Blacker than Black by Rhi Etzweiler

Blacker than Black by Rhi Etzweiler
Stars: 4.5/5

Length: 110,000
Blurb
Apparently, my twin and I are two of York’s most notorious criminals. We’ve been Nightwalkers in the blue-light district since the vamps took over the world. Don’t know how many years it’s been. Long enough that a stream of fellow ’walkers have come and gone. Most don’t last long selling their chi. End up face-down in the gutter, or worse.

For us, one night and one sale change everything.

Monsieur Garthelle is the first john to hunt me down. He calls me a chi thief in one breath and offers absolution—servitude—in the next. Maybe I’m a sucker, but I like living and breathing. Strange that such a powerful vamp would show leniency to a mere human. And something’s not right with the chi I took from him. It won’t go away.

Neither will he, and he’s forcing us to spy on his peers. Then a vamp turns up dead, and we go from playing eyes and ears to investigating a murder. This isn’t what I signed up for. All I ever wanted was to sell a little chi, maybe steal some in return. I should’ve kept my damn hands to myself.

This is my story. Look through my eyes.

Overall
An incredible journey that takes the reader from the rough streets to shadowy, backstabbing high-class mansions. It's a winding tale that plays at a murder mystery, delves into social issues, paints a glorious urban fantasy world, and rounds it out with a tense bit of romance. This is not a typical read, and it's hard to shove it under any one genre heading, but it's definitely something to pick up (especially if you want something new).

Strengths
It's difficult for me to pinpoint all the strengths of this novel. The pieces weave together so tightly, it's hard to pick just one or two threads. However, that being said, I can mention the elements that caught my eye as important parts for the enjoyment of this novel.

One is the evolution of events, story, and romance. The story starts off almost exceptionally simple with a 'whore' picking up the wrong 'john.' But as the characters interact, the story unfolds, expands, and almost explodes off the page. While the events, story, and romance are fine, it is experiencing the development of everything that makes the novel impressive. It's a feat to keep the readers attention for so long in first person while developing multiple tendrils of story, but Blacker Than Black does it. As I muddle through trying to explain, all I can really say is it's something that is best experienced first hand.

Two, this book has a cast of colorful characters. They aren't all good, in fact, most have some sort of underhanded moment, even if it is against the "bad guy." Honesty would have gone a long way to avoiding many of the circumstances, but then we wouldn't have had much of a book! I loved Garthelle, the shady bastard, and Black, possibly the least trusting individual in the book (with good cause, sometimes). There were various side characters who added layers of entertainment, one of my favorite being the butler, who is a loyal, sometimes snarky, worker willing to think for himself. What I really enjoyed (even when it made me want to rip out my hair) is that while I thought I knew where things were going and who to trust, I never did. Much like the main characters, I was constantly on uneven footing.

While this world is similar to ours, the flourishes that Etzweiler added, from the social mores and the creation of chi prostitutes to the hierarchal social structure of the vampires--I mean lyche. Everything may take place in a future of our world, but in reality it takes place in the lyche society and follows a different set of rules. Everything was well handled--and if you're confused it's probably because you're meant to be.

Weaknesses
Some readers may find some of the language choices to be distracting, but they were consistently used, so I chalked it up to narrator's voice, although it did chafe me a little. Though the fact that this is my biggest issue with the story, says something about it's quality.

The author raises some questions in the second half of the book that don't get answered, but honestly they didn't need to be answered for the conclusion, nor could an answer easily be achieved. Some may find the hanging questions to be frustrating, but I found them interesting, as the reader and the narrator must look at "Why does it matter?"--a question that can be applied to several elements of the story.

While this is a longer story, it has a good pace and brings information in from all angles, so it never came across as boring, although some parts are slower.

I am affiliated with Riptide Publishing. Read as a proof.

Interview: Rhi Etzweiler

I'm very excited to have Rhi Etzweiler visiting my little, ol' blog today!

Rhi is coauthor of Dark Edge of Honor (click the link to see my review) and author of the new (kind of amazingly awesome) Blacker Than Black (see below for more details). Without further

ado, here's Rhi:

How much research goes into your books and how do you go about it?
Most of my works are sufficiently “speculative fiction” in nature that the greater part of research is in the minor details. One of the characters in
BTB, for instance, has synaesthesia. I did a good bit of reading on it when I discovered that this character’s unique perceptions actually had a medical term—but in the end, I interviewed a couple people who were willing to be open about their experiences. And then I sent the final version of the story to another individual to get their impression of how the character is portrayed.

Having subject-specific betas for this sort of thing is almost mandatory. There’s a fine line between fictionalization and authenticity. Whatever an author weaves into the story, it has to be sufficiently based in fact and believable that it won’t jolt a reader out.

What’s your favorite book and/or which book do you wish you’d written?
On both counts, Ludlum’s original Jason Bourne trilogy (I couldn’t possibly choose between them, please don’t make me). I discovered them when I was barely old enough to read the words and understand them, and I loved the main character and the story line so very, very much. I have many books that I’d call favorite, but if you threaten me with bodily harm, this is the answer you’d get. The quintessential soldier, who wants nothing more than to be left in peace, doing what he must to survive.

Which of your characters do you relate to the most?
This is difficult. I’ve been writing stories for so long that the cast of characters is enormous. I relate to all of them on some level, and as I’ve evolved and matured through the course of my life, the older muses have retired to Bora Bora, been reinvented, or evolved along with me. It’s like asking me what my favorite song is—it depends on what mood you catch me in!

What was the high point of the past year for you?
[ETA: response originally slated for beginning of December] This has been a year of firsts for me as an author – and to say it’s been a rollercoaster ride full of high points would sound so cliché but it’s the honest truth. I’ve had my debut publication, my solo debut, received my first royalty payment. I’ve had an artist all but pluck the imagery from my head for the cover of BTB. And despite all that, I think the high point of this year is yet to come. After all, we still have a month to go, right? Sickeningly optimistic of me, isn’t it. Which is unusual. Perhaps I brewed my coffee too strong this morning?

What are you looking forward to in the coming year?
Oh, the stories I want to tell! I have a couple that are rattling their cages to get out, it’s just a matter of finding the time and energy—the headspace—to sit down and bang them out. Specifically, the sequel to Blacker Than Black which has a working title of “Blood Red,” and an epic military fantasy that I’ve been evolving and nurturing for some time. There are times when I wish I could spend all day every day just writing – turn the phone and internet off, and just write. Sadly, I can’t be the hermit-artist, it doesn’t work that way.

Care to tell us about your coming attractions [or latest release, whichever the case may be]?
Riptide released Blacker Than Black on Monday, and I don’t know that words can do justice to how excited I’ve been about this book since they contracted it in 2011.

Here’s the blurb:

Apparently, my twin and I are two of York’s most notorious criminals. We’ve been Nightwalkers in the blue-light district since the vamps took over the world. Don’t know how many years it’s been. Long enough that a stream of fellow ’walkers have come and gone. Most don’t last long selling their chi. End up face-down in the gutter, or worse.

For us, one night and one sale change everything.

Monsieur Garthelle is the first john to hunt me down. He calls me a chi thief in one breath and offers absolution—servitude—in the next. Maybe I’m a sucker, but I like living and breathing. Strange that such a powerful vamp would show leniency to a mere human. And something’s not right with the chi I took from him. It won’t go away.

Neither will he, and he’s forcing us to spy on his peers. Then a vamp turns up dead, and we go from playing eyes and ears to investigating a murder. This isn’t what I signed up for. All I ever wanted was to sell a little chi, maybe steal some in return. I should’ve kept my damn hands to myself.

This is my story. Look through my eyes.

You can find more about Rhi Etzweiler on the following pages:

Email address: RhiAnon.etzweiler@gmail.com

Website: http://www.rhianonetzweiler.com

Blog: http://rhianonetzweiler.blogspot.com

Twitter: @musefodder

Facebook Profile: here

Goodreads Profile: here

Amazon Author Page: here

Google+ Profile: here

Get Dark Edge of Honor here

Order Blacker Than Black here

Now for the prizes! [apologies, I had the wrong content posted at first!]

Individual: One randomly selected commenter at each stop will receive a signed cover card and magnet. Open to all, regardless of location (winner selected from all comments posted to blog at 11:59pm EST).

Tour: Two winners to be selected at random from drawing of all comments on tour (entry ending Feb. 2nd, 11:59pm EST – comments with date/time stamps after this time will not be counted). Restricted to mainland US and Canada only, for shipping purposes. First winner will receive an autographed tote bag and pen, signed cover flat, and large magnet. Second winner will receive a t-shirt (size XL), pen, signed cover flat, and small magnet.

To enter: comment on blogposts in the promo tour with your valid email address. A selected winner who does not respond within 48 hours of notification with valid street address for shipping purposes will forfeit by default, and author reserves the right to select an alternate recipient.

The winner will be announced January 31!

Thanks for stopping by.

Dark Edge of Honor by Rhianon Etzweiler and Aleksandr Voinov

Dark Edge of Honor by Rhianon Etzweiler and Aleksandr Voinov
Stars: 4.5/5

Blurb
Sergei Stolkov is a faithful officer, though his deepest desires go against the Doctrine. A captain with the invading Coalition forces, he believes that self-sacrifice is the most heroic act and his own needs are only valid if they serve the state.

Mike, an operative planted within Cirokko's rebels, has been ordered to seduce Sergei and pry from him the Coalition's military secrets. His mission is a success, but as he captures Sergei's heart, Mike is tempted by his own charade and falls in love.

When the hostile natives of the planet Cirokko make their move, all seems lost. Can Mike and Sergei survive when the Coalition's internal affairs division takes an interest in what happened in the dusty mountains of Zasidka Pass…?

Overall
In a story as gritty as the planet it takes place on, Mike and Sergei struggle with their environment, their armies, and their own feelings. While this isn't a light read, it's not overwhelmingly dark either, immersing the reader in Sergei's struggle to keep hope in what seems like a doomed situation.

The plot, the beginning of which is pretty much described by the blurb, is excellent and definitely interesting, but its the characters that, through strong writing, come alive on the page through their strengths and weaknesses. On my initial read, I had two problems with the story, which I've listed below, but upon re-reading I reconsidered these "weaknesses" and feel they were both handled well in the situation. The main issue, which I think pushed the two supposed weaknesses, was that the blurb sets up a heavy plot that doesn't start really moving until 40% of the way through the book.

That being said: The wait, and the build up to it, are worth it.

Strengths
The characters are in a difficult situation and almost constantly show their bad side, but despite this they are easy to fall in love with because even in their dark moments they struggle for love and hope (without it being as cheesy as that just sounded). Mike, who feels like the 'good guy' since he's not part of the invading army, is an interesting conflict, since while he may be on the 'good' side in the war, he's the more underhanded in the relationship. Sergei, who is part of the militaristic invasion, is almost naive in his dealings with Mike, making the good guy bad and the bad guy good, blurring the lines of there being any sides at all.

This is developed further as we meet Pat and Ulyanov and Nikishin (both of whom I want more of), who are not, on any level, flat characters. In fact, and this applies to the main characters as well, there is so much not talked about beyond a passing mention. Much of what is happening with the characters that isn't vital to the story that is only alluded to, which in its own way is frustrating, but is perfectly acceptable for the story we're being told. It's great to have a story that is bursting with history that we only get a small taste of.

Once the plot really starts, it moves quickly building off all the previous information and relationships. Details that seem insignificant are brought to light as being important without the authors seeming underhanded, misleading or sneaky. One element I enjoyed most about this story is that while it involved politics, war and star-crossed lovers (of sorts), it never relied on a sudden plot twist. What you see is what you get: This story is about the struggle of the individual and the circumstances he finds himself in.

In addition, this novel has a very attractive cover, which doesn't mean much for an ebook, but it still is worth noting, although I've noticed this publisher is better at providing appropriate and understated covers.

Weaknesses
There are two points that I think count as weaknesses, although I know the one at least was, if not on purpose, at least recognized by the authors.

The beginning of the novel is sex heavy, and then followed by the second half of the novel which is plot heavy and completely lacking sex except in moments of flashback. There are obvious reasons for this flip, the most important of which is that the plot and major amounts of sex couldn't happen at the same time, but it is slightly jarring in the switch and did leave me wanting for more plot in the beginning. I felt it was worth the wait and the sexual encounters between the two men did further the plot and character development.

There is a slight feeling of the two men falling in love rather quickly, but it was done in a way that only niggled me slightly, as Sergei hasn't really experienced someone like Mike before, and for Mike there is just something about Sergei that grabs him right from the beginning. Plus they are in a high intensity situation, which amps up both their emotions and reactions.

Requested this book for review.