Wolfsong (2016) T.J. Klune (Green Creek) I’m trying this series again. I liked the first book well enough the first time, but the second book was a problem. I’m hoping that knowing the rest of the books are NOT about Ox an Joe will make the adjustment a little easier. Ox’s dad is awful. I […]
Broken Homes, Audio Edition (2014) Ben Aaronovitch narrated by Kobna Holdbrook-Smith (Rivers of London) A lot happens in this book. And there are a couple things I missed the first couple times through (mostly about the ends at the end of the book). As always, the story is a joy. I’d love to stick some […]
The Hourglass Throne (2022) K.D. Edwards (The Tarot Sequence) I really thought I had pre-ordered this. I hadn’t, and because I was failing to deal with all the things, I didn’t notice it was out until the end of August. That said, I read it almost immediately, and devoured it in a day. Rune Saint […]
Whispers Under Ground (2012) Ben Aaronovitch narrated by Kobna Holdbrook-Smith (Rivers of London) I’m enjoying this reread (relisten) of the Rivers of London series, because I’m paying attention to things I missed earlier, because I didn’t necessarily catch the importance the first time through. But mostly because I adore Peter. So just chalk it up […]
That Time I Got Drunk and Yeeted a Love Potion at a Werewolf (2022) Kimberly Lemming (Mead Mishaps) This series is very very silly. Very VERY silly. And full of boinking. SO much boinking. A few minutes and a smoke free kitchen later, I returned with fresh coffee and a plate of grilled cheese sandwiches. […]
Moon Over Soho, Audio Edition (2011) Ben Aaronovitch narrated by Kobna Holdbrook-Smith This book has my hands-down all-time favorite quote. “You can’t die of jazz,” said Dr. Walid. “Can you?” I thought of Fats Navarro, Billie Holiday, and Charlie Parker who, when he died, was mistaken by a coroner for a man twice his real […]
Midnight Riot, Audio Edition (2012) Ben Aaronovitch narrated by Kobna Holdbrook-Smith (Rivers of London) I’ve finished listened to the Jane Yellowrock and Faith Hunter series, with the exception of the two most recent books I haven’t read, so realizing I had a new Rivers of London book to listen to, I decided to restart the […]
The Rook, Audio Edition (2012) Daniel O’Malley narrated by Susan Duerden This book. People are more likely to cope with the appearance of an animated corpse in a graveyard than one in an ice cream parlor or the changing room of a boutique. They won’t be happy with the appearance of the animated corpse in […]
Of Claws and Fangs (2022) Faith Hunter (Jane Yellowrock) This is a collection of stories from the world of Jane Yellowrock & Soulwood. Candy from a Vampire Make It Snappy It’s Just a Date Life’s a Bitch and Then You Die Black Friday Shopping How Occam Got His Name Shiloh and the Brick Beast Hunts […]
Spells for the Dead, Audio Edition (2019) Faith Hunter narrated by Khristine Hvam Nell is learning how to control her powers as a “plant person” as she calls herself. But she doesn’t understand why she’s called out the death of a famous country singer, whose body whose body is rapidly decomposing–along with the bodies of […]
Circle of the Moon, Audio Edition (2019) Faith Hunter narrated by Khristine Hvam Nell is recovering from spending several months as flora instead of fauna. The farm had seemingly figured out that if I was a tree, there would be no one to work the soil and it liked me around. Now, as I worked, […]
The House in the Cerulean Sea (2020) TJ Klune This book came out a week into the pandemic lockdown, and it’s possible it might have been lost in the ensuing insanity. Except that it is such a comforting read, it was precisely the thing to read to escape the world. Linus works for DICOMY (Department […]
Flame in the Dark, Audio Edition (2017) Faith Hunter narrated by Khristine Hvam (Soulwood) The third Soulwood book finds Nell settling into working at PsyLED. And being gently courted by Occam. “Nell, you act like you never been kissed before.” “I ain’t— I haven’t. Not like . . . Not like this.” Occam’s pupils widened […]
Liberty & Other Stories (2018) Alexis Hall (Prosperity) Shackles Squamous with a Chance of Rain From the Journal of Mrs. Miranda Lovelace Cloudy Climes and Starless Skies Liberty This is collection of stories about the characters from the Prosperity. The first story, Shackles, was my least favorite. Because I don’t much like Milord, and I […]
Shattered Bonds, Audio Book (2019) Faith Hunter narrated by Khristine Hvam (Jane Yellowrock) Book 13 of Jane Yellowrock I wasn’t sure how I feel about this book the first time I read it, and I’m still not positive how I feel about it now. Leo was killed in the Sangre Duello. Jane is dying of […]
Prosperity (2018) Alexis Hall (Prosperity) Set in Prosperity in 1863. I’ve had this book for a bit, but wasn’t sure I was in the mood for a fantasy, but when a discussion of Our Flag Means Death. Which I haven’t seen, but sounds utterly marvelous. So since I’m not going to be watching Our Flag […]
Monster, She Wrote: The Women Who Pioneered Horror and Speculative Fiction (2019) Lisa Kröger and Melanie R. Anderson It’s (somewhat) common knowledge that Mary Shelly wrote the first SFF book: Frankenstein. But there were so many other women at the start of the horror, science fiction, and speculative fiction genres, and this book tells you […]
Dark Queen, Audio Edition (2018) Faith Hunter narrated by Khristine Hvam (Jane Yellowrock) I’m having a hard time believing that I read this four years ago. Obviously it’s true, but it feels both forever ago and far more recent. Mostly because parts of this book stuck in my brain. And I still have problems with […]
Amongst Our Weapons (2022) Ben Aaronovitch (Rivers of London) It’s been two years since the previous full Rivers on London book, although in between we had a story set in Germany, comics, short stories, and Abigail’s novella. And I am GREAT with all that. Did I want to know what was happening with Peter? Of […]
The October Man, Audio Version (2019) Ben Aaronovitch narrated by Sam Peter Jackson (Rivers of London) London isn’t the only city with magic. I ended up in the Abteilung KDA because I didn’t talk myself out of it fast enough, and because the Director has a vile sense of humour. I ended up learning magic […]
Within the Sanctuary of Wings: A Memoir by Lady Trent, Audio Version (2017) Marie Brennan narrated by Kate Reading The conclusion to Lady Trent’s story. I did not realize that this was only the edge of the great range, the chain geographers identify more precisely as the Dashavat Mountains. The Mrtyahaima proper lay behind, beyond […]
Grilled Cheese and Goblins: Adventures of a Supernatural Food Inspector (2018) Nicole Kimberling This books is simply a delight. I mean, supernatural food inspector. What more could I want? Keith was momentarily too stunned by the idea that the vampire realm had a publishing industry to think of a follow-up question. Gunther saved him. I […]
Jane Yellowrock Short Stories Faith Hunter “The Devil’s Left Boot” (2013) Kicking It Liz & Cia Everheart take on a case to find a former classmate’s mother. “Eighteen Sixty” (2015) The Weird Wild West Set in 1860. Ayatas Firewind “Anzu, Duba, Beast” (2016) Were- Jane and the Mercy Blade go hunting. “Death and the Fashionista” […]
Cold Reign, Audio Book (2017) Faith Hunter narrated by Khristine Hvam (Jane Yellowrock) Things never slow down from here. Which is why I think I missed some things previously that bothered me this time. SPOILERS AHEAD Alex is almost killed. He fingered his throat. “Hurts.” He looked around him on the floor, at the amount […]
In the Labyrinth of Drakes: A Memoir by Lady Trent, Audio Book (2016) Marie Brennan narrated by Kate Reading Lady Trent continues her memoirs. Because this volume of my memoirs concerns itself with my research in Akhia, it will of necessity say more than a little about the mating habits of dragons and other creatures. […]
Heartbeats in a Haunted House (2022) Amy Lane (Hedge Witches Lonely Hearts Club) This book recovers the events of the previous three, only told from the points of view of Dante and Cully, who are trapped in the house, because they couldn’t admit what everyone around them could see: they’d been in love with each […]
Pentacles and Pelting Plants (2021) Amy Lane (Hedge Witches Lonely Hearts Club) Jordan’s coven screwed up. Badly. “It’s more personal than that,” he said. “The magic itself was offended. We hadn’t just told a polite lie on paper— we’d told a polite lie to ourselves.” Tow of their friends as lost in space and time, […]
Shadow Rites (2016) Faith Hunter narrated by Khristine Hvam (Jane Yellowrock) Now we’ve reached the place where the story starts to pick up steam and we only get partial resolutions at the end of each book, as things in New Orleans get worse and worse. The Witch Conclave is scheduled for New Orleans, and Leo […]
Portals and Puppy Dogs (2021) Amy Lane (Hedge Witches Lonely Hearts Club) Alex is glad his roommate Bartholomew has found his true love, but Alex’s life is still a mess: he put in for a transfer, so he could try and move on from his huge crush on his boss, but Simon wants to know […]
Shortbread and Shadows (2020) Amy Lane (Hedge Witches Lonely Heart Club) Bartholomew Baker has had a crush on the guy who usually has the stall next to him, for two years. But Barty is painfully shy, struggling to try and make baking works so he can quit his day job, and, well, his coven just […]
In the Cards (2019) Celia Lake (Mysterious Charm) Set in England and Sicily in 1925 Yes, I still (badly) wants these books edited, but I am still reading. Explaining how they really were, that was more complicated. They’d made agreements, he and Galen, about when they’d share certain things, and when they wouldn’t. This is […]
Mistlefoe: A Mead Realm Tale (2021) Kimberly Lemming This story is very silly. It’s also fun. Many family dinners throughout my childhood were filled with ramblings on taxes being too high or the current king spending too much money on mistresses and trebuchets. Ruby’s father snuck into a demon’s territory and stole some ore (because […]
Whirlwind (2021) A. M. Rose (Daydream, Colorado) This book finishes the arc started in the previous book. Felix is clairvoyant. He didn’t have some grand purpose, but he could help ease the suffering of both the living and the dead, and that was just as powerful. He goes to where he is pulled, never settling […]
Wards of the Roses (2019) Celia Lake (Mysterious Charm) Set in Wales & England in 1920 I still want these books to be edited. But the story and world building keep pulling me in. Kate Davies doesn’t want a return to war, but she would like the more interesting assignments she got while all the […]
Curse on the Land (2016) Faith Hunter narrated by Khristine Hvam Nell Ingram is now officially a member of PsyLEDs Unit 18. She’s finished he training at Spook School and is officially a problem. This is the story with the underground working and the slime mold and things coming to a head with Paca and […]
A Sanctuary for Soulden (2021) J.A. Rock and Lisa Henry (The Lords of Bucknall Club) Set in an alternate England in the early 1800s. Philip Winthrop, Viscount Soulden is easily bored. But you wouldn’t guess that if you saw him out on the town, where he presents himself as a fop, concerned with little other […]
Bee Cave Magic (2020) Kelly Fox Micah is a dud. He’s 25 and never shifted, which means that he avoids his long-time crush, Rex, like the plague. I’m a non-shifter, and he knows as well as I do that shifters and non-shifters should never date or fall in love. Also, coming from a family of […]
Hearts and Flowers: A Tale of Hay Fever and Bad Decor (2013) Angel Martinez This is a very silly story. The ballroom looked like a Hallmark store had wandered by and thrown up its innards in a fit of disgust over the excesses of the season. Michael has been forced to attend a costumed Valentine’s […]
Heartwood (2021) A.M. Rose (Daydream, Colorado) For months, Darian has been searching for the man his friend Mason has Glimpsed. Someone hurt, in danger, being chased. So he isn’t surprised when Tate shows up. Tate, however, had no idea that magical communities such as Daydream even existed. I’ve read several books and novellas in this […]
Magician’s Hoard (2019) Celia Lake (Mysterious Charm) Set in England in 1926. Pross has been a widow for six years, raising her daughter, running a small bookstore, and taking on the occasional research project. “What did you want from the Society, then? You seem to have most of it covered.” He looked up at her […]
The Voyage of the Basilisk: A Memoir by Lady Trent, Audio Edition (2015) Marie Brennan narrated by Kate Reading Six years after her return for Eriga, Lady Trent and her companions set out for a two year journey around the world, to study dragons. For my own part, I found my quarters at first shockingly […]
Dark Heir, Audio Edition (2015) Faith Hunter narrated by Khristine Hvam (Jane Yellowrock) This is the point where story arcs begin to leak between books, with more being unresolved than is resolved. I don’t actually blame her for this, because the story has been building for almost a decade, so it is now heading towards […]
A Case for Christmas (2021) J.A. Rock and Lisa Henry (The Lords of Bucknall Club) Set in an alternate England during the Napoleonic Era. The only thing that makes this a fantasy is this bit: In 1783, the Marriage Act Amendment was introduced in England to allow marriages between same-sex couples. This was done to […]
That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Demon (2021) Kimberly Lemming (Mead Mishaps) This is utterly ridiculous. My self-preserving habits made me a bit of an outlier with the other girls in town. “Who wouldn’t want to go off on a grand adventure with a bunch of hot heroes also chosen by the goddess?” […]
The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels (2021) India Holton (Dangerous Damsels) Set in an alternate Victorian England. Cecilia Bassingwaite is a proper Victorian young lady, and she is also a member of the Wisteria Society crime sorority, and she flies around England drinking tea, blackmailing friends, and acquiring treasure by interesting means. Ned Lightbourne goes […]
Something Fabulous (2022) Alexis Hall (Something Fabulous) Set in Historical England. To be honest, I don’t think this is historical England as much as fantasy historical England. Which is fine, since as he says in the author’s note, almost everyone in the story is queer. Valentine Layton, the Duke of Malvern is expected to marry […]
Conventional Shadows (2022) Lissa Kasey (A Simply Crafty Paranormal Mystery) Alex and Micah are taking a trip to an anime convention–one that will hopefully go better than the previous convention they went to, which ended up with Alex bringing home a ghost cat. Alex is still learning about crafting, but is more than happy to […]
Death Wins a Goldfish: Reflections from a Grim Reaper’s Yearlong Sabbatical (2019) Brian Rea “It has come to our attention that you have a substantial number of unused days off. Records indicate you’ve never taken a sick day, sabbatical, or leave of absence.” Thus, death has to take a year off work. Publisher: Chronicle Books […]
Broken Soul (2014) Faith Hunter narrated by Khristine Hvam (Jane Yellowrock) Here is where the story starts to steamroll, with major arcs remaining open at the end of each book. Not cliffhangers, mind you, but major story arcs, like the plotting and machinations of the European Vamps, and why they’re coming to the US. The […]
Witch Hat Atelier 1 (2017/2019) Kamome Shirahama This is a gorgeous comic / manga. Sadly, it is not my jam. Publisher: Kodansha Comics Rating: NR