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Tangled Web A Deadly Curiosities Novel by Gail Z. Martin SOL Publishing Mystery & Thrillers , Sci Fi & Fantasy Pub Date 13 May 2018 Review I have mixed feelings about Tangled Web. The plot is complex, with quite a few interesting twists. I was intrigued by Charleston as a hub of spiritual activity, and I did like how Gail Z Martin blended types of myth and magic. What threw me off, was how every time Cassidy met one of the central characters she went into an expositi

Foundryside A Novel by Robert Jackson Bennett Crown Sci Fi & Fantasy Pub Date 21 Aug 2018 Review In a world where writing can allow the rules that govern nature to be bent, one young thief holds the key to the future in her hand. Foundryside immerses the reader in a world where technology is founded not on electricity or steam, but on sequences of sigils that compel objects to reinterpret the nature of reality. Sancia is a talented young thief gifted with the ability

Magick Run Amok by Sharon Pape Kensington Books Lyrical Underground Mystery & Thrillers Pub Date 01 May 2018 Review Magick Run Amok is a fast paced cozy that serves up a winning mix of humor, magick and murder. Kailyn Wilde has plenty to keep her busy between managing her shop and helping her aunt keep an eye on Merlin - who has a talent for trouble. When an investigative journalist and good friend is found dead, Travis suspects foul play. But all he has to back up his c

Moonshine by Jasmine Gower Angry Robot Books Sci Fi & Fantasy Pub Date 06 Feb 2018 Review Moonshine is a fantasy with jazz age pizazz. Ashland lies at the foot of a volcano, and Soot City is a bustling metropolis complete with gangsters, speakeasies and Modern Girls (flappers straight from the mold). But there is something else that defines Soot City - the existence of magic. Daisy Dell is the quintessential modern girl, fashionable, educated and ready to take on the wor

Jade City by Fonda Lee Orbit Books Orbit Sci Fi & Fantasy Pub Date 07 Nov 2017 Review Jade City is perfect for fans of Game of Thrones and others who enjoy intense politically complex fantasy. Set in an area much like early 20th century Asia, Kekon is an island nation divided between families of power. Green Bone warriors wield jade in service of the patriarchs, the bioactive stones enhancing physical and psychic capabilities. The more jade you can wield, the higher your

The Censor's Hand Book One of the Thrice~Crossed Swords Trilogy by A.M. Steiner Ptolemy Sci Fi & Fantasy Pub Date 14 May 2017 Review A M Steiner has a great future as a writer. The Censor’s Hand is a captivating fantasy with a unique worldview and an unusual and uncanny take on magic. The masters of magic do so by going to strange and unusual extremes. There is not one way to do magic. It is highly individualized. It is also highly profitable and previously open only

Integral Visceral Book 1 By Adam Thielen Mystery & Thrillers, Sci Fi & Fantasy Pub Date 15 Jun 2017 Review Integral isn't bad once you get into the story. It gets off to a rocky start not because it's badly written, but because you aren't given much of a reason to care. It took a long time to connect to the protagonists - two Vampire investigators (similar to FBI agents but the country is run by corporations rather than a federal government). The initial half of the novel a

Borrowed Souls: A Soul Charmer Novel Chelsea Mueller Talos Sci Fi & Fantasy Pub Date May 2 2017 Review Borrowed Souls has some potential. It is has an original premise. (Souls can be rented so that the stain of sin does not affect the individual- of course it does presume God is a complete idiot, in my opinion would be more interesting if people only believed it mitigated sin and instead does something different). Otherwise it is your standard urban fantasy. Girl forced

Hidden Blade: The Soul Eater Book 1 By Pippa DiCosta Victory Editing Scifi & Fantasy Pub Date 18 October 2016 Review As urban fantasies go, Hidden Blade falls in the middle - decently written, a decent story with fairly interesting characters. I wouldn't call it excellent or groundbreaking, but it does successfully introduce the main series characters, provides some insight into their nature, and leaves the door wide open for future novels - exactly what a first novel is int

By Familiar Means by Delia James Berkley Publishing Group Mystery & Thrillers Pub Date 20 Sep 2016 Review By Familiar Means is a solid, well written paranormal cozy with likable characters. While it isn't groundbreaking, it is an entertaining read perfect for a relaxing afternoon. What more could a reader want? In By Familiar Means, coffee shop owners Jake and Mirabelle ask Annabelle to uncover whether there is a ghost haunting the location of their planned expansion. Desp