Tigest Girma returns to the world of Uxlay in her Ethiopian vampiric dark academia trilogy for the second bloody - and just a tad bit spicy - round ofTigest Girma returns to the world of Uxlay in her Ethiopian vampiric dark academia trilogy for the second bloody - and just a tad bit spicy - round of fantasy politicking and power grabbing. Though it’s a long book, it doesn’t catch quite as much of a bad case of Sophomore Slump as you might think. Especially with the ongoing story thread of House Adane being in danger of losing their position in the hierarchy, which makes the other houses’ announcements of their votes, slowly paced for suspense, easily the best part of the book. Goodreads hasn’t officially posted the third book yet, but I’m confident Girma will publish it soon and stick the landing. ...more
Joe Hill's always been his father's son, but never does it feel more apparent than in this latest epic novel, his first in a decade, almost 900 pages Joe Hill's always been his father's son, but never does it feel more apparent than in this latest epic novel, his first in a decade, almost 900 pages of sprawling dark academia fueled by CIA-grade weed and other pharmaceuticals. Think Death Note meets Ninth House, but instead of a sole sociopath who happens to come across Death's book, or a troubled young woman swept into a secret society in the Ivies, we have a ragtag band of misfits in 1980s New England and beyond who find a certain book bound in the necromantic skin of its own author and use it to summon a mythomagical dragon to get one of them out of a really truly shitty deal. And the dragon, like so many of his ilk, is ever hungry and curses them to a lifetime of obedience, which - fueled, again, by the CIA-grade weed given to Colin's grandfather, ostensibly as treatment for AIDS but truly to keep him placated since he knows all this country's dirty little 20th century secrets - comes off like an allegory for the misguided "justice" of America as the world police. Let's just say this book would always have been scarily timed, but finishing it right before Trump went and started an illegal, immoral incursion into Venezuela? Neither Joe Hill nor Stephen King could've predicted how creepy that was....more
I found this indie SFF novel on the shelf at the Sherwood Bookstore in the outermost suburbs of Portland, and while the author’s website indicated thaI found this indie SFF novel on the shelf at the Sherwood Bookstore in the outermost suburbs of Portland, and while the author’s website indicated that it wouldn’t necessarily be in bookstores unless specifically ordered, I guess the people of Sherwood must’ve made that order. The book was also in stock at the Multnomah County Library in Portland, allowing me to get a copy in short order and read it almost as quickly. It’s a serviceably rollicking adventure, equal parts Firefly, One Piece, and Guardians of the Galaxy, with a touch of Matthew Reilly in the DNA as well to make it readable in one sitting despite its nearly 600 page length. I’ll have to keep an eye out for the sequel, though since this is indie, it may not necessarily stick to any annual timetable…...more
I didn't realize until very recently, while visiting Barnes & Noble, that Kevin Hearne had written a new spinoff series from the world of The Iron DruI didn't realize until very recently, while visiting Barnes & Noble, that Kevin Hearne had written a new spinoff series from the world of The Iron Druid Chronicles, and that it was a complete trilogy centered on Glaswegian mage Al MacBharrais, who's had a few curses on his heid and that in recent years. He can't speak without triggering an intense hatred from other people (thankfully this effect only comes about if he's in their presence for a short while, not instantaneously, though he still needs to rely on writing out his words or using text-to-speech programs that never have Glaswegian voices to choose from), and his apprentices have all been dying mysterious deaths, with the seventh in a row now the subject of a police investigation. It's a pretty quick and easy read just like the Iron Druid novels that came before it, and I've already got the remaining two books on my shelf ready to read very soon....more
I wanted to like this book, but I guess after the phenomenal thrills of Coldwire I’m in a bit of a reading slump. At first this one felt like it’d be I wanted to like this book, but I guess after the phenomenal thrills of Coldwire I’m in a bit of a reading slump. At first this one felt like it’d be a good addition to the YA dystopia ranks, but it certainly doesn’t match the highs and lows of the great classics in the style. The book toggles between far too many POV’s whom I have difficulty distinguishing, and the world building feels pretty thin on the ground. It’s not an immersive world at all, so it’s an official DNF from me, I’m sad to say....more
After a couple of years’ hiatus following that big double header a couple years back, Seanan McGuire brings back her best protagonist for her 19th advAfter a couple of years’ hiatus following that big double header a couple years back, Seanan McGuire brings back her best protagonist for her 19th adventure in the Faerie knowes of San Francisco and beyond, where the pieces left behind by Titania’s alternate universe spell still need to be picked up. Namely, the theft of a good number of royal artifacts. And also the fact that Toby is pregnant now, and missed several months of that while under Titania’s evil spell. And the fact that the Luidaeg wants to be the baby’s godparent (an unnerving proposition to say the least.) While McGuire’s other worlds have been unhooking me as a reader during Toby’s hiatus - I’m especially looking at InCryptid with its increased emphasis on the cuckoos and how, unintentionally or otherwise, they include almost every negative autistic stereotype you can think of - it’s Toby’s world I’ve been looking forward to returning to the most. And on the 19th novel in the series, McGuire again delivers a fast paced, rollicking adventure worthy of any Faerie kingdom’s treasure....more
If I remember correctly, Pibling Z announced this series with only two books to start, but reading this quick little all-ages thriller makes it clear If I remember correctly, Pibling Z announced this series with only two books to start, but reading this quick little all-ages thriller makes it clear that there has to be at least one more to resolve certain cliffhangers. As a loyal Z Brewer Minion Horde reader almost all the way back to the beginning of their career, this book gave me flashbacks to the original Chronicles of Vladimir Tod something fierce, with Viktor having to deal with not only friendship drama with Damon, but Alys as well. Not to mention Joss McMillan being back in the picture to train Alys as a Slayer, October still refusing to speak to Joss even though she's married to his cousin Henry...and, of course, Lilith being Lilith and lurking on the periphery with her unknowable, mysterious schemes. And it happens that I read this book on the same evening when I cracked open a bottle of Sprite Vanilla Frost, so similarly named to the Prairie Frost which Viktor drinks at times in this book. While I didn't get to read this one at Halloween (due in large part to my having moved in October of this year), hopefully if Book 3 comes along at Halloween next year, I'll be able to properly read it during that season......more
Another surprising new find in the mystery section of the Washington County library system, this is the first of a speculative new series of quasi fanAnother surprising new find in the mystery section of the Washington County library system, this is the first of a speculative new series of quasi fantastical historical thrillers set in medieval Italy and focusing on Rosaline, daughter of Romeo and Juliet, who faked their mutual suicide and broke free of their feuding families to start a family of their own. It’s a bizarre combo of Shakespearean wit and Rosaline’s twentysomething snark to lend the prose a modern twist or two. Naturally, literary professors would be liable to shit their pants reading this - I’m especially picturing David Strathairn’s character on A Man on the Inside - but for the rest of us, it’s a promising start to a new series, and while it doesn’t quite stick the landing, I’m still glad to have Book 2 on my shelf already....more
Set in the fictional Korean city of New Simsi, somewhere in the middle ground between the human world and the underworld, in 1992, is this combinationSet in the fictional Korean city of New Simsi, somewhere in the middle ground between the human world and the underworld, in 1992, is this combination of romantasy and mystery. Not really the cozy kind, but it’s a fast paced combo of love story and bizarre murder, following two figures from Korean folklore secretly pitted against each other despite their growing feelings - a fallen god serving as a grumpy cop, and a once murderous fox spirit now serving as a grumpier coffeehouse owner (and ironically, the first thing we know about her is that she hates the smell of coffee.) Unsurprisingly, this one proved to be a very fast read, done in one sitting....more
It’s a pretty dark story overall, with a bit of surprising blood, but it also feels cozy since it’s a mystery from the point of view of a very concernIt’s a pretty dark story overall, with a bit of surprising blood, but it also feels cozy since it’s a mystery from the point of view of a very concerned flock of Irish sheep. They’re smarter than your average livestock, thanks to George the shepherd actually reading to them (and flying in the face of all the anti intellectuals these days who discount the power of reading.) I first saw the sequel to this book at the library in my new hometown, and thankfully they had this first book in stock as well so I could try it out. Imagine my surprise when I find out that there’s a film adaptation planned for next year, with Oregon-based director Kyle Balda (from Illumination Studios) helming the project, and Craig Mazin of all people writing the script. This could be an interesting one to see in theaters for sure…...more
At this point, it’s safe to say that Bardugo has truly written for all ages, now that she’s collaborated with John Picacio on this lovely and moving pAt this point, it’s safe to say that Bardugo has truly written for all ages, now that she’s collaborated with John Picacio on this lovely and moving picture book. I’d almost forgotten about it, however, until I popped into Powell’s in my new hometown of Beaverton and saw this book almost perfectly front and center on a display for Hispanic Heritage Month. And now that Día de Muertos approaches, this book’s rumination on grief and how it affects children is perfectly timed, and I hope as many school librarians get to read this to as many kids as possible....more
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