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 […]
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Two courses on Food History
This week I’ll review two courses on food history, both by Prof Ken Albala and available on The Great Courses. The courses are complementary, and I’d recommend them to everyone who likes history, cuisines, and the involvement of both in literature. First, a few words about the lecturer. Ken Albala is a professor of history, […]
Book Review: Purple and Black, by K.J. Parker
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 […]
Book Review: A Witch Steps into My Office, by Douglas Lumsden
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 quit my job so I could write!
As one year ends and another starts, I thought I’d share some reflections and exciting news. Keep reading to discover some excellent reads from authors you probably haven’t heard about (but should), and to learn about my plans for Felix’s next adventure (because, yes, the blog’s title is no joke!)
Books Review: Penric’s Mission and Penric’s Fox, by Lois McMaster Bujold
I’ve read the first two novellas in this series before, and was looking forward to spending some more time in Penric’s unique world. What to Expect Two novellas, where the publication order is reversed to the chronological. I usually prefer to read in publication order (as that is usually the order they were written and […]
Book Review: The Haunting of Tram Car 015, by P. Djèlí Clark
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 […]
Book Review: A Troll Walks into a Bar, by Douglas Lumsden
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, […]
Cemented Curses: Roman Remains
Back to our usual programming, here’s a selection of a few notable finds I came across pertaining to ancient Roman life. From the futuristic relevance of microscopic analysis of ancient cement, to virtual tours in the places where it was put to use, to — of course — the obligatory hilarious ending. If you want […]
Book Review: Battle Ground, by Jim Butcher
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 […]
