Your private ebook cloud library

South Breaks made semi-finalist in SPFBOX (2024).

This is not deep fiction nor is it profound dark fantasy with much to offer those abyssal questions about life and existence. It is, however, good, old-fashioned, shallow fun with plenty of guns and earthy reality twisted into a conspiracy theorist's dream. Great fun!

This is a well-told tale about the power of the written word to endure and change.

Europe in Autumn, Europe at Midnight and Europe in Winter by Dave Hutchinson, combine a believable and prescient view of a soon-to-be Europe with a strange, almost fantastical twist.

It reminds me in part of China Miéville's The City and the City, while also showing flashes of William Gibson's Pattern Recognition, with its "technocultural future-present" setting.

All three are great reads!

An above average issue with interesting stories by Moustapha Mbacké Diop, Bonnie Elizabeth, Clara Madrigano, J. A. Prentice, Dane Kuttler and Will McMahon.

Full review at [ https://sohkamyung.github.io/reviews/magazines/FantasyAndScienceFiction/20240228-FSF202401.html ].

The Naseby Horses by Dominic Brownlow is a beautiful, haunting read - lots of layers. It deals with families, trauma, and poses questions about the validity of beliefs, be they religious, superstitious or scientific.

Absolutely gorgeous writing.

Review at [ https://sohkamyung.github.io/reviews/fiction/2024/20240816-GoblinsGreatcoats.html ].

A better than average issue with an interesting mathematical based story by Arula Ratnakar and a loving story of a different kind of robotic servant by RJ Taylor.

Full review at my website [ https://sohkamyung.github.io/reviews/magazines/Clarkesworld/20230903-Clarkesworld204.html ].

Another beautiful romance novella from Llinos Cathryn Thomas.

The North Wales setting. Bethan's return to her childhood village. Revisiting her feelings about growing up, differences, acceptance are all treated with care and love.

Mali's approach and experiences reflecting back on Bethan's - gently holding up a mirror to her life and what she really wants.

A lovely Christmas read.

This book pulls you into a richly detailed 12th Century world of politicking lords, dangerous Welsh border raids and a likeable protagonist in the form of Guy of Maebury. A careful, steady feed of recognisable, but not yet legendary, characters tops it all off.

The slow build-up is worth it and does contribute to a much livelier, fuller world and more meaningful character motivations.

Gaie Sebold has created such a rich universe of worlds and characters in her Babylon Steel novels, that you can't help finding something to enjoy.

For me the two books have been a complete blast and I can't wait for the third... when it arrives.

They are FUN! That's not to say there's no emotion, pathos, danger and risk in them. Not at all.

An absolute riot of multi-world fantasy fiction.

The amazing second book in what is, so far, an outstanding fantasy series.

The Outskirter's Secret expands on the concepts in the first book, but takes us out of the relative safety of the Inner Lands and into the wilderness of the Outskirts.

I can't believe I've only just started reading this series and am already on the third book.

Still a MUST READ.