Deathlands #10 Northstar Rising is a pivotal entry in the overall Deathlands saga. It introduces the character of Dr. Mildred Wyeth, a character longtime readers recognize as a permanent addition to the companions (not a spoiler to followers of the series, minor spoiler to new readers).

Interesting setting of a Norse themed "ville". Full of characters with Norse-themed names like Erik Stonebiter, Sigurd Harefoot and the like. The ville lives according to old Viking values and mores. The inhabitants view albino Jak as a god incarnate and Mildred (who is black) as an evil witch. The story lies in how to extricate the whole group out of the ville intact. 

This book sets the core of the companions for the rest of the series run. And a good run it was; 125 books. As always, Deathlands are not literary giants full of redeeming social value or social commentary. They are over the top graphic depictions of a post- apocalyptic wasteland (one of my favorite genres). 

Graphic? Yes! Still good escapism. Enjoy!

Mike

 

 

I have said before "if you want me to read a book, put a dragon in it". I have read a lot of stories of dragons. Even so, I cannot claim any particular expertise on the genre. His Majesty's Dragon reminded me of this with great clarity. 

The detailed identification of varied dragon breeds surprised this reader who was used to classifying dragons by color rather than breed. This brought a new level of understanding and enjoyment. Author Novik spent much more ink on the relationship between dragon and human partner. Other books in the genre do identify this bond but this book really explored the connection.

The historical setting (the Napoleonic Wars) also lent a refreshing aspect to the overall story telling. The author weaves the fantasy element of dragons into the historic record so seamlessly that the story flows in a believable storyline. 

Ms. Novik does an admirable job of keeping the culture of the times in her narration. The courtly manners and mindset of the characters sets this story aside from others in the genre. Although not presented in modern vernacular, the story is not uncomfortable on the readers ear.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I was somewhat surprised to find out how long the book has been available and I look forward to reading more of her work.

His Majesty's Dragon is an excellent first installment in the Temeraire series. If you like dragons (and who doesn't?) this book is worthy of your time. If you don't like dragons, I encourage you to reexamine your reading preferences ;) Enjoy!

Mike 

 

 

The Size of Nobodies by Amanda Mack was provided in E-form for review.

This is a difficult book to categorize, it doesn't fit neatly into any box. I find this to be a good thing. It reduced the attempt of the reader to pigeon hole this story, and make no mistake, this is a good story. 

Our hero here is Siege (interesting name eh?), an unemployed, mildly agoraphobic (she is uncomfortable in crowds) woman determined to be self-sufficient despite her wealthy, somewhat over involved parents. She is strongly connected to her foster brother Avi. A strong story of familial bonds between people who choose to be family. Not family by an accident of birth. 

The explanation of the interconnections of all the players in this story is much too intricate to try to explain in a short(ish) review. Suffice to say, Siege has a strong support system.

The story revolves around the consequences of her attempt to be financially better off. She ends up involved in a confusing (to her) mix of abduction, trafficking and political intrigue. She tries to protect a unique young girl to whom she becomes strongly attached. At the same time she tries to support Avi's search for his long lost brother.  

The reader gets a story that is at once a mystery, adventure, quasi-spy exploration of relationships. A lot to offer in one book to be sure. Readers of my reviews know that I avoid spoilers even more than I avoid the dreaded, detested, cliffhanger. So you won't find any here. But I will share that this is a fast-paced, engrossing story. Well crafted structurally both in story-line and character development. 

This is the first work I have read by this author and I find her storytelling to be of high quality. I look forward to reading more from her.

Give The Size of Nobodies by Amanda Mack a look, it is definitely worth your time. Enjoy!

Mike