Book Review: "Wisp Of A Thing" by Alex Bledsoe

Alex Bledsoe’s The Hum and the Shiver was named one of the Best Fiction Books of 2011 by Kirkus Reviews. Now with Wisp of a Thing Bledsoe returns to the isolated ridges and hollows of the Smoky Mountains to spin an equally enchanting tale of music and magic older than the hills….

Touched by a very public tragedy, musician Rob Quillen comes to Cloud County, Tennessee, in search of a song that might ease his aching heart. All he knows of the mysterious and reclusive Tufa is what he has read on the internet: they are an enigmatic clan of swarthy, black-haired mountain people whose historical roots are lost in myth and controversy. Some people say that when the first white settlers came to the Appalachians centuries ago, they found the Tufa already there. Others hint that Tufa blood brings special gifts.

Rob finds both music and mystery in the mountains. Close-lipped locals guard their secrets, even as Rob gets caught up in a subtle power struggle he can’t begin to comprehend. A vacationing wife goes missing, raising suspicions of foul play, and a strange feral girl runs wild in the woods, howling in the night like a lost spirit.

Change is coming to Cloud County, and only the night wind knows what part Rob will play when the last leaf falls from the Widow’s Tree…and a timeless curse must be broken at last. - from Amazon.com

This novel follows the story that started in The Hum and the Shiver and brings back the story that is going on in Cloud County in the Smoky Mountains. Rob Quillen, a musician, is lead to go there to find a song to ease the grief in his heart. He has heard and read a bit about the Tufa, and physically resembles many of them , though he is not of Tufa roots. Once reaching Cloud County, he starts his search, and becomes involved in the local goings-on, and becomes a key factor in the major changes that are being wrought to the Tufa from the wind.

In the first novel, Bledsoe engrossed me in the story of dark-haired, olive skinned people that lived in the backwoods of the Smoky Mountain part of the Appalachians. These people were rumored to have been there long before the first European settlers found the area, and possibly before even Native Americans. They are strong in musical ability be it voice or instrumental, each seemingly to specialize in one area or instrument. They also seem to have a touch of magic to them, and appear to be more, or other, than they are. The background woven into each story has just kept me reading, wanting to know more of where they came from and what will happen to them. I would love to see possibly another tale of these folk from Cloud County, but - not wanting to ruin any persons reading of the books - not sure if there will be another tale tied in after this one. Great read!

Book Review: "The Scars of Ambition" by Jason Letts

"The ancient family sword's immaculate steel blade reminded him that there were still parts of the world where this was the only weapon people had, the old ways were still alive and well, and there were creatures out there and powerful things beyond what he could ever imagine."

Lowell Bracken had complete control. His empire, his ruthless executives, his family's legacy, his wife, his children, they all had a part to play in the near omnipotent control he exerted in Cumeria. But a freak attack exposed how tenuous that control really is, and Lowell scrambles to preserve it, discovering he is only playing a small part in larger, darker schemes for control.

From the shadows, mysterious and disturbing threats disrupt the already-turbulent business landscape in Cumeria. When blood is spilled, the fight for survival becomes more than just a euphemism for going out of business, and the Brackens' struggles to retain order might be the only thing keeping all of Cumeria from plunging into chaos.


I received this book free from the publisher through Netgalley.com. 

Though the plot sounded interesting in the description, I found it hard to get into this story. Most of it seemed to dwell on two companies that supplied energy to the country(s); one by solar power, one by gas. To me it just felt more like a story about how to protect the nature of the planet. Not what I expected. After about a third of the book, I just put it down.

Book Review: 'Chosen" by Benedict Jacka

I don’t publicly advertise that I’m a mage, but I don’t exactly hide it either, and one of the odd things I’ve learnt over the years is just how much you can get away with if you’re blatant enough. Hide something behind smoke and mirrors and make people work to find it, and they’ll tear the place down looking for what’s there.

Alex Verus is a diviner who can see probable futures—a talent that’s gotten him out of many a tough scrape. But this time, he may be in over his head. Alex was once apprenticed to a Dark mage, and in his service he did a lot of things he isn’t proud of.

As rumors swirl that his old master is coming back, Alex comes face to face with his misdeeds in the form of a young adept whose only goal is to get revenge. Alex has changed his life for the better, but he’s afraid of what his friends—including his apprentice, Luna—will think of his past. But if they’re going to put themselves at risk, they need to know exactly what kind of man they’re fighting for…  - from Amazon.com

Again, I got so into this story that it was hard to put own the book. Verus is back in the fourth installment of this series, along with the friends he has made in the previous books: Luna, Sonder, Anne, and Variam. This time Alex is being hunted for revenge for something that happened while an apprentice to the dark mage, Richard. I would share more, but really don't want to ruin the story.

Jacka has done a great job in the series with building up not only new characters in each installment, but greater character development as the the story line continues. I think it was on the first book I had said I would like to know more of Alex's past, and this book helps fill in so much more detail, even if from a slightly different point of view than expected. And the added 'hint' at the end, that there (hopefully) be at least another book to be released in the future (again - no spoilers!). Definitely the best book so far in this series!!

Book Review: "Taken" by Benedict Jacka

This time last year, I could go weeks without seeing another mage. In mage society I was an unknown and, all in all, that was how I liked it. It’s hard to say what changed. Whatever it was, I got involved in the magical world again and started getting myself a reputation. 

Alex Verus’s insights into the future used to be the best-kept secret in London. Now, with the aid of his apprentice, Luna, his unique investigative talents are all the rage. He just has to be careful about picking his employers, because everyone—even the beautiful woman who practically begs him to run security for a prestigious tournament—has motives that can be hard to predict. And Alex doesn’t do unpredictable. 

But his latest gig just might be impossible. Apprentices have been vanishing without a trace—and someone on the Council could be involved. Alex has no evidence, no witnesses, and no suspects. All he knows is that someone is keeping tabs on him. And after assassins target Luna’s classmate, Alex sees that he doesn’t know the half of it—and that he could be the next to disappear. - from Amazon.com

Alex Verus is back in Jacka's third book in this series. Again it continues off the previous book, with an undetermined, though short, amount of time since the last adventure. Just as the previous stories, I was a bit off in guessing what was going to happen next, but was able to guess the end result, for the most part. The enjoyment was in reading how Jacka took the story, and the character interaction, even if they had no part to the end story. Also, after having read the first two books, there is some new character background for some of the secondary characters, which was sort of nice. I like to drop myself into these type of stories dealing with magic in a current time setting. The stories just don't seem long enough, because I am so immersed that I read through it, sometimes in one sitting.

Book Review: "The King's Bastard" by Rowena Cory Daniells

Only seven minutes younger than Rolencia’s heir, Byren has never hungered for the throne. He laughs when a seer predicts that he will kill his twin. But the royal heir resents Byren’s growing popularity. Across the land the untamed magic of the gods wells up out of the earth’s heart. It sends exotic creatures to stalk the wintry nights and it twists men’s minds, granting them terrible visions. Those so touched are sent to the Abbey to control their gift, or die. At King Rolen’s court enemies plot to take his throne, even as secrets within his own household threaten to tear his family apart.
Political intrigue and magic combine in this explosive first book in an exciting new fantasy trilogy. - from Amazon.com

The King's Bastard is the first book of the King Rolen's Kin trilogy. Like most books, I picked it out originally because the cover art interested me. I mean, being a fan of sword & magic fantasy, then seeing this cover ... surely it had to be a good read. Reading the synopsis on the back of the book made me decide to get it, and the others in the series. 

The first book here introduces us to the characters we are going to be seeing, most of them being the four children of the current king of Rolencia, King Rolen. The oldest two, Lence and Byren, are twins, with Byren being 7 seconds later, thus Lence will inherit the throne. They are both grown to about twenty years of age, I would guess. The younger brother Fyn, is magically afflicted (called Affinity) and has been raised at the monks for Halycon. The youngest, and only girl, is Piro.

At the start of the story, Byren is confronted by a seer, and Fyn is as well, seemingly the same one, at approximately the same time. From there, Byren is trying his best to not let the seer's prophecy come true, as is Fyn. During this process, their 'cousin' Illien comes to Rolencia, and is accepted back into the family. Illien's father was years previously banished for ... oh, that's a long story. Either way. Illien is here now, and spreading dissention between Lence and Byren.

I don't want to ruin any details of the story. No spoilers here. Daniells has written the start of a decent story using what I feel is an old story line. The writing style I felt was a bit more for the Young Adult crowd, but still enjoyable and quickly read by adults. Looking forward to the next books, and novellas, in this series.

Book Review: "Doctor Sleep" by Stephen King

Stephen King returns to the character and territory of one of his most popular novels ever, The Shining, in this instantly riveting novel about the now middle-aged Dan Torrance and the very special twelve-year-old girl he must save from a tribe of murderous paranormals. 

On highways across America, a tribe of people called the True Knot travel in search of sustenance. They look harmless—mostly old, lots of polyester, and married to their RVs. But as Dan Torrance knows, and spunky twelve-year-old Abra Stone learns, the True Knot are quasi-immortal, living off the steam that children with the shining produce when they are slowly tortured to death. 

Haunted by the inhabitants of the Overlook Hotel, where he spent one horrific childhood year, Dan has been drifting for decades, desperate to shed his father’s legacy of despair, alcoholism, and violence. Finally, he settles in a New Hampshire town, an AA community that sustains him, and a job at a nursing home where his remnant shining power provides the crucial final comfort to the dying. Aided by a prescient cat, he becomes “Doctor Sleep.” 

Then Dan meets the evanescent Abra Stone, and it is her spectacular gift, the brightest shining ever seen, that reignites Dan’s own demons and summons him to a battle for Abra’s soul and survival. This is an epic war between good and evil, a gory, glorious story that will thrill the millions of devoted readers of The Shining and satisfy anyone new to this icon in the King canon. - from Amazon.com

Years ago, like millions of readers, I read THE SHINING and was scared out of my head. Following that piece of work by Stephen King, I read everything I could get my hands on, from PET CEMETERY, to IT, to SALEM'S LOT, and the list goes on and on. Every time a new book would come out, I had to read it. Though not written so much to be scary, it finds the little boy Danny, grown up and having issues with alcohol. While overcoming his addiction, his shining (the gift he has) brings him in contact with a young girl (a few years have passed during the story). With a great conclusion to this story line, King has made me glad to be a reader.

Book Review: "The Darwin Elevator" by Jason M. Hough

In the mid-23rd century, Darwin, Australia, stands as the last human city on Earth. The world has succumbed to an alien plague, with most of the population transformed into mindless, savage creatures. The planet’s refugees flock to Darwin, where a space elevator—created by the architects of this apocalypse, the Builders—emits a plague-suppressing aura.
 
Skyler Luiken has a rare immunity to the plague. Backed by an international crew of fellow “immunes,” he leads missions into the dangerous wasteland beyond the aura’s edge to find the resources Darwin needs to stave off collapse. But when the Elevator starts to malfunction, Skyler is tapped—along with the brilliant scientist, Dr. Tania Sharma—to solve the mystery of the failing alien technology and save the ragged remnants of humanity. - from Amazon.com

I came across this author via Kevin Hearne (author of the IRON DRUID CHRONICLES) as he was helping get the word out, as well as sharing some promotional event earlier this year. The book sounded interesting enough, and once I was able to get the time I sat down to read it. I feel bad when I admit that I did not finish the book. Though I say I like Sci-Fi/Fantasy, my tastes have seemed to move more towards Fantasy than Sci-Fi. Being space-related to some degree in the story, I just started losing interest, even though the writing was fine. Maybe part of it was the background development, that the more interesting stuff was going to happen later ... I don't know.

Hough's writing style was fine, and the story line sounded interesting. I am sure if I had stuck with it, and the next two books, I would enjoy the entire series. I only feel bad that I just couldn't get into the story.