Take a photo of a barcode or cover
2.39k reviews by:
thecaptainsquarters
Ahoy there me mateys! I have been meaning to read some of Kali Wallace’s work for quite some time but always seem to forget to do so. Then I was reminded of this book’s existence from Mogsy @ thebibliosanctum’s awesome review which led me to this fun read. She said:
Aye, ye heard it correctly, an abandoned derelict ship filled with dead bodies . . . in space! This read was certainly spooky. The book starts with a group from a fringe colony taking a passenger vessel hostage with the goal of stealing a massive abandoned generation ship. The generation ship’s crew was previously killed in a viral outbreak where there was only one survivor. But when the kidnappers get to the ship, the dead bodies’ cause of death doesn’t seem to match the official story.
Of course that be all ye get from me because of spoilers. The story is told from the perspective of two people, the original virus survivor, Jas, and one of the kidnappers, Zahara. I actually thought the back-and-forth between the two helped add to the suspense and mystery of the plot. With each shift, the reader is given new pieces of the current puzzle and also insight into the past. And there is no romance here. Hooray!
The world-building is what sets this apart from other sci-fi tales. The story is nuanced with conflicting politics from multiple factions, problems with intrapersonal relationships, and atmospheric ship details. This was a quick read that I devoured in one sitting. The couple chapters of what happened politically at the very end weren’t completely to me taste but overall this was a fantastic read that I highly recommend. Arrrr!
Check out me other reviews at https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordpress.com/
the way the story is presented is also very cinematic, and there were certain scenes that made me feel like I was watching a movie. Periodically, bits and pieces of conversation and reports from the House of Wisdom passengers’ last moments are also injected into the narrative, heightening the tensions and spooky atmosphere aboard the derelict ship. In addition, the world-building helps set Salvation Day apart from other sci-fi offerings that feature similar themes.
Aye, ye heard it correctly, an abandoned derelict ship filled with dead bodies . . . in space! This read was certainly spooky. The book starts with a group from a fringe colony taking a passenger vessel hostage with the goal of stealing a massive abandoned generation ship. The generation ship’s crew was previously killed in a viral outbreak where there was only one survivor. But when the kidnappers get to the ship, the dead bodies’ cause of death doesn’t seem to match the official story.
Of course that be all ye get from me because of spoilers. The story is told from the perspective of two people, the original virus survivor, Jas, and one of the kidnappers, Zahara. I actually thought the back-and-forth between the two helped add to the suspense and mystery of the plot. With each shift, the reader is given new pieces of the current puzzle and also insight into the past. And there is no romance here. Hooray!
The world-building is what sets this apart from other sci-fi tales. The story is nuanced with conflicting politics from multiple factions, problems with intrapersonal relationships, and atmospheric ship details. This was a quick read that I devoured in one sitting. The couple chapters of what happened politically at the very end weren’t completely to me taste but overall this was a fantastic read that I highly recommend. Arrrr!
Check out me other reviews at https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordpress.com/
Ahoy there mateys! Thought I would take a break from the e-Arc extravaganza. Though the first mate and I have very different reading tastes, occasionally we do recommend books to each other. Books the first mate introduced to me included xom-b, holes, and the perks of being a wallflower. He and I both read this one.
We were talking about the book and I enjoyed his viewpoint so I ordered him to write a review. So you get one from me and a bonus additional review from me crew. Please note that I write like I talk and the first mate writes like he thinks. Hope you enjoy!
From the Captain:
This was a recommendation by me first mate. A fun time was had reading this book. There is a sentient sword that I adore. Even if it has a funny name. Everyone wants to own this sword, but: beware making the choice to pick it up. The sword chooses who will wield it, and the consequences tend to be bloody and unfortunate for those not worthy.
Ashok Vadal is the main character. He starts out as a seemingly simplistic character that embodies the Law. However, the Law is not as it seems and is more complicated than expected. Ashok is probably one of the weirdest characters I have read about in terms of his world view and motivations. This is part of what makes him awesome. His choices get harder and harder throughout the book and how and why he chooses what to do is some of the best parts of the book.
Ashok has a complicated relationship with Devedas, his best friend. Devedas was another highlight of the book. Is he a good guy? Is he a bad guy? Only time will tell. Devedas has a sad past, is ambitious, and is subject to envy. Reading his perspective is a fun counterpoint to Ashok.
The bad guy priest is sort of stereotypical. I also found the assassins to be an annoying group with an interesting premise. However I still enjoyed this book. In particular, I liked the magic system. Oh and there is a cool librarian, so bonus for that. A fluff book with a little bit of depth. I will certainly read the next in the series.
From the First Mate:
Having greatly enjoyed Larry Correia’s Monster Hunter series and mostly enjoyed his first foray into high fantasy (Into the Storm), I approached Son of the Black Sword with somewhat mixed feelings. On the one hand, I rather like his writing style and am always eager to read more of the writers whose work I enjoy. On the other, outside of the Monster Hunter series, Correia’s work hasn’t really grabbed me.
Son of the Black Sword, much like Into the Storm before it, is an enjoyable tale that is somewhat hampered by the ever present desire on this reader’s part to ponder its endless influences. Like many a reader, I couldn’t quite stop seeing Ashok as a Judge Dredd knock-off almost to the point of expecting him to cry out “I am the LAW” at more than a few moments. The presence of the Swords and their possible origins reminded me so very much of Fred Saberhagen’s trilogy about world-changing swords. The Inquisitors have many parallels in fantasy, but it was the Mord-siths from Terry Goodkind’s Wizard’s First Rule that seemed the most apt comparison, what with the special ceremonial attire and hyper specific and grotesque social role. And on and on.
Regardless of from where Correia may have drawn various inspirations, the story and the characters are interesting and entertaining. Our good guys are quite likable and our villains are despicable. We even get a few shades-of-grey characters who are well drawn. Where the novel disappoints is only in comparison to Correia’s better work. Son of the Black Sword works through many standard high fantasy tropes but never quite deconstructs nor spins them in a way that would elevate the work to something other than a well-written run-of-the-mill high fantasy novel. Very enjoyable as long as you’re not expecting any new ground to be broken.
After reading the novel, though, I knew I had to recommend it to the Captain. Why, you may ask? Well, any novel that uses “saltwater” as a curse surely will make the Captain smile.
If ye liked this review, check out me others at https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordpress.com/
We were talking about the book and I enjoyed his viewpoint so I ordered him to write a review. So you get one from me and a bonus additional review from me crew. Please note that I write like I talk and the first mate writes like he thinks. Hope you enjoy!
From the Captain:
This was a recommendation by me first mate. A fun time was had reading this book. There is a sentient sword that I adore. Even if it has a funny name. Everyone wants to own this sword, but: beware making the choice to pick it up. The sword chooses who will wield it, and the consequences tend to be bloody and unfortunate for those not worthy.
Ashok Vadal is the main character. He starts out as a seemingly simplistic character that embodies the Law. However, the Law is not as it seems and is more complicated than expected. Ashok is probably one of the weirdest characters I have read about in terms of his world view and motivations. This is part of what makes him awesome. His choices get harder and harder throughout the book and how and why he chooses what to do is some of the best parts of the book.
Ashok has a complicated relationship with Devedas, his best friend. Devedas was another highlight of the book. Is he a good guy? Is he a bad guy? Only time will tell. Devedas has a sad past, is ambitious, and is subject to envy. Reading his perspective is a fun counterpoint to Ashok.
The bad guy priest is sort of stereotypical. I also found the assassins to be an annoying group with an interesting premise. However I still enjoyed this book. In particular, I liked the magic system. Oh and there is a cool librarian, so bonus for that. A fluff book with a little bit of depth. I will certainly read the next in the series.
From the First Mate:
Having greatly enjoyed Larry Correia’s Monster Hunter series and mostly enjoyed his first foray into high fantasy (Into the Storm), I approached Son of the Black Sword with somewhat mixed feelings. On the one hand, I rather like his writing style and am always eager to read more of the writers whose work I enjoy. On the other, outside of the Monster Hunter series, Correia’s work hasn’t really grabbed me.
Son of the Black Sword, much like Into the Storm before it, is an enjoyable tale that is somewhat hampered by the ever present desire on this reader’s part to ponder its endless influences. Like many a reader, I couldn’t quite stop seeing Ashok as a Judge Dredd knock-off almost to the point of expecting him to cry out “I am the LAW” at more than a few moments. The presence of the Swords and their possible origins reminded me so very much of Fred Saberhagen’s trilogy about world-changing swords. The Inquisitors have many parallels in fantasy, but it was the Mord-siths from Terry Goodkind’s Wizard’s First Rule that seemed the most apt comparison, what with the special ceremonial attire and hyper specific and grotesque social role. And on and on.
Regardless of from where Correia may have drawn various inspirations, the story and the characters are interesting and entertaining. Our good guys are quite likable and our villains are despicable. We even get a few shades-of-grey characters who are well drawn. Where the novel disappoints is only in comparison to Correia’s better work. Son of the Black Sword works through many standard high fantasy tropes but never quite deconstructs nor spins them in a way that would elevate the work to something other than a well-written run-of-the-mill high fantasy novel. Very enjoyable as long as you’re not expecting any new ground to be broken.
After reading the novel, though, I knew I had to recommend it to the Captain. Why, you may ask? Well, any novel that uses “saltwater” as a curse surely will make the Captain smile.
If ye liked this review, check out me others at https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordpress.com/
Ahoy there me mateys!
I previously read two novels by this author: walk two moons (Newbery Medal Winner) and chasing redbird.(ALA Best Book for Young Adults). When I found a copy of her Newbery Honor Book about an adventure across the ocean on a sailboat at a Friends of the Library sale, I had to snag the copy. Arrrr!
Side note: me copy has a lovely inscription in it:
Dear Veronica,
Good luck in your new school (W.M.S.). You are a wonderful student & I will really miss you.
Love, Mrs. Becker
I wonder if Veronica ever read the book an’ if so did she enjoy it? Does she look back on Mrs. Becker with fondness? And how did it end up in the library sale for me to find? If only I could find out. But imagining can be fun too . . .
I highly enjoyed this quick read. The story takes place in the form of logs kept by two children, Sophie and her cousin, Cody, when they sail across the Atlantic on The Wanderer. The contrast between the perspectives of the cousins was lovely. Sophie is said to have three-sides – “dreamland or earthland or mule-land.” Cody is “loud, impulsive, and charming.” Cody’s misuse of sailing terms made me laugh. The two voices were extremely distinct an’ watching the changes the trip makes on both them and the family members was the heart of this book.
The setting, of course, was excellent but not without peril. Sailing on a sunny day can still have challenges, but being on a 45 foot sailing vessel in the middle of an Atlantic storm is no easy place to be. I thought that the descriptions of life aboard the ship and of the storm itself were extremely well done. As always I love me sea yarns.
However Sophie’s story was the best part. I won’t give it away because the reader should discover things through the tale itself. But her relationship with Bompie, her grandfather, was wonderful. In fact, how Sophie’s story unfolds was charming, at times bittersweet, and fabulous.
Heartwarming an’ wonderful, overall I recommend this book.
If ye like this review, see me others at https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordpress.com/
I previously read two novels by this author: walk two moons (Newbery Medal Winner) and chasing redbird.(ALA Best Book for Young Adults). When I found a copy of her Newbery Honor Book about an adventure across the ocean on a sailboat at a Friends of the Library sale, I had to snag the copy. Arrrr!
Side note: me copy has a lovely inscription in it:
Dear Veronica,
Good luck in your new school (W.M.S.). You are a wonderful student & I will really miss you.
Love, Mrs. Becker
I wonder if Veronica ever read the book an’ if so did she enjoy it? Does she look back on Mrs. Becker with fondness? And how did it end up in the library sale for me to find? If only I could find out. But imagining can be fun too . . .
I highly enjoyed this quick read. The story takes place in the form of logs kept by two children, Sophie and her cousin, Cody, when they sail across the Atlantic on The Wanderer. The contrast between the perspectives of the cousins was lovely. Sophie is said to have three-sides – “dreamland or earthland or mule-land.” Cody is “loud, impulsive, and charming.” Cody’s misuse of sailing terms made me laugh. The two voices were extremely distinct an’ watching the changes the trip makes on both them and the family members was the heart of this book.
The setting, of course, was excellent but not without peril. Sailing on a sunny day can still have challenges, but being on a 45 foot sailing vessel in the middle of an Atlantic storm is no easy place to be. I thought that the descriptions of life aboard the ship and of the storm itself were extremely well done. As always I love me sea yarns.
However Sophie’s story was the best part. I won’t give it away because the reader should discover things through the tale itself. But her relationship with Bompie, her grandfather, was wonderful. In fact, how Sophie’s story unfolds was charming, at times bittersweet, and fabulous.
Heartwarming an’ wonderful, overall I recommend this book.
If ye like this review, see me others at https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordpress.com/
Ahoy there me mateys! This be the nineteenth (and last!) book in me Ports for Plunder - 19 Books in 2019 list. Of course accomplishing this goal came down to the wire. This book has been on me list since it first came out in 2016. Me best friend said I had no choice but to read it. I bought it and I tried multiple times and could never get past the first chapters. I trust me friend. Crew members insisted that it be great too. So what was the problem? I couldn't seem to ever get into it or want to read it. I added it to the 19 in 2019 list so I would have no choice. And then lollygagged the whole year choosing ANY other read. As I said at the beginning of the year, "I will still read based on me mood but come hell or high water I shall visit these ports in 2019" and now the end is nigh! I did not mean to be forsworn! So I read it. ARRR!
Aye, ye mateys were right. This book was so worth the read. It is such an odd experience that I am not sure if I loved reading the book but I absolutely loved the ending and having read the book. Does that make any sense? Basically I ended up completely seeming to understand the plot, adoring the two main characters, being fascinated by the world building, and ultimately not really understanding how the politics and reality really function. Weirdly, I be okay with that.
I do have to admit that I kept feeling like I missed something. I am not visual at all and did wonder, while reading, if that happened to impact me comprehension of the novel. I also had no idea how to explain this book to anyone else who hasn't read it. The closest I can come to it is that the mathematics in this book act like a magic system. But that be simplistic at best and wrong at worst. I hate physics and don't understand the higher maths like calculus. So maybe there be intricacies here that I didn't get. Normally I would feel stupid because of this. However, somehow the author manages to not explain anything, use these concepts, and still make me feel like the unfolding plot was accessible and that I would come to understand everything. And I feel like I did even though I am also not sure if that be true.
The political ideology dispute at the center of the war in the book deals with "calendrical rot." I couldn't explain it when asked so the best way is to borrow Matey Bradley's descriptions from his review:
That doesn't seem like it should make sense but I thought "AYE!" and gave a sigh of relief when I read those words. Then I thanked all the gods in the watery depths that someone could write any description AT ALL that summed up what I read and made complete sense of what I was feeling in that moment.
Seriously though, I am not sure if this review is really making any sense. I am not sure who I could recommend this book to. I am not sure if I completely understand the ramifications of this book. What I am sure of it that I be kinda perplexed, kinda loved it, and absolutely be excited to read the next book in the series. Yoon Ha Lee has impressed me. Arrrrr!
Side note: Here be a tor.com article that discusses this book and was great to read almost immediately after finishing the novel.
Aye, ye mateys were right. This book was so worth the read. It is such an odd experience that I am not sure if I loved reading the book but I absolutely loved the ending and having read the book. Does that make any sense? Basically I ended up completely seeming to understand the plot, adoring the two main characters, being fascinated by the world building, and ultimately not really understanding how the politics and reality really function. Weirdly, I be okay with that.
I do have to admit that I kept feeling like I missed something. I am not visual at all and did wonder, while reading, if that happened to impact me comprehension of the novel. I also had no idea how to explain this book to anyone else who hasn't read it. The closest I can come to it is that the mathematics in this book act like a magic system. But that be simplistic at best and wrong at worst. I hate physics and don't understand the higher maths like calculus. So maybe there be intricacies here that I didn't get. Normally I would feel stupid because of this. However, somehow the author manages to not explain anything, use these concepts, and still make me feel like the unfolding plot was accessible and that I would come to understand everything. And I feel like I did even though I am also not sure if that be true.
The political ideology dispute at the center of the war in the book deals with "calendrical rot." I couldn't explain it when asked so the best way is to borrow Matey Bradley's descriptions from his review:
This is indeed a beautiful work of the imagination, running wild and free like a raven across the universe.
Yes, this is a Mil-SF novel, and yes, this is also a quantum-imagination novel, but it's also one hell of wild ride when it comes to all the intrigue and the bloodbaths and the sheer wicked delight I get in switching sides among the factions . . .
I should warn you all that there is a kind-of heavy learning curve at the opening, with lots of strange terms that seem like english, but have contexts and combinations that are very strange indeed. What's a calendar, you ask? Oh, it just happens to be a society-wide mental and mathematical consensual reality engine that requires, (I believe,) the rigid mindsets of all the people under it to alter reality.
That doesn't seem like it should make sense but I thought "AYE!" and gave a sigh of relief when I read those words. Then I thanked all the gods in the watery depths that someone could write any description AT ALL that summed up what I read and made complete sense of what I was feeling in that moment.
Seriously though, I am not sure if this review is really making any sense. I am not sure who I could recommend this book to. I am not sure if I completely understand the ramifications of this book. What I am sure of it that I be kinda perplexed, kinda loved it, and absolutely be excited to read the next book in the series. Yoon Ha Lee has impressed me. Arrrrr!
Side note: Here be a tor.com article that discusses this book and was great to read almost immediately after finishing the novel.
Ahoy there mateys! It is with a sad heart that I have to make the first read of the year walk the plank. I really didn't want to start out 2020 in this way but alas. I was very much looking forward to this read as I enjoyed the previous novel I read by the author and the crew has been saying good things about this one. When me library hold came in just in time for the new year, I thought it was a sign of good things to come. Blast!
The problems started from the very beginning. There be two timelines in this novel and the transitions between them were jarring and confusing. The technology in this book deals with "the flash" where ye can put yer consciousness into another person's body. Cool if creepy. In the past timeline, ye follow the scientist who created the technology, Gabby. In the future timeline, the flash has transformed society. Ye follow Annami who is using the dark sides of the technology for revenge. The illegal uses of the flash were the most interesting.
In addition to the awkward time shifts, I ended up hating Gabby. I was sympathetic to her situation at first. She is running out of money, is desperate for her project to work, and the loan sharks are coming to get her. I get that she wants to maintain control of her experiment but she shouldn't have signed for that loan. Once the action ramps up, Gabby makes one bad decision after another and continually puts her family in danger. Her pride is annoying and misplaced. She wants to change the world in any way she can (doesn't matter) and she also wants EVERYONE to know her name. Aye, she be smart but she has no common sense.
While the concepts of the flash were interesting, I found meself asking too many questions about inconsistencies and ramifications of the technology. I understood that it had changed the world but the plot seemed to have holes and too many coincidences for me. The tech never felt real but seemed more like something out of a bad sci-fi channel made for tv movie. The more I discussed the technologies possibilities with the First Mate, the more problems I found and the grumpier I got.
And I hated the twist through the entire ridiculous ending. The book is split into multiple parts and I liked two and three the best. I get the book's appeal but it didn't work for me. To the sharks it goes. Arrrr!
The problems started from the very beginning. There be two timelines in this novel and the transitions between them were jarring and confusing. The technology in this book deals with "the flash" where ye can put yer consciousness into another person's body. Cool if creepy. In the past timeline, ye follow the scientist who created the technology, Gabby. In the future timeline, the flash has transformed society. Ye follow Annami who is using the dark sides of the technology for revenge. The illegal uses of the flash were the most interesting.
In addition to the awkward time shifts, I ended up hating Gabby. I was sympathetic to her situation at first. She is running out of money, is desperate for her project to work, and the loan sharks are coming to get her. I get that she wants to maintain control of her experiment but she shouldn't have signed for that loan. Once the action ramps up, Gabby makes one bad decision after another and continually puts her family in danger. Her pride is annoying and misplaced. She wants to change the world in any way she can (doesn't matter) and she also wants EVERYONE to know her name. Aye, she be smart but she has no common sense.
While the concepts of the flash were interesting, I found meself asking too many questions about inconsistencies and ramifications of the technology. I understood that it had changed the world but the plot seemed to have holes and too many coincidences for me. The tech never felt real but seemed more like something out of a bad sci-fi channel made for tv movie. The more I discussed the technologies possibilities with the First Mate, the more problems I found and the grumpier I got.
And I hated the twist through the entire ridiculous ending. The book is split into multiple parts and I liked two and three the best. I get the book's appeal but it didn't work for me. To the sharks it goes. Arrrr!
Ahoy there me mateys! I received a copy of this fantasy omnibus eArc from the publisher in exchange for me honest musings . . .
These delightful novellas take place in the World of the Five Gods from the trilogy of that name. That said, ye do NOT have to have read the trilogy first, though I did. Book one of the trilogy, curse of the chalion, is one of the best fantasy books I have ever read. Period. I reread that book earlier this year and quickly polished off the remaining two. After finishing the trilogy I just knew I had to get me mitts on the seven novellas set in this world. And I was thrilled to find out they were all being republished in a two-book omnibus set. This review is for penric's progress which contains the novellas penric’s demon, penric and the shaman, and penric’s fox. In addition there also be an introduction from the author that states (among other things):
I took a break after each novella to (slightly) prolong the reading and record me thoughts. I also read the remainder of the introduction last (as suggested) and include me thoughts for that too. Minor spoilers from the blurbs be used so read at yer own peril . . .
penric's demon
How glorious it be to revisit the World of the Five Gods and meet Penric. I absolutely love good-hearted, kind-natured Penric. On the way to his betrothal, Penric's future is thrown into peril when he inadvertently becomes a host to a demon pledged to the Bastard, one of the Five Gods. Now a demon is supposed to be transferred to prepared and high-status people - not an untrained young man. So Penric has to cope with the complications of having a combination of twelve female personalities inside of him and the powers that subsequently ensue. While the plot is straight-forward enough, it be Penric's personality and how he interactions with his demon that truly shine. I particularly loved how they meet and begin their relationship. Penric genuinely wants to do the right thing and he be intelligent even if his naivety gets in the way. The story seems simple at first glance but is richly nuanced and a delight. I adored it! I was completely engrossed in this tale and am so glad I have the next two to read immediately after.
penric and the shaman
Well this certainly surprised me. The first surprise be the time jump of multiple years. I was slightly sad because I wanted more of how Penric and Desdemona learn to work together and their life at university. The second surprise be multiple points of view. There be three - Penric, Oswyl, and Inglis. Penric is asked to help hunt down a fugitive. Oswyl is the hunter and Inglis is the hunted (and a suspected murderer). Though the World of the Five Gods has, well, five gods, there be another type of magic as well. That of shamanism. The third book of the trilogy (publishing order), the hallowed hunt, dealt with that aspect of magic. The third surprise of the novella was how much I loved it. I quickly got used to the newer and wiser Penric. I thought it was entertaining that I had forgotten (already!) that Penric was 19 in the first novella because he felt so much younger in that one. I loved getting to see the two types of magic working side by side. But above all I continue to love the world building and the characters. Not quite enough Desdemona in this one but I loved what ye got. And the resolution was extremely satisfying and fun. Onto the next!
penric's fox
Well dang these just get better and better. This novella is back to being in only Penric's point of view but does once again feature Oswyl and Inglis as characters. Penric and Inglis are out to enjoy a quiet day of fishing only to be drawn into a murder investigation. The problem, besides the body of course, is the dead sorcerer's missing demon. Where did it go? Can they track it down and solve a murder? Well aye, but I won't spoil the fun of how it all goes down. So very fun. I did not know where this tale was going but thought the ending was perfect. I also continue to love that having demon or shaman magic does not equal an easier life. Penric is run ragged. It be a very bittersweet life. But more Desdemona in this one. Arrrr! I think this one is (barely) me favourite of the three, followed by one then two. But seriously, I love them all. The further insight into the Gods and magic be excellent.
the introduction
I loved, loved, loved the leisurely chat! So an element of the author's work be that her stories grow "organically" and thus are not published in the stories' chronological order. In this edition, the author has arranged the Penric novellas chronologically for ye. She also provides an overview at the end of the book of "all my stories and how they relate to one another" with a reading order guide. Awesome. Even more awesome is that the rest of the introduction details the author's writing process, how she names her series, how she came to write the Penric novellas, etc. Seriously ARRRR! I be very glad I listened to the author and read that information with the context I had from the novellas. Listen to her genius.
Now I read the World of Five Gods original trilogy in the publishing order as is me general preference and rule. However, I am so very glad to have the author's reading order guide because I am certainly going to branch out to her sci-fi work given how much I have adored this fantasy world. As for the Vorkosigan Saga and best reading order, the author states that she "favor[s] internal chronological, with a few adjustments." I will defer to her wisdom and will read them in her stated order with this book as me guide.
I certainly call this omnibus a smashing success and will be rereading these delightful novellas. I cannot wait for 5/5/2020 so I can read the next omnibus edition, penric's travels. So excited. But in the meantime there be plenty of backlist books to read. Arrrr!
These delightful novellas take place in the World of the Five Gods from the trilogy of that name. That said, ye do NOT have to have read the trilogy first, though I did. Book one of the trilogy, curse of the chalion, is one of the best fantasy books I have ever read. Period. I reread that book earlier this year and quickly polished off the remaining two. After finishing the trilogy I just knew I had to get me mitts on the seven novellas set in this world. And I was thrilled to find out they were all being republished in a two-book omnibus set. This review is for penric's progress which contains the novellas penric’s demon, penric and the shaman, and penric’s fox. In addition there also be an introduction from the author that states (among other things):
"So from my point of view, the ideal reader should now put down this introduction and turn to the start of the actual story, spoiler-free. Come back later; these words will wait, and the leisurely chat that follows will make more sense in context."
I took a break after each novella to (slightly) prolong the reading and record me thoughts. I also read the remainder of the introduction last (as suggested) and include me thoughts for that too. Minor spoilers from the blurbs be used so read at yer own peril . . .
penric's demon
How glorious it be to revisit the World of the Five Gods and meet Penric. I absolutely love good-hearted, kind-natured Penric. On the way to his betrothal, Penric's future is thrown into peril when he inadvertently becomes a host to a demon pledged to the Bastard, one of the Five Gods. Now a demon is supposed to be transferred to prepared and high-status people - not an untrained young man. So Penric has to cope with the complications of having a combination of twelve female personalities inside of him and the powers that subsequently ensue. While the plot is straight-forward enough, it be Penric's personality and how he interactions with his demon that truly shine. I particularly loved how they meet and begin their relationship. Penric genuinely wants to do the right thing and he be intelligent even if his naivety gets in the way. The story seems simple at first glance but is richly nuanced and a delight. I adored it! I was completely engrossed in this tale and am so glad I have the next two to read immediately after.
“It indicates a deep confusion of thinking to mistake one's own discomfort for a benefit to another.”
―
penric and the shaman
Well this certainly surprised me. The first surprise be the time jump of multiple years. I was slightly sad because I wanted more of how Penric and Desdemona learn to work together and their life at university. The second surprise be multiple points of view. There be three - Penric, Oswyl, and Inglis. Penric is asked to help hunt down a fugitive. Oswyl is the hunter and Inglis is the hunted (and a suspected murderer). Though the World of the Five Gods has, well, five gods, there be another type of magic as well. That of shamanism. The third book of the trilogy (publishing order), the hallowed hunt, dealt with that aspect of magic. The third surprise of the novella was how much I loved it. I quickly got used to the newer and wiser Penric. I thought it was entertaining that I had forgotten (already!) that Penric was 19 in the first novella because he felt so much younger in that one. I loved getting to see the two types of magic working side by side. But above all I continue to love the world building and the characters. Not quite enough Desdemona in this one but I loved what ye got. And the resolution was extremely satisfying and fun. Onto the next!
"For all that we trust the gods, I think we can trust them to know the difference between humor and blasphemy."
―
penric's fox
Well dang these just get better and better. This novella is back to being in only Penric's point of view but does once again feature Oswyl and Inglis as characters. Penric and Inglis are out to enjoy a quiet day of fishing only to be drawn into a murder investigation. The problem, besides the body of course, is the dead sorcerer's missing demon. Where did it go? Can they track it down and solve a murder? Well aye, but I won't spoil the fun of how it all goes down. So very fun. I did not know where this tale was going but thought the ending was perfect. I also continue to love that having demon or shaman magic does not equal an easier life. Penric is run ragged. It be a very bittersweet life. But more Desdemona in this one. Arrrr! I think this one is (barely) me favourite of the three, followed by one then two. But seriously, I love them all. The further insight into the Gods and magic be excellent.
“If you don’t understand something, you should just try to learn more, that’s all.”
―
the introduction
I loved, loved, loved the leisurely chat! So an element of the author's work be that her stories grow "organically" and thus are not published in the stories' chronological order. In this edition, the author has arranged the Penric novellas chronologically for ye. She also provides an overview at the end of the book of "all my stories and how they relate to one another" with a reading order guide. Awesome. Even more awesome is that the rest of the introduction details the author's writing process, how she names her series, how she came to write the Penric novellas, etc. Seriously ARRRR! I be very glad I listened to the author and read that information with the context I had from the novellas. Listen to her genius.
Now I read the World of Five Gods original trilogy in the publishing order as is me general preference and rule. However, I am so very glad to have the author's reading order guide because I am certainly going to branch out to her sci-fi work given how much I have adored this fantasy world. As for the Vorkosigan Saga and best reading order, the author states that she "favor[s] internal chronological, with a few adjustments." I will defer to her wisdom and will read them in her stated order with this book as me guide.
I certainly call this omnibus a smashing success and will be rereading these delightful novellas. I cannot wait for 5/5/2020 so I can read the next omnibus edition, penric's travels. So excited. But in the meantime there be plenty of backlist books to read. Arrrr!
Ahoy there me mateys! Here be book two of the Skyward quartet. While I try to post no spoilers, ye have been forewarned and continue at yer own peril . . .
In the first yarn all Spensa wanted was to become a pilot and clear her father’s name. She succeeding in becoming a pilot and discovering the complex truth about her dad but also discovered more than she bargained for. Like why the Krell keeps attacking her home planet, Detritus.
Now that the battle has moved to open space, Spensa and the rest of the humans understand that the conflict with the Krell is ramping up. To survive they must gain access to the hyperdrive the aliens hold or face total annihilation. The likeliest solution be spy infiltration into Krell society but figuring out the specifics be tricky and seem impossible.
And of course Sanderson always surprises me and keeps me guessing. This book did NOT go into any direction I was guessing or expecting. I will not talk about it here because of major spoilers. What I can say is that where the first book was a personal character journey concerning Spensa, this book opens up into the wider universe. Ye get to see different aliens, cultures, and politics. I loved that the humans’ position is so precarious and especially the reasons why.
I absolutely loved getting more of M-bot, Doomslug, and Spensa. However, ye don’t spend much time with the other humans in this installment. There be some interludes of life back home but the focus in on the aliens and the complications therein. I kinda missed the old characters. That said, I loved many of the new introductions as well. Morriumur was a particular fave.
The book is set-up in five parts. Part one was a little hard for me to get into given the change in tone but of course I kept going. And as always, Sanderson manages to give me a book that entertains, makes me think, and makes me feel. I need book three now! It is tentatively scheduled to be written in 2020 and come out in 2021. Plenty of other things to read while I wait. Arrr!
Don’t just take me word for readin’ this book (though it should be enough!). Also check out what me crew had to say about this one:
Matey Mogsy @ thebibliosanctum – “To say that this is a book everyone needs in their lives right now is an understatement. At its heart, Starsight is story about unity, empathy, looking past our prejudices and differences because deep down inside we all want and care and fight for the same things. But unlike a lot of YA you find on the shelves today, this novel manages to get all these points across without being preachy, divisive, or smugly self-congratulatory about it. The message simply comes across naturally as an intrinsic part of the story, one that anyone anywhere at any time can relate to, and to me that is the mark of a classic. ”
Side note: Koloss Head–Munching Day be on December 19th and hopefully the Sanderson will release another “State of the Sanderson” post with updates on all his projects. Arrr!
In the first yarn all Spensa wanted was to become a pilot and clear her father’s name. She succeeding in becoming a pilot and discovering the complex truth about her dad but also discovered more than she bargained for. Like why the Krell keeps attacking her home planet, Detritus.
Now that the battle has moved to open space, Spensa and the rest of the humans understand that the conflict with the Krell is ramping up. To survive they must gain access to the hyperdrive the aliens hold or face total annihilation. The likeliest solution be spy infiltration into Krell society but figuring out the specifics be tricky and seem impossible.
And of course Sanderson always surprises me and keeps me guessing. This book did NOT go into any direction I was guessing or expecting. I will not talk about it here because of major spoilers. What I can say is that where the first book was a personal character journey concerning Spensa, this book opens up into the wider universe. Ye get to see different aliens, cultures, and politics. I loved that the humans’ position is so precarious and especially the reasons why.
I absolutely loved getting more of M-bot, Doomslug, and Spensa. However, ye don’t spend much time with the other humans in this installment. There be some interludes of life back home but the focus in on the aliens and the complications therein. I kinda missed the old characters. That said, I loved many of the new introductions as well. Morriumur was a particular fave.
The book is set-up in five parts. Part one was a little hard for me to get into given the change in tone but of course I kept going. And as always, Sanderson manages to give me a book that entertains, makes me think, and makes me feel. I need book three now! It is tentatively scheduled to be written in 2020 and come out in 2021. Plenty of other things to read while I wait. Arrr!
Don’t just take me word for readin’ this book (though it should be enough!). Also check out what me crew had to say about this one:
Matey Mogsy @ thebibliosanctum – “To say that this is a book everyone needs in their lives right now is an understatement. At its heart, Starsight is story about unity, empathy, looking past our prejudices and differences because deep down inside we all want and care and fight for the same things. But unlike a lot of YA you find on the shelves today, this novel manages to get all these points across without being preachy, divisive, or smugly self-congratulatory about it. The message simply comes across naturally as an intrinsic part of the story, one that anyone anywhere at any time can relate to, and to me that is the mark of a classic. ”
Side note: Koloss Head–Munching Day be on December 19th and hopefully the Sanderson will release another “State of the Sanderson” post with updates on all his projects. Arrr!
Ahoy there me mateys! I read circe in 2019 and really enjoyed it so I wanted to give this short story a try. Luckily a local library had a copy. For those who don't recognize the title, it is a Greek myth where a sculptor (and king), Pygmalion, falls in love with his statue of a beautiful woman and asks the gods to bring her to life.
The versions that I knew always professed that the sculptor and his transformed wife live happily ever after. This short story is nothing like that. The "original" Ovid tale had Pygmalion swear off all women after seeing prostitutes and being repulsed by them. It always seemed to me like Pygmalion thought all women were unworthy of his status and that he was a bit of an egotistical bastard. He didn't want a women until it was one he created exactly the way he wanted her. This version gives the statue a point of view. It ain't pretty.
The story is well written - enough that the circumstances of Galatea's life are just plain gross. Galatea's husband is a disgusting, horrible person who basically tortures his wife. He wanted a woman based on his ideals of obedience and virginity and didn't expect his transformed wife to have the ability to speak. Much less have thoughts of her own.
I have to say that for me this is not a five-star read merely because I didn't like reading about Galatea's circumstances. While the sex scenes are not graphic, how Galatea is treated made me kinda sickened and rather upset. I did think some of the oddities of how a statue would think were cool. The ending and how Galatea ends up ultimately dealing with her husband was gratifying but I didn't have fun with this one. The author was very successful at making her point though. Ick.
I am glad this story was free from the library as this 20 page story is listed for $3.99 on Amazon. While I am glad I read it, it would not worth paying that price point to read it (for me at least). Arrrr!
Side note: I never realized how much resonance this myth had in terms of influencing other stories! There is a huge list of paintings, poems, short stories, operas, plays, comics, etc. that deal with this myth. The majority by men of course.
The versions that I knew always professed that the sculptor and his transformed wife live happily ever after. This short story is nothing like that. The "original" Ovid tale had Pygmalion swear off all women after seeing prostitutes and being repulsed by them. It always seemed to me like Pygmalion thought all women were unworthy of his status and that he was a bit of an egotistical bastard. He didn't want a women until it was one he created exactly the way he wanted her. This version gives the statue a point of view. It ain't pretty.
The story is well written - enough that the circumstances of Galatea's life are just plain gross. Galatea's husband is a disgusting, horrible person who basically tortures his wife. He wanted a woman based on his ideals of obedience and virginity and didn't expect his transformed wife to have the ability to speak. Much less have thoughts of her own.
I have to say that for me this is not a five-star read merely because I didn't like reading about Galatea's circumstances. While the sex scenes are not graphic, how Galatea is treated made me kinda sickened and rather upset. I did think some of the oddities of how a statue would think were cool. The ending and how Galatea ends up ultimately dealing with her husband was gratifying but I didn't have fun with this one. The author was very successful at making her point though. Ick.
I am glad this story was free from the library as this 20 page story is listed for $3.99 on Amazon. While I am glad I read it, it would not worth paying that price point to read it (for me at least). Arrrr!
Side note: I never realized how much resonance this myth had in terms of influencing other stories! There is a huge list of paintings, poems, short stories, operas, plays, comics, etc. that deal with this myth. The majority by men of course.
Ahoy there me mateys! The appealing cover led to me interest. I adore the bright colors and fun title. The marketing team deserves a lot of credit. I don't normally read romances but this one sounded silly and fun. It is set during the Regency period and the feminine protagonist, Annabelle, is a suffragette and one of the first women to study at Oxford. I expected this to be a story about a strong willed and driven woman who has a hate to love journey. Sadly I had to stop reading at 59.5% as this book went from fun to infuriating.
The beginning of the book started out great. Sure the book has lots of clichés, tropes, and silliness but rather than being annoyed, I kinda felt like I was meeting an old beloved friend. I was entertained because I felt like the novel was pulling from books by Austen, the Brontë sisters, etc. and I liked the homages. I loved the set-up. I was heartily entertained by how the two love interests meet and was looking forward to see how they would interact.
Things went well up until the first real meeting of the pair. The pretext for their run-in was the first hint of bad things to come because it was a badly devised supposed suffragette subplot. Now mind ye the only reason Annabelle is involved with the political movement is exchange for them paying her tuition. She doesn't actively want to be involved. Neither do any of the women in the group. The suffragette aspect is extremely minor and used poorly. This was supposed to be one of the highlights of the book.
So of course girly-whirl accidentally runs into Duke at his manor house. There is a misunderstanding, she runs out into the snow, the Duke has to fetch her on his horse, she catches a cold (like Jane in P&P), and has to recuperate on the estate. The plot then goes to hell and the anachronisms take over. The supposed intelligent woman is completely turned into an insipid idiot over her lust. She got in trouble early in life for fornication and destroyed her prospects and here she is again being even more stupid by not learning from her prior mistake. Ugh.
And the anachronisms are awful. Going places without a chaperone, being alone with an unmarried man, wearing a skintight dress without undergarments (seriously this type of dress DID NOT exist), the use of the wrong honorifics, and language that felt too modern all appear here.
But really the kicker was how awful the relationship between the Duke and the dumb girl was. The Duke is an alpha male determined to have sex with his conquest on any terms. Even the things that are supposed to be nice, like a new coat, are because he doesn't like seeing pretty thing in an old-fashioned shoddy coat. Annabelle's brains fall out of her head because of his manliness and his masculine scent. Love seems to have no place. Lust rules the day.
That could be okay if the sex scenes didn't feel so one-sided. Annabelle loses her identity and agency. The Duke's desires subsume her own and feels so toxic. He doesn't really seem to care about Annabelle's needs or wants or how their sexual exploits would ruin her future. Bah! I just couldn't take it anymore. I abandoned this one in disgust even more annoyed because it had so much early potential. Plus it promised, but didn't really deliver, women at Oxford and suffragettes. Arrr!
As Matey Siria says in her review (shortened but seriously read the whole thing):
"This is a book featuring suffragettes, but this is not a feminist book. In fact, Bringing Down the Duke seems to use its thin veneer of wokeness as an excuse to revel in gender essentialism . . . The love interest—Sebastian, Duke of Montgomery—is the kind of alpha male character to whom I have an instant aversion. He's constantly looming over the protagonist, Annabelle, using his size against her, grabbing her by the arm to stop her from getting her away, backing her into walls . . . And then there's Annabelle, who repeatedly acts like an idiot, but whom we're told is very smart because she's read Thucydides; whose political and moral principles seem to be based on the best interests of whomever she last spoke to; and who never once seemed like the impoverished but genteel daughter of a rural Victorian clergyman whom she purported to be . . ."
The beginning of the book started out great. Sure the book has lots of clichés, tropes, and silliness but rather than being annoyed, I kinda felt like I was meeting an old beloved friend. I was entertained because I felt like the novel was pulling from books by Austen, the Brontë sisters, etc. and I liked the homages. I loved the set-up. I was heartily entertained by how the two love interests meet and was looking forward to see how they would interact.
Things went well up until the first real meeting of the pair. The pretext for their run-in was the first hint of bad things to come because it was a badly devised supposed suffragette subplot. Now mind ye the only reason Annabelle is involved with the political movement is exchange for them paying her tuition. She doesn't actively want to be involved. Neither do any of the women in the group. The suffragette aspect is extremely minor and used poorly. This was supposed to be one of the highlights of the book.
So of course girly-whirl accidentally runs into Duke at his manor house. There is a misunderstanding, she runs out into the snow, the Duke has to fetch her on his horse, she catches a cold (like Jane in P&P), and has to recuperate on the estate. The plot then goes to hell and the anachronisms take over. The supposed intelligent woman is completely turned into an insipid idiot over her lust. She got in trouble early in life for fornication and destroyed her prospects and here she is again being even more stupid by not learning from her prior mistake. Ugh.
And the anachronisms are awful. Going places without a chaperone, being alone with an unmarried man, wearing a skintight dress without undergarments (seriously this type of dress DID NOT exist), the use of the wrong honorifics, and language that felt too modern all appear here.
But really the kicker was how awful the relationship between the Duke and the dumb girl was. The Duke is an alpha male determined to have sex with his conquest on any terms. Even the things that are supposed to be nice, like a new coat, are because he doesn't like seeing pretty thing in an old-fashioned shoddy coat. Annabelle's brains fall out of her head because of his manliness and his masculine scent. Love seems to have no place. Lust rules the day.
That could be okay if the sex scenes didn't feel so one-sided. Annabelle loses her identity and agency. The Duke's desires subsume her own and feels so toxic. He doesn't really seem to care about Annabelle's needs or wants or how their sexual exploits would ruin her future. Bah! I just couldn't take it anymore. I abandoned this one in disgust even more annoyed because it had so much early potential. Plus it promised, but didn't really deliver, women at Oxford and suffragettes. Arrr!
As Matey Siria says in her review (shortened but seriously read the whole thing):
"This is a book featuring suffragettes, but this is not a feminist book. In fact, Bringing Down the Duke seems to use its thin veneer of wokeness as an excuse to revel in gender essentialism . . . The love interest—Sebastian, Duke of Montgomery—is the kind of alpha male character to whom I have an instant aversion. He's constantly looming over the protagonist, Annabelle, using his size against her, grabbing her by the arm to stop her from getting her away, backing her into walls . . . And then there's Annabelle, who repeatedly acts like an idiot, but whom we're told is very smart because she's read Thucydides; whose political and moral principles seem to be based on the best interests of whomever she last spoke to; and who never once seemed like the impoverished but genteel daughter of a rural Victorian clergyman whom she purported to be . . ."