Marc Aplin's Blog, page 34

The 7th Annual Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off – Submissions Open!

Hello everyone and welcome to 2021’s Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off (SPFBO)! If you’ve been following our site for awhile you probably know about this awesome contest started by author Mark Lawrence. But for those who don’t, let me give you some background. What Is The SPFBO? Mark created the SPFBO to highlight self-published fantasy novels, which […]

The 7th Annual Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off – Submissions Open Friday!

Hello everyone and welcome to 2021’s Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off (SPFBO)! If you’ve been following our site for awhile you probably know about this awesome contest started by author Mark Lawrence. But for those who don’t, let me give you some background. What Is The SPFBO? Mark created the SPFBO to highlight self-published fantasy novels, which […]

Magonomia – Role-playing Game Review

First Disclaimer: I received a free early access copy of this RPG in return for an honest review. Second Disclaimer: The version of the Magonomia manuscript I am reviewing was incomplete at the time of reading and could have its layout, art and text updated or altered before publication. Therefore, I will avoid commenting on […]

The Wings of War by Bryce O’Connor – Series Review

“Man of Steel meets Game of Thrones” When thinking of comparables to Bryce O’Connor’s The Wings of War series, Game of Thrones immediately came to mind because of the rich diversity of cultures and religions in a dark setting, along with the plotting and backstabbing of politically powerful people who don’t care who they step […]

Tower of Mud and Straw by Yaroslav Barsukov

When a book is said to be “buzzworthy,” there is a combination of curiosity and skepticism that comes with it. Readers and critics ask themselves, “should I read this book?” or “does the book live up to all of the attention it’s getting?” Even when free copies of the book are offered, there are questions […]

She Dreams in Blood by Michael R. Fletcher

First person narratives don’t naturally jive with me. Those in present tense bring to mind loquacious toddlers who narrate their existence to doting parents, and the ones in past tense undermine suspense. There’s no doubt the hero will make it through the present ordeal—after all, they lived to tell the tale! And yet, there are […]

Open Dyslexia from BOTH Press – Dyslexic-Friendly Books for Adults

If you’ve been to any conventions in the UK over the last few years (2020 aside, of course), then you should have encountered Alistair Sims, bookseller, tea enthusiast, and owner of independent bookshop Books On The Hill in Clevedon, Somerset. Alistair and his partner Chloe will usually not allow you to pass their table without […]

The Lost War by Justin Lee Anderson – SPFBO #6 Finals Review

The war is over, but something is rotten in the state of Eidyn. With a ragged peace in place, demons burn farmlands, violent Reivers roam the wilds and plague has spread beyond the Black Meadows. The country is on its knees. In a society that fears and shuns him, Aranok is the first magically skilled […]

Voice of War by Zack Argyle – SPFBO #6 Finals Review

While preparing for the birth of his first child, Chrys Valerian is tasked with uncovering the group responsible for a series of missing threadweavers—those able to see and manipulate threadlight. With each failure, the dark voice in his head grows louder, begging to be released. A young girl from a secret city in the center […]

This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone

I’ve never been shy about letting my love of strange stories shine through. When I started asking people for book recommendations a friend immediately told me to read This Is How You Lose the Time War. A time travel romance? Full of time loops, paradoxes, and frankly bizarre set pieces? All set against the background […]