Jerusalem Book Review

by The Wanderer

Author: Alan Moore
Publisher: Liveright
Genre: Literary Fantasy
Series: Standalone
Pages: 1,266

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May 26th, 2006, is the date of Alma Warren's latest art exhibition. Inspired by the twisted dreams of her younger brother Mick, this art exhibition is poised to make an impact in both the worlds of the living and the dead.

The Obelisk Gate Book Review

by The Wanderer

Author: N.K. Jemisin
Publisher: Orbit
Genre: Epic Fantasy
Series: Broken Earth Book Two
Pages: 448

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(Contains spoilers for The Fifth Season).

A new season has started, one that is believed will have no end. Essun has found shelter with a comm, but she has not found her daughter. Alibaster, Essun's former teacher, has vital training for her, training that could change their world forever. Nassun is being taken by her father to the far side of the world where he believes he can have her cured of being an orogene. 

Necessity Book Review

by The Wanderer

Author: Jo Walton
Publisher: Tor Books
Genre: Literary Science Fiction
Series: Thessaly Book Three
Pages: 336

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(Spoilers for The Just City and The Philosopher Kings are below).

The Just City and all it's sister cities have been moved by Zeus to the planet now called Plato. It's now the 26th century, the philosophers are interacting with new alien species', but only decades have passed since the relocation. Pytheas, Apollo in mortal form, has just died. On the same day, Plato receives its first visit from Earth borne humans. Apollo intends to return to Plato, but first must seek out Athene, who has now gone missing.

Nevernight Book Review

by The Wanderer

Author: Jay Kristoff
Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books
Genre: Epic Fantasy
Series: Nevernight Chronicle Book One
Pages: 448

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The brighter the light, the deeper the shadow

(An advanced copy was provided by the publisher).

Mia Corvere is the daughter of the formerly wealthy but now disgraced Corvere family. Hunted by her father's enemies she slowly learns to fend for herself, and begins to execute her revenge. Her plan is to go to the Red Church, trainers of the deadliest assassins in the Itreyan Empire, and hone the skills she'll need to get the job done ... but that will all depend on whether she can survive.

The Emperor's Soul Book Review

by The Wanderer

Author: Brandon Sanderson
Publisher: Tachyon Publications
Genre: Epic Fantasy
Series: Cosmere (Elantris World - Sel) Standalone
Pages: 175

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It was boldness, it was contrast, it was subtlety

Shai is a master forger, a person who can rewrite the history of objects in the world of Sel. Getting caught stealing the moon scepter of the Rose Empire has landed Shai a death sentence, but she now has the chance to save her life. She must build a new soul for the Emperor Ashravan in ninety days.

The Familiar Volume Three Book Review

by The Wanderer

Author: Mark Z. Danielewski
Publisher: Pantheon
Genre: Science Fiction
Series: Familiar Volume Three: Honeysuckle and Pain
Pages: 880

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(Spoilers for The Familiar Volumes 1 - 2).

It just keeps getting better. Slowly ... but surely ... but strangely. Here is what the characters from The Familiar are currently up to ...

Summerlong Book Review

by The Wanderer

Author: Peter S. Beagle
Publisher: Tachyon Publications
Genre: Magical Realism, Romance
Series: Standalone
Pages: 240

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(An advance copy was provided by the publisher). 

Joanna Delvecchio and Abe Arronson are an elderly couple best described by Beagle as, "single but together." They live in the estuary of Puget Sound near Seattle, and their lives are thrown into unexpected new directions when Lioness Lazos arrives.

The Guns of Empire Book Review

by The Wanderer

Author: Django Wexler
Publisher: Roc
Genre: Flintlock Fantasy
Series: Shadow Campaigns Book Four
Pages: 464

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With all immediate threats to Vordan removed, Queen Raesinia Orboan wishes to make peace with her once enemies. But First Consul Janus bet Vhalnich has other plans, and he won't stop until Elysium and the Black Pontifex are defeated, even if he has to march across the vast Murnskai Empire to do so. For Winter Ihernglass and Marcus D'Ivoire this upcoming war means choosing between their loyalty to the crown, or the general that's won them every battle.

The Lies of Locke Lamora Book Review

by The Wanderer

Author: Scott Lynch
Publisher: Bantam
Genre: Epic Fantasy
Series: Gentleman Bastard Book One
Pages: 719

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I Only Steal Because My Dear Old Family Needs Money To Live 

Locke Lamora is an orphan in the corrupt city of Camorr. Growing up a small-time pick-pocket with reckless ambition, he eventually becomes known as The Thorn of Camorr, a master thief. Working with his small team of Gentleman Bastards, he serves the city's crime lord Barsavi, paying him a pittance, while working on larger and grander heists involving the city's nobility. Locke's successes are put in danger when Barsavi and his underground empire goes to war with a new powerful presence styling himself as the Gray King.

Consider Phlebas Book Review

by The Wanderer

Author: Iain M. Banks
Publisher: Orbit
Genre: Science Fiction
Series: Culture Book One
Pages: 544

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The Culture is at war with Idrian Empire.

After a Culture ship is destroyed by the Idrian's, one of the Culture's Mind's escapes to Schar's World. The being's incorporating Schar's World will allow neither the Culture or the Idrian's on the planet. Bora Horza Gobuchul is a changer, a human who can change their body to impersonate anyone else, and changers were once stewards on Schar's World. Horza's hatred of the Culture finds him siding with Idrian's, and soon working with them to retrieve them missing Mind.

(Some spoilers in the review below).

The Wheel of Osheim Book Review

by The Wanderer

Author: Mark Lawrence
Publisher: Ace
Genre: Epic Fantasy,
Series: Red Queen's War Book Three
Pages: 515

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Something is wrong in Osheim. A turning wheel is bringing the world closer to ultimate destruction. Traveling through hell, Snorri Ver Snagason looks to reunite with his family, while his companion Jalan Kendeth just wishes to escape hell in one piece. The world they hope to return to one day may just need both of them to save it.

Sleeping Giants Book Review

by The Wanderer

Author: Sylvain Neuvel
Publisher: Del Rey
Genre: Science Fiction
Series: Themis Files Book One
Pages: 320

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Super INTJ

The arm of a giant robot is discovered deep underground. Radio carbon dating puts it over 5,000 years old. An expedition is soon underway to find the remaining parts and put together the giant robot. And to figure out how it got there.

The Wind Rises Film Review

by The Wanderer

Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Cast: Hideaki Anno, Miori Takimoto
Series: Studio Ghibli
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Length: 126 Minutes

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In Search Of Cursed Dreams

Jiro Horikoshi has been fascinated with airplanes since his youth. His dreams of flying are crushed by his poor eyesight, and instead he decides to become the next best thing: an airplane designer.

The Wolf in the Attic Book Review

by The Wanderer

Author: Paul Kearney
Publisher: Solaris
Genre: Young Adult
Series: Standalone
Pages: 320

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The Old World vs The New World

(An advanced copy was provided by the publisher).

In 1920's Oxford, twelve year old Anna Francis and her father are displaced Greek refugees from the First World War. While wandering around late at night Anna encounters the Romani, a group of traveling gypsies that take a great interest in her. It's through these people that Anna learns about the magic that was found in the old world, magic that is slowly disappearing.

The Children of Earth and Sky Book Review

by The Wanderer

Author: Guy Gavriel Kay
Publisher: New American Library
Genre: Epic Fantasy
Series: Standalone
Pages: 567

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You Had To Grow Into Your Own Significance - Or Come To Terms With The Lack Of It

Guy Gavriel Kay has been been writing great books that are based off historical time periods in our own world's history for over two decades. The Children of Earth and Sky continues with this trend and focuses on the historical time period just after the Ottoman Empire conquered the Byzantine Empire. With a significant number of narrators it gets difficult to really describe the main plot. Essentially characters from various regions of the Jad Empire (Holy Roman Empire) journey together to Osmanlis controlled Sauradia (The Ottoman Empire) to achieve their own personal goals.

Neverwhere Book Review

by The Wanderer

Author: Neil Gaiman
Publisher: William Morrow
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Series: Standalone
Pages: 370

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If This All There Is, Then I Don't Want To Be Sane

Richard Mayhew has decided to move from Scotland to London where he hopes to begin a new life. Unfortunately Richard's new life consists of him working a meaningless desk job, and finding himself engaged to a controlling woman who wishes to be accepted amongst the elite upper-class. 

While heading to an important dinner (or important in the eyes of his fiance) Richard finds a woman bleeding in the middle of the street, and from there his world changes as he discovers a new secret world below the city of London.

Independence Day: Resurgence Film Review

by The World Weary

Director: Roland Emmerich
Cast: Jeff Goldblum, Bill Pullman, Liam Hemsworth, Maika Monroe, Jessie Usher, Brent Spiner
Series: Independence Day
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Length: 120 Minutes

Remember When?

This review features minor spoilers for Indpendence Day: Resurgence.

Remember when the White House blew up in Independence Day? Remember when Will Smith said, "Welcome to Erf?"

Are you ready for two whole hours of questions like that? If you are, then stop reading and go see Independence Day: Resurgence! If that sounds awkward, then you're damn right. It is awkward. This whole movie is just an escalating series of callbacks to the original film, that are as uninspired as they are boring. There's the classic destruction porn, the hero who sacrifices himself for the greater good, Jeff Goldblum's "ahh"'s and "um"'s, the air battles, etc. Characters even reference events from the first film in their dialogue, usually in a failed attempt to make the stakes seem higher. This movie bored my balls off, and I suppose I should tell you why...

Ponyo Film Review

by The Wanderer

Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Cast: Tomoko Yamaguchi, Kazushige Nagashima, Yuki Amami
Series: Studio Ghibli
MPAA Rating: G
Length: 103 Minutes

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Under the Sea

A young goldfish named Brunhilde lives with her father Fujimoto, a wizard/mad scientist that now lives underwater, and is jaded by his years of interacting with humans. After sneaking off from her father one day, and series of chance adventures, Brunhilde ends up in the possession of a young boy Sosuke. After healing a small wound Sosuke receives in picking up Brunhilde he renames her Ponyo, and the two begin a friendship.

The Magicians Season One Review

by The Wanderer

Series: The Magicians
Channel: SyFy
Genre: Adult Fantasy
Season: 1
Episodes: 13

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A Book Readers Review

A tv book adaptation is something that always comes as a bittersweet moment for me. It's exciting to see a visual take on something you've loved reading, it's scary knowing that the vast majority of these adaptations won't even come close to catching the magic of its source material. Oftentimes at best they become guilty pleasures, an experience of fandom, fandom that clouds judgment.

Captain America: Civil War Film Review

Director: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo
Cast: Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr., Sebastian Stan, Chadwick Boseman, Scarlett Johansson
Series: Marvel Cinematic Universe
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Length: 147 Minutes

Wait... This Again?!

"Didn't I already go through this shit?!"

Much to my annoyance, this is becoming somewhat of a tagline for the past few months of my life. I'd hoped going to the theater to see Captain America: Civil War would change things, even if only for a little while, and I'd get to see what Rotten Tomatoes assured me was the smash hit superhero film of the century.

GUESS WHAT?!

Fool's Fate Book Review

by The Wanderer

Author: Robin Hobb
Publisher: Bantam
Genre: Epic Fantasy
Series: Tawny Man Trilogy Book Three
Pages: 910

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Fitz Gets His

(Spoilers for the Farseer Trilogy, Liveship Trader's Trilogy, Fool's Errand, and Golden Fool are below).

In order to secure a long lasting peace with the Outislands, Prince Dutiful has agreed to bring the Narcheska the head of the dragon Icefyre. For Fitzchivalry Farseer this task puts his loyalties to the test, remove the head of the dragon and remain loyal to the crown, or set the dragon free and fulfill the Fool's prophecy of saving the world.

Golden Fool Book Review

by The Wanderer

Author: Robin Hobb
Publisher: Bantam
Genre: Epic Fantasy
Series: Tawny Man Trilogy Book Two
Pages: 710

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People have to attempt to do right, even if they believe they cannot succeed

   

(Spoilers for the Farseer Trilogy, Liveship Trader's Trilogy, and Fool's Errand are below).

After thwarting the Piebald's scheme for abducting Prince Dutiful, Fitz has now fully returned into his role as secret assassin for the Farseer's. Amongst his first tasks is teaching the Skill to Dutiful, and trying to put together a coterie for him, all while maintaining the safety of the threatened Farseer reign. While the Piebald's threat still remains at large, Dutiful has other concerns, mainly the arrival of his betrothed, the Narcheska Elliania, and securing an alliance with the Six Duchies greatest enemy from years past.  

Fool's Errand Book Review

by The Wanderer


Author: Robin Hobb
Publisher: Bantam

Genre: Epic Fantasy
Series: Tawny Man Trilogy Book One
Pages: 672

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Destiny Not Fulfilled ... Yet

(Spoilers for the Farseer Trilogy and Liveship Trader's Trilogy are below).

 

Not since Lord of the Rings has fantasy seen as perfect a bittersweet ending as the Farseer Trilogy. I often asked myself what a sequel to Lord of the Rings would have looked like? The optimist in me would say, "it would've been great, it's Tolkien", the purist in me would have said, "don't mess with perfection." While we never got a sequel to Lord of the Rings, Robin Hobb has crafted her first sequel trilogy for FitzChivalry Farseer and the rest of the Six Duchies.

The Spider's War Book Review

by The Wanderer

Author: Daniel Abraham
Publisher: Orbit
Genre: Epic Fantasy, Low Fantasy
Series: The Dagger and the Coin Book Five
Pages: 528

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The Spider's Away

(Contains spoilers for the previous four books in The Dagger and the Coin).

The stage is set for the final showdown between the lord regent of Antea, Geder Palliako, and the powerful banker Cithrin bel Sarcour. In his attempt to destroy his former lover Cithrin, Geder has stretched the Antean armies to their breaking point. Rebellion is everywhere, and as Antea's armies fall back to defend their homeland, it becomes Cithrin, Clara, and Marcus's task to find away to stop the warfare from raging out of control.

Mistborn Secret History Book Review

by The Wanderer

Author: Brandon Sanderson
Publisher: Tor Books
Genre: Epic Fantasy
Series: Mistborn Novella
Pages: 120

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A New People, Familiar Leader

(Contains spoilers for The Original Mistborn Trilogy and Wax and Wayne Books 1- 3) This Should Not Be Read Until You Read All Of Those Books

The Mistborn world is getting big. But never has a larger picture been clearly hinted at or expressed at until the release of this short novella. Nearly ten years in the making - and believe me that amount of time shows - Brandon Sanderson makes the most significant developments to this world since the conclusion of The Hero of Ages.

This is a must read for any Mistborn or Cosmere fan.

Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice Film Review

Director: Zack Snyder
Cast: Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Jesse Eisenberg, Amy Adams, Gal Gadot
Series: DC Extended Universe
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Length: 151 Minutes

The CGI Action Figure Slaparound of the Century!

Here it is...

I remember being a child and hearing they were going to make a Batman versus Superman movie. I was excited. What comic fan wouldn't be? The two most legendary of all heroes, testing their prowess against one another. Of course, as a kid, I wasn't worried about what bullshit reason would need to be conceived in order for these titans to get in the ring, I just wanted to see, on a movie screen, a version of what I saw in my head when I took my Batman toy and my Superman toy and bashed them into one another again, and again. Apparently, Zack Snyder felt the same.

10 Cloverfield Lane Review

Director: Dan Trachtenberg
Cast: Mary Elizabeth Winstead, John Goodman, John Gallagher Jr.
Series:Cloverfield
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Length: 103 Minutes

Winstead Outta Hell

I don't think anybody expected a "sequel" to Cloverfield. I certainly didn't. Yet, here it is, like that one guy who keeps showing up to the party, that no one quite knows, but everyone allows because he's mostly inoffensive.

So is this another found footage and Godzilla mash up? Nope. Tonally, visually, and basically fundamentally, this is a different film. More of a thriller than a straight up horror film, 10 Cloverfield Lane is an interesting, if somewhat misguided film, that at the very least opens up the Cloverfield name to potential franchise status.