Marc Aplin's Blog, page 185
March 24, 2015
The Book of the Dead edited by Jared Shurin
Horror isn’t usually my cup of tea. However, Egyptian mythology and history is always fascinating, and one the more prominent aspects of ancient Egypt is, of course, the mummy. This anthology, compiled by Jurassic London and the Egypt Exploration Society, consists of nineteen short stories centered around mummies. Obviously, there is not time or space […]
March 21, 2015
Mistwood by Leah Cypess
I picked up Mistwood on a whim at my local library after reading Leah Cypess’ more recent Death Sworn and being pleasantly surprised. It’s not a long book, only three hundred pages in hardcover, and I tore through it in a few hours. The writing is easy to read, the characters are engaging, and the […]
March 20, 2015
Smiler’s Fair by Rebecca Levene
With Smiler’s Fair, Levene has done something very clever. No one can deny this is fantasy on an epic scale: we have five protagonists, each with a distinct voice, a world with varied lands and peoples, set against a history richly detailed in its cultural and religious makeup. The care Levene has taken in creating […]
March 19, 2015
The Tropic of Serpents by Marie Brennan
Society doesn’t look kindly on women who want to expand the world’s knowledge of dragons through scientific study, scandalous affiliations and hazardous adventures across the globe but, as we well know by now, Isabella, Lady Trent cares not a whit for society’s glances or approval. The Tropic of Serpents is the second volume of fictional […]
March 18, 2015
Vision in Silver by Anne Bishop
Anne Bishop is really a remarkable writer. She can spin a tale that draws you into the heart of the story right at the get-go. Vision in Silver is the third book in her Others series, and I was already on the edge of my seat in chapter one. Between the finely balanced tension and […]
March 17, 2015
Intersectionality and the White Girl – Guest Blog by Alyc Helms
Intersectionality and the White Girl Here’s the deal. I’m a white girl, and I’ve never been to China. One of the first things people ask when they find out my book, The Dragons of Heaven, is set in China is, “Oh, have you ever been?” and all I can do is smile and say nope. […]
March 16, 2015
The Dragons of Heaven: Cover Reveal
Would you deal with the devil to save the world? That’s the question posed on the back cover of The Dragons of Heaven by Alyc Helms and here’s the rest of what’s on offer: Street magician Missy Masters inherited more than the usual genetic cocktail from her estranged grandfather – she also got his preternatural control […]
Shadows Beneath: The Writing Excuses Anthology by Brandon Sanderson, Mary Robinette Kowal, Dan Wells and Howard Taylor
Shadows Beneath is both an anthology of short stories and a glimpse into the writing process, created by the Writing Excuses podcast team: Brandon Sanderson, Mary Robinette Kowal, Dan Wells and Howard Taylor. Each author provides one story, as well as a selection of extra ‘behind the scenes’ material including early drafts, edits, and insight […]
March 15, 2015
The Genre Divide
As long as there have been books there have been categories for them, Fantasy-Faction itself is a site dedicated to a particular form of literature. But in recent years more and more novels are scraping at the borders of their neat genre boxes, they’re breaking out and twisting into new shapes, new stories. This brand […]
March 14, 2015
Exclusive Cover Reveal for ‘NOVA’ by Margaret Fortune
“NOVA grabbed me from the first chapter, and never let go. What a ride! Unforgettable, fast-paced and original, this book kept me guessing to the end.” —Amie Kaufman, New York Times bestselling author of These Broken Stairs I mean, you’re never going to read a ‘bad cover blurb’ are you? But that’s a lot of nice words and […]
