Posts filed under 'Fantasy'
- these are the well-known lyrics of the folk song Scarborough Fair. Nancy Werlin weaves the tasks featured in a variation of verse two of the song into the suspenseful plot of Impossible. Seventeen-year-old Lucy Scarborough must break the curse of the Elfin Knight by completing the following:
- make a magical shirt…without any seam or needlework.
- find an acre of land…between the salt water and the sea strand…
- plow it with just a goat’s horn…and sow it all over with one grain of corn…
This book is fantastical and fast-paced and impossible to put down. I am not generally a fantasy reader (I know, I know, I said the same thing about vampires), but I would say this book is primarily a romance with thrills and fantasy thrown into the mix. Lucy is a modern American teen, heading off to prom. She is also struggling with an apparent genetic tendency towards mental illness, a horrific date rape, an unexpected pregnancy and a possible family curse. If you like a story where true love battles evil and prevails against all odds, Impossible fits the bill.
This book has been garnering lots of attention and is on the YALSA 2009 Nominations list of Best Books for Young Adults. The modern-day setting serves as a great contrast to the medieval lyrics and elfin curse and is a surprising, spellbinding read. Impossible is my second favorite YA book of the year: stay tuned for my #1 read in an upcoming review.
December 29th, 2008
Molly - Central
and his name is Bill Compton. Such a shame that he is already in love with the coolest girl, Sookie Stackhouse, telepathic waitress extraordinaire at Merlotte’s Bar and Grill in Bon Temps, Louisiana. And that he is dead and all that. But what a gentleman! Such excellent manners!
I was first introduced to Bill and Sookie on HBO’s new series True Blood. Total addict that I am, I had to go back and watch all of the in-demand extras interviewing the cast and crew, producer and creator. When author Charlaine Harris appeared, I thought, hey, I know her. I’ve heard of that series! Why haven’t I been reading these books? I do not know. I’ve read all the Twilight books and the Southern Vampire series that begins with Dead until Dark is funnier, smarter and a lot sexier. So I am reading the series now.
Dead until Dark covers all of the episodes I’ve seen thus far (that’s 4) of the HBO series. Sookie is a pretty waitress at a bar in Northern Louisiana who is unable to date because her telepathy ruins all chances for romance. She lives with her liberal granny and the Vampire Rights Act is currently in Congress. The vampires have been “out of the coffin” for a couple of years, thanks to a synthetic blood drink that the Japanese have created called Tru Blood. By consuming this drink, the vamps no longer need to feast on humans, and hypothetically, everyone can co-exist in peace. Of course, there are some bumps in the road. Vampire blood (V-Juice) is the hottest drug since crystal meth and when the vamps aren’t preying on humans (trust me, they’re still preying on humans) the humans are preying on the vamps.
Good and bad are present in both the mortal and immortal realms and it’s hard to know who to trust. Even though Bill scares Sookie, she is drawn to him and lets down her guard bit by bit. Their relationship is complicated but romantic, and I am definitely rooting for them.
The television series has me totally hooked, but it is only on for one hour a week and I need more. Simultaneously reading Bill and Sookie’s story really prolongs the entertainment for me. And the best thing about reading the books - I have seven more to look forward to!
October 7th, 2008
Molly - Central
I’m a fan of urban fantasy, which probably won’t surprise many of you. In general though, I tend to stick to the women - kickass gals solving their problems with a little help from their friends. That being said, something about Rob Thurman’s book Nightlife just spoke to me (so much so, I bought a second copy when I left the first behind in a hotel). It’s about as kickass as you’ll find as brothers Cal and Niko Leandros battle boggles, trolls and evil elves. All good. Right? But what touched me and had me coming back for books two and three in the series was the relationship between Cal and Niko.
Caliban (don’t call him that!) Leandros is half-human and half-elf. Doesn’t sound too bad, if you’re a fan of Legolas. The problem is that the elves of his world are really the Auphe and they are about as nasty and evil as you want to imagine. They’re not evilly scheming and plotting. We’re talking ‘torture and cannibalism and a burning desire to rid the planet of 99% of humanity’ evil. Cal has always struggled with his Auphe side. And in the fight with him is his brother Niko. Cal describes it this way:
“There are monsters among us. There always have been and there always will be. I’ve known that ever since I can remember, just like I’ve always known I was one. Well half of one anyway. And regardless of what inherited nastiness I might have on the inside, on the outside I was all human. In fact Niko had said, and pretty damn frequently, that I had more human qualities then I had good sense…If I wanted to beat up on myself, I’d have to go through him first.”
And that’s a perfect snapshot of the relationship between the protective Niko and the wisecracking Cal as they battle the demons - both physical and mental - in their lives. And battle they must since the Auphe plan to use Cal as their weapon to destroy humanity. Non-stop action, snarky dialogue, and the great central relationship had me quickly ordering the next adventures of Cal and Niko.
September 10th, 2008
Jane J. - Central Library
Reminiscent of Scheherezade and her need to tell a story in order to live one more night, The Orphan’s Tales: In the Night Garden begins with an orphan with no name or history telling stories to the son of the Sultan. Catherynne Valente has written a very intricate novel portraying another world inhabited by fantastic creatures and races, each with their own culture and traditions.
Using multiple short chapters or vignettes that allow her characters to tell bits and pieces of their own stories Valente spins and intriguing web. It is not until almost the middle of the book that the reader realizes that those bits and pieces are slowly coalescing into a unified picture of a world and its peoples.
Winner of the James Tiptree, Jr. Award this is a fantasy full of vivid imagery and a wonderful use of language. My only quibble is the author does not tell us enough about the orphan storyteller to make her a character strong enough to carry the reader into the story, and my hope is that the second book The Orphan’s Tales: In the Cities of Coin and Spice will improve on that aspect. An unusual fantasy that requires some perseverance by the reader but one that rewards with a rich and multi-textured tale.
August 25th, 2008
Liz C. - Alicia Ashman
The 2008 Eisner Awards (the “Oscars” of comics) were announced last week at the San Diego Comic-Con. The winner for Best U.S. Edition of International Material—Japan is Tekkonkinkreet: Black and White. Deservedly. This complex, multi-layered manga is a terrific read. Author/illustrator Taiyo Matsumoto has created a dark, surreal whirlwind of a book.
Honestly, at first this book is off-putting. It is a thick, oversize volume with weird art showing a screaming kid on the cover. A plot synopsis, such as mine (below) won’t do it justice. Just take away that this is a rich, dark story for adults (not your favorite teenager’s manga) and it is worth your time, whether you normally read manga and graphic novels or NOT. Maybe, most especially, if you usually do not read material in this format.
Black and White are two homeless orphans who rule the streets, alleys and rooftops of Treasure Town, a seedy and corrupt Japanese city. Black is brooding and morose, the self-appointed protector of his sunny pal, White. White, dressed in an ever-changing array of crazy hats and bedecked with amulets, talismans and an armload of wristwatches, spouts an incessant stream of gibberish and wisdom.
Black and White are renowned throughout Treasure Town for their ferocity. The duo survives by robbing thugs, mugging drunks and fighting brutal, bloody battles with anyone who challenges them. Local police and gangsters treat the boys with grudging respect and concerned affection. They are unstoppable forces, especially Black, who has a clearly expressed personal connection with Treasure Town. It is his town. He owns it.
Treasure Town has competing adult gangs fighting for control. One of these is the The Tribe, an elaborately painted and costumed street gang that is being pressured by the Yakuza who are themselves being squeezed by mysterious foreign investors interested in tearing down Treasure Town and building an amusement park. There is a battle brewing, for the heart and soul of the city.
Matsumoto’s art style is masterful but unusual– he has crazy, swirling angles and perspectives, all of his buildings lean and bend. Slanting frames sometimes show just fragments of the character’s faces ( a jawline or perhaps a forehead is cut off ). The outlandish characters and futuristic setting are dazzling. Details abound, enhancing the storyline (a re-reading of the book is helpful in catching all of the background action).
There is a lot of action in the book and much of the action involves brutal violence. But there are also many gentle kindnesses, often involving the most improbably sympathetic characters. The protagonists are at once broad stereotypes and nuanced individuals. If you are like me, you WILL care deeply about them and maybe (afterwards, because it sneaks up) be perplexed about how that happens. After re-reading it I am still thinking about it.
The manga has been adapted to film, in an anime also entitled Tekkonkinkreet. The anime was recently screened by the Ashman Anime Club, and it is also highly recommended. I have shown most of the anime in the years that our library anime club has been running, and this film is one of the finest (in my opinion) that we have ever shown. A stunner. With a few delicious differences from the manga. Check them both out and let me know what you think!
August 6th, 2008
Barbara - Alicia Ashman
Public defender Margrit “Grit” Knight likes testing herself professionally and personally. Which is why she’s crazy enough to be jogging late at night in Central Park. Though she takes a few risks, Grit is no fool. She knows she has to be quick and wary. The handsome man who accosts her may be wearing a business suit but there’s something about him that has her spidey senses tingling. And when she hears the next day of a murder in the park, Grit is convinced she made a lucky escape.
What she doesn’t realize is that the man is something else 
altogether. He is Alban Korund, a member of the old races, a gargoyle to be precise. And he’s been framed for the murder. Alban has been aware of Margrit because of her nightly run through the park. His impulsive attempt to talk to her has led to his being targeted by the police and only Margrit can help him.
In Heart of Stone, C. E. Murphy, whose earlier urban fantasy series focuses on native american lore in Minneapolis (Urban Shaman, et al), has succeeded once again at making the fantastical seem entirely possible. That gargoyles, selkies, vampires and a dragonlord (who has a djinn enforcer) exist makes good sense. And the developing relationship between Margrit and Alban is one the reader will root for through this and the sequel - House of Cards.
July 11th, 2008
Jane J. - Central Library
Life Sucks provides a funny spin on the seemingly endless spate of vampire fiction. At least, this was my first encounter with a vegan-wannabe vampire slacker — and I found it hilarious.
Dave is working a (literally) dead-end job as the night manager of The Last Stop convenience store. The store
is owned by money-obsessed Radu (aka Lord Arisztidescu), who bedevils Dave about sweeping the parking lot and rotating the hot dogs, while spouting ridiculous business jargon in a thick Romanian accent. Dave is part of Radu’s business plan. Vampire-Master Radu turned the resentful Dave into a vampire because undead employees can’t be killed — and night clerking in an LA strip mall convenience store is pretty hazardous.
Dave dropped out of community college because he can no longer survive in sunlight. And unwilling to kill, he survives on a diet of plasma and expired blood bank products, which leaves him weak and unable to optimize his vampire talents. He lives with his human best friend, Carl, and hangs out with a fellow indentured vampire wage-slave, Jerome. The highlights of Dave’s sorry existence are watching endless Mexican soap operas and catching glimpses of Rosa, a beautiful Goth girl who regularly visits the juice bar next to The Last Stop.
Dave’s nemesis is Radu’s previous night clerk/vampire slave, a surfer named Wes, who proved to be hopelessly irresponsible at clerking. Dave’s vampirization has allowed Wes to return to his beach lifestyle (although, being a vampire, he has to do his surfing at night). Wes has money, good looks, girls, a car: everything Dave longs for and lacks. When Wes goes after Rosa, underachieving Dave finally starts to show some un-dead life…
Writers Jessica Abel and Gabe Soria have done a great job, with witty dialog and a quirky, fast-moving plot. Warren Pleece’s art is fantastic, filled with intricate detail and cinematic angles. Pleece injects a lot into the story through his subtly-drawn characters’ expressions and gestures. Coloring is impressive too, with washed-out flat color for the fluorescent Last Stop and the many dark nighttime scenes creatively presented.
If you are in the mood for a different kind of vampire tale, this is the book for you!
June 6th, 2008
Barbara - Alicia Ashman
A number of years ago I read Mary Gentle’s Book of Ash series - her take on a Joan of Arc type of story with a little magical realism thrown in - and loved every bit of it (sadly it is not owned by the library). Gritty and well-researched, Gentle’s alternative history seemed realer then the real thing, if you’ll pardon my grammar. Since then Gentle sort of fell off my radar. Until now. Ilario: The Lion’s Eye: A Story of the First History, Book One takes me right back to that moment when I discovered the author.
Ilario has been many things in a short life, the unwanted result of a mother’s affair, the unwanted foster child of a family who used and abused, the King’s Freak in the Iberian court, a young artist looking to learn the new style of painting with perspective, and a slave. Most of Ilario’s difficulties arise out of being an unnatural creature in this medieval world - an hermaphrodite.
Mary Gentle imagines a medieval world in which Carthage is a dominant power, though it is covered in the darkness of the Penitence which make it night at all times. Ilario, who is finally freed from the Iberian court travels to see the Penitence in Carthage where he/she is attacked and made a slave once again. Ilario’s fortunes turn once again when he/she is bought by the Egyptian castrato, Rekhmire.
If this sounds complicated - it is. But Gentle builds her world and characters so wonderfully, you can’t help but become immersed. And happily enough, book two in the history is already out: Ilario: The Stone Golem.
September 21st, 2007
Jane J. - Central Library
My very first post on this blog, a little more then a year ago, was about a couple of urban fantasy novels I’d read and how I was really enjoying the mini-boom the genre was going through. I’m still enjoying, but have to work through lots of mediocre titles to find ones I truly love. Luckily I do still find some great reads and one recent title really stood out from the pack.
The book is Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews. Andrews’ book is set in a nicely realized near-future Atlanta in which magic and technology battle to co-exist and the technology is losing. Kate Daniels makes her living as working as a mercenary for the Guild dealing with magic-related problems. Her life is turned upside down when her guardian is murdered. Now she’s determined to find his killer. Throw in some truly nasty vampires, the Beast Lord (head of the were-animals of Atlanta) and Kate’s own unpredictable powers and you have a page-turner with some bite!
May 25th, 2007
Jane J. - Central Library
Joanna Archer is on the blind date from hell - literally. As though it wasn’t bad enough to be out with a boring banker, he’s suddenly made things more interesting by turning into a demonic beast from hades. Though she’s tough and determined, fighting off a murderous attack isn’t how Joanna planned to spend the evening as Vicki Pettersson’s Scent of Shadows opens. And what initially seems like a freaky, isolated event turns Joanna’s world upside down. Her fate is tied to the fight between the forces of Light and Shadow. Which means that if Joanna can live through her 25th birthday (in 24 hours) she might just be able to save the world.
Hmmm, save the world, save the cheerleader? Probably a fair comparison could be made to the tv series Heroes. Joanna has powers she wasn’t aware of and each of her new colleagues has a different super power. They represent the signs of the zodiac and are responsible for maintaining a balance between the forces in the world. Joanna has a special place in the scheme of things.
Starting off with a murder attempt and a hunt through Las Vegas, this one’s probably not for the faint-of-heart. It is one I’d recommend to fans of Heroes. What’s even better is that it’s the first in a trilogy, with book two (Taste of Night) already in print.
April 27th, 2007
Jane J. - Central Library
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