#mixing middle grade with grimdark because that's how we roll

[smalltownfae]

Trying the First Chapter

I decided I need a place to record my thoughts after trying the first chapters because sometimes I forget I read them. So, why not use my blog?

Welcome to the posts where I judge books based on the first chapter in order to know which one to read first or if I should buy them on the next sale.

The Book of Three by Lloyd Alexander

The first in the five middle grade book series named The Chronicles of Prydain. This ended up on my list when I searched for coming of age fantasy stories and all I know about it is that there is an ok Disney movie based on the series. I still wish more adult books did this concept.

4/5 - YES. Ok, I know this is traditional fantasy, but it had no business feeling so cosy. I really liked the 3 characters introduced and there is one character named Math that is set for readers to dislike him (probably). Once again, starting with a really young character and seeing the bond between them and those who care for them is a win to me. Honestly, I want to get to this book not that far in the future.

"I think there is a destiny laid on me that I am not to know anything interesting, or do anything interesting. I'm certainly not to be anything. I'm not anything even at Caer Dallben!"

The Amulet of Samarkand by Jonathan Stroud

I've heard a lot about the Bartimaeus Trilogy but never read the books. Another middle grade book.

THIS ONE DOESN'T HAVE A PREVIEW AVAILABLE :(

Edit: 3/5 - YES. Intriguing first chapter. It might be fun.

Sabriel by Garth Nix

The first book in the Old Kingdom series and I just noticed the 6th book was published in 2021. Is this still on going??? YA series.

2/5 -PASS. Ok, this one didn't work for me. I didn't really like the prologue or the way chapter one started. The writing style is too simple and starts already with plot and exposition happening when I rather be slowly immersed into it (like the Book of Three did). The writing style is also too casual and simple for my taste so I don't think I would enjoy a long story like this.

Green Rider by Kristen Britain

The first in the series of the same name and I also noticed the seventh book came out in 2021. Is this still going? Another YA.

3/5 - MAYBE. You can tell I prefer first person POV because I got tired of reading "the grey one". At least "I" it's so short I can almost ignore it. I am unsure about this one, but I am in no hurry to get to it. I know fantasy authors like to start with a bang, but to me a character moment takes you much further than some "cool" moment. Also, can you believe the middle grade book is winning against YA? I actually can because I keep saying middle grade sometimes can be more nuanced than some YA... Still, this one is a maybe.

The Vanished Queen by Lisbeth Campbell

A STANDALONE!

3/5 - PASS. One of those that start in the middle of something, which can be hit or miss for me. In this case I am not impressed and these are too many characters that I do not care about at once. I am inclined to say no because it feels very meh so there it is.

Magic's Pawn by Mercedes Lackey

I don't know where to start with this author. This is the first in the Valdemar: The Last Herald-Mage trilogy.

2/5 - PASS. I really am not a fan of books starting with a line of dialogue and I cannot believe the lines of text I had to read before Vanyel gave an answer back. Decisions I didn't like were made... this guy is too much focused on the telling instead of the showing, isn't he? I sense an emo boy. It's a no from me.

The Court of Broken Knives by Anna Smith Spark

The first in what I think it's a trilogy called Empires of Dust. Grimdark.

3/5 - PASS. Oooh this one starts with setting the scene and instead of focusing of the action it focuses on what's going on through a character's head during the action. It's a bit too edgy for my taste, but I like the use of repetition for emphasis here until it gets too much. There is a feeling of glorification of violence given the perspective, but I am not sure if this is multiple POV and how distinct the other characters are. All I can say is that these kind of books make me appreciate Joe Abercrombie even more because the Bloody Nine feels terrifying and not like a weird teen with a sharp knife. I don't think I could ready many pages of this.

Blackwing by Ed McDonald

First in what I think it's a trilogy called Raven's Mark.

4/5 - YES. Now that's how it's done. Even though firearms are not my preference I can deal with it if the rest is good. The funny thing is that it seems like this book is going to be about war and so far there is only one woman and yet I really enjoyed it. The writing style was pretty good and flowed nicely. I liked the dialogue and already feel like I know two of the characters. I am also left with some questions like "What's a Bride? What's a Darling?" Pretty good setup.

"Back when I wore a uniform, the marshal told me only three kinds of people willingly enter the Misery: the desperate, the stupid, and the greedy."

By Force Alone by Lavie Tidhar

I heard this was a dark twisted retelling of King Arthur and the second is a take on Robin Hood. Sounded good.

4/5 - YES. The first chapter is really short so I skimmed the second and it was pretty good. I really like this Merlin.

'You have a mouth on you, don't you boy.' 'Yet here I am,' the boy says, and laughs, and lifts his arms to rattle at the iron chains. 'You have a name?' 'Who doesn't?' 'May I enquire what it is?' 'What's in a name,' the boy says. 'By giving names to things we lose perception, a way to see more clearly. We give a name to things and think, by doing so, we know them.' 'His name is Merlin, sire.' (...) 'Look, sire, bash my head or set me free, but I grow tired of this conversation.'

See? Helpful. Some books out of my tbr and three promising ones. This really makes me realize what works and what doesn't for me.

#first chapter trial #by force alone #blackwing #the court of broken knives #the vanished queen #green rider #sabriel #magic's pawn #the book of three #mixing middle grade with grimdark because that's how we roll #by comparing first chapters it's even more noticeable when something isn't working for me #some grabbed me from page one and others took a bit more and others never grabbed me