fantasy Archives - Matt gets LIT-erary

The Well of Ascension and The Hero of Ages

The Well of Ascension by Brandon Sanderson
Published by Hachette UK on March 30, 2010
Genres: Action & Adventure, Fantasy, Fiction
Pages: 800

The original Mistborn trilogy has earned a spot in my favorite fantasy series of all time. The second and third entries in the series continue to expand Brandon Sanderson’s brilliant world. These two books contain loveable characters, twists upon twists, heartbreaking losses, and a highly satisfying ending. Be warned this review has spoilers for the first Mistborn book, The Final Empire. Feel free to check out my spoiler free review of The Final Empire here.

The Well of Ascension has less action compared to The Final Empire, which was essentially a heist story. The sequel digs into the politics of the world. The Final Empire ended with Vin killing the Lord Ruler. Elend now takes control of Luthadel, the capital of The Final Empire. Elend finds himself torn between building a utopic government and doing whatever is necessary to keep control over Luthadel. Multiple factions, one led by his own father, place a siege on Luthadel. They are hoping to overthrow Elend to secure the valuable store of atrium that is rumored to be hidden there. In the meantime, Vin starts hearing mysterious thumping, that only she can detect, and a rival Mistborn is stalking her at night. The Well of Ascension also expands the world of the kandra, introducing an excellent character. And Sazed, (my favorite!) gets a love interest. The second novel concludes with an excellent trope-busting twist. After that ending I was scrambling to find a copy of The Hero of Ages as soon as possible.

I love when fantasy books get political. Fantasy authors, please do not gloss over why leaders make their decisions. I really enjoy the thought process behind political maneuvers, which Sanderson delivers in The Well of Ascension. Once Elend takes on the leadership position, he becomes more likeable. Elend certainly makes mistakes as a leader, even if his intensions are well-meaning. But Elend quickly learns from these mistakes, all while trying to uphold a fair and just government. Sanderson somehow got me to root for a straight male protagonist, which is rare for me in fantasy. And I cannot hype the twist at the end of The Well of Ascension enough! This is my favorite twist of the whole trilogy. Sanderson manages to offer an unexpected new take on the “chosen one” trope.

I will not say too much about the plot of The Hero of Ages, to avoid spoiling events in The Well of Ascension. Every character that survives the first two books gets their time to shine in the final installment. Especially one previously minor character. The ending is spectacular. The conclusion is epic, brutal, and beautifully wraps up the trilogy.

For me, The Hero of Ages, is the weakest entry in the trilogy, but the ending is everything! Sanderson is not afraid to kill off any of his characters, which is essential for me in fantasy. If there is an ongoing war or extreme danger, then some main characters need to die to keep the stakes high. Maybe I’m a bit twisted, but the pain of a loveable character dying feels so good! I really enjoyed Sanderson’s use of religion in all three books. Religion ended up playing a significant role in the final pages, and I appreciated the overall message. After finishing my fist three Brandon Sanderson books, I am impressed with his storytelling skills. Sanderson planned out these novels well in advance. Hints and clues are dropped early on, yet the twists never seemed obvious or predictable. All of Sanderson’s foreshadowing gives Mistborn great rereading potential. I am looking forward to continuing my way through Sanderson’s bibliography. I plan to stick to just the Cosmere universe for now.

The House in the Cerulean Sea

The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune
Published by Tom Doherty Associates on March 17, 2020
Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Gay, Humorous
Pages: 305

This is possibly the most wholesome book I’ve ever read! TJ Klune’s feel good fantasy novel takes place at an orphanage for magical youth on a magical tropical island. This story features a loveable found family and an endearing gay romance. The predictability of the story did not bother me because the characters were so likeable. Save this book for a gloomy day, I guarantee that it will cheer you up!

The protagonist, Linus Baker, is a lonely British man in his 40s. He is a case worker for the Department in Charge of Magical Youth where he travels to different government sanctioned orphanages, housing magical children, to ensure regulations are being followed. Linus is an extremely by the book employee. Because of his consistent track record of impartiality his superiors assign him a special assignment. He is sent to Marsyas Island to see an oversee a classified orphanage. The children housed there include a boy that can turn into a Pomeranian, a wryvn, a gnome, a sprite, an amorphous blob, and Satan’s son. Yes, the antichrist. The orphanage is run by Arthur Parnassus, a quirky middle-aged man who is passionately protective of the children. The children and Arthur end up challenging Linus’s rigid nature. Linus finds himself working less by the book as he becomes more attached to the children and especially Arthur.

The children in this story are so cute! My two favorites were Sal and Chauncey. Sal turns into a Pomeranian whenever he is scared or startled, which leads to many adorable scenes. Chauncey is an amorphous blob with an unknown origin. His dream is to become a hotel bellhop. I hope that one day I’ll have a dream/goal that I’m as passionate for as Chauncey is about the bellhop profession. The charming and humorous style of the Klune’s writing reminded me of a famous TERF’s prose (a.k.a. J.K. Roachling). Klune includes excellent positive themes in the story. My main takeaway is those that are different than society’s norm should not be isolated or hidden away but celebrated and included.

As I mentioned the plot is very predictable. Most readers will likely see the climatic twist a mile away. But the appeal of the book is the wonderful children and Linus’s positive character development. The predictable plot can be overlooked.

Lapvona

Lapvona by Ottessa Moshfegh
Published by Penguin on June 21, 2022
Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Historical, Horror, Literary, Magical Realism
Pages: 320

Lapvona by Ottessa Moshfegh is disturbing and wild. The dark and twisted events in Moshfegh’s latest work were right up my alley. The novel gave me A24 horror movie vibes, specifically Robert Eggers’ The Witch. Nearly every character in Lapvona is unlikeable. I did not leave the story feeling good about humanity. The novel is a wonderful hodgepodge of genres: horror, magical realism, fantasy, and historical fiction.

Lapvona takes place in a medieval village where life is extremely rough. Marek is the motherless son of Jude, a shepherd. Jude is abusive to Marek and has an intense attachment to his sheep. In the forest lives a witchy, blind woman named Ina (my favorite character), who has nursed many of the village’s children, including Marek. The lord of the village, Villiam, is deranged and supported by the problematic village priest, Father Barnabas. Marek goes to live in Villiam’s wealthy home after an unexpected tragedy. Meanwhile the villagers suffer from the effects of a harsh drought.

I realize the above synopsis is vague, but I do not want to spoil all the shocking WTF moments in the story. This book is not for everyone, but fans of horror will be pleased. Nothing is off limits in this highly irreverent book. I really enjoyed Moshfegh’s writing. Her word choice is clear and direct without superfluous phrases, making Lapvona a fast read. I struggled to find significant themes or the point of this novel. But I do think the story works as a criticism of the United States government. I found the buffoonery of Villiam to be very reminiscent of President number 45. Villiam has no concern for the well being of his people and spends his free time doing outrageous stunts. The contrast between the those living in Villiam’s manor and the starving villagers reminded me of the disconnect between the US government and the people it serves. Ina is an amazing character. Her arc is fantastic, and I wish more of the book had been told from her perspective.

Overall, I enjoyed the shocking moments of Lapvona and its overall vibe. I wish the book was more focused or had clearer themes. I felt like much of Moshfegh’s message went over my head. Or perhaps she just wanted to write a book with loads of shock value? Nonetheless, I certainly plan on checking out more of Ottessa Moshfegh’s books soon.

Mistborn: The Final Empire

Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson
Published by Macmillan on April 1, 2010
Genres: Epic, Fantasy
Pages: 544

Time to pop my Brandon Sanderson cherry! I’ve started my journey through Sanderson’s Cosmere universe with Mistborn: The Final Empire. I loved this book! Vin is an excellent female protagonist. The magic system is exciting and inventive. And the team of heroes form a found family, which is one of my favorite literary tropes. I think this is a great gateway book for readers looking to delve into the fantasy genre for the first time.

Mistborn takes place in a dystopian world where the villain has already won. Centuries ago, the Lord Ruler vanquished The Darkness, but now rules as a ruthless tyrant. Ash continuously falls from the sky killing vegetation. At night, mists, which are believed to be deadly, roll in. The people are separated into two social classes, the nobility and the oppressed skaa. Skaa and nobility are not allowed to have children to keep the Allomancy powers out of the skaa gene pool. Allomancy is a magic system where different abilities are accessed by ingesting and “burning” different metals. Each Misting has only one metal they can use, but Mistborns can use all metals. This first book in the trilogy follows a team of heroes plotting to overthrow the Lord Ruler. The team is led by Kelsier, a skaa Mistborn who escaped the Lord Ruler’s Pits of Hathsin. An unexpected and powerful addition to the team is Vin, a young thief.

There are many strengths to this story! Allomancy may be my favorite literary magic system. I loved how Sanderson unveiled the different Allomancy abilities without being too info dumpy. And the action scenes are well written. The scenes involving iron and steel Allomancy were so clear and cinematic in my mind. The worldbuilding strikes a perfect balance for me. I never felt bored or bogged down by sections detailing the world’s history. And I also didn’t think the world building was overly simplistic. This made for a very immersive read. I will instantly fall in love with characters that form found families. So, I was pleased with how well The Final Empire used the found family trope. Vin is an excellent protagonist. I think fans of YA fantasy, which heavily features strong female protagonists will enjoy Mistborn because of Vin. Sazed, who acts as a bookish mentor to Vin, was my favorite character. Sanderson has no hesitation of killing off loveable characters, which is essential for me in epic fantasy. Main characters need to die for the stakes to feel high. The romantic story line was probably the least interesting part of the story for me, but I can see that being a highlight for other readers.

I have few complaints about the Final Empire. A little past the halfway point the pacing does slow down and drag a bit. The story is very PG-13, which didn’t bother me. But, if you enjoy edgier fantasy, with lots of sex (like A Song of Ice and Fire), this might not be your cup of tea.

What are my Comfort Story Recommendations?

A few weeks ago, I was disturbed and enraged when the Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade. Normally I can tune out the news when needed, but that day was a struggle. I had an overwhelming sense of heartbreak for the people of childbearing potential who have lost a basic human right because they no longer have access to important healthcare. I was also afraid of what other rights we may see taken away next. It is insane that my husband and I had a conversation about what would happen if same-sex marriages were no longer nationally recognized. While we luckily live in Connecticut where same sex marriages will likely always remain in place, would my husband’s permanent residency still be valid if our marriage was no longer federally recognized? Alas, these are dark times here in the US. I needed some time to escape and relax with comforting books and tv shows. I want to share a list of content that has helped distract me from the current shitshow in the states.

One of my reading resolutions for 2022 was to read more feel-good books. Below is a list of wholesome content that I enjoy. Two of the items are not books, but book adaptations so I think it counts! It’s interesting that in my late teens and early 20’s I gravitated towards darker books and tv shows. But in my late 20’s I’ve grown appreciation for feel good stories. In these dark times we no longer need to turn to fiction for horror. Reading offers a refuge when things become overwhelming. I’m not suggesting we all ignore our problems and read 3 books a day (though I wish I could), but there’s value in taking a break to immerse ourselves in comforting stories.

Camp by L.C. Rosen – Camp takes place at a queer summer camp for teens. Randell, a musical theater enthusiast, remakes himself for the upcoming summer. He creates a new identity “Del”. Del is a buff, straight acting jock, who has no interest in musicals. Randell / Del has made this transformation to catch the attention of Hudson his crush, who is only into “masc” guys. While the moral of the novel was obvious from the start, I was surprised at how invested I became in Randell and Hudson’s romance. This is an excellent YA book that exposes the problems of toxic masculinity in the gay community.

Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston – I’ve already recommended this book a few times on the blog, but once more can’t hurt! This is an excellent enemies-to-lovers romance between Alex, the son of the president of the United States, and Henry, the Prince of England. The characters have excellent banter that ratchets up the sexual tension. I cannot wait for the release of the movie adaptation!

The Wayfarers Series by Becky Chambers – I’ve only read the first two books in The Wayfarers Series. This is feel-good science fiction with a diverse and super loveable cast of characters. Chambers’ feature beings of different species working together while celebrating their cultural differences. Each book focuses on a different group of characters, but all within the same universe.

Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson – Mistborn is the first novel in a fantasy trilogy. I wouldn’t call this story feel-good; it takes place in a dark, violent world where likeable characters die. But this is certainly an excellent escapist read. Sanderson’s worldbuilding makes this an immersive story, without being overly complicated like other fantasy novels. I loved the magic system and many of the characters. I think a fair comparison is Brandon Sanderson’s writing is the fantasy book version of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Heartstopper on Netflix (adapted from Alice Oseman’s books) – My husband and I binged Heartstopper in one weekend and loved it so much. This series is superior to all the other queer teen tv shows I’ve seen (especially Love Victor, ugh). The story follows the romance between Charlie an out gay teen and Nick, a rugby player coming to terms with his bisexuality. Unlike many other shows the show makes it clear that the problems Nick and Charlie face stem from society’s failure to accept queer people, not from being queer. I cannot recommend this show enough!

Hunter x Hunter (adapted from Yoshihiro Togashi’s manga) – This year I’ve had the pleasure of discovering the wonders of anime. Currently I am making my way through Hunter x Hunter. This anime follows Gon and his young friends, who are hunters, licensed professionals who seek fantastical items, on a series of whimsical adventures. While Hunter x Hunter has some dark themes, Gon’s overwhelmingly optimistic spirit and innocence make this count as wholesome content. Gon and Killua’s friendship is everything and Hisoka is an excellent villain. I’ve only watched through the Greed Island arc so please no spoilers!

The City We Became

The City We Became by N. K. Jemisin
Published by Orbit on March 24, 2020
Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Magical Realism, LGBTQ
Pages: 448

My favorite fantasy series to this day is the Broken Earth Trilogy, by the prolific N. K. Jemisin. I was eager to read Jemisin’s newest book The City We Became, but perhaps my expectations were set too high. In this urban fantasy, cities are living beings and are represented by human avatars. After New York City’s primary avatar falls into a coma, five new avatars, one for each New York City borough, are awakened. The novel contains plenty of social commentary, highlighting each of the boroughs and including Lovecraftian references. Jemisin’s story is a tribute to New York, which she clearly loves.

Jemisin is the queen of worldbuilding, and here she has crafted an interesting world where cities are living beings. Each city is defended by an avatar, a human embodiment of the city. Some cities reach a point in their growth where they begin to awaken. The time of awakening is crucial, and the city will either come alive or fail (like Atlantis). Once a city dies, so does its avatar. A sinister outside force is threatening New York City because it is close to waking up. This enemy appears in multiple pale, white-colored forms, including Lovecraftian inspired monsters. At the start of the novel, the avatar of New York City, assisted by the avatar of San Paulo bests the enemy in a fight. But the primary avatar overexerts himself in the battle and goes into a coma in an unknown location. Once he goes missing five new avatars come into power, one representing each of New York’s boroughs: Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island (Jemisin is clearly not a Staten Island fan). The novel focuses on the avatars finding each other and working together to battle the enemy. This is the first book in a planned trilogy by Jemisin.

There were many things I loved in The City We Became. Jemisin’s writing is exceptionally vivid. The action scenes played out clearly in my mind. I also appreciated the diversity of the characters, with plenty characters of color and from the LGBTQ+ community. For me, the best and most developed character was the Lenape lesbian woman, Bronca, AKA the Bronx. Bronca’s art curating career was fascinating. I could have easily read an entire novel focused on her character. Jemisin includes lots of creative details that made the novel so much fun. One clever example is that Manhattan fights enemies by throwing money at them, because one of the borough’s biggest industries is Wall Street. I also enjoyed how Jemisin reworked Lovecraftian monsters. If you are not aware, H.P. Lovecraft has made a huge impact in science fiction and fantasy, but he held largely disgusting racist ideals. Having the “pale” Lovecraftian monsters empower white racists in NYC was a way of giving a nod to the beloved Lovecraftian monsters, while also pointing out their creator’s flaws. This reminded me of the excellent HBO show Lovecraft Country (based off the novel I have yet to read). The ending of The City We Became, was not what I expected. Without spoiling anything, I feel that Jemisin made a bold statement, clearly defining her own version of New York. I imagine New Yorkers will be strongly polarized in their reactions to the book’s conclusion.

I really wanted to love The City We Became more than I did. Unfortunately, there are some flaws that prevent me from strongly recommending this to fellow readers. While Bronca was great, most characters were not fully developed. For me, the book almost reads as a movie script, more than a novel. The action scenes are well described and ready for the big screen, but character development is lacking. The New York avatars are like a more diverse version of The Avengers. The end of the story felt rushed, and some character motivations were not clear. Hopefully Jemisin will provide more explanation in the subsequent books. If you are a fan of Jemisin, or you are looking for a fun, quick-reading fantasy novel, this is worth the read. If you have yet to read Jemisin’s masterpiece: The Broken Earth trilogy, I strongly suggest you start there instead.

The Changeling

The Changeling by Victor LaValle
Published by Random House Publishing Group on 2018
Genres: African American & Black, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Supernatural, Suspense
Pages: 431

The Changeling, especially the first half, is literary tension at its best. Victor Lavalle’s novel is part urban fantasy, part contemporary fairy tale with a splash of horror. He manages to weave in themes of parenthood while featuring the city of New York. I LOVED the first half of this book. I was at the edge of my seat and glued to the words on the page, despite being on a warm sunny beach while on my honeymoon. Unfortunately, Lavalle did not stick the landing. The second half of the book was meh, it wasn’t bad, but compared to the perfection of the beginning I was disappointed.

Because the joy of this novel is its suspense, I am going to give a limited description of the plot. The protagonist, Apollo Kagwa, is an avid reader (we would be great friends). Apollo’s father left him and his mother when Apollo was young. He sometimes has creepy dreams of his dad. Apollo eventually starts a book dealing business. He meets Emma, a librarian and they eventually get married. Emma and Apollo have a baby, named Brian, after Apollo’s father. Emma and Apollo are determined to be perfect parents, but Emma begins to act out of character leading to her committing a shocking act. This event leads Apollo on a magical journey.

I loved Lavalle’s prose. He is an excellent storyteller, and his writing is a pleasure to read. I love when a protagonist has a book related occupation. Reading about Apollo’s reading interests and how they flourished into a career of procuring and selling used books was great. The tension that builds in the first half of the story is off the charts. Based off the limited plot summary I read on the book’s back cover, I knew Emma was going to do something shocking. The slow burn leading up to those events ratchets up the tension. And the description of the scene when IT happens is very intense and scary. I also really appreciated Lavalle’s inclusion of themes of post partem depression, black fatherhood and experiences living as a black man in NYC into the story.

Explaining my critiques of the second half of the novel, without spoiling the plot, will be a challenge. The second half of the book features most of the magic and supernatural elements in the novel. Lavalle had too many great ideas. I believe editing the story down and using just a few of these elements would have created a tighter story. For me the plot at the end of the novel became muddled and character motivations did not make sense. I also found interest in the novel declining towards the end of the novel. This was a shame after start of the book when I was losing sleep because I was so captivated by the story.

Despite the weak ending, The Changeling is worth the read. Lavalle is a talented writer and storyteller. I found themes of parenthood especially relevant because my husband and I recently adopted a puppy. The scene of THE incident has become one of the most tense and memorable scenes I’ve ever read.

Bloodchild and Other Stories

Bloodchild by Octavia E. Butler
Published by Open Road Media on July 24, 2012
Genres: African American & Black, Collections & Anthologies, Fiction, Science Fiction, Short Stories, Women
Pages: 145

Within twenty minutes of picking up Bloodchild at the library, two strangers told me how much they loved the book when they saw it in my hands. The endorsements were well deserved. The collection contains five short stories and two essays, and there are no weak entries. The title story, Bloodchild, is the best short story I’ve read in recent memory. I know I will be revisiting it in the future.

Of the five short stories, three are science fiction. The two essays focus on Octavia’s journey to becoming a published author and her advice for aspiring writers. I think discussing the plot of the story Bloodchild will ruin the experience for first-time readers. My thoughts on the story are below to avoid spoiling the experience (I highly recommend you take the time to read the story first, it is only 30 pages, and you will not regret it 😊). The other stories in the collection include a future where people lose the ability to make speech sounds, an illness that causes the inflicted to self-harm, a woman dealing with the death of her mother, and a lonely, alcoholic woman with a miserable job. After each story Butler includes a brief afterward, which provides insight to the story’s inspiration. I love when authors do this. This reminds me of the introductions Stephen King includes in some of his short story collections (Four Past Midnight). I enjoyed Butler’s notes better than King’s because she includes her thoughts as an afterward rather than an introduction, so the story is not spoiled for the reader. I was looking forward to the two essays at the end of the collection the least, probably because of my preference for fiction over non-fiction. It was a pleasant surprise that they ended up being my favorite pieces outside of Bloodchild. The first inspiring essay is autobiographical, detailing Butler’s journey of becoming a published science fiction writer, which was unheard of for a black woman at the time. Even today the genre is still dominated by white males. In the second essay, Butler gives advice to aspiring writers. Butler believes that being a successful writer depends less on talent and more on consistency and practice. While I currently have no plans on writing fiction, I did find this passage motivating in terms of creating content for this blog. One of my favorite things as a reader is discovering new authors who already have a giant backlog of books written. I am looking forward to delving into the great Octavia Butler’s catalog.

Trigger Warnings: Incest, Body Horror, Rape

SPOILERS

Now for arguably the best short story I’ve ever read, Bloodchild. I am a big fan of gnarly body horror, which Butler absolutely, terrifyingly provides in this story. I also love when a science fiction/fantasy story doesn’t tell a reader how the world operates. Instead, I prefer when authors parcel out little bits of info, so that readers slowly piece together the experience themselves. The realization of the mechanics behind the symbiotic relationship between the humans and Tlic had me gleefully horrified. After reading the story I immediately went on google images and spent half an hour looking at fan art of the millipede-like Tlic. Interestingly, in Butler’s notes for the book she explains how many readers interpret the story as a metaphor for slavery, which was not her intention. I did not have that interpretation on my first read of the story, but I can see how the Tlic colonizing the humans can be read that way. Instead, Butler’s goal was to write a story of the “pregnant man”. To put male characters through the pain and trauma of childbirth.