TL;DR Review: Grueling, gritty, and grimdark as hell. A main character who takes badass and resilient to a whole new level. Synopsis: A gender-flipped Die Hard set in a mysterious castle, Cameron Johnston’s The Last Shield is an engaging fantasy read, perfect for fans of John Gwynne and Mark Lawrence. The ancient forest realm of […]
Epic Fantasy
Book Review: Outlaw Mage by (The Dageian Puppetmaster Book 1) K.S. Villoso
TL;DR Review – A wonderfully complex examination of cultural whitewashing and complicated families. Synopsis: Despite Rosha’s best efforts, she will never fit in. To her classmates, she is forever an outsider, a girl from the fringes of the empire just lucky enough to have well-off parents. To her teachers, she is either a charity case […]
Review: Forge of Darkness (The Kharkanas Trilogy #1) by Steven Erikson
Synopsis: It’s a conflicted time in Kurald Galain, the realm of Darkness, where Mother Dark reigns. But this ancient land was once home to many a power. and even death is not quite eternal. The commoners’ great hero, Vatha Urusander, is being promoted by his followers to take Mother Dark’s hand in marriage, but her […]
Book Review: Of Thieves and Shadows by B.S.H. Garcia
TL;DR Review: A breathtakingly epic world and high stakes adventure with an intriguing cast of complex, well-developed characters. Synopsis: Some secrets are best left to the shadows. But shadows have a mind of their own. The ancient land of Quinaria teeters on the brink of war, as its most precious resource is unearthed and exploited. […]
Book Review: The Bartender Between Worlds by Herman Steuernagel
TL;DR Review: A dimension-hopping exploration of friendship, love, and the magic of a well-mixed cocktail. Synopsis: Low-stakes magic, crafting cocktails, and discovering the power of who we truly are. Emma grew up as a Hunter of the Cursed—those charged with eradicating monsters and magic from the Kingdom. She’s revered as one of the King’s most […]
Book Review: Mistlight (The Aenigma Lights #2) by JA Andrews
TL;DR Review: More mysteries, and bigger. The fate of a world hangs in the balance, and can only be saved by a truly ragtag, lovable crew. Synopsis: Keeper Kate has spent weeks searching for her missing brother. Following his trail, studying clues, using the mysterious aenigma box to help reconstruct the story of what had […]
Review: A Pocket of Lies by R A Sandpiper
The one time you won’t mind paying the Piper Synopsis BLOOD BOUND AND PENNILESS. EXILED INTO CURSED LANDS. HUNTED BY DEATH. When the thief Suri suffers a humiliating robbery, she has one day to pay off an ugly debt. Her solution: abduct and impersonate a foreign princess at the royal ball. But the wickedly handsome […]
Review: House of Chains (Malazan Book of the Fallen #4)
Synopsis In Northern Genabackis, a raiding party of savage tribal warriors descends from the mountains into the southern flatlands. Their intention is to wreak havoc amongst the despised lowlanders, but for the one named Karsa Orlong it marks the beginning of what will prove to be an extraordinary destiny.Some years later, it is the aftermath […]
Jade Legacy (The Green Bone Saga #3) by Fonda Lee
Synopsis Jade, the mysterious and magical substance once exclusive to the Green Bone warriors of Kekon, is now known and coveted throughout the world. Everyone wants access to the supernatural abilities it provides, from traditional forces such as governments, mercenaries, and criminal kingpins, to modern players, including doctors, athletes, and movie studios. As the struggle […]
Book Review: Voice of War (Threadlight #1) by Zack Argyle
TL;DR Review: A dark, high fantasy that slowly grows more epic. Fast-paced action, great characters, and a compelling story. Synopsis: Three lives come together in this modern epic fantasy where magic users go missing, old gods return, and creatures of light ravage the land. A high general with a dark voice in his head that […]
Book Review: The Chaos Gate (Ever Hero Saga #1) by Jeff Pantanella
TL;DR Review: Shaolin Monk meets Dungeons and Dragons, with a side order of “holy sh*t this is dark and epic”! Synopsis: Evil forces seek to steal the souls of the world. They didn’t bargain on a mystic monk and a feisty witch to get in their way. This is their story. When the demons came, […]
COVER REVEAL: Lightfall (Book One of The Everlands) by Ed Crocker
Title: LightfallSeries: Book 1 of The EverlandsAuthor: Ed CrockerGenre: Epic FantasyPublisher: St Martin’s Press/MacmillanReleasing in: US and CanadaFormats: eBook/Hardback/AudiobookCover Artist: Ervin Serrano (art director, St Martin’s Press)Release Date: January 14th, 2025 Add to Goodreads Amazon Pre-order Barnes and Noble Pre-order Audible Preorder Pitch An epic fantasy of vampires, werewolves and sorcerers. No humans here. Just immortals: […]