ARC provided by the publisher—Gollancz—in exchange for an honest review.
Cover art illustrated by Yohei Horishita
Scion by James Islington
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Series: Scion (Book #1)
Genre: Science Fiction, Cyberpunk
Pages: 240 pages (Ebook Edition)
Word Count: 56,000 Words
Published: 1st September 2026 by Saga Press (US) and Gollancz (UK)
Scion is a fast-paced and action-packed cyberpunk novel about freedom, justice, and identity. …
ARC provided by the publisher—Harper Voyager—in exchange for an honest review.
Cover art illustrated by Tom Roberts
Daughter of Crows by Mark Lawrence
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars
Series: Academy of Kindness (Book #1 of 3)
Genre: Fantasy, Epic fantasy
Pages: 450 pages (Ebook Edition)
Published: 24th March 2026 by Ace Books (US) and Harper Voyager (UK)
Daughter of Crows marks Lawrence’s marvelous return to the grim and dark storytelling of his, and it will be one tale to remember.
The Academy’s official motto was, πίστη πάνω από τη συνείδηση, ‘Creed Above Conscience.’ Unofficially it was ‘Leave the bodies’.
Empire of Silence by Christopher Ruocchio
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars
“We live in stories, and in stories, we are subject to phenomena beyond the mechanisms of space and time. Fear and love, death and wrath and wisdom—these are as much parts of our universe as light and gravity.”
The Sun Eater is one of those series that I’ve heard so many good things about that I found myself really hesitant to pick it up. But I’m glad that I finally decided to take the plunge, because I was immediately enamored by Hadrian Marlowe and held rapt by his story. Ruocchio has an immaculate way with words, and he’s drawn a dark but impeccably nuanced system of worlds that feels true, even if fictitious. This is a gigantic story, the surface of which is barely scratched in this first installment. …
Cover art by Luciano Fleitas
Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Series: Dungeon Crawler Carl (Book #1)
Genre: Fantasy, LitRPG
Pages:450 pages (Hardcover Edition)
Published: 2 October, 2020 (Self-Published)
Fun, bonkers, and filled with personality. It took me years, but I finally started reading Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman, arguably the most popular LitRPG series at the moment.
“Mana Toast. This is toast. It refills your mana. That’s it. Nothing more. Fuck you.”
The Charmed Library by Jennifer Moorman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
“Stella Parker had never burned a book in her life. Had never once thrown pages of text—much less handwritten love letters and poetry—into a fire. Yet there she was, purposefully setting fire to one of the most precious things in her life: words.”
That is the first paragraph of the prologue for The Charmed Library. I was immediately sold. Moorman’s writing style is simply gorgeous. And it’s beautifully suited to magical realism. The early pages of this story led me to ask myself: why don’t I read more magical realism? I really should, because it’s charming. This melding of the reality I know with the magical and fantastical I long for just such a lovely, hopeful juxtaposition when handled properly. And Moorman strikes that balance well.
“As the ashes faded into the dusk, the library listened, waiting, knowing that every story—especially the ones set free—would find its way home.”
ARC provided by the publisher—Orbit Books—in exchange for an honest review.
Cover art designed by Tommy Pocket
The Last Contract of Isako by Fonda Lee
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Series: Standalone
Genre: Science Fiction, Space Opera, Cyberpunk
Pages: 514 pages (ARC Edition)
Published: 5th May 2026 by Orbit Books
The year is off to an explosive start. The Last Contract of Isako is the best science fiction standalone novel I’ve ever read. …
Cover art designed by Micaela Alcaino
Half a King by Joe Abercrombie
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Series: The Shattered Sea (Book #1 of 3)
Genre: Fantasy, Epic Fantasy, Post-Apocalypse
Pages: 416 pages (Paperback Edition)
Word Count: 81,000 words
Published: 3rd July 2014 by Del Rey and Harper Voyager
I shouldn’t have worried. Half a King is a fine example of Young Adult epic fantasy done right.
“… Never worry about what has been done. Only about what will be.”
Through Gates of Garnet and Gold by Seanan McGuire
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
I received an advance review copy of this novel from the publisher, Tordotcom. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.
One of the highlights of my reading year always comes right on the heels of Christmas, when I snuggle in and read the newest Wayward Children novella right ahead of its release. Through Gates of Garnet and Gold is the eleventh installment in the series, and marks the eighth year of this tradition I always anticipate.
“We can mourn the winter when the thaw comes, but without it, the spring will not return. It’s all right to grieve. It’s all right to mourn what’s missing. Spill your sorrows on the ground, and let the joy flow home.”
Cover art illustrated by Gary Ruddell
Endymion by Dan Simmons
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Series: Hyperion Cantons (Book #3 of 4)
Genre: Science Fiction, Space Opera
Pages: 578 pages (Kindle Edition)
Word Count: 198,000 Words
Published: 1st January 1996 by Spectra
I am conflicted. There were some great moments and incredible world-building in Endymion, but this penultimate installment of the Hyperion Cantos is not up to the high standards of the first two Hyperion books.
“The shortest route to courage is absolute ignorance.”
ARC provided by the publisher—Harper Voyager—in exchange for an honest review.
Cover art illustrated by Patrick Arrasmith
Katabasis by R.F. Kuang
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Series: Standalone
Genre: Fantasy, Dark Academia
Pages: 540 pages (Hardcover Edition)
Word Count: 160,000 Words
Published: 26th August 2025 by Harper Voyager
At this point, it is safe to say Katabasis by R.F. Kuang has an assured path to take the bestseller spot in many outlets around the world. That being said, can this relatively bizarre novel win the reader’s heart?
“How wonderful, truly, to have a friend whose silence you adored.”