• Rated 5 stars

“This is a fast-paced, adventure-filled, fantasy with a revenge plot. Quirt finds himself back in the arena where young men compete using their psychic powers, moving objects and porting themselves in contests of strength and skill (and sometimes danger and death). The youths who participate in these gladiatorial-type games are high-caste/nobles who hope to gain attention and find a good match in this matriarchal country of Aureity. Quirt is a good ten years older, but powerful back in his time, and now very experienced. He's out to trap the man who raped and left his mother lost in madness--his father.

Quirt's story is fascinating. His efforts to bring a killer to justice are more difficult than they should be in a society where women rule by psychic abilities that supposedly make it impossible for killers or psychopaths to remain in any high position--proving that while magic may make it harder to murder and deceive, it all depends on humans who are fallible; whether the supposedly more brutish and less civilized men (whose powers are those of strength, speed and teleporting) or women (detecting lies, able to read minds, cast illusions), who are viewed as rulers who can keep violence and wars and criminality from occurring.

The culture is interesting, with its strict castes and politics and magic and views on men and women. The battles in the arena are exciting and suspenseful. I wish the thoughts and feelings and relationships between the characters were elaborated a bit more. The pace was nice and fast, but I wouldn't have minded a bit more about all the characters. The relationship between Quirt and the very arrogant, powerful, young contestant, Humate, was fascinating... and I'd loved to have seen it developed a bit more in the book. But if you're more into the action and the plot, there's enough here to satisfy. This is a stand-alone that has innovative world-building and action and adventure, with an exiting and moving and intricate plot that nicely wraps up with a grand climax. I thoroughly enjoyed it.”

aprillee wrote this review 3 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 5 stars

“HAVEMERCY is a laudable effort by two young, new writers, containing everything you'd want in a good fantasy: an interesting world with believable societies, tech and magic; finely drawn, memorable characters; epic battles as well as romance and moving relationships; and most of all--talking, fire-breathing, metal dragons and the special corps of men who ride them!

The kingdom/empire of Volstov, ruled by the Esar, has been in a nearly endless war with the Ke-Han Empire across the Cobalt Mountains to the south-east. Volstov has maintained the edge during the conflict because they alone have a small but effective air force consisting of 14 metal dragons flown by the daring pilots of the elite Dragon Corps, who are praised and feted throughout Volstov and particularly in their home base in the captial city of Thremedon (near the border, by the Cobalt Mountains).

Unfortunately, during the long, drawn-out war, there are periods of inaction. The tale opens during such a stretch, which has led to the Dragon Corps being at loose-ends and therefore in trouble. Rook, pilot of one of the fleetest, strongest dragons, Havemercy, has insulted the wife of an Arlemagne diplomat. Skilled and daring, but also wild and uncontrolled, Rook is the uncouth, uncaring, outrageous, foul-mouthed product of Molly, the lowest tier of Thremedon City, and he has a chip on his shoulder a mile wide. Rook is one of the four first-person narrators of the tale. His voice is reminiscent of the swearing, tough-talking anti-heroes in a number of recent books--he reminded me a bit of Sarah Monette's Mildmay character (maybe in concert with the use of Bastion for castle/fortress area of the Esar and the tower of wizards, the Basquiat, and the upper-class, erudite voice of the wizard, etc.?).

There is also Margrave Royston, a wizard who also happens to land in trouble with an international incident. He's awaiting arrest and/or punishment for having indiscreetly had relations with an Arlemagne Prince who then blamed Royston entirely. (Volstov's society is a bit more forgiving of M/M relations, whereas Arlemagne is not, and the Prince was heir to the kingdom, and Volstov was hoping to make Arlemagne an ally in the war.) Royston's title of Margrave had been awarded him by the Esar himself, meaning that he was a magician who had performed great service, in Royston's case, in battle, even though he is already of the aristocracy and has a Talent and is therefore one of the elite magicians.

Thom is the third narrator, a scholar of the 'Versity who has the thankless task of trying to reign in the behavior of the Dragon Corps, a group of men closer than brothers. He goes to live among them, to find out what makes them tick. Rook seems to lead them all on, and Rook makes life for Thom unbearable. But Thom does, gradually, get to know about these men, the battles they fight--and the dragons!

Hal is the fourth narrator. He's a lover of romans, although he gets to read few enough books, being a poor, distant relation of the Margrave and nanny and soon to be tutor to the Margrave's brother, who lives at Castle Nevers out in the countryside--where the Margrave is exiled for his indiscretions.

All four play important parts in the plot, which starts slowly, during a time of inaction, and builds as the war heats up again--and then comes to a crisis as the Ke-Han magicians (who use a different form of magic) hatch a plan to turn the tide of the war and threaten all of the characters as well as the kingdom of Volstov and the outcome of the war.

There is not nearly enough about the dragons, however, that may have been wise, since it could have turned the story into just another man-and-his-dragon story (which may have been just fine). The aspects of the dragons and the life of the Dragon Corps that are shown are definitely fascinating, particularly as viewed through Rook's and Thom's very different eyes. Interwoven into this are Royston's and Hal's narratives, which are much more personal, but reveal intriguing and important things about the rest of society. All four characters are strong and distinct and interesting, and their sections interweave well, never impeding the gradually unwinding plot and building action.

While there is not much shockingly new explored in this book, it is still far from tired and derivative. The voices of the characters are varied and well-crafted and the overall story is told with dexterity and sincerity, giving it weight and easily engaging our interest as well as our emotions.

I had heard nothing about this book before happening to pick it up. It was like finding an unexpected gem and I feel grateful to have stumbled upon it.”

aprillee wrote this review 3 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 5 stars

“I love Martin Jerrold. He has all sorts of outrageous adventures, but is a normal guy, no super-hero. He, quite sensibly, doesn't want to risk his life. He'd rather have a good drink and a woman than fight battles. Sometimes the odd people in books who seem to have no fear and be willing to face death at the drop of a hat can pall. Who is really like that, after all???

This time out things are a bit more serious even though the task seems simple enough... Jerrold is to carry a letter-packet to the New World. After his last adventures, he's managed to annoy a number of powerful politicians and Royals and military folk, so getting out of the country for a spell is a good idea. Mr. Nevell of the Post Office has had the original messenger waylaid and the letter taken. They cannot open the letter since it's cleverly sealed, but Nevell says there's a possible conspiracy in the works and Jerrold just needs to deliver the letter and see if he can foil the plot.

Jerrold find himself in sea battles against a Spanish ships, dealing with a beautiful but deadly young lady and her rich and powerful father, having agents out to steal the letter--or kill him-- along the way to Pittsburgh, and involved in a conspiracy that leads him into the wilderness and down the Mississippi, led by the charismatic Aaron Burr...

This time out, Jerrold seems a bit more resigned to the adventures that keep him occupied, whether he wants them or not. He also seems to be growing a bit through the experience, also whether he wants to or not. Yet he's still very human, which is what I like about him.

I sincerely hope the author manages to sell more books in this exciting and amusing series.”

aprillee wrote this review 3 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 5 stars

“The Elizabethan period is a popular setting for many historicals--whether alternate history/fantasy or not, but few can carry it off and make it seems as right and real as Bear, particularly choosing as her heroes two such prominent figures as Marlowe (or Marley, here), and Shakespeare.

That Marley is indeed working for Francis Walsingham and the Queen is a given, and it is natural that he doesn't actually die in that small room in Deptford (wild speculation has continued over the hundreds of years since, after all). That he's spirited off by fairies to the Court of Queen Mab (or Mebd, here), just fits right in. It seems there has been an ongoing war fought by poets, a magic and power in words that helps keep Elizabeth on the throne and which is mirrored in Faerie as well. Of course there is a power in the plays! How else are Shakespeare--and so many others--explained?

Shakespeare is, of course, recruited after Marley is taken out of the picture. He must deal with conspiracies and danger as well as write... and worry about his separation from his wife and family up at Stratford. And Marley needs to negotiate the even more arcane plots and intrigues of the faerie court, and continue to think about those he left behind.

There is a deep magic at work here, in this book, in the recreating of this time and place that resonates so strongly even centuries later. And the alien magic of the faerie, so rich and strange, is also captured so well that there is no question of disbelief. I was instantly caught up, in this amazing period of time, with these larger-than-life people (where even the bit players are important), during events both momentous and mundane.

This is one of the best books out of literally hundreds that I've read over the past few years. A convincing Shakespeare and Marley and the addition of intrigue, adventure, magic and Faerie is just a combination I can't resist. I'm ordering the sequel--and I would buy these books in hardcover if I could.”

aprillee wrote this review 3 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 4 stars

“This is a fun little murder-mystery set in the late 18thC. when highwaymen plagued the London environs. The heroine is a no-nonsense, independent woman who craves adventure and is determined to live life as she will, without entirely losing her status in society. When a local magistrate is found dead, Georgiana has her own reasons to wish to find his murderer, even though she--and many others, including the too perceptive Maxwell Lakesby. Georgiana has quite a few adventures on the way to solving the murder.

The setting could have been more clearly defined. The time is only vaguely set by the mentions of a few things that could have existed in the latter 18thC to the Regency. Also, the characters are on deserted roads with woods and highwaymen quite a lot, and yet also seem to be in London. There are heaths and areas between villages before the city buildings spread... but this isn't made clear at all. That is the only slight quibble I have with this book, aside from the very fantasy/romantic element of the highwaymen, which I enjoyed too much to worry over.

I'd read more books by this author and any sequels that may be published.”

aprillee wrote this review 3 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink )

1 of 1 members found this review helpful.

• Rated 5 stars

““True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic. It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever cost.” --Arthur Ashe

EMPIRE OF IVORY was a grand exploration adventure to a strange civilization on a mysterious continent. I missed seeing Lawrence and Temeraire within the milieu of the armed services battling against Napoleon, however. This book returns them to all that with a vengeance.

We last saw our heroes finding a cure for the dragon plague, but then having to choose to do what should be the right thing over Lawrence's oath to his service and his country. Lawrence insists on returning to face dishonor and death --or a postponed death while he's held hostage for Temeraire's good behavior, since the country still wishes to keep the rare Celestial dragon.

Temeraire is relegated to the very boring, for him, breeding grounds in Wales. Lawrence is kept prisoner aboard ship, where he is able to see when Napoleon launches his invasion of England. This disaster overshadows, at least a bit, the crime of Lawrence and Temeraire. He is still a condemned traitor (at a time when hanging, drawing and quartering was still technically in effect for that capital crime), a disgrace to his family and friends and all he served with, and drummed from the service, but now there is some more immediate need for Temeraire. Lawrence is ordered to go and retrieve Temeraire for active service.

This is not a happy time for Lawrence. He's for all intents and purposes a broken man, save for his desire to keep Temeraire alive and, if not happy, at least not grieving for him before it becomes impossible to avoid. Lawrence has to deal with the fact that doing the right thing can have dark consequences. For Temeraire, it is all so much simpler (or relatively so. Temeraire is complex for a dragon, as most just want to be kept fed. Temeraire wants rights for dragons. And he wants Lawrence back, no matter what. Lawrence, however glad he is to be back with Temeraire, carries a load of guilt for what he has done, right or not. Napoleon would not have been able to invade but for his actions.

And in the meantime, Napoleon is heading for London, his troops and his dragons strong and organized. The British government and its military are in shock and disarray, the countryside is raided for the supply of the French: very dark and desperate times, indeed.

The action is intense and fast-paced, between small skirmishes and full-scale battles. The suspense and tension is unrelenting, with physical danger threatening as well as the uncertain fate of Lawrence and Temeraire. The focus is concentrated on Lawrence and Temeraire and the invasion of England. The quiet despair of Lawrence, who keeps fighting because of his love of country and Temeraire, is poignant and evocative. His struggle with his conscious and the consequences of his action is deeply moving and thought-provoking.

I was touched by Lawrence's sacrifices in the very first book in this series, in order to be with Temeraire and do his duty to his country; and also caught up in Temeraire's unconditional love for Lawrence. These characters and their relationship and Lawrence's sense of honor and duty, are the essence of this series. All these things and more are brought back to the forefront once more in this book, and I adored it. I am more a fan of this series than ever.”

aprillee wrote this review Sunday, August 10 2008. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 5 stars

“Rabbit is a simple soldier in the Iversterre Army, stationed in a back-water outpost... Or at least that is what he wishes he was and tries hard to be. Unfortunately for Rabbit, he's got a few rather big secrets. When one of the Faena, a talking mountain cat named Laurel, happens upon Rabbit's troop, things start to fall apart as far as Rabbit is concerned. Rabbit is from the Borderlands, a territory distinct from Iversterre, to the south, and so is the Faena, a creature most people in Iversterre think of as mythical. Rabbit has grown up with Faena, so he's not confounded by Laurel's appearance--but he somehow gets caught up in a Covenant with him... a simple sharing of food that turns into something bigger.

Laurel has been sent as an Ambassador to the King's Court of Iversterre. Years ago (largely forgotten by most of the people), the Borderlands fought a war and handily defeated Iversterre, now the two countries are approaching another war: smugglers and slavers and reavers from Iversterre have been killing Borderlands creatures or selling them as slaves and trading in their artifacts.

Rabbit travels with his troop, accompanying the Ambassador to the Courts and finds that he's the target of assassination attempts and that he needs to stop being the simple soldier and former farmboy and find out about politics and intrigues quickly. And although magic is totally disregarded in Iversterre, it seems that plenty of magic is at work; something else that Rabbit needs to know more about fast.

This is a solid and enjoyable epic fantasy that has some of what you'd expect (magic and mages and dragons and elves and kingdoms at war) and yet still feels fresh and unique. There is plenty of adventure and mystery and action and betrayal and evil. What's better, they aren't fighting an Evil Overlord, but men and creatures with the typical desire for power and riches.

Rabbit is a good main character. He's a farmboy and simple soldier, even though he's also quite a few other things as well. While he may be a bit TOO much, particularly towards the latter part of the book, the fact that he's humble and doesn't ask for much helps keep him grounded and accessible. The cast of characters who surround him are complex and intriguing as well. The plot twists and turns and is a wildly fun roller-coaster of a ride.

It is very easy for an epic fantasy to fall into the usual tropes and become indistinguishable from one another. This book is saved by its strong characters and clean and accomplished storytelling. I'm happy to recommend this book and will certainly be reading any sequels.”

aprillee wrote this review Thursday, August 7 2008. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 5 stars

“This book returns to the same universe as the excellent OLD MAN'S WAR. We follow the adventures of Special Forces (aka the Ghost Brigades) soldier, Jared Dirac who was created as a clone of Charles Boutin, a scientist and traitor to mankind. Boutin has gone over to one of the Colonial Defense Forces many enemies with enough information to cause no end of trouble. To try and find out what he's doing and why, the CDF tries the long-shot of creating his clone and downloading Boutin's brain-scans. Clones can be legally created from the deceased, and Boutin, having faked his death by killing a clone he'd created, is legally dead. Such clones are meant to be enhanced Special Forces, who are awakened as full adults, aided by the computers (Brain-Pals) in their heads. Unfortunately, Jared shows no sign of Boutin's memories, so he's assigned to combat. But there's always the chance that those memories will arise, and those who know about Jared fear that they may have just created another traitor.

The previous book followed the training and missions of a "normal" trooper with the CDF. This book reveals more about the strange Ghost Brigades who were introduced in the first book, and also features the return of Jane Sagan, the Special Forces officer who was John Perry's interest in the first book. Reading the first book is not strictly necessary but is recommended to fill in the background of this universe (plus the fact that it's well worth the read).

Boutin's plot to help the Colonial Union's alien enemies band together, and to probably plan some sort of major sabotage he's capable of as a key scientist working with the CDF, is suspenseful. The CU and CDF were already constantly in a state of war, but this combination is guaranteed to be ugly. Seeing life through Jared Dirac's eyes as a clone that needs to function from day one and goes through training in two weeks is also fascinating. His situation, as a clone who might, totally unknown to him, turn into a mirror of Boutin and betray his comrades and humankind, is also intriguing.

I have no hesitation in recommending this book to SF readers and fans of military SF. I'll look forward to reading Scalzi's next books.”

aprillee wrote this review Thursday, August 7 2008. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 5 stars

“I am lost for words that would describe just how much I love MATELOTS and the previous BRETHREN and indeed, I'm certain, the entire RAISED BY WOLVES series. I have read countless books and enjoyed many over many decades, but few truly stand out, and I certainly didn't expect a M/M romance series would affect me so greatly--but as those of you who have experienced these books know, they are unique.

The almost day-by-day accounting of life among the 17thC. buccaneers is magical in its depth and detail all on its own. These books are wonderfully long and expansive and as I said in my review of the first book, one can sink completely into another world and live fabulous adventures without danger or discomfort and yet see and feel everything. It's the ultimate experience for a reader of adventure tales, particularly if they enjoy experiences far from the mundane.

And for those of us who also enjoy character-driven tales, Will and Gaston's tale is fascinating. Will is someone who lives and loves passionately--and also thoughtfully. He's an observer of the human condition with his thoughts about wolves and sheep and centaurs. He seeks to understand the complexities of human nature, particularly when it comes to Gaston, who is not just damaged by his past, but has a kind of madness that was a part of him from birth. The ruminations on society and morality and other philosophies can sometimes seem anachronistically modern, but just as Hoffman's world is convincing and detailed, so are her characters, and Will's revolutionary thinking is organic and explained... and realistically portrayed, as he's no constant crusader for reform. Mostly, he just wishes to live honestly as a lover of men at a time when this was difficult--and this may seem modern too, but not really; people are not so different in their hopes and desires whether living centuries ago or currently. But really, do I care? No. Will can want to educate the slaves or not. I'll want to read about him all the same. And Gaston, too. These are characters to fall in love with no matter what your orientation. As with BRETHREN, the secondary characters are fantastic, too. Striker, Pete, Cudro, Otter, Liam, the Bard, Theodore--and introduced in this book, Agnes and Sarah.

In this installment, which opens right after the last book, Will first needs to help Gaston gain control over his madness, which has been gripping him since his torture/treatment at the hands of the crazy doctor. There are also changes coming to the buccaneers. New men arrive on Jamaica every day and many follow the lure of gold that piracy seems to promise, without caring for the traditions of the Brethren of the Coast. Amongst old friends who do hold to traditions, changes are happening, too. Will is instructed by his father to marry--and learns that Gaston desires him to have children some day. Striker lets it be known that he's also wished for children--and a wife, but fears Pete will kill someone rather than let that happen. Much of the first part of this book, the captain and crew of the Virgin Queen are sailing on their own, or in Port Royal, or off on other parts of the islands. There is action in the latter part when Henry Morgan gathers together the buccaneers for his famous action in Panama. But there is not a dull moment in the entire 600 pages of this book.

I am so grateful that the author has written this series. Sometimes books can be magic of the highest order--casting a spell that can transport a reader to other worlds to meet and adventure with people who can be known better than oneself. For me, Hoffman has cast such a magnificent spell that it can make life seem truly magical. I can't wait to read the next book (which fortunately for me, is available as I write this). I will need to wait for the right moment when I can put aside time to immerse myself again in this amazingly vivid world with these incredible characters and adventures. These are among the few books I wish would never end, so I know I will be re-reading them as soon as I can.”

aprillee wrote this review Thursday, August 7 2008. ( reply | permalink )