Always feel free
to agree otherwise, but I feel like companion novels have become quite popular.
I never got into them when they were featured as e-books you could purchase; I
didn’t even own a tablet until one of my tech-savvy brothers gave me one a
couple Christmases back. But when they are released as physical companion
novels, I read them when they’re from series that I have followed/am following.
A few are featured below.
Please note that publication dates
refer to the physical book and not the e-book, if an e-book was its first
manifestation.
Like navigating
a new school for the first time, arriving at demigod training camp can be
overwhelming. Sure, it probably beats surviving outside the magically
protective border of Camp Half-Blood by yourself trying to outrun and outwit
monsters that are attempting to kill you. Oh, wait. You’ll have to do that in
camp, except it’s okay, because you have fellow campers trying to do the same
thing, and it’s under the guise of training.
Not helping? Ah, well. This guide is a demigod’s real source of what to expect at Camp Half-Blood under the guidance
of Percy Jackson and with help from others, including his girlfriend
(Annabeth), assorted friends and Pete the Palikos. You will learn the answers
to important questions such as “‘Face death?’ Am I going to die?” and “What is
an omphalus*?” Also, yes, fine, the
god Apollo plays an important role in this companion novel.**
It may be that Riordan employed the
use of “extra-dimensional construction to create impossibly deep storage,” for
there is far more wit and humor than one might think possible for such a slim
volume. As it is a “guide,” it reads as such with delineated sections and
subtitles within those sections. If you’re like me and like stopping in between
chapters, this volume, if time doesn’t allow you to read it in one sitting,
makes it easy to pause. This companion novel complements the Trials of Apollo series and is a lively
extra to read while waiting for the next installment from Riordan.
* If you are the
first to respond in the Comments section with the definition of omphalus, you win a card. But only if I
happen to have your mailing address. If you are the second Commenter – or
beyond – on this post, I may still send you a card (A) if I have your mailing
address and (B) if I have extra cards.
** Credit given
to Apollo so that this post’s author does not spontaneously combust when he is
in godly form again.
Night of Cake & Puppets (Sept. 12, 2017) by Laini Taylor.
Jim Di Bartolo, illustrator.
Small but
mighty. That is Karou’s best friend, Zuzana, affectionately nicknamed the
“rabid fairy.” On a tall day, Zuzana stands just under five feet, but don’t let
her size sway you into a false sense of safety. Zuzana is as fierce as they
come with a personality to fit (cigarette-butt-flavored coffee anyone?). But
her personality isn’t the focus here. What she wants is to sweep Violin Boy
(his name is Mik, and he really does play the violin; they both work at the
Marionette Theater of Prague) off his feet, not in a milquetoast, I-will-bat-my-eyelashes-and-wait-for-you-to-come-calling
sort of way, but in a ready-or-not-here-I-come
sort of way. And she has a handful of scuppies
on hand. In other words, she has a handful of magic wishes at her disposal, and
she’s got a plan. Rabid fairy with a plan? Watch out, Violin Boy!
While I did have qualms about
wanting to read this book, it’s a companion novel to an impressively
fantastical trilogy, and also, I needn’t have worried. Taylor has a way of
writing that is as beautiful as it is creative. Instead of worrying about
sappiness so sweet that it detracts the biggest sweet tooth, I read about the
treasure hunt that Mik went on to find Zuzana, his treasure, the ‘X marks the
spot,’ and the magic she used to help him wonder and believe (think “peacock
footprints”). This companion novel to the Daughter
of Smoke & Bone trilogy is imaginative, snarky, magical and, yes,
romantic.
Fun fact (if you don’t know): The
illustrator is the author’s husband.
Queens of Fennbirn (Apr. 3, 2018) by Kendare Blake.
In The Young Queens, there is something of
a glimpse into the childhood journey of Mirabella, Arsinoe and Katharine. From
birth to 13 years old, the young queens age closer to the teenagers first
introduced in “Three Dark Crowns.” Triplet queens are born every generation
when the Goddess decides it is so. From birth, Mirabella’s gift is strong,
whereas the gifts of Arsinoe and Katharine feel weak. It is clear to outgoing
Queen Camille (who leaves the island now that the triplets are born, never to
see them again) that Mirabella will one day be the Queen Crowned. After spending
their first six years together in the Black Cottage with Willa, the midwife,
they are separated out to be raised within cities populated by those with
related gifts. Those cities are Roland, Indrid Down and Wolf Spring. They are
the elemental, poisoner and naturalist cities, respectively.
The
Oracle Queen showcases Queen Elsabet. Reigning 500 years before the newest
queens, she was dubbed the “mad oracle.” It is said that she demanded the
execution of three houses, along with a maid, for no reason. Strangely, all
three houses and her maid were those she considered allies and a few were her
best friends. Interesting, yes? To get the full picture of how Queen Elsabet
allegedly went mad, this is a go-to account. There’s another Arron woman to be
leery of (I don’t trust any Arrons), a war-gifted on the Black Council who’s
jealous of a fellow war-gifted who’s commander of Elsabet’s Queensguard, and a
despicable king-consort.
A novella comprised of two short
stories, there is new back-story if you already follow the trilogy. As in the
first books of Blake’s latest trilogy, there is darkness of plot, and it is
executed marvelously. The darkness festers and all manner of things come to
light: anger, madness, rancor, jealousy and even loneliness. In seeing the
young queens as children, we picture them when once they were of innocence and
cared for each other. We see two of them struggle with their weak gifts. With
Elsabet, we see chaos reign, though it isn’t all of her own doing. This is a
sharp companion and a good addition to one’s Three Dark Crowns novels.
Responding to Night of Cake Puppets: Hey! I know someone who sounds a bit like the protagonist! Short and snarky--she sounds as if she could be Lisa's long-lost twin! If only Lisa had some magic wishes at her disposal...
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