All The Seas Of The World – (Exile)irating

Every three years, like clockwork, Guy Gavriel Kay puts out a new historical fantasy masterpiece and I get to slowly luxuriate in its beauty as I stroll through the pages. This year we have All the Seas of the World, a hauntingly thoughtful tale about the nature of home, exile, and finding a place of…

Dance of Thieves Cover Photo

Dance Of Thieves – Spin Your Partner Round And Round

It is hard to find words to describe my experience with Dance of Thieves by Mary E. Pearson. It captured my interest and challenged my patience. Sometimes this story was a smooth, seductive waltz. And sometimes it was an over-the-top two-step. I got really good at following Pearson’s lead, but it was a commitment.  Kazi…

Revelation Space – An Overdue Prophecy

Long has Alastair Reynolds taunted me from my bookshelf. I purchased his debut novel, Revelation Space, years ago as a gift to myself. But since I purchased it when I didn’t understand how to handle my to-read list, my paperback copy languished on my shelf, hidden behind the other books I had accrued over the…

A Magic Steeped In Poison – Identitea Crisis

My streak has ended. I’ve been reading straight bangers for the last few months, each book presenting well-plotted stories and engaging worlds filled with unique characters. My latest read—Judy I. Lin’s A Magic Steeped In Poison—has oodles of promise, but it ultimately falls short on numerous counts. Ning unknowingly brewed a poisonous tea that killed…

These Prisoning Hills – Break Free

It’s not often that Appalachia becomes the focus of a science fiction story, despite the unending talk of turning coal miners into coders. So when I first noticed the ominous cover of These Prisoning Hills and learned that it takes place within that fabled range, I had to get my hands on the novella. Christopher…

In The Shadow Of Lightning – Three Strikes

The subtitle of my review for In the Shadow of Lightning, by Brian McClellan, is less a baseball reference and more of an allusion to the famous saying about lightning striking twice. Because this is the third time I have read this story. Reviewing this first book of McClellan’s new series is very tricky because…

Umbrella Academy Volume 2: Dallas – It Might Be A Me Problem

Three years ago, I reviewed Umbrella Academy: Apocalypse Suite, giving the graphic novel a paltry 5/10. Looking back, I still agree with my score; the graphic novel had pacing and storytelling issues plaguing its pages. Netflix released season 1 of its Umbrella Academy adaptation one day after I reviewed the first volume and has since…

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The Darkest Road – Long And Winding

After one year and two read-throughs of The Wandering Fire, I have finally finished Guy Gavriel Kay’s first fantasy series. In the final installment, The Darkest Road weaves the events of the first two books into a grand conclusion, forcing the Light and Dark to clash and determine the fate of all worlds.  Spoilers abound…

For The Throne Cover Photo

For The Throne – Dark Reign

And so we come to the conclusion of Hannah Whitten’s Wilderwood series. For The Throne switches the main characters, leaves the magic of the Wilderwood behind, and sinks into a nightmare realm trapping long-forgotten gods and treacherous Old Kings. This adventure is wholly different from the events in book one, and it does a fabulous…