Tag: Sci-Fi

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: Metallic Realms

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Title: Metallic Realms
Author: Lincoln Michel
Pages: 320
Release: May 13, 2025

A full panoply of sci-fi delights—perfect for genre fans, the terminally online, or anyone caught up in fan culture, geekdom, or general sci-fi nerdery.

Metallic Realms is absurd, incisive, and a (toxic) love letter to classic science fiction, viewed through a sharply modern lens. It details the formation and eventual dissolution of the Orb 4, a group of writers creating short stories set in a shared sci-fi universe while living in a squalid apartment in present-day Brooklyn.

Told through the eyes of Michael Lincoln (a thinly veiled self-insert of author Lincoln Michel… or not, if Michael Lincoln is to be believed), the novel features one of the most hapless, oblivious, deeply unwell, totally unreliable, occasionally sympathetic, but almost always off-putting narrators of all time. He truly believes he’s chronicling the group that will usher in a new Golden Age of Science Fiction, and we are along for the bumpy ride.

The interstitial chapters, each a short story set within the Metallic Realms, are not mere pablum or window dressing. They’re inventive, closely tied to the “real-world” of the novel, and filled with endless geeky goodness.

As someone who enjoys taking very trivial things extremely seriously, I found this to be an exceedingly enjoyable read that I couldn’t put down. It’s a delightfully meta concept, executed to perfection. Count me in for OrbCon 2025.

★★★★½

My thanks to the publisher and Edelweiss 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: 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: Beautyland

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Title: Beautyland 
Author: Marie-Helene Bertino
Pages: 336 
Release: January 16, 2024 

Bertino skillfully dissects the alien nature of growing up and the complexities of human existence with dry wit, deadpan observational comedy, and incisive insights into life’s little absurdities.

This is a rare book where the concept and execution are both pitch perfect. Even if you dropped the fact that the main character is (oh by the way) an alien, this would still be a wonderful coming of age story. The alien angle is just gravy that Bertino plays with to great (tragi)comedic effect. Her writing is heartfelt, deeply funny, and without a whiff of cynicism about it. I loved this and can’t recommend it highly enough. 

★★★★★
✪ SPECULATIVE SHELF STARRED BOOK

My thanks to the public library for providing me with a post-release copy in exchange for a pinky promise that I’ll give it back within 14 days. (I did).

Review: Nightborn: Coldfire Rising

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Title: Nightborn: Coldfire Rising (July 18, 2023)
Author: C.S. Friedman
Pages: 304
Series: The Coldfire Trilogy #0

It’s rarely rainbows and butterflies when a science fiction book tackles the colonization of a mysterious distant planet, but I did not expect things to go as wildly off the rails as they do in Nightborn: Coldfire Rising. With swift pacing and an intriguing mystery at its core, I was transfixed by this story and its unique setting.

C.S. Friedman’s lithe prose wastes no words pushing the action forward moment to moment. By explaining the seemingly supernatural entity/antagonist in scientific terms, Friedman grounds this story in a terrifying and plausible light.

Having not read the original Coldfire books, I can’t speak to how well this prequel sets up that trilogy, but it left me wanting to jump right into those books, so I’d say it’s a very effective appetizer for what’s to come.

★★★★

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

Review: The Blighted Stars

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Title: The Blighted Stars (May 23, 2023)
Author: Megan E. O’Keefe
Pages: 544
Series: The Devoured Worlds #1

While I was initially drawn in by the incredible cover art, I was pleased to find that the book itself is terrific too!

The main plot centers on the mining of earth-like worlds for a precious mineral named relkatite. Unfortunately, the unintended aftereffect of the mining process is a devastating fungal blight that effectively destroys the planet. Not ideal!

We’ve also got 3D printers capable of spitting out human bodies with a neural map/mind in tow. Well, that’s how it’s supposed to work. Sometimes the body misprints. Sometimes the mind cracks after you’ve been printed out too many times, or – gasp! – your mind is printed into two bodies at once.

O’Keefe dives into the unintended consequences of technological progress and humanity’s insatiable push to over-consume our planetary resources as we move throughout the cosmos.

I’m often overwhelmed with sprawling space operas, but the limited narrative scope of The Blighted Stars allows a few central characters and their motivations to stay top of mind. The character development is well-done and the swift pacing kept me on the edge of my seat throughout.

Overall, The Blighted Stars is an exciting start to a promising new series. If the cover art stays cool and the story stays compelling, I’ll certainly be along for the ride.

★★★★¼

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