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Miranda by John R. Little Book links : Publisher ABOUT THE AUTHOR:  John R. Little was born in London, Canada, and started writing short stories at the age of twelve. The stories he wrote at the time are not memorable. His first novel, The Memory Tree, was published by Nocturne Press in 2007. It was nominated for the Bram Stoker award for best first novel.  Publisher:  Bad Moon Press (January 1. 2008)  Print length: 109 pages Formats: ebook, paperback I picked Miranda on a whim. It was a lazy day, and I was browsing the virtual horror shelves, looking for something new to read. The cover caught my eye - it’s not exactly pretty, but I like eerie images like this. I also learned that it had won the Bram Stoker Award (Long Fiction) in 2009 - I knew I had to give it a chance. As I started reading, I found myself immediately pulled into the story. Little’s writing style is masterful, drawing you in with each sentence and never letting go. The characters are complex an...

  Five years ago today, Under Ordshaw was released and the world was exposed to a unique British city with the occasional magical/horrific twist. The series has now seen two story arcs completed with The Sunken City Trilogy and The Ikiri Duology ; two new arcs started with The City Screams and Dyer Street Punk Witches , and a host of short stories. To celebrate Ordshaw’s anniversary, here’s a trip down memory lane – and as a gift of Under Ordshaw for free for the next few days (29th - 31st), available in all major eBook stores, everywhere. What is Under Ordshaw? It all started with poker player Pax Kuranes discovering a secret labyrinth under her otherwise normal (if rough) city. Also, she discovered some very unusual, but mostly horrible, monsters – and a community of rather offensive and violent diminutive fairies. All this in a city otherwise rooted in reality, with distinct, characterful boroughs and a deep, detailed history (inspired variously by some cities I’m most famili...

Author Interview: Kate Heartfield Buy The Embroidered Book here OFFICIAL BOOK BLURB: " Power is not something you are given. Power is something you take. When you are a woman, it is a little more difficult, that’s all" 1768. Charlotte, daughter of the Habsburg Empress, arrives in Naples to marry a man she has never met. Her sister Antoine is sent to France, and in the mirrored corridors of Versailles they rename her Marie Antoinette. The sisters are alone, but they are not powerless. When they were only children, they discovered a book of spells – spells that work, with dark and unpredictable consequences. In a time of vicious court politics, of discovery and dizzying change, they use the book to take control of their lives. But every spell requires a sacrifice. And as love between the sisters turns to rivalry, they will send Europe spiralling into revolution. FORMAT/INFO: The Embroidered Book by Kate Heartfield was published by Harper Collins in May, 2022, and will be releas...

 Book Review: The Fairy Bargains of Prospect Hill by Rowenna Miller Buy  The Fairy Bargains of Prospect Hill  here Official Author Website OFFICIAL AUTHOR BIO:  Rowenna Miller is the author of the Unraveled Kingdom trilogy and The Fairy Bargains of Prospect Hill, as well as short fiction. She is also the cohost of the Hugo-nominated podcast Worldbuilding for Masochists, an English professor, and a fairly handy seamstress. She lives in Indiana with her husband, two daughters, four cats, two goats, and an ever-growing flock of chickens. OFFICIAL BOOK BLURB: In the early 1900s, two sisters must navigate the magic and the dangers of the Fae in this enchanting and cozy historical fantasy about sisterhood and self-discovery. There is no magic on Prospect Hill—or anywhere else, for that matter. But just on the other side of the veil is the world of the Fae. Generations ago, the first farmers on Prospect Hill learned to bargain small trades to make their lives a little...

  Official Author Website Buy The Blighted Stars HERE OFFICIAL AUTHOR BIO: Megan E. O'Keefe was raised amongst journalists, and as soon as she was able joined them by crafting a newsletter which chronicled the daily adventures of the local cat population. She lives in the Bay Area of California, and spends her free time tinkering with anything she can get her hands on. Her fantasy debut, Steal the Sky, won the Gemmell Morningstar Award and her space opera debut, Velocity Weapon was nominated for the Philip K. Dick Award.  FORMAT/INFO: The Blighted Stars was released on May 23rd, 2023 from Orbit Books. It is 544 pages split over 70 chapters and an epilogue. It is told in third person from multiple POVs, including Naira Sharp and Tarquin Mercator. It is available in paperback, ebook, and audiobook formats. OVERVIEW/ANALYSIS: The Mercator family has built their business empire on mining a mineral necessary for humans to survive in space - but they may be killing off all h...

 Book Review: A Cup of Tea at the Mouth of Hell by Luke Tarzian Buy  A Cup of Tea at the Mouth of Hell  here -  U.S.  |  U.K. Official Author Website OFFICIAL AUTHOR BIO:  Fantasy Author. Long Doggo Enthusiast. Snoot Booper. Shouter of Profanities. Drinker of Whiskey. OFFICIAL BOOK BLURB:  BRIEFLY, A WORD ABOUT ORDER Order is the focal point around which existence revolves. Without order there is only chaos. And in the halls of Damnation (pronounced Dam-NAWT-ion, thank you kindly) the first sign of impending chaos is a cup of tea made without the water having first been well and properly boiled in a kettle. Why is this relevant, O nameless narrator, you ask? Who cares about the preparatory order of tea in the fires of Hell? Lucifer, dear reader. After all, how does one expect to properly greet the newcomers to Hell without having first had a hot cup of tea to bulwark the cold? Behold The Morning Star, frantic on the annual Morning of Souls, t...

Karmen by Guillem March review   Book links: Amazon, Goodreads ABOUT THE AUTHOR:  Guillem March is a Mallorca based artist who is best known for his cover work on DC titles such as Catwoman and Batman. Publisher: Image Comics ( May 17, 2022 ) Pages:  160  Art: Guillem March Karmen is delightfully bonkers and visually stunning. Without giving too much away, Karmen is an angel (albeit a frivolous one) who isn’t happy with the reincarnation bureaucracy machine. She enjoys spending time with her “clients” and making them see the error of their ways. Catalina has been friends with Xisco for years. As is often the case with friends, there may be deeper feelings. But life is complicated, relationships even more so, and Catalina’s depression and social anxiety have clouded her judgement and led her to do something irreversible. Karmen may not be breaking new ground with its afterlife storyline, but the story gets interesting when it delves into metaphysical musings about ...

  Official Author Website Order The Will Of The Many over HERE   AUTHOR INFORMATION: James Islington was born and raised in southern Victoria, Australia. His influences growing up were the stories of Raymond E. Feist and Robert Jordan, but it wasn't until later, when he read Brandon Sanderson's  Mistborn  series - followed soon after by Patrick Rothfuss'  Name of the Wind  - that he was finally inspired to sit down and write something of his own. He now lives with his wife and two children on the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria OFFICIAL BLURB: The Catenan Republic—the Hierarchy—may rule the world now, but they do not know everything. I tell them my name is Vis Telimus. I tell them I was orphaned after a tragic accident three years ago, and that good fortune alone has led to my acceptance into their most prestigious school. I tell them that once I graduate, I will gladly join the rest of civilised society in allowing my strength, my drive and my focus—w...

 Interview: Rex Burke, author of the Odyssey Earth series Read Fantasy Book Critic 's review of Orphan Planet , book one in the Odyssey Earth series here Buy Orphan Planet , book one in the Odyssey Earth series here Pre-order Twin Landing , book two in the Odyssey Earth series here INTERVIEW Thank you for taking the time to talk to us! Welcome back to the Fantasy Book Critic. Could you tell us a little bit about yourself, and your upcoming series, Odyssey Earth? Thanks so much for inviting me – it’s a real pleasure, especially as I get to talk about writing and books, two of my favourite things! I’m a debut SciFi author, but a long-time writer in another genre – maybe ‘veteran’ is actually the word, seeing as I published my first book in the, erm, 20 th century…and not even in the very late-90s, let’s put it that way. Anyway, if you’re into travel writing and trains, or have ever bought a Rough Guide to places like Barcelona, Sicily, or the Lake District...