Books Read in June, 2023
The start of a new month. Well, close enough to it still. Thus, as is my standard usage of my blog space at or near the beginning of the month, I present the listing of my June, 2023 reads.
*****
Books Read in June, 2023
Black Adam - The Justice Society Files: Cyclone #1 (Comic)
Black Adam - The Justice Society Files: Atom Smasher #1 (Comic)
Foundation and Empire by Isaac Asimov (r)
February, 2023 Locus
The Defiant Heir by Melissa Caruso
Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths #5-7 (Comics)
Batman/Superman: World's Finest Vol 1 #8-11 (Comics)
The Prophet from Ephesus by Caroline Lawrence
Black Adam - The Justice Society Files: Dr. Fate #1 (Comic)
Stargirl: The Lost Childen #1-3 (Comics)
The New Golden Age #1 (Comic)
Semiosis by Sue Burke
Moon Over Soho by Ben Aaronovitch
Justice Society of America #1 (Comic)
Dark Crisis: Big Bang #1 (Comic)
Rivers of London: The Roleplaying Game by Ben Aaronovitch, Paul Fricker, Lynne Hardy, and Friends (RPG)
Defy the Night by Brigid Kemmerer
Lazarus Planet: Assault on Krypton #1 (Comic)
March, 2023 Locus
*****
And that was my reading for June 2023. This was a pretty decent month of reading in terms of both the quality of the material read and the number of books and other stuff read. There was a good mix of books with only a couple of re-reads in books, I managed to finish the read of the Rivers of London: The Roleplaying Game manual, and also read a batch of the "new" comics that I'd picked up early in the month. The diabetic ulcer that continued to keep me off my feet in May is healed ::knock on wood::, so much of my excuse for the amount of reading this past month is the bad shoulder/arm/back that has limited the weight of books that I can lift and hold. However, like I said last month, it's all about the quality of the books, not the quantity, and that definitely applied in June's reads. Regardless, my bookcases are still stacked with a pretty large To Read Queue (TRQ). The books I enjoyed the most were:
The Defiant Heir by Melissa Caruso
Across the border, the Witch Lords of Vaskandar are preparing for war. But before the invasion of Raverra can begin, the seventeen Witch Lords must convene at a rare gathering to decide a course of action. Lady Amalia Cornaro knows that this Conclave may be her only chance to smother the growing flames of war, and she is prepared to make any sacrifice to save the Raverran Empire from destruction. Amalia and her bound fire warlock, Zaira, must go behind enemy lines, using every ounce of wit and cunning they have, to sway Vaskandar's leaders from war. If they fail, it will all come down to swords and fire.
The second book in the Swords and Fire series, the sequel to The Tethered Mage, is a lovely, wonderful story that is as epic in scope while still being highly personal, and intense to the extreme. The Defiant Heir is a second book/sequel that builds on the first novel, but continues to leave the reader guessing somewhat and discovering new aspects of the world and the characters that inhabit it. The world building in this second novel continues to astound me. Instead of resting on her laurels after the first book, author Caruso continues to develop the world, this time out letting the reader learn a great deal more about how magic works in this world, especially how it impacts the political map. In particular, the reader gets to learn much more about the political make-up of Vaskandar and how its particular flavour of magic has impacted that nation's politics and social structure. One thing that truly resonates with me is the way in which the author links the magic system with the political functioning of her world. Too often in fantasy fiction, one has mages that can throw fireballs everywhere, yet the political system isn't significantly different than that of feudal Europe; here, it all makes sense. But it's not only the world building and magic that are so terrific in the novel. The development of characters is equally worthy of praise and mention. The reader gets to watch Amalia and Zaira grow and evolve throughout this second book, and they are both very different at the end of the book than they were at the beginning. Both make difficult choices throughout the novel, but the camaraderie that they have blossoms by the end of the book, and they are truly friends. It isn't just the protagonists of the novel who are developed and well rounded. The reader visits a lot more of the world this time out, the majority of which is spent behind the enemy lines of the potentially united enemy in Vaskandar. Amalia and Zaira, among others, visit haunted forests, volcanoes, plague ridden villages and highly dangerous fortresses. The cast of characters is seemingly doubled in size, with new additions including the seventeen Witch Lords of Vaskandar and Amalia's relatives in Callamorne. However, many of the characters found in the first book have developed and changed as well due to the events of that story and the current dilemmas they are facing in this tale. While the Skinwitch Ruven was menacing in the first novel, several other characters, especially Witch Lords, are very well developed with intrigues and agendas surrounding them, notably Crow Lord Kathe (who is charming, mysterious and loves playing games), the Lady of Eagles (Lady Amalia's great-grandmother who is so formidable and powerful, grown men would cry to be in the same room with her) and the Lady of Thorns (probably one of the most despicable evil types I've encountered in fantasy recently, and that's not counting her sociopathic tendencies). I would also be remiss if I didn't mention the Lady of Spiders's...dress ::shudder::. I should mention that the story does have a couple of weaknesses worth noting. First of all, there are several moments in the story where it feels as if Amalia is primarily being pulled along by the narrative. She's being saved by others or otherwise feels like she lacks real agency. Fortunately, these scenes are few and don't rob the narrative of its tension. My real problem with these scenes is that I've never thought of Amalia as being...compliant...but that changes as the story winds its way through to the conclusion. Secondly, there's a sort-of love triangle going on throughout the book. I'm not fond of them in fantasy novels, usually because of how they're handled, but here I just didn't feel the romantic tension between Amalia and either of her love interests. Or so I thought. The Defiant Heir is simply brilliant. It starts strong, makes it easy and exciting to become reacquainted with the characters, is full of politica drama, hidden plots, great character moments, betrayals and showdowns. Granted it's got a bit of a young adult fantasy feel at times, but this is a book that has that political fantasy feel to it as well, and at 500+ pages, is not an easy read, but with the terrific pacing, magnificent dialogue, well... This is a novel that I can't recommend enough, but the reader should do themselves a favour and read the first book in the series before this one. You won't regret it.
The Prophet from Ephesus by Caroline Lawrence
It is August, A.D. 81. Presumed dead by their families but wanted by unknown authorities, Flavia, Jonathan, Nubia and Lupus feel very far from home. News of more kidnappings in Italia reach them, and when they discover one of Miriam's twins is among the missing, the four detectives set out for Halicarnassus in the Roman province of Asia to investigate. Soon, they find themselves in a world of prophets who heal the sick and cure the lame - or are they merely tricksters and villains in disguise?
The sixteenth book in the young adult Roman Mysteries series, the story continues from the previous novel, with the four protagonists - Flavia, Nubia, Jonathan and Lupus - still unable to make their way back to Rome, as there is an arrest warrant and reward out on them for treason; Emperor Titus wants their heads, seemingly, for their failure to deliver to him the gem that he sent them in search of - the gem that they recovered, but gave to his agent to deliver that never was. In a bit of a coincidence, their tutor, Aristo, sees the wanted posters in Ostia, hears about their letters, realises they are alive and makes his way to Alexandria (Egypt) where the children are in hiding. Once there, Flavia learns her father thinks they are dead and has joined forces with Magistrate Bato to locate the kidnapped children and have gone to Halicarnassus (Turkey). As the authorities don’t expect the children to go there, they take a ship there. Flavia discovers Flaccus was quick to move on and is engaged and also present! She regrets her hasty rejection of him terribly half a year earlier which led her and her friends to be away from home so long. She meets Prudentilla, the jealous, perfect and beautiful fiancée. In many ways, this is one of the highlights of the book for me, as it explores Flavia's feelings for Flaccus and Nubia's maturity in supporting her friend. Flavia can't stand to be patronised and be in the presence of the two of them, one guilty, the other vicious, so she goes to Ephesus with her friends and Magistrate Bato on the trail of the criminal mastermind. For most of the course of this novel, the four protagonists are the stars of the show, and their characterisations are developed quite a lot during this novel, though there is one issue that I have with the book by its end (see below). As noted above, the story really does focus a lot on Flavia, as it is her decisions and emotional choices in the story that lead the characters in pursuit of the criminal mastermind. Strangely, I was very fond of Flavia in the first book of the series, but she has lost her appeal to me over the course of the last batch of books. The problem for me is that Flavia hasn't matured as have her friends. She seems and acts her age, twelve, and for that reason I found it difficult to understand her romantic feelings for Flaccus, as it's actually more of a first crush in many ways. And it's even harder for me to believe that Flaccus loves her because as Prudentilla points out, Flavia's hardly a woman yet. While I understand and know that twelve was an acceptable age for the Romans, it actually comes across for me a bit creepy. Then there's Nubia... She continues to be the most level-headed, the best tempered and the most considerate of the four friends. Her personality has shone through moreso than for the other characters ever since they left the (relative) safety of Ostia and Rome. When it comes to Jonathan, I will always like the character, but ever since he was responsible for the fire in Rome, his recurring pessimism and his "Oh, it's all my fault!" attitude has gotten on my nerves. While I understand that it would take a long time for someone to come to grips with something as terrible as the fire in Rome, I can't help but be annoyed every time he brings it up, or when Lupus brings it up, even if accidentally. And speaking of Lupus, this novel brings the personal trials that he faces being mute due to his tongue having been cut out and all of the psychological trauma he's faced because of that event, and at times seems to offer him a way of being physically healed as the so-called prophet of the title may be able to miraculously grow back or return his tongue. Needless to say, Lupus must come to psychologically finding peace about his tonue and learn to deal with his condition and mentally find some closure with it. Without spoiling the plot of the last third of the novel, it is both Jonathan and Lupus who gain the most and find their peace, though Jonathan begins a whole new quest (that I assume the others will become involved in with the final book of the series). Once more, the writing in this volume is superb, with author Lawrence doing a terrific job both in terms of her historical research and her descriptive prose of what the four protagonists see and witness in places such as Alexandria and Halicarnassus. The historical facts and myths that are related to the readers come in a nice fashion, sprinkled in the characters' dialogue that doesn't lessen the believability of the dialogue itself, and the chapters are all relatively short in length and keep the reader going. However, I was somewhat annoyed at the fact that the book seems to be a series of moment-by-moment events, and each chapter ends on a cliffhanger of sorts. But here's where I do have to talk about spoilers sort of. The Roman Mysteries series has been leading up to this book ever since the ninth book, The Colossus of Rhodes, and does a decent job of connectng the loose ends from that book in this one. Author Lawrence had a good set-up and an intriguing villain, but it all comes crashing down around the reader's head in this volume: the villain repents, becomes a good guy and gives away all his wealth - and is pardoned! Everyone goes home happy. Sort of. It left a somewhat bitter taste in my mouth, and may not satisfy some readers. To add to my dissatisfaction here, no mention is made nor is there any evidence of over dead Uncle Gaeus who (obviously) perished in the shipwreck. Flavia seems to have forgotten about him! But at least she is reunited with her father and Aristo. If I had any real problem with this book it was in relation to the conversion of three of the protagonists to Christianity. So here's my thoughts on this aspect of the story, in no particular character order. When it comes to Lupus, I can understand how living with Jonathan and learning to control his anger and forgive his uncle for what he did would lead him to the Christian faith. I found his conversion to be authentic, as his feeling of calmness and being relaxed due to a light god's love and so forth made sense, though it could have been portrayed more realistically. In the case of Nubia, I can see her converting to Christianity. Nubia likes animals and the Romano-Greco polytheism demanded animal sacrifice, although I have to wonder if this should have made her a vegetarian as well. However, she likes goat and camel stew; that aside, I can see why Nubia would find Christianity perhaps appealing. Then there's Aristo, whose conversion I fail to understand completely. A classical Greek scholar well versed in Homer and a frequent visitor to the temple of Aphrodite? His conversion felt extremely rushed and can be summed up as, "I've spent 3 days with this fisherman and I'm now a convert to Christianity and all my life long teachings and beliefs have gone out of the window." Umm... maybe in the Bible this would happen, but author Caroline Lawrence has to this point in the novels treated her readers with the intelligent respect they deserve and for this I greatly admire her, but I found The Prophet from Ephesus to be very preachy. It seems to convey the idea that all good characters were Christians and that the faith could turn the most evil person good. Now while this can happen and is a fundamental part of the Christian faith (as far as I know, not being Christian myself) in what has been a rather balanced series of books from the religious point of view to date, it deviates from the author's normal accuracy in portraying characters and situations that feel real. When it comes down to it, my only consolation is that Flavia, thank goodness, remains polytheist and provides the reader the "pagan" view on events - which was the majority view and belief at that time. One thing I liked a lot in The Beggar from Volubilis was Flavia's attachment to Isis being shown in a dream that could be taken as a vision or just a dream. Perhaps if the Christian conversions here had been treated in a similar way, it might have been more effectively and worked with a feeling of being more authentic. Just my view on this. When it comes right down to it, The Prophet from Ephesus is a good read, largely due to the author's research and historical grounding, the descriptive prose (the two Turkish towns come to life very nicely and are scenic, and I could even taste some of the food described!) and several of the plot twists and turns are sure to keep the reader continuing on. The characters of Flavia, Nubia, Jonthan and Lupus are beloved of readers of the series and for the most part, don't disappoint here. What I will say about this novel to end this review is that I highly recommend the book because of the practicalities of author Lawrence, who doesn't seem to conform to the clichés of a happy ending or shying away from uncomfortable topics handled in an acceptable manner. That said, it's not a stand-alone book, so the reader will have to have taken the plunge into the series and read most, if not all, the other books in the series to truly appreciate it.
Moon Over Soho by Ben Aaronovitch
My name is Peter Grant, and I'm a Detective Constable in that mighty army for justice known as the Metropolitan Police (a.k.a. the Filth). I'm also a trainee wizard, the first such apprentice in fifty years. Officially I belong to ESC9, Economic and Specialist Crime Unit 9, otherwise known as "The Folly", also known as the unit that nice, well-brought-up coppers don't talk about in polite company. When I was a kid, I was in charge of changing my dad's records while he lounged around drinking tea - that's how I know my Argo from my Tempo. And that's why, when Dr. Walid called me down to the morgue to listen to a corpse, I recognised the tune as "Body and Soul" - something violently supernatural had happened to the victim, strong enough to leave its imprint on his corpse as if it were a wax cylinder recording. The former owner of the body, Cyrus Wilkinson, was a part-time jazz saxophonist and full-time accountant who had dropped dead of a heart attack just after finishing a gig. He wasn't the first, but no one was going to let me exhume corpses to see if they were playing my tune, so it was back to old-fashioned police legwork, starting in Soho, the heart of the scene, with the lovely Simone - Cyrus's ex-lover, professional jazz kitten and as inviting as a Rubens portrait - as my guide. And it didn't take me long to realise there were monsters stalking Soho, creatures feeding off that special gift that separates the great musician from someone who can raise a decent tune. What they take is beauty. What they leave behind is sickness, failure and broken lives. And as I hunted them, my investigation got tangled up in another story: a brilliant trumpet player, Richard "Lord Grant - my father - who managed to destroy his own career. Twice. That's the thing about policing: most of the time you're doing it to maintain public order. Occasionally you're doing it for justice. And maybe, once in a career, you're doing it for revenge.
The second book in the Rivers of London (or Peter Grant) series of books. Once again, the novel follows Detective Constable Peter Grant, as he continues to work as part of The Folly, the seemingly not-so-secret branch of the London Metropolitan Police, in taking on unusual crimes while also learning more about magic as the apprentice of the last wizard in Great Britain. This time out, the tale is about the mysterious death of a jazz musician who dies of a heart attack after his performance under mysterious circumstances. While it appears to be a death due to natural causes, Dr. Walid and Peter determine the true cause of the musician's death, and... oh, and it seems there's a serial killer on the loose in the story with a very grisly m.o. that will definitely make men cringe. Just another day for Peter Grant, right? Well, not quite... Unlike in Rivers of London, Peter Grant is mostly on his own in this part. His mentor, Thomas Nightingale, is dealing with the aftermath of his shooting in the first novel, and his former partner, Lesley May, is likely to remain out of action for quite some time due to her truly appalling injuries also suffered in the first novel, although there may be a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel (and perhaps a hint of what is to come in the next novel?) However, the reader does learn more about the background of the Folly, of the relationship such as it is that exists between Nightingale and Molly and something of their past history, and why there are so few magical practitioners of the European tradition. Familiar faces, such as the resolute Detective Sergeant Stephanopoulos, the interim head of homicide, and Peter's father, a former jazz legend, who is being "consulted" about the mysterious jazz killer. Oh, and needless to say, this novel offers a lot of rich background and material on the British jazz scene, both past and present, with its focus on Soho (naturally!). Yet for all the darkness, all the gruesome things that occur in this book (and make no mistake, Moon Over Soho is much heavier and bloodier in content), the writing in this second novel is terrific for the most part. Author Aaronovitch strikes a nice balance between shockingly bloody and brutal murders and that sense of humour that makes it hard to not laugh out loud at some aspect of the story (for this reader, anyway). Two of my favourite bits are first, when Peter is thinking about the advantages of good, sturdy shoes and praises those "recommended by police forces and skinheads far and wide for when you absolutely have to kick someone down the stairs". A second moment is when Peter points out to his superior, DCI Nightingale (his boss and the only other wizard around) that it is totally politically incorrect to refer to evil mages as "Black" Wizards. The suspense over the course of the novel is handled very nicely, the various characters and the ideas contained within the story are unique (I love the author's take on vampires), and as a reader, I actually care about the characters. One problem with a lot of stories along these lines and in this (sub-)genre is that authors tend to be somewhat predictable; that applies not just to the plots themselves, but being able to predict humour and jokes and character reactions. That isn't true of Ben Aaronovitch. Any given paragraph could contain references to Doctor Who, Glenn Miller, Harry Potter, Isaac Newton, or a sixteenth-century historian - and often does! That said, Moon Over Soho explores love, familial and romantic relationships, (jazz) music, and magic. It's an intelligent, well written, well-executed story and the second installment in what looks to become a fascinating, lovely series of books. And the novel also seems to introduce an opponent who seems to pose a serious danger for even Nightingale (and I hope this opponent appears in future novels). I can't recommend this book enough - but do yourself a favour, reader, and check out the first book (Rivers of London also called Midnight Riot in the U.S.). Then get on board and read Moon Over Soho. You won't regret it!
Defy the Night by Brigid Kemmerer
The Kingdom of Kandala is on the brink of disaster. Rifts between sectors have only worsened since a sickness began ravaging the land, and within the Royal Palace, the king holds a tenuous peace with a ruthless hand. King Harristan was thrust into power after his parents' shocking assassination, leaving the younger Prince Corrick to take on the brutal role of the King's Justice. The brothers have learned to react mercilessly to any sign of rebellion - it's the only way to maintain order when the sickness can strike anywhere, and the only known cure, an elixir made from delicate Moonflower petals, is severely limited. Out in the Wilds, apothecary apprentice Tessa Cade is tired of seeing her neighbours die, their suffering ignored by the unyielding royals. Every night, she and her best friend Wes risk their lives to steal Moonflower petals and distribute the elixir to those who need it most - but it's still not enough. As rumours spread that the cure no longer works and sparks of rebellion begin to flare, a particularly cruel act from the King's Justice makes Tessa desperate enough to try the impossible: sneaking into the palace. But what she finds upon her arrival makes her wonder if it's even possible to fix Kandala without destroying it first.
The first book in the Defy the Night series, this is a novel that I've had sitting in my To Read Queue pile of books since it came out in 2021, but was hesitant to read until now due to the coronavirus and the COVID-19 pandemic (which, even as I write this, is still not really contained and controlled). I will say that when I finally caved in and read this book, it was still a somewhat cheerful and captivating enough read that I was able to compare the virus in the book to the coronvirus; this allowed for an interesting comparison of the situation in the book and how the characters and people of the world handle it as compared to the reality that the readers are going through with coronavirus. If nothing else, this allows the reader to better understand the plot of the novel and the various characters' motivations and feelings. The author, Brigid Kemmerer, does a good job in presenting her basic story in this novel. A deadly illness has been ravaging the Kingdom of Kandala for years, the only cure being the rare Moonflower petals that grow in only a handful of locations. After their parents' deaths, King Harristan and Prince Corrick have been doing their best to deal with the contagion, though the cracks in both their household and their hold of the reigns of power seem to be showing. No one knows how the disease spreads, only the rich and powerful have access to treatment on a regular basis, and the leaders of the two sectors that supply the flower are constantly at odds with the rest of the realms. And to add further to the political and logistical tensions, there has been an upswing in smuggling of the precious petals... and whispers of rebellion amongst the common folks. There are also people like Tessa and her partner Wes, who steal and redistribute the life-saving flowers and the elixir made from them to people with the least means who need it the most. While they may not be smugglers, the ruthless crown under the iron grip of Prince Corrick, the King's Justice, makes no distinction between stealing for profit or survival. However, desperate people make desperate choices and after Tessa suddenly finds herself on her own, there are even fewer options for this apothecary-turned-Robin Hood if she wants to keep providing relief for her people. The novel is written from the point of view of the two main characters, young apothecarist Tessa Cade, and his Highness Prince Corrick, the brother of King Harristan, and the King's Justice. The chapters of the book alternate between Tessa's and Corrick's viewpoint, and make a terrific counterbalance to one another. Author Kemmerer does a marvellous job of world building during the course of the book, and we see Kandala and its limited surroundings (in this novel) through both Tessa's and Corrick's eyes and mindset in the alternating chapters. The story weaves politics around the plot in a manner in which every reader, regardless of age, can enjoy and reflect on while still being entertained by the action, the mystery, the humour and the romance that surrounds it all, in a youthful, mostly approachable manner. The differences between the social classes and their priorities in life are weighed down somewhat by the political situation and the role that Moonflower petals play in the economy, but by the end of the novel there is hope for a better Kandala. The two characters are unique in a couple of ways. One of the most interesting things about Tessa is how...common she is. There's nothing "special" about Tessa in a fantastical, "The Chosen One" sense, as she's just a normal young woman who cares deeply about other people. Tessa fell into the life she's living through circumstance and having limited options, having witnessed the death of her father and mother at the crossbows of the night patrol instituted by King Harriston and the King's Justice, Corrick, to deal with smugglers and the like, but she does pretty much everything in her power to help her community that is struggling both for survival and with the disease that's ravaging Kandala. That said, Corrick is no slouch in this department. Both he and King Harristan are very much products of their upbringing, having been forced to rule by the brutal deaths of their parents in front of them years ago. Corrick does what he must to survive and to keep his brother in power, but he is caught between the love he has for his brother and his sheer horror at what he must do as the King's Justice to keep his brother in power - and as a result, is a man caught in a duality and a situation where he cannot win. Both Corrick and Tessa are very much victims of circumstance shaped into who and what they are, and have a good deal in common. While Tessa and Corrick are the two characters at the centre of the novel, though Harristan is very much in the middle of it too being that he is Corrick's brother, there are plenty of secondary characters in the book, such as Karri, Jossalyn, Lochlan, Quint (advisor to both the king and his brother, and Corrick's best friend), Allisander Sallister and Arella Cherry (two of the Consuls of other sectors), who are well developed as characters and are integral to how the main protagonists are forced to make decisions and choices that reflect in the story as a whole. The romance in this novel, which I will not reveal here and spoil for the reader, has some interesting moral grayness to it, as one of the characters involved is not irredeemable. That said, the reader gets a good feel for Tessa's having to reconcile her past and her present during the course of the romance, but author Kemmerer gives the reader a slow, decent pace to the romance's development. It's what I would call a slow-burn relationship. Neither of the two revelations in this book were all that surprising, but I will say that they were nicely justified and fit the story that the author is telling. The ending of the novel elaborated on all the problems that face the characters in the second book to come, and that will be resolved in the second book (I hope). When it comes down to it, I thought that Defy the Night is a very good book, presenting the reader with an interesting (though at times depressing) world and a pair of protagonists who hold the reader's attention. I recommend this book very highly, and cannot wait to see what the author does in the second book to come.
Overall, I managed to read 6 novels, 1 RPGs and RPG product, 2 magazines, 17 comics, and 0 graphic novels in June. This brings the year total in 2023 to a set of numbers that look like this: 37 books, 5 RPGs and RPG products, 10 magazines, 20 comics, and 0 graphic novels.
Anyway, thoughts and comments are always welcome. :)
*****
Books Read in June, 2023
Black Adam - The Justice Society Files: Cyclone #1 (Comic)
Black Adam - The Justice Society Files: Atom Smasher #1 (Comic)
Foundation and Empire by Isaac Asimov (r)
February, 2023 Locus
The Defiant Heir by Melissa Caruso
Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths #5-7 (Comics)
Batman/Superman: World's Finest Vol 1 #8-11 (Comics)
The Prophet from Ephesus by Caroline Lawrence
Black Adam - The Justice Society Files: Dr. Fate #1 (Comic)
Stargirl: The Lost Childen #1-3 (Comics)
The New Golden Age #1 (Comic)
Semiosis by Sue Burke
Moon Over Soho by Ben Aaronovitch
Justice Society of America #1 (Comic)
Dark Crisis: Big Bang #1 (Comic)
Rivers of London: The Roleplaying Game by Ben Aaronovitch, Paul Fricker, Lynne Hardy, and Friends (RPG)
Defy the Night by Brigid Kemmerer
Lazarus Planet: Assault on Krypton #1 (Comic)
March, 2023 Locus
*****
And that was my reading for June 2023. This was a pretty decent month of reading in terms of both the quality of the material read and the number of books and other stuff read. There was a good mix of books with only a couple of re-reads in books, I managed to finish the read of the Rivers of London: The Roleplaying Game manual, and also read a batch of the "new" comics that I'd picked up early in the month. The diabetic ulcer that continued to keep me off my feet in May is healed ::knock on wood::, so much of my excuse for the amount of reading this past month is the bad shoulder/arm/back that has limited the weight of books that I can lift and hold. However, like I said last month, it's all about the quality of the books, not the quantity, and that definitely applied in June's reads. Regardless, my bookcases are still stacked with a pretty large To Read Queue (TRQ). The books I enjoyed the most were:
The Defiant Heir by Melissa Caruso
Across the border, the Witch Lords of Vaskandar are preparing for war. But before the invasion of Raverra can begin, the seventeen Witch Lords must convene at a rare gathering to decide a course of action. Lady Amalia Cornaro knows that this Conclave may be her only chance to smother the growing flames of war, and she is prepared to make any sacrifice to save the Raverran Empire from destruction. Amalia and her bound fire warlock, Zaira, must go behind enemy lines, using every ounce of wit and cunning they have, to sway Vaskandar's leaders from war. If they fail, it will all come down to swords and fire.
The second book in the Swords and Fire series, the sequel to The Tethered Mage, is a lovely, wonderful story that is as epic in scope while still being highly personal, and intense to the extreme. The Defiant Heir is a second book/sequel that builds on the first novel, but continues to leave the reader guessing somewhat and discovering new aspects of the world and the characters that inhabit it. The world building in this second novel continues to astound me. Instead of resting on her laurels after the first book, author Caruso continues to develop the world, this time out letting the reader learn a great deal more about how magic works in this world, especially how it impacts the political map. In particular, the reader gets to learn much more about the political make-up of Vaskandar and how its particular flavour of magic has impacted that nation's politics and social structure. One thing that truly resonates with me is the way in which the author links the magic system with the political functioning of her world. Too often in fantasy fiction, one has mages that can throw fireballs everywhere, yet the political system isn't significantly different than that of feudal Europe; here, it all makes sense. But it's not only the world building and magic that are so terrific in the novel. The development of characters is equally worthy of praise and mention. The reader gets to watch Amalia and Zaira grow and evolve throughout this second book, and they are both very different at the end of the book than they were at the beginning. Both make difficult choices throughout the novel, but the camaraderie that they have blossoms by the end of the book, and they are truly friends. It isn't just the protagonists of the novel who are developed and well rounded. The reader visits a lot more of the world this time out, the majority of which is spent behind the enemy lines of the potentially united enemy in Vaskandar. Amalia and Zaira, among others, visit haunted forests, volcanoes, plague ridden villages and highly dangerous fortresses. The cast of characters is seemingly doubled in size, with new additions including the seventeen Witch Lords of Vaskandar and Amalia's relatives in Callamorne. However, many of the characters found in the first book have developed and changed as well due to the events of that story and the current dilemmas they are facing in this tale. While the Skinwitch Ruven was menacing in the first novel, several other characters, especially Witch Lords, are very well developed with intrigues and agendas surrounding them, notably Crow Lord Kathe (who is charming, mysterious and loves playing games), the Lady of Eagles (Lady Amalia's great-grandmother who is so formidable and powerful, grown men would cry to be in the same room with her) and the Lady of Thorns (probably one of the most despicable evil types I've encountered in fantasy recently, and that's not counting her sociopathic tendencies). I would also be remiss if I didn't mention the Lady of Spiders's...dress ::shudder::. I should mention that the story does have a couple of weaknesses worth noting. First of all, there are several moments in the story where it feels as if Amalia is primarily being pulled along by the narrative. She's being saved by others or otherwise feels like she lacks real agency. Fortunately, these scenes are few and don't rob the narrative of its tension. My real problem with these scenes is that I've never thought of Amalia as being...compliant...but that changes as the story winds its way through to the conclusion. Secondly, there's a sort-of love triangle going on throughout the book. I'm not fond of them in fantasy novels, usually because of how they're handled, but here I just didn't feel the romantic tension between Amalia and either of her love interests. Or so I thought. The Defiant Heir is simply brilliant. It starts strong, makes it easy and exciting to become reacquainted with the characters, is full of politica drama, hidden plots, great character moments, betrayals and showdowns. Granted it's got a bit of a young adult fantasy feel at times, but this is a book that has that political fantasy feel to it as well, and at 500+ pages, is not an easy read, but with the terrific pacing, magnificent dialogue, well... This is a novel that I can't recommend enough, but the reader should do themselves a favour and read the first book in the series before this one. You won't regret it.
The Prophet from Ephesus by Caroline Lawrence
It is August, A.D. 81. Presumed dead by their families but wanted by unknown authorities, Flavia, Jonathan, Nubia and Lupus feel very far from home. News of more kidnappings in Italia reach them, and when they discover one of Miriam's twins is among the missing, the four detectives set out for Halicarnassus in the Roman province of Asia to investigate. Soon, they find themselves in a world of prophets who heal the sick and cure the lame - or are they merely tricksters and villains in disguise?
The sixteenth book in the young adult Roman Mysteries series, the story continues from the previous novel, with the four protagonists - Flavia, Nubia, Jonathan and Lupus - still unable to make their way back to Rome, as there is an arrest warrant and reward out on them for treason; Emperor Titus wants their heads, seemingly, for their failure to deliver to him the gem that he sent them in search of - the gem that they recovered, but gave to his agent to deliver that never was. In a bit of a coincidence, their tutor, Aristo, sees the wanted posters in Ostia, hears about their letters, realises they are alive and makes his way to Alexandria (Egypt) where the children are in hiding. Once there, Flavia learns her father thinks they are dead and has joined forces with Magistrate Bato to locate the kidnapped children and have gone to Halicarnassus (Turkey). As the authorities don’t expect the children to go there, they take a ship there. Flavia discovers Flaccus was quick to move on and is engaged and also present! She regrets her hasty rejection of him terribly half a year earlier which led her and her friends to be away from home so long. She meets Prudentilla, the jealous, perfect and beautiful fiancée. In many ways, this is one of the highlights of the book for me, as it explores Flavia's feelings for Flaccus and Nubia's maturity in supporting her friend. Flavia can't stand to be patronised and be in the presence of the two of them, one guilty, the other vicious, so she goes to Ephesus with her friends and Magistrate Bato on the trail of the criminal mastermind. For most of the course of this novel, the four protagonists are the stars of the show, and their characterisations are developed quite a lot during this novel, though there is one issue that I have with the book by its end (see below). As noted above, the story really does focus a lot on Flavia, as it is her decisions and emotional choices in the story that lead the characters in pursuit of the criminal mastermind. Strangely, I was very fond of Flavia in the first book of the series, but she has lost her appeal to me over the course of the last batch of books. The problem for me is that Flavia hasn't matured as have her friends. She seems and acts her age, twelve, and for that reason I found it difficult to understand her romantic feelings for Flaccus, as it's actually more of a first crush in many ways. And it's even harder for me to believe that Flaccus loves her because as Prudentilla points out, Flavia's hardly a woman yet. While I understand and know that twelve was an acceptable age for the Romans, it actually comes across for me a bit creepy. Then there's Nubia... She continues to be the most level-headed, the best tempered and the most considerate of the four friends. Her personality has shone through moreso than for the other characters ever since they left the (relative) safety of Ostia and Rome. When it comes to Jonathan, I will always like the character, but ever since he was responsible for the fire in Rome, his recurring pessimism and his "Oh, it's all my fault!" attitude has gotten on my nerves. While I understand that it would take a long time for someone to come to grips with something as terrible as the fire in Rome, I can't help but be annoyed every time he brings it up, or when Lupus brings it up, even if accidentally. And speaking of Lupus, this novel brings the personal trials that he faces being mute due to his tongue having been cut out and all of the psychological trauma he's faced because of that event, and at times seems to offer him a way of being physically healed as the so-called prophet of the title may be able to miraculously grow back or return his tongue. Needless to say, Lupus must come to psychologically finding peace about his tonue and learn to deal with his condition and mentally find some closure with it. Without spoiling the plot of the last third of the novel, it is both Jonathan and Lupus who gain the most and find their peace, though Jonathan begins a whole new quest (that I assume the others will become involved in with the final book of the series). Once more, the writing in this volume is superb, with author Lawrence doing a terrific job both in terms of her historical research and her descriptive prose of what the four protagonists see and witness in places such as Alexandria and Halicarnassus. The historical facts and myths that are related to the readers come in a nice fashion, sprinkled in the characters' dialogue that doesn't lessen the believability of the dialogue itself, and the chapters are all relatively short in length and keep the reader going. However, I was somewhat annoyed at the fact that the book seems to be a series of moment-by-moment events, and each chapter ends on a cliffhanger of sorts. But here's where I do have to talk about spoilers sort of. The Roman Mysteries series has been leading up to this book ever since the ninth book, The Colossus of Rhodes, and does a decent job of connectng the loose ends from that book in this one. Author Lawrence had a good set-up and an intriguing villain, but it all comes crashing down around the reader's head in this volume: the villain repents, becomes a good guy and gives away all his wealth - and is pardoned! Everyone goes home happy. Sort of. It left a somewhat bitter taste in my mouth, and may not satisfy some readers. To add to my dissatisfaction here, no mention is made nor is there any evidence of over dead Uncle Gaeus who (obviously) perished in the shipwreck. Flavia seems to have forgotten about him! But at least she is reunited with her father and Aristo. If I had any real problem with this book it was in relation to the conversion of three of the protagonists to Christianity. So here's my thoughts on this aspect of the story, in no particular character order. When it comes to Lupus, I can understand how living with Jonathan and learning to control his anger and forgive his uncle for what he did would lead him to the Christian faith. I found his conversion to be authentic, as his feeling of calmness and being relaxed due to a light god's love and so forth made sense, though it could have been portrayed more realistically. In the case of Nubia, I can see her converting to Christianity. Nubia likes animals and the Romano-Greco polytheism demanded animal sacrifice, although I have to wonder if this should have made her a vegetarian as well. However, she likes goat and camel stew; that aside, I can see why Nubia would find Christianity perhaps appealing. Then there's Aristo, whose conversion I fail to understand completely. A classical Greek scholar well versed in Homer and a frequent visitor to the temple of Aphrodite? His conversion felt extremely rushed and can be summed up as, "I've spent 3 days with this fisherman and I'm now a convert to Christianity and all my life long teachings and beliefs have gone out of the window." Umm... maybe in the Bible this would happen, but author Caroline Lawrence has to this point in the novels treated her readers with the intelligent respect they deserve and for this I greatly admire her, but I found The Prophet from Ephesus to be very preachy. It seems to convey the idea that all good characters were Christians and that the faith could turn the most evil person good. Now while this can happen and is a fundamental part of the Christian faith (as far as I know, not being Christian myself) in what has been a rather balanced series of books from the religious point of view to date, it deviates from the author's normal accuracy in portraying characters and situations that feel real. When it comes down to it, my only consolation is that Flavia, thank goodness, remains polytheist and provides the reader the "pagan" view on events - which was the majority view and belief at that time. One thing I liked a lot in The Beggar from Volubilis was Flavia's attachment to Isis being shown in a dream that could be taken as a vision or just a dream. Perhaps if the Christian conversions here had been treated in a similar way, it might have been more effectively and worked with a feeling of being more authentic. Just my view on this. When it comes right down to it, The Prophet from Ephesus is a good read, largely due to the author's research and historical grounding, the descriptive prose (the two Turkish towns come to life very nicely and are scenic, and I could even taste some of the food described!) and several of the plot twists and turns are sure to keep the reader continuing on. The characters of Flavia, Nubia, Jonthan and Lupus are beloved of readers of the series and for the most part, don't disappoint here. What I will say about this novel to end this review is that I highly recommend the book because of the practicalities of author Lawrence, who doesn't seem to conform to the clichés of a happy ending or shying away from uncomfortable topics handled in an acceptable manner. That said, it's not a stand-alone book, so the reader will have to have taken the plunge into the series and read most, if not all, the other books in the series to truly appreciate it.
Moon Over Soho by Ben Aaronovitch
My name is Peter Grant, and I'm a Detective Constable in that mighty army for justice known as the Metropolitan Police (a.k.a. the Filth). I'm also a trainee wizard, the first such apprentice in fifty years. Officially I belong to ESC9, Economic and Specialist Crime Unit 9, otherwise known as "The Folly", also known as the unit that nice, well-brought-up coppers don't talk about in polite company. When I was a kid, I was in charge of changing my dad's records while he lounged around drinking tea - that's how I know my Argo from my Tempo. And that's why, when Dr. Walid called me down to the morgue to listen to a corpse, I recognised the tune as "Body and Soul" - something violently supernatural had happened to the victim, strong enough to leave its imprint on his corpse as if it were a wax cylinder recording. The former owner of the body, Cyrus Wilkinson, was a part-time jazz saxophonist and full-time accountant who had dropped dead of a heart attack just after finishing a gig. He wasn't the first, but no one was going to let me exhume corpses to see if they were playing my tune, so it was back to old-fashioned police legwork, starting in Soho, the heart of the scene, with the lovely Simone - Cyrus's ex-lover, professional jazz kitten and as inviting as a Rubens portrait - as my guide. And it didn't take me long to realise there were monsters stalking Soho, creatures feeding off that special gift that separates the great musician from someone who can raise a decent tune. What they take is beauty. What they leave behind is sickness, failure and broken lives. And as I hunted them, my investigation got tangled up in another story: a brilliant trumpet player, Richard "Lord Grant - my father - who managed to destroy his own career. Twice. That's the thing about policing: most of the time you're doing it to maintain public order. Occasionally you're doing it for justice. And maybe, once in a career, you're doing it for revenge.
The second book in the Rivers of London (or Peter Grant) series of books. Once again, the novel follows Detective Constable Peter Grant, as he continues to work as part of The Folly, the seemingly not-so-secret branch of the London Metropolitan Police, in taking on unusual crimes while also learning more about magic as the apprentice of the last wizard in Great Britain. This time out, the tale is about the mysterious death of a jazz musician who dies of a heart attack after his performance under mysterious circumstances. While it appears to be a death due to natural causes, Dr. Walid and Peter determine the true cause of the musician's death, and... oh, and it seems there's a serial killer on the loose in the story with a very grisly m.o. that will definitely make men cringe. Just another day for Peter Grant, right? Well, not quite... Unlike in Rivers of London, Peter Grant is mostly on his own in this part. His mentor, Thomas Nightingale, is dealing with the aftermath of his shooting in the first novel, and his former partner, Lesley May, is likely to remain out of action for quite some time due to her truly appalling injuries also suffered in the first novel, although there may be a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel (and perhaps a hint of what is to come in the next novel?) However, the reader does learn more about the background of the Folly, of the relationship such as it is that exists between Nightingale and Molly and something of their past history, and why there are so few magical practitioners of the European tradition. Familiar faces, such as the resolute Detective Sergeant Stephanopoulos, the interim head of homicide, and Peter's father, a former jazz legend, who is being "consulted" about the mysterious jazz killer. Oh, and needless to say, this novel offers a lot of rich background and material on the British jazz scene, both past and present, with its focus on Soho (naturally!). Yet for all the darkness, all the gruesome things that occur in this book (and make no mistake, Moon Over Soho is much heavier and bloodier in content), the writing in this second novel is terrific for the most part. Author Aaronovitch strikes a nice balance between shockingly bloody and brutal murders and that sense of humour that makes it hard to not laugh out loud at some aspect of the story (for this reader, anyway). Two of my favourite bits are first, when Peter is thinking about the advantages of good, sturdy shoes and praises those "recommended by police forces and skinheads far and wide for when you absolutely have to kick someone down the stairs". A second moment is when Peter points out to his superior, DCI Nightingale (his boss and the only other wizard around) that it is totally politically incorrect to refer to evil mages as "Black" Wizards. The suspense over the course of the novel is handled very nicely, the various characters and the ideas contained within the story are unique (I love the author's take on vampires), and as a reader, I actually care about the characters. One problem with a lot of stories along these lines and in this (sub-)genre is that authors tend to be somewhat predictable; that applies not just to the plots themselves, but being able to predict humour and jokes and character reactions. That isn't true of Ben Aaronovitch. Any given paragraph could contain references to Doctor Who, Glenn Miller, Harry Potter, Isaac Newton, or a sixteenth-century historian - and often does! That said, Moon Over Soho explores love, familial and romantic relationships, (jazz) music, and magic. It's an intelligent, well written, well-executed story and the second installment in what looks to become a fascinating, lovely series of books. And the novel also seems to introduce an opponent who seems to pose a serious danger for even Nightingale (and I hope this opponent appears in future novels). I can't recommend this book enough - but do yourself a favour, reader, and check out the first book (Rivers of London also called Midnight Riot in the U.S.). Then get on board and read Moon Over Soho. You won't regret it!
Defy the Night by Brigid Kemmerer
The Kingdom of Kandala is on the brink of disaster. Rifts between sectors have only worsened since a sickness began ravaging the land, and within the Royal Palace, the king holds a tenuous peace with a ruthless hand. King Harristan was thrust into power after his parents' shocking assassination, leaving the younger Prince Corrick to take on the brutal role of the King's Justice. The brothers have learned to react mercilessly to any sign of rebellion - it's the only way to maintain order when the sickness can strike anywhere, and the only known cure, an elixir made from delicate Moonflower petals, is severely limited. Out in the Wilds, apothecary apprentice Tessa Cade is tired of seeing her neighbours die, their suffering ignored by the unyielding royals. Every night, she and her best friend Wes risk their lives to steal Moonflower petals and distribute the elixir to those who need it most - but it's still not enough. As rumours spread that the cure no longer works and sparks of rebellion begin to flare, a particularly cruel act from the King's Justice makes Tessa desperate enough to try the impossible: sneaking into the palace. But what she finds upon her arrival makes her wonder if it's even possible to fix Kandala without destroying it first.
The first book in the Defy the Night series, this is a novel that I've had sitting in my To Read Queue pile of books since it came out in 2021, but was hesitant to read until now due to the coronavirus and the COVID-19 pandemic (which, even as I write this, is still not really contained and controlled). I will say that when I finally caved in and read this book, it was still a somewhat cheerful and captivating enough read that I was able to compare the virus in the book to the coronvirus; this allowed for an interesting comparison of the situation in the book and how the characters and people of the world handle it as compared to the reality that the readers are going through with coronavirus. If nothing else, this allows the reader to better understand the plot of the novel and the various characters' motivations and feelings. The author, Brigid Kemmerer, does a good job in presenting her basic story in this novel. A deadly illness has been ravaging the Kingdom of Kandala for years, the only cure being the rare Moonflower petals that grow in only a handful of locations. After their parents' deaths, King Harristan and Prince Corrick have been doing their best to deal with the contagion, though the cracks in both their household and their hold of the reigns of power seem to be showing. No one knows how the disease spreads, only the rich and powerful have access to treatment on a regular basis, and the leaders of the two sectors that supply the flower are constantly at odds with the rest of the realms. And to add further to the political and logistical tensions, there has been an upswing in smuggling of the precious petals... and whispers of rebellion amongst the common folks. There are also people like Tessa and her partner Wes, who steal and redistribute the life-saving flowers and the elixir made from them to people with the least means who need it the most. While they may not be smugglers, the ruthless crown under the iron grip of Prince Corrick, the King's Justice, makes no distinction between stealing for profit or survival. However, desperate people make desperate choices and after Tessa suddenly finds herself on her own, there are even fewer options for this apothecary-turned-Robin Hood if she wants to keep providing relief for her people. The novel is written from the point of view of the two main characters, young apothecarist Tessa Cade, and his Highness Prince Corrick, the brother of King Harristan, and the King's Justice. The chapters of the book alternate between Tessa's and Corrick's viewpoint, and make a terrific counterbalance to one another. Author Kemmerer does a marvellous job of world building during the course of the book, and we see Kandala and its limited surroundings (in this novel) through both Tessa's and Corrick's eyes and mindset in the alternating chapters. The story weaves politics around the plot in a manner in which every reader, regardless of age, can enjoy and reflect on while still being entertained by the action, the mystery, the humour and the romance that surrounds it all, in a youthful, mostly approachable manner. The differences between the social classes and their priorities in life are weighed down somewhat by the political situation and the role that Moonflower petals play in the economy, but by the end of the novel there is hope for a better Kandala. The two characters are unique in a couple of ways. One of the most interesting things about Tessa is how...common she is. There's nothing "special" about Tessa in a fantastical, "The Chosen One" sense, as she's just a normal young woman who cares deeply about other people. Tessa fell into the life she's living through circumstance and having limited options, having witnessed the death of her father and mother at the crossbows of the night patrol instituted by King Harriston and the King's Justice, Corrick, to deal with smugglers and the like, but she does pretty much everything in her power to help her community that is struggling both for survival and with the disease that's ravaging Kandala. That said, Corrick is no slouch in this department. Both he and King Harristan are very much products of their upbringing, having been forced to rule by the brutal deaths of their parents in front of them years ago. Corrick does what he must to survive and to keep his brother in power, but he is caught between the love he has for his brother and his sheer horror at what he must do as the King's Justice to keep his brother in power - and as a result, is a man caught in a duality and a situation where he cannot win. Both Corrick and Tessa are very much victims of circumstance shaped into who and what they are, and have a good deal in common. While Tessa and Corrick are the two characters at the centre of the novel, though Harristan is very much in the middle of it too being that he is Corrick's brother, there are plenty of secondary characters in the book, such as Karri, Jossalyn, Lochlan, Quint (advisor to both the king and his brother, and Corrick's best friend), Allisander Sallister and Arella Cherry (two of the Consuls of other sectors), who are well developed as characters and are integral to how the main protagonists are forced to make decisions and choices that reflect in the story as a whole. The romance in this novel, which I will not reveal here and spoil for the reader, has some interesting moral grayness to it, as one of the characters involved is not irredeemable. That said, the reader gets a good feel for Tessa's having to reconcile her past and her present during the course of the romance, but author Kemmerer gives the reader a slow, decent pace to the romance's development. It's what I would call a slow-burn relationship. Neither of the two revelations in this book were all that surprising, but I will say that they were nicely justified and fit the story that the author is telling. The ending of the novel elaborated on all the problems that face the characters in the second book to come, and that will be resolved in the second book (I hope). When it comes down to it, I thought that Defy the Night is a very good book, presenting the reader with an interesting (though at times depressing) world and a pair of protagonists who hold the reader's attention. I recommend this book very highly, and cannot wait to see what the author does in the second book to come.
Overall, I managed to read 6 novels, 1 RPGs and RPG product, 2 magazines, 17 comics, and 0 graphic novels in June. This brings the year total in 2023 to a set of numbers that look like this: 37 books, 5 RPGs and RPG products, 10 magazines, 20 comics, and 0 graphic novels.
Anyway, thoughts and comments are always welcome. :)