Great Weird Gritty Fantasy Book
594067
This is a great read. It's weird and gritty fantasy done very well and I'm eager to start the sequel. Keeps you engaged throughout. Great writing. The characters are intriguing, the setting mysterious yet down-to-earth and the plot keeps you moving. Very enjoyable.
4896788
This novel sucked me in from the outset.  Since the early 80's I've been reading traditional fantasy.  Elves.  Dwarves.  More  elves.  Clear-cut quests where the dragon is slain, the fortune is recovered, and the merry band marches away.

What a shock this novel (hell, all of his books) was.  I'm not going to spoil anything for you.  Just be warned, this is gritty, visceral fantasy.  Magic is ugly, grisly stuff that has a tendency to leave you, um, stuck to your surroundings and oozing down the walls.  Combat is a terrifying, grave task akin to butchery.  The good guys and the bad guys are often one in the same.

Let me just say this; Logen Ninefingers would wipe the floor with Conan the Barbarian, and use his corpse as a weapon.
3340922
A great fantasy series; weird and fun and will keep the reader turning the pages.
1027654
Reading this at first felt like I was reading a strange Marvel & DC Comics cross-over in an old Thieves World collection.  Familiar concepts and archetypes thrown into a strange melange that started out feeling derivative and rapidly grew to something uniquely compelling on its own merits.

If you like magic, crime stories, superheroes, political intrigue and the weird or strange - this is a book to consider reading.
611045
Generally, Im not a huge fan of Western novels and Demon Haunted is every inch a Weird Western, but I enjoyed it quite a bit. You have a demon hunting Orc, this huge scary looking guy, that basically has a marshmallow underbelly. He travels the Wastelands looking for jobs to do, clearing small frontier towns of demons and other nasty entities, encountering other interesting characters along the way. The world of the Grimluk series is similar to a typical Western setting except its populated not only by humans but also by all sorts of Fantasy creatures  Orcs, Elves, Dwarves, Demons, Spirits, etc. Its quite a fun mashup.

I liked the first book, but man, this one felt like such a huge improvement. There was more action, more depth to the characters, better pacing, and more world-building. Really, just more and better everything without losing any of core of whats at the heart of a Western  a simple story about a gunslinger and his battles with evil doers.

Lets start with the characters. Were following Grimluk as he travels across the desert, now with a little girl (he had promised to look out for her after her parents death) in tow. Having Gwen along, a precocious seven year old, we get to see a whole other side to Grimluk  much more of that marshmallow underbelly but also his sense of loyalty and protectiveness, but also his self-doubts about being able to care for such a small child without messing up somehow.

Not to mention Gwen herself is such a fun character. Shes smart as a whip, but also still very much a child. She misses her parents and spends a lot of the book coming to terms with that while also bonding with her new family (Grimluk refers to her his little sister) and dealing with her growing power over spirits. Honestly, Gwen kind of stole the show for me. Id happily read The Further Adventures of Gwen:  Spirit Tamer. (Thats not a thing. But maybe it should be. Hint, hint.)

One of the things I liked most about this is that we get to see where Grimluk comes from and meet his family. Grimluks parents are awesome and its clear where hes got his sense of justice and honor from. Its refreshing to have a positive family atmosphere for sure and I loved their interactions with one another. Also, with the addition of Gwen and some other family friends its a bit of a family/found family combo, which I really loved.

We get to learn a little bit more about the Wastelands and the greater world in this sequel as well. The world-building is really taking shape, but I like the way it stays mostly in the background because we only really need to know whats relevant to the story at hand, too much would be an information overload. I feel like theres a lot more magic in this one as well. We have people getting healed magically, items being enchanted, curses, spiritstheres plenty of fantasy for any fan of the genre.

Overall, I really enjoyed Demon Haunted and Ill definitely be reading the next one once it comes out. Id recommend this to anyone who likes Westerns or Weird Westerns or fast-paced adventure fantasy. 4/5 stars.
2551985
This book is an intense read, and distinctly off-kilter from the standard fare I run into. I stumbled across it after reading one of his young adult super hero books. In this case the main character is extremely distinct and stands out well amidst an absolutely insane mish-mash of childrens fantasy stories given life. Quite Contrary runs a close second to Sweet Dreams Are Made of Teeth, another book by the same author.

A few housekeeping comments; This book follows a female main character. In the start she has a near brush with being raped  its a little fuzzy because the first few pages go by fast. She runs away into a hiding place and finds a rat-in-boots. Not to be confused with puss-in-boots  then things go from weird and edge of sanity to downright crazy.

The main theme of the story is her running away from a big bad wolf, and in some ways the story feels almost like an allegory for the events in the opening scene of her book. There is an awkward coming of age sexual tension, disgust, self-hatred, and a lot of other emotions that are brought up. Part of me often is left wondering if the story is a mad imagining in the mind of our main character.

We see the Big Bad Wolf because the main character dons the Red Riding Hood, which comes with the curse of turning all girls who dare so into targets for the wolf. Naturally the ending is death in this twisted fantasy land shes slipped into. So she runs from one story to the next, dealing with their fictional worlds, escape evil witches and sinking platforms to find a safe location. All the while at her back is the Big Bad Wolf, who keeps demolishing other peoples fairy tales.

The writing isn't perfect, there are spots where it feels like were dealing with an angsty teen  and those items take a story Ive read multiple times from the five down to a four. The characters are less like personalities and closer to a thin set of drives that don't gel into life (and this may be the point given the plot premise). In a lot of ways we have a main character with their past, and her only real focus is surviving and running away from it; the depth beyond that point is lacking.

Still, the book is still a very interesting read simply for the premise alone. After all, if the amount a story is told gives power, then Little Red Riding Hood is one of the more popular, and stronger tales around. In this case we get a lot of familiar elements but in a very new light. In this manner it feels almost like Neil Gaimans American Gods  if only because were dealing with things that are rooted in peoples thoughts and take a certain amount of strength from humanities subconscious.
766017
This was one of the better fantasy books I have read of late.  Unlike a lot of other authors Mr. Sanderson doesn't introduce so many characters that you have trouble remembering where they fit into the story and the central character's story takes up much of the book - in my opinion as it should be.  Also the way the book is written it challenges you in some parts to think about what the real intent of the line, phrase or saying, and I think there are several ways the reader can "interpret" the meaning.

I look forward to the next book which will be out in a matter of days.
1060231
Devon Monk, the author of _Dead Iron_, is also the author of the Allie Beckstrom urban fantasy series, but you'd never know it if her name wasn't on the cover. Monk pulls off the impressive feat of creating a wholly distinct voice for her new Age of Steam series.

Here, Monk paints a vivid picture of a gritty, grimy Old West. Like the Beckstrom books, this is set in Oregon, but it's a very different Oregon. The writing invokes all of the senses, so you can almost smell the metal and oil and blood -- and you may find yourself slipping into Old West speech patterns after reading.

Steampunk comes in a wide range of moods, from whimsy to horror. Dead Iron is closer to the horror end of the spectrum. Some scenes are skin-crawlingly disturbing, and you'll have no trouble hating the cruel, smooth-talking villain.

Other than the fantastically dark mood, the greatest strength of Dead Iron is its characters. This is a largely character-driven novel, with Monk taking us deeply into the minds and lives of the kinds of people who might thrive -- or suffer -- in a West where magic exists alongside steam technology. Cedar Hunt is a werewolf, haunted by the death of his brother. Mae Lindson is a witch whose magic always twists itself into something dark, even when she means well. Rose Small is a shopkeeper's adopted daughter with a mechanical bent; she dreams of becoming a deviser and making fantastic objects. All three face prejudice in the isolated town of Hallelujah: Cedar because he's a loner, Mae because she married a black man (and later because of her powers), and Rose because she doesn't behave as a young lady is supposed to. These three are arrayed against the sinister Shard LeFel and his ghastly assistant, Shunt. Also in the mix are the enigmatic and highly entertaining Madder brothers, whose intentions are at first not clear to the reader, and who still have mysteries yet to explore in future books.

The plot is pretty straightforward; LeFel races against time to perform a terrible ritual, while the white hats (after hesitantly becoming friends with one another) race against time to stop him. For the characters, the plot moves quickly and takes place over just a few short days; for the reader, it can be a little slow since Monk pauses frequently for character study. The character study is so good, though, that it's hard to object.

The Age of Steam series presents a dark, fascinating world and a cast of unforgettable characters whose next adventure I can't wait to read. If you're a reader who loves character-driven stories and are interested in the creepier side of steampunk, definitely give _Dead Iron_ a try.
2971747
It's an interesting book that I picked up a copy of on a whim. I haven't read much non-YA fantasy, so this was both shocking in some ways and delightfully complex in others. I feel that the characters are written in a way that defies easy categorization into 'good and evil' and also looks at sex and love and how they can harm people. I may have to look into more non-YA fantasy.
194355
Whether or not you should read this book is going to depend on how much you appreciate creative worldbuilding. When most people think of fantasy, they think of dragons, princesses, knights, goblins, elves, and such, in a land populated entirely by straight white medieval-ish English-ish people. This book isn't like that. Its setting is unique, and the book does not rely on traditional fantasy tropes. The pleasure (and narrative focus) of this novel is in unraveling the mysteries of its world.

Those looking for tales of a heroic quest or a lighthearted adventure full of action and romance should look elsewhere. The Fifth Season is a well-written exploration of a bleak and depressing world full of devastating oppression, violence, suffering, and exploitation, but plot-wise, not a lot happens.

I liked this book, but I didn't love it. I prefer a little more action, a bit more fun.
1664770
This was a fun book to read.  It's sharp witted and fast paced.  It has the right balance between action and drama with plenty of mystery to keep you guessing about what's going to happen next.  I'd recommend it for those interested in dark fantasy with a pseudo goth-punk persuasion.
552293
Seeds of Hatred breeds an interesting world. Without going into spoilers, it tells the tale of Marac, a former assassin who is hired after an early retirement by the Brotherhood, and his former life kicks up a fuss again.
This is a great book. From the get-go you know exactly what type of story this is going to grow into, but you never quite expect what comes round the bend.
Im not a fan of intense fantasy, especially of the dark kind, so saying that is a lot from me.
However, if were being picky, from a personal perspective I am not a fan of books with mystical sounding names and places either, and this is full of them. It feels very inspired by Game of Thrones-styled fantasy novels, which is fine if you love that sort of stuff. Still, the narration felt almost stuffy, overdone at times in its attempts to sound professional. Not much warmth to it at all. Clinical at its worst. But most fantasy novels are. There always has to be a human detail to the narration no matter how otherworldly the plot may be.
Despite that the plot was fantastic and quite original (despite some Book Thief thoughts I had before reading it).
Theres a great sense of detail, though, to everything in this book. It is pure fantasy, and great fantasy at that. Highly recommended.
4727708
There is a a lot of creativity that went into the writing of this book.  The premise is somewhat familiar with a great evil that needs to be conquered by a rag tag group, but new twists are introduced that I believe most fantasy fans will appreciate.  Characters have depth and are easy to connect to. The action scenes are fast paced and described in a way that really sucked me into what was happening.  I'm not much of a reader but had you seen me with this book, you would think otherwise.  On the couch, in the bed, at my table, I was always reading this thing.
346082
Originally posted at Vampire Book Club

Rebekah Turner has created an interesting world in Chaos Born. In a setting similar to the Victorian-era, the Weald is a place where religion and magic compete for supremacy. A place where regulators, consisting of solider humans and nephilim, working for Grigori priests, mete out punishments to those who use darkcraft (dark magic). Applecross specifically is a gritty, gray, dirty place where humans feel themselves above anyone of a supernatural race. On the other end of the spectrum is the Outlands, or what is considered the modern day world. The people of the Weald can easily pass through a tollbooth to get to the Outlands although most prefer to stay where the magic is strongest.

Lora Blackgoat is a runner in The Weald (what many consider a mercenary in the Outlands). A recent job gone bad has tarnished her already questionable reputation and made her somewhat of a laughingstock. When an estranged childhood friend comes to her for help, Lora sees it as an opportunity to turn things around. When Lora starts to look for the Butcher of Applecross, getting to the end may lead her somewhere she didn't want to go.

I liked Loras character. She was one of those perfectly flawed characters. She has her vices and she makes mistakes, she seems to have trouble following her everywhere, but at the center she always strives to do what is right. Regardless of how bitchy she may come across, there are those she truly cares about and she will fight for them with all her strength.

As far as flaw go, the same can be said for the majority of the secondary characters in Chaos Born. We know Loras character, as the story is written from her point of view, but the trend in Applecross seems to be looking out for yourself first and foremost. Its difficult to know everyone elses true motivations. This is something that Lora has to deal with more and more as the story progresses.

Rebekah Turner sets Lora up with two love interests. Seth, a Captain of the City Walk, has been Loras on-again off-again for almost half her life. She just cant seem to resist him but she also doesnt completely trust him either. The scenes between Lora and Seth were filled with a lot of chemistry. They have a kind of tug-of-war going on between them and Turner does a wonderful job conveying their frustrations with one another.

On the other hand, when Lora first meets Roman it is one of those scenes where they don't really interact, but you can tell the significance of their meeting and you try to read faster to get to the next time they share a scene together. Their attraction to one another is subtler than that between Lora and Seth. Roman is a Regulator and a nephilim. Nephilim Regulators have a tendency to literally go crazy over time and many people give them a wide berth.

While the initial mystery of the story is solved by the end, the investigation leads to many secrets being revealed that will have to be dealt with in future books. Chaos Born was one of those books that, when finished, I was really happy I found it and read it. I look forward to reading book 2 Chaos Bound, which releases early December!
4949233
This book was a great surprise for me when i read it. Initially I thought I was not going to like it. There were certain aspects of the opening bit that annoyed me and almost made me stop reading. The character of Remger was one I disliked quite a bit, his personality seemed very forced and his interactions with Evan were annoying at best and did not mesh well with the rest of the story.
Luckily the ends quickly and from there the books opens up into a fantasy world that i have never seen before. The book brought a new and refreshing view to the fantasy, not so much in plot but quite a bit in scenes and characters.
This was a very enjoyable read and if you can get past the lackluster start you can open up to new mesmerizing world.
401714
*I received a copy of this book free in exchange for my honest review.

3.5/5

Fantasy has got to be one of my favourite genres ever. I love the different worlds and fantastical elements to the story and the character development in fantasies, especially epics, is really quite amazing. Arrow of the Mist was a really good fantasy novel and it's combination of herb-lore and magic is not something I've often read!

I found the herb-lore to be really interesting and I thought all the different cryptic rhymes in the Grimoire were very cool. I loved the mystery and intrigue surrounding Brume and it's creatures.

I prefer my fantasy novels to have darker tones and though I realise this book is intended for a younger YA audience, I couldn't help myself imagining how intense this book could be with some really evil, dark sinister force playing a major parts throughout this book. Being a MG/YA book, I didn't expect darkness, but being a personal favourite of mine in fantasy, I couldn't help but wish for it anyway.

I couldn't quite lose myself in the book. I thought Lia's character was great and I really loved her development, but I wasn't as connected to the story as I would've liked to have been. I don't think it was through any fault of the books, it just wasn't quite my style.

I enjoyed this book and think it will be loved by younger fantasy readers. The idea for the story was fantastic and I really liked the world of Nemetona. I would've liked to see a bit more development in the other characters throughout the story, but I was really happy with Lia and loved watching her come into herself. Arrow of the Mist was a very enjoyable read.
2687284
I applaud how this book introduces an entirely new mythos for fantasy. It creates a world that is freaky, weird and wonderful.
The character of cat skinner, is inspired, and my new favorite character.
This is not only well-written, and compelling, but it left me hungering for more. I look forward to reading more things by this author.