FORMAT/INFO: The Nightshade God was published by Orbit on July 15th, 2025. It is 480 pages and available in ebook, hardcover, and audiobook formats.
OVERVIEW/ANALYSIS: With Lore and her allies scattered across the world, all hope seems lost. King Bastian reigns under the influence of an evil god, making deals with despots and undoing the reforms made in the last few months. But destiny has its own plans. Even scattered, Lore and her friends have one last chance to thwart the god trying to reshape the world, one last chance to steal his power back. It may just unfortunately take their own lives to pull it off.
The Nightshade God is the kind of finale that lands the plane competently, but without much pizzazz. It isn't a BAD book, but it lacked tension and failed to make me invested in the personal stakes for the characters. As an example, look no further than the central plot of the story. Book two ended with our characters scattered across the world for various reasons, and early in The Nightshade God, they all learn of objects that have been hidden for centuries that are important to defeating the central villain. Rather conveniently, there's one of these hidden objects in each of the locations these scattered characters ended up. While there's some attempt to explain this as destiny, it felt instead like it was giving the characters a thing to do before bringing them all together for the finale.
The characters themselves also really have very little growth to go through. There's still pining and angst between the characters but nothing that we hadn't seen previously. The one new romantic pairing that was introduced honestly left me baffled. Worst of all, the finale felt like it betrayed the themes of the entire series and the very lessons that the characters were supposed to be learning.
CONCLUSION: All that being said, I was never in a place where I was hate-reading The Nightshade God. It was simply that I was never excited to pick the book up, never dying to know what could possibly happen next. Every plot point was simply a hurdle to overcome fairly quickly in the journey to the inevitable conclusion. It's a book that I can honestly say I walked away from simply....whelmed.
OVERVIEW/ANALYSIS: With Lore and her allies scattered across the world, all hope seems lost. King Bastian reigns under the influence of an evil god, making deals with despots and undoing the reforms made in the last few months. But destiny has its own plans. Even scattered, Lore and her friends have one last chance to thwart the god trying to reshape the world, one last chance to steal his power back. It may just unfortunately take their own lives to pull it off.
The Nightshade God is the kind of finale that lands the plane competently, but without much pizzazz. It isn't a BAD book, but it lacked tension and failed to make me invested in the personal stakes for the characters. As an example, look no further than the central plot of the story. Book two ended with our characters scattered across the world for various reasons, and early in The Nightshade God, they all learn of objects that have been hidden for centuries that are important to defeating the central villain. Rather conveniently, there's one of these hidden objects in each of the locations these scattered characters ended up. While there's some attempt to explain this as destiny, it felt instead like it was giving the characters a thing to do before bringing them all together for the finale.
The characters themselves also really have very little growth to go through. There's still pining and angst between the characters but nothing that we hadn't seen previously. The one new romantic pairing that was introduced honestly left me baffled. Worst of all, the finale felt like it betrayed the themes of the entire series and the very lessons that the characters were supposed to be learning.
CONCLUSION: All that being said, I was never in a place where I was hate-reading The Nightshade God. It was simply that I was never excited to pick the book up, never dying to know what could possibly happen next. Every plot point was simply a hurdle to overcome fairly quickly in the journey to the inevitable conclusion. It's a book that I can honestly say I walked away from simply....whelmed.
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OVERVIEW/ANALYSIS: Superman 2025, I don’t think any DC CBM has been released with such a cloud of anxiety over it. You have the DC fans along with the James Gunn fans who genuinely want this movie to succeed wildly and herald the start of a new (and hopefully joyful & colourful) DCU. In another corner you have the DCEU or mainly Snyder diehards who might have a vested interest in this reboot, seeing that it came at the expense of the further expansion of their beloved Snyderverse storyline that Zack Snyder has more than hinted at and gloriously shown in his EPIC 4 hour vision. Then there’s the middle of the road CBM fans like me who would like a new movie that doesn’t fall to the usual pitfalls and entertain us while giving us a good story. We want to watch Supes fly, kick ass and be his good natured self.
James Gunn had a massive problem on his hands going about
this adaptation but say one thing about James Gunn. The man knows his comics
and he’s a true geek through and through (just look at who the antagonist was
for the Suicide Squad movie). He had revealed that he used All-Star Superman
(by Grant Morrison) as his template and created a new story with a younger
superman for the true beginning of the DCU.
The movie begins with an intro crawl demarcating how the new
DCU isn’t our world but a facsimile wherein superheroes and gods and monsters
have been present since the past 3 centuries. And then it runs down all the way
to 3 minutes and we get our first view at what is happening with Superman.
Beaten down by the Hammer of Boravia due to his intervention in Boravia’
invasion of Jahranpur, Supes calls upon Krypto who rushes him off to the
Fortress of Solitude wherein a focused dose of sunlight heals him. He’s also
nursed by a battery of Superman Robots who are indifferent to Krypto and his
rascally destruction within the Fortress. We are then also introduced to Supes’
alter ego Clark Kent and the coterie of individuals within the Daily Planet
office. We also get introduced to Lex Luthor and his team consisting of
Ultraman, the Engineer and a bunch of folks who are helping him run with his
obsession to defeat Superman. There’s also the “Justice Gang” consisting of Mr.
Terrific, Hawkgirl & Guy Gardner Green Lantern.
The movie set ups the situation wonderfully and also does a
quick introduction to the vast array of characters. The plot is basically
focused on Lex’s efforts to bring down Superman by convincing the Government
that the Kryptonian has nefarious schemes afoot. This is helped by Lex &
his team uncovering Clark’s parents message and unleashing it to the world.
Say one thing about James Gunn, the man truly know how to write characters and dialogue. From David Corenswet’s Superman to Rachel Brosnahan’s Lois Lane to Edi Gathegi’s Mr. Terrific to Nicholas Hoult’s Lex Luthor to Nathan Fillion’s Guy Gardner to the CGI-Krypto. These were the main highlights for me but there’s so many more like Wendell Pierce’ s Perry White to Skyler Gisondo’s Jimmy Olsen to Taylor Pruitt Vince’s Pa Kent whom I would have liked to see more of. I honestly think I would have loved to watch a 5-6 hour version of this movie wherein I had gotten to see more of the character cast and their interactions. Such is the richness of these characters, that one can feel bad that there’s not enough time for everyone.
Another interesting aspect of the movie is that it drops the
audience into a world that’s formed and doesn’t explain anything about it. A
lot of it will feel familiar or be known to DC comics fans but for the general
audiences, it might be a bit confusing. The plot is also very pacey and the
story moves along quite fast. In fact in certain scenes, I wish it had slowed
down for the viewers to really feel the intensity of the moments.
This film has the typical James Gunn humour however the crass jokes thankfully were tamped down. I don’t know if that was something that the Studio enforced upon Gunn or James himself course corrected. Lastly there were three cameos which I was pleasantly surprised with. Two characters were from upcoming projects and man were they hilarious. The third character was from Gunn’s TSS and it was cool to see where they were considering what happened to them in TSS.
Going on the shortcomings of the movie and it’s in this regards, I’ll have talk through some mild spoilers. So if you wish to stop here then I won’t mind it. For those who wish to read ahead in spite of some spoilers, kudos to you brave sports.
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Because of the movie's pace and several cuts, this movie definitely felt as if there were quite a few connective tissue scenes missing and I really wish that Gunn is able to release the extended version on HBO Max wherein we can get to see more. Because I would have loved to see the dynamic between the Daily Planet crew. Maybe even more of Lex and his henchfolks.
Another aspect which didn’t work for me, was that the Superman introduced in this movie acted a bit dumb. In the opening sequence, after the Hammer Of Boravia leaves, Superman isn’t concerned to trace him. He also doesn’t try to find out how Lex and his minions gained access to his Fortress given how the condition its left in. Maybe because he's still a younger Superman, given that its only his third year. However it was a tad surprising given how well-written Supes was otherwise.
I think James Gunn is more than a little lucky that he has such a huge fan base. Because for some of the drawbacks of the movie (Evil Kryptonian parents, floozy female characters), other directors would have been excoriated beyond belief. He somehow is shielded from these criticisms. Which is good for him but a weird thing to notice.
Is it better than Iron Man or Man Of Steel? That's very hard to say. I think Iron Man was a very compact and straighforward film. Man Of Steel was way more epic, Superman is more Comic Booky than either of them. I enjoyed all three of them for different reasons and I'm really hoping that there will be an extended cut for SUPERMAN which addresses some of my concerns in which case, it will be an interesting comparison to make then.
CONCLUSION: Overall I liked this movie and it was a good start to the DCU. I’m very much excited for Supergirl & Clayface on the movie side. Even more enthused for Peacemaker S2 & Lanterns on the TV side. I really hope that we get more DCU movies, characters & TV shows as I think there's a genuine newness to this universe but I would like to see other creators also get to work their magic within.
Get SHATTERED for FREE on the author's Patreon (until July 14th)
Official Author Info: Nicholas W Fuller has been writing all of his life. He began writing his first novel while still in fifth grade—a science fiction story featuring an alien race inspired by his neighbor’s basset hounds. While that work remains incomplete, Nicholas has worked on various blogs and stories over the years, including publication in JCM Berne's Grimdwarf Magazine and earning an honorable mention from ElegantLiterature.com. Nicholas also started a youtube channel in early 2023 where he posts videos talking about books and other fun nerdy things as well as his interviews with authors and other creatives.
When he is not writing or making videos, he’s probably thinking about writing, maybe playing video games with his brother, possibly tickling one or both of his two children, or perhaps traveling with his wife… but likely also pondering writing. He hopes to continue to make things up and put them on paper for an ever wider audience.
Today we are thrilled to take part in the cover reveal for SHATTERED: A Sanguine Stars Novella. Checkout the gorgeous cover featuring art by Robert Trotea & design-typography by Jeff Brown.
OFFICIAL BLURB: Shattered is the story of doing the right thing... And the consequences of those actions.
It's the story of Poey Targe, a Master Sergeant in the Sorento Royal Senate Guardians, and his struggle to keep his planet safe.
Shattered, the first in the Sanguine Stars series, is a short, action-packed read with a bit of political intrigue and a dash of humor that sets the stage for everything to come.
""If Star Wars and Battle of the Planets had a baby, that baby would love this novella! Come for the richly imagined world building, stay for the sci fi action!"
-JCM Berne, author of Wistful Ascending, Hybrid Helix series
"Shattered is a thrilling sci-fi read, opening the door to a sprawling space opera series. I look forward to reading more in this universe down the road."
-Bryan Wilson, Author The Forsaken Planet, The Power of the Stars series
The best part, SHATTERED is currently FREE on the author's Patreon for the next 5 days. So you can grab a copy over here.
Thursday, July 3, 2025
SPFBO Champions' League Review: The Thief Who Pulled on Trouble's Braids by Michael McClung
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Michael McClung was born and raised in Texas, lived in Southeast Asia for twenty years, and currently resides in Poland. He has published nine novels, a novella and a short story collection. His first novel was published by Random House in 2003, and in 2016 he won Mark Lawrence's inaugural SPFBO contest with The Thief Who Pulled on Trouble's Braids. He goes by @mcclungmike on Twitter, but doesn’t do the Facebook anymore, because reasons. He occasionally talks about stuff on his blog at somethingstickythiswaycomes.blogspot.com if you're interested in, uh, stuff being talked about.
Published: November 28, 2012 by Michael McClung Length: 208 pages (Kindle) Formats: Literary awards: SPFBO Award for Best Fantasy Book (2015) Series Amra Thetys #1
Buy The Two Lies of Faven Sythe
FORMAT/INFO: The Two Lies of Faven Sythe was published on June 3rd, 2025 by Orbit Books. It is 352 pages long and available in paperback, ebook, and audiobook formats.
OVERVIEW/ANALYSIS: Faven Sythe's mentor is missing. Her only clue to her location? A starpath leading to the Clutch, a floating graveyard of ships, full of dangerous debris, supposedly haunted by a mysterious ship known as the Black Celeste. With seemingly no one else concerned about her mentor's absence, Faven has no choice but to investigate the Clutch herself. Fortunately, she knows just the pirate for the job: Bitter Amandine, one of the few people to have ever visited the Clutch and survived. Unfortunately, Bitter has also sworn never to return there. But when Faven makes an offer too good to refuse, Bitter and her crew buckle up for a daring trip across the galaxy. They'll soon discover, however, that some ghosts are best left undisturbed...
The Two Lies of Faven Sythe is a delightful mashup of classic pirate tropes and fresh sci-fi ideas. The pirates running around this story are very much direct descendants of their eighteenth century brethren, from the way they talk (savvy?) to their weaponry (shotguns apparently are much better at getting past shields than modern laser guns). And yes, there is a main port of call that all the pirates like to go to, a futuristic hidden station in the vein of Tortuga, where all pirates can resupply, make deals, and generally hide away from the law.
But all of these familiar elements are nestled together with original sci-fi elements. First and foremost of these are the crystborn. This species is essentially an offshoot of humanity created when some humans centuries in the past volunteered to blend with ancient alien tech so that they could interact with the lightdrives that allow faster than light travel. Crystborn are capable of weaving a starpath into a lightdrive, essentially giving it a safe route to travel from one point to another. But every path woven shortens a crystborn's lifespan, making the starpaths extremely hard to come by, frequently costing a fortune.
Of course, where did that ancient alien tech that created the crystborn come from? What caused them to die off? That's just one of the mysteries to dive into this book, as Faven tries to look for her lost mentor. Being a standalone book, you'll have the answers you're looking for by the end of the tale, making this a nice contained swashbuckling adventure into mysterious ruins at the edges of the galaxy.
I will say, The Two Lies of Faven Sythe is definitely a plot-forward book. Faven Sythe, with her mixture of naivete about how the galaxy works but her daring to keep asking questions and plunge into the unknown, is definitely a standout character; pirate Bitter Amandine is also fun to watch, strutting about with her larger-than-life pirate personality. The rest of the supporting cast, however, is fairly forgettable. I couldn't tell you much about the crew to differentiate them from each other, aside from remembering that one tends to sport a very cool pair of sunglasses. This book may be a fun ride, but it is not particularly packed with memorable characters.
CONCLUSION: The Two Lies of Faven Sythe is definitely an adventure worth checking out. If you're looking for a thrill ride close to a summer blockbuster, this is the book for you. An engaging mystery, seedy pirate dens, high stakes adventures at the fringes of the galaxy, it's all here in one nice neat standalone package.
OVERVIEW/ANALYSIS: Faven Sythe's mentor is missing. Her only clue to her location? A starpath leading to the Clutch, a floating graveyard of ships, full of dangerous debris, supposedly haunted by a mysterious ship known as the Black Celeste. With seemingly no one else concerned about her mentor's absence, Faven has no choice but to investigate the Clutch herself. Fortunately, she knows just the pirate for the job: Bitter Amandine, one of the few people to have ever visited the Clutch and survived. Unfortunately, Bitter has also sworn never to return there. But when Faven makes an offer too good to refuse, Bitter and her crew buckle up for a daring trip across the galaxy. They'll soon discover, however, that some ghosts are best left undisturbed...
The Two Lies of Faven Sythe is a delightful mashup of classic pirate tropes and fresh sci-fi ideas. The pirates running around this story are very much direct descendants of their eighteenth century brethren, from the way they talk (savvy?) to their weaponry (shotguns apparently are much better at getting past shields than modern laser guns). And yes, there is a main port of call that all the pirates like to go to, a futuristic hidden station in the vein of Tortuga, where all pirates can resupply, make deals, and generally hide away from the law.
But all of these familiar elements are nestled together with original sci-fi elements. First and foremost of these are the crystborn. This species is essentially an offshoot of humanity created when some humans centuries in the past volunteered to blend with ancient alien tech so that they could interact with the lightdrives that allow faster than light travel. Crystborn are capable of weaving a starpath into a lightdrive, essentially giving it a safe route to travel from one point to another. But every path woven shortens a crystborn's lifespan, making the starpaths extremely hard to come by, frequently costing a fortune.
Of course, where did that ancient alien tech that created the crystborn come from? What caused them to die off? That's just one of the mysteries to dive into this book, as Faven tries to look for her lost mentor. Being a standalone book, you'll have the answers you're looking for by the end of the tale, making this a nice contained swashbuckling adventure into mysterious ruins at the edges of the galaxy.
I will say, The Two Lies of Faven Sythe is definitely a plot-forward book. Faven Sythe, with her mixture of naivete about how the galaxy works but her daring to keep asking questions and plunge into the unknown, is definitely a standout character; pirate Bitter Amandine is also fun to watch, strutting about with her larger-than-life pirate personality. The rest of the supporting cast, however, is fairly forgettable. I couldn't tell you much about the crew to differentiate them from each other, aside from remembering that one tends to sport a very cool pair of sunglasses. This book may be a fun ride, but it is not particularly packed with memorable characters.
CONCLUSION: The Two Lies of Faven Sythe is definitely an adventure worth checking out. If you're looking for a thrill ride close to a summer blockbuster, this is the book for you. An engaging mystery, seedy pirate dens, high stakes adventures at the fringes of the galaxy, it's all here in one nice neat standalone package.
FORMAT/INFO: The Silverblood Promise was published on May 7th, 2024 by Tor Books. It is 528 pages long and currently available in ebook, paperback, and audiobook formats.
OVERVIEW/ANALYSIS: After a scandal saw him kicked out of academy and destroyed what was left of his noble family's fortune, Logan Gardova hasn't been exactly welcome at home. Instead, he's spent the last several years gambling and traveling about, trying his best to forget about the day that changed everything. But when Lukan receives word that his father has been murdered, he realizes he has to put the past aside and find out why on earth anyone would want his father dead. His only clue leads him to Saphrona, a city ruled by merchant princes, where anything can be bought for the right price. Unfortunately, to find more answers, Lukan will have to help right an injustice in the city, one that could send a delicate peace between nations up in flames.
The Silverblood Promise is an exciting classic fantasy adventure that takes our hero everywhere from the court of a thief king to a faceoff with mythical beings. Despite its 500+ pages, it moves exceedingly quickly. I frequently found myself sitting down to read a few chapters and realized I'd devoured 75-100 pages without realizing it.
Something to be prepared for is that while Lukan is on a quest to find out what happened to his father, most of the story isn't about that at all. Lukan's one clue is the name of someone located in the city of Saphrona. But in order to get the next clue, he needs to help get someone out of a jam, which leads him to accidentally inserting himself into an effort to stop a plot to shift the power balance in the city. While some of the things Lukan discovers may end up being tied into the overall mystery, when the dust settles, don't expect Lukan to have suddenly solved his own father's murder. Instead, he's completed one set of adventures in Saphrona, and is off in the direction of his next clue.
The supporting cast is full of familiar archetypes, from smart-mouthed street orphan Flea to a mercenary leader who doesn't have anything personally against Lukan, it's just business. None of them break the mold, but they don't need to in order to help make The Silverblood Promise a fun and engaging adventure.
What's holding The Silverblood Promise back, in my opinion, is lead character Lukan. Now, I will be the first to admit that I like my characters to be exceedingly competent and knowledgeable. I want to see the best-of-the-best going toe-to-toe with equally matched villains. Lukan, however, is juuuust competent enough to get by. He doesn't make huge mistakes, but he's impatient and quick to take things at face value. In short, he reminded me of Luke Skywalker from STAR WARS in his farm boy era, where he just wants to run off and save the day without wondering too hard if anybody is hiding more beneath the surface than you can see at first glance. Hopefully, though, just like Luke, Lukan will find himself growing along his adventures and become a more proficient character over time.
CONCLUSION: The Silverblood Promise is here to scratch your classic fantasy adventure itch. It's a tried and true story, full of familiar beats, with just enough twists to keep things interesting. It never felt like a weighty tome and I appreciated how it kept the story moving. I will definitely be back to check out the next installment, The Blackfire Blade!
OVERVIEW/ANALYSIS: After a scandal saw him kicked out of academy and destroyed what was left of his noble family's fortune, Logan Gardova hasn't been exactly welcome at home. Instead, he's spent the last several years gambling and traveling about, trying his best to forget about the day that changed everything. But when Lukan receives word that his father has been murdered, he realizes he has to put the past aside and find out why on earth anyone would want his father dead. His only clue leads him to Saphrona, a city ruled by merchant princes, where anything can be bought for the right price. Unfortunately, to find more answers, Lukan will have to help right an injustice in the city, one that could send a delicate peace between nations up in flames.
The Silverblood Promise is an exciting classic fantasy adventure that takes our hero everywhere from the court of a thief king to a faceoff with mythical beings. Despite its 500+ pages, it moves exceedingly quickly. I frequently found myself sitting down to read a few chapters and realized I'd devoured 75-100 pages without realizing it.
Something to be prepared for is that while Lukan is on a quest to find out what happened to his father, most of the story isn't about that at all. Lukan's one clue is the name of someone located in the city of Saphrona. But in order to get the next clue, he needs to help get someone out of a jam, which leads him to accidentally inserting himself into an effort to stop a plot to shift the power balance in the city. While some of the things Lukan discovers may end up being tied into the overall mystery, when the dust settles, don't expect Lukan to have suddenly solved his own father's murder. Instead, he's completed one set of adventures in Saphrona, and is off in the direction of his next clue.
The supporting cast is full of familiar archetypes, from smart-mouthed street orphan Flea to a mercenary leader who doesn't have anything personally against Lukan, it's just business. None of them break the mold, but they don't need to in order to help make The Silverblood Promise a fun and engaging adventure.
What's holding The Silverblood Promise back, in my opinion, is lead character Lukan. Now, I will be the first to admit that I like my characters to be exceedingly competent and knowledgeable. I want to see the best-of-the-best going toe-to-toe with equally matched villains. Lukan, however, is juuuust competent enough to get by. He doesn't make huge mistakes, but he's impatient and quick to take things at face value. In short, he reminded me of Luke Skywalker from STAR WARS in his farm boy era, where he just wants to run off and save the day without wondering too hard if anybody is hiding more beneath the surface than you can see at first glance. Hopefully, though, just like Luke, Lukan will find himself growing along his adventures and become a more proficient character over time.
CONCLUSION: The Silverblood Promise is here to scratch your classic fantasy adventure itch. It's a tried and true story, full of familiar beats, with just enough twists to keep things interesting. It never felt like a weighty tome and I appreciated how it kept the story moving. I will definitely be back to check out the next installment, The Blackfire Blade!
FORMAT/INFO: Never the Roses will be published by Bramble Romance on July 8th, 2025. It is available in hardcover, ebook, and audiobook formats.
OVERVIEW/ANALYSIS: At long, long last, the Dread Sorceress Oneira has retired. Having bought her freedom after decades of indentured servitude to any who could buy her contract, she's retreated to a quiet abode where she can spend her final days in peace. But peace doesn't come easy to one who has spent most of her life in war, and Oneira soon finds herself restless. On a whim she can't quite explain, she uses her power over the Dream to travel to a rival sorcerer's library and steal one of his books. This quickly kicks off a flirtatious dance of more thefts and attempted entrapments as Stearanos Stormbreaker tries to discover who would dare pilfer from his shelves. But when it becomes clear that the king Stearanos serves is going to attack Oneira's former queen, their secret relationship becomes far too dangerous for anyone to discover.
Never the Roses is a slow burn romantic fantasy that does a beautiful job building up the attraction between two powerful magic users. It starts as flirtation, as Oneira steals books from the library of her rival Stearanos, and he in turn tries to entrap and discover the identity of his mysterious thief. Through notes left to each other in Stearanos’s library, they tease and poke at each other in turn, enjoying the sensation of a fresh challenge in their lives.
I was absolutely engrossed in the slow build of this relationship. Watching Stearanos be intrigued by someone who could best him, watching the two of them exchange flirtatious and witty letters, wondering when the two would finally meet face-to-face, this was catnip to me. More importantly was the growing realization between the two that they may have each found the only other person in the world who can understand what it's like to be them, to have all of the power and none of the power at the same time.
All of this is told through beautiful, lyrical prose. The tone is of a more serious bent, despite the mischievousness described above. At its heart, this is a tale about healing. Oneira, despite her legendary power, has spent most of her life magically enslaved to do the bidding of others. The things she did to finally break free of her contract broke her as well, and she doesn't know how, if at all, she can pick up the pieces. This romance comes into her life when she's trying to decide if she will ever know real peace again.
I did occasionally get frustrated with some of the repetitive beats of Oneira's character, as she would vow on one course of action and then immediately do the opposite within a day. Human, yes, but repetitive nonetheless.
I also had slightly mixed feelings about the ending. On the one hand, I did cry (in public no less). But there was a part of my brain that was whispering "this is a little over the top." In the moment, I chose to mostly shove that part of my brain into a deep corner, but upon reflection, I wrestle a bit with how that ending sits with me.
CONCLUSION: Either way, I still absolutely inhaled this book. I would recommend Never the Roses for those looking for a fantasy romance that focuses on the characters first and physical attraction second. There is a slight amount of spice, but only after the two have formed a deep connection. I'm so glad I took a chance on Never the Roses, and will definitely be keeping an eye out for more of the author's work.
OVERVIEW/ANALYSIS: At long, long last, the Dread Sorceress Oneira has retired. Having bought her freedom after decades of indentured servitude to any who could buy her contract, she's retreated to a quiet abode where she can spend her final days in peace. But peace doesn't come easy to one who has spent most of her life in war, and Oneira soon finds herself restless. On a whim she can't quite explain, she uses her power over the Dream to travel to a rival sorcerer's library and steal one of his books. This quickly kicks off a flirtatious dance of more thefts and attempted entrapments as Stearanos Stormbreaker tries to discover who would dare pilfer from his shelves. But when it becomes clear that the king Stearanos serves is going to attack Oneira's former queen, their secret relationship becomes far too dangerous for anyone to discover.
Never the Roses is a slow burn romantic fantasy that does a beautiful job building up the attraction between two powerful magic users. It starts as flirtation, as Oneira steals books from the library of her rival Stearanos, and he in turn tries to entrap and discover the identity of his mysterious thief. Through notes left to each other in Stearanos’s library, they tease and poke at each other in turn, enjoying the sensation of a fresh challenge in their lives.
I was absolutely engrossed in the slow build of this relationship. Watching Stearanos be intrigued by someone who could best him, watching the two of them exchange flirtatious and witty letters, wondering when the two would finally meet face-to-face, this was catnip to me. More importantly was the growing realization between the two that they may have each found the only other person in the world who can understand what it's like to be them, to have all of the power and none of the power at the same time.
All of this is told through beautiful, lyrical prose. The tone is of a more serious bent, despite the mischievousness described above. At its heart, this is a tale about healing. Oneira, despite her legendary power, has spent most of her life magically enslaved to do the bidding of others. The things she did to finally break free of her contract broke her as well, and she doesn't know how, if at all, she can pick up the pieces. This romance comes into her life when she's trying to decide if she will ever know real peace again.
I did occasionally get frustrated with some of the repetitive beats of Oneira's character, as she would vow on one course of action and then immediately do the opposite within a day. Human, yes, but repetitive nonetheless.
I also had slightly mixed feelings about the ending. On the one hand, I did cry (in public no less). But there was a part of my brain that was whispering "this is a little over the top." In the moment, I chose to mostly shove that part of my brain into a deep corner, but upon reflection, I wrestle a bit with how that ending sits with me.
CONCLUSION: Either way, I still absolutely inhaled this book. I would recommend Never the Roses for those looking for a fantasy romance that focuses on the characters first and physical attraction second. There is a slight amount of spice, but only after the two have formed a deep connection. I'm so glad I took a chance on Never the Roses, and will definitely be keeping an eye out for more of the author's work.
Official Author Website
Order Perils Of The Past over HERE
Order Perils Of The Past over HERE
Q) Welcome to Fantasy Book Critic Kane! We always love
to welcome new authors and hear about your journey. To start us off, could you
give us a brief introduction about yourself and how your life has brought you
to the wonderful world of self pub?
KW: Thanks for having me. I’m an Australian epic/high fantasy author on debut. Perils of the Past has occupied a place in my mind since I was a teenager. Four years ago (and twice the age I was back then), I sat down to write it in earnest—and now here we are.
KW: Love that reference, especially as Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade was one source of inspiration. The scene underground where Harrison Ford is searching for the Holy Grail to save Sean Connery’s life is an all-time favourite.
Do you recall how reincarnation was used in The Mummy? Rachel Weisz’s character in present day aligned with who she was in a past life. But what if your past life stood against everything you believe in? That’s woven into Perils of the Past.
I doubt I’d be writing fantasy without J. R. R. Tolkien.
KW: My characters didn’t give me a choice, haha. Or, put it another way, it has persistently been the story that I see when I close my eyes.
KW: The process differed from name to name. Some just came to me; others took hours to workshop. I remember how hard it was to name my female lead character. I must have gone through about 50 before I found one that fit. Her name is Antarna and she’s been training in a temple on a snow-topped mountain. Her name was inspired by Antarctica.
KW: I’ve written the type of book I love to read. It’s a high-stakes, epic adventure set on a unique and dangerous world. There are battles with both man and beast, plus flawed, determined characters you can root for (or against). And, of course, plenty of secrets and twists to keep you guessing.
KW: While most species of spiders are solitary in nature, did you know that the Australian huntsman are social (e.g., often living and eating together)? The only thing more terrifying than a spider is a group of them working together. That made it into a small scene in Perils of the Past.
KW: The novel almost had 4 POV characters, but I craved more time with Antarna (featured on the front cover), Cal (a seer-in-training, who has a great sense of humour), and Zanth (a mage bent on revenge). I needed to explore what shapes them and how their choices collide. They each have a powerful journey to go on—internally and externally.
KW: In primary school, one of my favourite novels was Ice Station by Matthew Reilly (a fellow Australian). It’s a breakneck thriller. In high school, I read all the books he published and a steady stream of fantasy (e.g., from Raymond E. Feist).
I’ve found the writing process for flash fiction (e.g., a story in 50 words) worlds apart from penning my debut novel. I would add, though, that practicing flash fiction has made me a better writer.
KW: As I spent more time with my novel, I developed a clear picture of exactly what I wanted. Parts of this vision were big and exciting—several full-page internal illustrations, illustrated chapter headers and scene breaks, and a second design hidden under the dust jacket of the hardcover. Other aspects were more subtle, from formatting choices to several chapters intentionally lacking a chapter number to tie into a character’s backstory. Self-publishing allowed me to maintain creative control.
KW: Tough choice... but that would have to be writing the first draft: exploring the world with my characters and seeing that word count climb.
KW: As I was writing my novel, I kept a reference folder with my favourite covers and artists. I had a strong sense of the style I wanted but remained open to where the design process might lead.
KW: Antarna enters that very cave in chapter 1. She’ll find more questions than answers…
KW: From the very first sketches, Anderson took my breath away. He was always receptive to feedback, dedicated to bringing my vision for the novel to life. Likewise, I welcomed his artistic insights and expertise. We exchanged so many great emails and communication felt easy.
KW: Surreal; a dream taken material form.
KW: It is intended to be read as a stand-alone—although there’s a chance I may return to certain characters or world in the future. I have an ambitious fantasy novel (packed with action, adventure and intrigue, of course) I’m itching to write that takes place on another world (or two!).
KW: I hope it sweeps readers away. Fantasy has an amazing ability to offer an escape, and this story leans into that—with sword fights, magic duels, near-death experiences and mysteries to unravel. All of this unfolds on a unique world where humans are not at the top of the food chain. But amid the action and adventure, each POV character faces personal struggles and painful truths. The novel explores some important themes, including the extent that the past shapes us and the power of friendship.
KW: Best. Interview. Question. Ever.
KW: You can find Perils of the Past here or add it to Goodreads. Connect with me on X, Insta or the other socials listed on my website.
Review of Book 1, How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying
FORMAT/INFO: Everybody Wants to Rule the World Except Me was published on May 27th, 2025 by Orbit Books. It is 384 pages long and is available in paperback, ebook, and audiobook formats.
OVERVIEW/ANALYSIS: Good news: Davi’s succeeded in her mission to become the Dark Lord! Bad news: the army under her control expects her to lead them on a glorious mission to eradicate all humans. Having been trapped in a time loop in this fantasy world for centuries (a loop that resets upon her death), Davi knows how poorly a wilder/human war will go for the humans. Even more scary, Davi isn’t quite sure how well the time loop is working given recent events. She can’t just endlessly try different solutions to fix the problem because this time, her decisions might be permanent. It’s time for one last Hail Mary gambit: peace talks between the Dark Lord and the human kingdom.
Everybody Wants to Rule the World Except Me is a solid conclusion to this comedy fantasy duology, even if it is able to have a little less fun with the premise this time around. (If you haven’t read book one, spoilers ahead, proceed at your own risk!) One of the fun things about How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying was that Davi essentially got to treat the world like a video game. She tries something, it fails, she dies spectacularly, she tries again until she’s found a way to master a scenario. With the time loop now in question, Davi now has to treat the world very, very carefully. In short, this adventure becomes much more of a straightforward fantasy adventure with no do-overs.
On the one hand, this pushes Davi into some more character growth. After all, she’s become callous and casual with playing with people’s lives because for her, there are no repercussions. If she kills or betrays someone, they’ll come back the next loop without any harm or memory of what happens. She doesn’t get that out this time. It’s a fact she forgets at first, but leads to her rediscovering her empathy - along with an existential crisis over the fact that the fate of the world is on her shoulders and she doesn’t have a safety net anymore.
Even without the time loop elements, this still manages overall to be a fun and funny story. Davi’s fourth-wall breaking quips return, and she has to go on some wild adventures in her quest for peace. That includes finding out once and for all why this time loop is happening to her in the first place. This finale does a solid job of providing that answer, keeping things relatively simple in both explanation and solution.
Unfortunately, what also returns is Davi’s rampant horniness. It feels like Davi can't interact with a single character without commenting on their attractiveness or impressive physical endowments. It quickly became grating to keep sitting through this objectification. Just because the comments come from a bisexual woman doesn’t make it more palatable.
Setting that aside, Everybody Wants to Rule the World Except Me manages to be a fun summer fluff read. It does manage to be genuinely funny and to make you care about Davi, her annoying habits aside. If you need a breezy break from more serious affairs, give the Dark Lord Davi duology a try.
OVERVIEW/ANALYSIS: Good news: Davi’s succeeded in her mission to become the Dark Lord! Bad news: the army under her control expects her to lead them on a glorious mission to eradicate all humans. Having been trapped in a time loop in this fantasy world for centuries (a loop that resets upon her death), Davi knows how poorly a wilder/human war will go for the humans. Even more scary, Davi isn’t quite sure how well the time loop is working given recent events. She can’t just endlessly try different solutions to fix the problem because this time, her decisions might be permanent. It’s time for one last Hail Mary gambit: peace talks between the Dark Lord and the human kingdom.
Everybody Wants to Rule the World Except Me is a solid conclusion to this comedy fantasy duology, even if it is able to have a little less fun with the premise this time around. (If you haven’t read book one, spoilers ahead, proceed at your own risk!) One of the fun things about How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying was that Davi essentially got to treat the world like a video game. She tries something, it fails, she dies spectacularly, she tries again until she’s found a way to master a scenario. With the time loop now in question, Davi now has to treat the world very, very carefully. In short, this adventure becomes much more of a straightforward fantasy adventure with no do-overs.
On the one hand, this pushes Davi into some more character growth. After all, she’s become callous and casual with playing with people’s lives because for her, there are no repercussions. If she kills or betrays someone, they’ll come back the next loop without any harm or memory of what happens. She doesn’t get that out this time. It’s a fact she forgets at first, but leads to her rediscovering her empathy - along with an existential crisis over the fact that the fate of the world is on her shoulders and she doesn’t have a safety net anymore.
Even without the time loop elements, this still manages overall to be a fun and funny story. Davi’s fourth-wall breaking quips return, and she has to go on some wild adventures in her quest for peace. That includes finding out once and for all why this time loop is happening to her in the first place. This finale does a solid job of providing that answer, keeping things relatively simple in both explanation and solution.
Unfortunately, what also returns is Davi’s rampant horniness. It feels like Davi can't interact with a single character without commenting on their attractiveness or impressive physical endowments. It quickly became grating to keep sitting through this objectification. Just because the comments come from a bisexual woman doesn’t make it more palatable.
Setting that aside, Everybody Wants to Rule the World Except Me manages to be a fun summer fluff read. It does manage to be genuinely funny and to make you care about Davi, her annoying habits aside. If you need a breezy break from more serious affairs, give the Dark Lord Davi duology a try.
(Skull with Cigarette by Vincent Van Gough)
Let's start with the understanding that even the framing of this title is disingenuous and lacks nuance. What is good art? Or, for that matter, a bad person? Are we defined by our worst actions? Can people change?
It all has to do with the way we relate to the person being defined. From the vantage point of someone who has been harmed by another's “bad behavior,” it's easy to see how one might label their perpetrator and similar people as bad. Juxtapose that to a loved one who knows the “bad person” outside of the context of their actions. I assume their view of the bad actor will be more nuanced and leave room for that person to be more than their actions.
What happens when we consume someone's bad actions from the sidelines? Do we empathize with the victim and label their victimizer a bad person? Do we identify as a person who loves or likes the victimizer and leave room for them to be more?
I think this choice is an individual one. However, just because a choice belongs to an individual doesn't mean it won't come with social consequences. There are many factors at play when deciding how to relate to an artist who has acted badly in a public way:
- personal trauma,
- political stances,
- parasocial relationships.
If you decide to publicly consume and support art produced by a “bad person,” many of the same factors that came into play when people defined their view of the artist will also factor into how they view you. This is not a value statement of whether or not that should be the case. It is instead an observational statement.
Everyone has trauma, and we use our experiences to evaluate whether the people in our lives are safe. Those who have experienced trauma related to the harm an artist inflicted on their victim(s) often feel obligated to use people's public opinions of bad actors as a factor in judging whether someone is a safe person in their lives.
For example, if you post your Hogwarts house in your social media bio, a trans person or trans ally may take that public support of Harry Potter and by extension, JK Rowling, as a statement of support for her transphobic views and behaviors. Do they know you, your views, and your personhood based on a silly comment about something you related to as a child? No, they don't have a full picture of you as a person. However, they might not have the luxury to give you the benefit of the doubt when there is rampant violence and hostility aimed at trans people. They may feel they have to read the signs of how you present publicly to determine whether you would be a safe person.
Likewise, if you continue to review Neil Giaman’s works in light of the many accusations of sexual assault, survivors of sexual assault might reconsider their relationships with you.
Just because you can compartmentalize a person’s art from their actions doesn’t mean everyone can. Or wants to.
As our online presence grows, the rate at which we form parasocial relationships with public figures has deepened. Celebrities share their diets, their romantic lives, and embarrassing stories of who they were as a child, and we believe we know them. We grow attached because their art has meant so much to us, and we feel an emotional resonance with them as an artist.
Due to our increasingly parasocial relationships with public figures, many of us struggle when we learn about their bad behavior. Their actions don't comport with the people we built up in our heads. So when someone speaks negatively about them, we respond as if someone is attacking a friend or family member rather than criticizing a stranger. This may lead to us giving an abuser more credit while we discredit their victims.
(Image credit Joss Whedon Twitter)
So what does this all mean? Does this mean I am telling everyone to stop reading Neil Gaiman, listening to Michael Jackson, and watching Joss Whedon movies?
Not necessarily. I believe that the consumption of art is a nuanced decision. We should consume art created by people we disagree with. I also think we should take into account whether the bad actor is financially benefiting from our consumption and if supporting them might help them continue their bad behavior.
In the case of J.K. Rowling, she benefits financially with every new Harry Potter project, and uses her money to support anti-trans groups and legislation. In fact, she has publicly announced her intensions to use her profits from the new HBO series to create an anti-trans advocacy organization. As opposed to Michael Jackson, who is no longer alive and can no longer financially benefit or cause harm.
Additionally, we have to consider private vs. public consumption. In what venue are we consuming art, and will there be people that can be negatively affected by our consumption in those spaces? In general, we need to think about our public consumption as an action and consider the consequences of it.
There is a difference between rewatching Annie Hall in the privacy of your home and doing a deep-dive YouTube review on the “brilliance” of Woody Allen’s script. We throw up signs every day of who we are, whether it is the cover of the book we have on the train or the post we make about how much we enjoyed a controversial video game. Just as we are free to choose the art we consume, others are able to make judgments about what that might mean about who we are.
Fair or not, it's true.
It can hurt when someone we felt a kinship with is accused of doing something terrible and the art we loved is subjected to mass critique. However, in most cases, we do not know the accused. So I personally try to think about the choices I make in relation to their art, how I display my choices to the world, the messages I am sending, and negotiate if I am comfortable with the consequences of my choices.
Some like to reframe all of these discussions as cancel culture. However, I would argue people have been making decisions about what art to consume and how to consume it since the beginning of art. The factors at play are different. The public nature of our consumption is different. But there have always been reasons why people make choices about art and peer pressure surrounding those choices.
I would argue the framing of things as cancel culture has more to do with who is being critiqued rather than the act of critiquing. Oscar Wilde was jailed for his sexuality, and I have no doubt that became a factor in how or if people read his works. Neil Gaiman has been accused of horrific sexual abuse and violence. However, he is a rich, straight, white man, and we have only recently begun to hold those with the most power accountable in public ways. The act of turning public critique on artists with more power in society is newer.
At the end of the day, I don't think anyone should dictate how others consume art. However, I do think that our choices, especially those we make in public, have consequences.
I read a quote, and I wish I could credit it but have been unable to find it again, that helped me think about my personal approach to art I have loved created by artists who have done great harm. "Don’t put your nostalgia for a piece of art over the reality of other people’s futures."
OFFICIAL AUTHOR INFORMATION: James is a nerd with a head full of stories and limited time to put them on the page. He grew up in Grand Rapids, MI, spending an excessive amount of time at a local community theater where he developed his affinity for storytelling. This affinity grew into a deep admiration for language and spoken word poetry while studying mathematics and education at the University of Michigan. He firmly believes that art—even silly books about magic, or maybe especially silly books about magic—has the ability to tell stories that sink beneath the surface.
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