Tag Archives: Fantasy

The Language of Thorns by Leigh Bardugo

Book Review, , , , , , ,
Overview
Image result for the language of thorns book cover

Title: The Language of Thorns: Midnight Tales and Dangerous Magic
Author: Leigh Bardugo
Series: The Language of Thorns (Leigh Bardugo)
In: Grishaverse Companion
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Easy reading, Fairy tales, Fantasy, Illustrated, 
Short story collections
Pace: Medium
Format: Collection
Publisher: Imprint
Year: 2017
5th sentence, 74th page: The bear craved jokes.

Synopsis

Love speaks in flowers. Truth requires thorns.

Travel to a world of dark bargains struck by moonlight, of haunted towns and hungry woods, of talking beasts and gingerbread golems, where a young mermaid’s voice can summon deadly storms and where a river might do a lovestruck boy’s bidding but only for a terrible price.

Inspired by myth, fairy tale, and folklore, #1 New York Times–bestselling author Leigh Bardugo has crafted a deliciously atmospheric collection of short stories filled with betrayals, revenge, sacrifice, and love.

Perfect for new readers and dedicated fans, these tales will transport you to lands both familiar and strange—to a fully realized world of dangerous magic that millions have visited through the novels of the Grishaverse.

This collection of six stories includes three brand-new tales, all of them lavishly illustrated with art that changes with each turn of the page, culminating in six stunning full-spread illustrations as rich in detail as the stories themselves.

Thoughts

I found it almost impossible to put this damn book down. Which is a little problematic… since I have a whole heap of other productive things to do… the illustrations in this version just helped to make it ten thousand times more difficult to put down.

I’ve been on a bit of a fairytale binge lately. But there is always something that sits a little funny when I read the old school stories. They don’t really feature strong women, or women with any kind of power at all. Bardugo’s versions were completely different. They were dark and twisted. They featured women with power and independence.

One of the tales throughout this constantly says, it all would have been different if they’d just asked her what she wanted… and this works brilliantly as a theme throughout the entire collection.

The only disappointing thing about this novel was that it ended. I sat there staring into space for ages, wondering when I would next find such an amazing read… luckily there is a whole series to sink my teeth into now!

 <- More Leigh BardugoAyama and the Thorn Wood ->

Image source: The Grishaverse Wiki

Old School by Mark Onspaugh

Book Review, , , ,

Overview

Blood LiteTitle: Old School
Author: Mark Onspaugh
In: Blood Lite (Kevin J. Anderson)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Comedy, Fantasy, Zombies
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Pocket Books
Year: 2008
5th sentence, 74th page: It wasn’t even Old English like Chaucer or something.

Buy The Book Now at The Book Depository, Free Delivery World Wide

Synopsis

Onspaugh reminds us that there is a reason you should never play with that which you don’t understand…

Thoughts

This is an incredibly quick, short, sharp and shiny tale. That mostly reminds us not to play with zombies, rituals and reincarnations of any shape or kind.

Six pages and the story has been through an entire rollercoaster of beginning, middle and end. And the only message and idea that I got from it was that I’m not reading out or performing any rituals at any point in time.

I repeat. Do not perform seances, rituals, anything of the sort. Unless you really, really, really know what you’re doing. Otherwise you’ll end up like the people in this story…

 <- No Problem Review The Sound of Blunder Review ->
Image source: Goodreads

The Morrigan’s Daughter by Susan Krinard

Book Review, , , , ,

Overview

The Mammoth Book of Irish RomanceTitle: The Morrigan’s Daughter

Author: Susan Krinard

In: The Mammoth Book of Irish Romance (Trisha Telep)

Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)

My Bookshelves: Celtic, Fae, Fantasy, Paranormal romance

Pace: Medium

Format: Short story

Publisher: Running Press

Year: 2010

5th sentence, 74th page: In time, Seanat gave birth to a girl-child, whom she and Aodhan named Brighid in honour of the lady who had saved them.

Buy The Book Now at The Book Depository, Free Delivery World Wide

Synopsis

Seanat runs into her worn enemy at the end of a long and wearying battle. But there is something compelling about him, and a momentary decision could end up hautning her for the rest of her life.

Thoughts

This was a fun, easy, and sweet bit of a read. Quite romantic, with the hint of Irish history and folklore to make things so much more interesting and intriguing. The use of Morrigan and Brighid help to build upon this sense of eerie familiarity in an entirely new world.

This wasn’t the kind of romance that really plucked at my heart strings. It wasn’t one that pulled me in, and even writing this, I’m finding it quite unmemorable. But it was nice. Sweet, easy and short. Straight to the point and quick. Cute and beautiful.

 <- On Inishmore Review Tara’s Find Review ->
Image source: Goodreads

On Inishmore by Ciar Cullen

Book Review, , , , ,

Overview

The Mammoth Book of Irish RomanceTitle: On Inishmore

Author: Ciar Cullen

In: The Mammoth Book of Irish Romance (Trisha Telep)

Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)

My Bookshelves: Celtic, Fae, Fantasy, Romance

Pace: Medium

Format: Short story

Publisher: Running Press

Year: 2010

5th sentence, 74th page: I’ll be out of your way presently.

Buy The Book Now at The Book Depository, Free Delivery World Wide

Synopsis

Maeve welcomes the latest owner of her beloved home. But she has a secret and a curse to break. Could he be the one to finally save her from her fate?

Thoughts

I thought that this was quite a clever and enjoyable tale. It features the staple of many Irish folklores (or at least, all of the ones that I have had access to) in that it features a curse and the fae. There is also a sense of inheritance and fate that waft throughout the story and even though it means you know how the story will end, it still makes for an incredibly fun and interesting journey.

I loved both the simplicity and quaintness of this tale. It incorporated some fantastic storytelling with a romantic plot and a dreaded curse. All in all, the perfect mix of wonderful writing, quaint storytelling and Irish romance.

 <- Compeer Review The Morrigan’s Daughter Review ->
Image source: Goodreads

Mr. Bear by Joe R. Lansdale

Book Review, , , ,

Overview

Blood LiteTitle: Mr. Bear
Author: Joe R. Lansdale
In: Blood Lite (Kevin J. Anderson)
Rating Out of 5: 3 (On the fence about this one)
My Bookshelves: Comedy, Easy reading, Fantasy
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Pocket Books
Year: 2008
5th sentence, 74th page: “My wife will kill me.”

Buy The Book Now at The Book Depository, Free Delivery World Wide

Synopsis

When Jim boards a plane, he hopes to get a few empty seats to give him some privacy. What he ends up getting is a new “friend” that is truly the stuff of nightmares.

Thoughts

This story is weird. It was weird from beginning to end and I still really don’t know where to put my feelings for it. It wasn’t good. It wasn’t bad. It was just really, really freaking weird.

Beyond being weird, this story also gave me the major heeby jeebies. It’s a bear that acts as the villain, but this is a story that does actually happen in real life. An unsuspecting fool falls into a trap and there follows calamity upon calamity until they realise that they are probably about to die. And then, because it is a story and needs a happy ending of sorts, they find their way out…

So yup. Mostly this story was incredibly weird. And heeby. And just in general kind of creepy…

 <- Ungrateful Dead Review Hell in a Handbasket Review ->
Image source: Goodreads

Quicksilver by Cindy Holby

Book Review, , , , ,

Overview

The Mammoth Book of Irish RomanceTitle: Quicksilver

Author: Cindy Holby

In: The Mammoth Book of Irish Romance (Trisha Telep)

Rating Out of 5: 3 (On the fence about this one)

My Bookshelves: Celtic, Easy reading, Fantasy, Romance

Pace: Slow

Format: Short story

Publisher: Running Press

Year: 2010

5th sentence, 74th page: She shrugged.

Buy The Book Now at The Book Depository, Free Delivery World Wide

Synopsis

When a man pulls a woman from the surf, his life is irreparably changed. The fae woman may be his saviour or his downfall, only time will tell.

Thoughts

I didn’t mind this story, but it was a little slow… and didn’t quite have the same oomph to it as the other short stories in this collection. Man meets woman. Saves woman. Woman could kick his ass. But they end up together. I was expecting an incredibly epic battle. But it really wasn’t all that amazing. He fights, he wins, the end. They ride off into the sunset…

Even the name of this story is a bit misleading, there is nothing quick about it. But that’s not to say that this was a bad tale. It just wasn’t exactly captivating… so a perfect one to read just before bedtime. It’s not going to be impossible to put down, but a nice little story to wile away the time.

 <- Eternal Strife Review The Feast of Beauty Review ->
Image source: Goodreads

Daughter of the Sea by Kathleen Givens

Book Review, , , , ,

Overview

The Mammoth Book of Irish RomanceTitle: Daughter of the Sea

Author: Kathleen Givens

In: The Mammoth Book of Irish Romance (Trisha Telep)

Rating Out of 5: 3.5 (Liked this)

My Bookshelves: Celtic, Fae, Fantasy, Romance

Pace: Medium

Format: Short story

Publisher: Running Press

Year: 2010

5th sentence, 74th page: The Queen stood nearby, draped in a long dark cloak, her face pale.

Buy The Book Now at The Book Depository, Free Delivery World Wide

Synopsis

Muirin and Conlan are meant for each other, but her evil stepmother stands in the way. Will Muirin be able to overcome all the obstacles in front of them and finally claim her one true love?

Thoughts

This is such a fun, typical Irish romance story. Alright, it’s a lot shorter than many of the tales that I generally read based in this world. And I enjoyed it just as much as I enjoy every single one of these tales. My background is all based in the UK, and there is something that has always drawn me to Irish and Celtic tales.

Muirin and Conlan are such a sweet couple. And from the very beginning of this tale, it is obvious that there is going to be a very large obstacle put in the way of their love and eventual marriage. And because this is in a collection of romance tales, it is equally obvious that they are going to overcome. That doesn’t mean that it isn’t thoroughly enjoyable. And even after her three tasks are laid out in front of her, it isn’t quite obvious just how these obstacles will be overcome. And it is in this that the journey is fun.

I read this just before curling up for bed, and it was a great way to end the night. I got this beautiful little tale of love and Irish folklore while my partner slumbered next to me. And the combination was pleasant and fun. It also lead to some of the more peaceful and pleasant dreams that I’ve had in a while.

 <- Shifter Made Review The Eternal Warrior Review ->
Image source: Goodreads

Sekret by Lindsay Smith

Book Review, , , ,

Overview

SekretTitle: Sekret
Author: Lindsay Smith
Series: Sekret #1
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Fantasy, History, Psychics
Pace: Slow
Format: Novel
Publisher: Square Fish
Year: 2014
5th sentence, 74th page: I shove the framed picture and the notes back in the desk drawer and slam it shut.

Buy The Book Now at The Book Depository, Free Delivery World Wide

Synopsis

AN EMPTY MIND IS A SAFE MIND.

Yulia knows she must hid her thoughts and control her emotions to survive in Communist Russia – especially because she is able to read the minds of the people she touches. But Yulia better watch out.

Russia’s powerful spy agency, the KGB, is recruiting young people with mind-reading capabilities for their psychic espionage team. Their mission: protect the Soviet space program from American spies. When Yulia is captured by the KGB and forced to work as a spy, she’s thrust into a world of suspicion, deceit, and horrifying power. It’s up to Yulia to survive on her own wits and abilities, because this is a world where no sekret can stay hidden for long.

Thoughts

I don’t know much about the history of Soviet Russia, the Cuban Missile Crisis. Or generally much European history at all. So it was really fun and interesting reading a tale based on this period in our global past. The fact that it had a strong, female protagonist and a psychic mystery to boot.

It took me a little while to sort out the names in this story. Luckily, Smith has a small introduction that explains Russian names – the formal and the informal which are used interchangeably throughout Sekret. Which meant that it took me a little longer than usual to sort the characters out in my mind. But it gave the entire story more of a genuine feeling. It made everything feel both more foreign and familiar. And makes me want to do a little more reading and research into Russian history and the Soviet Union.

I was expecting this story to be a much simpler read than it was – the short story, Krisis, that got me into this author and series certainly was. But there was a lot going on and it was quite intense. I even had to flick back a page or two a few times to check that I hadn’t missed anything. And mostly, I hadn’t. The storyline is fast paced and jumpy. And although things aren’t actually missed out, there is this feeling of time moving so fast that there could be aspects which are missing. Rather than bothering me, this technique made the entire story work all the better. It highlighted the fear and mayhem of the time in which this story is based. And it showed that although Yulia is slowly discovering herself, her powers and her past, there is still a lot missing and it brilliantly opens the doors to Skandal.

 <- Krisis Review Skandal Review ->
Image source: Goodreads

Rowan and the Bukshah

Book Review, , , ,

Overview

Rowan of the BukshahTitle: Rowan of the Bukshah
Author: Emily Rodda
Series: Rowan of Rin #5
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Australian authors, Easy reading, Fantasy
Pace: Medium
Format: Novel
Publisher: Omnibus Books
Year: 2003
5th sentence, 74th page: His own knife fell from his hand and spun away.

Buy The Book Now at The Book Depository, Free Delivery World Wide

Synopsis

“Four must make their sacrifice.
In the realm twixt fire and ice . . .
The quest unites both life and death.”
The wise woman Sheba’s ominous words haunt Rowan. The bitter winter has lasted far too long and won’t loosen its deadly hold on the land. As food stores dwindle, the people of Rin flee to the warmer coast.

Rowan and two friends — and a shadow — journey up the mountain that towers over Rin to seek the source of the unending cold. Rowan knows from past experience that the mountain is unpredictable and harbors many dangers. But now waves of freezing air stream down its sides. And ferocious ice creepers — giant eyeless creatures with gaping jaws and teeth like shards of ice — slither from its shadow eager to devour any warm being.

Will Rowan and his friends somehow be able to bring spring — and life — back to the land? Can they survive the perils of the mountain and the attacks of the ice creepers?

Thoughts

The final tale in the saga of Rowan of Rin brings everything full circle. And I love it. it not only ends by giving you hope for the future, but it also completes the journey – not just Rowan’s, but also that of the Bukshah. And the Maris. And the Travelers. And the Zebak. And the people of the Valley of Gold. Which all worked in beautifully. And after closing the last page of this book, I was left with a great, big grin on my face.

This is Rowan’s last epic quest, and it is certainly a lot more intense than the others. Not only because there seems to be more at stake, and the past is coming to life. But because it not only affects one or two of the peoples’ of the land. It affects all of them. And the evil could potentially spread even further than just the Travelers, the Maris and the people of Rin.

As an ecologist, I love the idea that everything serves its place in the system. I thrive on the idea that every moment, every interaction, every creature has a purpose and that just by removing one thing from this, the equilibrium is completely destroyed. Rowan of the Bukshah really reminded me of that. It drives home the fact that everything and anything has a sense of importance and a place in the world. It also reassures me that I too, have a place in this world.

 <- Rowan and the Zebak Review Rowan of Rin Review ->
Image source: Book Depository

Rowan and the Zebak by Emily Rodda

Book Review, , , ,

Overview

Rowan and the ZebakTitle: Rowan and the Zebak
Author: Emily Rodda
Series: Rowan of Rin #4
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Australian authors, Easy reading, Fantasy
Pace: Medium
Format: Novel
Publisher: Omnibus Books
Year: 1999
5th sentence, 74th page: “No,” Zeel broke in.

Buy The Book Now at The Book Depository, Free Delivery World Wide

Synopsis

When a flying monster kidnaps Rowan’s little sister, Annad, Rowan fears the warlike Zebak people have attacked his village of Rin. And Annad’s capture is only the beginning.

Now Rowan and his companions must make the treacherous journey into Zebak territory, fighting the monsters that guard its city and the enemy people within it. If they fail, Annad will be lost — and so will all hope for the survival of Rin.

Thoughts

The first three Rowan of Rin stories are really quite disjointed. The first features the people of Rin, the second the Travellers, and the third the Maris. But all have the common thread of the Zebak’s invasion in the past. They are all connected across their land. And it really isn’t until the fourth story that the connection between the different groups can really be enjoyed and appreciated.

Rowan and his misfit friends from the previous books are all on the longest and most epic journey yet – they have to travel to the homeland of the people of Rin. And here they get to discover more about their past. More about why Rowan is so different from everyone. By taking the five misfits of the tale and throwing them into the enemies territory, you are not only thrown into a reminder that everyone can find their place, but there are other people just like you… somewhere. Sort of. Or maybe you’re like the Wise Woman, and are just so damn kooky, and completely happy being that way…

I think that this was the favourite so far of the Rowan of Rin stories for me. Maybe because I just don’t remember it as well (or at all). Or just the idea of confronting the past, and coming out with a better idea of the future… either way, I thoroughly enjoyed this and can’t wait to finish off Rowan of the Bukshah tonight, and the end of the series.

 <- Rowan and the Keeper of the Crystal Review Rowan of the Bukshah Review ->
Image source: Book Depository