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The Rema Chronicles: Realm of the Blue Mist – Amy Kim Kibuishi
This showed up in the mail at exactly the right moment – Graphic Novels, for me, are comfort reads. and this first volume of The Rema Chronicles was no different. I devoured it on the same day I got it, and it made a bad day into a much better one.
Many thanks to Kiran at Scholastic for sending me a review copy. All opinions are my own.
RELEASE DATE: 03/03/2022
STAR RATING: 4/5 ✶
SUMMARY: Tabby Simon is determined to learn what happened to her father, who was found dead after researching a tree that leaks a mysterious mist in her neighbourhood. She is unexpectedly led to Rema, a distant world of magic and beauty that is periodically invaded by a nearby planet desperate for resources. While Tabby searches for the truth surrounding her father’s death, she meets a handsome blue-haired boy named Philip. He has his own dangerous secrets, but he has promised to help Tabby get home. As Tabby learns more about this strange world, she discovers that she is destined for something far greater than she ever could have imagined. (from Scholastic)
OPINIONS: This is the latest in a series of comfort reads – as you can probably tell if you’ve been reading my recent reviews. And graphic novels somehow always end up in that category for me, especially ones that fit in the YA and MG space. The Rema Chronicles: Realm of the Blue Mist kind of slots in between the two categories. It has elements of both, and while Tabby, the main character is fifteen, it can easily be suitable for younger readers who are more used to a middle grade diet. The story is compelling – and there are turns to it that make me really eager to get my hands on the second volume (which I hope is coming soon *hint hint, Scholastic, please*).
I really liked Tabby, her stubbornness and curiosity. The way her relationship with Philip and the greater mythology of the world developed was really well-done, and I am curious to see where the story goes from here. While it took me a little bit to get settled with the world and the story – I felt the introduction was a bit clunky and the pacing in the first few chapters a bit off – once I did, I really enjoyed it. What first felt like a generic plot in a world that felt like most fantasy realms became more plastic once I got to the halfway mark and more characters made their way into the plot and Tabby got to be more than the vehicle that the reader sees this new world through.
I think as this graphic novel series goes on and Tabby’s story in the world continues, her relationships deepen and the reader learns more about the mythology behind it, we’ll have a really lovely series on our hands for that elusive teen audience most of all. It will appeal to readers ten and up, I think, but really be ideal for that demographic that often falls between YA and MG. A definite recommendation from me.
Add The Rema Chronicles: Realm of the Blue Mist to your Goodreads here, and order a copy via Bookshop here (affiliate link).
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Blog Tour: Cold Clay – Juneau Black
I’m thrilled to be back on the blog tour for Cold Clay, the second volume in the Shady Hollow series. You may remember the first one from the blog tour a little while ago – see here – and this second murder mystery in a town full of woodland creatures is just as delightful as the last. Happy UK publication day to Cold Clay!
Many thanks to Ollie at Hodder for sending me a review copy and having me on the tour. All opinions are my own.
RELEASE DATE: 03/03/2022
STAR RATING: 4/5 ✶
SUMMARY: In the woodland community of Shady Hollow, you’ll discover a secret. Moose and mice, owls and bears live side by side in civilised harmony. The town has a coffee shop and a bookshop, a haberdasher and a bank. Life is peaceful, until a skeleton is found buried deep under an apple tree. Danger has returned to Shady Hollow.
Ace reporter Vera Vixen only wants a good news story as harvest time arrives with the promise of glorious feasts ahead. But the discovery of the body casts a darker shadow. Soon enough, the coffeeshop’s owner is being dragged down to the police station. Vera can’t believe gentle Joe the moose is a killer. To get to the bottom of the matter, she will have to dig into the secrets her neighbours would rather leave buried forever… (from Hodder)
OPINIONS: These books are just so delightful. They are wholesome murder mysteries for the entire family, books that feel like a cosy blanket and a warm hug on a cold day. Classic detective stories – where the amateur sleuth Vera Vixen is a step ahead of the local law enforcement – set in a small community of quirky characters, depicted through archetypal woodland animals. They are short, compelling and absolutely lovely – while also being some of the most unique books I’ve read. I don’t think I’d ever expected to fall for a series full of talking animals aimed at adults! But hey, I’m here for the bonkers books.
This second installment has Vera dive into a cold case when a moose skeleton is found. I loved how there was much character development from the first book for those who are reading the series in publication order, but in a manner that allows both books to stand on their own as well. And the focus around the coffeeshop is just lovely and makes it even more comforting (any other coffeeshop AU fans out there?). It’s of course not deep literature, but fantastic escapism, and Vera Vixen is a lovely leading lady, tenacious but also personable.
I am really looking forward to seeing where the third (and final) book, Mirror Lake, takes us and all of the inhabitants of Shady Hollow. If you’re intrigued, you can add Cold Clay to your Goodreads here, and order a copy via Bookshop here and the first book, Shady Hollow here (affiliate links).
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Age of Ash – Daniel Abraham
I am often intrigued by grand-scale stories and settings that are a character in their own right. And the Kithamar of Age of Ash is exactly that. A city, but also a character in an epic story, in which the smaller plots of the book unfold. Having heard great things about Daniel Abraham’s earlier work, I was very excited to pick this one up, but I’m not quite sure whether it met all my expectations. I think I may have to read on and see where the story goes from here to really make up my mind.
Many thanks to Nazia at Orbit for sending me a review copy of Age of Ash. All opinions are my own.
RELEASE DATE: 17/02/2022
STAR RATING: 3.5/5 ✶
SUMMARY: Kithamar is a center of trade and wealth, an ancient city with a long, bloody history where countless thousands live and their stories unfold.
This is Alys’s.
When her brother is murdered, a petty thief from the slums of Longhill sets out to discover who killed him and why. But the more she discovers about him, the more she learns about herself, and the truths she finds are more dangerous than knives.
Swept up in an intrigue as deep as the roots of Kithamar, where the secrets of the lowest born can sometimes topple thrones, the story Alys chooses will have the power to change everything. (from Orbit)
OPINIONS: This is a compelling story straddling the fine line between epic fantasy and Grimdark. Centred around a city rather than individuals, it sets up a unique sort of storytelling focused more on the grand picture of an evolving society. And I loved how Kithamar became a character in Age of Ash, not merely a setting. Alys’s story is used as a vehicle to illustrate this period in the life of the city, to make this amalgamation of culture come alive.
However, the story itself of a petty thief, of a murdered brother, of coming to terms with loss and dangerous secrets, is not something that feels especially groundbreaking. I am definitely intrigued enough to want to know more about Kithamar, to read about other stories set in this city that is both enchanting and gritty at the same time, but I’m not sure if I think that Age of Ash by itself is a book that stands out for me. And that is probably more due to me as a reader than due to the book itself – right now, I seem to click most with stories that have a hopeful aspect to them, and while this is not only bleak, it is less oriented towards a hopeful future than works for me at the moment.
The characters are strong and well-developed, and the writing is immersive – I ended up devouring the book despite my struggles with it, which speaks for the quality. It feels like this is one that I will probably enjoy more on a reread when I’m in a different reading mood, so there’s a good chance that I’ll pick it up again in a couple of months to give it another shot.
Add Age of Ash to your Goodreads here, and order a copy via Bookshop here (affiliate link).
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Like A Charm – Elle McNicoll
Some authors just manage to hit the right spots book after book – and Elle McNicoll is on book number three, all of them utterly different, but all of them featuring neurodivergent heroines who don’t fit the traditional mold and charming readers again and again. And this one may be my favourite yet.
I don’t often review books I’ve bought myself, but this one charmed me into doing it anyway.
RELEASE DATE: 03/02/2022
STAR RATING: 5/5 ✶
SUMMARY: Edinburgh is a city filled with magical creatures. No one can see them… until Ramya Knox. As she is pulled into her family’s world of secrets and spells, Ramya sets out to discover the truth behind the Hidden Folk with only three words of warning from her grandfather: Beware the Sirens. Plunged into an adventure that will change everything, Ramya is about to learn that there is more to her powers than she ever imagined. (from Knights Of)
OPINIONS: This is Elle McNicoll’s first foray into fantasy, but deep down, this story about magical creatures is one about the most human quality of them all: being accepted. Being valued not for who others want you to be, but for who you are, whether that meets expectations or not. And through the weaving of a secret underworld of beings from Hulders to Kelpies to Sirens into the beautiful town of Edinburgh and its bookshops, Like A Charm manages to send a powerful message that really, we’re all people, and every single one of us is valuable. (Truly, Edinburgh is a character of its own in this story, not just a city that it happens to be set in. It comes to life along with its inhabitants, testament to the strength of Elle’s writing.)
Ramya, oh Ramya. A dyspraxic heroine, proud of her neurodivergence, with zero interest of fitting into other people’s boxes. Growing up as a stubborn, likely neurodivergent, kid with a disregard for authority and expectations twenty years ago, I would have thrived if I had been able to read a book about a heroine like me. Someone who is weird, but ok with it. Someone who makes their way through life based on their own rules. She is brilliant in her prickliness, charms with her determination and refuses to take no for an answer where it is not merited. She may truly be my favourite character in children’s literature right now, finding her spot among classic characters like Pippi Longstocking or Matilda Wormwood.
Now shoo, go add Like A Charm to your Goodreads here, and order a (signed) copy from Knights Of’s own bookshop, Round Table Books here.
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Cover Reveal: The Creeper – A.M. Shine
A.M. Shine captured the hearts of horror lovers in 2021 with his debut The Watchers (see my review of it here). And now Ireland’s newest scary darling is back with a new novel that sounds just as delightful and creepy… I’m thrilled to be part of the cover reveal for The Creeper, out on September 15th from Head of Zeus. You can pre-order a copy via Bookshop here (affiliate link), and read on for the blurb, to see the gorgeous cover and for an exclusive interview with the author.
Superstitions only survive if people believe in them…
Renowned academic Dr Sparling seeks help with his project on a remote Irish village. Historical researchers Ben and Chloe are thrilled to be chosen –until they arrive…
The village is isolated and forgotten. There is no record of its history, its stories. There is no friendliness from the locals, only wary looks and whispers. The villagers lock down their homes at sundown. A nameless fear stalks the streets…
Nobody will talk –nobody except one little girl. Her story strikes dread into the hearts of the newcomers. Three times you see him. Each night he comes closer…
That night, Ben and Chloe see a sinister figure watching them. He is the Creeper. He is the nameless fear in the night. Stories keep him alive. And nothing will keep him away…
Which was the first horror story you read that made you want to write in the same vein? (Was it another type of story that first made you want to write?)
It all began with a picture book for 3-5 year olds called Funny Bones by Janet and Allan Ahlberg. It follows a skeleton family with a skeleton dog,and though not officially a horror per se, it’s full of fleshless, reanimated corpses, all smiling as if they’re happier in death than they ever were in life.After that, I was a teenager, and the book was Lovecraft’s third omnibus – The Haunter of the Dark. My older brother borrowed it off a friend of his, and then fate found its way into my hands. Stories like “The Outsider” and “The Thing on the Doorstep” opened my eyes to a style of writing that I would read obsessively for over a decade. Had that book not crept into my house, I wonder how different my life would be now.
How has the landscape of Ireland inspired your work? Have you visited anywhere that particularly inspired The Creeper?
The landscape here is a character in its own right. Aside from those few days of sunshine in the summer, the west of Ireland is a beautifully bleak place. It’s a horror writer’s dream, if said horror writer likes their settings dark,damp, and dismally cold. Nothing stirs the literary mind quite like a good blast of horizontal rain. I walked many a wet woodland when I was writing The Watchers. And the village in The Creeper is actually based on the village I grew up in as a child. It’s a maze of narrow country lanes, with flooded fields, and ruined cottages. It certainly helps to capture the landscape on paper when you’ve stood there in person.
You have mentioned the influence of Poe and the Gothic horror tradition on your work. Has modern horror had any impact on your writing and if so, which authors/books?
The quality of writing and the originality of ideas are a constant source of inspiration and envy. They’re the reason the genre is so fresh and exciting in 2022. There’s such variety to the themes and characters that now, more than ever, readers who may have avoided horror for whatever reasons are being lured in. And it’s a trap, of course. Once we have them in that cage, they’re never getting out. To name but a few: Simone St.James blends horror and mystery together beautifully in the likes of The Broken Girls and The Sun Down Motel. Michelle Paver’s Dark Matter is a masterclass in isolation and possibly the coldest book I’ve ever read. Jonathan Aycliffe (one of my personal favourites) is a pro at the slow build, making sure that shiver hits the right spot on the spine; Naomi’s Room and The Lost, to name but two. I also adore writers who pay homage to any Gothic influencessuch as Nicole Willson’s Tidepool, which was one of my favourite books of last year. The list is endless.
How do you like to write? Do your plots come to you fully formed or do you start with a character or scenario and work from there?
A generous tumbler of absinthe during a full moon usually does the job. I think it’s crucial to understand what your ‘horror’ is, and then build the story around that. But coming up with something original is easier said than done. That involves a lot of staring into space. I’ll play around with characters, fears, scenarios and locations, and try to approach it from as many angles as possible. Often, the final plot is woven from many threads that could have been individual short stories in their own right. The Watchers was a rare exception in that I wrote Mina before the plot. I knew that I was sending her to the coop, but that’s all. Only when she was safely locked inside did I plan out the rest. With The Creeper, I had the plot and then designed the character of Ben to best complement the horror of the story.
How has Irish culture and tradition impacted your writing?
I’ve embraced my country’s culture in the same way I did with my baldness. Impacted? Yes. Any choice in the matter? Maybe some subtle cries. I owe so much to Ireland for providing me with the parts I need to assemble something fresh for the horror genre. Even our better-known folk tales are open for interpretation. Reworking and updating old horrors is a great way to keep them interesting, otherwise there’d be no surprises.This was the case with The Watchers, which was a reimagining of a very particular character in Irish folklore.And The Creeper toys with Ireland’s love affair with old superstitions and how they survive to this day. The horror at their core of both novels is quintessentially Irish. So, I count myself lucky to have been born on this little island and to be surrounded by so much spooky shit all the time.
Do you ever model your characters on yourself?
There are definitely a few personal traits and foibles that I’ve put into Mina (The Watchers) and Ben (The Creeper). But I’ll never tell you which ones. I’m like a parasite inside my characters that no one can see. I think every author puts bits of themselves into their work. But I’d also be guilty of “borrowing” personalities from people I know, mixing up whatever cocktail I need for the narrative.
Which other genres do you particularly like to read? Do they have an influence on your work?
I rarely stray too far from the horror genre. It’s become an addiction that I’m happy to live with. But science fiction and horror are so closely linked that often they’re one and the same. I still enjoy books grounded in reality but what I really look for are elements outside the ordinary – a concept or idea that I‘ve never encountered before. I really enjoyed Blake Crouch’s Pines trilogy. The twists, horror and pacing were sublime. Stuart Turton’s Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle was also wonderful. Applying a concept like body-swapping to a murder mystery was genius, and I’m in awe of how he managed to map it out. And the occasional thriller is always welcome, especially if they’re twisty. The last one I loved was The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides.
If you weren’t writing horror what other literary projects would you like to pursue?
There’s only horror. Even if I tried my pen at sci-fi, it would always read like a horror. It’s both a blessing and a curse.
Which two of the following characters would you rather have dinner with: Carmilla, C. Auguste Dupin, Frankenstein’s monster, Count Dracula, Cthulhu, Roderick Usher?
Frankenstein’s monster – eloquent and an absolute gent. But would I enjoy my dinner sitting across from a mismatch of stitched together body parts? Probably not. Cthulhu – he’s a fair size, so I’ll put his invite aside until I’m having a summer barbeque. Dupin would probably talk too much, and poor old Roderick too little. So, I guess it’s got to be the Count and Carmilla. Vampires – good conversationalists, snappy dressers. With some bottles of wine and a few carafes of blood, we could quite happily natter by the fire until the dawn.
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March Hype Post
Alas, it is already the end of the month again and time to go over the books and think about what we’d like you to think about putting on your March TBRs. Have a look over our choices in the yearly Megapost here, and then read through these additional books here – we’re sure you’ll find something that tickles your fancy! From the Megapost, I’d especially like to point out Lakelore by Anna-Marie McLemore – all of their books have been five-star reads for me, and even though I haven’t read this one yet I’m sure it will be fantastic too – and Travelers Along the Way by Aminah Mae Safi, the Robin Hood retelling of my dreams – set in the Holy Land, with a Muslim girl protagonist (see my review over at Grimdark Magazine here). The Bone Orchard by Sara A. Mueller is also one that will likely appeal to lots of readers here, I’ve been comping it as Gideon the Ninth meets Alix E. Harrow (review at Grimdark Magazine here).
Squire by Sara Alfageeh and Nadia Shammas is a YA graphic novel out on March 8th. And we all know how much both graphic novels and knights are catnip for me… The blurb sounds super interesting, a new take on the usually westernised concept of knighthood – definitely one I’ll try to get my hands on very soon. Order a copy via Bookshop here (affiliate link) if the blurb below catches your attention too.
Aiza has always dreamt of becoming a Knight. It’s the highest military honor in the once-great Bayt-Sajji Empire, and as a member of the subjugated Ornu people, Knighthood is her only path to full citizenship. Ravaged by famine and mounting tensions, Bayt-Sajji finds itself on the brink of war once again, so Aiza can finally enlist in the competitive Squire training program.
It’s not how she imagined it, though. Aiza must navigate new friendships, rivalries, and rigorous training under the unyielding General Hende, all while hiding her Ornu background. As the pressure mounts, Aiza realizes that the “greater good” that Bayt-Sajji’s military promises might not include her, and that the recruits might be in greater danger than she ever imagined.
Aiza will have to choose, once and for all: loyalty to her heart and heritage, or loyalty to the Empire.
The Way Spring Arrives and Other Stories: A Collection of Chinese Science Fiction and Fantasy in Translation from a Visionary Team of Female and Nonbinary Creators, edited by Yu Chen and Regina Kanyu Wang is also out on March 8th. I’ve really been getting into Asian translated fiction in the past year or so, and adored Rebellion’s anthology Sinopticon (translated and edited by Xueting Christine Ni), so I’m especially excited about this anthology made up fully of contributions by women and non-binary authors, translators and editors. All of the stories included here have not been published in English before and give a great insight into the vivid culture of Chinese SFF past and present, preparing the Western audience for the Worldcon in Chengdu in 2023. From the blurb: “In The Way Spring Arrives and Other Stories, you can dine at a restaurant at the end of the universe, cultivate to immortality in the high mountains, watch roses perform Shakespeare, or arrive at the island of the gods on the backs of giant fish to ensure that the world can bloom.” I love discovering other culture’s approaches to storytelling, and I know I’m going to fall head over heels for this anthology when I get my hands on it. Order a copy from Book Depository here.
A Thousand Steps Into Night by Traci Chee is a YA fantasy out on the 1st of March. Inspired by Japanese legends, this is full of demons, adventure and plans gone wrong – and it sounds delightful. From the blurb: “In the realm of Awara, where gods, monsters, and humans exist side by side, Miuko is an ordinary girl resigned to a safe, if uneventful, existence as an innkeeper’s daughter. But when Miuko is cursed and begins to transform into a demon with a deadly touch, she embarks on a quest to reverse the curse and return to her normal life. Aided by a thieving magpie spirit and continuously thwarted by a demon prince, Miuko must outfox tricksters, escape demon hunters, and negotiate with feral gods if she wants to make it home again. But with her transformation comes power and freedom she never even dreamed of, and she’ll have to decide if saving her soul is worth trying to cram herself back into an ordinary life that no longer fits her… and perhaps never did.” Order a copy via Bookshop here (affiliate link).
The Lost Dreamer by Lizz Huerta is another YA fantasy out on March 1st. I really like how I have been able to travel in time and space through YA while being firmly rooted to my tiny London flat during the past two years. The Lost Dreamer promises to transport us to ancient Mesoamerica and introduces the reader to a lineage of seers resisting the patriarchical state that would like to see them destroyed. And I’m all here for the destruction of the patriarchy! It tells the story of Indir, a Dreamer, descended from a long line of seers – she carries the rare ability to Dream truth. But she also holds secrets that will allow the new king to bring the Dreamers to a permanent end… Interwoven with hers is Saya’s story. She is a seer, but not a Dreamer, never been formally trained, and exploited by her mother as they travel from town to town. But as Saya loses the necklace she’s worn all her life, she discovers that she may have more gifts and that the life she knows may be a carefully constructed lie… This sounds really interesting and unusual! Order a copy via Book Depository here.
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Blog Tour: Stars and Bones – Gareth L. Powell
It is my pleasure today to welcome you to my stop on the Titan Books blog tour for Gareth L. Powell’s new space opera, Stars and Bones. Keep reading for a mini-review and a Q&A with the author! Many thanks to Lydia Gittins for sending me an ARC and inviting me to be part of the tour – all opinions are entirely my own.
2022 is the year Fab discovers how much she actually likes science fiction. Because there are just so many brilliant books in the genre releasing at the moment, and I’m lucky enough that I keep getting to review them. This was my first foray into Gareth L. Powell’s work, and I’m sure that it wont be my last. Stars and Bones is a highly character-driven story set in a future where humanity has been driven into space from a dying earth, to live on a fleet so-called arks. In this new society, Eryn is on a mission to save her sister – and perhaps all of humanity. It is a compelling story with strong characters – and a wonderful ship’s cat (yes, books with cats will make me fall in love with them instantly!). Honestly, if you like weird and quirky characters that can carry a story on their shoulders and make a plot that isn’t necessarily the most out there shine, this is definitely one that I whole-heartedly recommend. It is the sort of science fiction that to me is insanely comforting, and I’m already looking forward to rereading! (P.S. a story that has a British PM cause nuclear destruction through sheer incompetence is a winner in my book because I can’t resist black humour)
Add Stars and Bones to your Goodreads here, and order a copy via Bookshop here (affiliate link) – and read on below the image to hear Gareth talk about it (and get an impression of his wit, which permeates the book as well)!
RELEASE DATE: 01/03/2022
STAR RATING: 4/5 ✶
Can you pitch Stars and Bones in one sentence for our readers?
If you imagine Philip K. Dick got high and dreamt a crossover between Battlestar Galactica and The Thing, you’d be in the right ballpark.
One of my favourite parts of Stars and Bones were the characters and their relationships. Can you tell us a bit more about your process for them? And what comes first, the characters or the story?
I usually start with an idea for a situation, and then start searching around for the best characters to bring that situation to life. And then, once the characters start coming to life, their decisions and reactions drive the plot and final outcome of the story.
And what inspired the magnificence that is Sam?
I have a cat who spends a lot of time on my desk as I write, so I imagined what he’d say if he was in the story.
What role does humour play for you in science fiction?
For me, humour is part of everyday life. Funny stuff happens, and often at the most inappropriate of moments. So, if I’m trying to portray humans authentically, there has to be some humour in the mix—even if it’s only a way to lighten the tension in a horrific scene. I don’t write jokes or funny scenarios; the comedy arises naturally from the way the characters interact.
Is there anything you had to cut from the drafts that you’re sad about not having in the final version?
No.
How was this writing and publishing experience different as a new project after a completed trilogy?
Writing a new story after spending three years on a trilogy is always a huge mental gear shift. You get used to working with the same characters, and suddenly you have to adapt to a whole new set, and a whole new universe. But that’s good. I can’t imagine writing more than three books set in the same world, as I’d worry I’d get stale. You have to shake things up now and again.
How are you celebrating the release?
Well, it’s March 1st so I’ll also be celebrating the patron saint of my forefathers, and attending an online speeding workshop, as I got caught travelling 26 mph in what I thought was a 30 mph zone, but which turned out to have a 20 mph limit.
Do you have a set writing routine?
I used to have a set routine, but the last few years have introduced so much chaos and upheaval into the mix that, like sleeping, I now write whenever the opportunity arises.
What books or other media have filled your creative well recently
I’ve been reading The Organised Writer by my friend Antony Johnston and hoping some of it will rub off on me, as I am a very disorganised writer.
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A Single Shard – Linda Sue Park
Award-winning middle grade published in a stunning 20th anniversary edition? That quickly peaked my interest – and seeing that the story of A Single Shard by Linda Sue Park was set in medieval Korea got me hooked. I didn’t think much further and screamed an enthusiastic YES when I was offered a review copy – massive thanks to Rock the Boat! And then the story drew me in and left me crying…
RELEASE DATE: 20/01/2022
STAR RATING: 5/5 ✶
SUMMARY: 13-year-old Tree-ear lives in a Korean village famous for its ceramics. He doesn’t have much but he loves to watch master potter Min at work and dreams of learning the craft one day.
Reluctantly Min agrees to let Tree-ear help him. Determined to do whatever it takes to prove himself, Tree-ear embarks on a dangerous journey to present his master’s work to the king, unaware it will change his life forever. (from Rock the Boat)
OPINIONS: A book that has me weeping by the end of it definitely deserves all five stars. It took me a little while to really get settled with the story, as you can tell that it’s a slightly older book – not in a bad way, but children’s books have changed a lot in how they approach storytelling and narrative in the meantime, so the set-up and pacing was a bit slower than expected, especially as the book was relatively short. It is the sort of story that drives the reader’s investment through character and emotions, rather than a full plot and constant action. In that respect, it is a children’s book that is of the sort that easily reads up, and has as much to give to adults as it does to young readers. I think it would also make for a great book to read aloud to a child that isn’t quite ready to read this on their own yet.
I loved Min and especially Ajima so much – despite not having a lot of speaking time in the novel, the gruff potter and his wife really grew on me as the story went on. Tree-ear is a lovely character, both young and naive as well as independent and self-sufficient. Nevertheless, more than anything, he is a boy who wants approval and attention, deep down. Ultimately, his story, his quest to support Min, to show the world what he’s made of is a universal story, one that will resonate with many readers.
A Single Shard shows how a great story doesn’t need to be epic or made up of grand adventures. It can be quiet, it can be the tender representation of a thread of kinship growing between two strangers, or the rip-roaring grief over a friend taken unexpectedly. It is a wonderful book, a sad book, a book that breaks your heart and reassembles it new. I loved it, and I hope you will too.
Add A Single Shard to your Goodreads here, or order a copy via Bookshop here (affiliate link).
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Monday Minis
In true Monday Minis fashion, this is me catching up on reviews long overdue… As always, many thanks to the publicists for providing me with eARCs via NetGalley, and all opinions are entirely my own.
The Forever Sea by Joshua Phillip Johnson is a book that I struggled to connect with. Set in a world where there is an ocean made out of grass, on which ships propelled by magical hearthfires sail, this tells the story of Kindred, a young hearthfire keeper. Her grandmother, the Marchess, is a legendary hearthfire keeper herself and taught Kindred all she knows – and now she’s just found out that the Marchess supposedly killed herself by stepping into the sea. But Kindred is sure that there is more to the story, and that her grandmother is alive. And to find out more she is willing to risk everything and betray everyone – including her own crew. I loved the concept, but I found the characters unlikeable in a way that made me disconnect emotionally. I originally started reading this as an ebook as I was sent an eARC, and switched to audio after it had come out and I still hadn’t made much headway, but it still took me far too long to get through. I had to take long breaks in between reading this because while I did enjoy the story, it is the kind of writing that I soon feel like I’ve had enough of. It is a book that felt drawn out and slow to me, one that I just didn’t click with. The Forever Sea addresses a lot of very interesting ideas and topics – not least of all, the impact of finite resources on a society and climate change, but ultimately, while I can appreciate its good points, it wasn’t a book for me.
The Liar’s Knot by M.A. Carrick is the second book in the Rook & Rose series. Following up on The Mask of Mirrors, this continues Ren’s story as she infiltrates Naszrenian society and tangles with the masked vigilante known as the Rook. Despite loving Marie Brennan’s – one of the co-authors – Memoirs of Lady Trent, this story failed to captivate me in the same way. In theory, this should be exactly my cup of tea, as it has characters of dubious morality, great descriptions and a fair dose of betrayal and backstabbing, but in practice, I didn’t like the first book as much as I wanted to, and felt similarly about this second volume. Individually, I love Ren, Tess, Vargo and Grey, and think they are brilliant characters whom I would love to learn more about. But in combination, I’m just not invested. Perhaps it feels like there’s too much of a good thing, too many storylines that are individually interesting, because in some ways, it seems to me that the series is meandering along, unsure where it is heading. I don’t dislike it, and I will probably pick up the next book too because I can’t help myself, but for me these are solid three star reads.
A River Enchanted by Rebecca Ross is a wonderfully enchanting tale set on a Scotland-inspired island, the isle of Cadence. Split in East and West, with bad relations between the areas, inhabitants live in a medieval-ish society, though one where magic is real. Jack returns to the island after years of studying music on the mainland, hoping that his skills as a bard will help the heiress Adaira track down a series of missing children. It is a fairly slow-paced story, but one that nevertheless weaves its song around you and enchants the reader. I loved the characters, the honesty between them, and the lack of inhibition to confront hard topics. That really made this stand out for me. The story does go in a lot of unexpected directions towards the last third, and now I’m really keen to get my hands on the next book in the series. If you like mythical, atmospheric tales this one may be a good choice to pick up.
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Scorpica – G. R. Macallister
Scorpica, the first book in G.R. Macallister’s The Five Queendoms series is billed as a feminist Game of Thrones, which is somewhat misleading. Not every epic fantasy with Grimdark elements is like Martin’s work! But that’s one of my pet peeves. It’s more like Tasha Suri meets Joe Abercrombie if I had to give some comps, although this was one that felt like it didn’t quite manage to hit the expectations set out by its scope.
Many thanks to Sarah Mather at Titan Books for sending me an ARC for review, all opinions are my own as usual.
RELEASE DATE: 22/02/2022
STAR RATING: 3/5 ✶
SUMMARY: In an ancient matriarchal world of magic, gods and warriors, the last girl – unbeknownst to the five queendoms – has just been born. As time marches on, the scribes of Bastian find no answers in their history books. The farmers of Sestia sacrifice their crops to the gods. Paxim, the empire of trade and dealings, has nothing to barter but boys and more boys. Arcan magic has no spells to remedy the Drought of Girls. And finally, Scorpica, where every woman is a fighter, their commander, their queen, has no more warriors to train. The lines of these once-great empires soon to die.
After centuries of peace, the ensuing struggle for dominance – and heirs – will bring the five queendoms to the eve of all-out war.
But the mysterious curse is linked to one of the last-born children, an orphaned all-magic girl, who is unaware she has a claim to the Arcan throne… (from Titan)
OPINIONS: This is one of those books where I’m not sure what to think about it. I think the copy comparing it to Game of Thrones is very ill-fitting, as it feels more like a love child of Joe Abercrombie and Tasha Suri – political fantasy focusing on a grand scope, in a South Asian/Arab inspired world, with some Grimdark elements, but nowhere near the George R.R. Martin-like scope of close PoVs that switch quickly. The narration is really much further removed – which may be part of what made me struggle with the story as I tend to focus on the emotional connection I have with what is going on more than anything else. I have noticed that I tend to be far more forgiving of a story that connects with me, while one that doesn’t makes me be critical of every last detail as it doesn’t absorb me while reading – and one of the things that I’ve found makes a difference in how well I connect is how far removed the narration is from the characters. So wide shots of scenes make me care far less than lots of close-ups that let the reader piece together the grand picture over time.
That said, I am intrigued enough that I will be picking up the next volume in the series when it is ready – I feel like this, while it is rather large, is just enough to whet the reader’s appetites. It doesn’t feel like a story that stands on its own – not a satisfying one at least – very much like part of an ongoing series, so for me, how it goes on will make or break it as a whole. Scorpica is fun to read, and of an epic scope – and I am curious to see how the questions posed in this first book will pan out.
I do wish that Scorpica focused a bit more on individual characters rather than sweeping political happenings, as I did feel that I didn’t get to know the characters as well as I would have liked to. This is a series that will appeal to those readers who enjoy the epic scale over the personal stakes at work, and an almost cinematic approach to storytelling. It is the sort of story that is predestined for adaptation, with a rich world, visual contrasts and the style of writing. So even if it didn’t fully convince me, it is definitely the start of a series to watch out for, and one that will likely make many readers fall in love with it.
If you are intrigued, you can add Scorpica to your Goodreads here, and pre-order a copy via Bookshop here (affiliate link).
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