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Review: Invincible Volumes 22-23
Looking for my Starbase Indy convention report? I’m still traveling (in Houston now, where at least it’s not freezing), so that post is getting delayed to Friday. In the meantime, after a long (too long) hiatus, I’m ready to finish this epic series! Invincible Vol. 22: Reboot?Robert Kirkman (writer)Ryan Ottley (penciler, inker)Cliff Rathburn (inker)Jean-Francois Beauliue…
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November Wrap-Up & December Goals
I hope everyone had a fabulous month full of NaNoWriMo and/or delicious food. I’m in the midst of traveling (3 airplanes, 2 conferences, 2 cities), so cross your fingers that the ridiculous cold I had 2 weeks ago doesn’t return with a vengeance. Ironically, because of the traveling and the cold, I did not have…
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Review: Silent Blade (Kinsmen #1) by Ilona Andrews
This is an older book by the authors, and I’m impressed by how far their writing ability has come (though this wasn’t poorly written by any means). They’ve always been excellent storytellers though, and this novella stands out in this regard. The society worldbuilding here reminds me a lot of the Hidden Legacy series, though…
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Review: A Little Light Mischief (Turner Series #3.5) by Cat Sebastian
This story can be read without the others in the Turner Series, though I highly recommend them. It also shows how women have both more and less freedom to choose their paths in life during this time period. Molly and Alice are both trapped by financial circumstances, but their ability to share a room is…
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Review: The Rat-Catcher’s Daughter (Lilywhite Boys #0.5) by K.J. Charles
One of my favorite things about K.J. Charles’ writing is how she weaves together emotion, intrigue, and suspense. Another of my favorite things is how she inserts non-straight and nonbinary characters without unnecessary fanfare into historical fiction that too often lacks such representation as it it never existed before the twentieth century. In combination, she…
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Review: Follow Him Home (Lovers Rush/Alternate Worlds #1) by P.W. Davies
This book started off slow, but quickly escalated to an interesting story line I found hard to put down. All three protagonists where well-developed and intriguing in their own way. Even the doctor Peter might seem bland on the surface, but his depths were revealed in the way he reacted to both Christian and Victor.…
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Review: European Travel for the Monstrous Gentlewoman (Extraordinary Adventures of the Athena Club #2) by Theodora Goss
My biggest minor quibble from the previous book in this trilogy followed me to this one. I love the conceit of the book characters inserting their commentary into the writing, but it still reduces some of the tension since I know everyone survives to the end. That being said, this was still a tale filled…
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2019 Resolution Project: Magic Shifts (Kate Daniels #8) by Ilona Andrews
My 2019 Resolution Project over at my other blog, Speculative Chic, is to read the entire Kate Daniels urban fantasy series by Ilona Andrews, finishing up with a first read of the final book in the series. I’ve read the eighth book, Magic Shifts,before, and originally reviewed it in April 2016. You can find NEW my full review here. An excerpt:…
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Review: Alexander X (Battle For Forever #1) by Edward Savio
This book is a whirlwind story that features a very different take on immortality. I devoured it on a single plane ride and never felt a moment of boredom. The main character’s narrative voice makes me absolutely believe that he’s a teenager who’s been around for 1500 years. I was immediately invested in the characters…
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Review: The Portrait Problem (The Galipp Files #3) by Jamaila Brinkley
Disclaimer: I am friends with the author; however, I bought the ebook for full price. The Galipp Files are a solid trilogy chronicling the evolving relationship between Anastasia and her partner-turned-fiance Simon. Along the way, they solve magical crimes in their version of not overly-magical London. My biggest complaint about this series is how much…
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Review: Spectred Isle (Green Men #1) by K.J. Charles
Though it’s not stated explicitly, I think this book is best read after the author’s The Secret Casebook of Simon Feximal. Some secondary characters cross over, and it provides a good grounding on how the supernatural exists in this world. However, this book takes a deeper look at the nature of magic in this version…
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Review: A Hunger Like No Other (Immortals After Dark #2) by Kresley Cole
I’m intrigued by the expansive world-building in the universe of this paranormal romance series, obviously enough to read the second book in the series. And I just bought the third one. But I have such conflicted feelings about the relationships in the romance aspect of the stories. The whole “vampire bride,” “werewolf mate,” etc. facet…
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Review: Seder in Space and Other Tales by J.D. Blackrose
Disclaimer: I am friends with the author; however, I purchased this ebook for full price before I ever met her in person! Favorite Story: “Seder in SPACE” is a short science-fiction story that embodies one of things I find in the best science-fiction stories — that the more things change, the more things stay the…
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October Wrap-Up & November Goals
Happy half-price candy day! I had to go into the office yesterday, so my costume was really simple. What did you dress up as? It was a fast month, as always, but I got a lot accomplished and I’m gearing up for my version of NaNoWriMo. Instead of writing 50,000 words this month, I’m going…
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Review: Sapphire Flames (Hidden Legacy #4) by Ilona Andrews
It’s no secret to anyone following my book reviews that Ilona Andrews is one of my “drop everything and read the new book ASAP” authors. I anxiously awaited the arrival of the newest installment of the Hidden Legacy series and devoured the book within 24 hours. Reading the previous installments of this series makes for…
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Review: Balefire (Whyborne & Griffin #10) by Jordan L. Hawk
Ten is a solid, round number, so I thought this would be the final book in the series. I was disappointed that the grand finale didn’t look like it would take place in the city of Widdershins, but I figured out early in the story that this was not the end of the series. That’s…
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Review: Empire of the Goddess by Matthew Warner
Disclaimer: I received an electronic version of this novel from the author for review. Things I really enjoyed about this novel: The world-building. The terrifying dystopian society fueled by human sacrifice. The representation of science versus magic, and how the two can be indistinguishable. The religious allegories. The twist and other revelations at the very…
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Con Report: Capclave 2019
Note: If you are here to find a copy of my alternate history presentation, see below! I spent a lovely weekend in Rockville, Maryland, as part of Capclave 2019! Highlights included being on panels with both guests of honor (Robert Sawyer and Martha Wells) and giving my alternate history presentation to a small but participatory…
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2019 Resolution Project: Magic Breaks (Kate Daniels #7) by Ilona Andrews
My 2019 Resolution Project over at my other blog, Speculative Chic, is to read the entire Kate Daniels urban fantasy series by Ilona Andrews, finishing up with a first read of the final book in the series. I’ve read the seventh book, Magic Breaks, before, and originally reviewed it in March 2016. You can find my NEW full review here.…
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Review: The Clockwork Witch by Michelle D. Sonnier
Disclaimer: I consider the author a friend; however, I purchased the hardcopy version of this book for full price. As a reader who loves period dramas where the characters are often committed to the correct manners and more, importantly, the correct clothes, I couldn’t go wrong with a version of England with TWO forms of…
