Fantasy Hardships

This is a blog dedicated to reviewing fantasy novels and the occasional science-fiction work. If it's daring, innovative, or shrewdly bends existing tropes, chances are good I'll love it.

Today

November

02

April2015

28

updated shelf:

Ascendancy (The Godswar Saga) (Volume 1) - Jennifer Vale

REVIEW: Ascendancy (The Godswar Saga #1) by Jennifer Vale

This is a typical fantasy novel that doesn't stand out in any way. It's solid enough, but relies too much on standard fantasy tropes (like elves and dragons) to be anything bu...

Ascendancy (The Godswar Saga) (Volume 1) - Jennifer Vale

April2015

20

updated shelf:

Born under Bone (Elements of the Æther Book 3) - Marin Wyden, Richard Sheehan, Sally Evans-Darby, Joe Pee

REVIEW: Born under Bone (Elements of the Æther #3) by Marin Wyden

This review assumes you read the two previous books. First things first. Even though it's the third book of the series, most characters from the first two books won't be rea...

Born under Bone (Elements of the Æther Book 3) - Marin Wyden, Richard Sheehan, Sally Evans-Darby, Joe Pee

April2015

15

REVIEW: Fire and Dust (Elements of the Æther #2) by Marin Wyden

This review assumes you read Shadow of the Candle. An excellent continuation of the first book. The cast is joined by two more point of view characters who each bring anothe...

Fire and Dust (Elements of the Æther Book 2) - Marin Wyden

April2015

13

REVIEW: Shadow of the Candle (Elements of the Æther #1) by Marin Wyden

I read this book last year, but with the recent release of the third book I decided to do a proper review. To get right to it, this book is one of the best fantasy novels I ...

Shadow of the Candle (Elements of the Æther Book 1) - Marin Wyden, Sally Evans-Darby, Richard Sheehan, Joe Pee

April2015

12

text: REVIEW: The Crucible of Empire (Jao Empire #1) by Eric Flint and K.D. Wentworth

Not much to say about this. It's your regular human race hero trip, which is suitable for Eric Flint who writes 'rah rah rah!' stories like they're candy. Yet where in his oth...

The Crucible of Empire - Eric Flint, K.D. Wentworth

April2015

08

updated shelf:

Fire and Dust (Elements of the Æther Book 2) - Marin Wyden

updated shelf:

Shadow of the Candle (Elements of the Æther Book 1) - Marin Wyden, Sally Evans-Darby, Richard Sheehan, Joe Pee

updated shelf:

The Just City - Jo Walton

REVIEW: The Just City by Jo Walton

The story follows various people who take part in an experiment, set up by Greek gods, Athena and Apolla to recreate Plato's Republic. The writing style is solid and there i...

The Just City - Jo Walton

April2015

02

updated shelf:

This is Not a Test - Courtney Summers

REVIEW: This Is Not A Test by Courtney Summers

I read this on a whim and can be pretty brief about it. The story is simplistic, events coincidental and disjointed and all dipped in layers of teenage angst. Or in other word...

This is Not a Test - Courtney Summers

March2015

09

updated shelf:

Half the World (Shattered Sea) - Joe Abercrombie

REVIEW: Half the World (Shattered Sea #2) by Joe Abercrombie

I'm having a few busy weeks so I won't update as often this month. In the first book we followed the coming of age of Yarvi. In this book he's no longer the protagonist, ins...

Half the World (Shattered Sea) - Joe Abercrombie

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