This came up as a random recommendation, and looked cute enough to try. What to Expect A modern day, hard-to-classify, fantasy tale about an apprentice magician and unusual circumstances. AS Raj is following various assignments towards graduation as a ‘mathemagician’, he runs further into all sorts of situations. At the same time, Eliza, a baby […]
Book Review
Book Review: Vanishing Falls, by Poppy Gee
Continuing my quest of reading Tasmanian crime fiction and mysteries. What to Expect Expect a psychological thriller set rural Tasmania, in a fictional village that feels true to real life. A husband comes home late at night to find the front door open and everything in place except his wife which seems to have gone […]
Book Review: Deadman’s Track, by Sarah Barrie
This came up in a list of Tasmanian thrillers to try, and I do love Tasmanian crime/gothic novels for their uncommon settings. What to Expect A romantic suspense and crime thriller, set in Tasmania. While the story’s point of views shift between a few characters, the first half is centered around crimes (robberies escalating to […]
Book Review: Funny Fairy Tales. by Reut Barak
Who doesn’t like a twisty fairytale, and could use a bit of comic relief these days? What to Expect Sixteen re-telling of classic stories, from The Frog Prince to Alice and Wonderland. These aren’t your traditional versions, but tongue-in-cheek wild twists, rife with pop-culture references. They are funny with mildly risqué humour, and are sure […]
Philosophical Discourse about the Nature of Stories, wrapped inside a Book Review
I’ve heard Matt Dicks on a podcast, and since I’m always trying to improve my storytelling craft I dove into his books as well. What to Expect Expect a very easy to read book, filled with stories and anecdotes that helps explain Dicks’ take on storytelling. Dicks takes you through recognising moments in your life […]
Book Reviews: ‘Big Stake’ and ‘The Square Up’, by SJ Brown
I’ve enjoyed the first two in the series before (books one and two), and felt like finishing the year with some good old police work. This review covers the last two books in the DI Mahoney series, but as noted below you can jump right in. What to Expect Big Stake: Life’s a Gamble: Expect […]
Book Review: Gogmagog, by Jeff Noon and Steve Beard
This book floated past on my feed – I found the cover intriguing (I dug the vibe, don’t judge me), and the attached review was glowing, so I jumped in without much knowledge of what to expect. What to Expect Expect a surrealist story, full of wonder and awe and a few nightmares. Set in […]
Book Review: Great Australian Ghost Stories, by Richard Davis
I’m reading up on Australian ghost stories and mysteries as I’m working on a new urban fantasy series, and this looked like an amazing resources. What to Expect A collection of ghosts, spooks, poltergeists, and other hauntings from around Australia, arranged by themes. The ghosts themselves date from the 19th century to almost present day, […]
Book Review: Twisted Expectations, by Brent A. Harris
Who doesn’t like Dickens and Dinos? What to Expect Expect some favourite Dickensian characters, re-imagined in a world with Steampunk technology and a touch of the supernatural. This one sees Oliver Twist and his colleagues visiting the 1851 Crystal Palace exhibition with its reconstructed dinosaur exhibits — only to have a real Megalosaurus (with feathers, […]
Book Review: Artificial Bodies: How Machines Replace People, by Remmelt Ellen
My day-job involves responsible AI and my interests lie in speculative fiction, so this was an obvious choice to read. What to Expect A pamphlet-style work that’s hard to classify, blurring the lines between present reality and dystopian science fiction. The author examines some of the (very real, unfortunately) risks around present day Artificial Intelligence […]