REVIEW: Ukishima / Nigel Sellars

TITLE: Ukishima

AUTHOR: Nigel Sellars

PUBLISHER: Hydra Publications

AVAILABILITY: Amazon US (Kindle e-book), Amazon UK (Kindle e-book)

APPROXIMATE LENGTH: 459 pages

Recommended for fans of Asian lore (especially Japanophiles) and epic high fantasies.

GENRE

Fantasy—Epic

Although Ukishima is not a Western-style epic, it contains many of the same elements: an honorable hero, a land in peril, a powerful villain aligned with dark forces. Ukishima draws much of its inspiration from Japanese lore, and with its descriptions of the culture, has a touch of historical fiction.

PACE

This book takes the time to set up its rich and detailed world. It alternates between fast-paced battles and slower scenes depicting the world it takes place in. When the action does pick up, Sellars in relentless, throwing the hero into fight after fight against all kinds of adversaries, scarcely allowing him to take a breath before pitting him against another evil.

PERSPECTIVE

Third person limited. Ukishima is told from the point of view of Minamoto Ichiro and depicts his internal thoughts and ruminations as we follow him on his journey.

CONTENT REVIEW

Plagued by cancer, Japanese pilot Minamoto Ichiro chooses to give his life for his country in a World War II kamikaze mission. Right before he goes down, the Japanese god of war, Hachiman, transports him to another dimension and tells him that he is needed. In a parallel world, one man’s demonic dealings threatens to spread evil through all realities and tear apart the fabric of the universe. Hachiman wants Ichiro to be the hero who will stop this evil and save not only that world, but all the others as well.

Ichiro accepts the mission and is transported to this parallel Japan—Nihon—in which magic roams free and Westerners have not yet arrived. Here, he is a samurai, a general of the young Emperor, and wielder of the legendary sword Kusinagi. With the help of a female ninja and a naïve young monk, Ichiro sets out to destroy the wicked Lord Taira, the man in league with the dark forces.

As a character, Ichiro is the epitome of honor, a man who gives up all sense of self to do his duty and right the world’s wrongs. Intelligent and contemplative, he’s the type of hero we all respect. He is both a deadly force of battle and a kindly mentor, a wise leader and a student of ancient teachings. He’s not perfect, of course, but the moments in which he seems to falter make his victories all the more triumphant. The other characters, unfortunately, are not as developed and often seem like the orchestral backing to Ichiro’s solo performance.  He is an interesting protagonist to read about, and so it’s easy to forget about the others.

Ukishima is written in a rather old-fashioned style, bringing to mind the tone of ancient epic poems. Metaphors abound and Japanese terms are used freely, accompanied by brief definitions. At times these devices feel a little heavy-handed, but generally they add to the book’s atmosphere. Since the story is told from Ichiro’s point of view, the exoticism of this world is treated as the familiar, creating a wholly immersive reading experience. Through his rich writing, Sellars transports his readers to Nihon and takes them through palaces, towns, and monasteries, opening up every aspect of the world and inviting them to explore. He intertwines real elements from Japanese culture and monsters from their lore with his own vivid imagination, creating a world that is to Japan what Middle Earth is to Northwestern Europe.

One aspect of Ukishima that stands out is the exploration of the male and the female, or rather, the blend of the two. Hachiman tells Ichiro, “Male and female minds are within you, and you understand both their natures.  You love both men and women with all your heart, yet you can hate them as passionately.” Ichiro admits in one scene that he was in love with his mentor and married the mentor’s daughter to be closer to him. The young monk accompanying Ichiro is clearly in love with him and resents the female ninja for her relationship with him. Toward the end, we are introduced to a spirit that is both male and female united, both mentally and physically. Ichiro’s acceptance of this dichotomy translates to a willingness to embrace both sides of other things as well. As Hachiman says, he is the perfect choice for this quest because he willingly accepted death, but still fights for life.

It’s elements like these that make Ukishima transcend its genre. In addition to being an epic adventure with lots of evil monsters to fight, it’s also a meditation on what it means to be a hero and an exploration of a faraway culture. Between the thrill of seeing Ichiro take down demonic beasts and undead warriors, we are shown a fascinating mythological world and different ways of thinking. All in all, it’s a unique and exciting read.

THE NITPICKY STUFF

This book would have benefited from a proofreader, but in spite of the errors, the meaning is always clear.

There are a handful of sex scenes in this book. The language is clean (no swear words). This book contains many violent battle scenes, some of which can be a bit gruesome.

After the author biography at the end, there is a glossary of Japanese terms, which may prove useful as several objects in the book are referred to by their Japanese names.

AUTHOR INFO

Nigel Sellars lives in Newport News, Virginia, where he is an associate professor of history at Christopher Newport University. He holds a doctorate in American history from the University of Oklahoma as well as degrees in psychology and journalism. In addition to Ukishima, he is also the author of a young adult novel, Chris and the Vampire (2010) and several short stories.

Find him on Facebook

RELATED: An Interview with Nigel Sellars

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Stuart Wilson

Stuart Wilson, author of the YA sci-fi adventure Kyle vs. Leila (formerly titled Cyberfreak Debt), answers questions about his novel and his writing habits. Follow him on Twitter.

The majority of Cyberfreak Debt takes place at the Directorate of Metanormal Defense. How did you go about developing this complex setting?

I knew I wanted to keep all the craziness in one place—it would have gotten out of hand if the characters could have wandered wherever they liked! So I just started adding all the features they’d need to live and train: food halls, sports arenas, racing courses… but then it just got out of hand anyway.

From the setting to the sound effects, Cyberfreak Debt seems heavily inspired by comic books. Why did you choose to write in this style?

I’ll take that as a compliment! I grew up on comic books and I still love them. When I envisage stories in my head they’re always in a pow! zap! sort of form, so I guess that just comes out in the writing. Mainly I wanted to the book to be fun, and I think that’s exactly what you get with comic books.

How did you go about choreographing the action scenes?

The main aim here was for unpredictability. If things start kicking off I wanted the reader to have no idea what might happen—sometimes even I didn’t know what was happening! 

What was the inspiration behind Ahn, the little Japanese boy who is simultaneously wise and childishly absurd?

I have friends with Japanese heritage and it’s a really interesting culture from my point of view (I’m a Brit), so I wanted to play with some of this in the story. Although I never intended him as a main character, he already seems very popular and I’m glad about that because he deserves it.

What was the first idea you had for Cyberfreak Debt, and how did the story grow from there?

It’s the cumulation of so many other stories that I’ve written in the past; all the best bits pulled into one piece so it’s kind of been developing for years. It’s hard to say exactly where one story begins, but of all the books I’ve ever written, this is the first one that felt complete.

Do you have a favorite aspect about writing? Scenes you particularly enjoyed creating? Characters you especially liked developing?

I love the absolute freedom. You can literally take your characters wherever you want and, especially in a story like Cyberfreak Debt, the possibilities are limitless. I like pushing the boundaries as far as I can, to the point of insanity and beyond!

Describe your ideal writing situation. Where would you be? What would you have available?

Lots of coffee and Diet Coke. I think I’m addicted but I need a steady flow of caffeine to keep going. After that as long as I’ve got headphones, I don’t mind where I am—café, office, library… I just carry my laptop around and find a place to perch.

If Cyberfreak Debt could be adapted into any other medium, what would you want it be? Comic book? Movie? TV series?

Movies can be over too quick and, while a box set can be with you a long time, almost like a book, I think I’d have to say comic just to satisfy my inner geek…

What’s next for Kyle Rivers? Will he be returning for future adventures? What about Leila?

I hope readers will see Kyle’s journey came to a comfortable conclusion. He’s got himself together and can really choose what happens now. Leila however has all sorts of beef, loose ends and vendettas to take care of. She’s the one to watch and the one I’m most excited to write about next!

Kyle vs. Leila is available at: Amazon US (Kindle ebook), Amazon UK (Kindle ebook), Smashwords (multiple e-formats)

REVIEW: Cyberfreak Debt / Stuart Wilson

TITLE: Kyle Vs. Leila (formerly titled Cyberfreak Debt)

AUTHOR: Stuart Wilson

PUBLISHER: Self-Published

AVAILABILITY: Amazon US (Kindle ebook), Amazon UK (Kindle ebook), Smashwords (multiple e-formats)

APPROXIMATE LENGTH: 107,000 words

Recommended for fans of comic book adventures such as the TV show X-Men: Evolution.

GENRE

Science Fiction—Young Adult

Cyberfreak Debt takes place in a comic book type of universe in which teenagers attend an underground school at the Directorate of Metanormal Defense to learn how to battle supernatural dangers (vampires, ghosts, etc). Nanobots, virtual reality, holograms, and other high-tech gadgets are commonplace. Familiar territory for readers of comics like the X-Men series. This universe is a sci-fi/fantasy blend, with paranormal happenings given “scientific” explanations. None of these explanations are drawn out, though—there’s hardly any techno-babble.

PACE

This book is relatively fast-paced, with plenty of exciting action scenes and lingering mysteries. The story pulls back every so often to ruminate on the thoughts of the main character, Kyle, as he deals with the changes in his life, the death of his parents, and his relationships with his friends.

PERSPECTIVE

Third person limited. The story alternates between Kyle’s point of view and that of Leila, a girl who attacks the Directorate early in the story and is imprisoned in a virtual world.

CONTENT REVIEW

14-year-old Kyle Rivers, left paralyzed after an accident that killed his parents, is given an offer he can’t refuse: join the Directorate of Metanormal Defense and walk again. Via high-tech nanobots that work specifically with his DNA, Kyle not only regains use of his legs, but develops super-speed and the ability to read people’s danger levels.

Along with his wacky best friend, Ollie, Kyle attends the DMD’s training program, hoping to one day become an agent who protects humans from dangers such as vampires and poltergeists. Not long after their arrival, a teenage girl called Leila, whose father had been killed by one of the DMD’s agents, attacks the compound. Leila is captured and placed in a virtual reality prison, where she must face demons generated by the minds of the other prisoners in order to survive and possibly escape.

Cyberfreak Debt alternates between Kyle’s story and Leila’s chapter by chapter, with each chapter opening with an ominous countdown to “cyberdome activation.” The cyberdome causes the real and the virtual clash, sometimes bringing Kyle into the virtual world, sometimes sending Leila into the real one and bringing to life that which is imagined. This causes both realize that something nefarious is going on at the DMD, and they must put aside their differences to figure out who is behind the cyberdome activations, and what their motivations are. Is it Agent Magnolia, the creepy, dangerous man who seems to radiate evil? Is it Director-General Pratt, the goofy man in charge and Kyle’s legal guardian? Professor Brownstein, the caffeine-addicted scientist behind most of the DMD’s technology? Someone else entirely?

Meanwhile, Kyle adjusts to life at the DMD—attending classes, dealing with bullies, joking around with Ollie. Every so often, he is prone to bouts of melancholy as he recalls his parents’ tragic death, and he gradually learns to take control of his mind and not allow his doubts and frustrations to overwhelm him. Courageous, diligent, and good-natured, he is an immediately likable protagonist who is easy to sympathize with, the kind of kid we all like to root for. He sparks with hero potential, following his do-the-right-thing instincts in a manner that is genuine and unpretentious.

Leila, on the other hand, is an arrogant, tough-talking spitfire. She is, in many ways, the opposite of Kyle. Whereas Kyle does his best not to dwell on his parents’ deaths, Leila fixates on avenging her father. She is a fascinating character to watch, one whose violent tendencies make her unpredictable. Both Kyle and Leila interact with a Japanese boy called Ahn, an odd little Buddhist who rattles off nuggets of wisdom in humorously broken English.

Wilson’s snappy and witty writing makes Cyberfreak Debt crackle with energy. Between the zingy dialogue and the vibrant action scenes interlaced with sound effects (Raka-taka-taka! Kabloom!), this book and its characters practically explode from the page. It’s as though he’s allowed his vivid imagination to run wild, creating a story that is dynamic and a tad surreal. He uses the virtual world and the cyberdome activations to illustrate the idea that runs through the whole book—you are what you imagine yourself as. 

And yet he also takes the time to develop the characters, sometimes stepping back from the action to draw out poignant scenes that add a level of emotional depth to the story. Kyle isn’t just a hero-in-training—he’s also a kid coping with tragedy. Ollie isn’t just the plucky best friend—he uses his jokes to cover his insecurities. And Leila, bitter and hostile, teeters on the edge of villainy.

But for the most part, Cyberfreak Debt is pure fun—thrilling, humorous, and rather ridiculous at times. Among other things, Wilson throws in Nazi clown cowboys, an eating contest ending in copious flatulence, and more than a few jabs at the Twilight series (“Vampires do not sparkle!”). Through the twists and turns of the plot, vividly imagined settings, and the lively character interactions, this book grabs you from the beginning and refuses to let go.

THE NITPICKY STUFF

There are a handful of small errors and typos, but nothing distracting.

Heads up for American readers—Cyberfreak Debt uses British conventions.

This book contains comic book type violence (explosions, gunshots, etc.), but nothing gruesome or graphic. The content is appropriate for a young audience.

AUTHOR INFO

[from Amazon.com’s author page]

Stuart Wilson was born in Manchester and comes from a family with a recessive werewolf gene, meaning no one ever changes form, but they do all growl a bit. He likes writing with a quill pen set on fire, giving him a few minutes writing time before he has to stop to battle the flames. The work which survives these constant bouts is now available on amazon and in all good book stores (with computers in them where you can access amazon). Enjoy…

Follow him on Twitter 

AUTHOR READING OF AN EXCERPT:

COMING SOON: An Interview with Stuart Wilson

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Tom Wallace

Tom Wallace, author of the crime thriller Gnosis, answers questions about his writing process and inspirations. Visit his website or Like him on Facebook.

“Write what you know,” the old saying goes. How much of Gnosis is based on your own experiences? What do you have in common with Detective Jack Dantzler?

I have nothing in common with Dantzler, except for a love of tennis and a bent toward philosophical musings. Dantzler, like Cain in Heirs of Cain, is what I wish I was—intelligent, talented, tough, handsome. “Write what you know” is fine; however, I would rather write what I want to be.

Are any of the characters based on people you know?

No. Every character is born in the depths of my imagination.

Dantzler and the man whose innocence he’s trying to prove, Reverend Eli Whitehouse, both spend a lot of time contemplating God. Why did you choose to incorporate this religious element into your book?

I had been reading Harold Bloom’s great book Jesus and Yahweh: The Names Divine, and aspects of the book sort of seeped into the story. That can happen; I was reading a lot of Camus when I was writing What Matters Blood, and some of his stuff ended up in the book. The title, Gnosis, comes from the terms gnostic or gnosticism, which, in some ways, incorporates several of my own beliefs. Portraying Eli Whitehouse as a hard-core Christian fell naturally into the story.  Most Christians, especially American Christians, are actually gnostics, even though they are unaware of it, or would ever admit to it.

The plot of Gnosis includes a lot of twists and turns. Are you the type of writer who maps out your story beforehand, or do you make things up as you go along? What’s your process like?

Normally, I don’t plot things out too far in advance. I like to let the story take me where it wants me to go. However, I do spend a lot of time thinking about how I want to begin each chapter. I never begin a chapter until I have the starting point clear in my mind.

What kind of research did you do in order to write Gnosis?

No research, other than reading Bloom’s book.

Other than Dantzler, who was featured in two previous novels, what element of Gnosis first came to mind?

For me, Gnosis was less about a detective trying to solve a 29-year-old double murder, and more about redemption, particularly the redemption of Eli and his tormented son, Tommy. One of my favorite moments in the book comes in the final chapter, when Eli and Tommy are reunited after not having seen each other in 29 years.  I think that’s a really powerful moment.

Why did you choose to write crime thrillers? What it is about the genre that intrigues you?

I tried to write a “serious” novel on several occasions, only to quickly realize that I’m not Norman Mailer, Philip Roth or Cormac McCarthy. I don’t have their talent, and never will have it. Mysteries and crime thrillers came more naturally, so that’s why I went in that direction. It was either that, or never give myself a chance of being published.

You spent many years as a sportswriter before penning fiction. What compelled you to start writing novels?

I have written more than 1,000 poems and five sports-related books, so going up the ladder to writing a novel seemed like a logical progression. I finished my first novel in 1989, my second in 1992. I didn’t have one published until 2006, so if nothing else, I can say I have something of a bulldog’s tenacity.  Either that, or I’m simply too stubborn to throw in the towel.  

Are you working on anything new? Will you continue writing about Detective Jack Dantzler?

My next novel, The List, will be published in February. It will feature Dantzler, along with Cain, the legendary assassin in Heirs of Cain. Essentially, this will be more Cain’s book than Dantzler’s. The one after that is tentatively titled The Fire of Heaven, and it is another Dantzler book. I’m about 30,000 words into it at this point. 

Gnosis is available at: Amazon US (Kindle e-book), Amazon US (paperback), Amazon UK (Kindle e-book), Amazon UK (paperback),  Barnes & Noble (paperback), Powell's Books (paperback)

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Gwen Perkins

Gwen Perkins, author of the swords-and-sorcery fantasy The Universal Mirror, discusses her novel's characters, magic system, and inspirations. Visit her website, Friend her on Facebook, or Follow her on Twitter.

 

The Universal Mirror takes place on the island of Cercia, where magic is strictly bound by laws called the Heresies. What inspired you to set up your world in this way?

One of the things that I've always found inspiring as a writer is limitations.  I've never been someone who is very good at thinking up plots with perfect characters.  If someone can accomplish what they need easily and with little resistance from the outside world, I'm afraid that I just don't find that incredibly believable, perhaps because that doesn't reflect my own experience.

The Heresies came about for a number of reasons.  The world of Cercia is a place in which structured religion as we understand it has been gone for some time.  One of the themes that I wanted to examine in this series, however, was the question of what laws do men live by when they have no gods?  In this case, the Cercians replaced formalized religion with a set of laws and prohibitions around magic with the idea of keeping public order. (There are more sinister reasons for why they did this but I'd prefer not to spoil anyone for further twists in the series.)  Each "Heresy" basically relates to something that the government doesn't wish the people to do, particularly those who have access to controlling great amounts of physical power.

A key question in the novel becomes why the government makes one of these laws in such a way that no magician is allowed to heal.  It makes no sense to the protagonists that their moral code outlaws what, to them, is one of the most moral actions a man can take. 

Quentin

Both the arrogant young nobleman Quentin and his best friend, the good-hearted merchant Asahel, could be considered the protagonist. Why did you choose to focus on two main characters instead of one?

I like to do two main characters per novel because it allows me to change the focus and to cover more ground.  Each character brings something very different to the table and it's interesting to me how readers have reacted to both. 

Asahel

Also, I'll be the first to admit that both Asahel and Quentin are flawed in their own ways which was a deliberate choice on my part.  Not all readers enjoy reading flawed characters and I hope that by varying a bit, I've managed to provide a more balanced story for them to enjoy.  My point-of-view characters do change throughout the series.  While you see Quentin and Asahel as the main characters in The Universal Mirror, my next book The Jealousy Glass (coming out December 1) focuses on Asahel and Felix.

Felix

Do you have a favorite character, or a character you particularly sympathize with?

I have to admit that I love them all in different ways, though Quentin irritated me quite a lot in the writing of the first book.  I'm fond of Asahel in large part because of how I see him changing and growing throughout the series (a bit spoilery, perhaps, but true).

A character that I was surprised to discover I enjoyed as much as I did was Felix.  Felix was actually introduced into the book because my youngest daughter asked me to name a character Felix.  I did so to humor her and then got really interested in his story.  I had a number of readers comment on him as well, so many that it actually got him promoted to main character status in the second book.  (I have to admit, I'm one of those authors who listens to their readers.  I may not always be able to make them happy but in a case like this, it was a pleasure to try.  Hopefully, I've succeeded.) 

Which part of The Universal Mirror did you most enjoy writing and why?

It's always a little easier for me to remember the hard parts but there were definitely characters and moments that I enjoyed.  There are a few little references and injokes that I slipped in here and there (one reader finally caught one to Sweeney Todd the other day and I was so happy)—I love to put those things in since it gives people who know something about me or about history something to uncover.

It's hard for me to share my favorite scenes without spoiling the entire book but I really loved writing the end of the story.  By that point, the character relationships were defined enough that I was able to keep building on them.  For the same reason, I enjoyed the sequel—familiar characters allowed me to delve more deeply into the story at hand.

One of the things that jumped out to me about your writing is how it carries an old-fashioned, almost archaic tone, reminiscent of older fantasies and even epic poems. Why did you choose to write in this style?

I don't know that it was entirely intentional so much as a carryover from my day job.  I work as a museum curator and spend a lot of time reading letters and documents from the past.  When you spend most of your days thinking in that voice, it slips into just about everything you write.  For this story, it felt appropriate enough to keep.

I also cut my teeth as a child on the old sword and sorcery tales so you're right in noting that influence.  I loved those short, simple books that people like Fritz Leiber and Robert Howard were writing—they were always so full of magic, mystery and intrigue.  That was the feel I wanted to capture in these fantasy stories of my own—just to give the reader a few moments of adventure away from their own lives.

How did you develop the magic system at the center of the story? That is, the rules of the magic, how it is used and channeled, who can use it, etc.?

The rules and ideas actually were inspired initially by the Renaissance university and education system.  I tend to think of the education that the magicians receive as much more global than a simple expression of magic (I'm working on a prequel, Paper Armor, that really defines the use of magic in Cercia). 

Also, one thing that I knew was that I wanted a kind of magic that could be channeled through a universal resource but that I could have different cultures use in different ways.  That was where the use of the body as a conduit for earth energies came in.  I could write a whole post just on that concept and the differing relationships of cultures in the Artifacts-verse to magic—it definitely comes into play in The Jealousy Glass and more so in subsequent novels.

In The Universal Mirror, you take the time to set up your world before advancing the plot and conflict. Why did you choose to write with this slower pace rather than the page-turning style that seems to be in vogue these days?

To me, what was important was setting the foundation for a much broader story.  The series travels throughout a number of lands and examines the magicians' interactions with class, other cultures and with their own abilities.  It's hard to tell stories like that unless you start with a strong base.  I'm hoping that readers will want to stay with the series through its end and that, by allowing them to know the world and characters, they will love them as much as I do and perhaps imagine themselves a part of it. 

If you were to live on the island of Cercia, who would you be? Magician? Noblewoman? Both? What do you think it would be like to live there?

Oh, I'd probably be a poor wretch on the docks!

As far as what it would be like to live in Cercia, it would all depend on who you were and what your class was.  (And don't forget questions of gender, sexuality, and to some extent, religion.)  I imagine that being a noble in Cercia would be a fairly relaxed and pampered existence, if a little boring, whereas those  of the lower classes have it extremely hard.  Women also struggle in Cercia and have a much more difficult existence there than in the Anjduri Empire or other parts of the world.  There's a history behind that but that will be saved for other books.

What’s next for Quentin and Asahel?

They're both featured in the sequel to Universal Mirror entitled The Jealousy Glass.  This book, which comes out December 1, follows Asahel as he travels to the Anjduri Empire with Felix in tow.  It takes place one year after the events at the end of the first book and really starts to examine how things have unfolded in Cercia since.  Really, it's like a friend of mine put it—"The revolution's over.  Now what?"

The Universal Mirror is available at:  Amazon US (Kindle e-book), Amazon US (paperback), Amazon UK (Kindle e-book), Amazon UK (paperback), Barnes & Noble (paperback), Powell's Books (paperback)

REVIEW: Gnosis / Tom Wallace

TITLE: Gnosis (A Jack Dantzler Mystery)

AUTHOR: Tom Wallace

PUBLISHER: Hydra Publications

AVAILABILITY: Amazon US (Kindle e-book), Amazon US (paperback), Amazon UK (Kindle e-book), Amazon UK (paperback),  Barnes & Noble (paperback), Powell's Books (paperback)

APPROXIMATE LENGTH: 259 pages (paperback)

Recommended for fans of crime mysteries like The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and its sequels.

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GENRE

Thriller—Mystery/Crime

Gnosis is a fairly straightforward detective story. It follows Jack Dantzler, the main character, as he searches for clues and gradually unravels the mystery at the center of the plot, laying out his thought processes. There is also a prominent religious element, as the man whose innocence he’s trying to prove is a Christian reverend.

PACE

Page-turner. Gnosis immediately introduces the reader to a puzzling mystery, opening with a seemingly random murder and then fast-forwarding to several decades later, when Dantzler reinvestigates the case. Twists along the way keep a reader guessing until the end.

PERSPECTIVE

Third person limited. The majority of the narrative is written from Dantzler’s point of view and outlines his thoughts as he wrestles with his perplexing case. Every so often, there’s a chapter written from the point of view of a secondary character. Some parts of the narrative transition into a more omniscient perspective to explain the background of a character.

CONTENT REVIEW

Like every good crime thriller, Gnosis opens with a murder, one that is perplexing in its apparent randomness. Twenty-nine years later, Jack Dantzler, a dedicated Lexington detective with years of experience, is summoned by Reverend Eli Whitehouse, who was convicted of the crime. Whitehouse had said little in his defense at his trial decades earlier, and all the evidence pointed at him. Now, he claims that he is innocent and wants Dantzler to prove it.

Dantzler is initially skeptical, but “like it or not, his interest had been piqued.” Too many things don’t add up—why would a reverend with no ties to anything nefarious coldly execute two young men? He is also unable to stand the thought of an innocent man could be in prison, and so he begins looking into the case. When one of the people who was involved in the case is brutally murdered, Dantzler realizes that not only is the reverend innocent, but the real killer is still out there—and still killing.

The majority of Gnosis is written like a typical detective story or police procedural, depicting conversations between investigators, interviews with witnesses, and the like. Wallace lays out Dantzler’s internal thoughts as he contemplates his case, outlining the detective’s logic, doubts, and ruminations. The reader is given the same information as Dantzler, and as a result, it is easy to get lost in Dantzler’s head and share his frustrations as he finds himself bombarded by questions: “Why would Eli take the blame, then silently spend the next three decades behind prison bars? Why didn’t he fight it with greater vigor? What was the reason for his silence? What was he afraid of? Who was he protecting? Who was the real murderer?”

There is also a major religious element woven into this murder mystery. Dantzler’s first discussion with Whitehouse concerns God, and his third-person internal monologues are strewn with his musings on the subject as the book progresses. Dantzler is a Gnostic, a man who believes in a Creator beyond the God of the Bible, religion beyond the institution. Whitehouse, meanwhile, is a man of God who struggles to understand why such a heavy burden was placed on him.

The puzzle at the center of Gnosis is intriguing enough to keep the pages turning, especially when the real killer shows up, depicted as an unnamed shadowy figure, and stalks Dantzler. At the same time, Wallace likes to paint vibrant portraits of his characters, including the ones he kills off. In fact, all the murders in Gnosis are written from the points of view of the soon-to-be DOAs, starting with one of the punk kids Whitehouse was convicted of murdering. He wants the reader to get to know the people involved in his story, to understand their backgrounds, personalities, and drives. Dantzler, as the main character, is given the fullest treatment—everything from his past as a rising tennis star to his current sort-of relationship with the obligatory sexy female investigator is detailed. These character studies are what set this book apart from an episode of CSI, adding depth to what could have been just another whodunit.

Wallace is a skilled author who clearly understands the ins and outs of his genre—how to set up a mystery, drop clues, and create suspense. His writing is mostly straightforward and down-to-earth, making it easy to move from sentence to sentence without realizing how many pages one has gone through. There are moments when he goes a little overboard with the metaphors, and some of his sweeping statements about life and religion seem rather heavy-handed, as though he’s using his detective novel as a platform for his philosophical musings. Then again, Dantzler is quite the thinker, a man who studied philosophy and reads books on religion in his spare time.

Gnosis is a book that’s virtually impossible to walk away from, the kind that had me flipping the pages thinking, “What happens? What happens? What happens?” I ended up finishing it in less than two days, and begrudging the time I had to spend away from it. Its slower character-centric scenes are more than offset by the swirling questions of a baffling case, one that is anything but closed.

THE NITPICKY STUFF

There are a teeny-tiny, barely perceptible number of errors that are harder to find than the mystery killer in Gnosis.

This book features a number of murders, and there is one violent scene involving guns. The descriptions of the corpses can be somewhat disturbing. There is some adult language. Sex and drugs are mentioned but not described in detail.

AUTHOR INFO

Tom Wallace is a Vietnam vet and an active member of Mystery Writers of America and the Author’s Guild. He lives in Lexington, Kentucky, and has penned two previous mysteries featuring Detective Jack Dantzler, What Matters Blood and The Devil’s Racket.

Visit his website or Like him on Facebook

RELATED: An Interview with Tom Wallace 

REVIEW: The Universal Mirror / Gwen Perkins

TITLE: The Universal Mirror

AUTHOR: Gwen Perkins

PUBLISHER: Hydra Publications

AVAILABILITY: Amazon US (Kindle e-book), Amazon US (paperback), Amazon UK (Kindle e-book), Amazon UK (paperback), Barnes & Noble (paperback), Powell's Books (paperback)

APPROXIMATE LENGTH: 178 pages (paperback)

  

Recommended for fans of medieval fantasies like the British TV series Merlin and the Game of Thrones books.

GENRE

Fantasy—Sword and Sorcery

The Universal Mirror takes place on the fictional island of Cercia in a world of magic and noblemen. Familiar territory for fans of European-style medieval fantasies like the Game of Thrones series. The Universal Mirror is focused on a small group of characters and their personal battles within their magical world rather than the end-of-the-world type conflicts of epic heroic fantasies. With its depictions of class systems and old-fashioned dialogue, this book sometimes reads like historical fiction.

The Universal Mirror is the first book in the Artifacts of Empire series. Although the ending is open-ended enough to invite sequels, it does not leave the reader with a cliffhanger.

PACE

The Universal Mirror isn’t the fast-paced page-turner type, but it’s nevertheless engaging. Perkins sets up the book’s universe and the characters’ backgrounds while advancing the plot bit by bit—until the last third or so, when everything starts unraveling.

PERSPECTIVE

Third person. The book seems to switch between a more omniscient point of view and a closer, limited third. The chapters alternate between the perspectives of the two main characters, Quentin and Asahel, and only one characters’ internal thoughts are shown at a time.

CONTENT REVIEW

On the island of Cercia, magicians are forbidden to leave and bound by strict laws called the Heresies. No magician is to practice magic on a human being, living or dead. But that doesn’t stop Quentin, a young and arrogant nobleman, from secretly engaging the services of a grave robber so he can hone his supernatural craft. His best friend, a good-hearted man of a lower class called Asahel, reluctantly aides him in his efforts, knowing that if they are caught, they will be executed.

Both Quentin and Asahel could be considered the protagonist of The Universal Mirror, which switches between their perspectives chapter by chapter. Quentin’s motivations for risking not only his life, but the life of his friend, are noble enough. He believes that magic can be used to heal and wants to practice on corpses, much like a medical student. In his obsession and determination, he often disregards the world around him—taking Asahel for granted, never questioning the origins of the corpses, and more. Asahel, meanwhile, is a genuine and loyal man who finds himself torn between the desire to help Quentin and his own sense of right and wrong.

Perkins’ writing has an old-fashioned lilt to it through its choice of words and its use of epithets (Quentin is often referred to as “the redhead”). The Universal Mirror seems to transition in and out of a more omniscient point of view, in which the reader is watching the story from afar, and a closer third, in which the reader experiences the story through the eyes of Quentin or Asahel. It’s not perfect—some parts feel overwritten and the little red pen in my head itched to scratch out a handful of redundant phrases—but it certainly has its own voice.

The Universal Mirror is the kind of book that allows the reader to really care about the characters and understand their world. Through dialogues and back stories that are gradually revealed, Perkins meticulously develops her book’s fantastical universe, describing everything from the structure of the society to the characters’ personal backgrounds to how the magic works. Asahel is by far the most sympathetic character, with his kind, somewhat naïve nature. Sometimes he seems a little too nice and dependent on Quentin, although as the book progresses, so does he. Quentin and his wife, Catharine, a cold and snappish woman whose physical beauty is marred by plague scars, are less immediately likable. Catharine often claims that her father bought Quentin for her, since she is of a wealthier family, and appears indifferent to his feelings and actions. Quentin is convinced that she hates him and treats her coolly even though he is secretly devoted to her. Their dynamic is what creates much of the book’s drama. And then there’s Felix, a magician and nobleman like Quentin, whose charming and casual nature hide his unpredictable intentions.

Many contemporary books, catering to an impatient audience, drop their readers in the middle of the story and make a mad sprint for the end, sprinkling the plot with a quick dash of details that are barely glimpsed. Like watching a countryside zip by out the window of a train, you get the idea of the world you’re in but not much more. In The Universal Mirror, Perkins throws this notion out the window. She takes her time to create the universe her story takes place in, describing the setting in intricate detail and showing scenes between the characters that may not advance the plot but give the reader a better sense of who they are. The book can feel a little slow, and the plot doesn’t really take off until the second half. But by the time it does, one is so familiar with the universe and invested in the people that the ultimate conflict holds greater meaning and carries more suspense than it would have without the set-up. I was, I confess, a bit impatient with the opening, but then I found myself unexpectedly moved and unable to put the book down.

THE NITPICKY STUFF

There are a handful of small errors, but nothing distracting.

This book is pretty G-rated. There is some fantasy-style violence (magical duels, swords, and the like), but nothing graphic or gruesome.

AUTHOR INFO

Gwen Perkins grew up in small towns across the Pacific Northwest and currently lives in Tacoma, Washington with her partner, Laura, and their three children. Her hobbies include wandering beaches, baking pies and lampworking, or creating glass beads. She is the marketing director of Hydra Publications, a small press focused on speculative fiction.

Visit her website, Friend her on Facebook, or Follow her on Twitter


RELATED: An Interview with Gwen Perkins

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