Friend of the Devil is a fast-paced, character driven mystery mixed with a horror novel set at an exclusive boarding school of the coast of Massachusetts. Stephen Lloyd created fascinating characters that push the pace and surprise us. Highly recommended.
Highly Recommended
Review: Age of Ash
Daniel Abraham's luxurious Age of Ash starts an ambitious new project focusing on a year in the life of Kithamar. Each book will have a different perspective. Age of Ash is Alys's book. Do yourself a favor and come meet this wily gal. Highly recommended.
Review: The Nineties
If you're also a child of the 90s, Chuck Klosterman's The Nineties will remind you of a simpler time where trying too hard was the worst thing you could do. Highly recommended.
Review: Engines of Empire
Engines of Empire by R. S. Ford should be on top of any fantasy fans to be read pile. This engaging story of a family drawn apart forced to fight for their empire delivers on all its promises. Highly recommended.
Review: How Civil Wars Start
Barbara F. Walter draws on her experience and research to deliver exactly on the promise of the book's title. How Civil Wars Start draws on historical analysis to point out the warning signs for trouble on the horizon. Highly recommended.
Review: The Justice of Kings
The Justice of Kings by Richard Swan features a medieval version of Judge Dredd with necromancy. There's great world building, depth of character, and an engaging plot. I'll be rereading this one soon for sure. Highly recommended.
Review: Far from the Light of Heaven
Tade Thompson's Far from the Light of Heaven explores the closed room mystery in the ultimate closed environment - a space ship far from Earth. This novel is full of interesting characters and big ideas. Highly recommended.
Review: The Loneliest Americans
Jay Caspian Kang’s The Loneliest Americans is a lovely, complicated, nuanced contemplation of the place of Asian immigrants and their descendants in the U.S. This book had me reflecting a lot on current current trends in politics. Highly, highly recommended.
Review: Three Girls from Bronzeville
Three Girls from Bronzeville by Dawn Turner moved me. This memoir about sticking together through the ups and downs of life struck a number of emotional chords. Lives that begin together can diverge in many ways, but with love and patience, they can also converge again. Thank you, Ms. Turner for writing this. Highly Recommended.
Review: The Splinter King
The Splinter King by Mike Brooks is a wonderful follow up to The Black Coast. Return to the world of dragons, sars, and raiders in this fun epic fantasy.