“The day of the royal massacre started out like any other.” And with that hook, so begins Kill the Queen, the first installment of Jennifer Estep’s Crown of Shards series...
Read the full review at New York Journal of Books
Showing posts with label fantasy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fantasy. Show all posts
Monday, December 10, 2018
Book Review: Kill the Queen by Jennifer Estep
Jennifer Estep’s engaging style and a perfect balance of action and intrigue make this a strong first
installment of a promising new fantasy series.
“The day of the royal massacre started out like any other.” And with that hook, so begins Kill the Queen, the first installment of Jennifer Estep’s Crown of Shards series...
Read the full review at New York Journal of Books
“The day of the royal massacre started out like any other.” And with that hook, so begins Kill the Queen, the first installment of Jennifer Estep’s Crown of Shards series...
Read the full review at New York Journal of Books
Monday, June 11, 2018
Book review: King of Ashes by Raymond E. Feist
Many fantasy readers cut their teeth on Raymond Feist’s early works. The Riftwar Saga is considered
a classic, and The Serpentwar Saga is another favorite. Over time, some readers drifted away as the neverending story of Midkemia played out over seven sagas, a few stand-alone titles, and even a video game tie-in novel. Five years after putting a wrap on the Midkemia stories, Raymond Feist is back with a new series set in a brand new universe...
Check out the full review at New York Journal of Books.
Check out the full review at New York Journal of Books.
Monday, February 19, 2018
Review- Red Sister by Mark Lawrence
I'm a huge fan of Mark Lawrence, and Red Sister is my favorite of his books so far! It tells the story of Nona Reeve (eventually Nona Grey), a girl saved at the eleventh hour from execution. Nona is taken to the Convent of Sweet Mercy, where girls are trained to be killers. That's right: warrior nuns, espionage nuns, poisoner nuns, and nuns who command elements of the supernatural. The story is set on a planet orbiting a dying sun, almost completely encrusted in ice save a narrow band between the ice walls where the remnants of humankind survive.
The book invites inevitable comparisons to the Kingkiller Chronicle or the Harry Potter series for its "school" setting, but Lawrence successfully puts his own mark on the familiar trope. The result is a book that's accessible to mature YA readers but wholly satisfying to an adult audience. There is so much I loved about this book: the characters, the setting, the hand-to-hand combat, the intrigue, mystery, betrayal, and surprising twists. The story comes to a satisfying resolution of the main arc, but leaves the reader eager for the next in the series. Oh, and the epilogue made my head spin.
Though nowhere near as grimdark as Lawrence's Broken Empire series, the book is dark in tone, with a few mature elements. There's some gritty violence, particularly graphic in the final showdown. There's also one scene of animal abuse (by a villain) which serves the story, but might be upsetting for some. If you fall into that category, go ahead and give this terrific book a chance, and when you see the scene coming (you'll know what's about to happen) just assume the worst and skip a few pages.
Red Sister is the beginning of a fantastic new series. I can't wait for book two, and am crossing my fingers for a television series!
Thursday, December 14, 2017
47- Waiting for a Series to Be Completed
Listen to the companion podcast
Today I discuss lessons learned from re-publishing books after a rights reversion.
Then, a few thoughts inspired by this blog post:
Unfinished Series by Mark Lawrence
Why do so many readers refuse to start an unfinished series?
-Robert Jordan
-George RR Martin
-Patrick Rothfuss
-Scott Lynch
If readers won't try new series before they're finished, what are the implications for new or midlist authors?
What lessons can an indie take from this?
Today I discuss lessons learned from re-publishing books after a rights reversion.Then, a few thoughts inspired by this blog post:
Unfinished Series by Mark Lawrence
Why do so many readers refuse to start an unfinished series?
-Robert Jordan
-George RR Martin
-Patrick Rothfuss
-Scott Lynch
If readers won't try new series before they're finished, what are the implications for new or midlist authors?
What lessons can an indie take from this?
Wednesday, October 4, 2017
38- Audo Success and More with Brian D. Anderson
Listen to the podcast episode
Today's guest is bestselling fantasy author Brian D. Anderson.
Regarding many failed early attempts to write a book: "I realized I needed more than a clever idea or two. I needed a story."
On wrting style: "I'm a pantser... Every time I've created an outline I get twelve to fifteen pages in, I get a new idea, and the whole outline collapses."
On productivity: "In order to stay relevant in the indie world you've got to keep producing work. That's just the way it is."
On being hybrid and retaining publishing rights: "If I'm in a position where Audible is paying me more for audio rights then Big 5 publishers are offering me for all my rights, why wouldn't I hold on to my rights?"
On making your work known: "A lot of aspiring writers make the mistake of going on forums where there are nothing but other writers and trying to market their work there... You want to go where people discuss reading. Be part of the community."
On quality: "Try to make your book as good as one would expect from any traditionally published author. "Good enough' isn't good enough anymore."
On rushing to publication: "If you're new, you don't have an audience waiting for your book, so you have all the time in the world to get it right."
On choosing the indie path: "Indie is not for everybody... It's the hare to traditional publishing's tortoise... it's grueling... If you're not prepared to write at least 1,000 words a day most days, if not every day, and then find the time to market and take care of other business, indie probably isn't for you."
Today's guest is bestselling fantasy author Brian D. Anderson.
Regarding many failed early attempts to write a book: "I realized I needed more than a clever idea or two. I needed a story."
On wrting style: "I'm a pantser... Every time I've created an outline I get twelve to fifteen pages in, I get a new idea, and the whole outline collapses."
On productivity: "In order to stay relevant in the indie world you've got to keep producing work. That's just the way it is."
On being hybrid and retaining publishing rights: "If I'm in a position where Audible is paying me more for audio rights then Big 5 publishers are offering me for all my rights, why wouldn't I hold on to my rights?"
On making your work known: "A lot of aspiring writers make the mistake of going on forums where there are nothing but other writers and trying to market their work there... You want to go where people discuss reading. Be part of the community."
On quality: "Try to make your book as good as one would expect from any traditionally published author. "Good enough' isn't good enough anymore."
On rushing to publication: "If you're new, you don't have an audience waiting for your book, so you have all the time in the world to get it right."
On choosing the indie path: "Indie is not for everybody... It's the hare to traditional publishing's tortoise... it's grueling... If you're not prepared to write at least 1,000 words a day most days, if not every day, and then find the time to market and take care of other business, indie probably isn't for you."
Brian's Links
Wednesday, September 20, 2017
Fantastic Fiction and Connecting with Readers with Karpov Kinrade
Listen to the podcast episode
Today we chat with the "better half" of the USA Today bestselling author team, Karpov Kinrade. Karpov Kinrade is the pen name for the husband and wife entertainment duo Lux and Dmytry Karpov-Kinrade, aka The KK Duo.
Highlights from our chat:
Do your research. Know what's selling and understand why it sells.
Look for the story hooks that get people excited.
Understand and utilize the themes and tropes readers want, some of which the readers might not even know they are reading for.
Don't limit yourself to the tropes and themes of your genre. Draw inspiration from other genres and look for ways to incorporate them.
The importance of wish fulfillment and escapism.
It's not enough to write well; your work needs to meet a need within the reader.
Considerations when choosing the next project:
-What do we know we can market?
-What is selling well right now?
- What are we going to enjoy writing?
Advice to indies:
-Do your research. Know what makes a bestseller.
-Constantly work to improve your craft.
-Study marketing.
-Be flexible. What works for one author might not work for another. What works today might not work tomorrow.
-Experiment. Learn from your mistakes.
Today we chat with the "better half" of the USA Today bestselling author team, Karpov Kinrade. Karpov Kinrade is the pen name for the husband and wife entertainment duo Lux and Dmytry Karpov-Kinrade, aka The KK Duo.Highlights from our chat:
Do your research. Know what's selling and understand why it sells.
Look for the story hooks that get people excited.
Understand and utilize the themes and tropes readers want, some of which the readers might not even know they are reading for.
Don't limit yourself to the tropes and themes of your genre. Draw inspiration from other genres and look for ways to incorporate them.
The importance of wish fulfillment and escapism.
It's not enough to write well; your work needs to meet a need within the reader.
Considerations when choosing the next project:-What do we know we can market?
-What is selling well right now?
- What are we going to enjoy writing?
Advice to indies:
-Do your research. Know what makes a bestseller.
-Constantly work to improve your craft.
-Study marketing.
-Be flexible. What works for one author might not work for another. What works today might not work tomorrow.
-Experiment. Learn from your mistakes.
Connect with Karpov Kinrade!
Saturday, March 25, 2017
Book Review- The Magicians by Lev Grossman
The Magicians by Lev Grossman
From the publisher:
Quentin Coldwater is brilliant but miserable. A high school math genius, he’s secretly fascinated with a series of children’s fantasy novels set in a magical land called Fillory, and real life is disappointing by comparison. When Quentin is unexpectedly admitted to an elite, secret college of magic, it looks like his wildest dreams have come true. But his newfound powers lead him down a rabbit hole of hedonism and disillusionment, and ultimately to the dark secret behind the story of Fillory. The land of his childhood fantasies turns out to be much darker and more dangerous than he ever could have imagined. . . .
Read a review of The Magicians and, odds are, the reviewer will make a comparison to Harry Potter. Don't buy it. Yes, the story begins with a young man learning he's a magician, heading off to a magical university, making friends, and developing his powers. I emphasize "begins with" because all of this happens in a few hundred pages. Imagine Harry Potter if: all the years at Hogwarts were compressed into the first half of the first book; then Harry and crew move to New York, where they spend their time drinking, having sex, and feeling depressed. Harry spends a lot of time brooding over how sad and pointless live is, how he doesn't really have feelings for Ginny any more, and magic hasn't made his life any better. Voldemort makes a very brief appearance early on, one which no one really understands or thinks about until he shows up again at the book's climax.
This is not to say The Magicians is a bad book. Just don't go into it looking for Harry Potter. I tried reading it shortly after its release, and didn't finish it, possibly because I was looking for something like HP. After trying The Magicians television series on NetFlix, I decided to give it another try, and found I enjoyed it for what it is. (I confess I prefer the show to the book.)
What I found most interesting about The Magicians is its main character, Quentin Coldwater. He's unhappy, dissatisfied with life, seldom heroic, not easy to like, but easy to root for. He's probably the most honest representation of the introverted fantasy novel lover that I've seen in fiction. Many of us find ourselves wishing Hogwarts (or insert your favorite fantastic setting) was real, and daydream about what it would be like if we could live there. Let's get real: if the average bookish, introverted, depressed person got to go to Hogwarts, (s)he might enjoy aspects of it, but would still be the same shy, unhappy person on the inside, and would spend a lot of time in her/his dorm room or the library, reading and daydreaming about the magical world outside of school. That's Quentin. He's a bit of a downer, but his struggles are real, and he's the same jerk even after he discovers magic.
Overall, I liked but didn't love The Magicians. It was a bit slow, but good enough to keep me reading. I didn't, however, enjoy it enough to dive into books two and three, though I might read them one of these days.
Buy The Magicians here
From the publisher:
Quentin Coldwater is brilliant but miserable. A high school math genius, he’s secretly fascinated with a series of children’s fantasy novels set in a magical land called Fillory, and real life is disappointing by comparison. When Quentin is unexpectedly admitted to an elite, secret college of magic, it looks like his wildest dreams have come true. But his newfound powers lead him down a rabbit hole of hedonism and disillusionment, and ultimately to the dark secret behind the story of Fillory. The land of his childhood fantasies turns out to be much darker and more dangerous than he ever could have imagined. . . .
Read a review of The Magicians and, odds are, the reviewer will make a comparison to Harry Potter. Don't buy it. Yes, the story begins with a young man learning he's a magician, heading off to a magical university, making friends, and developing his powers. I emphasize "begins with" because all of this happens in a few hundred pages. Imagine Harry Potter if: all the years at Hogwarts were compressed into the first half of the first book; then Harry and crew move to New York, where they spend their time drinking, having sex, and feeling depressed. Harry spends a lot of time brooding over how sad and pointless live is, how he doesn't really have feelings for Ginny any more, and magic hasn't made his life any better. Voldemort makes a very brief appearance early on, one which no one really understands or thinks about until he shows up again at the book's climax.This is not to say The Magicians is a bad book. Just don't go into it looking for Harry Potter. I tried reading it shortly after its release, and didn't finish it, possibly because I was looking for something like HP. After trying The Magicians television series on NetFlix, I decided to give it another try, and found I enjoyed it for what it is. (I confess I prefer the show to the book.)
What I found most interesting about The Magicians is its main character, Quentin Coldwater. He's unhappy, dissatisfied with life, seldom heroic, not easy to like, but easy to root for. He's probably the most honest representation of the introverted fantasy novel lover that I've seen in fiction. Many of us find ourselves wishing Hogwarts (or insert your favorite fantastic setting) was real, and daydream about what it would be like if we could live there. Let's get real: if the average bookish, introverted, depressed person got to go to Hogwarts, (s)he might enjoy aspects of it, but would still be the same shy, unhappy person on the inside, and would spend a lot of time in her/his dorm room or the library, reading and daydreaming about the magical world outside of school. That's Quentin. He's a bit of a downer, but his struggles are real, and he's the same jerk even after he discovers magic.
Overall, I liked but didn't love The Magicians. It was a bit slow, but good enough to keep me reading. I didn't, however, enjoy it enough to dive into books two and three, though I might read them one of these days.
Buy The Magicians here
Wednesday, June 22, 2016
Prince of Thorns by Mark Lawrence
A truly dark, gritty fantasy! Book 1 of the Broken Empire trilogy.
Synopsis:
Before the thorns taught me their sharp lessons and bled weakness from me I had but one brother, and I loved him well. But those days are gone and what is left of them lies in my mother's tomb. Now I have many brothers, quick with knife and sword, and as evil as you please. We ride this broken empire and loot its corpse. They say these are violent times, the end of days when the dead roam and monsters haunt the night. All that's true enough, but there's something worse out there, in the dark. Much worse.
From being a privileged royal child, raised by a loving mother, Jorg Ancrath has become the Prince of Thorns, a charming, immoral boy leading a grim band of outlaws in a series of raids and atrocities. The world is in chaos: violence is rife, nightmares everywhere. Jorg has the ability to master the living and the dead, but there is still one thing that puts a chill in him. Returning to his father's castle Jorg must confront horrors from his childhood and carve himself a future with all hands turned against him.
Mark Lawrence's debut novel tells a tale of blood and treachery, magic and brotherhood and paints a compelling and brutal, and sometimes beautiful, picture of an exceptional boy on his journey toward manhood and the throne.
My Thoughts:
I stumbled across this book while looking for a beach read, and I'm so glad I found it! Prince of Thorns drew me in from the outset. The main character, Jorg, is... not a nice guy. He's an anti-hero, and he and his band of rogues are hardened criminals and commit terrible depredations from the get-go. Like many great characters, though, Jorg has many facets, some admirable qualities, and a slowly-unfolding back-story that helps you understand how he became the (very young) man he is today. Though some people might be turned off by such a seemingly nasty piece of work, I couldn't wait to find out how Mark Lawrence was going to make me root for this character. I won't tell you how he did it; only that he succeeded. Lawrence utilizes twin narratives: some chapters deal with the present-day story, while others tell Jorg's "origin story." The two stories complement one another and build to a satisfying climax. Highly recommended, though not for the faint of heart.
Synopsis:
Before the thorns taught me their sharp lessons and bled weakness from me I had but one brother, and I loved him well. But those days are gone and what is left of them lies in my mother's tomb. Now I have many brothers, quick with knife and sword, and as evil as you please. We ride this broken empire and loot its corpse. They say these are violent times, the end of days when the dead roam and monsters haunt the night. All that's true enough, but there's something worse out there, in the dark. Much worse.
From being a privileged royal child, raised by a loving mother, Jorg Ancrath has become the Prince of Thorns, a charming, immoral boy leading a grim band of outlaws in a series of raids and atrocities. The world is in chaos: violence is rife, nightmares everywhere. Jorg has the ability to master the living and the dead, but there is still one thing that puts a chill in him. Returning to his father's castle Jorg must confront horrors from his childhood and carve himself a future with all hands turned against him.
Mark Lawrence's debut novel tells a tale of blood and treachery, magic and brotherhood and paints a compelling and brutal, and sometimes beautiful, picture of an exceptional boy on his journey toward manhood and the throne.
My Thoughts:
I stumbled across this book while looking for a beach read, and I'm so glad I found it! Prince of Thorns drew me in from the outset. The main character, Jorg, is... not a nice guy. He's an anti-hero, and he and his band of rogues are hardened criminals and commit terrible depredations from the get-go. Like many great characters, though, Jorg has many facets, some admirable qualities, and a slowly-unfolding back-story that helps you understand how he became the (very young) man he is today. Though some people might be turned off by such a seemingly nasty piece of work, I couldn't wait to find out how Mark Lawrence was going to make me root for this character. I won't tell you how he did it; only that he succeeded. Lawrence utilizes twin narratives: some chapters deal with the present-day story, while others tell Jorg's "origin story." The two stories complement one another and build to a satisfying climax. Highly recommended, though not for the faint of heart.
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