Listmas 2022 – Best Books

 

Originally published on Set The Tape

Deciding on ten books to call the best reads of 2022 has been a hard experience, not least because having read 241 books at the time of writing (249 at the time of publication), picking out just ten to call the best is no easy feat. There have been some truly great books released this year, in all genres, and whilst your favourite book might not appear on this list this is only one person’s opinion, but it’s a list I’m excited to share, to help you discover some fantastic new reads.

All The White Spaces – Ally Wilkes (Titan Books)

All The White Spaces is a historical horror story set in the darkness and sub-zero temperatures of Antarctica just after the First Word War. Centred on the character of Jonathan Morgan, a young man who missed out on going to war, and had to learn that his two older brothers would never be returning. A trans man, Jonathan has been forced to act like someone he’s not his entire life, and is facing the prospect of being sent to a finishing school for young women.

With the help of his brother’s friend, Harry, he leaves home and manages to sneak on board a polar explorer ship that Harry has found work on. Having idolised the polar explorers his entire life, Jonathan hopes to be able to connect better to the memory of his brothers by going on the journey they always wanted to do. But when the ship arrives at Antarctica and finds itself in trouble, Jonathan and the rest of the crew are forced to try to survive in an environment designed to kill them – with something sinister lurking in the darkness.

All The White Spaces is a wonderfully paced and well written tale that focuses so much on character that you almost forget it’s a horror story. You become so engrossed in this meticulously researched tale of polar exploration that when the sinister forces begin to make their presence known it takes you by surprise and chills you to your core. Filed with genuinely frightening horror, a wonderfully well told trans story, and characters that feel real, it’s a must-read story.

Chains – Jon Richter (Bloodhound Books)

Chains opens with the murder of a local businessman – a shady fellow with his fingers in a lot of pies and connections to important local politicians – at the retirement home he owns on the eve of a big press event. What looks like a simple stabbing soon turns into something more complex, as local police and private investigators start to search for answers. But as the web of lies and criminal activities is discovered it soon becomes apparent that it connects to the whole of the small town it lies at the heart of.

Chains is a murder-mystery story. It begins simply enough with a body found in the middle of the night, stabbed to death. What makes this book different from most others in the genre, however, is that it contains multiple points of view. This isn’t a book that skips between a couple of investigators and a killer though, each and every chapter is told from a new perspective; a new person entering the story and building up this world. We’re introduced to the story by the first police officer who arrives on the scene. From here, we then learn more from the politician’s aid, who arrived at the home for his meeting, but stayed to chat with his father who’s a resident there. We then follow the carer who found his body. Then her boyfriend who works on a building site. Then the supervisor there. Then her partner who works in a restaurant. Each new stage of the story moves from person to person as they intersect with another character with another tiny piece of the puzzle.

Each new link in the chain, each new insight made reveals another part of the mystery, and makes the small town feel more alive than most others. It feels like everyone has their own stories, their own goals and desires; we merely intersect with them for a short time. Chains tires to do something different, and the result is one of the more unique reading experiences of the year.

Nettle & Bone – T. Kingfisher (Titan Books)

Nettle & Bone is a fantasy story set in a small kingdom, where we focus on the daughters of the royal family. Marra, the youngest of the three daughters, watches as her older sister dies after marrying the prince of another kingdom, with the middle daughter going to take her place soon after. The marriage needs to work for peace to reign, but Marra fears for her older sister and her safety. Sent to live in a convent, in case she’s needed to marry the prince too, Mara begins to plot for a way to help her sister and save her from the prince’s abuse. Using dark magic, and accompanied by a group that includes a living skeleton dog, a former knight, a witch who can talk to the dead, her fairy godmother, and a demon possessing a chicken, she sets out on her mission.

I’ve already written in detail about why this book is so good, and there’s not much more that I can say about it other than the fact that Kingfisher is able to perfectly capture the feel of a dark fantasy story. Kingfisher’s horror stories have been some fantastic reads, and also appeared on my 2020 book list, and the shift from horror to dark fantasy seems to have been easy for her. The story that is told her is so wonderfully crafted and so delightfully twisted that you find yourself wanting more and more of it.

If horror is too intense for you, and you’ve been too afraid to pick up Kingfisher’s work because of that, this book might be the perfect gateway into her writing. It’s dark, and it’s got some pretty scary moments, but it never strays into the same kind of fear that her other books do. It has some astonishingly fun and fantastical moments too, and will appeal to those that like fantasy with a bit of a twisted edge to it.

Star Wars: Shadow of the Sith – Adam Christopher (Del Rey)

It’s not controversial to say that Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker was divisive; perhaps more so than the series’ previous entry. Fans came out of the film upset, they were angry with the way the story went. I’ll admit, even I came out of my first viewing unhappy with it. The sudden return of Palpatine felt like it had come out of nowhere, and it seems like the Star Wars story group have been tying to fill in those blanks since. And as someone who reads the books and the comics, I feel they’ve been doing a good job at explaining it and fleshing out the Sith world of Exegol to the point where my opinion of the film has changed a lot. But none do it as well, and as much, as Star Wars: Shadows of the Sith.

Set during the time between the original and sequel trilogies, Shadow of the Sith introduces us to Luke Skywalker whilst his Jedi temple is up and running, with students learning the ways of the Force (including his nephew). Luke is researching into the Force, and the Dark Side, and begins to feel whispers through the Force of something dark somewhere in the galaxy. Meanwhile, Lando Calrisian overhears a Sith assassin in a bar, recruiting a crew to hunt down a family on the run. Still reeling from the loss of his own daughter, Lando goes to Luke for help, and the two of them set out to save the family before it’s too late.

The family that this book deals with, that Luke and Lando are trying to save, are Miramir and Dathan, and their daughter, Rey. This is the story about Rey’s parents, a story that we know ends in tragedy. The book tells us a lot about the Sith, features several amazing moments that left my jaw hanging, and resulted in me crying for characters more than once. It also makes that scene in The Rise of Skywalker where we see Rey’s parents die hit all the harder, because they’re real, fleshed out people now. This book might not make you love The Rise of Skywalker, but it will be the best Star Wars book you’ll read this year.

A Magic Steeped In Poison – Judy I. Lin (Titan Books)

A Magic Steeped In Poison is a fantasy court intrigue novel set in a universe where magic is real, but where magic works differently to any other story you’ve ever read. Inspired by Chinese history, myths, and legends, the book introduces readers to a young woman named Ning, who leaves her family home in a small village and travels to the capital in order to try and find help for her dying sister. Her sister has been poisoned, and having just watched her mother die from the same thing Ning is determined to save her life. She travels to the capital to enter a competition, a contest to find the new Shennong-shi, someone who uses tea making to craft magics. Determined to use the skills taught to her by her mother, Ning enters the contest, but finds more than she bargained for waiting for her.

A Magic Steeped In Poison is what you’d get if you combined a competition style game show like The Apprentice or America’s Next Top Model with the politics and court intrigue of A Song of Ice and Fire then wrapped it in a package inspired by Chinese culture. Judy I. Lin takes a lot of inspiration from real places, yet manages to craft her own world here, complete with rival leaders, political intrigue, unique creatures, and a magic system that feels wholly its own. And the magic system is where the book really shines. There are no wizards with staffs, no waving of wands and shouting of magic words. Instead, when magic needs to be done it’s done by the brewing of tea, the selecting of certain ingredients, and the crafting of the perfect cup to drink. This book offers something incredibly different, something that will quickly draw you in and have you wanting more; so it’s handy that it’s the first part, and that the sequel novel is coming very soon.

The Calculations of Rational Men – Daniel Godfrey (Self Published)

The 1960s were a time of fear, a constant looming threat of nuclear war. People were always afraid that something would happen, that the Cold War would suddenly turn hot, and that we’d all die in nuclear fire. Luckily that never happened; but The Calculations of Rational Men asks the question of what would have happened if it had. Set at a prison in the UK, the book follows doctor Joseph Marr, a man sent to prison for murder when he tried to help a drowning woman and failed to save her life (his use of mouth to mouth and chest compression having him labelled a degenerate). When the prisoners are pulled out of their cells in the middle of the night they witness a massive explosion in the distance, and are ushered into the specially made bunker beneath the building.

With hundreds of prisoners locked together underground, Marr is tasked with keeping them in good health as the only medically trained man there. Stuck between the prisoners and the staff, not one of either, Marr finds himself in a situation where all lives may depend on him; and where he can witness the breakdown of order as fear sets in. The Calculations of Rational Men is an intense book that puts its cast of characters in an extreme position, and lets you see what happens when they begin to break. Godfrey crafts an increasingly intriguing narrative filled with twists and turns and drama that you’ll find hard to put down. You may need to do some digging to find a copy of this self published novel, but it’s absolutely worth the effort.

The Siege of X-41 – Tristan Palmgren (Aconyte Books)

Often when comic stories are adapted to novel form it struggles to work well, due in part to the original story not being designed for that format. But when written for prose, superheroes can work exceptionally well, and The Siege of X-41 is a prime example of that. Set in the Marvel universe, the book follows a group of young students from the New Charles Xavier Institute sent on a team bonding mission. The mission takes the small group of teen mutants and their adult teacher deep beneath the waves to the ocean floor where they have to perform maintenance on a deep sea facility.

In the pitch black, at a pressure where the slightest accident could kill them, they’re already on edge, but when vicious, vampiric creatures begin to assault the facility the group ends up having to fight for their survival in an environment designed to kill them. The Siege of X-41 might be an X-Men story, but at its heart it’s a horror tale; one that is more closely connected to Lovecraftian horror than anything else with its deep sea setting, awful monsters, and a slumbering ancient evil. This is the kind of book that shows the versatility of superheroes, and how they can work in completely different kinds of stories. You don’t have to be a big comic fan to enjoy this, and no knowledge of the X-Men is needed, just a desire to read an intense, often frightening story.

Sherlock Holmes & Mr Hyde – Christian Klaver (Titan Books)

Sherlock Homes & Mr Hyde is a sequel to a novel that played around with the Sherlock Holmes mythos quite a bit. In the previous book, vampires came to London, and Holmes & Watson end up caught in the middle of their machinations. Watson is transformed into a vampire himself and, with the help of Count Dracula and his wife Mina, the two of them are able to defeat the vampire Moriarty. This book picks up a while later, with the two detectives settled into their new life, and the knowledge that the supernatural exists. However, when the infamous Whitechapel killings start once again, hinting at the return of Jack the Ripper, the two are dragged into another mystery; one that surrounds the unusual Mr Hyde.

The Classified Dossier series does an exceptionally good job at combining the characters and the world of the grounded Sherlock Holmes stories with those of other Victorian era characters, particularly the horror ones. We’ve already included vampires and Lovecraftian monsters, but this story builds upon that with the inclusion of Jack the Ripper, Jekyll and Hyde, and the Invisible Man. The world that Klaver creates with these books feels fantastical, yet works incredibly well with the rational Holmes and his views of the world. Marrying the supernatural with a character who has no time for the paranormal should be an impossible combination, but this series does it perfectly. If you like your Victorian era literature this series is one that you might want to give a try.

The Secret Life of Fungi – Aliyah Whiteley (Pegasus Books)

The only book on this list that’s non-fiction, The Secret Life of Fungi is a fairly short read that ended up being one of the more intriguing and interesting books of the year. Written by fiction author Aliyah Whiteley, the book deals with fungi, fungus, and mushrooms. But it’s not a text book, it’s not a science journal, instead, it’s the author telling you stories about how they fell in love with fungi, and the interesting things that they’ve learned about them over the years.

Written in a way that feels like you’re having a conversation, or listening to someone do a talk about a subject that’s a hobby, Whiteley manages to make the topic feel accessible to all. It never gets bogged down in the science of things, it doesn’t feel the need to list facts and figures or bombard you with Latin names. You simply get to read interesting anecdotes, stories about different types of fungi and the things that they can do, and the reasons why they’re more interesting that you’ve probably ever considered. My interest in the topic definitely went up after reading this, and it feels like a gateway book, something that’s there to get me interested in fungi enough that I’ll want to go out and learn more. Whether you’re interested in the topic or not, it might just pique your interest and make you reconsider these wonderful forms of life.

Reign of the Devourer – David Annandale (Aconyte Books)

Another novel that combines the world of Marvel comics with horror, Reign of the Devourer is the second entry in a series that takes a look at the villainous Doctor Doom. Whilst this might not seem that interesting, the series has done a fantastic job og humanising him, and showing that the people in his home nation really do love him for the improvements he’s made. Having taken down evil dictators, brought wealth to the nation, and given equality to all (Doctor Doom supports trans rights!), he’s made Latveria a place his people feel safe in. However, when an ancient evil awakens and begins turning the populace into monstrous vampires, Doom must find a way to stop them before all is lost.

Reign of the Devourer feels a lot closer to The Strain than most other vampire stories, with its truly monstrous creatures that can infect others with frightening ease. The book embraces the horror aspects of the story, and delivers some truly chilling scenes where the monsters destroy entire villages, hunting down anyone alive. This may feature one of the more iconic villains in Marvel, but this book will probably have you cheering him on to win long before the end.

Honourable Mentions for those that almost made it into the Top 10: Zachareth by Robbie MacNiven, Gallant by V.E. Schwab, The Haunting of Las Lágrimas by W.M. Cleese, Pennyblade by J.L Worrad, The Shadow Glass by Josh Winning, Planet Havoc by Tim Waggoner, A Fractured Infinity by Nathan Traveres, Age of the Undead by C.L. Werner, Secrets in Scarlet short story anthology, AVP: Ultimate Prey short story anthology.

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Frankenstein: A Reteling by Tanya Landman - Book Review

 

'On a dreary night in November my work came to its conclusion. It was one in the morning. Rain pattered against the windowpanes and my candle was nearly burnt out when I saw the dull yellow eye of the creature open...

'Victor Frankenstein intended to create a beautiful being. But the moment it breathes, he sees he has given life to a hideous monster. Creature and Creator are soon locked in a deadly struggle. But which of them is the real monster?

'A thrilling Gothic tale of hubris gone badly wrong. A young man’s search for the secret of the spark of life leads him to a horrific experiment in which he creates a gigantic creature from dismembered body parts. Rejected by his creator, the initially gentle creature turns monstrous when his desire to find companionship and love are thwarted. Tanya Landman revisits Mary Shelley’s classic Gothic horror story, bringing to life Dr Frankenstein and his monstrous creation in an accessible format that more readers can enjoy.'

It can be hard to read some of the classics. Certain works get built up as some of the greatest books ever written, and with the changes of language and style over the decades (or centuries) it can be difficult to read for some readers; especially younger readers. Barrington Stoke have produced some wonderful retellings of some of the most celebrated novels ever made, designed to be more accessible for all readers, and Frankenstein is their latest addition to the catalogue.

Frankenstein has continued to exist for as long as it has because of the quality of the story. At a base level reading its an entertaining science fiction horror story, but its also able to be analysed and upon deeper dives there are a lot of interesting themes and ideas hiding underneath the surface that you can really sink your teeth into. With that in mind, one of the biggest questions would have to be 'does it lose any of this in this retelling?'. No, absolutely not.

Tanya Landman does an incredibly good job at cutting content, in condensing down, and managing to keep the story working. Not just from the point of view of the plot and characters still making sense, but the entire feel and theme of the story still remaining intact. I was pleasantly surprised to see a number of things remain in the book, things that other versions and retellings quickly get rid of. There have been so many versions of Frankenstein over the years that most people's first experience with the characters end up becoming incredibly far removed from what they're supposed to be (just the name Frankenstein will often conjure images of the Universal Monsters version of the character for many people, which is nothing like the original).

This retelling manages to retain so much of the original that I often found myself surprised that things were still there. Landman seemed to know which parts were the most important, things that I'd kind of expected to vanish, and kept them. Passages like Victor seeing the rotting face of his mother in his dream. This is something that isn't a huge plot point, that some might consider to be the first thing that needs to be cut in a children's version of the book thanks to its surprisingly horrific imagery; but Landman included it, put emphasis on it, and it made the book feel more alive because of it. You could feel the horror and the revulsion, and it sent the message that this is a horror story still, not a sanitised plot summary.

This version of Frankenstein manages to hold true to the original whilst condensing and simplifying much of the book. The characters feel the same, the themes are familiar, and it doesn't lose any of the things that made the original one of the most important books ever written. To do all of that isn't just impressive, it's kind of amazing. And the beauty of this new version is that whilst it's been written to allow younger readers to experience the story it's by no means excluding anyone else. It's been simplified for accessibility, but it's not been dumbed-down. A reader of any age can pick up and enjoy this book without worry. So whether you've always wanted to read Frankenstein but have been put off by the style or language, or if you're looking for a version for a kid with an interest in the classics, this is a book that you don't want to miss out on.

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The Terror of Hilltop House by Dan Smith - Book Review

 

'When Pete, Krish, and Nancy read a story in the local paper about missing sheep and weird gunk found in a field near Hilltop House, they're sure that there's a mystery to be investigated. The research farm at Hilltop is working on the creation of new bio-fuels, but when a storm knocks out the power in the local area something escapes from the farm, it's clear that the research has gone horribly wrong... Can the brave trio save their village from a truly terrifying threat?'

The Crooked Oaks Mysteries series returns for a fourth spooky outing this week, as a mysterious experiment on the outskirts of town threatens everyone in the village; and forces the three young heroes to throw themselves into danger to save the day.

Having somehow only managing to be able to read the even numbered books in the series (someday I'll catch up on book one and three!) I was excited to see what new adventures awaited within these pages. The Beast of Harwood Forest was a delightfully spooky story, and Dan Smith himself was a wonderfully kind and delightful man to talk to. And I wasn't dissapointed.

The story beings with Nancy lamenting the lack of interesting news in the local paper. However, later that day she, Pete, and Krish learn about a huge storm that's supposed to be hitting the area soon, as well as a sheep that have gone missing. What makes missing sheep interesting? The odd puddles of gunk with pieces of bone and wool in them that are found are the interesting part. Learning that the strange incident happened up near Hilltop House, an old manor that has been bought to turn into a research centre. Their interest piqued, the trio set out to find out a bit more about what's going on up at the house; but discover a secret that could soon put their home in danger.

One of the things that I really like about this series, that took me a bit by surprise when I first read one of the books, was that this isn't a series where the kids are convinced something supernatural or monstrous happens but are proven wrong. No, monsters are real in these books. And the kids end up in situations that are genuinely dangerous and scary. They remind me of the Goosebumps books in that way; but unlike those there does feel like there's a chance for something bad to happen to the lead characters, and there's always a decent explanation to things. No last minute twists that make no sense here.

This book deals with genetic experiments that leads to some pretty nasty plant creatures coming into existence. The monsters in this book pose a pretty real threat, and there are some points in the book where it's very heavily implied that people have died a greusome death. It's done off the page, and whilst its obvious what's happened it's not shoved in your face. This feels like a book where parents might want to vet it a little first, just to make sure your kid is old enough to handle everything that happens here. However, if your child is a bit older, has a love for horror and monsters, this is the book for them.

But it's also a book that I think can appeal to some older readers too. Yes, it's quick and simple to read, and most adults will get through it one sitting, but there's still a lot of fun to be found here; especially if you go through it trying to spot all of the fun references to other horror stories. Ones that I picked up on immediately would be Nancy perhaps being a nod to A Nightmare on Elm Street (she does also live on Elm Street), Pete Brundle being a nod to Seth Brundle in The Fly, and Krish Shyamalan being a reference to M. Night Shyamalan. But the book also has others like Storm Carrie (Stephen King's Carrie), the Spencer Institute (Resident Evil), Miss Wan (horror director James Wan), Campbell Street (Bruce Capbell from The Evil Dead series), Variant 42 for the plant monsters (Plant 42 was a plant monster in Resident Evil), and one of the scientists being called Ada Valentine (for both Ada Wong and Jill Valentine from Resident Evil), and those are just the ones I remember off the top of my head. I'm sure spotting the references could be made into a fun game.

There's a lot to enjoy with The Terror of Hilltop House for readers of all ages. If you or your younger readers have a love of horror this is a book that will definitely appeal.

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Tom Clancy's The Division: Compromised by Thomas Parrott - Book Review

 

'Ever since the Green Poison epidemic transformed the United States, the Division has worked tirelessly to push the nation back from the brink of collapse. The new food infrastructure brings hope… until Division agent Maira Kanhai finds an alarming disruption in the critical Texan oil refineries: a group of environmental extremists set on keeping the transformed world free from fossil fuels. When Maira’s Division cell is dispatched to secure the area, they discover a private military outfit acting as warlords of the hurricane-ravaged communities. As tensions between the factions come to a head, an old enemy emerges intending to destroy the Division, forcing Maira into a choice that will make her a hero or villain, and question what the Division stands for.'

The first book in the new series of The Division novels, The Division: Recruited, introduced readers to the world of the popular video game where much of humanity has been wiped out by a deadly virus; as well as the series protagonist Maira Kanhai. Following the events of that book, which our group of heroes barely managed to survive, we return once again as Maira gets sent out on an even more dangerous mission; one that could have repercussions for thousands of survivors.

Following the event of the last book things have begun to get better for the survivors of the Green Poison pandemic. The rogue Division agents have been neutralised, and the fighting between the bandit groups and the Freighties has died down, allowing the altruistic Freighties to use their trucks to deliver much needed food and supplies to survivor communities around the country. However, when Maira learns that there's a growing disruption to fuel supplied in Texas, she and her new team are tasked with travelling there and securing the much needed fuel.

Alongside Maira is Leo, who worked with her in her cell since she was recruited into the Division, as well as former military medic Colin, and sniper Yeong-Ja, Maira sets out to find out what's causing the issues with the fuel. However, when the team arrive in Texas they find allies under siege, a military group trying to bring peace through force and control, and environmental extremists wanting to return society to simpler times. As the team try to prevent all out war they end up stuck in the middle, and fighting against another threat lurking in the shadows.

The first book in the series was an enjoyable read, one that introduced those who hadn't played the game to this world, and did its best to establish some interesting characters. And whilst it was a good read, this book is probably a better one. Perhaps it's the benefit of it being a sequel, so some of the characters have had a chance to settle in a bit, or maybe the story just works better than the first; whatever the reason, The Division: Compromised is pretty much everything that I could have wanted from the sequel.

The characters that I liked from the first book returned, and whilst one of them was relegated to a support position because of injuries they sustained in the previous entry, Maira and Leo were good characters to bring back. They had an easy rapport with each other, and the focus on Leo in this book was a really clever move for building on the one one character from the first book that was probably served least there. The new characters were also welcome additions. Yeong-Ja was almost a bit too much like Leo to begin with, a character to didn't speak much, but as the book went on and we saw more of her it was clear that she was a very different kind of person; one whose quiet exterior was hiding a bit of a joker. Colin, as well as becoming the teams medic, became our secondary protagonist, and several of the chapters were written from his point of view. Adding this new POV was interesting, and it gave us some insight into important characters and events that would hold a lot of weight for the rest of the book. It also could make the next book in the series (if there is one) more interesting to have two POV characters based on how this one ends.

As well as a better focus on characters the action in this book felt a lot tighter than the first. There was less of it, and the times where the characters were forced to pick up their weapons and take lives were given more importance in the story. The first book had the team being assaulted from all directions multiple times, but here the team are more proactive, and often end up choosing to go into battle, rather than having it thrust upon them. They get to choose the fields of battle, they get to make the sudden strikes, and whilst it doesn't always mean that they win it does give it a very different feel.

As mentioned before, the book has an interesting ending. I'm not going to go into that for spoiler reasons, but I will say based upon how things wrap up at the end of this book any future book is quite possibly going to be the most intriguing yet. Having very much enjoyed both books in the series I'm hoping that we do get at least one more.

Whether you've played the games or not, or whether you've read the first book or not, The Division: Compromised is a entertaining and enjoyable read that people are going to love. It works brilliantly as an addition to the games, and as a sequel to the first book, but if you're coming to this completely fresh it stands well enough on its own to keep you entertained throughout.

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Road of Bones by Christopher Golden - Book Review

 

'Kolyma Highway, otherwise known as the Road of Bones, is a 1200 mile stretch of Siberian road where winter temperatures can drop as low as sixty degrees below zero. Under Stalin, at least eighty Soviet gulags were built along the route to supply the USSR with a readily available workforce, and over time hundreds of thousands of prisoners died in the midst of their labors. Their bodies were buried where they fell, plowed under the permafrost, underneath the road.

'Felix Teigland, or "Teig," is a documentary producer, and when he learns about the Road of Bones, he realizes he's stumbled upon untapped potential. Accompanied by his camera operator, Teig hires a local Yakut guide to take them to Oymyakon, the coldest settlement on Earth. Teig is fascinated by the culture along the Road of Bones, and encounters strange characters on the way to the Oymyakon, but when the team arrives, they find the village mysteriously abandoned apart from a mysterious 9-year-old girl. Then, chaos ensues.

'A malignant, animistic shaman and the forest spirits he commands pursues them as they flee the abandoned town and barrel across miles of deserted permafrost. As the chase continues along this road paved with the suffering of angry ghosts, what form will the echoes of their anguish take? Teig and the others will have to find the answers if they want to survive the Road of Bones.'

There are some locations that just seem tailor made for horror stories, places in the world that when you hear of them you go 'yeah, that's haunted'; even if you don't really believe in ghosts. The Kolyma Highway is absolutely one of those places, and whilst I'd not heard of it before reading this book it's one that I've ended up reading up on now; and have been chilled by the history connected to it. With anywhere between 250,000 and 1,000,000 people having died during its construction, with their bodies most often just left where they fell, it's one of the most eerie sounding things ever built, and has more than earned its name of the Road of Bones. A name that this book uses.

Whilst the road itself is real this book isn't a history of its construction, or a telling of the real life ghost stories connected to it. Instead, Christopher Golden has crafted his own frightening tale set on this lonely, deadly road.

Road of Bones tells the story of Teig, a documentary filmmaker who's going through something of a dry spell in terms of creativity. Having worked on a few fairly well received shows in the past, he's trying to find the next big thing that will land him a hit series and make him some money. Thus, he sets out on his latest venture, to create a demo reel for a show about the Kolyma Highway, one of the most dangerous roads in the world. Joining him on this trip is one of his closest friends, Prentiss, who's there to help film their adventure, and to make sure that Teig finally pays him back the money he owes.

Their adventure starts off normally enough, with the two of them taking shifts to drive along the miles of ahead of them, in an environment where if they even just turn off their engine they could end up trapped and frozen to death. They pick up a local guide to help them communicate with the locals, and to add some flavour to their footage. The trio spend some time getting used to each other, and even stop off at a local roadhouse for drinks and burgers. Everything seems fine, if not a little extremely cold. However, it's after they pick up a woman in a broken down car and take her to the nearest small village that things begin to go wrong for the group.

They find every building in town deserted, the doors open, with barefoot tracks leading from the homes to the nearby forest. Before they can investigate far, however, strange figures emerge from the trees, dark shadows, weird amalgams of animal and humans, and large, viscous wolves that make the visitors their targets. The group are forced to flee, heading down the long, winding highway to try and find shelter and help; but the dark things from the frozen forests are coming after them, and won't stop until they're dead.

Road of Bones is something of a chase story. It starts normally enough, introducing readers to the characters and the setting, and we get some small build-up of tension as they realise that something is wrong in the isolated village; but most of the book's focus, and the tension, comes once the strange creatures come after our characters and start chasing them. This essentially begins a huge chase sequence, where the characters spend their time moving from one location to another, trying their best to avoid dangers, whilst driving in their truck. 

Whilst this does add a great deal of tension, as there's almost never a moment to stop and relax for the characters or the readers, it does make the book feel incredibly oppressive at times. There's always tension, there's always danger, the threat is never really gone. The result is a book that feels quite dense, despite it's relatively short length. This made it harder to read at times, because you wanted something to happen, you wanted the bad thing that was just out of sight to finally attack because the wait for it was getting too much. Compared to a lot of horror books, where things can take place over multiple days, slowly building and using a slight increase in fear, Road of Bones felt much more cinematic in tone and style; it'd be easy to see the book be made into a film thanks to how Golden has crafted it. I do also wonder if his history with writing TV and film adaptations has helped with this, and if that kind of faster, more intense style has come across to this book because of that.

Despite the fast paced moments and the characters constantly being on the run there's still time to get to know the people involved, and Golden does a good job at building booth Teig and Prentiss into characters with a decent amount of depth. Teig gets the lions share of this, and thanks to the dives into his past and the way that he thinks he ends up being a bit of a flawed hero; someone who I at times kind of hated because he seemed like a bit of a flake, a bit of a chancer. Despite that, he ended up being a decent and likeable protagonist for us to follow.

Road of Bones is a decent horror story with some interesting ideas and a location that instantly stands out as different. Even if you come away not one hundred percent liking the story or the characters the location, an the way Golden makes it come to life on the page will make this a book that you'll remember.

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Star Wars: Master & Apprentice by Claudia Gray - Audio Book Review

 

'A Jedi must be a fearless warrior, a guardian of justice, and a scholar in the ways of the Force. But perhaps a Jedi’s most essential duty is to pass on what they have learned. Master Yoda trained Dooku; Dooku trained Qui-Gon Jinn; and now Qui-Gon has a Padawan of his own. But while Qui-Gon has faced all manner of threats and danger as a Jedi, nothing has ever scared him like the thought of failing his apprentice.

'Obi-Wan Kenobi has deep respect for his Master, but struggles to understand him. Why must Qui-Gon so often disregard the laws that bind the Jedi? Why is Qui-Gon drawn to ancient Jedi prophecies instead of more practical concerns? And why wasn’t Obi-Wan told that Qui-Gon is considering an invitation to join the Jedi Council—knowing it would mean the end of their partnership? The simple answer scares him: Obi-Wan has failed his Master.

'When Jedi Rael Averross, another former student of Dooku, requests their assistance with a political dispute, Jinn and Kenobi travel to the royal court of Pijal for what may be their final mission together. What should be a simple assignment quickly becomes clouded by deceit, and by visions of violent disaster that take hold in Qui-Gon’s mind. As Qui-Gon’s faith in prophecy grows, Obi-Wan’s faith in him is tested—just as a threat surfaces that will demand that Master and apprentice come together as never before, or be divided forever.'

The prequel era was explored quite heavily in the Legends canon, with many books covering the early years of Obi-Wan Kenobi, and his time training with his master, Qui-Gon Jinn. So when it was relegated to Legends with the Disney acquisition fans were left waiting for the new timeline to cover the same era, to go back and tell us what really happened in that time. Star Wars: Master & Apprentice is one of the first real looks into a young Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan, as it explores a difficult time in their past, gives them both a dangerous mission, and even tells us more about the lost Jedi Knight, Dooku.

The main bulk of the story is set around a decade before the events of Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, with Obi-Wan being in his early to mid teens. At this point in time he doesn't really get on well with his master. The two of them aren't the well oiled machine we see them as in the first film, and Obi-Wan feels like his training isn't really going anywhere. Similarly, Qui-Gon is trying his best to make things work with his student, but doesn't really seem to be able to connect with him. But, this difficulty might be coming to an end, as the Jedi Council has extended an invitation to Qui-Gon to join them. If he accepted, he'd be able to give Obi-Wan over to another Jedi, allowing the two of them to part ways without either party feeling like they've failed.

However, before Qui-Gon is able to make a decision as to whether this is the right path for him, the two of them get assigned to a special mission. Their presence has been requested by the regent of the planet Pijal, a world where their future queen is still too young to take the throne, and the planets rule falls under her tutor and protector; Jedi Knight Rael Averross. Another former student of Dooku, Rael and Qui-Gon know each other well, and he specifically asks for Qui-Gon's presence to help with mounting rebel attacks and unease as the planet gets closer to signing an agreement with a powerful company that could alter Pijal's fate forever.

Star Wars: Master & Apprentice is a book that probably isn't going to heavily appeal to those who like a lot of action in their Star Wars books. If that's what you're after try Star Wars: Lords of the Sith or Star Wars Battlefront: Twilight Company instead. It's also probably not going to be a ton of fun for those odd people who hate the prequel era. But, if you like the prequel times, and enjoy learning more about the Jedi and seeing characters interact in interesting ways, this book is one that you're going to love.

The mission that Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan get sent on isn't really that important, it's more of a vehicle for them to explore their relationship and the way that they interact with each other; as well as an excuse for introducing us to an important new character for Qui-Gon's past. Up to this point we've been left to assume that Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan have always gotten on well, that Obi's training was pretty smooth, and that they'd always been the well oiled machine we see in the film. But this book adds some wrinkles to that, as we begin the story by seeing two people who just can't connect. The two of them don't know how to communicate, Obi doesn't know what his mast wants from him or how to work with him in the field. It's rough to see, and if it wasn't for the fact that we know that the two of them are still master and apprentice by the time of Episode One you'd be expecting them to part ways in this book.

Personally, I really like the idea that they were kind of a terrible match to begin with. It makes sense considering what we see in the movie with a Padawan that wants to follow rules and regulations, and a master whose whole deal seems to be 'fuck it, I'll do what I think the Force wants'. Getting to see the two of them realise that they're not perfect together, and choosing to work through that instead of giving up is a genuine delight. I also loved the fact that the Jedi knew that Obi-Wan was something of a rebel (hard to believe, I know!) and chose to put him with someone who flouts the rules and regulations and does what he wants so that the only way Obi could rebel against that would be to become the most by the book, perfect Jedi possible. The moment they both realise that they'd been played that way by the council was a delightful moment, and made their relationship click perfectly into place.

The book also explored Qui-Gon's past with the prophecies, and important part of his character, and the entire reason why Anakin is brought into the Jedi. We get to see more about the prophecies, actually hearing a few of them; and we see where they come from. The ancient holocron of prophecy is an interesting thing, and something that I'd genuinely like to see more of in future stories. The fact that Dooku was also interested in it hopefully means that it's something that could be explored with more of his backstory too. I really enjoyed getting to hear a couple of the prophecies, and seeing how they could be interpreted in different ways. The one about the birth of darkness, 'She who will be born to darkness will give birth to darkness.' is a good example of this, as Qui-Gon gave one possibility, but t could also perhaps be interpreted as referring to Shmi Sywalker, or perhaps Leia. It demonstrates how dangerous the prophecies are, and how Qui-Gon needs to be careful when holding a belief in them.

Also from Qui-Gon's past is Rael, Dooku's first apprentice, and a kind of big brother figure for Qui-Gon. Rael is one of the more interesting and unique Jedi around. Not only is his assignment to be the ruler of a planet until the true queen comes of age, but he's also messy, dirty, like to drink, has sex, and generally acts more like a scoundrel than a Jedi. He feels like the polar opposite to both Dooku and Qui-Gon, and injecting him into their past makes for some interesting new additions to their histories. What we see of him makes him one of the more unique Jedi, and there were times where I was left wondering if perhaps he was being built up as being so different and so un-Jedi-like because he was going to be set up as an antagonist. Thankfully, Gray didn't go down the more obvious path, and didn't have him turn to the dark side or anything like that. That being said, the scene in which he and Qui-Gon spar is one of the better lightsaber fights in a Star Wars book.

There are some great moments to be found in this book, with some interesting developments for the histories of characters we know quite well, as well as several new characters that are very enjoyable additions to the canon. There are several connections to other books, and the films, that feel very natural and help to flesh out the universe a little more. The final scene, which takes place further in the future at the funeral of Qui-Gon, is worth the admission alone, and fans of these characters will find it difficult not to end the book with a tear or two in their eyes. 

The audio book is read really well, and Jonathan Davis does a great job at capturing the feel of the characters that we know. He does a decent Qui-Gon impression, and his young Obi-Wan is really good too. Rael is perhaps the best character here, and part of that is down to the way that Davis plays him and brings him to life.

If you like the prequel era and want to see more of the Jedi from that time, Star Wars: Master & Apprentice is a fantastic way to do that.

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Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla – Throwback 20

Originally published on Set The Tape

There’s a trend for protagonists to get villains that are twisted reflections of themselves. Superman has Bizarro, Spider-Man has Venom, and Godzilla has Mechagodzilla. Over the years the mechanical version of the giant lizard has gone through a number of redesigns and re-imaginings to fit with each revamped origin, but none stand out as being as interesting as 2002’s Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla.

Despite having appeared in a number of films before, Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla represents the first appearance of the mechanical monstrosity in the new Millennium continuity; a series that covers the Godzilla films released between 1999 and 2004.

This new continuity counted some of the older films, such as the original Godzilla film, but discounted much of the rest, and used this to craft its own tale. The film begins in 1999, 45 years after the appearance of the first Godzilla creature that was eventually killed. During an attack from a new Godzilla, members of the Anti-Special Creature Self Defence Forces are killed in the attack, due in part to the actions of Lieutenant Akane Yashiro (Yumiko Shaku).

After the disastrous attack it’s decided that conventional weapons are no longer a viable defence against the giant monster, and a special project is begun. Using the remains of the original Godzilla creature, scientists create a mechanised creature capable of going toe to toe with Godzilla. With the remains of the former creature inside the machine, this cyborg monstrosity, named Kiryu, can be piloted by humans and taken into battle. Given a new chance at fighting Godzilla, Akane is assigned to pilot Kiryu. Years later, when Godzilla re-emerges, Kiryu is deployed against it.

One of the things that immediately makes this version of Mechagodzilla different to those that came before it is that this isn’t a machine. Or at least, not a purely robotic machine. Instead, this new weapon is a cyborg creation, a suit of armour built around the skeleton of a defeated Godzilla. This is Godzilla given the RoboCop treatment, or Godzilla if the Cybermen got hold of him. The film’s opening title even reflects the fact that this is a different version of the creature, as it begins with the words ‘Godzilla vs Godzilla’ before ‘Mecha’ fades onto the screen, changing the name.

And this wasn’t done just to give the monster a new origin, as it also impacts the story when during the first fight with the living Godzilla its roar somehow triggers off some kind of genetic sense memory within the remains, sending the un-dead cyborg off on a rampage. This entire set-up would go on to be used again, with a slight tweak, in the Monsterverse movie Godzilla vs Kong, where that version of Mechagodzilla is made using one of the skulls from King Ghidorah, and latent memories and psychic powers allow the dead creature to take over its new, metal body. But when you’ve got a great idea, why not use it again?

Mechagodzilla didn’t just get a revamped origin, however, as the monster also got an updated design. Less chunky and clunky looking than previous versions, and sporting massive canons on his shoulders, this version more closely resembled the creature that he was supposed to be fighting. And speaking of fighting, the monster scenes in this film make for some amazing moments. The opening sequence features Godzilla in a typhoon, coming out of the rain, stalking towards his enemy in a moment that looks truly phenomenal, and might be his best entrance in any movie. The final fight of the movie manages to land well too, and has some fast paced action aided by some pretty decent CGI work that complements the suit effects and miniature work nicely.

Whilst the film was released in Japan in December, where it did well in the box office, it also had a one night only screening in the US in November in select theatres. Despite not receiving much advertisement, the movie managed to pull $335,000 for the single day. The film ended up being received well, with many Godzilla fans claiming it as one of the best entries in the Millennium series.

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Nubia & The Justice League Special #1 - Comic Review

 

Originally published on Patreon

I've become a fan of Nubia since she started getting a push in Infinite Frontier. She's ha a couple of mini-series of her own now, and has appeared frequently in the other books focused on the Amazons since she rose to become the new Queen. And as such I was excited to see her get another book focusing on her. But I don't think this issue is really designed for people who've already been reading the character; and instead it seems to be there to introduce her to those who might not have read her before.

It seems strange to be talking about introducing a character that's been around for 50 years, but she's often been under used and pushed into background roles that you can't really blame people for not having heard of her. But, by putting her alongside the Justice League, people may just discover her now.

The issue sees Nubia visiting the Hall of Justice in order to see Wonder Woman, but getting caught up in a series of adventures as she helps out various members of the League as calls for help come in whist she's waiting for Diana. We get her teaming up with Green Arrow and Black Canary in Gotham, and Martian Manhunter and Black Adam in Metropolis, as well as her bonding with Aquaman, and catching up with Hawgirl (who she came to know well in her previous mini-series).

The book gives the character a chance to bond and work with most of the League, and shows why she'd make a good addition to the team; something that is brought up here. Nubia doesn't give a solid answer as to if she'd join the tea or not; and I can't help but feel like perhaps she's being set up to replace Diana as the team's Amazon with what we know is coming with Wonder Woman next year (something I'm not sure I like if I'm honest as it feels like a rehash of what was just done over the last couple of years).

Outside of this, there's not really too much here. If you've been reading Nubia's various appearances and comics over the last couple of years there won't be anything new or surprising here, but if you've never come across her before it might just impress enough to get you to want to learn more.

This article, and many others, can be read a month early on my Patreon for as little as $3 a month!

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Lair of the Crystal Fang by S. A. Sidor - Book Review

 

'In the swirling sewers beneath Arkham, excavators uncover a crystalline formation that hints at dark events from the city’s past. As the discovery makes headlines, so too does a series of bizarre murders. With no leads, the Arkham police are always one step behind. Acting on a hunch, down-on-his luck former journalist Andy Van Nortwick reunites with adventurer Jake Williams and struggling filmmaker Maude Brion to unearth the truth. The trio know of the supernatural horrors that lurk beyond this world, and the reality haunts them. But time is running out and between them they must face their nightmares before the city of Arkham is lost to blood and chaos.'

Cult of the Spider Queen was one of my favourite books of last year, and it's still on top of the pile as my favourite entry in the Arkham Horror line; so when I saw that several of the characters from the book were going to be reuniting for another adventure I was very excited. Instead of the long and winding waters of the Amazon river and the dense forests that surround it, this book returns readers to Arkham, and takes you beneath the surface into the sewers beneath the city, where a mysterious artefact has been discovered, and a killer has the city on edge.

One of the things that really made Cult of the Spider Queen stand out amongst the other Arkham Horror titles was that it was set in a very different location, and that the book took on the feel of the old pulp adventure films like Creature From The Black Lagoon more than it did it's actual source material. With Sidor shifting the focus back to the streets of Arkham this book needed something to make it feel different. Luckily, by placing the vast majority of the action beneath the city streets it manages to not feel repetitive.

The story focuses on a strange crystal structure that's found beneath Arkham City when work is being done to expand and update the city's sewer systems. The crystal, which resembles a fang, isn't the only thing lurking in the sewers, as a mysterious killer has been using them to get around Arkham, dumping the bodies of their victims. Rex, one of the local reporters, has been looking into the case, but ends up getting arrested as the killer when he's caught underground near the fang.

When Rex is eventually released he runs into Andy Van Nortwick, who used to work at the same paper but was fired after a failed expedition to the Amazon, and a story about giant spider monsters.Andy convinces Rex to let him help, and the two of them set out to try and figure out where the strange crystal structure came from, and why it seems to be connected to the person performing the killings. Along the way they'll end up getting help from explorer Jake Williams, former film star Maude Brion, as well as a couple of smart street kids with a history of running up against the supernatural.

Lair of the Crystal Fang brings together a number of characters, some of whom appeared in Sidor's previous book, others who have appeared in a story in The Devourer Below, as well as some more characters fans of the games will recognise. It's kind of great to get to see these characters again, with most of them being stars in the previous Sidor book. We get to find out what happened to Andy when he got home (thrown out of his job as a laughing stock), what happened to Jake (lost his leg but is still healing), and what happened to Maud (got shut away in an asylum). It doesn't feel like many of them got a happy ending after their last adventure, and as such you don't really feel bad that they're getting drawn into something else, and that they might be in danger once again. Instead, you kind of see this as a second chance for them; one where they might finally come out on top.

The new characters that they get to team up with and work with compliment them well, with Wendy in particular bringing a lot of great energy into the mix. The new situation also feels like a fun evolution to what the characters went through before. The tightly confined waterways of the Amazon are replaces with the dark tunnels of the Arkham sewers, with them once again travelling along dangerous waters to find a deadly killer; though this time it's sewer water and a much more human killer.

The book also introduces a lot of new mysteries and gives readers some interesting new history for the city, as well as the various cults and supernatural groups that call it home. There are some really interesting moments where the cults, the criminals, and the politics of Arkham get to take centre stage and make it ends up making the city feel more alive and real than in many of the previous books. There's a sense that it isn't just a background for these spooky adventures, but a living, evolving city where all these different stories are happening in their own intersecting circles.

Lair of the Crystal Fang is going to be different to the previous Sidor entry in the series, just as that was different to the first. It gives readers a different perspective on Arkham, a different type of adventure, and different scares. Go into it knowing that you're going to get something new and you're going to have a great time with it.

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Bertie and the Alien Chicken by Jenny Pearson - Book Review

 

'Bertie is NOT looking forward to spending the summer holidays on stinky Long Bottom Farm. But things take an interesting turn when he encounters Nugget, the alien chicken. Nugget's mission is to find the Earth's most valuable resource and transport it back to Nurgle-7, and he needs Bertie's help. But what could the Earth's most valuable resource be, and can they find it in time to stop the Nurgles exterminating the Earth?!'

Bertie and the Alien Chicken is the new release from Barrington Stoke, and is a book that doesn't take itself too seriously, and sets out to just have some silly fun. The story follows Bertie, a young boy who has been told that he's going to have to spend the summer holidays with his uncle Brian, who runs a farm in the middle of the countryside. Bertie's mother is having to travel to America on business, and his father left a few years ago and can't take Bertie in because of his newborn baby. The problem is, Bertie really doesn't want to spend time on his uncles farm.

However, soon after arriving Bertie accidentally discovers that one of the chickens on the farm can talk. Thinking he might be going mad, Bertie is surprised to discover that the chicken is actually an alien called Nugget, and that he's come to Earth to find out what the most valuable resource is. And if he doesn't get it, the planet gets blown up.

Bertie and the Alien Chicken is a book that has a lot of humour to it. From the very first pages it's clear that this is a book where jokes and silliness is high on the list of priorities. And thankfully, it pretty much lands perfect every single time. Yes, this is a children's book and the humour is designed for younger readers, but many of the jokes actually had me chuckling too. Jenny Pearson clearly knows that parents are going to be reading books to their kids, or reading along with them, so the book needs to be funny in a way that isn't going to be getting the adults reading it rolling their eyes. And the book manages to do that. There are some things that are a bit too silly, but kids will love, but for the most part it was enjoyable and amusing to read as an adult.

This is something that I think helps this book a lot too, that it's not treated too seriously or too realistically. There are many Barrington Stoke books that are much more serious in tone and feel quite realistic; this is not one of them. It forgoes the desire to be realistic in order to be fun; and it certainly manages to be that.

The book comes with a number of illustrations, by Aleksei Bitskoff, and the artwork works really well with the tone of the book. Everything is a bit cartoonish, a bit exaggerated, and the artworks puts me in mind of some fun kids shows. The art is used to help kids get a good visual idea for the story and characters, but there are a few times that the art is also used for some visual gags. Much like the written ones, these are fun moments that are sure to make kids laugh aloud, and the adults smile along with it.

Overall Bertie and the Alien Chicken was a lot of fun. It's a nice story about making friends, and about personal introspection at times too, and it's a genuinely entertaining and enjoyable experience. 

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