Readit 2011 SpecFic

The Readit2011 theme for March was Specfic – Speculative fiction encompassing fantasy and paranormal romance.

I've never read Orson Scott Card's books, but his most recent novel, The Lost Gate,   was highly recommended by a borrower in my library.   Card is best known for his science fiction, but here he writes fantasy.   Danny, who has grown up as the only unmagical member of a magical family, finds that he actually has the most prized and dangerous talent of all, he is a Gatemage. Centuries ago, the gates between this world and the world of Westil were closed by a rogue Gatemage, and all knowledge of this magic forbidden.  Danny must flee his family and develop his magic without being detected.  I found the writing quite uneven, at times it flowed, and reading was effortless, other sections were quite clumsy, and I was tempted to put the book down without finishing – but persevered, because I rarely give up on a book.

I tried some of Nalini Singh's paranormal romance Psy-changling series last month, and decided to give her urban fantasy Angel series a go this month.  Elena Deveraux is a vampire hunter in a world where angels rule and vampires are their indentured servants. In both books (Archagels Kiss & Angels Blood) she's involved in solving grisley murders.  The sex and violence are graphic - this is definitley not a vampire book to recommend to teens.

Gail Carriger's Parasol Protectorate steampunk series was highly recommended by several speakers at a State Library event. In a version of Victorian London, where Vampires and Werewolves are respected, well dressed members of aristocratic society, Alexia Tarabotti labours under a great many social tribulations:  she's a statuesque, half Italian bluestocking born without a soul. These books are great fun, and quite addictive. Having bought and read the first three in the series (Soulless, Changeless & Blameless) I'm now eagerly awaiting the publication of the fourth.

I'm not usually attracted to fantasy epics, but I was inspired to try Way of Shadows after listening to Brent Weeks speak..  The story opens in the dangerous slums of a faction ridden city, where a young boy attempts to improve his life by apprenticing himself to an assassin.  The setting and large cast of characters are believable, and the story moves quickly, with lots of well written action scenes. Having read the first book, I hunted out the second and third (Shadows Edge, Beyond the Shadows), and wouldn't hesitate to recommend these books to a reader looking for fast paced fantasy, who doesn’t mind violence and a body count in the thousands.   One complaint, however, is that while the editions I read have maps, there is no list of character.  If authors insist on inventing a the plethora of characters with strange name, the least they could do is provide the poor struggling reader with a descriptive list.