They can’t handle the loss and they leave the island and separate, with Anders falling into drunkenness. In an attempt to regain some sanity, he comes back to Domarö to find answers with the help of his strong-willed grandmother, Anna-Greta, and her life partner of fifty years, the magician, Simon. Anders learns that there are more strange occurrences happening that natives of the island are keeping secret, including his own grandmother.

Simon may not be a native of Domarö, but he is keeping his own secret: the fact that he is bound to a strange centipede-like insect that is actually a magical creature called a Spiritus that allows him to have a connection with water. And water is everywhere. The sea might just be the source of the strange occurrences, and the size and reach of the sea is great. But these things still might not be enough to keep a father from searching for his lost daughter.

Themes: Some events can send ripples through the lives of many people, such as the loss of a child or the choices of an entire island to make a living. They can have an effect not only on those directly involved but also for generations following. We learn that the secrets of Domarö are because of things that happened long ago, and those events might just be the reason for Maja’s disappearance.

Harbor is really a story about what lengths a father is willing to go to find his child. Can he pull himself from the pits of despair and do whatever it takes to save his little girl? Even with a crumbling marriage and downward spiral into addiction and self-loathing, Anders still can find strength through his love of Maja, and that love might also even heal the other wounds.

This is also a story of facing fears. Whether it be irrational fears of an inanimate object, the fear of committing to marriage, or the fear of having to face tragedy, Harbor brings these fears to the forefront and forces the characters to wallow in them.

Pros: Harbor is a deeply depressing story that actually brought about redemption for not just the characters, but the island of Domarö itself. It did it in such a unique and non-cliche way that the ending’s contrast to the rest of the book made me glad I finished reading it. The atmosphere on the island feels suppressing and claustrophobic and Lindqvist’s prose gives us suspense by not allowing us to escape the tension too quickly. He makes the reader sit in it and ponder it, sometimes without providing relief. This proves to be pretty effective and we are left with a tension-filled, uncomfortable story throughout.

Cons: The book could have been cut down a hundred pages and still not lost much of anything. It just dragged on at times and the cuts could have brought more of a sense of urgency in Anders finding Maja. There were a few unnecessarily graphic scenes, both violent and sexual in nature, and one that is just plain gross. They didn’t add much to the story for me, and since this book was too long anyway they could have been easily dropped.

The book is filled with strange sentence structure, many times combining multiple sentences with commas instead of semicolons or splitting them into separate sentences. These just felt like run-on sentences. I don’t know if it was from a translation from Swedish to English or just intentionally done bad structure, but it started to bother me. Just use a period and start a new sentence. Don’t combine two complete sentences with a comma. It’s annoying.

Recommendations: Harbor is a creepy story of the immensity of the sea and the power it holds. I felt uncomfortable while reading it, but in a good way because of the nature of the plot. I was expecting a defeatist story with no hope or chance of redemption, but I was pleasantly disappointed. Give it a chance if you have the time for a dark and eloquent tale of loss and despair. While being a long story that can drag at times, the payoff is worth it in the end.

John Ajvide Lindqvist’s website
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When Défago takes off unexpectedly, Simpson attempts to follow him, but Défago is so swift that he is unable to keep up. The strange tracks he leaves, however, reveal that Défago was chasing something else, something with even stranger tracks. Stranger still is the lingering scent of something unexplainable that those who have smelled it can only describe as the “odor of lions.”

Simpson somehow is able to make it back to the original camp alone. Dr. Cathcart and Hank are surprised to see him, especially without his guide. But when Défago returns on his own, he is somehow changed. Dr. Cathcart might know something of his condition, but it is Punk’s response in the end that is most telling.

Themes: The Wendigo is a story of the unknown, not only the stories and rumors of something in the wilderness, but the sheer anxiety of going into unexplored territory and living off the land and by your wits. This is a classic monster tale that asks the question, “Who or what is the monster here?”

The changes someone goes through when facing uninhabited lands can be thrilling, but it can also take a toll on your mind. At least, that is what The Wendigo says to us. The “call of the wild” can bring about a ferocity in a man that makes him lose a little of himself in the wild. And when brought back into civilization, that part of himself may not come back.

Pros: With classic horror stories the suspense is built by simply not showing the monster and by contrasting the fantastic with the mundane. Even in such a short story The Wendigo is packed with the perfect amount of character development, a vast setting, and an unsettling chill of something watching you at every turn.

Cons: Many authors of classic horror risk belaboring points and drawing out suspenseful situations through repetition, and The Wendigo is no exception. It can be tedious at times, but only briefly, if there is such a thing as briefly tedious. Thankfully, it is short and those parts can easily be plowed through.

Recommendations: If you have read Bram Stoker and Mary Shelley and are looking for more authors of their ilk, look no further than Algernon Blackwood. The Wendigo gives us a look at the unknown and brings with it both fear and wonder, which many times both go hand in hand. It is authors like Blackwood with such a mastery of the craft of storytelling that make me enjoy reading classics. Go read this now, especially since it is fairly short and you can download the ebook for free.

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Against her father’s wishes, Kate’s mom decides the family needs to go to church, where she finds the normally mute Justin from her art class to be quite talkative. She has become a local celebrity, so wherever she goes people recognize her, which is strange because she has few friends and now people at school know who she is.

Kate and her family and friends are in different places in their beliefs, and her questions also lead her to wonder who she can really trust. They may have caught the murderer, John X, but his accomplice is still out there.

Themes: As the genre implies, this Christian young adult book has characters searching for faith. They are each in different places in their belief, from Kate and her family being new to this Christianity thing to DJ and Justin having a more developed faith in God.

Sketchy Behavior is primarily a thriller/mystery, with a few twists and turns to leave the reader guessing what will happen next. We don’t know who is trying to kill Kate, and the truth is held back until the very end.

This is also a book about family. The Carters are a strong family unit. Though they have their differences of opinion and their normal arguments, such as what Kate should do with her future, they still obviously love each other and want the best for each other.

Pros: Kate Carter is funny. She is a well-developed character and I immediately liked her. I wanted her talent to shine and take her places. Being someone who goes to church regularly, I felt like most of the faith elements were familiar, from the gray-haired old ladies to the hipster worship band in girl pants. It didn’t feel too forced into the story, though for Christian YA I might have infused the story with even more.

Cons: There were way too many popular culture references. It felt like there was at least one every other page, and some of them are already dated. I have a feeling they might make this book dated in just a few years. Although this was about Kate, most of the secondary characters were underdeveloped. Also, I had a gripe with a main plot point of the book. Since I have experience working with a law enforcement agency, I know that the police would have never released the name of the sketch artist for a known serial killer, let alone if it was done by a sixteen year old girl. It just wouldn’t happen. I had another gripe having to do with background checks for law enforcement agencies, but I don’t want to give any spoilers. Besides, it might be different for a small town police force.

Recommendations: A clean, funny, and suspenseful story, Sketchy Behavior is the kind of book I would let my young teen read. It has the kinds of questions someone very young might have about God, not attempting to give any complex answers to those questions. For adults, the story may be too simplistic in some areas, but it has an intelligent and strong teenage female protagonist with heart that young readers will enjoy.

Erynn Mangum’s website
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Along the way, they find a zombie-eating lion (of course), which Remy quickly names Ripley after Sigourney Weaver’s character in Alien. They also meet Blue, the reliable and intelligent pre-med student, and Lazlo, the former rock star. This small group encounters marauders, a religious cult, and of course zombies on the way to the quarantine where Max supposedly has been taken.

Remy must do everything she can to get to her brother, to find out where he is and what has happened to him. They hope to make it to the quarantine, but will Max be there even if they do?

Themes: Obviously, this is a story of survival. Not only must they survive zombies, but they must also survive their encounters with other people.

Hollowland is also a story of a journey. Getting from one point to another with a vehicle is one thing, but when roadblocks are thrown in the way the journey is more difficult. Going on foot becomes even more difficult when the way is teeming with zombies. It is also a journey of growth for the characters, as well.

Remy goes through a lot of self-discovery in the story, facing death, her ability to survive, be a leader, and keep other people alive. She also discovers herself as it pertains to romantic relationships. Her dislike of Lazlo is put to the test. Can she care for someone when survival is so uncertain?

Pros: If you like gory scenes of zombies being killed in strange and inventive ways, that is about all Hollowland has going for it. The other reason I even read it is that it is currently a free download on Amazon.

Cons: This is a classic case of show, don’t tell. That is, it is a case of what not to do. In a first person perspective, this book suffers from explaining things through internal monologue rather than just having them actively engage in the action. Another problem was even though this is first person, a very vital piece of information is held back until over halfway through the book, a piece of information that the protagonist knows that is only revealed seemingly when it suits the author in order to build false suspense. This is just sloppy writing, not to mention the myriad of grammar and spelling errors that plague this novel. There are more minute details that could have used some research, such as the main character sharpshooting a man off a roof a block away with a handgun. On top of all these things, we are left with a cliffhanger that requires us to read the next book in the series to find out what happens to the protagonist. The real problem is that at the end of this emotionless book with stilted prose I just didn’t care about any of the characters.

Recommendations: If you like mindless stories about zombies, this book might be for you. Its only redeeming quality is that it cost me nothing other than my time to read it. Other than that, I can think of much better books to waste time with than this. If you are going to self-publish, at least have the decency to have your books edited. I can see why Ms. Hocking had collected so many rejections by traditional publishers after reading Hollowland. I suppose she may have the last word since she has made millions in book sales, but it doesn’t make her books any better quality, at least not this one. If Hollowland is any indicator of her writing, I doubt I will ever read anything else she writes.

Hollowland on Goodreads
Amanda Hocking’s website
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Things get a little hairy so he decides to lay low for a while, but his financier Mathias wants him to do one last lucrative job. The only problem is it is a job his rival Ral apparently didn’t want. When Caim arrives at the job, the old aristocrat is already dead and his daughter Josephine walks in on Caim standing over the body. He could have left it at that and either taken off or killed her as well, but somehow the Sacred Brotherhood from the True Church shows up expecting her and her father to both be dead and Caim is dragged into a political and other-worldly struggle for power.

In the middle of all the political maneuvering comes Josey’s discovery about her father. And when Caim learns more about his parentage he is faced with accepting his powers and what that means for him and his search for his mother. With an evil sorcerer Levictus, Ral, and more coming after them, will Caim and Josey survive?

Themes: Politics are all over this novel, complete with uprisings, alliances, corruption, and backstabbing (literally and figuratively). With other political powers such as the Elector Council (the leaders of the True Church), the Sacred Brotherhood (the Church’s enforcers), and the Azure Hawks (an underground militia group led by Hubert Vassili, the archpriest’s son). Religion plays a role in Shadow’s Son almost as another political entity. The True Church was responsible for ousting the former Nimean emperor. They have gained in power with the help of the Sacred Brotherhood and the Elector Council. While not inherently evil, the hierarchy of the Church wields its power more like a governmental entity of a theocracy than a religious group.

We see a lot pointing towards acceptance of ability and acceptance of self in Caim and Josey. Caim must accept who he is in order to achieve his potential and Josey must accept who she is (without giving too much away) and play her role in the grand scheme.

This is also a story about justice and seeking revenge, with Caim looking for his father’s killer, Josey wanting to discover her father’s killer and the reasons behind his death, and then Levictus seeking revenge against the Church.

Pros: The dialog set apart most of the characters to be distinct each in their own voice. I was intrigued with Caim’s powers and the similarities and differences they had between those of Levictus the sorcerer. Levictus is a good foil to Caim, both in how they wield their powers and in their desire for justice. Kit is just plain fun, but seems to be hiding more than we know about her. And the pace of the action ranged from mostly breakneck to whirlwind the rest of the time. I loved the idea behind the shadow magic.

Cons: Some of the main character actions seemed arbitrary against their constructed motivations, such as how Caim only seems to kill bad guys and when he decides to spare Josey with little to no real explanation other than it felt wrong to leave here there alive. Also, when does he and doesn’t he trust his powers? At first Caim uses his powers as just another tool, but when he begins to fear they are more sinister than he thought he stops using them. At some point he gives into them, but there were a couple of times that was unclear when he decides to trust them near the end. I could have used some more depth into the shadow magic system and background of some of the characters in general. Also, the whole rape scene felt totally unnecessary.

Recommendations: Shadow’s Son is a strong showing for a debut novel and for a series, with characters that stand out against the backdrop of the world that is being created. I actually wanted to be critical about Shadow’s Son for cliche characters and setting, but it was done well enough that the faults were overshadowed by what I liked. The dialog is great and the action kept up its pace so much that my complaints were soon left in the shadows. While not the most original concept dealing with assassins, the shadow magic is unique. I only wish the author would have given us more glimpses of it being used. I want to know more about Caim’s powers and his search for his mother and I want to find out what happens with Kit and Josey as well. I suppose reading the sequel, Shadow’s Lure, will be in my future.

Jon Sprunk’s website
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Jack lives on the edge of Sinnissippi Park, where his imaginary friends Pick and his owl Daniel return to him from earlier in his childhood and lead him on an adventure to save the park from an evil imprisoned in a massive tree. Not only is he supposed to save the park, but Jack is led into a struggle to save himself.

Imaginary Friends is a short story first released twenty years ago in the anthology Once Upon A Time, and is the inspiration for Running with the Demon,the first book in Terry Brooks’ Word and the Void series.

Themes: In Imaginary Friends, Jack is forced to face his adversary head on. This is a story about overcoming adversity and what someone can achieve when they have the will to fight for their lives.

We also learn in this short story how friends can give us encouragement to go on, whether real or imaginary. Imaginary Friends tells us that good friends will be there whenever we need them regardless of time spent apart. Friends also challenge us, believe in us, and encourage us to better things.

Pros: Running with the Demon is one of my favorite books by Terry Brooks. This short story was written before the novel and was the inspiration for that story. Pick and Daniel were as I remembered them in the book, especially Pick’s cranky personality and curmudgeonly language. I hadn’t read this short story before and it was to my pleasure that this was made available because it gave me some insight into Terry working out the details for a new world. The biggest pro for me is that for a short period of time Terry is giving all the proceeds to his webmaster and friend Shawn Speakman to help him pay for his cancer treatment bills.

Cons: Pick is described differently here than in Running with the Demon. In this story he is a tiny elf with a red beard. In Running with the Demon, he is described as a sylvan made of twigs knitted together with a mossy beard and leafy head. Without giving away either story, the thing trapped in the tree is different between the two stories as well. The ending was a little predictable, at least for me.

Recommendations: Imaginary friends is a heartwarming story about overcoming cancer and the inner battle for survival. It is fitting that for a short period of time Terry has made this story available for sale in ebook format to help his webmaster and friend Shawn Speakman pay for his cancer treatments. Not only will you get a story that helped set the stage for one of my favorite of his novels, you will be helping someone else in the process. On those grounds alone I could recommend this story, but Imaginary Friends is a nice short story with characters and setting inspiring one of my favorite Terry Brooks books, Running with the Demon,and is a testament to the power of the human spirit.

Terry Brooks’ website
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Not only are there these singing groups pitted against each other, but these a cappella people also encounter betrayal, find love, and discover who they really are. Caroline is the girl of Ben’s dreams, but she is still dating her hipster boyfriend from high school. Dani has plans to recruit Ben for her rise to stardom and is willing to do anything to get it, but ends up finding more in the process. Taylor discovers his true self, along with Nicole, Renee, Akash, and the rest of the college gang.

When it is learned that Student Government is going to have to cut singing groups due to budget cuts, the presidents go into overdrive to recruit the best singers, pick the best songs, and perform to their fullest. Dani pulls out no stops to make the Harmoniums safe from cuts, while pushing the Chorderoys closer to the chopping block. Of the six groups on campus who will come out on top, and will it matter after a year of forming friendships through music?

Themes: As said in my description of the book’s premise, this is a book about discovery. College is definitely a place of finding your true self, and these characters are no different. Especially with the freshmen like Ben, Akash, Nicole, Renee, and even Ben’s non-aca roommate Wilson, each character has to overcome their parents’ expectations to discover who they are and who they want to be while having new experiences, finding love, and shedding their past disappointments.

Forming strong bonds and finding your people in something like an a cappella group may seem silly, but I can attest that it is possible. When you come across something special you know it, and Ben spots it from the moment those first groups perform at the recruitment concert. Something may be geeky, but if it speaks to you it might just grab you by the heart and have you for life.

Dani gives us an example of the throes of ambition and the lengths someone is willing to go in order to achieve their goals. But when she encounters something better does that change her goals or does it give her perspective on the people around her that she might be hurting?

Pros: The main characters are interesting and their interactions were fun to read. I really started to hate Dani and her scheming until she became a real person with flaws and feelings. By the end of AcaPolitics I wanted to know more about her and Ben and Caroline and the possible love triangle there. The camaraderie between all the singers and their groups is palpable and, as I can attest to it, realistic.

Cons: Describing characters by their voice parts and their defining quality, such as “the petite soprano” and “the theatrical alto”, were sustained through the story and these character trope descriptions bordered on annoying. Many of the characters were defined well enough that these became unnecessary later in the story. Also, adding “aca” to anything does not necessarily make them special to the a cappella community. I still have no idea what “acaflirting” is.

Recommendations: As an avid a cappella junkie and reader I thought AcaPolitics was a fun and fresh novel, and the only story I can think of set in the college a cappella realm. While the book has its flaws, it is fun and flirty (but not acaflirty), and full of relational conflicts. A cappella fans will love AcaPolitics as they reminisce about their glory days, while this novel will make high school grads give a second thought about dismissing a cappella group auditions in college. Non-acas may not connect with the subject matter, but the characters make the story work. If the rumors I hear about a sequel are true, I am looking forward to knowing what will happen next on the Brighton University a cappella scene. But that’s easy for me to say because I am an acanerd.

Stephen Harrison’s AcaPolitics website
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Lucian is a former Katharos in exile after saving his twin sister Catarina out of Hell in exchange for his lover Rachael. The problem is that Catarina doesn’t want to be saved. Catarina has been making deals with Mastema and the Fallen Angels and Lucian is accused of joining in her evil work. After being left in Hell but rejecting Mastema, Rachael has been disfigured and possessed by a demon. She is doing everything she can to keep the demon at bay, but her Katharoi powers are starting to show weaknesses that make those around her question her loyalties.

Then foundlings Peter and Lindsay Richardson come through the Crimson Veil from Earth to Woerld, though too close to a Hell Gate. These kids will become new Katharoi if they can be found before the Fallen get to them. Peter is found by Rachael but has been attacked, and Lucian goes after Lindsay in Hell, breaking his covenant with the Citadel to not open the Hell Gates ever again. He saves Lindsay but opens himself up to more troubles, including complicit Katharoi wrapped up in the schemes of Mastema and the Fallen. They soon find out that they can trust no one and Lucian, Rachael, and Lindsay must rely on each other. Is there anyone they can trust?

Themes: Love is what gets Lucian into his situation in the first place. What is the difference love and loyalty? He loves Rachael and his twin Catarina, but because of his promise to his father he protects Cate by bringing her out of Hell instead of Rachael. He might have assumed that Rachael was strong enough to make it out alive, but his loyalty and love for his sister made his decision difficult and ultimately led to his exile.

After fleeing from his sister, Lucian has a chance for redemption. He finds an old Katharos, Matthew, who gives Lucian his sword and helps him escape Hadra in order to go help Rachael overcome the demon inside her. In Lindsay he has a chance at redemption, but in order to do so he has to break his promises to not open the Hell Gates. He also must do what is right, even if it means his own death, in order to find redemption with Rachael, who is given the task of bringing Lucian back to the Citadel to be judged.

Lucian may be running from Catarina, but he does not run from his fate. In order to gain mercy along with Rachael’s trust he gives himself up to her and John, his Elder, to be judged. He speaks the truth and his side of the story is finally told. Will he die for his past and current crimes and broken promises or will Rachael say “Miserere, Have Mercy” and will mercy be given?

Pros: The imperfect characters had real depth with inner turmoil that made them all believable. The magic system is interesting, with religious tones that were engaging without going down the easy roads of being blasphemous or preachy. I don’t know if it was intended, but to have real power invoked through prayer made me think about the real life application for the religious. There was a real care for people making mistakes and whether or not they are willing to be held accountable for them or for others to hold them accountable. The bad guys turn out to be really bad guys who are willing to do horrible things to people for what they want. The imagery for some of these were just plain creepy, in a good way.

Cons: Lindsay seemed to fade into the background near the end of the story. I don’t know if she is being set up for another book because there are paths here to be explored more in future books. I am ready for more books in this universe. I just wish we could have learned more about Lindsay’s fate before the end. I guess we’ll have to wait for book two.

Recommendations: Miserere is a fascinating read full of religious symbols and character interactions that are realistic and gripping. The scenes were intense, from magic and swordplay battles to intimate meetings between scarred souls. I went into Miserere not knowing what it was about and with no expectations and was surprised by a deep and stirring look at redemption for the past mistakes of people entrusted with great power. If all fantasy had this much hope for redemption, then I want more fantasy from Teresa Frohock.

Teresa Frohock’s website
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There is a pattern in and through everything. In fact, there is a literal pattern of geometric designs being written on people’s skin, on the walls of Sarmin’s tower, and even in nature in the grasses and sands. It is a strange magic that is not natural, and the Pattern Master behind it has sinister intentions. If only anyone could figure out what those intentions are and who is behind the blue and red colored tattoo-like patterning being written on the Cerani people. When someone becomes a Carrier of the pattern, they become sick and die, or they can be controlled to do things against their will, even murder. It is Emperor Beyon’s law that anyone with the pattern be put to death at the hand of Eyul, the Emperor’s Knife, but when it is discovered that the markings have spread to the emperor himself, choices must be made.

A Felting girl, Mesema, of the steppes is being wedded to Sarmin to give an heir to Cerana that Beyon has been unable to give, but she discovers more about the pattern that others have missed. Mesema, Sarmin, Beyon, and Eyul must stand against the Pattern Master, but trusting anyone is a challenge, including each other. There are strange magics in Cerana, along with many competing gods and religions. Even the Emperor’s Knife contains some sort of magic, but is the Emperor’s Knife the man, Eyul, or is it the knife itself that contains the power?

Themes: Loyalties are ever-changing in the Cerani Empire. People have ambitions and bloodlines are important, but even those can’t always be relied upon. Even family relations mean little when it comes to keeping position and standing in the empire, between mother and son, brothers, cousins, and between husbands and wives.

Closely related to loyalty is the inherent politics in an epic fantasy novel between nations and royalty. When forming alliances with surrounding nations there is an exchange of power, both militarily and familial. We find these politics in the foreground, such as in the marriage deal between Mesema’s father and Cerana, and in the background in the motivations of each character.

We also see glimpses of romantic love and brotherly love, and of the intimacy of real relationships with people. People come and go in our lives but certain relationships stay with us for a lifetime, even after those people are long gone. This happens in The Emperor’s Knife in the form of distance and death, and the longing for those loved ones can be felt in every instance.

Pros: There are so many characters in The Emperor’s Knife that are complex and interesting with dark pasts and internal struggles that make them each real and human. I was impressed with the strong female characters in a male-dominated world that were not necessarily feminist but also didn’t come across as weak-willed. I appreciated the use of romantic and sexual relationships done in a subtle and intimate way that didn’t come across as crass or perverted. The matter-of-fact expression of killing and death carried with it a sense of cost and loss that keeps it far away from being gratuitous. The magic systems of both the pattern and the elemental magics are interesting enough to set this book apart from most others right off the bat.

Cons: The depth of the pattern magic system seemed much less than that given of the elemental spirit magic of the mages from the Tower. Perhaps the author is saving more of this for later books, but I wish more explanation was given into the back story of how the pattern works or at least its implications. Is it connected to blood and sacrifice as it seems to imply? This is less of a con than implied since I liked the magic structure even in the amount that was revealed to us. One thing that might be confusing to some American readers is the use of some British English spellings, such as organise, waggon, and colour, but this is something that is easy to read over and forget.

Recommendations: The Emperor’s Knife has a Middle Eastern style to it that is refreshing, with a magic system that is intriguing yet seems so much deeper than the author showed us in this first book. Replete with political intrigue and mystery, The Emperor’s Knife is a story I will remember and that will keep me thinking after the book is closed. By the end of the story I was still wondering who to trust. I only wish I could pick up book two right now and keep reading. This is a strong and daring undertaking of a debut novel from Mazarkis Williams.

Mazarkis Williams’ website
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Pools of oily water are discovered that store the collective memories of the alien race that lived on Hellhole before the asteroid destroyed the planet. The Xayan race dissolved their bodies in the slickwater so that their memories could go on and so that the next life forms that came along might take on the personalities saved in the pools. When the word of these pools gets out, outcasts and the afflicted come from all over to put off their old lives and take on the memories of the alien race. When four Xayans are found in their original bodies deep in a mountain, the memories are confirmed and more people are converted.

This all comes to a head when D-Day arrives and General Adolphus declares independence, having completed his stringline network. The message is sent throughout the Constellation and everyone’s world is upturned. A group of people containing Xayan personalities travel with one of the Original Xayans to Sonjeera to try reaching out to the Diadem, but they are quickly murdered. War is imminent.

Themes: The honor of each character is challenged in Hellhole. From the very beginning, General Adolphus shows us that he is a man of honor, even when it means losing his five year rebellion. Innocent people are held as human shields by Commodore Hallholme at the orders of the Diadem, and refusing to fire on them causes his own forces to be decimated, sending him into exile on Hellhole.

Hellhole is primarily a story of politics. Nobles and leaders battle with each other and make alliances for money and power. A corrupt government led by a selfish and horrible leader holds a galaxy under its thumb in order to keep control and a standard of living for the nobles. We also learn there are factions between the Xayans, just as there are factions within the human race, which led them to diverging paths in the face of extinction.

Pros: This world is full of new ideas and laid out in a clear and engaging way. Doing world-building with so many characters is no easy task, especially when trying to make each character unique with their own back story. In a complicated story with different viewpoints, this aspect is done quite well. I was hooked fairly early on in the book.

Cons: At over five hundred pages you would think that a lot of story could be told and at least something might happen to tie up a few loose ends. When I reached the end of the book I discovered that it really was only starting. We are left with too much story left to tell and absolutely nothing is resolved. When reading a series, and especially a trilogy, it is my opinion that the first book needs to at least be able to stand on its own as a novel. There was no epic battle and no real fighting at all between the Deep Zone and the Crown Jewel planets. You must fulfill the promises you make to a reader in each book you write, and those made were left unfulfilled.

There were also inconsistencies on the planet Hellhole as it pertains to the horrible weather patterns and people’s ability to survive there. For example, there is a massive static storm that overcomes their tent city near Slickwater Springs. The shadow-Xayans use their telemancy to push the “growler” over them with no harm to anyone. However, when the converts go off to live on their own apart from Slickwater Springs we are led to believe that people are still living in tents and cabins at the springs, but no word is said about their survival in these conditions. Others who have gone off to live on their own are quickly decimated by the planet’s weather, but here it sounds like they are having a good camping trip.

Recommendations: I will still probably read the next book to find out what happens next to some interesting characters and to see if General Adolphus’ plans pan out, but I was disappointed by having the book end before a real climax took place. While I very much enjoyed this new world from the coauthors of the Dune series, there was too much left hanging at the end for me to consider this book “complete”. I hope an omnibus or trilogy collection eventually comes out for the readers’ sake.

Hellhole on Goodreads
Kevin J. Anderson’s website
Herbert’s Dune website
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