Cover Love: #SPFBO 2016
8 May 2016
Filed under #SPFBO, Book Reviews
Tags: #SPFBO 2016, Cover spotlight, Mark Lawrence
I’m currently taking part in the SPFBO 2016 challenge organised by Mark Lawrence. My introductory post with details of the event here.
As part of this I wanted to first of all post all the covers for the books that have been selected for my batch. There’s some impressive covers this year so it would be a shame not to spotlight them all. (Apologies: I haven’t at this stage linked these to Goodreads but when I choose my batch of five each month I will do so). I must admit that I’m really looking forward to getting started! Feast your eyes on these lovelies:
There can be only one #SPFBO 2016
Last year I took part in the Self Published Fantasy Blog Off (#SPFBO) organised by Mark Lawrence which proved to be very successful (I think) (more details here).
This year sees the return of the competition with 300 entries being received and distributed between the bloggers taking part (10 bloggers with 30 books each). The details for this year, the entrants and other bloggers can be found here. I’ve listed below my entries for the competition and will shortly be doing a separate post that will highlight the book covers for all 30 titles. Following that – I will schedule an introductory post each month with the five books I’m hoping to take a look at for that month – this will be a description of the book. At this stage I will not have read any of the books but simply wish to try and spotlight them. At the end of the month I hope to do a short round up of the books for that month. Last year I had a rather ad hoc approach to the books on my list and the order in which I read them. This year I haven’t quite made up my mind whether to read the books in order or not but regardless my monthly introduction will highlight the books I’m planning to look at. My aim is to check out 5 books a month (although this could go over or under depending on how successful each book is).
I can safely say that last year was a learning curve for me, I approached the SPFBO very much as a reviewer and not as a publisher whittling down a pile of submissions. This year I aim to stick to a certain percentage of reading time for each book before I decide to move on – I want to be as fair as I possibly can to each of the books and give them a fair opportunity but at the same time I intend to trust my instincts and I really do intend to wear a ‘publisher hat’ in order to do so. As it says in the title, and indeed this could be a slogan for the whole competition, ‘there can be only one’ and even though it’s possible I will enjoy a number of the submissions I can only put one book forward – it’s harsh but it’s also the objective. I will also aim to keep notes on each of the books so that I can hopefully provide some form of constructive feedback (although I make no promises in that respect – I will try my best to do so but sometimes when I get caught up in reading my good intentions leave the building). Any book that I read fully will receive a review (I fell down on this area last year and didn’t review a couple of my first round books that I completed – although I did review all 10 of the finalists, which is part of the undertaking the way I see it. Even so, I do like to review the books I complete – this depends on time. If I complete all five books in a given month then perhaps short reviews, for example.
Good luck to all of the entrants and thank you so much for taking part – it wouldn’t be such a great event without all of you and I’m really looking forward to reading the entries this year. We had some really good books last year and I hope the same goes for this year too! Finally, thanks to Mark Lawrence for organising all of this :D.
Let the festivities commence – may the best book win and in the words (almost) of Tolkien:
“One book to rule them all’
My entrants:
Daniel Potter – Off Leash
Jen Greyson – Lightning Rider
R.A. Meenan – Stolen Guardian
Bobbi Schemerhorn – Mechanical Dragons: Fire & Water
Greg Little – Unwilling Souls
F.T. McKinstry – Outpost
Moses Siregar III – The Ninth Wind
Michael DeAngelo – The Fall
Gwynn White – Rebel’s Honor – to be reviewed
Kristy Tate – Beyond the Fortuneteller’s Tent
Wilson Geiger – Ash & Flame
Xina Marie Uhl & Janet Loftis – The Ruling Elite and Other Stories
John March – Vergence
Ros Jackson – Melody of Demons
Jaclyn Dolamore – The Vengeful Half
Douglas Milewski – All the Saints are Dead
Joseph J. Bailey – Soul Stealer
Terra Lorin – Avadonya: Rescuing Pavra
Aidan J. Reid – Pathfinders
Jennifer Ealey – Bronze Magic
Jon Kiln – Assassin’s Quest
Will Collins – A Darker Shade of Sorcery
Peter Ravlich – The Fallen Shepherd Saga
Kat Parrish – Bride of the Midnight King
A.G Stewart – Loose Changeling
Robin Lythgoe – As the Crow Flies
Erica Converso – Into the Sky
Ashley Capes – The Amber Isle
Christina Maharaj – The Tarot Cards
Trip Ellington – Evermage
Road Brothers: Tales from the Broken Empire #3.5 by Mark Lawrence
29 December 2015
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Mark Lawrence, Road Brothers, Tales from the Broken Empire
Road Brothers is a fantastic little book of treats which, if you love The Broken Empire, I feel you simply have to read. Coming in at approximately 120 pages it contains 10 separate stories that take us back in time and shares with us some of the histories and motivations behind the characters of Jorg and his brothers.
This anthology was something of a revelation to me. I’ve always protested that I don’t really enjoy short stories and I still maintain that stance – although now with provisos. I do prefer something I can really explore and let my mind wander around and with short stories it always feels that just as I’m getting comfortable they up and finish. The difference with this particular anthology is that whilst it is 10 individual stories they’re all from a world that I’ve already become fully immersed in and they’re extra snippets of information about characters that I’m already familiar with and want to know more about. I read each story eagerly, desperate to know what I’d discover next and frankly I could, even now, happily read some more – I’m greedy like that.
Seriously, this is the perfect companion to the Broken Empire. It’s a quick read, or maybe that’s because I simply couldn’t put it down and not only do we gain these little nuggets of information about the characters but we get to spend some more time in this world which frankly is a win win if you ask me.
The one thing I must point out however is that this book contains spoilers for the Broken Empire trilogy so please be aware of that before you pick a copy up.
For me the stories here were perfect little lightbulb moments. They contain pieces of information not previously included in the trilogy and whilst you could get along reading the series without their knowledge they’re wonderful to discover after completion. They feel like an insight into what the author had in mind for each of his characters and the substance behind their personality that helps to keep them all distinct. Also some wonderful pieces that provide closure on some of the storylines – pieces of information that you didn’t know you needed to know but now you do know, well, they feel invaluable!
I’m not going to elaborate on the stories as that would be to spoil them and I confess I find it difficult to choose a favourite because each one was my favourite when I was reading it. I can say though that I was totally gobsmacked reading Rike’s story! Kent’s – fascinating to learn how he received his name. Gomst – scary. Basically, we take a look at all the main characters from the series and in fact revisit Jorg twice in two completely different settings and all of them were fascinating to read. But, even more intriguing than all of that – we get a glimpse into the character of Jorg’s younger brother which I thought was very revealing. And we have a surprise – I know it’s a bit of a tease to say so and then not expand upon it at all – but it wouldn’t be a surprise then would it!
I found this anthology thoroughly enjoyable, in fact I loved it. Mark Lawrence has his own style of writing and it’s one that I enjoy reading very much. He is undoubtedly a master of words and also has a gift for the element of surprise that usually leaves me speechless!
If you love The Broken Empire I think you will love this book of short stories too. It feels a little like watching the extended version of Lord of the Rings or the Director’s cut of one of your favourite films. Let’s just be honest here – when you love something this much you never feel like you’ve had enough and this definitely fills a little gap whilst we wait for The Wheel of Osheim. What more could you possibly ask for – other than more books of course (no pressure there then Mr Lawrence).
Definitely recommended to fans of the Broken Empire.
I received a copy for review for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.
Waiting on Wednesday: Wheel of Osheim by Mark Lawrence
9 December 2015
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Breaking the Spine, Mark Lawrence, Red Queen's War, Waiting on Wednesday, Wheel of Osheim
“Waiting On Wednesday” is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine. Every Wednesday we get to highlight a book that we’re really looking forward to. This book doesn’t have a cover yet or a description – but, nonetheless I want it so badly that I could potentially have a conniption – and it’s not often that I get to use that word! This is book No.3 of the Red Queen’s War – and I want it! Due June 2016.
The Thief Who Pulled on Trouble’s Braids by Michael McClung #SPFBO
15 October 2015
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Mark Lawrence, SPFBO, The Thief Who Pulled on Trouble's Braids
Just finished reading The Thief Who Pulled on Trouble’s Braids by Michael McClung which I really enjoyed. Here’s the blurb from Goodreads:
“They butchered Corbin right out in the street. That’s how it really started. He was a rogue and a thief, of course. But then, so am I. So when he got himself hacked up in front of his house off Silk Street, I decided somebody had to be made to pay. They thought that they could just sweep him away like rubbish. They were wrong.”
Amra Thetys is a thief with morals: She won’t steal from anybody poorer than she is. Fortunately, anybody that poor generally doesn’t have much worth stealing! But when a fellow thief and good friend is killed in a deal gone wrong, Amra turns her back on burglary and goes after something far more precious: Revenge.
This was a good read and very enjoyable.
The main character is Amra. At the start of the story her friend and fellow thief is murdered and Amra is hellbent on revenge. Corbin is the friend and fellow thief in question. He came to Amra the night before he died asking for help. He’d carried out a theft and been double-crossed. Amra now needs to backtrack to find the killer. Of course, things are not as easy as all that. Other people are searching for the stolen goods that Corbain hid and so whilst Amra is looking for people – people are looking for her! And there are some nasty critters out there.
What did I like about this.
Firstly, I liked Amra. She’s far from your typical female protagnoist. She’s certainly not as pretty as a picture, she probably has more scars than you can count on all your digits, she has no enticing curves, she prefers daggers to friends and has something of a filthy mouth but she’s likable nonetheless. People tend to want to help her (more often than not because she’s probably helped them way back when) but she really isn’t a damsel in distress.
Secondly, there is some great imagination here. I loved certain elements to the story where we seem to go down a horror route – we have a combination of house of horrors and the funerals from spookydom! I loved the funeral scenes – they give me the creeps.
Thirdly, it’s a fast moving story. There’s no messing about, just bam, straight into the story with plenty of action and it’s well described.
Okay, cards on the table here. I don’t suppose this brings anything really new to the scene. It’s not perfect. For example, we’re told that Amra is a brilliant thief but we don’t really get much evidence in that respect to be honest. At the start there is a certain sense of repetitiveness – Amra sort of tells you the reason why she’s doing things usually followed by ‘you have to do ‘a’, ‘b’ or ‘c’ if you want to survive’ and yet in spite of things like this the pages flew by and I found myself fairly racing towards the end.
The other thing that I liked, in fact it’s something I really appreciate when reading, is the author feels like he enjoyed writing the story and I think this came across more and more as the story progressed. The dialogue just became better, the action more colourful. Just basically the novel goes from strength to strength. I mean, the world building could have used a little more depth but, again, it didn’t feel like it seriously hampered the story.
On top of this we have another really pretty good character in Holgren – he’s a mage, a powerful mage and whilst Amra is fairly self sufficient I don’t think she would have survived some of her scrapes without his help. I liked him and between the two of them there was some very intriguing reading and amusing scenes to lighten the mood.
This is definitely a series that I would continue to read, in fact this finishes on what I would say is a perfect note and one that makes me want to pick up the next book.
Books and travelling with Lynn 