Conan the Barbarian Omnibus – Robert E Howard
Allen & Unwin Crows Nest, 2009
653 pages
RRP: AU$29.99
ISBN: 978-1-74175-851-1

Reviewed by Kate Smith

Conan the Barbarian was excellent.  It was an easy enough read to be enjoyable, with enough in what would appear to be a fairly basic premise to be interesting.  Many people are acquainted with Conan at least in passing but this will be knowledge from the movies that have been made at various times.  Less people, perhaps, will be familiar with the novels that have been written by others.  I have enjoyed the movies but not so much the novels, and I approached this volume of short stories curious but without any great expectations.  Very quickly I was engaged.

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A Madness of Angels – Kate Griffin
Hachette Livre Orbit, 2009
472 pages
RRP: AU$22.99
ISBN: 978-1-84149-733-4

Reviewed by Kate Smith

A Madness of Angels was a read that I could not put down, enjoyable not only because it was an interesting story but also because it was different to the norm of this genre of novel.  While the plot for the story does not appear to be particularly distinct from the blurb, from the first chapter it is clear that there is something different to Griffin’s work.  Matthew Swift is a sorcerer who has been fundamentally betrayed by his mentor and friend.  He must bring together groups with little in common apart from their enemy to find ways to trust each other and to work together to bring about the demise of the monolithic organisation that is the evil within London.  However, despite what appears to be several familiar story lines, including the seeking of revenge, there is so much more to this novel.

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Dreamscape – Paul Kidd
Kitsune Press, 2005
288 pages
RRP: US$22.50
ISBN: 978-1-84753-242-8

Reviewed by Kate Smith

Don’t read any review of this book that would give you any ideas about its plot!  Just read it and enjoy it for what it is and for how it unfolds.  And then go back and read it again. (more…)

The Foreshadowing – Marcus Sedgwick
Allen & Unwin Dolphin, 2006
278 pages
RRP: AU$14.95
ISBN: 1-84255-517-0

Reviewed by Kate Smith

The Foreshadowing is set in Britain and France during the years of World War One and tells the story of Alexandra Fox, a young woman born into a middle-class, well-regarded family during those years.  Having seen future deaths at different moments since the age of five, Alexandra must cope with what these mean, with the fact that her family refuse to acknowledge that she has this ability, and with the ongoing World War that is changing her world and her family.  After the death of her older brother, Alexandra decides that she cannot accept her vision of her other brother’s death and finds her way to France to try to save him from the fate she has seen.  In order to finally reach him she is aided by a dispatch rider who also has visions of impending deaths. (more…)

Dream Warrior – Sherrilyn Kenyon
Hachette Piatkus, 2009
314 pages
RRP: AU$19.99
ISBN:978-0-7499-0905-5

Reviewed by Kate Smith

Dream Warrior is a story set among the ancient pantheon of the Olympian Gods who still exist in the modern day.  With war breaking out, the ancient Greek gods have to look to an individual they exiled thousands of years ago, Cratus, for help.  It comes down to a defender of dreams, Delphine, to try to convince this god not to join the side of dark and to fight for those who have persecuted him for six thousand years.  In this process he learns to trust and she learns to embrace emotions she has never experienced before.

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Wicked – Gregory Maquire
Harper Collins, 2008 (reprint)
538 pages
RRP: AU$19.99
ISBN: 978-0-06-135096-2

Reviewed by Kate Smith

The story of the life of the Wicked Witch of the West is a very intesting premise for a number of reasons. The Wizard of Oz is an iconic story in our culture and has been made reference to in many other forms of text, including television, over the years. Whole cartoons have been based around it and single lines have become part of standard communication. Tapping into that interest while adding to the story and at the same time giving readers a chance to think about how people become who they are always stood a good chance of success. The author has not failed in this.

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The Blood of Elves – Andrzej Sapkowski
Orion Gollancz, 2008
RRP: AU$32.99
ISBN: 978-057-508318-9

Reviewed by Kate Smith

Having read, and thoroughly enjoyed his previous book The Last Wish in so many ways, I was a little disappointed in The Blood of Elves. The story continues its focus on Geralt of Rivia but begins to show the larger scope of events in the world.

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The Ninth Circle – Alex Bell
Hachette Livre Gollancz, 2008
RRP: AU$32.99
ISBN: 978-057-508027-0

Reviewed by Kate Smith

The Ninth Circle by Alex Bell is not simply another mystery story which is diverting at the time of reading but is ultimately of little impact on the reader. For a reader looking for something different, both in subject matter and style, this novel is well worth a read. The story builds from being a simple tale of a man struggling to come to terms with amnesia to a much more complicated one with serious questions about morality and the nature of religion. If the reader does not seek to guess ahead of the story it is very easy to become swept away and to feel the situation as Gabriel, the central character, sees it. Bell’s manner of writing communicates the confusion and desperation Gabriel experiences, and this makes for an engrossing read. The story is brought together nicely at the end, completing the story arc and ensuring the reader is clear about the situation Gabriel has finally taken some measure of control over.

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The Two Pearls of Wisdom – Alison Goodman
HarperCollins, 2008
448 pages
RRP: AU$32.99
ISBN: 9780732288006

Reviewed by Kate Smith

Two Pearls of Wisdom was an interesting novel to read but one that had this reader in two minds when considering several aspects of the tale. The story is a very interesting premise and one that to begin with draws the reader in. The first part of the tale, the description of the life of a young girl pretending to be a boy and trying to complete a taxing training regime, is well told. While it may initially feel as though the story is familiar – young girl pretending to be a boy and risking huge penalties if she is discovered – the reader should stay with it and allow the tale to develop. The middle part of the story was not as captivating as the beginning, however, but the ending was good and the reader is well-prepared for the next novel in the series. As a standalone novel the ending was too abrupt and I was frustrated at not being able to continue the story.

Greywalker – Kat Richardson
Hachette Livre Piatkus, 2008
341 pages
RRP: AU$22.99
ISBN: 978-0-74993-896-3

Reviewed by Kate Smith

Greywalker is a diverting story and an enjoyable way to kill a few hours. While the story begins slowly and the reader may be tempted to not continue, once Richardson has set the scene the novel picks up pace and more interest. By no means a classic tale and without any particularly innovative plot movements, Greywalker is an easy read that does not require huge amounts of mental effort. If taken in this way Greywalker will provide a pleasant interlude. If looking for more, the reader may find themselves disappointed with Richardson’s offering.

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