Archive for the ‘Book reviews’ Category
Just reviewed Mercedes Lackey’s “Changes” at SBR
Folks, I just finished up a book review for Mercedes Lackey’s CHANGES at Shiny Book Review, so here’s the link:
http://shinybookreview.wordpress.com/2011/10/08/changes-by-mercedes-lackey-decent-but-not-her-bes/
As Lackey is one of my favorite authors, writing a review like this, where I stated she’s “done this all before” and talked about the formulaic nature of the Valdemar series at this point was difficult for me to write. Note that saying something has a formula to it doesn’t mean it’s bad; in this case, Lackey has so much skill that you can’t help but read any of her novels, even one of her weaker efforts, until the end. Lackey is a very good writer for a reason, and she’s sold a great many books for a reason also, because her formula works.
In the Valdemar novels (also called the “Heralds of Valdemar” series), there are a number of things that are generally seen. These are:
1) A likeable hero or heroine (in this case, Herald-trainee Mags).
2) The likeable hero feels like an outcast, as he’s come from someplace that doesn’t know much about the Heralds of Valdemar and struggles to fit in.
3) He finds friends who, like him, feel like outcasts for various reasons, so he’s not entirely alone.
4) He solves some problems due to his unique set of challenges and gifts; the way the hero looks at the world is vital to the safety and security of Valdemar, and thus everything the hero does (even the stuff that isn’t so nice) makes sense in context.
Those four things all have to be in a Valdemar novel, and they all were present with abundance in CHANGES.
So why, then, did I give this novel a C-plus when I really like Lackey’s writing? Because while I sympathize with her in trying to come up with a unique angle for writing the Valdemar stories after all this time (after twenty-nine novels, the first one being published in 1987), this angle didn’t work for me. Mags is analytical and intelligent, yes, but the way he speaks (in heavy dialect) is there so the reader will be constantly reminded that Mags really is intelligent and analytical because he doesn’t sound like either one of these things most of the time. As a reader, I don’t like being “force-fed” like this, even from someone who writes as well as Lackey.
Second, as I said in my review, I’ve seen this done before and done better by Lackey, most notably in EXILE’S HONOR, BY THE SWORD, and the allied novel OATHBREAKERS (the latter being a view of Heralds from outside Valdemar, and through the lenses of two diversely gifted women).
Third, even though there was a very nice emotional center to the book (I said this in my review, too), some of the emotional lows were not really there. Mags doesn’t doubt himself so much as think that he should doubt himself, if that makes sense; also, when there were fights between the major characters, it felt forced and unnatural, as if Lackey figured there’d better be a fight so she put one in there even though it didn’t flow out naturally from the characterization. And since I know Lackey can and usually does do better than this, that was the primary reason why CHANGES only garnered a C-plus from me, with the other reasons being that this book seemed more like an appetizer to whet my palate rather than a full, rich, satisfying meal.
Anyway, no writer is going to hit 100% with every reader on every book, so Lackey only hitting about 75% of what I’d hoped for with regards to her newest Valdemar novel, CHANGES, isn’t that big of a surprise.
Still, if you want to read Lackey (and I hope you do), you’d be better served to start with these books instead (along with the ones I’ve already mentioned):
ARROWS OF THE QUEEN (the very-first written Valdemar novel), ARROW’S FLIGHT, and ARROW’S FALL — These star Talia, an unwanted child from the puritanical Holderkin who live on the far outskirts of Valdemar. She is Chosen to become the Queen’s Own Herald, struggles mightily in the role as her primary gift is empathy (not usually seen outside of Bards or Healers, and most especially not seen alone), and eventually finds her soul mate, Herald Dirk, after a great many trials and tribulations.
MAGIC’S PAWN, MAGIC’S PROMISE, MAGIC’S PRICE — this is the “Last Herald-Mage” trilogy, and it stars Vanyel Ashkevron, who is gay. Vanyel’s family doesn’t like this fact overmuch and causes great troubles for him; when Vanyel’s first (and best) love, Tylendel, dies through misadventure, Vanyel tries to commit suicide. Instead, he is Chosen and must come to terms with his new-found, prodigious abilities while his lover is still dead. Very real emotions are evoked here, and the storytelling is as strong as I’ve ever seen it in any of Lackey’s novels. Lackey won the Lambda Award for the final book in this trilogy, MAGIC’S PRICE, due to her sensitivity and understanding of Vanyel’s problems.
Try one of these trilogies, or better yet, try both as they’re uniformly excellent. Then read the newest novel, CHANGES; if you do so, I’m sure you’ll see some of the same things I did with regards to this newest novel (the lack of freshness and emotional depth compared to “what has come before”).
Just Reviewed Ryk Spoor’s “Digital Knight” for SBR
Folks, not only did I get to re-read and review Ryk Spoor’s DIGITAL KNIGHT (a fine urban fantasy that’s been out since 2003), you’ll be able to read it for free through the auspices of the Baen Free Library as the link is provided in my review at Shiny Book Review.
So here we go:
Enjoy!
Just reviewed Sophie Littlefield’s “Aftertime” for SBR
Tonight’s book review is for Sophie Littlefield’s AFTERTIME, which is that extreme rarity: a hopeful dystopia. I really enjoyed this book because it shows that even after the worst has happened (in this case, a biological and nuclear war that has devastated humanity and destroyed the United States as an entity), there’s still some good things capable of going on.
In other words, people still love one another; people still care about their kids; people still want to live in a world where they are capable of making good, productive choices.
Can’t say enough about AFTERTIME, as Sophie Littlefield definitely got it right; her heroine, Cass Dollar, is smart, tough, resourceful and intelligent and because she has all those good qualities, she just might be able to get her daughter back from religious reactionaries with the help of the enigmatic Smoke, freedom fighter and love interest.
Go read my review, which is here. Then go grab the book!
Tonight’s SBR book review is for Martin’s “A Storm of Swords”
When reading an epic fantasy series like George R.R. Martin’s “A Song of Ice and Fire,” where each book has over 700 pages or more, it gets tough sometimes to know what to say and what not to as a reviewer. It’s impossible to give a full plot summary, of course; even in 1500 or so words like I used tonight at Shiny Book Review (SBR), it’s flat-out impossible.
But I gave it my best shot; here’s the link to tonight’s review for George R.R. Martin’s A STORM OF SWORDS, the third book in his “Song of Ice and Fire” cycle. (The fifth book, A DANCE WITH DRAGONS, was released earlier this year and along with the fourth book, A FEAST FOR CROWS, will be reviewed in the next few weeks at SBR.)
Enjoy!
Just Reviewed Candace Camp’s “An Affair Without End” at SBR
Tonight’s SBR review was for Candace Camp’s AN AFFAIR WITHOUT END. This was one of the most fun Regency romances I’ve read in quite some time, a romance that reminded me in some ways of Rosemary Edghill’s excellent TWO OF A KIND (now lamentably out of print), possibly because the dialogue was outstanding, the detailing was very fine, and the art and craftsmanship of Ms. Camp was fully on display.
So without further ado, here’s the link:
http://shinybookreview.wordpress.com/2011/09/10/candace-camps-affair-is-one-fun-regency/
Enjoy!
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** P.S. I am hoping that Ms. Edghill will be able to put all four of her fine Regencies back out there soon, though I’ve heard nothing about it. I will keep you posted if I hear anything, however; those novels are so much fun, and are so well done, that they deserve to be widely read as often as possible. (Aside from this book by Ms. Camp, I’ve read nothing by any contemporary author that comes close to Ms. Edghill’s art, craftsmanship, dialogue, and knowledge of the Regency time period.) Ms. Edghill also has two collaborations with the late SF grandmaster André Norton, that are best described as “alternate Regency/fantasy.” The first of these was THE SHADOW OF ALBION with the second being CAROLUS REX; these two, too, are well worth seeking out.
One Disturbing Dystopia: tonight’s SBR review.
Folks, I read Will McIntosh’s SOFT APOCALYPSE. Be glad; this means you didn’t have to do it. I found this book thoroughly unpleasant and really disturbing, especially in its treatment of animals; further, I disliked most of the characters except for two minor players, both women.
Here’s the link, with a bit more commentary afterward:
http://shinybookreview.wordpress.com/2011/09/09/disturbing-dystopia-will-mcintoshs-soft-apocalypse/
Now, I gave this book a very generous C- because I felt that the writer, Mr. McIntosh, did his job. He wrote exactly the story he wanted to write. I felt it lacked detailing, I really hated it, and thought the exploitation of animals was thoroughly distasteful and would never read anything by him ever again if I had a choice — but all that said, for what he wrote, he did it well.
This novel has some friends in very high places (see my review for further details) and may well be nominated for several awards in the SF/F community. But I call ’em the way I see ’em, and to my mind, SOFT APOCALYPSE does not make the cut.
Just reviewed George R.R. Martin’s “A Clash of Kings” for SBR
Folks, here’s the link before I forget:
There’s so much to talk about whenever you read any of the books in George R.R. Martin’s “Song of Ice and Fire” epics . . . at any rate, I did my best to do justice to it, and I hope I succeeded.
Enjoy!
Just reviewed Jennifer Haymore’s “A Season of Seduction” for SBR
Folks, I wanted a great deal more than I got out of Jennifer Haymore’s “A Season of Seduction.” Maybe it’s that there are a great many more writers who’ve worked this sort of premise better, including Sherry Thomas and Rosemary Edghill — I know better writing exists, and better books, and this one just did not measure up.
Anyway, here’s the link to tonight’s review at SBR:
Just reviewed Anjali Banerjee’s “Haunting Jasmine” for SBR — Plus More Book Review Stuff
Before I forget, here’s the link to today’s review:
Now, as to the rest of the “book review stuff” I promised.
I started following author Victoria Strauss on Twitter and one of the articles she Tweeted (or possibly re-Tweeted as I now can’t find it) talked about how some places are paying people a fee, per review, in order to give a place a five star review. An undeserved five star review, at that — the highest possible rating for many rating scales — which skews the curve and makes a business that employs this practice seem to be a little better than they really are until people catch on that many of the highest reviews are out-and-out frauds.
I quickly did a Web search and put in “pay for reviews.” I saw many links at Craigslist and other places (including Jobs.com) promoting this despicable practice. Which is why I wanted to discuss it tonight.
I review books because I enjoy reading and I enjoy reviewing what I read. I do my best to give the fairest review I possibly can. I don’t give a ton of negative reviews, but I have been known to give two star reviews and have even given a one star review to a major author (Mercedes Lackey) once because I felt she could do much better and that she also should’ve known better because by that time she’d published at least fifteen solo novels and certainly knew her art and craft. (Mind you, this is where the highest review possible is a five-star review.)
I also, occasionally, have re-reviewed something when I felt I didn’t give someone a fair shake; I’ve discussed that here on my blog before. I don’t do this often, but if I feel I’ve made a mistake, or that there were other things that I should’ve known but somehow didn’t that clearly would’ve changed my review, I’m glad to correct the record as best I’m able.
But I do that because I’m honest, and because I like books, not because anyone is paying me to give ’em a better review.
Look. The only thing a reviewer should accept from a place like Baen Books or Tor Books or whatever publisher is a free copy of the book (in dead-tree or e-book form). That’s it — that’s the only gratuity any reviewer worth his or her salt should accept — because if reviewers start accepting money from a publisher (or from a travel company, which is one of the places hiring for the fraudulent reviews) in order to review something, that throws the entirety of their reviews into question. And by extension, it makes every reviewer — including the poor but honest ones, like me — look bad.
I love books, and I don’t enjoy giving bad reviews to anyone. But I’ll do it — I’ve done it with Debbie Macomber, one of my favorite romance authors, in my review for “Hannah’s List” at SBR. I’ve done it at Amazon.com in a review for one of Ursula K. LeGuin’s books (two stars). I’ve done it at Amazon.com in a review for one of Misty Lackey’s books as previously mentioned, and Lackey is one of the few authors I’ll go out of my way to buy in hardcover.
The reason I do it is because if I don’t like a book, I had better say so, and say why I don’t like it. This is the right thing to do, and it’s the only fair thing to do, even if you occasionally tick off one of your favorite authors in the process.
So if you’re thinking about selling your skills to write a fake review, please take another look at this and realize it’s a scam. Yes, you’ll get paid something to do it. But you’ll also be selling something that’s far more worthy than any amount of money — your good name and reputation.
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Additional note — there are still some places out there, like the New York Times, the San Francisco Chronicle, and the Washington Post, who pay book reviewers for their time and trouble. I am all in favor of paying reviewers when it’s done by an independent newspaper or online source. But that in no way, shape or form allows for people to sell fraudulent reviews to Web sites.
Tonight’s SBR review: Barbara Ehrenreich’s “Bright-Sided”
Folks, you need to read Barbara Ehrenreich’s BRIGHT-SIDED. You need to read it right now, then come back and talk with me — because this is the most honest take on what Ehrenreich calls “the cult of positive thinking” I’ve ever seen.
Here’s my review, which I finished about fifteen minutes ago at SBR:
I hope to have more thoughts about this astonishingly relevant book tomorrow, but for now, all I can say is, “Brava, Ms. Ehrenreich!”
Barb Caffrey's Blog 