Review: Range of Ghosts

Last Updated on Tuesday, 2 October 2012 06:55 Written by Kadomi Friday, 20 July 2012 09:14

Range of Ghosts by Elizabeth Bear

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Ever since those magical days in the 90s that I first read the Empire series by Raymond Feist and Janny Wurts, I have a weakness for fantasy and historical books within an Asian setting. I could really use more recommendations for that area, really, so if you have any, comment away! Range of Ghosts was recommended by a friend, and is a fantasy story clearly based on Asian tales. It’s Mongols meet feudal Chinese/Japanese meet Arabian assassins. Quite a fun mix.

The protagonist of the story is Temur, grandson of the Great Khagan of the Qersnyk whose empire is falling to dust as his descendants squabble over who gets to rule. Temur is one of few survivors of a battle at the capital of the Qersnyk, razed by Qori Buqa, one of the warlords trying for the throne. He is assisted by assassins from Rathman, led by the mysterious al-Sepehr. Temur joins up with fellow Qersnyk, and falls in love with Edene, a girl from the tribe he’s travelling with. Qori Buqa wants to have Temur dead as he is a threat to his claims for the throne, and so ghosts are sent after him, kidnapping Edene.

Temur sets out to rescue her, travelling wide and far, and finding companions in Samarkar, a princess turned wizard, a silent fighting monk, and an imposing woman from a race of cat-people, the Cho-Tse. And let’s not forget his valiant pony, Bansh.

It’s well written, and it’s an interesting world. It’s still doing my head in that apparently every part of the world under another ruler has different skies and celestial bodies. Qersnyk have moons for every royal family member, e.g. Quite fascinating.

If I have one beef with the book is that at least half of it seems all exposure and build-up and it didn’t feel like a story of its own. You turn the last page, and even though there’s no cliffhanger, you feel you need more because there’s no real satisfying conclusion. It’s quite obviously the first book in a series. I am hoping the next book comes sooner than later!



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Review: Dead Beat

Last Updated on Wednesday, 18 July 2012 06:16 Written by Kadomi Sunday, 8 July 2012 10:57

Dead Beat by Jim Butcher

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Another solid entry in the Harry Dresden Files. This time you get a zombie flavor to it, as Harry Dresden has to stop the disciples of the necromancer Kemmler who want to turn themselves into a god on Halloween in Chicago. This time there are no poo-flinging demon monkeys, but a revived tyrannosaurus rex. As always, I like the continuity, always adding up to make Harry a more complex person. Should be interesting to see what all develops from here on out. If you liked any of the previous books, you will enjoy this one as well.

Minor pet peeve: almost at the end of the book, Ramirez is suddenly addressed as Rodriguez, how did that happen? Who snoozed through that one? Also, why the fuck couldn’t the author properly research the name of the book they’re hunting. I am sorry, if you manage to look up stuff about the Erlkönig from Goethe’s work, you should manage to properly form a possible name for the book: Das Lied vom Erlkönig. Not ‘Die Lied von Erlking’. Grar.



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