Readers of this blog know — and share — my fascination with unusual mythological creatures, and embedding them in fantasy books. So it gives me great pleasure to host a post about Mesoamerican critters from one of my favourite writers, Douglas Lumsden. Today celebrates the release of his latest novel, A Night Owl Slips into […]
Fantasy
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: 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: The Constellation of Alarion and Other Stories, by John Houlihan
I previously read and loved Houlihan’s d’Bois novels, so was interested to explore his other writing. What to Expect A collection of ten short stories (the last a novelette), covering the breadth of speculative-fiction: science-fiction, fantasy, and touches of horror. Themes range from light top dark, from geopolitical to intimately emotional. What I liked I […]
Book Review: The Man Who Bridged the Mist, by Kij Johnson
This novella has won both Hugo and Nebula, a big distinction. I like to occasionally read what’s the art-critics like in the genre, so delved in. What to Expect A short read where nothing much happens — this is a story delving into the way progress changes people, as viewed through the interactions on an […]
Book Review: Sweet Silver Blues, by Glen Cook
As a lover of fantasy and detectives I’ve long had Glen Cook’s Garrett Files on my TBR. This review is for the first in the series, but I expect to read through it this year. What to Expect A private detective of sorts, set in an interesting fantasy world. The tone isn’t quite a noir […]
Book Review: Something More Than Night, by Ian Tregillis
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 […]
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: 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 […]
Book Review: How to Rule an Empire and Get Away with It, by K.J. Parker
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 […]
FELIX THE FOX MYSTERIES 