Early Review: Black Feathers

Black Feathers

Jospeh D’Lancey

Publisher: Angry Robot – Released 4^th April

Black Feathers is a modern fantasy set in two epochs: the Black Dawn, a time of environmental apocalypse, and generations into the future in its aftermath, the Bright Day.
In each era, a child undertakes a perilous journey to find a dark messiah known as The Crowman. In their hands lies the fate of the planet as they attempt to discover whether The Crowman is our saviour… or the final incarnation of evil.

This is a story of two parts woven together like a piece of rope, strengthening and complementing each other. One element focused on a young boy, Gordon Black set in the recognisable future where everything is breaking down as the world seems to be coming to an end. Certainly the world as we know it! The other thread is on a young girl, Megan in the distant future, where humanity lives much simpler lives, close to the land. They are both on a journey to find the Crowman, but whether he is real or not, good or evil no-one is quite sure...

Gordon’s story is the more disturbing and compelling one for me. The breakdown of society, the Ward’s rise to power and one small boy’s attempt to come to terms with the world has a wonderful mix of secrets, revelations, action and thought provoking conundrums. Not to mention destiny and magic! It was tense, intriguing and involving – I really wanted to give Gordon a hand at times! Megan’s story is also interesting, but much more sedate following a traditional apprentice learning about her powers story. She is a gentle character at heart, if a little impatient and I did like her. However, the story in the future didn’t have the same intensity or urgency that the current day scenes had.

While both stories focus on young people coming into their powers, this is definitely NOT a YA book. There is a lot of extreme violence and the end of the known world does not occur without a fight. The writing was involving and descriptive painting two very different worlds without overloading the background. This was very much a case of the author showing us the world rather than telling us – and that slower exploration of the world builds into a wonderful panorama of humanity. This worked as an apocalyptic novel, a fantasy novel and one that I want to read the sequel too as soon as possible!

Recommended for fans of Peter V Brett and Jennifer Fallon. 8.5 out of 10

Early Review: She Returns From War

She Returns From War

Lee Collins

Publisher: Angry Robot – Release Date 7^th February 2013

E-Arc Courtesy of Netgalley & Angry Robot

Four years after the horrific events in Leadville, a young woman from England, Victoria Dawes, sets into motion a series of events that will lead Cora and herself out into the New Mexico desert in pursuit of Anaba, a Navajo witch bent on taking revenge for the atrocities committed against her people.

She Returns From War is the second book featuring Cora Inglesbury, supernatural hunter in the 1800s – think a female Dean Winchester in the Wild West! However, rather than following the action from Cora’s point of view, the whole story is told from Victoria Dawes viewpoint. Victoria is a young woman who vows revenge on the supernatural creatures that caused her parents death and searches out Cora to help. However, Cora’s past has caught up her and Vicky gets stuck in the middle...

One of things I loved about this story is that it doesn’t feel like time has stood still for Cora. This is set a number of years after The Dead of Winter and some things have changed. Cora is still a hard woman, but fair. There is never any idea that she is some special warrior – just some-one who works hard, has some skills and some luck. Victoria is a little naive but determined. Both women feel natural – real rather than stereotype heroines. The action is exciting and well-paced. The story flowed together seamlessly and felt more coherent than the first book. I liked the hints of native American magic which adds to the world already established.

This really is a fresh air in the world of supernatural hunters – the ending (which I don’t want to spoil but is a real surprise!) really brings one story to an end and starts a new one showing that Lee Collins isn’t afraid to move things forward. This really highlights that he is an author to watch! Many others would have been content to keep the series going in a continual loop for a few more books but Lee takes risks and I am very much looking forward to see what he writes next!

Recommended for fans of Kate Griffin and Chris Holm. 9 out of 10