Epic; vast, violent and wholly engrossing. Loved the switch in storytelling to centre around the a-typical hero Murtagh and dragon Thorn. An insightfuEpic; vast, violent and wholly engrossing. Loved the switch in storytelling to centre around the a-typical hero Murtagh and dragon Thorn. An insightful look at the world beyond Eragon’s eyes. Can’t wait for more in this vein....more
Papa Lucy and the Boneman is a literary dark fantasy novel which echoes similar themes prevalent in popular novels such as"Every Horror walks here..."
Papa Lucy and the Boneman is a literary dark fantasy novel which echoes similar themes prevalent in popular novels such as American Gods by Neil Gaiman and the Dark Tower series by Stephen King, complemented by some iconic visual stimulus akin to Mad Mad to deliver a highly imaginative and immersive experience.
I won't delve into the depths of the plot as there's so much to take in and I want to avoid spoilers, but I will say, Lanyard's (the protagonist) sojourn across the surreal landscape is never not eventful; from battling horrors unimageable, to facing beings with godlike powers in otherworldly cityscapes, to evolving and dissolving relationships with former mentors, present day captors, and likeminded kinfolk - there's plenty of action and drama to keep the reader on their toes.
The literary stylings make reading Papa Lucy and the Boneman in quick fashion impossible as you're likely to gloss over some pivotal piece of the puzzle. This is a book best savoured; slow and steady certainly wins the race here.
I can't wait to see where this series heads next!...more
Captures that classic fantasy feel of Sabriel; transporting the reader into a dangerous world of magic, manipulation, life and death. Perfect for fansCaptures that classic fantasy feel of Sabriel; transporting the reader into a dangerous world of magic, manipulation, life and death. Perfect for fans of the Old Kingdom series who want to go back to the beginning of where it all started. ...more
This collection of short stories is the perfect place to start for readers new to Conan. Not only does the book provide bite sized morals of the violeThis collection of short stories is the perfect place to start for readers new to Conan. Not only does the book provide bite sized morals of the violent sword and sorcery the long running fantastical protagonist is renowned for, but it also introduces all the key elements outside of the core themes prominent in the larger forms of fiction; monsters, magicians, thievery, the undead, friendship, deceit, and battles a-plenty.
I must admit that I've not read many Conan stories so my praise for this short story collection can be taken with a grain of salt. That said, this book just worked for me; be it Conan taking on a job as a thief and winding up battling a serpent or taking down a giant slug which had destroyed a castle and its surroundings, to rescuing a damsel in distress near naked and bloodied on a battlefield, each story was rich in Hyborian lore and cleverly intertwined into the broader continuity.
Another thing that appealed to me in these stories was the references to other adventures/places/characters, notably the Sword of Skelos which coincidentally, is the only Conan novel I've read.
I couldn't draw myself away from these stories until I'd finished the book, enjoying each of them equally. It's rare that I rate a collection so highly but CONAN was surprisingly consistent throughout. Highly recommend. ...more
Who doesn't love reading books about books? The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon is a long time favourite of mine, so naturally I couldn't waitWho doesn't love reading books about books? The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon is a long time favourite of mine, so naturally I couldn't wait to delve into this book-book with a supernatural edge (I immediately thought of Fireproof by Gerard Brennan).
The Library of the Unwritten does a fantastic job at merging the devilish elements of hell and fallen angels with the timeless allure of libraries. The characters who populate this sojourn into the many realms of belief are equal parts bookish and demonic - yet not without their redeeming qualities (Claire, and Hero are particular favourites).
Whilst I'm touching upon characters, I need to make mention of how diverse and unique each one is. Claire, Hell's librarian is vibrant, tough, and not without her darker moments, whilst Brevity, the head librarians muse, is a perfect ying to Claire's yang. Then there's the damsels, Hero and Brit; characters who exist only in the minds of their authors until the unfinished manuscripts hit the stacks in Hell's library - these characters are cleverly crafted and critical to the core plot. You've also got the stock standard demons and angels too stuck in eternal conflict, which I won't go into detail as to avoid spoilers, needless to say, there's a lot going on in this book and each character is given their time spotlight.
The Library of the Unwritten reads like a fantasy adventure book complete with a meaningful quest for a loyal band of heroes and plenty of dangers and pitfalls in their way. Ultimately the mantle of each character is put the test with some passing and others making the reader form completely different opinions of them from when the book started out. As you can gather, this story is heavy on character growth and development with the story happening around them (don't get me wrong, the story is a pretty good one).
Overall, I really enjoyed The Library of the Unwritten and can't wait to see what's next for these characters....more
Loved the film as a kid and really enjoyed the healthy dose of nostalgia. This is a fun read with some well rounded characters (Ergo being a personal Loved the film as a kid and really enjoyed the healthy dose of nostalgia. This is a fun read with some well rounded characters (Ergo being a personal favourite) and a simple, easy to follow plot. ...more
Shadows of the Apt is one of the most creative and well crafted fictional universes I've had the pleasure of reading. The decalogy features some of thShadows of the Apt is one of the most creative and well crafted fictional universes I've had the pleasure of reading. The decalogy features some of the best fantasy print to every caress the page; full of interesting and dangerous landscapes brought to life by equally interesting and complex characters.
The Tales of the Apt books; short story collections set in the same universe are the cream on top of a very rich cake.
The fourth installment (and hopefully not the last) sees a bunch of authors given licence to delve into the world of the varied kinden and breathe new life into some of the lesser-knowns from the series proper while also introducing new characters to the fold.
Some of my personal favorite characters in Totho, Uctebri, and Dephos all make some form of an appearance throughout the collection of stories which serves as nice Easter eggs for longtime fans of the series.
Whilst I generally enjoyed all the stories, particular highlights include; OLD BLOOD and THE GOD OF PROFOUND THINGS by Adrian Tchaikovsky, THE MESSAGE by John Gwynne, THE PROMISE OF A THREAT by David Tallerman, and THE MANTIS WAY by Peter NEWMAN.
Be it Wasp, Sea, Mole, Beetle, Bee, Mosquito or Mantis kinden - there's a story for every Shadows of the Apt fan. ...more
On one hand I thoroughly enjoyed this book. On the other, it didn't work for me...
This is a perfect case of 'it's not you, it's me'. This is the 16th On one hand I thoroughly enjoyed this book. On the other, it didn't work for me...
This is a perfect case of 'it's not you, it's me'. This is the 16th book in the Conan paperback cannon...and my first. Hmph. Yeah, I should've checked that before jumping in head first without any clue as to what happened over the course of the 15 previous stories.
The Sword of Skelos is not new reader friendly but there is enough there to help the reader push through without having read everything prior. Though I do recommend starting at book 1, or at least the first in the series written by Andrew J. Offutt (incidentally its the book prior to this one (no.15), Conan and the Sorcerer).
Sword of Skelos is choc full of brutal fight scenes (which Conan dominates) and has some really cool characters which add a little spice to the storytelling, notably Isparana (Conan's attractive companion) and Zafra (a crafty wizard) which are fun to read and are well written.
Overall I equally liked and didn't like this book but am still happy I gave it a chance. 3/5 stars. ...more
The third book in the Relics trilogy provides a satisfying conclusion to the Ascent story-line while leaving the Fold ajar for future stories.
The EdgThe third book in the Relics trilogy provides a satisfying conclusion to the Ascent story-line while leaving the Fold ajar for future stories.
The Edge follows a slightly different path to the previous books (Relics, The Folded Land) in that it focuses on two locations for the vast majority of the story; the Fold (the mysterious land of the kin controlled by the murderous and mad fairy, Grace) and a long dead town of Longford, recently revealed to the world following the receding of longtime flood waters (the place of a grisly mass murder and cover-up some 40 years ago of its inhabitants, both human and kin).
It's within this muddy graveyard of death and despair that creatures return to the fold (nice play on words there eh?), existing where they should never draw breath. Their minds maddened, their hunger intense. It's the perfect platform for horror fiction further exemplified by the just-as-scary element of mythological creatures walking the face of the earth. For Bone, the lone survivor of the decades old tragedy, returning to Longford sees his dreams and nightmares converge, caught up in a cataclysmic battle of good verses evil.
I'm a big fan of the Relics books and ate this one up like Grace sampling her kin for sport. The mythology and expanse of creatures grows, the characters become more invested, and the stories more shockingly brutal. Fingers crossed we've not seen the last the the kin.
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