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.
Reviews
Guest Review: Resurrection (Demon Squad #2) by Tim Marquitz
Author Interview: Barbara Dunlop (Match Made in Paradise)
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.
Q+A w/ C. Robert Cargill, Author of Day Zero
Flames of Rebellion (The Broken Gods #1) by Aaron S. Jones
The Hidden Palace (The Golem and the Jinni #2) by Helene Wecker
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.