The best way I can think to summarize this book would be to say that Krause writes up an atmospheric homage to a mixed cultural background and the memory of a person dear to her, depicting a different, darker, and more folk gothic side to early 19th century americana. Bringing to life that solid and vivid mix of folk tales and myth that were also paired with the Christian overtones informing the 1800s American short story. Think Washington Irving’s The Devil and Tom Walker but add more monsters and a gutsy young woman willing to do anything for her family.
Fantasy
Review: A Night Owl Slips Into A Diner by Douglas Lumsden
Synopsis A routine case of industrial espionage pitches hardboiled P.I. Alexander Southerland headlong into a maelstrom of shadowy political intrigue and deadly supernatural mayhem—not to mention some malevolent owls and the mysterious ‘boy who talks backwards’! After his exposure of a white-collar thief has harrowing consequences, a guilt-ridden and disconsolate Southerland roams the mean streets […]
Review: The Lost War: Eidyn (Book One: 1) By Justin Lee Anderson
Synopsis ‘STRIKINGLY INTENSE. . . IMMERSIVE AND THOROUGHLY COMPELLING’ SFX The war is over but peace can be hell. Demons continue to burn farmlands, violent mercenaries roam the wilds and a plague is spreading. The country of Eidyn is on its knees. In a society that fears and shuns him, Aranok is the first mage to […]
Review: All the Skills by Honour Rae (All the Skills #1)
As with any deckbuilding game, any player will know that the real fun begins once you’ve moved on from trading or upgrading your starting cards to those that grant more abilities and effects. The same is true for All the Skills.
Healer and Witch by Nancy Werlin
Synopsis After eleven young-adult novels, best-selling and award-winning author Nancy Werlin casts a brilliant new spell in a middle-grade historical fantasy for fans of classic fare. Nancy Werlin’s first story for middle-grade readers tackles and transcends traditional fantasy tropes: can a young woman gifted with magic learn to manage her powers—and claim her strength—without violence? […]
Review: The Crew (The God Dust Saga #1) by Sadir S. Samir
Synopsis Kings of the Wyld meets Deadpool in this action-packed fantasy adventure set in an Arab-inspired landscape. Varcade fled to the deserts of Harrah to escape his past as an Educator, a member of an order of zealot warrior-monks that aims to shape the world according to their sacred Teachings by force. Varcade makes his […]
Review: Tristan’s Regret (The Return of King Arthur #3) by Jacob Sannox
Synopsis The third and final book of The Return of King Arthur. In the 5th century, Tristan and Isolde are at the mercy of the scheming Morgana Le Fay, who seeks to undermine King Arthur’s alliance with Cornwall. The consequences of their actions echo down the centuries and, in 2021, Arthur, Tristan and the Knights […]
Return To Edan by Philip Chase: Book 3 of The Edan Trilogy
Synopsis: After the events of The Prophet of Edan, Eormenlond is suffering from the chaos of war. While the dreaded Ilarchae are carving a war path through the land, civil war is also ravaging this world. In the midst of this turmoil Dayraven’s friends are searching for him as the elf shard may have talking over […]
Review: Bonds of Chaos (Threadlight #3) by Zack Argyle
Synopsis Bonds of Chaos is the final installment of the Threadlight trilogy, which begins with the multi-award-winning Voice of War. TO BREAK THE BONDS, SACRIFICES WILL BE MADE. When all was lost, the Heralds returned, and the world embraced them as gods and saviors. But there are some who know the truth: the Heralds are […]
Phantasm: An Isekai LitRPG by Christopher Hall
Synopsis An ordinary young woman wakes up in a real-life sword-and-sorcery role-playing game in this epic fantasy adventure for fans of The Witcher and Elden Ring. The Worldwalkers of legend are beings touched by Fate and transported from another realm, tasked with a grand destiny. Traditionally, they prevent great cataclysms or the fall of empires. […]
Review: Agravain’s Escape (The Return of King Arthur #2) by Jacob Sannox
Synopsis It is 2021, and Sir Agravain’s nemesis, Malagant, is back.But Agravain, who hunted the Dread Knight during the 18th and 19th centuries, is now serving a prison sentence. Nimue, a mysterious student of Merlin, seeks King Arthur to offer him a choice.Arthur can settle into the normal life he yearns, abandoning his estranged knight. […]
Review: Inked (Gilded Blood Series #1) by Rachel Rener
Synopsis When Zayn, your smoking hot boss, tells you never to touch the cache of deluxe tattoo ink locked away in his office, you listen to him… until the day you run out of your own ink, your squirming client is on the verge of peeing his pants, and your boss is nowhere to be […]