OFFICIAL AUTHOR BIO: Stephanie Burgis is a dual citizen of the US and the UK and lives in South Wales (land of dragons) with her husband, the author Patrick Samphire, and their children. The Dragon with a Chocolate Heart is Stephanie's first (delicious) novel for Bloombsury.
FORMAT/INFO: Wooing the Witch Queen will be published by Bramble Romance on February 18th, 2024. It is 304 pages long and told in third person from Saskia and Felix's POV. It will be available in ebook, audiobook, and paperback formats.
OVERVIEW/ANALYSIS: When Archduke Felix needs a place to hide from his murderous relatives, he figures there's no place safer than the court of the wicked sorceress Queen Saskia. She's no friend to the empire, has a magical wall around her country to keep out anyone trying to invade, and needs someone to organize her magical library. She also, unfortunately, has murderous feelings about the Archduke, owing to the actions of his regent who's been using Felix as a puppet ruler. So when Queen Saskia mistakes Felix for a dark wizard, he doesn't correct her. But the more time Felix and the Queen spend with each other, the more they begin to fall for each other, until Felix realizes that if his identity is revealed, he's risking not only his life, but his heart as well.
Wooing the Witch Queen is a cozy fantasy romance mixed with a healthy dollop of "fight the patriarchy" energy. Queen Saskia brings a take-no-prisoners attitude to the table, willing and able to incinerate condescending wizards and pretenders to the throne. Of course, much of the "wickedness" ascribed to her comes from her insistence on treating non-humans as equal to humans and her refusal to let any man dictate terms to her (though I suppose her fondness for a crown of bones doesn't help).
On the other side of the pairing is Felix, a cinnamon role of a man fleeing an abusive life. He loves books and fountain pens and the extraordinarily powerful woman that is Queen Saskia. While he's a bit of a tempering influence on Saskia's more murderous inclinations, he also fully supports Saskia in her bold, brash ways.
There's a lot to adore about how this couple comes together. There's the obvious flirtations in the library, bonding over a love of books while hands briefly touch. There's the growing respect for each other as they each see the love and protection the other offers to those around them. And perhaps my favorite part of all, Felix's embracing of a Saskia in all her passionate glory.
And for those wondering about how spicy this one gets, I'd classify it as akin to PG-13. Things are more implied than explicit, everything essentially happening juuuust off page.
The one downside to this novel is that it relies fairly heavily on Queen Saskia overlooking some glaringly obvious clues as to Felix's real identity. There are a couple of moments where the leaps of logic she makes are somewhat baffling. It's the kind of contortions that are somewhat common in romance novels to keep the tension going, but some of the explanations offered were a real stretch.
CONCLUSION: Wooing the Witch Queen is the cozy power fantasy romance I didn't know I needed. It's that classic tale of finding a person who accepts you for who you are. More importantly, it's about a powerful woman finding a man who isn't threatened by her power but instead is wildly attracted to it. I had a delightful time with this tale, and I will definitely be back for the next installment of the Queens of Villainy romance series.
FORMAT/INFO: Wooing the Witch Queen will be published by Bramble Romance on February 18th, 2024. It is 304 pages long and told in third person from Saskia and Felix's POV. It will be available in ebook, audiobook, and paperback formats.
OVERVIEW/ANALYSIS: When Archduke Felix needs a place to hide from his murderous relatives, he figures there's no place safer than the court of the wicked sorceress Queen Saskia. She's no friend to the empire, has a magical wall around her country to keep out anyone trying to invade, and needs someone to organize her magical library. She also, unfortunately, has murderous feelings about the Archduke, owing to the actions of his regent who's been using Felix as a puppet ruler. So when Queen Saskia mistakes Felix for a dark wizard, he doesn't correct her. But the more time Felix and the Queen spend with each other, the more they begin to fall for each other, until Felix realizes that if his identity is revealed, he's risking not only his life, but his heart as well.
Wooing the Witch Queen is a cozy fantasy romance mixed with a healthy dollop of "fight the patriarchy" energy. Queen Saskia brings a take-no-prisoners attitude to the table, willing and able to incinerate condescending wizards and pretenders to the throne. Of course, much of the "wickedness" ascribed to her comes from her insistence on treating non-humans as equal to humans and her refusal to let any man dictate terms to her (though I suppose her fondness for a crown of bones doesn't help).
On the other side of the pairing is Felix, a cinnamon role of a man fleeing an abusive life. He loves books and fountain pens and the extraordinarily powerful woman that is Queen Saskia. While he's a bit of a tempering influence on Saskia's more murderous inclinations, he also fully supports Saskia in her bold, brash ways.
There's a lot to adore about how this couple comes together. There's the obvious flirtations in the library, bonding over a love of books while hands briefly touch. There's the growing respect for each other as they each see the love and protection the other offers to those around them. And perhaps my favorite part of all, Felix's embracing of a Saskia in all her passionate glory.
And for those wondering about how spicy this one gets, I'd classify it as akin to PG-13. Things are more implied than explicit, everything essentially happening juuuust off page.
The one downside to this novel is that it relies fairly heavily on Queen Saskia overlooking some glaringly obvious clues as to Felix's real identity. There are a couple of moments where the leaps of logic she makes are somewhat baffling. It's the kind of contortions that are somewhat common in romance novels to keep the tension going, but some of the explanations offered were a real stretch.
CONCLUSION: Wooing the Witch Queen is the cozy power fantasy romance I didn't know I needed. It's that classic tale of finding a person who accepts you for who you are. More importantly, it's about a powerful woman finding a man who isn't threatened by her power but instead is wildly attracted to it. I had a delightful time with this tale, and I will definitely be back for the next installment of the Queens of Villainy romance series.
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Book Review: The Husbands by Holly Gramazio
Official Author Website
Buy The Husbands here
Buy The Husbands here
OFFICIAL BOOK BLURB: You wait ages for The One . . . then 203 come along at once
One night Lauren finds a strange man in her flat who claims to be her husband. All the evidence – from photos to electricity bills – suggests he’s right. Lauren’s attic, she slowly realises, is creating an endless supply of husbands for her. There’s the one who pretends to play music on her toes. The one who’s too hot (there must be a catch). The one who makes a great breakfast sandwich. The one who turns everything into double entendres (‘I’ll weed your garden’). And the one who can calm her unruly thoughts with a single touch.
But when you can change husbands as easily as changing a lightbulb, how do you know whether the one you have now is the good-enough one, or the wrong one, or the best one? And how long should you keep trying to find out?
OVERVIEW/ANALYSIS: The Husbands by Holly Gramazio was a solid read. It’s not just solid, it’s an exceptional one.
Our protagonist Lauren comes home from a girls night out and is greeted by a stranger who claims he is her husband. Her house is not exactly as she remembers it, and this person has apparently been around for a while, and the people around her are very familiar with their history. She discovers her attic is functioning/malfunctioning and gives her a steady supply of husbands – every time the present one walks into it, a new one comes out.
The way she deals with this situation is downright hilarious, but also opens up a lot of questions. As Lauren tries to work through how the attic might be doing this, and goes through her seemingly unlimited husband buffet, the author spectacularly examines the paradox of choice where the abundance of husbands makes her more picky, choosy, and irritable. A lot of the fun was in her increasing desperation to get reluctant ones to climb up into the attic, and I have them bookmarked to read again and again. The fun part aside, there’s also a heavier side to the story which examines the loneliness she faces being the only one who is in on this truth, and the lengths she would go to to kind of convince herself that she should keep one or another husband. This slowly takes her on a journey of self-discovery that makes the story relatable in more ways than one.
CONCLUSION: In short, this book is right up there with the freshest, funniest, and most thought-provoking books I’ve read. I don’t recall another book making me crack up like this one did, and at the same time had me marvelling at how clever it was. Highly recommended.
Our protagonist Lauren comes home from a girls night out and is greeted by a stranger who claims he is her husband. Her house is not exactly as she remembers it, and this person has apparently been around for a while, and the people around her are very familiar with their history. She discovers her attic is functioning/malfunctioning and gives her a steady supply of husbands – every time the present one walks into it, a new one comes out.
Official Book Blurb: The eternal light keeping demons at bay has been extinguished and Eidyn’s last bastion is under brutal siege. Aranok and his allies draw the final battle lines as the war for the kingdom nears its end. With death threatening from every shadow and truth itself at stake, Eidyn’s defenders must put aside their grudges and come together. But is it possible to save everyone when some prefer the lie?
The art is by Jeremy Wilson and cover design is by Lauren Panepinto.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: ADRIAN M. GIBSON is a Canadian speculative fiction author, podcaster and illustrator (as well as occasional tattoo artist). He was born in Ontario, Canada, but grew up in British Columbia. He studied English Literature and has worked in music journalism, restaurants, tattoo studios, clothing stores and a bevy of odd jobs.
In 2021, he created the SFF Addicts podcast, which he co-hosts with fellow author M. J. Kuhn. The two host in-depth interviews with an array of science fiction and fantasy authors, as well as writing masterclasses. (But don’t worry, it’s not overly serious—there are also plenty of shenanigans to be had.)
Adrian has a not-so-casual obsession with mushrooms, relishes in the vastness of nature and is a self-proclaimed “child of the mountains.” He enjoys cooking, music, video games, politics and science, as well as reading fiction and comic books. He lives in Quito, Ecuador with his wife and sons.
Find Adrian online: website
As avid fantasy readers, we love discovering new voices and hidden gems. SPFBO contest gives us such a possibility, and we’re thrilled to participate in it for the tenth time.
The first stage of the contest has just ended, and ten blogs have picked their champions. We’re excited to read all of them and would love to encourage you to do the same.
Here's GR LIST with all finalists. We encourage you to add them all to your Want to Read shelf.
Buy The Serpent and the Wolf
OFFICIAL AUTHOR BIO: Rebecca Robinson is a writer of fantasy romance novels. Her debut novel will be published in November 2024 by Saga Press, an imprint of Simon & Schuster. She is represented by Samantha Fabien at Root Literary.
FORMAT/INFO: The Serpent and the Wolf will be published on November 19th, 2024 by Saga Press. It is 352 pages and told in third person from Vaasa and Reid's POV. It will be available in hardcover, ebook, and audiobook format.
OVERVIEW/ANALYSIS: Vaasa is used to political schemes - just not ones that involve her dying. But after Vaasa inherits a dark magic that killed her mother, her brother takes the opportunity to marry her off to a foreign ruler. Vaasa will be dead in a few months, and her brother can use that as a pretext to invade. Things take a twist, however, when her husband recognizes her magic and offers her a deal: Vaasa will use her political cunning to help secure his seat in an upcoming election, and he will give her the knowledge she needs to control her magic. With her husband's charisma and her own skills, the two pose a powerful front...but Vaasa's brother has plans of his own, and he doesn't care if Vaasa lives or dies in his quest for power.
The Serpent and the Wolf is a slow burn political fantasy romance that takes a while to get going, but builds to an absolutely gripping conclusion. While the publishers are leaning on the romantasy angle to sell this one, The Serpent and the wolf takes its time to get hot and steamy (flirtatious wedding night in the opening scene aside). Everyone's mileage with romances varies with how much they like certain tropes, and I'll admit, the dynamic between Reid and Vaasa wasn't my favorite at first. It starts from a place of "woman thinks she's dangerous, man thinks she's adorable and feisty but not really dangerous," which isn't my cup of tea. As the story progresses, however, we see this relationship evolve into a real partnership. Vaasa has the political acumen to take Reid's charisma and leadership to the next level, and Reid's smart enough to respect her advice. I am totally here for a power couple, and that's what The Serpent and the Wolf built to.
I do wish, however, that the actual politics and world-building had been just a little more fleshed out. There's a whole whirlwind of countries that are part of a collaborative empire that elect a ruler every ten years, as well as countries outside of that empire. Trying to keep track of which countries got along and which had bitter history, as well as the slew of names of rulers and advisors, was a bit of a daunting task, even for someone who loves political fantasy. That made it hard to track what was going on in some scenes, as I wasn't sure who was representing what nation and what the full significance was supposed to be.
The Serpent and the Wolf also takes a while to get to the central thrust of its story, and I do think the first half of the book is a bit weak. There's a rivalry in Reid's inner circle that's never really fully explained; Vaasa also spends the first half the book running around trying to understand her magic in a way that felt meandering.
Eventually, however, Vaasa and Reid begin to click, and the back half of the book is much stronger for it. I devoured the last third of the book as the action kicked off, and enjoyed where the story ended. While I was skeptical at the beginning of the book, I am definitely on board to find out where things go in the sequel!
CONCLUSION: The Serpent and the Wolf may not start with its best foot forward, but it finds its way in the end. I do think this is an instance of a bit of mismarketing, as the publisher is leaning heavily on the romantasy angle. While there's certainly spice, this is a definite slow burn that takes its time building the romance. This is not at all a bad thing, it's simply a matter of coming into the book with the right expectations. So if you're looking for a slow-burn romance about the evolution of a political power couple, The Serpent and the Wolf is where you should look.
FORMAT/INFO: The Serpent and the Wolf will be published on November 19th, 2024 by Saga Press. It is 352 pages and told in third person from Vaasa and Reid's POV. It will be available in hardcover, ebook, and audiobook format.
OVERVIEW/ANALYSIS: Vaasa is used to political schemes - just not ones that involve her dying. But after Vaasa inherits a dark magic that killed her mother, her brother takes the opportunity to marry her off to a foreign ruler. Vaasa will be dead in a few months, and her brother can use that as a pretext to invade. Things take a twist, however, when her husband recognizes her magic and offers her a deal: Vaasa will use her political cunning to help secure his seat in an upcoming election, and he will give her the knowledge she needs to control her magic. With her husband's charisma and her own skills, the two pose a powerful front...but Vaasa's brother has plans of his own, and he doesn't care if Vaasa lives or dies in his quest for power.
The Serpent and the Wolf is a slow burn political fantasy romance that takes a while to get going, but builds to an absolutely gripping conclusion. While the publishers are leaning on the romantasy angle to sell this one, The Serpent and the wolf takes its time to get hot and steamy (flirtatious wedding night in the opening scene aside). Everyone's mileage with romances varies with how much they like certain tropes, and I'll admit, the dynamic between Reid and Vaasa wasn't my favorite at first. It starts from a place of "woman thinks she's dangerous, man thinks she's adorable and feisty but not really dangerous," which isn't my cup of tea. As the story progresses, however, we see this relationship evolve into a real partnership. Vaasa has the political acumen to take Reid's charisma and leadership to the next level, and Reid's smart enough to respect her advice. I am totally here for a power couple, and that's what The Serpent and the Wolf built to.
I do wish, however, that the actual politics and world-building had been just a little more fleshed out. There's a whole whirlwind of countries that are part of a collaborative empire that elect a ruler every ten years, as well as countries outside of that empire. Trying to keep track of which countries got along and which had bitter history, as well as the slew of names of rulers and advisors, was a bit of a daunting task, even for someone who loves political fantasy. That made it hard to track what was going on in some scenes, as I wasn't sure who was representing what nation and what the full significance was supposed to be.
The Serpent and the Wolf also takes a while to get to the central thrust of its story, and I do think the first half of the book is a bit weak. There's a rivalry in Reid's inner circle that's never really fully explained; Vaasa also spends the first half the book running around trying to understand her magic in a way that felt meandering.
Eventually, however, Vaasa and Reid begin to click, and the back half of the book is much stronger for it. I devoured the last third of the book as the action kicked off, and enjoyed where the story ended. While I was skeptical at the beginning of the book, I am definitely on board to find out where things go in the sequel!
CONCLUSION: The Serpent and the Wolf may not start with its best foot forward, but it finds its way in the end. I do think this is an instance of a bit of mismarketing, as the publisher is leaning heavily on the romantasy angle. While there's certainly spice, this is a definite slow burn that takes its time building the romance. This is not at all a bad thing, it's simply a matter of coming into the book with the right expectations. So if you're looking for a slow-burn romance about the evolution of a political power couple, The Serpent and the Wolf is where you should look.
Tuesday, October 29, 2024
Blood Over Bright Haven by M. L. Wang (reviewed by Lukasz Przywoski and Mihir Wanchoo)
OVERVIEW/ANALYSIS (MIHIR): Blood Over Bright Haven is the follow-up adult
fantasy after the SPFBO winning & critical darling that was Sword Of
Kaigen. However BOBH is set in a completely different world than the
Theonite one. Blood Over Bright Haven had a high barrier to overcome the
gargantuan wall of expectations.
The main plot of the story is set in the magical city of Tiran and focusses on two characters: Thomil. & Sciona. Sciona Freynan is an orphan mage who’s obsessed with becoming the first female into the Tiranian High Magistry. Thomil is of the Caldonnae nomadic tribe that was forced to escape their lands due to a fatalistic disease called the Blight. He is forced to work as a janitor and gets assigned to work with Sciona. They are both forced to work with each other to achieve their goals. Sciona to become a highmage worthy of everyone’s respect and Thomil to finally find out what or how the Blight came to be.
“It’s much easier to tell yourself you’re a good person than it is to actually be one.”
This story is astounding in the themes it explores while giving us a standalone story which will haunt you with its examination of the real world problems of racial bigotry, misogyny, societal power imbalances, colonial hatred and more. In M. L. Wang’s capable hands, all of this darkness and more is gradually unveiled and we are immersed in this science-fantasy world. The magic system is indeed a complex one and it will take a while for most readers to wrap their minds about it.
However the best part of the story (and it shouldn’t be surprising) is the rich characterization found within. Again coming after Sword Of Kaigen, we readers have come to expect wonders. And M. L. Wang delivers in unexpectedly incredible ways. From Sciona who is so headstong and laser-focused that she can come of as more than a bit unlikeable but charismatic to a fine degree. It is Thomil and his niece Carra who are the tender hearts of the story from the beginning. Thomil is a tortured turned taciturn person who has never forgotten what really happened in the Kwen grasslands. It is his stubborn drive that fuels his strength and now matter what indignities the native Tiranians inflict upon him and his kind. He never forgets and also doesn’t forgive fully. Sciona on the other hand takes a while to get to unpeel her layers & M. L. Wang has to be lauded for her unflinching look at what really powers Sciona:
“Thomil said that a woman was weighed at the gates of Heaven by her actions and their impact. Well, Sciona was going to leave an impact. Whatever happened next, whether it led to Hell or Heaven, she was going to have a hand in directing it. Sick or sound, good or evil, she was still Sciona Freynan. And Sciona Freynan didn’t slow down. Sciona Freynan would be remembered.”
The story goes off in some dark situations and it’s no surprise given what the author has in mind. The main plot deals with some horrific issues and themes and we the readers are eloquently shown the evil that mankind has been known to inflict upon its weaker classes. In this regards, Blood Over Bright Haven will cut your heart and mind into finer pieces and the subject matter is dissected with a scalpel like dexterity. My mind often hearkens back to another famous story focusing on such an issue (namely Babel by R.F. Kuang). It is perhaps unfair to compare these similarly themed stories written by authors of (similar) east Asian ancestry. However one can only marvel at the dexterity showcased in one and the hamfistedness of the other. However success & fame are strange bedfellows, and I sincerely hope more dark academia readers discover BOBH to truly understand what a masterful dissection of thorny issues can look like.
Blood Over Bright Haven is not a book for the casual fantasy fan but it is
imperative that everyone reads it. It is brutal in its exploration of pain,
brilliant in its characterization and compelling from end to end. What can I
say more, M. L. Wang is the rare artist who vivisects pain & other
dark emotions to show the truth, beauty & darkness within mankind.
OVERVIEW/ANALYSIS (LUKASZ): Dark, disturbing, and utterly addictive, Blood Over
Bright Haven is an absolute must-read. I’m not well-versed in the
dark academia subgenre, but you can’t go wrong with this page-turner. It delves
into topics of imperialism, racism, elitism, and supremacy, but it’s a damn
good book above all.
The City of Tiran is impressive. Enclosed within a magical Barrier, it offers its citizens comfort and industrialization made possible by magic. Refugees from the outside, however, can’t expect equal treatment, and they usually scrape by in factories or doing menial jobs. Those who live outside? Dead or soon to be dead through Blight. This lethal light appears from nowhere and strips away layer after layer of human and animal bodies until nothing but blood remains.
Within the confines of the walls, Sciona Freynan has the potential to make history as the first female highmage. She just needs to pass the final exam. Since work, studies, and magic are her sole priorities and she lacks social skills or real interest in other human beings, she feels she can do it. Driven by insatiable ambition and hunger for glory and gifted with a brilliant (if obsessive) mind, she has no equals. There’s just one problem - she’s a woman. And most mages believe women are not destined for greatness.
To avoid revealing any crucial plot points, I’ll keep the synopsis brief. Wang gradually unveils the true origin of magic and sheds light on the mysterious Otherrealm - from which mages draw energy to power the city. Expect the unexpected. It’s dark academia, after all, where appearances are often deceiving.
Blood Over Bright Haven avoids gratuitous violence but contains graphic scenes that may unsettle some readers. It excels at stripping its protagonist from her core beliefs while making her understand the monstrous secrets of Tiran.
There’s, of course, a man and a potential for romance. Sciona faces many obstacles, and it is through the other point of view character, Thomil—a Kwen refugee—that we understand how limited her choices are. Their chemistry and dynamics are great. But here’s the catch - we’re talking about M.L. Wang’s book. In The Sword of Kaigen, she has proven to be unafraid of defying readers’ expectations and making bold, heart-wrenching choices. I have issues with parts of the story and the characterization of one of the bad guys, but the ending left me speechless and deserves all the stars.
A word about the magic. I’m not usually a fan of magic systems, but I loved how similar to coding it was. How logical and elegant it felt. Bravo! The characterization of most players is top-notch, too.
The book itself is relatively short (around 120,000 words) and tells a complete story. It skilfully explores themes of gender injustice, racism, faith, and consequences of intentions. All while providing suspense, action, and personal drama. The second half of the book is driven by anger. A righteous anger that serves as a catalyst for societal change, igniting a fire that propels the characters and their world forward.
To provide a balanced perspective, it is worth mentioning that some readers may take issue with the somewhat simplistic depiction of certain characters and the use of narrative shortcuts to convey the message. Personally, I found myself emotionally engaged, and these aspects did not hinder my overall enjoyment of the story.
CONCLUSION (LUKASZ): In short, Blood Over Bright Haven is excellent. It tells a complete story, provides a satisfying ending, and is an emotional rollercoaster as the narrative takes bold risks and delivers gut-wrenching twists. Go ahead, give it a read.
SPFBO 9 silver medalist K. E. Andrews is allowing us to participate in the cover reveal for her upcoming fantasy western novella titled WILD SKIES.
You can check it out the artwork and cover below and then sign up for the ARC over here.
Official Book Blurb: I’ll trade ya a story for a drink.
It’s a story about a handsome son of a gun and his trusty dragon, Bean, on the hunt for the notorious train robber, Talon. In a land shaped by dragons, magic, and bullets, Dale Hartwell is just trying to make a living hunting down bandits and bounties while searching for his kidnapped parents.
When the hunt for Talon takes him to the Melted Lands, Dale finds that he’s bitten off more than he can chew. He comes face to face with ancient dragons, old magic, and a new lead on his missing family. If he fails this job, not only will he lose his chance to find his parents, he might lose his life.
In a showdown with a common enemy, unlikely allies will have to take to the skies, fighting tooth and talon for their lives and the future of the Melted Lands.
Book links: Amazon, Goodreads
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Nebula Award, SCKA Award finalist. Member of SFWA. Left one erstwhile empire only to settle in another. Speaks German by day, Russian by night. Writes in English.
Publisher: CAEZIK SF & Fantasy (November 12, 2024) Length: 300 pages Formats: ebook, paperback
Book Review: The Last Hour Between Worlds by Melissa Caruso
OFFICIAL AUTHOR BIO: Melissa Caruso writes books of murder, magic, and mayhem. Her published fantasy novels include the Swords & Fire trilogy (THE TETHERED MAGE, THE DEFIANT HEIR, THE UNBOUND EMPIRE) and the Rooks & Ruin trilogy (THE OBSIDIAN TOWER, THE QUICKSILVER COURT, THE IVORY TOMB), all from Orbit Books. Her debut novel was shortlisted for the Gemmell Morningstar Award in 2017, and her books have received starred reviews and made countless Best Of lists. Melissa is a tea drinker, larper, and mom, and lives in Massachusetts with her video game designer husband, two superlative daughters, and assorted pets.
OVERVIEW/ANALYSIS: This is a reality bending world with a mom who thought she would get one evening away from her baby being thrust into a time loopy adventure. It’s not very long, and it’s pretty much the setting that kept me hooked. To describe terribly, there are layers of realities that get more and more unhinged as you step from Prime layer to deeper and deeper echoes, and there aren’t many people who survive, or even want to consider stepping away from the layer that serves at ground truth. A new year party goes haywire and our protagonist Kembral is stuck trying to prevent murders, understanding why things are happening and what the stakes are for her and her baby, and just trying to get back home safe.
Kembral is shown to be an extremely competent Hound on maternity leave. There are people who want her back at work to do some challenging things, and she’s just trying to get them to understand that she’s not back at work yet. What a Hound (or a Cat, as you shall see if you read the book) does I think I’ve understood, but I couldn’t explain satisfactorily with a gun to my head, or worse. She’s like a magical investigator. You’ll just have to read the book and see for yourself.
You know those movies, where there’s a party or social gathering, and that’s used to introduce the viewer to different characters who may or may not matter to the story? The first two chapters are that, and it’s a bit dizzying in how much information is given to the reader at the get go. Quite a lot of it is useful, but I just couldn’t hold it in my head as the story progressed, and I just relied on the author’s competence to remind me of something important if it mattered. It did work out, and I really enjoyed watching the main character put things together and make her alliances. Now, it’s not necessarily a bad thing, but I am not sure if this makes the book friendly to newbies of the genre.
As for the magic, I really enjoyed how the different layers of echoes added awe but also stakes to the adventure, and loved watching things go more and more insane as Kembral got deeper in. The setting is what got me to pay attention to this book, and while it can be a wholly of information initially, I don’t think there was a way to smoothen it out, and get the impression that the author did the best she could. Beyond that point though, there’s a steady drip of the setting given throughout the book, and that was done very impressively.
A prominent theme of in book that gives it a niche target audience would be motherhood. Like I said, new mom away from baby for a night, and while we have seen it before in TV shows or movies or even books (I haven’t so if you know any that do this, feel free to drop a recommendation in the comments), but I liked how every other action taken by the main character was colored by her new responsibility or concern for the world that her baby Emmi would inherit, as well as her conflicting emotions in taking time away for herself, or trying to decide how she would balance what she wanted in her career/job and with her daughter. I do wish the resolution wasn’t abrupt here. When I mean abrupt, there’s a drastic change in like three paragraphs, and this needed to be done better, and more convincingly. As for repetition, you know how much I loathe it in books. There were a lot of the same phrases or words used (we could’ve done with one or more less mentions of her insides being rearranged during pregnancy etc), and I think the concentration on some aspects of motherhood was overly done in pockets, and there had to be stronger editing to spread it across the book in a less making-a-point-in-your-face way. I realize I’m not in a position to critique the content, but it’s the delivery here that I’ve an issue with. Just copyedit better next time?
Extending on my feelings about the motherhood theme, I enjoyed how the romance and pining (if you like a book with pining) worked its way into it and her need to be able to ask for help when needed. Now, the miscommunication, it wasn’t bad here. There is some. But you get to watch it being worked out by the end. So just keep that in mind.
CONCLUSION: I said a lot and have trouble pinning down my feelings for this book, but just know, I do recommend it. If you review, it’s definitely worth a request, and if you don’t, worth a purchase. Or talk to your library. I think a lot of you will enjoy this one.
Kembral is shown to be an extremely competent Hound on maternity leave. There are people who want her back at work to do some challenging things, and she’s just trying to get them to understand that she’s not back at work yet. What a Hound (or a Cat, as you shall see if you read the book) does I think I’ve understood, but I couldn’t explain satisfactorily with a gun to my head, or worse. She’s like a magical investigator. You’ll just have to read the book and see for yourself.
You know those movies, where there’s a party or social gathering, and that’s used to introduce the viewer to different characters who may or may not matter to the story? The first two chapters are that, and it’s a bit dizzying in how much information is given to the reader at the get go. Quite a lot of it is useful, but I just couldn’t hold it in my head as the story progressed, and I just relied on the author’s competence to remind me of something important if it mattered. It did work out, and I really enjoyed watching the main character put things together and make her alliances. Now, it’s not necessarily a bad thing, but I am not sure if this makes the book friendly to newbies of the genre.
As for the magic, I really enjoyed how the different layers of echoes added awe but also stakes to the adventure, and loved watching things go more and more insane as Kembral got deeper in. The setting is what got me to pay attention to this book, and while it can be a wholly of information initially, I don’t think there was a way to smoothen it out, and get the impression that the author did the best she could. Beyond that point though, there’s a steady drip of the setting given throughout the book, and that was done very impressively.
A prominent theme of in book that gives it a niche target audience would be motherhood. Like I said, new mom away from baby for a night, and while we have seen it before in TV shows or movies or even books (I haven’t so if you know any that do this, feel free to drop a recommendation in the comments), but I liked how every other action taken by the main character was colored by her new responsibility or concern for the world that her baby Emmi would inherit, as well as her conflicting emotions in taking time away for herself, or trying to decide how she would balance what she wanted in her career/job and with her daughter. I do wish the resolution wasn’t abrupt here. When I mean abrupt, there’s a drastic change in like three paragraphs, and this needed to be done better, and more convincingly. As for repetition, you know how much I loathe it in books. There were a lot of the same phrases or words used (we could’ve done with one or more less mentions of her insides being rearranged during pregnancy etc), and I think the concentration on some aspects of motherhood was overly done in pockets, and there had to be stronger editing to spread it across the book in a less making-a-point-in-your-face way. I realize I’m not in a position to critique the content, but it’s the delivery here that I’ve an issue with. Just copyedit better next time?
Extending on my feelings about the motherhood theme, I enjoyed how the romance and pining (if you like a book with pining) worked its way into it and her need to be able to ask for help when needed. Now, the miscommunication, it wasn’t bad here. There is some. But you get to watch it being worked out by the end. So just keep that in mind.
CONCLUSION: I said a lot and have trouble pinning down my feelings for this book, but just know, I do recommend it. If you review, it’s definitely worth a request, and if you don’t, worth a purchase. Or talk to your library. I think a lot of you will enjoy this one.
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