The Black Iron Legacy #3: The Broken God

Come, break me down. Bury me, bury me. I am finished with you. Look in my eyes. You’re killing me, killing me. All I wanted was you. Let’s smash The Broken God, by Gareth Hanrahan.

Synopsis:

Enter a city of dragons and darkness.

The Godswar has come to Guerdon, dividing the city between three occupying powers. While the fragile Armistice holds back the gods, other forces seek to extend their influence. The criminal dragons of the Ghierdana ally with the surviving thieves – including Spar Idgeson, once heir to the Brotherhood of Thieves, now transformed into the living stone of the New City.

Meanwhile, far across the sea, Spar’s friend Carillon Thay travels towards the legendary land of Khebesh, but she, too, becomes enmeshed in the schemes of the Ghierdana – and in her own past. Can she find what she wants when even the gods seek vengeance against her?

Source: Goodreads

SPOILERS BELOW

The third book of The Black Iron Legacy series sees Carillon Thay traveling overseas from her home city of Guerdon in search of a way to help her friend Spar, who is caught in a half-god, half-mortal state. However, doing so means braving the perils of the Godswar; and since her powers as the Saint of Knives are tied to Guerdon, she’ll be doing it without the supernatural abilities she’s become reliant on. Meanwhile, back in Guerdon, an ambitious young member of the Ghierdana criminal syndicate seeks to usurp Cari’s sainthood and use his new powers to hand control of the city’s wealth to the dragons.

This installment of the series didn’t work quite as well for me as the previous two. One of the problems is that, for the first time, the action is split. While the previous books were both focused on the city of Guerdon, this one keeps jumping back and forth between events in the city and Cari’s journey outside of it. As a result, the plot didn’t have quite so much cohesion. Of the two separate threads, I found Cari’s more captivating; the book’s other main weakness was the unlikeability of the Guerdon POV characters. The previous books established a precedent of each volume switching to different main characters, with the previous protagonists appearing only in minor supporting roles; some of these new main characters were even antagonist to the previous ones, as in the case of Fate Spider. The two new major POVs for the Guerdon storyline in this novel, however – Rasce and Baston – I both found to be deeply unlikeable. When they assumed antagonistic positions towards previously established characters like Rat and Eladora Duttin, my sympathies were naturally with the former protagonists who I’d already developed an emotional investment in, and I spent most of this book hoping its major POV characters would fail miserably in their endeavors – which kind of undermined a lot of the drama.

The Broken God still had a lot of good stuff going for it. It was good to see Cari back as a major protagonist again, and her journey beyond Guerdon did a lot to expand the setting a give a first-hand look at the strange and terrible ravages of the Godswar. Overall, I enjoyed the book. It just isn’t quite as strong as the previous two.

Final Rating: 4/5

Myth Adventures #2: Myth Conceptions

When the calls and conversations, accidents and accusations messages and misperceptions paralyze my mind. I come to find a refuge in the easy silence that you make for me. It’s okay when there’s nothing more to say to me. And the peaceful quiet you create for me. And the way you keep the world at bay for me. Let’s correct Myth Conceptions, by Robert Asprin.

Synopsis:

After mistakenly being appointed court magician by a regent who should have known better, apprentice mage Skeeve must defend a kingdom from the mightiest invading army in the world.

Source: Goodreads

SPOILERS BELOW

Skeeve the apprentice magician and Aahz the demon are back in their second adventure. This time, they’re scheming to get Skeeve a cushy position as magi advisor to a small kingdom. Unfortunately, it turns out that said kingdom is right in the path of a massive conquering army, and Skeeve is now in charge of organizing a hopeless defense. To make matters worse, the kingdom’s chancellor has vowed to have Skeeve killed for treachery if he fails, while the general will kill him out of fear of being replaced should he succeed. Fortunately for Skeeve, this is a comedy, meaning things will be resolved with a great deal of wacky antics and very little actual killing.

This was another solid entry in the series, with good humor and strong character interactions. It’s fairly short and light in substance, but that’s fine; not every fantasy story needs to be a big grand epic in order to be enjoyable. This made for a perfectly pleasant read.

Final Rating: 3/5

Queerleaders

Oh Mackenzie, what a pity you don’t understand, you take me by the heart when you take me by the hand. Oh Mackenzie, you’re so pretty, can’t you understand? It’s girls like you Mackenzie, oh what you do Mackenzie, do Mackenzie, don’t break my heart, Mackenzie. Let’s cheer for Queerleaders, by M.B. Guel.

Synopsis:

Mackenzie is used to being different from other kids―and to being bullied for not fitting into the rigid social expectations of her Catholic High School. Luckily, Mack’s best friend Lila has her back so school isn’t the total hell it could be. But it’s pretty damn close.
Until something very mysterious happens―Mack becomes a cheerleader magnet. Even she has a hard time believing it. And Lila is not too happy about her friend’s sudden popularity with the cool kids.
Is Mack being set up for an epic fail? Or is she finally headed for acceptance–and maybe even romance…
M. B. Guel is the winner of Bella’s “fan fiction to published author” contest. Queerleaders is her debut novel.

Source: Goodreads

SPOILERS BELOW

Queerleaders is a lesbian romantic comedy. The main character, Mack, has a thing for cheerleaders. After being outed by a member of the football team, she decides to get revenge by seducing all of their cheerleader girlfriends. Surprisingly, she is very successful at scoring dates with the girls, though this ends up causing problems of its own – now she’s juggling dating a bunch of girls at once, as well as dealing with unexpected envy from her best friend Lisa.

I really enjoyed this book. That might surprise you, since in the past I’ve complained that I don’t like protagonists who cheat on their significant others, and Mack spends this book two-timing like nobody’s business. The reason this book gets away with it is tone: this is very clearly a lighthearted comedy, with over-the-top antics and absurd situations that aren’t really meant to be taken seriously. (It also helps that she eventually admits her mistake and apologizes).

This was a fun, funny book which was a pleasure to read.

Final Rating: 4/5

Giants #2: The Gentle Giants of Ganymede

Universe man, Universe man, size of the entire Universe man. Usually kind to smaller man. Universe man. He’s got a watch with a minute hand, millennium hand, and an eon hand. When they meet it’s a happy land. Powerful man, universe man. Let’s greet The Gentle Giants of Ganymede, by James P. Hogan.

Synopsis:

THE END OF EXILE

Long before the world of the Ganymeans blew apart, millennia ago, the strange race of giants had vanished. No one could discover their fate, nor where they had gone, nor why. There was only a wrecked ship abandoned on a frozen satellite of Jupiter. And now Earth’s code and scientists were there, determined to ferret out the secret of the lost race.

And suddenly, spinning out of the vastness of space and immensity of time, the ship of the strange, humanoid giants returned. They brought with them answers that would alter all Mankind’s knowledge of human origins in startling revelations from the past that would have biologic reverberations to be at this time. . .

Source: Goodreads

SPOILERS BELOW

In the previous book of the Giants series, we learned the secret history of the solar system: the earlier human civilization that existed on the planet Minerva before its destruction, and the giant alien Ganymeans who preceded them. The revelations continue in this volume, as a spaceship full of actual living Ganymeans arrives in the solar system – straight out of the distant past, thanks to the time-dilation effect of travel at relativistic speeds.

Like its predecessor, this book is a scientific mystery with little in the way of traditional conflict. First contact goes smoothly, and the book is devoted to exploring the unanswered questions left by the last story about how they vanished from the solar system and their planet came to be occupied by the Minervans. It’s definitely not the most exciting or action-packed book I’ve ever read; but slow, cerebral sci-fi has its place too, and I was sufficiently entertained so as not to be bored.

The Gentle Giants of Ganymede is a decent classical sci-fi novel.

Final Rating: 3/5

Miss Peregrine’s Peculiar Children #6: The Desolations of Devil’s Acre

They’re selling postcards of the hanging. They’re painting the passports brown. The beauty parlor is filled with sailors. The circus is in town. Here comes the blind commissioner. They’ve got him in a trance. One hand is tied to the tight-rope walker. The other is in his pants. And the riot squad, they’re restless. They need somewhere to go. As Lady and I look out tonight from Desolation Row. Let’s endure The Desolations of Devil’s Acre, by Ransom Riggs.

Synopsis:

The fate of peculiardom hangs in the balance in this epic conclusion to the Miss Peregrine’s Peculiar Children series.

The last thing Jacob Portman saw before the world went dark was a terrible, familiar face.

Suddenly, he and Noor are back in the place where everything began – his grandfather’s house. Jacob doesn’t know how they escaped from V’s loop to find themselves in Florida. But he does know one thing for certain: Caul has returned.

After a narrow getaway from a blood-thirsty hollow, Jacob and Noor reunite with Miss Peregrine and the peculiar children in Devil’s Acre. The Acre is being plagued by desolations – weather fronts of ash and blood and bone – a terrible portent of Caul’s amassing army.

Risen from the Library of Souls and more powerful than ever, Caul and his apocalyptic agenda seem unstoppable. Only one hope remains – deliver Noor to the meeting place of the seven prophesied ones. If they can decipher its secret location.

Source: Goodreads

SPOILERS BELOW

So, we come to the final book of the Miss Peregrine’s Peculiar Children series… allegedly. Forgive me for being doubtful, but I still remember when Library of Souls was supposed to be the last book of the series. We’ll see if it ends up sticking this time.

In any case, the last book ended on a cliffhanger, with Jacob and Noor seemingly caught in a collapsing loop as big bad villain Caul was resurrected. Given what is known about the fate of those caught in collapsing loops, this led me to speculate at the time that the series was aiming for a time-travel double Mobius reacharound plot twist, where Jacob would be thrown into the past and turn out to inadvertently be the cause of a bunch of events from the previous books. Fortunately, this book doesn’t go that direction – it might be a clever twist the first few times you see it, but it’s been done enough in recent times that it’s starting to feel a little played-out (looking at you, Attack on Titan). Unfortunately, the alternative way it comes up with to save Jacob from the situation – a never-before mentioned device called an Expulsulator – smacks a little of deus ex machina.

From there on, things go pretty much as expected: there are battles against Caul and his forces, all hope appears to be lost, our heroes attempt one last desperate stratagem, and Caul is defeated as foretold by prophecy (thanks for the spoilers, prophecy; wouldn’t want there to be any actual suspense leading up to the big final battle). In other words, it was fairly standard: not bad, but not exceptional either.

Overall, Miss Peregrine’s Peculiar Children has been an often enjoyable and frequently entertaining series. I do however believe that is has by this point mostly play out its story and exhausted its gimmicks. Thus, I hope it ends here, on this relatively strong note, rather than suffering the undignified fate of so many other series that are dragged out long past their natural endpoints in the unending pursuit of more money.

Final Rating: 3/5

Edge #1: The Edge of Reason

Where is the edge of your darkest emotions? Why does it all survive? Where is the light of your deepest devotions? I pray that it’s still alive. Let’s stroll up to The Edge of Reason, by Melinda Snodgrass.

Synopsis:

Since the dawn of consciousness, a secret war has been fought between the forces of magic and religious fanaticism, and the cause of reason, understanding, and technology. On one side are the Old Ones, malign entities that feed on the suffering of mankind. On the other are the Lumina, an ancient order dedicated the liberation of the human spirit.

Officer Richard Oort of the Albuquerque Police Department is caught in the middle of this primal battle when he rescues a mysterious teenage girl from a trio of inhuman hunters. Recruited by the Lumina to serve as their latest paladin, Richard ends up fighting beside a handful of unlikely allies, including an adolescent sorceress, an enigmatic philanthropist, a sexy coroner, and a homeless god with multiple personalities.

The Old Ones and their mortal pawns are determined to destroy Richard–or subvert him to their cause. And they have all powers of magic and organized religion at their disposal. As the gates between the universes shred apart, it may be up to Richard to save humanity from the endless horror of a new Dark Age.

Provocative as The Golden Compass or the Illuminatus! trilogy, The Edge of Reason dramatizes the fundamental conflict behind the hot-button issues of today…and the future of the human race.

Source: Goodreads

SPOILERS BELOW

I was introduced to the Edge series through a story included in the anthology Down These Strange Streets. The glimpse it provided of the series’s world – where emotion-eating Old Ones are drawn to our world by the beacon of religious faith, and an organization called Lumina fights a secret war against them and their cultists to protect reality against incursion – intrigued me enough that I decided I wanted to read the novels proper. Thus, we come to The Edge of Reason.

Our main protagonist is Richard Oort, a police officer who stumbles into the midst of the secret war and is recruited as a paladin by Kenntnis, the leader of Lumina. And I have to say, reading this made me very glad that I read “No Mystery, No Miracle” first. That story’s approach of gradually revealing the nature of the Old Ones through action, culminating in the reveal of Cross’s identity at the climax, worked as a much better introduction to the setting than this book having Kenntnis deliver a huge infodump through dialogue to Oort at the beginning. It’s the old telling-versus-showing thing.

As for the plot, it starts off fairly episodic, with Oort investigating low-level local incidents which may be related to Old One interference – despite his enthusiasm to go for the enemy’s head, he is after all but the newest pawn in a game Kenntnis has been playing for a long time. Of course, things end up escalating towards the climax, where Oort finds himself the last hope of stopping an apocalyptic Old One incursion – and then it ends on a cliffhanger. Got to ensure the readers pick up the next novel somehow, amiright?

Since The Edge of Reason was clearly written as merely the opening chapter of a trilogy rather than a stand-alone work in its own right, I won’t be able to fully judge how well the Edge series executes its ideas until I’ve seen where it’s going. As the opening entry to the series, I think The Edge of Reason serves decently, though the clunkiness of some of its exposition means that I hold “No Mystery, No Miracle” to be the superior work overall and a better first look at the Edge.

Final Rating: 3/5