TL;DR Review: Beautifully lush writing, noble and compelling characters, and a story that takes its time to build to an emotional ending. Synopsis: From the critically-acclaimed author of The Fionavar Tapestry comes an epic fantasy novel of love, both courtly and forbidden, and two kingdoms endlessly opposed… Blaise of Gorhaut is a warrior. He fought […]
Fantasy
Review: Blade of the Wanderer (Scars of Magic #1) by Steven Raaymakers
The world of Verpace is easy to get lost in and a joy to explore, despite the fact it’s often dangerous.
Review: In Solitude’s Shadow (Empire of Ruin Series #1) by David Green.
Synopsis War Comes For Those Who Forge It. And It Never Forgives… Haltveldt is a nation built on bloodshed. With the Order of Sparkers brought to heel, Emperor Locke wields his mages – and their magic the Spark – like a weapon as he wages a war of genocide. But the enemies of his empire […]
Review: Reign & Ruin (Mages of the Wheel #1) by J.D. Evans
Synopsis “All magic is beautiful…and terrible. Do you not see the beauty in yours, or the terror in mine? You can stop a heart, and I can stop your breath.” She is heir to a Sultanate that once ruled the world. He is an unwanted prince with the power to destroy. She is order and […]
An Inkling of Flame by Z.B. Steele
Synopsis Tell me how it happened… Layne was a soldier, conscripted to fight under the Fox in a vengeance fueled march. He, and his friends, were due for a fated confrontation, one that has ended in blood and loss. Now, the inquisitors want to hear every detail of his conscription, his training, and the duel […]
Review: Blood Over Bright Haven by M.L. Wang
Synopsis Magic has made the city of Tiran an industrial utopia, but magic has a cost—and the collectors have come calling. An orphan since the age of four, Sciona has always had more to prove than her fellow students. For twenty years, she has devoted every waking moment to the study of magic, fueled by […]
Review: Tangleweed & Waterbloom (The Garden Knight #1) by Justin Greer
Synopsis: After years of travel in the wide world, Derry Melyvante has made his home near the quiet woodland village of Haverdell. He lives with his dog Barrow on a small island outside town and spends his days in singular pursuit of his craft: Derry is a gardener, a master of woodlore and plants and […]
The Emperor’s Soul by Brandon Sanderson
Synopsis A heretic thief is the empire’s only hope in this fascinating tale that inhabits the same world as the popular novel, Elantris. Shai is a Forger, a foreigner who can flawlessly copy and re-create any item by rewriting its history with skillful magic. Condemned to death after trying to steal the emperor’s scepter, she is […]
Review: A Palace Near The Wind (Book #1 of the Natural Engines Duology) by Ai Jiang
Synopsis The Feng people have bark faces, carved limbs, arms of braided branches, and hair of needle threads. Bound by duty and tradition, Liu Lufeng, the eldest princess of the Feng royalty, is the next bride to the human king. The negotiation of bridewealth is the only way to stop the expansion of the humans […]
Review: Silence is Silver (Shadowbinders #0.5) by Andrew Watson
Synopsis: The Urdahl believe pain is inevitable. But if one can lean into that suffering they can achieve anything. Beneath the desert sands, Bas has spent his entire life training to become a fully-fledged Urdahl. And now his time has come to prove his worth. First, he must drink from the Seeing Bowl to clear […]
Book Review: With His Father’s Sword (The Empire of the Beast) by T.M. Carruthers
TL;DR Review: The Count of Monte Cristo meets Kingdom of Heaven by way of Gladiator. Synopsis: I am Harald Fairhair, illegitimate son of a dead land. I am Harald Lionheart, breaker of chains and champion of the arena. I am Harald the bastard, and I have destroyed the world. Hear Harald’s own words as he […]
Review: This Too Shall Burn by Cat Rector
Synopsis Arden has lived in the woods near the deeply religious town of Arrothburg all her life, practicing magic and keeping balance with nature. She heals the sick, as her mother did before her. No matter how deeply the people of the village hate witches, they still arrive at Arden’s cabin in the dead of […]