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Showing posts with the label epic fantasy

The Hexologists by Josiah Bancroft (Reviewed by Shazzie)

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 Book Review: The Hexologists by Josiah Bancroft Official Author Website Buy The Hexologists here - U.S. | U.K. Read Caitlin's review of the book here OFFICIAL AUTHOR BIO: Josiah Bancroft is the author of five novels, a collection of short fiction, and numerous poems. His books have been translated into eight languages. Before settling down to write fantasy full-time, he was a college instructor, rock musician, and aspiring comic book artist. When he’s not writing, he enjoys strumming a variety of stringed instruments, drawing with a growing cache of imperfect pens, and cooking without a recipe. He lives in Philadelphia with his wife, Sharon, their daughter, Maddie, and their two rabbits, Mabel and Chaplin. FORMAT/INFO: The Hexologists was published by Orbit Books on September 26th, 2023, in the U.S. and on September 28th, 2023 in the U.K. It is told in third person from the POV of Iz and Warren Wilby. It is available in paperback, ebook, and audiobook format. OVERVIEW/ANALYSIS:...

The Phoenix King by Aparna Verma (Reviewed by Shazzie)

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Book Review: The Phoenix King by Aparna Verma Buy  The Phoenix King  here -  U.S.  |  U.K. Official Author Website Read an interview with the author along with the cover reveal here OFFICIAL BOOK INFORMATION: In a kingdom where flames hold magic and the desert hides secrets, an ancient prophecy comes for an assassin, a princess, and a king. But none are ready to face destiny-and the choices they make could burn the world. "If we carry the burdens of our fathers, we'll never know what it means to be free." For Elena Aadya Ravence, fire is yearning. She longs to feel worthy of her Phoenix god, of her ancestors who transformed the barren dunes of Sayon into a thriving kingdom. But though she knows the ways and wiles of the desert better than she knows her own skin, the secrets of the Eternal Flame elude her. And without them, she'll never be accepted as queen. For Leo Malhari Ravence, fire is control. He is not ready to give up his crown-there's still too muc...

Book review: Barnaby The Wanderer by Raymond St. Elmo

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  Book links: Amazon , Goodreads ABOUT THE AUTHOR:  Raymond St. Elmo is a programmer of artificial intelligence and virtual realities, who has no time for literary fabrications of fictitious characters and world-building. And yes, that was meant to be ironic.  A degree in Spanish Literature gave him a love of Magic Realism. Programming gave him a job. The job introduced him to artificial intelligence and virtual realities; as close to magic as reality is likely to get outside the covers of a book. And yes, that was meant to be cynical. The author of several first-person comic accounts of strange quests for mysterious manuscripts, mysterious girls in cloaks whose face appears SUDDENLY IN THE FLASH OF LIGHTNING. And yes, that was meant to be dramatic. Publisher : St. Elmo Literary Labs (July 15, 2023)  Page count: 801 pages Formats: ebook, paperback I’m a huge fan of Raymond St. Elmo’s writing. I love his unique stories that blend fantasy and magical realism with wi...

Hammer of Fate by G.N. Gudgion (Reviewed by Lena)

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 Book Review: Hammer of Fate by G.N. Gudgion Official Author Website Order Hammer of Fate here OFFICIAL AUTHOR INFO:  G.N. Gudgion (‘Geoff’) grew up with his nose in a book, often one featuring knights in armour. A later search for stories where women didn’t have to be either beautiful damsels or witches led him to the fantasy genre and the works of Guy Gavriel Kay and Mark Lawrence. After Geoff gave up a business career to write, it was natural to gravitate to historical fantasy, to stories with complex, conflicted characters that a reader can bleed with, cry for, and perhaps fall in love with. They live in worlds where you can smell the sweat and the sewers, as well as the roses. Geoff lives in a leafy corner of England, where he’s a keen amateur equestrian and a very bad pianist. He spends much of his time crafting words in a shed, fifty yards and five hundred years from his house. He is also the author, as Geoffrey Gudgion, of supernatural thrillers Saxon's Bane (Sola...

Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree (Reviewed by Shazzie)

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 Book Review: Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree Official Author Website Buy Legends and Lattes here - U.S | U.K OFFICIAL AUTHOR BIO:  I love stories, and I love telling them. I’m the author of Legends & Lattes, a low-stakes cozy fantasy novel. I’m a narrator too, and I’ve loved the art since I first heard Frank Muller’s legendary work. I’ve lent my voice to hundreds of books (including my own). I live with my wife, two kids, and dog in Washington State, and I get up every morning excited and grateful to do this job. I’m also an erstwhile veteran game developer, and it’s possible you’ve played something I’ve made. Torchlight, Fate & Rebel Galaxy have sold millions of copies on desktops and consoles. I remain the co-owner and CEO of Double Damage Games. FORMAT/INFO:   Legends and Lattes was self published by the author in February 2022, and later traditionally published by Tor Books in the U.S and U.K. OVERVIEW/ANALYSIS:  This book is the epic fantasy s...

The Lost War by Justin Lee Anderson (Reviewed by Lena)

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 Book Review: The Lost War by Justin Lee Anderson Buy The Lost War here - U.S. | U.K. Official Author Website OFFICIAL AUTHOR BIO:  Justin spent 15 years as a professional writer and editor before his debut novel, Carpet Diem, was published in 2015. It became a best-seller and won a 2018 Audie award. Since 2018 he has been writing full time, alongside working on scripts with his wife, Juliet, who he met through a BBC scriptwriting contest. They live just outside his hometown of Edinburgh with their Brady Bunch family of five kids. He misses Firefly. No Wash jokes. Too soon. OFFICIAL BOOK BLURB:  This sensational epic fantasy follows an emissary for the king as he gathers a group of strangers and embarks on a dangerous quest across a war-torn land. The war is over, but peace can be hell. Demons continue to burn farmlands, violent mercenaries roam the wilds, and a plague is spreading. The country of Eidyn is on its knees.  In a society that fears and shuns him, Aranok...