Browsed by
Category: TS’s Reviews

Book Review: Hell For Hire (Tear Heaven Down, #1) by Rachel Aaron

Book Review: Hell For Hire (Tear Heaven Down, #1) by Rachel Aaron

ARC received from author in exchange for an honest review

Cover Art by Luisa Preissler.

Hell For Hire by Rachel Aaron

My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: Tear Heaven Down (Book 1)

Genre: Fantasy, urban fantasy

Release date: 4th June 2024 (self-published)


Please allow me to repeat myself, again.  Rachel Aaron has never ever failed to deliver an effortlessly engaging story filled with lovable characters, and an amazing, yet accessible, worldbuilding that is uniquely hers. It came as no surprise that Hell For Hire has all her usual winning trademarks and is possibly her best first book in a series so far.

Read More Read More

Book Review: Esrahaddon (The Rise and Fall, #3) by Michael J. Sullivan

Book Review: Esrahaddon (The Rise and Fall, #3) by Michael J. Sullivan

Read an early copy of the ebook as a Kickstarter backer

Artwork by Marc Simonetti

Esrahaddon by Michael J. Sullivan

My rating: 5 of 5 stars.

Series: The Rise and Fall (Book 3 of 3)

Genre: Fantasy, high fantasy, classic fantasy

Publication date: 15th August 2023 (ebook) and 5th December 2023 (hardcover) by Riyria Enterprises, LLC.


Esrahaddon was the stunning final piece in the puzzle that masterfully connected all the stories that had been told in the world of Elan.

Read More Read More

Audiobook Review: Dawn Razed (Ethereal Earth, #4)

Audiobook Review: Dawn Razed (Ethereal Earth, #4)

Review copy of audiobook received from the author in exchange for an honest review

Dawn Razed: An Urban Fantasy Novel (Ethereal Earth Book 4) by [Josh Erikson]

 

Dawn Razed by Josh Erikson

My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: Ethereal Earth (Book #4)

Genre: Fantasy, Urban Fantasy

Published: 13th December 2022 by Josh Erikson (self-published ebook) and Audible Studios


Dawn Razed might have taken its time, but it was worth it.

A self-published series that’s also superbly self-narrated by the author, the Ethereal Earth books (and audiobooks) are some of the best urban fantasy reads out there, in my opinion.  I’ve enjoyed these stories tremendously not only because they were so much fun, but because both character development and worldbuilding were excellently executed.

Read More Read More

Book Review: The Battle of Medicine Rocks (The Crystal Calamity, #2) by Rachel Aaron

Book Review: The Battle of Medicine Rocks (The Crystal Calamity, #2) by Rachel Aaron

Review copy received from author in exchange for an honest review

Cover Art by Luisa Preißler.

The Battle of Medicine Rocks by Rachel Aaron

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: The Crystal Calamity (Book 2)

Genre: Fantasy, historical fantasy, alternate history

Published: 1st February 2023 (self-published)


 The Battle of Medicine Rocks was a great sequel with a darker story that upped the stakes to drive incredible character growth and development

Read More Read More

TS’s Monthly Wrap-Up : Nov 2022

TS’s Monthly Wrap-Up : Nov 2022

Hello all, and welcome to my Science Fiction November monthly wrap-up.  While not all of my reads are strictly within the science fiction genre, I would argue that a couple of them are genre-blending enough to qualify as fantasy scifi and scifi horror.   I think the Book of the Month will come as a surprise… to absolutely no one.

NB. Books are rated within its genre.  For avoidance of doubt, rereads are not considered for Book of the Month.

Read More Read More

TS’s Monthly Wrap-Up : Oct 2022

TS’s Monthly Wrap-Up : Oct 2022

Hello all, and welcome to my Spooky October monthly wrap-up where I had been reading books within the horror genre.   I did make a couple of changes to my reading list for the month, and was also not able to read as many titles as I wanted to as one of these changes resulted in chonker of a story which surprisingly turned out to be much better than I’ve anticipated.

NB. Books are rated within its genre.  For avoidance of doubt, rereads are not considered for Book of the Month.

Read More Read More

TS’s Monthly Wrap-Up : Sept 2022

TS’s Monthly Wrap-Up : Sept 2022

Hello all, and welcome back to my monthly wrap-up.  As real-life work pressures crank up for the final quarter of year, I found myself reading a bit slower for the month of September.   It’s also getting harder and harder for me to even come up with short reviews.  Thankfully, I was still able to write a bit more for the Book of the Months, as it felt right to do so.  And yes, it’s Books of the Month as there were two which both scored 5-stars and earned a spot amongst my favourite books.

NB. Books are rated within its genre.  For avoidance of doubt, rereads are not considered for Book of the Month.

Read More Read More

TS’s Monthly Wrap-Up : Aug 2022

TS’s Monthly Wrap-Up : Aug 2022

Hi everyone!  The month of August had been incredible, and not only from the perspective of the great reads that I had as you will see from the ratings of the books below.

What made this month phenomenal for me was The Sandman TV adaptation on Netflix, which is now one of my all favourite adaptations of all-time.  It’s been almost a full month since its release on 5th August, and I’m still obsessed with the show ( and especially with Morpheus, Dream of the Endless, King of Dreams and Nightmares, etc etc).  I loved the audiobook which came out a couple of years ago, but I’ve to say TV show was better.   It was as faithful an adaptation as it could be to fit the medium, and I personally found that the changes that were made served the story better in current times.  I also couldn’t believe that I would ever say I found a better Morpheus than James McAvoy, but Tom Sturridge was simply sublime and beyond perfect for this role.  I’ve rewatched the entire show at least once, and Morpheus’ scenes countless times.

I could keep rambling on and on about The Sandman, and perhaps I might write a post about it later this year.  For now, let’s get back to my bookish monthly wrap-up shall we?

NB. Books are rated within its genre.  For avoidance of doubt, rereads are not considered for Book of the Month.

Read More Read More

TS’s Monthly Wrap-Up : July 2022

TS’s Monthly Wrap-Up : July 2022

Hi everyone, can’t believe that I’m back for another monthly wrap-up so soon.  I’ve been getting back in the groove with some high/epic fantasy books in July, although I did feel a need to switch gears a bit after reading a pretty darn big one, which was none other than the massive sixth book in the Wheel of Time series.

NB. Books are rated within its genre.  For avoidance of doubt, rereads are not considered for Book of the Month.

Read More Read More

TS’s Monthly Wrap-Up : June 2022

TS’s Monthly Wrap-Up : June 2022

Hello everyone!   I did wonder if I should keep up with my monthly wrap-up for June or do a half-year recap of best books read so far.   I decided with stick with the wrap-up in the end as I thought my Books of the Month will end up being on the half-year list anyway.

I can’t believe half of 2022 had passed by already.  Hope that all of you have been reading great books so far this year.    Before I start, can I just say that Stranger Things Season 4 was absolutely phenomenal!  I still can’t stop thinking about it, and that ending.

NB. Books are rated within its genre.  For avoidance of doubt, rereads are not considered for Book of the Month.

Read More Read More