My favorite annual reading challenge is back for its 12th year! r/Fantasy has released their 2026 Bingo card, and I’m excited for the annual TBR reshuffling that ensues. For the past six years, I’ve done two cards, one themed and one with whatever is left over. But as my reading shifts more and more to… Continue reading Planning 2026 Fantasy Bingo
My March round-up is always late because I got distracted by Bingo. It’s an annual occurrence. But I read things, let me share my thoughts and recommendations! Short Fiction As usual, I started with two separate short fiction posts, one on Clarkesworld and GigaNotoSaurus and the Magazine Minis post dipping into five different zines. I won’t repeat those… Continue reading March 2026 Round-up and Short Fiction Miscellany
Tamora Pierce’s Tortall universe seems to be a cultural touchstone for so many women in fantasy, but (in no small part due to having never been a girl reading fantasy), I’d never delved into it. But the combination of peer pressure and a couple auspicious Bingo squares gave me a reason to move the Protector of… Continue reading Fantasy Series Review: Protector of the Small by Tamora Pierce
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)
Between the reputation of the author, the influence over contemporary sci-fi, and the vocal support of some readers in my online circles, C.J. Cherryh’s Foreigner has been on my TBR for quite a while. But a couple book club friends offered to jump in for a buddy read, and I was finally able to pull… Continue reading Sci-fi Novel Review: Foreigner by C.J. Cherryh
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
I’m not much for gunslinging Westerns, but I did quite enjoy M.R. Carey’s Pandominion Duology, so when I saw that he had a new standalone set in the same universe, I decided to give Outlaw Planet a try. And while it may not be my usual fare, it’s indeed a pretty fun read! Outlaw Planet… Continue reading Sci-fi Novel Review: Outlaw Planet by M.R. Carey
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)
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
I learned about r/Fantasy Book Bingo in early 2020, and this is the sixth consecutive year that I have filled out two cards. My first one is themed, and my second is cobbled together from whatever is left. For the last couple years, I’ve been rabble-rousing in the Bingo threads for a square that I… Continue reading 2025 Fantasy Bingo: Spot the Title!
