Tag Archives: Warner Holme

Warner Holme Review: Lilith Saintcrow’s Spring’s Arcana

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Spring’s Arcana by Lilith Saintcrow (Tor, 2023)

Review by Warner Holme: Lilith Saintcrow starts a new series with Spring’s Arcana, the first in what is being called The Dead God’s Heart Duology. With a subject matter and structure that will feel startlingly familiar to fans of contemporary fantasy, this book is going to face some harsh comparisons.

The story largely centers on one Natasha Drozdova. She’s dealing with a crazy life, working low-income in America will do that. On top of this her mother appears to be dying of cancer, making both the emotional and financial concerns all the worse. A distant figure offers some hope if she will come and speak about the matter in Manhattan. Unfortunately once she arrives, Natasha, usually called Nat, finds herself in an increasingly strange to Impossible situation as she quickly realizes the stakes may be higher than she suspected, and as much as she continues to try it is likely her mother is beyond even supernatural help.

It’s a powerful setup, and the use of family hearkens back to a novel this volume will undoubtedly bring many comparisons with. Specifically American Gods by Neil Gaiman has a certain element of road trip amongst mythological and cultural figures as a major element. While the older book has become somewhat legendary, the concept is not exclusive to it and this volume moves at a brisk pace that was decidedly not an element of that one.

Themes of culture, identity, and the adaptation thereof all represent major elements of the story in their own right. However questions of ignorance of one’s heritage are addressed in more detail throughout this book, and the idea of multiple mythologies or even cultural touchstones interacting with one another is used in a much less showy and more careful manner. 

The use of primarily Russian folklore and mythology is sensible for a girl who believes herself to be from a Russian American family, and a great deal of thought is put into the way each element appears. While legendary figures known internationally for centuries such as Baba Yaga are given their due in major plot points and set pieces, lesser known figures and those whose prominence has only began to grow in the past few decades in the West like Koschei are given their places as well.

Non-Russian mythological figures are generally used well, either archetypes being touched upon or specific well-known figures. The use of figures like Officer Friendly will baffle those who are both uninformed about the past and outside of certain specific regions, and titling towards another region will only be slightly less so. On the other hand these characters work fine as archetypes, and an added layer of gray is given to the narrative for those who understand the nature of it. While obscure, both work a good sight better than the concept of “media” which was in most ways a cheat when it appeared in the book previously compared, however well used.

Being a part of a duology one does not expect this volume to stand alone, however even this may not prepare readers for the incomplete narrative of the book. Instead it gives a pretty direct look at what stories are involved in the next volume, and what particular challenges Nat will have to face. Given that the story is biomed in large building on folklore, fairy tales, and various National mythologies this is hardly a huge surprise for someone who has kept up with such material. On the other hand it is well executed enough that those familiar will appreciate the atmosphere and those left so will indeed greatly like the telegraphing of potential risks.

While shorter and less sprawling than other books that tell similar stories, it represents a half rather than the entirety of the narrative. For anyone who enjoys a good road trip, quest, and contemporary fantasy it is well worth checking out. It’s a brilliant early novel, and one that should have readers eager for the next book to release.

Warner Holme Review: Folkmanis Mini Frog

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Folkmanis Mini Frog

Review by Warner Holme: I’m far from an expert on puppets, finger or otherwise. That said, I was quite impressed by the Folkmanis Mini Frog when it arrived at my door. Well constructed with a lot of personality, it serves as a delightful example of what a company can produce in soft goods. As with most plush toys and puppets the appearance was an early and important impression.

The little creature is certainly cute, made of soft fabrics and vibrant colors which seem to aspire to a heightened naturalistic appearance. When the frog first appeared before me he had a certain bit of a spitting expression. While a finger puppet and, as such, not really made to be used for mouth articulation the jaw is manipulable to a small degree. As a result it wasn’t difficult to change the expression slightly, to look more open mouthed in general. The fabrics are soft and firm, with a delightful texture that matches the color patterning throughout the object. 

The simplistic bead-like yellow eyes are surprisingly effective, lending to the realistic and animal-like appearance of a wild frog.  This is particularly true in light of the fabric eyelids and bulges surrounding them, all of which look delightfully familiar to anyone who’s ever spent time around a “real” frog. The legs are also quite effective, although some clever stitching is used to create the illusion the back legs are significantly longer than they actually would measure.

This household is by nature frog-puppet friendly, with other animals either treating it or respectfully or ignoring it. By and large the delightful coloration on this small puppet made it a particularly impressive bit of work, although not exactly photorealistic, certainly less cartoony than one might expect. Even the extremely basic stitching for nostrils is surprisingly effective, giving just the faintest impression of a vascular system. Added to the aforementioned impression is the fact that this frog is very much the size someone might find an actual green North American frog. 

On the other hand, the little amphibian’s information tag says it was made in Vietnam, an area whose frogs I’m unfamiliar with. Appropriate to the brand name there is an almost folksy appearance to the design, more professional than what one would see from a normal handmade unit but nonetheless feeling almost bespoke.  The little ones who have seen it have enjoyed it immensely, and I found it staring down local toys and puppets.

Warner Holme Review: The First Bright Thing

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The First Bright Thing by J.R. Dawson (Tor, 2023)

Review by Warner Holme: J.R. Dawson’s The First Bright Thing is a piece of grab bag historical fantasy. With a setting ranging across the first half of the 20th century, this is a volume following a long tradition of storytelling related to those with superpowers being connected directly and indirectly to metaphors for other individuals outside of what might be seen as the norm.

Some people in this world have supernatural abilities large and small that have become known as “sparks.” Their presence is decidedly a 20th century phenomena, having begun some time after The Great War. With the major leads that have these abilities including those among marginalized racial, religious, and LGBTQ groups, the fact they end up a new distrusted minority is a fairly obvious outcropping of the storytelling, even if it might be seen as a bit cliché.

The action centers around a circus made up of people with these gifts which is run by a woman calling herself Ringmaster or Rin for short. Rin is queer, outwardly confident, and has physiotemporal teleportation abilities. She recruits people with these gifts, occasionally manipulating and teleporting to do so. Their competitors, the people they are running from, are a darker circus run by the circus King. From Rin’s point of view it is noted that “The Circus King could have killed them all, if he’d wanted to” on page 208. It’s a very simple, very direct statement but in light of the other plot line it only serves as some obvious proof. 

The other plot line follows a man named Edward and a womanizer named Ruth as they learn how to use their gifts and deal with one another in an obviously unhealthy relationship which builds from mild romance to marriage. The fact that this pair become the figures mentioned above is quite obvious, and become so extremely early in the book. Whether or not this is a storytelling flaw depends on if one enjoys seeing how the narratives inevitably interact, as opposed to wondering how they will do so.

One cannot help but notice the presence of an abusive Supernatural boyfriend named Edward in the book, and wonder about its relation and existence as a response to the Twilight series. In that book the abuse goes unchallenged, and really unnoticed by the author. In this story the flaws of the character with that name are very evident and a defining feature of him from a narrative point of view, treated as the abusive partner he is and something worse when given any level of situational ability to manipulate.

Themes of sex, race, religion, and tolerance are major elements. Questions of interference, often framed in the fantastical term of time travel, are looked through as well. What one can do to fix one’s own life, or the life of others and how it relates to the world at large is arguably the biggest question in the book. The interaction with questions of war, sacrifice, found family, and domestic violence only makes the material within more poignant.

While the themes of domestic and partner abuse are strong in this volume, it remains a good read that should be enjoyed by a wide variety of readers. With inclusive storytelling, a novel but appropriate setting, and a multi-stranded story that helps to build character quickly the overall result is and enjoyable adventure with some real emotional weight. Curious parties should definitely check this book out, particularly if they want to read the first work by a new author.

Warner Holme Review: In the Lives of Puppets 

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In the Lives of Puppets by TJ Klune (Tor, 2023)

By Warner Holme: TJ Klune’s In the Lives of Puppets is a science fiction novel that formats itself much like a fantasy adventure. Dealing with a young man named Victor Lawson and his rather odd little family of machines and rescued robots, questions of tragedy and coming of age are key to this story in which rescuing a lost loved one seems like an impossible task.

Victor is depicted as functionally asexual fairly quickly in the story, with the basic mechanics of sex being described to him and others in the book a number of times in ways that might be explicit to some but are overall harmless and humorous. This supplies both to the information as given to Victor and later to Hap, an android jury-rigged and repaired by him towards the start of the book. Hap, who is pointed out as dangerous early on, is also depicted as asexual, finding the idea of penetration in particular undesirable.

Other major characters include a motorized vacuum who calls himself Rambo, a medical robot that is called Nurse Ratched, and a rather wise complicated AI entity referring to himself as Giovanni Lawson. Giovanni has told the story to Victor many times of his parents leaving him with the entity for safe keeping, along with suggestions they might return one day. However when a machine attack leaves Giovanni gone, and Victor puts together his little family in an effort to rescue his father figure.

Found family is not so much a theme of this book as a given, and that is greatly appreciated. No special magic or importance is given to one’s circumstance of creation, and while the idea of overcoming society as a whole and one’s place in it is depicted as difficult, impossibility is not suggested as a reality. Love, even the idea of romantic love without sexual love, is treated as a fascinating and delightful possibility. This is a rare combination in fiction, with the outright rejection of sex as part of a loving relationship being noticeably absent even in stories that fail to include a sexual element.

This volume, perhaps more than anything else by the author, well leave one feeling a certain evocation of the classic fairy tale. Interestingly, and intentionally or not the evocation may not be the one expected. While figures like the Blue Fairy are mentioned throughout the story, the merry band of adventurers and people on a journey to gain something quickly evoke L. Frank Baum instead. Indeed the quirky mix of Darkness and Light certainly feels like the man, and the noticeable queer text will appeal to those who have embraced the possibly accidental queer subtext of the Oz books.

TJ Klune is a well-known and already respected name in sff circles, and this book should only continue that trend. This volume will be a delightful read to existing fans. More than that, to anyone who has not previously read the author’s work it will be a welcome introduction, a strange bizarre and lovely look at a group of people and an adventure in a very classic vein told towards very current sensibilities.

Warner Holme Review: The Village Killings & Other Novellas

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The Village Killings & Other Novellas by Ramsey Campbell (PS Publishing, 2022)

Review by Warner Holme: Ramsey Campbell’s The Village Killings & Other Novellas is more or less exactly what the name implies. Five pieces by a well-known figure in horror are collected inside, each providing their own look into the way the author works in a familiar genre.

Before the novellas proper there is a nice introduction by Campbell. In it he expounds upon the difficulty he suffered creating such stories as well as the philosophy that led to this difficulty. He goes on to describe the circumstances which led to each individual story, and through this gives a nice little insight into his process.

The first novella in the collection is Needing Ghosts, and has the functionally common horror cliche of an author as lead character. Still even from very early in the text it is clear that this is a bizarre and strange situation. He is rarely up during the day, yet thinks nothing odd of the fact he is supposed to be speaking somewhere even as he mixes up his name and the location he seeks. The atmosphere and situations get stranger and more bizarre, and will quickly become surreal and dreamlike.

While anything but the most traditional story in the collection, Needing Ghosts is at the bare minimum a story which well uses elements commonly seen in the genre. Ranging from the author protagonist, to references to horror video rental to the classic questioning reality, there is a lot in the piece that will seem familiar. It is because of that, however, that the story is able to shift in the surreal and strange elements so well.

Later in the collection comes The Enigma of the Flat Policeman and it serves as an odd story in its own way. Specifically, the text is treated as an incomplete manuscript by an author named John featuring intersections about the author or text which come at intervals and often show what seem weak associations with the story itself. These asides are entertaining enough, particularly in combination with the locked-room mystery that develops, yet their reflection upon reader response is the interesting choice about their inclusion.

This story is, of course, filled with Oddities in its own way. While the idea of reading commentary interspersed with a work of fiction is nothing new to genre fans, footnotes and the like being common, the chance seemed high that the particular way they are interspersed will seem unusual. What’s more, the extremely personal nature of the statements, including frivolities like his mother washing his hair, will help to put the reader off guard. The twisted solution to the mystery, such as it is, only proves a further oddity.

One noticeable attitude about this collection is that unlike many like it it does not take a specific section or page out to mark each story’s original publication. While this is not inherently a problem, it is decidedly unusual.

Overall one cannot say that this volume contains the absolute best work that Ramsey Campbell produced, yet one can say that the stories within are well worth reading. Further, for fans of Campbell it is easily a must read, containing tales old and relatively new in a format which does not get a lot of love.

Warner Holme Review: Ebony Gate

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Ebony Gate by Julia Vee and Ken Bebelle (Tor, 2023)

Review by Warner Holme: Julia Vee and Ken Bebelle’s Ebony Gate is planned as the first book in The Phoenix Hoard series. Books by new authors, even in teens, are always a treat and a new and stylistic entry into the urban fantasy genre is always appreciated.

The lead is Emiko Soong. At one time operating as the enforcer of her family, the Blade of the Soong Clan, her presence at a massacre has gotten her the nickname of the Butcher of Beijing. In a desire to separate herself from her history she has settled down in the US, specifically San Francisco, trying to work in the antiquities business.

This quickly turns around as the supernatural entities of her past and family history intrude on her life, leaving her making desperate attempts not to become the violent monster she sees her past self to be. Her attempts to combat those who see her as effectively unchanged are only part of the action in the book. Some of the more interesting sequences come when she encounters difficulties relating to the supernatural setting and its habit of being lived in. A hospital which has allowed its protections to fail, resulting in a particularly ghoulish piece of eastern folklore appearing, represents one of the best sequences in the book.

With that setup, it’s hardly surprising that comparisons to John Wick are made even on the trade dress. However this volume delves more deeply into the thoughts of the lead and her past connections then those films. Emiko’s family and their grudges play as much a role as her personal history, as does her love hate relationship with them.

Items of power, gathered together by individuals or families in hoards, represent important sources of wealth, might, and prestige in this world. The Sword of Truth, an object of immense power Emiko once wielded, is kept around throughout much of the story as a dark reminder of her past and mistakes. Its use, and the fact it is broken, are excellent examples of giving an object multiple narrative purposes.

While serving well enough as a standalone, the fact this volume is intended as part of a series becomes quite obvious through the ending. While the lead and her situation have changed noticeably throughout the pages, they have done so in a way that can best be described as setup. Emiko has found a new and relatively positive purpose in life, as an assortment of potential allies and enemies in place, and even ends on the certain level of wry humor common to the genre.

For someone looking at stories about finding one’s place after having taken actions they consider unforgivable, this will be quite a good read. Filled with action, thrills, and even the occasional antics of a human animal relationship, anyone who in anyone who enjoys Western urban fantasy and wants to see a certain Eastern influence would do well to check out the book. Readers should certainly eager be eager to see what comes next from the pair, whether in this setting and series or another.

Warner Holme Review: The King Arthur Case 

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The King Arthur Case by Jean-Luc Bannalec (Minotaur, 2022)

By Warner Holme: Jean-Luc Bannalec’s The King Arthur Case represents a new entry in the author’s Commissaire Georges Dupin series. It also sports a connection to one of the western world’s most well-known schools of folklore and mythology.

Georges Dupin is an entertaining individual, a sour man disillusioned with the Paris police yet frequently finding himself working to do a favor connected to them. This is in the midst of a butter shortage oh, something that sounds amusing as it is described in a way which simultaneously creates that emotional reaction and helps to illustrate aspects of French culture as well as Dupin’s reaction to them. 

He is helping out with deaths at a conference for the International Arthurian Society, specifically the French branch of it. Now the international Arthurian Society is a real group that has existed since at least the 1940s, although certainly none of the names within this volume directly correlated to anyone listed on their website. Still, the use of such adds a nice weight for those familiar with the subject matter. Dupin is called on with a couple inspectors to help him deal with one murder in the area, only four more bodies to quickly pile up even as the various academics from different fields attempt to explain their own importance.

The reflection of acadamia, the jealousies and backbiting and tunnel vision, is quite well entrenched in this book. As a result anyone unable to grasp this, or any one simply uninterested, will likely not appreciate large swaths of the book. The personalities of each serve well of course, yet a bulk of the story is given to the question of undiscovered artifacts proving the existence of a King Arthur or the like.

For an Arthurian scholar there will be nothing new in this volume, debated French names and alternative interpretations of symbols and texts abound. None of these are exceptionally deep dives into the material, however most of them will entertain or not offend a scholar. The bulk amount of material dealing with the grail is on slightly rougher ground, however as the term did not come into common usage until many centuries after other Arthurian lore had already begun to build up this is perhaps appropriate.

One aspect which might cause chuckles due to book formatting is the name of a victim. Specifically one of the scholars killed is named Paul Picard. Due to the author name is Jean-Luc being on every other page, those in which the surname of the victim of a nearby will likely remind the reader of a certain famous Frenchmen from science fiction. It is a small coincidence, but may cause a moment of pause for some readers.

In a lot of ways The King Arthur Case is very much a cozy mystery. There are significant light moments scattered throughout, an entertaining but not overly broken detective, and connections to matters that would otherwise not seem life and death. While the high bodycount pushes away this idea to a small degree, it remains a relatively easy read. For fans of the series it is easy to recommend, and also for fans of Arthurian lore. While not the best place to first meet the detective, it is not a bad way to introduce oneself to Commissaire Georges Dupin.

Warner Holme Review: Ramsey Campbell, Certainly

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Ramsey Campbell, Certainly, Edited by S.T. Joshi
Drugstore Indian Press, 2021

Review by Warner Holme: Ramsey Campbell, Certainly is a collection, of essays by the well-known horror author. A man who started young, this volume deals primarily in his work after the turn of the millennium. While the subject matter, style, and purpose of each piece varied greatly there is a unity in that they all serve as reflections and expressions of Campbell’s interests and influences.

An example of the stranger pieces comes with “Getting the Bird.” This essay is very much not in the style of the direct and informative, instead more a piece of prose poetry which informs the reader about Campbell and in the process about the genre. It is certainly not something a reader can pay attention to only in the passing, although other strange poetical pieces such as a short playful piece titled “Steve Jones” show that the style in the collection continues to vary.

Many of the articles are in tribute to or simply discussing individuals whom Campbell had a personal relationship. While informative about the genre, these are also quite detailed and entertaining when it comes to the human element, providing personal thanks and anecdotes on more than one occasion. Such details sometimes reference back to the works of the people in question, yet it is just as likely that “Coming to Liverpool”, one of the longer pieces in the collection, is a fairly autobiographical one. Detailing much or the life of his mother, including some of her attempts to be published, and a great deal of disturbing personal and historical information about her. It is a stark and unusual piece, detailing abusive behavior by his father and a steady descent into some degree of madness by his mother. While the telling of such Tales, even from one’s family, is nothing unusual it is none the less an illustration of just how personal some of the information in this volume is.

The collection begins with a very nice introduction by editor S. T. Joshi. In it he expresses his own interests in Ramsey Campbell, some of the influence the man possessed in the genre, and explain some of the contents of the book. It is short and to the point. On the other hand, at the end, while there is a list of acknowledgments, namely the first place each piece appeared, there is no index. This is unfortunate as the subjects covered in this volume vary widely, and the table of contents does not have much utility in searching up information. While it does not ruin the book or its usefulness, this is nonetheless a notable flaw.

Ramsey Campbell, Certainly is an enjoyable read to anyone interested in the various subjects it covers. It is also a very convenient collection of nonfiction work by the author in question, and his thoughts upon the genre in which he plies his trade. To anyone interested in scholarship related to these subjects, or to Ramsey Campbell himself, it would be an invaluable tool, and those interested in weird fiction and horror are encouraged to check it out.

Warner Holme Review: A Guide to the Dark

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A Guide to the Dark by Meriam Metoui (Henry Holt, 2023)

By Warner Holme: Meriam Metoui’s A Guide to the Dark is a novel of love, friendship, and death. Arguably these are the three aspects one can find in any completed happy life, making them very common elements in writing. It’s also a book of horrific deaths and the way such matters can seem to linger long after they should. Wrapped in a shell relating to a road trip and a seemingly cursed location, it’s a story that should be easy to grab genre fans who with a taste for this certain subdivision of YA.

The leads are Mira and Layla, a pair of girls ending high school and looking forward to their potential University years. The loss of one’s brother is a shared tragedy from their pasts, but a larger secret builds between the pair. This secret, a romantic interest that is mutual but hidden, is a source of much drama for them both due to family and interpersonal concerns. The entry of other individuals, such as a young man named Ellis living at the hotel with an easily learned tragedy of his own, only further complicates the dynamic between the pair.

This is a novel of a haunted hotel room, going back to the likes of The Shining or The Green Man in 20th century influences. This volume feels decidedly more 21st century, with the Arabic queer leads and thoughtful use of digital photography being far more aspects of current genre fiction. The use of these aspects are more subtle than in many more recent works, indeed far more subtle than in the uses by Stephen King alone, yet never quite fall into the realm of comfortable.

Calling the book horror or a thriller might be odd for many upon reading. It is quieter and less flashy than the majority of the genres in question, even spending a fair number of pages in it. 

The photography in the book is interesting due to the in universe conceit. Specifically all of the images allegedly are taken by and of people and events in the book. This allows a number of clever uses of photo manipulation throughout the book, but in light of the fact one of the leads is supposed to be an experienced photographer it will leave the reader looking for style or exceptional levels of quality which will not always be found. On the other hand the character in question is a student, and many of the photographs are quite candid. As a result they all feel believably the work of the individual in question, it’s merely a matter of what a reader will think that says about the character.

Risk is a major element of life, as is fear. Both are major pieces of this story. When to take a risk or not, and the upsides and downsides of what can result are key. The nature of fear, and how it connects both before and after to the concept of loss, is also quite important down to the well chosen words originally by C.S. Lewis before the bulk of the text.

 Overall this is a quick breezy read, with characters the target audience should appreciate and find aspects of themselves in. The occasional pop culture reference is rare, such as one to the detective series Monk, leaving it far more an independent work than one relying on the knowledge of readers in these areas. 

Warner Holme Review: Lindt Lindor Dark Chocolate Truffles

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Lindt Lindor Truffles Assorted Dark Chocolate Truffles 19oz 

By Warner Holme: One of the few near universal loves in the world is chocolate. Lindt Lindor truffles are among the more well known “fancy” chocolates available with ganache style filling for the truffles. While the traditional red wrapped classic are perhaps the best known, they have a delightful assortment of dark chocolates available in a 19 oz assortment.

Three varieties come in this selection. The first is a standard dark chocolate, in a nice blue wrapper. It tastes quite good, as expected, with a smooth flavor that suits it quite well, and the inner creamy center matching quite well. It is lighter than many other dark chocolate flavor options, but definitely Tastes more like a dark and smoky flavor compared to the standard Lindt truffle. Arguably less of a dark chocolate and more a “not milk” chocolate variation.

The second is A 60% Extra dark chocolate in a black wrapper with a silver label. There is a stronger lingering flavor to them, particularly in regards to the shell. While enjoyable, it isn’t the exceptionally dark taste one might expect given the label.

Finally there is a 70% extra dark chocolate in a black wrapper with a gold colored label. There is a definite dark and lingering flavor to the outer shell of this one, strong and with just a hint of bite. The cream inside is still smooth and lighter, at least compared to the shell, but not enough to instantly wash away the darkness of the harder chocolate. Aficionados of proper darker chocolates will find this one of their favorites produced by the brand.

Probably the most impressive thing about each of these is that the bitterness that most darker chocolates start to include never seems to come in force.

None of these are safe for individuals with milk allergies, as milk is among the listed ingredients. A similar though lesser warning is given regarding tree nuts however they are a “may contain” rather than being “Ingredients” which might cause some with minor sensitivity to take the risk.

The use of the blue bag is a slightly interesting choice as violet does denote dark chocolate, but two out of three of the chocolates in the bag are wrapped in black instead.

About 45 of the truffles come in a bag with an expectation three can be a serving. This of course will depend on the self-control of the person eating, as many will go over this amount at any given time and occasionally someone will be able to manage eating only a single truffle. I would recommend againt eating them all at once, simply because a pound of almost anything can lead to some gastrointestinal issues.

If you like dark chocolate, there’s a good chance that this will be right in your wheelhouse. The fact it comes in individually wrapped portions is very nice for someone wishing to just eat a little, as it both allows for the rest to remain safe while also making a good shot at preventing handful eating. If someone thinks they would like this they should pick it up, enjoying it alone over a fair period of time or with friends and loved ones.

Really.