Posts tagged ‘D. M. Cornish’

December 31st, 2010

My Favorite Reads of 2010

by Kevin Holtsberry

I mentioned on Twitter last night that it looks like I will close out 2010 having read about 60 or so books. A few people asked about my favorites so I figured it would be worth it to wrap up 2010 with a post.

After looking at the list I decided to do so by breaking it out a bit. The list breaks down into three categories which divide my reading into roughly thirds: Young Adult Fiction, Fiction, and Non-Fiction.  So below are my favorite reads in each of those categories.

Young Adult Fiction

Cover of "Leepike Ridge"

Cover of Leepike Ridge

Yes, I’m a grown man and I read young adult fiction. As I have explained a few times, I do this because I find the YA fantasy fiction genre creative and entertaining. Some of them are just fun relaxing reads (admittedly quick and easy as well) but some of them are complex and imaginative in ways that make the label superfluous. They are just great books.

The List (in no particular order):

  1. Factotum (The Foundling’s Tale, Part Three) by D. M. Cornish (If you love epic fantasy that is a mix of Tolkien and Dickens you will enjoy this series.)
  2. Boom! by Mark Haddon (A great little story – action, adventure, intrigue and humor all in less than 200 pages.)
  3. The Necromancer by Michael Scott (An enjoyable fantasy thriller where you race to read the book only to be forced to wait for the next release to dive back in again.)
  4. Leepike Ridge by N.D. Wilson (“An original mix of Robinson Crusoe, King Solomon’s Mines, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, and The Odyssey”)
  5. Wild Magic by Cat Weatherill (A creative and intelligent mix of myth, mystery and coming of age stories.)

“Adult” Fiction and Non-Fiction below.

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December 15th, 2010

Factotum (The Foundling’s Tale, Part Three) by D. M. Cornish

by Kevin Holtsberry

As I mentioned yesterday, what was once the Blood Monster Tattoo trilogy is now The Foundling‘s Tale series.  And what I assume is the concluding book was recently released.

Factotum (The Foundling’s Tale, Part Three) doesn’t exactly bring the story of Rossamünd Bookchild to a neat conclusion but it does resolve the larger story arc (about his nature and his future) and bring some closure.

Here is the publishers blurb:

Rossamünd Bookchild stands accused of not truly being a human at all, but of being a monster. Even the protection of Europe, the Branden Rose—the most feared and renowned monster-hunter in all the Half-Continent—might not be enough to save him. Powerful forces move against them both, intent on capturing Rossamünd—whose existence some believe may hold the secret to perpetual youth.

As with the previous books, the conclusion to this unique series requires being re-immersed in the language and world Cornish has created. And with the exception of occasionally tiring of the baroque descriptions of every last uniform and outfit, I enjoyed the book and again found myself marveling at the world building and imagination of its author.

It is technically young adult fiction (required seemingly since the lead characters is young) but it never had that feel to me. It is epic fantasy fiction at its best.

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December 14th, 2010

Book Nerd Complaints: changing cover art

by Kevin Holtsberry

I own all three volumes of D. M. Cornish‘s Foundling’s Tales (formerly known as Blood Monster Tattoo) and all three volumes have different cover art:

As I understand it the series was renamed the Foundling’s Tales for US and Canadian audiences and the covers for all three books now reflect this change. The rest of the world gets Monster Blood Tattoo.

I understand marketing and all that but still kinda annoying doncha think?

BTW, should have  a review of the The Foundling’s Tale, Part Three: Factotum soon.

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