Morning Star by Pierce Brown

Morning Star by Pierce Brown

Book Stats:  

Reading level: Adult
Genre: Science fiction, dystopia
Hardcover: 544 pages
Publisher: Del Rey
Release date: February 9th, 2016

Series:  Red Rising, #3

Source: Purchased

Reviewed by: Kara

Order: Amazon | Book Depository

Darrow would have lived in peace, but his enemies brought him war. The Gold overlords demanded his obedience, hanged his wife, and enslaved his people. But Darrow is determined to fight back. Risking everything to transform himself and breach Gold society, Darrow has battled to survive the cutthroat rivalries that breed Society’s mightiest warriors, climbed the ranks, and waited patiently to unleash the revolution that will tear the hierarchy apart from within.

Finally, the time has come.

But devotion to honor and hunger for vengeance run deep on both sides. Darrow and his comrades-in-arms face powerful enemies without scruple or mercy. Among them are some Darrow once considered friends. To win, Darrow will need to inspire those shackled in darkness to break their chains, unmake the world their cruel masters have built, and claim a destiny too long denied—and too glorious to surrender.

"Rise so high, in mud you lie" is taken to new levels in this final volume of the trilogy.

Betrayed by his friend Roque and the twisted machinations of the Jackal, our hero Darrow au Andromedus is taken captive while many of his allies are left for dead. [Darrow was actually kept in an eight foot stone table for nine months with tech to keep him alive and subjected to private torture sessions by the Jackal. Doesn't this sound like the lowest of the low?] A broken Victra au Julii is captive with him. In a secret mission Darrow is rescued. And Darrow insists Victra be rescued too, as she was only broken because of her strong loyalty to him. Even at the end of the massacre where she's crawling with spinal gunshot wounds, she only cared about Darrow knowing she had no part in the betrayal. Upon his return, Darrow finds a much different Sons of Ares, fitting because he himself is much changed. Sevro leads the Sons, and since his father's death, he's hell-bent on retribution and machiavellian elimination of his enemies.

Since Darrow's absence, the highColor rebellion -- led by Mustang, the Telemanuses and the Arcos clan -- and the lowColor rebellion -- led by Sevro and the Sons of Ares -- has permanently splintered into two different factions. Darrow is largely believed to be dead, though, and in his new state, is unfit to lead. It's definitely a new dynamic, him coming to depend on Sevro as Sevro once depended on him. Darrow must once again prove his readiness to lead, and this comes with some honest confessions and reckonings. It's another way Darrow comes full circle with his Red self. In Red Rising, he was the lowest of the low, broken, and brought high. In Golden Son, he's not as high as he thinks he is, is taken down a peg or two, and must figure out how to grow up in his new environment of politicos or make them dance to his tune. Here, Darrow is once again dependent and helpless, thanks to the Jackal, and Sevro and his friends have to build him up again. But Darrow doesn't have the same will, the same confidence, the same recklessness. Instead, his betrayal and new perspective have made him a bit wiser. [Don't expect his overconfidence and subpar communication to stop being his Achilles heel, however!]

Once Darrow and Victra are following Sevro's lead, Darrow tries to toe the line, but when they encounter Mustang and the Telemanuses again and he sees the unforgiving choices Sevro makes, he realizes the only thing that ever held them together was him. Therefore, only he can bridge the gap. It nearly gets them all killed, but it breaks Darrow out of leadership paralysis and, with a little encouragement, Sevro out of his raging grief [think fiery raging grief--one that destroys everything even as it tries to protect rather than hotheaded and heartbreaking tears]. With Darrow and Sevro equals again, their quest against the Jackal brings them new allies and a deal with Mustang.

At the very end of the last novel, Darrow had shared the truth of his Red background to his lady love, and she fled. Now, she promises to show him her loyalty even while he must show her that he can choose not to burn everything down as he remakes Society. It's a fascinating deal, and we don't learn the real reasons why, the outcome of the deal, or the significance Mustang's absence for a year and a half, until the very end of this book. [Did you guess why?! I did upon first reading!] If you recall, she did something similar in her relationship with Cassius...

We also see more of the world in this novel as Darrow travels to Phobos [one of Mars' moons], the unknown Rim [Jupiter and its moons plus the rest of that side of the galaxy], and Luna again.

The most heartbreaking part here is the loss of Ragnar. I still can't get over it. [Rest in Valhalla, Ragnar.]  After this upsetting end, the destruction of the Obsidians' "gods" are much welcome humor, even if it doesn't ever make up for his death.

The ending is epic, but did you expect anything less? I miss those twists every time I read even though I know what's going to happen. Like the last novel, this one is hard to explain in a summary, and you're just carried away by the rapid plot events. Sometimes trilogies are bleh. This one? 5 stars all the way around. Every bloodydamn time.

Can't WAIT to see what the new Iron Gold has in store! (I'm a third of the way through at this posting!)

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Posted by Kara at 07:00

 Del Rey, dystopia, Epic, Morning Star, Pierce Brown, Random House, Red Rising, Science Fiction, Space  Leave your mark

Golden Son by Pierce Brown

Golden Son by Pierce Brown

Book Stats:  

Reading level: Adult
Genre: Science fiction, dystopia
Hardcover: 464 pages
Publisher: Del Rey
Release date: January 6th, 2015

Series:  Red Rising, #2

Source: Purchased

Reviewed by: Kara

Order: Amazon | Book Depository

As a Red, Darrow grew up working the mines deep beneath the surface of Mars, enduring backbreaking labor while dreaming of the better future he was building for his descendants. But the Society he faithfully served was built on lies. Darrow’s kind have been betrayed and denied by their elitist masters, the Golds—and their only path to liberation is revolution. And so Darrow sacrifices himself in the name of the greater good for which Eo, his true love and inspiration, laid down her own life. He becomes a Gold, infiltrating their privileged realm so that he can destroy it from within.

A lamb among wolves in a cruel world, Darrow finds friendship, respect, and even love—but also the wrath of powerful rivals. To wage and win the war that will change humankind’s destiny, Darrow must confront the treachery arrayed against him, overcome his all-too-human desire for retribution—and strive not for violent revolt but a hopeful rebirth. Though the road ahead is fraught with danger and deceit, Darrow must choose to follow Eo’s principles of love and justice to free his people.

He must live for more.

(I know Steph has covered this novel before, but this review adds some elements she didn't cover, so I thought I'd share!)

Golden Son starts with Darrow outside the small realm of the Institute and serving underneath the wing of his greatest enemy, ArchGovernor Nero au Augustus, and coincidentally alongside his former nemesis, the Jackal, or Adrius au Augustus. He's just finishing up his education at the Academy to learn to command starfleets. While Darrow might have been thrust amongst his peers in the Institute, he now must sway other Golds, non-Peerless Scarred, the politicos, and be a leader of them. His former band of followers has been split up and he's only left with Roque au Fabii and Tactus au Rath. Darrow's new ally is Victra au Julii, the older sister of Antonia au Severus-Julii, and of completely different caliber than her cutthroat sister. Darrow's bloodfeud with the Bellona has created problems for Nero, and when the Sovereign, unlawfully, supports the Bellona by secretly planning to murder the Augustans at a dinner party, Darrow spurs a civil war for Mars and in the Society. While he's been under Nero's (and Nero's politico Pliny's) thumb, he hasn't received any contact from the Sons of Ares. In the chaos of civil war, Darrow is given an opportunity to be different from other Golds, but he's also got to maintain his secret identity at large. Finally though, in this novel Darrow is able to open up to a few people about himself and the Sons of Ares. He's not yet ready to reveal himself fully because he worries of the people he'd lose, but in Sevro and new ally Ragnar, he finds true brothers to his wife's dream.

There are a lot of fabulous characters we're introduced to in this novel that I've loved:

1) Ragnar, the Stained Obsidian who is built like a giant and basically like the most elite warrior, is a slave and subject to the will of his masters. In Darrow, he finds an equal, a brother, as they are both searching for ways for their people to be free from slavery and lies. He is one of the few characters to ever see through Darrow past what he wants and instead what is good for him.

2) Orion, the Blue who pilots the Pax, is a brilliant pilot, bluntly honest, and unafraid to challenge even so intimidating a Gold as "the Reaper." I never feel as if I get enough of scenes with Orion. She doesn't have a big role, but she is a lasting character, and I'm so glad she's in Iron Gold.

3) Victra, the proud, fierce vixen amazon who has such a high sense of loyalty to Darrow, one that she seems to have from the beginning of the novel (and we never have this fully explained as to why). She's rather like a blade, all sharp edges, and it's hard not to love her for her inner character and her hatred of her vicious little sister.

4) Kavax and Daxo, the real Pax's father and brother, who are honorable and stalwart Golds to Mustang, and lend a bit of humor for their giant yet gentle ways (plus with Kavax's adoration of his pet fox, Sophocles).

The key relationship between Darrow and Mustang that was so prevalent in Red Rising is much changed. For some reason, she's been with Cassius au Bellona, and once witnessing the Sovereign's dishonesty, she turns from helping the Bellona to protecting her father and her house. This doesn't mean she's abandoned Darrow or the Bellona, but she's more impartial, and really only relies on House Telemanus. Mustang is, at times, a hard knot to unravel. I still love her, but I don't always know why she does what she does. She, possibly because we're in Darrow's narrow viewpoint, seems enigmatic and yet impossible for him to resist her magnetic pull.

Missing the fallout with Mustang, plus the relationship with Victra and Mustang's relationship to Roque etc. etc. show that the one omission from Red Rising to Golden Son is the gap in time and Darrow's lost experiences with other characters. We also don't really get to see how the Academy works, but maybe that's not as important. It's hard to notice the flaws since the book is super character driven, and if you're listening to the audiobook, you're probably hard pressed to put all the events of this book into a succinct summary. I certainly had trouble keeping it all straight! (If you listen to the audiobook, big bonus is hearing how to correctly pronounce the names!)

The final beauty of this novel is seeing some truths about Sevro and Fitchner (I have a deep abiding love for filthy, smart-mouthed Sevro. I don't understand it either.) and the sense of coming full circle as Darrow is able to visit his family on Mars. However, with this ending comes a shattering revelation that will leave you wondering how anything could possibly be hopeful in Morning Star. If you're a devotee of sci-fi, you don't want to miss out on this series if you haven't before. Epically brilliant.

Key quote in this novel? "Rise so high, in mud you lie."

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Posted by Kara at 07:00

 Del Rey, dystopia, Epic, Golden Son, Pierce Brown, Random House, Red Rising, Science Fiction, Space  1 Person left their mark

Author Interview: Gabrielle Harbowy Discusses Her New Novel Pathfinder Tales: Gears of Faith + GIVEAWAY

Today we have a very special Q&A post with the author of Pathfinder Tales: Gears of Faith, Gabrielle Harbowy plus a giveaway of her new novel!

Synopsis: 

"Pathfinder is the world's bestselling tabletop role-playing game―now adapted as a series of novels.

Keren is a sworn knight of Iomedae, proper and disciplined in every way. Her girlfriend, Zae, is the opposite―a curious gnome cleric of the clockwork god, who loves nothing more than the chaos of her makeshift hospitals. When a powerful evil artifact is stolen from a crusader stronghold, both knight and gnome are secretly sent to the great city of Absalom to track down the stolen bloodstone.

Sure, they may not be the most powerful or experienced members of their organizations, but that’s the whole point―with legendary champions and undead graveknights battling at every turn in their race to recover the stone, who’ll notice one young knight and her gnome? All they have to do is stay alive long enough to outsmart a thief capable of evading both gods and heroes."

Buy online at Amazon or Book Depository.

--

1) Kara: Obviously, you love Pathfinder and this really shows in your level of detail in descriptions and imagination in the book. What is your perfect character and how does he/she differ from Keren and Zae?

Gabrielle: My perfect character is one I’ve never played before!

In writing this novel and, essentially, having to play all the characters and understand the mechanics of a lot of different classes and options, I’ve definitely learned to step outside my comfort zone. I love playing healers and support classes, and that’s what I’ve always gravitated toward in tabletop RPGs, but now I want to dig into all the options and try everything at least twice.

I don’t roleplay Keren or Zae at the table, mostly because I don’t want to have to keep novel continuity separate from in-game continuity. “Remember the time we-- oh, right. That didn’t actually happen.” It would make things twice as complicated for me if they diverged! My current Pathfinder characters are a haunted Oracle whose belongings get shifted around by the spirits of everyone she’s killed; a very impatient Tian human fighter (of the “I respect your desire to negotiate, but can’t we just kill all the things?” variety); and a Tengu (ravenfolk) mage.

2) Kara: What advice would you give readers and gamers new to Pathfinder and Pathfinder Tales?

Gabrielle: Pathfinder is a collaborative game and Pathfinder players are very helpful people, so don’t be concerned about knowing every rule before you show up at the table. You can use a premade character to get a feel for things without getting bogged down by multiple books’ worth of rules, or to try different classes to you find one you enjoy. It’s totally acceptable to say “Okay, how do I roll for that?” or “Where do I find that on my character sheet?” or “Here’s what I want my character to do. Can I do that? What’s the best way to go about it?” and everyone will chime in to help you do your best. Pathfinder works best when the party is a team that strategizes together, so new blood is always welcome because it brings new possibilities to the table.

For readers new to Pathfinder Tales, my advice is basically the same. The novels might require you to piece some things together from context, but the novels (or series of novels within the Pathfinder Tales line) are engineered to stand alone. They’re enhanced by knowledge of the game lore, because you’ll recognize things and appreciate references, but specific knowledge of the game isn’t necessary to enjoy the novels. They’re set all over the known Pathfinder world, and they’re all meant to be accessible starting points. 

3) Kara: There's quite a bit of in-depth mechanical description in Gears of Faith, and the Clockwork Cathedral is amazing! How did you come up with that and the descriptions for the clockwork devices? 

Gabrielle: One of the exciting things about writing tie-in fiction is that you can take something that fascinates you, that’s just a concept or a couple of sentences in a reference book, and really flesh it out and make it your own. I find the Clockwork Cathedral fascinating, and I had a lot of fun translating its bare bones into a living, functioning building. The shape of the Cathedral was already in the canon, as were the giant gears that swing down at varying times to block off the hallways, and the fact that there are no amenities inside. I got to think realistically about what that would mean, what it would feel like and look like, and describe that through the wonder and incredulity of someone new to it all. I particularly enjoyed exploring the contrast between Zae’s first impressions, being overwhelmed by the eccentricity of the place, and the total nonchalance of her fellow students for whom it’s become commonplace.

Sometimes the ideas drive themselves. Without giving away too much, I’ll say that, for example, when a character says something, “be careful not to get stuck inside the gears,” it becomes kind of necessary and obvious that, at some point, someone’s going to be in danger of getting stuck inside the gears!

For the mechanical devices, I did a lot of research. I looked at spells in the game and thought about which of them were practical to house inside of objects and then activate, and how to make the object and its activation method appropriate to the device.

The failed devices were the easier ones to come up with than the working ones, because that just meant taking things to their logical extremes. I wasn’t bound by practicality. Like, take the Bleed spell. That spell means that someone who’s dying and has been stabilized, becomes unstable and resumes bleeding out. Well, you don’t need to go to the effort of magic to craft an object that can do that, when you could just use a sword!

Some of the more whimsical devices didn’t make it into the book, just because I had to strike a balance between creating fun objects and remembering that the characters were under a bit of a time crunch to solve the central mystery...but I’m holding on to the blueprints of those objects for future use.

4) Kara: I loved the diversity in this book! Zae was my favorite character because she's unique, smart, and quirky, and yet I admired Keren's inner drive. Their relationship seems like a good partnership. What did you most want to convey to your readers through the diversity of characters and relationships? 

Gabrielle: Thank you! What I really wanted most was to normalize the diversity. Here’s a couple who’ve been together a while and aren’t in the new romance phase of a relationship, and they’ve obviously made it work. It’s not a coming out story, because coming out isn’t the only story. And there’s no way to dismiss it with “well, it won’t last.” It’s lasted. It doesn’t matter that they’re both female, or that they’re not both human, or whatever. They’re people having genuine emotions and genuine quirks and flaws. All of the things that might get them looked at askance in our real world just aren’t a big deal.

I have a transgendered main supporting character, and again it’s not a big deal. There are also a few non-binary characters sprinkled in conspicuously (one “extra” in the Clockwork Cathedral is a male gnome in eyeliner and a skirt), and no one cares, singles them out, or places different expectations on them. 

In our world, people are still marginalized for these things. And because they’re not what our society sees as its default, it’s rare for people who identify in diverse ways to be able to find themselves depicted in fiction. My intent was that diverse readers would find that perspective refreshing, and readers who hadn’t come across much of that sort of thing might find their horizons widened, and their stereotypes and assumptions challenged. It’s not the big reveal or the punch line or the plot twist. It’s just people being honest with themselves about who they are and/or who they love.

5) Kara: What was your favorite part about bringing the game to life?

Gabrielle: I love Pathfinder’s take on gnomes, which was why I wanted to feature one in the first place. In Pathfinder, gnomes crave novelty and don’t have many hangups about how they get it. They’re long-lived fae-based creatures so they have an outsider perspective on humanity. I had a great time diving into the gnomish mindset. I’ve come to love Zae’s skewed perspective on the mostly human world around her. She gives me an opportunity to take things to their literal extreme, to question things people don’t question, to think about the names of things, and to approach a fascinating world with the kind of wide-eyed wonder that we all eventually lose when we live in a place and see it every day.

In “Inheritance,” the pre-Gears of Faith short story (linked below), Zae explains: “...it's not just [naïve] curiosity. It's informed curiosity. I know how big and complicated and dangerous the world is. What fascinates me is all that variety—how the world can be so full of parts that are so complex and weird and beautiful, and interconnected. I'm not fascinated by birds in flight because I think flight is mystical and impossible, I'm fascinated because I understand how it works, and how it works is fascinating. That's the kind of wonder I see in the world.”

6) Kara: What's next for Keren and Zae? Will we find out how they met?

Gabrielle: Maybe! They’ve hinted at it, but the whole story might come to light in a future tale. In the meantime, you can check out my short story “Inheritance” (free on Paizo’s website) and see how they acquired Appleslayer, Zae’s brave steed. As for what’s next, I think Keren and Zae are going to stay in Absalom a while, but both of them are at the mercy of their callings. Who knows where they might end up!

7) Kara: What's next for you? Will you be writing more books with Paizo?

Gabrielle: My next project is a contemporary (not fantasy / science fiction) young adult novel called Hearts Are Jerks, which is about a teenage girl and her adventures navigating polyamory. I’m in revisions on this now, and I hope to be sending it around to agents this summer. It’s also an attempt to normalize the diverse, and give voice to people who don’t get to see themselves and their relationships represented in fiction in positive ways. After that, I’ll be writing the sequel to Of the Essence, which is an urban fantasy novel I wrote in Ed Greenwood’s “Hellmaw” shared-world setting. Would I like to write more Keren and Zae? Definitely. And I’m looking forward to seeing what stories inspire me in Paizo’s forthcoming Starfinder setting, as well.

Thank you, Gabrielle, for answering my questions about Gears of Faith! I will definitely be looking out for your YA novel! Also, many thanks to TOR for sending us the book to feature and for offering a giveaway!

To enter our giveaway, leave a comment on this post answering the following question:

What is your favorite fantasy RPG? (can be tabletop or video game!)

The giveaway ends May 12, 2017. Please check back to see if you're the winner!

Please note: Giveaway is only eligible to readers from US or Canada.



--

Gabrielle Harbowy got her start in the publishing industry as a Pricing Analyst at Scholastic. Since leaving the corporate side of publishing in 2006, she has edited for publishers including Pyr, Lambda Literary, and Circlet Press, and spent a decade as the managing editor at Dragon Moon Press. She copyedits professionally and is a submissions editor at the Hugo-nominated Apex Magazine. With Ed Greenwood, she co-edited the award-nominated When the Hero Comes Home anthology series; their latest anthology endeavor is Women in Practical Armor, from Evil Girlfriend Media. Her short fiction can be found in several anthologies, including Carbide Tipped Pens from Tor, and her first novel, Hellmaw: Of the Essence, is available from The Ed Greenwood Group. She also has a Pathfinder Tales novel, Gears of Faith, from Paizo. For more information, visit her online at @gabrielle_h or gabrielleharbowy.com.

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Posted by Tynga at 03:00

 diversity, Epic, Fantasy amp; Magic, Gabrielle Harbowy, giveaway, Interview, pathfinder, pathfinder tales, Publisher, Tor  3 People left their mark

Golden Son by Pierce Brown

This book is absolutely amazing. The world, the characters, the story, the writing... Everything about it is noteworthy. I thought the first book in the series was great, but somehow Golden Son was able to surpass it. In this sequel, the series heads for space and continues Darrow's mission to ultimately crumble the current society's hierarchy.

Now that the Institute is over, Darrow and his friends are thrown into real life situations and conflicts. The Institute may have been viewed as a "game" to some, but the characters soon realized that the Institute wasn't a game and enforced no rules. If the Institute taught them one thing is that life has no rules and only the resilient survive. Darrow may be fresh out of the Institute, but he's as intelligent and analytical as his superiors. He never imagined working under his arch nemesis's banner, but he figures it's probably the best way to play out his mission.

I'm not a big fan of violence in real life but I've gotten used to Pierce Brown's writing. It's brutally honest, and he while I'm sure he thinks twice about killing off important characters, no one's really safe. Death seems to follow Darrow, but his mission demands sacrifices, even if that means putting his friends and allies at risk. Darrow is a born leader. There's a quality in him that inspires people and makes them want to follow him, even if it's foolish. Eo saw this in him, even before everything started. She saw the potential he had, that he was born to be more than a Red miner, although I doubt she had this in mind for his future. In the end, she knew she had to sacrifice herself in order to motivate him, to inspire revenge and vengeance. Darrow's feelings for his murdered wife never seems to fade, and I find it very touching how much he still cares for her, despite the fact that she came from a very different world.

I love a good space novel for all the science and navigation details, but this series doesn't really need all the minor details of space travel and battles. The story is more about the characters and their own development. Darrow's inner dialogue is the root of the story and makes us understand his reason for persevering and suffering through the pain. I also really appreciate his continuously evolving relationship with Mustang. He definitely hesitates when it comes to Mustang, probably because he feels like he's cheating Eo's memory by getting close to someone else. Mustang has proven herself to him time and time again, and despite her family's reputation, would probably understand Darrow's situation. I kind of want the two of them to end up together, but then again, as a loner, Darrow could probably accomplish so much more.

Sevro is probably my favorite character. Darrow's most trusted advisor and ally, I consider them friends. Although, Sevro would probably hate the term friends. He leads the Howlers who are the unlikeliest but most cunning graduates of the Institute. It's Sevro's loyalty that I admire the most, and despite learning some of Darrow's most damaging secrets,  he still follows him. With Sevro, Darrow's goal to overturn society might just be possible. Darrow hopes to eliminate the coloured classes and free the bottom colours from slavery. I find it ironic how this coloured hierarchal society shuns demokracy despite being inspired by greek mythology and philosophy. As most of us know, ancient Greece is the birthplace of democracy which makes their system is so hypocritical and wrong.

Pierce Brown is a pure genius with words and storytelling. I'm sure the last book of the trilogy will be as thrilling and brutal as the first two. In a way, I'm glad it took me this long to discover this amazing series because this way, I've been able to read them back to back and avoid suffering the cliffhangers. If you want my opinion, this is the one series you have to read and finish this year. It's brilliant, brutally honest, and doesn't shy away from the truth.

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Posted by Tynga at 04:01

 Del Rey, Dystopian, Epic, Pierce Brown, Purchased, Random House, Red Rising, Review, sci-fi, Science Fiction, Space  1 Person left their mark

Bands of Mourning (Mistborn #6) by Brandon Sanderson

Bands of Mourning is the 6th book in the Mistborn series by Brandon Sanderson.  During this review I will be revealing some plot points from the first five books and yes, by that I mean spoilers.  So, if you haven't yet started reading this series and intend to, I suggest you come back to this review once you've gotten this far.  After all, this isn't just a book series, it is a real adventure.

In the previous book, Shadow of Self,   Waxillium, Wayne and Marasi learn there's a kandra doing mischief.  Masquerading as various people and doing the one thing kandras aren't allowed to do, killing people.  Fortunately for the trio, there is another kandra sent by Sazed (now known as Harmony).   This one comes in the guise of a lovely woman named Melaan at a party. Melaan lets them know that the kandra they are going up against is named Paalm, a kandra who has lost one of the spikes that gives the kandra their sentience.  At the end of it all, when Wax finds that the kandra who had been causing all the problems was really Lessie, his dead wife. Waxillium had fallen in love with a being that was sent by Harmony  to guide him to a goal. This is just a small bit of what went on.

To me, this was a masterstroke by Sanderson to bring the characters to a pivotal moment.  The interplay and tension among these compatriots in nearly tangible in this installment.  I have to tease right here and say that, one of the casualties of these two books is a hero.  In the end it was a deed that needed to be done and there was another to take the place.  There seems to be almost a theme between Shadow of Self and Bands of Mourning.  An idea of the end of one being the beginning of another.  As proof, we see the end to some notions we had about these characters washed away just to allow them into more complex and real people.

The story itself is what we have come to expect from Brandon Sanderson. It's rich in detail and there is sufficient action and revelation to keep the reader fully engaged.  This one also has an even that I so wanted to happen but, was afraid would never come.

Being released so soon after Shadows of Self was a surprise and the book itself made it a very pleasant one.  There is quite a bit of violence a and some occasional innuendo all of which inches this one into the PG13 area for me.

 

 



 

 

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Posted by Tynga at 01:00

 Brandon Sanderson, Epic, Fantasy, Fiction, Macmillan, Magic, Mistborn, Purchased, Review  Leave your mark

Shadows of Self (Mistborn Book 5) by Brandon Sanderson

This is a review of the fifth book in the Misborn series by Brandon Sanderson. If you have not read any of the previous books but, love books filled with action, adventure and romance, I highly suggest you stop reading this review, pick up the first book (The Last Empire) and work your way back here later.  I will likely touch on some aspects of the story that may reveal key elements of the previous books.  Things that are commonly referred to as 'Spoilers'.

When last we left Wax, Wayne and Marasi were  recovering from their battle to take down Wax's old friend Miles Dagouter.  Miles was another Twinborn and former Lawman whose Allomantic and Feruchemical abilities made him nearly unstoppable and almost immortal. Waxillium and his small crew managed the impossible and brought Miles down though, it was a hollow victory.  For, the one pulling Miles' strings not only got away, he turned out to be Wax' supposedly dead uncle, Edwarn Ladrian.  Coupled with the loss of his one true love, Lessie and his loveless betrothal to Steris  all gives Waxillium Ladrian little to celebrate at the end of the first book.

Unlike most series, the fourth book stays in the same world but, it moves far enough forward in time that many of the feats and people from before take on legendary status. Now, in Shadows of Self, the current heroes are having to deal with the results of the feats of those legends as well as a burst of technology and innovation none where accustom to.  It's that same spirit of experimentation that can make Steampunk so much fun.  I wouldn't classify this novel as Steampunk but, it does have that same feel.

This is an interesting second act to this half of the series in that, relationships one may count on to get a bit closer, don't.  While other character paths seem destined to collide.  Of course we get a better understanding for Wax, Wayne and Marasi but, it was certain things I thought I picked up on in Steris that surprised me a bit.  We even get a bit more in about Wax' first love, Lessie.  All in all, the character growth in this book is the best part of it.  Any time an author gets the reader to feel that much more involved with the people in a story I count it as a success.

That's not to short change the story by any means.  As we watch the characters progress, we also get to see what could be the beginnings of tremendous change in the world.  It's all brought along so gently and organically that even the reader may not pick up on it.

Shadow of Self is a book so entertaining one could easily try to finish it in one or two sittings.  There is quite a bit of violence and some language that's a bit suggestive of mature topics all which land it in the PG13 are for me.

 

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Posted by Tynga at 01:00

 Brandon Sanderson, Epic, Fantasy, Fiction, Macmillan, Magic, Mistborn, Review  1 Person left their mark

The Alloy of Law: A Mistborn Novel by Brandon Sanderson

This is technically the fourth book in this series.  A review of The Alloy of Law: A Mistborn Novel by Brandon Sanderson does not require any spoilers of any of the previous books however, I do suggest you start at the beginning of the series.  It answers questions  on how and why some things happen as well as giving the reader a slight sense of superiority over the characters.  After all, we know what really happened over three hundred years ago!

From plains not unlike those of the mid-western US to city streets that may make a  19th century Londoner feel at home, Allomancers and Feruchemists use their skills and powers much as their ancestors once did.  If one is as fortunate as Mr. Waxillium Ladrian, you get abilities from both abilities.

Brandon Sanderson brings to life a character who is both comfortable and yet unsuited to live in either of the two societies he has called home throughout his life.  Waxillium may understand the hard rules of both the Roughs and the subtleties of the city but, that does not mean he is welcome by the inhabitants of either.  Through this story, we get to see this emerge and take real shape.  Much like most of the characters in this book as well as this series,   Mr. Ladrian is a well defined, well developed character that grows with the story.  Another hallmark to a Brandon Sanderson book is how a seemingly obscure side character can often come from and center and crucial to the plot.  I won't say more than that except that, one should not casually dismiss characters who seem to be part of the scenery.  You may see them again.

The scenery itself is a large part of the narrative.  Much as it was in the previous three novels, the scenes continue to set the mood and scope of the story.  Whether in a cramped train car or an open plain, the author brings in the setting like an extra character.

I've always liked the pacing of Brandon Sanderson's books and this one does not disappoint.  There never seems to be action for action's sake and the more peaceful parts are for more than simple exposition but, are placed well enough to give the readers a moment to catch their breath before moving us through the plot.  To be honest,  one may recognize some tropes but, I think there's enough twist to most of them to keep the readers engaged.

The Alloy of Law: A Mistborn Novel by Brandon Sanderson is more than a continuation of the series, it is the series reborn into a new time.  I found it very entertaining and would have no problem recommending it for my 14 yr old to read. That earns it a modest PG13 rating mainly due to violence and some moderate adult conversations.

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Posted by Tynga at 01:00

 Brandon Sanderson, Epic, Fantasy, Fiction, Macmillan, Magic, Mistborn, Purchased, Review  Leave your mark

The Hero of Ages: Book Three of Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson

This is the third book of the Mistborn book series.  If you have not read but, are interested in reading any of the previous books in the series, stop now for there are spoilers ahead and I would not want to ruin anybody’s journey.

In the previous books, we met Vin, lowest ranking thief in a gang of thieves and con artists.  After meeting Kelsier, a very talented mistborn, Vin finds she, too is mistborn.  After months of preparation, the two of them pull off the impossible, they kill the Lord Ruler, an immortal, sadistic tyrant.  In the middle of taking down the tyrant, Vin lost her mentor and was left to restore the known world with the help of her high born boyfriend.  Can they bring the world together and deal with the entities Vin encountered at the Well of Ascention?

This is the epic resolution to an equally epic story.  This is a world in upheaval.  Politically much of the aristocracy is fighting for power.  Socially the population trying to find its own way and rewrite its own rules.  Both climate and geological changes are adding to the disruption.  In this story, Brandon Sanderson has managed to not only mirror the character problems with those of the settings but, also to have them compliment and each push the others narrative further along.

Throughout these books, we’ve gotten to see the characters not just grow but evolve.  This is carried all the way to the very end of this book as well.  Vin and Elend are not the only two we get to watch mature but, they are the best examples of that growth.  We get to see characters that are young and self-absorbed become quite different as this story closes.  I received a comment recently about the choice of protagonist in the story.  The only problem is, I think the assumption of the identity of the true hero of this story was incorrect.  Of course I won’t mention it here but, I challenge everybody to find the answer for themselves.

This is truly and epic story as only Brandon Sanderson can create.  It is as detailed as it is entertaining and I am glad to see that the world lives on after the initial trilogy.  This gets a definite PG13 rating due to the violence.

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Posted by Tynga at 01:00

 Brandon Sanderson, Epic, Fantasy, Fiction, Macmillan, Mistborn, Purchased, Review  Leave your mark

The Well of Ascension (Mistborn, Book 2) by Brandon Sanderson

The Well of Ascension (Mistborn, Book 2) by Brandon Sanderson is the second book  in the Mistborn series.  If you have a thought to some day read the first book in this series, stop here until you have.  This review will certainly contain spoilers for t hat first book.

What does one do once you have overthrown a god?  That's the question is on the mind of Vin and her crew.  The Lord Ruler was not really a god but, to the people of Vin's world, he may as well have been.  On top of all that, Vin has to deal with seeing her mentor die as well as nearly dying herself.  At least the hard part is over and all she and Elend have to do is keep the world from falling apart.

This is where we find ourselves in the beginning of this book.  It's starts as  a rebirth of not just one culture but, all cultures that have dwindled and died under the iron grip of the Lord Ruler.  This is one of those books that answers the question left open by so many stories:  What comes after the ending?  Once evil is overthrown, what happens next?  And then the all important question, can the people left after such an event manage to do what is right and just?  Brandon Sanderson does a masterful job of taking the reader through these and many more answers to questions that come  after freeing  people.  It's handled not only logically but thoughtfully and draws you deeper and deeper into the situation at every turn.

'Hard times don't build character, they reveal it' or something to that nature is an axiom that takes center stage much of the time.  The characters we have come to know and love or hate are pushed to breaking point but at the end of the last book and here as well.  We get to see how it all shapes them and builds on what we know of them already.

The setting, of course, is sill the star of the show.  The sun, the ash and the mists are all still there and are a constant that these people must put up with.  Sanderson does an excellent job of letting the inanimate help shape the story.

This is a very entertaining continuation of the story.  While it is epic in length, it still leaves the reader wanting more by the end.  Which is good because, they aren't done yet.  It does have some violence which put's it into the PG13 rating for me.

 

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Posted by Tynga at 01:00

 Brandon Sanderson, Epic, Fantasy, Fiction, Macmillan, Mistborn, Purchased, Review  Leave your mark

Mistborn: The Final Empire (Book 1) by Brandon Sanderson

Usually, when somebody writes about elements and magic, they are referring to earth, water, air and fire.  For Vin Kelsier and other allomancers, they mean elements like iron, copper and gold as well as their alloys.  Allomancers use these metals to perform particular types of magic in the world created by Brandon Sanderson in Mistborn: The Final Empire.

This world can be either exciting and wonderful places or it could be oppressive and dehumanizing depending on what family one was born into.  Whether you were part of the peasant class known as the Skaa or if you were part of the nobility, nobody went out into the Mists at night.  Nobody except for the Survivor.

This is an epic novel written about classic struggles against tyranny, oppression and the unknown.  This is a time and place that seem to be created and managed by a single entity: The Lord Ruler.  Brandon Sanderson makes full use of the colors, textures and backgrounds of this world to convey a sense of the oppression so many these people under while also giving glimpses of color and opulence that show promise of what once was and still could be.  It's that idea that seems to motivate many of the characters.

Our main character, Vin, is a strong willed survivor who begins the story not really knowing how special she is.  One of the fortunate aspects of being an epic size story is that there is plenty of time to really develop characters.  Mr. Sanderson does just that with Vin, Kelsier and the rest.  Since it is such a long book, we not only get to know them but, we also see the characters start to evolve over a more natural feeling time period.

The settings and characters are all brought together to tell a story that on its surface seems familiar but, there are points and twists that keep the reader in the story to the end.  Even if you think you may have things figured out, one of the characters or events will come along and make you reassess your theory.

I've said it a couple of times earlier but, I think it bears repeating: this is a long book. It possibly could have been divided into two distinct books but, I think it would have lost something special about it.  It's a very entertaining  read.  It does have violence which earns it a moderate PG13 rating from me.

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Posted by Tynga at 01:00

 Brandon Sanderson, Epic, Fantasy, Magic, Mistborn, Orion, Review  2 People left their mark

The Invasion of the Tearling by Erika Johansen

Putting her foot down and refusing to send shipments of slaves to the Mort was Queen Kelsea's first decision as a Queen, and it might be the one that will destroy her Kingdom. The Mort won't take no for an answer and they are marching on the Tearling to take by force what they think is their due, and Kelsea will have to push them back or die trying.

The Invasion of the Tearling was a great installment and I am happy to say it is not suffering from the second novel curse. The mood of this novel is different, Kelsea is a Queen and has to take decisions as such and stop being a child. She also has to understand and control the power coming from her Sapphires, deal with a new found sexuality and some weird visions/sleepwalking she's been experiencing. To say her plate is full would be putting it mildly, but I really enjoyed watching her struggle and try her best to come out on top. I love that she is now taking her own decisions instead of simply relying on Mace and that she is trying really hard to play it smart. She seeks wisdom that will help her make the best choices and try to control her impulses. She's growing up!

One of my favorite aspect of this novel is Kelsea's visions of Lily. Lily lives in pre-crossing America and we witness her life in first-person narration. We get to see the kind of struggle the pre-crossing people faced, how it came to be so bad, and how some people actually crossed. I found her story really engrossing and I was avidly awaiting Kelsea's next vision. I also love how their stories tied up at the end.

This novel is not action pack. Their are some tense scenes, some violence, but mostly it's a psychological game. All the chess piece progress throughout the novel and we anxiously wait while both Queens play their moves. Also, if you've been anxious to know the Red Queen's real identity, you will be pleased to know that it is revealed in this novel.

The conclusion really is a game-changer and I am anxious for the next installment (no title nor tentative release date yet). I can't wait to see what will happen to certain key characters and I really hope we will see more of Lily!

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Posted by Tynga at 01:28

 Dystopian, Edelweiss, Epic, Erika Johansen, Fantasy, HarperCollins, High Fantasy, Review, The Queen of the Tearling  6 People left their mark