Review: Peter V. Brett – The Daylight War

Posted on March 21, 2013 by Rose Herbert

The Daylight War

Peter V. Brett

Arlen Bales is no Deliverer. Well, not according to him anyway, since everyone else seems to think so. Jardir on the other hand believes he is – but doesn’t seem to be making many steps in the right direction. Told from their women’s perspectives for the most part, this novel is an interesting and involved read that isn’t too daunting for the beginning fantasy reader.

I was glad of the prologue, and felt that it set up Inevera’s parts of the novel nicely. The storyweaving was strangely compelling, and really drew me into the novel. I also really enjoyed the initial parts told from Renna’s perspective, and the learning that Arlen imparted to her. I felt that there could have been more of this learning, and that it would have grounded new readers a little better in the world.

I haven’t read the first and second books in this series, and wonder whether I would have felt more compulsion in the plot if I had. As it was, it wasn’t clear for quite some time what the aim of Arlen and Jardir was, what they were fighting against. The first two books are on my to-read list now for sure, and I’ll be eagerly awaiting the next books in the series.

From the perspectives of the two women, Renna and Inevera, I couldn’t decide who I liked more. Renna felt more honest, but Inevera was really crafty and interesting in her own way. Throw in Leesha Paper, and the three women tear things apart! I wouldn’t have said the novel was about the men at all – it is the women who have power. Of the two main men though, I definitely preferred Arlen over Jardir. Jardir was just so… calculating and snooty. Arlen seems much more down to earth and likeable, even if he does sometimes have some weird moments.

I was particularly glad of the role of music in this novel. Rojer and his friends are able to craft demon stopping music, which I found fascinating. The uses of demon bone, and the Greatwards were unique to the world building as well. I did wonder why more people didn’t think to eat demon flesh though, if it would grant such great powers. Particularly to that huge dog!

There were so many minor plots to keep my interest which was great. The major plot of the Waning Moon and the coming major war against the demons was so slow that it was a good thing there were lots of other things to concentrate on.

Don’t be put off by the size of this novel. It’s really quite an accessible novel, and as I’ve said, the changing perspectives are crucial for keeping your interest in the novel going.

I received this novel as part of The Book Depository’s new affiliate reviewing program. I’m really chuffed I was chosen to participate, and I hope to see new books out soon for me to love and review.

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Review: Mary Ann Loesch – Bayou Myth

Posted on March 16, 2013 by Rose Herbert

Bayou Myth

Mary Ann Loesch

Joan’s a mixed blood voodoo witch. When I put it like that, it sounds very negative – but really Joan is on the side of good. There’s lots of nasty things out there though to get her, and she’s not got anyone who really can help her other than a dead great grandma. Sound good?

Before reading this novel I had had hardly any contact with any form of voodoo. I found it to be a good introduction with just the right amount of detail. Hoodoo I have come across, in the movie “The Skeleton Key”. If you like horror, and you’ve got a thing for magic, I’d recommend it. It’s totally a great film (coming from me who never watches movies, that must mean something).

Joan is a likeable enough character, although I didn’t get a feel for her until later in the novel. The first couple of chapters are far more about what she can do, and the big things that are changing in her world. This novel is plot driven somehow, rather than character driven.

I kept thinking about this novel, and how Joan was going to fix things (and also how many more people would die) while I was away from it, so I would have said I was suckered in by it. It was obvious who the bad people were, but the how and why of things was much more fascinating.

The ending was quite satisfactory, although I don’t feel the need for a sequel as if I would if it was an outstanding novel. I’ll give it three stars, because I still could put it down, and wasn’t completely hooked.

I received this book free in a giveaway. It took me far too long to get around to reading it though, and I’ve had this book on my ebook shelf since September last year. That kind of reading length really upsets me, but I’m glad I’ve gotten a chance to read and review it now.

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Review: Don De Lillo – Libra

Posted on March 5, 2013 by Rose Herbert

Libra

Don De Lillo

This novel is one that stopped me from wanting to read it from the very beginning. Nothing about it suckered me in. I know I should have been more excited about it, given that De Lillo is quite a celebrated American author, but I just wasn’t.

The intersecting plot lines are confusing, and often seem superflous. Just as De Lillo surely intended, I hardly cared about the plot to kill JFK, instead I wanted to know more of Oswald and what his hopes were. Oswald is such an enigma it is frustrating at times, but the insight that De Lillo makes into the character is interesting.

As I’ve alluded to, this novel is a fictionalised post-modernist account of the JF Kennedy assassination, the ‘seven seconds’ that broke the back of America, or some such thing. It’s quite interesting to me, because before reading this novel I knew very little about the assassination.

I needed to read this novel in time for an exam, and I hate to admit that I didn’t get all the way through it. I started reading it early, but I simply couldn’t stomach the stretches in language. The language is the thing that is supposed to hold this book together, and in a way it does, but it also makes it very difficult for the average reader to get into.

I don’t have this exact cover, but I have one very similar It doesn’t draw me into the book any more than the actual story line does sadly. I want to say I wanted to like this book, and I did, but I simply couldn’t. Sorry De Lillo, you’re going to have to try and get me to read you again in some other manner.

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Review: Jenny Nimmo – The Children of the Red King 1: Midnight for Charlie Bone

Posted on March 1, 2013 by Rose Herbert

The Children of the Red King 1: Midnight for Charlie Bone

Jenny Nimmo

Charlie can hear people talking to him. No, not the kind of voices inside his head that might mean he’s mad – he’s one of the Endowed children of the Red King. Charlie is able to hear the voices of what people were thinking and saying when photographs were taken. Life is not easy for Charlie though. His friend Benjamin thought they were going to attend the same school – but now Charlie must go to the Academy or be kicked out of home.

Nimmo has crafted a beautiful novel as a starter for this series. There are crafty foreshadowing motifs, and other parts that flow because of the imagery that Nimmo uses. I didn’t even mind the perspective alterations in order to show off the villains better!

Although I would say mainly this novel is plot driven (and also with a healthy dose of suspense thrown in), we also see some character development from Charlie and the others. The Flames have to be my favourites – and you just know there’s something extra strange about them from the beginning.

Billy Raven acts as a loveable, and question-inducing antagonist. It’s just what is appropriate for a children’s book, and I can imagine this book being put on syllabuses because of the questions it could potentially raise. If you’re raising a budding fantasy lover, I’d absolutely recommend this novel as one of the early ones to read.

There are now lots of different covers for this novel – but I have the one on the left, and all of the other books in the series as matching ones! I love them, and they’re all subtly shiny. Sadly, the new book doesn’t match, but at least it’s obvious about where it belongs. I haven’t actually read that one yet, but I will once I’ve reread all the ones in The Children of the Red King series (check the Reviews by Author page to see what I’m up to).

I read and loved this novel when I was considerably younger, and was re-attracted to it recently because there is a new book in the series (a prequel). This of course makes it nearly impossible for me to properly evaluate, but I have tried to some extent. Go and buy yourself a copy if you love simple, easy to read fantasy that still has hidden elements for you to puzzle over.

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Review: Rick Riordan – The Lightning Thief

Posted on February 27, 2013 by Rose Herbert

The Lightning Thief

Rick Riordan

Sorry guys, if you’ve come here look for a review, you won’t find one yet! This novel is on my to be read pile. This is a test post for my new bookish meme type thing: Networking Book Review Blogs. If you want to get involved, drop me a line at thecosydragon (at) gmail (dot) com

Interested in this novel, but not quite sure you want to read it yet? Click onto my networked buddies’ blogs for more reviews which will help you decide what to do!

Kristin @ 2nd Book to the Right

Chloe & Elicia @ Girl in the Woods Reviews

Emileee @ Fantastical Paper Realm

Megan @ Megz Madd Reads

Rose @ The Cosy Dragon

Review: Nathanael West – the Day of the Locust

Posted on February 27, 2013 by Rose Herbert

the Day of the Locust

Nathanael West

Tod loves Faye, a woman of questionable talents and questionable motives. In a romance gone wrong, Tod fights over her, but never seems to progress on anything – except perhaps his wonderful painting that describes everything that is wrong with American society.

This is another American literature novel for me. It starts out quite slowly, but interestingly, but does not build to the expected climax. Of the whole book, I would have said that the ending left me most underwhelmed – but that that was the point, because the themes of the book are unfulfilled sexual gratification and unfulfilled dreams.

This novels quite a gritty one, and I wouldn’t have said I really enjoyed it. It’s going to be a fun one to write about in the exam though, because there is just so much there to comment on. The narrator really made the story for me with his forknowledge and snarky remarks about the characters. I really didn’t feel any sympathy for the characters, even poor Homer.

Apparently this novel has multiple references to pop culture – or that pop culture references it. Homer is as of “The Simpsons” in humour, and additionally apparently there is a similar scene in Seinfeld. See, I had to even google that to spell it correctly!

Overwhelmingly this novel dreams of blood and violence. Tod often fantasises about raping Faye, and sometimes you even feel as if that would be justified, she’s so annoying and teasing. I actually really liked the Mexican with the chicken, and felt that in an odd way, of course it was he that got Faye in the end.

Not the finest example of American literature I’ve read so far, but not the worst. I wouldn’t personally recommend reading it, but if it was on your bookshelf and you felt like some violence and unfulfilment go for it!

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Review: Leslie Marmon Silko – Ceremony

Posted on February 25, 2013 by Rose Herbert

Ceremony

Leslie Marmon Silko

Tayo has survived his beginnings as an outcast of both white and Native American society, only to be sent off to fight a war that he can’t hope to survive intact. As his childhood, war memories and ceremonial present come to the fore, Tayo must make a journey to bring the rain back to the land.

This is one of the novels I was assigned for American Literature. It’s filled with figurative language (images & symbols) and a really heart rending story. The beginning is quite confusing and the time changes irritating, but eventually you get used to Silko’s style.

I found it to be a really rich spiritual journey, one that is so nicely articulated and accessible even for me, a white Australian! I felt quite moved after I had finished reading it, and immediately had to write down some of my impressions for my essay writing.

One of the main things I took away from this novel is that we must all be responsible for our own actions. That’s what Tayo must come to terms with (and does, with Harley’s death) in order to deal with Rocky’s death (which Tayo feels responsible for.

I only wish I felt the same sort of connection to the land and the family that Tayo does. I probably wouldn’t reread this novel, but it certainly gave me some things to think about once I had finished reading it. Even if you’re a bit nary of American Literature, if you need to choose something to read you should choose this one over Tender is the Night or Daisy Miller (both of which I also read for this unit).

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Review: Leisel K. Hill – Persistence of Vision

Posted on February 21, 2013 by Rose Herbert

Persistence of Vision

Leisel K. Hill

Some authors just have a spark in them that makes their worlds come alive in new and exciting ways. Leisel Hill is one of those authors. This is her first novel that I have read, and man, I can’t wait to get my hands on the other ones in this series.

When I wasn’t reading this novel, such as when I was at work, I couldn’t resist thinking about it and mulling over what would happen next. I could say I was captivated by it! However, the attraction wasn’t so strong that it overcame my willpower to work – which is actually a good point for me.

Maggie’s character is so nicely realised. Her actions speak so much louder than her words, yet her words are natural and fit well with the rest of the dialogue. The whole concept (which I don’t want to spoil for you) of losing time and memories is a fascinating one, particularly when there are others that know what has happened – and things are understandably awkward because of this.

I think there was just one section where things didn’t add up for me, and this was the Trackers sent out to find Nat. Now that I’ve perked your ears up for that, you can keep an eye out and see if you notice the same discrepancy. Other than that, the twisting story and what each character knows about each situation is kept strictly under wraps, which adds an element of surprise, as well as being the reason you keep reading.

I never knew I could enjoy a dystopian sci-fi so much! The concepts were really fascinating, and I really could see how the world we are currently inhabiting could go the way of this novel. It wasn’t unbelievable, and the science that was included fitted with what I know already.

This is a novel written by an author who knows what the formula for a good book is, yet has adapted it to produce a great book. I follow Leisel’s blog, and she often posts about how to write good novels, and she has used those techniques to great effect in her work.

The ending was just as good/bad as I hoped. Good, because it was satisfying, bad because this book is only just being released, and I want more right now!!! There were some nice additional twists that got me onto the edge of my seat, and everything was just awesome.

I requested this novel from the author, and was lucky enough to receive a beautiful paperback of it. This has in no way influenced my review, although I have promoted this novel on my blog as much as possible because it’s a great book.

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Review: Michael Santolini – The Rainbow Stick Boy

Posted on February 20, 2013 by Rose Herbert

The Rainbow Stick Boy

Michael Santolini

This is a cute little children’s book which extols the virtues of being different, and finding that someone special to share it with you. Rainbow Stick Boy is different from all the other people in his village because he’s multiple colours, not only one. But there’s something else special about him anyway.

This is a cute little picture book, but not a particularly unique one. There are plenty of others in this genre for kids (‘The Rainbow Fish’) that are better. I didn’t get any requests for a reread – I’d say let your local library buy a copy, and borrow it for your children to read.

I liked the straws he used! That was the highlight of the book for me, and gave me something to laugh about. It was also popular with my young audience.

I’d suggest to the author that although the artwork is as good as other picture book I’ve read, the prose could use some work. Also the title made me think this was a picture book for teaching children about LGBT children and adults, but it wasn’t at all.

I received this novel free, but this in no way influenced my review.

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Review: Marie Brennan – Lies and Prophecy

Posted on February 15, 2013 by Rose Herbert

Lies and Prophecy

Marie Brennan

Kim is majoring in divination, but it doesn’t mean her life is clear cut. There’s signs that things aren’t going smoothly, but with no way to turn, and piles of college work, Kim doesn’t really have enough time to devote to her budding romance as well

I really liked the beginning pages and opening chapters of this novel. They drew me in, and kept my interest up. This hints and things were exactly as you should set up a novel. However The middle of the text felt like it was dragging somewhat, which I found annoying.

As always, the fact that this novel is set in a university for fascinating for me, and held my interest in the same way that the early Harry Potter books did. I just love learning things! I dabbled in some tarot and runes when I was younger (as well as wicca) and I think that this novel is quite accurate in its portrayal. Of course there is not enough there for a whole training in it though.

Although the majority of the text is told for Kim’s point of view, some is from Julien’s, which becomes more important as the text progresses. I would have found the final scenes very jarring had I not had any insight into him before. However his narration is more of a limited kind as you feel less feelings from him.

The ending was less inspiring than I had hoped. I kept checking, going “Uh oh, only 20 pages left and I don’t think they’re going to solve the problem in that time and I don’t think this is a series” and indeed it wasn’t, and I wasn’t satisfied! Yes, the hurdles they overcame made sense and made things work out well though, but there wasn’t any real resolution of conflict.

I did finish this novel, and think that I wished something had been different, but it wasn’t a bad book by any means. I wonder whether there will be more in the series, and I’ll totally read them if I can get my hands on a free copy. I probably wouldn’t opt to buy this for myself. Recommended for teenagers.

I received this novel as a free copy from somewhere (no idea where any more), but that has in no way altered my review.

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