Author: rsingerwriting

Book Review – Roots of Corruption by Laura Laakso

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Roots of Corruption, out March 26th 2020

First of all, I owe a HUGE apology to Laura Laakso and Louise Walters, who so graciously gave me an ARC to read and review back in (I’m embarrassed to say) January. I was supposed to finish reading and review by March, but all I can say is due to *waves hands at everything* I utterly and completely failed. 

Roots of Corruption is the third installment in the Wilde Investigations series, and the third book that I’ve been fortunate enough to review via an ARC. This particular book focuses on a few of Laakso’s most interesting characters—Lady Bergamon and Wishearth—broadening and deepening our understanding of them  in ways that are somehow simultaneously satisfying but also still tantalizing. The pace of this particular installment felt slower than the others (though YMMV, as it could have been attributable to my pandemic reading slump), but the pace was a slow burn and built steadily to the ultimate climax. It’s no secret that I’ve enjoyed Laakso’s writing, but with Roots of Corruption it feels as though she has truly hit her stride in this series. The mystery in each new book is resolved in a unique and interesting way, while steadily advancing the character development and continuously leaving you wanting more from these characters.

While Dearon, Yannia’s love interest slash fated-love-she-seems-to-resist, did not feature in this book as prominently as it’s predecessor, Echo Murder, his presence was palpable in the background and in Yannia’s dreams, and I’m still hopeful that we’ll see much more of their development and their relationship as time goes on. At the same time, there are flickers of other possible love interests here and there in Yannia’s life (which I won’t discuss in more detail because spoilers) that add a nice flavor to her character progression and keep the ultimate ending to the romance aspect of her story shrouded in pleasantly unsatisfying mystery.

Just as Laakso seems to be hitting her stride in the series, so does Yannia seem to hit her stride in her investigations business and her ability to hone in on important details and find the right solution. Yannia works for every inch of her case, but as a character, thanks to Laakso’s deft craftsmanship and writing, I can’t help but cheer when she succeeds and fret when she fails or falls just short.

I want Yannia to succeed, and to keep succeeding, and I want MORE of Wilde Investigations. With the conclusion of Roots of Corruption, I am hopeful that Laakso will continue to bless us with Yannia’s stories for many years to come.

Happy reading!

Book Review – The Cruel Prince and The Wicked King by Holly Black

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I’m a little oblivious sometimes. I picked up these books not because of buzz online, not because they were recommended to me, but just because I wandered through the YA section of my local library.

And let me tell you… I’m glad I did.

The Cruel Prince was an amazing read. So amazing that, quite honestly, I blew through it in just a couple days and immediately went in search of the next one. Which – yay! – was already out. The Wicked King didn’t take me much longer, and I will definitely be reading the third, The Queen of Nothing, when it comes out.

I’m not going to go into the plot much here. I will say that I thoroughly enjoyed both books. Black’s characters are engaging, the plot is twisty and dark, and the story is a wild ride from start to finish. With, I expect, more to come when the third installment is released.

If I had to give stars here, I’d go with 4.5 out of 5 for The Cruel Prince and 4 out of 5 for The Wicked King (second books have it rough – it’s often hard to match or top the first in a series). The books are un-put-downable. As I said, the plot, characters, and writing are highly engaging.

But (you knew there was a but coming, right?)… there are things about these stories that make me uncomfortable. They’re not the first books I’ve read where that’s been an issue, and they won’t be the last, but I wanted to address it because I think this is important.

****JUST IN CASE YOU NEED IT – SPOILER ALERT****

Ok, if you’re still here, you’ve assumed the risk. I would categorize these as only light spoilers, but I don’t want anyone to caught by surprise. On we go.

I’d like to talk about my feelings on the relationship between Jude and Cardan. There is a lot of (legitimate) criticism about the way relationships are portrayed in various media – Game of Thrones gets it, Twilight got it, etc. I think it is important that these issues are discussed, particularly when they come up in fictional stories aimed at young adults. Some relationships are toxic. Some are abusive. Some are downright ugly and dangerous. In real life, I would say these things are unacceptable.

Jude and Cardan have an unhealthy relationship from the start, and it only gets worse. It also progressively involves stronger and stronger attraction between the two of them, that seems to be deeply tied in with and inseparable from their hatred of each other. It makes me deeply uncomfortable to watch the two of them grow closer together in spite of the ugliness beneath the surface.

And also, I want them to get together. I want them to work out their differences. I want them to forgive and stop being horrible to each other. Because you know what? This *isn’t real*. It’s pretend, and its kind of fun. Also, it’s kind of hot. Black’s writing is very good at making the very bad irresistible.

I’ll give you an analogy to illustrate why I feel this way. Some of my very favorite movies are apocalyptic or post-apocalyptic movies (EXCEPT zombie movies, which are just creepy AF). They’re dirty, gritty, brutal, and often terrifying. They’re depressing, horrifying, and gruesome. They’re also exciting, wild, and escapist on a level that’s just off the charts.

But the thing I love most about them is this: when I walk out of the theatre, I *love* this world we live in *so* much. I appreciate the little (first-world) comforts of my life so much more… like hot and cold running water, grocery stores that are well-stocked, a (generally) orderly system of government, and the fact that people aren’t constantly trying to murder me.

Much like my feeling about apocalyptic movies, reading about awful relationships makes me appreciate the good ones in my own life so much more. Without all the actual suffering and torment of having to go through one.

So here’s the conclusion I’ve come to: I don’t want a relationship like the one Black wrote between Jude and Cardan for myself. I wouldn’t wish that mess on anyone I’ve ever known, for that matter. If I was trying to teach a child or young adult what a healthy relationship looks like, I would definitely not use them as an example. But it is ok to dive headfirst into a total fantasy sometimes. Even one that makes you deeply uncomfortable.

Book Review – Echo Murder by Laura Laakso

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My reaction when my ARC arrived.

Echo Murder (June 4, 2019, published by Louise Walters Books) is the second installment in the ongoing Wilde Investigations Series, and it is a worthy successor to Fallible Justice (you can find my review of FJ here). Laakso dives right in where Fallible Justice left off, as Yannia Wilde leaves Old London to travel home. This trip gives us more insight into the world Yannia comes from, the conclave of the Wild Folk, drawing us deeper into a past she can’t escape and illuminating the choices that will drive her future. Her betrothed, Dearon, dominates the beginning of this book, and Laakso does a great job illustrating the complicated history between them without dumping the information. Quite frankly, I want to know more!

Yannia continues to struggle with her need for connection to her old life and her desire to live life on her own terms, a theme which, for better or worse, underlies every choice she makes. Laakso takes her time with this follow up, allowing readers to revel in the world she’s built. The mystery itself was unique and intriguing, not like anything I’ve seen before. But while it wasn’t entirely a surprise, the ending was well crafted and does not disappoint.

Overall, Echo Murder, like Fallible Justice, was an enjoyable and addictive read. I’ve barely closed the book and already I am itching for the next one to come. If you enjoy Laakso’s writing, I also highly recommend following her on Twitter – @LLaaksoWriter. She’s very personable and (Bonus!) occasionally drops hints or teasers for upcoming works.

Happy reading!

Book Review – Fallible Justice by Laura Laakso

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So I have a problem… I love to read. Honestly, I wrote my own current work in progress because I was dying to read it, not because I was so terribly keen on the writing process itself. But! As I’ve embraced the idea that I also love to write, I’ve discovered a whole new world filled with other authors – authors I might never have otherwise encountered in the course of my daily life.

One of those authors is Laura Laakso, who wrote the forthcoming Fallible Justice (November 8, 2018, published by Louise Walters Books). I met Laakso via a Facebook group for writers-with-very-little-time-to-write, 10 Minute Novelists. I caught a glimpse of the blurb for her new book, and when she asked for advance readers, I jumped at the chance.

And I am so, so glad that I did.

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Fallible Justice is Laakso’s debut fantasy novel, about an unusual detective named Yannia Wilde. True to her name, Yannia is wild – she’s an outsider in London, a member of the Wild Folk, and wildness is in her blood. Step into her shoes for a few minutes, and you will see this is no exaggeration.

But I don’t want to spend a whole lot of time regurgitating things you can glean for yourself from the blurb. The important thing to me is that with Fallible Justice, Laakso deftly manages the elusive trick of making the pages and the words disappear, leaving nothing between the reader and the story. When I think back to the reading process, what I see are not words on a page but vivid memories of Laakso’s characters – Yannia, Karrion, Lady Bergamon, Wishearth, and so many more.

Overall, the story is an intriguing mix of old and new, fanciful and mundane. Beyond that, though, the story has stayed with me. My brain continues to tumble various plot points around like a tumbler polishing stones. I was lucky enough to have a few moments to chat privately with Laakso about some of my questions – and I did have one or two at the end – which has only whetted my appetite for the next installment in her series.  I don’t want to give away a bunch of spoilers, but I will say that Laakso stays true to her characters and the story – no matter where that leads.

Fallible Justice is an overall excellent read, and very much worth your time and treasure.

This review is based on an ARC from Louise Walters Books. Thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.