Reviews For the Booklover

Dark Light

Jayne Castle

Jove, Sep 2008, $7.99

ISBN: 9780515145199

Earth has colonized the world of Harmony but they were not the final sentient species to do so.  A mysterious alien race built underground catacombs filled with psi energy that over time manifested among the earthy colonists with each generation growing is psi skill.  The mysterious aliens are gone leaving only their infrastructure.

Tabloid reporter Sierra McIntyre is interviewing new Ghost Hunter Guild Chief John Fontana, who can manipulate psi energy so that it doesn’t hurt anyone. Sierra is worried about former and homeless Guild member addicted to ghost juice and believes Fontana should tale care of the problem. She is also concerned that former impoverished hunters have disappeared without a trace and demands John investigate.  Less than an hour after they meet, John proposes a marriage of convenience so they can combine their resources to investigate the issues that he feels generate from within the guild and to protect Sierra who is in danger from those shadows behind the disappearances.  On their first night as husband and wife, someone using an alien artifact breaks into John’s property with nasty intent.  They escape into the catacombs for now, but traps and danger await them on every turn as the conspirators need to kill Mr. and Ms. Fontana to avoid discovery and disclosure.

It is always great to visit Harmony where Jayne Castle escorts readers through great romance and compelling mystery in an alien combo sci-fi fantasy world.  The latest thriller is exciting and fast-paced as the alien objects are used by avaricious people to gain more power.  The pairing of Sierra and John enhances their inquiry into what is going on inside the Guild as fans of the saga will relish this strong paranormal romantic whodunit.

Harriet Klausner

Zoe's Tale

John Scalzi

Tor, Aug 2008, $24.95

ISBN: 0765316986

Jane Sagan and John Perry have been recruited to establish Roanoke, a new human colony.  When they agreed to help, neither Jane nor John expected interference or hostility from the scheming amoral home-world government.  They were also taken aback by local shapeshifters and under alien assault by a federation violently opposed to human expansion into their sector.

While they struggle with those threatening to demolish the colony, their adopted teenage child Zoe ignores the big picture; instead she has fun with her boyfriend Enzo and her sarcastic best friend Gretchen while flirting with her Obin bodyguards.  The Obin pair keeps Zoe on a pedestal due to her late biological father, a God to that species because of an incredible scientific discovery he made. 

THE LAST COLONY contains much of the same events that occur in ZOE’S TALE but with a differing perspective as that novel was through the eyes of Jane and John.  Thus, though ZOE’S TALE is well written and entertaining, to those who read THE LAST COLONY, it has a déjà vu feel.  Still comparing the viewpoints is fun as interpretations of what is going on differ between the teen and the adults enhancing the intriguing read as the devil is in the details and that is where Zoe sees things radically diverse from her adoptive parents.

Harriet Klausner

In Science Fiction

Dark Vengeance

Ed Greenwood

Tor, Aug 2008, $24.95

ISBN: 9780765317667

In the village of Orlkettle, Orivon Firefist works day and night at the forge because it gave him pleasure to be his own boss at a place where he can see the sky and the grass.  When he was six years old, he was stolen from his parents in a Nilfghar (dark elves) raid and brought to the Dark Below where he was a slave for a decade and a half to a wealthy noble family, who tortured him in an attempt to break his spirit; they never did.  The daughter helped him escape her parents’ cruelty.

Now the dark elves have raided Orlkettle and kidnapped four children.  Orivon knows first hand the fate that awaits these innocents and vows to rescue them or die trying.  However, he is entering a world that has radically changed beyond recognition.  The realm of Talonnorn that was the rival of Ouvahlor is in rapid decline from without and within; as nobles fight their peers and the Consecrated fight each other.  As Orivon makes his way to Talonnorn he fights and kills beasts and dark elves, determined to free the city as he searches for the children.

DARK VENGEANCE is a dark quest fantasy that focuses on a culture that lives below the ground with its own peculiar values and customs (mindful of the Time Machine’s Morlocks) different from humans who live in the Blinding Light.  The hero knows torture first hand having lived through the brutal abuse almost daily for years; yet overall he is a well balanced person though he has some issues sleeping and prefers light to night.  He loathes killing, but will do so to save the kids from what he faced.  Obviously readers know but will not care that Orivon is out of his league as he is not a warrior.  That is the beauty of Ed Greenwood’s tale as he makes the blacksmith’s never again obsession the impetus to turn an ordinary person into a superhero “willing to march into hell for that heavenly cause”.

Harriet Klausner

In Fantasy

Gale Force

Rachel Caine

Roc, Aug 2008, $7.99

ISBN: 9780451462237

They have been together for quite while through some nasty situations and some pleasant times.  However, When Djinn David proposes marriage to his beloved Weather Warden Joanne Baldwin ecstatically accepts; she has never been happier although both understands the hardships and prejudice they will face from both their species; as they have felt some of the loathing just because they have been together.

Still they never expected the degree so called sentient beings will go to prevent their nuptials.  Disregarding collateral deaths, for instance, an earthquake is sent to destroy Joanne as she shops for her wedding dress. Soon after the quake, the Sentinels are formed with their mission to eradicate the Djinn population using an unknown weapon that apparently her David and his Djinn brethren cannot detect leaving it to Joanne to uncover the truth if she should live long enough as the Sentinel operatives know she must die.

The latest Weather Warden (see THIN AIR) romantic fantasy is a wonderful tale as the happiness of getting married is trampled by the Sentinel genocidal movement and to a lesser degree the obvious racism of the lead couple’s respective species.  The story line is fast-paced as the Sentinel horde knows fundamentally they can succeed in their lethal ethnic cleansing if they kill Joanne.  Fans of the series will appreciate this one sitter while newcomers will be in back list frenzy mode as Rachel Caine provides an entertaining yet deep relevant (in today’s world) entry in a strong saga.

Harriet Klausner

In Fantasy

Zoe's Tale

John Scalzi

Tor, Aug 2008, $24.95

ISBN: 0765316986

Jane Sagan and John Perry have been recruited to establish Roanoke, a new human colony.  When they agreed to help, neither Jane nor John expected interference or hostility from the scheming amoral home-world government.  They were also taken aback by local shapeshifters and under alien assault by a federation violently opposed to human expansion into their sector.

While they struggle with those threatening to demolish the colony, their adopted teenage child Zoe ignores the big picture; instead she has fun with her boyfriend Enzo and her sarcastic best friend Gretchen while flirting with her Obin bodyguards.  The Obin pair keeps Zoe on a pedestal due to her late biological father, a God to that species because of an incredible scientific discovery he made. 

THE LAST COLONY contains much of the same events that occur in ZOE’S TALE but with a differing perspective as that novel was through the eyes of Jane and John.  Thus, though ZOE’S TALE is well written and entertaining, to those who read THE LAST COLONY, it has a déjà vu feel.  Still comparing the viewpoints is fun as interpretations of what is going on differ between the teen and the adults enhancing the intriguing read as the devil is in the details and that is where Zoe sees things radically diverse from her adoptive parents.

Harriet Klausner

In Science Fiction