The Sword in the Street has been one of the hardest books for me to review. I’ve been putting it off for a while now, fiddling with the draft over and over. Not because I don’t have anything to say about it or that it was bad in any way. If anything, maybe it’s because I am too close to it. It was a very emotional read for me.
Fantasy
Review: She Who Became the Sun (The Radiant Emperor #1) by Shelley Parker-Chan
She Who Became the Sun is the first in Shelley Parker-Chan’s The Radiant Emperor series. Set in 14th-Century China, the books combination of war, politics, and gender identity exploration is certain to please fans of Chinese-inspired historical fantasy.
Book Tour: The Headlock of Destiny (Titan Wars #1) by Samuel Gately
The thing that initially drew me to this book (besides its amazing cover!) was the completely absurd concept. First of all, who’d have thought of combining a fantasy world with professional wrestling? And, further, who’d have guessed it could be pulled off this well? Well, that’s just what Gately has done.
Review: The Bone Shard Daughter (The Drowning Empire #1) by Andrea Stewart
There must be a bone shard somewhere inside me with the “read one more chapter” command etched onto it, as this story compelled me to read on right from the first few pages.
Review: Seven Deaths of an Empire by G. R. Matthews
This book has all the makings of a great fantasy. Big battles, political intrigue and magic systems. But somehow it doesn’t get bogged down in all this. Matthews writes battle scenes with ease and with a grace that is hard to find elsewhere. I usually get a bit confused in battle scenes and just hope that at the end an overview is given of who beat who and who is still alive. However Matthews uses one of our characters to describe battles in a way that is easy to follow. You know what is happening, you can follow the beats and it just worked so well for me.
Review: Seven Deaths of an Empire by G.R. Matthews
Seven Deaths of an Empire is a new standalone fantasy novel from author G.R. Matthews. It is being billed as grimdark and comparable to George R.R. Martin; however, I would not make those comparisons, myself – at least not to Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire. To me, this would closer to old-fashioned, classic fantasy.
Review: Horns of the Hunter (Tales of Luah Fáil #1) by Frank Dorrian
Horns of the Hunter is a standalone novella set in Luah Fáil, a setting that will be familiar to those who have read some of Dorrian’s earlier works. I was completely sold upon seeing the wonderful cover by Felix Ortiz and Shawn T. King. Anyone who says they don’t judge a book by its cover is a liar.
Book Tour: The Throne of Ice & Ash (The Runewar Saga #1) by J.D.L. Rosell
Hello and welcome to FanFiAddict’s stop on the book tour for J.D.L. Rosell’s The Throne of Ice & Ash (The Runewar Saga #1). We want to thank Justine & Timy @ Storytellers on Tour for letting us be involved and a big shoutout to J.D.L. on the recent release of The Throne of Ice & Ash.
Review: Sairo’s Claw (Gensokai #3) by Virginia McClain
Sairo’s Claw is the third installment in Virginia McClain’s Gensokai series, though each book is a standalone set in the same universe. I have not read the first two, but this book is adventurous and fun, with interesting storylines and complex, nuanced characters.
Review: Jade City and Jade War (The Green Bone Saga #1-2) by Fonda Lee
All the pieces of this jade puzzle worked so well for me. Jade City wowed me with its empathetic characters, engaging worldbuilding and tense action. Jade War amplified that in all the best ways with the addition of an international scope, political intrigue and a more integrated sense of where Kekon and its clans fit within the broader world. And, amidst all of this, the intimacy of the Kaul family bleeds through every page. Fonda Lee has crafted a masterful fantasy world with these two books, gifting me with some of my favorite fictional characters of all time.
Review: Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse
From beginning to end, Rebecca Roanhorse’s Black Sun is a stunning work of fantastical fiction. Bringing together inspiration from Pre-Columbian civilizations such as the Aztecs, Maya and various tribes and nations of Native Americans, there is a distinct sense of passion on display here. This is wholly evident in Roanhorse’s worldbuilding, but her characters are where Black Sun truly shines. And as the start to a trilogy called Between Earth and Sky, it is an epic start to what will surely become a memorable series in modern fantasy canon.
Review: The Blacktongue Thief (Blacktongue #1) by Christopher Buehlman
The first thing you notice when beginning The Blacktongue Thief is the narrative structure. Written in first person with fourth-wall breaking type style, it definitely takes a bit of an adjustment. However, I’m a huge fan of this form of writing. I’ve always enjoyed first person narrative but when it feels like someone is telling the story directly to YOU, it makes the book even more engaging. In fact, it took me longer to read this book than usual because I didn’t want to miss a word of what our protagonist Kinch is telling you.