I love history, I love food, I love the food in history (and as a reader of this blog you’re probably aware of – and share – this passion) — so naturally this book held a great appeal. What to Expect Expect 10 chapters in rough chronological order about certain less well-known episodes or aspects […]
Book Review
Book Review: A Night Owl Slips Into a Diner, by Douglas Lumsden
I loved the Southerland urban fantasy series from the moment I first came across it, so obviously jumped on this one as soon as I could. (See my previous reviews here – as well as a wonderful guest post on Meso-American things that go bump in the night!) What to Expect Expect Alex to get […]
Detecting Roman Britain
I sometimes wish I could visit Britain, where, it seems, Roman ruins are everywhere and you can just randomly fall on them. No, really – a UK farmer went for a walk, stumbled on remains of rare Roman mosaic and villa. Really pretty mosaics and I suggest you read that article, but this post is […]
Book Review: The Blacktongue Thief, by Christopher Buehlman
I first noticed this novel when Tor was promoting it, and it looked like something I’d enjoy – I’ve been in a mood for lighter fantasy recently. So, for a change, I read something in the year it was published 😅 What to Expect It’s not humorous fantasy (like say Myth Adventures), and in fact […]
Book Review: For a Breath I Tarry by Roger Zelazny
Every so often I like to read something from the classic grandmasters of SFF, and Zelazny has always been a favourite of mine. This came up during a conversation with a friend, so I just jumped on it. What to Expect After the extinction of man, the machines he has set in place are trying […]
Book Review: A Year in the Life of Ancient Greece, by Philip Matyszak
I adore Matyszak’s works for bringing daily life in antiquity to the modern reader. Our perceptions of life in the classical era are influenced so much by contemporary writers that were from and concerned with the 1% plus Hollywood’s misappropriation and misrepresentation, that Matyszak’s works are a breath of fresh air. What to Expect The […]
Book Review: NPCs, by Drew Hayes
I was in the mood for something light and quick (and fantasy), and found NPCs languishing in my TBR pile. Now I’m glad I pulled it out 🙂 What to Expect When a group of careless adventurers dies in a local pub from mushroom poisoning, a few of the locals decide to impersonate them rather […]
Book Review: License to Quill, by Jacopo della Quercia
I heard many good things about License to Quill from someone whose taste I trust (my dearest fan ;-), and being a historical fiction fan the book held a natural interest. What to Expect London, 1604/05. On the backdrop of King James VI of Scotland becoming James I of England, of the brewing Catholic-backed Gunpowder […]
Book Review: Dominus, by Steven Saylor
I loved Saylor’s previous Roma and Empire novels (as well as his Gordianus series), so was naturally keen to read this latest installment. What to Expect A continuation of the Pinarii’s observation of Roman history, covering the period from Marcus Aurelius to Constantine the Great. Saylor has chosen an old patrician family, and has placed […]
Book Review: A Master of Djinn, by P. Djèlí Clark
Finally a full-length novel in Djèlí Clark’s steampunk Cairo series! What to Expect After three short stories / novelettes, Djèlí Clark delivers us a full length novel in the wonderful world of Fatma el-Sha’arawi! The shorts won many accolades and awards (deservedly), and this novel keeps the quality. The novel is set on a backdrop […]