All Systems Red is a goddamn delight. This fast-paced science fiction novella has a captivating central character that 100% sells this book by themself. I would kill for Murderbot. Throw in some mystery, a little bit of peril, then your obligatory A.I. self-actualization themes and you have the recipe for a wildly entertaining series. […]
Meet Kef Cutmark. Pirate, monster-slayer, scourge of the Twisted Seas. After a lifetime of running from her past, she’s returned to Zorith – a tangled jungle of a thousand boats, all lashed together to make a floating city-ship. Zorith is powered by a device that draws energy from lightning. Mysterious, unique, and locked in an […]
Blood Song is an artfully crafted coming of age tale full of friendship, love, war, and magic. Fans of epic fantasy rightfully revere this as one of the best fantasy novels of the last decade. The opening sequence of the narrative evokes comparison to Robin Hobbs’ Assassin’s Apprentice. Both novels are framed with an outer […]
A Shattering of Glass continues at the breakneck pace set in the first two installments of the Riven Realm series. Deck Matthews once again has spun a tale that feels like a little slice of a big story, and manages to make it feel self-contained, and independently satisfying. Overall, I think this is my favorite […]
Dust of the Darkness picks up right where book one left off, and takes us on another whirlwind adventure. Once again Deck Matthews has packed a story into a sleek mold, making for a fast-paced and overall enjoyable read. If you liked the First of Shadows you’ll definitely appreciate the continuation of the Riven Realm […]
The First of Shadows is a perfect read for Wheel of Time fans. It presents a unique offering, epic fantasy condensed into a well-paced novella, something the aforementioned series is not exactly famous for. But Deck Mathews pulls it off, the book is well-written, full of interesting worldbuilding, and is engaging throughout. “As a raging […]
Adrift in the void, Henrik’s rescue is only a prelude to slavery. But his new life on Tyria is not at all what he expected. When the illustrious House of Quoll purchases him, Henrik finds himself living in the home of his old enemy, Prefect Brasca Quoll. Desperate to hide the truth of […]
The warlike pantheon of Ishmere is on the move. What remains to be seen is whether they will march on Guerdon, the Undead Empire of Old Haith, or the Dragon Syndicates of Lyrix. Meanwhile, each faction’s intrigues set the stage for a cutthroat romp with all sides maneuvering for control of the infamous God bombs. The Shadow […]
I’m going to try to say some coherent stuff about the Gutter Prayer, but forgive me if I digress into fanboy squealing at some point. This novel ticks off just about every box I look for in an epic fantasy: an ancient setting full of mysteries, unique characters embroiled in nail-biting intrigue, and wizards made […]
Smoke and Stone is a mesoamerican inspired grimdark tale about revolt against the gods. It’s a well-written novel populated by interesting characters, who live in a unique and vivid setting. If you are looking for a self-published gem or a gritty fantasy read, you should pick up a copy. Nuru and her friends live in […]