Special Post: "Shinken" Review and Exclusive Interview

Hey there, everyone,

It's finally getting to be May around here on the island, which means the weather has taken a turn for the warmer, which is great. I can finally go outside without having to bring a jacket. On the down side, it's humid, and foggy a lot of the time, but we'll see how that goes. I'm sorry to go so long without a substantial post, but it's been busy (IB exams) and I've been pretty sick for the last few months, so yeah. But no worries, I'm back. 

I'm here today with a special post: a detailed review and synopsis of Shinken, a book published by a newfound friend of mine, Kaiyuh Rose Cornberg. It was published a few months ago by Outskirts Press, a self-publishing company based in the United States. I ordered the book off Amazon a few weeks ago, and it arrived last Thursday - since then, I've been reading it, and I've actually been impressed. 

Self-publishing has a kind of bad image in the literary world and I can see why. I myself usually scorn self-published books, mostly because the majority of them just aren't that good. They're clichéd, with hackneyed writing and flat characters, and the only difference between them and all the other unpublished novels in the world is that the author paid a lot of money to get it printed. But it never hurts to keep an open mind, so I decided to hold judgement until I actually read the book. And hey, guess what? I actually really enjoyed it. 

Shinken is 339 page fantasy/science fiction book that takes place on the planet of Asthekia, a world situated on the other side of our moon. In Kaiyuh's story, the people of Earth and the people of Asthekia (who look like Earthlings superficially in almost every way) have discovered each other, and have become fast allies and eager friends. People from Earth have migrated to Asthekia, and a small population now lives there, mixed in with the natives. The book itself focuses on an Asthekian girl named Sagel, who lives in the remote mountain-town of Shinken. Since it's obvious I know Kaiyuh in real life, I'm going to mention here that I'll be doing my best to give a fair, unbiased review, without slamming anyone too hard. Let's get started with the review of Kaiyuh Rose Cornberg's debut novel. 


(There are spoilers if you haven't read the book!)

The Cover

I'll admit, the cover kind of turned me off. It had distinct Twilight vibes emanating from it, just like all the recently published YA novels, and I've never been fond of the Papyrus font. Not to mention that the fact that the title wasn't properly centered....however, it's important to remember that this is a self-published book, and it's not really Kaiyuh's fault that she didn't have a team of design editors at her hand to make her book look pretty. So I'm not going to judge here. 

Plot

Shinken is one of those books can't can't really be pegged into fantasy or science fiction - it has elements of both, and integrates both pretty smoothly. The book begins with a lengthy, and, I'll admit, kind of unnecessary prologue. It details the history of Asthekia, and how the people of Earth discovered it, etc., and lists some of the facts about this world on the other side of the moon. For people who have an interest in evolution or zoology, try to suspend your disbelief here - Asthekia is basically the same as Earth, with a few minimal differences. This is where the story swings away from science fiction and more towards fantasy, but it can be let go. 

The main story is told, as I mentioned before, through a girl named Sagel, who lives in the town of Shinken. She's your normal, kind of wide-eyed, innocent protagonist, with a bit of a stubborn streak and a natural tendency towards bravery that fantasy writers love so much. Something's wrong in Shinken, though: there's a strange disease that's cropped up, and more and more people are getting sick. Even the trees are being affected. The only sign of hope is the appearance of Elenry, a wandering Medicine Woman, who learns of a cure for the disease, and needs someone to go with her to find it...

In short, the plot is basic, but surprisingly fresh. I expected a storm of cliches to barrage me, and while there were a few, many of the plot twists were unexpected, even a bit of a surprise. There's aspects of the good old Hero's Journey, but most of the book actually is composed of foreshadowing and set-up. It's kind of a double-edged sword: I was prepared to have the main characters romp through the fantasy world that Kaiyuh created for the majority of the book, but they don't get started on their journey until nearly the end of the book. Much of the story is composed of exposition, which can get a little tedious after awhile - but it's forgivable. 

Plot: 6/10

Characters and Worldbuilding

Where the plot is enjoyable, I'm reluctant to admit that the characters are Shinken aren't the most impressive part of the book. The main character, Sagel, is moderately fleshed out, but there are no defining traits that really make her stand out from other fantasy characters - at least, at the beginning. By the end of the book, there's a fair bit of character development, which makes up for the lack of detail. Other characters, like Elenry, the mysterious Medicine Woman, are more interesting - and don't worry, there's chapters from her point of view as well. The rest of the characters range from nicely written to a little flat, but overall, Shinken has a nice cast. 

The worldbuilding, in my opinion, is much better than the characters - though at first the world of Asthekia seems a little like the generic high fantasy world, it has some redeeming qualities that, in retrospect, make it pretty interesting. My favorite parts are the culture - there's some nifty writing on Kaiyuh's part here; the language of Asthekia is called Sdrawkcab (for people who are like me and aren't that good at word puzzles, it's backwards - backwards.) Other tidbits like this fill the novel, so that by the end, Asthekia is a good-natured reflection of our own rural Earth. What it lacks in originality and believability, it makes up for in charm. Some of the details are unnecessary, but it still makes for a good trek through Kaiyuh's imaginary world. 

Characters: 5/10

Worldbuilding: 7/10

Writing

I'll say it here first: I was a little apprehensive about the writing, even before I read the book. I've written and read enough prose by young authors to know that most of us are still in the stage of "more is more, and the more, the better." I used to be terrible adding in big words I didn't know (the layman's term is thesaurus rape - kind of crude, but it gets the point across) and avoiding the word said at all cost (why use it when there are words like assuage to be taken advantage of?). Thankfully, Shinken stays clear of this - mostly. There's a mention of eyes as "orbs", and describing something as an "orgy" (what?). For the most part, though, the writing is clear and brisk, without getting dragged down too much. Some of the descriptions are quite nice, but others don't really stand out. Some of the dialogue is kind of awkward (there's a distinct lack of contractions) but for the most part if flows quite nicely, and sounds appropriately realistic. 

As a self-published novel, however, Shinken lacks the typographical finesse of a traditionally published book- the only "editors" here were Kaiyuh and here father, and though they did a fine job themselves, some grammatical, spelling, and formatting errors got through. They're not abound, but they're numerous enough to be noticeable, and if you're stringent when it comes to grammar and spelling, you might be bothered a little. I myself was fine, and the errors aren't numerous enough to detract from the story. 

Writing: 5/10

Total score: 5.75/10

That's the end of the review, guys; thanks for sticking through it. Now, onto the good part - Kaiyuh was gracious enough to answer some of my questions, so I have an exclusive (it sounds haughty, but nobody else is posting this) interview with the author herself. You can visit Kaiyuh's own blog here. Thanks!

1. Where did you get the inspiration for Shinken?
Unequivocally, my dreams. I have always dreamed in vivid color and oddly developed plots. Shinken, the actual village, came to me in a dream about a beautiful village on a mountainside. I pretty much crafted a plot around that one little hole in the rock.

2. How has living in Taiwan and being an expatriate influenced your writing?
Probably subconsciously more than consciously. The characters and the feel of Shinken is pretty grounded and familiar, which is everything Taiwan wasn't when I first moved here. Of course, I love Taiwan; it has become a second home to me.

3. How long did it take you to write Shinken?
I started writing under my desk in math class in the eighth grade. Including editing, it took about two years. [Note from Ari: Just to say, she started it in 2007, and finished in late 2009.]

4. Who's your favorite character in your book? Why?
Call me cliche, but I love Elenry. She is the epitome of the person I would love to be. She doesn't settle with common-day social castes or "the way things should be done". She is a hardcore medical, and spiritual dissident. She's enlightened, and that's always a nice quality.

5. Why did you decide to self-publish? Are you glad you did?
Mostly the fact that I didn't have any other connections. Fortunately, there are companies like Outskirts Press, which is a company that facilitates the entire publishing process and makes it really simple for people like me who just like to write and walk away(okay, I've done my promoting!).

6. Do you want to be an author as a living, or is it just a hobby?
I would love to become a self-sustaining author. It is truly my dream. Actually, I am in the process of looking at a high school of the arts in Boston where I would be able to write as my main focus in school. I must apply and such, so fingers crossed!

7. Who are your favorite authors? Why? Did they inspire you at all?
In recent months, I have fallen in love with William Faulkner. Thus, in my recent writing, I feel that I have developed beyond the standard shades of young writing and am finding my own voice as I mature and read. Reading for me is an essential part of my writing. There is nothing new under the sun in literature, but if I can glean some good stuff from good writers (John Steinbeck, William Faulkner, Homer, Annie Dillard, J.K. Rowling...), then I think I'll be in functional shape.

8. Do you listen to music when you write?
For Shinken specifically, I listened to a lot of Enya and, brace yourselves, Lord of the Rings. Dorky as it may be, they have really eerie melodies perfect for channeling sick little village people with.

9. Any other stories in the works?

Yes indeed. It is called The Master. It has absolutely no relation whatsoever to Shinken (i.e., not a sequel, prequel...). I don't know when I'll be finished, of IF it will be finished. That's half the fun.

That's all for now, folks. Thanks for tuning in. Until next time. 

-Ari 

Music: "Captain" by Biffy Clyro

Spark Progress: 122,000 words, currently editing

Book Review: Legacy, by Cayla Kluver

I think that spring has truly and finally arrived upon my little island. The sun has finally broken free of the fog that entraps my mountain, and the day's been entirely blue and clear. In the bright light, all the tropical foliage looks pristine, almost like a picture. I took my two dogs, Daisy and Happy, out on a walk this morning at about seven down a trail near my house, and it was gorgeous. It leads down, past a valley full of growing vegetables, and down more steps to a beautiful waterfall. If you go another way, you can head onto this other trail that I love, as seen to the left. It follows a 1940's waterpipe around the mountain and leads to a beautiful river that you can cross by foot. I'm so glad I live on this mountain. 

A few more things before the book review: 

1. My new friend, Kaiyuh, has written and self-published her book, Shinken. At first I was admittedly wary of the premise of her self-publishing, but after learning more I've become rather impressed, instead. I'm ordering the book off of Amazon (you can as well!)and I'll soon be reviewing it on here, with the additional chance of an interview with Kaiyuh. 

2. Schools' getting to that point where teachers realize how much crap they have to stuff into our heads, which means many projects, papers, and homework. Which means less blogging time for me. D: 

3. Saw How To Train Your Dragon. Loved it. Love the music. Want to own it. So should you. 

Without further exposition, here's my new bi-monthly book review. Today I'm looking at a medieval romantic fantasy by the name of Legacy, by teen writer Cayla Kluver. I'm not usually interested in anything medieval nor romantic, being more of a gritty steampunk-esque (think China Mievelle here, you guys) kind of girl, but I'm always interested in seeing what people my age are turning out, so I've looked into it.  

Legacy, the first in a planned trilogy, was originally self-published by Cayla and her family, and was later picked up by Amazon's new publishing industry (yes, Amazon's become a publisher now), called Amazon Encore. I read it on the school library Kindle. 

First off: I'm rather opposed to teen publishing. Yes, yes, I know it sounds a bit stupid, seeing as I'm a teenager myself, but I honestly think that most teenagers don't have the skills to be properly published. But ever since Christopher Paolini opened the door, there seems to be a growing number of teens getting published. And most of them, while definitely showing talent, need to improve a lot before they have the skills to be real writer. It's not their fault - they're young, and there's a certain amount of experience that's needed to be gained before I think they can produce worthwhile stuff. Anyways, on to the review. 


Plot 
Though Legacy is sold as a fantastical romance, there's very little of the fantasy element added in, at least until the very end of the story. We begin with a suspiciously specific prologue, detailing the story of two countries with names that are totally not innuendos, Hytanica and Cokyri. Apparently thirty-or-so babies were stolen from Hytanica sixteen years ago, and only one of them wasn't found dead. There's also mention of a Blood Moon. 

The main story, however, is told through the eyes of seventeen-year-old Alera, who is one of the two princesses of Hytanica. She's being forced to (what a surprise) marry someone she doesn't love, and this person is the son of the Captain of the Guard, Steldor. Meanwhile, a hot new love interest crops up from the Hytanican enemy: Cokyri. *snort*  as a prisoner, dragging along the plot. The story revolves around Alera and her struggle to make a choice: marry the man who was brought up to be a king (Steldor) or sacrifice everything and go with Narian, the Cokyrian boy. There's also something about an ancient blood feud.

Like I said before, the romance factor wasn't what brought me in, and I was pretty disappointed to see that there wasn't much of a fantasy element in the story. To the book's credit, though, I kind of got into the whole "Alera having to choose" factor, mostly because both Steldor and Narian were jerks in their own right. However, it was too bloated; there were too many wandering chapters that didn't really lead anywhere, which made the book hard to get through at times. For a character-driven novel, this can be a problem, but experienced authors know how to deal with it. Unfortunately, Legacy doesn't do that. 

Plot: 5.5/10

Characters & World
Like most other medieval fantasy books, Alera, the protagonist, tried hard to be the spunky, rebellious princess that we know so well. At first this deterred me, because the "rebelliousness" read more like "annoyingness", but I grew to like her a little more, mainly for one reason: she made mistakes. Big ones. It shows a lot of potential for character growth in later books, and since this is a trilogy, I'm willing to let her go. The rest of the characters ranged from nicely written to plain annoying (I liked London, Alera's bodyguard, but Tadark, her other bodyguard, grew grating after a few chapters of complaints.) As for the two love interests, Narian and Steldor...well, both seemed kind of like douchebags in their own right. Steldor was the stereotypical aggravating, pompous man-boy, and Narian was just kind of insolent. If I had to choose, I would say I liked Steldor better, actually. In general, the characters here weren't great, but most of them weren't too terrible, either. 

 As for the world...well, if you're a history buff, don't get your hopes up. Cayla tries to create a fantasy world, complete with names like Emotanya (it's a country full of sad people, I presume), etc. But there's a lot of inconsistency. The character names vary from your standard fantasy names (Alera, Miranna, Steldor) to the pseudo-Asian (Sadhienne, etc.) to just...weird. (London?) Even though it's supposed to be a fantasy world, there's mention of Christianity (both God and Christmas are referred to) as well as Latin. Alchemy is used as a substitute for all things science, and the economy/worldbuilding is nonexistent.  In short, Hytanica is a very shallow world, a backdrop for the characters and nothing more. 

Characters: 6.5/10
World: 3.5/10 

Writing Style 
This is where the ball drops, people.  Cayla Kluver, as reviewed by Amazon, is thought to be "marked by witty, rapid-fire dialogue and dramatic complexity that belie the writer's age," This must be for a different book, because I found no such thing. Much of the story is bogged down by unnecessary descriptions, adjective-loaded sentences (e.g. "He stroked my long brown smooth hair.") and "look-at-me-I'm-a-writer" words. Cliches are abound ("raven hair" and "startling blue eyes" are only the beginning) and the rest of it was so boring I wanted to skip. Many of the descriptions were out of place for a fantasy novel (calling one dress "fun and flirty".) As for the dialogue...well, it would have been good if the author had made up her mind. Everyone kept switching back from Ye Olde Medieval speech to stuff you would hear in a shopping mall. It was jarring, to say the least. 

The biggest sin, however, is Cayla's tendency to tell versus show. She obviously knows the difference between the two, but for some reason would use both in the same sentence. (Narian looked surpised, mostly because I knew that he knew that something was wrong...). It was unnecessary and redundant all at once, and made for an annoying read.  if you're a critical reader or writer, it will make you want to scream at times. 

Writing: 3/10

In short, if you want an easy, if verbose, romance, this is the book for you. It's not bad, and in several parts it's quite good, but the inconsistency makes it hard to keep up the suspension of disbelief. Like I said before, if you're a critical reader or a history buff, this isn't the book for you. As critical as I've been, however, I will say that I enjoyed it, despite all the errors. With some practice and a little more research, I think Cayla Kluver can turn into a great writer. As for now...well, this is a darn good first draft. 

Total Score: 4.6/10   

Cheers,
-Ari