Beth Tabler's Blog, page 146
January 7, 2023
The Books That Made Us – Seraphina’s Lament by Sarah Chorn
When I sat down to write this post, there were several books in my mind. I’m sure that is the case for most readers, different books that have meant different things at different points in our lives. I could’ve gone with Dragonsong by Anne McCaffrey, which was my first real introduction to SFF; or to the Protector of the Small series by Tamora Pierce that convinced me that girls could be knights. Or Lord of the Rings that gave me a world outside my own to escape into when things went to hell. All those books have shaped me, and hold their own special places in my heart. But really when it comes down to it there was really only one book that I could choose as the book that changed things.
Seraphina’s Lament by Sarah Chorn.
Sometime back in 2018 when I was just starting to plunge back into reading SFF, I was listening to the Grim Tidings Podcast and came across the Ladies of Grimdark Panel. Sarah Chorn was on that panel, and at that point Seraphina’s Lament hadn’t been released, but there was something about hearing her talk about the book and writing, that made it stick in my mind. In 2019 I revisited that episode and decided to go looking to see if it had been released and finding that it had, I ordered it at once.
25th July 2019. My copy of Seraphina’s Lament landed on my doorstep, and I immediately started reading. I got to the end, and went straight back to the beginning and read it through again for a second time. I pretty much did nothing else that day. Since then, I have reread this book more times than I can count (my first copy is a little dog-eared now as a result), but I’ve never forgotten that first and second read and the storm of emotion it had provoked.
‘She walked over to the bed, her limp heavy, her back bowed, leg dragging, pain still shining in her eyes. It was an effort, with or without the cane, but at least the cane seemed to make it easier. She turned and flashed him a determined smile. “It’s not a cure, but it’s mobility. I can walk more, and with far less pain. Oh Vadden, I feel as though you have just truly given me my freedom.”’
Here was a book where I felt seen.
That year was the first one when I’d had to use a cane on several occasions, and where pain was becoming more and more of a constant in my life. And here in the pages of this book, I found a character who was vastly different from me and yet so similar, and in the quiet moments free of flames and revolutions, I could be there on the page. There is a power in that, and it’s why I revisit this book again and again on the bad days, or when I need a reminder that there is a strength and beauty in those broken moments.
That alone would be enough to make this a book that has shaped me.
But then there was the writing.
Sarah Chorn has a way of wielding emotion as ink, weaving a story that is felt as much as it is read (and this is true in all her books). Seraphina’s Lament though was the first time that I felt that I was living and breathing the emotions flowing across the page, and where that wonderful combination of lyrical beauty and emotional experience is not only embraced but set loose with brilliant and devastating effect. Through reading Seraphina’s Lament and riding the gauntlet of emotions that are brought to life on the pages (and this book is a ride in so many ways, hopeful and hopeless, fury and calm, sorrow and joy, love and hate, and so many other threads of emotion woven in between), it made me realise two things.
One that there are different ways of writing stories, and that sometimes taking a venture off the beaten path will deliver an experience like no other.
Two, that if I could write a story that could conjure even an iota of the emotional response I had to this book, then I would be overjoyed.
This book kept me writing. It’s given me comfort and the fire to keep going on the bad days. It’s a book that’s left an indelible mark on my heart.
A book, that gave me so much more than a story.
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Rowena Andrews spent her childhood searching for Dragons and talking to animals and started turning that into words when she was bored in class. She wrote her first book at fourteen and while it lives forever in the bottom of the sock drawer, the encouragement from her English Teacher meant the writing bug took hold and never went away.
Rowena has a BSc in Geography and a PG Diploma in Coastal and Maritime Societies and Cultures. She moved to Scotland for University, fell in love with the place and never left, and now lives and works on the east Fife coast.
When she’s not writing or reading, she’s hoarding dice and playing Dungeons & Dragons, and submitting to the whims of a demanding cat and dog duo.
Read Rowena’s Blog Here
Preorder Rowena’s Novel The Ravyn’s Words
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January 6, 2023
Review – Full Imersion by Gemma Amor
Full Immersion, Gemma Amor’s deeply personal sci-fi horror, opens with a cry for help from the protagonist, Magpie, who pleads to be accepted into a new Virtual Experimental Therapy program to overcome her postpartum depression. Magpie has tried all traditional forms of therapy but still finds herself sinking further into despair. Her letter to the Virtual Experimental Therapy program concludes with three devastating words: “Please help me.”
The main part of the novel focuses on Magpie’s treatment in this newly developed program, which involves “full immersion” in a virtual reality environment offering an alternative approach to therapy. The patient works together with a psychologist, who also enters the virtual world. Magpie’s immersion begins with her finding a dead body underneath a bridge, the same bridge in Bristol from which she has repeatedly imagined leaping to her death. To her horror, Magpie realizes that it is her own broken, decaying body in the mud. With this shocking discovery, her treatment begins.
Full Immersion alternates between the first-person narration of Magpie in the virtual world and the third-person narration of the laboratory staff as they monitor her progress. The change in tone between Magpie’s intensely emotional narration and the clinical observations of the program staff is rather jarring. To them, Magpie’s depression is an object of scientific study, but to Magpie it consumes all aspects of her life.
As Magpie begins her treatment program, there is a clear separation between the real and virtual worlds. But as the novel progresses, the boundary between the two worlds becomes blurred. Magpie’s experiences in the virtual world are akin to lucid dreaming, i.e., actively recognizing that one is dreaming and seeking to manipulate that dream. Similarly, Magpie gradually recognizes that she is in a virtual world and intuitively understands how to control her environment.
At first the clinical staff is surprised and impressed by Magpie’s ability to manipulate the virtual world. But this surprise gradually transitions to horror as her manipulation crosses over into the physical world.
Full Immersion is, first and foremost, a profound psychological analysis of a person who finds her way back from the deepest depths of postpartum depression. The sci-fi aspects of the story are a great vehicle for bringing Magpie’s mental state vividly to life. The horror elements mostly focus on Silhouette, a shadowy creature who represents the physical manifestation of Magpie’s depression, aggressively consuming everything in its path.
While Full Immersion is a wholly original tale, some aspects of the story reminded me of Haruki Murakami’s masterpiece of magical realism, The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle. Both books make prolific use of avian imagery, e.g., a birdcall as the harbinger of impending doom. More significantly, they both focus on characters who enter alternate mental states on journeys through the darkness of the human psyche toward self-discovery.
The finest books will leave such an indelible impact on the reader that it makes them a changed—and hopefully better—person. Full Immersion is one of those books. Gemma Amor is to be commended for her raw and honest description of postpartum depression. She reminds us that there is always a path out of the darkness.
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January 5, 2023
Review – In the Shadow Garden by Liz Parker
In the Shadow Garden by Liz Parker was the perfect novel to tuck into on an autumn night with a coffee in hand. It is a story that is not light and airy. Instead, it embraces some of the darker themes of literature with a perfect blend of storytelling, the supernatural, and the strength gardeners know of plants that reach through the rich dark soil toward the light.
“Stalks of basil to keep the evil eye at bay. A head of broccoli to heal the body. A bunch of cilantro to mend the soul. Three tomatoes for passion in the bedroom. A cucumber to keep that passion from burning a relationship to the ground. The finishing touch— one piece of fruit from the shadow garden to amplify it all.”
The story is about a power struggle in a small town between two prominent families whose roots go deep. The Haywood and Bonner families could not be more different. One is a high and mighty whiskey manufacturer, the other a family of witches, and the tension between them simmers for decades. Still, this story starts with the death of the Bonner Patriarch and the return of the Bonner prodigal son after 25 years. His return is met by a community that barely remembers him, so much so that it edges on the bizarre.
The Haywood side of town can take the darkest emotions from people and settle them into the ground, essentially feeding The Shadow Garden, their garden. They are three generations of witches who will meddle if asked to. But their magic starts to go haywire as well. What follows is a “who done it and why” that delves deep into the very root of things 25 years ago and what happened on that fateful summer in 1997.
I loved the juxtaposition of this high and mighty whiskey family and this Earthy family of witches. They couldn’t be more different, and their hate could not be stronger. Their stories intertwine and involve magic, gardens, history, and love.
In the Shadow Garden was a whiskey-soaked story that was exciting as it is lyrically beautiful. There are second chances to be had, even for families like The Haywoods and the Bonners.
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Review – The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
The Lies of Locke Lamora is Scott Lynch’s imaginative blend of Oliver Twist (orphans), The Godfather (the mafia), and The Italian Job (con artists in Venice). The setting is basically a fantasy version of Venice, replete with a sprinkling of made-up Italian-sounding words.
The Lies of Locke Lamora has a reputation for being lighthearted fun, but this is actually a very dark read. I read this immediately following Joe Abercrombie’s grimdark classic, The Blade Itself, and The Lies of Locke Lamora is easily the darker of the two. Both books have detailed torture scenes, but The Lies of Locke Lamora tips the grimdark scales with barrels of horse urine and even child slavery and prostitution. The book is full of witty dialogue that lightens the mood, but at its core this is grimdark fantasy. Very, very good grimdark fantasy.
The hero of our story, Locke Lamora, is orphaned as a young boy and is purchased by the Thiefmaker of Shades Hill to be trained in thievery. Locke proves to be a little too good at filchery and deception for the Thiefmaker, who then sells him to Father Chains, a garrista (gang leader) who serves the god of thieves. There, Locke meets and forms bonds with the other members of the Gentleman Bastards gang.
The Lies of Locke Lamora book has it all: excellent character development, a great story, and immersive worldbuilding. Locke is an outstanding actor and thief, but beyond that he doesn’t really have any special skills. He is not a good fighter. He does not have any magical powers. This makes him vulnerable to the many dangers that he must face throughout the novel, often against overwhelming odds.
The plots itself jumps back-and-forth between Locke as a young apprentice with Father Chains and adult Locke as he leads the Gentleman Bastards in elaborate schemes against the rich nobility. The central conflict in the novel concerns mafia-style powerplays among rival gang leaders. The stakes keep getting raised throughout the novel to the point where it’s hard to put the book down.
I greatly enjoyed reading The Lies of Locke Lamora and recommend this for fans of character-driven grimdark fantasy who also appreciate a great story with witty dialogue and creative worldbuilding.
Check Out Some of Our Other Reviews
Review: If Cats Disappeared from the World by Genki Kawamura
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January 4, 2023
Review – If Cats Disappeared from the World by Genki Kawamura
If Cats Disappeared from the World by Genki Kawamura warmed my heart while simultaneously breaking it. This is such a poignantly told tale of magical realism.
The narrator of If Cats Disappeared from the World is a young, single postman from Japan who has been diagnosed with terminal brain cancer. After receiving this crushing diagnosis from his doctor, he arrives home at his apartment to find the devil. The devil makes a deal with him: he will grant one additional day of life to the narrator for each item that he chooses to eliminate from the world.
Each chapter of If Cats Disappeared from the World follows one day in the last week of the narrator’s life as he agrees to eliminate phones, movies, clocks, etc., from the world. But what about his beloved cats? Would he be willing to sacrifice them to prolong his life one more day?
Every day, the absence of these items floods our introspective narrator with memories of his loves and his regrets: his ex-girlfriend, his best friend, his mother, his father, his childhood cat (Lettuce), and his current feline friend (Cabbage). The narrator eloquently describes the universal pain of losing loved ones and of strained relationships.
If Cats Disappeared from the World is a beautifully written novel. The poignant scenes from the narrator are juxtaposed with humorous commentary from the devil, striking just the right emotional balance throughout the book.
Genki Kawamura’s writing is heavily influenced by Haruki Murakami. As in Murakami’s classic, Kafka on the Shore, Kawamura’s cat, Cabbage, even talks. If someone were to scratch Genki Kawamura’s name off the cover and write Haruki Murakami as the author, I would not doubt for a moment that I was reading a genuine Murakami novel. The imitation of Murakami’s themes and style is that authentic.
Normally I would deduct a star for mimicking another writer’s style so closely, but I can’t do that here because If Cats Disappeared from the World is just so good. If this were a Murakami book, it would rank among his best. The introspective nature and emotional impact of this book rank up there with Murakami’s Norwegian Wood, one of my all-time favorite novels.
Five very enthusiastic stars for If Cats Disappeared from the World, Genki Kawamura’s heartfelt debut novel.
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Review – Review: If Cats Disappeared from the World by Genki Kawamura
If Cats Disappeared from the World by Genki Kawamura warmed my heart while simultaneously breaking it. This is such a poignantly told tale of magical realism.
The narrator of If Cats Disappeared from the World is a young, single postman from Japan who has been diagnosed with terminal brain cancer. After receiving this crushing diagnosis from his doctor, he arrives home at his apartment to find the devil. The devil makes a deal with him: he will grant one additional day of life to the narrator for each item that he chooses to eliminate from the world.
Each chapter of If Cats Disappeared from the World follows one day in the last week of the narrator’s life as he agrees to eliminate phones, movies, clocks, etc., from the world. But what about his beloved cats? Would he be willing to sacrifice them to prolong his life one more day?
Every day, the absence of these items floods our introspective narrator with memories of his loves and his regrets: his ex-girlfriend, his best friend, his mother, his father, his childhood cat (Lettuce), and his current feline friend (Cabbage). The narrator eloquently describes the universal pain of losing loved ones and of strained relationships.
If Cats Disappeared from the World is a beautifully written novel. The poignant scenes from the narrator are juxtaposed with humorous commentary from the devil, striking just the right emotional balance throughout the book.
Genki Kawamura’s writing is heavily influenced by Haruki Murakami. As in Murakami’s classic, Kafka on the Shore, Kawamura’s cat, Cabbage, even talks. If someone were to scratch Genki Kawamura’s name off the cover and write Haruki Murakami as the author, I would not doubt for a moment that I was reading a genuine Murakami novel. The imitation of Murakami’s themes and style is that authentic.
Normally I would deduct a star for mimicking another writer’s style so closely, but I can’t do that here because If Cats Disappeared from the World is just so good. If this were a Murakami book, it would rank among his best. The introspective nature and emotional impact of this book rank up there with Murakami’s Norwegian Wood, one of my all-time favorite novels.
Five very enthusiastic stars for If Cats Disappeared from the World, Genki Kawamura’s heartfelt debut novel.
Buy from Amazon
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Cover reveal: Undiscovered by Ashley Anglin
Cover reveal: Undiscovered by Ashley Anglin.
I had the pleasure of working with Ashley on this book during my time with Shadow Spark Publishing, and I can say unequivocally that it is one of the most beautiful, poignant pieces of speculative fiction I have ever read.
Cli-fi meets fabulism in this silky-smooth tale of wonder and hope amid the devastation of climate change.
Book Description:
Sometimes truth is stranger than folktales.
Bilingualism and plate tectonics were the only kinds of shapeshifting Arden Araujo’s troubled geoscientist dad prepared her for. But it turns out, the outlandish prediction that wrecked his career–a devastating North Sea tsunami–might not be the unlikeliest truth he took to his grave.
In the 2097 tsunami’s aftermath, environmental first responder Arden expects her mission in hard-hit northeast Scotland to involve the usual grunt work, maybe a little freediving if she’s lucky. Instead, she stumbles upon a critically endangered species of Orkney and Shetland legend, hiding in plain sight among the refugees.
They trust that she can help restore their kind, despite storms, aftershocks, and policy decisions way beyond her pay grade. Increasingly at home on the shores of their life-giving sea, she may have found her calling; true love might not be a mere children’s story either. Yet the deeper she’s immersed in their tale, the less sure she feels that she’s the right hero to protect the hidden treasure of their existence.
UNDISCOVERED is the author’s debut novel, a unique sci fi/fantasy fusion: climate fiction, hopeful fabulism, and a feminist hero’s journey, told in lyrical prose (and occasional Spanglish). Coming February 4 from Shadow Spark Publishing.
The book will be available on February 4.
AUTHOR BIO
The first real novel Ashley Bevilacqua Anglin read, age 6ish, was The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe. Never looking back, she’s still hanging out with valiant female protagonists at the intersection of contemporary fantasy, climate fiction, and the spiritual. Her passion for storytelling led her to a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature and Linguistics. Her short stories and poetry have appeared in Panthology, also from Shadow Spark; in Everything Change, Vol. I (as runner-up in ASU Imagination and Climate Futures Initiative’s Climate Fiction Short Story Contest); and online in Miniskirt, Minison, Full Mood, and Tree and Stone magazines.
Ashley lives with her Jamerican family in Virginia, where she is a longtime community college professor of Italian and Spanish. You can find her on Twitter @dalyashleydrH2o, and her previous work (including other glimpses of the Undiscovered world) at https://linktr.ee/ashleyb.anglin.
Check out my review of Radiance by Grace Draven.
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January 3, 2023
Team – BWG Favorite Reads of 2022
When BWGB decided to put together this list, I had a really hard time narrowing down my favorite book from the 12 I had compiled as part of my end-of-the-year video series. In the end, I decided to go with the one that I not only thoroughly enjoyed, but the one that surprised me the most; and that would be Death Rider by Zamil Akhtar. Not that I am surprised that I enjoyed Akhtar’s work as I have loved all the books I’ve read by him, but the staying power of this tiny prequel novella is incredibly impressive. We follow the perspective of a death rider that has been put on the front lines as fodder for the opposing enemy which drew me into the story from page 1. The cosmic/Lovecraftian horror element that Akhtar loves to play with is amped up to 100 and the plot twist is something you could never imagine in a million years. I find myself still thinking about it to this day, and can see myself re-reading it many times in the future. Thus, I feel it definitely deserves to be on this list of Best Books of 2022.
Death Rider by Zamil Akhtar
A disgraced warrior seeks an honorable death on the battlefield, but an eldritch god has other plans for her.
Buy from Amazon Steve’s Top Book
I have read so many good books in 2022 it was hard to narrow my favorite down. That is until I read The Dark Frontier Adventures: Dango. When I saw the cover for Dango, I thought it had the kind of vibe I was looking for, something off the beaten path. A lot of weird west is just cowboy stories with magic tacked on, making it seem like old west urban fantasy. Dango takes a different approach, taking some elements of the old west, but making wholesale additions and subtractions to the various lore and tropes to create a whole new type of weird west universe.
There are so many elements that make this a great book. You can see the inspirations for various parts of the story and characters. But these inspirations are just that, and the story is never derivative. The characters are fantastic, and they go through some great character development as the story progresses. The setting is just so well done, and you are drawn into this at once familiar and strange world, and you can only hope to see more.
The Dark Frontier Adventures: Dango by Jack Long Buy from Amazon Beth’s Top Books
The Art of Prophecy by Wesley Chu
“An epic fantasy ode to martial arts and magic about what happens when a prophesied hero is not the chosen one after all—and has to work with a band of unlikely allies to save the kingdom anyway, from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Lives of Tao”
I loved this story, it had all the trademarks of an engaging fantasy, speckled with incredible characters and kick ass fight scenes. It was just a joy to read.
Buy from Amazon
The Maleficent Seven by Cameron Johnston
Black Herran was a dread demonologist, and the most ruthless general in all Essoran. She assembled the six most fearsome warriors to captain her armies: a necromancer, a vampire lord, a demigod, an orcish warleader, a pirate queen, and a twisted alchemist. Together they brought the whole continent to its knees… Until the day she abandoned her army, on the eve of total victory.
40 years later, she must bring her former captains back together for one final stand, in the small town of Tarnbrooke – the last bastion against a fanatical new enemy tearing through the land, intent on finishing the job Black Herran started years before.
Seven bloodthirsty monsters. One town. Their last hope.
I have never cheered for the bad guys so much!!! If you like a little darkness in your fantasy you can’t go wrong.
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A Sliver of Darkness by C.J. Tudor
“The debut short story collection from the acclaimed author of The Chalk Man, featuring ten bone-chilling and mind-bending tales
Timeslips. Doomsday scenarios. Killer butterflies. C. J. Tudor’s novels are widely acclaimed for their dark, twisty suspense plots, but with A Sliver of Darkness, she pulls us even further into her dizzying imagination.
In Final Course, the world has descended into darkness, but a group of old friends make time for one last dinner party. In Runaway Blues, thwarted love, revenge, and something very nasty stowed in a hat box converge. In Gloria, a strange girl at a service station endears herself to a cold-hearted killer, but can a leopard really change its spots? And in I’m Not Ted, a case of mistaken identity has unforeseen, fatal consequences.
Riveting and explosively original, A Sliver of Darkness is C. J. Tudor at her most wicked and uninhibited.”
Without a doubt one of the best story compilations I have ever read. They are riveting and terrifying and often surprising to the point I was saying “holy shit.” All you would have to do is read the first story and know exactly what I am talking about.
Buy from Amazon
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January 2, 2023
Eleni – BWG FAVORITE READS OF 2022
Hello again dear reader, Imma go ahead and preface this by saying whoever in the BWGB team said we should pick five books is evil and should be put in reader jail! Pick five they said… hmf
In no particular order then here are mine:
Archer’s Voice by Mia Sheridan:
This deeply emotional book gave me all the feels, with truly the biggest cinnamon roll characters that work towards building a relationship despite heavy past trauma from both sides. With a truly despicable villain that’ll have you raging for days to boot. I would easily rec this to every single person who is ok with reading 18+ content. It’s sexy but not smutty, if that means something to you.
Buy from Amazon
For The Throne by Hannah Whitten
The perfect conclusion to the Wilderwood duology, I waited for it not so patiently for a year and was absolutely delighted to see Whitten take everything great about her first book and turn it up to eleven with its sequel. A mesmerizing read with ambiance to die for (pun intended if you’ve read it) and a magic system that will steal your breath, lead by a powerful duo of women that kick all kinds of ass while their wholesome but grumpy disaster husbands/partners try their best to keep up.
Buy from Amazon
By A Thread by Lucy Score
Again, for mature readers due to explicit sexual content, but this is one truly hilarious romcom reminiscent of Devil Wears Prada, that also delicately and appropriately handles heavy and important subjects of workplace sexual misconduct, or dealing with elderly and sick parents. It was a joy to read and all the characters, be they primary or secondary, dazzled to no end. Aggravated Men
is where it’s at, and I’ll leave it there.
Buy from Amazon
One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig
A gothic fantasy debut that hooked me from the first page and didn’t let go until the very end. With tarot inspired magic and one of my favorite tropes of history being revealed to be very different from what it’s been passed down as, I couldn’t get enough of the found family dynamic but also of the banter and sass, especially from a character I least expected to be that way. The cliffhanger has me absolutely on edge and I am dying for the sequel.
Buy from Amazon
Ok fine, I said no particular order but the following was my five star, 11 out of ten, number one, favorite read of the year.
The Immortality Thief by Taran Hunt
I loved every single thing about this book that I got to read as an ARC, even the chapter titles! From the banter and humor to the found family and band of misfits dynamic, to the horror elements that tied up this Indiana Jones meets Alien and Guardians of the Galaxy plus Suicide Squad love child. Special mention goes to the for once true to life linguistics aspect which tickled me to no end for finally portraying what it really is like to translate and adapt ancient languages into modern ones. Sean Wren has easily earned his spot on my favorite characters of all-time list and I cannot wait till I get to meet him, Tamara, and Indigo, again. It simply had the perfect balance, for me, of humor, depth, high stakes, darkness, and action, and everyone needs this in their lives.
Buy from Amazon
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January 1, 2023
Mel – BWG FAVORITE READS OF 2022
We Are the Origin (Wrath of the Gods Book One) by C.M. Lockhart
This blew me away in more ways than one, and delivered on everything. We have found family, bad ass gods, a ruthless female assassin, riveting plot, and Black characters galore!I love how C.M. Lockhart seamlessly tied the lore of the world and gods into the overall story without making the book feel bogged down. There was never a dull moment and I will be first in line when book 2 releases.
Buy from Amazon
These Violent Nights by Rebecca Crunden
This was a book that I simply could not put down! was wholly invested in this world and the huge cast of characters Rebecca Crunden created. There were high stakes, fleshed out characters, and a sinister plot. Although this was a chunky book with long chapters, it honestly flew by so quickly. I loved how accessible the writing was and how large the world felt. Rebecca Crunden was able to give us just enough of the world to feel immersed without beating us over the head with info dumping. Would love to posssibly see a companion novel to this book, with cameos of these characters, even?
Buy from Amazon
Flames Over Frosthelm ( Inquistor's Guild #1) by Dave Dobson
This was such a delightfully good time! I absolutely love Dave dobson’s humor in this book. I found myself laughing out loud during multiple scenes. I love our dynamic duo, Boogs and Marten. They were the best of bros and their was fun to witness. The plot wasn’t complex and it was very straight to the point. You know exactly who to root for and who your villians are, but to be honest I didn’t mind the simplicity at all because it was just a fun hilarious journey. if you’re looking for a fun, fast paced fantasy mystery, this is definitely gonna be right up your alley.
Buy from Amazon
Oil and Dust (The Elemental Artist, #1) by Jami Fairleigh
This was a way different type of fantasy than I am used to, but i quite enjoyed it. I loved the concept of art being used as a magic system and the rules and constructs Jami Fairleigh built around that. The found family trope was *chef’s kiss*, and I couldn’t help but fall in love with character we met. This definitely had some slice of life moments that really gave me a feel for the world and fleshed out the characters for me. There was also this interesting discussion sprinkled thoughout about how money, politics, greed, religion, and power can corrupt people in different ways. A slower character based fantasy that really had me immersed.
Buy from Amazon
Moroda by L.L. Macrae
This book had everything I want in my fantasy – amazingly well written characters, a ragtag found found family(who don’t really like each other to be honest), shape shifting magical beings, skyships, and dragons. I am obsessed. It’s almost like this book was specifically catered to me. There was never any dragging moments and I really loved seeing the different dynamics of our characters and how they each had their own personal things going on while still trying to band together to defeat Aciel. I was simultaneously sucker punched and torn apart by the time I reached the end of this book. Holy cheeseballs was this good!
Buy from Amazon
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