Little, Big: Talking with John Crowley

A little while ago, Mythaxis Review offered me the chance to interview John Crowley. The finished conversation has just been released. While perhaps best known for Little, Big (winner of one of the several World Fantasy Awards that he holds), John Crowley’s work spans many genres, fiction and non-fiction, books and documentary films. In conversation …

Wavebreaker: Flood by A.J. Norfield

Norfield builds on the plots established in the first half of Wavebreaker, providing new perspectives and conflicts without contradicting the established world. This novel is the third in the Stone Wars series. Possible spoilers ahead. Trista and Dalkeira are, officially at least, welcome within the Minai; however, the acceptance of outsiders strains relationships that already …

The Dragons of the Mist by Stephanie Flint

Flint blends ancient dragons with romance and a little comedy to produce a tale that will appeal equally to both those looking for more of Cirena and those seeking something different from the norm without losing the essentials of fantasy. The novella is the sixth in Flint’s Legends of Cirena series. However, the story neither …

Wicked Treasure by Jordan Elizabeth

Elizabeth blends elements of political thriller and frontier action with the mystical end of steampunk to create a tale that has both style and substance. This is the third volume of The Treasure Chronicles series. Spoilers for previous books might leap out, rise up, or otherwise manifest after this point. With the army no longer …

The Scars of Her Past by Stephanie Flint

Flint blends the prejudices and drives common to all humans with the specifics of her world to create a tale of magical terrorism that will appeal to fans of both fantasy and thrillers. Alia left soldiering behind to become a merchant. She’s only a junior partner at the moment, but the forthcoming festival in Sastae …

The Good Will Tour by Samantha Bryant

Bryant blends social roles of women, the responsibilities of power, flash powers, and fast-paced action to produce an exciting superhero tale with depth. The events in this novella occur between Books Two and Three of the Menopausal Superheroes series. There might be spoilers ahead. As part of the Unusual Cases Unit’s Good Will Tour, Flygirl …

Born of Treasure by Jordan Elizabeth

Fusing necromancy and steampunk devices with a classic Western tale of honest ranchers facing corrupt officials, Elizabeth provides a fantasy Western that has much to attract fans of either genre. Fleeing from the military after mistakenly consuming a chemical that grants the power to raise the dead, Clark Griffin is pretending to be the son …

Write Like Hell: Kaiju, ed. Sentinel Creatives

Ranging across genres, locations, and time-periods, this anthology provides a variety of perspectives on the question “How might humans act if giant monsters were real?” This anthology contains twelve kaiju tales, united by the presence of some immense creature or creatures but spanning genres from horror to romance. ‘Big Bloody Ben’ by Adam Gray. When …

The Cursed Halls of Kalecen by Stephanie Flint

Flint presents magic, cunning, and duelling as different but equal matters, creating a tale that captures how non-mages might hold their own in a world of powerful mages and active gods. As duelling instructor at the Academy in Memnar, Hahven’s duty is arming his students against the threats they may face. So, when one of …

Taking Off Faith

I've read a great many fantasy stories that feature characters wrestling with religion, faith, and their place in the universe. But, despite really enjoying that quest for meaning, I've played in few roleplaying games that feature a similar arc. Which might reveal two key ways in which roleplaying isn't just telling stories. Yesterday, a fellow …