Witch King is an adult fantasy novel following Kai who after being murdered and trapped finds a lesser mage trying to gain control of his powers. Kai, along with his friend Ziede, must figure out why they were imprisoned though Kai might not like the answers.
The world created here is very different from other fantasies with a very unique magic system. The story goes back and forth between the present focusing on the mystery of what happened to Kai and his past and how he became know as the Witch King. Martha Wells does this so well that the reader learns what is going on in the present at the same time as the characters. The flash backs give enough information on the world and the past events to be informative while also leaving a mystery.
This is one of those books that is good on a first read but will be even better on a reread when you understand what is going on Witch King is currently a stand alone but is left open enough to have sequels in the future if the author wanted to.
In June I read four books and watched two movies. My reading is starting to pick up again but some months are just better than others and that’s okay.
Books:
The first book I finished in June was Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas which is the fourth book in the Throne of Glass series. Though I haven’t read a Throne of Glass book in a while they are very easy to get back into and I love how fast paced they can be. I won’t give a full summary to avoid spoilers and due to the fact these books are so popular but I did enjoy how this one dealt with some plot points that the series started with while also paving the way for where the series is going.
The next book was It’s Jeff #1 by Kelly Thompson which is the collection of the Marvel Infinity comics about Jeff the Land Shark. There is very little to no text in these comics as they are short stories/panels of Jeff being cute and interacting with other Marvel characters. Though I don’t have much to say about it, it was very cute.
The Marionettes by Katie Wismer is the start of a New Adult urban fantasy series focusing on vampires and witches. Valerie is going to the academy to join the Marionettes, the group of witches that serve the vampires. During her final trials she get pair with the local Vampire Prince, Reid and many secrets start to come out. I loved Valerie and her friends but I did find her relationship with her current boy friend Connor and what ends up happening to him a little predictable. I would have liked to have seen a little more world building as it becomes clear that everyone knows that vampires and other creatures exist but I don’t know if this is how the world always been. Overall I greatly enjoyed this book and the ending has me wanting to continue.
The last book I read this month was Breach of Peace by Daniel B. Greene which is his first novella. In this dark world an imperial family has been murdered and the police know as Officers of God are called to investigate. When Inspector Khild starts finding evidence of a larger conspiracy she become involved in something that may destroy everything she knows. Well written for a first novella and I was pulled into this world. As this is a novella I would have liked a little more world building to better understand what Khild is truly up against but I enjoyed it overall. However, I was not expecting how brutal the ending was going to be and I need to see where the story goes next.
Movies:
I also watched two movies this month the first being Titanic 2. I had heard bout this movie existing but I figured that it would be a pretty bad Titanic movie distributed by The Asylum. This movie follows a fictional replica of the Titanic sailing on the 100th year anniversary but global warming and the forces of nature cause history to repeat itself. As this movie came out in 2010 it was rideing the wave of Titanic media leading up to the 100th year anniversary but its not good and copies some of the same story beets as the James Cameron movie.
The only other movie I watched in June was Resident Evil: Welcome to Racoon City. Which is the newest live action Resident Evil movie that claims to be more accurate to the video games. I wasn’t expecting this to be good but I find the other Resident Evil movies to be guilty pleasure action movies that are mildly fun so that’s all I wanted out of this. However, this movie is not only fairly boring (I ended up doing laundry while watching it) but it also takes the names of characters from the games and completely changes them so it is in no way accurate to the games. If you are a fan of any other Resident Evil property be that the games or other movies my recommendation is not to watch this.
Illumicrate is a UK based fantasy and science fiction book box that has monthly boxes or just a monthly book only subscription. Each box also includes a selection of bookish goodies some more practical, others more decorative set around a monthly theme. June’s theme is Night and Day.
The items included in this box are a two-sided cushion cover, night and day shoe charms, a bowl set, and a set of coasters.
Illumicrate, like other book boxes, include a new hard cover each month and most months a letter from the author. This months book is The Sun and the Void by Gabriela Romero-Lacruz which is the first book in a new fantasy series inspired by South American history and folklore.
Fairyloot is a Young Adult book subscription box focusing on fantasy based out of the UK. Each month you receive a new Young Adult hardback book and several bookish goodies. Like most book boxes the hardback are special editions and the items are a combination of both practical things and more decorative items. June’s theme is From the Depths.
The bookish items included this month are a ceramic plate, a Daughter of the Pirate King inspired tea strainer, the next mythology bookmarks, reusable cotton face pads, and a cushion cover. The monthly tarot card have character art from Song of Achilles.
All Fairyloot books come with exclusive covers, generally signed by the author and include a letter from the author. This month the book is Sing Me To Sleep by Gabi Burton which is a dark fantasy where a siren must choose between following her heart or protecting her family. This edition also has digital sprayed edges, foiling on the hardcover, and art on the endpapers.
May was a bit of a hectic month so I only read two books, both which were early copies from Netgalley. I did also finish playing Crisis Core Final Fantasy VII Reunion.
Books:
The first book I finished was Mister Magic by Kiersten White, which I also have a full review posted for. Mister Magic is a horror book were 30 years after an accident on the children’s TV show Mister Magic the cast is coming back together. However, Val doesn’t remember the show or what happened but weird things are going on and to save those she cares about she must remember. A little confusing at times but overall a very good horror. I you want to know my full thoughts please read the full review.
The only other book I read this month was The Exorcist Legacy: 50 Years of Fear by Nat Segaloff which is a nonfiction book about the creation of the Exorcist movie and the sequels that came after it. While I enjoyed this deep dive into the history of the Exorcist with a title like Exorcist Legacy I was expecting more discussion on the impact the Exorcist has had on the horror genre as a whole. I feel like this book is best for super fans of the movie but over might enjoy it as well.
Video Games:
The only game I finished was Crisis Core Final Fantasy VII Reunion which I also have a full review posted for. This game is the remastered edition of the 2007 PSP game Crisis Core Final Fantasy VII with updated graphics, voice acting, and controls. This is a prequal to the original Final Fantasy VII focusing on Zack Fair and the events leading up to the Nibelheim incident. I loved this game and anyone who has an interest in the Final Fantasy VII Remake Project I fell should play this.
Mister Magic is the newest horror novel from Kiersten White, 30 years after an accident on the children’s show Mister Magic the cast is coming back together however there is no record of the show ever existing though some people remember it.
Val has no memory of her time on the show and is using this reunion to find out what happened and why she forgot about it. The vibe that I got about what Mister Magic as a show was Barney mixed with the friend group of Are you afraid of the dark with a sprinkling of analog horror elements such as Candle Cove. As a reader you are on the journey with Val as she struggles with learning what really happened and the cult that is involved. As we get to the ending it gets more confusing with what seems to be a rip in reality that a god/demon resides in that the cult uses to create the show and the children help control how the show manifests. The cult wants to use the show to impart specific ideals and values to the viewer but they need to use their own children as essentially sacrifices to get it done. Val figures out that the only way to stop more people from getting hurt is to take over Mister Magic both the character and the show.
Overall I enjoyed this book but at times it felt like I was never going to understand what was happening. After reading the authors note that explained that Kiersten White was raised Mormon you can see that this book specifically is her way of working through her experience/trauma with the church through fiction.
Crisis Core Final Fantasy VII Reunion is the remastered edition of the original 2007 PSP game Crisis Core Final Fantasy VII. Story wise this is the exact same game as the original with update graphics, models, new voice acting, and changes to the controls which make it look and feel more like the Remake project.
The story is a prequal to the original Final Fantasy VII, set seven years before, following SOLIDER Third Class Zack Fair as he wants to achieve a higher rank and become a hero. We find out early on the First Class Solider Genesis has left Shrina and that he is attacking the company for some reason. As the story progresses we see how Zack meets Aerith and Cloud and the events that led up to the Nibelheim incident. I don’t want to say more about the story as I feel like it should be experience without many spoilers and will have an impact of the future of the Remake project. Square Enix has made it clear with the ending of Final Fantasy VII Remake that Zack has a bigger part to play but to truly understand everything you need to see his story.
I loved this remaster not just because I love Final Fantasy VII. I did play the original Crisis Core on the PSP but I never finished it. I wanted to finish it for the story but in the original I never found the controls intuitive and would get to a point where I would just give up. Though this remaster hasn’t changed much the changes to the game play that make it more inline with the FFVII Remake makes it so much better to play. The game is set up with a liner story that will just take you from beginning to end. However, the game also allows to you take on missions at every save point and the is where the bulk of the game play is and how you level up.
I loved this game but I also love Final Fantasy VII as a whole. Crisis Core Final Fantasy VII Reunion is a game that I feel many will enjoy and those interested in the Final Fantasy Remake Project should play.
Illumicrate is a UK based fantasy and science fiction book box that has monthly boxes or just a monthly book only subscription. Each box also includes a selection of bookish goodies some more practical, others more decorative set around a monthly theme. May’s theme is What Lies Beneath.
The items included in this box are a book organizer, a House of Hollow inspired plant pot, a phone grip, and a metal bookmark inspired by The Witch King.
Illumicrate, like other book boxes, include a new hard cover each month and most months a letter from the author. This months book is The Witch King by Martha Wells which is a fantasy about power, friendship, trust, betrayal, and found families. Kai wakes up after being murder and trapped to find a lesser mage trying to harness Kai’s magic for himself. Kai doesn’t remember what happened but will need to gather all his allies to find out the truth which might be answers he won’t like. This edition has bonus content, stenciled edges and foiling on the hardback.
In April I read three books which is less than I read in most months but I was very busy throughout the month so I was expecting it to be a slower reading month.
Books:
The first book I read was A Dance with the Fae Prince by Elisa Kova which is a fantasy romance inspired by the tale of Psyche and Eros with hints of Cinderella. Katria is married off to Lord Fenwood but is not allowed to see him. However, the power to save both herself and the Fae World is in her hands and she might just fall in love as well. An enjoyable read but very slow to start. If you enjoy other books by Elisa Kova you probably like this one.
Next I reread Every Heart A Doorway by Seanan McGuire which is the first book in the Wayward Children series. We are introduced to Eleanor West’s Home for Wayward Children where all the students have gone to portal worlds and have ended up back “home.” Nancy is the newest student but when others end up dead they must find out who is responsible. I love Seanan McGuire’s works and reread this book because I plan to reread and catch up with this series in the next several months.
The final book I read this month was The Language of Thorns by Leigh Bardugo which is a collection of short stories/fairy tales that would have been told in the Grishaverse world. Beautifully written and illustrated and one can see how these tales are supposed to be from a different world but have similarities with fairytales many of us have grown up with and how they inspired these new tales. Personally, I would read these even without them being connected to the Grishaverse.
Illumicrate is a UK based fantasy and science fiction book box that has monthly boxes or just a monthly book only subscription. Each box also includes a selection of bookish goodies some more practical, others more decorative set around a monthly theme. April’s theme is Be My Enemy.
The items included in this box are a Sword of Truth replica, a pin banner inspired by Realm of the Elderings, a papercraft kit inspired by The Poppy War, and a Tumbler inspired by Iron Widow.
Illumicrate, like other book boxes, include a new hard cover each month and most months a letter from the author. This months book is Some Desperate Glory by Emily Tesh which follows Kyr who has been trained to avenge the murder of Earth but she ends up in a universe more complicated and wondrous then she ever imagined. This edition also has digitally printed edges and foiling on the hardback.
Night Owl Reviews 