I am torn in many directions, all of which are good, when talking about The Bloodsworn series by John Gwynne. This is an amazing series that sucks you in like a whirlpool, and I have enjoyed both of the installments I have read immensely. However, my only real struggle with the second book, The Hunger…
Continue reading ➞ The Hunger Of The Gods – Ravenous For More
Quill To Live favorite Bradley P. Beaulieu has started branching out into science fiction novels. He is writing as Brendan P. Bellecourt for his “debut” Absynthe, an alternate history post World War I that focuses on the powers of illusion and questioning reality. The book has exciting ideas and concepts that were brought to life…
Continue reading ➞ Absynthe – Substantive Themes, Illusory Execution
Last Exit, by Max Gladstone, is a beautifully written character story that I had an extremely hard time connecting with. Many readers who pick up this standalone adventure will find a mesmerizing story about self-discovery, penance, and the nature of the world. Max Gladstone is a favorite author of mine for his work on The…
I am going to try and avoid the endless skeleton puns that are rattling my bo-... as I review The Bone Orchard, by Sara A. Mueller. This stand-alone science-fantasy necromantic who-dun-it has a great premise, compelling writing, and a fantastic world. The only thing that kept it from being one of my top picks of…
Continue reading ➞ The Bone Orchard – Ghosts, Ghouls, And Whores
Picking up any epic fantasy series can be an intensely intimidating experience. With their huge page counts, multiple volumes, expansive worldbuilding, and intricate magic systems, fantasy epics can easily overwhelm readers. These enormous series are often recommended by fantasy fans as “must-reads,” but how can you tell if you will like something that big before…
Continue reading ➞ Seven Epic Fantasy Series Worth The Time Investment
Vaudeville is a setting that seems to lend itself well to both science fiction and fantasy. There has been a number of very successful stories in this space with circus settings. There seems to be something appealing about joining a found family in a new job where differences are celebrated and anything in the imagination…
Continue reading ➞ The Circus Infinite – It’s All Coming Up Aces
The Justice Of Kings, the first book of Richard Swan’s Empire of the Wolf, is a bit of an ugly duckling situation. The start of the book is weird, different, and I initially disliked it. However, the more I sat with the story, the more I liked it. Justice is a tale about traveling court…
2022 is already shaping up to be one of the strongest years for SFF books in the decade, and I just read a book that stands out in a room full of giants. The Thousand Eyes, by A.K. Larkwood, is a masterpiece of storytelling that forges a path uniquely its own while also hitting upon…
Continue reading ➞ The Thousand Eyes – And Just As Many Hearts
Reviewing a first Abraham book is always a challenging prospect. Looking back at A Shadow in Summer and The Dragon’s Path, both were clearly designed as foundational books that are heavily expanded on in the sequels. Though I was lukewarm in my reception of both those series beginnings when I read them, I ended up liking…
Continue reading ➞ Age Of Ash – Heat Like A Sleeping Volcano
The past weekend, I went to a beautiful spa in the woods for a much-needed day of rest and relaxation. The spa had all sorts of wonderful saunas and a pool, but it also had a reading room with little couches to relax on. Given my love of reading, a desire to relax, and a…
