Marc Aplin's Blog, page 31

Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off #7: The Second Five Fall

* Disclaimer * Everyone is different and likes and dislikes different things. Reading is no exception. One person’s all time favorite might seem to bland or too high stakes for another. That being said, the opinions of our judges in this contest are just that, opinions. Just because we let a book go, doesn’t mean […]

Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Soulbound Bestiary – RPG Supplement Review

Writing: Emmet Byrne, Cat Evans, Elaine Lithgow, Jessica Marcrum, KC Shi, and Christopher Walz Editing: Christopher Walz, and Síne Quinn Producer: Emmet Byrne Cover Art: Johan Grenier Cartography: Jared Blando Illustration: Max Fitzgerald, Runesael Flynn, Johan Genier, Pasi Juhola, Dániel Kovács, Sam Manley, Clara-Marie Morin, and Rafael Teruel Graphic Design and Layout: Tom Hutchings Proofreading: […]

1st Annual Self-Published Science Fiction Contest – People’s Choice Cover Contest

The 1st Annual Self-Published Science Fiction Contest (SPSFC) People’s Choice Cover Contest is now live! Do you like judging books by their covers? If so go and check out the best 100 covers from over 300 submissions and vote for your favorite here! If you have no idea what the SPSFC is you can check […]

The House of Always by Jenn Lyons

Spoiler Warning: This review contains spoilers for A Chorus of Dragons series. Read with caution if you have yet to finish the books. When a book series begins to approach its end, readers and fans become anxious both with joy and with dread. The former happens because readers who have stuck with the series are […]

The Heretic Peacekeeper by Jeremy “Deathblade” Bai

“Blade Runner meets Cradle.” Falling under the umbrella of progression fantasy, the cultivation subgenre (also known as xianxia) has risen in popularity through Chinese webnovels. Centered around the concept of “cultivating” or developing energy for supernatural combat powers. Though they may have once taken place in ancient temples and bamboo forests, newer stories have explored […]

Mythological Creatures of Alaska: Fantasy Close to Home

Last year I wrote a blogpost about house spirits to keep you company, highlighting creatures from all kinds of regions and folklores. This time, I want to showcase fantasy creatures that are much closer to home—my home, Alaska! Here are my top six favorite mythological creatures from the Land of the Midnight Sun. Amikuk Yupik […]

The 1st Annual Self-Published Science Fiction Contest – Introductions & Book List

Hello Factioners! We have an exciting announcement! This year we are one of the judging teams in the 1st Annual Self-Published Science Fiction Contest! If that sounds familiar then you are correct! Fantasy-Faction has been judging the Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off (SPFBO) since its inception way back in 2015. Along the way we have discovered some amazing […]

Mermicide by Mina Rose

Elevator Pitch: Mermicide is the story of a queer romance between an innocent, psychologically damaged young woman, and a seemingly ageless, predatory mermaid. Also featuring wicked science, brutal violence, and piratical smugglers. Content Warnings: Mental, physical, and sexual abuse. Eating human flesh. Mind control and brainwashing through drugs. The Review Something is rotten in the […]

Swords of Legends Online – MMO Review

I’ve bought two new MMOs recently. I found myself with a little free time and needed something to occupy myself outside of writing book three. First was Crowfall and second was Swords of Legend Online and that’s the one I’m going to waffle on about today. If you’ve played any MMO you’ll know there tends […]

Horns of the Hunter by Frank Dorrian

Great books sometimes have unlikeable protagonists. Take Madame Bovary, for example. I have to give props to Gustave Flaubert for crafting such a beautifully brutal examination of shallow, status-chasing jackasses about whom I cared not a whit. Yet I couldn’t put Flaubert’s masterpiece down even though I despised everyone in it. You’re probably wondering, why […]