Fantasy
Fantasy novels are speculative fiction stories with imaginary characters set in imaginary universes. They’re inspired by mythology and folklore and often include elements of magic. The genre attracts both children and adults; well-known titles include Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll and the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling.
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Book Review: King Arthur and the Ladies of the Lake
This new version of the Arthurian mythos shines a light on the women in Arthur's life. Primarily, they are Guinevere, the Lady of the Lake, and his mother and sisters.
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Book Review: Gods, Myths and Mortals: Edmund Dulac’s American Weekly Illustrations
In the 1931 series, "Love Stories the Ancients Believed In", eleven couples have been featured by the artist in a pivotal moment of their relationships. Well, actually ten couples. Poor Eros is unable…
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Book Review: A Girl and her Demon
While I wouldn't want to meet Millicent in a dark alley, ever, I found her demon to be rather likeable, in spite of his appetite for knowledge (you'll laugh at that later).
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Book Review: Thorns Among Shadows
I will admit that fantasy is not my most-read genre. For me to give a fantasy story five stars is a big deal, but Thorns Among Shadows earned every one of them.
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Book Review: The Death Bringer
I’ve just finished the final book in J. Scott Coatsworth’s Tharassas Cycle series. I’m willing to wait a day, possibly two, before I’ll start demanding a never-ending supply of short stories set on…
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Book Review: Bookshops & Bonedust
There's books I read for eyepopping excitement and outrageous plotlines... and there's books I read when I want a literary hug and snuggle.
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Book Review: The Hencha Queen
The Hencha Queen by J. Scott Coatsworth My rating: 5 of 5 stars I dove into the third installment of J. Scott Coatsworth’s Tharassas Cycle series eagerly. Silya’s status as the Hencha Queen…
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Book Review: Midnight Blue-Light Special
What a ride! (Or should I say, what a run across the rooftops?) I loved InCryptid #1, Discount Armageddon, so I cracked into Midnight Blue-Light Special with high hopes.
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Book Review: Beetle Shiny, Beetle Blue
I've been reading Steampunk novels ever since the genre arrived. Over the years, steampunk authors have had a tendency to evolve towards writing in a hybrid genre - such as mysteries with a…
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Book Review: Death and the Taxman
As a fan of Terry Pratchett's version of Death, I was easily pulled into this story by the blurb's promise of death cheating hijinks and hilarity. And as a former cubicle dweller and…
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Book Review: The Gauntlet Runner
Picking up right where The Dragon Eater left off, J. Scott Coatsworth’s The Gauntlet Runner continues the story of Raven, Aik, Silya, and Spin.
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Book Review: The Husbands
I'm a sucker for a good book blurb. I know how hard it can be to write one that's short while also compelling. "Do you take this man? No? What about this one?"…
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Book Review: The Dispatcher #2, Murder by Other Means
I love how Scalzi created a concept and then explores all its possibilities. I was darkly amused by the entertainment possibilities of experiencing death just for the thrill of it.
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Book Review: Legends & Lattes
Our protagonist, Viv, is an orc who’s grown weary of the fighting life, so she retires to the city of Thune to build a coffee shop. Amusingly, no one in Thune even knows…
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Book Review: The Dispatcher
A big concept in a small story. That ratio is perfect, since we the readers are expected to not only accept an absurd phenomenon, but embrace it. We're not alone though, as the…
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Book Review: The Fairy Bargains of Prospect Hill
The ability to make bargains with the supernatural is a compelling notion. Whether the bargain is made with a jar of graveyard dirt, cat bones, a photograph, and yarrow buried at a crossroads,…
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Book Review: Lost Kingdom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars Laurel Black has created a fantasy tale with a nail-bitingly difficult and twisty quest, multi-faceted dual protagonists, and an impressive array of secondary characters. And, she believes…
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Book Review: Discount Armageddon
The first book in the InCryptid series is also my first introduction to Seanan McGuire, and it's certainly not going to be the last book of hers I read. In fact, I can…
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Book Review: Heir of Uncertain Magic
The second book in the Whimbrel House series picks up where Keeper of Enchanted Rooms left off. Merritt and Hulda's attraction to each other continues moving at a snail's pace towards a full-blown…
- Action and Adventure, Book Reviews, Coming of Age, Fantasy, Magical Realm, Middle Grade, Suspense and Thriller
Book Review: Vera Warden and the Two-Faced Demon
It’s always fun when I’m drawn into a book by its cover… and then find out that the story not only lives up to that cover, but exceeds my expectations. Author J. Rose’s Vera…
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Book Review: Seven Tales From King Arthur’s Court
With endless books being added daily to bookstore shelves (physical and virtual), it's easy to go 'deer in the headlights' while trying to select your next read. You hope it will provide entertainment…
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Book Review: The Insignificance Paradigm
A small act of kindness starts events in the small town of Luitgarde rolling towards a conclusion that nobody (including, hopefully, the reader) saw coming.
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Book Review: The Wizard’s Butler
"He thinks he's a wizard," they said. For five grand a month and a million dollar chaser, Roger Mulligan didn't care how crazy the old geezer was. All he had to do was…
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Book Review: The Last Dragonslayer
My book club chose this as our June read, and wow, am I glad we did. Our discussion was very lively, as all of us agreed that Jasper Fforde has created a fantastic…
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Book Review: Skyseeker’s Princess (Songs of Si’Empra, #1)
Set on Si’Empra, a beautiful but harsh Antarctic island in the Southern Sea, Skyseeker’s Princess introduces us to Ellen, a member of the island’s royal family. Ellen’s destiny was to become the next…
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Book Review: Kinship of a Dragon
Kinship of a Dragon by Charles D. Shell My rating: 5 of 5 stars Even though it’s been years since I read Charles D. Shell’s Dragon Called Blood, the first book in the…
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Book Review: The Witches of Bone Hill
If dark and stormy nights, eccentric Victorian mansions, atmospheric landscapes, chilling family crypts, strong magic, handsome yet brooding groundskeepers, and witchy family legacies appeal to you, this is your next read.
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Book Review: In Darkness: The Werewolf
Vickie is a young American woman who has come to England to attend fencing school. She soon finds herself attracted to her landlord's son, Nicholas. Just as romance begins to bloom, she discovers…
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Book Review: The Book of Gems
The Book of Gems by Fran Wilde My rating: 5 of 5 stars Fran Wilde has a knack for pulling readers under the skin of her well-crafted characters, where we intimately ride out…
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Book Review: The Dragon Eater
My reaction to reading this title was, “I have so many questions already.” The rest of the back cover blurb didn’t help that problem much. In fact, it raised many more.
