Book Review: The Stormcaller

Book Review: The Stormcaller

Contributed by Christina Nixon, Contributor

The Stormcaller by Tom Lloyd

(Found on Bookshare)

Isak is a White-Eye-a race of people who are extraordinarily strong, violent, and short-tempered.  He struggles to control his weaknesses and grow into his strengths while learning to navigate court life in his new position as heir to the lord of the Fahlan.  He is aided and opposed by an interesting and diverse set of characters.  The setting and the plot make this anything but a typical epic fantasy.  Fans of Joe Abercrombie and Scott Lynch will find The Stormcaller just as enjoyable.

The only disappointment is that the subsequent four books in the series aren't yet on audio.  If you feel likewise, you can visit Tom Lloyd's website at http://www.tomlloyd.co.uk/contact.html and let him know.

Book Review: The Goblin Emperor

Book Review: The Goblin Emperor

Contributed by Christina Nixon, Contributor

The Goblin Emperor

By Katherine Addison

(Found on Bookshare)

Maia is the disregarded half-goblin son of the Elvin emperor.  The emperor and his three eldest sons died in an accident, leaving the unprepared Maia to assume the throne.  He faces many challenges in court-whom to trust, the resentment of his father and brother's widows, learning court politics, choosing a bride, and making the right choices for himself and his empire.  This is a wonderful story filled with intrigue and politics with a hint of romance.  The protagonist Maia is very well developed and he makes mistakes without appearing stupid.  The supporting characters are three dimensional and have interesting personalities and backstories.  Kyle McCarley makes each person come alive with his or her own voice.  Even without the explanatory text, the listener knows who is speaking based upon McCarley's narration alone.  Though the synopsis places this book in the young adult category, the writing, character development, and story are very mature and adult.  Maia is young and naïve and new to court but he faces his situation with remarkable courage and self-awareness.

The setting is highly developed and the dialogue realistic and engaging.  Addison's world contains some magic, some of which is spiritual.  The goblins aren't the typical short treasure-hoarding little monsters usually found in fantasy.  They are more civilized and have their own culture.  Though the goblins and elves are separate species, Addison depicts them more as different ethnicities.  I can't compliment this book enough.  I've been recommending it to everyone I know who has even the slightest interest in fantasy.  My only complaint is that The Goblin Emperor is a stand-alone title.  At this time, Addison doesn't plan to write a sequel.  The story ends very neatly; however, I am disappointed no further adventures are forthcoming.

Book Review: Of Anchors and Aspirations

Book Review: Of Anchors and Aspirations

Contributed by Christina Nixon, Contributor

Of Anchors and Aspirations

By Scott Kellmann

(Found on Amazon)

Of Anchors and Aspirations focuses primarily on several cadets during their first year of military training.  Minor aspects of the story include romance and mischief while the more prominent elements are strong character development, plot, and realistic dialogue.  This first novel in what I hope will be a series spends many chapters introducing the reader to the several heroes and heroines and their strengthening friendships.  Each cadet is unique, likable, and interesting.

The antagonists are well-realized and believable characters with intelligence, individual motivations, and flaws.

While this is a sci-fi setting with space travel and a military focus, the author does not fill the pages with long, technical explanations of space travel and other technology.  The military exercises that are part of the plot are described in such a way that a reader with no military experience can understand and be interested in them.  Though this story is about cadets, I would not classify this as a young adult novel.

I eagerly await the next book in Worlds Afire and look forward to learning what the characters will do next.

Book Review: Magic Slays

Book Review: Magic Slays

Contributed by Christina Nixon, Contributor

The Crimson Campain by Brian Mcclellan

(Found on Bookshare)

Magic Slays, (Book 5 in the Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews), was an enjoyable read but an overall disappointment when compared to this author’s other works.  The interactions between Kate and the other main characters such as Julie, Andrea, and Curran were interesting and amusing.  The romance was present but not overdone, new, distinctive characters were introduced, and the setting possessed its usual flare.  The book fell short, however, in its plot.  The subplot concerning what Kate learned about her background was not only unexpected but unwelcome and out of place.  The main plot of the story was more predictable and stereotypical than readers of Ilona Andrews have come to expect.  While the plot is uninspired, Kate’s personal interactions and the setting still make this a good read.

Podcast Review: TMA

Podcast Review

Contributed by Taryn Tranby, Patron Services

A long somber violin tune greets your ears and a low Londoner’s voice whispers “Rusty Quill Presents...The Magnus Archives.” This eerie welcome brings you into each episode of The Magnus Archives. If you start at the beginning of the series, it starts out as twenty-minute tales of horror that have been submitted to the fictional Magnus Institute in the form of statements. Most episodes are recorded by Jonathan Sims, the head archivist at the institute. 

I discovered The Magnus Archives after seeing a great deal of content on a social media platform I frequent. It was mostly fanart, but I was intrigued and added it to my Google Play podcasts. There it sat, for several months while I readily ignored it in favor of Ologies and The Adventure Zone. It was like having a pile of books next to my bed waiting to be read and consumed, but I had to be in just the right mood to be able to get to it. This is a podcast that you need to devote some attention to in order to be able to absorb the creeping dread.

I’ve never been a fan of horror; I didn’t really understand the appeal of jumpscares and gore. This podcast offers neither, instead relying on the slow torture of Sims’ voice not so much reading the statements as performing them. That isn’t to say that his voice itself is torture - quite the opposite! He’s excellent at evoking the feelings that the fictional writer might have and the editing and soundscaping only add to the excitement. Ambient sounds and slow, creeping instrumentals are played in the background at pivotal points during a statement or episode. Because Sims is recording in his fictional office at the archives, occasionally he’s visited by another voice, usually, a coworker butting in or an individual making a statement in person.

As the podcast proceeds, you begin to discover a pattern in certain statements and the world is slowly built through these short recordings. You learn to recognize the voices of Sims’ coworkers: Tim, Martin, Sasha, and their boss, Elias. What started out as some enjoyable eerie tales to listen to while working, became much more exciting than I was aware of with an overarching plot spanning several seasons. 

As of right now, it has spanned 160 statement and plot-driven episodes, with some Q&A following each season and a few tabletop gaming episodes as well. The Magnus Archives can be found on Itunes, Google Play, or wherever you get your podcasts. 

Book Review: The Crimson Campaign

Book Review: The Crimson Campaign

Contributed by Christina Nixon, Contributor

The Crimson Campain by Brian Mcclellan

(Found on Bookshare)

This book starts off with an action sequence and throws us right into the midst of the characters' struggles-Adamat seeking to rescue his wife and children, Taniel's attempts to forget what he's done, and Tamas' efforts to bring his piece of the army to Adro.  We see other familiar characters as well.  (No spoilers)  I have only two complaints about this book.  It is the second book in the trilogy so, while some problems are overcome, many situations remain unresolved.  Given the author's attention to detail and character development, I am certain everything will be wrapped up nicely in the third book.  My second complaint is that this book is too short and too good.  I want more in this series and I want it now.

This book contains sleuthing; military campaigning; characters sinking to greater depths or rising to heights of heroism, understanding, and bravery; a bit of romance, intrigue, treachery, and humor.  Fans of Promise of Blood are sure to love The Crimson Campaign.  I also recommend the Audible short stories set in the same universe-The Girl of Hrush Avenue, Forsworn, and Hope's End.

Book Review: Magic Bites

Book Review: 

Contributed by Chistina Nixon, Contributor

Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews

(Found on Bookshare)

Kate Daniels is a plucky heroine whose smart-aleck comments often land her in trouble.  However, her quick wits and strong morals help her improve the dicey situations in which she finds herself.  The author utilizes Kate's strengths and weaknesses with style and creates snappy dialogue and a fast-paced plot.

The almost post-apocalyptic setting is interesting as are the effects the shifts between "Tech" and "Magic" have on the environment.  Andrews also adds more original flavor to this urban fantasy series with her unusual portrayal of vampires.

The only complaint I have about this book is that it was over too quickly.  Readers who prefer slightly darker urban fantasy will enjoy this first book in the Kate Daniels Series.

Podcast Review: The Adventure Zone (pt. 3, final)

Podcast Review

Contributed by Taryn Tranby, Administrative Assistant

Part Three: The Adventure Continues!

The Adventure Zone has now begun its next great campaign, with a new ruler of the world: Travis. Travis has taken over the role of Dungeon Master or DM for their latest great project: Graduation. Graduation takes place at Hieronymous Wiggenstaff's School for Heroism and Villainy where Griffin, Justin, and Clint play as Sir Fitzroy Maplecourt, a yet unnamed firbolg, and Argo Keane. The McElroys play as individuals who weren’t qualified to be Heroes or Villains, but were good enough to train as sidekicks or henchmen. The three start their story as roommates at this school and are steadily introduced to their peers and courses. There doesn’t seem to be a definite goal as of yet, but Travis has created intrigue at every turn to keep listeners wondering at his next moves. It’s important to note that Travis places a heavy focus on exposition and a significant amount of introduced non-player characters which may make it confusing listening to the first time around. While I’m not completely sold on this campaign, I’m hopeful and excited to see how it progresses in the coming months. 

The McElroy family is also prone to conduct live shows all over the country and has created smaller arcs and bonus episodes such as (K)nights, Elementary, Fur, Hootenanny, Inheritance (Dadlands), and even a Holiday Brawl episode. While their main focus has always been a comedy, there are plenty of heartwarming moments in each main campaign that makes you fall in love with their characters and growth. It’s easy to see how this hit podcast gained traction with so many listeners and has also been adapted as a graphic novel, tabletop board game, and is now undergoing development as an animated series. As someone who had only started listening to the podcast in 2018, it’s been great fun catching up on the backlog of episodes and listening to the story grow and change with the McElroys themselves!

The Adventure Zone can be found on the Maximum Fun Network or wherever you get your podcasts. 

Click here to listen: https://maximumfun.org/podcasts/adventure-zone/

Podcast Review: The Adventure Zone (pt. 2)

Podcast Review

Contributed by Taryn Tranby, Administrative Assistant

Part Two: Finding their Footing in Amnesty

With a touching ending to the Balance campaign, the McElroys needed to find something else to appeal to their audiences and fill the void. Unfortunately, it was difficult for them to decide how to proceed with so many tabletop gaming options out there for them to test their tales on. After sampling a few test runs with mini-arcs for the campaigns of Amnesty, Commitment, and Dust, they decided to loop back around and build on the groundwork of Amnesty. Much like the Balance campaign, Griffin has returned to compose more music for the family’s adventures and has all of his original music posted online via his Bandcamp. The Amnesty campaign begins in 2018 with Travis, Justin, and Clint creating characters through a game design known as Monster of the Week which utilizes the game engine from Powered by the Apocalypse. All that to say, moves are decided with two standard D6 dice; a much simpler system than D&D. This campaign, run by Griffin, takes place in a small town named Amnesty in West Virginia. The campaign centers on three player characters: Aubrey Little, Duck Newton, and Ned Chicane, played by Travis, Justin, and Clint respectively. With similar humor and love, Griffin crafts a Twin Peaks meets X-Files tale of two connected worlds, cryptids disguised as humans, and an alien force that is out to destroy the peace that was so difficult to create, to begin with. 

The Amnesty campaign, despite only lasting thirty-six episodes, takes on a much more serious tone than Balance but still incorporates a lot of the childish humor and boyish charm that the McElroys have made their brand. 

The Adventure Zone can be found on the Maximum Fun Network or wherever you get your podcasts. Look out for the next article on this rowdy family and their subsequent Dungeons and Dragons campaigns!

Click here to listen: https://maximumfun.org/podcasts/adventure-zone/

Podcast Review: Adventure Zone (pt. 1)

Podcast Review

Contributed by Taryn Tranby, Administrative Assistant

Part One: Introduction and the Balance Campaign

What starts off as a goofy game of Dungeons and Dragons between three brothers and their dad ends in tears as Griffin, the youngest brother, weaves an incredible tale full of laughter and love. Griffin, Travis, and Justin McElroy are three brothers from Huntington, West Virginia that decided to embark on a Dungeons and Dragons campaign to expand their repertoire. The McElroys already had a multitude of podcasts including Sawbones, The Besties, and My Brother, My Brother, and Me. The Adventure Zone began in 2014 with these three brothers and their father, Clint McElroy, setting up their characters and meeting in a tavern for their first mission. The family embarks with these newly created characters and a few unusually named NPCs, or non-player characters, to join them. (One such NPC is named ‘Barry Bluejeans’ by Griffin after Justin and Travis both snipe at him for trying to create unusual fantasy names to match the setting). 

The Adventure Zone has been running a similar set up since 2014, but there have been several different story arcs and methods of gameplay that the McElroys employ for the podcast. The first campaign, Balance, appeals to those fans of traditional D&D fantasy although Griffin manages to squeeze in a little bit of science-fiction for some extra flavor. The campaign is built on the 5th edition of D&D mechanics, but a late arc named The Stolen Century is played with a Powered by the Apocalypse engine which is a simpler system. While the McElroys struggle a bit with game math and mechanics, they always manage to use their critical successes and failures to aid in building the story. The Balance campaign is broken up into eight arcs and each arc has the three heroes, Taako, Magnus, and Merle searching for a magical relic for an organization known to them as the Bureau of Balance. Balance takes them through caves, trains, and automobile races as well as crystal caverns, towns that repeat an hour nonstop, and even a challenging wheel of sacrifices. 

The campaign itself runs for sixty-nine episodes and is clever, emotional, and a little bit unsafe for work at times with ribald jests and blue humor. Another fun thing to note is that starting with the fourth campaign arc, The Crystal Kingdom, Griffin McElroy begins composing music to add more drama and ambiance to the show. 

The Adventure Zone can be found on the Maximum Fun Network or wherever you get your podcasts. Look out for the next article on this rowdy family and their subsequent Dungeons and Dragons campaigns!

Click here to listen: https://maximumfun.org/podcasts/adventure-zone/

Teen/Tween Thursday: Library Preferences

Teen/Tween Thursday!

Library Preferences for Accounts

Contributed by LaShawn Myles, Youth Services Librarian

Have you updated your preferences lately?

As your child ages, their interests tend to reflect the social, physical, and environmental changes they experience. Did you know that you can update your child's reading preferences at any time, to reflect their changing interests? Common questions to ask yourself before updating your MD LBPH account:

• Is your child getting the books he or she likes to read?
• Is your contact information, your child's contact information, the same, or has it changed in recent years?
• Have you signed up for BARD Mobile? 
  

Look out for additional correspondence from the Youth Services Librarian in the coming weeks, and never hesitate to reach out to the library with any questions about your child's account.  

Marylandia Collection Update

Marylandia Collection Update

Marylandia Collection: Update

Contributed by Mary Ramos, Collection Development Librarian

The Marylandia Collection is produced by the LBPH Recording Studio. This collection includes books by Maryland authors and select regional authors and books of particular interest to Marylanders.  The Marylandia Collection is available for download through Braille & Audio Reading Download (BARD).  

Historical Fiction

DBC05345 – The Tide King, by Jen Michalski

Narrated by Janet Sanford

Stanley Polensky and Calvin Johnson serve in Germany during World War II. Calvin, near death after being shelled, is given a bewitched herb by Stanley and then left for dead. Each soldier returns from the war and years pass. Calvin, discovering he cannot age and cannot die, searches for Stanley to get answers.

You can search BARD for this and other great titles by visiting: https://nlsbard.loc.gov/login//NLS or via the Mobile App.

Podcast Review: Ologies

Podcast Review

Contributed by Taryn Tranby, Administrative Assistant

Ologies, hosted by Alie Ward, is an energetic podcast that focuses on the world around us by compartmentalizing various fields of study into individual episodes. Beginning in 2017 with the pilot episode focusing on Volcanoes (Volcanology), Alie Ward has continued on to other topics such as Paleontology, Herpetology, Dendrology, Thermophysiology, and many more! If you don’t mind some minor vulgarity in the realm of swearing and in-depth questions on the procreation of slugs, this is definitely the podcast for you. One of the excellent aspects of this particular podcast is that there is no designated listening order. The episodes aren’t chronological and you can pick up on whatever episode sounds the most interesting to you. (However, to be fair, even the episodes I thought unappealing have kept me enthralled the whole way through)!


Each week, Ward bombards a different specialist with questions about their current position, their career path, and their studies. Thanks to Patreon contributors, Ward also asks a series of rapid-fire listener questions and adds whether or not they were popular questions. She starts the podcast with an introduction to the title topic as well as the etymology of the word itself. (Etymology is also one of the episodes). As Ward introduces her guest, she explains the show set up to them and begins asking about the guest’s career path, what they’re currently working on, and various questions about the subject at hand. Ward is also excellent in adding asides after each complicated concept that’s introduced to make it easier for listeners to understand and follow along. At the end of each interview, Ward asks the guest what their favorite and least favorite aspects of their job are. (Be sure to listen through all of the ‘Thank Yous’ at the conclusion because each week, Ward divulges a secret)!


Alie Ward is currently a science correspondent for Innovation Nation with Mo Rocca, a host on ‘Food: Fact or Fiction’ on the Cooking Channel, and a volunteer at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County.


Ologies can be found on Itunes, Google Play, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Marylandia Collection Update

Marylandia Collection: Update

Contributed by Mary Ramos, Collection Development Librarian

The Marylandia Collection is produced by the LBPH Recording Studio. This collection includes books by Maryland authors and select regional authors and books of particular interest to Marylanders.  The Marylandia Collection is available for download through Braille & Audio Reading Download (BARD).  

Mystery & Detective
DBC05267 – Full Mortality: Nikki Latrelle, Book 1, by Sasscer Hill
Narrated by Diane Brandt Stillman

Jockey Nikki Latrelle gets the chance of a lifetime – to ride the favorite in a stakes race – only to have her dream destroyed when a mysterious intruder kills her mount the night before the race. Evil is at work at Maryland's Laurel Park race track, and when Nikki stumbles over the body of a gunshot victim, she quickly becomes the prime suspect in a murder case.

You can search BARD for this and other great titles by visiting: https://nlsbard.loc.gov/login//NLS or via the Mobile App.