As I talked about previously in my introductory post, Mark Lawrence was kind enough to give me a list. I’ll be doing six reading rounds wherein I’ll be selecting one title from 4-5 books. In the end, the chosen six will get a proper FBC style review and I’ll be selecting one title from that list. So for my first round, I read the following four titles:
1) David Tatum – The Kitsune Stratagem
The Kitsune Strategem is an interesting book about a world wherein Kitsunes are present and have been brought into existence by the Goddess Inari. The book had an interesting start and the characters are rather straightforward in their approach. Kieras and Mathis are the main protagonists and are the central focus of the story. One of the plus points of this story was how the author inculcated various mythological creatures in a secondary fantasy world. This was a good read but it didn't quite grow out of its fun mold.
The Kitsune Strategem is an interesting book about a world wherein Kitsunes are present and have been brought into existence by the Goddess Inari. The book had an interesting start and the characters are rather straightforward in their approach. Kieras and Mathis are the main protagonists and are the central focus of the story. One of the plus points of this story was how the author inculcated various mythological creatures in a secondary fantasy world. This was a good read but it didn't quite grow out of its fun mold.
2) Charlotte Cyprus – Kiss of the Fae
Kiss Of The Fae was a romantic fantasy and it focused on two characters Xenos and Johara who are from different sides and are forced to let go of their conventional views. This of course being a story with a strong romantic focus, we find that the characters do manage to overcome their biases and find love in each other. This was an interesting story and the characters were intriguing if not slightly predictable.
Kiss Of The Fae was a romantic fantasy and it focused on two characters Xenos and Johara who are from different sides and are forced to let go of their conventional views. This of course being a story with a strong romantic focus, we find that the characters do manage to overcome their biases and find love in each other. This was an interesting story and the characters were intriguing if not slightly predictable.
3) Scott Warren – Sorcerous Crimes Division: Devil Bone
I had high hopes from this book as it presented a fantasy world and gave the story a noir feel with magic and gangs and a constabulary who regulates and tries to keep the city safe. The story begins in a meandering fashion and we are introduced to our main characters Commander Vulfort & private Tanner. The plot takes a while to get going but the ending more than makes up for the slow start. What I thoroughly enjoyed with this story was the world that’s slowly unveiled and the epic story that’s promised in the sequel volumes.
I had high hopes from this book as it presented a fantasy world and gave the story a noir feel with magic and gangs and a constabulary who regulates and tries to keep the city safe. The story begins in a meandering fashion and we are introduced to our main characters Commander Vulfort & private Tanner. The plot takes a while to get going but the ending more than makes up for the slow start. What I thoroughly enjoyed with this story was the world that’s slowly unveiled and the epic story that’s promised in the sequel volumes.
4) Brian Lynch – King Callie
This was a rather different book as it focuses on a teenage character Callie who faces some stern odds. I enjoyed the "teenage character in an adult fantasy world" approach of the story. Very reminiscent of the ShadowMarch quartet by Tad Williams, though Brian Lynch keeps the plot focus much narrowed down than Tad Williams. The story is fast-paced and that kept me reading all the way through to the end. I enjoyed this story but the story felt a bit unrealistic with the way Callie goes about her journey.
From this round, the one title that appealed to the most and will be proceeding forward is Sorcerous Crimes Division: Devil Bone by Scott Warren. Next up will be five new titles & I'll hopefully finish reading them in the next two-three weeks.
This was a rather different book as it focuses on a teenage character Callie who faces some stern odds. I enjoyed the "teenage character in an adult fantasy world" approach of the story. Very reminiscent of the ShadowMarch quartet by Tad Williams, though Brian Lynch keeps the plot focus much narrowed down than Tad Williams. The story is fast-paced and that kept me reading all the way through to the end. I enjoyed this story but the story felt a bit unrealistic with the way Callie goes about her journey.
From this round, the one title that appealed to the most and will be proceeding forward is Sorcerous Crimes Division: Devil Bone by Scott Warren. Next up will be five new titles & I'll hopefully finish reading them in the next two-three weeks.
9:00 PM | 
Posted by
The Reader |
Tuesday, April 14, 2015
"Prudence: The Custard Protocol Book One" by Gail Carriger (Reviewed by Cindy Hannikman)
Visit Gail Carriger's Official Website Here
OVERVIEW: When Prudence Alessandra Maccon Akeldama (Rue to her friends) is given an unexpected dirigible, she does what any sensible female would under similar circumstances - names it the Spotted Custard and floats to India in pursuit of the perfect cup of tea. But India has more than just tea on offer. Rue stumbles upon a plot involving local dissidents, a kidnapped brigadier's wife, and some awfully familiar Scottish werewolves. Faced with a dire crisis and an embarrassing lack of bloomers, what else is a young lady of good breeding to do but turn metanatural and find out everyone's secrets, even thousand-year-old fuzzy ones?
FORMAT: Prudence
is the first novel in The Custard Protocol. This series picks up 20+ years
after The Parasol Protectorate series. It is not necessary to read The Parasol
Protectorate. Some of the events will be referenced and some characters make an
appearance, but it isn't necessary.
Prudence is an adult fiction novel that is a mix of
supernatural, steampunk, humor, and a little romance and historical fiction. Prudence
stands at 368 pages and was published by Orbit on March 17, 2015.
ANALYSIS: Gail
Carriger is one of those authors that you either love her writing style or you
hate it. It is a little bit steampunk, little bit supernatural, and a whole lot
of out-right silliness. It certainly isn't for everyone.
I started reading Carriger's novels in 2010 when the Parasol
Protectorate series was brand new. I admit it took a little getting used to, as
the books weren't like anything I had read before. The conversations between
characters was flowery, the situations ridiculous (in a silly/fun way), and
there was an effort to keep things time period specific. I grew to enjoy
Carriger's novels and have since read the entire Parasol Protectorate series
and all three books – so far – of the Finishing School series.
Given how much I enjoyed the Parasol Protectorate series, I
was excited when I heard that Carriger was doing a spin-off of sorts with The
Custard Protocol. The Custard Protocol follows Prudence – Lord and Lady
Maccon's daughter – as she makes her way through society and learns to accept
her role as a metanatural. Unfortunately, my excitement did not last through
this book.
First, it should be known that if you enjoyed the Parasol
Protectorate series, you will probably enjoy The Custard Protocol. The writing style
is the same, the characters are the same; everything is pretty much in line
with the first series. And that is where the problem begins.
Ultimately, I felt as though The Custard Protocol was a mere
redo of the Parasol Protectorate. Substitute Alexia with Prudence, Ivy with her
daughter, and a few other characters, and you ultimately have the entire first
series. I was really looking forward to seeing Prudence as a new person and new
character, but that didn't happen.
In fact, if you closed your eyes there really was no
difference between Alexia in book 1 of the Parasol Protectorate and Prudence in
book one of The Custard Protocol. The powers were a little different and
Prudence was more aware of the supernatural aspect of the world, but attitude,
personality, quirks, and speaking style was exactly the same. The only
exception is..... Prudence is boring. She only knows clothing and fashion. So
imagine a boring Alexia and you get Prudence.
Prudence wasn't the only one without a new personality. Prim
Tunstall is attached at Prudence's hip and appears non-stop throughout the
book. The problem with this is Prim – while claiming to not be like her mother
– is exactly like Ivy Hisselpenny (Alexia's best friend from The Parasol
Protectorate series).
I really would have liked to see the characters be
themselves instead of feeling as if Carriger was trying to re-capture the
feelings from the first series. Yes, it could be argued that people inherit
their parent's traits, but every character was almost a cookie cutter knockoff
of their parent from the first series. It was a bit disappointing.
In addition to the lack of new character development, there
is the lack of a plot. The ultimate plot of the book is that Prudence
is sent to India to discover some odd, but tasty tea plant. I wish I could tell
you there was more to the plot, but there isn't a whole lot more to the plot.
There is a subplot that gets revealed in the last part of the book about two
groups of warring supernatural creatures, but it is largely overshadowed and
downplayed.
For much of the book readers are overburdened with nonsense.
There are huge sections of silly talk about what the proper dress is for an
occasion or what hat should go with what. There is a lot of description and
time spent talking about a ladybug painted dirigible that farts – yes it farts
and that is world-ending horrible. And let us not forget the debates about what
is or is not proper for society. I know society gossip/reputation was important
in that time period, but this just seemed to be placed there in the absence of
a plot.
Don't get me wrong. I understand the series is supposed to
be silly and humorous, but for the most part Carriger knows how to bring in
humor while keeping a plot going. That did not happen here. We were left with a
good 25-50% of nonsense, a little plot development, and a little look back and
hints of favorite characters from previous books.
I wish I could say I enjoyed Prudence. Carriger is a
wonderful, amazing and very talented author. Unfortunately, this book was not
one of her strongest. I believe fans of her other series may enjoy it, but it
does not have the potential to capture the attention of a new audience.
Thursday, April 9, 2015
"The Island of Dr. Libris" by Chris Grabenstein (Reviewed by Cindy Hannikman)
Visit Chris Grabenstein's Official Website Here
OVERVIEW: What if your favorite characters came to
life? Billy’s spending the summer in a lakeside cabin that belongs to the
mysterious Dr. Libris. But something strange is going on. Besides the security
cameras everywhere, there’s Dr. Libris’s private bookcase. Whenever Billy opens
the books inside, he can hear sounds coming from the island in the middle of
the lake. The clash of swords. The twang of arrows. Sometimes he can even feel
the ground shaking. It’s almost as if the stories he’s reading are coming to
life! But that’s impossible . . . isn’t it?
FORMAT: The
Island of Dr. Libris is a standalone novel. It contains elements of
fantasy and adventure with a slight mysterious element to it. The Island
of Dr. Libris was published March 24, 2015 by Random House Books for
Young Readers and stands at 256 pages.
ANALYSIS: Ask any
avid reader if they have ever gotten so engrossed in a book that they felt like
they were actually a part of story and chances are you will hear them say
'yes'. It has happened to all readers at some point in time.
Now, what if there was a way we could take the worlds are characters created by our favorite authors and somehow bring those to life. We would be able to interact with the characters, play out scenes from the books, and occasionally add our own plot twists or start our own adventure. That is the concept that is explored in The Island of Dr. Libris.
The Island of Dr. Libris may be a children's book, but it is much more than that. It really explores the concept of the power of imagination. It truly makes us think about just how powerful the written word is in terms of developing our imagination and influencing the future.
I will admit that The Island of Dr. Libris will be
enjoyable if you don't take it too seriously. The tone is lighthearted and fun
while the entire book is fast paced. But, I'll admit there are certainly holes
in the plot and the subplot (the main character's parents are getting divorced)
is resolved in a manner that is a bit unbelievable. Readers will encounter
things that can certainly be picked apart and debated that it isn't 'logical',
but at the core of it – this is a children's book and it isn't really meant to
be detailed to the point that everything is explained in a logical way.
In many ways, The Island of Dr. Libris has two
distinct audiences. The experience you get out of it will depend upon which
group you fall into. The first group, elementary aged children, will like the
silly dialogue and fast pace. Those that fall into this first category will
certain be introduced to a tone of characters and authors that seem to be
pushed to the wayside by the younger audience in favor of newer, hipper
authors.
The other audience, the one I fall into, is the adult
audience who will appreciate the way the author brought to life – and meshed –
favorite literary novels. There is Robin Hood, Hercules, and The Three Musketeers,
and my favorite – Pollyanna.
Unfortunately, if you fall into the last category there are
drawbacks to the novel and you will probably notice. For example, the entire
book revolves around the idea of Dr. Libris running an experiment, but Dr.
Libris only appears for like 2 seconds and that is it. If you want to see what
happens, I guess you will have to use your imagination and create an ending!
Overall, I enjoyed The Island of Dr. Libris. The story
wasn't intense, but it wasn't bad. There were certain plot holes that were
noticeable, but it didn't really impact my overall experience with the book. If
you are looking for a fast, fun book that will certainly stay with you for a
while – this is the place to look.
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