Book Title: The Avant Champion: Rising
Author: C.B. Samet
Book Series: The Avant Champion
Stars: 3/5

Spoilers Ahead!

So, in an effort to slow down my spending on books, I thought I would re-read something old. Browsing through my library, I pulled out a couple of books I had started but never finished, a couple of books I didn’t remember reading until I started them, and one book I didn’t remember buying. Avant Champion by C.B. Samet was the book I didn’t remember getting. 

Since I didn’t remember getting Avant Champion, I also had zero recollection of the synopsis that inspired me to pick it up. And ebooks, unlike paperbacks, do not have an easy way of flipping over the cover to read the book’s hook. I was going in blind. Which meant that the opening chapter really set up my expectations. 

“I didn’t want to die, but I could see no other option. My purpose was to die – in this day, at this moment, by the hand of Evil.” ~chapter 1, The Avant Champion: Rising. 

The next line indicates a time skip backwards 18 days. Well, there is the set up. Main character is going to die by the end of the book and the eighteen days leading up to the opening paragraph is going to show us why. Of course, as I am reading, I am also secretly hoping our intrepid heroine will survive Evil – but there is a general sense of sacrifice that is being set up. 

Abigail Cross begins her 18 day countdown working a ball as a servant for the Queen. Only that night she watches as shadow monsters kill her brother and finds herself responsible for protecting the Queen. On the run and baffled about what is happening to the kingdom, Abby flees first to the familiar grounds of the University where she had spent much of her recent years. But they can’t stay long, they are being hunted. 

Picking up extra help in the form of her brother’s friend, Joshua, Abby leads the Queen to a distant part of the Kingdom. A place Abby was familiar with from her years of field studies through the University program. There, they are given more aid and direction. First visit the Monks that outline the things Abby needs to collect to summon the Avant Champion who will defeat the Evil spreading across the land. Abby uses the friends she has met through her previous travels to collect the necessary items. 

Of course, we are not surprised to discover that Abby is the Avant Champion who has to face Evil. Now the opening makes sense. So, by this point I am expecting that Abby needs to die as a requirement for being the Champion. Or the Champion is really the person that sacrifices themself and through that sacrifice Evil is banished for another 1000 years. 

Turns out I was wrong. The Avant Champion is just a person who has to ‘kill’ the leader of Evil, which will drive the rest of the horde back to the volcanic island from whence they came. It is a literal battle of good versus evil. People die. So, when Abby lived, I figured another character would have to be sacrificed – sacrifice does come up a few times in the book. Joshua was the most likely candidate as Abby’s love interest (also her family is already dead). Nope, she saves him too. Then, just to make her tragic life less tragic, she will discover that her mother is actually still alive. 

Where to start in the analysis? Well, I liked the intro for setting up the climax. Only it didn’t play out at all as I expected. I think I like the way the story was written. We are following Abby along on her fetch and protect quest. As we go we learn a bit more about her life and her travels around the different corners of the kingdom. There were long sections of info-dumping, but it still read pretty well. 

The fetch quest format was fine. I like the idea of learning that myths are real. That there are many layers (think magic) to the world. The world itself was a puzzle. It was fantasy. Not medieval. Transportation technology was at the point of carriages and trains. Weapons were mostly spears, swords and arrows – no guns. Clothing for women included fancy gowns for the wealthy and trousers and tunics for many other women. 

The idea that Evil was literally the evil pulled out the People in the world and concentrated on the volcanic island where it would fester for about 1000 years then it would strike out and try to over take the kingdom was … interesting. I don’t know if I like the idea of providing a physical form to our evil hearts or find it simplistic in that there is not great weight to fighting it. 

That Abby’s entire life was manipulated to make her the Avant Champion was an interesting way to explore Fate and Free Will. The author could have pulled more on this theme throughout the book. But it was fine. 

The star tattoo that allows Abby to teleport around the world with ease is a bit overpowered. However as she is quickly established as having no great ambitions to take over the world. I can work with it. 

For me the biggest drawback was I started reading the novel thinking it was a complete story. I didn’t realize it was part of a series. And the big battle, that is foreshadowed in the opening two paragraphs, well that takes place three quarters into the book. That means the wrap up of everything accounts for 25% of the book’s length. That is a long section. And really, it is the justification for writing a sequel. I think I liked it better when the Champion beat Evil then went off and lived the rest of her life. But there are at least 4 more books about Abby.

Overall it is a fun story. It is neat to see how the different myths become real as Abby takes on the role of Avant Champion. It is difficult to overcome my hesitation about this being book one in a series. And the way magic just sort of reapers without other people commenting on it. I am giving this story 3 out of 5 stars – because I am picky. 

Book Title: Hummingbird
Author: Helen Harper
Series Title: A Charade of Magic
Stars: 5/5

Spoilers Ahead!

Hummingbird is the first book in A Charade of Magic, the new series by Helen Harper. One of the things that drew me to Hummingbird was the setting. This fantasy story takes place in Glasgow, Scotland – and I have been there! There is something about reading books set in familiar (or even vaguely familiar) locations that makes them more personal. I would say relatable, but the level of oppression and magic present in Hummingbird was thoroughly absent from my Glasgow experience. 

Helen Harper is a great writer. I love her characters and her world building. She effortlessly blends fantasy elements with real world settings. Contemporary fantasy or urban fantasy would, I suppose, be decent descriptors. Magic exists in her worlds. Regularly it is just present. Unlike many urban fantasy writers who describe near futures where magic has suddenly appeared, Harper tends to have magic well established in the world. It is not a point she belabours and I think this works very well to create interesting places that are like and unlike the world we know. 

For instance, Mages run Glasgow – well all of Scotland (and likely Britain beyond). Their powers are known by the local characters. No one feels the need to explain magic, unless it is specifically a point in the plot development. There is no marker of before magic and after magic. In fact, it was not clear when this book was set. Unlike many of her other series which are clearly taking place in modern day equivalents, Hummingbird lacked the obvious use of technology we use to date a story’s setting. Yet, it didn’t feel like it was a stereotypical medieval fantasy either. 

While it might seem easy, writing a compelling story with a mute protagonist is difficult. It is easy for the book to be overwhelmed with long passages of text or internal monologuing. I found Mairi Wallace to be an engaging lead. While the readers got to hear her internal voice, she was able to have some conversations with others too. It was easy to sympathize with Mairi and the challenging choices she was faced with throughout the story. 

More importantly the mystery of the power held by the oppressive ruling mages was well done. The book does an interesting job of portraying the imbalance and corruption of power by those with magic. It also raises questions of their ability to stay in power, which is not entirely resolved as this is only book one in the series. 

While I do like the inclusion of the ever intriguing demon, chained to the will of the mages, I am holding many reservations about the Afflicted. These shambling abominations read too much like zombies, which I don’t like. The saving grace, so far, is the increasing amount of evidence pointing to conscious people, rather than mindless hordes of aggressive predators. This was one of the major plot points not resolved in the story. 

I also have some questions about Thunder and Belle with whom Mairi apprenticed in their tartan shop. This couple was described in strongly unflattering terms at the start of the story, neglectful at best and abusive at worst. Yet they appear as helpers in the end. More than that, their sudden reappearance suggests they have a greater understanding of who Mairi is than Mairi did herself. It was like they expected to discover she was a powerful female mage in a world where mages are only male – at least according to those in charge. 

Of course these questions and  uncertainties leave me very enthusiastic for the sequel. While I haven’t read everything by Harper, I have read many of her books and enjoyed all of them. Hummingbird was a great read and promises to be another great series. With negative points for the inclusion of Afflicted-zombies outweighed by being set in Glasgow, I give this book 5 out of 5 stars. 

Book Title: Capture the Crown
Book Author: Jennifer Estep
Series Title: Gargoyle Queen
Stars: 5/5

Spoilers Ahead!

From the author of the Crown of Shards series, come a new trilogy set in the same world. Capture the Crown is the first book in Jennifer Esteps new series, Gargoyle Queen. Taking place more than a decade after the Crown of Shards, Capture the Crown follows Gemma Ripley of Andvari. 

Princess Gemma has become known for her fashion and frivolity. She is the epitome of a flighty and flirtatious princess. Secretly, she is a spy. Taking time to go on adventures, Gemma listens to the gossip and tracks a missing shipment of tearstone. She finds herself in the mountains, in the mining town of Blauberg – close to the Morta border. Unfortunately for Gemma, Leonidas Morricone – the bastard prince of Queen Maeven Morricone – is also there. Nightmares from their first meeting as children still haunt Gemma’s dreams. Yet she finds herself first helping than being helped by Leo. 

Removed from Blauberg and installed behind enemy lines, Gemma and Leo will work together to discover the secrets of the missing tearstone. At least they will try. But trust is not an easy thing to come by, especially in the Morta Court. 

Capture the Crown has all the spunk, fun, adventure and romance of the Crown of Shards series. I like the strong, clear writing. Gemma is an interesting character with different sides to her personal and public personas. She is scared from the traumatic eventus of her childhood – surviving the Morta massacre – and determined to be more than a court ornament. She is powerful, in a different way than Everleigh was in Crown of Shards. First, Gemma’s powers are mental, though she can still fight with her fists. 

I love the fact that Gemma’s attempts to be a spy were ultimately undone by the end. The failure to be a spy was balanced by her success in being a leader and protector of her people. Which I think worked for this princess. 

The world building was still great. I like the Roman/Greek/Gladiator inspired world. This is something fun about the way Estep pulls on older mythologies but in a fresh manner to create complex and believable settings. Filled with magic and monsters, there is just enough fantasy to keep the world exciting. And best, it isn’t a stereotypical medieval setting.

I really enjoyed this book and am eager to read the next in the trilogy – which sadly doesn’t release until 2022. Entertaining and engaging, both similar enough I can see the relation to the other series, but different enough it doesn’t feel derivative, I am giving this great read 5 stars out of 5. 

Book Title: A House Divided
Author’s Name: Nicole Ciacchella
Series: Astoran Asunder

Spoilers Ahead!

The book is A House Divided by Nicole Ciacchella. It is the first in the Astoran Asunder series. The story follows our two fated leads: Cianne Wyland and Kila an Movis. Cianne is the daughter of a powerful member in the Staerleigh House. Giftless, Cianne only hope to maintain her status within the House is to marry well. The star child of House Staerleigh, Captain Lochlan, is ready to marry Cianne. They are already good friends, but Cianne doesn’t want to move beyond that relationship. Her heart lies elsewhere. 

Kila is returning to the city after his big mouth had him banished a decade earlier. An enforcer, he is gods-gifted at putting pieces together. His period of exile is over, but the city has changed and he needs to step cautiously to avoid making the same mistakes as before. 

Cianne and Kila are drawn together when a member of House Staerleigh dies. While the Elders are quick to write off the death as suicide, Cianne and Kila suspect more to the plot. For years, Cianne has cultivated secret skills in spying on her family. She knows something is wrong, but how can she prove it? More importantly, who can she trust? Kila is not of the House and his position as an enforcer is a good fit for her needs. But it is really the childhood crush that brings her to Kila’s house in the middle of the night. 

There is quite a bit about the story I like. The main characters are interesting. They have clear motivations and complex relationships with their friends and family. It is a slow burn romance that does appeal to me. I like the investigation into corrupt family members. The questions of trusting those around us, of uncovering their secrets, of determining our place in our family are all interesting and do well to drive Cianne’s actions. 

Unfortunately, their plot is convoluted and unsatisfying. During the climax, Cianne places herself in position to overhear the damning evidence of corruption between her family and the other great houses. Sadly, this pivotal moment needs to be explained to the reader because it is not clear in the telling. In fact, it was not that clearly damning. Highly suspicious, but I expected more from Cianne’s spying abilities than a vague conversation. 

I also struggled with Captain’s Loch sudden flip from loving Cianne to believing she was a traitor to the family. After spending almost half the story in a grief-driven stupor, convinced his parent did not commit suicide, he then accepts the fact his father was murder as necessary and the idea that Cianne is out to destroy House Staerleigh. It was too fast a flip in perspective. 

I feel like the story would have been more interesting if there was more of an investigation around the deceased House member. More spying. More interviews. More seeking out clues and putting them together. Instead parts of the ending come out of nowhere (like her mother is still alive!) and is rushed to force both Cianne and Kila into each other’s company and out of the city. 

While I recognized from the start this was part of a series, I assumed it would continue to follow Cianne and Kila. I was surprised to realize that the next book is about two different characters. Not what I expected given the set up of the first book and its lack of a satisfying ending. 

There is much I enjoyed about this story – the relationship between Cianne and Kila was fun to read. It built well and I like how it connected to a past encounter. But several areas that left me unfulfilled. Overall, I would give A House Divided 3 stars out of 5.

Book Title: The Elf Tangent
Author’s Name: Lindsay Buroker
Book Series: None – yet

Spoilers Ahead!

The Elf Tangent is a new novel by one of my favourite authors, Lindsay Buroker. Set in a new world, princess Aldari’s passions lay in studying in the very un-princess-like pursuits of mathematics and writing papers on economic theory. Writing under a pen-name to circumvent her father’s wishes, Aldari still understands her duty as princess of a small and largely defenseless kingdom. So, when an alliance with a stronger kingdom of Orath requires her to marry the foreign prince, Aldari sets off across the mountains. After all, she cares for her people and knows the threat of invasion from the aggressive Taldar Empire is real. Without an alliance Aldari’s home of Delantria is doomed. 

Aldari is accompanied by her personal guard and best friend, Thali, and a host of elf mercenaries. Only the elves are not there to protect Aldari on her journey, but rather kidnap her instead. After centuries of fighting their own internal conflict, the elves believe Aldari may be the key they need to end the fighting. 

Of course it helps that Hawk is considerate despite kidnapping princess Aldari. Then there are the puzzles that they set before her. Nothing like a good math problem to win the heart of this princess! And that is one of the things I love about this new cast of characters. Aldari is not a fighter, but she is good with numbers! It is always nice to find a smart capable character that doesn’t need to kill someone else to prove their competence. That said, I didn’t feel like they contributed that much to the final climax of the plot. Or perhaps I was not following their contribution properly. Still it appeared that others would have solved the riddles without her and would have brought fewer threats to the final destination. 

Hawk was a fun character. He and Andari have some great conversations. I do love the banter! He also serves as a way to explain the world of the elves. I was not surprised to discover he was a prince – it was hardly a twist, but well set up in advance. 

The elves pose an interesting problem. I like that they bring magic to the world. But their magic seems unconstrained – as though they can wave a hand and have the magic fix all their problems. At least once they solve their biggest problem. I did like the way they had to subsist on different types of moss! It was fun to have them so dependent on few resources. As a community they also had some internal politics at play, which did make the story more interesting. 

The Elf Tangent is a fun romp. I like the character developments. I like the new world being explored. I was left with some questions, like: why did Orath contract a marriage alliance with Delantria? And did they have anything to do with the attack on her caravan in the mountains? If Thali is a great bodyguard, why does she seem to fail all her fights? I liked Thali, but she didn’t seem overly good – or was that just because elves are so much better at fighting? 

Still, I liked The Elf Tangent and would give it 4 out of 5 stars. I particularly like that it is not part of a series. It is nice to find some stand-alone books!

Book Title: To Kill a Fae
Author’s Name: Jamie A. Waters
Book Series: The Dragon Portal

Spoilers Ahead!

Sabine is a Royal Fae in hiding. Living in a city full of humans, iron and other magical creatures, she has kept her true nature suppressed and cloaked for a decade. That is until one night, she is caught off guard. It only takes a moment, a tiny slip, to open a crack in the careful image she has crafted to guard her secret. And in that moment, she caught the curious attention of a recently arrived ship captain, Malek. 

Malek has not come to Akros for smuggling as he claims. He is there for artifacts, old pieces of power that were once used to seal the great portal to other worlds. It was through the dragon portal, Malek’s people first came. It was during their war that much of the world was destroyed. This sent the fae deep into their forests. The fae don’t leave the safety of the trees, at least that is what Malek understood until he met Sabine. 

Secrets and prejudices are hard to overcome. The fae hate dragons, but then the fae are also supposed to hate demons and Sabine is tied closely to two powerful demons living in Akros. Hunted and marked for death by her own people, Sabine’s life in Akros has just become dangerously complicated in this fast pace story. 

I really enjoyed reading about Sabine. She was just the right mix of physical fighting competence and caring about those around her. She was strong, smart and not clueless. I like that the reader learns more about the world and characters over time. But the protagonist is integrated into the world and knowledgeable about her surroundings – she is not clueless or an amnesiac. Sabine is competent – which makes for a fun read. 

She does have that princess power of attracting strong people to her. Her broken family provides the dark past needed to drive her forward into action and adventure. And that is what this story is – the first in a series of object-collecting, world-exploring, ally-making adventures. I enjoyed book one so much that upon its completion I immediately got book two. Which was the same general premise of powering up the magic, Sabine saving some people to create more alliances, and of course collecting the next artifact needed to close the Dragon Portal. From the description of book three, I see this is a trend that will continue through much of the series. Which is not a terrible way of doing things. I just don’t know if I am going to stay interested. I will say, the second book was fun in its further exploration of the world. 

There are a number of magical creatures, many, but not all, are humanoid in some capacity. I feel this story does well with the different mythical races. It has shown that not all individuals from one group, like the mermaids, are the same. Some mermaids are good, some are complete asses. That is true of the fae and dragons and … It is also interesting how the author takes stereotypical characteristics and twists them in a new light. Like how the fae work with and manipulate the balance of debt between themselves and others. 

What I am struggling with is the presence of active gods. Granted this is more a personal preference, but I don’t love the inclusion of active gods in my fantasy stories. I am happy if they are part of history. But their power level or attitude or something, just doesn’t seem to work so well when active in the story. Perhaps I just don’t like the idea we are moved like puppets by forces beyond our control. It is my least favourite aspect. 

This was a great read, so I am giving it 4.5 stars out of 5.