2023’s Witch King, by Martha Wells, is the first book in a new fantasy series, THE RISING WORLD. In the opening pages we meet Kaiisteron, who goes by Kai, the Witch King of the title. Kai awakens in a strange place, unable to move. He can mentally contact his friend Ziedi, but their magical connection should let him know exactly where she is, and he can’t find her. He can’t find his own body, either.
From there,
March 11th, 2024. Marion Deeds´s rating: 4.5 | Martha Wells | SFF Reviews | no comments |
Apple TV has cast David Dastmalchian in the Murderbot adaptation. He’ll play Gurathin.
On his blog, Peter Clines writes about the temptation to complicate things for the sake of complication, and the risks involved.
Nerds of a Feather takes a close look at Dune, Part Two. They review The City of Marble and Blood by Howard Andrews Jones.
The Saint of Bright Doors won the 2024 Crawford Award, which is awarded to a writer whose first fantasy novel debuted the previous year.
March 6th, 2024. Marion Deeds | World Wide Wednesday | no comments |
What Feasts at Night by T. Kingfisher
Alex Easton, protagonist of T. Kingfisher’s 2023 novella What Moves the Dead, is back with a second adventure in 2024’s What Feasts at Night. Joining Easton is loyal batman Angus and the unflappable British mycologist Miss Potter. This go-round, Easton and company face less of the science and more of the supernatural.
Alex Easton is Gallacian by nationality (a small imaginary country somewhere in central Europe). Easton is a “sworn soldier,” anatomically female but living as a man as part of the military.
March 1st, 2024. Marion Deeds´s rating: 4 | T. Kingfisher | Horror | SFF Reviews | 2 comments |
I picked this site because they included Comeuppance Served Cold on one of their “favorite” lists, but the whole place looks pretty fun.
Uncanny Magazine, Issue 57, is available on March 5.
The Crime Writers Association announces its 2024 winners.
Victoria Strauss discusses productive ways to change your mindset when thinking about agent/writing scams. (Thanks to File 770.)
The U.K. Guardian has an obituary for Canadian actor Kenneth Mitchell,
February 28th, 2024. Marion Deeds | World Wide Wednesday | 2 comments |
The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett
With 2024’s The Tainted Cup, Robert Jackson Bennett introduces us to another beautiful, strange world, gives us a murder mystery, and brings on stage an engaging duo of detectives, against a backdrop of gargantuan creatures and weird botanical science. The first book of THE SHADOW OF THE LEVIATHAN is a satisfying mystery that leaves plenty of bigger questions unanswered, and I want the next book. Now.
Dinios Kol is a member of the Iudex,
February 26th, 2024. Marion Deeds´s rating: 5 | Robert Jackson Bennett | SFF Reviews | 3 comments |
The saga of the Hugos continues, and now there is documentation of obvious manipulation by the committee. Chris M. Barkley and Jason Sanford published this article which details most of the problems with the ballot process. They lay most of the blame on Dave McCarty, who has said publicly that he believes he did the right thing. Diane Lacey published a statement of apology when the article came out. Kat Jones released this statement. Glasgow WorldCon has released Kat Jones from all her assignments.
NBC interviewed Paul Weimer about the fracas.
February 21st, 2024. Marion Deeds | World Wide Wednesday | no comments |
Starter Villain by John Scalzi
“It’s easier to be a villain than a pub owner, I’ll tell you that much.”
I think most people know the plot of John Scalzi’s 2023 novel, Starter Villain. Our protagonist, Charlie, is divorced. He’s been downsized out of his job as a business journalist, and is eking out a living as a substitute math teacher. When the story opens, his best or only friend is his cat Hera. Then Charlie learns that his enigmatic Uncle Jake,
February 19th, 2024. Marion Deeds´s rating: 5 | John Scalzi | Stand-Alone | SFF Reviews | no comments |
The Void Ascendant by Premee Mohamed
The Void Ascendant (2022) follows Nick Prasad as he tries to reconcile himself to a universe dominated by the Ancient Ones. The book brings to a close Premee Mohamed’s magnificent VOID trilogy.
This review contains spoilers for the two previous books, Beneath the Rising and A Broken Darkness.
Seven years have passed since Earth was destroyed, and Nick escaped into another world, one ruled by the chaotic,
February 8th, 2024. Marion Deeds´s rating: 5 | Premee Mohamed | Horror | SFF Reviews | no comments |
Marvel’s Squirrel Girl will finally get her due when the comics release special covers of Marvel heroines. It won’t be until March, but still.
Last week the PBS Newshour did a segment on “romantasy,” the stories that feature magic or a fantastical setting but also have a romance story that is nearly as important. Now the U.K. Guardian has an article about it. I think two things; 1) this is not a new phenomenon, but the mainstream as “discovered” it, and 2) regardless of how I feel about it, “romantasy” as a term is sticking around.
February 7th, 2024. Marion Deeds | Giveaway!, World Wide Wednesday | 5 comments |
Labyrinth’s Heart by M.A. Carrick
2023’s Labyrinth’s Heart is the third and final book in the ROOK AND ROSE TRILOGY by M.A. Carrick. It addresses the mysteries unfolded in the previous two books, and ushers in dramatic changes to the lives of our protagonists and the delta city of Nadežra.
This review contains spoilers for this book, The Mask of Mirrors and The Liar’s Knot.
As Book Three opens,
January 29th, 2024. Marion Deeds´s rating: 4 | M.A. Carrick | SFF Reviews | 4 comments |
Thank you. I’m all caught up. Back to reading Crimson Embers.
Enjoyed your review. I’m reading A War in Crimson Embers and am having the hardest time reminding myself where everybody…
Just saw you like Jack Vance. Me too. Surely he offends you somewhere though?
Words fail. I can't imagine what else might offend you. Great series, bizarre and ridiculous review. Especially the 'Nazi sympathizer'…
"Nor Iron Bars a Cage by Kage Harper" Freudian slip there. ;)