Tagged: masq1
Prince of Thorns by Mark Lawrence
(Cover picture courtesy of Fantasy Book Critic.)
Beware the Prince of Thorns…
When he was nine, he watched as his mother and brother were killed before him. By the time he was thirteen, he was the leader of a band of bloodthirsty thugs. By fifteen, he intends to be King…
It is time for Prince Honorous Jorg Ancrath to return to the castle he turned his back on, to take what’s rightfully his. Since the day he hung pinned on the thorns of a briar patch and watched Count Renar’s men slaughter his mother and young brother, Jorg has been driven to vent his rage. Life and death are no more than a game to him—and he has nothing left to lose.
But treachery awaits him in his father’s castle. Treachery and dark magic. No matter how fierce his will, can one young man conquer enemies with power beyond his imagining?
When Savindi from The Streetlight Reader told me Prince of Thorns was quite unlike any other book because of the main character, Jorg, I was definitely intrigued. What had Mark Lawrence decided to do that was so different? Who was this mysterious Jorg?
Well, the short answer is that he’s a miniature Genghis Khan. When the opening scene in a book begins with Jorg and his men raping and pillaging, it tends to set a rather dark tone. Rightly so, as it turns out. Prince of Thorns is not an uplifting book at all, but what saves it is that it is an incredibly interesting book. Not just because of Jorg, but because of the future world it takes place in, one where there seems to have been a huge nuclear war that wiped out most technology and made it revert back to Medieval times. If that sounds familiar, it probably is, but Mark Lawrence put such an interesting spin on things that I wasn’t bothered by his use of that particular trope.
Prince of Thorns isn’t really so much about the post-apocalyptic world, but rather Jorg himself. This is one messed up teenager, something that I don’t say lightly. Seeing his mother and little brother killed at the age of nine while being trapped in a thorn patch and unable to help seriously affected him. He tends to lash out at the world, taking his revenge upon practically anyone in his ultimate quest for vengeance on Count Renar. If you’re quite sensitive, you will absolutely hate Jorg. But if you’re a little more open-minded, Jorg is an interesting character from a psychological standpoint. The success of Prince of Thorns is proof that main characters don’t have to be sympathetic to be popular. What they have to be is interesting enough to hold the reader’s attention.
Overall, I really enjoyed Prince of Thorns and I can’t wait to see where Mark Lawrence goes with this series.
I give this book 5/5 stars.
Conversations in the Abyss by Michael Brookes
(Cover picture courtesy of The Yellow-Haired Reviewer.)
Stealing Lazarus’s miracle gifted him immortality. Combined with his natural ability of invading and controlling people’s minds this made him one of the most dangerous people on Earth.
But the miracle came with a price. His punishment was to be imprisoned within the walls of an ancient monastery and tormented by an invisible fire that burned his body perpetually. To escape the pain he retreated deep into his own mind.
There he discovers the truth of the universe and that only he can stop the coming Apocalypse.
[Full disclosure: Michael Brookes sent me a free ebook in exchange for an honest review.]
I didn’t really like Conversations in the Abyss as much as I liked the first book in The Third Path trilogy, The Cult of Me. Not because it’s a bad book, but because it’s a completely different tone than the first book. I’d be lying if I said I hated Conversations in the Abyss, but I’m definitely feeling more neutral toward this book.
Part of my problem seems to be, as I said, the change in tone. Whereas the first book focused on the unnamed main character’s journey into evil and his subsequent saving of the world, this second book focuses more on the philosophical aspect of the coming Apocalypse. It seems that the Church’s actions at the end of the first novel may have inadvertently made the Apocalypse come a little sooner, but that’s beside the point. The point is that Michael Brookes is getting very philosophical in Conversations in the Abyss. There’s an interesting origins story of Heaven and Hell and the fall of Lucifer and also some explanation for why God isn’t intervening in the world. All from a Christian perspective, but it doesn’t get preachy. Just philosophical and if you’re someone who likes philosophy like I do, it’s fascinating.
Of course there’s some suspense and some amazing plot twists thrown in at the end, but there just wasn’t the kind of glued to the screen tension I felt in the first book. If you’re someone that doesn’t mind slow but consistent plots, Conversations in the Abyss is great, but if you’re looking for the energy of the first book you may be a little disappointed.
The characters were okay in this installment, but nothing more. From the brief glimpses we got of him, Pierre was a compelling Antichrist. Our unnamed narrator changed a little bit because of his predicament, but there was more focus on the dialogue between himself and the fallen angel Venet than on his characterization.
I give this book 3.5/5 stars.
Lady of Ch’iao Kuo: Red Bird of the South by Laurence Yep
(Cover picture courtesy of Goodreads.)
2nd Month, 3rd Day
…There was once a time when the Chinese could just make up stories and write them down.
They didn’t have to be afraid of enemies attacking. They could make gardens instead of forts. They could walk out at night without any weapons and look up at stars.
Master Chen calls it “peace.”
It is hard to think there really is such a thing. I find it easier to believe that a warrior can fly through the stars in a magic chariot. However, the history books and Master Chen all say peace really existed.
Depending on which edition you have, this book is either subtitled Red Bird of the South or Warrior of the South. I have the special edition, so the title on my book is the latter, but the book was published under both names, in case you’re confused. I’m just using the apparently more popular title for my post.
Princess Redbird is a truly amazing woman. She’s a leader among her own people and strives to represent her people well while she’s in Chinese territory going to school. There are times she loses her temper, but she always makes up for it and in the end keeps her promise to do much better. Not only that, she is a stark contrast to her brother Little Tiger in that she’s interested in ruling and actually listens to her people. The two make an odd pair later on in the book, but it sort of sets the dynamic of what their relationship would be like in the future.
I honestly had no idea the Hsien people existed as a separate entity in Southern China in the sixth century. But Laurence Yep’s descriptions of the way the Hsien lived and the completely different climate back then are fascinating and informative. This particular entry in The Royal Diaries is 300 pages long, so we actually have a chance to get a feel for the times and appreciate Princess Redbird’s accomplishments. Her military strategies are absolutely brilliant and she is a strong, but compassionate leader.
Laurence Yep couldn’t have chosen a better candidate for his novel. Not only is he a talented writer that brings the princess to life, but he also brings the world of the Hsien and the turmoil of the times to life. How sad is it that a fifteen-year-old girl does not know what peace is and does not believe that it ever really existed? Princess Redbird is one of the few princesses in this entire series that I truly feel connected to, which is an enormous accomplishment in itself.
Even if you don’t know much about Chinese history, you’ll love this book. And even though it was written for tweens, people of all ages will absolutely love Red Bird of the South.
I give this book 5/5 stars.
*Only available as a used book.
Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers
(Cover picture courtesy of Goodreads.)
Why be the sheep, when you can be the wolf?
Seventeen-year-old Ismae escapes from the brutality of an arranged marriage into the sanctuary of the convent of St. Mortain, where the sisters still serve the gods of old. Here she learns that the god of Death Himself has blessed her with dangerous gifts—and a violent destiny. If she chooses to stay at the convent, she will be trained as an assassin and serve as a handmaiden to Death. To claim her new life, she must destroy the lives of others.
Ismae’s most important assignment takes her straight into the high court of Brittany—where she finds herself woefully under prepared—not only for the deadly games of intrigue and treason, but for the impossible choices she must make. For how can she deliver Death’s vengeance upon a target who, against her will, has stolen her heart?
I’ve been tempted by this book for almost a year now, when it really took off amongst the book blogs of the world. There has been an incredible amount of hype about Grave Mercy and it seems a very popular book with my fellow bloggers. So we must ask ourselves, once again, does it deserve all of the hype?
Yes. Actually, it does. The hype almost doesn’t do it justice.
Set in the Middle Ages with a few modifications, Grave Mercy is just one of those books that when you start, you can’t stop. The intrigues of Anne’s court and council, the tension between Ismae and Duval and the fast pacing of the plot make for a great read. I spent a whole afternoon on this book, something I rarely do anymore because of time constraints, but I just could not put it down. Ismae herself is a great, believable character who escapes a terrifying arranged marriage and eventually finds herself taught and indoctrinated in the ways of St. Mortain, the old god and new saint of death.
So is this an historical novel or is it completely set in a fantasy world? I had to look this up, but apparently Robin LaFevers did all her research and set the story in 15th century Europe and stayed true to the politics of the time. The only made up part would be the specific ‘saints’ or ‘gods’ mentioned in the book and the group of female assassins. (Obviously, the divine/magical elements are made up as well.) Other than that, Grave Mercy is actually pretty historically accurate, which if you’re a lover of history adds that extra layer of enjoyment.
I love political thrillers to some extent, so I really appreciate all of the political intrigues Robin LaFevers included. Betrayal, hidden allegiances and secret contracts all ratchet up the tension and drive the plot forward as Ismae tries to navigate the tricky politics of the times while trying to figure out her own feelings for the handsome Gavriel Duval, the duchess’ half brother. As you’re reading this, just remember that not everyone is as they seem and some characters will really, truly surprise you.
It’s hard to explain what makes Grace Mercy so great, but I think it’s a combination of very three dimensional, relatable characters, a fast-paced plot and rich mythology woven into the time period where it takes place. Not only that, Robin LaFevers is an excellent writer who knows how to balance dialogue and description without boring her readers to death. The cliffhanger at the end is also a good incentive to read the next book, Dark Triumph which stars Sybella instead of Ismae.
I give this book 5/5 stars.
Short Story: A Goddess’ Curse by Luciana Cavallaro
(Cover picture courtesy of Smashwords.)
Hera, Queen of the Gods, is the most powerful goddess on Mount Olympos. Beautiful, sensual, and merciless, she is a goddess renowned for her jealous rages and for inflicting horrors on hapless victims. She’s the protector of women, virtue, family and marriage yet her husband, Zeus, has had countless affairs. She puts up with it. Why? Is she really malicious or a product of circumstance?
For the first time ever in a candid interview, Hera shares what it’s like to be a goddess and wife to Zeus, the King of the Gods.
Drake Dabbler, chat show host, sees his exclusive interview with Queen Hera as a sure road to a Daytime Emmy… He should have been more thorough in his research.
[Full disclosure: Luciana Cavallaro sent me a free ebook in exchange for an honest review.]
I definitely had my doubts about A Goddess’ Curse simply because it was focusing on Hera, who is renowned throughout Greek mythology for fitting the jealous woman stereotype. Her treatment of Zeus’ lovers was well-documented as was her part in the Trojan War. So when I started this short story I was wondering if Luciana Cavallaro would go for the Ice Queen interpretation or something a little more sympathetic.
As it turns out, she decided on a combination of the two. Learning about Hera in her own words through an interview with an over-zealous TV host is interesting, but the reactions she gives said TV host are priceless. Not only do you get to see her side of the story in her own words, you get to see flashes of her personality in her interactions with other characters. I like Luciana Cavallaro’s interpretation of Hera and I absolutely love how she stays true to the goddess’ character by revealing her actions at the end of the story. I don’t want to spoil things, but what she does is very, very similar to what happened to some of Zeus’ lovers.
There really isn’t much more to say. Both Drake and Hera were great characters who had interesting interactions, the plot was fast-paced and Luciana Cavallaro covered pretty much all of the topics of interest in the interview. I’m starting to love the way she lets famous women tell their stories because telling them in third person but having the characters do an interview is very insightful. Honestly, I wish we had a whole novel from Hera’s point of view. Yes, A Goddess’ Curse was really that good.
I give this short story 5/5 stars.