Magical Realm
Magical realism novels depict the world truthfully, plus add magical elements. The fantastical elements aren’t viewed as odd or unique; they’re considered normal in the world in which the story takes place. The genre was born out of the realist art movement and is closely associated with Latin American authors.
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Book Review: A Girl and her Demon
While I wouldn't want to meet Millicent in a dark alley, ever, I found her demon to be rather likeable, in spite of his appetite for knowledge (you'll laugh at that later).
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Book Review: Thorns Among Shadows
I will admit that fantasy is not my most-read genre. For me to give a fantasy story five stars is a big deal, but Thorns Among Shadows earned every one of them.
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Book Review: Bookshops & Bonedust
There's books I read for eyepopping excitement and outrageous plotlines... and there's books I read when I want a literary hug and snuggle.
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Book Review: The Hencha Queen
The Hencha Queen by J. Scott Coatsworth My rating: 5 of 5 stars I dove into the third installment of J. Scott Coatsworth’s Tharassas Cycle series eagerly. Silya’s status as the Hencha Queen…
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Book Review: Bad Boy Wizard #1: The Astral Gatecrashers
Charlie's just your average kid living in a boring village (there's no way a village called Upper Bottom could be exciting), struggling with school and putting up with the most insufferable mom on…
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Book Review: Midnight Blue-Light Special
What a ride! (Or should I say, what a run across the rooftops?) I loved InCryptid #1, Discount Armageddon, so I cracked into Midnight Blue-Light Special with high hopes.
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Book Review: Death and the Taxman
As a fan of Terry Pratchett's version of Death, I was easily pulled into this story by the blurb's promise of death cheating hijinks and hilarity. And as a former cubicle dweller and…
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Book Review: The Gauntlet Runner
Picking up right where The Dragon Eater left off, J. Scott Coatsworth’s The Gauntlet Runner continues the story of Raven, Aik, Silya, and Spin.
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Book Review: Spellbreakers
Author August Niehaus launches her new series, "The Library Attic Collection Presents" with Spellbreakers, a collection of a half-dozen stories. This collection reminded me a little of a Tardis, as it's much bigger…
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Book Review: The Husbands
I'm a sucker for a good book blurb. I know how hard it can be to write one that's short while also compelling. "Do you take this man? No? What about this one?"…
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Book Review: Travel by Bullet (The Dispatcher #3)
While Scalzi always does a great job of coming up with something really unusual for his characters to grapple with, he really outdid himself this time.
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Book Review: The Fairy Bargains of Prospect Hill
The ability to make bargains with the supernatural is a compelling notion. Whether the bargain is made with a jar of graveyard dirt, cat bones, a photograph, and yarrow buried at a crossroads,…
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Book Review: Lost Kingdom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars Laurel Black has created a fantasy tale with a nail-bitingly difficult and twisty quest, multi-faceted dual protagonists, and an impressive array of secondary characters. And, she believes…
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Book Review: Discount Armageddon
The first book in the InCryptid series is also my first introduction to Seanan McGuire, and it's certainly not going to be the last book of hers I read. In fact, I can…
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Book Review: Heir of Uncertain Magic
The second book in the Whimbrel House series picks up where Keeper of Enchanted Rooms left off. Merritt and Hulda's attraction to each other continues moving at a snail's pace towards a full-blown…
- Action and Adventure, Book Reviews, Coming of Age, Fantasy, Magical Realm, Middle Grade, Suspense and Thriller
Book Review: Vera Warden and the Two-Faced Demon
It’s always fun when I’m drawn into a book by its cover… and then find out that the story not only lives up to that cover, but exceeds my expectations. Author J. Rose’s Vera…
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Book Review: Seven Tales From King Arthur’s Court
With endless books being added daily to bookstore shelves (physical and virtual), it's easy to go 'deer in the headlights' while trying to select your next read. You hope it will provide entertainment…
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Book Review: The Insignificance Paradigm
A small act of kindness starts events in the small town of Luitgarde rolling towards a conclusion that nobody (including, hopefully, the reader) saw coming.
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Book Review: The Wizard’s Butler
"He thinks he's a wizard," they said. For five grand a month and a million dollar chaser, Roger Mulligan didn't care how crazy the old geezer was. All he had to do was…
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Book Review: The Last Dragonslayer
My book club chose this as our June read, and wow, am I glad we did. Our discussion was very lively, as all of us agreed that Jasper Fforde has created a fantastic…
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Book Review: Skyseeker’s Princess (Songs of Si’Empra, #1)
Set on Si’Empra, a beautiful but harsh Antarctic island in the Southern Sea, Skyseeker’s Princess introduces us to Ellen, a member of the island’s royal family. Ellen’s destiny was to become the next…
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Book Review: Kinship of a Dragon
Kinship of a Dragon by Charles D. Shell My rating: 5 of 5 stars Even though it’s been years since I read Charles D. Shell’s Dragon Called Blood, the first book in the…
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Book Review: The Witches of Bone Hill
If dark and stormy nights, eccentric Victorian mansions, atmospheric landscapes, chilling family crypts, strong magic, handsome yet brooding groundskeepers, and witchy family legacies appeal to you, this is your next read.
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Book Review: The Book of Gems
The Book of Gems by Fran Wilde My rating: 5 of 5 stars Fran Wilde has a knack for pulling readers under the skin of her well-crafted characters, where we intimately ride out…
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Book Review: Dear Lord Akeldama & Parasolverse Ephemera
Lord Akeldama takes center stage (because of course he does), answering questions posed by real readers of the books set in Gail Carriger's Parasolverse.
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Book Review: A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking
In Mona's world, wizards exist, each with a distinct specialty. Mona's specialty is, well, bread. Actually, she always just says 'bread', but wait till you see what she can do with gingerbread men.
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Book Review: The Dresden Files #5: Death Masks
Someday I'm going to figure out exactly *why* I'm compelled to read The Dresden Files.
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Book Review: Keeper of Enchanted Rooms
This is a book I probably shouldn't have liked... but in spite of that fact, I *loved* it.
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Book Review: The Queen of Clocks and Other Steampunk Tales
I enjoy re-imagined stories. It's fun to see a new twist on an old plot, through fresh writer-eyes. The Queen of Clocks did not disappoint.
- Anthology, Book Reviews, Fantasy, Horror, LGBTQ+, Magical Realm, Science Fiction, Speculative Fiction
Book Review: Clarity
Clarity by J. Scott Coatsworth My rating: 5 of 5 stars How much story can possibly be told in only 300 words? Quite a lot, actually. It’s no small feat to take a…
