The Emperor’s Knife

Review of The Emperor’s Knife by Mazarkis Williams

Overview from www.bn.com: There is a cancer at the heart of the mighty Cerani Empire: a plague that attacks young and old, rich and poor alike. Geometric patterns spread across the skin, until you die in agony, or become a Carrier, doing the bidding of an evil intelligence, the Pattern Master. Anyone showing the tell-tale marks is put to death; that is Emperor Beyon”s law…but now the pattern is running over the Emperor’s own arms. His body servants have been executed, he ignores his wives, but he is doomed, for soon the pattern will reach his face. While Beyon”s agents scour the land for a cure, Sarmin, the Emperor’s only surviving brother, awaits his bride, Mesema, a windreader from the northern plains. Unused to the Imperial Court’s stifling protocols and deadly intrigues, Mesema has no one to turn to but an ageing imperial assassin, the Emperor’s Knife. As long-planned conspiracies boil over into open violence, the invincible Pattern Master appears from the deep desert. Now only three people stand in his way: a lost prince, a world-weary killer, and a young girl from the steppes who saw a path in a pattern once, among the waving grasses – a path that just might save them all!

My Review:

I am back to fantasy with this Free Friday offering from Barnes and Noble. It is called The Emperor’s Knife and is the first in what I think will be a trilogy though so far this is the only book of the series that is out.

My opinion on this book was mostly positive but I have to clarify this. I liked it but I didn’t love it. The negatives for me were mostly the dark tone it often took and the fact that it took me a while to figure out this world and get interested in it.

The part about this book that confused me the most, especially in the first third of the book, was the idea of a “pattern.” The first few times I heard it mentioned my first thought was that patterns are for sewing so why do they keep talking about this pattern as though it were so important?

It turns out that it is important—very important. In fact, the whole idea of the novel practically revolves around it. Patterns are seen everywhere here but particularly when the characters are in the desert or anywhere near the Cerani Empire.

There are two important countries in this novel. The Cerani and the Felt. The Cerani are plagued by patterns as there is some type of illness going around that manifests itself by marking its pattern on the skin. The victim will either eventually die from this illness or become a slave to the maker of the pattern who is known as the Pattern Master. These slaves are called Carriers and are basically zombies who do whatever the Pattern Master directs them to.

The Cerani law prescribes death to any person who is found with these marks on his or her skin. Unbeknown to most of the people of the land, the Cerani Emperor bears these marks. By his own law he should die. Still he manages to hide his illness from just about everyone.

Add to the problem that despite having four wives at his disposal, Emperor Beyon cannot produce an heir. This is where his brother Sarmin comes in.

Sarmin and Beyon’s mother arranges a bride for Sarmin from among the Felt people to both cement an alliance between the two people groups as well as produce an heir for the throne. But will their mother find a way to bypass Beyon in favor of Sarmin or simple wait until the couple produces an heir and then use that heir to bypass Beyon?

As more and more character in this novel succumb to the pattern, who will be left to fight the Pattern Master? Who will rule the Cerani Empire? Can the pattern be stopped before everyone in the land dies or becomes a Carrier? Of course, you will have to read the book to find out. In the end, it is worth the read.

Contains: some violence and sexuality

The Racketeer

Review of The Racketeer by John Grisham

Overview from www.bn.com:

Given the importance of what they do, and the controversies that often surround them, and the violent people they sometimes confront, it is remarkable that in the history of this country only four active federal judges have been murdered.

Judge Raymond Fawcett has just become number five.

Who is the Racketeer? And what does he have to do with the judge’s untimely demise? His name, for the moment, is Malcolm Bannister. Job status? Former attorney. Current residence? The Federal Prison Camp near Frostburg, Maryland.

On paper, Malcolm’s situation isn’t looking too good these days, but he’s got an ace up his sleeve. He knows who killed Judge Fawcett, and he knows why. The judge’s body was found in his remote lakeside cabin. There was no forced entry, no struggle, just two dead bodies: Judge Fawcett and his young secretary. And one large, state-of-the-art, extremely secure safe, opened and emptied.

What was in the safe? The FBI would love to know. And Malcolm Bannister would love to tell them. But everything has a price—especially information as explosive as the sequence of events that led to Judge Fawcett’s death. And the Racketeer wasn’t born yesterday . . .

Nothing is as it seems and everything’s fair game in this wickedly clever new novel from John Grisham, the undisputed master of the legal thriller.

My Review:

Once again I have returned to the legal thriller genre though it is not one of my favorites. The author is the reason for this return. John Grisham is the king of this genre and his writing really draws me in. even if I am not always sure that I will like his next legal thriller, his writing and story-telling skills always seem to win me over. This story was no exception.

I am not sure how he always manages to come up with a new twist or a unique plot in this normally predictable genre but he does. This story is unlike any of his others.

Once I got to know the characters, I settled in and got comfortable. It seemed like the main character, a small time lawyer named Malcolm Bannister, was getting everything he wanted. It seemed like he was going to live happily ever after, but then everything changed.

Less than half-way through, Malcolm changes the rules. He embarks on an elaborate ruse to deceive not only the U.S. government, which he has never trusted since he was locked up, but the readers as well. We follow his steps as he implements some kind of elaborate plan though we’re not sure what he is trying to do exactly—at least I wasn’t.

Why didn’t Malcolm quit while he was ahead? Where did he expect to run go to avoid being killed by his rival? I didn’t know but I wanted to find out so I kept reading. And in the end I was rewarded. It kept me turning pages and thus I finished the book over the weekend.

It was well worth my time and if you give it a try I think you will agree. It is a not a deeply profound work of literature but it is a good way to pass your time and keep your attention. I, for one, was glad to see that Mr. Grisham has not lost his touch.

Contains: some language and sexuality

The Winter Palace

Review of The Winter Palace by Eva Stachniak

Overview from www.bn.com: From award-winning author Eva Stachniak comes this passionate novel that illuminates, as only fiction can, the early life of one of history’s boldest women. The Winter Palace tells the epic story of Catherine the Great’s improbable rise to power—as seen through the ever-watchful eyes of an all-but-invisible servant close to the throne.

Her name is Barbara—in Russian, Varvara. Nimble-witted and attentive, she’s allowed into the employ of the Empress Elizabeth, amid the glitter and cruelty of the world’s most eminent court. Under the tutelage of Count Bestuzhev, Chancellor and spymaster, Varvara will be educated in skills from lock picking to lovemaking, learning above all else to listen—and to wait for opportunity. That opportunity arrives in a slender young princess from Zerbst named Sophie, a playful teenager destined to become the indomitable Catherine the Great. Sophie’s destiny at court is to marry the Empress’s nephew, but she has other, loftier, more dangerous ambitions, and she proves to be more guileful than she first appears.

What Sophie needs is an insider at court, a loyal pair of eyes and ears who knows the traps, the conspiracies, and the treacheries that surround her. Varvara will become Sophie’s confidante—and together the two young women will rise to the pinnacle of absolute power.

With dazzling details and intense drama, Eva Stachniak depicts Varvara’s secret alliance with Catherine as the princess grows into a legend—through an enforced marriage, illicit seductions, and, at last, the shocking coup to assume the throne of all of Russia.

Impeccably researched and magnificently written, The Winter Palace is an irresistible peek through the keyhole of one of history’s grandest tales.

My Review:

The Winter Palace summary on the Barnes and Noble webpage promises an inside view of the Russian court beginning in the reign of Queen Elizabeth. We get this inside yet illicit view through the person of Barbara, known to the Russians as Varvara, daughter of a Polish bookbinder.

Barbara officially becomes Varvara when her parents die and Elizabeth takes her in to fulfill her promise to her father. But living in the palace isn’t fun at all. She becomes nothing more than a servant seamstress, mistreated by her superiors.

Homesick and sensing that all anyone expects from her is that she become invisible she is noticed by the Chancellor who makes her his palace spy. He promises to take care of her and teach her all that he knows as long as she is loyal to him and to Elizabeth. One of her first assignments is to watch the girl who would become Catherine the Great.

Barbara soon becomes devoted to the future empress, considering herself more than just a bookbinder’s daughter. Even when Catherine falls out of favor with Elizabeth as well as her husband and most of the court, Barbara sticks by her. She defends her to everyone except Empress Elizabeth who clearly comes to hate her and will not hear her opinion contradicted.

Elizabeth doesn’t mind that Catherine has lovers. Elizabeth doesn’t mind that Catherine spends much time in her room though not always alone. Elizabeth doesn’t even mind her extravagant spending habits too much. What she does mind it seems is that Catherine is a suck-up who tries too hard to ingratiate herself in the court.

She wants Catherine only as a baby making machine. Whenever she gives birth to a child, that child is promptly taken away and raised by Elizabeth as well as the nursemaids hired for that purpose. When Elizabeth finally allows her to visit her own firstborn son, she does so only grudgingly. She uses it as an occasion to turn her son against her.

“”Do you know who has come to see you?…Do you recognize your Maman…Where is she?…Where is your Maman?…’

‘Maman,’ Paul repeated, but the word was an empty husk. Coaxed to look at Catherine, he buried his face in his aunt’s bosom.

‘You want her to go away, don’t you, little man…You want her to leave you alone.’” P.226

I couldn’t help but feel the same sympathy Barbara must have felt for her after that. To be a foreigner in a strange country, to marry a man who hates you, to have your children torn away from you are all good reasons for us to feel sorry for Catherine. And we do. At least, I did.

This story is sad but sweet. Unfortunately I found it more sad than sweet. I liked it but it depressed me at the same time. Perhaps that was the story of Catherine’s time in Russia, in the beginning.

It is worth reading though. It is nice to see some Historical Fiction that doesn’t center only on England or the United States. And the book is well-written. The author has a great style.

It wasn’t my favorite but I am still recommending it. Even if it is sad.

Contains: sexuality

The Art of Racing in the Rain

Review of The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein

Overview from www.bn.com: A heart-wrenching but deeply funny and ultimately uplifting story of family, love, loyalty, and hope—a captivating look at the wonders and absurdities of human life . . . as only a dog could tell it.

My Review:

This book tells the story of a dog named Enzo. And you may be thinking, as I was, how could a story told from the point of view of a dog be that interesting? But it is.

At the book’s opening, Enzo is an old dog who can no longer control his bladder. He has seen a documentary explaining how Mongolians believe that some dogs that die are reincarnated as human beings but only if they are ready. Enzo is ready and he hopes to convince his owner, a racecar driver/mechanic named Denny, that he should let Enzo go and get on with his own life.

Enzo explains that they have had a good run together and it is time. He wants to go before things get worse. Then he tells us his story from the moment Denny picks him out from among a litter of pups until the present.

It is a beautiful story too. I liked it a lot. I won’t go so far as to say that I loved it but I really liked it.

The positives are many. First off though, I liked the dog’s name, Enzo. It is a great Italian name and I think Denny named him after some great Italian racecar driver though I am not sure which one. I don’t know anything about racing.

Also there are some episodes concerning Italy and the Italian language. The Italian is error-free from what I can tell. I love the way the Italian people welcome Denny and his family to Italy as well.

I also liked the ending but don’t worry I won’t give it away. It is beautiful and fitting. Denny is a likeable character as well and you see the best parts of his character since you’ll see him mostly through Enzo’s eyes. What dog doesn’t love his master? Yes, Enzo knows he has a good friend and companion in Denny.

Enzo is smart too. I know that not all dogs are smart like this but I did have a dog once that I could almost swear had human intelligence combined with dog-like loyalty. He was my favorite and Enzo reminds me of him.

The only downsides to this story for me were the frequent uses of the f-bomb and some sexuality. I almost stopped reading once because of the bad language but the power of the story convinced me to hang in there and I am glad I did.

I recommend this story to anyone who has ever loved a dog and can overlook the above mentioned flaws. It is a beautiful story, just lift up your ears and listen.

Contains: language, some sexual situations

Silver Like Dust

Review of Silver Like Dust by Kimi Cunningham Grant

Overview from www.bn.com: The poignant story of a Japanese-American woman’s journey through one of the most shameful chapters in American history.

Kimi’s Obaachan, her grandmother, had always been a silent presence throughout her youth. Sipping tea by the fire, preparing sushi for the family, or indulgently listening to Ojichan’s (grandfather’s) stories for the thousandth time, Obaachan was a missing link to Kimi’s Japanese heritage, something she had had a mixed relationship with all her life. Growing up in rural Pennsylvania, all Kimi ever wanted to do was fit in, spurning traditional Japanese culture and her grandfather’s attempts to teach her the language.

But there was one part of Obaachan’s life that fascinated and haunted Kimi—her gentle yet proud Obaachan was once a prisoner, along with 112,000 Japanese Americans, for more than five years of her life. Obaachan never spoke of those years, and Kimi’s own mother only spoke of it in whispers. It was a source of haji, or shame. But what really happened to Obaachan, then a young woman, and the thousands of other men, women, and children like her?

From the turmoil, racism, and paranoia that sprang up after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, to the terrifying train ride to Heart Mountain, Silver Like Dust captures a vital chapter the Japanese-American experience through the journey of one remarkable woman and the enduring bonds of family.

My Review:

Silver Like Dust is an unusual title for a slightly unusual book. The book centers on the story of the author’s grandmother’s experiences during World War II. Obaachan, Japanese for grandmother, is the name that the author uses to refer to her as throughout the book. One of Obaachan’s first conditions to telling her story is that she and the other players remain anonymous.

The surprise for me was when it finally dawned on me that the book was not a novel like I thought it was when I added it to my holds list of library books. For some reason, it took a few pages of reading for me to catch on to that. I kept thinking how clever it was for Cunningham Grant to write it as though it was a memoir until I realized that it might actually be just that.

I looked it up again online and found out that it really was a memoir. Therefore, most of the story at least, must be true. This only increased my interest.

Some readers were confused it seems by the fact that Ms. Grant jumps in and out of Obaachan’s story and the present time in which Obaachan tells her story to her granddaughter. I didn’t have a problem with this. I could easily follow since the jumps were not abrupt and I think since the author had little choice since the story she is telling is not her own. Showing the present shows not only the connection of what happened in Obaachan’s past to her present but also reminds the readers that the story is being told to Ms. Grant by someone other than herself.

Keeping all that in mind, I was surprised that the story flowed the way it did. Perhaps this is why I thought it was novel instead of a memoir. When the writer has to stick to the facts, it sometimes makes transitions difficult. I know this first hand.

Nevertheless, this story is more than the tale of a young Japanese woman’s experience in an internment camp during World War II. This is the tale of a reunion between grandmother and granddaughter. That is what makes it special.

I really came to like both Obaachan and her granddaughter through this book. I think I see what makes them tick. I like the openness and honesty between them.

Of course I also learned what I wanted to learn in the first place—what life in an internment camp was really like and how the Japanese people sent there were able to endure it without much protest.

I thought I already knew quite a bit about Japanese culture since my family had hosted at least three Japanese students in our home but I learned quite a bit more from this book. Some things that I saw when I was with them now make much more sense to me, things that they seem to keep hidden from outsiders. All of this is thanks to the author’s candid observations and discussions with Obaachan. This book is really about humanity. I recommend it highly.

Everybody’s Daughter

Review of Everybody’s Daughter by Michael John Sullivan

Overview from www.bn.com:

What if you had a chance to ask a loved one for forgiveness – after they died? What would you say? Would you give up your own lifetime of happiness for someone else?

Michael Stewart confronts these questions as he travels back in time through a mysterious tunnel in an old church when the Romans ruled with brutal violence and Jesus preached his peaceful message. His teenage daughter Elizabeth soon follows Michael, but is surprised to discover that her father is nowhere to be found. Little does she know that Michael has returned safely to the present, leaving her to battle a vicious Roman soldier….

Thrilling and suspenseful, Everbody’s Daughter takes readers on a miraculous journey of their own, where salvation can be found in acts of sacrifice and hope remains forever eternal through the passage of a tunnel.

My Review:

To say that this book is strange would be an understatement. I can honestly say I have never read anything like it.

It starts off with an allusion to time travel. We later learn hear the main characters talking amongst themselves about having been to Jerusalem in the time of Christ. Yes, it appears that there was a book before this one and it did indeed involve time travel to the first century A.D.

Michael tells his daughter, Elizabeth, that he feels guilty for leaving the first century without making sure that someone named Leah is ok. We soon learn that he has feelings for Leah and wants to marry her but is unsure how to find his way back.

However to simply say that this is a time travel novel would be misleading. There are elements of historical fiction, action and adventure, as well as the spirituality inherent in any story that touches on the life of Christ.

All of this left me a little confused though I still found the story beautiful. I have always wondered and imagined what it would be like to meet Jesus face-to-face and in the flesh. This book presents one way of imagining such a scenario. I often wonder what he would say to me and which questions he would answer. I think the author did a good job of imagining that though of course we most likely will never know for sure if it is right.

I am finding it difficult to really explain what this story is about so I think I will stop here and let my readers decide. If you feel you want to hear a story that tells of love and forgiveness and you are not too worried about certain details then this might be the story for you. It might be best though if you read the book before this one first.

While I can’t say I loved this one, I liked it enough to keep reading it. The scenes with Jesus in it were my favorite. I found myself wanting to reach out and touch him. Perhaps you will too.

Contains: some violence and sexuality.

Sacred Treason

Review of Sacred Treason by James Forrester

Overview from www.bn.com: 1563: Anyone could be a suspect; any Catholic could be accused of plotting against the throne. Clarenceux keeps his head down and his religion quiet. But when a friend desperately pleads with Clarenceux to hide a manuscript for him, he is drawn into a web of treachery and conspiracy he may never untangle. Is there no refuge if your faith is your enemy?

Bestselling author Dr. Ian Mortimer, writing as James Forrester, has crafted a chilling, brilliant story that re-imagines how the explosive mix of faith and fear can tear a country apart. Sacred Treason tells a thrilling story of murder, betrayal, and loyalty—and the power of the written word.

My Review:

This book was a Free Friday offering from Barnes & Noble that was presented as something akin to The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown. I found that description was somewhat misleading.

In an attempt to categorize novels so that potential readers will want to buy them, publishers often try to compare their offerings to something similar that the public already knows about. I think that is what happened here though I see very few similarities between this and Dan Brown’s book. In fact, the only similarities I see are that both stories involve a religious conspiracy and both involve a strong reliance on past events. That is where the similarities end though.

This story takes place entirely in the past, in Elizabethan England to be precise. There are no modern-day detectives involved except for the author describing his investigation of Henry Machyn’s chronicle and that comes after the story finishes.

Also, the author does not seem to be trying to discredit Christianity the way that Brown’s book reportedly did. In fact, although much of the plot centers on the Protestant/Catholic debate, most of the main characters in the book recognize that God works through either faith. I found this refreshing and thoroughly enjoyed the book as a result.

I am glad that I gave this book a chance for it proved to be much better than I expected. In fact, I loved this book. It is definitely one of my favorites that I have read so far this year. I think there is a good chance that it will make it into my top ten favorites for the end of the year.

So what did I love about it? Everything. I can hardly think of a bad thing to say about it. Of course, the first thing I always notice is the story. I don’t want to give away any spoilers as I hope you will read it for yourself and come to love it as much as I did but I will talk a little about the plot.

The story revolves around one William Harley who is a herald by profession and a Catholic in religion. One night an acquaintance of his named Henry Machyn comes to his house after curfew, scaring him to death. Perhaps he should have gone with his first impulse and refused to answer the door because the mission Machyn entrusts him with causes the deaths of many, including a small boy.

Machyn gives him a chronicle that he has been working on. He tells Harley, otherwise known as Mr. Clarenceux, that he must protect this book at all costs because it contains a great secret that will determine the fates of two queens. Clarenceux reluctantly agrees to keep the book while Machyn disappears off into the night.

Worried about Machyn, Clarenceux goes to his house to find him only to find a murderous Sargent-At-Arms waiting for him there. He gets arrested and it seems like the end for him when he is unexpectedly released yet still pursued by this Sargent-At-Arms who goes by the name Crakenthrope.

The plot continues, detailing Mr. Clarenceux’s attempts to hide the book while avoiding capture and the certain death that follows. It turns out that his pursuit involves people all the way up to Mr. William Cecil, right-hand man to Queen Elizabeth herself. Cecil will protect her majesty at all costs and wants to determine once and for all what Mr. Clarenceux’s involvement is and whether or not he is a threat to Elizabeth’s rule.

The next points I will talk about are the characters. We see little of Henry Machyn but he, like Clarenceux, seems caught up in a secret which he is not equipped to deal with. He trusts Clarenceux to do the right thing.

Clarenceux’s opinion about religion and Elizabeth’s role and rule in this debate change constantly though he never waivers from his belief that Catholicism is the right way to go. He is an honorable man however, and in the end he does what he believes to be the right thing for both his family and England as a whole. I found myself liking him all the more for his courage and forthrightness.

The other characters are also entertaining. I don’t know much about the Elizabethan period though I plan to study it soon but I got the sense that most of the characters could have existed and some of them in fact did. What they were really like would be hard to know for certain but I didn’t think the author did them any injustice.

I don’t understand why some of them think that this story is demeaning to Catholics. Though I am not a Catholic, I felt that if anything, it made them look good. As I said before, most of our main characters are Catholics and I found them very likable though I am not a Catholic myself.

Read it yourself to see what you think. If you like mysteries or thrillers you may find this interesting. And of course, historical fiction fans will probably like.

I recently went to the author’s website and found that he has two other books that follow Clarenceux’s life. I guess this is the first of a series then. When I have more money I hope to get an e-book copy of them and review them also. Or (hint, hint) perhaps the author will send a free copy for review my way. Either way, I am looking forward to it.

Contains: some scenes of violence or danger