Inside the Reader's Studio

Review: The Liminal People

2011-09-18T22:21:00.000-04:00

Taggert, a man blessed with mysterious powers that he can use at will to heal and injure, has been trying to master them his whole life. It is only when he meets Nordeen, a drug lord infintely more mysterious and powerful than himself, that Taggert can even grasp the full extent of his own abilities. When an old love calls in for help from London, he will have to return to a world he had left

Jasper Kent, Twelve

2011-09-18T02:51:00.007-04:00

1812, Napoleon is marching relentlessly on towards Moscow and the Russians are getting worried. Nothing seems to be able to stop the little French Emperor from conquering all of Europe. A small group of Russian officers specializing in infiltration and stealth are at their wits ends but one of them has... contacts. The Oprichniki, as they call the twelve strange, hooded men who fight only by

Review: Heirs of Mars

2011-09-11T21:34:00.001-04:00

Asher Radescu, in an attempt to curb Mars' diminishing birth rate, roams its canyon in search of dying souls for digital reincarnation, also known as cloning. Claudia Cruz, the most popular entertainer on the planet, entertains children in the morning and risks her life for the general populace at night, all for the sake of keeping morale. And Holm, a Cartesian, is desperately looking for a way

Review: Hood

2011-08-06T16:18:00.001-04:00

Set in medieval Wales, following the Norman conquest of the William the Conqueror, Lawhead revisits the tale of Robin Hood, and makes it (according to him, anyway) more historically correct. Bran ap Brychan is the rightful heir of Elfael, a small kindom in Wales. When his father is killed and his lands confiscated, he travels to London and demands justice. When his request is refused, he has no

Review: The Way of Shadows

2011-07-25T21:52:00.001-04:00

For Durzo Blint, the most feared wetboy in Cenaria, assassination is an art. For Azoth, it's a way out of his miserable young life, and ultimately, about survival. When Blint very reluctantly takes Azoth as his apprentice, the young boy must change his identity and renounce his old life, including everything and everyone he knew. As Kylar Stern, a poor aristocrat, he struggles to give up certain

The Body in the Library (1942), by Agatha Christie

2011-07-16T17:50:00.003-04:00

Agatha Christie is quite possibly the most well known name in mistery litterature. One would be hard presssed to find a litterate person who has not read one of her books or at least seen on their television a movie or episode derived from her works. Her characters have become household names themselves, including Miss Marple and the legendary belgian detective Hercule Poirot. It is by the

Lieutenant Hornblower (1952), by C.S. Forester

2011-07-11T22:49:00.006-04:00

There is grumbling between the decks of the Renown. Tension is palpable, and nobody quite knows what to expect. In the time of a few months, their legendary and adulated captain’s behaviour has become increasingly strange and erratic. He is as likely to bouts of paranoia during which he can accuse just about anyone of conspiracy and “black bloody mutiny” as to randomly grant a double helping

Horatio Hornblower Tales of the Sea: Mr Midshipman Hornblower (1950) by C.S. Forester

2011-07-10T22:49:00.003-04:00

About the Horatio Hornblower series: The series was written by Cecil Scott Forester over the 1934-1967 period, and is comprised of 10 full books, a collection of short stories and an unfinished final adventure which was published with the author's outline and notes allowing the reader to “know how it ends”. It is of note that the books were not written in chronological order, and that the

Review: Callisto: Adrift

2011-07-05T22:48:00.000-04:00

Jasmine, an investigative reporter, has just finished her last assignment, and her life will be the price to pay if she gets caught. Norik, a colonel in the Space Corps, has been forced on shore leave by his crew, and is only now returning. When trouble boards the transport ship, they can only trust each other. This was a really fast read, clocking in at roughly 30,000 words. As fast it was,

Review: Vestal Virgin

2011-06-29T22:31:00.001-04:00

In Tyrpak's debut novel (I seem to be reading a lot of debuts lately), the author explores a quite fascinating yet rather undocumented facet of Ancient Rome. Elissa Rubria Honoria is one such priestess, wielding power and influence in exchange for a 30-year vow of chastity. When her brother is brutally and publicly murdered, the priestess feels she must do everything in her power to shield

Review: The Twelve

2011-06-22T22:00:00.004-04:00

In William Gladstone's debut novel, he tackles the Mayan calendar and how the world is supposed to end on December 21, 2012. However, the novel begins long before then, when Max Doff is conceived in 1946, during some sort of cosmic alignment, described as "the most joyful mutual orgasm" his parents have ever experienced. Max Doff, our protagonist, is clearly cut from a different cloth. Not only

Review: The Memoirs of Cleopatra

2011-06-14T22:29:00.001-04:00

The Memoirs of Cleopatra explores the life of this most famous Queen of Egypt, from the time she is three years old, witness to her mother's death, to her own at the age of 39. Through her eyes, we discover how she evolves from a naive child to a cunning, ambitious and manipulative politician. Her affairs with Julius Caesar and Marc Antony are also explored in magnificent detail, as well as the

Review: Wayward Son

2011-06-05T21:57:00.002-04:00

When Dr. Amada James, a budding archeologist at the Getty Museum receives a call from an old friend in Italy, she can't refuse his offer: to be the one to unlock the key to a newly discovered ancient observatory under the Vesuvius. Even before she arrives in Italy, however, powers are at play to prevent her from doing so. And although she succeeds at solving the puzzle that leads her to this

Review: Cloud Crash

2011-05-13T22:43:00.000-04:00

We know what happens when the Internet is broken. But what happens when the Internet shuts down nationwide on the Fourth of July? For Bioze, who helps manage patient data at the most state-of-art hospital on the West Coast, it would mean the deaths of thousands of people, and the hospital's collapse. To prevent that catastrophe from happening, they hire Cal Stevens, a happy-go-lucky journalist

Patrick O’Brian - Post Captain (1972)

2011-05-08T11:08:00.003-04:00

There are many writers who have tried their hand at the historical novel. Some have achieved a certain amount of success, but few have succeeded on the scale of the likes of Patrick O’Brian, whose star has not faded one bit since his passing 11 years ago. Perhaps that is attributable to the fact that there are few names that are so intimately linked to fiction set in the glorious age of sail.

Black Orchid by Neil Gaiman

2011-05-07T17:43:00.000-04:00

Just a little intro to myself before the review... While most people here will review novels, I decided to review graphic novels in order to add some variation. Graphic novels are as powerful as regular novels because of the art presented as a way of storytelling. So, here I go :P Have you ever read a book or a graphic novel that just changed your way of seeing the art of storytelling? For me,

Review: A Book of Tongues

2011-04-30T22:39:00.002-04:00

For a debut novel (heck, for a novel, period), A Book of Tongues is a fantastic western fantasy. Two years following the American Civil War, Ed Morrow, an agent for the Pinkertons, must infiltrate an outlaw gang led by "Reverend" Asher Rook, an former Confederate chaplain turned hexslinger, and his deadly lieutenant Chess Pargeter. Morrow's task is simple: find out how powerful Rook is, and bring

Review: Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West

2011-04-09T23:50:00.001-04:00

In the faraway land of Oz, Elphaba Thropp, daughter of Melena Thropp and Frexspar, an itinerant Unionist minister, is born. We follow the green-skinned girl throughout her life, from her childhood to her famous death at the hands of Dorothy Gale. Early on, it becomes clear that Elphaba will be ostracized for the rest of her life, not only from society, but from her own family as well, for

Review: Viking: Odinn's Child

2011-03-30T22:29:00.000-04:00

Set at the very beginning of the last millenium, where Vikings ruled the Northern Seas, we find Thorgils, son of Leif Erikson and a mysterious Irishwoman named Thorgunna. Orphaned at a young age, he is raised by various mentors in Iceland, who teach him the ways of old, and warn him of the invasion of the "White Christ", as Christianity is slowly, but surely advancing to the North. Still as a

April Releases

2011-03-29T12:31:00.000-04:00

This will probably be a longer list, since more publishing houses have been consulted than in months past. Enjoy! As before, please do contact me if I'm missing something! April 5 Postdam Station - David Downing (Soho Press) Stettin Station - David Downing (Soho Press) The Sandbox - David Zimmerman (Soho Press) An Evening of Long Goodbyes - Paul Murray (Hamish Hamilton) Under Heaven - Guy

Book Hoarding

2011-03-23T18:21:00.004-04:00

I came across this article this afternoon while perusing Twitter: http://arts.nationalpost.com/2011/03/23/confessions-of-a-book-hoarder/ . It reflects the sentiment I have about books. I have to admit that I, too, am book hoarder. Although I have a paltry collection (about 200), I have read almost every single one in its entirety. But I didn't really start collecting books until I was about 18 (

Review: American Gods

2011-03-21T17:59:00.001-04:00

Stephen King has been able to fantasticate New England. Anne Rice (a poor example, yet an obvious one) has done the same for New Orleans. Countless others have set their one mythos in New York City, Los Angeles or San Francisco. Neil Gaiman, with American Gods, has succeeded in creating a legend in the American Midwest, a large geographical area which has been largely ignored in contemporary

Literary Events in Montreal this week

2011-03-20T18:37:00.001-04:00

I just found out today, but the Cabaret du Roy in Old-Montreal hosts their weekly "Dimanches du conte" on Sundays at 8pm, for the fair rate of $10. Since it's also a restaurant, there's the possibility of food and drink. Tonight's storyteller is Fabien Cloutier. Also tonight, but this time at Casa del Popolo, Adeena Karasick, Barbara Adler, Paul Seesequasis and poet Ian Ferrier present Wired on

Is the book really dead?

2011-03-18T18:36:00.000-04:00

I came across this article in the Montreal Gazette today, and it got me thinking. While I don't own an ebook reader (Kindle, Kobo, Sony Reader, etc.), I know a few people who have made the switch and are quite happy with their new toy. I even got one for my grandmother for Christmas, seeing how useful it could be after she moves across the country, since she won't be able to bring her 1000+ books

Review: Captain Blood

2011-03-14T12:34:00.003-04:00

Written in 1922, Captain Blood is truly a classic adventure story. We meet Dr. Peter Blood as he is tending to his garden on the very morning of the Battle of Sedgemoor. Wanting no part in the rebellion taking place, he nonetheless tends to the wounded, and is promptly arrested. During his trial, h is convicted of treason on the grounds that "if any person be in actual rebellion against the King