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Mayhem Wave #4
Balance of Mayhem
For five years, Dorothy O’Neill has had someone else living in her brain. Strontium, the witch who sacrificed herself to save Dorothy and the two children in her care, saved her own consciousness by fleeing into Dorothy’s mind, a tactic she thought would be temporary. Despite the best efforts of the
Council of Mages to regenerate Strontium’s body and restore her to it, that state of affairs is starting to look permanent. So, when an opportunity presents itself to Dorothy to free Strontium and have her own mind to herself again, it sorely tempts her. All she has to do is embark on a quest with Felicia Kestrel, an assassin who has been until this point Dorothy’s mortal enemy.
Felicia seeks a scale from the armor of the legendary dragon Hypatia, a relic of the non-real world she believes has survived the Mayhem Wave, and whose sole purpose is to heal. She needs a witch to help her employ its magic and use it to heal herself of an undisclosed malady, and claims it has the power to restore Strontium to her own body. Joining her will make Dorothy a fugitive. Passing up this opportunity could mean spending the rest of her life with Strontium exiled in her head.
Enlisting the aid of a pixie to protect her, and armed with a magical sword, Dorothy leaves her home, trusting that the woman who tried to kill her once won’t do so again. The quest for the Scale proves trickier than expected, with dangers beyond Dorothy’s experience, and the threat of an unknown enemy who apparently desires very badly for her to fail. Each step along the journey brings her closer to getting her life back and freeing her friend, but also brings new and contradictory information about the object they seek, and Felicia’s reasons for seeking it may be far more sinister than she has revealed.
Council of Mages to regenerate Strontium’s body and restore her to it, that state of affairs is starting to look permanent. So, when an opportunity presents itself to Dorothy to free Strontium and have her own mind to herself again, it sorely tempts her. All she has to do is embark on a quest with Felicia Kestrel, an assassin who has been until this point Dorothy’s mortal enemy.
Felicia seeks a scale from the armor of the legendary dragon Hypatia, a relic of the non-real world she believes has survived the Mayhem Wave, and whose sole purpose is to heal. She needs a witch to help her employ its magic and use it to heal herself of an undisclosed malady, and claims it has the power to restore Strontium to her own body. Joining her will make Dorothy a fugitive. Passing up this opportunity could mean spending the rest of her life with Strontium exiled in her head.
Enlisting the aid of a pixie to protect her, and armed with a magical sword, Dorothy leaves her home, trusting that the woman who tried to kill her once won’t do so again. The quest for the Scale proves trickier than expected, with dangers beyond Dorothy’s experience, and the threat of an unknown enemy who apparently desires very badly for her to fail. Each step along the journey brings her closer to getting her life back and freeing her friend, but also brings new and contradictory information about the object they seek, and Felicia’s reasons for seeking it may be far more sinister than she has revealed.
220 pages, Paperback
First published November 6, 2018
About the author
Edward Aubry
9 books141 followersEdward Aubry is a graduate of Wesleyan University, with a degree in music composition. Improbably, this preceded a career as a teacher of high school mathematics and creative writing. He now lives in rural Pennsylvania, where he fills his non-teaching hours spinning tales of time-travel, wise-cracking pixies, and an assortment of other impossible things.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
November 3, 2018
Excerpt from my review - originally published at Offbeat YA.
Pros: Action, cool magic, surprises, moral dilemmas, and kick-ass heroines with a sense of humour.
Cons: Amidst the action, there are patches of telling-not-showing.
WARNING! Some gore and mature themes (but nothing overwhelming).
Will appeal to: Those who like imaginative worlds, lots of twists and turns, strong female characters and F/F romances. Those who are looking for a fresh approach to post-apocalypse.
First off...DISCLAIMER: I have been talking to the author on a few occasions since reviewing his previous titles (that is, all the books he's released so far). Moreover, I am a semi-regular reviewer of Curiosity Quills titles (like this one), but if you look back at my ratings, this never prevented me from being unbiased.
IT'S A WOMEN'S WORLD
There's no blaming Edward Aubry for not trying new things, or not spicing up a series even when it's got to its 4th (and penultimate) installment. Dorothy O'Neill - who we met as a child in Book 1, and through the series has grown up to become a 28 y.o. woman - leads an all-female cast here, except for some brief male cameo. Nothing as impressive as the female character amount in Mayhem's Children (the previous installment), but in that case, there was at least a male protagonist, and most of the girls weren't given more than a handful of lines (for plot reasons). This time, we follow a cast of women (and, huh, other female specimens, for lack of another non-spoilery term) in an adventure that starts off a tad slowly, but soon pics pace and thrusts us into a whirlwind of danger and secrets (and no, not your usual you-could-have-told-me-in-chapter-one secrets. Felicia has got her agenda, of course. And Dorothy is afraid that the matter will be taken out of her hands, so of course she doesn't tell anybody. Questionable, but understandable). I love how these women can kick ass and have soft spots/vulnerable angles at the same time, because it's real. It's not like they kick less ass because of that 😉.
(Mind you, this is not a "girl" book/series. We all know by now that "girl books" and "boy books" are a malicious fabrication of dust-covered, mold-smelling evil wizards, right?). [...]
Whole review here.
Pros: Action, cool magic, surprises, moral dilemmas, and kick-ass heroines with a sense of humour.
Cons: Amidst the action, there are patches of telling-not-showing.
WARNING! Some gore and mature themes (but nothing overwhelming).
Will appeal to: Those who like imaginative worlds, lots of twists and turns, strong female characters and F/F romances. Those who are looking for a fresh approach to post-apocalypse.
First off...DISCLAIMER: I have been talking to the author on a few occasions since reviewing his previous titles (that is, all the books he's released so far). Moreover, I am a semi-regular reviewer of Curiosity Quills titles (like this one), but if you look back at my ratings, this never prevented me from being unbiased.
IT'S A WOMEN'S WORLD
There's no blaming Edward Aubry for not trying new things, or not spicing up a series even when it's got to its 4th (and penultimate) installment. Dorothy O'Neill - who we met as a child in Book 1, and through the series has grown up to become a 28 y.o. woman - leads an all-female cast here, except for some brief male cameo. Nothing as impressive as the female character amount in Mayhem's Children (the previous installment), but in that case, there was at least a male protagonist, and most of the girls weren't given more than a handful of lines (for plot reasons). This time, we follow a cast of women (and, huh, other female specimens, for lack of another non-spoilery term) in an adventure that starts off a tad slowly, but soon pics pace and thrusts us into a whirlwind of danger and secrets (and no, not your usual you-could-have-told-me-in-chapter-one secrets. Felicia has got her agenda, of course. And Dorothy is afraid that the matter will be taken out of her hands, so of course she doesn't tell anybody. Questionable, but understandable). I love how these women can kick ass and have soft spots/vulnerable angles at the same time, because it's real. It's not like they kick less ass because of that 😉.
(Mind you, this is not a "girl" book/series. We all know by now that "girl books" and "boy books" are a malicious fabrication of dust-covered, mold-smelling evil wizards, right?). [...]
Whole review here.
February 20, 2019
After my review of the last book in this series, the author, Edward Aubry, sent me a message to let me know that the fourth book would have more of a focus on a character I wanted more of. Boy did he ever deliver. So, thanks Edward Aubry for not only giving us more Dorothy, but giving her an entire book where she wasn't just a secondary character.
It's really hard to think of what to say about this book that will not give any spoilers. Ummm...let's just say that Dorothy teams up with Felicia to try and get Strontium out of her mind. Along the way, people start to question why Dorothy is doing what she is doing, while Dorothy herself is wondering if she can truly trust Felicia. Really, in my mind, you'd think you would figure out if you could trust someone before you go on this magical quest with only them as company, but I guess Dorothy really just wants her mind back by this point, which is a semi-valid reason to trust a traitor. I guess.
I really like the fact that the characters in this series have been developed to the point that it makes complete sense for them to realize quickly when someone is acting strange. Both Harrison and Claudia choose to do things that may seem to have little to no affect on the outcome of the situation, but in reality, they both know Dorothy enough to know what she will need even when she does not want to let them know what is going on.
While most of this book was pretty serious and intense, there is just no way you can take what happens to Strontium without finding it really funny. Since I got Edward Aubry to respond to one of my reviews before, I'm going to ask a very important question. What was going on in your head when you came up with the whole Strontium situation in this book? The whole book is going on, serious, dangerous, a little humor, serious, and then BAM, Strontium. I'm not complaining, it was great, but how does a mind come up with such things?
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Author: Edward Aubry
Publisher: Curiosity Quills
Publication Date: November 6th 2018
It's really hard to think of what to say about this book that will not give any spoilers. Ummm...let's just say that Dorothy teams up with Felicia to try and get Strontium out of her mind. Along the way, people start to question why Dorothy is doing what she is doing, while Dorothy herself is wondering if she can truly trust Felicia. Really, in my mind, you'd think you would figure out if you could trust someone before you go on this magical quest with only them as company, but I guess Dorothy really just wants her mind back by this point, which is a semi-valid reason to trust a traitor. I guess.
I really like the fact that the characters in this series have been developed to the point that it makes complete sense for them to realize quickly when someone is acting strange. Both Harrison and Claudia choose to do things that may seem to have little to no affect on the outcome of the situation, but in reality, they both know Dorothy enough to know what she will need even when she does not want to let them know what is going on.
While most of this book was pretty serious and intense, there is just no way you can take what happens to Strontium without finding it really funny. Since I got Edward Aubry to respond to one of my reviews before, I'm going to ask a very important question. What was going on in your head when you came up with the whole Strontium situation in this book? The whole book is going on, serious, dangerous, a little humor, serious, and then BAM, Strontium. I'm not complaining, it was great, but how does a mind come up with such things?
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Author: Edward Aubry
Publisher: Curiosity Quills
Publication Date: November 6th 2018
September 19, 2020
I loved this book. In my opinion, it is the best one to date, but it takes reading the whole series to truly appreciate (and understand) all the significance this one carries.
This story arc is not as action packed as the previous one and that is a good thing. It allows space for the characters to develop and I loved all the characters in this book.
I was thrilled for Dorothy to get an adventure and book all her own. She is by far, my favorite character at this point in the series. I love her nerdiness and her humanity. I love that she is intelligent, but can still be blinded by circumstance and make stupid mistakes like all the rest of us. It doesn't hurt that I relate to her on other levels too. As a queer person that doesn't fall very neatly in to any one category, I'm grateful to see a character with similar complexities. (Though I'm personally a lot more confused about it and spend a lot more time spinning my wheels over it than she does, lol) I love the authenticity of her relationship with Claudia, which felt a tiny bit rushed in the last book.
And speaking of Claudia - I don't know how this series could ever go on without her. She just packs so much personality and humor. She really balances out Dorothy's seriousness and it makes the story that much richer.
As always, I love the world. I love the moral dilemmas and growth. I love the return of other minor characters too - Bess, Sparky, Strontium, Felicia, etc. They were all wonderful additions and the story wouldn't have been the same without each one of them. It was really great to get a little more back story on several of them.
I also loved the ending. I couldn't have asked for a better resolution.
Everything about this book just makes me happy - it is such a good story.
This story arc is not as action packed as the previous one and that is a good thing. It allows space for the characters to develop and I loved all the characters in this book.
I was thrilled for Dorothy to get an adventure and book all her own. She is by far, my favorite character at this point in the series. I love her nerdiness and her humanity. I love that she is intelligent, but can still be blinded by circumstance and make stupid mistakes like all the rest of us. It doesn't hurt that I relate to her on other levels too. As a queer person that doesn't fall very neatly in to any one category, I'm grateful to see a character with similar complexities. (Though I'm personally a lot more confused about it and spend a lot more time spinning my wheels over it than she does, lol) I love the authenticity of her relationship with Claudia, which felt a tiny bit rushed in the last book.
And speaking of Claudia - I don't know how this series could ever go on without her. She just packs so much personality and humor. She really balances out Dorothy's seriousness and it makes the story that much richer.
As always, I love the world. I love the moral dilemmas and growth. I love the return of other minor characters too - Bess, Sparky, Strontium, Felicia, etc. They were all wonderful additions and the story wouldn't have been the same without each one of them. It was really great to get a little more back story on several of them.
I also loved the ending. I couldn't have asked for a better resolution.
Everything about this book just makes me happy - it is such a good story.
February 26, 2024
The Prices We Pay
I was hesitant to read this volume, because the blurb made me think that Dorothy was going to be an idiot, and that there wouldn’t be the sense of community so essential to the earlier books.
I should have trusted the author. Dorothy, and others, make hard choices, but are true to their characters. Relationships and that essential sense of community continue to shine through. The plot is fast paced, with great action scenes, and twists that make sense but still surprise. Themes of sacrifice, courage, and the very nature of good and evil are explored along the way.
Highly recommended.
I was hesitant to read this volume, because the blurb made me think that Dorothy was going to be an idiot, and that there wouldn’t be the sense of community so essential to the earlier books.
I should have trusted the author. Dorothy, and others, make hard choices, but are true to their characters. Relationships and that essential sense of community continue to shine through. The plot is fast paced, with great action scenes, and twists that make sense but still surprise. Themes of sacrifice, courage, and the very nature of good and evil are explored along the way.
Highly recommended.
November 7, 2018
Another wonderful book by Edward Aubry! I love Dorothy, and am so glad this story focuses on her. The story has twists and turns that kept me turning the pages. Strontium and Felicia are fascinating characters with quick and witty dialogue--Strontium has become one of my favorites from the whole series. If you like adventure, magic, and awesomely fierce women, this needs to be your next book.
November 24, 2018
Full review to come!
June 3, 2022
Once again, as this story begins, a significant amount of time has passed since the last novel ended; this time five more years. As with previous volumes in the series, I anticipated being upset by the perceived missed events during that time, but it really wasn’t an issue. We drop right back into the lives of these characters whom we’ve come to know so well, have some brief catch-up as to what their lives are like now, and then just jump right into the story!
And what a story it is! This book is pretty much entirely Dorothy’s tale to tell. (Apparently, since Harrison had his own book, the author determined that it was only fair for Dorothy to get hers as well.) Of necessity (after the events of Mayhem’s Children), Strontium obviously plays a significant role here also. Claudia makes some brief appearances in the beginning and takes on a more significant part later on. Bess and Sparky both came along for the ride, too.
The biggest surprise of this book is quite simply the identity of the other main player. Next to Dorothy, the most significant character is Felicia, formerly Agent Kestrel, the assassin who last-seen was trying to kill Dorothy and her compatriots in the previous volume. Having now been cursed with an empathy spell, however, Felicia is not the same person we became familiar with in Mayhem’s Children. And it is in fact her desire to lift this curse from herself that starts them on the path to this grand adventure.
Apart from brief appearances here and there by Harrison and some other minor male characters, this narrative contains an almost exclusively female cast. That being said, however, this is certainly not what would normally be considered a “girly” story at all. In fact, the females pretty much spend their time fighting, treasure hunting, and otherwise kicking butt. Indeed, this is a great example of female empowerment, even more impressive when considering that it was written by a male author, who still manages to produce characters that ring true and appear quite real.
There are some down times where the pace slows down and it occasionally even gets a tad boring, but by and large things keep moving at a strong clip, with lots of action throughout the narrative. As usual in the Mayhem world, things are not always as they seem and there is a LOT going on at all times. There are plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader entertained and on their toes (or totally confused, if you don’t pay attention!).
The next volume is purportedly the last in this series, and while I am hesitant to see visits to this world come to an end, I am anxious to discover what the author has in store for us!
I received a free eBook copy of this title from the author, and have willingly provided an honest review.
This review was originally published on the So Few Books blog at: https://sofewbooks.blogspot.com/2018/....
And what a story it is! This book is pretty much entirely Dorothy’s tale to tell. (Apparently, since Harrison had his own book, the author determined that it was only fair for Dorothy to get hers as well.) Of necessity (after the events of Mayhem’s Children), Strontium obviously plays a significant role here also. Claudia makes some brief appearances in the beginning and takes on a more significant part later on. Bess and Sparky both came along for the ride, too.
The biggest surprise of this book is quite simply the identity of the other main player. Next to Dorothy, the most significant character is Felicia, formerly Agent Kestrel, the assassin who last-seen was trying to kill Dorothy and her compatriots in the previous volume. Having now been cursed with an empathy spell, however, Felicia is not the same person we became familiar with in Mayhem’s Children. And it is in fact her desire to lift this curse from herself that starts them on the path to this grand adventure.
Apart from brief appearances here and there by Harrison and some other minor male characters, this narrative contains an almost exclusively female cast. That being said, however, this is certainly not what would normally be considered a “girly” story at all. In fact, the females pretty much spend their time fighting, treasure hunting, and otherwise kicking butt. Indeed, this is a great example of female empowerment, even more impressive when considering that it was written by a male author, who still manages to produce characters that ring true and appear quite real.
There are some down times where the pace slows down and it occasionally even gets a tad boring, but by and large things keep moving at a strong clip, with lots of action throughout the narrative. As usual in the Mayhem world, things are not always as they seem and there is a LOT going on at all times. There are plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader entertained and on their toes (or totally confused, if you don’t pay attention!).
The next volume is purportedly the last in this series, and while I am hesitant to see visits to this world come to an end, I am anxious to discover what the author has in store for us!
I received a free eBook copy of this title from the author, and have willingly provided an honest review.
This review was originally published on the So Few Books blog at: https://sofewbooks.blogspot.com/2018/....
November 24, 2019
Great entry in an awesome series. I like that the main character switched from Harrison; not that I had anything against his character - it's just refreshing to see a different focus.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews