Adrian Tchaikovsky writes DnD, turns everything you thought you knew on its head, and writes the perfect length book. Spiderlight is a very classic quest story at it’s heart, our band of misfits (the classic cleric, rogue, mage etc) are following a prophecy in which they will defeat the Dark Lord. Simple, classic, already a great story. Then we have a Spider turned into human form (and, yes, you will sympathise with him), and a journey through some of the darkest parts of the land, where deeper personalities are revealed, and darker storylines take place.
Tor Books
Review: The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow
Not only is the narrative voice beautiful and engaging, but it is downright heartbreaking at times. Harrow’s narrators don’t merely talk to the reader but they transport us into this account of impossible choices and we can only follow along hoping for the best but emotionally preparing for the worst.
SFF Addicts Ep. 178: Prose & Rhythm with Alix E. Harrow (Writing Masterclass)
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson, M.J. Kuhn and Greta Kelly as they delve into a writing masterclass on Prose & Rhythm with award-winning, bestselling author Alix E. Harrow. During the episode, Alix expounds upon prose and rhythm essentials, including what prose and rhythm are, setting expectations with prose style, fine tuning your prose and rhythm, the musicality of prose, beauty and truth in language, the flexibility of prose styles, how prose informs characterization, description and world, the fluidity of authorial voice, how to have FUN with your prose and more.
Review: Daughter of No Worlds (The War of Lost Hearts #1) by Carissa Broadbent
My first thought when I heard about Daughter of No Worlds was ‘I’ve really enjoyed Carissa Broadbent’s other books, but the politics in this might make it not work for me.’ I am very happy to say that I was wrong. In fact, I totally forgot all of my reservations and I sped through all 500 pages in under a week during one of the busiest times I’ve had in a while. Usually politics in a book mean I get bored/lost/confused, however Daughter of No Worlds, while having court politics, kept me hooked and I did actually know what was going on!
SFF Addicts Ep. 177: Alix E. Harrow talks The Everlasting, Lady Knights, Mythmaking & More
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson, M.J. Kuhn and Greta Kelly as they chat with award-winning, bestselling author Alix E. Harrow about her new novel The Everlasting, the significance of foundational myths, mythmaking and subverting heroism, the spectrum of cowardice and courage, sexuality and obsession, symbols and the weight of history, magic and time loops, breaking in and changes in the publishing industry, being a second generation book nerd, villains, agency and much more.
Review: Brigands & Breadknives (Legends & Lattes #2) by Travis Baldree
Synopsis Fern has weathered the stillness and storms of a bookseller’s life for decades, but now, in the face of crippling ennui, transplants herself to the city of Thune to hang out her shingle beside a long-absent friend’s coffee shop. What could be a better pairing? Surely a charming renovation montage will cure what ails […]
SFF Addicts Ep. 169: Fairy Tale Reimaginings with T. Kingfisher (Writing Masterclass)
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and Greta Kelly as they delve into a writing masterclass on Fairy Tale Reimaginings with bestselling author T. Kingfisher (AKA Ursula Vernon). During the episode, Ursula muses on fairy tales and how they can be reimagined, including our modern relationships with fairy tales, the resonance of fairy tales across time, choosing a fairy tale to reimagine and identifying its core, playing with classic themes/iconic characters, subverting reader expectations, sanitized vs. dark fairy tales, fairy tale worldbuilding, magic and more.
Review: Hemlock & Silver by T. Kingfisher
Hemlock & Silver is a great retelling, unique in its approach, with stellar characters and a fun adventure narrative at its core. Anja was one of my favourite characters that I’ve been on a journey with this year!
SFF Addicts Ep. 168: T. Kingfisher talks Hemlock & Silver, What Stalks the Deep, Snow White & More
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and Greta Kelly as they chat with bestselling author T. Kingfisher (AKA Ursula Vernon) about her new novels Hemlock & Silver and What Stalks the Deep, Snow White and poisons, writing a scientist protagonist, Appalachian horror and coal mining, writing children’s books, creating art and exploring artistic mediums, illustrating and writing comics, lessons learned from studying anthropology, experimenting with different genres and much more.
Review: The Enchanted Greenhouse (The Spell Shop #2) by Sarah Beth Durst
A story that has a deep sense of exploration, of heartwarming whimsy and discovery – a cosy fantasy hit!
SFF Addicts Ep. 161: Future Power Structures & Systems with Malka Older (Writing Masterclass)
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and Greta Kelly as they delve into a writing masterclass on Future Power Structures & Systems with author Malka Older. During the episode, Malka envisions the structures that shape us, including how to define power structures and systems, the role of sci-fi in imagining possible futures, how humans experience systems, incorporating power structures into stories, predicting the future of large- and small-scale systems, characters vs. power structures, stakes, metaphors, community, resistance and more.
Review: The Enchanted Greenhouse (Spellshop #2) by Sarah Beth Durst
Synopsis: New York Times bestselling author Sarah Beth Durst invites you to her new standalone novel nestled on a far-away island brimming with singing flowers, honey cakes, and honeyed love. The hardcover edition features beautiful sprayed edges. Terlu Perna broke the law because she was lonely. She cast a spell and created a magically sentient […]