Cover Reveal for D.H. Willison's Love, Death or Mermaid?
I'm pleased to be able participate in the cover reveal for D.H. Willison's latest book set in his Arvia fantasy universe, Love, Death or Mermaid? I'm very excited to be able to read this one!
Opportunity knocks on the humblest of doors. But it knocks only once.
When an overheard conversation leads to a hunt for a long-forgotten pirate’s treasure in the sunny tropics, Herbert can’t believe his luck. With shipmates including the charming if somewhat feline-featured Katie, a suave and dapper captain, and a hyper-competent crew, such an opportunity seems too good to be true.
And we all know how that usually turns out.
He soon discovers that said adventure vacation of a lifetime comes with minor downsides, such as being hunted by giant sea monsters. Including an alluring—if somewhat bloodthirsty—mermaid. Additionally, the term ‘lifetime’ refers to a significantly shorter time-frame than he envisioned.
Set sail on the high seas of Arvia! (Must supply own cutlass.)
A stand-alone novella on the world of Arvia, intended for adult or young adult readers.
A three chapter sneak peek (which the author promises don’t end in a cliffhanger) is available on the author’s website:
The novella will be $0.99 on preorder on
Apple books
Barnes and Noble
Kindle
A paperback is available for $5.99 at Barnes and Noble.
The Bookwyrm's Review of Starcaster by J.N. Chaney and Terry Maggert
Authors: J.N. Chaney and Terry Maggert
Length: 328 Pages/ 7 Hours, 37 Minutes (Audio)
Publisher: Variant Publications/ Podium Publishing (Audio)
Release Date: September 6, 2020/ February 16, 2021 (Audio)
Narrator: Tom Taylorson
Rating: 9/10 Stars
SYNOPSIS
Magic. Steel. Blood. Victory.
The Earth’s navy is left drifting among the stars as Nyctus ships swarm, their purpose unknown as they continue their advance, burning one system after another.
Humanity's extinction seems inevitable.
But on one of the forgotten worlds, a boy is left behind, and he holds a talent unlike anything the galaxy has ever known.
Thorn Stellers is a mage, trained to lead and fight. With a renegade division of warriors at his side, and with weapons far different from those of old Earth, Thorn has a chance at standing up to humanity's enemies. For these mage-soldiers, armed with power that had once been thought the stuff of legend, the outcome is no longer certain.
Each Starcaster has a talent—except for Thorn, who has many. With his childhood companion Kira Wixcombe, he’ll confront a threat from beyond the stars, meeting them in the darkness with a light born of magic... and a lust for revenge.
Is his power enough? Or is Earth a forgotten memory, lost forever to history?
REVIEW
I wasn't sure what to expect when I started this one. The premise of space opera with magic has been done before, so I wasn't sure how this would differentiate itself. I have to say I was pleasantly surprised with how it did differentiate itself. This was accomplished through their would building. They created a very credible threat with the Nyctus, who are a mysterious alien race who have been handing humanity loss after loss, trying to wipe them out of existence. The humans discover the Nyctus use magic to power their most powerful weapons, forcing humanity to realize that magic is real, and that some humans can use it to try and fight back. Its a great combination, a cutting edge space fleet that is being wiped out, that has to fall back on what amounts to myth and superstition to try and stave off extinction.
This myth and superstition, which is rediscovered magic, is wielded by Starcasters, those rare individuals who have a magical talent that is useful for the war effort. Individuals like Thorn Stellars, a war orphan who's grown into a smart mouth with no respect for authority. Growing up an orphan in a hard scrabble orphanage has made him tough and wary of others, living on the fringes of society. This affects how he responds throughout the story, since it causes friction with his command as he is inducted into the military to learn to use his abilities. It even affects his powers, since control is so important to use them, and his past has left him with a lot of jagged edges. He goes through such an interesting character arc, as it's revealed he is unique among Starcasters, and may be the best hope for winning the war, or the cause of it all crashing down. He is just such a fully realized character, with strengths and weaknesses, successes and failures.
The secondary characters are an interesting mix as well, from a bunch of different backgrounds, all striving to try and keep humanity from falling. They don't all get super deep backstories, but their character arcs are centered on the events in the book, so it works for them. Their military trainers are more archetypical, being the usual hard core instructors who will crack down on the troops to break them, and then build them back up as a cohesive unit. You get some hints of character growth towards the end, which was a nice touch.
The Nyctus are an intriguing enemy. Not human, or even humanoid, in any way, their motives are still somewhat a mystery, but we do get some peaks into their thinking. Their view of humanity is based on biology and social order, and its hard to see how these differences can be overcome. With their abilities and more advanced tech, it's amazing the humans have held out as long as they have, especially with humans resistance to change. It will be intriguing to see where these authors take the story in later installments.
The narration is very ably performed by Tom Taylorson. I was unfamiliar with him before this book, but I have to say, he is very talented. He does a great job capturing the mood of the story, and his narrative pacing is excellent. He works hard to bring the various characters to life, using all kinds of accents, cadences and tones to differentiate the characters. I look forward to hearing him on book two.
This is definitely a book that should have a broad appeal to a lot of SFF fans. With its blend of space opera and urban fantasy elements, with a nice cast of characters, it has something for everyone to love. With its mix of action and threat of overwhelming doom, it will keep the reader/listener on the edge of their seat, in the best way. Highly recommended.
The Bookwyrm's Review of Galaxy's Edge: Legionnaire by Jason Anspach and Nick Cole
Length: 291 Pages
Publisher: Galaxy's Edge Press
Release Date: June 12, 2017
Rating: 9/10 Stars
"The Galaxy is a Dumpster Fire.
A hot, stinking, dumpster fire. And most days I don’t know if the legionnaires are putting out the flames, or fanning them into an inferno."
PLOT SYNOPSIS
A hostile force ambushes Victory Company during a reconnaissance-in-force deep inside enemy territory. Stranded behind enemy lines, a sergeant must lead a band of survivors against merciless insurgents on a deadly alien world somewhere along the galaxy’s edge. With no room for error, the Republic’s elite fighting force must struggle to survive under siege while waiting on a rescue that might never come.
Join Victory Company as they fight for their lives. When you think you’ve surrounded the Legion... you’ve just made your last mistake.
Review
As I mentioned in my last review, I am lifelong sci-fi fan. I have been drawn especially to space opera and military sci-fi, where we see a band of soldiers/adventurers facing desperate odds to accomplish some task that has repercussions far beyond their little part of the conflict. This is where series like Galaxy's Edge come in. Starting in Legionnaire, we are introduced to a Galaxy wide empire, run by the Senate and the House of Reason. They use the various military branches such as the Legion, a force of high-tech elite troops, and the army, a more conventional force, to keep the peace on their various colonies and "allied " worlds. They use a combination of carrot and stick to keep these worlds in line, but there is a growing rebellion trying to supplant the corrupt, incompetent political class.
This is the universe where the story takes place, on the planet Kublar, which is an "allied" world bribed into keeping the peace, but is simmering to a boil under the surface. This is the situation where we meet the characters in the book, the legionnaires of Victory Company, who, with some regular army troops, are supporting a diplomatic mission to appease the local warlord and keep the planet from rebelling. Characters such as Pappy, the commander of the legion force and Lt. Wraith and LT Chhun, the platoon leaders. We also get to meet the various enlisted soldiers, and get a view from the ground floor of what they think of the mission and their commanders. They are very realistically portrayed, and I suspect would have been a perfect fit from any army from Caesar's legions in Gaul to todays forces in Afghanistan. The commander and the LT's are very much soldier's soldiers, always keeping their minds on how to accomplish the mission while keeping their troops alive. Then there is Captain Devers, a political appointee who represents everything wrong in the Legion, and the government in general. He is also realistically portrayed, as I knew button polishing ladder climbers like him when I was in the army. These characters and their reactions are informed by the authors' real life experience in the military, so they resonate. It doesn't hurt that they get interesting character arcs that round out their characters, and help flesh out the universe they inhabit. It really helps immerse the reader in the story, in a universe on the brink of all out war yet again.
This is the kind of a story I can see appealing to a wide variety of sci-fi fans. Those who like space opera and military sci-fi are an obvious market, but I think fans of thrillers and military fiction can find something to love. Considering the troopers unofficial motto is KTF, or Kill Them First, you can guarantee this series will never lack for action. I highly recommend this series.
The Bookwyrm's Review of The Fall of Rho-Torkis by Tim C. Taylor
Author: Tim C. Taylor
Length: 536 Pages/ 12 Hours, 17 Minutes (Audio)
Publisher: Theogony Books
Release Date: February 2, 2021/ May 20, 2021 (Audio)
Narrator: Steve Campbell
Rating: 9/10 Stars
PLOT SYNOPSIS
"When your worst enemy has your back…
…you know the mission is doomed from the start."
Sergeant Osu Sybutu of the Legion had a simple mission. Take five men and travel unobserved to a location in the capital where he would deliver a coded phrase to a contact. Simple, that is, except for the fact that there was a war going on, and all the different factions he had to pass by on the way would cheerfully shoot him on sight. And that was only if the planet didn’t kill him first.
Militia Sergeant Vetch Arunsen’s task, however, was far more complex. Shepherd a group of hated rivals across the frozen wastes, keeping them safe from everyone who wanted to kill them, which was pretty much everyone. Including the oddball troopers under Arunsen’s own command, who would happily shoot the Legion soldiers if given the slightest opportunity.
Legion versus Militia. Joint defenders of the Federation. In theory. Their mutual loathing, however, could burn the armor plate off a battleship. For rival sergeants Sybutu and Arunsen, there’s only one way their squads could survive trekking across the iceworld of Rho-Torkis.
Legion and Militia.
REVIEW
I've never really made any secret of my love for space opera and military sci-fi. I love a big sprawling story with alien worlds, galaxy wide conspiracies and an intrepid group of heroes/scoundrels/anti-heroes trying to save the galaxy from doom and destruction. That's where stories like Fall of Rho-Torkis come in. Set in the author's shared Human Legion universe, although three millennia past the events of the prior books, this first book in the Chimera Company series shows us an empire on the decline, having lost the secrets of quite a bit of it's technology. The government is fractured, and beset by external threats. It's military is also fractured, with the elite Legion rocked by the scandal of it's previous commander betraying the Federation to aliens, while the Militia, their rivals, looks to finally take them down. On the ice world of Rho-Torkis, these pressures finally boil over as external and internal threats collide to to start a chain reaction that might bring about the end of the Federation if not stopped.
The characters of this turbulent world are a perfect fit. Osu Sybutu is a Sergeant in the Legion, a true professional, as are his troops. He is as straightforward as you can get, and yet he and his men are tasked with a covert mission, something they are spectacularly unsuited for. Its during this mission they run across, if you can call being captured by, the Militia led by Sergeant Vetch Arenson, and the fun really begins. The Legion and the Militia hate each other, and we get to see some great examples of just how deep that hatred is. The tension between the two leaders is reflected in their troops, who are an interesting bunch. You have a professional soldier class versus a militia that gets a lot of its troops from prisons. This difference, and a long hatred and rivalry should have meant mission failure, but its amazing what natives and rebels trying to kill you can cause to happen. There is a nice amount of back story and character development for all main characters, and they come across as real people, with real strengths and weaknesses coming through. Their struggles are very realistically portrayed, and it really helps immerse you in the story. These characters are definitely a strength, and are as good as any in sci-fi today.
The narration is performed by the talented Steve Campbell, one of my favorite narrators. He has such a great narrative style, really bringing each of the characters to life, even the ones that aren't remotely human. Its a great collection of accents, cadences and tones that really differentiates each character, and you are never in doubt which character is speaking. His narrative pacing is also some of the best in the business, keeping a real flow going without any monotone. Just a fantastic performance.
This was such a great way to take an ongoing series in a shared universe and take some real chances. It introduces some excellent characters and really does something special with them. It is easily on par with series like The Four Horsemen and Galaxy's Edge series, two of the big mil sci-fi series going on right now, and I suspect this, as well as the rest of the universe it shares, would appeal to fans of both. I highly recommend this one, and can't wait to check out book two.
The Bookwyrm's Review of Paladin Unbound by Jeffrey Speight
Author: Jeffrey Speight
Length: 334 Pages
Publisher: Literary Wanderlust
Release Date: July 1, 2021
Genre: Epic Fantasy
Rating: 10/10 Stars
PLOT SYNOPSIS
The last of a dying breed, a holy warrior must rise up against a growing darkness in Evelium.
The most unlikely of heroes, a lowly itinerant mercenary, Umhra the Peacebreaker is shunned by society for his mongrel half-Orc blood. Desperate to find work for himself and his band of fighters, Umhra agrees to help solve a rash of mysterious disappearances, but uncovers a larger, more insidious plot to overthrow the natural order of Evelium in the process.
As Umhra journeys into the depths of Telsidor's Keep to search for the missing people, he confronts an ancient evil and, after suffering a great loss, turns to the god he disavowed for help.
Compelled to save the kingdom he loves, can he defeat the enemy while protecting his true identity, or must he risk everything.
REVIEW
When I first heard of this book from another blogger, I thought it had a solid premise and would make a fun, light fantasy read. Now that I'm finished, it is definitely a fun read, but I'll say this up front: Paladin Unbound is now tied with M.L. Spencer's Dragon Mage as my fantasy book of the year. I was just enthralled throughout the story, and spent a few sleepless nights just transported into this incredible world.
The world building in this story is top rate. We are introduced to the world of Elevium on the first page at the end of a war between its creator gods. The Fire God Naur has been defeated in his efforts to take over the world, and is banished by his sister goddess Vaila to Pragarus, a hell cut off from the world where he should be locked for all eternity. What Vaila didn't know was Naur left an insurance policy behind that had the potential to free him in the future if some truly evil people enact an insane plan.
This foundation leads us to the modern world of Elevium, where Naur is an all but forgotten myth, and the truly great magics are long in the past. It's a world divided into many countries, with their own agendas and peoples. There are humans, and some new fantasy races that are reminiscent of some of the more traditional fantasy races such as dwarves, elves, etc., but with their own twists that make them perfect for this world. There are also some tensions between the races, especially with the Orcs, who are seen as vicious barbarians. This makes life difficult for the orcs that choose to leave their homeland, since no one believes they can act any different. This creates a lot of tension throughout the book, adding another layer of struggle.
There is a variety of magic in the book. There is divine magic, given to priests and paladins from their gods to help protect the people of Elevium. There are also shape changing druids and other mages, as well as magical creatures such as vampires. A lot of the magic is tied into bonding an element through infusion, such as gold and platinum, which is about as high as modern mages get. The ancient mystics supposedly could bond Rhodium, basically giving them the power of minor gods, but no on has done that in many centuries. Its a very interesting system that isn't dwelled on too much, but just enough to intrigue the reader. It just lays a solid foundation that allows the story to flow without a lot of overcomplicated magical mumbo jumbo. Sometimes a magic fireball is just a magic fireball.
The characters in this book truly shine in a way that just grabs the reader. Umhra the Peacbreaker, the main character, is such a great character. A half orc/human, he is the leader of an Orc mercenary band that takes commissions to clear out monsters and bandits, all while generally being distrusted or even hated by the people around them. Umhra is such an optimist, even though he has led such a life of struggle. Raised by a monk after his village was wiped out by barbarian raiders, he is a brave, honorable man, trying to take care of his men, and when a mission they undertake goes horribly wrong, Umhra takes matters into his own hands to try and stop the world threatening conspiracy they have uncovered. Umhra's own secret could be the only thing that can save the world, although he faces possible death if his secret is revealed. It is his determination in the face of personal danger that really makes him shine.
Umhra's companions are also as good a group of fantasy companions as you could ask for. Laudin the ranger, Gromley the warrior priest, Naivara the druid, Shadow the rogue and Nicholas the mage, as well as Balris the healer priest and Talus the warrior are just a fantastic group, complementing each others abilities and working as a cohesive group. Their backgrounds and abilities are shown throughout the book, without any info dumps that are such a bane to immersing yourself in the story. Their character's grow and struggle throughout, and they have well plotted character arcs that really keep you wanting to read more about them. These are very much traditional heroes, even Shadow, who you can imagine being sketchy at a game of cards or dice, but would follow you through the gates of hell for a good cause. There is no grey morality here, but a wonderful throwback to traditional fantasy, where heroes are heroes, and proudly so.
The villains are an interesting bunch. They are separated throughout the story, and each encounter with one individual or group leads to another page unfolding in the greater conspiracy. There are no easy battles, no flawless victories. These are hardened, evil, and most importantly, powerful villains, who are not just going to be overpowered, and are a threat at all times to the heroes. They are truly evil, for different reasons with each villain, whether it be lust for power, selfishness, or fulfilling a prophesy, they are irredeemable because of their actions, and they wouldn't have it any other way. Again, a throwback to a more traditional fantasy style, and this really keeps the reader engaged all the way through to the final epic confrontation with the final force of evil, Naur himself.
All in all, this is easily one of the best books I have read in the past decade, and tying for my favorite fantasy book of this year with Dragon Mage is no small feat. I just kept getting drawn deeper into the story, finding myself constantly referring to the map as I went along (it's a beautiful map, so it added to the immersion), realizing just how epic this journey was. This is a book that will have appeal to so many fans of fantasy, and is even ok for younger readers, not having any sex or super graphic violence that could scare younger readers. Its just an intensely entertaining story, that I was sorry to see end. I do hope to read more adventures with Umhra and his companions soon, though, and congratulate the author on writing such an amazing adventure.
A Q&A with Tripp Ainsworth, Author of The Spokepit Fairytale Series.
Tripp, thanks so much for being willing to share something of yourself. I think people will enjoy getting to know you a little better.
What made you decide to sit down and start writing the Smokepit Fairytales? What made you say to yourself "this is what I want to do"?
For years I had ideas in my head about stories, and aspirations to write. AT some point I started carrying around a little black moleskin book and started taking notes of humorous stories or situations I came across or heard. In 2015 I was on the USS Bonhomme Richard with the 31stMEU (Marine Expeditionary Unit) out of Okinawa and having all but filled up that little black book, I started transferring the notes to a word document on my laptop. I hadn’t really anything to do on ship, and the idea sparked to flesh out the notes into a series of short stories, which is where I got the name Smokepit Fairytales. I didn’t get around to making all them what they were before I decided that it would be more entertaining to make it pure fiction and have all those scenarios happen to a small group of characters instead of unconnected individuals. In the end I ended up writing the first two books back to back on that deployment.
Is there a genre you don't write in that you are a fan of, that you might consider writing in one day? If so, which one?
I’m not a huge fan of romance novels. It’s not that I don’t like romantic things, or soft core porn (That most love novels are), but their tone irks me, and the authors more often than not, don’t make the story enjoyable. That’s not to say that there isn’t plenty of romance, and graphic sexual encounters in my work, but to dedicate a whole novel to it seems a bit much. My fourth novel kind of takes a jab at that. Chainsmoke Your Problems Away could almost be defined as an anti-romance novel. Half of the story is focused on a failing relationship, but the other half id space-naval-warfare, and barracks life on Mars.
Who are some of your favorite writers? Either inspirational or just for entertainment?
Ernst Junger and Robert Heinlein are the two that immediately come to mind. Junger started with memoirs about his time on the western front in the first world war and then transitioned to writing science fiction later in life. Heinlein is almost exclusively science fiction.
I've always heard the expression write what you know. How much of you is in Smokepit?
All of everything anyone writes is 100% the author. While they might be based on someone in real life, every character ever written is in some way shape or form a reflection of who wrote them. There’s no way of getting around that, only hiding it. That being said, almost all of the situations my characters have gone through are things that either my friends and I have done, or are handled in a way that I think me or my friends would handle it. Like, I’ve never been tied up and assaulted while my friends were ritually sacrificed to dark spirits, but my characters reacted how I think the people I know in real life would.
There are some really crazy scenes throughout the books. How much of your real life experience is in them? Not just the combat, but stuff like the barracks “accident”. Is that something that really happened, not necessarily to you, but on post? Or did you just think up something just over the top and run with it?
A good chunk has happened directly to either me or someone I know, however a lot of it’s fiction. One of the ways I get ideas is by hearing a story, watching a movie, or reading a book and thinking a situation is dull and could be improved by a certain thing happening. I’ll take that situation form whatever it was then add my spin of the interesting thing happening.
I really enjoyed the illustrations throughout the books. Were these things you started while you were still on active duty, or something you drew specifically for these books?
The illustrations in the books were made specifically for the books. I also use them as almost a writing guide sometimes. If I’m not sure what I want to happen in a scene, or how things should “look” to the reader, I’ll often draw out the scenario then base the writing on what ended up being drawn.
I know this questions might be controversial, but are there any trends in current Sci-fi and Fantasy you aren't a big fan of? And conversely, trends you are really into.
Not with the trend themselves, but the band wagoning. Someone might come out with a good sci-fi idea that really hits home, but it can be completely ruined by Hollywood making 50 carbon copies of the plot and saturating the market.
Finally, so where do you see the series going? Any finite plans for series completion?
Smokepit Fairytales is half over. I plan to have 12 books in the series and cap it off. Then from there I do have other series and stand alone books I plan to write. Though so far they’re all in the same universe. I want to write a book about Elcair after Russia, “In the Mood’s” Pilot from St Petersburg, Jorge McKenzie after Six Pistols and a Dagger, and I have a whole series planned for the Virescents who left earth.
Again, thanks for sharing a bit of yourself with the rest of us. Hopefully, we'll have more entries in the series for years to come.
For anyone interested in learning more about Tripp, or checking out his books, which I highly recommend, here is the link to Tripp's Amazon author page, as well as his social media links.
The Bookwyrm's Review of Nocturna: Reveille by Heath Stallcup
Author: Heath Stallcup
Length: 294 Pages/ 6 Hours, 20 Minutes (Audio)
Publisher: Devil Dog Press
Release Date: October 27, 2020/ March 18, 2021 (Audio)
Narrator: Eric A. Shelman
Rating: 9/10 Stars
SYNOPSIS
At a time when mankind should have been reaching for the future, life devolved into a nearly apocalyptic present, pitting neighbor against neighbor and nation against nation as three different viruses ravaged the population. Civil wars reduced the world population even more.
Then came the asteroid Wormwood, and everything changed. Man did what nobody expected...they pulled together and worked to save the planet and themselves. Years after the space rock did its damage, people began to change. Old tensions were brought back as those afflicted were targeted by the fearful.
Then the real monsters appeared, and nobody was ready for what happened next.
REVIEW
This second book in the Nocturna series picks right up where book one left off. Still set in the post multiple pandemic, post civil war America in 2035, it's an America, and a world in general, that's holding on to civilization by a thread. Cities are abandoned, left to the "insurgent" scavengers who rose up against the government in a hopeless fight against America's military might brought against them. When the asteroid called Wormwood hit the planet in Northern Africa, the world's counties put aside their petty squabbles to help. Of course, they had no idea Wormwood brought a bigger threat to mankind than just dust in the air and shortages. This may spell the end for mankind once and for all.
The characters in this story are such a joy to read about. They are a varied bunch of scientists, soldiers, former insurgents and just regular people, trying to do their best in a truly unique situation. The military characters are extremely well thought out and realistic, not surprising given the author's military background. They come across as real people with real motivations, not just tin soldiers so often portrayed in books. The scientists are also well thought out, with differing backgrounds and specialties informing their decisions, not always in the best ways. They just read like real people, with strengths and flaws on display throughout. The "insurgents" are really well done. They could have been caricatures of rebels like Fidel and Che, but instead, they are realistic people caught up in horrific events, doing the best they can to take care of their people. These disparate groups all find their way together to fight an enemy they could have never expected, that is growing in complexity. There is also a conspiracy from people higher up in the government that is slowly revealing itself, and I'm interested to see where that angle goes. There is also a revelation of a secret order of warriors within the military that I didn't expect, but actually fits when the history of the country is taken into account. All in all, these characters are a real strength to the story.
The narration for the audiobook is handled by Eric Shelman. He has excellent narrative pacing, never letting the story bog down with a monotone, and emphasizing just right when the action picks up. He does a great job of creating differing voices for the characters, and you are never in doubt which character is speaking at any time. I am definitely interested in checking out his out audiobook work.
Second books can often be a letdown, but not in this case. This book takes everything that made the first book so good and amped it up just a bit. More action, better villains, and a conspiracy that's looming in the background that will have ramifications for everyone in the story. This is a must read for fans of military and sci-fi thrillers, and even horror fans can find something to love here. Can't wait to see what book three holds in store for us.
The Bookwyrm's Review of Dark Seas End by Richard Nell
Author: Richard Nell
Length: 275 Pages
Publisher: Self-Published
Release Date: June 1, 2021
Rating: 9/10 Stars
This review is part of the Dark Seas End Blog Tour, which will conclude tomorrow, June 4, on Out of This World Blogspot. Be sure to check it out as well.
SYNOPSIS
Feared pirate and scoundrel ‘Lucky’ Chang has a dirty secret: he loves his crew, and would die to protect them. As he’s dragged from prison to face the dark sea and a dangerous new world, he just might have to.
Zaya, warrior and skald from the land of ash, knows she has a destiny. Having left her homeland with only a knife and a dream of adventure, she finds herself captured by pirates. To discover her fate, and become a hero from the book of legends, she must first survive the sea.
With a monstrous pilot as guide, and an ex-assassin as captain, Chang, Zaya, and the crew of the mighty Prince sail into uncharted waters. There they may find new lands and wealth, as well as glory beyond their dreams, or nothing but their doom.
Set in the same epic world as the award winning Kings of Paradise...this new series from author Richard Nell can be read on its own, or as a continuation of the Ash and Sand trilogy.
REVIEW
When I was offered the chance to read this, I didn't really know what to expect. Not having read the Ash and Sand Trilogy, I was unfamiliar with the author's writing style, other than hearing it was "grimdark". What does that mean? Does it mean it has unredeemable villains as characters that you really don't care about? Anti-heroes? Or maybe scoundrels forced into situations though desperate circumstances and having to get a job done by any means necessary, a la the Black Company. For my tastes, It turns out more like The Black Company.
Usually I'll break down the characters first in a review, but this time, I'm going to mention world building first, because that world building sets the stage in such a way that its integral to the characters. Realizing there is a whole trilogy setting the stage for it, I was surprised just how deep the author chose to make this books world building. Starting from the empire of the islands, we get an idea just how large this world is, as we realize they had been in a war not too long ago with a group of Northerners that they had never expected to be able to reach them. We get introduced to some of the main characters in jail, awaiting the King's justice for piracy in a world where piracy is more and more of the noble's privateer variety, and sea wolves are almost gone. Freed from that prison, they take a journey across an ocean to the edge of the map and beyond, finally reaching a land of unfamiliar people.
You can tell the author took a lot of the inspiration for this land from Mexico and Central America, and the Spanish invasions. We see a land of great pyramids and city states, but also a land of subjugated tribes, looking at those cities with loathing, having to do with the religious practice of human sacrifice for their devourer god. That does, like it did in the Americas, tend to unite people against the oppressive rule of those city states, as it does here. With multiple POV's, we get to see life inside the great city-state as well as the tribal lands under their thumb. We also get a peak at the magic they have, allowing them things like the gift of languages, and ability to tame even the biggest predators. Not exactly fireballs and magic missiles, but useful all the same. You really get immersed into this world throughout the story. We even get a fairly deep look into the culture and norms, and the clash between the newcomers and natives, something sadly lacking in so many books.
The characters are such an interesting group. A group of pirates, who, except for the captain and first mate go by job titles, not by names, so as not to attract the goddess of the seas attention. Pirates who look to their captain, Lucky Chang, for leadership, and for that, he treats them like he would family, because in a real sense, they are. Then there is Zaya, a woman from the land of Ash far to the North, a trained Skaal (bard), who ends up running into the last person she ever expected, the great shaman of her people, called Ruka, on the ship with the pirates he and his companion Eka sprung from jail, and are now sailing across the ocean. Her father was Ruka's Skaal during his conquering days, so she thinks fate has led her to this point. Ruka is such an enigma, but in the best way, as his struggle with his own personal demon is slowly revealed throughout the story, in some pretty intense ways, and his arc has such a big impact on the story as it's revealed what he's dealing with.
The skills Zaya has learned in life, languages and fighting, are put to the test, as the violent land they end up in changes drastically for her, as she is captured and enslaved with Ruka. We see an interesting character arc for her here, as what I took to be a bit of Stockholm Syndrome is just revealed to be practicality and biding her time.
We also get to meet Yakat, a prince and general of the main city state, and see his struggles as his past comes back to haunt him as a priest of the devourer god maneuvers for revenge on him in the most personal way possible, and Yakat struggle with the demands of duty to his king and duty to his children as a father. How this arc progresses is so intense, you really get drawn into his decision making and anguish, because no matter what, he will hurt someone, either his father the king or himself.
This is definitely a book I can recommend. While it has grimdark elements, its much more a story of redemption for a large portion of the characters. There is a lot of action and some great storytelling, with revelations about characters really keeping you into the story.
About Richard Nell
Richard Nell concerned family and friends by quitting his real job in 2014 to 'write full-time'. He is a Canadian author of fantasy, living in one of the flattest, coldest places on earth with his begrudging wife, who makes sure he eats.
His books mix his love of history and ideas with the epic glory of fantasy, because reality could use some sprucing up. He's the author of dark, epic fantasy Kings of Paradise and Kings of Ash, and a new gritty flintlock series starting with The God King's Legacy. He hopes you like them.
If you are interested in any or Richard's other books, they can be found at this link:
The Bookwyrm's Review of Pain Killer: A Memoir of Big League Addiction by Brantt Myhres
Author: Brant Myhres
Length: 316 Pages/ 10 Hours, 49 Minutes (Audio)
Publisher: Viking
Release Date: February 16, 2021
Genre: Autobiography
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"This book is at times startling, yet very real and down to earth . . . I saw [Brantt] in all phases of his life and his career. I consider him a friend and an ally. Pain Killer sends a strong message." --Darryl Sutter, former NHL player, coach, and GM
SYNOPSIS
From the only player to be banned for life from the NHL, a harrowing tale of addiction, and an astonishing path to recovery.
Brantt Myhres wasn't around for the birth of his daughter. Myhres had played for seven different NHL teams, and had made millions. But he'd been suspended four times, all for drug use, and he had partied his way out of the league. By the time his daughter was born, he was penniless, sleeping on a friend's couch. He'd just been released from police custody. He had a choice between sticking around for the birth, or showing up for league-mandated rehab. He went to rehab. For the fifth time.
This is his story, in his own words, of how he fought his way out of minor hockey into the big league, but never left behind the ghosts of a bleak and troubled childhood. He tells the story of discovering booze as a way of handling the anxiety of fighting, and of the thrill of cocaine. In the raw language of the locker room, he tells of how substance abuse poisoned the love he had in his life and sabotaged a great career. Full of stories of week-long benders, stripper-filled hot tubs, motorcycle crashes, and barroom brawls, Pain Killer is at its most powerful when Myhres acknowledges how he let himself down, and betrayed those who trusted him. Again and again, he fools the executives and doctors who gave him a second chance, then a third, then a fourth, and with each betrayal, he spirals further downward.
But finally, on the eve of his daughter's birth, when all the money was gone, every bridge burnt, and every opportunity squandered, he was given a last chance. And this time, it worked.
It worked so well, that not only has he been around for his daughter for the past eleven years, in 2015 he was signed by the LA Kings as a "sober coach": a guy who'd been there, a guy who could recognize and help solve problems before they ruined lives and made headlines (as the Kings had seen happen three times that season). Not only did Myhres save himself, he saved others.
Unpolished, unpretentious, and unflinching, Myhres tells it like it is, acknowledging every mistake, and painting a portrait of an angry, violent, dangerous man caught in the vice of something he couldn't control, and didn't understand. If Brantt Myhres can pull himself together, anyone can. And he does, convincingly, and inspiringly.
REVIEW
I don't review a lot of autobiographies on here, especially ones that don't have to do with Sci-Fi or Fantasy. However, I saw actor Joe Manganiello mention this book on Instagram, since he is friends with Brantt. After discovering what the book entailed, I found myself intrigued just how deep he would go into his past, considering just how bad the publicly known information was. After reading it, I can say I was shocked just how honest and open he was about demons that destroyed not only his career but a good chunk of his life as well.
Brantt details his early life in poverty in an abusive house in rural Canada, dealing with abuse and neglect in his house until he was finally able to escape to his grandparents, and finally living with his father, who helped him develop his hockey skills, and find success in Jr. hockey. This is where we see the seeds of both his successes and failures laid down, since he had the skills to play at the highest level, and had discovered his ability to drop the gloves and fight made him a wanted commodity in a sport like hockey. We also see that this early time is where the partying starts that would lead to ruination and multiple stints in rehab.
We get an intimate view into his career, including his drafting into the NHL, and his career as an enforcer, ensuring his team's star players weren't messed with, or if they were, dishing out retribution. It's this combination of money, pro sports life, partying and pain that led to addiction that would destroy his career in a lifetime ban after he violated the league's substance abuse policy one too many times.
We also get to see his redemption as well, as his new child and a stay in rehab that lasted months longer than he expected finally give him the incentive and tools to deal with his issues. He took those experiences in his life and used them for good, forming a hockey camp for First Nation's kids in Canada, to help give them options in life they normally wouldn't have. He then ends up as a substance abuse liaison for the LA Kings, helping players on the Kings and their farm teams deal with addiction and lifestyle issues. It seemed like a really good use of his experiences, and is quite inspirational.
As the child of two parents with addiction issues, both of whom died from those addictions, this story hit me hard. I've seen how easy it can be to let your demons destroy you completely. I have to say, seeing just how low Brantt got, just how close to death he came, was truly saddening. His redemption was fought for just as fiercely as any fight he ever had on the ice, more so, in fact, and is truly inspiring, especially after he admitted just how close he came to falling off the wagon once again, and heading back down the path to ruin. It takes a lot of self awareness to admit this, and is all the more inspiring because of it.
I think this is a story that way too many people can relate to. I also think its a book that people should read and take inspiration from, seeing how even falling from such highs to such lows, that its still possible to come back from it. I think this will appeal to not only sports fans, but to people looking for a story with an uplifting journey though travails to redemption.
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Author: Rune S. Nielsen Length: 774 Pages Publisher: Self Published Release Date: July 7, 2020 Series: The Artifact War, Book 1 Genre: Epic ...
