Stacking The Shelves & What I'm Reading

Stacking The Shelves is a weekly meme being hosted by Tynga's Reviews, while Mailbox Monday is being hosted by Suko’s Notebook this month (see Mailbox Monday for each month's host). Both memes are all about sharing the books you've added to your shelves - physical and virtual, borrowed and bought. It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly meme hosted by Book Journey, and it's focused on what's in your hands, as opposed to what's on your shelf.

No purchases, but a few exciting review titles this week:



The Folly of the World by Jesse Bullington



On a stormy night in 1421, the North Sea delivers a devastating blow to Holland: the Saint Elizabeth Flood, a deluge of biblical proportions that drowns hundreds of towns, thousands of people, and forever alters the geography of the Low Countries. Where the factions of the noble Hooks and the merchant Cods waged a literal class war but weeks before, there is now only a nigh-endless expanse of grey water, a desolate inland sea with moldering church spires jutting up like sunken tombstones. For a land already beleaguered by generations of civil war, a worse disaster could scarce be imagined. Yet even disaster can be profitable, for the right sort of individual, and into this flooded realm sail three conspirators: a deranged thug at the edge of madness, a ruthless conman on the cusp of fortune, and a half-feral girl balanced between them . . .





Don't Be a Hero by Chris Strange



It's a bad time to be a superhero. When the world turned its back on metahumans, the golden age of superheroes came crashing down. But now a mysterious supercriminal is making one final bid for power, and with no one else left to protect the world, ex-hero Spook must risk everything to take him down. There will be no reprieve, no negotiation. War is coming. Put on the mask. There’s work to be done. Chris Strange, author of The Man Who Crossed Worlds, presents a stunning, no-holds-barred superhero adventure that will lure you in and knock you out. This is the novel superhero fans have been waiting for.





The Newfoundland Vampire by Charles O'Keefe



Like every other geek alive, Newfoundland native Joseph O’Reily secretly wants to be a superhero. At thirteen he fantasized about being a vampire, and ten years later he’s still fantasizing – but mostly about a beautiful redheaded woman who has eyes only for him. The one thing different about Joseph’s adult fantasy is that, amazingly, it comes true one night when he goes to a local university pub. Cassandra Snow, literally the woman of his dreams, invites him to her place for an evening of personal pleasure. Of course he’s not going to say no. But when strange things start happening afterward, Joseph quickly learns that not all dreams should come true . . .





Ho Ho Horror edited by Steve Rossiter



Ho Ho Horror is a collection of eight Christmas horror short stories from both established and emerging writers of horror fiction. From the terrors of physical danger, to characters at the edge of insanity, unsettlingly disturbed children, poignant psychological horror, and the supernatural, this collection of Christmas horror provides a unique blend of Christmas cheer and Christmas fear. Ho Ho Horror is a project of The Australian Literature Review (www.auslit.net).





As for what I'm reading, I have several titles on the go:

What's topping your shelves this week?

Read More

Code Name: Atlas by Tony Evans (REVIEW)

Imagine, if you will, a table with three different puzzles sitting upon it. Now, imagine somebody taking a handful of pieces from each of those puzzles, carefully placing them together, and creating an entirely new fourth puzzle. The pieces almost fit, and the picture they form is clear to the eye, but there are gaps between some pieces, and places where others overlap.



That's the best way I can think of to describe what Tony Evans has done with Code Name: Atlas. At different times and in different places, we're presented with a heart-wrenching tale of a post-apocalyptic journey, a fascinating science-fiction tale of big ideas, and a coldly efficient military/techno-thriller of a society at war. The three individual story elements do come together, linked by the character of Atlas, but it sometimes feels like there is something lost between the pieces. That's not to say it's a bad novel - I quite enjoyed it - but the gaps certainly preyed on my mind.



As the story opens, our world has been destroyed by unknown forces. Entire cities are in ruins, electronics are useless, and packs of scavengers are the closest thing remaining to organized leadership. Evans weaves in some really interesting ideas as to how our end came about, and who was behind it. In a series of flashbacks we're introduced to an escalating battle between science and religion, one that is compounded by the paranoid fears of governments across the globe. The ways in which the line between the reason and faith is blurred are fascinating, but it's a theme that is largely dropped for the rest of the novel.



As they pick up other survivors along the way, Atlas quickly takes on the leadership role to which he is naturally suited. Before long, he finds himself at the head of a newly emerging civilization - one of two significant societies that have risen from the ashes. What we're eventually faced with is an interesting conflict between a warlord and a dictator, neither of whom would be necessarily attractive in a democratic society, but both of whom are uniquely suited to the realities of a post-apocalyptic society. Atlas isn't perfect, and he regularly allows practicality to overrule sentiment, but he's a man with a difficult job. There are a few instances where he crosses a line, taking an action that is logical yet entirely distasteful to the reader, but I have to give Evans credit for maintaining that militaristic edge.



Hovering over everything (literally and symbolically) is the threat of alien invasion. We're teased and tantalized throughout the book with facts and theories about the forces behind our fall, but most of the reports we're presented with are tainted or unreliable. It's an interesting layer to have added to the overall story, but the alien paranoia is never quite played out to the extent I would have expected, and its rather sudden resolution significantly alters the course of the novel yet again.



At its heart, plotlines and themes aside, this is a story about the powers and the burdens of heroism. Atlas is not just the protagonist of the tale, he really is the tale. Remove him from the story, and it all falls apart without his motivations to tie everything together. Some of the secondary characters are better developed than others, and a few manage to endear themselves to the reader, but their primary purpose is to either support or illuminate the character of Atlas. Even the villains only seem to exist in contrast to his heroism, which allows for some interesting parallels to develop, especially in terms of loyalty and betrayal.



The concluding chapters suggest there is more of the story to come, so perhaps those gaps and overlaps I mentioned will be smoothed out in future volumes. Regardless, the novel works as a self-contained piece of storytelling, intriguing and exciting, with an ending that largely satisfies, even as it tantalizes the bigger picture.

Read More

The King's Man by Rowena Cory Daniells (REVIEW)

If you're already a fan of the Chronicles of King Rolen's Kin, odds are you were left hanging after the end of the third book, and are anxiously looking forward to the release of Kingbreaker in late 2013. The King's Man doesn't off up any developments or revelations to make that wait any easier, but it does tell an interesting side-story of a character we all assumed lost . . . and whom, I suspect, may come to play an important role in the story yet to come.



In her e-book only novella, Rowena Cory Daniells rewinds things a bit to the fall of Lord Dovecote's castle, casts new light on Garzik's failed efforts to light the warning beacon, and then carries his tale forward. Captured, enslaved, and stripped of his very identity, the young man is carried far from everything he's ever known, and everyone he's ever loved. His journey is a dark one, in which he suffers almost as much physical torment as he does emotional anguish. With no way of knowing what events have transpired back home, or just how futile his efforts to light the warning beacon really were, he shoulders the blame for failing an entire kingdom.



Given his role as a secondary character, and the fact that his fate was never really a burning question for me, I wasn't sure whether Garzik could carry a tale on his own. Young, immature, and prone to emotional outbursts, he was largely defined by his place within the dynamic of Byren, Orrade, Fyn, and Piro. To take him out of that dynamic was certainly a risk, but it allows Daniells the opportunity to transform him into a much more mature, respectable, and even admirable protagonist. It takes a while for him to find his feet, but once he starts taking control of his situation, the story really takes off.



Along the way, we get our first real look at the Utlanders. Having been portrayed as little more than a barbarian scourge, it's interesting to learn who they really are and how their society operates. While they expose Garzik to abuses that will leave even the most jaded reader cringing, we come to see them not as capriciously cruel, but as survivors of their environment. Watching Garzik struggle to adjust to such conditions, and to find a place in such a hostile environment, is really quite fascinating.



By the end of the tale, much of what we came into the story believing has been turned on its head, and Garzik is left to ponder a betrayal of a very different sort. Showing Daniells' trademark flair for efficient, engaging, well-paced fantasy, The King's Man is a quick and compelling read, offering up just enough of a taste to make us truly hungry for Kingbreaker.

Read More

The Insecure Writer's Support Group - Dec Edition

Hi. My name is Bob, and it's been 2 months since my last Insecure Writer's Support Group. LOL



Seriously, the IWSG in a once-monthly blog hop hosted by Alex J. Cavanaugh that provides authors with an avenue to share their doubts and concerns, and to offer one another encouragement and guidance. Every first Wednesday of the month we gather to connect with one another and share our insecurities.



In my last post I laid out my 30-day, 90-day, and 6-month plans for getting my writing back on track. No more procrastinating, no more distractions, no more excuses, and no more good intentions. It was time to stop thinking about being a writer, and start being a writer.



So, how have I done?



Well, things started off very well with my 30-day plan. I not only managed to polish off one of my lingering short stories, a twisted little piece entitled Domestic Musophobia, but I even got it submitted - twice. The first magazine came back with a quick rejection, so I submitted it again. Should hear back on that one within the month. I started polishing off a second story as well, tentatively entitled Death in an Elevator, although that got put on hold for a bit.



Why? And what about the rest of my plans?



Well, everything went out the window when I heard about the 2-week open submission window over at Harper Voyager. I was complaining to my wife about the timing, and how it didn't fit in with my 6 month plan, so she stepped in and suggested (okay, demanded) that I take a couple of weeks vacation, send the baby to daycare, and just write. So, that's what I did. For a little over 2 weeks I immersed myself in the novel, worked through some major character alterations, redefined a major plot point, drafted a few new scenes, tied up all the loose ends, and gave it all a good final polish.



It was an exhausting effort, but it was unbelievably rewarding to hit the 'submit' button on that digital submission form. In hindsight, I think that short-notice, narrow-window was precisely the thing I needed. Odds are, I would have found excuses to delay my 6-month plan, and found reasons not to let go of the manuscript. Thanks to my wife's persistence, Between the Waiting and the Damned is now out there, being read by somebody other than friends and family, and waiting for a decision.



If, come the end of January, I haven't heard back, then so be it. I have a few publishers in mind where I think it could do well, and I'll keep shopping it around until I make that sale.



As for what's next, I need to get Death in an Elevator polished and submitted, and then it's time to dive into that next novel. It's a bit daunting, but also extremely liberating - I've been living and breathing Between the Waiting and the Damned for what seems like a lifetime now, so it's time to start something new and completely different. Letting go of that first manuscript . . . just being able to decide that it was done, and didn't need any further work . . . was hard, but I think it's something every writer has to learn to do before they can move forward.

Read More

Waiting On Wednesday - The Willful Princess and the Piebald Prince by Robin Hobb

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.



This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:



The Willful Princess and the Piebald Prince by Robin Hobb



One of the darkest legends in the Realm of the Elderlings recounts the tale of the so-called Piebald Prince, a Witted pretender to the throne unseated by the actions of brave nobles so that the Farseer line could continue untainted. Now the truth behind the story is revealed through the account of Felicity, a low-born companion of the Princess Caution at Buckkeep.



With Felicity by her side, Caution grows into a headstrong Queen-in-Waiting. But when Caution gives birth to a bastard son who shares the piebald markings of his father s horse, Felicity is the one who raises him. And as the prince comes to power, political intrigue sparks dangerous whispers about the Wit that will change the kingdom forever...



Internationally-bestselling, critically-acclaimed author Robin Hobb takes readers deep into the history behind the Farseer series in this exclusive, new novella, 'The Willful Princess and the Piebald Prince.' In her trademark style, Hobb offers a revealing exploration of a family secret still reverberating generations later when assassin FitzChivalry Farseer comes onto the scene. Fans will not want to miss these tantalizing new insights into a much-beloved world and its unforgettable characters. (February 25, 2013)





Can't say I'm crazy about the cover, but any opportunity to delve into the history of the Farseer Trilogy is definitely not to be missed!

Read More

Kiss of the Butterfly by James Lyon (REVIEW)

Despite my curiosity regarding the author's take on vampires, and the intriguing promise James Lyon made regarding a thriller that "won't insult your intelligence" and "will keep you turning the pages," Kiss of the Butterfly is a book that languished on the edge of my currently reading pile for an inexcusably long-time. It's a shame, because once I settled in for the read, I happily breezed through it in a matter of days.



One of the things that immediately impressed me about the novel (even if it did make for slow going in the early chapters) was the solid grounding in Balkan geography and folklore. There are serious political, social, and religious elements to the story, and they're entirely fascinating, especially within the context of the tale. Far too many authors stick their story in some artificial backwoods European landscape and call it Transylvania, and then pick and choose from Westernized vampire stories to mix their own mythology. Rather than try to top those who have come before, Lyon allows the authentic savagery of those monstrous legends and superstitions to drive the darkness of his tale.



This is more than just a monster tale, however. It's also a story of human beings trapped between political despair on the one hand, and supernatural despair on the other. The characters here are all well-developed, and even if they are a bit unrealistic, they definitely leap off the page. Steven is a bit of a downer, a rather soft protagonist who seems to spend more time complaining than playing the hero, but it is nice to come across a main character who doesn't suddenly feel compelled to go against his basic human nature simply because the plot dictates it. Professor Slatina is a fantastic character, the mysterious mentor who serves as both a window into the past and a guide for the future, while Katarina is definitely one of the bright spots of the novel, serving both as a catalyst and a connection between characters.



Like I said, the early going is a bit slow (even a bit dense at times), but it truly is worth sticking with the read. Once Lyon has the reader grounded in his world, and the underlying elements of the story defined, he really takes off. At its height, this is a fascinating thriller that works equally well as an historical adventure as a contemporary horror story. Some readers may be unsettled by the way in which Lyon leaps backwards and forwards in time, but the best vampire tales incorporate this manner of storytelling, allowing the history to not only illuminate the present, but to serve as a storyline all on its own. There are several unique twists that help to keep the story moving, and more than a few surprises that keep things fresh. I won't say that every twist works - there were a few that I felt were a bit strained - but every story has its twist or turn that doesn't work for a reader.



I've seen more than one reviewer attempt to compare Kiss of the Butterfly to the likes of The DaVinci Code, The Historian, and even Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, but going into this book expecting it to be 'like' something else is doing it a disservice. Yes, it shares some elements with all of those, but the grounding in Balkan history and politics lends it an air of originality that sets it apart. This a story that works entirely on its own, as a fresh addition to the vampire genre - not as a rehash of something that's gone before. It's full of the fantastic and the supernatural, but it somehow manages to feel authentic at the same time.

Read More

The Lost City of Z by David Grann (REVIEW)

While The Lost City of Z wasn't quite the rollicking adventure I anticipated, it was a fascinating read - and one that all but managed to put an end to my dreams of being the next Indiana Jones. Okay, maybe that dream will never really die, but David Gann certainly has given me pause for thought with his Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon.



On the surface, what we seem to have here are two narratives, embedded and entwined within one another. The primary narrative is that of Percy Fawcett's awe-inspiring career, one that culminated in one final (and deadly) search for lost city of Z, deep within the Amazon. The second is that of the author's own quest to retrace Fawcett's trail, to discover his fate, and to discover the existence of Z. Beneath the surface, however, what we really have is a treatise on anthropology, biology, botany, geography, and history. Sometimes truth truly is stronger than fiction, and Gann paints a picture that is as terrifying as it is fascinating.



Looking back from the 21st century, it's hard to image a time when so much of the world was unknown and unmapped. It's almost impossible to picture a time - especially one so recent - without Google Earth, GPS navigation, satellite phones, airplanes, and all of the other technological advances that have made our world so much smaller. Gann's descent into the Amazon is daunting enough on its own, but to imagine doing that on foot, with only the clothes on your back, being out of touch for months or even years at a time, is almost overwhelming.



Gann presents an interesting exploration of human history, the possibility of large-scale settlements in the Amazon, and the evolution of scientific attitudes towards that possibility. He shows us just how quickly people and places can be swallowed by the jungle, and just how different the reality of ancient civilizations may be from the stone temples and pyramids we're used to. Gann simultaneously destroys the myth of the noble savage, while creating a new reality of a people who may have evolved differently, but who are just as sophisticated, albeit in their own way. Ultimately, it's left to the reader's judgement (and imagination) as to whether he ever discovers Fawcett's Z, but that's part of the tale's allure.



What struck me most about the book, however, is that no matter how many old-time adventure serials you see, or pulp adventure novels you read, you simply cannot imagine the horrors of the Amazon. Gann recounts all the usual suspects - the piranha, the alligators, the bats, and the snakes - but he also introduces us to bizarre and terrifying creatures the likes of which you don't even want to imagine. The bugs alone are overwhelming, especially the ones that burrow deep within your flesh to hatch years later, but nothing compares to the spiny fish that swims inside human orifices below the belt, requiring men to be castrated in the jungle to save their lives.



Overall, it's a slow read, one that meanders through time, space, and subject. It requires a bit of persistence to stick with it, especially during the long stretches between the story of Gann's own journey, but the discoveries that await are worth waiting for. Fortunately Gann shies away from making any grand declarations as to Fawcett's fate, presenting us instead with evidence, testimonies, and his own conclusions. Besides that, it's probably the most fascinating history lesson you'll ever sit through.

Read More