Next SFF Author: Ben Aaronovitch

Rating: 4

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Dragon Keeper: A worthy beginning

Dragon Keeper by Robin Hobb

Robin Hobb’s Dragon Keeper is a welcome return to the world of the LIVESHIP TRADERS trilogy (fair warning: if you haven’t read that series, there may be a few spoilers here). Specifically, it is set in the Rain Wilds with the emergence of the serpents/dragons from their casings, an event enthusiastically anticipated by all who long to see these beautiful, powerful creatures soaring through the skies once more.

Often in Robin Hobb’s fiction, though, the most eagerly awaited events turn into the most disappointing ones,

January 18th, 2010. Bill Capossere and Robert Thompson´s rating: 4 | Robin Hobb | SFF Reviews | 2 comments |

Dawnspell: The Bristling Wood

Dawnspell: The Bristling Wood by Katharine Kerr

Note: In the UK, this book is titled Dawnspell. In the US it is The Bristling Wood.

Dawnspell: The Bristling Wood is my favourite of the series so far! In this book the modern day plot follows Jill and Rhodry as they are forced apart by circumstance, and ends on a real cliffhanger where Rhodry vanishes, and it is up to Jill and Salamander to try and find him.

January 17th, 2010. Amanda Rutter (guest)´s rating: 4 | Katharine Kerr | SFF Reviews | no comments |

Heir of Autumn: Flawed but compelling debut

Heir of Autumn by Giles Carwyn & Todd Fahnestock

I started Heir of Autumn with skepticism because (1) it’s a first novel (2) by two guys who’ve been friends since high school (3) that begins with a nubile young woman fondling herself as part of her sorcerous training. A few times during the first few chapters, I considered returning it to the library and writing it off as another botched heroic fantasy epic.

Fortunately, I read on.

The bulk of the story occurs in the fabled city-state of Ohndarien,

January 16th, 2010. Rob Rhodes´s rating: 4 | Giles Carwyn | SFF Reviews | no comments |

Diving into the Wreck: Fast and entertaining

Diving into the Wreck by Kristine Kathryn Rusch

Diving into the Wreck is a short but excellent science fiction novel by Kristine Kathryn Rusch, who has also written extensively in fantasy, mystery and romance, and is the former editor of the prestigious Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction.

The main character of Diving into the Wreck (2009), who goes by the name “Boss,” is a specialist in the exploration of derelict space ships. Accompanied by a team of specialists,

Blood Cross: Even the history was riveting

Blood Cross by Faith Hunter

A few short weeks after Skinwalker ends, Jane Yellowrock is in trouble again. Leo Pellissier, the leader of New Orleans’ vampires, is mad with grief after the recent events, and in his madness, he blames Jane for his losses. And this time it’s not just Jane who’s in danger. Her witch best friend, Molly, and Molly’s two children are staying with Jane now, and Leo’s grudge could cost them their lives.

As if this weren’t enough trouble for one girl (and one Beast),

January 12th, 2010. Kelly Lasiter´s rating: 4 | Faith Hunter | SFF Reviews | 4 comments |

Ice: Cassie is not one of those passive YA heroines

Ice by Sarah Beth Durst

Cassie doesn’t believe in fairy tales. Sure, Gram used to tell her that bedtime story about how Cassie’s mother was stolen away by the North Wind and imprisoned by trolls. But Cassie, who lives with her scientist father at a research station in the Arctic, has every intention of following in Dad’s logical, analytical footsteps. She has no time for fantasy. And besides, as she grew older, she realized that “stolen by the North Wind” was just a euphemism for “died.”

Or was it?

On her eighteenth birthday,

Storm Thief: Not for the full of stomach

Storm Thief by Chris Wooding

From the get go, Storm Thief has you on the edge of your seat. Chris Wooding once again creates a very vivid and realistic world full of danger and suspense, and the characters to go along with it. We meet stone-hearted villains, a frightened and bewildered half-machine-half-man creation, a day-dreaming thief, and many more. This is not for the faint of heart, or the full of stomach.

Orokos is an isolated city on an island in the middle of a vast ocean.

Poison: Clever ideas, and style

Poison by Chris Wooding

The fantasy genre owes Chris Wooding a huge favour. In a genre awash with sad Tolkien knock-offs filled with magic swords, plucky heroes, wise wizards, princesses-in-distress and other tired clichés, Wooding continues to churn out exciting and intriguing stories that contain a rare force of imagination. Even though Poison is not quite as successful as some of his earlier efforts (especially The Haunting of Alaizabel Cray) it certainly deserves credit for its skill,

Killing with the Edge of the Moon: Makes for an enchanting evening

Killing with the Edge of the Moon by A.A. Attanasio

At 151 pages, Killing with the Edge of the Moon is an evening’s read, but what an enchanted evening it is!

I think A.A. Attanasio intended Killing with the Edge of the Moon as a young adult novel, though I’m not absolutely certain of that. If you’re a parent, though, there’s nothing in here that’s inappropriate for your teen. Despite the cover copy’s mention of the “erotic Otherworld,” all sexual content is of the briefly-implied sort.

Kitty’s House of Horrors: A solid installment in a fun series

Kitty’s House of Horrors by Carrie Vaughn

Kitty’s House of Horrors by Carrie Vaughn is a solid addition to the story of radio talk-show host Kitty the werewolf that began with Kitty and the Midnight Hour. I’ve enjoyed the entire Kitty series and House of Horrors was no exception.

In Kitty’s House of Horrors, Kitty and her friends, including several fun new characters, are trapped in an isolated cabin and hunted down one by one.

January 8th, 2010. Stephen B. Frank´s rating: 4 | Carrie Vaughn | SFF Reviews | 1 comment |

Next SFF Author: Ben Aaronovitch

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