Gunmetal Magic is a story about Andrea, best friend to Kate Daniels aka The One the Series Is Named After. Goodreads summarizes the story thusly: “After being kicked out of the Order of the Knights of Merciful Aid, Andrea’s whole existence is in shambles. She tries to put herself back together by working for Cutting Edge, a small investigative firm owned by her best friend. When several shapeshifters working for Raphael Medrano—the male alpha of the Clan Bouda, and Andrea’s former lover—die unexpectedly at a […]
Written in Red, by Anne Bishop
Humans and Others have long held an uneasy truce. Most of the wild places are Other controlled, but humans have persevered and cities have grown. As part of the truce, and to stay close to the human innovations they have come to appreciate, the Others are given a “courtyard” in most cities, where they live by their laws and unwanted trespassers are usually listed as “special meat” the next morning at the butcher shop. On a stormy winter night, Meg arrives freezing and scared, and […]
A bird in a gilded cage
Oh, man. I really feel like I’ve been to the circus. A crazy, trippy sci-fi circus, but still. Enough to go around. I’ve heard Angela Carter’s name bandied about the contemporary British field/feminist literature field, and this work in particular, so I thought it would be good to know my field even better. The novel takes place in three parts, for the three major “stages” of the circus’s trip: London, St. Petersburg, and Siberia. In London, we become acquainted with Sophie Fevvers through journalist Jack […]
In which I call the Giver a d*ck
Jonas lives in a world that is perfectly organised. And yet he is apprehensive because in December the Appointment Ceremony will take place. This is his 13th year and thus he will be appointed training for the task he will perform for the rest of his adulthood. But as Jonas’ friends receive regularly jobs he is passed over until, at last, he is given the task of “The Receiver”. The Receiver carries all memory from back and back and back. It is told that this is […]
The one with all the Harry Dresden short stories
This is a collection of short stories featuring Harry Dresden, and Jim Butcher introduces each one, explaining which collection it was first included in, or what purpose it was written for. I wouldn’t advise anyone who hasn’t read up to, and finished, at least book 12, Changes, as the last novella in the book takes place immediately after the events in that book, and it contains several spoilers. This month’s monthly motif is Short and Sweet, to read short story collection or anthologies. Which fit pretty much perfectly for me […]
Angels and demons, trying to find common ground in the face of near-impossible odds
This is the third and concluding volume in a trilogy. I’m not sure I can actually review it without spoiling some of the previous books, so if you haven’t read them, skip this for now. Do check out the previous two books, though, as they are YA fantasy at its best. Book 1, Daughter of Smoke and Bone is reviewed here, and book 2, Days of Blood and Starlight is here. I can also heartily recommend the companion novella Night of Cake and Puppets for those who have read the first […]