Stardust by Neil Gaiman

…Gaiman weaves a quickly paced, beautifully structured adult fairy tale— ‘adult’ because it doesn’t neglect the human experiences of sex, death and time. His language is that of the gifted storyteller—clear, concise and lyrical, resonant with mythic lore and archetypes. I highly recommend this book (even as a new purchase) for fans of fantasy, fairy tales, mythology, and/or romance, as well as for those who simply enjoy a well-told tale. Read the rest.

The Briar King by Greg Keyes

The Briar King is the first novel in the (planned) fantasy quartet, Kingdoms of Thorn & Bone by Greg Keyes. The gist of my review is this: The Briar King is perhaps the first wonderful fantasy book of the 21st century and worthy of a place beside A Game of Thrones (George Martin) and Assassin’s Apprentice (Robin Hobb) on your shelf reserved for engaging, well-written, mature, contemporary fantasy. It is, in a word, a keeper… Read the rest.

Swords and Deviltry by Fritz Leiber

This is the first of the Fafhrd and Grey Mouser books. It includes the origin story for each hero, as well as Ill Met in Lanhkmar, a classic novella that no true fantasy fan can afford to miss. It is truly exceptional. Leiber can write circles around most fantasy writers, just as the Mouser’s trusty blades Scalpel and Cat’s Claw forever carve deadly arcs of steel lightning around so many hapless foes … Welcome to friendship,adventure and dialogue of the first water —welcome to Nehwon! This is a great intro to Leiber’s fantasy world and to “low” fantasy in general.

Green by Jay Lake

It’s not easy being Green. While still a small girl, she’s sold by her impoverished, widowed father to a stranger from another country. There, in the great city of Copper Downs, in her glorified prison-home of The Pomegranate Court, she begins several years of stern tutelage at the hands (and other instruments of punishment) of various mistresses, each an expert in an aristocratic art, such as cooking, sewing, or dancing. But despite her cultivation, the nimble-bodied and -minded girl remains an alien tigress, rebelliously clinging to her native memories and customs and, above all, an irrepressible yearning for freedom…  Read the rest.

Under Heaven by Guy Gavriel Kay

… Under Heaven is the latest stand-alone novel by award-winning Canadian author Guy Gavriel Kay. For those familiar with Kay’s work, little more need be said. Under Heaven is vintage Guy Gavriel Kay, another elegant, captivating work by a master at the height of his powers… I highly recommend Under Heaven for readers familiar with Guy Gavriel Kay‘s work or anyone who enjoys historical, fantasy, or literary fiction. It’s simply a beautiful and epic tale… If the current field of fantasy literature were imagined as a sprawling chateau, with the largest spaces being the armor-crowded trophy room of medieval fantasy and the strobe-lit, vampire-haunted ballroom of urban fantasy, Guy Gavriel Kay‘s works would form a niche — a quiet, starlit courtyard brightened by blossoms and faint music, a enchanted sanctuary which, once found, is never forgotten. Read the rest.

Tigana by Guy Gavriel Kay

Tigana is a masterpiece… Guy Gavriel Kay’s writing flows well, as always, fresh and lyrical and soaked with human understanding. The first chapter is a work of genius for its perspective on the heroes’ way of building toward their goal, as is the surprising revelation in the climax, and — perhaps most of all — the heart-tingling last paragraph. (Wait!) The only flaw is Baerd’s strange, protracted battle with the Night-walkers (a touch cliched), and (just perhaps) a touch of gratuitous eroticism in Castle Borso. Even so, these flaws are minor and only faintly detract from the beauty of the whole… Read the rest.

A Song for Arbonne by Guy Gavriel Kay

In this homage to the troubadours and the “court of love” of medieval France, Guy Gavriel Kay comes down from the dizzying heights of The Fionavar Tapestry trilogy and creates a beautiful and memorable tale of mere mortals ensnared by political intrigue, enmity and love… Guy Gavriel Kay writes well, as always, and like a good troubadour, he pays tribute to the fantasy genre while ensuring that the reader/listener is surprised and touched by his work. Perhaps most importantly, GGK believes in the beauty of Art and power of Art’s beauty to make more beautiful the things which it depicts, in this case Mankind, Men and Women striving to preserve what is good and noble… Read the rest.

The Battle for Middle Earth by Fleming Rutledge

Fleming Rutledge may be the ideal critic of The Lord of the Rings. An ardent student of English literature, an orthodox (Episcopal/Anglican) priest, and a gifted writer, she brings to bear impressive resources in analyzing an often- or over-analyzed work. In doing so, she builds an impressive case in support of a seldom-heard conclusion: Tolkien’s masterpiece is a masterpiece not only of storytelling, but also of theology and, perhaps, evangelism… this is a serious, thorough, and important study of the epic — structured not thematically, but parallel, to the narrative — that future students and critics cannot afford to ignore.  And as for Christians who enjoy fantasy literature, this is essentially a collection of essays and sermons focusing on one of fantasy’s great works… Read the rest.

Norse Code by Greg van Eekhout

Stop. Look closely. Look beyond the typically stylish urban fantasy cover (the one with the nicely built young woman holding her weapon of choice with an air of defiant competence). Look beyond the title that’s both serious and punny. Inside, through pages inked with the shadows of ravens, you’ll watch the long-foretold cataclysm of Ragnarok as it rolls in a relentless wave from the dry, gray plains of Hel to … the dry, black asphalt of a California parking lot. And if you’re partial to Norse mythology or urban tales driven by fascinating characters and laser-crisp writing, you’ll enjoy it. Verily, by Thor’s hammer!  Read the rest.

This Crooked Way by James Enge

…  Like Blood of Ambrose, This Crooked Way is an intelligent and unique example of modern sword-and-sorcery fiction. It won’t appeal to everyone, but fans of sword-and-sorcery or non-stereotypical fantasy should definitely give it a look. Read the rest.

Burn Me Deadly by Alex Bledsoe

… Burn Me Deadly (the second of The Eddie LaCrosse Mysteries) is a worthy follow-up to The Sword-Edged Blonde by the talented (and funny) Alex Bledsoe. All the elements that made The Sword-Edged Blonde a fresh and furious ride remain: a fast plot; distinctive minor characters; well-conceived and realistic action scenes; and above all, Eddie’s clear, gruffly honest narrative, served up like throat-burning whiskey in a chipped mug with some wisecrack or another painted on the outside.  Read the rest.

The Sword-Edged Blonde by Alex Bledsoe

A foaming tankard for public libraries. If mine hadn’t featured Alex Bledsoe‘s engrossing debut novel, The Sword-Edged Blonde, I doubt I’d have ever discovered it. Granted, I only discovered it because of the quasi-garish cover and title (neither of which has much to do with the actual story), picking it up just to shake my head at one more piece of fantasy trash… Read the rest.

The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch

… In this scintillating debut novel, Scott Lynch establishes himself as a rising star of fantasy fiction.  Like Patrick Rothfuss (The Name of the Wind), Lynch is a natural storyteller with a keen intellect and a gift for richly detailed, imaginative world-building and intricate plotting.  Lies is a fast-paced, entertaining, stilettos- (and hatchets-) against-sorcery tale that is both self-contained and well-positioned as a cornerstone for further adventures… Read the rest.

A Shadow in Summer by Daniel Abraham

…  Although A Shadow in Summer is not a perfect book — some will no doubt label the communicative custom of “poses” (e.g. “[he] took a pose half query and half command”) as a device to cheat and tell emotions instead of showing them; and there is a plot issue as mentioned after the spoiler alert — it is a book worth owning and, likely, re-reading. Fans of Barry Hughart (Bridge of Birds) and Guy Gavriel Kay (Tigana) should take special note of this tale. Read the rest.

Heir of Autumn by Giles Carwyn & Todd Fahnestock

I started Heir of Autumn with skepticism because (1) it’s a first novel (2) by two guys who’ve been friends since high school (3) that begins with a nubile young woman fondling herself as part of her sorcerous training. A few times during the first few chapters, I considered returning it to the library and writing it off as another botched heroic fantasy epic… Fortunately, I read on… Read the rest.

The Death of the Necromancer by Martha Wells

… The Death of the Necromancer is one of the best books I’ve read this year, and the strength of its characters and setting brings to mind other ornate, urban works (such as Kushner’s Swordspoint; Wolfe‘s Shadow of the Torturer; and Moorcock’s Gloriana).  Highly recommended for enthusiasts of post-medieval fantasy and mystery… Read the rest.

Seven for a Secret by Elizabeth Bear

This short novella, a sequel to New Amsterdam, by the talented Elizabeth Bear is a skillful blend of alternate history, fantasy, and the macabre. Bear’s writing is clear and brisk, and the character-driven plot tightly woven. I was amazed at Bear’s ability to bring the characters to life with such economy, vividness, and subtlety.  Read the rest.

The Patriot Witch by C.C. Finlay

Colonial America has been, at least to my knowledge, an under-used setting for speculative fiction, and The Patriot Witch steps nicely into that gap. The first six chapters develop rather slowly, as the hero, Proctor Brown, tries to make sense both of the violence at Lexington and Concord and his own natural talent for magic. But once other ‘witches’ appear in Chapter 7, they energize the plot, and pages begin to turn themselves. The novel builds to a satisfying conclusion, but many plot-threads, and the fate of this (alternate) America, remain unresolved…  Read the rest.

Blood Bound by Patricia Briggs

… These quick synopses fail to do justice to the fast-paced, complex plotting in each book (and thought-out imagining of the structures and tendencies of werewolf, vampire, and fae societies). Each is told from Mercy’s smart, no-nonsense perspective, and it’s to the author’s credit that, even though I usually like first-person narrators with above-average eloquence, I never tired of her voice… the writing is solid and keeps things moving. It’s also mostly free of sex and profanity… Read the rest.

Iron Kissed by Patricia Briggs

… Although these books lack that superior element of style, enlightenment, or brilliant plotting that would warrant a fifth star, they’re solid modern fantasy/action/mystery entertainment. Granted, my offspring and work schedule have (temporarily, I hope) deprived me of the time and capacity for “weightier” works, but I read all three of these in less than two weeks (and just checked out Cry Wolf, the first in a related series)… Read the rest.

Cry Wolf by Patricia Briggs

… this is a solid paranormal thriller with some nice touches of character (again, mostly from the older werewolves — I don’t think Anna or Charles has quite found herself/himself yet, and Anna’s just learning what an Omega is). Recommended as a new paperback purchase (perhaps for vacation) or as a library loan for fans of this genre (who, due to some sexual content, are at least of high school age). But again, the best starting point would be Moon Called or the “Alpha and Omega” short story. Four curiously large pawprints in the snow. Read the rest.

The Phoenix Guards by Steven Brust

The brief review: I had a slight smile on my face the entire time I read this book. It is, as a reviewer of The Three Musketeers might have once said, “charming.” To elaborate: Steven Brust is very well (some might say “over”) educated and knows how to turn a phrase. The plot moves along briskly; the characters, while not fleshed out too thoroughly, do have distinct and effective personalities… this is an amiable sabre-and-sorcery frolick, and I plan to check out Five Hundred Years After, the next book, very soon… Read the rest.

Five Hundred Years After by Steven Brust

If there were justice in the literary world, you’d think Steven Brust would have received more acclaim and notice than a certain Mr. J——-, also a TOR author, as Brust’s writing is crisp and lively, his pacing excellent. As explained in an “interview” with the book’s pompous narrator, Brust writes for those who love to read, i.e. those who enjoy a good vocabulary, good grammar, good phrasing, and (indeed) a good story. Five Hundred Years After is not some “page-turner” to be engulfed at one-sitting; if you did that with a box of Godiva chocolates, you’d become ill and lose the appreciation for each one. Just so with each of the book’s chapters… Read the rest.

Assassin’s Apprentice by Robin Hobb

I tend to avoid hack-and-slash paperback candies, as well as the ridiculously endless doorstops (Has the Wheel turned yet? What a pity…). This book is neither. Robin Hobb …  is a wonderful word-smith and storyteller. Her first-person narrative is effective and engaging… one of the better — and more different — fantasy novels I’ve encountered. Well done. Read the rest.

Ship of Destiny by Robin Hobb

Ship of Destiny is a fine conclusion to an extremely well-detailed and imaginative series. It departs from the genre in that its characters are not exceptionally gifted or powerful adventurers or warriors. Instead, they’re traders and sailors and matriarchs in more of a sixteenth to seventeenth century atmosphere…  this trilogy is a breath of fresh air — with some fine writing, too… Read the rest.

Kull by Robert E. Howard

… this intriguing compilation probably merits 3-1/2 stars, but I’ll give one of the genre’s cornerstones the benefit of the doubt. Be warned, though, REH’s writing can be quite different from that of modern writers: sometimes brooding, sometimes utterly pulp-ish in its almost garish vividness. Nonetheless, it’s that very quality that makes it so fascinating and, at times, as strong and elegant as the axe of the protagonist… from the viewpoint of the fantasy fan, this is foundational reading… Read the rest.

The Children of Hurin by J.R.R. Tolkien

Long before Bilbo Baggins left his hobbit hole, the Men and Elves of Middle Earth struggled valiantly against the Great Enemy, Morgoth (the fallen Valar and master of Sauron, the eventual “Lord of the Rings”). One man in particular, Húrin, brazenly defied Morgoth, who imprisoned him and laid a dire curse upon his children.  First told — in a lesser form — in The Silmarillion, this tale chronicles their efforts, especially those of Húrin’s son, Túrin, to defy the curse — driven largely by the malicious dragon Glaurung — and, perhaps, to escape it… Together, the tale and book constitute a beautiful work that should be a fine gift to fans of epic, medieval fantasy… Read the rest.

The DragonLance Chronicles by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman

This is a work of both high and low fantasy, marking the beginning of a remarkable 6-book tale (the Chronicles Trilogy, followed by the even more magnificent Legends Trilogy), which greatly increased the interest in the Dungeons & Dragons game throughout the 1980′s. It certainly does contain more than a few stock fantasy elements (e.g. dragons, elves, dwarves, an unlikely group of friends somehow being chosen to stop the conquest of Evil…). However, the straightforward, simple way in which the tale is told and (even more so) the distinct, “real” nature of (most of) its characters set it apart from the paperback fantasy pack… Read the rest.

The White City by Elizabeth Bear

… The White City is the third book by Elizabeth Bear featuring Sebastien, after New Amsterdam and Seven for a Secret. However, in the world of the story, the events occur both before and after those chronicled in New Amsterdam, so I strongly recommend reading the latter book first. (Seven for a Secret takes place about thirty years after New Amsterdam.) This reviewer enjoyed the first two books in the series more than the latest, but that’s not to disparage it. Bear’s writing is vivid and descriptive without being dense or sluggish, and the subtlety and sophistication with which she depicts the characters and their relationships is remarkable. Overall, I’m almost certain that this is the best alternative-historical urban fantasy (for mature readers) that you haven’t read yet, particularly if you relish nuanced interpersonal relationships. Read the rest.

The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie

…  If it were a restaurant, The Blade Itself would never be mistaken for a fine-dining establishment, but it stands up well as a bar and grill welcoming to guys and gals with the time to overlook slow service and who enjoy plenty of red meat and peanut shells on the worn, wooden floor. Recommended as a library loan for everyone else. 3-1/2 blood-and-mud-crusted stars. Read the rest.

Moon Called by Patricia Briggs

For a woman raised by wolves — OK, werewolves — Mercedes “Mercy” Thompson has turned out all right. Though Mercy’s half-Native-American heritage allows her to shapeshift into a coyote, instead of a wolf, she’s taken care of herself by working as a mechanic and keeping her nose out of supernatural matters. But her eastern Washington town has too many such matters: her former boss is one of the fae; her neighbor is the local werewolf Alpha; and her client with the Scooby-Doo-inspired van is a vampire. Moreover, times are changing, as the fae have made themselves known to humanity, which isn’t accepting their existence with perfect grace… Read the rest.

The Black Company by Glen Cook

… The first of Glen Cook’s Black Company novels… may be a book that one either loves or hates — that either inspires one to re-read it and its sequels or else ditch it during the first chapter (which I followed much more easily on a second reading). (Because the enigmatic — and, at the least, Machiavellian — Lady is about the only woman featured, my guess is that female readers will be less likely to love it.) Recommended as a paperback purchase for fans of military, dark, or anti-heroic fantasy or sword-and-sorcery. Recommended as a library loan for fans of fantasy in general. Not recommended for fans of literary, character-driven, or high fantasy… Read the rest.

New Spring by Robert Jordan

New Spring is a prologue to Robert Jordan’s bestselling fantasy epic, The Wheel of Time… For those who are coming to the saga fresh: Stop. I strongly recommend reading at least the (very good) first book, The Eye of the World, before New Spring. For those who have read one or more of the novels: New Spring is, overall, a good contribution to the saga through its illumination of Moiraine (before becoming a full-fledged Aes Sedai), Lan (before becoming her Warder), and other characters some twenty years before they meet those wool-headed boys and girls from Two Rivers… Read the rest.

Ad Eternum by Elizabeth Bear

… Ad Eternum is the fourth book by Elizabeth Bear featuring Sebastien. One should first read New Amsterdam, The White City, and Seven for a Secret, after which this newest chapter is a treat. The tale and Ms. Bear’s writing are elegant and subtle. My only complaint, for lack of a better word, is that this chapter is so brief, and once again, I found myself wanting more… There is a definite artistic effect, though, created by the waiting period between books: the reader has the sense of years passing in the world of the story and returns to it eagerly wondering what changes have transpired — and who has died. I do hope we’ll see Sebastien and his acquaintances again… Read the rest.

Blood of Ambrose by James Enge

“The King was screaming in the throne room when the Protector’s Men arrived” — and with good reason. The King, Lathmar, is about twelve years old when his “Protector,” Urdhven, decides to seize the throne. Urdhven captures Lathmar and his many-times-great-grandmother, Ambrosia Viviana (a daughter of Merlin — apparently the Merlin of Arthurian legend — who’s therefore exceptionally long-lived), but not before they send word to Ambrosia’s brother, the infamous Morlock Ambrosius…   Read the rest.

The Ebb Tide by James P. Blaylock

… The first new tale of St. Ives in nearly two decades, The Ebb Tide is a brisk steampunk yarn with a dash of Sherlock Holmes… The focus in The Ebb Tide is on underwater transports (and a strange underwater environment), which James Blaylock, as usual, describes with clear prose that manages to evoke the derring-do of the age. It’s an engaging enough tale, and the illustrations by J.K. Potter are excellent. However … there’s just not much meat to it… Read the rest.

The Magician and the Fool by Barth Anderson

Jeremiah Rosemont is a far-fallen academic star, an art historian with specialized knowledge of — and uncanny experience with — tarot decks. Having exiled himself from the United States, he finds his wanderings through Nicaragua interrupted one night by the mysterious delivery of a plane ticket to Rome. There, he stumbles into a maelstrom of occult forces and figures gathering around a deck of uncertain origin and powers… Read the rest.

The Born Queen by Greg Keyes

… The tale is dark and complex, perhaps overly so when it comes to the tangle of prophecies, languages, and magics that the characters must unravel. And in many ways, each book in the series is weaker than its predecessor. (If anything, given the complexities involved and the many threads needing resolution, The Born Queen actually feels rushed at points.)  Read the rest.

The Paladin by C.J. Cherryh

The Paladin is a stand-alone novel set in the China of an alternative world. It’s more of an alternative history than a fantasy — there are no mythical creatures or magic here, although superstitions of both remain… The first part of the novel is worth reading, especially if you like realistic characters and Oriental culture. Beyond that, I can only recommend this book as a library loan… Read the rest.

The Innkeeper’s Song by Peter S. Beagle

The Innkeeper’s Song is  a one-volume fantasy for mature readers that is by turns (or even simultaneously) lyrical and maddening. Lyrical because much of its language is, in contemporary fantasy, on par with only Patricia McKillip and Guy Gavriel Kay. Maddening because — despite the full-throttle beginning, intricately woven characters and a world made wondrous without a map or long descriptions but simply by names and prosaic brushstrokes — the promise of the beginning and middle absolutely fizzles to a all-but-incomprehensible anti-climax… Read the rest.

Lord of Silence by Mark Chadbourn

….Written by the prolific Mark Chadbourn, a two-time winner of the British Fantasy Award, Lord of Silence (537 pages) is a fast-paced, sword-against-sorcery mystery that can stand on its own (the end leaves ample room for a sequel.) Mr. Chadbourn’s writing is straightforward and usually clear and, at its best, is reminiscent of the much-missed David Gemmell (Legend). Vidar’s struggle to keep his vampiric jewel sated is depicted well, and Cheyne and Greer an’ Lokh stand out as familiar yet vividly realized characters. Read the rest.

Sword and Sorceress I by Marion Zimmer Bradley

Rob’s review of Sword and Sorceress is copyrighted at SwordandSorcery.org.

Green Rider by Kristen Britain

There is much good in this first novel and, unfortunately, much that’s not so good —thus the 3 star rating. The good first: Kristen Britain writes well and creates a likeable, if not complex and well-developed, heroine who should appeal strongly to young female readers. Britain also has a nice eye for imagery, the most powerful being the gray-clad rider and his sinister pairs of black arrows. And she, on the whole, creates a clean, refreshing fantasy setting. These traits will serve her well if and when she publishes again … Read the rest.

Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer

Artemis Fowl is a fast-paced blend of 21st century technology and ancient fairy magic, written by Irishman Eoin Colfer for young enthusiasts of science-fiction and fantasy… while it has more than its share of machinery and magic, Artemis Fowl falls short on the scales of morality (nothing more than a few references to environmental pollution) and memorableness. As strongly as the author ties it to the early 21st century and fails to ground it with universal lessons, it’s likely that this particular book will one day become obsolete (when our technology does). I recommend it as a fun summer read from the library … An amusing diversion, not a classic… Read the rest.

The Mirror of Her Dreams by Stephen R. Donaldson

… Unfortunately, the first book of the duology suffers from a plodding pace and creates more questions than it answers. The 3-star rating reflects a general admiration for Stephen R. Donaldson’s imagination (as exemplified by the creation of Imagery and its central debate about the independent existence of things shown in mirrors) and his ability to describe people, places and action sequences in fine detail…  However, the rating also reflects the uneven depth of characterization and the general sense of frustration… they make it difficult to actually like or identify with many characters… Read the rest.

The Gilded Chain by Dave Duncan

Fantasy books can be like beverages: you have your exquisitely aged wines (The Lord of the Rings, Mists of Avalon); your rich ports and liquors (the works of Guy Kay and Patricia McKillip); your searingly clear vodka (A Song of Ice and Fire); your boxed wines (The Wheel of Time, The Sword of Truth); and your panoply of Bud, Coors, Schlitz and so on. This novel, the first in Dave Duncan’s King’s Blades series, is the Jolt Cola of the fantasy canon: for those who love page-turning, caffeine-burning, sword-and-sorcery sugar, this is one for you… Fun, fast, furious, potentially addictive… Read the rest.

A Cavern of Black Ice by J.V. Jones

… J.V. Jones deserves credit for painting such a different landscape: stark, vivid, and breathtakingly cold. Breath instantly condenses to ice crystals on fur-lined hoods; eyelids freeze shut in the night; and wounds and frostbite… it’s all very intense, to say the least. Some may find all of this engaging; others may find it an exercise in shock-value. Personally, a bit of each appears to be true. Jones writes with a brutal power of description, frequently employing creative and graphic similes which sometimes work and sometimes are just too over the top… Read the rest.

The Eyes of God by John Marco

… John Marco’s main strengths are his no-nonsense writing style and ability to describe large battles. However, these are often hindered, and in places overcome, by some very poor dialogue and questionable plotting. At times, the noble/successful/intelligent characters make utterly capricious decisions that, in retrospect, seem to have been made just so that the plot could follow a fixed outline… Sporadic grammatical errors (and some typos) also distract from what could have been so much more. The Eyes of God is a big, beefy page-turner that’s sadly on the too-raw side. Recommended as a library loan or used-paperback buy. However, John Marco does have a “feel” for storytelling… Read the rest.

The Thief’s Gamble by Juliet McKenna

The Thief’s Gamble is a difficult book to review. The difficulty arises primarily from the uneven, jam-packed narrative and the periodic confusion that it caused… To McKenna’s credit, Livak is an engaging protagonist, and her narrative (often filled with clever details of thieving) is usually fun to read. Just when things tend to get moving, though, the next chapter begins with a dense passage from a treatise… One bright note is that the author’s writing does seem to improve in both substance and style as The Thief’s Gamble progresses (although the final battle scene is still a mess). I don’t know whether the next books in the series benefit from tighter, cleaner plotting and description… Read the rest.

Jirel of Joiry by C.L. Moore

… ‘God curse you!” snarled the lady of Joiry between clenched teeth. ‘God blast your black heart!’”
In such fashion did Jirel of Joiry, the first female protagonist in the genre now defined as sword-and-sorcery, explode from the pulp pages of Weird Tales in October of 1934. The story, “Black God’s Kiss,” is the first and finest of the five collected in this book… Ms. Moore’s writing is, on the whole, transparent and clean. It does suffer from some of the tendencies common among other writers of the time…  this is an easily read and worthwhile collection for the serious fantasy fan… Read the rest.

The Skewed Throne by Joshua Palmatier

… The first novel by Joshua Palmatier, The Skewed Throne is an undemanding, gritty, visceral tale of low fantasy… On the one hand, Varis’s account of the startling, vivid details of life in the Dredge is often poignant and includes a few passages of emotional depth rare in fantasy fiction. On the other, by forcing all of the information necessary for the reader through the mind of an illiterate, socially isolated girl, the author limits the reader’s experience of Amenkor and the ultimate situation in which Varis finds herself… Read the rest.

The Serpent and the Rose by Kathleen Bryan

… there is little new in The Serpent and the Rose, the first book of The War of the Rose trilogy by Kathleen Bryan (a penname of Judith Tarr). Still, the author’s prose is almost always clean and even elegant, and her creation of an alternate Europe and a magical system centering on the use of glass are deft accomplishments. And even though little — especially the two main characters — was new or surprising in the first half of the book, I enjoyed the tale’s unfolding. However, the plot loses focus and momentum in the second half, and the characters’ choices make little sense except to prop up the collapsing plot… Read the rest.

Gardens of the Moon by Steven Erikson

Gardens of the Moon is Steven Erikson’s debut fantasy novel and the first of a projected ten — yep, ten — book saga from saga-happy publishing titan Tor. Because of its scope, it’s also a hard book to review. The word “epic” has been thrown around to describe it, and perhaps it’s an appropriate one: the book displays both the strengths and weaknesses of a fantasy tale that spans centuries and planes of existence. Read the rest.

The Sword by Deborah Chester

… There are some books you can read when you’re tired, some you can’t, and some that just make you tired. At its best, this book falls into the first category; at its worst, in the third… The book’s one strength is its ability to keep you wanting to know what happens next, which is certainly a literary virtue. However, few to none of the other ones (style, plausibility, insight, etc.) are present here. That said, if you’re looking for a fantasy book to distract yourself during a long plane ride, this one would probably work… Read the rest.

The Hidden Stars by Madeline Howard

A small band of wizards and warriors must find the lost royal child prophesied to end the reign of an ‘evil’, self-proclaimed goddess-empress. Adapting that main plotline from Willow, Madeline Howard’s novel The Hidden Stars further combines several Tolkien-esque elements (wondrously dexterous elves/fey; vastly powerful wizards; not nine but twelve misshapen servants of the villain) to create an initially promising but unfortunately disappointing fantasy experience. Many fantasy plots have been explored time and again. What matters is the execution, and that’s where this story falls short… Read the rest.

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

… Twilight is a lightweight modern fantasy that will probably appeal strongly to readers, especially young readers, who enjoy romances and supernatural fiction…  it seems that pains were taken to limit or exclude any references to religion, government, class, culture, etc. — things that could deepen the tale, but also make it less than 98% brain candy and (presumably) less appealing to its target audience. I don’t know how much of this is Ms. Meyer and how much her editor/publisher, but the book’s popularity makes me wonder about the state of teenage literary tastes. Read the rest.

Gloriana, or The Unfulfill’d Queen: Being a Romance by Michael Moorcock

Gloriana is Moorcock’s homage to Mervyn Peake, and fittingly, is a lush tale of intrigue told in thoroughly British prose. At times brilliant (especially in the descriptions of the seasonal festivities), often captivating and humorous, often sluggish and overly subtle, ultimately unfulfilling, it’s a book I recommend borrowing from the library before buying. Not everyone will enjoy such decadence… Although Gloriana has a World Fantasy Award in its crown, I’m sorry to report that, twenty-five years later at least, the queen has no clothes… Read the rest.

The Complete Book of Swords by Fred Saberhagen

This book earns a generous 2-1/2 stars, mostly because of the very good premise with the Swords and the setup in the first few chapters of Book One (in which the writing is markedly better than in later chapters — deadline rush?). In essence, the god Vulcan forges 12 magical swords, each with distinctive powers, and lets them loose in the world, in the hands of mortals. From then on, though, the story’s a rapid, sometimes confusing yarn where things just don’t seem to add up. And, perhaps most glaringly in the light of modern fantasy standards, there is no distinctive characterization. The characters are just shells who ride the whirlwind of the narrative: Mark is a bland hero with a mysterious father; Ben is big and strong and not as dumb as he looks; Barbara is a woman who can use a sling; Baron Doon has a Machiavellian, treasure-hunting streak. That’s about it. (I think Nestor simply disappears after Book One. What the heck happened?) In sum, it’s fun to watch the introduction of each Sword, its power and weakness, but the Swords are much more interesting than the characters.

Mystic and Rider by Sharon Shinn

Like a mystified and riderless horse, Sharon Shinn’s fantasy novel Mystic & Rider gallops to the point of fatigue and frustration. This conclusion is especially unfortunate in light of the excellent opening chapter. But buyer beware: the tension and excitement rarely increase from that point, and the last of the 440 pages brings us little closer to some kind of resolution or revelation than the first. Rather, the entire novel is simply a prologue for the rest of the series… Read the rest.

Midwinter by Matthew Sturges

I checked out Midwinter, the debut novel of comic book writer Matthew Sturges, despite the lukewarm feelings of my fellow reviewers. I am, however, a sucker for stories in which small groups of skilled swordsmen or thieves brave nigh-impossible odds… Overall, this was an easily readable book that deserves credit for setting a decent sword-and-sorcery tale in Faerie — and giving Faerie sufficient complexity. Unfortunately, the execution of this core idea often stumbled under the weight of too many, or too many imperfectly included, associated ideas; and the result is not likely to appeal to a particularly broad audience… Read the rest.

Wind from a Foreign Sky by Katya Reimann

Katya Reimann creates, for the most part, a well-imagined world with some fresh touches. However, the kindest thing I can say about her telling of the story is that, this being her first novel, she shows glimmers of potential… Overall, this is worthy of a (cheap) used purchase or a library loan for undemanding fans of escapist fantasy… Read the rest.

The Black Tattoo by Sam Enthoven

Probable swill for anyone but teenage boys juiced up on caffeine and/or relativism.

Knight of the Dove by William A. Kooiker

… Knight of the Dove, the second published novel by William A. Kooiker (Koy-Ker), is an old-school, sword-against-sorcery adventure clearly influenced by the works of Michael Moorcock and David Gemmell. (Amaria also appears to be a temperamental descendant of C.L. Moore’s Jirel of Joiry.) … Unfortunately, what would otherwise be a standard journey for fans of pulp fantasy is constantly sabotaged by a host of misspellings, grammatical errors, clichéd expressions, and odd or obscure word choices — probably more than in any other published novel I’ve read. (The publisher, Kerlak, is apparently small, but it should hire or fire a copy editor.)… Read the rest.

The Innocent Mage by Karen Miller

… If only the story of The Innocent Mage, as told by first-time novelist Karen Miller, were as subtle and intriguing as the book’s cover. Karen Miller is a competent writer, word for word, and she shows a particular sensitivity to the flow of dialogue, especially argument, between friends. However, the 640 pages of the novel are nothing more than a prologue for the conflict to come…  I cannot recall reading a fantasy novel and being so annoyed at the lack of progress. Suffice it to say that both cover and title are misleading, as Asher doesn’t even experiment with the tiniest spell… Read the rest.

The First Book of Lost Swords: Woundhealer’s Story by Fred Saberhagen

I read The Complete Book of Swords just to introduce myself to an older fantasy writer whom I hadn’t read before, and I read this one just as a follow-up, perhaps hoping the tale would get better. It didn’t. The story is simplistic, with an absolute minimum of characterization. There are a couple of clever moments (e.g. Amintor’s desperate gamble while holding Woundhealer), but overall, there’s just not much good fantasy “meat” here. I might recommend this at a 8th-9th grade reading level, but even then, there’s much better stuff to read.

The Master of Whitestorm by Janny Wurts

A stand-alone fantasy novel by prolific author Janny Wurts, The Master of Whitestorm is by no means a bad book. The prose is rich and clear, and characters’ actions are well thought-out. That said, at least at this particular time, it failed to hold my interest …  But far from giving up on Ms. Wurts, I definitely want to read more of her works, as her talent for “getting” fantasy is on par with the late David Gemmell‘s. The Master of Whitestorm just wasn’t working for me at this time. Read the rest.

Irons in the Fire by Juliet E. McKenna

Contemporary wisdom holds that a fantasy novel should include the following non-exclusive elements and that they, or at least tantalizing glimpses of them, should be apparent from the beginning: 1. distinctive characters whom the reader can like, relate to, or watch with concerned or morbid fascination. 2. a fascinating world. 3. a conflict, crisis, or unrealized desire that meaningfully impacts said characters and world… Read the rest.

The Compass Rose by Gail Dayton

I simply could not finish Gail Dayton’s The Compass Rose (and have already donated it to my public library). It begins adequately and has decent world-building, but about halfway in (once the strong-yet-unremarkable protagonist, Kallista, and company start toward the capital city) it sinks into a nauseating quagmire of romantic pseudo-plots and issues… Read the rest.