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Nerds of a Feather review Rupert Wong: Cannibal Chef

We do love a good review, especially when it seems to understand what a book was driving at.

And so it was with Nerds of a Feather’s review of Cassandra Khaw’s really quite brilliant Rupert Wong: Cannibal Chef, a title that came to us via our open subs month and which has made us feel all warm and happy inside. And a little bit wrong, of course, because that’s how we like it. 

So, why not go and have a read of the review – which calls Rupert Wong: Cannibal Chef “fun and funny and charming, but it is also subversive as hell and exquisitely pointed,” – and then come back here and buy it. You know you want to really…

Rupert Wong: Cannibal Chef is out now!
Buy: eBook

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THE AWESOME: review round-up

THE AWESOME review round-up

“THE AWESOME does not merely live up to its name, but in fact, speeds past it at the speed of a crossbow bolt slamming into a vampire’s breastbone.” – Chuck Wendig, author of the Miriam Black series

“Piercing and brutally funny—I wish I’d had Darrows to read when I was a teen.” – Lilith Saintcrow, author of the Dante Valentine series

“The story is imaginative, the suspense is taut and the action sequences are worthy of Joss Whedon. I’m onboard for any and all sequels.” -James A. Moore author of the Seven Forges series

“Maggie’s profanity-laced, snarky, deeply loving, yet antagonistic relationship with her mother is delightful.” – Kirkus Starred Review

“Blisteringly funny and unrepentantly crass, Maggie’s hard-edged narration is the soul of Maggie’s story, which thoughtfully explores her complicated relationships with her boyfriend and take-no-prisoners mother.” – Publishers Weekly Starred Review

“THE AWESOME is wickedly smart and horrific but hilarious… You all are going to LOVE this book.” – Fangirlish

“The best thing I can say is I wish I had this book when I was a teenager… THE AWESOME delivers exactly what the title promises. Buy it now.” – YA Asylum

“With any luck, THE AWESOME will be the start of a great new series. Certainly they are enough plot threads left dangling to make for a sequel… THE AWESOME does what it sets out to, and if you like Urban Fantasy, then you should give it a look.” – Starburst Magazine

“I LOVE The Awesome. Eva Darrows is on my must-read list. 5/5” – Dark Matter Zine

“Maggie Cunningham is the foul-mouthed little sister to Chuck Wendig’s Miriam Black with a dash of Joss Whedon.” – A Measure of Strangeness

“It’s its own genre. Genre Awesome.” – Istyria Book Review

“If you are looking for a book that will provide hours of entertainment, a good ab workout from the laughs, and a fantastic story, look no further.” – Xpresso Reads

“The Awesome really is a killer read, it is funny, it’s fast paced, spunky and a little scary in bits, it is like a cross between Supernatural and the early Southern Vampire series novels that have been jammed in a blender with a shed load of vodka and spice. 5/5” – Random Redhead Ramblings

“Darrows has a killer knack for character development…  It’s a YA book that anyone can enjoy.” – Atomic Fangirl

“The Awesome is a nonstop fun express – poking fun at everything including itself.  A protagonist that I look forward to meeting again soon.” – Smorgasbord Fantasia

“This book is kind of like a Buffy the Vampire Slayer story, but revitalized” – Mentor’s Reading

“A really fun mix of genres that is best described as Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Gilmore Girls having a weird kid that turns out to be Superbad.” – The Artolater

“This has to be one of the very best paranormal books I have ever read… a must read!” – Skeena and a Book

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Review Round Up: Signal to Noise

Out now, Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s debut novel Signal to Noise is a beautiful literary fantasy about music, magic and Mexico:

Mexico City, 1988: Long before iTunes or MP3s, you said “I love you” with a mixtape.

Meche, awkward and fifteen, has two equally unhip friends – Sebastian and Daniela – and a whole lot of vinyl records to keep her company. When she discovers how to cast spells using music, the future looks brighter for the trio. The three friends will piece together their broken families, change their status as nonentities,and maybe even find love…

Mexico City, 2009: Two decades after abandoning the metropolis, Meche returns alone for her estranged father’s funeral.

It’s hard enough to cope with her family, but then she runs into Sebastian, reviving memories from a childhood she thought she buried a long time ago. What really happened back then? What precipitated the bitter falling out with her father? Is there any magic left?

Here are just some of the lovely things people have been saying about it so far:

“Haunting and beautifully nuanced, Signal to Noise is a magical first novel.”
The Guardian

“One of the outstanding debut fantasy novels this year.”
Chicago Tribune

“You’ve never read a book about Magic and Loss like Signal to Noise
i09

“This accurate depiction of outcast teenage life cycles effortlessly between eras. Meche, Sebastian, and Daniela are deeply believable characters, and numerous ’80s musical references make this unusual story a welcome blast from the past.”
Publisher’s Weekly

“Fans of Eleanor and Park, meet Meche and Sebastian.”
Schools Library Journal

“The power of music and its effect on people is at the heart of Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s Signal to Noise.”
– Strange Horizons

“I know it’s very early in the year but I can already tell this is one of the Notable Reads of 2015.”
Kirkus Reviews

“In a poignant, graceful coda, Moreno-Garcia brings the book full circle, slyly subverting the expectations of a linear narrative and punctuating Meche’s story with a hushed, lovely flourish. In many ways, Signal to Noise is a coming-of-age tale, but it’s also the tale of what comes after — and what happens when forces beyond our control, magical or otherwise, are better left that way.”
NPR

“Moreno-Garcia has a solid and convincing prose style, robust and subtle in all the right places… a successful debut, and a very interesting book.”
Tor.com

“If you like well drawn characters, cool tunes and lashing and lashings of nostalgia, then you should check this out.”
Starburst Magazine

Signal to Noise is an utterly gorgeous book, and will make you want to get out your old turntable and records and give them a spin or two (or three.) Don’t miss out on this one.”
– My Bookish Ways

“Suffused with the music – English-language and Spanish, pop and punk – that Meche and friends use to make their magic and soundtrack to their lives, this is both a spiky and charmingly sweet romance of making amends and starting again. 4 stars.”
– SFX Magazine

Kirkus Reviews top SFF picks for February

“Beautiful, descriptive language and authentic character banter are both essential parts of Moreno-Garcia’s lyrical storytelling… Refreshing, lively and unique, Moreno-Garcia’s debut novel is a triumph. 4 ½ Stars”
– RT Book Reviews, Top Pick review

“This book is about mood, about adolescence and adulthood, about growing up and accepting loss and a whole lot of other things. It’s solid and intense… Signal to Noise is an amazing read.”
Nerds Feather

“I don’t feel like I’ve been peering over someone’s shoulder into a brand-new world. Instead it feels like Moreno-Garcia has peeled back a curtain that lets me see what’s been hiding in this one all along.”
– Lisa Shininger

“Each of the two temporal layers is interesting in its own right but is, of course, enriched by the information given in the complementary one. The few cross-overs between them, allowed by magic, are a quite elegant touch. The frequent dialogues in the narration are always believable and often amusing. Moreno-Garcia succeeds at the very difficult task of convincingly giving voice to both teenage and adult characters.”
Future Fire

“What’s particularly wonderful about Signal to Noise is that this is a novel about Mexican kids living in Mexico City. It mentions Timbiriche and Los Fabulosos Cadillacs as well as Billy Idol and Joy Division. Silvia Moreno-Garcia, who writes in her bio she is “Mexican by birth and Canadian by inclination,” delivers a reading experience full of cultural references that are often sorely missing from the genre.”
Far Beyond Reality

“This is the book that rocketed me out of a reading slump when I zipped through it in 24 hours… a great coming-of-age story that isn’t YA, but I think would definitely appeal to YA readers and adult readers alike.”
The Book Riot

“An evocative, powerful, and beautiful tale of magic, dreams, love and hate, betrayal and redemption, this book is heartbreaking and heartwarming, and one of the best I have read so far this year.”
– The Book Adventures

“It’s rare to find a book that captures both the feeling of a teenager and the feeling of looking back on that time in a way that isn’t all sunshine and roses… The characters are messy and complex, the music evocative, and the magic shines through all of it.”
sepiidae

“Readers can expect to feel every one of Meche’s mistakes and heartbreaks as if it were their own… [a] heartwarming masterpiece.”
– Gnome Reviews

Signal to Noise is a fun, peculiar novel. It’s magical in and of itself, enjoyable, and you can’t help but feel captivated by the plight of the awkward trio”
Readcommendations

Signal To Noise isn’t a flashy novel, or one that is particularly trying to impress you with its theatrics; it’s a very human, personal novel, a beautiful and painful story about love, loss, family, friendship, and the idea of home.”
INTELLECTUS SPECULATIVUS

“Unusually accurate portrayal of Mexican pop culture (and the 1980s) as the backdrop for a coming-of-age story with magic and lots of music. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoyed Jo Walton’s ‘Among Others’.”
murmuju

“Apart from the excellent characters, the novel manages (at least for me) to give a very good impression of how life for a teenager in 80s Mexico City might have been like.”
– Reading SFF

“breathtakingly perfect”
– A.C. Wise

Signal to Noise is an original, unique, and compelling début novel and a wonderful introduction to the work of Silvia Moreno-Garcia.”
– Urban Fantasy Magazine

“If you like Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell, read Signal to Noise by Silvia Moreno-Garcia”
– The Moor Maiden

“This is a Mexico City that its residents live and love in, a mysterious place to a gringo americano, but it’s simply a Home, like barrios we grew and grow up in. Abject realism, centered on the characters.”
La Bloga

“Unusual and intellectual fantasy fare.”
– Strange Charm Books

“An evocative, powerful, and beautiful tale of magic, dreams, love and hate, betrayal and redemption, this book is heartbreaking and heartwarming, and one of the best I have read so far this year.”
– Live to Read

And finally don’t forget to check out the book’s goodreads page where the good vibes continue to roll in!

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Shadowboxer review round up

Shadowboxer by Tricia Sullivan review round up

“In this adrenaline-fueled supernatural adventure… Sullivan brings to life the beauty of Thailand and the sweat and blood of the gym, infusing them with magic and danger.” – Publishers Weekly

“Mixed martial arts, Thai legend and human trafficking come together in this gritty fantasy adventure… Jade’s strength and tenacity make her an appealing protagonist—and it’s refreshing to see a black Latina lead, given their rarity in fiction for teens.” – Kirkus Reviews

“Enjoyable characters with depth, interesting and unexpected plotting, terrific and knowing writing.” – Geek Syndicate

“Shadowboxer is a sumptuously layered novel with complexities that would appeal to fantasy aficionados. Never travelling the path most taken, Shadowboxer blazes its own trail.” – Marianne de Pierres’ Escape Club

“Exciting, energetic and just down right brilliant.” – Juniper’s Jungle

“Shadowboxer is compulsively readable, dragging the reader through the novel.” – Intellectus Speculativus

“Its quirky, it has some wonderful twists, a tale that was hard to put down.” Falcata Times

“Jade was my favorite part of the book though. I loved her warm relationship with her cousin, I loved her ongoing determination… [and] I loved her relationships with the other fighters.” – Library Hungry

4 stars – litpick

“If you’re looking for bloody and well written fight-scenes in your bedside reading, Shadowboxer is for you.” – Memories of Lives left behind

“Jade… sprinkle[s] just the right amount of action, humor, and heart.” – The Artolater

“The best parts of the book, aside from the lessons about strength and self-determination for girls and young women, reside in the poetic descriptions of Mya’s magical realm, and the vivid visceral descriptions of Jade’s training and fights.” – Steven Shaviro, GoodReads

“Simply put, I loved this book, was sorry that it ended, and would read more in a heartbeat.” – Outlaw Poet, GoodReads

“It was really great finding a book like this, something totally unique… so well done I am dying for more.” Netgalley bookseller

“A genuinely kick-ass protagonist with personality.” – Lauren Beukes, author of Broken Monsters

“If someone doesn’t turn Shadowboxer into a kickass martial arts film there’s no justice.” – Jon Courtenay Grimwood, author of the Blade trilogy

“One to look out for.” – Adrian Tchaikovsky, best-selling author of the Shadows Apt series

“Truly excellent.” – Juliet E McKenna

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Publication day review round up: Two Hundred and Twenty-One Baker Streets

Order Two Hundred and Twenty-One Baker Streets: UK | USDRM-free eBook

“Plenty to write Holmes about… Holmes is like the Doctor – geeky, dangerous, supremely intelligent.” – SFX Magazine

“No one can deny the cleverness of this collection and as a casual fan, it has inspired me to read the original Doyle novels. 9/10” – The Cult Den

“It’s the sheer quality of this storytelling ability—by this handful of authors—that makes Two Hundred and Twenty-One Baker Streets a cut-above the rest” – Spec Fiction Hub

Two Hundred and Twenty-One Baker Streets is a worthy addition to the ever-expanding universe of Arthur Conan Doyle’s creation.” – Criminal Element

“Precise and neat yet immensely engaging, it’s a great example of the craft of short story telling” – The Book Beard

“This anthology is for any Sherlock Holmes fan; there’s something here for everyone, and the writing is just that damn good.” – Ventureadlaxre

“Two Hundred And Twenty-One Baker Streets has a story for everyone. It’s full of brilliantly written tales that any fan of Sherlock can appreciate.” – Readingbifrost

“Excellent book written from a new angle. A really great book that keeps you wanting to read on until the end. The modern day setting gives the book a more realistic storyline that will be popular with readers of all ages in contrast to the usual Victorian London background.” – Catherine Bryce, netgalley

“With such a wide array of stories about Holmes in this anthology there truly is something for everyone. If you’re a fan of Sherlock Holmes then I highly recommend that you check out this anthology ASAP.” – Bibliognome

“Great addition to my Holmes collection!” – Lauren Koller, netgalley

“LOVED this book. As a fan of Sherlock Holmes, I enjoyed seeing him and Dr. Watson in alternate scenarios… Recommended for all lovers of Holmes & Watson!” – Kelli Kohrherr, netgalley librarian

“The imaginative stories about Sherlock Holmes and his down-to-earth counterpart, Doctor Watson, make for compelling reading.” – L. Wayne Hicks, netgalley

“The quality of the writing is universally excellent” – Tea, Talks, Books

“A good selection of stories… I definitely recommend it to Sherlock Holmes fans.” – Take a walk on the writeside

“All-in-all a fine idea, well edited and presented.” – something interesting this way comes

“Most of the stores I was sad to see end so quickly. I have read all of the original Holmes stores written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and I found these to be complimentary of those original works. 4/5” – John Purvis

“With such diversity, there will certainly be something here for everyone. And so, whether you are a traditionalist or more experimental when it comes to the Holmes canon, you should definitely give this anthology a try.” – Nicki J Marcus

“Highly recommended to all Sherlock fans, looking for something different.” – Mark Coulter, netgalley

“What a great collection of short stories. The diversity of characters and settings is fantastic. This is a great resource for studies of reversioning. It’s also very entertaining.” – Trish Lunt, netgalley educator

“If you like all (or most) things Sherlock, then you’ll want to read this book.” – Second Bookshelf on the Right

For more information on Two Hundred and Twenty-One Baker Streets hit the navigation tag at the top of the post to find related posts and title info!

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Nyctophobia Review Round-Up

Newly-married architect Callie and her wealthy husband Mateo move to Hyperion House, a grand old home in southern Spain. It’s an eccentric place built in front of a cliff: serene and beautiful, but eerily symmetrical, and cunningly styled so that half the house is flooded with light, and half – locked up and neglected – is shrouded in darkness. Unemployed and feeling isolated in a foreign country, Callie determines to research the history of the curious building.

But the past is sometimes best left alone. Uncovering the folklore of the house’s strange history, Callie is drawn into darkness and delusion. As a teenager Callie was afraid of the dark, and now with her adolescent nyctophobia returning she becomes convinced there’s someone in the darkened rooms. Somewhere in the darkness lies the truth about Hyperion House.

But some doors should never be opened.

REVIEWS

“As with the best supernatural stories, Fowler demonstrates that the medium – as well as chilling the blood – can be a repository for some truly elegant writing.” – The Independent

“Where it wins out is in its deeply uneasy atmosphere, and Fowler’s assured, witty prose.” 4/5 – SFX

“Fowler has managed to come up with some very neat twists and frissons on this archetypical theme. The novel provides lots of quiet discomfort without gratuitous splatter or nastiness, and that’s rare in today’s marketplace.” – Locus Magazine

“As the nights draw closer and everything gets colder, sometimes the thing you really need is a nicely-paced ghost story to help you go and make friends with the winter months. Nyctophobia is Christopher Fowler’s latest horror novel and it’s just the thing for dark nights. – 8/10” – Starburst Magazine

“Fowler demonstrates that the medium – as well as chilling the blood – can be a repository for some truly elegant writing.” – Crime Time

“This is a creepy, atmospheric tale that blends the psychological and the supernatural effortlessly. If you’re in the mood for a ghost story that is going to make the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end, then look no further.” The Eloquent Page

“Fowler’s prose is visual, and he is a master of creepy imagery” – Books, Brains and Beer

“If you prefer your ghost stories to move at a slower pace, but with some truly eerie moments, this is your book.” – Books & Such

“The best thriller I have read in ages.” – Universe in Words

“I liked it for the intimacy of its horror… and the way the author entwined this so neatly with social and psychological ‘ghosts’.” – Violin in a Void

“If you appreciate the literary tradition that flowered in du Maurier and Rayne, and Charlotte Perkins Gilman: well, here’s a house I’d like you to visit” – Mallory Heart Reviews

“Those who are already happy to be a little scared when they read will find something to enjoy here.” – Fruitless Pursuits

“If you are in the market for a ghostly, psychological thriller that takes a few Spanish siestas here and there, Nyctophobia could well be the book for you.” – The Bookshelf Gargoyle

“Amazing. Horrific. Terrifying.” – I heart reading

“This one keeps the pages turning and the night lights burning.” – Bloggabook

“An incredibly creepy and beautifully written story” – A Bibliophiles Journey

FEATURED

“If you’re looking for a haunted-house read of a different color, take a look at Nyctophobia” – Kirkus Reviews, 12 Excellent Horror Reads for the month of October

Persephone Magazine – 31 Days of Horror Halloween recommended book

Tor.com October hitlist

Daily Dead Indie spotlight recommended read

Civilian Reader

A Fantastical Librarian Anticipated Books Fall 2014

Order: UK | USDRM free eBook

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Deadly Curiosities Review Round-Up

It’s finally here! Deadly Curiosities is now available in all good book shops State-side, and of course on amazon in both print and for the kindle.

Want to know what all the hype is about? Check out just some of the lovely things people have been saying:

Publishers Weekly: “Martin (the Ascendant Kingdoms saga) weaves together fact, fiction, and the supernatural to create a realistic underworld for modern Charleston, S.C”

Beauty in Ruins: “Familiar, accessible, and enjoyable, Deadly Curiosities is the kind of book to have serious crossover appeal for urban fantasy and horror readers alike.”

Red Star Reviews: “Let me start by saying this book was awesome! Very engrossing right from the start! I’ve enjoyed every Gail Z Martin book I’ve read and Deadly Curiosities is no exception to this!”

Book review by Charlotte: “This story is full of action. It kept me on the edge of my seat. I can see this story as a major motion picture full of action and adventure.”

Books Boones & Buffy: “An atmospheric tale filled with fascinating historical details, a protagonist with a very cool ability, and lots of scary ghosts and shadowy corners.”

Fiction Vortex: “Martin is clearly in her element when bringing the ghosts of Charleston to life. Cassidy’s investigation is peppered with the stories of pirates and smugglers whose deaths are tied to the evil threatening the city. I’ll admit, I’m a big fan of ghost stories and I loved the touch of character Martin gave to her haunts.”

She hearts books: “This is one of those books you just can’t put down until you’re finished reading.”

The Book Adventures: “The world-building, the setting, the characters, the relationships have depths to them that make this a complex and very interesting urban fantasy novel.”

Not yet read: “Gail Z. Martin does an excellent job painting vivid scenes, her suspense and fight scenes are amazing and her characters charming. I can’t wait for more!”

Sci-Fi Fan Letter: “a fun start to a new series”

Wicked Scribe: “The villains are delightfully evil, the crimes are horrific and you get pulled into the motivation to find and stop this paranormal killer before things get even worse.”

I smell sheep: “The characters are wonderful making me want to get to know them and kept me turning the pages to find out just what was happening and where it would all end up.”

Much loved books: “I found myself emotionally invested in the outcome of each one, even the dog, and when they were facing the badest, strongest, entity, I was so nervous, I had butterflies in my stomach worried over what would happen to them. Deadly Curiosities is a great combination of paranormal and mystery…”

Gizmo’s Reviews: “If you like kick ass action at every turn, and the unknown whether the characters will all survive or not, then please read Deadly Curiosities and give the finger to publishers who say that UF is dead and gone.”

A Bibliophile’s Reverie: “This novel felt like a shiny twist between Warehouse 13 and Buffy the Vampire Slayer.” 4/5 stars

Love Fantasy More: “If you’re looking for a nice summer ghost mystery, Deadly Curiosities is a great book for you. And if you like procedural type books, you may even love it more than I did!”

Elder Park BookReviews: “the characters were rich and fleshed out and [there was] plenty of new takes on supernatural powers to keep this novel innovative.”

Caffeinated BookReviewer: “An old school urban fantasy with a Warehouse 13 vibe, this tale was action packed. Filled with magic, supernatural creatures and possessed objects. I quickly consumed this and look forward to reading more.”

Bibliosanctum: “I do hope she has plans to continue expanding Cassidy’s story as well, because this was a lot of fun. I would return to Charleston and Trifles & Folly in a heartbeat.”

The Book Adventures: “A fast-paced, suspenseful and sometimes creepy story, this book brings paranormal closer to horror and further from fantasy, and was a welcome change from the tropes that pervade the sub-genre.”

Missing Volume: “Good world building and the huge plus for me is there is no romance building the background between the characters. I’ll be looking for more books in this series.”

Ponderings of Psyche: “Dark Curiosities brought up fresh ideas and mixed it with the old ones, making a perfect blend of read that will certainly not fail the expectations of the readers of urban fantasy.”

Dab of Darkness: “This was a fast-paced urban fantasy with a twist: antiques. So, lots of history was tossed into the mix, and I loved it.”

Mixed Book Bag: “Deadly Curiosities has just the right blend of paranormal and mystery and a great start to a new series.”

Doctor’s Notes: “The book was fast paced so I flew through it with ease and was fully invested in it.”

Tome Tender: “Deadly Curiosities is a fun, unique and interesting story with marvellous possibilities for what might come next.”

Are you a reviewer or blogger interested in Science Fiction, Fantasy, Horror or Alternative YA & Children’s Fiction? If you’d like to receive advance title information and review copies, as well as opportunities for guest blogs and interviews with our authors contact us at press@rebellion.co.uk. Please include information about the site or publication you review for, any genre preferences and your preferred contact name and email.

Get it now: UKUS

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Review round-up: Age of Shiva

Ye gods! The latest in James Lovegrove’s Pantheon series, Age of Shiva, has been out a week and it’s been going down a storm with fans and newcomers alike.

He’s also been pounding the blog tour beat with – amongst others – a chat with My Bookish Ways about the Pantheon series, a piece for UpComing4Me about how he found working with the Hindu pantheon for his latest book in the series, and an article for Mass Movement about the differences between monotheistic religions and polytheistic ones.

“Possibly Lovegrove’s best yet … Age of Shiva is simply awesome. Once again James Lovegrove has subverted and exceeded expectations.”
– SF Signal

“9/10 James Lovegrove’s Godpunk series has been consistently fresh, interesting and exciting so far.”
– Starburst

“Verdict: The gods should smile on this. 8/10”
– Sci-Fi Bulletin

“A brilliant reframing of classic Indus mythology, brought kicking and screaming into a world where greedy corporations, nature-meddling scientists and rash governments all work to distort what’s supposed to be something pure and good.”
– Everything Comes Back to 2000 AD

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Review round-up: The Best Science Fiction & Fantasy of the Year


Review Round-Up: The Best Science Fiction and Fantasy of the Year Volume 8

As soon as we knew Jonathan Strahan’s world-renowned series The Best Science Fiction and Fantasy of the Year Volume 8 was going to find a new home at Solaris we were overjoyed. Not just because it adds to our growing list of anthologies such as the Infinity and Solaris Rising series, and our horror/magic titles, but also because it continues the oldest science fiction tradition of them all – the short story.

The very foundations of SF are built of short stories but it’s a tradition that has faded over the past few decades in favour of the novel. That’s a real shame because not only did the greats cut their teeth on this format, they also demonstrated storytelling abilities that many novelists would struggle to replicate. It’s a point that Blackgate.com made in a recent article, in which they were so very nice about us.

So it’s wonderful for us to see such a warm reception for The Best SFF of the Year Volume 8 from reviewers, who seems to share our passion for the short story.

Jonathan has also talked a little about his career, The Best SFF 8, and the direction and future of the SFF field and it’s pleasing that his editorial efforts have been recognised – he’s been named as winner of the Peter McNamara Convenors’ Award for Excellence from Aurealis.

“Strahan remains confident and competent following his series’ move to a new publisher. Strahan’s work … compares favorably with Hartwell’s steadfast traditionalism and Dozois’s weighty tomes”
– Publishers Weekly

“…in the end it is a rich collection of stories which every reader can find something enjoyable within.”
– Speculiction

“What I found in this continuation of Jonathan Strahan’s series of ‘Best of the Year’- anthologies with a new publisher, was a fantastic set of stories … The Best Science Fiction and Fantasy of the Year volume 8 is an excellent place to start.”
– A Fantastical Librarian

“What’s going on here? Is Solaris really trying to make a go of three mass market original anthology series(es)? Don’t they know that those days are over? Well, it’s obvious they never got that memo. And if it’s true that the primary ingredient in commercial success is the editor, I think they’ve make solid choices in their two, Ian Whates and Jonathan Strahan. But the very fact that Solaris is making such a determined attempt — series of attempts, really, since the first volume of The Solaris Book of New Science Fiction appeared in 2007 — tells me that I overlooked another essential ingredient: a publisher willing to take risks and one clearly willing to experiment, to find the right way to sell short fiction in paperback format to a modern audience . Solaris looks like exactly that publisher.”
– Blackgate.com

“Like any grab-bag, short story collections will necessarily have some stories that appeal and some that don’t; they’re usually guaranteed to have at least one story that suits each reader and one story that repels them. For me, this anthology was a remarkably good fit; there are a few real gems in the collection, and it left me with a host of new authors to explore. No matter your tastes, if you’re a fan of fantasy or science fiction, I would bet that at least one of these stories will leave you enthralled.”
– Bookaneer

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Review round-up: Talus and the Frozen King


Review round-up: Neolithic murder mystery with Talus and the Frozen King

We love Graham Edwards’ new novel for Solaris, Talus and the Frozen King – and so do the critics! Observe…

“This book is an unexpected delight, a detective story in a setting like no other, and I recommend it unreservedly.” – Crime Fiction Lover

“Talus and the Frozen King is the ideal book for mysteries lovers who want a classic murder scenario in a new setting. It’s not a rehash or a reimagining of old ideas, but one that makes use of the genre’s tropes to the best of Graham Edwards’ abilities and that makes it a worthy read.” – Adventures in Sci-Fi Publishing
“If you like historical fiction and/or interesting mysteries, give this book a try.” – Sci-Fi Fan Letter

“…a pretty fast, intense mystery as shadows thicken, nothing is as it seems and men start to die all around. Combined with an ending I didn’t expect from a mystery novel that stokes the fires of my inner geek, is it a wonder I only have good things to say about this book? Highly recommended, and definitely on the shortlist for best books I’ve read this year.” – Drunken Dragon Reviews

“A+ Great fun, well worth it … extremely well done and very enjoyable. Putting Sherlock Holmes and Watson into the Stone Age worked for me!” – British Fantasy Society

“There aren’t a lot of books like this out there, that’s for sure. While there’s a strong element of fantasy in this one, at it’s heart it really is a variety of your good old detective story. The prehistoric ice age setting garners huge points from me, and like I mentioned, so does our protagonist being an eccentric bard. I think both mystery and fantasy readers alike will feel right at home with this one. A very entertaining and fast read.” – Bibilosanctum

“A close cousin to the writings of Conan Doyle, Christie, and Marsh… Mystery fans will look forward to Talus’s future investigations.” – Publisher’s Weekly

“This is a very entertaining book, offering something that hasn’t really been done much in the detective genre. Graham Edwards tells an intriguing tale that really gets you turning pages. The setting is fresh, the world is full of mystery, and solving the “case” is not an easy task for our protagonists.” – Trash Mutant

“I think what Edwards has tried to do is ambitious, how do you create a Holmesian character in a world where philosophy, science and logic are still in their infancy. How do you create the world’s first detective without it feeling like it’s Holmes and Watson in bear fur. I think the answer lies in exceptional world and character building.” – Bookonaut

“Part of what makes a good mystery enjoyable are the characters because frankly, going in, the reader pretty much knows the mystery will be solved when the book is finished. In the case of Talus and the Frozen King, I thought Talus and Bran were both engaging characters who had a deep past that was hinted at from the start, but in the case of Talus, becomes only minimally clear by novel’s end.” – SFFWorld