The Fallen Blade by Jon Courtenay Grimwood: Review Posted by Tiffany at 8:48 PM

Title: The Fallen Blade
Author: Jon Courtenay Grimwood (site)
Published: January 27, 2011 by Orbit
Pages: 432
Series: Assassini #1 
Buy: Amazon/ Book Depo/ Powell's
Source: NetGalley
Rating: 2.5/5
Synopsis: In the depths of night, customs officers board a galley in a harbor and overpower its guards. In the hold they find oil and silver, and a naked boy chained to the bulkhead. Stunningly beautiful but half-starved, the boy has no name. The officers break the boy’s chains to rescue him, but he escapes. 
Venice is at the height of its power. In theory Duke Marco commands. But Marco is a simpleton so his aunt and uncle rule in his stead. They command the seas, tax the colonies, and, like those in power before them, fear assassins better than their own. 
In a side chapel, Marco’s fifteen-year old cousin prays for deliverance from her forced marriage. It is her bad fortune to be there when Mamluk pirates break in to steal a chalice, but it is the Mamluks’ good luck—they kidnap her. 
In the gardens beside the chapel, Atilo, the Duke’s chief assassin, prepares to kill his latest victim. Having cut the man’s throat, he turns back, having heard a noise, and finds a boy crouched over the dying man, drinking blood from the wound. The speed with which the boy dodges a dagger and scales a wall stuns Atilo. And the assassin knows he has to find the boy. 
Not to kill him, but because he’s finally found what he thought he would never find. Someone fit to be his apprentice.. (Goodreads)


Review: One thing that Grimwood is very good at is setting the scene. I really felt like I was immersed in his alternate Venice. The descriptions ran a bit long sometimes, but they were so well done that I didn't mind. Unfortunately, all of this describing (no doubt the product of extensive research) left little room for character development. I had a good mental image of each character, but no real feel for them. The story was intriguing, I was caught up in all of the political plots and underground goings-on, but at times it dragged. There was some very graphic violence and some scary sexual stuff, but nothing that felt out of place, over the top, or added just for shock value. I'm sure a lot of people were upset by this, but it's not unrealistic for the times. Unfortunately, it felt like the author spent 10 years researching and planning out the plot and setting for the book, but then just threw in some so-so characters. They had so much potential, but the depth just wasn't there. Also, the way thing turned out between Tycho and Giulietta was not very satisfying. You know, just as a side note. Would I read a sequel? Maybe. It might give me a chance to really love the characters. A lot of first books are a bit sparse on character development, especially when they have amazing and detailed plots. However, I'm not sure if there's enough pull there for me to give it another chance. 


PS- The kindle version is only $4.99 right now, check it out.

Hell's Horizon by Darren Shan: Review Posted by Tiffany at 8:17 AM

Title: Hell's Horizon

Author: Darren Shan (site)

Published: June 23rd, 2011 by Grand Central Publishing

Pages: 341

Buy: Amazon / Book Depository 

Series: The City #2

Rating: 4/5

Source: NetGalley

Synopsis: In the City, The Cardinal rules, and Al Jeery is a loyal member of his personal guard. But when Al is pulled from his duties at Party Central to investigate a murder, an unexpected discovery leads him in a new direction, where his loyalties and beliefs will be severely tested.

Soon he is involved in a terrifying mystery that draws in the dead, the City's Incan forefathers, the imposing figure of The Cardinal, and the near-mythical assassin Paucar Wami.

Wami is a law unto himself, a shadowy, enigmatic figure who can apparently kill anyone he chooses without fear of punishment or retribution. And Al is about to find out that he has a lot more in common with Wami than he could ever have imagined...(Goodreads)

Review: This was a great sequel to Procession of the Dead. I was a bit worried about where they could take the stories, especially since it took place alongside the other book. Wouldn't the spoilers be too much? Everything that the character was wondering about, the reader would already know. Shan got around this by making Hell's Horizon more of a side story than a sequel. If you wondered just where Paucar Wami was during parts of Procession of the Dead, then you'll get your answers here. I LOVED getting a more in-depth look at Wami. He was one of my favorite characters in the first book and (in my opinion) way too much was left in mystery about him and his past. 

Al Jeery's story is separate but connected to the story of the first book. He is part of one of The Cardinal's schemes and it was satisfying to watch The Cardinal as he thought he was finally going to achieve something he wanted, knowing that everything was going to blow up in his face before his dreams could be realized. The ending sets us up for a Grand Confrontation in the third book, which I can't wait to get my hands on. This is a fantastic series, but probably one more suited to adults. The content isn't over-the-top adult, but the subtle plot and mature characters might bore some of the more action-hungry YA readers.