Tag: Books

Review: A Drop of Corruption

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Title: A Drop of Corruption
Author: Robert Jackson Bennett
Pages: 432
Series: Shadow of the Leviathan #2
Release: April 1, 2025

Unshackled by the need for extensive world-building, Robert Jackson Bennett has room in this sequel to craft a more complex and satisfying mystery, centered around his winning duo of lead characters. It succeeds as both a mystery and a fantasy novel, blending the two genres beautifully.

While I’m more invested in the evolving interpersonal dynamics between Ana and Din than the “Mystery of the Week” plot in each installment, this sequel lays the groundwork for even richer character development to come in future books.

A Drop of Corruption is a more assured, exciting sequel than its predecessor, and I look forward to seeing where the overarching story goes from here. 

★★★★

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Review: House of Bone and Rain

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Title: House of Bone and Rain
Author: Gabino Iglesias
Pages: 352
Release: August 6, 2024

A pulpy, blood-soaked, and rain-drenched tale of brotherhood and revenge.

This was a fun, fast-paced thrill. I enjoyed the blend of revenge and supernatural horror in a locale (Puerto Rico) that doesn’t get the limelight in contemporary fiction too often. That said, the tone and writing style didn’t always land with me, and some of the violence is so cartoonishly over the top that it distracted me from the narrative. I still think it’s a worthwhile read, as it’s stuffed to the gills with exciting action set pieces.

★★★

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Calypso

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Title: Calypso
Author: Oliver K. Langmead
Pages: 224
Release: April 2, 2024

A dazzling feat of form and function. 
The care in the structuring is evident. 
The story itself is compelling and well told. 

I loved this – don’t let the verse form scare you away, as it doesn’t take long to adjust to, and it adds to the atmosphere and tone of this mythic tale. Some may bemoan style over substance here, but I found the underlying story to be fascinating in its own right, and I was very invested in the outcome.

There is one particularly breathless and evocative section where a character remakes a planet in divine fashion. The lines of verse oscillate in length for pages and pages (see below). It’s a wondrous and arresting example of what you’re in for if you decide to step aboard Calypso.

★★★★½

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Gardens of the Moon

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Title: Gardens of the Moon
Author: Steven Erikson
Pages: 666
Series: Malazan Book of the Fallen #1
Release: April 1, 1999

And so begins my journey into Malazan. Is it for me? We shall see… this first book was a mixed bag. I appreciated its scope and complexity, but sometimes felt lost with how many similar male characters there were to keep track of. The podcasts and reading guides were a tremendous help, but felt like homework at times.

I’ve read a lot of epic fantasy and this feels a cut above the rest. The fact that I’ve just scratched the surface of the Malazan world is very exciting. And if this is the low water mark for the series, I’m excited to see what’s to come.

★★★½

Review: The Tainted Cup

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Title: The Tainted Cup
Author: Robert Jackson Bennett
Pages: 413
Series: Shadow of the Leviathan #1
Release: February 6, 2024

From the physical structure of the world to the unique botanical magic employed within its (very big) walls, Robert Jackson Bennett has built an undeniably cool sandbox to play around in. This first book of the trilogy is a dynamic fantasy murder mystery that should please longtime RJB fans and newcomers alike.

I’ve always enjoyed Bennett’s sharp dialogue and great character work. Here, I loved the master and apprentice dynamic between Ana and Din. Ana, especially, was a superbly written character. It’s never enough to be told a character is a genius, we have to see it in action and Ana’s genius is all show and no tell.

While I wasn’t always captivated by the mystery at the heart of the book, Bennett builds out the layers of the conspiracy nicely and doles out the twists and reveals in a satisfying manner. I am truly excited to see what the next book has in store, as it seems like Bennett has just scratched the surface of what stories are possible within the Empire of Khanum.

★★★½

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Review: The Repeat Room

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Title: The Repeat Room 
Author: Jesse Ball 
Pages: 256 
Release: September 24, 2024 

A searing and harrowing portrait of the criminal justice system of a dystopian future. Utterly enthralling and thought-provoking.

The Repeat Room features the most starkly contrasting halves of a novel that I can remember. The first half details the criminal justice system of a dystopian future, one where an ordinary citizen decides whether a perpetrator deserves to live or die after visiting “the repeat room” – a new technological advance that allows a juror to walk a mile in the perpetrator’s shoes – seeing moments of their life from before their alleged crime occurred. The second half is what Abel, our main character, actually sees when he goes to the repeat room…a harrowing and vivid account of the life of the accused. Ball spends the first act setting the stage before delivering the knockout gut-punch in the second half and never letting you get back up.

Although this left me with more questions than answers, I was utterly enthralled the entire time. I’m excited to hear what others think about this book as the story is certainly not for the faint of heart, but raises interesting questions about the state of our current justice system, capital punishment, and how our singular perspective limits our perception of those around us.

★★★★½

My thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Review: In Universes

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Title: In Universes 
Author: Emet North 
Pages: 240 
Release: April 30, 2024 

An absorbing exploration of a kaleidoscopic set of parallel worlds – delving into trauma, grief, and the complexities of healing from our fractures. 

North’s writing is engaging and imaginative in the ways it plumbs the depths of Raffi’s psyche and their search for belonging. As the kaleidoscope turns, each subsequent world spins off its axis. Details change, relationships flip, and roles reverse, but some version of Raffi remains a constant amidst the swirling chaos.

I really enjoyed my time immersed in the pages of In Universes. It’s a compelling and vivid read bound to pull you into its multiversal web.

★★★★

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Dead Astronauts

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dead-astronauts_cover.jpgTitle: Dead Astronauts (2019)
Author: Jeff VanderMeer
Pages: 323
Series: Borne #2

I will spare everyone an attempted plot summary as Dead Astronauts cannot be tidily synopsized. Just know that it features a messianic blue fox, a giant immortal fish, and human-ish characters seeking to end the reign of an evil organization across multiple dimensions…I think.

I had been frustrated by Borne’s lack of penetrability, so I recalibrated my expectations before reading this one. That was the right move. This book is trippy, oftentimes incoherent, but all sorts of enthralling. There is an apt quote in the earlygoing which references “things that could pull a mind apart if examined up close.” That was a good encapsulation of this book for me – you’ll lose your mind if you get bogged down trying to parse every tiny detail. Let the words and passages wash over you. The writing itself is quite mesmerizing with VanderMeer spinning some real poetry on each page.

Dead Astronauts is certainly not for everyone, and I don’t even think it’s for me, but I did like it? Maybe? Perhaps it’s just fun to see what oddities VanderMeer can think up and bring to life. Not to mention, this may be the best book cover I’ve laid eyes on. I wasn’t sure that I was going to read this, but the dust jacket really sold me.

★★★¼ out of 5

Top 10 Books of 2018

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ROSEWATER-2

10. Rosewater

Author: Tade Thompson

Really inventive…I enjoyed this novel on a conceptual level, but didn’t find the story to be compelling until it all comes together at the end. I’m interested to see where author Tade Thompson takes future installments in this trilogy because he’s set up a good foundation with this excellent first book. See full review here.

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9. A Conspiracy of Truths

Author: Alexandra Rowland

An unexpectedly delightful story featuring a wonderfully eccentric narrator…When writing a book about a gifted storyteller, it helps to be a gifted storyteller. Luckily, author Alexandra Rowland shows a knack for spinning a charming and heartwarming yarn.  A Conspiracy of Truths is an impressive and enchanting novel that was a joy to read. See full review here.

Foundryside RD4 clean flat

8. Foundryside

Author: Robert Jackson Bennett

This book has pieces of everything I want in a fantasy novel — an intriguing magic system, rich worldbuilding, interesting characters, humor, and heart. Those pieces coalesce into something really interesting and make for an enjoyable reading experience. Foundryside is swiftly paced, has great action, and features loads of sharp, snappy dialogue.  See full review here.

BeforeMars

7. Before Mars

Author: Emma Newman

A wonderfully captivating read that I really enjoyed…Before Mars is a compelling mystery box novel and a worthy addition to the Planetfall universe. With three books released and another on the way, Newman is crafting a superb series of interconnected works. See full review here.

Iron Gold

6. Iron Gold

Author: Pierce Brown

A wholly worthwhile addition to Darrow’s story that breathes fresh life into the overall saga. Iron Gold is sprawling, electrifying, bloody, and represents a welcome return to form for the series. See full review here.

AchingGod.jpg

5. Aching God

Author: Mike Shel

A thoroughly engrossing debut novel that I enjoyed immensely. It’s certainly one of my favorite books of 2018 and I will be eagerly awaiting the next installment in the series, as Aching God builds a very solid foundation from which to jump off from. It feels like sword and sorcery Indiana Jones — and I’m very here for that.  See full review here.

Unholy Land // Lavie Tidhar

4. Unholy Land

Author: Lavie Tidhar

Unholy Land is a stunning achievement. It is packed to the brim with engaging ideas and features a captivating story that I could not stop puzzling over. There is such an ethereal and intoxicating quality to the story and Tidhar’s writing that I found myself floating through the chapters, not always sure what was happening, or whose perspective we were seeing, but knowing that I wanted to keep reading. The intersecting story threads twisted my brain into a pretzel and I loved it. See full review here.

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3. The Poppy War

Author: R.F. Kuang

Wow, this was a gem of a debut novel. I have never read a book that evolves so thoroughly from beginning to end. This is bloody, brutal, and unrelentingly dark fantasy. Overall, Kuang has crafted a complex and absorbing debut novel that is unsettling and enthralling in equal measure.  See full review here.

Philosopher's Flight

2. The Philosopher’s Flight

Author: Tom Miller

Author Tom Miller displays an impressive aptitude for storytelling as he deftly spins this wholly engrossing yarn. The Philosopher’s Flight is a wonderfully inventive historical fantasy that sinks its hooks into you and doesn’t let go. I truly enjoyed Tom Miller’s debut and hope a sequel is on the horizon. (The cover is great, too!) See full review here.

 

 

1. Senlin Ascends & Arm of the Sphinx*

Author: Josiah Bancroft

I was completely taken with Senlin Ascends right from the outset. Author Josiah Bancroft’s words paint a vivid picture of a peculiar world where nothing is as it seems. Bancroft’s prose is lyrical and conveys a sense of grand adventure that I rarely find in my reading life. See full review here.

Every page of Arm of the Sphinx is a delectable treat, with countless delightful passages, characters, and a story that gets more intriguing as mysteries build and questions are answered. It’s inventive, clever, and imbued with a sense of virtuousness and humanity. Bancroft is weaving together a wonderful series that has all the makings of a modern fantasy classic. See full review here.

*Okay, #1 is a bit a cop-out since Senlin Ascends was originally published in 2013 and Arm of the Sphinx in 2014…HOWEVER, Orbit made the smart decision to snatch up the rights to Bancroft’s series and re-released these first two books in 2018…so, they qualify for this list on a technicality! They’re wonderful books, so I’m happy to bring attention to them in any way I can.