Category Archives: Fiction

Review: Mercedes Lackey – Crossroads and Other Tales of Valdemar

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Crossroads and Other Tales of Valdemar
Mercedes Lackey
Another collection of short stories edited by Mercedes Lackey. They encompass a wide range of topics, some tastefully sexy, some very sad. Overall a remarkably good collection that adds to the Valdemar world.
“Transmutation” by Larry Dixon is extremely well written and seamlessly fits in with the rest of the novels by Lackey (fitting since he’s her husband!). I’ve never liked the way griffins spoke; I find it hard to read. It’s a long story, and Dixon makes the most of it to tell his tale. Very good.
“The Feast of the Children” by Nancy Aspire goes along with the idea of the burnings of children in Karse. The God is able to act in small ways, particularly through his cats!
“Death in Keenspur House” by Richard Lee Byers is strange, I didn’t like it and I think it’s by the same author that I didn’t like in one of the other anthologies. The murder mystery type thing. It doesn’t fit in with the rest of the stories for me.
“Dawn of Sorrows” by Brenda Cooper is touchingly sad. The story takes place after the Storm Warning trilogy, and depicts what the back story is for those that are left behind after a Choosing.
“Horse of Air” by Rosemary Edghill is also rather sad. I didn’t get into the story (perhaps it was the use of first person), but I don’t think I was meant to either. It was a bit of a story within a story actually.
“A Change of Heart” by Sarah A. Hoyt and Kate Paulk concerns Ree and Jem. I’ve never really liked the style, although the idea of it is interesting. It does fit in with the Valdemar world convincingly enough, although I naturally would have liked to see more Heralds.
“All the Ages of Man” by Tanya Huff has the return of Herald Jors! Yay, Jors! This time he is required to act as a mentor, but it’s not working out for him because he feels that he isn’t old enough. The writing is engaging, and I’m always happy to hear more. I’m glad Huff stuck to expanding the same character throughout her short stories for these collections.
“War Cry” by Michael Longcor is touching. I guess a purpose of these stories is to dispel the myth that everyone who has Gifts will be chosen. Others have a different  role to play. This story fits in neatly with Exile’s Valor.
“Strength and Honor” by Ben Ohlander is the return of Tregaren and a part of Vkandis’ army in Karse from the first set of short stories. The perspective has changed slightly, but it’s just as good as the first one. Another bit of background on Solaris.
“The Blue Coat” by Fiona Patton is surprisingly good, I enjoyed the storyline, if not entirely the execution.
“Safe and Sound” by Stephanie D. Shaver is a story for twins. A young Bard is chasing a song, and is willing to do anything to get it. Written just as I would imagine Lackey would – very enjoyable.
“Song For Two Voices” by Janni Lee Simner is about a lifebonding in the Holderkin. It isn’t a surprise for me that this is the way the Holderkin live, and although I didn’t like the splitting of the two parts, I could understand why it was written that way.
“Finding Elvida” by Mickey Zucker Reichert is in the same style as The Legend of Nightfall, which means that I loved it! It’s a little hard to believe that a Herald has been sent out on circuit without proper training for all of her Gifts, but if this was occurring during the mage wars, it’s understandable.
“Darkwall’s Lady” by Judith Tarr is creeply sneaky. Well written, not technically about Heralds, although one plays a role. Interesting that that type of magic was able to survive in Valdemar after the advent of vrondi by Vanyel.
“Naught but Duty” by Michael Z. Williamson is a tricky one! Well written, and intentionally confusing at times. I keep thinking of Good Duke Arden from the Bardic Voices universe, but this is an entirely different kettle of fish.
“Landscape of the Imagination” by Mercedes Lackey fits in with the By The Sword collection of short stories about Tarma and Kethry. Just as good as I would have hoped.
My gripe for these stories is probably that for some of them it is hard to know where to place them in the Valdemar chronology. The thing that I like is that lots of them are about Karse, and the Sun Priests, which is something I have always wanted to know more about.
This is a good collection, I’d recommend it for both teens an adults. Anyone who enjoys the Valdemar world will appreciate having this set of short stories to read when there isn’t time for a longer novel.

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Review: Maria V. Snyder – Magic Study

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Magic Study
Maria V. Snyder
Yelena has been exiled, and now heads home with her new mentor. But the brother she never knew she had seems to be against her, and there are too many threads to sort out what is really happening.
3244135Yelena’s relationship with Cahil moves much too quickly compared to what I expected. Also, the way it develops seems very warped. You’ll understand if you read this book.
Yelena makes friends easily now, yet reacts violently to rape, and it just doesn’t seem quite right. The focus on rape of young girls is uncomfortable. I feel like it doesn’t really serve a purpose, and it and the bloodletting add unnecessary drama. People can be kidnapped and killed without needing all that.
I’d like to see a little more development of Yelena as an adult. Yelena’s friend-making abilities have moved far too fast, and her need for contact with Valek seemed a little odd. They were forever having sex! It made me wonder when she’d end up pregnant.
Sometimes there seems to be too many plot points going on at once, and at the same time they seem so superficial that you don’t want to follow them.You know the minute Yelena befriends someone she is going to be using them later. This is particularly true of the beggars.

I don’t think that this book is really reflective of its title. Although Yelena does study a little more magic, it’s not really like she seems to learn anything – she just does things the way she always has and has discovered that she is different. Yelena might be a SoulFinder, but noone is willing to tell her what that is. There are a couple of inconsistencies there too, as she is mocked by the SoulStealer. Souls can’t be returned without creating husks.

I was enveloped in the story, and I couldn’t put it down. Yes, it was that good that I finished it in an entire morning while trying to study for an exam the next day, but some aspect were stilted. It took me a number of pages to become involved with the story, but once I was, I was hooked.
The ending was a little predictable. Sorry, but true. I knew what Yelena would do before she did, even though there was a total lack for me with getting inside Yelena’s head.
Suitable for older teens and adults. Rape, bloodshed, unmannerly torture and murder. I couldn’t say I loved the way this book was written, but the plot is certainly compelling and left me with my heart in my mouth.

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Review: Patricia McCormick – Cut

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Cut
Patricia McCormick
Callie doesn’t talk about what she does. In fact, Callie doesn’t talk at all. At Sea Pines she is expected to reveal all about what she does. What she does should be obvious to you! The book title says it all.

So this is yet another angsty teen novel I have read lately. And sadly, I found it lacking in a couple of ways. The storyline was very predictable, thin and unsatisfying. There wasn’t enough fleshing out even of the environment. I couldn’t imagine anything except the laundry and the bathroom, and even then there wasn’t enough detail to satisfy me.

In a way, I found it pathetic. Each of the characters, although they tried to support each other, I just found it a bit lacking. Especially Amanda. Her character is so much in opposition to everything that is trying to be achieved by Callie and the other girls. I wanted to know more behind each of them! Just giving them problems and names wasn’t enough.Yes, this book did touch me. I felt some shivers. It did disturb me a little. For a book written by someone who has never cut, it’s not bad. I guess I’m comparing this book to Scars (Cheryl Rainfield) and The Burn Journals (Brent Runyon). Those books are built on true stories, and the sincerity really shines through to make a well-rounded and developed character.

Some things I find absurd, such as the therapist visits. I find it hard to believe that the therapist could lie so blatantly to Callie about Becca. Also, the whole thing about her scars fading – that’s something that Callie could have worked out for herself – no they won’t fade completely, but there is makeup! I guess for a 13 year old girl willing to believe anything she is told, it’s ok.

This book is very female biased. There are no men, except Callie’s brother, Sam, who is very sick and so understandably sympathetically portrayed. In contrast is Callie’s father, who she doesn’t talk about. It seems like there is a deeper issue there – I was hanging out for it to be rape, or something serious – but it was simply something else. Callie did a great job with the situation she found herself. I can’t give too much away, or I’ll ruin the little suspense the book had.

There is something about the show Rescue 911. I’ve never watched it. But apparently everybody loves it! And of course it has relevance to Callie’s situation. It’s not a subtle reference, and I guess that ruined it for me. This book is going to be dated within a couple of years for sure, and it doesn’t even make any attempt to be universal (not that it necessarily should, just an observation).

I was particularly dissatisfied with the ending. Arg! Would it have killed McCormick to give Callie a decent ending? Sorry, but I know how cutting works, and a on eoff idea that you’re going to stop isn’t necessarily going to carry on. And I didn’t have much faith in talk therapy like that (with no cognitive behvioural therapy) fixing a problem. No wonder some of the girls were still sick.
The bonus of this book was that it was short and cheap! So I don’t feel like I wasted too much on it. I’ve ripped it apart, but surely there are other people that like it. The cover is surprisingly attractive to my mind.

I’d recommend this book for teens. It’s not a great insight into how Callie’s mind works (and certainly not how all cutters’ minds work), and I think maybe it could be negative for some other people who have never thought of the idea of cutting before. The idea of a residential facility fixing all mental problems is absurd, and out of reach of most people anyway – they’ll never be able to relate.

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Review Update: 22nd December 2021 – Wow. I didn’t remember that I only gave this two stars. A reread mostly cemented this for me though, it doesn’t deserve a place on my shelf. I still hold true to a residential mental facility being unnecessary and not helpful. Also, that cutting is not necessarily a problem in itself, it is more the trauma that needs to be dealt with responsibly by a trained psychologist to do any good.

Review: Tamora Pierce & Josepha Sherman – Young Warriors

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Young Warriors
Tamora Pierce and Josepha Sherman
This is a book of short stories edited by Tamora Pierce and Josepha Sherman. It has a nice variety of authors. My usual policy of short stories is that I don’t like them, except for finding new authors whose longer works I might enjoy.
13832‘The Gift of Rain Mountain’ has a traditional tempter and  a traditional ending in my opinion. Although the young warrior thinks he wanted what is best for his community, his efforts leave him lacking. It’s hard to say more about it without giving the story away, but the story itself feels very familiar. Nothing too exciting here in terms of narration or characterisation, although it’s not badly written.
‘The Magestone’ lacks a little in my opinion. I didn’t feel attracted to either character (the boy or the mermaid), and the plot with the mermaid unable to go on land – well it just made me think of Ariel! There was no real threat, it felt like the rival tribe members were too easily dealt with.
‘Eli and the Dybbuk’ is a slightly strange tale. With both elements of fantasy (the dybbuk spirit) and real life (Eli is Jewish) it is a good mix. It has lovely suspense, and a tight storyline. It feels more complete than the first two stories, with a proper lifetime tale. Eli is a well-fleshed out character, and the inclusion of a riddle does it for me!
‘Heartless’ is another well written story. At first it isn’t obvious what is going on with Ada, and then suddenly the reader has a lightbulb moment! What isn’t clear to me is why the bone was enchanted in the first place. It doesn’t seem like the right thing to do at all. Ah well. I can see potential for this concept being extended further. I’m not sure that it really fits in with the theme of young warriors, as the protagonist isn’t a young warrior, she is only dealing with one. The language and rhythm of this one is a little disjointed, but I think it reflects the character of Ada well.
‘Lioness’ is misleading. Those that are familiar with Pierce’s other works will probably be hoping for a short tale about the Lioness. But this short story is by another author, and is very different. Similarly to ‘The Gift of Rain Mountain’, the author draws on history for making her story. It’s enjoyable with the strong female protagonist.
‘Thunderbolt’ is a creative take on Helen of Troy’s capture. Raised Spartan, Helen’s as warlike as the men, and not willing to back down when she is stolen. It’s good to see her standing up for herself for once! A well-executed rewrite of an old legend packed with action.

‘Devil Wind’ has to be one of my favourites. It has just a hint of magic and the wild, and at the same time rings of truth. The author has included true parts of rich Indian history, and it really appeals to me. The ending is a surprise, but it is fitting. There are things that the author could have done more with, but for a short story it is good. It reminds me a little of a Mercedes Lackey novel I read (I think The Wizard of London)

‘The Boy Who Cried ‘Dragon” is a let down. It belongs in a collection of stories for very young readers – just because the dragon and the knight have teenage problems, it doesn’t make the story any more engaging. I wasn’t convinced that this was where the story of ‘The Boy Who Cried ‘Wolf” came from either. The style isn’t bad, but the content! Hopeless.

‘Student of Ostriches’ is good. I have to say, I generally didn’t look at the author of each story so that I could give an unbiased opinion of the story on its own merits. I liked this one from the start, and then realised it was the Tamora Pierce offering of the collection! So no wonder I enjoyed it. It’s nice to have some more information about Shang training, although I would have liked more details of how each kick/punch exactly translated from an animal source.

‘Serpent’s Rock’ is initially hard to get into. It reminds me of an Aboriginal story song, and so I’m not very fond of it. I would have liked more details – but of course a short story is very limited. The ending wasn’t as satisfying as I desired either, he still could die and the tale be left untold.

‘Hidden Warriors’ has an interesting concept but I feel that it is poorly executed. I didn’t like the style of this author at all, finding it somewhat confusing. I’m a sucker for a woman dressed as a man, but in this case it couldn’t work for me.

“Emerging Legacy’ is fast paced with a well fleshed out female protagonist. The novel concept of hunting packs in the trees and mountains was an exciting one, as was the unexpected slavers. I didn’t really understand where her clumsiness had come from though. As a young warrior however, she fits the bill. I think I would be willing to seek out more of this author’s work in fact!

‘An Axe for Men’ is an enjoyable read. The style is initially a little stilted, but you start to feel with the characters and it’s good. I found the storyline predictable, but it’s bound to happen with me reading so many books. Take a chance and try it!

‘Acts of Faith’ mixes the Sight with Jewish and Christian faiths. Although I didn’t know that the Sight involves magic too, apparently it does! An interesting take on Ireland’s history for being neutral during the Nazi driven war.

‘Swords That Talk’ reminds me a little of Need in one of Mercedes Lackey’s novels (The Oathbound perhaps?). Except that this story isn’t really about the sword at all. The concept was again a familiar one, nothing too exciting here, but it was relatively well executed.

I bought this book from a specials table for $5 at my partner’s old work! The advantages of having someone who works at a bookshop. I can understand why it was discounted though, as I don’t think this is really a stand out collection of stories, although a couple are good. Worth collecting if there is a particular author that you love and want more of though.

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Review: Tamora Pierce – Tortall and Other Lands

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Tortall and Other Lands
Tamora Pierce

This is a collection of short stories all written by Tamora Pierce. Six are easily identifiable as belonging to the Tortall universe. Three appear to be short stories of a different universe, but possibly could also be from Tortall. The last two don’t fit in with the explicit fantasy theme at all, although one has a touch of magic.

‘Student of Ostriches ‘ is the first short story in this book, which I recently read and reviewed from the book Young Warriors, edited by Tamora Pierce.

‘Elder Brother’ is the other side of the story for the tree who has become a man, after Numair changes an evil mage into an apple tree (see the Wild Magic Quartet – to be reviewed soon). Qiom has no idea what to do as a human, and Fadal decides to help him adjust to his new life. It is hard for both of them because Fadal has secrets too. I really enjoyed this story, both as a supporting story for the other quartet, and for exploring Fadal’s character. The land they are in sounds somewhat like a Muslim country to me, because all women must be veiled tightly, and only protected by their menfolk.
‘The Hidden Girl’ overlaps with ‘Elder Brother’. The protagonist encounters Qiom, and happens to be teaching in the same town in which Fadal is almost burnt. Teky is hidden behind her veils, and through that she tries to teach the real voice of the Oracle, that says veiled women should not be powerless. The last line of this story really gave me a giggle! Very enjoyable.
‘Nawat’ is told from the perspective of Nawat, Aly’s crow friend. Before reading this story, it is important to have read the Trickster’s Choice and Trickster’s Queen book so that you understand about crows (and don’t spoil their relationship for yourself!). It’s a longer short story, well written and hearttouching. I did have problems with the way the birthing was presented and also that the 6 month old was able to say understandable words. Otherwise, yay, another Aly story!
‘The Dragon’s Tale’ features Kitten, the dragon daughter of Daine! Yay! Kitten is unable to talk, but she still gets her message across well. Kitten is on tour, and is totally bored. Instead she finds someone in need with rare two toned magic just like Numair.
‘Lost’ has a darking in it. I’m fond of darkings, and they are so clever. It’s a story many people may be able to identify with, being beaten for things that they cannot be blamed for. The ability of Adria for her mathematics is wonderful! I love hearing about someone who is excellent at what they do, but yet is not aware of it.
‘Time of Proving’ involves a being of some kind that I couldn’t identify. It shows the importance of helping a friend, even when that friend is rather unworldly.
‘Plain Magic’ also has a dragon! My favourite. It appears that Pierce enjoys writing about Dragons as much as I enjoy reading about them. Once again, someone who shows great skill is held back by others who are frightened of her abilities.
‘Mimic’ has a different type of creature. When compared to Kitten, it doesn’t seem to be the same. Saying too much more is would ruin it for you. I did enjoy the growing up theme, and also the benefits that are reaped by the protagonist for caring for something that appears to be dying.
‘Huntress’ and ‘Testing’ do not belong with the rest of the short stories. ‘Huntress’ seems quite jarring after the enjoyable short stories from before – a little too serious to belong with the rest, and with an entirely different type of magic. Personally I found ‘Testing’ to be a good general teen novel. I sympathised with the protagonist, but I didn’t really understand why Pierce had given her panic attacks – it didn’t really contribute to
An enjoyable read. The majority of these stories are valuable additions to the Tortall universe. Recommended for teenagers. Some I would say were ok for children, but others (particularly ‘Huntress’) are unsuitable.

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Review: Mercedes Lackey – Sun in Glory and Other Tales of Valdemar

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 Sun in Glory and Other Tales of Valdemar
Mercedes Lackey
Another collection of short stories set in Mercedes Lackey’s Valdemar universe. There are 12 new stories, as well as a novella by Lackey. Another good collection of tales, the majority were enjoyable to read.
‘Errold’s Journey’ by Catherine S. McMullen wasn’t a great short story to start this lot off. The dialogue and style seemed awkward and I wasn’t engaged at all. Too passive, too much stating and not enough showing. The ending has a slight twist, but I didn’t feel what Errold had achieved was worth his reward. Relevant to the Darian’s tale Valdemar trilogy.
‘The Cat who Came to Dinner’ by Nancy Asire was excellent. I really enjoy reading about Valdemar. Reulan was a great priest and I could understand why the glorious ending was the way it was. I did want to see the aftermath though! Those who have read the Storm Warning triology will be familiar with a similar cat.
‘Winter Death’ by Michelle West is a little depressing really. The dream sequences I found confusing, and the reader is left in the dark for a long period. However it is touchingly painful and worth reading. The reader is held in anticipation. This story is slightly longer than some of the others and the ending to me was a little bit of a let down.
‘A Herald’s Rescue’ by Mickey Zucker Reichert is a tricky one! You think you know what is going to happen (particularly if you read  ‘The Demon’s Den’  in Sword of Ice), but indeed you don’t really know! I really liked it, and I didn’t even remember it from the first time I had read it – a real surprise.
‘In the Eye of the Beholder’ by Josepha Sherman is short and decidedly not sweet. It’s adrenaline pumping as you feel along with the protagonist. You have to wonder what happens to the beast at the end though – I see the potential for more mischief. The romance seemed a little out of place…
‘Trance Tower Garrison’ by Fiona Patton is another twisty tale. Initially the style of language didn’t do anything for me but ruin my ability to get into the story. Ah, but it was worth continuing reading! It has a certain kind of symmetry – although it’s no always apparent why things happen, they do happen for a reason  – particularly Companions choosing a Herald.
‘Starhaven’ by Stephanie Shaver is a pure Herald story that is right with the vein of Lackey’s own woks in my opinion. A pleasure to read, well-written and with just a hint of humour. The kind of Herald I like.
‘Rebirth’ by Judith Tarr is very very strange. I’m not sure it fits with the chronology of Lackey’s universe. I’m really not in favour of creating an afterworld for Herald and Companions when they die, as I feel that Lackey has already done that (particularly in Vanyel’s own trilogy – The Last Herald Mage). It’s not bad, but it’s not the best I have read either.
‘Brock’ by Tanya Hill depicts a Herald who is not a Herald. As in the first short story collection, this has Jors and his companion in it. I think they behave consistently across both, which is great! Brock is a MoonChild, which I think is somewhat similar to having Down’s Syndrome. Touching.
‘True Colors’ by Michael Longcor shows how many people are needed to make up Valdemar. I liked Rin, and I half expected him to be chosen on the spot!
‘Touches the Earth’ by Brenda Cooper was a little odd, in that I didn’t know Healers could do killing for a job at all. Anyway, Anya was someone to relate to, although the humour of this short story seemed strained.
‘Icebreaker’ by Rosemary Edghill is another that shows that people may have satisfaction in their lives even if they aren’t a Herald. It is the job of Heralds to look after their people through anything.
‘Sun in Glory’ by Mercedes Lackey is an excellent new novella. Excellent excellent excellent. It takes place between the Arrows of the Queen trilogy and the Storm Warning trilogy. Just what I would expect. It is even linked in with ‘The Cat who Came to Dinner’.
All in all, these stories are good in their own right as a whole, but most of them are not what I feel is true to the Valdemar world as created originally by Lackey. The majority are well written and enjoyable, and I particularly liked those with humour (‘Starhaven’ for example).

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Review: Maria V. Snyder – Poison Study

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Poison Study
Maria V. Snyder
It is against the Code of Behaviour to kill, but that is exactly what Yelena has done. Stored in a dungeon for jut under a year, Yelena is willing to die to forget what she has been through already. When offered a second chance as a  poison tester for the Commander, she’s willing to make the most of what comes her way.

Yelena is a great strong female protagonist. She seems to bounce back from a bunch of problems. One of the reasons I liked her so much was because she wouldn’t give up. She’s very smart, and maybe a little bit too athletic to be believable, but then, usually the protagonist of most books is like that.

I found the romance of this book a little unconvincing. I was sure that the age gap between them was quite large, and also that it seemed to be a semi-dependant relationship. It also seemed to sneak up on Yelena without her noticing – something odd for a character who seemed to know herself well.
Plenty of foreshadowing going on in this book. Some of the smallest details end up being important. I love the way Yelena’s back story is gradually revealed, as it adds nice emphasis to her circumstances. I was unsatisfied with the Rand subplot. I wanted something better for his end. Yelena also seemed to about turn on him so abruptly. I could understand where Rand was coming from, but it seemed like there were more ways out of his situation. It was certainly a great way of showing the harsh side of the Commander and Valek though
Oh, those damn beans. I was so sure they were cocoa beans, but then they ended up being something different. Someone else give me an opinion here – did you think they were cocoa beans? Coffee beans? Something else? It was obvious that those were the cause though.
Sorry about the cover photo being so blurry. I had horrible lighting conditions, and it just wasn’t working for me. I’ll take this photo again if I’ve got time. UPDATE: I took a new photo! On a similar note – do you enjoy seeing my actual copies of books? Or would you prefer a plain old version from Amazon?
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and would recommend it without hesitation. I’ve got the next two books of this trilogy sitting on my shelf, but I can’t have them yet! I’d say this book was ideal for teenagers, and perhaps some adults – but don’t go looking for too much depth. Pick the books up, and you’ll be hooked for sure.

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Review: Mercedes Lackey – Sword of Ice and Other Tales of Valdemar

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Sword of Ice and Other Tales of Valdemar
Mercedes Lackey
The first ever collection of Valdemar tales by other authors set in the world of Mercedes Lackey. As it so charmingly states on the front cover, there are 18 tales! Some are written in concert with Mercedes Lackey, and the opening and closing stories are both by the same collaborators.

The cover is somewhat unexciting, and I didn’t think that the Companion’s eyes were really blue enough to be convincing. The stories inside were a bit of a mixed bag, but then, who ever likes absolutely everything?

‘Sunlancer’ by Philip M. Austin and Mercedes Lackey reinforces the power of the word, particularly in Karse. It’s a sentiment I agree with, and this short story is remarkably well written and compelling. You do seem to know what will happen, but the ending is still a little of a surprise.

‘The Demon’s Den’ by Tanya Huff is a tale of hope and overcoming adversity without being too pretentious about it. It shows how ordinary citizens (not really written about in Lackey’s own books of Valdermar) are often sad when they are not chosen as Heralds, even if they are self-sacrificing. Jors seemed a little one dimensional, but there was potential for more. I liked Ari, although it was not obvious to me that she was blind.
‘Iron Rose’ by Larry Dixon and Mel White shows what the hertasi get up to when the hawkbrothers aren’t watching! A touching story, perhaps lackign a little in depth, but satisfying all the same. It is obvious that the hertasi are good at this!
‘Babysitter’ by Josepha Sherman shows a touch of healthy cynicism! Yay for not totally being given over to babysitting immediately. There were some problems though: griffins aren’t exactly easy to care for and I expected even a youngster to be a little more grumpy (and less puffbally). Ending of this one is a little abrupt, and I felt like this story could have been set in almost any world with griffins, not just that of Valdemar.
‘The Salamander’ by Richard Lee Byers is ok. I don’t like Selden, and I’m not fond of the way this story is written (too much personal opinion and stilted observations). I guess it could be a good one for those of you who like mysteries. Reminds me a bit of Romeo and Juliet actually.
‘A Child’s Adventures’ by Janni Lee Simner shows what happens when an older Herald is chosen. Inya can’t believe she is chosen, and she must discover for herself why it might be important for her to become a herald.
‘Blood Ties’ by Stephanie D. Shaver is painful to read, and potentially triggering. The things some people do to their families. Well written.
‘… Another Successful Experiment’ by Lawrence Schimel reminds me of polo! Various games have already been played in Valdemar via the books that Lackey herself has written, so this is nothing new. Exile’s Honor/Valor as well as the new Collegium Chronicles both have this type of game. Nothing groundbreaking.
‘Choice’ by Michelle West creates Kelsey, a spunky character who has always wanted to be chosen but has gone her life without it. She manages not to become sour, and when the oppertunity to look after a Herald comes up, she jumps at it! In doing so, she encounters many more things than she thought she would. A very good story that explains why some people are chosen or not. A thing I did notice was a typo of ‘their’ instead of ‘there’.
‘Song of Valdemar’ by Kristin Schwengel shows what happens when someone is gifted with the wrong thing. It really does seem very sad, and the fact that it touched me indicates it it well written.
‘The School Up the Hill’ by Elisabeth Waters was also good. Sometimes it seems like the number of coincidences is too great, but it is magic! It’s a little confusing at first, and the reader has no idea what is going on, but it’s good because of that.
‘Chance’ by Mark Shepherd deals with one of Vanyel’s lovers. Vanyel will always hold a special place in my heart. The dialogue is a little stilted, but this perhaps reflects well what the two men feel. I wasn’t sold on the concept of a gay brotherhood, nor that being gay gives you an erection at bad moments! This short story is contiguous with Vanyel’s novels, which is awesome though.
‘Sword of Ice’ by Mercedes Lackey and John Yezegulalian is the title short story of this collection. I think that the title doesn’t really go well with it. You get to know the background of Savil, Vanyel’s mentor. A little confusing for this to come after ‘Chance’.
‘In the Forest of Sorrows’ by John Helfers is also about Vanyel, after he has become a forest spirit. I’m not sure this short story really portrays him as I imagined – he was never so overconfident and I didn’t know he could ‘Fetch’.
‘Vkandis’ Own’ by Ben Ohlander is filled with the heat of battle, and what the aftermath means in Karse. We see the beginning of Solaris’ takeover of the Priesthood, but really it’s hard to know what will happen.
‘A Herald’s Honor’ by Mickey Zucker Reichert fills in a bit of the border folk for me – I’vealways been fascinated by the Holderkin, and wished that Lackey had done more. The reader needs to do a little thinking, and use their logic – it might even help you evaluate your own values.
‘A Song for Noone’s Mourning’ by Gary Braunbeck doesn’t fit for me. The half world that is depicted is unlikely, as is the behaviour of the Herald involved. It’s a nice idea, and relatively well written, but it doesn’t fit for me.
‘Blue Heart’ by Philip M. Austin and Mercedes Lackey has the format of a story within a story, something I often enjoy. It’s good, although I did want more about the hidden Herald, rather than the butterfly. It wasn’t exactly the thrilling conclusion I wanted for the short story collection, too soft and questionable – but perhaps that’s the way it was meant to be.
I struggled to work out why these short stories were ordered as they were
. Had I been in charge of it, I would have either grouped them by area (Karse vs Valdemar) or by time, while also stating where in the continuity they came.
I’ve decided to tag/label authors that have written stories in anthologies only if I have some of their other works to read, or I intend to buy some of them soon! That way I will hopefully keep the number of labels I have down, but also help people to find what they want more easily. If I ever get ARCs, then I’ll likely change this policy – until then, it’s all good.
I’d recommend this book of short stories for anyone who enjoys the Valdemar universe and wants more. The majority of these stories are enjoyable and canon-like for this universe. The majority of tales are suitable for teens and adults alike.

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Review: Karen Tyrrell – Me & Her: A Memoir of Madness

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Me & Her: A Memoir of Madness
Karen Tyrrell
It is hard to imagine what it is like for a person with mental illness, particularly one as ‘bad’ as bipolar disorder (manic-depression). The ravings and journalling of Karen while manic provide such a valuable resource that Karen plumbs for information to write this novel. It’s those formed into a relatively cohesive whole that allow the reader into a manic mind.

This has to be one of the first books I have ever read that is a memoir. I was attracted to it because I have a fascination with mental illness, although not nearly to the extent that Karen does when she is ill. I think it’s fantastic that Karen is going out of her way to speak out about her illness, because it is so often stigmatised unfairly.

This is a compelling read to an extent. The reader will experience with Karen her ups and further ups! It is amazing how Karen has managed to write so much about a time which she herself does not really remember. The sentence and paragraph introductions into each chapter provided excellent guidance for the reader, and are a sort of springboard. They gave you some idea of what was coming, and to prepare yourself for another psychotic episode.
Some parts of this novel were relatively repeditive, and it frustrated me that the reader was not trusted more to remember who the different characters were. Karen’s long suffering husband Steve has an autoimmune disease, which we are reminded of multiple times. We’re also constantly reminded of the different people Karen has worked or studied with, and their importance, when really I remembered that detail from before.
I felt that some of the text was telling instead of showing. I would have loved for some of the memories of the harassment at Karen’s school to be included more as distinct flashbacks, rather than rather dry encounters reported to her psychologist.
It is confusing that the end of this novel is about actually writing the book. The memories which the reader has accepted as occurring and Karen remembering them for us, are actually fragments that she herself does not remember until her husband tells her. This distances the reader in my opinion.
Some parts of this novel smack of self publishing. There are a couple of unusual line breaks, and some errors in punctuation. It’s really very minor, and perhaps that is part of the memoir genre, which doesn’t usually attract me as a reader.
Something I would have liked cleared up were the ages of Karen’s children. Michelle is shown driving, but she still lives at home and seems partially dependant on Steve and, to an extent, Karen. I wanted more of the other characters to shine through, although again I need to keep in mind that this is a personal memoir about Karen only.
I struggled with the psychic connections that Karen focussed on excessively. It was not clear to me whether the ‘real’ Me Karen believed in these things as well, or whether they were products of her delusional mind. I find it hard to believe that wellness living and alternative therapies were the turning point – but then I haven’t had great success with those myself.
As usual, I have been far better at picking apart the novel than complimenting it on what it does well. I did feel a connection with Karen, and I sat on the edge of my plane seat in anticipation as she went on and off her medication. The language rushed me through just as as if I had mania myself, but I didn’t feel a comparable slowness when Karen was ‘down’.
Lithium and Seroquel are both drugs I am familiar with, although I believe Seroquel is usually the American term for this drug. This book isn’t particularly distinctly Australian, but then it isn’t particularly American either. It could be almost anywhere that has private and public hospitals and a school system! I wasn’t aware of the involuntary commitment regulations, but then I imagine that not many people are aware. It does provide a fascinating insight into what those conditions are actually like – craft days seemed so inappropriate!

This is the first ever book I have won, yet I can’t give it a completely glowing review. It is worth reading if you are obsessive about bipolar disorder, or have an attraction to memoirs. Also, a number of people on Amazon (I don’t normally post to Amazon, but it has been requested by the author) have given it 5 star (for me: buy and reread frequently) or 4 star (for me: reread) ratings, when this was only a 3 star book to me. Perhaps I’m not the target genre. I wouldn’t recommend it as precisely light reading, although the language is relatively simple.

I received this book as part of a Goodreads FirstReads giveaway. This has not influenced my opinion, because all opinions are my own. Other people wishing to send me ARCs or books for review consideration are welcome to email me. I have a very short turn around time of around a week for most of the year.

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3star

Review: J. K. Rowling – The Tales of Beedle the Bard

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The Tales of Beedle the Bard
J. K. Rowling
This is a sort of bonus book of short stories that I believe was written to sustain interest in the Harry Potter books as the later tomes were produced. As it happened, I didn’t read this book or the other stand alone (Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them) until now.
So few stories! Five is not nearly enough for someone who likes new fairytales. I think the first (The Wizard and the Hopping Pot) is very similar to the wizards in Enid Blyton’s stories for children and the second (The Fountain of Fair Fortune) is definitely based on something I am familiar with, although I can’t think of which at the moment. ‘Babbity Rabbity and Her Cackling Stump’ reminds me a bit of the Emperor’s New Clothes, where the king is so dumb he doesn’t realise what he is being sold for. Finally, ‘The Tale of the Three Brothers’ is very familiar, but again, I can’t remember where from!
These are a lovely collection of children’s tales. Nothing upsetting, even for Muggles. I think that the highlight of these tales is the insight we get into the character of Dumbledore. It’s so nice to have a little more of him after so much focus on Harry.
It’s hard to say much about these because they are so short. A worthy addition to any Harry Potter lover’s bookshelf. I appreciate that this was a charity book – good on Rowling for trying to share her million with those millions that don’t have anything.
I guess people obsessed with the Harry Potter series will love this no matter what age they are. Really they are most age suitable for children, but people of any age could enjoy them. They don’t pretend to be anything too complicated, although of course there are some moral stories. But nothing too complicated!

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