Beyond Imagination

Bibliophile extraordinaire, master bookseller, aspiring writer, introvert and over-all crazy person. Love fantasy and sci-fi and pit bulls.

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Book Review: Jade War, Book 2 of the Green Bones Saga by Fonda Lee.

Available in hardcover July 23, 2019

Its not uncommon in fantasy literature (at least in my experience) for trilogy series to suffer from “saggy middle syndrome”. That is, the second book in the series tends to slow down in both action and pacing in order to pull all the pieces together and set up for a dramatic third book. There isn’t really anything wrong with this approach, as it often leads to an amazing end of the series. That said, Fonda Lee’s Jade War, sequel to the award winning Jade City, is anything but slow.

Picking up where Jade City left off, Piller Kaul Hilo-jen and his Weatherman, Kaul Shae-jen are working to reestablish No Peak clan’s holdings within Janloon, and expand their power base on the island of Kekon and beyond. The world has learned the power of Jade and the Green Bones are no longer the only ones who can wield the gem’s awesome power.

Fonda weaves together an impressive amount of threads to create a rich and colourful tapistry of a story. A tale of family and honour, gangsters and power, following one’s heart and finding one’s place, Jade War will leave you satisfied in ways you never knew possible... and wanting more with every chapter.

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Book Review: Holy Sister, book 3 of the Ancestor Trilogy, by Mark Lawrence

As promised, I did in fact get book 3 out of the library in hardcover so that I wouldn’t have to wait too long for the conclusion of Nona’s story. I am so very, very glad I did.

Mark has an amazing ability to pull a person into his stories and hold them there. By the end of the book he will leave you crying and screaming for the next book because you just cannot wait to see what happens next. The Ancestor Trilogy is no exception to this and Holy Sister takes all the drama and intensity of the first two books and gut-punches you with it. It is one of those books you will stay up way too late reading (regardless of how early you have to get up the next day) because you just can’t leave it alone.

Nona has been one of my most favorite characters in any book series I have read of late. I adore the anti-hero so much more than the traditional hero archetype, and Nona is definitely not a typical hero. With a horrible temper and a propensity for ignoring the rules when it suits her to do so, Nona is not your typical candidate for a nun (not even a martial one). But her dedication to her friends and her steadfast belief in holding to her promises regardless of the personal cost make Nona a character we can admire and love all the more because of her flaws rather than despite them.

I cannot recommend this trilogy strongly enough. If you love grimdark fantasy, if you love strong characters who show their humanity in every word and gesture, if you love a really good story, then the Book of the Ancestor trilogy is definitely for you.

Be sure to check out my reviews of the first two books, Red Sister and Grey Sister.

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Book Review: The Missing of Clairdelune, Book 2 of The Mirror Visitor Quartet, by Christelle Dabos

The first book in this series was amazing and I had high hopes for this one. I wasn’t disappointed. Picking up right where book 1 left off, we continue Ophelia’s journey, preparing to meet the Family Spirit of the Pole:

The safety of Ophelia, her family and her fiance’s aunt (and her unborn child) depend on Lord Farouk accepting her into his court and extending her his protection. But politics is a game that Ophelia is still a novice with and in the Pole politics can be deadly. As the date for her wedding approaches those who would see her union with Thorn destroyed step up their malignance. Meanwhile, powerful members of the upper class are disappearing from the Ambassador's home - the one place where anyone should be safe. It falls to Ophelia to investigate these disappearances, much to Thorn’s disapproval. Can she solve the mystery of the disappearances and mend her relationship with her future husband before the wedding?

I stayed up way too late to finish this one, because I just couldn’t bear to stop with only a few chapters to the end left. And then I wanted to scream because I wanted to start the next one NOW! Unfortunately the english translation of book 3 is not yet out so it looks like I’ll be sitting on pins-and-needles for a while waiting for it. But as a huge fantasy fiction fan, I’m used to waiting for the next book in a series (I think I’ve lost count of how many I’m waiting for, actually) so until then I’ll be on to my next read.

If you haven’t had a chance to check out this series, I strongly recommend that you pick up book one of the Mirror Visitor Quartet, A Winter’s Promise. You can check out my review of that book HERE.

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Book Review: The Binding by Bridget Collins

Despite the old saying of not judging a book by the cover, the fact is that the cover is the first thing you see and therefore usually the first thing that attracts someone to a book. It isn’t necessarily the thing that makes me want to read the book, but it is often something that makes me want to look closer at it. In this case, it was the cover of this book that really grabbed me when it came into the store. After reading the cover blurb, it interested me enough that I decided to borrow it from the library.

Emmett Farmer is a bookbinder born, one with the ability to take away a person’s memories and bind them into a book. His mentor, Seredith, has taught him all aspects of the craft, to respect and honor the sacred calling of their gift. But there are others who do not share the old woman’s dedication and scruples. When she dies suddenly, Emmett is forced to take an apprenticeship with one of these amoral tradesmen. Just as Emmett begins to accept his new position he discovers a life-altering secret: there is a book with his name on it. What secrets it holds will impact not only Emmett’s future, but the future of the one he loves most as well.

I will say that The Binding wasn’t quite what I thought it would be. Despite the somewhat speculative fiction aspect of the story, it really is more of a story of forbidden love. While not usually my thing, this book entranced me. It drew me in and made me want to read more. I needed to know what happened next. I needed to know how things turned out. Its a book that had me cheering for a happy ending.

I did find the ending a little abrupt - it ties up the main story lines neatly but leaves things open for a potential sequel. Or, like life, open for you to imagine the next steps in the journey of our protagonists. I would definitely recommend this as an excellent choice for book clubs. It has a lot of good points for discussion and debate.

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Book Review: Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson

I read Margaret Rogerson’s first book, An Enchantment of Ravens, based on the recommendation of my boss (she literally handed me the ARC of that one and said ‘read this’). I loved it. And so, when I heard Margaret had a new book coming out I was so excited that I contacted the store’s Simon and Schuster rep for a copy of the ARC. She hand-delivered one to me since I was so excited to read it.

Sorcery of Thorns is an AWESOME book. It has everything you could want in a fantasy novel: magic and sword fights, loss and heartache, love and passion, good versus evil and right versus wrong. It has a kick-a** female protagonist who loves books and can wield a sword, a budding romance that is as infuriating and confusing as any real life relationship I have ever encountered, and a character you know you shouldn’t love but do anyway.

A fantastic read for anyone who wants a fun adventure fantasy, a safe read for teens who like strong characters and strong plots but don’t want (or aren’t ready for) significant sex scenes. I stayed up until 2 am to finish it because I just couldn’t wait to find out what happened. A wonderful stand-alone in a world of series, I can’t recommend this one enough.

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Book Review: American Gods by Neil Gaiman (Audio Edition)

So everyone kept telling me that I needed to read American Gods by Neil Gaiman. One look at the paperback told me that I probably didn’t want to add that to my TBR pile. So I went searching and was pleasantly surprised to find that I could borrow the 10th anniversary, author’s preferred text edition as an audio book from the library.

WOW! This book explores an idea I don’t think anyone else has ever thought of before. In a land populated by immigrants, what happened when so many different faiths and beliefs suddenly showed up? And what happened to those beliefs, and the gods that went with them, as newer obsessions came into being? We all know the stories of how the gods have enjoyed playing with and using mortals throughout time. Some things never change, even when everything else does.

This book makes you question morality and sin, love and forgiveness, devotion and obligation. It makes you think about what separates us from our roots and from each other. It makes you question whether the world is changing too fast and too much.

Neil Gaiman is a master story teller and everyone should read this book. Neil is also a gifted orator, and if you get a chance to listen to this audio book you get a chance to truly appreciate it, as he reads some of the book himself. It definitely makes it worth while.

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I’m working hard to keep up my promise to read more graphic novels this year. I find myself reading several in a row then not reading any for a while. So I have a few to hit up here together:

Book 1: Spill Zone Volume 1 by Scott Westerfeld and Alex Puvilland

This was a great story. I traditionally enjoy dystopian-style books, so this story fits right in. An accident in a town transforms everything there, leaving it a twisted, nightmarish place that is off-limits to everyone. But a young woman and former resident risks everything to go back in and take pictures, selling them to collectors for the money she needs to look after her sister, who was in the town when the accident occurred.

The story is utterly unique and the artwork amazing. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and look forward to reading more of the series, as it was left on a bit of a cliffhanger and I’m anxious to see what happens next.

Book 2: Anya’s Ghost by Vera Brosgol

Very much a coming of age story, Anya’s Ghost is about a young woman who finds a dead body, and it’s attached ghost, when she falls down a well. Suffering from self esteem and body image issues, Anya is thrilled when her new friend seems to be able to help her get all the things she wants in life... until she starts to question whether she really wants those things and what the ghost’s real intentions are.

A beautiful story for teens about growing up and realizing that the grass isn’t always greener on the other side. This one is a must read.

Book 3: Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson and Emily Carroll

A graphic adaptation of Laurie’s YA novel of the same name, this book took my heart and squeezed it dry. Once I started I literally could not put this book down, I absolutely had to finish the journey.

It is a story about pain, fear, violation and depression. It is a story about reclaiming your power and your voice. It is a story about healing and finding your strength. It is powerful and heartbreaking and uplifting. It is a book every teen should read. While I haven’t read the novel, I believe that this graphic adaptation hits home and the ability to see Melinda, to see her expressions and body language drive home the story as much as the text. As art is a major component in the story, being able to see Melinda’s creations is as important as knowing her thoughts.

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So I am really, really behind on posting up my reviews. March and April have been crazy busy for me, both at work and personally, so I haven’t had as much time to read as I would like (mostly listening to audio books of books I’ve read and/or listened to several times already). But now that we’re into May I’m going to try to be better...

The Senior Owlets May book is A Thousand Beginnings and Endings a collection of short stories from authors of Asian descent who are known for their YA science fiction and fantasy work. Each author has taken a story from their childhood - myths, fables and fairy tales - and put their own spin on them, retelling the tales in a way that feels right to them.

I loved this collection. Growing up with the Grimm fairy tales and Aesop’s fables, I am not as familiar with a lot of the stories from other places in the world and it was amazing to be able to read these stories and see what kinds of lessons were passed down in other cultures through story. My favorite stories were Olivia’s Table by Alyssa Wong, The Land of the Morning Calm by E.C. Myers, and Girls Who Twirl and Other Dangers by Preeti Chhibber.

I would strongly recommend this collection for anyone who enjoys fairy tales and myths, and for anyone who wants to learn more about Asian culture.  

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March has been a slow reading month for me (so much work stuff 😭) but when I got the ARC for S.K. Ali’s newest book - an ARC I excitedly requested from the store’s Simon & Schuster rep when I heard it was coming out - I had to make it my next read.

After a confrontation with a bigoted teacher, Zaynab is suspended from school. Already having plans to visit her aunt in Doha, Qatar, she goes a week early and vows to try to be a “nicer” version of herself. Adam is heading home to Doha, on spring break from University. He has a secret that he has to share, but isn’t sure how to break the news to his father and sister. Bring on the “meet cute”. They seem perfect for each other, but are they as perfect as they seem?

Ali’s ability to take a faith that I know very little about and make it relatable is amazing. Her writing is real and current and and manages to reach right into your heart and give you all the feels. Her characters remind you that everyone has a story and making any sort of assumption based on someone’s name, dress or faith only shows how small-minded the person making assumptions is.

Love From A to Z is a beautiful exploration of the Marvels and Oddities in life. From Islamaphobia to triumph over hate, from sadness and fear to true love, Ali’s sophomore book explores topics that have far too often been ignored in a way that educates without feeling preachy. It is a book that both teens and adults can learn from while also enjoying excellent prose.

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I have loved pretty much everything Anne Bishop has ever written. I have all the books from all her series, and, while I do have my favorites, I love them all. So when a new book comes out and I get my hands on it, you can bet I squealed out loud.

I’ve been so excited to read Wild Country ever since I heard the first rumblings about the plot. Being able to follow the stories of characters I was introduced to in the main story line on their own journeys always thrills me, since I often spend a lot of time going “whatever happened to so-and-so” or “I wonder how the folks in wherever are doing”. So when Wild Country got put in my hands, all other books that I am reading got shuffled to the side to get to this one.

I was not disappointed. There were some expected things (hoped for things, really...) and some twists I didn’t see coming. And I will say the ending absolutely wrecked me! I mean... all the feels here people! I don’t know how to say anything without giving away absolutely everything, so all I can say is, if you are a fan of Anne Bishop and her Others series you definitely need to read this. But be prepared, because you are probably going to either go mute with shock, or scream at the book by the end. And then you’ll join me and others in the queue for the next one, because I absolutely NEED to know what happens out in Bennett next.

And if you haven’t read any of the Others books, check out book one of the main story, Written In Red. There is so much in these stories... if you love dark fantasy, you’ll love Anne Bishop!

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Book Review: Grey Sister, Book 2 of the Ancestor Trilogy, by Mark Lawrence

So I finished this one a week ago, but got busy and forgot to post up my review. However, in the spirit of better late than never, here it is!

I loved Red Sister. The first book of the Ancestor series, it was a fantastic epic grimdark fantasy. It left me wanting more and so I couldn’t be more excited when Grey Sister finally came out in mass market and I could get my copy (I have a thing about books in series being in the same format...you know what I’m talking about). But with the second book of any trilogy, there is always the fear of the “saggy middle”. We’ve all seen it with books, and with movies, where the action drops off and the book seems like a slog because we’re being set up for all the big things that will happen in number 3.

I am thrilled to say that Grey Sister more than lives up to it’s predecessor! The story had me hooked back in right away, and I did not want to have to stop reading (sadly one must do things like work, eat and sleep...) because I just wanted to know what happened next. I was thrilled to get into the head of more characters in the story, along with following Nona’s journey. It was great to see the curtains pulled back and learn more about the backgrounds of some of the most important and influential characters, getting hints about what is coming next without having anything given away. Its been a while since I’ve been dragged into and held with a story the way the Book of the Ancestor series has grabbed me. Mark Lawrence is a master storyteller and does not disappoint.

I am so excited for Holy Sister to come out that I have done something I generally hate doing for book series I love - I’ve put the hardcover on hold at the library so I don’t have to wait so long to read it! I desperately want to own it, of course, but until the mass market comes out to keep the shelves looking pretty... I was actually shocked (and I really don’t know why, the series is just so good) that I was the 12th! person to put a hold on Holy Sister, despite the book not even being out yet. All I can hope is that the 11 people before me are fast readers...

If you haven’t seen it yet, you can read my review of Red Sister HERE. And if you haven’t yet begun to read the story of a young girl named Nona and her quest toward becoming the most amazingly ferocious fighting nun you’ve ever heard of, you need to start now!

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So the April book for the Senior Owlets Teen/Tween book club this year is Crossing Ebenezer Creek by Tonya Bolden. I saw it in a catalog at work about 6 months ago or so and thought it would be an interesting read for the kids - something different that they likely would not pick up themselves. It has proven to be both educational and entertaining (in a somewhat depressing form - though that is to be expected with the subject matter).

Mariah is a slave in Georgia during the US Civil War. Freedom comes in the form of the 14th Army Corps, under the overall command of General Sherman and the direct command of General Jefferson C. Davis. Freed from the plantation Mariah, her brother Zeke, and several other former slaves follow the army headed for Savannah, seeking safety with the Yankees as they march away from their old lives to what they hope will be a glorious new start. But the northern army is not what they expect, and the acceptance they thought they’d find is severely lacking. But for Mariah there is a bright spot too, in the form of Caleb, and like the others she begins to dream of a future. Until Ebenezer Creek.

History told in narrative form, author Tonya Bolden spins the tale of a story few have likely ever heard. It is not a happy story, but it is one that needs to be told. I am glad I’ve had the chance to read this story, and the chance to share it with the book club. I’m anxious to see what they make of it. This is a story I would encourage teachers to look at for their classrooms, to help us ensure that history never repeats itself and that those who suffered are never forgotten.

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So I stumbled upon this ARC and thought is sounded kinda interesting in a fairly generic sci-fi novel way. Boy was I wrong! Its been a very long time since I have been so into a solid sci-fi story and Keith Thomas’s Dahlia Black a truly unique, pure sci-fi story.

The year is 2028. Five years earlier the Pulse was discovered by Dr. Dahlia Mitchell, an astronomer at the University of California Santa Cruz, leading to the greatest transformation of human society in history. Unlike many authors before him, journalist Keith Thomas sets out to understand the Pulse from a more personal perspective of those affected - both directly and indirectly - by the alien code and what came after.

This book is truly unique in its approach to storytelling. Author Keith Thomas sets up his novel not in traditional style, but as if writing a non-fiction historical account of first contact with an alien species. Instead of ‘experiencing the event’ as it happens, Thomas starts us off after the fact and peels back the layers of truth and speculation surrounding the events with personal interviews, diary entries and recorded interview transcripts to paint a picture of not only the event itself, but life afterward. It is a masterful and powerful storytelling technique that works wonderfully well and draws you into the story deeper and deeper, keeping the reader engaged and excited right through the end.

I cannot praise this book enough. It is very much a top favorite of mine and one I wholeheartedly recommend for all readers, not just those sci-fi aficionados. Releasing August 13, 2019 I recommend you pre-order your copy now. In Calgary or surrounding area? Pre-order yours from Owl’s Nest Books HERE.

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When Three Dark Crowns first came out I remember looking at it and saying to myself “This looks really awesome. I should really read it.” My TBR pile seemed a little to big at the time and I just never got around to it. So when my last Audible credit came down I thought it was the perfect time to catch up.

Once in a generation triplets are born. One of these gifted girls is destined to become queen - at the cost of her sisters lives. Upon their 16th birthday the ascension year begins and each girl must do their best to kill the others to claim the throne. Who will win in this generation - the poisoner, the naturalist, or the elemental?

I honestly found that the story started a little slow. Swapping between the POVs of each of the triplets was a little jarring, and took a bit of getting used to without getting confused with the storyline. However, once I really got into the story I couldn’t stop. The complexity of the story drew me in and grabbed me completely. I can’t wait to read the rest of the series!

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February has been a bit of a slow month for me, reading wise. Fortunately Gail Carriger’s Competence (Book 3 of the Custard Protocol series) came out in paperback and I could not put it down! Since being introduced to Gail’s work by coworkers I have not been able to stop devouring her books.

Continuing the adventures of Prudence and the crew of the Spotted Custard, Competence takes us into the heads of the Tunstill twins, Primrose and Percy. After receiving coded letters from Rue’s mother, the crew of the Custard head to South America on an urgent mission. But personal issues abound and cause strife among the crew. Can our favourite dirigible floating heroes come together to complete their mission, all while maintaining proper manners and fashion?

Competence certainly lives up to the previous books. With a humour I’ve rarely found in any book I have once again found myself biting my tongue to keep from scaring my dog by laughing out loud. My only regret is that the story came to an end so soon. I can’t wait for book four to see how the story continues!

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My first book of February was a bit of a departure for me. When I came across The Psychology of Time Travel by Kate Mascarenhas I thought it might be more traditionally the kind of book I read: a modern science fiction story. While it does have that sci fi element with the time travel, it really was more about the people, the psychology, and the murder mystery.

All that said, I loved this book! How do you deal with the psychology of time travel? The flexibility of concepts of death, predetermination and how the past and future impact each other? It is these questions that our protagonists struggle with as we follow their stories from the discovery of time travel through to present day. Dealing with mental illness, heartbreak, jealousy, grief, revenge... our protagonists learn that there is a whole lot more to jumping through time than just science and paradox. 

The Psychology of Time Travel is an amazing story that will tickle your fancy and tug at your heartstrings. Its a story that I highly recommend, especially for those who want to dabble in something a little different, but aren’t really fans of science fiction.

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Saw a write up about this one a little while ago, so I was thrilled when it showed up at the store in a box of ARCs from the publisher rep. I was not disappointed.

We all know those epic fantasy stories of a noble, dangerous quest. The heroes triumph in the end and everyone goes home and lives happily every after... or do they? Those epic fantasy stories rarely ever deal with what happens after the grand and glorious quest, how the heroes move on in their lives. The Afterward by E.K. Johnston does just that.

They saved the kingdom, destroyed the old God and his fanatical followers. They returned to the kingdom as heroes, greeted by a King restored to health and rewarded handsomely. And then they had to go back to their lives. For Kalanthe Ironheart this means looking for a husband in order to pay the loan for her knight training, despite the fact that it means turning away from her heart. For Olsa it was back to the street and a thief’s life. But when everyone knows your name and your face, stealing gets to be a tad difficult. How do these two heroes move forward?

The thing I love most about this book is the way the characters are treated. Both men and women can be knights (in fact, all the knights on the great and glorious quest are women), can be mages, can be scholars, can be thieves. The knight who led the quest goes on to be Queen (and was the King’s love long before that). Women can love women, men can love men, people can love anybody or they can love nobody at all. Sometimes doctors and midwives get it wrong, but you have to wait for the child to be old enough to speak to realize it. And check out that cover... the armor makes sense! I really do appreciate how this book simply treats everybody as people, all equally worthy of love and respect. It was amazingly done without being preachy or in-your-face.

A great read, I can’t wait for it to come out so I can start handselling! Look for The Afterward in stores February 19th.