Micro-Review Archive

MOREL DILEMMA

by Lindsay Buroker

Miss Gentle and the Case of the Very Flat Monk

by Travis Baldree

A delightful, very short murder mystery about a monk who was murdered by being tossed off a tower. Cute and fun! Classic Baldree!

Theft of Swords

by Michael J Sullivan

Avoided this for a long time because Sullivan's other series are crap. This one is fine. I didn't like how it's effectively two books in one. Book 2 os $10 and…

A TRADE OF BLOOD

by Robert Jackson Bennett

The Ana and Din series is soooo fun. I'm a sucker for murder mysteries, but I'm also a sucker for well-developed secondary worlds. With each book, the world of…

THE LAST CONTRACT OF ISAKO

by Fonda Lee

Hooked me from the start, and I could not put it down. Read it in a day. Lee has created a vivid world of consiglieres in a company town battling for the…

There Be Dragons Here

by S. L. Rowland

A well done cozy that suffers from the same flaw as most cozy fantasties, namely that the protagonists don't _do_ very much. Rather, things happen _to_ them.…

Moss'd In Space

by Rebecca Thorne

Firefly meets sentient moss! I knew from the first chapter that I would enjoy this. This gives me Buroker Star Kingdom vibes, so I'm stoked for the rest of the…

SILVERTHORN

by Raymond E. Feist

Solid entry in the series. Wasn't quite as compelling as the first two, but I can see how it's leading into book four. Onward, Pug!

THE WISDOM OF CROWDS

by Joe Abercrombie

Nobody does violence and despair and pain and horror with just the right touch of comedy as Joe Abercrombie. Truly a masterpiece. I might like it better than…

THE TROUBLE WITH PEACE

by Joe Abercrombie

I blew through this in a day and a half. Savine, Vick, Broad, and Clover are briliantly portrayed characters. Orso and Leo and Rikke, too, but I especially…

A LITTLE HATRED

by Joe Abercrombie

I struggled in the first half, but I loved the second half and went straight to book two. The characters are so believable and riveting. Savine might be my new…

KNEAD FOR SPEED

by Lindsay Buroker

Who would've thought a story about finding ingredients to bake rye bread to appease the troll gods would be so riveting? Super enjoyable read!

CALCULATED WHISK

by Lindsay Buroker

Lindsay's first foray into cozy fantasy! Although I'd argue most of her books are "cozy" in this sense, so it's more of the same. But I loved it. Great story!…

NOBODY TOLD ME DRAGONS USE LIBRARIES

by Lindsay Devin

Quick little romance-lite about a dragon prince and a librarian. I thought it was cute, easy to read, and nice overall. If you want a quick read and like…

THE STONE OF FAREWELL

by Tad Williams

Slow, plodding story, but I enjoyed the Simon and Miriamelle plot lines the best. A few characters I kept forgetting who they were, because nothing seemed to…

KUSHIEL'S AVATAR

by Jacqueline Carey

Phenomenal conclusion to the trilogy. I vividly connected with every character, even the villains. My one nitpick is that this turned into a real-world story…

KUSHIEL'S CHOSEN

by Jacqueline Carey

I forgot how much happened in the first book. A similar amount happens in this one! And the characters are SO memorable. Melisande has to be one of the best…

MAGICIAN: MASTER

by Raymond E. Feist

Fantastic sequel to the first book. If the first book felt a little derivative of normal 80s/90s fantasy, this one really takes it to the next level and to…

BETWEEN TWO FIRES

by Christopher Buehlman

I expected more in the world of Blacktongue Thief, but this is a straight up real-world medieval alternate history adventure. Very much the same vibe though. I…

KATABASIS

by R.F. Kuang

Kuang took the most interesting parts of academia and the most interesting parts of Hell and threw them directly in the trash, then took the scraps of what's…

THE BRIGHT SWORD

by Lev Grossman

I'm a sucker for Arthurian legends, and this is a good take on it. It didn't blow me away, though. There are a lot of flashbacks where you get the backstory of…

A PARADE OF HORRIBLES

by Matt Dinniman

I've been waiting for a year for Book 8, and it does not disappoint. The comedy and action nature of the series is hard to match, and even though I was…

The Blacktongue Thief

by Christopher Buehlman

After enjoying The Daughter's War, I decided to give this one a shot again. I enjoyed it much more the second time around, though I still don't get the hype.…

MAGICIAN: APPRENTICE

by Raymond E. Feist

Dunno how I never read this, but it's a great classic fantasy book... with aliens! Quite good. Looking forward to the rest!

A THOUSAND BRAINS: A NEW THEORY OF INTELLIGENCE

by Jeff Hawkins

The first third is pretty mind-blowing, no pun intended, and led to a lot of revelations about how the brain works. I loved it and recommend it to anyone who…

RYDER

by Jessica Peterson

Just as enjoyable as the rest, but this one felt a little more rushed and contrived than the earlier ones did. Also, I think I'm tired of the trope of 5 horny…

THE FIFTH SEASON

by N.K. Jemisin

This was my second attempt. I DNF'd the first time. I wasn't super impressed this time either. Characters were not really compelling and the worldbuilding felt…

DUKE

by Jessica Peterson

More of the same, which is a good thing. Very predictable books, great characters. Peterson is fantastic at conveying emotional stakes and getting you to care…

SAWYER

by Jessica Peterson

As a parent, this one hit home more than the previous two, but it also came with the same caveats as those as well: cringe sex, but great story. It's…

WARLORDS OF WYRDWOOD

by RJ Barker

This one was as good as the first one, which is to say that it's good... it's just missing something that makes me want to devour it. I'll read the third, but…

WYATT (Lucky River Ranch #2)

by Jessica Peterson

Again, not a huge romance guy, but I do secretly want to be a cowboy, so after reading CASH, I picked this one up. It ticks all the right boxes for a cowboy…

WAR OF THE FLOWERS

by Tad Williams

This was a reread, a favorite of mine from my college years. It's a dark fantasy that follows Theo Vilmos, kind of a loser musician who gets dragged into the…

CASH (Lucky River Ranch #1)

by Jessica Peterson

I secretly want to be a cowboy, and I don't mind a good romance, so I picked this up. It was a fun, light read, with enjoyable characters and a nice setting.…

OPERATION BOUNCE HOUSE

by Matt Dinniman

It's definitely one of the books of all time.

NOT TILL WE ARE LOST

by Dennis Taylor

I like how this one followed mostly different characters from the first four, and we get a glimpse at the larger universe beyond the Bobiverse. Lots of…

HEAVEN'S RIVER

by Dennis Taylor

Where the earlier books focused on the Bob diaspora and sort of interplanetary conflict, this book focused on two main plotlines: Bob's search for Bender, and…

ALL THESE WORLDS

by Dennis Taylor

This book takes the themes from Books 1 and 2 and goes deeper. Howard explores post-death love; Bill and Riker defend humanity; Thor questions their role as…

FOR WE ARE MANY

by Dennis Taylor

Immediately after finishing book 1, I jumped into this, and immediately I was immersed in even more Bobs! Sentient life, logistlca hurdles, moving colonists to…

WE ARE LEGION (We Are Bob)

by Dennis Taylor

I've heard so much about the Bobiverse and, honestly, it's understated. This is a fantastic concept with phenomenal execution. It's funny and sad and weird and…

SPELLFIRE

by Ed Greenwood

I remember loving this as a teenager reading D&D for the first time back in the 90s, but... let's just say it didn't hold up. The love is cringe. They kill…

THE DAUGHTERS' WAR

by Christopher Buehlman

I DNF'd The Blacktongue Thief, but I think I'll have to go back and try again, because I loved this book. It's dark fantasy/horror story with some pretty great…

THE BONE SHARD DAUGHTER

by Andrea G. Stewart

I hate multiple first person POVs, but otherwise I very much enjoyed the series. The magic system is interesting. The plot twists, such as they were, were…

THE HALLOWED HUNT

by Lois McMaster Bujold

The third book in the series was, honestly, a bit of a letdown. The first two books had some continuation that made them feel connected, while the third book…

PALADIN OF SOULS

by Lois McMaster Bujold

Bujold continues the people-possessed-by-demons angle, this time following Ista, a minor character from book 1. The magic mechanics of this book were far more…

THE CURSE OF CHALION

by Lois McMaster Bujold

I'd heard a lot of good things about this one, so I'm thrilled to report that it's fantastic. A court-intrigue drama with gods-touched folks, backstabbing, the…

THE FIRST WITCH OF BOSTON

by Andrea Catalano

Historical fiction about Maggie Jones, first witch executed in Boston. To be honest, more fiction than history, and the writing is fine. If you like historical…

BLOODY ROSE

by Nicholas Eames

I didn't love Kings of the Wyld, so it took me a long time to pick this one up. But Bloody Rose is FANTASTIC. It's everything I want out of a fantasy…

BEWARE OF CHICKEN 5

by casualfarmer

Cozy isekai written with lots of love. My favorite cozy fantasy along with Legends & Lattes. Plus, like, a ninja rooster? What else do I need to say?

IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS

by Hayley Dunlop

If you like Hallmark movies, this is for you. Delightful little rom-com. Less Christmas than promised, but otherwise quite enjoyable. I mentally cast Lacey…

THE HEXOLOGISTS

by Josiah Bancroft

I love Bancroft's prose, and this British-inspired mystery is just what I needed around the holidays. Lovely story, great writing. Worth a read!

EMPIRE OF THE DAWN

by Jay Kristoff

Thou hast best get off thy arse and read this book, or else I shall perish forthwith! HOLY MELODRAMA BATMAN (but so, so good). Fantastic finale to the series.…

BRIGANDS AND BREADKNIVES

by Travis Baldree

Less cozy, but fun adventure with Fern, the bookseller from BOOKSHOPS AND BONEDUST. I loved this one. Might be my favorite of the three!

CALAMITOUS BOB

by Alex Gilbert

A nice little LitRPG romp, if you're into that sort of things. While I enjoyed it a bit, I think this book solidifies my belief that LitRPG isn't really my…

SHADOWS UPON TIME

by Christopher Ruocchio

One of the singular best books I've ever read. I often say that I think books are too verbose or have unnecessary word count. This does not. Every word counts.…

STRENGTH OF THE FEW

by James Islington

First 30% super confusing (you'll see), but boy oh boy, what a fantastic story. I love Islington's complex plots and the way he weaves everything together, and…

NOT MY FIRST (SPACE?) RODEO

by M. Talon

Clearly inspired by Dungeon Crawler Carl, a great little adventure in LitRPG. Probably the second best LitRPG I've read (not a fan of the genre, in general.)…

GODS OF THE WYRDWOOD

by RJ Barker

More like Gods of the Weird Book, amirite? I'm having a hard time describing this book. Supernatural woods, forester with magic, chatty monk, bad guys, archery…

A DEADLY EDUCATION

by Naomi Novik

Not what I expected. Classic dark academia, though. Great writing, great characters. Minor nitpicks and complaints about pacing, but otherwise solid story.

THE SANHEDRIN CHRONICLES

by J.S. Gold

Jewish Demon Hunters. What else do I need to say? Quite a gripping story, albeit a little too religious for me. Saw a few typos in the manuscript as well,…

CONFESSIONS OF A TRASH DROID: FATAL ERROR

by Michael Cheney

Fun novella that wishes it were Murderbot. Tries a bit too hard to be funny and half the jokes don't land, but otherwise it's a great little adventure. Worth a…

SPEAR CUTS THROUGH WATER

by Simon Jiminez

Got 15% of the way through and DNF'd. Not my jam. Too hard to follow, with no chapter breaks, rapidly shifting POVs, a disjointed narrative. Bummer, because I…

TESTED BY TEMPTATION

by Lindsay Buroker

Great conclusion to the series with a bonus short story! I wasn't crazy about the dark elf plot and I thought the dragon plot felt a little rushed, but what a…

PURSUED BY PERIL

by Lindsay Buroker

Look, what can I say? I can't get enough of Val and Zavryd from Death before Dragons, but Arwen and Azerdash are fast becoming favorites. Plus, who amongst us…

DRIVEN BY DESTINY

by Lindsay Buroker

Onto book 3! This series is like episodes of your favorite TV show, you just go straight onto the next. Lively, fun, energetic. Highly recommend reading this…

BOUND BY BLOOD

by Lindsay Buroker

Went straight to book 2, following Arwen and friends as they hunt down more dark elves. I love the banter, the silliness, and how much Lindsay just embraces…

MARKED BY MAGIC

by Lindsay Buroker

After a long hiatus, jumping back to one of my favorite authors in the world of Death Before Dragons, this time tracking (ha!) a half-dark-elf farmer and her…

FATE'S BANE

by C.L. Clark

i just finished fate’s bane and i need everyone to understand that cherae committed emotional violence in 166 pages. don’t look it up. go in blind. just…

RISE OF ENDYMION

by Dan Simmons

It's been a long ass time since I got so immersed in a new world. Absolutely phenomenal conclusion to the quartet (Cantos, if you will). Loved it from start to…

ENDYMION

by Dan Simmons

Fast forward a few hundred years and the galaxy has CHANGED, MAN, CHANGED. This is a rip-roaring adventure through the ruins of the civilization from Books 1 &…

THE FALL OF HYPERION

by Dan Simmons

Picks up right where the first book left off, and it gets even crazier. I was hooked and couldn't put it down.

HYPERION

by Dan Simmons

I feel terrible for not having read this before, but it's absolutely fantastic. There's a reason it's at the top of the "best scifi books ever" lists year…

IRON WIDOW

by Xiran Jay Zhao

Phenomenal story--not at all what I was expecting. A Chinese history-inspired futuristic scifi with kaiju robots? And a protagonist who, simply, does not give…

WORLDBREAKER

by Kaitlyn Bellamy

The first four were almost swashbuckling adventures, where book 5 went into more meta-exploration of the magic system. Felt like a lot was ret-conned. The…

BEWARE OF CHICKEN 4

by casualfarmer

This one centers around the source of Jin's power, and there's a big reveal about the nature of the world that has been forgotten. Add in cozy, heart-warming…

BEWARE OF CHICKEN 3

by casualfarmer

We finally get to the "world gets bigger" portion of the story! Super fun dueling tournament! I love how positive and uplifting this story is. If you like…

ALCHEMY AND A CUP OF TEA

by Rebecca Thorne

Delightful conclusion to the Tomes & Tea series! If you like cozy fantasy with a dash of adventure, a plot where -- for once -- the romance isn't the hard…

KUSHIEL'S DART

by Jacqueline Carey

Finally got around to reading this. It's very long, and it's got some messed up elements. But it's also incredibly well written and emotionally powerful.…

BEWARE OF CHICKEN 2

by casualfarmer

Again, a silly book. The rooster and fish go off on a separate adventures; the cat is jealous of the houseguest; the camera is invented. I mean... I enjoyed it.

BEWARE OF CHICKEN

by casualfarmer

Quite possibly one of the silliest books I've read. A xianxia (think Dragon Ball Z) world in which the MC (think: Goku) retires to be a farmer and accidentally…

THE RAVEN SCHOLAR

by Antonia Hodgson

"I'd say this was the best book I've read this year, except that I've read a LOT of VERY GOOD BOOKS" out of 10.

THE VERY SECRET SOCIETY OF IRREGULAR WITCHES

by Sangu Mandanna

PROJECT HAIL MARY

by Andy Weir

After The Martian, I had high hopes. I really enjoyed the story. I found the voice a bit irritating, but all's well that ends well, eh? Great book. Now I want…

ARTIFICIAL CONDITION

by Martha Wells

SEAL OF THE WORM

by Adrian Tchaikovsky

OK, I've never read a book series this long that absolutely NAILS the ending! What a fantastic series. If you want a wildly imaginative world with heartfelt…

WAR MASTER'S GATE

by Adrian Tchaikovsky

The penultimate book in the series raises the stakes even higher, with yet another war on Collegium. Most of our friends are dead, but the story must go on…

A HAUNT FOR JACKALS

by J.L. Odom

Went straight to book 2 and it did not disappoint! Great military fantasy with characters you actually care about. Looking forward to book 3!

THE AIR WAR

by Adrian Tchaikovsky

Look, a fantasy blitzkrieg sounds crazy, but when you throw in spies and orthopters and magic? It's pretty frickin' awesome. Plus, we get some foreshadowing of…

HEIRS OF THE BLADE

by Adrian Tchaikovsky

Accidentally bought two Broken Binding editions of this. Anyone want to buy the other off me? Fantastic continuation of the story where Tynisa confronts her…

THE SEA WATCH

by Adrian Tchaikovsky

It's been a long time since I've read a series this consistently good. The world of the Apt (and Inapt!) expands... under the sea! (under the sea!) Fantastic…

THE DEVILS

by @joeabercrombie.com

14/10, no notes. Who's my favorite character? Whichever one I'm reading. Seriously, drop everything, go read this. Phenomenal.

A DROP OF CORRUPTION

by Robert Jackson Bennett

If I could give it a 12/10, I would. Hell, it's my feed, I can do what I want. 12/10, no notes.

THE BOOK THAT HELD HER HEART

by Mark Lawrence

I really enjoyed the first two books, so was super excited for the ending. I enjoyed it, it's worth reading, but the ending wasn't very satisfying to me. Kind…

LABYRINTH'S HEART

by M.A. Carrick

Super satisfying conclusion to the story. If you like Dickens, Batman/Catwoman, tarot cards, and/or Eastern European influences, this is a good series for you.

THE LIAR'S KNOT

by M.A. Carrick

I enjoyed this one a bit more than book one! Few new characters, but the primary characters are getting deeper and more nuanced. The magic expands a bit, too,…

THE MASK OF MIRRORS

by M.A. Carrick

An enjoyable adventure with a Bridgerton feel in an Eastern European-style locale. Tarot magic, masked hero, con artists. It's got it all. Worth a read if this…

A BRIEF HISTORY OF CHRONOMANCY

by Andrew Rowe

Excellent addition to the Arcane Ascension series. If you like hard magic systems (Sanderson) and progression fantasy (Cradle), this might be up your alley!…

TEA YOU AT THE ALTAR

by Rebecca Thorne

Look, y'all, I read this in one sitting. It's that good. Reyna (more like "Reina", amirite?) and Kianthe are adorable. The in-law meeting def came from real…

GUARD IN THE GARDEN

by Z.S. Diamanti

Read this from a local Denver author. Very cute, cozy fantasy about an injured dwarf who discovers the joys of small town life. Delightful and fun! If you…

THE SCARAB PATH

by Adrian Tchaikovsky

This one follows a narrower scope of characters (albeit the best ones) and reminds me a bit of a Stargate episode, though obviously fantasy and with no Teal'c…

ONYX STORM

by Rebecca Yarros

Look, these books have no right to be this good. I'm low key kinda mad I gotta wait for the next one.

IRON FLAME

by Rebecca Yarros

Actually really liked this one! What's not to love about dragon riders and love polygons?

THE FOURTH WING

by Rebecca Yarros

Better than Stormlight. Don't @ me.

SALUTE THE DARK

by Adrian Tchaikovsky

Well... this just ratcheted the stakes up to the next level. Not going to spoil anything, but clearly NOBODY IS SAFE. Also, uh, more gladiator stuff, please.…

BLOOD OF THE MANTIS

by Adrian Tchaikovsky

This Shadow Box is super intriguing. The war against the Wasps gets bigger! I love the characterization of the Spiderlands, very Locke Lamora-y. And I love how…

DRAGONFLY FALLING

by Adrian Tchaikovsky

At no point did I have any idea what was going to happen next, but I'm SO EXCITED FOR THE SPIDERLANDS. Also, Totho can kiss my butt. Jerk. This year's reading…

THE YOU YOU ARE: A SPIRITUAL BIOGRAPHY OF YOU

by Dr Ricken Lazlo Hale, PhD

Brilliant and disturbing at all once. I award no stars and pray that someone invents time travel so I can get these 30 minutes back in my life.…

THE SOVEREIGN

by C.L. Clark

I had the great pleasure of reading this book early. It's phenomenal, one of those "the best book is the third book" trilogies. I wrote the author a 10 page…

EMPIRE IN BLACK & GOLD

by Adrian Tchaikovsky

Phenomenal. Wildly imaginative, creative, and the action is non-stop. Actual sentences and coherent prose and plots without fart jokes! This is a sleeper…

SHADOW & CLAW

by Gene Wolfe

Heard great things! I enjoy the main character, but the story's a bit too weird for me. Probably not going to continue.

WIND AND TRUTH

by Brandon Sanderson

There’s a solid 400 page book in here somewhere.

THE LIONS OF AL-RASSAN

by Guy Gavriel Kay

THIS INEVITABLE RUIN

by Matt Dinniman

"You've been cursed: if you get an erection, your dick will fall off." Need I say more? Five stars. Read this series now.

EMPIRE OF THE DAMNED

by Jay Kristoff

Fantastic sequel to the first book! This is officially my favorite take on vampires. Really engaging, and I love it. Not a huge fan of the story-within-a-story…

THE FIREBORN BLADE

by Charlotte Bond

Fun little story about knights that slay dragons. Format has a reference book-style entry about various dragon slayers and their gruesome deaths, with other…

THE PRICE OF SPRING

by Daniel Abraham

This is one of the better series I've ever read, with Book 4 solidifying itself as an amazing series. It has some Jade City vibes, if you like that. One…

AN AUTUMN WAR

by Daniel Abraham

Book 3 was dope. This time it has all-out war, with highly complex characters and backstabbing and intrigue and... well, let's just say I didn't see the end…

A BETRAYAL IN WINTER

by Daniel Abraham

Book two rocked, even better than the first. An Asian-inspired succession plotline with lots of murder and mistaken identity. Very good. Onto book 3!

A SHADOW IN SUMMER

by Daniel Abraham

I loved The Expanse, and Abraham is one half of James S.A. Corey, so I obviously had to read this series. I didn't expect it to be so Asian-inspired, but I dig…

TESTED

by Lindsay Buroker

Book 4 comes hot off the heels of book 3, and Matti and her almost-boyfriend elven assassin have to somehow get into the dwarven kingdom... whose princess…

TROLLED

by Lindsay Buroker

Matti and her buff assassin bf try to track down her missing mother, but run into TROLLS. The action kicks up a notch, the sexual tension grows, and the…

BETRAYED

by Lindsay Buroker

The enemies start to have FEELINGS. The best part of the trope, tbh. This book hit all the right beats and satisfies my urban fantasy itch. I love the take on…

HAMMERED

by Lindsay Buroker

A sequel series to my favorite DEATH BEFORE DRAGONS, starring a new witty half-dwarf and an elf assassin. I love enemies-to-lovers trope, snarky heroines, and…

HE WHO DROWNED THE WORLD

by Shelly Parker-Chan

OMG. Well, let me put it this way. I stayed up til 2am to finish this and my bedtime is normally 11pm, so... yeah. It's great. Go read SHE WHO BECAME THE SUN.…

PERDIDO STREET STATION

by China Mieville

Excellent worldbuilding, good prose, meh plot. Didn't like it much.

ASHES OF MAN

by Christopher Ruocchio

Ruocchio is vying for a close second place to Robin Hobb for exemplifying the phrase "kill your darlings." The horrors that Hadrian has been through is…

KINGDOMS OF DEATH

by Christopher Ruocchio

The Sun Eater saga continues to amaze me. Epic scifi storytelling. Aliens, religion, worldbuilding, carnage. It's powerful and moving, as well. I was near…

THE 5 SENTENCE METHOD: WRITE YOUR DAMN BOOK ALREADY

by Rebecca Thorne

A short craft book on Becca's writing method. It's basically a style that should theoretically work perfectly for a wanna be plantser like me. I'll give it a…

THE WILL OF THE MANY

by James Islington

I picked this up because it was highly rated across the board, and this did NOT disappoint. It definitely has some Red Rising Book 1 meets Sun Eater book 1…

SPELLMAKER

by Charlie N Holmberg

Excellent sequel to SPELLBREAKER (see last year's list). Ups the ante on the romance, doubles down on the thriller aspect, and a creative magic system to boot.…

WARFORMED: STORMWEAVER

by Bryce O'Connor

Book 2 of the incredible Iron Prince series. I was RIVETED for all 1000 pages. It's like the scifi version of Cradle -- arguably better! If you like Cradle or…