Category: Fiction Page 81 of 341

DETAILS:
Series: The Ballad of Bonaduke, #8
Format: Kindle Vella Story
Read Date: November 10, 2022

I smiled at the stupidity of it all. No one who was right in the head would think this would work, even with a real coin. “Stupid stuff works all the time.”

The Story So Far…

A drunken Michael Bonaduke decides to use a grift (with maybe some sort of magic/magic-like “help”) to win on a scratch-off lottery ticket so he has money to buy more to drink. He pulls off whatever he did, gets his money and some booze and stumbles off into the darkness to drink himself into oblivion so he can start again the next day. He’s hit by dark memories (probably what’s driving him to the drinking) of fire, pleading, and screaming. There’s going to be a price to pay for his grift, and he’s trying to be ready.

Before then, he gets himself drunk and we get some of his tragic backstory. As he ponders this, he decides to use some of his ill-gotten-gains to buy more booze and walks into a liquor store robbery. He foils it in some sort of magical fashion, gets some more to drink, and heads off to the park to drink until he’s arrested (probably for the failed robbery). At least that’s his plan, but it gets interrupted by being hit by a car. He wakes up on some sort of short, metal bed and is unsure what’s going on. It turns out that some group is subjecting him to a test—if he passes, everything will be explained to him (and hopefully the reader, too).

What’s Cat out of the bag About?

Bonaduke tries a couple of new strategies that fail, and when he’s about at the end of his rope, or maybe at the end of his rope, something happens. Now he’s ready to begin.

So, what did I think about Cat out of the bag?

Oh, ho. Now we’re cooking with fire—we see a little about Bonaduke’s childhood. And we get to the end of the test, so we can find out what this has all been leading to. Whatever it is, it feels like a real improvement compared to his life on the streets.

Or, it could be a trap.

Either way, it will be fun to see.

3.5 Stars

Less by Andrew by Sean Greer: Is a Thing I Read

By HCNewton

On November 9, 2022

In Fiction, General Fiction/Literature

Less

by Andrew Sean Greer

DETAILS:
Publisher: Back Bay Books
Publication Date: May 21, 2018
Format: Paperback
Length: 261 pg.
Read Date: November 4-7, 2022

I am probably going to say an awful lot of seemingly contradictory things here, so the tweet-length version of this post is: Less is full of gorgeous prose but the character and story never interested me one whit.

What’s Less About?

From the back of the book:

Who says you can’t run away from your problems?

You are a failed novelist about to turn fifty. A wedding invitation arrives in the mail: your boyfriend of the past nine years is engaged to someone else. You can’t say yes–it would be too awkward. And you can’t say no–it would look like defeat. On your desk are a series of invitations to half-baked literary events around the world.

QUESTION: How do you arrange to skip town?

ANSWER: You accept them all.

What would possibly go wrong?

Thus begins an around-the-world-in-eighty-days fantasia that will take the novelist Arthur Less to Mexico, Italy, Germany, Morocco, India, and Japan and put thousands of miles between him and the plight he refuses to face.

Why Didn’t I Just DNF This?

Three reasons, none of which hold any kind of water, but seemed to carry the day.

1. I hate to DNF books, holding out hope that they’ll win me over eventually. Enough have that I can’t shake the habit. (as I explained here)
2. I really hate to DNF books I spent money on. I also refuse to DNF books that I receive from an author or as an ARC. So basically, I’ve learned via this bullet point that I’ll only DNF library books (with incredibly rare exceptions)
3. I finally took this off my TBR shelf because of a reading challenge, and it’d feel strange to cross this off my to-do list without having read the whole thing.

But I came close frequently over the first hundred pages or so, but then I figured while I wasn’t going to have a good time, there were enough gems along the way, that it was worth the bother. Also, there was one thing I was mildly curious about (although I forgot about it until the answer was revealed).

The Metanarrative at Work

This may get too close to a spoiler for the truly phobic, although I’ll be as vague as I can be, so feel free to skip to the next heading.

Throughout the book, Arthur hears some hard things about his work. Someone that he meets along his travels is very frank about the problems with his novels as a whole—although she adored one of them—and their criticisms, he hears a lot about what is wrong with the novel his publisher had just declined to buy from him.

Their words stick with him and at some point, he accepts their argument (at least about his new book) and dives in to rework it in light of those ideas. In his view, at least, saving the novel and maybe producing something his publisher would want—perhaps something that would find success both with the critics and the market.

It could be said—It shouldn’t (probably), but it could—that Greer took an early draft of Less and saw (or was shown) the same things in it that Arthur saw in his new novel, and then took the same approach that his character did, reshaping the work until it resulted in what I just read. I’m sure Greer just came up with this device for Arthur (perhaps started from it) and wrote for it.

Instead, what we really have is the Author coming alongside the reader and telling us “Here’s how to read this book. All those things along the way up to this point? This is what I’ve been doing with them.” I can appreciate why he’d do that, I think it worked pretty well for this book—and I generally like it when authors do that (although I usually think it’s unnecessary and often self-indulgent). I don’t know that the book needed that done, but I think it helped.

It didn’t change my opinion of the novel much, if at all, but it did make me a bit more certain about Greer’s intention and themes.

So, what did I think about Less?

I started with this point, and I’ll wrap up with it here at the end—the prose is gorgeous. If you can go more than three pages without admiring a sentence or paragraph (if not more), it’s because you weren’t paying attention. I can see why readers and critics who connected with the material raved about this and threw awards at it.

But I never connected to Arthur. It’s not his lifestyle, it’s not his indolence, his pretentiousness, his…cluelessness (it’s not the right word, but it’s close enough). I’ve read and enjoyed characters like that before (and will again). It’s just Arthur and his story that didn’t work for me. I found his strategy for dealing with the wedding foolish and cowardly. I didn’t find the humor in the whole less-fluent-than-he-realizes-in-German schtick.* I’m not so sure I ever bought into whatever self-discovery he made. I really think the ending—and what it suggests is about to happen—undercut whatever Less had achieved through his travels.

* On the other hand, DeLillo’s Jack Gladney being unable to read or speak German absolutely works for me. I am not anti-satire involving Teutonic languages. I just thought I should make that clear.

Because I appreciated the writing so much, I can’t bring myself to give this the 2.5/2 stars I’d have otherwise given this. Read other people raving about the book, read the book if you’re curious, but I really can’t recommend it.

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, the opinions expressed are my own.

Terry’s Crew by Terry Crews and Cory Thomas: Brings a Much-Needed Dose of Encouragement and Enthusiasm to the Page

By HCNewton

On November 8, 2022

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

Be sure to check out the rest of the highlights, reviews, and other posts associated with the Tour here.

Terry’s Crew

by Terry Crews, Cory Thomas (Illustrator)

DETAILS:
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: November 8, 2022
Format: eBook
Length: 208 pg.
Read Date: November 4, 2022

What’s Terry’s Crew About?

Our protagonist, Terry, is a bright, energetic (very energetic) kid with big dreams. Huge dreams. He even has a name for them, and when he speaks, you can hear the capitalization—Big Dream Plan.* He is basically the living embodiment of joie de vivre. We meet him the day before he starts a new Middle School on the other side of town—he’s qualified for a scholarship and his parents are hoping this is his ticket to a better life.

* Yes, this is a graphic novel, so you can literally see the capitals, but those around him hear the capitals.

Not that there’s anything wrong with the life he has—demanding, strict, but caring and supportive parents. An older brother who always has his back (although he’s human and stumbles), who has the same hopes for Terry that he does. He even has a small-time criminal from the neighborhood looking out for him. It’s a good life, but his parents still hope that his talents and ambitions can give him a better (read: financially secure and in a better neighborhood).

Okay, that’s more space than I thought the introduction was going to take, let’s get moving. His new school is dazzling—there’s clearly money being spent on all levels here. And most of the students come from it, too. It seems to take Terry a while to figure that out, and when he does, it doesn’t seem to phase him.

Terry has a hard time making friends at first but is given a chance to get in with the “in crowd” (I’m sure no one says that anymore, but I’m not going to try to pretend I know what people say), by bullying a kid. It goes well enough, but he feels horrible about it and tries to make things right the next day. This leads to Terry landing a small group of potential friends (including the kid he bullied) and puts him firmly in the “out-crowd.”

An extra-curricular group activity proves the perfect outlet for Terry’s creativity (which needs a large outlet, the kid cannot stop creating), but it seems to be damaging his grades. His mother puts an end to that—which causes some family tension and forces Terry to be even more creative in his approach to the extra-curricular activity.

Things go on from there—basically, this is about Terry getting his feet wet in a new world of opportunity, learning how to navigate it, making some real friends, and learning to appreciate the support and direction of his parents.

The Tone of the Book

Terry’s pretty naïve—or at least he comes across that way. He’s so caught up in his dreams and the possibilities of the future that he really doesn’t seem to notice or understand the harsher realities around him. His big brother does a good job of helping him navigate through this without opening his eyes.

This gives the whole book a similarly hopeful and almost starry-eyed tone and feel. But the art is thoughtfully used to make sure the reader sees the reality—the looks on the faces of characters around him, the changes in the economic status of his environments, the run-down nature of his neighborhood’s buildings, and so on. Terry’s eyes are on the bright future, but he’s living in a very real now, and the art serves well to show that both of these things are true.

It feels like I’ve already transitioned out of this section into the next, let’s make it official:

A Word About the Art

Cory Thomas is a huge part of what makes this graphic novel work. From his capturing the dual worlds that Terry lives into his character designs and the sense of energy conveyed on the page, Thomas really brought this to life.

As usual, I struggle to describe the artwork, so forgive me if any of the positive things I’m trying to say here don’t sound positive.

Thomas’s artwork isn’t polished and full of fine detail—these aren’t beautiful panels like you’d get from George Pérez or someone in his school. The penciling and inking are rough, the lines are jagged—they convey an energy, a youth, and a vitality more like Bill Watterson (and the more I think of it, the more I like my floundering here landed on Watterson as a comparison).

The expressions on the character’s faces alone make me want to commend his artwork here, from Terry’s almost ever-present smile (in various wattages) to the doubt or cynicism depicted on others, these characters pop off the page.

So, what did I think about Terry’s Crew?

In interviews (and in many of his performances), Terry Crews comes across as someone with an indefatigable optimism, an infectious enthusiasm, and a near-unrelenting positivity. I get the impression that this is a fully intentional outlook on his part and I can’t help but admire it. This book encapsulates that outlook and brings it to life in this fictional Terry.

Yes, I wondered if the book ends up being a little Pollyanna-ish in the end, but I think that was the goal—and who doesn’t need a little sunshine? I had a lot of fun reading this—I think it’s difficult not to. Terry, his friends, family, and others (including the nefarious neighborhood supporter) show that with support, encouragement, and teamwork, small dreams can come true—with the assurance that comes from that. If you can make enough of those small dreams come true, even a Big Dream Plan is possible.

This worked for me, someone decades past the target audience, I’d like to think—and I hope—that this will bring some encouragement into the lives of the Middle-Grade audience, too. I recommend picking this up and putting it in the hands of the Middle Grade (maybe even younger) reader in your life.

4 Stars

About the Book:

Actor-author-athlete Terry Crews digs into his childhood in Flint, Michigan, to tell a story of fitting in and finding your place in his showstopping debut middle-grade graphic novel, the start of a series.

Young Terry Crews has a Big Dream Plan: He wants to become a MULTIHYPHENATE. That means he wants to be an artist. And a football player. And a musician. And maybe a NASA scientist, too! OK, maybe it’s ambitious, but his parents worked hard so he could go to a new school—Rock City Academy, a prestigious institution (read: rich kids go there) where he’s sure he can make his mark at the talent show. He plans an elaborate performance with his new friends, Rani, a passionate engineer, and Xander, a shy kid with a head like an encyclopedia.

Along the way, Terry’s plan is threatened by his grades, which slip below Mom-and-Dad-approved levels, as well as the schemes of the school’s football star, Rick, who won’t stop until Terry quits the talent show altogether. No matter what challenges he faces, though, Terry knows that he always has his crew to back him up.

Purchase Links

Goodreads ~ Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Book Depository ~ Indigo ~ IndieBound

About the Author:

Terry Alan Crews (born July 30, 1968) is an American actor and former American football player. He is best known for playing Julius on the UPN/CW sitcom Everybody Hates Chris, Sergeant Terry Jeffords on the NBC comedy Brooklyn Nine-Nine, and for his appearances in Old Spice commercials, as well as films such as Friday After Next, Idiocracy, and The Expendables series. He is a host of America’s Got Talent.

Author Links

Twitter ~ Instagram ~ Goodreads ~ Facebook

My thanks to TBR and Beyond Tours for the invitation to participate in this Book Tour and the materials (including the book) they provided.

BOOK SPOTLIGHT: Terry’s Crew by Terry Crews and Cory Thomas

By HCNewton

On November 8, 2022

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

Today I’m very pleased to welcome the Book Tour for the graphic novel, Terry’s Crew by Terry Crews and Cory Thomas (which happens to publish today, something you should take advantage of). It’s a fun read and I’m happy to spend some time today highlighting it. Along with this spotlight post, I have my take on the graphic novel later this morning. (That links will work when the post goes live.) Be sure to check out the rest of the highlights, reviews, and other posts associated with the Tour here.

First, let’s take a look at Terry’s Crew.

Book Details:

Book Title: Terry’s Crew by Terry Crews and Cory Thomas
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Release date: November 8, 2022
Format: Hardcover/Trade Paperback/Ebook
Length: 208 pages
ISBN: 9780316499989

About the Book:

“Terry’s Crew is a true delight from beginning to end. It’s sure to provide a much-needed mirror and sliding glass door for countless kids.” —Angie Thomas, author of The Hate U Give

“A delightful, powerful, readable retelling of Terry Crews’s adolescence. Readers young and old will be captivated.”
—Sharon M. Draper, author of Out of My Mind

“A must read for all those kids who allow themselves to dream in a variety of big ways. Bravo!” —Pablo Cartaya, author of The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora

Purchase Links

Goodreads ~ Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Book Depository ~ Indigo ~ IndieBound

About the Author:

Author Links

Twitter ~ Instagram ~ Goodreads ~ Facebook

My thanks to TBR and Beyond Tours for the invitation to participate in this Book Tour and the materials (including the book) they provided.

The Truth (Audiobook) by Peter Grainger, Gildart Jackson DC Shakes the Dust Off and Steps Up for a Friend

By HCNewton

On November 7, 2022

In Audiobook, DC Smith & Kings Lake, Fiction, Mystery/Detective Fiction/Crime Fiction/Thriller

The Truth

by Peter Grainger, Gildart Jackson (Narrator)

DETAILS:
A DC Smith Investigation, #9
Publisher: Tantor Audio
Publication Date: October 25, 2021
Format: Unabridged Audiobook
Length: 8 hrs., 56 min.
Read Date: September 19-21, 2022

What’s The Truth About?

Charlie Hills, the former Desk Sergeant at King’s Lake Central and verbal sparring partner of DC Smith has a problem—his son has been arrested on drug charges. Charlie’s retired, and apparently forgotten about by everyone at the station, so can get no favors pulled on his son’s behalf. The lawyer he’s hired for his son is one of the best around, and they think they’re in good shape. But Charlie doesn’t want to wait for that.

DC Smith gets wind of the trouble and volunteers to help out—he first has to get himself hired on (albeit temporarily) with PI firm so he can get standing to do any investigating. Then he dives in.

It’s quite an adjustment having to rely on his own wits and guile, without any threat of official power behind him as he pokes around the evidence. On the other hand, when has DC not relied on his wits and guile more than anything?

The investigation brings him close to more than one unsavory character, a couple of faces from his past, and a little more danger than we’re accustomed to DC facing—along with a bit of international travel and our man having to figure out how Airbnb works. That last just might cause DC to retire for good.

What’s in a Name?

DC decides to do his PI work under his Christian name, David. If for no other reason, the joke wouldn’t work without any Detective Constables around. So apart from some old friends of his (and the series’ fans), he’s called David or Smith by everyone. This is a rather minor note, but imagine what it would be like if we actually learned Spenser’s name and everyone started using it.

I never adjusted to it—David will always be D.C. to me, and I didn’t stop doing audio double-takes every time anyone other than Jo referred to him as “David.” Neither in this post or any future ones (assuming there are future PI cases for him) will I call him anything but DC or Smith. It does make for a pretty clear line of demarcation between his two careers, but…ick.

Gildart Jackson’s Narration

I know I’m supposed to talk about the narration for this book—everyone who writes blog posts or articles about reviewing audiobooks says you have to. And, you really should—they are tasked to bring the author’s words to life, convey the characters, and keep the listener engaged.

But I’ve talked about Jackson’s work on the 8 previous Smith novels, 3 King’s Lake novels, and likely some Alex Verus stuff. I don’t know what to say about him that I haven’t said before. He’s perfect for this series and it’s fantastic to hear him spending this much time with DC and other old friends. But I don’t know how to say anything new about him and I’m tired of saying the same things over and over (and loyal readers are probably tired of my stretches toward novelty). So, I guess I have to take a pass on it this time.

So, what did I think about The Truth?

It’s great to see DC back in action again—such an old pro playing the fish-out-of-water is a nice touch, too. Sure, with Rebus and Bosch (among others), it’s not unheard of to see the retired police detective doing the PI thing. But it feels different (if inevitable) with DC. He’s been such a believer in the police services, and so denigrated PIs, that it’s striking to see him do this.

But oh, so good for the fans. It’s a good case for DC, no matter who is paying the bills. And it’s a good novel for the author—in particular, the last chapter or two are killers. Grainger’s firing on all cylinders here with DC back at the helm. It’s a joy to see.

It’s clear from what Jo’s said to Chris over the course of time in the King’s Lake books that DC needed something to do other than putter around the house and play around with the dog. So you knew something like this was coming. It also seemed like it’d take something like Charlie Hills being in trouble to get him moving. Now the hope has to be that he realizes how good it was for him, so that Grainger has to work in the occasional (or frequent, I’d be okay with frequent) case for DC between King’s Lake books.

I heartily recommend this one—it’d probably be best if you were familiar with the character before this novel, but not necessary. Come on in, the water’s fine.

4 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, the opinions expressed are my own.

For We Are Many (Audiobook) by Dennis E. Taylor, Ray Porter (Narrator): Who Knew that Finding a Replacement for Earth Was the Easy Part

By HCNewton

On November 7, 2022

In Audiobook, Fiction, Science Fiction

For We Are Many

by Dennis E. Taylor, Ray Porter (Narrator)

DETAILS:
Series: Bobiverse, Book 2
Publisher: Audible Studios
Publication Date: September 18, 2017
Format: Unabridged Audiobook
Length: 8 hrs, 59 min.
Read Date: September 28-29, 2022

What’s For We Are Many About?

It’s been around 40 years or so since the Bobs started their mission of finding a place for the tiny sliver of humanity that’s still eking out a survival on Earth. They’ve started colonizing one planet and continue to look for others.

On Earth terrorists upset with the evacuation priorities—and some that think humanity should die off—harass the efforts and cause a little trouble. Extra-terrestrial life (some sentient and some others) cause other problems for the Bobs. The Brazilian probes are still trying to attack, too.

Then they encounter an alien space-traveling species—their first. This group (soon dubbed the Others) are enough to make Star Trek‘s the Bord look warm and fuzzy. Naturally, the Bobs quickly annoy them.

But really, the biggest problem comes from within. The Bobs are having a hard time coping with their virtual invulnerability as they deal with humans (and others) who aren’t so long-lived. Some of the Bobs begin calling them “ephemerals” as they try to find ways to cope. Whatever the problems that come from their opponents throughout the universe, it looks like this one may be the biggest challenge.

Ray Porter’s Narration

Porter was the deciding factor for me trying out the series in the first place, and he’d be enough of a reason to stick around. I don’t need him to be—the story and characters are really what are keeping me around—but him doing narrating is a nice bonus.

I really don’t know what to say beyond that—I’m becoming a real Porter fan here (and got excited a couple of days ago when I saw he’s done some work on another series I just started).

So, what did I think about For We Are Many?

This is exactly what a sequel to We Are Legion (We Are Bob) should be—the action picks up right where we left off, the stories continue to develop well and we get some good resolution, the stakes get raised, and the characters develop in ways that are natural yet unanticipated. The laughs are still there as is the tension—and maybe both are a little sharper. I love how all these Bobs are variations of each other, and yet come across as so distinctive (while Porter barely does anything different for almost all of them)—that’s in the writing and the performing, and it’s just great.

The last hour or so was the best writing and character work in the two books and made me eager for the next one.

This is great popcorn fun, and something tells me that I’m going to spend a lot of time with Mr. Taylor over the next few months (at least) (and hopefully more time with Mr. Porter, too).

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, the opinions expressed are my own.

Kestral’s Dance by Misty Massey: Fencing, Fighting, Torture, Revenge, Giant Monsters, Chases, Escapes…

By HCNewton

On November 5, 2022

In Fantasy, Fiction

Kestral’s Dance

by Misty Massey

DETAILS:
Series: Mad Kestral, #2
Publisher: Lore Seekers Press
Publication Date: June 24, 2022
Format: eBook
Length: 319
Read Date: November 1-3, 2022

What Happened Before Kestral’s Dance?

This is the second book in the series, but don’t let that stop you from reading it first (although, I’m sure Massey wouldn’t mind you buying both before you do). Here’s some of what I picked up that will help you understand what this book is about before you decide.

Obviously, this is going to involve a spoiler or two for Mad Kestral, so read at your own risk, I guess.

Kestral was orphaned when she was pretty young and lived life on the streets with similar children before she found herself being taken in by a pirate. She grew up amongst them, eventually becoming rather skilled. So much so that she’s named captain when the previous one retires. She also helps that captain save the life of the king and is named privateer (perhaps The Privateer—I’m a little vague on that).*

* I think the chronology of those events is intertwined and different from the way I laid it out.

Kestral also has a bit of magic ability, tied to her whistling. She really doesn’t understand it and has learned to keep it under control and only uses it rarely (frequently tied to filling the sails with wind). During, or just before, that last adventure one of the King’s spies helped her establish a bit more control over her abilities. Now, I’m not particularly sure (even after reading Kestral’s Dance) how McAvery knew how to help her, but it doesn’t matter. Also, helping her in this way is just one of the several reasons that Kestral is attracted to him and can’t stop thinking about him as the sequel opens.

Oh, there’s also the Danisobans. They are the official league of wizards. Kestral has tried to keep her abilities (and her person in general) off of their radar since before she lived on the streets. There’s a harshness and a cruelty to them evident right from the get-go in Kestral’s Dance and it takes the reader only a sentence or two to adopt Kestral’s prejudice against them.

There’s a little more I could probably say, but that’s enough to get you going. Maybe more than I need to say, really, but I don’t have time to edit today—so you get a stream of consciousness.

What’s Kestral’s Dance About?

The Danisoban that Kestral knows best and likes least, comes to her with a message from the King. She’s to head out to a certain area and retrieve an animal she’s never heard of or seen for the King’s menagerie. This is the time of year that her ship should be in the dock, the men on leave, because of the stormy season. The neck of the woods that this creature lives in is particularly dangerous now. However, this is not a negotiation, it’s an order, so Kestral takes off with whatever crew that will go along with her.

Underway, she learns that McAvery is in some sort of trouble in a different direction than their goal. She wants to go to his aid, but has no time and is unwilling to make her men face the king’s wrath (and isn’t that keen on facing it herself). Her quartermaster and closest friend assures her that McAvery can look out for himself and she tries to find comfort in that.

While she’s struggling with the decision, they come across another (smaller) ship than hers that Kestral believes is tied to McAvery’s predicament. Privateers do what privateers do and that ship is soon under her control—they find a woman, a dancer who was supposed to be sold as a slave, who tells them that McAvery is about to be sold in an illegal slave market. She can help Kestral get there in time.

This dancer has magic that seems to work similarly to Kestral’s, except she doesn’t whistle, she dances. This blows the pirate’s mind. She’s not alone? In fact, the dancer seems to know a lot about Kestral’s abilities and promises to teach her how to use them for a lot more than just filling the sails for a price. Her home is a year’s journey away, if Kestral will sail her there, she will instruct her. This will strain the crew and definitely put them out of the King’s good graces, but it might be worth it.

But first, they have to rescue McAvery.

Kestral

She is a great character, and I’m annoyed that I didn’t get to know her in Mad Kestral. At this point in her life she’s confident (occasionally cocky—or at least acts as if she is), capable, and loyal (and loyalty-inspiring). She knows her limits—she’s not afraid of pushing them—but is clever enough to find ways around them.

It can take me a while to warm to a character who’s a professional criminal, but I liked her straight off. There was something about her that clicked right away and I grew in my appreciation for her. Yes, it’s somewhat overdone to have the strong, confident, capable woman being a disaster when it comes to her love life. But (like with most overdone things) when it’s done well, I like it. Massey pulls it off here, and it adds to Kestral’s charm.

The Magic System(s)

I want to say I’ve encountered a magic system like Kestral’s before—tied to music and rhythm—but beyond zombie-control in The Dresden Files—I can’t remember where.* This is a great idea, it’s distinctive, and I’d love to hear more about it. Using the rhythms and sounds of life, of the world around us, to shape, mold and direct energy just makes sense.

* Just before publishing it hit me—some of the Earth magic in the Jane Yellowrock books is shaped by music, but I think that was one particular practitioner, not the whole system. There are likely other examples, but they’re not coming to mind.

On the other hand, the Danisoban’s magic is about blood, entrails, suffering, and power. There’s a sacrifice involved (whether or not is actual deities that empower them in response to the sacrifice I’m not sure). And really, it’s as off-putting as their personalities are. I’m not sure which comes first, but in the end, keep me away from those guys.

So, what did I think about Kestral’s Dance?

I can sum up the reason to buy this book with one phrase: Pirate Battles with Magic Users. Sure, there are more (and possibly deeper) reasons to read this book, but come on…a good Pirate Battle at sea is enough justification to spend a few hours with a book, but Massey includes magic users with hers. I could only post this paragraph with a link or two directing you to a place to buy the book and that’d be enough.

But we all know I can’t stop talking after only a paragraph, right?

This book features some great writing—yeah, there are a couple of sentences that are clunkers. But for every one of those, there are four or five sentences/passages that are just dynamite (and the rest of the book is simply good). Massey is particularly strong when she’s describing Kestral’s view of/appreciation of the sea, sailing, or her ship. I guess you could say it’s the romance of the sea, or something like that. I cannot relate to it—I can get violently seasick almost as fast as a fish can get wet. But after reading Massey for a bit? I can almost imagine enjoying being on an old sailing vessel.

The romantic/love triangle subplot tried my patience for a bit (as triangles do 99.4% of the time), but it did eventually win me over. And people who don’t have a triangle-aversion will probably enjoy all of it.

I thought Kestral’s crew were great and my only real complaint about the book is that we didn’t get more interaction with them—I’d like to say we just needed a couple of more scenes with them at work or at play, but I’m pretty sure that if we had those, I’d ask for a little bit more. I’m really drawn to characters like that interacting the way they do, and would eagerly read a few chapters of daily life at sea without the drama.

It didn’t take me long to figure out that I was going to really enjoy Kestral’s Dance, but I figured I’d just read this for the Book Tour and move on, but somewhere along the way, I decided that I needed to read more about her, this world, and the rest of the crew. I don’t know that I’m convinced to go back to Mad Kestral to see how we got to this point (but I might just to see more of the pirates in action), but I’m definitely keeping an eye out for the next volume in this series.

For swashbuckling adventure, a dash of romance, a great magic system, and some compelling characters—you’d do well to grab Kestral’s Dance at your first opportunity.

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, the opinions expressed are my own.

My thanks to Psst…/Let’s Talk Promotions for the invitation to participate in this Book Tour and the materials (including the book) they provided.

EXCERPT from Kestrel’s Dance by Misty Massey: A Fish Slipping Its Net?

By HCNewton

On November 5, 2022

In Book Tour, Fantasy, Fiction, Quotations

from Kestrel’s Dance by Misty Massey

The men throwing hounscozza cubes erupted into cheers and raucous teasing. Their noise proved enough for the reader. Slamming his book closed, he tossed back his drink and stood. Now that she could see his face, Kestrel realized she’d seen him before. She pressed her hands flat on the table, letting the residual ache remind her to stay calm. On Eldraga, after her fight with the knife-fighter. This was the strange man who stopped at her table and made the vague threat about the fish slipping its net, one she hadn’t put any stock in at the time. Yet she’d heard the threat more and more, and now here he was. With all that had happened, she wasn’t in a mind to think it was coincidence.

The man squinted at her. He smiled slowly, no trace of humor in his eyes. He rubbed his free hand over his belly, and marched out the door before she could say anything. The Islands weren’t so big that a person wouldn’t run into people this way, but something was wrong.

“Shadd,” she said. When the big man glanced over, she beckoned him to her. “That man who was reading in the corner — did you notice him leave just now?”

He furrowed his brow. “I think so, Captain. Is somethin’ amiss?”

“Can you follow him a bit? And tell me where he stops?”

“On my way,” he said. He stopped at his table and muttered something to McAvery, then sauntered out the door, as if he’d meant to go all along.

“What’s wrong, my girl?” Binns asked.

“Did you know that man?”

“Can’t say I do. He usually orders a drink and reads until his mug is empty. Hasn’t given the barmaid any trouble.”

Of course not. There’d have been no reason to draw attention to himself, not if he was waiting for someone. For her. “He approached me on Eldraga. Very mysterious. He said something strange to me about a fish not staying netted, then walked away.”
Binns’ eyes widened. “Did he say anythin’ else?”

“No,” she said. “Why?”

He drummed his fingers on the tabletop. “I had a network of informants, back in my day. You might recall one of ’em givin’ you a message about roses and thorns one time.”

She did remember. On Eldraga, the night before Binns was arrested and jailed, and his ship stolen from the harbor. She’d believed the messenger to be a drunken tramp at the time, talking nonsense. “You mean that was one of yours?”

“He wasn’t. But that phrase, ‘fish not staying netted’? That was one o’ mine.”

“What did it mean?”

He frowned. “It means someone you thought safely locked away may have gotten loose.”

Interested in the rest? Go grab your copy of Kestrel’s Dance by Misty Massey now!

My thanks to Psst…/Let’s Talk Promotions for the invitation to participate in this Book Tour and the materials (including the book) they provided.

BOOK SPOTLIGHT (and GIVEAWAY): Kestrel’s Dance by Misty Massey

By HCNewton

On November 5, 2022

In Book Tour, Fantasy, Fiction

Today I’m very pleased to welcome the Book Tour for the second Mad Kestral novel, Kestral’s Dance by Misty Massey. Along with this spotlight post, I have an excerpt from the novel to share, then I’ll be giving my take on the novel (a little later. Those links’ll work when the posts go live in an hour or two. If you scroll down to the bottom of this post (or, you know, read it), you’ll find a nifty giveaway.

First, let’s take a look at Kestral’s Dance.

Book Details:

Book Title: Kestral’s Dance by Misty Massey
Publisher: Lore Seekers Press
Release date: June 24, 2022
Format: Ebook/Paperback
Length: 319 pages
AISN: B09YC8JSP5

About the Book:

Kestrel, the King’s Privateer, is preparing to wait out the annual storm season when she receives an unexpected royal order to capture and deliver a rare creature for the king’s menagerie. Before she can weigh anchor, news reaches Kestrel of a long-ago friend in desperate need of help—in the opposite direction of her assigned voyage. In addition, her ship may be haunted by something big, loud, and terrifying.

Before Kestrel can plot a course, she crosses paths with an enigmatic dancer who offers an enticing bargain: sail her home to the Continent, an ocean away, and she’ll reveal the mysteries of magic Kestrel has longed all her life to know.

The temptation of answers endangers her crew and might ruin her privateer status. Worse, taking on this passenger could thrust her into the clutches of the ever-watchful Danisoban mages who lie in wait for her to make the perfect mistake.

Every decision is fraught with danger. Each wrong turn may mean her death or the death of her crew. And Captain Kestrel can walk away from none of them.

Kestrel, the pirate who can whistle up the wind, returns in book two of the Mad Kestrel Series. Captain Kes will defy the king, gamble with her friends’ lives, and run the risk of capture by evil mages to get her hands on the magical knowledge so long denied to her.

Purchase Links

Amazon ~ Try Book 1: Mad Kestral

About the Author:

Misty Massey is the author of Mad Kestrel, a rollicking adventure of magic on the high seas, Kestrel’s Voyages, a collection of short stories featuring those rambunctious pirates, and the upcoming Kestrel’s Dance. She is a co-editor of The Weird Wild West and Lawless Lands: Tales of the Weird Frontier, and was a founding member of Magical Words. Her short fiction has appeared in many anthologies and she’s working on a series of Shadow Council novellas for Falstaff Press featuring the famous gunslinger Doc Holliday. When she’s not writing, Misty studies and performs Middle Eastern dance and will, on occasion, surprise everyone with a batch of home-baked snickerdoodles. She’s a sucker for good sushi, African coffee, SC Gamecock football, and the darkest rum she can find. You can keep up with what Misty’s doing at mistymassey.com, Facebook and Twitter.

Social Media Links:

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ TikTok ~ Instagram

GIVEAWAY:

There’s a tour-wide giveaway for a Gift Card for Barnes and Noble or Amazon—Winner’s Choice
a Rafflecopter giveaway

If the Widget isn’t showing up, just click here: https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/9751c04276/?

My thanks to Psst…/Let’s Talk Promotions for the invitation to participate in this Book Tour and the materials (including the book) they provided.

Gardens by Benedict Jacka: A Quick, Action Packed, Visit to the World of Verus

By HCNewton

On November 4, 2022

In Alex Verus, Benedict Jacka, Fiction, Urban Fantasy

Gardens

by Benedict Jacka

DETAILS:
Series: Alex Verus, #12.1
Publication Date: October 31, 2022
Format: eBook
Length: 123 pg.
Read Date: November 3, 2022

What’s Gardens About?

This takes place about four months after Risen, and definitely should not be read by anyone who hasn’t read it (I’m not going to spoil anything though). We do get to catch up with the world of Mages, the Council, and the state of things with Adepts post-Risen, but we do so from a different perspective and with a largely new group of characters (they ultimately interact with some people we know though).

These characters are Daniel, Jess, and Emmanuel. They are youngish adepts with a little experience in thievery (although they really don’t like using that term) and are looking to expand. They’re hired by a mage to join a crew of others for a job to “retrieve” an object.

The object is in the possession of a mage, who they are told will be away from home for quite some time. All they need to do is open a lock (through an interesting application of wind magic that I don’t think I’ve seen before) and find the thing. Assuming they can get along with the other group of adepts hired for this job (which is clearly going to be an issue from the get-go), it sounds like an easy job.

But if it was an easy job, why would Jacka give us a novella about it?

So, what did I think about Gardens?

I had so much fun with this. It satisfied my desire to know more about this world and how things look after that fantastic finale—but was a different kind of story in it. Just not getting it told in Alex’s voice, but from a third-person narration, gave it a different feel immediately. Also, Jacka says that this is “a slightly different (but overlapping) genre to urban fantasy,” so that different feel is multiplied.

With all due respect to Jacka, I think it’s still UF. It is a darker form of it than we’re used to from him, though. But that’s just splitting hairs, and there are much better things to do with this novella.

Primarily we ought to just read and enjoy it—this is exactly what a heist-gone-wrong story told in the Verus-Verse should be. There’s in-fighting, double-crossing (maybe triple-crossing), lies, deception, unrequited love, and people in way over their head. Especially as we’ve been colored by Alex’s attitudes toward Adepts, it’s easy to forget what a great gulf there is between even a strong Adept and a Mage. Gardens does a great job of fixing that misapprehension. It’s a fast read with plenty of action—pound for pound, more than Jacka usually gives us, and I am here for it.

Is this a must-read for Alex Verus fans? No, not especially. But my friends, you will be missing out. You will be so glad you took an hour or so for this. This is definitely a must-not-read for people who haven’t read Risen (and if you haven’t read Risen, you likely haven’t read anything else in the series—which is something you should fix).

4 Stars