Book Review: A Summer in Shadow by Daniel Abraham (Long Price Quartet #1)

Being an avid reader of fantasy fictions, I am always keeping an eye out for fantasy novels that are unique and original. This is why, when I heard about Daniel Abraham's Long Price Quartet, a critically acclaimed fantasy quadrilogy, it attracted my attention and I added it to my “to read” list.

I purchased these books last winter, and these books have sat on my bookshelf for almost 8 months, waiting for my attention. Last weekend, I finally had the chance to start reading them. After I finished reading the first novel, A Shadow in Summer, I was very impressed by it. A Shadow in Summer is unlike any fantasy novel I've read in the past, and it refreshed the fantasy genre with strokes of originality.

Today, I would like to provide a book review for A Shadow in Summer

Synopsis:

Saraykeht is the wealthiest of all Summer Cities. It embodied the remnant of the empire's glorious past. Saraykeht's mighty ports opened to welcome merchants from all comers of the world. Meanwhile, commerce flourished on Saraykeht streets. Traders flooded the public square, dealing gold, jewels and exotic merchandize. Along the dreams of wealth and fortune, desires and unimaginable pleasures can be satisfied and purchased in the city's soft quarter.

Sarakeht is as wealthy as it is decadent. Its people believed the city is the icon of progress. Until a political disaster struck the city, threatening to tear down this beacon of progress, brick by brick..

What I think about this book:

I believe a lot of readers have observed, the fantasy genre is filled with books about wars and conflicts, taking place in medieval, European themed castles and worlds. I am happy to report, A Summer in Shadow steered away from those traditions. The story in A Summer in Shadow took place in a world inspired by the culture of feudal Japan. Furthermore, while the story does revolve around a conflict (a cultural one), but the conflict did not resolve by armies or wars. Instead, the central conflict in the story was resolved by politics and intrigues.

This means, I suspect some readers, especially the ones who are looking for a fast-paced fantasy novel with hack & slash actions, may find A Summer in Shadow a slow book and lacking actions. Admittedly, this book moved at a slow place. But the slow pace actually suit the theme and the vibe of the story quite well. This is because A Shadow in Summer is mainly a character driven book, and the “actions” in the story mostly centred on the crescendo of intrigues and diplomacy. However, this also means reading A Summer in Shadow, is a rewarding experience. So if you don't mind reading a non-traditional fantasy story, then you might find this book to your liking.

One of the trademarks of fantasy fictions, is a world filled with magic. In fact, one of the key elements in fantasy novels, is the magic system. A Shadow in Summer has a very unique magic system. Instead of warriors or wizards, this book has poets. That's right! In the world of Long Price Quartet, poets are your fantasy equivalent of warriors and wizards. These poets don't cast spells, nor do they fight. Instead, poets spend their entire lives to bind and harness ideas, such as capturing an “Andat”. What is an “Andat”? Put it shortly, in the world of Long Price Quartet, Andats are abstract ideas in human form. Because Andats are abstract ideas, they are immortal and almost invincible. This is very interesting, don't you think?

Other than a unique magic system, I think another strength for A Summer in Shadow, is the characterization, let me explain: In recent years, fantasy novelists (such as George R.R. Martin, Mark Lawrence, or Joe Abercrombie) have been trying to introduce a sense of “realism” into fantasy novels by depicting the human condition. Modern fantasy authors aim to create characters who are not completely good, or completely bad. I think this literary movement makes sense because in real life, people are not black and white. However, in my opinion, not many fantasy novels have managed to fully replicate “the human condition and realism”. Take for example, in A Song of Ice and Fire, the central plot still revolves around a conflict between “some sort of “ good guys and bad guys in the story.

This is not the case in A Shadow in Summer. In fact, this book did a brilliant job at incorporating “realism” into a fantasy novel. While the book still has a cast of protagonists and antagonists, but none of them are depicted as obviously “good” or “bad”. Instead, the characters here tried to do their best, based on the circumstances they were given (aren't we all like that?). This method of storytelling casts dynamic lights on every character, introducing a level of complexity that resembles people in real life. Then it gives the power of discernment to a reader, leaving a reader to think for him/herself, then coming to their own conclusions.

Apparently, A Shadow in Summer is Daniel Abraham's debut novel. So understandably, it was not a perfectly written book. Nevertheless, I really liked A Shadow in Summer for its originality and vivid portrayals of characters. This is the kind of novel that will make you think about it long after you closed the last page. I am really excited about reading this series, and I cannot wait to read the sequel, titled “A Betrayal in Winter”.

P.S.

The book publisher Orbit re-printed this series in two omnibuses. Each omnibus collects two novels from the series. I own these omnibuses, and I think this is the most economical option if you are looking to purchase the entire series, because these two omnibuses cost half of what you will be paying if you were purchasing these four novels separately.

However, for the purpose of book reviews, I am reviewing each novel independently.

Book Review: The Prophecy by Chris Kuzneski (Jonathan Payne & David Jones #5)

I think our world is shaped by prophecies.

Let me explain, I am not saying I am a believer of prophecies. In fact, personally I very skeptical of prophecies. What I meant to say was, since the dawn of time, prophecy and religion always went hand in hand with each other. Considering how religion has undeniably shaped the course of human history (for both good and bad), it also means prophecy played a crucial role, because it acted as a driving force behind religion. 

Take for example, Abrahamic religions, which include three major religions in the world with billions of followers, are in fact, belief systems based on apocalyptic prophecies. Admittedly, without these apocalyptic prophecies, these major religions would loose much force in their theological thrusts, and influence over their followers.

However, religion isn't the only major player in the arena of prophecy-making. One of the most enigmatic prophets of all time, is a Frenchman called Nostradamus. Apparently, Nostradamus was supposed to have prophecized a few things accurately, such as the Adolf Hitler, 911, so on and so forth.

I do not possess much occult knowledge, so I am not qualified to discern the legitimacy of Nostradamus prophecy. Nevertheless, since its publication, Nostradamus prophecy have spell-bounded people with webs of enchantment. The name Nostradamus, has become very well known in the common culture. In fact, the story of this mystical prophet is so intriguing, it attracted New York Times Bestselling author, Chris Kuzneski, to write a conspiracy thriller based on Nostradamus prophecy. This book is called The Prophecy, and it is the fifth installment in Kuzneski's thrilling series, about the adventures of retired US special-force operative, Jonathan Payne and David Jones.

Does any of this interest you? If so, feel free to read on because today, I would like to provide a review for this book.

Synopsis:

Legend says, before Nostradamus died, he made a secret book where he wrote down all of his prophecies in the plain language. Today, the whereabouts of this book remains hidden. That is, until a fateful night when a young woman paid a special visit to Jonathan Payne and David Jones.

From here, Payne and Jones witnessed a series of events strongly indicating the fulfillment of Nostradamus prophecies. This also means they found themselves entangled in a life threatening situation: They have to secure Nostradamus' lost book, lest it fall into the wrong hands...

What I think about this book:

The Prophecy is an addictive read and a fast-paced thriller. The two main characters in the book, Jonathan Payne and David Jones, make a charming duo as protagonists. The dialogues are humorous, flashing out the personalities of Payne and Jones. However, the characterization for the villain in this book is weak and unimpressive, and the author did not portray the villain's motive convincingly.

This book is tightly structured with an entertaining story. The author successfully layered piles of mysteries and puzzles into the plot, and the story remained suspenseful for the most of the time. Unfortunately, I found this book ended hastily in an anti-climax. But this does not mean The Prophecy is a bad book. For the first 400 pages in this book, the story was shrouded in suspense and tension. This is one of those thriller novels that is very hard to put down once you opened it.

Like most thrillers in the genre, The Prophecy is an action packed story, the book is filled with scenes of gun fights and explosions. I am happy to report these action scenes are realistic and not over the top, and they added flares to the story.

After I read this book, my interest in Nostradamus rose, leading me to watch a documentary from Discovery Channel about Nostradamus, where I learned a few things about the life of this famous French seer. Meanwhile, I like this book. While The Prophecy may not be the best conspiracy thriller I've ever read, but this book tells a fun and interesting story. It is one heck of a ride! I would recommend this book to fans of conspiracy thrillers, or lovers of mystery/crime novels.

Book Review: Sword of God by Chris Kuzneski (Jonathan Payne & David Jones #3)

I am a fan of religious conspiracy thriller novels. As a fan of the genre, I noticed in the past decade, religious conspiracy thriller has been thriving. It all started, when Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code gained mass popularity. Today, the reading world is full of religious conspiracy thrillers. Interestingly, these books often revolve around Christian extremism, and we rarely see a religious conspiracy thriller with a story about extremism from other religions. This is why, when I found out about Sword of God, is a religious conspiracy thriller about Islamic extremism, this book immediately grabbed my attention. I trekked to my local library, borrowed a copy, and consumed it within the space of 3 days. Today, I would like to share my thoughts about this book in a (spoiler-free) review.

Synopsis:

In Mecca, a young archeologist works her way to discover an artifact of unimaginable significance. In the meantime, in South Korea, an elite special-forces officer was murdered. To solve the mystery, the military called in former agents Jonathan Payne and David Jones on a black ops mission. The only problem is, Payne and Jones have no idea where to start. In other words, Payne and Jones are on their own.

As they gradually stripped away the layers of mysteries surrounding the murder in South Korea, Payne and Jones uncovered a plot that might throw the entire world into a war. Payne and Jones realized, there is only one way for them to finish this mission: They must uncover the truth before it's too late...

What I think about this book:

New York Times Bestselling author, Chris Kuzneski, wrote Sword of God. This is my first time reading Kuzneski's book, and I like the way he wrote this book. For starters, Kuzneski's writings move at a very fast pace and the story is packed with actions. The dialogues in this book are humorous, bringing the characters to life. When I was reading this book, I didn't want to put this book down or taking a break. This is because the story is exciting, and I always felt the need to find out what would happen in the next chapter.

Having said this, I do think a weakness resides in the structure of the book. Let me explain. Sword of God is divided into two major plots. In the first plot, readers follow the journey of a young archeologist in Mecca. In the second plot, the story revolves around the murder investigation in South Korea. While these two plots did converge in the end of the book, but the convergence came too late, and it did not feel natural. In other words, when these two plots finally combined, it felt forced and didn't connect very well. This means I also felt the ending was anti-climatic.

The main characters in this book, are Jonathan Payne and David Jones, both are retired special-forces operatives. These two characters are very likable. Their dialogues are humorous, and the humor further flashed out their personalities, while reflecting their close friendship. However, like most thriller novels, this book lacks character development. i.e. at the end of this book, both Payne and Jones seem unaffected by the life-threatening events they experienced. Personally, I think the lack of character development is a weakness in this book.

In terms of this book's theme, Sword of God stands out from other books in this genre. It is because this book is one of the very few religious conspiracy thrillers about Islamic extremism. Like all other books in this genre, such as The Da Vinci Code, Sword of God is bound to be controversial in the eyes of some people. However, I personally think Kuzneski doesn't seem to be using sensationalism or controversy to gain popularity for his book. 

In conclusion, I like Sword of God. This is my first encounter with Chris Kuzneski's books and it certainly won't be the last. This book has a well crafted story that is both fun and exciting. Meanwhile, this book will most likely pave the way for a reader to think about the relation between religious extremism and the modern world. If you like reading religious conspiracy thrillers, then make sure you check out Sword of God.

Book Review: Different Seasons by Stephen King

“The most important things are the hardest to say. They are the things you get ashamed of, because words diminish them -- words shrink things that seemed limitless when they were in your head to no more than living size when they're brought out. But it's more than that, isn't it? The most important things lie too close to wherever your secret heart is buried, like landmarks to a treasure your enemies would love to steal away. And you may make revelations that cost you dearly only to have people look at you in a funny way, not understanding what you've said at all, or why you thought it was so important that you almost cried while you were saying it. That's the worst, I think. When the secret stays locked within not for want of a tellar but for want of an understanding ear.”

- Stephen King, Different Seasons

Stephen King is one of the most successful authors of our time. Up to date, he published 54 novels, 5 non-fiction books, and over 200 short stories. People often associate this prolific author with “horror novels”. However, in my opinion, some of the best Stephen King books are not necessarily his works in the horror genre.

Indeed, Stephen King is a versatile author. If you haven't already, make sure you check out books such as The Stand, 11/22/63, or The Dark Tower series. These book are widely recognized as some of the best “non-horror” books Stephen King ever wrote. But today, I will like to review a book called Different Seasons. In this book, Stephen King departed from the genre of horror and sci-fi. Different Seasons is a collection of 4 novellas, 3 of these novellas have been adapted into movies. After I read this book, I am listing Different Seasons as my second favorite Stephen King book, just after 11/22/63.

So without further delay, let me start this review. Firstly, I will provide a synopsis for this book.

Synopsis:

Different Seasons collects 4 novella written by Stephen King. 3 of them have been adapted into movies. These 4 novella are:

1. Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption (adopted into the movie, Shawshank Redemption)

Shawshank imprisoned an assortment of dangerous criminals. Its latest addition, is Andy Durfense, a banker from Maine, who was arrested for the double murder of his wife and her lover. Andy is sentenced to life imprisonment, but he claims to be innocent. Will Andy find redemption?

2. Apt Pupil (adopted into the movie, Apt Pupil)

Arthur Dender, age 74, is hiding a secretive, dark past. You see, Arthur's real name is Kurt Dussander, a wanted Nazi war criminal in disguise as an elderly German migrant living in the US. In 1974, Todd Bowden, a local teenage boy, discovered Arthur's secret identity. But some rocks are better left unturned..

3. The Body (adopted into the movie, Stand by Me)

Some say, there are no friends like the friends from our childhood. This story began, when 4 boys, driven by curiosity, set out from their home town to see a dead body. A dead body of a boy who was reportedly to have gone missing. This journey will transform their lives forever, marking the turning point for their fall from innocence.

4. The Breathing Method

A new mother cries, her placenta falls, a new baby is born into the world. The process of labor is considered one of the most painful, but also joyful human experiences. David, is a middle aged lawyer living in Manhattan. One day, his senior partner invited him to join a peculiar, gentleman's club. One of the club's major attractions, is the event of storytelling, where club members tell each other a collection of bizarre stories. On a wintry night, David heard a most stunning story, narrated by Dr. McCarron. It is a story about one woman's determination to bring her baby into the world.

What I think about this book:

Fans and readers of Stephen King often accredit Different Season as one of his best books. After I read this book, I think the contents of this book justifies its wholesome reputation. Each of the 4 novella is dripping with its own unique flavor and style. Meanwhile, Stephen King captured our deepest desires and fears, presenting them to readers in four novellas, portraying the reality of the human conditions vividly.

In Different Seasons, Stephen King proved he is more than just a “horror novelist”. Although Different Seasons is not horror, sci-fi, or a thriller, but Stephen King's writings are just as electrifying and energetic as his other books. The pace of the book is fast. Each of the 4 novella is an addictive read. My bet is you will feel compelled to finish one novella per sitting, because it is hard to put this book down once you start reading it.

My favorite novella in this book is Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption. I was deeply touched by this story. This is a moving tale full of unexpected surprises. The underlying theme of the story is about having a second chance at life, and the hope that accompanies it. Meanwhile, Apt Pupil is easily the darkest story in this book, the story revolves around a theme, the inseparable link between our past and the present.

The Body is the third novella in this book, and it is my second favorite story in this book. This is a story about coming of age, embedding the message that sometimes, in order to find our places in the world, we need to resist letting other people “box us in” with their expectations of what we should be.

The fourth story in this book, The Breathing Method, emits a vibe akin to horror stories. Yet, it is a not a horror story. In fact, I thought The Breathing Method is a very interesting, unusual story. This is a story about the power of a mother's undying love for her child, and the strength of the human will to survive, despite all impossible odds.

Personally, I found a recurring theme permeating throughout the book. I think this theme is freedom, to live a life free of other people's expectations of what we “ought to be”. To be men and women without pre-defined conclusions. No pigeon holes and no getting “boxed in”. And I like this theme a lot. I can resonate with it, because I yearn for this type of freedom. But I can imagine the tremendous courage and strength needed to achieve such freedom, snapping free from the shackles of life long habits, expectations, and circumstances.

Different Seasons is a great book. This is one of Stephen King's best, and it is not hard to see why the stories in this book made 3 successful movies. These stories are exhilarating reads, but they are also meaningful. I think this is a good book that I can recommend to all readers. Furthermore, if you have never read Stephen King's books, then Different Seasons may be a good starting point. In the meantime, I wish you a great time reading this book, and discovering this book for yourself. Perhaps you will find something really important from this book, things that you are unable to put to words but best understood from a story (that's how I felt after reading this book). Because as Stephen King said in this book, the most important things are often the hardest to say.

Happy reading!

Book Review: The 6th Extinction by James Rollins (SIgma Force #11)

Throughout the history of life on earth, there are 5 known extinction events, including the one that wiped out the dinosaurs. Currently, we are facing the Holocene extinction, A.K.A the 6^th extinction. This term describes the extinction event of both plants and animals, induced by the human activities since around 10,000 BCE. While it is very difficult to estimate how many species are becoming extinct every day, but WWF estimated that today, between 0.01% to 0.1% of all species are becoming extinct every year, at a rate of approximately 1000 to 10,000 times higher than the natural extinction rate. In other words, if there are 100 million species on earth today, then at least 10,000 species will become extinct next year.

That is not a small number.

Anyway, recently I read an interesting book called The 6^th Extinction. This is a thriller novel written by James Rollins, and it is also the 11^th book in Sigma Force series. The theme in The 6^th Extinction is based on the Holocene extinction. I am a long time fan of James Rollins. His Sigma Force novels initiated me into the genre of thriller. James Rollins is a master of his art, he excels at blending historical facts and cutting edge scientific discoveries, into stories packed with explosive actions. The best way to describe James Rollins' works, is to say it is a mixture between Isaac Asimov, Ian Fleming, and Dan Brown. So if this description interests you, then make sure you check out Sigma Force novels.

Without any further delay, I will start my review for The 6^th Extinction. Let me begin with a synopsis for the book.

Synopsis:

In 1832, HMS Beagle traveled to Tierra del Fuego. On board the ship, was a young naturalist called Charles Darwin, performing a survey that would eventually lead to the publication of The Origin of Species. The book's publication, would become a turning point in history, forever transforming the way we look at ourselves and the world.

Along the journey, HMS Beagle en route an ancient cavern, with contents so disturbing that the crew decided it would be better to erase the existence of the cavern from the human memory. However, Charles Darwin made a secret map to record the location of the cavern, and buried it in his personal journal.

Almost two centuries later, a fiery explosion rocked a military research station in the remote region of northern California. After the explosion, authorities received a distress call containing a cryptic message: “Kill us all”. At the same time, a blight spawned on the land, killing all vegetation and animals within a 50 miles radius from the site. The blight began to spread at an astonishing rate, obliterating all living creatures post contact. A crisis has begun.

Sigma Force, a division of the US DARPA program, was called to resolve the crisis. Under the leadership of Sigma's director Painter Crowe, and commander Gray Pierce, Sigma Force divided into two teams to investigate the threads that may unmask the secret identity of the blight. This time, Sigma's ability is pushed to the limit, as they race against the clock, finding a way to stop the mysterious blight before it engulfs the entire world.

What I think about this book:

The style in The 6^th Extinction differs slightly in comparison to previous books in Sigma Force series. The major difference, is the story in The 6^th Extinction has lesser historical elements than previous installments in the series. Instead, The 6^th Extinction has a high focus on science, and it reads almost as a science fiction thriller. This is not saying The 6^th Extinction is a bad book. The body of the story in this book is fictitious, but James Rollins did extensive research for his book. Through an entertaining story, this book offers its readers a glimpse into cutting edge scientific discoveries. For example, this book mentioned new techniques for genome editing, such as CRISPR-Cas9, MAGE and CAGE. I didn't know about these technologies before, and this book prompted me to do extra reading on these subjects. Through this book, I became aware of a new dimension of reality, surging from the waves of advancement in biological sciences.

The 6^th Extinction runs at a very fast pace. James Rollins lives up to his reputation as New York Times Best-selling author, where he crafted a book that is a page-turner. The adventure in this book is illustrious, the story intrigued its readers with a web of tension. Meanwhile, explosive actions dived between episodes of drama and suspense, spicing up the flavor of thrill. The main theme of the book also provided food for thoughts, it prompts its reader to explore the interface between morality, survival and science.

Having said this, I should also mention, the narratives in The 6^th Extinction frequently used scientific jargon and terms. As a result, those who do not possess a background in biological science may need to (frequently) check on external references to decipher the narratives. I suspect for some, such an exercise may prove to be a chore. On the positive side, doing all these research can increase one's personal knowledge about the latest development in biological sciences. For me, The 6^th Extinction proves itself to be both entertaining and rewarding.

In my opinion, The 6^th Extinction shows James Rollins is still one of the best practitioners in the thriller genre. This book is a solid addition to Sigma Force series. I recently discovered, that James Rollins has another Sigma Force novel scheduled for release in June this year, titled The Bone Labyrinth. I await for this book's release in eager anticipation.