As my most anticipated book of the year, I had high hopes for The Sun and The Void by Gabriela Romero-Lacruz. The back cover touts a lush world inspired by the history and folklore of South America, a sweeping epic fantasy of colonialism and ancient magic, as two young women's quest for belonging unfolds. More…
Continue reading ➞ The Sun And The Void – Loud, Bright, And Missing Something
B is just trying to catch a break. He has yet to be published, though his latest manuscript is in his editor’s hands. His marriage is rocky as he grows distant from his wife, and feels unable to provide for her. In haste, he decides to take a reporting job in the south, commenting on…
This post was originally published on Tor.com. Which books will you never read again? Not because they’re bad or boring, but because you love them. You love what they mean to you, or what they meant to you when you turned that final page. Relegating a book to the realm of wistful memories and fond nostalgia can…
Continue reading ➞ In Loving Memory Of The Books I’ll Never Read Again
After dropping Kendare Blake’s Three Dark Crowns series, I wanted to see what the cards held for me in her newest book, Champion of Fate. I thought the premise of immortal women sent to turn men and women into heroes was intriguing, and I was more than ready to follow them into battle, but ultimately…
Saint Death’s Daughter, by C.S.E. Cooney, is a complicated book to review. It is a clunker of a story with an almost 700-page count, and it has a strange identity that is going to be very appealing to a small niche of people but will frustrate a broader audience. Ultimately, its biggest point of contention…
Continue reading ➞ Saint Death’s Daughter – Straddling Humor And Drama
Ilmar is a city under occupation. The Pallaseen (known colloquially as the Pals) have patrolled the streets for three years after deposing the admittedly not well liked Duke. They are there to smooth out the rough edges Ilmar has accrued over its lifetime. Culture is being flattened under the direction of the Schools of Correctness.…
Continue reading ➞ City of Last Chances – Pallin’ Around With the Underground
The Water Outlaws by S. L. Huang tells the story of a group of outcasts who have found common ground in wanting to rid the empire of its corruption and restore it to its former glory. It’s an inspiring and brutal tale of heroes, anti-heroes, and villains all fighting for their version of justice. Huang…
I have been reading a lot of urban fantasy lately, more by an artifact of my review schedule than by conscious effort. My high-level takeaway from this experience has been that I don’t actually like urban fantasy. I often find their worlds surprisingly shallow, their themes uninteresting, and their characters somehow less relatable than those…
Continue reading ➞ The Unseen World Duology – Shadow Carpentry
A war has just ended. The Emperor of the Holy Vaalbaran Empire surrendered to the Ominirish Republic after the death of their daughter. Enitan, a scribe from the imperial territory of Koriko, is hoping to grow her own tea business when disaster strikes. Her sibling is abducted by Vaalbaran forces, and her lover, the Vaalbaran…
Continue reading ➞ The Splinter In The Sky – Stuck In My Craw
This post was originally published on Tor.com. Reader, I am not what most would describe as “fit.” Dexterous, sure; I can play ping pong, darts, or Spikeball with the best of ‘em. I walk 10+ miles per week. I’m not particularly strong, but I’ll help you move for the right price (pizza). The biggest thing…
Continue reading ➞ Five Fantasy Swordsmen I’d Never, Ever Want to Challenge
