I’ve heard only positive things about Silver in the Wood since its debut in 2019, but the premise—cozy fantasy romance between a melancholy magical creature and a newcomer to his forest—wasn’t really in my wheelhouse, and it was easy to get lost amidst so many other excellent new releases. So, in keeping with the theme… Continue reading Fantasy Novella Review: Silver in the Wood by Emily Tesh
Axiom’s End is one of the few books I encountered in my Hugo reading that wasn’t really on my radar before its nomination. And it wasn’t directly nominated as a top book in itself, but it was cited in Lindsay Ellis’ nomination for The Astounding Award for Best New Writer. Of course, it’s not surprising… Continue reading Sci-fi Novel Review: Axiom’s End by Lindsay Ellis
This review is based on an eARC (Advance Reader Copy) provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Elder Race will be released on November 16, 2021. I knew absolutely nothing about Elder Race when I saw it come available on NetGalley, but I liked Children of Time enough to give… Continue reading Sci-fi/Fantasy Novella Review: Elder Race by Adrian Tchaikovsky
As the voting period winds down, I am continuing my series of posts giving my ballot and reasoning for various Hugo Award categories. Back in the spring, I explored Best Short Story and Best Novelette; earlier this week, I examined Best Novella; and today, I’ll be looking at the Lodestar Award for Best Young Adult… Continue reading 2021 Hugo Ballot: Lodestar Award for Best Young Adult Novel
After months of reading, I’m finally ready to finalize my first Hugo Awards ballot for a category that isn’t meant for reading in a single sitting. And I have to say that after really enjoying the finalists for Best Short Story and Best Novelette, I found the Best Novella finalists to be a disappointing group.… Continue reading 2021 Hugo Ballot: Best Novella
The final book in my journey through the finalists for the Lodestar Award for Best Young Adult novel is Cemetery Boys, by Aiden Thomas. Like many of the finalists, I’d heard a lot of praise for this one, but it was the nomination that spurred me to finally pick it up. And, as a book… Continue reading Fantasy Novel Review: Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas
It’s done. Team Tar Vol On has finished our first pass through our first-round allotment of books for the Self-Published Science Fiction Competition. We’ve read 10-20% of each book and made a decision on ten quarterfinalists to read through to completion. In the first, second, third, and fourth batches of cuts and quarterfinalists, I advised… Continue reading SPSFC First-Round Cuts and Quarterfinalists, Batch Five
This review is based on an eARC (Advance Reader Copy) provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Far from the Light of Heaven will be released on October 26, 2021. Earlier this year, I read my first book from Tade Thompson, the Nommo Award-winning Rosewater (full review). While it didn’t click… Continue reading Sci-fi Novel Review: Far from the Light of Heaven by Tade Thompson
We’ve hit the fourth of five batches in the first phase of the first round of the Self-Published Science Fiction Competition. With one update to go, this brings Team Tar Vol On to 18 eliminations and six quarterfinalists. Check back early next week for batch five. But in the interim, check out our fourth set… Continue reading SPSFC First-Round Cuts and Quarterfinalists, Batch Four
Team Tar Vol On continues to work through our first-round batch of Self-Published Science Fiction Competition entries, and we’ve passed the halfway point. If you haven’t been following along, you can check out batch one and batch two; otherwise, read on for another set of cuts and quarterfinalists. Neworld Papers Author: K. B. Shaw. Premise:… Continue reading SPSFC First-Round Cuts and Quarterfinalists, Batch Three
