Charlemagne's Champion
Roland, an outcast warrior terrified of his supernatural heritage, seeks redemption through service to Charlemagne. A deeply unlikable protagonist and sloppy prose nearly drove me away, but intriguing magical mysteries and a promising friendship kept me reading—until a disappointing conclusion vindicated my initial doubts.
Extra Ellies
A nine-page science-fiction story about a society so obsessed with mortality statistics that people have practically stopped living. Julia Ecklar's imaginative worldbuilding shines, but its message about manipulating safety information hit very differently when I read it during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Devil You Say
Aubrey Arbuthnot returns for another absurd supernatural adventure in 1920s England. The plot is more ambitious and the humor more outrageous than Strong Spirits, but an increasingly obnoxious protagonist and some unexpectedly cruel stereotypes diminish the fun.
Dancer of the Sixth
A military intelligence agent discovers someone has stolen her former identity and must go undercover as herself to investigate. A terrific premise buried beneath bloated prose, tedious exposition, and a mystery that loses its tension almost immediately.
Strong Spirits
When a charmingly useless young aristocrat's father dies, his ghost refuses to leave him alone. A wonderfully absurd little supernatural comedy set in 1920s England, with dry humor, lovable characters, and just enough detail to make its 151 pages feel like a complete world.
Regenesis
Four loosely connected novellas follow a misanthropic ecological scientist working to preserve animal life across the galaxy. Rich in real science, surprising emotion, and occasional delightful weirdness, Regenesis left me wishing there were more.
Bone Dance
A post-apocalyptic, low-tech cyberpunk noir that mixes psychological mystery, mysticism, and questions of identity. Ambitious and occasionally beautiful, but its competing storylines and uneven development made finishing it a frustrating slog.
Alien Blues
A futuristic police procedural featuring serial killers, a sinister conspiracy, and wonderfully peculiar stingray-like aliens. The Elaki are delightful, but muddled plotting, stilted prose, and gratuitous sexualized violence ruin an otherwise promising premise.
The Light in Exile
An agrarian colony, a mysterious agent, and an ancient alien race consumed by loss. A beautifully crafted, character-driven science fiction novel that balances cosmic stakes with intimate, believable lives—despite some languid pacing.
Mysteries of People and Places
A nostalgic return to the sensational mysteries I devoured as a kid, from the Bermuda Triangle to the Tunguska explosion. Not exactly speculative fiction—or particularly reliable history—but a surprisingly enjoyable exploration of modern mythology.
A Bad Spell in Yurt
A freshly graduated wizard takes a job in the charming kingdom of Yurt, only to discover something sinister threatening its king. A delightful, cozy fantasy mystery with lovable characters, just enough intrigue, and a whole lot of heart.
An Exchange of Hostages
A compassionate surgeon is forced to train as a state-sanctioned torturer in a dystopian future. Brilliant psychological characterization initially had me hooked, but an abrupt turn toward sexual sadism made this a book I couldn't continue.
Call of Madness
In a kingdom that executes its mages, a reckless princess discovers she has forbidden magical powers. An intriguing premise and thrilling final act are undermined by inconsistent characterization, questionable decisions, and a frustrating protagonist.
Far Edge of Darkness
A group of modern-day strangers find themselves enslaved in ancient Rome, caught in a dangerous time-travel conspiracy. A well-written, suspenseful action novel that's solidly enjoyable, even if its central mystery proves more compelling than its resolution.
King's Dragon
An intricately constructed medieval fantasy with a promising prologue, but its painstaking worldbuilding and a young woman's brutal loss of agency couldn't sustain my interest. After two attempts, I still couldn't finish it.
Two-Bit Heroes
Theodora returns to Ivory, gets engaged to Ran, and finds herself tangled up with a band of outlaws. A slow start and a messy ending can't spoil the delight of spending more time with Doris Egan's wonderfully human characters.
Phoenix Fire
A light urban fantasy involving Chinese mythology, an ancient demon, and a rather underused phoenix. It has all the charm, questionable plotting, and nostalgic familiarity of a 1990s PG-13 action movie.
The Fountains of Mirlacca
A kindhearted outcast, a fascinating guild of exorcists, and a richly imagined little fantasy world. Unfortunately, rushed pacing and some spectacularly misleading back-cover copy undermine an otherwise promising story.
Gifts of Blood
A collection of strange, beautifully imagined stories about healing vampires on the Russian steppes, plus an alien invasion and a musical spider. Rich in mythology and prose, if sometimes light on plot.
Demon Drums
God-killing, magical drums, witches, shapeshifters, and flying dolphins. A fascinating island fantasy with far more ideas than its 240 pages can possibly accommodate.
Found
A childhood favorite that holds up beautifully, with evocative prose, unexpected friendships, and a surprising amount of emotional depth.