Marc Aplin's Blog, page 116
March 19, 2017
In the Labyrinth of Drakes by Marie Brennan
The fourth book of an ongoing series is a troublesome prospect. Stagnation and repetition are potential pitfalls, and there is no doubt that Marie Brennan totters on a precarious ledge at times during In the Labyrinth of Drakes. Isabella, not-quite-yet Lady Trent, certainly has to deal with many of the recurring themes from the first […]
March 18, 2017
Scrivener for iOS
Picture this. You’re sitting on your own in the doctor’s surgery and they are running 30 minutes late. Or there’s been some signalling failure and your train home is at a standstill. Or you’re meeting a friend at a restaurant or bar and they text to say they are running a little late. With time […]
March 15, 2017
The Black Guard by A. J. Smith
The Black Guard has been described as “Martin meets Lovecraft,” and doesn’t disappoint on either count. With bleak personal stories of loss and hardship, wars between rival nations and a plot to resurrect a dead god, the novel is packed with action and intrigue. The book is not without its flaws, there are moments where […]
March 14, 2017
The Wizard’s Dilemma by Diane Duane
Well, here we are. Another month, another volume of Diane Duane’s Young Wizards series. By now, you probably all know what to expect from this review: chatter about brilliantly portrayed non-human characters, gushing over the way the theme of wizardry as selflessness continues to come up in the series, and maybe, if I find the […]
March 13, 2017
Pilot X by Tom Merritt
What if a time traveller lived in a world where disrupting the timeline could destroy everything in the universe-except himself? Pilot X is the Ambassador of the Alendans, a race with the ability to move through space and time as guardians of the timeline. Though his people have been locked in ongoing conflict with the […]
March 11, 2017
Relics by Tim Lebbon
‘I like the fact there can be so many secret places in a city filled with people. It gives me hope.’ ‘Hope for what?’ Dean frowned, unsure. He searched for the words. ‘For wonder,’ he said at last. ‘Mysteries. Mysteries are important, don’t you think?’ Mystery. Wonder. Secrets. If you recall, these are three things […]
March 10, 2017
Star Wars Aftermath: Empire’s End by Chuck Wendig
Spoiler Warning: This review does not spoil Empire’s End. However, events of the first two books in the trilogy are discussed and, to a certain degree, spoiled. I’ve tried to leave as much unspoilt as possible. Proceed at your own risk. And now we know how all those ships crashed on Jakku. With the third […]
March 9, 2017
Monthly Short Story Winner: Nightmares
Everybody knows about nightmares, so I felt that in this case an introduction wasn’t necessary. Rules: 1. This must be prose or poetry. 2. A nightmare or nightmares must be a central part of the story 3. Prose must be 500-1500 words long. 4. Poetry must be 100-500 words long. 5. You will be disqualified […]
March 8, 2017
Dragonwatch by Brandon Mull
If you have not read the Fablehaven series that preceded this book, you are missing out. I will even come right out and say that I think it is better than the Harry Potter series. (*gasp*) But there it is. I am shocked that this has not been picked up and adapted for the big […]
March 7, 2017
Cover Reveal for ‘The Seven’ by Peter Newman
If you’ve read our reviews for The Vagrant and The Malice, you know how highly we rate the novels of Peter Newman. It’s very rare that you pick up a Fantasy book and find yourself unable to compare it to another, but the narrative style, those abstract prose, will leave you struggling to point to authors who even […]
