Book Review: And Blue Skies From Pain by Stina Leicht

And Blue Skies From Pain by Stina Leicht

Series: The Fey and the Fallen, book 2

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

“And Blue Skies from Pain,” is the second book in the The Fey and the Fallen, series. This book started off right where book 1 left off, though it includes an intriguing prologue featuring Father Murray ( Making me wish she would write a prequel with Father Murray as the main character).

Stina Leicht continues to excel with her well researched history and attention to details of the time period. Immersing the reader in the troubled times of 1977 Ireland. Leicht's use of an Irish brogue is seamlessly interwoven with the book's prose, giving a lilt of rhythm to the dialogue that flows effortlessly. 

This sequel pushes more into the fantasy as the first book, though unexpectedly the author has focused more on spirits than the Fae. For me this was the one downside to the book.
Still a fascinating read and well worth the time.

I highly recommend this book to fans of magical realism and dark, gritty Urban Fantasy. If you have interest in the turbulent era of the 70's and want a glimpse into the life of that time in Ireland this book really good at pulling the reader into the struggles of that time and place.

Warnings, this is dark, and the brutality is real, most of the brutality is of the historical human kind.

Awards:
Nominee: John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer, 2013 

Details:
Series: The Fey and the Fallen, book 2
Published March 1st 2012 by Night Shade Book

Links:
Stina Leicht

View all my reviews

Book Review: Of Blood and Honey

Of Blood and Honey by Stina Leicht

Series: The Fey and the Fallen, book 1

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this story, it is a full of realism and a wonderful blend of historical fiction, and urban fantasy. The fantastical is a backdrop to the story, more in the vein of magical realism than typical paranormal or Urban fantasy's, but still essential to the story. But the main strength of the book is the characters. 


Of Blood and Honey, is a phenomenal debut novel by author Stina Leicht with real characters, fantastic pacing and a great story. The book has an early urban fantasy feel, yet it is edgy, dark and brutal. Where this book differs from many newer gritty and dark fantasies, is the well researched historical aspects of the book, Ireland in the 1970's is what sets the brutality if the book. Like its own antagonist the story of the clash between the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) and the British Army (BA) is the backdrop of the story, weaving the atrocities, struggles and battles that took place in the streets and lives of the people throughout the book.  

This is a book of struggles. The typical fantasy trope of good vs evil, is brilliantly entwined by Leicht with the struggles of a young man as he tries to find out who and what he is, the horrific and brutal struggles in Ireland of the 1970's, mixed in with the age old battle of priests vs Fallen Angels and demons, along with the struggle between christianity and the pagan religions and the Fae.

Leicht continues to create a real feel to this story with the typical struggles of the characters as they struggle to stay alive in turbulent times. The main protagonist Liam and all of the side characters are wonderfully written. The people in this story are dark, complex, and feel very real. They are all well defined and actualized as they deal with the everyday troubles we all deal with family, love, marriage and tragedy. The protagonist Liam's struggle with life and his own darker impulses is tragic and heart-rending, there are moments in his life that are difficult to read.

The Troubles (1968-1994) is a fascinating and utterly tragic time period in Irish history. (Although, there isn't much in Irish history that can't be described as tragic.) . . . I guess you can say it's my way of finding a real situation that fits extreme good versus extreme evil. 

Stina Leicht, May 9, 2012

I highly recommend this book to fans of magical realism and dark, gritty Urban Fantasy. If you have interest in the turbulent era of the 70's and want a glimpse into the life of that time in Ireland this book really good at pulling the reader into the struggles of that time and place.

If you prefer the less realistic paranormal fantasy this may not be something you will enjoy.

Warnings, this is dark, and the brutality is real, most of the brutality is of the historical human kind and includes rape and torture. ( though written well without any glamorization or belittlement of the victims)

Awards:
Nominee: John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer, 2013 

Details:
Series: The Fey and the Fallen, book 1
Published February 1st 2011 by Night Shade Books

Links:
Stina Leicht

View all my reviews

Book Review: Working for Bigfoot

Working for Bigfoot by Jim Butcher

Series: The Dresden Files, Book 15.5

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a great little collection of three Dresden Novellas with a themed timeline. I really enjoyed reading this without all the Fae politics and mess, of the later books. This is back to classic snarky Harry Dresden Wizard for hire!


Includes the Following Novellas

• B is for Bigfoot: 
• The Dresden Files, 2.5
• Takes place between Fool Moon and Grave Peril.
• Originally Published in the Anthology  Under My Hat: Tales from the Cauldron.

• I Was a Teenage Bigfoot: 
• The Dresden Files, 6.5 
• Takes place circa Dead Beat.
• Originally Published in the Anthology Blood Lite III: Aftertaste. 

• Bigfoot on Campus: 
• The Dresden Files, 11.7  
• Takes place between Turn Coat and Changes.
• Originally Published in the Anthology Hex Appeal.

Details:
Series: The Dresden Files, Book 15.5
Published June 30th 2015 by Subterranean Press

Links:
Jim Butcher

View all my reviews

Book Series Review: Bedlam's Bard

Bedlam's Bard series by Mercedes Lackey with Ellen Guon and Rosemary Edghill

My rating: 4 of 5 stars (Series Overall)

This was a re-read of the Bedlams's Bard series. I originally read these books, when they were first published, and devoured them as soon as each was published.

Urban fantasy before it was called Urban Fantasy. At the time I remember being entranced and thrilled with the changes and modernization of fantasy.

Years, Decades later this series still rings true, it is enjoyable, enchanting Mercedes Lackey. With a bit of magic, hard looks into cultures and places that were not so common in Fantasy books at the time, Just enough disturbing looks into real issues and the plight of runaways and children mixed with the good vs evil and struggles of not just the humans, but also the magical and Fae in this world.

I will say I was again a little disappointed when the world moved from the enchanting world of the Re-Faires to the streets of New York - breaking this into 2 series within one.

Books:
1. Knight of Ghosts and Shadows (1990) with Ellen Guon.
2. Summoned to Tourney (1992) with Ellen Guon.

3. Bedlam Boyz (1993) by Ellen Guon.
4. Beyond World's End (2000) with Rosemary Edghill.
5. Spirits White as Lightning (2001) with Rosemary Edghill.
6. Mad Maudlin (2003) with Rosemary Edghill.
7. Music to My Sorrow (2005) with Rosemary Edghill.
8. Bedlam's Edge  (2005) - Short Story Anthology, with Rosemary Edghill

Details:
Published between 1990 and 2005 by Baen Books

Series is part of the Elves on the Road universe, which also includes:

• Bedlam's Bard
• Diana Tregarde
• SERRAted Edge
• Doubled Edge

Links:
Mercedes Lackey

Rosemary Edghill

Ellen Guon ( as Ellen Beeman Game Credits)

View all my reviews

Book Review: Boundary Crossed

Boundary Crossed by Melissa F. Olson

Boundary Magic book 1

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I received this book as a free Kindle First book. This is the first book I have read from this author. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

The story and world in Melissa Olsen's Boundary Crossed were unique, and interesting, definitely a great initial novel in a series.
I loved the concept and back story of the main character, US Army Sergeant Allison “Lex” Luther, and was thrilled to read an Urban Fantasy with a 30 something, ex-military female lead character. For once while reading a paranormal book, I did not have to suspend belief as a strong female protagonist, who kicks some Vampire butts and is not wearing high heels. ( Well except in the one scene, but then that was completely appropriate, and dialogue ensued on it! )

The major issue I had with the book, was also the protagonists age, at times I had to read back to double check, yep shes 30 ... but the dialogue certainly made her seem much younger, reading more like a younger person in a YA novel.

Details:
Series: Boundary Magic
Published May 1st 2015 by 47North
Links:
Melissa F. Olson

View all my reviews

Book Review: Three Parts Dead by Max Gladstone

Three Parts Dead by Max Gladstone

Craft Sequence  Book 1

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Three parts Dead hooked me with its cover it is beautiful and empowering. If you follow Jim C. Hines,  you will know how rare and wonderful this is in a speculative fiction book!

This book was hard to read, hard at times to put down, and harder to review.

Gladstone has created something that is its own, blending the lines between contemporary fiction, steampunk, magic realism, paranormal, urban fantasy and epic fantasy. In many ways it reads like a Magical Realism, Urban Fantasy, or Paranormal book, it is however, set in a different world, so technically this is a Fantasy book.

Three Parts Dead has all the criteria for a great speculative fiction or fantasy book; an interesting mix, of technology, magic, gods, goddesses, power, religion, politics. Gladstone has included the young protagonists, the magic school, the older mentors, and the evil antagonists. Add in gargoyles, vampires, mages, skeletons a bit of steampunk, dead gods and a bit of a mystery.

The ideas and concepts behind the world are what carry this book, and make it an interesting read despite the flaws. In many ways there really are too many concepts, ideas and too little time spent in this world to develop any of the world, ideas or characters to any extent.

As a fantasy book, it falls short in many ways, there was very little world building information, I felt lost and not sure where this was taking place. This is another world, yet we really never get a picture of the world, and all of the metaphors and descriptions were "earth based", which only added to the confusion on where this all was taking place, or what the characters or world were like. In some ways this felt like a condensed cliff notes version of what could have been a great trilogy.

The omniscient POV took some time to adjust to, with an over kill on exposition interjected with dialogue. There is a lot of information given, but much of the world building or side reminiscence did not help to clarify or aid the story. It is like the author threw in commentary on people or things here and there in a "it's fantasy I need world building descriptions, without actually world building, explaining things that needed explaining or making it relative."

As a reader this book is worth it just because it is different and has unique concepts. I really wish his had been more of an epic fantasy with more book (or books) to explain all of the fascinating world, religion, politics and concepts that we only got hints of.

Read more on Tor.com about Three Parts Dead and more great books from the Reddit Fantasy Lists Under-Rated and Under-Read Fantasy.
Links:
Max Gladstone

View all my reviews

Book Review: The Monarch of the Glen an American Gods Novella

The Monarch of the Glen by Neil Gaiman

American Gods book 1.5

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Monarch of the Glen an American Gods novella. by Neil Gaiman is a nice little addition to the American Gods world. Part novella part epilogue ending to American Gods.

This peak into the months following the ending of American Gods, is a treat for any fans of the series, and of course is typical Gaiman brilliance, with the addition of a bit from Beowulf how can you go wrong?

Gaiman demonstrates with this story that there is much more to tell in Shadow's story and this world, I look forward to seeing more American Gods.

“The Monarch of the Glen” Was released as an ebook as part of an Epic Fantasy StoryBundle and also appears in Neil Gaiman’s 2006 collection Fragile Things.

Details: 
Series: American Gods

Links:
Neil Gaiman
Story Bundle 

View all my reviews

Book Review: Sister Mine by Nalo Hopkinson

Sister Mine by Nalo Hopkinson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Sister Mine is one of those books that is hard to review in a simple or singular comment.
Hopkinson weaves so many threads and individual pieces into Sister Mine.
The story mixes and crosses so many genre's and sub genre's, plots and threads that at points the story feels chaotic and lacking in cohesion. In a way this lack of cohesion and multiple subplots works. Though at times it clutters the story.

Hopkinson has managed to pull the plot complexity, and multiple layers of myth and epic fantasy, and wrap them in a contemporary fiction. Sister Mine is a story of dysfunctional families, sisterly love, sibling rivalry, individual identity and growth. While also being a mystery, a ghost story, a story about the power and magic of music, the myth of the child of gods.

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys the modern twist on mythology, and for anyone that is looking for the non-standard Contemporary or Urban fantasy.

Awards:

• Andre Norton Award for Young Adult Science Fiction and Fantasy (2013)
• Sunburst Award Nominee for Adult (2014)

Details:

Published March 12th 2013 by Grand Central Publishing

Links:
Nalo Hopkinson


View all my reviews

Book Review: Naked City: Tales of Urban Fantasy by Ellen Datlow

Naked City: Tales of Urban Fantasy (Riverside Series) by Ellen Datlow
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It is always difficult to give a rating to an anthology. The editor Ellen Datlow has again pulled together an excellent anthology.
I found Naked City to be a well balanced collection, with individual stories ranging from 3 to 5 stars.

It is a strong collection all of the stories adhere to the theme of the truly urban, urban fantasy, so it feels like they all belong in this collection, that no story is there just as filler or just for the name of the author.

There are stories from a good mix of authors with some that are well known, some I had heard of but not read, and some unknown to me.

One of the reasons I read anthologies, is to read new authors and to expand my reading into other genre's and sub-genre's. The theme of the city allowed this anthology to within a tight framework cross the sub-genre's of Urban fantasy.

I have added some new authors to my to read list; remembered that not all vampire stories are paranormal romance, and that there are a couple authors and series that I need to get back too.


Edited by Ellen Datlow web site: http://www.datlow.com/

Curses By Jim Butcher 
How The Pooka Came To New York City By Delia Sherman 
On The Slide By Richard Bowes 
The Duke Of Riverside By Ellen Kushner 
Oblivion By Calvin Klein By Christopher Fowler 
Fairy Gifts By Patricia Briggs 
Picking Up The Pieces By Pat Cadigan 
Underbridge By Peter S. Beagle 
Priced To Sell By Naomi Novik 
The Bricks Of Gelecek By Matthew Kressel 
Weston Walks By Kit Reed 
The Projected Girl By Lavie Tidhar 
The Way Station By Nathan Ballingrud 
Guns For The Dead By Melissa Marr 
And Go Like This By John Crowley 
Noble Rot By Holly Black 
Daddy Longlegs Of The Evening By Jeffrey Ford 
The Skinny Girl By Lucius Shepard 
The Colliers’ Venus (1893) By Caitlín R. Kiernan 
King Pole, Gallows Pole, Bottle Tree By Elizabeth Bear

Book Review: Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch

Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

What happens when you take a great urban fantasy story, mix in a bit of religious satire and add two of the best authors today? You get a book that is witty,thought provoking, humorous, brilliant and engaging.

Good Omens is full of biting satire, outright one-liners and subtle wit. Pratchett and gaiman, manage to weave the humor in a way that they never overpower or lose the thread of the story.

Pratchett and gaiman, manage yo follow all of the standard tropes, and archetypes of the battle of Good and Evil, all the while poking fun at it at the same time. With a list of typical urban fantasy characters, a witch, an angel, and a a demon. A common theme of the inevitable apocalypse

The difference is that while typical they have created characters and a plot that are parodies and yet engaging, interesting and well developed.



Links:
Neil Gaiman
Terry Pratchett


View all my reviews

Book Review: Unknown by Rachel Caine

Unknown by Rachel Caine

Outcast Season, book 2 

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really liked this book, and yet I feel terrible that i did, it is so disturbing.
Rachel Caine weaves a disturbing and heart wrenching story, drawing on some of the most horrific historical and current events of mankind and war. The main character Cassiel is a true heroine, the romance in the story is believable and does not diminish either into stereotypical roles.

View all my reviews

Book Review: Undone - Outcast Season Series by Rachel Caine

Undone by Rachel Caine

Outcast Season Series, book 1

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Rachel Caine has managed to intricately weave a secondary viewpoint story line that seamlessly follows along the main story arcs of her amazing Weather Warden series, written like an Epic fantasy, split into different books instead of combined.

Though I am still waiting for a true epic multiple viewpoint and story arc Urban fantasy this is very close, I think that what little was missing in the scope and 'epicness' of the Weather Wardens, is fulfilled with this secondary series.

As much as I loved Joanne and the main characters of the Weather Wardens, I think the author has improved, the story by not relying on the typical urban fantasy snarky "I can beat up the bad guys, make humorous comments, and still wear great heels" heroine. With Cassiel we get a strong heroine with flaws and real internal conflicts.

The only negative is that the book it too short feeling more like a novella that a full book, and talk about cliff-hangers!



Authors website: Rachel Caine

View all my reviews

Book Review: Ill Wind - Weather Warden Series by Rachel Caine

Ill Wind by Rachel Caine

Weather Warden Series 

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Rachel Caine's Weather Warden series is one of the many series that has been sitting buried in my to-read list for too long.

Ill Wind, is the first book, in this unique urban fantasy, and once I started I could not stop and continued on to read the entire series. So my review is of the series as a whole. Short story - I absolutely loved it!

A true urban fantasy devoid of vampires, the author has woven a story that is part weather channel, part storm chasers and part epic fantasy.

The writing is so good, that I forgot I was reading Urban Fantasy at times, there is a tendency in this genre for strong characters and/or plots, but a simpler style of writing and world building where the magic and supernatural elements are involved. This book and series breaks that formula with well developed world-building, a strong magic system that is tied to the world and feels believable and probable, and all the foreshadowing and inter connections of an epic fantasy.

Links:
Rachel Caine


View all my reviews

Book Review: Unclean Spirits by M.L.N. Hanover

Unclean Spirits  by M.L.N. Hanover

Book 1 of The Black Sun's Daughter

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book was ok, I liked it enough and the world was interesting, but the character's were a bit thin and the relations between them somewhat unbelievable, it was difficult to believe the connections they made to each other, or to care much about those relationships.

M.L.N. Hanover is a pseudonym for fantasy writer Daniel Abraham.

View all my reviews

Book Review: Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson

Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson

Reckoners series, book 1

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Fantastic ..... To Quote Pat Rothfuss: "Steelheart is another win for Sanderson, proving that he's not a brilliant writer of epic fantasy, he's simply a brilliant writer. Period. "

The first book in Sanderson's Reckoners series, Steelheart is everything a book should be, it is well written, the action and pacing are intense, the world-building is phenomenal and the characters are engaging. But that is only the beginning of why this is a great book.

Sanderson manages to evoke the feeling of the old comics and classic Superhero's with a unique twist and the reality of what power really is and what it means to be a true hero.

Links:
Brandon Sanderson
Steelheart Portal


View all my reviews

Book Review: Carniepunk

Carniepunk Edited by Rob Thurman

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Though many of the stories were a bit more towards the creepy and horror spectrum, something I do not usually read, I did enjoy this anthology of Urban fantasy carnival themed short stories.

Carniepunk is an Urban Fantasy anthology of creepy, mysterious, and, magical stories that take place in the dangerous world of the carnival. Featuring authors Rob Thurman, Delilah S. Dawson, Kevin Hearne, Mark Henry, Jaye Wells, Rachel Caine, Allison Pang, Hillary Jacques , Jennifer Estep, Kelly Meding, Nicole Peeler, Jackie Kessler, Kelly Gay, Seanan McGuire.

View all my reviews

Book Review: Trapped book 5 of The Iron Druid Chronicles by Kevin Hearne

Trapped by Kevin Hearne

Book 5 of The Iron Druid Chronicles 

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Kevin Hearne continues to impress me with this series, the books continue to get better and Trapped is full of adventure, humor, and world building more akin to epic fantasy than urban fantasy!

Authors site: Kevin Hearne

View all my reviews

Book Review: Days of Blood & Starlight by Laini Taylor

Days of Blood & Starlight  by Laini Taylor

Daughter of Smoke & Bone, book 2

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed the first book in this series, and Laini Taylor does not disappoint in this second book in the series. From the characters to the story arc, this is a solid urban fantasy.

For the few things that bothered me while I was reading it I had to remind myself that this is a YA book, in all other ways it is not a typical YA, with a fully developed magic system, and solid world building, along with strong characters.

The main female character is strong and believable, the romance is part of her but does not truly define her.

Links:
Read my review of Book 1, Daughter of Smoke & Bone here.
Laini Taylor

View all my reviews

Books Review: Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor

Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor

Series: Daughter of Smoke & Bone, Book 1

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I read this book because of a recommendation, At first I was unsure about this series sounding too much like a typical YA angels and paranormal romance, but this is not that, it is true urban fantasy, with a twist on myth and angels, attention to details and though romance is a theme, it is tied in with the story not the only story.

Laini Taylor

View all my reviews

Book Review: Libriomancer by Jim C. Hines -Book 1 of Magic Ex Libris

Libriomancer by Jim C. Hines

Series: Magic Ex Libris, Book 1

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

New and unique, Libromancer is a great new Urban Fantasy, that had me laughing and turning pages! Magic, books, libraries and the Upper Peninsula, what more could I want in a book? Because it is set in the Upper peninsula of Michigan, I am unsure of the "urban" in the Urban Fantasy label, more like "As Far From Urban it gets Fantasy" would suit better.
Clever, comic elements do not limit or hide the strong characters, unique and well developed magical system and page turning plot!
See this review By Patrick Rothfuss, who described it much better than I can.

Links:
Jim C. Hines

View all my reviews