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Ahoy there mateys! This is a beautifully written sci-fi novel with some extremely incredible world-building. In this version of our possible future, the world has flooded, the major world players have been destroyed, and humanity is clinging to existence in scattered parts of the world.
One of these locations is Qaanaaq, a floating city of a million people on the Arctic Circle. It reminds me of an oil rig city, has eight Arms, and is set up on a geothermal vent. All previous nationalities and religions are represented here though the citizens don’t really rehash the past. Pure survival is the primary goal. The technology is powerful with things like electronics stored in the jaw that have translation capabilities and an internet-like connection. At the same time, space is at a premium and money still reigns supreme. There is extreme, heartbreaking poverty and also small pockets of wealth controlled by anonymous shareholders. The government is an AI program with a few token humans holding public office. There are practically no laws. Illicit business is everywhere and the landlords have the true power.
This city has three odd things that feature into the story. The first is a disease called “the breaks.” It is usually sexually transmitted but can be passed through other bodily fluids via sickness or filth. This disease has no cure and can affect folks of any type. It causes mental breakdown and hallucinations and eventually death. The second is that the city is home to a broadcast called “City Without a Map.” The broadcast seems to be targeted towards incoming immigrants and shares explanations for how the city functions and stories of how its citizen live. No one knows who is in charge of these broadcasts. The third is that a woman just arrived in town, riding an orca, with a polar bear at her side. Who is she and what does she want?
Ye discover the answer to this question and many others through the eyes of four points of view. There is Fill, a rich, gay man who has discovered he has the breaks. There is Ankit, a young woman who works as an assistant for one of the human managers of an Arm and just wants her mother to be released from an involuntary stay in a mental hospital. There is Kaev, a mind-addled 33 year old man whose slight happiness comes from participating in fights for a living; sadly ones that he is paid to lose. And then there is me favourite, Soq. Soq is a non-binary slideway messenger. But Soq has bigger plans that involve them getting into organized crime first.
Their stories are told in third-person and the relationship of these four takes a while to branch out into interactions with other people. But these viewpoints, the broadcasts, and the information of other secondary characters in the city, make for both a complex, sprawling city and plot. And yet the information is delivered in such a fashion that yer understanding of the city and its inner workings is not hard to understand.
The main problem I had with this book was that while I liked all four points of view, I wasn’t majorly connected to or rooting for any in particular. Even if I loved Soq. And as the story grew and the paths of the characters intertwined, I really felt outside of the action. I don’t think this was a bad thing per se. But I was certainly an outsider looking in. And the buildup and tension really only ratcheted upward in the end in a fashion both startling and kinda abrupt. And yet somehow overall satisfying as odd as it was.
While I would have loved to have felt more drawn to the character struggles and less like I was viewing everything through an extremely powerful and detailed microscope, I am very happy I picked up this title. It was certainly a very different read and this review cannot really even get into the intricacies of it all due to plot spoilers. But suffice to say that I will be reading more of this author’s work in the future. Arrr!
Check out me other reviews at https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordpress.com/
One of these locations is Qaanaaq, a floating city of a million people on the Arctic Circle. It reminds me of an oil rig city, has eight Arms, and is set up on a geothermal vent. All previous nationalities and religions are represented here though the citizens don’t really rehash the past. Pure survival is the primary goal. The technology is powerful with things like electronics stored in the jaw that have translation capabilities and an internet-like connection. At the same time, space is at a premium and money still reigns supreme. There is extreme, heartbreaking poverty and also small pockets of wealth controlled by anonymous shareholders. The government is an AI program with a few token humans holding public office. There are practically no laws. Illicit business is everywhere and the landlords have the true power.
This city has three odd things that feature into the story. The first is a disease called “the breaks.” It is usually sexually transmitted but can be passed through other bodily fluids via sickness or filth. This disease has no cure and can affect folks of any type. It causes mental breakdown and hallucinations and eventually death. The second is that the city is home to a broadcast called “City Without a Map.” The broadcast seems to be targeted towards incoming immigrants and shares explanations for how the city functions and stories of how its citizen live. No one knows who is in charge of these broadcasts. The third is that a woman just arrived in town, riding an orca, with a polar bear at her side. Who is she and what does she want?
Ye discover the answer to this question and many others through the eyes of four points of view. There is Fill, a rich, gay man who has discovered he has the breaks. There is Ankit, a young woman who works as an assistant for one of the human managers of an Arm and just wants her mother to be released from an involuntary stay in a mental hospital. There is Kaev, a mind-addled 33 year old man whose slight happiness comes from participating in fights for a living; sadly ones that he is paid to lose. And then there is me favourite, Soq. Soq is a non-binary slideway messenger. But Soq has bigger plans that involve them getting into organized crime first.
Their stories are told in third-person and the relationship of these four takes a while to branch out into interactions with other people. But these viewpoints, the broadcasts, and the information of other secondary characters in the city, make for both a complex, sprawling city and plot. And yet the information is delivered in such a fashion that yer understanding of the city and its inner workings is not hard to understand.
The main problem I had with this book was that while I liked all four points of view, I wasn’t majorly connected to or rooting for any in particular. Even if I loved Soq. And as the story grew and the paths of the characters intertwined, I really felt outside of the action. I don’t think this was a bad thing per se. But I was certainly an outsider looking in. And the buildup and tension really only ratcheted upward in the end in a fashion both startling and kinda abrupt. And yet somehow overall satisfying as odd as it was.
While I would have loved to have felt more drawn to the character struggles and less like I was viewing everything through an extremely powerful and detailed microscope, I am very happy I picked up this title. It was certainly a very different read and this review cannot really even get into the intricacies of it all due to plot spoilers. But suffice to say that I will be reading more of this author’s work in the future. Arrr!
Check out me other reviews at https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordpress.com/
Ahoy there me mateys! This be me read for the July BookBum Club Challenge where the theme be “that is so last year – a book ye meant to read in 2017.” Well Dean Koontz is one of me favourite authors and was featured in Broadside No. 9 but I hadn’t read a book by him since 2011! This book marks me 60th Dean Koontz book. Arrrr! It was about time I got to it because books two and three are already out. Plus book four is coming soon. I have been wanting to read this ever since I read crew member, Kim @ byhookorbybook’s review back in 2017! Now be the time.
The very basic premise is that the suicide rate in the United States has been higher than average and seems to be steadily increasing. One of the victims is Nick Hawk, a husband, father, and highly decorated marine. Everyone believes that he committed suicide except for his wife, Jane. Jane Hawk, FBI agent, knows that her husband would never have killed himself. His odd “suicide” note is proof of that. So she starts digging determined to uncover the truth behind Nick’s death. But the answers are even stranger then she thought. Can she take the evil doers down before they get to her first?
Of course it is so much more complicated and cooler than that. What I love about Dean Koontz is that he can write a fantastic thriller with sci-fi bits. And the sci-fi is plausible in our not too distant future. I can’t go into more than that because it is part of the fun of readin’ this one. The science of it is both scary and fascinating. This book also deals with the silent corner – i.e. people who try to stay completely off the grid. In the modern era of Big Brother, it does seem like this will be impossible in the future. Watching Jane try to stay off the grid while needing the internet for research is interesting. And darn near impossible.
This book had a fantastically quick pace and I read it in one sitting. I was completely rooting for Jane. She is smart, clever, and fierce. The bad guys were a bit one dimensional and the final showdown was silly but that didn’t lessen me enjoyment. I certainly got what I wanted out of this book and will not be waiting another seven years to pick up another Dean Koontz book. I need more Jane Hawk!
Much thanks to the BookBum Club for giving me the incentive to read this “so last year” novel.
Check out me other reviews at https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordpress.com/
The very basic premise is that the suicide rate in the United States has been higher than average and seems to be steadily increasing. One of the victims is Nick Hawk, a husband, father, and highly decorated marine. Everyone believes that he committed suicide except for his wife, Jane. Jane Hawk, FBI agent, knows that her husband would never have killed himself. His odd “suicide” note is proof of that. So she starts digging determined to uncover the truth behind Nick’s death. But the answers are even stranger then she thought. Can she take the evil doers down before they get to her first?
Of course it is so much more complicated and cooler than that. What I love about Dean Koontz is that he can write a fantastic thriller with sci-fi bits. And the sci-fi is plausible in our not too distant future. I can’t go into more than that because it is part of the fun of readin’ this one. The science of it is both scary and fascinating. This book also deals with the silent corner – i.e. people who try to stay completely off the grid. In the modern era of Big Brother, it does seem like this will be impossible in the future. Watching Jane try to stay off the grid while needing the internet for research is interesting. And darn near impossible.
This book had a fantastically quick pace and I read it in one sitting. I was completely rooting for Jane. She is smart, clever, and fierce. The bad guys were a bit one dimensional and the final showdown was silly but that didn’t lessen me enjoyment. I certainly got what I wanted out of this book and will not be waiting another seven years to pick up another Dean Koontz book. I need more Jane Hawk!
Much thanks to the BookBum Club for giving me the incentive to read this “so last year” novel.
Check out me other reviews at https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordpress.com/
Ahoy there me mateys! I received this young adult sci-fi eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. So here be me honest musings . . .
I have loved this author's work ever since I read love minus eighty and have now gobbled up seven of his novels.
Side note: Get me hands on unbreakable and watchdog and all four novellas!
While I liked this one in parts, it was overall just an okay read. As usual, the concepts are very cool. The basic premise of this one is there is a group of teens who invent a truth-telling machine. But someone wants to stop the technology from getting out there. As for the teens, they don't really understand the ramifications of "nothing but the truth" until it is too late.
So I have to admit that I like being honest. I think lying is usually a waste of time and resources and I try not to do it. But what if, for example, someone asks if their outfit looks okay and ye think it doesn't. But they think they look hot. So of course ye say that they look awesome because what ye think doesn't matter and ye don't want to hurt feelings. Well with the truth-rings that would be impossible. Me friends wouldn't care but an acquaintance? It could get ugly.
Now the author raises a lot of difficult issues but doesn't address them in any satisfactory way. Topics touched on - eating disorders, suicides, when someone thinks they be telling the truth but are mistaken, voyeurism, anxiety, cerebral palsy, vigilantism, greed, etc. Most are used as plot points either as exposed secrets or unintended consequences for the teens to feel bad about. But feeling bad about them was about as far as it went. It didn't really seem to make the characters act any differently.
In fact pretty much all of the characters are extremely selfish and self-centered. In the beginning most of them just wanted money. I could sympathize. But their idealism never really seemed to turn into true realism. Plus unfortunately, the plot has some extreme plot holes and the ending was too convenient. So the teens really didn't need to grow or change much based on those circumstances.
One of the good elements is that there were caring parents and teachers. The teens do actually ask the parents for help. That was a nice change for YA. The bad parts were that almost all the adults that were involved were ex-military with PTSD or other issues.
Also the romance issues in this book were not to me taste. The main narrator, Sam, has a crush that is so ridiculous it almost seems cringe-worthy. The teens all seem to pair off with each other. The dialogue and tension around the teen-lust was angsty and felt more like 5th graders then almost 18 year olds. But perhaps I am just too much of a curmudgeon in me old age and can't sympathize with teenage hormones. I was a very abnormal teen in that respect so me experience was not the mainstream one.
This book was a fast read and I did want to know how it ended. I loved the concepts and will be pondering the ramifications for some time to come. This is certainly not me favourite of his but I will continue to read anything he writes.
So lastly . . .
Thank you Random House Children's / Delacorte Press!
Check out me other reviews at https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordpress.com/
I have loved this author's work ever since I read love minus eighty and have now gobbled up seven of his novels.
Side note: Get me hands on unbreakable and watchdog and all four novellas!
While I liked this one in parts, it was overall just an okay read. As usual, the concepts are very cool. The basic premise of this one is there is a group of teens who invent a truth-telling machine. But someone wants to stop the technology from getting out there. As for the teens, they don't really understand the ramifications of "nothing but the truth" until it is too late.
So I have to admit that I like being honest. I think lying is usually a waste of time and resources and I try not to do it. But what if, for example, someone asks if their outfit looks okay and ye think it doesn't. But they think they look hot. So of course ye say that they look awesome because what ye think doesn't matter and ye don't want to hurt feelings. Well with the truth-rings that would be impossible. Me friends wouldn't care but an acquaintance? It could get ugly.
Now the author raises a lot of difficult issues but doesn't address them in any satisfactory way. Topics touched on - eating disorders, suicides, when someone thinks they be telling the truth but are mistaken, voyeurism, anxiety, cerebral palsy, vigilantism, greed, etc. Most are used as plot points either as exposed secrets or unintended consequences for the teens to feel bad about. But feeling bad about them was about as far as it went. It didn't really seem to make the characters act any differently.
In fact pretty much all of the characters are extremely selfish and self-centered. In the beginning most of them just wanted money. I could sympathize. But their idealism never really seemed to turn into true realism. Plus unfortunately, the plot has some extreme plot holes and the ending was too convenient. So the teens really didn't need to grow or change much based on those circumstances.
One of the good elements is that there were caring parents and teachers. The teens do actually ask the parents for help. That was a nice change for YA. The bad parts were that almost all the adults that were involved were ex-military with PTSD or other issues.
Also the romance issues in this book were not to me taste. The main narrator, Sam, has a crush that is so ridiculous it almost seems cringe-worthy. The teens all seem to pair off with each other. The dialogue and tension around the teen-lust was angsty and felt more like 5th graders then almost 18 year olds. But perhaps I am just too much of a curmudgeon in me old age and can't sympathize with teenage hormones. I was a very abnormal teen in that respect so me experience was not the mainstream one.
This book was a fast read and I did want to know how it ended. I loved the concepts and will be pondering the ramifications for some time to come. This is certainly not me favourite of his but I will continue to read anything he writes.
So lastly . . .
Thank you Random House Children's / Delacorte Press!
Check out me other reviews at https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordpress.com/
Ahoy there me mateys! For those of ye who are new to me log, a word: though this log’s focus is on sci-fi, fantasy, and young adult, this Captain does have broader reading tastes. Occasionally I will share some novels that I enjoyed that are off the charts (a non sci-fi, fantasy, or young adult novel), as it were. So today I bring ye:
the wonder (Emma Donoghue)
I have no idea where I first heard about this novel but I did somehow think that it had magical realism. Nope. It’s an historical fiction. And a darn good one at that. I listened to this one in audio book format read by Kate Lock. I wasn’t familiar with the actress and writer but found her voice to be wonderful.
The story takes place in 1859 and involves a young girl named Anna who is the subject of intense debate. People claim that she has not eaten anything in four months yet is thriving. Some call it God’s blessing. Others a hoax. What is the truth? Nurse Lib Wright has been summoned from England to give her expert testimony. She believes that she will quickly come to a conclusion and be back in England in no time. Instead what she finds changes her life forever.
The blurb labels this a psychological thriller. That is true but it is a very slow burning one. The story takes place over a two week period. There are sections of the book that deal with Lib’s days in meticulous detail. I absolutely loved Lib. She is a hard-working, single woman struggling to survive. She is a nurse that served in the Crimean wars and was trained by Florence Nightingale. A firm believer in science, she is completely in culture shock when she arrives in Catholic Ireland. Lib finds herself struggling between her training as a nurse and the task given to her by her employers to act as a non-interfering objective witness.
This book shows Catholicism from the eyes of an outsider. For those readers that might be strongly Catholic, Lib’s outright rejection and suspicion of that faith may be hard to handle. But juxtaposed with Lib’s viewpoints are eleven-year old Anna’s wholehearted faith. Anna is a little girl who most treasured possessions involve prayer cards and other religious articles. She is kind, intelligent though uneducated, and above all devout. It was fascinating to slowly learn how the little girl came to be the center of all the controversy.
And personally I found meself rooting for both Anna and Lib. The author did a fantastic job immersing me in the time period. I found it fascinating that Anna was celebrated for not eating when Ireland had come out of the potato famine not long before. The other characters were richly drawn out. The clash of culture, religion, education, medicinal ideas, gender differences, and class distinctions were explored in exemplary fashion. And I was surprised by how the situation was resolved. I highly recommend this one to the whole crew.
The author’s website says this about her inspiration for the novel:
"I came across the Fasting Girl phenomenon back in the mid-1990s – so long ago that I can’t even remember where I first read about these girls and young women (and very occasionally older women or men). I was instantly intrigued by these cases, which seemed to echo medieval saints starving as an act of penance, and also modern anorexics, but weren’t exactly the same as either. It seemed to say a lot about what it’s meant to be a girl – in many Western countries, from the sixteenth century right through to the twentieth – that these girls became celebrities by not eating.
But I never found one real case that rang that little bell in me, telling me this was the story I had to tell in a novel. Some were too tragic, even for a writer with my dark tastes; Sarah Jacob, for instance, a little girl who died while being ‘watched’ by nurses in 1869. Some were low comedy, such as the case of Ann Moore, exposed as a cheat in 1813.
Finally it occurred to me that if I was still so fascinated by the Fasting Girls, two decades on, I should drop my usual method of writing a historical novel based on a real case, and let myself invent a story. I’d set it in Ireland, of course – not just because that’s my homeland, but because ever since the Great Famine of the 1840s, we’ve defined ourselves as a people intimate with hunger."
Also I read a fascinating interview with the author and Scott Simon on NPR. Check that out. Arrrr!
Check out me other reviews on https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordpress.com/
the wonder (Emma Donoghue)
I have no idea where I first heard about this novel but I did somehow think that it had magical realism. Nope. It’s an historical fiction. And a darn good one at that. I listened to this one in audio book format read by Kate Lock. I wasn’t familiar with the actress and writer but found her voice to be wonderful.
The story takes place in 1859 and involves a young girl named Anna who is the subject of intense debate. People claim that she has not eaten anything in four months yet is thriving. Some call it God’s blessing. Others a hoax. What is the truth? Nurse Lib Wright has been summoned from England to give her expert testimony. She believes that she will quickly come to a conclusion and be back in England in no time. Instead what she finds changes her life forever.
The blurb labels this a psychological thriller. That is true but it is a very slow burning one. The story takes place over a two week period. There are sections of the book that deal with Lib’s days in meticulous detail. I absolutely loved Lib. She is a hard-working, single woman struggling to survive. She is a nurse that served in the Crimean wars and was trained by Florence Nightingale. A firm believer in science, she is completely in culture shock when she arrives in Catholic Ireland. Lib finds herself struggling between her training as a nurse and the task given to her by her employers to act as a non-interfering objective witness.
This book shows Catholicism from the eyes of an outsider. For those readers that might be strongly Catholic, Lib’s outright rejection and suspicion of that faith may be hard to handle. But juxtaposed with Lib’s viewpoints are eleven-year old Anna’s wholehearted faith. Anna is a little girl who most treasured possessions involve prayer cards and other religious articles. She is kind, intelligent though uneducated, and above all devout. It was fascinating to slowly learn how the little girl came to be the center of all the controversy.
And personally I found meself rooting for both Anna and Lib. The author did a fantastic job immersing me in the time period. I found it fascinating that Anna was celebrated for not eating when Ireland had come out of the potato famine not long before. The other characters were richly drawn out. The clash of culture, religion, education, medicinal ideas, gender differences, and class distinctions were explored in exemplary fashion. And I was surprised by how the situation was resolved. I highly recommend this one to the whole crew.
The author’s website says this about her inspiration for the novel:
"I came across the Fasting Girl phenomenon back in the mid-1990s – so long ago that I can’t even remember where I first read about these girls and young women (and very occasionally older women or men). I was instantly intrigued by these cases, which seemed to echo medieval saints starving as an act of penance, and also modern anorexics, but weren’t exactly the same as either. It seemed to say a lot about what it’s meant to be a girl – in many Western countries, from the sixteenth century right through to the twentieth – that these girls became celebrities by not eating.
But I never found one real case that rang that little bell in me, telling me this was the story I had to tell in a novel. Some were too tragic, even for a writer with my dark tastes; Sarah Jacob, for instance, a little girl who died while being ‘watched’ by nurses in 1869. Some were low comedy, such as the case of Ann Moore, exposed as a cheat in 1813.
Finally it occurred to me that if I was still so fascinated by the Fasting Girls, two decades on, I should drop my usual method of writing a historical novel based on a real case, and let myself invent a story. I’d set it in Ireland, of course – not just because that’s my homeland, but because ever since the Great Famine of the 1840s, we’ve defined ourselves as a people intimate with hunger."
Also I read a fascinating interview with the author and Scott Simon on NPR. Check that out. Arrrr!
Check out me other reviews on https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordpress.com/
Ahoy there me mateys! While drawin' up me lists of 2016 for me log, I realized a curious thing - out of 134 books read, not a single one was a re-read. In me enthusiasm of discovery and taking suggestions from me crew, I did not revisit a single old port for plunder! And part of what I love about readin' is re-visitin' old friends. So I decided to remedy that and thus created this category where I take a second look at a previously enjoyed novel and give me crew me second reflections, as it were, upon visitin' it again . . .
Oh me hearties! This book is so utterly mesmerizing, beautiful, and stunningly written. I knew this but listening to it in audio book format was a complete delight. I fell in love all over again. I can say without a doubt that this is one of the best post-apocalyptic books I have ever read. One of the best books period. What struck me in this second read is how intricately intertwined the characters are and how the shifts in time and place are seamlessly done.
For those that haven't read this book (go get it now!), the basic premise is that the known world has collapsed from a virulent strain of flu. The surviving people are flung far and wide in varied settlements that each have their own rules and standards. Amenities like internet, reliable medicine, or electrical power are non-existent. Travel is hazardous but among those that dare are a travelling caravan that trades its artistic talent. Like touring troupes of ole, these performers play symphonic pieces and recite Shakespeare.
Of course being the theatre lover that I am, me favourite character continues to be Kirsten, a member of the acting troupe. I loved how ye are shown her various stages of life. In general I found all the characters to be interesting. What is also interesting in how this book feels so positive in overall outlook even though bad things often happen. This book is way more complicated then I have made it seem. I don't have the vocabulary to explain further and don't want to spoil it. But I will be readin' this again in the future. If yer past doesn't include having read this tale then I suggest ye add it into yer future reading!
Side note: Doesn't the author have a delightfully delicious name? Arrr!
Check out me other reviews at https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordpress.com/
Oh me hearties! This book is so utterly mesmerizing, beautiful, and stunningly written. I knew this but listening to it in audio book format was a complete delight. I fell in love all over again. I can say without a doubt that this is one of the best post-apocalyptic books I have ever read. One of the best books period. What struck me in this second read is how intricately intertwined the characters are and how the shifts in time and place are seamlessly done.
For those that haven't read this book (go get it now!), the basic premise is that the known world has collapsed from a virulent strain of flu. The surviving people are flung far and wide in varied settlements that each have their own rules and standards. Amenities like internet, reliable medicine, or electrical power are non-existent. Travel is hazardous but among those that dare are a travelling caravan that trades its artistic talent. Like touring troupes of ole, these performers play symphonic pieces and recite Shakespeare.
Of course being the theatre lover that I am, me favourite character continues to be Kirsten, a member of the acting troupe. I loved how ye are shown her various stages of life. In general I found all the characters to be interesting. What is also interesting in how this book feels so positive in overall outlook even though bad things often happen. This book is way more complicated then I have made it seem. I don't have the vocabulary to explain further and don't want to spoil it. But I will be readin' this again in the future. If yer past doesn't include having read this tale then I suggest ye add it into yer future reading!
Side note: Doesn't the author have a delightfully delicious name? Arrr!
Check out me other reviews at https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordpress.com/
Ahoy there me mateys! Though this log’s focus is on sci-fi, fantasy, and young adult, this Captain does have broader reading tastes. So occasionally I will share some novels that I enjoyed that are off the charts (a non sci-fi, fantasy, or young adult novel), as it were.
This be a western audiobook that I borrowed from a local library. Westerns are not me thing, unless they are stories about the relationships between horses and rider. Horses were me first love before the sea stole me heart. Some of me favourite books as a kid were the Black Stallion series, black beauty, Marguerite Henry’s horse books, and of course the western, smokey the cowhorse by Will James which won the 1927 Newbery Medal.
So when I read the blurb for this book, it made me feel nostalgic and I thought I would give it a shot. This book follows 15 year old Evan Kendrick. His father has entered an 1800 mile horse race with a prize purse of $3000. Their horse is Taos Lightning, a half-broke mustang stallion. Days before the race is scheduled to take place, Evan’s father is gravely injured and cannot ride. Evan will have to take his place and attempt to win the race. The stakes are high and if they don’t win, father and son will lose everything.
Now the horse race in this was super cool in concept and execution. The race is set to be run from Texas to New England. However, no one except the race organizers know the route. The race is run in stages. When the rider gets to the next check point they receive the location of the next stop and a map of possible trails. Also they are only allowed to ride 10 hours a day because of animal right’s groups like the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Railroads, ferries, and telegraphs all play a part in the execution of the race. I loved the blending of old technology (the horse) and the newer technology. The race was sponsored by the newspapers to sell papers. This race was odd because there wasn’t a ton of excitement about the race itself as only the last couple of days would really determine the winner. The story was more about Evan’s growth and experiences.
The other two main characters besides Evan were Arena Lancaster, an 18 year old girl who likes her drink, and Dindie Remo, a Negro Seminole Indian scout. Evan also gets help along the way from a veterinarian, named Patrick Jack. I enjoyed all of these characters and their impacts on the story.
While I thought the story was fun and the audio narration by Michael Crouch was pleasant, the story did have some issues. The story was hard to get into and the accident with the father was particularly confusing. I thought that overall the story really didn’t start to coalesce until the race started. Plus there was a plot hole involving the dad. If the dad was going to ride the race and they had no money, who was going to take care of Evan while the dad rode for 45 days or more? Also the subplot with the father was resolved abruptly and used basically as a plot point for some angst in the middle of the race.
Also while Evan was a wonderful character that I did cheer on, he would not have survived without the help of the vet and Arena and Dindie. I get that kind-hearted people would want to help a 15 year old in over his head. But better and more experienced riders where taken out all the time and yet this 15 year old greenhorn keeps going. Actually it was also a little unbelievable that the 18 year old girl did so well too. The excuse for them being in the race was that their presence helped sell papers. I could buy that. But not that the two would do so well for so long especially while making silly mistakes along the way.
Additionally the ending was abrupt and unsatisfactory. The author decided to have some of the riders tamper with the race in ridiculous ways that would certainly have been found out and have disqualified them. And the actual ending of the race was silly. Ridiculous even. Then the book has a throwaway line about friendship and just stopped. No resolution at all. I would have at least liked an epilogue about what happened to Evan, Arena, and Dindie after the race. The author had all these crazy things happen and the reader doesn’t get any explanation of the consequences.
So this ended up being just a fun yet okay read for me. I don’t know if I would recommend it. I am glad I read it but I also be glad that I borrowed this one.
Check out me other reviews at https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordpress.com/
This be a western audiobook that I borrowed from a local library. Westerns are not me thing, unless they are stories about the relationships between horses and rider. Horses were me first love before the sea stole me heart. Some of me favourite books as a kid were the Black Stallion series, black beauty, Marguerite Henry’s horse books, and of course the western, smokey the cowhorse by Will James which won the 1927 Newbery Medal.
So when I read the blurb for this book, it made me feel nostalgic and I thought I would give it a shot. This book follows 15 year old Evan Kendrick. His father has entered an 1800 mile horse race with a prize purse of $3000. Their horse is Taos Lightning, a half-broke mustang stallion. Days before the race is scheduled to take place, Evan’s father is gravely injured and cannot ride. Evan will have to take his place and attempt to win the race. The stakes are high and if they don’t win, father and son will lose everything.
Now the horse race in this was super cool in concept and execution. The race is set to be run from Texas to New England. However, no one except the race organizers know the route. The race is run in stages. When the rider gets to the next check point they receive the location of the next stop and a map of possible trails. Also they are only allowed to ride 10 hours a day because of animal right’s groups like the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Railroads, ferries, and telegraphs all play a part in the execution of the race. I loved the blending of old technology (the horse) and the newer technology. The race was sponsored by the newspapers to sell papers. This race was odd because there wasn’t a ton of excitement about the race itself as only the last couple of days would really determine the winner. The story was more about Evan’s growth and experiences.
The other two main characters besides Evan were Arena Lancaster, an 18 year old girl who likes her drink, and Dindie Remo, a Negro Seminole Indian scout. Evan also gets help along the way from a veterinarian, named Patrick Jack. I enjoyed all of these characters and their impacts on the story.
While I thought the story was fun and the audio narration by Michael Crouch was pleasant, the story did have some issues. The story was hard to get into and the accident with the father was particularly confusing. I thought that overall the story really didn’t start to coalesce until the race started. Plus there was a plot hole involving the dad. If the dad was going to ride the race and they had no money, who was going to take care of Evan while the dad rode for 45 days or more? Also the subplot with the father was resolved abruptly and used basically as a plot point for some angst in the middle of the race.
Also while Evan was a wonderful character that I did cheer on, he would not have survived without the help of the vet and Arena and Dindie. I get that kind-hearted people would want to help a 15 year old in over his head. But better and more experienced riders where taken out all the time and yet this 15 year old greenhorn keeps going. Actually it was also a little unbelievable that the 18 year old girl did so well too. The excuse for them being in the race was that their presence helped sell papers. I could buy that. But not that the two would do so well for so long especially while making silly mistakes along the way.
Additionally the ending was abrupt and unsatisfactory. The author decided to have some of the riders tamper with the race in ridiculous ways that would certainly have been found out and have disqualified them. And the actual ending of the race was silly. Ridiculous even. Then the book has a throwaway line about friendship and just stopped. No resolution at all. I would have at least liked an epilogue about what happened to Evan, Arena, and Dindie after the race. The author had all these crazy things happen and the reader doesn’t get any explanation of the consequences.
So this ended up being just a fun yet okay read for me. I don’t know if I would recommend it. I am glad I read it but I also be glad that I borrowed this one.
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Ahoy there me mateys! I highly enjoy this author’s work and for me this was her best book yet! It is magical, completely engrossing, and wonderfully written. One of the things that I find most interesting about this book is that while ye could catch glimpses of fairy tales that have come before, it is completely its own beautiful fairy tale. I am not clever enough to really explain the awesome that is this book but here is me best shot.
The story begins with the perspective of Miryem, a young Jewish girl whose father is a moneylender. One who is not good at getting his money back. So hungry, cold, and angry, Miryem hardens her heart and decides to take over her father’s task of being repaid. She learns that she has skill in bargaining her silver kopeks into gold. This skill brings the attention of the Winter King from the mystical realm of the Staryk. He gives her impossible tasks to perform with death and destruction the price for failure. But Miryem’s coldness and negotiating skills lead to unexpected consequences for both her and the Staryk king who holds this mortal girl in contempt.
Though Miryem is the only narrator in the beginning, the author begins to add additional viewpoints as the story progresses. One is a girl named Wanda who lives with her brothers and abusive alcoholic father. Her father owes money to the moneylender and Wanda is drawn into helping her pay her father’s debt. In doing so, Wanda begins to witness the type of life and family she never before imagined. With hard work and common sense, she begins to plan for a different future.
The third major perspective is Irena, a duke’s daughter by his first wife. Plain and ignored, she goes about life without any real expectation of happiness. But her Staryk blood draws the attention of a fire demon. And unexpectedly she is also thrust into the political spotlight and her father’s plans for a marriage she doesn’t want. In trying to survive the fire demon, Irena realizes that she may be in a position to save a kingdom if she sacrifices herself.
The true delight of this tale is how the story of the three women eventually intertwine. All three are shown to be strong, intelligent, and resourceful. At the same time, they have unique and varied personalities. The author’s ability to give the reader the supposed fairy tale ending and then show what comes afterwards is nothing short of miraculous. As a reader I had no idea how the story was going to evolve. And yet the author also gives the reader some hints while leaving the characters seemingly working in opposition. The twists in the story were deftly done. The writing and world building was lyrical, beautifully crafted, and stunning. The resolution perfect.
In addition to falling in love with all three women, there are other perspectives and characters that are equally drawn with skill. In particular I loved Wanda’s brother Stepon, Miryem’s mother, and the not-so likable tsar. Like with the bear and the nightingale last year, the words fail me. Please let the author’s own words do the talking and fall in love with this story. Arrrrr!
Check out me other reviews at https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordpress.com/
The story begins with the perspective of Miryem, a young Jewish girl whose father is a moneylender. One who is not good at getting his money back. So hungry, cold, and angry, Miryem hardens her heart and decides to take over her father’s task of being repaid. She learns that she has skill in bargaining her silver kopeks into gold. This skill brings the attention of the Winter King from the mystical realm of the Staryk. He gives her impossible tasks to perform with death and destruction the price for failure. But Miryem’s coldness and negotiating skills lead to unexpected consequences for both her and the Staryk king who holds this mortal girl in contempt.
Though Miryem is the only narrator in the beginning, the author begins to add additional viewpoints as the story progresses. One is a girl named Wanda who lives with her brothers and abusive alcoholic father. Her father owes money to the moneylender and Wanda is drawn into helping her pay her father’s debt. In doing so, Wanda begins to witness the type of life and family she never before imagined. With hard work and common sense, she begins to plan for a different future.
The third major perspective is Irena, a duke’s daughter by his first wife. Plain and ignored, she goes about life without any real expectation of happiness. But her Staryk blood draws the attention of a fire demon. And unexpectedly she is also thrust into the political spotlight and her father’s plans for a marriage she doesn’t want. In trying to survive the fire demon, Irena realizes that she may be in a position to save a kingdom if she sacrifices herself.
The true delight of this tale is how the story of the three women eventually intertwine. All three are shown to be strong, intelligent, and resourceful. At the same time, they have unique and varied personalities. The author’s ability to give the reader the supposed fairy tale ending and then show what comes afterwards is nothing short of miraculous. As a reader I had no idea how the story was going to evolve. And yet the author also gives the reader some hints while leaving the characters seemingly working in opposition. The twists in the story were deftly done. The writing and world building was lyrical, beautifully crafted, and stunning. The resolution perfect.
In addition to falling in love with all three women, there are other perspectives and characters that are equally drawn with skill. In particular I loved Wanda’s brother Stepon, Miryem’s mother, and the not-so likable tsar. Like with the bear and the nightingale last year, the words fail me. Please let the author’s own words do the talking and fall in love with this story. Arrrrr!
Check out me other reviews at https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordpress.com/