Whiskey and Water by Elizabeth Bear

Set seven years after the war between the fae and the Promethean mages has ended, Whiskey and Water takes the attention somewhat away from the fae, ditching most of the Arthurian aspects, and refocuses some of it on the machination of hell and its denizens, as a poet comes from hell to claim vengeance for the death of his lover during the war, bringing with him the revelation of plots that threaten both sides of the divide between the Promethean mages, and threaten the new Queen.

It’s hard to explain why I love this series so much. Even though the books are set in the modern age, they’re deeply rooted in mythology and intricate plots in ways most urban fantasy can only dream of, and build up the modern aspect around them. The characters and relationships are complicated and messy in ways all across the board, yet they all work. In any other book, the Keith/Elaine/Whiskey triangle (with a side of Carel, though not in this book) would send me running. Here, I just want more. Ditto with the subplot involving a character sworn to celibacy who has to get rid of it, and it somehow not being skanky when parties of all varieties come forward to offer to help him with that.

Another thing that shows up in Whiskey and Water is the theme of belief shaping reality, that believing something exists causes it to exist, with grave consequences. At the end of the book, it’s hard to tell what in that world exists because of its own merits, and what exists because of human belief.

It did need more Elaine and Whiskey, though. As a sidenote, the cover for this book is amazing, with an angel  itting on a throne of horns, surrounded by angel and demon servers, facing the lone human in the piece, with everyone wearing Elizabethan dress, in an ancient serving hall.

Can anyone recommend other books by Bear? I’ve had her short story collections recommended to me, but that’s it.

Oh, Atlantis...

Have started season 2 of Stargate: Atlantis.  This slightly-paraphrased exchange kind of sums up most of the show's issues:

Elizabeth: "We’re so glad you’re here and blowing things up in the safety of your Asgard-protected spaceship. Listen, our city is being overrun by alien vampires trying to eat us, do you think you could spare a couple men to help us with that?"

Captain: "Don’t worry your silly little head about that. Let us men take care of the important stuff, and I’ll send someone to step on that cockroach you’re so scared of later, ok?"

Remind me why I endure this again?  Oh yeah, Teyla.  And Elizabeth when they aren't being ruled by their fear of a woman in charge.

Murder by Magic: edited by Rosemary Edghill

Murder by Magic is a fantasy anthology featuring crimes where magic was used in committing the crime, or in solving it. Or both. Most involve a death, and solving the murder, with the settings all over the place. Like most anthologies, it’s a mixture of stories from “ok” to “pretty good.”

Not surprisingly, the stories dealing with upper class shenanigans-A Night at the Opera by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller,, Murder Entailed by Susan Krinard, Au Purr by Esther Freisner, and Captured in Silver by Teresa Edgerton-were largely my favorites, though I also really liked Cold Case by Diana Duane(solving murders by talking to ghosts before the ghosts can move on), Witch Sight by Roberta Gellis(a young witch is accused of her friend’s murder), and Doppelgangster by Laura Resnick(someone is summonging dopplegangers to knock off gangsters.)  Interestingly, I've dislike the couple of Kridard's books I've tried reading, but liked her here.

Not the best fantasy anthology I’ve read, but fun. I suspect, though, that it won’t appeal a lot unless you like both fantasy and mysteries. 

I am...a shounen hero!

Your result for The Attachment Style Test...

The Free Agent

29% Anxiety Over Abandonment and 33% Avoidance Of Intimacy

You like to be independent, to play by your own rules. You're not terribly interested in finding a partner and settling down, and it makes you nervous to imagine that someone might depend on you for anything. Were you to find the right partner--someone as independent as you, probably--you'd not be too put out about sharing your adventures with him/her.

 

Fictional characters with whom you might identify: Han Solo (Star Wars), Beatrice ("Much Ado About Nothing")

 

Other Attachment Types:
Secure:	The Unicorn	|	The Cuddleslut	|	The Free Agent
Preoccupied:	The Cling Wrap	|	The Squid	|	The Insect
Fearful:	The Doormat	|	The Leper	|	The Exile
Dismissing:	The Hermit	|	The Stone	|	The Player
Confused:	The Waffler

Take The Attachment Style Test at HelloQuizzy

 

Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle Vol 17

Well, it hasn’t been that long since I binged on all the scanslations of Tsubasa, starting with this volume, but oh well. I should note that around now is when I start really liking Mokona. Probably because it goes from living to annoy Kurogane to showering everyone with affection and concern nonstop. 

No spoilers here for future volumes.

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 Changed the layout again since the other one was giving some people problems.  Let me know if the new one does the same.