connorjdaley's reviews
1100 reviews

This is book five of The Inheritance Cycle, however it is not the book five that the author previously had in mind as one day coming out (aka hell yeah there’s still more). This also features the same story shown in The Fork, just from Murtagh’s perspective. 

It’s only been a year since the end of the fourth book, and yet so much has happened and so many things are going on. Murtagh and Thorn are desperately searching for a path forward, in desperate need of figuring out who they are without the traumatic hand of Galbatorix overseeing them. Neither are sure if word has spread of their hand in bringing about the king’s end, so they travel on the very outskirts of society, camping out at night and constantly traveling. Murtagh keeps up his false identity we met in The Fork, but he just can’t help getting involved when things happen. This need, this desire to be good, this curiosity, is the impetus for everything that follows. 

Paolini really pulled back the curtain with this one. Murtagh was the jaded, traumatized bad boy long before it was cool. And he doesn’t shy away from telling the reader just how horrible his time at Urû'baen was. From the memories of him as a child, living under the temperamental (at best) Morzan, to being bullied and overshadowed during court life, to his captivity and subsequent torture with Thorn. All while they were forced under oath. And don’t forget that Murtagh is only twenty at the end of the series! They really are just damaged boys. Beat down and trapped over and over again. 

Sadly, for most of this new novel, that truth doesn’t change. Perhaps that’s just their lot in life (and Paolini does enjoy torturing us readers too). I will say again, kind of like my recently re-shared ‘review’ of Inheritance and the series in general, there was a part in this new one that involves a fish that had me shaking my head and wondering why I was reading about it. But again, the author reels it in and by the end you’re left not feeling like you’ve had enough. Each trial takes Murtagh and Thorn back through something that triggers a trauma, reliving the worst of their lives. And each time they must adapt, persevere, and fight back. They consistently claw their way out of the trouble they’ve walked into, and both end up way more dynamic for it. 

Murtagh’s curiosity leads them down a path that involves a witch and her unruly cult. More than once they question if they should contact Nasuada, Eragon, or Arya so that they aren’t alone. Part anti-hero rashness, and part not knowing if they’ll be accepted by the others, they push on alone. This does not go well for them. There is even a part where Murtagh pushes a healing charm to Thorn’s nose that I could feel actual tears brewing. This witch makes a lot of heavy claims. Whether or not she’s telling the truth, or if those things come to pass, we may get to experience some things that make us say, “Galbatorix who?”

I really enjoyed that Paolini only has Murtagh use a handful of spells in the ancient language. He tends to get whatever he needs done, somehow, but it’s pointed out how he has quite large gaps in his education (unlike Eragon) and I felt like this was actually one of the author’s subtle ways of showing it. I feel like this book is half “Eragon ain’t the only dragon rider, I don’t need him,” and half “oh damn, we really should have called Eragon.” It’s hard to be the older brother. 

I think it’s obvious that Paolini has clearly grown and learned a lot. The writing is powerful and each word is packed with meaning. Not only are his characters growing, but he has as well. His style still feels well within the world of Alagaësia, however I really wouldn’t tag this one as young adult at all. The themes are dark, the descriptions are brutal, and they have grown out of adolescence themselves. This was absolutely incredible, and I’m so excited that he’s stated he’s not running out of ideas anytime soon. Personally a 5/5*

I received this novella to judge for the SFINCS semi-finals. Opinion is my own, and does not represent that made by the team. I did also happen to purchase this in paperback, as I prefer to read physical, and I liked the cover. 

I want to start with what stuck out to me. My main point of contention is that one of the two mains is referred to as ‘girl’ for the entire opening. The boy even saying that they were going to pull a ‘little girl’ out of her house. But then you find out that she’s actually about 19, older than the boy, so it was just confusing wording and stuck out to me as jarring. 

With that being said, throughout the story they remain girl and boy. I thought it was a nice decision, because as monsters, their life is basically forfeited the moment they’re found out. Therefore, their true selves, their chances, their mistakes and hopes, cease to be. Their families even do away with them. 

The opening of this was incredible. Fast, mysterious, dangerous, daring. There’s a need to escape and the reader can feel it immediately. Such a quick hook into the reader. I was a little surprised at the lack of chapters, but it doesn’t really take anything away. For me, the opening with its sort of mutilation and animal horror, was the perfect blend of horror and fantasy notes. 

I believe this was a well done examination on the loss of hope, and what happens when those that have lost it see a spark of it returning. It is quite bleak, but there are glimpses of warmth and happiness that carry the reader through. By the end you really do end up feeling so much for the two of them and what they’ve gone through. 

Personally a 4/5*

This is the prequel novella to the Malitu series, and it’s set 200 years prior to the events in book one. I’m very lucky to have been sent an arc. 

Black flags in Ennea signify a messenger. They are supposed to be allowed to travel in peace, but just like real history with military drummers, refugees, and the like, “don’t shoot the messenger” is rarely upheld. The ideals of peace for some are scarier than the concept of war. Some would even kill to stop the talks of peace. 

I really appreciate the juxtaposition between Isála’s sort of idealized naivety and Rione’s steadfast jaded heart. Her brusque attitude is presented as knowing better, but she’s just haunted in a different way. Teshun was of course the perfect middle man as well, turning to humor and charisma to cloak and turn away the pains of war and loss. 

Isála is convinced that peace can be achieved without violence, but the first time her life is threatened, she gets rocked to the very foundations of her beliefs. Once again the author achieves a story—this time much shorter—that provokes inward thinking and a deepening understanding of those we perceive as different. And AGAIN, it’s also just a good fantasy story, so if you aren’t the deep thinker, you can still enjoy it for just what’s on the page. Dulin does great with both. 

I really felt the quotes below, and I feel like as a whole, it kind of embodies the entire series:

“That is not your responsibility!”

“That is all our responsibility!”

Well written, gut punching, and deep. I did find a bit of the back and forth to be slightly repetitive, but not so much so that I lost enjoyment. This is a prequel novella that does break the mold of recent times. Even though it’s written post book one’s release, it really does stand solidly as it’s own piece of writing. 

The authors very kindly offered me an audible code to continue my The Prophecies of Ragnarok journey, and I’m glad to say this new narrator (Jennifer Pratt) was pretty great. 

While the first book meshed atmospheric horror, a single location, and a romance plot, I found book two to build much more into the action adventure side of the storyline. Victor and Silje are star-crossed lovers, fated to love each other and struggle through the ages. And due to Victor’s godly lineage, they are constantly hunted, each big bad just a little worse than the last as the climax grows. 

This makes for a pretty fast paced novel, but the authors still manage to keep a somewhat comedic air to the story with the inclusion of Victor’s British best friend. It’s also funny how as an urban fantasy, the authors were not afraid to infuse the story with misconceptions from the way the MCU presents the Norse gods. 

This installment definitely worked better for me, especially with the separation of Victor and Silje, which really allowed for the latter to grow into her own character, with strength and a personality that stands on its own. Even against the biggest bad in the story, Thor. 

I particularly liked the use of the Philippines for a location, as seeing authors infuse stories with their cultures or histories is always a nice turn. And this trilogy definitely has a nice diverse cast of characters. 

If you are a fan of urban fantasy, Norse mythology, and unique takes on meshing those worlds, this should work really well for you. 

I received this novella to judge for the SFINCS semi-finals. Opinion is my own, and does not represent that made by the team. I did also happen to purchase this in paperback, as I prefer to read physical, and I liked the cover. 

This is the prequel to The Heart of Quinaria series, and in my opinion, it does operate quite well on its own. It’s a little sparse of descriptors, but it is very focused on the story it’s centering on, so it still works. 

Igtheos and Elize are an interracial married couple with a mixed child. The differences are not exactly explained, at least not in black and white, but I took the Nyrian people to be kind of elf/god like beings. The would be dictator they rebel against would put a stop to such relationships, and much more. He believes the humans to be outright beneath them. So when he offers terms for their surrender that seem to good to be true, the rebels still have no choice but to accept. That or be starved out. This is the chaos that ensues when he breaks his treaty to the rebels. It’s a good examination of hope over caution, as well as the lengths people will go for those they love (and in some sense the depths). 

While being quite short, perhaps even for novella standards, this was still quite impactful. The action is big, the emotion even bigger. I really felt for the rebels cause, mostly through how the author portrays the rebel leaders. And of course, fights over equality are always hard hitting, fantasy world or not. And in my opinion, this kind of representation of evil is one of the darkest there is. Not just outright evil, not just bad and hectic, but the pointed attempt at lowering or even annihilating a people. In that sense, it is quite a heavy read though. 

You feel their losses, you feel their plight, and you feel like raising up a sword in their defense. 

Second I saw this was announced I had to grab one. The scurry furries, which first appeared in a short from Christmas in the Empty Cabin, are just such good creatures for a horror story. I’m glad Reyes brought them back. 

Amber needs the money, so sadly she’s off to work on Christmas Eve, even with her entire family on the way over. The author yet again gives us diverse characters, bringing Hispanic culture with Amber and her family’s celebration. It adds authenticity to her as a character right away. 

Sadly, when Amber gets to works, her boss Eddie immediately asks her to help a coworker with a last minute shipment. This shipment happens to be a big ol’ pallet of scurry furries. The descriptors of retail work, the way the store is set up, as well as the temperament of holiday shoppers, are spot on. I have worked some form of retail for the last sixteen years, and Reyes doesn’t miss a beat. Especially because the scurry furry is a holiday hit. The Black Friday-esque need to push, shove, and name call for last minute items are all things I’ve seen in person. 

Reyes hits us with some of his best descriptors during the chaos that ensues. Bringing this creature feature novelette to life for the reader. Not just the gruesomeness of scurry furries chomping on unsuspecting shoppers, but also the way he described the smells in the store. “Unkempt ass” most definitely being my favorite. 

I’ll be honest, I feel like these recent novelettes are just missing the slightest bit. If Amber had gotten into work, and perhaps we were given more of her day, and then as it neared closing the scurry furry pallet came out? It could have given more atmosphere to the story, as well as lengthening it a bit, so that the surprise is leveled up. Or perhaps I just really think the horror novella is where things hit their stride the best?

Regardless, Reyes does a great job here. I loved that there ended up being a deluxe edition of the scurry furry, so we did not get the exact same story as the previously released short. I love that it remained in the same universe of the short, with the OG store getting name dropped, and I really liked that Reyes also shouted out his forthcoming slasher novel. Personally a 4/5*, a quick read for Gremlins fans. 

I received this novella to judge for the SFINCS semi-finals. Opinion is my own, and does not represent that made by the team. I did also happen to purchase this in paperback, as I prefer to read physical, and I liked the cover. 

This novella mixes quite a lot into it. It’s post apocalyptic event, with seemingly more of a fantasy based event than a scifi one, but the notes of both are still there. In that sense it’s urban fantasy, but as it’s after the events, it reads as a fantasy world unlike our own in ways, and yet it has notes of a Victorian-era London to it as well. Not to mention I’ve seen reviewers call the author a grimdark writer too. Oh, and this features a detective, so it’s mystery as well. Far be it from me to tell you what genre to call it, but I personally loveeee blended genres. 

Kade Blackcap is an out-of-luck and yet above-average sleuth. When his abilities lead to a guilty man being hung, he finds that he can’t exactly cope with the death of a human, guilty or not. This spirals out of control until he’s about to end up on the street. Rashly, he decides to run something in the paper for a more superstitious clientele. It’s vastly unsuccessful, but he’s not a quitter. 

I love that our detective’s journey involved researching mythology and folklore from the world’s past in the library. He is not naturally knowledgeable or gifted and winning without trials. He struggles with a penchant for sipping from his flask, so more often than not he’s stumbling to his destination or has a headache. Not necessarily uncommon for the mystery genre, but it’s pretty cool to see this implanted into a world that’s much less common for it. And it makes Kade read as incredibly grounded, real. 

I did find the mystery itself to be a little on the nose, but obviously the twist is that he switches to supernatural detecting, and in that sense, it worked very well for me. It is also a bit shy on its explanation of what happened to the world, again, I think possibly (like others that follow this format) because it came out after book one, and perhaps the author did not want to explain it twice. But because this is a mystery, and such a singularly focused event, I found it helped the mystery rather than hindering the book. 

Personally a 5/5*, a real killer for me. 

I absolutely love the title. It might be a top three book title ever. And the red of the cover is great too, so I knew I needed to read it right away this holiday season. 

I read this across day 4 and 5 of Covid, in a kind of semi-fugue state, and I think it kind of struck me that the author must have been in something similar to have thought this sucker up…
…joking aside, this is an incredibly clever idea that’s whimsical, fantastical, and original. 

It has so many references that I was constantly highlighting and rereading snippets. Perhaps you’ll understand the one below, which was my favorite: “…loose newell post, or cleaning up after the fried cat under the armchair in the lobby, or fixing the furnace, or...” it was like reading one giant Christmas reference and I absolutely loved it. It made the North Pole seem like fantasy, but with references to known culture, pulling it back down towards magical realism at the same time. 

With that said, this is a murder mystery! Sam Shovel is a snowman that comes to life every year for the twelve days of Christmas at the North Pole. Not only does he have a knack for detecting, but his corncob pipe biting, fedora wearing antics felt very noir crime novel without his personality being the usual grit. 

The author’s knowledge of Christmas, and the actual past history of it, is clearly on display through various characters and traditions. And it was so interesting to see the murder mystery (the murder of O. Tannenbaum) intertwine with them. 

The character’s names, all references of their own, should honestly earn the author some kind of award. The book is silly but serious the entire time, and I laughed more than once. 

I’m really not sure how, but this is somehow like a warm blanket, a cup of warm coco, and a hug. All while investigating murder. It’s cozy, and feels kind of safe even though it’s mysterious at the same time. It also didn’t read as ‘cozy’ in the kind of corny sense that has begun to be associated with the term. I cannot stress enough how enjoyable this was. Personally a 5/5*. This is a first for me from the author, but with a Hercule Poirot reference, it certainly won’t be the last. 

I received an ebook copy to review for FanFiAddict/Fear For All and I’m glad to have read it. 

This is a drug induced horror ride. Blood pumping, ear splitting, nose sniffing ride. 

What works:

Paulo, the father, and the first person POV in the novel, is desperate to find his daughter Adriana. The loss of his wife and his promise to her really solidified his desperation. It sells the fact that he would drive off and then walk miles through the wilderness in winter to find here. Not that a father wouldn’t move mountains for their daughter in general, but this is death-defying stuff here. 

Adriana, always forced to focus education above all else, has taken the loss of her mother hard. It has driven a split between her and her father, and she has taken this one step further by running away. Turning to a life that neither parent would want for her. Their relationship, centered around grief, again really sold their decision making. 

This examination of grief, the loss of a loved one, and the lack thereof that follows, were really the pieces that glued this together for me. The author’s grasp on human nature is showed off really well. 

The monsters, whether it was just Harold and the drugs, or something more, were very interesting, gruesome, and most definitely intense. The scene in the tunnel was almost scifi monster level. 

What didn’t work for me:

The drug influenced scenes, which could arguable be all of them, none of them, or at least a decent chunk, read very out there. In that sense, they are clearly successful, don’t get me wrong. But in a sense they read like fantasy dream sequences, which I find extremely hard to get through. I don’t do drugs, therefore maybe I don’t get it? It read as real, just a bit to get through for me. 

I read approximately one romance a year, and only if they are Christmas based. Romance isn’t really my thing, but it’s the season of love, so I let it slide. I enjoy the cover art, so I grabbed a copy. 

Libby, a down on her luck photographer and our story’s main, has just lost another job. Coincidentally, she’s also just lost her living space due to her boyfriend falling into another woman. As is necessary with these plots, we now have the impetus for a swift change. In comes her new employer, Seth, an eccentric money-man looking for a live in assistant. Naturally, she accepts. 

The plot is pretty straight forward, and while she got into her job and all it entails, I was pleasantly surprised that I didn’t find anything boring. It’s pretty unique when an author can write something so slice-of-life and still keep you turning pages. Then something incredible happens, her boss gets a puppy and then you get to take the puppy out to pee and go on walks! 

The romance kicks in pretty early, but it’s not really always on the nose. It’s often rather slight and you definitely have to read between the lines a bit. Partly because of the way the character Seth is written, and in part due to the author giving the reader the option to NOT read into it. In a kind of too-good-to-be-true sense. 

When it becomes apparent, is towards the end when they have themselves a Christmas truce. It’s festive and fun, and the romance is believable. The Christmas dinner, the decorations, the movies they watched, were all exactly what I was looking for. I did just find this part to be a bit short for my liking. Personally a 4/5*.