Tag Archives: Fantasy

The Spark by Sean Williams

Book Review, , , , ,
Overview
Legends of Australian Fantasy

Title: The Spark (A Romance in Four Acts)
Author: Sean Williams
Series: The Change Companion
In: Legends of Australian Fantasy (Jack Dann & Jonathan Strahan)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Australian authors, Easy reading, Fantasy
Pace: Fast
Format: Novella
Publisher: Harper Collins Australia
Year: 2010
5th sentence, 74th page: The house-boy rushed into the room with a glass of water, which she accepted with gratitude and sipped as the fit subsided.

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Synopsis

‘The Spark’ sits midway along the timeline of the ten linked fantasy novels in the Change series – the Books of the Change, the Books of the Cataclysm, and most recently the Broken Land. Inspired by the landscapes of Williams’ childhood rather than European or indigenous Australian mythologies, Sean had no conception when he set out on this journey that the places he revisited would become such an enduring obsession. The people who occupied them, also.

His young protagonists Ros and Adi were left somewhat hanging at the end of the Broken Land trilogy, as had Sal and Shilly years before them, because the conclusion to their story lay beyond the purview of a series for young readers. Williams always intended to return, to see their knot tied, but the deeper he dove into their story the less, perversely, it became about them, or even about the landscape that originally inspired their world.

Yet in a very real way, ‘The Spark’ is the capping stone on the entire series. All the characters Williams loved are present, in one form or another, and all the motifs too. Loss, the passage to adulthood, the nursing and healing of old wounds – for me, that’s always what these stories have been about.

And love, too,  with which all can be endured.

Thoughts

I can’t get this story out of my head. And not in that irritating, it won’t leave and details are niggling away at me way. But that holy crap. That was amazing. I need to get more of these books! I want to know more about Adi and Ross. This story is epic. So now I just have to wait until I have some spare money to buy more of Sean Williams’ books…

I don’t often feel crazy about four act storylines, and the romance aspect of stories often feels tedious when I’m reading the tale. After all, boy meets girl, they fall in love, there is a problem, everything is resolved is the most standard storyline. And even the best stories do tend to read like this. But, it’s all about the journey. And for Adi and Ross, it is about the hunt for one another and true love. Reigniting the spark that has burnt between them for years.

Words that could describe the happy, warm fuzzy feeling that this novella left me with are pretty much impossible to come by. There is that feeling of happy contentment that you get when you finish a really good story. And The Spark not only left me with that, but also made the other stories I tried to read afterwards feel completely inadequate. I’m sure the feeling will eventually fade away though.

<- Crown of RowanThe Corsers’ Hinge ->

Image source: Harper Collins Australia

Rowan and the Travellers by Emily Rodda

Book Review, , ,

Overview

Rowan and the TravellersTitle: Rowan and the Travellers
Author: Emily Rodda
Series: Rowan of Rin #2
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Australian authors, Easy reading, Fantasy
Pace: Fast
Format: Novel
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Year: 1994
5th sentence, 74th page: “Ogden does not know everything, it seems,” said Zeel.

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Synopsis

A mysterious danger threatens Rowan’s village, Rin. But who is the enemy? And what is the strange spell that is putting all the townspeople to sleep?

The Travelers, a roaming people who are friends of Rin, might be able to help, but Rowan isn’t sure he can trust them. Especially since they tell him that to find the answers to Rin’s problems, Rowan must go to the legendary, noxious Pit of Unrin, from which no living thing has ever returned.

Thoughts

The pride of the past could prove to be Rin’s undoing. That, and their unwillingness to accept anyone else of a different calibre and tradition than themselves. But, luckily for all of Rin, Rowan is there to save the day again. Again, he proves that strength and blustery courage isn’t everything, and that sometimes it is the very fear that can be someone’s best companion, and a people’s saviour.

The pride of the villagers of Rin is kind of grating in Rowan and the Travellers, but it is a good vessel through which to move the story. After all, it is their unwillingness to share and impart their gifts on their Traveller friends which leads to such distrust. In turn, the horrors that lurk in their home almost overcome the village as Rowan and Allun pursue the Travellers in an attempt to save their friends. Yet, it isn’t until Rowan willingly joins with a Zebak-Traveller that the key to the past is unearthed.

But, since this is a beautifully constructed story, discovering the horrors of the past isn’t the final step. Even when you know what lurks in the dark, how can you stop it from killing? You’ll just have to read the story to find out…

 <- Rowan of Rin Review Rowan and the Keeper of the Crystal Review ->
Image source: Booktopia

 

Rowan of Rin By Emily Rodda

Book Review, , ,

OverviewRowan of RinTitle: Rowan of Rin
Author: Emily Rodda
Series: Rowan of Rin #1
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Australian authors, Easy reading, Fantasy
Pace: Fast
Format: Novel
Publisher: Omnibus Books
Year: 1993
5th sentence, 74th page: “Marlie,” he said again.

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Synopsis

Bravest heart will carry on when sleep is death, and hope is gone.

Rowan doesn’t believe he has a brave heart. But when the river that supports his village of Rin runs dry, he must join a dangerous journey to its source in the forbidden Mountain. To save Rin, Rowan and his companions must conquer not only the Mountain’s many tricks, but also the fierce dragon that lives at its peak.

Thoughts

Fear is a good thing. I’ve always been told it tells us we’re alive. But, really, it also is a way to keep us alive. Yet, for the people of Rin, fear is shameful and courage is the leader of the day. Which is why I love the irony of the most fearful boy of the village being the hero of this story. After all, the very thing that they all take pride in is the thing that unravels them all.

Rowan of Rin is your typical misfit story. A young boy in a village that he truly doesn’t fit in. Struggling to figure out what his place is in the world. And just generally feeling insufficient and confused. Which really, we have all felt at one stage in our lives. The added complication of a heroic dead father, a possible new romance for his mother and the fact that no one quite wants him around just helps to compound the struggles that Rowan is forced to face. And makes his eventual triumph all the sweeter.

I love poetry – it is a great way to give a double sided meaning to the words that we use. And the riddles that Rodda employs throughout Rowan’s journey up the mountain are both wonderfully similar, and intricately difficult to decipher. After all, everything in them comes true, just not in the way that you’d expect. There’s something ridiculously enjoyable about sitting there, trying to guess what’s going to happen next from a few lyrical lines. And, as often as not, kind of guessing what is about to happen, but not being able to entirely predict the next move. After all, if you could guess everything that is going to happen, what would be the fun in that?

 <- Rowan of the Bukshah Review Rowan and the Travellers Review ->
Image source: Booktopia

 

A Captain of the Gate by John Birmingham

Book Review, , , , ,

Overview

A Captain of the GateTitle: A Captain of the Gate
Author: John Birmingham
Series: The Disappearance Companion
In: Legends of Australian Fantasy (Jack Dann & Jonathan Strahan)
Rating Out of 5: 3 (On the fence about this one)
My Bookshelves: Australian authors, Fantasy, History
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: Harper Collins Australia
Year: 2011
5th sentence, 74th page: McKinnon, a great man by any measure, flawed as are all men, celebrated and reviled, a creator-destroyer of the first order, lies beneath a simple tombstone because he demanded it to be so.

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Synopsis

A ′What if′ story of the Cold War … a small piece of alternate history of the period told via a biography of one of its players, Lieutenant Branch McKinnon, an adventurer in a different post-WWII world of American isolationism.

Thoughts

I just don’t know what I think about this short story. I liked the tone, I liked the way in which it was written, but I wasn’t really sure whether or not it was even a story until I got to the afterword. I just don’t know enough about the history of World War II or even the Allied Nations to actually pull apart this fictional historical biography.

Once I got to the end of A Captain of the Gate, I loved and completely understood the concept of what the point of these 60 pages was. The idea of rewriting a history for all the ‘what ifs’ was brilliant. And the use of a hero (or villain) of this war’s biography and personal history worked well too. But, as someone who knows next to nothing about historical events (I swear I slept through that class), much of the intricacies of this storyline completely flew over my head.

Maybe if I did some research, I would understand (and enjoy) this story better.

 <- Tribute to Hell Review The Magic Word Review ->
Image source: Goodreads

 

An Unwelcome Guest by Garth Nix

Book Review, , , , , ,

Overview

To Hold the BridgeTitle: An Unwelcome Guest
Author: Garth Nix
In: To Hold the Bridge (Garth Nix) & Troll’s-Eye View (Ellen Datlow & Terri Windling)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Australian authors, Easy reading, Fantasy, Witches
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Hot Key Books
Year: 2015
5th sentence, 74th page: ‘Won’t do any good, but I’ll call,’ said Jenny.

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Synopsis

Garth Nix has a brilliant spin on the traditional tale of Rapunzel… and how to get rid of spoilt brats.

Thoughts

I love new spins on old stories. After all, there is something about faery tales that brings us back again and again and again. And An Unwelcome Guest is a brilliant way to reimagine Rapunzel. Nix’s spin on such a classic left me outright laughing and grinning. It was cute, funny and not at all what I was expecting.

Like the well-known Wicked, An Unwelcome Guest takes the villain of the tale of Rapunzel (the wicked witch) and makes her good. It then twists Rapunzel into a spoilt brat under some kind of weird compulsion. Her rescue into an attempt to kick her out. And the happy ending a small girl running away in tears with her soccer boots still on. Like I said, it was a great way to twist and turn a well-known faery tale into something more and in my opinion, thoroughly enjoyable. Certainly much more humorous than the original tale anyway.

<- The Curious Case of the Moondawn Daffodil Murder Review The Highest Justice Review ->
Image source: Goodreads

Stop! by Garth Nix

Book Review, , ,

Overview

To Hold the BridgeTitle: Stop!
Author: Garth Nix
In: To Hold the Bridge (Garth Nix)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Australian authors, Fantasy
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: Hot Key Books
Year: 2015
5th sentence, 74th page: Ah, how I long to shed this vile form, the I may join him in heaven!

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Synopsis

An alien breaks into a top-secret nuclear facility. Why? To see if he can end his life?

Thoughts

It was a little difficult to get into the flow of this short story. Not so much because of the style of writing, or even the militant background, but just because in the creation of these short stories, it was quite a change of pace. A strange demon like creature walks out of the middle of nowhere and heads off towards a nuclear testing site. Not sure what couldn’t go wrong there really.

I loved the near suicidal tendencies of the lead scientist, and Nix’s ability to compress three in-depth backstories into only a handful of pages. The amount of information squished into this makes the story seem that much longer and more complex. Yet, in actual length, it was one of the shorter stories in the To Hold the Bridge collection. It’s also been one of the more confusing and confronting stories….

<- The Big Question Review Infestation Review ->
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The Heart of the City by Garth Nix

Book Review, , ,

Overview

To Hold the BridgeTitle: The Heart of the City
Author: Garth Nix
In: To Hold the Bridge (Garth Nix)
Rating Out of 5:  4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Australian authors, Fantasy
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: Hot Key Books
Year: 2015
5th sentence, 74th page: ‘Dead,’ remarked De Vitray.

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Synopsis

The battle for the heart of the city begins. At its centre sits the donkey, the whore and the priest.

Thoughts

There is something fascinating about ancient Rome – after all, a lot of what we have today is based around this ancient civilisation. Which is probably why Nix decided to utilise this as a setting for this short story. The involvement of an Irishman and magic just made the tale all the more interesting to read.

It’s always nice to read a short story that has no obvious direction. After all, it’s nice to be pleasantly surprised once in a while. The Heart of the City did just that. Following MacNeacail through his adventures in trying to protect the city were intense, and vivid. The imagery created by the donkey, the whore and the priest just made it all the more odd and captivating.

Although I don’t delve into the intricacies of Christianity, it is rich with the mythos of angels and archangels. Nix harnessed this beautifully in The Heart of the City and at its conclusion, you sit there wondering if there is more to the tale – will the angels continue to protect the city? How has MacNeacail’s life changed. I love open ended conclusions to short stories, and this fit the bill perfectly.

<- Infestation Review Ambrose and the Ancient Spirits of East and West Review ->
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The Curious Case of the Moondawn Daffodils Murder by Garth Nix

Book Review, , , ,

Overview

To Hold the BridgeTitle: The Curious Case of the Moondawn Daffodils Murder: As Experienced by Sir Magnus Holmes and Almost-Doctor Susan Shrike
Author: Garth Nix
In: To Hold the Bridge (Garth Nix)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Australian authors, Crime, Fantasy
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Hot Key Books
Year: 2015
5th sentence, 74th page: ‘There is a… belief… among certain quarters, that flowers from a royal park, if cut with a silver knife at a particular time, will enormously enhance their natural poison.

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Synopsis

Magnus Holmes, Sherlock’s second cousin helps Scotland Yard to solve a mysterious murder that involves daffodils.

Thoughts

I love Sherlock Holmes. Alright, I haven’t (yet) read the originals, or the closest I can get my hands on to. But, there is something about the “elementary, my dear Watson” that is particularly appealing and, although The Curious Case of the Moondawn Daffodils doesn’t quite follow Sherlock on his adventures, it comes pretty close.

The use of Magnus Holmes, Sherlock’s second cousin was kind of enjoyably brilliant. The addition of supernatural aspects and the Not-Quite Doctor Susan Shrike left a huge smile on my face as I turned the last page. I’m actually incredibly disappointed that this story ended, I would have loved to find out more about Magnus, Susan and the little blue pill… actually, what I really want to know is what does the little yellow pill do?!?!?!?!

<- Holly and Iron Review An Unwelcome Guest Review ->
Image source: Goodreads

The Big Question by Garth Nix

Book Review, , ,

Overview

To Hold the BridgeTitle: The Big Question
Author: Garth Nix
In: To Hold the Bridge (Garth Nix)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Australian authors, Fantasy
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: Hot Key Books
Year: 2015
5th sentence, 74th page: But the path down to the cave followed a very narrow, very steep, and very slippery ledge.

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Synopsis

A young man asks a wise woman ‘what else is there in the world?’ He finds his answer in the most intensive journey of a lifetime.

Thoughts

What else is there in the world? It’s a question that we all ask ourselves, especially when we’re growing up. Or at least, it’s a question that I ask myself on an almost daily basis. Is there more to the world? What else can I experience? Is my small life secluded, or peaceful?

In The Big Question, Nix takes the question of ‘what else is there?’ and sends a young boy on a journey to manhood. Not just to discover the answer to his question, but to experience the world, love, loss and the realms of humanity.

Sometimes it’s difficult to write a short story that spans years, it is a lot of time passing and information to slot into just a few small words. But this is beautifully done and has turned a simple coming of age story into one that I would love to read again and again and again.

<- A Handful of Ashes Review Stop! Review ->
Image source: Goodreads

Ambrose and the Ancient Spirits of East and West by Garth Nix

Book Review, , , ,

Overview

To Hold the BridgeTitle: Ambrose and the Ancient Spirits of East and West
Author: Garth Nix
In: To Hold the Bridge (Garth Nix)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Australian authors, Fantasy, Spirituality
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Hot Key Books
Year: 2015
5th sentence, 74th page: Ambrose undid the ribbon and opened the box.

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Synopsis

Ambrose was once a soldier of the highest calibre. But, now, he’s retired. Or so he thinks. When an old friend contacts him for help, he has no choice but to join the fold again.

Thoughts

There was something quintessentially sweet about this story. Although, I had to get to the end of the tale to see that. The beginning, not so sweet, more damaged, a little sad and very lonely.

Epic wars that are fought in secret seem to be a recurrent theme throughout the short stories in To Hold the Bridge, and Ambrose and the Ancient Spirits of East and West is no different. The undercurrents of our society are dark anyway, so adding a supernatural spin to it is not only a logical next step, but a brilliantly engaging one.

The loneliness and darkness that surrounds Ambrose is eventually healed, but in a way that I certainly didn’t see coming. I love the fact that although Ambrose is reluctant to return to the war (and the fold), he still tries to do what is right. Believing in the power of the greater good. And, ultimately it leads to a greater good for him.

<- The Heart of the City Review Holly and Iron Review ->
Image source: Goodreads