10 Things I Loved About Blood of the Queen by Amalia Dillin

If you haven't read Honor Among Orcs you should go check out my review and interview, and then read the book and then read this book because this series is awesomesauce.
Arianna escaped the horrors of her father's house and survived the treacherous journey over the mountain and all of the dangers she faced with the orcs and elves who wanted to kill or control her. But her new husband, Bolthorn, is now worried about his missing brother and Arianna feels completely inadequate for the responsibilities that will fall on her shoulders as Gythja - leader with her husband of the Hrimthursar clan. Add to that the new powers she doesn't quite understand and a baby on the way and Arianna is facing a lot of uncertainty. Can she and Bolthorn rescue his brother and cousin without losing themselves in the process? And can Arianna face her past and break free of the hold her father still has on her?

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Now check out the 10 things I loved about Blood of the Queen. I've avoided spoilers of this book, but it is a sequel, so if you haven't read the first book, just be aware I'll most likely be spoiling that one to some extent :)

1. The worldbuilding - Amalia does a great job crafting this complex, political world with four different races without it feeling overwhelming or info-dumping. I like the way she weaves in all the little details about cultures and customs throughout the story.
2. Arianna - I like the way everything isn't all perfect because Arianna escapes her father and finds the love of her life. She's still an individual with a lot of baggage and issues to deal with along with personal strengths that help drive her forward. She's well-rounded and enjoyable to watch grow.
3. Bolthorn - It was nice getting to learn a bit more about him, even if the focus was on Arianna. I love the way he loves Arianna and sees the best in her. But he's well-rounded as well with his own flaws and struggles to work through and deal with.
4. Their relationship - Although there is a lot of other stuff going on, Arianna and Bolthorn's relationship is still a central piece of the drama. Their relationship is impacted and impacts the larger political upheavals taking place. In addition, they're a couple dealing with the shift into being a partnership and the work of being a couple with ups and downs, disagreements, and trying to figure out how to deal together with all of the things they face. It's nice to see the couple after the traditional fairy tale ending.
5. Isolfur - I really loved getting to know more about the water horse. I won't say more because I don't want to spoil anything, but I found this aspect of the story quite fascinating.
6. Isabel and Rodric - It was so interesting seeing this piece of Arianna's past and the things that are revealed through these two people who mean so much to her.
7. The magic - I was really interested in the way the magic was explored further with its own rules and with Arianna's struggle to understand how things work and what the cost is.
8. More information about Sinmarra - I like the way that this was built from the previous book and I'm excited to see where it goes in the next one. I know that's super vague, but spoilers!
9. The cliffhanger - oh the cliffhanger. Okay, so the book is complete and the quest they set out on was completed in its way, but so many questions. So many many questions and I need to know the answers!
10. So much potential - I don't think a third book has been confirmed officially but there has to be another one. There has to be because I need to know what happens! And, the way it ended it's pretty much confirming that there is more to this story. I want so much more of this world.

Update: I forgot to mention that I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. That had no bearing on my review - I really loved it this much :)

The First Law trilogy - Books 2 & 3

In my last post I discussed "The First Law: The Blade Itself," by Joe Abercrombie. http://www.booksellerswithoutbordersny.com/2013/05/the-first-law-joe-abercrombie.html   Since then I've finished his First Law trilogy.

Book 2 is entitled "Before They Are Hanged" and continues the story of Logen, Sand dan Glotka, Jezel, Bayaz, and others.  Abercrombie spends more time fleshing out additional characters, particularly the small band of Logen's former companions: Threetrees, Grimm, Black Dow, and The Dogman.  Other major contributors to the plot are Major Collem West, his sister, Ardee West, and Ferro Maljinn, a former slave bent on revenge.

As before, Abercrombie changes point of view from chapter to chapter, which helped me keep up with the ever-increasing web of his story.  His tale takes us on military campaigns, mysterious quests, and into political machinations and the intimate confines of the torture chamber.

Book 3, "Last Argument of Kings," brings everyone back together in a delicious conflagration of political, military, and romantic entanglements. 

I have a thing about trying to avoid spoilers, so I won't go any farther into the details of the plot.  But there is one device that Abercrombie uses that appealed to my sense of humour.  The title of each chapter is taken from one of his characters' lines in that chapter, with the exception of two of them.  The first chapter in "The Blade Itself" is entitled, "the end," and the final chapter of "Last Argument of Kings" is, "the beginning."  Read them, and you'll see why.

One final note:  The titles of the books themselves are all historical quotes, more or less.  "The blade itself" is from "The Odyssey," and is a quote by Homer: "The blade itself incites to deeds of violence."  "Before they are hanged" is a quote from Heinrich Heine: "We should forgive our enemies, but not before they are hanged."  The words, "last argument of kings" is translated from the latin, Ultima Ratio Regum, which is what France's King Louis XIV has inscribed on his cannons.

As I've said before, I enjoyed these books very much, and was sorry to see the story arc end.  I leave you now with the words of Logen Ninefingers, aka The Bloody Nine.  "You can never have too many knives."

Happy reading.
Alan

The First Law - Joe Abercrombie

Joe Abercrombie's first novel, "The Blade Itself," is the first in his "The First Law" trilogy.   US publication was in 2007.  I don't know why I just recently found this series, but I'm glad I did.  It's given me a well needed dose of Epic Fantasy while wondering if "A Song of Ice and Fire" will ever be finished.

For a first novel, let alone a trilogy, Abercrombie really delivered.  His characters are diverse and complex.  From Jezel dan Luther, a haughty young noble who gradually learns more of the value of others, and himself, to Bayaz, the self-proclaimed "first of the Magi;" who is either a complete charlatan, or a centuries-old wizard. 

Then there is Logen Ninefingers, a Northman, also known as "the bloody nine."  Here is truly a berserker with a conscience.  A warrior who has lost everything, but has more to offer than he seems.

One of his most intriguing characters, however, is Sand dan Glotka, a Superior for the Inquisition.  In other words, he is one of the chief torturers in the kingdom.  Glotka is an expert torturer partly because he has spent time on both sides of the torture chamber.  His wrecked body reminds him constantly of the man he was, and the man he has become.

Abercrombie's narrative flows whether he is portraying the political maneuverings of the Closed Council, a game of cards, a lovers' quarrel, or the mayhem of battle.  This is epic fantasy/swords and sorcerers fare.

The First Law trilogy consists of "The Blade Itself," "Before They are Hanged," and "The Last Argument of Kings."  In my next entry, I will discuss both the second and third books.

Highly recommended for any "Game of Thrones" or "The Lord of the Rings" fans.

Alan Andrews
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A Song of Ice and Fire - George R. R. Martin

With “A Song of Ice and Fire,” George R. R. Martin has created (check that - is creating) a whole new world of adventure, intrigue, myth, and romance. I am eagerly awaiting “The Winds of Winter,” which is the sixth and (allegedly) penultimate installment of Martin’s epic “A Song of Ice and Fire,” which began with “A Game of Thrones.”

Martin has created a myriad of vivid, fleshed-out characters, with an emphasis on “fleshed.”  They range in extreme from being honorable to a fault, to almost utterly depraved, and it is sometimes difficult to tell hero from villain.  This is not a Middle Earth wherein the lines between the forces of good and evil are (usually) will delineated.  The denizens of Westeros and Essos constantly find themselves faced with choices between “right” and “wrong” that fly in the faces of their respective paradigms.

Because Martin tells his story in 3rd person, with each chapter focusing on one specific character’s point of view, the reader is truly able to see into the minds of Martin’s minions, and will find empathy in some characters that they would never have imagined at the outset of the tale.  Not all of them, mind you.  There are more than a few characters who, the more you get to know them, the more you’ll be rooting for their beheading.  His world is so detailed, and involves so many vivid characters, that I sometimes forget who I think I’m supposed to be rooting for.  This doesn’t detract from the story at all.  It’s just what it is.  Fortunately, Martin provides appendices breaking down the different families and coats of arms.  I’ve been referring to them frequently.

And Martin will certainly keep you on your toes, too.  As I alluded earlier, I’ve read the first five books.  Each time I thought I knew where he was going with a character and thought to myself, “okay, THIS is the person who’s going to straighten every thing out,” I’ll read a bit further and say (sometimes out loud), “no way!”

Yes.  Way.

While “A Song of Ice and Fire” is regarded as “epic fantasy,” the fantastical elements of the saga are quite matter of fact (yes, there used to be dragons, but they’ve all been dead for thousands of years - no wait, by golly, there are some, and they can be pretty darn nasty.  But right now we’ve got those undead “Others” to worry about - if the dragons ever get here, we’ll just have to deal with it then).

I haven’t seen any of the “Game of Thrones” mini-series.  I intend to keep it that way, too.  At least until George R. R. Martin has finished telling his tale.  Maybe then I will, but right now I’m having too much fun with my own vision of Westeros to go swim in someone else’s pool.

Can you imagine if you had been able to read Tolkien’s “The Fellowship of the Ring” when it was first published, and then had to wait for “The Two Towers” and “The Return of the King,” respectively?  Oh, the antici...................pation.  I’m not saying “A Song of Ice and Fire” is an equal to “The Lord of the Rings,” but as a reader of books, this could be your next chance to find something special as it’s being created.  

Get started by buying “Game of Thrones” at your local brick and mortar bookstore. Invest yourself in what could be considered a classic work some day.

Content Alert:  This is a work for adults.  If you have kids, and wouldn’t take them to see an R rated movie, then you won’t want them reading “A Song of Ice and Fire.”  There is violence, profanity and sexuality that most people, I believe, would not think appropriate for children.  This ain’t yo mama’s Middle Earth.

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