When you first become a writer the first piece of advice you hear is, “Read!” After you’ve been at it for a few years, maybe have a few pieces published, maybe not, the most common piece of advice is still “Read!” Read inside your genre. Read outside your genre. Read style guides and how-to books. Read the classics. Read pop-literature…. Read more »
With the Kingdom of Zihaen at peace, Uwella and Damion return to their own land, Vavaun, to unite their divided houses and save their home from the Dar’khmorth. With evil sorcerers terrorizing the land and only two teenaged fire warriors aiding them in their efforts, the two will have an uphill battle, even with their abilities to turn into fierce… Read more »
Mutation is an exciting, action-packed, zombie-filled thrill ride with something for undead fans and non-fans alike. Alex MacCallum thought life had gone back to normal. Sure, he’s stigmatized like everyone else who recovered from the zombie virus, but at least no one’s munching on other humans anymore. That is until a new strain surfaces, turning its victims into monsters faster… Read more »
Twiceborn is everything I wish adult fantasy was. The protagonist is a believable adult, the action is exciting, every scene and interaction either moves the story forward or builds character, and the plot had me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. Kate O’Connor is merely going through the motions of living. Now that her son has passed… Read more »
“The Axe and the Throne” is a gritty thrill ride across a realm that puts the “Epic” in “Epic Fantasy.” Its characters are complex and compelling and the world building is thorough (even if it’s not the most original), but the way the story is told makes it hard to get invested in either of those elements. Tallos travels north… Read more »
In 2015, 18-year-old blogger Gweneth Batemen conducted a personal experiment: when men on social media complimented her on her appearance she would acknowledge that what they said was true. The men would usually revoke the compliment as if Batemen’s confirmation somehow voided the fact that she was physically attractive. Whether she was polite or snarky to the people in question,… Read more »
With its captivating setting, riveting plot, and heart-pounding action, “Moonchild” is a much needed breath of fresh air in the world of YA fantasy. I’d say the same in the context of New Adult fantasy as well since the novel teeters between the two, which works to its benefit. Whichever age bracket you want to put it is, mature YA… Read more »
With a bounty on her head and her pursuers closing in, Cyriana has little choice but to take a job stealing from Starwatch, a prestigious institute of learning, to get out of Dodge. With a carefully chosen team of liars, cheats, and thieves at her side, Cyriana throws herself into the most dangerous caper of her life in the hope… Read more »
Despite popular mockery and academic criticism, it continues to outsell every genre, including Classic Literature, year after year. In 2014 alone, Americans spent 1.08 billion dollars on these books and it has sparked some the most people, and most hated, franchises in the last ten years with no signs of slowing down. I’m, of course, talking about Romance: A genre… Read more »
Since “Summer of my Fourteenth Year” was clearly Jim Meaders’ first novel, I tried to cut it some slack. Despite its flaws, it had some clever ideas, funny scenarios and was overall a creative story. All of that seems to have been thrown away in the next installment of James’ whacky adventures, “Hitchhikers in Each Other’s Mind,” resulting in a… Read more »
The picture above is me. My father is a fair-skinned black man and my mother is an EXTREMELY fair-skinned white woman, which is why I look the way I do. Due to my mixed heritage, I have a very complicated relationship with my unbelievably curly hair. When it grows, it doesn’t get long, it gets big. And by big… Read more »
This book was given to me for free in return for an honest review. “Gods Inc.” is a creative thrill ride with plenty of twists and turns to keep readers engaged from start to finished, but its unstable world building and bland protagonist hold it back from being anything truly spectacular, which is rather unfortunate considering its potential. David Sands… Read more »
“The Summer of my Fourteenth Year” is an odd little book with what seems like a simple premise until Meaders gives it the most unexpected and creative one-eighty. Meaders essentially takes Ralphie from “A Christmas Story” and has him narrate an episode of “The Twilight Zone.” As crazy as that sounds, it actually works. The end result is a zany… Read more »
No matter the medium, it seems like entertainment is playing a key role in society’s acceptance of LGBT+ people. It still has a long way to go, like the rest of the world, but one can’t deny that queer characters are showing up more frequently on our screens and in our books. From Cam and Mitch on Modern Family, to… Read more »
