Perfect Beginnings
Overlord
There is no doubt that the first sentence of a novel is important; it’s the hook that draws the reader in. And, when it comes to fantasy and science fiction,…
fantasy
The Rain Wilds Chronicles by Robin Hobb (Spoiler Free Review)
Lew Kelly
Spoilers follow for Hobb’s first, second and third trilogies. No spoilers for the Rain Wilds Chronicles. After the impressive Tawny Man trilogy, Robin Hobb once again switches the action back…
Vicious by V. E. Schwab
Richard Bray
V. E. Schwab’s Vicious is built around a handful of characters with superpowers, but precious few – if any – superheroes. That’s part of what makes it so much fun.…
Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo
Joie
The YA trilogy that started with Shadow and Bone concludes with Ruin and Rising – with quite a few unhappy readers. Apparently, the uproar is over a relationship that didn’t…
Powder Mage Short Stories and Novellas by Brian McClellan
For those awaiting The Autumn Republic, the third and final book in Brian McClellan’s Powder Mage trilogy, February 2015 feels as though it’s a long way away. Fortunately, McClellan has…
Three Parts Dead by Max Gladstone
Nicholas Schmiedicker
Max Gladstone’s Three Parts Dead is fantasy of a different flavor. Instead of taking our world and adding magic (such as Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files or Myke Cole’s Shadow Ops),…
Fantasy and Science Fiction in Anime and Manga – Part One: Historical and Epic Fantasy
Aleksander Cristea
Books, movies, video games are all widely known platforms for science fiction and fantasy. Anime and manga, on the converse, are a less known medium for the genre. Japanese mangaka—manga…
The Vorrh by Brian Catling
Nick Clark
“My name is Muybridge and here’s the answer to the letter you sent my wife.” The trigger pulls, the muzzle flashes, the bullet cracks, and Major Harry Larkyns is dead…
Revisiting Thieves’ World Anthologies
Raymond K. Rugg
Readers of Fantasy-Faction are likely to be familiar with Scott Lynch and his Gentlemen Bastards books. Lynch has a style that is a pleasure to read, and has given us…
The Mirror Empire by Kameron Hurley
Eric Christensen
The Mirror Empire is not an easy read. It’s not a fluffy piece of forgettable fiction you casually pick up in the airport before a long flight. It’s a challenging…
The Truth is a Cave in the Black Mountains: A Tale of Travel and Darkness with Pictures of All Kinds by Neil Gaiman
Aleksandra Kesek
This is a review of the book and the performance which took place on 6th July 2014 in the Usher Hall in Edinburgh. When I was a little girl I…
The Sword – Fantasy’s Weapon of Choice
Samuel S. B.
If you open a fantasy book, or even think of watching one of the fantasy epics on TV, you will know that fantasy is not complete without some form of…