Book Review: The Spirit War

Publication Date: June 2012
by Orbit
Genre: Fantasy
Source: library

All Eli Monpress wanted was the biggest bounty in the world. He never meant to have obligations, or friends, but master swordsman Josef Leichten and Nico, the daughter of the dead mountain, have saved Eli's life too many times to be called anything else. But, when a friend upsets your plans and ruins all your hard work, what's a thief to do?
After years of running from his birthright, Josef is forced to return home and take up his title as prince. War is coming for humans and spirits between the Immortal Empress and the Council of Thrones, and Josef's little island is right in the middle. But conquest isn't the Empress's only goal, she has a personal vendetta against a certain thief.
What started as a simple side trip to help a friend is rapidly turning into the most dangerous job of Eli's career, but he can't back out now, not when Josef needs him. But when you're under attack from all sides, even the world's greatest thief can find himself cornered, and it's going to take all the fast talking Eli can muster to survive the next few days.

I feel like this was maybe a little uneven in the pacing. Like it started off a little slow, but the last part of the book was a little too much at once. It was still good, in any case.

We get a lot of backstory on Josef, which I've been wanting for a long time, since the beginning of the series, basically. After reading this one, I found that the characters I already liked, I grew to like even more, and the annoying characters continued to annoy me. I wouldn't mind if they went away.

The setting is very good, and I think I will be remembering the Immortal Empresses war ships for a long time. There are some crazy things happening in the world of Eli Monpress, and I'm very interested to see how it all plays out.

As a side note, the words smug, smirk, and sneer are some of my least favorite in the English language, and Rachel Aaron loves to use all three. It probably wouldn't bother most readers in the least, but I have a somewhat odd aversion to these words (I don't really know why), and I really notice them.

One big bonus is that the cover of this one is a whole lot better than the previous three. I really disliked those, and this one, while not anything fantastic is loads better.

I still would definitely recommend this series for fun fantasy adventure.

Book Review: The King's Blood

Publication Date: May 2012
by Orbit
Genre: Epic Fantasy
Source: bought it

The sequel to the acclaimed series launch, The Dragon’s Path, is the perfect summer read for fans of George R. R. Martin.
War casts its shadow over the lands that the dragons once ruled. Only the courage of a young woman with the mind of a gambler and loyalty to no one stands between hope and universal darkness.
The high and powerful will fall, the despised and broken shall rise up, and everything will be remade. And quietly, almost beneath the notice of anyone, an old, broken-hearted warrior and an apostate priest will begin a terrible journey with an impossible goal: destroy a Goddess before she eats the world.

This one started off slow, and I was so disappointed because The Dragon's Path (book one of The Dagger and the Coin) is one of my favorite books. I really think when reading this book, it would be helpful to have read The Dragons Path recently, or at the very least, be able to clearly remember the events of the first book.

I couldn't really remember it, and I think that was part of my problem. I could remember a little bit, but not specific details, or my thoughts after reading book one. So I felt, if not exactly lost, not quite on track when reading the first 1/3 or so of The King's Blood. I also think it just took a little bit of time for the book to get going.

But then when it did, I remembered why I loved the first book so much. I got sucked into the world, and had a hard time putting the book down. I was very invested in what happened. Not necessarily because I really cared about the characters, but because the story drew me in. Daniel Abraham has a talent for writing where you forget that you're reading a book. The world unfolds and you're carried away in the story.

The worst part was turning the last page, and realizing the book had ended. I wanted more. I'm not ready to wait for another year or so to find out what happens next. But then, that's the mark of a good author and a good book. I'll be eagerly awaiting book three.

Book Review: Silver-Tongued Devil

Silver-Tongued Devil by Jaye Wells
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

It seemed like there were too many things that were not consistent, it was a little boring, and I don't really like any of the characters. This has never been a favorite paranormal series of mine, but it's interesting enough that it has kept me reading. After this, I'm just not sure if I'll continue.

This is definitely not a series for those who like "clean" books. There is sex, violence, drug use, etc. Not sure I would recommend this series--there is better urban fantasy out there.

Married With Zombies

A heartwarming tale of terror in the middle of the zombie apocalypse.
Meet Sarah and David.
Once upon a time they met and fell in love. But now they're on the verge of divorce and going to couples' counseling. On a routine trip to their counselor, they notice a few odd things - the lack of cars on the highway, the missing security guard, and the fact that their counselor, Dr. Kelly, is ripping out her previous client's throat.
Meet the Zombies.
Now, Sarah and David are fighting for survival in the middle of the zombie apocalypse. But, just because there are zombies, doesn't mean your other problems go away. If the zombies don't eat their brains, they might just kill each other.

I hadn't heard of this series at all until I got the third one from Netgalley to review. It's a really fun, brainless (ha!) read. There's something about zombie stories that I really like. I think it's that there's so much potential there. It can be funny, scary, apocalyptic--this particular book happened to be more funny than anything else.

There is a whole lot of swearing, and for that alone I'd say this is definitely an R-rated book. Right from the first couple of pages, we learn that Sarah and David aren't dainty characters, and can not only swear like sailors, they don't mind killing zombies left and right either. But you kind of have to. After all, when the zombies start coming, there's not much else you can do.

David and Sarah argue a lot--they're going through marriage therapy when the story opens, but they're still really likable characters. I don't remember getting annoyed with them at any point, which is usually pretty common in stories like this. There were side characters, but they just weren't around long enough to get to know or care about any of them. Although, even with the side characters, there were some emotional parts, which was good to balance out the funny.

The one thing I didn't really care for was that the author used the same action bit over and over. Just as Sarah was getting ready to shoot a zombie, somebody from behind her (that she didn't know) would throw some type of knife and kill it. There's gotta be another way to introduce new characters than doing the same thing over and over.

If you're looking for a light romp, and don't mind a lot of language and gore, this may be a good book to pick up to pass an afternoon. It's very short, but it left me wanting to pick up the second in the series (which I already have).


Book Details

Title: Married with Zombies (Living with the Dead, Book 1)

Author: Jesse Petersen

Genre: urban fantasy/science fiction

Page Count: 244

Publishing Info: September 2010 by Orbit

Why I Read It: Have 3rd in series for review

Grade: B

Cover Thoughts:

Review: The Dragon's Path

Summer is the season of war in the Free Cities.

Marcus wants to get out before the fighting starts. His hero days are behind him and simple caravan duty is better than getting pressed into service by the local gentry. Even a small war can get you killed. But a captain needs men to lead -- and his have been summarily arrested and recruited for their swords.

Cithrin has a job to do -- move the wealth of a nation across a war zone. An orphan raised by the bank, she is their last hope of keeping the bank's wealth out of the hands of the invaders. But she's just a girl and knows little of caravans, war, and danger. She knows money and she knows secrets, but will that be enough to save her in the coming months?

Geder, the only son of a noble house is more interested in philosophy than swordplay. He is a poor excuse for a soldier and little more than a pawn in these games of war. But not even he knows what he will become in the fires of battle. Hero or villain? Small men have achieved greater things and Geder is no small man.

Falling pebbles can start a landslide. What should have been a small summer spat between gentlemen is spiraling out of control. Dark forces are at work, fanning the flames that will sweep the entire region onto The Dragon's Path -- the path of war.

This is a fantastic start to a new series, and I loved it! This is the first I've read by Daniel Abraham, but you can be sure it's not the last. I'm already plotting on when I can get to the Long Price Quartet. The plot moves along at a good pace, and while there was a tiny bit of faltering near the end, I feel like it was nearly flawless.

The story shifts chapter by chapter between four main characters, all with very different lives and goals. Marcus and Cithrin's stories are intertwined, as are Geder and Dawsons (a noble who resists change and fights for what he feels is the honor of the King). The side characters were also fantastic, and I would love to read some different POV's in future books, but I'm not sure if the plan is to stick with the same characters. Either way, I can't wait to see.

The world isn't very different from a lot of epic fantasy that you'll read. You have court intrigue, wars, and a touch of magic, but it all comes together beautifully. Fans of epic fantasy should really enjoy this.

A Sample of the Writing:

And now he had fallen from grace, and none of it might be true. There might be no such place as the Keshet. He believed there was, so much so that he had risked his life on flight to it. But he had never been there. The marks on the maps could be lies. For that matter, there might have been no dragons, no empire, no great war. He had never seen the ocean; there might be no such thing. He knew only what he himself had seen and heard and felt.
He knew nothing.

Book Details

Title: The Dragon's Path (The Dagger and the Coin)

Author: Daniel Abraham

Genre: fantasy

Page Count: 464

Publishing Info: April 7, 2011 by Orbit

Why I Read It: netgalley review copy

Grade: A+ (favorite)

Cover Thoughts: I like the cover, but it's nothing spectacular.

Review: The Spirit Eater

Book Details

Title: The Spirit Eater (The Legend of Eli Monpress)

Author: Rachel Aaron

Genre: fantasy

Page Count: 440

Publishing Info: November 30, 2010 by Orbit

My Review

Why I read it: 3rd in series

The Plot: With the pressure on after his success in Gaol, Eli Monpress, professional thief and degenerate, decides it's time to lie low for a bit. Taking up residence in a tiny seaside village, Eli and his companions seize the chance for some fun and relaxation.
Nico, however, is finding it a bit hard. Plagued by a demon's voice in her head and feeling powerless, she only sees herself as a burden. Everyone's holiday comes to an untimely close, though, when Pele arrives to beg Eli's help for finding her missing father.
But there are larger plans afoot than even Eli can see, and the real danger, and the solution, may lie with one of his own and her forgotten past.

The Characters: The third book in The Legend of Eli Monpress seemed to be less about Eli as a main character and more of an ensemble book, which is good because I think focusing solely on Eli for too long could get old.  We are also introduced to some new good characters in this one.  My problem is that Miranda really annoys me, and she's one of the main characters.  I liked her better in book two, but it seems like here she has reverted to her previous annoying behavior. 

The Setting: I like the settings in these books.  The first book was very limited in the setting--it took place in a very small area, but as the series progresses we are learning more and more about the world, and I'm very interested.

A Sample of the Writing: 
The great hall of the Shapers had been flung open to let in the wounded.  Shaper wizards, their hands still covered in soot from their work, ran out into the blowing snow to help the men who came stumbling onto the frosted terrace through a white-lined hole in the air.  Some fell and did not rise again, their long, black coats torn beyond recognition.  These the Shapers rolled onto stretchers that, after a sharp order, stood on their own and scrambled off on spindly wooden legs, some toward the waiting doctors, others more slowly toward the cold rooms, their unlucky burdens already silent and stiff.

Who Should Read This? This series is best suited for fans of adventure fantasy.

Final Thoughts: I didn't love this one as well as the rest of the series.  It was still good, but I feel like some parts of the plot keep getting recycled, especially the parts with Josef, who is a great character, but the story seems a little one-note when it comes to him.  I will definitely continue on with the series, and it's becoming one of my favorite fantasy series.   

Grade: B

Cover Thoughts: I think it's pretty clear that the publishers are going for uniformity with these covers, which doesn't really make them as good as they could be, but if you like your series covers to match, I guess it's a good thing.

 

Review: The Mage in Black

Book Details

Title: The Mage in Black (Sabina Kane)

Author: Jaye Wells

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Page Count: 326

Publishing Info: April 1, 2010 by Orbit

My Review

Why I read it: 2nd in a series, have the 3rd on my e-reader for review.

The Plot: Sabina Kane doesn't have the best track record when it comes to family. After all, her own grandmother, leader of the vampire race, wants her dead. So when she arrives in New York to meet her mage relatives, the reunion puts the fun in dysfunctional. Not only is mage culture completely bizarre, but everyone seems to think she's some kind of 'Chosen' who'll unite the dark races. Sabina doesn't care who chose her, she's not into destiny. But the mages aren't Sabina's only problem. In New York's Black Light District, she has run-ins with fighting demons, hostile werewolves and an opportunistic old flame. Sabina thought she'd take a bite out of the Big Apple - but it looks like it wants to bite back.

The Characters: I liked Sabina a lot better here than in the first book.  She has calmed down a bit, and is not quite so violent at every turn.  The love interest(s) here were not really at the forefront, which is nice. 

The Setting: This book took place in New York, but could really have taken place in almost any large city, so the setting wasn't extremely important. 

A Sample of the Writing:
The Kum-N-Go's roadside-chic interior was bathed in a sickly fluorescent glow.  The aroma of stale smoke, urinal cakes, and rotgut coffee had me breathing through my mouth on the way back to the ATM.  It was my turn to pay for gas, so getting cash took priority over raiding the snack aisle for the moment.

Who Should Read This? Obviously I would suggest starting with the first in the series, Red-Headed Stepchild (Sabina Kane), and would recommend this series to fans of urban fantasy.  It's pretty straight-forward, typical urban fantasy, but it's entertaining enough.

Final Thoughts: I remember after reading the first book that I really didn't like the main character, and thought there were a lot of copycat elements in the story.  But I was willing to read the next in the series, because I thought the author had potential.  Well, I did and she does.  This one was better than the first, although nothing exceptional; it was pretty standard stuff.  I'll keep reading the series.

Grade: B

Cover Thoughts: The cover leaves a lot to be desired, if you ask me.  It's rather boring and generic.

Review: The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms

Book Details

Title: The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms (The Inheritance Trilogy)

Author: N.K. Jemisin

Genre: fantasy

Page Count: 412

Publishing Info: February 25th 2010 by Orbit

My Review

Why I read it: women of fantasy book club

The Plot: Yeine Darr is an outcast from the barbarian north. But when her mother dies under mysterious circumstances, she is summoned to the majestic city of Sky. There, to her shock, Yeine is named an heiress to the king. But the throne of the Hundred Thousand Kingdoms is not easily won, and Yeine is thrust into a vicious power struggle with cousins she never knew she had. As she fights for her life, she draws ever closer to the secrets of her mother's death and her family's bloody history.With the fate of the world hanging in the balance, Yeine will learn how perilous it can be when love and hate - and gods and mortals - are bound inseparably together.

The Characters: I felt like Yeine was kind of a weak character.  She didn't really seem to care about anything, and in turn, neither could I.  There was this odd sort of detachment that I felt all throughout the book, and I really think it was because of the first person narration, and the fact that Yeine seemed so blah and accepting of everything.  Some of the secondary characters were almost cartoonish in how one note they were--like her cousins who were fighting for the throne; there just wasn't any depth.  I did think some of the gods were interesting, but again, some were not fleshed out at all.

The Setting: This is another area that I couldn't really get a feel for.  There weren't many descriptions of Sky, and besides what I see on the front cover, I really can't picture the place at all.

A Sample of the Writing:

I am not as I once was.  They have done this to me, broken me open and torn out my heart.  I do not know who I am anymore.

I must try to remember.

My people tell stories of the night I was born.  They say my mother crossed her legs in the middle of labor and fought with all her strength not to release me into the world.  I was born anyhow, of course; nature cannot be denied.  Yet it does not surprise me that she tried. 

Who Should Read This? I think most fantasy fans will enjoy this, but there will be others like me who won't care for it.  It's a toss-up.

Final Thoughts: I really felt that the style of the writing wasn't very coherent, and while that may work for some people in building up suspense, it mostly just annoys me.  I know how popular this one is, and I wanted to like it more than I did, but if it wasn't such a quick read, I don't know if I could even have finished it.  That said, there are some interesting concepts here, and I would be willing to give the author another try in the future.

Grade: C-

Cover Thoughts: I find this cover very interesting, and I actually didn't even notice that there was a woman's face in the background until I looked more closely.

Review: The Spirit Rebellion

Book Details

Title: The Spirit Rebellion (The Legend of Eli Monpress)

Author: Rachel Aaron

Genre: Fantasy

Page Count: 456

Publishing Info: Orbit, October 26, 2010

My Review

Why I read it: Second in a series

The Plot: I've got to start taking notes when I read, especially when it's taking me so long between reading and reviewing.  In this second book of the Eli Monpress series, Eli is still working on getting a higher bounty on his head.  We find out a little bit more about what motivates him, and there is a little more depth to the story, with some surprises and foreshadowing too.  The target this time is the Duke of Gaol's citadel, which has been advertised as thief proof.  This proves too much of a temptation for Eli, so of course he sets off to rob it.  And of course, things don't go exactly as planned.

The Characters: I really love the characters in this series.  Eli is a character that I can really root for, even if he is a bit over the top at times.  I really want these characters to succeed, except maybe Miranda in her plans to catch and arrest Eli.  That would take away a lot of the fun.  As the series progresses, it seems that we're digging a little deeper into the lives of the characters, which is good since the first was a little more plot driven.

The Setting: There's nothing too spectacular about the setting here.  It seems to be pretty standard fantasy stuff.  I do still like that everything has a spirit, which makes it so that wizards can communicate with anything.  Rachel Aaron really had a good idea there, and she utilizes it well.

A Sample of the Writing:

High in the forested hills where no one went, there stood a stone tower.  It was a practical tower, neither lovely nor soaring, but solid and squat at only two stories.  It's enormous blocks were hewn from the local stone, which was of an unappealing, muddy color that seemed to attract grime.  Seeing that, it was perhaps fortunate that the tower was overrun with black-green vines.  They wound themselves around the tower like thread on a spindle, knotting the wooden shutters closed and crumbling the mortar that held the bricks together, giving the place an air of disrepair and gloomy neglect, especially when it was dark and raining, as it was now.

 

Who Should Read This? Fantasy fans who are into adventure and fun, and aren't looking for anything especially deep or serious.

Final Thoughts: I'm really loving this series, and I think it's getting better and better.  It's just nice, easy reading with no extra junk that doesn't need to be there.  I'm looking forward to the third book, and will definitely keep following this author.

Grade: A

Cover Thoughts: If I thought the cover to the first book was misleading, this one is even more so.  When I saw it, I thought the book was going to be about Miranda, especially when the tagline reads "What she gets away with is madness".  The taglines on these books are really cheesy, and they don't even really go along with the series.  This book is still very much centered around Eli, although Miranda is still there, as well as the other supporting characters.

Review: The Fallen Blade

Book Details

Title: The Fallen Blade: Act One of the Assassini (The Vampire Assassin Trilogy)
Author: Jon Courtenay Grimwood
Genre: fantasy
Page Count: 432
Publishing Info: Orbit, January 27, 2011

My Review
Why I read it: netgalley review copy
The Plot: I'm not quite sure how to describe the plot, it's quite complex, and I don't think I could do it justice, so I will give you the synopsis from the author's website: 
Venice 1407
The city is at the height of its powers. In theory, Duke Marco commands, but Marco is a simpleton so his aunt and uncle rule in his stead. They seem all powerful, yet live in fear of assassins better than their own.
On the night their world changes, Marco's young cousin prays in the family chapel for deliverance from a forced marriage. It is her misfortune to be alone when Mamluk pirates break in to abduct her – an act that will ultimately trigger war.
Elsewhere Atilo, the Duke's chief assassin, cuts a man's throat. Hearing a noise, he turns back to find a boy drinking from the victim's wound. The speed with which the angel-faced boy dodges his dagger and scales a wall stuns Atilo. He knows then he must hunt him. Not to kill him, but because he’s finally found what he thought was impossible – someone fit to be his apprentice. 
The Characters: There were a few main characters here, and although I think the book is supposed to be mostly about Tycho (the previously mentioned angel-faced boy), there were a few other characters that took center stage as well.  And I didn't really love any of them.  Don't get me wrong, the characters are all interesting, but I feel like they kind of took a backseat role to the setting.
The Setting: If the characters didn't feel completely fleshed out, it's because the author spent his time fleshing out the setting instead.  In every chapter, it seems there are detailed descriptions of Venice--the smells, the sights, the sounds, the history.  The main character in the story really is the setting. 
Who Should Read This? Fans of gritty, darker fantasy.  It's definitely not for the faint of heart, or those who like lighthearted fantasy.
Final Thoughts: The Fallen Blade started out with a bang, and I was really excited about reading it.  But somewhere in the middle I felt like it faltered a bit, to the point where I wasn't even sure what the story was supposed to be about.  But then it seemed to pick up at the end in a huge battle scene.  All in all I really liked this one, and will definitely continue on with the series, but feel like it had more potential than what is seen in the book.
Grade: B
Cover Thoughts: The cover is very well designed, from the picture to the font used for the title and author, and I think goes well with the feel of the story.

The Spirit Thief Review

Book Details

Title: The Spirit Thief (The Legend of Eli Monpress)
Author: Rachel Aaron
Genre: fantasy
Page Count: 320
Publishing Info: Orbit, October 1, 2010

My Review
Why I read it: kept seeing it reviewed all over
The Plot: At first glance this sounds like a lot of other books I've read.  A thief who is so good that he can do anything and get out of any scrape?  It sounded a bit like The Thief (The Queen's Thief, Book 1) or The Lies of Locke Lamora.  I mean, in The Thief, we start out in pretty much exactly the same place--with our hero locked up figuring out how to escape.  But there's an interesting magic system here that makes it different.  Every single thing has a spirit, from trees to sand to doors, and wizards can hear and talk to the spirits.  So, our main character, Eli is looking for a way to increase the bounty on his head, and the fastest way he knows how to do that is to kidnap a king, and he's able to sweet talk just about any spirit into doing whatever he wants.  Craziness ensues.
The Characters: At first I was pretty sure I wouldn't like Eli.  He seemed a little too good at everything.  But it turns out that Eli wasn't quite as strong as I first suspected.  He had weaknesses and flaws, which made him a better character, and surprisingly, I really liked him.  Yes, he was snarky and a little full of himself, but he was also funny and interesting.  I also really liked Josef, the swordsman who is a part of Eli's gang, and would like to know more of his backstory.  There really aren't very many characters in this one, but that's part of what makes it nice.  You never get confused about who is who. 
The Setting: The story takes place in the fictional kingdom of Mellinor, and never really goes beyond that.  We start out in the castle, and the whole story takes place within a few miles of it.  It never feels stagnant though, and the scope feels broader than what we're given.
Who Should Read This? Fans of fantasy, especially lighter fantasy that includes humor.
Final Thoughts: I was a little leary of this one at the start, but it turns out that I really liked it and thought it was a lot of fun.  I'm glad that the second and third books are already out so I don't have to wait to continue on with the series.
Grade: A-
Cover Thoughts: The cover for this one is a bit deceiving.  It looks like it might be an urban fantasy or something, not the fun adventure fantasy that it is.  If you're turned off by the cover, ignore it and give this one a go anyway.