That Ain't Witchcraft: By Seanan McGuire

THAT AIN'T WITCHCRAFT

SUMMARY

Crossroads, noun:

1. A place where two roads cross.
2. A place where bargains can be made.
3. See also “places to avoid.”

Antimony Price has never done well without a support system. As the youngest of her generation, she has always been able to depend on her parents, siblings, and cousins to help her out when she’s in a pinch—until now. After fleeing from the Covenant of St. George, she’s found herself in debt to the crossroads and running for her life. No family. No mice. No way out.

Lucky for her, she’s always been resourceful, and she’s been gathering allies as she travels: Sam, fūri trapeze artist turned boyfriend; Cylia, jink roller derby captain and designated driver; Fern, sylph friend, confidant, and maker of breakfasts; even Mary, ghost babysitter to the Price family. Annie’s actually starting to feel like they might be able to figure things out—which is probably why things start going wrong again.

New Gravesend, Maine is a nice place to raise a family…or make a binding contract with the crossroads. For James Smith, whose best friend disappeared when she tried to do precisely that, it’s also an excellent place to plot revenge. Now the crossroads want him dead and they want Annie to do the dirty deed. She owes them, after all.

And that’s before Leonard Cunningham, aka, “the next leader of the Covenant,” shows up…

It’s going to take everything Annie has and a little bit more to get out of this one. If she succeeds, she gets to go home. If she fails, she becomes one more cautionary tale about the dangers of bargaining with the crossroads.

But no pressure.

REVIEW

I've been a fan of Seanan McGuire for a few years now, which in terms of McGuire’s book production equals about 300,000 books and short stories published (the absolutely amazing thing is that this is not nearly the staggering hyperbole that it appears to be when compared to reality).

Of McGuire’s books, I have a special place in my heart for her InCryptid series, as it was the first series that got me hooked on her writhing, but I've always been a little disappointed in their somewhat one off/duology nature of each of the books in the series. Which is why I was so excited about McGuire’s most recent POV chapter in the InCryptid series, Antimony’s POV, as not only does it pick up from the final moments of Chaos Choreography, but because of Verity’s shocking declaration of war against the Covenant, Antimony's entire storyline deals with the ramifications of Verity and Antimony's actions, which shake the very foundation of the world our characters live in to its core. These cosmic quakes include Antimony’s attempting to infiltrate the Covenant, and getting caught, Antimony falling in love with a cryptid (while infiltrating the carnival he lived at) and making a deal with the crossroads to save him, and now attempting to battle with both the Covenant and the Crossroads, all of which will have lasting effects on the series and where it’s going (I really want to say what the effects are but I won’t because it would be massive spoilers!). These lasting effects are one of my favorite elements of a long running urban fantasy series and it makes me positively giddy to see them finally take effect in such an amazing series.

As for the book itself, That Ain’t Witchcraft was filled to the brim with heart-pounding action scenes, endearing characters and witty dialog. I personally loved Fern, and really thought McGuire did a fantastic job using her and Antimony’s relationship to show the trust and reliance that the other members in the group have in the Antimony and the Price’s as a whole. Not only that but all of the amazing things we find out about Mary. I really want to say more, but let me tell you after this book I need a second book just about Mary just to help discuss the revelations that are discovered in this book.

All in all, I was a big fan of That Ain’t Witchcraft. It had action, great character development, insight into other characters in the series, and I personally can’t wait for the next book in the series.

INFO

Publisher: DAW

Published: March 5, 2019

Price: $7.99

Link to Buy: https://www.amazon.com/That-Aint-Witchcraft-InCryptid-Book-ebook/dp/B07DMYYK5F/ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_1?crid=262BTT41W6K3R&keywords=that+ain%27t+witchcraft&qid=1557805401&s=gateway&sprefix=that+ain%2Caps%2C162&sr=8-1-fkmrnull

Storm Cursed: By Patricia Briggs

STORM CURSED

SUMMARY

My name is Mercedes Athena Thompson Hauptman, and I am a car mechanic.
And a coyote shapeshifter.
And the mate of the Alpha of the Columbia Basin werewolf pack.

Even so, none of that would have gotten me into trouble if, a few months ago, I hadn’t stood upon a bridge and taken responsibility for the safety of the citizens who lived in our territory. It seemed like the thing to do at the time. It should have only involved hunting down killer goblins, zombie goats, and an occasional troll. Instead, our home was viewed as neutral ground, a place where humans would feel safe to come and treat with the fae.

The reality is that nothing and no one is safe. As generals and politicians face off with the Gray Lords of the fae, a storm is coming and her name is Death.

But we are pack, and we have given our word.

We will die to keep it.

REVIEW

If you want the short version of this review it is simple, Storm Cursed is another amazing book by Patricia Briggs, and it will leave you craving more from Mercy and the gang.

As for more details, while Storm Cursed tends to focus on black magic witches, readers are also given a more detailed glimpse other supernatural communities and their leaders, including the Goblin King and even a small bit into Wolf’s history (which is both fascinating and creepy as all get out and I want to know so much more!!!)

While Briggs spent some of the end of the last book focusing on the healing that Mercy and the Pack needed and were dealing after Mercy’s abduction, Storm Cursed opens with a continued sense of recovery. The Pack are trying to teach Mercy how to use a cutlass to protect herself, Mercy still wakes with nightmares, and her friends and allies are hesitant to leave her alone (so that a situation like last time cannot occur again). I saw all that to focus on the excellent job that Briggs has done caring over these feelings and the effects of the previous book into this next installment. It is only natural that after such a terrifying and horrible experience there would be far ranging ramifications and it is nice to see these ramifications span more than an isolated book.

That said, while the echoes of the last books effects are still present, like the last book in the series, Briggs has continued to expand on the strength of Mercy’s magic (and let me tell you it is awesome!). Of course, much of Mercy’s use of the magic is not fully explained, but as Mercy herself is only recently discovering it this lack of knowledge makes sense to the story. On top of that, it is also clear that we have only seen the tip of her magic, and I personally can’t wait to see more of this awesome powerhouse that Mercy is becoming.

Pacing unfortunately was the only downside to this story. Partially because Briggs focused a bit more on the witch’s effects to the community, including the making of zombie goats and the like, instead of on actual confrontations with the witches, the end battle felt a little lack luste. I recognize it wasn’t but in comparison to some of the other battles Mercy has had in the past it felt a bit easy. That said not every battle has to be the hardest things of all time.

Considering the only other complaint I had about the book was how quickly I finished it I would say that’s a pretty good sign. So in summary, as I mentioned above, Storm Cursed is amazing and I fully recommend it. Its action packed, a great installment in the series, filled with great characters and absolutely leaves readers wanting more. All in all, a great book.

INFO

Publisher: Ace

Published: May 7, 2019

Price: $27.00

Link to Buy: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0425281299/?coliid=I2H3ZKQIUA6MFY&colid=3G2Q4F0PGLI5U&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

White Trash Zombie Unchained: By Diana Rowland

WHITE TRASH ZOMBIE UNCHAINED

SUMMARY

Angel Crawford has finally pulled herself together (literally!) after her disastrous dismemberment on Mardi Gras. She’s putting the pieces of her life back in order and is ready to tackle whatever the future holds.

Too bad the future is a nasty bitch. There’s a new kind of zombie in town: mindless shamblers, infectious and ravenous.

With the threat of a full-blown shambler pandemic looming, and a loved one stricken, Angel and the “real” zombies scramble to find a cure. Yet when Angel uncovers the true reason the plague is spreading so quickly, she adds “no-holds-barred revenge” to her to-do list.

Angel is busting her ass dealing with shambling hordes, zombie gators, government jerks, and way too many mosquitos, but this white trash chick ain’t giving up.

Good thing, since the fate of the world is resting on her undead shoulders.

REVIEW

So, the first thing you have to ask yourself is why would a person want to read a series about a white trash zombie? Personally, I was a bit skeptical when I first started reading the White Trash Zombie series, but I have to say not only was I hooked from the very first chapter, the more important answer is BECAUSE THEY ARE PURE FUN!

In her White Trash Zombie series, Rowland has created an endearing protagonist with an interesting cast of characters to surround her in her journey through zombiehood. Of course, the books are not just about being a zombie, they are also about the struggles of believing in oneself, working hard, overcoming obstacles in life and ultimately succeeding, which brings a much more relatable connection to these books as opposed to the overall zombie motif.

On top of creating more relatable characters, these books are also highly addicting. In fact, as mentioned above, Diana Rowland’s writing reeled me in from the very beginning, in part, because the characters are likable and endearing, in part because of the witty and engaging dialog, and in part of the fast-paced action that ultimately drives the book.

In White Trash Zombie Unchained, Rowland sets in motion a new series of events that has drastic ramifications to the overall plot in the White Trash Zombie series. Characters that were once thought dead will be brought back into the fold, new zombie traits and tricks are learned, and even love is in the air with relationships blossoming among our cast of characters.

All in all, White Trash Zombie is a great addition to the White Trash Zombie series. It is an easy to read, fast paced book that it filled with likable characters, and more action than you can shake a stick at. While I would recommend reading the other books in the series first, there is no doubt that this book and the other books in the series are pure fun!

INFO

Publisher: DAW

Published: September 5, 2017

Price: $7.99

Link to Buy: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01IAUG4WO/_encoding=UTF8?coliid=I1YQVFJPQETA7P&colid=3G2Q4F0PGLI5U

Brother's Ruin: By Emma Newman

BROTHER'S RUIN

SUMMARY

The year is 1850 and Great Britain is flourishing, thanks to the Royal Society of the Esoteric Arts. When a new mage is discovered, Royal Society elites descend like buzzards to snatch up a new apprentice. Talented mages are bought from their families at a tremendous price, while weak mages are snapped up for a pittance. For a lower middle class family like the Gunns, the loss of a son can be disastrous, so when seemingly magical incidents begin cropping up at home, they fear for their Ben's life and their own livelihoods.

But Benjamin Gunn isn't a talented mage. His sister Charlotte is, and to prevent her brother from being imprisoned for false reporting she combines her powers with his to make him seem a better prospect.

When she discovers a nefarious plot by the sinister Doctor Ledbetter, Charlotte must use all her cunning and guile to protect her family, her secret and her city.

REVIEW

I know this is old news, but I am a BIG fan of Tor.com’s publishing of novellas in physical formats. While I can’t speak to everyone, this has certainly increased the number of novellas that I have read in the last few years, and it has dramatically increased the number of novellas I’ve read from new authors who I hadn’t read before (usually I would read novellas by established authors I was already a fan of, when they would release a novella to tide their readers in-between books).

Emma Newman is one of the new authors that I was introduced to because of Tor.com’s novella publishing plan, and I’m certainly glad that I was.

Newman’s Brother’s Ruin begins in 19th century England, where those that have magical talents are required to turn themselves into the government for training and regulation. This system is heavily based on a carrot and stick incentive program, if you report yourself, then your family will be handsomely rewarded, and if you don’t then the mages will find you and drag you to them, your family will get nothing, and your family will have shame rain down upon it from the neighboring communities. So, it is no great surprise that the main character, Charlotte, is talented and has been keeping it a secret. What makes it more interesting and what gets the ball rolling is that her brother, Ben, offers himself for conscription into the Royal Society of the Esoteric Arts (the mages), when he thinks he is performing magic, when in reality it was his sister. A testing occurs and events are struck into motion that place both Charlotte and Ben into the mages sight lines.

Without giving more away, this was a fun novella that felt as if it was setting the stage for a larger series. A larger conspiracy is hinted at, a dastardly plot ruined, and the players put in place for larger roles and training in the world of magic.

As for the characters, while at times some of the minor characters such as Charlotte and Ben’s parents seemed a bit one-dimensional, many of the other characters offered great promise for future character growth, which is all one can hope for in a 192 page book.

All in all, I enjoyed Brother’s Ruin. I tried it out because of it’s awesome title and I’m certainly glad that I did. I’d be happy to pick up a future installment of this potential series.

INFO

Publisher: Tor.com

Published: March 14, 2017

Price: $3.99

Link to Buy: https://www.amazon.com/Brothers-Ruin-Industrial-Magic-Newman-ebook/dp/B01JZ6SIVM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1511069608&sr=8-1&keywords=brother%27s+ruin

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Alcatraz vs the Evil Librarians: By Brandon Sanderson

ALCATRAZ VS THE EVIL LIBRARIANS 

SUMMARY

On his thirteenth birthday, foster child Alcatraz Smedry gets a bag of sand in the mail-his only inheritance from his father and mother. He soon learns that this is no ordinary bag of sand. It is quickly stolen by the cult of evil Librarians who are taking over the world by spreading misinformation and suppressing truth. Alcatraz must stop them, using the only weapon he has: an incredible talent for breaking things.

REVIEW

Alcatraz vs the Evil Librarians by Brandon Sanderson

Are you looking for something whimsical, sarcastic, and all around action packed from a middle grade book? Then Alcatraz vs the Evil Librarians is just the book for you.

I was more than a little hesitant to give the Alcatraz series a try. They seemed overly goofy, silly, and not geared towards my age group (myself being a 28-year-old and not a 10-year-old).

However, because this series was written by Brandon Sanderson, one of my all-time favorite authors (so yes, please note that this review is biased based on that statement alone), I thought I would give it a shot.

And let me say, I’m very happy that I did.

Not only is Alcatraz vs the Evil Librarians full of fun action, witty and unique characters, and pretty much non-stop fun in a fast-paced form, but it also has enough sarcasm and self-awareness during its many breaking of the fourth wall to keep even older readers thoroughly engaged and entertained.

What do I mean by this you might ask? Well, when Alcatraz speak to the audience he often speaks in such a sarcastic and self-aware tone that readers can’t help but smile and chuckle to themselves. On top of this, when Sanderson so cleverly puts little tricks and entertaining tidbits in the books, such as making the last page of the book a false storyline that will depress and confuse readers who skip to the last page without reading the entire book, he just shows his genius in writing.

As for the books themselves, they are short and to the point. This is not The Way of Kings (Sanderson’s epic fantasy), which runs in at 1008 pages in hardcover format. In hardback, Alcatraz vs the Evil Librarians is 320 pages of non-stop fun.

Of course, even though I keep mentioning that these books are loads of fun to read, please note that this does not mean that they do not have substance. Over the course of the series the characters develop and become more complex. Backgrounds are explored, weaknesses probed, and personality traits more thoroughly understood. To be able to do this, while at the same time being able to keep elementary age children engaged is truly a feat upon itself.

So why you should read the Alcatraz vs the Evil Librarians Series? Well, if you’re looking for a good series for your kid that will entertain them, that you won’t have to worry about them reading, but that will end with them asking to get the next in the series, then this is the series for you. If you have just finished a long epic fantasy and want something light but entertaining, then this is the series for you. Or even if you just want something fun to read at the end of the day, then this is the series for you. All in all, clearly I enjoyed this series and personally can’t wait until the last book in the series is released. But don’t take my word on it, go check out this series yourself, believe me it’s worth it.

INFO

Publisher: Starscape

Published: February 16, 2016

Price: $16.99

Link to Buy: https://www.amazon.com/Alcatraz-vs-Evil-Librarians-Versus/dp/0765378949/ref=pd_sim_14_3?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=WTX671ZWQ9ZCFGCQ3D3P&dpID=51jOgzLsKYL&preST=_SY291_BO1,204,203,200_QL40_&dpSrc=detail

The Mad Lancers: By Brian McClellan

THE MAD LANCERS

SUMMARY

In the colonial cities and towns of Fatrasta, peace has never been easy. Immigrants fight amongst themselves or turn on the native population, while the governing power of the Kez Army steps in only to enforce the will of apathetic local governors assigned by a distant crown.

Young war hero Ben Styke commands a colonial garrison in a sleepy frontier suburb. When the governor’s cruel brother stops for the night, rising continental tensions force Styke to protect the people of his town in a brutal escalation that threatens to destroy everything—and everyone—he has fought for.

REVIEW

I’ll be honest, I’ve become quite the fan of Brian McClellan over the last few years. I loved his Powder Mage series including the short stories that helped develop character motivations and detail the important events that occur before the series transpires. These short stories include; Murder at the Kinnen Hotel, Forsworn, Return to Honor, and Servant of the Crown, and I’ve enjoyed them all thoroughly.

With McClellan’s new series, Gods of Blood and Powder, looking just as promising as his Powder Mage series, I was thrilled when McClellan decided to write a new short story about one of my favorite new characters in this new series, Mad Ben Styke and beginning of the Fatrasta revolution.

Not only is this short story filled with action, adventure and interesting characters, but it also gives readers a glimpse into a secret about Styke that not even he seems aware of (I would say more but I don’t want to give anything away).

I would only recommend reading this if you are a fan of the Gods of Blood and Powder series (which if you like reading exciting, well written books that are incredibly engaging, then you should be), but if you have read McClellan’s other works, then this truly is a must have piece of cannon. All in all, a must read.

INFO

Publisher: Brian McClellan

Published: September 6, 2017

Price: $2.99

Link to Buy: https://www.amazon.com/Mad-Lancers-Powder-Mage-Novella-ebook/dp/B074SVVL8W/ref=pd_sim_351_2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=SXT9FYT7KM71N9YMVM3C

Godsgrave: By Jay Kristoff

GODSGRAVE

SUMMARY

In a land where three suns almost never set, a ruthless assassin continues her quest for vengeance against the powers who destroyed her family.

Mia Corvere has found her place among the Blades of Our Lady of Blessed Murder, but many in the Red Church hierarchy think she’s far from earned it. Plying her bloody trade in a backwater of the Republic, she’s no closer to ending the men who destroyed her familia; in fact, she’s told directly that Consul Scaeva is off limits. But after a deadly confrontation with an old enemy, Mia's suspicions about the Red Church’s true motives begin to grow.

When it’s announced that Scaeva will be making a rare public appearance at the conclusion of the grand games in Godsgrave, Mia defies the Church and sells herself to a gladiatorial collegium for a chance to finally end him. Upon the sands of the arena, Mia finds new allies, bitter rivals, and more questions about her strange affinity for the shadows. But as conspiracies unfold within the collegium walls, and the body count rises, Mia will be forced to choose between love and revenge, and uncover a secret that could change the very face of her world.

REVIEW

Are you in the mood for gladiatorial carnage? What about schemes, twists and general backstabbing? How about some good old fashion cursing and sarcasm? Well, if your throw in a bit of family drama and some romance for good measure (I know one doesn’t often see romance and gladiator fighting in the same book), then Godsgrave is the book for you.

Godsgrave begins a few months after the chaotic and bloody events of Nevernight and I can honestly say it does not miss a beat when it comes to nonstop adrenaline pumping action. For that reason alone, readers will have a hard time putting this book down, but for those lucky few who do pick it up, this book has even more going for it.

What else you might ask? How about schemes and backstabbing on such an epic scale that even readers who have a bird’s eye view of the story will be tricked and shocked as plans and schemes unfold. In fact, just when you think you’ve got a handle on all the angles and where everyone has aligned, something will be revealed that shakes the very foundation of reader’s beliefs in the character’s alliances, leaving readers dumbfounded and shaking with anticipation to find out what happens next.

As for the writing, I absolutely love Godsgrave. The world building is grand and unique, while at the same time possessing enough European influences that it allows for easy connections for readers grasp settings quickly without being bogged down with overly cumbersome setting descriptions. The pacing is fast and filled with intriguing subplots that keep the reader engaged. And the characters are truly stupendous. In fact, Mia, the main character, has such a unique and captivating voice that Jay Kristoff so perfectly captures that it’s no wonder that Kristoff is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors.

All in all, Godsgrave is a great read. However, if you prefer your books to not have sex, violence and cursing, then this is not the book for you. If you don’t mind a bit of sin in your book, then go to your nearest bookstore or amazon and pick up a copy as soon as possible, as this is the type of book that will leave you absolutely dying for the next in the series.

INFO

Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Published: September 5, 2017

Price: $26.99

Link to Buy: https://www.amazon.com/Godsgrave-Book-Two-Nevernight-Chronicle/dp/1250073030/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=