My review of Bloodwitch: A Living Blade Novella by Timandra Whitecastle

Jaunty yet eerie and frightening at the same time. Bloodwitch sucks you in like quicksand in a nightmare and doesn't let go.

How Timandra Whitecastle manages to pack so much in a novella, I have no idea. When I think back on the story, there as many main plot points and events, with the same stakes, as most novels I've read that are five times as long. What starts out as mischievous young people conning folks by using magic in a simple boardwalk game becomes a magic school mystery becomes a terrifying end-times fantasy-horror novel. It's somehow very present and relevant, yet feels very much like a dream. Yeah, I know, but I mean it. Give it a shot. It won't give you nightmares. I promise...

My review of I Was a Teenage Weredeer by Charles Phipps and Muchael Suttkus

Trueblood meets Nancy Drew in this snarky urban fantasy with rapid-fire dialogue and action.

I enjoyed the hell out of this. It's YA, but that doesn't bother me at all. I read everything, even grade school and teen. It's where I find half if not more of the most interesting stories and characters, to tell the truth. There's nothing childish or naive about IWATWD, though. The characters are interesting and savvy, with a great sense of humor, and some quite new and refreshing. The story has harrowing and some downright creepy moments, and flies along, with the twist and turns of a detective novel--but with shapeshifters (and wizards, or that matter). When it comes right down to it, it's just plain a hell of a lot of fun. This is a series I could see going on and building momentum for a dozen books or more.

Readers note: The Kindle eBook copy I read was riddled with errors. Dozens upon dozens of them, in fact. I normally wouldn't bring that up. Hell, I find them in my own books months after publication, and for some reason, even trad books have more and more errors these days (yet nobody ever talks about that, God forbid), but there were enough here to throw me out of the story nearly every other page. HOWEVER, I have been informed that this was an editor and publisher's error that has since been rectified, which makes me very happy. I'd hate to see such a fun book lose credibility because of it. So, read it with confidence, and enjoy.

My review of Arm of the Sphinx by Josiah Bancroft

Even more fascinating than Book 1. Prose and imagination that will set your head spinning in the best way possible. Bizarre, bold, and beautiful.

I was a pretty early reader of Josiah's first book in this series, Senlin Ascends, well before his trad deal, and was blown away by his prose, unique story and setting, and unfettered imagination.

Hard to believe for me, but I found Arm of the Sphinx to be even more fascinating. The characters are fleshed out in unexpected ways, new intriguing characters are introduced, the setting gets even more bizarre, and plot is even more bold. And more - he courageously wades into dangerous waters with choices in perspective (POV). Some call it "head-hopping," and nearly always derisively. I say 'Huzzah!' Witness it done by a true master of prose, and if you still don't like it or see its merit, well, sorry about that. I for one applaud experimentation, the different, the new (and the old made new again), the avant garde, if you will. Even if it doesn't work, I always greatly appreciate the attempt. In Bancroft's case, though, it works. It ALL works.

Now I'm dying to get my hands on The Hod King... DYING...