This is an amazing book, but I was initially put off by the name…. “The Name of the Wind” is such a …I don’t know… sort of “classic fantasy title/trope” that I was really skeptical how it could be unique and interesting. There are sooooo many fantasy books out there that have mined the same old tropes and territories for years. How could this be any different – especially with such a trite name. Also, the guy who told me about it was wearing […]
Sailing Ships in Outer Space!
I got this book because it looked a bit steampunky, a genre I like and it seemed like “steampunks on Mars” or something. I sort of bought it based on the cover. So…the tale does start out on Mars, but with a standard “22nd century mining colony with semi-military oversight” trope firmly in place (what, no steam?) The occurrence of a mysterious “Mars quake” (as there is no tectonic activity on Mars, there should be no seismic activity) “shakes things up a bit” and […]
A tale of magical immigrants
A captivating, complex tale spun from the classic stories of Jewish Kabbala mysticism and Arabian mythology. Two immigrants struggle to make a life for themselves in turn of the century New York City. A classic tale, but with the twist that one immigrant is a Jinni from Syria and the other a Golem from Central Europe. The Golem has been created from clay by a Kabbalist/sorcerer to be the perfect wife to a lonely man. Unfortunately, enroute to America, her husband dies shortly after […]
Shambling Along
Full disclosure – I listened to the Audible version of this book whilst painting my daughter’s bedroom. It was a good light read for that sort of thing. (I did claim that my last book review would be the last one about zombies – and it was. While this book does have zombies, they are side characters and it’s not creepy…) Cute book – as cute as the cover. Spunky out of work magazine writer Zoe Norris (oops …she had an affair with […]