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 […]
Grimdark
Review: Liminal Monster by Luke Tarzian
Synopsis IN THE CENTER OF THE FOREST SITS A HOUSE OF LEAVES AND ASH. INSIDE THE HOUSE, HIS HEART AND LIES. Inside the house called Sempiternity there is a lake, at the center of which an island sits. Upon the island, a spire of stone. Surrounding the spire, an orchard of dreams. Beneath an apple […]
Review: The Scoungers (Vermin of the old Empire) by Thomas J Devens
Synopsis The lords have fallen.It was the war to end all wars.Violence had plagued the Fractured Kingdoms since the fall of the Old Empire. But as the generals and the lords died in the Valley of Torglen, the folk looked beyond their allegiances. Beyond their nations. The bedraggled masses that survived the battle flocked to […]
Review: The Last Gasp Of Midnight by Thomas Howard Riley
Synopsis A duel to the death in three parts. A conversation of sorts between the last two men left alive after a brutal battle. One soldier from each side. Both want to survive. Neither can walk away. In a story of battle, everything is a weapon. Even memories. Review I won a copy of this […]
Book Review: A Graveyard for Heroes (Dreams of Dust and Steel #2) by Michael Michel
TL;DR Review: Ambitious, imaginative, and incredibly compelling. The most epic grimdark world I’ve read since Abercrombie. Synopsis: Treachery looms across the land. The Scarborn have deposed the once-great Ironlight family. With scores to settle, the lowborn shake rust from their knives and trade allegiances for a promise of blood while the highborn rally their armies. […]
Residumm (A Darkening Dawn Novella) by DB Rook
Synopsis Light dims on humanity’s reign over the galaxy. Charlus Vaughn, a teenage refugee, escapes deadly machine justice with her penitent mother. Rescued by a data-pirate crew, she falls into the path of ancient arachnid machinations that propel her back towards her mysterious origins and the heart of her unknown heritage. Review I haven’t been […]
Guest Review: An Inkling of Flame: A Song of the Damned novella by Z.B. Steele
Synopsis Tell me how it happened… Layne was a soldier, conscripted to fight under the Fox in a vengeance fueled march. He, and his friends, were due for a fated confrontation, one that has ended in blood and loss. Now, the inquisitors want to hear every detail of his conscription, his training, and the duel […]
Review: Parasitic Omens (A Gods of Dallalmar story) by Jessica A. McMinn
Omen to this Synopsis In the world of the occult, new is never good. As one of Copperton’s hardworking investigators, Lawrence Reed has seen it all: vampires, werewolves, warlocks and witches. When a monstrous creature crawls from the corpse of a mutilated girl, Law is determined to find answers—with or without payment. Ignoring advice to […]
Review: Norylska Groans by Michael R Fletcher and Clayton W Snyder
Synopsis Norylska Groans…with the weight of her crimes. In a city where winter reigns amid the fires of industry and war, soot and snow conspire to conceal centuries of death and deception. Norylska Groans…and the weight of a leaden sky threatens to crush her people. Katyusha Leonova, desperate to restore her family name, takes a […]
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 […]
Review: Anji Kills A King (The Rising Tide #1) by Evan Leikam
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 killed for a cause. Will she die for it too? Anji works as a castle servant, cleaning laundry for a king […]
Review: For a Few Days More by Z.B Steele
Synopsis The Hinterlands are a lawless place of broken dreams and broken people. Roth is a bodyguard trying to leave his dark past behind, but history has a way of turning back up. Cynthia is a bandit who’s trying to make a future by wading through blood. They travel separately, trying to live by their […]