C.F. Welburn's Blog

Cider With Rosie

It's been 22 years since I finished my literature degree, and I've become embroiled and cavorted in the world of sci-fi and fantasy. However, to shake things up I've decided to make this year's reading challenge about getting some classics under my belt. Kicking things off with the evocative Cider with Rosie.

review:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

The recent passing of a dear man, friend of the family and once inspirational English teacher, reminded me that this had been his favourite book. As such, I took it upon myself to explore it, and did so with pleasant surprise and relish. The prose is rich, poetic in its use of metaphor and can turn the most mundane of objects into things of magic. That the audiobook was narrated by none other than the late Lee himself, made this experience particularly special, and I felt as though I had stepped through a portal to taste a time which has passed and can never come again. 5 stars.

Great! Going to keep this review brief, but if you like what you've read so far this 3rd instalment continues developing the expansive cast in satisfying ways and is full of the action and tragedy I have come to expect from Tucker's Chronicles. Well written and captivating.

There's quite a lot I enjoyed about this first book in The Wing Cycle. For a start I love being introduced to new races and the winged sylphs who live in relative peace on an isolated island ticked the box. We learn some of their customs and how their society is structured, and I look forward to learning more about their history, how they came to be on the island etc.
I also enjoy a good underdog story, and our protagonist Ravenna most certainly provides this ingredient, being born with deformed wings and unable to take flight. Life is obviously made difficult for her, particularly by sniping peers, but she is taken under the wing (sorry, I had to) of a mentor who teaches her lore and the intriguing Dalketh which promises to be full of potential... However, Ravenna's world is turned upside down when she is captured and enslaved by cruel humans who presume her an angel. It's here where we start to see glimpses of her true character and of what the peaceful sylphs may be capable.
Add into this story a Machiavellian antagonist with a chip on his shoulder and an urge to seize the empire, an usurped queen, demonic possession, an unexpected love interest and promises of dragons, and there was quite a lot going on!
I look forward to seeing where the story goes from here, as it seems the sylphs harmonic way of life is about to be shattered.

Soulsmith picks up exactly where Unsouled left off. Unfortunately for me, I’d had about 18 months break between the two books and the story did not pander to my bewildered mind. The madra-based magic system is complex and if you’ve not read the books in a continuous/timely fashion, it can get confusing. That’s my fault though, not the author’s. Although I did find myself racing as fast as the thousand-mile cloud that bears the protagonists away from the Sacred Valley. That’s right. A speeding, red, horse-sized cloud, ladies and gentlemen. That’s the sort of cool stuff you’ll find here!
Book 2 builds on the things I enjoyed about book 1 with the main character, Lindon, starting to become someone to be reckoned with. Wight also introduces some interesting new characters and factions. As this is book 2 in a 7? book series, I find it difficult to nail this review down, but if you like progression fantasy with intricate magic systems, lots of quotable lines and an oriental vibe to the cultures and clans, then there’s loads here for you to enjoy!

Soulsmith

A Ritual of Bone

Braaaaiiiiiinnnnnsssssss

After having recently watched the Korean series Kingdom I was excited to read this book; the melding of fantasy and zombie genres seems like a match made in hell. Sort of like wine and cheese. If the wine were hot gushing blood and the cheese a blue-veined chunk of spongy brain.

The story kicks off in suitable horror film fashion, with a mounting sense of foreboding. In fact, the pacing was perfect, enthralling me with its ominous rumblings, sinister signposting, and that creeping dread that all good horrors bring. I had a sense the sun was setting and a long, dark night was about to ensue. This buildup also allows us to meet the main protagonists and get a feeling for the norse inspired setting... There's just a general feeling that things are about to get bad. Really bad.

I'll refrain from entering spoiler territory, but suffice to say you'll find here fast-paced action, gory encounters, diverse characters, shady dealings, conspiracy theories and a few tragic twists that hint of darker things to come... Oh, and axes!

For anyone looking for a low-fantasy, norse-tinged, brain-splattered harrowing tale, this ticks all the boxes. The fact that book 2 is due out shortly just gives you even more reason to get stuck in. (Like a zombie in a mouldering ribcage happy meal).

Wow, these summer challenges sure come around quickly. This year I'm kicking things off with Og-Grim-Dog!
Og-Grim-Dog: The Three-Headed Ogre

I haven't read much comedic fantasy since my teenage Terry Pratchett days, and then last year's Orconomics, which pleasantly surprised me. Well, I'm happy to report that Edmundson has pulled off another delightfully humorous romp with Og-Grim-Dog, the first in his new series about a three-headed ogre. The concept itself intrigued me, and I was not disappointed.
Opening with a tongue-in-cheek parodying of The Name of the Wind, the tale unfolds as an accounting of the ogre's former exploits; and where best to start any good tale, but in the... middle?
Cue many opportunities to poke fun at the genre’s tropes with caricaturesque companions and loot-filled (or not) quests. Things take an interesting turn with a spot of whodunnit mystery and satisfying story arc that hints at more sinister events to follow! The language was clear and precise, sliding off the page like a goblin from an ogre's pike.
If you're looking for a feelgood hit of the summer, you can't go far wrong with this, and I’m looking forward to seeing how the story ends…. and starts, for that matter.
Right, I’m off down the Bruised Bollocks for a pint.

Outpost by F.T. McKinstry

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Outpost is the first book in The Fylking series. It follows a warden of the gate, a king’s ranger and a witch with powers in her weaving, and takes place on the world of Math, an outpost for the Fylking warlords in their cosmic war. There was a lot I enjoyed about this book. Firstly, McKinstry’s beautiful prose really shone for me. The world building was excellent, having more than a tinge of norse mythology about it. The three POV characters were well written and I found myself wanting to know more about each one, every time the story swapped perspective. I get the sense through the language and descriptions that the author has an affinity with nature, and that made the book even more endearing to me, finding little details in the woodlands, or the forms of animals and creatures the Fylking sometimes take. Highly recommended and I'll definitely be checking out the next book!




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The Path of Flames by Phil Tucker

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Path of Flames is the first book in the Chronicles of the Black Gate series and starts things off with a devastating battle which changes the fate of a downtrodden squire. The tale is one of forbidden magic and knights-not the chivalrous, gallant type you might have in mind; these guys would hack your face off as soon as argue. In fact, the whole world is quite bleak and violent, though not without moments of humour and hope. The story follows multiple POVs and Tucker does a great job at giving each character their own voice and interesting agenda. The Ascendency religion that is at the centre of the world’s belief system is very credible and gives insight into the way people think and why they act as they do. A few tropes aside, this is very enjoyable and great start to the series.



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The Crimson Queen by Alec Hutson

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


The Crimson Queen is a strong start to another series I will keep on reading. It’s a mix of classic fantasy (magic, demons, quests, chosen one) but with a slightly oriental tinge (cranes and swordplay). There are several POV characters here, which adds an interesting perspective as to how the excellent world building and story unfold. The prose was a strong point for me and it had enough mystery to keep me flipping the pages.



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Toric's Dagger by Jamie Edmundson

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This quest to retrieve a stolen religious relic ticked so many of the boxes that got me into fantasy in the first place: an epic quest, a cast of diverse characters, swords and sorcery, otherworldly landscapes, strange creatures. Couple all this with a world which has a detailed history replete with political rifts, feuds and machinations, there is a lot going on. I especially liked the mix of characters, each bring their own skills and personalities to the party and the banter between them. Looking forward to seeing how this all plays out!



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