All posts by skyebjenner

The Sage of Theare by Diana Wynne Jones

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
Image result for the mammoth book of dark magic book cover

Title: The Sage of Theare
Author: Diana Wynne Jones
In: The Mammoth Book of Dark Magic (Mike Ashley)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Dark fantasy, Gods, Mythology
Dates read: 26th April 2019
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 1982
5th sentence, 74th page: As soon as he pushed the door open, thick smoke rolled in, filled with harsh crackling.

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Synopsis

The Gods are ruled by order and they like it this way. So when the Sage of Dissolution is born they begin to fear that it will be the end of the world as they know it.

Thoughts

Order is not something that comes easily to me. Don’t get me wrong, I am incredibly organised and have a system for things. But my life in and of itself is not actually organised. And I don’t tend to follow conventions about 90% of the time. So I kind of liked a dark fantasy tale that dealt with the intersection of order and chaos. How they are both important to the existence of life as we know it.

The gods in this story are kind of a sick-in-the-butt characters. They have rules and restrictions for literally everything, and there is no way in which to deviate from this set path and plan. It means that no one can be questioned and nothing can change. Which in and of itself isn’t horrifying, until you realise that it means the world becomes stagnant and… well, boring.

I like that the mechanism for change in this tale is the child of a god. And in trying to avoid a prophecy, they, well don’t necessarily make it happen. But they bring to light their stupidity and inability to understand the world around them.

<- The Witch’s BicycleTimekeeper ->

Image source: Hachette Australia

The Last Battle by C.S. Lewis

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
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Title: The Last Battle
Author: C.S. Lewis
Series: Chronicles of Narnia #7
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Classics, Easy reading, Fantasy
Dates read: 28th March – 19th April 2019
Pace: Slow
Format: Novel
Publisher: Grafton
Year: 1956
5th sentence, 74th page: I’m on your side, Sire: and on Aslan’s.

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Synopsis

“To my side, all true Narnians! Would you wait till your new masters have killed you all, one by one?”

It is Narnia’s darkest hour. A false Aslan is commanding all Narnians to work for the cruel Calormenes and striking terror into every heart. King Tirian’s only hope is to call Eustace and Jill back to Narnia, in an attempt to find the true Aslan and restore peace to the land. But a might battle lies ahead.

The Last Battle is the dramatic conclusion to the seven magical Chronicles of Narnia.

Thoughts

As an ending to a series this book works incredibly well. It helps to tie everything up in a beautiful knot and pretty little bow. As a standalone story, it’s not as compellingly engaging as the other books in the Chronicles of Narnia series. Which is probably why it took me a little longer to read than most of the other stories in this series…

The Last Battle is exactly what it sounds – the last battle to be fought in Narnia. The end of days, if you will. It made it kind of sad to finish, it meant the closing of a world and an era. There are no ways in which to return to Narnia now. Which is more than a little heartbreaking. After all, as a kid I always checked every wardrobe I came across to get to that special world I had dreamt so much about.

Lucy is still my favourite character in all of the Chronicles of Narnia tales. There is something about her sweetness, her faith and her ability to love everyone that makes you kind of want to give her a great, big cuddle. Don’t get me wrong, I would never want to be her friend, she’s a little too nice… but as a character in a novel, she is just brilliant. So it was incredibly nice to find her returning to the series, albeit for a short while. Jill and Eustace just aren’t as relatable and loveable… maybe because I only met them as an adult, but I met Lucy when I was a young girl.

 <- The Silver Chair ReviewThe Magician’s Nephew Review ->
Image source: Abe Books

The Acid Test by Livia Llewellyn

Book Review, ,
Overview
Image result for black feathers ellen datlow book cover

Title: The Acid Test
Author: Livia Llewellyn
In: Black Feathers (Ellen Datlow)
Rating Out of 5: 3.5 (Liked this)
My Bookshelves: Horror, Wordplay
Dates read: 27th April 2019
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Pegasus Books Ltd.
Year: 2017
5th sentence, 74th page: Outside in the hallway, the telephone rings over and over, crying out like a hungry abandoned bird, while beside me the radio on my headstand cackles with the news, and sometimes in the low afternoon light I think I see a faint movement behind its grooved surface, as if the machine is struggling to free itself from the invisible information pouring in and extruding out of the black plastic and metal of its captive brain.

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Synopsis

A tripped out journey through thoughts, misconceptions and the world around us.

Thoughts

I’ve never done acid. But I imagine that the tripped out experience is a lot like this story. Incredibly confusing, unreal and tangentially jumpy. With lots and lots of long, run on sentences.

I didn’t necessarily love this short story. It was very clever and intriguing. But it was also so convoluted and tripped out that I’m not entirely sure what the point and storyline of this tale was. Actually, I turned the last page and just really didn’t know what I had just read at all. It was all very, very confusing.

 <- A Little Bird Told Me ReviewThe Crow Palace Review ->
Image source: Amazon

Reckoning by Jeaniene Frost

Book Review, , , , , , ,
Overview
Image result for unbound book cover kim harrison

Title: Reckoning
Author: Jeaniene Frost
Series: Night Huntress #0.5, Night Huntress Universe #0.5
In: Unbound (Kim Harrison, Melissa Marr, Jeaniene Frost, Vicki Pettersson & Jocelyn Drake)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Paranormal fantasy, Strong women, Urban fantasy, Vampires
Dates read: 18th April 2019
Pace: Medium
Format: Novella
Publisher: EOS
Year: 2009
5th sentence, 74th page: Jelani seemed surprised.

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Synopsis

Bones, faces New Orleans ghouls who eat victims alive – horror.

Thoughts

I really enjoyed this introduction to Bones. This story hints that he’s going to be a great male lead for the Night Huntress series. Or at least, one that is going to make me happy. He has a strong moral compass, is incredibly tough and has a slightly rebellious streak. All things which I love in any literary character… the fact that it’s wrapped up in a good-looking package with an English accent just makes it all the better…

I’ve read a lot of stories set in America. It’s a bit like all forms of entertainment media, America seems to be the centre for a lot of this. This is the first story I’ve read set in New Orleans though. And I’m really hoping that the rest of the series is set here too. There is such a fun and different flavour to this town. It is so unlike any other American setting which I’ve read. Actually, it’s honestly the only place in the US that I’m really interested in visiting…

The name Reckoning made this seem like it was going to be about revenge, or somebody turning, or the end of the world as we know it. It was a little bit about revenge, but mostly it was about hunting down the crazies. And the moral arguments that Bones has to make with himself while he does so. Becca is used to find the villains, but at what cost? Does the sacrifice of one person’s safety mean the survival of so many more? Is it a fair trade off?

<- Ley Line DrifterHalfway to the Grave ->

Image source: Harper Collins Publisher

Steel Dragons of a Luminous Sky by Brian Trent

Book Review, , ,
Overview
Image result for the mammoth book of dieselpunk book cover

Title: Steel Dragons of a Luminous Sky
Author: Brian Trent
In: The Mammoth Book of Dieselpunk (Sean Wallace)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Dieselpunk, War
Dates read: 26th April 2019
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 2015
5th sentence, 74th page: Li sighed and, switching to Chinese, said to Xin, “Salad, an American euphemism for -“

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Synopsis

The Steel Dragons of a Luminous Sky are an elite force that aim to turn the tides of the world. But maybe not all is quite as it seems in this battle to save the world.

Thoughts

This was kind of convoluted, and a little difficult to follow at times. Maybe because I really don’t know much about the World Wars – there seemed to be details in this that would provide me with a bit more information. Having said that, it was still incredibly enjoyable. I liked the idea of a secret society that wants to turn the tides of the war. And, from my understanding. Change the world while they’re at it.

Although I liked the premise of the story, the dying impartments of the true goals of the Luminous Sky kind of made me uncomfortable. The idea that one ruler to bring together all of the world would bring peace is just… hinky. And whilst peace is an admirable goal, I think that the one ruler idea is one that isn’t a great idea. And it’s definitely the idea that resonates most uncomfortably with me.

<- Instead of Loving HeartTunnel Vision ->

Image source: Running Press

The Thieves of Ostia by Caroline Lawrence

Book Review, ,
Overview
Image result for book cover the thieves of ostia caroline lawrence

Title: The Thieves of Ostia
Author: Caroline Lawrence
Series: Roman Mysteries #1
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Historical fiction, Mystery, Whodunnit
Dates read: 13th – 14th April 2019
Pace: Fast
Format: Novel
Publisher: Orion
Year: 2001
5th sentence, 74th page: They all sat on the carpet in a sunlit corner of the garden.

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Synopsis

The dogs on Flavia’s street have started dying mysteriously, and she is determined to find out why. Her investigation leads her to three extraordinary people: Jonathan, her new neighbor; Nubia, an African slave; and Lupus, a mute beggar boy. The four embark on a search for the killer … and that’s when the excitement begins.

Thoughts

This is the first time since I was a kid that I decided to pick up this book. And I’m really glad that I did. It is such a fun, happy, easy read and one that I struggled to put down. The combination of Roman history; a young, slightly too confident heroine; and a mystery that is both dangerous and grotesque work brilliantly together. Unlike many of the other whodunnit type stories that I’ve read, this one isn’t going to keep you up at night. There is just enough going on that you want to know who the real culprit is, but it’s not realistic enough that I could imagine any of this happening to me…

I remember reading this story when I was younger, I already had a bit of a fascination with Greek and Roman mythologies, but it wasn’t until this series that I also became captivated with the daily lives of the people who believed in these mythoi. This is the series that first enamoured me with historical fiction. The first series that made me want to step back in time and understand the daily ins and outs of life. Lawrence is able to bring forward Flavia’s experiences and make them completely relatable to your modern-day teenager.

Although this is a book aimed at a younger audience, it was still quite difficult to figure out who the actual culprit was. Even in my second read through, I couldn’t quite remember who the villain was in the story. I only managed to figure it out a few pages before the big reveal. And I’m pretty sure that it was just my memory kicking in, not any actual brilliance on my part. It’s always fun when you can’t quite figure out the end of a mystery.

 <- The Man from Pomegranate Street ReviewThe Secrets of Vesuvius Review ->
Image source: Wikipedia

My Lady of the Hearth by Storm Constantine

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
Image result for sirens and other daemon lovers book cover

Title: My Lady of the Hearth
Author: Storm Constantine
In: Sirens and Other Daemon Lovers (Ellen Datlow & Terri Windling)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Paranormal fantasy, Paranormal romance, Twisted romance
Dates read: 7th April 2019
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: EOS
Year: 1998
5th sentence, 74th page: In time, during our lovemaking I too began to make the sounds and Simew displayed her approval with purrs.

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Synopsis

He has the best of the world – looks, intelligence and a great big estate. Yet, something seems to be constantly lacking from his life. That is, until his feline companion becomes something much more thanks to the dark gift of a goddess.

Thoughts

This short story was quite uncomfortable to say the least. It was a really interesting tale. Certainly, one that I enjoyed reading… but not one that I felt… comfortable about at the end. After all, the romance is between a man and his cat-turned-woman. And although it could have been considered a love story, I just couldn’t get the idea that the woman in the story started out as a cat.

The first story in any anthology tends to set the tone for the rest of the collection. Even if it is of a different theme or tone than many of the other stories in the book. So, I found it quite interesting that this series started with passions that weren’t quite natural. A story about being spurned by the people you are surrounding yourself with and accepted by those that have always been there.

This story was also about respect. The protagonist willingly takes Simew into his life, bed and home. Knowing exactly who and what she was, he still chose to marry her and keep her by his side. Yet, when she didn’t perform exactly as he wished (catching a mouse in your mouth will probably make most people a little upset), he starts to pull away from her. Which is a great reminder of how we should treat the people we love – even if they aren’t quite able to fit into the perfect world view that we have of our lives.

<- Sirens and Other Daemon LoversThe Faerie Cony-catcher ->

Image source: Goodreads

The Sea of Monsters: The Graphic Novel by Rick Riordan & Robert Venditti

Book Review, , , , ,
Overview
Image result for book cover the sea of monsters graphic novel

Title: The Seas of Monsters: The Graphic Novel
Author: Rick Riordan & Robert Venditti
Series: Percy Jackson and the Olympians – The Graphic Novels #2
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Graphic novels, Greek mythology, Urban fantasy
Dates read: 11th April 2019
Pace: Fast
Format: Graphic novel
Publisher: Puffin
Year: 2013
5th sentence, 74th page: Splash

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Synopsis

You can’t tell by looking at me that my Dad is Poseidon, God of the Sea.

It’s not easy being a half-blood these days. Even a simple game of dodgeball can turn into a death match against an ugly gang of cannibal giants – and that’s just the beginning.

Now Camp Half-Blood is under attack and, unless I can get my hands on the Golden Fleece, the whole camp will be invaded by monsters. Big ones…

Thoughts

This was such a fun, easy and enjoyable read. As an adaptation from a novel that includes a lot of detail, it works kind of brilliantly. It also swept me up in the world of Percy Jackson all over again. Enough so that I quickly picked up Magnus Chase and the Hammer of Thor as soon as I turned the last page – Riordan always takes you on such a great journey through mythology and teenage fun!

There were some parts of the novel that I missed in this retelling – primarily the prophecy which Clarisse is given. It is vaguely mentioned once towards the end, but it doesn’t feature as heavily in Clarisse’s character development (what little there is) throughout the story. Although, since this is a series about Percy, it is understandable that one of the first aspects to be cut out is the development of a secondary character.

I love that this isn’t an overly bright and colourful graphic novel. The series isn’t really one that lends itself to a bright and deliriously happy outlook. After all, Percy spends the entire five years of this storyline being attacked by numerous gods and monsters… but it is still a little light and colourful, and that humour and enjoyment of life manages to weave itself into the colour scheme.

 <- The Lightning Thief: The Graphic Novel ReviewThe Titan’s Curse: The Graphic Novel Review ->
Image source: Amazon UK

Ripper Familias by Terry Davis and Patrick Jones

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
Image result for the mammoth book of jack the ripper stories book cover

Title: Ripper Familias
Author: Terry Davis & Patrick Jones
In: The Mammoth Book of Jack the Ripper Stories (Maxim Jakubowski)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Crime, Family, Historical fiction
Dates read: 26th April 2019
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 2015
5th sentence, 74th page: Grandfather is quite right about the real police, I believe.

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Synopsis

What happens when you realise that the man you wanted to admire is actually evil personified? How would you react?

Thoughts

We all like to think that family means everything. That there is some kind of tie created by blood that can be impossible to escape. Speaking from my own experiences, that’s not necessarily true. And this story definitely echoes that theory.

Not only does this short story question the ties of family and how important these relationships can be, but it also brings in the Titanic. I love the intersection in history between these two moments, the way that a tragedy turns out to be a saviour for the young man whose family is a little… unwell.

This story is kind of heeby jeeby. Because even though you think that the young boy has made the “right” decision, there is still a sense of unrest. The idea that maybe he is a bit like his grandfather after all…

 <- Catch Me When You Can… ReviewKosher Review ->
Image source: Amazon

Breadcrumbs and Stones by Lisa Goldstein

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
Image result for snow white, blood red book cover

Title: Breadcrumbs and Stones
Author: Lisa Goldstein
In: Snow White, Blood Red (Ellen Datlow & Terri Windling)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Fairy tales, Retellings, War
Dates read: 12th April 2019
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: Signet
Year: 1993
5th sentence, 74th page: There was no reason for us to stay.

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Synopsis

A Holocaust retelling of Hansel and Gretel. A story filled with sadness and tragedy.

Thoughts

It’s kind of obvious from the title of this short story that this is a retelling and tale of Hansel and Gretel. But it wasn’t the kind of retelling that I was expecting. From beginning to end this was a bit of a surprise. Immediately I thought that this tale would be one in which the parent would betray her child (like in the original fairy tale).

The parallels drawn between Hansel and Gretel and the Holocaust are intense. Especially the use of ovens, betrayal and the sacrifice of children. It is a kind of heartbreaking story. Just like the original tale. Hansel and Gretel is kind of one of the most horrible fairy tales that I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading. And the Holocaust is one of the most tragic tales of modern history. Mix them together… and wow, what a powerful, potent and very uncomfortable short story. But one that I can’t wait to read again and again and again.

 <- The Snow Queen ReviewSupernatural Noir Review ->
Image source: Amazon