Magazine Review

Tar Vol’s Magazine Minis: Five-Zine Blitz (March 2026)

For the last year or so, my habit has been to supplement my monthly Clarkesworld and GigaNotoSaurus review with a second feature where I highlight a couple different publications with multiple stories that caught my eye. This month it’s a bit longer than usual, as I’ve rolled up stories from two magazines that do smaller,… Continue reading Tar Vol’s Magazine Minis: Five-Zine Blitz (March 2026)

Reviews

Sci-fi Book Review: The Faith of Beasts by James S.A. Corey

This review is based on an eARC (Advance Reading Copy) provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The Faith of Beasts will be released on April 26, 2026. While I’m still only one book deep in The Expanse, I have been sufficiently impressed with the fantasy side of James S.A. Corey… Continue reading Sci-fi Book Review: The Faith of Beasts by James S.A. Corey

Magazine Review

Tar Vol Reads a Magazine (or Two): Reviews of Clarkesworld and GigaNotoSaurus (March 2026)

Everyone (myself included) is distracted by award shortlists, but there’s still new fiction being published, and there’s plenty to talk about in my review of the March issues of Clarkesworld and GigaNotoSaurus.  Clarkesworld This month’s Clarkesworld features six short stories surrounding a novella-length centerpiece from Thomas Ha. The issue opens with Bend Like the Palm… Continue reading Tar Vol Reads a Magazine (or Two): Reviews of Clarkesworld and GigaNotoSaurus (March 2026)

Reviews

Fantasy Novel Review: Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson

When I talk fantasy to someone outside my niche online groups, the most likely author to be mentioned is far and away Brandon Sanderson. I tend to have mixed feelings about his work—he has some real strengths, but some notable weaknesses as well—but Tress of the Emerald Sea is enough of a stylistic experiment that… Continue reading Fantasy Novel Review: Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson