The nitty gritty: Complex worldbuilding, intimate characterizations and brutal action make The Shadow of the Gods a must read for epic fantasy fans. “We all live with death’s talons in our shoulder, her breath on our neck.” – Elvar I’m happy to finally check John Gwynne off my fantasy bucket list! And I have to […]
The nitty-gritty: A bawdy, irreverent and joyful adventure, The Blacktongue Thief is an excellent start to an exciting series. When listening for danger, one must never mistake silence for safety. Color me surprised and delighted by Christopher Buehlman’s traditional fantasy debut! I wasn’t sure what to expect but I did not expect this. Buehlman takes […]
The nitty-gritty: Another strong entry in Dan Stout’s retro noir urban fantasy series, Titan Song is a rollicking good time. This is the third book in The Carter Archives series, and it’s still going strong, I’m happy to report. Stout has combined a unique set of elements—noir urban fantasy, a 1970s vibe that seems familiar […]
The nitty-gritty: Another beautifully written, carefully crafted tale from Oliver K. Langmead, Birds of Paradise is an imaginative glimpse into what became of the Garden of Eden. Oliver Langmead is such an underrated author and he needs a wider audience. Every time I read one of his books I’m reminded of how talented he is, […]
The nitty gritty: Dark and atmospheric, All the Murmuring Bones is an intriguing blend of fairy tale and mystery. Love is a barbed hook and family the line to which it is tied. It digs deep, and sometimes trying to remove it entirely does more damage than simply leaving the obstruction beneath the skin for […]
The nitty-gritty: Filled with mysteries, magic and mayhem, The Ladies of the Secret Circus is a dark and layered tale of a family curse and the mysterious circus they can’t escape. I knew that Constance Sayers was going to deliver something unique with her latest release, but I was not expecting such an unusual, magical […]
The nitty-gritty: Lizbeth is back in this imaginative alternate history fantasy, but this installment was just too slow paced for my taste. I’m still plugging away at this series, although I have yet to enjoy a book as much as An Easy Death. Still, there are some nice moments in the Russian Cage, and I’m […]
The nitty-gritty: A beautifully written space opera/fairy tale mash-up with a touch of romance and an emotionally satisfying ending. What a strange and lovely story this was! Sun-Daughters, Sea-Daughters is a LIttle Mermaid retelling set on a distant planet called Maraven, where sea dwellers and land dwellers are currently involved in a clan war. Atuale […]
The nitty-gritty: A unique seafaring story set in a brilliantly inventive world and populated with interesting characters, The Forever Sea was a feast for the senses. Never has a book surprised me as much as The Forever Sea. What started as a slog through heavily detailed worldbuilding and a slow moving plot suddenly made a […]
The nitty-gritty: An outstanding epic fantasy debut, Hall of Smoke surprised me at every turn. Wow, that was a debut? I couldn’t be more impressed. Hall of Smoke was such a nice surprise, an epic fantasy with Norse mythology and Viking influences that captured my attention and never let go. Even better, Long’s writing is […]