Book Review: Lonesome Dove (Lonesome Dove, #1) by Larry McMurtry

Book Review: Lonesome Dove (Lonesome Dove, #1) by Larry McMurtry

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Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: Lonesome Dove (Lonesome Dove Book #1 of 4)

Genre: Historical Fiction, Western

Pages: 946 pages (Ebook Edition)

Word Count: 379,000 Words

Published:  1985 by Simon & Schuster

I thought I was done with reading a Western-setting novel. Lonesome Dove proved me wrong by becoming the best Western story I’ve ever read.

“I’m glad I’ve been wrong enough to keep in practice. . . You can’t avoid it, you’ve got to learn to handle it. If you only come face to face with your own mistakes once or twice in your life it’s bound to be extra painful. I face mine every day–that way they ain’t usually much worse than a dry shave.”

…

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Book Review: Scion by James Islington

Book Review: Scion by James Islington

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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. …

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Book Review: Daughter of Crows (The Academy of Kindness, #1) by Mark Lawrence

Book Review: Daughter of Crows (The Academy of Kindness, #1) by Mark Lawrence

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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’.

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Book Review: Empire of Silence (the Sun Eater, #1) by Chistopher Ruocchio

Book Review: Empire of Silence (the Sun Eater, #1) by Chistopher Ruocchio

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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. …

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Book Review: Dungeon Crawler Carl (Dungeon Crawler Carl, #1) by Matt Dinniman

Book Review: Dungeon Crawler Carl (Dungeon Crawler Carl, #1) by Matt Dinniman

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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.”

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Book Review: The Charmed Library by Jennifer Moorman

Book Review: The Charmed Library by Jennifer Moorman

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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.”

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Book Review: The Last Contract of Isako by Fonda Lee

Book Review: The Last Contract of Isako by Fonda Lee

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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. …

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Book Review: Half a King (Shattered Sea, #1) by Joe Abercrombie

Book Review: Half a King (Shattered Sea, #1) by Joe Abercrombie

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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.”

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Book Review: Through Gates of Garnet and Gold (Wayward Children, #11) by Seanan McGuire

Book Review: Through Gates of Garnet and Gold (Wayward Children, #11) by Seanan McGuire

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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.”

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Book Review: Endymion (Hyperion Cantos, #3) by Dan Simmons

Book Review: Endymion (Hyperion Cantos, #3) by Dan Simmons

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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.”

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