The Blacktongue Thief by Christopher Buehlman, Book Review

~ Veselin ~ Leave a comment

Kinch Na Shannack is a low-level thug with good education and some magical talent. He’ll start a journey that will exceed our worst nightmares.

First of all, this is a beautiful-looking book. The pages, cover, typography, and overall design are all great. Kudos to the publisher for doing a nice job here, and also kudos for them for giving me a book for free, after messing up the order and sending me something else.

The Blacktongue Thief starts off really well. It’s set in a fantasy world of biting goblins, giants, magical tattoos, and vanished horses. Our thief possesses some rare magical skills that are supposed to help him finish the quest, which is objectively way out of his league.

I don’t know why this wonderful setup had to turn into epic fantasy. As the book progressed, it became increasingly complex and difficult to follow. If it had been another hundred pages longer, I’m not sure I would have finished it. Fortunately, it ended just in time.

I think it’s a nice book, grows up on me, and I’d compare it to Orconomics as a general feel but better because it’s shorter.

5*/5 from me. Looking forward to the continuation.

Rocket Space Engineering at Sofia University

~ Veselin ~ 2 Comments

Took a photo of this ad because I found it curious that a country without any space science has a space engineering program at the Sofia University (partnering with two others). Looked dubious on a first glance. However, after visiting the website, I got the realization that it’s possibly legit. Sufficiently legit to offer it for a very annual fee, to build a good looking website, and to look for candidates with a billboard.

Some things that happen these days are difficult to explain but I’m sure an explanation for this phenomena exists.

A book that deserves a sequel

~ Veselin ~ 1 Comment
Daily writing prompt
What’s a book you think deserves a sequel?
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There are a few obvious choices here, and I’d place them in no particular order.

  1. Alan Campbell’s Gravedigger’s Chronicles. Book #2 ends well but this is a clear trilogy, where the issue with the flooded planet needs to get at least partially addressed. Unfortunately, Alan Campbell announced he won’t write books anymore and just quit.
  2. The Thraxas original series of 12 books didn’t reveal the origins of Thraxas and Makri. Book 13 was promised and not delivered.
  3. Patrick Rothfuss stormed the world with his Wise Man’s Fear book. Kvothe, supposedly, already told his story but not to us. 15 years later, book 3 remains unpublished. It is very unlikely that we see anything other than another short story or a prequel.
  4. The Rithmatist by Brandon Sanderson introduced us to a duo of young sorcerers who could create living glyphs. It is called a series but it is a series of one book. Second one never materialized.

Out of these, I think I regret the Gravedigger’s Chronicles the most. It was such an absurd idea, deserved to be wrapped up.