The Border Keeper by Kerstin Hall

Title: The Border Keeper
Series: Mkalis Cycle #1
Author:  Kerstin Hall
Source/Format: Tor.com ebook club; ebook
More Details: Fantasy
Publisher/Publication Date: Tor.com; July 16, 2019

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Synopsis from Goodreads...

She lived where the railway tracks met the saltpan, on the Ahri side of the shadowline. In the old days, when people still talked about her, she was known as the end-of-the-line woman.

Vasethe, a man with a troubled past, comes to seek a favor from a woman who is not what she seems, and must enter the nine hundred and ninety-nine realms of Mkalis, the world of spirits, where gods and demons wage endless war.

The Border Keeper spins wonders both epic—the Byzantine bureaucracy of hundreds of demon realms, impossible oceans, hidden fortresses—and devastatingly personal—a spear flung straight, the profound terror and power of motherhood. What Vasethe discovers in Mkalis threatens to bring his own secrets into light and throw both worlds into chaos.

The second Tor.com ebook club title that I tackled at the end of April was Kerstin Hall’s The Border Keeper. It was another quick read, and I was drawn in by how the world was introduced. There was plenty of lore basically from the first page, and I was intrigued by the titular border keeper as well as the various worlds and people that inhabited them. The other main character, Vasethe, had his secrets/reasons for seeking out the border keeper. It served as the catalyst for the subsequent events. The questions I had about his motivations was one of the main reasons I kept reading.

 
If I have to describe this novella as anything, it would be the kind of story that has the characters traveling to various places for the majority of the time. These locations were interesting, detailed, and unique from one another. The rest of the story was explained in scattered pieces, while the ending was just kind of abrupt. And I closed the novella feeling as if I had missed half of the action. So, the story was just fine this time.

Short Stories I Read In April

It’s the twenty-ninth of May. So it’s time to talk about the short stories, miscellaneous posts, and podcast episodes I read or listened to in April.

Your Wings a Bridge Across the Stars by Michelle Denham (Apex Magazine; April 6, 2023)

The first story I read in April was Michelle Denham’s Your Wings a Bridge Across the Stars. It was a really lovely read that seemed to be over far too soon. Part coming of age tale, this story explored love and duty through the eyes of Park Yunhee, who sought to understand the importance of the job of being one of the “Star’s Magpies.” With a setting brimming with magic and a folkloric atmosphere, there was so much I loved about this one.

Did You Hear About The Neighbors? By Seth Wade (Strange Horizons; Issue: 24 April 2023)

This next (and last) one I read in April isn’t short fiction but instead a piece of poetry. I happened to scroll through Strange Horizons, and, I was not only hooked by the first couple of lines of this poem, I devoured the rest of it! The imagery invoked was vivid and proved to be in excellent company with the somber feeling—some language leaned toward bleak. After all, it is a poem with themes about death. Still, it’s one of my favorite pieces of poetry that I’ve read this year.

From around the web…

• American Narnia: T. Kingfisher’s Summer in Orcus [Judith Tarr; Tor.com; April 11, 2023]
• Interview with Artist Dee Nguyen [Dee Nguyen; Apex Magazine; April 17, 2023]
• Gods, Monsters, and Totoros: Exploring Miyazaki’s Fantasy World [Austin Gilkeson; Tor.com; April 14, 2023]
• What the Universal Translator Tells Us About Exploring Other Cultures [Charlie Jane Anders; Tor.com; April 24, 2023]
• Brains In A Jar, Video Games In A Petri Dish [Priya Sridhar; Clarkesworld Magazine; Issue 199—April 2023]

The Friday 56 (234) & Book Beginnings: The Border Keeper by Kerstin Hall

The Friday 56 is a weekly meme hosted by Freda's Voice where every Friday you pick a book and turn to page 56 or 56%, and select a sentence or a few, as long as it's not a spoiler. For the full rules, visit the the page HERE

Book Beginnings is a weekly meme hosted by Rose City Reader that asks you to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you're reading.

Synopsis from Goodreads...

She lived where the railway tracks met the saltpan, on the Ahri side of the shadowline. In the old days, when people still talked about her, she was known as the end-of-the-line woman.

Vasethe, a man with a troubled past, comes to seek a favor from a woman who is not what she seems, and must enter the nine hundred and ninety-nine realms of Mkalis, the world of spirits, where gods and demons wage endless war.

The Border Keeper spins wonders both epic—the Byzantine bureaucracy of hundreds of demon realms, impossible oceans, hidden fortresses—and devastatingly personal—a spear flung straight, the profound terror and power of motherhood. What Vasethe discovers in Mkalis threatens to bring his own secrets into light and throw both worlds into chaos.

Beginning: "She lived where the railway tracks met the saltpan, on the Ahri side of the shadowline."

56: "Vasethe rested the oars above the water and allowed the current to guide their boat into the channel."

Comments: The Border Keeper is another one of the Tor.com ebook club titles that had sat on my ereader for way too long. I'm glad I can mark this one off my TBR. The story was fine. What are you reading this weekend?

Witches of Lychford by Paul Cornell

Title: Witches of Lychford
Series: Lychford #1
Author: Paul Cornell
Source/Format: Tor eBook Club; ebook
More Details: Fantasy
Publisher/Publication Date: Tor.com; September 8, 2015

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Synopsis from Goodreads...

Traveler, Cleric, Witch.

The villagers in the sleepy hamlet of Lychford are divided. A supermarket wants to build a major branch on their border. Some welcome the employment opportunities, while some object to the modernization of the local environment. Judith Mawson (local crank) knows the truth -- that Lychford lies on the boundary between two worlds, and that the destruction of the border will open wide the gateways to malevolent beings beyond imagination. But if she is to have her voice heard, she's going to need the assistance of some unlikely allies...

I still have some Tor.com ebook club titles that I never read, and toward the end of April I finally read two of them. One such novella was Paul Cornell’s Witches of Lychford. It was a one-sitting kind of read, and it was a story I had a lot of fun with.

The basic premise of the story is a big supermarket chain wanted to come to a hamlet, Lychford, and that provided all the drama and bickering that those sorts of decisions entail. But, even from the very beginning, there was a clear sense of something otherworldly going on. Right away, I was charmed by the characters. Lizzie with her doubts, Autumn with her troubles and magic shop, and Judith with her ghosts and reputation for eccentricity. Though introduced separately, some of the best parts of the novella were when the crew got together, all doubts were settled, and the magical aspects were fully explored. The ending happened quite quickly, but, overall the resolution provided for the troubles affecting Lychford were satisfying enough that I’m interested in the sequels.

 

The Friday 56 (233) & Book Beginnings: Witches of Lychford by Paul Cornell

The Friday 56 is a weekly meme hosted by Freda's Voice where every Friday you pick a book and turn to page 56 or 56%, and select a sentence or a few, as long as it's not a spoiler. For the full rules, visit the the page HERE

Book Beginnings is a weekly meme hosted by Rose City Reader that asks you to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you're reading.

Synopsis from Goodreads...

Traveler, Cleric, Witch.

The villagers in the sleepy hamlet of Lychford are divided. A supermarket wants to build a major branch on their border. Some welcome the employment opportunities, while some object to the modernization of the local environment. Judith Mawson (local crank) knows the truth -- that Lychford lies on the boundary between two worlds, and that the destruction of the border will open wide the gateways to malevolent beings beyond imagination. But if she is to have her voice heard, she's going to need the assistance of some unlikely allies...

Beginning: "Judith Mawson was seventy-one years old, and she knew what people said about her...."

56: "Lizzie was looking around at a workshop full of bubbling test tubes and beakers with things dripping into them."

Comments: Witches of Lychford was one of the old Tor.com ebook club titles I had. I finally got to it, and I had a fun time reading this novella. 

Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo

Title: Ninth House
Series: Alex Stern #1
Author: Leigh Brardugo
Source/Format: Purchased; paperback
More Details: Urban Fantasy; Mystery; Paranormal
Publisher/Publication Date: Flatiron Books; October 8, 2019

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Synopsis from Goodreads...

Galaxy “Alex” Stern is the most unlikely member of Yale’s freshman class. Raised in the Los Angeles hinterlands by a hippie mom, Alex dropped out of school early and into a world of shady drug dealer boyfriends, dead-end jobs, and much, much worse. By age twenty, in fact, she is the sole survivor of a horrific, unsolved multiple homicide. Some might say she’s thrown her life away. But at her hospital bed, Alex is offered a second chance: to attend one of the world’s most elite universities on a full ride. What’s the catch, and why her? Still searching for answers to this herself, Alex arrives in New Haven tasked by her mysterious benefactors with monitoring the activities of Yale’s secret societies. These eight windowless “tombs” are well-known to be haunts of the future rich and powerful, from high-ranking politicos to Wall Street and Hollywood’s biggest players. But their occult activities are revealed to be more sinister and more extraordinary than any paranoid imagination might conceive.

I haven’t picked up a Leigh Bardugo book since Shadow & Bone. I know-I know, it’s been a long time. That being said, I was interested in Ninth House because of how different it was to Bardugo’s other series. It was her 2019 adult debut, and I’d heard enough about its dark aspects to know what I was in for. I made a great choice though, because Ninth House was the book that finally got me out of my reading slump.

I enjoyed the details that were put into describing Yale, the magic, and the societies. It made the story dynamic and immersive. With the mystery (and subsequent sleuthing), it felt a little like a whodunit. And, with such an interesting setting—defined by intricate world building— I was glad the characters also lived up to my expectations. For the most part, they were morally complicated. Galaxy (Alex) Stern had a tragic backstory. She was cautious—and her fears weren’t without cause, since the supernatural aspects of Ninth House had never done her any favors—but she was a fighter who was willing to grab any opportunity that could offer even a small hint of security. That was, in large part, what made me love her character so much. Dawes, well, she was just great. And, though his chapters were set in the recent past, Daniel (Darlington) Arlington was charismatic, and I really clicked with his enthusiasm for magic and his position as “Vergil”—even though the circumstances, as it was made clear by the narrative, wasn’t exactly what he wanted. Even so, his pretentious remarks and frequent quoting combined with Alex’s deadpan/frank way of putting things into perspective, were some of the highlights of Ninth House.

I ended up really loving the story. The ending is a cliffhanger. So, as of writing this, the copy of Hell Bent I purchased is on the way, and I’m looking forward to it.

Music Monday (242): Tayla Parx, Boyz II Men, 2Pac

Rules:

• Music Monday is a weekly meme hosted by Lauren Stoolfire at Always Me that asks you to share one or two songs that you've recently enjoyed. For the rules, visit the page HERE 

Breana: I've mentioned Tayla Parx a couple of times on the blog before, and I really liked this latest single, Dream Hotel.

Andrea: Hi all! I hope all of the moms out there had an amazing Mother's Day. This week I'm listening to A Song For Mama by Boyz II Men, Dear Mama by 2Pac, and (God Must Have Spent) A Little More Time On You by NSYNC.

What are you listening to this week?

The Friday 56 (232) & Book Beginnings: Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo

The Friday 56 is a weekly meme hosted by Freda's Voice where every Friday you pick a book and turn to page 56 or 56%, and select a sentence or a few, as long as it's not a spoiler. For the full rules, visit the the page HERE

Book Beginnings is a weekly meme hosted by Rose City Reader that asks you to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you're reading.

Synopsis from Goodreads...

Galaxy “Alex” Stern is the most unlikely member of Yale’s freshman class. Raised in the Los Angeles hinterlands by a hippie mom, Alex dropped out of school early and into a world of shady drug dealer boyfriends, dead-end jobs, and much, much worse. By age twenty, in fact, she is the sole survivor of a horrific, unsolved multiple homicide. Some might say she’s thrown her life away. But at her hospital bed, Alex is offered a second chance: to attend one of the world’s most elite universities on a full ride. What’s the catch, and why her? Still searching for answers to this herself, Alex arrives in New Haven tasked by her mysterious benefactors with monitoring the activities of Yale’s secret societies. These eight windowless “tombs” are well-known to be haunts of the future rich and powerful, from high-ranking politicos to Wall Street and Hollywood’s biggest players. But their occult activities are revealed to be more sinister and more extraordinary than any paranoid imagination might conceive.

Beginning: "Alex hurried across the wide, alien plane of Beinecke Plaza, boots thudding over flat squares of clean concrete." 

56: "A vague, confused expression crossed his face."

Comments: Last month, I read Ninth House to get out of my reading slump. I really loved the story, and I'm looking forward to the sequel. What are you reading this week?

So I Played Ooblets

So, last month I talked about my experience with Going Under (you can read about that HERE). Another one of the other games I was playing at the time was Ooblets, a life sim with a cute design—which was one of the three Indie titles I purchased in December of 2022.

I liked this game a whole lot. It was similar to Animal Crossing New Horizons with fishing, character customization, decorating, farming, and seasonal events. It was low stakes, but, as an aside, there was a narrative surrounding strange happenings to pay attention to. It was a source of trouble for Badgetown, and particularly for the character you play as (who is new) is tasked with errands to help improve the town and the nearby Wildlands. Completing one unlocks more, and I’d recommend doing the Wildlands tasks—mainly because it eventually unlocks a wealth of one of the crucial materials for Oobcoop upgrades (little houses for the Ooblets that aid with farming) and the 3D printer.

There were other places to travel to as well—like Port Forward, Nullwhere, and Mamoonia—and they each had their own unique biomes. There were specific tasks that needed to be done, but these other locations also expanded the type of collectable ingredients that could be picked up just by finding them while exploring the area (or purchased with in-game currency).

Ooblets also has a creature collecting aspect that was connected to the dance battle function. The battles were also pretty easy after getting the hang of them. But, the real draw for me was how fun it was to build my team of Ooblets. Each one had unique moves that could add an advantage to the randomized deck—for example extra beats and a card to clear flusters and trepidations, both of which could be a big help in a dance battle with a slightly higher difficulty.

As of the writing of this, the spring time event is still going (it ends at the end of May). So even after playing through the story, there are still aspects to Ooblets that act as an incentive to return to it. By the end of the story, I still have a lot left to complete, but those require growing crops, fishing, and etc.

So, Ooblets is a fun game.

 
Check out the launch trailer!

Music Monday (241): Florence + The Machine, Yukihiro Fukutomi & En Vogue

Rules:

• Music Monday is a weekly meme hosted by Lauren Stoolfire at Always Me that asks you to share one or two songs that you've recently enjoyed. For the rules, visit the page HERE 

Breana: I recently added Just A Girl by Florence + The Machine to my playlist. It's been some time since I listened to this group, but I instantly loved this song the first time I heard it on the trailer for the new season of Yellowjackets.

 

Adri: I'm currently listening to Peace by Yukihiro Fukutomi featuring Lady Alma.

Andrea: Hi All! This week I'm listening to Hold On by En Vogue. Have an amazing week!

What are you listening to this week?

The Thorns Remain by J.J.A. Harwood

Title: The Thorns Remain

Series: n/a
Author: J.J.A. Harwood
Source/Format: NetGalley; eARC
More Details: Historical Fantasy
Publisher/Publication Date: Harper360 & Magpie; May 2, 2023

Goodreads     Amazon     Barnes & Noble

Synopsis from Goodreads...

A dance with the fae will change everything

1919. In a highland village forgotten by the world, harvest season is over and the young who remain after war and flu have ravaged the village will soon head south to make something of themselves. Moira Jean and her friends head to the forest for a last night of laughter before parting ways. Moira Jean is being left behind. She had plans to leave once – but her lover died in France and with him, her future. The friends light a fire, sing and dance. But with every twirl about the flames, strange new dancers thread between them, music streaming from the trees. The fae are here. Suddenly Moira Jean finds herself all alone, her friends spirited away. The iron medal of her lost love, pinned to her dress, protected her from magic. For the Fae feel forgotten too. Lead by the darkly handsome Lord of the Fae, they are out to make themselves known once more. Moira Jean must enter into a bargain with the Lord to save her friends – and fast, for the longer one spends with the Fae, the less like themselves they are upon return. If Moira Jean cannot save her friends before Beltine, they will be lost forever…

Completely bewitching, threaded with Highland charm and sparkling with dark romance, this is a fairytale that will carry you away.

I was looking for more stories in the same vein as A River Enchanted and The Fire Endless by Rebecca Ross, which happened to be two of my favorite books from 2022 and all-around an excellent duology full of magic and folklore. So I was intrigued by the way The Thorns Remain was described by its synopsis.

This book wasn’t exactly what I was looking to read at the time, and I found the story to just be fine. And though the synopsis claims that it’s “sparkling with dark romance,” it didn’t really feel very romantic, even as the story was heading toward its conclusion. Instead, Moira Jean’s story was more about manipulation, grief, and co-dependency. Where even the fantasy/folklore aspects kind of served the purpose of highlighting the way her life had stopped moving after a death left her grief stricken and prone to lamenting wistfully for the past. In that regard, the story did work. And Harwood really delved into the themes by presenting a situation where being surrounded by the familiar was almost like a curse in itself. And the relationships Moira Jean still had left (especially with her neighbors), was more often than not marred by a feeling of transaction—particularly with the endless amounts of monotonous and increasingly difficult work being fostered on her. It wasn’t healthy and carried its own bitter cost. And at several points though, I wanted Moira Jean to be angrier for herself, and it took a long time for her to finally admit what she really wanted.

Regarding The Thorns Remain having a romantic subplot—as hinted about in its synopsis—it didn’t really work for me. However, if you look at the story instead as a melancholic character study, it can be appreciated for its exploration of toxic relationships.

About the author....

JJA Harwood is an author, editor and blogger. She grew up in Norfolk, read History at the University of Warwick and eventually found her way to London, which is still something of a shock for somebody used to so many fields. When not writing, she can be found learning languages, cooking with more enthusiasm than skill, wandering off into clearly haunted houses and making friends with stray cats. THE SHADOW IN THE GLASS is her debut novel.

Goodreads     Website     Instagram

Disclaimer: this copy of the book was provided by the publisher (Harper360 & Magpie) via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, thank you! 

Music Monday (240): The NYChillharmonic

Rules:

• Music Monday is a weekly meme hosted by Lauren Stoolfire at Always Me that asks you to share one or two songs that you've recently enjoyed. For the rules, visit the page HERE 

Breana:  The NYChillharmonic is currently one of my favorite bands, and they recently released a new song. It's called To Covet A Quiet Mind. It's in the same style as their other music, and I love it! 

 

What are you listening to this week?