One of the reasons I got burned out on mainstream speculative fiction was the lack of diversity. Luckily, I’ve since found amazing indie authors who fill that niche whenever I get the craving for a certain genre. This particular open-world urban fantasy may be set in the stereotypical setting of historic England, but Sherwood makes … Continue reading Book Review: A (Non) Comprehensive Guide to Sea Serpents (Sorcerer’s Grimoire #1) by A.J. Sherwood
Book Review: An Oath and a Promise (Riehse Eshan #4) by Adelaide Blaike
Read my reviews of previous books in the Riehse Eshan series: A Knife and a Blade (#1) | A Whisper and a Breath (#2) | A Shadow and a Storm (#3) I first found this series in a bit of a sweet spot, soon after the third book was released. That meant I got to binge-read everything available … Continue reading Book Review: An Oath and a Promise (Riehse Eshan #4) by Adelaide Blaike
Review: Blind Tiger (The Pride #1) by Jordan L. Hawk
Hawk granted my wish and returned to his clever and imaginative Hexworld series—except moving the action to a new time and place. Prohibition Chicago is rife with story fodder, especially where magic is involved, and this book is no different. Hawk takes the traditional, in which a small-town guy escapes to the big city and … Continue reading Review: Blind Tiger (The Pride #1) by Jordan L. Hawk
Review: Magic in Manhattan Series by Allie Therin
Spellbound (Book 1) Paranormal queer romance in early twentieth-century New York City seems to be a trope I’m particularly fond of, so I didn’t hesitate to purchase this book when at least two authors I follow raved about it on Twitter. The story itself did not disappoint in any measure, from the romance to the … Continue reading Review: Magic in Manhattan Series by Allie Therin
Review: Hexworld Stories by Jordan L. Hawk
"A Christmas Hex" (Book 2.5) This is one of those stories that could have worked any time of year -- but the fact that it occurred around Christmas made it all the sweeter. After reading the full-length novels in this series, it was easy to forget that witches and familiars in New York City did … Continue reading Review: Hexworld Stories by Jordan L. Hawk
Review: Hexhunter (Hexworld #4) by Jordan L. Hawk
Now that Hawk has thoroughly established the rules of the Hexworld series, it was time to start breaking them. The events of this book took elements of familiars and witches to new levels, in intriguing ways that made for a mystery that acted as the perfect backdrop for the burgeoning relationship between Isaac and Bill. … Continue reading Review: Hexhunter (Hexworld #4) by Jordan L. Hawk
Review: Hexmaker (Hexworld #2) by Jordan L. Hawk
As usual, Hawk excels in crafting unique characters that you can't help but fall in love with and root for. On the surface, this book is a typical tale of two people from different social strata falling in love and dealing with the barriers between them. But there's also a bonus police procedural plot and … Continue reading Review: Hexmaker (Hexworld #2) by Jordan L. Hawk
Review: “The 13th Hex” (Hexworld #0.5) by Jordan L. Hawk
This delicious short story, packed with adventure and romance, can be read at any point during the Hexworld series. I enjoyed this look into how Rook and Dominic became working (and more) partners, and as an added bonus, Cicero (from Hexbreaker) is a prominent character. Hawk packs a solid bit of worldbuilding into this fantasy … Continue reading Review: “The 13th Hex” (Hexworld #0.5) by Jordan L. Hawk
Review: Hexbreaker (Hexworld #1) by Jordan L. Hawk
In other reviews, I've raved about the ways Hawk includes diversity in his fiction. For this series, I've found something else to adore -- the effortless way that the reader is absorbed in the worldbuilding with no awkward breaks for exposition or the dreaded info-dump. Could there be a bit more explanation for some things? … Continue reading Review: Hexbreaker (Hexworld #1) by Jordan L. Hawk
Review: Thieves’ Honor (Wizards of London #1) by Jamaila Brinkley
Disclaimer: I am friends with the author; however, I purchased this ebook for full price. I devoured this book so quickly, and with such enjoyment, that I forgot to take any notes for my review! Brinkley's debut novel features romance, magic, and mystery set in historical London. She weaves together the tropes from multiple genres … Continue reading Review: Thieves’ Honor (Wizards of London #1) by Jamaila Brinkley
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 … Continue reading Review: The Portrait Problem (The Galipp Files #3) by Jamaila Brinkley
Review: The Strange Case of the Alchemist’s Daughter (Extraordinary Adventures of the Athena Club #1) by Theodora Goss
This book made quite a splash when it first came out, so it's been on my radar for a while. I bought it about a year ago, and finally decided to start reading it recently. Overall, it is a fun, exciting, and most of all unique tale that I enjoyed immensely. My largest critique was … Continue reading Review: The Strange Case of the Alchemist’s Daughter (Extraordinary Adventures of the Athena Club #1) by Theodora Goss
Review: The Star of Anatolia (The Galipp Files #1) by Jamaila Brinkley
When one reads a fantasy series, one expects the main character to be rather fantastical. But there's something to be said for viewing the world through the eyes of a more "boring" person, with no magical ability of her own. However, Anastasia Galipp is far from normal. She is a smart, independent young woman making … Continue reading Review: The Star of Anatolia (The Galipp Files #1) by Jamaila Brinkley
Review: The Horse Mistress: Book 1 (Eburosi Chronicles #1) by R.A. Steffan
The downside to growing as a reader is realizing how much epic fantasy is problematic in terms of representation. Therefore, I thoroughly enjoyed discovering this series, which features queer characters, including a gender-fluid character. Carivel is a delight to read, and her relationship(s) with Andoc and Senovo are just the right mix of emotional and … Continue reading Review: The Horse Mistress: Book 1 (Eburosi Chronicles #1) by R.A. Steffan
Review: Maelstrom (Whyborne & Griffin #7) by Jordan L. Hawk
Family has been a running theme in this series, and things come to a head in this installment of the Whyborne & Griffin books. Whyborne's father has had a major shift in attitude, which causes Whyborne to be suspicious of the man's motives. In the grander scheme of things, Whyborne's own position in the town … Continue reading Review: Maelstrom (Whyborne & Griffin #7) by Jordan L. Hawk
Review: Bloodline (Whyborne & Griffin #5) by Jordan L. Hawk
The Lovecraftian influence in this series goes deeper once again, featuring mythical monsters hinted at in previous installments. The larger world of sorcery also opens up, and along with Whyborne, we find out there is more to learn than just spells in an old book. Family is the true theme of this story, however, as … Continue reading Review: Bloodline (Whyborne & Griffin #5) by Jordan L. Hawk
Review: Necropolis (Whyborne & Griffin #4) by Jordan L. Hawk
This installment of the series takes poor Whyborne far out of his comfort zone as his friend Dr. Putnam summons him to Egypt for his professional expertise. The fact that I read this book while on a cruise ship in the middle of the ocean probably enhanced my sympathy for him, which was a fun … Continue reading Review: Necropolis (Whyborne & Griffin #4) by Jordan L. Hawk
Review: “Remnant” (Caldwell & Feximal/Whyborne & Griffin Mystery) by K.J. Charles& Jordan L. Hawk
This short story is available as a free download from K.J. Charles' website. It is best read after Stormhaven (Whyborne & Griffin #3) by Jordan L. Hawk and the full collection of The Secret Casebook of Simon Feximal by K.J. Charles because it contains significant spoilers for both. There need to be more cross-over stories between authors I enjoy … Continue reading Review: “Remnant” (Caldwell & Feximal/Whyborne & Griffin Mystery) by K.J. Charles& Jordan L. Hawk
Review: Stormhaven (Whyborne & Griffin #3) by Jordan L. Hawk
The horrors of this book are once again an homage to those created by Lovecraft himself, and I continue to find absurd joy in heroes that would have completely pissed him off. At this point, I am thoroughly enamored by both Whyborne and Griffin, and Hawk continues to impress with their excellent character development. The … Continue reading Review: Stormhaven (Whyborne & Griffin #3) by Jordan L. Hawk
Review: Threshold (Whyborne & Griffin #2) by Jordan L. Hawk
This book was an excellent follow-up to the first in the series, proving that Hawk is now comfortable with their world and their characters. We leave behind the Lovecraftian city of Widdershins for a company town in the Appalachian mountains, haunted by creatures who are both horrifying and unique. The relationship development between Whyborne and … Continue reading Review: Threshold (Whyborne & Griffin #2) by Jordan L. Hawk