Servant of the Underworld by Aliette de Bodard
Hannah
Servant of the Underworld is set in Mexico’s 15th century Aztec empire where life revolves around Gods, and sacrificial offerings are part of everyday existence. As High Priest for the…
Hero Spectrum: Beyond the White Hat
Amy Rose Davis
Two weeks ago, I wrote about the ingredients for a hero, and I think it’s cool that someone asked about how not-so-clean-cut heroes fit into my list of ingredients. This…
Who is Sandra Norval?
Sandra Norval
Who the Hell is Sandra Norval? Well, exactly! I am a writer, author, novelist, whatever you want to call me, I write stuff. One day I hope to get stuff…
Picking a World
Thomas A. Knight
So you’ve decided to write a fantasy novel, but the big question on your mind is: “What fantasy world do I set it in?” This is an important question to…
Subgenre Bingo – Epic Fantasy
Liz Fellshot Ambrose
Welcome back to my series of bingo/identification cards for random amusement and ease of subgenre identification. All previous disclaimers about this not being a definitive list, and that opinions may…
The Many Faces Of Fantasy
David Carani
Consider the number of subgenres in fantasy. Depending on who you talk to, there are anywhere from five to ten to fifteen (more depending on how specific you would like…
Avoid Rejection – Editors’ Pet Peeves
Lady Rosalie Skinner
Hi, my name is Rosalie and I am the first to admit there is a lot about writing I don’t know. There is however, a lot I have learned about…
His Majesty’s Dragon by Naomi Novik
Chelsea Haller
I was handed this book by my husband and was told that I would like it. I was a little unsure of this since there were many history references along…
The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly
Jamie Provencher
The first time I ‘read’ The Book of Lost Things, I was on an eight-hour trip from Maine to Ithaca, NY. Before I left, I stopped by Borders, and searched…
Keeping Fantasy Fresh – The Sands of Time
Ben Godby
You can read Part One of this series here. As long as the genres have been divided, fantasy has always stood in opposition to science fiction. A sweeping glance across…
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
Overlord
There has not been a book over the last decade that has brought about as much response as Patrick Rothfuss’s The Name of the Wind. Released in 2007, this book…
Twilight’s Dawn by Anne Bishop
Kit
Editor’s Note: If you’re offended or triggered by sexuality, fictional genitalia, discussion of rape, childbirth, or murder, I do NOT recommend you read this novel (or any novel of this…