fantasy

The Dark Lord’s Daughter

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The Dark Lord’s Daughter by Patricia Wrede

This book is perfect for readers who enjoy cozy or lighthearted fantasy. Marketed for middle school readers, yet appealing for all ages. Kayla Jones, 14, visits the Minnesota State Fair, an annual tradition, with her adoptive mom Riki and her younger brother, Del. Suddenly they are transported to a stone circle in Zaradwin, where Kayla is called Xavrielina, the new Dark Lady.

Kayla’s tablet computer becomes her talking familiar, the castle has dragon skulls that speak, and Kayla’s aunts may not have her best interests at heart. On the positive side, her cousin and potential rival wants to be a musician while another relative loves to cook.

Kayla, aided by her familiar, her practical and protective mother, her lively younger brother, and the castle librarian, learns what her options are as a Provisional Dark Lady. Exploring the castle, learning a little magic, trying to get back home to Minnesota, and discovering if a Dark Lady really must curse or exile her rivals make for very enjoyable reading. Patricia Wrede co-authored Sorcery & Cecelia: Or The Enchanted Chocolate Pot and other teen fantasy novels as well as the very popular Dealing with Dragons and other Enchanted Forest books. I’m happy to hear that a sequel to The Dark Lord’s Daughter is planned.

Brenda

Bookshops & Bonedust

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Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree

Have you read Legends & Lattes yet? Then you’re in for a treat, and you don’t need to be a coffee drinker to enjoy it. This new novel, due out November 7, is a prequel.

Viv, an orc, is at the beginner of her career as a mercenary here. Recovering from a severe injury, Viv is stuck in the seaside village of Murk until Rackham’s Ravens return. While occasionally following the doctor’s orders, Viv is bored. So very bored. Constant questions from Gallina, a young gnome who wants to join the Ravens, doesn’t help. But Fern and her shabby bookshop do. One book, suggested by savvy readers advisor Fern, leads to others. Viv, with the help of Pitts, a poetry loving orc who hauls things, help make the bookshop more welcoming. Then there’s Maylee, a dwarf who runs the local bakery. Baldree writes so lovingly of scones and pastries in both books that you’ll want to make a quick trip to a local bakery or bake some scones, cookies, or muffins yourself.

Many cozy mysteries are set in bookstores or bakeries. I start quite a few, finish some, and am delighted by only a few. Baldree’s cozy fantasy books featuring Viv, though, are awesome. Besides an injured orc and a bookshop that needs spiffing up, there’s also a gryphet, a reclusive romance author, some sweet kisses, and a greatsword belonging to an evil necromancer. Also, a gray man, smelling of ice and death, has Viv and the local guard on high alert. What could possibly go wrong before the Ravens return? This is a charming read, well worth savoring. These books can be read in either order. More, please!

Brenda

Tales of Enchantment & Deeds of Youth

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Tales of Enchantment by Shanna Swendson and Deeds of Youth by Elizabeth Moon

I enjoy novellas and short stories by favorite authors, and it’s fun to see a new collection. This month I’ve read two new collections by fantasy authors, both of which I enjoyed. Their settings and tones are very different, though both are best enjoyed by readers already familiar with their work.

On the lighter side, cozy contemporary fantasy writer Shanna Swendson is best know for her series beginning with Enchanted, Inc., set in New York City in the mid-2000s. I’ve read two of these stories before, including the darker Paint the Town Red, but others are new novellas. There are also some author’s notes about writing the series and its setting. Katie is from a small town in Texas, and is new to Manhattan. She keeps seeing very strange happenings, and beings. She turns out to be immune to magic; spells don’t work on her and she can see through illusions and spot magical beings such as fairies and gargoyles. Owen is the very talented young wizard who’s a bit shy, while his friend Rod is very skilled with illusions. Sam is their non-human coworker. Their boss is a very famous wizard.

These novellas make for very enjoyable reading, with some humor, just a little romance, and give both some backstory to the series, and a little closure. Owen & Rod are featured in Spelling Test, set at Yale, where they’re both students and there are two rival magical societies. Sam, who works in security, is on the case in Criminal Enchantment. Katie’s grandmother gets to shine in Power Struggle, set in Texas. Now I need to go back and re-read book 9, Enchanted Ever After. Read more about the Enchanted, Inc. world at http://shannaswendson.com/blog/

Elizabeth Moon writes heroic fantasy and science fiction, and is best known for her character Paksenarrion, a sheepfarmer’s daughter who becomes a paladin. This is definitely not a safe and cozy world, but it’s wonderfully drawn, with plenty of room for more stories. This collection of short stories features children and young adults coming of age. There is generally at least one adult providing the support and guidance the young people need, but not necessarily a parent. There is often the threat of danger or dishonor. Horses feature prominently in Dream’s Quarry and The Dun Mare’s Grandchild. The adopted son of a lord learns about responsibilities in A Bad Day at Duke’s East. Another recent collection is Deeds of Honor. Read more at http://www.paksworld.com/blog/

The Frugal Wizard’s Handbook to Surviving Medieval England

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The Frugal Wizard’s Handbook for Surviving Medieval England by Brandon Sanderson

If you’re in the mood for lighter science fiction with a bit of fantasy and Norse mythology, here’s the perfect choice. A man wakes in a field with no memory of his past, his name, or how he arrived in what appears to be early medieval Britain. He meets brave Ealstan, lovely scop Sefawynn and others, and they call him Runian the aelv. Runian finds many pages of a partially burned copy of the Frugal Wizard’s Handbook, part guide and part advertisement. Runian, or John West, has traveled to another dimension, a parallel Earth. He learns that he can draw, had some police training in Seattle, he can fight and has some augmented plating in his arms, along with medical nanites. And has lost his wife Jen. John remembers an awful boss named Ulric, his former best friend Ryan Chu, and Quinn, who won their last fight.

With his enhancements, John helps Ealstan and Sefawynn repel Hordamen from the sea, and learns about Norse gods and helpful wights. Gradually John remembers more of his past, including that his best talents are lying and running away. Will John escape back to modern Seattle when he has the chance, or choose a new future for himself? An entertaining read, but one that made me think, just like Terry Pratchett. Terry Pratchett’s Long Earth series is a good readalike. My favorite book by Sanderson isn’t as well-known as his series; it’s the teen novel The Rithmatist.

Brenda