It can't make its mind up. Sunny yesterday and rainy again this morning. Dadgum! Oh well.
Here is your Advent Calendar book for December 4.
"A Little Hatred by Joe Abercrombie is the first book in the Age of Madness fantasy trilogy. It's an adventurous novel in the vein of the Game of Thrones books. It features all the good things these fantasies present; war, violence, sex, plots and a great vast empire of nations. All to the good.
Abercrombie is a bit grittier than the Game of Thrones stories and in this first story, even though there are magi, there don't seem to be dragons and all those other fantastical creatures, just humans fighting, plotting and sexing.
The main focus is the war in the north where the King of the Northmen is threatening the borders of the Protectorate (ruled by the Dogman) and Angland (ruled by Fintree dan Brock, a wonderful woman who is interim Governor of Angland. These two armies are holding on against the Northman, hoping for the Union to send an army to help them.
Unfortunately, there is a bit of trouble brewing within the Union as the Breakers and Burners (peasants looking for a better life) take over one of the cities and force Prince Orso to go break the uprising instead of heading North to help their allies there.
So you probably understand it now; a war in the North threatening the Union's borders and civil uprising in the center, threatening a city and its very industry. In the midst of all this, you've got some powerful women characters. There is Rikke, the Dogman's daughter who possesses and is learning to use the Long Eye, basically telling the future. She is my favorite character, sexy, clumsy, plowing through the war and trying to survive. I also liked her companion, Isern-i-Phail, who accompanies Rikke, helping her learn to use the Long Eye. You've also got Sabine, a successful businesswoman, who operates in a cutthroat fashion, but gets caught up in the uprising in Valbeck.
There are many other excellent characters as well and as the story jumps from the varied situations, you get to know them better and better. It's an entertaining, action-filled story and I'm now looking forward to getting and reading the 2nd book. (4.0 stars)"
Have a great week and stay dry.
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