At first, I was greatly honoured to be asked to participate in FBC's Review/Preview, and then the inner monologue piped up! Ya know, that voice we have in our brain everyday warning us against right and wrong or tea or coffee. ‘You haven’t read anything this year,’ it said. It had a point. And for a moment, that voice from within was right. But then I remembered. I had. That bloody voice in my head had tried to fool me - again. I don’t trust it. Has it always been there, the voice? I don’t remember inviting it in . . . do you?
2019 Faves
1) Priest of Bones by Peter McLean. Bloody hell, I was losing faith in fantasy for a bit. This bridged the gap in fiction/fantasy. Violent, without a care. We are dropped into a city on the edge. The troops are coming home from war and some of these rapscallions aren’t the most delightful of people. I like it. I like it a lot. Tomas Piety has come home to Ellinburg and some fiends have took over the family business. Peaky Blinders with swords someone said. Fitting. It works brilliantly. And the horror of PTSD is superbly displayed in Piety’s brother Jochan. The magic subtly chimes in the background like morning birdsong but becomes more prevalent as the story continues, never overshadowing the thrilling narrative.2) The Outsider by Stephen King. Paperbacks can be totems of gold dust. I think it is a lovely touch! People leaving portable stories on public transport, immediately offering us a way out of the banality. I picked this up on a train from London after attending a book signing. My Mum did the same once, leaving a copy of my book, The Boy Who Walked Too Far, on a flight from New York to Chicago. Whether that was on purpose is another matter, but you get the gist. Love King or loathe him, he is still a master of his craft. Brutal, gut wrenching, and as a father myself I can sympathise with some of the characters. But that’s the point isn’t it? I devoured it within a few days. Boy still has it.
3) Crowfall by Ed Macdonald. There aren’t many books I mark a date in my diary for. This is one. In the last two years I have been totally smitten with Ryhalt Galharrow and his journey into the Misery. I’m telling you now HBO, if you have a massive GoT space in your listings then look no further. Dark, sometimes brooding, but not to the point where you give up. Far from it, it’s the gruff narrative that leads you on. Classic fantasy, shining in a post-millennial light. A perfect end to a trilogy. Gillings, Darlings, Deep Kings, oh my . . .
4) Black Leopard Red Wolf by Marlon James. This man’s skill of language is something else. As a writer, you need to constantly push yourself. Part fantasy, part poetry, all inspiring. Don’t get me wrong, don’t read it if you are struggling after a days work. You need your faculties intact, Tracker’s journey isn’t one you should miss, and the world-building is pure mescaline-infused static. But it should be given credence and read with an appreciation of culture and creation.
5) I’ve picked up a fascination this year with Valencourt Books. They have re-released a load of pulp horrors from the late seventies and early eighties. Sometimes to move forward you must occasionally take a peak back. There’s nothing wrong with mutated cockroaches and Wendigos if they are done right. I’ve just started reading The Entity by Frank De Felitta. It feels like I’m reading it through a Halloween mask – it makes me sweaty - and have my hands tied behind my back. I know what’s coming of course, I remember seeing the movie in the eighties. It gives off an almost voyeuristic quality which is quite unnerving. Makes me want to wash myself. Or perhaps I just need a good bath. I don’t know if it’s the writing or the subject matter. It’s power of language transmutes the flesh.
Looking Ahead to 2020
I’m looking forward to Monstrous Heart by Claire McKenna. I’m a sucker for leviathans – ha, sucker, see what I did there? Afterland by Lauren Beaukes - damn she can write. The Winds of Winter maybe, or is that too presumptuous?
On the Horizon for Dom Watson
I’m re-releasing The Boy Who Walked Too Far next year. It has a brand-new cover and a sharper narrative. SPFBO 2018 really helped me shape it into something special. Smoker on the Porch is going through a second draft and I can’t wait to release this into the world. It’s set in 1989 at the end of Thatcher’s Britain. Its about that old codger over the street. You know, all the kids know, that horrible nosferatu type with nicotine fingers who won’t give you your ball back. A coming of age tale set in the countryside with cosmic horror and soda stream.FBC's REVIEW OF THE BOY WHO WALKED TOO FAR
About the Author
Dom can’t really talk about himself too much. The cats forbid it, and if he did, he would have to answer to the alligator under the stairs. But what shreds you can know is that he intends to write lots of stories and spread the gospel of the great serpent Orm throughout your lovely brains culminating in one glorious gestalt entity where reading books is mandatory to the continued existence of coffee.He also likes pizza.
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2019 FAVORITES:
I didn’t read nearly as many books as I
wanted to this year, but there were a number of gems in what I did read. What
follows is a list of my favorites (not in any particular order), with what is
absolutely not an attempt to give a summary or blurb of the book, rather, my
emotional knee-jerk reaction to why I enjoyed it so much.
1.
The Sword of Kaigen by M.L. Wang. This book made me sob. I don’t mean a little
misty-eyed, I mean I was bawling through most of the last half of the book. I’d
stop crying and then start all over again at something else. It was all good,
though, all good, we’re all good here. It’s just one of those books you don’t
forget.
2.
Cradle Series by Will Wight. Yes, every last freakin’ one of them that’s
currently available, starting with Unsouled and ending with Uncrowned.
These books are like book crack. Or mozzarella cheese sticks. Or maybe
Pringles. Once you pop, you can’t stop? At any rate, they’re fun, fast-paced,
and easy to binge-read.
3.
Fortune’s Fool by Angela Boord. I mean, there’s a woman with a metal arm. A tragic
past. A tantalizing mystery. Superb world-building. And the ever-looming
question: ARE THESE TWO EVER GOING TO GET TOGETHER!? If you can make me bite my
nails over that question, I’m probably sold.
4.
Hero Forged by Josh Erikson. Boom bang fun. I don’t even know what that means,
but there were fantastical creatures running around a city and a talking insect
dude and out-of-control gods and magic flying everyone…and I really need to
read the sequel.
5.
The Gods of Men by Barbara Kloss. Remember that question in capitals above? Yep.
That is all. Actually, that’s not all—there were really good characters, an
interesting world, and an intriguing plot too. But, I mean, we all know why I’m
waiting eagerly for the sequel.
UPCOMING IN 2020
I’ve got a bazillion books on my TBR for
2020, and if I get to read half of them, I will count
that as a success, so who’s to say what I might read next… But Brandon
Sanderson’s Stormlight 4 will certainly be one of them!
(*internal screaming*) In TV, I’m also looking forward to Picard, The
Witcher, and getting to The Dragon Prince season 3 at some point.
ON THE HORIZON FOR CAROL A. PARK
First up in the first half of 2020 is A
World Broken, which is the start of a new epic fantasy series, The
Chronicles of the Lady Sar. This one tells the story of how one world’s
primordial “Golden Age” came to an end—through the eyes and personal struggles
of characters who will one day become legends. Next will be the final book in The
Heretic Gods trilogy, titled Bloodmaster. I’m not sure yet when this
one will be out. I was originally shooting for the end of 2020, but it seems
more likely now that it will be out in 2021 sometime. I’ve also got some plans
for starting a vlog early next year exploring what it’s like to be an
independent author, so we’ll see where that goes.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Carol A. Park is the author of The
Heretic Gods trilogy and the upcoming series The Chronicles of the Lady
Sar. She lives in the Lancaster, PA area with her husband and two
young and active boys–which is another way of saying, “adorable vampires.” She
loves reading (duh), writing fantasy novels (double-duh), music, movies, and
other perfectly normal things like parsing Hebrew verbs and teaching herself
new dead languages. She has two master's degrees in the areas of ancient near
eastern studies and languages.
One of the things
I learned is the value of brevity.
That said, I did find
some other stellar reads this year. In no particular order:
Red Sister by Mark Lawrence. Yes, this book has
tight plotting and engaging characters and cool magic, but what I couldn’t get
over was the setting. Mark seems to have a thing for post-apocalyptic novels
disguised as regular fantasy, which is not always a welcome twist for my
particular proclivities, but his one is awesome: a planet entirely covered by
ice with a single strip of habitable land kept melted by the last satellite
still orbiting the sky. And hints that people with the right heritage might be
able to control it and other mysterious artifacts buried in the ice—completely
awesome. Red Sister doesn’t even really get to the promise of the
setting, but I loved getting lost in it anyway.
Burning White by Brent Weeks.
Full disclosure, this book came out a few weeks ago and it’s almost a thousand
pages, so I’m not done with it yet. But the design of this series has been
brilliant from book one, with every major character relationship optimally
posed for conflict and revelation. And better yet, Weeks actually delivers
on that potential as the series goes on—just when you think this character
couldn’t get more wretched, or that one have more secrets to uncover, he peels
another layer off the onion, and you tear up in all the right ways. At the
signing for Burning White he handed us all a packet of tissues that said
‘Don’t open till Epilogue 1,’ so I’m guessing this one’s no different. Can’t
wait.
Unsouled by Will Wight. You can’t pay attention to
the epic fantasy chart on Amazon without wondering who the (heck) Will Wight is
and how he ascended to godhood. Fortunately, his books are a tidy answer to
that: clear and accessible prose, lovable characters, tight pacing, and that
LitRPG thrill of leveling up character ability without the annoying stats, with
the conflict perfectly ramping to match it. This is a long plane ride kind of
read, but the kind where when you get there and you only have twenty pages left
you’re going to let everyone else get off first because you have to know what
happens. That’s what I did anyway.
Children of the Nameless by Brandon
Sanderson. I almost blush including this, because FBC called me out for showing
an embarrassing amount of Sanderson influence. I’m going to own it, and go a
step deeper: I’m also a Magic: The Gathering nerd, so when Sanderson released a
novella set in an MTG world I was already sold. Add to that his peculiar
brand of quirky characters and inevitably revelation-laden plotlines, and fold
it up into bite-size novella format? Delicious. The best part is you don’t have
to be a Magic geek to understand it, and it’s a great entry point into the
author if his chihuahua-killing fantasy novels (let alone his Labrador-slaying
end to the Wheel of Time series) have always felt daunting.
What I’m
Looking Forward to in 2020:
Bookwise, I’m
excited to see who else finals in the SPFBO contest. [disclaimer: Levi sent us this write-up before all of the finalists were announced!] I loved some of the
finalists from last year’s contest, and it’s sort of a proxy curation service
for those of us who want to read more indie fantasy but don’t necessary enjoy
wading through the Kindle slush pile. Other than that, I’m embarrassed to say
I’ve been too deep in my TBR pile to pay much attention to what I’ll surely be
piling on top of it next.
Current
Projects:
I’ve just wrapped
up a novella set in my Resonant Saga universe, in which a bounty hunter
sets out to bring justice to a runaway murderer… only to fall in love with her.
Readers familiar with the series will recognize that runaway murderous daughter
from the main series, and this felt like a fun way to give a snapshot into who
she was before the main story gets started. It’s also my first crowd-sourced story idea—I bought the cover without having a story in mind, then bounced a
few story ideas off my brain and had my mailing list vote on which one they
thought would be the most fun. Turned out they were right.
I’m about ten
thousand words into book four as I write this, a fun project because it’s my
first all-female book, in terms of main characters, and probably my first true
mystery (well, epic fantasy mystery). Hoping to have that out in January, plus
another crowd-sourced novella and book five later in the spring. Then it might
be time to see how many of my other thousand scribbled notes I can fit into a
new series and world.
About the Author:
Levi Jacobs is the author of the near-future science-fiction novel ACHE, as well as the fantastical Resonant Saga and forthcoming Water of Night series. He has received the Colorado Gold award in Speculative Fiction, taken first place in The Zebulon Fiction Contest for Science Fiction, and had shorter work published in Spark: A Creative Anthology, Jungle Crows and Perihelion SF. Hailing from North Dakota, with much of his formative years spent in Japan and Uganda, Levi has an MA in Cultural Anthropology and sells fruit in the oil fields to make a living. Learn more at www.levijacobs.com.
About the Author:
Levi Jacobs is the author of the near-future science-fiction novel ACHE, as well as the fantastical Resonant Saga and forthcoming Water of Night series. He has received the Colorado Gold award in Speculative Fiction, taken first place in The Zebulon Fiction Contest for Science Fiction, and had shorter work published in Spark: A Creative Anthology, Jungle Crows and Perihelion SF. Hailing from North Dakota, with much of his formative years spent in Japan and Uganda, Levi has an MA in Cultural Anthropology and sells fruit in the oil fields to make a living. Learn more at www.levijacobs.com.
2019 Favorites
I honestly don’t know how other authors get
time to read, and personally only manage a half hour or so before bed on the
good days. In terms of books I really enjoyed, there’s Alec Hutson’s The Shadow
King, which concluded his Ravening series on a high note.
Rob J. Hayes’ Never Die was also a
highlight, which is probably why it’s doing so well in this year’s SPFBO.
Unfortunately (or not), I find myself
watching TV whenever I have a spare second, so here are some shows that really
stuck out to me this year:
She-Ra: Everyone’s all gaga over The Dragon Prince, which is just sort of run of the mill to me, but this show is a gem. Especially the third season, which gets really dark and really weird. There’s generally a dichotomy between “girl and boys” shows, and this one really blurs the line such that I think both can enjoy it. I sure wish shows this good were around when I was a kid.
She-Ra: Everyone’s all gaga over The Dragon Prince, which is just sort of run of the mill to me, but this show is a gem. Especially the third season, which gets really dark and really weird. There’s generally a dichotomy between “girl and boys” shows, and this one really blurs the line such that I think both can enjoy it. I sure wish shows this good were around when I was a kid.
Carnival Row: Another show that got released in the shadow of another in the form of The Dark Crystal, but I’ve been rooting for this one ever since it showed up a decade ago as a script being passed around Hollywood that everyone swore would never get made. A fairy immigration story with a Lovecraftian murder mystery and maybe some werewolves thrown in? Sign me up.
Sound & Fury: Sturgill Simpson’s fourth album is a doozy, what with an accompanying anime release on Netflix. It can best be described as a post-apocalypse-samurai-Western that’s also a country concept album, but really it’s a love letter to late night 90s MTV, what with all the weirdness that includes a line dancing scene in the middle of a mecha battle. So much crazy genre mashups had me hooked 100%.
Looking ahead to 2020
I’m in the middle of a move so can’t think
past the next week, let alone into a new decade. So what it might entail has me
stumped. Let’s just say I’m looking for more fantasy to push the boundaries as
to what’s popular and acceptable. We’re a genre based upon exploring impossible
worlds, so here’s to hoping they get a lot more impossible and weirder as the
decade opens up.
On the Horizon for M.D. Presley
Personally, I plan to finish up Sol’s
Harvest by releasing The Shattered Sphere in the first half of the year. Then
I’m on to a long-gestating non-fiction project examining worldbuilding in the
fantasy genre. It’s such an important aspect in assessing success in the
fantasy genre, yet we have no unified definition of what it is. I hope to
change that by the end of the year. Or at least make an attempt…
About the Author
Never passing up the opportunity to speak
about himself in the third person, M.D. Presley is not nearly as clever as he
thinks he is. Born and raised in Texas, he spent several years on the East
Coast and now waits for the West Coast to shake him loose. His favorite words
include defenestrate, callipygian, and Algonquin. The fact that monosyllabic is
such a long word keeps him up at night.
His flintlock fantasy series Sol’s Harvest
can be found on Amazon and should (hopefully) conclude this year. mybook.to/TWR
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of The Long Way Down
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of The White Gold Score
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of Redemption Song
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of The Living End
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of A Plain-Dealing Villain
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of The Killing Floor Blues
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of The Castle Doctrine
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of Double Or Nothing
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of The Neon Boneyard
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of Sworn To The Night
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of Detonation Boulevard
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of Winter's Reach
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of The Instruments Of Control
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of Harmony Black
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of Red Knight Falling
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of Glass Predator
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of Cold Spectrum
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of Right To The Kill
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of Ghosts Of Gotham
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of The Loot
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of Cold Spectrum
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of Right To The Kill
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of Ghosts Of Gotham
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of The Loot
Read Fantasy Book Critic's Harmony Black Series Interview with Craig Schaefer
Read Double Or Nothing Cover Reveal Mini-Interview with Craig Schaefer
Read Part I of Fantasy Book Critic's In-depth Interview with Craig Schaefer
Read Part II of Fantasy Book Critic's In-depth Interview with Craig Schaefer
Read the Wisdom's Grave Trilogy Completion Interview with Craig Schaefer
Read the 2019 And Beyond Interview with Craig Schaefer
Read the Right To The Kill Cover Reveal Q&A with Craig Schaefer
Read My Sworn To The Night Cover Reveal Q&A with Craig Schaefer
Read Part I of Fantasy Book Critic's In-depth Interview with Craig Schaefer
Read Part II of Fantasy Book Critic's In-depth Interview with Craig Schaefer
Read the Wisdom's Grave Trilogy Completion Interview with Craig Schaefer
Read the 2019 And Beyond Interview with Craig Schaefer
Read the Right To The Kill Cover Reveal Q&A with Craig Schaefer
Read My Sworn To The Night Cover Reveal Q&A with Craig Schaefer
AUTHOR INFORMATION: Craig Schaefer was born in Chicago and wanted to be a writer since a very young age. His writing was inspired by Elmore Leonard, Richard Stark, Clive Barker & H. P. Lovecraft. After reaching his 40th birthday he decided to give in to his passion and since then has released twelve novels in the last three years. He currently lives in North Carolina and loves visiting museums and libraries for inspiration.
OFFICIAL BOOK BLURB: The first story ever told left a scar on the skin of the universe, with its characters doomed to an endless cycle of reincarnation and death. Trapped by his enemies, Daniel Faust — magician, mobster, and newly-minted knight of hell — has been cast in the role of the eternal Thief. Now the story is dead-set on writing his final chapter, the one that ends with a knife in his back.
The curse can’t be broken without tracking down the original Thief. The truth is buried beneath the legacy of a long-dead stage magician and a cache of occult relics from the 1940s, but Daniel and his crew aren’t the only hunters on this trail: so is a deadly new contender who blends sorcery with science, armed with a link to Daniel’s past — and a cult he thought he had destroyed long ago.
The doomsday clock is ticking, and more than Daniel’s own life is at stake. To save the day he’ll have to pull off the most daring heist of his criminal career, stealing a priceless treasure from a reality-bending madman, or die trying.
FORMAT/INFO: The Locust Job is 272 pages long divided over forty-one chapters with an epilogue, “The Story So Far…” section & an afterword. Narration is in the first-person, via Daniel Faust for forty chapters, Tangerine for a singular chapter and a different third-person narrative for the epilogue. This is the ninth volume of The Daniel Faust series.
January 1, 2020 marked the North American e-book publication of The Locust Job and it was self-published by the author. Cover art and design is by James T. Egan of Bookfly Design.
CLASSIFICATION: Featuring a cast of anti-heroes and with a magician con-man as the protagonist, the Daniel Faust series is Richard Stark's Parker crossed with The Dresden Files and set in Las Vegas.
OVERVIEW/ANALYSIS: The Locust Job is the end of the third arc of the Daniel Faust series, and while it’s a fitting end to the arc. It’s not the end of the story as was the case with the previous two story arcs. In fact the author breaks his pattern and does something absolutely devious. You'll have to RAFO but rest assured there's some pretty epic things planned down the road with not one, not two but many more antagonists.
The Locust Job as the title suggests is a very specific thing which the readers of the Daniel Faust books know about. This book is set immediately after the events of the Wisdom’s Grave trilogy and hence we get to witness the somber aftermath. The plot which we have been following since the start of the third arc is all about the death sentence that is the “Thief” title on Faust’s shoulders. In the previous two books, Faust and gang have been slowly and surely trying to figure more about what being the “Thief” means. It all comes down to the Story and the Enemy’s machinations about his eventual plan for this earth.
This book’s main plot deals with simple ramification of being the Thief and the Thief’s eventual prophesied end. Faust is slowly finding out how insidious the Story is and how easily the universe bends people’s lives to fit the Story’s patterns (also seen in Bring The Fire so horrendously). The story also has some specific plot ties to Redemption Choir (book 2) as well as Sixty-Seven Seconds (Craig’s short story in the Urban Enemies anthology) which was great to read. Plus the biggest draw of this book is that it deals with the Enemy’s obsession with Howard Canton and what makes Canton so special. Lastly similar to previous titles, there’s plots within plots and also an ending that is just balls out bonkers.
You have to hand it to Craig Schaefer, he’s been planning the First Story saga for quite a while and you can see some of his machinations as we get revelations and plot twists that have been set up since the second book as well as in the Harmony Black series. I always appreciate an author who has taken the time to plan a saga like this, combining several genres and making sure that we readers are kept on our toes. Hands down Craig Schaefer is writing the best the urban fantasy genre has to offer and he’s making his series unique by adding huge dollops of noir and epic fantasy to it as well.
This story won me over with its ultimate reveal about Howard Canton and why the Enemy was so interested in Canton's history & paraphernalia . This track about Howard Canton’s magic artifacts has been initiated since book 6 and it’s in book 9, we get a spectacular answer as to why that might be. Plus there’s the wonderful tie-in with the Sixty-Seven Seconds short story (featuring a character from that story) which was an excellent read in itself and what it heralds for the future is truly spectacular. This just isn’t for Faust but for several other characters and one of my personal theories about the Paladin was just confounded partially by the author.
Lastly as always with any Craig Schaefer book, characterization is a strength that’s undeniable. The Locust Job is no exception and we get a return of one of my favorite non-POV characters. The story ends on such a stupendous note and if you are like me, then the next book is going to be another must-read which is exactly what he deviously intended (damn you Schaefer).
OFFICIAL BOOK BLURB: The first story ever told left a scar on the skin of the universe, with its characters doomed to an endless cycle of reincarnation and death. Trapped by his enemies, Daniel Faust — magician, mobster, and newly-minted knight of hell — has been cast in the role of the eternal Thief. Now the story is dead-set on writing his final chapter, the one that ends with a knife in his back.
The curse can’t be broken without tracking down the original Thief. The truth is buried beneath the legacy of a long-dead stage magician and a cache of occult relics from the 1940s, but Daniel and his crew aren’t the only hunters on this trail: so is a deadly new contender who blends sorcery with science, armed with a link to Daniel’s past — and a cult he thought he had destroyed long ago.
The doomsday clock is ticking, and more than Daniel’s own life is at stake. To save the day he’ll have to pull off the most daring heist of his criminal career, stealing a priceless treasure from a reality-bending madman, or die trying.
FORMAT/INFO: The Locust Job is 272 pages long divided over forty-one chapters with an epilogue, “The Story So Far…” section & an afterword. Narration is in the first-person, via Daniel Faust for forty chapters, Tangerine for a singular chapter and a different third-person narrative for the epilogue. This is the ninth volume of The Daniel Faust series.
January 1, 2020 marked the North American e-book publication of The Locust Job and it was self-published by the author. Cover art and design is by James T. Egan of Bookfly Design.
CLASSIFICATION: Featuring a cast of anti-heroes and with a magician con-man as the protagonist, the Daniel Faust series is Richard Stark's Parker crossed with The Dresden Files and set in Las Vegas.
OVERVIEW/ANALYSIS: The Locust Job is the end of the third arc of the Daniel Faust series, and while it’s a fitting end to the arc. It’s not the end of the story as was the case with the previous two story arcs. In fact the author breaks his pattern and does something absolutely devious. You'll have to RAFO but rest assured there's some pretty epic things planned down the road with not one, not two but many more antagonists.
The Locust Job as the title suggests is a very specific thing which the readers of the Daniel Faust books know about. This book is set immediately after the events of the Wisdom’s Grave trilogy and hence we get to witness the somber aftermath. The plot which we have been following since the start of the third arc is all about the death sentence that is the “Thief” title on Faust’s shoulders. In the previous two books, Faust and gang have been slowly and surely trying to figure more about what being the “Thief” means. It all comes down to the Story and the Enemy’s machinations about his eventual plan for this earth.
This book’s main plot deals with simple ramification of being the Thief and the Thief’s eventual prophesied end. Faust is slowly finding out how insidious the Story is and how easily the universe bends people’s lives to fit the Story’s patterns (also seen in Bring The Fire so horrendously). The story also has some specific plot ties to Redemption Choir (book 2) as well as Sixty-Seven Seconds (Craig’s short story in the Urban Enemies anthology) which was great to read. Plus the biggest draw of this book is that it deals with the Enemy’s obsession with Howard Canton and what makes Canton so special. Lastly similar to previous titles, there’s plots within plots and also an ending that is just balls out bonkers.
You have to hand it to Craig Schaefer, he’s been planning the First Story saga for quite a while and you can see some of his machinations as we get revelations and plot twists that have been set up since the second book as well as in the Harmony Black series. I always appreciate an author who has taken the time to plan a saga like this, combining several genres and making sure that we readers are kept on our toes. Hands down Craig Schaefer is writing the best the urban fantasy genre has to offer and he’s making his series unique by adding huge dollops of noir and epic fantasy to it as well.
This story won me over with its ultimate reveal about Howard Canton and why the Enemy was so interested in Canton's history & paraphernalia . This track about Howard Canton’s magic artifacts has been initiated since book 6 and it’s in book 9, we get a spectacular answer as to why that might be. Plus there’s the wonderful tie-in with the Sixty-Seven Seconds short story (featuring a character from that story) which was an excellent read in itself and what it heralds for the future is truly spectacular. This just isn’t for Faust but for several other characters and one of my personal theories about the Paladin was just confounded partially by the author.
Lastly as always with any Craig Schaefer book, characterization is a strength that’s undeniable. The Locust Job is no exception and we get a return of one of my favorite non-POV characters. The story ends on such a stupendous note and if you are like me, then the next book is going to be another must-read which is exactly what he deviously intended (damn you Schaefer).
If I have to be nit-picky, I must say in the climax, there's an event which isn't explained properly and it seems like something that was purposefully cut out or not shown to us readers. It hampered my enjoyment to a degree as I expect Craig Schaefer's books to be tightly plotted. Maybe it is something that will be explained in the future and I sincerely hope that's the case.
CONCLUSION: The Locust Job is another five-star read nothing more, nothing less & easily one of 2020's top reads for me. By this point, you either are deeply enamored by Faust and his friends and can’t wait to read all about this world or you haven’t heard about these books (in which case, what the hell is wrong with you? Get started on them ASAP) so you can also join me and the millions (and millions) of Schaefer fans eagerly awaiting his next deviously plotted book.
CONCLUSION: The Locust Job is another five-star read nothing more, nothing less & easily one of 2020's top reads for me. By this point, you either are deeply enamored by Faust and his friends and can’t wait to read all about this world or you haven’t heard about these books (in which case, what the hell is wrong with you? Get started on them ASAP) so you can also join me and the millions (and millions) of Schaefer fans eagerly awaiting his next deviously plotted book.
Best of
2019
My avalanche of deadlines has not made this a very good reading year, so not all my favourite books I read in 2019 were released this year, and I have quite a few on my TBR that I didn’t get to yet *sob*
Black Wolves by Kate Elliott – This was the first book a read this year and it totally knocked me out. It is an absolute masterpiece of worldbuilding and character creation and it was impossible to put down. Except on more than a few occasions when I had to put it down for a moment and pace around the house because it was so intense to read. I loved absolutely everything about it and it will take a lot to knock this off my favourite ever SFF book pedestal.
Red, White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston – not SFF, but SUCH an amazing book, I had quite the hangover after reading this. An alternative history romance set in a world where the 2016 US election went very differently, and the first son of the US and a prince of England get together. And wow are they snarky at each other. The banter was as amazing as the supportive found family aspects and all the wonderful secondary characters. Even if romance isn’t usually your genre, this is a very special and joyous book and well worth the read.
The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet by Becky Chambers – I don’t read all that much sci-fi generally, but my friends had shouted about this book so often and told me it was like the book equivalent of a hug so I had to read it and it was exactly that. This book is amazing. It is a journey but also a slice of life look at a world beyond our own, an examination of the different ways a society can function that is nothing short of awe-inspiring. I plan to read the rest of the series, but I’ve been saving them for when I am desperately in need of another book hug.
The River of London Series by Ben Aaronovitch – I picked the first book of this up last year, actually, to buddy read with my mum, but I read all the rest this year. Oops. I was only going to read one more and then that became just another one and another one and now I’ve read them all and they were wonderful but I’m sad I have none left. They are great, magical adventures, but what I really love is how much of a love letter to London they are. I’m no Londoner, but the details of the city and the police force are fascinating, not to mention the care put into the history and the characters. Absolutely cannot recommend these highly enough.
Imaginary Corpse by Tyler Hayes – This book is almost impossible to categorise. A yellow stuffed triceratops detective protagonist solving mysteries in the underbelly of the imagination. It is both a heartwarming book and yet also heartbreaking as it deals with some dark concepts, but in a wonderful, thoughtful way. A book where it’s standard practice for characters to check in with each other and ask for pronouns is also a rare treat.
Books sitting on my pile that I haven’t been able to get to because of deadlines but of which I have heard many amazing things and cannot wait to read: Realm of Ash by Tasha Suri, The Bone Ships by RJ Barker, The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E Harrow, and Rage of Dragons by Evan Winter. I’m hoping to fit them all into the holiday period, for an excellent few weeks of reading.
Looking ahead to 2020
In 2020 I am really looking forward to Unconquerable Sun by Kate Elliott, her gender-switched Alexander the Great in space novel I’ve been looking forward to since I heard it existed. Also Hollow Empire, the sequel to Sam Hawke’s great City of Lies is slated for late 2020. Ooooh and The Relentless Moon by Mary Robinette Kowal! I’m super keen to read more of the Lady Astronauts, or listen, rather, as they’ve been one of the few series I listen to rather than read as her narration is wonderful.
On The Horizon for Devin Madson
I’m still not able to give specific dates and details of what’s going on with me in 2020, but it is shaping up to be a big and exciting year, so keep an eye out for announcements when they come.
Author
Devin Madson is an Aurealis Award-winning fantasy author from Australia. After some sucky teenage years, she gave up reality and is now a dual-wielding rogue who works through every tiny side-quest and always ends up too over-powered for the final boss. Anything but zen, Devin subsists on tea and chocolate and so much fried zucchini she ought to have turned into one by now. Her fantasy novels come in all shades of grey and are populated with characters of questionable morals and a liking for witty banter.
2019 Favorites
Oh gosh, I am going to be so bad at this. I should probably point out that I live in a little bubble and only tend to see what passes straight in front of, me. That said, Adrian Tchaikovsky’s Children of Ruin was an astounding book. I was truly lost in it in a way that doesn’t happen very often. Though Tade Thompson did it too with his Rosewater books. In other media I thought Russian Doll was astounding, and the sitcom Ghosts on the BBC was really gentle and lovely while being very funny. Also on the BBC was Giri/Haji which knocked me for six. Really clever storytelling and use of visuals, and I love the way it stepped outside what people would think of what a crime drama would, or should, do. It was also really generous to its characters, they were all very human and flawed and likeable. And it’s last episode was truly astounding.
I love music but I seem to have spent this year looking back musically. Though I enjoyed Marereidt by Myrkur but was a bit let down by Tool’s new outing. Cult of Luna continue to put out really interesting noisy music and I like My Name is Calla’s last record, but only discovered them when they had split up.
God of War surprised me on the PS4, some of the best storytelling I’ve ever seen in a game and one of the few recent games I’ve actually finished. I should probably go back to Red Dead Redemption 2 but when time is limited I’m not sure I have the patience for it.
God of War surprised me on the PS4, some of the best storytelling I’ve ever seen in a game and one of the few recent games I’ve actually finished. I should probably go back to Red Dead Redemption 2 but when time is limited I’m not sure I have the patience for it.
Looking Forward to in 2020
Ah, here’s where I’m lost. I have no idea what’s coming. I kind of like that though. I’d rather be surprised by something I wasn’t expecting than let down by something I’ve really been looking forward to. I just tend to amble forward in life until I bump into something that fills me with joy. It happens more often that you would think.
On the Horizon for RJ Barker
Two more books in the Tide Child series that started with The Bone Ships. I’ve been really surprised and amazed by how well it’s been received, cos I thought I’d just written something very odd but there’s a real passion out there for fantasy that steps out of the more familiar medieval England mould, which has been lovely. Next year I hope to start on something entirely new as well, I’m well on with the third Tide Child book now. Maybe write something in a different genre, cos I like to do different things.
About the Author
OFFICIAL AUTHOR WEBSITE
RJ Barker lives in Leeds with his wife, son and a collection of questionable taxidermy, odd art, scary music and more books than they have room for. He grew up reading whatever he could get his hands on, and has always been 'that one with the book in his pocket'. Having played in a rock band before deciding he was a rubbish musician, RJ returned to his first love, fiction, to find he is rather better at that. As well as his debut epic fantasy novel, AGE OF ASSASSINS, RJ has written short stories and historical scripts which have been performed across the country. He has the sort of flowing locks any cavalier would be proud of.
RJ Barker lives in Leeds with his wife, son and a collection of questionable taxidermy, odd art, scary music and more books than they have room for. He grew up reading whatever he could get his hands on, and has always been 'that one with the book in his pocket'. Having played in a rock band before deciding he was a rubbish musician, RJ returned to his first love, fiction, to find he is rather better at that. As well as his debut epic fantasy novel, AGE OF ASSASSINS, RJ has written short stories and historical scripts which have been performed across the country. He has the sort of flowing locks any cavalier would be proud of.
Some favourites from the past year:
Underland: A Deep Time Journey by Robert McFarlane is technically non-fiction, but it delves into a
variety of underground realms across millions of years. Fascinating and
inspiring stuff.
The Future Starts Here: Adventures in
the 21st Century, by the always-fascinating
John Higgs, is also technically non-fiction, but it kicks off by asking why our
fiction has stopped imagining the near future as anything other than a
catastrophe, and then proceeds to explore ways to imagine a better tomorrow.
Another benefit of being published: a flood
of free books from fellow authors in the Orbit stable. The Hod King (Josiah
Bancroft) for its stunning prose and characterisation, the
artistry and lyricism of The Ten Thousand Doors of January (Alix Harrow)
and the world-building of The Bone Ships (RJ Barker) was my
particular picks.
And of the books I actually had to pay for,
I’ll also mention Rebecca Kuang’s Poppy War, Peter McClean’s Priest
of Bones and Tim Clare’s vertiginous portal fantasy The Ice House.
Looking Ahead To 2020
On The Horizon for Gareth Hanrahan
My second Black Iron Legacy book, The
Shadow Saint, will be out in early 2020, and I’m in the middle of writing
the still-untitled third book in the not-a-trilogy series. The Shadow Saint involves
war, election meddling, crazed tyrannical gods and dying empires, so it nearly
counts as topical. I’ll also have some short fiction coming out from Black
Library, and hope to get a non-Black Iron Legacy book finished, too.
With my tabletop gaming hat on, 2020 should
see the release of The Borellus Connection (spies vs the Cthulhu Mythos
in the 1960s in the Delta Green setting), Dragons of the Pyre (a
fantasy campaign for the 13th Age game) and Errantries of
the King (Gondor adventures for The One Ring).
Oh, and maybe Moria,
if the publishing gods smile upon me.
Favorite Books of 2019
- Sword of Kaigen, by M.L. Wang. Hands-down the best indie fantasy I've yet read. The beginning of the book seems like the story/characters will follow some familiar tropes, but this is absolutely not the case. The novel combines detailed worldbuilding and fun elemental combat magic with some really excellent character work and emotional arcs. It's awfully rare in fantasy to have a mother protagonist who's heavily involved in cool magic, battles and action at the same time as she's caring for young children, and I thought the handling of Misaki's character and the difficulties of her marriage was very well done. For me, the novel was both emotionally satisfying and powerfully affecting.
- A Memory Called Empire, by Arkady Martine. This SF tale reminded me a bit of C.J. Cherryh's Foreigner, with an ambassador struggling to navigate complex and deadly politics in a culture they can never understand as a native does. I liked Martine's protagonist Mahit more than Cherryh's Bren, which helped make the reading experience much more engaging. If you're looking for science fiction with a lot to say about issues of culture and colonization, or if you just enjoy SF with interesting worldbuilding and character interaction, this one's for you. I'm eagerly looking forward to the sequel.
- Door Into Light, by Rachel Neumeier. Long-awaited (at least by me!) sequel to her 2012 fantasy novel House of Shadows. I adored House of Shadows for its atmospheric prose, mythic magic, and interesting characters, particularly the bardic sorceror Taudde, who struggles to navigate questions of morality and honor while living in an enemy country. House of Shadows stood well alone, but left plenty of room for futher intriguing developments--and I'm happy to say the sequel did not disappoint. I read it twice, just to savor my time with the characters. I particularly recommend the duology to anyone who loves Patricia McKillip; it reminds me of her work in all the best ways.
- Where Oblivion Lives, by T. Frohock. A dark, riveting novel of espionage and magic, featuring the same characters and setting as her Los Nefilim series of novellas. The characters are terrific; I'm always amazed at the depth of arc that Frohock can pack into a relatively svelte set of pages. I also love that even though she writes dark fantasy, with some nicely creepy horror styling to her scenes, she keeps a beautiful thread of hope throughout, rooted in the solid loving relationships of the characters. (For those folks seeking LGBT fantasy where the protagonist's sexuality isn't the main focus of the story, and he actually gets to enjoy a positive same-sex relationship that's a source of strength for him rather than angst, this is definitely the series for you!)
- A Labyrinth of Scions and Sorcery, by Curtis Craddock. Sequel to last year's rollicking fantasy adventure, An Alchemy of Masques and Mirrors, and just as much fun to read. I love both protagonists: the clever, stubborn polymath princess Isabelle, and her protector and father-figure, the aging but ebullient and devious musketeer Jean-Claude. If you like fantasy with plenty of swashbuckling, cunning court intrigue, wit, humor, and heart, don't miss out on this series.
- An Illusion of Thieves, by Cate Glass, a.k.a. Carol Berg. Berg has long been one of my favorite fantasy authors, because her work always combines unique/fascinating magic, terrific character work, and clever plot twists. She's been steadily putting out one excellent secondary-world fantasy after another for years now, and this latest book continues the streak, albeit under a new name. An ex-courtesan with a forbidden magic talent pulls an unlikely team together to pull off a challenging heist, and I sure enjoyed the ride.
- Empire of Grass, by Tad Williams. Second book in his follow-on trilogy to his earlier Memory, Sorrow & Thorn trilogy, which in my view is one of the great classics of epic fantasy. Some might complain of slow pacing and over-description, but to me, the leisurely build-up, deep introspection, and detailed settings help make both world and characters feel rich and real in a way few other fantasy authors can match. Every time a new book set in Osten Ard comes out, I sink right into the story and never want it to stop.
I'm eager for the sequels to many of the books above (Martine, Frohock, Craddock, Glass, Williams). Plus, I'm excited for The Girl and the Stars, the opener to Mark Lawrence's newest series, and also Network Effect, the first full length novel in Martha Wells's Murderbot series. Oh yes, and I impatiently await one last 2019 release which hasn't quite landed yet, as I write this: The Hanged Man by K.D. Edwards, sequel to his excellent The Last Sun, releasing Dec 17th.
I'm working on two projects I hope to finally finish in 2020. One is a collection that'll include a novella and short stories set in the world of my Shattered Sigil trilogy. The other is a brand new fantasy novel tentatively titled The Dreaming Sea, which features coral reefs and undersea magic and a young saboteur whose mission gets derailed when she's forced into alliance with a ruthless team of spies.
Official Author Website
Courtney Schafer attended college at Caltech where she obtained a B.S. in Electrical Engineering and also learned how to rock climb, backpack, ski and scuba dive. She then earned her Masters at the University of Colorado. Courtney now works in the aerospace industry and is married to an Australian scientist who shares her love for speculative fiction and mountain climbing.
- A Memory Called Empire, by Arkady Martine. This SF tale reminded me a bit of C.J. Cherryh's Foreigner, with an ambassador struggling to navigate complex and deadly politics in a culture they can never understand as a native does. I liked Martine's protagonist Mahit more than Cherryh's Bren, which helped make the reading experience much more engaging. If you're looking for science fiction with a lot to say about issues of culture and colonization, or if you just enjoy SF with interesting worldbuilding and character interaction, this one's for you. I'm eagerly looking forward to the sequel.
- Door Into Light, by Rachel Neumeier. Long-awaited (at least by me!) sequel to her 2012 fantasy novel House of Shadows. I adored House of Shadows for its atmospheric prose, mythic magic, and interesting characters, particularly the bardic sorceror Taudde, who struggles to navigate questions of morality and honor while living in an enemy country. House of Shadows stood well alone, but left plenty of room for futher intriguing developments--and I'm happy to say the sequel did not disappoint. I read it twice, just to savor my time with the characters. I particularly recommend the duology to anyone who loves Patricia McKillip; it reminds me of her work in all the best ways.
- Where Oblivion Lives, by T. Frohock. A dark, riveting novel of espionage and magic, featuring the same characters and setting as her Los Nefilim series of novellas. The characters are terrific; I'm always amazed at the depth of arc that Frohock can pack into a relatively svelte set of pages. I also love that even though she writes dark fantasy, with some nicely creepy horror styling to her scenes, she keeps a beautiful thread of hope throughout, rooted in the solid loving relationships of the characters. (For those folks seeking LGBT fantasy where the protagonist's sexuality isn't the main focus of the story, and he actually gets to enjoy a positive same-sex relationship that's a source of strength for him rather than angst, this is definitely the series for you!)
- A Labyrinth of Scions and Sorcery, by Curtis Craddock. Sequel to last year's rollicking fantasy adventure, An Alchemy of Masques and Mirrors, and just as much fun to read. I love both protagonists: the clever, stubborn polymath princess Isabelle, and her protector and father-figure, the aging but ebullient and devious musketeer Jean-Claude. If you like fantasy with plenty of swashbuckling, cunning court intrigue, wit, humor, and heart, don't miss out on this series.
- An Illusion of Thieves, by Cate Glass, a.k.a. Carol Berg. Berg has long been one of my favorite fantasy authors, because her work always combines unique/fascinating magic, terrific character work, and clever plot twists. She's been steadily putting out one excellent secondary-world fantasy after another for years now, and this latest book continues the streak, albeit under a new name. An ex-courtesan with a forbidden magic talent pulls an unlikely team together to pull off a challenging heist, and I sure enjoyed the ride.
- Empire of Grass, by Tad Williams. Second book in his follow-on trilogy to his earlier Memory, Sorrow & Thorn trilogy, which in my view is one of the great classics of epic fantasy. Some might complain of slow pacing and over-description, but to me, the leisurely build-up, deep introspection, and detailed settings help make both world and characters feel rich and real in a way few other fantasy authors can match. Every time a new book set in Osten Ard comes out, I sink right into the story and never want it to stop.
Looking Ahead to 2020
I'm eager for the sequels to many of the books above (Martine, Frohock, Craddock, Glass, Williams). Plus, I'm excited for The Girl and the Stars, the opener to Mark Lawrence's newest series, and also Network Effect, the first full length novel in Martha Wells's Murderbot series. Oh yes, and I impatiently await one last 2019 release which hasn't quite landed yet, as I write this: The Hanged Man by K.D. Edwards, sequel to his excellent The Last Sun, releasing Dec 17th.
What's Ahead for Me?
I'm working on two projects I hope to finally finish in 2020. One is a collection that'll include a novella and short stories set in the world of my Shattered Sigil trilogy. The other is a brand new fantasy novel tentatively titled The Dreaming Sea, which features coral reefs and undersea magic and a young saboteur whose mission gets derailed when she's forced into alliance with a ruthless team of spies.
About The Author
Official Author Website
Courtney Schafer attended college at Caltech where she obtained a B.S. in Electrical Engineering and also learned how to rock climb, backpack, ski and scuba dive. She then earned her Masters at the University of Colorado. Courtney now works in the aerospace industry and is married to an Australian scientist who shares her love for speculative fiction and mountain climbing.
Today we're thrilled to announce the official launch of The SPFBO Sampler! Looking to dive into the world of indie fantasy novels, but don't know where to start? Here's the perfect place to get a taste of the works of over 70 self-published authors from all around the world. Go get your copy today, and let all these incredible authors transport you into their worlds and beyond.
This huge undertaking has been organized by indie author Jon Auerbach, its gorgeous cover created by indie author and cover artist and designer Luke Tarzian, and includes a foreword by the accomplished and best-selling SFF author Mark Lawrence. This is one you surely cannot miss.
--
What is SPFBO?
SPFBO is the Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off, an annual competition hosted by Mark Lawrence. Each year 300 indie hopefuls throw their hats into the ring with the goal of taking home that coveted selfie stick - oh, and the prestige of being named best of the best, of course.
With so many books entered, it's easy to become overwhelmed with choices, so Jon thought it a perfect idea to gather up some samples from SPFBO entrants, both past and present, to offer readers a convenient package with previews of the books, along with short introductions from their authors, so you can pick your poison easily.
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