Review - Fantasy of Frost by Kelly St. Clare

Title: Fantasy of Frost (The Tainted Accords #1)

Author: Kelly St. Clare

Rating: 4/5 stars

Synopsis:

I know many things. What I am capable of, what I will change, what I want to become. But there is one thing I will never know.

Being the Tatuma of our world, the next to rule, should have given me a privileged life. One full of friends, love and happiness. If my mother did not hate me, I probably would have had that. Instead, she has kept me veiled from birth, turning the possibility of this distant dream into a living nightmare.

Shunned by the court, abused from childhood, I am trapped within this material barrier and will never know my own face. Only two friends and a determination to become Tatum keep me sane.

I am unaware everything in my life is about to change when the peace delegate arrives from the savage world of Glacium. Hidden agendas, past secrets and my struggle to stay alive–while still becoming the person I want to be–careen wildly out of control.

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. 

My thoughts:

If you like mysteries and secrets you’ll love Kelly St. Clare’s Fantasy of Frost. 

Olina has been wearing a veil ever since she was born. It is her mother’s order and she follows it obediently, because she knows well enough that those who ever take a look at her face don’t see another day. She learned to live with this and she doesn’t ask questions.

But then the delegation from Glacium – the realm of snow and ice – arrives and prince Kedrick with them. The young heirs fall for each other and eventually he asks her to do the impossible. Everything changes after that.

The whole book revolves around Olina’s – and her mother’s – secret. I guarantee you you won’t be able to stop guessing why Olina is veiled, but of course you have to wait until the very end to find out the truth. There is a hint given somewhere in the book, but I confess I missed it (not that I mind). It is a tiny tiny information and that’s why this book is so clever.

I liked the idea of the two worlds that are rotating constantly. I’m a sucker for contrasts in literature on any level, thus I was easily bought with the setting. There is one land that is hot and another that is freezing cold. I think the way Olina explained her brothers about these worlds with the help of pies in the beginning was pretty smart. 

The characters are well-developed, the writer created lovely side-characters as well. Olina is one badass heroine – she fights with the veil on, whoa – and she is very flexible; she is never afraid of new situations. My other favourite was King Jovan. He is mysterious: sometimes cold, sometimes passionate, which makes him a complex character.

I enjoyed the plot very much so far, however I’m not sure I liked the ending. It was such an abrupt change – Olina deliberately leaves all her friends and gives up the safety their company provide –, I don’t know if I like where the story is going at the moment. Seems like I have to wait and see what happens in the next book.

 

 Goodreads | Amazon

Review - From the Ashes by Shelby K. Morrison

Title: From the Ashes (Legend of the Liberator #1)

Author: Shelby K. Morrison

Rating: 5/5 stars

Synopsis:

For eighteen years Aia Wynnald has lived a lie. Raised as a highborn in the Kingdom of Tharien, she’s filled her days with tutors and archery lessons. But simmering beneath her polite surface is a dangerous gift, one which she must keep a secret. Aia is a Bender. And in Tharien, Benders are feared and hunted.

When her unruly power breaks free with dire repercussions, Aia’s lifelong goal of independence shatters. As she scrambles to piece her life back together while evading capture, she disturbs a vengeful force intent on destroying the kingdom.

Now, with the help of an unlikely ally, Aia will decide the fate of Tharien. To rescue those she cares about will require accepting what she is. But can she risk becoming the monster she’s dreaded to save the very citizens baying for her blood?

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. 

My thoughts:

From the Ashes is the kind of book that is a pleasure to pick up after real-life issues have forced you to take a long brake from reading. What a novel! I barely finished the first book and I’m thirsty for the sequel. 

A frantic witch hunt is what I would say happened throughout the 285 pages of the book. Of course ‘witches’ are called benders here, who possess a not-always-sleeping power – a power that helps them bend the world. They do magic, if you like, but what a difference it makes if they get a different name! Benders are a new, exciting kind of magicians. 

My absolute favourite things in this piece of YA literature were the plot twists. There were a lot of them and, even though there were some I could see coming, a few of them took me by surprise and I couldn’t help but gape at my e-reader for long moments – oh my gosh, they were very effective!

The world building was also pretty nicely done. The conflict between the benders and the breakers that goes back long, long years made a perfect basic concept on which the writer built Aia’s story skilfully. From the Ashes isn’t about the main character only though; Aia’s personal life intertwines with Tharien’s (hi)story – and with the lives of its people.

I've grown to love the members of a particular bender group, I really hope we’ll see more of them in the sequel. I adored Cole as well and I was happy the love story between him and Aia – I sense there is one – wasn’t forced that much in the first book. There were a million other things to concentrate on, so I didn’t miss it at all. For now it was enough to know that Cole cares about Aia and I can’t wait to see how their relationship progresses later in the upcoming book(s).

From the Ashes dealt with some serious issues (attempted rape, mutilating) that gave a darker aspect to the story. I haven’t read many YA books that dared to be a bit more gruesome, a bit more shocking than what we are used to in the genre and I’m grateful for the author for taking this step, because – strange as it may sound – it added to the quality of the book. 

Since I started with mentioning what I liked best about From the Ashes, let me finish with the thing I liked the least: the range of places where the story took place was very limited. Characters in fantasy novels usually travel a lot and here there wasn’t a lot of moving involved (in this sense). However, having read the whole book it looks very likely that the characters will start ‘walking down the road’, so I just have to wait and see.

Overall it was a very enjoyable ride for me and I’ll surely be back for the next dose, because I can’t wait to know what happens later.

 

Goodreads | Amazon

Fluency by Jennifer Foehner Wells - review, interview

 
Title: Fluency

Author: Jennifer Foehner Wells

Publisher: Blue Bedlam Science Fiction (June 18, 2014) ISBN: 978-0990479826

Category:  Science Fiction: Space Opera, First Contact, Action-Adventure, Alien, Romance Tour

Date: March 2-April 30, 2015

Available in: Print, ebook, 373 Pages

NASA discovered the alien ship lurking in the asteroid belt in the 1960s. They kept the Target under intense surveillance for decades, letting the public believe they were exploring the solar system, while they worked feverishly to refine the technology needed to reach it. The ship itself remained silent, drifting. Dr. Jane Holloway is content documenting nearly-extinct languages and had never contemplated becoming an astronaut. But when NASA recruits her to join a team of military scientists for an expedition to the Target, it’s an adventure she can’t refuse. The ship isn’t vacant, as they presumed. A disembodied voice rumbles inside Jane’s head, "You are home." Jane fights the growing doubts of her colleagues as she attempts to decipher what the alien wants from her. As the derelict ship devolves into chaos and the crew gets cut off from their escape route, Jane must decide if she can trust the alien’s help to survive. 

My review:

5/5 stars


Fluency is one of the best books I’ve read this year so far. It had every potential to amaze me and indeed it did. The story kept me on the edge of my seat, I enjoyed every second of it.
 

I liked that it had a classic sci-fi feel to it: seemingly abandoned alien spaceship, a story within the story about the tragic demise of the crew, malicious space slugs, mysterious illness– what’s not to like here? 

The characters were spot on, they had depth and every one of them was important their own way. I liked Varma, the doctor, because she was very rational and always listened when she was asked to listen. I didn’t like Walsh, because he did just the opposite. I think a good leader is willing to hear and consider the opinions of the members of his team and, since he wasn’t able to make compromises at all, he was anything but a good leader.

The dynamics of Jane and Alan’s relationship were pretty interesting. I was rooting for them and.. ugh… I was so frustrated when it didn’t want to work out for them no matter how much they both wanted the other.

I found the story of the Sectilius quite fascinating and I think the story idea that alien races might need human help to get rid of a hostile race is pretty unique.

All in all Fluency was a cool read and it deserves five stars. I recommend this book to every sci-fi lover. You’ll have so much fun if you decide to pick it up!

 

Praise for 'Fluency':

"Author Jennifer Wells' writing genius comes from her vast knowledge of the highly technical subject matter and her ability to put the reader in the middle of it without losing him/her in technical jargon while creating characters that seem completely natural and believable."- Jean Fisher for Independent Publisher News 

"With her first novel, Jennifer Wells adds a fresh voice to the sci-fi genre and distinguishes herself as an author to watch." -Theresa Kay, author of Broken Skies  

"One of the runaway sci-fi hits on Amazon this year has been Jennifer Foehner Wells’ space thriller Fluency and quite frankly it’s a welcome addition to the genre. Fluency moves at a breakneck pace in a very cinematic fashion,  the narrative mostly linear with some minor flashbacks to fill in gaps in the back story. Wells does a fine job of dealing with the technical side of proceedings without resorting to complicated jargon (I know I know, some geeks love the jargon but not this one!) The human technology is believable and the alien technology while advanced, is also impressively practical. While the strong female character has become a bit of a cliché in sci-fi over the past few years, it’s worth noting that many of these female characters have been written by men. What makes Fluency so refreshing is that Holloway’s character develops in a much more believable fashion given her circumstances. Sure she has to eventually toughen up and fight, but she’s much more than that. She’s a brilliant mind faced with a life-changing event and not just her life but the entire planet’s and her decisions will have monumental consequences. Her ability to focus is paramount and though it may seem she is being manipulated at times, she quickly takes control of her relationship with Ei’Brai. As the story reaches its gripping conclusion it also lays the groundwork for an exciting continuation of this rapidly unfolding saga. Littered with plenty of nods and winks to classic sci-fi and some clever pop culture references, Fluency is a thrilling, bumpy ride that rarely falters and firmly cements Jennifer Foehner Wells’ standing in the indie scene as an innovative and refreshing new voice in modern sci-fi."- Eamon Ambrose, Eamo The Geek  

"A book that is just as appealing to women as it is to men. I’ll admit, I saw the beautiful cover and thought it was going to be old-school, hardcore sci-fi with lots of technobabble and women in service roles rather than command ones. By the time we got into space I was hooked, and only got more engrossed the further I went. There’s no flab in this book. It starts out strongly and each scene is carefully considered in how it develops the characters and advances the plot. The pitch rises gradually until leveling off at the end, just as it should. The prose is straightforward and lets the reading just flow. Dialogue made sense and there weren’t too many narrative sequences. Again, Jennifer Foehner Wells has taken care in crafting a balance of elements. This is a pretty special book. It’s a modern take on sci-fi, and has a lot to offer. There’s a light romantic subplot, a first-contact scenario, and a high-stakes situation that seems unclear, then clear, then unclear again. This story isn’t predictable and it doesn’t rely on any timeworn tropes. Fluency is something new in fiction, and that always excites the hell out of me."-Zen, Women of Badassery 

Interview with the author:

1. If you were asked to recommend three scifi books what would they be?

Ernest Cline Ready Player One

Mary Doria Russell The Sparrow

Octavia Butler Dawn

I could list about 20 more…but these were three that I read recently that had the most impact on me.

            2. Were you given the chance, would you embark on a space mission you wrote about?

Absolutely! Yes! If I didn’t have children to care for, I would go in a heartbeat. I would be terrified, but I would go.

      3. Do you believe in the existence of aliens? If so, do you think they are driven by their instincts or that they are intelligent and/or creatures of emotion?

That’s a fascinating question. Yes, I do. There are just so many exoplanets out there—it’s impossible for me to believe otherwise. As to what drives them? I can’t even begin to know. But I suspect there is much diversity among them, just like there is here on Earth. 

Sentience may be more rare—but life—life, I am certain, exists in abundance. I can only guess that there are species that are better than us in some ways and worse than us in others. They may have evolved under other environmental pressures. 

Our own cultural history contains long periods of cooperative sharing (when we were hunters and gatherers) and a more selfish approach toward each other (once we began to use agriculture) and this dichotomy still wars inside modern humans in the form of capitalist greed, not planning for the future environmentally, the way we marginalize people by sexual preference, race, gender, poverty, religious beliefs, and the urge to horde against bad times vs. benevolent intentions. I imagine that life on other worlds may have faced these challenges as well as many others.

4. What sort of research did you do before/while writing Fluency?

I started by reading autobiographies of various astronauts. Then I began to learn about the space program—first the most general information and then diving deeper and deeper into specific categories to glean important details. I might have begun on a wikipedia page and then followed the links to NASA pages with more specific information. 

I was interested in: what space suits are like to wear, what NASA food is like, what being in microgravity for extended periods of time does to a person, what kinds of precautions NASA would take regarding human sexuality, what kind of ship would my crew inhabit—size, shape, interior space, and many, many other things.

That was just the start. I researched intensely for about a month and then as I was writing, topics would come up and I would stop the writing process to research them, often to figure out how a character would solve a specific problem. So, I’d have to educate myself to whatever level of knowledge I felt they would have that a general reader could understand and then follow where that led. Sometimes that directs the narrative into new and unexpected places. 

Some writers just put in a placeholder in the text and keep writing. I’ve never been able to do that because I often feel that what I find in my research will inform my writing so much that I may end up having to re-write a scene after the research is done. I’m not one to waste time that way, though sometimes research can turn into a rabbit hole of interesting topics that’s hard to crawl back out of and get back to writing!

      5. Tell us about your writing process! Do you have a writing routine?

I make a very rough outline before I start writing. I always know where I’m going. Essentially I divide my work into a 4-act story structure with plot points that I’m aiming to hit. I plot out what all of those will be before I start. That is the framework of my story. The armature, if you will. Then I start writing and flesh it out. 

I try to write according to Rachel Aaron’s recommendations to optimize word counts. I don’t have a ton of free time since I have two small children. So, before I sit down to write a scene I daydream about it for a bit and then I write out longhand a little sketch about what it’s about. Sometimes I just write down what each character wants in the scene and how he or she is feeling. That’s enough to get me going and I can write a little more quickly then.

My writing routine is to get my kids off to school, then quickly check to make sure I have nothing pressing in the email to attend to, then i write most of the morning. I take a break around lunchtime for about an hour then I write until my kids come home from school. After they are settled with homework and snacks then I try to catch up on other things. I may write more in the evening after everyone else has gone to bed. It makes for long days. 

Unfortunately I’m a very slow writer. It just is what it is. It can take me 6 hours to produce 2000 words. Other authors can do much more. I envy that. I hope to gain some speed as the years go by.

On weekends I try to always work at least an hour or two of writing in each day. I aim to write every day. it doesn’t always work out, but that’s my goal. Always pushing forward.

      6. What do you think your reaction would be to Ei’Brai when you saw him for the first time?

My reaction would be very much like Jane’s. I would think he was beautiful to the point of being moved to tears. There’s a reason that I chose to use a character like him in this story. I’ve long been enamored of creatures of his type. As long as I can remember. The research for using him as a character only fueled that  interest into an obsession!

          7. Will there be a second book? How long do we have to wait for it? ☺

Yes! I’m working on it now. Book Two in the Confluence Trilogy will be called Remanence and I’m planning to release it in June of 2015. This winter has been extremely difficult for writing, but I’m still hopeful I can pull it off.

 


About Jennifer Foehner Wells:

Jennifer Foehner Wells lives an alternately chaotic and fairly bucolic existence in Indiana with two boisterous little boys, a supportive husband, a mildly unhinged Labrador retriever, and three adorable pet rats as housemates. Having studied biology, Jen's possessed with a keen interest in science and technology. She's 100% geek and proud of it. FLUENCY was Jen’s debut. It spent weeks in the Kindle Top 100, going as high as number 4. It remains prominent in several Science Fiction categories. It has garnered 848 five star reviews, to date.
Website: www.jenniferfoehnerwells.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/Jenthulhu Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JenniferFoehnerWells?ref=bookmarks Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/b/110012412930597513254/110012412930597513254/posts

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