2016 Booklist #22: All the Birds in the Sky

By Charlie Jane Anders.  I LOVE the cover of this book (apologies for the picture being sidewise!). However, perhaps it gave me higher expectations of how much I would love the book, which I'm afraid I feel a bit underwhelmed about. I think part of the problem was the style, which I think was trying to angle for a fairytale/fable feel.  Which is fine,  but I did find both Patricia and, to a lesser extent, Lawrence's families quite unbelievably horrible.  In Patricia's case in particular,  I did wonder if there was a point of view element to how horrible her family was to her, because it appeared to be so completely irrational. I loved the idea of the two types of magic coming together, and the magic school, part Hogwarts, part Hunger Games (sort of).  I loved the potential 'epic-ness' of the story, but I'm not sure the book was big enough for the story it wanted to tell, and to be honest, a week or so after finishing the book, I can't actually remember how it ended...

2016 Booklist #21: Hild

 

By Nicola Griffith.  What a remarkable book! In terms of the historical detail, it reminded me of Hillary Mantel's Wolf Hall.  This is, i think, an amazing interweaving of historical scholarship with and an absorbing narrative.  However, the best thing about the book was the point of view.  Hild lives in a very female world.  The main protagonists (or antagonsts) are women - like her mother and the Queen.  Yes,  the king is 'all powerful'  but he is portrayed as someone who is not really in control, influenced by superstition and emotion. He is really a side character in the main character.  I loved how intelligent Hild is. Her power in court is due to her place as King's Seer ( in niece),  but there is no supernatural angle to he skill.  She is observant and canny (and a little lucky).  I look forward to reading the next planned books in the Hild trilogy

2016 Booklist #20: Leviathan's Blood

By Ben Peek. This is book two in 'The Children' trilogy (though the cover is very subtle about this fact!). To be fair: there is a short report/historical document that neatlys summarises the action from the first book, so you could probably go into this book 'blind'. Things that I love about this book: beautifully written, and full of diverse characters - both in terms of gender and race (and I guess god-status :D). This book expands from the first book with more point of view characters and action happening in very different areas of the world - i liked the introduction of Ooila and the (rather fraught) court of the First Queen. The story is a bit more fractured than the first (where everything was happening in the same city - more or less), but the chapters are really well organised, in terms of building to the climax. The book ends on more of a cliffhanger than the first book (which is not unwelcome!) At this stage I have no idea how this is all going to end...

2016 Booklist #19: The Tainted

By Glenda Larke. Book 3 in the Isles of Glory trilogy. A great ending. Larke incorporates a few more new POV characters to great effect. In this book, there isn't so mcuh a twist as the pleasure in seeing how Larke brings about and ending that has been hinted at through the whole trilogy. I loved the scientific experiments with magic. A great ending.

2016 Booklist #18: Gilfeather

By Glenda Larke. Book 2 in the Isles of Glory trilogy, a bit of a slow start, with the change of POV from Blade to Gilfeather, but it ramped up fairly soon, and ended up breaking my heart! I worked out one twist by myself, but the other completely surprised me. I also love the overarching theme of anthorpology and science that's brought in with the framing letters. A worthy book #2.

2016 Booklist #17: The Last Stormlord

By Glenda Larke. A bit of a slower start than 'The Aware', but such an amazing, complex world! Very relevant to now, given the prominence of water to the story. Huge huge cliffhanger at the end. Fortunately it was a pleasure to read - looking forward to the next one!