Putting the Fact in Fantasy contains 52 essays meant to help fantasy authors build believable worlds. This is an excellent resource that I'll use in my own writing.
politics
Review: The Conductors
The Conductors by Nicole Glover is a wonderful introduction to Hetty Rhodes and her sigil magic. This opening to the Murder & Magic series had me glued to the page. 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: 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: 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: 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.
Review: A Radical Act of Free Magic
A Radical Act of Free Magic continues where A Declaration of the Rights of Magicians left off. This wonderful blend of history and the supernatural delighted me until the end. Highly recommended.
Review: A Declaration of the Rights of Magicians
H.G. Parry created an entertaining book about the politics of abolition in England and France prior to the French Revolution. "A Declaration of the Rights of Magicians" was a fantastic, fun, and fast read. Highly recommended.
Review: When the Sparrow Falls
The gritty world of Neil Sharpson's When the Sparrow Falls stayed with me long after I finished. This dystopian thriller is highly recommended to SF and mystery fans.