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Shield and Crocus
In a city built among the bones of a fallen giant, a small group of heroes looks to reclaim their home from the five criminal tyrants who control it.
The city of Audec-Hal sits among the bones of a Titan. For decades it has suffered under the dominance of five tyrants, all with their own agendas. Their infighting is nothing, though, compared to the mysterious "Spark-storms" that alternate between razing the land and bestowing the citizens with wild, unpredictable abilities. It was one of these storms that gave First Sentinel, leader of the revolutionaries known as the Shields of Audec-Hal, power to control the emotional connections between people'a power that cost him the love of his life.
Now, with nothing left to lose, First Sentinel and the Shields are the only resistance against the city's overlords as they strive to free themselves from the clutches of evil. The only thing they have going for them is that the crime lords are fighting each other as well--that is, until the tyrants agree to a summit that will permanently divide the city and cement their rule of Audec-Hal.
It's one thing to take a stand against oppression, but with the odds stacked against the Shields, it's another thing to actually triumph.
In this stunning, original tale of magic and revolution, Michael R. Underwood creates a cityscape that rivals Ambergris and New Crobuzon in its depth and populates it with heroes and villains that will stay with you forever.
The city of Audec-Hal sits among the bones of a Titan. For decades it has suffered under the dominance of five tyrants, all with their own agendas. Their infighting is nothing, though, compared to the mysterious "Spark-storms" that alternate between razing the land and bestowing the citizens with wild, unpredictable abilities. It was one of these storms that gave First Sentinel, leader of the revolutionaries known as the Shields of Audec-Hal, power to control the emotional connections between people'a power that cost him the love of his life.
Now, with nothing left to lose, First Sentinel and the Shields are the only resistance against the city's overlords as they strive to free themselves from the clutches of evil. The only thing they have going for them is that the crime lords are fighting each other as well--that is, until the tyrants agree to a summit that will permanently divide the city and cement their rule of Audec-Hal.
It's one thing to take a stand against oppression, but with the odds stacked against the Shields, it's another thing to actually triumph.
In this stunning, original tale of magic and revolution, Michael R. Underwood creates a cityscape that rivals Ambergris and New Crobuzon in its depth and populates it with heroes and villains that will stay with you forever.
416 pages, Paperback
First published June 10, 2014
30 people are currently reading
1,211 people want to read
About the author
Michael R. Underwood
36Ìýbooks261ÌýfollowersSupport Mike's writing at
Mike's books include:
Genrenauts - a r/Fantasy Stabby Award-finalist science fiction adventure series in novellas. A group of storytellers travel between dimensions to the worlds where genres live to fix broken stories. Starts with The Shootout Solution. Collections available: Genrenauts - The Complete Season One
The Ree Reyes urban fantasy series (Geekomancy, Celebromancy, Attack the Geek, Hexomancy) about magicians who channel the power of popular culture. Starts with Geekomancy.
Born to the Blade, a political action fantasy about duelist diplomats vying for their nation's interests in a world on the brink of war. Co-written with Marie Brennan, Malka Older, and Cassandra Khaw for Serial Box Publishing. Collections available: Born to the Blade Season One.
Shield and Crocus, a superheroes-meets-epic fantasy novel where an aging revolutionary makes a deal with his most deadly foe to turn the tide of a fifty-year-long fight to free his city.
The Younger Gods, a supernatural thriller starring the white-sheep member of a family of demon-worshippers as he tries to stop his big sister from ending the world.
Mike started telling stories when he learned to talk and hasn't seen a reason to stop yet. He grew up playing video games, CCGs, RPGs, and many other delightful games with acronyms. As a teenager, the friendly local game store was his home away from home, and the site of his apprenticeship in geekdom.
Mike earned a B.A. in Creative Mythology and in East Asian Studies from Indiana University, and a M.A. in Folklore Studies from the University of Oregon. Basically, destined to be a novelist. He is also a graduate of the 2007 Clarion West Writers Workshop.
Properly equipped with lots of ways to develop story ideas, Mike has been a barista, a bear builder, a sales representative, and the North American Sales & Marketing Manager for Angry Robot Books.
Mike lives with his wife and their dog in Baltimore, MD.
Mike's books include:
Genrenauts - a r/Fantasy Stabby Award-finalist science fiction adventure series in novellas. A group of storytellers travel between dimensions to the worlds where genres live to fix broken stories. Starts with The Shootout Solution. Collections available: Genrenauts - The Complete Season One
The Ree Reyes urban fantasy series (Geekomancy, Celebromancy, Attack the Geek, Hexomancy) about magicians who channel the power of popular culture. Starts with Geekomancy.
Born to the Blade, a political action fantasy about duelist diplomats vying for their nation's interests in a world on the brink of war. Co-written with Marie Brennan, Malka Older, and Cassandra Khaw for Serial Box Publishing. Collections available: Born to the Blade Season One.
Shield and Crocus, a superheroes-meets-epic fantasy novel where an aging revolutionary makes a deal with his most deadly foe to turn the tide of a fifty-year-long fight to free his city.
The Younger Gods, a supernatural thriller starring the white-sheep member of a family of demon-worshippers as he tries to stop his big sister from ending the world.
Mike started telling stories when he learned to talk and hasn't seen a reason to stop yet. He grew up playing video games, CCGs, RPGs, and many other delightful games with acronyms. As a teenager, the friendly local game store was his home away from home, and the site of his apprenticeship in geekdom.
Mike earned a B.A. in Creative Mythology and in East Asian Studies from Indiana University, and a M.A. in Folklore Studies from the University of Oregon. Basically, destined to be a novelist. He is also a graduate of the 2007 Clarion West Writers Workshop.
Properly equipped with lots of ways to develop story ideas, Mike has been a barista, a bear builder, a sales representative, and the North American Sales & Marketing Manager for Angry Robot Books.
Mike lives with his wife and their dog in Baltimore, MD.
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September 29, 2017
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Fantasies always have a learning curve. They are set in new worlds, with new rules and it takes time to learn those. The challenge I had with this novel is that it is fantasy with superheroes. So not only are the names complicated for the characters every super hero has an alter ego and on top of that a different species. I’m horrible with names so I spent 40% of the novel trying to remember who was who. My suggestion is to read a couple chapters and then read the glossary in the back and make a sheet so as not to be confused or you can just use the list I made.
Name / Superhero Name / Species
Wonlar / First Sentinel /Ikanollo
Selweh / Aegis / Ikanollo
Rova / Saphire / Freithin
Wenlizerachi / Blurred Fists / Pronai
Sarii / Salreslate / Jalvai
Bira / Ghost Hands / Qava
The good thing about this book is that the world is really imaginative. All the different species and the back story of the First Sentinel took a great deal of imagination to come up with. The lore of the giant falling and cities being built in his bones I found really captivating with descriptions of the forehead to the nose being twenty miles long. There are storms that are localized in sections of the city and when they hit inanimate objects come to life and beings who are struck can have special powers activated, but only if they survive the process. In the last thirty years tyrants have split up sections of the city to be controlled, but now they are going to meet and find a way to consolidate their power. If that happens the Shields that protect the city will be defeated for sure so now is the time to strike or die trying.
This falls into the Action, fight fight fight�.go go go category for me. That isn’t really my preferred sort of fantasy. I, as a girl, get bored when there is just continual conflict and fights with some that last 4-5 chapters long. It’s not a bad thing it just isn’t my preferred type of fantasy. This seems like it would fall in better with a graphic novel format than book in my opinion. My preferred type of fantasy has explanations for the magic systems, reasons why things evolved the way they did. I really love the world building aspects and new rules for a new world more than most other things in a fantasy novel. I like a good fight now and again but I much prefer a build up to a fight instead of a gauntlet of them. Still I enjoyed the story a little more after I made my list and could tell who was doing what.
This seems to be presented as just a stand-alone novel, but the author seemed to leave it open at the end so that he could write more in this world later. Actually I got to the end and thought I should have had 1-2 more chapters to do a sort of wrap up if this was intended as a stand-alone novel. I appreciate that the author took chances and that not all of the main characters will make it out alive. They shouldn’t in a revolution so that had some authenticity to it. I would have like a little more character development though so that when those things happened it hit harder.
If you like action more than the world/character building and lore of the story than this is probably something you would enjoy.
Thank you to 47 North and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Fantasies always have a learning curve. They are set in new worlds, with new rules and it takes time to learn those. The challenge I had with this novel is that it is fantasy with superheroes. So not only are the names complicated for the characters every super hero has an alter ego and on top of that a different species. I’m horrible with names so I spent 40% of the novel trying to remember who was who. My suggestion is to read a couple chapters and then read the glossary in the back and make a sheet so as not to be confused or you can just use the list I made.
Name / Superhero Name / Species
Wonlar / First Sentinel /Ikanollo
Selweh / Aegis / Ikanollo
Rova / Saphire / Freithin
Wenlizerachi / Blurred Fists / Pronai
Sarii / Salreslate / Jalvai
Bira / Ghost Hands / Qava
The good thing about this book is that the world is really imaginative. All the different species and the back story of the First Sentinel took a great deal of imagination to come up with. The lore of the giant falling and cities being built in his bones I found really captivating with descriptions of the forehead to the nose being twenty miles long. There are storms that are localized in sections of the city and when they hit inanimate objects come to life and beings who are struck can have special powers activated, but only if they survive the process. In the last thirty years tyrants have split up sections of the city to be controlled, but now they are going to meet and find a way to consolidate their power. If that happens the Shields that protect the city will be defeated for sure so now is the time to strike or die trying.
This falls into the Action, fight fight fight�.go go go category for me. That isn’t really my preferred sort of fantasy. I, as a girl, get bored when there is just continual conflict and fights with some that last 4-5 chapters long. It’s not a bad thing it just isn’t my preferred type of fantasy. This seems like it would fall in better with a graphic novel format than book in my opinion. My preferred type of fantasy has explanations for the magic systems, reasons why things evolved the way they did. I really love the world building aspects and new rules for a new world more than most other things in a fantasy novel. I like a good fight now and again but I much prefer a build up to a fight instead of a gauntlet of them. Still I enjoyed the story a little more after I made my list and could tell who was doing what.
This seems to be presented as just a stand-alone novel, but the author seemed to leave it open at the end so that he could write more in this world later. Actually I got to the end and thought I should have had 1-2 more chapters to do a sort of wrap up if this was intended as a stand-alone novel. I appreciate that the author took chances and that not all of the main characters will make it out alive. They shouldn’t in a revolution so that had some authenticity to it. I would have like a little more character development though so that when those things happened it hit harder.
If you like action more than the world/character building and lore of the story than this is probably something you would enjoy.
Thank you to 47 North and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 7, 2014
I received this advance copy via NetGalley. In addition, the author is a friend, though I've critiqued his work and have no qualms about dishing about the negative with the positive.
The pitch for the book is so simple and so awesome: epic fantasy with superheroes. I'm baffled that it hasn't been done before, especially since the combination works so well in this novel, due out in June from Amazon's 47North imprint.
The cast is diverse, with each hero bringing a unique strength in their rebellion against the tyrants of Audec-Hal. First Sentinel is old. He's been fighting for fifty years. His unique skill already cost him the love of his life, and physically he's riddled with pain from numerous old wounds. His son is Aegis, his second-in-command, and his constant worry. I was especially fond of Sapphire, one of an engineered race that was freed by the Shields some years before. Probably the biggest stumbling block I had in the novel was that I confused names at times. Each of the heroes has two names--their real and secret identities--and a number begin with S. I'm bad with names anyway, so I found I had to re-read some passages to keep things straight.
Not that re-reading is a bad thing.
Even the setting here is ridiculously cool: it's a massive metropolis built within the bones of a fallen Titan. The bad guys control their own districts within the body.
The book is fast-paced, especially impressive considering the amount of world-building. The fight is desperate. The tyrants are villains in the truest sense. There is a definite GRRM vibe as the story progresses. I found myself getting incredibly anxious as it neared the end because things looked so hopeless on all fronts. I really wasn't sure how they could win, or if the sacrifice would be so great that it wouldn't be worth it. I was glad when I finished the book because my heart could finally calm down, but I was sad there was no more to read. Some books are just like that.
The pitch for the book is so simple and so awesome: epic fantasy with superheroes. I'm baffled that it hasn't been done before, especially since the combination works so well in this novel, due out in June from Amazon's 47North imprint.
The cast is diverse, with each hero bringing a unique strength in their rebellion against the tyrants of Audec-Hal. First Sentinel is old. He's been fighting for fifty years. His unique skill already cost him the love of his life, and physically he's riddled with pain from numerous old wounds. His son is Aegis, his second-in-command, and his constant worry. I was especially fond of Sapphire, one of an engineered race that was freed by the Shields some years before. Probably the biggest stumbling block I had in the novel was that I confused names at times. Each of the heroes has two names--their real and secret identities--and a number begin with S. I'm bad with names anyway, so I found I had to re-read some passages to keep things straight.
Not that re-reading is a bad thing.
Even the setting here is ridiculously cool: it's a massive metropolis built within the bones of a fallen Titan. The bad guys control their own districts within the body.
The book is fast-paced, especially impressive considering the amount of world-building. The fight is desperate. The tyrants are villains in the truest sense. There is a definite GRRM vibe as the story progresses. I found myself getting incredibly anxious as it neared the end because things looked so hopeless on all fronts. I really wasn't sure how they could win, or if the sacrifice would be so great that it wouldn't be worth it. I was glad when I finished the book because my heart could finally calm down, but I was sad there was no more to read. Some books are just like that.
August 2, 2014
I've delayed writing a review for Shield and Crocus, because it is my favourite read of 2014 (so far) and I want to do it justice. I have sit and thought about what made the book so very enjoyable. So, in no particular order, here's an acrostic list of some of my favourite things about this book...
S is for a compelling Story.
Shield and Crocus is ane pic fantasy/superhero story, detailing the revolutionary efforts of a hard-pressed band of talented individuals. It's the kind of compelling tale that makes you reluctant to put the book down!
H is for Hero.
First Sentinel (Wonlar) is one of the my favourite literary characters. An aging revolutionist, he continues to fight increasingly desperate battles in order to save the city from a number of atagonists. He struck me as a kind of mature batman-like figure: all gadgets, intelligence and determination (without the unbecoming surly attitude!). It was also very interesting to read his account of the action in comparison to his son's perspective of him.
I is for Idolisation.
I found the idea of the City Mother being protector of Audec-Hall quite interesing. Obviously she is an extremely powerful - almost god-like in fact. Wonlar's devotion to her is similar to that of a religious worshipper. This is juxtaposed to her plight of being a exorted prisoner to the four villains of the city.
The idea of the City Mother put me in mind of the divine right of Kings position of pharoahs or emperors. The concept of someone being incredibly powerful given a divine-like status, but also being a fallible being is intriguing.
E is for Exciting Action Scenes.
Like any superhero story, Shield and Crocus is filled with action. Instead of the 'wham, bam, thank you ...evil minion...' stereotype, the book allowed you to listen into the strategic decisions and emotional responses when fighting alongside people you truly care for. In particular, reading from First Sentinel's perspective in the tower, sheathed in layers of desperation, pain and hope, was the most heart wrenching part of the story for me.
L is for Love.
Familial love, the bond between brothers in arms, romantic love, religious love, friendship, the love for your home, your fellow man, grieving love. There are so many forms of love in this book. The varying bonds between the characters and their environment makes for extremely powerful reading.
D is for Diversity.
The author has created a world rich in numerous and imaginative species. First Sentinel and the Aegis are both Ikanollo - males and females all share the same features (great for disguises!) and can literally see the different bonds between people. There are six different races in this city and I found each as thought provoking and interesting as the next!
Not only does Underwood describe a number of different races in this book. He includes a gay couple as part of the main group of heroes. They're both female. They're in love and married. So what? There's no song and dance or flat stereotypes to the characters which I found refreshing.
&
C is for Crocus.
First Sentinel's wife acts as a driving force behind his peserverance to protect both his city and his adopted son. Reading about Wonlar's (FS's) grief struck me as very intimitate. She permeates so many of his judgements, decisions and relationships, and indeed even the title of the book, with barely a 'flashback' of her own. It's clear her presence has never truly left him and I found that truly touching.
R is for a touch of Reality.
Minor but expected spoiler: not everyone makes it out of this book alive. There are numerous occassions were the heroes despair in not being able to be everywhere at once. In wanting to do the best for the whole, sacrifices are made along the way.
O is for Opportunities!
Although I have read that Shield and Crocus is a standalone, I have heard that there might be other books set in this world (with different characters, unfortunately). Also, there may be graphic novels in the works. I think I'd get into reading them in order to continue this story!
C is for City.
The city of Audec-Hall is fascinating to read about. It is built in the shadow of a fallen giant's bones (great mythology right there!), split into segments ruled eached by a different villainous leader. I enjoyed the world-building about how each area was influenced by it's ruler. Some of these were explored in more detail than others, and it would have been nice to read more about the antagonists' motivations.
U is for Unique Powers.
Some of the races and unfortunate 'spark touched' victims of the magic storms have amazingly unique powers. For example, Bira (code named 'Ghost Hands') is a mouthless, eyeless telepath whose powers focus on telepathy. Another millrej character can save people through their artistic talents. As for Wonlar's talents; I let you discover that for yourself.
S is Superheroes.
I love a good superhero story. I think it has to do with the suspension of the belief, and the amazing super abilities to stand up and right some wrongs. Shield and Crocus has that and SO much more. For a book where none of the main characters are actually human, it is a very human story.
4.5 stars.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of Shield and Crocus from netgalley and 47North. This in no way impacted on my review.
May 30, 2014
Disclaimer: I received an ARC directly from the author when I ran into him at a convention. I promised to read it, but there were no other strings attached to said gift.
I was a little leery before I started this novel because a couple of my more recent experiences with superhero novels were and and I didn't like either of them. My low expectations were met, and then blown out of the water.
Shield and Crocus is a little different than your run of the mill superhero tale. It takes place in a city made from the bones of a dead Titan which seems like an odd choice until you realize how easy it is to visualize the city. There's a map at the beginning but it's not hard to figure out where the left shoulder gate is in relation to the Bowels because, well, most of us know what a human body looks like. Makes the geography super accessible.
Because of the fantasy setting, we get different races with different "powers" but none of them feel like pastiche versions of "real" races. Of the six superheros, three of them are female, and two of those are married. Diversity abounds. It's also just background, not a major plot point.
But this is a superhero novel, and you want action, and a plot line that gets you more action, and explosions, and face punching. And this novel has it in spades. The plot is fast paced, and every time it seems like there will be downtime, the chapter ends, and we're thrown into the next important scene. Each chapter is clearly delineated with number and the POV character it features.
As with all superhero novels, there's some minor suspension of disbelief required, but that's one place where the fantasy setting really helps out. How's that work? Magick. Let's get back to the face punching.
About the only criticisms I have of the novel, are that you can see the finale coming if you pay attention to the hooks at the beginning, but the way it's handled make that a minor complaint.
If you enjoy superheroes, or action fantasy (is that a thing?) then I think you're going to enjoy this novel. HIGHLY recommended. This is a good read.
I was a little leery before I started this novel because a couple of my more recent experiences with superhero novels were and and I didn't like either of them. My low expectations were met, and then blown out of the water.
Shield and Crocus is a little different than your run of the mill superhero tale. It takes place in a city made from the bones of a dead Titan which seems like an odd choice until you realize how easy it is to visualize the city. There's a map at the beginning but it's not hard to figure out where the left shoulder gate is in relation to the Bowels because, well, most of us know what a human body looks like. Makes the geography super accessible.
Because of the fantasy setting, we get different races with different "powers" but none of them feel like pastiche versions of "real" races. Of the six superheros, three of them are female, and two of those are married. Diversity abounds. It's also just background, not a major plot point.
But this is a superhero novel, and you want action, and a plot line that gets you more action, and explosions, and face punching. And this novel has it in spades. The plot is fast paced, and every time it seems like there will be downtime, the chapter ends, and we're thrown into the next important scene. Each chapter is clearly delineated with number and the POV character it features.
As with all superhero novels, there's some minor suspension of disbelief required, but that's one place where the fantasy setting really helps out. How's that work? Magick. Let's get back to the face punching.
About the only criticisms I have of the novel, are that you can see the finale coming if you pay attention to the hooks at the beginning, but the way it's handled make that a minor complaint.
If you enjoy superheroes, or action fantasy (is that a thing?) then I think you're going to enjoy this novel. HIGHLY recommended. This is a good read.
December 16, 2015
This is the first novel in an action fantasy series, set in Audec-Hal, a city built among the bones of a dead titan - where an aging revolutionary strikes a bargain with his most dangerous foe to tip the balance of power and free Audec-Hal.
Jet City Comics will also be publishing an original graphic novel in the setting of Shield and Crocus.
Jet City Comics will also be publishing an original graphic novel in the setting of Shield and Crocus.
August 5, 2014
I really, wanted to like this book. I really did. I loved the premise of a city build and thriving in the skeleton of a titan, but as it turned out that's all I liked, that idea. I stuck with it for almost two weeks, and only made it to page 69.
It's a super-hero story, which I didn't realize when I purchased the book. So they all have a super-hero name -sometimes not easily pronounceable-, a true identity, and some have a title too. So it's extremely difficult to keep up with who is doing what as they are all referenced by their multiple names. Even the glossary confuses the issue. It's like you need to take notes, and if a writer makes you take notes for a fiction novel, something isn't right.
Different races, and "spark-storms" -horrific occurrences that bizarrely alter living and an inanimate objects alike- are source for some to have super-human abilities. (I almost gave-up the book sooner over a school building that turned into a big multi-mouthed monster that was eating the students.) The world seems to have technology on par with the late 19th century, but I couldn't really say for sure. Maybe it's a Steampunk world? But of course there is magic too, but the two elements do not mesh well enough to be know which is which.
And the writing just needs a really good polishing. It reminds me of something I would have thought up in daydream when I had way too much time on my hands. There is just too much going on, coming at the reader too fast to take in. It was like George R. R. Martin's shared world anthology series, Wild Cards, except instead of a long series that introduces the world at a pace the reader can take in, the first 4 books are all crammed into the first few chapters.
Alas, yet another book with raving reviews, that I just totally do not get.
It's a super-hero story, which I didn't realize when I purchased the book. So they all have a super-hero name -sometimes not easily pronounceable-, a true identity, and some have a title too. So it's extremely difficult to keep up with who is doing what as they are all referenced by their multiple names. Even the glossary confuses the issue. It's like you need to take notes, and if a writer makes you take notes for a fiction novel, something isn't right.
Different races, and "spark-storms" -horrific occurrences that bizarrely alter living and an inanimate objects alike- are source for some to have super-human abilities. (I almost gave-up the book sooner over a school building that turned into a big multi-mouthed monster that was eating the students.) The world seems to have technology on par with the late 19th century, but I couldn't really say for sure. Maybe it's a Steampunk world? But of course there is magic too, but the two elements do not mesh well enough to be know which is which.
And the writing just needs a really good polishing. It reminds me of something I would have thought up in daydream when I had way too much time on my hands. There is just too much going on, coming at the reader too fast to take in. It was like George R. R. Martin's shared world anthology series, Wild Cards, except instead of a long series that introduces the world at a pace the reader can take in, the first 4 books are all crammed into the first few chapters.
Alas, yet another book with raving reviews, that I just totally do not get.
June 24, 2014
(I got a copy of this book through NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.)
3.5* for an interesting read. Quite special at first: I must admit I was expecting more classical fantasy, yet this novel deals in fact more with superheroes in a fantasy world than with a typical "band of brothers" Ã la Robin Hood. So, with this in mind, it depends on the reader's take on such stories: if superheroes aren't your thing, getting into Shield and Crocus might be difficult. For instance, the characters have their normal identities and their heroes' identities, which can be confusing in the beginning before you get used to Wonlar being also called First Sentinel, Rova being Sapphire, and so on. (Of course, I only noticed the presence of a glossary at the end after I had finished reading the novel. The beauty of ebooks on a Kindle app on a smartphone...)
The story's set in an intriguing city by the name of Audec-Hal, a city that developed within the skeleton of a fallen Titan, twenty miles from head to toe. Its inhabitants live in his ribcage, along his legs and arms, streets are called "veins" as if they were still carrying his blood, and so on. Some fifty years ago, it was protected by the City Mother, a being whose power was however enslaved by a tyrant; since then, the faith and compassion bestowed on the inhabitants have turned to fear and servitude. The place is also regularly stormed by, well, literal storms (Spark-storms), possibly magical in origin, since they turn people and even buildings into strange things, mostly living. The lucky ones end up with couple of physical changes and/or a specific power; the others lose their humanity, so to speak—the people of Audec-Hal are humanoid in looks and behaviours, but their races aren't called "human". Six of them dwell in the city, all with their specific characteristics: the fast (and fast-aging Pronai); the Ikanollo, who can see the threads of emotions bonding people (oh the possibilities); the Freithin, created through alchemy to serve as slaves, empowered with empathy with their blood-kin; the Jalvai, who control stone; the Millrej, sharing features with animals (bear-kin, fox-kin...); and the eyeless, mouthless Qava, who feed on thoughts and communicate and feel through telepathy and telekinesy.
This may seem complicated, and it was in the beginning, but the novel's detailed enough in its descriptions to make it clear after a couple of chapters. At least, I didn't find it so complicated that I had to stop reading or check the glossary (as said, I didn't even notice there was one). It was imaginative enough to my liking, and different from the usual elves-like, dwarves-like, and others-like species seen in fantasy in general.
In fact, the diversity is one of the reasons I liked this novel. Three of the six Shields are women, two of them are an item... and it just "is." Not a major plot point, not a plot device, not a way of passing a message. I didn't feel any judgemental attitude nor any preaching to the choir, which is pretty refreshing, and fits with my own take on people in general. (I consider people first as human beings, not as gendered beings. This is exactly how it felt here.) What mattered were those heroes' strength, their ideas, their fight, their wishes for a better city for their fellow inhabitants. Species, gender, sexual orientation: those weren't important, just background elements that happened to be, and didn't take precedence on more intrisic, fundamental qualities.
The "super-hero fantasy" aspect beckons for an action-filled narrative (told mostly from First Sentinel's, Sapphire's and Aegis's points of view); however, political undertones still permeate the story, in that five tyrants seized power decades ago, are keeping the city under their thumb, and are trying to gather for a summit that, if it succeeds, would make their stranglehold on Audec-Hal even stronger that before. They're all vying for power, and are definitely not above striking alliances only to backstab their new allies at the first opportunity; on the other hand, the six Shields have to take their moves into consideration, anticipate, and as always in such cases, sometimes you're victorious, and sometimes you get played. Consequently, although action and fights still make up two thirds of Shield and Crocus, the story's a little more complex than "a group of heroes fight crime/one evil overlord". This is something I tend to appreciate, especially since the Shields have to plan around, and are sometimes forced into moves that lead to loss of life (they can't be everywhere to save the people who support them).
Speaking of the tyrants: the Smiling King. I so, so want to call this guy Hastur. Or the King in Yellow. Or something to that extent. I have no idea if it was the author's intent, it's just the way he resonated with me.
The writing was somewhat redundant. I didn't have any problems when it came to picturing the city and the fights, but regularly, I found the style repetitive, probably because of names/nicknames that were dropped too often. (You can only read "First Sentinel" so many times in two paragraphs.) The book could've done with some tightening in that regard.
Another thing: the story didn't leave that much room for character development, and I would've liked to see a little more of this as well. Mostly because of what revolution-related themes tend to involve: people dying. And their death usually impacts me more when I've gotten to know those characters first, not just see them in action. It's not a big turn-off in this specific story, but it's worth mentioning.
Although it seems like a standalone for now, the ending is open enough for a follow-up, so if there's one, I'd gladly pick it. A few things were left wanting in my opinion—not enough to diminish my enjoyment of the story, just enough to make me wonder. Fahra's existence, among other things, could pave the way to some interesting scenario about the Spark-storms. I'd also like to know more about the Titans, the storm's origin, the world outside Audec-Hal. (As a microcosm, it works fairly well; only I tend to be curious about what's outside "pocket-worlds" in general, so to speak.)
To be honest, I think this novel would shine more as a graphic novel/comics. Nevertheless, it wasn't such an easy mix to come up with at first; it's imaginative; and as it is, I still enjoyed it.
3.5* for an interesting read. Quite special at first: I must admit I was expecting more classical fantasy, yet this novel deals in fact more with superheroes in a fantasy world than with a typical "band of brothers" Ã la Robin Hood. So, with this in mind, it depends on the reader's take on such stories: if superheroes aren't your thing, getting into Shield and Crocus might be difficult. For instance, the characters have their normal identities and their heroes' identities, which can be confusing in the beginning before you get used to Wonlar being also called First Sentinel, Rova being Sapphire, and so on. (Of course, I only noticed the presence of a glossary at the end after I had finished reading the novel. The beauty of ebooks on a Kindle app on a smartphone...)
The story's set in an intriguing city by the name of Audec-Hal, a city that developed within the skeleton of a fallen Titan, twenty miles from head to toe. Its inhabitants live in his ribcage, along his legs and arms, streets are called "veins" as if they were still carrying his blood, and so on. Some fifty years ago, it was protected by the City Mother, a being whose power was however enslaved by a tyrant; since then, the faith and compassion bestowed on the inhabitants have turned to fear and servitude. The place is also regularly stormed by, well, literal storms (Spark-storms), possibly magical in origin, since they turn people and even buildings into strange things, mostly living. The lucky ones end up with couple of physical changes and/or a specific power; the others lose their humanity, so to speak—the people of Audec-Hal are humanoid in looks and behaviours, but their races aren't called "human". Six of them dwell in the city, all with their specific characteristics: the fast (and fast-aging Pronai); the Ikanollo, who can see the threads of emotions bonding people (oh the possibilities); the Freithin, created through alchemy to serve as slaves, empowered with empathy with their blood-kin; the Jalvai, who control stone; the Millrej, sharing features with animals (bear-kin, fox-kin...); and the eyeless, mouthless Qava, who feed on thoughts and communicate and feel through telepathy and telekinesy.
This may seem complicated, and it was in the beginning, but the novel's detailed enough in its descriptions to make it clear after a couple of chapters. At least, I didn't find it so complicated that I had to stop reading or check the glossary (as said, I didn't even notice there was one). It was imaginative enough to my liking, and different from the usual elves-like, dwarves-like, and others-like species seen in fantasy in general.
In fact, the diversity is one of the reasons I liked this novel. Three of the six Shields are women, two of them are an item... and it just "is." Not a major plot point, not a plot device, not a way of passing a message. I didn't feel any judgemental attitude nor any preaching to the choir, which is pretty refreshing, and fits with my own take on people in general. (I consider people first as human beings, not as gendered beings. This is exactly how it felt here.) What mattered were those heroes' strength, their ideas, their fight, their wishes for a better city for their fellow inhabitants. Species, gender, sexual orientation: those weren't important, just background elements that happened to be, and didn't take precedence on more intrisic, fundamental qualities.
The "super-hero fantasy" aspect beckons for an action-filled narrative (told mostly from First Sentinel's, Sapphire's and Aegis's points of view); however, political undertones still permeate the story, in that five tyrants seized power decades ago, are keeping the city under their thumb, and are trying to gather for a summit that, if it succeeds, would make their stranglehold on Audec-Hal even stronger that before. They're all vying for power, and are definitely not above striking alliances only to backstab their new allies at the first opportunity; on the other hand, the six Shields have to take their moves into consideration, anticipate, and as always in such cases, sometimes you're victorious, and sometimes you get played. Consequently, although action and fights still make up two thirds of Shield and Crocus, the story's a little more complex than "a group of heroes fight crime/one evil overlord". This is something I tend to appreciate, especially since the Shields have to plan around, and are sometimes forced into moves that lead to loss of life (they can't be everywhere to save the people who support them).
Speaking of the tyrants: the Smiling King. I so, so want to call this guy Hastur. Or the King in Yellow. Or something to that extent. I have no idea if it was the author's intent, it's just the way he resonated with me.
The writing was somewhat redundant. I didn't have any problems when it came to picturing the city and the fights, but regularly, I found the style repetitive, probably because of names/nicknames that were dropped too often. (You can only read "First Sentinel" so many times in two paragraphs.) The book could've done with some tightening in that regard.
Another thing: the story didn't leave that much room for character development, and I would've liked to see a little more of this as well. Mostly because of what revolution-related themes tend to involve: people dying. And their death usually impacts me more when I've gotten to know those characters first, not just see them in action. It's not a big turn-off in this specific story, but it's worth mentioning.
Although it seems like a standalone for now, the ending is open enough for a follow-up, so if there's one, I'd gladly pick it. A few things were left wanting in my opinion—not enough to diminish my enjoyment of the story, just enough to make me wonder. Fahra's existence, among other things, could pave the way to some interesting scenario about the Spark-storms. I'd also like to know more about the Titans, the storm's origin, the world outside Audec-Hal. (As a microcosm, it works fairly well; only I tend to be curious about what's outside "pocket-worlds" in general, so to speak.)
To be honest, I think this novel would shine more as a graphic novel/comics. Nevertheless, it wasn't such an easy mix to come up with at first; it's imaginative; and as it is, I still enjoyed it.
September 28, 2014
This book had SO MUCH POTENTIAL.
But it didn't realize its potential, and Silver Age comic book dialogue is tough on the ear.
The concept and the world setup is intriguing and full of so many possiblities.
But it chruns out at a steady spry pace as nothing more than an action story which feels very much like a Silver Age comic.
Unfortunately that kind of style as a long form novel isn't bearable after the initial novelty wears off.
Don't get me wrong, it's not a bad book. It's fun. Relatively entertaining, but really lacking in any real substance.
It's essentially Silver Age Avengers meets Justice League set in a steampunk fantasy world with magic.
High concept indeed.
But the corniness of the characters and the dialogue wears on you and this book is a bit longer than it should be. Also the characters and villains are a bit too cardboard for me.
I would definitely recommend this to Junior high school me in a heartbeat :)
But it didn't realize its potential, and Silver Age comic book dialogue is tough on the ear.
The concept and the world setup is intriguing and full of so many possiblities.
But it chruns out at a steady spry pace as nothing more than an action story which feels very much like a Silver Age comic.
Unfortunately that kind of style as a long form novel isn't bearable after the initial novelty wears off.
Don't get me wrong, it's not a bad book. It's fun. Relatively entertaining, but really lacking in any real substance.
It's essentially Silver Age Avengers meets Justice League set in a steampunk fantasy world with magic.
High concept indeed.
But the corniness of the characters and the dialogue wears on you and this book is a bit longer than it should be. Also the characters and villains are a bit too cardboard for me.
I would definitely recommend this to Junior high school me in a heartbeat :)
August 18, 2014
I simply could not finish this book. It's a hot mess with too many ideas crammed into too small an area. A city built in the body of a long-dead giant: okay. Superheroes fighting the tyrant rulers of a once-noble Republic: sure. Spark-storms that come unpredictably and randomly mutate ordinary citizens into monsters or heroes: that works. Put them all together and add in a few dashes of steampunk tech (as best I can tell mixed in with strong-AI-level robotics), a weird and nonsensical mix of races (each of which has one, and only one, super power and set of unique physical characteristics), and it just becomes too much. There's never time to really flesh out any single facet of the story, so it just rushes by forgettably.
July 11, 2014
* I received this book via NetGalley*
Review also on
I found this book very hard to put down. I loved the idea for a city made of Titan's bones. It was very refreshing. The characters were confusing at first, as there's quite a lot of them, but it was easy for me to recognize them later on. I wish that they were more developed though - I love good character development, so it was a bit disappointing. I was rewarded though by an endless action and fighting, which I liked very much. I'll be looking out for other works of Michael R. Underwood!
Review also on
I found this book very hard to put down. I loved the idea for a city made of Titan's bones. It was very refreshing. The characters were confusing at first, as there's quite a lot of them, but it was easy for me to recognize them later on. I wish that they were more developed though - I love good character development, so it was a bit disappointing. I was rewarded though by an endless action and fighting, which I liked very much. I'll be looking out for other works of Michael R. Underwood!
May 24, 2014
wow, I got this from the lovely folk at Netgalley thinking, it would be a cool epic fantasy, little did I know there was more than meets the eye(no..not transformers.)
Great world, and very cool concept (no, I am not telling you what it is, go buy the book!)
completely worth the read, check this one out.
4 out of 5 stars.
Great world, and very cool concept (no, I am not telling you what it is, go buy the book!)
completely worth the read, check this one out.
4 out of 5 stars.
June 13, 2014
First things first, I got this book from NetGalley, so thank you netgalley and 47North for this opportunity.
Who doesn't love a good mash-up of genres? And that is what 'Shield and Crocus' can be defined as in a simple way, an immensely entertaining mas-up of various genres and innovative world-building which keeps the reader always on their toes. The action scenes are realistic in a weird way and the beautifully imagined city of Audec-Hal is a treat. I really hope this is the start of a new series featuring these characters and this world.
This novel takes place in the richly imagined setting of the city of Audec-Hal. Audec-Hal is a city that was build on the remains of the titan Audec. It was a peaceful city until a sequence of events occurring 50 years ago left the city and its inhabitants in the hands of the 5 powerful tyrants currently ruling the city. They are a gangster, a sorcerer, an android, a slaver and a madman; and they have been fighting over their domains for 50 years now, while a group of brave citizens/superheroes (the Shields of Audec-Hal), made up of the different races of general populace has been trying to free the city mother and the citizens from their cruel and whimsical reign. And there is also the fear of spark-storms which rage through the land at times and morph all animate and inanimate object into unpredictable things. Will the leader of the Shield's First Sentinel and his team be able to stop the summit which promises to strengthen the reign of the criminal tyrants more through their collaboration?
'Michael R. Underwood' did an excellent job of world-building which is quite different from anything I previously read and always kept me wondering what to expect next. This city features various technological elements as trains, electricity etc, but also has elements of the mystic with a tyrant sorcerer and our heroes constantly use various weapons with alchemical appliances to help them in their revolution. The different races and abilities granted by the spark-storm were also highly innovative to say the least. There are so much detail thrown in the overall narrative about this rich world yet leaves so much to be desired. I was always wondering throughout the read what obstacles will come next for the heroes and the author delivers various unorthodox elements (there was once a group android attacking our heroes with halberds even) mixing on various tropes of imaginative setting.
The book is a mix-up of genres in an epic proportion. The obvious influence of new weird, epic fantasy and super-heroics is apparent as well as subtle inspirations from other genres such as science fiction and urban fantasy. The narrative was nicely done, I really lived to hear from the voice of First Sentinel, an aged veteran leader of the revolution for nearly 50 years, the flashbacks were a nice addition and I would have liked to know more about these characters and their history, a fact which hopefully will be addressed in the coming sequels. The constant action, pace and sense of desperation shown from the characters made the last 100 or so pages that much more enjoyable.
As for the characters, they are all easily distinguishable as superhero archetypes as a whole, yet the combination of their various race and power with the mix of a new weird influenced world somehow made them work. Their back-story is quite enjoyable and leaves a lot to be desired for the next books in the series (hopefully not very far away).
The only real problem I have with the book is its total lack of humor, a setting so weird and with such a huge scope really need a bit of humor in my opinion. Although the lack may be due to the fact of its overall sense of seriousness and the amount of bloodshot in the novel, but we know from the past a serious setting can also have good humor (a good example would be the anime 'Full Metal Alchemist' or the tv show 'Supernatural'). May be this issue will be addressed in the future of this world.
In the end, I thoroughly enjoyed the book specially the last half with its fast paced execution and massive amount of action. In my opinion, this book is a serious contender for anyone's list of the best of the year so far. Very highly recommended to any fan of the aforementioned genres.
A well deserved 4.5 out of 5 stars.
For more reviews and stuff check out my blog -
Who doesn't love a good mash-up of genres? And that is what 'Shield and Crocus' can be defined as in a simple way, an immensely entertaining mas-up of various genres and innovative world-building which keeps the reader always on their toes. The action scenes are realistic in a weird way and the beautifully imagined city of Audec-Hal is a treat. I really hope this is the start of a new series featuring these characters and this world.
This novel takes place in the richly imagined setting of the city of Audec-Hal. Audec-Hal is a city that was build on the remains of the titan Audec. It was a peaceful city until a sequence of events occurring 50 years ago left the city and its inhabitants in the hands of the 5 powerful tyrants currently ruling the city. They are a gangster, a sorcerer, an android, a slaver and a madman; and they have been fighting over their domains for 50 years now, while a group of brave citizens/superheroes (the Shields of Audec-Hal), made up of the different races of general populace has been trying to free the city mother and the citizens from their cruel and whimsical reign. And there is also the fear of spark-storms which rage through the land at times and morph all animate and inanimate object into unpredictable things. Will the leader of the Shield's First Sentinel and his team be able to stop the summit which promises to strengthen the reign of the criminal tyrants more through their collaboration?
'Michael R. Underwood' did an excellent job of world-building which is quite different from anything I previously read and always kept me wondering what to expect next. This city features various technological elements as trains, electricity etc, but also has elements of the mystic with a tyrant sorcerer and our heroes constantly use various weapons with alchemical appliances to help them in their revolution. The different races and abilities granted by the spark-storm were also highly innovative to say the least. There are so much detail thrown in the overall narrative about this rich world yet leaves so much to be desired. I was always wondering throughout the read what obstacles will come next for the heroes and the author delivers various unorthodox elements (there was once a group android attacking our heroes with halberds even) mixing on various tropes of imaginative setting.
The book is a mix-up of genres in an epic proportion. The obvious influence of new weird, epic fantasy and super-heroics is apparent as well as subtle inspirations from other genres such as science fiction and urban fantasy. The narrative was nicely done, I really lived to hear from the voice of First Sentinel, an aged veteran leader of the revolution for nearly 50 years, the flashbacks were a nice addition and I would have liked to know more about these characters and their history, a fact which hopefully will be addressed in the coming sequels. The constant action, pace and sense of desperation shown from the characters made the last 100 or so pages that much more enjoyable.
As for the characters, they are all easily distinguishable as superhero archetypes as a whole, yet the combination of their various race and power with the mix of a new weird influenced world somehow made them work. Their back-story is quite enjoyable and leaves a lot to be desired for the next books in the series (hopefully not very far away).
The only real problem I have with the book is its total lack of humor, a setting so weird and with such a huge scope really need a bit of humor in my opinion. Although the lack may be due to the fact of its overall sense of seriousness and the amount of bloodshot in the novel, but we know from the past a serious setting can also have good humor (a good example would be the anime 'Full Metal Alchemist' or the tv show 'Supernatural'). May be this issue will be addressed in the future of this world.
In the end, I thoroughly enjoyed the book specially the last half with its fast paced execution and massive amount of action. In my opinion, this book is a serious contender for anyone's list of the best of the year so far. Very highly recommended to any fan of the aforementioned genres.
A well deserved 4.5 out of 5 stars.
For more reviews and stuff check out my blog -
April 3, 2014
I was recently given an opportunity to read an advance reader's copy of Michael R. Underwood's "Shield and Crocus," and I jumped on it. His previous novels, "Geekomancy" and "Celebromancy" are two of my favorite books, and I think that "Geekomancy" is the best first novel I've ever read-- in a forty-plus year history of devouring fiction at a rate that often leaves me wishing I were a rich man, just so I could fund my addiction to novels.
"Shield and Crocus" surprised me. I went in cold, having no idea what the book was about, but figuring on urban fantasy, like the previous novels I'd read from Mr. Underwood.
What I got instead was a surprise-- and a pleasant one. "Shield and Crocus" is a superhero novel set in a high fantasy world, and it is a blast!
The novel is set in the fantasy city of Audec-Hal, a city built on and incorportaing the bones of a fallen giant-- and a city in desperate straits. Five criminal overlords have taken over the city, each with a different agenda, a different source of power, and a desire to subjugate the many races that dwell in the city.
Opposing them are the Shields of Audec-Hal, a group of half a dozen warriors, drawn from the various races that live there, and each with some ability that lets them fight the various shock troops of the five Tyrants of Audec-Hal, supported by a network of ordinary citizens (called Shield Bearers) who aid the Shields as best they can.
The novel is a delight, though to took me a bit longer than usual to get into it than Mr. Underwood's novels usually take to grab me. The first couple of chapters are a bit slow, as the author had to work in some world-building (which he is very good at) as well as introducing the main characters. But after that, the book becomes a fast-paced novel of rebellion, loaded with interesting characters, alien cultures, and very well-written superhero battles.
It's not a perfect book. The opening gets a little bogged down by the world-building (though I say that as someone who reads little high fantasy, so you might want to take it with a grain of salt). There are a couple of characters who don't get as much charcter development as others, and come across more as superhero archetypes than actual characters. The language is a bit heavy at times (again, something that regular readers of high fantasy may not agree with), and on a few occasions felt actually stilted. I personally wanted some more development for the villains.
But even with these faults, I loved the heck out of Shield and Crocus, and recommend to any fans of superheroes, high fantasy, or both. The book felt a lot like Guardians of the Galaxy: The High Fantasy Edition, and it was well worth the read. I'm giving it an eight on a ten scale, and recommending that, come June 10th, you pick it up and let yourself get lost in a superheroic novel of rebellion against tyranny.�
"Shield and Crocus" surprised me. I went in cold, having no idea what the book was about, but figuring on urban fantasy, like the previous novels I'd read from Mr. Underwood.
What I got instead was a surprise-- and a pleasant one. "Shield and Crocus" is a superhero novel set in a high fantasy world, and it is a blast!
The novel is set in the fantasy city of Audec-Hal, a city built on and incorportaing the bones of a fallen giant-- and a city in desperate straits. Five criminal overlords have taken over the city, each with a different agenda, a different source of power, and a desire to subjugate the many races that dwell in the city.
Opposing them are the Shields of Audec-Hal, a group of half a dozen warriors, drawn from the various races that live there, and each with some ability that lets them fight the various shock troops of the five Tyrants of Audec-Hal, supported by a network of ordinary citizens (called Shield Bearers) who aid the Shields as best they can.
The novel is a delight, though to took me a bit longer than usual to get into it than Mr. Underwood's novels usually take to grab me. The first couple of chapters are a bit slow, as the author had to work in some world-building (which he is very good at) as well as introducing the main characters. But after that, the book becomes a fast-paced novel of rebellion, loaded with interesting characters, alien cultures, and very well-written superhero battles.
It's not a perfect book. The opening gets a little bogged down by the world-building (though I say that as someone who reads little high fantasy, so you might want to take it with a grain of salt). There are a couple of characters who don't get as much charcter development as others, and come across more as superhero archetypes than actual characters. The language is a bit heavy at times (again, something that regular readers of high fantasy may not agree with), and on a few occasions felt actually stilted. I personally wanted some more development for the villains.
But even with these faults, I loved the heck out of Shield and Crocus, and recommend to any fans of superheroes, high fantasy, or both. The book felt a lot like Guardians of the Galaxy: The High Fantasy Edition, and it was well worth the read. I'm giving it an eight on a ten scale, and recommending that, come June 10th, you pick it up and let yourself get lost in a superheroic novel of rebellion against tyranny.�
May 21, 2014
A description of this book comparing it to China Mieville got me to read it (as such comparisons often will). Underwood’s city of Audec-Hal does owe an admitted debt to New Crobuzon, and I don’t think Mieville would have any problems with the politics here � but this is straight-up a costumed-superhero-team story.
The city, built amongst the bones of a fallen Titan, is ruled by five oppressive Tyrants, who are planning a summit to consolidate their power. Against them stand the Shields, a half-dozen individuals with special powers who hope to incite a revolution before it’s too late. I thought this story would’ve made a great comic book. Its colorful descriptions of various peculiar characters, the different races that inhabit the city, the bizarre structure of the city itself, and the blow-by-blow fighting descriptions are all practically tailored for a graphic format. I wanted to see it illustrated! (And â€� I do see here on Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ that a comic is apparently in the works...!)
As it is � a non-graphic novel � I thought it was OK. The reader is told, right off the bat, that the main character, the aging seditionist Wonlar, has a superpower that he refuses to use, because of the horrible things that happened last time he used it, which resulted in the loss of his true love. It’s kind of obvious that eventually, he’s going to have to use his power; so a lot of the story feels like a waiting game until things get bad enough to force his hand. The tone wobbles a bit between very serious, almost grim � and funny/cartoony, especially in some of the fight scenes. The setting is very imaginative, and there are lots of great ideas here � but I wanted some of the backgrounds and characters to be fleshed out more.
One super-nitpicky thing. I have crocuses in my garden. I’ve never observed them to have any noticeable scent at all. I’m just going to assume that the fragrant crocuses mentioned several times here are an alien cultivar� ;-)
Recommended for fans of superheroes� [which, I have to admit, I'm usually not.]
Copy provided by NetGalley � thanks so much for the opportunity to read!
The city, built amongst the bones of a fallen Titan, is ruled by five oppressive Tyrants, who are planning a summit to consolidate their power. Against them stand the Shields, a half-dozen individuals with special powers who hope to incite a revolution before it’s too late. I thought this story would’ve made a great comic book. Its colorful descriptions of various peculiar characters, the different races that inhabit the city, the bizarre structure of the city itself, and the blow-by-blow fighting descriptions are all practically tailored for a graphic format. I wanted to see it illustrated! (And â€� I do see here on Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ that a comic is apparently in the works...!)
As it is � a non-graphic novel � I thought it was OK. The reader is told, right off the bat, that the main character, the aging seditionist Wonlar, has a superpower that he refuses to use, because of the horrible things that happened last time he used it, which resulted in the loss of his true love. It’s kind of obvious that eventually, he’s going to have to use his power; so a lot of the story feels like a waiting game until things get bad enough to force his hand. The tone wobbles a bit between very serious, almost grim � and funny/cartoony, especially in some of the fight scenes. The setting is very imaginative, and there are lots of great ideas here � but I wanted some of the backgrounds and characters to be fleshed out more.
One super-nitpicky thing. I have crocuses in my garden. I’ve never observed them to have any noticeable scent at all. I’m just going to assume that the fragrant crocuses mentioned several times here are an alien cultivar� ;-)
Recommended for fans of superheroes� [which, I have to admit, I'm usually not.]
Copy provided by NetGalley � thanks so much for the opportunity to read!
August 21, 2014
OK. Mike is my son. So if course I love the book. But I am also a publishing professional (stand back!) so I'll do my best to help you figure out if this a book for you. If you like your fantasy heavy on imaginative new weird world-building with plenty of action scenes... If you think a story set in the skeleton of a miles long ancient Titan is col (and it is!)...if you love plenty of fist-flyin', leg-whippin', telepathic communicatin', super hero action fightin' scenes...if you can dig a snarky robot villain, oligarchs of evil, crazy electric weather that transforms solids into...monsters? ....then you'll like Shield and Crocus. And the audiobook is VERY well read if listening is more your thing.
Read
June 11, 2014Fantasy Avengers
In a dark and bitter world where the forces of evil have held power for more than 50 years, the last of a dying band of heroes make their final stand. The world was amazing, the heroes engaging, the villains implacable. If you like Batman or David Gemmel you will devour this book.
In a dark and bitter world where the forces of evil have held power for more than 50 years, the last of a dying band of heroes make their final stand. The world was amazing, the heroes engaging, the villains implacable. If you like Batman or David Gemmel you will devour this book.
October 23, 2021
Here is another astonishingly original, heart-rending and thrilling fantasy from Michael R. Underwood, this time a breathtaking mash-up of superheroes and epic fantasy.
And here is my third or fourth, and FINAL, edit of this review, after psyching myself out a lot about doing it justice. I am going to avoid plot spoilers and just talk about what I liked best.
Overall one of my favorite aspects of this world is that these heroes explore why stirring rhetoric and clever put-downs during a fight, AND daring anecdotes told as legends to children, are necessary to beating the wicked--even when the heroes don't quite beat the odds, and must retreat. Because such words may inspire those who hear it (or read it, as the case may be) to overcome their own fears. And hopefully, eventually, fight their own battles despite the risks.
Also I found so much brilliant originality to this story, including the way that each main character's unique race came with special abilities that were part of their "superpowers." (Even though it was their personalities and close and complex relationships that made them the most memorable for me, because character is my main draw to any story.) For example...
Elder protagonist Wonlar Pacsa (humble handyman and artificer by day, "First Sentinel" and leader of the vigilantes calling themselves the Shields of Audec-Hal by night) AND his son Selweh (and heir apparent to lead the Shields, as "Aegis") are yellow-skinned Ikanollo. They can see the emotional threads of friendship, fear, devotion, hate, and so on stretching between everyone as bright color coded beams of light. (This was by far my favorite ability and it is never wasted. It adds such poignancy while also giving Wonlar vital cues to guide him in a combat or crowd control situation or to let him know how his friends and allies and his son are faring.)
Wonlar is also a genius inventor and martial arts master, which made for lots of clever and entertaining tactics. And he has a devastating weapon he dare not use and the slow teasing out of what happened when he did and whether he will get desperate enough to change his mind adds incredible depth to character and story alike. His grief over his wife's passing and the ways in which he failed her (and other Shields who fell) hangs heavy on his soul.
His beloved son Selweh (whose deceased mother was also a Shield) is a relentless combatant wielding an artifact shield called "the Aegis" that boosts his strength and stamina and emotional connection to their city and its soul. For me their close-knit father and son relationship is the heart of this story and much dramatic conflict.
Wenlizerachi (Shield name "Blurred Fists") is a red-skinned Pronai capable of supernatural speed, but at a cost--his rapidly maturing race generally die of "old age" at thirty. (I was reminded of the cheerful Ocampa in Star Trek Voyager and how their serene acceptance of this brief life span inspired them to take risks and make the most of their time.)
Rova Remembers (Shield name "Sapphire") is of the hulking blue-skinned Freithin race created by the experiments of the one of the five tyrants and liberated by the Shields. I loved her resilience and compassion and how badass she was as a front-line brawler.
Sarii Gebb (Shield Name "Sabreslate") is a stubborn, stone-shaping gray-skinned Jalvai. She is more jaded than the other heroes which made for VERY interesting arguments and some very valid counter-arguments to Wonlar's ambitious schemes. As the only Shield currently married to another Shield, she is one of the characters with the most to lose on every dangerous mission.
Sarii's wife Bira Qano (Shield Name "Ghost Hands") is of the flat-faced race of Qava, born without sensory organs with extraordinary powers of telepathy and telekinesis. Her mental communication proves crucial to the heroes' coordination and success on several exploits. Her willingness to push herself to dangerous limits, her conviction their city needs them trust, and her trust in the ever-hopeful Wonlar all make for interesting conflict with her wife.
The villains were equally imaginative in concept, and often terrifying in their power. There's palpable fear the city and heroes would be doomed if the masterminds ever set aside their greed and differences and united to consolidate power and control.
Cobalt-3 is an A.I. in an almost invincible body, with its own droid army, who is obsessed with experiments on sentient creatures (and its dialogue is inadvertently comical like a cross between Dalek and Borg rhetoric).
Nevri is a ruthless Machiavellian politician and "ex" crime boss who tries to make the heroes offers they can't refuse.
Yema is a devious sorcerer specializing in attack spells (evocations for your D&D fans) and mind control spells/effects over individuals and crowds and (natch) his own enslaved army.
Omez is a cruel scientist and slave-keeper (and slave-breeder in his labs) and it's interesting to me that fighting him and Yema often becomes an act of liberation as much as exchanging blows or fire.
The Smiling King is a bizarre Lovecraft-esque being of pure chaos who spreads madness and outbreaks of manifesting superpowers. Sequences involving him are some of the most horrific and gritty, but also give rise to some of the most surreal and thrilling action tableaux.
To speak of the protagonists and antagonists only scratches the surface of this immersive adventure. It was the kind of book to which I sacrificed sleep gladly, and pulled myself out of reluctantly like waking from a dream that won't fade. It was frequently edge-of-your-seat suspenseful, and by turns funny and heartwrenching. (There was more grimness and grit in parts than I would like, but I accept these as common ingredients for the superhero genre.) And the final mission was stunning in its beauty and catharsis.
To say any more risks spoiler territory. So I'll end with my own, not-quite-battle cry...
WHEN YOU LOVE A STORY, SPEAK UP--BOOST THE SIGNAL!
And here is my third or fourth, and FINAL, edit of this review, after psyching myself out a lot about doing it justice. I am going to avoid plot spoilers and just talk about what I liked best.
Overall one of my favorite aspects of this world is that these heroes explore why stirring rhetoric and clever put-downs during a fight, AND daring anecdotes told as legends to children, are necessary to beating the wicked--even when the heroes don't quite beat the odds, and must retreat. Because such words may inspire those who hear it (or read it, as the case may be) to overcome their own fears. And hopefully, eventually, fight their own battles despite the risks.
Also I found so much brilliant originality to this story, including the way that each main character's unique race came with special abilities that were part of their "superpowers." (Even though it was their personalities and close and complex relationships that made them the most memorable for me, because character is my main draw to any story.) For example...
Elder protagonist Wonlar Pacsa (humble handyman and artificer by day, "First Sentinel" and leader of the vigilantes calling themselves the Shields of Audec-Hal by night) AND his son Selweh (and heir apparent to lead the Shields, as "Aegis") are yellow-skinned Ikanollo. They can see the emotional threads of friendship, fear, devotion, hate, and so on stretching between everyone as bright color coded beams of light. (This was by far my favorite ability and it is never wasted. It adds such poignancy while also giving Wonlar vital cues to guide him in a combat or crowd control situation or to let him know how his friends and allies and his son are faring.)
Wonlar is also a genius inventor and martial arts master, which made for lots of clever and entertaining tactics. And he has a devastating weapon he dare not use and the slow teasing out of what happened when he did and whether he will get desperate enough to change his mind adds incredible depth to character and story alike. His grief over his wife's passing and the ways in which he failed her (and other Shields who fell) hangs heavy on his soul.
His beloved son Selweh (whose deceased mother was also a Shield) is a relentless combatant wielding an artifact shield called "the Aegis" that boosts his strength and stamina and emotional connection to their city and its soul. For me their close-knit father and son relationship is the heart of this story and much dramatic conflict.
Wenlizerachi (Shield name "Blurred Fists") is a red-skinned Pronai capable of supernatural speed, but at a cost--his rapidly maturing race generally die of "old age" at thirty. (I was reminded of the cheerful Ocampa in Star Trek Voyager and how their serene acceptance of this brief life span inspired them to take risks and make the most of their time.)
Rova Remembers (Shield name "Sapphire") is of the hulking blue-skinned Freithin race created by the experiments of the one of the five tyrants and liberated by the Shields. I loved her resilience and compassion and how badass she was as a front-line brawler.
Sarii Gebb (Shield Name "Sabreslate") is a stubborn, stone-shaping gray-skinned Jalvai. She is more jaded than the other heroes which made for VERY interesting arguments and some very valid counter-arguments to Wonlar's ambitious schemes. As the only Shield currently married to another Shield, she is one of the characters with the most to lose on every dangerous mission.
Sarii's wife Bira Qano (Shield Name "Ghost Hands") is of the flat-faced race of Qava, born without sensory organs with extraordinary powers of telepathy and telekinesis. Her mental communication proves crucial to the heroes' coordination and success on several exploits. Her willingness to push herself to dangerous limits, her conviction their city needs them trust, and her trust in the ever-hopeful Wonlar all make for interesting conflict with her wife.
The villains were equally imaginative in concept, and often terrifying in their power. There's palpable fear the city and heroes would be doomed if the masterminds ever set aside their greed and differences and united to consolidate power and control.
Cobalt-3 is an A.I. in an almost invincible body, with its own droid army, who is obsessed with experiments on sentient creatures (and its dialogue is inadvertently comical like a cross between Dalek and Borg rhetoric).
Nevri is a ruthless Machiavellian politician and "ex" crime boss who tries to make the heroes offers they can't refuse.
Yema is a devious sorcerer specializing in attack spells (evocations for your D&D fans) and mind control spells/effects over individuals and crowds and (natch) his own enslaved army.
Omez is a cruel scientist and slave-keeper (and slave-breeder in his labs) and it's interesting to me that fighting him and Yema often becomes an act of liberation as much as exchanging blows or fire.
The Smiling King is a bizarre Lovecraft-esque being of pure chaos who spreads madness and outbreaks of manifesting superpowers. Sequences involving him are some of the most horrific and gritty, but also give rise to some of the most surreal and thrilling action tableaux.
To speak of the protagonists and antagonists only scratches the surface of this immersive adventure. It was the kind of book to which I sacrificed sleep gladly, and pulled myself out of reluctantly like waking from a dream that won't fade. It was frequently edge-of-your-seat suspenseful, and by turns funny and heartwrenching. (There was more grimness and grit in parts than I would like, but I accept these as common ingredients for the superhero genre.) And the final mission was stunning in its beauty and catharsis.
To say any more risks spoiler territory. So I'll end with my own, not-quite-battle cry...
WHEN YOU LOVE A STORY, SPEAK UP--BOOST THE SIGNAL!
June 10, 2014
Author Michael Underwood was kind enough to get me an advance reader copy (ARC) of this upcoming book, and I'm most grateful I had the opportunity to take it in. I was quite impressed by what I found.
The setting of this story is the city of Audec-Hal, the home of several races of people. Each race has a unique "birthright", abilities granted by virtue of their heritage (e.g. telekinesis, seeing the emotional connections between people, extreme speed, etc.). For the last fifty years, Audec-Hal and its citizens have suffered under the oppression of five tyrants who have divided the city among themselves and share an uneasy peace. These oligarchs employ both magic and technology to maintain their power base, and the combinations of the two are quite interesting.
Hope is not lost however; it struggles on in the form of the Shields of Audec-Hal, a small band of insurgents who fight against the tyrants by means of what is essentially guerrilla warfare: mostly small strikes, but a few larger ones against the tyrants' strongholds as well. The Shields are a small but versatile group who use their birthrights effectively to gain advantages in combat. Their leader is the First Sentinel, an old alchemist who remembers the time before the rise of the tyrants, when Audec-Hal was ruled by a democratically-elected Senate. As the story opens, the tyrants have agreed to a summit to formally divide the city and consolidate their power, something the Shields have to do whatever it takes to stop.
I'll let you read the rest of the story yourself, but I hope I've piqued your curiosity. The story is told from the points of view of the various Shields, with interludes giving the perspective of some of the tyrants. The shifting viewpoint serves to give an impressively full picture of the world and the situation as it develops, yet it leaves enough mystery to keep the reader interested.
Magic and technology traditionally belong to separate genres, namely fantasy and science fiction, respectively. A lot of attempts to mix the two in literature have failed in various ways, though the steampunk genre and its popularity show there is an interest in continuing the effort. This book is definitely not steampunk; it's something all its own. Where else would you find an android working with a sorceror, battling an alchemist/artificer?
In summary, this book is a wonderful adventure, with a depth and development of characters that is tough to find in modern literature. I look forward to more in this series.
The setting of this story is the city of Audec-Hal, the home of several races of people. Each race has a unique "birthright", abilities granted by virtue of their heritage (e.g. telekinesis, seeing the emotional connections between people, extreme speed, etc.). For the last fifty years, Audec-Hal and its citizens have suffered under the oppression of five tyrants who have divided the city among themselves and share an uneasy peace. These oligarchs employ both magic and technology to maintain their power base, and the combinations of the two are quite interesting.
Hope is not lost however; it struggles on in the form of the Shields of Audec-Hal, a small band of insurgents who fight against the tyrants by means of what is essentially guerrilla warfare: mostly small strikes, but a few larger ones against the tyrants' strongholds as well. The Shields are a small but versatile group who use their birthrights effectively to gain advantages in combat. Their leader is the First Sentinel, an old alchemist who remembers the time before the rise of the tyrants, when Audec-Hal was ruled by a democratically-elected Senate. As the story opens, the tyrants have agreed to a summit to formally divide the city and consolidate their power, something the Shields have to do whatever it takes to stop.
I'll let you read the rest of the story yourself, but I hope I've piqued your curiosity. The story is told from the points of view of the various Shields, with interludes giving the perspective of some of the tyrants. The shifting viewpoint serves to give an impressively full picture of the world and the situation as it develops, yet it leaves enough mystery to keep the reader interested.
Magic and technology traditionally belong to separate genres, namely fantasy and science fiction, respectively. A lot of attempts to mix the two in literature have failed in various ways, though the steampunk genre and its popularity show there is an interest in continuing the effort. This book is definitely not steampunk; it's something all its own. Where else would you find an android working with a sorceror, battling an alchemist/artificer?
In summary, this book is a wonderful adventure, with a depth and development of characters that is tough to find in modern literature. I look forward to more in this series.
January 29, 2015
Video Review: Coming soonish
Thugs have taken over your city repressing the population; uncontrollable storms mutate the landscape and people both into monstrous forms; you're outnumbered by armies of baddies of all types (warlocks, giant brutes, robots, mind readers with kinetic powers, etc); oh, and your hip keeps giving you problems. Such is the premise and fun of Shield and Crocus. Did I mention the city is built on the bones of a fallen giant? (The neighborhood in the groin area is appropriately named Hook's Hole).
Spoiler-light review: It's a solid if not somewhat simplistic plot with lots of confrontations with the most sadistic minions in the five competing criminal organizations. What drove the story was the narrative of the First Sentinel, our hero with the bad hip. He's an old man who has fought for 50 years against the tyrants. We're constantly reminded of the losses he's suffered and how the Shields struggle to win even small victories. But we also get in his head and see the determination, the self sacrifice and true commitment he has to resurrect his failing city.
The ensemble cast isn't wholly original (think a female Hulk, the Flash, Captain America and Storm), but they are memorable. The world is teeming with potential. This isn't your typical superhero story where everyone makes it out. The First Sentinel in his 50 years of war has buried many friends. The story teases out a rich past for the city, but the scenes all seem like they come from a graphic novel. You get to read about every punch and kick and a lot of "On my mark" and "Hulk, you go over here, Flash, cover the front door." You get the point. I couldn't get the image of Captain America giving orders out of my head.
But to give the story credit, you grow to love the characters, and you wonder if they can really succeed against the horrors in their Gotham. Time and lives are short and this final battle seems to be the end of a long gamble by the Shields. So the end gives you a satisfactory big battle and we get some closure. It's a good read, but not a great one with lots of entertaining sequences and action that's fun for anyone looking for another superhero story.
3.5 out of 5 stars
Thugs have taken over your city repressing the population; uncontrollable storms mutate the landscape and people both into monstrous forms; you're outnumbered by armies of baddies of all types (warlocks, giant brutes, robots, mind readers with kinetic powers, etc); oh, and your hip keeps giving you problems. Such is the premise and fun of Shield and Crocus. Did I mention the city is built on the bones of a fallen giant? (The neighborhood in the groin area is appropriately named Hook's Hole).
Spoiler-light review: It's a solid if not somewhat simplistic plot with lots of confrontations with the most sadistic minions in the five competing criminal organizations. What drove the story was the narrative of the First Sentinel, our hero with the bad hip. He's an old man who has fought for 50 years against the tyrants. We're constantly reminded of the losses he's suffered and how the Shields struggle to win even small victories. But we also get in his head and see the determination, the self sacrifice and true commitment he has to resurrect his failing city.
The ensemble cast isn't wholly original (think a female Hulk, the Flash, Captain America and Storm), but they are memorable. The world is teeming with potential. This isn't your typical superhero story where everyone makes it out. The First Sentinel in his 50 years of war has buried many friends. The story teases out a rich past for the city, but the scenes all seem like they come from a graphic novel. You get to read about every punch and kick and a lot of "On my mark" and "Hulk, you go over here, Flash, cover the front door." You get the point. I couldn't get the image of Captain America giving orders out of my head.
But to give the story credit, you grow to love the characters, and you wonder if they can really succeed against the horrors in their Gotham. Time and lives are short and this final battle seems to be the end of a long gamble by the Shields. So the end gives you a satisfactory big battle and we get some closure. It's a good read, but not a great one with lots of entertaining sequences and action that's fun for anyone looking for another superhero story.
3.5 out of 5 stars
June 23, 2014
A superhero/epic fantasy sounds like a rough sell, it shouldn't work, but Michael R. Underwood does such a masterful job weaving the genres together that it becomes its own living genus.
The world of Shield and Crocus is so dense, so realized, that I kept forgetting it was the first in the series. It feels like this story takes place in a franchise that has existed for years. The city of Audec-Hal lives and has lived for centuries.
The hero characters are just as deep…on the surface you’ll quickly figure out the archetypes they were built on; the bruiser, the speedster, the gadgeteer, etc. However, beyond these standard models are deeply interesting and layered individuals…any of which could stand as the main protagonist of their own novel.
I won’t waste time summarizing the plot but I will say that I quickly found myself sucked in and finding any excuse possible to jump back into the book. It’s a great introductory story to this world that wraps up cleanly but leaves enough sitting on the edges to hang future narratives on.
Another thing I loved was that the novel didn't come to a halt over and over to world build. It’s a common issue in fantasy stories, chapters and chapters of back story and history that grind the plot to a halt. In Shield and Crocus, information is dropped cleanly within the story, revealed slowly, when needed, and at just the right pace to make sure the reader isn't lost but is still turning the page for more.
I can say enough time how much I loved this book. My only complaint is that the next in the series isn't out yet.
The world of Shield and Crocus is so dense, so realized, that I kept forgetting it was the first in the series. It feels like this story takes place in a franchise that has existed for years. The city of Audec-Hal lives and has lived for centuries.
The hero characters are just as deep…on the surface you’ll quickly figure out the archetypes they were built on; the bruiser, the speedster, the gadgeteer, etc. However, beyond these standard models are deeply interesting and layered individuals…any of which could stand as the main protagonist of their own novel.
I won’t waste time summarizing the plot but I will say that I quickly found myself sucked in and finding any excuse possible to jump back into the book. It’s a great introductory story to this world that wraps up cleanly but leaves enough sitting on the edges to hang future narratives on.
Another thing I loved was that the novel didn't come to a halt over and over to world build. It’s a common issue in fantasy stories, chapters and chapters of back story and history that grind the plot to a halt. In Shield and Crocus, information is dropped cleanly within the story, revealed slowly, when needed, and at just the right pace to make sure the reader isn't lost but is still turning the page for more.
I can say enough time how much I loved this book. My only complaint is that the next in the series isn't out yet.
June 16, 2014
Superheroes are not really my thing, literature-wise, and I'm fairly new to the whole Weird genre, having mostly read weird west or steampunk/lovecraftian weird stories so far, so I wasn't entirely sure what to expect from Shield and Crocus. But the premise was intriguing, the cover-art fantastic and evocative, and I've utterly enjoyed Mr. Underwood's other titles, so I dove right in.
And glad am I that I did. The first few chapters were a bit awkward for me. Apparently I like to find the genre-mindset for what I'm reading, and settle into a comforatable groove. Not so easy with this genre-bender. But bit by bit, scene by scene, character by character, I was completely sucked in. Never mind the genre, this story had me hooked. These characters, especially Rova Remembers, had me wrapped up into their missions and their memories - and I wanted more. I wanted to watch the events when the tyrants took over the city. I wanted to sit with the children and listen to the stories of the titans and the Shields. I wanted to watch the war that caused the titan Audec to fall, and the city to rise up in his bones. Suddenly, the book was much too short.
There is so much more of this world to explore. And I cannot wait for the next opportunity to do so.
And glad am I that I did. The first few chapters were a bit awkward for me. Apparently I like to find the genre-mindset for what I'm reading, and settle into a comforatable groove. Not so easy with this genre-bender. But bit by bit, scene by scene, character by character, I was completely sucked in. Never mind the genre, this story had me hooked. These characters, especially Rova Remembers, had me wrapped up into their missions and their memories - and I wanted more. I wanted to watch the events when the tyrants took over the city. I wanted to sit with the children and listen to the stories of the titans and the Shields. I wanted to watch the war that caused the titan Audec to fall, and the city to rise up in his bones. Suddenly, the book was much too short.
There is so much more of this world to explore. And I cannot wait for the next opportunity to do so.
July 11, 2014
This book took a bit of digestion before I could decide if I really liked it or not. The world building and the depth of creativity that went into it is just amazing. I really like the way the author describes it. That's where my love for this book faltered. The characters were not what you normally find in a fantasy setting, which can be just fine. But when I start thinking this is familiar in a superhero comic sort of way, I have trouble enjoying it as much. This is by no fault of the author as the writing is very well done. I will admit I am not a fan of graphic novels. I would imagine this book to be what the creators of those novels would use to describe in words what the readers should see on the pages. That said, if you prefer your fantasy with plenty of long detailed battles/fights then you'll likely enjoy this more than I have. I received an evaluation copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
June 12, 2014
Ummm, what did I just finish reading? Shield and Crocus was pure awesome sauce!!
I never read a book quite like this; an epic fantasy with superheros, say what? The characters each have their own abilities that will help overthrow the tyrants of Audec-Hal. The setting was absolutely crazy, in a good way, living in the bones of a fallen Titan, I never read book like that. That's just so unique and cool beyond words.
The world-building is great, the story is fast pace. Shield and Crocus is definitely a page turner from the start for me. I love Michael's writing style.
I highly recommend this book for those who are looking for an epic fantasy read with superheros.
I received this copy courtesy of NetGalley, thank you.
I never read a book quite like this; an epic fantasy with superheros, say what? The characters each have their own abilities that will help overthrow the tyrants of Audec-Hal. The setting was absolutely crazy, in a good way, living in the bones of a fallen Titan, I never read book like that. That's just so unique and cool beyond words.
The world-building is great, the story is fast pace. Shield and Crocus is definitely a page turner from the start for me. I love Michael's writing style.
I highly recommend this book for those who are looking for an epic fantasy read with superheros.
I received this copy courtesy of NetGalley, thank you.
June 15, 2015
The amazing cover art depicts the wonderfully rich world that this author created. The detail of city that was created by an falling titan, the chaotic (and magical) Spark storms, and the variety of people made this a very rich fantastical world.
This is essentially a standalone superhero fantasy novel. I loved that one the main characters was a 70 year old man who continues to fight to free the city of tyranny. The biggest gripe I had was that it was a very action packed story, with abundant fights and chases throughout the city and the pace was breakneck throughout. I prefer more character development with slower paced scenes to allow the novel to "breathe". If you are a fan of superheroes comics, then this novel is perfect for you.
This is essentially a standalone superhero fantasy novel. I loved that one the main characters was a 70 year old man who continues to fight to free the city of tyranny. The biggest gripe I had was that it was a very action packed story, with abundant fights and chases throughout the city and the pace was breakneck throughout. I prefer more character development with slower paced scenes to allow the novel to "breathe". If you are a fan of superheroes comics, then this novel is perfect for you.
August 10, 2015
I received a free ebook copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Shield and Crocus is a fantasy novel with superheroes and tyrants. This book took me a while to get through but once I got into it, it was quite enjoyable with all the fights and powers. It was a little hard at first to get used to the Shields' names as they had two: the original names and hero names.
Overall, it was a good read.
Shield and Crocus is a fantasy novel with superheroes and tyrants. This book took me a while to get through but once I got into it, it was quite enjoyable with all the fights and powers. It was a little hard at first to get used to the Shields' names as they had two: the original names and hero names.
Overall, it was a good read.
August 3, 2014
I'll admit, it was the brilliant world of Audec-Hal that drew me in—Are you kidding me? A city built in the bones of a Titan?—but the engaging story and fully realized characters was what kept the pages turning. Do yourself a favor. Give Shield and Crocus a try.
October 1, 2014
Longer review to come at SFFWorld, but the short of it is this:
1) I would lean towards 3.5 stars on this one rather than 4 stars
2) Underwood has created a wholly unique milieu and I would love to see more stories about these characters and their world
3) This book has a *gorgeous* cover
1) I would lean towards 3.5 stars on this one rather than 4 stars
2) Underwood has created a wholly unique milieu and I would love to see more stories about these characters and their world
3) This book has a *gorgeous* cover
Want to read
January 7, 20167 January 2016:
September 3, 2022
Well, this is so very much not what I was expecting. That's not necessarily a bad thing, it's just that it took me a while to realign my expectations and allow myself to enjoy what I found.
Basically, Shield and Crocus is an epic fantasy novel with superheroes . . . or a superhero novel set in an epic fantasy realm . . . take your pick. Michael R. Underwood takes an ambitious approach to his storytelling here, mashing up genres that you'd otherwise think incompatible, and setting it all in a city built amidst the bones of a fallen giant.
For his medieval take on The Avengers (with flavors of Watchmen and The Dark Knight Returns), Underwood puts together a complex, intriguing group of heroes with a wide range of magically-imbued powers. His is a world where anybody can be a hero, if only they can survive the curse/gift of the Spark-storms without going mad. The five supervillains - or crime lords, as you will - are evil tyrants, bent on dominating everything and everyone around them. They're completely one-dimensional, with nothing in the way of redeeming qualities, but that's par for the course with the superhero genre, and doesn't take anything away from the story.
Like the aforementioned graphic novels, this is an exceedingly grim tale, full of hopelessness and despair. A happy ending is in no way guaranteed, and you can rest assured there will be sacrifices required along the way - some of which you'll see coming, and at least one of which is a surprise. The narrative itself is very much that of an epic fantasy, as is the setting, while the dialogue leans more towards superhero adventure. It's a clash, at times, but overall it works reasonably well. While I would have liked to see the villains better developed, and thought a few of the heroes were somewhat neglected, I can't say enough about the mythology and the world building. Underwood put a lot of thought into constructing the world of Audec-Hal, and it shows.
Superhero novels and I haven't meshed particularly well over the years, with Myke Cole's Shadow Ops series being the most recent to fall flat for me, but there's a lot to be said for the novelty factor. Shield and Crocus was not what I was expecting, sure, but the novelty factor kept me reading, and that led me into what turned out to be a solid read. So long as you go into it with the right expectations, you're likely to enjoy it as an original twist on both genres.
Originally reviewed at
Basically, Shield and Crocus is an epic fantasy novel with superheroes . . . or a superhero novel set in an epic fantasy realm . . . take your pick. Michael R. Underwood takes an ambitious approach to his storytelling here, mashing up genres that you'd otherwise think incompatible, and setting it all in a city built amidst the bones of a fallen giant.
For his medieval take on The Avengers (with flavors of Watchmen and The Dark Knight Returns), Underwood puts together a complex, intriguing group of heroes with a wide range of magically-imbued powers. His is a world where anybody can be a hero, if only they can survive the curse/gift of the Spark-storms without going mad. The five supervillains - or crime lords, as you will - are evil tyrants, bent on dominating everything and everyone around them. They're completely one-dimensional, with nothing in the way of redeeming qualities, but that's par for the course with the superhero genre, and doesn't take anything away from the story.
Like the aforementioned graphic novels, this is an exceedingly grim tale, full of hopelessness and despair. A happy ending is in no way guaranteed, and you can rest assured there will be sacrifices required along the way - some of which you'll see coming, and at least one of which is a surprise. The narrative itself is very much that of an epic fantasy, as is the setting, while the dialogue leans more towards superhero adventure. It's a clash, at times, but overall it works reasonably well. While I would have liked to see the villains better developed, and thought a few of the heroes were somewhat neglected, I can't say enough about the mythology and the world building. Underwood put a lot of thought into constructing the world of Audec-Hal, and it shows.
Superhero novels and I haven't meshed particularly well over the years, with Myke Cole's Shadow Ops series being the most recent to fall flat for me, but there's a lot to be said for the novelty factor. Shield and Crocus was not what I was expecting, sure, but the novelty factor kept me reading, and that led me into what turned out to be a solid read. So long as you go into it with the right expectations, you're likely to enjoy it as an original twist on both genres.
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