Reviews

Sci-fi Book Review: Yours Celestially by Al Hess

We’ve reached the finals of the fourth annual Self-Published Science Fiction Competition (SPSFC4), and the three finalists chosen on my team’s side of the bracket have been joined by three more from the other side. Over the course of the summer, we’ll be reading and scoring these three books that came with such glowing recommendations from Peripheral Prospectors and Ground Control to Major Tom.… Continue reading Sci-fi Book Review: Yours Celestially by Al Hess

Reviews

Sci-fi Novel Review: Saint Elspeth by Wick Welker

We’ve reached the finals of the fourth annual Self-Published Science Fiction Competition (SPSFC4), and the three finalists chosen on my team’s side of the bracket have been joined by three more from the other side. Over the course of the summer, we’ll be reading and scoring these three books that came with such glowing recommendations from Peripheral Prospectors and Ground Control to Major Tom. And… Continue reading Sci-fi Novel Review: Saint Elspeth by Wick Welker

Magazine Review

Tar Vol Reads a Magazine (or Two): Reviews of Clarkesworld and GigaNotoSaurus (July 2025)

As we open the back half of 2025, I’m continuing my monthly reviews of a couple short fiction publications I enjoy immensely: Clarkesworld and GigaNotoSaurus.  Clarkesworld The July issue of Clarkesworld features five short stories and two novelettes, one of which is a translated piece weighing in at nearly 15,000 words. The issue opens with… Continue reading Tar Vol Reads a Magazine (or Two): Reviews of Clarkesworld and GigaNotoSaurus (July 2025)

Reviews

Sci-fi/Horror Short Fiction Review: Uncertain Sons and Other Stories by Thomas Ha

This review is based on an eARC (Advance Reading Copy) provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. Uncertain Sons and Other Stories will be released on September 16, 2025. I’ve been reading Thomas Ha’s work for about four years now, and even though his most natural genre (weird horror) is one I… Continue reading Sci-fi/Horror Short Fiction Review: Uncertain Sons and Other Stories by Thomas Ha

Reviews

Fantasy Novel Review: The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab

V.E. Schwab has a huge readership, and The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue was all over the place in 2020, but it passed me by at the time, and didn’t give much thought to circling back until it was picked up by my in-person book club this year. My online friends had wildly disparate responses,… Continue reading Fantasy Novel Review: The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab

Reviews

Horror Novella Review: What Feasts at Night by T. Kingfisher

T. Kingfisher is having a moment in genre fandom. Two consecutive Hugo Award wins have given her honors in five separate categories, and she’s made the shortlist in two categories in 2025. I’ve already reviewed the Best Novel finalist A Sorceress Comes to Call, and today I’ll be looking at Best Novella finalist What Feasts… Continue reading Horror Novella Review: What Feasts at Night by T. Kingfisher