Oct 30 2023

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Book Review: Bookshops and Bonedust by Travis Baldree

Title: Bookshops and Bonedust

Author: Travis Baldree

Series: Legends and Lattes #0.5

Genre: Fantasy

Rating: 2.5/5 stars

The Overview: When an injury throws a young, battle-hungry orc off her chosen path, she may find that what we need isn’t always what we seek. In Bookshops & Bonedust, a prequel to Legends & Lattes, New York Times bestselling author Travis Baldree takes us on a journey of high fantasy, first loves, and second-hand books. Viv’s career with the notorious mercenary company Rackam’s Ravens isn’t going as planned. Wounded during the hunt for a powerful necromancer, she’s packed off against her will to recuperate in the sleepy beach town of Murk—so far from the action that she worries she’ll never be able to return to it. What’s a thwarted soldier of fortune to do? Spending her hours at a beleaguered bookshop in the company of its foul-mouthed proprietor is the last thing Viv would have predicted, but it may be both exactly what she needs and the seed of changes she couldn’t possibly imagine. Still, adventure isn’t all that far away. A suspicious traveler in gray, a gnome with a chip on her shoulder, a summer fling, and an improbable number of skeletons prove Murk to be more eventful than Viv could have ever expected. -Goodreads

The Review:

I’m glad for more time with this author’s works, even if I enjoyed Legends & Lattes a bit more.

My biggest draw to Bookshops & Bonedust was the opportunity to settle in with the delightfully mundane aspects of running a business that was so prominent in the first book. And the business was a bookshop!! What could be more ideal?

As it turns out, more bookshop stuff, less necromancy.

We didn’t get that same level of commitment to focus on the business as we did with L&L. It tried to bring in too many other elements and sort of forgot what made this type of story special in the first place. I can read about necromancers and magic swords anywhere. What I can’t get is book organizing, quirky customer service, and sales reports (I need it). I wanted to see them get their hands dirty turning the store around, of which it provided only glimpses.

I did like the chronology of the tale – set in the pre-L&L days where it provided insight as to how a battling orc would even consider becoming a coffee shop owner. Overall it was a great enrichment to the saga as a whole, even if it didn’t land quite the same way. The parts I liked, I REALLY liked. I just wish there had been more of them.

Recommendations: Pick this up as a fun snack between other books, but don’t expect it to move you like the first one.

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by Niki Hawkes

Oct 5 2023

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Book Review: House of Chains by Steven Eri\kson

Title: House of Chains

Author: Steven Erikson

Series: Malazan #4

Genre: Fantasy

Rating: 4/5 stars

The Overview: In Northern Genabackis, tribal mountain warriors raid southern flatlands. Years later, Tavore, Adjunct to the Empress, enters the last Malazan stronghold. New to command, she must hone 12,000 recruits to resist the Whirlwind of her sister Sha in the Holy Desert. The power struggle of the seer’s warlords threatens the soul of the rebellion. -Goodreads

The Review:

Well, it only took me a year, but I finally finished House of Chains.

Granted, all Malazan books I’ve read so far have been dense, but the back half of this particular one gave me some extra sass. I’d heard it was the first half that most people struggle through, as the story and tone were vastly different than anything we’d seen up to that point. I, for one, found it a delightful Malazan vacation to only have a handful of characters to keep track of for a while. It was when we started getting back into the relative continuation of the series with an overwhelming mix of new and old characters that I starting losing momentum.

By all accounts, everything was still interesting, but compared to the slam-dunk brilliance that was Memories of Ice, the back half of House of Chains felt a bit lackluster. It was rather talkie/talkie and seemed to be more set-up than plot-advancing. And the few things that did happen to resolve conflicts from Deadhouse Gates hit me as anticlimactic.

The structure of this series so far is fascinating. Gardens of the Moon and Memories of Ice were linked, whereas House of Chains was more a direct sequel to Deadhouse Gates. But they’re all interconnected and overlapped, so you really do need to read them all (not that you’d likely skip if you’re committed to Malazan). I think it part of the brilliance of the series and it’s one of the reasons I’m interested to keep reading.

…I just wish fewer names started with a “K” sound.

Overall I’m still willing to put myself through more literary torture and will be continuing the Ultimate Reading Order with “The Healthy Dead” next.

Recommendations: I can’t in good conscience hand this to anyone without a laundry list of disclaimers, but it’s good. Read it if you’re a masochist. :P

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by Niki Hawkes

Oct 2 2023

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Book Review: The Will of the Many by James Islington

Title: The Will of the Many

Author: James Islington

Series Hierarchy #1

Genre: Fantasy

Rating: 4.5/5 stars!

The Overview: The Catenan Republic – the Hierarchy – may rule the world now, but they do not know everything. I tell them my name is Vis Telimus. I tell them I was orphaned after a tragic accident three years ago, and that good fortune alone has led to my acceptance into their most prestigious school. I tell them that once I graduate, I will gladly join the rest of civilised society in allowing my strength, my drive and my focus – what they call Will – to be leeched away and added to the power of those above me, as millions already do. As all must eventually do. I tell them that I belong, and they believe me. But the truth is that I have been sent to the Academy to find answers. To solve a murder. To search for an ancient weapon. To uncover secrets that may tear the Republic apart. And that I will never, ever cede my Will to the empire that executed my family. To survive, though, I will still have to rise through the Academy’s ranks. I will have to smile, and make friends, and pretend to be one of them and win. Because if I cannot, then those who want to control me, who know my real name, will no longer have any use for me. And if the Hierarchy finds out who I truly am, they will kill me. -Goodreads

The Review:

Yep – this solidifies Islington as a personal favorite!

You never know what to expect going into an Islington… and you may not always know what the heck is going on while you’re in there. But you can bet it’s always going to be a wild ride! I loved Licanius for its classic fantasy feel (told with a modern writing style) and its wildly dynamic plotting ideas. He brought that same weirdness and creativity to The Will of the Many and amped it up even more.

It had so many elements I love in books – fight/training sequences, school settings, competition, cool magic systems – so many great elements that I was a nervous wreck while reading it. I was so worried he was going to get my hopes up only to dash them by not delivering on all the promises. But have no fear – he completely delivers on every account with everything explored to it’s fullest. It was so satisfying!

Even though it ultimately delivered, this book is a platypus. It has a lot of wild elements that by all accounts shouldn’t work together (and perhaps wouldn’t if handled by a less deft writer), but somehow he pulled it off. I’ve found the key with Islington is to just go with it – trusting that he knows what he’s doing and it’s worth the effort. He certainly hasn’t let me down yet.

The Will of the Many had killer momentum and some of the best mic-drop scenes I’ve read in ages – many of which were so vivid and gut-punching that I’ll remember them for years to come. I loveloveloved the academic aspect and how often the main character put his skills to the test. I loved the cast of characters and the fact that I still want to know more about all of them. I loved the friendships and rivalries and that survival depended on the MC’s ability to navigate socially. I loved the competitions and that none of them were just brushed over. And I loved the epilogue – slamming down my 5-star rating and fangirl status. You’d better believe I’m already clamoring for the next one.

I loved it.

Recommendations: Just go with it! You wont regret it!

Thank you to my Patrons: Dave, Katrin, Frank, Sonja, Staci, Kat, Melissa, Tonya, Betsy, Mike, and Jen! <3

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by Niki Hawkes

Apr 20 2023

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Book Review: The Amulet of Samarkand by Jonathan Stroud

Title: Amulet of Samarkand

Author: Jonathan Stroud

Series: Bartimaeus #1

Genre: Middle Grade +

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

The Overview: Nathaniel is a boy magician-in-training, sold to the government by his birth parents at the age of five and sent to live as an apprentice to a master. Powerful magicians rule Britain, and its empire, and Nathaniel is told his is the “ultimate sacrifice” for a “noble destiny.” If leaving his parents and erasing his past life isn’t tough enough, Nathaniel’s master, Arthur Underwood, is a cold, condescending, and cruel middle-ranking magician in the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The boy’s only saving grace is the master’s wife, Martha Underwood, who shows him genuine affection that he rewards with fierce devotion. Nathaniel gets along tolerably well over the years in the Underwood household until the summer before his eleventh birthday. Everything changes when he is publicly humiliated by the ruthless magician Simon Lovelace and betrayed by his cowardly master who does not defend him. Nathaniel vows revenge. In a Faustian fever, he devours magical texts and hones his magic skills, all the while trying to appear subservient to his master. When he musters the strength to summon the 5,000-year-old djinni Bartimaeus to avenge Lovelace by stealing the powerful Amulet of Samarkand, the boy magician plunges into a situation more dangerous and deadly than anything he could ever imagine. -Goodreads

The Review:

Hands-down this is my favorite middle-grade read since Mull’s Fablehaven series almost two decades ago!

I wish I’d taken the time to write this review right after finishing the book, but at the time I’d been so fired up about the series I dropped everything to pick up the rest of it immediately. The experience was so much fun and reminded me of how I felt as a kid discovering Harry Potter for the first time. While this may not land on quite the same scale (what can?), it’s still an nostalgia-evoking book with enough sophistication to make it accessible for adults.

The footnotes were everything.

I’ve heard people complaining of footnotes in other series, so I was a bit intimidated to start this one, but I can’t imagine the story being as good without them. A lot of the subtle adult humor takes place in the footnotes and they really allow the author to have fun with his characters and give us more depth than we would’ve gotten otherwise.

And speaking of the characters, they were completely delightful, even if not always likable. And the demons – omgsh the demons. They start out as these wildly interesting (and dangerous) enigmas that give you even more reason to keep reading. I also loved learning about summoning demons and watching one of the main characters struggle to get it right. The combination of the magic, world-buildings, and mystery plot made for one of the most enjoyable things I’ve read in ages. And that’s across ALL genres, not just middle-grade books.

Overall if you’re on the cusp of graduating from YA and Middle Grade stories (as I find myself a the ripe age of 37), this one will draw you completely back in and remind you why you keep up the hunt for the good ones. I can’t believe I let this sit unread on my shelves for so many years!

Recommendations: I loved this book so much, I’d recommend it to anyone who wants to capture the magic of reading as a kid again. It has enough adult elements to make it an ideal crossover series. Make sure to do a physical read, however – the footnotes are everything! The audio version includes the footnotes as part of the main narrative, but they blend in too well, taking away half the fun of the series.

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by Niki Hawkes

Apr 19 2023

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Book Review: Going Postal by Terry Prachett

Title: Going Postal

Author: Terry Pratchett

Series: Discworld #33

Genre: Fantasy

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

The Overview: Moist von Lipwig was a con artist and a fraud and a man faced with a life choice: be hanged, or put Ankh-Morpork’s ailing postal service back on its feet. It was a tough decision. But he has to see that the mail gets through, come rain, hail, sleet, dogs, the Post Office Workers’ Friendly and Benevolent Society, the evil chairman of the Grand Trunk Semaphore Company, and a midnight killer. Getting a date with Adora Bell Dearheart would be nice, too. Maybe it’ll take a criminal to succeed where honest men have failed, or maybe it’s a death sentence either way. Or perhaps there’s a shot at redemption in the mad world of the mail, waiting for a man who’s prepared to push the envelope… -Goodreads

The Review:

Okay I’ll admit it… I read a Pratchett and liked it.

I’ve long lumped Pratchett in with Piers Anthony and Douglas Adams as the type of over-the-top humor writers or stories that are just too ridiculous for me to enjoy. I just assumed I wouldn’t like his works… I’m glad I was wrong.

I realize this is like the 30-something book in the Discworld Saga and I read it considerably out of order. I normally balk at even the idea of breaking continuity like that. But the subject-matter of a low-stakes fantasy where a convicted criminal is put in charge of a run-down postal office appealed to me considerably.

And you know what? I actually thought it was funny.

I tend to prefer dry humor, but in this case the humor worked for me because the jokes and situations were CLEVER. Very intelligently written and prevalent enough to keep me feeling a bubbling fondness for the book the entire way through. I feel like I had to work to get some of the jokes (in a good way) and that subtly somehow made them funnier. I had such a good time with this book that I plan to read more from Pratchett at some point.

The last 20% of Going Postal lost me a little, as it became more about (I imagine) bigger-picture series conflicts than just the post office drama, but that didn’t bother me too much. One thing I liked while reading was how many random “moments” occurred with what I can only guess as cameos from characters from other books in the series. I got the sense everything weaved together, and I truly love stuff like that in series. It makes me want to pick up more books to learn more about everyone.

Overall, I held out for such a long time, but I’m glad a weird impulse drove me to pick up Going Postal on a whim. It was truly delightful, and I am now a Pratchett believer.

Recommendations: if like me you’ve been hesitating to read Pratchett because Discworld seems too ridiculous, I can assure you that at least this one book never falls over the edge into “downright stupid.” It was very clever, loads of fun, and I’d recommend it if you need something to brighten your mood.

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by Niki Hawkes

Apr 11 2023

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Book Review: Jade War by Fonda Lee

Title: Jade War

Author: Fonda Lee

Series: Green Bone Saga #2

Genre: Fantasy

Rating: 3/5 stars

The Overview: On the island of Kekon, the Kaul family is locked in a violent feud for control of the capital city and the supply of magical jade that endows trained Green Bone warriors with supernatural powers they alone have possessed for hundreds of years. Beyond Kekon’s borders, war is brewing. Powerful foreign governments and mercenary criminal kingpins alike turn their eyes on the island nation. Jade, Kekon’s most prized resource, could make them rich – or give them the edge they’d need to topple their rivals. Faced with threats on all sides, the Kaul family is forced to form new and dangerous alliances, confront enemies in the darkest streets and the tallest office towers, and put honor aside in order to do whatever it takes to ensure their own survival – and that of all the Green Bones of Kekon. -Goodreads

The Review:

Jade War was an enjoyable continuation to the Green Bone Saga even though it didn’t have a ton of plot-advancement.

My favorite component to the series so far is when smart characters use their experience and wits to build allies and get ahead in the political game. That happened more in the first book. In fact, most of the things I liked happened more in the first book. Jade War struck me as just maintaining status-quo. There were a couple of events, but nothing that really moved the main arc of the story forward. There’d be one page of good action, followed by thirty or so of explanations and chatter. I’ve loved other books with this format, but something about the in-between scenes here just weren’t singing to me.

Then when finally something DID happen – a gut-punching event in its own right, I found implausibilities in it left and right that had me questioning its necessity and consistency of character. It totally drew me out of the story and left me generally interested to continue but not eager.

Believe you me, I wish I was liking this series as much as the majority. It’s no fun to be the odd man out and get all of the “gasp – blasphemy!!” comments. I’m still hopeful things can turn around though. I didn’t really start hearing across-the-board praise for Green Bone until people finished the final book in the series (Jade Legacy), so I’m hoping that one will provide all of the elements I’ve been missing so far. Fingers crossed.

Recommendations: read this slightly magical low-fantasy series if you’re interested, regardless of what I think, because statistically-speaking you’ll probably love it. ;P

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