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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: 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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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…
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Book Spotlight: Tales From the Storm by C.R. Langille
I’m pleased to celebrate author and friend C.R. Langille’s new short story collection, Tales From the Storm, today. Learn more about the book and the author below! ABOUT THE BOOK The storm rages on, leaving death and destruction in its path. With the chaos comes strange tidings and wicked ordeals. From C.R. Langille, author of…
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Review: Black and Blue (Red and Black #2) by Nancy O’Toole Meservier
Disclaimer: I am friends with the author; I received an electronic version of this book in exchange for an honest review. This is very obviously the middle book in a trilogy; at the same time, it does not suffer many of the issues that middle books usually employ. Instead, it works as a solid follow-up…
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2019 Resolution Project: Magic Rises (Kate Daniels #6) 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 this book, Magic Rises, before, but never officially reviewed it. You can find my full review here. An excerpt: “In…
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Review: The Invisible Library (Invisible Library #1) by Genevieve Cogman
This book was filled to the brim with elements that I enjoy in my fantasy writing. Secret societies, parallel universes, dragons, steampunk, and great detectives. Unfortunately, it also relied on a lot of tropes that I’ve become less fond of in my fantasy writing, such as a point-of-view female character surrounded by supporting male roles,…
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Review: Broken News by Sara Dobie Bauer
Disclaimer: I am friends with the author; I received an ebook in exchange for an honest review. It’s common to refer to the main characters in a romance story as the heroes, but there are no heroes in this book. Eric West is an unabashed crime lord, and Will fully admits to being a bit…
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Review: Draakenwood (Whyborne & Griffin #9) by Jordan L. Hawk
We’re back in Widdershins for Whyborne & Griffin’s latest adventure, but this time it’s the old families who are the targets. When Whyborne is accused of murder, he and his allies must not only clear his name, but also prevent the rise of a great evil. Plenty of familiar faces appear in this story, including…
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Review: Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
I started reading romance novels in 2016, in large part due to the emotional chaos wrought by the American presidential election. Luckily, judging by McQuiston’s author note at the end of this novel, she saw a need in the general readership and persevered in filling it. This book is exactly what I needed as the…
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Review: The Dragon Mistress: Book 3 (Eburosi Chronicles #10) by R.A. Steffan
I burned through all of the books in this series very quickly, then had to wait months for this latest installment. I read it all the evening of the day it was released. It was worth the wait. Like the previous books, Frella’s story contains nonstop action and adventure. Multiple relationships are in play. And…
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Review: The 5th Gender (Tinkered Stars Mystery) by G.L. Carriger
As someone who regularly speaks at writing and fandom conventions about the topic of “genre blending” or “genre blurring” in contemporary writing, I have some pretty strong opinions on the subject. Carriger’s science-fiction/romance/mystery is certainly one that I will now hold up as a great example of how to blend things right. This novel could…
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Review: Winter Tide (Innsmouth Legacy #1) by Ruthanna Emrys
I enjoyed and was intrigued by the original novella that set up this world, but the world created within intrigued me much more than the characters. However, I enjoyed it enough to pick up this novel to get it signed by the author at a convention, and I don’t regret any of the time spent…
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2019 Resolution Project: Gunmetal Magic (Kate Daniels #5.5) 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 this companion book, Gunmetal Magic, before, but never officially reviewed it. You can find my full review here. An excerpt:…
