Science Fiction, Fantasy, Horror, Mystery, Thriller & Suspense, and Other Speculative Fiction
“In this epic fantasy debut, Staveley has created a complex and richly detailed world filled with elite soldier-assassins, mystic warrior monks, serpentine politics, and ancient secrets. Readers of Sara Douglass’s Wayfarer novels and George R.R. Martin’s “Song of Ice and Fire” series should enjoy this opener.” Brian Staveley’s The Emperor’s Blades got a starred review Read More »
“Superlatives seem superfluous. Instead…wow. Just—wow.” Ian Tregillis’s Something More Than Night got a starred review in Library Journal! Here’s the full review, from the October 15th issue: New, independent fantasy from the author of the fine Milkweed Triptych (Necessary Evil, 2013, etc.)—and it’s a doozy. Imagine a gumshoe noir yarn, embedded in a fundamentally theology-free Read More »
“The wide selection of authors guarantees something to please almost every reader’s tastes.” George R.R. Martin and Gardner Dozois’s Dangerous Women got a starred review in Library Journal! Here’s the full review, from the October 15th issue: From Jim Butcher’s tale featuring Molly, protégée of Chicago mage Harry Dresden (“Bombshells”), to a side story by Read More »
“This is a compelling finale to a fantastic series. The good guys are complex and sympathetic; the villains are suitably clever and malign. The action rattles along at breakneck speed, and the reader can’t resist coming along for the wild ride, which includes a climactic battle featuring a wheelchair-bound Abe Lincoln and a temporarily sober Read More »
“Both major and minor characters spring to life in this polished historical fantasy/mystery that should appeal to a wide variety of readers and could cross over to mainstream readers as well.” Jaime Lee Moyer’s Delia’s Shadow got a starred review in Library Journal! Here’s the full review, from the August issue: Since the great San Read More »
“…beautifully written and satisfying.” Steven Brust and Skyler White’s The Incrementalists got a starred review in Library Journal! Here’s the full review, from the October 1st issue: Brust (Tiassa) and White (In Dreams Begin) craft an engaging speculative fiction novel that is as much magical realism as urban fantasy. The Incrementalists are quasi-immortals who work Read More »
“Luminous storytelling and brilliant period descriptions make this fictional biography a priceless addition to the American magical realism canon; the book should be recommended to fantasy and general readers.” Douglas Lain’s Billy Moon was the Debut of the Month in the August issue of Library Journal! Here’s the full review: Christopher Robin Milne, aka “Billy Read More »
Starred Review: The Confessions of Al Capone by Loren D. Estleman “Estleman’s Capone is a complex and multifaceted figure: jovial family man, convivial host, sharp-dressed fashion plate, and pensive retiree contemplating his memories and mortality. Although mentally deteriorating, he is still, on his good days, a canny judge of character who is capable of ruthless Read More »
Starred Review: Sea Change by S. M. Wheeler “Wheeler’s truly original, fanciful, and transformative story will delight fantasy lovers of all types, as well as those readers attached to coming-of-age narratives and feminist sf.” Sea Change, by S.M. Wheeler, gets another starred review, this time in Library Journal! Here’s the full review, from the June Read More »
Starred Review: Wisp of a Thing by Alex Bledsoe “Bledsoe’s latest fantasy captures the allure and the sometimes sinister beauty of the Appalachian backwoods, filled with myths, haunted by ghosts, and touched, as always, by death.” Wisp of a Thing, by Alex Bledsoe, gets another starred review, this time in Library Journal! Here’s the full Read More »