Adolescent vampire novels are a dime a dozen and most of them revolve around a teenage girl with a love interest who happens to be a not-so evil, impossibly sexy vampire. It’s the kind of boring cliché that drives the male segment of the populace away from urban fantasy. There are exceptions to the rule and these stories can be not only fun to read, but also refreshing because they don’t follow the expected paths.
If you worked at a coffee shop, drove a terrible car,
January 21st, 2014. John Hulet´s rating: 4 | M.L. Brennan | SFF Reviews | 1 comment |
The Emperor’s Blades by Brian Staveley
Epic fantasy has been heavily stocked over the years with some powerhouse writers — Jordan, Erikson, Wurts, Rothfuss and Martin have been the standard bearers of this genre of fantasy. It’s a pretty challenging genre to break into, but after reading the first book of the CHRONICLE OF THE UNHEWN THRONE, The Emperor’s Blades, I am reminded that there is always room for someone new.
January 14th, 2014. John Hulet and Bill Capossere | Brian Staveley | SFF Reviews | 3 comments |
Rex Regis by L.E. Modesitt Jr.
Regis Regis (2014) is the eighth book of the IMAGER PORTFOLIO and the fifth book following Quaeryt. After literally years of hard work, war, and nothing less than miraculous events, the curtain begins to close on this part of Solidar’s history.
The fall of Antiago had been particularly painful for Quaeryt because of the loss of his child when his wife was injured. The reality of the constant threat of power-hungry competitors to influence the future of the continent of Lydar leaves Quaeryt with very little time to heal or mourn.
January 7th, 2014. John Hulet´s rating: 3.5 | L.E. Modesitt_Jr | SFF Reviews | no comments |
Bared Blade by Kelly McCullough
Bared Blade is the second book in the FALLEN BLADE series. Kelly McCullough continues the story of Aral Kingslayer, survivor of the destruction of the Goddess Namara turned petty thief and spy.
Aral is still struggling with the revelation that other members of his cult survived the fall of his goddess. His experiences in Broken Blade have started to give him an inkling that there may be more to look forward to than alcoholic oblivion.
December 3rd, 2013. John Hulet´s rating: 2.5 | Kelly McCullough | SFF Reviews | no comments |
We’re pleased to once more welcome Max Gladstone, author of the excellent CRAFT series. Max is here to talk about the psychic origins of some of his influences and to ask about images and ideas that linger on in your mind. One commenter will win a copy of Max’s new book Two Serpents Rise which was one of the best books I read this year.
For every inspiration we admit, another lies buried. At book events (for my first book, Three Parts Dead,
November 14th, 2013. John Hulet | Max Gladstone | Thoughtful Thursday | 12 comments |
Two Serpents Rise by Max Gladstone
Two Serpents Rise (2013) is the second book by Max Gladstone and is set in the same world as Three Parts Dead. I struggle to define the “genre” that this series fits into. There are elements of urban fantasy and steampunk, but none of that really fits. It doesn’t matter because the books are awesome and Gladstone has built something that really works.
Two Serpents Rise features Caleb Altemoc,
November 14th, 2013. John Hulet, Kat Hooper and Bill Capossere´s rating: 4.5 | Max Gladstone | SFF Reviews | 4 comments |
Crossed Blades by Kelly McCullough
Kelly McCullough’s FALLEN BLADE saga is a fun and fast moving fantasy series. I love a series that can incorporate humor along with the requisite action, magic and evil bad guys who need to be defeated. McCullough keeps things mockingly amusing by never letting the hero’s head get too big.
Crossed Blades tells the story of Aral, one time Blade of Namara before her fall. Since the death of his goddess, Aral’s life has been sad and dark, but the arrival of certain people and events are forcing him to drag himself out of the low life he has sunk to.
October 4th, 2013. John Hulet´s rating: 3 | Kelly McCullough | SFF Reviews | no comments |
The One-Eyed Man: A Fugue, With Winds and Accompaniment by L.E. Modesitt Jr
I am a big fan of Modesitt’s science fiction work, even when he gets on his political soap box for gender, socially progressive politics, and environmental issues. The One-Eyed Man is a solo novel that encompasses all of these topics, but this time there is almost a feeling of cynicism that I really enjoyed.
Paulo Verano is an idealistic Environmental Analyst who has just been taken to the cleaners. In a scene that is familiar to many,
September 17th, 2013. John Hulet´s rating: 2.5 | L.E. Modesitt_Jr | Stand-Alone | SFF Reviews | no comments |
The Thousand Names by Django Wexler
The Thousand Names is incredible. Yes, right out of the chute I am saying that I loved this book. It’s not going to be for everyone because it’s in this new Blackpowder genre that I am only recently getting acquainted with. Basically, it’s a mix of Napoleonic era military technology and aspects of magic. The exact mix depends on the author, but it certainly can create some fun interesting props to tell a story with. When you add that level of technology….
July 5th, 2013. John Hulet´s rating: 4.5 | Django Wexler | SFF Reviews | 1 comment |
Sharp is the second full novel in the MINDSPACE INVESTIGATION series and is a direct follow up to the first book Clean. Adam is still struggling from the after-effects of his over-extension of his abilities at the end of Clean and is having a hard time keeping up with the pace of his work while coping with the never-ending craving of addiction.
A new case comes up, a vicious murder, and Adam is tasked to determine if there is some psychic evidence that he can add to the investigation.
June 18th, 2013. John Hulet´s rating: 4.5 | Alex Hughes | SFF Reviews | no 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…