It’s rare that I find myself at a loss for words about a book, and while I’m sure I can come up with any number of adjectives to describe Chandler Klang Smith’s The Sky Is Yours, I doubt even that would be sufficient to give the full picture of the novel. This is just one of those once-in-a-lifetime books with a story that is much bigger than the sum of its parts, and can’t be easily summarized or placed neatly into any one category. Here’s to giving it my best shot, though! Imagine a city, at once high-tech and futuristic, but also burned-out and falling apart. This is Empire Island, where our story takes place. High above in the skies, a pair of dragons continually rain down fire upon the buildings and citizens, creating mass havoc. This has been going on for so many years that they have become a become a fixture on the landscape; those who could not bear the constant threat of destruction have long since fled the city, while those who chose to remain have learned to live with the new reality. As such, Empire Island has become a place of dichotomies. Within its crumbling underbelly…
I have to confess when I first saw this book, I did not realize it was a retelling of The Tempest by William Shakespeare. There are some authors that have impressed me enough with my previous reads I honestly don’t feel the need to read the synopsis closely before diving in when I get my hands on it. This was one of those books. I absolutely love The Heart Goes Last, and regardless of what Atwood’s next book was about, I knew I would have to read it. Enter Hag-Seed. I am not sure I was the ideal reader for this particular book. I am woefully unfamiliar with The Tempest, which means that there are likely many reference and parallels, unique twists, etc, that I am not in a position to recognize or appreciate. I will say that the way Hag-Seed is told, I did become more familiar with The Tempest as I read. At the end of the book, there is a section that summarizes The Tempest for the reader. I wish that had been in the beginning as I felt like it may have helped me understand the retelling aspect a bit more if I had read that…
Here’s a rundown of the books we think you should look out for in coming in the week. See any that you are really looking forward to? Find any you had not heard of yet? Know of books we missed? We know we don’t have everything and would love to hear what you feel we may have overlooked. FANTASY URBAN FANTASY HORROR FANTASY URBAN FANTASY HORROR FANTASY URBAN FANTASY HORROR Chaosmage Aryan, Stephen 10/11/2016 Orbit Conspiracy of Ravens Bowen, Lila 10/11/2016 Orbit Crimson Death Laurell K. Hamilton 10/11/2016 Berkley Hag-Seed Margaret Atwood 10/11/2016 Hogarth Shakespeare Hammers on Bone Khaw, Cassandra 10/11/2016 Tor.com The Apothecary’s Curse Barnett, Barbara 10/11/2016 Pyr The Graveyard Apartment Mariko Koike, Deborah Boliver Boehm (Translator) 10/11/2016 Thomas Dunne The Librarians and The Lost Lamp Cox, Greg 10/11/2016 Tor Books The Midnight Star Marie Lu 10/11/2016 G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers Treachery’s Tools Modesitt Jr., L. E. 10/11/2016 Tor Books Unhonored Hickman, Tracy 10/11/2016 Tor Books
Here’s a rundown of the books we think you should look out for in coming in the week. See any that you are really looking forward to? Find any you had not heard of yet? Know of books we missed? We know we don’t have everything and would love to hear what you feel we may have overlooked. FANTASY URBAN FANTASY SCIENCE FICTION HORROR FANTASY URBAN FANTASY SCIENCE FICTION HORROR FANTASY URBAN FANTASY SCIENCE FICTION HORROR Fallout: The Hot War Harry Turtledove 7/19/2016 Del Rey Flying Jones, Carrie 7/19/2016 Tor Teen Imprudence Gail Carriger 7/19/2016 Orbit Life Debt: Aftermath Chuck Wendig 7/19/2016 Del Rey Nightshades Melissa F. Olson 7/19/2016 Tor.com The Dragon Lords: Fool’s Gold Jon Hollins 7/19/2016 Orbit The Dragon Round Stephen S. Power 7/19/2016 Simon & Schuster The Empty Ones Brockway, Robert 7/19/2016 Tor Books Ghost Run J.L. Bourne 7/19/2016 Gallery The Race Nina Allan 7/19/2016 Titan The Sunlight Pilgrims Jenni Fagan 7/19/2016 Hogarth The…