Fantasy - The Irresponsible Reader

Magic Kingdom for Sale–Sold! (Audiobook) by Terry Brooks, Jeremy Arthur (Narrator): A Nostalgic Trip I Maybe Shouldn’t Have Taken

On June 16, 2022

Magic Kingdom for Sale–Sold!

by Terry Brooks, Jeremy Arthur (Narrator)

DETAILS:
Series: Landover, #1
Publisher: Random House Audio
Publication Date: March 28, 2022
Format: Unabridged Audiobook
Length: 12 hrs.,  48 min.
Read Date: May 19-24, 2022

What’s Magic Kingdom for Sale–Sold! About?

Ben Holiday is a recently widowed trial lawyer from Chicago. His wife’s death has left him devastated, he is essentially going through the motions in all aspects of his life. One wintery day, his mail includes a holiday catalog addressed to his wife (younger readers should consult their parents about mail-order catalogs). She loved those kind of things, so Ben flips through it as a way to connect with her. One listing catches his eye—an offer to purchase a magic kingdom, with all that is implied by that.

He can’t get the idea out of his mind, eventually flying to New York to meet with the representative for the company about the offer. It’s sincere, he’s told, for one-million dollars (largely refundable within a brief period of time), he can buy a kingdom—becoming its king, with all the benefits that come with that.

He’s so desperate to change his life that Ben gambles on it. Takes a leave of absence from his practice, liquidates 1/3 of his investments, and buys it.

He’s astounded to find out that the advertisement was true—it’s another world, he gets there magically and the world is full of magic. He has a wizard advisor, a scribe who’s a talking dog (okay, technically a man accidentally turned into a dog), a magic castle, and a pair of kobolds as servants.

Sadly, it’s been so long since a legitimate king sat on the throne that the Kingdom’s magic is dying. The magic is weakening, and the people, plants, and animals are suffering. If something doesn’t stop it, Landover will cease to exist.

Does Ben Holiday have the ability, conviction, and grit to restore Landover to its former glory?

Ben’s Emotional State

One of the best things about this book is the depiction of Ben’s clinical depression. It’s never described in those terms, but it was clearly shown. His desperation at finding a way out of this life—and then his second thoughts, once he saw how real (and un-fairy tale-like) Landover was, also rang true.

I’m not quite as convinced that Brooks’ depiction of his resolve to stay and fix things—or the reasoning behind it—was quite as successful. It was clear, but it was a bit more telling than showing.

I’m willing to bet that when I read this back in the 80s/90s, I didn’t appreciate this aspect as much as I should’ve, but I sure do now.

How Was the Narration?

This was a much different book than the other time I listened to Jeremy Arthur (Looking for Calvin and Hobbes), so I wasn’t sure what to expect. I would’ve hoped for a little more “life” to it—I wanted him to bring out the personalities just a little more. I’m not saying he did a bad job, at all, he could’ve brought a little more “oomph” to it, is all.

I do wonder if a little of that impression should be directed at the text and not Arthur. That’s absolutely possible, maybe even likely.

I do see that the previous version of the audiobook was recorded by Dick Hill. Nothing against Hill, but man, I’m glad I got this version—I just don’t see how he was the right guy for the job. Then again, I’d have said the same thing about Dave Barry books, and he surprised me with Best. State. Ever., so what do I know?

I guess what I’m saying is that Arthur did a fine job—I’m not over the moon, but I’m not complaining. I don’t think I did a great job of conveying that.

So, what did I think about Magic Kingdom for Sale–Sold!?

I don’t remember exactly the first time I read this book—it was published in 1987, and it’s entirely possible I read it that year. If not, it was soon after that. I loved it and read it several times in the following years. I wasn’t sure how it’d hold up after all this time, but I had hope that it’d be okay.

It largely was. As is so often the case, the memory was better than the reality. Nostalgia a tricky thing.

Some of the language—especially in dialogue—was a bit stiff and stuffy. I kept thinking, this is a story about a guy who buys a magic kingdom, it should be a little more fun. Holiday didn’t have quite the sense of wonder about Landover that I wanted—he had some, but he was a bit too serious about everything. He wasn’t quite like Eustace Scrubb pre-dragon cave, but he sure wasn’t like the Pevensies, either.

I love the concept, I think all the characters are exactly what you want in this kind of story, and the worldbuilding was spot-on—all the ingredients are there, I just didn’t love the execution. It was an entertaining read and did everything right—it just felt reserved. If this was first published today, the drama would’ve been starker, the joy/wonder would’ve been turned up and it’d have been more amusing overall.

Basically, I probably should’ve left good memories stay that way.

I remember thinking the first sequel was okay but the next one really disappointed me, and I didn’t continue with the series. I went into this thinking I probably wouldn’t continue—and I likely won’t. If only to keep what luster is still attached to my memories.

3.5 Stars

This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase from it, I will get a small commission at no additional cost to you. As always, any opinions expressed are my own.

Crazy in Poughkeepsie by Daniel Pinkwater: “Crazy” Might Be An Overstatement, How About “Ridiculously Odd”?

By HCNewton

On June 13, 2022

In Fantasy, Fiction, YA/MG/Children's Books

Crazy in Poughkeepsie

by Daniel Pinkwater , Aaron Renier (Illustrator)

DETAILS:
Series: Neddie & Friends, #6
Publisher: Tachyon Publications
Publication Date: May 9, 2022
Format: Hardcover
Length: 173 pg.
Read Date: June 7-8, 2022

“I’ve been to see the ghosts,” she said.

“And how was that?” the Guru asked.

“Hoo boy! You won’t believe what goes on in that old churn factory. They’ve got a whale in there!”

“An actual whale?”

“It’s the ghost of a whale, and may I say, it’s a whale of a ghost.”

What’s Crazy in Poughkeepsie About?

Mick comes home from two weeks at summer camp to find out that his brother’s trip to Tibet to find a personal guru ended up being much shorter than anyone expected. He did find a guru—Guru Lumpo Smythe-Finkel—and that guru came home to Poughkeepsie with him. The guru and his dog will be sharing Mick’s room for a while.

Mick’s life is sure different afterward—the guru takes him under his wing (or tries to) and they spend most of the daytime together. Mick also picks up a couple of friends—a would-be graffiti artist, who tags buildings with warnings of environmental/health dangers and a quirky young woman (who probably isn’t crazy) who lives in trees.

Before the summer year is out, Mick will play a ghost flute, attend a ghost party, meet people a whole lot stranger than anyone I’ve mentioned so far, see a dog use a stuffed rabbit to help a car navigate, and things too strange for me to summarize in this way.

How Were the Illustrations?

They were fittingly odd. I enjoyed them and thought they added a nice little bit of seasoning. They’re not essential to the text, they’re a pleasant accent.

I really liked the ghosts—the whale in particular. I think drawing ghosts among and around some of the living has to be a challenge, and I like Renier’s approach.

I do not have a lot of experience with parties, almost none, in fact, if you don’t count little kids’ birthday parties with the paper hats and the cake and ice cream. This means I don’t personally have a basis for comparison, but I feel safe in saying that a party with ghosts is completely unlike any other party anyone may have been to.

So, what did I think about Crazy in Poughkeepsie?

This is a wonderfully weird story. The absurd moments flow effortlessly from one to the next. As always, I’ll not that seemingly effortless moments obviously are the result of effort, skill, and talent.

I haven’t read a Pinkwater book since…wow. The 1980s? I don’t think he’s missed a step—some of the jokes feel a little dated—do people still do the plastic covering on furniture?. But maybe not (although when I was a kid I think I wondered the same thing). Either way, most of them are fresh or evergreen. Jokes aside, there’s a sense of ridiculousness running throughout this that has to appeal to readers young and old—especially those who embrace life’s quirkiness.

The plot is on the lean side, but it’s not the important part. This book is about the journey, not the destination—and it’s a fun ride (to a pretty good destination, I should add). It’s been too long since I’ve spent time with this author, I need to fix that.

Also, any MG book that’s both amusing and uses the word “obstreperous” casually is worth a read.

3.5 Stars

This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase from it, I will get a small commission at no additional cost to you. As always, opinions are my own.

PUB DAY REPOST: The Knave of Secrets by Alex Livingston: One night in Valtiffe and the Tough Guys Tumble

By HCNewton

On June 7, 2022

In Fantasy, Fiction

The Knave of Secrets

by Alex Livingston

DETAILS:
Publisher: Solaris (US), Rebellion Publishing (UK)
Publication Date: June 7, 2022 (US), June 9, 2022 (UK)
Format: eARC
Length: 400 pg.
Read Date: April 28- May 2, 2022

What’s The Knave of Secrets About?

Valen Quinol has pretty modest ambitions—he’s not looking to become rich or famous or anything, he’s seeking stability and comfort. He wants to open a casino with his wife, he just needs to get the money to do that. Earlier in his life, he went to wizarding school and left in a pretty noteworthy fashion, when it was clear that his scholarly ambitions were going to be thwarted. So he turned to the only thing he knew he could support himself with—gambling. And sure, in addition to being a pretty savvy gamesman, he became pretty skillful in ways to rig games.

Valen’s wife, a friend who left school with him—Teneriève—and another friend work with him now—traveling around from casino to casino, from tavern to inn, etc. making enough money to support themselves, and maybe put a little away.

After the reader meets the crew, a local ganglord pays Valen and Margo a visit to hire/threaten them into doing a job for him. Valen typically shuns his work, but this one comes with some tantalizing bait—Valen will be given the buy-in for a local tournament and can keep the money he earns. All he has to do is make sure one competitor walks losing everything they came to play with. If he turns this down, well, there’ll be a duel in his future. And Valen’s a cardsharp, not a fighter. It will not go well for him.

Because this isn’t that kind of Fantasy novel, Valen and his talents go with the less violent option. What Valen doesn’t realize—and his sponsor doesn’t either—what the defeat of his target is going to kick off and drag them all into.

Espionage, murder, political intrigue, societal upheaval—and the imminent possibility of a world war. All because of a game of chance.

We get to watch Valen and his crew (partially) realize what they’ve instigated, as well as getting points of view of several of the major players in the fallout.

Teneriève

Teneriève is one of the more interesting characters in the novel—she’s from a group that’s essentially an analogue to the Roma, and faces hostility and discrimination everywhere she goes. Valen’s crew are the only family she’s known since leaving home, but even then, she doesn’t feel secure—not because of anything they do/think, but because of her own issues.

Her story arc doesn’t go the way you think it will initially, and I’m glad it didn’t. Her story definitely doesn’t get wrapped up in a tidy bow. She could probably serve as the central character in a follow-up novel because there’s a lot to her that could be explored. I also really appreciated while the Roma-esque nature of her background informs her actions and attitudes, her story isn’t all about that identity.

Quick tip: As good as the other storylines are, pay special attention to her scenes, they’re better (and frequently more frustrating and rewarding) than the rest.

Something that Just Occurred to Me

Before I hit Publish, I was struck by the thought that this is one of the most PG-13 Fantasy novels I’ve read in a dog’s age that wasn’t targeted at an MG audience. Maybe even PG (but a couple of the deaths probably shove it into the PG-13 world).

I don’t know that this is a plus or a minus in some readers’ minds, but I thought it was noteworthy—who writes like that anymore?

So, what did I think about The Knave of Secrets?

I’ll tell you this upfront: I was not in the right frame of mind for this book when I started it. A novel with a new magic system, an involved history, a complicated (but not convoluted) political situation, and gambling—and people cheating at gambling. So you’ve got to understand the new games pretty well to visualize not just how to play, but how to cheat. Frankly, that’s a lot of work.

Now, that’s not unusual for a Fantasy novel—and I’m not complaining. I’m just saying that when I started this book I didn’t have the mental energy to dive in, and I really wasn’t in the mood for it. So when I say that before the halfway point Livingston had me very engaged and invested in the plot and characters, that’s saying something.

Livingston has done his homework and has created a very rich world here, we get to see some of it, but probably not all of it. Whether or not this is true, he really gives the sense that he knows all of the ins and outs of the history of these nations going back centuries—and (most importantly) has resisted the impulse to dump it all on the reader. Instead, he gives us just what we need to ground the story and character actions. Give me a book that hints at worldbuilding any day over a book that reads like a history textbook (however interesting the history may be).

All the marketing for this mentions The Lies of Locke Lamora, and insofar as the book centers on a specialized form of criminals fleecing the rich, sure, I can get behind it. But this has a very different flavor and feel than Lynch’s novel. Some marketing mentions The Mask of Mirrors—and that feels a bit more on point. Other comparisons involve Casino Royale—beyond the gambling, I don’t know if that’s appropriate or not, I fell asleep each of the four times I started that flick. The political intrigue of this makes it more like The Mask of Mirrors or the less bloody and sexy parts of A Song of Ice and Fire. I don’t point this out (just) to criticize the marketing materials, just to help expectations—don’t go into this novel to meet the next Gentleman Bastards, go into it for a new and distinct kind of Fantasy novel.

Despite not being in the right headspace for The Knave of Secrets and going into it with wrong expectations, I ended up pretty impressed with this novel and would definitely recommend this to a wide audience. It’s a satisfying read that will leave you wanting to know more about this world and most of these characters.

This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase from it, I will get a small commission at no additional cost to you. As always, opinions are my own.

My thanks to The Write Reads for the invitation to participate in this tour and the materials (including the novel via NetGalley and Rebellion/Solaris) they provided.

20 Books of Summer 2022: Kickoff

By HCNewton

On May 30, 2022

In Books, Currently Reading, Fantasy, Fiction, General Fiction/Literature, Mystery/Detective Fiction/Crime Fiction/Thriller, News/Misc., Non-Fiction, Science Fiction, Urban Fantasy

Cathy at 746 Books is hosting 20 Books of Summer again. This challenge has been fun the last couple of years, and has proved to be a good way for me to actually read some of those “I need to read those one day” books. I’m being very ambitious this year with some of my selections, but some of those are pulling double-duty and are taking care of another reading challenge, too. It’s going to be an actual challenge to get all of these read, but I think I’m up for it. It’s a little risky with two trilogies and three books from another new-to-me series—I could end up really disliking myself, but I really want to clean up some of my shelves, you know?

I’m going with the unofficial US Dates for Summer—Memorial Day to Labor Day (today through September 5th), just because it’s easier for me to think that way. And I’ve needed those first few days of September the last two years, but let’s not think about that. Well, I say I’m starting today, but it’s going to be next Tuesday at the earliest that I get to read one of these books…proper planning and all that…

This summer, my 20 are going to be:

1. The Deepest Grave by Harry Bingham
2. Condemned by R.C. Bridgstock
3. Payback by R.C. Bridgstock
4. Persecution by R.C. Bridgstock
5. AMORALMAN: A True Story and Other Lies by Derek DelGaudio
6. Against All Odds by Jeffery H. Haskell
7. One Decisive Victory by Jeffery H. Haskell
8. With Grimm Resolve by Jeffery H. Haskell
9. A World Without Whom: The Essential Guide to Language in the Buzzfeed Age by Emmy J. Favilla
10. Composite Creatures by Caroline Hardaker

11. Divine and Conquer by J.C. Jackson
12. Mortgaged Mortality by J.C. Jackson
13. The Ghost Machine by James Lovegrove
14. Roses for the Dead by Chris McDonald
15. A Wash of Black by Chris McDonald
16. Whispers in the Dark by Chris McDonald
17. Down the River unto the Sea by Walter Mosely
18. Crazy in Poughkeepsie by Daniel Pinkwater
19. Ghost of a Chance by Dan Willis
20. The Border by Don Winslow

(subject to change, as is allowed, but I’m going to resist the impulse to tweak as much as I can).
20 Books of Summer '22 Chart

The Traitor’s Heir by Anna Thayer: He’s Gonna Have to Serve Somebody

By HCNewton

On May 23, 2022

In Fantasy, Fiction

The Traitor’s Heir

by Anna Thayer

DETAILS:
Series: The Knight of Eldaran, #1
Publisher: Lion Fiction
Publication Date: May 15, 2014
Format: Paperback
Length: 541 pg.
Read Date: May 16-17, 2022

What’s The Traitor’s Heir About?

When the book opens, Eamon Goodman, the orphaned son of a bookbinder currently a cadet in the final stages of his training as a member of the army of the Master of the River Realm. He doesn’t seem to be very good at being a soldier but is committed to passing and taking the oath. Beyond that, his heart doesn’t seem to be in it, either—but maybe it’s just the best route for some sort of security for him.

He seems to be a decent guy in an army that doesn’t have a lot of them—although those traits seem to be highly valued. After taking his oath, and achieving more success than seems deserved he meets someone who claims to be a descendant of the true king, deposed some centuries ago. Eamon agrees to work for this King in the capital.

Eamon isn’t the Chosen One—that’s (presumably) the King. However, Eamon is a direct descendant of the last King’s First Knight—champion and advisor. He’s not the Chosen One—he’s more like the Chosen Sidekick. Eamon’s calling seems to be to aid the King to reclaim the throne and serve him.

He goes to the capital and follows the King’s wishes. Until, with the help of a beautiful noblewoman, he gets distracted and serves the Master. Then circumstances lead him back to the King. And then…he ping-pongs between the two until he makes a final choice.

What I Don’t Get…

I’ve run into this issue before, this isn’t me picking on Thayer. The reader is clearly to get invested in this struggle between the King and the Master, we’re supposed to want to see the Master defeated and the King to retake the throne. But…

There is no reason to root for the King and his forces here beyond “generations ago his ancestor lost the throne due to the duplicity of his trusted knight. We have no vision of how he’ll improve anything for anyone but those supporters of his that have to hide their allegiance or have to live in his secret campground. His being on the throne would allow them to live openly and/or in society. Yes, he seems to be kind, compassionate, and honorable, but…there are a lot of good guys who happen to be related to someone who used to be in power that shouldn’t be put back in a position of authority.

There aren’t a lot of reasons for the reader to want to see the downfall of The Master. Sure, he treats those sewing dissension in the populace and/or actively working to bring down his government harshly. But…what government doesn’t? The methods he uses seem extreme and capricious, but also seem like the kind of thing a government in this setting would do.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s clear that The Master is evil, he manipulates Eamon throughout—and anyone who gets “behind the curtain” to see how the government is run should have qualms about it. But John and Jane Smith working away in their village outside the city aren’t being oppressed. They’re not being starved. They’re not being exploited. The same is true for Jill or Joe practicing their trades or selling their wares in the cities.

I can tell you why Panem’s President Snow should be defeated. I can tell you why the Golds should be replaced by the government that Darrow’s revolt made possible. The Sheriff of Nottingham? Oh, absolutely—Robin Hood is in the right. The White Witch and her never-ending (and Christmas-free) Winter need to be overthrown. But I can’t tell you how things are going to be better for the River Realm or its people. That’s really hard for me to push past.

So, what did I think about The Traitor’s Heir?

Thayer has a thinly disguised allegory here—our protagonist is a good man who has sworn an allegiance to an evil master while being given grace by the rightful king, who appeals to him to freely choose to serve this king. Allegories aren’t necessarily supposed to be subtle, but this was just one degree shy of Pilgrim’s Progress-level obviousness. Go for allegory if you want, but unless you’re Bunyan, do something other than use it like a 2×4 in the hands of “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan.

Eamon didn’t struggle between the two who wanted his allegiance. If you think of his allegiance as a number line from -10 to 10, he was wholly devoted to -10 and then swung to the other extreme. Then he’d rush back to -10. He never spent any time at 5, or -5—always the extreme. Show me some wavering. Show him spending some time around 0, teetering in each direction. Give me conflict. All I see is a flake that two antagonists are vying over—for no discernible reason than his status as Chosen Sidekick.

Eamon is a problematic character for me—even without his wavering allegiances. I clearly can’t buy into the political struggle. I’m dissatisfied with the world-building (I had a section detailing it, but deleted it because this post was becoming too negative). This book was headed for the DNF pile…and yet.

And yet…

Thayer kept ensnaring me. I couldn’t stop reading. I wasn’t enjoying anything, didn’t think I was reading a decent book—but I had to know what the next page held. And the next. And the next. Sure, I kept checking the page number so I knew how much longer this would go (and kept wishing the number was closer to 541)—but I’d have to see what 253 held. It makes no sense to me—but Thayer got her hooks in me. Her knack for that means I can’t go lower than 3 (begrudging) stars

So yeah, this was a compelling, if frustrating, read. Your results may vary. I know at least one friend/sometimes reader of this blog will disagree with me (he is, after all, who recommended the book to me). Others are more than welcome—encouraged, even—to weigh in and tell me what I missed. Give this a shot if the idea appeals to you—the trilogy looks like it’ll take a different shape than most. Just that novelty may be enough to intrigue you (it pulls on me).

3 Stars

This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase from it, I will get a small commission at no additional cost to you. As always, opinions are my own.

The Friday 56 for 5/20/22: Heroic Hearts edited by Jim Butcher and Kerrie L. Hughes

By HCNewton

On May 20, 2022

In Currently Reading, Fantasy, Fiction, News/Misc., Quotations, The Friday 56, Urban Fantasy

This is a weekly bloghop hosted by Freda’s Voice.

RULES:
The Friday 56 Grab a book, any book.
Turn to Page 56 or 56% on your ereader. If you have to improvise, that is okay.
Find a snippet, short and sweet.
Post it.

from Page 56 of:
Heroic Hearts

Heroic Hearts edited by Jim Butcher and Kerrie Hughes, “Comfort Zone” by Kelley Armstrong

My faith in humanity has been tested by the sheer number of the last kind. Ghosts trapped in this realm by bitterness and a need for revenge. I’ve taken to humming “Let It Go” as my answer, which works much better on modern ghosts.

Then there are the ghosts who treat necromancers like an Internet connection. They want us to pop off an e-mail. Or check the stock market. Hey, you there, necromancer, can you tell me how the Cubs are doing this season? Can you tell me how my favorite TV show ended? Simple requests, easily completed, but once you start doing them, you never stop, and pretty soon, you have a dozen ghosts wanting weekly coffee dates, during which they watch you creep on their family and friends’ social media accounts.

Just say no. The mantra of necromancers everywhere.

Conjured Defense by J.C. Jackson: A Solid Step Forward for this Series

By HCNewton

On May 16, 2022

In Fantasy, Terra Chronicles

Conjured Defense

by J.C. Jackson

DETAILS:
Series: Terra Chronicles, #4
Publisher: Shadow Phoenix Publishing
Publication Date: June 20, 2019
Format: Paperback
Length: 252 pg.
Read Date: May 12-13, 2022

What’s Conjured Defense About?

Ketayl and Silver are sent to a Naval research facility to investigate some sort of mishap. There’s a company, Spelltech, that’s trying to incorporate technology and magic into a defense system. Not just merging tech and magic (like Ketayl does in her TIO work), but it’s a merging of divine and arcane magics—just like Ketayl and Silver.

They’re the ideal team to run this investigation—assuming they can get the cooperation of the Naval Command and Spelltech. The head of Spelltech seems eager to work with them, once he has a glimmer of an idea of what Ketayl can do—just the fact that Ketayl and Silver get along and can work together puts them ahead of any pair that they have to work with.

It’s not long before Ketayl realizes that Spelltech assembled something without any real understanding of what was going on with it. She’s not so sure either, but she’s getting closer. This sets off a series of “near-misses” with cars as they move around the base—and then things get worse.

So, what did I think about Conjured Defense?

It was a solid story and it’s good to see Ketayl’s powers continue to grow. Ditto for the relationship between the two partners—although it sometimes feels more appropriate for a couple of high schoolers. But hey, they’re elves and will live a long time, maybe things take longer.

Jackson’s action scenes are improving—there are a couple of great ones here. I re-read the first major action scene twice because it was so good (that’s not a comment on the ones I didn’t reread—I was too involved in the story to stop with those)

There are a few bits of dialogue that frustrate me. Jackson obviously has a clear vision for what’s going on in her world and with ongoing arcs, but she’s not the best a communicating that. Ketayl has ongoing conversations with both her partner and her sister in which they allude to something without coming out and saying it—which is perfectly fine and normal. However, there needs to be something in or around those conversations that makes sure the reader can pick up on the allusion. Maybe I’m being dense, or maybe this is a continuation of something from a previous book that I’m forgetting (if that’s the case, it needs to be clarified in this book)—but I don’t think so. I think it’s a case of Jackson knows what the characters are talking about and doesn’t realize that readers don’t.

As usual, that took a lot longer to say than the paragraph about the action scenes—and it means less to me than everything else. I like these characters and really enjoy exploring this world with them, I’ve got two more of these sitting on the shelf and am eager to dive in. Fast action, charming characters, and a great SF/Fantasy setting—what’s not to enjoy? Recommended.

3.5 Stars

This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase from it, I will get a small commission at no additional cost to you. As always, opinions expressed are my own.

COVER REVEAL: Herman Needs A Home by Lucy Noguera, Illustrated by Emma Latham

By HCNewton

On May 11, 2022

In Book Tour, Fantasy, Fiction, YA/MG/Children's Books

Welcome to The Irresponsible Reader’s part in the Cover Reveal for Lucy Noguera’s Herman Needs A Home! There’s a spiffy-looking cover by Emma Latham down below, but before the picture, I’ve got a few words to share about the book.

About the Book

A little crab’s each for a shell to call home.

When Herman the hermit crab gets too big for his shell, he can’t find a new one that feels just right. With his sister, Hiro, he travels up and down the beach in search of a shell he can call home.

They don’t find a shell, but they do find something else – a pile of rubbish left behind on the sand. But can Herman make a home out of any of it?

“Herman Needs a Home showcases the challenges our marine wildlife face, and is sure to ignite the passion of young children for marine discovery and conservation.”- Jennifer Lavers, Marine Scientist, University of Tasmania

And now…

The Cover

Herman Needs A Home Cover
Is that not the cutest thing you’ve seen today?

(I had the same look on my face when I went house hunting a couple of years ago, I feel Herman’s shock)

My thanks to Love Books Group for the invitation to participate in this reveal.

COVER REVEAL: The Obsidian Eyes of Klief by Alex Robins

By HCNewton

On May 10, 2022

In Book Tour, Fantasy, Fiction

I’m very pleased to welcome the Escapist Book Tour’s Cover Reveal for Alex Robins’ The Obsidian eyes of Klief to The Irresponsible Reader this morning! This is the fourth and final book in The War of the Twelve, and it looks like this book is going out with a bang. Before we get to the cover, let’s learn a bit about this book.

Book Details:

Book Title: The Obsidian Eyes of Klief by Alex Robins
Series: The War of the Twelve #4
Publisher: Bradypus Publishing (Self Published)
Release date: June 30, 2022
Format: Ebook
Length: 408 pages
Genre: Epic Fantasy

About the Book

War ravages the troubled lands of the nine Baronies. The once-great cities of Arelium, Kessrin, and Talth are forever scarred by the passage of the greyling tide, their graveyards filled with the corpses of those who fought and died on their blood-stained walls.

Surrounded and exhausted, the fragile alliance of men must wager all on a final, daring plan: to find and destroy the creatures’ leader, an enigmatic entity known as the weaver. One of the Twelve, Makara, may hold the key to the weaver’s location, but he too is missing, lost somewhere in the remote Barony of Klief.

The tattered remains of the human armies have no choice but to follow Makara’s trail north, pursued by a relentless horde of greylings. At their head rides Zygos, his god-like intellect transferred into the body of the traitor Praxis.

The town of Klief beckons, as friend and foe alike are drawn to its dim light. It is here, before its golden gates, that the War of the Twelve will be decided.

It is here that an ancient evil will rise …

And heroes will fall.

Book Links

Amazon ~ Universal Link ~ Goodreads

About the Author

Alex Robins was born in Norwich, England back when it was still trendy to wear lycra tracksuits and bright pink headbands. Norwich School Library was where he first discovered his love of reading, an old converted undercroft packed to the rafters with books. The first fantasy series he read was The Dragonlance Chronicles by Margaret Weis & Tracey Hickman, quickly followed by The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and David Eddings’ The Belgariad.

At the age of twelve Alex moved across the channel to Nantes in France. Speaking very little French, the first few years were difficult and sometimes lonely as he scrambled to get a grip on the intricate grammar and vocabulary of the French language. His taste in books branched out from epic fantasy to science-fiction, mysteries, thrillers, and historical fiction, but he always came back to his favourite fantasy authors when looking to escape the outside world.

After degrees in agronomy, project management, and computer sciences, Alex founded his own company dedicated to online voting. He met his wife during a game of badminton and they spent several years getting trounced in various regional tournaments before getting married. Alex now lives in the sunny Loire Valley in western France, surrounded by imposing castles, sprawling vineyards, and two children. After reading fantasy books for the last thirty years he decided to write one. The Broken Heart of Arelium is his first novel, and the first in the War of the Twelve series.

Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Amazon Author Page

and now…

The Cover

The Obsidian Eyes of Klief Cover

That’s a cover that’d make me stop and take a second and third look. Probably even get me to hunt for Book #1, too.

My thanks to Escapist Book Tours for the invitation to participate in this tour and the materials they provided. The opinions expressed by me are honest and my own.

The Knave of Secrets by Alex Livingston: One night in Valtiffe and the Tough Guys Tumble

By HCNewton

On May 4, 2022

In Fantasy, Fiction

The Knave of Secrets

by Alex Livingston

DETAILS:
Publisher: Solaris (US), Rebellion Publishing (UK)
Publication Date: June 7, 2022 (US), June 9, 2022 (UK)
Format: eARC
Length: 400 pg.
Read Date: April 28- May 2, 2022

What’s The Knave of Secrets About?

Valen Quinol has pretty modest ambitions—he’s not looking to become rich or famous or anything, he’s seeking stability and comfort. He wants to open a casino with his wife, he just needs to get the money to do that. Earlier in his life, he went to wizarding school and left in a pretty noteworthy fashion, when it was clear that his scholarly ambitions were going to be thwarted. So he turned to the only thing he knew he could support himself with—gambling. And sure, in addition to being a pretty savvy gamesman, he became pretty skillful in ways to rig games.

Valen’s wife, a friend who left school with him—Teneriève—and another friend work with him now—traveling around from casino to casino, from tavern to inn, etc. making enough money to support themselves, and maybe put a little away.

After the reader meets the crew, a local ganglord pays Valen and Margo a visit to hire/threaten them into doing a job for him. Valen typically shuns his work, but this one comes with some tantalizing bait—Valen will be given the buy-in for a local tournament and can keep the money he earns. All he has to do is make sure one competitor walks losing everything they came to play with. If he turns this down, well, there’ll be a duel in his future. And Valen’s a cardsharp, not a fighter. It will not go well for him.

Because this isn’t that kind of Fantasy novel, Valen and his talents go with the less violent option. What Valen doesn’t realize—and his sponsor doesn’t either—what the defeat of his target is going to kick off and drag them all into.

Espionage, murder, political intrigue, societal upheaval—and the imminent possibility of a world war. All because of a game of chance.

We get to watch Valen and his crew (partially) realize what they’ve instigated, as well as getting points of view of several of the major players in the fallout.

Teneriève

Teneriève is one of the more interesting characters in the novel—she’s from a group that’s essentially an analogue to the Roma, and faces hostility and discrimination everywhere she goes. Valen’s crew are the only family she’s known since leaving home, but even then, she doesn’t feel secure—not because of anything they do/think, but because of her own issues.

Her story arc doesn’t go the way you think it will initially, and I’m glad it didn’t. Her story definitely doesn’t get wrapped up in a tidy bow. She could probably serve as the central character in a follow-up novel because there’s a lot to her that could be explored. I also really appreciated while the Roma-esque nature of her background informs her actions and attitudes, her story isn’t all about that identity.

Quick tip: As good as the other storylines are, pay special attention to her scenes, they’re better (and frequently more frustrating and rewarding) than the rest.

Something that Just Occurred to Me

Before I hit Publish, I was struck by the thought that this is one of the most PG-13 Fantasy novels I’ve read in a dog’s age that wasn’t targeted at an MG audience. Maybe even PG (but a couple of the deaths probably shove it into the PG-13 world).

I don’t know that this is a plus or a minus in some readers’ minds, but I thought it was noteworthy—who writes like that anymore?

So, what did I think about The Knave of Secrets?

I’ll tell you this upfront: I was not in the right frame of mind for this book when I started it. A novel with a new magic system, an involved history, a complicated (but not convoluted) political situation, and gambling—and people cheating at gambling. So you’ve got to understand the new games pretty well to visualize not just how to play, but how to cheat. Frankly, that’s a lot of work.

Now, that’s not unusual for a Fantasy novel—and I’m not complaining. I’m just saying that when I started this book I didn’t have the mental energy to dive in, and I really wasn’t in the mood for it. So when I say that before the halfway point Livingston had me very engaged and invested in the plot and characters, that’s saying something.

Livingston has done his homework and has created a very rich world here, we get to see some of it, but probably not all of it. Whether or not this is true, he really gives the sense that he knows all of the ins and outs of the history of these nations going back centuries—and (most importantly) has resisted the impulse to dump it all on the reader. Instead, he gives us just what we need to ground the story and character actions. Give me a book that hints at worldbuilding any day over a book that reads like a history textbook (however interesting the history may be).

All the marketing for this mentions The Lies of Locke Lamora, and insofar as the book centers on a specialized form of criminals fleecing the rich, sure, I can get behind it. But this has a very different flavor and feel than Lynch’s novel. Some marketing mentions The Mask of Mirrors—and that feels a bit more on point. Other comparisons involve Casino Royale—beyond the gambling, I don’t know if that’s appropriate or not, I fell asleep each of the four times I started that flick. The political intrigue of this makes it more like The Mask of Mirrors or the less bloody and sexy parts of A Song of Ice and Fire. I don’t point this out (just) to criticize the marketing materials, just to help expectations—don’t go into this novel to meet the next Gentleman Bastards, go into it for a new and distinct kind of Fantasy novel.

Despite not being in the right headspace for The Knave of Secrets and going into it with wrong expectations, I ended up pretty impressed with this novel and would definitely recommend this to a wide audience. It’s a satisfying read that will leave you wanting to know more about this world and most of these characters.

This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase from it, I will get a small commission at no additional cost to you. As always, opinions are my own.

My thanks to The Write Reads for the invitation to participate in this tour and the materials (including the novel via NetGalley and Rebellion/Solaris) they provided.

Category: Fantasy Page 14 of 34

What’s Magic Kingdom for Sale–Sold! About?

Ben’s Emotional State

How Was the Narration?

So, what did I think about Magic Kingdom for Sale–Sold!?

What’s Crazy in Poughkeepsie About?

How Were the Illustrations?

So, what did I think about Crazy in Poughkeepsie?

What’s The Knave of Secrets About?

Teneriève

Something that Just Occurred to Me

So, what did I think about The Knave of Secrets?

What’s The Traitor’s Heir About?

What I Don’t Get…

So, what did I think about The Traitor’s Heir?

What’s Conjured Defense About?

So, what did I think about Conjured Defense?

About the Book

And now…

The Cover

Book Details:

About the Book

See Also:

Book Links

About the Author

and now…

The Cover

What’s The Knave of Secrets About?

Teneriève

Something that Just Occurred to Me

So, what did I think about The Knave of Secrets?