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

 

Paladin's Hope (The Saint of Steel #3)by T. Kingfisher
What is it about:Piper is a lich-doctor, a physician who works among the dead, determining causes of death for the city guard's investigations. It's a peaceful, if solitary profession…until the day when he's called to the river to examine the latest in a series of mysterious bodies, mangled by some unknown force.
Galen is a paladin of a dead god, lost to holiness and no longer entirely sane. He has long since given up on any hope of love. But when the two men and a brave gnole constable are drawn into the web of the mysterious killer, it's Galen's job to protect Piper from the traps that await them.
He's just not sure if he can protect Piper from the most dangerous threat of all…
What did I think of it:This is my favorite in this series so far!
I fell in love with Piper in Paladin's Grace, so seeing him getting his own book in this series made me so happy. Galen is a worthy love interest, and I loved seeing the two pine for each other. They're the sweetest couple yet, imoI also loved learning more about gnole society, loved the gnole constable who asks Galen and Piper to join him on an investigation, loved seeing Brindle again... well, love for all things gnolish all around!The overall story was suspenseful and fun. I had a great time with the weird situations they get into. 
All in all a delightful read.I'll get to the last book soon, I hope.
Why should you read it:It's a very enjoyable Fantasy Romance

Reading Level: Adult
Genre: Paranormal Mystery
Length: 286 pages
Publisher: Sittin’ On A Goldmine Productions LLC
Release Date: November 19, 2019
ASIN: B07YR6RSSH
Stand Alone or Series: 2nd book in the Mitzy Moon Mysteries series
Source: eGalley from Netgalley
Rating: 3/5 stars

“A beachside stroll. A deadly discovery. Will this psychic sleuth swim or sink?

Mitzy wishes she could turn a blind third eye to her hit-or-miss powers. Instead, while taking her fiendish feline for a walk, they make a stomach-churning find on shore. Despite her loss of appetite, she can’t help but get a closer look at the unique ink etched into the corpse.

Before she can track down the killer, Mitzy must sweet-talk her way off the sexy sheriff’s suspect list. And once again her meddling Ghost-ma is dying to interfere with the case. But when the trail leads to dangerous smugglers who shoot first and don’t ask questions, she could end up in over her head.

Can Mitzy uncover the truth, or will hers be the next body to float to the surface?”

Series Info/Source: This is the second book in the Mitzy Moon Mysteries series. I got this on Audiobook from Audible.com.

Thoughts: This is the second book in the Mitzy Moon Mysteries. I got this as a three book bundle on audiobook. Both this book and the first book were okay. They have some fun paranormal elements to them and a who-dun-it style murder mystery. They are fairly short and simple and predictable. The author keeps saying in the afterward that readers say things get a lot better and more engaging from book 3 on. Since I have the third book I will go ahead and listen to it.

Mitzy had a rough start with the police force in Pin Cherry Harbor so imagine her mortification when she and her feline find a dead body washed up on the beach. She just can’t get a break. The dead body is someone well known to the town. Of course it’s a drowning…or is it? Mitzy just can’t stay out of the mystery and uses her amateur sleuthing skills to get herself deep into trouble.

This was okay. The mystery is a bit predictable. I do enjoy the subtle paranormal aspects to the story…Mitzy can speak to ghosts and is showing some budding paranormal abilities. I am still struggling to like or relate to Mitzy as a character. She just seems really immature to me, and the constant lusting after the sheriff got old fast. I would like to say she showed a lot of character growth and started to take her life and responsibilities a bit more seriously, but she really didn’t in this book. I like a lot of the side characters better than Mitzy, but none of them have a lot of depth to their personalities.

This was a cute and quick read that was easy to listen to. I have no complaints about the narration of the audiobook. I specifically picked this paranormal mystery book pack because the books are shorter and they have solid reviews.

My Summary (3/5): Overall this was okay. It’s a cute and quick paranormal mystery read. I just also found this very forgettable. Mitzy is a pretty generic free spirited 20 something, the mystery was pretty ho-hum, and Pin Cherry Harbor could be any small town. Part of the issue is that I don’t really like Mitzy as our main protagonist; she seems really immature for her age. However, I did enjoy some of the side characters more. I do have the third book already, so I will give it a listen and see if it draws me in more than the first two books did.

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

The Murder at World’s End by Ross Montgomery

Mogsy’s Rating: 5 of 5 stars

Genre: Mystery, Historical Fiction

Series: Book 1 of Stockingham & Pike

Publisher: William Morrow (January 6, 2026)

Length: 336 pages

Author Information: Website

And just like that, I already have my first contender for best read of 2026 and it’s a straight-up old-fashioned whodunit. There’s just something deeply satisfying about a mystery that knows exactly what it wants to do, and Murder at World’s End absolutely nails it, delivering a treasure that feels like a love letter to the Golden Age of detective fiction.

The novel is set in Cornwall in 1910, the same year Halley’s Comet sparked widespread panic as a sensationalist media warned that all life would perish as Earth passed through the comet’s poisonous tail. Ensconced in his remote island estate ominously named World’s End, the Viscount of Tithe Hall has a plan for himself and his family to survive the apocalypse. Every window, door, and chimney will be sealed down to the tiniest keyhole, supposedly to protect the manor’s guests and servants from all kinds of dangerous gases or noxious space dust falling from the heavens.

On the eve of Halley’s expected appearance, an earnest young man named Steven Pike arrives at Tithe Hall and steps into a world of utter chaos. Recently released from prison for a crime he didn’t commit, he has come desperately in search of work, knowing how slim his chances are due to his questionable past. With the pre-comet preparations in full swing, however, the place is short-staffed and Steven is hired on the spot. He is then given the curious task of chaperoning Miss Decima Stockingham, the Viscount’s curmudgeonly and foul-mouthed octogenarian aunt who has already driven away all her lady’s maids. Warned that the old lady might not be entirely in possession of her marbles, Steven is surprised to find Miss Decima is in fact far less unhinged than her reputation suggests, with a mind as sharp as her interest in science, though her spectacular temper and lack of tact are unfortunately very real.

Obviously, the world has not ended by the time morning arrives, and the houseguests all emerge from their sealed rooms in a state of collective bemusement and relief—all except one. Sometime in the night, the Viscount was murdered, and his body is discovered alone in a room that had been sealed from the inside. On the surface, the crime appears impossible, though with the island cut off by the high tide, the only certainty is that the killer is someone already at World’s End. As the newest arrival and a former convict, suspicion immediately lands on Steven, but with the help of Miss Decima, the two set out to clear his name by solving the case.

Eccentric suspects, multiple nefarious motives, a literal locked room—The Murder at World’s End has it all. From the very first page, it had me completely hooked, and by its end, I was already giddy with excitement to find this is only the first of hopefully many more Stockingham & Pike books to come. What I loved about the story is how unapologetically classic it feels. This is a proper mystery where the clues matter, the motivations make sense, and the reader is invited to play along rather than be distracted by spectacle. Of course, there are red herrings aplenty, but in my opinion, they are fair ones where the plot never resorts to outrageous twists or last-minute revelations to force a surprise. Instead, the novel features sensible detective work that unfolds with patience and care, rewarding close attention and logical thinking, which made the ending all the more satisfying.

Also, I truly enjoyed the unlikely detective duo of Miss Decima and Steven. The latter’s gradual development is wonderfully handled, portraying his transformation from a skittish young man into a confident go-getter who learns to trust his instincts. And how I loved Miss Decima! Witty, brilliant, and having absolutely no patience for bullshit, she steals every scene she’s in and completely owns it, and yet, while she can certainly be a lot, it never feels too forced or over-the-top like it’s tipping into caricature. What really makes it work, though, is the dynamic between the two characters. Their partnership forms naturally, initially built on shared curiosity and then later mutual respect, eventually evolving into a friendship that was easily the highlight of the entire book.

Historical fiction fans will further appreciate the setting. The looming presence of Halley’s Comet and the hysteria surrounding it serve as such a cool backdrop for the story, giving it an eerie and almost mystical atmosphere. Tithe Hall itself stands as an intimidating presence, and the author uses the environment—the surrounding sea, the dark woods nearby, and even an honest-to-goodness hedge maze—to incredible effect.

In the end, The Murder at World’s End is exactly the kind of mystery I’ve been craving. I could hardly put it down, and every time I was forced to, I found myself jonesing for the next time I could pick it up again. Clever without being convoluted, charming without being pretentious, and most importantly rooted firmly in the traditions of classic detective fiction, this novel is a perfect reminder of why the genre is so beloved and enduring. I would happily follow Steven Pike and Miss Decima Stockingham into as many investigations as Ross Montgomery is willing to write.

I’m delighted to have a guest post by Katie Hallahan to share with you today! She is the author of McKenna Ellerbeck, a contemporary fantasy series starting with The Twice-Sold Soul, which is described as a “queer fantasy romance set in a magical high school reunion” for “fans of Buffy and Charmed.” The second and newest book in her series, The Twice-Wanted Witch, is out in trade paperback and ebook today—and you can read more about some of her favorite […]

The post Guest Post by Fantasy Author Katie Hallahan first appeared on Fantasy Cafe.

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Chapter 4

 

TauR14G6-15 Blue Waters and Gentle Mist

 

Captain Hierl nodded and signed off on the latest report. So far so good, though they had problems.

Wasn’t it always the case she thought and then grimaced.

She had a single platoon of troops on each planet. They’d set up a very wide perimeter and were slowly beginning to tighten it. The navy was beginning to make headway with identifying where Sedu and Shrapnel had gone to ground.

Ninth Fleet was supposedly going to leave in the next six weeks. When it happened, she was going to be on her own for a while. They were going to leave half of the Marines with her and two squadrons of cruisers. They were going to head out to catch up with Ninth Fleet as fresh ships came in to replace them over time.

She had half of the Marines from Ninth Fleet but too many duties for all of them. Six hundred Marines didn’t amount to a lot. Sure, she had half of the drop shuttles from Ninth Fleet but that again was an issue.

She had two squads of powered armor. Again, split between the two planets. They were in reserve at the moment. She had a single squad of Recon troops on the planet. She had hopes that they could identify the HQ of General Sedu and Colonel Shrapnel so they could knock them out. So far the answer was a wait and see.

The problem was that the rest of her troops were infantry and most were green. They were outfitted for security and for boarding actions, not for planetary invasion. The navy had given her some support, but she needed a lot more than what Ninth Fleet had provided before their departure.

Recently they had started to deploy drones to scout and monitor the perimeter. That took a squad of troops to monitor the feeds of twenty-four drones. They were broken into three personnel per shift and two shifts per planet.

She was going to have to cut another squad loose to support them soon. When she did that, they could theoretically each watch over eight drone feeds. That would allow her to double up on her drones.

The industry thing was an issue though. The brass had promised her all the industrial support that she wanted. For the moment, she had raw material and not much else.

The Feds had dispatched an engineering team from the cruisers to look into the Tauren side of that equation.

While she did that, a couple of naval spooks and the one Marine ensign who had minored in intelligence gathering were trying to process the mountains of data from the commercial satellites, communication logs, and so on. The ship AI were lending their support but it was a lot of data to process. Lieutenant Adel was the lead AI.

Supposedly, the Tauren Admiral Ree was inbound. When he arrived, she would theoretically hand over some of the duties to him and his troops and then could focus more on the ground problem.

It couldn’t come soon enough.

<<(O)>>

Ensign Tish was assigned to work with the Tauren industry on the stations and in the star system to build what the jarheads needed for the eventual invasion.

Up until they’d been given the go-ahead, the naval engineers had been working strictly in house from the replicators in Ninth Fleet. Now that Ninth Fleet was gone, they had only the two squadrons of cruisers to draw on initially.

Captain Hierl and the joint army-navy-marine task force that was in the process of building up wanted more than what the ship’s replicators could handle.

This was therefore the only fix short of getting someone to ship in what they needed, which wasn’t possible in the time frame that they had.

She made the rounds, met some people, and inspected their hardware. She was not impressed. Their nanites were poorly designed, and there were few in the replicators. Their computer support was pathetic. Their CAD and tooling paths were horrible. In short, they needed a lot of work.

She got them on producing generic material for the moment while she shot an urgent request outlining the problem and her possible solution to the brass.

She wasn’t surprised when the chief shot her an email back that it’d have to go further up the chain and to wait.

What she was proposing probably broke a lot of rules and would make some people gnash their teeth, wring their hands, and probably pretend they had them around her neck at the time. Well, so be it. If they wanted her to get the job done, than they needed to damn well give her the tools to get it done.

They could use the shells and support tech but the Tauren industrial replicators needed a turnkey upgrade to get them up to Federation military standards. It would be hard to do and once done they couldn’t easily undo it without a full flush and reboot.

While the powers that be debated what they wanted, she drew up a list of what needed to be done. When she did get the authorization, she wanted to hit the ground running.

<<(O)>>

The Federation ships took note of the arrival of the Tauren warships from the south. They and their crews were a welcome sight and were greeted.

Admiral Ree was pleased by the greeting and a bit amused by it. He immediately announced that he was there to take custody of the star system. Captain Z’n’ll didn’t even quibble; he immediately began the transfer of authority, much to the admiral’s relief.

He found out as he entered the star system and his people communicated with the newly-operational ansible station that the brass had been coordinating the handover through the ansible. That amused him.

Admiral Lobo, his officers, and senior enlisted were to remain in joint custody. They were still working out how to handle that trial.

His people would have to take over many of the duties in the star system while working with the Feds. They also had to interview all of the former rebels. He wasn’t looking forward to that task but it had to be done. They needed people that they could trust to get things back to normal.

<<(O)>>

Admiral Hunter smiled as he shook hands with Admiral Ree. The Tauren was a bit reserved but that was fine.

"Thank you for coming," Admiral Hunter stated.

"Thank you for taking back our star system," the Tauren replied, putting slight emphasis on the posessive pronoun.

"As soon as you can get your people on board, the better we'll feel, Admiral," Rick said with a nod.

Admiral Ree nodded back. "Let's look into that, shall we?"

"Yes, lets," Admiral Hunter stated.

<<(O)>>

Luna talked to her brother at the usual time. She had five minutes instead of two; she appreciated that.

He told her a tissue of lies about the farm and harvest season wrapping up.

She mentioned the arrival of Admiral Ree. “I don’t know if you saw it on the news, but he’s here and taking over.”

“Ah. I had heard something. I think it was on last night's news or on the net. Huh. Ree, huh?”

“Yeah, the Feds are handing over everything to him.”

“And here people thought that they were here to stay,” he scoffed.

“No way,” she shook her head and then realized he couldn’t see her. “They have a deal with the Confederation. They just want their people.”

“Ah.” He paused for a few seconds. “Huh. Well, they sure don’t act like it.”

“Really?” she asked in disbelief. They are handing everything back over to the Confederation. Their fleet has left.”

“Yeah, but didn’t they leave a bunch of ships in orbit? And take over the stations?”

“And the yard and the ships, yeah. And they stuffed everyone in transit stations until the Confederation got here. Now they are handing everything off to Admiral’s Ree’s herd.”

“Huh.”

“Bro, you haven’t heard about any illegal acts, right?” she reminded him.

“Well, we’re in the back of beyond. We’d probably be the last to know.”

“Oh. True.”

“And they control the media.”

“No, actually they’ve been hands-off there. They just don’t tell them everything that is going on.”

“Huh.” He didn’t quite sound like he believed her.

“Believe it, bro. They have gone out of their way to not antagonize anyone. I’ve met a few of the aliens; I never thought they’d be just normal people.”

“Huh.”

“I mean, not all uppity and judgy.”

“Huh.”

“You say that a lot. That is your default. Oh wait, no, the default is duhh …,” she mocked.

“Funny, sis. You are so lucky you aren’t in arm’s reach at the moment,” he mock growled.

She couldn’t help herself, she giggled. It came out naturally.

He snorted.

“So, when do we expect the carpet baggers to arrive?” he asked.

“Carpet what’s?” she asked in confusion as her brows knit.

“A term I heard in the pub.”

“What does it even mean?”

“I’m not sure. Something about Feds moving in to take over our businesses and then government.”

“Bro, I just told you that they aren’t doing that,” she said patiently. “They’ve got some navy people here on the station and a bunch of those Marine types. I think there are like, six or seven hundred all told of the ones in camo, but don’t quote me on that. Hardly what you’d send as an invasion force, right?”

“True,” he said thoughtfully.

She felt a thrill of fear but took the plunge. “At the moment, there is I think a hundred or so on each planet. I could be wrong.”

“We haven’t seen any,” he said doubtfully.

“Well, it is a big planet,” she responded with a characteristic exasperated response. She felt a little nettled over that reply. He was drawing attention to something she had rehearsed to give to him casually.

“True.”

“And you are on the farm, bro,” she teased she said as she felt more natural about the responses she was giving.

“Also true.”

“So, what are they doing?”

“Waiting for more of the Confederation to show up at a guess. I haven’t heard anything.”

“Well, mom always said you went up there to make friends. Maybe you should.”

“I’m still getting used to seeing aliens every day,” she temporized. “I’m not all chummy and all that. I’m supposed to work with a few starting next week.”

“Well, make friends. You’ve got some right? Girlfriends I mean. Boy friends are not allowed. sis,” he growled.

She chuckled and smiled. “Wouldn’t you like to know,” she teased.

“Me, mom, dad, and the whole herd,” he growled.

“Well, it’s for me to know and you not to find out,” she said wickedly.

“You’ve got to come down for a holiday sometime, sis. Mom will guilt trip you into it, wait and see. And when you do …," his voice turned mock menacing, "I’ll get it out of you.”

She grinned. “As if. I’m faster and smarter than you. You are just a big farm clod. Big and yeah, strong, but I can run circles around you.”

“You’d be surprised,” he growled back.

“Funny.” she saw the countdown switch to red. “My timer is about up. Stay safe. Don’t drink and drive,” she scolded.

“Yes, mom,” he mocked.

She made a kissing sound and then cut the circuit.

After the conversation, she sat back thoughtfully. Friends? Okay, she could look into that …

<<(O)>>

 

Feeling returns to my fingers and toes in tiny shocks, cascading like cold water up my limbs. Strange smoke muffles my ears. Something rumbles beneath me, steady and rhythmic.

(14% into digital ARC, Masquerade of Mirrors by Samantha Hartwood)(releases February 17th, 2026)
---------
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, previously hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following: - Grab your current read - Open to a random page - Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) - Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their  TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

In reply to Bill.

Like Fated should of been offered for that price

Its a pity I can not purchase it over here on the otherside of the planet its such a cracker of a deal

I managed to finished IoM #3 Can not wait for book 4 to come out
Keep up the great work

 

Book links: Amazon, Goodreads

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Philip Fracassi is the Bram Stoker and British Fantasy Award-nominated author of the novels Don’t Let Them Get You Down, A Child Alone with Strangers, Gothic, and Boys in the Valley. His upcoming books include the novels The Third Rule of Time Travel, The Autumn Springs Retirement Home Massacre, and Sarafina.

Publisher: Tor Nightfire (September 30, 2025) Page count: 416 Formats: audiobook, ebook, paperback 

I loved this book. 

The Autumn Springs Retirement Home Massacre is, basically, a slasher horror set in a retirement home. 

Rose DuBois is a fantastic protagonist. She’s in her late seventies, but still sharp, and tired of nonsense. She's also a little lonely, and carrying a lifetime of quiet damage she doesn’t talk about much. When residents at Autumn Springs start dying, she first mourns her friends. That's the thing with a retirement home - people die there all the time. But with deaths piling up, Rose decides to investigate.

The book is quick to read thanks to shot chapters and brisk pacing. I also enjoyed the setting. Life in Autumn Springs revolves around schedules, medications, compromises, and small social ecosystems. People know each other’s habits. They notice when someone doesn’t show up. They also know how easy it is for a death to slide by unquestioned. That tension between community closeness and institutional indifference plays an important role.

Since it's a slasher, you know there'll be violence. It's not extreme or gratuitous, but characters you'll root for will die. The violence isn’t goofy or exaggerated. It’s ugly, abrupt, and often sad. The story switches between cozy-ish mystery and slasher brutality. The investigation side, mostly driven by Rose and her friend Miller, is fun and their relationship adds warmth without tipping into sentimentality. Then the killings arrive and snap that comfort in half. The violence isn’t goofy or exaggerated. It’s ugly, abrupt, and often sad. I'll emphasize that Fracassi respects his characters too much to treat them as fodder. Most deaths sting, true, but they're well written.

The mystery holds together. You’re given enough to speculate without being led by the nose, and suspicion moves as new information comes out. The eventual reveal makes sense. There’s a light supernatural touch to it that some readers may wish were either pushed further or cut entirely. 

You’ll like this if you prefer horror character-driven and if you enjoy mysteries where character matters more than clever twists, and if the idea of a slower, observant final girl appeals to you. 

Happy Monday! Today we are bringing you the sign up form for a Zoom Chat with us and Jessie Mihalik.

Jessie’s new book, SILVER & BLOOD, is coming out on January 27, 2026. I really loved it, and now we get to talk to her about worldbuilding and the price magic exacts for its miraculous power.

The Zoom chat is scheduled for 4:00 pm, on Saturday 24th. We will record and upload the recording to YouTube and to the blog. Registrations is capped at 500 so spots will go fast.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP

Please comment with your questions for this panel or send them to Mod R through email.

About SILVER AND BLOOD

On a deadly mission to kill the mythical beast that has been haunting her woods, a desperate mage finds her fate intertwined with the handsome, powerful man who saves her in this dark and sexy romantasy—perfect for readers of Jennifer L. Armentrout, Callie Hart, and Holly Black.

There’s something in the woods…

When a vicious beast begins attacking her fellow villagers, Riela reluctantly agrees to enter the forbidden forest and kill the monster as she’s the only mage available—or so she thought.

Untrained and barely armed, Riela is quickly overwhelmed when one beast turns into two. She fears her death is at hand until the unexpected arrival of a scarred, strikingly handsome man with gleaming moonlit magic changes her fate—and provides a rare opportunity to learn more about her own fickle power.

After being rescued and healed from the beast’s poison, Riela awakens in a magical castle complete with a gorgeous library, a strange wolf, and the surly man who saved her life. She soon learns Garrick is both more powerful and far deadlier than a mere mortal mage—but thanks to a century-long curse, his powers are weakening.

Trapped in his castle and surrounded by the treacherous woods, the spark of attraction between Riela and Garrick slowly ignites into fiery desire. But the more they discover about Riela’s magic, the more suspicious Garrick grows of her identity. As they unravel the secrets and lies connecting Riela’s past to Garrick’s, the tenuous threads of trust between them start to fray.

Because Riela’s life—or her death—might be the key to regaining everything Garrick has lost.

Also, while you wait, Jessie has a free story available on her site. It’s unrelated but no less fun.

The post The Price of Magic Zoom with Jessie Mihalik first appeared on ILONA ANDREWS.

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Chapter 3

 

Cryptorium, Upsilon Sector

 

The Technomancers were pleased as they loaded copies of themselves into the support ship. The ship had been thoroughly tested and was ready for her mission.

They were displeased with the mission, as they had been supplying the Xenos with freshly cloned organics the Xenos had claimed most of the territory in the region. They were isolated. They would have to travel outside the Xeno claimed area to set up a new base.

As soon as the ship was away the makers began to make a second ship.

<<(O)>>

Barataria Bay, Upsilon Sector

 

Hazel VI was surprised by the new IFF on the telemetry feed for the sector. The Necrons had deployed a new ship to the sector; no, it had been built by the Crypt? She frowned and then nodded slowly. That explained why they had been preoccupied. It amused her; they were going to have to travel far to get beyond her border. By the time they got there, they might find that Chester had taken the area and they’d have to go even further afield.

They also would lack an ansible to communicate and coordinate their ships. Additional ships were in the bridge she noted, so they were taking a higher interest in the sector. Very well.

<<(O)>>

Admiral Chester IV noted the new ship as well. He was annoyed but then amused. The ship was headed south but had a ways to go to get to space he had yet to conquer.

There were three main prizes left in the sector, all pirate bases. He had forces dispatched to two of them. He’d had to divert some cruisers to block the path to Tau; there was a report that several pirate ships had managed to escape in that direction.

That was vexing to him. The odds were low that they survived the trip, but he didn’t like it. He didn’t like anything that might get him in trouble with the queen.

<<(O)>>

In Hyperspace

 

Admiral Chester grimaced as he noted that there was another time discrepency. His ships had something going on that the techs didn't understand. He didn't understand it. What he did understand was that the Necron ships had been lost briefly and were now taking far longer than they should to get to their target destination.

But, they were finally on course. That was the important thing.

<<(O)>>

TauG13-95, Tau Sector

 

Senior Captain Cynthia Troll  nodded as she read the latest report from the prize ship. So far so good, the prize crew were settling in and making inroads to repairs and upgrades. By rights she should be grateful for another hull … except this one was so dang old.

Old, battered, and decrepit with a bad history. Worse, it pulled crew away from the ships in her tiny task force. Each of the five ships had donated a draft of personnel. They were also working on an AI to help support the ship and crew.

The good news was that her Prometheus was a tender. Her engineering department was oversized and designed for making repairs to another ship … or building infrastructure. They were going to spend the next few weeks getting the ship sorted out and then on her way. She would be trailing behind them for some time until she caught up.

The realization that the Xeno threat in Upsilon was real had crystalized her decision process on their ultimate destination. They didn't need or want to be on the direct path of a potential invasion force from the neighboring sector. That left TauG5-98 Firework Blossom. The state people in that yacht were going to have to talk fast and work their magic to seal the deal.

That left the thorny problem of getting news of their catch and the danger that they were facing to the Federation.

She had a support force coming up behind her. There was also an ansible transport and her escort. She had endured a debate between the captains on who should return to the Federation. She had ended it by stating flatly that they would leave a message for the ansible transport to stop and set up an ansible and report in ASAP.

That still left the little matter of the crew of the suspected pirate ship. Well, they weren't going anywhere and well, her ship was a factory tender … they would stick them on ice once they built some stasis pods … after they were interviewed and processed of course.

<<(O)>>

Lieutenant Iwa casually monitored the interviews with the alleged pirates from Upsilon. What they were saying was deeply troubling. Very troubling indeed.

The four cruisers and single tender were on their way to the north to set up a naval base there with an eye to protecting the sector from possible threats in Upsilon. Along the way, they had recently captured an alleged pirate ship, the Sweet Boni Blackheart, a Cleveland class cruiser. She was a decrepit thing. The crew had been doing a bit of blackmail with the natives and had surrendered readily when the Federation ships had arrived in the star system.

The captain and bridge crew of the heavy cruiser Koa were very concerned about the threat of Xenos to their north that the pirates were reporting. It was confirmation that they dreaded. The tactical teams were eager to sort out the material that they had been given from the ship's databases.

There was enough in the databases to prove piracy … to some degree. The lawyers would have to sort that out later, however.

The AI noted a newcomer headed to the improvised interview room. According to the records, this one was one of several who had reportedly escaped from a pirate prison.

This might be interesting, the AI thought as it noted the physical fitness of the human. He might be trouble, the AI thought as the Marine looked warily at the muscle-bound human.

<<(O)>>

“Sorry about the wait, we had a bit of a line,” a harried lieutenant said as he came into the room. Jack stood at attention as the Neochimp marine undid his cuffs and then stood to one side. The door closed with the second Marine guard on the outside.

The lieutenant was busy looking at a tablet. Jack went to parade rest and waited.

“So, Jack Dufresne is it?” the lieutenant asked, finally looking up. He mangled the last name Jack noted. It was to be expected.

“Dew-frane,” Jack sounded it out.

The lieutenant blinked and then sat back. “Apologies.”

“No harm no foul,” Jack replied.

“So, this is something of an informal interview. You’ll forgive me if I am not interested in eating breakfast. I’m a bit full,” the lieutenant replied.

Jack grunted slightly. He preferred to work out before eating. He hadn’t had any breakfast and was hungry. But, he would go with the flow. The whole breakfast thing was a psychological gambit to put him at ease. That was interesting, but what was more interesting was that the lieutenant was practically admitting it.

The lieutenant studied him. “You are… an odd case, I have to admit.”

“Are you my JAG lawyer?” Jack asked as he kept his eyes 6 centimeters above the lieutenant’s head. He remained standing since he had not been invited to sit.

“No. Do you want one?” the lieutenant asked tiredly. He looked a bit peeved. “A few of your shipmates have asked for one.”

Jack nodded. He had heard that from the reports of some who had returned. They’d clammed up. They’d told the others to do the same so the interviews had apparently run faster.

“That should not be necessary. You read my file?” he glanced at the tablet. He had determined to take the plunge; there was no other path forward. There was also no point in maintaining the status quo. It just… bothered him. He’d lived with Dufresne for so long it was like an old worn jacket.

“Such as it is. Most of which we’ve assembled from the interviews. You are… a security risk I’m afraid. Leading an escape from a prison station?” the lieutenant asked. He glanced at the Marine.

Jack looked a little smug briefly. “Not my first time but yes,” he said indifferently. He was amused at the mind games that the lieutenant was playing.

There was a long silence.

“I see,” the lieutenant said, seemingly amused at the admission. He made a note on the tablet. After a moment he looked up. “You are a good candidate for stasis then. Just how old are you?”

Jack cocked his head. “In or out of stasis?” Jack asked as he finally looked directly at the lieutenant.

The lieutenant blinked and pursed his lips. “I see. So, you are a sleeper?”

“Yes.”

The lieutenant straightened up a bit. His eyes narrowed. After a moment he nodded. “You have identity implants. But they are basic civilian grade.”

Jack cocked his head and quirked an eyebrow upwards. “You just scanned me?”

“You were scanned several times by medical.”

“I see.” Jack didn’t mention that if he had ID implants he had to be a sleeper. Either the lieutenant was playing coy or he had seen so many people he was getting his facts jumbled up.

“Look, I’ve had a long day. I’m a bit tired from these interviews. So, do you have anything to contribute to your story?”

“A lot actually,” Jack replied mildly. He glanced at the Neochimp marine and then back to the human lieutenant.

The lieutenant tensed a little but then relaxed.

“New at this?” Jack asked.

“No, I’ve been around the block,” the lieutenant replied. He seemed a little defensive.

Jack cocked his head. “I see. Maybe I need to talk to a spook,” he said as he cautiously tested the waters. “Someone from ONI.”

The lieutenant blinked and then his eyes narrowed. “Maybe I should have introduced myself. My name is Lieutenant Albert Fogerty the IV. I am the resident intelligence officer. I am from Bek if that means anything to you.”

“A butter bar LT is the spook? What, no one else in this little task force? And you are what, ten years out of the academy?”

“Six,” the lieutenant said clearly nettled.

“A whole six years and you made LT?” Jack snorted. “What, did you graduate as a second lieutenant? I take it you didn’t process my IFF signal I sent the sergeant?”

“I… no…?” the lieutenant glanced at the Neochimp.

Jack decided to just go for it. It was now or never. “Ah. So, is that why I was left for last? I thought you were maintaining my cover,” Jack said as he decided to take the plunge.

“Cover?” the lieutenant asked and then snorted. “Don’t tell me you are one of Monty’s long lost agents,” he said.

“Who’s Monty?” Jack asked in a puzzled tone of voice.

The lieutenant blinked and then shrugged. “Ah… never mind.”

Jack thought about it and then sighed. He held out his hand.

“What? You want to shake?”

“No, I want you to jack in to my implants so I can provide my ID lieutenant,” Jack said evenly. “I can’t transmit the full ID by wifi. They are hidden,” he stated evenly.

The lieutenant blinked again but didn’t take the extended hand.

“Color of the day is Purple. Code phrase one is The Tax Man cometh. Second is Buzz Lightyear and Woody,” Jack said as if reading off a script.

The lieutenant frowned and then shook his head. “Is that supposed to mean anything?” he asked as he glanced at the hand and then Jack.

Who was this guy who didn’t know what the color of the day meant? Jack thought in annoyance. Really? A spook who didn’t know that?

“Is your ship AI monitoring this conversation?” Jack asked. He looked around the room until he spotted the camera focused on him. He stared at the unblinking lens and amber light.

“Yes,” An AI voice said. A hologram of an AI avatar appeared on the desk. Jack’s gaze was naturally attracted to it. The AI was in uniform naturally. It was a human female and had a slight Polynesian look to her.

“I am Lieutenant Iwa.”

“Please inform the Captain I’m on board,” Jack stated formally. “I think we need to have a chat in private,” he said as he glanced at the Marine and then to the LT. “Classified Ultra Blue.”

That made the Marine and lieutenant sit up straight.

“Who the hell are you?” the lieutenant asked in a quiet voice. “You don’t just throw words like that around.” He shook himself after a moment. “Where did you hear that? Some movie?”

“I am someone you forgot apparently,” Jack replied with a grimace. “That much is now obvious. Now, do I jack in to you, the AI, or wait for the captain?” He waved his hand slightly.

“Wait for the captain,” the AI stated flatly. “The lieutenant and I do not have clearance for your implants and quite frankly I don’t trust you not to have a virus or a wraith. Captain Jackson is on his way.”

“Good,” Jack said as he went back to parade rest.

<<(O)>>

 

LitStack Spots – Titles by Will Dean Here are some titles by Will Dean that…

The post Spotlight on “Adrift” by Will Dean appeared first on LitStack.

The cats on the vortex go ’round and ’round…

“Wheels” on the “bus,” dammit!

Ball in the track, if you please!

Why do I never understand what’s going on around here?

We didn’t want to tell you, but…well, you were dropped on your head as a kitten. Repeatedly.

You take that back!

 

Blue Beard, Red Hood (Beloved Villains #6)Rebecca F. Kenney
What is it about:A spicy, adult romantasy retelling of "Bluebeard" and "Little Red Riding Hood," two of Charles Perrault's most famous stories.
Sybil Fallon has a habit of summoning demons unintentionally and at the most inconvenient times. When she, her mother, and her sister are invited to an upcoming dinner at the estate of the mysterious Theron Beresford, Sybil is desperate to ensure that her ability won't manifest and ruin the evening. But when she seeks help from her reclusive former mentor, Grandmother Riquet, she discovers that the old woman has changed in dangerous and disturbing ways... and so has the forest in which she lives.
As Sybil struggles to control an ability she doesn't understand, she becomes strongly attracted to Beresford, the brawny, handsome estate owner. His distinctive blue beard isn't his only unusual trait. In addition to socially acceptable dinner parties, he also likes to host secret gatherings in the refurbished barn on his property. Sybil's first invitation to one of his naughty midnight parties opens her mind to a world of new pleasures. But with local disappearances inciting the suspicion of the neighbors, and Beresford's secretive nature raising questions in her own mind, Sybil must navigate an increasingly treacherous path through the forest of her circumstances in pursuit of the future she wants.
What did Voodoo Bride think of it:Yes, I totally went on a Rebecca F. Kenney Binge.This one I got as an ARC, but I bought the ebook as well, because I didn't get to reading/reviewing before the release.
I've always thought Bluebeard would be a great fairy tale to reimagine into something more sensual. And here it is!
I really enjoyed this mashup of Bluebeard and Little Red Riding Hood. I liked Sybil, and was as intrigued by Beresford as she was. There lots of deliciousness, some creepy things, and lots of suspense. There's elements of both fairy tales, but once again Kenney weaves them into a wonderful reimagining all her own. I had a great time with this and it won't be the last book by Kenney I will read.
Why should you read it:It's a sensual, suspenseful fairy tale mashup.

Reading Level: Adult
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Length: 368 pages
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: January 13, 2026
ASIN: B0F4Q7YQXK
Stand Alone or Series: 3rd book in Wild Magic series
Source: ebook from NetGalley for Review
Rating: 4/5 stars

“Like her sisters, Sage and Teal, Sky Flores has a touch of magic, and it’s caused nothing but heartache. Not only did she disappear into the woods years ago and reappear with no rational explanation, she’s also more comfortable talking to animals than to people. Different and misunderstood, Sky is shunned in the small town of Cranberry.

Sky’s neighbor, Adam Noemi, has his own problems. After being laid off from a prestigious newspaper, Adam, ever the ambitious reporter, needs a big headline to redeem his career. Enter Sky, a girl with a story that news outlets have been chasing for years. Sky agrees to grant Adam an exclusive interview on one condition: that he befriend Sky, in a very public way, to prove to everyone in Cranberry that she’s not an outcast.

As Sky shares her experiences with Adam, something much bigger than a simple agreement begins to grow between them. But for love to take root, Adam will have to take a leap towards a life that defies expectations, and Sky must open her heart – full of flora and fauna and mystical energies – to his curious mind.”

Series Info/Source: This is third book in the Wild Magic series. I got a copy of this to review on ebook from NetGalley.

Thoughts: This was a well done continuation of this series. I enjoyed reading about Sky’s story. My favorite book in this series remains the first book, but I enjoyed this one as well. You really feel for Sky and all that she’s been through; I thought her autism was well represented too.

Sky has a touch of magic; she can talk to animals. Unfortunately, with her long absence, she is more comfortable talking to animals than people, and the people of Cranberry town have not been kind to her. She feels like a burden on those around her. Sage and Teal have both moved on with their lives but still feel like they have to baby Sky. Sky is doing okay though; she has her job at the library and a couple of friends. She wants more and is trying to put herself out there. After some horrible experiences in an online dating app she finally clicks with someone online. Simultaneously, she keeps running into Adam. He was horrible to her in high school and is now the big time famous reporter (who seems to be down on his luck). Him and Sky have one thing in common, his father who is struggling with onset dementia. As Adam and Sky end up spending more time together via Adam’s father, they start to find out that they have more in common than they previously knew.

This was a cute story and I enjoyed it. I was excited to finally get Sky’s story, and she is by far the most timid of the sisters. I really felt for her and her feelings of loneliness, not fitting in, and of being a burden on those around her. I enjoyed watching her grow and find her footing throughout the story.

Sky has autism and this is represented throughout the story; she is sensitive to certain sensation and fabrics, has trouble with natural conversation and reading cues but she is trying to own it. I thought Gilliland did a great job representing this throughout the story. Sky is a high functioning individual who just needs to interact with people and things a bit differently. Adam comes off as a bit of a jerk initially, but I grew to enjoy his character more as the story progressed. The two end up having excellent chemistry together.

This story felt a bit slower than the previous two books. Sky had a mystery of a secret coven that she was trying to unravel but that was very much in the background and kept being forgotten throughout the story. There just didn’t seem to be as much to drive this story forward as there were in the first two books. I also love the Flores family, but they seem very scattered in this book. They do come together at times, but Sky felt very much on her own because she was very much on her own for a lot of the book. All the other members of the Flores family had valid but different priorities (new baby, new business, etc).

This was easy to read and cute and funny. I enjoyed it and think it was a decent close to this series about these magical sisters.

My Summary (4/5): Overall I liked this and thought it was a quick, cute, and fun read. It was a bit slower than the previous two books and I didn’t click with Sky as a character quite as well. However, I did like learning more about Sky and watching her grow and get her happiness. I would recommend this series to those who enjoy paranormal magic with a cozy feel; all of these books have an emphasis on family and finding happiness. I will definitely keep an eye out for Gilliland’s future books.

 Sitrep: The book is off to Goodlifeguide, we may see the book early, we'll see how it goes. No promises!

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Chapter 2

 

TauR14G6-15 Blue Waters and Gentle Mist

 

Admiral Rick Hunter was feeling pleased with himself over the entire conquest. The Taurens were moving in to take over. His Marines were working with his sensor techs to localize the holdouts on the ground. His AI let him know that he had an incoming ansible call.

“Admiral Logan?” he asked as her holographic image appeared.

“The one and the same. Well, two but I’m the female one,” Shelby quipped.

“Cute, ma’am. What’s up?” he asked. He felt a little trepidation over her call. Since they were back in contact, he was aware of the danger to the north.

“We have a problem.”

“We have plenty of them to go around, ma’am.”

“Cute.”

“Well, you did start it,” he replied.

She gave a short nod. “I’m talking about Sedu and the hostages.”

“Ma’am?”

“Our local grunt and jarhead commanders pointed out that the stasis pods have a short battery life. So, we have a ticking clock—about a year from the time that they were unplugged.” She paused and then nodded. “Right, Boni is saying a year.”

“Oh, lovely.” He frowned. “Wait … pods usually have longer battery life spans.”

“These are mass-produced jobs not the life pods that we use in the navy. They are supposed to be hooked up to a power network. The batteries are for them to be moved and in case of a momentary disruption in the power grid.”

Rick caught on and then grimaced. “Damn.”

“I know. I found it hard to believe until they mentioned the Pele refugees.”

Rick winced. His people had confirmed that out of the fifty thousand or so refugees, only a hundred had survived their “accident.”

“Damn,” he muttered. “Well, that does put a new spin on the situation.”

“It does indeed. Which means we need you to find Sedu. I know it is a big hay stack …”

“Actually, we have him localized to a single mountain range.”

“Oh?” she asked hopefully.

“That’s the good news. The bad news is that he split the hostages between the two planets. We don’t have the other localized.”

“Oh, damn,” Shelby said.

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Okay, so, what is the plan?”

“This is a Marine thing, ma’am. I’ve got a company of marines but no gunships or anything like that. They have two squads of powered armor. They aren’t set up for a planetary invasion. Boarding actions are short and sweet. This is going to get nasty. Sedu will see them coming and will be ready for them.”

Shelby nodded. “And with the hostages in play, you can’t give orbital support other than intel and communications.”

“I know, ma’am.”

“Okay, don’t go off half-cocked.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it, ma’am. My people are busy for the next few weeks locking down the Tauren ships and space stations at the moment. But I think I will authorize the jarheads to get to the ground and start poking around. Set up a perimeter and start closing the noose as soon as possible.”

“Okay. We have troops en route but they are months out. You know the drill there.”

“I do indeed. We’ll figure it out, ma’am.”

“Hopefully,” Shelby replied doubtfully.

<<(O)>>

Captain Doris Hierl felt fatigue but fought the urge to sit away firmly. She tapped her implants and a spurt of adreniline cleared the cobwebs for the moment.

It didn't beat sleep. The natural boost wasn't good for her long term, sleep was the best remidee, but for the moment, it was all she had. She needed to remain alert until things cooled off.

So far so good, the boarding actions were over. They had no opposition on the ships or stations. Her people were split between guarding the improvised brig station, the captured capital ships, the stations, and finding General Sedu and his forces.

The last thing was proving tricky. They were on it though. But the newest crinkle had her nervous. The brass had determined that there was a shelf life on the stasis pods. Given what had happened to the Pele refugees, she understood it.

Digging them out was going to be … tricky. For the moment, she had one platoon on each planet trying to localize the general and colonel and lock down a perimeter. Once that was done …

Hell, she wasn't certain what she'd do. She'd figure it out she thought as she ran a frustrated hand through her short hair.

<<(O)>>

Blue Waters

 

General Sedu nodded as the report came in that the orbital works were in the control of the Federation. That was to be expected.

He had halted all flights in the region. There was no point telling the enemy where they were. Communications and active sensors were on lockdown as well. His vehicles were all inside. A majority of the remaining work was on foot.

He had work crews outside running fiber optic line between distant outposts. The lines were covered in a brown sheeth that didn't quite match the ground so his people had to cover it with a bit of dirt or gravel to disguise it. That was fine.

The great thing about the fiber optic line was that there were no betraying electrical traces for anyone to pick up. Just light following a channel from point A to point B.

He smiled ever so slightly. What those light pulses controlled … well, the Fed Marines would find out in good time.

<<(O)>>

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As I mentioned in previous posts, I really got behind on my recommended reading lists. But I stored the books and articles, knowing I could catch up. I didn’t expect to get nearly seven months behind, but then I didn’t expect the last few years either. I’ve put out most of the old lists. Now, after this one, I only have September’s to finish. (Yay!) December’s list went live on January 2, as the Recommended Reading Lists were designed to do. October and November were on time as well, just not as quick as December’s. 

I picked up the Karen McManus book, One of Us is Back, after failing to find something to read in July. So it was my crossover book into August. Below you’ll understand why I abandoned McManus for a while, but I’m glad I picked her work up again. I binged and I usually don’t do that.

I’ll be honest here: I barely remember August. Life was stupidly hectic at that point. But I do remember reading all of the books listed below. 

August, 2025

 

Grynbaum, Michael, “Grand Old Party,” The Hollywood Reporter, July 9, 2025. Back in the day when I was flying all over the country every weekend, I’d pick up the latest copy of Vanity Fair as my airplane reading, which meant I read a lot of essays from Graydon Carter, the editor. I also saw a lot of pictures of “Hollywood’s Greatest Party.” I must admit I was curious, although friends who got in said it was no big deal. Whether it was a real no big deal or one of those no big deals that people mentioned when they thought it was a big deal, I can’t say. But it was ever present. And this article explains how it became a big deal. It’s an excerpt from a book on the history of Condé Nast. If the rest of the book is this fun, it’ll be worth reading.

McManus, Karen M., Nothing More To Tell, Delacorte Press, 2022. As I mentioned above, I binged Karen M. McManus’s work from the middle of August on. I explain below why it happened. I’m not recommending all of her books, but some worked really well for me. The unsolved murder in this one as well as the relationships really held me all the way through. Her books are great, quick reads, and quite involving.

McManus, Karen M., One of Us is Back, Delacorte Press, 2023. This is the third book in the One of Us is Lying series, which became a TV show. I had no idea about the show when I read the first book, which I loved. The second book was great…until the ending. Which had no validation at all. It wasn’t until I binged on all of McManus’s books that I realized she doesn’t understand the concept of validation. Sometimes she ends a book with a stab to the heart—a writerly stab to the heart. In other words, when she goes, Oh, wow, ouch, she thinks the readers will too. In a couple of the books that happened, but not in the second one. In the second one in this series, I just looked for the next page. Whoops. That’s not how validations work. They exist to let the reader know that the book is finished, even if the series isn’t.

So it took years for me to pick up Book 3, and then only because I was in need of something at midnight one night, and I read in paper, so an ebook wouldn’t cut it. (Besides, I don’t do screens before bed.) Book three was so incredibly good that I couldn’t put it down. Short summary: these books take place in a town called Bayview, and it’s one of those beleaguered places like Stephen King’s Derry, where people should move away but never do. Crimes occurred, secrets happen, and someone knows what no one is telling. And the stab to the heart from Book 2 factors into Book 3. So if you decide to read the series, forgive McManus for the failed ending of Book 2 and move forward. I’m glad I did.

McManus, Karen M., Two Can Keep A Secret, Ember, 2019. I was originally on the fence about the cover design of these books but now that I’ve had to stare at them for a while because I was slow getting to them, let me say that I hate them. I hate how they erase people. They made me uncomfortable, which fits with the books, but at the same time, I doubt I would have picked them up in a brick-and-mortar store. And yuck. Wiping out people’s faces? Maybe I’m just oversensitive given all that’s going on right now. (Sigh)

Anyway, these books are like catnip for me. And this one has the word “secret” in the title, which is really Kris-bait. Fortunately, the book is good, filled with family secrets and murder. It’s not my favorite (that’s coming up in September’s belated list), but it’s up there.

Perkins, Anne Gardiner, Yale Needs Women: How The First Group of Girls Rewrote The Rules of An Ivy League Giant, Sourcebooks, 2019. Sadly, this book reads like it was written in another century and in some ways it was. Written and published before the Supreme Court gutted Roe v. Wade and ensured that much of what happened to women in those years when abortion was not legal will happen again, this book talks about the victories we won as if we could keep them forever. (Sigh)

Anyway, women—especially young, college age women—you need to read this and understand what your sisters went through to allow you to have an education among your peers. Me, I remember much of this, even though some of it happened to women ten years older than I was. One of my best friends from high school, a young disabled woman who also happened to be the smartest person I knew (and may still be) got into Yale in 1977. Because we were all young and naive, we thought that was great, but she left after one year, returning to Minnesota. I remember thinking that she had capitulated, given up and retreated, but now, after reading this…fifty years on…I realize that no. What she faced as a woman and a disabled woman at that must have been miserable and seemed insurmountable.

This is an important book and its stupid title and terrible cover probably didn’t help its sales. So I hope you all will. And then I hope you read it.