Mystery, Slavic folklore, witches and monsters: Foul Days by Genoveva Dimov is a sure-footed, swift-paced race against time that will leave you swiggiMystery, Slavic folklore, witches and monsters: Foul Days by Genoveva Dimov is a sure-footed, swift-paced race against time that will leave you swigging rakia to cope with the tension.
When I review books, I don't describe the plot - that's for you to discover when you read it, which you will if you're into fast-paced, mysterious, atmospheric fantasy.
Our protagonist is a wonderful character. Kosara is a flawed, error-making, untrusting, untrustworthy witch who tries too hard and admits too little to herself. Despite her many flaws, she's also vulnerable, lonely, an agent of her own destiny, and has an admirable sense of responsibility. At times selfish, at times selfless, Kosara is a finely portrayed, fully realised creation. She's great, and I look forward to following her around on her next adventure.
Our leading man, Asen, is equally well drawn and I'm going to lean out a little to say that one of the differences for me between Foul Days and some other books I've read that will sit on the same shelf is that it's really enjoyable for me to read a male romantic lead in whom the time has been put to create a character who stands in detail alongside the heroine. Asen isn't just a collection of common, uncomfortable tropes, he's a person in his own right. He isn't obsessed with Kosara, and that made their budding feelings take flight.
In fact, those more common 'toxic fairy/vampire/billionaire romantic interest' tropes are better embodied by the Tsar of Monsters, and that was all to the good. There's some clever themes relating to abusive, toxic relationships (which are in fact the kind that you'll more commonly find in fantasy fiction these days, though portrayed as romantic) and it's carried off very well. The Tsar is a truly frightening character.
Foul Days is well put together. Well paced, with a cast of characters that are both distinctive but limited enough in number not to be forgotten quickly. I'm hoping that in the next installment we get to hear more about Vila in particular - if her house hasn't got up and walked her out of town, that is.
Foul Days is a brilliant modern fantasy. Witty, exciting, clever. Dimova's prose is defy crafted, descriptive without being overbearing, swift without being throwaway.
Many thanks to Tor for the ARC.
Merged review:
Mystery, Slavic folklore, witches and monsters: Foul Days by Genoveva Dimov is a sure-footed, swift-paced race against time that will leave you swigging rakia to cope with the tension.
When I review books, I don't describe the plot - that's for you to discover when you read it, which you will if you're into fast-paced, mysterious, atmospheric fantasy.
Our protagonist is a wonderful character. Kosara is a flawed, error-making, untrusting, untrustworthy witch who tries too hard and admits too little to herself. Despite her many flaws, she's also vulnerable, lonely, an agent of her own destiny, and has an admirable sense of responsibility. At times selfish, at times selfless, Kosara is a finely portrayed, fully realised creation. She's great, and I look forward to following her around on her next adventure.
Our leading man, Asen, is equally well drawn and I'm going to lean out a little to say that one of the differences for me between Foul Days and some other books I've read that will sit on the same shelf is that it's really enjoyable for me to read a male romantic lead in whom the time has been put to create a character who stands in detail alongside the heroine. Asen isn't just a collection of common, uncomfortable tropes, he's a person in his own right. He isn't obsessed with Kosara, and that made their budding feelings take flight.
In fact, those more common 'toxic fairy/vampire/billionaire romantic interest' tropes are better embodied by the Tsar of Monsters, and that was all to the good. There's some clever themes relating to abusive, toxic relationships (which are in fact the kind that you'll more commonly find in fantasy fiction these days, though portrayed as romantic) and it's carried off very well. The Tsar is a truly frightening character.
Foul Days is well put together. Well paced, with a cast of characters that are both distinctive but limited enough in number not to be forgotten quickly. I'm hoping that in the next installment we get to hear more about Vila in particular - if her house hasn't got up and walked her out of town, that is.
Foul Days is a brilliant modern fantasy. Witty, exciting, clever. Dimova's prose is defy crafted, descriptive without being overbearing, swift without being throwaway.
Spoiler free review. I received an ARC from the publisher.
The Silverblood Promise is a vibrant, enjoyable cut-and-thrust back-alley adventure that traSpoiler free review. I received an ARC from the publisher.
The Silverblood Promise is a vibrant, enjoyable cut-and-thrust back-alley adventure that traverses the seedy underworld of Saphrona, a city of corrupt politicians, underworld kings, mercenaries who love nothing but coin, and terrible ancient magic. Some of these motifs are familiar - if you imagine combining the organised crime of The Lies of Locke Lamore with the blurred-lines honour and morality of The Blade Itself with the cosmic horror notes of Blackwing, you'll have some general idea of the feel this book espouses. And yet, I'd also classify it as a Post-Grimdark book. The Silverblood Promise takes some of the elements we've loved from grimdark - the seedy taverns, the lethal games, the protagonist with a life of regrets - but combines it with more hopeful tones, and characters who actually won't just kill their way to their objective.
There's an intricate blend of morality in this story, which I don't want to spoiler. Our protagonists may have come from difficult places, but they've not given up on humanity. Ultimately, they are the good guys, even if they don't always know it themselves.
You will love Flea. It's inevitable.
I don't know if it was intentional or not but I felt there are a few nods to some of the best fantasy of the past four decades through the story. A polished black crossbow that launches two bolts will certainly give Gemmell's readers a reminiscence of a particular assassin. There's a sort-of-post-magical-cataclysm borderland. The deadly lion-sharks and arena based justice reminded me of Camorr. One chapter was labelled "The Blade Itself" (though not all chapters had titles in the ARC so I'm uncertain if the final version will show it). Despite this feeling, this is not a series of homages, nor a waltz through nostalgia. This was very much the cutting edge of new dark fantasy.
Readers will find lots to love in this intrigue-filled dash through the upper and lower echelons of a well painted fantasy city. Enough grit to make you flinch, enough heart to make you punch the air, this book will have dark fantasy lovers burning through the pages. Everything that's good about modern fantasy is here and I expect readers will flock to it....more
As a non-spiritual atheist, I had few expectations going into reading this book. But I was recommended it by a friend, and it's one of the best thingsAs a non-spiritual atheist, I had few expectations going into reading this book. But I was recommended it by a friend, and it's one of the best things I've read. Beautiful, poignant, sad, uplifting. I will definitely read it again....more
Mindwalker is a really interesting novel, in that it combines some deep thematic sci-fi elements - the sacrificing of a long life for immediate prospeMindwalker is a really interesting novel, in that it combines some deep thematic sci-fi elements - the sacrificing of a long life for immediate prosperity, the morality of mind control, the potential abuse of any power no matter its benefits - and runs them alongside a thriller paced romp with some familiar YA elements.
I want to say at this point: Dylan can write. It's rare to see this command of prose displayed in a book targeted at the YA market.
I really enjoyed this book. I like my books fast paced, breathless and loaded with heroism and grit in even measure. While I wouldn't say Mindwalker was heavy on the grit, there are some bleak themes and intense moments. For me that lifted it up above most of its contemporaries in the YA scene right now.
I enjoy Sil Sarrah as a protagonist. In wanted more of her past actions to come to light, as they're indicated as having been pretty dreadful and I found it a great aspect of her character. For those familiar with my own work, Sil is somewhat akin to an 18 year old Galharrow - ruthless, a bit of a fascist, dedicated, but ultimately she'll also risk her life for innocents she doesn't know, and this is her path to redemption. Sil is no cookie cutter protagonist; she felt real, relatable and her journey is worth your time.
Overall, Mindwalker is a nonstop dystopian thrill ride that brims with action and conveys the nightmare future of a life dominated by apps brilliantly....more
I would never have thought that a book that features Tolkienesque species such as dwarfs and elves would be the front runner for my book of the year, I would never have thought that a book that features Tolkienesque species such as dwarfs and elves would be the front runner for my book of the year, but it's July and I'm so glad that it is!
I have struggled with fantasy in recent years. Many books have seemed either too far away from the things that I really want to read about, or else just endless rehashes of same-old same-old. And yet, despite that, it's a book that intentionally works with classic tropes that really lit my fire and rekindled my love of epic fantasy again. This book made me want to write epic fantasy when I thought I was ready to put it away in a box.
Spellbreaker: I love it. I love just how self-serving, how fickle, how evil this blade is. I loved it every time it spoke, and you always get the impression that Spellbreaker knows more than anyone else and despite only wanting death and destruction, is actually the smartest character in the book.
Alf is a classic dark fantasy hero. He's virtuous, but jaded. He wants the best, fighting for peace, but is never happy unless he's at war, the only place he feels he's worthwhile. A great hero, questing for meaning in life when great heroes are no longer needed or wanted. Olva is a necessary foil to Alf's might. A mother searching for her son, she has no special abilities. No great powers. She humanises the world for us, and shows that you can be a hero without being made of steel or fueled by magic. The rest of The Nine are each painted brilliantly, flawed and heroic, mighty and weak at the same time. They were all brilliant.
The Sword Defiant is a love letter to roleplaying games, to Tolkien, to what epic fantasy has been about for me through my whole life. I adored this book from the first page to the last. Hanrahan has taken the best of the old, the best of the last two decades, and then brought it screaming into the modern era. Fans of Gemmell and Abercrombie need this on their shelves....more
Disclaimer: If you know who I am it's fairly obvious that I'm not going to say anything bad about the book am I, but I had the pleasure of being the bDisclaimer: If you know who I am it's fairly obvious that I'm not going to say anything bad about the book am I, but I had the pleasure of being the book's first reader. Looking Glass Sound is Ward at her absolute best. That strange feeling of unease, that thrill of knowing you don't know exactly what you're reading, understanding that you don't understand but sucked in for the ride of it anyway. A brilliant cast of believable characters, plot twists that will leave you staring numbly at the page as you try to figure out what the heck just happened, and an eerie, classic backdrop make LGS a must read....more
When I review, I try to think less about my personal connection to a book and more about who the book will work for, since a book could be chalk or chWhen I review, I try to think less about my personal connection to a book and more about who the book will work for, since a book could be chalk or cheese to two different readers. Battlemage will appeal to fans of military fantasy. This book is about a war: nations and ideologies clash, soldiers do gritty soldier things, mages employ deadly spells, shadowy figures work espionage in the background. There is a clearly defined side to support, and a clearly defined enemy. If you enjoyed books by David Gemmell, Glen Cook and Steven Erikson, then I think that BATTLEMAGE is likely to be up your alley. In some ways BATTLEMAGE felt like a throwback to me; reminiscent of a style of fantasy we don't see so much of in current publisher's lists. It's big, it's epic. I listened to the audio book. I found the narrator to be pretty soothing, and overall it made a good bed time listen. If you enjoy war as the central focus of your fantasy, BATTLEMAGE is one to check out....more
Interesting and different in terms of style, while still feeling familiar in terms of content, Swan's debut is an easy sell to most fantasy readers. TInteresting and different in terms of style, while still feeling familiar in terms of content, Swan's debut is an easy sell to most fantasy readers. There's judgements, a bit of necromancy, poorly intentioned fanatics, murder investigations and a rich deep history waiting to be uncovered. I will say that this is not an all-out-action type novel, but neither is it devoid of it. The fantasy themes are subtle, and the world has a significant Germanic flavour, so I'd recommend for fans of grittier more sobering fantasy like Adrian Selby's Snakewood or Kate Elliott's Crown of Stars....more
