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Ahoy there me mateys! I received this fantasy eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. So here be me honest musings . . .
I had previously read this author’s warrior/witch duology and the first novel in her Lady Trent series. I wanted more of her work and this book sounded amazing. I read this in a sitting and adored it . . .
The worse thing I can say about the reading experience was that I didn’t know it was a novella! I finished the e-book version and was convinced that I had somehow gotten a weird version. So I re-downloaded in another format. Same. Where were the rest of the chapters? The story was just getting started. I wanted the rest. Grrrrrr! I was confused as to why me book was so short.
Well, the interwebs then told me it was a novella. Silly Captain. However I wouldn’t change me reading experience. Also I recommend if ye choose to read this, other then the little book blurb (if ye wish), read no details before beginning. The way the story unfolds is delightful because I had no clue what the hell was going on. And even the answers ye do get by the end only whet the appetite for more. I want the next novella!
If ye want to see me other reviews go to https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordpress.com/
I had previously read this author’s warrior/witch duology and the first novel in her Lady Trent series. I wanted more of her work and this book sounded amazing. I read this in a sitting and adored it . . .
The worse thing I can say about the reading experience was that I didn’t know it was a novella! I finished the e-book version and was convinced that I had somehow gotten a weird version. So I re-downloaded in another format. Same. Where were the rest of the chapters? The story was just getting started. I wanted the rest. Grrrrrr! I was confused as to why me book was so short.
Well, the interwebs then told me it was a novella. Silly Captain. However I wouldn’t change me reading experience. Also I recommend if ye choose to read this, other then the little book blurb (if ye wish), read no details before beginning. The way the story unfolds is delightful because I had no clue what the hell was going on. And even the answers ye do get by the end only whet the appetite for more. I want the next novella!
If ye want to see me other reviews go to https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordpress.com/
Ahoy there me mateys! I received this sci-fi eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. So here be me honest musings . . .
Unlike me last abandoned sci-fi novel, this one went a lot better. I finished it! The story is set on post-apocalyptic Earth. The environment has been trashed and Autonomy runs the world. Their goal - making choices based on economic stability. The greatest resource on Earth happens to be humans because they are expendable and therefore exploitable. The book blurb frankly doesn't do the book justice. The novel takes place beginning in 2035 and ending in 2060 with some gaps.
The story starts following the Boa family, part of the poor class. The first scene is heart-wrenching and immediately drew me in. This personal look into the Boa family gradually widens into multiple viewpoints from all different walks of life as the story continues.
Contrasting with the Boa family are the Eborgersens, part of the Elite ruling class. Of course life isn't all fun and games for the rich either. That is what makes this novel so compelling. The expansive time frame, multiple points of view, changing politics, revolutionaries, and plot twists kept me hooked. Every time I had to put the book down, I was grumpy and impatient to get back to it.
There are several characters that get more focus in the book. Tristan and Pasco Eborgersen and the Boa daughter, Balmoral, are the folks whom the story centers around. I loved all three in different ways. Balmoral is kickass but makes plenty of mistakes. Pasco started out annoying and grew on me. Tristan is just plain nuts.
The only major complaint I had with the book was the ending. The book began to piss me off at 96% when the book's final Big Secret is revealed. I just thought it was stupid. However other people loved the ending so don't take me word for it. Give this book a try. I am still super glad that I read it and would recommend it to sci-fi lovers.
So lastly . . .
Thank you Kristell Ink!
If ye liked this review and want to see me others, visit https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordpress.com/
Unlike me last abandoned sci-fi novel, this one went a lot better. I finished it! The story is set on post-apocalyptic Earth. The environment has been trashed and Autonomy runs the world. Their goal - making choices based on economic stability. The greatest resource on Earth happens to be humans because they are expendable and therefore exploitable. The book blurb frankly doesn't do the book justice. The novel takes place beginning in 2035 and ending in 2060 with some gaps.
The story starts following the Boa family, part of the poor class. The first scene is heart-wrenching and immediately drew me in. This personal look into the Boa family gradually widens into multiple viewpoints from all different walks of life as the story continues.
Contrasting with the Boa family are the Eborgersens, part of the Elite ruling class. Of course life isn't all fun and games for the rich either. That is what makes this novel so compelling. The expansive time frame, multiple points of view, changing politics, revolutionaries, and plot twists kept me hooked. Every time I had to put the book down, I was grumpy and impatient to get back to it.
There are several characters that get more focus in the book. Tristan and Pasco Eborgersen and the Boa daughter, Balmoral, are the folks whom the story centers around. I loved all three in different ways. Balmoral is kickass but makes plenty of mistakes. Pasco started out annoying and grew on me. Tristan is just plain nuts.
The only major complaint I had with the book was the ending. The book began to piss me off at 96% when the book's final Big Secret is revealed. I just thought it was stupid. However other people loved the ending so don't take me word for it. Give this book a try. I am still super glad that I read it and would recommend it to sci-fi lovers.
So lastly . . .
Thank you Kristell Ink!
If ye liked this review and want to see me others, visit https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordpress.com/
Ahoy there me mateys! I received this fantasy eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. So here be me honest musings . . .
When I was a wee lass, I kinda had a small obsession with ponies. And unicorns. And pegasuses. I read everything I could get me mitts on that involved these creatures. If the ponies talked, even better. Now mind ye, this be in the days before the sea stole me heart and I learned I be allergic to horses. Sad sad day ’twas – the horse part that is.
So even now I still have a soft spot for horse-related books. For example me Goodreads shelf has a whole section related to horse books – 88 of them at the moment though I am positive I missed some.
So when I saw the cover, I was compelled to take a look. When I found out it was a fantasy retelling set in Greece about Hippodamia, who was raised by Centaurs I had to read it. Hearing the other main character, Pirithous, described as a pirate cemented that thought.
This is the story of Hippodamia’s relationship with Pirithous, the King of the Lapiths, and is based off of the “best-known legend with which the Lapiths are connected . . . their battle with the Centaurs at the wedding feast of Pirithous, the Centauromachy.”
This book slowly grew on me with the telling. Now the beginning of the book is all about the sexual angst of Hippodamia and Pirithous getting to know each other. They were promised to marry to keep the peace between the Centaurs and the Lapiths. They have a waiting period before marriage and it is full of drama between his pride and her innocence told through sex. I have to admit that the back and forth was a little cliche for me. But I kept readin’ because the character of Hippodamia intrigued me.
Also this story has fabulous side characters in Theseus (yes that one) and Antiope, the Amazon Queen. They of course are married and have a wonderful relationship. Antiope is a strong and powerful figure and clever. Both prove to be good friends.
So once the wedding day arrives, the book becomes awesome, and I loved it from that moment forward. I am glad I stuck through the first part. I won’t get into how all that resolves because it’s the author’s particular take on the myth and the details she used that made me happy.
That and the references to horses everywhere of course. They play fantastic roles in this novel as well. So if you like Greek myths, horses, strong women, and don’t mind readin’ about sex, give this book a shot.
So lastly . . .
Thank you Thorskona Books!
If ye liked this review check out me others at https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordpress.com/
When I was a wee lass, I kinda had a small obsession with ponies. And unicorns. And pegasuses. I read everything I could get me mitts on that involved these creatures. If the ponies talked, even better. Now mind ye, this be in the days before the sea stole me heart and I learned I be allergic to horses. Sad sad day ’twas – the horse part that is.
So even now I still have a soft spot for horse-related books. For example me Goodreads shelf has a whole section related to horse books – 88 of them at the moment though I am positive I missed some.
So when I saw the cover, I was compelled to take a look. When I found out it was a fantasy retelling set in Greece about Hippodamia, who was raised by Centaurs I had to read it. Hearing the other main character, Pirithous, described as a pirate cemented that thought.
This is the story of Hippodamia’s relationship with Pirithous, the King of the Lapiths, and is based off of the “best-known legend with which the Lapiths are connected . . . their battle with the Centaurs at the wedding feast of Pirithous, the Centauromachy.”
This book slowly grew on me with the telling. Now the beginning of the book is all about the sexual angst of Hippodamia and Pirithous getting to know each other. They were promised to marry to keep the peace between the Centaurs and the Lapiths. They have a waiting period before marriage and it is full of drama between his pride and her innocence told through sex. I have to admit that the back and forth was a little cliche for me. But I kept readin’ because the character of Hippodamia intrigued me.
Also this story has fabulous side characters in Theseus (yes that one) and Antiope, the Amazon Queen. They of course are married and have a wonderful relationship. Antiope is a strong and powerful figure and clever. Both prove to be good friends.
So once the wedding day arrives, the book becomes awesome, and I loved it from that moment forward. I am glad I stuck through the first part. I won’t get into how all that resolves because it’s the author’s particular take on the myth and the details she used that made me happy.
That and the references to horses everywhere of course. They play fantastic roles in this novel as well. So if you like Greek myths, horses, strong women, and don’t mind readin’ about sex, give this book a shot.
So lastly . . .
Thank you Thorskona Books!
If ye liked this review check out me others at https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordpress.com/
Ahoy there me mateys!
This is a rather large undertaking at 436 pages, but I devoured it in two days. Well, perhaps “devoured” is not the right word. Savored, absorbed, relished . . . well whatever the description, I highly enjoyed this debut novel.
It is not your traditional sci-fi novel. It is rather slow-burning and builds the world gradually with lots of descriptive passages intertwined with bursts of action. I rather liked that structure was a slowly unlocking puzzle. Most of this novel sees the characters traveling through and around a forest. Ye don’t really get any major explanations until after the 60% mark. And when ye do, it takes the form of a campfire story.
Now normally that kinda thing would drive me nuts but for some reason it just worked an’ fit me mood. The author states that it is an adventurous dystopian sci-fi with elements of horror. Yes, to dystopian sci-fi. Yes, that it has characters on an adventure. I can also see how other people would see elements of horror in the creatures of the world. I wasn’t afeared of them so much, but they are certainly used effectively to make the story very suspenseful at times. I found the mix of “normal” animals like deer and weirder ones like shamroths to be one of me favorite things. Oh, and the weather. I found the setting’s harsh weather to be appealing and I liked readin’ about it. Again something that would normally get old but didn’t in this version.
I particularly loved the beginning of the novel and how both protagonists are introduced. The two main characters are Leo Janus and Luther Kelly. I love how their stories unfold and it was fascinating to see how both scalawags managed to get themselves out of scrapes over and over again. Though some of this is a little unbelievable and damn lucky, I was still entertained.
The flaws of the novel would likely be the pacing for some, the descriptiveness for others, and the lack of female perspectives. Now do not get me wrong, strong females exist in minor roles in this novel but the story is still told through the eyes of the two men. Two very manly men in terms of their survival skills and abilities. But this Captain does not mind readin’ from the male perspective and Leo especially floated me boat. I enjoyed the side characters, most of the political wrangling, and even the cliff hanger of an ending. Sheesh!
The novel might not be to yer taste but if yer a sci-fi lover then ye should at least give it a chance. Ye may end up liking it as much as I did.
Much thanks to Matey Parr for providin' me a review copy.
If ye liked this review, check out me others at https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordpress.com/
This is a rather large undertaking at 436 pages, but I devoured it in two days. Well, perhaps “devoured” is not the right word. Savored, absorbed, relished . . . well whatever the description, I highly enjoyed this debut novel.
It is not your traditional sci-fi novel. It is rather slow-burning and builds the world gradually with lots of descriptive passages intertwined with bursts of action. I rather liked that structure was a slowly unlocking puzzle. Most of this novel sees the characters traveling through and around a forest. Ye don’t really get any major explanations until after the 60% mark. And when ye do, it takes the form of a campfire story.
Now normally that kinda thing would drive me nuts but for some reason it just worked an’ fit me mood. The author states that it is an adventurous dystopian sci-fi with elements of horror. Yes, to dystopian sci-fi. Yes, that it has characters on an adventure. I can also see how other people would see elements of horror in the creatures of the world. I wasn’t afeared of them so much, but they are certainly used effectively to make the story very suspenseful at times. I found the mix of “normal” animals like deer and weirder ones like shamroths to be one of me favorite things. Oh, and the weather. I found the setting’s harsh weather to be appealing and I liked readin’ about it. Again something that would normally get old but didn’t in this version.
I particularly loved the beginning of the novel and how both protagonists are introduced. The two main characters are Leo Janus and Luther Kelly. I love how their stories unfold and it was fascinating to see how both scalawags managed to get themselves out of scrapes over and over again. Though some of this is a little unbelievable and damn lucky, I was still entertained.
The flaws of the novel would likely be the pacing for some, the descriptiveness for others, and the lack of female perspectives. Now do not get me wrong, strong females exist in minor roles in this novel but the story is still told through the eyes of the two men. Two very manly men in terms of their survival skills and abilities. But this Captain does not mind readin’ from the male perspective and Leo especially floated me boat. I enjoyed the side characters, most of the political wrangling, and even the cliff hanger of an ending. Sheesh!
The novel might not be to yer taste but if yer a sci-fi lover then ye should at least give it a chance. Ye may end up liking it as much as I did.
Much thanks to Matey Parr for providin' me a review copy.
If ye liked this review, check out me others at https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordpress.com/
Ahoy there me mateys! I received this fantasy eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. So here are me honest musings . . .
I reviewed book one of this series back in May and highly enjoyed it. Hydra contacted me about book two being available to request. Yes please! So very glad I did because book two was even better than the first. If ye haven’t read that one, then ye read the rest of this review at yer own peril.
This novel takes us back to the conflict between the killer machines and humans. It was so nice to go back to Rhona’s story. She has continued to grow as a person and yet is still struggling with the ramifications of being the face of the rebellion against the machines.
The quibbles I had in the first book were absent in this one. No love triangle. Machines had limitations that made more sense. Technology did not magically work all the time.
The relationship between Rhona and Camus continues to be explored in this one. But I rather like the fact that they both are still working on and through the ramifications of their relationship while the world is falling apart around them. Their relationship questions felt more natural in the overall storytelling arc.
There were a lot of twisty plot points that I loved. Some that made me sad. Only one major plot point seemed to be coming (and it did at the end) but even then there were some surprises in the hows of it happening. The ending was satisfying and totally set up the next book in the series.
I want it.
Now.
So lastly . . .
Thank you Hydra!
If ye liked this review check out me blog https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordpress.com/
I reviewed book one of this series back in May and highly enjoyed it. Hydra contacted me about book two being available to request. Yes please! So very glad I did because book two was even better than the first. If ye haven’t read that one, then ye read the rest of this review at yer own peril.
This novel takes us back to the conflict between the killer machines and humans. It was so nice to go back to Rhona’s story. She has continued to grow as a person and yet is still struggling with the ramifications of being the face of the rebellion against the machines.
The quibbles I had in the first book were absent in this one. No love triangle. Machines had limitations that made more sense. Technology did not magically work all the time.
The relationship between Rhona and Camus continues to be explored in this one. But I rather like the fact that they both are still working on and through the ramifications of their relationship while the world is falling apart around them. Their relationship questions felt more natural in the overall storytelling arc.
There were a lot of twisty plot points that I loved. Some that made me sad. Only one major plot point seemed to be coming (and it did at the end) but even then there were some surprises in the hows of it happening. The ending was satisfying and totally set up the next book in the series.
I want it.
Now.
So lastly . . .
Thank you Hydra!
If ye liked this review check out me blog https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordpress.com/
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Ahoy there me mateys! This novel was a super fun read and a big ole’ mess. The beautiful cover and the fact that it was free drew me in. This is steampunk fantasy and apparently the author’s debut. I was looking for a silly book that was a quick read. I found it but a lot of me enjoyment was in how clueless our heroine was.
Aya Cogsmith life was ruined once her father died. He was murdered and she wants revenge. So when a member of the king’s court offers to help her for their mutual benefit, she agrees. Aya is snarky and that was what I loved about her character and was in the mood for. Otherwise she (and the plot) are disasters.
It is obvious who the bag guys are. I mean really someone should have known they were bad. I couldn’t help but be amused and horrified at how stupid everyone was. The “reasons” behind the evil were just so ridiculous.
It is obvious who Aya’s love interest is to everyone but her. And it's insta-love. She is supposed to be independent and strong-willed but seems to go along with almost everything without thinking things through. She just seemed lost. Plus her feminine wiles are what is supposed to help her get revenge and her technique as it were was ridiculous.
And yet I couldn’t help but want to know what happens next. Despite the one-dimensional characters, despite the lack of major world building, and despite the absurdities of the plot.
To be fair the concept of the world having been a desert with little water where once huge steamships sailed the seas made me happy. I liked a lot of the concepts but not the execution. For example I thought the cogsmith’s daughter would have awesome cogsmith skills and somehow use them to save the day. Alas!
Oh and characters were introduced because something was needed and then dropped out again conveniently. Aya also does nothing to help her supposed best friend who is in a crappy situation. I guess that was so book two can be about her.
Would I recommend this novel to anyone? I don’t think so. But I certainly was amused by it . . .
If ye liked this review and want to see me others go to https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordpress.com/
Aya Cogsmith life was ruined once her father died. He was murdered and she wants revenge. So when a member of the king’s court offers to help her for their mutual benefit, she agrees. Aya is snarky and that was what I loved about her character and was in the mood for. Otherwise she (and the plot) are disasters.
It is obvious who the bag guys are. I mean really someone should have known they were bad. I couldn’t help but be amused and horrified at how stupid everyone was. The “reasons” behind the evil were just so ridiculous.
It is obvious who Aya’s love interest is to everyone but her. And it's insta-love. She is supposed to be independent and strong-willed but seems to go along with almost everything without thinking things through. She just seemed lost. Plus her feminine wiles are what is supposed to help her get revenge and her technique as it were was ridiculous.
And yet I couldn’t help but want to know what happens next. Despite the one-dimensional characters, despite the lack of major world building, and despite the absurdities of the plot.
To be fair the concept of the world having been a desert with little water where once huge steamships sailed the seas made me happy. I liked a lot of the concepts but not the execution. For example I thought the cogsmith’s daughter would have awesome cogsmith skills and somehow use them to save the day. Alas!
Oh and characters were introduced because something was needed and then dropped out again conveniently. Aya also does nothing to help her supposed best friend who is in a crappy situation. I guess that was so book two can be about her.
Would I recommend this novel to anyone? I don’t think so. But I certainly was amused by it . . .
If ye liked this review and want to see me others go to https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordpress.com/
Ahoy there me mateys! This novel has been floating around everywhere, so I finally gave into the hype and read this sci-fi thriller.
Basically it is the story of a man named Jason who is attacked and wakes up in a life that shows what could have happened to him if he had picked another path . . . one with no son or wife but with academic / career success. How did this happen? Better yet how can he get his old life back?
For someone who had read lots of multi-universe books, the plot wasn’t mind-blowing. It was, however, engaging, fast-paced and fun. The novel’s best feature is in the details. I loved how Jason goes about trying to reclaim his life. The different universes were cool and the set-up to get to them was entertaining.
How the ending evolved was surprising. There was a sharp turn of a plot twist that I would have preferred hadn’t happened. It made sense once the author tells us why it happened and so I enjoyed the conclusion of the story. I would have liked to go down the other path not chosen.
However it was an extremely enjoyable sci-fi read with some truly memorable events that I can’t spoil for ye. So take the path where ye pick this book up and enjoy . . .
If ye liked this review, check out me others at https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordpress.com/
Basically it is the story of a man named Jason who is attacked and wakes up in a life that shows what could have happened to him if he had picked another path . . . one with no son or wife but with academic / career success. How did this happen? Better yet how can he get his old life back?
For someone who had read lots of multi-universe books, the plot wasn’t mind-blowing. It was, however, engaging, fast-paced and fun. The novel’s best feature is in the details. I loved how Jason goes about trying to reclaim his life. The different universes were cool and the set-up to get to them was entertaining.
How the ending evolved was surprising. There was a sharp turn of a plot twist that I would have preferred hadn’t happened. It made sense once the author tells us why it happened and so I enjoyed the conclusion of the story. I would have liked to go down the other path not chosen.
However it was an extremely enjoyable sci-fi read with some truly memorable events that I can’t spoil for ye. So take the path where ye pick this book up and enjoy . . .
If ye liked this review, check out me others at https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordpress.com/
Ahoy there me mateys! I received this fantasy eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. So here are me honest musings . . .
the dragon round (Stephen S. Power)
Title: the dragon round
Author: Stephen S. Power
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Publication Date: currently July 19, 2016
ISBN: 9781501133206
Source: NetGalley
This book contains dragons and a sea captain out for revenge. That was enough to pique me interest. Two of me favorite things. The novel started out with a bang. I love the Captain, Jeryon. I loved the apothecary. There are dragons and mutiny and fighting. Jeryon ends up on a deserted island, struggling to survive. And finds a baby dragon. I was very happy from the entire beginning of the book all the way through the training of the dragon.
Then the revenge part happens. Sigh. I have to admit: the book got choppy from there. The book has been compared to three things: 1) the game of thrones series; 2) the temeraire series; and 3) the count of monte cristo. I have read all three of these things (ye should too!). Ummm, this novel can’t compare and here is why:
1) I believe this novel is compared to the game of thrones series because of the change of perspective chapters and the politics. The novel is split into two parts with five chapters in each part. Of course each chapter has subsections. Part One is mostly from Jeryon’s perspective. Part Two begins with the perspectives of the mates and what has happened to them since the mutiny. Part One – loved it. Part Two is where the plot begins to decline. The politics are just not that interesting and involve disputes within branches of the military and, of course, money. The characters are not as well developed and overall just plain unlikable. George R. R. Martin’s character perspectives are rich and varied and help showcase the political wrangling. Even with the multiple points of view in this novel, the politics were at the best boring and at the worst, unclear.
2) I believe this novel is compared to the temeraire series because of the dragons (duh!) and the style of fighting when dragons are involved. I will admit that I enjoyed the dragon fights in the beginning of the novel. They are certainly not extremely fancy but were very fun. However when it comes to Jeryon and the dragon is where this novel is lacking. Now don’t get me wrong. I love both Jeryon and the dragon. But the relationship between the two is more like master and pet, not partners. I wasn’t expecting the dragons in the book to be as knowledgeable and intelligent as Naomi Novik’s Temeraire (whose are?), it seemed like the dragon in the story was more of an intelligent dog. Also once we get into Part Two, the dragon fighting fizzles and becomes more lackluster. How can that be?
3) I believe this novel is compared to the count of monte cristo because it is a sailor who life’s plan is ruined by other crew members and he wants revenge. I would agree with that comparison very loosely. The difference is in the details. Dumas’ Count is crafty, intelligent, and fabulous at plotting. Ye get to watch and savor the downfall of the Count’s enemies. In this novel, the revenge begins and ye get to see none of the real plotting. And what little ye do see is lackluster. In Part Two, ye see none of the plotting for revenge and very little of Jeryon’s story. Ye find out about things as the mates find out and it is just sad. The hows and whys of Jeryon’s choices are avoided. I wanted that story and didn’t get it.
These things aside, the novel was enjoyable and I did finish it. Part One was lovely. Part Two, not so much. I certainly didn’t hate it but when comparing it to other works, the flaws are noticeable. The ending was a doozy, though, and had two crazy plot twists. I will give the sequel a try to find out what happens in that regard.
So lastly . . .
Thank you Simon & Schuster!
If you liked this review then see others at https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordpress.com/
the dragon round (Stephen S. Power)
Title: the dragon round
Author: Stephen S. Power
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Publication Date: currently July 19, 2016
ISBN: 9781501133206
Source: NetGalley
This book contains dragons and a sea captain out for revenge. That was enough to pique me interest. Two of me favorite things. The novel started out with a bang. I love the Captain, Jeryon. I loved the apothecary. There are dragons and mutiny and fighting. Jeryon ends up on a deserted island, struggling to survive. And finds a baby dragon. I was very happy from the entire beginning of the book all the way through the training of the dragon.
Then the revenge part happens. Sigh. I have to admit: the book got choppy from there. The book has been compared to three things: 1) the game of thrones series; 2) the temeraire series; and 3) the count of monte cristo. I have read all three of these things (ye should too!). Ummm, this novel can’t compare and here is why:
1) I believe this novel is compared to the game of thrones series because of the change of perspective chapters and the politics. The novel is split into two parts with five chapters in each part. Of course each chapter has subsections. Part One is mostly from Jeryon’s perspective. Part Two begins with the perspectives of the mates and what has happened to them since the mutiny. Part One – loved it. Part Two is where the plot begins to decline. The politics are just not that interesting and involve disputes within branches of the military and, of course, money. The characters are not as well developed and overall just plain unlikable. George R. R. Martin’s character perspectives are rich and varied and help showcase the political wrangling. Even with the multiple points of view in this novel, the politics were at the best boring and at the worst, unclear.
2) I believe this novel is compared to the temeraire series because of the dragons (duh!) and the style of fighting when dragons are involved. I will admit that I enjoyed the dragon fights in the beginning of the novel. They are certainly not extremely fancy but were very fun. However when it comes to Jeryon and the dragon is where this novel is lacking. Now don’t get me wrong. I love both Jeryon and the dragon. But the relationship between the two is more like master and pet, not partners. I wasn’t expecting the dragons in the book to be as knowledgeable and intelligent as Naomi Novik’s Temeraire (whose are?), it seemed like the dragon in the story was more of an intelligent dog. Also once we get into Part Two, the dragon fighting fizzles and becomes more lackluster. How can that be?
3) I believe this novel is compared to the count of monte cristo because it is a sailor who life’s plan is ruined by other crew members and he wants revenge. I would agree with that comparison very loosely. The difference is in the details. Dumas’ Count is crafty, intelligent, and fabulous at plotting. Ye get to watch and savor the downfall of the Count’s enemies. In this novel, the revenge begins and ye get to see none of the real plotting. And what little ye do see is lackluster. In Part Two, ye see none of the plotting for revenge and very little of Jeryon’s story. Ye find out about things as the mates find out and it is just sad. The hows and whys of Jeryon’s choices are avoided. I wanted that story and didn’t get it.
These things aside, the novel was enjoyable and I did finish it. Part One was lovely. Part Two, not so much. I certainly didn’t hate it but when comparing it to other works, the flaws are noticeable. The ending was a doozy, though, and had two crazy plot twists. I will give the sequel a try to find out what happens in that regard.
So lastly . . .
Thank you Simon & Schuster!
If you liked this review then see others at https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordpress.com/
Ahoy there me mateys! I received this fantasy eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. So here be me honest musings . . .
Me first thought after completing this book was “That’s all? . . . F*ck I did it again!” Arrrrghhh! Remember the last time I thought a novella was a novel? Yup. This too is a novella, and I want more!
The title of this story is what caught me attention. The protagonist is 7 year old Stisele of Imlen. The brat. She is a member of the royal court as an adoptive daughter of the ruler. Stisele is considered to have unfortunate parentage and her current situation stems from her birth.
She is a stubborn, feisty, knucklehead. She wants to be a pirate! The author does a great job of making Stisele a bratty child with an unusual presence that makes her so engaging.
The small glimpse given of the world building, characters, magic and politics were so compelling that I am greedy for more. I don’t want to spoil it for ye though so this be all the details yer gettin’ . . .
Side note: this novella was completed with the help of a Kickstarter. Cool huh?
So lastly . . .
Thank you Point Quay Press!
If ye want to see more of me reviews go to https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordpress.com/
Me first thought after completing this book was “That’s all? . . . F*ck I did it again!” Arrrrghhh! Remember the last time I thought a novella was a novel? Yup. This too is a novella, and I want more!
The title of this story is what caught me attention. The protagonist is 7 year old Stisele of Imlen. The brat. She is a member of the royal court as an adoptive daughter of the ruler. Stisele is considered to have unfortunate parentage and her current situation stems from her birth.
She is a stubborn, feisty, knucklehead. She wants to be a pirate! The author does a great job of making Stisele a bratty child with an unusual presence that makes her so engaging.
The small glimpse given of the world building, characters, magic and politics were so compelling that I am greedy for more. I don’t want to spoil it for ye though so this be all the details yer gettin’ . . .
Side note: this novella was completed with the help of a Kickstarter. Cool huh?
So lastly . . .
Thank you Point Quay Press!
If ye want to see more of me reviews go to https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordpress.com/