The nitty-gritty: Brutal and thought-provoking, One of Us is Southern Gothic with a touch of the fantastical. I went into One of Us not knowing much about it, and it turned out to be one of those stories that caught me completely off guard. This is not an easy book to read, in the respect […]
The nitty-gritty: A lovely blend of history and fantasy, The Mermaid is a beautifully written ode to the sea and one of the iconic creatures who lives there. Those eyes were not of the shore, he thought. They were grey as the storm that boiled below them, the constant swirl and crash that was the […]
The nitty-gritty: Bursting with complex magic, populated with fascinating and lovable characters, and written in sparkling prose, The Last Sun can’t possibly be a debut. And yet. Pyr is knocking it out of the park lately, folks. And I mean you need to start paying attention if you aren’t already. After I was bowled over […]
The nitty-gritty: Just plain fun, Royal Bastards has humor, heart, heartbreak and tension galore. Just read it! “Just stay cool,” I said. I was feeling a little excited. I’d never talked to a Zitochi before, not really. And yes, I’ll admit it. He was hot. Not in that sweaty, broad-shouldered way like the blacksmith’s apprentice, […]
The nitty-gritty: Brutal, emotional and beautifully written, this stand-out YA story based on Viking and Norse mythology will leave you breathless. I love finding books that surprise me, and wow did this one deliver! I’m so happy I had the chance to read Sky in the Deep, and if you’re looking for a YA novel […]
The nitty-gritty: An unexpectedly delightful and varied collection of stories about a most magical place, the underwater ballroom. Having enjoyed Stephanie Burgis’ adult fantasy novels, I was thrilled to receive a review copy of her new anthology. I had never heard of underwater ballrooms—I mean, really, is that a thing?—but Burgis has based her idea […]
Note: I was asked to join the Ash Princess blog tour back in October last year (!) but having heard no word from the publicist (and in fact my email to her bounced back) and after trying other avenues of communication to no avail, I suspect this blog tour is no more. But please, enjoy […]
The nitty-gritty: A story full of great ideas that really shined in some parts, but unfortunately needed more polishing and editing to make it a standout debut. I was intrigued by the idea of Smoke Eaters, a story about a special crew of firefighters with the ability to withstand dragon smoke and slay dragons. And […]
The nitty-gritty: A surprisingly well-written, well crafted and thrilling adventure. I still recall a line from that feckless Everyman’s Guide. It said something like, “the Tower’s real trade is in whimsy, adventure, and romance.” I cannot image a less accurate trio. Though, who in their right minds would’ve come if the editors had said, “the […]
The nitty-gritty: Another fantastic collection from Damien Angelica Walters, with a wide range of stories that explore the themes of fear and grief. This is the third book I’ve read by Damien Angelica Walters, and each time I read her work I’m surprised anew at how good she is. Her short stories often deal with […]