a soggy false beard or a half penny! However, good as he is, he has no taste for the job and has left his assassin ways behind, hence the false name, and at the start of the story he takes on what seems like a fairly innocuous job as caravan master transporting goods from one part of this imaginary country to the other. He’s also transporting a group of unlikely characters and whilst this may all seem fairly mundane things are not as they seem. Of course the trek across country turns into anything but easy with all sort of death attempts on the passengers until eventually quite strong bonds are developed between some of the travellers and upon arrival at the final destination, Salesh on Sea, Smith takes a different course with a number of his new friends.
Basically, this isn’t some sort of grand sweeping epic. There are no massive scale armies of goblins or orcs marauding across the countryside raping and pillaging as they go with elves and humans pitched against them. This is much more small scale in nature, almost by comparison regular every day problems – well, with a bit of death and bad drainage thrown in for good measure. There are three elements. The first where bonds are forged between the travellers. The second where they try to establish a business together where all sorts of mishaps occur and the third where things spiral a little out of control and take certain members outside their normal sphere to head off events before they reach the pass.
I just really enjoyed this. The writing flows easily. The setting springs to mind with relative ease. Completely alternative and well imagined with festivals, myths, stories and religions to build upon but what I love the most are the characters. If I’m going to be honest the character that is almost the most mundane is Smith, although he’s fairly steadfast throughout and I certainly didn’t dislike him. My favourite character by far, and I could read novels just with him as the main character, is Lord Ermenwyr. Quarter, or possibly half, demon this guy is amazingly amusing. His style, his wit and, well, just everything about him – I could literally read adventures with him and his nurse Balnshik – what a great pair. I mean, the other characters were good but these two completely stole the show – like watching a film with Jack Nicholson. They just took the biscuit. In fact they ate the biscuit and then they ate the rest of the packet of biscuits and left the empty packet in the cupboard to con other people into thinking there were still biscuits in there! Ermenwyr comes from a very strange and powerful family that I won’t elaborate on – only to say that Ermenwyr’s and his siblings outrageous antics and demonic calling are dwarfed into insignificance by the dark force that is their father and not of course forgetting their mother who, although a goddess, is not to be underestimated and in actual fact probably dictates events far more than anyone realises.
The imagination of the author is amazing. She had me laughing out loud and wanting to quote random snippets to equally random strangers as I went along. I mean, not to give too much away (I hope) we have a duel with weapons of choice: Fatally Verbal Abuse. Okay, I’m not going to elaborate because it will be spoilery. All I can say is I loved this. It’s not a traditional novel. It takes all the bits and pieces of fantasy, throws them in a bag, blows it all up and then pokes it with a humour stick until it explodes and basically this allows not only the author to have a lot of fun in writing this, but also allows a lot of flexibility in the parameters of what is normally considered allowable and also ensures that the readers have a lot of fun as they read along.
In terms of criticisms I suppose the only thing I would say is that I would have liked more from and for Smith. I wanted him to feel a little more involved, which sounds a bit crazy because he was involved throughout and yet he almost comes across as peripheral, and I wanted him to get more out of the story. In that respect I felt a little cheated on his behalf but certainly not enough to make this into any less than a really good read.
Of course, alongside all of this joviality I think the author also tries to weave into the narrative points about the environment and the treatment of the planet but this is done in a very casual way that melds easily with the story and is barely noticeable.
Give it a whirl!
I’m submitting this as part of my 100 books challenge and also as part of my Worlds Without End, WOGF challenge, details here.
July read for WoGF: Elizabeth Bear: Range of Ghosts
The Alchemist of Souls by Anne Lyle
26 June 2013
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Alternate history, Anne Lyle, Elizabethan England, Fantasy, The Alchemist of Souls
I just finished reading Anne Lyle’s The Alchemist of Souls. Taking place in an alternative Elizabethan England which I confess had me at first backtracking and saying ‘what’ as I wondered if I’d not paid enough attention in history lessons. I admit I was really looking forward to this novel and it didn’t disappoint.
This is a historical fantasy-come-mystery where history as we know it has been rewritten somewhat. To begin with Elizabeth was married (to Robert Dudley) and has two children although her husband has now died and she is living in seclusion. Of course she’s still the same strong and feisty character even though she plays only a very minor role in this story. So, that’s a fairly significant change to start with. On top of that, and probably a bit more significant is that our explorations to the new world have introduced us to a new race of people called the Skraylings, based, I understand, on Nordic mythology. The Skraylings now live amongst us although they’re not completely integrated or trusted. The Queen’s ambitions however run to seeing an alliance between the races and as such the Skrayling Ambassador is about to visit London. Of course this visit will stir up all sorts of emotion, not least of the murdering kind, and so a bodyguard is appointed to the soon to arrive Ambassador. That gives a little flavour of the plot which as we go along embraces spying, political intrigue, a bit of skullduggery, assassination attempts, theatre, double crossing, etc, (okay I’ll stop there. I’m sure you get the picture).
I liked the way that Lyle conjures up her setting. She tempers her detail with sprinklings of fact and embellishes it further with her insights into other things that we love to read about with the Elizabethan era. The dark and forbidding tower. The name of Walsingham – the spy master! The serious rivalry between different theatre troupes. This is all blended with the feeling of fear that people generally lived with in a world rife with political and religious uncertainty not to mention a whole new race of people who many seem to harbour deep prejudices about. All this is done in a way that isn’t overboard. You have enough information to inspire the imagination but not too much that the background overtakes everything else. For example, the author hasn’t attempted to replicate speech from the era and I for one am glad she didn’t.
In terms of the characters the main character is Mal Catlyn. Catlyn is a down on his luck swordsman, his family have fallen on hard times and he’s literally out of cash and up to the eyes in debt. At the start of the novel he’s practically press ganged into the protective body guard role much against his will. It’s difficult to say why Mal dislikes/fears the Skraylings at this point but this will become clear during the course of the story. Of course never was the saying ‘beggars can’t be choosers’ more apt and Mal is in no position to decline this offer of work although it could end up in a life threatening situation for him. The other main characters are Ned, Mal’s longstanding friend and Coby – a young girl who masquerades as a boy in order to work with one of the theatre troupes – quite a little twist in there – females being unable to act on stage so men taking up such roles whilst in their company is a young girl dressed as a boy. Of course this grants Coby a lot more freedom although does put her in a number of difficult situations.! I liked Coby and thought she was a good way of bringing any number of awkward and embarrassing moments to bear. Ned I wasn’t as keen on at first, I thought he was a bit weak and certainly not the best friend to have, although he does redeem himself later on in the story so I’m going to reserve judgement on him until I read the next novel.
In terms of criticisms I think some people may find the plot a little slow although I personally didn’t mind the pacing and thought it was a good set up for future stories. I suppose my main criticism relates to the characters themselves which I felt needed a bit more somehow. For example Mal. I like him. He’s not really a bad guy. He gets taken on to a job that he doesn’t really like but he doesn’t do a half hearted job. He really earns his money and he also overcomes his own prejudices and develops an understanding and liking for the Ambassador. He can handle himself, he cares about people. But I just wanted to spend a bit more time with him. I do understand that the story was told from other POVs but even so I didn’t feel like I shared enough time with him to be tense or happy for him as the plot unfolded. I think that was probably my main criticism to be honest although I imagine there will be time to get to know the characters much better as the way has now been laid perfectly for further stories.
On the whole a very enjoyable historical fantasy. I will definitely continue with the series – and I will just throw in here that I love the cover – although I am curious about the name?? Anybody want to chuck me a clue then feel free to do so!
