#ArtOfTheDay: 'The Red Threads Of Fortune' by Yuko Shimizu

'The Red Threads Of Fortune' by Yuko Shimizu.

Cover art for the novella, book 2 of 'The Tensorate' series written by JY Yang, published September 2017 by Tor Publishing.

Book Review: 'Circus Girl, The Hunter And Mirror Boy' by JY Yang

cover art by Ashley Mackenzie

Stories by JY Yang are fast becoming a must read for me, their style of writing and world building captures you and really draws you into the stories that they weave. I really love their 'Tensorate' series so far (and looking forward to the next book in the series, 'The Ascent To Godhood' out in the summer) as well as the few short stories I've read, and 'Circus Girl, The Hunter and Mirror Boy' is another worthy addition to their catalogue of essential reading. An urban fantasy ghost story, of sorts, set in an intriguing world where magic and its practitioners are part of normal life.

Lynette, who used to work in the circus ten years previously, is revisited by a ghost from her past during a traumatic time for her, a spirit that appears as her reflection and whom she appropriately refers to as Mirror Boy. Mirror Boy comes bearing a dire warning; a serial killer that has left a trail of bodies is hunting both him as well as Lynette. Hearing this, she goes on the run, trying to figure out why this mysterious serial killer would be after her, and along the way, gets a little help from a witch.

It's a solid read that's fast paced, wonderfully written, and told from the three POVs from the title; Lynette the circus girl, who has most of the narrative, the serial killer that's hunting them and of Mirror Boy, and it works very well, with the right amount of story and exposition split between the viewpoints. The story is also hauntingly creepy at times, especially with some aspects of Lynette's past, and during the killer's POV, as we discover his motivations behind the killings and find out why he's after Lynette.

I loved the world that the story is part of. It comes across as a very lived in world that could be set anywhere, and it's one that I would love to return to again.

Available to read for for free from the Tor website

Book Review: 'The Tensorate: Book 3 - The Descent Of Monsters' by JY Yang

cover art by Yuko Shimizu

'The Descent Of Monsters', the third book in JY Yang's 'Tensorate' fantasy novella series, follows the investigation of what happened at the Rewar Teng Institute of Experimental Methods. Told through letters, diary entries and official reports, Tensor Chuwan Sariman slowly unravels the mystery of what was going on at the institute and the aftermath that lead to the devastation they discovered upon arriving at the compound.

Despite, one might say, the unconventional method of storytelling here, of just journals entries, memos and transcripts, I found it no less engrossing than if Yang had told the story in prose form. The narrative felt like a jigsaw with all the fragmented pieces slowly coming together as the determined Tensor Sariman puts all the pieces together in search for the truth of what happened, and in doing so discovers a Tensorate Protectorate cover up.

It was a really immersive experience as well, as if you were really reading the reports and someone's personal letters and diary. It brought a different perspective to the world of the Protectorate. It was also very creepy and chilling in places too, with the reports and transcripts being very descriptive as the incident site was being explored.

Although 'The Descent Of Monsters' mostly revolves around a single protagonist, Tensor Chuwan Sariman, I would definitely recommend reading the previous novellas in the series before picking this one up, just to get a better sense of the characters and the world they inhabit, as the novellas setup the world building and characters, as here it is assumed that you know who they are and their motivations.

It's another good addition to a fantasy series that is fast becoming one of my favourites, as is author JY Yang, whose lyrical style of writing is a joy to read. Looking forward to the next in the series, 'The Ascent To Godhood'.

Available from Waterstones, Audible Audiobooks and all good book stores.

Book Review: 'The Tensorate: Book 2 - The Red Threads Of Fortune' by JY Yang

'The Red Threads Of Fortune' is the second book in JY Yang's 'Tensorate' fantasy series and continues four years after the events of the first novella, 'The Black Tides Of Heaven' (my review here).

Previously where the first book covered around the first 40 years in the life of twins Akeha and Mokoya, focusing mainly on Akeha in the latter part, here the spotlight is on Mokoya, still in rebellious grief over the events in 'Black Tides'.

Her focus is now on a monster hunt, chasing down a huge Naga, a kind of dragon, through the desert with her pack of giant velociraptors, which is where we join the story. This quest keeps her from truly letting go of her grief, but when she first meets Rider, a mysterious Naga rider also in search of the same Naga as Mokoya, they seem to connect instantly, changing Mokoya's outlook for the better and helping her through her grief.

Much like 'Black Tides', there are themes of gender in society. Mokoya's new companion, Rider, is non binary, although they are also referred to by another character as female, and some of the relationships spoken of in the novella are gender fluid too, all adding extra depth and development to the well written world building.

'Red Threads' also goes into a bit more detail into the magic system in use in this Alt-Asian world, giving more exposition as Rider teaches Mokoya how to manipulate the Slack, allowing her to instantaneously appear anywhere, which certainly becomes useful later on.

It's a more faster paced story, as Mokoya and Rider, as well as Akeha and Thennjay, fight to save the city from the giant Naga, all leading towards an intense finale.

The cover art by Yuko Shimizu is simply gorgeous and it's a great read that benefits from more character development, adding a bit more emotion and depth to this fantasy world. I look forward to reading more in JY Yang's 'Tensorate' series.

Book Review: 'The Tensorate: Book 1 - The Black Tides Of Heaven' by JY Yang

The first novella in the 'Tensorate' series from JY Yang, 'The Black Tides Of Heaven' is set in a silkpunk Asian inspired fantasy world of mages, who can manipulate a force called the Slack, and revolutionary machinists, rebelling against the dictatorial Protectorate.

This is a world where everyone is born non-binary, genderless until they declare which gender they identify the most with later in life. It's definitely an original concept that I've not come across before in my reading, but it works well in this world and drives part of the narrative in this novella.

The story follows twins Akeha and Mokoya, children of the Protector, overlord of the Protectorate, who were sold off to the Grand Monastery whilst they were very young. For the most part, the novella delves into the closeness of their relationship over the first few years of their lives and their growing up in the monastery. But as the twins begin to identify with their gender and sexuality, their strong bond begins to fracture and they end up going their separate ways.

From then on, 'The Black Tides Of Heaven' follows Akeha as he eventually falls in with the Machinist revolution, but a tragedy forces him to return to the Monastery and his twin, as well as to confront his mother, the Protector.

I've only ever read one of JY Yang's short stories before (the wonderful 'Waiting On A Bright Moon' - my review here) and this novella had a similar feel to it as I read through, as well as having similar elements too, such as having a magic system in place, with the back drop of a rebellion and having LGBTQ themes.

Overall, it's a really enjoyable but short read, and I liked the originality of some of the elements of this fantasy world and the characters that populate it. I'll look forward to reading the second novella, 'The Red Threads Of Fortune', which was released simultaneously, as well as more in this series. Recommended.

#ArtOfTheDay: 'Waiting On A Bright Moon' by Victo Ngai

Art by Victo Ngai for the short story 'Waiting On A Bright Moon' by JY Yang, available to read at Tor.com.

Book Review: 'Waiting On A Bright Moon' by JY Yang

A beautifully written short story, written in the second person perspective much in the style of choose-your-own-adventure books.

The world is on the brink of a rebellion and the story begins with a scream and a dead body appearing through a portal created by Xin, an ansible who connects to the Imperial Authority's homeworld and colonies through song magic, linking up with another ansible, their 'song-sister' with whom they bond with emotionally, at the other end.

This kicks things off for Xin, as during her three weeks leave in response to the shock of the event, she develops a bond with Ouyang Suquing, a high ranking Starmage and is slowly pulled into the rebellion.

JY Yang describes a world and characters I really want to visit again. The second person pov doesn't detracts but really adds to the reading experience, adding more emotion and feeling to the situations going on, making you more connected to the story and characters, putting you into the story as Xin.

It's a beautifully lush, sad but hopeful story, and although I've not read anything by JY Yang before, 'Waiting On A Bright Moon' makes me want to read more of their stories. A recommended read that is available to read on the Tor.com website.

****/5