TL;DR Review: Slow in pace but rich in wonder. A quirky character you’ll enjoy following as she discovers the world of magic is real—and there is a threat only she can stop. Synopsis: The Palace of Illusions brings readers to a Paris breathless with excitement at the dawn of the twentieth century, where for a select […]
Book Review: Everybody Wants to Rule the World Except Me (Dark Lord Davi #2) by Django Wexler
TL;DR Review: Beautifully balanced between epic and cozy, it’s an adventure as action-packed as it is heartwarming. Synopsis: Dark Lord Davi rules the kingdom, but she must now break the time loop that binds her in this hilariously bloody conclusion to the Dark Lord Davi duology. After countless failures (let’s not dwell on it), Davi […]
Book Review: Of Monsters and Mainframes by Barbara Truelove
TL;DR: Van Helsing, but as played by a Murderbot-style ship’s AI, with the delightfully cozy and heartwarming flavor of Becky Chambers The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet. Synopsis: Spaceships aren’t programmed to seek revenge—but for Dracula, Demeter will make an exception. Demeter just wants to do her shuttling humans between Earth and Alpha […]
Book Review: Crueler Mercies by Maren Chase
TL;DR Review: Rapunzel meets Man in the Iron Mask. A helpless, naïve prisoner becomes a cunning, revenge-driven queen. Synopsis: “Vita’s rage overflowed until she was prepared to drown in it, and she knew that she would never again dam this anger to please another.” After nine years as the people’s beloved princess in the sun-soaked […]
Book Review: The Devils by Joe Abercrombie
TL;DR Review: Razor-sharp dialogue, a wildly imaginative alt-history fantasy world, and wonderfully extravagant characters result in what may be Joe Abercrombie’s best work to date. Synopsis: Holy work sometimes requires unholy deeds. Brother Diaz has been summoned to the Sacred City, where he is certain a commendation and grand holy assignment awaits him. But his […]
Book Review: Anji Kills a King (The Rising Tide #1) by Evan Leikam
TL;DR Review: A grimdark fantasy adventure, an indefatigable character, and cleverly woven mysteries that had me spellbound until the last page. Synopsis: An unlikely assassin struggles to escape a legendary bounty hunter in this breakneck fantasy debut that will grab you by the throat―perfect for fans of Joe Abercrombie, R.F. Kuang, and Christopher Buehlman. She […]
Book Review: A Clockwork’s Dreaming by Scott Oden
TL;DR Review: The cozy flavor of Beatrix Potter’s animal tales, but taken to new prosaic heights of wonder by the addition of magic and color. Synopsis: In Claude Moreau’s Garden, magic blooms between dewdrops and dreams, where scholarly mice debate proper tea service in a library housed within an ancient teapot, and frost spirits dance […]
Cover Reveal: Cold Silver for Souls by Tori Tecken
Oh boy, I am SOOOOO excited because I’ve got a hell of a cover for you today! This one comes from the amazing Tori Tecken (a.k.a. Tori Talks), the author of Phased and The Blood Stones, among other great books. Let me show you the cover, but first… Bounty Hunter. Necromancer. Outcast. She goes on […]
Book Review: Advent (The Exlian Syndrome #1) by Seth Ring
TL;DR Review: Classic progression fantasy with a fun, unique sci-fi twist. Easy reading, great action, solid character work, and a whole lot of fun! Synopsis: All his life, Mark Fields has dreamed of joining the Defense Force to fight the vicious, alien Exlian, just like the rest of his renowned family. So far, he’s … […]
Book Review: Third Rule of Time Travel by Philip Fracassi
TL;DR Review: Slow beginning ratcheting up to a high-suspense ending. An easy-reading time travel novel light on science and high on emotions. Synopsis: Rule One: Travel can only occur to a point within your lifetime.Rule Two: You can only travel for ninety seconds.Rule Three: You can only observe.The rules cannot be broken. In this riveting […]
Book Review: Chronos Warlock (Time-Marked Warlock #2) by Shami Stovall
TL;DR Review: Urban fantasy murder mystery, but with a cozy twist and lovely insights into the wonders of being human. Synopsis: Adair Finch, the most powerful warlock in the world, is back in business! But first he must complete his pact with a mischief spirit by finding her a human body. Seemingly no easy task, […]
Book Review: The Children of Gods and Fighting Men by Shauna Lawless
TL;DR Review: Irish history brought to glorious life with magic, manipulation, battles, and intrigue aplenty. Synopsis: They think they’ve killed the last of us… 981 AD. The Viking King of Dublin is dead. His young widow, Gormflaith, has ambitions for her son – and herself – but Ireland is a dangerous place and kings tend […]