My review: Stephen King has written quite a lot, including some remarkable books and some less great ones. Years ago I decided to read his magnus opus, the extended Dark Tower series, and I have been slowly working my way through it. The previous installments have been a mixed bag, some mediocre, some good. This one... while entertaining at times I did not really enjoy it.
The Eyes of the Dragon is something between a fairy tale and a fantasy book. Once upon a time, in a kingdom called Delain, there was a king with two sons. The book covers the struggle for absolute power that utterly transforms the destinies of two brothers born into royalty.
The links with the Dark Tower series are not many, mainly the presence of Flagg, and a few characters with the same name of some of the Dark Tower's ones. You should definitely consider skipping this one. (★★)
Started: Nov 10 2024 Finished: Nov 29 2024

My review: I have read an enjoyed the previous instalment of the series, and I was looking forward reading this latest instalment.
In The Brides of High Hills cleric Chih accompanies a beautiful young bride to her wedding to the aging ruler of a crumbling estate situated at the crossroads of dead empires. The bride's party is welcomed with elaborate courtesies and extravagant banquets, but between the frightened servants and the cryptic warnings of the lord's mad son, they quickly realize that something is haunting the shadowed halls. As Chih and the bride-to-be explore empty rooms and desolate courtyards, they are drawn into the mystery of what became of Lord Guo's previous wives and the dark history of Do Cao itself. But as the wedding night draws to its close, Chih will learn at their peril that not all monsters are to be found in the shadows; some monsters hide in plain sight.
I really enjoyed the book, and I believe it to be among the best in the series. While the book blurb claims the book can be read in any order, I would not do that, I believe some background knowledge offered in the previous ones makes this one more enjoyable. (★★★★)
Started: Nov 07 2024 Finished: Nov 10 2024

My review: I previously read and loved other books by this author, and I was curious to read his first foray into YA, even if I am not always crazy about YA literature.
The book is thebeginning of an epic West African and African Diaspora-inspired fantasy adventure about a reluctant apprentice to magic and the stolen villagers she sets out to save. On the day of the Harvest Festival, the old woman who lives in the forest appears in Abeni's village with a terrible message: You ignored my warnings. It’s too late to run. They are coming. Warriors with burning blades storm the village. A man with a cursed flute plays an impossibly alluring song. And everyone Abeni has ever known and loved is captured and marched toward far-off ghost ships set for even more distant lands. But not Abeni. Abeni is magically whisked away by the old woman. In the forest, Abeni begins her unwanted magical apprenticeship, her journey to escape the witch, and her impossible mission to bring her people home. Abeni’s Song is the beginning of a timeless, enchanting fantasy adventure about a reluctant apprentice, a team of spirit kids, and the village they set out to save.
It's a great book, and I loved to have see something different from the usual European folklore inspired fantasy. I am looking forward to reading the next instalments. (★★★)
Started: Sep 01 2024 Finished: Oct 15 2024

My review: I have read and enjoyed the previous instalments of the Wayward Children series, and I was looking forward to read this latest one. I was not disappointed: the series seems to be getting better and better book after book.
This is the story of Antsy. She is the latest student to pass through the doors at Eleanor West's School for Wayward Children.
When her fellow students realize that Antsy's talent for finding absolutely anything may extend to doors, she's forced to flee in the company of a small group of friends, looking for a way back to the Shop Where the Lost Things Go to be sure that Vineta and Hudson are keeping their promise.
Along the way, temptations are dangled, decisions are reinforced, and a departure to a world populated by dinosaurs brings untold dangers and one or two other surprises!
A story that reminds us that finding what you want doesn't always mean finding what you need.
This is definitely enjoyable, I can't wait to read the next one! (★★★★)
Started: Oct 06 2024 Finished: Oct 13 2024

My review: This book is incredibly good, one of the best book I have ever read. I had loved the previous instalment of the series (The Radiant Emperor), but this second one is even better.
This is the story of Zhu Yuanzhang, the Radiant King, riding high after her victory that tore southern China from its Mongol masters. Now she burns with a new desire: to seize the throne and crown herself emperor. But Zhu isn’t the only one with imperial ambitions. Her neighbor in the south, the courtesan Madam Zhang, wants the throne for her husband―and she’s strong enough to wipe Zhu off the map. To stay in the game, Zhu will have to gamble everything on a risky alliance with an old enemy: the talented but unstable eunuch general Ouyang, who has already sacrificed everything for a chance at revenge on his father’s killer, the Great Khan. Unbeknownst to the southerners, a new contender is even closer to the throne. The scorned scholar Wang Baoxiang has maneuvered his way into the capital, and his lethal court games threaten to bring the empire to its knees. For Baoxiang also desires revenge: to become the most degenerate Great Khan in history―and in so doing, make a mockery of every value his Mongol warrior family loved more than him. All the contenders are determined to do whatever it takes to win. But when desire is the size of the world, the price could be too much for even the most ruthless heart to bear…
The genre of the book is hard to define: it's partially historical, part alternative history. It is full of intrigue like Game of Thrones, but with deeper character building and growth. It is also a very interesting reflection on gender. It is really a masterpiece, that I strongly recommend to everyone. (★★★★★)
Started: Mar 29 2024 Finished: Oct 05 2024

My review: Jeanette Ng is a Hugo award winner, possibly the only one to win it back in 2020 with her acceptance speech of a different awards the year before. I heard a lot about her and I wanted to give a try to her fiction, so I gave this one a try.
This is a really short story, telling the history of a wishing tree in Hong Kong and, by necessity, the history of the people and the place. A sweeping story of gods and history told in the style of a bedtime story.
It's good, but too short to really stand out. I'll give the author longer fiction a try next. (★★★)
Started: Aug 31 2024 Finished: Aug 31 2024

My review: Every year I read all the finalists of the most prestigious science fiction awards (at least in the English speaking world): the Hugo awards. This story is a finalist in the Novel category. I have not read anything by this author before, and I was quite intrigued by the blurb and title.
This is the first book of a planned trilogy of magic and mayhem on the high seas in this tale of pirates and sorcerers, forbidden artifacts and ancient mysteries, in one woman’s determined quest to seize a final chance at glory—and write her own legend.
This is the sory of Amina al-Sirafi. She should be content. After a storied and scandalous career as one of the Indian Ocean’s most notorious pirates, she’s survived backstabbing rogues, vengeful merchant princes, several husbands, and one actual demon to retire peacefully with her family to a life of piety, motherhood, and absolutely nothing that hints of the supernatural. But when she’s tracked down by the obscenely wealthy mother of a former crewman, she’s offered a job no bandit could refuse: retrieve her comrade’s kidnapped daughter for a kingly sum. The chance to have one last adventure with her crew, do right by an old friend, and win a fortune that will secure her family’s future forever? It seems like such an obvious choice that it must be God’s will. Yet the deeper Amina dives, the more it becomes alarmingly clear there’s more to this job, and the girl’s disappearance, than she was led to believe. For there’s always risk in wanting to become a legend, to seize one last chance at glory, to savor just a bit more power…and the price might be your very soul.
I love fantasy, but I am getting tired of the medieval Europe folklore and legends fantasy is often based on. I always look for something new... and this book is definitely different. It's based on medieval Arab lands, stretching from India to Arabia and East Africa. This was really enjoyable and a worthy finalist for the Hugo. (★★★★)
Started: Jul 07 2024 Finished: Aug 21 2024

My review: Every year I read all the finalists of the most prestigious science fiction awards (at least in the English speaking world): the Hugo awards. This story is a finalist in the Novel category. I have not read anything by this author before, but I was very intrigued by all the reviews I read. I was not disappointed.
This is a hard book to review. It's the kind of book that makes you think about it, and evades simple explanations. It's the kind of books that stays with you and make you want to discuss it with others, to unearth more meaning from it.
This is the story of Fetter, that was raised to kill, honed as a knife to cut down his sainted father. This gave him plenty to talk about in therapy. He walked among invisible devils and anti-gods that mock the mortal form. He learned a lethal catechism, lost his shadow, and gained a habit for secrecy. After a blood-soaked childhood, Fetter escaped his rural hometown for the big city, and fell into a broader world where divine destinies are a dime a dozen. Everything in Luriat is more than it seems. Group therapy is recruitment for a revolutionary cadre. Junk email hints at the arrival of a god. Every door is laden with potential, and once closed may never open again. The city is scattered with Bright Doors, looming portals through which a cold wind blows. In this unknowable metropolis, Fetter will discover what kind of man he is, and his discovery will rewrite the world.
The Saint of Bright Doors sets the high drama of divine revolutionaries and transcendent cults against the mundane struggles of modern life, resulting in a novel that is revelatory and resonant. It is a strong favorite to win the Hugo this year, and I am definitely looking forward reading more by this author. (★★★★★)
Started: Jun 14 2024 Finished: Jul 23 2024

My review: In a country teetering on the brink of civil war, two young people meet: sensual, fiercely independent Nadia and gentle, restrained Saeed. They embark on a furtive love affair and are soon cloistered in a premature intimacy by the unrest roiling their city. When it explodes, turning familiar streets into a patchwork of checkpoints and bomb blasts, they begin to hear whispers about doors... doors that can whisk people far away, if perilously and for a price. As the violence escalates, Nadia and Saeed decide that they no longer have a choice. Leaving their homeland and their old lives behind, they find a door and step through. Exit West follows these characters as they emerge into an alien and uncertain future, struggling to hold on to each other, to their past, to the very sense of who they are. Profoundly intimate and powerfully inventive, it tells an unforgettable story of love, loyalty, and courage that is both completely of our time and for all time. (★★★★)
Started: Jul 06 2024 Finished: Jul 14 2024

My review: Every year I read all the finalists of the most prestigious science fiction awards (at least in the English speaking world): the Hugo awards. This story is a finalist in the Novel category. I had read and loved many sci-fi books by this author, hence I was quite eager to read more by the author... and this time a fantasy book!
This is the story of Kai, a demon in a human body. Kai is having a long day: after being murdered, his consciousness dormant and unaware of the passing of time while confined in an elaborate water trap, Kai wakes to find a lesser mage attempting to harness Kai’s magic to his own advantage. That was never going to go well. But why was Kai imprisoned in the first place? What has changed in the world since his assassination? And why does the Rising World Coalition appear to be growing in influence? Kai will need to pull his allies close and draw on all his pain magic if he is to answer even the least of these questions. He’s not going to like the answers.
While I did not enjoy it as much as the murderbot series, this is a great book, that deserves the many awards it has already won. (★★★★)
Started: May 05 2024 Finished: Jun 12 2024

My review: Every year I read all the finalists of the most prestigious science fiction awards (at least in the English speaking world): the Hugo awards. This story is a finalist in the Novella category. I have previously read and enjoyed work by this author, hence I was quite eager to read this one.
Thornhedge is a modern fairy tale of a kind-hearted, toad-shaped heroine, a gentle knight, and a mission gone completely sideways. There's a princess trapped in a tower. This isn't her story. Meet Toadling. On the day of her birth, she was stolen from her family by the fairies, but she grew up safe and loved in the warm waters of faerieland. Once an adult though, the fae ask a favor of Toadling: return to the human world and offer a blessing of protection to a newborn child. Simple, right? But nothing with fairies is ever simple. Centuries later, a knight approaches a towering wall of brambles, where the thorns are as thick as your arm and as sharp as swords. He's heard there's a curse here that needs breaking, but it's a curse Toadling will do anything to uphold… (★★★★)
Started: Apr 07 2024 Finished: Apr 16 2024

My review: I had previously read and loved Legends & Lattes, and when I learned there was a prequel I could not wait to get my hands on it. I was not disappointed.
In this prequel Viv is a young orc, and her career with the notorious mercenary company Rackam's Ravens isn't going as planned. Wounded during the hunt for a powerful necromancer, she's packed off against her will to recuperate in the sleepy beach town of Murk—so far from the action that she worries she'll never be able to return to it.
What's a thwarted soldier of fortune to do?
Spending her hours at a beleaguered bookshop in the company of its foul-mouthed proprietor is the last thing Viv would have predicted, but it may be both exactly what she needs and the seed of changes she couldn't possibly imagine.
Still, adventure isn't all that far away. A suspicious traveler in gray, a gnome with a chip on her shoulder, a summer fling, and an improbable number of skeletons prove Murk to be more eventful than Viv could have ever expected.
This was a great book, I do hope the author will take us back to this fictional universe soon! (★★★★★)
Started: Mar 12 2024 Finished: Mar 28 2024

My review: This review is for Marginalia by Mary Robinette Kowal (goodreads keeps merging the story with the magazine where it was first published, even if it is available separately).
I had previously read and enjoyed this author's sci-fi work, but this is the first time I read one of her fantasy stories. There are clearly some of her signature themes mixed in, for example the exploration of gender roles, but it reads very different from her usual work. It's an enjoyable and good story, with an original "monster". Who needs dragons when you have giant acid snails? (★★★)
Started: Jan 29 2024 Finished: Jan 31 2024

My review: Despite her numerous awards, I had never read anything by this author, but I came across a lot of good reviews for this book, and I could not resist. The story was described as an epic fantasy fable about the pursuit of obsession at all costs. I enjoyed the book, but probably because of its relatively short length, I would not exactly describe it as epic.
This is the story of Ester. Her family was torn apart when a manticore killed her mother and baby brother, leaving her with nothing but her father’s painful silence and a single, overwhelming need to kill the monsters that took her family. Ester’s path leads her to the King’s Royal Mews, where the giant rocs of legend are flown to hunt manticores by their brave and dedicated ruhkers. Paired with a fledgling roc named Zahra, Ester finds purpose and acclaim by devoting herself to a calling that demands absolute sacrifice and a creature that will never return her love. The terrifying partnership between woman and roc leads Ester not only on the empire’s most dangerous manticore hunt, but on a journey of perseverance and acceptance. (★★★)
Started: Dec 20 2023 Finished: Jan 09 2024

My review: I have read an enjoyed the previous instalment of the series, and I was looking forward reading this latest instalment.
In Mammoth at the Gates the wandering Cleric Chih returns home to the Singing Hills Abbey for the first time in almost three years, to be met with both joy and sorrow. Their mentor, Cleric Thien, has died, and rests among the archivists and storytellers of the storied abbey. But not everyone is prepared to leave them to their rest. Because Cleric Thien was once the patriarch of Coh clan of Northern Bell Pass--and now their granddaughters have arrived on the backs of royal mammoths, demanding their grandfather’s body for burial. Chih must somehow balance honoring their mentor’s chosen life while keeping the sisters from the north from storming the gates and destroying the history the clerics have worked so hard to preserve. But as Chih and their neixin Almost Brilliant navigate the looming crisis, Myriad Virtues, Cleric Thien’s own beloved hoopoe companion, grieves her loss as only a being with perfect memory can, and her sorrow may be more powerful than anyone could anticipate.
I really enjoyed the book, and I believe it to be among the best in the series. While the book blurb claims the book can be read in any order, I would not do that, I believe some background knowledge offered in the previous ones makes this one more enjoyable. (★★★★)
Started: Nov 18 2023 Finished: Dec 17 2023

My review: Every year I read all the finalists of the most prestigious science fiction awards (at least in the English speaking world): the Hugo awards. This story is a finalist in the Novel category. I had never read anything by this author before, and I did not know quite what to expect. We should never judge a book by its cover, but this book cover is quite enticing. It turns out, this was a remarkably good read, and I cannot wait to read more by this author.
The story may appear initially simple, yet the book is impossible to put down. I believe this is because of the amazing characters, that are so well rounded and complex.
The plot: after a lifetime of bounties and bloodshed, Viv is hanging up her sword for the last time. The battle-weary orc aims to start fresh, opening the first ever coffee shop in the city of Thune. But old and new rivals stand in the way of success—not to mention the fact that no one has the faintest idea what coffee actually is. If Viv wants to put the blade behind her and make her plans a reality, she won't be able to go it alone. But the true rewards of the uncharted path are the travelers you meet along the way. And whether drawn together by ancient magic, flaky pastry, or a freshly brewed cup, they may become partners, family, and something deeper than she ever could have dreamed.
Great book! I strongly recommend it. (★★★★★)
Started: Aug 26 2023 Finished: Sep 11 2023

My review: Every year I read all the finalists of the most prestigious science fiction awards (at least in the English speaking world): the Hugo awards. This story is a finalist in the Short Story category. I have not read anything by this author before, and because of it I did not know what to expect. I was blown away. This story is amazing! It make me wish it was expanded into a full story.
In a world like ours, magic is real. In order to learn how to do magic, school is necessary, but it's very hard to be admitted... When the the elitist institution of Ozymandias Academy and its headmaster, Vamon Kinctuarin, can't find a solution to the city's worsening drought, 2 self-taught magicians, Noah and his partner Manny, take it upon themselves to find a solution to the crisis.
The story is a great reflection on the lack of social mobility in our modern society, how money confers tremendous power, but who holds those money do not necessarily use their power for good. This is a very interesting short shorty, with more depth than I would have expected given its length. I am looking forward to read more work by this author. (★★★★★)
Started: Aug 20 2023 Finished: Sep 02 2023

My review: Every year I read all the finalists of the most prestigious science fiction awards (at least in the English speaking world): the Hugo awards. This story is a finalist in the Novella category. I heard a lot of good reviews about this author's work, but I never had a chance to read any of it. I was glad to had a chance and... I was not disappointed. This is one of the best books I have read in a long while.
A magical detective dives into the affairs of Chicago's divine monsters to secure a future with the love of her life. This sapphic period piece will dazzle anyone looking for mystery, intrigue, romance, magic, or all of the above.
An exiled auspex who sold her soul to save her brother's life is offered one last job before serving an eternity in hell. When she turns it down, her client sweetens the pot by offering up the one payment she can't resist―the chance to have a future where she grows old with the woman she loves.
To succeed, she is given three days to track down the White City Vampire, Chicago's most notorious serial killer. If she fails, only hell and heartbreak await.
I really do hope there is going to be a sequel to this story, and in the meantime, I am planning to read everything I can find by this author! (★★★★★)
Started: Aug 09 2023 Finished: Aug 20 2023

My review: Every year I read all the finalists of the most prestigious science fiction awards (at least in the English speaking world): the Hugo awards. This story is a finalist in the Novel category. I had previously read and loved some books and stories by this author, hence I was eager to read this one. I was not disappointed!
After years of seeing her sisters suffer at the hands of an abusive prince, Marra, the shy, convent-raised, third-born daughter, has finally realized that no one is coming to their rescue. No one, except for Marra herself. Seeking help from a powerful gravewitch, Marra is offered the tools to kill a prince... if she can complete three impossible tasks. But, as is the way in tales of princes, witches, and daughters, the impossible is only the beginning. On her quest, Marra is joined by the gravewitch, a reluctant fairy godmother, a strapping former knight, and a chicken possessed by a demon. Together, the five of them intend to be the hand that closes around the throat of the prince and frees Marra's family and their kingdom from its tyrannous ruler at last.
This turned out to be exquisitely written and hard to put down book that I recommend to everyone. (★★★★★)
Started: Jul 19 2023 Finished: Aug 05 2023

My review: Lightspeed and Fantasy are well-known science fiction and fantasy magazines that some years ago merged together. Even in fantasy, supposedly the genre of limitless possibility, where everyone is invited to the adventure, minorities are often underrepresented. Back in 2014 Lightspeed started the "destroy science fiction" series, a yearly program focusing on underrepresented minorities to give them a voice, and to see what they have to offer and to contribute to the genre. In 2014 they focused on women. While fantasy is considered by many the more open of the literary genres, heterosexual white men are often considered the default, at least in some subgenres, to the extent that everything else is "deviation," and must be eyed with suspicion. Fantasy fiction is vast, and incredible fascinating in all its facets. It is inclusive. Fantasy is about people, and women are part of the genre. They always have been. Yet some readers seem to have this funny idea that women don't, or can't, write good fantasy, or only fantasy of a particular type. Some have even gone so far as to accuse women of destroying fantasy with their girl cooties. So to help prove how silly that notion is, Women Destroy Fantasy! showcase the richness and variety of women fantasy writers contributions. The issue features original fiction by Kate Hall, H.E. Roulo, T. Kingfisher, Julia August, and many more.
This is a great and important initiative, a very enjoyable and interesting read. I am looking forward reading the more "destroy" issue! (★★★★★)
Started: Jul 01 2023 Finished: Jul 09 2023

My review: I grew up reading the Dragonlance novels, and they will always have a special place in my heart. So when I heard that Margaret Weiss and Tracy Hickman were going to come back to Krynn for the first time in over a decade I was quite excited. The book features many of the characters from the iconic first two trilogies, Dragonlance Chronicles and Dragonlance Legends.
This is the story of Destina Rosethorn, the daughter of a plainswoman warrior and of a Solamnia's knight. [spoilers removed]
Is the book any good? It is a mix bag. The first half of the book is slow, it has a predictable and thin plot set against the events of the previous book series. It was probably intended to help new readers to come up to speed but... it's not great. The second part is way more entertaining and interesting. I did like to see a more diverse set of characters than in the previous books (finally! I was starting to wonder if on Krynn everyone was Caucasian!), but the description of Destina's mother brought this article by Nnedi Okorafor to mind.
Would I recommend this book? If you loved the original two trilogies then yes. If you never read any dragonlance book before... do not start here, follow this dragonlance reading order guide instead. (★★★★)
Started: Jun 09 2023 Finished: Jun 30 2023

My review: I recently finished reading the Penric and Desdemona series set in the fictional world the Five Gods. Since I liked the series, I decided to read the series that created this world, and that was nominated for a big number of prestigious awards. It was an enjoyable book, and I liked some of the characters, but I was not blown away by it.
This is the story of Cazaril, A man broken in body and spirit. He has returned to the noble household he once served as page, and is named, to his great surprise, as the secretary-tutor to the beautiful, strong-willed sister of the impetuous boy who is next in line to rule. It is an assignment Cazaril dreads, for it will ultimately lead him to the place he fears most, the royal court of Cardegoss, where the powerful enemies, who once placed him in chains, now occupy lofty positions. In addition to the traitorous intrigues of villains, Cazaril and the Royesse Iselle, are faced with a sinister curse that hangs like a sword over the entire blighted House of Chalion and all who stand in their circle. Only by employing the darkest, most forbidden of magics, can Cazaril hope to protect his royal charge—an act that will mark the loyal, damaged servant as a tool of the miraculous, and trap him, flesh and soul, in a maze of demonic paradox, damnation, and death. (★★★)
Started: Apr 24 2023 Finished: May 19 2023

My review: I enjoyed the previous installments of the Penric and Desdemona series, and I was eager to see what will happen in Knot of Shadows.
When a corpse is found floating face-down in Vilnoc harbor that is not quite as dead as it seems, Temple sorcerer Penric and his chaos demon Desdemona are drawn into the uncanny investigation. Pen's keen questions will take him across the city of Vilnoc, and into far more profound mysteries, as his search for truths interlaces with tragedy.
This is another entertaining story set in the world of five gods. It's probably not the best one, but I enjoyed it. (★★★)
Started: Apr 16 2023 Finished: Apr 23 2023

My review: I did like American Gods, but not so much as to read its sequel... or so I though. I saw Anansi Boys on sale and i though "why not?". So I gave it a try. Funny enough I enjoyed it much more than the previous instalment of the series, even if its scope is much narrower.
This is the Story of Fat Charlie and Spider. When Fat Charlie's dad named something, it stuck. Like calling Fat Charlie "Fat Charlie." Even now, twenty years later, Charlie Nancy can't shake that name, one of the many embarrassing "gifts" his father bestowed -- before he dropped dead on a karaoke stage and ruined Fat Charlie's life.
Mr. Nancy left Fat Charlie things. Things like the tall, good-looking stranger who appears on Charlie's doorstep, who appears to be the brother he never knew. A brother as different from Charlie as night is from day, a brother who's going to show Charlie how to lighten up and have a little fun ... just like Dear Old Dad. And all of a sudden, life starts getting very interesting for Fat Charlie.
Because, you see, Charlie's dad wasn't just any dad. He was Anansi, a trickster god, the spider-god. Anansi is the spirit of rebellion, able to overturn the social order, create wealth out of thin air, and baffle the devil. Some said he could cheat even Death himself.
This was a very enjoyable read. I shoudl give other Neil Gaiman's books a try! (★★★★)
Started: Mar 19 2023 Finished: Apr 16 2023

My review: I had previously read and deeply loved the previous instalment of Between Earth and Sky series, Black Sun. When I learned that the second instalment was out I was extremely eager to read it... I was not disappointed. This is one of the best series of the decade. I cannot wait to read the next book!
Fevered Star starts when Black Sun left off: the sun is held within the smothering grip of the Crow God’s eclipse, but a comet that marks the death of a ruler and heralds the rise of a new order is imminent. As sea captain Xiala is swept up in the chaos and currents of change, she finds an unexpected ally in the former Priest of Knives. For the Clan Matriarchs of Tova, tense alliances form as far-flung enemies gather and the war in the heavens is reflected upon the earth. And for Serapio and Naranpa, both now living avatars, the struggle for free will and personhood in the face of destiny rages. How will Serapio stay human when he is steeped in prophecy and surrounded by those who desire only his power? Is there a future for Naranpa in a transformed Tova without her total destruction? (★★★★★)
Started: Mar 04 2023 Finished: Mar 31 2023

My review: This book has won many awards and tons of people were recommending it hence I decided to give it a try... and I did not regret the choice. This is one of the best book I have read in a long while. The book is hard to define: it is an alternative history book, where fictional historical facts echo real historical events and help us understand them. It's fiction, yet it's also historical fiction.
Babel is set in 1828. The main character is Robin Swift, an orphan by cholera in Canton, brought to London by the mysterious Professor Lovell. There, he trains for years in Latin, Ancient Greek, and Chinese, all in preparation for the day he’ll enroll in Oxford University’s prestigious Royal Institute of Translation, also known as Babel. The tower and its students are the world's center for translation and, more importantly, magic. Silver-working, the art of manifesting the meaning lost in translation using enchanted silver bars, has made the British unparalleled in power, as the arcane craft serves the Empire's quest for colonization.
For Robin, Oxford is a utopia dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge. But knowledge obeys power, and as a Chinese boy raised in Britain, Robin realizes serving Babel means betraying his motherland. As his studies progress, Robin finds himself caught between Babel and the shadowy Hermes Society, an organization dedicated to stopping imperial expansion. When Britain pursues an unjust war with China over silver and opium, Robin must decide: can powerful institutions be changed from within, or does revolution always require violence?
I strongly recommend this book to everyone. (★★★★★)
Started: Jan 07 2023 Finished: Feb 24 2023

My review: I had read and enjoyed the previous instalments of the Singing Hills series, so I was quite eager to read this.
in Into the Riverlands wandering cleric Chih of the Singing Hills travels to the riverlands to record tales of the notorious near-immortal martial artists who haunt the region. On the road to Betony Docks, they fall in with a pair of young women far from home, and an older couple who are more than they seem. As Chih runs headlong into an ancient feud, they find themselves far more entangled in the history of the riverlands than they ever expected to be. Accompanied by Almost Brilliant, a talking bird with an indelible memory, Chih confronts old legends and new dangers alike as they learn that every story, beautiful, ugly, kind, or cruel, bears more than one face.
A very enjoyable book, I am hoping there will be more. (★★★★)
Started: Feb 19 2023 Finished: Feb 22 2023

My review: I have read and enjoyed the previous instalments of the Wayward Children series, and I was looking forward reading this latest instalment. The latest instalment, Where the Drowned Girls Go, had set up the stage for a big final battle between the Whitethorn Institute and Eleanor West's Home for Wayward Children, and I as expecting this book to focus on that. Instead it is a a stand-alone novel focusing on one of the residents in the Home for Wayward Children, Antionette. Yes, in this book we learn how she ended up living with Eleanor West, but the book is NOT one of those boring "prequel" books with no interesting content that some author write to milk their successful story. This is a remarkable book in itself, more dark than average for this series, focusing on very difficult themes like grooming, gaslighting, manipulation of adult/child dynamics, etc.
The book takes us into the Shop Where the Lost Things Go. If you ever lost a sock, you’ll find it here. If you ever wondered about favorite toy from childhood... it’s probably sitting on a shelf in the back. And the headphones that you swore that this time you’d keep safe? You guessed it…
Antoinette has lost her father. Metaphorically. He’s not in the shop, and she’ll never see him again. But when Antsy finds herself lost (literally, this time), she finds that however many doors open for her, leaving the Shop for good might not be as simple as it sounds. And stepping through those doors exacts a price. Lost in the Moment and Found tells us that childhood and innocence, once lost, can never be found.
Seanan McGuire never disappoints, I am looking forward the next instalment of the series. (★★★★)
Started: Jan 30 2023 Finished: Feb 07 2023

My review: This book was nominated and won numerous literary awards that made me want to read the book. I propose the book to my work book club, and my coworkers were as intrigued as I was, so we ended up picking it.
The book follows a cast of intricately linked characters over hundreds of years as humanity struggles to rebuild itself in the aftermath of a climate plague. This is a daring and deeply heartfelt work of imagination from a singular new voice. Beginning in 2030, a grieving archeologist arrives in the Arctic Circle to continue the work of his recently deceased daughter at the Batagaika crater, where researchers are studying long-buried secrets now revealed in melting permafrost, including the perfectly preserved remains of a girl who appears to have died of an ancient virus. Once unleashed, the Arctic Plague will reshape life on earth for generations to come, quickly traversing the globe, forcing humanity to devise a myriad of moving and inventive ways to embrace possibility in the face of tragedy.
Each chapter focuses on a different cast, always linked in often surprising ways to the characters of the previous chapters. Some of the chapters have quite far fetched premises, but I soon realized it did not matter: the character development and exploration was so incredibly well done that you end up ignoring "death roller coasters for terminally ill children" and "talking pigs". Yes the premises will challenge your suspension of disbelief, but the experiences of this characters feels so real, so relatable, so moving.
From funerary skyscrapers to hotels for the dead to interstellar starships, Sequoia Nagamatsu takes readers on a wildly original and compassionate journey, spanning continents, centuries, and even celestial bodies to tell a story about the resiliency of the human spirit, our infinite capacity to dream, and the connective threads that tie us all together in the universe.
Reviewers compare this book to Cloud Atlas and Station Eleven. The narrative structure is similar to the former, but while in Cloud Atlas it made the book a little harder to read, in here it does not. This book is much more accessible and easier to read than Cloud Atlas. To be clear, Cloud Atlas is one of my favorite books, but it's not an easy reading. The similarities with Station Eleven are a little thinner in my opinion: the settings and the character focus is similar, but the similarities ends there.
One of the best books I read in a while. It does have its flaws, but its strengths make those flows irrelevant and hard to notice. I am definitely looking forward to reading more books by this author. (★★★★★)
Started: Jan 17 2023 Finished: Jan 30 2023

My review: I previously read and liked quite a lot the previous instalment of the Fractured Fables series, A Spindle Splintered, hence I was quite eager to read its sequel. It was even better than the first one!
This is again the story of Zinnia Gray, professional fairy-tale fixer and lapsed Sleeping Beauty. After the events covered by the previous book in the series, she is over rescuing snoring princesses. Once you’ve rescued a dozen damsels and burned fifty spindles, once you’ve gotten drunk with twenty good fairies and made out with one too many members of the royal family, you start to wish some of these girls would just get a grip and try solving their own narrative issues.
Just when Zinnia’s beginning to think she can't handle one more princess, she glances into a mirror and sees another face looking back at her: the shockingly gorgeous face of evil, asking for her help. Because there’s more than one person trapped in a story they didn’t choose. Snow White's Evil Queen has found out how her story ends, and she's desperate for a better ending. She wants Zinnia to help her before it’s too late for everyone. Will Zinnia accept the Queen's poisonous request and save them both from the hot-iron shoes that wait for them, or will she try another path?
Strongly recommended to everyone (but please read A Spindle Splintered first!). (★★★★★)
Started: Jan 01 2023 Finished: Jan 06 2023

My review: Lightspeed destroy was annual initiative focusing on the writings of traditionally underrepresented minorities. After three years focusing on women, LGBTIQ, and people of colour, lightspeed stopped the series. Soon after Uncanny magazine picked it up to cover differently abled authors. Disabled People Destroy Fantasy! special issue exists to relieve a brokenness in the genre that's been enabled time and time again by favoring certain voices and portrayals of particular characters. It brings forth a very diverse set of talented authors, some very well-established, and other very new from around the globe to present fantasy that explores the nuances of disability. Disabled People Destroy Fantasy! is 100% written and edited by disabled people. It features original, never-before-published short stories, plus classic reprints. It also includes an array of nonfiction articles, interviews, and personal essays from disabled people discussing their experiences as readers and writers of fantasy.
Before reading the entire issue, I had previously read "Away with the Wolves" by Sarah Gailey, a finalist of the 2020 hugo award for best novelette. (★★★★)
Number of times I read it: 2
Started (first time): Dec 22 2022 Finished (first time): Dec 25 2022

My review: I have read and enjoyed the previous instalments of the Wayward Children series, and I was looking forward reading this latest instalment.
This short story tells the backstory of Christopher Flores, and describes his times in Mariposa, a world where the dead are reborn as living skeletons, where he was cured from his terminal illness, fell in love with a Skeleton Girl, and learned to play a magical flute.
I liked the story, but probably because of its short length, I did not like it as much as some of the previous longer instalment. After reading this I am really curious to see what will happen next to Chris. Maybe we will learn more in the upcoming Lost in the Moment and Found? (★★★)
Started: Dec 19 2022 Finished: Dec 22 2022

My review: I have read and enjoyed the previous instalments of the Wayward Children series, and I was looking forward reading this latest instalment.
In this short story we meet again Jack and Jill. The twins were only twelve years old when descended the impossible staircase and found herself in the Moors, a world of drowned gods and repugnant royals. After abandoning her sister to a vampire lord, under the tutelage of a mad scientist who can do impossible things with flesh and living lightning, Jack quickly learns that in the Moors, death is merely a suggestion.
I enjoyed it despite its short length. (★★★★)
Started: Dec 18 2022 Finished: Dec 19 2022

My review: I had read and really liked some short stories by this author and I was quite eager to read some more.
This book collects a lot of recent fiction by this author, written between 2015 and 2021, ranging from fantasy to science fiction. Almost all the stories are stand alone, but there are a few that are interconnected, one being the sequel of the other, or set in the same or very similar fictional world.
I particularly enjoyed stories that reflect on the meaning of life and what it means to be uploaded and transcend biological life into a simulated silicon one.
It was overall a good collection, and I am looking forward reading more by this author in the future. (★★★★)
Started: Sep 04 2022 Finished: Nov 01 2022

My review: Every year I read all the finalists of the most prestigious science fiction awards (at least in the English speaking world): the Hugo awards. This story is a finalist in the Novelette category. I am familiar with the author and I was curious to read more by her.
This is a retelling of an Greek myth: Orpheus, the musician son of Apollo and Calliope that can move stones by the power of his music, attempt to rescue his dead wife. In the original myth, he fails. In this story he does successfully rescue his wife Eurydice from Hades after her untimely death. The story focuses on what come next... and it's not as idyllic as one may want to believe at first.
A good story, and a very interesting portrait of relationships and marriage. (★★★)
Started: Sep 09 2022 Finished: Sep 11 2022

My review: This review is for Tangles by Seanan McGuire.
Every year I read all the finalists of the most prestigious science fiction awards (at least in the English speaking world): the Hugo awards. This story is a finalist in the Short Story category. I have previously read (and loved) many stories by this author. In particular a few years ago I read Middlegame, that I thoroughly enjoyed. As a result I was quite eager to read this piece of work... but I was disappointed. Do not get me wrong, it's not a bad story, it's just nothing special, there is nothing to set it apart or particularly remarkable. I am not clear how it ended up in the list of finalists for this year Hugo Awards. I wonder if I am missing something. I wonder if my lack of familiarity with the characters and world of Magic The Gathering this story is set in prevents me from fully understanding and enjoying the story. Either way this author is great, but do not start from here if you want to read some of her work. (★★)
Started: Sep 07 2022 Finished: Sep 08 2022

My review: Lightspeed destroy is an annual initiative focusing on the writings of traditionally underrepresented minorities. The People of Colo(u)r Destroy Fantasy special issue exists to relieve a brokenness in the genre that's been enabled time and time again by favoring certain voices and portrayals of particular characters. It brings forth a very diverse set of talented authors, some very well-established, and other very new from around the globe to present fantasy that explores the nuances of culture, race, and history. People of Colo(u)r Destroy Fantasy! is 100% written and edited by people of color. It features four original, never-before-published short stories, plus four classic reprints. It includes work by P. Djèlí Clark, N.K. Jemisin, and many others. It also includes an array of nonfiction articles, interviews, and personal essays from people of colo(u)r discussing their experiences as readers and writers of fantasy. (★★★★)
Started: Sep 01 2022 Finished: Sep 01 2022

My review: Every year I read all the finalists of the most prestigious science fiction awards (at least in the English speaking world): the Hugo awards. This story is a finalist in the Novel category. I have never read anything by this author, and I was quite intrigued about discovering something fresh and new.
In a famine-stricken village on a dusty yellow plain, two children are given two fates. A boy, greatness. A girl, nothingness… In 1345, China lies under harsh Mongol rule. For the starving peasants of the Central Plains, greatness is something found only in stories. When the Zhu family's eighth-born son, Zhu Chongba, is given a fate of greatness, everyone is mystified as to how it will come to pass. The fate of nothingness received by the family's clever and capable second daughter, on the other hand, is only as expected. When a bandit attack orphans the two children, though, it is Zhu Chongba who succumbs to despair and dies. Desperate to escape her own fated death, the girl uses her brother's identity to enter a monastery as a young male novice. There, propelled by her burning desire to survive, Zhu learns she is capable of doing whatever it takes, no matter how callous, to stay hidden from her fate. After her sanctuary is destroyed for supporting the rebellion against Mongol rule, Zhu uses takes the chance to claim another future altogether: her brother's abandoned greatness.
What an amazing book! It's refreshing to read something not set on the usual Western settings. The characters are incredibly well rounded and unique, the story intriguing, the story telling really good (is this really a debut novel? the author has already honed their craft here!). One of my personal favorite to win this year awards. (★★★★★)
Started: May 04 2022 Finished: Aug 04 2022

My review: Every year I read all the finalists of the most prestigious science fiction awards (at least in the English speaking world): the Hugo awards. This story is a finalist in the Novel category. I have read and deeply loved quite a lot of books by this author (including books set in the same Dead Djinn Universe) and I was super eager to read this one.
The story is set in an alternative history Cairo, 1912. Though Fatma el-Sha'arawi is the youngest woman working for the Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments and Supernatural Entities, she's certainly not a rookie, especially after preventing the destruction of the universe last summer. So when someone murders a secret brotherhood dedicated to one of the most famous men in history, al-Jahiz, Agent Fatma is called onto the case. Al-Jahiz transformed the world 50 years ago when he opened up the veil between the magical and mundane realms, before vanishing into the unknown. This murderer claims to be al-Jahiz, returned to condemn the modern age for its social oppressions. His dangerous magical abilities instigate unrest in the streets of Cairo that threaten to spill over onto the global stage. Alongside her Ministry colleagues and her clever girlfriend Siti, Agent Fatma must unravel the mystery behind this imposter to restore peace to the city - or face the possibility he could be exactly who he seems.
I loved the book and I am looking forward reading more books set in this universe! (★★★★★)
Started: Jun 30 2022 Finished: Jul 27 2022

My review: Every year I read all the finalists of the most prestigious science fiction awards (at least in the English speaking world): the Hugo awards. This story is a finalist in the Novel category. I had never read anything by this author so I did not know what to expect. The title and the (stunningly beautiful) cover do not give much away... I was in for an incredible treat. What an incredible story! On paper, it should not work - this book is an unusual mix of Christian fantasy and sci-fi - but somehow the author not only manages to pull it off, she waves one of the most powerful and moving story I have read in years. Every single character, even minor one, are so well rounded and incredibly faceted, original, relatable. This is a book that behind a screen of simplicity has tons to say. This is a book that despite being fiction, despite featuring demons and aliens, manages to capture one of he most realistic portrait of today's California, its soul, its bile, and its heart.
Light from Uncommon Stars is set in California's San Gabriel Valley and features cursed violins, Faustian bargains, and queer alien courtship over fresh-made donuts. Shizuka Satomi made a deal with the devil: to escape damnation, she must entice seven other violin prodigies to trade their souls for success. She has already delivered six. When Katrina Nguyen, a young transgender runaway, catches Shizuka's ear with her wild talent, Shizuka can almost feel the curse lifting. She's found her final candidate. But in a donut shop off a bustling highway in the San Gabriel Valley, Shizuka meets Lan Tran, retired starship captain, interstellar refugee, and mother of four. Shizuka doesn't have time for crushes or coffee dates, what with her very soul on the line, but Lan's kind smile and eyes like stars might just redefine a soul's worth. And maybe something as small as a warm donut is powerful enough to break a curse as vast as the California coastline. As the lives of these three women become entangled by chance and fate, a story of magic, identity, curses, and hope begins, and a family worth crossing the universe for is found.
This is in my opinion the strongest contender for the Hugo award for best Novel this year. I will be following this author closely, and devour all her previous novels as I can find them. (★★★★★)
Started: May 22 2022 Finished: Jun 29 2022

My review: Every year I read all the finalists of the most prestigious science fiction awards (at least in the English speaking world): the Hugo awards. This story is a finalist in the Novella category. I had read a few stories by this author, and some of them were really good, hence I was looking forward reading this one.
At first I was a little nervous: the retelling of fairy tales with a modern twist has been done quite a lot and it is becoming harder to be original and interesting. Well, I should have not worried. This turns out to be very original and incredibly good. It's in my opinion the stronger contender for the Hugo in this category this year.
This is the story of Zinnia Gray. She is turning twenty-one, which is extra-special because it's the last birthday she'll ever have. When she was young, an industrial accident left Zinnia with a rare condition. Not much is known about her illness, just that no one has lived past twenty-one.
Her best friend Charm is intent on making Zinnia's last birthday special with a full sleeping beauty experience, complete with a tower and a spinning wheel. But when Zinnia pricks her finger, something strange and unexpected happens, and she finds herself falling through worlds, with another sleeping beauty, just as desperate to escape her fate. (★★★★★)
Started: May 19 2022 Finished: May 25 2022

My review: Every year I read all the finalists of the most prestigious science fiction awards (at least in the English speaking world): the Hugo awards. This story is a finalist in the Novella category. I had read quite a few books by this author, and some of them were remarkably good, hence I was looking forward reading this one.
In this latest instalment of the Wayward Children series, a young girl discovers a portal to a land filled with centaurs and unicorns, the Hooflands. The centaurs are happy to have her, even if a human arrival means something's coming. Regan loves, and is loved, though her school-friend situation has become complicated, of late. When she suddenly finds herself thrust through a doorway that asks her to "Be Sure" before swallowing her whole, Regan must learn to live in a world filled with centaurs, kelpies, and other magical equines, a world that expects its human visitors to step up and be heroes. But after embracing her time with the herd, Regan discovers that not all forms of heroism are equal, and not all quests are as they seem…
This is a great book, I strongly recommend it to everyone. (★★★★★)
Started: Apr 28 2022 Finished: May 04 2022

My review: Stephen King has written some incredible books, but this is not one of those. I have been reading the extended Dark Tower series and this was part of it. I never heard much about this book, so I was quite curious to read it... and I was very disappointed. The story drags on and on and at times it seems to be going nowhere. I stopped reading the book a few times along the way, and I just finished because I was hoping in some redeeming ending (that I did not get).
Also, it does not help that I started realizing that the majority (all?) African American characters in King's book are the same: they speak a broken English, they are there just to help the white character, and have some sort of "primitive" magic. I did a google search to see if anyone else had something to say on the topic, and I found this great article by Nnedi Okorafor that I strongly recommend reading.
If you are new to King and you want to give his books a try, there are plenty of good books by this author, just skip this one. (★)
Started: Dec 27 2021 Finished: May 02 2022

My review: This review is for "That Story Isn’t the Story" by John Wiswell.
Every year I read all the finalists of the most prestigious science fiction awards (at least in the English speaking world): the Hugo awards. This story is a finalist in the Novelette category. This author was one of the finalists last year as well, and I was curious to see how his writing skills evolved in the past year. It turns out they have improved quite a lot, this story is a very strong contender for the award this year!
In this urban fantasy novel, the world looks pretty much like ours, there are predators that take advantage of the less fortunate. In this story, some of these predators are super natural ones, and the victims are young teenagers, some of them immigrants, and some of them gay. The metaphor is not subtle, but it works out remarkably well. (★★★★★)
Started: Apr 27 2022 Finished: Apr 27 2022

My review: Every year I read all the finalists of the most prestigious science fiction awards (at least in the English speaking world): the Hugo awards. This story is a finalist in the Novella category. I have heard a lot of good things about this author, but I have read only some of their shorter work. I was eager to read something longer this time.
The story is set in a pre-colonial Vietnamese-esque world. Fire burns bright and has a long memory…. Quiet, thoughtful princess Thanh was sent away as a hostage to the powerful faraway country of Ephteria as a child. Now she’s returned to her mother’s imperial court, haunted not only by memories of her first romance, but by worrying magical echoes of a fire that devastated Ephteria’s royal palace. Thanh’s new role as a diplomat places her once again in the path of her first love, the powerful and magnetic Eldris of Ephteria, who knows exactly what she wants: romance from Thanh and much more from Thanh’s home. Eldris won’t take no for an answer, on either front. But the fire that burned down one palace is tempting Thanh with the possibility of making her own dangerous decisions. Can Thanh find the freedom to shape her country’s fate... and her own? (★★★★)
Started: Apr 17 2022 Finished: Apr 25 2022

My review: This review is for "Unseelie Brothers, Ltd." by Fran Wilde. Every year I read all the finalists of the most prestigious science fiction awards (at least in the English speaking world): the Hugo awards. This story is a finalist in the Novelette category. I have read and liked other work by this author, hence I was quite happy to get to read some more of her work.
In this urban fantasy novel, the world looks pretty much like ours, but there is a mysterious shop, the Unseelie Brothers Ltd, that creates incredible dresses that can literally change the life of the debutantes wearing them. Unfortunately the store is very hard to find, and that keeps disappearing and reappearing somewhere else...
Despite not being exactly my usual cup of tea, it's a good story, and really well written. This year Hugo finalists are all quite strong, it's going to be very difficult to rank them. (★★★)
Started: Apr 16 2022 Finished: Apr 17 2022

My review: Once in a while I do read YA books, and the title of this one intrigued me. When I saw it won the Lodestar Award (i.e. the Hugo award for YA) I decided to finally read it. It was very enjoyable!
The book follows fourteen-year-old Mona, a very young wizard. She isn’t like the wizards charged with defending the city. She can't control lightning or speak to water. Her familiar is a sourdough starter and her magic only works on bread. She has a comfortable life in her aunt's bakery making gingerbread men dance. But Mona's life is turned upside down when she finds a dead body on the bakery floor. An assassin is stalking the streets of Mona's city, preying on magic folk, and it appears that Mona is his next target. And in an embattled city suddenly bereft of wizards, the assassin may be the least of Mona's worries…
The book did not blow me away, but it was very enjoyable and funny. This is a perfect read for a beach vacation or to destress at the end of a long work day. (★★★★)
Started: Mar 02 2022 Finished: Mar 20 2022

My review: I have enjoyed many of the instalments of the Penric and Desdemona Series, and I was curious to read the first full novel set in that word. I was not sure what to expect.
The story starts when Penric's brother-in-law General Arisaydia gets attacked in a novel and unusual way. Penric and his Temple demon Desdemona find themselves headlong into the snake-pit of Cedonian imperial politics. But they will not travel alone. The mission from his god brings Penric some of his strangest new allies yet, and the return of some of his most valued old ones.
It was nice to meet some old characters from previous novelette, and the story is entertaining as usual. A fun read. (★★★★)
Started: Jan 29 2022 Finished: Feb 12 2022

My review: I had previously read and loved The Empress of Salt and Fortune, hence I was eager to read this second instalment of The Singing Hills Cycle. It turns out that while the world and the framing device is the same (cleric Chih wonderings researching legends and history of the Ahn empire, a fantasy world based on Chinese history and folklore), this story is not strictly a sequel. I really liked it, and I am looking forward the next instalment.
In When the Tiger Came Down the Mountain the cleric Chih finds themself and their companions at the mercy of a band of fierce tigers who ache with hunger. To stay alive until the mammoths can save them, Chih must unwind the intricate, layered story of the tiger and her scholar lover, a woman of courage, intelligence, and beauty, and discover how truth can survive becoming history. (★★★★)
Started: Jan 02 2022 Finished: Jan 05 2022

My review: This review is for "Mulberry and Owl" by Aliette de Bodard.
I heard a lot about this author's work quality and it has been a while I have been wanting to read something by her. I read a couple of short story, that were good, but I am left with the impression I am still missing her greatest work. This is why I was quite excited to see her work in one of the latest uncanny magazines. I decided to listen to the podcast (audio) version. That was a big mistake. I am not sure if the fire got corrupted or something, but everything sounded like an AI reading at 2x speed. Even slowing the narration down, it still sounded read by a machine with no emotions. I do not think the issue was with the narrator, more likely some recording issue? Anyway despite the horrible narration, I still enjoyed the story, quite a lot.
This is the story of somebody that thought a war, and have to meet her former enemy in order to be able to cope and come to terms with her past, and the loss of her loved ones.
It's probably time I pick a full length novel by this author next time. Any suggestion? (★★★)
Started: Dec 05 2021 Finished: Dec 05 2021

My review: Every year I read all the finalists of the most prestigious science fiction awards (at least in the English speaking world): the Hugo awards. This story is a finalist in the Novella category. I never read anything from this author before, and I was very eager to try. The book turns out to be a utter delight, very hard to put down.
A generation ago, a young royal from the far north is sent south for a political marriage in an empire reminiscent of imperial China. Her brothers are dead, her armies and their war mammoths long defeated and caged behind their borders. Alone and sometimes reviled, she must choose her allies carefully. Rabbit, a handmaiden, sold by her parents to the palace for the lack of five baskets of dye, befriends the emperor's lonely new wife and gets more than she bargained for.
One generation later a monk is the first, along with rabbit, now an old woman, to reach the palace after it has become accessible again. His duty will be to reconstruct the history of what happened.
This is a beautiful fantasy, with an Ancient China flavor that makes it unique to a Western reader. I really loved the political intrigue, the fairy tale atmosphere, and the all to real depiction of what life during Monarchy was like. (★★★★★)
Started: Nov 26 2021 Finished: Nov 29 2021

My review: This review is for "The Stop After the Last Station" by A. T. Greenblatt.
This is the story of Tito, riding on a train towards the stop after the last subway station, the place where the world supposedly changed for the better. The story starts at the end of his journey, and then jump backwards in time. That's quite a feat: I read a few story attempting this approach, and quite often it does not work out. Greenblatt really got it to work well, and on top of it, the use of this unusual narrative device really fit the story. I would argue the story could not be written in any other way.
It's hard to say much without spoiling the story, but the story is interesting well beyond the fact it is told backwards. It raises interesting questions about what are the things that really matters in life, and it really speaks to the hearth.
I am looking forward reading more by this author. (★★★★)
Started: Nov 20 2021 Finished: Nov 20 2021

My review: Every year I read all the finalists of the most prestigious science fiction awards (at least in the English speaking world): the Hugo awards. This story is a finalist in the Novel category. I am a big fan of this author, and the short story that inspired this trilogy has intrigued me so... I was quite eager to read it.
The story is set in this planet, and in this era. We soon learn that as city grows they are eventually born into human like avatars of great power, and now it's New York time to be birthed.
Five New Yorkers must come together in order to defend their city. Every city has a soul. Some are as ancient as myths, and others are as new and destructive as children. New York City? She's got five. But every city also has a dark side. A roiling, ancient evil stirs beneath the earth, threatening to destroy the city and her five protectors unless they can come together and stop it once and for all.
An interesting book that quote and subverts Lovecraftian's tropes. Where in Lovecraft's work the horror originated by xenophobic fear of immigrants, in here the horror originates from the horror of xenophobia itself.
I am looking forward reading the next instalments of the series. (★★★★★)
Started: May 18 2021 Finished: Oct 17 2021

My review: Every year I read all the finalists of the most prestigious science fiction awards (at least in the English speaking world): the Hugo awards. This story is a finalist in the Novel category. I had read and liked other work by this author, but she dramatically improved her skill even further.
This is a fast paced, fun book inspired by the civilizations of the Pre-Columbian Americas and woven into a tale of celestial prophecies, political intrigue, and forbidden magic. Incredible world building with a depth that surpass the one of A Song of Ice and Fire.
In the holy city of Tova, the winter solstice is usually a time for celebration and renewal, but this year it coincides with a solar eclipse, a rare celestial event proscribed by the Sun Priest as an unbalancing of the world. Meanwhile, a ship launches from a distant city bound for Tova and set to arrive on the solstice. The captain of the ship, Xiala, is a disgraced Teek whose song can calm the waters around her as easily as it can warp a man's mind. Her ship carries one passenger. Described as harmless, the passenger, Serapio, is a young man, blind, scarred, and cloaked in destiny. As Xiala well knows, when a man is described as harmless, he usually ends up being a villain.
I really enjoyed this book, and I can't wait to read the rest of the series! (★★★★★)
Started: Jun 08 2021 Finished: Aug 04 2021

My review: This review is for "The Inaccessibility of Heaven" by Aliette De Bodard.
Every year I read all the finalists of the most prestigious science fiction awards (at least in the English speaking world): the Hugo awards. This story is a finalist in the Novelette category. I have read some short fiction by this author before, and I was looking forward reading this story.
The story is set in a near future / alternative reality where rebel angels have been cast down to Earth by god, and they live mixed in with humans while longing to go back to the heavens.
It's a very enjoyable story, even if the deux ex-machina at the end ruins it a little. (★★★★)
Started: May 09 2021 Finished: May 16 2021

My review: Every year I read all the finalists of the most prestigious science fiction awards (at least in the English speaking world): the Hugo awards. This story is a finalist in the Short Story category.
I had read and enjoyed the Hugo award winner Cat pictures Please, and I was looking forard this story.
This is the story of Meigan that decides to set up a small "Little Free Library" outside her house. Books take a lot of space and since she is not planning to re-read many of them (even if she loved them), she decides to share the stories she loved with her neighbors. That is one of the most magical forms of connection there is. But then something strange starts to happen... and she develops an unexpected friendship with a mysterious borrower of books from her Little Free Library.
The story is great, well-written, interesting, and hard-to-put-down. I was a little disappointed by the ending. I was left with a feeling I had just read the first chapter of a book, and I was left wanting more. (★★★★)
Started: May 02 2021 Finished: May 02 2021

My review: This review is for "The Mermaid Astronaut" by Yoon Ha Lee.
Every year I read all the finalists of the most prestigious science fiction awards (at least in the English speaking world): the Hugo awards. This story is a finalist in the Short Story category. I had previously read and deeply loved previous work by this author, including the Ninefox Gambit series. I had downloaded The Mermaid Astronaut on my eReader even before learning it was one of the Hugo finalists, and the nomination made me even more eager to read the story. I was not disappointed.
This is a re-telling of the The Little Mermaid, but instead of being a tragic story of a young woman sacrificing everything because of an infatuation for a man she barely saw from a distance, it's a story that focuses on the difficult balance between following your passions and family. It is the story of an emigrant, supported by her family to succeed in reaching out for the star, and the struggle to reconciliate that with the deep love that roots her where her family is.
Well deserved Hugo nomination. (★★★★)
Started: Apr 30 2021 Finished: May 01 2021

My review: This review is for the short story "The Salt Witch" by Martha Wells, originally published in Uncanny Magazine 37.
I read and loved Well's Murderbot diaries series, and I was quite curious to read a fantasy story by the same author. The story follow Juana, a witch, that while trying to travel towards the Caribbean, she keeps getting pulled towards a mysterious sandbar island populated by ghosts of he past and hunted by some evil presence.
It's a very good story, but I confess I strongly preferred the Murderbot Diaries. :P (★★★)
Started: Feb 27 2021 Finished: Mar 01 2021

My review: I have grown fond of the Penric and Desdemona series, and I particularly liked Nikys' story arc started in Penric's Mission. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that a new instalment was out. I was not disappointed: the story is definitely entertaining, even if not as good as the one in Nikys' arc.
This novella jumps back in time, to when Penric was younger and still unattached. It is set in the canal city of Lodi, the equivalent of Venice in the world of the five gods. Bastard's Eve is a night of celebration for most residents in Lodi... but not for sorcerer Learned Penric and his Temple demon Desdemona, who find themselves caught up in the affairs of a shiplost madman, a dangerous ascendant demon, and a very unexpected saint of the fifth god. (★★★)
Started: Jan 26 2021 Finished: Feb 01 2021

My review: I have grown fond of the Penric and Desdemona series, and I particularly liked Nikys' story arc started in Penric's Mission. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that a new instalment was out. I was not disappointed: the story is definitely entertaining, but I am starting to fell like it's time for the author to move on and let these characters go...
In The Physicians of Vilnoc, a mysterious plague breaks out in the army fort guarding Vilnoc, the port capital of the duchy of Orbas. Temple sorcerer Penric and his demon Desdemona are called upon by General Arisaydia to resurrect Penric's medical skills and solve the plague lethal riddle. In the grueling days that follow, Pen will find that even his magic is not enough to meet the challenges without help from dedicated new colleagues and the god of mischance. (★★★)
Started: Dec 24 2020 Finished: Dec 31 2020

My review: A cute short story, covering some of the events skipped over in In an Absent Dream.
The author introduces the story as follows: In the course of every great adventure there are multiple side quests. All too often these go unreported perhaps because the adventurers in question fail to return to the main narrative due to death or other distractions, and sometimes because the chronicler of the events decide to edit out that part of that particular history for reasons of their own (historians are never infallible) but occasionally we get another window into our heroes' world. In Juice Like Wounds we once again get to meet Lundy, and some of her companions. Lundy's main adventure is detailed in In an Absent Dream (a Hugo Awards finalist!) and you should definitely read that. Before or after this tale is up to you. Remember: side quests are fun. For the reader, at least... (★★★)
Started: Dec 22 2020 Finished: Dec 24 2020

My review: Years ago I read Every Heart a Doorway as part of my Hugo Award finalist read-a-thon. Since then, every year, I continued to red more and more instalments of this series. While the settings is not my favorite, the author is talented, and her books are always at a minimum enjoyable, and sometimes little masterpieces (e.g. Middlegame).
This fifth instalment of the sage focuses back on Jack and Jill of the Moors. When Jack left Eleanor West's School for Wayward Children she was carrying the body of her deliciously deranged sister, whom she had recently murdered in a fit of righteous justice, back to their home on the Moors.
But death in their adopted world isn't always as permanent as it is here, and when Jack is herself carried back into the school, it becomes clear that something has happened to her. Something terrible. Something of which only the maddest of scientists could conceive. Something only her friends are equipped to help her overcome... (★★★★)
Started: Dec 06 2020 Finished: Dec 21 2020

My review: I read Gideon the Ninth few months before, and I loved it. Because of it, I could not wait to read this sequel... that was NOTHING of what I expected it to be. Tamsyn Muir did it again, she managed to surprise me at every page, taking the story in places I would have never imagined it.
Harrow the Ninth is a mind-twisting puzzle box of mystery, murder, magic, and mayhem. Nothing is as it seems in the halls of the Emperor, and the fate of the galaxy rests on one woman's shoulders. Harrowhark Nonagesimus, last necromancer of the Ninth House, has been drafted by her Emperor to fight an unwinnable war. Side by side with a detested rival, Harrow must perfect her skills and become an angel of undeath... but her health is failing, her sword makes her nauseous, and even her mind is threatening to betray her.
Sealed in the gothic gloom of the Emperor's Mithraeum with three unfriendly teachers, hunted by the mad ghost of a murdered planet, Harrow must confront two unwelcome questions: is somebody trying to kill her? And if they succeeded, would the universe be better off?
This is definitely a strongly recommended read and most strong contenders for next year Hugo award. (★★★★★)
Started: Oct 30 2020 Finished: Dec 04 2020

My review: I am a big fan of Yoon Ha Lee's work (in particular I loved the Machineries of Empire series). Because of that I was quite eager to read this latest novel. I confess I was not sure what to expect: the author's novels tend to be very complex and intricated, but this latest one was targeted to a YA audience. I was quite curious to see how Lee's style would adjust as a result. I was not disappointed: while the story does not have the depth and complexity of his previous space opera, it still have the rich world building and interesting characters. Also the book is quite a pleasure to read.
The book is set in a universe with many inhabited worlds, but where supernatural beings walk among humans. For example the main character, thirteen year old Min, comes from a long line of fox spirits. But you would never know it by looking at her. To keep the family safe, Min's mother insists that none of them use any fox's magic, such as Charm or shape-shifting. They must appear human at all times.
Min feels hemmed in by the household rules and resents the endless chores, the cousins who crowd her, and the aunties who judge her. She would like nothing more than to escape Jinju, her neglected, dust-ridden, and impoverished planet. She's counting the days until she can follow her older brother, Jun, into the Space Forces and see more of the Thousand Worlds.
When word arrives that Jun is suspected of leaving his post to go in search of the Dragon Pearl, Min knows that something is wrong. Jun would never desert his battle cruiser, even for a mystical object rumored to have tremendous power. She decides to run away to find him and clear his name.
Min's quest will have her meeting gamblers, pirates, and vengeful ghosts. It will involve deception, lies, and sabotage. She will be forced to use more fox-magic than ever before, and to rely on all of her cleverness and bravery.
I really enjoyed the story, and I am looking forward reading more by this author. (★★★★)
Started: Nov 08 2020 Finished: Nov 22 2020

My review: Years ago I decided to read the complete work of this author, a choice that I came to regret: while Lovecraft's contribution to the field is indisputable, and while a small number of his stories are good, the vast majority of his work is mediocre at best, and often marred by horrifying xenophobia. I thought I was done reading his work, but I keep I coming across short stories that I had previously missed. The latest couple of them (this included) were full of humor, something I had never noticed before. It makes me wonder if I missed the sarcasm on the ones I had read, or if these two are really unusual. Either way, the humor made them more enjoyable.
This story is a collaboration with a fan, R.H. Barlow. The two communicated only via (snail) mail and Lovecraft had no idea his collaborator was a 14 year old boy. It's rather amusing to think of it.
The Hoard of the Wizard-Beast is a (cynical) fantasy story sprinkled with sarcasm targeting organized religion and the fantasy genres tropes.
(★★★)
Started: Sep 12 2020 Finished: Sep 12 2020

My review: I *LOVED* Gideon the Ninth, and when I discover that there was a short story set in the same universe I looked for it left and right. It turns out you can get it for free online.
The stort story focuses on two of the characters in the novel: Palamedes Sextus and Camilla Hect, age thirteen. Each of the Empire's houses keeps secrets, even from themselves. For the bookish academics of the Sixth, every secret is a mystery, and every mystery is a puzzle to be solved or a paper to be published. Deep in the bowels of their house, one such secret is about to reveal itself. The study of the famed academic Donald Sex, sealed since the moment of his death, is about to open, and archivists are ready to dissect what he left behind. They are not ready for the macabre surprise that awaits them.
I found it a very enjoyable read, and it made me even more eager to read Harrow's the Ninth next! (★★★★)
Started: Sep 08 2020 Finished: Sep 08 2020

My review: Every year I read all the finalists of the most prestigious science fiction awards (at least in the English speaking world): the Hugo awards. This story is a finalist in the Novel category.
I confess I judged the book by its cover: while the cover is quite nice and very appropriate for the book, somehow I was not intrigued by it. I started reading it and... I was blown away. This book is really really good!
This is the story of Roger and Dodger. Roger, is skilled with words, and languages come easily to him. He instinctively understands how the world works through the power of story. Dodger is his twin. Numbers are her world, her obsession, her everything. All she understands, she does so through the power of math. Roger and Dodger aren't exactly human, though they don't realize it. They aren't exactly gods, either. Not entirely. Not yet.
This is the story of Reed, skilled in the alchemical arts like his progenitor before him. Reed created Dodger and her brother. He's not their father. Not quite. But he has a plan: to raise the twins to the highest power, to ascend with them and claim their authority as his own. Godhood is attainable. Pray it isn't attained, at least not by him.
What's not to like? This book has everything: a great world building, interesting characters, very original plot. It does not hurt that it is set in the place where I lived half my life so far.
Two small critiques: (1) while you can walk easily to the Sutro's bath ruins, you do not need to climb down as they do in the book. (2) while the world building is detailed and deep, some aspects are a little glossed over.
Definitely one of the best finalist for this year Hugo award, and a strong contender to the title. (★★★★★)
Started: Aug 11 2020 Finished: Aug 28 2020

My review: Every year I read all the finalists of the most prestigious science fiction awards (at least in the English speaking world): the Hugo awards. This story is a finalist in the Novel category. I had just read and loved a short story by the same author ("Do Not Look Back, My Lion"), and I was looking forward it.
This is a fantasy portal story, that is usually not my cup of tea. Despite that, I really enjoyed the book and its subversion of the misogynistic and xenophobic tropes and themes that used to be associated with the genre.
This is the story of January Scaller, a girl with an uncommon in-between-ethnicities skin tone, living in a sprawling mansion filled with peculiar treasures. As the ward of the wealthy Mr. Locke, she feels little different from the artifacts that decorate the halls: carefully maintained, largely ignored, and utterly out of place. Then she finds a strange book. A book that carries the scent of other worlds, and tells a tale of secret doors, of love, adventure and danger. Each page turn reveals impossible truths about the world and January discovers a story increasingly entwined with her own. (★★★★)
Started: Jul 24 2020 Finished: Aug 08 2020

My review: Every year I read all the finalists of the most prestigious science fiction awards (at least in the English speaking world): the Hugo awards. This story is a finalist in the Novel category. I was quite eager to read it, because a lot of people told me how much they loved it. I was expecting to be disappointed after setting my expectations too high, instead I REALLY LOVED it. What an incredibly fast paced, entertaining, impossible to put down book. It kept me up really late more than one night in a row because I had to see what was going to happen.
The book is set in a world were space travel is possible, and (some) people has conquered death and become the amortal Emperor and his saints. The Emperor needs necromancers. The Ninth Necromancer needs a swordswoman. Gideon has a sword, some dirty magazines, and cannot wait to leave the planet were she grew up. Brought up by unfriendly, ossifying nuns, ancient retainers, and countless skeletons, Gideon is ready to abandon a life of servitude and an afterlife as a reanimated corpse. She packs up her sword, her shoes, and her dirty magazines, and prepares to launch her daring escape. But her childhood nemesis won't set her free without a service. Harrowhark Nonagesimus, Reverend Daughter of the Ninth House and bone witch extraordinaire, has been summoned into action. The Emperor has invited the heirs to each of his loyal Houses to a deadly trial of wits and skill. If Harrowhark succeeds she will become an immortal, all-powerful servant of the Resurrection, but no necromancer can ascend without their cavalier. Without Gideon's sword, Harrow will fail, and the Ninth House will die. Of course, some things are better left dead...
This is definitely a strongly recommended read and most likely winners of this year Hugo award. (★★★★★)
Started: Jul 07 2020 Finished: Jul 24 2020

My review: Every year I read all the finalists of the most prestigious science fiction awards (at least in the English speaking world): the Hugo awards. This story is a finalist in the Novela category.
The origin of this story is very interesting: it is an adaptation of a (Hugo nominated!) song produced by the rap group Clipping for the This American Life episode "We Are In The Future". The adaptation extend and revisit the original relatively thin plot, and expands it. The result is remarkably good.
In the deep the water breathing descendants of African slave women tossed overboard have built their own underwater society and must reclaim the memories of their past to shape their future. Yetu holds the memories for her people who live idyllic lives in the deep. Their past, too traumatic to be remembered regularly, is forgotten by everyone, save one, the historian. This demanding role has been bestowed on Yetu. Yetu remembers for everyone, and the memories, painful and wonderful, traumatic and terrible and miraculous, are destroying her. And so, she flees to the surface, escaping the memories, the expectations, and the responsibilities, and discovers a world her people left behind long ago. Yetu will learn more than she ever expected to about her own past. and about the future of her people. If they are all to survive, they'll need to reclaim the memories, reclaim their identity, and own who they really are.
(★★★★)
Started: Jun 08 2020 Finished: Jun 13 2020

My review: Every year I read all the finalists of the most prestigious science fiction awards (at least in the English speaking world): the Hugo awards. This story is a finalist in the Novela category. I previously read and loved A Dead Djinn in Cairo, and I was looking forward reading this book, that returns to the same alternate history Cairo, where humans live and work alongside otherworldly beings.
This is the story of Hamed al-Nasr, senior agent of the Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments and Supernatural Entities handles the issues that can arise between the magical and the mundane. Agent Hamed shows his new partner Agent Onsi the ropes of investigation when they are called to subdue a dangerous, possessed tram car. What starts off as a simple matter of exorcism, however, becomes more complicated as the origins of the demon inside are revealed.
I really enjoyed it, and I hope to get to read more books by this author set in the same world in the future. (★★★★)
Started: May 25 2020 Finished: May 31 2020

My review: What a beautifully intriguing and entertaining alternative history novelette!
The story is set in a 1912 Cairo (Egypt) where somebody has perforated the wall between our world, and the supernatural one, opening the gates for djinns and angels to enter in our reality. The Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments and Supernatural Entities investigate disturbances between the mortal and the (possibly) divine. What starts off as an odd suicide case for Special Investigator Fatma el-Sha'arawi leads her through the city's underbelly as she encounters rampaging ghouls, saucy assassins, clockwork angels, and plot that could unravel time itself. (★★★★)
Number of times I read it: 2
Started (first time): May 22 2020 Finished (first time): May 25 2020

My review: Every year I read all the finalists of the most prestigious science fiction awards (at least in the English speaking world): the Hugo awards. This story is a finalist in the Novelette category.
This is the story of a cat, Jeoffry, living in the insane asylum. His human companion is Christopher Smart a nineteenth century poet that has been committed to St. Luke's Hospital for Lunatics. Smart believes God has commissioned him to write The Divine Poem. Unfortunately years earlier, he made a bargain with Satan and the devil has come to collect his due: a poem that will bring about the apocalypse. Jeoffry is the only hope left to save Smart's soul, and the rest of the world. Good thing that Jeoffry's is a demon fighting cat and a creature of cunning Satan would be a fool to underestimate...
Humorous and funny, this novelette is quite a joy to read. (★★★)
Started: May 11 2020 Finished: May 14 2020

My review: This review is for Do Not Look Back, My Lion by Alix E. Harrow.
Every year I read all the finalists of the most prestigious science fiction awards (at least in the English speaking world): the Hugo awards. This story is a finalist in the Short Fiction category and is, in my opinion, one of the strongest contender to the title.
Eefa is husband to one of her country's greatest, most celebrated warriors: Talaan, also known as the Lion. She performs all the domestic needs a soldier could have. Eefa raises their children, shines Talaan's armor, and keeps house for them. She is a safe haven when Talaan comes home from battle. Talaan, herself, is a fierce warrior. She bears the scars of battle, a mark beneath her eye for each and every victory. She has born many children, all of them vaunted warriors as well. The constant war and bloodshed ultimately becomes too much for Eefa. Her conscience pricks her, she cannot continue to support this endless bloodshed. She cannot support the taking of slaves, the killing of children. She cannot support Talaan bringing yet another child into this war. And so, she runs.
The blog Black Forest Basilisks adroitlydescribes Do Not Look Back, My Lion as a heart-wrenching tale of love and sacrifice. The author uses gender, title, and reader expectation to create a society that's both foreign and familiar. Husband has become a role divorced from gender, even as wife has remained a status limited to women. Women are not only the givers of life, but also the takers. Harrow explores motherhood, matriarchy, and gender through the lens of disability and nonconformity. Quite an incredible achievement. I am looking forward reading more by this author. (★★★★★)
Started: May 05 2020 Finished: May 07 2020

My review: This review is for "A Catalog of Storms" by Fran Wilde.
Every year I read all the finalists of the most prestigious science fiction awards (at least in the English speaking world): the Hugo awards. This story is a finalist in the Short Fiction category.
I definitely enjoyed the story, the world-building in particular was quite remarkable. It reminded me a little of Miyazaki's Nausicaa: both works share the post apocalyptic settings, and the nature turning into a source of mortal dangers theme.
It's a solid piece of work that definitely belongs among the finalists. (★★★)
Started: May 02 2020 Finished: May 02 2020

My review: I have grown fond of the Penric and Desdemona series, and I particularly liked Nikys' story arc started in Penric’s Mission. I was looking forward reading this latest installment. The story is definitely entertaining, but not one of the best in the series. It was strange to realize how Penric has grown and aged from the first novella to the latest one... somehow making it feel more real.
In The orphans of Raspay Temple sorcerer Penric and his resident demon Desdemona are captured by Carpagamon island raiders while traveling by boat. They find their life complicated by two young orphans, Lencia and Seuka Corva, far from home and searching for their missing father. Pen and Des will need all their combined talents of mind and magic to unravel the mysteries of the sisters and escape from the pirate stronghold. (★★★)
Started: Feb 01 2020 Finished: Feb 06 2020

My review: I loved previous books by this author (in particular the Imperial Radch: 3 Book Series) and I was quite eager to read more by her. I was intrigued that this book was a fantasy book since all Leckie's book I had read so far where space operas. I was NOT disappointed. While it is not as groundbreaking as some of her previous work, this is by far the most enjoyable. The author is clearly getting better and better with time. This is the book I wish I had read as a kid growing up, and I strongly recommend it to everyone.
In The Raven Tower gods meddle in the fates of men, men play with the fates of gods, and a pretender must be cast down from the throne. For centuries, the kingdom of Iraden has been protected by the god known as the Raven. He watches over his territory from atop a tower in the powerful port of Vastai. His will is enacted through the Raven's Lease, a human ruler chosen by the god himself. His magic is sustained via the blood sacrifice that every Lease must offer. And under the Raven's watch, the city flourishes. But the power of the Raven is weakening. A usurper has claimed the throne. The kingdom borders are tested by invaders who long for the prosperity that Vastai boasts. And they have made their own alliances with other gods. It is into this unrest that the warrior Eolo, aide to Mawat, the true Lease, arrives. And in seeking to help Mawat reclaim his city, Eolo discovers that the Raven's Tower holds a secret. Its foundations conceal a dark history that has been waiting to reveal itself... and to set in motion a chain of events that could destroy Iraden forever. (★★★★★)
Started: Nov 12 2019 Finished: Nov 30 2019

My review: N.K. Jemisin is one of my favorite authors. Her Broken Earth trilogy is a masterpiece, and one of the best book series I have ever read. This is why I was quite eager to read this collection of short stories when I learned it was coming out.
I had already read some of the best stories that were previously published in a variety of places, so I was left with less than I hopped for. :(
In these stories, Jemisin sharply examines modern society, infusing magic into the mundane, and drawing deft parallels in the fantasy realms of her imagination. Dragons and hateful spirits haunt the flooded city of New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. In a parallel universe, a utopian society watches our world, trying to learn from our mistakes. A black mother in the Jim Crow south must figure out how to save her daughter from a fey offering impossible promises.
The book is a little of a mixed bag: some short stories are excellent and intriguing (I particularly liked Red Dirt Witch and Valedictorian), some are just OK. Overall it's a good book, but if you have not read anything by this author before, I would not start from here. (★★★★)
Number of times I read it: 2
Started (first time): Oct 13 2019 Finished (first time): Nov 12 2019

My review: I have been slowly reading through the entire extended Dark tower series. I was not crazy about it when i started, but it has grown on me, and I now want to see where this long story goes.
Several months have passed from the events described in the previous book, and Roland's two new tet-mates have become proficient gunslingers. Eddie Dean has given up heroin, and Odetta's two selves have joined, becoming the stronger and more balanced personality of Susannah Dean. But while battling The Pusher in 1977 New York, Roland altered ka by saving the life of Jake Chambers, a boy who, in Roland's where and when, has already died. Now Roland and Jake exist in different worlds, but they are joined by the same madness: the paradox of double memories. Roland, Susannah, and Eddie must draw Jake into Mid-World then follow the Path of the Beam all the way to the Dark Tower. But nothing is easy in Mid-World...
The story is quite enjoyable, even if at times I felt like it is going nowhere. I'll keep reading, let's see what happens! (★★★)
Started: Sep 18 2019 Finished: Nov 12 2019

My review: I had previously read some short fiction by the author, and I really loved some of their work (in particular I thought that Everything That Isn't Winter was excellent, and I strongly recommend it). I was quite excited to read more of their work.
Into the Gray is a short fantasy story, with some fairy tales elements. It is the story of Laria, a poor girl that survives taking to their death bad men eager to prey on desperate poor young girl like her, and stealing their moneys. She take them to the pool where her love, the Lady of the Waking Waters, an immortal mermaid, lives.
It's a good story, and I am looking forward reading more by this author. (★★★★)
Started: Oct 12 2019 Finished: Oct 12 2019

My review: I felt in love with J.Y. Yang's work when I read their masterpiece Waiting on a Bright Moon. I really liked the previous installments opf the Tensorate series, and I was eager to read this forth (and I am afraid final) book set in the Protectorate. I was NOT disappointed. The book was a immense pleasure to read.
The book offers a nuanced portrait of Protector Hekate, the mother of the twins featured in the series first duology, as seen through the eye of Lady Han.
For fifty years, the Protector ruled, reshaping her country in her image and driving her enemies to the corners of the map. For half a century the world turned around her as she built her armies, trained her Tensors, and grasped at the reins of fate itself. Now she is dead. Her followers will quiver, her enemies rejoice. But in one tavern, deep in rebel territory, her greatest enemy drowns her sorrows. Lady Han raised a movement that sought the Protector's head, yet now she can only mourn her loss. She remembers how it all began, when the Protector was young, not yet crowned, and a desperate dancing girl dared to fall in love with her.
A strongly recommended reading, that leave me wanting to ready more by the author. (★★★★★)
Started: Aug 14 2019 Finished: Aug 16 2019

My review: I have enjoyed the previous installments of the Wayward Children series, and I was curious to see where the author was going to take us next. All the books after the firsts, including this one, are prequels focusing on the backstory of one of the characters featured in the award winning Every Heart a Doorway. This time, we learn more about Lundy's past. Lundy was a very serious young girl who would rather study and dream than become a respectable housewife and live up to the expectations of the world around her. As well she should. When she finds a doorway to a world founded on logic and reason, riddles and lies, she thinks she's found her paradise. Alas, everything costs at the goblin market, and when her time there is drawing to a close, she makes the kind of bargain that never plays out well.
This was one of my favorite books of the series: while there is a little bit less action than usual, the character development is very interesting. I particularly enjoyed the representation of the tension between the desire to meet family and society expectations and the need to be true to oneself. (★★★★)
Started: Aug 04 2019 Finished: Aug 14 2019

My review: I read Spinning Silver as part of my Hugo 2019 finalists read-a-thon, but I was already familiar with the Hugo award winner author, and I was looking forward reading it.
The story is very loosely based on an old fairy tale: Rumpelstiltskin. While some of the elements of the fairy tales are retained, the story is quite different, and the problematic tropes of the genre are explored and inverted. The story is told by many different perspectives, but the core one is the one of Miryem, the daughter and granddaughter of Jewish moneylenders... but her father isn't a very good one. Free to lend and reluctant to collect, he has loaned out most of his wife's dowry and left the family on the edge of poverty, until Miryem steps in. Hardening her heart against her fellow villagers' pleas, she sets out to collect what is owed, and finds herself more than up to the task. When her grandfather loans her a pouch of silver pennies, she brings it back full of gold. But having the reputation of being able to change silver to gold can be more trouble than it's worth, especially when her fate becomes tangled with the cold creatures that haunt the wood, and whose king has learned of her reputation and wants to exploit it for reasons Miryem cannot understand.
While lately I am not into fairy tales inspired fantasy settings, I really liked this book. The characters and the plot are very interesting, and the author does an amazing job in exploring, eviscerating, and subverting the antisemitism, sexism, and domestic abuse that are typical in classic fairy tales. This would definitely be a worthy Hugo award winner. (★★★★)
Started: Jun 12 2019 Finished: Jul 05 2019

My review: I read Trail of Lightning as part of my Hugo 2019 finalists read-a-thon, but I was already familiar with the Hugo award winner author, and I was looking forward reading it.
The story in a near future where most of the world has drowned beneath the sudden rising waters of a climate apocalypse. The world is in chaos but Dinétah (formerly the Navajo reservation) has been reborn. The gods and heroes of legend walk the land, but so do monsters. Maggie Hoskie is a Dinétah monster hunter, a supernaturally gifted killer. When a small town needs help finding a missing girl, Maggie is their last and best hope. But what Maggie uncovers about the monster is much larger and more terrifying than anything she could imagine. Maggie reluctantly enlists the aid of Kai Arviso, an unconventional medicine man, and together they travel to the reservation to unravel clues from ancient legends, trade favors with tricksters, and battle dark witchcraft in a patchwork world of deteriorating technology. As Maggie discovers the truth behind the disappearances, she will have to confront her past, if she wants to survive.
I really enjoyed the story, it's great to read a fantasy that does not use the same European mythological that have been used and reused to death. Finally something that reads (to the average user) very novel and intriguing. I also loved the characters, all very flawed and well rounded.
I am looking forward reading the next installments of the series. (★★★★)
Started: May 29 2019 Finished: Jun 11 2019

My review: I heard incredibly good reviews about this book, so I decided to give it a try. I was blown away by how good this book it is. The characterization, the world building, the story telling... everything is so good!
The book is fantasy, but instead of using the European mythology, it uses the Nigerian one. The result is, at least for a person born and raised in Europe, extremely original and novel. The book does not stop there though: it is inspired by the social injustice and xenophobia of our modern world, creating a story that has a lot t say to the modern reader.
This is the story of Zélie Adebola. She still remembers when the soil of Orïsha hummed with magic. Burners ignited flames, Tiders beckoned waves, and Zélie's Reaper mother summoned forth souls.
But everything changed the night magic disappeared. Under the orders of a ruthless king, maji were killed, leaving Zélie without a mother and her people without hope. Now Zélie has one chance to bring back magic and strike against the monarchy. With the help of a rogue princess, Zélie must outwit and outrun the crown prince, who is hell-bent on eradicating magic for good. Danger lurks in Orïsha, where snow leoponaires prowl and vengeful spirits wait in the waters. Yet the greatest danger may be Zélie herself as she struggles to control her powers and her growing feelings for an enemy. (★★★★★)
Started: Mar 08 2019 Finished: May 29 2019

Publisher review: The November/December 2018 issue of Hugo Award-winning Uncanny Magazine. Featuring new fiction by Isabel Yap, T. Kingfisher, Naomi Kritzer, Monica Valentinelli, and Cassandra Khaw. Reprinted fiction by Sofia Samatar, essays by Diana M. Pho, Steven H Silver, Sarah Goslee, and Nilah Magruder, poetry by Beth Cato, Hal Y. Zhang, Leah Bobet, and Sharon Hsu, and interviews with Isabel Yap and Monica Valentinelli by Caroline M. Yoachim, a cover by John Picacio, and an editorial by Lynne M. Thomas and Michael Damian Thomas.
My rating:
Number of times I read it: 2
Started (first time): May 25 2019 Finished (first time): May 25 2019

My review: I read The Black God's Drums as part of my Hugo 2019 finalists read-a-thon, but I was already familiar with the Nebula award winner author, and I was looking forward reading it.
This is the story of Creeper, a scrappy young teen living on the streets of New Orleans. She wants to soar, and her sights are set on securing passage aboard the smuggler airship Midnight Robber. Her ticket: earning Captain Ann-Marie's trust using a secret about a kidnapped Haitian scientist and a mysterious weapon he calls The Black God’s Drums. But Creeper keeps another secret close to heart: Oya, the African orisha of the wind and storms, who speaks inside her head and grants her divine powers. And Oya has her own priorities concerning Creeper and Ann-Marie.
This is a great fantasy novella set in an alternate history new Orleans, and leverages on the Yoruba system of belief. (★★★★)
Started: May 01 2019 Finished: May 08 2019

My review: I read The Only Harmless Great Thing as part of my Hugo 2019 finalists read-a-thon. I previously read other short stories by this author in the past and I loved them. I really had high expectations and I was not disappointed. I really loved it.
This book is inspired by two historical facts: in the early years of the 20th century, a group of female factory workers in Newark, New Jersey slowly died of radiation poisoning. Around the same time, an Indian elephant was deliberately put to death by electricity in Coney Island.
Brooke Bolander intertwine these two tragedies in a dark alternate history of rage, radioactivity, and injustice crying out to be righted. This is a wrenching journey that crosses eras, chronicling histories of cruelty both grand and petty in search of meaning and justice. (★★★★)
Started: Apr 28 2019 Finished: Apr 30 2019

My review: I read The Last Banquet of Temporal Confections as part of my Hugo 2019 finalists read-a-thon. I had not read anything by this author before, so I did not know what to expect. I was quite pleased with what I read. I had previously read another story by this author, That Seriously Obnoxious Time I Was Stuck at Witch Rimelda's One Hundredth Birthday Party, that I had loved and I was looking forward reading more by the same author. I was not disappointed, this story was exquisite!
In a world were the monarchy has been taken over by a mischievous sadistic monarch, a baker learn how to re-evoke memories through his careful baking. The monarch force him to cook for him, while keeping his wife hostage. Could emotions and baking save the day? (★★★★)
Started: Apr 25 2019 Finished: Apr 25 2019

My review: I read If at First You Don't Succeed, Try, Try Again as part of my Hugo 2019 finalists read-a-thon. I had not read anything bythis author before, so I did not know what to expect. I was quite pleased with what I read.
A hapless imugi is determined to attain the form of a full-fledged dragon and gain entry to the gates of heaven. For a long time, things don't go well. Then, it meets a girl... A truly remarkable story about love, partnership, and being true to yourself. And it's about reaching your dreams, even when they change, even if you momentarily forget them, even if you feel like giving up. (★★★★★)
Started: Apr 22 2019 Finished: Apr 22 2019

My review: I read The Secret Lives of the Nine Negro Teeth of George Washington as part of my Hugo 2019 finalists read-a-thon. I had read A Dead Djinn in Cairo by this author in the past that I loved and I was looking forward reading more by the same author.
The story is inspired by a real historical event: we know that Washington false teeth were not wooden, but included human teeth. Moreover, according to his ledger books, these 10 teeth were "purchased" from slaves [source]. P. Djèlí Clark in this short story try to imagine who those slaves were, and what their story was. The stories reads as quite realistic at first, but soon a fantastic elements creeps in.
This is a strong contender for this year Hugo in my opinion. (★★★★)
Started: Apr 20 2019 Finished: Apr 20 2019

My review: I read The Tale of the Three Beautiful Raptor Sisters, and the Prince Who Was Made of Meat as part of my Hugo 2019 finalists read-a-thon. I had read another short story by this author in the past that I liked and I was curious to read more by the author. I was initially turned off by the title, but I soon change my mind as I started reading.
The story is very funny. It is set in a medieval alternative reality, where dinosaurs are still around and sentient and smart, and so are smart witches and dump princes. And behind all the funny stories, there is a nice inversion of fairy tales tropes, where women have agencies and their happiness does not depend on adherence to the gender role imposed to them by society. (★★★★)
Started: Apr 17 2019 Finished: Apr 18 2019

My review: I read A Witch’s Guide To Escape: A Practical Compendium Of Portal Fantasies as part of my Hugo 2019 finalists read-a-thon. I had read another short story by this author in the past and I loved it. I really had high expectations and I was not disappointed. I really loved it.
The story does not seem to have any fantastic element at first: it is the story of a cool librarian that takes a strong interest on her library patrons, and in particular of a very young kid that appears to be neglected or worse. Soon the fantastic elements starts to creep in: we learn that the librarian is a witch, and books are not just passive objects.
This is one of the top contenders for the Hugo award for Short Fiction this year in my opinion. I loved the characters, and the carefully and exquisitely crafted storytelling. Strongly recommended to everyone. (★★★★★)
Started: Apr 16 2019 Finished: Apr 17 2019

My review: One of the recurring issues I had with the Time Quintet series, was its often xenophobic content, and how the author continuously misused scientific concepts to make unrelated religious argument. While I love books that discuss theology and books that discuss science, misquoting scientific terms and theories to explain theological concepts that have nothing to do with those scientific terms and theories is cringe worthy to say the least. Good news: in this book the misuse is kept to a minimum, while the xenophobic elements are reduced.
Unfortunately there are still plenty of (different) issues, so many that I do not even know where to start.
* I agree with the author that different cultures have different customs and ethical systems, and that we should try to understand and respect that. I would have not picked "human sacrifice" as a way to convey this point though.
* The author seems to embrace some discriminatory and false anti-atheist stereotypes, including equating lack of faith with lack of morality.
* The author portrays science as dogmatic and incapable of accept what is in front of our eyes, while the very foundation of the scientific method is based on objective observation.
* While I admire people risking or sacrificing their life for the good of others, I do not see anything noble in Polly's throwing her life away in a known to be futile attempt to save the person that abuse her and traded her life for his own gain. The author frames Polly's decision as similar to the one of ישוע‎ sacrificing his life to save humanity, while to me it reads like the actions of a woman that has been abused to the point of throwing her life away in an attempt to save her abuser.
I would not recommend this book to anyone, especially not to a child. (★)
Started: Feb 05 2019 Finished: Feb 21 2019

My review: I really liked John Chu's work in the past and I was eager to read hist latest short story. I was not disappointed. It's a very interesting story, focusing on complex family relation and on their emotional toll.
This is the story of Connor, a food crafter, just getting back into the business after his mother's death. To cope with his grief, Connor spends day after day recreating her potstickers, but they are never quite what he remembers. To move on with his life, he will have to confront his past and to deal with his abusive sister. (★★★★)
Started: Feb 18 2019 Finished: Feb 19 2019

My review: I enjoyed the American Hippo series by this author and I was curious to read more of her work. Bread and Milk and Salt is a very different story that uses some of the fairy tales mythos while exploring violence and abuse. It is a great story, and I am looking forward reading more by Sarah Gailey.
This is the story of a fairy that meets a young boy, and try to kill him as good fairies do. Or so she says. Her actions seems to suggest otherwise: she keep following the boy as he grows up. I am left wondering if she is infatuated... But the young men turns out to be the real monster at the end. (★★★)
Started: Feb 18 2019 Finished: Feb 18 2019

My review: I did not like this story for the same reason I hated Lovecraft's dream cycle stories: while they may be poetically and beautifully written, but I am not fond of ornate and oneiric storytelling. It's just a type of story and a kind of style I cannot stand (but tons of people love, I am just not one of them).
In The Heart of Owl Abbas a composer in an unstable city-state accidentally discovers the perfect singer for his work, that turns out to be a clockwork man. It starts composing songs, inspired by its voice.. and doing so he sows the seeds of revolution. (★★)
Started: Feb 15 2019 Finished: Feb 16 2019

My review: I started reading A Series of Unfortunate Events back in 2006. I went through the first few books, enjoyed them, but I never completed reading the series back then: the first few books follow a similar plot structure and I was getting a little bored with it. Last year (2018) I decided to restart the series and complete it. Soon I discover that I had left just before things get more interesting: after the first few books the framing story starts emerging and slowly takes over. Each volume become more fun and interesting until book 12, where a lot of revelations are expected and (almost) none are given. I assumed the author was setting up the stage for the grand finale, book 13. I was expecting resolution and revelations, but even less are given. We are told that mysteries are nested inside mysteries, and the explanation of anything is another long story in itself rooted in even longer stories. There is no beginning and there is no end. While I appreciate the philosophical argument, I cannot stop feeling let down and cheated. While the book is well written, intriguing, and original, it is nevertheless disappointing. (★★)
Started: Jan 28 2019 Finished: Feb 05 2019

My review: I have been working through the entire A Series of Unfortunate Events series, and I have enjoyed each book. This penultimate book is no exception: it is quite entertaining.
The Baudelaire orphans are taken by Kit Snicket to the last safe place, a very peculiar hotel organized as a library, where both noble and villains volunteers are going to meet soon. They disguise themselves as Baudelaire, and are tasked by Kit to identify noble and villain volunteers. As it become soon clear, the task is incredibly difficult, since we live in a world where nothing is just black or white.
The book features many of the characters that we have previously encountered, and a lot of mysteries are resolved, but many more are encountered. This said, this is the book I liked the least so far: while a lot of things happen, the plot is relatively thin. There are also few points where the characters' actions seem illogical and/or out of character. I am assuming the author is setting up the stage for the next book, that is the last. I am looking forward reading it. (★★★)
Started: Jan 10 2019 Finished: Jan 26 2019

My review: I have grown fond of the Penric and Desdemona series, and I particularly liked the previous installments of Nikys' story arc started inPenric’s Mission and I was looking forward reading this latest installment. I was not disappointed: the novella is quite entertaining, and it brings the arc to a satisfying conclusion.
In The Prisoner of Limnos temple sorcerer Penric and the widow Nikys have reached safety in the duchy of Orbas when a secret letter from a friend brings frightening news: Nikys's mother has been taken hostage by her brother's enemies at the Cedonian imperial court, and confined in a precarious island sanctuary. Their own romance still unresolved, Nikys, Penric, and of course Desdemona must infiltrate the hostile country once more, finding along the way that family relationships can be as unexpectedly challenging as any rescue scheme. (★★★★)
Started: Dec 30 2018 Finished: Jan 06 2019

My review: This novella was initially collected in "Fantasy: The Best Of The Year (2005 edition)" and later released on the web in PDF format, and as an audiobook. It is the story of a very powerful mage with a very bad reputation, hiring a very adroit thief. The thief is very wary, he does not want to do anything with the mage. But the wizard managed to entice him leveraging on his desire for new challenges... and some threats. It will turn out that the motivations of both characters are not the ones we are led to believe at first. An entertaining short story, a nice read for a raining day. (★★★)
Started: Dec 30 2018 Finished: Jan 01 2019

My review: I have grown fond of the Penric and Desdemona series of novella, and I was looking forward reading this latest installment. I was surpised: while the previous ones were pretty much self-contained, Mira's Last Dance is a sequel (and should be read after) Penric's Mission. This surprised me, but in a good way: Penric's Mission is one of the best novellas of the series, and I was glad to read about what happened next.
In this novella the injured Penric, a temple sorcerer and learned divine, tries to guide the betrayed General Arisaydia and his widowed sister Nikys across the last hundred miles of hostile Cedonia to safety in the Duchy of Orbas. In the town of Sosie the fugitive party encounters unexpected delays, and even more unexpected opportunities and hazards, as the courtesan Mira of Adria, one of the ten dead women whose imprints make up the personality of the chaos demon Desdemona, comes to the fore with her own special expertise.
A greatly entertaining read, that makes me want to read more. (★★★★)
Started: Dec 27 2018 Finished: Dec 30 2018

My review: An entertaining story, in the form of an interview to a fictional lawyer of a (corporate) Santa Claus. A fun short read, perfect to kill few minutes while waiting for or riding a bus. (★★★★)
Started: Dec 26 2018 Finished: Dec 26 2018

My review: More and more mysteries are getting revealed and finally the Baudelaire siblings get to meet some VFD members!
In the 11th installment of the A Series of Unfortunate Events series, our heroes find themselves in a submarine, exploring underground caves and ancient VFD sites. The horrors they encounter along the way are too numerous to list, and includes mushrooms, a desperate search for something lost, a mechanical monster, a distressing message from a lost friend, and tap dancing.
I cannot wait to read what happen next! (★★★★)
Started: Dec 16 2018 Finished: Dec 23 2018

My review: I am growing fond of this series. There is nothing Earth shattering and novel, but it is very enjoyable, the characters are endearing, and the author is a good story teller.
Learned Penric, a sorcerer and divine of the Bastard's Order, travels across the sea to sunlit Cedonia on his first covert diplomatic mission, to attempt to secure the services of a disaffected Cedonian general for the Duke of Adria. However, nothing is as it seems: Penric is betrayed and thrown into a dungeon, and worse follows for the general and his kin. Penric's narrow escapes and adventures, including his interest in a young widow, are told with remarkable energy, wit and humor. I can't wait to read what will happen next! (★★★★)
Started: Dec 08 2018 Finished: Dec 15 2018

My review: I confess I was not particularly fond of the previous installments of the Time Quintet series, but this forth one is by far the worst book. Before I start discussing what i liked, and what I did not like, let me provide a quick summary: the twins Sandy and Dennys, are the practical, down-to-earth members of the Murry family. They have never paid much attention to their scientist parents' talk of highly theoretical things like tesseracts and farondalae. But now something has happened to Sandy and Dennys that drastically stretches their powers of belief... they end up in the middle of a biblical story! And, when disaster threatens the oasis where they have made their home, can they find a way back to their own time?
So let's get back to what did and did not work for me. Let's start with what I did like: the author is a good story teller and the book is, at times, quite entertaining to read. Unfortunately the story is marred by xenophobic, misogynistic, and anti-scientific stances to the point of making it hard to read. I love fantasy stories that leverage and reflect on religious stories and legends, and I love both soft ans hard science fiction stories. What I do not like are stories that pretend to be hard science fiction while they distort and misinterpret scientific theories. I love stories that explore and reflects on worst side of humanity, from xenophobia to misogyny, yet I hate books that criticize old racist theories on one page but then depicts "primitive humans" as "short, dark, and simple" and angels and advanced humans as "white skinned and blue eyed" in the following page. Similarly this book criticizes the patriarchy, and yet fail the Bechdel test and have men doing all the rescuing.
And on the religious side... I realize people beliefs are quite diverse, but I find the representation of faith in the book quite problematic and scary. In the biblical story, יהוה‬ kills the wicked, and Noah unsuccessfully try hard to warn them of the upcoming disaster. In this story we get to meet the soon to be slaughtered "wicked", and while many of them are definitely not role models, and many are criminals, none of them come close to deserving death. Even Mary Ness, a big fan of Madeleine L'Engle, disliked this book for the same reason. She writes in [her review]: at no point does the society feel evil enough to deserve the flood. Genesis is quite clear on the subject: God sends the flood because humans are wicked, evil, violent and corrupt. Some of the mortals in Many Waters are decidedly grey, and sliding towards evil, but apart from [one] kidnapping, and even then, none of the humans seem to reach the levels described in Genesis, and this is fairly troubling. יהוה‬ decision as is presented in this story seems quite evil, and Noah and the twins unquestioning faith and complicity to the act come across as wicked complicity to the terrorist act of religious extremists. (★)
Started: Nov 19 2018 Finished: Dec 06 2018

My review: William Goldman takes back the role of S. Morgenstern, the fictional role of the princess bride.
This time the story is set in Northern Italy, in Venice. Once upon a time, the gondoliers of the Serenissima possessed the finest voices in all the world. But, alas, few remember those days, and fewer still were ever blessed to hear such glorious singing. No one since has discovered the secret behind the sudden silence of the golden-voiced gondoliers. No one, it seems, but S. Morgenstern. Now Morgenstern recounts the sad and noble story of the ambitions, frustrations, and eventual triumph of Luigi, the gondolier with the goony smile. Here, in this brilliantly illustrated exposition of the surprising facts behind this all-but-forgotten mystery, S. Morgenstern reveals the fascinating truths about John the Bastard, Laura Lorenzini, the centenarian Cristaldi the Pickle, Enrico Caruso, Porky XII, the Great Sorrento, the Queen of Corsica, and of course, the one and only Luigi.
A funny read, that somehow managed to capture a little of the real Venice in it. You know you can trust me on that, since I was born and raised there! (★★★)
Started: Nov 30 2018 Finished: Dec 04 2018

My review: I remember watching the movie adaptation when I was a kid, but I did not remember anything at all about the plot. I did not even remember it was a comedy, I confess I was expecting to read a fantasy book when I picked it up. The book is definitely enjoyable, and the different level of narrations are interesting and clever. This said it miserably fails the Bechdel test: the only female character is a lightheaded and shallow beauty. Hopefully it is intended as a critique to the genre?
As Florin and Guilder teeter on the verge of war, the reluctant Princess Buttercup is devastated by the loss of her true love, kidnapped by a mercenary and his henchmen, rescued by a pirate, forced to marry Prince Humperdinck, and rescued once again by the very crew who absconded with her in the first place. In the course of this dazzling adventure, she'll meet Vizzini, the criminal philosopher who'll do anything for a bag of gold; Fezzik, the gentle giant; Inigo, the Spaniard whose steel thirsts for revenge; and Count Rugen, the evil mastermind behind it all. Foiling all their plans and jumping into their stories is Westley, Princess Buttercup's one true love and a very good friend of a very dangerous pirate.
Oh and the 30 year edition comes with a little short sequel, that is even more enjoyable than the original. (★★★)
Started: Oct 23 2018 Finished: Nov 08 2018

My review: I have enjoyed the previous installment of the series, and I was growing more and more curious about the many mysteries in the plot. Finally this 10th chapter of the Baudelaire's orphans saga cast light on many of those mysteries. But for every mystery solved, a new one is introduced.
In The Slippery Slope Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire run into more than their fair share of slipperiness during their harrowing journey up and down a range of strange and distressing mountains. The story contains a secret message, a toboggan, a deceitful map, a swarm of snow gnats, a scheming villain, a troupe of organized youngsters, a covered casserole dish, and a surprising survivor of a terrible fire. I can't wait to read the next volume! (★★★★)
Started: Oct 28 2018 Finished: Nov 03 2018

My review: I enjoyed the previous installments of the series, and I was looking forward this new story. It was fun, and I do not regret reading it, but I did like the previous novellas more.
Penric's Fox is set eight months after the events of Penric and the Shaman. Learned Penric, sorcerer and scholar, travels to Easthome, the capital of the Weald. There he again meets his friends Shaman Inglis and Locator Oswyl. When the body of a sorceress is found in the woods, Oswyl draws him into another investigation; they must all work together to uncover a mystery mixing magic, murder and the strange realities of Temple demons. (★★★)
Started: Oct 07 2018 Finished: Oct 12 2018

My review: I am enjoying reading this YA series and I cannot wait for all the mysteries surrounding the Baudelaire orphans to be finally revealed. In this installment the Baudelaire children find themselves living with Count Olaf protected by a "carnival freak" disguise. Count Olaf for once is not as bright and clever as usual and cannot see past their costumes. I was a little bit weary about the treatment of disfigured people in the story, but the book treat them with respect, while making it quite clear that the practice of exposing people that looks different in a carnival is reprehensible. The story finish with a huge cliff hunger... and I cannot wait to read the next book of the series! (★★★)
Started: Sep 28 2018 Finished: Oct 05 2018

My review: This is by far one of the best subversions of a classic fairy tales, SnowWhite. This dark fantasy novelette starts where the fairy tale finished, after the "and they lived happy ever after". Unfortunately reality is often different from the fairy tales that we tell to each other, or that others try to sell us. The story initially focuses on the fraught relationship between Snow White and her stepmother after Snow White has married the prince and has her own child. She visits her stepmother monthly promising to kill her in ever more horrible ways, at the same time attempting to stay away from the mirror that started it all. But while it is easy for SnowWhite to hate her step mother, reality is never simple, and events are never as black and white as they are always portrayed.
One of the best short stories I have read so far this year, and one of my nominations for the Hugo awards next year.
Trigger warnings: pedophilia, torture, violence against women.

Merged review:

This is by far one of the best subversions of a classic fairy tales, SnowWhite. This dark fantasy novelette starts where the fairy tale finished, after the "and they lived happy ever after". Unfortunately reality is often different from the fairy tales that we tell to each other, or that others try to sell us. The story initially focuses on the fraught relationship between Snow White and her stepmother after Snow White has married the prince and has her own child. She visits her stepmother monthly promising to kill her in ever more horrible ways, at the same time attempting to stay away from the mirror that started it all. But while it is easy for SnowWhite to hate her step mother, reality is never simple, and events are never as black and white as they are always portrayed.
One of the best short stories I have read so far this year, and one of my nominations for the Hugo awards next year.
Trigger warnings: pedophilia, torture, violence against women. (★★★★★)
Number of times I read it: 2
Started (first time): Sep 24 2018 Finished (first time): Sep 25 2018

My review: I am a big fan of J.Y. Yang work, and I was thrilled when it was announced that their tensorate series was going to be extended to include two extra books. I was really pleased with The Descent of Monsters: it is entertaining and fascinating. The storytelling is also improved from the previous volume, that was a little bit less coherent.
The books starts letting us know that something very terrible happened at the Rewar Teng Institute of Experimental Methods. When the Tensorate's investigators arrived, they found a sea of blood and bones as far as the eye could see. One of the institute's experiments got loose, and its rage left no survivors. The investigators returned to the capital with few clues and two prisoners: the terrorist leader Sanao Akeha and a companion known only as Rider.
The story is told by the point of view of investigator Chuwan that was given the task to investigate the accident, with the clear understanding that she should not do any investigation, and just blame the Machinist for it. What really happened at the institute? What drew the Machinists there? What are her superiors trying to cover up? And why does she feel as if her strange dreams are forcing her down a narrowing path she cannot escape? (★★★★)
Started: Sep 21 2018 Finished: Sep 24 2018

My review: I am a completist, and while I did not really enjoy A Wrinkle in Time, I decided to complete the Quintet. Unfortunately I was not crazy about this second installment either. I did like the lead character, because she is relatable and remarkable. I did like her and her family love for science. What I found disturbing is the attempt of passing as real science the odd mixture of science and "magic" (for want of better words) featured in the book. I am still planning to read the entire series though. (★★)
Started: Sep 18 2018 Finished: Sep 23 2018

My review: The previous installment of the Boudelaire's orphans has left them hiding in a hospital while wrongly accused of murder. In this book we get to see what happens there... more details come to light regarding the background mystery, and while a small sliver of hope is given, at the end the children barely escape alive to find themselves in the middle of Count Olaf's minions clutches. (★★★★)
Started: Aug 14 2018 Finished: Sep 02 2018

My review: The story starts as in every previous installment of this series: Mr Poe's does a very poor job in identifying a legal guardian for the three orphans Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire. This time he decides to assign them to the care of an entire village! The name of the village is a mysterious acronyms, V.F.D, the same acronyms that the Quagmire's triplet left them before being abducted by evil Count Olaf!
The story includes migrating crows, an angry mob, a newspaper headline, the arrest of innocent people, the Deluxe Cell, and some very strange hats. Very slowly, more and more clues are given of what the mysterious background story is... And I cannot wait to learn more about V.F.D., the eye tattoo, and Beatrix. (★★★★)
Started: Aug 07 2018 Finished: Aug 12 2018

My review: After escaping for the 5th time from Count Olaf Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire end up in a very posh and "in" neighborhood. For once their guardians are wealthy and they do not demand them to perform crazy tasks... unfortunately they are so into fashion trends to make their own lives miserable: they live in darkness, and they sip disgusting parsley soda, just because it is "in".
I was hoping to learn more of the overall plot-line that the author started hinting at in the previous installment of this series, but really little is said, and a lot more is left unsaid. I cannot wait to read the next book of A Series of Unfortunate Events! (★★★★)
Started: Jul 04 2018 Finished: Jul 09 2018

My review: Apparently in the 19th century in the non fictional United States government concocted a plan to import hippopotamuses into the marshlands of Louisiana to be bred and slaughtered as an alternative meat source. Hippos are savage, they are fast, and their jaws can snap a man in two. This was a terrible plan. Inspired by this real yet bizarre historical fact, Sarah Gailey developed this alternative history novel, set in a fictional United States where the government did end up approving the introduction of hippopotamuses into the marshlands of Louisiana. Contained within this volume is an 1890s America that might have been: a bayou overrun by feral hippos and mercenary hippo wranglers from around the globe. It is the story of Winslow Houndstooth and his crew. It is the story of their fortunes. It is the story of his revenge.
This is a hard to classify novel: a western with hippos taking the place of horses, and set in Louisiana instead of Texas. It would not be normally my cup of tea, but the writing and the storytelling are both excellent. I will read the rest of the series! (★★★★)
Started: Jun 28 2018 Finished: Jul 01 2018

My review: I have been reading Sarah Gailey's River of Teeth series and I could not resist reading this short story set in the same alternate America. An 1890s America that might have been: a bayou overrun by feral hippos and mercenary hippo wranglers from around the globe.
This is the story of Winslow Remington Houdstooth, notorious outlaw, handsomest heartbreaker in the American South. He has just finished a lucrative job, but he's faced with a hippo-sized problem that would test even the most seasoned of hoppers.
Short, yet fun. If you are reading the River of Teeth series, you should not skip it! (★★★)
Started: Jul 01 2018 Finished: Jul 01 2018

My review: After escaping for the 4th time from Count Olaf Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire end up at a boarding school. They are intelligent and resourceful children, and you might expect that they would do very well there. Unfortunately For the Baudelaires, school turns out to be another miserable episode in their unlucky lives. Truth be told, within the chapters that make up this story, the children face snapping crabs, strict punishments, dripping fungus, comprehensive exams, violin recitals, S.O.R.E., and the metric system.
All the previous book followed a very similar structure: the children find themselves in a new weird situation, soon Olaf shows up, and at the end, thanks to their whims they manage to outsmart him. I was worried that I would get bored of the template after few books, but finally a framing story is starting to emerge. It is just hinted for now, but I am getting intrigued. Let's see what happens next! (★★★)
Started: Jun 11 2018 Finished: Jun 17 2018

My review: As you may expect if you have read any of the previous books in the series, accidents, evil plots, and general misfortune abound in The Miserable Mill. The story starts with the Beaudelaire orphans sent to live and work in a sinister lumber mill. Unsurprisingly they are thrust into the jaws of danger and intrigue at the Lucky Smells Lumbermill, where Violet, Klaus, and Sunny spend their miserable days debarking trees and bundling wood. Then Klaus breaks his glasses and he ended up being hypnotized by the town optometrist in cahoots with the nefarious Count Olaf.
The book is enjoyable and darkly funny, one of the best books in the series so far. (★★★)
Started: Jun 08 2018 Finished: Jun 11 2018

My review: The story starts at Allpa's grandmother deathbed. Allpa's turned out quite different from the warrior that grandma expected her descendant to be. He seems to be far more interested in working the farm he inherited, than mastering the art of the sword. To Allpa's immense surprise, his grandma gives him her magic sword. His not excited about it, but he takes it home, to honor his grandma's memory. Then, as he unleashes the sword, three fearsome warriors emerge: sun, moon and dust. They are ready to train him to became a strong warrior, but Allpa's is not interested, an eventually they realize that. But perhaps his grandmother, the fearsome Anka the clear eyed, did not intend to push him towards a warrior's life, but to give him something far more valuable...

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This is the story of Finley, a man like many others, that one day encounters Andreas, a vampire that cannot resist the temptation to bit and turn Finley. Unfortunately it is against the law to bit without consent, and even worst to turn without going through the necessary legal procedures. On top of it Finley is an F2M transgender man, and the law does not allow transgender men to be turned.
A great novelette, a vampire story with a very novel twist. The vampiric turning give the opportunity to Finley to explore what transition and gender confirmation meant for him. Very interesting and novel. A very strong contender for the best novelette Hugo Award. (★★★★★)
Number of times I read it: 2
Started (first time): Apr 07 2018 Finished (first time): Apr 08 2018

My review: I read a lot of good reviews for the Dominion of the Fallen series and I was looking forward reading this novelette set in that fictional world. While it can be read as a stand alone story, I regret reading it without having read the The House of Shattered Wings first: I had the constant feeling I was missing something, some backstory.
The story is set during a yearly tradition for House of Hawthorn: the test of the Houseless. For those chosen, success means the difference between a safe life and the devastation of the streets. However, for Thuan and his friend Kim Cuc, dragons in human shapes and envoys from the dying underwater kingdom of the Seine, the stakes are entirely different. Charged with infiltrating a House that keeps encroaching on the Seine, if they are caught, they face a painful death. Worse, mysterious children of thorns stalk the candidates through Hawthorn’s corridors. Will Thuan and Kim Cuc survive and succeed? (★★)
Started: Apr 04 2018 Finished: Apr 05 2018

My review: While the story is quite simple, it is nevertheless entertaining. The main character is an old artificial intelligence, living inside a museum, that one day discovers a Japanese anime (Hyperdimension Warp Record) and become a fan. Then, it discovers fan-fiction and the online fandom.

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A word of advice: do not read this when you are sleepy or distracted. This is not an easy read, and it requires your full attention. I made the mistake to read it at night just before falling asleep... and I ended up having to read it again later because I had no idea of what I just read.
The story is an unsettling and grotesque tour of a museum / freak show, a reflection on what being differently abled meant in the past and means today. It is emotionally intense and disturbing, but the plot is quite thin. (★★★)
Number of times I read it: 2
Started (first time): Apr 02 2018 Finished (first time): Apr 03 2018

My review: A moving and cleverly written short story, using very clever fantasy allegories to explore how human copes with the fact that their existence is limited, and its length is not equitably distributed. The story explore aging, and how sometimes life doesn't play out the way we envisioned for ourselves, and sometimes we need to abandon our childhood dreams to follow our hearts, or for our loved ones.
This is definitely a strong finalist for the 2018 Hugo Award for Short Stories. (★★★★★)
Started: Apr 02 2018 Finished: Apr 02 2018

My review: A sweet children book, following Marlon Bundo, a lonely bunny who lives with his Grampa, Mike Pence, the Vice President of the United States. On this Very Special Day, Marlon's life is about to change forever after he meets and falls in love with another boy bunny. With its message of tolerance and advocacy, this charming children's book explores issues of same sex marriage and democracy. Sweet, funny, and beautifully illustrated, this book is dedicated to every bunny who has ever felt different. 100% of the proceeds will be donated to The Trevor Project and AIDS United. (★★★★★)
Started: Mar 27 2018 Finished: Mar 27 2018

My review: I read this book first in 2009, and it was the last book of the series I have ever read. While I found the series entertaining, the format of each book is similar, and I am afraid that, in the long run, it may turn repetitive and boring. But it is not so yet: I still enjoyed the story, despite the utter stupidity of some of the adult characters, that keep falling for the obvious disguises of Count Olaf. Shouldn't they have learned by now?
In the third installment of the series the Baudelaire orphans, Violet, Klaus, and Sunny are as filled with bad luck and misery as always. The story includes a hurricane, a signalling device, hungry human eating leeches, cold cucumber soup, a horrible villain, and a doll named Pretty Penny. (★★★)
Number of times I read it: 2
Started (first time): Mar 20 2018 Finished (first time): Mar 24 2018

My review: I received the first volume as a present, and it intrigued me. The style is quite unusual for a children book, and it has a dark cynical tone, but... I enjoyed it. I then decided to read the second, and I enjoyed it as well. After losing their parents, and after escaping from Count Olaf, the Baudelaire orphans are adopted by a distant uncle, a world renown herpetologist with a huge passion for reptiles. Despite the unusual line of work, the uncle turns out to be a great adoptive parent... but it will not last long. Soon the three siblings endure a car accident, a terrible odor, a deadly serpent, a long knife, a large brass reading lamp, and the appearance of a person they'd hoped never to see again (can you guess who?). I cannot wait to read the next book of this very unusual series. (★★★)
Number of times I read it: 2
Started (first time): Mar 17 2018 Finished (first time): Mar 20 2018

My review: Another story set in Seanan McGuire's Wayward Children fictional universe, featuring many of the characters introduced in Every Heart a Doorway and few new ones. I would recommend reading the first book of the series before this one (the second one is a good book, but is not required to fully appreciate this one).
The story focuses on Sumi, that died in the first book of the series, years before her prophesied daughter could be born, and on Rini that was born anyway in the sugary nonsensical word beyond Sumi's doorway, and that is now trying to bring her mother back from a world without magic, Earth. (★★★)
Started: Mar 13 2018 Finished: Mar 19 2018

My review: The series has a very distinctive and extremely (ironically) cynical style. Life is presents as a series of unfortunate events to such extent to be (intentionally) hilarious.
This first short book introduces us to the Baudelaire orphans. After losing their parents in a mysterious fire, the three youngsters encounter a greedy and repulsive villain, itchy clothing, a disastrous fire, a plot to steal their fortune, and cold porridge for breakfast.
I really enjoyed reading it, and I guess I'll end up reading the whole series.
Note: I first read the book many years ago, and more recently I listened to the audio-book version. I was not as fond of the audio adaptation though: while the voice acting is great (the narrator accent is simply perfect!), the background noises and sounds that were added to create the right atmosphere make at times hard to hear the voice actors. (★★★)
Number of times I read it: 2
Started (first time): Mar 14 2018 Finished (first time): Mar 16 2018

My review: I grew up in Italy, and over there A Wrinkle in Time is not as popular as it is here in the United States of America. After hearing so much about it I decided to give it a try. Unfortunately it is a book intended for children, and it is not as entertaining for an adult. Moreover since it was probably the original inspiration of many later works I read, it was not as original to read for me.
The books follows Meg Murry, living with her small brother Charles Wallace, two bigger twin brothers, and her mother. Her father is vanished while working for the government.... The book is loosely based on some scientific discovery of the time it was written, but it reads like a fantasy book, with a lot of strong theist messages sprinkled through the story. (★★)
Started: Mar 07 2018 Finished: Mar 13 2018

My review: I recently discovered J.Y. Yang short stories, and I quickly became a huge fan of their work. I was looking forward reading some of her longer work, and they did not disappoint. The Black Tides of Heaven is a silkpunk novella, set in the fictional word of the Tensorate where power is held by a small minority of strong magic user. It is the story of two twins, Mokoya and Akeha, the children of the Protector, given to the Grand Monastery as a payment for their help quenching a rebellion. While Mokoya develops strange prophetic gift, Akeha is always the one who see the strings that moved adults to action. While his sister receives visions of what would be, Akeha realizes what can be. What's more, he sees the sickness at the heart of his mother's Protectorate. (★★★★★)
Started: Feb 17 2018 Finished: Feb 21 2018

My review: I am enjoying reading The Machineries of Empire series, and I was curious to read more stories by the same author. This one is quite intriguing, with fantastic two dimensional characters from the world of shadow puppets. I was left wondering if the story would have benefited from a longer format, to give more space to the world building and to the characters' histories. (★★★)
Started: Feb 08 2018 Finished: Feb 09 2018

My review: The Ghoul Goes West is a novelette about two brothers, both obsessed with movies. One a not very successful screenwriter, the other an academic. When one dies from a drug overdose, his brother travels to Hollywood to investigate, and make amends for not being as supportive as he could have been.
The genre of this story is "magical realism": the story is deeply rooted in real history (in particular I learned a lot about the life of Bela Lugosi, the actor that deeply affected the lives of the two fictional brothers of the story), and the plot is completely realistic, but for a very small, limited, element. The fantastic element is not the focus of the story, but more of a catalyst for other realist events that follows. (★★★)
Started: Feb 09 2018 Finished: Feb 09 2018

My review: The Night Masquerade is the conclusion of the Binti trilogy, one of the most interesting science fiction series in recent years. The first two volumes were moving and original, and I had very high expectations for this last installment. The book was solid, but it does not reach the heights of the previous installments. The main issue I have is that some of the plot threads come to anti-climatic conclusion. Despite that, the story is intriguing, the characters are very interesting, and the world-building is fantastic. I loved how Binti is always open towards other alien and human cultures, and let each encounter with a different culture transform her deeply, becoming more than what she was before. I really do hope that the author will take us back to this fictional universe.
In this novella, Binti has returned to her home planet, believing that the violence of the Meduse has been left behind. Unfortunately, although her people are peaceful on the whole, the same cannot be said for the Khoush, who fan the flames of their ancient rivalry with the Meduse. Far from her village when the conflicts start, Binti hurries home, but anger and resentment has already claimed the lives of many close to her. Once again it is up to Binti, and her intriguing new friend Mwinyi, to intervene, though the elders of her people do not entirely trust her motives, and try to prevent a war that could wipe out her people, once and for all. (★★★★)
Started: Feb 03 2018 Finished: Feb 08 2018

My review: Another story set in Seanan McGuire's Wayward Children fictional universe, focusing on the backstory of two of the main characters encountered in Every Heart a Doorway. This said, the book can be read as a stand alone story without any problem.
This novella is a fairy tale of sort, but the morale of the story is not addressed to young readers, but to the grown-up parents reading it aloud. It is a reminder that kids are people that deserve to be what they are, and not be forced to become what we dream them to be.
The story focuses on twin sisters Jack and Jill. They were seventeen when they found their way home and were packed off to Eleanor West’s Home for Wayward Children. This is the story of what happened before that. Jacqueline was her mother's perfect daughter, polite and quiet, always dressed as a princess. If her mother was sometimes a little strict, it’s because crafting the perfect daughter takes discipline. Jillian was her father's perfect daughter, adventurous, thrill-seeking, and a bit of a tom-boy. He really would have preferred a son, but you work with what you've got. They were five when they learned that grown-ups can't be trusted. They were twelve when they walked down the impossible staircase and discovered that the pretense of love can never be enough to prepare you a life filled with magic in a land filled with mad scientists and death and choices. (★★★★)
Started: Jan 29 2018 Finished: Feb 02 2018

My review: The Stone Sky is the conclusion of what I consider the best fantasy series of the decades. All the plot threads started in the previous volume are expertly waved into an incredible story that provide insights on human nature and human society.
As for the previous books of the series the writing is exquisite, the story is moving, intriguing, and enticing, the characters are memorable and adroitly crafted. Last but not least the world building is original and astounding.
This last book focuses on two women, mother and daughter, Essun and Nassun. Essun has inherited the power of Alabaster Tenring. With it, she hopes to find her daughter Nassun and forge a world in which every orogene child can grow up safe. For Nassun, her mother's mastery of the Obelisk Gate comes too late. She has seen the evil of the world, and accepted what her mother will not admit: that sometimes what is corrupt cannot be cleansed, only destroyed. (★★★★★)
Started: Dec 02 2017 Finished: Jan 06 2018

My review: People on goodreads seems to like this story quite a lot... but it really did not work for me. I am not a big fan of oneiric stories with a very thin and hard to follow plot, where things happen almost at random. I had a similar reaction when I read Lovecraft's dreamland stories, where at least the plot is a little bit easier to see and follow. Some other readers saw deep allegories and hidden meaning in what was happening, but I failed to do so, and I had an hard time to get to the end of it. (★)
Started: Nov 26 2017 Finished: Dec 01 2017

My review: An interesting gaslamp fantasy story centered around the relationship between Queen Victoria end her prime minister Disraeli. The relationship is here fictionalized, and Disraeli uses the powers derived from his kabalistic studies to push his monarch towards what he believes to be the best course for his country. While this is a fictional story, I learned a little bit of real history though it, and I found it quite fascinating. In particular it was interesting to learn more about the extra struggles that people had to face in Victorian England because of their ethnicity. (★★★)
Started: Dec 01 2017 Finished: Dec 01 2017

My review: A beautifully written and crafted story by award-winning Nnedi Okorafor, one of the lead figures of the Afrofuturism movement. A remarkable discussion about women rights, genocide, and xenophobia with a distinctive African perspective.
The story is set in a future Africa. The world has changed in many ways, yet in one region genocide between tribes still bloodies the land. A woman who has survived the annihilation of her village and a terrible rape by an enemy general wanders into the desert hoping to die. Instead, she gives birth to an angry baby girl with hair and skin the color of sand. Gripped by the certainty that her daughter is different and special, she names her Onyesonwu, which means "Who fears death?" in an ancient language. It doesn't take long for Onye to understand that she is physically and socially marked by the circumstances of her violent conception. She is Ewu, a child of rape who is expected to live a life of violence, a half-breed rejected by both tribes. But Onye is not the average Ewu. Even as a child, she manifests the beginnings of a remarkable and unique magic. As she grows, so do her abilities, and during an inadvertent visit to the spirit realm she learns something terrifying: someone powerful is trying to kill her. Desperate to elude her would-be murderer and to understand her own nature, she embarks on a journey in which she grapples with nature, tradition, history, true love, and the spiritual mysteries of her culture, and ultimately teaches her why she was given the name she bears: Who Fears Death. (★★★★★)
Started: Nov 04 2017 Finished: Nov 22 2017

My review: I liked a lot of the ideas in this story. I loved the idea of a Library of Lost Things, where the shelves are stuffed with books that have fallen through the cracks, from volumes of lovelorn teenage poetry to famous works of literature long destroyed or lost. They are all here, pulled from history and watched over by the Librarian, curated by the Collectors, nibbled on by the rats. I liked the characters, all mysterious, with a lot of unrevealed secrets. Unfortunately the plot is a little on the thin side, and I wish there was more going on. (★★★)
Started: Sep 09 2017 Finished: Sep 10 2017

My review: The story is set in a word where some people have a special power to control the weather. Unfortunately the raw power is hard to master, and only through training and sacrifice the Windspeakers can control it. Unfortunately the Dragon Ships, a group of ferocious pirates ravaging the coast, has stolen the only tool that enable the Windspeakers to work their magic. Apprentice Windspeaker Shina must return her people's power to them before the Dragon Ships destroy everything . . . unless Shina destroys it by accident first.
I have been wanting to read this book for more than a year, and I am glad I finally got to read it. The story is memorable both for the characters and for the world-building. I really hope the author will write a sequel, or some other stories set in this fictional universe. (★★★★)
Started: Sep 04 2017 Finished: Sep 06 2017

My review: The Topaz Marquise is set in the same word of award nominated The Jewel and Her Lapidary. The tone of this book is much darker, almost gothic. It is the story of a jeweler that get his hand on a topaz marquise for what he believes is a very good price. Unfortunately he will soon learn he got much more of what he bargained for... he ended up with a magical gem from the valley instead.

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The Topaz Marquise is set in the same word of award nominated The Jewel and Her Lapidary. The tone of this book is much darker, almost gothic. It is the story of a jeweler that get his hand on a topaz marquise for what he believes is a very good price. Unfortunately he will soon learn he got much more of what he bargained for... he ended up with a magical gem from the valley instead. ()
Number of times I read it: 2
Started (first time): Sep 04 2017 Finished (first time): Sep 04 2017

My review: A great short story, set at the border of horror and fantasy. It is the story of a woman that is chosen by the king to be the new queen after the death of his previous beloved spouse. This is not a marriage of love, and it comes with a spoiled, violent, vicious, and sadistic stepson to take care of.

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A great short story, set at the border of horror and fantasy. It is the story of a woman that is chosen by the king to be the new queen after the death of his previous beloved spouse. This is not a marriage of love, and it comes with a spoiled, violent, vicious, and sadistic stepson to take care of. (★★★)
Number of times I read it: 2
Started (first time): Sep 03 2017 Finished (first time): Sep 03 2017

My review: Another story set in the wild cards fictional universe, written by the series co-editor Melinda Snodgrass. We meet again Noel Matthews, once an assassin and spy, and now owner of a construction company specialized on destructing old buildings using aces superpowers. Noel is an ace himself, able to morph his intersex body into two distinct avatar forms: one able to teleport during the day, and one during the night. The sense of guilt about his past and his fear of being a bad example pushed him to abandon his ace wife and son. But one day a dead body is discovered on the job. (★★★)
Started: Sep 01 2017 Finished: Sep 02 2017

My review: Winona Li is the daughter of a family of hard working immigrants. She has always worked hard, and expected little in return. When her job as an engineer for an oil company is terminated, she drive to anew place, looking for a new job. While she is driving a bird fatally collides with her car. The will change her life irrevocably.
The element of the story I found very compelling is the description of the various sources of discrimination Winona faces: first as an oil field engineer, and then as an American of non European descent. (★★★★)
Started: Aug 31 2017 Finished: Sep 01 2017

My review: An enjoyable fantasy story with an interesting pacifist theme. The scholast comes to a fictional word to bring a dire warning: the enemy is coming, and it will have technologies you have never seen before. Will the scholast be able to save humanity from war? Or is she destined to be a new Cassandra, preaching to a public all to eager to conquest and to leverage any advantage to steal riches from others? (★★★)
Started: Jul 30 2017 Finished: Jul 30 2017

My review: Stephen King has described The Dark Tower series as his magnum opus, and many readers seems to agree. For years I wanted to read it, since I liked some of King's books, especially the one written in the 70s, 80s, and early 90s. I was also hesitant to start it because of its length, and because of my dislike of the Western genre. I finally decided to give it a try...
This book introduces us to Roland of Gilead, the last Gunslinger. In his desolate world, which mirrors our own in frightening ways, Roland tracks The Man in Black, and tries to survive his many traps.
The story has a strong Western flavor at the beginning, but as it progresses, the fantastic elements take over. There is a lot of world-building, and very little is said, and much is hinted at. The plot itself is very thin and disappointing, but from what I read on-line, the following installments of the series are much better. I will keep reading, and see for myself. (★★)
Started: Jul 21 2017 Finished: Jul 27 2017

My review: A very interesting story exploring theme like identity, identity expression, and family abuse. I just wish it was a little bit more polished and less confusing.
The narrator shed his identity to find the body that better much his real self while looking for the way back home after leaving to avoid more tragedies and assaults. (★★★)
Started: Jul 21 2017 Finished: Jul 21 2017

My review: A deeply original work, at the intersection of science fiction, fantasy, YA, and fairy tales, with an interesting twisted spin. This is the story of two friends, Patricia Delfine and Laurence Armstead, both terribly bullied as a child. They are very different, Patricia a witch, Laurence a scientific genius, yet the circumstances, and their peculiarities bring them together. The story starts during their childhood, and follow them as they grow older, until... the apocalypse.
I loved this book, and I ended up staying up late at night few nights in a row to see what was going to happen next. This is clearly a worthy finalist for the Hugo Award for best Novel. (★★★★★)
Started: May 29 2017 Finished: Jun 06 2017

My review: Ansel is a young man still grieving for his lost sister. He and his family are trying to come to terms with her unexplained disappearance. They continue to play the family favorite board game, a more complex version of clue. Ansel always use the green detective. His sister used to use the red one. As he tries to remember a detail that would help locating his sister, he steps into the world of their favorite board game, in a desperate attempt to find her.
A very interesting and beautifully written story, with an abrupt and disappointing ending. (★★★)
Started: Jun 01 2017 Finished: Jun 01 2017

My review: I read The Dream-Quest of Vellitt Boe as part of my Hugo awards finalist reading marathon.
As the title suggest, this story is inspired by, and a sequel of sort of the famous Lovecraft's The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath, that is, by far, one of my least favorite books I have ever read, I found the original slow and boring, and I had to force myself to reach the end. It should not come as a surprise, that I was not looking forward reading this modern version of it. It turns out though, that the story is quite good, vastly superior to the original, and it subverts many of the problematic tropes of the Lovecraft's story. (★★★)
Started: May 26 2017 Finished: May 29 2017

My review: I read Penric and the Shaman as part of my Hugo awards finalist reading marathon.
Lois McMaster Bujold is an established well-known award winning author, and this latest work does not disappoint. It is set on the world of the five gods, and it is best enjoyed if read after the previous book in the series, Penric's Demon.
In this book Penric is now a divine of the Bastard’s Order as well as a sorcerer and scholar, living in the palace where the Princess-Archdivine holds court. His scholarly work is interrupted when the Archdivine agrees to send Penric, in his role as sorcerer, to accompany a Locator of the Father’s Order, assigned to capture Inglis, a runaway shaman charged with the murder of his best friend. However, the situation they discover in the mountains is far more complex than expected. Penric's roles as sorcerer, strategist, and counselor are all called upon before the end.
The novella is quite entertaining and fun. While it is not ground-breaking in the genre, I am growing fond of this character, and I am looking forward reading more books set in this world. (★★★★)
Started: May 21 2017 Finished: May 26 2017

My review: The story is told from two perspectives: the one of a travel guide, narrating events from an almost mythical, and vastly forgotten past, and from the point of view of the people that actually lived those events. This is the story of the end of a kingdom where jewels have tremendous powers that can drive people insane, and some humans, the lapidarys, have the power to bind them and their powers. The jewels, the nobility, bind the lapidarys. This is also the story of Lin and Sima, a princess destined to be married to a far away country, and her lowal lapidary. They get caught in a web of intrigue and deceit, and must find a way to escape the traps set by the past and save their kingdom.
It is a solid story, made remarkable by the world building. I do wish the author will come back to this world, and develop the character further.
(★★★★)
Started: May 05 2017 Finished: May 06 2017

My review: The premise of this clever dark fantasy novella is the following: children have always disappeared under the right conditions. slipping through the shadows under a bed or at the back of a wardrobe, tumbling down rabbit holes and into old wells, and emerging somewhere... else. But magical lands have little need for used-up miracle children. And those sent back have trouble adjusting back to the word they were born into. Miss West's home for wayward children is a safe haven for them. Nancy is one of those children. The things she’s experienced changed her. Each of Miss West's children is seeking a way back to her/his own fantasy world. But Nancy's arrival marks a change at the Home. There’s a darkness just around each corner, and when tragedy strikes, it's up to Nancy and her new-found schoolmates to get to the heart of the matter.
I really enjoy the story, it has a strong beginning, memorable characters, and an original plot. It just slow down a little bit before the end, and I am left wondering if it would have worked better as a shorter story. This said, I am looking forward reading the sequel! (★★★★)
Started: May 02 2017 Finished: May 05 2017

My review: An interesting sequel of the award winning "Jackalope Wives". This is the story of grandma Harken, that liveson the edge of town, in a house with its back to the desert. Some people said that she lived out there because she liked her privacy, and some said that it was because she did black magic in secret. Some said that she just didn’t care for other people. Everybody agrees her tomatoes are great. One day her tomatoes start vanishing one by one... (★★★)
Started: Apr 27 2017 Finished: Apr 29 2017

My review: This is the story of Tabitha, and Amira. Their stories, and their roles are the archetypal stories and roles of women in fairy tales. The same fairy tales that we still read to our children, often without realizing how misogynistic they are. One day, as Tabitha walks around the world to repent for having revealed to her mother she was a victim of abuse, she meets Amira. Their encounter will deeply change their lives, their way of thinking, and of living. (★★★★)
Started: Mar 10 2017 Finished: Mar 11 2017

My review: A beautiful short story, written by somebody that grow up reading Narnia, and rebelling against the rule that prevents grown-ups to go through the gate. As other reviewers said, this is a nostalgic revisitation of an old trope, and a rebellion against it. Last, but not least, despite the short length of this work, the characters are well drawn and well rounded. (★★★★)
Started: Mar 10 2017 Finished: Mar 10 2017

My review: I loved Leckie's Imperial Radch space opera, and I was eager to read more from who I consider one of my favorite authors. This story was very different from what I read before: it is not a science fiction piece, debating identity and colonialism. The Unknown God is a fantasy piece, set in a world of many Gods, where they can decide to walk among man. Aworo, Lord of Horses, god of the Western plains, decides to take human form, to try to understand why humans often do the unexpected... An almost theological reflection of life, that I really enjoyed, but for the ending, that was a little too unclear to me. (★★★★)
Started: Mar 10 2017 Finished: Mar 10 2017

My review: This book is the work of many famous sci-fi and fantasy female authors celebrating international woman day, with short work of fiction. The story are all inspired by the following 3 short phrases: She was warned. She was given an explanation. Nevertheless, she persisted. Three short lines, fired over social media in response to questions of why Senator Elizabeth Warren was silenced on the floor of the United States Senate on February 7th, 2017, for daring to read aloud the words of Coretta Scott King. As this message was transmitted across the globe, it has become a galvanizing cry for people of all genders in recognition of the struggles that women have faced throughout history.
Each author offers her unique interpretation. While the results are uneven, some are noteworthy. I particularly enjoyed Seanan McGuire's Persephone (that also touches themes of the ills of high income inequalities), Alyssa Wong's God product (thematically less fitting than the others), and Maria Dahvana Headley's Astronaut (based on a real history). (★★★)
Started: Mar 08 2017 Finished: Mar 08 2017

My review: The story is told by two narrators, both connected to the same place, the Orangery, a special natural preserve that shelters women that escaped from the abuse of men, turning into trees. One of the narrator is the guardian, living a life of solitude and isolation at the center of the orangery. The other narrator is the guide, bringing new people every day among the verdant residents. I liked the story, I liked how it borrows elements from the Greek mythology, and how they are used as allegories for the gender dynamics through history. If the plot has just been a little thicker, this could have been a little masterpiece.

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The story is told by two narrators, both connected to the same place, the Orangery, a special natural preserve that shelters women that escaped from the abuse of men, turning into trees. One of the narrator is the guardian, living a life of solitude and isolation at the center of the orangery. The other narrator is the guide, bringing new people every day among the verdant residents. I liked the story, I liked how it borrows elements from the Greek mythology, and how they are used as allegories for the gender dynamics through history. If the plot has just been a little thicker, this could have been a little masterpiece. (★★★)
Number of times I read it: 2
Started (first time): Mar 02 2017 Finished (first time): Mar 04 2017

My review: This is the second short story set in the fiction world of Stormwrack, and I am starting to fall in love a little with its characters. The story is entertaining, and can be easily read as stand-alone without having read the book series (as it did for me).
The crew of the Nightjar find a merman of the fleet wounded and stranded in the ocean, and Gale and Parrish work to find out who would assault a member of the nation of Tallon's intelligence service. They soon discover a plot that could shake the foundations of the fleet.

Merged review:

This is the second short story set in the fiction world of Stormwrack, and I am starting to fall in love a little with its characters. The story is entertaining, and can be easily read as stand-alone without having read the book series (as it did for me).
The crew of the Nightjar find a merman of the fleet wounded and stranded in the ocean, and Gale and Parrish work to find out who would assault a member of the nation of Tallon's intelligence service. They soon discover a plot that could shake the foundations of the fleet. (★★★)
Number of times I read it: 2
Started (first time): Mar 01 2017 Finished (first time): Mar 02 2017

My review: In a world where the dead are given to the sea, and once a year the sea gives them back for three days, the death horses rider have an important role: they need to guide the dead back to the sea before they transform from benevolent spirits, into ravenous blood thirsty creatures. The horse rider are carefully picked, and they need to follow tradition. All the signs points to Rowan to be the next one...

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I am usually not fond of stories with a western flavor, but Alyssa Wong managed to write one I did like, and quite a lot. This is the story of Ellis, a young boy with a very deep connection with his land, the desert, and with mysterious powers. Ellis is being raised by Madame Lettie, the owner of the local brothel, and the second wife of his dead father. In the brothel, Ellis make himself useful with odd jobs, and sometimes as a ware for the not always straight customers.
The story starts three months after a mysterious incidents at the mines, that were the economical fulcrum of town, and three months after the violent death of Ellis' father... (★★★★)
Number of times I read it: 2
Started (first time): Feb 25 2017 Finished (first time): Feb 26 2017

My review: For centuries the green knight challenge has been the same. The contenders arrive with the changing of the weather, ushered in by winter’s cold. Once a year, at the beginning of December, those silly boys who think challenging the green knight means that they are brave. All of them so eager to test their worth on the edge of the narrator husband's axe. Contender kings, and knights have been replaced by CEOs and venture capitalist, but nothing has changed... until this year.

Merged review:

A very interesting, and very fine example of message fiction, focusing on women rights, and rape. Given the brevity of the story, it is hard to say anything about it, without spoiling it. I would just say that it is a great piece from a Hugo / Nebula / Sturgeon / Locus finalist writer. (★★★★)
Number of times I read it: 2
Started (first time): Feb 16 2017 Finished (first time): Feb 16 2017

My review: I am a big fan of some of Lavie Tidhar work, and after reading his The Old Dispensation, I wanted to read more from the same author. I discovered this short story on the tor website, and I decided to give it a try. It is a decent story, but there is nothing of the magic of some of his later work. If you are trying to decide which book of this author to pick up, I would recommend something more recent.
This story is set in a near future when different being trapped inside human bodies, are finally set free to be what they are. (★★)
Started: Feb 11 2017 Finished: Feb 11 2017

My review: In this installment of the Mongolian Wizard series, Ritter is investigating the murder of Martel, a power field marshal, with the power to bent the will of everyone around him to the utmost devotion.
Angélique de La Fontaine, a powerful surgeon, joins Ritter in the investigation...
While I really like this series, and the role of Angélique in this story, this is my least favorite episode. The description of the homophobic society Ritter lives in, left me a little disturbed. (★★)
Started: Feb 07 2017 Finished: Feb 09 2017

My review: In this installment of the Mongolian Wizard series, Ritter is sent as a spy to Poland, recently conquered by the enemies. In there he will come in close contact with the horrors taking place behind enemy lines, and he will discover the source of power behind the Mongolian Wizard.
I really enjoyed this story, and it feels like the author is setting up the stage for an epic finale. (★★★)
Started: Feb 09 2017 Finished: Feb 09 2017

My review: Another entertaining story set in the world of the Mongolian Wizard. I was expecting this to be the last and final, but it is definitely not: while entertaining and well written, The Phantom in the Maze does really little to advance the plot. In this installment of the series Ritter is sent to Scotland to investigate a murder taking place in a military research facility investigating time, and how to bent it... (★★★)
Number of times I read it: 2
Started (first time): Feb 09 2017 Finished (first time): Feb 09 2017

My review: An interesting story, that follows the structure and some of the plot elements of the classic fairy tales, but none of their sexist undertones, and morals. This is the story of a woman, escaped from a violent and angry family, that found power in witchcraft, and fell and sacrifice herself for an unworthy knight. (★★★)
Started: Feb 07 2017 Finished: Feb 07 2017

My review: While the story is set in a near future country of Pailand, it is very relevant in today world. The greenest gecko is a chilling reminder of how we all can be easily manipulated by the powerful.
After an unusual public incident in which the frail, elderly President is revitalized, geckos are now considered to bring good luck. At the Ministry of Merit, Fon is secretly in charge of building the next Gecko Mortar for the president for life family, to be deployed during the president's son's eightieth birthday. She is honored to be assigned this duty and works diligently to create and deliver this extraordinary machine. (★★★)
Started: Feb 04 2017 Finished: Feb 04 2017

My review: Passing Strange is a moving love story, set in an historically accurate 1940 San Francisco, with a sprinkle of magic in it. While the story touches complex issues like xenophobia, homophobia, and the horror of wars, the main characters are women that stick together, and find happiness and love.
The city of San Francisco was, for the times, a haven for the unconventional. Tourists flock to the cities within the city: the Magic City of the World’s Fair on an island created of artifice and illusion; the forbidden city of Chinatown, a separate, alien world of exotic food and nightclubs that offer "authentic" experiences, straight from the pages of the pulps; and places like Mona's, in the twilight world of forbidden love, where the discriminated, and persecuted outcasts from conventional society can meet. Six women find their lives as tangled with each other’s as they are with the city they call home. They discover love and danger on the borders where mystery, science, and art intersect.
Last, but not least, kudos to Gregory Manchess, and Christine Foltzer, for the incredible cover, that is featured in the story itself. (★★★★★)
Started: Jan 27 2017 Finished: Feb 03 2017

My review: The Eye of the Swan, is a stand-alone tie-in short story by Kelly Robson, set in Tremontaine, a fictional world multiple writers are contributing to. In Tremontaine social advantage is best achieved through duels of wit and steel. Mind your manners and enjoy the chocolate in a dance of sparkling intrigue, (★★★★)
Started: Jan 27 2017 Finished: Jan 27 2017

My review: An exquisite dark fairy tale novelette about a teenager whose town is plagued by the annual disappearances of girls and young women. The young protagonist fears for her sister to be taken, and urge the town to take action. But her sister is taken next, and her father blames her for it. (★★★★)
Started: Jan 27 2017 Finished: Jan 27 2017

My review: An interesting alternative history novelette, set during the Westward expansion of the European Colonist, around the Mississippi area. Oona is born by the encounter of the Europeans with the First nation american, and she is despised by both as not belonging to either cultures. She has the power of the western people: by tracing rivers in ink on paper, Oona pins the land down to one reality, allowing the Europeans to settle the American land. This means betraying her people. Can she escape the bonds of gold and blood and bone that tie her to the Imperial American River Company? (★★★★★)
Started: Jan 25 2017 Finished: Jan 26 2017

My review: A beautiful short story that reads like a fairy tale set in today world. The main character, Mara, is a young girl, raised by the ocean, by a single mother fond of fairy tales of mermaids, and fantastic sea creatures. The mother teaches Mara about the powers bestowed to women to calm or stir hurricanes, until one day, [spoilers removed] (★★★★★)
Started: Jan 16 2017 Finished: Jan 16 2017

My review: A steampunk short story, featuring Miss Pippa Kipling and her automaton companion, the Porter, in their (paid) quest to exterminate pests of the supernatural variety. What should be a typical job in your average haunted cavern soon derails in an inconveniently undead fashion. Even with the aid of her gadget collection and the Porter s prowess, this task may prove fatal for Miss Kipling or worse, rip her petticoat.
I really hope to see more of Miss Pippa and Ms The Porter in the future, they make up an entertaining duo.
(★★★★)
Started: Jan 16 2017 Finished: Jan 16 2017

My review: This is a novelette set before the events of Steeplejack, but it can be read, and appreciated as stand-alone (I did).
The story is very well written, and hard to put down. It deals with some of the worst of our historic inheritance (i.e. colonialism, and xenophobia), and it presents those in a fictional context. It is the story of Anglet Sutonga, that while down to earth and realistic, she still dreams of rising above the impoverished streets of Bar-Selehm. When an opportunity comes along, will she take it? And what does she risk in order not to throw away her shot? (★★★★)
Started: Jan 16 2017 Finished: Jan 16 2017

My review: I am a big fan of Kai Ashante Wilson. I particularly enjoyed his award winning The Devil in America, and his story set in the Wildeep fictional universe. I was eager to read some more by the author, and I discovered this novelette published by Tor. It is a good story, and I can see in it some hints of the themes, greatness, and craft of his later work.
It is the story of Gian, that returns to Sea-john from the Kingdom's wars certain that he has skills beyond killing, death and destruction. He needs to prove to himself that love is just as strong, if not stronger, than his hate. The Summer King gives him this opportunity. (★★★)
Started: Jan 08 2017 Finished: Jan 08 2017

My review: The Devil in America is one of my favorite books, and I was thrilled to get a chance to read more by the same author. While not as good as his previous novella, this is a remarkable book. It is not a easy read: the plot is far from linear, and the style is an odd yet interesting mix of sophisticated and refined writing, main street talking, and scientific jargon. The grammar and the word choices are often unusual to force the read to go back and read the text multiple times to understand its meaning. Despite this difficulty, the style works, it helps in world and characters building.
This is the story of Demane, an earthbound demigod, also knows as the sorcerer, since he left his homeland. With his ancestors' artifacts in hand, the Sorcerer follows the Captain, a beautiful man with song for a voice and hair that drinks the sunlight. The two of them are the descendants of the gods who abandoned the Earth for Heaven, and they will need all the gifts those divine ancestors left to them to keep their caravan brothers alive. The one safe road between the northern oasis and southern kingdom is stalked by a necromantic terror. Demane may have to master his wild powers and trade humanity for godhood if he is to keep his brothers and his beloved captain alive.

Merged review:

A very short story, set in the world of A Taste of Honey, providing more information about the intriguing fictional world of Kai Ashante Wilson. While interesting, the short length of the story limits its appeal. (★★★★★)
Number of times I read it: 2
Started (first time): Jan 07 2017 Finished (first time): Jan 08 2017

My review: An interesting version of a classic coming out story, set in the beautiful and fascinating world that Kai Ashante Wilson introduced us to in The Sorcerer of the Wildeeps. I will not say much to avoid any spoiler, but I loved reading this story (even if I was a little disappointed by the ending).
Long after the Towers left the world but before the dragons came to Daluça, the emperor brought his delegation of gods and diplomats to Olorum. As the royalty negotiates over trade routes and public services, the divinity seeks arcane assistance among the local gods. Aqib bgm Sadiqi, fourth-cousin to the royal family and son of the Master of Beasts, has more mortal and pressing concerns. His heart has been captured for the first time by a handsome Daluçan soldier named Lucrio. in defiance of Saintly Canon, gossiping servants, and the furious disapproval of his father and brother, Aqib finds himself swept up in a whirlwind romance. But neither Aqib nor Lucrio know whether their love can survive all the hardships the world has to throw at them. (★★★★★)
Started: Dec 25 2016 Finished: Dec 28 2016

My review: A short story set in Franny Travers' fictional universe. It can be enjoyed (and I did enjoyed it) as a stand alone story, but I am left wanting to learn and read more about this memorable character. Franny is a cartographer of exceptional ability. From her house high above the cascading hills of San Francisco, she creates maps that, when folded properly, can transform space. This is her gift. These temporary new alignments of the world open improbable passages, a last resort when politics or geography make escape impossible. (★★★★)
Started: Dec 22 2016 Finished: Dec 23 2016

My review: An entertaining short story set in the George R.R. Martin's Wildcard universe. It is intended as a prequel of another, longer novel, but it can be enjoyed as stand-alone. The story focuses on 3 young jokers, living and growing up facing discrimination in New York City... An enjoyable short story full of hope. (★★★★)
Started: Dec 23 2016 Finished: Dec 23 2016

My review: After the collapse of civilization Nora and her family live a quiet life in the Midwestern Plains until a great fiery god of the sky descends and makes her an irresistible offer, an offer that will take her away from those she loves forever. (★★)
Started: Dec 23 2016 Finished: Dec 23 2016

My review: The Story of Kao Yu is a beautiful short story set in ancient China. It is the story of an aging judge traveling through rural China, and of a criminal he encounters.
While the story was written by a Western author, Peter Beagle, it mimics the style of old West Asian fables and legends. Of the story, Beagle says it "comes out of a lifelong fascination with Asian legendry, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Indian, Indonesian, all drawn from cultures where storytelling, in one form of another, remains a living art. As a young writer I loved everything from Robert van Gulik’s Judge Dee mysteries to Lafcadio Hearn’s translations of Japanese fairytales and many lesser-known fantasies. [It is intended as] a respectful imitation of an ancient style, and never pretends to be anything else. But I wrote it with great care and love, and I'm still proud of it". (★★★)
Started: Dec 19 2016 Finished: Dec 20 2016

My review: I am not familiar with the acclaimed novels of L.E. Modesitt Jr, but this story can be read and appreciated as stand-alone (even if I suspect that fan of her work would love it even more). It is an entertaining novelette, the origin story of Alyiakal, that is to became a historical figure in this fictional world, before he became a legend to be feared, and respected. (★★★)
Started: Dec 20 2016 Finished: Dec 20 2016

My review: This short story is set in the world of All the Birds in the Sky, and answers what I am told is the question that readers continue to ask the author: what happened to Patricia's cat? I have not read the book yet, but I enjoyed this short story quite a lot, and I now want to read it.
This is the story of a cat that brings luck to its owners, a young couple that receive it as a gift from a mysterious visitor. But the lucky cat, may not be a cat after all, and the young couple must learn to thrive, even without the magic feline luck. (★★★★)
Started: Dec 17 2016 Finished: Dec 17 2016

My review: A remarkable standalone short story set in Alter Reiss' Shoesi fictional world. It is the story of Ao Laiei, that has the necromancer power to bring back the dead. She resurrected the great revolutionary war hero Uroie Aei, but to her surprise he vanished and she does not know what happened to him. She intends to find out, and she is working hard to track him. Finally, a clue from an unlikely information source, the confusing art of dream-diving, enables her to be present for a surprising strike against an academic aligned with the revolutionary government. Laiei quickly discovers that it is not the physical target she is concerned with, but his field of study, which may unlock the secret of what mysterious deeds the elusive Uroie Aei has been up to since his disappearance... (★★★)
Started: Nov 29 2016 Finished: Nov 29 2016

My review: In this (very) dark fairy tale, Charlotte died to shore up her master's house. Her bones grew into the foundation and pushed up through the walls, feeding his power and continuing the cycle. As time passes and the ones she loved fade away, the house and the master remain, and she yearns ever more deeply for vengeance. (★★★)
Started: Nov 20 2016 Finished: Nov 21 2016

My review: A very interesting Gothic novelette, with very modern and actual themes (e.g. creation and manipulation of life forms). The main character is Giovanni Guasconti, a student at the University of Padua, that discovers a garden of the most exquisite beauty next to his rented appartment. In it abides a young woman, perhaps the most beautiful Giovanni has ever seen; yet as he looks out from an upstairs window, he soon learns that the garden, and the matchless Beatrice, are not the work of Mother Nature but rather the result of monstrous scientific creativity. (★★★)
Started: Nov 10 2016 Finished: Nov 11 2016

My review: An alternative history short story, set in the (fictional) state of Jefferson, in a world where Bigfoots and Yetis are real, and mix with people. The Governor of Jefferson is one of the tall people, tring to help his daughter, an aspiring actress, to get the role she worked so hard for.

Merged review:

An alternative history short story, set in the (fictional) state of Jefferson, in a world where Bigfoots and Yetis are real, and mix with people. The Governor of Jefferson is one of the tall people, tring to help his daughter, an aspiring actress, to get the role she worked so hard for. (★★★)
Number of times I read it: 2
Started (first time): Oct 18 2016 Finished (first time): Oct 19 2016

My review: The end of an original and peculiar series, that began with Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. I enjoyed the previous two books in the series, but I was a little bit disappointed by this one. While it is entertaining and enjoyable, there are few elements of it that grates me: first of all the revelation that Caul's objectives were not the ones previously described feels like an abrupt and unplanned turn in the story. Also, the previous books are set during the horrors of world war II, and help creating a particular feel, that is not found in this third installment. Last but not least, the peculiar vintage photos that are so central to this series, are often very loosely connected to the plot, and it feels like the author run out of photos, and had to start fishing from the discard pile. As a result Library of Souls does not fit well with the rest of the trilogy.
In this book, Jacob, Emma, and Addison are desperately looking for the kidnapped Miss Peregrines and the rest of her peculiar children. They end up in the labyrinthine alleys of Devil's Acre, the most wretched slum in all of Victorian England. (★★★)
Started: Oct 08 2016 Finished: Oct 16 2016

My review: A very interesting short story, that mixes very modern elements (technology, and unrest in the Middle East and Northern Africa), with traditional ones (Islamic lore, legends and folk-tales) with quite interesting results. This is the story of Hasan, that is sent to help his brother in a remote area by the desert, to stay low and avoid the police. The brother is working on a filming project for BBC, that requires patience and time. During this time the two brothers discuss politics, religion, and old legends that may turn out to not be just old folks tales. (★★★)
Started: Oct 16 2016 Finished: Oct 16 2016

My review: This is a very intriguing and original story, set in a world where the dead can get back in touch for us to ask us to wrap up their unfinished business. In the case of Patrick, recently dead falling inside the caldera of a volcano, the unfinished business is getting his poems published. He asks his friend Ellis to take care of it, but it warns her that it is going to be hard because his estranged mother is going to be on the way. The mother is a remarkable villain, adroitly crafted and described. I was left unhappy by the conclusion, that I have to admit, it is quite clever and really fit the rest of the story (and I will not say more, to avoid any spoiler). (★★★★)
Started: Oct 16 2016 Finished: Oct 16 2016

My review: The second installment of the broken Earth trilogy is incredibly good (even if not as good as the first one). In The Obelisk Gate the focus changes on the relationship between Essun and her daughter Nassun: the book explores how oppression changes and destroys regular family dynamics, when the only instrument of a mother to protect her daughter is to harden her to be able to survive an harsh reality, and its kyriarchy. This is also the story of Castrima, a city free of oppression in times of plenty, but on the bring of sacrificing the most unpopular of its citizens in time of crises. And this is the story of Alabaster, that broken by loss it may have started the end of the world. (★★★★★)
Started: Sep 11 2016 Finished: Sep 22 2016

My review: I grew up reading the (many) Dragonlance novels. It was fascinating to revisit the trilogy that started it all, through the eyes of Mahvesh and Jared, few chapter at a times over one year and an half. I confess I had forgotten much of the story, but not the beloved characters, that are unforgettable.
I would recommend this only to Dragonlance fans, and as an interesting book club support material for those of you that never had visited Krynn before, and they are getting ready to. (★★★)
Started: Feb 01 2015 Finished: Sep 02 2016

My review: I did not read any of Alex Bledsoe medieval noir stories, but I was able to enjoy this short story as stand-alone without any problem.
Eddie LaCrosse is a sword jockey, that has been implored by some friends to retrieve their missing kid. While nursing an injured arm, he discovers a smuggling ring rumored to be protected by powerful magic...
Trigger warning: sex trade, pedophilia, sex slavery.

Merged review:

I did not read any of Alex Bledsoe medieval noir stories, but I was able to enjoy this short story as stand-alone without any problem.
Eddie LaCrosse is a sword jockey, that has been implored by some friends to retrieve their missing kid. While nursing an injured arm, he discovers a smuggling ring rumored to be protected by powerful magic...
Trigger warning: sex trade, pedophilia, sex slavery. (★★)
Number of times I read it: 2
Started (first time): Aug 31 2016 Finished (first time): Aug 31 2016

My review: An entertaining short story, set at the dawn of the Roman empire. Taranis and his men forage for the collected tribes of the Crow as they march against the Romans, but he brings back more than he bargained for when he frees a beautiful and mysterious prisoner, Alpnu. Together they face a power sealed in a cave for millennia and newly risen from Hell.

Merged review:

An entertaining short story, set at the dawn of the Roman empire. Taranis and his men forage for the collected tribes of the Crow as they march against the Romans, but he brings back more than he bargained for when he frees a beautiful and mysterious prisoner, Alpnu. Together they face a power sealed in a cave for millennia and newly risen from Hell. (★★)
Number of times I read it: 2
Started (first time): Aug 29 2016 Finished (first time): Aug 30 2016

My review: A very bizarre yet entertaining short story, with a really disappointing ending. The main character, young Ivan, realizes that the rats living in New York City can speak, and he is obsessed about learning their language. One day he saves a young rat in the subway station from being stomped on by some other boys, getting beaten by the boys for his trouble. As a reward, the rat mother offers riches and fortunes, but Ivan decide to learn the rat language instead. The choice comes at a price though. (★★)
Started: Aug 29 2016 Finished: Aug 29 2016

My review: Naomi Novik has already established herself as a talented author with her Temeraire series, and her latest fairy tale / coming-of-age novel does not disappoint. The story is told from the point of view of Agnieszka, a young 17 year old that, growing up in the land of the Dragon, a powerful wizard constantly fighting the evil wood. Every 10 year a young girl is selected by the Dragon, and kept in his tower. Everybody expects Kasia, Agnieszka's best friend, to be the choose one, but hings do not always go as expected...
While the plot is, from many point of view, the one of a typical classical fairy tale, there are many modern elements, including the gender dynamics. What makes this book special though, is how entertaining and impossible to put down it is.
(★★★★★)
Started: Jul 02 2016 Finished: Jul 08 2016

My review: I read this book as part of my 2016 Hugo awards finalist marathon.
This is the story of the Captain and his company, that fought for the losing monarch in the battle of the two twin brothers. After that, for the Captain's company, survival has meant keeping a low profile, building a new life, and trying to forget the war they lost. But now the Captain's whiskers are twitching at the idea of evening the score.
I am not a big fan of stories featuring anthropomorphic furry characters, and dark and gritty war stories, but despite that I still find it enjoyable. You may like it more than me if you are more into that genre than me. (★★★)
Started: Jun 18 2016 Finished: Jun 25 2016

My review: Probably the best story I have read in years. It is very rare to find a book that have it all: exquisite writing, moving, intriguing, and enticing story, memorable characters, astounding and original world building. The Fifth Season is at the same time impossible to put down, and deep. It is the kind of book it will stay with you and make you think.
The book has three subplots adroitly waved together. The first is the story of Essun, a woman living an ordinary life in a small town, comes home to find that her husband has brutally murdered their son and kidnapped their daughter. The second is the story of Damaya, a young girl that is discovered to be a powerful orogene, and as such kept in a barn as a beast by her parents, to soon be given away. The third is the story of Damaya, growing locked up and used as a de-humanized weapon by the fulcrum.
This is an ambitious trilogy, that while set in a world so different from ours, it succeed like no other in exploring issues like slavery, oppression, discrimination, and taboos. A strongly recommended read.
This is one of the Hugo Award Finalist in the Best Novel category. I wrote more about this and the other finalist in this blog post.
(★★★★★)
Started: Jun 05 2016 Finished: Jun 18 2016

My review: Six-Gun Snow White is a retelling of an old fairy tale, that makes unmistakably explicit the sexual, gender, and ethnic violence that is often implicit in fairy tales, so as to bring the reader face to face with what dominant culture pretties up and romanticizes. Gone are the fairy tales tones and colors, replaced by gritty details, and a hard, verist style where the fairy tales elements are used as metaphors and allegories, or to give more depth to the story.
This is the story of Six Gun Snow White, born of a Nevada silver baron who forced the Crow people to give up one of their most beautiful daughters, Gun That Sings, in marriage to him. With her mother's death in childbirth, so begins a heroine's tale equal parts heartbreak and strength. This girl has been born into a world with no place for a half-native, half-white child. After being hidden for years, a very wicked stepmother finally gifts her with the name Snow White, referring to the pale skin she will never have.
Trigger warning: the story contains visual depictions of sexual violence, xenophobia, and first nation destruction (intended as a way to showcase their horror).
This was one of the finalist for the Nebula Award for Best Novel in 2013. See my reviews of the other finalist. (★★★★★)
Started: Apr 24 2016 Finished: Apr 29 2016

My review: In Irish lore, when children go under the hill, they don’t come out again. Ever. When children go under the hill, they stay where they’re put. Forever. When children go under the hill, parents, though they pray and search, don’t truly think to see them anymore. Never.
But things do not always follow the Irish tradition in the predominately Irish Finnegan's Field, a small Australian town. Anne's daughter, the now 9 year old Madrigal, came back after going under the hill for 3 years. But is it really Madrigal that came back? (★★★★)
Started: Apr 23 2016 Finished: Apr 24 2016

My review: This is a short teaser story set in The Lyre Thief universe. It can be appreciated on its own as a stand-alone story.
In First Kill, assassin Kiam Miar will find out when his first assignment goes awry and he is faced with an ethical choice…as if assassins could have ethics. And if he makes the wrong choice, he could not only lose his life but throw a good chunk of his world into chaos.
Kudos to Tommy Arnold for the incredible cover! (★★★)
Started: Apr 24 2016 Finished: Apr 24 2016

My review: I tend to avoid prequels if I haven't read the series before, but I am glad I did read this one. The characters are interesting, and the plot is entertaining.
This is the story of Gale Feliachild and Captain Parrish. They are called back to the fleet to handle an issue involving a law regulating new patents and a missing magical inscription. They soon find themselves embroiled in a plot that is could potentially pit island against island. Now, they must discover the mystery of the glass galago before time runs out for both it and the fleet. (★★★)
Started: Apr 23 2016 Finished: Apr 23 2016

My review: I usually avoid reading short stories set in the world of a book saga without reading the saga before, but I did not realize that Two's Company was not a stand-alone story, but part of the First law series. Well, I am l glad I read it, because I immensely enjoyed it.
The plot is relatively simple and unremarkable: lost in the wide and barren North, Javre, Lioness of Hoskopp, runs into Cracknut Whirrun on a bridge far too narrow for the expansive egos of either. With the King of the Northmen and the High Priestess of Thond in pursuit, can Shevedieh, the greatest thief in Styria, persuade either one of these proud heroes to step aside?
What makes this story shine, is the remarkable humor. I found myself laughing out loud while reading this. Reading this story made me want to read more from this author. (★★★★★)
Started: Apr 04 2016 Finished: Apr 04 2016

My review: Lovecraft's stories can be divided in two categories: the ones that deals with cosmic horrors, and the one set in the fantastic Dreamlands. This short story falls into the second category. While, as all the dreamland stories, it is very slow paced, and overly Dunsanian, its conclusion is quite intriguing. I would no say more to avoid spoilers.
It is the story of Iranon, an artist that cannot age, looking for his lost home, Aira, the fabulous city where his father was king. For long years he has been looking for it with no success, but he never gave up, always singing about the marble and beryl city, its fragrant groves, its verdant valley, its many colored hills and the river Nithra that flows at night like a ribbon of stars. One day, along the way, he stops in Teloth. The gods of this city demand that all men toil ceaselessly, and so an archon of the city tells Iranon he must apprentice to a cobbler or leave. He decide to leaves, but he bring with him a small boy, Romnod, who seems sympathetic to Iranon cause, and who suggests that they head for Oonai... (★★)
Started: Apr 02 2016 Finished: Apr 03 2016

My review: Two very different stories, sewn together by a thing story. The result is worse than the sum of its parts: while the two sub stories would have been quite remarkable as stand-alone stories, they are very different stylistically and in the settings, and they do not fit well together. (★★★)
Started: Apr 01 2016 Finished: Apr 02 2016

My review: It's winter, but the narrator, a land owner, is prepared: he has a huge pile of wood in his backyard. It came from a very old tree on his land, that he had to cut because it was sick and dying. The pile of wood seems to became smaller and smaller each day. Puzzled, the narrator decides to keep an eye on the pile to figure out what is going on.
This is a very touching story, that I enjoyed reading quite a bit. I found the ending a little disappointing though (I will not say more to avoid spoilers). (★★★)
Started: Mar 31 2016 Finished: Apr 01 2016

My review: Ex Oblivione is a prose poem, written in first person. It tells of the dreams of a presumably dying man. In his dreams, the man is walking through a valley and encounters a vine-covered wall with a locked bronze gate therein. He longs to know what lies beyond the gate, described inconsistently by the few wise-men that made it though either as something incredible, or as a ig disappointment. (★)
Started: Mar 30 2016 Finished: Mar 30 2016

My review: An entertaining steampunk short story, in a clockwork version of Sherlock Holmes' UK. While it can be enjoyed on its own, this is the sequel of The Ghost of Cwmlech Manor, and I recommend reading the stories in order to enjoy them at the fullest (I did not, and I regretted it).
In this second installment, Sir Arthur Cwmlech's home is robbed and the Illogic Engine, his prize invention, stolen, it is only natural that he and his clever assistant Miss Tacy Gof consult with another inventor, the great Mycroft Holmes, about who has taken it. But it is really Mr. Holmes' Reasoning Machine who they are there to see, for it is only fitting for one automaton to opine on a matter concerning the fate of another of its kind. (★★)
Started: Mar 22 2016 Finished: Mar 22 2016

My review: A powerful and moving story, that adroitly portray the relationship between two Calla and Valk, members of two countries that have been at war until recently. Valk is a citizen of the Gaant, a country of telepaths, while Calla is an Enithian, where people have no mental power. They meet during the war, one prisoner of the other, switching roles at different times. Despite the decade long war, despite the situation, the two build a relation that outlast the way.
This is, by far, one of my favorite stories of the year. (★★★★★)
Started: Mar 17 2016 Finished: Mar 17 2016

My review: Fantasy and Lightspeed magazine were unified some time ago. They are very well-known science fiction and fantasy magazine. Even in fantasy, supposedly the genre of limitless possibility, where everyone is invited to the adventure, minorities are often underrepresented. Last year Lightspeed started the "destroy science fiction" series, a yearly program focusing on underrepresented minorities to give them a voice, and to see what they have to offer and to contribute to the genre. In 2014 they focused on sci-fi and women. In 2015 they focused on queer authors and themes, with three specials, one for sci-fi, one for horror, and this one, that focuses on fantasy. Next year they will focus on people of color. While fantasy is considered by many the more open of the literary genres, heterosexual, heteroromantic, and cisgendered are considered the default, to the extent that everything else is "deviation," and must be eyed with suspicion. But all fantasy is real fantasy. Fantasy is vast, and incredible fascinating in all its facets. It is inclusive. Fantasy is about people, and queer people, no matter how they identify [Gay, lesbian, bisexual, demisexual, asexual, pansexual, intersex, transgender, genderfluid, genderqueer.. anyone who fits within the QUILTBAG], are a big part of that. They always have been. They are just sometimes harder to see. So, in the interests of visibility and breaking stuff, Queers Destroy Fantasy! will show you just how wide the spectrum of sexuality and gender identity can really be. This special all-queer issue features original fantasy short stories from many award winning authors including Christopher Barzak, Kai Ashante Wilson, Catherynne M. Valente, Richard Bowes, Caitlín R. Kiernan, Nicola Griffith, Shweta Narayan , Ellen Kushner, and Charlie Jane Anders. The issue also include an interesting assortment of author and artist spotlights, interviews, nonfiction features, plus personal essays from writers about their experiences being queer reading and writing fantasy.
Two of the stories deserved a special mention, because of their power and quality: The Duchess & the Ghost, by Richard Bowes, is the story of a young man growing up queer in a time where it was very difficult to do even in the "liberal" New York City, facing his internal fears and ghosts. The Padishah Begum’s Reflections by Shweta Narayan, is the story of a clockwork monarch, adroitly weaved across multiple timelines to form a breathtaking tapestry.
A very interesting read, almost as good as the previous installment of the series that focused on science fiction. I am looking forward reading the next "destroy" issue. (★★★★)
Number of times I read it: 2
Started (first time): Mar 07 2016 Finished (first time): Mar 15 2016

My review: The Freedom of Navid Leahy is a short story set in the world of upcoming Jenna Helland's debut novel, written to lure you into reading the full book. I usually dislike reading these type of short prequels: they often do not stand on their own. This one may have some of the weaknesses of the format, but it is entertaining, and fun to read.
Sevenna City simmers with tension between the ruling elite known as the Zunft and the working-class cottagers. Hoping to regain control, the Zunft cracks down on the cottagers, but their brutality just fuels the flames of rebellion. A cottager boy tries to navigate the dangerous currents of the city but finds himself on a collision course with both the Zunft and the people who want to bring them down.

Merged review:

The Freedom of Navid Leahy is a short story set in the world of upcoming Jenna Helland's debut novel, written to lure you into reading the full book. I usually dislike reading these type of short prequels: they often do not stand on their own. This one may have some of the weaknesses of the format, but it is entertaining, and fun to read.
Sevenna City simmers with tension between the ruling elite known as the Zunft and the working-class cottagers. Hoping to regain control, the Zunft cracks down on the cottagers, but their brutality just fuels the flames of rebellion. A cottager boy tries to navigate the dangerous currents of the city but finds himself on a collision course with both the Zunft and the people who want to bring them down. (★★★)
Number of times I read it: 2
Started (first time): Mar 04 2016 Finished (first time): Mar 05 2016

My review: A Kippled Meal, is a very short story, a meditation on the nature of various idealized animals. A mole, a cat, a sloth, a dog, and various other animals discuss their perfect meal, suppers that reveal their innermost instincts, with some more uncouth than others. (★★)
Started: Mar 04 2016 Finished: Mar 04 2016

My review: This is a story within a story, a fairy tale told by a mother to her sick child. The story is relatively simple and unremarkable, but the storytelling and the writing is sublime, and I am looking forward reading more by this author. (★★★)
Started: Feb 14 2016 Finished: Feb 15 2016

My review: This is the book that started it all: it is the first book of the Discworld series, that now includes 40+ books, and it is considered one of the most famous and important work in the genre.
On a world supported on the back of a giant turtle (of unknown gender), a gleeful, explosive, wickedly eccentric expedition sets out. There's an inept wizard, a naive tourist whose luggage moves on hundreds of dear little legs, dragons who only exist if you believe in them, and of course the edge of the planet.
The structure of the story is episodic: it is split into 4 segments, that could be enjoyed as stand alone stories, featuring the same characters. It is impossible to not fall in love with the main characters, not to smile reading about their misadventures, often respectfully and lovingly making fun to some other important fantasy masterpieces.
The book finishes with a big cliff-hunger ([spoilers removed]), and the adventure continues (and it is concluded) in The Light Fantastic. The two books should be considered a duology, or two halves of the same book. (★★★★)
Started: Jan 23 2016 Finished: Feb 06 2016

My review: One of my least favorite of Lovecraft's short stories, set in ancient Greek, featuring two very talented and mythical sculptors, that loved each other as if they were brothers or more. They are set to compete against each other, but one of the two gets sick. Things take an unexpected twist from there. (★)
Started: Jan 22 2016 Finished: Jan 23 2016

My review: I do not want to spoil the story, so I will not say much. This is an interesting new fresh take of an old story, similarly to what is done in the work of (Wicked) Gregory Maguire. I am looking forward reading more by this author. (★★★★)
Started: Dec 28 2015 Finished: Dec 28 2015

My review: This is one of the first stories written by Lovecraft, with many of the themes and ideas that will be developed later on in the Dreamland stories.
This is the story of a lighthouse keeper named Basil Elton. He engages upon a peculiar fantasy in which a bearded man piloting a mystical white ship is found sailing upon a bridge of moonlight. Elton joins the bearded man on this ship, and together they explore a mystical chain of islands unlike anything that can be found on Earth. (★★)
Started: Dec 17 2015 Finished: Dec 17 2015

My review: A short story set in Gratz's alternative steampunk history, featuring Benjamin Franklin, his young assistant Willow Dent, and their indefatigable machine man Mr. Rivets as they battle sea serpents and fish-men in the alternate story of the Boston Tea Party. (★★)
Started: Nov 03 2015 Finished: Nov 03 2015

My review: I cannot believe I am giving 4 stars to a story about toilets!
Waters of Versailles by Kelly Robson is a great novella of court intrigue in 1738 Versailles. It is the story of a clever former soldier that makes his fortune by introducing a modern water system (and toilets) to the ladies of the palace. He does this with magical help that he may not be able to control.
Whats sets the story apart (well, beside toilets), is the main character, that left his home in the Alps behind to move up in the social ladder working hard in Versailles. Interestingly enough, it is a spirit he brought from his homeland, a magical nixie, that helps him ascend. It is a story of an emigrant finding success and wealth abroad, to then realize how much he has left behind. (★★★★)
Started: Nov 01 2015 Finished: Nov 02 2015

My review: I have never been to found of Lovecraft's dreamland novels (with only few notable exceptions, like the Through the Gates of the Silver Key), but this one is the worst by far. The language is so heavy and sumptuous, the story, if there is any, is all over the place. It reads like the raving of a inebriated drug user.
The story starts with Randolph Carter dreaming three times of a majestic sunset city, but each time he is abruptly snatched away before he can see it up close. When he prays to the Gods to reveal the whereabouts of the phantasmal city, they do not answer, and his dreams of the city stop altogether. Undaunted, Carter resolves to go to Kadath, where the gods live, to beseech them in person. However, no one has ever been to Kadath and none even knows how to get there. In dream, Randolph Carter descends "the seventy steps to the cavern of flame" and speaks of his plan to the priests Nasht and Kaman-Thah, whose temple borders the Dreamlands. The priests warn Carter of the great danger of his quest and suggest that the gods withdrew his vision of the city on purpose... (★)
Started: Oct 28 2015 Finished: Nov 01 2015

My review: Hollow City is the second book of the Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children series, a YA fantasy series waved around peculiar vintage photography that is used to illustrate what is happening. The author collected many of these photos over the years and he imagined a story around them. The result is an entertaining and unusual reading experience.
This second novel begins in 1940, immediately after the first book ended. Having escaped Miss Peregrine's island by the skin of their teeth, Jacob and his new friends must journey to London, the peculiar capital of the world. Along the way, they encounter new allies, a menagerie of peculiar animals, and other unexpected surprises.
(★★★)
Started: Oct 20 2015 Finished: Oct 27 2015

My review: This sequel to the famous The Silver Key was written as a collaboration between H. P. Lovecraft and E. Hoffmann Price. Price initially wrote it, and Lovecraft ended up rewriting it, keeping many of Price ideas and concepts. While this may not be one of the most entertaining of Lovecraft's novella, its dreamland raving are slow paced and often pointless, this is one of the most interesting. Some of the elements are alien to Lovecraft's mythos (pun intended), and this novel philosophical Platonian elements are intriguing.
The story begins at a gathering to decide the fate of Randolph Carter's estate which has been held in trust since his disappearance the mysterious Swami Chandraputra, who wears curious mittens and enveloping robes, tells Carter's acquaintances of his ultimate fate. He explains that the key took Carter to a type of higher dimension. There, Carter, on an ill-defined mission (or out of sheer curiosity), traveled strange sections of the cosmos by first meeting with 'Umr at-Tawil, a dangerous being warned of in the Necronomicon, saying those who deal with it never return. (★★★★)
Started: Oct 27 2015 Finished: Oct 27 2015

My review: This 2015 Hugo Award nominee is an interesting and fascinating short story. Despite being featured in the infamous puppy slate, I actually liked it. I believe it has a lot of potential, even if it reads like a chapter of a long story, where the author is adroitly crafting an entire world populated by many interesting cultures, to set up the scene for what is coming next... but nothing come next. The story is interrupted almost at a cliff hanger, leaving the reader curious to know what is happening next. This is what make the novel unworthy of a Hugo. I hope that the author will continue the story and make it grow to its full potentials. I strongly believe that while this story is an incomplete piece of a puzzle, once other pieces fall into place a Hugo worthy final story may be revealed. I am looking forward reading more of this word and of this story.
Update: I recently learned there is already a second short story of the series. It is called Thaw. I will be reading it soon. (★★★)
Started: Oct 19 2015 Finished: Oct 20 2015

My review: I am always wary of reading short "tie-in" stories set in the world of previously published book sagas. They are often not as good, or they require reading the saga to really appreciate them. In this case, I was proven wrong. I did enjoy the story without not knowing anything about Turner's "Haven's Fall" universe.
This is the story of Safiya and her fellow bandits. They thought they had found an easy mark, but they quickly learned that they picked the worst possible victim. Now Luker Essendar, one of the warrior Guardians of Erin Elal, is after them, and his relentless pursuit is driving the bandits toward an abandoned fort, one that appears strewn with evidence of a terrible battle. But nothing is exactly as it seems... (★★★)
Started: Oct 13 2015 Finished: Oct 13 2015

My review: An interesting dreamworldshort story that ties in many Randolph Carter's stories together. The plot would be interesting, but its philosophical message takes to much space and it is of relatively little interest.
In this story Carter discovers, at the age of 30, that he has gradually lost the key to the gate of dreams. As he ages, he finds that his daily waking exposure to the more "practical", scientific ideas of man, has eventually eroded his ability to dream as he once did, and has made him regretfully subscribe more and more to the mundane beliefs of everyday, waking "real life". But still not certain which is truer, he sets out to determine whether the waking ideas of man are superior to his dreams. (★★★)
Started: Oct 11 2015 Finished: Oct 12 2015

My review: I am not particularly fond of this short story. As one other goodread user ( Karen) said, what actual "story" there is is pretty ambiguous. You are presented with a series of images and given the opportunity to infer enough to be reasonably satisfied, but it's an elusive little slippy number, and the reader is kind of abandoned in the flow of the prose. The prose is heavy and overwritten, while the story has little substance: fragmented texts that tell the history of a lost love, the destruction of a civilization, and the origin of a museum. (★★)
Started: Oct 10 2015 Finished: Oct 11 2015

My review: A very interesting story, I just hope that there is going to be a sequel. A lot of plot threads are not resolved, and I really would like to see them unravel.
This is the story of Vera, a spy for the Barstadt Empire, a powerful country with a rigid class structure and a seedy underbelly. Her mission is to weed out the corruption that holds this society together, but for Vera it is not political, it is personal. And her next mission is anything but routine, as long as she is not blinded by revenge and can see that in the shadows of Barstadt City, things are seldom what they seem. (★★★★)
Started: Sep 26 2015 Finished: Sep 26 2015

My review: This book is surprisingly enjoyable for being based on a video-game, but Richard A. Knaak has previously demonstrated to be able to handle succesfully this type of books.
In this third and final installment of the Sin War series, Uldyssian faces the host of heaven and the horde of hell. Since the beginning of time, the angelic forces of the high heavens and the demonic hordes of the burning hells have been locked in eternal conflict for the fate of all creation. But the struggle has now spilled over into Sanctuary - the world of men. (★★★)
Started: Aug 08 2015 Finished: Aug 20 2015

My review: This is the third installment of the serialization of The End of all Things, the latest book set in the Old Man War universe.
The story progresses, and it is now being told from a third distinct point of view: the one of the Colonial Union soldiers: they signed up to defend humans from hostile aliens, but this group finds themselves, instead, repeatedly sent to squelch rebellious human colonies that want to leave the CU. It's not a sustainable situation. Something has to give. Things seems to be building up for a big explosive finale.

Merged review:

This is the third installment of the serialization of The End of all Things, the latest book set in the Old Man War universe.
The story progresses, and it is now being told from a third distinct point of view: the one of the Colonial Union soldiers: they signed up to defend humans from hostile aliens, but this group finds themselves, instead, repeatedly sent to squelch rebellious human colonies that want to leave the CU. It's not a sustainable situation. Something has to give. Things seems to be building up for a big explosive finale. (★★★★★)
Number of times I read it: 2
Started (first time): Jun 28 2015 Finished (first time): Jun 28 2015

My review: Maia is the latest and least of the child of the elf emperor, born from a marriage with a repudiated goblin princess. Raised in something close to exile by a cruel guardian, he suddenly find himself the new Emperor after the assassination of his father and older brothers.
While the book is a little bit hard to follow at first because of the number of characters (game of thrones has a forth of the characters in 50x more pages), their very complex and hard to remember name, and the complexity of their relationships and of the world politics, it grew on me thanks to the extreme likability of the main character.
The book contains relatively little action, almost everything happens in few rooms of the imperial palace, and the plot has very little surprises to offer (the guys that appear to be the bad guys turn out to be the bad guy, the guys that look like the good guys are the good guys). Despite that, the book is quite a pleasure to read thanks to the adroit characterization of the main character, that while insecure and humble, he is the embodiment of virtue and impossible to dislike.
I wrote more about this and the other Hugo awards nominees for best novel on my blog here: http://goo.gl/Nz5HgV (★★★★)
Started: May 18 2015 Finished: Jun 14 2015

My review: This is the story of a young girl being schooled in the art of assassination in a private institution.
I did not particularly enjoy this book. Maybe this is due to the fact that this is a sequel to a book that I have not read and I am not familiar with, i.e. Slatter’s Sourdough and Other Stories. (★★)
Started: May 27 2015 Finished: May 29 2015

My review: In a culture where ritualized torture is used to teach its people strength through long-suffering, a foreign sufferer unintentionally teaches them something stronger. (★★★)
Started: May 22 2015 Finished: May 22 2015

My review: A fun and entertaining short stories, set in a world were a set of mercenaries learn the ability to jump from a corpse to another. This is the story of Nev, one of the corpse jumping mercenaries and his assistant Tera. Tera recognizes the most recent waterlogged cadaver they bought off the street... (★★★★)
Started: May 15 2015 Finished: May 15 2015

My review: A cliff-note version of A Clash of Kings, with awesome commentaries. It's the best way to refresh your memory before digging into the following book of the series. (★★★★)
Started: Dec 19 2014 Finished: May 03 2015

My review: This book is surprisingly entertaining and fun for being based on a video-game, but Richard A. Knaak has previously demonstrated to deliver fantastic books of this kind.
In this second installment of the Sin War series, Uldyssian is focusing on destroying the evil cult of the Triune, and he does not yet suspect that Inarius, the head of the Cathedral of Light and creator of Sanctuary, has been subtly aiding his quest. But another player has slipped back into the equation. The demon Lilith, once Inarius's lover, seeks to use Uldyssian as her own pawn in a scheme to turn humans into an army of naphalem, godlike beings, as powerful as angels and demons, who could overturn all creation and elevate Lilith to supreme being. (★★★★)
Started: Apr 28 2015 Finished: May 03 2015

My review: The Language of Knives is centered around the complex death rituals to prepare the body of the husband of the main protagonist. The unnamed main protagonist and his strong-willed daughter follows the customs of how to respect the remains of their loved one, while thinking about their life together. (★★★★)
Started: May 03 2015 Finished: May 03 2015

My review: Remarkably funny, adroitly written, very entertaining. Two (at the time) almost unknown authors destined to became two of the well-known UK (and world) writers came together to write one of the most read book of the century. I do not want to spoil the fun, but this is the story of the end of the world, long ago foretold by Agnes Nutter, a witch. It's the story of Angels and Demons, of Agnes' descendants and witch-hunters, of the Antichrist and scam occultist... (★★★★)
Started: Mar 28 2015 Finished: Apr 12 2015

My review: I usually avoid fiction derived from videogames or movies, but I was playing Diablo III, and I got tempted. What made me decide to read the book was noticing that this trilogy was written by Knaak, that is an author I read and appreciated in the past. He had written a video-game inspired trilogy (i.e. WoW War of the Ancients trilogy) that was actually worth reading and entertaining so I decided to give it a try. This may not be the best of his books (do not get me started on the main female characters of this book, and how disturbingly uninteresting she is), but it is entertaining and there are some interesting Miltonian themes that redeem the book.
Plot: Uldyssian, a simple farmer from the village of Seram, is mistakenly blamed for the grisly murders of two traveling missionaries. He is forced to flee his homeland with his brother and two of his dearest friends. Soon both Uldyssian and his brother starts exhibiting strange new powers and finding themselves in the middle of the eternal conflict between the angelic forces of the High Heavens and the demonic hordes of the Burning Hells. (★★★★)
Started: Feb 23 2015 Finished: Mar 19 2015

My review: What a bizarre story! I am told that Julio Cortázar was a sickly child and spent many hours in bed. Perhaps those memories inspired this story that focuses so much on headaches. (★)
Started: Jan 11 2015 Finished: Jan 11 2015

My review: This is the fairy tale of Father Christmas. He was an orphan child that fell in love to a beautiful maiden that turned out to be the troll princess (no this does not turn ugly like Princess Fiona in Shrek). Some parts of the story are promising, but others seems quite random. (★★)
Started: Jan 04 2015 Finished: Jan 04 2015

My review: My word of advice: if you have not read any diskworld novel before, do not start with this one. I made that mistake, and I regretted it. While this can theoretically be read as a stand-alone novel, there are continuous hints of stories from previous books. Even if I could smile at some of the jokes, I was left with the impression that they would be a way more funny if I knew more about the characters. The plot is quite thin, and I have the impression that the most appealing part of the book is to get to read again your beloved characters. Unfortunately, these beloved characters were total strangers for me.
It was not an unpleasant book to read, but I am left with the strong impression that I would have enjoyed it much more if I had read some of the previous books. (★★)
Started: Dec 25 2014 Finished: Dec 31 2014

My review: I really like this author (and of The Deepest Rift in particular), but this short story really did not work for me. It reminds me a little of Lovecraft's dreamland stories (that I did not enjoy either). (★)
Started: Dec 25 2014 Finished: Dec 25 2014

Publisher review: It's 1960, and the Axis powers dominate the world. Life goes on, because, as we see in "Escape to Other Worlds with Science Fiction," history is driven both by big events and by small temptations… Following the appearance of her first two novels, The King's Peace and The King's Name, Jo Walton won the 2002 John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer. Two years later she won the World Fantasy Award for Tooth and Claw. Her Small Change trilogy, comprising Farthing, Ha'penny, and Half A Crown, is set in a world in which Britain struck an early truce with Hitler in 1941; "Escape to Other Worlds with Science Fiction" is set in the America of that world.
My rating: ★★★
Started: Dec 15 2014 Finished: Dec 15 2014

My review: A cliff-note version of game of thrones, with awesome commentaries. It's the best way to refresh your memory before digging into the following book of the series. (★★★★)
Started: Dec 12 2014 Finished: Dec 14 2014

My review: Despite being a companion short story to Spirit’s Key, Edith Cohn’s debut novel,
this book can be read and enjoyed as a stand-alone story.
This is the story of Tuckitor Hatterask and his fierce desire to go for a swim, even though a storm was brewing and he knew it wasn’t a good idea to go into the water. But the forces pulling him toward the ocean are much stronger than he ever could had imagined.
An enjoyable short story with eco-friendly themes. (★★★)
Started: Dec 06 2014 Finished: Dec 07 2014

Publisher review: Thanks to "bluegene", life is long. But out Route 42 near Goshen, it’s also kind of dull. Just the thing to encourage an expedition into the only actual other universe, the place where…but that would be telling. At the publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management software (DRM) applied.
My rating: ★★★
Started: Nov 24 2014 Finished: Nov 25 2014

Publisher review: Deep below the University, there is a dark place. Few people know of it: a broken web of ancient passageways and abandoned rooms. A young woman lives there, tucked among the sprawling tunnels of the Underthing, snug in the heart of this forgotten place. Her name is Auri, and she is full of mysteries. The Slow Regard of Silent Things is a brief, bittersweet glimpse of Auri’s life, a small adventure all her own. At once joyous and haunting, this story offers a chance to see the world through Auri’s eyes. And it gives the reader a chance to learn things that only Auri knows... In this book, Patrick Rothfuss brings us into the world of one of The Kingkiller Chronicle’s most enigmatic characters. Full of secrets and mysteries, The Slow Regard of Silent Things is the story of a broken girl trying to live in a broken world. AUTHOR’S FOREWORD You might not want to buy this book. I know, that’s not the sort of thing an author is supposed to say. The marketing people aren’t going to like this. My editor is going to have a fit. But I’d rather be honest with you right out of the gate. First, if you haven’t read my other books, you don’t want to start here. My first two books are The Name of the Wind and The Wise Man’s Fear. If you’re curious to try my writing, start there. They’re the best introduction to my world. This book deals with Auri, one of the characters from that series. Without the context of those books, you’re probably going to feel pretty lost. Second, even if you have read my other books, I think it’s only fair to warn you that this is a bit of a strange story. I don’t go in for spoilers, but suffice to say that this one is ... different. It doesn’t do a lot of the things a classic story is supposed to do. And if you’re looking for a continuation of Kvothe’s storyline, you’re not going to find it here. On the other hand, if you’d like to learn more about Auri, this story has a lot to offer. If you love words and mysteries and secrets. If you’re curious about the Underthing and alchemy. If you want to know more about the hidden turnings of my world... Well, then this book might be for you.
My rating: ★★★
Started: Nov 20 2014 Finished: Nov 23 2014

My review: While this story has many interesting elements, it is hard to enjoy as a stand alone novelette. I am not familiar with the "wild card" universe, and, because of it, I was unable to really enjoy it. (★★)
Started: Nov 01 2014 Finished: Nov 02 2014

My review: I did not realize this book was a spin-off of a book series, and it can be read and enjoyed as a stand-alone novelette. This is the story of a too-clever fox, that learns that just because you avoid one trap, it doesn't mean you'll escape the next. (★★★)
Started: Nov 02 2014 Finished: Nov 02 2014

My review: Neil Gaiman 's is considered by many one of the most gifted artist of the century. His work is highly recommended by many. I decided to pick up this book when I read its review by one of my favorite authors, Patrick Rothfuss, that its raving about it. I had really high expectations, I was expecting a masterpiece. I was disappointed. The book is good, do not get me wrong, and there are paragraphs in it that are remarkably written. It just did not live up to the hype (for my point of view). (★★★)
Started: Oct 28 2014 Finished: Nov 01 2014

Publisher review: When Mr. Sorensen - a drab, cipher of a man - passes away, his lovely widow falls in love with a most unsuitable mate. Enraged and scandalized (and armed with hot-dish and gossip and seven-layer bars), the Parish Council turns to the old priest to fix the situation - to convince Mrs. Sorensen to reject the green world and live as a widow ought. But the pretty widow has plans of her own, in Kelly Barnhill's Mrs. Sorenson and the Sasquatch.
My rating: ★★★
Started: Oct 27 2014 Finished: Oct 28 2014

My review: I am sure that the readers of the "Crewel World" series are going to enjoy this book, but I would not recommend the book to those that are unfamiliar with Albin's dystopian series. The girl in the high tower reads like a movie trailer to me: it give you a taste of what the Crewel world is, and it does make you want to read it, but when you are done you realize you have just read a long advertisement for a book series that has little value in itself. (★)
Started: Oct 28 2014 Finished: Oct 28 2014

My review: An interesting new spin of a thousands years old tale. This is the story of Penelope, crafting during the day, unmaking every night. But all this weaving it is not just an expedient to postpone what seems to be inevitable: surely somewhere, in all the myriad crossings of the threads, there is a future in which all will be well. (★★★★)
Started: Oct 19 2014 Finished: Oct 19 2014

My review: Charmain Baker has led a respectable, sheltered life. She has spent her days with her nose in a book, never learning how to do even the smallest household chores. The easy task of house-sitting the tiny cottage of her ill Great Uncle William is complicated by the fact that he is also the Royal Wizard Norland and his magical house bends space and time.
I wrote a longer review of Howl's series on my personal blog here: http://goo.gl/fCB9FO (★★★★)
Started: Oct 02 2014 Finished: Oct 05 2014

My review: This is the story of Abdullah, a young and not very prosperous carper dealer in the Sultanates of Rashpuht. One day a stranger walks in and sell him a magical carpet changing his life forever. The book follows Abdullah as he fall for princess Flower-in-the-Night just before she is snatched away by a dijnn, and he travel looking for her. This is not a sequel of Howl's moving Castle in the traditional sense, but many characters from the previous book have a central role in the story, even if they do not really appear until the last third of the book. More about this series in my blog post here: http://goo.gl/fCB9FO
(★★★)
Started: Sep 21 2014 Finished: Sep 26 2014

Publisher review: The fourth in Hugo and Nebula Award-winning Michael Swanwick's "Mongolian Wizard" series of tales set in an alternate fin de siècle Europe shot through with magic, mystery, and intrigue. At the publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management software (DRM) applied.
My rating: ★★★★
Started: Sep 21 2014 Finished: Sep 21 2014

My review: The third in Hugo and Nebula Award-winning Michael Swanwick's "Mongolian Wizard" series of tales set in an alternate fin de siècle Europe shot through with sorcery and intrigue. As the Mongolian Wizard advances through Europe, Ritter is investigating some crimes that seems to be related to the Roman Catholic church. (★★★)
Started: Sep 19 2014 Finished: Sep 20 2014

Publisher review: A second “Mongolian Wizard” tale from Hugo and Nebula Award-winning author Michael Swanwick – continuing an epic of magic and deception in an alternate Europe of railroads and sorcery..
My rating: ★★★
Started: Sep 19 2014 Finished: Sep 19 2014

Publisher review: Matty vive en Pueblo junto a Visionario, un ciego conocido por su penetrante intuición bajo cuya tutela ha crecido. Antes Pueblo era una comunidad utópica que acogía a los extranjeros, pero ahora se avecinan problemas: algo siniestro se ha infiltrado en él y sus habitantes han decidido cerrar sus fronteras. Matty ha prestado siempre un servicio inestimable como mensajero e intentará convencer a la hija de Visionario, Kira, de que regrese con él antes de que sea demasiado tarde. Deberá arriesgarlo todo para hacer un último viaje a través del inquietante y amenazador bosque con su única arma, un misterioso e inesperado poder que descubre en su interior.
My rating: ★★★★
Started: Sep 01 2014 Finished: Sep 07 2014

My review: This is the first installment of a new book series that is being serialized on-line by Tor. The Mongolian Wizard is set into an alternative universe where Europe is ruled by aristocratic magic users, griffons fly the skies, and phoenix eggs are considered weapons of mass destruction. (★★★★)
Started: Aug 27 2014 Finished: Aug 28 2014

My review: Renn is the former student of Lisane, a world famous artist genius, that is dying full of regrets for not being able to educate any of her pupil to take over her legacy. After many years, Renn is still heart-broken over the end of her relationship with her mentor, Lisane, that tough her how to capture the essence of her subject into a painting with magic.
This is a story about love, obsession, passion, talent, favoritism, and emotions, beautifully and effectively written. It does not come as a surprise that this novel was shortlisted for the Nebula award. (★★★★★)
Started: Aug 23 2014 Finished: Aug 23 2014

Publisher review: Anderson Lake is a company man, AgriGen's Calorie Man in Thailand. Under cover as a factory manager, Anderson combs Bangkok's street markets in search of foodstuffs thought to be extinct, hoping to reap the bounty of history's lost calories. There, he encounters Emiko... Emiko is the Windup Girl, a strange and beautiful creature. One of the New People, Emiko is not human; instead, she is an engineered being, creche-grown and programmed to satisfy the decadent whims of a Kyoto businessman, but now abandoned to the streets of Bangkok. Regarded as soulless beings by some, devils by others, New People are slaves, soldiers, and toys of the rich in a chilling near future in which calorie companies rule the world, the oil age has passed, and the side effects of bio-engineered plagues run rampant across the globe. What Happens when calories become currency? What happens when bio-terrorism becomes a tool for corporate profits, when said bio-terrorism's genetic drift forces mankind to the cusp of post-human evolution? Award-winning author Paolo Bacigalupi delivers one of the most highly acclaimed science fiction novels of the twenty-first century.
My rating: ★★★
Started: Jun 28 2014 Finished: Jul 19 2014

Publisher review:
My rating: ★★★★
Started: Jun 02 2014 Finished: Jun 11 2014

Publisher review: Startling, unusual, and yet irresistably readable, Among Others is at once the compelling story of a young woman struggling to escape a troubled childhood, a brilliant diary of first encounters with the great novels of modern fantasy and science fiction, and a spellbinding tale of escape from ancient enchantment. Raised by a half-mad mother who dabbled in magic, Morwenna Phelps found refuge in two worlds. As a child growing up in Wales, she and her twin sister played among the spirits who made their homes in industrial ruins, but her mind found freedom and promise in the science fiction novels that were her closest companions. When her mother tries to bend the spirits to dark ends with deadly results, Mori is sent away and must try to come to terms with what has happened without falling prey to the darkness.
My rating: ★★★★★
Started: May 27 2014 Finished: Jun 01 2014

Publisher review: Crows will fight over a dead man's flesh, and kill each other for his eyes. Bloodthirsty, treacherous and cunning, the Lannisters are in power on the Iron Throne in the name of the boy-king Tommen. The war in the Seven Kingdoms has burned itself out, but in its bitter aftermath new conflicts spark to life. The Martells of Dorne and the Starks of Winterfell seek vengeance for their dead. Euron Crow's Eye, as black a pirate as ever raised a sail, returns from the smoking ruins of Valyria to claim the Iron Isles. From the icy north, where Others threaten the Wall, apprentice Maester Samwell Tarly brings a mysterious babe in arms to the Citadel. Against a backdrop of incest and fratricide, alchemy and murder, victory will go to the men and women possessed of the coldest steel and the coldest hearts.
My rating: ★★★★
Started: Apr 10 2014 Finished: May 24 2014

My review: The mortal instrument is a popular fantasy book series by American author Judith Rumelt (better known by her pen name Cassandra Clare). In this third instalment Clary must travel to the City of Glass, the ancestral home of the Shadowhunters, to save her mother's life. Unfortunately entering the city without permission is against the Law, and breaking the Law could mean death. To make things worse, she learns that Jace does not want her there, and her best friend, Simon, has been thrown in prison by the Shadowhunters, who are deeply suspicious of a vampire who can withstand sunlight. This book series is the conclusion of the first story arc, and by far the best of the trilogy. For an in-depth guide to this book series please refer to: http://goo.gl/036Wwg (★★★★)
Started: Feb 15 2014 Finished: Feb 20 2014

Publisher review: A STORM OF SWORDS Of the five contenders for power, one is dead, another in disfavor, and still the wars rage as violently as ever, as alliances are made and broken. Joffrey, of House Lannister, sits on the Iron Throne, the uneasy ruler of the land of the Seven Kingdoms. His most bitter rival, Lord Stannis, stands defeated and disgraced, the victim of the jealous sorceress who holds him in her evil thrall. But young Robb, of House Stark, still rules the North from the fortress of Riverrun. Robb plots against his despised Lannister enemies, even as they hold his sister hostage at King’s Landing, the seat of the Iron Throne. Meanwhile, making her way across a blood-drenched continent is the exiled queen, Daenerys, mistress of the only three dragons still left in the world. . . . But as opposing forces maneuver for the final titanic showdown, an army of barbaric wildlings arrives from the outermost line of civilization. In their vanguard is a horde of mythical Others--a supernatural army of the living dead whose animated corpses are unstoppable. As the future of the land hangs in the balance, no one will rest until the Seven Kingdoms have exploded in a veritable storm of swords. . . .
My rating: ★★★★★
Started: Sep 08 2013 Finished: Oct 29 2013

My review: The citadel is one of the many book set in the Dragonlance world, but it is, by far, one of the best. It has been year since I have enjoyed a book so much, or stayed up so late to read "just one more chapter... or two". The story is so compelling, the plot so fast-paced and thrilling, that is impossible to stop reading.
The story starts after the end of the big war, when an evil wizard lears the secret of creating "citadels", i.e. castles floating in the air. He uses them to gain power over the world of Krynn. A red-robed magic-user, a cleric, a warrior, and a little kender are the only hope against him. (★★★★★)
Started: Aug 12 2013 Finished: Aug 17 2013

My review: The dragons of Krynn is a collection of short stories written by many of of the writers of the first Dragonlance Tales book series, including Douglas Niles, Richard A. Knaak, Nancy Varian Berberick, and many others. Particularly remarkable is the short story “Kaz and the dragon”, featuring one of the most beloved characters of Krynn (learn more about him on my blog post: http://goo.gl/jZreZ6). (★★★)
Started: Jul 27 2013 Finished: Aug 12 2013

My review: In this fifth instalment of Knaak's minotaurs saga (see http://goo.gl/jZreZ6 for more info on it) we follow the adventures of Aryx, a descendent of the famous Kaz (that was the main character of the previous books). Aryx and the whole minotaur nation find themselves playing a major role in the war against Chaos, fighting alongside Gods for the future of Krynn. (★★★★)
Started: Jul 22 2013 Finished: Jul 27 2013

My review: The first book of the Howl's castle series (see http://goo.gl/fCB9FO for more details on the series) was published back in 1986. Despite being a runner up for the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award in Fiction and being named one of that year's ALA Notable Books for Children, the book was not very successful at first. Over the years its popularity grew and in 2006 it won the annual Phoenix Award from the Children's Literature Association, recognizing the best children's book published twenty years earlier that did not win a major award. Allusion to the mythical bird phoenix, which is reborn from its ashes, suggests the winning book's rise from obscurity. This first book features Sophie, a young girl living in Ingary, a land in which anything could happen, and often does - especially when the Witch of the Waste is involved. Which is often. Sophie works at an hat shop, which proves most unadventurous, until the Witch of the Waste comes in to buy a bonnet one morning, but is not pleased, and turns Sophie into an old lady. (★★★★)
Started: Jun 29 2013 Finished: Jul 06 2013

My review: George Martin is an incredible writer, able to create extremely complex worlds, characters, and plots. This second chapter of the "A song of Ice and Fire" saga is even harder to put down than the first, and the plot is nothing short of epic. (★★★★)
Started: Apr 09 2013 Finished: Jun 23 2013

My review: Land of the Minotaurs is the third book of the adventure of Kaz (see: http://goo.gl/jZreZ6). In this book follows Kaz is trying to settle down with his family, but he is forced back into action, and back to his homeland, Nethosak, to confront an ancient evil. (★★★★)
Started: Mar 20 2013 Finished: Apr 04 2013

My review: Kaz the minotaur is the sequel of the Legend of Huma. This second book follows the adventure of Kaz after the last dragonwar. Kaz is trying to settle down, but he is forced back into action to confront a familiar evil from the past. More about the Dragonlance Minotaurs series here: http://goo.gl/jZreZ6 (★★★★)
Started: Mar 03 2013 Finished: Mar 19 2013

My review: I liked the first book of the "The Kingkiller Chronicle" trilogy, but I felt in love with this second one: it is an order of magnitude better. The story is entertaining, but it's the characters development and description that really set this book apart. This is really a great book, and I strongly recommend it to everybody, even for whose of you that are not into fantasy. (★★★★★)
Started: Jan 29 2013 Finished: Mar 01 2013

My review: I read this book translated in Italian when I was a young teenager, and I remember liking it. More recently I read other books from Knaak, and I liked them all. Because of it, I decided to read the book again, this time in English. I did not remember the plot at all, and I really enjoyed the book as if I had never read it before.
This is the story of Huma, the legendary hero often mentioned in the Dragonlance Chronicle trilogy. The story is relatively simple, but it is never boring, and the characters are quite interesting. The only disappointment is the love story between the hero and the silver dragon: what should have been a moving and heart breaking love story is instead quite sterile and un-moving. Despite the shortcoming, it is quite an enjoyable book that I strongly recommend it to all Dragonlance fans.
This is also the first volume of Knaak's Dragonlance Minotaurs series (see: http://goo.gl/jZreZ6 for details). (★★★★)
Number of times I read it: 2
Started (first time): Jan 12 2013 Finished (first time): Jan 20 2013

My review: I read The Hobbit translated in Italian multiple times when I was a young teenager. I recently decided to read the original English version. The book is something between a fairy tale and a fantasy novel, and it is quite enjoyable. It is quite fascinating to get a glimpse of how Tolkien and the Monarchic British society of the time thought, in the mist of deep social changes between the two world wars. Greed is perceived as the root of all evils, and all characters from all different races and social castes struggles with it. At the same time it appears that the book unselfish heroes, the only one able to overcame greed are all noblemen (e.g. the Bard), while local leaders belonging to the merchants and traders group, always end up putting their self-interest ahead of the one of the people that elected them. (★★★★)
Number of times I read it: 4
Started (first time): Dec 27 2012 Finished (first time): Jan 11 2013

My review: I read the previous books set in the Valdemar universe, and I enjoyed them, but "the black gryphon" is definitelly better than everything I have read previously. The previous books suffered from having a very episodic structure, they often felt like a collection of short stories set in the same universe. This is definitelly not the case for the first volume of the Mage Wars trilogy. The plot is well constructed and developed, and the book is quite hard to put down. The book can be read alone without any need to read the previous ones, and I recommend it to all fantasy lovers. (★★★★)
Started: Dec 10 2012 Finished: Dec 23 2012

My review: An interesting and hard to put down book, The name of the Wind is the story of Kvothe, a gifted kid that grew to be one of the most powerful wizards. The story is told by an older Kvothe himself, to a Chronicle that traveled far and wide to find him. Even if some of the plot elements (e.g. a gifted young kid finding his way to a school of magic) may seem similar to the Harry Potter saga, this book could not be more different. The life of Kvothe is harsh, and here the focus is given to the struggle to survive under adversities, as a homeless youth or a penniless student. There are only two small issues with the book. First the main story is weak and as a result the plot feels episodic. Second, I feel like the stage is not set properly for some of the events. Despite these little issues I quite enjoyed the book and I am looking forward the next volume of the trilogy. (★★★★)
Started: Aug 21 2012 Finished: Sep 15 2012

My review: While Wulfgar slowly came to terms with his past and with his new life, Drizzt has to face a new enemy from his past. It is a simple story, but the characters are starting to get more rounded and interesting. (★★★★)
Started: Jun 01 2012 Finished: Jul 05 2012

My review: The characters introduced in the first two volume of the Dark Disciple trilogy return in Amber and Blood. Now that the divine nature of Mina is revealed, the gods of light and darkness try to get her to their side. This is the worst volume of the trilogy, it is quite dull, and it does not even seem written by the same author of the previous two volumes. (★★)
Started: Jun 01 2012 Finished: Jun 20 2012

My review: The characters introduced in the first volume of the Dark Disciple trilogy return in Amber and Iron. Rhys and Nightshade continue to follow Lleu, to find a way to destroy Chemosh's curse. Mina continues to help the God of Death in his attempt to rule the dark pantheon, but the mysteries from her past starts to surface, shaking her to the core. As more gods get involved, the mysteries surrounding Mina nature and origin slowly unravel.
This is the best volume of the trilogy, the one I enjoyed reading the most. Despite that, it is not as epic, powerful, or captivating as the original dragonlance novels. There is really no comparison. (★★★★)
Started: May 30 2012 Finished: Jun 05 2012

My review: None of the beloved "classic" dragonlance characters (i.e. the one of the first two trilogies) are featured in this book. The only returning character is Mina, a mysterious woman that was first introduced in the War of Souls trilogy. The mysteries surrounding her nature and origin will be finally revealed in these books.
Amber and Ashes focuses on the latest attempt of Chemosh, the god of Death, to gain the control of the Dark pantheon with the help of Mina, and on a human monk and a kender mystic that get caught in the middle of it. The first volume is quite a lot of fun to read, but it is not as epic, powerful, or captivating as the original novels. There is really no comparison. (★★★)
Finished: May 26 2012

My review: I decided to read the book, after I started watching "the legend of the seeker" TV series. The TV series is somewhat entertaining, but very episodic. It turns out that the TV show is a quite poor adaptation of a nice fun book. On the web there are plenty of reviews blasting this book for a wide variety of reasons (flat 1 dimensional character, not original plot, etc), but I enjoyed reading it. (★★★)
Finished: May 08 2012

My review: People were raving about the HBO TV series, so I decided to read the book. This first volume of the saga is incredible, it is heroic fantasy at its best. The plot is extremely complex, featuring intrigues between nobles and royal families, quite original and full of unexpected twists. (★★★★)
Started: May 01 2012 Finished: May 01 2012

My review: The 12th chapter of the legend of Drizzt series focuses on Wulfgar's fight against his inner demons and Melinda, a farm girl whose beauty stole the heart of the Lord of her fiefdom. The two stories proceed in parallel until the two characters cross their path almost at the end of the book. I did not like how easily the main characters were ready to kill in some of the previous chapters of the series. Monster were killed because they were monsters, not as a result of some evil action, or for self defense. I was very pleased to see this change in this book. Both the main characters stray from the right path and find themselves on the other side of the justice. People made mistakes, but they can redeem themselves if given a chance. And justice can be as evil as the crime that it tries to correct, if this lesson is forgotten. (★★★)
Started: Jan 01 2012 Finished: Jan 29 2012

My review: In the 11th volume of the Dark Elf series, Drizzt, Catti-Brie, Bruenor and Wulfgar travel South to try to destroy the evil Crystal Shard. Along the way Wulfgar has to confront the internal daemons born during his ordeal as a prisoner, Artemis has to come to terms with his new old life, and Jarlaxle is extending his reach further toward the surface. I liked this book, the plot is fast paced and entertaining, but some parts of it really troubled me: I did not like the unjustified use of violence, and the use of hateful language. (★★★)
Started: Oct 15 2011 Finished: Oct 28 2011

My review: The final volume of the Mage Winds trilogy is more epic and hard to put down than the previous two. It reference quite often the Mage Wars trilogy, that I recommend to read beforehand. In this book Elspeth, Darkwind, and Firesong are back to a Valdemar that has lost its magic shield protection and it is being attacked by Ancar of Hardon and Falconsbane. The only hope Valdemar survival is a stealth attack to the heart of the enemy kingdom. (★★★★)
Started: Aug 14 2011 Finished: Sep 22 2011

My review: The story is entertaining and never boring, but it feels episodic, almost as if it was serialized on a newspaper. I like the settings and the characters created by the author, but this series is not as epic and powerful as the previous two set in the same world of Valdemar. Princess Elspeth has reached K'Sheyna vale to find the long lost gift of magic and to fight Ancar of Hardon. Unfortunately things in the vale are not easy, even after the defeat of the legendary Falconsbane. The magic node at the center of the vale is unstable, and Skif and Nyara, Elspeth and Darkwind must come to term with their feelings. (★★★★)
Started: Jun 24 2011 Finished: Aug 01 2011

My review: In this volume Drizzt follows Catti-brie south on the sword coast. They join the anti-pirate Captain Deudermont's boat, the Sea Sprite. An enemy from the past, Errtu, helped by the Goddess Loth, is plotting revenge against the dark elf, and disrupts the heroes life again. Assisted by one of the lunatic mages of the Harpel family, Drizzt, Catti-brie and Capitan Deudermont find themselves looking for a mysterious island in the middle of the ocean. The book is entertaining, but there's nothing really original or noticeable to be said about it. (★★)
Started: May 22 2011 Finished: May 26 2011

My review: The frail alliance between the orcs and the human in Durotar is shaky and some forces are working to destabilize them even more. Lady Proudmore and Thrall appears to be the only one believing in it. Even if the scale of the events of the story is not as epic as the one the previous volumes got us used to, the plot is quite intriguing and this short book is quite hard to put down once started. (★★★)
Started: May 18 2011 Finished: May 21 2011

My review: The Dragonlance books will always have a special place in my heart. I used to read them when I was a kid. I still remember many summer days spent outdoors, protected by the hot sun rays by an old silk tree, with my nose in one of the book of the series. I would spend hour after hour lost in those pages, until it was too dark to read or it was time for dinner. Reading this book was like falling back in time. I was no longer in my San Francisco apartment, but I was back again in that field in Italy, under that Silk tree, caressed by the hot Italian sun, surrounded by green walls of flowers. It did not really matter that the story is actually not that great, or that some of the plot twists are forced and do not really make sense. What it matters is to find again those characters that I loved so much and I grew up with, to witness again their adventures. This book is certainly one of the least original of the whole saga, but it is at the same time one of the most touching and powerful. Even if the plot is simple and does not flow smoothly, it manages to bring back the kid that so avidly read all those books in his youth many years ago. It brought me the joy and the happiness of that time, and the bitter realization that those times are over. Reading the last pages was saying goodbye to the characters that saw me grew up, and to that kid that spent so many days with his nose in those books. (★★★★)
Started: Mar 19 2011 Finished: Apr 04 2011

My review: I am quite surprised that a book series based on a popular videogame turned out to be so entertaining and enjoyable. In this action packed, fast paced final chapter the beloved characters from the previous war of the ancients trilogy find themselves facing the burning legion, Deathwing, and the ancient Gods at once. On their side the dragons, including the Aspects, and all the semi-gods. The world of Azeroth will dramatically change, sundered into pieces. A good read for the lovers of fantasy even if they never played the videogame. (★★★★)
Started: Mar 06 2011 Finished: Mar 18 2011

My review: In this volume Drizzt goes back to his homeland, to meet many of the enemies that he thought he had left behind. I was not crazy for the previous volumes of this fantasy series, but this volume is definitely more entertaining than the previous ones. Even if some of the premises and the morals of the story are weak, it is quite enjoyable and fun to read. (★★★)
Started: Jan 30 2011 Finished: Feb 09 2011

My review: Warcraft: Of Blood and Honor is the forth novel set in Blizzard Entertainment's Warcraft universe. It is the story of Tirion, a human paladin, that struggle with his belief system. He comes to realize that he was prejudiced and biased. Even if it is a short story, it is quite entertaining and heart lifting. The Warcraft book series has been full of unexpected surprises. (★★★★)
Started: Jan 20 2011 Finished: Jan 29 2011

My review: While the first volume of the trilogy did not flow smoothly, this second volume does not have the same issues and is quite entertaining and fast paced. While Malfurion Stormrage and his brother, along with Rhonin, Krasus, Brox and Tyrande fight with all the night elves against the demons of the burning legion that are devastating Azeroth, the dragons, guided by Neltharion, are working on a powerful artifact to stop the demons. (★★★★)
Started: Dec 05 2010 Finished: Dec 27 2010

My review: All the characters of the previous books are back in this installment of the Dark Elf series that made Salvatore one of the most famous fantasy writers of the 20th century. Drizzt, Brueneor, and Regis are preparing for the marriage of Cattie-brie and Wulfgar, when some of the enemies of the past (Entreri, Drizzt's surviving siblings) come back when least expected. This is one of the worst books of the dark elf saga. The book appeal is in its familiar characters and settings. (★★)
Started: Sep 16 2010 Finished: Oct 09 2010

My review: By The Sword is the story of Kerowyn, the granddaughter of Kethry and Tarma (appeared in the previous book "OathBound" and "OathBreakers"). Kerowyn is a smart intelligent and strong young woman that does not fit at all the model of the "noble women" in her country. Kerowyn slowly understand that her happiness and self-worth is more important of social acceptance by a narrow-minded set of individuals. The feminist themes of the last century american fantasy feminist movement (e.g. Marion Zimmer Bradley) are still there, but softened and made more palatable to the mainstream readers. Entertaining, but not daring as some of Lackey's previous books. (★★★)
Started: Sep 01 2010 Finished: Sep 15 2010

My review: In the third volume of the (original) series, Drizzt, Wulfgar, Cattie-Brie, and Bruenor give chase to the assasin Entreri to save their friend Regis. Entertaining and well written, the third volume focuses on racial (and other types of) bias, and teaches the reader to go beyond the stereotypes that society feed to us. It also focus on the adverse effect of xenophobia (and any other type of prejudice) on the victims and their self-respect. (★★★★)
Started: Jul 10 2010 Finished: Jul 24 2010

My review: Rhonin and Krassus (previously featured in "day of the dragon") and Broxigar (an orc working under Thrall, previously featured in "the lord of the clans") separately start investigating a strange and potentially dangerous magic anomaly. The three heroes end up being thrown back in time (just in time to catch the first attempt of Sargas to destroy the world with his burning legions). The book brings together familiar characters from some of the previous Warcraft books. While it is not necessary to read those books before, it certainly helps. The book is fun to read and explore the history of Azeroth. Finally some of the WoW missions are more understandable. This said, the story does not flow naturally: some of the character actions are clearly aimed at pushing the story in a particular direction, but they are often not credible and unnatural. (★★★)
Started: Jul 03 2010 Finished: Jul 09 2010

My review: A good read for fans of Dragon Age origins. It explores the history of Ferelden before the beginning of the videogame. This is the story of Prince Maric, the son of the Rebel queen, fighting to get back the throne that was taken from his grandfather by the Orlaisian Emperor. It is rather a sad story, of people sacrificing their love and repressing their feelings in order to perform what they believe to be their duty. Entertaining. (★★★)
Started: Jun 07 2010 Finished: Jun 29 2010

My review: I have been slowly reading Mercedes Lackey's Valdemar book series in order of publication. With this book her writing style and skills have reached maturity. The story flows really well, the characters are surprisingly human, more fascinating because of their limitations and short-falling than for their magic powers. The book uses all the tricks of modern fiction to capture the reader and it is very hard to put down. While very entertaining and well written, there is something missing when compared with her less polished and rougher earlier work. Her earlier work was strongly influenced by / part of the feminist fantasy movement and that made her work more controversial, less mainstream and less easy to sell, but intriguing, interesting and deeper. The fantasy world was used as a setting to investigate real-world issues, or as utopia, a world to look forward to. I really hope these (difficult) themes will come back in her later books. (★★★)
Started: May 17 2010 Finished: Jun 06 2010

My review: The original Drizzt trilogy is rather entertaining (and this cannot be said of the later "prequel" volumes). Even if there is nothing really groundbreaking and unique, it is a fun and enjoyable read. It also teaches young reader to go beyond society biases and to judge people by their actions and character. (★★★)
Started: May 10 2010 Finished: May 16 2010

My review: This is the book that started the legend of Drizzt (interestingly enough, Drizzt is not the main character in here). The book is definitely more compelling and interesting than each of all the three prequel books that I have read so far. I like the message the book sends to young reader: judge people by their actions and by what they are, not by insignificant characteristics like the color of the skin, or their nationality, etc. Free yourself of all the inherited traditional biases and preconceptions. Enjoyable book. (★★★)
Started: Mar 28 2010 Finished: Apr 02 2010

My review: This is the story of the apprenticeship of Khadgar under Medivh, a powerful and revered mage, vested with the title and the power of guardian of Tirisfal. Mysterious events in the background appears to be linked: demons murder mages, orcs are suddenly appearing out of nowhere. The storytelling is quite good, it is hard to put the book down. The story is interesting, but nothing more can be said. (★★★)
Started: Mar 22 2010 Finished: Mar 27 2010

My review: I usually stay away from video-game inspired books. They tend to capitalize on the success of the game and end up being horrible books. That's why this book was such a pleasant surprise. The books tells the story of Thrall, an enslaved Orc, raised by intolerant and racist humans to use him as a weapon. It is the story of an oppressed Race that finds the strength to fight for the right of self-determination and for freedom. I really enjoyed, I strongly recommend it. (★★★★)
Started: Feb 12 2010 Finished: Feb 14 2010

My review: I love fantasy, D&D, and I was told that the Drizzt series is quite a good one. Unfortunately, as for the previous books in the series, the story is not that great. It really does feel like a prequel written poorly and quickly to leverage on the success of the previously very successful books. It was entertaining, but I won't recommend it. I will keep reading at this point, hopefully I'll get soon to one of the good ones. (★★)
Started: Jan 17 2010 Finished: Feb 01 2010

My review: This is the final chapter of Vanyel's trilogy. Vanyel is now powerful and treated with awe by everybody, but his life is a hell, because he knows that the enemy will attack everybody he loves to get to him (given that they can hardly get at him directly). A very strong sense of duty keep him going until a young bard enter in his life, teaching him to love again. (★★★★)
Started: Dec 20 2009 Finished: Dec 31 2009

My review: The hero of this story is Vanyel, a young man, completely crashed and lost after the tragic loss of his love. Unfortunately for him, there is no time to mourn the loss, he is catapulted in the middle of a multi national crisis involving magic, murder, and a young man, Tashir, that just discovered enormous powers inside himself. In the background, young Vanyel and his family come to terms with their differences. (★★★★)
Started: Dec 10 2009 Finished: Dec 19 2009

My review: I was expecting quite a bad book, given that it was inspired by a videogame. It turned out to be quite a good book. Yes, granted, is not a masterpiece, but I enjoyed reading it quite a lot. The only things I did not like is that the Demon Soul reminds me of the One Ring. (★★★★)
Started: Dec 01 2009 Finished: Dec 09 2009

My review: I was traveling to Japan to attend a conference and I wanted something easy and relaxing to read while there. This was a perfect candidate. Unfortunately, as the previous book of the series, the story is not that great. It really does feel like a prequel written poorly and quickly to leverage on the success of the previously very successful books. It was entertaining, but I won't recommend it. I will keep reading at this point, hopefully I'll get soon to one of the good ones. (★)
Started: Oct 02 2009 Finished: Oct 05 2009

My review: I was traveling to Japan to attend a conference and I wanted something easy and relaxing to read while traveling. This was perfect. The characters are familiar (I literally grew up reading Weis and Hickman books). A fun read, even if the ending is disappointing, and the turn of the event is often unjustified and illogical. (★★)
Started: Sep 26 2009 Finished: Oct 01 2009

My review: When I was young, I always brought with me a pile of books every time I was going on vacation. Many were beach-friendly light reads, fantasy novels. Given that I was again headed to a beach vacation for the first time after many years I bought this one. It was like traveling back in time. There is nothing better than sun, beach, warm ocean and a fantasy book to read while lulled by the sounds of the waves. Regarding this book in particular, it really reads like a prequel. I have the strong feeling that the author wrote a book that was successful and then later decide to add a prequel to ride the success of the previous books. It is a fun book, but there is nothing special. I'll read the following to see if it gets better. (★★)
Started: Aug 06 2009 Finished: Aug 12 2009

My review: A great ending for this masterpiece, able to bridge fantasy and philosophy. Undoubtedly one of the best book of the century. As The Hours find its root in Mrs Dalloway and builds on it, similarly this trilogy find its root in Milton's Paradise Lost, as the starting point of a deep and enlightening reflection on human existence. (★★★★★)
Started: May 07 2008 Finished: Jul 04 2008

My review: WOW, this was quite a surprise! I liked the first book, but this second installment is even better. Some of the themes that were just barely hinted in the previous book are now developed and extended. While the first volume was just an interesting fantasy tale, the second volume is a fantasy modern re-edition of the Romantic rebellion against the authority and traditions in the name of freedom and free will. A modern Paradise Lost. The pace is fast, it is really hard to put this book down (I finished it in 3 days even if I was working on my dissertation... as a result I practically haven't slept!), entertainingly and... it goes quite deeper than expected! I strongly recommended! (★★★★★)
Started: Apr 06 2008 Finished: Apr 09 2008

My review: I was expecting a fun to read fantasy book, and I was pleasantly surprised to discover that this book is actually quite a literary masterpiece, with interesting reflections on the role of religion and philosophy. I am looking forward reading the next volumes of the series. (★★★★★)
Started: Mar 08 2008 Finished: Mar 30 2008

My review: This is the last book of the Dragonvard trilogy. The first volume was quite interesting, but the following two volumes have been quite disappointing. (★★)
Started: Oct 23 2007 Finished: Oct 25 2007

My review: It is just another fantasy book, with nothing too special about it. This said, it is quite entertaining. I was quite surprised to learn it was written by such a young writer, because the book is very readable and well-written. (★★★)
Started: Mar 30 2007 Finished: Apr 20 2007

My review: I grew up reading Weis and Hickman's novels, hence even simple collections of stories like this one manage to stir something deep inside of me: the longing for many nights spent reading as a child, lost into fantastic worlds. Krynn's feels like home, the characters are childhood friends. This anthology collects many stories written in the past 20 years and they witness the creative path of the Dragonlance world. It feels like picking up an old photo album from my childhood. (★★★★)
Started: Feb 04 2007 Finished: Feb 09 2007

My review: I was expecting a fairy tale, a simple, unsophisticated book. I was quite surprised to discover that Wicked is something quite different. While the novel is quite entertaining and fun to read, it is a deep investigation of the nature of Evil and a metaphor of Nazi's Germany. Reality is perceived differently by people and History is written by the winners. This is a surprising literary accomplishment. (★★★★★)
Started: Dec 03 2006 Finished: Jan 06 2007

My review: The book is less fragmented than the previous volume of the series, and as fun to read. It's not a masterpiece of the female fantasy movement, but I enjoyed reading it. (★★★★)
Started: Sep 29 2006 Finished: Oct 11 2006

My review: I was very interested to learn more about the feminist fantasy movement. I discovered the existence and the historical importance of this movement only recently, even if I grew up reading novels of Marion Zimmer Bradley and Jennifer Robertson. This anthology of short stories is a good introduction. It is rather interesting that all the main authors belonging to this movement lived in the San Francisco Bay Area and I find rather intriguing to be living where my favorite childhood authors wrote the stories that kept me enthralled as a child. As a grown up I can now appreciate the courage of some of the plots, how the movement revolutionize a sexist and macho-oriented genre and helped bring forward the image of modern women, free to express themselves and pursue their dreams. (★★★★)
Started: May 20 2006 Finished: May 28 2006

My review: I enjoyed the book but the themes suddenly changed from the previous book. There is almost no mention of the intense love of Bellona and Melisande, almost as if the author was afraid to have risked too much in the previous book. This is a little disappointing. (★★★)
Started: Apr 09 2006 Finished: Apr 24 2006

My review: The Kang's regimen series is not one of the main books of the Dragonlance saga, but one of the many side plot lines. Surprisingly it is one of the best and most entertaining ones, and I strongly recommend it. (★★★★)
Started: Mar 26 2006 Finished: Mar 29 2006

My review: It is hard to put down this book when you start reading it, but this does not come as a surprise given that was written by the skillful Margaret Weis. This book really does stand apart from her other ones. The themes and the tones are different, more complex and interesting, closer to the ones of feminist fantasy writers like Marion Zimmer Bradley. (★★★★)
Started: Feb 25 2006 Finished: Mar 08 2006

My review: This is not one of the main books of the dragonlance series, it is one of the many spin offs around it. This said, it is one of the most entertaining ones, and I strongly recommend it. (★★★★)
Started: Feb 21 2006 Finished: Feb 24 2006

My review: As for the previous books of the trilogy, the plot feels a little episodic at times. Despite the limitations, the book is entertaining and uplifting, a great example of the 70s/80s woman fantasy movement. (★★★★)
Started: Dec 01 2005 Finished: Dec 02 2005

My review: This is by far my favorite Harry Potter book. The tones change, become darker, and more mature. Suddenly what was just a very entertaining story turns into a book with a message. (★★★★)
Started: Mar 01 2005 Finished: Apr 09 2005

My review: As for the previous book of the trilogy, the plot feels a little episodic at times. Despite the limitations, the book is entertaining and uplifting, a great example of the 70s/80s woman fantasy movement. The story features many of the themes that will make Harry Potter a success: an unpopular child that is rescued from an unloving family and sent to a school of magic when she discovers her magical powers. (★★★★)
Started: Dec 08 2004 Finished: Dec 31 2004

My review: This is the first book set in the Valdemar universe. The author was still a little young and inexperienced, the plot feels a little episodic at times. Despite the limitations, the book is entertaining and uplifting, a great example of the 70s/80s woman fantasy movement. The story features many of the themes that will make Harry Potter a success: an unpopular child that is rescued from an unloving family and sent to a school of magic when she discovers her magical powers. (★★★★)
Started: Apr 30 2004 Finished: May 02 2004

My review: This book has many of the plot elements and virtues of Harry Potter: an unpopular kid, not loved by the family that is raising him, discovers to be a "chosen" with magical powers. It is taken into a college of magic, when he became powerful and popular. What makes this particular book interesting is the touching description of the path towards self-acceptance and self-respect of the main character. (★★★★)
Number of times I read it: 2
Started (first time): Feb 28 2004 Finished (first time): Mar 03 2004

My review: This is by far my favorite Harry Potter book. The tones change, become darker, and more mature. Suddenly what was just a very entertaining story turns into a book with a message. (★★★★)
Started: Nov 13 2003 Finished: Dec 01 2003

My review: The plot becomes more and more intriguing in this last volume of the war of the souls trilogy. (★★★)
Started: Sep 29 2003 Finished: Oct 01 2003

My review: I was a little thrown off by some inconsistencies with some previous Dragonlance books, the book is quite enjoyable. I found myself reading in the middle of the night just to see what was going to happen next. (★★★★)
Started: Sep 26 2003 Finished: Sep 28 2003

My review: The conclusion of the "Dragons of a New Age" trilogy is as fast-paced and entertaining as the previous two instalments. I still miss the "classic" Dragonlance settings, and I do not like the changes introduced with the last editions of the Dragonlance campaign, but this did not prevent me from enjoying the book. (★★★★)
Started: Jun 27 2003 Finished: Jul 09 2003

My review: While the first volume was often too slow paced and fairy-talish, this second one is fast paced, action-packed, and hard to put down. (★★★)
Number of times I read it: 2
Started (first time): Feb 07 2003 Finished (first time): May 15 2003

My review: I quite enjoyed reading the book, but it lacks the originality of the first volume. It's hard to come up with novel ideas to keep the sage intriguing and surprising. (★★★)
Started: Dec 06 2002 Finished: Dec 12 2002

My review: This second volume of the ""dragons of a new age" trilogy is as entertaining and fast-paced as the first one. I am still a little put off by the dramatic changes introduced in the Dragonlance 5th age, but this did not prevent me from appreciating the book. (★★★)
Started: Oct 13 2002 Finished: Oct 22 2002

My review: Do not get me wrong, I enjoyed reading this book, it was very hard to put down. This said, it lacks the originality of the first volume of the saga: it really feels like a rehashed version of it. (★★★)
Started: Oct 01 2002 Finished: Oct 06 2002

My review: The Ansalon of the new age trilogy is dramatically different from the classic one featured in the previous trilogies by Weis and Hickman. There is really little in common, and this will probably put off every classic Dragonlance fan. This said, the book is quite entertaining, and a pleasure to read. I liked the effort of the author in trying to be inclusive. The book features a diverse set of characters of different ethnicity and with disabilities. (★★★)
Started: Jul 25 2002 Finished: Jul 28 2002

My review: If you are looking for something easy to read to relax after a long day at work, this may be what you are looking for. For the Dragonlance fans, this is a must read book, providing some background on two of the most interesting characters of the chronicle and legends trilogies: the brothers Majere. (★★★)
Started: Jun 03 2002 Finished: Jun 08 2002

My review: The two previous Dragonlance trilogies by Weis and Hickmans are among the favorite books of my childhood. I was literally thrilled to discovered that a new trilogy was available, set in the same world, and featuring the same beloved characters. I expected a sequel of "the second generation". On the contrary a lot has changed, and the reader should first read the "dragons of a new era" trilogy to really enjoy and understand what's happening in this book. (★★★)
Started: May 21 2002 Finished: May 27 2002

My review: I read this book translated in Italian as a young teenager. I did not like it too much then, probably because the translation was poor. I enjoyed reading it more the second time, in its original language. The plot is intriguing and epic, but some parts of the book are just too slow paced (e.g. all he Tom Bombadil segment). (★★★)
Number of times I read it: 2
Started (first time): Dec 06 2001 Finished (first time): Apr 01 2002

My review: I really liked the story! It is fun, original and well-written. When you read it, you can almost believe that magic is real. Suddenly I found myself a kid again, satying up late to read "just another chapter". (★★★★)
Started: Dec 04 2001 Finished: Dec 05 2001

My review: I was quite eager to meet again the characters I loved so much when I was a kid. I was slightly disappointed by the new generation of heroes, that failed to fascinate me as much as the previous one did. This said, this collection of short stories is entertaining and worth reading for all the Dragonlance fans. (★★★)
Started: Sep 20 2001 Finished: Sep 24 2001

My review: The characters may not be well rounded, but I loved them since I was a kid. I always enjoy meeting them again when I read a Dragonlance book. The ending in particular makes reading the trilogy worth the time spent doing it. (★★★★)
Number of times I read it: 2
Started (first time): Sep 17 2001 Finished (first time): Sep 19 2001

My review: I read it when I was a kid, and I simply loved it at the time. Probably I set my expectations too high, but I was a little disappointed by this book. The plot was not as intriguing as I remembered, and the beloved characters are quite flat. (★★★)
Number of times I read it: 2
Started (first time): Sep 12 2001 Finished (first time): Sep 16 2001

My review: When I was young, I loved the Dragonlance saga. I was quite disappointed when I read it again as a grown-up: the beloved characters and the plot are so flat! (★★★)
Number of times I read it: 2
Started (first time): Sep 01 2001 Finished (first time): Sep 05 2001

My review: The last volume is a really good one, but the ending is a little disappointing: it is quite clear that the authors did want to keep an opening for a possible sequel. (★★★★)
Number of times I read it: 2
Started (first time): Aug 01 2001 Finished (first time): Sep 01 2001

My review: An entertaining conclusion for the trilogy. (★★★★)
Number of times I read it: 2
Started (first time): Jul 24 2001 Finished (first time): Aug 01 2001

My review: The second book of this fantasy saga is better than the first... but it far from being remarkable. (★★★★)
Number of times I read it: 2
Started (first time): Jul 05 2001 Finished (first time): Jul 23 2001

My review: I really enjoyed this book when I was young. This time I did not like it as much. The characters are incredibly flat and the plot is not that original. (★★★)
Number of times I read it: 2
Started (first time): Jun 01 2001 Finished (first time): Jul 04 2001

My review: I decided to read some of my childhood favorite fantasy books in their original language, in order to improve my English. I was stressed because I was writing my master thesis. I needed something not to complex to read. This was perfect at the time. The plot gets more interesting in the second volume. (★★★★)
Number of times I read it: 2
Started (first time): Jun 10 2001 Finished (first time): Jun 13 2001

My review: This was one of my favorite books when I was a kid, so I decided to read it again in English to improve my English when I moved to the US. It is quite entertaining. I had completely forgot the plot, but not the characters. reading the book felt like meeting again some dear old childhood friends. (★★★★)
Number of times I read it: 2
Started (first time): Feb 11 2001 Finished (first time): Feb 18 2001

My review: When I was a young kid I used to read a lot. I was particularly fond of fantasy novels. I started to read the first book of the "Death Gate cycle" when I was 15. I never had the chance to read the last one. When I saw it in the bookshop I bought it immediately. I read the book in one day. (★★★)
Started: Jan 05 2001 Finished: Jan 06 2001

My review: I liked reading the Harry potter saga, but this book was not one of the best. It is as entertaining as the previous ones, but it lacks originality, and it is quite similar to all the others. (★★★)
Number of times I read it: 0

Publisher review: Here is the magical legend of King Arthur, vividly retold through the eyes and lives of the women who wielded power from behind the throne. A spellbinding novel, an extraordinary literary achievement, THE MISTS OF AVALON will stay with you for a long time to come....
My rating: