In the canon of modern space opera, Gareth L. Powell has stood out as one of the genre’s most accessible stalwarts. His work is consistently engaging and continues to improve book after book. With his latest novel, Stars and Bones, Powell kicks off a brand-new space opera series with a bang. Not only was this book a pure joy to read, gripping me from the get-go and never letting up until the final page, it was also full of relatable characters, clever humor and the relentless optimism of the human spirit. This book is unputdownable, popcorn sci-fi that explores big ideas with an equally big heart.
Reviews
Review: Gods and Dragons (Wake the Dragon #3) by Kevin J. Anderson
Gods and Dragons is book 3 and the final release in Kevin J. Anderson’s epic fantasy series Wake the Dragon (my reviews of the first two books can be found at the following links: Spine of the Dragon, Vengewar). While those reviews were short of glowing, I felt the need to continue with the series because I thought there was potential for a great ending. I wanted to see the storylines play out, hopeful for a fantastic finish; and, while I would not necessarily describe it as “fantastic”, it ended up being pretty good.
Book Tour and Review: Second Star to the Left (Reimagined Fairy Tales #1) by Megan Van Dyke
Truly, I cannot boast about this book enough. Rating this book was an easy task, as it captured my attention and my heart in the first chapter. Everyone loves a good Happily Ever After, and this one does not fail to deliver on every point. Plus, for those of you who just love a good dose of spice *wink wink,* this book has it in abundance. You will blush, cheer, and fall in love right along with the characters. If you need reminding that love can exist even in the most trying circumstances, this is a book for you.
Review: Age of Ash (Kithamar #1) by Daniel Abraham
From New York Times bestselling and critically acclaimed author Daniel Abraham, co-author of the Expanse, comes a monumental epic fantasy trilogy that unfolds within the walls of a single great city, over the course of one tumultuous year, where every story matters, and the fate of the city is woven from them all. Kithamar is a centre […]
Review: Mickey7 by Edward Ashton
Mickey7, an “expendable,” refuses to let his replacement clone Mickey8 take his place.
This Charming Man (The Stranger Times #2) by C. K. McDonnell
llip has suddenly developed pointy teeth; he’s getting really wary of daylight and to top it off … he can no longer see his reflection in the mirror. Well, what does he think has caused that? Perhaps its an STD, he surmises … and that, reader, is completely on brand for a book in The Stranger Times series, it had me roaring from the get-go and is utterly, utterly entertaining. It’s certainly for fans of Pratchett and other comedic novels, but really does cut its own shape in the genre with a heavy focus on fantasy, world-building and urban-central storytelling. I loved this and it continues to be a series I look forward to.
Review: Early Years (The Beginning After The End #1) by TurtleMe
Synopsis King Grey has unrivaled strength, wealth, and prestige in world governed through martial ability. However, solitude lingers closely behind those with great power. Beneath the glamorous exterior of a powerful king lurks the shell of man, devoid of purpose and will. Reincarnated into a new world filled with magic and monsters, the king has […]
Review: Mickey7 by Edward Ashton
Synopsis: Mickey7, an “expendable,” refuses to let his replacement clone Mickey8 take his place. Dying isn’t any fun…but at least it’s a living. Mickey7 is an Expendable: a disposable employee on a human expedition sent to colonize the ice world Niflheim. Whenever there’s a mission that’s too dangerous—even suicidal—the crew turns to Mickey. After one […]
Review and Book Tour: Shadow of a Dead God (Mennik Thorn #1) by Patrick Samphire
Synopsis I was a grown man, damn it, and a mage of Agatos. Armies fled before me. Demons quaked in fear. Small animals gave me a wide berth. Babies cried when I smiled at them. Mennick Thorn is a broke mage for hire with an attitude problem and a tendency to make all the wrong […]
Review: Jade Legacy (Green Bone Saga #3) by Fonda Lee
Endings are a tricky thing. A good ending can reframe an entire story or bring home the points that an author was making. A bad ending can sour the experience of a whole series or story. Thankfully, Jade Legacy, the third and final book in the Green Bone Saga, is a smashingly good ending.
Book Tour & Review: Second Star to the Left (Reimagined Fairy Tales #1) by Megan Van Dyke
Overall, I really loved Second Star to the Left and I cannot wait for the next book in the Reimagined Fairy Tales series! The subtle ways in which the author changed the core characters to meet the narrative were the perfect choices to tell the story she wanted to tell. A beautifully written love story is at the core of this novel, but surrounding it is grand adventure, found family, and pirate ship battles. Can you think of a greater pairing?
Review: The Justice of Kings (Empire of the Wolf #1) by Richard Swan
Synopsis The Justice of Kings, the first in a new epic fantasy trilogy, follows the tale of Sir Konrad Vonvalt, an Emperor’s Justice – a detective, judge and executioner all in one. As he unravels a web of secrets and lies, Vonvalt discovers a plot that might destroy his order once and for all – […]