Ella Review

Ella- Cinders and Ash by Erik Schubach is the third book in the Urban Fairytales series and it’s in this installment things start to change for our many and varied heroines.
Schubach uses his personal narrative spiced with the characters’ wit and banter to make for compelling drama.  Two, well three, new characters are introduced in this book: Parker, who is the narrator, Ella, and Marie, who shares Ella’s body.  They cause trouble from page one and are quickly teamed up with the Red Hood and Gretta Snow to go in search of the fourth avatar, The Briar Rose.
Erik Schubach is putting a whole new twist on fairy tales.  Kick ass heroines with no need of a dashing prince, blessings that curse, and darkness that threatens the modern world.  Now the four avatars of the original fairytales have to come together to defeat the evil of the Black Crown and save humanity from werewolves.
Brilliantly rendered.  A knock-down, drag out page turner no reader could put down.  You will read this in one sitting.

The Martian Review

The Martian by Andy Weir is the story of one man’s struggle to survive, that’s the punch for the book, that’s the tagline.  The book that I read gave me so much more than a cast away survival story.  This man, Mark Watney, beyond wanting to stay alive, he wanted to stay human, to not loose himself.
Weir took the knowledge that was so extreme and could have easily put readers off and had Mark explain it in his witty sarcastic logs.  It was fun to read Mark because you always know he’s going to say or do something crazy and that it’s probably going to work.
When I first started this book, I got a little nervous when I noticed it was written in logs by one man.  There would be no dialogue no character dynamic, none of those things that generally make an interesting narrative.  But then, Weir brought in NASA and the Ares 3 crew and it came together very nicely.
All in all this book combines solid science, classic wit, and human desire to make a riveting read.

Snow: The White Crow Review

Another Urban Fairytales book, another binge read.
Snow: The White Crow is the second in the series by Erik Schubach.  I am officially in love with this story and this author’s style.
For this installment, Schubach has once again chosen to write in 1st person POV, but he’s writing from a different character.  Instead of Daria and Maireni from Red Hood, he narrates with Gretta Snow.  It’s a style of serializing I haven’t seen before.  The story seems to follow a legend rather than a specific character.  This allows a first person POV to drop into whatever character is active within the legend in a given time.  It keeps the story moving and works very well for this narrative.
My other favorite thing about Schubach’s writing is that he writes lesbian romance that is fresh and somewhat innocent.  In Snow, the romance is more mature than it was in Red Hood, but it’s never gratuitous or erotic.  The love between the characters is a part of the story.  It’s something that actually propels the narrative.
I love reading these stories and will continue to do so as long as they keep getting written.

Red Hood: The Hunt Review

I picked up Red Hood: The Hunt thinking it would be a fun urban fantasy with a gay main character.  I could not put this book down.  Literally, I read it in one sitting.  Erik Schubach did an awesome job crafting Daria and Maireni the story around them and the love they fall into.  The most amazing thing about this to me, when I read it, I didn’t know it had been written by a man.
There was no eroticism in the love scenes.  Schubach left a purity there which was so refreshing and lets the reader focus on the story.  Plus the timeline of the love made sense.  I mean with werewolves at your gate, you’re hardly just going to run off with a strange woman.  Schubach is so smart with Daria’s character and incredibly brave, in my opinion, to write in first person.
The development is spot on, the characters are brilliant, and the legends and world building puts the reader in the story.
I’m hooked.

Shylock is My Name by Howard Jacobson

Shylock is My Name by Howard Jacobson is an adaptation of The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare; however, since I have not read the original Shakespeare in about 15 years I am going to review this as a stand-alone with no comparisons or analysis regarding the adaptation.
The relationship between the two groups of characters, the fathers and the children, is written broadly enough that the reader doesn’t get bogged down in characters but finite enough that each individual does stand out.  Once the main characters are introduced, the dynamic is immediately understood.  This makes the story easier to tell because there’s less exposition needed, so the narration is able to move a lot faster.

I thought the character of Shylock was a sort of manifestation of Strulovitch’s own insecurities, and to a point still do even though he did have a role in the narrative.  Shylock, for the most part, served as the Jew on Strulovitch’s shoulder, constantly trying to direct his actions.  The reason for Shylock’s interest in Strulovitch is the similarity between them, for Shylock also lost his daughter to gentiles.
For me, this became a lesson in keeping an open mind, learning from those around you, and knowing what love is.
Masterful work by Howard Jacobson truly enjoyable.

The Grace of Kings Review

What can I say about The Grace of Kings by Ken Liu?  I’ve said this as I read it, but it certainly bears repeating, this is the best book I’ve read in a very long time.
Liu is a master of mythology putting his knowledge of eastern myth into this dynamic tome that could easily be compared to The Illiad.  In a world of western myth-based fantasy, Liu took a step farther and introduced a new world.  He builds Dara so gently and so fully the story becomes rich and addictive within the first fifty pages.
Something that really stood out to me about the style of the narrative was the way Liu balanced the Empire and the Rebellion storylines.  With the gods of Dara overseeing the conflict, it allows the reader a somewhat impartial look at the situation with the narrative never leaning one way or another.  It helps the reader to understand each side’s motives, their personal journey, and individual characters.
I’m excited to read The Paper Menagerie by Ken Liu and really looking forward to more installments of The Dandelion Dynasty.  In a cycle of literary mediocrity, Liu stands out like no other.  I can’t wait to see what’s next.

Alora: The Wander-Jewel Review

Book one of the Alora series by Tamie Dearen is escapist fiction after my own heart.
There's no fantasy fan who doesn't want to step into the wardrobe and find Narnia or hop on the Hogwarts Express.
The beauty or being a writer is the ability to create a world for ourselves and that's what Dearen does in The Wander-Jewel.
She uses a mature approach and modern language in this 21st century escapist adventure, putting the Alora book solidly in the YA genre, but still makes it fantastic enough to let the reader build upon what she's written.
Tenavae is built on culture, on the people, so it's filled with different characters and clans.  Dearen has a strong dialogue style, very character focused so the reader can build a physical world around the amazingly developed characters with what's  provided by them.
It's an unusual and difficult style for a fantasy but it is incredibly well done.
I'm looking forward to book two and after that I hope to have a chat with Tamie Dearen posted here!