Tag: genre: horror

Review – Harrow the Ninth

Posted on by Taking One Step at a Time

The second book in a series, especially a short series (three or four books), has a tough job to do. The first book ropes in the viewer, so it’s generally enjoyed. The last book wraps everything up, so it’s generally enjoyed. The second, or middle, books have to get you from the beginning to the end, so it’s generally not as well liked. This is very true of Harrow the Ninth.

In addition, I had a very difficult time with this book. The first issue is one that I had with Gideon the Ninth, and I suspect I will have with the latter two books. I don’t like horror, I don’t like psychological horror, and I don’t really like books that are gory, and Harrow the Ninth has all three in spades. In addition, it has been described as gaslighting the reader, as it describes the events of the first book as happening very differently–in one case, with a completely different character in an important position, as Harrow’s cavalier. Finally, Ortus (Harrow’s cavalier according to this book) is the name for two important characters, which is just confusing. It turns out, in the end, to have happened that way for a reason, but I found it confusing.

Confusing, and frequently disgusting, are the two best descriptions I have for this book. Until the last act, I was thinking I’d rate it two stars. In the end, I gave it three. It would probably benefit greatly from a reread, but I’m not sure I can stomach that. Maybe after the last two books.

Muir, Tamsyn. Harrow the Ninth. New York, New York: Tordotcom Books, 2020. 178,196 words. 3 stars.

Review – Nettle & Bone

Posted on by Taking One Step at a Time

Nettle & Bone has been nominated for both the Hugo and Nebula awards for 2023; at the time of this writing, it did not win the Nebula but the Hugo is still in the future. “This isn’t the kind of fairytale where the princess marries a prince. It’s the one where she kills him.“

The author’s note at the end references “The Princess and the Pea,” but the fairy tale that most resonated with me while reading it was “The Seven Swans.” Marra is the youngest of three princesses and it is she who is the main, and viewpoint, character. The beginning of the book sets up the situation: eldest sister Damia marries Prince Vorling and dies in a fall, middle sister Kania marries Prince Vorling and has one living daughter and miscarries all the others. The action is set into effect during a vigil before the daughter’s funeral, when Marra realizes that her sister is being abused by Vorling. Marra decides that she must kill him to protect her sister.

Marra sets off on her quest to remove the godmother’s blessing that protects Vorling. Along the way, she accumulates people who decide to help her, a group of fairy tale helpers. Kingfisher doesn’t quite stick to the fairy tale template, although the story remains recognizably one, but throws in twists and surprises along the way. It’s a slow start–I don’t much care for apocalyptic stories, which this one appeared to be at the beginning–but I was thoroughly engrossed by the end.

This is a worthy nominee for both the Hugo and Nebula awards. Although it didn’t win the Nebula, I believe it is one of the two most likely to win the Hugo (I haven’t read Nona the Ninth yet). It has some grit and realism to it which is surprising for the genre, but makes it stick.

Kingfisher, T. Nettle & Bone. New York, New York: Tor Books, 2022. 84,002 words. 4 stars.

Review – The Daughter of Doctor Moreau

Posted on by Taking One Step at a Time

The Daugher of Doctor Moreau is a retelling of the H. G. Wells’s classic science fiction novel, The Island of Doctor Moreau. It has been nominated for the Hugo award for Best Novel for 2023. I’ve never read the original story, and this one isn’t one I’ll be rereading. It took me a bit to understand why I disliked this story so much.

I don’t like horror.

I didn’t realize at first that this is a horror novel, as is the original from what I know of it, and that is enough for me to dislike it. It’s well-written, and the descriptions of the surroundings are lush and inviting. I couldn’t warm up to the characters, but that may be because I never warmed up to the book. There is a love triangle and, if you like horror, it’s probably a decent book. But.

This is one of the nominees for the Hugo Best Novel award. I don’t think it’s a likely winner, and I personally hope it doesn’t win; I don’t want to see more horror in later years.

Moreno-Garcia, Silvia. The Daughter of Doctor Moreau. New York, New York: Del Rey Books, 2022. 102,844 words. 3 stars.