Tag: 2024 books

A Fate Inked In Blood

A Fate Inked in Blood is a 2024 fantasy novel by Danielle L. Jensen. It was released in February 2024 and published by Del Rey. It’s the first entry in the Saga of the Unfated series.

Bound in an unwanted marriage, Freya spends her days gutting fish, but dreams of becoming a warrior. And of putting an axe in her boorish husband’s back. Freya’s dreams abruptly become reality when her husband betrays her to the region’s jarl, landing her in a fight to the death against his son, Bjorn. To survive, Freya is forced to reveal her deepest secret: She possesses a drop of a goddess’s blood, which makes her a shield maiden with magic capable of repelling any attack. It was foretold such a magic would unite the fractured nation of Skaland beneath the one who controls the shield maiden’s fate. Believing he’s destined to rule Skaland as king, the fanatical jarl binds Freya with a blood oath and orders Bjorn to protect her from their enemies. Desperate to prove her strength, Freya must train to fight and learn to control her magic, all while facing perilous tests set by the gods. The greatest test of all, however, may be resisting her forbidden attraction to Bjorn. If Freya succumbs to her lust for the charming and fierce warrior, she risks not only her own destiny but the fate of all the people she swore to protect.

The plot of the novel is very compelling. The story follows Freya as she begins to truly come into her power, and tries to navigate the complicated, dangerous world of the jarl and uniting a nation. The story gets started very quickly, and remains exciting as it progresses. She discovers her own strength, while being forced to face some unfortunate and, at times, uncomfortable truths. The author keeps the story interesting with exciting action scenes, while building up tension as needed, but also taking the time to slow down when needed and build out the world. While the plot takes a number of twists and turns, the “big twist” felt like it came too late in the story to be effective for this book, but sets things up very nicely for the next installment. The twist is effective, it’s surprising but well foreshadowed and it’s satisfying, but it has less of an impact because the revelation happens so close to the end of the story. It’s then immediately followed by a bigger, different twist, lessening the impact even further. I liked the twist itself, and I’m intrigued by what it means for the next book in the series, but I could easily see some readers feeling frustrated with how it was handled.

Freya was a fantastic character and protagonist. Since the story is told exclusively from her perspective, the reader is able to understand the struggles she faces as the story unfolds, as well as witness her growth on a more intimate level. She begins the novel dreaming of battle and glory, only to realize that battle isn’t as glamorous as she believed, but that she’s much stronger than she, or anyone else, would’ve ever imagined. The conflict that she feels over the role she’s meant to play and the lives that could be lost as a result is compelling. She’s flawed, to be sure, but her flaws fit well with her character and allow the story to unfold in a unique way. Bjorn was equally compelling, as he wars not only with his position, but also his attraction to Freya. The dynamic that develops between them is somewhat hot-and-cold at the start, but grows as the story progresses and adds depth to the story as a whole. I can’t say very much about the other characters. Since the story is told from Freya’s point-of-view, and she spends significantly less time with other characters. The reader is shown snippets of them, but nothing substantial. This works, on one hand, because it allows the reader to see other characters, such as Freya’s brother Geir, exclusively through her eyes, and based off of her perception, pre-existing or otherwise, of them. It can also be frustrating, as a character might make what seems like a “stupid mistake” to Freya, which the reader is inclined to agree with, while not having the full context of that choice.

The writing in the novel was beautiful. The author had lush prose, which was descriptive without being flowery. The narrative balanced out the exciting and dramatic battle scenes with more calm, introspective scenes used to build the characters and the world. The pacing was pretty good, with only one or two slow points. It was very easy for me to become immersed in the story. It was told in first-person perspective, which I found fit the story very well.

A Fate Inked in Blood was a great read. It told a compelling story, which was fascinating as well as surprising, though not a perfect execution. The characters were intriguing to follow and the writing was beautiful. It was a fantastic Norse-inspired fantasy, and one I’d recommend to anyone interested by the blurb.

Rating: 4.5 Stars

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Nettle & Bone

Nettle & Bone is a 2022 fantasy horror novel by T. Kingfisher. It was published by Tor and released in April of 2022. The novel was nominated for several awards upon publication, including the 2022 Nebula Award for Best Novel, the 2023 Locus Award for fantasy, and won 2023 Hugo Award for Best Novel.

This isn’t the kind of fairytale where the princess marries a prince. It’s the one where she kills him. Marra never wanted to be a hero. As the shy, convent-raised, third-born daughter, she escaped the traditional fate of princesses, to be married away for the sake of an uncaring throne. But her sister wasn’t so fortunate—and after years of silence, Marra is done watching her suffer at the hands of a powerful and abusive prince. Seeking help for her rescue mission, Marra is offered the tools she needs, but only if she can complete three seemingly impossible tasks: build a dog of bones, sew a cloak of nettles, and capture moonlight in a jar. But, as is the way in tales of princes and witches, doing the impossible is only the beginning. Hero or not—now joined by a disgraced ex-knight, a reluctant fairy godmother, an enigmatic gravewitch and her fowl familiar—Marra might finally have the courage to save her sister, and topple a throne.

The core of this novel is a quest. Marra first goes on a quest to complete the tasks required to gain the gravewitch’s help, and then a second, larger, quest to save her sister. Along the way, she finds companions to assist in the quest. It’s a very tightly woven, well-executed story. It starts off very strongly, with Marra already in the midst of one of her tasks and makes great use of flashbacks to keep the reader engaged as the story progresses. There are points when Marra’s “present” actions might be more mundane, but the author uses those lulls to have her reflect back on her past, and highlight why she’s chosen this path. The narrative also makes great use of foreshadowing for the climax of the story, as well as callbacks to earlier moments. The tension slowly builds as the band of misfits gets closer to the goal, and the final confrontation is exciting and dramatic, while not going over the top. The ending wraps up well and doesn’t feel rushed.

I found the characters in this novel to be endearing and compelling in equal measure. An author who wrote a blurb for this novel described it as “what happened when all of the overlooked bit players of classic fantasy somehow windup on the main quest” and it’s an apt way of describing Marra and her companions. Though the characters fit certain archetypes, they aren’t cliches. Marra begins the story as a princess hoping someone else will do the heroic thing and save her sister, and transforms into a stronger person, confident in herself and able to take matters into her own hand. Fenris is a disgraced knight, but his backstory and behavior show that he’s much more nuanced than that trope implies. Agnes is a fairy godmother, but she doesn’t fall in line with the Cinderella-esque fairy godmothers that readers might be used to. They’re a ragtag bunch, and each one fits into the story well. As an aside, I was delighted to read that Marra was around thirty years old. It was refreshing to have an old character driving the story.

I enjoyed the writing overall. The descriptions were vivid without being too flowery. The author used the prose to expertly create a tone which matched the fantasy elements just as well as the horror ones. The novel isn’t outright horror, but a more subtle kind, leaning heavily into dark fantasy with the relevant elements. There is a bit of a drag in the story just after the midpoint, once the flashbacks stop, but it wasn’t a distracting amount of slowness.

Nettle & Bone was a fantastic read for me. It had wonderful and compelling characters, as well as an engaging story. The horror elements blend well with the fantasy aspect of the story. The writing set the scene perfectly, though there were some slight pacing issues. All in all, it was a great read, and one I’d recommend to any fantasy fan, looking for something a bit outside the norm.

Rating: 4.75 Stars

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Ernie and the Mage-Killer

Ernie and the Mage-Killer is a 2024 fantasy novel by Jools Warner. It is the author’s debut novel. and is scheduled for release on April 15, 2024. I was provided with an advanced copy for review.

Ernie buried her magical past – but now her friends need her to dig it up. Ernie just wants to have a solitary pint at her local pub and forget about her past as one of the most promising young mages in England. But when an old enemy returns, she must restore the memories she suppressed and reclaim her powers. With the help of fiery Rennie, shapeshifting Vi, and an endearingly bureaucratic cat, Ernie comes to grips with her grief over the past and grapples bravely with the very mage who bested her before. The race is on to find him before he can bend the elements to his will and become an unstoppable tyrant. As she fights to end the mage-killer before he ends life as we know it, Ernie the earth-mage resolves not to let herself be uprooted again.

Ernie was a character I almost immediately connected with. I enjoyed her sense of humor and the ways she reacted to the strange situation she found herself in. I liked that she was an adult character who had plenty of training and experience, as opposed to a teenager needing to learn to wield her magic. Her character arc centered around grief, and learning how to move forward after processing her grief, as well as facing mistakes she’d made in the past. The other characters were engaging to read about, and added some extra depth to the world.

The plot of this book was very intriguing. It centered as much around Ernie’s grief as it did around trying to stop the Mage-Killer. It’s a fun adventure story that really shows off the world the author created and a number of great ideas that she had. It takes the story a little bit to get started, but once the plot kicks off, I found it difficult to put the book down. The action scenes are exciting to read and the story builds up the tension very well as it progresses. I found the ending to be a bit rushed, but it was an enjoyable journey.

The writing in this novel was pretty good. The author had a distinct style of writing, and a specific kind of humor. Some readers may not enjoy her style, but I found it fit the story well. The prose were easy to follow, though parts of the world-building were not. At time, it felt like terms were being thrown about without explanation, which made keeping track of certain things such as what certain phrases meant or what abilities existed difficult. It broke my immersion a bit, but didn’t take away from the story too much,

Ernie and the Mage-Killer was a fun read. The story had some interesting characters, as well as an engaging plot. Some aspects of the story were a bit confusing, but it’s a solid story overall. The writing was good, but may not fit every readers’ tastes. It was an enjoyable and unique read.

Rating: 3.5 Stars

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The Witch Handbook to Magic and Mayhem

The Witch Handbook to Magic and Mayhem is a 2023 paranormal fantasy novel by Tish Thawer. It’s the first entry in the Stolen Spells series. It was published by Amber Leaf Publishing and released in April 2023.

Five sisters share one business like no other. Warded by fae magic, this shop’s inventory shifts to meet the needs of its customers, summoning the sister whose expertise is required. With Lily behind the counter, it’s a candle boutique. Aster manages the bookstore. Crystals are Iris’s specialty. Fern sells flowers and herbs. And Daisy tends to the apothecary and oils. It’s a seamless system until a particularly perplexing customer crosses the threshold and causes the store’s magic to go haywire. As it wildly shifts between facades, one thing becomes obvious: it’s up to the “flower girls” to save this handsome stranger from the ominous threat closing in, if they hope to regain control of their magical shop again.

The blurb for this novel introduces the reader to an exciting premise, but doesn’t deliver on the premise. The majority of the story unfolds outside of the magical shop that the blurb advertises as the setting. The plot turns into a quest to hunt down a specific item and prevent the antagonist from getting ahold of it. it’s a simple and predictable plot. New elements are introduced as the story progresses, but those elements don’t change the story, or alter the progression of the heroes as the narrative unfolds. A few revelations are meant to be “plot twists” but they don’t work in that capacity, as one is obvious, while the other lacks any foreshadowing before it occurs. Events happen, but they aren’t given a chance to breathe, and on a few occasions, the author has them happen “off-screen” rather than show the reader. As a result, it’s difficult to get invested in what’s happening and the story doesn’t feel like it has any stakes. The blurb promises a great, cozy tale, with a lot of potential but the novel delivers a much different story.

The characters in this novel were another miss for me. Daisy is the main character, and the novel is told via her point-of-view. She isn’t a likeable, deep or well-rounded character. She comes across as annoying, rude and angry. There’s no nuance to her, no quirks or hidden weaknesses. She doesn’t have much of a character arc, and the story happens around her more than she actively drives the story. Other characters have even less depth. Her love interests are bland, making for an uninteresting love triangle later in the book. Her sisters and mother have no distinct traits, and keeping track of which one is which isn’t easy.

There are snippets of world-building in this novel. The reader is given a vague idea of what witches and fae are, and how they interact with the “real” world, but nothing deeper is truly shown. A great deal of world-building is delivered by exposition-heavy dialogue, so the presentation also feels heavy-handed.

The Witch Handbook to Magic and Mayhem was a novel that really didn’t work for me. The characters felt shallow and hard to get invested in. The plot moved too quickly. The author had a very inventive idea, but struggled with the execution. Every book has an audience it will appeal to, but I wasn’t the audience for this one.

Rating: 1.5 Stars

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The Odyssey of Fletcher

The Odyssey of Fletcher is a 2023 post-apocalyptic science fiction novel by Erik Dargitz. It is the author’s debut novel and was released in October 2023. I was provided with a review copy by the author.

After a global virus seemingly wipes out the entire male population, a skinny, socially awkward, self-conscious video game junkie is somehow still kicking. And he’s wildly unprepared for this new world. Out there waiting for him are physicians who want to study him, a cult of spiritual extremists who want to deify him and brutal gangs with far more nefarious intentions. Throughout his journey, Fletcher does his best to act like a real man, being that he’s the only one around. Unfortunately, this only leads to more problems … for him and humanity.

Fletcher was an incredibly interesting protagonist. Over the course of the novel, my opinions of him changed drastically, swinging from liking him to hating him to rooting for him once again. He begins the story as a shy, timid and immature boy, unwilling to acknowledge his mistakes or take accountability for his actions. When he realizes how valuable he is, and the power his position gives him, he goes on a bit of an ego trip, but the narrative is able to force further growth onto him to the point where he’s redeemed somewhat by the end of the story. His arc takes him from a irresponsible, immature man-child to a man who does what he can for those around him, with the resources he has. While there were points in the novel where he was incredibly easy to dislike, his behavior at those points were realistic. They made him feel human, complex and were actions I could easily see a real person taking. The characters he interacts with felt less complex, but they were by no means one-dimensional characters. Each had their own personalities and flaws, and highlighted a different perspective to life in the post-apocalyptic setting of the story.

The plot of the story is straightforward on the surface. The story follows Fletcher as he interacts with the different groups that have formed in a world where men are dying off. Some wants to rebuild what used to exist from the ashes of society, while others want to create a whole new world. Each group viewed Fletcher, the seemingly last man on Earth, differently and had different goals regarding him. He finds himself facing different kinds of conflict as the story progresses. The first part of the book, when Fletcher is living with medical personnel, is the longest section, and it moves the slowest. This section sets a lot of groundwork for the rest of the book, and it’s the catalyst for his growth later in the story. At times, the story does get predictable in terms of plot-twists. This didn’t bother me, since the story is about Fletcher as a character and uncomfortable truths about humanity, and less about specific events happening to the characters. I liked the ending, but I loved the epilogue, both because of how it shows further growth for the characters and hints at hope for the world as a whole.

The writing in this book was great. The author figured out a way to tell this story in a way that instantly gripped me as reader. Even during slow sections, I was so invested in the story that I couldn’t put the book down. There’s an irreverent tone to the story as a whole, which fits with the narrative taking place. Fletcher’s the last man on Earth, and he’s hardly the ideal candidate. The writing imbues a number of references and “nerd humor” which I enjoyed but other readers might be put off by. At some points, it may feel like the author is breaking the rule of “Show, don’t tell” but it fits within the story because the information being “told” is typically Fletcher’s impression of things, as he’s developing into a more mature, more well-rounded person.

The Odyssey of Fletcher was an enjoyable and funny read, though it may not be for everyone. The protagonist was compelling, as easy to love as he was to hate at times. The plot was engaging, but perhaps predictable at points and slow-moving at the start. The writing worked very well for me, considering the story being told and the overall tone of the book, but I can see some readers not liking it. All in all, it was an intriguing story and an entertaining book.

Rating: 4 Stars

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The Village Healer’s Book of Cures

The Village Healer’s Book of Cures is a 2023 historical fantasy novel by Jennifer Sherman Roberts. It’s the author’s debut novel. It was published by Lake Union Publishing and was released in October 2023.

Mary Fawcett refines the healing recipes she’s inherited from generations of Fawcett women before her—an uncanny and moral calling to empathize with the sick. When witchfinder Matthew Hopkins arrives in her small village, stoking the fires of hate, he sees not healing but the devil at work. Mary’s benevolent skills have now cast her and her young brother under suspicion of witchery. Soon, the husband of one of Mary’s patients is found murdered, his body carved with strange symbols. For Hopkins, it’s further evidence of dark arts. When the whispering village turns against her, Mary dares to trust a stranger: an enigmatic alchemist, scarred body and soul, who knows the dead man’s secrets. As Hopkins’s fervor escalates, Mary must outsmart the devil himself to save her life and the lives of those she loves. Unfolding the true potential of her gifts could make Mary a more empowered adversary than a witchfinder ever feared.

The plot of this novel was engaging, as it focused on Mary trying to avoid suspicion of witchcraft, and later trying to clear her name when she is accused. This premise gives the story a lot of tension, as the reader is shown the consequence if Mary doesn’t succeed. There’s a weight to each action Mary takes in trying to clear her name and keep her brother safe. However, there are also points where that tension, and the seriousness of the situation, fall by the wayside and, in the last part of the book, the accusations against Mary have no real weight. The story focused on revenge, which worked for the story given that historically women were accused of witchcraft by disgruntled neighbors. However, some plot points were a bit predictable because revenge was a big theme in this story. The final confrontation left something to be desired. The plot twist leading up to it was executed very well, though it wasn’t the most original twist, but the confrontation itself didn’t feel very tense and was over a bit too quickly. Overall, the novel has a solid plot but not very surprising in terms of how it unfolds.

I’m torn about how I feel about the characters in this book. There were times that Mary felt compelling as a protagonist, and there were times that she didn’t. Her struggle to keep her brother safe, to survive in the seventeenth century as a widow and the strange position she held within her village gave her complexity. At the same time, she could sometimes come across as wishy-washy and insensitive to others, when her ability to be empathetic is highlighted multiple times. She’s depicted inconsistently, and since her character arc is minimal, it weakens her as a character. Tom, Mary’s brother, was a sweet kid and an enjoyable character but he’s supposed to be eight years old, and he instead sounds like a child who’s much younger. Hopkins is vindictive and manipulative, with no redeeming qualities, which works given that he’s an antagonist in the story, because of the type of story it is, but he’s not the final villain Mary has to confront. I don’t have much to say about other characters as they serve their roles in the story well, but don’t stand out.

The writing in this novel was fine. The author gave very good descriptions of the setting, and the story had a good pace. I had an issue with the dialogue, as the story takes place in the 1600s, but the characters don’t speak like they’re in that time period. Instead, the sound like modern-day English speakers. There was also more telling than showing than I was hoping for. In the case of some characters, the writing tells the reader “this character is bad” or “this character is good” rather than let their actions show that, or letting the reader determine that for themselves. The prose itself is fine. The author doesn’t have a particularly distinct style but it serves the story.

The Village Healer’s Book of Cures was an entertaining read, but it didn’t blow me away. The plot was engaging, but didn’t have many surprises. The characters felt compelling at times. The writing was fine. Little about the novel stood out particularly strongly. It was a solid story, but not memorable. It’s a nice read and a quick read, however.

Rating: 2.5 Stars

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To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods

To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods is an upcoming 2024 fantasy novel by Molly X. Chang. It’s the first novel in the series of the same name and the author’s debut novel. The novel scheduled for publication on April 16, 2024 by Del Rey. I was provided with an advanced copy of the book by Netgalley.

She has power over death. He has power over her. When two enemies strike a dangerous bargain, will they end a war . . . or ignite one? Heroes die, cowards live. Daughter of a conquered world, Ruying hates the invaders who descended from the heavens long before she was born and defeated the magic of her people with technologies unlike anything her world had ever seen. Blessed by Death, born with the ability to pull the life right out of mortal bodies, Ruying shouldn’t have to fear these foreign invaders, but she does. Especially because she wants to keep herself and her family safe. When Ruying’s Gift is discovered by an enemy prince, he offers her an impossible deal: If she becomes his private assassin and eliminates his political rivals—whose deaths he swears would be for the good of both their worlds and would protect her people from further brutalization—her family will never starve or suffer harm again. But to accept this bargain, she must use the powers she has always feared, powers that will shave years off her own existence. Can Ruying trust this prince, whose promises of a better world make her heart ache and whose smiles make her pulse beat faster? Are the evils of this agreement really in the service of a much greater good? Or will she betray her entire nation by protecting those she loves the most?

The plot of this novel was incredibly compelling. The setting of the story is based on China during the era of the Opium Wars, with an opium-like drug being used by an invading power to weaken and subjugate the world of Pangu in order to colonize. The plot finds Ruying reluctantly working for the invading Romans, believing what she’s doing will protect her family and help work towards a greater good. As the story progresses, not only does she learn hidden secrets about her own world, and the Romans, but also about herself, the fate she seems destined for, and the nature of power. The story is as much about magic and culture as it is about oppression and colonialism, and it handles balances those themes well. Overall, the plot drew me in and made me heavily invested very early on. However, some elements of the plot disappointed me. At least one big plot point, a revelation for Ruying, happens a bit too late into the book to be effective. I grew frustrated that this reveal kept being teased and not being revealed for so long. Due to when this reveal happens in the book, the novel’s climax is more subtle than one might expect. This book doesn’t have a big, exciting, dynamic conflict, but it sets the stage for such an event in later books.

The “romance” in this novel isn’t a romance. As the story progresses, a relationship doesn’t really develop, but Ruying develops feelings for Antony, despite knowing she shouldn’t, and they are shown to maybe have some chemistry. I won’t call it a romance for a few reasons, including the fact that Antony, as a Roman prince, plays an active and significant role in oppressing her people. Her magic makes her useful to him, and he’s the first person to not be scared of her gifts. It’s romantic ideation on her part, and a method of manipulation on his. It serves a very specific, very important role in the story, but it is not a romance.

Ruying begins the novel hating and distrusting certain characters for working for the Roman invaders, and “betraying” their people, but following the inciting incident, finds herself forced to do the same. Her perspective is changed as she’s forced to reconcile with how nuanced the predicament she, and other citizens of her country, are in. She uses her gifts to kill people, at first because she feels that she has no choice, and later because she believes each death serves a greater purpose. At times, this attitude of hers, that she has to help the Romans, that killing for them will help her people, comes across as incredibly naive, but it’s obviously a coping mechanism, a lie she’s told herself to live with what she’s done and a result of manipulation. Her arc was compelling as she struggled to find her place and navigate this world. As she comes into her powers, and stops fearing her gift, she grows as a character and becomes more confident and dedicated to saving all her people, not just her immediate family. For the most part, the author did a great job of making the characters complex and morally grey. The characters Ruying views as traitors are shown to be doing the best they can, or the only thing they can do, with the resources they have. Other characters are shown to be hypocrites, claiming one thing while acting differently. There are one or two characters that are flat, but they are minor characters, and antagonists.

I enjoyed the writing overall. The story was written beautifully, with vivid descriptions and prose that was easy to get immersed in. I loved the way the author blended the cultural elements into the story. There were some pacing issues, with the story moving at a slow pace in parts. The story is told mostly through first-person POV from Ruying, but there’s a section or two that are told from Antony’s perspective, which felt out of place.

To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods was a book that mostly lived up to my expectations. The plot was engaging and compelling, though there were some aspects I had mixed feelings about. The characters were complex and morally grey, for the most part. The writing was amazing, but it had some pacing issues. It’s a great novel, it sets up the series’ very well, and tells an important, and intriguing story.

Rating: 4 Stars

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Salt & Broom

Salt & Broom is a 2023 fantasy novel by Sharon Lynn Fisher. The novel is a witchy retelling of Jane Eyre. It was published by 47North and released in December of 2023.

“Salt and broom, make this room safe and tight, against the night.” Trunks packed with potions and cures, Jane Aire sets out on a crisp, clear morning in October to face the greatest challenge of her sheltered girls’-school existence. A shadow lies over Thornfield Hall and its reclusive master, Edward Rochester. And he’s hired her only as a last resort. Jane stumbles again and again as she tries to establish a rapport with her prickly new employer, but he becomes the least of her worries as a mysterious force seems to work against her. The threats mount around both Jane and Rochester—who’s becoming more intriguing and appealing to her by the day. Jane begins to fear her herb healing and protective charms may not be enough to save the man she’s growing to love from a threat darker and more dangerous than either of them imagined.

Since this novel is a Jane Eyre retelling, the plot follows the plot of that novel fairly closely, at least in terms of the overall structure of the story. This both works in the novel’s favor, and against it. The plot beats don’t echo the original work one-for-one, but they fall along the same vein. The inclusion of magic and witchcraft changes the stakes of the story and creates a different kind of climax and resolution. Instead of the typical stakes of Jane losing Rochester as a husband, there is a magical threat that must be defeated. The climax is more exciting and tense than the original Jane Eyre‘s climax, but the overall story is not. The author couldn’t, or perhaps didn’t want to, deviate too much from the original story, so the magical element could only do so much to alter the story. The plot of this novel relies on a certain degree of familiarity with Bronte’s work, compared with other retellings I’ve read. To put it simply, this novel is a good Jane Eyre retelling, with a magical twist, but not particularly engaging as a fantasy story on its own.

The characters in this novel don’t stand out to me. Jane Aire and Edward Rochester, as written by this author, feel in sync with the Jane Eyre and Edward Rochester that Charlotte Bronte brought to life more than a century ago. There are some slight adjustments to their characters, to make them fit into this world, but they stick pretty closely with their previous characterizations. Since they are such well-known characters, I was hoping this novel would do something to make them feel unique, to make them stand out as I was reading, but that didn’t happen here.

The magical aspect of the novel was subtle, which worked in its favor. Since the setting is mid-1800s, it makes sense for magic and witchcraft to be something not openly discussed, but not entirely taboo in the world. The subtle nature of the magic, and centering it mostly in terms of herbal remedies and such, fall in line with the way society functioned at the time. At the same time, the magic system created a new, compelling and unique main conflict for the story. I knew the story of Jane Eyre, but the inclusion of magic meant I couldn’t always be sure how this story would go, or how magic would factor into the resolution.

Salt & Broom was an entertaining and engaging book. It took a familiar story and added a twist to keep it feeling fresh. Unfortunately, some of its weaknesses comes from the fact that it is a Jane Eyre retelling, as it prevents the story from taking too many chances or for the characters to feel unique. The magical additions to the plot were compelling for the most part without becoming delving too deeply into fantasy. It’s a nice read and something I’d recommend to readers who know they like historical fiction, and want to give fantasy or magical realism a try.

Rating: 4 Stars

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The Last Outpost

The Last Outpost is a 2018 dystopian science fiction novel by Hannah Ross. It is the first entry in the Frozen Worlds series. It was independently published by the author and was released in January 2018.

Scott “Buck” Buckley, an environmental scientist, accepts the position of general overseer at the McMurdo Antarctic research station. After signing a secrecy declaration, Scott becomes privy to the existence of Geyser Valley, an area with a unique warm microclimate, which is home to the mysterious indigenous Anai people. In an outrageous conspiracy, the world governments are keeping the existence of these people a secret, to avoid limitations on the division of land for natural resources. Scott is fascinated by the unique culture of the Anai, visiting them and learning from them as much as he can. In the meantime, the world becomes more and more unstable as global war is about to break out. Just before darkness sets over Antarctica, warfare tears the world apart, and the research station finds itself completely isolated for the long and sunless winter. In the loneliness of the winter, Scott remains facing difficult questions all alone: who are the Anai, and how did they come to Antarctica? How much truth is there in their legends about giant ancient reptiles frozen in ice, waiting to come back to life? How is McMurdo going to hold on until the communications and supply lines are restored? And where are the limits one is not allowed to cross, not even in the name of survival?

The premise of the novel sets up a compelling story and a lot of interesting questions. The idea of an unknown culture existing free from the rest of the world is compelling and allows the story to dwell on questions about the nature of humanity and how detrimental or beneficial certain parts of society are. The premise also sets the stage for a end-of-the-world scenario due to global tensions and warfare. The plot regarding the Anai get undercut by the impact of the global collapse, and vice versa. Because the narrative is exploring both Buck encountering the Anai and his desire to learn about them, and the impact of being cut-off from the larger world during an unstable point in time, neither plot is able to be fully explored. It feels at time like Buck is experiencing with two separate stories, rather than one fully cohesive narrative. It isn’t until the end of the story that the two plotlines, the Anai’s secrecy and the desperation that comes with McMurdo Station’s isolation, intersect and the way they intersect made for an exciting climax, but not a rewarding resolution. The plot of Buck learning more about the Anai society unfolds in a pretty predictable manner, as does the plot regarding how McMurdo’s isolation and lack of supplies leads to conflict among the residents. Both plots are engaging in the moment, but have little room for surprise.

The characters fulfilled their roles very well in this novel. Scott Buckley was a relatable character who was incredibly easy for the reader to root for. He wasn’t perfect by any means, and his desire to do what’s right, not what’s easy, serves as both a strength and a weakness in equal measure as the story unfolds. He wasn’t a shallow character, but he wasn’t incredibly complex either. He’s the right protagonist for this story, but isn’t elevated to being a standout for stories like this. The rest of the cast operates in the same way. Scott’s allies challenge his ideas and how he handles things, but have little impact on how events unfold. The antagonists work well as antagonists, but little about them stand out. No character’s actions are surprising over the course of the story, with their role being easily telegraphed from their introduction. In the end, the characters work in the story, but don’t elevate it or make the story memorable.

The writing in this novel is good. The prose is descriptive and allows the reader to easily be drawn into the story. This novel is an easy read and it’s written in a digestible way. The story has a bit of a pacing problem, as a result of the book trying to balance several elements at once. For sections of the book, the story moves slowly and for other parts, several events happen, one after another, without a chance for a “cooldown” or for the weight of those moments to be felt.

The Last Outpost is a book I thought was good, but not great. It had an interesting plot, and the blurb introduced a compelling idea, but didn’t quite live up to its promise. The plot feels torn in two, attempting to balance the mystery of an unknown culture and the conflict occurring in the wider world. It had characters worth rooting for, but they weren’t stand-outs. The writing was good and it was an easy read. It was a fun story overall, but I’m not sure how memorable it is.

Rating: 2.5 Stars

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Hounds of Gaia

Hounds of Gaia is a 2023 science fiction novel by Sean Tirman. It is the first book in The Marrower Saga. The novel was released in November 2023. I received an advanced copy from the author.

Foxhound doesn’t care about the gaps in her memory. Being a Contractor, a kind of spacefaring mercenary, keeps her occupied enough. Rather than dwelling, she rockets around the farthest reaches of the solar system, earning a steady paycheck hunting down ne’er-do-wells and enjoying a semblance of freedom most folks in the outer colonies can’t dream of. So when she receives an urgent prisoner transfer request from a cult starship, she accepts the gig. She figures that transporting a bone marrow-eating serial killer from the cult’s colony back to Earth is just another well-paying job that’ll keep her mind off things. Upon discovering that the suspect in custody is an orphan girl—one that could pass for her much younger doppelgänger—she decides it’s time to get some answers. But before she can piece together who the girl is, how their lives intertwine, and who orchestrated their implausible rendezvous, a group of violent prisoners aboard Foxhound’s starship breaks free. As the once-peaceful cultists take up arms in response, Foxhound teams up with her mechanized AI assistant and two of the cult’s wayward members to stop the barbaric escapees, elude the grasp of the cult’s radicalized leader, and protect and extract the mysterious, potentially dangerous girl.

The plot of the novel focuses very heavily on action. While the narrative introduces numerous questions about the nature of humanity and our place in the cosmos, it is first and foremost an action-packed adventure through space. The action is undercut with a degree of mystery as well, since Foxhound’s unknown past is tied in with the unnamed girl and her role within the conflict going on. The story starts out a little slow, mostly due to the book needing to establish a wide cast of characters, and ensure the reader understands their role in the world. The plot unfolds as Foxhound, the girl and a few others, try to get off the starship safely while running into conflict with the cultists and the freed prisoners. Along the way, revelations regarding not only Foxhound’s history, but also the cultists’ organization are revealed. The plot, while not overly complex, does a great job of establishing the universe and leaving plenty of unanswered questions to be tackled in future installments. It’s exciting and engaging, and the resolution feels satisfying as it answers some questions, while introducing more to be explored later.

I found the characters to be uniquely compelling in this novel. The author does an excellent job of building up characters and making both their strengths and their flaws evident very quickly. Changes in point-of-view aren’t clearly marked, but it was easy to tell when the narrative switched from Foxhound’s POV to that of the girl or Sister Penelope or another character. The internal conflict each character feels is also very easy to pick up on, without it being forced onto the reader. Foxhound at times feels torn between her role and duties as a Contractor and her desire to try and protect others. Her arc as a character shows her opening herself up over the course of the novel and allowing others to get close to her. She was a very engaging character to follow, as was Sister Penelope, who was torn between her intrinsic beliefs and the actions of the church she’s a part of. The story focuses on action, but the characters leave the reader asking a lot of good questions about human nature and how society develops. The author also delivered a cast of compelling, interesting and unique antagonists for the characters to face off against. The prisoners mentioned in the blurb were all unique, with varied histories and motivations, as well as the more mundane foes the characters had to tackle. Each had a clear and consistent worldview and posed different challenges as the story unfolded.

The writing in this novel is a bit of a mixed bag. The prose is very good, painting a vivid picture that makes it easy to get immersed in the story. There’s a horror element to the novel, mostly surrounding bodies being torn apart. The imagery that’s central to this aspect is chilling and it makes the story tense. At the same time, the exposition is clunky. At a few points in the novel, the story stops dead in order for the history of an organization to be explored. Leading up to the prisoners breaking free, a critical plot point, there is a pause as the author, via a character’s thought-process, walks the reader through the backstory of each and every prisoner. Some elements of what’s told to the reader could’ve been much more impactful as revelations later. The issue with exposition didn’t make the novel as a whole bad, it just slowed things down in a way that wasn’t needed.

Hounds of Gaia was a book that I enjoyed overall. It had an action-packed story with plenty of mystery. The characters were fun and engaging. I had some issues with the writing, but the reading experience was still enjoyable. On the whole, it is an entertaining and exciting piece of science fiction, and a good start to a new series.

Rating: 4 Stars

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