Blog Archive

View My Stats
Friday, December 29, 2023

FBC Crew List - Lucas' Favorite Books (and more) of 2023

I love best-of lists and reading wrap-ups. As 2023 comes to a close, it's time to sit, think, and write such a post. I always do it with pleasure. 

It was a rather good year. I've read a lot and discovered some excellent reads. Contrary to previous years, my 2023 wrap-up is dominated by fun, pulpy, and entertaining, with just a few "serious" works thrown in the mix. 

I guess it's because the year has been intense and I simply gravitated toward easier, more accessible books. I've rediscovered my love for thrillers and mysteries but I won't list them because it's a fantasy website, after all. That said, some of my most thrilling reads this year were all thrillers. I'll mention a few standouts here, in case someone here is interested: Dark Places by Gillian Flynn, False Witness by Karin Slaughter, The Kind Worth Killing by Peter Swanson, and The Traitor by Ava Glass.

I hope some of you will find inspiration here and maybe discover something worth attention :)

Tuesday, December 19, 2023

Book review: Looking Glass Sound by Catriona Ward



Book links: Amazon, Goodreads

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: CATRIONA WARD was born in Washington, DC, and grew up in the United States, Kenya, Madagascar, Yemen, and Morocco. She studied English at the University of Oxford and later earned her master’s degree in creative writing at the University of East Anglia. Ward is a three-time winner of the August Derleth Award for Best Horror Novel: for The Girl from Rawblood, her debut; Little Eve; and The Last House on Needless Street. Little Eve also won the Shirley Jackson Award for Best Novel. Ward is the international bestselling author of The Last House on Needless Street and Sundial.

Publisher: Tor Nightfire (August 8, 2023) Page count: 352 pages Formats: Audiobook, ebook, paperback
Monday, December 18, 2023

Review: Sun of Blood and Ruin by Mariely Lares

 


OFFICIAL AUTHOR BIO: Mariely Lares is a Mexican-American writer of fiction. Born in the only hospital of a small town in Southern California—which, fun fact, is also Cher’s birthplace—she grew up straddling two worlds, crossing the border almost every day. The daughter of Mexican immigrants, she holds a degree in Computer Science Engineering and lives in San Diego, where she can be found doing all the outdoorsy things, rescuing dogs, and writing her next book.

FORMAT/INFO: Sun of Blood and Ruin will be published on February 20th, 2024 by HarperVoyager in the US; it was published in the UK on September 28th, 2023. It is 384 pages and told in the first person from Leonora's POV. It will be available in hardcover, ebook, and audiobook format.
Thursday, December 14, 2023

Book review: Murder on The Lamplight Express (The Lamplight Murder Mysteries # 2) by Morgan Stang


Book links: Amazon, Goodreads

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Morgan Stang lives in the humid part of Texas. He graduated from the University of Houston with a BBA. By day he works in accounting and by night he sleeps, and sometime in between he writes in a wide variety of fantasy genres, ranging from dark fantasy (The Bartram's Maw series) to gaslamp murder mystery (The Lamplight Murder Mysteries) to cozy fantasy (The Bookshop and the Barbarian). He is a fan of all things nerdy, and lives with an immortal ball python.

Publisher: Morgan Stang Length: 298 pages Formats: ebook, paperback

Tuesday, December 12, 2023

SPFBO Finalist review: Murder at Spindle Manor by Morgan Stang

 


ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Morgan Stang lives in the humid part of Texas. He graduated from the University of Houston with a BBA. By day he works in accounting and by night he sleeps, and sometime in between he writes in a wide variety of fantasy genres, ranging from dark fantasy (The Bartram's Maw series) to gaslamp murder mystery (The Lamplight Murder Mysteries) to cozy fantasy (The Bookshop and the Barbarian). He is a fan of all things nerdy, and lives with an immortal ball python.

Murder at Spindle Manor links: AmazonGoodreads

SPFBO Finalist Interview: Morgan Stang, the author of Murder at Spindle Manor

 


ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Morgan Stang lives in the humid part of Texas. He graduated from the University of Houston with a BBA. By day he works in accounting and by night he sleeps, and sometime in between he writes in a wide variety of fantasy genres, ranging from dark fantasy (The Bartram's Maw series) to gaslamp murder mystery (The Lamplight Murder Mysteries) to cozy fantasy (The Bookshop and the Barbarian). He is a fan of all things nerdy, and lives with an immortal ball python.

Murder at Spindle Manor links: AmazonGoodreads

Monday, December 11, 2023

A True Account: Hannah Masury’s Sojourn Amongst the Pyrates, Written by Herself by Katherine Howe (Reviewed by Shazzie)

 Book Review: A True Account: Hannah Masury’s Sojourn Amongst the Pyrates, Written by Herself by Katherine Howe


A True Account: Hannah Masury’s Sojourn Amongst the Pyrates, Written by Herself by Katherine Howe

Official Author Website
Buy A True Account here - U.S. | U.K.

OFFICIAL AUTHOR BIO: Katherine Howe is a #1 New York Times bestselling and award-winning writer of historical fiction and nonfiction. Her best known books are The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane, which debuted at #2 on the New York Times bestseller list in 2009 and was named one of USA Today's top ten books of the year, and Conversion, which received the 2015 Massachusetts Book Award in young adult literature. In 2014 she edited The Penguin Book of Witches for Penguin Classics, a primary source reader on the history of witchcraft in England and North America. She co-authored the #1 bestselling Vanderbilt: the Rise and Fall of an American Dynasty with CNN's Anderson Cooper, which came out in September 2021. Their next collaboration, Astor: the Rise and Fall of an American Fortune will release September 19, 2023. And her next novel, A True Account: Hannah Masury's Sojourn Amongst the Pyrates, Written by Herself will be out November 21. 2023. She holds a BA in art history and philosophy from Columbia and an MA in American and New England studies from Boston University, A native Houstonian, she lives in New England with her family. She also puts hot sauce on everything.

FORMAT/INFO: A True Account was published in November 2023 by Magpie Books in the U.K. and by Henry Holt and Co. in the U.S. It is available in hardback, ebook, and audiobook formats.
Thursday, December 7, 2023

EXCLUSIVE COVER REVEAL Q&A: The Storm Beneath The World (Children Of Corruption #1) by Michael R. Fletcher



Q] Welcome back to Fantasy Book Critic Michael. How are you doing since the release of A WAR TO END ALL, the end of your Manifest Delusions saga?
 
MRF: Welcome back? Yeah, I guess this place does look kinda familiar. Er…if anything went missing after my last visit, it wasn’t me. And if anything was broken, it was like that when I got here.
Wednesday, December 6, 2023

Review: Fearless by Allen Stroud

 

Official Author Website
Buy Fearless

OFFICIAL AUTHOR BIO: Allen Stroud (Ph.D) is a university lecturer and Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror writer, best known for his work on the computer games Elite Dangerous (Frontier Developments) and Phoenix Point (Snapshot Games). He has chaired the British Fantasy Society's Fantasycon and is the current Chair of the British Science Fiction Association. His SF novels, Fearless, and Resilient are published by Flame Tree Press. He also composes science fiction music soundtracks, including for The Fractal Series.

FORMAT/INFO: Fearless was published on September 8th, 2020 by Flame Tree Press. It is 362 pages long and is told in first person from multiple POVs, including Captain Shann. It is available in paperback, hardback, and ebook.

Tuesday, December 5, 2023

Book review: Snow Angels by Jeff Lemire & Jock


Book links: Amazon, Goodreads

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Jeff Lemire is a New York Times bestselling and award-winning author, and creator of the acclaimed graphic novels Sweet Tooth, Essex County, The Underwater Welder, Trillium, Plutona, Black Hammer, Descender, Royal City, and Gideon Falls. His upcoming projects include a host of series and original graphic novels, including the fantasy series Ascender with Dustin Nguyen.

Publisher: Dark Horse Books (March 28, 2023 ) Page count: 264 pages

Wednesday, November 29, 2023

Review: System Collapse by Martha Wells

 

Official Author Website
Buy System Collapse

OFFICIAL AUTHOR BIO: Martha Wells has been an SF/F writer since her first fantasy novel was published in 1993, and her work includes The Books of the Raksura series, the Ile-Rien series, The Murderbot Diaries series, and other fantasy novels, most recently Witch King (Tordotcom, 2023). She has also written media tie-in fiction for Star Wars, Stargate: Atlantis, and Magic: the Gathering, as well as short fiction, YA novels, and non-fiction. She has won Nebula Awards, Hugo Awards, Locus Awards, and a Dragon Award, and her work has appeared on the Philip K. Dick Award ballot, the BSFA Award ballot, the USA Today Bestseller List, the Sunday Times Bestseller List, and the New York Times Bestseller List. She is a member of the Texas Literary Hall of Fame, and her books have been published in twenty-five languages. 

FORMAT/INFO: System Collapse was published by Tordotcom on November 14th, 2023. It is 245 pages and is told in first person from Murderbot's POV. It is available in hardcover and ebook formats.
Tuesday, November 28, 2023

Book review: Slewfoot by Brom


Book links: Amazon, Goodreads

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Over the past decades, Brom has lent his distinctive visions and artwork to all facets of the creative industries, from novels and games, to comics and film. He is also the author of a series of award-winning illustrated horror novels: Lost Gods, Krampus the Yule Lord, The Child Thief, The Plucker, and The Devil’s Rose. Brom is currently kept in a dank cellar somewhere just outside of Seattle. Visit him at www.bromart.com.

Publisher: Tor Nightfire; 1st edition (September 14, 2021) Page count: 320 Formats: audio, ebook, paperback Cover art & Design - Brom

Monday, November 27, 2023

The Invocations by Krystal Sutherland (Reviewed by Shazzie)

 

Book Review: The Invocations by Krystal Sutherland


cover of the book The Invocations by Krystal Sutherland


OFFICIAL AUTHOR BIO: Krystal Sutherland is an internationally published author. Her first novel, Chemical Hearts, was published in over 20 countries and was named by the American Booksellers Association as one of the best debuts of 2016. The film adaptation, produced by Amazon Studios, stars Lili Reinhart (Riverdale) and Austin Abrams (Euphoria); Sutherland served as an executive producer on the project. Her second novel, A Semi-Definitive List of Worst Nightmares, was published to critical acclaim in 2017 and has been optioned for adaptation by Yellow Bird US. In 2018, she appeared on the annual Forbes “30 Under 30” list. Originally from Australia, she has lived on four continents and currently calls London home. Her next novel for young adults, House of Hollow, is set for publication by Penguin in spring 2021.


FORMAT/INFO: The Invocations will be launched in January 2024 by Bonnier Books UK. It contains 400 pages long and told from multiple POVs.
Wednesday, November 22, 2023

Generation Ship by Michael Mammay (Reviewed by Shazzie)

 Book Review: Generation Ship by Michael Mammay

cover of the science fiction book Generation Ship by Michael Mammay

Official Author Website
Buy Generation Ship HERE

Read Caitlin's review of the book HERE

OFFICIAL AUTHOR BIO: Michael Mammay is a science fiction writer and a retired army officer. He is a graduate of the United States Military Academy and is a veteran of more wars than he cares to count. His novels include the Planetside series, The Misfit Soldier, and The Weight of Command. His next novel, Generation Ship, is coming in October of 2023. Planetside was named to Library Journal’s best books of 2018 list, and the audio book, narrated by RC Bray, was nominated for an Audie award for best SF audio book. Michael lives with his wife in Georgia.


FORMAT/INFO: Generation Ship was released on October 17th, 2023 by HarperVoyager. It is 608 pages long and told in third person from multiple POVs. It will be released in paperback, ebook, and audiobook formats.

OVERVIEW/ANALYSIS: Generation Ship by Michael Mammay is a science fiction book that follows the space faring journey of the people on a ship on it's way to colonise a viable planet.

A big crew of people leave the Earth and go on a space voyage to find another planet to colonize. It's been 250 years, and their probes give them data indicating the possibility of a suitable planet, and what follows is this story. They left our planet behind, but not all of our problems. Micheal Mammay uses this premise to create a fantastic and engaging novel that follows five of them: a farmer, a scientist, a politician, a security officer and an engineer.

This book is not short by anyone's standards, but it is immersive. I read about a quarter of it before picking up another book, and when this happens, it's very difficult for me to be able to get back to reading the previous one. But in this case, that wasn't an issue at all. Once it got going, I read a big chunk of it in one go. What I loved the most was the tiny little details meticulously dropped in about everyday life on the ship, on the different things experienced by the characters that made it feel so lived in. I lapped up all those mentions, and while I generally express a preference for more compact books, I just want more. 

The pacing is even, and all the characters are given equal(ish) page time, and while I have no affection for any of them, there were times when I did stop reading and ask myself "Is this person right?", and that is a testament to the skill with which the author deals with real people dealing with problems that are complicated by the implications of any stance they take, and the effect this has on a story that's mainly furthered by a balance of political and personal objectives.

From the beginning, it is clear that this story isn't really about the exploration of the new planet, and that a large part of it takes place in the ship. This I enjoyed, and it paved the way for some unfamiliar beats as the personalities clashed, bickered, made decisions in a way that brought disaster after disaster, as well as makes a lot of points for and against democracy, technocracy, autocracy, as well as the sustainability of a civilisation that wears blinders in its push toward extreme reliance on technology. At the end though, it's a little bit of an unexpected whirlwind with everything that happens, but in a way that makes sense to the characters we follow.

While I was able to appreciate all the manoeuvres of the clashing personalities, at the end of it all, I remember more vibes than plot in a way. For such an intricately woven story, this is not the aftertaste I wish for. While I understand the cases made by all the characters, I felt like I was following the story without any deep investments in any of their successes, and this was a slight dent in my enjoyment of the book.


CONCLUSIONGeneration Ship is a fantastic political drama about the different players and their motives, and how those can shape the future of a civilisation. I highly recommend this to fans of science fiction, and you bet I'll load all of Michael Mammay's work onto my kindle.
Tuesday, November 21, 2023

Never Send Roses by Craig Schaefer (reviewed by Mihir Wanchoo)

 


Official Author Website
Pre-order Never Send Roses over HERE
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of The Long Way Down 
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of The White Gold Score 
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of Redemption Song 
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of The Living End 
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of A Plain-Dealing Villain
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of The Killing Floor Blues
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of The Castle Doctrine
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of Double Or Nothing
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of The Neon Boneyard
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of The Locust Job
Read Fantasy Book Critic’s review of Down Among the Dead Men
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of Sworn To The Night
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of Detonation Boulevard
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of Winter's Reach 
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of The Instruments Of Control 
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of Harmony Black
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of Red Knight Falling
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of Glass Predator
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of Cold Spectrum
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of Right To The Kill
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of Black Tie Required
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of Ghosts Of Gotham
Read Fantasy Book Critic' review of A Time For Witches
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of The Loot
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of The Insider
Read Fantasy Book Critic’s review of Any Minor World
Read Fantasy Book Critic's Interview with Craig Schaefer
Read Fantasy Book Critic's Harmony Black Series Interview with Craig Schaefer
Read Double Or Nothing Cover Reveal Mini-Interview with Craig Schaefer
Read Part I of Fantasy Book Critic's In-depth Interview with Craig Schaefer
Read Part II of Fantasy Book Critic's In-depth Interview with Craig Schaefer
Read the Wisdom's Grave Trilogy Completion Interview with Craig Schaefer
Read the 2019 And Beyond Interview with Craig Schaefer
Read the Right To The Kill Cover Reveal Q&A with Craig Schaefer
Read the Black Tie Required Cover Reveal Q&A with Craig Schaefer
Read the Charlie McCabe series interview with Craig Schaefer
Read My Sworn To The Night Cover Reveal Q&A with Craig Schaefer
Read 2020 State Of Schaefer Interview with Craig Schaefer
 
Monday, November 20, 2023

Review: One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig

 


Buy One Dark Window HERE

OFFICIAL AUTHOR BIO: Rachel Gillig was born and raised on the California coast. She is an author, with a B.A. in literary theory and criticism from UC Davis. If she is not ensconced in blankets dreaming up her next novel, Rachel is in her garden or walking with her husband, son, and their poodle, Wally.

FORMAT/INFO: One Dark Window was published by Orbit Books on September 27th, 2022. It is 392 pages and is told in first person from Elspeth's point of view. It is available in paperback, ebook, and audiobook form.
Wednesday, November 15, 2023

Review: The Fractured Dark by Megan E. O'Keefe

 

Official Author Website
Buy The Fractured Dark HERE
Read Caitlin's review of Book 1, The Blighted Stars

OFFICIAL AUTHOR BIO: Megan E. O'Keefe was raised amongst journalists, and as soon as she was able joined them by crafting a newsletter which chronicled the daily adventures of the local cat population. She lives in the Bay Area of California, and spends her free time tinkering with anything she can get her hands on.

FORMAT/INFO: The Fractured Dark was published on September 26th, 2023 by Orbit Books. It is 544 pages long and is told in third person from multiple POVs, including Naira and Tarquin. It is available in paperback, audiobook, and ebook formats.

Kraken Rider Z by Dyrk Ashton & David Z Estes (reviewed by Mihir Wanchoo)

 


Official Author Website
Order Kraken Rider Z over HERE

AUTHOR INFORMATION: Dyrk Ashton is a writer, educator, filmmaker and former actor active in storytelling and media making. Born and raised in the Ohio, he spent his formative years in the American Midwest wherein he got a BFA, Masters & PhD in the field of filmmaking & Movie studies. Dyrk loves the outdoors and even more the genre of speculative fiction. He currently resides in Ohio, but the fantasy landscape is the place he calls his true home. 
Tuesday, November 14, 2023

SPFBO 9 Finalist Review: The Wickwire Watch by Jacquelyn Hagen


 Author website

Book links: AmazonGoodreads

SPFBO Finalist interview: Jacquelyn Hagen, the Author of The Wickwire Watch




ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Jackie has never had enough of stories. This was perhaps foreseeable, considering that a good deal of her childhood was spent face-deep in books, writing short stories, and putting on goofy and/or dramatic theatrical productions. Then came a growing love for movies, folk music, and classic literature. She graduated college with a degree in Film and Television Production, which led to a brief stint in the entertainment industry. Finding this business incompatible with her super-introverted personality, she looked instead to what stories were being told in the wider world and enlisted in the U.S. Air Force.

Still, the stories never left her alone. In early 2009, in the confines of a small barracks room, a curious boy with a brash attitude and an oversized top hat came to announce that he had a fascinating tale of his own, and he wasn’t going away until she agreed to tell it. She was hesitant at first, but when other intriguing characters began to follow, she realized she had no choice but to welcome the unexpected commission. Their story is told in The Riverfall Chronicles.

She resides wherever the Air Force needs her to be. In her free time, she continues to devour stories in every form (usually while hanging out with her two big fluffy dogs), but has also been known to play in folk bands, raise chickens, and try to improve her bread-baking skills. She is pleased and excited to finally release her stories into the wild. Above all else, she hopes her readers will be blessed by them.

Find Jacquelyn online: Webpage

The Wickwire Watch links: AmazonGoodreads

INTERVIEW
Monday, November 13, 2023

Grievar's Blood by Alexander Darwin (Reviewed by Shazzie)

 Book Review: Grievar's Blood by Alexander Darwin


Grievar's Blood by Alexander Darwin book cover

Official Author Website

Buy Grievar's Blood HERE

Read Shazzie's review of The Combat Codes HERE
Read Caitlin's review of The Combat Codes HERE

OFFICIAL AUTHOR BIO: Alexander Darwin is an author living near Boston with his wife and three daughters. Outside of writing, he teaches and trains martial arts (Brazilian Jiu Jitsu). He’s inspired by old-school Hong Kong action flicks, jRPGs, underdog stories and bibimbap bowls.

Outside of writing fiction, Alexander has written for publications such as Rolling Stone Magazine and SF Signal. His latest piece - "The Lost Diary of Anthony Bourdain" - was a featured piece in Rolling Stone’s January 2022 issue.
Saturday, November 11, 2023

Cover Reveal: The Blood Curse (Gardens of War & Wasteland Book #2) by Jessica McMinn



We are pleased to reveal the cover of the upcoming sequel to Jessica McMinn's The Ruptured Sky. The Ruptured Sky was our SPFBO 9 semi-finalist and it's a series worth trying!
Tuesday, November 7, 2023

Review: Calamity by Constance Fay


Official Author Website
Buy Calamity HERE

OFFICIAL AUTHOR BIO: Constance Fay writes space romance novels and genre fiction short stories. Her short fiction can be found in the Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, Catscast podcast, and other publications. She has a background in medical device R&D and lives in Colorado with a cat who edits all her work first.
Monday, November 6, 2023

What the River Knows by Isabel Ibañez (Reviewed by Shazzie)

 Book Review: What the River Knows by Isabel Ibañez



Buy What the River Knows HERE

OFFICIAL AUTHOR BIO: Isabel Ibañez is the author of Together We Burn, Written in Starlight, and Woven in Moonlight. She was born in Boca Raton, Florida, and is the proud daughter of two Bolivian immigrants. A true word nerd, she received her degree in creative writing and has been a Pitch Wars mentor for three years. Isabel is an avid movie goer and loves hosting family and friends around the dinner table. She currently lives in Winter Park, Florida, with her husband, their adorable dog, and a serious collection of books. Say hi on social media at @IsabelWriter09.
Wednesday, November 1, 2023

SPFBO 9 Finalists, Our Approach, Stats

 


As avid fantasy readers, we love discovering new voices and hidden gems. SPFBO contest gives us such a possibility, and we’re thrilled to participate in it for the ninth time. The first stage of the contest has just ended, and ten blogs have picked their champions. We’re excited to read all of them and would love to encourage you to do the same. 

Here's GR LIST with all finalists. We encourage you to add them all to your Want to Read shelf.

Monday, October 30, 2023

Thirteen Ways to Kill Lulabelle Rock by Maud Woolf (Reviewed by Shazzie)

 Book Review: Thirteen Ways to Kill Lulabelle Rock by Maud Woolf

Thirteen Ways to Kill Lulabelle Rock by Maud Woolf

Buy Thirteen Ways to Kill Lulabelle Rock HERE

OFFICIAL AUTHOR BIO: Maud Woolf is a Scottish speculative writer with a particular focus on horror and science fiction. Her work has appeared in a variety of online magazines, including Metaphorosis Magazine where her short story ‘The Stranding’ was selected to appear in the Best of Metaphorosis 2020. Over the course of her life she’s worked a number of jobs including waitressing, comic book selling, sign holding and as a tour guide at a German dollhouse museum. When not exploring Glasgow’s labyrinthine system of abandoned tunnels she spends most of her free time watching old hollywood films and attempting to knit.

FORMAT/INFO: Thirteen Ways to Kill Lulabelle Rock is due publication on January 2nd, 2024 by Angry Robot books in paperback and ebook formats.
Wednesday, October 25, 2023

Review: THE QUEEN OF DAYS by Greta Kelly

 


Buy The Queen of Days HERE

OFFICIAL AUTHOR BIO: Greta K. Kelly is (probably) not a witch, death or otherwise, but she can still be summoned with offerings of too-beautiful-to-use journals and Butterfingers candy. She currently lives in Wisconsin with her husband EJ, daughters Lorelei and Nadia who are doing their level-best to take over the world.

FORMAT/INFO:
The Queen of Days was published on October 24th, 2024 by Harper Voyager. It is 384 pages long and is told from Balthazar and Tass's point of view. It is available in hardcover, ebook and audiobook formats.
Tuesday, October 24, 2023

The Witchwood Knot by Olivia Atwater (Reviewed by Shazzie)

Book Review: The Witchwood Knot by Olivia Atwater 


Official Author Website
Buy The Witchwood Knot here

OFFICIAL AUTHOR BIO: Olivia Atwater writes whimsical historical fantasy with a hint of satire. She lives in Montreal, Quebec with her fantastic, prose-inspiring husband and her two cats. When she told her second-grade history teacher that she wanted to work with history someday, she is fairly certain this isn't what either party had in mind. She has been, at various times, a historical re-enactor, a professional witch at a metaphysical supply store, a web developer, and a vending machine repairperson.
Monday, October 23, 2023

Review: These Burning Stars by Bethany Jacobs

 

Official Author Website
Buy These Burning Stars HERE

OFFICIAL AUTHOR BIO: Bethany Jacobs is a former college instructor of writing and science fiction, who made the leap to education technology. When she is not writing, she enjoys reading, trying out new recipes, and snuggling in bed with a TV show she’s already watched ten times. She lives in Buffalo, New York, with her wife and her dog and her books. These Burning Stars is her debut novel.
Thursday, October 19, 2023

Lord Of A Shattered Land by Howard Andrew Jones (reviewed by Mihir Wanchoo)

 


Official Howard Andrew Jones LiveJournal
Order “Lord Of A Shattered Land” HERE
Read Fantasy Book Critic’s review of The Desert Of Souls
Tuesday, October 17, 2023

Book review: The September House by Carissa Orlando

 


Book links: Amazon, Goodreads

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Carissa Orlando has a doctorate in clinical-community psychology and specializes in work with children and adolescents. In her “day job,” Carissa works to improve the quality of and access to mental health care for children and their families. Prior to her career in psychology, Carissa studied creative writing in college and has written creatively in some form since she was a child. It was only a matter of time before Carissa, an avid horror fan for much of her life, merged her understanding of the human psyche and deep love for storytelling into a piece of fiction.

Publisher: Berkley (Sep 05, 2023) Length: 352 pages Formats: ebook, audiobook, paperback

Monday, October 16, 2023

The Hexologists by Josiah Bancroft (Reviewed by Shazzie)

 Book Review: The Hexologists by Josiah Bancroft

the hexologists by josiah bancroft

Official Author Website
Buy The Hexologists here - U.S. | U.K.

Read Caitlin's review of the book here
Friday, October 13, 2023

Star Bound by Rex Burke (Reviewed by Shazzie)

 Book Review: Star Bound by Rex Burke 


star bound by rex burke, book three in the odyssey earth trilogy



OFFICIAL AUTHOR BIO: Rex Burke is a SciFi writer based in North Yorkshire, UK. 

When he was young, he read every one of those yellow-jacketed Victor Gollancz hardbacks in his local library. That feeling of out-of-this-world amazement never left him – and keeps him company as he writes his own SciFi adventures.

When he's not writing, he travels – one way or another, he'll get to the stars, even if it's just as stardust when his own story is done.

Thursday, October 12, 2023

Review: Generation Ship by Michael Mammay

 


Official Author Website
Buy Generation Ship HERE

OFFICIAL AUTHOR BIO: Michael Mammay is a science fiction writer and a retired army officer. He is a graduate of the United States Military Academy and is a veteran of more wars than he cares to count. His novels include the Planetside series, The Misfit Soldier, and The Weight of Command. His next novel, Generation Ship, is coming in October of 2023. Planetside was named to Library Journal’s best books of 2018 list, and the audio book, narrated by RC Bray, was nominated for an Audie award for best SF audio book. Michael lives with his wife in Georgia.
Wednesday, October 11, 2023

Book review: An Inheritance of Magic by Benedict Jacka

 


Book links: Amazon, Goodreads

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Benedict Jacka is the author of the Alex Verus series, which began in 2012 with Fated and ended in 2021 with Risen. He’s studied philosophy at Cambridge, taught English in China, and worked at everything from civil servant to bouncer before becoming a full-time writer. For information about his books, settings, and releases, check his website at benedictjacka.co.uk or his Twitter at @benedictjacka.

Publisher: Ace (Oct 10, 2023) Length: 384 Pages Formats: 

Tuesday, October 10, 2023

Review: The Fragile Threads of Power by V.E. Schwab

 


Official Author Website
Buy The Fragile Threads of Power HERE

OFFICIAL AUTHOR BIO:  VICTORIA “V. E.” SCHWAB is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than twenty books, including the acclaimed Shades of Magic series, the Villains series, the Cassidy Blake series and the international bestseller The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue. Her work has received critical acclaim, translated into over two dozen languages, and optioned for television and film. First Kill – a YA vampire series based on Schwab’s short story of the same name – is currently in the works at Netflix with Emma Roberts’ Belletrist Productions producing. When not haunting Paris streets or trudging up English hillsides, she lives in Edinburgh, Scotland, and is usually tucked in the corner of a coffee shop, dreaming up monsters.
Friday, October 6, 2023

Book review: The First Ancestor by J.D.L. Rosell (Ranger of the Titan Wilds #2)

 


Book links: Amazon, Goodreads

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: J.D.L. Rosell was swept away on a journey when he stepped foot outside his door and into The Hobbit, and he hasn't stopped wandering since. In his writing, he tries to recapture the wonder, adventure, and poignancy that captivated him as a child. His explorations have taken him to worlds set in over a dozen novels and five series, which include Ranger of the Titan Wilds, Legend of Tal, The Runewar Saga, and The Famine Cycle.

When he's not off on a quest, Rosell enjoys his newfound hobby of archery and older pastimes of hiking and landscape photography. But every hobbit returns home, and if you step softly and mind the potatoes, you may glimpse him curled up with his wife and two cats, Zelda and Abenthy, reading a good book or replaying his favorite video games.

To check out his writing for free, pick up his series starter story bundle at www.jdlrosell.com.

Publisher: Jdl Rosell (May 1, 2023)  Length: 362 pages Formats: ebook, paperback, hardback, audiobook

Thursday, October 5, 2023

SPFBO9 Finalist: The Last Ranger by J. D. L. Rosell (reviewed by Esmay Rosalyne)

 


Official Author Website
Order the book HERE
 

SPFBO9 Semifinalist: Crucible Of Lies by Mitchell Hogan (reviewed by Esmay Rosalyne)



Order the book HERE
Wednesday, October 4, 2023

SPFBO9 Semifinalist: The Sparrow And The Oak Tree by Jamie Jackson (reviewed by Esmay Rosalyne)

 


Official Author Website
Order the book over HERE
 

FBC's Must Reads

FBC's Critically Underrated Reads

NOTEWORTHY RELEASES

 Click Here To Order “Barnaby The Wanderer” by Raymond St. Elmo
Order HERE

NOTEWORTHY RELEASES

 Click Here To Order “Barnaby The Wanderer” by Raymond St. Elmo
Order HERE

NOTEWORTHY RELEASES

 Click Here To Order “Barnaby The Wanderer” by Raymond St. Elmo
Order HERE

NOTEWORTHY RELEASES

 Click Here To Order “Barnaby The Wanderer” by Raymond St. Elmo
Order HERE

NOTEWORTHY RELEASES

 Click Here To Order “Barnaby The Wanderer” by Raymond St. Elmo
Order HERE

NOTEWORTHY RELEASES

 Click Here To Order “Barnaby The Wanderer” by Raymond St. Elmo
Order HERE