Order [book in series=yearoffirstbook.book# (eg 2014.01), stand-alone or one-author collection=3333.pubyear, multi-author anthology=5555.pubyear, SFM/MM=5000, interview=1111]: 2010.01

Spellwright: Remarkable debut

Spellwright by Blake Charlton

FORMAT/INFO: Spellwright is 352 pages long divided over 46 numbered chapters, a Prolog, an Epilog, and a World Map. Narration is in the third-person, mainly via the protagonist Nicodemus Weal, but also includes narratives by Grand Wizard Agwu Shannon, the druid Dierdre, sentinel Amadi Okeke, and the villainous “creature.” Spellwright is the first volume in a trilogy, but many of the book’s major plotlines are satisfactorily concluded, while the closing chapters set up events for the upcoming sequels. The second book in the trilogy is currently titled Spellbound.

February 20th, 2010. Robert Thompson´s rating: 4 | Blake Charlton | SFF Reviews | no comments |

Brooklyn Knight: A really fun story!

Brooklyn Knight by C.J. Henderson

Professor Piers Knight is the charming, handsome, and intelligent curator of the esteemed Brooklyn Museum. He has in possession the mysterious “Dream Stone” — an artifact that may hold the key to unraveling an ancient and dangerous mystery. But Knight is not the only person who is aware of its importance. With the help of his gorgeous assistant Bridget and his knowledge of magical items, Knight must protect the stone and solve the riddle in order to keep a global disaster from happening.

CJ Henderson‘s Brooklyn Knight proves to be a very entertaining read.

February 19th, 2010. Justin Blazier´s rating: 3.5 | C.J. Henderson | SFF Reviews | no comments |

The Conqueror’s Shadow: A major surprise!

The Conqueror’s Shadow by Ari Marmell

CLASSIFICATION: Combining lighthearted humor and graphic violence with both traditional fantasy tropes and trope-breaking twists, The Conqueror’s Shadow is what would happen if you took Dungeons & Dragons and crossed it with the writing styles of David Eddings and Joe Abercrombie.

FORMAT/INFO: The Conqueror’s Shadow is 448 pages long divided over 28 numbered chapters, a Prologue, and an Epilogue.

February 15th, 2010. Robert Thompson´s rating: 4.5 | Ari Marmell | SFF Reviews | 2 comments |

Shadow Prowler: Every fantasy cliché in the book

Shadow Prowler by Alexey Pehov

Shadow Prowler, the first fantasy novel by Russian author Alexey Pehov to be translated to English, pulls out every fantasy cliché in the book: elves, dwarves, orcs, ogres, goblins, guilds of thieves and assassins, and an evil overlord (the “Nameless One”) who is about to awaken and take over the land with an army of evil beasties. Shadow Harold (yes, that’s his name) is a master thief who, against his will, gets involved in rescuing the world from said Nameless One.

February 12th, 2010. Stefan Raets and Justin Blazier´s rating: 1 | Alexey Pehov | SFF Reviews | 4 comments |

Shadow Blade: Breakfast with Anansi

Shadow Blade by Seressia Glass

In Shadow Blade, Seressia Glass creates a compelling urban-fantasy heroine, Kira Solomon, and kicks off what promises to be a distinctive kick-butt series.

For me, Shadow Blade got off to a bumpy start. There’s a lot of “telling” and exposition as Glass familiarizes the reader with her world and with Kira’s backstory. We learn that Kira can drain an ordinary human of vitality by touching them, which means she has to keep people at literal arm’s length.

February 12th, 2010. Kelly Lasiter´s rating: 3 | Seressia Glass | SFF Reviews | no comments |

First Drop of Crimson: Another Fast-paced thriller from Frost

First Drop of Crimson by Jeaniene Frost

In First Drop of Crimson, Jeaniene Frost returns us to the world of her popular NIGHT HUNTRESS series, which starts with Halfway to the Grave. In fact, the novel’s protagonists, Denise and Spade, are the best friends of Kat and Bones from the earlier series.

Denise is still recovering from the brutal death of her husband and wants nothing to do with the world of vampires. But then a demon with a grudge against her family shows up and threatens to kill her family members and turn her into a shapeshifting monster unless she helps him track down a rogue member of her family tree who is being sheltered by vampires.

February 1st, 2010. Stephen B. Frank´s rating: 4 | Jeaniene Frost | SFF Reviews | 5 comments |

The Extra: A fast action-packed read

The Extra by Michael Shea

In The Extra, a near-future science fiction novel set in a dystopian version of Los Angeles, Val Margolian is the creator and most successful director of a new genre of action movies, in which crowds of real people are cast as extras and have to defend themselves against movie monsters. The action is real, and so are the deaths. Whoever manages to kill one of the monsters, and anyone who survives the shoot, gets a huge cash reward. Naturally, with rampant poverty in LA,

February 1st, 2010. Stefan Raets and Robert Thompson´s rating: 1.5 | Michael Shea | SFF Reviews | 1 comment |

Lex Trent versus the Gods: Imaginative YA adventure

Lex Trent versus the Gods by Alex Bell

Lex Trent versus the Gods, Alex Bell’s first YA novel, introduces us to Lex Trent, a thief, swindler, and all-round rogue. He has taken one chance too many and finds himself caught up in the Games, playing as a representative of Lady Luck. We follow his various trials and tribulations over the course of the Game.

Lex Trent versus the Gods takes a little while to really get started — setting the scene and allowing us to get to know Lex — but by the time you reach page 64,

All the Windwracked Stars: Norse mythology + apocalyptic SF

All the Windwracked Stars by Elizabeth Bear

All the Windwracked Stars is the first book in the EDDA OF BURDENS trilogy by fantasy and SF author Elizabeth Bear. The novel is a very original blend of fantasy, science fiction, steampunk and mythology, and while it has some weaknesses, its originality sets it apart in a genre that’s all too often filled with cookie-cutter material.

Surprisingly, All the Windwracked Stars actually begins with Ragnarok, the final battle between the Children of the Light and the Tarnished.

November 13th, 2009. Stefan Raets and Greg Hersom´s rating: 3, 4.5 | Elizabeth Bear | SFF Reviews | 1 comment |

Santa Olivia: Completely different and darn good

Santa Olivia by Jacqueline Carey

I’m not actually sure if Santa Olivia (2009) is technically a fantasy novel. The heroine, Loup Garron, has unusual abilities, but she gets them by way of genetic engineering, not magic (her father was a top-secret military experiment). However, if you’re a fantasy fan, don’t let this dissuade you! There’s plenty here for a fantasy reader to love. Santa Olivia is a coming-of-age story; it’s a story about being a misfit; it’s a story about an underdog up against towering odds;

May 6th, 2009. Kelly Lasiter´s rating: 5 | Jacqueline Carey | SFF Reviews | no comments |

Next SFF Author: Ben Aaronovitch

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