Friday Book Review: Starfire by S.V. Stockton

Starfire by Stuart Vaughn Stockton (Book 1 in The Mending series)

When I first read the description of Starfire, I was intrigued. I love dinosaurs, but knew that this book, with its “dinosaur-people” would either be very good or awful. I am glad to say that I really enjoyed this wonderful book. Stockton’s world is at once alien and familiar and the worldbuilding is superb. Within the first pages the reader is fully enmeshed in a world where the dominant species is sentient dinosaurs, called Saurians, who even has and uses technology far surpassing our own. Yet, although there is not one human character, the Saurians are human enough in their struggles even on this alien world, that the reader is completely emotionally involved in the story.

The main character, Rathe, is a young warrior of low hatch status. Because of a lie told after he had rescued a hatchling, he gets the chance at a future he would not otherwise have had. In preparing for and during his first tour of duty as part of the Karn Imperial Army, he meets many different Saurians of different backgrounds and beliefs. He soon finds himself in over his head as he is chosen for a destiny he could never have imagined. “And the only things informing Rathe’s decision are affection for a small Saurin under his care and the admonitions from the mystical representative of a god Rathe doesn’t believe in” as the description so aptly says. Soon Rathe has to make choices and it seems that, no matter what choice he makes, it will lead to the destruction of his world.

Although Starfire is Christian speculative fiction, Stockton does not make everything black and white or skim over the character’s problems. The book also doesn’t preach, but does touch upon the way in which different characters share different beliefs with one another and have to live and survive together.

I’ll admit that the different breeds and the ranking system of the army is a bit confusing to get used to at first, but luckily a scale chart of the different Saurians are included, as well as a character guide. Although not everyone likes glossaries and the like, I enjoy extra material when it comes to specfic books – especially those set in alternative worlds.

The worldbuilding of the world, cultures, technology, fauna and flora (I especially enjoyed the Jeshar vines and Golub) has been thoroughly done and fully integrated into the story. I can highly recommend this book for lovers of sci-fi and fantasy – or even if you just like dinosaurs. I think this is also a wonderful example of what Christian speculative fiction can be.  

For this, and other Marcher Lord Press titles, check out their website at www.marcherlordpress.com or visit Stockton’s blog Galactic Lore or his website Ritersbloc.

Published by Marcher Lord Press

*I received a copy of this book from Marcher Lord Press and requested to give my honest review. 

Review: Hero, Second Class by Mitchell Bonds

The Hero Complex, Book I

“Don’t do it, White! You can never trust a Villain. They will stab you in the back at the first opportunity!”
“Funny, I hold the same to be true about Heroes,” Voshtyr said. “Except they stab you in the front.”

Welcome to a world where there are Heroes and Villains… and Arch-Villains… and a hero’s apprentice called Cyrus Solberg. Not to mention the fantastical creatures and a keep in the middle of a swamp. It is also a world where heroes have names like The Crimson Slash and the Purple Paladin and Villains must fill in Environmental Impact forms if they’re planning on Epic Destruction and are not allowed more that one solar eclipse per quarter. There are damsels in distress, dragons, zombies and a sultry “vampirine” who must be killed in the old-fashioned stake-and-holy-water manner.

“This world is governed by three forces, dear boy: the Elements, the Capital Letters, and the Arbitrary Numbers.”

On his way to becoming a hero, Cyrus must follow his master, The Crimson Slash on his various travels and quests. He also finds romance and love somewhere he could not have imagined. But while The Crimson Slash has no time for heroes who use magic, Cyrus soon finds out that he can do strange things like shoot fire from his hands if he wishes. And with Voshtyr Demonkin gathering an army and planning to build a P.L.O.T. device, the Heroes are in for the fight of their lives.

I loved this book! It is perfect reading after a hard day's work, a hard morning's work or school. I can neither say yea or nea to reading while working or while in class. Bonds weaves an extremely funny and rollicking adventure with Heroes and Villains which are a cross between fantasy and super heroes (or villains, for that matter). Magic and spells are used profusely; with especially useful spells like “Shut Up”, “Halt Time” and the “unsporting Slay Horse spell”. Bonds’ takes well-known plots, characters and clichés and turns them on their head while weaving this tale. Even when dealing with difficult subjects like race, faith and religion, Bonds stays true to the story, his created world and making it about the characters and doesn’t preach. I am a huge Pratchett and Discworld fan and must say that, if you like Pratchett, you’ll like Bonds.

Get this great fantasy adventure from Marcher Lord Press books – and look out for the next installment in the coming months! Woot!

Interview with the author: http://wherethemapends.com/Interviews/Mitchell_Bonds.htm
Another review: http://fantasyandfaith.com/2009/10/12/hero-second-class-by-mitchell-bonds/