Synopsis J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings meets Edward Gorey’s The Gashlycrumb Tinies in this darkly satirical illustrated parody of the Tolkien universe: ‘A is for Arwen broken by sorrows; B is for Boromir punctured by arrows. C is for Celebrimbor hung out to dry; D is for Denethor…’ ‘Stories – frankly, human stories are always about one thing […]
High Fantasy
SPFBO XI Review: A Mage’s Mentor (Ucksil’s Folly) by Stephen Jarocki
I read this book as a judge for Fanfiaddict for SPFBO XI. These are my personal thoughts and do not represent the thoughts of the whole team. Synopsis: A Mage’s Mentor is a debut fantasy novel that is the first book in the Ucksil’s Folly series. The story follows Sinccah, an ambitious young mage in […]
Review: Fireborne (The Aurelian Cycle) by Rosaria Munda
Synopsis When the revolution came, everything changed. The old rulers were overthrown and the city’s traditions were shattered. Annie and Lee grew up in the aftermath, their lives shaped by the chaos. Brought together in the same orphanage and despite their differences, they became each other’s closest allies. But years of training have turned their […]
Review: Blood of the Old Kings (The Bleeding Empire #1) by Sung-Il Kim, Anton Hur (Translator)
Synopsis Blood of the Old Kings begins an epic adventure in which three strangers journey through a vast Empire that uses the power of dead wizards to conquer and subdue, from award-winning author Sung-il Kim and translated by the highly-acclaimed Anton Hur. Powered by the corpses of sorcerers, the Empire has conquered the world. It claims […]
Review: The Curse of Chalion (World of the Five Gods #1) by Lois McMaster Bujold
Synopsis A man broken in body and spirit, Cazaril, has returned to the noble household he once served as page, and is named, to his great surprise, as the secretary-tutor to the beautiful, strong-willed sister of the impetuous boy who is next in line to rule. It is an assignment Cazaril dreads, for it will […]
Book Review: Dogged by Michael R. Fletcher
TL;DR Review: Bloody, gritty, action-packed, and…heartwarming? The novel I didn’t know my year was missing! Synopsis: WARDOGS ARE BORN TO DIE. In the final days of the Demon Empire a lone wardog goes in search of the answer to the only question she cares Who murdered her mate? Utterly unqualified to solve a mystery, Dogged […]
Review: The Way of Edan (The Edan Trilogy #1) by Philip Chase
Synopsis The Kingdom of the Eternal will awaken when the Way of Edan holds sway over all of Eormenlond. So say the prophecies. With unrivalled power in the gift, the Supreme Priest Bledla leads Torrlond and its mighty army to convert rival kingdoms by the sword and by the fang. Among the gathering resistance is […]
Review: The Second Death of Locke (The Hand and the Heart #1) by V.L. Bovalino
This is a deeply romantic and epic tale of what it means to be loyal and love so much you’d be willing to sacrifice anything, but also a cautionary one of when to recognise that a life built on a cycle of sacrifices is perhaps one of too high a cost. What if instead of dying for love, you live for it, and fiercely so?
Book Review: Brigands and Breadknives (Legends and Lattes #2) by Travis Baldree
TL;DR Review: Cozy yet adventurous, entertaining but also immensely heart-warming, with fascinating insights into the author—and ourselves! Synopsis: Return to the fantasy world of the #1 New York Times bestselling Legends & Lattes series with a new adventure featuring fan-favorite, foul-mouthed bookseller Fern Fern has weathered the stillness and storms of a bookseller’s life for decades, but […]
Empire of the Dawn (Empire of the Vampire) by Jay Kristoff
Synopsis Gabriel de León has lost his family, his faith, and his last hope of ending the endless night – the Holy Grail, Dior. With no desire left but vengeance, he and a band of loyal brothers journey into the war-torn heart of the Augustin Empire to claim the life of the Forever King. Unbeknownst […]
Firstborn of the Sun by Marvellous Michael Anson
Synopsis In the Kingdom of Oru L’ore has a secret. She is the only one without agbára – the ability to harness power from the sun. On pain of death she must conceal it from everyone. Including her best friend, Alawani. But when the gods declare Alawani an Àlùfáà High Priest – a great honour […]
Book Review: Lies Weeping (The Black Company #10) by Glen Cook
TL;DR Review: Somber and serious military history…as told by sarcastic teenagers? A tonal change to the Black Company I loved! Synopsis: The Black Company has retreated across the plain of glittering stone, toward a shadow gate that would let them trade the dangers of the plain for the questionable safety of the Company’s one-time haven […]