Category: Fiction Page 330 of 341

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

In a very real sense, there’s practically nothing new in this book–neophyte wizard just discovering a world of magic; super-secret police division tasked with investigating (and covering up) supernatural crimes; a whole world of ghosts, vamps, trolls, dryads, nymphs, demigods living unseen amongst mortals; clever (and funny) pop culture references littered throughout the text; and so on…Urban Fantasy 101.

BUT, there’s something about the way that Aaronovitch writes that makes Midnight Riot so fresh, so entertaining, so fun, it feels like I’m reading a brand new genre. He’s basically the British Anton Strout (but a tad bit funnier).

I had a blast reading this–every second of it–laughed out loud, sat on the edge of my seat, and tore through this book.

Dusted Off: Master of None by Sonya Bateman

By HCNewton

On April 19, 2011

In Fiction, Urban Fantasy

Master of None by Sonya Bateman

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I’m way late on this, but really wanted to write something about it, and yet I’m really lazy. So, this isn’t going to be as good as it should be…let me start by quoting from the back of the book (or the amazon/goodreads description anyway, think it’s what the book had on it):

ONE UNLUCKY THIEF. ONE UNLIKELY GENIE. ONE VERY ODD COUPLE. Gavyn Donatti is the world’s unluckiest thief. Just ask all the partners he’s lost over the years. And when he misplaces an irreplaceable item he was hired to steal for his ruthless employer, Trevor—-well, his latest bungle just might be his last. But then his luck finally turns: right when Trevor’s thugs have him cornered, a djinn, otherwise known as a genie, appears to save him.Unfortunately, this genie—-who goes by the very non-magical name of “Ian”—-is more Hellboy than dream girl. An overgrown and extremely surly man who seems to hate Donatti on the spot, he may call Donatti master, but he isn’t interested in granting three wishes. He informs Donatti that he is bound to help the thief fulfill his life’s purpose, and then he will be free. The problem is that neither Donatti nor Ian has any idea what exactly that purpose is.

If that description doesn’t pique your interest, you’d better skip this novel. If it does, on the other hand, grab the book–it delivers on the promise in spades. I mean, come on! A grumpy djinn “serving” a barely competent thief.

It’s a good read, with a heckuva cast of characters, gritty but not grim–ensured by an overly generous supply of wisecracks, and a magic system/overall mythology that’s intriguing and rich enough to mine for a long time.

Master of None is enjoyable enough on its own, but now that the initial bout of setup and world-building is done, I’m really looking forward to seeing what Bateman has in store for this series.

Dusted Off: Dark Jenny by Alex Bledsoe

By HCNewton

On April 16, 2011

In Alex Bledsoe, Authors, Eddie LaCrosse, Fantasy, Fiction, Mystery/Detective Fiction/Crime Fiction/Thriller

Dark Jenny by Alex Bledsoe

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I’ll be honest with you, I have only the vaguest of memory of what actually happened in the first Eddie LaCrosse novel (The Sword-Edged Blonde), and only somewhat better recall about the second (Burn Me Deadly). That’s a reflection on the amount of stuff I’ve read in that time, and is in no way a reflection on Bledsoe. I do have a very clear recollection about what both books told me about Alex Bledsoe’s talent and that I enjoyed them a lot. I’m equally certain that Dark Jenny won’t suffer from that same fading from memory/excuse to reread them. This one is gonna stay with me for awhile.

Essentially, this book is a variation of an Arthurian story–ideal king, queen rumored to be less than ideal, noble knight corps with a few rotten apples thrown in, a wizard figure, wicked half-sister, and a whole lotta intrigue–with a few unique twists of Bledsoe’s own thrown in for good measure. Not a sour note to be found here–some notes that were hard to listen to, sure, but…okay, there’s a metaphor that went awry. I was trying to say that yes, there were things that were less pleasant than others–this book goes to some dark, nasty places–but it all worked well.

We get this Arthurian tale via an extended flashback–in the middle of a nasty winter storm, with nothing else to occupy the attention of his neighbors, Eddie receives an interesting package. One so interesting, there has to be a great tale that goes along with it–which he ends up telling to the crowd at his favorite tavern (with only the tiniest of breaks to remind us that this is all in Eddie’s past). By making this all an extended flashback, Bledsoe is able to give us a slightly different version of Eddie–one on the way to being the guy we’ve seen in the last two books. It also gives him the excuse to have a great femme fatale to grab Eddie’s attention without having to write around his lovely lady.

A great, riveting fantasy noir. Can’t wait for the next one already. A decent jumping on point for those new to the series, and a great third installment for those who’ve been around for awhile.

Dusted Off: Agent to the Stars by John Scalzi

By HCNewton

On April 13, 2011

In Authors, Fiction, John Scalzi, P-U, Science Fiction

Agent to the Stars by John Scalzi

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Short Version: A good, good story told in a fun–often funny–way.

Long Version: In the Author’s Note, while Scalzi is describing the long, strange journey this novel took to get to this particular edition, he calls it the “book that won’t quit.” It took me maybe 50 pages to see why. This is one froody book.

The tone is great, the style is spot on, good satire/commentary on Hollywood’s place in the world, everything about the alien race–their language, appearance, spaceship, ways to interact with humans/other creatures…just wonderfully imaginative.

In case you haven’t read the blurb–an up and coming Hollywood agent is hired by a (by human standards) ugly, nauseatingly smelly alien race to help their “image” so they can make first contact with humanity. Why an agent, why not a President or something? ‘Cuz the aliens know where real power and influence are centered. So, our hero has to balance his Hollywood weirdo clients, the aliens and a nosy journalist who won’t leave him alone; while he comes up with a way to sell this species to humanity.

Funny, funny stuff on many levels and in different ways. But the book has a lot of heart, too. Just a pleasure to read.

Dusted Off: Steel by Carrie Vaughn

By HCNewton

On April 12, 2011

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

Steel by Carrie Vaughn

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Let me start by saying I’m a big, big fan of Carrie Vaughn. Read every book–and can’t imagine stopping. I’ve recommended this book to my sons and am going to loan this to my niece. But, (and you knew one was coming given that opening) man, this could’ve been–should’ve been–a much better book.

Jill, a championship level fencer and potential Olympian, suffers a tough loss, sending her into a losing battle with self-doubt. Soon after, her parents drag her along on a family vacation in the Bahamas (poor girl, right?). Walking along the beach, she stumbles on to a piece of a broken sword–an old, broken sword. First time she’s held anything but a blunt, sport blade. Enchanted with the notion, she tucks it away.

Turns out, not only is her imagination bespelled, she is–before she knows it, Jill finds herself on an actual pirate ship a couple of hundred years in the past. After she figures out what happened to her, she finds herself part of the crew, growing close to a handful of them (a hunky age-appropriate pirate in particular) and learning about the sword’s magic.

While she tries to find a way home, she learns a little about herself and a little about life. (wow, that sounds like a cheesy after school special…which not exactly inaccurate, but Vaughn pulls it off).

Vaughn touches upon some pretty dark stuff here, enough to make it authentic (or authentic-ish, anyway)–but makes sure that it stays a pretty tame PG-13.

And that’s the crux of my problem with the book–she pulls her punches, just about all of them. She did it with Voices of Dragons, too–less so, here, though. Yes, it’s a YA book, and yes, I think she’s right to do it. I just think she shouldn’t pull back as much. Everything here–from character, plot, setting, narrative, action–it’s all perfectly fine, it’s all age appropriate, but she certainly could’ve fleshed it all out more without going over the line.

Still, it’s a good, swashbuckling read.

Dusted Off: Moonheart by Charles de Lint

By HCNewton

On March 17, 2011

In Fantasy, Fiction

Moonheart by Charles de Lint

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Man, I wanted to like this book. Really, really wanted to…and I almost did.

The plot, the characters, the world de Lint built…were all so close to being good, to being right what I was looking for, but ultimately missed it.

The elements are all there for something great: a mix of the real world, a secret government program, Celtic mythology and Native American tales–oh, yeah, and a magic house. Who could want more? Not me. Unless you count a plot that moves faster than a glacier and well-developed characters that get the chance to do something.

There are just far too many characters moving around this book — it’s honestly difficult at times to keep track of some of them. And tracking is essential, because the book is essentially 320 pages of introducing players and moving them around to set up the last 90 pages (don’t have the book with me, so my page counts are estimates).

Nice try, but nowhere near as good as his straight fantasy that preceded it.

Dusted Off: Fourth Day by Zoe Sharp

By HCNewton

On March 15, 2011

In Fiction, Mystery/Detective Fiction/Crime Fiction/Thriller

Fourth Day by Zoe Sharp

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This isn’t your typical Charlie Fox novel, and in this case, that’s a good thing (I can easily see where an atypical Fox novel would disturb my quiet).

Are there twists? Yup. Action? Yup. Bad guys in need of taking down? Yup. As you’d expect. A few less bullets than you’d expect.

But there was more to this. Sure, Sharp develops her characters further and further each novel–but here, they grew by leaps and bounds, a few books’ worth. And it didn’t seem forced or obligatory, it was wholly organic and genuine.

Honestly, I groaned when I realized we were getting “undercover op in a cult compound” for a mission. But it turned out to be so much more, and a satisfying read.

(I just hope for a little more action and a little less heart next time)

Dusted Off: The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley

By HCNewton

On March 12, 2011

In Fiction, Mystery/Detective Fiction/Crime Fiction/Thriller

The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I don’t know why so many of the reviews/recommendations I’ve read for this book compare the hero, Flavia de Luce, to Lisbeth Sanders. I guess it’s because they’re both not your typical female mystery protagonist. The comparison doesn’t seem fair — I know which one I’d like my sons to marry (seriously, if she has a granddaughter…). On the other hand, I know which one I’d like walking home with my daughter after dark, too.

Anyway, I need to get back on task, this, by gum, was a fun read with an utterly charming hero that deserves all the accolades and awards it’s getting.

Our 11-year-old hero (no, this is not a kid’s book [not that there’s anything inappropriate for anyone who’s made it through Rowling here]) is a budding, self-taught, chemist with a curious mind and a stubborn streak a mile wide. Her family life is a mess — but in a charming, amusing, English countryside way — but our plucky gal has managed to get through it pretty much intact and for the better.

So when she discovers a body on her lawn, yet the police shoo her away from the crime scene and dismiss her, she starts her own investigation. She’s helped early on by a fact or two the police didn’t obtain from her, and some that she kept to herself out of spite. Her father’s arrest for the murder just adds fuel to her fire and becomes determined not only to solve the case before the police but to make them eat a good-sized helping of crow.

Probably not much of a spoiler to say that’s exactly what she does, because the book’s not about that foregone conclusion, but in watching Flavia do that while making less than flattering observations about her older sisters.

Highly recommended.

Dusted Off: Legacy by Jeanne C. Stein

By HCNewton

On March 11, 2011

In Authors, Fiction, Jeanne C. Stein, P-U, Urban Fantasy

Legacy by Jeanne C. Stein

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I was almost disappointed by this one, on second thought, maybe I was disappointed by this installment in the Anna Strong series.

Stein introduces us to her version of werewolves (different, a la Meyer, than the shapechangers we’ve already met). Her take on the species isn’t my favorite, but I dig what she’s doing with them and the backstory for vamps/werewolves/demons she worked up.

I wasn’t crazy about how Anna “solved” the real world job (which she really didn’t do), but I thought she handled the supernatural “case” okay. On the whole, though, this book showed Anna at her most clueless, which may be what Stein intended–as long as she’s denying one side of her nature, she can’t be what she needs to be, etc.–but I doubt it.

For a page or so I thought we were done with the Max subplot after book #3, but no. I thought we were done with the Gloria thing, but no. I thought the David stuff had turned a page and onto something new there, but no. And so on.

Basically, this book served to shuffle the characters around a bit to (potentially, hopefully) do something with next time around.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m back for (at least) #5 and #6. Just hoping I don’t regret it.

Dusted Off: God’s War by Kameron Hurley

By HCNewton

On March 10, 2011

In Fiction, Science Fiction

God’s War by Kameron Hurley

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

On a planet colonized by Muslims using insect-based technology in the far-flung future ravaged a multi-sect religious war, in the midst of which a scrappy band of pansexual assassins try to scrap out a living (selling the occasional organ to pay bills). Ho-hum. Nothing we all haven’t read a thousand times before, right?

Well, maybe not. Fantastic concept, well-written, heckuva world built by Hurley here.

But here’s the problem — I couldn’t force myself to care about any of these characters, particularly the protagonist Nyx. Unpleasant people, no real moral core, no reason to root for/against them, to care about their lives, their missions, their wars. I kept trying and trying and trying to find a reason to get invested in this beyond trying to figure out exactly how the insect-tech worked and utterly failed at every turn.

You can have the coolest, most inventive setup imaginable, but if you don’t fill it with people readers can give a rip about, it’s just not worth the effort.