Author: Julie E. Czerneda

Book Review | #whoaretheclan | “Riders of the Storm” by Julie E. Czerneda Jorie reads #TheClanChronicles for #RRSciFiMonth!

Posted Monday, 9 November, 2015 by jorielov , , , , , 0 Comments

Ruminations & Impressions Book Review Banner created by Jorie in Canva. Photo Credit: Unsplash Public Domain Photographer Sergey Zolkin.

Acquired Book By: I was chosen to participate in Julie E. Czerneda’s #timeandstarstour on behalf of the seventh volume of The Clan Chronicles ‘This Gulf of Time and Stars’. Ahead of reading that installment, I reached out to the author to sort out a way to read her entire series spilt between two trilogies: a prequel and the inaugural trilogy which launched the series as a whole. She offered to have DAW Books send me the series in paperback editions to help me sort out the hours I would need to read them as I could only use inter-library loan which has a built-in delay from receiving books via your local library.

Thus a book parcel from her publicist at DAW arrived forthwith and gave me the two trilogies ahead of ‘This Gulf of Time and Stars’. I received a complimentary copy of ‘Riders of the Storm’ the second novel of the prequel trilogy better known as Stratification. I was not obliged to post a review or share my impressions or opinions on behalf of these stories. I am posting my thoughts for my own edification and to help encourage new readers to meet the characters Czerneda created especially if like me, they are discovering The Clan Chronicles for the first time!

Continuing onward inside The Clan Chronicles:

As I disclosed on my review of Reap the Wild Wind this is my first reading of the works by Julie E. Czerneda. This is my continuing journey deep into the heart of The Clan Chronicles whilst conversing on Twitter via the tag #whoaretheclan.

One of my favourite moments when reading serial fiction is slipping back inside a world I’ve become comfortable exploring with such an ease it would appear no time had shifted off the clock since my last visit. Thus, I happily found myself quite entrenched inside Riders of the Storm due to how Czerneda carefully took up the strings of where the last tapestry of this saga left off and stitched me inside the very next chapter of where our small band of Yena were gathered together. They might have been exiled together, but the eclectic nature of the Yena of whom were following Aryl wherever she felt they could live in peace spoke volumes to her ability to unite her Clan.

Notation on the Cover Art: I haven’t been this excited about original cover art for a series in quite a long time, as the artwork for The Clan Chronicles is such a wicked sweet gift to the reader! Each cover is a bit of an insight not only towards the story within the pages of the novel but a bit of clue towards understanding the Clan as a whole. They are portraits of a moment in the ‘life’ of the Clan as true to form as if someone took a photograph and caught them just as they were. It’s such a clear picture of Cersi and the Clan, that I look forward to putting the images and the story together each time I pick up one of the volumes!

Fun Stuff for Your Blog via pureimaginationblog.com

Book Review | #whoaretheclan | “Riders of the Storm” by Julie E. Czerneda Jorie reads #TheClanChronicles for #RRSciFiMonth!Riders of the Storm

Synopsis on the Back Cover:

Julie E. Czerneda's Trade Pact Universe trilogy introduced the Clan, refugees from the world of Cersi who built an empire few people even knew existed.

Reap the Wild Wind and Riders of the Storm return to an earlier point in the Clan's history, before they left Cersi. Known as the Om'ray, they are divided into widely scattered tribal Clans, constrained from advancing beyond a certain point by two powerful races - the Oud and the Tikitik.

Then Om'ray Aryl Sarc - gifted with a forbidden Talent - upsets the long-maintained balance between the three species, and she and her supporters are exiled from Yena Clan, taking with them Enris Mendolar, a young man who left Tuana Clan on the ritual journey to find a mate. When they finally find a new home in the mountains, it is the ruined, deserted village of Sona, a forgotten Clan. And this seeming haven soon becomes the focus of conflict.

First Aryl discovers that the Oud who destroyed Sona haven't left. Instead they are hunting for relics of a long-vanished, legendary race with the aid of Trade Pact agents. Then the Tikitik deny the Oud claims that Aryl's people are the Sona Clan, insisting the territory now belongs to them. When blood is spilled, Aryl must become Clan Speaker to try to negotiate for peace.

Other Om'ray arrive, including some determined to learn the secret of Aryl's Talent. And even as she struggles with the perilous situation in Sona, Enris must take desperate measures to try to save his own clan from the destructive power games of the Oud and Tikitik. But will the price of Sona's survial prove too high. . .?


Places to find the book:

Borrow from a Public Library

Add to LibraryThing

ISBN: 9780756405618

on 7th July 2009

Pages: 471

Jorie Loves A Story Cuppa Book Love Awards Badge created by Jorie in Canva. Coffee and Tea Clip Art Set purchased on Etsy; made by rachelwhitetoo.

Published By: DAW Books (@DAWBooks)
an imprint of Penguin Group USA

The Clan Chronicles:

  • Reap the Wild Wind (Stratification trilogy, No.1)
  • Riders of the Storm (Stratification trilogy, No.2)
  • Rift in the Sky (Stratification trilogy, No.3)
  • A Thousand Words for Stranger (Trade Pact Universe, No.1)
  • Ties of Power (Trade Pact Universe, No.2)
  • To Trade the Stars (Trade Pact Universe, No.3)
  • This Gulf of Time and Stars (Reunification, No.1)

Available Formats: Paperback and Ebook

About Julie E. Czerneda

Julie E. Czerneda Photo Credit: Roger Czerneda Photography

Since 1997, Canadian author/editor Julie E. Czerneda has shared her love and curiosity about living things through her science fiction, writing about shapechanging semi-immortals, terraformed worlds, salmon researchers, and the perils of power. Her fourteenth novel from DAW Books was her debut fantasy, A Turn of Light, winner of the 2014 Aurora Award for Best English Novel, and now Book One of her Night`s Edge series.

She began her first fantasy series: Night’s Edge with A Turn of Light, winner of the 2014 Aurora Award for Best English Novel. A Play of Shadow followed, winning the 2015 Aurora. While there’ll be more fantasy, Julie’s back in science fiction to complete her Clan Chronicles series. Reunification #1: This Gulf of Time and Stars, came out in 2015. #2: The Gate to Futures Past released September, 2016. Volume #3: To Guard Against the Dark, follows October 2017.

An award-winning editor as well, Julie’s edited/co-edited sixteen anthologies of SF/F, including the Aurora winning Space Inc. and Under Cover of Darkness. Her most recent anthology is the 2017 Nebula Award Showcase, published May 2017, a singular honour.

Next out will be an anthology of original stories set in her Clan Chronicles series: Tales from Plexis, out in 2018. When not jumping between wonderful blogs, Julie’s at work on something very special: her highly anticipated new Esen novel, Search Image (Fall 2018).

Biography updated November 2017
Photo Credit: Roger Czerneda Photography

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Posted Monday, 9 November, 2015 by jorielov in Blog Tour Host, Blogosphere Events & Happenings, Book Cover | Notation on Design, Book Cover | Original Illustration & Design, Book Review (non-blog tour), Canadian Literature, Compassion & Acceptance of Differences, Death, Sorrow, and Loss, Equality In Literature, Hard Science Fiction, Jorie Loves A Story Cuppa Book Love Awards, Library Catalogues & Databases, Local Libraries | Research Libraries, Mother-Daughter Relationships, Sci-Fi November, Science Fantasy, Science Fiction, Space Opera

Book Review | #whoaretheclan | “Reap the Wild Wind” and “Brothers Bound” by Julie E. Czerneda Jorie reads #TheClanChronicles for #RRSciFiMonth!

Posted Sunday, 8 November, 2015 by jorielov , , , , , , , 4 Comments

Ruminations & Impressions Book Review Banner created by Jorie in Canva. Photo Credit: Unsplash Public Domain Photographer Sergey Zolkin.

Acquired Book By: I was chosen to participate in Julie E. Czerneda’s #timeandstarstour on behalf of the seventh volume of The Clan Chronicles ‘This Gulf of Time and Stars’. Ahead of reading that installment, I reached out to the author to sort out a way to read her entire series spilt between two trilogies: a prequel and the inaugural trilogy which launched the series as a whole. She offered to have DAW Books send me the series in paperback editions to help me sort out the hours I would need to read them as I could only use inter-library loan which has a built-in delay from receiving books via your local library.

Thus a book parcel from her publicist at DAW arrived forthwith and gave me the two trilogies ahead of ‘This Gulf of Time and Stars’. I received a complimentary copy of the 10th Anniversary Edition of ‘A Thousand Words for Stranger’ which includes the novella “Brothers Bound” and a complimentary copy of ‘Reap the Wild Wind’ which starts the prequel trilogy better known as Stratification. I was not obliged to post a review or share my impressions or opinions on behalf of these stories. I am posting my thoughts for my own edification and to help encourage new readers to meet the characters Czerneda created especially if like me, they are discovering The Clan Chronicles for the first time!

My interest in reading The Clan Chronicles:

When my path originally crossed with Ms Czerneda I wasn’t quite sure which of her series (of science fiction or fantasy) I wanted to read first as she has such a wonderfully diverse collection of stories I could choose amongst. I decided to ask Ms Czerneda last November what her Top 5 selections would be for a new reader of her collective works, to which she responded by saying: A Thousand Words for Stranger; Beholder’s Eye; In the Company of Others; Species Imperative; and A Turn of the Light.

From these selections, I was quite overjoyed in finding my local library held within it’s ILL (inter-library loan) database A Turn of Light – of which I must have requested at least four times over the past year, and each month it arrived, I was unfortunately unable to read it. Survival the first novel of Species Imperative was found quite accidentally at a local thrift store where I picked up the hardback edition. It’s gently read and will happily be read during this year’s Sci Fi Experience – the sci-fi event which follows Sci Fi November! As for A Turn of Light I want to focus on Fantasy after my science fiction readings, and thereby tentatively plan to read it in February.

I hadn’t known the title of the novel I would reviewing for Ms Czerneda for her upcoming November blog tour until mid-September 2015 when we both reconnected with each other to knit my participation together. I had originally focused on her fantasy writings as I have come to realise how much I love the world-building in fantasy the past few years. I used to read quite a heap of sci-fi and fantasy more than two decades ago, but hadn’t picked up a renewal of interest until two years ago when I discovered Jackie Gamber’s Leland Dragon series.

Fearing I might not have time enough to read the first six books of The Clan Chronicles ahead of my tour stop on the 11th of November, I asked which books I should attempt to ILL from my library ahead of reading the seventh in the series. Ms Czerneda offered to have the books sent to me giving me the chance to read them at my leisure and not worry about the time delays seeking them through inter-library loan services, for which I was quite grateful. When the book parcel arrived from DAW Books, I had the biggest smile on my face you could imagine as I carefully pulled out the six books which set the foundation of The Clan Chronicles.

Leading up to my tour stop on Wednesday, I will be tweeting and blogging my impressions of the six books prior to when we meet This Gulf of Time and Stars. I am looking forward to hearing readers thoughts on behalf of this series if they have already read the trilogies as much as seeking comments from readers who might be watching my readings during #RRSciFiMonth. It’s going to be an adventurous few days here on Jorie Loves A Story!

Fun Stuff for Your Blog via pureimaginationblog.com

Book Review | #whoaretheclan | “Reap the Wild Wind” and “Brothers Bound” by Julie E. Czerneda Jorie reads #TheClanChronicles for #RRSciFiMonth!Reap the Wild Wind
by Julie E. Czerneda
Illustrator/Cover Designer: Luis Royo
Source: Direct from Publisher

Synopsis on the Back Cover:

A Thousand Words for Stranger, the first novel in The Trade Pact Universe trilogy, introduced the Clan, refugees from the world of Cersi who built an empire few people even knew existed.

Reap the Wild Wind turns to an earlier period in the Clan's history, before they left Cersi. At this time they are known as the Om'ray, and are divided into widely scattered tribal Clans, each of which must remain in its own allotted portion of Cersi, constrained from advancing beyond a certain point by two powerful races - Oud and the Tikitik - that have technological and scientific advantages over them. The three races coexist based on three individual principes: 1) the world has always been divided this way and must remain so; 2) Passage - a once in a lifetime event when individual Om'ray are permitted to cross all territorial boundaries in search of a mate - must be honored by all; 3) nothing on Cersi can be allowed to change.

Reap the Wild Wind opens at a pivotal moment where beings from the Trade Post have begun to explore Cersi, upsetting the balance between the three races. It is a time, too, when young Aryl Sarc of the Yena Clan is on the verse of mastering the forbidden secret of the M'hir - a secret that could prove the salvation or ruin of her entire species...

Genres: Science Fiction



Places to find the book:

Borrow from a Public Library

Add to LibraryThing

ISBN: 9780756404567

Also by this author: Riders of the Storm, Rift in the Sky, A Thousand Words for Stranger, Ties of Power, To Trade the Stars, This Gulf of Time and Stars, Julie E. Czerneda Interview (#futurespasttour), The Gate to Futures Past, Guest Post (Web Shifters series) by Julie E. Czerneda, Guest Post: Julie E. Czerneda (Clan Chronicles Finale Tour), To Guard Against the Dark

Published by DAW Books

on 4th September 2007

Format: Paperback Edition

Pages: 464

Jorie Loves A Story Cuppa Book Love Awards Badge created by Jorie in Canva. Coffee and Tea Clip Art Set purchased on Etsy; made by rachelwhitetoo.

 Published By: DAW Books (@DAWBooks)
an imprint of Penguin Group USA

The Clan Chronicles:

  • Reap the Wild Wind (Stratification trilogy, No.1)
  • Riders of the Storm (Stratification trilogy, No.2)
  • Rift in the Sky (Stratification trilogy, No.3)
  • A Thousand Words for Stranger (Trade Pact Universe, No.1)
  • Ties of Power (Trade Pact Universe, No.2)
  • To Trade the Stars (Trade Pact Universe, No.3)
  • This Gulf of Time and Stars (Reunification, No.1)

Available Formats: Paperback and Ebook

About Julie E. Czerneda

Julie E. Czerneda Photo Credit: Roger Czerneda Photography

Since 1997, Canadian author/editor Julie E. Czerneda has shared her love and curiosity about living things through her science fiction, writing about shapechanging semi-immortals, terraformed worlds, salmon researchers, and the perils of power. Her fourteenth novel from DAW Books was her debut fantasy, A Turn of Light, winner of the 2014 Aurora Award for Best English Novel, and now Book One of her Night`s Edge series.

She began her first fantasy series: Night’s Edge with A Turn of Light, winner of the 2014 Aurora Award for Best English Novel. A Play of Shadow followed, winning the 2015 Aurora. While there’ll be more fantasy, Julie’s back in science fiction to complete her Clan Chronicles series. Reunification #1: This Gulf of Time and Stars, came out in 2015. #2: The Gate to Futures Past released September, 2016. Volume #3: To Guard Against the Dark, follows October 2017.

An award-winning editor as well, Julie’s edited/co-edited sixteen anthologies of SF/F, including the Aurora winning Space Inc. and Under Cover of Darkness. Her most recent anthology is the 2017 Nebula Award Showcase, published May 2017, a singular honour.

Next out will be an anthology of original stories set in her Clan Chronicles series: Tales from Plexis, out in 2018. When not jumping between wonderful blogs, Julie’s at work on something very special: her highly anticipated new Esen novel, Search Image (Fall 2018).

Biography updated November 2017
Photo Credit: Roger Czerneda Photography

My Review of Brothers Bound:

Originally I hadn’t fully grasped how to read The Clan Chronicles, and I was thankful to the author to help me work out the appropriate order for a first-time reader! She suggested I begin with this novella ahead of reading ‘Reap the Wild Wind’ as it is a precursor to that story.

It’s an interesting premise, where you are attached through a biometric interface to a dog and presumably the dog can also ascertain your thoughts and feelings as much as you can his through this device. Vasi isn’t openly gracious in being chosen for this task, as he’s still a bit uncertain how he feels about dogs and the tethered existence he has with said dog; he’s forever complaining a bit about how tied down he feels whilst put in a position of guardian and protector at the same time.

This interface is a method of trying to gain closer access to resolving a mystery that no one else has had a chance to make head-way against. Teams of three different originating species are placed in ‘triads’ to form the best plan of attack in regards to where they should search next as they are attempting to finally put a measure of understanding on the unknown. Their mission is full of hazards, the least of which is scaling a mountain at the peak of winter when the snow pack is at it’s deadliest load. I had a sense there was going to be an avalanche even before the snow shifted it’s weight and encased the triad under it’s buckling of ice and snow.

This short story is a lesson in understanding differences and for finding a commonality of acceptance and tolerance for each other through a unique set of means set to give advantage to those seeking what is not yet found. The advantage in this case was the uniqueness of Vasi’s direct communication with the dog and how both dog and he were able to communicate their feelings. Vasi is of a race where this communication is limited to those outside his species; yet with the biometric interface he felt as though the dog understood him on equal terms. This experience led Vasi to seek out the humans who had perfected the interface as a method of continuing to align himself with someone who might accept him as he is instead of trying to work with someone they do not understand.

One of the best moments is towards the end where Vasi and the humans learn an important gift is being open to the possibilities of connection without prejudice and disregard for what is not yet understood. Differences do not have to be a reason not to get along with each other but sometimes, it’s helpful that those who work together come from different backgrounds in order to gain the most return. Read More

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Posted Sunday, 8 November, 2015 by jorielov in Blog Tour Host, Blogosphere Events & Happenings, Book Cover | Notation on Design, Book Cover | Original Illustration & Design, Book Review (non-blog tour), Canadian Literature, Compassion & Acceptance of Differences, Death, Sorrow, and Loss, Equality In Literature, Hard Science Fiction, Jorie Loves A Story Cuppa Book Love Awards, Library Catalogues & Databases, Local Libraries | Research Libraries, Mother-Daughter Relationships, Sci-Fi November, Science Fantasy, Science Fiction, Space Opera