Tobi Ogundiran's In the Shadow of the Fall opens up a duology in which ambition leads to the re-ignition of an old war. Can Ashâke handle the consequences of her actions? Recommended.
Fantasy
Review: The Dead Cat Tail Assassins
The Dead Cat Tail Assassins by P. Djèlí Clark is a wonderful, action-packed book. Follow Eveen as she tries to unravel what is happening to her in this engrossing world. Highly recommended.
Review: The Silverblood Promise
The Silverblood Promise by James Logan exceeded all my expectations. This novel features a main character worth rooting for, a city worth exploring, and a plot worth reading. This is a promising debut and wonderful opening to The Last Legacy series. Highly recommended.
Review: The Tainted Cup
The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett is a delight to read. It's an innovative world filled with mystery and oddity. The characters are wonderful; the mystery is excellent; and the setting is fantastic. Highly recommended.
Review: The Olympian Affair
The Olympian Affair by Jim Butcher is a wonderful second book in the Cinder Spires series. It has epic sword fights, intrigue, and cats. It's full of politics, airships, and cats. Did I mention cats? Highly recommended.
Review: Traitor of Redwinter
Traitor of Redwinter by Ed McDonald returns readers to the wonderful world of Raine and the Draoihn. Magic, politics, treachery, mystery, and more await readers between these covers. McDonald explores more of the world he created in the first book, and readers get to enjoy that. Highly recommended.
Review: Kakistocracy
Kakistocracy by Alex Shvartsman is a fun sequel to The Middling Affliction. Conrad Brent is back and as snarky as ever. Highly recommended.
Review: The Hexologists
The Hexologists by Josiah Bancroft is a wonderful opening to a new fantasy series. These magical detectives will take you to imaginative places. Highly recommended.
Review: Red Rabbit
Red Rabbit by Alex Grecian is a Western novel mixed with supernatural horrors. It follows an odd group of individuals through a beautiful and brutal alternate Kansas. Highly recommended.
Review: Shigidi and the Brass Head of Obalufon
Shigidi and the Brass Head of Obalufon by Wole Talabi is a wonderful debut novel. The beginning was a bit slow for me, but the heist story was great fun. Recommended.