Fantasy / Horror Reading in April 2022

[Westy]

I couldn’t help but notice some parallels with The Godfather i.e. similar crime organisations centred on tribute and protection; the killing of the head of the family business; the clan’s refusal to get involved in the drug trade leading to conflict with a rival clan; and Shae’s decision to stay out of the family business, then drawn back in by a sense of loyalty (like Michael Corleone) when the family comes under threat. That is not to say that Jade City is a Godfather rip-off as its vastly different setting sets it far apart from anything else in the crime genre and, of course, the Jade City world has magic.

Agreed, and of note as well the author herself has described it as "The Godfather with magic and kung-fu" (she has a black belt apparently)!

 

[Westy]

I finally got onto reading Prince of Thorns by Mark Lawrence, about teen Jorg Ancrath as he rampages across the land with his band of marauders.

It's unrelenting and dark, and Jorg isn't really a nice person. But there was still something about it that made it engaging - the writing is very good for one thing, but also I think there's a fascination with such an unsavoury character and where his motives come from, and if there's any resolve to atone for his bad ways.

That said, I thought the world-building was fairly average (but did slowly build), and as a reader you have to suspend belief that a 10-14 year old can do what he does. For a grimdark type novel though it ticks many boxes.

On a side note the publication I have has an afterword by the author, which was very interesting. His debut novel created a lot of controversy in having main character that's usually a villain, and he addresses the assumption people made around thinking the author must have similarities as the protagonist! But also that at the time of writing his fourth child was born profoundly disabled, and he directed his anger at the world, at anything, through Jorg. Which puts it in perspective a bit.

 

[Sfinx]

It's unrelenting and dark, and Jorg isn't really a nice person. But there was still something about it that made it engaging - the writing is very good for one thing, but also I think there's a fascination with such an unsavoury character and where his motives come from, and if there's any resolve to atone for his bad ways.

I'd say the engaging/fascination part is not so much due to your (or any reader's for that matter) interest in Jorg's motivation or possibilities for atonement, but rather that we (are forced to) recognise the flaws (and hidden desires...) in our own character. There is (or at the very least, was) a Jorg in all of us, lashing out at an unjust world. Or could just be me ofc

 

[Sfinx]

Started The Vorrh by Brian Catling. It's....interesting. Catling's writing is at times truly beautiful, almost poetic. It's very visceral; as a reader you're there, you can feel the heat, the tension, the emotions. The plot (as far as I can discern it now) also is interesting and promising. At the same time though, I find I do not immediately grab this one as soon as I have a moment to spare for reading. I guess it's due to the lack of a clear story / (likeable) lead characters; it's a bit like Duncan's Vellum and Ink in that respect: mythology, archetypes and setting sometimes (intentionally) take precedence over a clear storyline there as well. But I ended up liking Vellum and Ink a lot, so that may happen with The Vorrh as well! To be continued.

 

[Hobbit]

I can see that if you like Ink/Vellum, you'll like this too...

 

[Sfinx]

I can see that if you like Ink/Vellum, you'll like this too...

You kinda make it sound you're not of the same opinion

 

[Hobbit]

You kinda make it sound you're not of the same opinion

Hmm. Not quite. I tried the first few pages of the first Vorrh book, if I remember right. I reviewed B's most recent book Hollow. I liked it but didn't love it - it is odd, and very self-consciously art. But I could see that others would love it, as they did Vellum when it came out. It did divide reviewers too! (Rob loved it, for example.)

My point was that they seem similar in style and tone, which some love and others don't. I enjoyed Vellum more than Hollow (I think).

Not sure whether you can access this outside the UK but the BBC had a recent documentary about Brian. Might give you more of an idea about his work. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0011v76

 

[Westy]

Started The Vorrh by Brian Catling.

It's sitting on my bedside to read as well...and the way you describe how it's started is pretty much what I was expecting - I'm apprehensive as to whether I'll like 560 pages of it, will see!

There is (or at the very least, was) a Jorg in all of us, lashing out at an unjust world.

That is true too.

 

[Sfinx]

Hmm. Not quite. I tried the first few pages of the first Vorrh book, if I remember right. I reviewed B's most recent book Hollow. I liked it but didn't love it - it is odd, and very self-consciously art. But I could see that others would love it, as they did Vellum when it came out. It did divide reviewers too! (Rob loved it, for example.)

My point was that they seem similar in style and tone, which some love and others don't. I enjoyed Vellum more than Hollow (I think).

Not sure whether you can access this outside the UK but the BBC had a recent documentary about Brian. Might give you more of an idea about his work. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0011v76

Got you. And can readily see why Vellum would divide reviewers! And thx for the link - but like you feared: "BBC iPlayer only works in the UK" :-(

 

[Agent Cormac]

Ysabel

Unlike most of Kay’s novels this one is set in the present day, though events from the distant past play a big part in the story. The setting is in and around Aix-en-Provence, a historic city with a Celtic and Roman past. Fifteen year-old Ned Marriner is staying there with his father, who is a famous photographer and on a shoot in the area, and his father’s crew. As the festival of Beltane approaches, Ned and a new friend encounter some odd people and witness strange goings-on which seem to have roots going back to more than 2000 years ago.

Compared to Kay’s other work such as Under Heaven and A Song for Arbonne, this story is more urban fantasy than his customary historical tale with elements of fantasy. Also, it is written for a YA audience. This is a market I don’t usually write off as lacking merit unless the story happens to be about lovelorn vampires and their ilk, but at times this book had the feeling of being a holiday adventure like one of The Famous Five stories, and Ned’s teenager point of view and teen-speak began to grate the further I got. Furthermore, the supernatural characters (and the additional real characters who entered the story later on) became more artificial and more superficial as time went on. The start of the book was reasonably enjoyable but unfortunately it did not keep me happy throughout its length and I was glad to be done with it, which was a shame because the historical aspects and the setting were interesting enough to draw me in.

 

[Raf]

Still slogging on through Kim Stanley Robinson's "Years of Rice and Salt". Not really loving the book, but will finish it. At times, the writing is brilliant, evocative and downright breathtaking. But there is a lot that KSR style filler in between the moments of brilliance.

 

[Raf]

Ysabel

Unlike most of Kay’s novels this one is set in the present day, though events from the distant past play a big part in the story. The setting is in and around Aix-en-Provence, a historic city with a Celtic and Roman past. Fifteen year-old Ned Marriner is staying there with his father, who is a famous photographer and on a shoot in the area, and his father’s crew. As the festival of Beltane approaches, Ned and a new friend encounter some odd people and witness strange goings-on which seem to have roots going back to more than 2000 years ago.

Compared to Kay’s other work such as Under Heaven and A Song for Arbonne, this story is more urban fantasy than his customary historical tale with elements of fantasy. Also, it is written for a YA audience. This is a market I don’t usually write off as lacking merit unless the story happens to be about lovelorn vampires and their ilk, but at times this book had the feeling of being a holiday adventure like one of The Famous Five stories, and Ned’s teenager point of view and teen-speak began to grate the further I got. Furthermore, the supernatural characters (and the additional real characters who entered the story later on) became more artificial and more superficial as time went on. The start of the book was reasonably enjoyable but unfortunately it did not keep me happy throughout its length and I was glad to be done with it, which was a shame because the historical aspects and the setting were interesting enough to draw me in.

Think I will pass on this one then...thanks for the review, AC

 

[Hobbit]

but like you feared: "BBC iPlayer only works in the UK" :-(

Apologies for that. Might be worth pointing out Windy's usual comment at this point - VPN can be your friend. There may be copies out there on other platforms, too. I'm never quite sure what goes to BBC America and what doesn't.

It's been a while (15 years!), but I liked Ysabel when it came out - probably because it was different. (LINK)

 

[cgw]

Jade City

Thought I would give this series a try after seeing it mentioned several times here at SFFW. It was a pretty good read and I liked the unique setting and world building on the island of Kekon. Although Jade City doesn’t draw slavishly from it, I couldn’t help but notice some parallels with The Godfather i.e. similar crime organisations centred on tribute and protection; the killing of the head of the family business; the clan’s refusal to get involved in the drug trade leading to conflict with a rival clan; and Shae’s decision to stay out of the family business, then drawn back in by a sense of loyalty (like Michael Corleone) when the family comes under threat. That is not to say that Jade City is a Godfather rip-off as its vastly different setting sets it far apart from anything else in the crime genre and, of course, the Jade City world has magic.

It did take me a few hundred pages to get into the story and warm to the characters, but this was likely due to the fact that I have just come out of a six book series set in Ancient Greece. By the end of the book, I was more involved and much more interested in what was going to happen next. However, I don’t feel the urge to launch straight into the next one; at least, not yet, but I will probably read it sooner or later.

I think I had the same reaction. It was good. I liked it but I was not in a hurry to go to book two. I recently gave it (book 2) a shot and could not get into it. I'll probably try again some time.

BTW the first bit in book 2 is totally The Godfather-est.

 

[cgw]

Reading the latest by Ben Aaronovitch.

 

[Sfinx]

Currently reading part 2 of KJ Parker's 'Siege' series: How to Rule an Empire and Get Away With It. Have to say, it's the weakest Parker I have read so far. Basic premise is the same as introduced in part 1 of the series, Sixteen Ways to Defend a Walled City. It's very much the same. Same city, same siege, almost the same lead character - now an actor unwillingly thrust in a position of authority instead of an engineer. As Dead Pool would say: that's just lazy writing. It's still fairly entertaining, but it's becoming more Holt than Parker - and I much prefer the latter over the former. I do hope the trend doesn't continue into part 3..

 

[Raf]

Still slogging on through Kim Stanley Robinson's "Years of Rice and Salt". Not really loving the book, but will finish it. At times, the writing is brilliant, evocative and downright breathtaking. But there is a lot that KSR style filler in between the moments of brilliance.

Once I start skimming through entire chapters to find something interesting, its time to find something else to read. I really don't need to have the day to day routine of every single character described down to point of washing their feet over and over. Sometimes it seems that KSR get lost in the minutia of the moment(s) and loses the story.

The reincarnation theme started out interesting, but as time passes you begin to lose the thread of whom is whom. It might have been better written as alternative world historical novel following following the descendants of living families (aka Michener or Clavell). But it is a DNF for me.

 

[pogopossum]

Had a much better experience with Rice and Salt ? years ago.
I remember it as a saga that first hooked me on Robinson. He is long winded but his lengthy expositions were, for me, not disconnected but grabby. And his incorporation of feminism into a developing Islamic culture was a creative segue.

 

[Hobbit]

Was a DNF here as well. Keep meaning to try it again....

 

[Raf]

Had a much better experience with Rice and Salt ? years ago.
I remember it as a saga that first hooked me on Robinson. He is long winded but his lengthy expositions were, for me, not disconnected but grabby. And his incorporation of feminism into a developing Islamic culture was a creative segue.

I quite enjoyed KSR's Red, Green & Blue Mars. But this one just didn't work for me.