Readers, I am having more difficulty than I realized focusing on reading, much less reviewing right now.  As a result, I am postponing Book Uno indefinitely, but will do my best to continue with the book club.  Reviews will still be very slow.  I apologize, but hope for your patience and understanding in this.

Pitnochie is a busy, strange place, especially for young Bridei. Sent there by his parents at a very young age, Bridei is looked after by his foster father, Broichan—a humorless druid who leaves the care of his home and the boy (aside from his education) mostly in the hands of others; the housekeeper, cook, and a myriad of household assistants who warm to the boy with ease.

He is never quite sure what he’s meant to do with the education received at the small house and Broichan refuses to tell him more about his parents as Bridei grows older and his memories of them fade. But learn he does, about the different kinds of magic and of the Fae world the druid believes to be dangerous. It goes without saying, that any of the Fae kind are just as dangerous. When Bridei discovers a small bundle on the front step in the middle of a harsh winter, he doesn’t think such a small baby could do any harm at Pitnochie, Fae or not.

With lovely chapter heading illustrations, a wonderful little map, and the promise of an epic tale of Arthurian proportions, The Dark Mirror seemed like it would be a fresh new Fantasy story. In fact, the first few chapters reminded me so much of T. H. White’s The Sword in the Stone (which I absolutely love) that, despite the obvious setting up of Bridei’s mystical and powerful future and the tired obeisances to ethereal beings, such as the moon or different kinds of trees, I continued to read.

But the beginning turned into more than just 50 pages. The meandering prose gradually became saturated with something darker than White’s charming tale, which could only be a good thing as I found myself not wanting to compare the two. Anything to distinguish The Dark Mirror as its own solid work was encouraging and I was curious to see this tale gain solid footing in its own mysticism and grandeur. Unfortunately, I never quite found the balance I needed between the large focus on ritual, Bridei’s future, and the roles of the other characters to develop any kind of connection to the story, or an interest in where and how everyone else would be involved. I found myself setting the book aside without feeling any interest to continue several times. Eventually, I made the tough decision to stop reading. I did not finish The Dark Mirror.

From previous experience, I knew Marillier could lean toward the clichéd “show don’t tell,” but I did expect something different between Wildwood Dancing—a novel written for a younger audience—and The Dark Mirror—an adult Fantasy. As it was, I kept hoping I would be taken on Bridei’s curious didactic adventures in much the same way White did for a young Arthur. In that way, we learn to care for him and see how he develops the skills needed for ruling Camelot. We yearn for him to do well as he makes mistakes or struggles to grasp larger concepts or ideals, despite knowing that he will be king and that he will master these things. However, for Bridei and his story, the distance between Bridei in the moment and the Bridei everyone but him hopes he will become (for Bridei is too young yet to understand) was too great. There is far too much emphasis on where Bridei will go and not enough on Bridei as a boy who is learning, the protagonist this reader needed to connect with.

Even Tuala, the strange, yet fascinating little Fae girl began to feel like an instrument of long-winded ritual. She pines for Bridei after he leaves Pitnochie, but the few scenes of the two together as children did little in the way of developing their relationship as something convincingly worth pining over. Yes, Tuala was lonely and becomes ostracized at home without Bridei to stand up for her, which is very interesting. Discussions of Otherness and pre-conceived judgements based on fear, especially as related to the fantastical elements of this story, are something I thought would work well. But it was at this point that I realized it was better if I set the book aside. Even this, the most interesting aspect of the book, was not quite enough to encourage me to finish.

There are some positives, though. Tuala is an interesting female character and, had I read further, I am almost positive she would have grown into her own very well, if slowly. Her story is, after all, closely tied with Bridei’s future, or so we are constantly told. The potential complication she represents is not entirely clear in the first 200 or so pages. Marillier introduces readers to her magical abilities innate to her Fae heritage, curious in comparison to anything Bridei might be learning. The difference between the methods of Tuala’s magic and Bridei’s, the difference of where each comes from, in fact, seems to be key to where the story might lead. One, a child of careful planning and hope; the other, a wild unknown with a vested interest in unknowingly drawing the other away from the destiny others would have of him. Perhaps the ending would have brought some satisfaction to this curiosity. Perhaps not.

The world-building and secondary characters were less interesting, although some readers may enjoy the dynamic of the household and their superstitions. In the end, I find myself unable to define how these disparate elements failed to come together for me. Whether it was a disconnect between Bridei’s vague destiny and the boy he is for most of the first part of the book, the momentum I did not feel in the prose, or disbelief in the depth of Bridei and Tuala’s relationship, the book simply was not for me. That is not to say other readers will feel the same way. I encourage anyone who enjoys a slow burn Fantasy to give The Dark Mirror a try. It is the first in a series of books, titled after Bridei. As such, it’s unclear if Tuala plays a more pivotal role in future installments. There is, however, the promise of plenty of Bridei.

Release Date: June 2006

Reviewed Format: Trade paperback

Discussion

Rules

1. Expect spoilers.

2. Commenting is not necessary!  Lurk if you like, but comments are very welcome.

3. Remember to act gracious and courteous toward fellow participants.  Negative tones will only get you sent to the spam folder.

Links

1. Christina Reads: review
2. Calico Reaction: review
3. If you happened to review this month’s selection, let me know and I will add it below.

Follow along with the other Women of Fantasy book club selections.  Download a.PDF or visit the announcement post outlining the basics.

Any opportunity to review a book I’ve been wanting to read is a good one. It’s even more of a special event when done for one of my blogging buddies. When TJ of Dreams and Speculation let me do the honors with Ben Aaronovitch’s new Urban Fantasy debut, Midnight Riot, I was excited, but also a bit wary. Apparently, I’ve read more UF than I first realized. As a result, I have become a bit jaded with certain staple tropes over the years. To be frank, I’ve become a little harder to impress and the only person that really loses out in those circumstances is me. It means my imagination has to work harder to believe in the fantastical aspects of books that would otherwise be so much fun. Luckily, Aaronovitch did something clever with his book. He made it humorous. I am all about laughing and feeling good; Midnight Riot made me laugh out loud.

As is the way with things, change is the only constant. I’m sad to announce that Dreams & Speculation is no longer an active blog. While I will miss TJ’s insightful reviews and posts, D&S had a great run. I wish TJ the best. However, the time has finally come for me to post this review here and the book was quite entertaining.

Set in modern day London, the narrative follows protagonist Peter Grant, a Probationary Constable who has dreams of being a detective. His supervisor has other plans and the news is rough: Peter just doesn’t have the focus to be a proper detective. He is too easily distracted, a fault that accidentally works in his favor when a bizarre murder occurs and Peter discovers he can talk to ghosts. Now he’s under the guidance of Detective Chief Inspector Thomas Nightingale. Nightingale works for an obscure division of the London Metropolitan Police—one that few know about and some try to forget about. Peter’s world is turned supernatural as his training demands hours of studying Latin and magic, visiting local deities, trying to solve a string of mysterious and magical murders that threaten the city, and continually defending how he isn’t Harry Potter to his co-worker.

The first chapter alone had me literally laughing out loud—something that by natural inclination usually seems to be reserved for watching television, films, or socializing. Brilliantly tongue-in-cheek, Peter often times speaks directly to the reader. This conveys a sense of inclusion, that readers are all in on the joke, even if we aren’t knowledgeable about inside jokes referencing specialized information or experiences (e.g. the minutiae of the London Police). In those instances, Aaronovitch does a good job of helping us along; I never once felt confused or out of place. The opening scene, which seems to contain all of these things, sets the tone for the rest of the novel. It’s dark, strange, and disturbing, but equally humorous as Peter reacts to the extraordinary world unfolding before him.

At times, Peter and Nightingale are so vivid, I could easily visualize the latter’s long-suffering sigh in the following scene with Leslie, a fellow member of the London police:

”So magic is real[…]Which makes you a…what?”
“A wizard.”
“Like Harry Potter?”
Nightingale sighed. “No,” he said. “Not like Harry Potter.”
p. 34

With the occasional Harry Potter and Star Wars jokes thrown in, and a quirky cast of secondary characters (Molly was the most intriguing), Midnight Riot (originally published as Rivers of London in the UK) is a light, fast-paced mix of mystery, myth, and fantasy. Fortunately, I don’t think we’re meant to find Peter the most loving of characters. The few (in the literal sense: 3 or 4 instances) disparaging remarks about women are either straight from him or from an entirely unlikable Detective Sergeant as to put each into perspective and not reflect poorly on the novel as a whole. For example, Peter’s sexualization of Leslie, a woman who he admits he has feelings for even if they aren’t necessarily of the romantic sort all of the time, is limited to him and under the circumstances within the scope of his character.

As for the title change, I’m always skeptical when publishers decide to do this. Foreign titles are subject to poetic license; one phrase or word in one language won’t convey the same meaning when translated literally. Rivers of London, the UK title for Midnight Riot not only has more narrative significance, but contains nothing inherently alien that the novel doesn’t already explain for non-London or England based readers. Mother Thames, Father Thames and all of their children are integral to the plot and conceptually understandable, even if one is not looking directly at a map. I’m probably biased, but I am slightly bothered by this (the cover was also changed; I will let you guess which I prefer). I also realize I may be in the minority. The average reader will probably never know about the changes or if they do, may find them inconsequential.

Title and cover change aside, Midnight Riot is fun and fresh, revitalizing certain aspects of the UF mythos without falling into tried patterns of folklore many novels in the genre use over and over. I was pleasantly entertained and look forward to reading the next.

Release Date: February 1, 2011

Reviewed Format: Mass market paperback provided by Dreams & Speculation for review.

Sorry for the delay, folks.  Circumstances in real life have gotten beyond me, but I hope to be back on track for June’s selection.  In the mean time, please feel free to discuss this month’s book!

Few books have been recommended to me as iconic or staples of any one genre. These are the influential novels—the kind that reverberate beyond their own pages and unintentionally inspire a myriad movement of successive novels yearning to dive into some unconsciousness first unlocked in these pioneering books. Whatever the reason for genre or subgenre movements (and they are many: homage, coincidence, timing, inspiration, to name a few), pinpointing where it all began, or where it became indelibly embedded in the popular consciousness, some novels are undeniably distinguished among their peers.

According to the jacket copy, Emma Bull’s War for the Oaks “defined modern urban fantasy.” My experience with Urban Fantasy is mostly limited to Seanan McGuire—at least Urban Fantasy as it’s become popularly known, and not as I used to imagine it (something more along the lines of Charles de Lint or Harry Potter). Still, I really love the Toby Daye series. But to say I chose this book because of Seanan McGuire wouldn’t be entirely truthful. I’d never presume to credit her series with an influence that may or may not be true. I am, however, interested in reading more Urban Fantasy. Why not try one the earliest and, if the quote is to be believed, one of the most influential books of the genre?

Certain tropes were recognizable from across several types of books, mostly those that deal with the mysterious world of Fairy (or any number of spelling variants). Glamour; Faerie Queens; two opposing and, according to our human standards, sometimes morally ambiguous courts; strange creatures; magic; a linguistic balancing act of semantics and deadly verbal contracts—things that are now commonplace I had to reassess in terms of historical context. It was not easy to do and unfortunately, I found myself wishing I had read this book earlier. I did not feel my familiarity with these ideas assembled so closely to what I have already read was fair to how I was receiving this novel.

Nevertheless, of these elements, I did enjoy how Bull arranged the fantastical around the mundane. Meg, in particular, was always a treat and Hedge, to a lesser extent. These are characters that arrive later in the narrative, after we meet protagonist Eddi McCandry. Her band has broken up, as has her relationship and she is left to pick up the pieces and start fresh with a new purpose. When she is unexpectedly attacked on her way home one evening, Eddi becomes part of a much larger world—one involving a man who can turn into a dog, a woman who appears to be part water fountain, and a dark war between supernatural forces determined to recruit Eddi whether she wants to join or not.

The narrative is swept up in Eddi’s confusion and frustrations as she tries to navigate her personal life and the intrusion of the phouka bodyguard who moves into her apartment, a constant reminder of the otherworldly war she has become a part of. The novel is very grounded and finds a good balance between Eddi’s normal life, assembling a new band and all of the people, instruments, and creative energy that goes into such an endeavor, and that of the magical world she is not nearly as familiar with. The phouka is a great example of this. He’s a strange mixture—both threatening and protective, but always utterly alien in his movements, speech, strange cryptic answers, and soldierly vigil. He’s an enigma, but one that Eddi, over time, learns to appreciate and even rely on.

Aside from the band and the war, most of the novel revolves around the relationships Eddi develops between various characters. In fact, the war would almost seem inconsequential for as prominently as it features in the novel, if it weren’t the catalyst thrusting Eddi and her new found friends together. The anticipation of that event looms heavily in the background and creates many shared experiences. Out of these are born friendship, romance, loyalty, and art. The war is, for the most part, merely an idea until those rare moments when it is all of Eddi’s frightening reality. The first battle scene was admittedly my favorite. Spurred on by the eldritch drone of bagpipes, that first charge is elegantly alien and wonderfully written. The rest of the novel, while well balanced and considerate of the characters, is also largely focused on the musical elements of Eddi’s band. While this is important, most of the strengths and potential beauty inherent in those scenes were lost on me.

Sometimes I feel tone deaf when reading a novel. Not literally, but sometimes my lack of exposure or experience or even interest in some things limits how well I receive certain novels. This is, of course, nothing to do with an author’s ability to make me believe in a world or things I’ve never been to or seen. War for the Oaks had this effect on me. Readers familiar with many artists, song titles, or certain lyrics will better appreciate the chapter headings and the covers Eddi’s band plays. Unfortunately, I felt as if I needed to hop onto iTunes every few chapters because otherwise I, uncultured louse that I am, would completely miss the extra layer and role music plays in this book. Without music, the lyrical edge is gone and the art that becomes so integral to the plot wouldn’t be nearly as significant.

Overall, I found myself interested in Bull’s writing, but was not as engaged as I could have been with War for the Oaks. Whether the deficiency was mine and the musical elements were intended for a better reader, or whether I could not connect well to the driving relationship between Eddi and the phouka, there was something here that I had trouble relating to. But, I do think Urban Fantasy fans will find enjoyment out of this one. And I definitely will be reading more Emma Bull in the future.

Release Date: July 6, 2001

Reviewed Format: Trade paperback

Discussion

Rules

1. Expect spoilers.

2. Commenting is not necessary!  Lurk if you like, but comments are very welcome.

3. Remember to act gracious and courteous toward fellow participants.  Negative tones will only get you sent to the spam folder.

Links

1. Kristine: review
2. Tethyan Books: review
3. Christina Reads: review
4. Calico Reaction: review
5. Mervi’s Book Reviews: review
6. Veni, Vidi, Dormivi – Book Reviews: review
7. If you happened to review this month’s selection, let me know and I will add it below.

Follow along with the other Women of Fantasy book club selections.  Download a.PDF or visit the announcement post outlining the basics.

This is not a series I have read or am particularly familiar with, but decided there are surely many fans out there who would love the opportunity to win a copy of Rardin’s eighth installment.  I have one copy of The Deadliest Bite by Jennifer Rardin to give away (US entrants only).

Enter here.

Contest runs May 27, 2011 through June 1, 2011 at 11:59 pm PST. This contest is now closed.

US Entrants only.

The winner will be picked and have 48 hours to confirm mailing information.  Good luck!

Book Uno is a new feature at Jawas Read, Too!  More specifically, it’s a game.  If you know the rules of Uno the card game in which players must match either colors or the face value of cards one at a time in an attempt to get rid of their entire hand, you know the basic rules for Book Uno.  It’s a chance for participants to knock out a book they might already own since the challenge is to meet general requirements rather than detailed ones.  Just in case, let me give you a quick explanation.

THE RULES

Player 1 reads a book and picks a item (type of character, setting, genre, relationship, etc…) from that book which will be the theme (or criteria) for Player 2 to use in choosing the next book in the game. Player 2 chooses a book that matches the theme chosen by Player 1 and reviews it.  Players choose themes for each other, not specific books.

For example: I might read a book that has a male protagonist and decide I want the next player to review a book that also has a male protagonist.  As long as the book is Speculative Fiction and features a male protagonist, it’s a fair play for that move.

Last month I read and reviewed Wildwood Dancing by Juliet Marillier.  It was a good Fairy Tale re-telling, but it was also a good YA title.  YA books and I have had a rocky past, but we get along rather well now.  Considering what theme to pick for one of my favorite bloggers wasn’t difficult after reading this book.  Also, I had to give her a break after such a tricky theme the last time I invited her to play.  Calico picked a great looking book—one I’ve admittedly been eager to read myself.

Why I Read It: It’s time to play Book Uno! This was my second invitation to participate at Jawas Read, Too!‘s monthly game, and this time, my challenge was “Young Adult.” After my last challenge of “clones,” this was easy! I have a nice little stack of YA books in my TBR pile, so the real trick was finding something that would give me a great challenge to pass to the next player. No, I’m not telling you what that challenge will be (you’ll have to watch Jawas Read, Too! to find that out), but I will tell you that it was an easy choice to settle on Jaclyn Dolamore’s Magic Under Glass, a title I’d been eyeing ever since seeing the original cover (I’ll talk more about the cover changes at the end of the review). So without further adieu, here’s my second Book Uno review!

The premise: ganked from author’s website: Nimira is a music-hall girl used to dancing for pennies. So when wealthy sorcerer Hollin Parry hires her to sing accompaniment to a mysterious piano-playing automaton, Nimira believes it will be the start of a better life.


In Parry’s world, long-buried secrets are about to stir. Unsettling rumors begin to swirl about ghosts, a madwoman roaming the halls, and Parry’s involvement in a group of corrupt sorcerers for whom the rules of the living and dead are meant to be broken for greater power.


When Nimira discovers the spirit of a dashing fairy gentleman is trapped within the automaton, she is determined to break the curse. But even as the two fall into a love that seems hopeless, breaking the curse becomes a perilous race against time. Because it’s not just the future of these star-crossed lovers that’s at stake, but the fate of the entire magical world.

Spoilers, yay or nay?: Nay. Since this review was posted on Jawas Read, Too! first, I didn’t want to be unfair to Erika’s readers by revealing spoilers. Which means, of course, that I won’t reveal spoilers here either!

Discussion: I want to start off saying this is a lovely little book. By time I finished, I felt like I could safely say it felt like a mix of Pretty Woman meets Jane Eyre and some fairy tale that currently escapes me (seriously, I thought of the perfect fairy tale this story alluded to, and now for the life of me, I can’t remember it. But I’m pretty sure it wasn’t Pinocchio). Dolamore’s debut has a nice, elegant feel to it, and allusions not withstanding, it’s got a lot of great things to recommend.

For starters, Dolamore excels at girl power. Not only is our heroine a strong, capable girl, but she befriends other capable, fabulous girls as well. Each girl in this story is unique and each have their own strengths, and it’s only by working together that the plot can succeed, which I think is fabulous. Part of the reason it’s fabulous, too, is that when you’re reading, you really don’t realize the strength and importance of girl power until the story is almost over, because towards the middle, you start to realize this story is actually an odd little love triangle (or rectangle, if you consider some of the revelations): Nim is attracted to both her employer, the widowed Mr. Parry, and the automation, the trapped Fairy Prince Erris. Yet don’t let this love story/triangle diminish Nim’s character. Ana from The Book Smugglers describes Nim as a heroine best:

…there is one thing that truly stands out, one character that is marvellous and so fleshed out, that I fell in love and would like to name one of my favourite YA female characters this year. After reading so many wish-washy protagonists who almost disappear when coupled with the male characters [...], Nim was a breath of fresh air. For starters, she is dark-skinned and from a different culture; she is strong without being kick-ass: she cries when she has to cry, she fights when she has to fight, she adapts when she has to adapt. She is resilient, she is practical–she would consider marrying Mr Parry for the prospect of a stable life–and she is proud! Proud of her heritage and past, with a bit of vanity on the side since she knows she is passionate and graceful when dancing and singing. She is also very loyal and determined to help Erris even if that takes her to paths never before travelled.

So yeah, Nim is a great character. And she’s got other, female, great characters to play off of as well.

However, despite clean, smooth prose and strong characters, Magic Under Glass is not without flaws. It skews towards the younger side of the YA spectrum, and I say that only because not only is the plot relatively simple and reads incredibly fast (this is not a flaw, I should note), but also because characters have simple motivations, simple solutions to what should be slightly more complex problems, and sometimes, the dialogue is generic, especially when assigned to nameless, stock characters (like, say, a councilman). This, in my eyes, makes for a weaker book, because it pulls me out of the book’s spell just long enough to wish those snatches of dialogue were NOT generic, that the author had taken a little more time to make things a bit more complex. The closest thing we get to complexity is Mr. Parry, and even then, he’s painted with such a simple brush that I have a hard time reconciling his actions with his character and motivations. I understand him by the end, but not with any real emotional connection.

The book also ends on a bit of a question mark. No, NOT a cliff-hanger. A question-mark. While it’s easily a self-contained novel, it can also easily be read as the first book in a series of two, three, however many books. It really feels like there needs to be at least one more book before I feel the happy glow of complete resolution, but that doesn’t mean the ending we have is bad. It just means there’s obviously more to explore in this world, but I have no idea whether or not the author intends to do so. I’m also a little put off by the title, which is lovely, but really doesn’t have any bearing on the events of the book itself. Unless we’re looking at magic as a contained thing, like Erris’ soul is contained in the automation? That’s a stretch for me, but hey, maybe it works. . . .

My Rating: 6 – Worth Reading, with Reservations

It’s a lovely, elegant little read with a such a swift pace you may be surprised when you find you’ve reached the end. Nim is a heroine who’s certainly worth following, a girl who’s complex and not made of your usual stuff when it comes to strong, kick ass heroines. The blink-and-you’ll-miss-it focus on girl power is a joy, and the love story is sweet, if a wee bit rushed. The only thing to be aware of is that I feel this book is on the younger side of the YA scale, because sometimes, little things feel a little too simple, a little too generic. But it’s a nice debut with an engaging premise, and worth reading for anyone who’s curious.

Cover Commentary: Okay, so I’ve already shown you the original cover (click here), and my reaction to it was pure love. The lighting, the corseted dress, everything was just gorgeous. So you can imagine my dismay when reports of Race!Fail started swirling about, stating the heroine in the book is not a white girl and therefore the cover had been whitewashed (because apparently publishers are afraid that white readers won’t read books with people of color on them, or something). The correction cover (which was released after the original cover had been on the shelves) was a definite fix, but I’ll be honest: just looking at it from an artistic perspective, the corrected cover didn’t do much for me. The original caught my eye, the correction didn’t.

BUT!!! When I started reading, I couldn’t help but picture the heroine from the corrected cover (for the record, BookCloseouts sent me the original cover, which surprised me), and talk about a perfect fit! Also, it’s stated VERY CLEARLY in the next that our heroine has brown skin, so it’s a bit of a shock the publishers initially ignored that. At any rate, now that I’ve read the book, I think the corrected cover is superior. Not more artistically pleasing (I still adore the lighting and warm tones in the original cover), but because it’s a far better representation of the heroine and the story itself. In the corrected cover, the heroine holds a key, which plays a MAJOR role in the story. In the original cover, she’s removing a lid off of a glowing jar, which plays into the title better, but only represents a tiny part of the book.

So KUDOS to the corrected cover, featured here on top of this review.

For those of you who want to learn more about what whitewashing book covers means and why it’s so infuriating, check out the Book Smugglers’ excellent post here. Trust me, it’s well worth the read.

Release Date: December 22, 2009

Reviewed Format: Hardcover

If you want to see what theme Calico Reaction picks for the next player in the game and who they will be, stay tuned for the June edition of Book Uno!

Book Uno is a new, regular feature on JRT. It’s a collaborative effort between Erika and other book bloggers to promote all types of Speculative Fiction books. Until she works out the kinks, game play is by invitation only.