And what a solid package this was. Notes from the Burning Age sunk its hooks into me early on, grabbing my attention with an intriguing world, strange mysteries and a lead character that I could sympathize with. I was consistently curious to read more and more. And more. By the end, I was wholly enthralled and deeply invested in the rich, descriptive prose, geopolitical machinations, the backstabbing, the supernatural elements, the the history and lore—all of it. I can’t recommend this book enough.
Reviews
Book Tour: Creation (Why Odin Drinks #1) by Bjorn Larssen
Creation is a humorous retelling of the Norse creation myth, centering around the god brothers, Odin, Vili, and Ve. Instead of being a straightforward retelling of the myth, Larssen has taken Norse mythology and viewed it through the lens of Terry Pratchett’s Discworld, resulting in a silly and often slapstick look at Norse tradition.
Review: The Splinter King (The God-King Chronicles #2) by Mike Brooks
The Splinter King is the second book in Mike Brooks’ God-King Chronicles series, and the author really goes to great lengths to expand the world and the characters. While I did not think it quite lived up to the expectations set by the first book, I did still enjoy it.
Review: Dreams of the Dying (Enderal #1) by Nicolas Lietzau
As you can probably tell by now, my feelings on Dreams of the Dying are really mixed. It seems like everything I liked about it also happened to be its greatest flaws. Take the worldbuilding, for instance. I loved how deep Lietzau went with the worldbuilding, giving us two unique cultures and fantastical creatures galore.
Review: The Fall of Babel by Josiah Bancroft
ot only as a fantastic story in and of itself, but it also ties up a four-book series in a way that is both enjoyable and optimistic. (Most) loose ends were tied, character arcs fulfilled, many questions answered, but a couple of new ones were introduced that infused the finale with a wondrous sense of mystery. To be honest, I was caught off guard with how it all wrapped up, reeling from how amazingly cool things turned out that I needed to re-read it just to absorb everything that happened—and I loved it. I don’t need a tidy ending, truth be told. But author Josiah Bancroft did a phenomenal job giving this series an ending befitting the majestic, enigmatic Tower of Babel.
Review: The Black Coast (The God-King Chronicles #1) by Mike Brooks
The Black Coast is the first book in Mike Brooks’ epic fantasy series The God-King Chronicles. It is a great start in what appears to be a promising story.
Review: Blood of the Chosen (Burningblade & Silvereye #2) by Django Wexler
Blood of the Chosen is rip-roaring action set in an epic fantasy universe full of rebellion, fuckery and stakes that raise the consequences of character’s actions.
The Hellborn King (The Hellborn King Saga #1) by Christopher G. Brenning
Synopsis A kingdom at war. A royal family at war with itself. After the massacre of his people, Damien Dreadfire leads a patchwork army of unlikely allies against the Kingdom of Betanthia. The alliance teeters on the edge of a knife, as old rivalries between clans threaten to tear it apart. With the help of […]
Review: Iron Widow (Iron Widow #1) by Xiran Jay Zhao
Iron Widow is an astonishing mash of everything that gets me excited about a novel – it’s giant, transforming mechs against an alien invasion. It’s one woman’s fight against a patriarchal society and certainly fits into the Handmaid’s Tale X Pacific Rim mould it’s been pitched as, but it’s so very much more. I’d dare say it’s got a pinch of The Way of Kings in there with reference to the Hundun Waste and the ultimate goal of liberating it. It’s a beauty of a novel and would resonate with comic, SFF fans everywhere.
Review: Sinopticon by Xueting Christine Ni (Translator and Editor)
An incredible omnibus of Chinese Science Fiction compiled and edited by self-confessed geek, translator and author of From Kuanyin to Chairman Mao, Xueting Ni.
Review: Waffles and Pancake: Planetary-YUM by Drew Brockington
Synopsis Inspired by his beloved CatStronauts series, Drew Brockington is going back in time to when everyone’s favorite Catstronaut, Waffles, was a kitten! Fans of Narwhal and Jelly and Elephant & Piggie will love this fun, cat-tastic early graphic novel series. One very special Saturday, Dad-Cat decides to take Waffles and his sister Pancake to the […]
Review: Far from the Light of Heaven by Tade Thompson
Far from the Light of Heaven is an action-packed murder mystery-cum-science fiction space voyage. It reminded me so much of the movie Sunshine, with a dab of Leviathan Wakes; it’s nail-biting, intelligent and heavens damned moreish.