#Fantasy review

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Review: Under the Smokestrewn Sky by A. Deborah Baker

Series: The Up-and-Under #4Author: A. Deborah Baker (Seanan McGuire)Publisher: Tor.comReleased: October 17, 2023Received: ARC Find it on Goodreads | More Up-And-Under | More Seanan McGuire Book Summary: Avery and Zib are nearing the end of their journey. However, being near the end does not mean they are far from danger. There are still several quests they must wrap up, each less likely than…

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"Iron Flame" by Rebecca Yarros. The highly anticipated second part of The Empyrean series that will leave you breathless!!!

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French fantasy review: Féerie pour les ténèbres

At long last, I am starting anew this series!

Now, I am cheating a bit here because this isn't a full review... Of the "Féerie pour les ténèbres" trilogy (which you could vaguely translate as... "Féerie" means both what is related to the fairies, and wonders in general, as well as a specific subgenre of "fairy theater", "pour les ténèbres" means "for the darkness"), I only read the first volume, bearing the exact same name. I did not read the other two volumes, "Le sacre des orties" or "Le carnaval des abîmes" (The nettle coronation ; The abysses' carnival). Not because the series is not good or I didn't like it, don't get me wrong... But simply because... As you will see, it is TOO much and I couldn't even finish the first volume for reasons I will explain.

Féerie pour les ténèbres is a dark fantasy series of the mid-2000s, originally published in three books, going by the same titles I listed above... except for the second volume which isn't called "Le sacre des orties" but "Les nuits vénéneuses" (Venomous nights). Why the title change? I guess it is because the trilogy I started reading, the Folio one, is actually a "compiled" version that doesn't just republish the original books, but also adds to them several short stories taking place within the same world, and originally published in a literary-fantasy magazine. (If you want to know more about this French editorial phenomenon of "the smaller the book the more books it contains" I talk a bit about it here). [I do know there is an Integral edition in only two volumes but I do not have the jaws yet to try to bite this behemoth]

This is the reason why I did not finish the first novel... Because I actually DID finish the first novel of the series, but the book it was in went on with additional short stories and novella that I did NOT read, because... finishing the novel was exhausting enough. In a good way mind you, but one that clearly demands me to pause and stop between each issue of the series. This first novel was a quite heavy and copious meal...

I only discovered long after this book that Jérôme Noirez, the author, has been one of the prominent French representatives of the "New Weird" movement, and it explains SO MUCH about this novel. Because its virtues and its flaws are very typical of the New Weird novels.

Let's begin by describing the premise of this series - and already you will see how weird it is, how dark it is but also how inventive it is, and why it would seduce many people as it would rebuke others.

Take you average, let's say early Renaissance-like fantasy setting. You've got kinds in maze-palaces filled with schemes, you've got your mad alchemists and your local sorcerers, you've got your courtiers with vain trends hosting big parties, you've got struggle between city-states and fanatical religious powers - really, you have your average "corrupt Renaissance fantasy".

Then something happens. In the middle of the most powerful city in the continent, something grows out of the ground. It grows and it spreads, like plants, trees, mushrooms, it infects slowly but surely the entire continent. "La Technole". What is the "technole"? It is... eletric lines. Street lamps. Entire piles of plastic bags. Old car wheels. Empty supermarkets. Half-destroyed gas stations. Junk and garbage and urban decay from a society of advanced technology and mass-consumerism that is ACTUALLY our world (for example the plastic bags have brands of famous store-chains, that however mean nothing for the fantasy characters). The ruins of our world are infesting this fantasy universe like a cancer... and have completely changed it.

Welcome to the most decadent and decaying version of a urban fantasy you will ever see. While some tried to fight the Technole and still today reject it, most of the world embraced it. People took a fancy and a grew a deep fascination for its various machines - especially since, whole broken or incomplete, they still half-work. "Half" being the important part: some people try to play seers and find the rare apparitions of a TV show from our world in TV sets that only show endless statics, while some dare to use modern guns as weapons - with the very common risk that they might blow into their face rather than at the enemy. The technole became the new fashion, so that courtiers all wear rubber and nylon and aluminium paper in their outfits ; the crumbling office buildings popping out of the ground became a new way to lodge massively people for cheap ; and the technole even reached the occult spheres, the various sorcerers and alchemists including it as the "fourth element" within their view of the world... This is the setting of this universe: what if Wonderland was a junk-yard?

I am not choosing this comparison out of the bleu. A specific row of authors has been selected to try to descrbe what these books are like, and one of them is Lewis Carroll. What is Lewis Carroll had decided to place one of the stories of the Marquis de Sade within his Wonderland? Or one could say: what if Rabelais had decided to rewrite the work of Lovecraft?

Because this world is, as I said, an enchanted junkyard, a magical garbage-land, a dirty, polluted fantasy world where each character is miserable or lives within misery, where violence and murder is common, and where the most frightening and disturbing sights are quite common: the "vermin" of this world looks like children and yet is hunted down with rifles each night... the equivalent of this universe's fae-folk is a bunch of deformed and/or mutilated humanoids living underground, some childish and benevolent though creepy and disgusting, others sociopathic bogeymen who torture those they capture with syringes...

And yet, it has the brand of humor typical of Carroll or Rabelais. A dark comedy humor, a borderline nonsense humor. A part of the humor comes from the very unbalance of the world we are thrown in, this land of sorcerers, kings and magic infested with our urban decay - how fascinating it is to see that the royal palace is trying to deal with a landline phone system that grew in its walls like moss and which works only half of the time! How relatable it is to see someone dealing with daily leaks in their flat's pipes - except the pipes are everywhere, in a nonsensical way, and nobody can repair them since nobody knows how they work! Another part of the humor omes from the characters itself - they might be miserable or living a miserable life, but they certainly are going to fight to survive, they have each teeth and claw, a biting cynicism and vicious sense of irony, and an impressive row of swear words and insults to punctuate the horrors they face or the grotesque situations they end up into. And finally, the last element of this dark comedy relies in Noirez's typical Rabelaisian style of inventing new, made-up words, and also focusing on the most trivial and vulgar details of the body and human life. One example of the inventiveness of this book: there is at one point the description of a bard-equivalent at a mountainous ski-station, and his job is to listen to the swears, insults, cries of pains and screams of fright of those that have ski accidents... and create songs and poems out of them. How friggin' creative is that? It is such a cool invention, and there's ton of stuff like that.

The first book's story is actually the individual tales of several distinct individuals, whose various lives will inter-mingle, and as they cross path a disturbing and threatening conspiracy is unfolded... An officer of justic investigates the mysterious and brutal murders of young men and women who, as it turns out, have bones made of plastic - and yet the higher-ups of society try to smother the case... A strong-willed and violent fisher-woman escapes death penalty if she agrees to assassinate a famous courtier who is also a renowned medium, but when she stabs her, she only proves to be filled with polystyrene... A sorcerer who projects his mind into the depths of the planet discovers the sight of something monstrous below his city and his mind stays trapped withn this otherworld... And there is also a pair of orphan twins living between harsh, stern nuns and an old bawdy sculptor - Hansel and Gretel parodies that spend their times looking for food, shitting, pissing, burping and farting joyfully, but end up attracting the attention of the mysterious, monstrous dwellers of the underworld...

Now, what is my opinion per se?

On one side, I really love the world created for these books. The worldbuilding and character invention is really this book's strongest quality. Think of a cross between Bosch and Giger. The dark comedy of these burping, pooping Hansel and Gretel learning dirty songs while being hunted down by a psychopath straight out of a Sade novel... The bizarre occultism of these esoteric alchemist and ghostly sorcerers who include melted plastic and car oil in their potions and rituals... I love dark fantasy, I love urban decay in fiction (not in real life though), I love grim parodies and horror comedies, and this book appeals to all of this. I know that it is not for everybody, I know that it is an acquired taste, but if you enjoy these things, you will love the world Noirez creates. It is filled with so many inventive and clever things you will see NOWHERE else, it is crazy...

... and the problem is that it is also this book's flaw. There is TOO MUCH. I compare it to a Bosch painting or a Rabelais book - and it precisely suffers from the same overwhelming mass of information and details, a flood of creativity that means when you look at the big picture you go "Wow that's cool" but when you go piece by piece, you start having your head hurting and your eyes aching. I am exagerating a bit here but... The plot starts very strongly with the introduction of each character's plotline, and then they go their merry way and things happen... But each path takes much too long to cross the others, and at one point you even start wondering if the various subplots will ever join. There is especially one subplot which is basically not linked to the rest of the novel and feels like a separate novella somehow crammed in the chapters. To that, add also the very exhausting nature of the world. Yes, having so many weird things, and this constant horror comedy, and the fantasy-vulgarity is entertaining and fascinating at first... But then it really becomes tiring because... You know, too much violence and dark things and characters gettng ripped to pieces left and right. While also there being too many poop-and-piss jokes and sex jokes. While also there being too many lore-drops, up until the end of the novel.

As I said before, the meals are original and cool-looking and nothing like one has tasted before... But there's so many, and so many servings, that the meal goes for so long, it becomes a bit nauseating in the end. Some reviewers that didn't like the novel said "What's the point? This feels like this has no point" and I do understand why it would come as such - because there is a point, but it gets drowned in the unbalance between a bloated worldbuilding and a too-stretched, too... occult plot. Mind you, the "bloated worldbuilding" part actually fits the very nature of the world meant to be presented - as it is a fantasy world literaly bloated with the junk and decay of another world... But if you ask me, this novel is better be read at a "cruise speed", putting the plotline and the mystery apart. Getting too much involved in the conspiracy and investigation will be exhausting thanks to the bad pace - but approaching this novel as a descriptive one, as a world-exploring one might be the best way to enjoy this.

Of course, if you are ready to read a story about grim double-entendres, hilarious human misery, the wonders of urban decay and scatological heroes. This... this isn't for everybody. It is... a mix between humoristic fantasy and dark fantasy, and an... acquired taste, to say the least.

[Can I call this "grimdark"? I... I don't know. Is there such thing as an "humoristic grimdark"? Because it might get close to this]

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Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett

Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett

My Rating: 5 stars Many Random House and NetGalley for the ARC! This book came out on January 10 2023 and is now available for purchase. Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries is a historical fantasy novel in the vein of Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell and Babel: an Arcane History. It takes place in an alternate version of the early 20th century where faeries are real and scholars devote their…

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Book Review: Daughter of No Worlds by Carissa Broadbent

I ended up getting Kindle Unlimited and Daughter of No Worlds was one of the first books that it recommended. It wasn’t like I had a long list of other books to read anyway. (I do) So I figured why not and decided to check it out. It begins with Tisaanah being sold into slavery as a child and follows her path as she escapes and is determined to claim power for herself. And any challenge or…

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[REVIEW] POWERLESS BY LAUREN ROBERTS

Book info ⭐Name: PowerlessAuthor: Lauren RobertsRelease Date: January 30th 2023Edition: UK PaperbackPages: 495Genres: Young Adult, Romance, Fantasy Synopsis: She is the very thing he’s spent his whole life hunting.He is the very thing she’s spent her whole life pretending to be. Only the extraordinary belong in the kingdom of Ilya—the exceptional, the empowered, the Elites. The powers these…

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Title: The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi

Author: S.A. Chakraborty

Genre: Fantasy, Historical Fiction

Published: February 28, 2023

My Thoughts: Can Chakraborty write a bad book? The answer is no. No, she cannot.

Amina al-Sirafi is a famous pirate who has retired peacefully to a life of piety and motherhood. When she is tracked down by the wealthy mother of a former crewman, she is offered a job to retrieve her comrade's kidnapped daughter for a kingly sum. However, the deeper she dives, the more she realizes there is risk in wanting to become a legend and seize one last chance at glory.

This was coming up in The Book of the Month selection, and I was intrigued but didn’t want to waste a credit. Which is why I picked up her previous series first (The Daevabad Trilogy). If you’ve read my past reviews, you’ll know how absolutely amazing that turned out.

This is to say, S.A. Chakraborty can do no wrong. The fun and excitement from the Daevabad trilogy, combined with pirates, turns this story into a masterpiece I didn’t know I needed in my life. She weaves so many great real-life experiences and hardships into such a fantastical landscape, showcasing some of the creatures from her past series in a new light.

I would recommend this book in a heartbeat for anyone who even comes close to enjoying fantasy. I had such a blast with this story and will be waiting in not-so-patient anticipation for the next installment.

[hannahwatcheshorror]

THE WOMAN IN BLACK (2012)

Aesthetically beautiful film, decent scares, complex story, and a lackluster ending. 

⭐⭐.5

Harry Potter is all grown up and a daddy whose wife died in childbirth (which haunts his thoughts). He goes to a town on business but the kiddos in said town keep dying for some mysterious reason that the townies keep hidden. A WOMAN IN BLACK (wow) is seen at the estate being researched (which has a lot of weird info and names you forget quickly). Low and behold, The WOMAN IN BLACK was a mom whose son was taken from her and then killed by ignorance SO she gets kids to kill themselves so she can have them since her boy is not laid to rest as he is stuck in the mud.

Mud, by the way, has amazing preserving qualities, because when HP digs up the dead boy, he still has skin. Blah, blah, blah, the mom comes for her son, screams, is spooky. It’s over, right? Wrong. Potter’s son misses the train for Hogwarts and instead gets them both killed by the train. The pair then go off into the afterlife to see the mom. Happy ending for them except the nanny on the platform splattered with viscera but who cares about that, right?

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Book Review: Quest of the Dragon's Princess

Quest of the Dragon’s Princessby Lee Watts Th.D. 5 out of 5 stars Princess Samantha is searching for true love, and she seems to have found it with Prince David, until he humiliates her at the grand ball. The heartbroken princess decides to take matters into her own hands, and she sets off on a quest through a magic portal to find true love, expecting that somehow she will find her way back to…

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Hmmm....

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Illyadra - Book Review

Check out my review of the high magic fantasy epic Illyadra!

Illyadra by Adriel Wallaker Note: this review was first posted on Reedsy Discovery, an awesome website that pairs independent authors and readers. To see the post there, click here. If you are a book reviewer and want to contribute reviews on Reedsy Discovery, click here. (Note: this post contains affiliate links. If you purchase something through this post I will get a small commission at no…

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WOTN: A Killing Frost by Seanan McGuire

Fae Laws And Complications Abound in A Killing Frost A Killing Frost is the latest novel to come from the October Daye series. Once again, fae law is making Toby’s life difficult. You think being a hero would earn her a break or two, but that is not the case. Can you believe that October Daye is fourteen books in at this point? In many ways, it still feels like the series is brand new. Probably…

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Helliconia Spring: Classic Sci-fi Novel Review

Author: Brian W. Aldiss Publisher: Gollancz (my copy, in Helliconia) Country: UK Year: 1982 Planetary Romances are a thing well done by now, and even by ’82, we’d seen people try it. The grandaddy of it, springing to mind, is Herbert’s Dune novels, and the influence of Edgar Rice Burrough’s Barsoom books, also on the subgenre, can’t be underestimated. Neither, it must be said, can the epic…

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How To Plan A Book Series: Ultimate Guide

Writing a book series can be an incredibly rewarding experience for authors, but it also requires careful planning and execution. A well-crafted book series can captivate readers, build a loyal fan base, and provide a steady stream of income for writers. However, planning a successful book series is no easy feat.

It demands a deep understanding of world-building, character development, and plot progression. In this ultimate guide, I'll help you explore the essential steps to help you plan a compelling and cohesive book series that will keep your readers hooked from start to finish.

Develop a Compelling Premise The foundation of any successful book series is a strong premise. Your premise should be unique, engaging, and have the potential to sustain multiple books. Consider exploring a complex world, a captivating concept, or a character with a rich backstory that can evolve over the course of several books. Ask yourself: What makes your premise stand out? What will keep readers invested in the story for multiple installments?

Create a Detailed Outline Before you dive into writing, it's crucial to create a detailed outline for your entire book series. This outline should include the overarching plot, major story arcs, character development, and key events for each book. Having a solid outline will help you maintain consistency, avoid plot holes, and ensure that each book contributes to the overall narrative. Don't be afraid to make adjustments as you write, but having a roadmap will keep you on track.

World-Building: Crafting a Vivid and Consistent Universe One of the hallmarks of a successful book series is a richly developed and immersive world. Whether you're creating a fantasy realm, a futuristic society, or a contemporary setting, pay close attention to world-building. Establish the rules, customs, histories, and geography of your fictional world. Consistency is key, so ensure that the details align across all books in the series. Consider creating a "bible" or a comprehensive guide that outlines the intricacies of your world, making it easier to maintain continuity.

Develop Compelling Characters Great characters are the heart and soul of any book series. Your protagonists, antagonists, and supporting characters should be well-rounded, multi-dimensional, and undergo significant growth and transformation throughout the series. Craft backstories, motivations, flaws, and strengths for each character, and ensure that their actions and decisions drive the plot forward. Remember, character development is an ongoing process, so be prepared to explore new facets of your characters as the series progresses.

Establish Recurring Themes and Motifs Themes and motifs are powerful tools that can add depth and resonance to your book series. Identify the central themes you want to explore, such as love, redemption, power, or identity. Weave these themes throughout the series, allowing them to evolve and deepen with each installment. Motifs, like recurring symbols or imagery, can also create a sense of cohesion and add layers of meaning to your narrative.

Plan for Cliffhangers and Resolutions One of the key strategies for keeping readers engaged in a book series is the strategic use of cliffhangers and resolutions. Cliffhangers create anticipation and leave readers craving for the next installment. However, be cautious not to overuse this technique, as it can become frustrating for readers. Balance cliffhangers with satisfying resolutions that tie up loose ends and provide a sense of closure, while still leaving room for the story to continue.

Consider Pacing and Narrative Structure Pacing and narrative structure are crucial elements to consider when planning a book series. Each book should have its own narrative arc, with a beginning, middle, and end, while also contributing to the overall story progression. Vary the pacing between books to maintain reader interest, alternating between action-packed and slower, more introspective sections. Experiment with different narrative structures, such as multiple perspectives, non-linear timelines, or frame narratives, to keep the series fresh and engaging.

Manage Continuity and Consistency As your book series grows, maintaining continuity and consistency becomes increasingly important. Keep detailed records of character descriptions, plot points, world-building elements, and timelines. Regularly refer back to these notes to ensure that you're not introducing contradictions or inconsistencies. Consider creating a series bible or a wiki to help you keep track of all the moving parts.

Plan for Character Growth and Evolution In a book series, characters should undergo significant growth and evolution. Plan for character arcs that span multiple books, allowing your protagonists and supporting characters to face challenges, make difficult choices, and emerge as changed individuals. This character development will not only add depth to your narrative but also keep readers invested in the journey of your characters.

Anticipate and Address Potential Plot Holes As your book series expands, the potential for plot holes and inconsistencies increases. Be vigilant in identifying and addressing these issues during the planning stage. Regularly review your outline and notes, looking for any logical gaps or contradictions. Enlist the help of beta readers or critique partners to provide fresh perspectives and catch any potential plot holes you may have missed.

Consider the Overarching Story Arc While each book in your series should have its own narrative arc, it's essential to plan for an overarching story arc that spans the entire series. This overarching arc should tie together the individual books, building towards a climactic conclusion that resolves the central conflict or mystery. Ensure that each book contributes to this larger narrative, advancing the plot and raising the stakes for the characters.

Plan for Marketing and Promotion Finally, as you plan your book series, don't overlook the importance of marketing and promotion. Develop a strategy for building buzz and engaging with your audience throughout the release of each book. Leverage social media, author events, book tours, and other promotional opportunities to keep your readers excited and invested in your series.

Remember, writing a book series is a marathon, not a sprint, so be prepared to invest time, effort, and dedication into crafting a truly remarkable literary journey. Hope this helped!

Happy Writing - Rin T.

Hey fellow writers! I'm super excited to share that I've just launched a Tumblr community. I'm inviting all of you to join my community. All you have to do is fill out this Google form, and I'll personally send you an invitation to join the Write Right Society on Tumblr! Can't wait to see your posts!

[batmonkfish80]

I have now written up reviews of the entire ten book Malazan Books Of The Fallen series. This review has an index to the other reviews at the bottom. At this time, this is my final word on the decalogy.

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Book Review: Fourth Wing & Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros

How far will you go to save someone you love? And if you save them, will they forgive you? Latest book review for Fourth Wing & Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros

How far will you go to save someone you love? And if you save them, will they forgive you? That’s the question swirling in my head after speed-reading Fourth Wing and Iron Flame this past week. I admit I was influenced by seeing everyone talk about it on Threads and decided to check it out. And I am glad I did. The premise of Fourth Wing isn’t an uncommon one in fantasy fiction. We’ve come…