The Gathering of the Lost by Helen Lowe
Every Avalanche Begins with One Stone Falling…
The Gathering of the Lost is the second installment in Helen Lowe’s THE WALL OF NIGHT quartet, the first being The Heir of Night, in which we were first introduced to the story’s protagonist: Malian, the rightful heir to the House of Night, the first of the Nine Houses that garrison the mountain range known as the Wall. Malian’s people,
May 3rd, 2012. Rebecca Fisher´s rating: 5 | Helen Lowe | SFF Reviews | no comments |
Of Limited Loyalty by Michael A. Stackpole
Of Limited Loyalty is Michael Stackpole’s second book in the CROWN COLONIES series, set in an alternate version of our world where magic exists and dragons and other creatures are real, but politics and other social conditions evolved much as they did in reality.
In the previous installment, At the Queen’s Command, we were introduced to Owen Strake, a young Officer sent to Mystria and serving the Crown Governor Prince Vladimir. Owen is so noble at times that it almost hurts.
February 24th, 2012. John Hulet´s rating: 2.5 | Michael A. Stackpole | SFF Reviews | no comments |
Harbinger of the Storm by Aliette de Bodard
Servant of the Underworld, Aliette de Bodard‘s début novel and the first book in the OBSIDIAN AND BLOOD series, was one of the most interesting books I’d read in a while. Not many people write a novel in a second language and manage to get it published, and I’m always mildly envious of people with that kind of language skill. De Bodard’s work (Harbinger of the Storm is her second novel,
February 4th, 2012. Rob Weber´s rating: 4 | Aliette De_Bodard | SFF Reviews | no comments |
Magda Lazarus has killed Adolf Hitler’s pet wizard, the Staff, but not before the Staff stole a fragment of the powerful Book of Raziel and used magic to reconstitute a corrupted version that is now in the hands of the Reich. Dark Victory begins as the invasion of Poland is imminent, and Magda is trying to decide on her next course of action.
In the early chapters, it seemed that Dark Victory wouldn’t be as compelling as Lady Lazarus.
February 2nd, 2012. Kelly Lasiter´s rating: 3.5 | Michele Lang | SFF Reviews | no comments |
Darkness Falls by Cate Tiernan
Darkness Falls is the second in Cate Tiernan’s IMMORTAL BELOVED trilogy. In Immortal Beloved, the first book, we met Nastasya, a burned-out immortal seeking enlightenment and redemption at the pastoral River’s Edge community. Darkness Falls continues her story, and book three will be titled Immortal Light.
Darkness Falls has the polar opposite of middle-book syndrome. Nastasya has a fantastic character arc here.
January 12th, 2012. Kelly Lasiter´s rating: 4 | Cate Tiernan | Young Adult | SFF Reviews | no comments |
Left Hand Magic by Nancy A. Collins
In Left Hand Magic, Nancy A. Collins delivers a satisfying follow-up to last year’s Right Hand Magic. Tate Eresby, a trust-fund baby turned avant-garde sculptor, is still living in the rich setting of Golgotham with her Kymeran lover, Hexe. But new troubles are brewing in Golgotham. A magazine spread has made Golgotham a hip hot spot for human tourists, and racial tensions are growing between these tourists and Golgotham’s magical natives.
The racism that Collins depicts is,
December 30th, 2011. Kelly Lasiter´s rating: 4 | Nancy A. Collins | SFF Reviews | no comments |
Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare
I’m giving Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare three stars, because it ably fulfills its function as the second book in the INFERNAL DEVICES series, but I didn’t enjoy it quite as much as I did Clockwork Angel. The writing is fine and the story moves well, but somehow our heroic characters just aren’t shown at their best in this volume.
After the debacle at the end of Clockwork Angel,
December 14th, 2011. Marion Deeds´s rating: 3 | Cassandra Clare | Young Adult | SFF Reviews | no comments |
Saints Astray by Jacqueline Carey
I find myself wanting to give Saints Astray (2011) two different ratings: one for how happy I am for its heroines, Loup Garron and Pilar Ecchevarria, and the other for how well Saints Astray works as a novel. I love the characters and am glad their lives have become easier since the events of Santa Olivia, but the result is a book that does not have enough tension or conflict.
Loup and Pilar have escaped Outpost and travel to Mexico,
December 13th, 2011. Kelly Lasiter´s rating: 3 | Jacqueline Carey | SFF Reviews | no comments |
Out of the Waters by David Drake
David Drake’s Out of the Waters continues his new BOOKS OF THE ELEMENTS series set in Carce, a quasi-historical Rome. In my review of book one, The Legions of Fire, I called the novel a “mixed bag” in terms of pace and character and said I was actually more engaged by the historical setting and action rather than the fantastical elements. It was a bit of a struggle to finish, but left me curious enough to pick up book two.
December 5th, 2011. Bill Capossere´s rating: 2 | David Drake | SFF Reviews | no comments |
Jane Austen: Blood Persuasion by Janet Mullany
Janet Mullany’s Jane Austen: Blood Persuasion is a fun combination of historical fiction and paranormal romance. It’s a well-conceived adaption of the life of the legendary author, Jane Austen, and the life she might have led if vampires were real. Blood Persuasion is a continuation of Jane’s story which began in Jane and the Damned, so Jane and other characters make many references to events that took place in Bath during the first book.
November 30th, 2011. John Hulet´s rating: 3 | Janet Mullany | SFF Reviews | no comments |
What a fascinating exploration of Edwige Fenech's contributions to the giallo genre! I love how the post highlights her unique…
Pretty challenging book. Cut by half, speed up the cadence. Trying to figure out the plot, the main point of…
Thanks for the kind words, Marion! Coming as they are from a professional writer, they are much appreciated!
Wonderful review, Sandy.
The "body count" bothered me a bit less because being dead seemed more like an inconvenience than anything else... unlike…