eBook Review: Getting Better by Tyr Kieran

Shaun has been institutionalized, condemned to Agronaville Mental Health Center by his traumatic past. As the story opens he is hiding in his room, awkwardly barricaded against the orderlies and patients by nothing more than the strength of his bed frame. He claims to be Getting Better, and even if he seems a bit paranoid, who wouldn't be under those circumstances?



For the most part, the young man comes across as a sympathetic character, abused and betrayed by the system that was supposed to heal him. When he's summoned to his first group therapy session, something doesn't quite seem right, but attendance is not voluntary. As we listen to the other patients explain why they were committed, we begin to understand a bit more about why Shaun is there. His violent hallucinations regarding the patients are as shocking as they are vivid, but what really makes the story so unsettling is the way in which we come to understand his justifications.



Of course, we do get to understand a bit of why Shaun is there as well, just before he heads back to his room for lunch.



There are two twists upon which the story hangs, one of which I suspected, but the other completely blind-sided me (kudos to Tyr Kieran for that!). They both come just before the end, and to say they alter our perspective of the story is an understatement. They're not cheap, and you don't feel cheated by them, which is why they work so well. Instead, they send a chill down your spine, making you doubt yourself almost as much as you doubt Shaun.



Short, but effective, this is a great read.

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eBook Review: The Succubus Gift by B.R. Kingsolver

Before I get into my review, I should be up front about something . . . okay, two things. Number one, I don't generally read a lot of urban fantasy. Not sure why, but I guess I prefer a more complete escape or disconnect from reality. Second, I don't generally read too many books that cross over onto the paranormal romance shelves. It's not that I have anything against romance, just that I'd rather it not be the dominant focus of the story.



So, with all of that in mind, it's a bit of a surprise that I agreed to give B.R. Kingsolver's The Succubus Gift a read, and even more surprising that I quite enjoyed it.



This is a book that wastes no time in getting down to business. We barely even know the main character's name yet, and suddenly we're smack-dab in the middle of an unexpected family reunion made awkward by supernatural secrets and secret society politics. It's a little bewildering, but it certainly serves to keep you off-balance, unsure as to what's coming next. Fortunately, Brenna is a strong, colourful, likeable character who serves to keep the reader grounded. Even though she's been a telepath all her life, the revelations of a wider supernatural world (and her place in it) are as new to her as it is to us.



There were two elements of the book that initially kept me reading, and ultimately kept me entertained. The first is the mythology behind the book, which incorporates an ancient Goddess, gifts of telepathy and telekinesis, and an actual succubus. I liked the way Kingsolver played with out expectations of the various elements, twisting them to create a mythological background all her own. It's quite varied and strong, and really holds the novel together.



The second element, the one that kept me entertained, is the strength of her characters. Strong, vibrant, and colourful, they all seem larger than life, the kind of people you really wish could exist off the page. More than that, though, they are characters that grow and evolve. In some cases, that growth simply comes from us learning more about them. In the case of Brenna, however, she really does develop over the course of the story, maturing from this nervous, insecure young woman into someone far more confident, powerful, and capable.



If I were to have one complaint, it would be that the pacing is somewhat uneven. That frantic, headlong rush into the story gives way to several drawn out scenes that seem a little too carefully crafted to create drama, as opposed to moving the story along. It's not a huge issue, and nothing that impacted my enjoyment of the read, just an observation looking back. For the most part, the storytelling is solid and both the action and the romantic sequences work well.



All-in-all, a pleasant surprise.

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Waiting On Wednesday: Coldbrook by Tim Lebbon

"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:

Coldbrook by Tim Lebbon



THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT HAS CHANGED FOREVER 

THE REASON IS Coldbrook



The faculty lay deep in Appalachian Mountains, a secret laboratory called Coldbrook. Their's was to be the greatest discovery in the history of mankind, but they had no idea what they were unleashing. 



Now the disease is out and ravaging the human population. The only hope is a cure and the only cure is genetic resistance, an uninfected person amongst the billions dead. 



In the chaos of destruction there is only one person that can save the human race. 



But will they find her in time? (Oct 11, 2012)



No word so far on a North American release, but this one has really caught my attention.

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Canada Day Blog Hop WINNER

First of all, a HUGE thank you to everybody who stopped by for the Canada Day Blog Hop. It was (by far) the most popular post I've done to date, and one which has introduced me to a wide range of friends and followers.



I did draw the winner yesterday morning, as promised, but wanted to wait for confirmation before announcing it. Our big winner literally just got back to me, and even if I 'm a bit disappointed that he wants to remain anonymous, I love what he plans to do with the books.



Mr. D (as I 'll refer to him) is a Canadian who moved down south a few years ago to help with the clean-up from Hurricane Katrina. He quickly fell in love with the people there and, after 40+ winters of snow and cold in the prairies, decided it might be nice to stick around. Even with the relatively warm, snow-free winter we just had, I honestly can't say that I blame him!



While he hasn 't ruled out an eventual return home, he is quite content to remain in his adopted home . . . which brings us to the books.



In an effort to not only help rebuild, but to also inject a little Canadian culture, he has chosen to donate the books to his local library. So, thanks to his generosity, the literary ambassadors of Kay, Erikson, Czerneda, and Huff will be making the move south, hopefully to win over an entirely new audience.



Very nice, Mr. D. Very nice indeed.

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eBook Review: Overkill by Steven Shrewsbury

Overkill is the latest of the Gorias La Gaul stories from Steven Shrewsbury, a heroic fantasy franchise that brings back memories of Robert E. Howard's original Conan tales. Fear not if this is your first exposure to La Gaul, for his stories are able to be read as standalone novels.



In fact, this was my first exposure to the character, and I quite enjoyed it.



Gorias is a man of few words, but those he offers are chosen well. He's a direct, sarcastic, often vulgar warrior who has seen and heard it all. More than 700 years old, he still finds the world amusing, and the women it it arousing. This is no grumpy old man, dragged out of retirement, to save the world. No, this is a lustful, bloodthirsty man in the prime of life . . . dragged out of a brothel to save the world.



In a world where YA fiction seems to be overtaking the shelves, this is a deliberate throwback to the kind of pulp fantasy that long-time adult readers of fantasy can sit back and enjoy. Shrewsbury offers up a hearty mix of politics and religion, each with their own complexities, and a refreshing dose of old-fashioned "who the hell cares how it works!" magic. If there's one thing I've begun to find rather tiresome about fantasy novels over the past few years is the tendency to have to explain how magic works and somehow justify it to the reader. It's fantasy. It's not real. It's magic. Thank you, Steven, for letting us take it for granted and get on with it.



It should also be said - assuming the cover didn't give it away - that this is a book about dragons. Again, Shrewsbury bucks the historical realism trend and gives us our dragons, as mighty, ferocious, and dangerous as we want to remember them. I loved the way he worked them into the plot, and the way in which their legends have come to have very real implications, tied very much to that of La Gaul.



The story here isn't overly deep, but it's more than sufficient to carry the novel, especially one so action packed from cover-to-cover. There are plenty of twists and turns, some of them rather clever and others completely unexpected, and just enough humour (with a dash of romance) to alleviate the tension. Similarly, the characters are only as deep as they need be to carry the story, but they live and breathe upon the page - and that, more than any reams of useless lineages and life stories, is what makes them compelling.



An altogether satisfying read, and one worth looking into.

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eBook Review: The Great Sphinx of Amun-Ra by Herbert Smith

I must say, reading The Great Sphinx of Amun-Ra was likely one of the oddest experiences I've had all year. Herbert Smith first came to my attention as part of the Pump Up Your Book tour, and I was quite eager to give his tale a read. Unfortunately, the book had not arrived in time for my stop on the tour, so Herbert stopped by instead with a guest post. When the book finally did arrive, it was a printed manuscript, complete with a handwritten note from Herbert apologizing for the fact that he wasn't able to staple it.



Somehow, reading the story like that, flipping through loose leaf pages, with no cover or binding surrounding it, seemed to orient me in the experience of the story. I rather felt like an archaeologist myself, perusing a colleague's loose collection of extensive notes, preparing myself for the next morning's dig.



The Great Sphinx of Amun-Ra is a collection of short stories covering more than 7000 years of human history. Blending fact, fiction, mythology, and archaeological theory, Smith explores the origins and the evolution of what we know today as Egypt. Through his eyes we see not just how the people and legends evolved, but how the very landscape changed throughout the years. What I found most interesting, however, was the way in which the Egyptian creator-god Amun-Ra remains dominant throughout the stories. Even though Smith works in various Biblical personages and events, it is Amun-Ra who continues to speak to his people, never giving way to the voice of a Judeo-Christian or Muslim god.



In addition to the voice of Amun-Ra, two things link these stories together - the staff of Amun-Ra (which I'm thinking would make a great MacGuffin for the next Indiana Jones adventure), and the Great Sphinx (who we see evolve from his lion ancestry to the human face we know today). While the shift in characters and stories seemed a bit awkward at first, once you accept Amun-Ra as a character of the story, and not just a mythological concept, you begin to detect the overall narrative flow.



If you have any interest in the history of Egypt, and don't mind being educated while you're entertained, then this is a great story to explore.

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TGIF - Feature & Follow Friday

Feature & Follow Friday is a blog hop that is designed to provide some much-appreciated exposure to the bloggers participating, and to expand their following. Hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read, each of whom feature a chosen blog for the week, it's an interesting way to get to know one another.

Question of the Week: Birthday Wishes -- Blow out the candles and imagine what character could pop out of your cake...who is it and what book are they from?



A very timely question, since my birthday is this weekend. I could go for the cheesy answer and pick an impossibly beautiful urban fantasy heroine, all decked out in leather and latex, but I'm going to be a bit more creative and go with Matrim Cauthon from The Wheel of Time. I figure, since it is my birthday and all, he can save me the suspense and let me know how A Memory of Light ends. :)



Parajunkee also hosts a Social Hop for Facebook and Twitter, which I regularly take part in. So, if you're one of those people who aren't on Blogger, or who just don't like Google Friend Connect, it's a great way to keep in touch and follow one another.

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TGIF is another blog hop designed to provide much-appreciated exposure to the bloggers participating, and to expand their following. Hosted by GReads, it's an interesting way to recap the week, pose a question, and find some exposure with a different audience.




Question of the Week: Best I've Read So Far - We're half way through the year (crazy how time flies!), which top 3 books are the best you've read so far this year?



Let's see, I guess my top 3 reads of the year-to-date would have to be Shadowrise by Tad Williams, The Scar by Sergey & Marina Dyachenko, and The Cannibals of Candyland by Carlton Mellick III.

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