Spinning Silver, by Naomi Novik

Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I've been reading a lot of fantasy lately and think it has its limits, but this one is all-around wonderful for how it takes the fantasy elements and lets them bring out all that's available, and then some, in the characters.

The limits: It's pretty much set in Central Europe, with made-up country names. Not sure why she didn't just use the real ones, since Polish and Russian culture are presented pretty much as-is.

The strengths: The characters are amazing. The central characters are three strong women, each in a different circumstance but with similar grit. Novik manages to give each of them a different voice and show their virtues and flaws in realistic ways. Great storytelling there.

I'm not seeing any reviewers mention Stepon, the young boy in the story who also has a major voice. It's different again from all the others--very simple and direct, yet thoughtful. His view of the story highlights the others, and made it that much more enjoyable.

It's going to be hard to beat this as a favorite from 2018. Absolutely worth reading.



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The Black God's Drums, by P. Djeli Clark

The Black God's Drums by P. Djèlí Clark

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This is a really good introduction to Clark's work--for a completely different, also multiple nominee work see "The Secret Lives of the Nine Negro Teeth of George Washington". Our protagonist Creeper is a fun, tough kid, easy to root for. The story moves right along and doesn't get boring.

I guess I'm not rating it higher because I'm sort of over New Orleans as a fantasy setting. Seems like I've read hundreds of these, and while this one is good and somewhat different it draws on many of the same tropes. I want a fantasy set in Gary, Indiana, or maybe one of those anonymous factory towns in China with 4 million people. Let's mix it up.

Props for good world building around Free New Orleans and the Surviving South. I think this can get bigger, or he can create other more complete worlds. Worth a read, particularly since I borrowed it from my local library.



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The Poppy War, by R. F. Kuang

The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This is an engaging book--I found it so all the way through. The plot builds well and we have several engaging side characters surrounding the heavily oppressed but incredibly capable protagonist Rin. For a first novel it is very good and I can recommend it but with several caveats:

1) Unrelenting, realistic violence: Some compare this to horror, but horror violence is over-the-top in a way that lets one disengage. As incredibly brutal as the war scenes are in this book (and I'd say that's over 50% of it) one gets the idea that they are based on factual descriptions, and the author confirms this in her own description. The book is about people embracing genocidal Pol Pot-level evil in order to avoid something worse. Bring a strong stomach.

2) Derivative: We've seen this movie before, including the female lead. The anxiety and stress of the terrible choices Rin has to make are very well drawn. But her rise and ultimate victory seem very telegraphed, though what she does to get there does surprise. The coming-of-age core of the first book makes this read somewhat YA, though it is not at all appropriate for the YA category (not to say that teens should necessarily avoid it--they can handle plenty).

Like I said, it's a good book and a promising series. Whether I'll bring myself to read more of it, I don't know.



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Trail of Lightning, by Rebecca Roanhorse

Trail of Lightning by Rebecca Roanhorse

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


The only other work of Roanhorse's that I have read is her award nominated story from last year, "Welcome To Your Authentic Indian Experience". That one was very subtle, much more layered, and much more relaxed. None of that here. Maggie Hoskie is a full-on female superhero. The Sixth World is fantasy in a Navajo (Dine) setting, which sets wonderfully far apart from werewolves, vampires, zombies, and elves. We get a lot of hints about how that world emerged after the Big Water, the earthquake that sundered America, that leave me wanting more.

I have to say I miss that subtlety. Maggie Hoskie ends up pretty one-dimensional, though her partner, Kai, has a bit more depth. He's pretty much a feminist ideal man--gorgeous to look at, non-violent, yet very strong and powerful in his own way as a medicine man and healer. Overall it's a pretty bleak story, though I think there's room for optimism as the Dine overcame incredible hardship to have it as good as they do.

I have the feeling this series is going to get better as it goes along, as Roanhorse brings the subtlety she is capable of into the plotting.



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An Agent of Utopia, by Andy Duncan

An Agent of Utopia by Andy Duncan

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This review is specific to An Agent of Utopia, which is all I have read so far. And as these stories go it's a good one--the best thing about it is the period setting, particularly his florid descriptions of the filth of the Thames in Shakespearian London. The story centers around Thomas More and his execution, imagining Utopia as a real place with an active presence in London. Good if you like Andy Duncan already.



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