Reviews

Fantasy Novel Review: Any Minor World by Craig Schaefer

My judging team in the third annual Self-Published Science Fiction Competition (SPSFC3) has turned in our two semifinalists, and in return, we’ve received two semifinalists each from a pair of other teams. Our task over the months of February and March is to read these four new semifinalists, and together with the other two teams,… Continue reading Fantasy Novel Review: Any Minor World by Craig Schaefer

Magazine Review

Tar Vol Reads a Magazine (or Two): Reviews of Clarkesworld and GigaNotoSaurus (March 2024)

Another month, another set of short stories to read. I’m spending more time dipping into assorted publications here and there—which I’ll review in another post—but I’m staying consistent with a couple of my favorites. So let’s dive into the March 2024 issues of Clarkesworld and GigaNotoSaurus.  Clarkesworld If there’s any magazine I recommend regularly reading… Continue reading Tar Vol Reads a Magazine (or Two): Reviews of Clarkesworld and GigaNotoSaurus (March 2024)

Reviews

Sci-fi/Fantasy Novel Review: Sunset by Arshad Ahsanuddin

My judging team in the third annual Self-Published Science Fiction Competition (SPSFC3) has turned in our two semifinalists, and in return, we’ve received two semifinalists each from a pair of other teams. Our task over the months of February and March is to read these four new semifinalists, and together with the other two teams,… Continue reading Sci-fi/Fantasy Novel Review: Sunset by Arshad Ahsanuddin

Reviews

Sci-fi Fantasy Novel Review: The Siege of the Burning Grass by Premee Mohamed

This review is based on an eARC (Advance Reading Copy) provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The Siege of the Burning Grass will be released on March 12, 2024. I’ve been hearing a whole lot about Premee Mohamed for a few years now, and while I’ve tried a handful of… Continue reading Sci-fi Fantasy Novel Review: The Siege of the Burning Grass by Premee Mohamed

Reviews

Sci-fi Novel Review: Those Beyond the Wall by Micaiah Johnson

This review is based on an eARC (Advance Reading Copy) provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Those Beyond the Wall will be released on March 12, 2024. Almost three years ago, I was absolutely stunned by Micaiah Johnson’s debut novel, The Space Between Worlds. So even though her standalone sequel… Continue reading Sci-fi Novel Review: Those Beyond the Wall by Micaiah Johnson

Reviews

Sci-fi/Fantasy Collection Review: Lost Places by Sarah Pinsker

I first read Sarah Pinsker when “Two Truths and a Lie” was a Hugo Award finalist for Best Novelette in 2021 (it won). Three or four stories later, she’d become one of my absolute favorite short story authors, and picking up a copy of her second collection, Lost Places, was an easy decision.  Lost Places… Continue reading Sci-fi/Fantasy Collection Review: Lost Places by Sarah Pinsker

Reviews

Sci-fi Novella Review: Nothing But the Rain by Naomi Salman

February is always a great month for catching up on stories—especially relatively short ones—from other people’s favorites lists, and while I had heard almost no buzz about Nothing But the Rain by Naomi Salman, a book club friend had it atop their 2023 novella list, so I thought I’d give it a try. Guess what?… Continue reading Sci-fi Novella Review: Nothing But the Rain by Naomi Salman

Reviews

Horror Novel Review: The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson

I tend to be a bit squeamish about horror, but I’ve dipped my toe into the genre a couple times and have found things to like there. Because of said squeamishness, I don’t know much about the genre classics apart from whatever has filtered down through the general culture, but when one of r/Fantasy’s many… Continue reading Horror Novel Review: The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson