Ahoy there me mateys!  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 and I really enjoyed the remaining two.

Early this year I was thrilled to find out that the Penric and Desdemona novellas were being republished in a two-book omnibus set.  The first omnibus contained novellas 1 - 3 in the internal chronological order not publishing order.  This review is for penric's travels which contains the novellas 4 - 6.  Minor spoilers from the blurbs be used so read at yer own peril . . .

Penric’s Mission

I adore Penric and Desdemona.  In this novella, Penric has been working with his demon (a combination of twelve female personalities inside of him) for over a decade. It was so enjoyable to see that Penric and Desdemona's relationship has matured and that their friendship and caring for another is stronger than ever.  Penric is on secret mission to Cedonia for his employer.  What surprised me about this story is how quickly everything went wrong and the volume of trouble that Penric gets into.  I also loved the addition of Nykis.  She is a strong-willed woman whose brother, Arisaydia, is involved in Penric's troubles.  I loved watched the three interact.  This was an intense little story and I was constantly wondering where it would go next.  The small cliffhanger ending made me want more.  Luckily the omnibus has more of the story.

Mira's Last Dance

This picks up where the previous one ends and is mostly set in an interlude stop in the town of Sosie.  The delays are unwelcome for the characters but completely welcome for me because this novella gives the reader more insight into an aspect of Desdemona called Mira.  Mira has an unique set of skills that didn't get called on in the previous Penric novellas.  I adored watching all the women in this book deal with Penric.  This novella doesn't further the plot a whole bunch but certainly gives insight into the characters.  It was so much fun.

The Prisoner of Limnos

This installment sees Penric and gang back in safe territory for a small breather until Nikys learns that her mother has been taken hostage.  Penric and Nikys set out to rescue her from a woman's only religious island.  It was delightful.  I loved the surprise characters.  I loved that there was a character that was an albino who wasn't evil.  He is wonderful in fact.  I ended up really enjoying how all three novellas were part of a larger story arc.  I can't help but want more of Penric's earlier life and to see the parts that have been skipped.  Arrrr!

Side note:  I thought that I had finished the series after reading both omnibuses.  Turns out there are three other novellas!  One takes place between novella three and four.  The other two take place after the events at the end of the second omnibus.  I will have to track these down.

Ahoy there me mateys!  I really, really enjoyed book one and was excited to get ahold of the next book in this duology.  I was, however, tempered by Matey Tammy @ books,bones&buffy's review which had this to say:

Last year I was surprised by how much I loved How Rory Thorne Destroyed the Multiverse, so I was very excited to read the sequel. And for the most part, I enjoyed it. Rory Thorne was more upbeat and character focused, and I thought those things were mostly missing in the sequel. Revenge is a darker story that has a more tightly focused setting and whose plot leans more towards political maneuvering and impending war. I have to admit I missed the sparkling “personality” of the first book, and I didn’t think the pacing was as good. However, having said all that, I do think it was a successful conclusion to the duology, and I thought Eason managed to wrap up her big, sprawling story in a satisfying way.

Even though I was warned, I really, really missed the humor and tone of the first book.  This book had major pacing issues and I did not find the ending satisfying at all.  That is not to say that I didn't really enjoy some aspects of this story.  Rory took a back seat in this one and I loved getting to see more of Thorsdottir.  I also really enjoyed that the characters get separated at various points of the book and so ye get to see the conflict evolve on both sides.  Many of the action scenes on the various ships were excellent.  I loved the secret weapon though how the subplot unfolded made me grumpy.  I thought it was a bit too easy.  I continued to love Rupert, Grytt, and Zhang.  Jaed grew on me as a character and I did like how the author changed his trajectory from where he ended up in book one.  I have to admit that I did get many of the xeno characters confused and couldn't tell many of them apart.  I did love Rory's relationship with one of the "aliens" though I cannot remember her name.  I disliked the Chronicler immensely this time around and wish that framing had been removed.  I overall thought that the ending was too rushed and unfocused.  It felt like the author skipped over several books worth of material and world building because she didn't want to write about it and just gave a whirlwind summary.

I do enjoy the world immensely and Matey Tammy says that the author is writing more set in the world.  Though I didn't love this installment, I would be interested in trying another book in the multiverse.  I just hope it recaptures the delight of the first book.  Arrr!

Ahoy there me mateys!  Sometimes ye just need a fun, silly, and delightful novel.  I heard about this book from Matey Dan @ onemanbookclub who reviewed the second book, war car, and said:

War Car is fast paced and a ton of fun. I loved that I could check out, sit back, and get lost in the absurdness of modern-day knights who fight with legendary swords and drive blazing-fast sports cars reinforced with James Bond style gadgets! There’s an interesting story that pulled me along, friendships that gave me things to root for, creepy bag guys who deserved what they got, and a ton of car racing, crashing, sword fighting, and stabbing! Give it a try, I bet you’ll have as much fun as I did!

King Arthur's court meets race cars.  It sounded so quirky that I had to give this series a shot.  So I picked up the first book and dang was it fun.  I have to admit that I am not a car person (give me a ship any day) but I was so absorbed by Valerie and her fight for justice.  I loved the world building and the characters but the story was excellent too.  The rich girl dumped into the poor world plot seemed like it would tread old ground but there were enough unexpected circumstances to keep me guessing.  Aye, the premise be absurd but I suspended me disbelief and absolutely fell in love.  It was heart warming and happy and good overcomes evil.  I can't really do this romp justice but if ye want something that lightens yer spirits and transports ye away for an evening then pick this one up.  I will be reading the sequel and the short story set in this world at some point.  Arrrr!

Side note: the author has written a standalone book with sky ships and pirates.  Arrr!

Ahoy there me mateys!  I loved the book the heart of stone by this author so I decided to give this trilogy a shot.  The protagonist is Caltro Basalt, a selfish man who considers himself the greatest living locksmith.  He heads to Araxes to take a commission only to be murdered his first night there.  Then he awakens to find himself not only a slave but a ghost.  Caltro doesn't let that stop him from still putting the most important thing first . . . himself.

The world building in this series is excellent.  The entire economy and all power in Araxes stems from how many souls i.e. shades ye own.  I absolutely loved the set up and details of how this realm worked.  I was also very glad not to be living there.  Or not living as the case may be.

The premise makes it seem as though Caltro is the only POV.  His is the only one written in first person.  There are many other character POVs as well.  I particularly loved Nilith.  She is dragging her husband's dead body through the desert and is determined to turn him into a shade.  Time is running out and so it be a race to the finish.  Her luck sucks.  Her husband's shade bickers with her on this whole journey.  Excellent.

Caltro and Nilith's stories are seemingly separate in this trilogy but of course do eventually merge.  I had a very hard time deciding which of the two I liked better.  Caltro is snarky and plotting.  Nilith is just so badass and determined.  I also enjoyed the machinations of the Widow and the investigator Heles.  The bird, horse, and tracking creature were also great.  The slave trader and the princess grated just a little bit.

I was glad to read the three books back to back because of how each one ends.  It very much felt like one book split into three installments.  The first book was by far me favorite.  As the books continued the politics and religious elements increased and the focus widened.  This change wasn't completely to me taste as I enjoyed the closer personal plotlines of the prior books.  So while I didn't particularly love the ending, I am very glad to have read the trilogy.  The shade currency itself was certainly worth it.  Arrrr!

Me Second Reflections:

I read an eArc of this book back in the day and enjoyed it enough to want to continue the series.  I tried to start book two a couple of times and couldn't get into it.  I thought I would go back and reread this first book to see if it was just a lack of remembering the finer details.  I still really enjoyed book one the second time around.  I found the world building to be brutal and interesting.  The main character, Da-Ren, still intrigued me.  I cannot seem to get into book two even so.  The concept is still interesting but I am not sure what the hang up is.  I have set the series aside for now and don't see meself trying again any time soon.  Arrr!

***********

Ahoy there me mateys! I received this fantasy eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. So here be me honest musings . . .

This was one of those fantasy novels where the cover caught me eye. Not only was the face on the cover odd but the “Drakon” made me wonder if there were dragons in it. I have a soft spot for dragons. The synopsis sounded interesting so I requested it. Of course by the time I read the book I had forgotten what it was about. I actually think that contributed to me enjoyment of the story.

The story is of a “hero” Da-Ren who has fled to a monastery asking for redemption for his wife and daughter. The monks there require that he tell his story in detail and assign a young monk to transcribe the tale. The author has chosen to split this epic fantasy in four parts. This novel was part one and deals with Da-Ren’s training in the Sieve.

I enjoyed this setup from the monk’s point of view. We approach Da-Ren’s story from the end point knowing that he has been labeled the “First Blade of the Devil.” The monk’s insight into Da-Ren’s character set the tone for the reader learning Da-Ren’s tale. While most of the story is told from Da-Ren’s point of view, the author does returns to the monk’s viewpoint. I didn’t always enjoy the interruption.

The Sieve is a coming-of-age trial for children of the tribe. Da-Ren is an orphan raised in the dregs of society. It is a warrior based society where both men and woman can have high roles if they earn it. The spiritual side of the tribe is controlled by women who are witches (though men play a part as well). I enjoyed that there were some strong female characters. Da-Ren being an orphan, in this culture meaning his mother has died, is placed outside the usual structures. He is uneducated, mistreated, and considered worthless to the tribe.

I found Da-Ren to be a compelling character and narrator. The society was rich with tradition and detail. The myths in particular were compelling and enriched the narration. The trial itself was very unusual in its composition. I found this novel overall to be highly enjoyable and read it in one sitting. While there were some inconsistencies in the story, I am not sure if they were part of the overall larger picture or just mistakes. In any case, I thought it was a great introduction to a fun character and worldview and I certainly want to know what’s coming next.

So lastly . . .

Thank you AuthorBuzz!

see me other reviews at https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordpress.com/

Ahoy there me mateys! These books have a frame story in which Eva, a psychometrist (person who can read objects), works for the Institute and uses her power to find out more about the objects in the collection. There are five memories/stories in the first book and I did enjoy them even though the details have faded quite a bit now. The second book is more of the first. There is nothing new or shocking to these stories. The twist was predictable and lackluster. I didn’t really care about the frame but I did think the writing was fun. I particularly loved the haunted house ghost story. These were enjoyable and quick reads but rather forgettable to me in the long run. Arrrr!

Ahoy there me mateys! In trying to do me usual blog clean up this time of year, I found this novel from very early 2020 that I never reviewed. The rule is that I have to review all the books I read. The problem? I honestly don’t remember much of the plot of this book. I know it was high action and that the ending was super silly. I know that this popcorn book was fun and I enjoyed it. I still liked the main character and I liked the court room trial. But no real detail remains. This is weird to me given how much the first book stuck with me. I can recall lots of events from that book. I was planning on reading the last book of the trilogy but given how I have lost book two from me noggin, I think I will be abandoning the end of the series and treat book one more like a standalone. Cause I really did love book one. Arrrr!

Ahoy there me mateys! I recently saw this book somewhere and of course was interested because of the title. Cause cats be awesome. Then I saw that Amazon had it for free. So I downloaded it. Apparently it be the 1964 Newbery winner. Which of course I had forgotten about despite having read the list of Newbery winners a billion times. I also had no idea what it was about. I picked it up yesterday on a whim.

I adored it. It be a coming of age tale about a boy named Dave, growing up in Manhattan in the 1960s. He happens to get a stray cat named Cat who changes his life. While the Cat parts are absolutely lovely, the real story of the book revolves around Dave’s evolving relationships with his family and friends. He roams all over Manhattan living an everyday life. Dave is naïve but endearing and good-hearted.

It is also a slice of life story. The writing style is simplistic in style but does deal with more mature themes like homelessness, parental abandonment, mental illness, chronic illness, and death. Despite the dark themes, the tone is lighter and not depressing. Dave learns and reflects and changes because of what he experiences.

I think this is an excellent example of a children’s classic that people should still read. While it seems simplistic to a reader today, this book was credited with introducing the first-person present tense in children’s books. It was also said to be too realistic. An fantastic article discussing the background of the book says that in the author’s “Newbery acceptance speech, “Out Where the Real People Are,” Emily Neville defended this new genre for teens: “The real world, with its shadings of light and dark, its many-toned colors, is so much more beautiful than the rigid world of good and bad. It is also more confusing. I think the teen-age reader is ready for both.” This book helped usher in a new trend in teen literature that forever changed the landscape of publishing. Arrrr!

Ahoy there me mateys!  I received a copy of this young adult fantasy novella eArc from NetGalley in exchange for me honest musings.  This be the sixth book in the series.  While I try to post no spoilers, if ye keep reading this log then ye have been forewarned and continue at yer own peril . . .

I say this every time I finish one of these novellas but I seriously could read dozens of books set in the various worlds.  This be the sixth installment and ye do not have to read any of the others for this one to make sense.  I actually highly recommend reading this series in publishing order because I feel that the reader gets the best flow that way.

This one completely floats me boat because it deals with ponies (me first love).  Not just ponies but kelpies, centaurs, unicorns, etc.  I was absolutely delighted with the world.  I was also delighted with the character of Regan and her new found family.  The chosen one trope is twisted here.  The evil in this book is found both in our world and in the doorway world.  The idea of cruelty in children is spot on.  Yet there are loving parents in this one.  There is love and kindness all over the place.  There is also selfishness, conformity, wrong choices made, and manipulation.  The major complaint with this book is that it felt like it needed to be longer and more fleshed out especially towards the end.  The ending itself left me unsatisfied though it made sense with the rest of the book.  Perhaps I just need more of Regan because I loved her so.  Arrrr!

Side note: The next book in the series, where the drowned girls go, is scheduled for January 2022.  Apparently there be three more after that, one each following January.  I will be waiting.  Arrrrr!

Ahoy there me mateys!  I received this young adult fantasy eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  So here be me honest musings . . .

This book interested me with its use of Argentinian folklore and also its commentary on the U.S. immigration system.  Though this book came out last August, only now was I able to find the mood and mental state to read this title.  Though I understand the love for this book, it ended up being just an okay read for me.  I don't really feel like breaking down the plot as the blurb is pretty clear.  But here be some thoughts on the novel.

The Pros:

- Argentinian folklore: The highlight because I love getting more insight into the myths and folklore of South America which gets ignored in the U.S.

- The Reality:  I enjoy that the book dealt with the important topic of immigration.  I also enjoy when bodily functions of teens (periods) are acknowledged and not treated as shameful.

- The Main Character:  I did cheer for Manu to succeed and I enjoyed her overall.  I particularly enjoyed that she loved to learn and read.  I also loved that she was reading classic Spanish works and about space.

- Manu's Family:  I loved how much Manu's mother cared about her.  I also loved Perla, Manu's surrogate grandmother, who owned the apartment they lived in.  I honestly think that Perla may have been me favorite character.

The Cons:

- The Main Character:  It took her way, way too long to figure out what her "problem" was.  Everyone should have figured out the "mystery" sooner.  The reader knows pretty much right away.  Granted the title helped.  Plus she is becomes the special snowflake good-at-everything type which is not to me taste.

- The Love Interest:  Insta-lust and blandness.  The twist involved was also lackluster and kinda annoying.

- The Side Characters: Many of these characters (particularly the men) were weakly portrayed and not fleshed out.  So much so, that I got confused as to who was who.

- The Setting:  While I liked the magical school concept, the actual training made no real sense and was barely shown.  The world building felt very shallow and undeveloped.  The rules and systems of both the school and fantasy world itself seemed contradictory at times.

- The Pace and Plot: The pacing was slow and yet the climax and resolution sped by.  The pace was especially slow in the part where the group is trying to figure out Manu's magic.  I also hated the whole Fierro rebel plot and especially how that resolved.  I also didn't enjoy the plot concerning Manu's father.  I wanted Manu to care more about what happened to her mother rather than her social life.  And while I liked that immigration is discussed, how ICE and school was dealt with seemed rather bizarre in the overall story.  Oh and how Manu got to (and stayed in) the school was laughable.  And what was the point to the "other Manu?"

- The Spanish: I did not care for the technique the author chose to portray the translations.  It kept interrupting the story flow.

I don't feel inclined to read the next book in the series though I am glad more books like this are being published.  Arrr!

So lastly . . .

Thank you St. Martin's Press!