Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling
The one where Harry takes part in the Tri-wizard Tournament. The one where hormones start flying. The one where Voldemort grows ever stronger. The one where J. K. Rowling decided everyone needed more doorstops…
I want it said right from the beginning of this review that I adore the Harry Potter series in its entirety, but I do feel that some books are stronger than others. And this is one of the weakest in the series in my opinion.
May 8th, 2010. Amanda Rutter (guest), Kelly Lasiter, Kat Hooper and Marion Deeds´s rating: 3.5 | J.K. Rowling | Children, Hugo Award | SFF Reviews | 1 comment |
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is easily my favourite of the Harry Potter books. Harry is in his third year at Hogwarts, and the big news is the escape of dangerous and deadly wizard Sirius Black from Azkaban prison. Harry learns that, for some reason, Sirius is after him. To increase security at Hogwarts, Dumbledore has reluctantly allowed the Dementors — ghostly cloaked beings that suck the happiness from a person’s soul and eventually drive them mad — to guard the castle.
April 24th, 2010. Amanda Rutter (guest), Kelly Lasiter, Kat Hooper, Bill Capossere and Marion Deeds´s rating: 5 | J.K. Rowling | Children | SFF Reviews | 6 comments |
I love Harry Dresden like he’s the crazy scary magical uncle I never had. My wife (The Asian OverLord™) gets annoyed at my exclamations of “Hell’s Bells!” and my constant need to tell people that a scar on my hand came from “Hell Fire” rather than a childhood bicycle wreck. The Dresden Files have become a part of my life in a way that few stories do.
When I first learned about Changes, it frightened me. I thought to myself: if Jim Butcher “Changes” too much,
April 13th, 2010. Justin Blazier, Marion Deeds and Kat Hooper´s rating: 3, 4, 4.5 | Jim Butcher | Audio | SFF Reviews | 3 comments |
The Sorcerer’s House by Gene Wolfe
The Sorcerer’s House is a beautifully subtle new novel by master fantasy and SF author Gene Wolfe. The novel’s protagonist is a recently released convict who, seemingly by complete coincidence, comes into possession of an abandoned house. As he moves in, he discovers that the house already has a few odd inhabitants…
A large part of the enjoyment of this novel is the process of discovery, as the protagonist slowly finds out more and more about the odd nature of the house and its inhabitants,
February 28th, 2010. Marion Deeds and Stefan Raets´s rating: 3 | Gene Wolfe | Stand-Alone | SFF Reviews | 2 comments |
The Red Tree by Caitlín R. Kiernan
What a strange book! Then again, I know never to expect the expected when reading Caitlín R. Kiernan.
The story centers on Sarah Crowe, a writer who moves to an isolated house in Rhode Island after her lover’s death. Beset by writer’s block, she finds herself unable to write the novel her contract demands, and instead becomes obsessed with an old manuscript she finds in the basement. This manuscript was written by a previous tenant of the house who died before he could complete it,
August 7th, 2009. Kelly Lasiter and Marion Deeds´s rating: 4 | Caitlín R. Kiernan | Horror | SFF Reviews | 1 comment |
The Hero of Ages by Brandon Sanderson
I’m impressed with Brandon Sanderson’s first fantasy trilogy. The entire story was carefully thought out, well-plotted, and well-paced. What impresses me most is that in this last installment, The Hero of Ages, there are plenty of wonderful surprises left. But these surprises aren’t little add-ons that Sanderson lately thought up and decided to throw in just to keep up the interest and excitement. These are major pieces of the puzzle that have purposely been left for the characters (and therefore the readers) to discover.
June 23rd, 2009. Kat Hooper and Marion Deeds´s rating: 3.5, 4 | Brandon Sanderson | Audio | SFF Reviews | 2 comments |
The City & The City by China Miéville
It’s impossible to discuss China Miéville’s The City & The City without discussing its premise. I don’t consider this much of a spoiler, as the reader is pretty fully confronted with the premise about 20-30 pages in, but it is led into with hints here and there so before hitting the premise, I’ll offer a very short summation and recommendation in the next two paragraphs, followed by the full discussion which includes the premise.
Despite the title’s promise of more urban New Weird fantasy along the lines of Perdido Street Station,
May 6th, 2009. Bill Capossere and Marion Deeds´s rating: 4, 5 | China Mieville | BSFA Award, Hugo Award, Stand-Alone, World Fantasy Award | SFF Reviews | no comments |
The Orphan’s Tales: In the Night Garden by Catherynne Valente
In the Night Garden is the first in a two-book (maybe more?) series and if book one is any guide, this is as delicious and clever a tale-telling as one is likely to run into for some time. With an Arabian Nights feel and structure, we’re introduced to one engrossing story after another as the demon-girl of the garden (that’s the Sultan’s garden of course) spins them out to the enraptured young prince who disobeys orders and decorum to listen.
April 16th, 2009. Bill Capossere, Rebecca Fisher, Marion Deeds, Kat Hooper and Kevin Wei´s rating: 5 | Catherynne M. Valente | SFF Reviews | 9 comments |
The Mystery of Grace by Charles de Lint
The Mystery of Grace tells the story of Altagracia — known as Grace — Quintero, a tattooed, rockabilly mechanic who finds her greatest joy in customizing old cars and building hot rods, and John Burns, a graphic design artist. Both of these characters have unfinished business that they need to deal with before they can move on with their lives. But, they meet and fall in love two weeks too late for it to be a happy ending.
It’s difficult to give a good summary without giving away some fairly significant plot details,
March 16th, 2009. Ruth Arnell and Marion Deeds | Charles De_Lint | Stand-Alone | SFF Reviews | 7 comments |
Magic to the Bone by Devon Monk
Magic to the Bone is a breath of fresh air in the urban fantasy genre, in much the same way that Ilona Andrews‘ Kate Daniels series is a breath of fresh air. Instead of the same tired werewolf/vampire soap opera that so many novels perpetuate, Magic to the Bone is more concerned with the ramifications of adding magic to modern society and exploring the realistic consequences. Magic, in Devon Monk’s universe, has been recently discovered,
November 2nd, 2008. Kelly Lasiter and Marion Deeds´s rating: 4 | Devon Monk | SFF Reviews | no comments |
What a fascinating exploration of Edwige Fenech's contribution to giallo films! Her charisma and the unique blend of suspense and…
What an intriguing exploration of Edwige Fenech's role in giallo films! I appreciate how you highlighted her unique blend of…
Hahaha! You might like the one "Shocktober" scene near the end!
For some strange reason, I get the feeling I might like this one! 😁
Wow, 20 dollars? That seems a lot for a 100-or-so-page book, but most of my novellas have come via ARCs…