Fantasy Books

Howard Andrew Jones at GenCon, 2023

In 2019, I had an idea: a lot of my friends loved reading sword and sorcery fiction, but they didn’t write it. They would say, “One day.” Many of my undergraduates also expressed interest in writing fantasy, but they often felt discouraged by form rejection letters (genre magazine slush piles are epic). Having studied the history of genre fiction, I knew about the old tradition of “fanzines”— not-for-profit amateur publications that provided a low-stakes outlet for new writers. Just submitting work, collaborating with an editor, and seeing it in print can transform someone’s self-image from being just a reader to being a writer.

So, after some conversations with friends and a bit of encouragement, I started thinking seriously about launching my own zine.

As an academic, I’m deliberate by nature. I like to consult and take my time. Honestly, if I could have formed a committee for this, I probably would have. Instead, I decided to email someone: Howard Andrew Jones.

[Click the images for larger versions.]

The three Dabir and Asim volumes: The Desert of Souls, The Bones of the Old Ones, and the collection The Waters of Eternity (Thomas Dunne Books, February 2011, December 2012, and November 2011). Covers by Charles Keegan, Steve Stone, uncredited

At the time, I didn’t know Howard personally, but I knew of him. He was a celebrated name in sword and sorcery. Howard had published an e-zine (Flashing Swords) in the genre, written essays and edited for Black Gate, and authored an incredible series of novels set in a sword-and-sorcery-inspired Arabia featuring Dabir and Asim (The Desert of Souls and The Bones of the Old Ones). He was also working on a new trilogy, The Ring-Sworn Trilogy, and I had already read the first book.

On top of all that, Howard had written several fun Pathfinder RPG novels, and he was editing Tales from the Magician’s Skull, the magazine for contemporary sword and sorcery fiction, published by Goodman Games. I loved that magazine. If anyone could give me advice on starting a zine, it was Howard.

I didn’t expect much when I emailed him. I wrote a long message, gushed a bit as a fanboy, and sent it off. Honestly, I wasn’t really expecting a response.

The next day, I was in my campus office grading papers when my office phone rang. My office phone never rings. In my ten years at CNU, maybe one student has ever called me. It’s practically an artifact – a dusty relic of a bygone era. My first instinct, as a millennial, was to let it go to voicemail. That’s what you do: let them leave a message and call back after some breathing exercises.

But for some reason, I picked it up.

“Hello?”
“Jason?”
“Yeah, this is Jason.”

The voice on the other end was calm, relaxed, with a kind of deliberate enunciation.

“Heeey, Jason! This is Howard.”
“Howard?” I said, not quite connecting the dots.
“Howard Andrew Jones. You emailed me about a magazine idea.”

I still get a little emotional thinking about that first call. Maybe I’m projecting, but I was immediately surprised, disarmed, and touched. Howard had gone out of his way to call me – call me! My office number isn’t even in my email signature, so he must have looked me up online to find my CNU contact info. I hadn’t even expected a reply, and here was this great author, taking the time to phone me.

Tales of the Magician’s Skull, edited by Howard Andrew Jones. Issues 1, 7, and 12
(Goodman Games, 2017, 2022, and 2024). Cover art by Jim Pavelec and Sanjulian

I was a bit starstruck when we first talked. I’m already an awkward person, but the awkwardness was dialed up as I tried to gather my bearings. Howard, however, was so kind, calm, and genuinely enthusiastic about fiction, writing, and fantasy literature that I found myself speaking to him like an old friend. I’m pretty sure we talked for over an hour during that first conversation. I remember he was multitasking while on the phone – taking out the trash or doing yard work.

In the years that followed, whenever I spoke to Howard, he always seemed to be en route somewhere – driving to town, running errands, sometimes saying, “Hold on, I’ve got to grab this thing.” He felt real and grounded in a way that made people feel at ease. He gave off this sense of being completely unaware of how cool he was or how others saw him – or, if he did know, he just didn’t put much stock in it.

Over the next five years, Howard and I stayed in almost constant contact. We texted regularly. Often, he’d reply to a message with something like, “You free? Driving to town.” When I started my magazine and created an associated Discord server, he joined and became as active there as anyone, if not more so.

His comments were always supportive, kind, and encouraging. He shared favorite authors, thoughts on prose style, and a steady drip of wisdom for aspiring writers. Whenever anyone mentioned his work, he would chime in, “Thanks for reading it,” “Glad it worked for you,” “Really appreciate the kind words.”

Outside of Discord, we talked on the phone often. One thing I noticed was that Howard frequently mentioned his friends – not in a name-dropping way, like he wanted you to know he knew big authors, but in a way that made you feel like you were part of this collaborative effort, this network of fellow creatives. To him, it seemed, writing wasn’t a solitary pursuit but a shared craft. It was like Howard was always attending a seminar on fiction, and his calls were a way of touching base to see how your progress was going.

The books of Howard Andrew Jones

For instance, he’d say something like, “Hocking and I were talking about dialogue – how it needs to reveal character but economically, like in hardboiled detective fiction” (I’m paraphrasing). From the way he spoke, I got the sense that Howard had a lot of writer friends, and they talked about the craft of writing the way master carpenters might talk about solving technical problems with wood.

Fandom can get a little gossipy, but Howard never said a negative thing about anyone. He was almost stubbornly kind and assumed the best intentions from people. Being in touch with him felt like being welcomed into a very supportive club. Over time – without me even realizing it – Howard became something of a mentor or even a sensei in sword and sorcery writing.

At first, we just talked about sword and sorcery (a genre he was deeply opinionated about – he really didn’t like Tros of Samothrace (“Bounced right off it)), but our discussions evolved into broader topics: writing, work, heroism, and how storytelling affects people’s lives. I can honestly say I learned a lot about writing from him, at least an MFA’s worth, or more.

I met Howard in person three times over the six years I knew him. I saw him at GenCon, the big gaming convention that also includes a section for genre writers. We sat on several panels together discussing sword and sorcery fiction. He attended Howard Days, a celebration of Robert E. Howard, the pulp author who created sword and sorcery (yes, it gets confusing). And then I saw him again at GenCon this past August of 2024.

In August, aside from a persistent leg injury, Howard seemed… OK. I need to be honest and say he struck me as a little blue at GenCon, and he suspected it was due to the injury or the associated medication treating it. He had every reason to be happy. He had just published the first two books of his Hanuvar series. If I remember correctly, book three, Shadow of the Smoking Mountain, had just come out or was coming out. At the convention, he gave me an ARC and signed it with the words, “Find a way or make one.” I took this as a nod to the writer’s life, a reminder to persevere and create despite the challenges.

The Ring-Sworn Trilogy by Howard Andrew Jones (St. Martin’s Press, 2018-2021). Covers by Lauren Saint-Onge

On the last day of GenCon, literally just before leaving, Howard, my wife Nicole, and I had lunch together. It was the first time Howard had met Nicole. She joked and referred to Howard as “my friend in my pocket” because I was always texting with him. I laughed and told her, “You don’t understand – this guy is so cool. He’s the nicest guy you’ll ever meet.”

That might sound like grief-motivated hyperbole now, but, in hindsight, it wasn’t. That’s exactly how I spoke about Howard before I knew anything was wrong.

Nicole and I had lunch with him, and of course, they hit it off. I can’t recall the details but Howard was fascinated with Nicole’s life growing up on a farm (did Howard come from a rural background?). After the meal, Howard said he was glad to have met her.

We left the restaurant. There were hundreds of people in the corridors at GenCon, a veritable sea of humanity, and Nicole and I were ready to leave, luggage in hand. So, we said our goodbyes. I had no idea it was the final goodbye. Howard gave me a hug and said, “Well, safe travels to you and your beautiful wife. And, keep writing.” Then he disappeared into the crowd.

A few weeks later, I learned he had gone to the hospital with acute symptoms.

I’m still in the anger phase of all this. Howard was such a good guy. It felt like, as a writer, he was hitting his peak. In my view, he had so much more to give the world – not just through his novels but through who he was as a person. I know my story is just one of many similar ones. That’s the kind of person Howard was: everyone who met him seemed to come away with a story about his kindness. This tragedy couldn’t have happened to a more undeserving person.

Howard, you’ll be missed, man. Thanks for being you.

Jason Ray Carney is a Lecturer in Popular Literature at Christopher Newport University. He is the author of the academic book, Weird Tales of Modernity (McFarland), and the fantasy anthology, Rakefire and Other Stories (Pulp Hero Press). He edited Savage Scrolls: Thrilling Tales of Sword and Sorcery for Pulp Hero Press and is an editor at The Dark Man: Journal of Robert E. Howard and Pulp Studies and Whetstone: Amateur Magazine of Sword and Sorcery. His last article for Black Gate was a review of Lord of a Shattered Land.

Here are 7 Author Shoutouts for this week. Find your favorite author or discover an…

The post 7 Author Shoutouts | Authors We Love To Recommend appeared first on LitStack.

Book links: Amazon, Goodreads

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Charles Burns grew up in Seattle in the 1970s. His work rose to prominence in Art Spiegelman's Raw magazine in the mid-1980s and took off from there, for an extraordinary range of comics and projects, from Iggy Pop album covers to the latest ad campaign for Altoids. In 1992 he designed the sets for Mark Morris's delightful restaging of The Nutcracker. He's illustrated covers for Time, the New Yorker and the New York Times Sunday Magazine. He is the official cover artist for The Believer magazine. Black Hole received Eisner, Harvey and Ignatz awards in 2005. Burns lives in Philadelphia with his wife and two daughters.

Publisher: Pantheon (September 24, 2024) Length: 224 pages Formats: Hardcover, ebook

It’s been a long wait -ten years, to be exact-but Charles Burns is back with Final Cut, a weird, sad, and beautifully drawn trip into the mind of an awkward teenage filmmaker named Brian. Set in the early ‘70s, the story follows Brian as he and his friends make a low-budget horror movie on a camping trip.

Everything revolves around Laurie, Brian’s red-haired crush, who becomes his muse, his obsession, and, ultimately, the centerpiece of a story he might be rewriting in his head.

As a result, Final Cut can initially feel like a simple coming-of-age story about a group of friends making a low-budget film in the woods. But true to Burns’ style, there’s so much more beneath the surface. As Brian edits his movie, it becomes clear he’s also “editing” his memories of that summer, creating a version of events where he has more control—and maybe even the happy ending he never got.

This comic has great vibes. You’ve got razor-sharp art that’s stunning, a creeping sense of unease, and characters you’re not quite sure how to feel about. Since I love unreliable narration, I loved the eerie, dreamlike atmosphere. Brian’s a loner who’s into art and movies—cool enough—but he’s also kinda creepy. He films Laurie without her knowing, sketches naked pictures of her, and lurks outside her tent at night. His version of events might not be a full story.

That’s the hook here: is this all really how it went down, or is Brian “editing” the summer in his head to make it more palatable? He’s a filmmaker, after all, and Final Cut plays with that idea of memory as a movie you can tweak. The whole thing has this dreamy, slightly unsettling vibe, like you’re stuck in Brian’s head with him.

The art? Absolutely stunning and otherworldly. Burns’ haunting artwork is unparalleled, as he effortlessly shifts between grounded realism and surreal horror. The color palette—rich blues, stark whites, and deep reds—heightens the unsettling atmosphere, while the splash pages and film-like sequences are nothing short of stunning.

If there’s a downside, it’s that the pacing can be uneven and its core is quite simple, really. Unrequited teenage love, even with all the surreal touches, might not sound like much on paper. And yeah, some parts drag, like the repetitive “making the movie” scenes. But by the end, Final Cutk hits you with this quiet, bittersweet sadness.

Final Cut is a beautifully weird, unsettling, and surprisingly tender look at love, art, and the stories we tell ourselves. If you’re a fan of Charles Burns or just love weird, thoughtful comics, this one’s worth the ride.

I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.

At the Bottom of the Garden by Camilla Bruce

Mogsy’s Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Genre: Horror

Series: Stand Alone

Publisher: Del Rey (January 28, 2024)

Length: 384 pages

Author Information: Website | Twitter

I’ve been a fan of Camilla Bruce ever since I read You Let Me In, which won over with its dark, complex characters and unsettling themes. Her stories so often blur the lines between the real and the supernatural, and her newest novel At the Bottom of the Garden seemed like it would too—a blend of eeriness and whimsy and atmosphere. However, certain aspects also fell short of my admittedly high expectations.

The book introduces Clara Woods, a conniving woman who seizes on an opportunity to reshape her future when a tragic climbing accident claims the lives of her brother and his wife, leaving her as the sole guardian of their two orphaned daughters. Ambitious and cunning, Clara dreams of becoming the head of her own diamond business but lacks the funds to make it happen. With her late brother’s estate now in the hands of his children, Clara begins to plot her way into gaining access to their inheritance.

Still grieving the loss of their parents, 14-year-old Lily and 9-year-old Violet suddenly find themselves transported from their lavish townhome into a decaying manor in the countryside, living with their aunt whom they hardly know. Clara seems kind enough, and says all the right things, but the girls know better. Each secretly harbors a unique gift—Lily can “see” the emotions of others as different colors, while Violet has an inexplicable connection to the realm of the unliving. As their aunt’s manipulative behavior grows worse, the sisters begin to suspect her motives, especially when the house begins to feel increasingly suffocating and oppressive. One day, Violet’s mysterious ability unleashes a long-buried secret, and before long, Clara is surrounded by the ghosts of her past. A tense battle of wills ensues as Clara isn’t about to back down, while the girls grow increasingly defiant and emboldened by their powers.

The story primarily unfolds through chapters alternating between the perspectives of the three characters. Clara is a real piece of work—a greedy, social-climbing widow who is secretly delighted when her half-brother dies and only sees taking care of his daughters as a means to an end. Lily is more mature than her age would suggest, quietly observant and deeply protective of her younger sister. Violet is pure innocence, wanting only to please. Each POV adds a layer to this precarious dynamic, as the girls’ resistance causes Clara to push to take her scheming to the next level.

The writing style is interesting in this one, though it also strongly reminded me of In the Garden of Spite and All the Blood We Share, both books in which Camilla Bruce takes readers into the twisted minds of morally complex, often villainous characters. The main difference is, At the Bottom of the Garden takes on a more whimsical, cartoonish tone— turning Clara into something like a wicked witch from a children’s fairy tale. However, the charm doesn’t last. Eventually, the lack of depth shows through. You start wondering why the girls aren’t taking the obvious, logical steps to get out of their situation. Clara’s ideas become more and more far-fetched. Over time, these unrealistic elements just keep piling up, making the story feel increasingly oversimplified and shallow.

And though I ultimately liked that this was a ghost story, I couldn’t help but feel its potential was wasted. Things started out strong, with a sense of foreboding that was practically palpable. Yet as events unfolded, the plot began to lose its focus, meandering into subplots that distracted from the central conflict involving the haunting, the girls’ abilities, and Clara’s role as a murderess. All that started to feel like a backdrop rather than the key driving force, and by the time we got to the ending, the resolution was rushed and somewhat unsatisfying. The ending simply lacked the emotional impact I was hoping for, a letdown after the tensions built throughout the story.

Overall, in my opinion, At the Bottom of the Garden was not Camilla Bruce’s best, but the strange gothic dark fairy tale vibe does make it more unique and stand out among her other books. And despite my criticisms, I did enjoy it for its atmosphere and slow-burn supernatural plot. Recommended if you are a fan of the author, or for readers who can appreciate a lighter take on horror.

 

This is a reread. First time reading it has to be between 2001 and 2009 somewhere. I borrowed it and now finally have my own copy.I mostly remember atmosphere, vibes, and that I loved it. Starts out promising, the writing is so good!

He swallowed queasily. The footlocker seemed to swell to fill his room, muttering its ugly secrets to itself.

(page 35, Wizard of the Pigeons by Megan Lindholm/Robin Hobb)
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Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, previously hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following: - Grab your current read - Open to a random page - Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) - Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their  TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Savage Sword of Conan #1 (Titan Comics, February 2024). Cover art by Joe Jusko

Savage Sword of Conan, from Titan Comics, is the comic book that I have been waiting for. It is a thing of perfection: art, story, presentation, physical format – all unmatched.

The cover by Joe Jusko is brilliant, capturing some brutal imagery from the prose story within, penned by Jim Zub. I loved Joe’s work on the original SSoC run.

The introduction by Roy Thomas was a delight. Roy was the mastermind behind Conan the Barbarian and Savage Sword of Conan, but he’s also known for creating characters such as Wolverine, Vision, Werewolf by Night, Luke Cage, Iron Fist, Ultron, and scores more. Hearing that he had plans to contribute to this magazine filled me with joy.

[Click the images for savage-sized versions.]

Interior pages from Savage Sword of Conan #1. Art by Max Von Fafner

The first story in SSoC #1 is called “Conan and the Dragon Horde,” written by John Arcudi, with art by Max Von Fafner. It has violence, bloodshed, nudity, sex, murder, betrayal, greed, superstition, intrigue, and horror. It is a classic Conan yarn that includes a fascinating female protagonist. Maybe she’ll stick around, or maybe she’ll go her own way, like Valeria. I can’t wait to see.

The prose story by Jim Zub, “Sacrifice in the Sand,” was a pleasant surprise. I have to admit to almost always feeling a sense of dread when someone other than REH writes Conan, but by Crom, this Zub guy gets it, much like his contemporary, John C. Hocking. The story was short, but the action was intense, realistic, and engaging, with a nice little twist at the end. Congrats, JZ.

More interiors from Savage Sword of Conan #1. Art by Max Von Fafner

Next, we had a Solomon Kane yarn, “Master of the Hunt.” Placing an SK backup story in SSoC is chef’s kiss perfect. It brings back wonderful memories. Written and illustrated by Patrick Zircher, this was an excellent Gothic tale, with all that 1600s mood and tone. The Puritan gun-toting swashbuckler is one of REH’s finest creations, and he is well represented here.

The magazine closes with a piece by Jeffrey Shanks, who delves into the publishing history of Solomon Kane, which many readers will no doubt find fascinating. Jeff is a bona-fide REH scholar, much like my dog brothers, Mark Finn and Chris Gruber.

Interiors from Savage Sword of Conan #1. Art by Patrick Zircher and Howard Chaykin

This book was great. The husky offset paper is thick and opaque, yet has that newspaper quality to it, bringing back the nostalgia of the original run. You can smell the ink – it’s glorious.

One thing I would love to see in the future (and I know this is wishful thinking) is art by Val Semeiks in the pages of this series. I’ve been working with Val off and on for eight years on Hyperborea RPG content, and I think it would be a wonderful “full circle” event to see him back where he started – illustrating Kull in SSoC. I’d love to see that happen.

Savage Sword of Conan #1 (Marvel Comics, 1974). Cover by Boris Vallejo

The original Savage Sword of Conan #1 was published in 1974, featuring an incredible cover painting by Boris Vallejo (see above). It picked up where Savage Tales had left off, with Roy Thomas spearheading the efforts within.

The talent of the contributors is off the charts: John Buscema, Barry Smith, Alfredo Alcala, Gil Kane, Pablo Marcos, Esteban Maroto, Neal Adams, Ernie Chan, and a riveting article by Glenn Lord. All of it, as Roy Thomas states “… is dedicated to Conan and the other heroic-fantasy creations of the late Robert E. Howard (1906-1936).”

Interiors from Savage Sword of Conan #1 (Marvel Comics, 1974). Art by
John Buscema, Pablo Marcos, Esteban Maroto, Neal Adams, and John Chua

I already had a copy of this book, but I picked up this backup copy for $20 from my old pal, Chris, of Chris’s Comics.

For me, the most iconic Conan art was established by Frank Frazetta with his cover paintings on the Lancer paperbacks, and John Buscema with his cover and interior art in Marvel’s Conan the Barbarian and Savage Sword of Conan. When I was young, one of the things I always looked forward to was the next issue’s cover painting for SSoC.

Cover art for The Savage Sword of Conan #54 (Marvel Comics, July 1980). Art by Earl Norem

They rarely disappointed. Among those cover painting artists, one of my personal favorites was Earl Norem. I don’t believe he has received the attention he deserves for capturing incredibly dynamic scenes, such as the one pictured above, fighting a sand demon.

One of the prizes of my personal collection is the page below, purchased at a NY Comicon in the late 90s. This is an original page from Savage Sword of Conan #197, published in May, 1992.

Original art from Savage Sword of Conan (Marvel Comics, May, 1992). Art by John Buscema and Ernie Chan

It features Roy Thomas writing, John Buscema pencils, and Ernie Chan inks. The ultimate creative dream team. On this page we see Conan, Belit, and Valeria. This is a one-of-a-kind piece that I will never part with!

One of the ultimate dream teams in comic book history was Roy Thomas, John Buscema, and Alfredo Alcala. The page below is from Savage Sword of Conan #20, adapting the Robert E. Howard story “The Slithering Shadow,” originally published in Weird Tales magazine in 1933. A sword-and-sorcery masterpiece.

Splash page from Savage Sword of Conan #20, by Roy Thomas, John Buscema, and Alfredo Alcala (Marvel Comics, July, 1977)

The third and final volume of Barbarian Life: A Literary Biography of Conan the Barbarian, by Roy Thomas, is a must-have for fans of Roy’s take on Robert E. Howard’s most famous character.

In thousands of four-color panels for Marvel Comics, Roy Thomas told the tale of Robert E. Howard’s greatest creation, Conan the Barbarian. Now, in this definitive biography and analysis, Roy chronicles Conan’s comic book life, issue by issue, plot by plot, and artist by artist.

For ten years, from October 1970 when Roy and artist Barry Smith assembled the first issue of Marvel’s Conan the Barbarian, to October 1980 when Roy and artist John Buscema completed their last issue together on the series, Thomas wrote of Conan’s gigantic melancholies and gigantic mirth — as well as the wars, the wenches, and the wizardry that bedeviled the Cimmerian from one issue to the next.

In this final volume of the series, Roy Thomas explains the creative process behind his final few issues of Conan the Barbarian, his run on King Conan, and selected stories published in Savage Sword of Conan. Additional features include a full-length interview with Roy, a short history of sword-and-sorcery in the comics, and the tale of Conan’s battles with the Comics Code.

Barbarian Life: Volume Three: A Literary Biography of Conan the Barbarian by Roy Thomas (Pulp Hero Press, April 26, 2021)

Now, I do want to preface what I am about to say by noting that my thoughts may be clouded by the nostalgia of my youth: lying on my bedroom floor, poring over my Conan comics and studying the words and art with rapt interest.

That being said, of all the pastiche authors who have developed new, original Conan tales, Roy Thomas may be my favorite — and he did it with the accompaniment of a brilliant visual medium, working with some of the finest artists of the day, such as the aforementioned Barry Smith and John Buscema, and also greats such as Alfredo Alcala, Gil Kane, and Ernie Chan.

Unfortunately, one of my favorite Conan artists, the incredible Val Semeiks, didn’t cross paths with Roy, but he deserves mentioning nonetheless for his breathtaking art.

Jeffrey P. Talanian’s last article for Black Gate was The Dreams in Gary’s Basement: Gary Gygax and the Creation of Dungeons & Dragons. He is the creator and publisher of the Hyperborea sword-and-sorcery and weird science-fantasy RPG from North Wind Adventures. He was the co-author, with E. Gary Gygax, of the Castle Zagyg releases, including several Yggsburgh city supplements, Castle Zagyg: The East Mark Gazetteer, and Castle Zagyg: The Upper Works. Read Gabe Gybing’s interview with Jeffrey here, and follow his latest projects on Facebook and at www.hyperborea.tv.

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: J E Hannaford is powered by coffee, dragons and whisky. She teaches Biology in the real world and invents fantasy beasts to populate her own.
She lives in Suffolk, UK, and pines for the coast and mountains of Wales.
A love of nature and the ocean washes through the pages of J E Hannaford's stories and pours out of the characters who live in it.
Find J.E. online: website
Gates of Hope links: Amazon, Goodreads
ESMAY
Well, I don’t know what I was expecting from Gates of Hope, but I am pretty sure nothing could have prepared me for the wildly imaginative epic sci-fantasy adventure it turned out to be. It’s got dystopian landscapes and societies, completely unique flora and fauna, a magical academy and secret societies, at least six types of mystifying magic, planet hopping portals, and, hear me out, space dragons. What’s not to love… right? 
From the very first page, I found J.E. Hannaford’s bold storytelling and rich prose to be incredibly immersive. Yes, we are dropped into quite a deep pool of unfamiliar fantasy terminology and complex history and lore, but the way that this entire world (or should I say universe?) unfolded through the three distinctly unique POV characters’ eyes felt wonderfully organic to me. 
Whether it was Darin with his dream/song magic, dangerous secret society shenanigans, and newfound psychic moonhound bond (Star is the MVP!!), Suriin with her emotion magic and desperate lust for an adventure to take her outside the deep crater communities of Caldera, or the outcast Elissa all the way over on the moon of Tebein discovering outlawed magical powers that could save her entire race from the tyrannical rule of the alien awldrin overlords, if they don’t eliminate her first; I am not kidding when I say that every single chapter contained some type of new marvellous piece of revelatory world building that just filled me with awe. 
However, as interesting and intriguing as I found the events unfolding throughout these characters’ increasingly wild lives, I have to admit that I never truly connected to any of them, and I soon found myself struggling to stay engaged by the almost slice-of-life storytelling. To me, Gates of Hope lacked a strong overarching conflict/plot pulling everything together into a cohesive whole, and it felt like everything was happening TO these characters rather than because they took any decision driven by personal motivations, which made it quite hard for me to really root for them.
Maybe I was just hoping and expecting this story to be something it was never meant to be, and ultimately I truly can’t deny that Hannaford’s ambitious vision for the Aulirean Cycle is beyond impressive. While this first book in the series failed to truly hook me at any point, I think the explosive ending showed a lot of potential and set up the sequel(s) in a very strong way. So, if you are looking for an exceptionally slow-burn and character-driven epic sci-fantasy adventure that is simply bursting with imagination, emotion, and heart, then I can’t recommend Gates of Hope highly enough. 
ŁUKASZ

Sometimes, a book feels like it’s going somewhere, only for you to realize you’ve been waiting for things to happen and they still haven't. Gates of Hope is one of those books. It’s clear J.E. Hannaford poured her heart into building this world (interplanetary dragons, magical moonhounds, and a system of magic fueled by emotions and music), but all that effort doesn’t quite translate into an engaging story.

The premise is solid: a war-torn world, magical gates destroyed by a dragon, and three protagonists dealing with the fallout. But rather than picking up speed, the plot crawls. Elissa struggles under alien rule on one of the moons, Darin bonds with his moonhound while learning magic, and Suriin works on controlling her powers. They all have potential, but their stories don’t really connect, and for most of the book, it feels like nothing significant happens.

The pacing is the main culprit. It’s practically at a standstill for long stretches. The book spends so much time on small, everyday details and repetitive scenes that the plot barely gets a chance to move. Even when things finally pick up near the end, it feels too little, too late.

The characters also didn’t do much to save the story. While there’s some charm - Darin’s moonhound, Star, is a highlight - the protagonists themselves feel flat. Their personal growth and struggles should’ve been the heart of the story, but instead, it’s like watching three separate, slightly dull movies that never quite come together.

That said, the world-building is impressive. You can tell Hannaford put a lot of thought into creating her universe, and for readers who love rich, detailed settings, this might hit the spot. 

If you’re patient and enjoy slow, slice-of-life fantasy, Gates of Hope might work for you. Otherwise, it’s a bit of a slog - a lovingly crafted world where not enough actually happens.

OFFICIAL SPFBO RATING

Take My Name but Say It Slow is a luminous memoir-in-essays exploring place, identity, and…

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A LIFE IS NOT IMPORTANT EXCEPT IN THE IMPACT IT HAS ON OTHER LIVES – Jackie Robinson’s epitaph

Mark Rigney, Howard Andrew Jones, Bob Byrne

I did an interview last week with Jason Waltz for his ’24 in 42′ podcast (Yeah, I know: You just can’t wait to hear that one…).

One of the questions was about my favorite quote/lyric/poem/motivational thought. Some of you who know me probably figure it’s a Bible verse. And there are a couple that are right up there.

But it’s the epitaph on Jackie Robinson’s gravestone, which leads off this post.

My buddy Howard Andrew Jones has passed away from brain cancer. You’re going to see a LOT of people singing his praises in the coming weeks. All of it deserved. If I can stop crying long enough, my Monday morning post will be on Howard.

But you’re gonna see a common thread in the talk about Howard. The impact he had on other people’s lives. Especially in encouraging and helping writers – mostly in the sword and sorcery field.

Measured by impact, Howard’s may well be the most important life in the past three-plus decades in the genre. He was relentless in being kind, helpful, encouraging, engaging – just fucking NICE – in an era when nice isn’t all that common anymore.

My favorite memories of Howard are our phone talks about hardboiled private eye fiction: not what you’d guess of one of the brightest lights in the sword and sorcery genre.

But as you read the posts about Howard here on FB, just keep noting how many people thank him for helping them. For impacting their lives and careers.

Howard totally lived that quote on Robinson’s headstone. More than most of us do. A good man who lived an important life.

The world’s light is a little less bright this wintry day. A star has gone out.

 

That was my response to seeing John O’Neill’s post on Friday, announcing that Howard had lost his battle with brain cancer. Facebook has been full of fond memories and sorrows from his many friends.

There are two people I’ve gotten to know somewhat through my writing/blogging, who were liked by everyone who knew them. No one had a bad word for mystery writer Bill Crider, or for Howard. He did not suffer bullshit well, but if you knew him, you were his friend. And you felt fortunate to be one.

I only met him once, at a Windy City Pulp Fest, but we talked on the phone, emailed, and FB messaged. I always enjoyed talking to him. We often compared the aches and pains of trying to remain physically active as we grew older. And suddenly, he won’t grow any older. Life can suck.

Regarding his work, my favorites are his Dabir and Asim Arabian stories. The two novels are epic Arabian fantasies – ‘swords and sandals’. But the short stories are really mysteries in an Arabian fantasy setting, and I love that! If you don’t at least have Waters of Eternity in digital, you totally should.

I liked his Pathfinder novels. The Ring-Sworn trilogy was good, but not one of my favorites.

I had not yet started his most recent trilogy, The Chronicles of Hanuvar, though I had read a couple short stories, which he incorporated into the first novel, ala Raymond Chandler (Howard was a hardboiled PI Pulp expert). I sat down Friday night, and I spent a chunk of my weekend working through Lord of A Shattered Land.

This is Howard’s best work. He had moved to another level. I assume books two and three will only drive that home. He had signed a five-book deal with Baen. They liked it so much, they added two more books to his contract.

Howard was a year younger than me, and he had a lot of great writing years ahead of him. He was taken far too soon – I feel the same about Carl Wilson of the Beach Boys.

As I said in my FB post, Howard was nice. He was a genuinely good guy. He was fun to talk to, and he really was committed to helping people in the field. If you saw his FB updates on the chicks (he operated a farm) in winter, you got a sense of what a neat guy he was.

I got to visit him once after the news of his illness came out. That’s the pic above, with three of us Black Gaters together. He was still the gentle, soft-spoken soul I knew.

I hope the plaudits and the accolades keep coming. And I hope there’s something in his memory at 2025 Windy City.

Howard will be missed by many, for many years to come. The following is from his first Hanuvar novel, and it’s become the Howard quote for many of us, with his passing:

“Why are you crying? Warrior’s don’t cry.”

“They do when a hero dies.”

We lost a hero. I’m one of many who will miss you greatly, friend.

And if you’re looking for some modern fantasy to read, you really ought to grab that first book and check out one of the finest sword and sorcery writers of this century:

The Chronicles of Hanuvar

Lord of a Shattered Land
The City of Marble and Blood
Shadow of the Smoking Mountain

Bob Byrne’s ‘A (Black) Gat in the Hand’ made its Black Gate debut in 2018 and has returned every summer since.

His ‘The Public Life of Sherlock Holmes’ column ran every Monday morning at Black Gate from March, 2014 through March, 2017. And he irregularly posts on Rex Stout’s gargantuan detective in ‘Nero Wolfe’s Brownstone.’ He is a member of the Praed Street Irregulars, founded www.SolarPons.com (the only website dedicated to the ‘Sherlock Holmes of Praed Street’).

He organized Black Gate’s award-nominated ‘Discovering Robert E. Howard’ series, as well as the award-winning ‘Hither Came Conan’ series. Which is now part of THE Definitive guide to Conan. He also organized 2023’s ‘Talking Tolkien.’

He has contributed stories to The MX Book of New Sherlock Holmes Stories — Parts III, IV, V, VI, XXI, and XXXIII.

He has written introductions for Steeger Books, and appeared in several magazines, including Black Mask, Sherlock Holmes Mystery Magazine, The Strand Magazine, and Sherlock Magazine.

Daughter of The Moon Goddess ( The Celestial Kingdom #1)bought on Audible
Synopsis from Goodreads
Growing up on the moon, Xingyin is accustomed to solitude, unaware that she is being hidden from the feared Celestial Emperor who exiled her mother for stealing his elixir of immortality. But when Xingyin’s magic flares and her existence is discovered, she is forced to flee her home, leaving her mother behind.
Alone, powerless, and afraid, she makes her way to the Celestial Kingdom, a land of wonder and secrets. Disguising her identity, she seizes an opportunity to learn alongside the emperor's son, mastering archery and magic, even as passion flames between her and the prince.
To save her mother, Xingyin embarks on a perilous quest, confronting legendary creatures and vicious enemies across the earth and skies. But when treachery looms and forbidden magic threatens the kingdom, she must challenge the ruthless Celestial Emperor for her dream—striking a dangerous bargain in which she is torn between losing all she loves or plunging the realm into chaos.
A captivating debut fantasy inspired by the legend of Chang'e, the Chinese moon goddess, in which a young woman’s quest to free her mother pits her against the most powerful immortal in the realm. Daughter of the Moon Goddess begins an enchanting, romantic duology which weaves ancient Chinese mythology into a sweeping adventure of immortals and magic—where love vies with honor, dreams are fraught with betrayal, and hope emerges triumphant.
8.5/10* * *
This turned out surprisingly good! I started the book rolling my eyes hard at sugary romance between the prince and his companion. Classic xinxia setup! 
However, they both proved me wrong with their level of maturity. Basically, both ML and FL got over themselves pretty quickly and went on with their lives like adults. 
The secondary romance developed so fast I must have blinked and missed its onset, but it definitely added tension and depth, especially when two men had to work together. * snort* Oh, the antagonism!
I'd say the action sequences were the most interesting and best written and I wished the author elaborated more about Xingyin's missions in the army as I was entertained the most with their descriptions.
Overall, a solid four star read. Will be checking out the next book in the series. 

 

Butterflied Lover (2023)

22 episodes, watched on Viki

Synopsis from MyDramaList

Inspired by the romance of Liang Shang Bo and Zhu Ying Tai, the story revolves around two lovers who will overcome all obstacles to remain together. 

Ling Chang Feng is an honourable general and has been in a passionate marriage with his wife for the past 3 years. 

However, a strange disturbance hits their city on their third anniversary, and "madmen" run wild in the town, attacking innocent citizens violently.

 Ling Chang Feng leaves his wife behind to protect the people, but when he returns, finds that his wife has been infected by this phenomenon. 

He refuses to reveal this, as he knows that anyone who turns mad will be killed. He keeps her by his side in secret while trying to solve the cause of this frightful phenomenon.

8.5/10

* * *

It's an exceptionally well made bite size drama, folks (each episode is only 15 mins). You can see they had a very tight budget but they used it so, so well. The plot is fresh, the scenes are carefully crafted and the cinematography is masterful. I watched other two short dramas from the same director, and they were both fantastic (The Killer is Also Romantic, A Familiar Stranger). So, please, don't hesitate to invest your time in this drama.

It starts with Chang Feng and Qian Yue happily married in a fictional Chinese city state. She keeps having a recurring dream about reliving the same day until it actually happens and she gets embroiled in a tragic attack by this world's equivalent of vampires. 

After that we are taken into the past, where it shows how Chang Feng met his future wife and how their relationship developed. As she says, her memory starts from him. So she herself is full of secrets and has no memory of her past, a woman who literally had to learn anew everything. 

Their relationship develops from him looking after her as this almost childlike creature until she slowly matures and finds her strengths turning into a woman who loves fiercely. Chang Feng himself is a reticent workaholic who keeps away from politics or anything that doesn't require him just to guard his city. Qian Yue slowly changes that, and it's very sweet to see them together.

For once, the second couple's love story here is also touching and very cute. Considering that last time I saw the second male lead, he was playing the main villain in Blood of Youth, and he started as an antihero here as well, I was ready to dislike him, but he went from one dimensional, cold man to a shy, confused and hilariously out of sorts young lover pretty fast, and this melted my resolve to not like him.

Phew, I don't know how I managed not to give you any spoilers! Here is a fan vid to show you the beauty of this drama, folks. I hope after this you will give it a chance. It was great. Humorous, humane and lovely. Two thumbs up from yours truly. 

 

I've Fallen For You (2020)

24 episodes, watched on Viki

Synopsis from MyDramaList

A story that follows the quirky female investigator Tian San Qi as she searches for her long lost 'brother' and cracks many cases along the way.

Growing up, Tian San Qi had a strange liking for performing autopsies. She had an older 'brother' who would always be by her side and they spent many good years together. One day, he mysteriously disappears. San Qi as a child promises to find her true love and vows never to marry unless it's him.

In her search, she comes across many potential candidates and forms new friendships. The gang accidentally becomes involved in several cases in the area one of which seems closely related to the disappearance of her 'brother' all those years ago. A shocking conspiracy that is 10 years in the making comes to light.

~~ Adapted from the web novel "Jin Xin Ji" (锦心记) by Han Xue Fei (韩雪霏). 

8/10

* * *

Straight away I just wanted to clarify the synopsis: "brother" here is Chinese gege/older brother which can mean both your actual older brother or an older than you male you are familiar with. Same as you would be able to call an older girl -jiejie (older sister) or an older woman who is not your mom - ayi (aunty). 

This is a very cute and engaging drama despite its silly light heartedness, and the characters are very young. I can't quite pinpoint what exactly snared me in I've Fallen For You. 

It had Esther Yu whom I love since her performance in Love Between Fairy and Devil, and she is a very, very interesting actress. She is able to pull off cutest silliest pouts with great charm in her tinny tiny voice but at the same time give an impression that this is just a mask she adopted and make her moments of brilliant intelligence and sorrowful wise stares absolutely believable.

Liu Yi Chang who plays the male character, Zhao Cuo, is adorable as well. Grumpy, rough around the edges, abrasive, throwing money around and standoffish, he is actually covering his kind and trusting nature with this behaviour like a hedgehog with its needles to protect himself from getting hurt. You really feel his tentative pure nature straight away, and because he also doesn't bother to mince words, most people find him too rude and turn away until San Qi (FL) convinced that he is her long lost childhood sweetheart bulldozes him over. 

That poor boy has no chance to withstand against her, and they go through all the phases of good relationship: partnership where they gain mutual respect for each other's abilities (she is great at solving cases, he is a brilliant martial artist), friendship (when they develop an easy camaraderie to each other), and at last, love.

The way Zhao Cuo shows his love for San Qi is especially adorable. There is a scene where she decides to leave him for another guy who she thinks is her real childhood sweetheart, and Cuo after battling his inner demons for awhile accepts it to make her happy and on the day of her departure spends all morning buying her favourite foods for the road and running after the carriage. After she takes the food and drives off he just dissolves into an ugly cry right in the middle of the road. Not a pretty staged "artful tear sliding down my cheek" sort of cry, but proper ugly, suffocating, can't breathe from heartbreak cry. That really touched me.

There were quite a few moments like this, and I surprised myself really enjoying this drama. The soundtrack was a surprise too, it was more a kdrama type, rather than typical Chinese fantasy drama OST.

Overall, despite the strong comedy vibe, this was not only an entertaining but touching and adorable short drama. Recommended!

 

A Magic Steeped in Poison by Judy I. Lin (The Book of Tea #1)

bought on Audible

Synopsis from Goodreads

 For Ning, the only thing worse than losing her mother is knowing that it's her own fault. She was the one who unknowingly brewed the poison tea that killed her—the poison tea that now threatens to also take her sister, Shu.

When Ning hears of a competition to find the kingdom's greatest shennong-shi—masters of the ancient and magical art of tea-making—she travels to the imperial city to compete. The winner will receive a favor from the princess, which may be Ning's only chance to save her sister's life.

But between the backstabbing competitors, bloody court politics, and a mysterious (and handsome) boy with a shocking secret, Ning might actually be the one in more danger.

A Venom Dark and Sweet by Judy I. Lin (The Book of Tea #2)bought on Audible
Synopsis from GoodreadsA great evil has come to the kingdom of Dàxi. The Banished Prince has returned to seize power, his rise to the dragon throne aided by the mass poisonings that have kept the people bound in fear and distrust.
Ning, a young but powerful shénnóng-shi—a wielder of magic using the ancient and delicate art of tea-making—has escorted Princess Zhen into exile. Joining them is the princess' loyal bodyguard, Ruyi, and Ning's newly healed sister, Shu. Together the four young women travel throughout the kingdom in search of allies to help oust the invaders and take back Zhen's rightful throne.
But the golden serpent still haunts Ning's nightmares with visions of war and bloodshed. An evil far more ancient than the petty conflicts of men has awoken, and all the magic in the land may not be enough to stop it from consuming the world...
7.5/10* * *
If I was breaking the rating for the two books, the first one would have 8/10 (4 stars) rating as it was more coherent and engaging than book two (3.5 stars). While listening  to the book two I caught myself drifting and missing chunks of what was happening which for me is not a good sign, hence lower rating for the duology.
The best part of this duology is its unique magic system where people with certain abilities could brew tea from any plants, herbs, berries, flowers, etc. or their combinations for different healing reactions in patients or for imbuing people with particular powers and enhancing certain reactions. This whole concept was fascinating and very well done.
Book one with its competition and much tea making was perfect in its simplicity. Ning had a goal to win and get the best medical help possible for her younger sister. She also acquired friends, enemies and a love interest along the way who rounded up the story nicely.
Getting into book two, the plot stretched itself pretty thin. Ning got bogged down in endless quests. Get to point A, grab the object X, continue to point B. And apart from the willow episode and the hike through the bamboo forest, there was nothing juicy here. Kang, the love interest, lost all colour here and quite a lot of backbone. The amount of people who got tortured and killed around him, and he, the prince of the empire, was powerless to do anything to help. I didn't like it at all. I felt like he had no spark or spine and mostly reacted to events, rather than be a force to instigate them. His father had no personality and the villain was outright cartoonish from start to finish.
*Sigh*
Overall, it's an okay listen with a refreshing magic concept. Recommended with reservations. 

 

Under The Power (2019-2020)

55 episodes, watched on Viki (you can find in on YouTube)

Synopsis from MyDramaList

Lu Yi is a cold, ruthless and authoritative high-ranking officer of the Ming Dynasty's Jinyiwei (also known as the Brocaded Guards for their elaborately embroidered uniforms). The Jinyiwei are part of the Emperor's elite bodyguards that also serve as the secret police, and Lu Yi is one of the best at his job.

He meets Yuan Jin Xia, a smart, feisty and tom-boyish female officer from the Police's 6th Division, and they clash over a case that the both of them were involved in. Their paths continue to cross unpleasantly over a series of minor cases until Lu Yi was commissioned by the Emperor to secretly investigate the disappearance of funds that have been set aside for river repairs in Yangzhou. Part of the small team accompanying him includes Yuan Jin Xia, and as the two of them work together to solve the case, they find themselves uncovering a conspiracy involving high court officials while their feelings for each other slowly change from dislike to respectful friendship to love.

~~ Adapted from the web novel "Under the Power" (锦衣之下) by Lan Se Shi (蓝色狮).

7.5/10

* * *

The rating says it all. Allen Ren (Ren Jia Lun) and Seven Tan (Tan Song Yun) is the main attraction here, and mostly it's Seven Tan. She has such a magnetic personality and can pull off the silliest, most idiotic antics for comedy value without being too much. In fact, the more I was watching this, the more I felt that recent Warm on a Cold Night drama which I abandoned half way through tried to poorly imitate Jinxia's behaviour (female lead) and ended up just looking stupid. Besides there were more similarities there.

As the male lead, Lu Yi, says half way through falling in love with Jinxia: "She is mesmerising..", so you can't help but falling into her orbit. 

Jinxia is a classic poor, tenacious, cunning little thing working in the capital's police department, cleverly solving cases and keeping herself in all the little pies she can think of to survive and make money. Her mother sells tofu on the streets and keeps trying to marry her off.

Lu Yi is a complete opposite to Jinxia in almost all the aspects. He is rich, he leads the equivalent of special police of the country which concentrates on internal investigations and keeps rich and powerful in fear. That force answers only to the emperor. Lu Yi is aloof, ruthless and doesn't have many joys or passions in life.

When he clashes with Jinxia over a case, he outdoes her with ease in direct confrontations, but while he is rich in resources and manpower, she is a great tracker and knows common people, so she catches up with him or even thwarts him in other spects. Their antagonism is fun to watch, especially when you see her ruffling his feathers more and more.

"Why not higher rating then?" you'd ask. First of all, a secondary love story is extremely boring and takes too much screen time. I had to skip past their scenes, seriously. 

Secondly, the ending episode is very stupid. Lu Yi who supposingly can plot an intricate chess game, goes and sacrifices himself for a very idiotic reason when all he needed to do is wait a few years and make a move without any danger, and everyone would have been perfectly happy with that plan as there was no urgency to act. Instead, the heroine had to save his sorry a*se again! There was no rhyme or reason in that last act.

Last problem, is that the production is low cost and it's very visible.

So, all these things detracted from my enjoyment but didn't stop me from loving the rest. Overall, a lovely, enjoyable watch! Recommended with some reservations. 

Red Winter/  Dark Tempest/ Immortal Fire by Annette Marie
bought on Audible
Synopsis from Goodreads
Red Winter (Book 1):
Emi has spent her entire life hiding from the creatures that hunt her. The savage earth spirits are determined to kill her before she can become the living host of a goddess, so she stays hidden—until the day she saves the life of a kitsune.
Shiro isn't the harmless fox spirit she thought he was. He's mysterious, cunning, unpredictable … and now hers to command. He's sworn to pay his debt to her, but he doesn't know who she is. If he finds out, he'll kill her.
But she can't send him away—not yet. Her future isn't what she thought. The lies surrounding her fate have begun to unravel, and she needs answers before time runs out—answers that lie in the spirit realm. Shiro can take her there … if she dares to trust him.
And only then will she find out how deep the gods' treachery runs.
--Dark Tempest (Book 2):
Emi has dedicated her life to becoming the perfect vessel for the goddess Amaterasu, but the insidious betrayal of another deity has changed everything. Now Amaterasu has charged Emi with an urgent mission: to find and free the earthly gods before mankind is brought to its knees beneath divine tyranny.
At her side is Shiro, the mysterious fox spirit. When she first saved his life, she could never have imagined that behind his cunning and confidence, he was lost—his power bound by a devastating curse and his memories obscured. His veiled history is somehow tied to the missing gods, but he can't remember how or why.
As their search leads them into the murky depths of the spirit realm, the shadows of Shiro's past begin to emerge. With each brief awakening of his true self, she loses a little more of him. The fate of the heavens and earth rest in her mortal hands, and she must find the missing gods before time runs out for her world—and for Shiro.
--Immortal Fire (Book 3):
Once, Emi believed the heavenly gods were righteous and wise, while the earthly yokai spirits were bloodthirsty and evil. But with a traitorous deity poised to destroy her world, and the yokai standing as humanity's only defense, the lies of her upbringing have toppled to reveal a far more terrifying reality.​Despite the looming threat, Emi can't escape her greatest distraction: Shiro, the fox yokai who has so deftly claimed her heart for his own.
8.5/10* * * 
What an underrated gem, folks! Such a solid, engaging, original urban fantasy. For me it was bordering on 9/10 (4.5 stars) rating, it was that good!
I confess the generic cover of the first book (all three have the unfortunate covers like the first one) made me hesitate for a long time before picking up Red Winter. I associate those covers with generic books too without much substance. I know, I know, I am a book cover snob, but esthetics play a huge role in me deciding to read something or not.
The whole trilogy was so smooth on audio, with an excellent narrator, so I literally binged on it, catching the other two reads through Audible sale. 
It starts a little bit slow, but picks up pace extremely fast. I can tell you that once sped up the plot will not slow down until the end. 
I loved how deeply infused by Japanese culture and mythology the books were. So much so, that I could vividly visualise the landscape, clothes and atmosphere surrounding Emi's life at the shrine. 
I appreciated very much that Emi and Shiro, and surrounding them secondary characters were not one-dimensional. They learned and evolved with the experiences. Even the main villain did not decide to destroy human will in the world willy nilly, there was solid reasoning behind their actions and in a way it was a misguided attempt to save our planet.
Emi is a wonderful character, a strong young woman who learns fast and constantly stretches the capabilities her connection to the goddess of the wind brings her. Shiro flirts with her from time to time but it feels more as an intimidation tactics that anything else. What bonds them the most is the life or death situations and deep friendship and mutual respect they develop for each other throughout their journey. 
I want to emphasise how much respect there is here between the main characters. They actually respect each other's choices and sense of duty which guides them. It's beautiful. And Shiro, thankfully, behaves according to his age and experiences and not like a horny teenager (yes, Sarah J. Maas, this is directed to your ancient beings who can't keep it in their pants and behave like they are 15, not 500! You can tell I was scarred.)
Also, holy Moses, action scenes in this trilogy ROCK. And there are a lot of them. On par with some of Ilona Andrews' books. All I can say, wait for the giant spiders fight. Your adrenaline will be pumping! There are so many fantastic action sequences, and the scenery is beautiful.
Overall, recommended without any hesitation. Great characters, fantastic world-building, refreshing mythology. I will be checking Annette Marie's other books as well. I am very impressed. 

 

Nirvana In Fire (2015)

Season 1, 54 episodes, 

watched on Viki

Synopsis from MyDramaList

In sixth-century China, the Emperor of Great Liang orders the unjust execution of his brother-in-law Marshal Lin Xie alongside the Lin family, his 70,000 army soldiers, and Crown Prince Qi.

 Secretly surviving the massacre is Lin Xie's son, Lin Shu, who undergoes medical treatment that changes his appearance entirely and leaves him in a weakened state, unable to ever perform martial arts again. Lin Shu changed his name to Mei Chang Su and later became the chief of the pugilist world and established the Jiangzuo Alliance.

Twelve years later, Mei Chang Su returns to the capital with a secret plan after being sought after by Prince Yu and Prince Xian during their fight for the throne. He decides to covertly assist Prince Jing, the unfavoured son of the Emperor, and wisely rids the court of all scheming officials.

~~ Adapted from the novel "Lang Ya Bang" (琅琊榜)

 by Hai Yan (海宴).

8.5/10

* * *

This is an old classic, folks! And it still rocks. 

I had Nirvana in Fire on my watchlist for awhile because a couple of the reviewers of Chinese drama I follow and respect look at this series as the golden standard. Mei Changsu's name (the main character) is very often thrown around as an example of how something should be done as well.

Having watched all the episodes, I can confirm that this was epic. It looks a bit outdated with makeup choices but overall it aged beautifully. 

The plot is an extremely complicated retribution story. Mei Changsu literally had to reinvent himself after surviving the betrayal and massacre of most of his clan. Being poisoned by a rare Frostfire poison 13 years ago, his treatment involved turning him into a completely unrecognisable face with no ability to practice martial arts and a weak constitution extremely susceptible to cold and with a very shortened lifespan.

However, his brilliant mind stayed as sharp as ever, and in 13 years he created an enormous intelligence network and put together a very long game to receive retribution for the family and friends he lost at the hands of the most powerful figures in Great Liang, his country.

Fortunately, once the plan is put into motion, he collects allies one by one to achieve the common goal, and many of them have insane martial arts skills. The fight scenes here, folks, are so fine, it's a pleasure to watch. No special effects apart from wire work and actor's skills. Very old-fashioned. 

The plot is  so tight as well. Every part is necessary, there are no fillers, every scene serves the overall picture. It's a type of Count of Monte-Cristo story, but it's deeper than a simple desire for revenge. Mei Changsu and his allies, many of whom recognise who he is along the way, set to cleanse their country of corruption and greed and put on the throne a good person.

One of the funniest, best characters in the drama is Fei Liu, Mei Changsu's teenage bodyguard. He is moody and childish but freakishly talented, and he is played by Wu Lei/ Leo Wu, whose many more recent dramas I've enjoyed very much because he is a really great actor (The Long Ballad or Love Like The Galaxy, for example).

At last, there hardly any stupid or silly characters here. Most of them are smart and resourceful, whether they are striving for greed and power or for benefit of the country. That's why Mei Changsu's game turns out to be so suspenseful and engaging to follow. 

I have started Season 2, but it's a different timeline a couple of generations in the future, so I have not found yet if it'll measure up to this season. Overall, much recommended! This was so good! 

 

The Midnight Bargain by C.L. Polk

bought on Audible

Synopsis from Goodreads

Beatrice Clayborn is a sorceress who practices magic in secret, terrified of the day she will be locked into a marital collar that will cut off her powers to protect her unborn children. She dreams of becoming a full-fledged Magus and pursuing magic as her calling as men do, but her family has staked everything to equip her for Bargaining Season, when young men and women of means descend upon the city to negotiate the best marriages. The Clayborns are in severe debt, and only she can save them, by securing an advantageous match before their creditors come calling.

In a stroke of luck, Beatrice finds a grimoire that contains the key to becoming a Magus, but before she can purchase it, a rival sorceress swindles the book right out of her hands. Beatrice summons a spirit to help her get it back, but her new ally exacts a price: Beatrice’s first kiss . . . with her adversary’s brother, the handsome, compassionate, and fabulously wealthy Ianthe Lavan.

The more Beatrice is entangled with the Lavan siblings, the harder her decision becomes: If she casts the spell to become a Magus, she will devastate her family and lose the only man to ever see her for who she is; but if she marries—even for love—she will sacrifice her magic, her identity, and her dreams. But how can she choose just one, knowing she will forever regret the path not taken?

8.5/10

* * *

The Midnight Bargain reminded me of other two authors writing about magical England, Mary Robinette Kowal and Stephanie Burgis.

I listened to it on audio, and it struck me straight away at how atmospheric it was. Gorgeous world-building, almost cinematic at how vivid it is. The heroine and her friend's emotions at times felt like I was reading a middle-grade book, they were so desperate and dramatic, but it didn't detract from the validity of their feelings.

 The girls were fighting for their right to do magic and not get married which would have suffocated them and their gifts (that collar which married women were supposed to wear until they could not bear children anymore was truly horrendous). 

The love interest was sweet but didn't have as much personality as the girls, but the most delightful thing about the plot was Nadi, the lesser spirit who was helping Beatrice.

Nadi, the spirit of luck was amazing! It was her who was forcing Beatrice to be daring and get out of her comfort zone. She wanted her to dance on the sand barefoot and steal a kiss, get drunk and feel the sunrise. These were all the bargains between the two, because spirits are devoid of sensations but can feel them when riding humans. 

There were many dramatic moments and the book felt pretty fast-paced to me on audio. I am kind of gutted it's a standalone. I would have liked to read more of Beatrice and Co.'s adventures.

Overall, a lovely, magical read! I can recommend it to the readers of this blog without any hesitation. 

 

The Rational Life (2021)

35 episodes, watched on Netflix 

Synopsis from MyDramaList

Shen Ruo Xin is a professional career woman in her 30s and she has to navigate through many things in her life. From swimming through the cesspool of office politics with its nepotism, sabotage and company problems, to withstanding familial pressure to settle down and marry, to handling suitors interested in her for their own selfish personal motives, to being counsellor and mentor to her best friend and her juniors, she is one busy lady but watch as she handles them all with great aplomb while managing to find romance in an unexpected place.

8/10

* * * 

This was on my watchlist for awhile due to an enthusiastic review from  a cdrama review channel I follow, and I'm glad I gave it a go. 

First of all, Dylan Wang is a cutie. If you watched him in Meteor Garden or a very recent Love Between A Fairy and A Devil (both on Netflix, by the way), you'll know he is a good actor as well.

Secondly, the topic of May-December romance (older woman - younger man) has been really popular in cdrama world in recent years. I read that there is a specific social problem related to that. China stopped its one child policy around 10 years ago and during that policy there were more boys born than girls because culturally boys will stay in the family and look after the parents while girls would marry off into another family. Over the generations, it created a shortage of girls available. And that's why larger gaps in age between partners are becoming more socially acceptable. Again, this is an opinion, so what I'm writing here can be completely wrong. If that's the case, then don't bash me for it.

This is a very solid 4 star watch. It has strong independent, female empowering message. It accentuates the problems women over 30 face in Chinese society. There is a generational clash between the heroine and her mother, but throughout all of this there is plenty of warmth in half a dozen of various relationships.

A lot of Chinese dramas would play on romance clichés, but The Rational Life subverts it all. Instead of cartoonish villains and heroes there are normal people who make mistakes, go astray, swim in grey area of socially acceptable behaviour and either snap out of it or get their comeuppance.

For example, the guy Shen Ruoxin dates in the beginning, is meek and cowardly. In order to keep her from breaking up with him, he proposes to her in public and sends the video to their company, surveils her phone and even post a negative video of her anonymously online which allows her boss to demote her to promote his own nephew in her spot. All of this to push her to rely on him and to marry him.

She deals with it by confronting the guy and gives him a choice what to do next with himself. His shame at the consequences to her actually puts him on the right track. There are a lot of moments where you'd think the character is going to cause trouble but it just behaves like a mature adult and leaves you pleasantly surprised. 

I enjoyed The Rational Life. It was kind and, well, rational. The main characters are cute together and do feel like a great fit to compliment each other's strengths. Recommended. 

 

House of Sky and Breath by Sarah J. Maas (Crescent City #2)

bought on Audible

Synopsis from Goodreads

Bryce Quinlan and Hunt Athalar are trying to get back to normal―they may have saved Crescent City, but with so much upheaval in their lives lately, they mostly want a chance to relax. Slow down. Figure out what the future holds.

The Asteri have kept their word so far, leaving Bryce and Hunt alone. But with the rebels chipping away at the Asteri’s power, the threat the rulers pose is growing. As Bryce, Hunt, and their friends get pulled into the rebels’ plans, the choice becomes clear: stay silent while others are oppressed, or fight for what’s right. And they’ve never been very good at staying silent.

In this sexy, action-packed sequel to the #1 bestseller House of Earth and Blood, Sarah J. Maas weaves a captivating story of a world about to explode―and the people who will do anything to save it.

6/10

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House of Sky and Breath really suffers from second book in series syndrome, folks. It just drags until the last hour on audio where it crams in all the action and ramps it up to eleven.

I very much enjoyed the first book, it had amazing world-building, fast pace and it brought me to tears when firesprite died. It was heartfelt despite some minor problems.

This one just paced around in circles, opened a lot of extra plot avenues which led to nowhere, and the sex scenes were really off putting. To a point when every time one started, I raced to my audioplayer to fast forward to the next chapter. *sigh* And there were plenty of them. *rant over*

This book is also an infodump. So much incoherent info, especially towards the end, and again the same problem we had in the first book where the main villain conveniently spends half an hour monologuing and explaining in detail how their evil plan was implemented. Seriously? This is supposed to be an ancient ruthless being who sees you as food?.. why would it stoop down to your level of comprehension. This is too theatrical.

I'd say my favourite scene was with the mystics. Reminded me of Minority Report, and it was very atmospheric. Least favourite? Emil plotline which had no purpose at all.

Overall, too slow and confusing, but the ending gave me hope for a better book. I'll try one more time before I shelf this series away.

 

Love is Sweet (2020)

36 episodes

Synopsis from MyDramaList

Jiang Jun is a girl who is allergic to tears and has a double degree in economics and psychology. She is unrestrained and idealistic due to her family's superior background. After graduation, she worked in a philanthropy organization where she pursues her dreams. However, her father's sudden accident leaves her in a dilemma. Eventually, she decides to work in a top investment company to fulfill her father's dying wish.

In MH, Jiang Jun meets her childhood playmate, Yuan Shu Ai. However, the current Yuan Shuai is no longer her gentle protector, but her rival. In MH, where the "culture of wolf instinct" is rampant, someone is plotting against Jiang Jun while someone sees her as an eyesore. However with her kind nature and attention to detail, along with her high EQ and sense of judgment, Jiang Jun eventually attains success in both her career and love life.

(Source: DramaWiki)

~~ Adapted from the novel of the same name by Qi Zi

7.5/10

* * *

This was so much fun to watch! Coming off from a very angsty Till The End of The Moon drama with the same actors, Luo Yunxi and Bai Lu I've seen Love is Sweet mentioned a few times as their previous collaboration, so I thought I'll check this one out.

Love is Sweet is light and fluffy and full of tropes. School crush? Check. Unnecessary love triangle? Check. Second couple who no one particularly cares about? Check. Logical inconsistencies in character to create plot twists? Check.

And yet, Lou Yunxi and Bai Lu are fun to watch. They truly managed to recreate the ease of childhood friends coming back together. They have sassy, childish banter, constant goading of each other and good-natured cattiness. And it's all delightful. 

Yuan Shuai has known Jiang Jun since middle school and used to look after her because she was a cry baby and had unfortunate allergic reaction to tears, so he used to get paid by her dad to protect her, but in his mind his protection consisted of strengthening her character so he ended up constantly pressuring her into challenging situations to toughen her up, which in the end made her resent him so much that she transferred into another school. At the same time his parents sent him to study abroad and they completely lost touch.

Ten years after graduation they meet again. Unexpectedly, she is applying for a job in the investment banking firm where he works, and quite successfully too. At the last stage he kicks her out, convinced that this job is too tough for her, and in a typical mansplaining fashion tries to arrange a job for her which should be more suitable and less stressful. Jiang Jun has her own important reasons to get into his form, so she manages to get through anyway, and he is forced to become her boss.

What he doesn't realise is that the girl he used to protect, grew up and did toughen up. She is clever, methodical and resourceful, so his machinations are not taking kindly. Luckily, he is a very smart guy himself, so he adjusts to new realities and start working together with her and very successfully at that. It's really funny that at work he is this cold, ruthless businessman, but he is pretty defenseless against the girl he had a secret crush on in school as she brings to the surface his most childish parts. He basically turns into a boy grabbing his love's pigtails to grab her attention. They are pretty adorable in their interactions.

There are minor irritations here, like Jiang Jun's naiveté in the beginning, the inconsistent character of the third wheel in the relationship, Du Lei, who was wildly swinging from the villain to a good guy depending on script demands, and of course the second couple who acts as a filler and fades into background. You could easily cut 10 episodes out and still have a lovely story. Overall, though, it's relaxing and cute, and I definitely recommend it to all lovers of contemporary romance genre.