Offer me queer dark fantasy and I will not be able to resist. I’m a simple Fab in that respect. And Pennyblade by J.L. Worrad is certainly dark, gritty and fast-paced, a true grimdark fantasy that will likely appeal to many readers who come to this because of those elements, even if it didn’t click for me.

Many thanks to Sarah at Titan Books for sending me an ARC. All opinions are my own as usual.

RELEASE DATE: 29/03/2022

STAR RATING: 3/5 ✶

SUMMARY: Exile. Mercenary. Lover. Monster. Pennyblade.

Kyra Cal’Adra has spent the last four years on the Main, living in exile from her people, her power and her past. A commrach, she’s welcome among the humans only for her rapierwork. They don’t care about her highblood, which of the gleaming towers she came from, nor that her family aspires to rule the Isle.

On the Main, superstitions and monsters are in every shadow, but Kyra is haunted by the ghost of Shen, the love of her life and lowblood servant she left behind. She survives by wit and blade alone in a land that would see her dead for who she is, for who she loves.

When her fellow pennyblades betray her, Kyra is forced to track the demon preying on the souls of the commoners. She must tear the masks off to see the true face of things, as the age-old conflict between the Main and the Isle threatens to erupt once more. (from Titan Books)

OPINIONS: Pennyblade is fast paced, and thus draws the reader in quickly. However, I didn’t feel like it lived up to the excitement it built up through the immersive and fast plotting – and I think, at least for me personally, that was largely connected to the narrative perspective. It felt like the focus was left on the action to such an extent that even though this is a queer fantasy and one in a world which is very much not queernormative, it is not something that really came through all that much while reading, and especially not on an emotional level. As a whole, the book felt like it was written through a very male gaze which made me bounce off the story constantly. This probably means that I am not the right reader for the book – I think someone who comes to Pennyblade from a more traditional grimdark background is less likely to struggle with the same issues I struggled with coming to it coming from a more queer, character-driven background.

And grimdark is the best way to describe this novel. In every regard, from the writing, to the world, to the characters. It is full of swearing, betrayal and general shittiness – I don’t think I can really remember anything positive happening throughout the story. And again, I can see this working a lot better for a lot of readers, but I do tend to want just a tad of positivity in my reading, some moments of tenderness. Pennyblade just felt a bit pointless in the end, as I just couldn’t get myself to care about bad things happening to unlikeable people. As you may be able to tell, the book kind of made me very grumpy because I somehow wanted it to be something it wasn’t. That’s on me more than anything.

So yeah, a book that I think will appeal to fans of dark, pacy stories with less focus on characters and relationships than action. It exudes what I’d describe as masculine energy despite being about lesbians and swords, which I feel says a lot about it. Not necessarily bad, but one where I’d rec checking out a sample to see if it meshes with you in terms of prose and focus.

If you’re intrigued, you can add Pennyblade to your Goodreads here, and acquire your own copy via Bookshop here (affiliate link).

What do you get when you take the quirky humor, witty banter, and absurd plot elements of a book like Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy and set it against a backdrop of late-Victorian England instead of the galaxy, replace spaceships with flying houses, and make your main characters pirates and witches instead of robots and aliens? Well, friends, you get the The League of Gentlewomen Witches, the second book in the Dangerous Damsels series by India Holton, a highly entertaining and romantic romp that will leave you wondering “What did I just read?” while at the same time exclaiming “How utterly delightful!” I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

RELEASE DATE: 15/03/2022

STAR RATING: 4/5 ✶

SUMMARY:

Miss Charlotte Pettifer belongs to a secret league of women skilled in the subtle arts. That is to say—although it must never be said—witchcraft. The League of Gentlewomen Witches strives to improve the world in small ways. Using magic, they tidy, correct, and manipulate according to their notions of what is proper, entirely unlike those reprobates in the Wisteria Society.

When the long lost amulet of Black Beryl is discovered, it is up to Charlotte, as the future leader of the League, to make sure the powerful talisman does not fall into the wrong hands. Therefore, it is most unfortunate when she crosses paths with Alex O’Riley, a pirate who is no Mr. Darcy. With all the world scrambling after the amulet, Alex and Charlotte join forces to steal it together. If only they could keep their pickpocketing hands to themselves! If Alex’s not careful, he might just steal something else—such as Charlotte’s heart.

OPINIONS:

Having not read the first book in this series, The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels, I had no idea what to expect from this book. I was intrigued by the cover and the blurb, and having been told I didn’t need to read the first book to enjoy the second, I decided to jump in. I’ll admit, at first I was completely unsure of what exactly I was reading. The first time, for example, I encountered text with a strikethrough I was baffled, only to later realize it was not only purposeful, but also quite a novel and effective way to deliver a joke! And what about our FMC Charlotte’s references to the propriety of Jane Austen’s heroines while stealing a briefcase and inciting violence in a teashop? Or the image of a prim lady of the Wicken League carrying around a stuffed poodle? Was I supposed to take these things seriously? The answer, of course, was no – The League of Gentlewomen Witches is very much a purposefully whimsical satire that takes the reader on a fantastical adventure filled with pirates, witches, meddling aunts, burgeoning friendships, steamy romance, and plenty of tea.

The romance between the witch Charlotte and pirate (and therefore mortal enemy) Alex, was surprisingly satisfying. At first, I wondered if this book would deliver a full, A-plot Romance given its whimsical, quirky nature, and did it ever! Charlotte and Alex’s story is a true enemies-to-lovers tale. Witches and pirates are pitted against one another in age-old historical feud. And to make matters worse, Charlotte has been predestined to lead the Wicken League with exacting manners and uphold their feud with the improper pirates, while Alex hates witches after being horribly abused by one as a child. But throughout the course of the book, Charlotte and Alex grow together to overcome the limiting strictures of Charlotte’s upbringing and heal the terrible wounds of abuse that have turned Alex away from friendship and love. I was happy to see their character backstories explored and their relationship develop in deeply meaningful ways. I wasn’t sure it could be pulled off given the tonal context, but Holton did a superb job at delivering a truly satisfying and fleshed out Romance amid the chaotic adventure that is this book!

A word about steam – these are two thirsty protagonists! Both Charlotte and Alex’s gazing and the internal monologues they have about each other build a definite and palpable sexual tension, but, like other aspects of this book, it is done with wit and humor. When our couple finally comes together in a hilarious spin on the “only one bed” trope it is unexpectedly and deliciously steamy without being overly explicit – this book did a great job of threading that needle!

The League of Gentlewomen Witches is laugh-out-loud funny. The prose is easy to read while at the same time utilizing Regency and Victorian language reminiscent of Jane Austen. In fact, the book pays homage to Austen and Shakespeare, and fans of both will be pleased at Holton’s treatment of their favorite authors. I’d recommend it as a slump-buster or to anyone who loves Fantasy Romance and is looking to lighten their mood. I will most likely read the first installment of the series at some point as well as the third book, which is definitely coming given the Epilogue, but I will wait for the right time to do so, i.e. when I’m in need of a good laugh and a warm heart.

If you are looking for a blockbuster, but would rather read than watch TV, this is the book for you. The Kaiju Preservation Society is fast-paced, full of action and has DINOSAURS (well, Kaiju, but they’re large and scary and very dino-like). It is a fun read, though one that may not hold up on second thought – go in expecting entertainment, and it’s precisely what it says on the tin.

Many thanks to Black Crow PR and UK Tor for sending me an ARC. All opinions are my own.

RELEASE DATE: 17/03/2022

STAR RATING: 3/5 ✶

SUMMARY: Jamie’s dream was to hit the big time at a New York tech start-up. Jamie’s reality was a humiliating lay-off, then a low-wage job as a takeaway delivery driver. During a pandemic too. Things look beyond grim, until a chance delivery to an old acquaintance. Tom has an urgent vacancy on his team: the pay is great and Jamie has debts – it’s a no-brainer choice. Yet, once again, reality fails to match expectations. Only this time it could be fatal.

It seems Tom’s ‘animal rights organization’ is way more than it appears. The animals aren’t even on Earth – or not our Earth, anyway. In an alternate dimension, massive dinosaur-like creatures roam a tropical, human-free world. And although Kaiju are their universe’s largest and most dangerous animal, they need support to survive.

Tom’s ‘Kaiju Preservation Society’ wants to help. However, others want to profit. Unless they’re stopped, the walls between our worlds could fall – and the consequences would be devastating. (from UK Tor)

OPINIONS: I’m a bit torn about how to rate this book, to be honest. Because on one hand, I had a lot of fun reading it, devoured it in a single sitting and it does pretty much exactly what it says on the tin. But on the other hand, it doesn’t read like a novel, if that makes sense? It reads more like a pulpy science fiction blockbuster, heading from one dramatic reveal to a cinematic explosion and vice versa. I felt like The Kaiju Preservation Society ultimately was so plot-driven and action focused that characters ended up on the back burner, which made it work less well as a book. However, it has already been optioned by Fox, so a screen adaptation is in the works, and I expect that that medium is better suited for this and it’ll make a brilliant visual story.

Ultimately, I think what you’ll get out of The Kaiju Preservation Society will depend on what you are looking for. If it’s escapism with fantastic creatures that are a mix between dinosaurs and dragons, this may be the right read for you. If you are looking for a complex read with multi-dimensional characters and deep analysis of its themes, then this is probably not the one. Because while this touches on a lot of issues such as Covid-related unemployment, precarity of the job market, preservation, military vs. civilian influences in defense strategy and so on, the book doesn’t finish any of these thoughts, which personally left me feeling rather unsatisfied, especially in hindsight.

However, my main issue with the book was the lack of in-depth characterisation, which is what draws me to books over other types of media. Jamie, the main character does get his fair share of page time, as well as space for reflection, but outside of him, you don’t actually get to know any of the other characters besides their bare personnel facts. This won’t be as much of an issue for every reader, but it is something that bothered me, and worth knowing before you dive in.

If you’re intrigued, you can add The Kaiju Preservation Society to your Goodreads here, and order a copy via Bookshop here (affiliate link).

A light-hearted in a darkly cynical way science fiction adventure that reads like The Martin in the best possible way, but also does its own thing. Many thanks to Jess at Rebellion Books for an ARC.

RELEASE DATE: 22/02/2022

STAR RATING: 3/5 ✶

SUMMARY: Dying isn’t any fun…but at least it’s a living.

Mickey7 is an Expendable: a disposable employee on a human expedition sent to colonize the ice world Niflheim. Whenever there’s a mission that’s too dangerous—even suicidal—the crew turns to Mickey. After one iteration dies, a new body is regenerated with most of his memories intact. After six deaths, Mickey7 understands the terms of his deal…and why it was the only colonial position unfilled when he took it.

On a fairly routine scouting mission, Mickey7 goes missing and is presumed dead. By the time he returns to the colony base, surprisingly helped back by native life, Mickey7’s fate has been sealed. There’s a new clone, Mickey8, reporting for Expendable duties. The idea of duplicate Expendables is universally loathed, and if caught, they will likely be thrown into the recycler for protein.

Mickey7 must keep his double a secret from the rest of the colony. Meanwhile, life on Niflheim is getting worse. The atmosphere is unsuitable for humans, food is in short supply, and terraforming is going poorly. The native species are growing curious about their new neighbors, and that curiosity has Commander Marshall very afraid. Ultimately, the survival of both lifeforms will come down to Mickey7.

That is, if he can just keep from dying for good.

OPINION: What makes you, you? Is it your memories, the things that happen to you? Or is it your thoughts and dreams? What happens if someone has exactly the same memories as you but you think they’re a self-absorbed ass? These aren’t irrelevant questions for Mickey. After accidentally being left behind, Mickey7 has to work with Mickey8 to avoid being detected which isn’t easy when there’s not enough food for both, the commander has it in for both of you, and your girlfriend is getting particularly inquisitive about why you don’t remember conversations. The plot is fairly straightforward, but the joy in the book is the interaction between Mickey7 and 8. Watching the variations which emerge as well as each’s approach to the challenges ahead shouldn’t be so amusing considering they’re to all intents and purposes the same person.

The colony of Niflheim is lightly drawn although with enough small details to give a sense of how perilously life is balancing here and the existing species’ desires and purpose is a mystery right up until the end with a satisfying resolution hidden from everyone except the reader. Interspersed between Mickey7’s daily life and struggles to ensure he has enough food, is how exactly he ended up in the situation of Expendable alongside a history of other colonies and ways they failed. While this adds to Mickey’s backstory (he was a historian on the planet he left behind) ultimately I didn’t feel they added all that much to the story but neither did they slow down the pace of the narrative so readers may be divided on this.

I enjoyed the ride this book took me on and it’s very cinematic in its approach to life on a colony so it’s not too surprising that it’s already been optioned for a movie. I look forward to seeing how it plays out as well as the next book Edward Ashton writes.

A fun sci-fi adventure with a large cast full of distinct and interesting characters with a ship that steals the show. Many thanks to Brianna at Wunderkind PR for an eARC All opinions are my own.

SUMMARY: TwiceFar station is at the edge of the known universe, and that’s just how Niko Larson, former Admiral in the Grand Military of the Hive Mind, likes it.

Retired and finally free of the continual war of conquest, Niko and the remnants of her former unit are content to spend the rest of their days working at the restaurant they built together, The Last Chance.

But, some wars can’t ever be escaped, and unlike the Hive Mind, some enemies aren’t content to let old soldiers go. Niko and her crew are forced onto a sentient ship convinced that it is being stolen and must survive the machinations of a sadistic pirate king if they even hope to keep the dream of The Last Chance alive.

OPINION: I picked this up as I’ve previously enjoyed Cat Rambo’s short fiction – in particular Red in Tooth and Claw as well as Every Breath A Question, Every Heartbeat an Answer and I was curious what a longer story from them would look like. They’re particularly good at looking at what comes after being a solider and in this respect You Sexy Thing is no different. But this makes it sound heavier than it is. The most straightforward comparison is A Long Way to a Small Angry Planet, in that both books have a crew that is very close with a new member who is put among them and becomes one of them. But that does both books a disservice. You Sexy Thing has a much more cohesive story although this doesn’t stop the action shifting from various ships and planets.

While there is a large cast of characters each of them is distinct and memorable – from Dabry, Niko’s second in command who’s also the head chef and passionate about his herbs and spices, to Skidoo, who is Octopi shaped but formed of two symbiotic beings and is unembarrassed about seeking their pleasures where they can. Atlanta, the outsider to the crew is both naive but capable in her own way and her development over the story, in particular the ending is both satisfying and adds to the comfort factor of the book. Finally, the star of the book is the ship You Sexy Thing. A sentient bio-ship, they have gone through a succession of owners who have barely stretched their potential and Niko’s crew give them plenty of opportunities to experience new emotions such as pride, petulance, novelty, a sense of learning and a range of others. Rambo’s description of these is perfect and very much endears you to You Sexy Thing as they’re very much their own character in a way that’s different to other ship’s AI. It doesn’t feel like a human voice, but is a person in their own right.

Overall the plot shifts between Niko’s past and the crew’s present with several flashbacks from different characters. While the short works well as a standalone, there are plenty of hints at a wider story, both with a sinister threat, and the mystic Lassite’s constant mutterings about the importance of Niko to the Golden Spiral and following the path. All in all it was an enjoyable sci-fi adventure, and I would look forward to seeing what’s in store for Niko and the others.

This showed up in the mail at exactly the right moment – Graphic Novels, for me, are comfort reads. and this first volume of The Rema Chronicles was no different. I devoured it on the same day I got it, and it made a bad day into a much better one.

Many thanks to Kiran at Scholastic for sending me a review copy. All opinions are my own.

RELEASE DATE: 03/03/2022

STAR RATING: 4/5 ✶

SUMMARY: Tabby Simon is determined to learn what happened to her father, who was found dead after researching a tree that leaks a mysterious mist in her neighbourhood. She is unexpectedly led to Rema, a distant world of magic and beauty that is periodically invaded by a nearby planet desperate for resources. While Tabby searches for the truth surrounding her father’s death, she meets a handsome blue-haired boy named Philip. He has his own dangerous secrets, but he has promised to help Tabby get home. As Tabby learns more about this strange world, she discovers that she is destined for something far greater than she ever could have imagined. (from Scholastic)

OPINIONS: This is the latest in a series of comfort reads – as you can probably tell if you’ve been reading my recent reviews. And graphic novels somehow always end up in that category for me, especially ones that fit in the YA and MG space. The Rema Chronicles: Realm of the Blue Mist kind of slots in between the two categories. It has elements of both, and while Tabby, the main character is fifteen, it can easily be suitable for younger readers who are more used to a middle grade diet. The story is compelling – and there are turns to it that make me really eager to get my hands on the second volume (which I hope is coming soon *hint hint, Scholastic, please*).

I really liked Tabby, her stubbornness and curiosity. The way her relationship with Philip and the greater mythology of the world developed was really well-done, and I am curious to see where the story goes from here. While it took me a little bit to get settled with the world and the story – I felt the introduction was a bit clunky and the pacing in the first few chapters a bit off – once I did, I really enjoyed it. What first felt like a generic plot in a world that felt like most fantasy realms became more plastic once I got to the halfway mark and more characters made their way into the plot and Tabby got to be more than the vehicle that the reader sees this new world through.

I think as this graphic novel series goes on and Tabby’s story in the world continues, her relationships deepen and the reader learns more about the mythology behind it, we’ll have a really lovely series on our hands for that elusive teen audience most of all. It will appeal to readers ten and up, I think, but really be ideal for that demographic that often falls between YA and MG. A definite recommendation from me.

Add The Rema Chronicles: Realm of the Blue Mist to your Goodreads here, and order a copy via Bookshop here (affiliate link).