One of my pleasant memories of the pandemic was participating in the “Sooz Your Own Adventure” aka the book whose plot was determined by a daily Twitter poll. So when I heard the author would be releasing a novel version of it, I had some hesitation. After all, Twitter hive mind led to some occasional, uh, interesting choices, as well as lots of #ughJay hilarity. But this book is mostly completely rewritten, not to mention it’s only part of the story. After her dad was revealed as a traitor to the Luminaries, Winnie and her family were banished from theRead the Post
Review: Uncanny Times – Laura Anne Gilman
The cover is what initially caught my eye, and the blurb solidified that. This is quite an odd duck of a book (as the characters would say), a slowly paced historical fantasy mystery that at times feels more focused on the main character relationships than the murder plot. But I found it absolutely fascinating and very enjoyable! “To be Huntsmen was to be quiet, to be known only to your prey, and never those around you, to never speak freely of the things you had done.” Rosemary and Aaron were raised since birth to be Huntsmen. Charged with protecting regularRead the Post
Review: One Dark Window – Rachel Gillig
That delightfully creepy cover caught my interest but it was when I read the blurb that I decided I absolutely had to read this book. It’s an utterly engrossing debut, with dangerous mist-filled woods, treachery and lots of gothic vibes – plus an enemies-to-lovers romance. As a note, when I first started reading this, I thought it was a standalone. It most definitely is not and to say that I’m very much interested in reading the next book right now, well that should give you a hint about how it ends. It used to be that the people of BlunderRead the Post
Review: The Unbalancing – R.B. Lemberg
There is no one else in the world that writes fantasy like R.B. Lemberg: lyrical, heartfelt, and queer, the kind of deeply thoughtful writing that leaves you pondering things long after you’ve finished the book. It’s a magical experience and one I look forward to every time, but one that’s also accessible for a new reader. So while this takes place in the pre-existing Birdverse, no prior knowledge is necessary to enjoy this book. Gelle-Geu is an island paradise, thanks to the Star of the Tides tethered to the islands that brings them magical energy and prosperity. The stars wereRead the Post
Review: The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy – Megan Bannen
A book involving zombies, familial trauma and so many dead bodies has no right being this adorable. It’s weird and impossible to categorize, but it’s ultimately an enemies-to-lovers romance that delighted me to no end. “Most people start with hello.” “Hello, Hart-ache,” she sighed. “Hello, Merciless.” After her father’s heart attack, Mercy’s taken on the lion’s share of work at her family’s undertaking business. Trying to keep it afloat is hard enough, but dealing with Hart, the Tanrian Marshal who frequently drops off dead drudges – basically zombies – is an additional annoyance she’d gladly do without. Even if heRead the Post
Review: The Monsters We Defy – Leslye Penelope
While I don’t read too many historicals any more, I have a definite thing for magical ones. And since I loved the author’s previous fantasy series, I was especially curious to see where she would go with this book. Well, my curiousity was well-rewarded. After all, it’s a magical heist novel! Clara was born with the ability to see spirits which can sometimes be a pain, even when talking about her grandma Mama Octavia who alternately scolds and helps her. But that’s not the only power she had. In desperate circumstances, she made a deal with an Enigma, an otherworldlyRead the Post
Review: The Dawnhounds – Sascha Stronach
I don’t even know how to begin describing this book. It’s like mashing a noir detective novel with a queer pirate fantasy and adding in a dash of horror. It’s weird and sort of wonderful and while parts didn’t work for me, the ones that did worked really, really well. While this is the first in a series, enough is resolved to give it a very satisfactory ending. Yat lived on the streets of Hainak after the death of her father, and joined the police force with the lofty goal of helping other kids like her. In reality, she’s beenRead the Post
Review: The Merciless Ones – Namina Forna
Completely separate from the book, but can we just talk about what a disappointment the cover is? The cover for The Gilded Ones was fire, but this? I mean, it’s not bad, but it’s nowhere near as great. This was one of my most anticipated sequels of the year, and it didn’t disappoint. Since this is the second book in a trilogy, this review will contain spoilers for the first book. Deka has taken her place as the Nuru, the chosen one of the Gilded Ones, the four goddesses who have promised to overthrow the misogynistic priests and bring peaceRead the Post
Review: Together We Burn – Isabel Ibañez
I would never have linked flamenco dancing and dragon fighting, but honestly, it really works! This historical fantasy romance has a lot of things going for it, but it didn’t quite hit the mark for me. “Dragonadores exist to show the people of Hispalia that dragons can be beat. We can have victory against the formidable beasts. People are attacked every day, villages destroyed by fire, children murdered in their sleep. We fight to give hope.” Zarela grew up in La Giralda, the most famous dragon fighting arena in Santivilla, and a child of famous parents. Her father is quiteRead the Post
Review: The Stardust Thief – Chelsea Abdullah
Wow. This book absolutely knocked my socks off. Much as you’d expect from a book loosely based on 1001 Nights, it’s a story about stories, about the stories we tell about ourselves and how they can constrain us or free us. Loulie survived the attack that killed the rest of her tribe, and with the help of her jinn friend Qadir, has risen to become the Night Merchant, the mysterious seller of jinn relics. When the sultan summons her and commands her to go on a quest to retrieve perhaps the most dangerous relic of all, she has no choice butRead the Post
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