REVIEW: The Warrior's Path by Catherine M. Wilson

The Warrior's Pathby Catherine M. Wilson
Publishing information: eBook(Kindle Edition)
Publisher: ShieldMaiden Press, 1^stOctober 2008
ISBN 10: 0981563619 (Paperback)
ISBN13: 978-0981563619 (Paperback)

ASIN:B001MBU7EK
Series: WhenWomen Were Warriors
Copy: Out of Pocket
Reviewer:Kathryn

Blurb:“In Book I of thetrilogy, Tamras, our hero, arrives in Merin’s house to begin herapprenticeship as a warrior, but her small stature causes many,including Tamras herself, to doubt that she will ever become acompetent swordswoman. To make matters worse, the Lady Merin assignsher the position of companion, little more than a personal servant,to a woman who came to Merin’s house, seemingly out of nowhere, theprevious winter, and this stranger wants nothing to do with Tamras.

Tamras’s journey begins with the smallest ofsteps. She sets aside her disappointment and performs as well as shecan the humble tasks given her, and eventually she succeeds inwinning the trust and then the friendship of the cantankerous warriorto whom she has been assigned. 

 

In the first year of her journey, Tamras willmake a series of choices that often seem insignificant, but they willflow from her character and from her good intentions, and they willdetermine her destiny.”

The Warrior's Pathis the first book in Catherine M. Wilson's WhenWomen Were Warriorsseries, a historical fiction-cum-fantasy set in Bronze Age England.In it, we follow Tamras as she follows in her mother's footsteps totake her place as a warrior. However, before she is given her shield,she must rise through the ranks from a lowly companion to theposition that is rightfully hers, and to do that she must makefriends, learn the ways of the world and serve the Lady Merin in anyway possible. Yet, to earn what is hers, Tamras must discoverherself, find her warrior and overcome her doubts, worries andnaiveté.

Ihave to say I found this book to go beyond my expectations. It's froma small press I'd never heard of, and instead I was greeted with abook that surpasses the quality of even some of the bigger genrepublishers. I was gripped from the start, reading for two hours inone night and then finishing it off the following morning, somethingvery unusual for me. The writing is absolutely superb, it's neveroverindulgent nor hard to understand, and the pacing is beautiful. Ialso liked how the characters interacted and whilst some were alittle hard to tell apart or simply dropped in without too muchcontext, it never took away from the story as it echoed what Tamraswould have felt.

WhilstI normally gloss over or shy away from intimate moments in books, Icouldn't turn away from them in this one. Tamras sleeps with anothergirl a couple of times, and each time it's beautiful, erotic andsensual, yet never pornographic or something along those lines.Wilson creates this amazing feeling around those scenes, and I mustconfess I was left pining for such experiences myself. That's howpowerful Wilson's writing is with this book, you can feel theemotions and the way the characters interact with each other.

Inormally have faults to pick at, but with this book I'm failing tofind many. Any faults with it are by far made up for by how touchingand intimate it can be. There are times when it feels a littlerepetitive in that some phrases are often used frequently in a shortperiod of time. For example, at one point a ritual occurs and acharacter seems to change. From that point onwards, they're referredto as “the person who was not...”, and this opens a number ofparagraphs that follow, but taken into context it could be the resultof Tamras being a little overwhelmed. I also felt the more spiritualor magical moments to sometimes be a little disorienting, but again,it seems to fit in with the character's experience. Whilst it seemsto close fairly nicely, it's definitely left open for a sequel andthe plot itself isn't particularly visible. Rather than having a firmgoal set, instead Wilson takes us through the events of Tamras' life,and this is a refreshing break from a protagonist being destined tosave the princess/world/cheerleader.

Tome, this book is everything I've been looking for in fantasy lately.Great characters, beautiful moments of intense yet not disturbinglygraphic eroticism, a fairly diverse cast and an ability to grab me.It's like what would have happened if Jane Yolen had dropped thegender politics and pseudo-historical sections from the GreatAltaseries, and had injected it with a dose of passion. We're alsotreated to Aesop'sFables-esquestories from time to time, each of which fits in with the sorts oftales that would have been passed around at camp-fires, and each hasits own lesson. One of the most memorable ones was a story of threebrothers and a stone giant, and they really add to the world thatWilson has created.

Highlyrecommended to everyone, but especially those looking for a tastefulgenre read with a lesbian protagonist, a fantasy/historical fictionhybrid or just a great story with an emphasis on female characters.Fans of Jane Yolen, Robin Hobb or Elizabeth Moon's initial Paksworldtrilogy may also wish to check this out.

Plot:8/10
Characters: 8/10
Style: 10/10

Overall:9/10

REVIEW: Green Lantern: Blackest Night By Geoff Johns and Doug Mahnke

Green Lantern: Blackest Night By Geoff Johns and Doug Mahnke
Publishing information: Hardback; 272 Pages
Publisher: DC Comics; 13 July 2010
ISBN 10: 9781401227869
ISBN 13: 978-1401227869
Series
Copy: Out of pocket
Reviewer: Tyson

Synopsis: "Comics hottest writer Geoff Johns (GREEN LANTERN: SINESTRO CORPS WAR, THE FLASH, ACTION COMICS, JSA) and superstar artist Doug Mahnke (JLA, BATMAN, SUPERMAN) raise the dead in this must-read tie-in to the most anticipated comics event of the year, BLACKEST NIGHT. This hardcover collection starring Hal Jordan expands on the War of the Light as the evil Black Lanterns descend on all of the Corps throughout the universe, explains villain Black Hand's connection to death and the Black Lantern corps and features key plot points that are essential to enjoying the storyline to it's fullest.

For those of you that don't know there is not just the Green Lantern Corps., there are eight other colored rings. One of them happens to be Black, which gains its power through death. The Black Lantern Corps. wants to kill every living thing in the universe. It is up to the Green Lanterns and the other colored Corps. to remove the threat the Black Lanterns bring to the universe. Following on the heels of DC's Final Crisis series the Black Lanterns have drafted nearly every dead character in the DC Universe: Martian Manhunter, Batman, and a host of others.

The problem with Blackest Night is that as each issue comes to a close it feels as if a panel or two is missing to bridge the story together for the next chapter. While not difficult to piece things together it does interrupt the story a little bit. However, that said the story is interesting and anyone who loves Hal Jordan will enjoy this installment. There are only a few key players and I would have liked to have seen some of the other Earth Lanterns but Hal is a favorite for most GL fans so he takes stage front and center. Jon Stewart does play a part but Kyle and Guy are not seen which is disappointing. The ending is also not that satisfactory and there are a few plot holes, but with comic books you know that those holes are intentional and will come up in later issues.

The artwork is fantastic and with all the different colored rings in the story there are a lot of colors used in nearly every panel. While not my favorite Green Lantern story arc. Blackest Night is a major turning point in the mythos that is Green Lantern and the DC Universe. Any fan of Green Lantern needs to know about the events that took place and this is one of the easiest ways to read about it. With a sequel to the movie Green Lantern on its way you never know if some of the plot points to this arc may show up in future installments of the movie series. Recommended.

Plot 7/10
Characters 9/10
Style 7/10
Artwork 10/10

Overall 7/10

Merry Christmas

From all of us here at Speculative Book Review, we want to wish you a Merry Christmas and to thank you for checking in on us from time to time.

REVIEW: Serial Killers Incorporated by Andy Remic

Serial Killers Incorporated by Andy Remic
Publishing Information: Kindle Edition
Publisher: Anarchy Books; 25 March 2011
ISBN 10: 1908328045
ISBN 13: 978-1908328045
ASIN: B004TTX5SM
Series: Book One
Copy: Provided by Author
Reviewer: Tyson


Synopsis: "Meet Callaghan, a hard-drinking, drug-fuelled, womanising no-good son-of-a-bitch. He's the amoral hardcore photographer for Black & White, the tabloid rag that tells it as it is. Or at least, how it should be.

Callaghan's in way too deep with Mia, his Mexican stripper girlfriend... and even deeper with Sophie, estranged wife to Vladimir "Vodka" Katchevsy, infamous Romanian gun-runner and self-eulogising expert at human problem solving. People start to die. And Callaghan's caught in the middle. A situation even his Porsche GT3, Canary Wharf Penthouse suite and corrupt politician contacts can't solve.

At the nadir of his downward spiral, Callaghan is approached by a man: a serial killer who brings him a very unique and dangerous proposition..."

It is no secret that I am a fan of Remic's work. He does a great job of creating very visceral scenes and situations. Not to mention in his latest novel he takes a new direction and goes for a well done mystery. There is a lot of murder and mayhem in Serial Killers Incorporated. In fact, the mystery is what made it such a hit for me. Remic is known for his Clockwork Vampire trilogy (Kell's Legend and Soul Stealers reviews), which is in a similar vein to Gemmell and his military sci-fi novels which I have yet to get to. With this novel we see a different side of him, and it is a side that I want more of.

Callaghan is not the most likable character. He likes designer drugs, fast women, and fast cars. To make matters worse he is part of the paparazzi. He finds the recently deceased and takes the pictures that end up on the front page of London's most successful tabloid. While he is very self-centered in the beginning, he does show some signs of becoming more human towards the end of the book, and maybe something else. The people he surrounds himself are not very likable either. From the married woman he is seeing on the side to his estranged stripper girlfriend. Things get even more strange when he is approached by a serial killer with a job. To document and report on the killers' activities.

The story takes place in modern day England. Callaghan and his report friend do there best to uncover the underbelly of the streets of London and beyond. Of course Callaghan and his buddy do very well for themselves and live a lifestyle most would only dream of. Between his stable of exotic cars and motorcycles and bevy of beauties, Callaghan is lost. He is constantly finding himself on the wrong side of trouble and barely squeezing by when he gets out of each scrape.

As the story progresses things are not as they seem and Remic does a great job of hiding the truth from the reader, while at the same time building up suspense and ratcheting up the action. Just when you think you have all of the pieces figured out and the book is coming to a close, Serial Killers Incorporated throws you for a major curve. To tell you would spoil the entire book. The book also leaves you with a lot of unanswered questions. Which admittedly, I liked. It could be read as standalone, but rumor has it that Remic has the next book outlined and ready to go once he finds the time to work on it. I for one, am very glad to hear there will be a sequel. Serial Killers Incorporated is Remic at his best. If this does not make you a fan, I don't know what will. Highly recommended, the perfect stocking stuffer.



Plot  9/10
Characters 9/10
Style 9.5/10

Overall 9.5/10

REVIEW: Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (Kindle Edition)

Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Publishing information: Kindle
Publisher: Scholastic Paperback; 1 September 2009
ISBN 10: 0439023521
ISBN 13: 978-0439023528
ASIN: B002MQYOFW
Series: Book 1 of the Hunger Games trilogy
Copy: Out of pocket
Reviewer: Tyson

Synopsis: "In a not-too-distant future, the United States of America has collapsed, weakened by drought, fire, famine, and war, to be replaced by Panem, a country divided into the Capitol and 12 districts. Each year, two young representatives from each district are selected by lottery to participate in The Hunger Games. Part entertainment, part brutal intimidation of the subjugated districts, the televised games are broadcasted throughout Panem as the 24 participants are forced to eliminate their competitors, literally, with all citizens required to watch. When 16-year-old Katniss's young sister, Prim, is selected as the mining district's female representative, Katniss volunteers to take her place. She and her male counterpart, Peeta, the son of the town baker who seems to have all the fighting skills of a lump of bread dough, will be pitted against bigger, stronger representatives who have trained for this their whole lives. Collins's characters are completely realistic and sympathetic as they form alliances and friendships in the face of overwhelming odds; the plot is tense, dramatic, and engrossing. This book will definitely resonate with the generation raised on reality shows like 'Survivor' and 'American Gladiator.' "

The Hunger Games by Collins is not a new concept. It has been done several times. Perhaps the most famous of all is the Japanese version entitled Battle Royale, which is one of my favorite dystopian novels and novels in general. There are a few differences but the overall idea is the same. Instead of killing your classmate like Battle Royale, here you are pitted against children from other regions or cities. Two children from each of the twelve regions are picked. One boy, one girl and only one person is left standing. That person then wins fame and glory and more food and resources for their region.

Admittedly, I originally wanted to see how bad this book was in comparison to Battle Royale, what I found was a really entertaining novel. Each book has its own quirks, but it is really hard to find fault with the novel. It reads really well, has interesting characters, and builds up tension at a breakneck pace.

Katniss is the main character and it was nice to see a young girl take the lead in the novel. She does possess many of the traits of a boy, but since this is considered Young Adult fiction that works for readers of either gender. She is smart, emotional, and in over her head but doing the best she can given the situation. She is very likable. Some readers may say she is a little to "Mary Sue" but for the story it works. She is joined by her male counterpart, Peeta, he is not cut out for the Hunger Games but does his best to survive. Even though the book tends to focus on these two competitors, there are glimpses of the other contestants and their motivations. I think that BR does a better job on character development but I really can not complain with the way Collins wrote her characters.

The world building is minimal and it is intentional. At some point in time the states rebelled against the federal government. From that rebellion the government struck back and annihilated most of the American population. The country, which only appears to be the East Coast, is divided into twelve regions (there was a thirteenth but they were made an example). Each region is isolated from one another and the capital. The Hunger Games is what keeps the regions in line and serves as a brutal reminder of how things came to be.

I think that the reason I ended up enjoying Hunger Games instead of hating it was that it was entertaining. It is not a difficult read, it is just a lot of fun. The perfect book to take on vacation or to sit out on the beach. The series is currently a trilogy with Catching Fire and Mockingbird already released. The movie, based on the book is scheduled to be released this Spring (March). Highly recommended.

Plot 7/10
Characters 8/10
Style 8/10

Overall 8/10

Review: 21 Erased by Barbara Rayne

21 Erased by Barbara Rayne
Binding Type: Trade Paperback - 84 pages or e-book
Publication Date: 29 Oct 2011 (Kindle store) - 8 Nov 2011 (paperback)
ISBN: 1466489421 (paperback)
ASIN: B0061BQN76 (e-book, Kindle Store)
Copy: Sent by the publisher
Reviewer: Yagiz

"The code is your identity, your bank account, your credit card, the bus fare... your existence. When they take it away, you disappear like you never lived at all. All it takes is a moment and you’re no longer a human being…you’re nothing. Everything you thought you owned is shattering into pieces in front of your eyes, you’re disappearing without leaving a single trace of your existence. You were that insignificant. The system had you that much, nothing was yours but the illusion. They own your life. When you got in their way, they spat you out like a chewing gum that lost its flavor. You no longer exist. You have been erased...

The author's Web site described 21 Erased with the following section:

The book addresses special readers, those who have the speed of thinking, sharp observations, and whose mind understands immediately. Those who need extensive descriptions to have enough time for their mind to adjust, whose mind wanders off, those find it too quick, need explaining what just hit them.

With just one sentence, the main character's world is opening up in front of your eyes. All the rules of that harsh life are outlined and you are drawn into the plot breathless.You'll find yourself breathing with her, tense and living her life. You are a special reader because the book itself is special.

Only intelligent mind that connects everything in an instant, that sees the traps and lies in a life around him, is the one that will breathe with this book. You will recognize some things that are in all regimes - you cannot fool the intelligence. We see...

When I first read the description above, I found it very pretentious. After having read the book and having gotten familiar with Rayne's style (or at least the style she chose for 21 Erased), the above section doesn't seem so odd anymore.

21 Erased is the story of Sarah told by herself. She is a young woman working as a cook in a government building. She also carries coffee, when necessary, to the offices. She is a simple resident living in constant fear of the system. However, what makes Sarah special is her ability to distinguish the true nature of the dark canvas of their lives. One day, during her brother John's birthday party, she shares her negative opinions about their situation with Steven, a friend of John's. And the same night she gets kidnapped from her home by government agents.

"They know everything. I was angry because I was scared, I lived in fascism and nobody saw it but me."

The book starts pretty good. It gives a good indication about what's to come. It draws the reader in. When I read the short, 2-page, prologue-like first chapter, I felt I had to read more. This first chapter is a brief introduction to the book's setting. Unfortunately the author doesn't develop it as much as I'd like to but this brief glimpse is enough to tell the reader she's getting herself into a story about a dark, tightly controlled society.

In this future fascist dystopian society, the code that people carry on their hands is their identity, their money, their house key, their car key, their bus pass. Without it or with an invalid code, they are nothing. They simply cease to exist. And everybody knows that maladjusted people are taken to the Adjustment Centers that were originally opened for pandemic control. They never come back.

This is a world where the heavy hand of religion is constantly felt on the shoulders of the citizens. There are prayers every day, for everyone at specific times. When the TV programs end, everybody pray and place their hand on their code reader and then, only then, they can go to sleep. People don't talk at work and the conversations during breaks revolve around simple things such as a TV show or a movie.

It doesn't come as a surprise to learn that government controls every aspect of its citizens lives. They control the media who tell people what to say and what to think. They even control the music or the shows that people listen to in their smart cars. The government also takes the responsibility of raising exemplary citizens very seriously. For this reason, children are taken away from their parents at birth. Every citizen is given a pill once a month that needs to be taken during a predefined time of the month. Internet is heavily controlled, people cannot kiss in public, cannot consume alcohol, cannot leave their state without permission.

One can't even find solace in good weather. Because of the climate change, the only season is winter. The temperature is always below 40F (5C). Some people are worn out from the cold and they have no money for heating. And when the sun comes out, it is not pleasant. It burns their skin.

21 Erased is a very fast read. Not only as a consequence of its novella size but also thanks to the author's style. Rayne also uses short chapters in her book, which contributes to the overall ease of read. But mainly because the book has the feeling of a movie made by a camcorder. It's not necessarily a bad story but the lack of depth in certain areas took me by surprise. All aspects of the story could be more developed. There are some brilliant ideas in the setting that don't live longer than a simple mention in a sentence. Just when the reader gets ready to learn more about them, they never materialize.

The only character development is Sarah's. The other characters feel like shadows. And I had a strong feeling that the author changed course in the middle of the story. At times it feels like reading through Sarah's elaborate diary. There are also a few other things that I cannot discuss in a review for the fear of spoiling the story.

However, and this is important, despite all these shortcomings, I enjoyed reading 21 Erased. Normally, I would consider any one of the points I mentioned above annoying however the runaway train speed of the author's style grabbed me and pulled me until the very end. I think Rayne is currently working on her new book called Evolve. I'd be interested to see how it compares to 21 Erased.

You can read the first chapters of 21 Erased on Smashwords. You can also follow the author on twitter, on Facebook and on Google+.

In her dystopian political thriller, 21 Erased, Barbara Rayne tells the story of Sarah, one of the many victims of a future fascist regime. As part of the setting, the author tackles some of the major problems that humankind faces today: Totalitarianism, climate change, overpopulation, food shortages, inequality between citizens, degradation of ethics. She paints a dark picture of a society changed under the influence of such environmental pressures. Maybe, living like prairie dogs, in constant fear of the things the environment may produce, can do that to the humankind. In such a world, would we ever behave altruistically? Would we stop asking questions, be content with being alive, console ourselves that we are not suffering as much as some neighbors, colleagues or acquaintances? Or would we rise above what the system is trying to impose on us, ignoring our most basic survival instincts, overcoming them with what we think is right? Read 21 Erased, witness Sarah's world through her experiences and decide for yourselves.

Plot: ............. 6
Characters: ... 5
Style: ............ 7

Overall: ....... 7/10

REVIEW: Book of Tongues Volume 1 by Gemma Files (Kindle Edition)

Book of Tongues Volume 1 by Gemma Files
Publishing Information: Kindle
Publisher: ChiZine Publications; First edition 15 April 2010
ISBN 10: 0981297862
ISBN 13: 978-0981297866
ASIN: B003ICWGX6
Series: Volume 1 of the Hexslinger Series
Copy: Out of Pocket
Reviewer: Tyson

Synopsis: "Two years after the Civil War, Pinkerton agent Ed Morrow has gone undercover with one of the weird West's most dangerous outlaw gangs-the troop led by "Reverend" Asher Rook, ex-Confederate chaplain turned "hexslinger," and his notorious lieutenant (and lover) Chess Pargeter. Morrow's task: get close enough to map the extent of Rook's power, then bring that knowledge back to help Professor Joachim Asbury unlock the secrets of magic itself.Magicians, cursed by their gift to a solitary and painful existence, have never been more than a footnote in history. But Rook, driven by desperation, has a plan to shatter the natural law that prevents hexes from cooperation, and change the face of the world-a plan sealed by an unholy marriage-oath with the goddess Ixchel, mother of all hanged men. To accomplish this, he must raise her bloodthirsty pantheon from its collective grave through sacrifice, destruction, and apotheosis.Caught between a passel of dead gods and monsters, hexes galore, Rook's witchery, and the ruthless calculations of his own masters, Morrow's only real hope of survival lies with the man without whom Rook cannot succeed: Chess Pargeter himself. But Morrow and Chess will have to literally ride through Hell before the truth of Chess's fate comes clear-the doom written for him, and the entire world."

At the heart of Book of Tongues is a strong western; however, Files has decided to add a pinch of magic and a dash of steampunk into the mix. Set just a few years after the American Civil War we have a former preacher, Asher Rook, who was hung for his crimes only to return with a vengeance. With his newfound powers which manifests itself through his bible, he has the ability to summon plagues and level whole towns. There was not much to like about this character but he is impressive. Make no mistake, he is a bad man.

Edward Murrow is the other major player in the novel. He has joined Rook's gang but is actually an undercover Pinkerton agent. He is charged with the duty to uncover just how much arcane power Rook has. The only thing I really enjoyed about this character was his double barreled eight shot shotgun. The rest of the gang is not very involved other that to fill out the group. All except Reverend Rooks, lieutenant, the vicious Chess Pargeter. He would rather spit on you than look at you. To add a twist into the early portions of the book. Chess and Rook are lovers. Very early on we have a fairly graphic discussion on gay sex and there is a scene or two that has them in a erotic embrace. While not ground breaking it was unexpected in a western.

The world building is fairly limited. While Files brings up England and China not much is really brought up as you read the book. There is also very little infodumping, the reader is left in the dark. But the background on Rook is amazing. We are slowly told how he went from upstanding preacher to the evil magic user, or hexslinger. There are a lot of loose ends as you get towards the end of this first volume. You are also left with a major cliffhanger by the time you reach the last page.

While I enjoyed Files' style of writing. She has an impressive way to keep you turning pages, the story and characters never really won me over. There is a lot of grey and black, but not a lot of white. I need someone to root for and I just never found anyone worth caring about in Book of Tongues. I would like to recommend the book as she is a very talented writer but the fact that I have no plans to continue with the series keeps me from doing so. I think you will have to make up your own mind on this one.

Plot 6/10
Characters 5/10
Style 8/10

Overall 5/10