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Category: Book Reviews

Book Review: Boys in the Valley by Philip Fracassi

Book Review: Boys in the Valley by Philip Fracassi

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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

Book Review: Bride by Ali Hazelwood

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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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Book Review: Howling Dark (The Sun Eater, #2) by Christopher Ruocchio

Book Review: Howling Dark (The Sun Eater, #2) by Christopher Ruocchio

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This review is a copy of the transcript of my video review on Howling Dark.

Cover art illustrated by Kieran Yanner

Howling Dark by Christopher Ruocchio

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: The Sun Eater (Book #2 of 7)

Genre: Sci-fi, Space Opera, Science Fantasy

Word Count: 264,000 words

Pages: 679 pages (Hardcover edition)

Published: 16th July 2019 by DAW Books

Philosophical, bizarre, sprawling, and epic. Howling Dark outshined the already stunning Empire of Silence.

“The poets say that one’s fears grow less with trial, that we become men without fear if tried enough. I have not found it to be so. Rather, on each occasion we are tested, we become stronger than our fears. It is all we can do. Must do. Lest we perish for our failings.”

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Book Review: The Vanished Birds by Simon Jimenez

Book Review: The Vanished Birds by Simon Jimenez

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The Vanished Birds by Simon Jimenez

My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: The Cosmere

Genre: Science Fiction, Space Opera

Word Count: 129,000 words

Pages: 416 pages (Paperback)

Published: 14th January 2020 by Del Rey Books

The Vanished Birds is a beautiful, heartfelt, and tense standalone space opera story about kindness, choices, love, pain, ambition, and found family.

“Geniuses are born all the time, but kindness is rarer, these days especially. The world could use more kindness.”

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Book Review: The Sunlit Man (The Cosmere) by Brandon Sanderson

Book Review: The Sunlit Man (The Cosmere) by Brandon Sanderson

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This review is a copy of the transcript of my video review of The Sunlit Man.

Cover art illustrated by Kudriaken

The Sunlit Man by Brandon Sanderson

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Series: The Cosmere

Genre: Fantasy, High Fantasy, Epic fantasy

Word Count: 103,000 words

Pages: 447 pages (Kindle)

Published: 1st October 2023 by Dragonsteel Books (Kickstarter) & 10th October 2023 by Tor Books (US Ebook)/Gollancz (UK Ebook)

The Sunlit Man is a detailed exhibition of the bright future of Sanderson’s vision. Sooner or later, fans of the Cosmere must not miss reading this dedicated tribute novel from Brandon Sanderson to his readers.

“Ideals are like statues in the wind. They seem so permanent, but truth is, erosion happens subtly, constantly.”

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Book Review: The Lesser Devil (The Sun Eater, #1.5) by Christopher Ruocchio

Book Review: The Lesser Devil (The Sun Eater, #1.5) by Christopher Ruocchio

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The Lesser Devil by Christopher Ruocchio

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: The Sun Eater (Book #1.5 of 7)

Genre: Sci-fi, Space Opera, Science Fantasy

Pages: 205 pages (Kindle edition)

Published: 14th April 2020 (Self-Published)

The Lesser Devil is an action-packed spin-off novel that offers readers the chance for a more extensive dive into the mind of Crispin Marlowe.
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Book Review: Bookshops & Bonedust (Legends and Lattes, #0) by Travis Baldree

Book Review: Bookshops & Bonedust (Legends and Lattes, #0) by Travis Baldree

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ARC provided by the publishers—Tor Books & Tor UK—in exchange for an honest review.

Cover art illustrated by: Leo Nickolls

Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: Legends and Lattes (Book #0 of 4)

Genre: Fantasy, High Fantasy, Cozy Fantasy

Pages: 368 pages (Kindle edition)

Publish date: 7th of November 2023 by Tor Books (US) & Tor (UK)

Legends and Lattes and Bookshops and Bonedust, Travis Baldree truly knows the secret recipes for crafting wholesome cozy fantasy novels.

“Never trust a writer who doesn’t have too many books to read. Or a reader, for that matter.”

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Book Review: Starsight (Skyward, #2) by Brandon Sanderson

Book Review: Starsight (Skyward, #2) by Brandon Sanderson

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Cover art illustrated by Sam Green

Starsight by Brandon Sanderson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: Skyward (Book #2 of 4)

Genre: Sci-fi

Pages: 469 pages (Hardcover edition)

Publish date: 26th of November 2019 by Delacorte Press (US) & Gollancz (UK)

Contrary to my expectations, Starsight was an incredibly fun and engaging sequel to Skyward.
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Book Review: Talonsister (Talon Duology, #1) by Jen Williams

Book Review: Talonsister (Talon Duology, #1) by Jen Williams

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

Cover art by Julia Lloyd

Talonsister by Jen Williams

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Series: The Talon Duology(Book #1 of 2)

Genre: Fantasy, High Fantasy

Pages: 560 pages (Kindle edition)

Published: 12th September 2023 by Titan Books

Talonsister is a slow-burn low-stakes novel that rewards its reader with an explosive high-stakes ending. …

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

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

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This review is a copy of the transcript of my video review on Empire of Silence.

Cover art illustrated by Sam Weber

Empire of Silence by Christopher Ruocchio

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: The Sun Eater (Book #1 of 7)

Genre: Sci-fi, Space Opera, Science Fantasy

Pages: 612 pages (Hardcover edition)

Published: 3rd July 2018 by DAW Books

This was an absolutely stunning, ambitious, and well-written debut novel. From the first page to the last, Empire of Silence is an unputdownable new addition to my list of favorite books.

“It is a mistake to believe we must know a thing to be influenced by it. It is a mistake to believe the thing must even be real.”

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