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ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Hiyodori is not a bird. But she is dearly fond of her namesake, a plain-looking brown-gray bird that likes to perch near her Tokyo apartment and unleash the most incredible primal screams. Hiyodori (the human author) loves stories with fantastical settings and complicated, difficult-to-define relationships. All of her books—including Carrion Saints, her latest standalone novel—take place in the same shared fantasy universe.

The Forest at The Heart of Her Mage links: Amazon, Goodreads
ESMAY
One part dark fantasy quest, one part unconventional f/f romance, one part grief/trauma healing journey, The Forest at the Heart of Her Mage is an exceptionally imaginative and reflective quest adventure that takes the concept of slow-burn storytelling to the next level.
For me, The Forest at the Heart of her Mage started off extremely strong, and it immediately hooked me with its intriguing plot, world and romance set-up. I mean, when you promise me a sapphic opposites-attract marriage of convenience, a quest into a dangerous dark magical forest, and lots and lots of emotional turmoil and trauma… I am IN. And for the most part, Hiyodori totally delivers on all this great potential, albeit not in the way that I was totally expecting or hoping for.
See, on the one hand I found Hiyodori’s wild imagination and refreshingly unconventional storytelling to be extremely impressive and enjoyable. The steampunkish scifantasy world building was so cool to me (even if some aspects felt a bit shallow at times), especially in combination/contrast with the more traditional and almost dark fairytale-esque qualities of the world and story. Particularly the whole concept of mages needing maintenance on their magic cores to prevent them from going berserk stood out to me, not least because I very much like the idea that an operator could maybe swoop in to untangle my mess and fix my physical and mental state up a bit; wouldn’t that be the dream?
Yet on the other hand, I had a really hard time connecting to these characters, and I soon found myself struggling to stay engaged in their quest. There was a certain ‘je ne sais quoi’ missing from Tiller’s narration of this tale for me, and her tendency to lapse into (rather repetitive) introspective reflections of her traumatic past unfortunately hindered the pacing quite a bit for me. And although these characters are quite emotionally complex, I personally felt like they didn’t have personality outside of their trauma and some exaggerated quirks, which made it hard for me to get invested in them.
Moreover, I think marketing this book as a slow-burn sapphic fantasy romance adventure maybe does it a bit of a disservice, since I personally think it shines much more as a nuanced exploration of grief, identity, family, and childhood/generational trauma. Yes, the complicated yet inexplicably fun dynamic between Tiller and Carnelian lies at the heart of this story; and yes, I am always here for romances that rely more on emotional connection rather than physical/sexual attraction. However, I personally didn’t feel any kind of chemistry between them until maybe the last 5% of the book (and even then it was mostly based on guilt and trauma bonding?), and I think that their dynamic shines more as friends than as lovers.
For me, the time spent in the deliciously dark Devouring Forest was easily the strongest part of the novel, closely followed by the long and beautifully satisfying sequence of falling action at the end. So while The Forest at the Heart was maybe a bit of a drawn-out and bumpy ride for me personally, I think Hiyodori ended this unique adventure on a really high note, and it’s more than worth giving a shot if you go in with the right expectations. 

ŁUKASZ

Magical forests are nothing new in fantasy, but the one in The Forest at the Heart of Her Mage isn’t a typical enchanted glen with sparkling streams and the occasional talking tree. No, this forest is alive, hostile, and more than a little creepy. Tiller, our protagonist, is voluntarily walking right back into it after two decades of carefully avoiding the place. Brave? Sure. Questionable life choices? Absolutely.

But she’s not going alone. Carnelian, a mage with a bad reputation and a knack for making things complicated, accompanies her. Together, they deal with monsters, mysteries, and politics. There’s also a slow-burn romance with more tension than action.

Let’s start with the good stuff: this is a beautifully layered book. The magical system, split between regimented human magic and the wild, unknowable magic of the forest, is well-thought-out and intriguing. The forest itself feels like a character - alive, unpredictable, and unsettling. And then, the budding relationship between Tiller and Carnelian is as much about peeling back emotional layers as it is about fending off literal monsters, and their dynamic is a highlight. If you like your romance slow-burn with a healthy dose of secrets and snark, this delivers.

But - and there’s always a but - the pacing could be tighter. The story leans into introspection and atmosphere, which is great when it’s working, but occasionally makes the story feel like it’s wading through mud. Tiller and Carnelian spend a lot of time trekking through the wilderness and working through their issues, which is interesting in parts but sluggish in others. The action scenes, while sharp, are scarce, and the overall pace is steady.

Still, the payoff is, I think, worth the time. If you’re in the mood for a book that’s eerie, emotional, and a little meandering, The Forest at the Heart of Her Mage is precisely this. 

OFFICIAL SPFBO SCORE

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Hiyodori is not a bird. But she is dearly fond of her namesake, a plain-looking brown-gray bird that likes to perch near her Tokyo apartment and unleash the most incredible primal screams. Hiyodori (the human author) loves stories with fantastical settings and complicated, difficult-to-define relationships. All of her books—including Carrion Saints, her latest standalone novel—take place in the same shared fantasy universe.

The Forest at The Heart of Her Mage links: Amazon, Goodreads

Thank you for agreeing to this interview. Before we start, tell us a little about yourself.
Thanks for having me! I’ve just emerged from a month spent obsessively playing the latest game in the Trails series (epic story-heavy RPGs from a company called Nihon Falcom). I'm still reeling! In a good way, that is.
I’ve been based in Tokyo for a while now, and I love it here, but I pretty much live the opposite of a bustling city life. Some areas are actually very quiet, with plenty of greenery and few high-rise buildings. Each Tokyo neighborhood (usually centered around the nearest train station) feels like a town unto itself. There’s a place for every type of personality.
Do you have a day job? If so, what is it?
Yes—one that uses a totally different part of my brain, so it feels like a refreshing break from writing (and vice versa). Loosely speaking, my role has elements of marketing, business strategy, and project management. So I get to do a lot of planning and light number crunching.
Who are some of your favorite writers, and why is their work important to you?
I really admire Megan Whalen Turner. Every single book in her Queen’s Thief series is a gem of elegant writing, tight plotting, and subtle characterization. She’s unbelievably good at evoking powerful emotions through implication, with understated language. I first encountered her work decades ago, and I love it just as much today. The Queen’s Thief series also happens to contain one of my favorite romantic arcs in any storytelling medium—which, for those familiar with the details, probably tells you a lot about my taste in romance.
I also have a soft spot for Haruki Murakami because (many years ago) his novels were among the first books that I read from start to finish in Japanese.
What do you like most about the act of writing?
Not to turn this question around on you, but there’s really only one aspect of writing that I strongly dislike. Everything else—planning, drafting, line editing, working through story-related roadblocks, and so on—is fun and rewarding in its own time and its own way. I don’t think I could pick a favorite phase of the process.
The one part of it that I find downright grueling comes right after finishing a first draft. This is when I make myself read through the entire manuscript without making any changes. I go pretty quickly, and I take notes about plot issues or things to expand on. I hate this read-through because it kills me to breeze past all my clumsy first draft prose without fixing it right then and there.
Still, I’ve never considered skipping that first read. It’s an invaluable way to get a big-picture view of how the story flows before starting in on line-level edits. Everything else about writing feels like pure joy in comparison!
Can you lead us through your creative process? What works and doesn’t work for you? How long do you need to finish a book?
The Forest at the Heart of Her Mage is around 144,000 words. My final outline for it ended up at almost 48,000 words: a third of the length of the actual book.
Proportionally speaking, my outlines usually end up being just about that long. But I don’t complete the entire thing before I dive into the first draft. I start with an outline of a couple thousand words in length, and then the outline and the novel itself grow side by side, from beginning to end. I keep the outline on my screen at all times when drafting, so I never feel like I’m facing a truly blank page.
All of my novels have been written in Scrivener. Couldn’t live without it.
I write and publish two to three books per year. Counting from the moment I start the first draft, I can have a sub-100k book ready for publication with about four months of near-daily work. But that leaves out all the time I may have spent pre-planning the story (whether in past years, or while wrapping up work on a previous novel).
What made you decide to self-publish The Forest at the Heart of Her Mage as opposed to traditional publishing?
This was my fifth self-published novel. Once I got started with self-publishing, it immediately felt so right that I never considered any other path.
What’s your favorite and least favorite parts of self-publishing?
I love being able to do everything myself. And I really, really love having immediate access to sales data. I suppose my day job gave me a taste for that. I’ve got a ton of respect for traditional publishing, but I would struggle with not being able to see daily orders, royalties, etc. That being said, I don’t do anything terribly sophisticated with all this data. I just happen to find it extremely motivating.
As for my least favorite parts of self-publishing… well, I've completely opted out of social media, for instance. Other than that—self-publishing does offer an astonishing amount of control, but even then, you can't control everything. You’re ultimately still reliant on the fairness and accuracy of publishing platforms, which aren’t one hundred percent perfect for everyone at all times (nothing is).
Why did you enter SPFBO?
I’ve followed the contest with great interest and admiration for several years now. (Another standalone novel of mine—The First and Last Demon—ended up being a semifinalist last year.) It’s an incredibly unique opportunity, especially given the fact that there are no entry fees. I’ve never considered entering any other contests, to be honest.
How would you describe the plot of The Forest at the Heart of Her Mage if you had to do so in just one or two sentences?
Tiller is finally ready to revisit the deadly forest where she grew up. But the charismatic mage who enlists as her bodyguard might end up being more dangerous than any of the forest’s magical monsters.
What was your initial inspiration for The Forest at the Heart of Her Mage? How long have you been working on it? Has it evolved from its original idea?
I wrote and published this novel in 2023. From start to end, it took me about five months total. At the same time, many of the basic story ideas came from an abandoned manuscript that I'd left untouched for almost a decade. Perhaps because of that, I honestly have no memory of what originally inspired me.
While key concepts carried over—the names of the main characters, family relationships, the forest, certain monsters, core emotional dilemmas—what I essentially did was salvage my old novel for parts. I wouldn’t even describe it as rewriting from scratch, because I had no interest in creating an improved version of my unpublished past work. I wanted to cook something brand new with similar ingredients.
What genre does it belong to?
It’s a sapphic fantasy romance. (However, the central romance is very slow-burn and low-heat.)
The story takes place in a fictional world with relatively modern amenities—neither overtly futuristic nor medieval, although the characters spend much of their time trekking around in uninhabited wilderness. In that sense, it could be also described as secondary-world contemporary fantasy.
If you had to describe it in 3 adjectives, which would you choose?
Off the top of my head: eerie, pensive, layered.
Is it part of the series or a standalone? If series, how many books have you planned for it?
This is a standalone novel set in the same overall universe as my other stories (including the Clem & Wist series, which has five books to date). I intended for it to be approachable even with zero prior knowledge of the setting.
Who are the key players in this story? Could you introduce us to The Forest at the Heart of Her Mage’s protagonists/antagonists?
Tiller, the protagonist, is a thirty-year-old refugee from a fearsome magical forest. She’s spent the past two decades living quietly in a major city, helping out fellow refugees while also striving not to attract unwanted attention. At the start of the book, she commits to journeying back to the long-lost village of her childhood.
In romance, the main character’s love interest is often positioned as an antagonistic force—not always in the sense of being an evil villain (although I’m personally all for that), but rather in terms of how they serve to spark conflict and drive the story forward. That’s why I’m labeling the following character an antagonist, despite this not being an enemies-to-lovers story.
Carnelian, the love interest and arguable antagonist, is a military mage with a terrible reputation. She’s a frivolous, charming flirt, better known for drinking and gambling than for following orders. Given the horrific risks posed by the notorious magical forest, she’s also the one and only mage willing to accompany Tiller there as a paid bodyguard.
Personality-wise, they’re total opposites. But both of them have a ton of secrets, which get peeled back little by little as they venture deeper into the monster-ridden wilderness where Tiller first grew up.
Does your book feature a magic/magic system? If yes, can you describe it?
It does! I will attempt to describe it as succinctly as possible.
Some people are born with a metaphysical organ known as a magic core. This appears in the population at random; it’s not hereditary in any predictable way. Each core has a specific number of magic branches (kind of like long trailing veins). In most cases, that number is zero—which means you can’t actually use magic, period, and your core just sort of sits there. Also, each branch needs to be imprinted with a specific magic skill before you can use it. So a one-branch mage would be able to learn and utilize a single type of magic (for instance: a limited variant of short-distance teleportation).
All of the above pertains to human magic, which is heavily regimented. The eldritch magic of the forest is something altogether different. It defies human understanding and all attempts to define it. So this novel features the interaction of those two overarching magic systems: one with strict rules, the other wild and loose.
Have you written the book with a particular audience in mind?
I wrote this book for myself. And—by extension—for anyone who shares my penchant for complex, intense, slow-developing sapphic relationships in a magical world.
That’s what I had in mind when I wrote it, at any rate. Personally speaking, as a reader, the promise of that relationship is what would hook me. On the other hand, I’ve heard from people who’ve enjoyed my novels simply as works of fantasy, even if romance in general isn’t really their thing. It’s an honor to think that my writing might have something to offer other types of readers as well.
What’s new or unique about your book that we don’t see much in speculative fiction these days?
I hesitate to assert that anything in my novel is 100% unique or even rare. I read widely, but the umbrella of speculative fiction covers so, so, so many fascinating stories and concepts. Any one feature I choose to highlight might very well be commonplace in a different niche.
I guess I would instead point to the total package—the way these elements combine together. The main characters are both adult women in their thirties. The setting is contemporary, albeit without a direct parallel in the real world. Magic and technology are seen as complementary forces. The romance becomes emotionally intense over time, but it’s low on sentimentality (and any hints of spicy content are all fade-to-black). There are terrifying monsters and zombie-like beings and violent battle scenes, and there are obvious issues with the society that the characters live in, but the deepest conflicts and the highest stakes are all internal.
Anyway, magical forests are a dime a dozen in fantasy! I hope that the particular details of the one in this story make it feel fresh and intriguing and real (or should I say surreal?).
Cover art is always an important factor in book sales. Can you tell us about the idea behind the cover of The Forest at the Heart of Her Mage and the artist?
I made the cover with an illustration licensed from Shutterstock. The wonderful artist, Tithi Luadthong, can also be found at the below sites.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grandfailure9/
Fine Art America: https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/tithi-luadthong
As for why I chose that specific art piece: I was looking for something with magical forest-y vibes, and it fit perfectly, right down to the mystical figure in the middle. (Which could be interpreted as either good or evil, inviting or menacing.)
What are you currently working on that readers might be interested in learning more about, and when can we expect to see it released?
I’m currently working on a hefty standalone novel (another sapphic fantasy romance) that still needs an enormous amount of editing. It’s quite dark, but also weirdly cozy at times. I’m hoping to have it ready for publication sometime within the first few months of 2025.
Thank you for taking the time to answer all the questions. In closing, do you have any parting thoughts or comments you would like to share with our readers?
It was my pleasure! I’m tremendously honored to be a finalist. I’m a bit reclusive by nature (and that might be an understatement). So I’m continually touched and amazed by how people keep finding and reading my books. I owe a huge thanks to everyone who has ever given my work a chance.

 

Book links: Amazon, Goodreads
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Grady Hendrix is the author of the novels Horrorstör, about a haunted IKEA, and My Best Friend's Exorcism, which is like Beaches meets The Exorcist, only it's set in the Eighties. He's also the author of We Sold Our Souls, The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires, and the Final Girl Support Group!
He's also the jerk behind the Stoker award-winning Paperbacks from Hell, a history of the 70's and 80's horror paperback boom, which contains more information about Nazi leprechauns, killer babies, and evil cats than you probably need.
And he's the screenwriter behind Mohawk, which is probably the only horror movie about the War of 1812 and Satanic Panic.
You can listen to free, amazing, and did I mention free podcasts of his fiction on Pseudopod. He also does a podcast called Super Scary Haunted Homeschool.
If you're not already sick of him, you can learn all his secrets at his website.
Publisher: Berkley (January 14, 2025) Length: 468  Formats: audiobook, ebook, hardcover, paperback

Grady Hendrix strikes again, this time with Witchcraft for Wayward Girls. He’s trading haunted houses for something much scarier - societal judgment, systemic abuse, and the 1970s institution of unwed mothers’ homes.
The story follows 15-year-old Neva Craven, a pregnant teen dragged by her irate father to Wellwood House, a grim institution in Florida where “wayward girls” forced to give up their babies. Renamed Fern, Neva bonds with her fellow captives - budding revolutionary Rose, sharp Zinnia, and sweet Holly. These girls have been abandoned, dismissed, and exploited by the very people who should protect them.
While there are witchy parts and mischief, the real horror here lies in the everyday atrocities - the crushing weight of societal judgment, toxic families, and the grim realities of childbirth. Fair warning: if you’re squeamish about body horror, this one might hit hard. The story here hits hard, and it’s only Hendrix’s humor and warmth that keep things from sinking into despair.
As mentioned, things take a turn for the magical when a cryptic librarian offers Fern an intriguing book, titled How to Be a Groovy Witch. Things get complicated and sinister when girls play with spells and have their revenge. It’s worth noting the revenge they seek is hard won and comes at a cost, but oh, is it satisfying to see the power dynamics shift, even briefly. The magic and witchcraft parts were most interesting to me and I’ll admit the ending was a bit of a disappointment, but I can’t say why because spoilers.
Despite the heavy themes-shame, injustice, and society’s knack for blaming teenage girls for pretty much everything-Hendrix balances it all with a light touch. If you like your horror with heart, Witchcraft for Wayward Girls is worth picking up. It’s a little spooky, a little sad, and satisfying.

Book links: Amazon, Goodreads

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Nnedi Okorafor’s books include Lagoon (a British Science Fiction Association Award finalist for Best Novel), Who Fears Death (a World Fantasy Award winner for Best Novel), Kabu Kabu (a Publisher's Weekly Best Book for Fall 2013), Akata Witch (an Amazon.com Best Book of the Year), Zahrah the Windseeker (winner of the Wole Soyinka Prize for African Literature), and The Shadow Speaker (a CBS Parallax Award winner). Her adult novel The Book of Phoenix (prequel to Who Fears Death) was released in May 2015; the New York Times called it a "triumph". Her novella Binti will be released in late September 2015 and her young adult novel Akata Witch 2: Breaking Kola will be released in 2016.

Nnedi holds a PhD in literature/creative writing and is an associate professor at the University at Buffalo, New York (SUNY). She splits her time between Buffalo and Chicago with her daughter Anyaugo and family. Learn more about Nnedi at Nnedi.com.

Publisher: William Morrow (January 14, 2025) Length: 441 pages

Zelu Onyenezi-Onyedele doesn’t fit in anywhere—not in her high-achieving Nigerian-American family, not in academia, and definitely not in the literary world. She’s broke, disabled, and stuck in the shadow of siblings who actually listened when their parents said “doctor, lawyer, or engineer.” So when she loses her job and another one of her books gets rejected, she does what any loner with nothing left to lose might do: she writes for herself. What comes out is Rusted Robots, a gritty sci-fi epic set in a post-human Nigeria, where robots and AI wage existential war in the ruins of humanity. Against all odds, this weird, raw, wildly creative book becomes a bestseller. Zelu finds fame and money, but she remains an outsider. Death of the Author walks a fine line between literary fiction and Africanfuturism. It’s also a nice example of the book-within-a-book format; we follow the events through Zelu’s life and excerpts from her sci-fi book. I liked how Okorafor shifted between the two genres. And I loved the surprising ending that connected both parts extremely well. But, you know, spoilers. Cultural complexities of Zelu’s Igbo-Yoruba family and the pressures of being a first-generation immigrant influence her story and development. Her relationships—with her family, her work, and herself—are toxic and difficult. Meanwhile, Rusted Robots features solid worldbuilding, even if its chapters sometimes feel too brief. There’s also another layer to the story, the one I rather enjoyed. It contains a sharp commentary on the publishing industry, internet fame, and who gets to tell which stories. While it doesn’t dominate the book, it’s important to the story, especially as Zelu’s rise to fame forces her to confront personal and cultural expectations or social media outrage. Death of the Author is a good story with an excellent ending. It’s not perfect -won’t appeal to everyone—but it’s bold, heartfelt, and entertaining. Bonus points if you’re a fan of robots or literary drama. Audiobook narration: excellent.

 

Buy Tideborn

OFFICIAL AUTHOR BIO: Eliza Chan is a Scottish–born Chinese–diaspora author who “writes about East Asian mythology, British folklore and reclaiming the dragon lady, but preferably all three at once”. Eliza’s work has been published in The Dark, Podcastle, Fantasy Magazine and The Best of British Fantasy, and her non-fiction has appeared on Tor.com. She lives in the north of England with her partner and young child.

FORMAT/INFO: Tideborn will publish on March 25th, 2024 from Orbit Books. It is 384 pages long and will be published in hardcover, ebook, and audiobook formats

OVERVIEW/ANALYSIS: A selfless act may have saved the citizens of Tiankawi, but the city is not out of danger yet. A deadly force is heading towards the city, and this time, it may be unstoppable. Nami the water dragon must lead an expedition out into the open ocean in an attempt to stop the disaster before it's too late. But dangers lurk within the city as well. Tensions between fathomfolk and humans are even worse than before. If Mira the half-siren doesn't find a way to unite the people, the city may tear itself apart from within before any outside force can destroy it.

Tideborn is a bit of a muddled mess as it tries to make sense of a city crippled by prejudice as an impending disaster approaches. Smartly, the magic that saved the city from destruction at the end of Fathomfolk did not also magically solve racism overnight; if anything it made it worse, causing even more fracturing in a populace grappling with dramatic change. But now nearly all of the protagonists' victories are tied to solving racism in some way, and they have to do it in the space of one book.

The author has mixed success in portraying effective resolution of these tensions. Ironically, Nami the water dragon's storyline, which I was less interested in overall, has perhaps the most realistic storyline. She is sent on a mission on a boat with roughly a dozen other people, both human and fathomfolk. Within this microcosm is a range of prejudices and acceptance; in order to achieve her mission, Nami has to find a way to get her crew to set aside their fears and prejudices about each other, while also dealing with her own insecurities. It's not an easy task, but winning the hearts and minds of a handful of people is much easier than that of a whole city.

The rest of the characters are left to deal with the political turmoil in Tiankawi, and this happens less effectively. On the one hand, this makes sense. You can't make the population of an entire city set aside their individual fears and hatreds with the snap of your fingers. But that also means that it's hard to get a satisfying sense of victory. Mira and her allies can triumph over some figureheads, but they really haven't solved the root of the problem by the end of the story. It leads to a somewhat messy finale as none of these internal problems are really resolved, even if the biggest threat was eliminated.

The lack of a cohesive end goal is, at the end of the day, what causes this story to feel a bit scattered. Nami has a clear goal in her mission, but Mira's is a bit more nebulous. She is basically simply trying to hold the city together long enough for either Nami to succeed or for the city to be destroyed. The result is Mira is dealing with several different forces trying to undercut both her and any attempts at peace, leaving her fighting enemies off on all sides. Cordelia the sea-witch, on the other hand, has an even less clear goal, turning her aims this way and that in pursuit of her personal whims.

(And yes, Nami's toxic boyfriend is still around, and yes, you will still want to drop kick him into the sun.)

CONCLUSION: It's hard to sum up my final thoughts on Tideborn. On the one hand, I really appreciate the themes the author is grappling with. But because these themes don't have an easy answer, there's no clear resolution at the end of the day. Yes, some villains are thwarted, but as the story shows, that doesn't dissolve the beliefs of their followers. While I do enjoy the world the author created and the characters that inhabit it, the city at the heart of Tideborn is perhaps too realistically riddled with prejudice for the duology to have a satisfying resolution.

  

 

Buy The Devils

OFFICIAL AUTHOR BIO: Joe Abercrombie was born in Lancaster, England, studied psychology at Manchester University, and worked as an editor of documentaries and live music before his first book, The Blade Itself, was published in 2006. Two further installments of the First Law trilogy, Before They Are Hanged and Last Argument of Kings, followed, along with three standalone books set in the same world: Best Served Cold, The Heroes, and Red Country. He has also written the Shattered Sea trilogy for young adults, the Age of Madness trilogy for old adults, and Sharp Ends, a collection of short stories. He lives in Bath, England, with his wife and three children. The Devils is his thirteenth novel.

FORMAT/INFO: The Devils will be released by Tor Books on May 6th, 2025. It is 560 pages. It will be released in hardcover, ebook, and audiobook formats.

OVERVIEW/ANALYSIS: When Brother Diaz is summoned to the Sacred City, he's sure he is finally landing a prestigious position that will reflect his hard work and dedication. But instead of a noble, glorious assignment, he finds himself in charge of the Chapel of Holy Expediency, an arm of the wing the Church doesn't even officially acknowledge. Brother Diaz is now responsible for dangerous individuals, ranging from a blood-thirsty werewolf to an arrogant necromancer. Their current assignment: escort a lost princess across the continent and install her as the rightful empress of a neighboring empire. In their way: four dangerous cousins who want the princess eliminated so they can take the throne instead.

The Devils is another fantastic fantasy novel featuring that signature blend of Abercrombie: violence, crassness, and a host of memorable characters. Unsurprisingly, my favorite part of the story was the characters themselves. There are several POVs in this book, and every chapter felt like it had a distinctive voice. You could tell when it was a princess chapter versus a werewolf chapter versus a necromancer chapter. All these POV chapters provide insights into the characters themselves, which allows the readers to grapple with a real question: How dangerous are the members of the Chapel of Holy Expediency? Are they being unnecessarily prosecuted? Or has the Church accurately determined that these people are a clear and present danger to society if left unchecked? There is not a cookie cutter answer that applies to all of these characters, and it was intriguing to unpick their backstories and make my own judgement about them.

Speaking of the Church, let’s discuss the setting itself. The Devls is set in an alternate medieval Europe; while you’ll find references to familiar locations like England and Barcelona, you’ll also find the populace lives in fear of another invasion of cannibalistic elves. The Church is Christianity-adjacent, in that it worships one God, but they use different iconography, and their Savior is a woman, resulting in much of the upper Church leadership being women. All of this is in service of a VERY thinly veiled satirical critique of organized religion. It is a constant theme throughout the book, to the point of being slightly overdone.

The story itself was a blast to read. Our characters must journey from essentially the Vatican to Troy to return the lost princess to her throne. In their way are four royal cousins who want the throne for themselves, resulting in multiple attacks, traps, and attempts on the princess’s life. While individually, each fight is well done and distinctive, it did start to feel slightly repetitive by the end of this 500+ page book.

CONCLUSION: That doesn’t stop The Devils from having one heck of a gut punch as the story concludes. While the mission of this particular book, returning the princess to her throne, is wrapped up by the end, there are multiple tantalizing hooks dangling that foreshadow things to come. I myself cannot wait to see these characters come back and grapple with a new problem, and see how events from book one have (or haven’t changed) their outlooks. In short, The Devils is a fantastic opening for a trilogy that is sure to be thrilling and engaging journey.

 Cover Reveal: Special Delivery by Rex Burke

OFFICIAL BOOK BLURB: A dangerous mission. A second chance.

Actually, scratch that. No chance.

Dix’s career as a trooper in the Federation army is unblemished – until the day he disobeys a direct order and strikes an officer.

Now Dix has a choice. Face a life of hard labour that promises to be brutal and short. Or accept a mysterious invitation to join a black-ops mission in hostile terrain.

The plan sounds simple, if horribly dangerous. Fetch a fearsome weapon from a secret location and deliver it to a distant planet, whose population is under the chilling yoke of the Federation’s rival empire, the Axis. Do it without getting caught, or implicating the Federation, and Dix’s transgressions will be forgiven.

But the weapon turns out to be unlike anything he could have expected, and Dix’s troubles have only just begun.

'SAS Rogue Heroes' x 'Starship Troopers' – Special Delivery introduces a ragtag crew of misfits and malcontents on a mission with more holes than a blaster-riddled corpse. It’s a fluid, easy-reading, military-action Sci-Fi adventure, perfect for fans of Tanya Huff and John Scalzi.

Intriguing? Let's look at the cover, designed by: Chris Hudson

PREORDER your copy of Special Delivery here
OFFICIAL AUTHOR INFORMATION: Rex Burke is a SciFi writer based in North Yorkshire, UK.

When he was young, he read every one of those yellow-jacketed Victor Gollancz hardbacks in his local library. He’s sure there are still thrilling SciFi adventures to be told – even if he has to write them himself.

When he’s not writing, he travels – one way or another, he’ll get to the stars, even if it’s just as stardust when his own story is done.

Website: https://rexburke.com/

Contact: rex@rexburke.com

BlueSky: @rexburke.bsky.social

Let's hear from the author about how he came up with the idea from the book:

"Ideas for books come to me in all sorts of ways – the first germ of what became Orphan Planet was a disastrous camping trip one of my sons went on; The Wrong Stop came out of a lifetime spent travelling around Europe on trains, and wondering about the people I met on board. 

And sometimes a single thought is enough, and on one such train, early last  year, two fully formed sentences popped into my head, unbidden. Here they are:

†'Their unit, OneSquad, had been fighting hard all day across difficult terrain. The planet was a squelching, crater-filled shithole, and Dix was covered in mud – at least, he hoped it was mud – but orders were orders.'

Those two sentences begin the book that is Special Delivery, which will be published in April. 

I never set out to write a hard-edged Sci-Fi story about space troopers on a secret mission, but that's what my next book is – though you should be reassured that it's also full of banter, laughs, scrapes and mysteries. A traditional Rex Burke book, in fact, but this time set entirely in space, and with added fights, guns, blood, intrigue and betrayal."

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Rachel Aaron lives in Colorado with her family. She has graduated from University of Georgia with a B.A. in English Literature. She has been an avid reader since her childhood and now has an ever-growing collection to show for it. She loves gaming, Manga comics & reality TV police shows. She also posts regularly on her blog about publishing, books and several other intriguing things.
Find Rachel online: website
By a Silver Thread links: Amazon, Goodreads
ESMAY
Monsters, magic and mayhem abound in By A Silver Thread, a fast-paced urban fantasy romp that practically bleeds with action, trauma and emotional turmoil. Somehow, Aaron manages to put a refreshing spin on the familiar fairy changeling lore, resulting in a uniquely twisted story that is both bloody dark and bloody fun all at the same time.

After falling in love with Rachel Aaron’s writing in the Tear Down Heaven series, I was beyond excited to jump into the interconnected DFZ world for more urban fantasy fun. That said, I was a bit nervous when SPFBOX forced me to start with By A Silver Thread instead of with the Heartstrikers series in in-world chronological order, but I should never have worried.

Within just a few chapters, I felt very immersed in this near-future magical Detroit setting (especially with the backdrop of Halloween), and I never felt like I was missing context from the previous series. Moreover, Lola quickly proved to be a very compelling protagonist as a shape-shifting changeling monster, even if she felt a bit younger than her 27 years. I really liked exploring her intense inner conflict and heavy trauma, and the ticking time clock element due to her rapidly decreasing stash of pills that helped subdue her fairy monster nature added such an addictive air of urgency and looming dread to the narrative.

At the same time, I do think the breakneck pacing of By A Silver Thread ended up hindering my personal enjoyment a bit, as we never fully got to appreciate all the cool world building or just take a moment to breathe and sit in everyone’s tumultuous feelings. While I was never bored, my emotional investment was unfortunately about as thin as a thread, and I really found myself wanting more depth from this intriguing cast of side characters, be they the loveable goodies or deliciously hateable baddies.

The enigmatic Rider was the only character who really stood out to me, and I loved seeing him and Lola (trauma) bond throughout this wild adventure. There is no denying that their unexpected romance developed quite quickly and felt rather rushed, but at least their tender scenes together made me feel some feels, so I welcomed it with open arms.

While most of the big twists and revelations in By A Silver Thread weren’t as shocking or surprising to me as they seemed to be to Lola herself, I did quite like the potential this ending showed for the characters’ journeys in the rest of the series. I will definitely be back to explore the unique DFZ world further, even if it might be in a different series first, and I would highly recommend this action-packed urban fantasy adventure if you want an easy, engaging read that you can effortlessly breeze through in just a few sittings.

ŁUKASZ

Rachel Aaron kicks off her DFZ Changeling trilogy with By A Silver Thread, a fast-paced urban fantasy set in her ever-evolving Detroit Free Zone. It’s a solid start, full of cool magic, intriguing lore, and a likable main character. To me it doesn’t quite hit the heights of her best work, but for the sake of the competition I shouldn't compare it to Rachel's books I read and loved, but as a single entry.

The story follows Lola, a faery changeling trapped under the thumb of her blood mage master, Victor. Bound by magic and dependent on his pills to keep her human form intact, she’s left scrambling when Victor vanishes. Without the pills, she risks dissolving into nothing—and worse, taking her sister down with her (now, the sisterhood is not typical and it's best to understand it by reading the book). We get a tense, fast-moving mystery as Lola races to survive, solve Victor’s disappearance, and confront her own monstrous nature.

Lola is a great protagonist, likable and relatable, and I think Aaron has written her well. I appreciated her struggle to maintain her humanity despite years of abuse, and her rebellious spirit. Her shapeshifting abilities, which depend on belief to hold their form, are creative and cleverly tied to her story. However, her characterization can feel a bit surface-level at times—her growth is satisfying but predictable, and she doesn’t quite stay in your mind the way some of Aaron’s past leads do.

The world-building is, as always, a highlight. Aaron’s DFZ feels alive, and the addition of faery lore fits the setting. Longtime fans will appreciate the nods to her previous series, while new readers should still find the story accessible, though they might miss some of the nuance.

That said, the book stumbles a bit in its pacing. The tension builds well thanks to the countdown mechanic with Lola’s pills, but the plot can feel a little rushed, and some supporting characters—like the enigmatic Black Rider—don’t get enough space to shine.

Overall, By A Silver Thread is an entertaining, if slightly uneven, start to the series It’s not Aaron’s strongest work, but with its creative magic and heartfelt moments, it’s well worth a read for fans of the DFZ or urban fantasy in general. A solid 7.5/10-good, but not unforgettable.

MIHIR

Rachel Aaron’s books are like a soothing balm to my soul, they are full of fun scenarios, charismatic characters, incredible magic systems and plots which are ingenious to say the least. Since Rachel first introduced us to the DFZ world nearly nine years ago, I along with a ton of other readers were hooked on to the crazy, multi-genre story. Plus dragons just make everything epic and that was indeed the case here as well.
Since the completion of the Heartstrikers saga, Rachel had written a sequel trilogy that was more grounded but fun nonetheless. But this time around Rachel while taking another trip back, is going a little more in-depth into the lore of the world. So begins By A Silver Thread, the first book in the DFZ Changeling trilogy and we are yet again brought in to the world of the DFZ to explore another angle and a different type of magic. This book is set nearly five years after the events of The D.F.Z. trilogy and immediately in the beginning; the readers are introduced to Lola, a faery changeling that was exchanged with a human child.
By A Silver Thread introduces a DFZ world wherein human magic is now on the upswing thanks to the events of the Heartstrikers saga & DFZ trilogy. This book is set twenty five years after the events of Last Dragon Standing & five years after Night Shift Dragons, Lola is a changeling with some really cool powers but in thrall to an evil blood mage named Victor Conrath. He keeps her on a short leash with his blood that allows her to maintain her human form as otherwise she will revert to being a literal monster (a state which she abhors). She is also linked by a magical silver thread, which encircles her left wrist and is magically connected to the human girl whom she replaced (whom she calls and believes to be her real sister).
The main plot starts with the abrupt disappearance of her blood mage master and her frantic search for him as she has only a few pills remaining to keep herself human. Lola is forced to figure who truly is behind her master’s disappearance while desperately trying to keep herself from dissipating without the support of his Blood Magic. By A Silver Thread does something masterful with its subject matter as it’s about Lola’s will to survive and not become what she absolutely is terrified of. However, the main genius of the story lies within the fact that it introduces Faeries and Fae magic to the world of the DFZ. It also is done in such an elegant manner that it does not break any magical rules and the history that has been set up by the preceding eight titles that have been released so far. This was truly amazing from a reader’s perspective and a tip of the hat to the author for keeping her world mythos precise.
The main gist of the story is all about mysteries. Who or what is Lola exactly, who has kidnapped or killed her master? What will happen to her when she runs out of her pills? Who are the Fae and what is their eventual aim? All of this and more is gloriously revealed in this new trilogy opener and once again we are charmingly brought back in to the world of DFZ. Lola as a main character is such a fascinating one and she’s probably the first non-human protagonist  that Rachel Aaron has focused upon (Yes I’m aware she has a novel set in space under her Rachel Bach pseudonym and technically Devi is a human from a different planet). But what sets Lola apart is that she’s a magical thing who isn’t supposed to exist. She however does and adopts a human form in honour of her lost sister. She’s empathetic and strong under a lot of duress. She has been psychologically abused by her master and yet he has been unable to strip her of kindness and humanity. This was such a refreshing thing to read and while Rachel has written optimistic characters before. Lola here seems to be a special case based on all that she has endured.
A plus about this book was the villain and I have to hand it to the author. She has created a very detestable character, possibly the worst one she has written so far amidst the 24 titles she has released. That’s something special as usually Rachel Aaron almost always makes her villains not entirely evil to a hilt. But here we finally get a proper, horrid person whom everyone can rightfully hate.
Another cool aspect of the story was the rapid plot pace and the tension that was strewn throughout. The author did a cool reverse countdown with the chapters about the remaining pills that Lola had. I really liked it as it reminded me a lot of Jeffrey Deaver’s thrillers wherein there’s a similar countdown that ratchets up the plot tension. Lastly the ending is a proper emotional one. I distinctly connected with Lola’s struggles and I wish for her to succeed. However the stakes are deeply against her. I can’t wait to see in the sequels what happens and how it all unfolds. There are also some cute nods and messages about the previous stories’ characters and they are there for the fans to enjoy.
By A Silver Thread is a superb return to the world of the DFZ. This is a heroic story that is in parts heartwarming, in parts mysterious and just a fantastic read all the way. I know at this point, it’s hard for me to keep coming up with superlatives for Rachel Aaron’s books but trust me, this is the start of a special story. Grab a copy now and join me in finding out why Lola deserves all of your attention and love.
OFFICIAL SPFBO SCORE

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Rachel Aaron lives in Colorado with her family. She has graduated from University of Georgia with a B.A. in English Literature. She has been an avid reader since her childhood and now has an ever-growing collection to show for it. She loves gaming, Manga comics & reality TV police shows. She also posts regularly on her blog about publishing, books and several other intriguing things.
Find Rachel online: website
By a Silver Thread links: Amazon, Goodreads
Thank you for agreeing to this interview. Before we start, tell us a little about yourself.
Absolutely! I’m Rachel Aaron for most of my titles, but I also write Science Fiction under Rachel Bach. I got my start as a writer with my debut Fantasy novel, The Spirit Thief, published by Orbit Books in 2010. It’s a fun, fast paced romp about a wizard thief and it’s still one of my favorite stories I’ve ever written. After eight books with Orbit, I decided to try my hand at self publishing with my cyberpunk/Urban Fantasy mashup novel Nice Dragons Finish Last about dragons in a futuristic magical Detroit. It was an amazing experience and I’ve been self publishing ever since!
Do you have a day job? If so, what is it?
Nope, I’ve been writing full time since 2012. I keep waiting for the day I have to get a real job again, but so far so good!
Who are some of your favorite writers, and why is their work important to you?
If we’re talking about authors that heavily influenced me as a writer, it’s gotta be the books I stole from my mom’s bookshelf. We’re talking Peter S. Beagle, C.S. Lewis, Ursula LeGuin, Elizabeth Moon, Marion Zimmer Bradley, and of course Tolkien. (My mom is a giant LOTR fan). More recently, I’ve absolutely fallen in love with T. Kingfisher and Naomi Novik. Those ladies write some beautiful books!
What do you like most about the act of writing?
The pure joy of creation. I call myself a method actor writer because I get totally swept up in my stories. That feeling of being in a different world where I get to be god is the reason I do this. I’m one of those writers who can’t help but write. Even if no one wanted to read my stuff, I’d still have to write it because I can’t not write. At this point, I’m pretty sure I’m going to be doing this until I die.
Can you lead us through your creative process? What works and doesn’t work for you? How long do you need to finish a book?
You’re not going to like this answer, but it really is different for every story. I’ve written first drafts in as little as 13 days and as long as 16 months. Every story is its own unique world of problems. Sometimes I know exactly what I’m doing and the whole thing comes out right on the first try. Other times I have to keep failing forward until I flop over the finish line by dint of sheer determination. I always make a plan, but no plan survives the first encounter with the enemy, so I just do my best and keep bashing my way forward until the book is good. (It HAS to be good. Rule #1 of publishing: books can be late for six months but they’re bad forever. NEVER put out something you’re not proud of to meet a deadline.)
What made you decide to self-publish By A Silver Thread as opposed to traditional publishing?
It’s kind of mercenary, but the money. I loved working with Orbit Books, but I’ve got a family to support and self publishing pays authors way better than publishing contracts do. I’m also a control freak who loves handling her own business and marketing decisions, so it was a natural fit for me. I also like that I can make my titles cheaper for readers while still earning a decent living. I know I hate paying $13.99 for an ebook, and making sure my books are never in that position is a big part of why I publish independently.
What’s your favorite and least favorite parts of self-publishing?
Favorite: having total control. Least favorite: having total control.
Every screw up is my fault and there’s no one else to do the work. There’s a lot of days when I hate having to wear every hat, but I also love it when I get to pick exactly the right cover I want for the title. It all balances out!
Why did you enter SPFBO?
Because Mihir at Fantasy Book Critic told me to! He’s been reviewing my books since the very beginning. He’s amazing and always knows what’s cool. I’ve never gone wrong taking his advice, and since I’m here in the finals, I’d say his streak has held true. Thank you, Mihir, for encouraging me to enter!!
How would you describe the plot of By A Silver Thread if you had to do so in just one or two sentences?
A fairy changeling must break free of her abusive father figure and use her shapeshifting magic and knowledge of the dangerous fairy courts to save her lost sister in a magical future version of Detroit.
What was your initial inspiration for By A Silver Thread? How long have you been working on it? Has it evolved from its original idea?
I actually came up with Lola’s story long before the DFZ was a thing. I actually wrote the first version of her book back when I was still working on my Orbit titles, but I could never get the story to work and eventually abandoned the project. Then, over a decade later, I was brainstorming up new ideas for the DFZ when I realized I hadn’t written a story about a blood mage yet. The idea was first mentioned by Marci in Nice Dragons Finish Last, but I’d never gotten a chance to do anything with it. Since I’d originally stolen the idea from Victor in that abandoned novel, though, this got me thinking about Lola again and the whole series just snapped together like it was meant to be!
This is why you never throw away old novels. You never know when those words will come back to be useful!
What genre does it belong to?
Definitely Urban Fantasy, but the genre has been so invaded by Paranormal Romance that most people get confused when I tell them I don’t write about werewolves and vampires. It really is an Urban Fantasy, though, because there’s dragons and the city itself is a speaking character.
If you had to describe it in 3 adjectives, which would you choose?
Fast, dark, and fun. I typically write lighter stuff, but you can’t write about abusive blood mages without getting a little dark, so I went where the story took me. It still has a happy ending, though. Real life has too much suffering already to write tragedies.
Is it part of the series or a standalone? If series, how many books have you planned for it?
By a Silver Thread is the first in the DFZ Changeling trilogy, which is a (completed!) stand alone series set in the same city as my Heartstrikers and DFZ books. All the series share a setting and sometimes characters do cameos, but they’re all designed to be read independently in any order.
Who are the key players in this story? Could you introduce us to By A Silver Thread’s protagonists/antagonists?
The heart and soul of By a Silver Thread is Lola, our changeling main character, but the mover and the shaker is Victor, her blood mage master, primary antagonist, and all around nasty customer. Their battle is as much an emotional fight as a literal one, and I had a really fun time writing a downtrodden, underestimated girl finding her power and taking a swing at an arrogant, emotionally abusive asshole. The whole process was very cathartic and I really enjoyed it.
I also loved writing the Black Rider, Lola’s sometimes ally, sometimes enemy. He was a fun pile of problems to tackle.
Does your book feature a magic/magic system? If yes, can you describe it?
I can’t really describe it without spoilers or making this interview 100,000 words long, but I will say that I’m a writer who’s also a gamer. If you value consistent, carefully designed magical systems where even the heroes have to follow the rules and be clever rather than just power-batteling it out, I’m your author!
Have you written the book with a particular audience in mind?
I write every book for myself. I’m always my first customer because I’m the only reader I can totally understand. Fortunately for me, I’m a giant nerd who likes fast-paced, dramatic stories with charming characters, creative twists, and plenty of dragons, which is a great space to write books in!
What’s new or unique about your book that we don’t see much in speculative fiction these days?
Honestly, I’d say genre blending and being unpredictable. With so many books on the market, we’re seeing the rise of a lot of titles that are very firmly in the ruts of their genres. There’s nothing wrong with that--I also love a perfectly executed Epic Fantasy that hits all my favorite topes--but sometimes you find the best experiences off the beaten path.
If you’re looking for a new story with characters and plot twists you haven’t already read a hundred times, that’s where my books shine. Nothing I’ve ever written fits neatly on a shelf. They’re all these crazy genre-blending fusion stories, so if you’re the sort of reader who likes to try new things, I hope you’ll give my stories a go. If nothing else, I promise it’ll be a hell of a ride!
Cover art is always an important factor in book sales. Can you tell us about the idea behind the cover of By A Silver Thread and the artist?
Doing my own covers is one of the best parts of being an indie. I was actually a graphic designer before I became a writer and I’ve always loved art. I spend a lot more than other indies on my cover images precisely because I want them to be art. I want covers that are also paintings because I know I pick up books with amazing covers.
Basically, if my book is going to be judged by its cover, I want to make sure I’m always making the best impression possible, which is why I’ve been working with Luisa Preissler for years. She’s an amazing artist and a consummate professional who’s worked with big publishers for years. She’s also a genuinely lovely person who reads my books, listens to all my harebrained concepts, and turns them into amazing covers. It’s my honor to be part of her portfolio!
What are you currently working on that readers might be interested in learning more about, and when can we expect to see it released?
Right now I’m 3 books into a totally new Urban Fantasy series about demons teaming up with a witch to fight a guerilla war against a very unpleasant Heaven in modern-day Seattle. The first book is Hell for Hire and it’s got the best cover I think Luisa’s made for me yet! It’ll be five books in total with book 3 coming out in March. If you like Urban Fantasy action, sword fights, and wild, inventive magic, you should definitely give it a try!
Thank you for taking the time to answer all the questions. In closing, do you have any parting thoughts or comments you would like to share with our readers?
Just thank you for reading/listening to my work. You’re all the reason I’ve gotten to work the best job in the world for the last fifteen years. It is my honor and pleasure to get to write for you, and I really hope you enjoy the stories!

 

Buy Murder by Memory

OFFICIAL AUTHOR BIO: Olivia Waite writes queer science fiction, fantasy, historical romance, and essays. She is the romance fiction columnist for the New York Times Book Review.

FORMAT/INFO: Murder by Memory will be published by Tordotcom on March 18th, 2025. It is 112 pages long. It is available in ebook, hardcover, and audiobook formats.

OVERVIEW/ANALYSIS: When Dorothy Gentleman, ship's detective, wakes up in a body that isn't hers, she's more than a little annoyed. After all, she's supposed to be retired, her mind resting in the ship's Library until she decides to print a body again. And even if she'd chosen to wake up, she should be in a fresh body all her own. But there's been a murder on the ship, and what's worse, someone is deleting the memory archives from the Library itself - something that should be impossible.

Murder by Memory is a fluffy fun little appetizer that left me longing for a deeper dive into this world. The mystery itself is pretty straight forward. Dorothy goes from point A to B to C in fairly quick succession, following the clues on a mostly linear path. It's not going to scatter red herrings on your trail or give you a cast of suspects to consider. In fact, the mystery is less about the Who than it is about the Why and the How.

Instead, I was much more intrigued with puzzling out the ship the murder takes place on. The H.M.S. Fairweather is on a thousand year journey to a new planet. But with the technology to back up a person's mind, it's not a traditional generation ship; there isn't a constant turnover of populace because a person can simply print themselves into a fresh body when their old body gives out. This opens up a whole host of fascinating societal questions that Murder by Memory only barely begins to touch on, but it was enough of a glimpse that I wanted to know more.

I was also impressed by the way the author quickly sketched out her core cast of characters, from Dorothy herself to Ralphie her well-meaning but not always sensible nephew to his mysterious bartender boyfriend. They don't have deep backstories given the length of the novella, but I got enough of a sense of them that I wanted to spend more time with them, as much as I wanted to explore the ship.

CONCLUSION: Murder by Memory is like an episode of a weekly crime procedural. You'll know most of the beats, but you'll enjoy it anyway for the comfort of the familiar, and you'll want to return the cozy cast of characters. As this is the start of a new sci-fi mystery series, I'm definitely looking forward to more adventures in this world, but I do find myself wishing this were a main course instead of a snack.

  

 

Book links: Amazon, Goodreads

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Keith Rosson is the author of the novels The Mercy of the Tide and Smoke City, and his short fiction has appeared in Cream City Review, PANK, December, The Nervous Breakdown, and more. He's been twice nominated for a Pushcart Prize and a finalist for the Birdwhistle Prize for Short Fiction. He’s also an illustrator and graphic designer, with clients that include Green Day, Against Me, the Goo Goo Dolls, and others. A fierce advocate of public libraries and non-ironic adulation of the cassette tape, he can be found at keithrosson.com.

Publisher:  Random House (September 10, 2024) Length: 400 pages Formats: audiobook, ebook, paperback 

The Devil by Name picks up five years after Fever House with all the chaos, gore, and gripping drama you’d expect—and then some. The world is still reeling from “The Message,” a weaponized sound that turned much of humanity into bloodthirsty monsters called the fevered. With Terradyne Industries running the show and humanity clinging to survival, the stakes have never been higher.

The book is a wild ride; it takes elements of horror, noir, and spy thriller vibes and turns them into a splatterfest that somehow still manages to be emotionally grounded. John Bonner, riddled with guilt and desperate for redemption, Katherine Moriarty, coping with devastating loss, and Naomi Laurent, a teenager with a mysterious, world-altering gift, are all struggling. Newcomer Dean Haggerty, a warm, resourceful scavenger, is an unexpected bright spot, bringing a glimmer of hope to a grim story.

Yes, the gore is intense, and the body horror will stick with you long after you’ve turned the last page (looking at you, “tortured fevered in the chair”). But here’s the thing - Rosson knows how to find a balance between the carnage and emotional depth, and his take on grief, redemption, and survival feels raw and real. The character arcs are top-notch, with even minor players leaving a mark. Katherine’s transformation, in particular, is spectacular.

The pacing is relentless, and while some plot conveniences (a possible cure-all across the ocean, for example) might raise an eyebrow, the story’s intensity and emotional pull make it easy to forgive. Rosson ties up loose ends from Fever House while introducing fresh twists, taking the story in surprising directions.

The final chapters are pure nightmare fuel, and the emotional punches hit hard. If you’re into stories that mix terror, heart, and a touch of hope, The Devil by Name delivers big time. It’s the kind of book that leaves you a little haunted but entirely satisfied. 

 

Buy A Letter to the Luminous Deep

OFFICIAL AUTHOR BIO: Sylvie Cathrall writes stories of hope and healing with healthy doses of wonder and whimsy. She holds a graduate degree in odd Victorian art and has handled more than a few nineteenth-century letters (with great care). Sylvie married her former pen pal and lives in the mountains, where she dresses impractically and dreams of the sea. 
FORMAT/INFO: A Letter to the Luminous Deep was published by Orbit Books on April 25th, 2024. It is available in paperback, ebook, and audiobook formats. 
OVERVIEW/ANALYSIS: One year ago, a disaster struck the underwater residence known as the Deep House, leaving its two inhabitants, E. and Henerey, presumed dead. After a year of grieving, E.'s sister Sophy and Henerey's brother Vyerin begin to investigate the events that led to their siblings' death. Sifting through correspondence between the many individuals involved, the two begin to uncover a much more ominous mystery than they expected.

A Letter to the Luminous Deep is a charming underwater tale that ultimately dragged too much to keep me hooked. This is a very slow-paced affair, told largely through letters written in the style of the late 1800s. This is certainly a difficult form of novel to pull off. For one, there are occasional moments where the author has to do some narrative contortions to explain why certain events or conversations were put to paper. While I understand the necessity in order to convey certain key information to the reader, it does strain the credulity a bit in some places.

That said, there were also numerous ways the narrative structure worked. I did enjoy the subtle ominous foreboding that builds up over the course of the story. Certain innocuous observations of things that are "off" in the world begin to create an unsettling pattern, especially as we have a rough idea of how events end. Several people each have a piece of the puzzle, but it's only in assembling those pieces by collecting these letters that they (and the audience) start to see the whole picture.

I also liked the slow romance between the two characters of E. and Henerey. Each is a shy or reticent person for various reasons. Through the letters, however, we can see two people being understood in a way they haven't before. The use of aborted "first drafts" of letters also lets us see a little glimpse of their respective nervousness as they try to fumble through how to address a person they've developed feelings for, even though they've never met in person.

The author has also built up a fascinating maritime culture. Some calamity 1000 years ago left this fantasy world with minimal inhabitable land. As a result, whole peoples live one boats or floating collectives. As our focus in this story is on the colleges and scholarly life of these people, most of the details do remain frustratingly out of sight, but perhaps not unreasonably. The people writing the letters are focused on their own narrow slice of life, not on the workings of society as a whole.

CONCLUSION: While I did enjoy my read of A Letter to the Luminous Deep overall, I found it struggled to hold my attention towards the end. The narrative structure of letters just dragged events out. We have a good idea of what happened some thirty pages or so before the ending, with the rest of the characters trying to catch up through their long-winded missives. As someone who struggles with slow books, ultimately this just didn't click for me. While the set up for part two of the duology is intriguing, this tale simply isn't my cup of tea.

  

Buy Grave Empire 

OFFICIAL AUTHOR BIO: Richard Swan is a critically acclaimed British genre writer. His debut fantasy novel, The Justice of Kings, was an instant Sunday Times bestseller and has been translated into seven languages. His other work includes the Art of War and Great Silence trilogies, as well as short fiction for Black Library and Grimdark Magazine.

Richard is a qualified lawyer, and before writing full time spent ten years litigating multimillion pound commercial disputes in London. He currently lives in Sydney with his wife and three young sons.

FORMAT/INFO: Grave Empire will release on February 4th, 2025. It will be available in paperback, ebook, and audiobook formats.

OVERVIEW/ANALYSIS: Renata Rainer's job is a joke. As ambassador to the Stygion mermen, she largely has given up hope of ever being useful, given that the mermen want nothing to do with humans. But when two monks arrive claiming to have lost contact with the afterlife, suddenly Renata finds herself in the midst of a critical mission. The Stygion are some of the world's foremost arcana practitioners, and it's up to Renata to verify if recent portents do indeed herald an apocalyptic event known as the Great Silence. But Renata's not the only one interested in the Great Silence - and there are those who want help along the end of the world instead of stopping it.

Grave Empire is a haunting, harrowing journey that envelopes you in its atmosphere, while asking readers for patience in experiencing the actual payoff. This is a story of three individuals scattered across an empire who are realizing that a Very Bad Thing is coming. One is unraveling the secrets of a mysterious plague, another must travel through a warzone to consult with magic practitioners who can shed light on an ancient prophecy, and another is investigating strange reports on the frontier of the empire. Each story is compelling and unsettling, as our characters come to understand just how very wrong things are.

And yet when the dust settled, it felt like all that had been accomplished was learning that yes, a Bad Thing is coming and it is a VERY Bad Thing. The nature of the Great Silence is absolutely a satisfactory threat, and I look forward to seeing how our characters try to handle it, especially as some dominoes began tipping at the end of our story. But this first book is essentially all table setting. Here is the empire, here are the characters, here is the state of the mortal plane, here are some of the weird things that are happening. Will we explain how these weird things are tied together? Not really.

I do want to touch on the relationship between the Empire of the Wolf trilogy and this new The Great Silence trilogy. You do not need to have read the first trilogy to enjoy this new series; the events of Empire of the Wolf are as removed from the characters as the Napoleonic Wars are for us. Those events were definitely a big thing that happened, but they don't inform the characters' day to day lives.

The writing here is also more accessible than the previous trilogy. The first series was told first-person memoir style, while this new one is told across three third-person POVs. I think it also reflects the difference in tone between the two stories. Whereas Empire of the Wolf was a more personal journey of an individual caught up in world-shaking events, Grave Empire feels a little more big picture, a view of how several nations will grapple with a new threat.

CONCLUSION: I want to be clear, overall I really enjoyed Grave Empire, even if the ending left me a bit underwhelmed. I remain hopeful that the second book in this trilogy is going to take everything in the first book and use it for a fantastic sequel. In reading the first trilogy set in this world, I was lukewarm on book one, and then the sequel was one of my top reads the following year. Given how monumentally unsettling the nature of the Great Silence is, I think there's every chance this series will follow in its predecessor's footsteps.

  

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.

 

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

 Book Review: The Last of the Atlanteans by P. L. Stuart


Buy The Last of the Atlanteans here - Amazon
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: P.L. Stuart was born in Toronto, Canada. He holds a university degree in English, specializing in Medieval Literature. P.L. is an assistant editor with Before We Go Blog https://beforewegoblog.com/ . The Drowned Kingdom Saga chronicles flawed and bigoted Prince Othrun's journey towards change, and his rise to power in a new world after the downfall of his homeland, which is based on Plato's lost realm of Atlantis. The Bestselling A Drowned Kingdom is mentioned in the esteemed Kirkus Magazine’s 2021 Indie Issue among “Four Great Examples of the Genre” of fantasy and won the 2022 Picky Bookworm Award for Best Indie Book Based on Mythology.
Publisher: Friesen Press (March 22nd 2022)
Length: 534 pages
Formats: Paperback,Ebook,Hardcover
ABOUT THE BOOK: PL Stuart’s The Last of the Atalanteans is a triumph of genre storytelling, eagerly recommended to fans of Game of Thrones, Sons of Darkness, and all other deliciously dark political fantasies. Fiercely compelling, the sequel jumps out the gate with a snarling lioness roar, pounding the way onward from the devilish cliffhanger he left us with in A Drowned Kingdom.
Spoilers for A Drowned Kingdom below
Prince Othrun is a man on the edge. Having lost his Kingdom not once but twice, through exile and eradication, he is *not* prepared to lose another chance to seize the birthright he believes is owed. Together with his Atlantean brethren, and heathen allies; the ever faithful King Hert, the slyly treacherous Centi seeking royal redemption, and the deposed King Wely ,the lioncrest himself, Othrun is embarking on an ambitious reclamation of Wely’s divided Kingdom.
Yet as we learnt in A Drowned Kingdom, Othrun is an ignorant, unseemly ignoramus of a man. Why would such an arrogantly ambitious character want to help foreign rulers he sees as backwards and beneath? Well, this book goes a long way to answer such questions.
For Othrun is the type of compelling character that makes for some of the best in fantasy. Othrun is a man in the process of change.
At times this can be excruciating in all the best and wrigglesome of ways, as the reader squirms at some of his openly bigoted statements.
However Othrun is not above ingratiating himself to his potential neighbours, as long as it gets him to the status he believes is rightfully his.
It is through this that he begins to open himself to the possibilities that the people of Acremia were not as he thought. Not wrong though! Oh no, never wrong. But an acceptance of their differences with equinimity. This, in itself, is progress. A complicated man indeed. Perhaps each aspect of himself not fully known, even to himself.
In fact, one could say progress is the theme of the book. I shan't spoil the twisted delights to be found along the way, but I will say that by the end you will feel that this chapter has closed, and a new stage is set to begin. The dust has settled, and yet our characters are not. Such is the genius of PL, to never leave his characters in a comfortable spot for too long, for uncomfortableness makes for great conflict.
OVERVIEW/SYNOPSIS: In The Last of the Atalanteans  PL fully delivers on that front (war pun not entirely intended :D)
You of course have the return of the ever great pairing of Lysi and Othrun woven throughout. PL's devilish take on a ‘will they, won't they’ dynamic will leave you squirming in delight. Of course Othrun views all women as beneath the hierarchy of God and man, but in walks the sensual seductress Lysi. Now here is a woman Othrun can admire as an equal, a powerful and political force of nature.
Pared back so she appears at all the right (or perhaps worst!) moments, their dynamic was a true highlight everytime they filled the screen with oozing, electrified energy.
How a heathen can be such a powerful, imposing, and self confident lady is beyond Othrun, causing him to re evaluate how he can maintain his monotheistic beliefs in the face of such tempting power. Accepting help once was bad enough, but can Othrun receive once again, especially with his potential new Kingdom at stake? These are the delicious maggots of doubt worming their way into Othrun’s mind and you'll have to read on to find out how he resolves this one!
Then you have the central conflict of King Wely fighting to retake his rightful Kingdom. With his malicious brother stealing the throne along with his marriage to the mage Syda, Wely has an almost herculean task on his hands, with only a small band of loyal troops, along with Othrun's remaining Atalanteans to enact his daring plans. With his own Kingdom believing him dead, allies will be hard to find and far and few between, especially when one never knows how far friend or foe goes.
Their arduous journey will take them zealously into the heart of the Lioncrest's Kingdom, desperately cobbling together Wely's true believers as Syda's forces relentlessly hunt them down.
At the start PL lights the fuse, and when that bomb explodes, my goodness is it glorious. Battle speeches Shakespearean in their generous grandiosity; bone crunching, blood spewing, nose curlingly, toe curlingly voracious conflict dripping with consequence. Do not hold onto characters too tight my friends, for PL writes with one mighty fist.
With Othrun the star of the show, miscellaneous characters can often take a bit of a backseat. As this is Othrun mythologising his own history, this approach works very well for the story PL is trying to tell, an excellently unreliable narrator. However two characters in particular (aside from Lysi, my magnificent Lysi) got more depth in The Last of the Atalanteans.
First and foremost King Wely, perhaps the most sympathetic character thus far in this woefully sorry saga. One truly understands his struggle, and the deeply personal pain of such a close betrayal. Out of all the characters, despite some personal missteps which led to his downfall, Wely might just be the most centrally ‘good’ of them all. He is a good king, a well liked king, a just king, simply guilty of being a poor husband and a fallible man. Perhaps Centi, his former betrayer and current protector has more in common with him than he dares in his anger to realise. I was desperately hoping beyond hope that Wely would pull through somehow, fully invested in his reclamation and ready to fist pump if the time came. I shan't say if I got what I wanted (and often that';s a dangerous gift for authors to give their readers), but what occurred was fitting to his tale and true to his character. Long live King Wely, the true lioncrest!
Secondly, uncle Yedwol began to worm his way into the narrative. I will say that this one wasmuch less satisfying due to the heavily expositional nature of his arc. In fact, it did feel a little outof step with the rhythm PL had previously set, treading water somewhat.
Readers will learn of Yedwol’s less than savoury past, and see how this affects Othrun and his view of kingship. Whilst certainly interesting, it didn't quite feel like the right space for these developments and I was eager for the story to move forward a little after the previous thrusts of momentum. It's a shame because Yedwol is a fantastic character and I look forward to learning even more in the future, it just paled in comparison after the adrenaline of the preceding sections.
By the conclusion PL signals the exciting directions the series will take us next, with the potential for new conflicts appearing on the near horizon tantalising us for more pulse pounding battles and rich examinations of kingship.
Whilst the somewhat episodic nature of each part did leave me slightly wanting at first, by the end I was fully onboard with the way PL is developing his world. An good author's work is never fully what the reader wants or expects, so once I reminded myself to check my expectations at the door and surrendered to PL's exceedingly good writing, I was having a great time. It's just so exciting to see a new Kingdom come into formation! I don't think I've read a fantasy where I've seen one built from nothing. Shades of Bernard Cornwell begin to creep in, with elements of classics such as Le Mort D'Arthur in the structure. Once the inspiration for PL’s unique structure and prose became clear, best read like a medieval tome, I fell in love with it all over again.
CONCLUSION: Startlingly brilliant, PL is helping give fantasy a fresh shot in the arm with his ambitiously crafted A Drowned Kingdom Saga. Readers will delight in the morally grey characters, and marvel at the stirring battles PL effortlessly paints onto the page. Fearless, ferocious fantasy destined to stay atop your TBR and reread piles.

 

Book links: Amazon, Goodreads
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Olga Tokarczuk is the author of nine novels, three short story collections and has been translated into more than fifty languages. Her novel Flights won the 2018 International Booker Prize, in Jennifer Croft’s translation. She is the recipient of the 2018 Nobel Prize in Literature. 
Publisher: Riverhead Books (September 24, 2024) Length: 320 pages Formats: audiobook, ebook, hardback, paperback Translator: Antonia Lloyd-Jones

The Empusium is a strange, slow, and fascinating book. It’s part gothic horror, part social critique, and part... well, something that doesn’t really fit into any category. Call it Weirdlit, if you need to. Anyway, if you’re looking for fast-paced thrills and gruesome horrors, this isn’t it. But if you enjoy well-written and unsettling books with elegant and plastic prose* you’re in for a treat.
Tokarczuk follows Mieczysław Wojnicz, a soft-spoken, sickly man who heads to a remote spa to treat his tuberculosis. He’s surrounded by a group of other men who, between their coughing fits, like to sit around and deliver wildly outdated (and hilariously awful) opinions about women. These aren’t Tokarczuk’s inventions, by the way-they’re actual quotes from old philosophers. But don’t worry-the book knows exactly how absurd they sound and uses them to great effect.
Amid all this, there’s a creeping sense of something supernatural. Strange presences haunt the spa, hiding in the walls and floorboards, and this adds an unsettling vibe without ever taking over the story. The real horror is in the ways people treat each other, in the oppressive masculinity of the men or Mieczysław’s own struggle to live authentically in a world that doesn’t make space for him.
Speaking of Mieczysław, his journey is unexpected but well-timed and perfectly captured. I appreciated the slow process that allowed him to peel back the layers of who he is and find his true self. As mentioned, it was surprising, quite moving, and ultimately uplifting.
Yes, the pacing is slow, and yes, the philosophical ramblings won’t be everyone’s cuppa. But stick with it. The writing is beautiful; the characters are complex, and the ending? Worth the wait.
I like my books smart, spooky, and a little bit weird, and The Empusium is precisely this. Well worth a read.

Book links: Amazon, Goodreads
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Dan is a writer, editor, and vastly overqualified archaeologist who has lived everywhere from London to Hertfordshire to Manchester to Sydney, which explains the panic in his eyes anytime someone asks “where are you from?”. Thankfully he is now settled in the rolling green hills of the Peak District with his human family and fluffy sidekicks Indy and Maverick, where he writes books, screenplays and comics.
Publisher: Angry Robot (January 14, 2025) Length: 400 Pages  Formats: ebook, paperback

What do you get when you throw 13 strangers into a deathtrap tower, tell them to “ASCEND,” and watch chaos unfold? You get The Way Up is Death, Dan Hanks’ twisted love child of The Hunger Games, Portal, and the most stressful video game session ever.

And it’s great.

The setup is simple: one day, a floating tower shows up in England. A group of randoms—disillusioned teachers, underappreciated artists, and even an obnoxious influencer—find themselves zapped to its doorstep. Their mission? Survive. 

Hanks takes this bonkers premise and runs with it, and the result is exceptional. A true nail-biter that toes the line between horror, sci-fi, and emotional gut punches. Each level of the tower resembles a sadistic escape room designed by a fever-dreaming psychopath. You never know what’s coming, and that’s half the fun.

The cast is awesome. There’s Alden, a grieving teacher, trying to find meaning; Nia, a game designer desperate to prove herself; and Earl and Rakie, a father-daughter duo you’ll probably root for. And then there’s Dirk, the self-absorbed influencer you’ll love to hate—seriously, he’s the worst, and you’ll cheer every time the tower messes with him.

But it’s not all blood and guts. Hanks sneaks in his sharp social commentary, thoughts on grief, loneliness, and even influencer culture. Somehow, between all the horror and humor, he sneaks in moments that genuinely make you feel things. Like, big existential feelings.

Shortcomings? Well, there’s at least one. Some characters are so obviously redshirts that their brutal demises aren’t surprising—they’re expected. The only question is the order in which they’ll die. Plus, they’re all bland and forgettable, especially when compared to a few key players.

Relentlessly paced and surprisingly heartfelt, The Way Up is Death is addictive. It’s weird, wild, and brutal. And if you’re interested in my opinion, it’s a must-read.

 

 Last year I wasn’t able to post my top reads but I was reminded that there are a few readers who are keeping their eye out for it (thanks Pradeep). So this year I wanted to be sure to not be lazy. 2024 was a varied reading year with a wide variety of epic fantasy. Infact my top 7 are indicative of how rich the stories were  and it wasn’t easy ranking them.

 
So without further ado, here are my top reads for 2024:


1)  The Storm beneath The World by Michael R. Fletcher – This was an incredibly unique story about an anthromorphic insect civilization & easily the best story that has sprouted form the mad Canadian’s mind. Can’t wait to read the sequel and see how Fletcher ends it all.


2) The Doors Of Midnight by RR Virdi – The sequel to The First Binding was in everyway a sequel that outshone its predecessor. The brilliance of the author’s prose & plotting skills were already visible in the preceding title but in this one, he took things to a new level. The 3rd volume in the Tales Of Tremaine is easily one of my most anticipated reads whenever it releases.


3) Herald by Rob J. Hayes – The beginning of a new epic fantasy from one of my favourites is always a cause to celebrate. With the Godeater saga, Rob plans to go the GRRM route and has written a story that is simultaneously unfolding across three millennia.


4)  The Last Shield by Cameron Johnston – Cameron Johnston is a huge fan of David Gemmell and in this book, he was able to give us a heroic fantasy story & a stoic female MC who absolutely would have done the big man proud. 


5) Blood Over Bright Haven by M.L. Wang – This book was a fantasy title that originally was released in 2023 but I got to it in 2024. M.L. Wang’s BOBH was a fascinating tapestry about academia, racism and xenophobia while giving us a fascinating world. An incredibly different follow up to Kaigen but retaining all of the author’s signature style.


6) The Book That Wouldn't Burn by Mark Lawrence – This was another 2023 title which I was only able to read a year later after its release. The Library trilogy book 1 is possibly the most meta story that Mark Lawrence has written & another feather in his already shining cap.


7) Fool’s Promise by Angela Boord – Angela Boord’s 2nd volume of the Eterean saga showcased exactly why we loved Fortune’s Fool. With more worldbuilding & complex characters, accompanied by stellar prose, this sequel proved why AB needs to be celebrated by more readers.


8)  How To Become The Dark Lord And Die Trying by Django Wexler – This was a funny story that exceeded my wildest expectations as the author really went all in with its zany premise. Filled with snark, humour & a lot of fun, this is one series that I couldn’t get more of.


9)  Mushroom Blues by Adrian M. Gibson – Adrian M. Gibson’s debut was a sleek hybrid mixing fantasy, SF, & Noir with a complex world scenario. It was also very polished & hence was the FBC finalist for SPFBOX. If you haven’t read this one yet, you need to jump on it.


10) The Hunter’s Gambit by Ciel Pierlot – I was made aware of this book thanks to my blogmate Caitlin, and her review precisely encapsulates what this book is about. Evil vampires, bloody action, a morally grey protagonist made this standalone a quick and fast read. Ciel Pierlot absolutely nailed this dark fantasy tale & I hope we get more stories within this milieu.

 

 Buy Level: Unknown

OFFICIAL AUTHOR BIO: David Dalglish currently lives in Myrtle Beach with his wife, Samantha, and daughters, Morgan, Katherine, and Alyssa. He graduated from Missouri Southern State University in 2006 with a degree in mathematics and currently spends his free time tanking dungeons for his wife and daughter in Final Fantasy XIV.

FORMAT/INFO: Level: Unknown was published by Orbit on January 14th, 2024. It is 464 pages long and told in third person from multiple POVs. It is available in paperback, ebook, and audiobook formats.

OVERVIEW/ANALYSIS: Nick is just a simple lab tech, he shouldn’t have to worry about swords swinging at his head. But that becomes a daily concern when an alien artifact forms a connection with him, plunging him into a simulated fantasy world every time he falls asleep. Nick quickly learns that while the world might be fake and death just means waking up, the pain is still very real. Even worse the pain is taking a strain on his real life body, and it might not be too long before his body gives out entirely. To top it all off, Nick's fellow researchers have discovered that a devastating event is heading to their planet, and the clues to how to stop it lie somewhere in the game. It's up to Nick to delve into this fantasy world and find the answers...but he's only got so many more lives before he'll never wake up again.

Level: Unknown is a fun romp of a LitRPG adventure, accessible to both game enthusiasts and those who have never picked up a controller. For those unfamiliar, LitRPG is a genre inspired by tabletop role playing games and video games, where characters for one reason or another are aware of stats, health meters, and other mechanics. In Level: Unknown, Nick essentially finds himself in a virtual video game world, with an AI assistant, experience points, hovering UIs that display health bars, etc. While those who play games regularly will easily recognize the mechanics, Nick is written as a novice to such things so that the reader can learn the ropes alongside him. (Although I did beg the question: is the future so dark that an 18-year-old has never played a video game before?)

After the initial set up, the story takes a familiar fantasy bent: Nick starts out on a quest and goes on a journey, picking up companions, encountering dangerous monsters, and discovering the history of this virtual land he’s in. The story is mostly told from Nick’s POV, but I appreciated the inclusion of POV chapters from a virtual character that lives in this fantasy world. While Nick sees the digital inhabitants of this world as things that can be killed without remorse, Sir Gareth views Nick as a ruthless monster roaming about killing hapless villagers. His POV grounded the world, showing that to these simulated individuals, death is a very real, sobering experience.

As in his previous works, the author writes one heck of a climax; I found myself tearing through the pages towards the end. The one disappointment is that when the dust clears there are no real answers, just lots and lots of questions. What is the artifact? Where did it come from? How and why is it possibly destroying planets? These questions and more are all asked; while you’ll get a genuinely satisfying climactic boss fight, you'll get no answers to any of these questions by the end of this first book. This is the first of a trilogy (with all three books releasing in 2025), so the answers are coming, but I would have liked at least one answer to a major question by the end of this outing.

CONCLUSION: Level: Unknown is a good popcorn adventure that's a lot of fun to escape into. As a relative novice to the genre itself, I cannot tell you how it compares to other Lit RPGs. What I can say is that I enjoyed my time in this world, and I'm looking forward to seeing how these mysteries pan out in the sequel.