Review: 'The Hollow Hills' by Mary Stewart

The Hollow Hills by Mary Stewart, 1973, Eos, $15.99, softbound, 475 pages. Cover: good, but Arthur looks a bit too much like a model. Category/genre: fantasy. Where we got it: publisher. Where you can get it: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Books-A-Million. 


This, the second installment in Stewart's Arthurian saga, takes place the morning after the events in The Crystal Cave. Merlin returns to his cave and discovers his magic is gone. But he is still needed in Arthur's life even this early on: the queen, Ygraine, wants Merlin to take the child and raise him once he is born. 

But it's decided that until the boy is weaned, he will be cared for by Moravik, Merlin's old nurse, and Ralf, Merlin's assistant. Then he will be raised in secret by Count Ector, a friend of the king. Merlin will meet Arthur when it is time. 

When it's time for Arthur to come into his own, Merlin will have to face an old enemy and see that Arthur is declared king before it's too late. 

Stewart's imagining of the Arthurian legend is one of the best you'll ever come across. Her historical accuracy and rich characters, coupled with a rather mundane take on Merlin's skills as a magician make this an unusual read. 

If you like this one, try: The Last Enchantment, by Mary Stewart. 

Review: 'The Iron King' by Julie Kagawa

The Iron King, by Julie Kagawa, 2010, Harlequin Teen, $9.99, softbound, 363 pages. Category/Genre: fantasy. Cover: cool. Where we got it: publisher. Where you can get it: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Books-A-Million. 


This book is the first in a series about a teenage girl named Meghan Chase, whose four-and-a-half year old brother, Ethan, is kidnapped by the fey and replaced with a changeling. Meghan, along with her best friend, Robbie (who is not what he seems) sets out to find her lost brother, travelling to Faeryland, also known as Nevernever. 

Along the way, Meghan travels through the treacherous Wyldwood, which is disappearing due to human disbelief. She also meets Grimalkin, a Cait Sidhe who comes to her aid in return for an unnamed favour. It is dangerous, Meghan learns, to owe the fey anything . . . 

There are two Courts of fey: the Seelie and Unseelie; the Seelie are the Summer Court and are ruled by King Oberon and Queen Titania. The Unseelie are the Winter Court and are ruled by Queen Mab. Mab's youngest son, Ash, has hunted Meghan, but the two of them are attracted to each other. 

Then Meghan discovers there's a third Court of fey, the Iron Fey, and things really start to get interesting . . . 

This promises to be a good series, and the idea of the Iron Fey is intriguing and unusual, bringing the world of Faery into the modern age. 

Note: strong language.

If you like this one, try: The Iron Daughter, by Julie Kagawa. 

Review: 'Discount Armageddon' by Seanan McGuire

Discount Armageddon, by Seanan McGuire, 2012, DAW, $7.99, softbound, 352 pages. Category/Genre: fantasy. Cover: sexy. Where we got it: publisher. Where you can get it: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Books-A-Million. 


The first in a new series by the author who gave us the October Daye novels, Discount Armageddon is a new take on the urban fantasy. 

Verity Price is part of a family of cryptozoologists -- people who study, and protect humanity from, creatures whose existence has yet to be proven by science: 'monsters' such as yeti and dragons (although dragons are said to be extinct). 

Verity has a job waitressing at Dave's Fish and Strips to pay the rent -- but she really wants to be a ballroom dancer. Officially, she's in New York to document and assist the city's cryptid community. And she's doing fine at that -- until another cryptozoologist shows up. His name is Dominic DeLuca, and he's part of The Covenant, a group who believe that all cryptids should be destroyed. Verity's family broke from The Covenant generations ago and have been in hiding from them ever since. 

Then someone starts killing cryptids -- and it isn't Dominic. Add to that the fact that there may be a dragon under the city, and you have a recipe for disaster . . . especially as Verity and Dominic start to fall for each other. 

Apart from the cool fight scenes in this book, there's a lot of information on the various cryptids Verity meets, as well as a lot of humour. Particularly where the Aeslin mice are concerned. There's a group of them living in Verity's apartment, and they thrive on rituals and shouting 'Hail!' at every opportunity.

Note: strong language and sexual situations. 

If you like this one, try: Midnight Blue-Light Special, by Seanan McGuire; and the October Daye series, starting with Rosemary and Rue, also by Seanan McGuire.  

Review: 'A Local Habitation' by Seanan McGuire

A Local Habitation, by Seanan McGuire, 2010, DAW, $7.99, softbound, 387 pages. Category/Genre: fantasy. Cover: atmospheric. Where we got it: publisher. Where you can get it: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Books-A-Million. 


The second in the October Daye series, A Local Habitation finds October 'Toby' Daye on what she considers a milk run: going to Tamed Lightning (a fae County) to find out why her liege's niece, January, isn't returning his calls. Toby takes with her Quentin, a page, so he can learn from her. 

But the pair soon find out that the 'milk run' isn't as simple -- or as harmless -- as all that. There's a murder at Tamed Lightning soon after they arrive, and it isn't the first. 

No-one's talking, however. It takes some time for Toby to even find January, and even she acts like she's hiding something. To complicate matters still further, January doesn't trust Toby to be who she says she is. Her phone calls to her uncle, she says, have never been returned. 

Still more unsettling is the fact that neither Toby nor Quentin are able to read the dead's blood; as Daoine Sidhe, they should be able to gather memories from it by tasting it, but they get nothing. And the night-haunts, who normally take away the bodies of dead fae, aren't taking these. 

This is a good mystery with fascinating characters and McGuire's fluid storytelling. The fae in this series are based on real legends, but have McGuire's stamp all over them. 

If you like this one, try: Rosemary and Rue, by Seanan McGuire; Midnight Blue-Light Special, by Seanan McGuire; and for young adults, The Iron King, by Julie Kagawa -- this one's less urban fantasy, but the fae are well drawn, and there's an interesting twist to the story.      

Review: 'The Wild Ways' by Tanya Huff

The Wild Ways, by Tanya Huff, 2011, DAW, $7.99, softbound, 424 pages. Category/Genre: fantasy. Cover: interesting, but not spectacular. Where we got it: publisher. Where you can get it: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Books-A-Million.


Charlie Gale is part of the Gale family, those who can alter reality with the charms they weave. Charlie is a rare Wild Power, the extent of whose powers are as yet unrealised. She's wild in other ways, too; she has sex with her married cousin, Allie, and travels between worlds. 

When Charlie finds out a selkie rookery is endangered, she sets out to help, with the aid of Jack, a 14-year-old Dragon Prince who's finding it hard to be a normal teenage boy. But helping the selkies isn't going to be easy; Charlie's Auntie Catherine, another Wild Power, is against them. 

The second in a series, The Wild Ways can be enjoyed without having read the first book -- but we wouldn't recommend it. Huff doesn't explain certain things, at least not to our satisfaction, and one would hope she explains them more fully in the first installment, The Enchantment Emporium. Still, this proved an entertaining read, and you might do well to pick up the first one just to have more of Huff's writing to read. 

One thing we liked about this book in particular was the use of selkies as a focal point in the plot; selkies are seldom, if ever, used in modern fiction, and Huff's take on them suits the old legends. 

Note: strong language.

If you like this one, try: The Enchantment Emporium by Tanya Huff. 

Review: 'Pies and Prejudice' by Ellery Adams

Pies and Prejudice by Ellery Adams, 2012, Berkley Prime Crime, $7.99, softbound, 291 pages. Category/Genre: mystery/fantasy. Cover: attractive. Where we got it: publisher. Where you can get it: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Books-A-Million. 


Ella Mae LeFaye Kitteridge bakes pies for a living -- but they're not ordinary pies; they have magical effects on the people who eat them. Owning a pie shop where she can sell her wares has long been a dream of Ella Mae's, but she has problems, too. 

For one thing, her childhood bully, Loralyn Gaynor, is trying to sabotage the open house where Ella Mae is supplying desserts. For another, Ella Mae's longtime crush, firefighter Hugh Dylan, used to date Loralyn -- and he may still have feelings for her. 

But none of that compares to the fact that Ella Mae's rolling pin is used as a murder weapon against Loralyn's fiance. Now Ella Mae must get to the bottom of the mystery before she's locked up. 

Filled with descriptive prose and colourful characters (most notably Chewy, Ella Mae's Jack Russell terrier, and Ella Mae's aunts and mum), this is the start of a promising new series. 

Includes pie recipes.

Note: strong language. 

If you like this one, try: Peach Pies and Alibis, by Ellery Adams; Pecan Pies and Homicides, by Ellery Adams; and Sugar and Iced, by Jenn McKinlay.  

Review: 'The Lord of the Rings, Part One: The Fellowship of the Ring,' by J.R.R. Tolkien

The Lord of the Rings, Part One: The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien, 1994 (originally published in 1954), Del Rey Books, $7.99, softbound, 458 pages. Category/Genre: fantasy. Cover: didn't care too much for this one overall; although the artist clearly has skill, most of the cover is taken over by unsightly shades of green and gold. Other covers are available, however. Where we got it: bought it. Where you can get it: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Books-A-Million.


Along with elves, dwarves, and humans, this book features a people Tolkien created: hobbits -- short, round, hairy-footed folk who love a good meal and fireworks. Young Frodo Baggins has been given a magical ring by his cousin Bilbo. Along with the ring, which is treacherous to its owner, comes a great responsibility neither Bilbo nor Frodo foresaw. This ring is the One Ring of Sauron the Great, the Dark Lord. Sauron must not get the ring again, or Middle-earth is doomed. 
     
So Frodo, under the advisement of Gandalf the wizard, leaves with his servant Sam and his two friends Pippin and Merry to protect their home from the ring's evil. Along the way they are tracked by Black Riders -- fearsome wraiths under Sauron's power. They also meet Strider, a.k.a. Aragorn, who Sam in particular at first distrusts; but it turns out Strider is a friend of Gandalf's and intends to help them any way he can.
     
So begins the dark journey to destroy the ring. The characters experience both heartache and joy, and it is these unforgettable characters, coupled with Tolkien's descriptive writing, that will keep you turning the pages. If you've never read this one, now is the time; if you have read it, you might consider reading it again. When we first read this book in high school, we were impressed. Our return to it was not a disappointment. 

If you like this one, try: The Lord of the Rings, Part Two: The Two Towers, by J.R.R. Tolkien (duh), The Lord of the Rings, Part Three: The Return of the King, by J.R.R. Tolkien (duh again), and The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien.  

Review: 'Intrigues' by Mercedes Lackey

Intrigues by Mercedes Lackey, 2010, DAW Books, $7.99, softbound, 391 pages. Category/Genre: fantasy. Cover: The swords and masks background is pretty cool, but Dallen's and Mags' faces could be a little better done. The overall composition is pleasing, however. Where we got it: publisher. Where you can get it: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million.


Spoiler Alert!

Though it would be best to read the first of the Collegium Chronicles before Intrigues, it isn't vital. Intrigues, the second book in the series, follows Herald Trainee Mags and his Companion, Dallen, as Mags struggles to fit in with the other Trainees at the Collegium. 

Companions are white, horse-like creatures with blue eyes and a talent for telepathy. The telepathy is called 'Mindspeech,' and some humans have it, as well (Mags does). Companions bond to their Chosen people and are very close to them. 

There are lots of personal issues in Mags' life; all his friends have problems that need sorting, and Mags himself has problems, as well. Most troubling is the vision at the heart of this story: Farseers have seen the king covered in blood, with a shadowy, foreign-born figure next to him. Because Mags is foreign, suspicion immediately falls on him, and he starts being harassed by the other Trainees. 

It will be up to Mags to prove himself innocent -- but how can one prove oneself innocent of a crime not yet committed? Fortunately for Mags, he has Dallen and his human friends, who stick up for him. Still, things are rough, and Mags takes it to heart. 

On the plus side, the Collegium is developing a new sport: Kirball. Kirball will help Trainees get used to what it's like to be in battle, which they will all face one day. The Kirball scenes are lively and exciting, as team members work together using their wits, skills, and Gifts (magical powers). 

Mags is also learning espionage techniques from Nikolas, the King's Own Herald. Nikolas is teaching Mags to be stealthy and not draw attention to himself (a problem when Mags becomes something of a hero and his friend Lena, a Bard Trainee, writes a song about him).  

This is a very entertaining book. One thing we didn't like about it was the fact that, when everything comes to a head and Mags' friends turn on him, the friends never apologise for their part in the fighting, though Mags does.  

Review: 'Hero Worship' by Christopher E Long

Hero Worship by Christopher E Long, 2014, Flux, $9.99, softbound, 233 pages. Category/Genre: fantasy. Cover: pretty cool. Where we got it: publisher. Where you can get it: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Books-A-Million. 


In what seems to be a new trend, this is a comic book in novel format. It's set in a world in which superhero powers are fairly commonplace. The Clean Powers Act established a department with the authority to certify powers as 'clean' or 'dirty.' Those people with volatile powers are called 'dirties,' and are not allowed to make a living off their powers. 

Marvin Maywood is a dirty, but he lives clean. He wants nothing more than to join the Core, a well-loved group of superheroes led by Lieutenant Mercury. 

Then one day Marvin meets Eliza, the youngest member of the Core, and everything changes. 

Some good action, and good powers. 

Note: strong language; rape scene. 

If you like this one, try: Karma Girl, by Jennifer Estep. 

Review: 'Cursed' by Jennifer L Armentrout

Cursed by Jennifer L Armentrout, 2012, Spencer Hill Press, $9.95, softbound, 287 pages. Category/Genre: fantasy. Cover: good. We'd like to see a picture of her eyes, though. Where we got it: bought it. Where you can get it: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Books-A-Million. 

Ember McWilliams died two years ago. Her sister, Olivia, brought her back, and since then Ember has had pale blue eyes and a killing touch. 

With their father dead and their mother all but comatose with grief, Ember must take care of the household by herself. But the money is running out, and things look grim. 

Then one day, some people come to take her and Olivia to a house hidden deep in the mountains. Here Jonathan Cromwell has been collecting a group of 'gifted' people -- people just like Ember and Olivia. Ember should be glad; she no longer has to worry about bills, and this is a place where she and her sister should belong. 

But things aren't what they seem at the Cromwell house, and as Ember gets closer to the truth, she also gets closer to hurting someone she cares about. 

Note: strong language. 

If you like this one, try: Suggestions? 

Review: 'Reckless' by Cornelia Funke

Reckless by Cornelia Funke, 2010, Little, Brown, and Company, $19.99, hardbound, 394 pages. Category/Genre: fantasy. Cover: okay. We like the mirror. Where we got it: publisher. Where you can get it: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Books-A-Million.


Since he was 12 years old, Jacob Reckless has been travelling to the Mirrorworld. Now his brother, Will, has come with him -- and a curse has befallen him. Soon Will is going to become a goyl -- a creature made of living stone -- and he will no longer know Jacob or the girl who loves him. 

Jacob's shape-shifting friend, Fox, and Will's girlfriend, Clara, are going to help Jacob find a way to break the curse and get him back to his homeland. 

But things aren't so easy. Time and again, Jacob's efforts fail, until at last he learns that to break the curse he must destroy the Dark Fairy -- the one who put the curse on Will. 

Filled with action, adventure, magic, and romance, this is the first in what promises to be a successful series. 

If you like this one, try: Fearless, by Cornelia Funke.  

Review: 'Transformed' by Debbie Kump

Transformed, by Debbie Kump, 2011, World Castle Publishing, $9.99, softbound, 267 pages. Category/Genre: fantasy. Cover: not bad. Where we got it: author's relative. Where you can get it: Amazon.


Thirteen-year-old Jessica Davis has a dream that she's turned into a sea eagle and is trying to help someone. When the alarm wakes her, she realises she has, in fact, turned into a giant sea eagle. But she can talk, and has anthropomorphic motion. When her mother sees what's happened, she surprises Jessica by being happy for her. Transforming runs in the family, and Jessica's mum always wanted the gift herself. 

Jessica's Grandpa Theodore could also shape-shift into a sea eagle. He died in a battle because Jessica's mother couldn't shape-shift and fight for him. Now Jessica will be trained in the art of transformation so that she, too, can go to battle.

To that end, she travels (awkwardly -- she still doesn't know the intricacies of flying) to the island of Pokapu. This is where the base camp of the Alliance is. The Alliance is an organisation of shape-shifters (or 'morphers') who protect endangered species and their habitats. Here Jessica meets the eight other morpher students who, like her, will be taught how to control their shape-shifting abilities.

But strange things keep happening to Jessica. She knows, without being told, the translation of the island's name, and she finds her grandpa's sketch of the place she saw in her dream. Her social life is also complicated: two of her fellow students take an instant and inexplicable dislike to her, and she still doesn't know how to turn back into her human form.

Then, when Shredder, one of her classmates, takes her by the hand, Jessica sees a torrent of unfamiliar faces. These visions continue to assault her whenever she comes into physical contact with Shredder. Jessica is falling for Shredder, but her best friend likes him, too.

We thought this was a stronger story than Debbie Kump's 7G; Kump's style is more suited to the young adult audience, and she has an unusual take on shape-shifters in this book. There's humour in the book, and it's well thought-out. 

Note: mild language.

If you like this one, try: Suggestions?     

Review: 'Steampunk II: Steampunk Reloaded' Edited by Ann & Jeff VanderMeer

Steampunk II: Steampunk Reloaded by Ann and Jeff VanderMeer, 2010, Tachyon Publications, $14.95, softbound, 426 pages. Category/Genre: steampunk. Cover: Cool. Where we got it: publisher. Where you can get it: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million.


The second steampunk anthology in a series by Tachyon Publications, Steampunk II has a wide selection of stories and writing styles. From Tanith Lee to Caitlin R. Kiernan, Gail Carriger, Stephen Baxter, and William Gibson, this book runs the gamut on authors. 

There's something in here for every lover of steampunk: romance, adventure, horror, and the very odd. One story, 'Wild Copper,' by Samantha Henderson, even takes a fairy story, wraps it up in a Native American folk tale, and delivers it in true steampunk fashion. The stories take place in the Wild West, the Far East, and Victorian England. There's a retelling of 'The Orient Express' ('The Unbecoming of Virgil Smythe' by Ramsey Shehadeh) as well as a tale based on a South Indian epic ('The Mechanical Aviary of Emperor Jalal-ud-din Muhammad Akbar' by Shweta Narayan). 

Personally, we didn't care for the truly odd ones nearly as much as we did the adventure stories. 'A Serpent in the Gears' by Margaret Ronald was exceptionally good. It was about a valet serving a colonel aboard a dirigible that was headed for dangerous territory. The valet was not what he seemed, and there were some really good discoveries in this story. 

Another story we liked was 'Balfour and Meriweather in the Adventure of the Emperor's Vengance' by Daniel Abraham. This one had a pair of Her Majesty's special agents solving a mystery and then fighting mechanical monsters. 

'As Recorded on Brass Cylinders: Adagio for Two Dancers' by James L. Grant and Lisa Mantchev was an interesting story about a pair of estranged lovers who are more machine than human; 'The Strange Case of Mr. Salad Monday' by G.D. Falksen was humourous as well as adventurous; and 'Wild Copper' by Samantha Henderson, was an interesting mix of faeries, Native American folklore, and steampunk.

We didn't care at all for 'A Secret History of Steampunk' by the Mecha-Ostrich, et. al. Too weird. 

All in all, a good book with a nice arrangement of stories. 

Note: strong language, racial slur, sexual situations, and blasphemy. 

If you liked this one, try: suggestions?