The Fox Maidens by Robin Ha
I started The Fox Maidens by Robin Ha as an online reader. However, it was only a sample of about half of the graphic novel. I was both “OH! Now what????” and “Eh…I get the idea…do I go on?” I decided to go on and asked at my local library for a copy. It took a bit, but it was mostly worth the wait. Ha is the delightful author of Almost American Girl: An Illustrated Memoir. And though The Fox Maidens is fiction, I expected […]
The Undermining of Twyla and Frank by Megan Bannen
Twyla and Frank are both 53 years old. They are solidly middle aged protagonists who look and act like people in their mid 50s. As a mid 50’s person myself, I loved this. Love, love, loved it! There were also other things I loved, but I really need you to know that a 53 year old woman is wooed by two men, befriends dragons and saves the day. Life for the Tanrian Marshals has quieted down since Hart Ralston solved the drudge problem in The […]
Kings of the Wyld by Nicholas Eames
This was an engaging fantasy adventure featuring middle-aged men, which is a nice change of pace, although it does make the story a bit “bro-y” at times (e.g., comments about “whoring” around). Eames uses the conceit of a band of mercenaries being comparable to a rock band/boy band. They have fans who know of them and are eager to meet them, and they even have people who book mercenary gigs for them. It’s a fun gimmick. The story is told from Clay Cooper’s perspective. He […]
A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin
The Tombs of Atuan by Ursula K. Le Guin
The Farthest Shore by Ursula K. Le Guin
The thrill that comes from reading a classic of any particular genre is you get to see the early formation of that particular class of fiction. That can also be a problem, as the object of inspiration often leads to greater literary feats that can sometimes make the early attempts feel underwhelming. That’s sort of how I felt about the first three books in the Earthsea series, though I definitely got more engaged as I made my way through the trio. A Wizard of Earthsea […]
The Last Phi Hunter by Salinee Goldenberg
Thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the ARC. It hasn’t affected the content of my review. This was an interesting debut. Not perfect, 3.5 stars, but I enjoyed myself! Before I talk about the book itself, regarding the audio, I wish I had done the hard copy instead. The narrator wasn’t bad necessarily, but he didn’t bring anything to the narrative, either. It was a pretty meh listening experience, and I’m pretty sure he negatively affected my enjoyment of the book, so keep that […]
Can't Spell Treason Without Tea (Tomes & Tea, #1) by Rebecca Thorne
I’m so sad rn, but this was so dull. Cozy fantasy should still have emotional stakes. I’m actually writing this review straightly upon finishing because I just want to be done with it (barring my May YouTube wrap-up, but talking is easier than writing). Like many, I have been really, really into this cozy fantasy thing since Legends and Lattes first did its thing, and unfortunately, I think this author learned the wrong lessons from that book, which she tells us in the afterword was a huge […]
