Review: Piranesi by Susanna Clarke

Piranesi by Susanna Clarke

Bloomsbury

Publication Date: September 15th, 2020

Hardcover. 250 pages.

About Piranesi:

"Piranesi's house is no ordinary building: its rooms are infinite, its corridors endless, its walls are lined with thousands upon thousands of statues, each one different from all the others. Within the labyrinth of halls an ocean is imprisoned; waves thunder up staircases, rooms are flooded in an instant. But Piranesi is not afraid; he understands the tides as he understands the pattern of the labyrinth itself. He lives to explore the house.

 

There is one other person in the house—a man called The Other, who visits Piranesi twice a week and asks for help with research into A Great and Secret Knowledge. But as Piranesi explores, evidence emerges of another person, and a terrible truth begins to unravel, revealing a world beyond the one Piranesi has always known."

Piranesi has been one of my most surprisingly delightful reads of the year thus far--and I also understand why it took about five/six months to get off the library wait list for it now. Also, I fear that this review might be a bit lacking on the details because there's so little that I can say without giving away too much about this incredibly charming and endearing story that is also full of mystery and intrigue, but we're going to do our best. 

Piranesi follows a young man who doesn't technically know what his name is, but we all refer to him as Piranesi, a name given to him by 'the Other.' The Other, in this case, refers to the only other person that Piranesi knows and who visits the House that Piranesi lives in.

This is one of those books where you really don't know anything about... well, anything. We know that Piranesi lives in the House, which is huge and complex and easy to get lost in, and we also know that he is visited by the Other, whom he assists in some unknown research. That's pretty much it. What we don't know is what or where this house is, if there's even a world that exists outside of this house, and so on. Piranesi is also our only narrator, and since he is ignorant (adorably so!) of much of what might exist both within and outside of the House, there is a bit of an unreliable narrator aspect to this book that I loved. Clarke crafted this world in such an clever and intelligent way that I was completely hooked and somehow she managed to give us just enough intrigue and littered just enough clues along the way to make it hard to stop reading.

If you don't enjoy big casts of characters, then this is  going to be a great choice for you because there's only a small handful of characters that are a part of this book in some form. Piranesi is, of course, our protagonist, and he is a true gem. Not since Lazlo Strange from Laini Taylor's Strange the Dreamer have i loved and wanted to hug a character so much. Piranesi is someone who clearly has a caring soul, a delightful personality, and is also extremely meticulous and intelligent. This story is written in the form of Piranesi's journal entries, and I really enjoyed his explanation for things in the House, directions around, and so much more. Because of the journal entries format, there's a bit of an extra layer because of some events that happen that only adds to the unreliable narrator aspect.

The House itself is also a character in itself, and I'm not sure how much more I want to say about it! This book is in itself a puzzle in many forms of the word. The House is a maze of corridors and stairs and different areas that not even Piranesi has explored fully (though don't doubt him--he knows his way around this House better than anyone ever has or will). The narrative and story itself is also puzzle in the sense that we slowly begin to unravel what's going on and where Piranesi is as he also discovers what's happening. This is such a fun yet weirdly unnerving and slightly dark journey that takes the form of a day-to-day slice-of-life sort of structure. It feels like nothing is really happening, but in reality there are a lot of major things going on in this book that Piranesi slowly becomes a part of. 

This is a short little book and I read through it pretty quickly, but it packs so much into it and I wanted to re-read it almost immediately after finishing it. Overall, it was an easy five-stars from me! If you're at all curious about this book, then I highly recommend you give it a shot. It's a bit odd, but I found it completely captivating!

 

Buy the book: Amazon | IndieBound

Review: The Councillor by E.J. Beaton

The Councillor by E.J. Beaton

DAW Books

Publication Date: March 2nd, 2021

Paperback. 408 pages

About The Councillor:

"This Machiavellian fantasy follows a scholar's quest to choose the next ruler of her kingdom amidst lies, conspiracy, and assassination.

 

When the death of Iron Queen Sarelin Brey fractures the realm of Elira, Lysande Prior, the palace scholar and the queen’s closest friend, is appointed Councillor. Publically, Lysande must choose the next monarch from amongst the city-rulers vying for the throne. Privately, she seeks to discover which ruler murdered the queen, suspecting the use of magic.

 

Resourceful, analytical, and quiet, Lysande appears to embody the motto she was raised with: everything in its place. Yet while she hides her drug addiction from her new associates, she cannot hide her growing interest in power. She becomes locked in a game of strategy with the city-rulers – especially the erudite prince Luca Fontaine, who seems to shift between ally and rival.

 

Further from home, an old enemy is stirring: the magic-wielding White Queen is on the move again, and her alliance with a traitor among the royal milieu poses a danger not just to the peace of the realm, but to the survival of everything that Lysande cares about.

 

In a world where the low-born keep their heads down, Lysande must learn to fight an enemy who wears many guises… even as she wages her own battle between ambition and restraint. "

The Councillor is described in the blurb as a "Machiavellian fantasy," and that really is a perfect way to describe this book. This is a book for fans of highly political fantasy, with a focused lens on the subtle arts of negotiation, scheming, manipulations,  secrets, and power.  There are also some incredibly well-drawn characters that only add to the many layers present in this story. 

The story kicks off after Queen Sarelin's death when Lysande is appointed Councillor. It is up to Lysande to determine who should become ruler next, while also quiet attempting to figure out who played a role in the death of the queen. Lysande is thus surrounded by a myriad of people with varying levels of power, all of whom want more power, and she has no idea who she can actually trust. This, as you might suspects, sets up a tense, unpredictable setting in which all the players begin their dance of politics. This book is basically the equivalent of an enormous jigsaw puzzle with oddly shaped pieces that supposedly fit together, but you aren't sure you're going to figure out how.

The story is told solely from Lysande's perspective, which I appreciated in the sense that it really helped to keep me on my toes in not knowing anything at all about the other characters other than what Lysande  already knows. I might have liked more perspectives in order to better understand everyone's motivations and background, but I like the mystery this allowed, as well as the ability to thus spend more time in Lysande's head getting to know her and her strategies. I absolutely loved Lysanda's stoic determination in the face of every unimagined obstacle that is thrown her way. When this novel starts, Lysande may already be a close confidante of the queen, but she is also technically just the palace scholar. She is from a poor background and is not an elite and she has no seeming desire to be in any sort of leadership position. So, when she is thrust into the position of Councillor she is constantly aware of her perceived shortcomings and lack of knowledge around what she should be doing or how to handle various situations. Because of this, she often relies heavily on her own historical studies of past leaders and events, which allow her to shape her persona and actions as Councillor. I really appreciated this aspect and focus on the importance of having histories to provide guidance, as well as seeing someone who truly is not sure how to handle these situations essentially "fake it 'til you make it," as I think Lysande ended up executing her role excellently. 

 I should mention, however, that I would consider Lysande a bit of a morally grey character, which matches the many other morally grey secondary characters that appear throughout this book. It's hard to know what is necessarily "good" in this world since everyone has their own bias, but it was a lot of fun exploring everything via the different characters that we meet, all of whom have very strong and distinct personalities. A few of the more intriguing characters we meet are Luca Fontaine, Cassia Ahl-Hafir, and Litany. Litany in particular is full of surprises, and Luca  is one of those mysterious figures that holds an abnormal form of charisma and intrigue that you can't help but find yourself drawn to, even though you know there's something uncertain and unpredictable about him. I'd go as far to say that there is not really any character in this book that I would deem 'unintelligent,' and it's precisely because this book is full of highly intelligent people that you never know what to expect or where something new is going to pop up.

The world of The Councillor also feels rich and teeming with culture and expansive lands. We get to hear quite a bit of background about various places and peoples, but I would have loved the chance to learn even more about the world (though that's certainly not a complaint, as I'm very satisfied with what was provided in this book). This also appears to be a sex positive and queernorm world, which I also find refreshing in fantasy where we can set aside the many prejudices that plague our own world and imagine something new. Because Lysande deals with a bit of a drug problem, we also get to explore some more details in this world in the way of things like the drugs and drug sources that helps to just make everything feel that much more expansive and detailed. There is also, of course, some magic present in this world, though I hesitate to say too much about it in fear of adding any spoilers. It's an interesting magic that I would really love to learn more about, as I feel as though it wasn't expanded on quite as much as it could've been.

The pacing of the The Councillor felt very steady throughout, and it's definitely a slower pacing overall. If you're looking for something with a lot of action, this isn't it. There are certainly some more action-heavy scenes, but for the most part this book's action takes place in the form of dialogue and more subtle activities and thinking. There are also a lot of fine details given throughout about the world, the politics, and the history which does keep things on the slower side at times. I thought the pacing worked extremely well for the story and have no complaints, but I also understand that some people will prefer something that moves a bit more quickly.

Overall, I had an amazing time reading this book, even if I did find myself a little lost at times because of all the details. This is a book I can absolutely see myself re-reading and getting even more from it. If you like an involved, highly political fantasy, then you must put The Councillor on your radar! I cannot wait to see what E.J. Beaton has in store next. It's five stars from me!

*I received an ARC of The Councillor courtesy of the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*

Buy the book: Amazon | IndieBound

Review: The Mask of Mirrors (Rook & Rose #1) by M.A. Carrick

The Mask of Mirrors (Rook & Rose #1) by M.A. Carrick

Orbit

Publication Date: January 19th, 2021

Paperback. 672 pages

About The Mask of Mirrors:

"Nightmares are creeping through the city of dreams...

 

Renata Viraudax is a con artist who has come to the sparkling city of Nadezra -- the city of dreams -- with one goal: to trick her way into a noble house and secure her fortune and her sister's future.

 

But as she's drawn into the elite world of House Traementis, she realizes her masquerade is just one of many surrounding her. And as corrupt magic begins to weave its way through Nadezra, the poisonous feuds of its aristocrats and the shadowy dangers of its impoverished underbelly become tangled -- with Ren at their heart."

 The Mask of Mirrors was one of the first 2021 fantasy releases that I read, and it is giving me some high hopes that this is going to be an amazing year of fantasy releases. This is the first book in a new fantasy series and it has completely captivated me with it's strong world-building, expansive and developed cast of characters, and overall compelling and richly layered plot. M.A. Carrick is the pseudonym for authors Marie Brennan and Alyc Helms, and the super-author duo is just as amazing as you might expect they would be. 

This basic synopsis for this book highlights that it features a con artist attempting to pull off a rather enormous/hefty con, and while this is indeed the heart of this particular story, it is also one small part of a much bigger and more unpredictable plot that is full of political maneuverings, scheming, and so many secrets. 

Every component of this story is important, from the setting to the world-building to the pacing, but the characters were one of the most vital to the plot, and I am so pleased to say that I think the authors did remarkable work in developing such a strong cast of characters that not only contains quite a few characters to follow, but also managed to make each character feel fully developed, fleshed out, and each have an interesting and unique personality as well as backstory and current storyline. Renata, for all intents and purposes our 'main' protagonist, was a particularly exciting character to follow as we explore both the Ren and Renata versions of her identity (aka, the 'real' and 'con' versions of herself) and I loved how the authors chose to balance this aspect in a way that really showed how difficult and slippery it can be to play with two identities. 

In addition to Renata are a variety of other diverse secondary-main characters that we get perspectives from, such as  Vargo, Tess, and and Captain Grey, among others. Vargo in particular was a character that stood out to me and is easily probably one of my favorites. He's a great example of the characters in this book in that he's been developed in such a multi-layered and nuanced grey-like manner that you never really know what he's going to do, but you also can't help but love his personality and find yourself eager to see what he's going to do next. I also appreciated the detail that went into developing characters, such as Vargo's repulsion to germs and illness, which seems to hint at a phobia of some sort and that I think really helps to develop his character even further in a variety of ways. 

The magic in this book also felt very fresh and exciting and even though we got to explore a lot of what is a part of the magic system, I am really excited for and hoping to experience and learn even more about it in future installments in this series. It's not an overwhelming sort of magic that is constantly around, it's more subtly pervasive and not always discussed, but is always a part of the story in some manner. This is also a very political fantasy, so that takes a good portion of the plot, with plenty of scheming to keep everyone (including the reader) on their toes. You can never really be entirely sure of what someone's intentions are, and everyone usually seems to have some sort of intention or motivation for any and all actions that undertake.  

As other reviews have noted, The Mask of Mirrors has a fairly slow pace to it, but I think that's somewhat to be expected in larger fantasy novels. To me, it was a good type of slow pace that allowed for the characters, world, setting, and magic system to be slowly built up and evolve in a way that didn't lend to excessive info-dumping, but instead let the reader slowly and delightfully immerse themselves into the world. It's like the person who chooses to very slowly get into a freezing cold pool by moving in slowly, letting themselves adjust tot he temperature, then continue on--slow, but a comfortable sort of slow.  Also, I didn't really notice it because I found the characters and plot so intriguing and I think Carrick moves the story along just enough in a consistent fashion, and it is consistency that is often most important to me in any novel--and there are plenty of more fast-paced moments throughout that help baance everything out. 

Overall, it was an easy five stars from me! I genuinely cannot wait to continue this series and I anxiously await its publication, even though that may not be for a while.

*I received a copy of The Mask of Mirrors courtesy of the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This has no effect on my rating.*

Buy the book: Amazon | IndieBound

Review: The Burning God (The Poppy War #3) by R.F. Kuang

The Burning God (The Poppy War #3) by R.F. Kuang

Harper Voyager

Publication Date: November 17th, 2020

Hardcover. 768 pages

About The Burning God:

"After saving her nation of Nikan from foreign invaders and battling the evil Empress Su Daji in a brutal civil war, Fang Runin was betrayed by allies and left for dead. 

Despite her losses, Rin hasn’t given up on those for whom she has sacrificed so much—the people of the southern provinces and especially Tikany, the village that is her home. Returning to her roots, Rin meets difficult challenges—and unexpected opportunities. While her new allies in the Southern Coalition leadership are sly and untrustworthy, Rin quickly realizes that the real power in Nikan lies with the millions of common people who thirst for vengeance and revere her as a goddess of salvation. 

Backed by the masses and her Southern Army, Rin will use every weapon to defeat the Dragon Republic, the colonizing Hesperians, and all who threaten the shamanic arts and their practitioners. As her power and influence grows, though, will she be strong enough to resist the Phoenix’s intoxicating voice urging her to burn the world and everything in it?"

The Burning God is the final book in the The Poppy War trilogy, and it was an epic, stunning conclusion that is definitely going to stick with me. 

The Poppy War has been a trilogy that I've found has really set itself apart from other fantasy books in its genre. It's not uncommon for a series to lean on the darker side--after all, grimdark has been rising in popularity over the past few years--but there's something about The Poppy War that meshes this idea of grimness with the reality and rawness of what living a life under warfare, poverty, and near-constant discord, (which is its own form of grimdark) in a way that somehow feels even more intense and unpredictable. The Poppy War and The Dragon Republic were both striking installments that I didn't think could be improved upon, but somehow The Burning God was just as, if not more, intense and captivating than the previous two. The stakes are also somehow higher (despite the fact that they've been incredibly high this entire trilogy), which only added to my struggle to put this book. 

Something that I have to comment on before continuing this review is the evolution of Kuang's writing and storytelling over the course of this trilogy. Kuang herself has said in various interviews how much her writing has matured from writing The Poppy War until now, and I very much agree and am impressed with how much her writing has developed. That's not to say that the early books aren't well-written, as they absolutely are, but you can see her character developments, plotting, writing style, and exploration of war and strategy gradually deepen in scope and meaning as the trilogy progressed, which really made for a fantastic reading experience. The historical inspirations that played such a large role in the development and creation of this entire trilogy also seems to have become stronger and has been expanded upon in brilliant ways. 

Our protagonist, Fang Runin (Rin), remains of the most compelling parts of this story, as she is incredibly brash, often unpredictable, and willing to go just about any lengths to accomplish her goals. She's not exactly someone I would describe as "likable" or easy to get along with, but she does know how to get things done and she's not one to ever choose to give up--Rin would truly rather die fighting than ever give up. Although I'm not usually big on revenge in general, Rin's fire for vengeance and destruction of her enemies is one of her most captivating and almost admirable qualities. It's not that I think merciless destruction of those who are against you is a great idea or should be encouraged, but Rin just has such a strong level of determination and anger and hatred that she so finely directs towards her specific enemies that I can't help but find myself compelled to see how it all plays out and to admire the sheer dedication and drive that Rin contains within herself.

There are also a myriad of supporting characters that stand out, though I hesitate to include their names for fear of spoiling who has actually made it to the end of the story Kuang is telling. I loved seeing how all of these different characters' relationships with Rin had so many different moments of push-and-pull throughout the trilogy and how carefully Kuang always kept a focus on the true motivations and emotions that would affect their interactions. As much as this book is filled with cruelties, brutality, and a lot of darkness, it also has some really warming moments between characters and some relationships and scenes that will make you smile--and some moments that will probably break your heart. You can't ever really get comfortable with anything in this book because there are constantly changes and unpredictable turns that leave you never completely sure what anyone is doing. 

Something that has held true through all three books is how Kuang incorporated the gods and magic in this trilogy, and I particularly loved their role in this book. Magic in this book is not a guaranteed thing, and there aren't any specific rulebooks associated. However, there is still a level of "rules" that are part of it, and I really appreciate how much risk goes hand-in-hand with having any level of power, as I always think there should be some sort of balance or sacrifice required when stories offer that kind of power to a character. 

The last thing I'll touch on is the pacing, which was once again spot-on. The final book in a trilogy is often filled with a lot of action and big battles, and although this book certainly contained those elements, it also still focused a lot on strategy and discussions of conquering and ruling and so many other important themes to consider. We get to explore even more of the world-building and history of this world and its inhabitants, and I think Kuang incorporated all of those elements smoothly into her narrative that together created an incredibly enjoyable read. There were a lot of discussion on military strategies, and I really thrived on these because I felt like they offered a lot of really interesting insight into the characters involve in these discussions, as well as military strategy itself. 

As with the previous books, I feel like this book should also come with a small content warning for violence and brutality--these aren't easy books by any means. The topics dealt with are intense and some extremely moral questions are explored in ways that may be difficult for some people to examine. Rin is honestly a bit ruthless, so that's something important to consider in how she will react to both wanting, taking, and using her power. 

The ending of this trilogy was utterly perfect and flawlessly executed. I am so impressed and excited by what Kuang did with this trilogy and will absolutely be re-reading it in the future to continue to discover what else there is to get out of it. 

The Poppy War is sure to be a trilogy not soon forgotten. As I said in my review for The Dragon Republic, "This book will punch you in the face, laugh at you when you're shocked, pretend to make it better...and then stomp all over you again with a smile. And you'll love every second of it." And that hasn't changed a bit with this final installment. I cannot wait to see what Kuang writes next. As of my writing this review, I believe she has mentioned  that she is currently writing a book set at Oxford, and I can't wait to see what that entails. 

*I received a copy of The Burning God in exchange for an honest review. This has no effect on my rating of the novel.* 

Buy: Amazon | IndieBound

Review: Gatekeeper by Alison Levy

Gatekeeper by Alison Levy

Spark Press

Publication Date: October 6th, 2020

Paperback. 216 pages

About Gatekeeper:

"Rachel Wilde comes from a dimension that exists adjacent to ours. The people there have structured their society around daemon collecting: they locate, catch, and repair malfunctioning daemons (creatures out of phase with our world that tempt people to do good or evil). Now Rachel has been given two unusual assignments: 1) find a person who has been trying to break down dimensional barriers, and 2) track down a missing line of gatekeepers, human placeholders for a daemon that was too badly damaged to repair. Authorities of Rachel’s world believe the missing gatekeepers are descended from a girl who went missing from West Africa hundreds of years ago, likely sold into slavery. With no leads to go on, Rachel seeks help from Bach, a raving homeless man who happens to be an oracle. Bach does put her in the path of both of her targets—but he also lands her in a life-threatening situation. Somehow, Rachel has to stop the criminal, reunite a gatekeeper with her stolen past, and, above all, survive. "

Gatekeeper follows Rachel, a daemon collector who lives in a dimension that, as the synopsis states, is just adjacent to ours and known as the Arcana. This alternate dimension basically helps to keep things running smoothly in our dimension, which is where Rachel comes in by collecting and helping find daemons who need to be rehabilitated become the daemon they were meant ot be. Now, these daemons probably aren't quite the type you're thinking of, but rather daemons that sort of live in the background of our everyday lives and plants seeds of ideas in the minds of humans, such as ideas of riot or discord that influences how people may react in different situations. A daemon is considered 'defective' if it either isn't doing that or is getting a bit out of control. I really love concepts like these and I thought that Levy did a great job developing this multi-dimensional setting.

Our protagonist, Rachel, was someone I enjoyed getting to know and I found unexpectedly charismatic. I found her snow globe-like living situation really interesting and I enjoyed seeing how she managed to balance straddling two dimensions, as it's not necessarily something that is overly common. She's not necessarily the warmest or friendliest of people, but she's good at what she does, she's loyal, and she doesn't give up easily. In Gatekeeper, she gets stuck with a rather unfortunate assignment (due to her own oversleeping) and despite her exceedingly strong desire not to follow through with her assignment, she does it anyway and puts a strong amount of effort into getting everything done right, which I really appreciated about her character.

The daemons themselves were particularly fun to learn about and I thought all of the different varieties of daemons that exist were a really unique idea. It was interesting to hear about how the daemons interact with out dimension and the process that occurs when they are declared 'defective,' which we get to see a few examples of in Gatekeeper when Rachel is tasked to find and bring them in. 

I also found Levy's writing style engaging and easy to follow. There was something pleasingly straightforward about the narrative--it was simple without being boring, yet still somehow full of details and depth. I think it is because of the writing style that I was hooked almost immediately upon starting the book, and I genuinely enjoyed the entire book with the same level of intrigue. I don't htink I ever once found myself losing interest and I credit that completely to not only the interesting plot and world-building, but to Levy's skill at pacing and crafting a captivating narrative style. 

Overall, I've given Gatekeeper 4.25 stars! If you're looking for a quick fantasy with a really interesting and fun premise and worldbuilding, then I'd encourage you to pick up Gatekeeper!

*I received a copy of Gatekeeper in exchange for an honest review. This has no effect on my rating of the novel.*

Buy: Amazon | Book Depository | IndieBound

Review: Dead Man in a Ditch (The Fetch Phillips Archives #2) by Luke Arnold

Dead Man in a Ditch (The Fetch Phillips Archives #2)

Orbit

Publication Date: September 22nd, 2020

Paperback. 464 pages

About Dead Man in a Ditch:

"The name's Fetch Phillips -- what do you need? 

Cover a Gnome with a crossbow while he does a dodgy deal? Sure. 

Find out who killed Lance Niles, the big-shot businessman who just arrived in town? I'll give it shot. 

Help an old-lady Elf track down her husband's murderer? That's right up my alley. 

What I don't do, because it's impossible, is search for a way to bring the goddamn magic back. 

Rumors got out about what happened with the Professor, so now people keep asking me to fix the world. 

But there's no magic in this story. Just dead friends, twisted miracles, and a secret machine made to deliver a single shot of murder. 

Welcome back to the streets of Sunder City, a darkly imagined world perfect for readers of Ben Aaronovitch and Jim Butcher."

It feels like just yesterday that I was reading The Last Smile in Sunder City and I hadn't realized quite how much I enjoyed and missed Fetch Phillips and Sunder City until I cracked open Dead Man in a Ditch and immediately fell back into this world. There's something dark around the edges of this world that's met with a bit of sorrow and regret, but also with an oddly uplifting message that leaves me yearning for this world. 

The Fetch Phillips Archives are an urban fantasy-esque series set in a world in which the magic that once inhabited the world has been destroyed and now the non-human folk must learn to live in a world where what once kept them alive, healthy, and happy is now gone. Dead Man in a Ditch picks up once again with our lovable mess of a protagonist Fetch Phillips investigating a mysterious murder that seems to have involved something that appears to be magic--magic that is, as mentioned, still gone. And as usual, Fetch gets dragged into a myriad of wildly varying investigations, some of which end up bleeding into one another. 

Fetch Phillips is one of those characters that isn't necessarily the best person, but you know he has a good heart deep down and is doing what he can to make things better, if that's possible. He's sort of a mess sometimes, but that's very much a part of his charm and I think what makes him such an enjoyable protagonist. I appreciate how much Arnold goes into Fetch's backstory and spends time on his inner conflicts and demons that haunt him as a result of his past decisions. There aren't nearly as many flashbacks in this book as there are in the first and I think this really allowed the story to really move forward. I think one of my favorite things about both Fetch and some of the themes of the story as a whole is the idea of a sort of responsibility and taking note of past choices and how they affect the future, as well as how to pick up and do whatever you can to improve the situation around you, even if you were once part of the problem. There's something very redemptive and blunt about it that doesn't allow for excuses from past wrongs, but also shows that there are ways to try to move forward and do better and be better rather than have everyone dwell on what happened in the past and how the present situation arose. 

There are also a small variety of supporting characters that also add a lot of charm and character to the story and I love how colorful this world is. There are all sorts of characters, most of which have some pretty rough exteriors and don't like to take trouble from anyone and I like getting to know them and learn more about each character's unique backstory in relation to the loss of the magic. 

The pacing of Dead Man in a Ditch felt really well-plotted and I appreciate that there were often what felt like natural breaks between different major events and climactic moments. Fetch embarks upon a few different jobs in this book and I liked how Arnold allowed each one to have it's own space to be developed while at the same time maintaining sight of the bigger overarching plots and somehow managing to connect everything in some really compelling ways. 

As I've mentioned in the past, urban fantasy is not really usually my go-to, but there's something about Luke Arnold's take on urban fantasy that really grabs me and makes me feel comfortable and excited to sink into the story. Maybe it's because it's an urban fantasy that isn't set in our own world, or maybe it's just because Arnold has a writing style that flows almost effortlessly well and feels down to earth--almost like someone is simple telling me a story (Speaking of, I definitely think I want to try the audiobook of this series sometime!). I'm not sure if this is meant to be a longer series than only three books, but I really hope it is because I can see myself returning to the adventures of Fetch Phillips and this weirdly dejected yet hopeful world again and again. 

Overall, I've given Dead Man in a Ditch 4.5 stars! I really had a great time reading this book and enjoyed just about every second. There's something about this world and the characters within in that make it easy to re-join and follow along on their journeys and I can't wait to see what's in store next for Fetch Phillips and Sunder City! I'm not sure that I've adequately done this book justice in this review, but it's really something special, I think. 

*I received a copy of Dead Man in a Ditch in exchange for an honest review. This has no effect on my rating of the novel.*

Buy: Amazon | Book Depository | IndieBound

Review: The Bone Shard Daughter by Andrea Stewart

The Bone Shard Daughter (The Drowning Empire #1) by Andrea Stewart

Orbit

Publication Date: September 8th, 2020

Hardcover. 448 pages

About The Bone Shard Daughter:

"The emperor's reign has lasted for decades, his mastery of bone shard magic powering the animal-like constructs that maintain law and order. But now his rule is failing, and revolution is sweeping across the Empire's many islands. 

Lin is the emperor's daughter and spends her days trapped in a palace of locked doors and dark secrets. When her father refuses to recognise her as heir to the throne, she vows to prove her worth by mastering the forbidden art of bone shard magic. 

Yet such power carries a great cost, and when the revolution reaches the gates of the palace, Lin must decide how far she is willing to go to claim her birthright - and save her people."

The Bone Shard Daughter has been getting some pretty intense hype calling it the most anticipated and best fantasy 2020 debut of the year and I can easily understand why! I don't think I connected with this novel quite as much as it seems other people have, but I also think this is one that I will appreciate even more on a re-read, which I'll probably do before the sequel comes out.

The Bone Shard Daughter has some inventive worldbuilding that really stood out to me and is part of what drew me to wanting to know more about this world. The world itself is essentially made up of a myriad of different islands with some interesting movements associated with them, and I really can't wait to hopefully see a map of this world one day.  Additionally, the magic system is one of the most interesting parts of this book (which is saying something, considering how incredible most other aspects of this book are) and I really loved learning about how the bone shard magic worked, even if I didn't fully understand it at all points. From my understanding, bone shard magic basically works to help create and direct these sorts of creatures known as 'constructs,' which are essentially put together with various animal parts and seem to be the sort of military/police of the land. Without these constructs, there isn't a whole lot to enforce law and order, so when the various 'commands' that are imbued into them fail, repercussions can be fairly momentous. I loved seeing all the different ways that bone shard magic functioned and how Lin learned how to use it most effectively.

There is a fairly large cast of characters, and readers follow five different POVs that utilize both first and third person perspectives. I've noticed more books seem to be doing this split-perspective style and I find that it tends to have mixed execution--fortunately, I think it worked well for this book. Not only does it provide a better look at Stewart's skilled prose, it also allows readers to differentiate between characters a bit and understand their role better in the story. The two first person POVs belong to Lin and Jovis, two people that I always enjoyed following the most.

Lin, the emperor's daughter, and Jovis, a smuggler, seem to be the two perspectives, however, that maintain the greatest amount of attention. There is also a bit of an 'animal' companion in Jovis' POV that I loved, as I'm a huge sucker for any animal companions and I love how Stewart incorporated that element into the story. Lin's entire narrative was easily the most interesting to me so how she lived as the emperor's daughter and attempted to gain his trust via her abilities with bone shard magic and the frankly weird dynamic she has with both him and those around her. 

The other POVs we get are Ranami and Phalue, as well as considerably less from a fifth character known as Sand. I really appreciated Ranami and Phalue's chapters, not only because they were compelling, but because they provided even more variety in looking at the different ways of life that exist in this world, as well as on a more universal level how those from different wealth and privilege backgrounds navigate relationships when their experiences are so different from one another. I always appreciate when authors choose to use a variety of POVs in order to showcase a fuller and more well-rounded view of the world they are living in. 

I think the only reason I didn't love this book as much as it seems most other people did is because I found the pacing slightly off. Personally, I think that this is due to the fact that The Bone Shard Daughter very much felt like a book that was setting up everything for future books--and that's not to say that this is purely a negative. I don't mind when fantasy books do this because I get that it's a lot to introduce an entirely new world, magic system, culture, etc., but I just found that there were a few different times where I wasn't as invested in the world and story as much as I felt that I should be considering how truly interesting the world and magic system are. 

Overall, I found The Bone Shard Daughter to be a really solid and exciting start to a new fantasy series! I completely get why everyone is so excited about this book and calling it the 2020 debut fantasy of the year--I can't wait to see what's next!

*I received a copy of The Bone Shard Daughter in exchange for an honest review. This has no effect on my rating of the novel.*

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Review: Savage Legion by Matt Wallace

Savage Legion (Savage Rebellion #1) by Matt Wallace

Gallery/Saga Press

Publication Date: July 21st, 2020

Hardcover. 498 pages

About Savage Legion:

"They call them Savages. Brutal. Efficient. Expendable. 

The empire relies on them. The Savages are the greatest weapon they ever developed. Culled from the streets of their cities, they take the ones no one will miss and throw them, by the thousands, at the empire’s enemies. If they live, they fight again. If they die, there are always more to take their place. 

Evie is not a Savage. She’s a warrior with a mission: to find the man she once loved, the man who holds the key to exposing the secret of the Savage Legion and ending the mass conscription of the empire’s poor and wretched. 

But to find him, she must become one of them, to be marked in her blood, to fight in their wars, and to find her purpose. Evie will die a Savage if she has to, but not before showing the world who she really is and what the Savage Legion can really do."

Savage Legion is one of the most pleasant surprises of 2020 thus far! I was excited to read Savage Legion and I knew it had a ton of promise, but I had absolutely no idea that I would be hooked almost immediately and that I would love this book even half as much as I ended up. 

Savage Legion switches between three main POV segments. The first follows Evie, a woman who seems undaunted by most things she faces in life and sticks firmly to any task she is given--sometimes with a bit of ruthlessness to it, but mostly just because she's extremely efficient and loyal to what she has been tasked to do. Evie's story begins when she is taken to jail one night and transported to the military front the next day where she becomes a part of the Savage Legion, a group of people who have similarly broken the law and are now being utilized as diversions in battles. This Legion is essentially out first on the battle lines in order to provide a distraction before the trained military arrives. It's both brutal and ingenious at the same time, and I think this setup provided a lot of really interesting possibilities for the plot. (There are also 'blood coins' as a part of this process, an idea that I found particularly interesting, and of course a bit gruesome). Evie's chapters were easily some of the most exciting because you never really knew exactly what was going to happen, and as the story progressed things began to get more and more intense in ways that made it hard for me to stop reading. 

The next person we follow is Lexie, a young woman who is learning how to navigate life as the sole remaining member of her family's Gens after her husband--who had been acting as the public defender for the faction of society that they represent (the lowest of the factions)--goes missing. His whereabouts are unknown, as is whether or not he is even alive, and Lexie must navigate the 'political' landscape on her own while trying to earn the respect of those around her, as well as carefully investigate her husband's disappearance--all while everyone seems to be working against her. I really appreciated Lexie's determination and how she overcomes her fears and uncertainties in order to do what she feels is best for the people she represents, as well as for herself and her husband. She is aided by her bodyguard Taru, who has labeled themselves as Undeclared, meaning that they are non-binary. This world seems to have mixed opinions of the Undeclared, with some finding them 'confusing' and others being perfectly accepting (much like in our own world), and I thought it was a great inclusion on Wallace's part to add a bit more experience and considerations to the book. I also really loved watching Lexie and Taru's relationship develop in this book as each started to have to trust and become more comfortable with the other over the course of the book's events. 

And lastly we follow Dyeawan (aka Slider), an at-present homeless woman whose legs were crushed when she was a girl and who ingeniously gets around by a makeshift wheelchair of sorts in which she can slide around to get places (hence the name 'Slider'). Slider is first introduced on the same night that Evie gets hauled off to jail, but instead of being taken to aid the military in the Savage Legion, Slider is instead whisked off to an unknown place where she works with other scholars under the leadership of a man named Edgar to build and invent new devices, ideas, buildings, etc. for the empire. Slider was one of my favorite POVs to follow because I found the entire premise of where she was and what everyone there was doing so fascinating and full of ideas to explore. I won't say too much about it because I think a lot of it hinges on the experience of discovering for yourself, but Wallace excelled in developing this part of the story and introducing some really neat engineering concepts and executions, as well as introduced us to a lot of really varied and compelling side characters that I really would have loved to spend even more time with. I really enjoyed hearing about what everyone was working on and how Slider was tested for her own skills and fit in with everyone. 

I thought the pacing of Savage Legion was spot on. I've seen a few reviews mention that the pacing felt a bit slow, but I really don't see that from my reading experience. Lexie's chapters were the slowest of the three, but they still had some compelling plot developments and crucial worldbuilding included that I loved learning about. There was a great balance of action, plotting, and character development, and I found myself particularly enjoying the latter two in this book as well, as things just continued to get more and more sinister as the story progressed. There's also a great amount of social commentary present in Savage Legion that felt both timely and compelling. It wasn't done in an overhanded way, but it provided some strong thematic backdrops for a lot of what occurs in this sort of dystopian-esque landscape that is slowly unveiled over the course of the story.

Lastly, I really loved Wallace's worldbuilding, as it seemed to have the perfect blend of complexity and variety, as well as being conveyed in a manner that didn't leave me feeling lost or confused. I actually felt as those I understood this world thoroughly by the end of the book, but there are still plenty of things that I want to explore more and learn more about in future installments. I think that there is a lot of potential in these books for the world to keep expanding outward, both physically and with cultural/etc. developments, and I truly cannot wait to see what's next in this series/trilogy!

Overall, this was an easy (yet unexpected in the best way!) five stars from me! I am a new Matt Wallace fan and I intend to check out some of his backlist titles while I anxious await the next installment in the Savage Rebellion series!

*I received a copy of Savage Legion in exchange for an honest review. This has no effect on my rating of the novel.*

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Review: The Vanished Queen by Lisbeth Campbell

The Vanished Queen by Lisbeth Campbell

Gallery/Saga Press

Publication Date: August 18th, 2020

Hardcover. 496 pages

About The Vanished Queen:

"When a country is held in thrall to a vicious, despotic king, it’s up to one woman to take him down. 

Long ago, Queen Mirantha vanished. King Karolje claimed it was an assassination by a neighboring king, but everyone knew it was a lie. He had Disappeared her himself. 

But after finding the missing queen’s diary, Anza—impassioned by her father’s unjust execution and inspired by Mirantha’s words—joins the resistance group to overthrow the king. When an encounter with Prince Esvar thrusts her into a dangerous game of court politics, one misstep could lead to a fate worse than death. 

Esvar is the second son to an evil king. Trapped under his thumb and desperate for a way out, a chance meeting with Anza gives him the opportunity to join the resistance. Together, they might have the leverage to move against the king—but if they fail, their deaths could mean a total loss of freedom for generations to follow."

If you're a fan of political fantasy, then look no further because your next read is here! The Vanished Queen is a compelling and complex tale of revolution and an abundance of political intrigue set within a highly detailed and richly drawn world.

The story centers around the main characters of Anza and Prince Esvar, both caught up in their own struggle to overthrow the tyrannical King Karolje, who took the thrown and has ruled ever since. Anza's motivation lies in her father's recent execution at the king's hands and meetings with other resistance supporters, whereas Esvar has a slightly different position as one of King Karolje's two sons. It's through an unexpected meeting between the two that Esvar is able to join the resistance and the two begin working together in order to take down the king.

I loved Campbell's worldbuilding in this book and I wish we had gotten more. I also wish there would have been a map of the world as well, as there were a few times when I really would've loved the opportunity to take a closer look at the places mentioned in the book (though I suppose there might be one in the finished copy that wasn't in my ARC?). I appreciated how Campbell not only included some great descriptions of the physical world itself, but also developed the world through the political issues--both local and further away--and experiences of the characters involved. 

There are three main POVs we get in this book: Anza's, Esvar's, and flashbacks to a past period of Mirantha's POV. I appreciated how independent and fast-thinking Anza was throughout the story, and I think Campbell developed her character particularly well. Her motivations were understandable and her interactions with both the resistance group and Esvar made sense most of the time in ways that actually fit the plot. I also enjoyed Esvar's POV since it allowed us to get a look inside the royal component and see what's actually going on. I particularly liked seeing his relationship with his brother and how they both desired to be rid of their father, King Karolje, and how their goals and motivations played off of one another in different ways. 

The only sort of critique I would make about The Vanished Queen is that the pacing felt a bit off at times. For most of the book I was generally hooked and the story had no trouble keeping my attention, but there were definitely some spots here and there where I felt as though the pacing slowed considerably and it wasn't as smooth to get through. Despite this, Campbell's writing itself is exceptionally beautiful and I can really tell how much care and effort she put into crafting each and every sentence to benefit the plot and overall story as much as possible.

Overall, I've given The Vanished Queen four stars! I had a great time with this one and I really look forward to read more from Lisbeth Campbell. I'm honestly not sure yet if this is meant to be a standalone or the first in a trilogy/series, as it wrapped up in a highly satisfactory way, but also left some room for more should the author/publisher choose to continue expanding the world. 

*I received an ARC of The Vanished Queen in exchange for an honest review. This has no effect on my rating of the novel.*

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Can't-Wait Wednesday: Drowned Country by Emily Tesh, The Dark Tide by Alicia Jasinska, & Driftwood by Marie Brennan

Can't-Wait is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings that spotlights exciting upcoming releases that we can't wait to be released! This meme is based off of Jill @ Breaking the Spine's Waiting on Wednesday meme.

This week's upcoming book spotlights are: 

Drowned Country by Emily Tesh
Publication: August 18th, 2020

Tor.com

Paperback. 176 pages.

Pre-order: Amazon | Book Depository | IndieBound

From Goodreads:

"Drowned Country is the the stunning sequel to Silver in the Wood, Emily Tesh's lush, folkloric debut. This second volume of the Greenhollow duology once again invites readers to lose themselves in the story of Henry and Tobias, and the magic of a myth they’ve always known. 

Even the Wild Man of Greenhollow can’t ignore a summons from his mother, when that mother is the indomitable Adela Silver, practical folklorist. Henry Silver does not relish what he’ll find in the grimy seaside town of Rothport, where once the ancient wood extended before it was drowned beneath the sea―a missing girl, a monster on the loose, or, worst of all, Tobias Finch, who loves him."

I just (finally) read Silver in the Wood a couple weeks ago, and although I didn't love it as much as I'd hoped, I'm still really intrigued to see where Tesh is going to take this next novella.

and...

The Dark Tide by Alicia Jasinska

Publication: August 4th, 2020

Sourcebooks Fire

Hardcover. 336 pages.

Pre-order: Amazon | Book Depository | IndieBound

From Goodreads:

"Every year on St. Walpurga's Eve, Caldella's Witch Queen lures a boy back to her palace. An innocent life to be sacrificed on the full moon to keep the island city from sinking. 

Lina Kirk is convinced her brother is going to be taken this year. To save him, she enlists the help of Thomas Lin, the boy she secretly loves, and the only person to ever escape from the palace. But they draw the queen's attention, and Thomas is chosen as the sacrifice. 

Queen Eva watched her sister die to save the boy she loved. Now as queen, she won't make the same mistake. She's willing to sacrifice anyone if it means saving herself and her city. 

When Lina offers herself to the queen in exchange for Thomas's freedom, the two girls await the full moon together. But Lina is not at all what Eva expected, and the queen is nothing like Lina envisioned. Against their will, they find themselves falling for each other. As water floods Caldella's streets and the dark tide demands its sacrifice, they must choose who to save: themselves, each other, or the island city relying on them both."

I love the cover for The Dark Tide! This premise sounds like it could be a bit cliche'd in general, but it sounds like it has enough sort of twists to make it something more unique and I'm excited to see what it's all about.

and...

Driftwood by Marie Brennan

Publication: August 14th, 2020

Tachyon Publications

Paperback. 240 pages.

Pre-order: Amazon | Book Depository | IndieBound

From Goodreads:

"Who is Last? 

Fame is rare in Driftwood- it’s hard to get famous if you don’t stick around long enough for people to know you. But many know the guide, Last, a one-blooded survivor who has seen his world end many lifetimes ago. For Driftwood is a strange place of slow apocalypses, where continents eventually crumble into mere neighborhoods, pulled inexorably towards the center in the Crush. Cultures clash, countries fall, and everything eventually disintegrates. 

Within the Shreds, a rumor goes around that Last has died. Drifters come together to commemorate him. But who really was Last? 

About Driftwood 
Driftwood is the invention of bestselling author Marie Brennan. Mirroring the world that many people are currently living in, the Driftwood stories chronicle the struggles of survivors and outcasts to keep their worlds alive until everything changes, diminishes, and is destroyed. Driftwood is the first full-length novel in this world."

I honestly don't even know what to expect from this, but reviews are strong and I think the premise sounds really compelling!

What do you think about these upcoming releases? What are your anticipated upcoming releases?

Review: Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Del Rey

Publication Date: June 30th, 2020

Hardcover. 352 pages

About Mexican Gothic:

"After receiving a frantic letter from her newly-wed cousin begging for someone to save her from a mysterious doom, Noemí Taboada heads to High Place, a distant house in the Mexican countryside. She’s not sure what she will find—her cousin’s husband, a handsome Englishman, is a stranger, and Noemí knows little about the region. 

Noemí is also an unlikely rescuer: She’s a glamorous debutante, and her chic gowns and perfect red lipstick are more suited for cocktail parties than amateur sleuthing. But she’s also tough and smart, with an indomitable will, and she is not afraid: Not of her cousin’s new husband, who is both menacing and alluring; not of his father, the ancient patriarch who seems to be fascinated by Noemí; and not even of the house itself, which begins to invade Noemi’s dreams with visions of blood and doom. 

Her only ally in this inhospitable abode is the family’s youngest son. Shy and gentle, he seems to want to help Noemí, but might also be hiding dark knowledge of his family’s past. For there are many secrets behind the walls of High Place. The family’s once colossal wealth and faded mining empire kept them from prying eyes, but as Noemí digs deeper she unearths stories of violence and madness. 

And Noemí, mesmerized by the terrifying yet seductive world of High Place, may soon find it impossible to ever leave this enigmatic house behind."

Mexican Gothic was one of those books where I didn't really know what to expect from it, but it still somehow managed to take me by surprise by how completely weird, creepy, and unpredictable it was--and I mean all of that in the best way possible! I read Moreno-Garcia's Gods of Jade and Shadow and was really impressed by her beautiful prose and sort of dark fairy tale/folklore style of storytelling that is present in Mexican Gothic as well.

Noemi is not the typical character that you might expect in this book. She cares for her cousin, but at the same time she also cares about her own life and doesn't exactly want to be spending her time in the dank, dark, and secluded High Place where her cousin and her husband, as well as some of her cousin's husband's family members, currently live. Noemi is an outgoing woman who is always the life of the party and has a confidence about her that I can only dream to one day have. She initially visits to appease her father and then return home, but she soon realizes that there is more going on at High Place that she could have imagined and opts to stay to try to find out what is going on and to make sure that her cousin is safe. Noemi's intelligence is apparent from the very start of the book, but I really liked how over the course of the novel we really got to see her character progress and her intellectual side combine with her common sense side and sense of self-preservation to begin to get to the bottom of the strangeness of the High Place.

I think my favorite element of Mexican Gothic is Moreno-Garcia skill in creating an environment that is simultaneously horrid, creepy, and inhospitable, as well as being relentlessly compelling and one that I couldn't seem to get enough of. In most books with some creepy location as the main setting, there's usually some curious desire in the reader to see this place for yourself, but I have to say that I'm not sure I'd actually want to ever visit this place! I love how much Moreno-Garcia was able to bring this setting to life in a way that felt so real and tangible and that was able to create such genuine and strong feelings towards it from me. There are also some incredibly creepy and awful characters living at the High Place (some members of her cousin's husband's family), but I won't discuss them too much because you really need to experience them firsthand on your own. They all added so much to the general atmosphere and general unease about the book and I think Moreno-Garcia incorporated all of the characters and their personalities perfectly.

Mexican Gothic is a book that I would place within the realm of the horror genre as well as fantasy, as it is full of some truly chilling and grotesque scenes and images that stayed with me for a while after reading it--and that still come to mind when I think about reading this book. Once you figure out what's really going on and what constitutes everything going on, you'll probably find yourself having some major moments of shock and confusion--and definitely some feelings of being utterly disturbed--but it fits perfectly with the story and adds such an incredible extra layer of depth to the book that it's impossible to put down or forget.

I loved the creativity, uniqueness, and general madness that made up Mexican Gothic, and if weird and creepy is your thing, I think you might like it, too! I expected it to be a little dark, but not quite as dark as it ended up being and it was an incredibly wild ride that I enjoyed every second of. Overall, I've given Mexican Gothic five stars!

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