Book Review (SERIES): The Ridnight Mysteries

The build on this series is intoxicating. The first book introduces us to a world on the brink of industrialization through a murder mystery in the most magical and tribal part of this fantasy world. The second book weaves in stronger political portions with a heist in a Frontier Kingdom. The amazing conclusion is located in the industrial cities which straddle democracy and corporate oligarchy with a kidnapping mystery. Each mystery is different, each locale is different, the stakes keep rising, and there is no “saggy” middle to this series.

The Ridnight Mysteries Series by Stuart Jaffe

  1. The Water Blade
  2. The Waters of Taladoro
  3. Waterfire

Amazon Cover

BOOK BLURB ON AMAZON for THE WATER BLADE

A brave warleader on a quest for a mythical weapon, Axon Coponiv is forced to look outside her trusted party for help when one of her own is mysteriously slain. She turns to Zev Asterling, a failed businessman, displaced aristocrat, and psuedo-detective, to help her find out who killed her man and why. The mystery deepens as Zev realizes that the killer must be someone close to Axon, perhaps even one of the others in her band.

Is it Pilot, the genial but deadly warrior who has served alongside Axon for many years? Henlio, the quiet but steady sword who has stood by her through battle after battle? Or the mysterious witch Bellemont, one of the mysterious Stolen, about whom little is known?

To get to the bottom of this mystery, Zev will have to use all his intelligence and guile, not only to find the killer, but also to stay alive as the party traverses the treacherous distance to Castle Ridnight and the legendary Water Blade, the only weapon that can stop the encroachment of the armies of the West and their mysterious god-leader known only as The Beast.

The Water Blade is the first in a new trilogy of fantasy mystery novels from Stuart Jaffe, author of the Nathan K series and the Max Porter Mysteries.

MY REVIEW for THE WATER BLADE

A fantasy and a mystery, but not exceptional in either genre to drown in, still an tasty mixture to sip. The characters were more complex than the fantasy world-building and the mystery, though the foundation laid for the gods, the politics, and the magic system look promising for the rest of the series now that the initial premise has been developed in book one.

The Water Blade follows two POV characters, one a solider in search of legendary status and one is a natural detective in search of a challenge. Neither one comes from a family that understands their ambitions. Together they might change the world.

Amazon Cover

BOOK BLURB ON AMAZON for THE WATERS OF TALADORO

The Shield of Taladoro. A mythic artifact recovered by the valiant efforts of Axon Coponiv along with brave adventurers from the East and the Feral Lands.

But now, during the unveiling celebration at Ridnight Castle, the Shield has been stolen. The King tasks Zev Asterling, master-solver, with finding it.

The guests, representatives from either side of the world, point fingers at each other, and Zev must navigate the lies and treachery behind someone who has taken the Shield but is still in the castle. Tensions mount as he interviews all those who had a hand in finding the Shield and getting it to the castle. If he doesn’t solve the case and find the Shield fast, a war is going to begin. Right there in the ballroom.

MY REVIEW for THE WATERS OF TALADORO

I don’t normally struggle to solve the mystery before the detective. Usually I am content to observe the master solver resolving the issue, watching it unfurl like a flower in the sun, but the interviews just begged me to peel back the layers of the mystery.

I adored the interviews which furnished flashback/backstory, supplied character development, and provided clues and plot points. The format provided a different way to approach the heist mystery than the Ridnight Mysteries Book 1 (The Water Blade), which was a murder mystery. I also appreciated different types of mysteries to be resolved in the series and am curious to what type of mystery the author has chosen for the third and final book of the series.

If you want some mystery in your fantasy, or some fantasy in your mystery, The Ridnight Mysteries are a good set to pick up.

So did I solve the mystery?Yes and no. I had a guess and I stuck with it forever and it was kind-of right, and many of the clues I picked up were the correct ones. I would say my guess was close enough to be right, but my particular flavor … I was too wedded to it and should have been open to more options. 

Editing comments – these are just my opinions, and, in fact, IMHO more than normal. I disliked some of the modern slang and/or Earth specific slang. The Ridnight Mysteries are set in a steampunk era world, so some of the slang is appropriate, but since I was reading a fantasy, it bothered me. “Rollicking time”- very early 1800 expression, first recorded during 1805-1815 according to the dictionary, would exist in the steampunk era, from 1850-1900. The big one for me was “scapegoat” which has very specific religious significance within the Judio-Christian belief system. On the other hand, The Ridnight Mysteries series has already introduced two or three religious systems and any of them could have created the scapegoat concept as well.

Basically, any of the slang terms used fall within the possible; I personally didn’t like their use in a non-Earth fantasy novel. But that is on me. 

 

Amazon Cover

BOOK BLURB ON AMAZON for WATERFIRE

The thrilling conclusion to The Ridnight Mysteries!

After returning to the East, Zev Asterling attempts to put away his Master-Solver days and rebuild his life. Political tensions have run high since the events at Ridnight Castle, and a summit between the Frontier and the East is a sliver of light that many cling to.

But when a politician’s daughter is kidnapped, Zev is called upon to do what he does best. With the help of Axon, Pilot, and Bellemont, they must find the daughter in order to avert an all-out war. Along the way, his companions will have to resolve their feelings about the gods, their nations, and each other if they want to make it out alive.

Zev will have to set aside long-held grudges and family issues to deal with a threat the likes of which no one has ever encountered before, as his investigation takes him deep into the bowels of the city, pits him against a bizarre cult, and forces him to battle rogue witches who have the power to destroy the entire East.

MY REVIEW for WATERFIRE

The third and final book of the Ridnight Mysteries slams it out of the ballpark with the culmination of the worldbuilding for the last three books. While the start is slow, setting all the pieces into position for the mystery and the political thriller, once the action starts, it does not stop, ever. By the end, you feel like you have gone through a battle alongside the characters.

I should mention while our heroes do reach a satisfying conclusion in this fantasy detective series, the author leaves enough threads trailing into the future he could create another series which I would read through my eye-teeth if he manages to pull off another conclusion like this epic ending. The world is so layered, you know that the universe is continuing beyond the words of “the end” appearing on the last page.

Each of the stories of this Mystery series has concentrated on a different type of crime. The first one was the typical murder mystery, the second a heist, and the third contains a kidnapping. Usually a mystery series gets a little same-y feeling when reading them back-to-back, but with the changing crime focus and locales (East, Frontier, West), each book of this series feels remarkably fresh.

The theme of exploring toxic family vs. found family continues strongly in this book.

Zev, one of the two main Point of View (POV) characters, can be hard to deal with as he has the full confidence of a master craftsman and the internal destruction of the imposter syndrome. Some people may ask how both can inhabit the same body; if you know creators, you know this personality – godhood and worthless-worm. It is exhausting to deal with, but very real.

I do like the fact none of the characters are good at everything. The team of found family each have their specialty and respects each other in the area of their mastery, and teases them when not working in their best area. Like three friends going shopping – one drives, another is the SHOPPER, and the third keeps the other two on schedule so they get back in time to wrap the presents for the party.

Final mention, if you have read the other series books, you know the body-horror aspect of the magic system. This book takes it to a new level as one expects in an epic conclusion. I would say this last book crosses into horror as much as it crosses over into romance and political-thriller, while always respecting the core genre of detective-fantasy.

In conclusion, Waterfire delivers on the Ridnight Mystery series. It can work as a standalone, but you will be doing yourself a disservice not to become immersed in the world before experiencing the conclusion. Because, wow, the series is as amazing as this book on its own.

Editing Rant: For the Win (Genre Expectations)

Photo by Kenny Eliason on Unsplash

As I mentioned in February, “Romance is Fantasy”, one of the hardest things about editing is understanding underlying tropes/messages contained in your genre. I recently had an epiphany on how American Horror genre works while reviewing a Russian/Slavic style story.

First let me explain how Russian/Slavic stories work. While American stories are all about conquering, winning, being the best, happily ever after, Slavic stories vibrate with survival, perseverance. Endings are rarely happy – Winter is always coming and one day winter will win. A Slavic vibe acknowledges the System is hard to change. Nature eventually wins. Determination and perseverance is what is to be admired, not the actual Winning. Because everything that wins will eventually lose. Trying is what matters. And sometimes we need to hear that. Not everyone can be the best. Not every monster can be defeated. Not ever win is completely clean. The power is in the Trying.

Ivanova on Babylon Five captures the Russian feeling perfectly with “No Boom today, boom tomorrow, there is always a boom tomorrow.” It’s not depression, but an acceptance that eventually everything ends.

But inevitability of losing sets the American teeth on edge, even in the Horror format. In this culture, stories must have a happy ending. A WIN. But how does that work in American Horror? Well, at the end of every horror, book or movie, even when the creator hints at the monster not being fully defeated and will be coming back, we celebrate the Win of today. We get our Winning and Happy Ending. Everyone has the Chance to be President – the Best and Most Powerful. Sparkles and Unicorns.

Now here is where things get interesting. How American Horror finally clicked in my head.

Central to this Win of today at the end of an American Horror is a mirror-flip saying the Monster has a chance to Win someday too. It can and will come back.

Everything has a chance to pull itself to the Top by its bootstraps, even the monsters.

They can be the best they can be, this temporary setback isn’t the end.

I think this difference is why in American Horror the monsters are usually individuals with faces (or masks). Counterpoint, in the Slavic literature (horror and otherwise), monsters are systems and nature – faceless hordes and forces no individual can overcome, but together the group may persevere through the sacrifice of individuals for a while.

I’m a bit bubbly realizing how American Horror works. Happy for the Monsters. They too can do it. They can win, if they just keep trying. Good for them!

Book Review: A Doll’s Life

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A Doll’s Life by Alledria Hurt

BOOK BLURB ON AMAZON

First, Alesha lost him. Then she saved him, sort of. Now can Alesha save both of them when it comes down to a game of magical cat and mouse in a world where everyone has been turned into living wooden dolls? Glance, master magician, knows something Alesha needs to finish saving her brother from death, but Glance is not going to give up the information willingly. Good thing getting things no one wants to give up is kinda what Alesha does. If she’s good, and a little lucky, she’ll leave with her own life and that of her brother. If she’s not, she may be in for a doll’s life.

 

MY REVIEW

(Full disclosure – I helped edit this book, but that was way back in 2019. After 5 years, it’s still a pretty good read.)

FIRST REVIEW 6/26/2020
When a traveler in a portal universe step through a gate – or, more likely, desperately jumps through one of the doorways between worlds – they never know what is on the other side. It could be a planet of meat hills, or a silent world under the booted heel of a tyrant, or one where the ice pellets destroy nearly everything agriculture.

Alesha tumbles through one world to another until her final stop. She hopes it isn’t her final stop, but it just might be. The local ruler, seemingly bored by the few visitors that make it to his world, offers her food and shelter and questions – or inquisition, she isn’t sure just yet.

This book clicks off all the wonderful tropes of a portal story, as well as explores the meaning of death, life, soul, and what costs should one pay to keep others alive. You can explore from the action-adventure aspect. Or a book club can have a lively discussion on the deeper meanings. Whatever level you want to read the book at – you can find enjoyment.

SECOND REVIEW/READ 10/17/2023
It’s 2023 and I’m working on knocking out #23for23 – reading 23 BIPoC authors before the end of the year. Being spooky season, I decided to return to this gem – A silent world, a ghost of a brother, faceless giants, spooky castle, and doll people. Spooky, but more adventure than horror. Exactly what I wanted and as good as I remembered.

Flash: A photo forever

Photo 120139056 | Chorizo © Bhofack2 | Dreamstime.com

Chorizo sizzles on the stove, while I pinch some thyme and marjoram for chopping. I move the egg bowl aside for the long reach to the windowsill jungle to break off just one more bit of thyme. My phone buzzes indicating an incoming text where I had it stuck on the wall charging. “Bestie!” I shout in joy. “Siri, activate voice to text.”

Morning going well?

“I’m making chorizo breakfast tacos. Want some?”

You know I do! Take a picture.

I tell the phone to take a shot of me as I hold up the sprig I just trimmed in one hand and my chopping knife in the other. A wave of dizziness hits me, and I hear the knife clatter when I grab ahold of the counter. “Ay, Dios.” Pork and spices drench the air while I wait for my vision to clear. I blink rapidly.  A ding, then another, then a third happen as the green bits on the wooden cutting board come back into focus.

When the black clears, I see that my phone had sent my distress cry as a voice to text message. Narcisa responded immediately with:

U ok

What happened?

Come on girl respond.

Another ding comes through, I’m calling.

The phone instantly shows a red and green circle. As it starts vibrating, I tell the phone to answer. “I’m okay, I’m okay.” I say before she even gets a word out. “Just a little dizzy.” I put the sprig on the cutting board and lean over to pick up the knife.

“Again?” Narcisa asks, worry boring through the distance between us. “Emilia, you need to see a doctor about that.”

I puff a breath when I stand straight. “No, it isn’t a problem.”

“Yes, it is girl. You haven’t biked in months, not since the last fall when you hurt your wrist.” My bestie’s voice firms. “You love biking. Whatever this is, is affecting the quality of your life. That is doctor’s time.”

“I’m fine. Really I am.” I laugh as I chop the last bit. The laugh is weak.

“I don’t believe you.”

I turn to toss the fresh herbs into the meat and give it a stir.

“Don’t ignore me.”

“I’m cooking.” I say, twisting around to where the phone hangs. “Give me a sec to make sure this doesn’t burn.”

“Only one.” A pause follows that is barely a pause. “Times up.”

“If you are so worried, why don’t you come on over?” I dare ask her.

We met online a couple of years ago and just clicked. Instant best friends forever soulmates. But we have never met in person, even though the social media tags shows she lives in the same city as me. Narcisa has serious body image issues; there isn’t a picture of her anywhere online, though her video feed is full of puppets used to talk about everything from politics to books she’s read to stories from her retail job. She has this amazing alto voice, and when her mermaid puppet sings, pure goosebumps. I’ve dueted a couple times, spinning my unimpressive soprano against her magic.

“You know, I just might.”

“REALLY!” I jump up and down, excited beyond measure.

“Ouch, no screaming girlie girl.”

“Sorry.”

“Forgiven.” I can hear the smile in her voice. “Yes, I think everything … I think I’m ready.”

“You are for real.” I whisper. I turn off the flame and set aside the wooden spoon. Crossing the small kitchen in a single step, I pick the phone up and repeat where she can hear me. “Are you for real?”

The silence makes its own statement.

“You don’t have to if you don’t want to.” I fill the air with words.

“No, no, I do want to.” Narcisa responds. “I just … what if you …”

“I will love you no matter what. Fifteen, fifty or five hundred.” I assure her. “You could look like a bulldog for all I care. You are my best friend.”

“Can you take one last picture? Before I come over. I need to know. You know, that you mean it. Just your eyes,” she says, “they have your soul and I want it.”

“No problem.” I say, pulling the camera in for a closeup of my black-brown eyes. After hitting send, I hit the floor with another round of dizzy. I can’t make a sound.

“Be over in five. Don’t go dying on me before then girlie girl.”

(words 743, first published 11/5/2023)

I want your photograph Series

  1. A photo for now (7/9/2023)
  2. A photo forever (11/5/2023)

Flash: A Photo For Now

Photo from Unsplash

“Hey girlie girl, shoot me a pic of where you are.”

“Sure thing bestie.” After the voice to text sends the text for my BBF who I have never met in real life, I lift my phone, click, and send. It’s a little harder than normal, what with riding a bike and all, but she asks for a pic at least once a week so I’ve had lots of practice taking photos at a moment’s notice. She never sends one back – has serious body image issues which we are working on together. I hope I find out what she looks like some day.

(words 103, first published 7/10/23)

I want your photograph Series

  1. A photo for now (7/9/2023)
  2. A photo forever (11/5/2023)