And it is on this day, the 23rd of April, in the year two thousand and twelve, that I, Ruth Arnell, having been ushered into the world of fantasy readerdom by Arrows of the Queen, have given up on Valdemar.
Mercedes Lackey was my gateway to fantasy as a teenage girl. Valdemar was fascinating to me, but after 30some-odd books set in the world, the magic has faded, especially in the volumes written with her husband Larry Dixon.
This is the third book in the COLLEGIUM CHRONICLES series,
April 23rd, 2012. Ruth Arnell´s rating: 0.1 | Mercedes Lackey | SFF Reviews | 5 comments |
Wool by Hugh Howey
Editor’s Note: When first published, Wool was an omnibus of edition including 5 “books.” Now, Wool is considered the first novel in Hugh Howey’s SILO series. The other two books are Shift (also at first considered an omnibus) and Dust which we’ve since reviewed.
Wool is the omnibus edition of Hugh Howey’s WOOL series. The first book in the series, Wool,
April 16th, 2012. Ruth Arnell, Bill Capossere, Ray McKenzie and Marion Deeds | Hugh Howey | SFF Reviews | 9 comments |
The Shape of Desire by Sharon Shinn
Maria is madly in love with Dante. It doesn’t matter that he is a shapeshifter, spending longer and longer periods away from her in animal form. Maria’s motto is “you can’t choose who you love,” and she loves Dante, regardless of the increasingly brief moments of time they can spend together as humans. But when mysterious animal attacks start claiming lives close to home, does her love for Dante put her own life at risk?
Oh my holy hand grenades barf.
I love Sharon Shinn.
April 11th, 2012. Ruth Arnell and Kelly Lasiter´s rating: 1 | Sharon Shinn | SFF Reviews | 2 comments |
Eyes Like Leaves by Charles de Lint
The magic is leaving the Green Isles. The Summerlord Hafarl’s staff has been broken, and the Everwinter is coming to blanket the islands in snow forever. To make matters worse, the Vikings are raiding up and down the shore, laying waste to everything in their way. It’s up to Puretongue, leader of the dhruides, to weld together the last scraps of the Summerlord’s power that can be found in the people to create a defense against Lothan, and bring summer and magic back to the isles.
February 1st, 2012. Ruth Arnell and Marion Deeds´s rating: 3 | Charles De_Lint | Stand-Alone | SFF Reviews | 2 comments |
Indigo Springs by A.M. Dellamonica
Indigo Springs is the first novel by A.M. Dellamonica, who has been publishing short fiction for nearly two decades. It shows the skill of someone who has long practiced in making words do what she wants them to do, and also the inexperience of a first-time novelist who has a great idea but doesn’t exactly know how to execute it. It’s a terrific story with new ideas and a unique magic system that works. With a stronger structure and a more coherent ending,
October 2nd, 2011. Terry Weyna, Marion Deeds, Bill Capossere and Ruth Arnell´s rating: 3, 4 | A.M. Dellamonica | SFF Reviews | no comments |
Fleeing from a fictitious Renaissance Venice on the back of the flying lion Vermithrax, the orphaned Merle is persuaded by the Flowing Queen, the mysterious entity that had for so long protected Venice from the besieging Egyptian armies but now inhabits Merle’s body, to seek help from Lord Light, the ruler of Hell. Back in Venice, a small rebel army is gathering under the guidance of another mysterious power who is determined to protect the city against the Egyptian army whatever the cost. The pharaoh is also beset by treachery from within his own forces.
August 20th, 2011. Ruth Arnell´s rating: 2.5 | Kai Meyer | Young Adult | SFF Reviews | no comments |
Across the Great Barrier by Patricia C. Wrede
Eff is back in this alternative magical history of the settling of the West. After the encounter with the mirror bugs that almost destroyed most of the settlements across the Great Barrier and came close to killing Eff’s brother and father, Eff gets hired on to a small expedition to chart the extent of the mirror bugs’ devastation. What they find surprises everyone — magic has completely disappeared from the soil and all the magical plants and animals are gone. As their journeys continue,
August 15th, 2011. Ruth Arnell´s rating: 4.5 | Patricia C. Wrede | Young Adult | SFF Reviews | 1 comment |
Alexia is now largely pregnant and ready (though not overly willing) to enter into her confinement when an insane ghost appears and warns of a plot to assassinate the queen. As if that isn’t enough, the vampires have been repeatedly attempting to kill Alexia, or at least the infant inconvenience she carries (mechanical porcupines — what will they think of next), necessitating that Alexia and Conall move to London and come under the protection of Lord Akeldama who is wittier than ever before as he deals with the loss of his favorite drone,
August 13th, 2011. Ruth Arnell´s rating: 4.5 | Gail Carriger | SFF Reviews | 1 comment |
Don’t Breathe a Word by Jennifer McMahon
[In our Edge of the Universe column, we review mainstream authors that incorporate elements of speculative fiction into their “literary” work. However you want to label them, we hope you’ll enjoy discussing these books with us.]
Phoebe, a woman in her thirties, is having the first serious relationship of her life. She comes from a rough upbringing and sometimes feels out of place in Sam’s wholesome world, amid his organic diet, his intellectual friends,
May 27th, 2011. Kelly Lasiter and Ruth Arnell´s rating: 5 | Jennifer McMahon | Edge | SFF Reviews | 2 comments |
Mothers’ Day is in three days, at least here in the states. I bring that to your attention since fantasy novels tend to do a horrible job with mothers. Rarely does our fair hero have a happy homelife. Usually (s)he sets out on a journey because either (s)he is terribly abused and misunderstood or orphaned (e.g. every Disney movie ever.) Consider this your reminder to call your mother now, for no reason, to tell her how much you love her. And then call again on Sunday.
As for me, my mommy is coming to town today! And my sister!
May 5th, 2011. Ruth Arnell | Giveaway!, Thoughtful Thursday | 17 comments |
COMMENT Was I hinting that? I wasn't aware of it. But now that you mention it.... 🤔
So it sounds like you're hinting Fox may have had three or so different incomplete stories that he stitched together,…
It's hardly a private conversation, Becky. You're welcome to add your 2 cents anytime!
If the state of the arts puzzles you, and you wonder why so many novels are "retellings" and formulaic rework,…
I picked my copy up last week and I can't wait to finish my current book and get started! I…