The Leaning Pile of Books
Jun
23
2013

The Leaning Pile of Books is a feature where I talk about books I got over the last week – old or new, bought or received for review consideration. Since I hope you will find new books you’re interested in reading in these posts, I try to be as informative as possible. If I can find them, links to excerpts, author’s websites, and places where you can find more information on the book are included.

First a quick review update: I’m still working on a review of Zenn Scarlett, and I’m going to revise the review draft as soon as this post goes up so hopefully it will be done soon and ready to go up next week! It’s been a crazy, exhausting work week so I didn’t get as much done on it as I’d hoped. After that, I’ll probably start working on reviewing either The Best of All Possible Worlds by Karen Lord or Shattered Pillars by Elizabeth Bear (both were books I enjoyed very much).

This week two books showed up in the mail.

The Best of Connie Willis

The Best of Connie Willis: Award-Winning Stories by Connie Willis

This contains ten short stories, novelettes, and novellas written by Connie Willis that have won the Hugo Award, the Nebula Award, or both awards. It also has an introduction by Connie Willis, an afterword for each story, and three of the author’s speeches: her 2006 Worldcon Guest of Honor Speech, her Grand Master Acceptance Speech, and her Grand Master Backup Speech. The Best of Connie Willis will be available in hardcover and ebook on July 9. An excerpt from the story “A Letter from the Clearys” can be read on the publisher’s website.

Confession: I have never read anything by Connie Willis, despite the fact that she’s such a well-known, lauded science fiction author. This is an omission from my reading list I need to remedy at some point!

 

Few authors have had careers as successful as that of Connie Willis. Inducted into the Science Fiction Hall of Fame and recently awarded the title of Grand Master by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, Willis is still going strong. Her smart, heartfelt fiction runs the gamut from screwball comedy to profound tragedy, combining dazzling plot twists, cutting-edge science, and unforgettable characters.

From a near future mourning the extinction of dogs to an alternate history in which invading aliens were defeated by none other than Emily Dickinson; from a madcap convention of bumbling quantum physicists in Hollywood to a London whose Underground has become a storehouse of intangible memories both foul and fair—here are the greatest stories of one of the greatest writers working in any genre today.

All ten of the stories gathered here are Hugo or Nebula award winners—some even have the distinction of winning both. With a new Introduction by the author and personal afterwords to each story—plus a special look at three of Willis’s unique public speeches—this is unquestionably the collection of the season, a book that every Connie Willis fan will treasure, and, to those unfamiliar with her work, the perfect introduction to one of the most accomplished and best-loved writers of our time.

Star Wars: Crucible by Troy Denning

Star Wars: Crucible by Troy Denning

Star Wars: Crucible will be released in hardcover, ebook, and audiobook on July 9. An excerpt is available on the publisher’s website.

 

Han Solo, Leia Organa Solo, and Luke Skywalker return in an all-new Star Wars adventure, which will challenge them in ways they never expected—and forever alter their understanding of life and the Force.

When Han and Leia Solo arrive at Lando Calrissian’s Outer Rim mining operation to help him thwart a hostile takeover, their aim is just to even up the odds and lay down the law. Then monstrous aliens arrive with a message, and mere threats escalate into violent sabotage with mass fatalities. When the dust settles, what began as corporate warfare becomes a battle with much higher stakes—and far deadlier consequences.

Now Han, Leia, and Luke team up once again in a quest to defeat a dangerous adversary bent on galaxy-wide domination. Only this time, the Empire is not the enemy. It is a pair of ruthless geniuses with a lethal ally and a lifelong vendetta against Han Solo. They will stop at nothing to control the lucrative Outer Rim mining trade—and ultimately the entire galactic economy. And when the murderous duo gets the drop on Han, he finds himself outgunned in the fight of his life. To save him, and the galaxy, Luke and Leia must brave a gauntlet of treachery, terrorism, and the untold power of an enigmatic artifact capable of bending space, time, and even the Force itself into an apocalyptic nightmare.

The Leaning Pile of Books
Jun
16
2013

The Leaning Pile of Books is a feature where I talk about books I got over the last week – old or new, bought or received for review consideration. Since I hope you will find new books you’re interested in reading in these posts, I try to be as informative as possible. If I can find them, links to excerpts, author’s websites, and places where you can find more information on the book are included.

First a quick review update: I’m still working my way through the to-review pile! I’m currently working on a review of Zenn Scarlett by Christian Schoon, a young adult science fiction book in which the main character is studying to be a vet on Mars.

This week one book showed up in the mailbox.

Hunted by Kevin Hearne

Hunted (The Iron Druid Chronicles #6) by Kevin Hearne

Hunted will be released in mass market paperback, ebook, and audiobook on June 25. It includes a novella, Two Ravens and One Crow, that is set between books 4 and 5 in the series. The series is supposed to end up with nine books total, and the previous books in the series are as follows:

  1. Hounded
  2. Hexed
  3. Hammered
  4. Tricked
  5. Trapped
 

For a two-thousand-year-old Druid, Atticus O’Sullivan is a pretty fast runner. Good thing, because he’s being chased by not one but two goddesses of the hunt—Artemis and Diana—for messing with one of their own. Dodging their slings and arrows, Atticus, Granuaile, and his wolfhound Oberon are making a mad dash across modern-day Europe to seek help from a friend of the Tuatha Dé Danann. His usual magical option of shifting planes is blocked, so instead of playing hide-and-seek, the game plan is . . . run like hell.

Crashing the pantheon marathon is the Norse god Loki. Killing Atticus is the only loose end he needs to tie up before unleashing Ragnarok—AKA the Apocalypse. Atticus and Granuaile have to outfox the Olympians and contain the god of mischief if they want to go on living—and still have a world to live in.

Review of A Taste of Blood Wine by Freda Warrington
Jun
11
2013
A Taste of Blood Wine
by Freda Warrington
501pp (Paperback)
My Rating: 10/10
Amazon Rating: 5/5
LibraryThing Rating: 3.86/5
Goodreads Rating: 4.25/5
 

Freda Warrington’s A Taste of Blood Wine, the first book in the Blood Wine Sequence, was first released in the 1990s and was out of print until recently. It was reprinted in the UK earlier this month, and it appears that it will be available in the US in October. The next two books in the series, A Dance in Blood Velvet and The Dark Blood of Poppies, are also being republished. A Dance in Blood Velvet will be available in the UK in October, and the new cover was recently revealed. In addition to the original three books, Freda Warrington is also writing a new fourth book, The Dark Arts of Blood.

The vampire Kristian believes himself to be doing the work of God, giving others the vampiric gift of eternal life and making each “a feather in God’s dark wings” (page 14). One of Kristian’s chosen vampires, Karl, is particularly rebellious and refuses to remain with Kristian and the others. After four years of separation, Kristian finds Karl wandering through a battlefield during World War I and entreats his wayward creation to leave any concerns with humanity behind and return to him; while he could force Karl to come home, Kristian would prefer he do so of his own free will. As he has during this same argument many times before, Karl rejects Kristian’s beliefs in God and the Devil, stating they have no meaning for him. Angered by Karl’s defiance and denial of God, Kristian threatens Karl and one he cares for but eventually leaves Karl to continue his task on the battlefield. As Karl witnesses the pain and suffering of humans and gives the gift of a quick death to some, he contemplates God and the possibility of finding explanations elsewhere:

There is no God here. No revelations to explain any of this, he thought. Science then? What might that tell a vampire, who by the laws of nature should not exist? [pp. 15-16]

After the war is over, Karl becomes acquainted with the scientist George Neville in hopes of learning more about science and how it might explain the supernatural. Most of the Neville family is quickly charmed by Karl, and Dr. Neville soon invites him to join the small research team that works in his home laboratory. However, one person in this group is very unhappy about this situation—Dr. Neville’s daughter Charlotte, who is uncomfortable with strangers and does not want one intruding on her daily work. Charlotte remains reserved and distant toward the newcomer, but Karl is intrigued by her when she forgets herself for a moment and shares both her belief in ghosts and some of her theories on explanations for their existence with him. As Karl learns about Charlotte’s true inner self she tends to hide from the world, he begins to fall in love with her and she with him—but Karl knows that one cursed as he is can never remain with a human like Charlotte, no matter how much the two care for one another.

Freda Warrington is swiftly becoming one of my favorite authors. I very much enjoyed all her Aetherial Tales novels, especially Elfland, but A Taste of Blood Wine is my now my favorite of all her books I’ve read and one of my favorite books period. Like Elfland, it has compelling characters and family and relationship drama, but it also manages to avoid the same level of intense melodrama in Elfland, though there are some delightfully dramatic moments. It’s compulsively readable with some beautifully written passages, and even though I’m not usually a big fan of vampire lore, I thought what the author did with the myth and the backstory of some of the vampires was quite interesting. I devoured this book, and had a difficult time putting it down, especially since it contained characters I desperately wanted to read more about. A Taste of Blood Wine is one of those rare treasures I simply cannot imagine my bookshelf without because I can see myself returning to it again and again.

I loved Charlotte’s transformation throughout the course of the novel. At the beginning of the book, Charlotte is barely surviving her aunt’s attempts to bring her into society. While her sisters seem to fit right in at parties, Charlotte is withdrawn, reserved, and quite terrified, and she tries to make herself as invisible as possible. She’s also not particularly happy in general and not in control of her life, which is illustrated by how quickly Charlotte’s family talks her into accepting a marriage proposal from a man she does not love. Charlotte is told she must marry someone, and since she doesn’t want to marry anyone she thinks a marriage that will make her family happy is the best solution. She is living her life for other people, and I saw this story as partially being about Charlotte learning to accept herself and follow her own heart instead of the will of her family (though the results of her choices are bittersweet). I also loved the writing, such as how this passage took what was happening around Charlotte and tied it to her feelings of loneliness and isolation:

 

She was alone. The house was shrouded in rain and she felt eerily isolated, as if on an island with nothing beyond but grey veils of water. She felt like a dream figure, a formless ghost. Only the rain was real. [pp. 93]

In addition to Charlotte, there are many other characters I enjoyed reading about. Her friend Anne, who is engaged to Charlotte’s brother, does not understand why Charlotte would allow others to control her. Anne has confidence and strength, and she will not accept anything less than equal treatment from her own fiance. Her concern for Charlotte was quite touching, and she was one of my favorite characters. Karl is a rather typical character, the basically good-hearted person who struggles with the dark supernatural side of their nature, but I liked him and found his history quite compelling once it was revealed. The other vampires in the story do tend to be darker than Karl, and each of them has their own individual personality. Kristian is shaped by his past as a preacher, clinging to his religious beliefs and the idea that his purpose is to do God’s work. Ilona too is influenced by her past, and I found her own backstory was very illuminating when it came to her present attitudes.

Vampires didn’t follow the traditional myth in every sense. They were able to go outside during the day, and turning someone into a vampire took much more effort than merely drinking their blood. They also had access to a second realm, and I found the revelation toward the end about why that and vampires existed very interesting (though I won’t say what it is so as to not spoil it!). Like Warrington’s Aetherial Tales, A Taste of Blood Wine dealt with immortality, but the idea of being immortal also didn’t seem like wish fulfillment since the disadvantages of immortality were explored. I enjoyed reading some of the conversations that took place, such as one discussion on the coexistence of science with the supernatural. Kristian was opposed to science, seeing it in opposition to his religious beliefs, yet the scientist Dr. Neville explained to Karl his beliefs that God and science could coexist.

There’s a focus on obsession: Karl’s obsession with Charlotte, Charlotte’s obsession with Karl, Kristian’s obsession with Karl, everyone’s obsession with Karl—well, many were quite captivated by the charismatic, beautiful Karl. It’s also largely a love story as Charlotte and Karl desperately want to be together, but A Taste of Blood Wine is a difficult book to describe since it is fantasy-focused, character-focused, and pulls subjects such as science, religion, immortality, love, and war into the story. In short, I loved it and it made me want more of the world, characters, and writing. I was sorry when it ended and my thoughts kept returning to the story long after I put it down. There is nothing more I could ask for from a book that riveted me from the start and pulled me in further the more I read, and I cannot wait for the next installment to be re-released. Freda Warrington is a truly remarkable author, and A Taste of Blood Wine showcases her incredible skill with prose, story, character, and fantasy.

My Rating: 10/10

Where I got my reading copy: Review copy from the publisher.

Other Reviews of A Taste of Blood Wine:

The Leaning Pile of Books
Jun
09
2013

The Leaning Pile of Books is a feature where I talk about books I got over the last week – old or new, bought or received for review consideration. Since I hope you will find new books you’re interested in reading in these posts, I try to be as informative as possible. If I can find them, links to excerpts, author’s websites, and places where you can find more information on the book are included.

This week brought two books I hadn’t heard of before they showed up, but they both sound as though they could be rather interesting!

I was hoping to get a review up in the last week, but I’m not quite done with the review I’ve been working on. It’s almost done, though, so I’m hoping it can go up this week!

On to the books.

The Thousand Names by Django Wexler

The Thousand Names (The Shadow Campaigns #1) by Django Wexler

The Thousand Names, which will be released in hardcover/ebook on July 2, is a debut novel and the first book in a new series. An excerpt can be read on the author’s website. Goodreads currently has a US giveaway for 35 copies of The Thousand Names that ends on June 16.

 

Enter an epic fantasy world that echoes with the thunder of muskets and the clang of steel—but where the real battle is against a subtle and sinister magic….

Captain Marcus d’Ivoire, commander of one of the Vordanai empire’s colonial garrisons, was resigned to serving out his days in a sleepy, remote outpost. But that was before a rebellion upended his life. And once the powder smoke settled, he was left in charge of a demoralized force clinging tenuously to a small fortress at the edge of the desert.

To flee from her past, Winter Ihernglass masqueraded as a man and enlisted as a ranker in the Vordanai Colonials, hoping only to avoid notice. But when chance sees her promoted to command, she must win the hearts of her men and lead them into battle against impossible odds.

The fates of both these soldiers and all the men they lead depend on the newly arrived Colonel Janus bet Vhalnich, who has been sent by the ailing king to restore order. His military genius seems to know no bounds, and under his command, Marcus and Winter can feel the tide turning. But their allegiance will be tested as they begin to suspect that the enigmatic Janus’s ambitions extend beyond the battlefield and into the realm of the supernatural—a realm with the power to ignite a meteoric rise, reshape the known world, and change the lives of everyone in its path.

Monsters of the Earth by David Drake

Monsters of the Earth (The Books of the Elements #3) by David Drake

Monsters of the Earth will be released in hardcover/ebook in September. It’s the third of four books in The Books of the Elements, though each book is intended to stand on its own according to the author’s website. The first two novels in this fantasy series inspired by the Roman Empire are The Legions of Fire and Out of the Waters.

 

Governor Saxa, of the great city of Carce, a fantasy analog of ancient Rome, is rusticating at his villa. When Saxa’s son Varus accompanies Corylus on a visit to the household of his father, Crispus, a retired military commander, Saxa graciously joins the party with his young wife Hedia, daughter Alphena, and a large entourage of his servants, making it a major social triumph for Crispus. But on the way to the event, something goes amiss. Varus, who has been the conduit for supernatural visions before, experiences another: giant crystalline worms devouring the entire world.

Soon the major characters are each involved in supernatural events caused by a struggle between two powerful magicians, both mentored by the deceased poet and mage Vergil, one of whom wants to destroy the world and the other who wishes to stop him. But which is which? There is a complex web of human and supernatural deceit to be unravelled.

This new novel in David Drake’s ongoing chronicles of Carce, The Books of the Elements, is a gripping and intricate work of fantasy.

The Leaning Pile of Books
Jun
02
2013

The Leaning Pile of Books is a feature where I talk about books I got over the last week – old or new, bought or received for review consideration. Since I hope you will find new books you’re interested in reading in these posts, I try to be as informative as possible. If I can find them, links to excerpts, author’s websites, and places where you can find more information on the book are included.

This week was a very good week since I bought one of my most anticipated books of the year, and a review copy of one of my other most anticipated books of the year showed up in the mail.

On the subject of reviews, I know it’s been awhile since I had any here. After blogging every day in April, I’ve had a bit of blogging fatigue, but I am starting to get back into working my way through the giant stack of books that needs to be reviewed! I am currently working on a review of A Taste of Blood Wine by Freda Warrington, a book I LOVED. Freda Warrington’s Aetherial Tales are wonderful books, but I actually loved this reprint of the first book in an older series by her even more than any of the Aetherial books and am now very excited for the re-release of the second book. A Taste of Blood Wine is my favorite book I’ve read this year, and that’s high praise since I have read some very good books this year.

Anyway, there will be more on why I loved this book in the review! On to other books.

Cold Steel by Kate Elliott

Cold Steel (The Spiritwalker Trilogy #3) by Kate Elliott

I am so excited about the conclusion to The Spiritwalker Trilogy! It will be available in trade paperback and ebook on June 25, and the first two books in the series are Cold Magic and Cold Fire. I enjoyed the first book in this trilogy, but I LOVED the second book. Cold Fire is one of only a very few books I’ve given a rating of 10/10 because there is just no possible way I could have enjoyed it any more than I did.

Warning: There are spoilers for the previous book in the series in the following book description for Cold Steel.

 

Trouble, treachery, and magic just won’t stop plaguing Cat Barahal. The Master of the Wild Hunt has stolen her husband Andevai. The ruler of the Taino kingdom blames her for his mother’s murder. The infamous General Camjiata insists she join his army to help defeat the cold mages who rule Europa. An enraged fire mage wants to kill her. And Cat, her cousin Bee, and her half-brother Rory, aren’t even back in Europa yet, where revolution is burning up the streets.

Revolutions to plot. Enemies to crush. Handsome men to rescue.

Cat and Bee have their work cut out for them.

Frost Burned by Patricia Briggs

Frost Burned (Mercy Thompson #7) by Patricia Briggs

The newest book in the Mercy Thompson series was released in hardcover and ebook in March. It is also available as an audiobook. A sample chapter from Frost Burned is available on the author’s website.

The first six books in the series are as follows:

  1. Moon Called
  2. Blood Bound
  3. Iron Kissed
  4. Bone Crossed
  5. Silver Borne
  6. River Marked

This is one of my three favorite urban fantasy series, and the main reason is that Mercy Thompson is such a great character to read about.

Warning: There are spoilers for the previous books in the series in the following book description for Frost Burned.

 

Mercy Thompson returns in the seventh novel in the #1 New York Times bestselling series.

Mercy Thompson’s life has undergone a seismic change. Becoming the mate of Adam Hauptman—the charismatic Alpha of the local werewolf pack—has made her a stepmother to his daughter Jesse, a relationship that brings moments of blissful normalcy to Mercy’s life. But on the edges of humanity, what passes for a minor mishap on an ordinary day can turn into so much more…

After an accident in bumper-to-bumper traffic, Mercy and Jesse can’t reach Adam—or anyone else in the pack for that matter. They’ve all been abducted.

Through their mating bond, all Mercy knows is that Adam is angry and in pain. With the werewolves fighting a political battle to gain acceptance from the public, Mercy fears Adam’s disappearance may be related—and that he and the pack are in serious danger. Outclassed and on her own, Mercy may be forced to seek assistance from any ally she can get, no matter how unlikely.

The Leaning Pile of Books
May
26
2013

The Leaning Pile of Books is a feature where I talk about books I got over the last week – old or new, bought or received for review consideration. Since I hope you will find new books you’re interested in reading in these posts, I try to be as informative as possible. If I can find them, links to excerpts, author’s websites, and places where you can find more information on the book are included.

This week brought 3 ARCs and 1 finished copy. I already mentioned the finished copy in another one of these posts, but if you want to read more about it, here’s the link:

All of this week’s books look rather interesting; of course, one of these would since it is an installment in one of my favorite series! As always, I included the blurb with these books, but I do want to note that the blurb for the first and last book in this post do contain spoilers for previous books in the series so you may not want to read them.

Chimes at Midnight by Seanan McGuire

Chimes at Midnight (October Daye #7) by Seanan McGuire

October Daye is one of my three favorite urban fantasy series, and the series keeps getting better and better! The last book kept me on the edge of my seat, and I’m looking forward to finding out what happens to Toby next. Chimes at Midnight will be released in mass market paperback and ebook in September 2013.

The previous books in the October Daye series are as follows:

  1. Rosemary and Rue
  2. A Local Habitation
  3. An Artificial Night
  4. Late Eclipses
  5. One Salt Sea
  6. Ashes of Honor

Warning: There is a spoiler for the previous book in the series in the following book description for Chimes at Midnight.

 

Things are starting to look up for October “Toby” Daye. She’s training her squire, doing her job, and has finally allowed herself to grow closer to the local King of Cats. It seems like her life may finally be settling down…at least until dead changelings start appearing in the alleys of San Francisco, killed by an overdose of goblin fruit.

Toby’s efforts to take the problem to the Queen of the Mists are met with harsh reprisals, leaving her under sentence of exile from her home and everyone she loves. Now Toby must find a way to reverse the Queens decree, get the goblin fruit off the streets–and, oh, yes, save her own life, since more than a few of her problems have once again followed her home. And then there’s the question of the Queen herself, who seems increasingly unlikely to have a valid claim to the throne….

To find the answers, October and her friends will have to travel from the legendary Library of Stars into the hidden depths of the Kingdom of the Mists–and they’ll have to do it fast, because time is running out. In faerie, some fates are worse than death.

October Daye is about to find out what they are.

Vicious by V. E. Schwab

Vicious by V. E. Schwab

Vicious is the first adult book by Victoria Schwab, author of the young adult speculative fiction books The Near Witch and The Archived. Vicious will be released in hardcover and ebook in September 2013.

 

A masterful, twisted tale of ambition, jealousy, betrayal, and superpowers, set in a near-future world.

Victor and Eli started out as college roommates—brilliant, arrogant, lonely boys who recognized the same sharpness and ambition in each other. In their senior year, a shared research interest in adrenaline, near-death experiences, and seemingly supernatural events reveals an intriguing possibility: that under the right conditions, someone could develop extraordinary abilities. But when their thesis moves from the academic to the experimental, things go horribly wrong.

Ten years later, Victor breaks out of prison, determined to catch up to his old friend (now foe), aided by a young girl whose reserved nature obscures a stunning ability. Meanwhile, Eli is on a mission to eradicate every other super-powered person that he can find—aside from his sidekick, an enigmatic woman with an unbreakable will.

Armed with terrible power on both sides, driven by the memory of betrayal and loss, the archnemeses have set a course for revenge—but who will be left alive at the end?

A Clockwork Heart by Liesel Schwarz

A Clockwork Heart (The Chronicles of Light and Shadow #2) by Liesel Schwarz

A Clockwork Heart will be released in hardcover and ebook in August 2013. The first book in this series, A Conspiracy of Alchemists, was just released earlier this year. Sky Pirates, the third book, is scheduled for release early next year.

Warning: There are spoilers for the first book in the series in the following plot description.

 

FOR BETTER OR CURSE. That might as well have been the wedding vow of Elle Chance and her new husband, the ex-Warlock Hugh Marsh in the second book of this edgy new series that transforms elements of urban fantasy, historical adventure, and paranormal romance into storytelling magic.

As Elle devotes herself to her duties as the Oracle—who alone has the power to keep the dark designs of Shadow at bay—Marsh finds himself missing the excitement of his former life as a Warlock. So when Commissioner Willoughby of the London Metropolitan police seeks his help in solving a magical mystery, Marsh is only too happy to oblige. But in doing so, Marsh loses his heart . . . literally.

In place of the flesh-and-blood organ is a clockwork device—a device that makes Marsh a kind of zombie. Nor is he the only one. A plague of clockwork zombies is afflicting London, sowing panic and whispers of revolution. Now Elle must join forces with her husband’s old friend, the Nightwalker Loisa Beladodia, to track down Marsh’s heart and restore it to his chest before time runs out.