Gods Bless (and Curse) America!

“Look, I didn’t want to be a half-blood.

If you’re reading this because you think you might be one, my advice is: close this book right now.  Believe whatever lie your mom or dad told you about your birth, and try to lead a normal life. 

Being a half-blood is dangerous.  It’s scary.  Most of the time, it gets you killed in painful, nasty ways.”

Unless you live inside a cave or something, I don’t think anyone here does NOT know Rick Riordan’s beloved Percy Jackson, a series of adventures by the titular character himself that takes place in the modern world where Greek gods, heroes and monsters exist. The final months of the last year had left me book-less, in which during this phase I absolutely lose my reading appetite. It is during this time when I choose books at random, mostly ones I have no intention of reading ever, and as the Fates had decided, the wheel pointed to Rick Riordan, whose books are displayed in every bookstore that you couldn’t possibly miss it on a reading slump phase. As it seems, Percy Jackson has always been a fly hovering at the corner of my sight. It is constantly everywhere, from bookstores to Facebook posts, and never did I had the desire to follow-up its hype or simply put, read the books. Until now.

Now, what is it in this book that appealed to so many? If you have not read it, why should you read it? What should you expect from it? Why is that person hushing me when I mention the name Zeus in public? Why do girls and boys like Nico so much? Why did Luke deserve better (no really, he deserves better)? All these, I won’t answer, unfortunately, but there are more than enough reasons to start reading the series. 

In Which I Give You Reasons Why To Read Anansi Boys

SYNOPSIS

Fat Charlie Nancy’s normal life ended the moment his father dropped dead on a Florida karaoke stage. Charlie didn’t know his dad was a god. And he never knew he had a brother.

Now brother Spider’s on his doorstep — about to make Fat Charlie’s life more interesting… and a lot more dangerous. (Goodreads)

---

It is hilarious. Pretty much the main reason why you should check out the novel. It’ll have you chuckling, giggling, chortling and everything as the story goes on. Neil Gaiman nails the humour on this one and it was a nice, pleasant change from his darker novels. If you want a warm, funny read, then this is the book to savor. I read this one during my trips to work and found how difficult it is to pretend to cough for long, several minutes just to hide the guffaws stuck at my throat.

“There are three things, and three things only, that can lift the pain of mortality and ease the ravages of life,” said Spider. “These things are wine, women and song”…

“Curry’s nice too” pointed out Fat Charlie.

It came from the woods. Most strange things do.

SYNOPSIS

Five mysterious, spine-tingling stories follow journeys into (and out of?) the eerie abyss.

These chilling tales spring from the macabre imagination of acclaimed and award-winning comic creator Emily Carroll.

Come take a walk in the woods and see what awaits you there… (Goodreads)

---

Oh, but you must travel through those woods again and again… said a shadow at the window… and you must be lucky to avoid the wolf every time…

But the wolf… the wolf only needs enough luck to find you once.”

Through the Woods is a series of short stories written and illustrated by Emily Carroll. The graphic novel touches horror shorts that brings to mind Grimm’s fairytales for their simple yet fun, twisted stories. With illustrations, each page is always a delight to turn.

The Fun and Happy Adventures of Geralt

SYNOPSIS

Geralt of Rivia is a witcher. A cunning sorcerer. A merciless assassin.

And a cold-blooded killer.

His sole purpose: to destroy the monsters that plague the world.

But not everything monstrous-looking is evil and not everything fair is good. . . and in every fairy tale there is a grain of truth.

The international hit that inspired the video game: The Witcher. (Goodreads)

---

The Last Wish is the first book of The Witcher series, more popularly known as a video game with the same title and praised by critiques due to its immersive world, rich characters, dark story, and impressive pornography. The novel is written by Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski and was first released as a series of short stories in the 90s. It was not until 2007 when the novel was translated into English and recently, this February, Orbit Books revealed the cover of the fourth novel, The Tower of Swallows. A good time to be fan and for me, who couldn’t finish a single video game without screaming, it is an opportunity to explore the franchise without raging in front of a screen.

We’re All Gonna Die

Synopsis

Through the story of an ordinary man unwittingly drawn into a senseless murder on an Algerian beach, Camus explored what he termed “the nakedness of man faced with the absurd.” First published in English in 1946; now in a new translation by Matthew Ward. (Goodreads)

---

Review contains spoilers. Like, huge ones.

Camus dedicated a partial of his life to absurdism, which says that life isn’t worth of any sort of dedication. The other partial, he dedicated to living the hell out of life. He loved sport, alcohol,  women, and wrote essays and books contemplating suicide, but philosophically (there’s a difference). The Stranger is the first book of his to be published and it rather makes you question the author’s state of mind. It details the life of a man before and after he shot a person. Remember those times when you’re in the shower and you suddenly reflect that life is trivial and everything in this world is meaningless? Well, Albert Camus wrote a whole book about it, and he didn’t have to get into the shower to come up with it.

Detective Palace Cares..?

The Last Policeman by Ben H. Winters

What’s the point in solving murders if we’re all going to die soon, anyway?

Detective Hank Palace has faced this question ever since asteroid 2011GV1 hovered into view. There’s no chance left. No hope. Just six precious months until impact.

The Last Policeman presents a fascinating portrait of a pre-apocalyptic United States. The economy spirals downward while crops rot in the fields. Churches and synagogues are packed. People all over the world are walking off the job—but not Hank Palace. He’s investigating a death by hanging in a city that sees a dozen suicides every week—except this one feels suspicious, and Palace is the only cop who cares.

The first in a trilogy, The Last Policeman offers a mystery set on the brink of an apocalypse. As Palace’s investigation plays out under the shadow of 2011GV1, we’re confronted by hard questions way beyond “whodunit.” What basis does civilization rest upon? What is life worth? What would any of us do, what would we really do, if our days were numbered? (Goodreads)

The Last Policeman was one of the novels I had a hard time reading. It’s not because the book was bad. I picked it up because it has an interesting premise— pre-apocalyptic America and a murder dressed as a suicide– and it was a fairly easy book to finish. The problem was, I couldn’t read it without feeling so down and near to tears.

The Worst Mall in England

What was Lost by Catherine O’ Flynn

The 1980s: Ten-year-old Kate Meaney – with her ‘Top Secret’ notebook and Mickey her toy monkey – is busy being a junior detective. She observes goings-on and follows ‘suspects’ at the newly opened Green Oaks shopping centre and in her street, where she is friends with the news agent’s son, Adrian. But when this curious, independent-spirited young girl disappears, Adrian falls under suspicion and is hounded out of his home by the press.

Then, in 2004, Lisa is working as a deputy manager at Your Music, a cut-price record store. Every day, under the watchful eye of the CCTV, she tears her hair out at the behavior of her customers and colleagues. But when she meets security guard Kurt, she becomes entranced by the little girl he keeps glimpsing on the centre’s CCTV. As their after-hours friendship intensifies, they investigate how these sightings might be connected to the unsettling history of Green Oaks. (Goodreads)

Inspired by a security guard’s ghost story and her experiences as a manager in a music store, Catherin O’ Flynn creates a poignant mystery that takes place in two particular years: 1984, which tells the adventurous tale of ten-year old Kate as she investigates the newly-built mall on their area and 2003, which details Lisa and Kurt’s weary lives as they work at Green Oaks and later on, return to the mystery of the girl who had gone missing 19 years ago. The tone of the two timelines vary from one another– 1984 is an exciting adventure while 2003 has a bleak and solemn note in it. Even so, the book is not without a touch of humor. The common problems of every retail store were amusing reads and it was also fun to follow Kate’s adventures spying strangers and taking notes of any ‘suspicious’ activity plus her smart discussions with Adrian, her bestfriend, who also happens to be Lisa’s older brother.

A Wonderland full of Trigger Warnings

Alice by Christina Henry

A mind-bending new novel inspired by the twisted and wondrous works of Lewis Carroll…

In a warren of crumbling buildings and desperate people called the Old City, there stands a hospital with cinderblock walls which echo the screams of the poor souls inside.

In the hospital, there is a woman. Her hair, once blond, hangs in tangles down her back. She doesn’t remember why she’s in such a terrible place. Just a tea party long ago, and long ears, and blood…

Then, one night, a fire at the hospital gives the woman a chance to escape, tumbling out of the hole that imprisoned her, leaving her free to uncover the truth about what happened to her all those years ago.

Only something else has escaped with her. Something dark. Something powerful.

And to find the truth, she will have to track this beast to the very heart of the Old City, where the rabbit waits for his Alice. (Goodreads)

Alice is a retelling and not-quite-retelling of Alice in Wonderland. I haven’t read Lewis Carroll’s novels (though I’m working on that) but I think everyone knows the story of Alice and her trip down the rabbit hole. Christina Henry’s version of wonderland is a city rich of violence, prostitution and crime and its characters are unlike from what we have seen. The Caterpillar is a street trafficker, the Cheshire cat is a sly information broker, the Walrus is a cannibal-rapist, Hatcher (the Hatter?) is a crazy axe-murderer and Alice is a rape survivor suffering from post-trauma. It is a darker re-imagining of the original books yet still an exciting read as Alice and Hatcher travel the nooks and hidden corners of the Old City to defeat the monstrous Jabberwocky, discovering fragments of their forgotten pasts along the way.

There was comfort in ignorance, in thinking the world a certain way and not knowing any different.

Mission Impossible

Fool’s Errand by Robin Hobb (Tawny Man Trilogy #1)

For fifteen years FitzChivalry Farseer has lived in self-imposed exile, assumed to be dead by almost all who once cared about him. But now, into his isolated life, visitors begin to arrive: Fitz’s mentor from his assassin days; a hedge-witch who foresees the return of a long-lost love; and the Fool, the former White Prophet, who beckons Fitz to fulfill his destiny.

Then comes the summons he cannot ignore. Prince Dutiful, the young heir to the Farseer throne, has vanished. Fitz, possessed of magical skills both royal and profane, is the only one who can retrieve him in time for his betrothal ceremony, thus sparing the Six Duchies profound political embarrassment … or worse. But even Fitz does not suspect the web of treachery that awaits him—or how his loyalties will be tested to the breaking point. (Goodreads)

Fool’s Errand continues the story of FitzChivalry, now Tom Badgerlock who is much older and much changed since the last book but old scars continues to affect his life.

People complain about Hobb’s slow pacing and certainly, Fool’s Errand takes it time to unfold with a quiet energy that rather suits Fitz’s personality. Almost half of the novel is spent detailing Fitz’s current lifestyle and stories of his journeys. I’ve commented before the amazing imagery the author manages to translate and the quality of her work and Fool’s Errand is just as good. With Hobb’s descriptive writing and the slow pacing, this completes the reading experience of that of a medieval setting. More so, elements from the last series that were left hanging, particularly the Old Blood chapter, were merely a set-up for the next novel and there’s even more to expect from the Outislanders, the Elderlings, the White Prophet, etc that this novel is slowly building up.

My concern about the novel, which is becoming a frequent thing, is the climax. Just when so much is happening it suddenly hits below. I admit, the pacing of this one is much better compared to the last novel. Still, big obstacles are swept under the rug so easily and it’s always either Fitz is dead, asleep or too tired to see through the end himself. It’s kind of disorienting when a conflict is steadily built-up and it ends up not as threatening as you expected and the narrator narrates as if he is drunk. In retrospect, there’s no certain villain yet, just like in Assassin’s Apprentice when you’re not entirely sure who’s behind who and what. There also appears to be prevailing message about the cycle of hate and I love how it seams all the pieces together. I appreciate it when a novel has a clear message in it for this is what makes a book truly unforgettable and life-changing.

Amazing characterization to not just Fitz, the Fool, but to Chade, even Dutiful as well and Nighteyes most especially, and I see so much promise to their characters still, well, except for Nighteyes, who will be duly missed. The Fool is as fun as ever but there are noticeable changes with him too that’s somehow sad yet refreshing. His relationship with Fitz continues to grow but he remains to be an enigma. Significant changes from Nighteyes too and I found myself laughing and pondering at his musings with Fitz. *sniff*

The Verdict: 4/5 Stars

Overall, a really amazing novel with an important message and a memorable cast. Surely Fool’s Errand is just the tip of the ice just as The Farseer Trilogy actually was and Hobb has more adventures to unwrap.

Others:
I’m taking a break from the Realm of Elderlings and will soon try out a Thursday Next book, written by Jasper Fforde. If you have more fascinating reading suggestions, just message, comment or leave an ask and I’ll see if it beats out my interest for Fforde. Currently, I’m working on a review for a couple of Stephen King novels and maybe vomit massive feels for The Long Walk alongside. Just maybe.

What do you think about Fool’s Errand? Any book suggestions too?

Walking Hobbits but with more dragons and murder

The Assassin’s Quest by Robin Hobb (The Farseer Trilogy #3)

King Shrewd is dead at the hands of his son Regal. As is Fitz—or so his enemies and friends believe. But with the help of his allies and his beast magic, he emerges from the grave, deeply scarred in body and soul. The kingdom also teeters toward ruin: Regal has plundered and abandoned the capital, while the rightful heir, Prince Verity, is lost to his mad quest—perhaps to death. Only Verity’s return—or the heir his princess carries—can save the Six Duchies.

But Fitz will not wait. Driven by loss and bitter memories, he undertakes a quest: to kill Regal. The journey casts him into deep waters, as he discovers wild currents of magic within him—currents that will either drown him or make him something more than he was. (Goodreads)

The third novel concludes Fitz’s journey against the novel’s main antagonist, Regal and the Red Ships.

I absolutely loved the series. I could compare it to the epic of Game of Thrones and the narration of To Kill a Mockingbird where Fitz recounts his younger days as an assassin. The narration has a bittersweet note to it that foreshadows what becomes of Fitz. We know he lived but there were many occasions where I thought he would not, and despite the novel being one huge flashback, it still maintains the illusion that the narrator is in the present.

The character of Fitzchivalry is cold, calculative, and most times, sentimental, bitter and dumb as many characters already told him. I think there could be more from his character than a self-sacrificing man but that trait of his what makes him so complex and perhaps one of the things that keeps the novel going. The conflict of the novel becomes more personal as you read by and it is both the strength and weakness of the series. The external conflict, Regal and the Red Ships, were not as well developed as Fitz’s internal struggles that they only seemed like plot devices to throw Fitz into a dozen of difficult situations. I thought there would be more of Regal but he was quite weak as an antagonist, and the Red Ships less. The whole plot staggers because of this that I only gave it four stars.

The idea that Fitz is the center of everything mashes well to the Fool subplot, which kept me reading at times when I thought the plot was going nowhere. I adored the Fool and the series wouldn’t be more interesting without him.

One thing I loved about the novels is the imagery used in the Skill. I could almost feel the same as Fitz when he compares the Skill to nature, animals, to personal relationships to something quenching and satisfying as a drink under the summer heat. Robin Hobb excels so much in making the readers feel as they read that I was simply sucked into it. Never was there a dull moment while I was reading a description of the woods, the cities, and many more places. It was as if I was travelling with Fitz along and Robin Hobb maintains this quality from start to finish. There were times when she fills the pages with nothing but imagery instead of moving the plot and builds up a real and heartfelt atmosphere that is better than any action or suspense.

The ending felt rushed and anti-climatic. After the build-up with the Red Ships and the Elderlings, I think there could have been more struggle between the two, considering that they are strongly connected to one another and it’s dragons we’re talking about! Even so, I liked how it ended. I liked how Fitz chose not to join the battle and instead chose to end his story as simple as that. The story concluded as bittersweet as it had began and it’s one of the saddest endings I’ve ever read.

The Verdict: 4/5 Stars

Overall, the book is a beautiful, coming-of-age tale in the most unusual and magical setting, with delicate characters that you’d both love and hate. I’m going to read the Tawny Man trilogy next (because of the Fool), which I hope has a stronger plot with more intriguing villains.