An epic fantasy with tons of heart, equal parts serious and fun.
Asian Inspired
Review: The Art of Legend (War Arts #3) by Wesley Chu
Synopsis: Once in a faraway kingdom there was a man prophesied to be the chosen one, who would defeat a great villain, the Eternal Khan, and save the kingdom. But then the Eternal Khan died . . . and the prophecy was broken. For Jian, the fated hero, this could have been a moment to […]
Book Review: The Bone Raiders (The Rakada #1) by Jackson Ford
TL;DR Review: Action-packed, insanely fun, wildly imaginative, and wonderfully human. Non-stop rip-roaring adventure from start to finish. Synopsis: WE DIDN’T START THE FIRE . . . BUT OUR GIANT FIRE-BREATHING LIZARDS DID. You don’t f*ck with the Rakada. The people living in the grasslands of the Tapestry call them the Bone Raiders, from their […]
Review: ShadowBane by Cal Logan
Synopsis: One womb, one soul, two fates. One will rise. One will fall. Shura and Jin are the last of a divine bloodline, operating at the bloodiest fringes of society where they wield might and magic against the demons they are sworn to destroy. For Shura, it’s the only way to restore honor to her […]
Book Review: The Gryphon King (The Chaos Constellation #1) by Sara Omer
TL;DR Review: Action, intrigue, rebellion, and dark legends abound in this epic, addictive historical-feeling fantasy story. Synopsis: The first in a stunning Southwest Asian-inspired epic fantasy trilogy brimming with morally ambiguous characters, terrifying ghouls and deadly monsters. Combining cut-throat dynastic politics with expansive worldbuilding and slow-burning romance, this book is perfect for fans of Godkiller […]
Book Review: Words of Power by Shami Stovall
TL;DR Review: A new approach to leveling up and gaining power. A progression fantasy hero unlike any other, and a fresh addition to the genre. Synopsis: Power is not given. It’s taken. In the Tze Empire, spirits and demons rule the wilds, but Ring Warlocks control civilization. For Rimon, the son of a courtesan and […]
Review: The Floating World (The Floating World #1) by Axie Oh
Synopsis From Axie Oh, the New York Times-bestselling author of The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea, Final Fantasy meets Shadow and Bone in this romantic fantasy reimagining the Korean legend of Celestial Maidens. Sunho lives in the Under World, a land of perpetual darkness. An ex-soldier, he can remember little of his life from […]
Review: Fathomfolk (Drowned World #1) by Eliza Chan
Synopsis Welcome to Tiankawi – shining pearl of human civilization and a safe haven for those fleeing civil unrest. Or at least, that’s how it first appears. But in the semi-flooded city, humans are, quite literally, on peering down from skyscrapers and aerial walkways on the fathomfolk — sirens, seawitches, kelpies and kappas—who live in the polluted waters […]
Review: Lost Horizon by James Hilton
Synopsis: Hugh Conway saw humanity at its worst while fighting in the trenches of the First World War. When an uprising in Baskul forces Hugh Conway and a small group of English and American residents to flee, their plane crash-lands in the far western reaches of the Tibetan Himalayas. There, the bewildered party finds themselves […]
Review: Babel by R.F. Kuang
Synopsis Traduttore, traditore: An act of translation is always an act of betrayal. 1828. Robin Swift, orphaned by cholera in Canton, is brought to London by the mysterious Professor Lovell. There, he trains for years in Latin, Ancient Greek, and Chinese, all in preparation for the day he’ll enroll in Oxford University’s prestigious Royal Institute […]
Review: The Teller of Small Fortunes by Julie Leong
Synopsis A wandering fortune teller finds an unexpected family in this warm and wonderful debut fantasy, perfect for readers of Travis Baldree and Sangu Mandanna. Tao is an immigrant fortune teller, traveling between villages with just her trusty mule for company. She only tells “small” fortunes: whether it will hail next week; which boy the […]
Review: Mushroom Blues (The Hofmann Report #1) by Adrian M. Gibson
Gibson’s fungalpunk detective noir is a stunning read, elevated by Imogen Church’s performance in the audiobook.