C. J. Daley

Continuing with audio for these, as R.C. Bray is fantastic for these.

Book three takes off right where two ended, with more and more of X’s hellish background revealed as he survived on post apocalyptic earth for years. Now I had meant to go back and read the new ‘prequel’ novella that features X on the surface, but I haven’t gotten to it yet, so this background was nice to have sprinkled in.

Michael ‘Tin’ Everhart and his crew are still aboard Deliverance in their whiplash-quick race to meet up with X. Captain Jordan, in his ever-growing paranoia and recklessness, pushing the lower deckers even further towards rebellion—all in the name of ensuring humanity survives. When every single character and situation is at the boiling point, something (more like everything) is bound to pop off!

These are just outrageously fast paced scifi/horror thrillers. Nonstop action, suspense, and violence. And I for one, can’t get enough of them. I’ve been spacing out when I move through them, having read book one in 2022, but I might honestly have to aggressively accelerate that…even at the detriment of my audible credits. The author still manages to show readers even more devastation, with new mutated trees, writhing limbs, animals, hand-sized cockroaches, and even cannibal survivors. In this post apocalyptic nuclear hellscape both and flora and fauna are out to get the hell divers.

I received this novella to judge as an SFINCS finalist. Opinion is my own, and does not represent that made by the team. I did also happen to purchase this in paperback, as I prefer to read physical, and I liked the cover a lot.

To me, this hit very similarly to Ryan Cahill’s The Fall. From the jump there is tension, action, emotion. The author sets up a battle that is already not going well, therefore the reader knows the stakes are high, and that there’s bound to be a near bottomless fall. There are multiple POVs and the author manages to make the reader care individually for all of them in the very short time you spend with each.

The Essence and the Deceiver are locked in an endless battle. Their chosen avatars destined to duke it out for eternity. This selection, and the transference of powers felt very similar to Marvel’s Moon Knight to me. They are imbued with power, can speak to their masters, become ageless, and live to serve. Too bad they also happen to be brothers.

In just 100 pages, the author makes you care for the characters, the world, the crumbling city, and feel each loss as they pile high. It’s well written, fast paced, and certainly an enticing sampler of what’s to come in the series itself. I’m intrigued by his different demonic creatures, as well as the different fighters the king has at his beck and call. Particularly the battle sisters and Smoke Riders.

Please check this one out!

Read this one as a finalist in SFINCS, opinion is my own and doesn’t reflect that of the team!

This is a slow burn, small town horror. Iris, who already escaped her dysfunctional family once, has been brought back to town by the death of her nephew. This novella spends a lot of time building into that dysfunction. Her mother’s attitude, her father’s over-accepting responses, and her sister’s seeming lack of grief. For me it didn’t exactly reach a level of atmospheric creepiness, but the author does keep it interesting enough to keep it slow.

At just about the 60% mark the novella starts to take off. The mystery that has been building is finally answered, and to be honest, it felt a lot more “left field” than I was expecting. This is definitely more horror than mystery, and while it worked for me, I guess I was just surprised.

This novella also features an old ex with LGBtQ rep, and I thought it was used well that them meeting back up was one of the reveals for the mystery early on. The photo being forgotten in the library one of the only clues throughout the story.

I enjoyed the explanation and ending, as well as the fact that the small town horror might have been spreading its monstrous fingers out to the surrounding areas.

I got this one from NetGalley and was so excited as I was a big fan of Dead Silence. I unfortunately started reading it at a rough time for me, so it took me so long to get through that I actually switched to the audio. Zura Johnson did a good job, and there were several accents, which always impresses me.

This novel mixes a lot of what you’ve already seen out of other sci-fi horrors. Not that I’m in any way the expert, having only seen/watched some of them (Event Horizon, Alien, Life+). Not necessarily that something needs to be original for me to enjoy it, however, if I’m being honest, there was unfortunately nothing exciting about this. This one followed along the same path as Dead Silence, where there is an incredible amount of set up, but it did not work on me twice. Where the first hit me at the right time, and the long opening added to the cabin-fever feel of the narration, this one didn’t work.

The main character has a haunted, hidden past. And although it is continuously mentioned as a major secret, when it is eventually revealed, it does virtually nothing to the plot or climax. While it was supposed to show the lead overcoming expectations, it just read as flat to me. The stakes feel too low with them being on another planet—one which does not have a breathable atmosphere.

There is one point where I felt the novel was shifting toward a big change. They wanted to leave but were stuck in the station during a snow storm. It was still quite late for a climax to start, but I thought it might have been shifting towards a more classic, claustrophobic-isolation horror (just in space). Instead it just kind of continued off the rails. Really wanted to love this one, but it fumbled most of the landing for me. 2.5/5*

I received this to review for the Indie Ink Awards and decided to get the audiobook on audible as I’ve been behind and having trouble focusing on reading. Scott Fleming did a fantastic job that I really enjoyed.

Every review I’ve ever seen for this book has talked about how unique it is. So let’s get the obvious out of the way. This is one of the most unique novels and genre blends I’ve ever read. It mixes science fiction aspects with a fantasy world, dialogue that feels more modern, and horror elements too.

The characters use gas masks while outside of the major cities to save themselves from becoming gaunt. Aka breathing in ghost-like vapor and having their bodies taken over. Think kind of zombies, or evil entities a la the Shinigami in Never Die. The masks felt very scifi, while the nature of their need was wholly fantasy. Just one of the great blendings.

The main character Petre, has a mental processing disorder, which leads him to need to get these implant injections. This kind of disability rep was something I’ve never read before, and the ‘cure’ (however temporary) was just another thing that felt so incredibly sci-fi in this fantasy world. He’s also a great example of bisexual rep as well, having desires for both men and women in a way that feels genuine.

Another aspect of this novel that really knocked it out of the park was the way the author wrote the main characters. Not only are they siblings, they are quadruplets, so not everything is always good, but the bond is still unbreakable. Even if they wish it were. So when their father, the King, dies, naturally they can’t keep it together and behave amicably. The way in which the author writes their scenes together is so good, so believable, it’s almost as if the reader is experiencing the family arguments from the inside. As one of them. Or maybe it’s just because I am one of four kids myself.

While I really enjoyed this, I was a bit surprised how the story didn’t really progress. That’s not the say that steps weren’t taken, or that there isn’t action, the plot itself just didn’t reach any kind of resolution. It almost kind of ends on the climax. Which instead of ruining it, definitely made me feel like I needed more immediately. I guess I just didn’t realize it wasn’t a standalone!

Read this one as a finalist in SFINCS, however I already owned the kindle version! Read it in a single sitting while having some trouble focusing, so this was a real good one.

While this one was rather short, I was surprised how long into the story it felt when it finally took a turn into the sci-fi direction. Beforehand I wasn’t sure if the story was just going to remain about a dysfunctional relationship or not. While it still is, the twist definitely elevated it to another level for me.

Joy lives her life anticipating her husbands every desire. And it comes naturally. Breakfast and coffee, quiet mornings, cleaning the house, grocery shopping, and gardening. All for the man she loved. But there’s something big that Joy doesn’t know.

As the story unfolds, Joy looks to capture a new sense of self. What makes her happy? How does she create that sense of self? And do the things that always made her feel whole actually do anything for her now? The author writes in such a way that every reader will be faced with asking themselves the same questions that Joy is faced with. And what makes any of us happy?

Now, I’ve said it before, and I’ll most definitely say it again, Sarah Chorn is the Queen of writing emotion. Every word she creates, every sentence, character, scene, is absolutely crushing. Not just beautiful prose, but truly deep and thoughtful writing.

These are short stories told as if transcribed from answering machines and voicemails. Some are micro fiction, and some run a bit longer at several pages each.

Personally, with what I got going on right now, 4. 3:15 A.M., Tuesday, August 20, 2019 was one of my favorites. Featuring a message left by an ex about letting go.

I found the format in which this was done to be incredibly unique, unlike anything I’ve read before. With so much of it together, the transcribing kind of read like a play written out, especially the few bits where more than one person would speak. It wasn’t really the kind of thing I would have gone out of my way for usually, and I’ve probably only read like five plays in my entire life too, but I found that I really enjoyed this.

The author mixes comedy, drama, dysfunction, emotion, loss, and some beats from the time in which each were written. He does so in a way that still reads like things you would hear in actual messages, they were all believable. The funny ones especially, are ones I would love to actually hear on my phone for real.

Check this out for something different and quick! Personally a 5/5*

Gave this a go on audible, and the narration by Tom Jordan was pretty solid.

I could tell within the first few chapters of this one that the writing felt a notch up. It read professional, with a clear voice, and wicked fast direction. The POVs and twirling timeframes keep you on the edge of your seat, and I was hooked to it in a way that I haven’t felt lately. While I’ve finished some other reads in between/since, I think this one started pulling me up out of the kind of slump I was forming. The Goosebumps-esque (but adult) cliffhanger chapter endings certainly helped.

A successful podcaster is looking into a mysterious past with sparse notes found in his uncle’s journal. Strangely, the story unravels itself, and other than him being a clever character and the vessel for some of the backstory, he wasn’t really a necessary character. But on the few occasions the story slows down, he gets the ball moving again, so it works out fine.

A story of mistrust, mistreatment, jealousy, and deceit, Head Like a Hole, is a powerhouse of revenge and regret. Not without its supernatural elements, the novel morphs more than once on what the reader can expect. Kind of like mixing the murder mystery side of a slasher with something tainted like the Ring or the Grudge. The novel has more than its far share of characters, but there are a few that have pretty flat desires/actions. The author does a pretty solid job of reigning it in to close it all up though. And I will definitely check out more by the author.

I received this to review for the Indie Ink Awards for best narration. Aure Nash did a fantastic job that I really enjoyed. In particular, the voices she did for the gods had these larger than life almost ethereal edits on them.

This one features great representation as well. Black fantasy with lush character designs and cultures. Dreads and braids as well as great descriptors on the variety of skin tones really sells the world as diverse and rich.

I did listen through this one while going through some personal changes, so I am afraid I was a bit distracted. So let me just point that out. However, I found myself slipping in and out of the story throughout. In the beginning I was locked in, but the kind of meandering pace and continued scenes of intervention from the gods kind of made this one lack stakes. For me, the characters read pretty much the same as when they started, they may have come to some realizations, but I didn’t feel as if they actually grew. And the intervention of the gods kind of made what little action there was fall a little flat. I didn’t feel like I had to worry about the characters not surviving, and the action was cool when it happened, so I wish there was more.

Personally a 3/5* for me.

Read this one as a finalist in SFINCS, however I already owned the kindle version!

This is a mixture of eldritch horror with a fantasy backdrop. A mix of gods and what felt like industrial style weaponry made for what comes across as a sort of gaslamp fantasy horror. I would kind of liken it to Of Honey and Wild Fires by Sarah Chorn in its fantasy world feel, but instead of crippling grief, it’s actual horrors coming for the characters.

A bomb blast that rips souls from bodies and causes those that witness it to go insane, creates these shrieking husks of people that used to be. These apparition-like beings create a creepy atmosphere that has the reader as amped up as the main character.

Corrie Ecksley, an adjunct professor, is thrust into the middle of all of this and just trying to survive. I liked that besides her excavation experience giving her some background information, she was just a normal person trapped in an impossible situation. And of course, sometimes literally trapped.

I will say that some of the world building bits and character explanation beats kind of took away from that creepy atmosphere, so in the end I don’t think this really comes across as horror. Not necessarily a negative, but I felt like it was on the fence of blending the two genres well, and I would have liked to see it go all the way. I am still kind of going through it though, so my attention span is a little off and reading has been difficult.

Regardless, this was an enjoyable novella. The big beats were there, the pace is good, as the character faces more than one issue that’s very time sensitive, and there’s definitely enough that I could have kept reading longer.

After taking part in just about every goodreads giveaway possible, I finally got approved for the audio from NetGalley. I love the cover, and I really wanted to dig into this one.

Unfortunately, this may have arrived to me at just the wrong time or something, or perhaps not. It just didn’t grip me, didn’t work.

I sadly found the main character to be incredibly unlikable. So even with her living in and through trauma, there isn’t necessarily enough for me to grab onto to care. For me, adultery just turns me off to pretty much anything you could possibly say, so although it’s about her having control over something, any little thing, it just doesn’t matter to me. It’s wrong. Doesn’t matter if I understand the angle.

With that being said, it left the story feeling like it was really missing something, and in that sense, it read as sadly boring, and even confusing at some points. I think the confusion was meant to be, in part, showing the detachment from the main character, but it didn’t exactly work for me. Which is really sad, because the snippets of background world you get are really interesting. You’re dropped into this sort of Afro-futuristic Botswana where technology has reached all new heights—people can live longer, transfer consciousness into other bodies, and augment themselves—but sadly these heights are still being used to further invade women’s space. And in this case, sadly their literal minds and memories, and nothing is safe.

I received this novella to judge for the SFINCS semi-finals. Opinion is my own, and does not represent that made by the team. I wish this was available in paperback!

This is a sapphic vampire novella that features a likable, yet somewhat despicable main character. Anna is a vampire, over 500 years old, and she finds it best to salve her hunger with the blood of truly despicable people. Her infiltration of CEO Peter Beyer’s company has led her to an employee retreat. She doesn’t intend to let them leave.

I really enjoyed this. It is both a new take on vampires while still holding onto that classic feel. Vampires are day-walkers, the nocturnal antics only a rumor put out to confuse. So Anna sunbathes while reading a book by the pool, yet she still feels like a classic vampire stalking her prey.

For me, I would say this is horror first, with its graphic violence and descriptions. And honestly this just read as really grounded for a huge chunk of it. Anna’s choices in dinner felt kind of like Dexter meets vampirism. But with the vampire heightened strength and speed, as well as the hunters, it still has that urban fantasy feel to it.

The sapphic angle shows Anna finding herself propelled towards Saira. There is in-scene explicit ‘spice,’ which you may know is not my cup of tea, but with the heightened senses and lust, I did feel like it read as warranted for this one. The two of them together feels real, the author does a great job making the reader feel how drawn to each other they are and honestly, I didn’t even think far enough ahead to see the twist.

Overall, this was fast, fun, and a bloody good time. Anna’s use of someone else’s arm as not only a weapon, but a shield in some causes was my favorite part. Personally a 4.5/5*

I believe this is one of the first books released in the same style as the Christopher Tolkien ones post his death. Which of course, still features massive contributions from his life’s work.

In the same vein as Christopher’s work, this sets out to give a straight-forward linear storyline for the falling of Númenor. It also does a really good job taking the reader through the early history of Sauron. It does not seek to overwrite, or undo previous works. As with the other works taken from The Silmarillion and Appendices, it does read similarly to a textbook in places, but doing audio from Brian Sibley and Samuel West made it very digestible. Personally for me, hearing pieces from each that are featured elsewhere just really helps my understanding, as it can be really dense.

This has a beautiful wrapped artwork for the dust jacket (Alan Lee of course), a ribbon bookmark, beautiful interior artwork as well as some nice smaller chapter headers and footers. It has a great quality naked hardcover wrap too, a fantastic edition for a Tolkien collector.

One thing I’d love to highlight is how perfectly this cover matches the depiction shown in The Rings of Power show…I mean spot on. Obviously it comes from the text itself anyway, but when so much else gets changed…it’s just cool. The storyline really goes to show just how much they could do with the show itself. There’s so much going on in the appendices and this edition is the proof.

I saw a fellow FanFiAddict reviewer post this one and saw the Josh Malerman’s Bird Box comparison. So I was incredibly excited to start it when I was approved through NetGalley for the audiobook. The narration by the author is pretty perfect honestly.

This story has many threads that can be drawn to the Covid pandemic, however, it is taken a step further in almost every aspect, so as to be it’s own thing. (Don’t worry Covid novel haters, it’s really not one!).

It is however, featuring a mysterious virus that seemingly turns normal, everyday humans, into angry, murderous versions of who they once were. Women, men, and children of all varieties fall victim to the virus. Wives, husbands, sons and daughters. Moms and dads. Coworkers and strangers. All they seem to know is that it spreads through eye contact. It has broken down society in every form.

I will say the audiobook version says, “The Last of Us meets Bird Box,” which maybe they meant the violence of TLOU, but it made me think (fungal-)zombies instead, which this is not. And although Bird Box is most definitely a good comparison, I didn’t find this one to hit its stride in the same way BB does with suspenseful-ness. However this one is a novella, not a full length novel.

Riley has survived. She lives in a somewhat secluded area, ordering what she needs, and always has it set to contactless delivery. Even though these are becoming less and less frequent, so far she’s made do, for years. But when a new neighbor, Ellis, introduces himself, her entire world has to shift. He wants to be friends, he doesn’t stay away, and seemingly worst of all, he makes her comfortable.

As their relationship and their visits continue, Riley finds herself unraveling—spiraling as she has to wonder just what it would be like to look. The more tempting it gets, the more unhinged she becomes. This was a good examination of isolation, especially when it hinges on the unknown and fear. Personally a 4/5*

I received this novella to judge for the SFINCS semi-finals. Opinion is my own, and does not represent that made by the team. I did also happen to purchase this in paperback, as I prefer to read physical, and I liked the cover.

This is a scifi/fantasy novel that features a war between humans, an alien race, and AI-led humanoids. Within that, two of our main characters, Ren and Izuna, come to blows over questioned honor drawn from their Japanese heritage. They meet throughout the Far West in space and come to continuous blows in katana led-combat. Through the years, each see various wins and setbacks, which does nothing but spur on their rivalry. Ren even has an true obsession with her and their ability to continue fighting.

Outside this rivalry, the world is interesting and unique. The characters feel real. Even though Ren misses out on other parts of life, his obsession with their rivalry brings something to life within him that he so often lacks: choice. They choose to fight, to risk harm. They choose to be this way. So when Izuna is in danger, Ren immediately volunteers to help…he can’t risk losing their fights, their chances to feel alive.

There is a setting with carriages that does feel very fantasy western, but with the samurai references, and katana fights, I feel like mentally I leaned more into that aspect.

I will say, there was definitely an explicit scene that I would label as sexual assault. I can’t really think of why this would have added to, or aided, the story, so it was very jarring to the experience, outside of which was quite enjoyable. Personally a 3/5*

I received this one from NetGalley and this is actually one of two mammoth cloning books coming out this year!

This starts as a pretty typical eco-thriller, at least from my experience, but when the book has the elements of scifi mixed in, things truly take off. In a not-so far off future, computers can make a copy of your brain and conscious. One such conscious is the late expert in elephant behaviors, Dr. Damira Khismatullina. Not just a doctor, but a strict protector of the remaining elephant population, readers have to understand just how far some people will go to protect them. And when Russias newly cloned mammoths end up more like blubbering, stagnant copies then re-evolved miracles, they have to ask if they can imbed the doctor’s conscious into one of the mammoths in the hopes that she can teach them to survive and have future generations be born with intact instincts.

All of the above alone should be enough to entice a scifi or eco reader to grab at this one. But unfortunately for me, the other parts of the book were kind of a confusing blend of “what?” That’s not to say I didn’t enjoy this, because I did enjoy more than I disliked, I just found there to be issues.

To be honest, I did start this one on a long drive right after finishing a much longer story that I really loved. As a novella, this one didn’t last long enough for me to connect past that initial changing of setting and characters. So the “tense eco-thriller” promised in the blurb didn’t hit for me, as I really didn’t find this thrilling.

The messages behind the not-so distant future worked for me, as well as the continued greed of humanity with high priced mammoth hunting, but there was a decent amount that was simply flat for me. Personally a 3/5* for me.

I received this novella to judge for the SFINCS semi-finals. Opinion is my own, and does not represent that made by the team. I did also happen to purchase this in paperback, as I prefer to read physical, and I liked the cover.

I want to start with what stuck out to me. My main point of contention is that one of the two mains is referred to as ‘girl’ for the entire opening. The boy even saying that they were going to pull a ‘little girl’ out of her house. But then you find out that she’s actually about 19, older than the boy, so it was just confusing wording and stuck out to me as jarring.

With that being said, throughout the story they remain girl and boy. I thought it was a nice decision, because as monsters, their life is basically forfeited the moment they’re found out. Therefore, their true selves, their chances, their mistakes and hopes, cease to be. Their families even do away with them.

The opening of this was incredible. Fast, mysterious, dangerous, daring. There’s a need to escape and the reader can feel it immediately. Such a quick hook into the reader. I was a little surprised at the lack of chapters, but it doesn’t really take anything away. For me, the opening with its sort of mutilation and animal horror, was the perfect blend of horror and fantasy notes.

I believe this was a well done examination on the loss of hope, and what happens when those that have lost it see a spark of it returning. It is quite bleak, but there are glimpses of warmth and happiness that carry the reader through. By the end you really do end up feeling so much for the two of them and what they’ve gone through.

Personally a 4/5*

This is book five of The Inheritance Cycle, however it is not the book five that the author previously had in mind as one day coming out (aka hell yeah there’s still more). This also features the same story shown in The Fork, just from Murtagh’s perspective.

It’s only been a year since the end of the fourth book, and yet so much has happened and so many things are going on. Murtagh and Thorn are desperately searching for a path forward, in desperate need of figuring out who they are without the traumatic hand of Galbatorix overseeing them. Neither are sure if word has spread of their hand in bringing about the king’s end, so they travel on the very outskirts of society, camping out at night and constantly traveling. Murtagh keeps up his false identity we met in The Fork, but he just can’t help getting involved when things happen. This need, this desire to be good, this curiosity, is the impetus for everything that follows.

Paolini really pulled back the curtain with this one. Murtagh was the jaded, traumatized bad boy long before it was cool. And he doesn’t shy away from telling the reader just how horrible his time at Urû'baen was. From the memories of him as a child, living under the temperamental (at best) Morzan, to being bullied and overshadowed during court life, to his captivity and subsequent torture with Thorn. All while they were forced under oath. And don’t forget that Murtagh is only twenty at the end of the series! They really are just damaged boys. Beat down and trapped over and over again.

Sadly, for most of this new novel, that truth doesn’t change. Perhaps that’s just their lot in life (and Paolini does enjoy torturing us readers too). I will say again, kind of like my recently re-shared ‘review’ of Inheritance and the series in general, there was a part in this new one that involves a fish that had me shaking my head and wondering why I was reading about it. But again, the author reels it in and by the end you’re left not feeling like you’ve had enough. Each trial takes Murtagh and Thorn back through something that triggers a trauma, reliving the worst of their lives. And each time they must adapt, persevere, and fight back. They consistently claw their way out of the trouble they’ve walked into, and both end up way more dynamic for it.

Murtagh’s curiosity leads them down a path that involves a witch and her unruly cult. More than once they question if they should contact Nasuada, Eragon, or Arya so that they aren’t alone. Part anti-hero rashness, and part not knowing if they’ll be accepted by the others, they push on alone. This does not go well for them. There is even a part where Murtagh pushes a healing charm to Thorn’s nose that I could feel actual tears brewing. This witch makes a lot of heavy claims. Whether or not she’s telling the truth, or if those things come to pass, we may get to experience some things that make us say, “Galbatorix who?”

I really enjoyed that Paolini only has Murtagh use a handful of spells in the ancient language. He tends to get whatever he needs done, somehow, but it’s pointed out how he has quite large gaps in his education (unlike Eragon) and I felt like this was actually one of the author’s subtle ways of showing it. I feel like this book is half “Eragon ain’t the only dragon rider, I don’t need him,” and half “oh damn, we really should have called Eragon.” It’s hard to be the older brother.

I think it’s obvious that Paolini has clearly grown and learned a lot. The writing is powerful and each word is packed with meaning. Not only are his characters growing, but he has as well. His style still feels well within the world of Alagaësia, however I really wouldn’t tag this one as young adult at all. The themes are dark, the descriptions are brutal, and they have grown out of adolescence themselves. This was absolutely incredible, and I’m so excited that he’s stated he’s not running out of ideas anytime soon. Personally a 5/5*

The authors very kindly offered me an audible code to continue my The Prophecies of Ragnarok journey, and I’m glad to say this new narrator (Jennifer Pratt) was pretty great.

While the first book meshed atmospheric horror, a single location, and a romance plot, I found book two to build much more into the action adventure side of the storyline. Victor and Silje are star-crossed lovers, fated to love each other and struggle through the ages. And due to Victor’s godly lineage, they are constantly hunted, each big bad just a little worse than the last as the climax grows.

This makes for a pretty fast paced novel, but the authors still manage to keep a somewhat comedic air to the story with the inclusion of Victor’s British best friend. It’s also funny how as an urban fantasy, the authors were not afraid to infuse the story with misconceptions from the way the MCU presents the Norse gods.

This installment definitely worked better for me, especially with the separation of Victor and Silje, which really allowed for the latter to grow into her own character, with strength and a personality that stands on its own. Even against the biggest bad in the story, Thor.

I particularly liked the use of the Philippines for a location, as seeing authors infuse stories with their cultures or histories is always a nice turn. And this trilogy definitely has a nice diverse cast of characters.

If you are a fan of urban fantasy, Norse mythology, and unique takes on meshing those worlds, this should work really well for you.

I received this novella to judge for the SFINCS semi-finals. Opinion is my own, and does not represent that made by the team. I did also happen to purchase this in paperback, as I prefer to read physical, and I liked the cover.

This is the prequel to The Heart of Quinaria series, and in my opinion, it does operate quite well on its own. It’s a little sparse of descriptors, but it is very focused on the story it’s centering on, so it still works.

Igtheos and Elize are an interracial married couple with a mixed child. The differences are not exactly explained, at least not in black and white, but I took the Nyrian people to be kind of elf/god like beings. The would be dictator they rebel against would put a stop to such relationships, and much more. He believes the humans to be outright beneath them. So when he offers terms for their surrender that seem to good to be true, the rebels still have no choice but to accept. That or be starved out. This is the chaos that ensues when he breaks his treaty to the rebels. It’s a good examination of hope over caution, as well as the lengths people will go for those they love (and in some sense the depths).

While being quite short, perhaps even for novella standards, this was still quite impactful. The action is big, the emotion even bigger. I really felt for the rebels cause, mostly through how the author portrays the rebel leaders. And of course, fights over equality are always hard hitting, fantasy world or not. And in my opinion, this kind of representation of evil is one of the darkest there is. Not just outright evil, not just bad and hectic, but the pointed attempt at lowering or even annihilating a people. In that sense, it is quite a heavy read though.

You feel their losses, you feel their plight, and you feel like raising up a sword in their defense.

This is the prequel novella to the Malitu series, and it’s set 200 years prior to the events in book one. I’m very lucky to have been sent an arc.

Black flags in Ennea signify a messenger. They are supposed to be allowed to travel in peace, but just like real history with military drummers, refugees, and the like, “don’t shoot the messenger” is rarely upheld. The ideals of peace for some are scarier than the concept of war. Some would even kill to stop the talks of peace.

I really appreciate the juxtaposition between Isála’s sort of idealized naivety and Rione’s steadfast jaded heart. Her brusque attitude is presented as knowing better, but she’s just haunted in a different way. Teshun was of course the perfect middle man as well, turning to humor and charisma to cloak and turn away the pains of war and loss.

Isála is convinced that peace can be achieved without violence, but the first time her life is threatened, she gets rocked to the very foundations of her beliefs. Once again the author achieves a story—this time much shorter—that provokes inward thinking and a deepening understanding of those we perceive as different. And AGAIN, it’s also just a good fantasy story, so if you aren’t the deep thinker, you can still enjoy it for just what’s on the page. Dulin does great with both.

I really felt the quotes below, and I feel like as a whole, it kind of embodies the entire series:

“That is not your responsibility!”

“That is all our responsibility!”

Well written, gut punching, and deep. I did find a bit of the back and forth to be slightly repetitive, but not so much so that I lost enjoyment. This is a prequel novella that does break the mold of recent times. Even though it’s written post book one’s release, it really does stand solidly as it’s own piece of writing.

Second I saw this was announced I had to grab one. The scurry furries, which first appeared in a short from Christmas in the Empty Cabin, are just such good creatures for a horror story. I’m glad Reyes brought them back.

Amber needs the money, so sadly she’s off to work on Christmas Eve, even with her entire family on the way over. The author yet again gives us diverse characters, bringing Hispanic culture with Amber and her family’s celebration. It adds authenticity to her as a character right away.

Sadly, when Amber gets to works, her boss Eddie immediately asks her to help a coworker with a last minute shipment. This shipment happens to be a big ol’ pallet of scurry furries. The descriptors of retail work, the way the store is set up, as well as the temperament of holiday shoppers, are spot on. I have worked some form of retail for the last sixteen years, and Reyes doesn’t miss a beat. Especially because the scurry furry is a holiday hit. The Black Friday-esque need to push, shove, and name call for last minute items are all things I’ve seen in person.

Reyes hits us with some of his best descriptors during the chaos that ensues. Bringing this creature feature novelette to life for the reader. Not just the gruesomeness of scurry furries chomping on unsuspecting shoppers, but also the way he described the smells in the store. “Unkempt ass” most definitely being my favorite.

I’ll be honest, I feel like these recent novelettes are just missing the slightest bit. If Amber had gotten into work, and perhaps we were given more of her day, and then as it neared closing the scurry furry pallet came out? It could have given more atmosphere to the story, as well as lengthening it a bit, so that the surprise is leveled up. Or perhaps I just really think the horror novella is where things hit their stride the best?

Regardless, Reyes does a great job here. I loved that there ended up being a deluxe edition of the scurry furry, so we did not get the exact same story as the previously released short. I love that it remained in the same universe of the short, with the OG store getting name dropped, and I really liked that Reyes also shouted out his forthcoming slasher novel. Personally a 4/5*, a quick read for Gremlins fans.

I received this novella to judge for the SFINCS semi-finals. Opinion is my own, and does not represent that made by the team. I did also happen to purchase this in paperback, as I prefer to read physical, and I liked the cover.

This novella mixes quite a lot into it. It’s post apocalyptic event, with seemingly more of a fantasy based event than a scifi one, but the notes of both are still there. In that sense it’s urban fantasy, but as it’s after the events, it reads as a fantasy world unlike our own in ways, and yet it has notes of a Victorian-era London to it as well. Not to mention I’ve seen reviewers call the author a grimdark writer too. Oh, and this features a detective, so it’s mystery as well. Far be it from me to tell you what genre to call it, but I personally loveeee blended genres.

Kade Blackcap is an out-of-luck and yet above-average sleuth. When his abilities lead to a guilty man being hung, he finds that he can’t exactly cope with the death of a human, guilty or not. This spirals out of control until he’s about to end up on the street. Rashly, he decides to run something in the paper for a more superstitious clientele. It’s vastly unsuccessful, but he’s not a quitter.

I love that our detective’s journey involved researching mythology and folklore from the world’s past in the library. He is not naturally knowledgeable or gifted and winning without trials. He struggles with a penchant for sipping from his flask, so more often than not he’s stumbling to his destination or has a headache. Not necessarily uncommon for the mystery genre, but it’s pretty cool to see this implanted into a world that’s much less common for it. And it makes Kade read as incredibly grounded, real.

I did find the mystery itself to be a little on the nose, but obviously the twist is that he switches to supernatural detecting, and in that sense, it worked very well for me. It is also a bit shy on its explanation of what happened to the world, again, I think possibly (like others that follow this format) because it came out after book one, and perhaps the author did not want to explain it twice. But because this is a mystery, and such a singularly focused event, I found it helped the mystery rather than hindering the book.

Personally a 5/5*, a real killer for me.

I absolutely love the title. It might be a top three book title ever. And the red of the cover is great too, so I knew I needed to read it right away this holiday season.

I read this across day 4 and 5 of Covid, in a kind of semi-fugue state, and I think it kind of struck me that the author must have been in something similar to have thought this sucker up…

…joking aside, this is an incredibly clever idea that’s whimsical, fantastical, and original.

It has so many references that I was constantly highlighting and rereading snippets. Perhaps you’ll understand the one below, which was my favorite: “…loose newell post, or cleaning up after the fried cat under the armchair in the lobby, or fixing the furnace, or...” it was like reading one giant Christmas reference and I absolutely loved it. It made the North Pole seem like fantasy, but with references to known culture, pulling it back down towards magical realism at the same time.

With that said, this is a murder mystery! Sam Shovel is a snowman that comes to life every year for the twelve days of Christmas at the North Pole. Not only does he have a knack for detecting, but his corncob pipe biting, fedora wearing antics felt very noir crime novel without his personality being the usual grit.

The author’s knowledge of Christmas, and the actual past history of it, is clearly on display through various characters and traditions. And it was so interesting to see the murder mystery (the murder of O. Tannenbaum) intertwine with them.

The character’s names, all references of their own, should honestly earn the author some kind of award. The book is silly but serious the entire time, and I laughed more than once.

I’m really not sure how, but this is somehow like a warm blanket, a cup of warm coco, and a hug. All while investigating murder. It’s cozy, and feels kind of safe even though it’s mysterious at the same time. It also didn’t read as ‘cozy’ in the kind of corny sense that has begun to be associated with the term. I cannot stress enough how enjoyable this was. Personally a 5/5*. This is a first for me from the author, but with a Hercule Poirot reference, it certainly won’t be the last.

I received an ebook copy to review for FanFiAddict/Fear For All and I’m glad to have read it.

This is a drug induced horror ride. Blood pumping, ear splitting, nose sniffing ride.

What works:

Paulo, the father, and the first person POV in the novel, is desperate to find his daughter Adriana. The loss of his wife and his promise to her really solidified his desperation. It sells the fact that he would drive off and then walk miles through the wilderness in winter to find here. Not that a father wouldn’t move mountains for their daughter in general, but this is death-defying stuff here.

Adriana, always forced to focus education above all else, has taken the loss of her mother hard. It has driven a split between her and her father, and she has taken this one step further by running away. Turning to a life that neither parent would want for her. Their relationship, centered around grief, again really sold their decision making.

This examination of grief, the loss of a loved one, and the lack thereof that follows, were really the pieces that glued this together for me. The author’s grasp on human nature is showed off really well.

The monsters, whether it was just Harold and the drugs, or something more, were very interesting, gruesome, and most definitely intense. The scene in the tunnel was almost scifi monster level.

What didn’t work for me:

The drug influenced scenes, which could arguable be all of them, none of them, or at least a decent chunk, read very out there. In that sense, they are clearly successful, don’t get me wrong. But in a sense they read like fantasy dream sequences, which I find extremely hard to get through. I don’t do drugs, therefore maybe I don’t get it? It read as real, just a bit to get through for me.