Chosen by Benedict Jacka – Review
Julia Kitvaria Sarene
The action is as sharp as ever. Alex can't blast his way through problems like some mages. He plans, he outmaneuvers, he uses his foresight and his wits, and watching…
The Daughters’ War by Christopher Buehlman – Review
Stuart Cripps-Schnoor
Set before Christopher Buehlman’s first novel, The Blacktongue Thief, The Daughters’ War is a harrowing prequel following Galva. Born into the powerful Dom Braga family, she forgoes her birthright to…
Novellas: An Underrated Art Form
Angela Boord
If you’re having a hard time sustaining your attention these days (and who isn’t), give a novella try. In many cases, you can read them in one sitting and they’re…
Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off #11: The Second Five Fall
Jennie Ivins
On this, the first day of May, we are saying goodbye to our second round of contestants in this year's Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off (SPFBO)! And just as a reminder, we…
Half a King by Joe Abercrombie – What if it wasn’t labeled YA?
Tom Joyce
Imagine if Half a King had been published without the letters ‘YA’ anywhere near the cover. Just a new novel by Joe Abercrombie, author of The First Law, arriving with…
Gnosia: A Deadly Paranoia Game in Space – Anime Review
Colleen McMillan
Adapted from a 2019 visual novel role-playing game of the same name, Gnosia immerses the viewer in an intense game of whodunnit. Or, more aptly, a game of “who’s gonna…
The Farseer/Romantasy Parallel: No, not Molly
Summer Hanford
While it’s doubtful that modern romantasy writers set out to consciously mimic Hobb’s masterful construction, the choice of first person, the intricate and deep emotional growth, and the form both…
Of Song and Shadow by G. R. Matthews – ARC Review
What stayed with me most is that quiet thread running through everything. Determination. People pushing forward, rebuilding, adapting. Finding their place, even when the world has already taken something from…
A Brief History of LitRPG
Christopher Keene
Books set in worlds with RPG (role-playing game) mechanics, be they virtual reality or alternative universes, have been around since before the 90s. I’ll attempt to cover as much as…
European Travel for the Monstrous Gentlewoman by Theodora Goss – Review
Witty, character-driven, and richer in scope, this sequel sends the Athena Club across Victorian Europe, mixing reimagined monsters, found family warmth, and darker historical realities into a story that is…
Fleet Champions by Rob J. Hayes – Review
Fleet Champions balances explosive action with deepening character arcs in a way that feels earned.
On the Pleasures of Discovering Gaps in Your Reading
Once upon a time, when I ran upon a gap in my reading, I felt guilty about it. But no longer. As the moodiest of mood readers, I have come…