Book Review: THE SEVENTH SUN by Lani Forbes

Months ago, I was asked to read an early copy and write a blurb for the debut novel of Lani Forbes, THE SEVENTH SUN. I was honored, and it's so fun to see part of my review published on the back of the audio book edition:

Additionally, Tuesday, 2/18/20, at 7pm in Boise, Idaho, I will have the pleasure of interviewing Lani at the launch party for her book. If you're in town, join us:

Scroll on down for my complete review of Lani's novel, but here is additional information about her book:

THE SEVENTH SUN
Author: Lani Forbes
Publication Date: February 18, 2020
ISBN: 978-1982546090
Publisher: Blackstone Publishing


Description from the Publisher:
Thrust into leadership upon the death of his emperor father, young Prince Ahkin feels completely unready for his new position. Though his royal blood controls the power of the sun, he's now responsible for the lives of all the Chicome people. And despite all Ahkin's efforts, the sun is fading--and the end of the world may be at hand.

For Mayana, the only daughter of the Chicome family whose blood controls the power of water, the old emperor's death may mean that she is next. Prince Ahkin must be married before he can ascend the throne, and Mayana is one of six noble daughters presented to him as a possible wife. Those who are not chosen will be sacrificed to the gods.

Only one girl can become Ahkin's bride. Mayana and Ahkin feel an immediate connection, but the gods themselves may be against them. Both recognize that the ancient rites of blood that keep the gods appeased may be harming the Chicome more than they help. As a bloodred comet and the fading sun bring a growing sense of dread, only two young people may hope to change their world.

Rich in imagination and romance, and based on the legends and history of the Aztec and Maya people, The Seventh Sun brings to vivid life a world on the edge of apocalyptic disaster.

About the Author:
Lani Forbes is the daughter of a librarian and an ex-drug smuggling surfer, which explains her passionate love of the ocean and books. A California native whose parents live in Mexico, she now resides in the Pacific Northwest where she stubbornly wears flip flops no matter how cold it gets. She teaches middle school math and science and proudly calls herself a nerd and Gryffindor. She is also an award-winning member of Romance Writers of America and the Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.



My Review:

With THE SEVENTH SUN, Lani Forbes joins Leigh Bardugo and Alwyn Hamilton in the ranks of the most talented fantasy authors of today.

Ancient civilizations, mythologies, head dresses, jade pendants, noble families, obsidian daggers – whoa boy – Lani Forbes’s debut novel, THE SEVENTH SUN, kept me glued to the page as I became fully immersed in the rich cultural experience of the Chicome people. With two main characters: Ahkin, a devout young prince who is expected to become emperor and lead his people, and Mayana, a heretic who could win Ahkin’s heart and become the next empress, THE SEVENTH SUN is full of conflict, emotion, and drama that will keep readers turning pages late into the night to find out what will happen next.

Forbes’s amazing writing enveloped me in the world of the story. Here are some of my favorite passages:

“Her heart drummed a rhythm so deep it pounded inside her ears, making her wonder how many beats it had left. Would they cut it from her chest and burn it on an altar? She shuddered, pressing her hand against it as thought she could shield it from such a fate.”

“Love does not hold grudges or demand payment.”

“Why had her father taught her every important ritual and rule under the sun but not how to hold the hand of a prince?”

“Human finger bones rattled from their shields and their quivers were filled not with arrows, but with sharpened bones from enemy arms and legs.”

I am a fan of series, but my favorites are ones where each book has a completed plot and the next book continues with the same awesome characters conquering a new plot. So be warned, THE SEVENTH SUN is the first book in a trilogy with a cliff hanger at the end. But hey, let’s be real, if that is my only criticism, that’s actually a huge compliment!

THE SEVENTH SUN, by far, is the best book I’ve read in ages, and I am so excited to continue reading the series. 

Lani Forbes delivers lush storytelling, vivid characters, and heart-pounding drama in her compelling debut novel, THE SEVENTH SUN.

[I received an early copy of this novel for free in exchange for an honest review. This in no way influenced my opinion of the book.]

IWSG: Inspiration from Art

www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com

This Month's Question: Has a single photo or work of art ever inspired a story? What was it and did you finish it?

http://www.uv.es/cultura/c/docs/exppinacotecapsiquiatrica09cast.htm

My Answer: While researching my novel, UNLOCKED, I came across this piece of art (above) from Spain's Psychiatric Gallery. It moved me. It did not inspire the novel, but it inspired elements of the main character and her struggle with what was happening in and to her mind. Mental health is a fascinating topic, and the art derived during therapy can be mesmerizing. I loved this piece of art so much, I described it in the novel.




What about you? Has piece of art ever inspired a story for you?

Book Review: THIRD TO DIE by Allison Brennan

Oh, I love a good murder mystery, so I was excited to read this new book by Allison Brennan, who is an author I've never encountered before. Scroll on down for my complete review.

The Third to Die
Author: Allison Brennan
Publication Date: February 4, 2020
ISBN: 9780778309444
Publisher: MIRA

Description from the Publisher:
New York Times bestselling author and gifted storyteller Allison Brennan's new standalone thriller features a troubled female police detective and an ambitious FBI special agent who wind up at the center of a ticking-clock investigation into a diabolical serial killer.

Brennan's novel will launch a book-a-year series featuring a fabulous cast of recurring characters. It’s the story of a troubled female police detective and an ambitious FBI special agent who wind up at the center of a ticking-clock investigation into a diabolical serial killer; and the bond they forge in this crucible sets the stage for the future books in the series.

Detective Kara Quinn is visiting her hometown of Liberty Lake, Washington, after being placed on administrative leave by the LAPD, when she comes upon the mutilated body of a young nurse during an early morning jog. The manner of death is clearly ritualistic; she calls it in. Meanwhile back in DC, special agent in charge Mattias Costa is meticulously staffing his newly-minted Mobile Response Team. One of his first recruits is the brilliant FBI forensic psychologist Catherine Jones. When word reaches Matt that the Washington state murder appears to be the work of the Triple Killer--it will be the first case for the MRT. Jones has done the only profile on this serial killer, but she is reluctant to join the unit, still shaken by the death of her sister a year ago under circumstances for which she holds herself responsible. But only she holds the key to understanding the killer's obsessive pattern--three murder victims, three deep slashes a piece, each three days apart, each series beginning on a March 3rd--3/3, then a three-year hiatus before he strikes again.

This time they have a chance to stop him before he claims another victim strikes, but only if they can figure out who he is and where is is hiding.

About the Author:
Allison Brennan is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling and award-winning author of three dozen thrillers and numerous short stories. She was nominated for Best Paperback Original Thriller by International Thriller Writers, has had multiple nominations and two Daphne du Maurier Awards, and is a five-time RITA finalist for Best Romantic Suspense. Allison believes life is too short to be bored, so she had five kids. Allison and her family live in Arizona. Visit her at allisonbrennan.com


Social Links:
Author website: https://www.allisonbrennan.com/
Facebook: @AllisonBrennan
Twitter: @Allison_Brennan
Instagram: @abwrites
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/52527.Allison_Brennan


My Review:

Third to Die by Allison Brennan is a page-turner!

With a balanced cast of characters, a fascinating plot, and interesting locale, Third to Die provides all the best elements of a terrific FBI mystery.

If you're a fan of police-procedural novels and/or a fan of the TV show Criminal Minds, you'll love Brennan's latest novel. This is the first book I've read by her, and now I'm a forever-fan!

The story is based on a "Mobile Response Team, a new squad of the FBI" which will aid small towns and underfunded communities in the solving of major crimes. 

While there is a lot of head-hopping with multiple points-of-view (there are a LOT of characters), Brennan does a fine job of clarifying whose perspective we're reading the story from. The only time it got weird was when the POV switched to a five-year-old boy. And yet, while it was weird, I must admit, the conclusion of his POV choked me up - almost to tears! The main characters were set up with personal wounds they each had to overcome in order to help solve the crime, and these emotional hurdles made them so much more lovable. For example, Brennan writes about Kara: "She left this place for good at the age of eighteen with a GED in her pocket and the hope of being a cop in her heart." And regarding Catherine: "You're the single best profiler the FBI has. You're the one who has these skills, this awesome and terrifying ability to get into the heads of killers ... if you leave the FBI now, because of your sister's murder, it will haunt you forever." Additionally, while I assumed from the beginning that some of these characters would have to die, when the time came, I was still surprised in the moment and impressed with how Brennan handled it.

There were several places throughout the narrative where I felt like Brennan's writing was repetitive, but overall I loved the writing. For example, passages like: "Catherine disliked the word normal because there was no true normal. To her, normal simply meant a person who flew under the radar, who didn't register as good or bad, kind or cruel, attractive or unattractive." If you have an aversion to the f-word, be warned, Brennan uses the word a lot, but not so much that it made me stop reading. 

As the story reached its climax and the hunt for the killer was at full-throttle, I was fully engaged and reading faster and faster in order to see how the story would be resolved.

I'm always concerned when I see that a novel is the first in a series, because I dislike cliff hangers at the end of a novel. My favorite way to read a series is to have each book have its own plot neatly tied up at the end, with the characters continuing from novel to novel. I am thrilled to say this new series by Brennan does just that! I look forward to reading the next in the series and continuing on with this great cast within the Mobile Response Team.


[I received an early copy from the publisher via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review. This in no way influenced my opinion.]