The Librain……retired

Welcome to this week’s post. First, I apologise for the lack of a post last Friday. I have been really struggling with the extremely hot weather and could not think clearly enough to write anything! I have, however, managed to read two books since my last Reading Roundup.

I decided to revisit the work of one of my favourite authors: Joe Abercrombie. I love his dark humour and amazing characters. The funny thing was that when I entered the book titles on Goodreads, I realised that I had actually read this series before! So, I was re-reading them. However, although there were some faint echoes of the plot and some characters in my mind as I read, I couldn’t really remember much of the plot. Perhaps my stroke in 2019 affected my book reading memories somehow? Anyway, I have now read the first two books in The First Law trilogy and have started on the third.

Here is the blurb for The Blade Itself…

“Logen Ninefingers, infamous barbarian, has finally run out of luck. Caught in one feud too many, he’s on the verge of becoming a dead barbarian – leaving nothing behind him but bad songs, dead friends, and a lot of happy enemies. 

Nobleman Captain Jezal dan Luthar, dashing officer, and paragon of selfishness, has nothing more dangerous in mind than fleecing his friends at cards and dreaming of glory in the fencing circle. But war is brewing, and on the battlefields of the frozen North they fight by altogether bloodier rules. 

Inquisitor Glokta, cripple turned torturer, would like nothing better than to see Jezal come home in a box. But then Glokta hates everyone: cutting treason out of the Union one confession at a time leaves little room for friendship. His latest trail of corpses may lead him right to the rotten heart of government, if he can stay alive long enough to follow it. 

Enter the wizard, Bayaz. A bald old man with a terrible temper and a pathetic assistant, he could be the First of the Magi, he could be a spectacular fraud, but whatever he is, he’s about to make the lives of Logen, Jezal, and Glotka a whole lot more difficult. 

Murderous conspiracies rise to the surface, old scores are ready to be settled, and the line between hero and villain is sharp enough to draw blood.”

And this is the blurb for Before They Are Hanged…

How do you defend a city surrounded by enemies and riddled with traitors, when your allies can by no means be trusted, and your predecessor vanished without a trace? It’s enough to make a torturer want to run – if he could even walk without a stick – and Superior Glokta needs answers before the Gurkish army comes knocking at the gates. 

Northmen have spilled over the border of Angland and are spreading fire and death across the frozen country. Crown Prince Ladisla is poised to drive them back and win undying glory. There is only one problem – he commands the worst-armed, worst-trained, worst-led army in the world.

And Bayaz, the First of the Magi, is leading a party of bold adventurers on a perilous mission through the ruins of the past. The most hated woman in the South, the most feared man in the North, and the most selfish boy in the Union make a strange alliance, but a deadly one. They might even stand a chance of saving mankind from the Eaters. If they didn’t hate each other quite so much.

Ancient secrets will be uncovered. Bloody battles will be won and lost. Bitter enemies will be forgiven – but not before they are hanged.

Today, I don’t have the brain power to write any kind of response on Goodreads, so I will try to do something on this post. Abercrombie’s characters are incredibly well written. They are a group of unusual people with a range of abilities and outlooks. Of the main ones, none is wholly bad or good. There is nuance and also some unexpected developments. Over the series, all of them grow and change. There are also many humorous moments, usually dark, but sometimes poignant.

His writing of violence and battles seems to be very realistic to someone who has never (thank goodness) experienced war. The deep fear, the stupidity of leaders, the waste of lives are all shown in stark words and descriptions. When I finish the final book I will probably take a break from Abercrombie and read something lighter. But, I know I will return to his work for more re-reading very soon.

Happy Reading!

Love and best wishes,

Anne

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This week’s Reading Roundup post is about the final book in Juliet Marillier’s Bridei Chronicles trilogy, The Well of Shades…

This is the blurb…

“Sent home to Ireland on a secret mission for King Bridei of Fortriu, Faolan must first deliver the news of a brave warrior’s death. Unexpectedly, Bridei’s chief assassin and spy also finds himself facing the demons of his family’s dark past. By the time he tracks down the powerful Christian cleric who may be a threat to Bridei’s pagan kingdom, Faolan has become responsible for a child, a dog and Eile, a troubled, volatile young woman. For Eile, the journey to Fortriu is confronting. Accustomed to a life of deprivation and struggle, she finds herself facing an unfamiliar world, full of new lessons. For her, the hardest challenge of all will be learning to trust. At Bridei’s court in White Hill, disturbing news from the neighbouring kingdom of Circinn prompts the king to call his chieftains to council. But after the disappearance of Bridei’s closest adviser and the tragic death of a young maid, the threat posed by the encroaching influence of Christianity appears to be the least of the dangers at hand . . .”

Once again I really enjoyed Marillier’s writing. I don’t think this trilogy quite matched up to her wonderful Sevenwaters series, but it was still lovely to read. This is my response on Goodreads…

The Well of Shades by Juliet Marillier
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really love reading Marillier’s blend of history with fantasy. This book was definitely the best in this absorbing trilogy, centring on the intriguing character of Faolan with sections on other important protagonists. The complex tale was brought together well and it all reached a satisfying conclusion. I did sense that Marillier left a few threads slightly open for another visit to this world. I hope that she does one day!

View all my reviews

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After my long focus on Juliet Marillier’s work I have now moved on to another favourite author. I will write about their work next week, all being well!

Happy Reading!

Love and best wishes,

Anne

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I am back! We had a scorchingly hot few days in this part of the UK, which I struggled with because of my multiple health issues. I even found it difficult to concentrate on reading my book! Anyway, it has cooled down quite a lot and so I will catch up today.

I have returned to the lovely writing of Juliet Marillier, this time with her Bridei Chronicles series…

Since my last Reading Roundup post, I have read books one and two of Marillier’s series and am now about halfway through the third. The first book is The Dark Mirror and here is the blurb…

In the mid 6th century the Pictish kingdom in northern Britain is under threat from the Gaels and the Christian faith, which leaves the leaders of the northern realm struggling to maintain their ancient traditions. All hope rests on the shoulders of young Bridei, a little-known son of the royal line, who is seen as the perfect candidate for future kingship. At his remote forest home of Pitnochie, Broichan, a powerful druid, sets about training the boy in the ways of the ancients and in the all-important preparation to be a leader of men. But Broichan has not allowed for the Good Folk, inhabitants of the ancient forests of Fortriu and well-known workers of tricky magic. When Bridei discovers a strange baby girl abandoned on Broichan’s doorstep in the chill of the winter solstice, he takes her into the house. And the druid has to realise that there is one unpredictable power at work that may be too strong for him to control and could become the death of his dreams.

And this was my response on Goodreads…

The Dark Mirror by Juliet Marillier
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I am really immersed in Marillier’s writing at the moment. Her descriptions of the natural world are beautiful and really enhance the settings of her books. Although this book was not quite as good as some of her other work, particularly the Sevenwaters series, I still enjoyed the story set in Scotland during the time of the Picts. Marillier’s interweaving of historical writing with magic is always interesting and atmospheric. Her characters are well drawn and she must undertake a huge amount of research to get the setting right. I will look forward to this story developing over the series.

View all my reviews

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My second read was also the second book in the series: Blade of Fortriu. This is the blurb…

The kingdom of Fortriu has enjoyed five years of peace since Bridei came to the throne. Now the king is preparing for the long-awaited war that he hopes will see the Gaelic invaders driven from the west forever. The princess Ana, a hostage of Fortriu since childhood, is sent north to make a strategic marriage with a chieftain she has never met – and with it gain an ally on whom Bridei’s victory relies. Her escort is led by a man she despises: the enigmatic Faolan, Bridei’s assassin and spy. The expedition is ill-fated, and when Ana arrives at the chieftain Alpin’s stronghold in the mysterious Briar Wood, she is uneasy. This is a place full of secrets. When Ana discovers a prisoner kept within the bleakest of confinement, she is met with a conspiracy of silence. Faolan, tortured by an impossible love, walks a delicate path between loyalty and betrayal. . .

My review is here…

Blade of Fortriu by Juliet Marillier
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This second book in the series was really a tale in two halves. The first part was an exciting journey with dangerous episodes and a growing relationship between the two main characters. During the second section the plot and the characters seemed to become far less nuanced, with an almost cartoonish villain and romantic interest. Yet again, I did enjoy the author’s writing in the main.

View all my reviews

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I am enjoying the final book in the trilogy so far and will write about it in the next Reading Roundup post.

Happy Reading everyone!

Love and best wishes,

Anne

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Welcome to this week’s Reading Roundup post. I have now finished the final two books in David Gemmell’s brilliant Rigante series and really enjoyed them. Unfortunately, I am not feeling well today, so this will be a very basic post.

When I decided to read the Rigante series I assumed that I was re-reading all of the four books. I was sure that I must have read them many years ago as I knew that I had enjoyed Gemmell’s work in my younger days. As I read through the first two books I definitely remembered parts of the stories, but when I came to these two final books I realised that they were entirely new to me, which was great because they were such absorbing reads.

Anyway, this is the blurb for Ravenheart…

Eight hundred years have passed since King Connavar of the Rigante and his bastard son, Bane, the invading army of Stone. In that time, Connavar has become a legend, and the Rigante have lost the freedom so many gave their lives to preserve. A conquered people, they live and die under the iron rule of the Varlish, their culture all but destroyed.

One woman remains who follows the ancient paths once trod by the Rigante. She is the Wyrd of Wishing Tree Wood, and she alone knows the nature of the evil soon to be unleashed on a doomed and unsuspecting world.

“In a perilous land, facing an uncertain destiny, she pins her initial hopes on two men: Jaim Grymauch, the giant Rigante fighter, a man haunted by his failure to save the friend he loved from betrayal, and Kaelin Ring, a youth whose deadly talents will earn him the enmity of all Varlish. One will become the Ravenheart, an outlaw leader whose daring exploits will inspire the Rigante. The other will forge a legend and light the fires of rebellion.

The Wyrd knows that ultimately all hopes will rest on a third man. Of the bloodline of Connavar the King, he will need to overcome generations of fear and hatred if he is to achieve his destiny. For he is a Varlish nobleman, and – worse – the son of the Rigante’s greatest enemy . . .”

And this is the blurb for Stormrider…

“One glorious spark, one moment of Rigante rebellion has ignited a revolution and forged a legend. In the mountains of the north, the outlaw leader known as Ravenheart waits, knowing the forces of the blackhearted Moidart will come, led by the brutal ruler’s only son, Stormrider. Unaware that the fate of the world lies in their hands, sworn enemies Ravenheart and Stormrider will be forced to unite—and face the vengeance of an ancient evil.

For immense armies of darkness are advancing on the highlanders, and it seems as if nothing will stop them. They crush their victims with ease, until only a few thousand men stand before them, with no help in sight. But these are not ordinary men they face. They are clansmen, and more than that, they are Rigante. . . .”

As I am feeling so weak today, I have been unable to write reviews on Goodreads. Let me just say that I thoroughly enjoyed reading these two books and, in fact, the whole series. Everything was also rounded off nicely in the final chapters. If anyone wants to read some insightful comments, there are plenty on Goodreads.

Happy Reading!

Love and best wishes,

Anne

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