Buy The Court of Venus
FORMAT/INFO: The Court of Venus was published on September 29th, 2026 by Tor Books. It is 416 pages long and available in hardcover, ebook, and audiobook formats.
OVERVIEW/ANALYSIS: The Court of Venus is a tale of intrigue set inside the court of a mad king, where the alignment of the stars literally influences your fate. In this world, magicians are people who were born under certain celestial conditions, with the ruling planet at the time of their birth influencing their domain of magic. Jupiterborn can influence luck, Venusborn can read and influence desires, and Moonborn magicians (like our protagonist Bianca) can shapeshift and read memories. I really enjoyed how this magic system is continuously influenced by planetary alignments; Bianca's powers, for instance, wax and wane with the moon. She is almost powerless when it's a new moon but at the height of her powers when the moon is full. Venusborns on the other hand, find they are most powerful at dawn and dusk each day. It's a system that has some fixed rules, but is also fluid and not fully understood by the magicians themselves, and they are always chasing new knowledge that will help them better manipulate their abilities.
This is also a court intrigue tale and a satisfying mystery is presented. Bianca has returned to court to discover what happened to her childhood friend, the prince, who died under mysterious circumstances four years ago. That death was written off as a riding accident, but Bianca is convinced that something more nefarious happened. But is it connected to the threads of a current plot in the court? Was it because of an outside agent from a rival kingdom? Was it something else entirely? There's quite a bit going on in this tale, and Bianca has to sort it all out without running afoul of a dying, paranoid king who seems to execute people on a whim.
Tangling things even further is that the king's closest advisor is Roland, a Venusborn magician who was also a friend of Bianca's and the prince. But is he still someone Bianca can trust? Or has his own desire for power made him a dangerous enemy? Watching the two verbally spar and try to figure out how much they can trust each other made sparks fly, and I enjoyed the slow burn of this relationship. It's always hard to throw readers into a pre-existing relationship and make them understand the complexities of emotions in that bond, but I think the author did a pretty good job.
The one thing that held me back was this is a more aloof writing style that I felt stopped me from fully connecting with the characters. Once or twice some dangerous circumstances were over somewhat abruptly, preventing me from sinking into the story. There's enough good things going on here that I still recommend this story overall, but for me personally it was just short of the spark that would have knocked the book out of the park. That being said, I will be back for part two of this duology, because I do want to see what fate is written in the stars for these characters.
OVERVIEW/ANALYSIS: The Court of Venus is a tale of intrigue set inside the court of a mad king, where the alignment of the stars literally influences your fate. In this world, magicians are people who were born under certain celestial conditions, with the ruling planet at the time of their birth influencing their domain of magic. Jupiterborn can influence luck, Venusborn can read and influence desires, and Moonborn magicians (like our protagonist Bianca) can shapeshift and read memories. I really enjoyed how this magic system is continuously influenced by planetary alignments; Bianca's powers, for instance, wax and wane with the moon. She is almost powerless when it's a new moon but at the height of her powers when the moon is full. Venusborns on the other hand, find they are most powerful at dawn and dusk each day. It's a system that has some fixed rules, but is also fluid and not fully understood by the magicians themselves, and they are always chasing new knowledge that will help them better manipulate their abilities.
This is also a court intrigue tale and a satisfying mystery is presented. Bianca has returned to court to discover what happened to her childhood friend, the prince, who died under mysterious circumstances four years ago. That death was written off as a riding accident, but Bianca is convinced that something more nefarious happened. But is it connected to the threads of a current plot in the court? Was it because of an outside agent from a rival kingdom? Was it something else entirely? There's quite a bit going on in this tale, and Bianca has to sort it all out without running afoul of a dying, paranoid king who seems to execute people on a whim.
Tangling things even further is that the king's closest advisor is Roland, a Venusborn magician who was also a friend of Bianca's and the prince. But is he still someone Bianca can trust? Or has his own desire for power made him a dangerous enemy? Watching the two verbally spar and try to figure out how much they can trust each other made sparks fly, and I enjoyed the slow burn of this relationship. It's always hard to throw readers into a pre-existing relationship and make them understand the complexities of emotions in that bond, but I think the author did a pretty good job.
The one thing that held me back was this is a more aloof writing style that I felt stopped me from fully connecting with the characters. Once or twice some dangerous circumstances were over somewhat abruptly, preventing me from sinking into the story. There's enough good things going on here that I still recommend this story overall, but for me personally it was just short of the spark that would have knocked the book out of the park. That being said, I will be back for part two of this duology, because I do want to see what fate is written in the stars for these characters.
3:00 AM | 
Posted by
Caitlin G. |
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Book links: Amazon, Goodreads
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Scott Hawkins is the author of the cult fantasy novel The Library at Mount Char. Before becoming a novelist, he worked as a software engineer and technical writer. After an eleven-year gap between novels, he returned with Blacktail, a dark fantasy that blends horror, myth, and animal perspectives.
Publisher: Crown (US) / Tor Nightfire (UK) Length: 288 pages Formats: Hardcover, eBook, and Audiobook
SPOTLIGHT: Headless Horselord: The Two Kings Kickstarter and Interview with Hazem Ameen & Deepak Thomas
Read Chapter 1 of Headless Horselord: The Two Kings
Q] Welcome to Fantasy Book Critic Deepak. To start with, could you tell us what inspired you to be a writer in the first place?
Deepak:
I’ve wanted to tell stories from a very young age. I still have comics I drew
when I was 5 years old. It probably started because I was brought up in family
that cherished books, stories and storytelling. Some of my best memories were
my grandma, uncles and father telling stories from the Bible, the Epics and
their own childhood. I believe good art entertains you, but great art inspires
you to create your own work.
Q] Welcome to Fantasy Book Critic Deepak. To start with, could you tell us what inspired you to be a writer in the first place?
As for
myself, I’ve already completed a Worldbuilding Fantasy artbook called ‘the
Shrines of Araartu’ and self-published it a year prior. That
self-confidence carried me some way, but making a graphic novel turned out to
be a whole different beast altogether. It is a *lot* of work and takes a long
time, but hopefully we’ve learned a lot of things on the way for future
projects.
Q] Let’s talk about Headless Horselord, it’s a graphic novel set in a fantasy land reminiscent of the Indian Deccan. This is such a unique story idea focusing on elements of horror, sword & sorcery mixed in with Indian mythological aspects. Can you both tell us about how tricky/easy it was from a worldbuilding perspective?
Deepak: It
was surprisingly easy. One of the big advantages of the Indian Deccan was that
it’s an unusual setting even for Indian fantasy stories. However, this region
has a very rich and dynamic history. The more difficult aspect was not putting
everything we wanted to put into the story. The Sword and Sorcery aspect was so
obvious once we chose the setting. There’re so many cool legends, and
historical details to pull from. There’s been crazy battles, weird rituals and
sacrifices and iconic characters throughout the Medieval era that this story is
based on.
Q] As a desi SFF reader, this graphic novel
is a breath of fresh air. There might be non-desi readers who might not be
aware of the cool aspects within and hence might be a tad apprehensive. So what
can readers expect from The Headless Horselord and what should they
be looking forward to according to you both?
Deepak:
First of all, the art! Hazem has knocked this out of the park…out of the
city on this one. The art is so gorgeous, detailed and the storytelling is top
notch. I’ve been showing the book to some of the biggest creators in comics and
their jaws dropped seeing the beautiful work in this book. So if nothing else,
have this book on your shelf just as a gorgeous collectible.
But for this into it for the story, if
you’re a fan of Witcher or Berserk, you’ll love this story. It
has all the familiar elements of those stories, but it is imbued with a fresh
setting. By the end of it, you will be fascinated with the history of this era,
and the hope is that you’ll go and look for more books to read about this time.
Q] Can you tell us more about the world
that the Headless Horselord is set in? What are the curiosities (geographical,
mystical, etc.) of this world?
Deepak: The
story is set in a fictionalized version of the Indian Deccan region called
Dakshina. It’s a story that goes through two timelines: a “Golden Age” before
the land was overrun by monsters. This is the era that shows you gorgeous
cities, big battles and the rituals and culture of that era. This is followed
by the “Dark Age” when Dakshina has fallen and is now ruled by the Monster
King. But we wanted to avoid the obvious dichotomy of good versus bad.
Hence, both eras have golden and dark
aspects to it. In the Golden Era we have lot of bloodshed…even genocides. While
in the Dark Ages, jungles are lush again and wildlife is thriving. The story keeps moving between the two eras
and you slowly uncover the mystery of how the world fell and how the Headless
Horselord lost his head. Regarding the mystical aspects, we’ve borrowed myths
from Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Folk religions of the region and combined them
so that the reader is experiencing something new and not just a retread of
familiar tropes.
Q] Can you talk to our readers about some
of the story’s major characters?
Deepak: The
most important character is of course the Headless Horselord himself.
He’s immortal and self-healing, so like a medieval Wolverine. And just like the
mutant, he’s a phenomenal fighter who acts very stoic and gruffy but has a
strong sense of justice and need to help the defenseless. Doesn’t have a mouth so doesn’t talk much.
Which is compensated by his brother, who at this stage is just a decapitated
head. Headless’ brother is the
more friendly and intellectual of the two. He’s very trusting and kind which
can and does get him into trouble.
Q] Let’s talk about Headless Horselord, it’s a graphic novel set in a fantasy land reminiscent of the Indian Deccan. This is such a unique story idea focusing on elements of horror, sword & sorcery mixed in with Indian mythological aspects. Can you both tell us about how tricky/easy it was from a worldbuilding perspective?
Then we have Vajra i.e. Headless’
Horse. He’s a beautiful, smart creature who is very loyal and courageous but
also has a short fuse and can quickly get riled up. There’s Huan Wang,
inspired by real life Chinese travelers, who is a foreigner trying to make
sense of this weird world he finds himself in. He’s also very potty-mouthed,
constantly swearing highlighting the irony of someone who claims to be a
spiritual guide on paper but is very material and worldly in real life. He
wants nothing to do with Headless’ mission but finds himself constantly caught
in the crosshairs. Then there are several other interesting characters that I
can’t give too many details about without spoiling the story.
Q] So for someone who hasn't read any of
your previous work Deepak, how would you describe the type of stories that you
write, what would be your pitch for Headless Horselord?
Deepak: I
write fantasy and sci-fi inspired by Indian culture and history. My works are
inspired by blockbuster cinema, anime and of course comics from all parts of
the world. I write fast-paced, action-focused stories and my primary goal is to
introduce readers to the rich, vast world of Indian civilization. If you like
stories like the Witcher, or Conan and want to read something set
in a world that’s not the usual European or East Asian setting, then give Headless
Horselord a shot.
Q] With Headless Horselord: The Two Kings being the first volume of a
series, what can you reveal about your plans for the series (number of books,
etc)?
Deepak: This volume is first in
a trilogy. We already have the outline for volume 2 and 3 and as soon as the
editing wraps on The Two Kings, I’ll start working on volume 2. We are committed
to completing the trilogy up to book 3 which will wrap the full saga. After
that, based on if we have more stories to tell in this world, we’ll take it
forward.
Q] In closing, do you have any parting
thoughts or comments you’d like to share with our readers?
Deepak: To all those who have shown your support by following us on Kickstarter, or downloading the first issue, thank you! We have been blown away by the response from the audience. You can support us by backing us on Kickstarter. If you haven’t yet, you can read Chapter 1 for free.
Book links: Amazon, Goodreads
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Chuck Wendig is a New York Times bestselling author, screenwriter, and game designer known for novels like The Book of Accidents, Wanderers, and Wayward. He was a finalist for the Astounding Award and an alumnus of the Sundance Screenwriters Lab. He is also widely known for his popular writing blog, terribleminds, and lives in Pennsylvania with his family.
Publisher: Del Rey (US) / Cornerstone (UK) Length: 592 pages Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, eBook, and Audiobook
Buy Daggerbound
FORMAT/INFO: Daggerbound was published on August 25th, 2026 by Bramble Romance. It is 436 pages long and available in hardcover, ebook, and audiobook formats.
OVERVIEW/ANALYSIS: Daggerbound is a gem of a romance set in a road trip adventure, perfect for those who like watching an increasingly odd set of companions assemble across a journey. Things start simple enough: Edmund is a cleric and a scholar who is going on one last errand for his temple before he leaves his order forever. All he has to do is deliver a sword to a scholar in another city. Then he accidentally discovers an immortal warrior spirit named the Dervish is bound to the sword, one that is as flirtatious as he is deadly.
OVERVIEW/ANALYSIS: Daggerbound is a gem of a romance set in a road trip adventure, perfect for those who like watching an increasingly odd set of companions assemble across a journey. Things start simple enough: Edmund is a cleric and a scholar who is going on one last errand for his temple before he leaves his order forever. All he has to do is deliver a sword to a scholar in another city. Then he accidentally discovers an immortal warrior spirit named the Dervish is bound to the sword, one that is as flirtatious as he is deadly.
From there, Edmund's band of misfits only grows as he and the Dervish travel together. I won't rob you of the delight of discovering these companions for yourselves, but suffice to say that Large Francis will always have a special place in my heart. All of these companions are written in T. Kingfisher's delightfully droll manner, and I loved getting to know these characters as they survive the dangers along the road.
And while much of this story is whimsical and delightful, it is not without peril and some darker elements. The Dervish, in particular, has had some harrowing experiences in his past that get slowly unpacked over the course of the story. The Dervish may be immortal, but that doesn't mean he doesn't experience pain, and not all of the owners of his blade have been particularly kind. But these moments of darkness serve to highlight the relief and joy of being with folks who are good and kind and who just want to help however they can.
I also enjoyed watching the Dervish and Edmund slowly develop their feelings for each other over the course of the book. Edmund, while not romantically inexperienced, trends towards quiet and soft-spoken, while the Dervish is flamboyant and ready to flirt with anything that moves. I'll be honest, the Dervish's bold, persistent flirtations were a little much for my personal preference, but I did like watching him come around to respect and love Edmund.
To make a long story short, if you enjoyed Swordheart, you'll be glad to come back to Swordheart. The same wit and whimsy in writing is on display, with a new pairing to fall in love with. There's a setup teased for a third book in this series, and I am very much looking forward to it when it comes out.
And while much of this story is whimsical and delightful, it is not without peril and some darker elements. The Dervish, in particular, has had some harrowing experiences in his past that get slowly unpacked over the course of the story. The Dervish may be immortal, but that doesn't mean he doesn't experience pain, and not all of the owners of his blade have been particularly kind. But these moments of darkness serve to highlight the relief and joy of being with folks who are good and kind and who just want to help however they can.
I also enjoyed watching the Dervish and Edmund slowly develop their feelings for each other over the course of the book. Edmund, while not romantically inexperienced, trends towards quiet and soft-spoken, while the Dervish is flamboyant and ready to flirt with anything that moves. I'll be honest, the Dervish's bold, persistent flirtations were a little much for my personal preference, but I did like watching him come around to respect and love Edmund.
To make a long story short, if you enjoyed Swordheart, you'll be glad to come back to Swordheart. The same wit and whimsy in writing is on display, with a new pairing to fall in love with. There's a setup teased for a third book in this series, and I am very much looking forward to it when it comes out.
Buy A Trade of Blood
Read our review of Book 1, The Tainted Cup
FORMAT/INFO: A Trade of Blood was published by Del Rey on August 4th, 2026. It is 400 pages long and available in hardcover, ebook, and audiobook formats.
OVERVIEW/ANALYSIS: A Trade of Blood is another superb fantasy murder mystery in an eerie, creepy world. This particular installment takes a look at how the meat gets made - and I mean that literally. Ana and Din are sent to a part of the empire renowned for its cattle pastures and butchery floors, as well as for its two feuding noble families who have been squabbling over the land for centuries. As with the previous two books, everything is just a little bit off in a way that is unsettling to the reader. This is an empire willing to alchemically enhance and manipulate anything and anyone for its survival - although in this adventure, we start taking a real peek behind the curtain at the cost of that survival.
This was also a particularly personal adventure for Din, in more ways than one. His own alchemical enhancements that give him an eidetic memory also cost him life span and fertility. And while he may not care so much about losing the ability to procreate, Din starts to get some reminders that his life will likely be much shorter than those around him. It's a realization that makes him grapple with both his past and future.
The mystery itself is a good one - why would a man who confessed to a murder have no recollection of how or why he did it? The answer is absolutely chilling and disquieting. I will say that keeping track of the cast of characters involved in the two feuding houses did become a little bit daunting at times, simply because there were so many names and connections between everyone, but it's a minor issue.
In short, A Trade of Blood has confirmed what I've suspected: if Bennett releases one of these books every year for the foreseeable future, I will be a very happy reader indeed.
OVERVIEW/ANALYSIS: A Trade of Blood is another superb fantasy murder mystery in an eerie, creepy world. This particular installment takes a look at how the meat gets made - and I mean that literally. Ana and Din are sent to a part of the empire renowned for its cattle pastures and butchery floors, as well as for its two feuding noble families who have been squabbling over the land for centuries. As with the previous two books, everything is just a little bit off in a way that is unsettling to the reader. This is an empire willing to alchemically enhance and manipulate anything and anyone for its survival - although in this adventure, we start taking a real peek behind the curtain at the cost of that survival.
This was also a particularly personal adventure for Din, in more ways than one. His own alchemical enhancements that give him an eidetic memory also cost him life span and fertility. And while he may not care so much about losing the ability to procreate, Din starts to get some reminders that his life will likely be much shorter than those around him. It's a realization that makes him grapple with both his past and future.
The mystery itself is a good one - why would a man who confessed to a murder have no recollection of how or why he did it? The answer is absolutely chilling and disquieting. I will say that keeping track of the cast of characters involved in the two feuding houses did become a little bit daunting at times, simply because there were so many names and connections between everyone, but it's a minor issue.
In short, A Trade of Blood has confirmed what I've suspected: if Bennett releases one of these books every year for the foreseeable future, I will be a very happy reader indeed.
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