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THE STORM BENEATH THE WORLD

COVER RE-REVEAL!

 

Book links: Amazon, Goodreads, FBC's REVIEW
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Michael R. Fletcher lives in the endless suburban sprawl north of Toronto. He dreams of trees and seeing the stars at night and being a ninja. He is an unrepentant whiskey-swilling reprobate of the tallest order and thinks grilled cheese sandwiches are a food group.

Publisher: Michael R. Fletcher (April 4, 2024) Length: 366 Formats: ebook, hardcover, paperback

Hi Mike, it’s a pleasure to have you back! We absolutely love The Storm Beneath the World and are thrilled to see it reaching an even broader audience. Hopefully, the new cover helps! Speaking of which—what inspired this redesign (the third one)? Was it driven by fan feedback, a shift in the target audience, or something else?

Thanks for having me back!

The Storm Beneath the World has been an odd experience. My agent loved the book and shopped it to publishers. We got amazingly positive feedback but “We’re not sure how to sell this” was a recurring comment. In the end, everyone passed on the novel, and I decided to self-publish it. Right away it landed amazing reviews. Even back in August, many were saying it was going to be on their Best of the Year list. And yet the sales just weren’t there.

I saw two possible reasons for this: Either people weren’t interested in reading a book without any human characters in it (and fair enough), or the cover art (which I love) wasn’t selling the book. Short of rewriting the entire novel, there isn’t much I can do about the insect cast. So, I decided to try another cover. The book was maybe six months old at this point and hadn’t earned back the cost of art and editing and I was loathe to pour more money into it. I gathered together my colossal lack of artistic talent and created a cover myself

Unsurprisingly, the new cover had zero impact on sales.

Then came the Best of 2024 lists and The Storm Beneath the World appeared on several, including some larger sites like Polygon. Suddenly, the book was selling! It finally broke even and there was enough left over to hire a new artist. I’d previously hired Rachel St. Clair to do a pile of design work for the Black Stone Heart Insanity Edition Kickstarter. As she has been nothing but awesome, I hired her to create a new cover.

Did you have a specific vision for the cover, or did you leave it entirely to the designers? And if so, who are the talented folks behind it?

I had a very specific vision for the original cover (done by Andrew Maleski) and he absolutely nailed it. Since then, however, I’ve heard folks say it’s too dark, too metal, and not representative of the story.

This time, I had a few vague requests and otherwise left it up to Rachel.

How does it compare to the previous versions? Would you say it’s an evolution of the book’s identity or a completely fresh take?

This new cover really is a completely different take. Instead of showing a scene from the book, this is all about the feel.

Covers often shape a reader’s first impression—what kind of reaction are you hoping this one evokes?

I’m not an artist and I’ve always found covers incredibly difficult. Typically, I send an artist several scenes to choose from and then include such helpful suggestions as “Make it gratuitously cool!” I’m always looking for cover art I can put up on my wall and that kinda means it often looks like the cover art for a heavy metal album.  I think that for a lot of my books, that’s perfectly fitting. This book, however, is different. It’s not grimdark. It’s a story about youths discovering themselves and pushing against the bounds of their society. It’s about characters who are trying their best to do the right thing.

And since we have you here, I have to ask—do you have any updates on the sequel’s release date? And will the story remain a duology as you initially planned?

The River of Days is one-third written. Unfortunately, I had to set it aside for more pushing (and likely profitable) projects. During 2024 I finished The Driftland Dragons, a middle-grade fantasy novel, wrote Dust of the Dead (heroic fantasy), which is currently with my agent, and wrote Long Island Memorial (a real-world horror novel) with Clayton Snyder. There’s also going to be one last Obsidian Path novel, and I’ve got to finish that first. There’s a solid chance I’ll have The River of Days out by the end of 2025.

I’m going to wrap this story up in two books. Though the second might be a bit longer than the first.

 

 

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Stephanie Gillis is a vlogger, writer, dog trainer, and dinosaur-enthusiast living in Colorado with a very load and obnoxious parrot. She has two Bachelor's degrees in Linguistics and Japanese. When she's not staring at a bright white computer screen for hours on end you may be able to spot her in her natural habitat digging through thrift stores or seeing movies at ridiculously early hours of the morning. If seen in public, approach with caution, puppies, and musical song lyrics.
Find Stephanie online: website
The Humane Society for Creatures & Cryptids links: Amazon, Goodreads
CHELS
The Humane Society for Creatures and Cryptids is definitely on the more cosy side of the fantasy genre, perfect for these longer nights. Following three sisters and a new girl in town, I feel as though the writing in this book gives a well rounded view of the plot and how it is impacting each character. 
I enjoyed getting to know each of the Lambros sisters who are so different in personality that it makes the perspectives vastly different and memorable. The writing style felt cosy to me, introducing the plot and the characters as the book unfolds. I would recommend this one to anyone who loves to see romances develop over the course of a book while learning about magical creatures through fact file type breakdowns.
ESMAY

Cozy fantasy meets small-town drama meets contemporary (queer) romance meets suspense thriller in The Humane Society of Creatures & Cryptids; it might sound like a lot, but somehow Stephanie Gillis just makes it work and pulls off her vision for this genre blendy gem with effortless grace.

Now, for the first half of this book, the entire plot is essentially: inner turmoil and interpersonal drama. And let me tell you, I was eating it up. We follow the three Lambros sisters, Melpomene, Calliope and Thalia, as they just go about their normal daily lives. You know, very normally taking care of all kinds of magical creatures while trying to navigate their own personal problems and keeping the suspicious town’s folk of Pandora in the dark about the goings-on in their old secluded house in the woods.

To me, each sister had a super distinct voice that completely fit with their age/personality, and I loved how they were all allowed to be so beautifully and relatably flawed and messy. Whether it was Mel’s struggles to balance her own happiness with her demanding role as caretaker of the family, Calliope’s mysteriously powerful bond with the magical creatures and her tragic mental battles, or Thalia’s amusingly wayward nature and high school drama, I just connected and sympathised so deeply with them all. And then add to that the fourth POV of Asha, a new girl in town who befriends Thalia, whose curious outsider perspective added a whole new fresh dimension to the story that added so many unexpected layers of fun tension, nuance and complexity.

Moreover, as someone who thrives on digging into the intricacies of all kinds of interpersonal relationships in stories, I loved how much quiet time we got to just explore all the complicated feelings between the sisters as they go from merely living alongside each other to truly connecting and bonding again for the first time in years. And it wasn't just the complex sisterly dynamic that had me glued to the page, but also the tenuous relationship with their absent mother and the development of the wholesome romances that start to blossom in each of the sisters’ lives. Not to mention, all the lively, quirky side characters (both the human and non-human ones) really get their time to shine, and I would very much like to know where I can get myself some saberwolves or Bigfoot Harriët, please and thank you!

Now, I do have to admit that the slow-burn cozy first half of the book didn’t totally prepare me for the sudden shift into such high-stakes, almost thriller-esque territory as outside forces start to threaten them and the magical creatures. Even though I was deeply emotionally invested at that point and was on the edge of my seat out of concern for all my favourite characters, I just couldn’t help but find the shift in tone slightly jarring. To me, the drastic increase in the pacing made the development of some characters’ personal journeys and their relationships feel a bit too unbelievable for me, and I felt like some heavy topics of trauma, redemption, and vengeful retribution were not handled with the care and nuance they deserve simply for the sake of resolving all the mess in a satisfying and wholesome way.

All that said, those quibbles didn’t hold me back from devouring this book, and ultimately the highs way outweighed the lows for me. I mean, Gillis’ slightly tongue-in-cheek authorial voice is irresistibly entertaining (just look at this killer line: “Yes, Sheriff. Bigfoot is a girl. I’m a lesbian. Can you try to keep your patriarchal misogyny in check for this?”), it features SO much fun and rich magical creature lore (including illustrations!), and it’s just got so much heart that you simply can’t help but be charmed by it all.

In a weird way, The Humane Society of Creatures & Cryptids feels like a uniquely exciting mash-up of the styles of T.J. Klune, Alice Oseman, Emily Henry, and T. Kingfisher to me, while also being completely unlike anything I have ever read. And you better bet I will be coming back for more, because I am quite eager to see what kind of wild shenanigans all these loveable misfits get up to in the next stage of their lives. So, if you like the sound of a fun and feel-good genre blendy story of love, sisterhood, animal conservation, and compassion, then I truly can’t recommend this gem highly enough!

ŁUKASZ

Imagine a world where witches run a magical animal shelter while dodging pitchfork-wielding neighbors, and you’ll have an idea of what The Humane Society for Creatures & Cryptids is all about. 

The story revolves around the Lambros sisters—Melpomene, Calliope, and Thalia—three women juggling the care of mystical creatures, a deeply suspicious town, and lots of personal baggage. Throw in a sprinkle of cryptids, a dash of generational trauma, and a pinch of sisterly drama, and you’ve got a recipe for a chaotic, but entertaining, tale.

Melpomene is the oldest, and she’s keeping the house (and everyone else) from falling apart with a wrench in one hand and financial accumen in the other. Calliope, the middle child, is the unofficial cryptid whisperer, who battles agoraphobia and a complicated past. And then there’s Thalia, the youngest, who’s desperate to flee small-town life—until a certain new girl, Asha, steals her heart. As if managing their own problems wasn’t enough, the sisters must also face Mr. Underwood, a shady figure who’d like to exploit the creatures and the sisters’ unique connection to them.

There’s a plot and intrigue, but above all, this is a story about family, healing, and the magic of sisterhood, all wrapped up in a cozy yet occasionally tumultuous package. The writing balances humor and heartache; it gives weight to the characters’ struggles but rarely loses its whimsical edge. The cryptids, from Harriet the feminist Bigfoot to other magical beings, are all charming and fun. 

The downsides? Well, it’s a long book, and I felt it could use some serious tightening in places. As mentioned, it feels chaotic in places, meandering in others. Given its coziness, the stakes aren’t that high and to me, it lacked a palpable tension and suspense. Basically, it wasn’t hard to guess most reveals and twists way ahead.

It’s part cozy, part serious, with a dash of romance and some adventure. Perfect for fans of magical creatures, heartfelt stories, and sisterly love. 

OFFICIAL SPFBO REVIEW

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Stephanie Gillis is a vlogger, writer, dog trainer, and dinosaur-enthusiast living in Colorado with a very load and obnoxious parrot. She has two Bachelor's degrees in Linguistics and Japanese. When she's not staring at a bright white computer screen for hours on end you may be able to spot her in her natural habitat digging through thrift stores or seeing movies at ridiculously early hours of the morning. If seen in public, approach with caution, puppies, and musical song lyrics.
Find Stephanie online: website
The Humane Society for Creatures & Cryptids links: Amazon, Goodreads


Thank you for agreeing to this interview. Before we start, tell us a little about yourself.
I’m Stephanie Gillis and I call myself a writer, reader, dork extraordinaire. I’ve been a youtuber since 2007 and a published author since 2013. I go by Qwordy on the internet there where I make bookish content and host productivity sprints to help other writers get their words in or just people needing support getting whatever they need done. I live in Colorado and recently became a dogmom to a mastiff mix puppy named Pawl.
Do you have a day job? If so, what is it?
Yes, I have a boring day job as a billing administrator for a coffee equipment company.
Who are some of your favorite writers, and why is their work important to you?
I have so many but I think my top authors I’m a fan of are Marissa Meyer, Elizabeth Lim, Margaret Rogerson, Rebecca Ross, and Andy Weir. They’re all masters of world-building and amazing character craft. They’ve given me some of my favorite worlds and characters that I often feel recharged after reading one of their books.
What do you like most about the act of writing?
I have these moments where I don’t even realize I’m writing, my fingers just kind of go faster than my brain and before I know it I’ve got characters doing what they want and completely deviating from the outline but it’s a fun challenge to figure out why inevitably those were better choices. My idea often changes so much from the original concept it’s a wonder I even bother to make outlines anymore. For example, in The Humane Society for Creatures & Cryptids, there is a character named Darius who sort of just popped up, I hadn’t planned on him in the outline but found he was one of my favorites to interject into the sisters’ storyline and was a great addition to the cast I didn’t know I needed until I was writing.
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?
It depends on the book, I’ve changed my attack styles over the years. I used to plot out in beats but then discovered Katytastic’s 3 Act, 9 Block, 27 Chapter method and found that was a really great method for how my brain works in terms of creature, even if I don’t fully stick to it by the third act, it’s a great method of sorting out all the arcs. I usually do a basic plot one and then I do character specific outlines just to be clear on where everyone is at any time even when they’re not in the chapter, it helps keep up with continuity for the most part. I do write linearly and can’t just write a scene for later and bring it in because too much can happen between now and then and by the time I get there that scene doesn’t seem to fit anymore. Depending on the book it can take me a couple years before it’s a finished project, HSFCAC took about a year to draft and then several years of edits before it came out in Oct 2023. I like to take my time on edits to make sure I’m producing my best version with the messages I want to convey being my biggest priority. I’ve learned a lot about my process since my first novel so you may see a drastic change in style from my first book, Search for The Phoenix vs. The Humane Society for Creatures & Cryptids.
What made you decide to self-publish The Humane Society for Creatures & Cryptids as opposed to traditional publishing?
I’ve been self-publishing since my first series, The Ashport Archives, mostly because I just wanted to check it off the bucket list and now it’s turned into 80% of my personality. With HSFCAC I did want to try out traditional publishing so I did query it but not extensively. If I was going trad I wanted to make sure I was going to work with agents that I liked so I didn’t query hundreds like many others but the feedback I mostly got was that it was great but too long and I’d spent so long on editing it to what it was, I couldn’t fathom cutting anymore with how much the story has to say. I like the control that I have over self-publishing and thanks to an amazing kickstarter campaign I was able to produce a lot more with the book for those backers.
What’s your favorite and least favorite parts of self-publishing?
It’s definitely the control over my work. I can market it correctly as I find lately the trends of publishing aren’t things I can claim to and often times can even be misleading to what the content is in a book over what sells in traditional publishing that I feel oversaturates the market. I like that I could hire people I know and trust to edit (Zoe Plait) and do my cover/interior art (Tycho Dwelis, author/illustrator who is amazing). My least favorite part is also the marketing, the amount of time and money that has to be allocated to it, I’m terrible at that because I have so many other things going on in my life that it’s hard to balance that while not burning out.
Why did you enter SPFBO?
I learned about SPFBO a couple years ago because I subscribe to CoverswithCassidy on youtube and thought this was a great way to find other indie books. As a book reviewer myself, I love lifting up indie voices and finding the hidden gems out there in the world so I started by just adding books to my endless TBR. I was in the midst of writing HSFCAC then so I promised myself I would enter it when it was finished. I think it’s a great competition that even though has an elimination process still promotes great works that people can find regardless. I even did my own livestream series called “Will it TBR” where I went through ever single entry this year and decided if it would go on my personal tbr and also helped my audience find books they might not have otherwise heard of.
How would you describe the plot of The Humane Society for Creatures & Cryptids if you had to do so in just one or two sentences?
It’s about three sisters who take care of magical creatures in a small town trying to drive them out because they suspect them to be witches, all while each is processing their own trauma (both personal and generational) and learning to rebond as sisters in order to defend their livelihood.
What was your initial inspiration for The Humane Society for Creatures & Cryptids? How long have you been working on it? Has it evolved from its original idea?
Initially I got mad at an episode of either Monsterquest or Finding Bigfoot, I can’t remember, but they kept referring to Bigfoot as “he” and I was thinking, you don’t know if Bigfoot is a man. I’m a woman with big feet, she could be a girl so thus Harriet the Bigfoot was born for the book. The rest of the book came from my own experiences in processes trauma, so each of the sisters is kind of a different part of me at different stages in my life and was a therapeutic way of overcoming things that have happened to me in the past, especially with Calliope’s story being the most close to home overall. Like her, I was SA’d and kept silent about it for many years and it’s really only since writing the book that I’ve been able to talk about because writing her journey of healing was in a way, also my journey. I started writing the book in 2019 and finished the first draft around the end of 2020. This was the first time not a whole lot deviated from the original plan because all of the arcs were so close to home for me that it was very easy to stick to the plan. It took several years of edits because it was so long 162k at the first draft, and I could only pay my editor per chapter as I was working at a grocery store at the time and did not have the means to pay at full price. Luckily my editor was phenomenal and understanding and worked with me through the whole process.
What genre does it belong to?
While it’s fantasy, I consider it a contemporary fantasy. It’s the real world but while there are these fantastic creatures in it the core heart of the story is about the sisters and their journeys and relationships so that to me gives it a more contemporary vibe with fantastical elements. Though there is plenty of fantasy for those who just want to delve into the cryptid side of the book.
If you had to describe it in 3 adjectives, which would you choose?
Wholesome, Romantic, Tumultuous.
Is it part of the series or a standalone? If series, how many books have you planned for it?
It can be read as a standalone but I do have two more books planned in the series, however, they are more companions with different main characters and appearance from the Lambros family.
Who are the key players in this story? Could you introduce us to The Humane Society for Creatures & Cryptids’s protagonists/antagonists?
There are four main POVs and four others I consider in the main cast. We have the Lambros sisters: Melpomene, Calliope, and Thalia as well as the new girl in town, Asha. Melpomene is the eldest sister, she is struggling to keep the house together with many a DIY repair project and the financial stress of having parents MIA and leaving it up to you to feed your younger sisters. Calliope is the middle sister, she is the best with the creatures and dropped out of high school in order to fully be the caretaker of roughly 30 animals, she refuses to leave the grounds due to her trauma with the townspeople though her sisters don’t realize how severe that agoraphobia really is. Thalia is the younger and just wants out. Her plan is to graduate and be gone from the tiny town that hates her family but that is overturned when the new girl comes into town and completely steals her heart. Asha, the new girl, is the heiress to the new resort opening up in the mountain town, she struggles under the pressure her parents put on her to always be thinking of how her actions will reflect on her parents business so she has a rebellious streak when it gets too tough with them.
Then we have Liam and Owen who are sent by the Lambros’ absent mother to help bring in a new acquisition for the house. Though their reasons for going to Lambros House may not be as good-intentioned as they seem. Darius, is new to the town and working as the handyman for the new resort and meets Melpomene in the local hardware store where he is then embroiled in town gossip and a curiosity for the sisters. Our main antagonist is known as Mr. Underwood who works for a secret society that would like to exploit not only the creatures but the mysterious power the Lambros sisters seem to have over the cryptids.
Does your book feature a magic/magic system? If yes, can you describe it?
It’s a very subtle magic system which is also the series title, Terraglossa. It’s the amount of ability one has to communicate or even control the magical creatures in the books. The sisters all have varying degrees with Calliope being the most talented on her own but there’s also an element of working together that makes them more powerful. Since all the creatures are magical in their own right, it goes that utilizing things they produce (feathers, fur, blood, etc) can also be utilized magically and that is what Thalia is most skilled at doing, somewhat mad scientist style to help create remedies and potions as needed.
Have you written the book with a particular audience in mind?
First and foremost, I really wrote the book for me. It’s also why traditional publishing wasn’t the way to go because it’s not strictly young adult and it’s not strictly adult either. It’s a book that readers from probably 12 and up could enjoy. I classify it as YA because Thalia and Asha are both teenagers but Calliope and Melpomene are both adults dealing with very adult problems. I just wanted to make a book that I knew I needed and maybe others can appreciate what it has to say as well.
What’s new or unique about your book that we don’t see much in speculative fiction these days?
Somewhat what I’ve sad before with the varying ages of the protagonists. It makes it hard to classify where I see a lot of others being very easy to tell if it has adult content or not. I know the three many popular categories in fantasy right now appear to be “spicy romantasy”, “grim or epic fantasy” and “cozy fantasy”. I’d say HSFCAC fits more so with cozy but because there are heavier plots happening, it’s hard to fully commit it to the subgenre so it just kind of exists outside of the realm of what I feel is the norm. Not that those genres are bad, I enjoy all three as a reader but find it difficult to write within genre standards.

Cover art is always an important factor in book sales. Can you tell us about the idea behind the cover of The Humane Society for Creatures & Cryptids and the artist?
My wonderful cover artist is a fellow author friend of mine. His name is Tycho Dwelis and I met him while tabling at a convention in Fort Collins. We just hit it off, stalked each other a bit on twitch streams, and now he’s one of my best friends. He’s so talented in his writing and art and I was watching one of his art streams where he did some fantastic lighting on a piece for one of his books, One Pale Reflection, and knew I had to have him do the art. He not only did the cover but all the interior art because each chapter starts with a faux journal entry about one of the creatures so he did all these amazing creature sketches. We often trade skills for each other because I can’t draw to save my life but I’m a great editor so I tend to help with edits on his work and in return I get great art for my works. It’s one of my favorite things about the indie community is building friendships where we can support each other, rather than treat other indie authors as competition. You’ll often hear me hyping up his stuff because I truly believe him to be so talented and I’m so blessed for his friendship.
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 working on quite a few projects right now, not only the sequel to HSFCAC lovingly currently acronymed as HSOBO. I also have an anthology of short stories hopefully coming out at the end of the year. I did a project in 2022 writing in a different genre short story every month and have been publishing them individual and then the final bind up with everyone should be out in December. I also have what I call my “cozy ogre romance” I’m working on and expansions of some of the short stories I did starting with a middle grade series called Sweet Pea & Sniffley about a girl in a fictional western style world but with lots and lots of dragons. And I have a superhero book as well exploring a superhero who has lost their powers and is dealing with that aftermath. So just a little bit…definitely not overwhelming at all…
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?
Thank you so much for inviting me to this. I’m so honored to just be in SPFBO and have this opportunity. The indie community is so great I’d like to take time to shout out some other authors that have written some of my all-time favorite novels who weren’t in SPFBO this year but you should definitely check out their work: Tycho Dwelis, Kendra Merritt, Lena M. Johnson, M.M. Ward, E.J. Dawson, Caroline Logan, and O.E. Tearmann. Thank you again! If you’d like to check out my other works or find me on the internet elsewhere, you can check out my ko-fi page ko-fi.com/stephaniegillis or find me on youtube as Qwordy and on twitch/instagram I’m QwordyQ.

It’s time to start wrapping up the year, and since I can’t resist a good Top X list, here’s mine! Books, comics, TV series-you name it, I’ve got some gems to share.

This year, I read a ton and stumbled upon some absolute winners that I’m excited to shout about. 

I hope some of these picks grab your attention, especially since I’m convinced a few of them are tragically underread and deserve way more love.

BOOKS

NAVOLA by Paolo Bacigalupi - Political intrigue? Check. Deeply personal stakes? Double check. Scheming Machiavellian side characters? Oh, yes. Navola delivers all this and more! Bacigalupi shifts from heartfelt moments to bursts of calculated violence and an overwhelming sense of bleakness with ease and perfect timing, and I savored every second. While some call it a standalone with an open ending, I’m choosing to believe it’s just the start of an epic series. Fingers crossed! 

Edit: I read an interview with Bacigalupi (Locus Mag, Dec 2024) and it seems it's a series.

LEVIATHAN by Robert McCammon - Matthew Corbett series ends with Leviathan. It's also my favorite series of the decade. The ending is fitting, thrilling, and satisfying. Read it if you like historical thrillers, high personal stakes, and, just perhaps, a supernatural evil lurking in the shadows.

THE TAINTED CUP by Robert Jackson Bennett - Bennett is a genre-blending wizard, and The Tainted Cup is no exception. Fantasy, murder mystery, coming-of-age, and a sprinkle of body horror (trees literally growing out of people)—what’s not to love? And shoutout to Anna Dolabra, the eccentric genius who prefers to stay blindfolded at all times (for reasons) and won’t leave her room unless absolutely necessary. She stole every scene.

THE STORM BENEATH THE WORLD by Michael R. Fletcher - Dark fantasy fans, rejoice! Fletcher strikes again with this wildly imaginative and deeply entertaining tale. Featuring insectile ashkaro getting high on their lethal powers, it’s not as grimdark as the cover might suggest—there are surprisingly heartfelt moments. But don’t worry, it’s still bloody, brutal, and unapologetically Fletch. A must-read for fans of the genre.

THE ADVENTURES OF AMINA AL-SIRAFI by Shannon Chakraborty - Amina al-Sirafi is a 40-something mom with a bad knee and a past as a legendary pirate queen. Balancing parenting with piracy? Not easy, which is why she’s tried to retire into a quiet life. Naturally, chaos ensues, and Amina is dragged back into action. This book is colorful, adventurous, and so much fun—plus, the audiobook is a treat!

DIAVOLA by Jennifer Marie Thorne A haunted house story with a twist. Diavola takes the genre’s best elements and gives them a snarky, personality-packed makeover. Anna, the narrator, is sharp-tongued and divisive—if her tone clicks with you, buckle up for a ride that’s equal parts tense and hilarious.

A SICK GRAY LAUGH by Nicole Cushing Dense, philosophical, and unapologetically weird, this book dives deep into the troubled mind of its protagonist while layering in existentially dark humor. It’s challenging but rewarding, with moments of pure brilliance. If you’re into meta storytelling and books that make you think (and squirm), give it a go.

FEVER HOUSE by Keith Rosson Pure kinetic horror with cinematic pacing, top-tier writing, and characters you’ll root for (or against). It’s brutal, wild, and an absolute blast. Easily one of my favorite reads this year!


THE PRESTIGE by Christopher Priest The Prestige is excellent. It tells an unputdownable story of obsession, deception, and blurred boundaries between reality and illusion.

THE BOOK THAT BROKE THE WORLD by Mark Lawrence - It’s darker than the first book in the series, shockingly so in places. Livira and Malar aren’t happy with their new circumstances. Rather unpleasant insectoids and a mechanical monster try to kill Evar and his siblings. New POV characters can’t can't complain about boredom either.

COMIC BOOKS / GRAPHIC NOVELS

LUCIFER by Mike Carey Dark, brilliant, and beautifully written, with stunning art to match. Carey’s Lucifer is a masterpiece of character-driven storytelling.

THE WALKING DEAD by Robert Kirkman Nobody—and I mean nobody—is safe in The Walking Dead. I devoured 15 years of Kirkman’s work in under two weeks and loved every second. Emotional trauma, zombies, and morally gray leaders? Sign me up.

MEDEA by Blandine Le Callet
Medea: villain, victim, or misunderstood antihero? In this stunning graphic novel, Blandine Le Callet and Nancy Peña give Medea the floor to tell her story, and it’s riveting.

FINAL CUT by Charles Burns - 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.

THE NICE HOUSE ON THE LAKE by James Tynion IV
A mind-bending concept, great writing, and atmospheric art make this series a standout. Sure, the characters could’ve been fleshed out more, but I had a blast and am eagerly awaiting the teased second cycle.

TV SERIESMR. ROBOT
What more can I say? It’s a masterpiece. Exceptional acting, clever writing, twists on twists on twists—if you haven’t seen it yet, fix that.

FALLOUT
It’s all fun and games on the surface, but dig deeper, and it’s genuinely chilling. That said, I had an absolute blast with this series. Ella Purnell and Walton Goggins are fantastic!

SHOGUN
Visually stunning and deeply immersive. I haven’t read the book it’s based on (yet), but the series is excellent on its own.

BLUE EYE SAMURAI
Magnificent. I binged this in two days, and it was worth every second.

ARCANE
I know, I know—I’m late to the party. But hey, better late than never, right? And wow, was it worth the hype. Spectacular storytelling and visuals!

There you have it! What are your favorites from the year?

 

Buy The Relentless Legion

OFFICIAL AUTHOR BIO: After graduating with a degree in film production, J. S. DEWES went on to serve as cinematographer for independent films, write, produce, and shoot a zombie musical, slay internet dragons, and act as lighting designer for presidents and presidential-hopefuls so many times it became mundane. To add to her list of random career paths, she unlocked the Dream Job achievement and now writes for triple-A science fiction video games.

She is the author of the Divide series (The Last Watch, The Exiled Fleet) and Rubicon

Jenny spends her free time drawing, gaming, scrolling ArtStation, cuddling her two sweet dogs and mercurial cat, and occasionally sleeping.

FORMAT/INFO: The Relentless Legion was published on November 12th, 2024, by Tor Books. It is 512 pages long. It is available in paperback, ebook, and audiobook formats.

OVERVIEW/ANALYSIS:  After a harrowing journey to recover the fuel and supplies needed to bring the fleet safely home from the Divide, the Sentinels have at last returned to the center of civilized space. They've spent months in hiding, preparing to go to war with Cavalon's grandfather, Augustus Mercer. Obsessed with eradicating a specific incurable genetic defect from humanity, Augustus has been playing a long game, using legislation to slowly ostracize any affected humans from society. But the long game is coming to an end, as Augustus is preparing to unleash a horrific weapon on the galaxy. It will take every ally that Rake and Cavalon can rally if they're going to have a prayer of stopping the plot in time.

The Relentless Legion is another fantastic adventure in The Divide series that continues to raise the stakes for the fate of the universe. This one is a little slower-paced than the previous novels in the series, preferring to take some time to focus on how the characters are coping with the strain of the last several months (spoiler, some of them are not). I will say that I did find Cavalon a bit exasperating this novel, but the author seems fully aware of it, given that characters called him out for exactly the things that were frustrating me. The characters get a chance to regroup and reflect before everything goes sideways.

And it WILL go sideways. If you've enjoyed the author's action-packed books in the past, there is plenty of conflict to be found here. The midpoint was particularly nail-biting, an absolute gut-punch in more ways than one. You can also expect some surprising developments as Rake and Cavalon continue to deepen their understanding of the Divide and the devices that keep the collapse of the universe at bay.

The one negative I had with this book is it felt like there were too many things going on. The Divide books have always juggled multiple threats, from the collapsing edge of the universe, the reappearance of alien enemies, and the conspiracy led by Augustus Mercer. Past books have managed to keep everything balanced and give every storyline its due. This third book, however, introduced a new problem originating from the alien ruins our group has chosen as their hideout, and that new problem proved to be just one too many things for me.

CONCLUSION: The Relentless Legion is a fitting conclusion to a sci-fi adventure I've really enjoyed. But it isn't a complete conclusion. While one of the major storylines is wrapped up by the end of the book, the door is left wide open on another one, with plenty of runway for more adventures. No fourth book has been announced as of writing this review, but I would not be shocked (and very pleased) to hear of one eventually, especially as official marketing for The Relentless Legion refers to The Divide as a series, not a trilogy. With that in mind, be prepared to have some loose threads dangling when the dust settles. I, for one, will be happy to come back if another book is in our future, but if not, The Relentless Legion is a satisfying send off for a new favorite series.

Book links: Amazon, Goodreads

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Adrian Tchaikovsky was born in Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire before heading off to Reading to study psychology and zoology. For reasons unclear even to himself he subsequently ended up in law and has worked as a legal executive in both Reading and Leeds, where he now lives. Married, he is a keen live role-player and occasional amateur actor, has trained in stage-fighting, and keeps no exotic or dangerous pets of any kind, possibly excepting his son. Catch up with Adrian at www.shadowsoftheapt.com for further information about both himself and the insect-kinden, together with bonus material including short stories and artwork. Author Website: http://shadowsoftheapt.com/

Publisher: Rebellion Publishing Ltd. (July 30, 2024) Length: 137 pages Formats: audiobook, ebook, hardback, paperback 

Adrian Tchaikovsky functions at a level of productivity most of us can only envy. A good thing for us, readers. I always thought he excelled at a novella format and Saturation Point proves my point. Fans of a climate apocalypse and existential dread - here’s your next fix.

In a near-future Earth humans are the architects and victims of environmental collapse. Dr. Jasmine Marks guides readers into the Zone, a no-go territory where nature thrives, but humans can’t exist without their hazmat suits.

Told through her fragmented audio recordings, the story starts with a routine expedition but quickly spirals into a Lovecraftian nightmare. Marks’ former mentor, Dr. Elaine Fell, may have engineered a new, hyper-adaptive branch of humanity that thrives in the Zone. The Zone itself is spreading and no one knows if it will stop. Then we have Glasshower, the corporate bad guy who leads a team of red-shirts disguised as experts to investigate (and neutralize) this ecological insurgency.

Saturation Point is a pulse-pounding survival thriller where death lurks behind every fern. In the Zone is humanity’s hubris meets its deadly match. But it’s also a story that looks at what happens when evolution leaves us behind. The bio-engineered “natives” of the Zone are creepy, yes, but they also force us to confront the uncomfortable question: what if nature really is better off without us?

Dr. Marks is an excellent protagonist. Her internal conflict and ethical dilemmas drive the story forward. She starts out relatable, becomes increasingly unlikable, and somehow remains fascinating throughout-a refreshing inversion of typical character arcs. Glasshower, meanwhile, is a coldly logical villain with just enough nuance to make you wonder if he might have a point.

Sure, Saturation Point leans a little hard on familiar tropes (corporations bad, humanity doomed), but it also twists them just enough to keep things fresh. And while some readers might squirm at the colonial undertones of the Zone’s “natives,” the novella ultimately earns its place as a sharp, thought-provoking piece of speculative fiction.

Verdict? Tchaikovsky delivers a fast, furious, and deeply unsettling eco-thriller that’s worth checking out. It’s short on pages but big on ideas.