Literary Scene: A trio of speculative fiction novels

By Ryan G. Van Cleave
April 2021

Hummingbird Salamander
by Jeff VanderMeer

Jeff VanderMeer’s latest novel starts with the type of hook all readers want—excitement + mystery:

“Assume I’m dead by the time you read this. Assume you’re being told all of this by a flicker, a wisp, a thing you can’t quite get out of your head now that you’ve found me. And in the beginning, it’s you, not me, being handed an envelope with a key inside…on a street, on a winter day so cold that breathing hurts and your lungs creak.“

One of the things VanderMeer does well in general is showcase his love for nature, and here in Hummingbird Salamander, that’s the case, as well. Our protagonist is Jane Smith, a security consultant who risks a lot to embark on a quest that feels at times like a wild goose chase. But that’s just VanderMeer keeping you in the dark for as long as he can, teasing out the mysteries until the near-breaking point. Did I mention that Jane promised to tell readers how the world ends?

If you’re into eco-thrillers and a triple helping of weird, this is your book. VanderMeer’s a fine writer with serious worldbuilding skills, as he proves once again with Hummingbird Salamander.

Ryan’s Rating: 4.25 out of 5
www.jeffvandermeer.com

The Two-Faced Queen
by Nick Martell

Nick Martell’s latest—book 2 in The Legacy of the Mercenary Kings series—is a BIG book (592 pages), so that’s George R.R. Martin territory. But readers will be rewarded with a rich fantasy world that reminds me a little of the imaginative environments created by Robert Jordan or Brandon Sanderson.

There’s a “Story so Far” intro to get you up to speed, if you’re worried about dropping into a series and being lost. But make no mistake, this book works quite well as a standalone. It might even be better that way, in fact, since Martell likes uncertainty of both narrative and character, so not reading book 1 (The Kingdom of Liars) keeps the fog of war much thicker throughout. Others might disagree, however.

The Two-Faced Queen continues the story of Michael Kingsman, who’s a mercenary for the mysterious figure called Dark. While the two of them work to solve murders committed by an assassin who people thought was long-gone, Michael also seeks to restore his family’s lost honor. Let’s be clear—it’s pretty hard to get much done when your reputation is so in the sewers that no one wants to trust you. 

Of particular interest to me are the fight scenes—Martell likes things fast, raw, and bloody. Keep an eye on the Trey and Naomi storylines, too, which are quite satisfying. Martell’s doing a fine job of weaving some interesting threads to keep us moving through the pages. Similar to book 1 in this series, the second half of this novel really finds its lane and picks up serious narrative momentum.

Ultimately, Martell has delivered a solid sequel here that sets the way for a lot of tumultuousness in future books. And he warns that Michael is a tragic figure, so keep that in mind when taking the plunge into this series that’s just getting underway.

Ryan’s Rating: 4 out of 5
www.nickmartell.com

Odin’s Child
by Siri Pettersen

The first book in a YA epic fantasy trilogy, Odin’s Child, features Hirka, a resourceful female protagonist who learns at age 15 that she’s the child of Odin. But she’s despised and hunted because unlike the others, she doesn’t have a tail. And she’s the only one who can access the Might.

Yes, the Might is essentially magic, but you won’t find that word here. And you won’t find a lot of other standard fantasy conventions in these pages, either. Pettersen skips the dragons, magic weapons, and prophecies as well. This reader thanks her for that! 

Now, the frequent internal monologues might be a bit much for some readers, as could be the circular storytelling more common to European novels than American ones. But there’s a dry humor I appreciate, and a sense of deep worldbuilding that’s well suited for the morally gray characters (there are quite a few!). 

Still, this is a big book (519 pages!) and it takes a bit to get rolling along.

So, if you’re yearning for a differently flavored fantasy, this might do the trick. Its original release in Norway in 2013—the home country of the author—did amazingly well. Perhaps after reading it you’ll join Pettersen’s legions of fans, too. 

Ryan’s Rating: 3.75 out of 5
www.siripettersen.com