Darkness Falls, Cate Tiernan
Just finished reading Darkness Falls by Cate Tiernan, No.2 in the Immortal Beloved series of books. (If you haven’t read book 1 this may contain spoilers for that book).
This book continues where the last book finished. Nastasya is still at River’s Edge, the ‘sort of’ rehab centre for immortals. She’s still fighting her own inner demons between darkness and lightness and is also suffering from some bleak premonitions of bad things yet to come. On top of this her behaviour seems to be becoming more erratic, she’s arguing with people more, is constantly tired and her attempts at spells are going disastrously wrong. The tension is building and you can sense that things are going to go horribly wrong.
Again I enjoyed this book. It’s easy to read and I like Nastasya – although I sometimes literally wanted to throttle her for her self indulgent, whineyness and rush headlong into bad decisions-ness – note to self, patience is a virtue! Anyway, in spite of that, I do like Nat and I think this is another enjoyable story. If you enjoyed the first I have no doubt you will enjoy the second.
Similarly to the first novel this is not a fast paced story. It’s a slow burner. The tension mounts slowly in a way in which you’re actually not aware that it is mounting until everything starts to spiral downwards rapidly. The last third of the book is quite dramatic. It’s not difficult to see where things are heading but even so it’s all a bit gruesome. It’s difficult to write anything more without giving away too many spoilers so I’m not really going to elaborate on the story.
What I enjoyed more with this story was finding out a little bit more about River and taking a look at some of her history. We also get to see a few more snapshots out of Nat’s history which were very illuminating. The whole thing of Nat coming to terms with who she is was well portrayed. It’s easy to be judgemental of her at times and wish that she’d stop being so self berating – not everything is her fault after all and given the fact that she’s over 400 years old you would expect a little bit more maturity. But, when you look a bit closely at Nat and her life, she spent the first half of her life running from one heinous act to the next – that’s one thing that does come across in this book. Being Immortal means that Nat has lived through a lot of bad times and a lot of loss, not perhaps as glamorous as it may seem then living forever. On top of that she doesn’t handle personal situations, attachments, conflicts or people very well and at the first sign of tension runs away and puts her head back into the sand. Or in this case runs back to her comfort zone. So, she hasn’t really grown up in a way. The satisfying thing is that she does reach a few decisions that will be life changing.
In terms of criticisms – the story is a bit slow to start off with and I felt that there was a certain point where it dragged a little. But the ending definitely makes up for that.
On top of all that Reyn is still very much in the frame and still pursuing Nat. I could have actually used a little bit more character development of Reyn as at the moment he feels a bit flat – still very easy to read about though!
All in all, a good read, I’m not sure if I enjoyed it as much as the first but I will definitely pick up No.3 to see how Nat’s story eventually plays out.
Rating B+
Darkness Falls
Foundation by Isaac Asimov, Group readalong part 1
During January I am attempting to read more sci fi and as part of this I am taking part in Stainless Steel Droppings group readalong. This kicks off with the first of the Foundation novels by Isaac Asimov. Below are my thoughts and comments in response to the questions that have been posted for the first part of the readalong:
For the purpose of satisfying curiosity, is this your first time reading Foundation or have you read it before?
I’m a relative newbie to sci fi so this is my first time.
For those who have read it before, how has it held up to your memory/feelings about previous reads?
For those reading Foundation for the first time, what expectations did you have going in and has it met them or surprised you in any way?
Okay, to be honest I didn’t really have any expectations reading this for the first time. In fact I really didn’t know what to expect at all. Also, whilst I’m being honest, and don’t hate me for this, but I would never in a million years have picked up this book and my reason for saying so is totally fickle – the cover! I know you can’t judge a book by its cover but it would have just put me off – sorry, I know I’m going to get beaten with a big verbal stick now for not liking the cover and for being fickle enough to not pick up a book because of its cover but there it is. I suppose, having said that I’m now going to have to backtrack a little on the first part of my answer because I think I probably did have an inkling of an expectation that I would dislike the content purely because of the cover! And, I’ve been pleasantly surprised because after I got into the first few chapters and became aware of the structure I think it’s really good! The biggest surprise for me with this book is that I expected it to be overloaded with sci-fi-ness and it isn’t really (again don’t beat me with a big verbal stick please!), I can’t help feeling that if we took away the strange people/planet names and took out a few of the gadgets it would be like a political/historical read. I did also have an expectation that maybe quite a bit of the content would just go over my head – but again I’ve been pleasantly surprised.
What are your thoughts about the structure of the novel thus far? (I am referring to the brief glimpses of different parts of the history of the Foundation with big time gaps between events in the novel)
I actually like the structure – it’s like a series of little mini stories really that are all connected and given the timeframe involved I don’t see how it could have been structured any differently – unless there were hundreds of books that is!
What are your initial thoughts on the field of psychohistory?
I found it intriguing and I guess the whole thing comes across as plausible somehow, purely because of the numbers of people involved. But, I’m not totally convinced that, given these numbers and timeframe concerned, Dr Seldon could have been quite so precise with some of his predictions. I suppose it makes it more readable that way though. It puts me in mind of what we would call ‘destiny’ or ‘fate’?
What, if anything, is holding your interest thus far, what are you enjoying about Foundation?
What I’m really enjoying about the story is all the twists and turns of the characters and how they keep playing their own little games in order to manoeuvre this way or that. It feels like a giant game of space chess.
What, if anything, are you not enjoying about Foundation?
I don’t know that I would say I’m not enjoying anything in particular but in terms of little niggles or criticisms there have been a few instances where the speech has felt a little too familiar – things that we would say now. I’m not saying that people wouldn’t still use that same language that we do but it’s just a surprise with some of the phrases, especially when you consider how much our language has changed since for example the writing of Shakespeare. So when you consider the number of years forward that we’ve moved for this story (in fact so far forward that nobody remembers which planet humans started from) I’m not sure there wouldn’t be some differences. But, and now I’m going to talk myself out of that criticism, I think it would annoy me to read the book if the author had tried to make up new words of sentence structures. I did read another book recently where the author had attempted this and it just came across as irritating.
You may have covered this in answering the other questions, but if not, what are your thoughts/feelings about the Galactic Empire. Is it a practical thing to have a galaxy spanning government? Can you imagine such a thing and do you think it would work?
I don’t think it would work – and I don’t think it will ultimately work in this series (but that remains to be seen). It’s not like it hasn’t been attempted throughout history, the Romans, Alexander the Great, Napoleon, but in Foundation this is on such a magnificent scale to make it virtually impossible – it seems to me difficult enough for all the inhabitants of a planet to get along let alone lots of different planets on a system where they’re light years away from each other!
What are your thoughts on Hardin’s creation of a religious system in which to house scientific ideas and technology while keeping the users of that science and technology in the dark?
I thought Hardin’s invention of a religious system was inspirational in this story. He gave everybody a set of beliefs to follow which they just stuck to dogmatically, retaining all the knowledge to the Foundation. In doing so it’s almost like the rest of the system is going backwards and losing the knowledge they once had as they become more and more reliant upon these beliefs. It feels like ultimately the Foundation will have become the big ‘I am’ and nobody will be in a position to threaten them.
Thanks Carl for these questions/discussion points. I look forward to the next set.
Lynn
A Journey to the Centre of the Earth by Jules Verne
8 January 2012
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: A Journey to the Centre of the Earth, Jules Verne, Vintage Sci Fi
Just finished reading A Journey to the Centre of the Earth which I have read as part of the Little Red Reviewer’s Vintage Sci Fi (not a challenge). I don’t suppose this story needs much introduction really. In a nutshell this is a story of a professor and his nephew who, after discovering a mysterious parchment and uncovering the content embark upon a dangerous journey. A journey to the centre of the earth. Following in the footsteps of Arne Saknussemm – an explorer who made the same journey a few hundred years earlier.
I’ve been meaning to read this book for some time and so this none challenge gave me a little push in the right direction. I really enjoyed this story and the way it’s told. The story is told in the form of a memoir by the ever complaining nephew Harry. Harry does not want to undertake the journey, he is very aware of the dangers and the idea of climbing down into a volcano doesn’t appeal. To be honest Harry does come across as a little bit ‘cowardly’ at points but that being said I’m totally on his side in not wanting to climb into a volcano – extinct or/and definitely not otherwise!
This is a really imaginative story – the idea of coming up with the worlds beneath the crust of the earth – I’m not sure that anything has been done like that since this book? I must admit that upon reading, and already having seen the film and a tv adaptation some time ago I did have preconceived ideas of what to expect and I suppose the element of surprise was stripped away in certain areas. However, the book does still hold some surprises.
What I found really enjoyable was the different characters, the uncle, cool and stubborn who absolutely refuses to be thwarted in his goal to reach the centre of the earth and never doubts their ability to succeed. Harry, who for the most part of the book, spends his time worrying about every conceivable way in which they may die upon the adventure whether by earthquake, volcanic eruption, starvation, lack of water or any number of other things that I won’t go into. And Hans, the Eider Duck Hunter, who is their steady and reliable guide. Strangely enough, and despite all their education and knowledge neither the professor or his nephew would never have stood any chance at all with their adventure if not for Hans – he is the definite unsung hero! And, more to the point with these characters, is the way they interact with each other which at times is very amusing. We get to hear all Harry’s inner thoughts, and then we hear him voicing these to his uncle, couched in ways not to aggravate (because the professor can have a bit of a temper) and then we hear the professor shoot Harry’s theories down in his calm, collected way.
The other thing I really liked was the old fashioned style of story telling and writing which lends the story a strangely amusing appeal. One particular part of the story where the adventurers have uncovered a most fantastic cavern of huge proportions and with some strange inhabitants Harry, who is unable to believe what he is actually seeing but has no choice but to do so, says ‘I looked, shrugging my shoulders, decided to push incredulity to its very limits. But whatever might have been my wish, I was compelled to yield to the weight of ocular demonstration.’ ! who on earth says that – it made me laugh (in other words seeing is believing). That phrase is a definite keeper.
Now, in all this, one thing that you must be aware of is that although Jules Verne was considered to be something of an expert in this area of writing you clearly have to remember when this book was written. Advances in science are always moving forward and therefore some of the speculation and theories of the Professor and Harry have dated or become completely null and void. The other thing is you really do have to suspend some of your disbelief in certain areas – for example, the notion of building a raft out of bits and pieces of wood to set sail on a massive ocean – which can withstand the brunt of terrible weather – is a bit of a stretch, as is the method of expulsion of our travellers from their volcano. But, don’t we suspend our disbelief in many of the works of fiction we read? I suppose what makes you more critical of these stretches of imagination with this particular novel is that it comes across as very factual with all sorts of detail to try and lend it credulity so when you do read certain areas you can’t help thinking ‘no way’ – I suppose that shows the talent of Jules Verne really in that he carries you along on this tale and makes you feel it’s believable (but for a few parts).
All in all, a great read.
In conclusion, my particular book says on the jacket that Jules Verne is considered to be the father of science fiction. Not sure if that’s something that everybody will agree with or not. He certainly tells a good and imaginative story backed up with a lot of what was, then, considered to be believable science. Personally, if I had to make a choice, I would probably veer towards HG Wells, simply because I think some of his works, and The Time Machine in particular, are so brilliant. Maybe it’s down to the different writing styles and I suppose the fact that my copy of JttCoTE is a translation, and not possible the best one produced! But there it is.
A fun read.
Rating B+
Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins
Just finished reading Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins which is a funny, lighthearted, easy to turn the pages novel which is about a witch named Sophie and the adventures she embarks upon when she enrolls at a new school. To be honest I probably wouldn’t have picked this particular book up because ‘schools for supernaturals’ have been a bit overdone for me personally in more recent times, but, firstly this was a Christmas present from by BBB (best book buddy) and secondly – if by bbb really rates this then I must read! Anyway, I’m all for the recommendations these days and getting out of my comfort zone.
Sophie is a witch. Her mother, however, is not. And she has been brought up with a very ‘normal’ existence, well as normal as it can be when they both spend much of their time hopping from one state to another in order to hide Sophie’s abilities, usually after one of Sophie’s spells have gone wrong (or more to the point been witnessed). However, Sophie has finally blown it – she’s used a spell which has gone disastrously wrong – and now she’s got to go to a school for supes, where frankly, although she’s a witch she’s totally out of her league because she knows relatively little (or nothing) about this world.
Hex Hall (Hecate Hall) is a school not only for witches, warlocks, werewolves, fairies and even vampires attend. Bit of a mixed bag then and straight away (after one particular incident on Sophie’s first day) you couldn’t help but wonder to yourself just exactly how all these different elements were going to get along! And, in that respect things get out of hand fairly quickly. Sophie gets embroiled into a few different scenarios straight away, she develops an obvious crush on the school ‘hottie’ (who is boyfriend to the school ‘meanie’), she gets stalked by a luminescent green ghost (that only she appears to see), she gets into trouble with a few of her fellow witches after turning down their so-sweet offer (not) to join their coven and she manages to antagonise the ‘were’ element on her first day. Not looking good for Sophie. However, she manages to make friends with the school vampire and together they have their own little most-unpopular-everybody-hates thing going on. On top of that, Sophie really is at a disadvantage, she has no idea about the world that she actually belongs to. She knows nothing of the history, myths or dos and don’ts. On top of that she has a few nasty surprises in story about her own family (which makes her even more disliked) and she also learns about a couple of groups that actively stalk and kill her kind.
To be honest, if you read this type of story, I don’t think Hex Hall will bring anything new to you. Idon’t particularly think there were any surprises involved but what I really did like was the way the story was told. It’s quick, pacy and entertaining. Sophie is quite an engaging character and has some very amusing thoughts. Her vamp friend Jenna is also probably one of the best characters with her overwhelming love of pink (who would have thought! A pink loving vampire!!) and also I like the setting. I know that schools have been a bit overdone of recent but this is quite an unusual school after all. We also have the ‘mean girl’ element to the schools – although to be honest I don’t think they were as horrible as some characters I’ve read about before and in a way I actually felt sorry for them eventually.
In round up, this was a light, fun, self-indulgent read which I enjoyed and will definitely carry on with the next two to see how Sophie’s story develops. It did put me in mind of Ally Carter’s school for spies – in terms of the humour, the fact that I liked the characters and that it’s quite fast paced.
Criticisms – the only thing that puzzled me slightly was in relation to Archer – who was a bit of mixed bag. He’s the school crush, he’s gorgeous, he’s a bit dangerous, but actually beneath the surface he doesn’t come across as bad. And, I liked his character which is what made it so difficult for me to believe that he was going out with the school super-meanie – it sort of made him a bit fickle. Just going out with the best looking and overlooking her character flaws? Maybe I’m just being really unrealistic there. The other thing I would also mention is that there is a bit of a cliffhanger ending which can be irritating for some (although I don’t really mind).
Anyway, all told, a very entertaining read and luckly for me no wait necessary for book 2 and 3. As usual I’m late to the party but sometimes there is a bonus to being late!
Rating -A
Hex Hall
Book Lists, Challenges and New Year’s Resolutions
Looking back over 2011, which was a good year for books! I had a few reading challenges which all went fairly well and managed to read over 100 books during the course of the year. I think during that time two things have become apparent for me. Firstly, I think my favourite type of book to read definitely falls into fantasy/adventure and secondly, I realised how much fun it is to join a few group read alongs. I also found quite a few really good and interesting blogs where I have picked up some really good advice and sound recommendations for books to read. So, thanks to all those lovely book bloggers out there for that.
I’ve looked back over the books I’ve read and wanted to choose my top 10. It wasn’t easy but these are my choices for 2011 in no particular order:
- Desert Spear by Peter Brett – I love this series and can’t wait for No.3 to come out.
- Unwind by Neal Shusterman – can’t believe I didn’t read this sooner. It’s a brilliant book
- The Wise Man’s Fear by Patrick Rothfuss – enough said! Brilliant book, I think I liked it even more than The Name of the Wind
- Bloodstone by Gillian Philips – Firebrand was one of my favourite books of 2010. I love GP’s sithe and Bloodstone was very dark and brooding (and who am I kidding – I love Seth McGregor, he is ‘the man’!)
- Red Seas Under Red Skies by Scott Lynch – I love the world that this author has created, The Lies of Locke Lamora was an amazing book to start the series and Red Seas Under Red Skies returned Jean and Locke to us with further adventures on the high seas.
- Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor – what a brilliant story teller. I was totally immersed in this world, the descriptions and the creatures are amazing.
- Ashes by Ilsa J Bick – this is a fantastic novel, totally gripping and horrifying.
- A Game of Thrones by George RR Martin – finally started the series off – absolutely brilliant, can’t wait to read No.2
- Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman – I love this book and wish there were more so I could return to this world again!
- Prince of Thorns by Mark Lawrence – dark and twisted but frankly unputtdownable!
That was so difficult. I want more on my list but I want to stick to 10!
I think I should mention the series that I’ve enjoyed reading this year as well:
- Patricia Briggs – Mercedes Thompson books – just love this series
- Jim Butcher’s – Dresden Files – found Harry Dresden and intend to keep reading his series
- Rachel Caine’s – Morganville Vampires, still loving this series, especially Myrnin!
- Gail Carriger’s – Parasol Protectorate, brilliant, original, witty
- Sookie Stackhouse – True Blook novels – good fun! (if you can call vampires, werewolves and fey – fun!)
- Melissa Marr – finished the Wicked Lovely series and really enjoyed it.
- Holly Black – curse workers – love this series, can’t wait for No.3
- Michael Grant – The Fayz – Plague was the best so far!
So, in 2012 I’m hoping to read some more Sci Fi – I’m going to join in with a Sci Fi Vintage reading month which is being hosted by The Little Red Reviewer and also reading some other sci fi for the 2012 Science Fiction Experience being hosted by Stainless Steel Droppings.
Also, going to continue with my 100 book challenge over at Book Chick City and will probably still take part in the British Book Challenge and 2012 Debut challenge hosted by The Story Siren.
On a personal note – I will eat more healthily (repeat 100 times) and I will exercise (repeat 100 times!). Starting with my healthy challenges I have decided to abstain from alcohol for the month of January! The gauntlet is down. Don’t get the wrong idea – I wouldn’t say I have a drinking problem, just think it’s a good idea to have a bit of a clean out after the indulgence of Christmas!
Hope everyone has a great 2012.
😀
