The end of the month again time for another Review Round-Up.
Nothing but heavy hitters. April was definitely a very fruitful month for me reading wise. I have come across a set of books that all carry on "stop wow and awe" factor.
I have been able to catch up with some of the books that have been on my shelves for quite some time. And finally getting around to finish up a few series as well. Though it always leaves a bit of an empty spot when you finish with series. Like after you read the last sentence it is just over and done.. However it also finally gives a closing to an often long anticipated final showdown, so both a plus and a minus for me.
In April we, over at Fantasy Book Review, started with out book club on goodreads. Our selected book for April was Old Man's War by John Scalzi. You can find our discussions over at the book club page. For May we will be reading or rereading for some The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch and we all heartily invite you to participate in our discussion!
Well on to the April Review Round-Up.
I mentioned above "Nothing but heavy hitters" so here's my list.
1. The Rook by Daniel O'Malley (Head of Zeus)
The Rook has one of the catchiest starting sentences a book can have "Hey You, The Body you are wearing used to by mine". Well if that doesn't trigger you to pick this book, I don't know what will! All along the pages of The Rook you are constantly confronted with this fact. You follow Myfanwy or are you really? The really strong point of The Rook is how everything is being told and explained. It's a pretty hefty book but as soon you encounter a new aspect of the book be it a person or something else you get a pretty well explained letter or some sort of explanation by the former Myfanwy, this way of telling it really added a depth and nice overall pacing. The fact that this book is just a must read is the supernatural aspect within it. Think X-men and Heroes, just those types of persons are enlisted by the Checquy to deal with the supernatural threats that arise. The Rook is an impressive debut that will blow you away.
The Rook has one of the catchiest starting sentences a book can have "Hey You, The Body you are wearing used to by mine". Well if that doesn't trigger you to pick this book, I don't know what will! All along the pages of The Rook you are constantly confronted with this fact. You follow Myfanwy or are you really? The really strong point of The Rook is how everything is being told and explained. It's a pretty hefty book but as soon you encounter a new aspect of the book be it a person or something else you get a pretty well explained letter or some sort of explanation by the former Myfanwy, this way of telling it really added a depth and nice overall pacing. The fact that this book is just a must read is the supernatural aspect within it. Think X-men and Heroes, just those types of persons are enlisted by the Checquy to deal with the supernatural threats that arise. The Rook is an impressive debut that will blow you away.
2. Lexicon by Max Barry (Mulholland books)
This was one of my most anticipated books for this year. Just the synopsis alone hold a lot of promise. A secret society that raises students to become poets that can gain control of someones action by using words? Who wouldn't want to be able to do just that? From start to finish this is a great read. Though it can be a bit confusing at certain cross points that did cause me to have to backtrack a bit. As soon as you hit a certain point in the book its just that "wow I totally wasn't expecting this to happen" kind of feeling. This book holds up to his promise and is highly recommended.
This was one of my most anticipated books for this year. Just the synopsis alone hold a lot of promise. A secret society that raises students to become poets that can gain control of someones action by using words? Who wouldn't want to be able to do just that? From start to finish this is a great read. Though it can be a bit confusing at certain cross points that did cause me to have to backtrack a bit. As soon as you hit a certain point in the book its just that "wow I totally wasn't expecting this to happen" kind of feeling. This book holds up to his promise and is highly recommended.
3. Hearts of Smoke and Steam by Andrew P. Mayer (Pyr)
Last year I started with the Society of Steam series and I was directly into it. Call me a fanboy of this series but its great. It combines two of my favorite aspects superheroes and steampunk. Hearts of Smoke and Steam pick up after the events of The Falling Machine. Now there is quite the transformation going on in the story and in my opinion it is being taken further. This is both shown by a lot of events that happen in the Paragon HQ but also by the main protagonist Sarah Stanton. I really likes how she is shown in Hearts of Smoke and Steam and you can see that she is taking some nice leaps from the first book into the ending of the second in terms of character development. Next to these two things, Andrew P. Mayer tightly involves the nefarious plotting of the Children of Eschaton in the story which is a huge plus. Especially with the bit as portraying the superheroes and the bad guys a bit stereotypical. This is a series directly to my liking.
Last year I started with the Society of Steam series and I was directly into it. Call me a fanboy of this series but its great. It combines two of my favorite aspects superheroes and steampunk. Hearts of Smoke and Steam pick up after the events of The Falling Machine. Now there is quite the transformation going on in the story and in my opinion it is being taken further. This is both shown by a lot of events that happen in the Paragon HQ but also by the main protagonist Sarah Stanton. I really likes how she is shown in Hearts of Smoke and Steam and you can see that she is taking some nice leaps from the first book into the ending of the second in terms of character development. Next to these two things, Andrew P. Mayer tightly involves the nefarious plotting of the Children of Eschaton in the story which is a huge plus. Especially with the bit as portraying the superheroes and the bad guys a bit stereotypical. This is a series directly to my liking.
4. Ack-Ack Macaque by Gareth L. Powell (Solaris)
It is hard to find a word that describes Ack-Ack Macaque. It’s one-of-[ac]kind! It’s fresh. Combines a lot cool idea and above all it has a monkey, a macaque, as protagonist (yes, “chimpanzees don’t have a tail” !). So. Enough said. Not quite. Ack-Ack Macaque is a great mash-up of several working fantasy genres, and Gareth L. Powell takes fantasy just another step further. It's genre breaking. Everyone who want to try something new. Read Ack-Ack Macaque. Its terrifically imaginative!
It is hard to find a word that describes Ack-Ack Macaque. It’s one-of-[ac]kind! It’s fresh. Combines a lot cool idea and above all it has a monkey, a macaque, as protagonist (yes, “chimpanzees don’t have a tail” !). So. Enough said. Not quite. Ack-Ack Macaque is a great mash-up of several working fantasy genres, and Gareth L. Powell takes fantasy just another step further. It's genre breaking. Everyone who want to try something new. Read Ack-Ack Macaque. Its terrifically imaginative!
5. Blood's Pride by Evie Manieri (Tor)
Blood's Pride is the debut novel of Evie Manieri. It quite a stunning piece work. Integrating nicely some existing tropes of fantasy, thereby creating a set of unique races. talking with there minds, able to conjure fire all pretty neat stuff. But where Blood's Pride really gets its strength from is the characters and how they are shown. Blood's Pride is heavily character driven, now you might think that you will not see much of the world surrounding them but that is actually quite the opposite. Evie Manieri manages to capture everything that you need to know. Blood's Pride is impressive and stunning. Go read.
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Now for some of the outlooks of what I still got on the shelves.
Angels of Vengeance by John Birmingham (Titan Books)
I have already read the first two books of this blockbuster series, Disappearances. It chock full of action, having a global spread of chaos. This series is better than some of the action movies that I have seen so far. Just turn of your TV and engage in this nail biting page turner series.
Power under Pressure by Andrew P. Mayer (Pyr)
STEAMPUNK SUPERHEROES!! Should say enough
The Dark Heart of the Nightside by Simon R. Green (Solaris)
I have picked up the 2nd omnibus recently and its just a blast as the first two. Simon R. Green creates a bizarrely interesting world in the Nightside, where it is always 3 AM and dawn never comes!
The Wind through the Keyhole by Stephen King (Hodder and Stoughton)
If you are not familiar with The Dark Tower. Go stand in a corner and shame yourself.. The Wind through the Keyhole is book #4.5 in this highly acclaimed series! My first venture into fantasy was by this series :).
The Fractal Prince by Hannu Rajaniemi (Tor)
I have heard a lot of good stuff about the debut of Hannu Rajaniemi "The Quantum Thief". I haven't read it yet, I hope starting in the second book directly won't give any missing out.
Of course I plan to read a lot more. So keep an eye out on Fantasy Book Review!
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Not trying to fall in repetition but again I would like to thanks all the publishers and authors who have send me books last month! Thanks for keeping me glued to the pages :).
And don't forget to join our bookclub on goodreads, we are reading The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
Bests,
Jasper
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All reviews are originally posted at Fantasy Book Review.
Blood's Pride is the debut novel of Evie Manieri. It quite a stunning piece work. Integrating nicely some existing tropes of fantasy, thereby creating a set of unique races. talking with there minds, able to conjure fire all pretty neat stuff. But where Blood's Pride really gets its strength from is the characters and how they are shown. Blood's Pride is heavily character driven, now you might think that you will not see much of the world surrounding them but that is actually quite the opposite. Evie Manieri manages to capture everything that you need to know. Blood's Pride is impressive and stunning. Go read.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Now for some of the outlooks of what I still got on the shelves.
Angels of Vengeance by John Birmingham (Titan Books)
I have already read the first two books of this blockbuster series, Disappearances. It chock full of action, having a global spread of chaos. This series is better than some of the action movies that I have seen so far. Just turn of your TV and engage in this nail biting page turner series.
Power under Pressure by Andrew P. Mayer (Pyr)
STEAMPUNK SUPERHEROES!! Should say enough
The Dark Heart of the Nightside by Simon R. Green (Solaris)
I have picked up the 2nd omnibus recently and its just a blast as the first two. Simon R. Green creates a bizarrely interesting world in the Nightside, where it is always 3 AM and dawn never comes!
The Wind through the Keyhole by Stephen King (Hodder and Stoughton)
If you are not familiar with The Dark Tower. Go stand in a corner and shame yourself.. The Wind through the Keyhole is book #4.5 in this highly acclaimed series! My first venture into fantasy was by this series :).
The Fractal Prince by Hannu Rajaniemi (Tor)
I have heard a lot of good stuff about the debut of Hannu Rajaniemi "The Quantum Thief". I haven't read it yet, I hope starting in the second book directly won't give any missing out.
Of course I plan to read a lot more. So keep an eye out on Fantasy Book Review!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Not trying to fall in repetition but again I would like to thanks all the publishers and authors who have send me books last month! Thanks for keeping me glued to the pages :).
And don't forget to join our bookclub on goodreads, we are reading The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
Bests,
Jasper
-----
All reviews are originally posted at Fantasy Book Review.