Synopsis Jade, the mysterious and magical substance once exclusive to the Green Bone warriors of Kekon, is now known and coveted throughout the world. Everyone wants access to the supernatural abilities it provides, from traditional forces such as governments, mercenaries, and criminal kingpins, to modern players, including doctors, athletes, and movie studios. As the struggle […]
Spear by Nicola Griffith
Synopsis The girl knows she has a destiny before she even knows her name. She grows up in the wild, in a cave with her mother, but visions of a faraway lake come to her on the spring breeze, and when she hears a traveler speak of Artos, king of Caer Leon, she knows that […]
Jade City (The Green Bone Saga #1) by Fonda Lee
Synopsis JADE CITY is a gripping Godfather-esque saga of intergenerational blood feuds, vicious politics, magic, and kungfu. The Kaul family is one of two crime syndicates that control the island of Kekon. It’s the only place in the world that produces rare magical jade, which grants those with the right training and heritage superhuman abilities. The Green […]
The Blacktongue Thief (Blacktongue #1) by Christopher Buehlman
Synopsis Kinch Na Shannack owes the Takers Guild a small fortune for his education as a thief, which includes (but is not limited to) lock-picking, knife-fighting, wall-scaling, fall-breaking, lie-weaving, trap-making, plus a few small magics. His debt has driven him to lie in wait by the old forest road, planning to rob the next traveler […]
Jade War (The Green Bone Saga #2) by Fonda Lee
Synopsis In Jade War, the sequel to the World Fantasy Award-winning novel Jade City, the Kaul siblings battle rival clans for honor and control over an Asia-inspired fantasy metropolis. On the island of Kekon, the Kaul family is locked in a violent feud for control of the capital city and the supply of magical jade that endows […]
Review: The Lies of the Ajungo (Forever Desert #1) by Moses Ose Utomi
Synopsis They say there is no water in the City of Lies. They say there are no heroes in the City of Lies. They say there are no friends beyond the City of Lies. But would you believe what they say in the City of Lies?In the City of Lies, they cut out your tongue […]
Review: Don’t Bloody the Black Flag by James Lloyd Dulin
Synopsis The fight for peace is often a war. To end nearly a century of war plaguing Ennea, a clan of nomads plans to bring leaders from the four nations together. They task a young water dancer named Isála to deliver a missive to a northern general, her estranged mother, and convince her to join […]
Review: A Master of Djinn (Dead Djinn Universe #1) by P. Djèlí Clark
Synopsis Nebula, Locus, and Alex Award-winner P. Djèlí Clark returns to his popular alternate Cairo universe for his fantasy novel debut, A Master of Djinn Cairo, 1912: Though Fatma el-Sha’arawi is the youngest woman working for the Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments and Supernatural Entities, she’s certainly not a rookie, especially after preventing the destruction of the […]
Review: The Sword of Kaigen by M. L. Wang
Synopsis A mother struggling to repress her violent past,A son struggling to grasp his violent future,A father blind to the danger that threatens them all. When the winds of war reach their peninsula, will the Matsuda family have the strength to defend their empire? Or will they tear each other apart before the true enemies […]
Review: Wistful Ascending (Hybrid Helix #1) by J.C.M. Berne
Synopsis A superhero space opera for grownups. For fans of Guardians of the Galaxy or Invincible.Like Dragonball Z but wish it had a little more hard science fiction in it? The il’Drach Empire spans half a galaxy, built on the feet and fists of their Powered hybrid children. At eight Rohan of Earth learned that […]
Ganesh’s (Pippin Took) top reads of 2023
Doing a top reads post sounded very exciting until I actually had to do it. Good thing is I don’t have to do one for another whole year. I will say straight up that following Indie authors on Bookstagram/Twitter is destructive to one’s TBR. They keep bigging up one another’s books and have nice covers […]
Review: The Empress of Salt and Fortune (The Singing Hills cycle #1) by Nghi Vo
Synopsis A young royal from the far north is sent south for a political marriage in an empire reminiscent of imperial China. Her brothers are dead, her armies and their war mammoths long defeated and caged behind their borders. Alone and sometimes reviled, she must choose her allies carefully. Rabbit, a handmaiden, sold by her […]