The nitty-gritty: Fantasy, comedy and sparkling Regency romance blend together seamlessly in Stephanie Burgis’ latest. Stephanie Burgis never fails to delight, and her new fantasy Scales and Sensibility has all the makings of an intriguing series opener featuring—you guessed it—dragons and Jane Austen! Elinor Tregarth and her sisters Rose and Harry were split up a […]
The nitty-gritty: Lush, beautiful writing couldn’t quite make up for a lack of consistent pacing, so unfortunately this book didn’t quite work for me. I’m sad to say I really struggled with this book, although there were elements I really enjoyed, so in the end, this was a mixed bag for me. For the Wolf […]
The nitty-gritty: A delightful fantasy/mystery and a loveable main character make this a must read for fans of The Goblin Emperor. I’ll start this review by confessing that I have not read The Goblin Emperor, and after reading The Witness for the Dead, I think it’s perfectly fine to dive straight into this sequel first. […]
The nitty-gritty: Blood magic, spirit guides and powerful magic infuse this short and lively tale. Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s latest is a very short but well crafted novella about a sorceress who is seeking revenge on the sorcerer who stole her power. You’ll only need an hour or two to read this, but it’s well worth the […]
The nitty-gritty: A lively adventure with plenty of romance, The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels lost me when it came to the unexpected fantastical elements. “You are a scoundrel,” she whispered furiously. “Yes,” he agreed. “I’m thinking of starting a Society of Gentlemen Scoundrels.” “You’re millennia too late. It already exists and is called the […]
The nitty-gritty: A strange and magical reimagining of The Great Gatsby, The Chosen and the Beautiful is full of spellbinding imagery and glorious prose. He drew the invitation from his jacket, and I turned it over in my hands. It was good paper, deep red as if dipped in blood, with gold lettering sunk into […]
The nitty-gritty: A nuanced, brutal, epic saga of clan rivalry, loyalty, betrayal and revenge, set in a vivid Asian inspired fantasy world. I was determined to read a backlist fantasy book for #Wyrdandwonder, and I’m so glad I made time for Jade City, a book that’s been on my TBR since it was released in […]
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 […]