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Tread of Angels by Rebecca Roanhorse
In this novella Rebecca Roanhorse once again shows off her world-building skills. I was intrigued from the very start by the genre-defying world Roanhorse envisions in Tread of Angels. The story unfolds in Goetia, a town ruled by the mighty Order of the Archangels that is ‘segregated’ between the Elects and the Fallen. Celeste, our…
3.5 STARS, Adult, alternate history, amateur detective, AMERICAN AUTHOR, angels, casinos & gambling, dark fantasy, DEMONS, fantastic worldbuilding, FANTASY, female authors, gods, gritty aesthetics, indigenous author, it’s about the *aesthetics*, lesbian side characters, lgbtq+ side, MURDER, murder investigation, MYSTERY, Native American & First Nation authors, NOVELLA/SHORT STORY, PARANORMAL, published in 2022, queer side characters, read in 2022, Rebecca Roanhorse, ROMANCE, SISTERS, STEAMPUNK, Tread of Angels, URBAN FANTASY, western -
A Dead Djinn in Cairo by P. Djèlí Clark
This is the third novella I’ve read by P. Djèlí Clark and once again I find myself loving his building but not his story or characters. This novella is set in an alternate 1912 Cairo where djinns and angels are the norm. world happens to be the home to djinns Egypt, . In an alternate…
1910s, 20th century, 3rd pov, A Dead Djinn, Adult, adventure, alternate history, AMERICAN AUTHOR, American History, Black & Black heritage authors, Cairo, DETECTIVE, Djinn, egypt, FANTASY, HISTORICAL FICTION, lgbtq+, male authors, NOVELLA/SHORT STORY, P. Djèlí Clark, published in 2016, queer, read in 2020, SPECULATIVE FICTION, STEAMPUNK, URBAN FANTASY -
The Dark Days Deceit by Alison Goodman
To say that I am incredibly disappointed by this final instalment would be pretty accurate.I enjoyed The Dark Days Club and I thought The Dark Days Pact was the perfect sequel. Goodman’s writing painstakingly depicted the Georgian era, its customs and language. Lady Helen, our main character, was both sensible and diplomatic, and…
1810s, 19TH CENTURY, 2.5 STARS, 3rd pov, ALISON GOODMAN, AUSTRALIAN AUTHOR, bath, DEMONS, england, FANTASY, FANTASY OF MANNERS, female authors, gay side characters, HISTORICAL FICTION, LADY HELEN, lgbtq+ side, MAGIC, PARANORMAL, published in 2018, read in 2018, Regency era, ROMANCE, series that went downhill, STEAMPUNK, The Dark Days Deceit, YOUNG ADULT -
The Lost Future of Pepperharrow by Natasha Pulley — book review
The Lost Future of Pepperharrow is a somewhat disappointing followup to The Watchmaker of Filigree Street. Having really enjoyed The Watchmaker of Filigree Street I was really looking forward to be reunited with Thaniel and Mori. Within the first chapters I had a slight sense of deja vu. The main difference between this sequel and…
1880s, 19TH CENTURY, 2 STARS, 3rd pov, alternate history, BOOK REVIEW, BOOK REVIEWS, Booklr, British author, confusing for the sake of being confusing, cultural dissonance, drama, england, female authors, HISTORICAL FICTION, japan, lgbtq+, LONDON, m/m, MAGICAL REALISM, MEMORY, MYSTERY, Natasha Pulley, plot over character, published in 2020, read in 2020, STEAMPUNK, The Lost Future of Pepperharrow, The Watchmaker of Filigree Street, VICTORIAN -
The Watchmaker of Filigree Street by Natasha Pulley — book review
“Under the gas lamps, mist pawed at the windows of the closed shops, which became steadily shabbier nearer home. It was such a smooth ruination that he could have been walking forward through time, watching the same buildings age five years with every step, all still as a museum”. The Watchmaker of Filigree Street mostly…
1880s, 19TH CENTURY, 3rd pov, adventure, age gap, alternate history, British author, cultural dissonance, drama, england, female authors, FRIENDS TO LOVERS, HISTORICAL FICTION, japan, Keita Mori, lgbtq+, LONDON, loneliness, m/m, MAGICAL REALISM, MEMORY, MYSTERY, Natasha Pulley, published in 2015, queer, read in 2020, SPECULATIVE FICTION, STEAMPUNK, Thaniel Steepleton, The Watchmaker of Filigree Street, VICTORIAN -
Karen Memory by Elizabeth Bear
Karen Memory offers similar feelings as the ones experienced during a rollercoaster: it has its ups and downs but overall it is a mostly enjoyable ride. The book is named after its protagonist, Karen Memory, who narrates her past adventures with a fresh and fun voice. Her vocabulary which is full of slangs and humorous…
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The Dark Days Pact by Alison Goodman
“Would you say you are a person who follows her head or her heart?”She stared at him, momentarily diverted. Such an odd thing to ask. “I am rational person, sir. I believe I follow my head.”“I see.” The Comte boed. “Then I wish you good luck.” After having recently read a few sequel that…
19TH CENTURY, 3rd pov, 4 STARS, ALISON GOODMAN, AUSTRALIAN AUTHOR, DEMONS, england, FANTASY, FANTASY OF MANNERS, female authors, gay side characters, HISTORICAL FICTION, LADY HELEN, lgbtq+ side, LONDON, MAGIC, PARANORMAL, POWERS, read in 2017, Regency era, ROMANCE, series that went downhill, STEAMPUNK, THE DARK DAYS PACT, YOUNG ADULT