Bookstooge's Reviews On the Road: Fantasy

Showing posts with label Fantasy. Show all posts

Thursday, May 08, 2025

Venom and Song (The Berinfell Prophecies #2) 3Stars

Title: Venom and Song
Series: The Berinfell Prophecies #2
Author: Wayne Batson & Christopher Hopper
Rating: 3 of 5 Stars
Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy
Pages: 437
Words: 141K

While I enjoyed this, it was simply too long. This second book in the Berinfell Prophecies was over 100 pages and 40,000 words longer than the first book. That is a significant increase for a middle grade book. I think part of the issue is that having seven main characters with multiple other side characters AND a villain just bloats things up no matter what. Trying to give each of the kids enough page time to make them stay relevant to the story while using adult elves to fill in historical and training gaps made it almost impossible to see any scene that could have been cut.

I enjoyed the various training scenes as the kids learned how to use their powers but also how to use them as part of the group. No one of them was obviously “better” and it was made clear that they were stronger as a whole than as disparate parts. While I “agree” with that, I have always preferred the lone wolf kind of hero and story.

During the climactic battle at the end where it appears that the Spider King dies, I was wondering what they (the authors) were going to do to for the third book. I had a momentary thought of “Well, maybe the Spider King isn’t really dead. Nahhhh, they wouldn’t do something so obvious.” Sure enough, the authors went that route. That is the problem with reading books meant for a less experienced set of readers.

I am glad I read this and I’m ok with having a new pair of authors run across my radar. I know both of them have written other things, so depending on what I think of the final book in the Berinfell Prophecies will determine if I seek out any more stuff by them or not. I’m totally on the line at the moment.

★★★☆☆

From the Publisher

Now in the strange realm of Allyra, the Seven young lordsconfront a traitor in their midst, a creature-infested forest, teenage fearsand doubts, inexplicable mysteries . . . and the Spider King himself. In a rigorous training program that makes boot camp looklike Disneyland, the Seven must quickly learnto harness their own powers, work as one, and elude the Spider King's spies.But as the ancient Berinfell Prophecies are revealed, the Seven soon discovertheir training might not be enough. To stop the Spider King they must also unravelthe secrets of the Rainsong, travel to a creepy, trap-infested fortressto find the legendary keystone, and lead the Berinfell Elves in an attack on the Spider King's own turf.

Tuesday, April 29, 2025

The Hanging Stones (Silver John #4) 3Stars

Title: The Hanging Stones
Series: Silver John #4
Author: Manly Wade Wellman
Rating: 3 of 5 Stars
Genre: Folk Fantasy
Pages: 178
Words: 56K
Publish: 1982

So, it might be hard to make out, but that cover shows John hiding on one of the capstones of the New Stonehenge while a werewolf carries a body over its shoulder.

The werewolves in this story are sad, pathetic creatures eking out a miserable existence. They are not alpha predators, they are scavengers of the lowest sort. I rather like that. Puts them into their proper place. The downside is that they aren’t much of a threat, except at the end where they come together in a massive group. While John and Co have to face them, it ends up being taken care of by a group of magically resurrected neanderthals. Yeah, it’s like that.

This was just as low key as the previous Silver John books and boy, it kind of grated. Don’t get me wrong, I still enjoyed this but it was like eating rice with a couple of grains of sand mixed in. Irritating.

Still the best Wellman stories that I’ve read though. Understated folk fantasy, it just works.

And once again, the cover is probably the best part :-)

★★★☆☆

From the Publisher & Bookstooge

This Silver John adventure takes the honey-voiced folksinger to the site of a rising replica of Stonehenge, which selfish and ruthless millionaire Noel Kottler is building in Appalachia as a money-making tourist attraction. A pack of werewolves who live nearby spell trouble for his plan, though --- and even they may not turn out to be his worst problem. Eventually, a warlock raises a tribe of ghost made flesh neanderthals who destroy the werewolves and hang the millionaire on the Hanging Stones to prevent him desecrating what Stonehenge stood for.

Thursday, April 17, 2025

The Sum of All Men (Runelords #1) 3Stars

Title: The Sum of All Men
Series: Runelords #1
Author: David Farland
Rating: 3 of 5 Stars
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 517
Words: 194K
Publish: 1998

Grim. That is the word to describe this book (and I suspect, the series). I suspect that is why I gave it 2stars back in ‘08 and never read any more. Now that some time has passed, I wanted to try the series again.

What I noticed this time around, specifically, was the utter lack of hope. Yes, there were embers of hope within individuals, but they were based solely upon their ability to do something about the situation. Considering who they were facing (Raj Ahten was pretty much at god level with all of his endowments), that hope was really wishful thinking and not true hope. There was no prophecy. There was no entity with greater power than anybody in the story. It was very much a “we are on our own and must make do” kind of story. If that appeals to you, then I highly recommend this book.

These books were written when the Wheel of Time had slowed to a crawl. Farland managed to write the first four books within a four year period. Then he slowed down due to life circumstances and as far as I know, the series never got past book 8 and remains unfinished, because Farland died. “He’s ded Jim”. I suspect I will be reading the first tetralogy and call it a day.

Series and authors like Farland and Jordan and Martin should be a serious warning to readers, especially those who think their favorite author is going to live forever (coughSandersoncough. Have you seen that guy? He’s almost 50 and is going to have a heart attack by then if he doesn’t lose a lot of weight. He’ll kill himself and then where will all the fans of his Stormlight Archives be? Up a creek without a paddle, that’s where). This is the reason I am such a fan of trilogies. Tell your story and then be done. The Runelords was originally going to be a trilogy before it bloated up to an 8book unfinished monstrosity.

Now, that there is a mighty lot o’ complaining, yessiree. I do acknowledge that. It mightn’t even make you question why I gave this 3stars and why I would continue with the series. It is because it is an intriguing story. Farland has actually thought out the logical consequences to his magic system, and while it is extremely depressing, it makes total sense. I am looking forward to someone in the story working out yet more shenanigans.

The covers are all by Darryl Sweet, the same guy who did the covers for the Saga of Recluce and the Wheel of Time. Don’t be put off by them, this story is very different from those. Sweet had one mode of drawing and that was it.

★★★☆☆

From Wikipedia

In the universe of The Runelords, there exists a unique magical system which relies on the existence of distinct bodily attributes, such as brawn, grace, and wit. These attributes can be transferred from one individual (or animal) to another in a process known as "giving an endowment". Lords who have taken many endowments become extremely powerful, almost superhuman, and are known as Runelords.

Seeking the hand of the Princess Iome Sylvarresta, Prince Gaborn Val Orden is sidetracked when the Wolf Lord Raj Ahten invades the Kingdom of Heredon, seeking to rule all of Rofehavan.

The Sum of All Men (2008 Review)

Wednesday, April 16, 2025

The Mu of Muichiro (Demon Slayer #14) 3Stars

Title: The Mu of Muichiro
Series: Demon Slayer #14
Author: Koyoharu Gotouge
Rating: 3 of 5 Stars
Genre: Manga
Pages: 191
Words: 9K
Publish: 2019

While this was better than the previous volume, this series is fast losing its appeal to me. I’ll read the next volume next month and if my enjoyment level doesn’t go up, I’ll probably abandon the series.

★★★☆☆

From Wikipedia

"Awful Villain"

"Swordsmith"

"The Mu of Muichiro"

"Coming Back"

"Trading Insults"

"Abnormal Situation"

"A Passing Moment of Excitement"

"Mitsuri Kanroji's Life Passes Before Her Eyes"

"Get It Together, Moron!"

After coming to terms with his own past, Muichirō defeats Gyokko, while Tanjiro and the others struggle against Hantengu. While the battle rages on, Haganezuka races to reforge Tanjiro's new sword and deliver it to him.

Thursday, April 03, 2025

The Dracula Tape (The Dracula Files #1) 3Stars

This review is written with a GPL 4.0 license and the rights contained therein shall supersede all TOS by any and all websites in regards to copying and sharing without proper authorization and permissions. Crossposted at WordPress & Blogspot by Bookstooge’s Exalted Permission
Title: The Dracula Tape
Series: The Dracula Files #1
Author: Fred Saberhagen
Publish: 1975
Rating: 3 of 5 Stars
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 186
Words: 76K

When I was looking around for another series to add to my tbr, I ran across these and didn’t really pay attention to the author. I probably should have, as I haven’t had the best luck with Saberhagen for the most part. However, it has been over 8 years since I last read a book by Saberhagen, so when I realized this series was by him, I figured I’d give him another chance.

Back in ‘14 I called his Berserker book dry and pedantic and “workmanlike” (and not in the good way). This was very much in the same vein. What saved it from an ignominious 2star rating and series abandonment was reading about Dracula try to justify everything that took place as chronicled in Bram Stoker’s Dracula. He’s an unreliable narrator and what’s more, he’s a big fat whiny loser. It was hilarious. I don’t know if Saberhagen intended things to turn out that way, but my goodness, watching Dracula perform mental contortions of unfathomable proportions to justify himself was better than going to the circus.

For this book to work, you really need to have read Dracula, not just know the basic premise but have read it and be familiar with it. Which leads to the biggest drawback, for me, in regards to this book. I knew, roughly, what was going to happen and was bored. Dracula’s re-writing of the events aren’t different enough to make this book stand out as something truly new. Kind of like watching an actor’s commentary track on a movie. Sure, it is a little different and you get a slightly different view, but it is not a different movie. Same with this book, and since it wasn’t in epistolary format, it automatically wasn’t nearly as good as the original.

With all of this complaining, I’m still giving this 3stars. Dracula is a great story and even Saberhagen couldn’t cover that up. I’m really hoping that the next book is more original though, or I’ll have to dnf the series.

★★★☆☆

From Fandom.com

The Dracula Tape is a novel by Fred Saberhagen where Dracula tells his version of the events in the Dracula novel.

Dracula tries to paint himself in a better light and while some of his claims ring true (like the issue of blood type and the blood transfusions Lucy Westenra received) others (such as what happened on the Demeter) have an unreliable narrator quality about them.

According to this novel the final events of Dracula took place in early November 1891.

Per this novel the fates of the other characters are:

Jonathan Harker - dies of apoplexy in 1938 while raging at Neville Chamberlain.

Mina Harker - dies of old age in 1967; rises as a vampire her youth restored in the "present" day

Lucy Harker (Mina's daughter) - still alive

Quincey Harker (Mina's son) - killed in the Battle of the Somme, 1916

Wednesday, March 26, 2025

Moving Pictures (Discworld #10) 3.5Stars

Title: Moving Pictures
Series: Discworld #10
Author: Terry Pratchett
Rating: 3.5 of 5 Stars
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 267
Words: 97K

When I read this back in ‘07, I really didn’t like it. I gave it 3stars back then, but it was one of my least favorite Discworld reads to date.

This time around, I thoroughly enjoyed this, mainly because Pratchett just skewers Hollywood and movies and it totally aligns with my absolute disgust with movies and the people who make movies and tv their hobby. Brainless, gormless, garbage. While Pratchett and I didn’t see eye to eye on many, many things, I am man enough to admit that he got at least one thing right. Hollywood is evil and does so much damage that it is incalculable.

With that, I just HAD to bump this up a coveted half star. I know Pratchett is wriggling in his grave with pleasure. He should be.

★★★✬☆☆

From Wikipedia.org

The novel begins with the death of Deccan Ribobe, the last member of an ancient order tasked with 'remembering' Holy Wood through ceremonial chanting, and the escape of an influence from Holy Wood Hill. Several months later, the alchemists of the Discworld have invented moving pictures. Many hopefuls are drawn by the siren call of Holy Wood, home of the fledgling "clicks" industry – among them Victor Tugelbend, a dropout from Ankh-Morpork's Unseen University and Theda "Ginger" Withel, a girl "from a little town you never ever heard of", and the Discworld's most infamous salesman, Cut-Me-Own-Throat Dibbler, who introduces commerce to the equation and becomes a successful producer. The business of making movies grows rapidly, and eventually Victor and Ginger become real stars, thanks to the help of Gaspode the sentient dog (who also develops a manager-client relationship with Laddie, who everybody considers to be the real Wonder Dog, although in fact is very simple-minded). Holy Wood for a while becomes an effervescent place full of humans, dwarfs, alchemists, demons (which essentially constitute the main technological device to make movies), and trolls (among whom is Detritus) all living in harmony.

Meanwhile, it gradually becomes clear that the production of movies is having a deleterious effect on the structure of reality. After Victor discovers the body of Deccan and the ancient order's record, Ginger is possessed by an unspecified entity and she and Victor find an ancient, hidden cinema, complete with a portal to the Dungeon Dimensions. Back in Ankh-Morpork, during the first screening of Blown Away (a parody of Gone with the Wind) which the senior wizards of the Unseen University are also attending, a creature from the Dungeon Dimensions breaks through. Victor fights it (in what eventually becomes a parody of the movie King Kong also featuring the Librarian of the Unseen University), having discovered that he could exploit Holy Wood magic and the narrative conventions of the clicks if he had a camera pointing at him. However, after the creature is defeated, Victor and the Librarian realise that the creatures will still try to get through from the Dungeon Dimensions and that Ginger in her possessed state was not trying to summon them but trying to keep them from coming through (possibly as a result of being descended from the High Priestess of Holy Wood). Returning to the ancient cinema at Holy Wood, Victor and Ginger witness a golden statue of a warrior (reminiscent of an Oscar) come to life and travel through the screen to defeat the creatures.

In the end most things return to normal (also because the Patrician and the wizards make it clear that they will not allow any more movies to be produced ever again), although dwarfs find themselves inexplicably singing "Hihohiho" while mining. Victor and Ginger have a last dialogue over the meaning of Holy Wood and being famous, and Gaspode and the other animals under the influence of Holy Wood lose their ability to reason and speak. The ending lines depict a poetic scene about the fragility of Holy Wood dreams.

Tuesday, March 25, 2025

Transitions (Demon Slayer #13) 2Stars

Title: Transitions
Series: Demon Slayer #13
Author: Koyoharu Gotouge
Rating: 2 of 5 Stars
Genre: Manga
Pages: 190
Words: 9K

I realized that while I really like Tanjiro and his two friends, I simply don’t care for any other of the side characters. And this volume is chockful of other characters.

I definitely struggled to get through this. I sure hope volume 14 works better for me.

Bookstooge out...

★★☆☆☆

From Wikipedia

"In the Way"

"Thank You, Tokito"

"Won't Die"

"Sneaking Around"

"Pretentious Artist"

"Transitions"

"Bright Red Blade"

"Wanted: Respect"

"To Be a Hashira"

Hantengu and Gyokko attack the Swordsman Village and Tanjiro fights them, with help from Muichirō Tokitō, the Mist Hashira, Mitsuri Kanroji, the Love Hashira and Genya Shinazugawa, the younger brother of Sanemi, the Wind Hashira, who is eager to be acknowledged by his older brother.

Thursday, March 20, 2025

Conan, Lord of the Black River (Conan the Barbarian #23) 3Stars

Title: Conan, Lord of the Black River
Series: Conan the Barbarian #23
Author: Leonard Carpenter
Rating: 3 of 5 Stars
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 230
Words: 79K

This was slightly better than the previous Conan book by Leonard Carpenter, but it really feels like Carpenter is missing some essential ingredient to really make this feel like a Conan novel. Whatever.

I hadn’t realized that Carpenter has written eleven of these pastiches and did so from 1986 to 1996. As such, it does matter which order you read them. This one, Lord of the Black River, was the last to be written. It makes reference to previous characters (of whom I had no idea who they were) and situations, but it was all surface level stuff so it didn’t REALLY matter.

Unfortunately, this was exactly the same in tone as Conan the Hero. Why TOR allowed Carpenter to write so many Conan novels is beyond me. Maybe because he could churn out one a year for eleven years in a row? I have nine of the eleven on my tbr (including this and the previous one) and I have a feeling that I’m going to end up sounding like a recording for each one. These are adequate hyborean age sword fantasy stories, but they are not Conan stories.

Excitement, that is what is missing! In one scene, Conan and the crews of the ships he is commanding are sailing down a big river. They encounter a gigantic electric eel (this scene is the basis for the cover) and eventually kill it. But the entire scene lacked excitement. It should have been scary, tense, thrilling. Instead, it was very lackadaisical and pedestrian. It was like reading about a group of tourists crossing the street in New York City. And even I can imagine ways to make that exciting. A boring Conan story is anathema to me, so we’ll see how many more I get through before trying another author. (already being in the mindset of quitting is not a good place to be)

★★★☆☆

From Wikipedia

After successfully fulfilling his commission to overthrow a tyrannical baron in Koth, Conan travels into Baalur, a city-state in Shem. The queen of Baalur, Rufia, needs his aid. Baalur is suffering from a plague cast upon it by Zeriti, an old enemy of his previously believed dead. Zeriti seeks to settle a score dating from Conan's previous encounter with the two women, told in the story "Hawks Over Shem", and her curse is transforming Rufia's subjects into hideous zombies.

With an army of Baalurian soldiers, Conan begins his journey to retrieve a white lotus, the primary antidote for removing Zeriti's cruse, said to only bloom near the source of the Styx, the infamous black river. His army marches across the city-state of Nedrezzar before reaching the port city of Asgalun, where they set sail for the Styx, which serves as a boundary between Shem and the ancient kingdom of Stygia. The crew follow the river down a vast tributary to the east and travel south as it flows into the Black Kingdoms. The expedition encounter many dangers along the way, including pirates, hostile local rulers, religious cults, and cannibals before reaching the Styx's headwaters.

At the source of the Styx, they face their worst and final challenge, Zeriti's bloodthirsty undead lover. However, the white lotus is finally secured and Conan's crewmembers return down the river. After a final encounter with Zeriti in Asgalun, they return to Baalur and cure the city's inhabitants.

Tuesday, March 11, 2025

The Lost and the Lurking (Silver John #3) 3Stars

Title: The Lost and the Lurking
Series: Silver John #3
Author: Manly Wade Wellman
Rating: 3 of 5 Stars
Genre: Folk Fantasy
Pages: 178
Words: 56K

Silver John is tasked by the gubbamint to investigate a town. Turns out the entire town is in thrall to a witch woman and she has BIG plans.

John does his usual self-effacing thing, calls on demonic powers (but supposedly benign) and ends up letting a black preacher save the souls of Wolver when the witch woman accidentally kills herself.

Yeah, this story was about evil devouring itself. John does very little, just a nudge here and there. Exactly as in the previous two novels.

The only difference here is that Wellman lets his politics peek through for just a couple of sentences. I was disappointed in him for doing so because he hadn’t done so before. It felt very whiny.

I gave this the same rating as the previous Silver John stories because it was a template and just like the previous ones. As long as you can deal with that aspect of these stories, then you’ve nothing to fear from diving into this series.

I usually like to include the covers for these, but I simply couldn’t find one that was even halfway decent. The big ones were just smaller versions stretched out and pixelated OR they were pictures of an old paperback with all the attendant damage an old book cover has. That’s actually what I’m using here but with it being smaller it isn’t so noticeable.

★★★☆☆

From the Publisher and Bookstooge

Country folk, especially backcountry folk, are like to be a mite suspicious of strangers. But a plain man with a civil manner and no highfalutin airs can count on a neighborly reception from simple, decent people, so when the natives of Wolver looked to be fixing to whale on Silver John, he reckoned maybe it wasn't the sleepy little hamlet it seemed. But then, if it was, he had no business there anyhow.

The man who picked the guitar with the silver strings had seen some doings in this mountain country, and had a reputation with some almighty powerful souls, not all of them flesh and blood. So when the government got curious about the goings-on in Wolver, it wasn't so strange that they should have asked Silver John to see what he could see, nor at all peculiar that the wanderer had shouldered his pack and his guitar and hiked up the trace of a road to take a gander.

Wolver had a desolated look, from the smoking trash piles outside the town to the tumbledown ruined church. The children in the grimy yards stared at him dully, while their elders ignored him or watched him with undisguised hostility. John had no quarrel with them, but it sure looked like they were set on picking one with him.

With Tiphaine the witchwoman in talks with foreign agents to bring down the United States, John must call on all his arcane knowledge to not only save the deceived people of Wolver and his own life, but the American Way of Life itself.

Sunday, March 02, 2025

Eric (Discworld #9) 3.5Stars

Title: Eric
Series: Discworld #9
Author: Terry Pratchett
Rating: 3.5 of 5 Stars
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 94
Words: 35K

While I enjoyed this, this is also where I feel that Pratchett lost the zaniness that is Rincewind. Don’t get me wrong, Pratchett tries, he really does. But the magic is gone, completely.

Amusing but not really funny. I would still recommend this if you’re reading Discworld. Every little bit helps fill in the bigger picture of just how crazy that world is.

Well, onward to the next book...

★★★✬☆☆

From Wikipedia.org

The story is a parody of the tale of Faust, and follows the events of Sourcery in which the Wizard Rincewind was trapped in the Dungeon Dimensions. Rincewind is summoned by the thirteen-year-old demonologist, Eric Thursley, who wanted a demon to grant his heart's desires. He is disappointed when Rincewind tells him he is unable to grant wishes. Rincewind is disheartened to learn that the spells to confine demons work on him; Eric's parrot tells him that because he was summoned as a demon, he is subject to the same terms. The arrival of Rincewind's Luggage causes Eric to suspect deceit on Rincewind's part. Eric's demands are renewed and Rincewind finds that snapping his fingers allows him to grant the following wishes.

To be Ruler of the World. Eric and Rincewind are transported to the rain forests of Klatch in the Tezumen empire (a parody of the Aztec Empire). The locals declare Eric Ruler of the World. During this tribute, Rincewind and the parrot explore the temple of Quezovercoatl (a parody of Quetzalcoatl), where they find a prisoner, Ponce da Quirm (a parody of Juan Ponce de León), who is to be sacrificed. Da Quirm tells Rincewind about the terrible fate the Tezumen have planned for the Ruler of the World, on whom they blame all of life's misfortunes. Rincewind, Eric and da Quirm are tied up at the top of a pyramid to be sacrificed, when Quezovercoatl makes his appearance. Unfortunately for him, the Luggage also makes an appearance, trampling the six-inch-tall Quezovercoatl in the process. The Tezumen, pleased to see Quezovercoatl destroyed, release the prisoners and deify the Luggage in the place of their god.
To Meet the Most Beautiful Woman in All History. Rincewind transports himself and Eric inside in a large wooden horse (a parody of the Trojan Horse). Exiting, they are surrounded by Tsortean soldiers, who take them for an Ephebian invasion force. Rincewind manages to talk their way out from the guards and out of the city, only to fall into the hands of the invading army. Rincewind and Eric are taken to Lavaeolus, the man who built the horse as a decoy so that he and his men could sneak in while their enemies waited around the horse for them to come out. They re-enter Tsort through a secret passage, and find Elenor (a parody of Helen of Troy). Eric and Lavaeolus are disappointed to find that Elenor is now a plump mother of several children, and that artistic licence had been taken in her description. The Ephebians escape the city while Tsort burns, and Lavaeolus and his army set out for home. Eric notes that "Lavaeolus" in Ephebian translates to "Rinser of Winds", hinting that Lavaeolus is an ancestor of Rincewind.
To Live Forever. Rincewind brings Eric and him outside time, just before the beginning of existence. They meet the Creator, who is just forming the Discworld. Rincewind and Eric are left on the newly formed world, with the realisation that "to live forever" means to live for all time, from start to finish. To escape, Rincewind has Eric reverse his summoning, taking them both to hell.

They discover hell steeped in bureaucracy, the Demon King Astfgl having decided that boredom might be the ultimate form of torture. Rincewind uses his university experience to confuse the demons, so he and Eric can escape. While crossing through the recently reformed levels of hell (satirical forms of Dante's Inferno) they encounter da Quirm and the parrot, as well as Lavaeolus, who tells them where the exit is.

The source of Rincewind's demonic powers is revealed to be Lord Vassenego, a Demon Lord leading a secret revolt against Astfgl. Using Rincewind to keep Astfgl occupied while gathering support amongst the demons, Vassenego confronts his king just as Astfgl finally catches up to Rincewind and Eric. Vassenego announces the council of demons has made Astfgl "Supreme Life President of Hell", and that he is to plan out the course of action for demons. With Astfgl lost in the bureaucratic prison of his own making, Vassenego takes over as king and lets Rincewind and Eric escape, so that stories about hell can be told. As they leave, Rincewind and Eric notice that the path they are fleeing along has good intentions written on each cobble.

Wednesday, February 26, 2025

Curse of the Spider King (The Berinfell Prophecies #1) 3Stars

Title: Curse of the Spider King
Series: The Berinfell Prophecies #1
Author: Wayne Batson & Christopher Hopper
Rating: 3 of 5 Stars
Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy
Pages: 335
Words: 107K

After how my last ya/middle grade book went (The Beggar Queen by Lloyd Alexander) I was just about ready to bag the whole idea of reading books geared toward the younger audience. Before I called it quits I asked some of the kids at church what they were reading. I’ll be honest, I didn’t expect much. But I ended up with a suggestion for the Berinfell Prophecies and after reading the synopsis, I decided it certainly couldn’t be as bad as the Beggar Queen. And it wasn’t, at all.

It IS more middle grade than young adult, as the main characters involved are all 13 year olds. There are also 7 of them. That concerned me a bit at first, because finding the right balance for points of view is hard and the more pov’s authors introduce, the harder the balance is to find. Thankfully, Batson and Hopper did an admirable job of giving each kid just the right amount of page time to tell the story they needed but without artificially giving more or less pages to each character.

Another thing that I liked, but wasn’t expecting, is that the authors are Christian and insert Christian elements into the story. No in a preachy way, but in many regards like Lewis does with his Chronicles of Narnia books. I only noticed it three or four times too, so it’s not like they are trying to drown their readers in it either.

This book is all about the gathering of the seven kids and how the elves were trying to get them all back to their original world. It had a good beginning, an exciting middle as all the kids had adventures and then the ending sees them all just crossing over. I am looking forward to the next book to see how things work out.

One final note. As this is middle grade, don’t expect any of the adults to be “actual” adults. They are adults per children’s views and act accordingly. Hence the “surprise” ambush near the end I saw coming from a mile away, but a kid wouldn’t, so the adults in the story didn’t.

★★★☆☆

From Fandom.com

Elves ruled over the land of Allyra for thousands of years until, in a great battle, the capital, Berinfell, was overtaken by an army of Drefids, Gwar, Warspiders, and Wisps under the command of the Spider King. Now as he rules the land, the remnant of the Elven race lives, hidden, in a network of subterranean passages called Nightwish Caverns.
In that battle, the seven heirs to the thrones of Berinfell were captured as babies and taken to the realm of the humans, known as Earth. Disguised among the millions of people on Earth, these Elf Lords have no clue of their identity until, around their thirteenth birthdays, some strange events start happening. Some are stalked by mysterious, creepy strangers, and others receive odd books from teachers, librarians, or bookstore owners. Eventually, the people, who had given the Elves the books, reveal to the Seven Lords their true identity, and the fact that they are being hunted by villainous creatures. These assassins, once held back by an old curse, are now free to kill the Seven. This they intend to do in order to keep the teenagers from returning to Allyra and rallying the Elves against their oppressor, the Spider King.
Autumn and Johnny are attacked in their house by a pack of Drefids, Jett and his family are assaulted by Cragons, and a Wisp of Jimmy's neighbor comes to the boy's school and attempts to quietly kill Miss Finney. Kat and Anna are pursued in a vicious car chase by Drefids, and Kiri Lee is later almost assassinated by Wisps posing as her parents in her own home. Tommy, Goldarrow and Mr. Charlie are forced to fight off another group of Drefids in an abandoned asylum while attempting to find a portal to Allyra.
In the final scene, all the Elven Lords and their escorts (except Autumn, Johnny, and Nelly) have assembled for a concert in Scotland before entering the nearby portal. In the middle of the performance, attended by humans and disguised Elves alike, a massive army of Gwar, Drefids, Cragons, and Wisps attack. In the midst of the chaos, Johnny, Autumn and Nelly arrive. They join the desperate rush of fighting Elves attempting to reach the portal. When they arrive, it is rapidly shrinking. Unbeknownst to everyone else, at the rear of the group Mr. Wallace is killed and replaced by a Wisp. As the final few Elves are diving into the portal, the Wisp kills Mr. Charlie and enters Allyra just before the doorway is completely closed. Once in the Elven world, the returning group of warriors are met by Grimwarden and a team of Elves, who assist the Lords and their guardians into the Underground. Mr. Wallace's Wisp accompanies them, a spy among their number.

Wednesday, February 19, 2025

Conan the Hero (Conan the Barbarian #22) 2.5Stars

Title: Conan the Hero
Series: Conan the Barbarian #22
Author: Leonard Carpenter
Rating: 2.5 of 5 Stars
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 220
Words: 77K

I’ve been in a “mood” recently and I can tell it has made me much judgier about the books I’m reading. There has been no mercy dropping gently from the hands of Bookstooge. Instead, there’s been angry imprecations and authors scotched. Carpenter isn’t getting scotched like Ngaio Marsh did yesterday, but he’s on probation for sure.

Carpenter just doesn’t write Conan like Conan. He’s not indomitable or incredible or anythingable, he’s just a big guy with a sword who gets lucky a lot. In both senses of the word. I don’t like that. Conan should be larger than life. Instead, he’s just stumbling along like a normal Joe. I get that Carpenter doesn’t want to write Conan like other pastiche authors, but he’s not even writing him like Howard did for goodness sake.

The adventures too just kind of happen and Conan is along for the ride. Instead of being the subject of something evil and fierce, it’s boring old politics with a dash of ho-hum magic thrown in to keep it “fantasy”. It is like Carpenter doesn’t “get” Conan at all. Even Steve Perry with his disgusting monster girl love interests and stupid 500 year old wizards wrote Conan as Conan better than this guy. Carpenter is a loser as far as I’m concerned and if anyone has said anything good about the Conan books I’ve read of his so far, they are liars and fatheads. But because I’m so magnanimous, I’m reserving judgment on the rest of his Conan books until I read them.

I should get an award for being so nice...

★★✬☆☆

From Wikipedia

Conan and his friend Juma, both soldiers in the army of Turan, are stationed in the far-off jungles of Venjipur to defend its beleaguered royal family against the rebellious Hwong tribe. Both comrades are dissatisfied; they and those under them have been doing all the fighting, and see no chance for advancement, as their timid superior officers never risk their own lives in battle. In one skirmish, Conan rescues a girl named Sariya from being sacrificed by Mojurna, an evil shaman. This subsequently leads to trouble, when one of the Turanian officers attempts to rape her and is killed by Conan.

There are orders for Conan's execution, but he is the hero of Yaralet and a man whom King Yildiz has his eye on. However, Yildiz's captain devises a plan to get Conan out of circulation for a while by sending him deep into enemy territory. Conan's unit is ambushed, and he calls for reinforcements, only to have his request denied by one of the officers who has it in for him. His men defeat their attackers on their own—barely. The wounded Conan is carried back to camp by Juma. Meanwhile, his enemies plan to have him disposed of by their corrupt Venjipoorian allies. Accordingly, Conan is drugged and brought before the duplicitous Pheng Loon, leader of a Venjipoorian tribe the Turanians are supposedly there to help. Despite his hallucinations induced by the drug, Conan is able to throw off its influence and escape.

In segments interspersed with those detailing the main action, it's revealed that King Yildiz in Agraphur has his eye on Conan almost literally. His court wizard has kept Yildiz up-to-date on events in Venjipoor by scrying through a magic mirror. Also, the king's known enthusiasm for Conan has both fanned and inhibited his officers' machinations against the Cimmerian. Soon, Yildiz's intervention partiality results in Conan being summoned back to Agraphur for a ceremony. However, bureaucratic delays in his orders give the officers once last chance to try to get him killed. Again, Conan and Juma's forces are sent deep into rebel territory, where they're ambushed by numerically superior foes—but again they turn the tide and win. Their enemies now have no choice but to allow them to return to the capital.

After a long journey, Conan and Juma reach Agraphur, where King Yildiz gives Conan a medal and names him a Hero of Turan. Days of feasting and revelry ensue, to lead up to an official presentation ceremony. During these festivities, Conan works to uncover the identities of his enemies. Everything comes to a head at the ceremony, where Yildiz is menaced by a carnivorous vine sent by Mojorna. Conan and Juma defend the king against the plant, but delay destroying it long enough for it to consume the corrupt officers whose incompetence has cost so many lives in Venjipoor. Apprised of their plots and soured on foreign conquest, Yildiz commissions the Cimmerian to take over the Turanian forces in Venjipoor and set things right. Back in Venjipur, Conan shuts down the Turanian mission there. He is aided by the fact that Mojurna died when his plant was destroyed, but this development effectively denies him Sariya, who has taken the shaman's place as leader of the Hwong.

Wednesday, February 12, 2025

The Upper Ranks Gather (Demon Slayer #12) 3.5Stars

Title: The Upper Ranks Gather
Series: Demon Slayer #12
Author: Koyoharu Gotouge
Rating: 3.5 of 5 Stars
Genre: Manga
Pages: 190
Words: 9K

Since Tanjiro broke his last sword, he has to get a new one. Only thing is, the guy who is supposed to be his swordsmith is a big baby and throws a tantrum. This forces Tanjiro to go to the village where the swordsmiths all live to get a new sword. He finds a new ally and finds an old sword. Also, two of the upper rank demons find the village and prepare to attack it.

This volume gave us more interactions with two of the Hashira (top tiered demon slayers), one the Love Hashira and the other the Mist Hashira. The love hashira is a ditzy busty girl and there was a lot of room for fanservice, which the manga-ka avoided. Good on him. I’ve noted before how he draws in such a manner as to “suggest” something without actually being suggestive or lewd. I do suspect that I will not be watching the anime on that account. One scene has the love hashira coming out of a hot springs buck naked, and it was fine. At the same time, he’s not being a prude. He’s showing good taste and discretion.

The mist hashera is a total jerk. He’s the kind of guy that would inhabit the Warhammer 40K world and while part of the Empire of Man fighting demons, would be just as bad as the demons. He’s the cure, but he’s as bad if not worse than the disease. Of course Tanjiro tries to befriend him and fight him and succeeds at neither. We’ll see what the future holds for them. I hope the mist hashira dies because he’s alienated everyone around him, that’s what he deserves.

We also get an extended scene between the main bad guy demon and his upper rank demons. Man, he treats them like total dirt. I hope he gets his too. He more than deserves it.

For some reason, this just felt very filler’ish, even though I can’t actually point to anything that would make that so. I guess maybe because it was mainly about Tanjiro recovering after his last battle? Slow, that would be a better word than filler.

★★★✬☆

From Wikipedia

"The Upper Ranks Gather"

"Someone's Dream"

"Go to the Village!"

"A Secret"

"Hello, Tokito"

"Yoriichi Type Zero"

"Kotetsu"

"Something Came Out"

"Enemy Attack"

After recovering from the previous battle, Tanjiro departs to the village of Swordsmiths to have his sword restored. Once there, he discovers an ancient, but well crafted old sword that his personal swordsmith, Haganezuka decides to reforge for him. Meanwhile, Hantengu and Gyokko, two of the Upper Ranks, discover the location of the village and prepare to attack it.

Monday, February 10, 2025

The Finality Problem (Warlock Holmes #5) 5Stars

Title: The Finality Problem
Series: Warlock Holmes #5
Author: Gabriel Denning
Rating: 5 of 5 Stars
Genre: Fantasy Parody
Pages: 248
Words: 96K

This book is analogous to Arthur Conan Doyle’s The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, as that was the book where Doyle “killed” off Holmes, only to bring him back years later and write three more books worth of stories about him. In this book Warlock takes the plunge over Reichenbach Falls with Moriarty, who has possessed Watson’s wife Mary.

I knew going into this that this was how things ended AND that this was written back in late 2020. With no new published Warlock Holmes book since. I thought I might be upset about that. I wasn’t, not one tiny bit. It fit perfectly as the parody that this series is and if we don’t get any more Warlock Holmes books, I will be disappointed, but not devastated; nor will it set me off on a rant and make me castigate myself for ever reading the first book. I already plan on re-reading this series at some point; I had that much fun with it.

I had two little niggles with this book, which I think need airing. First, the relationship between John and Mary. I know that Denning really mocks everything in this series, but I found it extremely hard to stomach his mocking marriage that way. They HATE each other but because of “magic” have to be with each other. It’s the very definition of a toxic relationship and I hated it. The second was Watson’s continued blathering about the end of the world due to a demon invasion/apocalypse. He’s gone on about that ever since the first book, but I’ve seen zero evidence of it. Just because demons exist doesn’t mean that without Warlock our dimension will be invaded. The world survived until Warlock was born after all. So there you go, two niggles. And I won’t even charge you a nickle!

Once again, being familiar with the Sherlock Holmes canon will help your enjoyment of these stories tremendously. Each story IS amusing on its own, but if you know the original, you can see how Denning has twisted things and that makes it just that much more amusing. I suspect you have to have a particular kind of humor to appreciate it though. I definitely have that.

Finally, I’d like to thank Mogsy (again) for introducing me to this series. If it weren’t for her, I’d never have heard of this nor would I have had the inclination to try these. I had so much fun that I am extremely thankful for that intersection on the bookish highway. Here is her review of The Finality Problem. At the end of her review she has links to all her reviews of the previous books, if you are interested. I too have included links to my previous reviews down below.

★★★★★

From the Publisher

The famous duo has been split! Watson has been banished from Holmes's company. Despite the interference of his horrible wife, Mary, Watson tirelessly insinuates himself into every magical adventure he can. Together, he and Holmes face a man with a twisted... everything, some very questionable juice-drinking Germans, Garrideb the Devourer and the estimable Irene Adler. Yet, nothing can prepare them for Moriarty's new form and the terrible moment they must face their Finality Problem at the edge of the Reichenbach Falls.

Thursday, January 23, 2025

The Throme of the Erril of Sherill 4Stars

Title: The Throme of the Erril of Sherill
Series: -----
Author: Patricia McKillip
Rating: 4 of 5 Stars
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 22
Words: 10K

With this reading, I have read all of McKillip’s bibliography except one semi-biographical novel and a few short stories not gathered together into her own books of short stories. The novel I have zero interest in reading and I am not enough of a fan (despite loving her works immensely) to search out individual short stories just so I can say I have read them all.

This is a bittersweet moment. The last new-to-me McKillip story that I will probably ever read. This is just like that moment when, over a year ago, I drank the very Last of the Coconut Pineapple Rockstars. I was happy and sad, all at the same time, filled to the brim with conflicting emotions. So to with this read.

This was early McKillip and thus it was more prose’y than her later stuff, but it was still had that weird, otherworldly flavor. Just look at the title for goodness sake. Throme instead of Tome. All of the names and creatures are just slightly off. Dagon instead of Dragon. Norange instead of orange. Plus plenty of other instances throughout the story. Reading this was like looking at a familiar picture upside down and not seeing that it IS a familiar picture until your brain “clicks”. That time of discombobulation when it’s all unfamiliar, I love that feeling in a story by McKillip.

This story felt like a colored ribbon of paper instead of a piece of silk like some of her later works. I’m ok with that. Being able to tell a difference in an author’s style is a nice feeling to be honest. One, it means they changed and matured and got better over the years and Two, it means my taste has matured enough to be able to see those differences. Growth and maturation, and acceptance of them, are signs I want to see in myself and hopefully in others too.

★★★★☆

From Wikipedia & Bookstooge

Magnus Thrall, King of Everywhere, welters away in misery, pining for the nonexistent Throme, supposedly written by the Erril of Sherill ages past in another world. In his suffering he will not allow anyone around him to know happiness, including his weeping daughter Damsen, who yearns for the world outside the castle, and his loyal Chief Cnite Caerles, who seeks Damsen's hand. The king refuses to allow the match unless Caerles finds him the Throme.

So in an atypical quest, the Cnite goes seeking what the king demands. With small hope of success, he seeks it in various strange places, only to be misdirected and receive confusing advice as he in turn gradually loses his sword, shield and armor. He borrows a dagon from a girl named Elfwyth, falls victim to a boy's borebel trap, and is cautioned against the cold-hearted Lady Gringold by a jingler in a norange orchard. He visits the Mirk-Well of Morg, the Floral Wold, the Dolorous House of the dead Dolerman, and, in the end, the Western Wellsprings, repository of the answer to Everything.

Ultimately, he solves his dilemma in an imaginative way by writing his own Throme from "the tales and dreams and happenings of his quest."

King Thrall rejects this wonderous throme and continues living in his misery. Damsen throws off his shackles and marries Caerles and they have a treeful of children and live contentedly together.