REVIEW: Eric Elmoor and the Chalice of Cameron by Thomas A. Meyers

Those of you who keep an eye on the blog will know I did a Q&A with American author Thomas A. Meyers about his Eric Elmoor series of books (see here). Well Eric is back for another adventure.

Coming a year or so after his first encounters with the Elves and the Battle of Fairwood, Eric once again finds himself dragged away from Gondlair and thrust into the battle for Novogard. Derex and The Order are bringing the fight closer to home and Eric has to decide where his loyalties lie.

Forced to take refuge with the dwarves, the scattered elves (now under the leadership of Lillian Scarlight) are trying to rebuild before they are wiped out for good. But there is treachery afoot within the dwarven realm, and only united can the races of Novogard stand against the oncoming evil.

The Chalice of Cameron is the second (of a proposed five) novels set in the world of Novogard. Taking elements from both classic fantasy and more modern settings Novogard is a place where technology and magic co-exist. The main protagonist Eric is just as likely to be riding the tram to school as he is learning to sword fight or cast spells.

It is an interesting concept that Meyers has pulled together here, bringing the traditional fantasy elements and dropping them into a modern, technological world which creates conflict. For the most part it works pretty well, there isn’t much which feels out of place and there has been a good amount of thought put into constructing the framework the story operates within.

Character wise, this isn’t quite as deep as your more classic fantasy tomes – but in fairness it doesn’t claim to be. I did find myself getting a bit frustrated with the ease with which everything comes to Eric but generally he does develop along the lines that you would expect him too.

Some of the other characters also could do with a bit more fleshing out as we go through the remaining tales – Ben is a classic example of someone who feels like he is on a leash and needs more to do. Interestingly enough, the best development comes in the form of the main antagonist, Derex. We are learning more about him as well as his beliefs, motivations and drivers. For me, this insight pulls the narrative along much better than those sections, for example, which focus on Eric’s training.

Plot wise there is nothing too out of the ordinary here. On the “lowest level”, this is a coming of age tale set against a backdrop of turmoil, conflict and mistrust. You have your traditional elements of decisions to be made, sides to be chosen and the normal frustrations of younger characters having to adapt to a world they either aren’t ready for or don’t want to be in.

There is however, a degree of social commentary running through the books too; racism, unchecked technological advancement, political power plays and “nanny state” governments are all themes which resonate with the real world that Meyers has managed to incorporate. It is this element which makes these books stand above some of their “kin” in the YA coming-of-age fantasy genre.

The world itself is beautifully described and a lot of care and attention has clearly gone into it. This always fills me with hope as a well-built and well-constructed world frequently means that the author has a good handle on where they are going to take the story and how they are going to use the elements of the world they have put in place.

Overall Meyers has done a pretty good job of expanding on what was presented in the first book, driving the narrative forward (if a bit multi-paced at times) and developing the characters to the point that we are interested in them and what their future holds. There is still a bit to do for these books to climb into the upper echelon but there is enough potential here to keep me playing in Meyers’s sandbox for a good long while yet.

Read if you like: Harry Potter, YA coming-of-age tales

Verdict: 4 stars out of 5

Till next time,

DT

REVIEW: Shadows of Self (Mistborn #5) by Brandon Sanderson (Novel)

Another day, another Brandon Sanderson novel. He really is unbelievably productive, it must be a pretty impressive effort to keep so many balls in the air at one time – and these aren’t short stories either, these are significant tomes with intricate plots and numerous characters.

Shadows of Self is the follow up to Alloy of Law, the book which itself followed the Mistborn series – albeit several centuries later. The world has changed since the fall of the Final Empire and the deeds of Vin, Kelsier, Elend, Sazed and co. Technology has advanced, to the point of projectile weapons, motor cars and a  burgeoning industrial age (which has arrived in some sections of society).

In addition, Mistborns are rare (if not unheard of), instead mainly supplanted by Twinborns (those who have only one allomantic power and one feruchemical power only). This adds a different dimension to things – the original trilogy saw Mistborns taking on the rest of the world, if not quite single-handedly then without too much difficulty (except when encountering another Mistborn). Now however there is more balance, most protagonists and antagonists have two powers at the most which evens things up a bit and ensures that a bit more brains needs to be added to the brawn.

People wise, Wax and Wayne are a great pair of characters - Wayne particularly is instantly likeable and brings a smile to your face whenever he is around. Wax is a bit more world-weary and serious (with his own history to deal with) but they work beautifully together. Outside of these two, the character development isn’t quite up to the level of some of Sanderson’s other work (e.g. Stormlight Archive, the original Mistborn series).

Marasi doesn’t really get enough “screen-time” for me, and the antagonist of Shadows of Self didn’t really convince me or hold my attention as much as I’d hope for. However, with only one book to go in the trilogy, the overreaching series arc that Sanderson has been shifting subtly in the background needs to come to the fore – hence I’m expecting a few of the, currently, minor characters to play larger roles in the final one. Else it will simply feel like another “episode” rather than a strung together tale.

Plot wise, this is good rather than excellent. Wax and Wayne are off doing what they do, solving a series of crimes which seem to have a much higher purpose than simply the acts themselves. There is political play and disaffection here, along with a hint of rebellion and a powder keg ready to go boom. But despite all this, I’ll be honest and say that this wasn’t exactly a gripping page turner. It’s not bad at all but maybe Sanderson’s usual standards have skewed my expectations somewhat!

Overall this is definitely a good read for your typical fantasy fan, despite my reservations. And if you like Sanderson then I think you’ll see past the flaws and find a book that is still recognisably Brandon and still full of all the elements that make him one of the best fantasy writers around. It didn’t quite reach the lofty heights he has scaled before and because of that if doesn’t jump in as a “must read now” title.

Read if you like: Other Brandon Sanderson, Black Magician Trilogy, Farseer Trilogy, Dresden Files

Verdict: 4 stars out of 5

Till next time,

DT

REVIEW: Malice (Faithful and the Fallen #1) by John Gwynne (Novel)

This was another book I came to via the Fantasy Faction Facebook group.

As a slight aside, if you are on Facebook and like Fantasy then you could do a lot worse than join up to this group – its active, full of great suggestions for books and really friendly. There are loads of aspiring authors to bounce ideas off (if you too wish to be published one day) plus it has a good selection of published fantasy authors (including the author of this one – John Gwynne) bobbing around on there who are always happy to provide help and encouragement.

Anyway, this book was being championed quite heavily on the group and a group of us decided to have a crack at it.

John Gwynne’s debut novel is set The Banished Lands, a pretty typical medieval-inspired sprawl of castles, forests and nations jostling for position and power. Following a prologue (and a chapter or two) which sets the scene in the past we jump straight into the present day, and hit the ground running.

The style is similar to A Song of Ice and Fire in that we have multiple POV characters and shortish chapters with the narrative jumping around between them on a pretty regular basis. It doesn’t feel fragmented though, in fact if anything every time the perspective changes there is a ratcheting up of the interest and the intrigue. There is also a sense of “grandness” to the opening chapters – we learn very early on that a widespread war between the forces of light and evil is coming, and the people we meet at the start seem destined to play starring roles.

The characters we encounter are immediately engaging; the young boys Corban and Dath who dream of being warriors, the scheming and devious Evnis, the brothers Krelis and Veradis escorting a prisoner home to their father. The list grows almost exponentially and it does take a while to remember who everyone is and what has come before (I’d definitely not recommend a “bitesize” approach to Malice). I wouldn’t say it was overwhelming, but definitely more on the ensemble side rather than having a main protagonist or two.

One of the things I did enjoy was the sense of ambiguity and intrigue cultivated in those earlier chapters. Who is good, who is bad, who is (more commonly) shades of both? What are people’s motives, who can be trusted and where does the real power lie? These questions are all teased into the narrative within the first fifty or so pages – and very few are resolved by the end of Malice.

In some respects Malice is a good old-fashioned “slash-athon” too with plenty of gory battle scenes and no punches pulled in some of the violence. It works though, it doesn’t feel gratuitous and there is a real sense of gritty realism and authenticity to these sections.

There is a slight lull in the middle in terms of pacing. This allows the pieces of the game to be positioned by Gwynne; alliances are forged, promises are made, paths are started upon. Then the action begins to come to a head. Betrayal, conquest and ambition start to intertwine and the pace picks up to a crescendo. Throw in a very unexpected death-twist (well, I didn’t think the person in question was for the chop) and you suddenly realise you are completely engrossed, and desperately wishing you had Book 2 by your side ready to immediately jump into.

Overall this was a thoroughly enjoyable and engaging read. It has strong characters (both good and bad) and an overriding story arc that sits in the background hinting at what is to come but without dominating. The “nitty-gritty” details add colour to everything and it is easy to find yourself completely immersed in the world. This is as good a debut novel as I’ve read in a long while and I’d recommend this heartily to those who like a bit of swords, sorcery (though like A Song of Ice and Fire the magic is a bit more in the background), political machinations and a coming battle destined to reshape the world.

Read if you like: Prince of Thornes, First Law Trilogy (though this is not quite as dark as Abercrombie’s offering), A Song of Ice and Fire, anything with multiple POVs.

Verdict: 4.5 stars out of 5

Till next time,

DT

Tribalism

So it has been announced that the St. Louis Rams and the “Greatest Show on Turf” are no more. Say hello to the Los Angeles Rams. The next time we see the famous blue and yellow helmets will be on the well-trodden grass of L.A. Coliseum (well, unless they start with an away match but don’t ruin my flow here). It is a relocation of a mere 1800 miles!

To put that in perspective to my UK readers that is the equivalent of my football team, Everton, suddenly upping sticks and playing next season somewhere like Gibraltar. It is an unfathomable concept for those of us living on this small island (where the uproar caused by Wimbledon FC’s 56 mile relocation to Milton Keynes still resonates strongly, particularly around the London borough). 

Sports teams are part of the fabric of a lot of communities, a source of great pride when things are going well, and utter despair when they aren’t. “Bragging” rights within cities are often worth significantly more than simply 3 points.

But what is it that makes us loyal to a brand, an ideal, a sports team etc..? Is it purely location or is it in fact familiarity and history? Is it that sense of belonging, that feeling of having something you identify with? And what happens when it is stripped away?

How will those NFL fans in L.A. who have been without a team since the Rams themselves left – along with the Raiders – 1994 react? And what about those in St. Louis who are now without a team? Do you follow “your” Rams from afar, or do you seek something closer to home to root for? Within the UK distances are quite a bit smaller and so something on the scale of the Rams relocation simply wouldn’t happen. But in general people will react when their tribal instincts are upset.

Tribalism is a very interesting concept within the human make-up. Rams fans within St.  Louis will feel as though they have been abandoned and many will no longer have a “tribe” to associate themselves with. Within the sphere of sport, this is probably not critically important (though I know Rams fans may disagree) but you can also apply these same principles to the world at large, and the story gets more serious there.

The world is in turmoil, and a lot of it can be traced back to the idea of tribalism – religious, political and socio-economic. Factions (held together by shared beliefs, ideals and goals) have battled each other since before history was recorded. It is inherent in the human condition to find people of like mind, and then to disagree with people of unlike mind. Slights (perceived or real) against “our tribe” are often met with the quickest of retorts, and outside interferences which upset the balance are, by the same token, generally unwelcome.

People want to “belong”, it is an intrinsic need for most humans. And more than that, we wish to thrive. Our tribal needs are (either consciously or unconsciously) seen as more important than competing needs of other tribes and it takes a strong character to be able to see beyond these instincts and understand the benefits of mutual existence.

I’m not saying tribalism is a bad thing, in fact there are many positive elements that can be taken from “pulling together” - the recent floods in the North of England are a great example of how a community united can make a huge difference. But the sense of “us against them” can detrimental.

There are many competing tribes within the world and it is critically important to understand how the tribes we are part of interact with others. How do other people see things? What do other people need from us? What will happen if we interfere (directly, indirectly or even accidentally) with other tribes?

It is very difficult to incorporate these thoughts into our already busy lives. And even if we do it is fair to say that some tribes and some people simply cannot (or will not) be part of the solution. But we have to try. We have to strike the right balance between pride in our tribes and understanding for others.

Human existence is a jigsaw, with many pieces to a large (and ultimately unsolvable) puzzle. We need to work as hard as we can to fit these pieces together in the best arrangement, and to understand how our actions affect these interactions . That takes compromise, communication and compassion.

As for the Rams, hopefully those fans left behind will have a tribe to be part of and hopefully those new fans in L.A. will embrace what has already been built in St. Louis and keep the existing tribe alive.

Till next time,

DT

Why did you do that?

Another year over with, time really does fly by these days. As the year was drawing to a close I began my usual process of planning what I’d like to do this coming year, mainly deciding the charity events for next year’s Many Silly Adventures. 2015 was a reasonably successful year in terms of 10 events being completed, though something had begun to fell amiss towards the end of the year as I was ploughing through the last couple and not enjoying them as much.

As those who have followed the story will know, I do these challenges to support the charity Friends of Serenity. But last year I seem to have inadvertently got side-tracked. It seems that I had completely forgotten WHY I was doing these challenges. I don’t do them for personal gain nor to scratch some kind of competitive itch - I’m not that kind of person really.

I do them for the enjoyment of simply completing them and to use them as a vehicle to try and raise money and awareness for the charity. Don’t get me wrong, I still like to do the best I can, but I’d rather finish last with my team than shave a few seconds off a PB.

Yet last year I was getting more and more disappointed with myself for not being competitive (despite making no real effort to put in the hard yards to allow that to happen). Why was I suddenly becoming more concerned about my times and my growing inability to be competitive – and why had my focus drifted away from the charity and the fun element?

I don’t really have a good answer to be honest, other than it is very easy to get swept along when you are doing something if you aren’t focusing on what got you doing it in the first place. Sometimes it is good to take stock and reset your expectations and, more importantly, limitations.

So the focus for this year’s challenges has shifted. I plan to do a lot less OCRs, partially as I feel these are part of the problem. I’ve felt over the last year a growing divide between those who take part in these for fun (and are often slow and non-competitive) and those who have taken a more serious approach. Don’t get me wrong, I have no issue with people who want to be more competitive and treat OCRs as simply a race to be won but it’s not my cup of tea.

And the growing split in the community has certainly played a part in my lack of enjoyment last year. I’ve lost count of the times I’ve been barged out of the way by “quicker” people – so much for a community spirit built around everyone helping each other. The vast majority of people who enter these are not elite racers, yet I almost feel like I am a second class citizen in the eyes of some event directors who are focusing so heavily on the front end of the race. I’ll still do a few of these; but it will be firmly at the back, purely for the enjoyment and definitely with a bunch of folk around for company.

For the rest of the challenges I intend to change it around a bit, incorporating more than just running and trying to get as many people involved as possible. And the charity will be the focus again, not my personal achievements.

So please go take a look at our website again, and if you fancy joining in or helping out with any of the confirmed challenges below (there may be more to add), then please get in touch and let me know (even if it is just turning up and cheering me on).

Sun 28^th Feb 

Manchester Cancer Research 10km

Sat 7^th May

Dirty Weekend 20 mile OCR (Burghley House, Lincolnshire)

Sun 22^nd May

Great Manchester Run 10km

Sat 2^nd July

Great Manchester Swim 1 mile

Sun 31^st July

Salford Sprint Triathlon

In 2016, it’s time to remember what this was all about in the first place.

Till next time,

DT

Delving into imagination

It’s been a long time since I managed a book review, in fact I’ve managed to plough through more than ten books in the time it has taken me to give my opinion again – and anyone who knows me will testify to how rare THAT is. Nevertheless it is once again time to take a trip or two into other people’s imaginations.

The following reviews have been posted over at Goodreads (follow the links). Go have a read and see if there is something that takes your fancy – there is probably something for everyone!

Words of Radiance (Part 1) by Brandon Sanderson (Volume 2 of TheStormlight Archive)

Arrow’s Fall by Mercedes Lackey (Book 3 of the Heralds of Valdemar)

Legion : Skin Deep by Brandon Sanderson

In the Footsteps of Adam : A memoir by Thor Heyerdahl

Till next time,

DT

The Butterfly Awards

It was with a great sense of pride that I accompanied my fellow Friends of Serenity trustees to the 2015 Butterfly Awards in October 2015. 

These awards honour those who champion baby loss causes and make a difference in bringing the many causes of pre and early-post natal death to a wider audience.

Those of you following the story will know that we were nominated for awards in three categories, and it was truly an honour just to be represented at such a fantastic (if tremendously poignant) event. It is fair to say plenty of tears were shed as we heard some amazing stories of overcoming adversity and making something positive out of devastating turns of events.

The whole evening was a real testament to the dedication of the organisers and helpers. No-one in that room would want to be there in an ideal world, but the strength and determination shown was absolutely unbelievably and genuinely inspirational.

I’m also delighted to report the Friends of Serenity took home both of the awards that the charity was nominated for, firstly for Cherished Keepsake and secondly for UK Support Organisation. Speechless would probably be the best phrase to define how we felt when we were nominated, so to win was beyond belief.

Part of Team Friends of Serenity with the silverware

Three years ago, the charity didn’t exist but now we are making a difference and being recognised as such. 

It is a testament to all the hard work done by Jo and Mark, and also to the phenomenal support I have received from everyone whilst doing my Many Silly Adventures on behalf of the charity. It has been hard work but worth every second.

So, once again, thank you so much for everything – it really does mean the world to those who use the charity and benefit from its work. 

Till next time,

DT