This post was originally published on Tor.com. I’ve always thought cats are the perfect companion for the bookish. You never have to put down your book to take a cat for a walk. Instead, our feline friends will curl up on our laps while we dive into our latest fantasy obsessions, as though they’re tiny,…
This article originally appeared on Tor.com. Neal Shusterman’s Arc of a Scythe series has captured the hearts of many readers, mine included, since the first installment was published in 2016. I read the first novel in one sitting. I was home sick from work with the kind of cold that kept me couch-ridden but not…
Continue reading ➞ Neal Shusterman’s Scythe Might Signal a Fresh Direction for SFF Blockbusters
Come one, come all to the Cosmere! That’s right folks, after years of Brandon Sanderson reviews and discussions, we’re finally laying down the law. Today, one and a half Brandon Sanderson experts (Andrew and Cole, respectively) shoulder the Herculean task of telling YOU the ideal Brandon Sanderson reading order. A few clean-up notes before we…
Continue reading ➞ Welcome To The Cosmere: A Brandon Sanderson Reading Order Guide
I love a book with a unique narrative style. Books that incorporate how the story is told into the message and ideas of the book often become my favorite and most recommended stories. It’s a clever and deep technique that can elevate a story and drive the messages and themes to a much stronger degree…
This article originally appeared on Tor.com. Warning: this post contains no deep interpretations of animal companions and their impact on story. I won’t philosophize on the essential nature of furry, fuzzy, or squishy familiars or ask why they exist in the first place. Bottom line: they’re cute as hell, and sometimes that’s enough. I’m writing…
Between work, grad school, and reading, it’s a miracle I consumed any additional media in 2022. It was a busy year, and I had to prioritize the content I wanted to enjoy. But life finds a way, and I always find a fantasy realm to escape into. The media that moved me this year includes…
On top of all the enormous thicc books we read, we also read a number of novellas that we would love to talk about. Novellas tell intriguing and often very specific stories, and with such a treasure trove of short(ish) fiction out this year, we want to recognize some of the amazing stories that emerged.…
Okay, so my list will probably be a little bit different than the others. Don't worry, I confirmed with Cole that I didn't need to include necessarily new things from the year, only things I engaged with this year. Which is good for me because I am not usually one to keep up with the…
Continue reading ➞ Media That Moved Me – Autonomy and Failure
This article originally appeared on Tor.com. Places have power. In science fiction and fantasy, they have actual, magical power more often than not. SFF settings are often big by necessity. Locales need to hold entire casts of characters, sweeping civilizations, the flora and fauna flourishing in myriad biomes. Most settings function as they’re meant to,…
Continue reading ➞ Five SFF Settings That Feel Like Characters
This year, our cadre of Quill To Live writers decided to do individual posts in a “Media That Moved Us” series. The only rule: no books! We have plenty of those! Instead, we want to ruminate on the things we watched, played, and experienced that made an impact on us. When I thought about the…
Continue reading ➞ Media That Moved Me: Stories Within Stories
