You will probably know within a few chapters whether this book for you. Recently, I have had a talk with some other bloggers on our preferences, and how our love for either character centric or plot centric books can completely dictate what popular fantasies books we like. I am at heart, a character driven reader but I think I can honestly say that These Violent Delights is as plot driven as it is character driven; a perfect blend! I’m already itching to read the sequel in this duology, which will be out in November. I’m also utterly terrified, as I’m sure we are all wondering just how closely Gong is going to follow Shakespeare’s storylines.
Fantasy
Review: The Emperor’s Blades (Chronicle of the Unhewn Throne #1) by Brian Staveley
The Emperor’s Blades is a fantastic start to the Chronicle of the Unhewn Throne series and one which I devoured in just a few days. The book centers on three siblings in line for the emperor’s throne and are each spread across the continent learning and training for their future roles in the empire.
Review: The Memory of Souls (A Chorus of Dragons #3) by Jenn Lyons
The Memory of Souls is book 3 in Jenn Lyons’ A Chorus of Dragon series. It marks the middle book of the set, and in many ways functions as most middle books do.
Review: Fantasy Worldbuilding Workbook (Forging Fantasy Realms #2) by M.D. Presley
Synopsis This book is a collection of essays based on the author’s vast knowledge and appreciation for worldbuilding in fantasy. Also contained with are sources for worldbuilding prompts and diagrams to make this not only a useful guide to any writer, but also to foster an appreciation in the reader for the sheer colossal task […]
Review: Bright Steel (Masters & Mages #3) by Miles Cameron
Overall this series has been rife with full tilt action, character and magic badassery, camaraderie moments to die for, and plenty of soft, humorous, and quiet snippets between duos or trios that warm your chest. Cameron’s world has been one that is truly so rich and evocative, borrowing from a cultural setting that isn’t used often enough in fiction.
Book Tour: The Abdication by Justin Newland
Author Justin Newland describes The Abdication as a “suspense thriller”, which I find to be an accurate way to categorize this novel. There certainly is a lot of suspense in the story, and that is no surprise given Newland’s history: this is not the author’s first rodeo, having published several novels before this one. Newland certainly knows how to layer the drama in the narrative so the reader has several components of tension to look forward to.
Review: Phoenix Extravagant by Yoon Ha Lee
Synopsis Finding work as an artist is hard. Working for a shady government ministry while falling in love with your watcher, who just so happened to kill your sister’s wife, is even harder, not to mention when you’re tasked with rewriting a dragon automaton warmachine that happens to be a pacifist! Jebi is an aspiring […]
Review: The Blacktongue Thief (Blacktongue #1) by Christopher Buehlman
This book is absolutely *hilarious*, mostly in a darkly comedic sort of way mind you. Truly, I found myself chuckling right from the first pages at Kinch’s snark and commentary. Sometimes I caught myself laughing really loud too and that was definitely what I wanted as a low effort read these days.
Review: Summer Knight (The Dresden Files #4) by Jim Butcher
character, he’s a wizard-private-detective who’s stories are set in a realm filled with nightmarish creatures, and typically centered on a murder or investigation where the character slowly uncovers the clues while battling Vampires, goblins, faeries and probably every living thing you can think of. And this chapter in the entire series doesn’t disappoint.
Review: Split Paths (Fall of Emros #2) by Thomas J. Devens
Split Paths is the second installment in Thomas Devens’ Fall of Emros series. It follows members of the Emrosian Empire, as they navigate their way through war-ridden lands and dangerous territory. The story is written in the style of Epic Fantasy, but I do not think the scope is quite enough to be considered Epic. I would categorize it more as Classic Fantasy, bordering on Epic.
Review: These Violent Delights (These Violent Delights #1) by Chloe Gong
Nearly a decade after taking mandatory Elizabethan-era English literature classes in university, the iambic pentameter of William Shakespeare has crept back into my life. Unexpectedly though, it came in the form of Chloe Gong’s debut novel, These Violent Delights. Set in 1920s Shanghai, this tale of star-crossed (ex)lovers twists a knife into Shakespeare’s famous tragedy—it weaves familiar story beats with unexpected turns as Roma and Juliette, the two heirs to rival crime families, navigate intense hostilities, foreign colonizers, a strange and deadly contagion, as well as their past romance. As tension and chaos in Shanghai builds toward a fever pitch, the two become entangled again in ways that fuel the story (to both good and middling results). Question is, to what end? The above warning of Friar Laurence to Romeo in Romeo and Juliet rings ever true: such fiery delight—a connection consumed by fire and powder—is likely to end in disaster.
Review: Campaigns & Companions: The Complete Role-Playing Guide for Pets by Rhianna Pratchett and Andi Ewington
There was once a secret meeting in the village where all warriors, sorcerers and clerics gathered to be introduced to an ancient manuscript from a wizard. The wizard stood behind the table and slowly dropped a small book on the table in front of him. “This, my lads, is a book containing… humour! Humour about our companions, our domestic friends with four paws and snouts!!” Everyone’s jaw fell in excitement and curiosity, yet they all were eager to look at what it contained…