I’ve heard good things about Tregillis’ works and their historical-fantasy settings and vibes, and given that this book is a standalone (often my preference) and a noir detective to boot I was drawn. What to Expect Read the blurb, and then notch it up several degrees… sideways. Tregillis goes for high-intensity literary devices, where the […]
I love KJ Parker’s pseudo-Byzantine fantasy, and this short read was up to his excellent standard. What to Expect An epistolary tale, a series of exchanges and communiqués between (mainly) the emperor and his fried whom he sent to govern a frontier province. (The title refers to the ink used in those missives – purple […]
Lumsden’s previous novel left me wanting more, so it didn’t take me long to delve into this second book in the series. Nor was I disappointed – this is an excellent sequel, even better than the previous. What to Expect Expect a story that reads like Raymond Chandler or Dashiell Hammett, but with mobile phones […]
I love the mix of historical fantasy and am fascinated by Middle Eastern cultures, so jumped on this as soon as I heard about it. What to Expect A Steampunk-ish world, where in the early 20th century Egypt – after releasing magic in the mid 19th century – has risen to a world power and […]
Considering my love of detective stories, especially noir, hard-boiled types, and urban fantasy it wasn’t a big surprise I jumped right on this. What to Expect Expect a classic detective story like Raymond Chandler or Dashiel Hammet, but set in an alternate world suffused with magic. The protagonist, through whose eyes the story is told, […]
I’ve read the first half of this story (see my review of Peace Talks) back in July, and of course I jumped straight into this novel as soon as it came out. What to Expect Expect the culmination of the two-part story starting with Peace Talks. As usual, Butcher delivers an intense thriller-paced, larger-than-life adventure […]
Matyszak is one of my favourite historians (because archaeologists and historians are much more deserving of celebrity culture than actual celebrities 😜), and I loved previous books of his. This books offers a review of people and nations you’ve probably heard of in passing, and promises to give you a deeper understanding of those forgotten […]
I’ve read the previous novel (Sixteen Ways to Defend a Walled City) just recently, and there was just no doubt I’d read this one as soon as it comes out. What to Expect Events in this book take place seven years after the previous one, with the The City still besieged all around by the […]
I’ve watched The Witcher TV series first, and since my wife wanted to watch it again ahead of season 2 it was high time to read the books. What to Expect Six short stories / novelettes introducing us to the world of the Witcher, glued together with interludes that make for a seventh. We get […]
I read most of Heinlein’s work years ago, and was in the mood for some classic Sci-Fi. This work has aged well, and makes it clear why he was a grandmaster story-teller. What to Expect This is the story of an accidental revolutionary, a computer technician that ends up leading the movement to free the […]
