“A Gathering of Shadows” is the sequel to “A Darker Shade of Magic” by V.E. Schwab who is perhaps better known as the YA and Scholastic author Victoria Schwab. I was introduced to her by my favorite independent bookstore when it featured A Darker Shade of Magic as it’s speculative fiction pick of the month last year. Filled with energy, adventure and characters you come to feel for, ADSoM was one of my favorite books of 2015. The end wraps things up nicely and so I […]
In Conclusion, Greg van Eekhout is one to watch
Dragon Coast satisfyingly concludes the Daniel Blackland trilogy by Greg van Eekhout. Reviews for the first two books in the series are here for book 1 and here for book 2. This entire trilogy was a joy from start to finish and as a result I look forward to what Greg has to write in the future. With each book he added depth to his magic systems, detail to the world and gave his characters room to grow. While I certainly hope Daniel get’s a much deserved rest […]
Hold on to your pants! Zero World is a thrilling ride
Zero World by Jason M. Hough was a recommended pick by my favorite Independent Bookstore. My husband read it and said I would love it. Then geek goddess Felicia Day couldn’t praise it highly enough and I finally decided to give it a go. Once started, I couldn’t put it down. This book lives up to the buzz it has generated. In a not to distant future when relatively near space travel has become routine, Archon corporation has developed technology to create the perfect assassin. […]
A Satisfying Sequel
“Pacific Fire” is the follow up to Greg Van Eekhout’s amazing “California Bones” in the Daniel Blackland series. Just as tightly written as the first book, “Pacific Fire” jumps forward 10 years and the Southern California kingdom is in a state of barely contained chaos. Powerful magic users and factions squabble for control, while everyone looks over their shoulder wondering if Northern California or other powers might swoop in during this time of political upheaval. “California Bones” is a very personal story, this time around the scope […]
Osteomancy: a magic system so good, you’ll eat it up!
In “California Bones”, Greg Van Eekhout has created an alternate version of our world where magic exists. New magic systems excite me, I love figuring out their rules and how they fit within society, and Greg Van Eekhout delivers in his first adult novel. California has seceded from the rest of the United States and Northern and Southern California are separate, hostile kingdoms. Southern California is ruled by The Heirarch. The Heirarch is the single most powerful osteomancer in Southern California, in part due to […]
I want to be a Lumberjane
…they sound better than Girl Scouts! After tearing threw Nimona, I was pleased to have another Noelle Stevenson graphic novel around to immediately devour. The design of the book is really nifty as the layout makes it seem as though you are reading this adventure inside of a Lumberjane’s Field Manual. As a fairly new Girl Scout troop leader I loved reading parts of the field guide, learning about their badges and the appropriate way to wear a uniform. Each chapter ends with “pictures” of […]