I am all out of “Saints of Steel” books, but I am not yet ready to leave T. Kingfisher’s world (not to mention that I needed a book that would chill mI am all out of “Saints of Steel” books, but I am not yet ready to leave T. Kingfisher’s world (not to mention that I needed a book that would chill me out a bit after reading a very anxiety-inducing work of sci-fi), so I made sure to get my hands on “Clockwork Boys” and “The Wonder Engines” as soon as I could. It’s not like those books were a hard sell for me: same universe as the paladin stories I’ve been enjoying so much this year, written by a woman who manages to blend wit, horror, tenderness and laugh-out-loud humor like a freaking wizard, and who always whips up characters that feel very real and that I want to hang out with. Of course I’ll read it.
The titular Clockwork Boys are an army of automatons soldiers/creatures that could mean the ruin of an entire city-state. Fighting against these beings is extremely dangerous, as they are nearly impossible to stop and can destroy anything that stands in their path. So, obviously, a rag-tag team of brilliant but criminally inclined misfits is assembled in the hopes that their combined expertise can find the key to defeating the Clockwork Boys.
Insert obvious joke about heist montage here.
But seriously, Kingfisher made me fall hook, line and sinker for her romantasy (which I didn’t think was possible), so if anyone can make me love a “Suicide Squad” kind of story, it would be her. The compassions to Terry Pratchett don’t feel quite right to me: I love Sir Terry, but he wrote satire in a fantasy setting, and Kingfisher isn’t writing satire, she’s just hilarious and happens to write fantasy stories. And just like in her paladin books, she succeeds at writing flawed and wonderful characters I was rooting for immediately. Also, carnivorous tattoos, yikes!
It must be noted that these books were published before the “Saint of Steel” series, but as usual, I read everything backwards: Caliban is mentioned a few times in the other series, but here, he is one of the main characters, and I was very excited to finally get his story, which is hinted at in the other books.
I love the way Kingfisher writes her characters: one of my biggest pet peeves about a lot of fantasy is the emphasis placed on how beautiful and perfect everyone is, and it’s obviously something Kingfisher also loathes, as she makes a point to write characters that look and sound like normal people, with physical flaws, psychological baggage, weird quirks and weirder senses of humor – and I love it. Take note, other fantasy writers: ordinary people can be criminals, ordinary people can be sexy and fall in love, ordinary people can do awesome stuff. There, rant over. And yes, I loved Slate immediately. Awkward, smart, well-aware of what her strengths and flaws are, and I do love her relationship with Caliban. There is a weird bond that’s created between people who need to look after each other, and this was very well captured on the page. I also really appreciate how honest Kingfisher is about women being horny a lot. Even the great-grandmothers are flirty, and this makes me very happy.
I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 because I really just wish it had been a bit longer, a bit more fleshed out – the way the ‘Saints of Steel’ books are… Perhaps the second book will round up the story!...more
I had seen this graphic novel on my Goodreads feed for ages, and I came across a copy while browsing at my local used bookstore: I figured this was asI had seen this graphic novel on my Goodreads feed for ages, and I came across a copy while browsing at my local used bookstore: I figured this was as good an occasion as any to check it out, and I was very pleasantly surprised.
My main gripes with graphic novels in general, is that they seem to fall in one of two categories: amazing art and meh story, or uninteresting art and fantastic story. The “Monstress” series might be that elusive unicorn of a graphic novel where the art is fantastic and the story riveting.
As other readers have mentioned, the story can be confusing to get into: we don’t get much exposition, and are thrown in the deep end of a weird and very violent world without much information. But it is absolutely worth pushing through the cloud of question marks, because things start coming together and solidifying the world, making “Awakening” a rich and rewarding reading experience. I am being purposefully vague about the story because I think that going in as blind as possible is the way to go with this book: really let it confuse and shock you, trust me, you’re in for an amazing ride!
The used bookstore sadly doesn’t have the rest of the series on their shelf, but I enjoyed this so much, that I am happy to look for new copies! Definitely recommended for fans of fantasy and steampunk, but beware: you need a strong stomach for this one, as you will not be spare the goriest details.
Merged review:
I had seen this graphic novel on my Goodreads feed for ages, and I came across a copy while browsing at my local used bookstore: I figured this was as good an occasion as any to check it out, and I was very pleasantly surprised.
My main gripes with graphic novels in general, is that they seem to fall in one of two categories: amazing art and meh story, or uninteresting art and fantastic story. The “Monstress” series might be that elusive unicorn of a graphic novel where the art is fantastic and the story riveting.
As other readers have mentioned, the story can be confusing to get into: we don’t get much exposition, and are thrown in the deep end of a weird and very violent world without much information. But it is absolutely worth pushing through the cloud of question marks, because things start coming together and solidifying the world, making “Awakening” a rich and rewarding reading experience. I am being purposefully vague about the story because I think that going in as blind as possible is the way to go with this book: really let it confuse and shock you, trust me, you’re in for an amazing ride!
The used bookstore sadly doesn’t have the rest of the series on their shelf, but I enjoyed this so much, that I am happy to look for new copies! Definitely recommended for fans of fantasy and steampunk, but beware: you need a strong stomach for this one, as you will not be spare the goriest details....more
Reaching the end of this series was a bittersweet moment: the “Johannes Cabal” novels have been a holiday tradition for me over the past five years, aReaching the end of this series was a bittersweet moment: the “Johannes Cabal” novels have been a holiday tradition for me over the past five years, and I guess now I need a new tradition, because Howard makes it clear in his foreword that this is the end for my favorite necromancer… Though he did leave us on a rather open ending, so a girl can dream of more stories involving the determined Mr. Cabal, his wonderful brother Horst and their always entertaining friends and adventures…
When we last saw the Cabal brothers, they had managed to get themselves out of a tricky situation, but the looming threat of Orfilia Ninunka is not gone for good, and they know it. However, Johannes is not about to give up his quest to find a cure for death, and when he comes across some clues that could lead him to the Fountain of Youth, he enrolls Horst, the plucky Miss Barrow and the wonderfully unhinged demon Zarenyia to help him in his travels. But nothing is ever quite that simple, especially for Johannes, who will walk into a complicated trap that will lead him far from where he thought he was going!
I am really going to miss these books: their irreverent tone, take-the-piss humor and unique characters were always a pleasure to spend time with. Howard’s love of Lovecraftiana, Victoriana and steampunk, blended with his dry wit, gives a wonderful prose that never fails to make me smile, snort and giggle in my book – which is a delightful treat.
If you enjoyed the other books of this series, this is a fantastic conclusion. I hadn’t realized their were little novellas set between the books and I will now have to go dig these up to give myself the illusion that there is still more Cabal to come.
As per my tradition, I devoured a Johannes Cabal book over the holidays. The misanthropic necromancer is a favorite comfort character of mine, and thiAs per my tradition, I devoured a Johannes Cabal book over the holidays. The misanthropic necromancer is a favorite comfort character of mine, and this fourth volume of his adventures didn’t disappoint!
Johannes is actually not the focus of the first half of “The Brothers Cabal”: that honor goes to Horst, who we met in the first book of the series, and who might be the most affable vampire in fantasy and horror literature, an absolute anti-Lestat. The story begins with Horst being rather surprised at being brought back to life (long story, read the first book) and courted by an occult organization with plans to create an army of supernatural creatures such as vampires, werebeasts and zombies. That whole idea doesn’t it too well with Horst, who is really just a nice guy with the bad luck of being a vampire, so when things start going south, he runs for it and seeks out his brother, who may or may not be able to help with the rather peculiar situation Horst has found himself in.
Jonathan Howard is the type of satirist who clearly adores the material he pokes fun at, and you can tell that this man has lived on Gothic and horror novels and movies, as he peppers lovely references and Easter eggs for his fellow nerds to unearth within the pages of his hilarious novels. I was also really pleased to see Horst return, as he was quite a standout character in the previous novel, and his interaction with his irascible sibling is a delight.
If you enjoy this series, this is probably the best installment since the first book, and I loved every page.
Clark crafted an amazingly colorful and vivid world that contrasts with most steampunk I’ve read, which tends towardsThis book was such wonderful fun!
Clark crafted an amazingly colorful and vivid world that contrasts with most steampunk I’ve read, which tends towards the dark and faded colors of a foggy England: this story is set in a Cairo where a rainbow exploded!
Agent Fatma is one of the few women working for the Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments and Supernatural Entities, a branch of the Egyptian government that deals with the relationship between humans and supernatural beings, which have been a very present reality since a powerful magician opened a door between their realms and ours about half a century before the beginning of this story. She is called upon to work on a case: twenty men were found burned alive in the estate of a British dignitary who was fascinated with the aforementioned great magician, Al-Jahiz. And someone claiming to be Al-Jahiz himself claims responsibility for the deaths. With the help of a new Ministry colleague, Hadia, and some rather eccentric contacts in the underworld, Fatma will have to figure out who this impostor is, and how to stop them.
I think that the only reason this book gets 4 instead of 5 stars is because it could have used maybe an extra fifty pages, just to give itself a bit more breathing room to flesh out the characters even more, and make the pacing a bit smoother. The characters are great, avoid easy stereotypes and often surprised me, but I would have loved to get to know them even better. The breakneck speed of the final third of the book was not exactly rushed, but it was quite intense and could have used the breathing room.
But aside from these little issues, the world-building, so rich and so obviously well-researched, made up for the little flaws. I think I had part of the mystery figured out earlier than Clark might have meant for readers to figure it out, but I was having too much fun to care. Also, Zargos is 100% my spirit animal. Or spirit-djinn? I hope he keeps writing stories set in this universe: I will have to look for the previously published short stories and novellas set in this magnificent alternative history Cairo!...more
Alan Moore’s steampunk mashup of Victorian and turn-of-the-century actions heroes and penny dreadful characters doesn’t have the existential grime of Alan Moore’s steampunk mashup of Victorian and turn-of-the-century actions heroes and penny dreadful characters doesn’t have the existential grime of “Watchmen”, but damn it, it’s fun – even when Moore’s signature darkness creeps into the otherwise fairly standard action/mystery narrative.
A man named Campion Bond hires a freshly divorced Miss Wilhelmina Murray to recruit the (now disgraced and opium-addled) famous adventurer Alan Quatermaine and an exiled Dr. Jekyll to join her aboard the Nautilus so that they can solve a strange mystery having taken place in a boarding school, and subsequently, save the British Empire from a great danger.
I remember the movie, which I really enjoyed, as I am fan of almost all the books and stories referred to (both in the graphic novel and in the adaptation), and while there are some significant differences between the two versions, I would say that both are wonderful escapist rides in their own rights (though I can see why the Invisible Man’s storyline was altered for the movie…).
A lovely book to devour on a lazy spring afternoon, and much smarter than most graphic novels out there....more
Joannes Cabal books have somehow become a Holiday tradition for me: Book-Santa (aka my husband) gives me a new one every year, and every year, I drop Joannes Cabal books have somehow become a Holiday tradition for me: Book-Santa (aka my husband) gives me a new one every year, and every year, I drop all other books and read the necromancer's latest adventure while stuffing my face with cut-out sugar cookies.
This latest romp see the misanthropic necromancer hired by the Fear Institute, a society devoted to the idea of finding the essence of fear itself, and destroying it, as they see fear to be the biggest hindrance to humanity reaching their optimal potential. Cabal does not really agree with them, but this gig would give him a chance to explore the Dreamlands, a world where the laws of science and physics do not apply the same way, a land populated by bizarre creatures created by people's dreams, and where strange gods reside. How can a man such as Cabal possibly resist the idea of going in there to take a peek?
Jonathan L. Howard has a great love for Lovecraftian creatures and lore, and he clearly has a ball of a time playing with good old H.P.'s ideas and rearranging them in stories that are both macabre and hilarious. In fairness, there wouldn't be anything of note to these stories were it not for the unique and unforgettable voice of Johannes Cabal, who manages to be detestable, erudite, ruthless and lovable all at once. The extremely dry and often absurd humour elevates this little horror/adventure tale to a wonderful other level. I am already looking forward to next year's! ...more
I don’t know if you are familiar with Kristen Wiig’s SNL character Sue (if you aren’t, YouTube it): she’s very excited, she tries to hide her excited I don’t know if you are familiar with Kristen Wiig’s SNL character Sue (if you aren’t, YouTube it): she’s very excited, she tries to hide her excited face in her sweater, and when she can’t contain how freaking excited she is anymore, she inevitably ends up going through a window. Well, I felt like Sue through all 636 pages of this final instalment of the “Books of Babel” series. I didn’t go through a window, but I have it on good authority that I made a lot of weird excited faces and noises as I was reading. So let’s get the obvious out of the way: 5 stars to this whole tetraralogy, it’s amazing, and probably one of the best fantasy/sci-fi series I have ever read.
Bancroft had a very tall order with the conclusion of Thomas Senlin’s adventure up the Tower of Babel: not only did I want/need to know how the headmaster’s story ended, but he had also given me such a wonderful cast of secondary characters to root for – and well, I needed to know what happened to them, too! The third book, “The Hod King” (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...), ended on a bit of a cliff hanger, with lots of lose strands floating in the wind. Would Senlin be OK? Where had Adam landed? What was going on with the Sphinx? How would Voleta cope with her transformation? Would Edith get her happy ending? What about Marya and Olivet?! See why I was this close to chewing on my sweater and screaming? To my immense pleasure and astonishment, Bancroft took all those strands, weaved them together as only he knows how and gave me the finale this great story deserved.
The first part of “The Fall of Babel” catches up with Adam, who discovers an interesting and bizarre world on the proverbial penthouse – a world obsessed with art, where everyone inexplicably knows who he is. Senlin meanwhile, must find a way to stop Luc Marat’s destructive plan, and avoid getting caught in the crossfire – as Edith and the crew of the “State of the Art” are trying to catch Hod King before it destroys the Tower.
If I were to share more details, I would spoil wonderful surprises and twists, and I can’t do that to you. What I can do is tell you that Bancroft has a wild, ingenious imagination, an amazing sense of pacing (the last hundred or so pages had me on the edge of my seat), a talent for crafting memorable and rich characters – and he has a timeless and lovely prose.
I will miss Thomas, Edith, Byron, Voleta and Iren very much, and I am so happy I get to come back to see them whenever I want. It is hard sometimes to review books that you love as much as I love this series: my words don’t do it justice, both because I don’t want to give too much away and because the only thing I can think of saying is “just read it, you’ll see”....more
It is a rare thing, a fantasy series that keeps on getting better and better with every book. I am so impressed with the Books of Babel, which has eveIt is a rare thing, a fantasy series that keeps on getting better and better with every book. I am so impressed with the Books of Babel, which has everything I could possibly want in a story: rich and complex world building, a cast of characters that is both diverse and layered, and who evolve in the most interesting way, and plot developments that keep surprising me in the best possible way.
After Thomas Senlin and his crew made port with the Sphinx (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...), they are now sent back to the Tower with a mission to accomplish for their new ally. The novel follows three different storylines: Senlin, Voleta and Edith go their different ways with the same goal, infiltrating the port of Pell to get information the Sphinx needs to save the Tower from Luc Marat's plans of revolution. But each of them goes in with very different information, and very different results.
Each novel in this series builds beautifully on the foundations laid down by the previous book, and while the central thread of Senlin looking for his wife Marya remains constant (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...), new threads are added to this tapestry as we explore the intricate world created by Bancroft.
I mentioned the characters being a strength of this series, and I must say that it's such a pleasure to read the stories of characters who don't fit any of the genre's usual stereotypes, to see this baroque and intricate world through their eyes and to get attached to all of them (though Byron definitely steals the spotlight whenever he's there).
If you love urban fantasy and steampunk but are tired of the same old stories and the same old clichés, you should check out these books: they will surprise and delight you at every turn.
I am so excited for the fourth installment this November!...more
I met Thomas Senlin earlier this year (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...), and while I didn’t think much of him at first, he quickly became oneI met Thomas Senlin earlier this year (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...), and while I didn’t think much of him at first, he quickly became one of the most remarkable protagonists I have come across in a long time. I gave up on the reading list I had drafted for myself at the beginning of the year, and I am now treating myself to books I have been excited about for a while, so I figured I’d go and see what the headmaster-turned-thief-turned-accountant-turned-pirate was up to in the second tome of Josiah Bancroft’s “Books of Babel” series.
Just like “Senlin Ascends”, this is a book that is much more enjoyable if you go in with as little information as possible, so I’ll keep the details of the story to a minimum. Thomas has changed the name he goes by and his occupation, but he is still on a quest to find Marya, his wife whom he lost in the crowd at the base of the tower on the very first day of their honeymoon. He’s had to adapt, but his wit, good manners and ingenuity have gotten him much further than he could have expected: along with the friends he has made so far in his journey, he has gotten quite good at the air-ship pirate life. But not everything is smooth-sailing: he suffers the lingering side-effects of a previous misadventure, and soon, an accident forces him and his crew to pay a visit to an mythical inhabitant of the Tower, the Sphinx.
This book expands on the universe created by Bancroft, but also give the reader the benefit of other points of view: Senlin's crew have important parts to play in his story and their characters are fleshed out and deepened beautifully in "The Arm of the Sphinx", a title that turns out to have multiple meanings.
If you enjoy urban fantasy, creative world-building and intricate story-telling, you should definitely add Josiah Bancroft's series to your shelves. 4 and a half stars, rounded up....more
Set 3 years after the events of “Foundryside” (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...), “Shorefall” hits the ground running from the first page: Sancia and Orso now have their own company, but they haven’t lost their old habits, and during an organized trade with the members of a campo, they set a series of events in motion that make this fast-paced urban fantasy very hard to put down!
Do not read further if you don’t want “Foundryside” spoilers!
The return of the first hierophant to Tevanne is hinted as being inevitable at the end of “Foundryside”, and indeed, Gregor’s mother Ofelia, has done everything she can to resurrect Crasedes Magnus, and when she finally succeeds, the city is in more danger than it ever was, because Crasedes’ twisted logic has brought him to the conclusion that there is only one way to stop the abuse of power the prosperity of Tevanne rests upon – but it’s not a solution that feels sane to anyone but himself. Sancia, Orso, Berenice and Gregor are the only ones who can stop him, but how do you stop an immortal, all-powerful creature who has basically invented the magical system which you try to use against him?
I loved to see the relationship between Sancia and Berenice develop as it did, and while I still detest Ofelia Dandolo, exploring her backstory gives the reader and chance to at least sympathize with her. More than once in this story, the question of what would a parent not do to save their child is brought up, and Bennett knows love can do pretty dark stuff to a person - and that it's dangerous to do bad things even if it's out of love.
In all his books, Bennett subtly weaves in commentary. His ideas and opinions are present, but never didactic, and in the Founders Trilogy, he has room to talk about free-will, power, the value of human life, but mostly technology, our dependence on it and the challenges that this has brought us – on a pretty massive scale. His books are beautifully written, his stories fun and his characters wonderfully unique, but the fact that his books also manage to be thought-provoking is what truly makes him a superior author, in my opinion. “Shorefall” is a great ride, with an amazing villain and I cannot wait to see how he wraps this story up with the next tome!
If there is one flaw in this book, it's that Bennett sometimes gets very technical about explaining scriving. His magical/technological system is still one of the most awesome and unique one I’ve read about in a very long time, but he occasionally over-explains it a little bit, which slows things down a little. But that’s a minor complaint.
I think I still prefer the Divine Cities Trilogy to this one just a little, but if you enjoyed any of Robert Jackson Bennett’s work before, do not hesitate to get your hands on this one!...more
If Lovecraft had a sense of humor and had decided to write an Agatha Christie-style locked room mystery, he would have written a book very much like "If Lovecraft had a sense of humor and had decided to write an Agatha Christie-style locked room mystery, he would have written a book very much like "Johannes Cabal: the Detective".
I read the first book in Jonathan L. Howard's series last year (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...), and had so much fun with the deadpan, misanthropic necromancer that I couldn't resist getting the following instalment to see what Mr. Cabal would be up to, after winning his Faustian wager.
Turns out, trouble is what Cabal is in, as usual. In an attempt to escape a civil war he more or less started, the necromancer ends up assuming a false identity to board a dirigible and make his way back to England. Alas, a certain Miss Leonie Barrow is also on board and threatens to reveal his true identity – and as if that wasn’t enough, a passenger is murdered on the first night of the voyage. Needless to say, he’s got his hands full, trying to stay safe and solve a murder – all the while, struggling mightily to understand basic human interactions.
Howard’s style is consistently funny, and despite his quirks, he makes you love his necromancer anti-hero to bits. This series is turning into a welcome and light-hearted distraction for the most stressful month of the year: I’m looking forward to reading the third one next year!...more
Robert Jackson Bennett repeatedly blew my mind, and broke my heart three times with his Divine Cities trilogy (it’s an official record: no one had broRobert Jackson Bennett repeatedly blew my mind, and broke my heart three times with his Divine Cities trilogy (it’s an official record: no one had broken my heart so many times in a row before), so naturally, I counted down the days until my copy of “Foundryside” would be delivered. I have already bought a friend her own copy: that’s how much I loved this book!
Tevanne is a large city controlled by four insanely wealthy merchant families. Life inside their respective compounds is cushy and comfortable, but outside their walls, there are the Commons: a lawless, sprawling slum where people survive more than they live. Sancia Grado is a thief who lives in the Commons, but who has a mysterious history with the merchant houses. She is “gifted” with a strange and dangerous power that allows her to accomplish heists no one else could pull off. But her latest job went horribly awry: not only did she cause a huge, very destructive fire, but she also drew the attention of an especially stubborn former soldier with his very own idea of justice, as well as that of the head of a merchant house who will go to great lengths to get his hands on the artifact she stole, a very intriguing object named Clef…
The pacing of this story is more frenetic and action-packed than I had expected, and I ended up dropping everything else I was reading because I just had to know what happened next. All the characters are fantastic and engaging; even the supporting ones are complex and memorable.
As expected, Bennett’s world building is once again amazing. The magic/technology system is clever and intricate, the social structure of Tevanne reminds me of Middle Ages Italy, when city-states made their own laws, and the description of how Sancia must live with her strange ability puts you right in her (often highly uncomfortable) skin. The concept of scriving is a very original spin on magic, that strikes many parallels with computer programming and coding, as it is essentially giving “commands” to inanimate objects, allowing them to perform tasks; when you think about it that way, Clef is actually an AI! Sometimes, the exposition explaining the scriving can feel a bit like info-dumping, but I can’t say that it bothered me that much.
Just as he did in the Divine Cities, Bennett uses his incredible world to explore some fascinating ideas, namely sentience, freewill… and he serves us a rather harsh commentary of savage capitalism, greed and corruption.
I seriously think Robert Jackson Bennett is the most inventive fantasy writer out there: his stuff is always unique, extremely readable, fun and thought-provoking. I am impatiently waiting for the sequel, and recommend it to everyone who wants to read smart and deeply human fantasy. Read this book!...more
I have read enough disappointing steampunk novels to say with absolute certainty that “The Bookman” is the steampunk novel all other steampunk novels I have read enough disappointing steampunk novels to say with absolute certainty that “The Bookman” is the steampunk novel all other steampunk novels try to be, and fail at miserably. It will now be the standard I use to judge other steampunk novels.
Orphan lives in a 19th century London that is very different from the one we are familiar with: the royal family are a race of lizard beings from a different planet, sophisticated automata walk and interact with “real” human beings, silk blimp balloons pepper the city’s skies and whales swim and sing in the Thames. His life is simple: he lives and works in a bookstore, and loves the beautiful Lucy, who works with the aforementioned whales. But when she is killed in a terrorist attack, Orphan must collaborate with the very perpetrator for a chance to bring her back to life: the sinister Bookman.
Tidhar did not reinvent the wheel with the plot, but the world-building is absolutely outstanding, and makes this book a complete joy to read. He did not simply re-imagine the 19th century with classic steampunk accoutrements: he weaved the most memorable and well-loved characters and authors of the era’s literature into his story brilliantly. This is as much a love letter to books, storytelling and creativity than it is a story of boy-rescues-girl. Fans of the Holmesian canon, Jules Verne, HG Wells and co will find lovely Easter eggs around every corner. He even ends his novel with a loving homage to sci-fi/fantasy conventions. The quick pacing and clean prose make it a fast and absorbing read, a wonderful carousel ride through Tidhar’s imagination and favorite books.
The only thing that bothered me about this book was the whole “dead girl pushes otherwise quiet boy into action mode” trope. I understand why it was used as a device, but I’m just tired of seeing it. I hope more original motivations spur the heroes of the other “Bookman” novels into action. Nevertheless, I highly recommend this book to fan of genre literature, emphasis on the word “literature”....more