Travis
In 2012, scientists unearthed an artifact of advanced technology in Italy. Soon after, a hole opened in the sky and an alien race made contact with humanity. Interestingly, the aliens were human, too. It didn't take long for Earth to be overcome by these conquerors. Seven years later, The Corps (as the fleet of conquering human-aliens is called) is struggling to stamp out a vicious terrorist resistance.
Since this is a sci-fi book dealing with an advanced race, there's quite a bit of futuristic technology. In addition to the standard pulse-blasters, energy shields, and bio-implants, there's a dark and sinister invention: “coffee” made with a triple shot of hot sauce.
I can see why the terrorists are rebelling.
There's a pretty small cast of characters, with the core three being:
* Rebecca: The titular traitor, she used to program drones for the Canadian government. Now, she lives on a space station near Jupiter, just trying to save up enough money to buy out her indenture to The Corps
* Katherine: She used to work for the Canadian military and has turned her skills toward rebelling against The Corps.
* Zain: Rebecca's friend on the space station and respected alien within The Corps. He's also a creep.
All of these characters are dynamic, and your opinion of each will change throughout the book as you learn more.
Aliens—who happen to be descended from the same ancestors as humans and thus look exactly like us—conquered Earth in 2012 during what came to be known as The Fall. Most people died, with the survivors either assimilating into the conquering culture or becoming rebel freedom fighters.
Rebecca chose to willingly submit to the aliens, becoming a traitor to the human race (well, the Earth humans). She works on a space station near Jupiter as a second-class citizen, trying to buy out her indenture and become fully accepted by the aliens. All of her hard work is put in jeopardy when some of the most notorious rebels that survived The Fall decided to launch an operation against the Jupiter space station.
This could have easily been a much longer book. Ball manages to pack a lot of action and some heavy themes into a mere 250-page story. One of the interesting results of this is that there are very few “info dumps” in the story. Most of the exposition to lay the foundation for the book takes place in a short prologue, told through news headlines and tweets that outline the events leading up to The Fall.
Everything after the prologue serves to advance the plot, with healthy chunk of character development along the way. The book is fast-paced; I read the entire thing in under 24 hours, which is almost unheard of for me. The prose is very straightforward, with no frills and minimal descriptions.
Pick this up if you enjoy science fiction, quick reads, and flawed characters that evolve throughout the story. This is a fast-paced popcorn read with intrigue and action, so if that's something that interests you, you'll have a great time.
If you prefer poetic prose or deep worldbuilding, this might not resonate with you. The writing style tends to introduce you to new aspects of the world only when you need to know them, and the prose is written to be easily digested.
Overall, this was a fast and fun read. I greatly enjoyed it and am looking forward to the sequel.
The Grey Bastards by Jonathan French turned heads back in 2017 by winning the second annual Self-Published Fantasy Blog Off run by Mark Lawrence. It follows a “biker gang” of half-orcs that patrol on giant boars and has since been picked up and published by a major publishing company in June 2018.
French manages to take what could have been a generic fantasy setting (halflings, orcs, elves, etc.) and spin it into a gritty, unique world. Halflings are intimidating as hell, there's a mysterious Betrayer Moon that can pop up at random that stirs the centaurs into a killing frenzy, and the existence of any “good guys” is questionable at best.
Years before the story picks up, a massive war took place between humans and orcs. When it looked like the humans would lose, their half-orc slaves took up arms and rode into battle astride giant war pigs. As repayment for their heroism, the humans granted the half-orcs their freedom and land at the border between the orc and human realms, on the condition that they help prevent the orcs from returning.
Thus began the half-orc “hoofs,” who all share the same badass motto:
Live in the saddle. Die on the hog!
Jackal:
Fetching:
Oats:
The Claymaster:
Crafty:
Target Audience
The author was kind enough to provide me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
K.S. Villoso's greatest strengths are her characters and her worldbuilding. The Wolf of Oren-yaro is reminiscent of the works of authors such as Robin Hobb and Kate Elliot. If you like fast-paced books full of action and intrigue, this is for you.
Talyien aren dar Orenar was betrothed to the Ikessar heir, Rayyel, from birth. Their marriage was meant to heal the nation that was nearly torn apart by Talyien's father's war. However, on the eve of their coronation, Rayyel suddenly left without a word.
Five years later, tensions are rising among the warlords of Jin-Sayeng. Talyien receives a message from Rayyel urging her to travel across the sea to meet him in a foreign land. An assassination attempt interrupts Talyien's chance at reconciliation with Rayyel, forcing her to survive in a hostile land.
Talyien must enlist the help of a con-artist to help her save her husband—assuming he wasn't responsible for the assassination attempt in the first place. The story is full of intrigue, and minor scenes end up playing an important role later on.
A good portion of the book takes place in Jin-Sayeng, a nation once ruled by mighty dragon-riding warlords. The dragons have now mostly left, but the warlords remain. They're kept in check by the rule of Queen Talyien of the Oren-yaro, daughter of the great warlord who nearly tore Jin-Sayeng apart.
The bulk of the story takes place in the Empire of Ziri-nar-Orxiaro, which lies across the sea from Jin-Sayeng. Relations between Jin-Sayeng and the empire are rocky at best, especially since the empire practices the agan, a forbidden form of magic.
One of the most interesting aspects of this setting is how the author blends her own Filipino culture into the world, setting this story apart from the many books inspired by Western European culture.
Villoso juggles a cast of morally gray characters without straying into the realm of grimdark. Each character is complex and flawed, feeling like a real person with their own hopes and desires.
The book is written in first person, with easily-digestible prose. That's not to say that the prose is simplistic, but Villoso manages to work in the richly imaginative history of her world without putting the story on hold.
The pacing makes the book hard to put down. There are no filler scenes; every scene serves to advance the plot or reveal critical information about important characters.
The book does take a little while to get into, especially if you've never read a Villoso book before. The author doesn't ease you into the world, dropping you into a fully-formed fantasy culture and expecting you to figure things out.
Overall, The Wolf of Oren-yaro was a highly enjoyable read, and I'm expecting it to mark the launch of a fantastic new trilogy.
Review from The Coffee Archives
How to Write Science Fiction & Fantasy by Orson Scott Card is one of the more well-known writing advice books for aspiring authors in the speculative fiction market. It's brief and to the point, focusing on what sets science fiction and fantasy writing apart from other genres. There isn't a lot on how to write compelling characters or craft masterful prose, but there's plenty of advice on how to create believable worlds get established in the SFF community.
The book is broken into five sections:
1. The Infinite Boundary
The book starts with the author's attempt to define the boundaries between science fiction and fantasy, as well as what sets speculative fiction apart from the rest of literature. Most of us probably have a pretty good idea of what separates fantasy and science fiction, but this section broke down the boundaries of each genre as defined by readers, writers, and the publishing industry.
2. World Creation
Next up is one of the core components of speculative fiction: wordbuilding. There isn't a step-by-step guide, but Card discusses several of the most important things aspiring writers should consider. He covers how to come up with ideas, how to set consistent rules for your world, how to come up with a convincing past, how to use language to define your world, and how to come up with interesting scenery.
3. Story Construction
Again, don't expect a detailed guide here. Instead, this section covers the differences between main characters, protagonists, and viewpoint characters; where to start and end your story; and the difference between event, character, idea, and world exploration story structures.
4. Writing Well
This is the shortest section in the book, coming in at only 16 pages. Card goes over how to handle the unavoidable exposition found in SFF stories, when (not how) to name characters, as well as what information should be delayed or implied to keep readers hooked. This section also briefly touches on prose, including how to select a diction style that fits your story and when/how to use profanity.
5. The Life and Business of Writing
Once you're done with your story, you need to find a way to sell it. This section talks about how to submit short stories to magazines, the difference between queries and cover letters, what you should look for in an agent, and how to approach writing classes and workshops. The author even goes into what to expect if you write collaborative works, participate in an anthology, or win a writing award.
This section ends by talking about finances and home life for writers, which you may or may not find useful in a book of writing advice.
All in all, I'd say this is a useful book for any aspiring SFF writers. It focuses far more on science fiction than fantasy, but most of the information is applicable to either. If you're looking for a book that can serve as a comprehensive jumpstart to your writing career, this probably isn't for you. This probably works best as a companion book to help you apply other writing advice specifically to the field of speculative fiction.
Six-Gun Snow White by Catherynne M. Valente is a weird west retelling of the classic Snow White fairy tale. Instead of a princess, the main character is the daughter of a rich white man and a Native American woman. Don't go into this expecting a whimsical children's story, since this book was dark and dealt with some mature themes.
One of the main draws to this story is the western twist on the Snow White story most of us are familiar with. Instead of seven dwarves, there are seven hard-bitten outlaws. Instead of a huntsman, there's a bounty hunter. Instead of a gem mine, there's...uh...a gem mine. Maybe that one's the same, but it fits nicely with the time period of the gold rush.
Here's a breakdown of the central characters:
Gun That Sings: A beautiful Native American woman who catches the eye of Mr. H. She's Snow White's mother, but doesn't stick around past the start of the story.
Mr. H: When he sees Gun That Sings, he doesn't rest until he makes her his wife. Since he's rich and powerful, he has the means to make saying no problematic.
Snow White: The half-white, half-Native American child of Gun That Sings and Mr. H. She's isolated due to her mixed race, and grows up entertaining herself by learning how to shoot.
Evil Stepmother: After Snow White's mother, Mr. H marries Evil Stepmother. Evil Stepmother is disgusted by Snow White's racial heritage and tries to mold her into the ideal image of a white lady. She also practices dark magic.
Snow White has a hard time growing up under the iron fist of Evil Stepmother. She's beaten, nearly drowned in milk to try to make her skin lighter, and starved until she becomes “beautiful.” Dark, no?
Rather than being obsessed with her own beauty, Evil Stepmother's mirror image becomes pregnant and gives birth to a mirror image child. All she needs to make the child real is to rip Snow White's heart out.
As with many fairy tales, the focus is on atmospheric writing and getting through the plot. There aren't many descriptive passages or character-building scenes. I like to think of this kind of writing as “bird's eye view” writing. You don't get much of the small details in scenes or thoughts inside characters heads, which puts some distance between you and the story. However, this allows for more detailed atmosphere and stories that are completely wrapped up in ~100 pages.
You might like this if you enjoy fairy tale retellings, weird westerns, or books with badass female leads. This book is very atmospheric and does an excellent job of turning a somewhat whimsical children's story into something dark and weird.
This might not be for you if you need characters that you can emotionally invest yourself in, descriptive passages, or lots of dialogue.
For anyone that knows me or has talked about books with me for any length of time, it's no secret that I love this book. It's brilliantly written, straddles the line between genre and literary fiction, and has Something to Say about the world.
And—for me, at least—it's nearly impossible to put down.
Claire North has a gift for taking a concept that could be fairly simple in nature and exploring it from every possible angle. In this case, it's the ability to possess people, to slip into another's skin and live their life as a “ghost”.
Does a host's right to freedom supersede a ghost's right to live? Does manipulating people with no better options make body snatching morally acceptable? And if you hop from body to body for centuries, what happens to your sense of identity? These are just a few of the concepts touched upon in the book.
The prose is relatively straightforward, yet delivers line after memorable line. As I was listening to the audiobook, I often found myself rewinding to catch a subtle line that only fully impacted me a minute or two later.
I want what everyone wants. Something better.
One of the most unique aspects of the novel is its structure. North is a master of nonlinear storytelling. There are frequent flashbacks to previous lives Kepler has inhabited, and these often don't seem immediately relevant to the plot. While they always serve to build Kepler's character and introduce key players for later in the story, it can be a bit jarring at times.
The other unique aspect is the dialogue. I have never encountered another author with North's gift for instantly characterizing someone in a single spoken line. Sometimes ambient dialogue is used to explore a theme or describe a new setting, and the result is incredibly effective.
Do you like what you see?
The plot itself is probably the least important aspect of the novel. But that doesn't mean it isn't compelling. The opening scene shows Kepler hopping from body to body in a crowded train station, desperately trying to escape an assassin. Against all reason, the assassin knows about Kepler's ability and tries to track them through the crowd.
While Kepler escapes, the body they'd been wearing for months does not. Kepler had grown to love Josephine, and they vow to seek revenge against the secret organization responsible for her murder. The journey that follows is North's most thrilling tale yet, and the villain is one of the more disturbing I've read.
For those of you who enjoy audiobooks, this is one of the best I've ever listened to. Peter Kenny (of The Witcher and Culture fame) does the narration, and it's delightful. Every time Kepler switches a body, Kenny shifts his voice to match the accent, gender, age, and dialect. And yet each of these many voices still captures the essence of Kepler, lending the character a cohesion that might not be possible through any other narrator. It doesn't hurt that Kenny's voice is just incredibly easy to listen to.
This is a fantastic book, and if I haven't already driven the point home, I absolutely love it. If a speculative literary thriller with phenomenal worldbuilding and critical insights into humanity sounds intriguing to you, I cannot recommend this book enough.
Find this review and more at The Fantasy Inn
Bird Box is like a classic zombie apocalypse story with an interesting twist: instead of monsters destroying the world, humans go mad and kill each other upon seeing something outside. The problem is, no one knows what it is that these people see, so the few survivors that are left shut themselves indoors and only travel outside with a blindfold.
It's a bit like A Quiet Place, but with a focus on sight instead of sound.
The story takes place in a suburban town in southeast Michigan, and most of this is set within the confines of a single house. As with many horror/suspense stories, the unknown parts of the setting are just as powerful as the known. There's an atmosphere of fear and dread throughout the entire story, even when there isn't much happening.
Malorie is just trying to survive and get her kids to safety. It's not easy raising children in a world where they can never look outside. Their entire world is limited to a single house, and Malorie has trained them since birth to have nearly superhuman hearing.
The story is split into two timelines. In the current timeline, Malorie is finally trying to escape her house to a better place. The only problem is that the better place is 20 miles downriver, and she has to navigate a post-apocalyptic world with her kids while blindfolded.
In the past timeline, Malorie learns she is pregnant just as news stories start to break about people going crazy and killing each other in horrific ways. She has to deal with the downfall of society and try to survive with the few sane people that remain.
Bird Box excels at creating a disturbing atmosphere. Every time someone has to go outside blind, even the most normal things are ominous. There's also some graphic and disturbing violence.
It's a little jarring when the narrative jumps back and forth in time, but this allows for certain plot points to be revealed in a more interesting way and maintains some mystery. Since many people go insane in this world, the nonlinear plot calls into question the sanity of the POV character at times.
You might enjoy this if you like your horror to focus on the unknown and the nature of human beings rather than the supernatural or high-intensity thrills. If you prefer a diverse and complex cast of characters, you might be disappointed. Malerman focused on nailing the atmosphere and tone of the book and only really fleshed out the main character and a couple of side characters. This is also not a book in which a lot happens, similar to scary movies where much of your fear comes from your own imagination.
Overall, this was a great book. I don't read much horror but I enjoyed this a lot. Even better, it was released as a Netflix movie starring Sandra Bullock in December 2018!
Find this review and more at The Fantasy Inn
Flesh and Spirit by Carol Berg is the first of two books in her Lighthouse Duology, and it is not your typical fantasy novel. The book follows a rebellious, drug-addicted sorcerer who comes from a long line of magical cartographers. Though the world may be slowly ending, all he really cares about is himself.
Berg does a marvelous job of slowly revealing more about the world. She slips in important details that you might not notice at first glance, and the fantastical elements subtly build throughout the story.
Magic comes in two varieties: sorcery and bents. The Pureblood Registry strictly controls the breeding of those with magical talent, to the point where each pureblood family has developed magical bents particular to their bloodline. These sorcerers can still do generic magic, as well, but they each have specialties.
There's also a unique fantasy race in the mythology of the world, though it isn't clear whether they exist in reality or merely in legend. These beings, the Danae, live in a parallel world to humanity (think Faerie) and are essentially immortal. They are intimate with nature—sometimes spending years of their lives as a tree or rock or bird—and shun many things associated with humans, like clothes, writing, and buildings.
Berg does an excellent job of crafting complex, believable characters. The cast grows throughout the book, but some of the most important are:
Valen: A rebellious, drug-addicted, womanizer with the ability to read the world like a map. We experience the story through his eyes, and he's refreshingly different from many characters in fantasy.
Perryn: The most noble of three princes that are causing a civil war over the right to claim the throne after the king died.
Bayard: A ruthless, war-crazy prince who will stop at nothing to gain the throne, including allying himself with the doomsday cult known as The Harrowers.
Osriel: Known as Osriel the Bastard, he's shrouded in mystery and magic. Reports say that he gained his magic by partnering with the devil, and he steals the eyes of the men he kills.
Abbot Luviar: The wise ruler of Gillarine abbey, he offers sanctuary to weary travelers. There are hidden layers to this character, and all might not be as it seems.
Valen is injured fighting as a soldier in Perryn's army and manages to escape with his life, eventually collapsing near an abbey of monks. He's taken in by the abbey under the direction of Luviar and nursed back to health, though the monks are unusually interested in Valen's stolen book of maps.
Valen mostly cares about himself, but he finds himself sucked into a world of secret societies, civil war, monks, magic, and destruction. This is a story where you think you've figured things out, only to have the author reveal another layer and keep you guessing.
This was a carefully crafted book, where every scene was important. Even though much of the book takes place in the same location, it never feels stale and the plot is constantly progressing. It's not the fastest-paced of books, but I never found it slow.
Berg is a wordsmith without resorting to purple prose. I often find myself shying away from books touted as being masterworks of prose, but this has a little something for everyone.
If you enjoy good prose, complex characters, and a mysterious atmosphere, this might be the book for you. The magic is unique, if not visually flashy.
If you prefer high magic and lots of action, this might not be for you. Also, this book deals heavily with the theme of consent. Characters are often compelled to act against their will through magical or nonmagical means, which may or may not affect your enjoyment.
Overall, this was an enjoyable and refreshing read. It's rather different than what I've read before, but if you think you might enjoy this book I encourage you to give it a shot!
Here is a thing everyone wants: A miracle. Here is a thing everyone fears: What it takes to get one.
All the Crooked Saints by Maggie Stiefvater is the story of miracles. It's a standalone slice-of-life fantasy book set in the 1960s Colorado desert, and it follows the Soria family and those seeking the miracles the Sorias can provide. As always, Stiefvater delivers beautiful prose and compelling characters.
Most of the book takes place in and around the Sorias home in the desert. The family is known for their ability to work miracles, and they've attracted an eclectic bunch of visitors hoping for just that. However, these miracles aren't ordinary miracles (if there is such a thing). People come to the Sorias wrestling with some sort of inner darkness or personal tragedy. The first stage of a Soria miracle enhances this, forcing the person to come to terms with their problems. The second stage is up to the person to overcome their own challenges, which will heal them. For example, someone unable to deal with the pressure of too much attention might be turned into a giant that people can't help but stare at.
The Soria family abides by only one rule: Once someone has passed the first miracle, no Soria can speak to them until they pass the second. Breaking this rule can result in horrible consequences for the Sorias.
There are several important characters:
Daniel: Daniel is the current Saint of the Soria family. He's the one best at performing miracles, and so all the hopeful visitors come to him.
Joaquin: Known as Diablo Diablo in his backyard radio show, Joaquin just wants to be famous.
Beatriz: She tends to like math more than people, even developing a secret math language with her father that's spoken through whistles.
Pete: Pet road tripped out to Colorado upon learning that he had a hole in his heart, hoping to buy a car and start a new life.
Pete hitchhikes with a man who is traveling to Colorado in search of the miraculous Soria family. When they arrive, no one really knows how to handle Pete. He doesn't want a miracle, he's just there because he was promised a car in exchange for labor. Meanwhile, Daniel breaks the only rule the Sorias have and exiles himself to the desert in order to protect the rest of his family from the darkness that fell upon him.
It's hard to say much more about the plot. Similar to character-driven books like Becky Chambers' The Wayfarers series, the plot takes a distant back seat to character development.
The pacing is a bit slow at times. If you're not a fan of character-centric works, this probably will bother you.
However, the prose is excellent. I could gush all day about how wonderful Stiefvater's prose is and still not do it justice. She doesn't use flowery language or long descriptive passages, but her sentences are beautiful.
If you enjoy magical realism, engaging characters, and fantastic prose, this will probably be an enjoyable read for you. If you prefer books with an engaging plot and quick pace, this might not be for you.
Overall, I felt this was a weaker book than the author's Raven Cycle series. Even so, I enjoyed it immensely and was somewhat sad that it was only a standalone.
I was fortunate to receive a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
If you like folktales, mythology from other cultures, and a bit of swashbuckling adventure, this might be the book for you! This book explores folklore from Mexico and Central America, following various masked swordsmen as they strive to find their place in the world.
The setting is heavily influenced by Mexico and Central America. The characters and locations are named with a distinctly Spanish flair, and the culture even takes siestas each afternoon.
This book accomplishes a lot of worldbuilding in a very smooth and concise manner. Espadapan, or The City of Swords, is full of masked swordsmen known as Bravadori. Legends tell of their heroic exploits, but many of the Bravadori fall short of these idealized tales. There are other notable groups within the city, such as the pious Queen's Brides and the outcast Shaven. The world's magic takes the form of Knacks, where everyone develops an uncanny talent for something they do regularly.
What about that monster on the cover, you ask? Without going into too much detail, there are supernatural beings near the City of Swords, and they are not particularly happy that their land has been invaded. Several of these creatures are downright creepy and different from the monsters that often appear in traditional fantasy.
There are three main POV characters. Arturo is a young, idealistic man who has developed a Knack for swordsmanship and wants to make a name for himself in the City of Swords. Yizel was once a respected Bravador, but fell from grace and is now a lowly Shaven. Crazy Raccoon: the man, the myth, the kind-of-an-asshole legend .All of these characters were all well-written and enjoyable to read. The author has definitely improved significantly in writing compelling characters.
When Arturo arrives in Espadapan to make a name for himself among the Bravadori, he's surprised to find the reality of the sword fighters does not live up to the legends. He stumbles into one unfortunate situation after another, until he finally hears of a nearby town in desperate need of help. Excited to finally get the chance to prove himself and live up to his idealized version of the Bravadori, he sets out on the adventure of a lifetime.
The most unique aspect of any of the Yarnsworld novels is the in-universe stories that take place between each chapter. This book features tales heard in the taverns of Espadapan, ranging from the monsters of the Wildlands to the heroic exploits of long-dead Bravadori. These serve to build the world and ultimately play an important role in the plot.
The prose is fairly straightforward and there are a few editing errors throughout the book, but overall the novel is very polished for a self-published book. The pacing is consistent and the novel is short, making this a book you could easily read in a few sittings.
Overall, this was a highly enjoyable read. I had a lot of fun with it, so while it might not be the most polished book I've ever read, it definitely deserves five stars.
The Devourers by Indra Das follows the story of a group of werewolves over the course of hundreds of years. It's told within the frame story of an Indian college professor interviewing a half werewolf in modern-day Kolkata, a la Interview With a Vampire. It's dark, disturbingly visceral, and weaves together mythologies from multiple cultures.
Outside of the physical locations where the story takes place, the mythology is fascinating.
If you're like me, you think of full moons, excess body hair, and a lack of self-control when you hear the word “werewolf.” The creatures in this story are so much more. They consume the souls of the people they devour, gaining a portion of their memories, personalities, and lifespan. This allows them to be effectively immortal.
Also, they're not just limited to wolves. Devourers have a “second self” that they can shape however they want. Many choose to appear like a giant wolf, but others choose to grow wings or scales. According to the half-werewolf in the story, djinn, vampires, and other monsters all have some basis in the devourers.
The frame story follows Alok, a somewhat jaded college professor in Kolkata, India, and his interactions with a half-werewolf who refuses to give his name. Alok is a flawed character struggling to find happiness, though we don't get to dive too much into his character. The half-werewolf is mysterious, and we learn very little about him for most of the book.
The meat of the story takes place hundreds of years ago and follows a young woman named Cyrah. As an unmarried Muslim woman, she has to fend for herself to survive. This attitude helps her stay alive when she meets Fenrir, a pale-skinned northener who claims to be something more than human. Cyrah is our main link to humanity in the book, and the character you're most likely to identify with. You don't get to see a lot of her personality other than her strength of will, but she was enjoyable to read.
One night, Alok leaves a crowded party to smoke outside and is approached by a stranger claiming to be a half-werewolf. The stranger asks Alok for help transcribing a story written on ancient scrolls, which tell the story of a young woman's encounters with werewolves many years ago.
The Devourers focuses more on characters, mythology, and imagery than it does on plot. Both the frame story and the story told in the scrolls are somewhat loosely defined, but the interactions between characters and the decisions they make carry the novel.
This was not a fast-paced book, largely due to how vivid the imagery was. It's been a while since I've read a book that used so many adjectives, but the style works for this type of story. It serves to highlight the gruesome nature of the devourers.
It took a little while for the “main story” from the scrolls to take over, but things sped up once they did. However, this is a book that's best enjoyed by taking your time reading it. You definitely don't want to rush through.
If you like interesting mythology, vivid prose, and stories within stories, you will probably enjoy this book. If you're one of the people that dislike the sex appeal of vampires and werewolves in pop culture, you'll find this a breath of fresh air. (For example, devourers issue challenges by pissing on each other.)
The Devourers is not a fast-paced book. There is a lot of vivid description, and it serves to paint disturbingly detailed pictures of the violence in the story. There's a good bit of gore, and more bodily fluids (like seriously every fluid) than you'll likely read about in ten other books together. Also, it's difficult to identify with many of the main characters, partially because of the alien nature of the world they find themselves in.
I give this book a solid 3.5 / 5.
Renshaw manages to tell a classic coming of age story in a way that makes it feel fresh and new. There's a quest for revenge against slavers, training in an elite military academy, nations on the brink of war, and a mysterious ruined city that few have ever visited and lived to tell the tale.
The Good: Aedan, the main character, doesn't start out as an expert or mastermind in pretty much anything. He has a head for tactics, but has plenty of flaws to round out his character. The prose keeps you glued to the page. There are some informative parts, too, like the basics of how to make a bow from scratch or the merits of different weapons. Once the book starts to hint at the titular “wakening” aspects of the world, you get to see some really, really cool ideas take shape.
The Bad: I strongly dislike rushed stories, though some readers may find this book drags in the middle. You get many pages of scenes that feel like they have no further purpose than showing us how Aedan learns a particular skill, like how to swing a sword or how to talk to girls. Also, the character development for Aedan is a little inconsistent. When the story requires it, he is a brilliant tactician, but when it doesn't, he often can't see very simple solutions to his problems. The side characters are quirky and fun but not very deep.
Overall, this book was very enjoyable and a strong debut.
Larkspur, or A Necromancer's Romance by V.M. Jaskiernia is a dark fantasy romance novelette featuring a necromancer as the lead character. It manages to pack a lot of worldbuilding into a short, 48-page story. If you're in the mood to try something that's (possibly) a little different from what you usually read, this might be a good choice.
The world of Larkspur feels like it's set in the Victorian era. We are introduced to two main types of magic users: necromancers and faeries. The fae are only hinted at in this story, but necromancy is explored in some depth. Necromancers can use their blood to enslave or kill others and can even write secret messages in blood.
The two main characters are Pierre and Elizabeth. Pierre is the son of wealthy nobility and is just returning from the end of his schooling. Unknown to most, he is also an accomplished necromancer. He has to keep this secret because necromancy is frowned upon. Something about dark magic and killing people.
Elizabeth is portrayed as Pierre's love interest, similar to a high school sweetheart. They lost touch while Pierre was away at university, but are reunited at the start of the story.
Death itself is also a character in this book. Necromancers have a rather intimate relationship with death, which adds an air of darkness to the story and sets the groundwork for future conflict in following books.
The plot is somewhat brief, since this is a novelette. Pierre has finally returned from school and is ready to take the next step in his development as a necromancer. After meeting each other for what I think is the first time in years, hints of an old romance are rekindled between Pierre and Elizabeth.
The story was nicely self-contained, so you can read it as a standalone, though I believe the sequel was recently released.
It's a bit difficult to compare this to full-length novels, since a lot had to be conveyed to the reader in a short time. The prose is fairly straightforward, spending a good bit of time on worldbuilding in addition to telling the actual story. I think the author managed to strike a reasonable balance between world, plot, and character.
You might like this if you like hard magic systems and detailed worlds. Given the amount of romances out there involving vampires or werewolves, the focus on a necromancer was a nice change of pace. I don't read much romance, but having the main character be a male stood out to me, as well.
If you prefer full-length stories or relatable characters, this might not be for you. I had trouble finding any redeemable qualities in the main character, but I recognize that some might consider that a positive.
Overall, if a short, dark fantasy romance sounds appealing to you, you might want to give this a try.
The book is roughly split into two halves, the first of which takes place in 1970s Earth and the second which takes place in Amber. Amber is the one true world of which all others are but a shadow, and nine brothers are competing for its throne.
As readers, we figure out how the magic goes along the way. There are Trump cards that can be used to magically contact the person portrayed on them and a Prince of Amber can travel through Shadow worlds at will. It is fairly easy to travel to Amber, but much harder to leave.
The book follows several of the princes and princesses of Amber, centering around Corwin. Corwin is a mighty warrior and songwriter, and he spends the first half of the story trying to recover his lost memory. His greatest enemy is his brother Eric, who tries to claim the throne of Amber for himself when their father disappears.
These are the main characters that really stand out. There are several encounters with other princes and princesses of Amber, but they are brief. The most intriguing character is Dworkin, the mysterious artist who originally crafted the Trump cards, but he went missing many years before the story begins.
In the opening scene, Corwin wakes up in a hospital bed with no memory of who he is or how he got there. After managing to muscle and bluff his way out of the hospital, he encounters his sister, one of the princesses of Amber. His sister has no idea that Corwin is missing memories, so he does his best to pretend like nothing is wrong and learn just what the hell is going on. Slowly, Corwin starts to understand the world around him.
About halfway through the book, the struggle for the throne of Amber becomes the main conflict. Corwin's brother Eric has decided to crown himself king, and Corwin decides to oppose this.
The story is told in first person from Corwin's point of view, and the prose is elegantly direct. Zelazny doesn't use three words where one will do, and this helps to keep the book moving quickly. A lot happens in the 175 pages of this book, and the writing style helps avoid a rushed feeling.
In the second half, the writing takes a slightly more detached approach. The events portrayed are viewed from a macro level rather than up close and personal.
This is one of the most easily digestible works of classic fantasy I've read. It's short, the prose is straightforward and memorable, and the pacing is quick.
You might like this if you like urban fantasy that strays away from things like vampires, werewolves, and demons. The first half feels a bit like a magical Jason Bourne, where Corwin must slowly discover what it means to be a prince of Amber.
This might not be for you if you need books with relatable characters. Corwin starts out sympathetic but shifts away from this as the book progresses. Most of the side characters get little development, and there are almost no female characters in the book. I've heard that the characters become more interesting in the sequels, though. This is also not the book for you if you dislike long drawn out battles that feel like lists of numbers instead of an actual story.
Overall, this is a fairly significant book to the fantasy genre and you could finish it in a couple of sittings. There are rumors of a television series being produced by the makers of The Walking Dead, so now might be a good time to check this series out.
The story picks up two years after the events in Lies of Locke Lamora, nearing the final stage of a long-running scheme the Gentleman Bastards have been planning. There are a series of flashbacks that fill in some of the gaps between the end of book one and the start of this book.
While the first book is often compared to Ocean's Eleven, this book picks up with Jean and Locke conning people in a high-stakes casino. Sure, the Sin Spire might have harsher penalties for cheating than Vegas (unless Vegas chops off your hands and throws you out of windows, it's been a while since I visited), but the atmosphere is pretty similar.
The stakes quickly rise, with the Bastards being played by not one, not two, but three separate enemies. Their schemes are also less transparent than in book one, and we as readers sort of figure things out as we go.
About a third of the way into the book, the seafaring part kicks in. What's not to love about Jean and Locke becoming pirates? For me, at least, this was an interesting change of pace from city heists.
Overall, the plot was solid. The flashbacks played a slightly smaller role than in Lies of Locke Lamora, but the present-day plot was more complex. I enjoyed it quite a bit, though there has been some controversy surrounding this book.
Locke and Jean have one of the best bromances I've read. They always have each other's backs and their banter is great. Without a doubt, they are the stars of this book.
Locke is his usual outlandishly devious self, but he has to struggle to return to that point after the conclusion of the previous book. He spends some of the flashbacks deeply depressed. By the time the present rolls around, though, he's the Locke everyone knows and loves.
Jean gets fleshed out more this book. You get to see him at odds with Locke on occasion, how he deals with the possibility of romance, and more. I've always liked that Jean is both a scholar and a fighter, and this book explores both.
The new side characters introduced are colorful and fun to read. From lady pirates to military dictators to engineers with a penchant for throwing people out of tall towers, this book has it all. There's even a James Bond type villain with an artificial knife hand.
You might have heard that a lot of people consider this book weaker than Lies of Locke Lamora. I'm not completely sure why, but I can guess that one of the main reasons is the seafaring. It feels very different from the standard “richer and cleverer than everyone else” Gentleman Bastard plot, and I think a lot of people didn't like that. It's also difficult to make hundreds of pages at sea compelling for all readers.
I didn't mind the sailing bits, but they were definitely slower-paced than the rest of the book. This is probably the aspect that will make or break the book for you. Your nautical mileage may vary.
Say what you want about Lynch, he always delivers a damn entertaining book. His over-the-top dialogue is probably one of my favorite parts of The Gentleman Bastards series.
The worldbuilding continues to be a fun addition without getting too bogged down in the details. There's a city of rich folk who play chess with peasants as the pieces, more alchemical shenanigans, and giant killer wasps.
Also, this is still a book about thieves being thieves, which is just plain fun.
The End of the Day by Claire North is a thoughtful exploration of life, death, and humanity. There's very little plot, but this story offers significant insight into modern political issues and the human race as a whole.
Charlie is the harbinger of Death. Sometimes he comes as a courtesy and sometimes he comes as a warning, though he's never really sure which.
I honestly don't think I've ever read a book with so little plot. This is not an action-heavy story. The best way I can describe the plot is that it's a collection of stories chronicling Charlie's experiences as the harbinger of death. His work takes him all over the world and allows him to meet people from every walk of life.
I almost hesitate to call this a “slice of life” book, since that typically means the plot is secondary to a cast of complex and compelling characters. I'd say this is better described as “slice of humanity.”
GIven the unique nature of this book, there are not many characters that are explored in depth. Other than Charlie, you will probably not find yourself wholeheartedly committed to most of the character encountered in this story. Even so, every character feels like a living person. Side characters that barely get any page time are well-written and pop of the page after only a couple of sentences.
One of the unique aspects of Claire North's writing is the dialogue. Very few authors can write dialogue in a way that sounds like characters are living, breathing people. North excels at this, crafting conversations that may not always feel linear or coherent, but always feel real.
This is not a quck-paced book. Each scene is loosely connected to the scene that came before, and the plot is almost nonexistent. This is a book that explores ideas and people.
I can say with some certainty that this is a book I will be thinking about for quite a while. It shines a spotlight on both the highs and lows of humanity and explores some powerful themes. Subjects like racism, poverty, and war were explored side by side with current events like Brexit, illegal immigration, and equal rights movements.
I enjoyed this book a lot, but I can easily see why others might dislike it. Ideas and character are the main focus, with plot left as an afterthought. Even so, I was never bored.
If you like tragedies, books that explore philosophical questions, or descriptive prose, this might be for you.
If you want to read a monster/horror story involving a mad scientist screaming “It's aliiiive!” then you'll probably be bored by this story.
Frankenstein is told through the frame of Captain Robert Walton's letters home to his sister. He relates his encounter with Frankenstein and the story of Frankenstein's past through these letters.
The prose is fairly descriptive, and if you read the original text, a little archaic. There's a bunch of phrases along the lines of: “I quitted the place,” said he. This can take a bit of getting used to but the writing flows smoothly after a while.
Once again, this is not a fast-paced or plot-heavy story.
A young Victor Frankenstein is fascinated by scientific texts, especially those involving chemistry and alchemy. Throughout his studies, he eventually learns the secret of creating life. He considers testing this knowledge on small creatures, like insects or worms, but his ambition and ego cause him to immediately attempt to give life something human.
When he succeeds, he is horrified by what he creates and abandons the creature. Unable to join society due to its hideous looks, the creature vows vengeance against its creator.
What follows is a story that's almost 100% different than most people's idea of Frankenstein. There's no lightning, no mad scientist (arguably), and no angry mob with torches. Instead, the plot is more introspective and examines the morality of Frankenstein's actions.
The story takes place mostly in Europe, sometime during the 18th century. We get to see a little of the arctic, a little of a university, and a little of the European countryside.
Frankenstein takes place in a world pretty much identical to our own, with the exception being that reanimation of the dead is possible. In a sense, you could consider this more soft sci fi than fantasy.
A promising start to a new epic fantasy trilogy. It's a medieval heist novel where the rogues in question are a ragtag group of demigods struggling to find themselves after an end-of-the-world type event years prior to this story.
There used to be nine powerful gods walking the world, but they were betrayed and only their demigod children remain. Anyone with a hint of godsblood is hunted down by the empire to be sacrificed for their necromancer ruler.
Speaking of necromancy, the undead are everywhere in this book. It's not unusual to see hordes of them shambling by, but they are typically unintelligent and only capable of basic tasks. There are also super creepy masked assassins called Deathless, but it's not clear whether these are actual undead, magically augmented, or just skilled warriors.
Most magic derives from godsblood, and the strength of magic is affected by how much people believe in the god or goddess whose blood runs in a magic user's veins.
There's a relatively small cast of core characters to this book. I'm also definitely butchering these names, since I listened to the audiobook and can't find most of these names anywhere.
* Acharsis: The womanizing, charismatic son of the god of fertility. He's been through a lot and feels guilty for the deaths of the original nine gods. His sense of humor provides some great comedic relief throughout the book.
* Jarek: He's basically the demigod version of a mega-lumberjack. He's an honorable warrior who's spent the last few decades living an isolated life on a mountain after the gods were betrayed, but he reluctantly agrees to join Acharsis on his heist.
* Annara: A badass ex-priestess of a dead god, her determination to save her son from the empire is the driving force behind the entire plot.
Plot
After seventeen years, Acharsis reunites with his former love, Annara. Unfortunately for him, she's moved on with her life, happily married and mother to a teenage son, Elu. Shortly after Acharsis's arrival, Annara's village is raided and her son is kidnapped.
Acharsis vows to rescue Elu, who might actually be his son. Anarra comes along, and the two of them recruit Jerek to help them on their mission.
The majority of the story is a magical heist in which the group of heroes attempts to break into an impenetrable fortress to save Elu.
This was a somewhat lighthearted, fast-paced adventure story. The banter between characters was fun, the action was immersive and intense, and overall this was an enjoyable read.
The narration of the audiobook was serviceable. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't exactly memorable. The narrator was able to convey each character's quirks effectively and had decent comedic timing for the humor.
Target Audience
People who enjoy:
* Lots of magic, especially necromancy
* Witty banter
* Fast-paced action
* Likable characters
* Recommended Beverage Pairing
This book is, first and foremost, a character-driven story. I laughed, I cried, and I wanted to slap a few characters in the face. Robin Hobb has a way of making her characters feel like real people and it can suck you into the story.
The book takes place in the Six Duchies. The six duchies are ruled by the Farseer bloodline, with King Shrewd being the current ruler and his son, Chivalry, being the King-in-Waiting. People of royal blood are named according to the characteristics their parents hope they develop.
Instead of having classic races like elves and dwarves, Hobb has invented a new species: the Elderlings. Little is known about these creatures, except that they are unnaturally long-lived and once helped the Farseer ruler save the Six Duchies from a fleet of raiding ships.
The two forms of magic are the Skill and the Wit. Like Hobb's writing, both are rather introspective. The Skill allows people to communicate directly with their minds over any distance, and the Wit allows for psychic bonding between man and animal.
Hobb's books are a masterwork in character study. I don't think I've ever felt so strongly for fictional characters. I hated the villains even when they seemed almost relatable, and I loved watching Fitz grow throughout the book.
Fitz is the bastard son of King-in-Waiting Chivalry. When he arrives at Chivalry's door at six years old, Chivalry decides the honorable thing is to renounce his title and move away, leaving Fitz to be raised by Burrich, the royal stablemaster. No one is quite sure how to treat a royal bastard until the king decides that Fitz will begin secretly training as the royal assassin. As Fitz begins to be instructed in the art of murder, mysterious ships begin raiding the coasts of the Six Duchies, instilling fear throughout the kingdom.
Most of the broader plot actually takes place in the background, with the focus being on Fitz's life as he grows up. The plot does begin to pick up later in the book, but the emphasis on character always comes first.
Robin Hobb is known for her introspective, character-driven stories. Don't expect fast-paced action or epic battles. Instead, you'll encounter complex and well-written characters, a detailed world that you learn about one piece at a time, and strong writing that avoids crossing the line into purple prose.
Your enjoyment of this book will likely hinge on how much you like slow, character-driven stories. This is not an action adventure heroic fantasy. It's quiet and introspective and (at times) emotionally devastating. Depending on your reading preferences, you will probably either love or hate this book.
If you're anything like me, you've always wondered what the love child of fantasy and rock and roll would look like (haven't we all?). Kings of the Wyld by Nicholas Eames is an action-packed, magic-slinging, comedic fantasy that follows a band of mercenaries on their reunion tour of the land. It doesn't take itself too seriously–if you couldn't tell by the rock music theme–yet manages to deliver a surprising depth of character and emotion.
I'm not sure if this is a fantasy story with a rock and roll theme or a rock and roll story with a fantasy theme. Either way, Kings of the Wyld is full of musical and pop cultural references. Outside of that, it takes place in a pretty cool high fantasy world.
Monsters and critters of all kinds exist in this world, and the deadly Heartwyld is home to just about all of them. Traveling bands of mercenaries try to make a name for themselves by touring the Wyld and winning gold and glory. Nowadays, though, young whippersnapper mercenaries don't do things like they used to.
As an added bonus, there's an ancient race of majestic humanoid beings with pointy rabbit ears and flying skyships.
We see the story through the eyes of Clay Cooper, a former legendary warrior who's getting on in years. Apart from being a well-written character, he fights with a shield! How often do you see that in fantasy?
The rest of the band is just as interesting. The frontman, Golden Gabe, has a knack for public speaking and wields a magic sword stolen from the rabbits that can carve a door between worlds. Mattrick is now a king, but he's a fat drunk who wants nothing more than to get away from his wife. Moog is a kooky wizard who sells magic viagra to fund his research into an incurable disease. And finally, there's Ganelon, who just might be the mightiest warrior in the world if he wasn't currently turned to stone.
When the story begins, Clay is living a quiet life in a remote village with his wife and daughter. One day, his former bandmate Gabe approaches him asking for his help in saving his daughter, who is trapped in a city being attacked by a legion of monsters. Clay reluctantly accepts, but only because he has a daughter, too.
Thus begins the attempt to reunite Saga, the band that used to be one of the most famous in the land. As they slowly recruit their former bandmates to their cause, it becomes apparent that none of them are the fearsome warriors they once were.
There's a lot of action and comedy in this book, and it makes the pages fly by. The descriptive passages are fairly brief and usually humorous. The prose isn't particularly poetic, which is probably appropriate for the tone of this book.
If you like action-comedies or heist movies where the first half is recruiting the various team members, this might be the book for you. If the idea of a rock and roll fantasy appeals to you, you'll really love this book. The pacing is quick, the tone is fairly light, and it's just good fun all around.
On the flip side, the rock music analogies might be too heavy-handed for you. It can come on a bit strong at times, which you may or may not like. It doesn't try to take itself too seriously and can be a bit self-aware.
Overall, I came into this expecting a good time and was not disappointed. There's a surprising amount of character depth and emotion throughout the book, which can serve as a nice contrast to the humor.
If you like political epics like A Song of Ice and Fire and are in the mood for an asian-inspired culture, Black Wolves by Kate Elliot might be for you. There're telepathic demons who fly on winged horses and read minds, a warrior force that rides giant flying eagles, and more. It's the only published book of a planned trilogy, taking place in the same world as Elliot's previous Crossroads trilogy.
Someone described this book as a cross between television shows Game of Thrones and Marco Polo. I haven't seen all of Marco Polo, but this seems like a pretty accurate description. The world and the magic are both incredibly interesting to read about.
The Hundred, which creatively derives its name from the hundred or so cities within it, was once ruled by a demonic court. The culture and technology draw from Asian influences, and we get to see them evolve throughout the book. We get to see a broad range of locations in the world, too, with characters exploring the breadth and depth of the world Kate Elliot builds.
I really enjoyed the magic for how different it is. There are no clearly defined rules, and it mostly lurks behind the scenes. The demons I mentioned before can see into your mind and influence your actions, and they recharge their abilities by walking on sacred demon coils located throughout the land. One culture has a mysterious magic that's only available to women. Also, there's a freaking ship possessed by the spirits of hundreds of birds.
There are five main viewpoint characters. Kellas is a fierce warrior, but we see him training the next generation and using his intelligence more than actually fighting. Dannarah starts as a princess but becomes an aging, don't-take-none-of-your-shit marshal among the militaristic eagle riders. Gil is a young nobleman down on his luck. Sarai is an outcast among her people for her mother's disgrace and must rely on her wits to gain political power. Finally, Lifka is a young woman adopted by a poor family and gets thrust into Hundred politics while protecting her father.
All of the characters are brilliantly written and grow on you throughout the story. If you've ever been frustrated by poorly-written women, you're in luck! Elliot writes fantastic women (really any characters), and even makes them the main plot drivers of the book.
The first hundred or so pages take place 40 years before the rest of the story. You get to meet a young(er) Kellas, who shows us just how badass he can be. Skipping forward in time, the seeds that were sown in the first chapters begin to devastating consequences. Sometime in the missing 40 years, the king was killed under Kellas's watch and his elite corp of Black Wolves were disbanded.
The new king finally returns from war and has to deal with a conspiracy to overthrow him. The book is deeply political, but the focus really isn't on the king that much. The plot explores what happens when cultures clash and mingle, history is forgotten, and the winners tell their own versions of events.
Through this all, the titular Black Wolves slowly begin reforming their ranks. I liked that the main thing they value is quick thinking, so they accept women, children, and the elderly into their ranks.
This is not a fast book. It's about 800 pages and things only start really ramping up in the last third.
That said, the rest of the book is damn good. You spend time learning about the characters, meeting giant eagles, and figuring out what's really going on. A lot of what you think is true based on what you read in the early chapters might not be what it seems. Also, the way the book ends suggests that the sequel (releasing early 2018) is going to hit the ground running.
The prose wasn't overly flowery, though it definitely was a step above plain. It got out of the way of the story but managed to capture emotion and character excellently.
If you like unique settings and character-driven stories, this might be for you. The culture, the magic, and the people are all fascinating to read about. One thing I loved was that very few problems are solved through fighting skills, most characters (even the warriors) use their heads and think things through.
However, the book starts out slow. It's deeply political and the author takes some time to introduce you to the world before the plot really kicks off. Also, you don't really have a clear picture for what the overall plot will be until maybe halfway through the book.
It's probably important to point out that there's a good bit a sex in this book in all varieties. There's also some relatively graphic sexual violence, and it takes place between two men.
Overall, you should read this if you're in the mood for a thought-provoking read with an incredible setting and characters. It can be a little slow, but it's well worth it.
A Star Reckoner's Lot by Darrell Drake is a unique historical fantasy story set in Sasanian Iran, nearly two thousand years ago. It's a self-contained standalone (though there will be a sequel at some point in the future) and a whole lot of pun fun to read.
The most notable part of this book is the setting. You can tell that the author really did his research. Everything from the swearing, cities, culture, and religion, was all historically accurate (as far as I could tell). That said, the history isn't shoved down your throat and gets out of the waray of the story.
The titular magic system, Star Reckoning, isn't like anything I've seen before. Don't expect a rigidly defined Sanderson-esque system, but you will have a pretty good idea of what's going on. Essentially, the stars and the planets are constantly at war with each other, and star reckoners can tap into this power to fuel their spells. Unfortunately, a lot of the results can be chaotic.
The main character is Ashtadukht, probably the worst star reckoner there has ever been. A lot of her spells backfire, often spectacularly. She also has a handicap similar to fibromyalgia, leaving her exhausted and weak on a regular basis.
Tirdad is Ashtadukth's cousin, a loyal soldier sworn to protect her at any cost. They travel together for most of the story, with Tirdad often being the voice of reason that keeps Ashta in check.
Finally, my favorite character is Waray, who steals the show (as well as several of the other character's belongings). She isn't afraid to break some eggs to get shit done. This might be because she's part demon, but it also might be because she's a bit crazy. And homicidal.
While the overall plot is not initially clear, you could say A Star Reckoner's Lot is the story of family, love, and brothers in arms.
For the first half of the book, each chapter is a vignette of Ashtadukht's journeys as a star reckoner. She's pledged to rid the world of divs, the demons who serve the Lie. As servants of the Truth, star reckoners are constantly at war with the divs that plague Iran. Ashtadukht has traveled on her own for years, but she picks up Tirdad and Waray as traveling companions early on.
A little over halfway through the book, the story becomes more cohesive and the overall plot beings to become clear. This section kicks off with a wild ride and doesn't let up, though the ending is one of the most heartfelt conclusions I've read.
The prose is not spectacular, but it definitely has its moments. It never got in the way of my enjoyment of the story. There were quite a bit of puns, which may or may not appeal to you (e.g. there is literally a scene where the characters fight snakes on a plain).
The pacing was different than most stories, mostly because it spanned nearly the entire life of the main character. The time jumps between chapters could be a couple hours or several years. I thought this was done well and added to the character of the story.
If you like stories with unique settings, interesting magic systems that are loosely defined, and take place over a long span of time, this might be for you.
If you prefer complex and relatable characters, and elegant prose, this might not be for you. The puns can be a little punishing at times, but I thought they were worth it.
Even though Iran with the puns a bit much (I think there's like ten), hopefully, some of them made you smile. I'll be happy if at least one pun in ten did.
If you haven't read Dune before, you've probably at least heard of it. It's one of the best-selling science fiction (or science fantasy) novels of all time, selling over 20 million copies. It won the Hugo in 1966, as well as the inaugural Nebula. The incredible worldbuilding was almost unheard of for the time, and it is still considered a classic.
The majority of the book takes place on the desert planet of Arrakis (sometimes known as Dune). Water is almost non-existent, and the entire culture of the planet revolves around conserving it. Perhaps the most iconic part of the setting is the giant sand worms. These things are gargantuan and can eat helicopters right out of the sky.
The other iconic part of Dune is the melange, or spice. Those who live outside of Arrakis consider the production of spice to be the planet's primary role. This spice is highly addictive and has somewhat magical properties.
Dune takes place around 8,000 years in the future. As such, the technology is advanced (though computers are shunned for religious reasons). Most people have access to personal shields that protect against projectile weapons, so melee weapons like swords are still in use.
There are also several “mystical” orders, including the Bene Gesserit and the Mentats. The Bene Gesserit are women who are trained to sense the smallest details of body language, can compel people with their voices, and see likely paths the future will take. The Mentats are supremely logical and serve as advisers to those in power.
Most of the important characters in Dune are affiliated with House Atreides, which is given governorship of Dune at the start of the novel. Their main enemy is House Harkonnen, whose Baron is about as evil as evil gets (to the point where it's almost a caricature at times).
Jessica is a Bene Gesserit and concubine to the Duke of House Atreides. Her son, Paul Atreides, is the central figure of the book. He is the Kwisatz Haderach, one with the ability to see the future and the product of hundreds of generations of selective breeding.
Early in the book, House Atreides leaves their home planet and arrives on Arrakis, which was previously controlled by the Harkonnens. They suspect that it is a trap, but the order for them to move came from the emperor and they can't refuse.
On Arrakis, they meet the local people, called Fremen. The Atreides hope to form an alliance with the Fremen, who are intimately familiar with the planet and formidable fighters. As the Atreides struggle to adjust to the harsh life of a desert world, they must also outmaneuver the Harkonnens.
This book starts out slow. There are a lot of fantasy words and names to adjust to (though the main character is just called Paul), and the plot is heavily political. Around halfway through the novel, the pacing picks up quite a bit. I wouldn't call the second half action-packed, but it definitely moves quicker.
The prose is a step above average. It's not too flowery, and the descriptions strike a balance between length and painting a clear picture of the unique world. There are a good number of memorable lines and passages. My favorite was the litany against fear.
If you enjoy science fiction, original worldbuilding, and political intrigue, this is the book for you. It's widely considered a classic and holds up well even more than 50 years later.
However, the weakest part of the book is the characters. If you need to feel a connection to characters, you might have a hard time with this. Also, the book is fairly slow for the first half.
Overall, this book is definitely worth trying if you like what you've heard so far. There's even a movie being made, so now might be a good time check this out.