The Thirteenth Hour is a promising introduction to The Cruel Gods series and shines brightest with its exploration of magic, religion, and technology between mortal and divine forces. The overarching storyline is a grand and imaginative idea.
Gaslamp
Book Review: The Thirteenth Hour (The Cruel Gods #1) by Trudie Skies
TL;DR Review: Magic-based steampunk with a colorful cast of characters, wicked gods, and a lovely slow-burn romance. Synopsis: WHEN THE SAINTS FAIL, THE SINNERS STEP UP.Cruel gods rule the steam-powered city of Chime, demanding worship and tribute from their mortal subjects. Kayl lost her faith in them long ago, and now seeks to protect vulnerable […]
Review: The Hallows by HL Tinsley
TL;DR Version: Nuns with machine guns, a grim and gritty flavor, and a bizarre mystery I had to solve. An unforgettable reading experience! Synopsis: The Hallow serum was once sacred to the Auld Bloods. Used to gain access to their lost ancestral powers, now it is regulated and administered by the powerful Providence Company. Evolved […]
Sorcery & Cecelia: or The Enchanted Chocolate Pot (Cecelia and Kate) by Patricia C. Wrede and Caroline Stevermer
Synopsis A great deal is happening in London and the country this season. For starters, there’s the witch who tried to poison Kate at the Royal College of Wizards. There’s also the man who seems to be spying on Cecelia. (Though he’s not doing a very good job of it–so just what are his intentions?) […]
Review: Where Shadows Lie (The Last Gift: Arc one #1) by Allegra Pescatore
Synopsis The Chosen One is dead. Only his sister can take his place. Disabled since childhood, Elenor was content to live in her brother’s shadow, besting her cousins at cards and sneaking her girlfriend into her room at night. Now she’s next in line for the throne and beset on all sides by factions out […]
Review: Shattered Spirits: The Fall of Ishcairn by Cal Black
Synopsis Legends say a dead god is buried under the stone city of Ishcairn, protecting its inhabitants by dashing enemy fleets into the jagged coast of Craeburn. Adjunct professor Corrie Ecksley doesn’t believe any of that, but she knows from her work excavating nearby burial sites that the ancient Craeburn people believed it enough to […]
Review: Shattered Spirits: The Fall of Ishcairn by Cal Black
This novella skillfully intertwines facets of gaslamp fantasy and eldritch horror, evoking a chilling and captivating narrative that surpassed my expectations. It’s an unnerving tone to the final chapters that etched themselves into my memory. A quick, yet immersive literary experience for anyone looking for a single-sitting read.
Review: The Way of the Renegades by Steve D Wall (The Bards and Dragons Saga 1)
Rating: 8/10An action-packed flintlock fantasy book about guns, mages, bards and dragons! Ulric, former war hero, has been living a quiet life of exile in the frontier city of Quinport and wants only to continue hiding from the mistakes of his past. But then he discovers the invention of a revolutionary new kind of rifle, […]
Review: Of Honey and Wildfires (The Songs of Sefate #1) by Sarah Chorn
Synopsis From the moment the first settler dug a well and struck a lode of shine, the world changed. Now, everything revolves around that magical oil. What began as a simple scouting expedition becomes a life-changing ordeal for Arlen Esco. The son of a powerful mogul, Arlen is kidnapped and forced to confront uncomfortable truths […]
Review: The Werewolf of Whitechapel (Miss Sharp’s Monsters #1) by Suzannah Rowntree
Synopsis Murder, monsters…and a disreputable lady’s-maid on a mission. A killer prowls the grimy streets of Whitechapel. Scotland Yard seems determined to turn a blind eye. But with one look at her best friend’s corpse, Liz Sharp knows the truth: the killer is a werewolf, one of the monsters that rules Europe. If she doesn’t […]
Review: The Thirteenth Hour (The Cruel Gods #1) by Trudie Skies
If you are looking for something different from your usual fantasy reading, then this is my recommendation. The Thirteenth Hour is a brilliant debut that left me feeling like I’d watched a well produced TV series. It is no surprise it was a SPFBO finalist.
The Hand that Casts the Bone (The Vanguard Chronicles #2) by H.L. Tinsley
The Hand that Casts the Bone is a fantastic sequel, closing the door on any feared second book syndrome with its highly recognizable characters, fascinating plot, and outstanding characterization.