The nitty-gritty: Low-tech and futuristic space travel combine in surprising ways in this entertaining series opener. Last year I thoroughly enjoyed R.W.W. Greene’s Twenty-Five to Life, and so I jumped at the chance to read his latest book from Angry Robot. Mercury Rising is just as compelling but in a different way. Where Twenty-Five to […]
The nitty-gritty: A hilarious fairy tale, both dark and light, full T. Kingfisher’s trademark quirky and lovable characters. The bone dog came alive at dusk. It was not quite completed, but it was close. She was bent over the left front paw when the skull’s jaws yawned open and it stretched as if waking from […]
The nitty-gritty: There’s plenty of food for thought in this short horror story that takes the idea of perception and turns it on its head. “It had already started. The world was tipping, its weight shifting, and no one had really noticed how precarious the ground beneath our feet had become. Every image, every video […]
The nitty-gritty: Full of effortless humor, imaginative world-building, and complex characters, Stringers is a smart, bold sci-fi adventure—with pickles. “The Chime sounded, like, well, a chime. A really big chime. But still. If there truly was a sound evil enough to destroy the galaxy, wouldn’t it be something like pre-Black Album Metallica, or Justin Bieber? […]
The nitty-gritty: A true crime blogger uncovers some long-buried truths in this stellar murder mystery. This is my first time reading Simone St. James, and I was blown away! The Book of Cold Cases is an intricately plotted mystery with fully developed characters and a twisty plot that will keep readers guessing. The story takes […]
The nitty-gritty: A wacky science lesson with swearing, The Kaiju Preservation Society is full of humor, heart and just enough tension to keep the pages turning. “We did our job,” Kahurangi said. “We preserved a kaiju.” I don’t know about you, but every once in a while I need a book that’s fun, fast, and […]
Bluebird was a blast, and I’m so glad I had the chance to read it. According to the publisher’s description, you can expect “Lesbian gunslingers in space!” And yes, you get all of that, but Bluebird is so much more. Ciel Pierlot has written a thrilling adventure complete with spies, thieves, betrayal, secrets, gunfights, and […]
The nitty-gritty: A trio of abused women take back their power in this feminist, highly entertaining thriller. The Violence surprised me in the best possible way, and although I think this will end up being a divisive book, I absolutely loved it. Delilah S. Dawson’s writing and storytelling style remind me a lot of both […]
The nitty-gritty: An eerie, feminist coming-of-age story set against the backdrop of a series of grisly murders, Such A Pretty Smile is both horrific and empowering. Her eyes looked different. The pupil larger than the surrounding brown, and she blinked at her refection. It didn’t blink back, and she smiled. There were too many teeth […]
The nitty-gritty: A Southern Gothic setting, twisted family relationships and several intriguing mysteries make Revelator a must read for lovers of subtle horror. I know when I pick up a Daryl Gregory book I’m going to get something unique, and Revelator was very different from what I expected, but in a good way. This story […]