A sleeper hit drifting out of the ether, Slow Gods by Claire North was phenomenal (and made our best of 2025 list). I had never read North before, which is somewhat surprising given her enormous body of work under multiple names. I believe she is mostly known for her historically inspired fantasy, which is why…
Fresh off our best of the year list, let's talk a bit more about Adrian Tchaikovsky’s Shroud. A standalone survival horror science fiction story from the master biomancer himself, this book did not disappoint on any front. It’s all about learning to perceive reality in new and interesting ways. Also, it’s anti-capitalist, spooky as all…
Cassandra Khaw is quickly becoming one of my favorite writers. I don’t know their specific writing approach, but everything of theirs is dripping with intentional vision that permeates down to the metaphors and similes. Theme isn’t just some intangible “je ne sais quoi” in their hands, but the mycorrhizal tendrils that support the structure of…
Continue reading ➞ The Library At Hellebore – Hellishly Good
I found myself delightfully surprised while reviewing the list of notable Fantasy and Science Fiction releases of 2025 to see a book by Louis Sachar, of Holes fame, on the list. The Magician of Tiger Castle is an adult standalone historical fantasy (Sachar’s first) about a recalcitrant alchemist trying to potion his way out of…
Continue reading ➞ The Magician of Tiger Castle – A Potion Of Many Stripes
Oh boy. I feel like I'm walking into a field of landmines today. When I normally write reviews, I often strive to avoid considering other reviewers' thoughts on the book to prevent coloring my own expectations and analysis. But, sometimes you read a book like Blood Over Bright Haven, by M.L. Wang, and it is…
Continue reading ➞ Blood Over Bright Haven – Bloody, Glaring, And Perilous
It has barely been a week, and we are back with another Guy Gavriel Kay book. This time, we are taking a look at his newest release, Written on the Dark. Set in a historical fantasy version of France, this is the story of a man with the most dangerous job in all the land:…
The Fourth Consort is a new standalone science fiction novel from the currently red-hot Edward Ashton (writer of Mickey 7). The premise is relatively straightforward, but interesting. The dialogue is funny, but thoughtful. The book isn’t reinventing the wheel, but I still had a good time. Dalton Greaves is one of humankind’s first representatives to…
Emily Tesh is back on the scene with a highly anticipated standalone story about warlocks who teach at a British boarding school called The Incandescent. Tesh really made an impact with her novel Some Desperate Glory back in 2023. It was one of my favorite reads of that year and made me forever curious about…
In Other Lands, by Sarah Rees Brennan, is a conundrum of a book. It is a standalone fantasy with a number of traditional tropes and elements I can’t usually stand. It’s a portal fantasy, YA, a coming-of-age story with a love triangle, and has an unlikable protagonist, among other things. In the dedication, Brennan seems…
Continue reading ➞ In Other Lands – Young, Dumb, And Full Of Adventure
I am ashamed to admit how long Descendant of the Crane by Joan He has been sitting on my shelf. It’s been so long, in fact, that I forgot I had the book, and it wasn’t until a couple of weeks ago I scanned my shelves and saw it there. However, I do believe books…
Continue reading ➞ Descendant Of The Crane – Can You Keep Up
