kevin
Recommendations

A beautiful, contemplative journey.

It's hard to slot Jaran into a genre. It's been called "anthropological science fiction", and that kind of fits. But it doesn't cover the ideas of wonder, nature, culture and love, found with a new people on a new world.

If you liked Rosemarie Kirstein's Steerswoman series, Jaran let's you explore and fall in love with another way of life all over again.

A fantastic and fantastical short tale that provides a much-needed respite from medieval-styled Western fantasy.

Written in a mythological format, Jiwe gives us a world of magic, gods, and the usual evils of man. Curses intended to redress balance and strong women working to save broken lives.

Kiko Enjani's work is sublime, and I can't wait to read her longer stories.

Y llyfr Cymraeg cyntaf i fi ddarllen am sbel.

Ni'n byw mewn bwthyn lan yng Nghymbria. Y fi a'r wedjen, y ddwy gath a'r ci... a'n merch fach saith mis oed.

Fe ddinistriodd y llyfr 'ma fi.

Nofela tuag 40 mil o eiriau sy'n cynnwys llawer mwy na geiriau, na stori, nag emosiynau, na beth bynnag sy'n creu beth wi newydd orffen ddarllen.

Gobeithio fydd hwn ar silf lyfrau pawb.

An amazing story that more than fulfils my need for great world-building. Such a creative mix of the unrecognisable, beautiful prose, and an uncanny skill for weaving technology into mythology.

Memory is slow to build, but when it does, it does so steadily. As our characters explore the 'Ring of the World' we learn with them, understand with them and fight back with them.

A wonderful 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.

Bought the full book immediately after enjoying the sample from Book View Cafe!

This magical, period adventure moved along at a quick pace. Plenty of events, but not al all rushed. The language, descriptions and sense of location & time seem spot-on.

It's the first in a series too, so I'm excited to read more.

Books like this are why I love buying and reading indie ebooks!

Well I certainly loved this sample!

Moved along at a nice pace. Plenty of events, but not rushed. Language, descriptions and sense of location & time seem spot-on. It's the first in a series too.

I'm intrigued and excited to read more. Just what a sample should do. And it's from Book View Cafe, so I know 90% my money will go to the author.

Off to buy the full book asap!

What a fantastically fun read.

This novella was my first experience of T. Kingfisher's books, and I'll now be buying any and all the others I can get my hands on.

The lovably ragtag troop of goblins comprising the Whining Niners make the Fellowship of the Ring seem like some dull kids on a Sunday school outing. And I have to say, the Bear is my favourite.

Go read it. A light, fast story.

Finding the print version of Nonplayer in a local comic shop blew my mind.

The amazing digital artwork is absolutely beautiful. The story - as much of a short snippet you get in a single comic book issue - is cyberpunky and fresh, to me at least.

I only recently realised it was available from Image Comics, along with issue 2. So I'm heading back into its lush artwork and enthralling world.

As wonderful and entrancing as the first issue.

This beautifully illustrated second comic from Nate Simpson, opens up the world, broadens the scope and sets up some interesting conflict.

I can't wait for the third in the series. This is a story to get lost in.

Well done Nate and Image Comics.

This is the most stunning science fiction novel I've read in years. To see such scope and grandeur in an independent title makes my heart sing!

You'll come for the mechs and ancient alien horrors, but you'll stay for the archaeology and one of the best robot-human buddy pairings since Iain M. Banks' Culture series.

Amazingly-written, weird, claustrophobic, space, alternate Earth, horror story from a brilliant author who consistently nails it!

A tale of the Outside, what's beyond and, ultimately, fear of what may or may not be there. If there is something, stay hidden! If there isn't anything but a vast void, then stay home, be nice, don't explore, we're alone...

A story about our culture.

Created by writer Brian K. Vaughan and artist Fiona Staples, Saga is a beautifully intimate space opera.

It touches on race, religion, conflict, family and love, with a deft hand and imagery that is just sublime.

Proof that Image Comics' creator-owned approach really works. These are the kinds of stories that comics were made for.

You know how you sometimes get too comfortable in familiar genres and need a book to come along and kick you out of your comfort zone? Well, this was mine.

We fall into the world-weary lives of a newly-married ex-pat couple. The author explores sex, pain, abuse, assault, desire, trauma... and the relationships, even love, based on all these things.

An uncomfortable, but rewarding read.

What a fun read! Menopausal werewolves, a town to protect, and a love to be found.

Becca didn't think the change was THAT literal. But that's what you get in Wolf's Point, I suppose. The name must come from somewhere...

A great concept, and lovely, warm, fast-paced writing.

Looking forward to reading Book 2!

I'm always intrigued by novels that are inspired by tiny snippets of historical events.

A sliver of history taken as a seed, with enough facts to place it in a believable context, can be a rich seam for a skilled author. Ned Hayes has recreated a dark period of British history and, taking little-known facts, has wrapped them in a heart-wrenching tale of loss, vengeance, treachery, and grief.

This weird, wild, violent, dangerous, almost-fantasy, New York setting is pure Chuck Wendig.

Mookie Pearl is to the gangland thug what Miriam Black is to the care home nurse. If this is what happens when Chuck Wendig is given free rein to create his own universe and populate it with strange gods, demons and magic, then I want more of it!

Read it and the sequel. Well done Chuck!

A ripping yarn of disguise, deception and misdirection, propelled along by a brilliantly written period style that firmly places you in the world.

A rollicking ride through alternate-history Britain after the Luddite uprisings. Recognisable locations mixed with carefully applied genre tropes keep this book from becoming yet another steampunk adventure and raise it above its fellows.

What a fantastic 'Weird West', magic, action, adventure tale!

This carefully constructed alternative Western story is populated with interesting, but not always likeable, characters. The magic is strange and unpredictable, and is very much part of the world, not added on top.

While a YA fantasy, the book never shies away from addressing the very real violence and horror of genocide.

Yes, The Fisherman is a little Lovecraftian, with its ancient gods, cultists, and watery... things. But it has much more going for it. The Fisherman is a work of beauty that Lovecraft never came close to.

You grieve with Abe as he tries to pick up the pieces. You worry about what Dan will do... and when he'll break. You wonder which story you are actually reading and who is telling it.