Review of Wonders of the Invisible World by Patricia A. McKillip
Oct
23
2012
Wonders of the Invisible World
by Patricia A. McKillip
240pp (Paperback)
My Rating: 8/10
LibraryThing Rating: 3.5/5
Goodreads Rating: 4.12/5
 

Wonders of the Invisible World is a collection of previously published short stories by Patricia A. McKillip. McKillip is perhaps best known for her Riddle-Master trilogy or her World Fantasy Award winner, The Forgotten Beasts of Eld, but she has many well-known works. She has been a published writer for about 40 years, and she has released numerous novels and short stories since then. This recently released collection of her work contains an introduction by Charles de Lint, sixteen stories by McKillip from various publications, and McKillip’s Guest of Honor speech from WisCon 2004 entitled “What Inspires Me.”

The stories included in Wonders of the Invisible World are as follows:

  • Wonders of the Invisible World
  • Out of the Woods
  • The Kelpie
  • Hunter’s Moon
  • Oak Hill
  • The Fortune-Teller
  • Jack O’Lantern
  • Knight of the Well
  • Naming Day
  • Byndley
  • The Twelve Dancing Princesses
  • Undine
  • Xmas Cruise
  • A Gift To Be Simple
  • The Old Woman and the Storm
  • The Doorkeeper of Khaat

Most of these stories are fantasy, but there are some science fiction stories as well.

Confession time: Wonders of the Invisible World was my first experience reading the work of Patricia A. McKillip despite being such a huge fan of the fantasy genre. I actually read it quite by accident since I had intended to start with one of her novels. While I like the idea of short fiction, I often find myself unable to really immerse myself in it since I tend to enjoy stories that are long enough to allow one to get to know the characters. It’s very rare that I make it through a short story collection, especially if I don’t take a break between stories.

Yet not only did I read this collection in its entirety, but I read it without having the urge to take a break from it. I took a glimpse at the beginning to get an idea of what McKillip’s writing style was like and figured I may as well start with the introduction. The brief but heartfelt introduction by Charles de Lint made me want to read everything McKillip had ever written, so I took a look at the first story. I finished it, and then moved on to the next story. By the time I was immersed in the third story I was convinced by McKillip’s writing itself that I want to read everything she has ever written. She is one of those authors who has the gift of saying much with few words, and her stories sparkle because of her lovely but spare prose, her characters (who are often quite developed despite the short length of the pages that contain them), and her depth and insight. She tackles some heavy themes such as gender, death, and the stagnation that can result from longheld traditions and resistance to change. It’s not all serious, though, and there are parts with warmth and humor, as well as light-hearted stories. McKillip’s range is impressive and her stories a joy to read.

It’s impossible for me to pick a single favorite story from this collection since there are three that compete for that title. “The Kelpie,” one of the longer and more complex stories in the collection, is a love story that intertwines fantasy and myth while exploring artistic and feminist themes. It also has some of the most memorable characters in the entire collection in Nick and Emma, the two who meet and fall for each other at a gathering of artists. Emma captures the attention of both Nick Bonham and the handsome Bram Wilding at this event. When she is pursued by Mr. Wilding, Emma shows him some of her paintings only to be told they could be a lot better. As she tells her brother in the company of Nick later, he told her that “most women painters should confine themselves to watercolors, since they have not the breadth of soul to express the fullness and complexity of oils, though he had seen one or two come close enough to counterfeit it.” It is during this conversation that Nick manages to capture Emma’s heart:

 

“What are your thoughts on the breadth of a woman’s soul, Mr. Bonham?”

“I think,” he said fervently, “I could travel a lifetime in one and never see the half of it.”

She regarded him silently for a heartbeat, out of eyes the color of a fine summer day, and in that moment he caught his first astonished glimpse of the undiscovered country that was theirs.

The story is about their developing relationship as well as Mr. Wilding’s obsession with Emma that invades her life, and it also manages to bring in the struggle of a group of female artists to get their work taken seriously. Of course, there is an incident with the titular kelpie that is quite a pivotal moment. “The Kelpie” is both an engrossing and intricate story dealing with deep themes, and I felt it was also the most emotionally involving story of all. (After writing about this one, perhaps I can pick a very favorite story, but I liked the other two stories mentioned almost as much even though they are very different from “The Kelpie”!)

“Naming Day” was a more light-hearted story in which an adolescent girl learns an important lesson through an amusing situation. As a serious student of magic at the top of her class, Averil is too busy with her studies and her imminent Naming Day to listen to her mother when she says she needs help with her four-year-old brother. When a witch casts a spell on Averil on Naming Day, she has to go on a quest to remove the spell – and learns about what is truly important in the process. This may sound trite, but it’s a very well-done story with warmth and humor that keeps it from seeming like a life lesson or an after school special. By the end, Averil is not the same person she was at the start and she undergoes this development over the course of a very fun story.

The final of my three favorites is a fairy tale about a soldier, Val, who could become king titled “The Twelve Dancing Princesses.” On his way back from the war, Val learns of a king who has offered his kingdom and one daughter to any man who can discover how his daughters escape their locked room every night. Every morning, they are so worn they sleep until noon, and the only trace of their adventure is their twelve pairs of shoes, so worn from dancing that they are no longer wearable. However, any man who tries to solve this mystery of the dancing princesses and fails will be killed. It’s largely a traditional fairy tale with its premise, the involvement of a mysterious crone, and the way it follows the rule of three. It’s creepy at times, and it also has some beautiful imagery:

 

They turned then onto another broad, tree-lined road. Val closed his eyes and opened them again, but what he saw did not change. All the leaves on these trees were made of gold. Like tears of gold they glowed and shimmered and melted down the branches; they flowed into Val’s outstretched hand.

I also appreciated how war was handled in this tale. It’s not a story that repeatedly dwells on war or violence, but it gives a brief glimpse of what Val experienced in a way that is both simple and effective:

 

“What is your name?”

“Val,” he answered.

“A good name for a soldier. Did you win the battle?”

Val shrugged. “So they say. I could not see, from where I stood, that winning was much better than losing.”

As with all short story collections, some stories were better than others. The three just discussed are my very favorites and stories I consider nearly perfect, but there are other stories I loved as well such as “Byndley” and “Knight of the Well.” In fact, many of these stories are quite lovely, and even if I didn’t love every one of them I could appreciate most of them on some level. For example, “Undine” was not one of my favorites but it was memorable because it was a somewhat humorous story about a young undine who tried to ensnare her first man – only to have the tables turned on her in an amusing way. There was only one story that fell completely flat for me, “Xmas Cruise.” This story explored the relationships of two couples who met on a cruise during Christmas vacation, but I found it to be rather dull. However, if there’s only one story in a collection containing sixteen that did nothing at all for me, I think that’s doing very well!

Wonders of the Invisible World is a wonderful collection of stories full of wit and insight wrapped in beautiful, effortless prose. McKillip’s ability to convey so much in so few words is impressive, as is her ability with storytelling, characterization, and thematic elements. I now see why she is such a lauded author in the fantasy genre, and I’m glad to have so many other books written by her left to discover.

My Rating: 8/10

Where I got my reading copy: ARC from the publisher.

The Leaning Pile of Books
Oct
21
2012

The Leaning Pile of Books is a feature where I talk about books I got over the last week – old or new, bought or received for review. Since I hope you will find new books you’re interested in reading in these posts, I try to be as informative as possible. If I can find them, links to excerpts, author’s websites, and places where you can find more information on the book are included.

I didn’t buy anything this week, but a few books showed up in the mail.

For reviews, I really hoping to get one up last week, but I seem to have a case of reviewer’s block. A couple of nights I came home from work and tried to work on reviews, but it just wasn’t working – even if I knew what I wanted to say, I just couldn’t get it written out. Unfortunately, sometimes that just happens, especially if I don’t have time to write much over the weekend and try to write after work when I’m usually pretty exhausted. I’ll try again this week – both the books I have up to review next are ones I loved so I am excited to talk about them!

On to this week’s books.

Dying of the Light by George R. R. Martin

Dying of the Light by George R. R. Martin

This is one of several of George R. R. Martin’s older books that were recently re-released as trade paperbacks (I’d imagine due to the success of A Song of Ice and Fire). This space opera, written in the late 1970s, was a Hugo nominee.

Dying of the Light can also be found in ebook and audiobook, and an excerpt from the novel is available. I’m really excited to read this one, both because it sounds really intriguing and because it will be interesting to read science fiction by George R. R. Martin (I’ve not read any of his work not related to A Song of Ice and Fire).

In this unforgettable space opera, #1 New York Times bestselling author George R. R. Martin presents a chilling vision of eternal night—a volatile world where cultures clash, codes of honor do not exist, and the hunter and the hunted are often interchangeable.
 
A whisperjewel has summoned Dirk t’Larien to Worlorn, and a love he thinks he lost. But Worlorn isn’t the world Dirk imagined, and Gwen Delvano is no longer the woman he once knew. She is bound to another man, and to a dying planet that is trapped in twilight. Gwen needs Dirk’s protection, and he will do anything to keep her safe, even if it means challenging the barbaric man who has claimed her. But an impenetrable veil of secrecy surrounds them all, and it’s becoming impossible for Dirk to distinguish between his allies and his enemies. In this dangerous triangle, one is hurtling toward escape, another toward revenge, and the last toward a brutal, untimely demise.

Windhaven by George R. R. Martin

Windhaven by George R. R. Martin and Lisa Tuttle

This is another one of the recently re-released trade paperback editions of George R. R. Martin’s older titles (co-written with Lisa Tuttle). Windhaven is also available in ebook and audiobook, and an excerpt can be read online.

I’d heard of this one before but wasn’t really familiar with what it was about. Even if the theme of a struggle against an unfair system is common, it’s one I rather like and I’m curious about this one now.

From #1 New York Times bestselling author George R. R. Martin and acclaimed author Lisa Tuttle comes a timeless tale that brilliantly renders the struggle between the ironbound world of tradition and a rebellious soul seeking to prove the power of a dream.
 
Among the scattered islands that make up the water world of Windhaven, no one holds more prestige than the silver-winged flyers, romantic figures who cross treacherous oceans, braving shifting winds and sudden storms, to bring news, gossip, songs, and stories to a waiting populace. Maris of Amberly, a fisherman’s daughter, wants nothing more than to soar on the currents high above Windhaven. So she challenges tradition, demanding that flyers be chosen by merit rather than inheritance. But even after winning that bitter battle, Maris finds that her troubles are only beginning. Now a revolution threatens to destroy the world she fought so hard to join—and force her to make the ultimate sacrifice.

The Armageddon Rag by George R. R. Martin

The Armageddon Rag by George R. R. Martin

You guessed it – yet another novel recently released in trade paperback! The Armageddon Rag is also available in ebook format and an excerpt can be read online.

The Armageddon Rag sounds like fun and is another one I’m rather excited to read.

From #1 New York Times bestselling author George R. R. Martin comes the ultimate novel of revolution, rock ’n’ roll, and apocalyptic murder—a stunning work of fiction that portrays not just the end of an era, but the end of the world as we know it.
 
Onetime underground journalist Sandy Blair has come a long way from his radical roots in the ’60s—until something unexpectedly draws him back: the bizarre and brutal murder of a rock promoter who made millions with a band called the Nazgûl. Now, as Sandy sets out to investigate the crime, he finds himself drawn back into his own past—a magical mystery tour of the pent-up passions of his generation. For a new messiah has resurrected the Nazgûl and the mad new rhythm may be more than anyone bargained for—a requiem of demonism, mind control, and death, whose apocalyptic tune only Sandy may be able to change in time . . . before everyone follows the beat.

Dreamsongs: Volume I by George R. R. Martin

Dreamsongs: Volume I by George R. R. Martin

This collection of shorter fiction by George R. R. Martin was recently released in trade paperback. You may also be able to find it in hardcover in some stores, and it is also available as an ebook and audiobook. An excerpt from Dreamsongs: Volume I is available.

Dreamsongs is so massive it’s split into two massive volumes (approximately 700 pages each in the trade paperback versions). The first volume starts with an introduction by Gardner Dozois, who often edits anthologies with Martin. The book is split into sections that are introduced with some commentary by Martin. This includes stories such as “A Song for Lya,” for which Martin won his first Hugo Award, and “Sandkings,” a story that won both the Hugo and the Nebula awards.

Even before A Game of Thrones, George R. R. Martin had already established himself as a giant in the field of fantasy literature. The first of two stunning collections, Dreamsongs: Volume I is a rare treat for readers, offering fascinating insight into his journey from young writer to award-winning master.
 
Gathered here in Dreamsongs: Volume I are the very best of George R. R. Martin’s early works, including his Hugo, Nebula, and Bram Stoker award–winning stories, cool fan pieces, and the original novella The Ice Dragon, from which Martin’s New York Times bestselling children’s book of the same title originated. A dazzling array of subjects and styles that features extensive author commentary, Dreamsongs, Volume I is the perfect collection for both Martin devotees and a new generation of fans.

Dreamsongs: Volume II by George R. R. Martin

Dreamsongs: Volume II by George R. R. Martin

This second half of Dreamsongs was also recently released in trade paperback. Some stores may have it in hardcover, and it is also available in ebook and audiobook formats. An excerpt is available.

This volume includes a couple of screenplays, The Hedge Knight (the first of the novellas set in the same world as A Song of Ice and Fire), and the World Fantasy Award winning story “The Skin Trade.” Like the first volume, it includes commentary by the author.

Even before the enormous success of A Game of Thrones, George R. R. Martin had secured his reputation as one of the most exciting storytellers of our time. The second of two thrilling collections, Dreamsongs: Volume II continues the story of his amazing journey from a young writer to a #1 New York Times bestselling force of nature.
 
Whether writing about werewolves, wizards, or outer space, George R. R. Martin is renowned for his versatility and expansive talent, as demonstrated in this dazzling collection. Dreamsongs: Volume II contains acclaimed stories such as the World Fantasy Award winner “The Skin Trade,” as well as the first novella in the Ice and Fire universe, The Hedge Knight—plus two early screenplays. Featuring extensive author commentary, Dreamsongs: Volume II is an invaluable chronicle of a writer at the height of his creativity—and an unforgettable reading experience for fans old and new.

Guardians of Stone by Anita Clenney

Guardians of Stone (The Relic Seekers #1) by Anita Clenney

This paranormal romance will be released in paperback, ebook, and audiobook on December 4. It’s supposedly “Indiana Jones ~meets~ Stephanie Plum.” An excerpt can be found on the Mysteries and Margaritas blog.

There is currently a giveaway on Goodreads for a copy of Guardians of Stone. It’s open to those in the US, Canada, Australia, and Great Britain through November 17.

Kendall Morgan is a human bloodhound. Spending her childhood hunting relics with her ambitious archeologist father, she knew the two of them shared a sixth sense for the history and location of objects—sometimes even people. What she didn’t know was that their paranormal gift could ultimately be their undoing.

After the tragic plane crash that killed her father as well as her childhood best friend, Kendall dedicated her life to finding and protecting relics. When mysterious, sexy billionaire Nathan Larraby hires her for his latest expedition—the search for four powerful relics —she’s thrown into a world of high-octane danger. He sends brooding mercenary Jake Stone to watch Kendall’s back, but he may have created danger of a different kind.

As the team chases down clues, a man called the Reaper makes a play for the artifacts and will stop at nothing to put them to his own sinister use. What’s worse is that Nathan hasn’t told the whole story, and the dark secrets he’s keeping could cost them the mission…and their lives.

Slated by Teri Terry

Slated (Slated #1) by Teri Terry

This young adult dystopia will be released in hardcover and ebook in the US and Canada in January 2013. The first two chapters can be read here.

It’s the first book in a trilogy. The second book, Fractured, will be available in May 2013 in the UK and Australia, and it should also be out later in 2013 in the US and Canada. For more information, here’s an interview with the author that discusses the series and release dates.

Kyla’s memory has been erased,
her personality wiped blank,
her memories lost for ever.

She’s been Slated.

The government claims she was a terrorist, and that they are giving her a second chance – as long as she plays by their rules. But echoes of the past whisper in Kyla’s mind. Someone is lying to her, and nothing is as it seems. Who can she trust in her search for the truth?

Rise by Andrea Cremer

Rise (Nightshade Prequel #2) by Andrea Cremer

This second book in the prequel series to the Nightshade series is a direct sequel to Rift. It will be released in hardcover and ebook on January 8. The first two chapters from Rise can be read here.

The sequel to Rift and the prequel to the New York Times bestselling novel Nightshade.

Everything Conatus stands for is at risk. Hoping to gather enough resistance to save their order, Ember and Barrow attempt a desperate escape. But fate offers little mercy. When their mission is exposed, the  couple face relentless pursuit by the supernatural horrors that act on the commands of Eira’s ally: the mysterious Bosque Mar. A shocking revelation forces Ember out of hiding, sending her back into the heart of dark magic at Tearmunn keep, where she must convince her old friend Alistair of her love or face dire consequences. Ember’s deception offers the only chance for the resistance to succeed, but what she discovers in the shadows beneath the keep will shatter her world and bring about the Witches’ War.

Richly sensual and full of magic, action and danger, Andrea Cremer’s fifth book set in the Nightshade world is an edge-of-your-seat page turner.

The Leaning Pile of Books
Oct
14
2012

The Leaning Pile of Books is a feature where I talk about books I got over the last week – old or new, bought or received for review. Since I hope you will find new books you’re interested in reading in these posts, I try to be as informative as possible. If I can find them, links to excerpts, author’s websites, and places where you can find more information on the book are included.

The Hydrogen Sonata by Iain M. Banks

The Hydrogen Sonata (A Culture Novel) by Iain M. Banks

The tenth Culture novel was released in the US in hardcover and ebook on October 9, and it can also be found as an audiobook. It was released in the UK just a few days before that. The first chapter from The Hydrogen Sonata can be read on io9.

As of right now, I’ve read two Culture novels.  I LOVED The Player of Games and I also enjoyed Use of Weapons and have been meaning to read more of these books since then. The Hydrogen Sonata sounds especially interesting to me since it sounds like it will be delving more into the founding of the Culture.

The Scavenger species are circling. It is, truly, the End Days for the Gzilt civilization.

An ancient people, organized on military principles and yet almost perversely peaceful, the Gzilt helped set up the Culture ten thousand years earlier and were very nearly one of its founding societies, deciding not to join only at the last moment. Now they’ve made the collective decision to follow the well-trodden path of millions of other civilizations; they are going to Sublime, elevating themselves to a new and almost infinitely more rich and complex existence.

Amid preparations though, the Regimental High Command is destroyed. Lieutenant Commander (reserve) Vyr Cossont appears to have been involved, and she is now wanted – dead, not alive. Aided only by an ancient, reconditioned android and a suspicious Culture avatar, Cossont must complete her last mission given to her by the High Command. She must find the oldest person in the Culture, a man over nine thousand years old, who might have some idea what really happened all that time ago. It seems that the final days of the Gzilt civilization are likely to prove its most perilous.

Bloodfire Quest by Terry Brooks

Bloodfire Quest (The Dark Legacy of Shannara #2) by Terry Brooks

This is the sequel to Wards of Faerie, the recently-released first book in this new trilogy. Each book in this series is going to be released six months apart with Bloodfire Quest on sale in March 2013. It will be released in hardcover, ebook, and audiobook. I can’t find a book description online for this one yet.

Hitman: Damnation by Raymond Benson

Hitman: Damnation by Raymond Benson

The prequel novel to the new game Hitman: Absolution will be released in mass market paperback and ebook on October 30. It’s written by Raymond Benson, who has written quite a few thrillers and was one of the authors of the official James Bond novels. The first 50 pages from Hitman: Damnation can be read online.

THE OFFICIAL, ALL-ORIGINAL, ALL-OUT THRILLING PREQUEL TO THE MUCH-ANTICIPATED NEW GAME HITMAN: ABSOLUTION
 
Since the devastating conclusion of Hitman: Blood Money, Agent 47 has been MIA. Now fans awaiting the return of the blockbuster videogame and film phenomenon can pinpoint the location of the world’s most brutal and effective killer-for-hire before he reemerges in Hitman: Absolution. When the Agency lures him back with a mission that will require every last ounce of his stealth, strength, and undercover tactics, they grossly underestimate the silent assassin’s own agenda. Because this time, Agent 47 isn’t just going to bite the hand that feeds him. He’s going tear it off and annihilate anyone who stands in his way.

Review of The City’s Son by Tom Pollock
Oct
09
2012
The City's Son
by Tom Pollock
480pp (Hardcover)
My Rating: 7/10
LibraryThing Rating: 3.8/5
Goodreads Rating: 3.79/5
 

The City’s Son by Tom Pollock is the first book in The Skyscraper Throne. The next book in this new young adult urban fantasy series, The Glass Republic, will be released in the UK in August 2013. (While The City’s Son was recently released in both the UK and the US, I was unable to find a release date for the second book in the US.)

Years ago, the Goddess of the Streets left London and her son Filius behind. She also left behind her rivalry with Reach, the Crane God of urban sickness, which now falls to Filius. When rumors of the return of the Goddess begin, Reach becomes more aggressive in his attacks. Gutterglass, the Goddess’ seneschal who raised Filius, advises Filius that it is time for him to raise an army against Reach before he can take the skyscraper throne, but Filius fears he is no match for his mother’s old foe. Filius is considering running away from his problems until he meets Beth Bradley, who persuades him to go up against Reach with her help.

When she meets Filius, Beth has just been expelled from her school and betrayed by her best friend. She is terrified that Social Services will realize that she’s basically been taking care of herself since her father has been too wrapped up in grief over her mother’s sudden death a few years ago to pay much attention to her. Without her father or her closest friend, Beth feels utterly alone and forms a connection with Filius, who doesn’t have his mother to help him stand against Reach. With him, she learns all about the hidden side of London that has talking statues, dancing streetlights, and railwraiths while the two of them gather forces and prepare to fight Reach.

The City’s Son is an exceptionally creative, unique urban fantasy in which the city quite literally comes to life. It has a rather unpredictable ending, and it also manages to avoid some of the common young adult tropes. For instance, there is a romantic relationship but no love triangle. While death of a parent is something both Beth and Filius have in common, part of the story is about Beth’s father becoming more involved in her life instead of being removed from the story. It also deals with issues such as teenage abuse by an adult authority in a way that is sympathetic (and not graphic or tasteless), and free will, faith and belief, and racism are all touched on as well. There is a lot to appreciate about The City’s Son. It’s a book that can be rather dark and takes some risks, and I think it’s a very strong and original debut. However, it was hampered by some pacing issues in the middle that kept me from wholeheartedly loving it despite the admiration I have for it.

The setting is a London in which much of the ordinary is alive. Filius dances with the streetlights, talks to statues, and is tended by a shapeshifting pile of garbage and insects with eggshells for eyes. He fears the cranes that belong to Reach, his mother’s enemy, and he and Beth meet when she happens across one of the railwraiths, ghostly trains with memories of people inside. Much of the book is dedicated to exploring this city, and I think this is where it faltered a bit for me. For awhile, Beth and Filius were just going around gathering an army. This was a good way of introducing both readers and Beth to the peculiarities of the city, but I thought it spent so much time on that that it hindered plot progression. Once the plot did move, it really moved, though. When it got closer to the end, I had difficulty putting the book down, and I was taken completely by surprise by what happened – and then taken by surprise again by a revelation near the conclusion. The ending was memorable but risky because I imagine some may not be happy with what happened. I love endings that are unexpected because I do remember them, though.

While Beth and Filius are the main characters, many character perspectives are seen in this book, including Beth’s best friend Pen and Beth’s father. I think this is another part of what made it seem slow to me. Some of the extra perspectives worked well, especially Pen’s (and I’m glad to see she seems to be the main character in the next book). Others seemed unnecessary as viewpoints, and it did seem a little odd that out of all the perspectives only Filius’ was in first person. The three more important characters were all interesting to read about, though. I thought it was mostly Beth’s story since she’s the one who has the most development. It is largely Beth’s choices that drive the story since her decision to seek out Filius leads to her persuading him to fight instead of running. Later in the book, Beth also has to face a really difficult decision, and the choice she makes is both important to what happens and important to showing just what her priorities are and what type of person she is. Over the course of the book, Beth also had to face issues of free will, starting with her guilt over convincing others to listen to her. In the end, she has to make yet another choice that hinges on whether or not to abide by someone else’s decision concerning their own fate, and I liked how this came up on a couple of occasions.

While there is some romance for Beth, her close friendship with Pen is not neglected. I am always happy to see relationships other than romances treated as important in novels, especially a bond of lifelong friendship like this one. Even though Beth left to find Filius because Pen betrayed her, she doesn’t forget about her best friend or abandon their friendship. I also loved how these two different girls had very different personalities but each had their own type of strength. Beth was more outspoken and likely to speak up and defend herself or Pen, but she also was completely aware that Pen had the strength of endurance:

 

Beth knew there was strength in Pen — she saw it every day — but it was a strength that withstood without ever resisting. Pen could soak up the blows, but she never hit back. [pp. 9 – 10]

(Quote taken from Search Inside This Book feature on Amazon since I have an ARC)

My one problem aside from the plot taking awhile to really pick up was how easily Beth accepted the fantastic part of London and Filius being the son of its Goddess. When Filius gives her a spiel about who he is and his mother the Goddess, Beth’s reaction can basically be summed up as, “Oh cool, you’re the son of a goddess. My life is so much more boring and I wish I could introduce myself as someone that interesting.” Since she has at that point already stumbled across a railwraith on her own and seen Filius face it, I don’t know if it’s quite fair for me to feel that way, though. She’s seen there’s more to the city, and I also got the impression that as a graffiti artist who knew the city so well it didn’t really take her by surprise to learn this.

The City’s Son has a lot of complexity and depth, and I very much appreciate the way it manages to include themes such as racism, choice, and belief in a very creative story. It also has some fantastic plot twists and a truly memorable ending. It is a novel that definitely stands apart as unique, although I found a lot of the middle dull since it spent more time on introducing the world than moving the plot forward. However, I think this is an amazing debut novel aside from that and found it well worth reading for its strengths.

My Rating: 7/10

Where I got my reading copy: I went to an author signing for a copy of the ARC at Book Expo America.

Read an Excerpt

Other Reviews of The City’s Son:

The Leaning Pile of Books
Oct
07
2012

The Leaning Pile of Books is a feature where I talk about books I got over the last week – old or new, bought or received for review. Since I hope you will find new books you’re interested in reading in these posts, I try to be as informative as possible. If I can find them, links to excerpts, author’s websites, and places where you can find more information on the book are included.

First, a few quick updates.

Update on reviews: Sorry it’s been such a slow week this last week! I had a review draft written that I was planning to put up last week, but it was such a hectic week at work that I was too exhausted to concentrate on revising it in the evenings this last week. With the long weekend (yay!), getting it posted this week shouldn’t be a problem, though. Next I’ll be starting on a review of The Tainted City, the second book in The Shattered Sigil series by Courtney Schafer. I just finished it last night and loved it.

Update on The Midnight Court giveaway: The winner has been drawn and contacted and let me know which book they wanted so that giveaway is over.

On to the books – this week brought two finished copies and one ARC.

The Emperor's Knife by Mazarkis Williams

The Emperor’s Knife (The Tower and Knife #1) by Mazarkis Williams

I am so excited to read this. I’ve been wanting to read it since before it was released at the end of last year!

The Emperor’s Knife is now available in hardcover, ebook, and trade paperback. Chapter Three is available to read online. The second book in the trilogy, Knife Sworn, will be released in hardcover and ebook in November.

There is a cancer at the heart of the mighty Cerani Empire: a plague that attacks young and old, rich and poor alike. Geometric patterns spread across the skin, until you die in agony, or become a Carrier, doing the bidding of an evil intelligence, the Pattern Master. Anyone showing the tell-tale marks is put to death; that is Emperor Beyon’s law…but now the pattern is running over the Emperor’s own arms. His body servants have been executed, he ignores his wives, but he is doomed, for soon the pattern will reach his face. While Beyon’s agents scour the land for a cure, Sarmin, the Emperor’s only surviving brother, awaits his bride, Mesema, a windreader from the northern plains. Unused to the Imperial Court’s stifling protocols and deadly intrigues, Mesema has no one to turn to but an aging imperial assassin, the Emperor’s Knife.

As long-planned conspiracies boil over into open violence, the invincible Pattern Master appears from the deep desert. Only three people stand in his way: a lost prince, a world-weary killer, and a young girl from the steppes who once saw a path in a pattern — a path that might save them all.

The Hobbit Illustrated by David Wenzel, Adapted by Charles Dixon

The Hobbit Illustrated by David Wenzel & Adapted by Charles Dixon

This expanded edition of the graphic novel of The Hobbit contains six new pages of artwork. The trade paperback reprint was released on September 25.

It’s been about 10 years since I read The Hobbit so this may be a nice way of refreshing my memory on the story if I decide to I want to before watching the movie!

AN ILLUSTRATED EDITION OF THE FANTASY CLASSIC WITH SIX NEW PAGES OF ILLUSTRATIONS!
 
First published in the United States more than seventy-five years ago, J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit is one of the best-loved books of all time. Now a blockbuster film by Peter Jackson, Academy Award–winning director of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Hobbit was also adapted into a fully painted graphic novel, a classic in its own right, presented here in a new expanded edition.
 
When Thorin Oakenshield and his band of dwarves embark upon a dangerous quest to reclaim stolen treasure from the evil dragon Smaug, Gandalf the wizard suggests an unlikely accomplice: Bilbo Baggins, a quiet and contented hobbit. Along the way, the company faces trolls, goblins, giant spiders, and worse. But in the end it is Bilbo alone who must face the most dreaded dragon in all Middle-earth—and a destiny that waits in the dark caverns beneath the Misty Mountains, where a twisted creature known as Gollum jealously guards a precious magic ring.

Shades of Earth by Beth Revis

Shades of Earth (Across the Universe #3) by Beth Revis

The final book in the Across the Universe trilogy will be released in hardcover and ebook in January 2013. The previous two books are Across the Universe and A Million Suns, in that order. You can read the first chapter from Across the Universe online.

I probably won’t read this one since it would require tracking down the first two books, but I am really glad to see some science fiction for young adults!

The final book in the trilogy by New York Times bestselling author Beth Revis!

Amy and Elder have finally left the oppressive walls of the spaceship Godspeed behind. They’re ready to start life afresh–to build a home–on Centauri-Earth, the planet that Amy has traveled 25 trillion miles across the universe to experience. But this new Earth isn’t the paradise that Amy had been hoping for. Amy and Elder must race to uncover who–or what–else is out there if they are to have any hope of saving their struggling colony and building a future together. But as each new discovery brings more danger, Amy and Elder will have to look inward to the very fabric of what makes them human on this, their most harrowing journey yet. Because if the colony collapses? Then everything they have sacrificed–friends, family, life on Earth–will have been meaningless.

Books of 2012: Days of Blood & Starlight by Laini Taylor
Oct
06
2012

Instead of writing one huge post of all the books I’m looking forward to in 2012 with info on them, I had decided to highlight some of these books in their own posts throughout the rest of 2011. I’ve decided to carry this feature forward into this year as I discover new books coming out this year that sound interesting and continue with books of 2013 as it gets closer to the end of the year.

Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor

I discovered Laini Taylor’s writing in 2009 when I was contacted about reviewing her Dreamdark books by the publisher. They’re middle grade, which I didn’t realize at the time – and I’m glad I didn’t since I quite possibly would have thought they were too young for me to enjoy and passed up the opportunity to read a couple of wonderful books. Blackbringer, the first of these, was quite good, but it was the second book, Silksinger, that convinced me I must read anything I could get a hold of written by Laini Taylor. Later that year, Lips Touch: Three Times was released, and I purchased a copy soon after it was available even though it was a collection of 3 stories and I don’t tend to have great luck with shorter fiction. I loved it, especially the dark story “Hatchling” (which remains my favorite of her stories, including her novel length stories).

Naturally, I was thrilled when Daughter of Smoke & Bone was one of the ARCs available at last year’s BEA and was second in line for the author signing. I started reading it on the long bus ride home even though it was the end of May and the book wasn’t out until the fall (I don’t usually read my early copies that early and try to wait until closer to release date). Once again, I found a book I loved for the gorgeous writing, the dialogue, the characters, and the mythology. But what continues to stand out to me the most about Laini Taylor’s books is the writing – no one writes quite like she does. Her writing isn’t dense, but she has such a way with words and can do everything from write a beautiful passage to humorous dialogue to a description of emotion that cuts right to the heart of how it feels.

When Laini Taylor posted a picture of her author copy on her blog the other day, it reminded me that the wait is almost over! On November 6, Days of Blood & Starlight will be released in hardcover, ebook, and audiobook. The aforementioned blog post mentions it’s Laini Taylor’s longest book yet and is 100 pages longer than the first book in the trilogy. It also has a link to read the first seven chapters of the book. If you haven’t read the first book, don’t read that one since there will be major spoilers! You can read this excerpt from Daughter of Smoke & Bone instead.

I haven’t read the excerpt from Days of Blood & Starlight since I prefer just to read the whole book at once, but from the sounds of the comments it does end on a huge cliffhanger – so if that’s going to bother you, beware!

Also, there are spoilers for book 1 in the description of book 2 below. I’m not quite sure just how spoilery they’d be to someone reading it who knew nothing about the first book, but those who haven’t read the first book may want to skip it just in case.

About Days of Blood & Starlight:

Once upon a time, an angel and a devil fell in love and dared to imagine a world free of bloodshed and war.

This is not that world.

Ar student and monster’s apprentice Karou finally has the answers she has always sought. She knows who she is–and what she is. But with this knowledge comes another truth she would give anything to undo: She loved the enemy and he betrayed her, and a world suffered for it.

In this stunning sequel to the highly acclaimed Daughter of Smoke & Bone, Karou must decide how far she’ll go to avenge her people. Filled with heartbreak and beauty, secrets and impossible choices, Days of Blood & Starlight finds Karou and Akiva on opposing sides as an age-old war stirs back to life.

While Karou and her allies build a monstrous army in a land of dust and starlight, Akiva wages a different sort of battle: a battle for redemption. For hope.

But can any hope be salvaged from the ashes of their broken dream?

Other Books of 2012: