Reviews and Comments

From the very first pages, it’s clear that Master of Sorrows is going to play with tropes and turn plenty of fantasy stand-bys on their heads. Justin T. Call gives us a wonderfully paced story that feels at once classic and fresh. There will be plenty that feels familiar to fans of the genre, but almost all of those familiar tropes are done in a new or unique or upside-down way that keeps you turning the pages. And there are plenty of pages to turn! Clocking in at over 600 pages, the novel manages to feel like a much quicker read.

I think Master of Sorrows reads much more quickly than you might expect for a novel of its length partially because Call does something that is all too rare in epic fantasy: he uses only one viewpoint character. This helps to keep the story tightly plotted and moving, without expanding ever outward. It also means that we come to know and love the main character, Annev, and experience his ups and downs without those being interrupted by other perspectives. Call uses all of this to wonderful effect and he deserves mountains of praise for it. In fact, Annev himself is one of the other big strengths of this novel. You care about him from the first page and that carries through to the last. In many ways Call’s story is character-driven epic fantasy, and I really enjoyed that aspect of it. There’s also some wonderful character development for the side characters. Another major strength is the magic system, which involves spells and runes, but also incredibly powerful artefacts. It all comes together in very intuitive ways that area also fairly unique. That’s good, because magic plays a big role in this story, and as a result it’s important for it to feel natural and bring something fresh to the story. There’s also the whole subverting tropes element of the story. This is absolutely a coming-of-age tale, but with a twist. It uses the village boy trope, but with a twist (instead of longing to leave the village, this village boy wants to stay!). There are elements of the magic school subgenre, but with some important twists. There’s a chosen one! But it’s not quite like any other chosen one story I’ve ever read. Call does an incredible job of twisting and subverting tropes in ways that are fun and sometimes make you sit back and just sort of shake your head when you realize what he’s doing. It’s impressive work all around and makes for an entertaining read for those new to fantasy, or the grizzled veteran who has read it all before.

There were some small things here and there that didn’t quite connect with me, but my biggest complaint about the novel has to do with one of the tropes that Call is subverting. Don’t get me wrong, I love how he’s flipping tropes on their heads. Without giving too much detail, in most instances of the village boy trope, the boy wants to leave his village and see the wider world, go off adventuring, etc, etc. In this story, Annev doesn’t want to leave his village and does everything he possibly can to avoid that fate. What I never understood was why, given the circumstances he finds himself in, he wants to remain. It makes some sense at the beginning of the novel, but as the story progresses and Annev learns more about himself and the academy he attends, it seems like the height of foolishness. His motivations in that regard never seemed quite strong enough to me, perhaps more like the story was driving the character there, rather than the other way around. This ended up being more a niggling in the back of my mind, rather than something that ruined the whole story for me.

Master of Sorrows is a wonderfully fun and inventive character-drive epic fantasy. It subverts tropes and brings fresh ideas to the genre at nearly every turn. It will appeal especially to those who are familiar with the subgenre and want something that feels familiar and yet new. It’s also sure to appeal to those new to the genre looking for an engaging read. I’m looking forward to the next installment!

8.8/10

4.4/5 stars.

5 – I loved this, couldn’t put it down, move it to the top of your TBR pile
4 – I really enjoyed this, add it to the TBR pile
3 – It was ok, depending on your preferences it may be worth your time
2 – I didn’t like this book, it has significant flaws and I can’t recommend it
1 – I loathe this book with a most loathsome loathing

Inspired by Aztec and other Mesoamerican myths and legends, The Seventh Sun is a fantastic debut by author Lani Forbes. The story of a young emperor who has lost his parents and must now choose a wife and a princess who questions the dictates of her faith, this is a novel that I could hardly put down. This story of pain and love plays out against the backdrop of a brilliantly realized and captivating world. Forbes does world building incredibly well and takes inspiration from myths and legends used too rarely in fantasy. It’s a fresh read that keeps you on the edge of an obsidian knife.

The Seventh Sun is a phenomenal novel. I had trouble finding places to put it down and continue on with normal life. I always love that feeling and being completely drawn into a book, and that was certainly the case with Forbes’ debut. One of the things that made the novel work so well for me was the unique setting. It’s not every day that you come across a fantasy novel with an authentically realized Aztec-inspired world. Beyond this though, Forbes does so much of her world building in very subtle ways. A description of clothes or food here, a half a sentence over there, combine to create this world that you can almost see and smell and taste. It’s wonderfully vibrant and unique and fresh. The subtly doesn’t end there, either. The characters in this story, especially Mayana are asking important questions about faith and belief and whether one should uncritically accept what one is told. Is it faith to believe what has always been believed, or is it more faithful to investigate yourself and perhaps come to different conclusions? I appreciate this subtle and authentic take on personal faith, which is an element all too commonly lacking in fantasy, even fantasy that deals with gods and myths. Forbes gives us great ruminations on religion and faith. The main characters wrestle in true-to-life ways with their emotions, their experiences, and what decisions they ought to make moving forward. Several of the side characters are also well developed, though I was particularly engaged by Princess Yoli, who has the aesthetic of a modern goth without becoming a caricature. It’s impressive that I’ve made it this far in and haven’t yet mentioned the wonderful magic system in this novel! It’s multi-faceted, has important costs, and plays a huge role in the culture and world. It’s nearly everything I love about magic in fantasy! The final ten or fifteen percent of the novel rushes to a conclusion that is a cliffhanger, but manages to be so in a satisfying way—but I still really need that next novel.

In terms of weaknesses, there are a couple that warrant mentioning. First, and this is very much an issue of preference, the story—particularly in the back half—makes extensive use of the keeping-things-from-your-significant-other trope. I’m constantly irritated by this trope, because I’m a big believer that most things can be solved by simply telling the truth, being honest with one another, and working through it. I find the idea of essentially lying to one’s significant other to be incredibly juvenile. I suppose I can grant that it makes sense for young adults to behave juvenilely, but I don’t like it. Second, and this has less to do with my own preferences, I did find a few of the plot elements somewhat predictable. This is particularly true of a sequence that sets up the endgame. The finale does redeem that predictability somewhat. Even with those two criticisms, this is still one that I enjoyed immensely.

The Seventh Sun is the start of something special. An incredibly unique world, characters you care for, and authentic grappling with personal faith all combine to make this a captivating read. Fans of YA fantasy, those looking for unique and interesting worlds, and readers who love legends and myths are sure to enjoy this. I’m confident that when you finish, you’ll be looking forward to the next book as much as I am!

8.5/10

4.25/5 stars.

5 – I loved this, couldn’t put it down, move it to the top of your TBR pile
4 – I really enjoyed this, add it to the TBR pile
3 – It was ok, depending on your preferences it may be worth your time
2 – I didn’t like this book, it has significant flaws and I can’t recommend it
1 – I loathe this book with a most loathsome loathing

A Tale of Stars and Shadow is the story of Talyn Dynan, a sort-of princess and definitely badass warrior spy. Lisa Cassidy gives us a story with plenty of intriguing characters, poignant moments, and fascinating world building. The story turns on Talyn being sent as a sort of liaison from her own kingdom to a neighboring one. But there are layers to this mission that complicate matters exponentially, and the culture of Mithranar doesn’t make Talyn’s job any easier either.

My favorite parts of this story were when the Wolves, Talyn’s group of disparate and broken souls that she has to forge into a team, are together. I love the trope of people from different walks of life being forced to come together around a common goal and bonding with one another in the process. This novel scratches that itch perfectly. When Talyn is with the Wolves, training, talking, strategizing, whatever, I am here for it. There is a great deal of character development among the group, and Cassidy manages it with a deft hand, allowing various characters to step into the spotlight for their moment and then move on. It’s handled very well and allows a fairly sizable cast to each develop in authentic ways. I also thoroughly enjoyed the world building in this one, particularly the Winged Folk. Their culture—while frustrating—feels quite real. The visual image of people with wings flying around their citadel, swooping into areas unannounced, is not only cinematic, but entirely fantastic. It’s a ton of fun in that way, and I felt like it gave the story a truly fantastic feel which I always love in my fantasy reads. There are a couple other aspects to the world build that felt worked very well too.

Unfortunately, I did find that the book had perhaps a little too much description for my tastes at times. Actually, a better way of putting it may be that it had too much exposition. Sometimes feelings were described more so than shown, and for me this resulted in moments when I felt like I should have had a greater connection to the characters, but didn’t. It isn’t egregious, but having several paragraphs explaining feelings rather than a few sentences describing actions or reactions that communicated those same feelings, created a sort of disconnection with the main character for me. I also felt like some of the details of Talyn training the wolves were a little tropey at times, particularly when Talyn is sort of channeling her inner drill sergeant.

A Tale of Stars and Shadow has some great world building and features a team of misfit individuals coming together around a common goal. It’s a fun read that will especially appeal to those who enjoy stories featuring found family and ragtag groups up against overwhelming odds.

7.0/10

3.5/5 stars.

5 – I loved this, couldn’t put it down, move it to the top of your TBR pile
4 – I really enjoyed this, add it to the TBR pile
3 – It was ok, depending on your preferences it may be worth your time
2 – I didn’t like this book, it has significant flaws and I can’t recommend it
1 – I loathe this book with a most loathsome loathing

Stephanie Burgis’ Harwood Spellbook series gives plenty of enjoyment. There are moments when you’re intrigued by a well-crafted world. There are moments where your blood boils at the injustice thrust upon characters. There are also moments of fun and levity, bits that elicit a smile or a laugh. Thornbound, the second book in the series, has all of these aspects aplenty.

Thornbound picks up soon after Snowspelled left off. It tells the story of the first week of classes at Thornfell College of Magic, a new institution breaking the mold and prejudices of the day and training women in the practice of magic. One of the elements I truly love about Burgis’ writing in this one is that she manages to write a story that feels small and personal but set it in a world that is deeply crafted. Her fictional Angland could give the worlds in many epic fantasy novels a run for their money. The similarities and differences in comparison to our own world are extremely well done. The world walks the line between historical fantasy and an entirely secondary world, often making you ask the what if questions that historical fantasy is so good at while also offering the sandbox that secondary world fantasy so often does. Burgis is also exceptional at writing antagonists that elicit visceral reactions from the reader. There were moments when I wanted to throw something at the antagonists. We aren’t dealing with dark lords here, but with run of the mill, every day selfishness and blindness that is incredibly relatable.

There are a couple weaknesses in the novel. For me, the largest is that, because it is a short novel, I often had ancillary questions that went unanswered. There are so many delicious hints dropped in terms of the magic and the world on which I want the story to go just a bit deeper. The story is obviously meant to be small in scope, so I can’t fault it too much for this, but I would have liked to have seen just that little more in terms of the magic and world. Another issue I had was that, going in, I expected this to be another romance, similar to Snowspelled. But it had hardly any romantic elements at all. I certainly wouldn’t call it a romance. More a sort of cozy adventure fantasy. This isn’t a weakness, just an element that I missed in this story, knowing how well Burgis can write romance. And yet, it isn’t that this story feels the lack of it. I wanted to see more of the romance, true, but I don’t think the story suffered as a result.

Thornbound is another quick, fun read from Stephanie Burgis that will appeal especially to those who enjoy personal, small-scale stories set in well-crafted worlds. I certainly can’t wait to see what Burgis brings us next.

8.2/10

4.1/5 stars.

5 – I loved this, couldn’t put it down, move it to the top of your TBR pile
4 – I really enjoyed this, add it to the TBR pile
3 – It was ok, depending on your preferences it may be worth your time
2 – I didn’t like this book, it has significant flaws and I can’t recommend it
1 – I loathe this book with a most loathsome loathing

The Dyachenkos, Marina and Sergey, are perhaps best known in the English-speaking world as the authors of Vita Nostra, a dark and compelling tale that mixes metaphysics and philosophy with urban fantasy in unique ways. Joined again by translator Julia Meitov Hersey, this new English translation of Daughter from the Dark returns readers to their dark and compelling way of telling stories, while swapping metaphysics for questions of creativity, music, and creation.

This is one that just demands to be read, compelling from the first pages. The story begins with DJ Aspirin meeting a young girl, Alyona one night near his apartment. From the first moments of this encounter it is obvious that there is something dark and mysterious about her. The story is beautiful and introspective as it lingers in the interactions between Aspirin and Alyona, and dwells particularly on his seeming inability to remove her from his home or retrieve any agency over his own life. In this way, the story certainly has elements of horror to it, though I feel like it might be more properly described as a dark, modern fairy tale. One of the strongest elements of the story-telling is the strong characterization of Aspirin. We see the entire story unfold from his perspective and share in his own feelings of helplessness. The book also plays with questions of perception and identity and how we perceive ourselves, how others perceive us, and how we and other perceive the world and commonly observed events. There is an element to the writing and story telling that feels almost whimsical at moments, but darkly so.

I can’t speak of weaknesses, so much as things that didn’t work for me in the story. This is a story that doesn’t rush. It walks slowly through the narrative, allowing you to savor each scene. While this largely worked for me, given the overall feel and ambiance, there were a couple moments where I felt like maybe the pacing wasn’t quite right. Not that it needed to be faster—not every story is an action-adventure!—but that maybe some more focus needed to be given to this over here, or perhaps a little less attention spent on that detail there. But it’s hard to define exactly what I mean. While I think the Aspirin and Alyona were well characterized, I didn’t feel much emotional connection to either. While I think that’s fine, it means that in the end this was a novel that left me thinking more than it did feeling. I like novels that make me think, but I tend to enjoy them even more when I’m left feeling and thinking.

Daughter from the Dark is a disturbingly captivating read throughout, forcing us to ask questions about identity, how we understand ourselves, and what is necessary for the process of creation. Perhaps what’s more, it subtly nudges the reader to consider what one is willing to give up in order to create. This is another excellent read from the Dyachenkos!

8.2/10

4.1/5 stars.

5 – I loved this, couldn’t put it down, move it to the top of your TBR pile
4 – I really enjoyed this, add it to the TBR pile
3 – It was ok, depending on your preferences it may be worth your time
2 – I didn’t like this book, it has significant flaws and I can’t recommend it
1 – I loathe this book with a most loathsome loathing

Blade’s Edge by Virginia McClain is a deeply immersive secondary world fantasy that tells the story of two young girls growing up with magic in a world where magic is forbidden to them. The pathos of these characters is communicated so well by McClain, and you feel for them deeply as the story unfolds. The world is inspired by feudal Japan while still maintaining its secondary world status.

The world building and magic are exceptional in this one. The magic is explained well without being over-explained, leaving tantalizing mysteries about the way it works. The complexity the magic system offers allows it to play an important role in both the story and the development of the characters without ever becoming confusing. I always love when fantasy stories are able to make magic an important aspect of the world, and that’s certainly the case in Blade’s Edge. The Japanese-inspired world building is exquisite and creates a wonderful ambiance for the story, right down to the haikus that open each part of the story. The world building is so detailed that it almost feels like historical fantasy, but it isn’t. The two main characters are engaging and serve—to some extent—as foils for one another. Separated as children, the two spend their early adolescent years growing up on their own, apart from one another. But their individual arcs mirror one another in fascinating ways. Partly this is because magic is forbidden to women in their world, and that forces them both to hide their magic. But there are other elements of the story that are similar in each of their arcs and the similarities and dissimilarities create a sort of harmony and counterpoint. Part of what unites the two stories is the driving need of each to overthrow the system of oppression in which they find themselves. Overthrowing oppression always appeals to me in stories, and that’s certainly the case here.

Not every element of the novel worked for me. The largest frustration I had was in the large time jumps that sometimes occur. This happens not only when one begins a new part of the story, but sometimes between chapters within a particular part. Flip a page and weeks, months, or years have passed and you have to play a little catch-up, figuring out what has transpired in the interim. This is especially frustrating when a chapter ends and you expect an important event to happen next. The event happens, but off-screen, and we learn about it only in retrospect, as a character remembers the event. I’m never a fan of this sort of literary device. It only created frustration for me here and took me out of the story. Too often I felt like I was missing the climactic part of a scene or arc. This is particularly noticeable in the first third of the book. After that, it settles down and either through exposure or because it genuinely happens less the story feels to flow more naturally.

Blade’s Edge is a coming-of-age story set in a world where women have few rights and certainly can’t do magic. The two viewpoint characters work well, especially as their stories mirror one another in engaging and sometimes surprising ways. This will appeal especially to fans of Japanese-inspired fantasy, Samurai stories, and coming-of-age tales.

7.5/10

3.75/5 stars.

5 – I loved this, couldn’t put it down, move it to the top of your TBR pile
4 – I really enjoyed this, add it to the TBR pile
3 – It was ok, depending on your preferences it may be worth your time
2 – I didn’t like this book, it has significant flaws and I can’t recommend it
1 – I loathe this book with a most loathsome loathing

Embers of War is intimate, character-drive space opera done right. Gareth L. Powell gives us the story of Trouble Dog, a Carnivore-class heavy cruiser who has sworn off war and joined the House of Reclamation. The House of Reclamation is a sort of search and rescue operation, something like a galactic Red Cross, that serves all humanity, ignoring the borders of star nations. Sentient, snarky spaceships are fast becoming my favorite sci-fi trope, and Powell gives us one of the best.

There is a lot to enjoy in Embers of War. The world building is very interesting, including thousands of years of galactic history. Powell manages to give us the relevant points in that sweeping history without it ever feeling overwhelming or expository. There aren’t long technical discussions in this one, and while I do tend to enjoy technological systems and some explanation of how technology works, the lack of that here allowed the novel to have a more action-oriented feel. This worked very well for me and I was quickly swept up in the story. But this also isn’t a summer blockbuster sort of sci-fi with more explosions than story. Where the novel really shines is in the characters. From Trouble Dog, our sentient and sometimes very, very snarky starship, to Sal, her captain, and everyone in between there are stories to be told, emotions to be felt, and banter to be enjoyed. The crew of misfits makes this story work. In many ways, the crew interactions are reminiscent of Joss Whedon’s Firefly TV series. Trouble Dog is definitely my favorite, but beyond that, I’d be hard pressed to pick a second favorite character in the story, not because none of them are worthy but because they all are. Each character has a backstory that we care about, and each backstory has an obvious and important impact on who they are now. It’s these backstories that allow them to shape the current story in interesting ways. This really is character-driven science fiction and I am here for it. I was particularly taken with the way each of the characters have some amount of pain in the past and how this brings up questions of ethics and morality. Along with this, we see heroes who solve problems in ways that don’t always result in the biggest explosions, and I think that is sometimes all too rare.

As I mentioned, there aren’t a great deal of technical descriptions in this one, and for those who prefer explanation for their sci-fi worlds, that may be a negative. The way the story is told I don’t think the anything is lacking because of this, but it’s something to be aware of. It also isn’t military science fiction, and isn’t trying to be. The characters are—by and large—not officers in a galactic navy or other military branch. Again, this doesn’t hinder the story because that’s not the sort of story this is trying to be. Perhaps the only real criticism I have is that there are a few times where the character’s various struggles can become perhaps overly heavy, and where some of the humor can feel a little jolting as a result.

Embers of War could easily be read as a standalone, but I’m so invested in the characters that I can’t wait to read the sequel. Wonderful, deep characters make this story come alive and the deep world building hooks and engages you. Powell is giving us something special here.

8.5/10

4.25/5 stars.

5 – I loved this, couldn’t put it down, move it to the top of your TBR pile
4 – I really enjoyed this, add it to the TBR pile,
3 – It was ok, depending on your preferences it may be worth your time
2 – I didn’t like this book, it has significant flaws and I can’t recommend it
1 – I loathe this book with a most loathsome loathing

Published posthumously in 2019, Warrior of the Altaii is an entirely new story from acclaimed author Robert Jordan. Originally written in the late 1970s, it tells the story of a barbarian people living on the plains between nearly impassable mountains and the cities closer to the lusher lands near the coasts. It’s full of tropes, and plenty of ideas that one can see as being prototypes for the Wheel of Time. But it also tells a moving story about a people who risk losing themselves in order to survive.

Warrior of the Altaii is classic quest and adventure fantasy. Those familiar with Jordan’s Conan novels will find plenty of similarities. We’re dealing with a physically strong, determined, and confident male hero who will let nothing stand in the way of him accomplishing his goals. It’s certainly a fun story, and I particularly enjoyed some of the dialog and banter between a couple of the characters. In many ways, this book was filled with nostalgia for me, even though I’d never read it before. For readers who have enjoyed fantasy novels from the 70s and 80s, this will feel very much like returning to those decades. The setting is a bit vanilla, but doesn’t get in the way of anything. The plot is interesting if straightforward and the characters have that archetypal quality to them that so many characters from the 70s have. We have the barbarian leader, the woman out of her depth, the mounted warrior culture, the wise witch, and plenty of others. If you enjoyed those tropes but want to see them in a fresh story, then this one is going to have very high appeal. A nostalgia read that is new is a rare thing, and Altaii scratches that itch very well.

On the other hand, weaknesses are often simply inversions of strengths and that’s certainly the case with this novel. This is male centric fantasy. There is a forced sex scene involving mental manipulation, and it reads a bit like an adolescent male’s wet dream. The world is heavily dominated by men and, the one female that questions this in the narrative, is beaten profusely and basically told that it’s how the world works so get used to it and don’t get any crazy ideas about women’s liberation. There is one scene where the MC, having been tortured, is being bathed by some young women and he finds them so drab, so uninterested in conversation, so unwilling to play “games” in the baths that he pats himself on the back for “suffering” them to bathe him. At some level, everything becomes a struggle between the sexes, and that struggle is partly worked out through sexual dominance. There are a number of fantasy elements that feel a bit piled on, and it lacks the deep and complex world building that we see in the Wheel of Time. This feels very much like a book from the 70s, with all of the weaknesses that that implies. It’s not that there isn’t a fun story in the midst of that, but one has to go in knowing what you’re getting.

Warrior of the Altaii is an interesting read that I might have enjoyed more as a relic of another era of fantasy writing than I did for its own sake. Nevertheless, it will appeal to fans of Robert Jordan and those looking for something new with a very much 70s fantasy vibe.

6.5/10

3.25/5 stars.

5 – I loved this, couldn’t put it down, move it to the top of your TBR pile
4 – I really enjoyed this, add it to the TBR pile
3 – It was ok, depending on your preferences it may be worth your time
2 – I didn’t like this book, it has significant flaws and I can’t recommend it
1 – I loathe this book with a most loathsome loathing

The Light of All that Falls is the beautiful, action packed conclusion to James Islington’s Licanius Trilogy. The narrative picks up roughly a year after the conclusion of An Echo of Things to Come and, while it pauses at a few points, doesn’t really let up until the final pages. This is fresh epic fantasy in the vein of the Wheel of Time. There is plenty for fans of complex world building to enjoy, as well as a deep magic system that plays a central role in the plot, political factions aplenty, and a cast of characters you love and care about.

For me, the area where Islington truly excels in The Light of All that Falls—and, really, in the entire trilogy—is how he deals with themes of destiny, fate, and redemption. My observation is that these sorts of themes are often difficult to deal with in fantasy. Prophecy can become a crutch for a story. The idea of destiny or fate either cheapens decisions that characters make or reduces the tension in the story to unacceptably low levels. Yet Islington manages to meet these challenges head on, giving us a beautiful story that questions fate and free will and suggests that maybe the issue isn’t so much the decisions one makes but one’s motivations in making them. Is complete and total freedom to decide one’s actions a blessing or a curse? And, going along with this, in what ways is one responsible for one’s actions if the past and future are entirely immutable? What if the past can be wiped out, are the consequences of decisions then entirely meaningless? As the characters wrestle with these sorts of questions, it never feels like the story gets bogged down. Rather, this is the natural progression of the various character arcs. Topping it all off is a story of redemption done so well that I lack the words to fully express how well Islington succeeded at writing a believable redemption arc. It doesn’t cheapen what characters have done or what victims have experienced. There are consequences. But there is always the possibility of redemption, and that’s a feeling I believe it’s incredibly difficult to capture. Islington threads that needle masterfully. All of this is made possible because of a complex plot involving time travel in a way that I’ve never quite seen in fantasy before. It’s unique and engaging and makes complete sense given the world and magic that the author has created.

The themes aren’t the only things to love about this novel. As I mentioned, there is a deep and multifaceted magic system in the world of the Licanius trilogy, and this final volume expands on and explains a number of elements that I was curious about given the previous two books. The plot itself is also quite complex, and I thought Islington did an excellent job of bringing all the various threads together in satisfying ways that felt natural without being overly predictable in this final volume. That’s something difficult to do when, because of time travel and prophecy, you literally already know what is going to happen in certain situations. Islington manages it with aplomb. I also continued to fall in love with these characters, and felt like almost every single character received enough narrative space to conclude their arcs well. Even the antagonists felt authentic and natural, like real people who very much believe they are right. Maybe the best way to say it is that all the various arcs were concluded in entirely satisfying ways.

My criticisms are few. There were a couple characters that sort of show up near the end and I felt like we didn’t fully know what had been going on with them. There were one or two other places where I felt like perhaps Islington ran into some page count issues and just didn’t have the time to fully land the plane. Happily, we’re talking about only a couple of secondary or tertiary plot points there, so it didn’t impact my enjoyment negatively.

The Light of All that Falls is complex, epic fantasy that deals wonderfully with ideas and themes in fresh ways. While feeling like a classic fantasy it does new and fresh things with old tropes and I enjoyed every moment of it. It will appeal most to fans of big, sprawling epics like Tad Williams’ Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn or Robert Jordan’s The Wheel of Time. I can’t wait to see what Islington gives us next!

9.2/10

4.6/5 stars.

5 – I loved this, couldn’t put it down, move it to the top of your TBR pile
4 – I really enjoyed this, add it to the TBR pile
3 – It was ok, depending on your preferences it may be worth your time
2 – I didn’t like this book, it has significant flaws and I can’t recommend it
1 – I loathe this book with a most loathsome loathing

I read Blood of Heirs last year and thoroughly enjoyed it, so when I realized Legacy of Ghosts was releasing, I knew I needed to pick it up right away and give it a read. I was not disappointed. Legacy picks up the story several years after Blood of Heirs concluded. Once it does begin, however, it doesn’t miss a beat. Wanstall-Burke quickly brings readers up to speed on what has happened in the intervening years and then we’re treated to a quickly moving plot that races to a satisfying and yet oh-so-enticing conclusion.

I loved both Ran and Lidan’s arcs in this book. Both were engaging, fun, and provided some excellent emotional beats. The early going in the two storylines was a tale of two stories for me, however. I immediately connected with Ran, enjoying the magical aspects of the story and his own growth in the years between Blood of Heirs and this story. I quickly had a sense of his growth and what he still struggled with, and the side characters who make up his team were a lot of fun. Lidan’s story, on the other hand, was a bit more complicated for me. Her family is so dysfunctional it hurts, and I felt—in the first twenty percent of the story—that Lidan continued to lack agency. That was a complaint of mine in the first book as well. I will admit to being a little concerned at the beginning of this book. I shouldn’t have been. Wanstall-Burke deftly weaves Lidan’s tale together in a way where we see tremendous growth in her. By the time I was a quarter of the way in, I was completely sold and loving it. The way the author tells the story makes Lidan an incredibly compelling character and I loved her arc in this one. Wanstall-Burke also excels at dropping breadcrumbs in her story, little bits of foreshadowing that have significant payoff in the second half of the book. This was wonderful and gave a coherence to the story that was tremendous. These elements combine to give us a back half that is amazing at moments and shocking at others. The payoffs are big. The themes that come together—like choice—are meaningful, and the character interactions are magnificent. The pacing also deserves praise in bringing this all together. It is incredibly even throughout. It builds steadily, changing back and forth between Lidan’s and Ran’s perspectives, always keeping you engaged. Then, it builds to a crescendo of a climax that leaves you longing for that third book.

My dislikes are truly more about personal preference than any deficiencies in the story itself. For instance, I thoroughly enjoyed the magic in this book and loved how it had significant impact on the plot. But there were moments when I was left scratching my head a little about the rules of the magic or why something worked this way but not that way. I guess I would have liked to have seen a little more explanation of the mechanics of the magic to understand more the way it was impacting the plot.

Legacy of Ghosts is an action-packed, perfectly paced tale that has wonderful and engaging emotional moments. It builds on the foundation left by the first book and sets things up for what should be a stunning and spectacular conclusion to the trilogy.

8.8/10

4.4/5 stars.

5 – I loved this, couldn’t put it down, move it to the top of your TBR pile
4 – I really enjoyed this, add it to the TBR pile
3 – It was ok, depending on your preferences it may be worth your time
2 – I didn’t like this book, it has significant flaws and I can’t recommend it
1 – I loathe this book with a most loathsome loathing

Will Wight gives us a fantastic start to his Elder Empire series in Of Shadow and Sea. This first book represents one of the more unique ways to write a fantasy series. Of Shadow and Sea covers the same events as Wight’s Of Sea and Shadow. But the protagonists in this book are the antagonists in that one, and vice-versa. Even knowing that makes for an interesting and engaging story, and I imagine reading both of the books will provide varying perspectives on all the characters in a truly unique way. But apart from the concept and unique structure of the story, this novel shines all on its own.

There is so much to praise in this start to the Elder Empire series it’s difficult to know exactly where to start. I suppose the first element of the story to jump out at me was the world building. This is one of Wight’s most unique worlds—and that’s saying something coming from an author who typically crafts deep and engaging settings for his stories. The Elders and Elderspawn are interesting and mysterious, and Wight offers details here and there about their nature and origins that are truly tantalizing. There is an island that features in the plot that is entirely covered in skin. As in…not dirt, but skin. It’s creepy and weird and so unique. What’s most important to me, however, is the way the world building draws you into the story. The unique setting is used to great effect in conveying the tale Wight wants to tell and it ends up being more than simply a fun backdrop. The magic system that exists in this world is another favorite element for me. There are so many layers to the system that are interrelated. We have Soulbound, able to perform certain magics based on their vessel. This is cool on its own, but then there are Readers, individuals able to read an object’s history, understand the object, and inject more intent into it—and do other impressive things to boot. To say more might be spoilery, but the various functions interrelate and make for an exquisitely complex magic system that Wight manages to communicate without ever resorting to paragraphs and paragraphs of exposition. Of course, beyond this world building are the characters. Each of the characters are interesting and feel real and authentic. It’s also fascinating to realize, as you’re reading, that your story’s heroes are another story’s villains, and that villain who you perceive as self-serving is some else’s hero. It’s very meta, and Wight is undoubtedly making a statement about perspective that’s equal parts fun and profound.

There were a couple small things that didn’t connect with me. I sometimes found the characters, both the heroes and the villains, to lack emotional connection for me. Frankly, this might be because I was thinking a little too much about them, rather than just feeling with them. But there were moments when I felt like I should have felt more emotion for them, and I just didn’t. Pacing was another area where things felt a little uneven for me. It wasn’t bad, or slow, but once or twice in the novel I felt like maybe the pacing was just slightly off. It’s possible this is a result of needing the story to line up and maintain adequate pacing across two entirely separate novels.

Of Shadow and Sea is a unique novel in concept, in execution, and in terms of setting. It’s wonderfully engaging, a ton of fun to read, and plays with perspective and who the good guys are in absolutely fascinating ways. A wonderful start to a series, this is one worth grabbing at your next opportunity.

8.8/10

4.4/5 stars.

5 – I loved this, couldn’t put it down, move it to the top of your TBR pile
4 – I really enjoyed this, add it to the TBR pile
3 – It was ok, depending on your preferences it may be worth your time
2 – I didn’t like this book, it has significant flaws and I can’t recommend it
1 – I loathe this book with a most loathsome loathing

The Gilded Wolves came highly recommended to me, and so when I noticed it at my local library, I couldn’t help but pick it up. What I found was a fun, if at times angsty, tale set in an 19th century France where magic is common. It didn’t check every box, but what it got right it got right nearly perfectly.

We’ll start with what I loved, and first and foremost on that list is the banter. Chokshi writes brilliant, punchy dialog. When the characters on the team get going, you just sort of want them to never stop because the dialog is so fun and witty and engaging. This is basically a fantasy Ocean’s 11, with a much smaller team. Heist novels often contain some great character banter, and Chokshi’s tale is no exception. The overall plot was also interesting, and seeing the characters undertake several heists, bringing their own talents to the table in various ways, was a highlight of the novel for me. There are also some very tense moments during these heists. Overall the plot is well done, easy to following, and—for me—it was a highlight of the novel. The magic is also neat. The magic focuses on objects and people who are capable of making certain types of objects that are essentially enchanted. This plays in perfectly with the heist plot. Add in some world building and history around the main character who has been denied his birthright and you have the ingredients for what could be a truly epic story that has great depth to it.

Unfortunately, all those ingredients didn’t come together perfectly for me. While the plot was fun and there were tense moments, I ultimately found things a bit too predictable. More disappointing was that I didn’t notice much character growth throughout the novel. While it was interesting to read about the characters and get to know them, and they had great banter, I didn’t feel like they changed much from the beginning to the end. Combined with a somewhat predictable plot, this makes it hard to give an unequivocal recommendation on this one. I was also unclear on exactly how old these characters were supposed to be. I guess they’re supposed to be late teens, but they seem significantly older. This dissonance constantly intruded on the story for me.

Chokshi’s The Gilded Wolves is going to appeal to plenty of folks. Those looking for a French inspired story will certainly find that here. The banter is wonderful at points and there are some tender moments between characters. But those moments never really blossom into changes or transformation for those characters and none of the elements managed to cohere for me. It’s an intriguing read, but it doesn’t quite rise to its full potential.

6.0/10

3/5 stars.

5 – I loved this, couldn’t put it down, move it to the top of your TBR pile
4 – I really enjoyed this, add it to the TBR pile
3 – It was ok, depending on your preferences it may be worth your time
2 – I didn’t like this book, it has significant flaws and I can’t recommend it
1 – I loathe this book with a most loathsome loathing

Pauper’s Empire continues the story begun in Beggar’s Rebellion, and that story is epic and sweeping while feeling quite personal because of the focus on a comparatively small cast of characters. Levi Jacobs excels at giving us an action-packed plot that rarely lets off the gas. The Resonant Saga is a lot of fun and will appeal especially to fans of Brandon Sanderson.

There is a lot that I loved about this second book in the series. Pauper’s Empire takes everything I enjoyed about Beggar’s Rebellion and continues doing it well. Probably the best part of this novel, like its predecessor, is the magic system. We continue to learn and discover more about the magic, and I love how the magic feels even deeper by the end of the novel. There’s still more to discover, to be sure, but we’re beginning to see just how complex and engaging the magic is—and it’s awesome. Jacobs is careful to make the reveals about the magic exciting by linking them with character growth or an important plot point. This helps ensure that the magic doesn’t feel tacked on, or infodumpy, but instead a natural part of the world that we’re discovering along with the characters. If I can make a blunt statement: if you enjoy hard magic systems, you’re going to love this book. There are simply no two ways about it. The magic is cool and engaging and fun enough all by itself to make this a worthy read. There are plenty of other strengths to the story, however. Battle sequences and fight scenes are another area where the novel shines. Not only are they pulse-pounding, but they are described in a way that sticks with you, creating cinematic images in the mind. The overall pacing of the novel is also well done, giving the reader ebbs and flows to the action. This helps to create space for one of the other aspects of the novel that I really enjoyed: characters dealing with real issues. Jacobs tackles issues of racism and colonialism in these novels, and he does so in ways that feel authentic. While some characters want to build a world that feels different from the one they were oppressed in, other characters want to use their newfound power to ensure they’ll never be oppressed again by oppressing those who once wronged them. It’s a natural reaction and one any human being can relate to, and Jacobs uses this to elevate his story beyond a mere action flick. This added depth to the characters, as they struggle to figure out their world and themselves, is wonderful.

The weaknesses of the novel parallel its strengths. The magic system is definitely inspired by Sanderson’s work, and so for those who don’t enjoy Sanderson it might be a deterrent. While I find the magic to be Sanderson-esque without being derivative, others might wish for more originality. Another weakness is that at times it can feel as if character growth comes a little too suddenly. This is particularly true for one character who struggles with racism for much of the novel. Perhaps the most frustrating weakness, for me, was that there are a number of typos throughout the novel.

Pauper’s Empire is a fantastic read with a nuanced and deep magic system. The characters feel authentic in their struggles and the focus on those struggles keeps the novel from feeling like a cheap action flick. It’s fun but also engaging. This is one I thoroughly enjoyed and I look forward to continuing the series!

8.0/10

4/5 stars.

5 – I loved this, couldn’t put it down, move it to the top of your TBR pile
4 – I really enjoyed this, add it to the TBR pile
3 – It was ok, depending on your preferences it may be worth your time
2 – I didn’t like this book, it has significant flaws and I can’t recommend it
1 – I loathe this book with a most loathsome loathing

Dispel Illusion is the conclusion to Mark Lawrence’s Impossible Times trilogy. Like its two predecessors, this is a twisty tale with wonderful sci-fi underpinnings. But where this one truly excels is in giving an entirely satisfying conclusion to the various threads left hanging by the first two novels in the series. Lawrence has given us an ending to his trilogy that sticks the landing.

Like the previous two books in the series, Lawrence does a fantastic job of crafting the character of Nick Hayes. The first-person perspective is wonderfully written. In this novel we see events in various years throughout the timeline that has been established by the previous books. Lawrence uses this to great effect, showing us a character that is growing and changing, right before our eyes. The characterization has been spot on in the entire series, and this concluding volume is no exception to that. This is certainly true for Nick, but extends to the other characters as well. If you enjoy wonderfully crafted characters, this is definitely a series to enjoy. This volume has less discussions of quantum theory, relying on what has been established already in the series. This allows the discussion to turn more to questions of inevitability, fate, destiny, and how decisions have meaning—or not. But these very philosophical ideas are grounded in down-to-earth characters. The action never really lets up, either, keeping the pages turning until the very end. Beyond even this, the plotting and reveals in this one were amazing. I can’t give details because of spoilers, but everything—every single question—someone could possibly have left after reading One Word Kill is tied up. The way the plot intersects with what we already know, but still keeps us on the edge of our seats, is fabulous. I’m not sure what more I can say. I loved this one and was on the edge of my seat the entire time. Well done!

There isn’t much to dislike about Dispel Illusion, either. I might have liked to have seen just a little more resolution for some of the side characters—one in particular—but I don’t know that the story demanded it. Having stuck the landing so well, adding more might not have been wise. There was also an element to this one where I felt like, being the third in the series, the ideas weren’t quite as fresh as in One Word Kill, but again, that’s to be expected.

I highly recommend this novel. Lawrence gives a wonderful example of what it looks like to end a series well, in a satisfying manner, with all the threads wrapped up but without feeling too tidy. I loved this one, and if you’ve enjoyed the rest of the Impossible Times trilogy, I think you will too.

9/10

4.5/5 stars.

5 – I loved this, couldn’t put it down, move it to the top of your TBR pile
4 – I really enjoyed this, add it to the TBR pile
3 – It was ok, depending on your preferences it may be worth your time
2 – I didn’t like this book, it has significant flaws and I can’t recommend it
1 – I loathe this book with a most loathsome loathing