Baying the Moon
7/21/24; 12:15pm CDT
Jennifer R. Donohue continues her werewolf trilogy with the second book, Baying the Moon. Lots of intense action, but also quieter moments as Allie is still learning how to be a werewolf, how to integrate into her new family, how to process disturbing news about her mother. Recommended. The conclusion will be published in September, and I will read it.
The Spirit Ring
7/19/24; 12:50pm CDT
Bujold's first fantasy novel, 1992's The Spirit Ring is different from later ones. It is set in our world sometime in the 15th or 16th centuries, with some fictional characters based on historical ones, with a bit of magic thrown in. Well-paced action sequences paired with contemplative passages of a woman faced with several obstacles to her talents. Recommended.
Penric and the Bandit
7/12/24; 1:45pm CDT
The thirteenth Penric & Desdemona story from Lois McMaster Bujold is Penric and the Bandit. I have rearranged my review pages, with Penric#4 now being only the novel The Assassins of Thasalon, and the new page includes the two novellas that came after that, with Bandit at the end.
Discount Armageddon
7/10/24; 1:35pm CDT
Seanan McGuire's InCryptid series began with Discount Armageddon in 2012. I didn't like it as much as her October Daye books, but then again I liked them more than I expected. I have more InCryptid e-books and will read another next month. We'll see how it goes.
The Lucky Strike
7/4/24; 3:10pm CDT
Another by Kim Stanley Robinson, his contriubtion to the Outspoken Author series from PM Press. The title story, The Lucky Strike, is an alternate history about the end of World War 2. There is also an essay that expands on that idea, as well as a very good interview with the author. Recommended.
Icehenge
7/2/24; 6:35pm CDT
Kim Stanley Robinson's Icehenge might be called a novel by some, but it is a triptych of three connected novellas, two of which had been previously published. It is either vaguely connected to his Mars Trilogy, or else an alternate version of a similar future. It is good and recommended.
Ashes of Honor
6/28/24; 2:10pm CDT
My review of Seanan McGuire's Ashes of Honor is as much an overview of the first six October Daye books as it is the latest read. I originally thought I might lose interest, but I didn't, and will continue the series at some point in the future.
The Monsters We Defy
6/24/24; 4:15pm CDT
The Monsters We Defy is the second novel by Leslye Penelope, although under simply L. Penelope she has at least sixteen others. A combination of historical fiction and fantasy, it is very good, with interesting characters and exciting action. Highly recommended.
Linghun & I AM AI
6/18/24; 6:10pm CDT
Two reviews today of stories by Ai Jiang; her Nebula-winning novella, Linghun, which is fantasy/horror, and the novelette I AM AI, an SF tale of the future. Both are good and recommended.
The Cautious Traveller's Guide to the Wastelands
6/15/24; 3:30pm CDT
Sarah Brooks' debut novel (originally scheduled for July but moved up) comes out in just three days, but I got a review copy from Edelweiss. The Cautious Traveller's Guide to the Wastelands is excellent. Highly recommended.
We Speak Through the Mountain
6/9/24; 12:50pm CDT
Premee Mohamed has written a sequel to a previous novella. We Speak Through the Mountain continues the story of Reid Graham, a young woman living under harsh conditions in a post-apocalyptic wasteland, who gets the chance to go to one of the few remaining universities. I included it on the same page as the previous story, so if interested, scroll up from where the link takes you to read about The Annual Migration of Clouds. Both are highly recommended.
Daughter of Calamity
6/2/24; 12:20pm CDT
Another debut novel, another digital review copy received from Edelweiss. Rosalie M. Lin's Daughter of Calamity is good, a combination of historical and fantasy fiction, set in 1930s Shanghai. A bit meandering around the multiple plot threads, which makes it unpredictable.
One Salt Sea
5/20/24; 4:20pm CDT
And now the fifth book in another series, One Salt Sea. October Daye investigates the kidnappings of two princes from the Saltmists, an Undersea kingdom. To complicate matters, her estranged daughter Gillian has also been snatched. Perhaps the best in the series so far, with many more revelations about Toby's heritage and destiny.
The Brides of High Hill
5/14/24; 4:20pm CDT
The fifth novella in Nghi Vo's Singing Hills Cycle is The Brides of High Hill. It has a different style than the others, verging toward horror, and my comments are brief to avoid spoilers. It is recommended.
Shigidi and the Brass Head of Obalufon
5/13/24; 4:10pm CDT
Another debut novel, which was also a finalist for the Crawford Award, won by the previously reviewed book, is Wole Talabi's Shigidi and the Brass Head of Obalufon. It is also a Nebula and BSFA nominee. Very good and recommended. I'm not sure, but there is a possibility of further adventures with Shigidi. If so, I will read that too.
The Saint of Bright Doors
5/9/24; 3:30pm CDT
Vajra Chandrasekera's debut novel, The Saint of Bright Doors, has already won one award, the Crawford from the IAFA, and is a finalist for others; Nebula, Hugo, Lambda. It is very good, but also very complex, and my review is more a short synopsis. Multiple plot elements, not all of which are resolved, but that is a lot like life. Not everything works out the way we thought it would, but sometimes it is better than imagined. Highly recommended.
Over Sea, Under Stone
4/30/24; 12:00pm CDT
From what I have gathered, Susan Cooper, this year's SFWA Grand Master, wrote mostly for children, although I'm not sure what age group the target audience was for various books. The Dark is Rising series is generally regarded as her best work. I was not impressed with the first book, Over Sea, Under Stone, but the series is said to improve later. Hope so.
Secondhand Daylight
4/26/24; 4:00pm CDT
This time my review copy came direct from Eugen Bacon, co-author with Andrew Hook of Secondhand Daylight. Two time travel tales woven together, with the usual potential for paradoxes and/or alterations of events. Recommended.
Web of Angels
4/23/24; 2:00pm CDT
I received a digital review copy of Web of Angels from Edelweiss. It is not a new book, but a reissue of John M. Ford's first novel, originally published in 1980. Ford died in 2006. It is weird, a hard book to describe, and I'm still not sure if I can recommend it, although I'm sure it will appeal to some.
The Practice, the Horizon, and the Chain
4/16/24; 4:15pm CDT
Sofia Samatar's new novella is short, around 100 pages, in three chapters. Today is the official publication date, but it dropped onto my Kindle last night, and I read the first part then, finishing this morning. The Practice, the Horizon, and the Chain may sound like it is about three separate things, but they are all connected. As we are all connected, if we could only open ourselves to that connection. Highly recommended.
Late Eclipses
4/15/24; 4:00pm CDT
The fourth October Daye novel is Late Eclipses. Another perilous adventure, many new revelations concerning Toby's ancestry and abilities. Recommended.
Someone You Can Build a Nest In
4/9/24; 12:40pm CDT
John Wiswell's debut novel, Someone You Can Build a Nest In, is weird and wonderful. Believe it or not, a monster story and a love story, both very different than any you have ever read. Recommended.
Tender + Monster Portraits
4/2/24; 3:20pm CDT
Two books by Sofia Samatar on one page, her first story collection, Tender, along with a much shorter book she did in collaboration with her brother Del, who provided the illustrations for Monster Portraits.
Extraordinary
3/27/24; 4:50pm CDT
A show exclusive to Hulu for now, or the Disney/Hulu bundle. Extraordinary is a lot more mature than you'd expect from a Disney production, crass and tasteless at times, with a lot of profanity and sexual situations. It is also a hilarious comedy, but with a lot of meaniful insights into 'normal' human behaviour.
Camp Concentration
3/27/24; 4:45pm CDT
Camp Concentration by Thomas M. Disch came to mind when I was reading Premee Mohamed's latest novel. They have in common main characters who are pacifists confined to prison, but not much more than that. After more than fifty years, Disch's story is still memorable, and recommended.
An Artificial Night
3/22/24; 12:30pm CDT
Continuing with Seanan McGuire's October Daye series with the third novel, An Artificial Night, which sees Toby mount a perilous rescue of several fae, changeling, and human children, abducted by someone she had not heard of before, Blind Michael.
The Will To Battle
3/18/24; 2:10pm CDT
The third book in Ada Palmer's Hugo-nominated series is even more frustrating than what came before. As it turned out, The Will To Battle is only about the preparation for the battle. The war will have to wait for the fourth book.
The Siege of Burning Grass
3/14/24; 12:50pm CDT
Premee Mohamed's The Siege of Burning Grass, is a tale of war and resistance. What will a pacifist sacrifice, or compromise, to achieve their goal? How will society deal with them regardless of what they do? Recommended.
Learn to Howl
3/7/24; 12:50pm CST
Jennifer R. Donohue's Learn to Howl is the seventh of her stories I've read within the past five months. It is her second novel, and the beginning of a trilogy. A hybrid coming of age tale, with lots of action and suspense. And werewolves. Recommended.
The Alamaxa Duology
3/5/24; 1:15pm CST
Hadeer Elsbai's Alamaxa Duology may remind you of other things, but that has been the case with multiple other fantasy and science fiction stories. How different authors approach the subject, and the characters they create to embody the ideas, makes all the difference. Recommended.
The Butcher of the Forest
3/1/24; 11:25am CST
The Butcher of the Forest is a new novella by Premee Mohamed. A dark and perilous journey into a dark and dangerous forest to retrieve two children. Even though children are involved, this is not a children's story. It is very good though.
More October Daye
2/29/24; 2:20pm CST
I edited the previous portion of the review, then added two updates, so this link is for the full page (so far) covering Seanan McGuire's October Daye series. Recommended, particularly if you like urban fantasy.
Seven Surrenders
2/27/24; 11:00am CST
Seven Surrenders is the second book in Ada Palmer's Terra Ignota series. Still a complex and challenging concept, but also still frustrating concerning some plot elements.
The Investigations of Mossa and Pleiti
2/26/24; 12:40pm CST
My original review of Malka Older's The Mimicking of Known Successes will eventually be deleted. At that time even the author was not sure if there would be a collective name for the series, but now with the second story there is, so I combined them and changed the URL. This link is for both of The Investigations of Mossa and Pleiti. Recommended.
Danged Black Thing
2/20/24; 1:00pm CST
Eugen Bacon's story collection, Danged Black Thing, is a finalist for this year's Philip K. Dick Award. She provided a free digital copy for me in exchange for an honest review. I was confused about a few, due to unfamiliar terms and concepts, but I still liked most of them, my favorite turning out to be one of the more confusing ones. Recommended.
The Tainted Cup
2/12/24; 1:20pm CST
Robert Jackson Bennett's The Tainted Cup begins another series with the collective title of Shadow of the Leviathan. A Holmesian pastiche set within a secondary world fantasy. Very good and recommended.
The Last Dragoners of Bowbazar
2/8/24; 4:15pm CST
The Last Dragoners of Bowbazar by Indra Das is a fantasy/science fiction hybrid novella. Is Reuel George descended from dragon riders from space, or are his parents just reluctant to tell him of their heritage as nomads.? Either way, it's a fascinating story. Recommended.
The Winged Histories
2/7/24; 1:50pm CST
Sofia Samatar's The Winged Histories is not a direct sequel to A Stranger in Olondria, but it shares settings and a few characters. Some confusion arose from the non-linear narrative, and that it is from the perspective of four different women. It is still a very good book, maybe even the equal of the first one. Highly recommended.
Demon Daughter
1/31/24; 2:00pm CST
A few weeks ago, out of the blue, Lois McMaster Bujold released her twelfth Penric & Desdemona story. Of course I had to read it, and now add comments about Demon Daughter to the fourth page for the series. Based on the ending, I have to assume it will not be the last one.
Where Rivers Go To Die
1/30/24; 4:30pm CST
Another story collection from an African writer, this time Dilman Dila of Uganda. Where Rivers Go To Die is a mixture of supernatural horror, crime/mysteries, and science fiction. Another strong recommendation.
Caged Ocean Dub
1/28/24; 3:45pm CST
The first story collection from Dare Segun Falowo, Caged Ocean Dub, is a mixture of general fiction, fantasy, horror, and science fiction, with the Orisha gods prevalent in many. Falowo lives up to the description that he is a voice of Nigerian Weird. Very good and recommended.
Your Shadow Half Remains
1/24/24; 3:20pm CST
Sunny Moraine's short horror novel, Your Shadow Half Remains, is oppressively bleak, filled with paranoia and madness, but it isn't always clear what is actually happening, what is only in the mind of the main character. Horror is not my preferred genre, but I liked it and can recommend it.
A Stranger in Olondria
1/23/24; 1:25pm CST
Winner of World Fantasy, British Fantasy, and Crawford awards, Sofia Samatar's debut novel, A Stranger in Olondria, was every bit as good as I had been told it was. Highly recommended.
Mislaid in Parts Half-Known
1/16/24; 1:50pm CST
An update for another long running series. This time it is the latest in Seanan McGuire's Wayward Children, Mislaid in Parts Half-Known. Another great story, and I hope there will be more.
System Collapse
1/15/24; 5:25pm CST
The second novel in the Murderbot series, and the ninth story overall (there are two short stories I haven't read yet), System Collapse is a direct sequel to the previous novel Network Effect. Still exciting, still recommended. I have split the reviews to two pages now, with a link at the bottom of each directing you to the other.
Rosemary and Rue
1/11/24; 2:05pm CST
I will be reviewing several books in Seanan McGuire's October Daye series, although I don't know how far into it I will get. It is urban fantasy, the first novel being Rosemary and Rue, which I enjoyed.
Too Like the Lightning
1/7/24; 3:30pm CST
I have re-read Ada Palmer's Too Like the Lightning, and made a few minor edits to my original review. I plan to follow up in subsequent months with the other three books in a series known as Terra Ignota.
Happy New Reviews!
1/1/24; 3:10pm CST
Starting off the new year with two reviews I wanted to post yesterday but ran out of time. Two more novellas by Jennifer R. Donohue, each separate and unique, not tied to any other story. Both are good, and both confirm Donohue has quickly mastered her craft. The Drowned Heir is a fantasy examining a weird tradition, while Between the Blood and the Sun is a noir/horror Western.
Last year's updates have been moved to the Archives page.
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