Book Reviews Archives - Novel Notions

“The Old Gods were broken by wars and plagues of the mind, left reeling like the most bloodied veterans. Infected with horror at the cost of their actions, they retreated into dementia. Insanity as escape. Seeking to free themselves, they fled to a world of delusion, a world uncorrupted by jealousies and psychoses. And yet, in the end, even this they would pollute. So deep their need, so desperate their flight from their bitter past, they ignored the one truism all must bow before. Belief defines reality.”

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Book Review: Tales of the Sun Eater, Volume 1 (The Sun Eater, #2.7) by Christopher Ruocchio

November 8, 2023 Petrik Leo Comments 1 comment

Cover art illustrated by Nathan Anderson

Tales of the Sun Eater, Volume 1 by Christopher Ruocchio

My rating: 2.5 of 5 stars

Series: The Sun Eater (Book #2.7 of 7)

Genre: Sci-fi, Space Opera, Science Fantasy

Pages: 172 pages (Kindle edition)

Published: 16th April 2021 (Self-Published)

Tales of the Sun Eater, Volume 1 is a mixed-quality collection of short stories in The Sun Eater series. …

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Book Review: Sunreach (Skyward, #2.1) by Brandon Sanderson

November 6, 2023 Petrik Leo Comments 1 comment

Review copy provided by the publisher—Gollancz—in exchange for an honest review.

Cover art illustrated by Sam Green

Sunreach by Brandon Sanderson & Janci Patterson

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Series: Skyward (Book #2.1 of 4)

Genre: Sci-fi

Pages: 177 pages (Hardcover edition)

Publish date: 28th of September 2021 by Delacorte Press (US) & Gollancz (UK)

Sunreach expanded upon the secret of the hyperdrive and the characterizations of FM and Rig. …

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Book Review: Queen Amid Ashes (The Sun Eater, #2.5) by Christopher Ruocchio

November 6, 2023 Petrik Leo Comments 1 comment

Cover design by Jenna Ruocchio

Queen Amid Ashes by Christopher Ruocchio

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: The Sun Eater (Book #2.5 of 7)

Genre: Sci-fi, Space Opera, Science Fantasy

Pages: 173 pages (Kindle edition)

Word Count: 36,000 words

Published: 8th June 2022 (Self-Published)

Contemplative and thought-provoking, Queen Amid Ashes asked the question of who’s more monstrous in The Sun Eater universe: humanity or The Cielcin?

“Men are ever more careful with the lives of their loved ones than they are with their own.”

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Book Review: The Silverblood Promise (The Last Legacy, #1) by James Logan

November 3, 2023 Petrik Leo Comments 2 comments

This review is a copy of the transcript of my video review on The Silverblood Promise.

ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

Cover art illustrated by Jeff Brown

The Silverblood Promise by James Logan

My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: The Last Legacy (Book #1 of 3)

Genre: Fantasy, Epic Fantasy

Word Count: 163,000 words

Pages: 544 pages (eBook edition)

Published: 25th April 2024 by Jo Fletcher (UK) & 7th May 2024 by Tor Books (US)

Next year is not even here yet, but the potential of The Silverblood Promise becoming, at least, one of the best fantasy debuts of 2024 is guaranteed.

“You can’t escape the past, Lukan. It’s our lifelong companion, always at our side.”

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Book Review: The Mirror’s Truth (Manifest Delusions, #2) by Michael R. Fletcher

November 1, 2023 Petrik Leo Comments 0 Comment

This is a repost of a review I wrote in August 2017.

Cover art illustrated by John Anthony Di Giovanni

The Mirror’s Truth by Michael R. Fletcher

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: Manifest Delusions (Book #2 of 3)

Genre: Fantasy, Grimdark Fantasy, High Fantasy

Pages: 375 pages

Published: 28th November 2016 by Michael R. Fletcher (Self-Published)

This is why I love grimdark fantasy. The Mirror’s Truth is grimdark fantasy at its best and it deserves only the highest of praise from me. …

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Book Review: Boys in the Valley by Philip Fracassi

October 30, 2023 Petrik Leo Comments 0 Comment

ARC provided by the publisher—Orbit Books—in exchange for an honest review.

Boys in the Valley by Philip Fracassi

My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: Standalone

Genre: Horror

Word Count: 91,000 words

Pages: 352 pages (Paperback edition)

Published: 11th July 2023 by Tor Nightfire (US) & 13th July 2023 by Orbit Books (UK)

Well, Boys in the Valley was so good. It was surprisingly so good.

“All of life is a great gift,” he says. “Not because of what it gives us, but because of what it allows us to give others.”

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Book Review: Bride by Ali Hazelwood

October 28, 2023 Celeste Comments 0 Comment

Bride by Ali Hazelwood
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

I received an advance digital copy of this novel from the publisher, Berkley, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I can’t remember the last time I read a 400+ page book in less than 24 hours, but that was exactly my experience with Bride. I was pretty excited when Hazelwood announced her first foray into paranormal romance. And somewhat hesitant. While I thoroughly enjoyed The Love Hypothesis, I haven’t been able to get into any of her work since. I was hopeful that a shift in genre would change things, and I was absolutely correct. Bride had me in its thrall from the very first page. I couldn’t put it down. …

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