Title: The Baron of Magister Valley Author: Steven Brust Publisher: Macmillian-Tor/Forge Publication date: July 28, 2020 Genre: Fantasy Summary: (I don’t do this often as I prefer to write my own summaries, but I happen to absolutely adore this one, which is taken from Amazon) Reader, you will undoubtedly have had the misfortune of consuming the rotten fruit of fallacies that we—Paarfi of Roundwood (esteemed historian of House of Hawk and exquisite artisan of truths)—“borrow” our factual recount of Dragaeran history from some obscure fellow who goes by the name Al Dumas or some silly nomenclature of that nature. The salacious claims that The Baron of Magister Valley bears any resemblance to a certain nearly fictional narrative…
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Book Review: Ashes of the Sun by Django Wexler
Title: Ashes of the Sun Author: Django Wexler Publisher: Orbit Publication date: July 21, 2020 Genre: Fantasy Summary: Twelve years ago, Maya was five and her brother Gyre eight, innocent children about to have their lives torn to shreds when Maya is taken by a centarch to train her to be one as well. At the same time, Gyre is seriously wounded by the centarch, and vows to bring down the Twilight Order that has taken his sister, and one eye, from him. Twelve years later, Maya is a step away from becoming a centarch in the Order and Gyre is known as Halfmask, a rebel seeking a lost ghoul city called the Tomb where he…
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Italy is a Lovely Place to Read About
This thought came to me as I was reading a book that’s partially set in Firenze, Italy and partially in a fantasy setting based on Firenze. Whenever I picked it up, I couldn’t help but think back on the, apparently, many books I’ve read that have taken place in Italy. I guess I really like Italy? I’ve been once, a long time ago. My family took a tour through part of Europe and traveled through Venice, Milan, and Verona. I enjoyed most of it, but became mildly sea sick on the canals of Venice and almost drenched in Verona after baking in Venice and Milan. Since then, I’ve found myself…
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Book Review: Or What You Will by Jo Walton
Title: Or What You Will Author: Jo Walton Publisher: Macmillian-Tor/Forge Publication date: July 7, 2020 Genre: Fantasy Summary: Sylvia Harrison is a bestselling author nearing the end of her life. After her husband’s death, she travels to Firenze, Italy to write her final novel. Traveling with her is our unnamed narrator, a being who has been Sylvia’s companion for countless years. He fears her death, but knows of a way for them to live forever. He just has to convince her to do it. As a writer who has had countless discussions with the people in her head, I was immediately drawn to this book. I was also intrigued because it involved possibly entering one’s own…
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Book Review: Scarlet Odyssey by C. T. Rwizi
Title: Scarlet Odyssey Author: C. T. Rwizi Publisher: 47North Publication date: July 1, 2020 Genre: Science Fiction and Fantasy Summary: Salo is an outsider in his tribe despite being the firstborn son to the chief. This is because he is more interested in magic (women’s domain) than becoming a warrior (men’s domain). But, when his people are attacked by a witch, he has no choice but to convince his queen to let him awaken as a mystic. She allows it, but only because she plans on using him and sending him as an emissary to the Jungle City. Along his journey, he befriends a fellow outcast, a female warrior who grew up not too far from…
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What I Learned After Reading 3 Mysteries Set in the UK
I’m a huge fan of fantasy, but I also enjoy a handful of other genres. Like mysteries and thrillers. My absolute favorite book series for the past 15 years has been a cozy mystery series, The Coffeehouse Mystery series by Cleo Coyle, which is kind of funny because I don’t even drink or like coffee. Anyways, I’m a little haphazard when I schedule out my book reviews. I always read the books in the order they’re scheduled. I schedule them based on publication date as I mostly read ARCs these days, otherwise I give the author a fairly set time frame for when they can expect a review from me, so…
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Dropping Unannounced Into the Middle of a Book Series
I’ve done this so many times to myself. You’d think I’d have learned by now to thoroughly check to make sure the book I want to read is not part of a series, or is at least the first in the series, before deciding to read it. But I don’t. I guess it’s my weird reading quirk? Or I enjoy being thoroughly confused for a good portion, or all, of a book? When I was a kid browsing in the bookstore, I had the luxury of opening up the book and perusing the front matter to see what else the author had published and to see, right then and there,…
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Book Review: The Dragon Princess by Paris Hansch
Title: The Dragon Princess Author: Paris Hansch Publisher: Origin Publications Publication date: April 5, 2020 Genre: Fantasy Summary: Before she can be crowned empress of the empire, the princess goes missing. Two years later, Anadrieth is on the brink of war with neighboring Lanadrin. Without a reigning dragon couple, the empire is teetering on the edge. Lord Alexander works tirelessly to find a way to divert war while also shielding his younger siblings, Adelia and Anton, who themselves find they have unique talents and abilities. But with a mysterious Mistress pulling strings to make the empire dance the way she wants it to, the siblings may find themselves in greater trouble than they realized, unless the…
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Guest Post: Writing to Express Myself by Idelle Kursman
The Lily Cafe is thrilled to welcome author Idelle Kursman! The author of two novels, True Mercy and The Book of Revelations, her post really speaks to my heart in so many ways and her novels sound absolutely fascinating while also spreading awareness for causes close to her heart. Also, please head over to Reedsy and upvote her new novel The Book of Revelations by Friday. Thank you! Writing to Express Myself Being an introvert, I have always found writing the best vehicle to express myself. Most people would describe me as a very quiet person, but that does not mean I do not have ideas or opinions that I would like to share. When…
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Book Review: Last Memoria by Rachel Emma Shaw
Title: Last Memoria Author: Rachel Emma Shaw Publisher: Self-published Publication date: May 10, 2020 Genre: Fantasy Summary: Sarilla has the power to take memories, and is branded a monster because of it even though she is the king’s caged pet. Falon wants nothing more than to reclaim the 6 months worth of memories that were stolen from him. When fate throws them back together one night on a lake, they end up on a journey across the kingdom, one seeking to destroy and one seeking answers. The Characters: So Much Fun Oh my goodness, I loved the characters and the ways they interacted! And I really felt for Sarilla. Reading her hurt my heart. I understood…
