Originally published in the Canberra Weekly on 7 November 2024.
Make sure you check out my extended reviews of The Fury of the Gods, The Heart of the World, and Buried Deep and Other Stories.
Author: The Unseen Library
The Unseen Librarian
I have been reviewing since 2009.
I previously reviewed for the Canberra Times.
I am now a reviewer for the Canberra Weekly.
Quick Review – The Heart of the World by Amie Kaufman
Publisher: Allen & Unwin Australia (Trade Paperback – 27 August 2024)
Series: The Isles of the Gods duology – Book Two
Length: 424 pages
My Rating: 4.25 out of 5 stars
One of Australia’s leading authors of young adult fiction, Amie Kaufman, presents a cool conclusion to The Isles of the Gods duology with the fun read, The Heart of the World.
Amie Kaufman is an impressive Australian author who has produced multiple entertaining and enjoyable series over the years, mostly in collaboration with other awesome authors. For example, I best know Kaufman from the intriguing and addictive young adult science fiction trilogy she cowrote with Jay Kristoff, the Aurora Cycle trilogy, which proved to be particularly fun (see my reviews for Aurora Rising, Aurora Burning and Aurora’s End). Kaufman’s latest body of work has been The Isles of the Gods duology, a great young adult fantasy series that follows several teenage protagonists who find themselves drawn into an ancient war between gods. This series began last year with the first book, The Isles of the Gods, and has just come to an end with the compelling read, The Heart of the World.
Plot Synopsis:
Magic and sacrifice will collide as lovers and gods, enemies and allies vie for the fate of the world in this heart-pounding sequel to The Isles of the Gods, which Stephanie Garber called deliciously diabolical and full of heart.
When Selly and Leander began their treacherous voyage to the Isles of the Gods, the captain’s daughter and the playboy prince were strangers. But amid talk of war and a deadly attack on their ship, the unthinkable happened.
They fell in love.
Leander’s ritual at the island temple was meant to prevent a war between the gods. Instead, it nearly cost him his life, and drew the goddess Barrica back from exile. Now, as her Messenger, Leander is imbued with her deadly magic, and only Selly’s presence can stop it from consuming him.
But Barrica wasn’t the only immortal roused from sleep. The God of Risk, Macean, was awakened by an enemy all thought dead, and across the sea he’s calling for war.
The fight to save their world will take Selly and Leander from the gilded ballroom of the royal palace to the hallowed halls of an ancient library. Battle lines will be drawn, and bonds will break.
With the wrath of gods and the machinations of power-hungry rulers straining their loyalties, can their love withstand the trials that await them?
The Heart of the World was an exciting and moving book that did an excellent job wrapping up the storylines started in the first book. Set immediately after the events of The Isles of the Gods, Kaufman presents an intense, character-driven narrative, as the teenage protagonists attempt to deal with the return of gods into their world. Told from the perspective of five characters, you get some interesting storylines here, including Leander learning to control his power as his god’s Messenger while Selly tries to help him while also learning about the deadly politics of the realm. Other character storylines of note include the scholar Keegan attempting to determine how to stop the oncoming chaos while also dealing with his many personal issues, the antagonistic Messenger of Macean, Laskia dealing with having power for the first time, and the conflicted Jude trying to determine where he stands in the world.
Kaufman does a great job blending these cool, character-driven storylines together into one compelling and exciting narrative with a very fast pace. There is an excellent blend of politics, character growth and a deepening of personal relationships, as each of the protagonists react to the changes brought on by the events of the first book. Things take a more urgent turn halfway through as the warring gods emerge and the characters find themselves desperately caught up trying to stop or control the destructive fight to come. Featuring a countdown towards inevitable carnage, I liked how Kaufman kept the intensity and stakes of the second half of the book high without showing too much actual conflict and bloodshed, instead relying on compelling character moments thanks to a variety of unique interactions. The protagonists are forced to overcome the consuming influence of their gods, both of whom want war, as they attempt to save their world, and I felt that the author came up with a well-written and cleverly set up solution to the entire plot. The book ends on a satisfying and hopeful note, and I really had a fun time getting through this compelling story.
I really liked how The Heart of the World came together, and Kaufman ensures that it is accessible and enjoyable for a range of fantasy fans. While I would recommend reading The Isles of the Gods first, new readers can probably dive into The Heart of the World straight away without too much prior context, as the author’s descriptive writing style and ability to effectively recap events really helps. While some of the key fantasy elements from the last book aren’t as comprehensively covered in this sequel, such as spirit magic, Kaufman ensures that all the key features of this universe are well covered. Indeed, there is a major religious focus throughout The Heart of the World, and it was fascinating to see various characters react to the direct influence and power of the two warring deities.
The resulting story moves at high speeds, and I honestly found myself powering through The Heart of the World every time I picked it up. It helped that Kaufman made excellent use of quick and sharp perspective changes, and the jump from one short character-focused chapter to the next allowed for some quick plot progression. As with the prior book in the duology, I felt that The Heart of the World was an excellent fantasy book that would appeal to a lot of readers, not just its intended young adult audience. In particular, Kaufman sets up a lot of mature and intelligent themes and moments, most of the based around her complex protagonists, which I think will resonate with a teenage audience. However, older fantasy readers can also enjoy The Heart of the World thanks to Kaufman’s clever writing and intriguing themes.
I also need to quickly highlight the excellent character work contained within The Heart of the World, which I felt helped to turn this sequel into something special. Kaufman does an outstanding job continuing to explore her five damaged protagonists, and there is some great continuation to the complex character elements set up in the first book. This includes a compelling look of the romance angle between Leander and Selly, who are forced to deal with major obstacles, including Leander’s sudden uncontrollable power, while Selly is forced out of her comfort zone on the waves and into the deadlier wilderness of court life. I also loved the storyline of Laskia, who’s experience as her god’s Messenger went in a darker direction, as she struggles with finally having power and the ability to control her destiny after a lifetime of being manipulated by others. All of the other protagonists have their own unique moments as well, and I really appreciated how all their respective family issues became even more apparent in this second book, as all five of them experience some form of betrayal or disappointment at the hands of their family which they must overcome. Throw in a particularly entertaining new supporting character in Kiki, a bubbly and unstoppable force of social energy, and the cast of The Heart of the World was particularly strong and resulted in some moving moments.
Overall, The Heart of the World was an amazing new novel from Amie Kaufman that I was glad I checked out. Providing a great ending to The Isles of the Gods duology, The Heart of the World had a brilliant, character-driven narrative, that is so easy to get lost in. A fantastic and very fun novel that is worth checking out, especially if you enjoyed Kaufman’s previous work.
The Fury of the Gods by John Gwynne
Publisher: Orbit/Little Brown Audio (Audiobook – 22 October 2024)
Series: The Bloodsworn Saga – Book Three
Length: 19 hours and 30 minutes
My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
John Gwynne brings his awesome Bloodsworn trilogy to a truly epic conclusion with the outstanding novel, The Fury of the Gods.
For the last few years one of the most compelling fantasy series has been the Bloodsworn Saga trilogy from acclaimed fantasy author John Gwynne. This series is set in a Norse-inspired fantasy world shattered by warring gods and now filled with monsters, voyaging warriors and the human descendants of the gods whose power often see them collared and controlled as thralls. The series started back in 2021 with the impressive read, The Shadow of the Gods, which introduced the main characters and set them on their quests. I almost missed The Shadow of the Gods when it came out, but I was glad that I didn’t, as it turned out to be one of my favourite books and audiobooks of 2021. Gwynne continued the series in a big way the next year with the excellent sequel, The Hunger of the Gods, which expertly continued the series and ended up also being a top book and audiobook of 2022. Due to how amazing the first two entries in the trilogy proved to be, I have been eager for to the finale of the trilogy for a while, and I was so happy we got one in 2024. One of my most anticipated books in the second half of 2024, The Fury of the Gods was everything I hoped it would be and more, and I listened to it the very first chance that I got.
The gods have returned, and all must pay the price!
After centuries of imprisonment following the last great war of the gods, the evil and crazed dragon-god Lik-Rifa has been released and now seeks to rule over the land of Vigrid. With the cunning rat-god Rotta at her side, Lik-Rifa leads a vast army made up of her monstrous children, as well as ambitious mercenaries and Tainted warriors. Determined to place the entire continent under her dark rule, Lik-Rifa turns her eyes to the stronghold of Snakavik and moves to destroy the last vestige of resistance against her.
However, not all is lost, as some seek to stand against Lik-Rifa. Elvar, leader of the Battle-Grim, has killed her father and taken control of Snakavik. Bound by fate and her oaths, Elvar must balance her new responsibilities as ruler while she plans for war against Lik-Rifa, a seemingly impossible task. However, Elvar has done the impossible before by resurrecting Lik-Rifa’s hated brother, the wolf-god, Ulfrir, and binding him to her will. Now her most potent weapon and the ultimate bait for Lik-Rifa, Elvar seeks to use Ulfrir to destroy the gods coming for her. But even a giant wolf-god might not be enough to win the war, and Elvar needs even more allies to help her.
After scouring a bloody path across Vigrid, Orka Skullsplitter has rescued her son, but still seeks vengeance against Lik-Rifa’s forces. To that end, Orka reunites with her old warband, the Bloodsworn, and sets them to join Elvar’s growing host. Made up of deadly Tainted warriors, including their latest recruit, Varg No-Sense, the Bloodsworn have many reasons to fight against the dragon-god’s followers. Together, the Bloodsworn, Battle-Grim and their various allies prepare to face Lik-Rifa’s army in the greatest battle the world has ever known. But no-one is prepared for the chaos that is about to engulf Vigrid, as greater threats arise to devour all.
Gwynne continues to impress with this third and final Bloodsworn Saga novel. The Fury of the Gods was another high-octane, character driven, dark fantasy novel, that takes the reader on a powerful adventure. Loaded with fantastic moments and amazing action, The Fury of the Gods proved to be an outstanding conclusion to the Bloodsworn Saga, and I had such an awesome time getting through it.
The Fury of the Gods featured a spectacular and captivating narrative that starts off strong and refuses to slow down the entire way through. Taking off immediately after The Hunger of the Gods, Gwynne effectively sets the stage for the oncoming battles as the various character arcs continue at breakneck pace. Once again telling the story through the eyes of five distinctive protagonists (Orka, Elva, Varg, Biorr and Gudvarr), you get drawn into their intriguing personal tales as they recount the events they observe. The first half of the book keeps these protagonists mostly separated, and their various storylines continued in similar directions to The Hunger of the Gods. Orka is still set on her bloody revenge mission and must overcome her imprisonment by the rat-god Rotta. Varg and the Bloodsworn journey back from their rescue mission in the neighbouring nation of Iskidan, encountering new threats along the way. Elvar takes up the responsibility of ruling Snakavik after killing her father and finds herself leading the war against Lik-Rifa. Finally, Biorr and Gudvarr provide intriguing insights into Lik-Rifa’s camp, as both the conflicted Biorr and the snivelling Gudvarr try to survive the rise of dragon-god in their own different ways.
Gwynne does a good amount of set-up in this first half of the book, and it was nice to see the various characters continue to breathe on their own for a bit, while also amping up the dangerous antagonists. You once again get quickly drawn into each of the protagonists narratives, and I think that it is a testament to Gwynne’s writing that each of these storylines proved to be as entertaining and compelling as the rest. Unlike other multiple-perspective novels I have read, I honestly loved every single character perspective in The Fury of the Gods, and I was excited to continue each of them. Indeed, I find it hard to choose a favourite, as they were all fun while offering something a little different. That being said, Elvar’s chapters moved the plot along the most, and Gwynne did his best character work with her in this book.
Everything leads up to a particularly epic final half, as Gwynne brings together all five point-of-view characters to the same location for the first time in the series. With the protagonists spread out on each side of the conflict, you get a great view of the massive extended war as the god-led armies fight it out on several fronts, including in a brutal siege. Gwynne kept the action going thick and fast here, and there are some great encounters and moments as the various characters meet on the battlefield. Everything leads up to a massive confrontation nearly two-thirds of the way through, and there are some highly dramatic moments here, especially as the first big-death was a little unexpected. This major fight ends in an interesting way, although details of it are spoiled a little by the awesome cover above. This leads to some more fantastic moments, including the final battle between both sides. The author chucks in a few more tragic moments in this final bit of the book, although I must admit that there weren’t a lot of surprises here, with many of the big reveals well telegraphed in advance. I also thought that the various revenge arcs cluttered up the plot in a predictable manner, and I wish Gwynne had thrown a twist or two in here. Still, everything ended on an extremely epic note, and readers who enjoyed the previous Bloodsworn Saga books will come away very satisfied and happy with the finalised character arcs.
As with the previous Bloodsworn Saga novels, Gwynne brings a distinctive style to The Fury of the Gods, which I felt greatly enhanced the story. The blend of compelling Norse-inspired fantasy elements, great character work, and brutal action makes for awesome reading, and Gwynne presents it all in an accessible and enjoyable way. I loved how the characters’ dialogue and inner thoughts fell in line with the book’s historical inspiration, and while this style might not be for everyone, elements of it, such as the repetition of certain thoughts and phrases, gives it a real saga feel. As with the previous entries in the series, Gwynne makes excellent use of multiple character perspectives to tell his elaborate narrative, with his five point-of-view characters helming various chapters. The split between these five characters worked extremely well, and you get some intriguing alternate perspectives of events that blend well as the book continues. Gwynne makes excellent use of this split during some of the bigger combat scenes, and the use of shorter chapters when things get particularly exciting allows the reader to quickly switch amongst the action. Talking of action, Gwynne ensures that the combat in The Fury of the Gods is as bloody and well-written as in the previous books, and his brilliant action scenes are so well described and bring you right into the midst of the fighting.
As The Fury of the Gods is the third and final book in an epic fantasy trilogy, it obviously isn’t the most ideal place for readers to dive into the overarching story, and you really should start at the beginning of the series for the full emotional impact. However, for those who want to start with The Fury of the Gods, Gwynne does make this book somewhat accessible to new readers. Between the detailed summary of the prior books, glossary of terms, character lists and the callbacks to the previous events during the plot, new readers can follow The Fury of the Gods easily enough and have fun. This includes enjoying the full impact of the cool fantasy setting of Vigrid that Gwynne has lovingly set up during the three books. The clever use of Norse-inspired elements really lends itself to the epic revenge driven narrative that Gwynne features, and the mixture of mythological, fantasy and historical elements proved to be a winning combination. I still love seeing the various warbands using Viking war tactics against dark dangers and massive gods, and Gwynne really went all out making so many traditional Norse elements, such as weaponry, armour, ships and mentality, seem as realistic as possible. At the same time, the book’s fantasy inclusions, such as the various monsters and Tainted, the human descendants of the gods, add so much to the story, through their vicious nature, intriguing descriptions, and underlying societal issues. This was an overall pretty awesome setting, that Gwynne uses to full effect to tell his compelling tale. I hope that Gwynne returns to this world at some point in the future, and it wouldn’t surprise me if some of the younger characters featured here get their own story.
In addition to The Fury of the Gods’ fantastic story and great writing, I also need to talk about the awesome characters. Throughout the Bloodsworn Saga, Gwynne has put a lot of work into building up his various characters, and by this point in the trilogy you are highly invested in their respective stories. As such, there aren’t a lot of new figures in this final book, and you generally know what to expect when one of the protagonists’ chapters begins. However, it still proved awesome to see these figures in action again, and their compelling character arcs and differing personalities deeply increase the impact of the narrative. Of the main cast, I would say that Elva steals the show the most in The Fury of the Gods. While she has not always been the most exciting character in the series, this third and final book was where she really shined, primarily because she takes on the role of war leader against Lik-Rifa, and the increased responsibility changes her. As such, it was outstanding to follow her storyline, and I appreciated seeing how conflicted she got at times, especially when it came to treating the Tainted in her domain. Due to this, as well as some other badass scenes, Elva was one of the most compelling protagonists in The Fury of the Gods for me, and Gwynne provided an interesting conclusion to her narrative that I felt really worked.
The other four main characters all proved to be brilliant additions to the book, and their perspectives ensured quite an elaborate story. The dangerous fighters, Orka and Varg, were both solid point-of-view characters in The Fury of the Gods, and I really enjoyed seeing how their respective arcs continued, especially as they were the main avenue to seeing the Bloodsworn warband. Of all the protagonists, you were most likely to see action with Orka or Varg, and their various bloody sequences were a lot of fun. That being said, Gwynne went a little light with the character development for these figures in this book, and while they have some moving moments (Orka comes out of her solitude to find people she cares about, while Varg finally cements his place in the Bloodsworn), I felt that Gwynne focused way too much on their respective hunts for revenge, which resulted in some of their stuff getting a little repetitive.
However, Gwynne more than overcomes any minor deficiencies with Orka and Varg through his use of the antagonistic perspective characters Biorr and Gudvarr, both of whom have joined Lik-Rifa’s cause. Biorr proves to be a complex figure in The Fury of the Gods, and I loved how conflicted he become as his longstanding fanaticism slowly beings to wear away in the face of meeting his gods. Gwynne did a really great job with Biorr, and his personal journey and attempted redemption made for some powerful moments. On the other hand, we have the entertaining and despicable Gudvarr, whose chapters I always have fun with. Gudvarr is an impressively annoying figure who has spent the last two books trying to avoid danger only to find himself getting stuck in progressively worse situations. However, because he is naturally cowardly, weaselly and vindictive figure, you really don’t feel sorry for him, especially as every bad situation is the result of some failed ploy to gain influence or power. While Gudvarr is a particularly contemptible figure, it honestly proves impossible not to enjoy his chapters, as they are generally the most amusing in the entire book thanks his snarky inner monologue, the deadly situations he barely escapes from, and the near certainty that he is going to come to a sticky end. As such, I really enjoyed following Gudvarr and you can’t help but look forward to seeing what dangerous or manipulative situation he finds himself in next.
Finally, I must highlight all the awesome and impressive supporting characters that are featured in The Fury of the Gods. Gwynne has built up an exceptional and massive cast of characters throughout the series, all of whom add something to book. I loved seeing the many complex interactions that occurred between all these characters in The Fury of the Gods, and it was fun to see many of them meet for the first time in this final book, especially once all the perspective characters are together. Highlights include the key members of the Battle-Grim and Bloodsworn warbands, all of whom have gone through so much throughout the trilogy. Several of the best characters from both bands experience major tragedy in The Fury of the Gods, and it proves hard not the feel for them. I also need to mention the main antagonists, Lik-Rifa and Rotta, two vengeful gods whose desire for revenge and control move much of the plot along. I loved seeing the various human and Tainted characters interact with these dark gods, and Gywnne ensured they came across as a massive and dangerous threat. Two entertaining giant ravens, a fun talking head, and so many other great characters ensured that The Fury of the Gods was a moving and deeply personal read, and I am so glad I got the opportunity to know them during the run of this trilogy.
As with the previous books in the Bloodsworn Saga, I chose to grab The Fury of the Gods on audiobook, which proved to be a particularly awesome way to enjoy this epic read. Featuring a runtime just under 20 hours, The Fury of the Gods audiobook is a lengthy but highly exciting listening experience, and I found myself powering through this audiobook, namely because the format deeply enhances the intense story and intricate writing. Narrator Colin Mace, who has lent his voice to the other Bloodsworn Saga books, did another brilliant job with The Fury of the Gods, and his impressive voicework leant some additional impact and gravitas to the book. Mace perfectly portrays the Norse-inspired fantasy elements of the book, and I really loved how effectively he captured the various hard-nosed characters of the series. I especially loved Mace’s take on the gigantic gods and other dark creatures haunting the lands, and I felt that the narrator was a key reason why I had so much fun with this audiobook. Probably one of the best formats to enjoy The Fury of the Gods, listeners will have such an epic time with this audiobook.
With blood, fury and vengeance, the Bloodsworn Saga comes to a brilliant end that I could not get enough of. The Fury of the Gods was another exceptional read from John Gwynne, and I was so very happy to see how this entire epic narrative concluded. Loaded with action, excellent fantasy elements, and so many impressive characters, The Fury of the Gods was an outstanding book on its own, as well as an incredible conclusion to one of the most epic fantasy trilogies out there. One of my favourite fantasy books of 2024, The Fury of the Gods was an excellent read that gets an easy five-star rating from me.
WWW Wednesday – 20 November 2024
WWW Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Taking on a World of Words, where bloggers share the books that they’ve recently finished, what they are currently reading and what books they are planning to read next. Essentially you have to answer three questions (the Three Ws):
What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?
So, let’s get to it.
What are you currently reading:
Nobody’s Hero by M. W. Craven (Trade Paperback)
I have started reading the exciting thriller, Nobody’s Hero by M. W. Craven. The sequel to Craven’s previous novel, Fearless, Nobody’s Hero takes the author’s new protagonist on a dangerous mission to London when a mysterious woman from his past reemerges. I am having a blast reading this over-the-top thriller, and it is proving to be one of the most entertaining books of 2024.
Warhammer 40,000: Broken Crusade by Steven B. Fischer (Audiobook)
I was still in a major Warhammer 40,000 mood so I started listening to the latest release, Broken Crusade by Steven B. Fischer. Following on the grim and fanatical Black Templar Space Marine chapter, Broken Crusade really dives into the gothic elements of the Warhammer 40,000 novel to create a distinctive setting. I have only listened to a little bit of Broken Crusade so far, and I am looking forward to seeing where this cool book goes.
What did you recently finish reading?
Everyone This Christmas Has A Secret by Benjamin Stevenson (Hardcover)
I powered through this cool follow up to Stevenson’s previous books, Everyone in My Family has Killed Someone and Everyone on this Train is a Suspect this week. Everyone This Christmas Has A Secret is another unique murder mystery that sees the dysfunctional protagonist attempt to discover a murderer amongst a group of Christmas performers. Fun, clever and extremely funny.
Warhammer 40,000: Daemonhammer by Darius Hinks (Audiobook)
I also managed to complete this awesome Warhammer 40,000 novel by Darius Hinks, Daemonhammer. An addictive and intense read, I had a brilliant time getting through it.
The Ghosts of August by Peter Watt (Trade Paperback)
An exciting Australian novel with a deep war story behind it.
What do you think you’ll read next?
Revenge of Rome by Simon Scarrow
I’ve still got a ton of great 2024 novels to read, but I think the next one I’ll read is the new Simon Scarrow book, Revenge of Rome. A particularly intense entry in the series, Revenge of Rome will see the series protagonists embark on a desperate hunt for a fugitive queen in order to get their revenge. I know I am going to love this book, and I cannot wait to check it out.
I am also hoping to read the awesome and dark Australian thriller Endgame by Sarah Barrie. The final book in her Lexi Winters series, Endgame will set an unconventional cop against a deadly killer in a revenge filled game of cat-and-mouse. This will probably end up being one of the best Australian novels of 2024 and I am deeply excited to finally read it.
That’s it for this week, check back in next Wednesday to see what progress I’ve made on my reading and what books I’ll be looking at next.
Waiting on Wednesday – A Death in Berlin by Simon Scarrow
Welcome to my weekly segment, Waiting on Wednesday, where I look at upcoming books that I am planning to order and review in the next few months and which I think I will really enjoy. Stay tuned to see reviews of these books when I get a copy of them. In this week’s Waiting on Wednesday, I check out an epic upcoming historical murder mystery with A Death in Berlin by Simon Scarrow.
Readers of this blog will know that I am a massive fan of historical fiction author Simon Scarrow, whose various books set across multiple historical periods has produced some gripping and fantastic reads. I am primarily a fan of his Eagles of the Empire series, the latest book of which, Revenge of Rome, I am planning to read next. However, I am looking ahead with this post to the next Scarrow book coming out with A Death in Berlin, the third book in the author’s Berlin Wartime thriller series.
The Berlin Wartime books are an addictive and captivating series that focus on dark murder investigations in Berlin during World War II. Following CI Horst Schenke, a Kripo investigator and one of the few good cops left in the city, the series sees the protagonist investigate sinister murders that occur against the backdrop of the war and the Nazi regime. Inevitably, Schenke runs up against powerful Nazis and members of the SS as the major crimes he investigates skirt the dark secrets of the Nazi government. The first two books in this series, Blackout and Dead of Night were impressive reads that expertly combined compelling narratives with the ominous historical setting and produced some amazing books. As such, I make sure to keep a close out for any additional books in the series, and it looks like we are going to be blessed with a new entry in the series in 2025 with A Death in Berlin.
A Death in Berlin, which is currently set for release in March 2025, will once again force Schenke to take up a risk-laden investigation likely to put him at odds with his Nazi masters. This new book will see Schenke go up against corrupt and protected gangster running crime in Berlin, while war rages all around.
Plot Synopsis:
BERLIN. MAY 1940. AS HITLER PREPARES TO INVADE WESTERN EUROPE, THERE IS BLOODSHED CLOSER TO HOME
CI Horst Schenke is an investigator with the Kripo unit. Powerless against the consequences of the war, he fights to keep criminals off his patch. But with doubts growing about his loyalty to the Nazi regime, he is walking a tightrope. If his relationship with a Jewish woman is exposed, a dreadful fate awaits.
Berlin’s gangsters run their crime rings with impunity. Decadent senior Nazis protect them. Schenke is different. He won’t turn a blind eye when innocents are caught in the crossfire between warring gangs. But dangerous enemies know everything about him. They will do whatever it takes to bend him to their will . . .
From the seedy wartime nightlife scene to aristocratic homes frequented by the Führer, as the distant war spirals ever closer, A Death in Berlin conveys the horror and banality of evil – and the terrible danger for those who dare stand against it.
A Death in Berlin sounds like another amazing novel from Scarrow, and I am very excited to dive into this new murder mystery. The first two books in this series have been outstanding, and I look forward to seeing some of the ongoing storylines continue as the moral protagonist attempts to deal with the evils of the regime that hold power in his country. I am also intrigued to get a closer look at the German crime rings in action during the war, and this will likely lead to another clever and complex murder investigation. I have no doubt Scarrow will tie the crime fiction elements of this book around some interesting historical elements, and I cannot wait to see how this elaborate and exciting story will unfold.
Based on how much I have enjoyed the first two novels in this series, there is no way that I won’t be grabbing A Death in Berlin next year. Simon Scarrow is such a good author, and I have really enjoyed his impressive Berlin Wartime novels, especially as it allows him to explore wartime Berlin through the eyes of a conflicted protagonist. I am very curious to see how this new story will unfold, and I have no doubt I am going to find it fascinating and compelling. A Death in Berlin is currently one of my most anticipated historical fiction novels for next year, and I will dive into it the first chance I get.
Top Ten Tuesday – Oldest (aka Earliest Published) Books on my TBR
Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme that currently resides at The Artsy Reader Girl and features bloggers sharing lists on various book topics. For this latest Top Ten Tuesday, participants are tasked with listing the books with the earliest publication date that is currently sitting on their to-be-read (TBR) pile.
Like most book lovers, I have a huge backlog of novels out there that I want to read but I haven’t been able to fit into my schedule due to lack of time or other books I needed to get through first. As such, this is a rather interesting list to pull together, and I hope that it inspires me a little to go back and read some books on my TBR pile. I also love the shoutout to the older TBR books I have, especially as I am easily distracted by new and shiny things.
I must admit I struggled a little to pull together some really old titles, so my list is most made up of books from the 80s and 90s. Still, this ended up being a rather interesting, if slightly predictable list if you know who some of my favourite authors are, although I made sure to limit myself to one inclusion from each author. Despite these limitations, I really like how it came together, so let us see who made the cut.
Honourable Mentions:
When the Bough Breaks by Jonathan Kellerman – 1985
A classic crime fiction book from an author still going strong.
Space Marine by Ian Watson – 1993
An old-school Warhammer 40,000 novel I currently have on my shelf. While not the first Warhammer 40,000 novel ever written, it sounds bonkers, and I’m curious to see original universe from before they established the current canon.
Killing Floor by Lee Child – 1997
The first book in the epic Jack Reacher series. I loved the television adaptation of this book and I’m curious to read the series from start to finish.
Excavation by James Rollins – 2000
A fantastic older thriller I have sitting on my shelf.
Top Ten List:
Carrie by Stephen King – 1974
After some awesome recent experiences with Stephen King’s writing, I’ve been meaning to read more of his amazing books and there is no better place to start than his first novel, Carrie. A classic piece of horror fiction, Carrie is a bloody and complex read that I hope to check out one day.
Sharpe’s Eagle by Bernard Cornwell – 1981
I’m a massive fan of Bernard Cornwell, who is one of the biggest names in historical fiction. While I have read a couple of books in his iconic Richard Sharpe series, I need to read more, including the first book he published, Sharpe’s Eagle. A compelling historical adventure, Sharpe’s Eagle was the book that introduced the world to Richard Sharpe and Cornwell’s vision of the Napoleonic War. Thanks to Cornwell releasing his books out of chronological order, Sharpe’s Eagle is now the eighth book in the series, but it remains a key entry. I look forward to reading Sharpe’s Eagle one day and it sounds like a lot of fun.
Magician by Raymond E. Feist – 1982
I am slightly cheating by including Magician here, as I have read it a couple of times before. However, I really want to do a big re-read of Feist’s entire Riftwar Cycle and Magician is the best place to start this series. A particularly iconic fantasy novel, Magician sees a young boy discover his destiny as a mighty mage after the kingdom he lives in is invaded by soldiers from another world. This is a really, really good book and I cannot wait to read it again at some point.
The Black Company by Glen Cook – 1984
I have long wanted to read the epic The Black Company fantasy series by Glen Cook, which started back in 1984 with this book of the same name. Generally considered to be one of the best dark fantasy novels/series of all time, The Black Company follows a band of dangerous mercenaries as they find themselves drawn into a bloody and all-consuming war. I already know that I am going to love this book, and I will hopefully be able to make time for it at some point in the future.
The King Beyond the Gate by David Gemmell – 1985
A few years ago, I had the great pleasure of reading David Gemmell’s classic fantasy debut, Legend, which is honestly one of the best books I have every read. Gemmell was a very skilled author, and I have been meaning to check out more examples of his work. The obvious next step would be to read The King Beyond the Gate, which is the second novel in the series that started with Legend. Another compelling read that follows a small band of aging heroes as they face a seemingly unbeatable foe, The King Beyond the Gate sounds awesome, and I need to dedicate some time to getting through the rest of Gemmell’s books.
The Silver Pigs by Lindsey Davis – 1989
Long-term readers of this blog will know that I am a huge fan of historical fiction author Lindsey Davis, who has greatly impressed me over the years with her Flavia Albia series, which follows some deeply unique murder investigations in ancient Rome. However, the Flavia Albia books are only the latest series from Davis, who originally started back in the 1980s with her Falco novels. Following the father of Flavia Albia as he solves his own crimes, the Falco books have been on my radar for a while, and I fully intend to read them at some point. The obvious starting point for this would be The Silver Pigs, which introduced the world to Falco and Davis’s distinctive style. I have a copy of The Silver Pigs sitting on my bookshelf, and I look forward to the day when I get around to reading it.
Star Wars: Heir to the Empire by Timothy Zahn – 1991
Some of my very favourite Star Wars novels were the recent Thrawn trilogies written by legendary author Timothy Zahn. A complex and compelling collection of books, the Thrawn and Thrawn Ascendancy trilogies follow Zahn’s best original character, Grand Admiral Thrawn and help to reintroduce him into the new Disney canon. However, Thrawn first appeared back in 1991 when Zahn released the iconic Star Wars novel, Heir to the Empire. A sequel to Return of the Jedi, Heir to the Empire was one of the very first proper Star Wars tie-in novels, and it set the stage for the massive Star Wars Extended Universe that followed. As a massive Star Wars fan, I have been remiss in not going back to check out this important novel, although I hope to change that in the future. From all accounts this book is extremely epic, and I am very curious to see the novel that first introduced Grand Admiral Thrawn to the galaxy.
The Black Echo by Michael Connelly – 1992
The next entry on this list is The Black Echo by Michael Connelly. The very first book from Connelly to feature his famous detective character Harry Bosch, The Black Echo set up the author’s shared universe which would later expand to feature so many memorable protagonists. I have had an exceptional time reading all of Connelly’s most recent works and I have been meaning to go back and explore his universe from the beginning, starting with The Black Echo. Like The Silver Pigs, I have a copy of The Black Echo sitting on my bookshelf, and when my reading schedule opens up, I hope to grab it and power through it. I have no doubt that I will love The Black Echo, and I am curious to see what Connelly’s writing style was like in this first book.
The Demon Awakens by R. A. Salvatore – 1997
I am a huge fan of R. A. Salvatore various additions to the expanded Forgotten Realms universe, having read nearly all of them over the years. However, I am also keen to read more books in Salvatore’s original Corona universe. I had a ton of fun reading the latest trilogy set in this world (The Coven books made up of Child of a Mad God, Reckoning of Fallen Gods and Song of the Risen God), and I felt that this was an excellent fantasy universe that I’d like to see more of. As such, I will try to explore this series from the beginning, which means starting with The Demon Awakens. An exciting adventure novel with some great characters, The Demon Awakens should be a ton of fun and I am keen to read it in the future.
A Clash of Kings by George R. R. Martin – 1998
The final book on this list is A Clash of Kings by George R. R. Martin. The second book in Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series, A Clash of Kings doesn’t need a massive introduction. I have been meaning to continuing this series after reading A Game of Thrones a few years ago, which means going through A Clash of Kings next. I am sure I will deeply enjoy this major book, and I am curious to see how it differs from the television show.
And with that, my list concluded. I felt that this latest Top Ten Tuesday post came together well, and I like the intriguing collection of books I listed above. It turns out there are a ton of older novels on my to-be-read list, and I hope I get the opportunity to get through them soon. In the meantime, let me know what older books are on your TBR lists in the comments below.
WWW Wednesday – 13 November 2024
WWW Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Taking on a World of Words, where bloggers share the books that they’ve recently finished, what they are currently reading and what books they are planning to read next. Essentially you have to answer three questions (the Three Ws):
What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?
So, let’s get to it.
What are you currently reading:
Everyone This Christmas Has A Secret by Benjamin Stevenson (Hardcover)
I just started reading the awesome Australian murder mystery novel, Everyone This Christmas Has A Secret by Benjamin Stevenson. The follow up to Stevenson’s previous books, Everyone in My Family has Killed Someone and Everyone on this Train is a Suspect, Everyone This Christmas Has A Secret is another unique murder mystery that sees the dysfunctional protagonist attempt to discover a murderer amongst a group of Christmas performers. Once again combining a clever investigation with comedy and a satirical look at the murder mystery genre, Everyone This Christmas Has A Secret should be a particularly awesome read and I will probably knock it off in the next day or so.
Warhammer 40,000: Daemonhammer by Darius Hinks (Audiobook)
I am still powering through every 2024 Warhammer 40,000 novel I can, so I just started listening to the new book from Darius Hinks (whose previous novel, Leviathan, was delightfully dark). This new book, Daemonhammer, sets an aging Imperial Inquisitor against deadly hidden forces in an elaborate game of cat and mouse. I haven’t made a lot of progress on Daemonhammer yet, but I am already quite curious about where the plot is going.
What did you recently finish reading?
Blood Over Bright Haven by M. L. Wang (Trade Paperback)
I managed to get through the awesome fantasy novel, Blood Over Bright Haven this week, and boy was it awesome. The new book from acclaimed author M. L. Wang, Blood Over Bright Haven was a particularly powerful and inventive fantasy novel that I had such a brilliant time with. Clever, tragic, and filled with some unique fantasy features, Blood Over Bright Haven was so damn good, and I am very glad I decided to check it out.
Darkside by Michael Mammay (Audiobook)
I absolutely powered through the epic science fiction thriller Darkside by Michael Mammay this week as well. The fourth book in Mammay’s Planetside series (made up of Planetside, Spaceside and Colonyside), Darkside brings back the author’s controversial protagonist as he investigates a missing persons case on a moon-based mining colony, run by two companies who have both tried to kill him in the past. This proved to be an excellent and fast-paced book, and I am hoping to get a review up for it soon.
What do you think you’ll read next?
The Ghosts of August by Peter Watt
The next book I am hoping to read is the new Australian historical fiction novel, The Ghosts of August. The final entry in Peter Watt’s Colonial series, The Ghosts of August should be a compelling and exciting book, as the various members of a prominent family deal with the chaos surrounding World War I.
I am also hoping to read the exciting thriller, Nobody’s Hero by M. W. Craven. The sequel to Craven’s previous novel, Fearless, Nobody’s Hero will taking the author’s new protagonist on a dangerous mission to London. I am really looking forward to reading this over-the-top thriller, especially as Craven’s other 2024 novel, The Mercy Chair, proved to be particularly impressive.
That’s it for this week, check back in next Wednesday to see what progress I’ve made on my reading and what books I’ll be looking at next.
Waiting on Wednesday – A Song of Legends Lost by M. H. Ayinde
Welcome to my weekly segment, Waiting on Wednesday, where I look at upcoming books that I am planning to order and review in the next few months and which I think I will really enjoy. Stay tuned to see reviews of these books when I get a copy of them. For my latest Waiting on Wednesday post, I highlight an intriguing 2025 fantasy debut with A Song of Legends Lost by M. H. Ayinde.
The new year is shaping up to quite impressive fiction wise, as there are a ton of awesome new novels coming out in 2025. While I love seeing some of my favourite series continuing, I am also always keeping my eye out for something new, especially if that means debuts from promising new authors. I have already identified a couple of cool Australian crime fiction debuts coming out in early 2025, and now I’m turning to fantasy fiction debuts, there is a compelling fantasy novel from a first-time author is coming out in April.
This fantasy debut is A Song of Legends Lost by new author M. H. Ayinde, and not only does it have an amazing cover, but it also sounds really impressive. Set to be a gripping and powerful revenge tale, A Song of Legends Lost has an interesting magic system revolving around the summoning of ancient ancestor spirits for combat purposes. However, when a commoner summons the wrong spirit by accident, it leads to all manner of trouble, both in the spirit realm, and on the physical plane. I really love the sound of A Song of Legends Lost and I think that this novel could have some real potential for next year, and I cannot wait to check it out.
Plot Synopsis:
A relentlessly gripping tale of revenge and rebellion from a major new voice in epic fantasy
In the kingdom of Nine Lands, incursions by an ancient enemy are dealt with by the Invoker clans – warriors of noble blood who can summon their ancestors to fight with them in battle. But when Temi, a commoner from the slums, accidentally invokes a powerful spirit, she finds it could hold the key to ending this centuries-long war.
But as secrets long buried come to light, Temi will learn that not everything that can be invoked is an ancestor, and some of the spirits that can be drawn from the ancestral realm are more dangerous than anyone can imagine.
Top Ten Tuesday –Book Titles Containing Place Names
Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme that currently resides at The Artsy Reader Girl and features bloggers sharing lists on various book topics. For this week’s Top Ten Tuesday, contributors are tasked with listing their ten favourite books that have a destination title, or a title that contains the name of a place. This includes either fictional or non-fictional place names and serves as a rather interesting challenge for participating bloggers.
I had a fun pulling this latest list together, and it proved intriguing to dive through my various bookshelves to see what cool novels and comics I could find with the appropriate titles. It turns out that there were quite a few books I have read that featured destinations or places in their titles, and I managed to come up with quite a unique list. This post features an excellent blend of fictional and non-fictional place names, and I think they play off each other nicely. While this list is a little heavy on books from my favourite authors and universes, I am happy with how everything turned out, and it represents a very Unseen Library take on the topic. So let us see what made the cut.
Honourable Mentions:
A fun name for a great historical read.
The Moscow Offensive by Dale Brown
An outstanding thriller that pits Russians against the United States with advanced weaponry.
Rome’s Sacred Flame by Robert Fabbri
A complex and entertaining historical fiction book that covers an insane period of Roman history.
Warhammer 40,000: The Guns of Tanith by Dan Abnett
A particularly awesome Warhammer 40,000 novel. The place name, Tanith, refers to the home planet of the main regiment of the book, although as it’s been destroyed at this point and more of a concept, I decided to only include this as an honourable mention.
Top Ten List:
The Gates of Athens by Conn Iggulden
A great historical fiction book about the Persian wars in Greece and focuses on the turbulent politics of Athens during the period.
The Last Smile in Sunder City by Luke Arnold
An intriguing fantasy debut from a talented Australian author. The title references the main setting for the series, Sunder City, a formerly great magical city laid low by catastrophe.
Warhammer 40,000: Siege of Vraks by Steve Lyons
I have a few Warhammer 40,000 novels in this list, as the franchise has a tendency to name books after war locations. The planet of Vraks identified in the title was a fortress world, and this book recounts a particularly brutal siege to claim it. An outstanding Warhammer 40,000 novel with a catchy title.
Hill 112 by Adrian Goldsworthy
A complex and fascinating historical fiction book from earlier this year. The titular Hill 112 was a vital World War II location in the early days of the Allies’ invasion of Normandy, and this book provides a powerful account of the battle to claim and hold it.
Usagi Yojimbo: Duel at Kitanoji by Stan Sakai
I had to feature an Usagi Yojimbo comic on this list, and the one I chose was the brilliant and moving volume, Duel at Kitanoji. Following the events that led up to a duel between two samurai masters that the protagonist deeply respects, this was a particularly impressive Usagi Yojimbo comic. The place, Kitanoji, referenced in the title, was a shrine where the two duellists chose to fight to the death, and I think that it helps to create a memorable and complex name for this volume.
The Secret Runners of New York by Mathew Reilly
An awesome young adult thriller that follows a group of students who follow secret pathways around New York to visit a future version of the city.
Warhammer 40,000: The Fall of Cadia by Robert Rath
Another epic Warhammer 40,000 novel with a place name in the title is The Fall of Cadia by Robert Rath. Recounting a major lore event in the Warhammer 40,000 canon, this book follows the last day of the iconic Warhammer world of Cadia as it faces its doom during the 13th Black Crusade. A particularly impressive and captivating read, this was a very easy choice to include on this list.
Traitors of Rome by Simon Scarrow
There were actually a few books in Simon Scarrow’s long-running Eagles of the Empire historical fiction series that featured Rome in the title, including the next, upcoming entry in the series, Revenge of Rome. However, for the moment I have included the excellent novel, Traitors of Rome, which proved to be an exciting and intense addition to the series.
A Darkness at Sethanon by Raymond E. Feist
A key book in Raymond E. Feist’s original Riftwar Cycle trilogy, this title refers to the major battle of the book that sees an epic confrontation at the town of Sethanon.
Star Wars: Darth Vader: The Shu-Torun War by Kieron Gillen and Salvador Larroca
The final entry on this list is the very cool Star Wars comic, The Shu-Torun War. Part of an extremely awesome series that focused on the iconic character of Darth Vader, The Shu-Torun War was a strong entry in the series that recounts Vader’s actions in brutally supressing a rebellion on the vital planet of Shu-Torun. An impressive comic that takes the reader on a dark adventure, this was a fantastic addition to this list that I was glad I could include.
That’s my latest list. As you can see, there are some great books out there that feature titles with destinations included within. I like the cool range of books and locations I picked out in the above list and proved to be a lot of fun to pull it together. All the above books are fantastic reads as well, and you can have an amazing time getting through them. In the meantime, let me know what your favourite books with destinations in the titles are in the comments below.
Buried Deep and Other Stories by Naomi Novik
Publisher: Del Rey (Trade Paperback – 17 September 2024)
Series: Standalone/Short Story Collection
Length: 433 pages
My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
A must-read for all fans of fantasy author Naomi Novik is the excellent and highly enjoyable short story collection, Buried Deep and Other Stories. Featuring an intriguing combination of stories from across Novik’s imagination and established fantasy universes, Buried Deep and Other Stories was a particularly awesome read that I had a lot of fun getting through.
Naomi Novik is a well-established and impressive fantasy author who has produced some amazing works over the years. Best known for her iconic Temeraire series, which envisioned the Napoleonic Wars with dragons, Novik has produced some great books and stories over the years, including some interesting standalone works. I best know Novik from her excellent Scholomance books, which showcased a dark and impressive take on the magic school genre. The Scholomance books, made up of A Deadly Education (one of my favourite books of 2020), The Last Graduate (one of my favourite books of 2021) and The Golden Enclaves (one of my favourite books of 2022), were all extremely awesome, and this remains one of my all-time favourite book trilogies. As such, I was very interested in reading more from Novik and Buried Deep and Other Stories offered an amazing opportunity to explore her varied writings.
Buried Deep and Other Stories contains an auspicious 13 short stories, which run the gambit from entertaining to moving and bring together both previously published short stories and new tales fresh from the author’s imagination. While some of the reads are standalone stories, there were also entries from Novik’s more familiar universes, all of which comes together to make quite an awesome overall volume. I was initially drawn to this book by the promise of a continuation of series I’ve previously read, but I ended up staying for the whole inventive array, especially as you are gifted a vision into Novik’s future works.
Novik starts the book off strong with the fast-paced story, Araminta, or, The Wreck of the Amphidrake, a Regency-style adventure with fantasy elements that follows a young, adventurous woman who wants more than a planned marriage. A chance pirate attack and a gender-morphing amulet provide the opportunity she is looking for while also leading to various amorous adventures. This was a very fun, and slightly randy, swashbuckling adventure that successfully highlights the author’s flair for combining historical periods with her own fantasy ideas. This proved to be a great first entry to Buried Deep and Other Stories, and I appreciated that Novik started things off fun.
Novik kept the book going strong with the amazing Afterhours, which serves as a follow-up to her awesome Scholomance trilogy. I must admit that of all the stories in this book, Afterhours was the one that I was most excited for, primarily because I had such a great time with the Scholomance novels, and I really wanted to see how the universe continued. Novik did not disappoint with a captivating story set a couple of years after The Golden Enclaves, with a look at a new class studying at the Scholomance magical school. Despite the Scholomance evolving and becoming less exclusive, some things remain the same, with the unusual witch Beata, finding her school life made difficult by the rich and powerful enclave students, including her roommate. Desperate to survive, Beata and her friends break curfew to obtain rare supplies, only to encounter some of the remaining monsters roaming the school.
This proved to be an entertaining and wonderful return to the Scholomance series, and I for one was glad to get a look at the school and its unusual setup following the chaotic events of the original trilogy. Novik does an excellent job expanding on her existing universe, and fans of the series will love this continuation, as well as a major cameo at the end. However, this story is open to reader’s unfamiliar with the Scholomance books, especially as Novik focuses the plot on a protagonist unaware of the full details of the previous books, allowing for an excellent outsider’s perspective as you explore the setting’s unique features. It was great to return to this iconic setting, and Afterhours was a fun read that both stood on its own, while also providing some awesome moments to the author’s existing readers.
The third story in this book, Vici, is a quick but highly fun entry that ties into the dragon taming world of Novik’s Temeraire universe. Indeed, Vici shows the origin of the universe’s entire dragon riding premise with a Roman historical tale that sees a young Mark Antony hatch a dragon egg. Novik produces a particularly entertaining and hilarious story, as her irresponsible Mark Antony (inspired by James Purefoy from the Rome television series), finds himself in all manner of trouble, made worse by his impressionable talking dragon. I loved this simple but highly effective story, which not only expertly works dragons into Roman history, but which also keeps the reader extremely amused with some great humour and over-the-top moments. One of the funniest stories in Buried Deep and Other Stories, and a wonderful mood lightener between other heavier entries.
This leads us to the book’s titular short story, Buried Deep, which serves as a powerful retelling of the Minotaur myth. Told from the perspective of King Minos’s daughter, Ariadne, Buried Deep follows her journey to becoming a priestess of the shrine that holds her brother, Minotaur, as he stalks the labyrinth under the island. Novik seeks to cast both Ariadne and Minotaur in a more sympathetic light, showing them as victims of their father’s schemes, with Ariadne seeking to undermine Minos by using the labyrinth to enhance her reputation. Thanks to its deep emotional edge and near gothic style, Buried Deep proved to be a particularly unique and memorable take on the Minotaur myth, and I loved seeing Ariadne’s perspective of events. You really appreciate her bond with Minotaur and the pain that his imprisonment has on her, and this was one of the more moving entries in Buried Deep and Other Stories. This story effectively showcased Novik’s ability to transform well-established stories and myths, and I’m glad Buried Deep was featured here.
The next story is the fantastic entry, Spinning Silver. A clever take on the classic Rumpelstiltskin fairytale, this story follows Miryem, the daughter of a village moneylender, who takes over her weak father’s business and becomes a successful businesswoman. A boast about her ability to make money brings her to the attention of a malicious faerie who demands that she prove her ill-timed words three times by turning his silver coins into gold. What follows is a fantastic and clever series of events as Miryem uses her business sense and quick thinking to technically fulfill the terms of the magical contract while also trying to get out of the unfavourable marriage promised as a reward.
I really loved Spinning Silver for a multitude of reasons, especially as it has a compelling narrative that brilliantly retells a famous fairytale in a darker and more modern manner, while also featuring a great historical Russian setting. This proved to be a particularly enthralling tale of fortitude and tough decisions that also subtly examines the historical hardship of the Jewish population of Eastern Europe. Spinning Silver is also an interesting inclusion as it bears the same name as one of the author’s novels. This short story, which was published a few years before the Spinning Silver novel, was the inspiration for Novik’s later book, with the author reusing elements from it. While readers who have already enjoyed the Spinning Silver novel will see some similarities between it and this short story, the entry in Buried Deep and Other Stories is very much worth checking out as Novik takes this short story in a different direction to give it quicker and more definitive conclusion. I think that the Spinning Silver short story works a little better than the overall novel, mainly because the concept was more focused and reached its key points sooner, but both prove to be excellent reads. This honestly proved to be one of the strongest entries in Buried Deep and Other Stories, and I see why Novik chose to expand it into a novel.
The fun continues with the fantastic story Commonplaces, which serves as the author’s unique entry in the Sherlock Holmes mythos. Set after the events of the classic Sherlock Holmes short story, The Final Problem, Commonplaces focuses on the character of Irene Adler after she hears about the events at Reichenbach Falls. This was a short but sweet story that provides an interesting modern look at the impact Holmes has on the characters he encounters. Novik’s take on Adler, which only utilises details from A Scandal in Bohemia, is particularly authentic, and doesn’t fall into the exaggeration that many of her current popular culture portrayals are known for. Shown solely from Adler’s perspective, you get some great interpretations into her personality, as well as her observations of the enigmatic Holmes. I felt the story went in some very interesting and memorable directions, and I liked how it both cleverly referenced A Scandal in Bohemia but also covered a potential romance between Holmes and Adler in its own way. Novik adds in a few subtle implications about Holmes’ romantic interests and inclinations, which I thought was a nice touch, and the resulting story effectively ties up the entire storyline between these two iconic figures. An overall fantastic story, Commonplaces is a fun and quick short that will appeal to a lot of readers.
Novik continues to delight with the seventh entry, ironically named Seven, which was one of my favourite stories in Buried Deep and Other Stories. Set in a unique fantasy city called Seven, the story is set around the city’s famous ceramics trade, which constantly ensures that the city is surrounded by seven giant singing statues. Whenever one of the statues breaks, a replacement is made from a beautiful yet deadly special clay by the city’s then master clay-shaper. Seven primarily follows Kath, a clay-shaper’s widow, who takes over her husband’s business with the help of grouchy kiln master and ceramic devotee Grovin, and eventually forms a reputation as a radical artist due to the simplicity of her pots and ceramics. Chosen to build the next singing statue, Kath is initially reluctant due to the life-shortening nature of the special clay, until the machinations of Grovin forces her hand.
I really loved Seven, and I think it is the story that best showcases how imaginative and skilled Novik is as an author. I was deeply impressed with how effectively Novik was able to build up a new fantasy city and then set up a complex and character-driven tale that debated art versus practicality in only 25 pages. You easily get drawn into the struggle of Kath as she becomes a famous artist and creator with all the trouble that entails, while simply trying to provide for her family. Novik works this initial premise extremely well, and then cleverly twists the entirety of Seven into a tale the examines the dark side of art appreciation. This darkness is conveyed by the complex and gruff character of Grovin, a man who only loves the beauty of ceramics, and whose desire to see more of Kath’s art forces him to some dark places. I loved the ironic twist that forces Grovin to live a life less devoted to the arts to get what he wants, and I really appreciated how Novik explored his obsession, and the differing views of what ceramics represent between the two main characters. If I had one complaint, it would be that the story wasn’t long enough; I would love to have seen a more concrete conclusion than the philosophical end Novik came up with, but this was still an exceptional story that really hooked me in with its creativity and unique focus.
Continuing onwards, Novik throws in two great short stories that break up the book in preparation for the longer stories towards the end, with Blessings and Lord Dunsany’s Teapot. Lord Dunsany’s Teapot is a tale of magic and imagination in the depths of horrifying war, while Blessings is a fun story about a young baby who gets over-blessed by six drunk and competitive fairy godmothers. Both these stories have their own unique flavour, and I liked how well they played off each other in short order. Lord Dunsany’s Teapot was a quick magical story with descriptive dark war elements to it that highlight the need for an escape from horror, while Blessings was an excellent comedic take on the fairy godmother trope from popular fairytales. I enjoyed both these stories, although Blessings was probably my favourite due to its hilarious, quick-fire content.
Next up we have the tenth entry in Buried Deep and Other Stories, with the book’s only science fiction contribution. Seven Years From Home is a striking story about futuristic colonialism in which a young diplomat from an ever-increasing galactic federation visits a prospective new member planet where a war is brewing between new, technological reliant colonists and the original settlers of the planet who have genetically modified themselves and are now in tune with nature. This was an interesting take on the classic story of technologically advanced colonists warring with nature-loving natives with an outsider amid the natives learning their ways. However, Novik takes her story in some different directions, with the natives proving to be far more adaptable than you would expect, and I loved this brilliant and intriguing tale. While it features a great story, Novik ensures that Seven Years From Home really stands out thanks to the protagonist, who finds herself caught between her loyalties to her home empire and the new friends she makes on her adventures. There were some great scenes as the protagonist becomes even more conflicted with her choices, especially as the information she sends home keeps the war going, and her attempts to find the same mindset of her hosts. This story ends with some touching tragedy and a great twist, and I felt that Novik’s foray into science fiction was a fantastic success.
Continuing, we have the book’s second foray into the Temeraire universe with the fabulous entry Dragons & Decorum. Set to the backdrop of the Napoleonic War that the main Temeraire books are based on, Dragons & Decorum is a reimagining of Pride and Prejudice with dragons. The primary story sees Elizabeth Bennett becoming a Longwing captain in the Aerial Corps, flying her dragon as professional soldier, much to the horror of her mother. However, despite her new role, Elizabeth still finds herself drawing the attention of Mr Darcy, and the two engage in a tumultuous courtship, with even more complexity thanks to Elizabeth’s romance-obsessed dragon and the ongoing war. Novik clearly had fun working elements of her dragon-focused world into this literary classic, and I loved her fantastic take on the classic book, especially as dragons add new entertaining angles to the romance. I felt that the author perfectly blended the more outrageous elements of her universe with the Pride and Prejudice plot, while also cleverly imitating Jane Austen’s writing style. The result is a particularly amusing entry that will appeal to both fantasy fans and Jane Austen fans, and I just love the hilarious impacts any book’s relationship to the Temeraire universe can have.
On the home streak we have the intriguing and dark story, Castle Coeurlieu, which saw the very young bride of a castle lord grow close to her similarly aged stepson and learn the unusual history of the castle in which they live, including several stories about people visiting a mysterious tower within its bounds. When plague strikes the region and her new friend flees to the tower, the protagonist follows, only to discover unusual occurrences, including three women playing with cards inscribed with the fate of the castle’s inhabitants. While Castle Coeurlieu wasn’t my favourite entry in Buried Deep and Other Stories, it proved to be a compelling darker story that added in some grimmer elements towards the end of the book. I enjoyed the different layers of lore surrounding the setting, and the curious young protagonist was well written and provided a great view to the plot. An overall interesting addition to the volume, that serves as a great buffer between two of its biggest stories.
The final story contained within Buried Deep and Other Stories is the captivating adventure tale, The Long Way Round. The longest entry in the collection, The Long Way Round was probably the story I was most looking forward to reading outside of After Hours, mainly because it provides readers with the first glimpse at Novik’s next upcoming book, currently titled Folly, following two siblings, canny sailor Tess and brilliant boat-builder Aston, who embark on a journey to cross the seemingly empty seas surrounding their known world and try to discover new lands. Forcibly accompanied by their High Lord, a young wizard looking to prove himself, Tess, Aston and their crew set out on their adventure, only to make some unexpected discoveries with major implications for their entire world.
Featuring a great combination of likeable characters, well-written nautical elements, and a compelling new world filled with unique elements, The Long Way Round was a particularly addictive entry in Buried Deep and Other Stories. Novik once again does a remarkable job effectively building up the scenario and the new fantasy realm in a short run time, and readers quickly find themselves getting invested in the protagonist’s journey, especially as the author does an excellent job exploring their motivations and desires. The set-up and apprehension of the first part of The Long Way Round is well balanced by the subsequent mystery contained in the second half of the story, as the protagonists find what they seek, even if they are uncertain what it is. Novik provides the reader with a series of stimulating and intriguing visuals and curious elements, and you really get into the spirit of the adventurous narrative elements. This honestly proved to be an addictive read, and I found the clever, character-driven nautical adventure to be moving and fascinating at the same time. I also found myself coming away from The Long Way Round extremely curious about Novik’s next book, and I will be interested to see whether it will be a direct sequel to this or something set further in the future. Either way, the mystery of the titular follies is something I hope to explore in the future, and I am now even more excited for Novik’s next book whenever it comes out.
Overall, Buried Deep and Other Stories turned out to be an awesome short story volume from Naomi Novik that showed me her true range and skill as a fantasy author. This book provides a fantastic collection of works, that hit you on every part of the emotional spectrum, including fun comedic reads and darker, tragedy charged narratives. I was also particularly impressed by the inclusion of unique standalone stories whose elaborate fantasy concepts were well established and the expertly utilised to tell compelling stories. The blend of original stories and windows into the author’s current and upcoming fantasy universes also ensured that readers of Buried Deep and Other Stories are in for a brilliant time. It proved very easy to jump between these different fantasy worlds, and I felt that all readers can appreciate and follow the stories contained within, even if they were tied into the author’s other series. As a fan of Novik’s writings, it was great to get some additional stories from her various universes, and the final story, The Long Way Round, has really gotten me excited to check out her next book. Folly (or whatever its name may change to) is now very high on my to-read list, and I hope we see it soon. As for Buried Deep and Other Stories, this was an incredible and fantastic short story collection that comes highly recommended for fans of Naomi Novik, as well as general fantasy fans looking for some compelling, shorter reads.
The Unseen Library 