The State of SFF – February2026 I am currently home sick, which is why this post is a little late. January was a good month for me personally, although I could have done without the cold that caught me right at the end. I turned 40 (it still feels weird to say this), I'm keeping up with all my resolutions (so far), times can be stressful but overall, life is good.

The State of SFF – February2026

I am currently home sick, which is why this post is a little late. January was a good month for me personally, although I could have done without the cold that caught me right at the end. I turned 40 (it still feels weird to say this), I'm keeping up with all my…

An Epic Ending to a Magnificent Trilogy: Fonda Lee – Jade Legacy Okay, okay, so it took me a little longer than expected to finish the Green Bone Saga trilogy. I read the first and second books when they came out, then took a break and reached the point where I was so fuzzy on the details of those first two books that I didn't quite dare start the third anymore without some kind of recap.

An Epic Ending to a Magnificent Trilogy: Fonda Lee – Jade Legacy

Okay, okay, so it took me a little longer than expected to finish the Green Bone Saga trilogy. I read the first and second books when they came out, then took a break and reached the point where I was so fuzzy on the details of those…

When Little Thieves Grow Up: Margaret Owen – Painted Devils Striking the fine balance between humor and serious themes, as well as straddling the line between YA and books that are equally appealing to adults, is no small feat. But Margaret Owen already proved she could do it once, so why not do it again? This second book in the Little Thieves trilogy did feel more serious in tone to me than the first, but I appreciated it for many other reasons.

When Little Thieves Grow Up: Margaret Owen – Painted Devils

Striking the fine balance between humor and serious themes, as well as straddling the line between YA and books that are equally appealing to adults, is no small feat. But Margaret Owen already proved she could do it once, so why not do…

Anticipated SFF Releases 2026 (First Half) I love lists of people's favorite books from the past year, but I may love lists about highly anticipated releases from the new year even more. These are books that are so fresh they aren't even out yet, where a striking cover or a cleverly worded synopsis can create all that bubbly excitement we feel before picking up a new story.

Anticipated SFF Releases 2026 (First Half)

I love lists of people's favorite books from the past year, but I may love lists about highly anticipated releases from the new year even more. These are books that are so fresh they aren't even out yet, where a striking cover or a cleverly worded…

Year in Review – Stats, Observations, Lessons Learned 2025 The time has arrived when we all look back and reflect on the year that has gone and then start making resolutions and plans for the one ahead. I like to do this with my reading as much as with other aspects of my life (especially since I feel way more in control of my reading than other things). It has been a damn good reading year for me, which I believe is partly due to me finally figuring out my own taste and moods.

Year in Review – Stats, Observations, Lessons Learned 2025

The time has arrived when we all look back and reflect on the year that has gone and then start making resolutions and plans for the one ahead. I like to do this with my reading as much as with other aspects of my life (especially since I…

Double Singing Hills Review: Nghi Vo – The Brides of High Hill and A Mouthful of Dust I love an unreliable narrator. I love even more when stories appear to go a certain way, or follow a certain trope, only to turn things upside down and surprise you. Nghi Vo is fantastic when it comes to playing with tropes and genre conventions, so I should have seen things coming. I didn't. Because she's just that good. I would be quite happy for this series to just go on forever.

Double Singing Hills Review: Nghi Vo – The Brides of High Hill and A Mouthful of Dust

I love an unreliable narrator. I love even more when stories appear to go a certain way, or follow a certain trope, only to turn things upside down and surprise you. Nghi Vo is fantastic when it comes to playing…

Somewhat Less Cozy Adventuring: Travis Baldree – Brigands & Breadknives Welcome to the new year, everybody. I started 2026 with a cozy fantasy, the third in the Legends & Lattes series, and it was everything I had hoped for. Less cozy than the previous books, but still enough to deserve the description, heartwarming moments, surprisingly complex, endearing characters, and just tons of fun. It's been a while since I read the other two books, but I think this might be my favorite yet.

Somewhat Less Cozy Adventuring: Travis Baldree – Brigands & Breadknives

Welcome to the new year, everybody. I started 2026 with a cozy fantasy, the third in the Legends & Lattes series, and it was everything I had hoped for. Less cozy than the previous books, but still enough to deserve the…

The State of SFF – January 2026 Happy New Year! We've made it through another dumpster fire of a year, but despite the world turning slowly turning into a dystopian nightmakre, let's focus on the wonderful books, the spectacular audiobooks and special editions, the movie adaptations, and the good news. We had all of those too, after all. And yeah, okay, some trash news as well (unsurprisingly to do with AI)

The State of SFF – January 2026

Happy New Year! We've made it through another dumpster fire of a year, but despite the world turning slowly turning into a dystopian nightmakre, let's focus on the wonderful books, the spectacular audiobooks and special editions, the movie adaptations, and the good…

Best of 2025: My Favorite Books of the Year I look forward to these best of the year posts every year, and it's one of the high points of the season. Not being a huge fan of cold and wet weather, I try to focus on the nice parts of winter - Christmas, cozy vibes, best of the year lists, and Hugo Award nominations. As every year, here is my contribution to the slew of Best Of lists, separeted neatly into categories.

Best of 2025: My Favorite Books of the Year

I look forward to these best of the year posts every year, and it's one of the high points of the season. Not being a huge fan of cold and wet weather, I try to focus on the nice parts of winter - Christmas, cozy vibes, best of the year lists, and Hugo…

Mirrors and Poisons and Pragmatism: T. Kingfisher – Hemlock & Silver Look, you'll never find me writing a truly bad review of a T. Kingfisher book, because T. Kingfisher is like comfort food for the soul. I've been a fan of hers for so long that I subconciously seek out her novels whenever I hit a reading slump or a phase where I get easily distracted and can't concentrate on anything. She's always there to help me out.

Mirrors and Poisons and Pragmatism: T. Kingfisher – Hemlock & Silver

Look, you'll never find me writing a truly bad review of a T. Kingfisher book, because T. Kingfisher is like comfort food for the soul. I've been a fan of hers for so long that I subconciously seek out her novels whenever I hit a…

The End of the Year Book Tag The year is coming to a close and with that time come All The Lists! As someone who greatly enjoys looking through other people's favorite books of the year, you can expect several such posts from myself as well. For now, I decided to do a tag because I like the questions and it gives me a little end-of-the-year push to finish my goals.

The End of the Year Book Tag

The year is coming to a close and with that time come All The Lists! As someone who greatly enjoys looking through other people's favorite books of the year, you can expect several such posts from myself as well. For now, I decided to do a tag because I like the…

Do yourselves a favor and pre-order this. I have the single volumes and I'm still going to get the collected edition. ❤️

The Grand Finale: Jen Williams – The Poison Song It's become a rare thing for me to read a trilogy within a few months. This used to be because the second and/or third book wasn't out yet, but somehow my brain got used to long breaks between books, while at the same time being fed up with having to wait. But these days, when I do read books in a series in fairly quick succession, that is a sign of quality, of a world and characters that grabbed me and keep popping up in my mind.

The Grand Finale: Jen Williams – The Poison Song

It's become a rare thing for me to read a trilogy within a few months. This used to be because the second and/or third book wasn't out yet, but somehow my brain got used to long breaks between books, while at the same time being fed up with having…

Stepping Up the Game: T. Kingfisher – The Wonder Engine If Clockwork Boys felt like an "early T. Kingfisher" in that the seeds of all her brilliance were there, but not quite all the way, this book is a gigantic step forward. It's hard to believe only a year passed between the publication of the volumes of this duology, because while I liked but didn't love Clockwork Boys, I enjoyed…

Stepping Up the Game: T. Kingfisher – The Wonder Engine

If Clockwork Boys felt like an "early T. Kingfisher" in that the seeds of all her brilliance were there, but not quite all the way, this book is a gigantic step forward. It's hard to believe only a year passed between the publication of the…

The State of SFF – December 2025 Happy December, everyone! It's time to deck the halls and all that jazz, if you're into that sort of thing. In my household, we used to be very much not into decking anything, but with a toddler, the magic of Christmas is coming back full swing and I'm kind of enjoying it. It's true what they say about the sparkle in their little eyes.

The State of SFF – December 2025

Happy December, everyone! It's time to deck the halls and all that jazz, if you're into that sort of thing. In my household, we used to be very much not into decking anything, but with a toddler, the magic of Christmas is coming back full swing and I'm kind of…

Kind of Shallow But Really Fun: V. E. Schwab – Vicious My history with V. E. Schwab's work is a rocky one, but this older duology of hers has been recommended to me as one I might like. After loving A Darker Shade of Magic, but being disappointed by the trilogy's ending, I followed up with Addie LaRue and was... underwhelmed. Schwab's writing style is beautiful, but to me, there just wasn't really any plot that hooked me the way…

Kind of Shallow But Really Fun: V. E. Schwab – Vicious

My history with V. E. Schwab's work is a rocky one, but this older duology of hers has been recommended to me as one I might like. After loving A Darker Shade of Magic, but being disappointed by the trilogy's ending, I followed up with Addie…

Great Tension, Middling World Building: Georgia Summers – The Bookshop Below My attention is easy to grab when you say the words magical and bookshop in the same sentence, so it was a no-brainer that I would read Georgia Summers's book. Thanks to Hachette Audio/Orbit and NetGalley for the audiobook ARC. THE BOOKSHOP BELOWby Georgia Summers Published: Orbit/Hachette Audio, 18 November 2025Ebook: 427 pagesAudiobook: 13 hours, 24 minutes…

Great Tension, Middling World Building: Georgia Summers – The Bookshop Below

My attention is easy to grab when you say the words magical and bookshop in the same sentence, so it was a no-brainer that I would read Georgia Summers's book. Thanks to Hachette Audio/Orbit and NetGalley for the…

Time-Loopy, Heartbreaking Perfection: Alix E. Harrow – The Everlasting I fully expected to love Alix Harrow's newest book, but I was not prepared for how much I would end up loving it. This is not only my favorite book of the year so far, and my favorite book by this author, but probably one of my favorite books of all damn time! Seriously, folks, it's that good. THE EVERLASTING…

Time-Loopy, Heartbreaking Perfection: Alix E. Harrow – The Everlasting

I fully expected to love Alix Harrow's newest book, but I was not prepared for how much I would end up loving it. This is not only my favorite book of the year so far, and my favorite book by this author, but probably one of my…

Messing Around With Time: Various Authors – The Time Taveler’s Passport The last time I read one of these Amazon anthologies, it was all about fairy tales. This time, it's time travel we're looking at, and just like previously, I was surprised at the routes some of the authors took, as well as by which stories I ended up loving and which ones I found only okay. Looking at the list of authors, I thought I could predict my favorite stories, but it's always nice to be surprised...

Messing Around With Time: Various Authors – The Time Taveler’s Passport

The last time I read one of these Amazon anthologies, it was all about fairy tales. This time, it's time travel we're looking at, and just like previously, I was surprised at the routes some of the authors took, as well as by…

The State of SFF – November 2025 What is going on? How is it November already? That's only two months away from the new year and less than two months away from Christmas. I did buy the advent calendars (one for each family member) super early, but I wasn't as Type A when it comes to presents. So wish me luck during this trying time... Quickie News…

The State of SFF – November 2025

What is going on? How is it November already? That's only two months away from the new year and less than two months away from Christmas. I did buy the advent calendars (one for each family member) super early, but I wasn't as Type A when it comes to presents. So…

Starts Out Strong, Then Loses Steam: Tasha Suri – The Isle in the Silver Sea Out of the three lady knight novels that came out in relatively short succession this year, this was the first one I picked up. If you're interested, the other two are The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow (my most anticipated one) and The Second Death of Locke by V. L. Bovalino. I will read both of these very soon, to complete the lady knight trifecta of 2025.

Starts Out Strong, Then Loses Steam: Tasha Suri – The Isle in the Silver Sea

Out of the three lady knight novels that came out in relatively short succession this year, this was the first one I picked up. If you're interested, the other two are The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow (my most…

The Chronicles Begin: Anne Rice – Interview With the Vampire When the Sword & Laser podcast chose this book as their October book club pick, I was shocked to learn that I had never actually read any Anne Rice before. Yes, as a life-long reader, you sometimes forget which authors you have and haven't read. I was sure I had tried Anne Rice before, but it turns out I was wrong.

The Chronicles Begin: Anne Rice – Interview With the Vampire

When the Sword & Laser podcast chose this book as their October book club pick, I was shocked to learn that I had never actually read any Anne Rice before. Yes, as a life-long reader, you sometimes forget which authors you have and…

Now This is How You Do Enemies-To-Lovers: Brigitte Knightley – The Irresistible Urge to Fall For Your Enemy In this year of the Dramione fanfiction writers getting books traditionally published, this is the one that's not super dark or trying to be something it's not. I have read one of the original fanfictions (the one that turned into Alchemised) as well as two of the traditionally published, changed-beyond-most-recognition, novels, and this one is easily my favorite. My goodness, reading it was just so much fun.

Now This is How You Do Enemies-To-Lovers: Brigitte Knightley – The Irresistible Urge to Fall For Your Enemy

In this year of the Dramione fanfiction writers getting books traditionally published, this is the one that's not super dark or trying to be something it's not. I have read one of the…

Let’s Explore the Desert: Steven Erikson – Deadhouse Gates I am only two books into the epic saga that is the Malazan Book of the Fallen, but it's been a pretty awesome journey so far. As a Malazan newbie, it was tough for me to let go of the characters I had come to love in the first book and join an (almost) entirely new crew for this adventure. But so far, it's really paying off and I am determined to continue reading.

Let’s Explore the Desert: Steven Erikson – Deadhouse Gates

I am only two books into the epic saga that is the Malazan Book of the Fallen, but it's been a pretty awesome journey so far. As a Malazan newbie, it was tough for me to let go of the characters I had come to love in the first book and…

Where’d the Fun Go? Matt Dinniman – This Inevitable Ruin It was bound to happen eventually. No series can just keep being this awesome or get better all the time, at least not for every reader. Sadly, this biggest instalment of Dungeon Crawler Carl may also have been my least favorite so far. With a rating of 7/10 that isn't saying too much, but I am still a little disappointed and hoping the next one will be more up my alley again.

Where’d the Fun Go? Matt Dinniman – This Inevitable Ruin

It was bound to happen eventually. No series can just keep being this awesome or get better all the time, at least not for every reader. Sadly, this biggest instalment of Dungeon Crawler Carl may also have been my least favorite so far. With…

Good, but Unnecessary: Suzanne Collins – Sunrise on the Reaping I skipped the first Hunger Games prequel, both because I had no interest whatsoever in reading about the villain's backstory, especially if it is supposed to humanize him. There's no excuse for holding Hunger Games, so I don't care who broke his teenage heart. This second prequel, however, had very good reviews, and it dealt with Haymitch, whom we know from the original trilogy, and who is an interesting character in his own right.

Good, but Unnecessary: Suzanne Collins – Sunrise on the Reaping

I skipped the first Hunger Games prequel, both because I had no interest whatsoever in reading about the villain's backstory, especially if it is supposed to humanize him. There's no excuse for holding Hunger Games, so I don't care…

Orilium Magical Readathon: Autumn Equinox 2025 – Wrap-Up I did it!!! I finished my first career at Orilium Academy and now my character is a Master Scribe. Now it's time to think about whether I'll start a whole new character next year or just have Sistani spend a few more years at the Academy studying a whole new subject. (runs to peruse the wide selection of callings) Here's Sistani's diploma.

Orilium Magical Readathon: Autumn Equinox 2025 – Wrap-Up

I did it!!! I finished my first career at Orilium Academy and now my character is a Master Scribe. Now it's time to think about whether I'll start a whole new character next year or just have Sistani spend a few more years at the Academy…

Petty People Doing Nothing: Mia Tsai – The Memory Hunters Look, I was promised Indiana Jones meets Inception, and this is not that. I know that book marketing can't always be trusted, but to be so far off with your comparisons can only lead to frustration. Without my expectations, maybe I would have gotten at least some enjoyment out of this, but I kept waiting for the actual hunting of memories, for the Indy and/or Inception vibes, and when they never showed, I got a bit grumpy...

Petty People Doing Nothing: Mia Tsai – The Memory Hunters

Look, I was promised Indiana Jones meets Inception, and this is not that. I know that book marketing can't always be trusted, but to be so far off with your comparisons can only lead to frustration. Without my expectations, maybe I would…

A Multi-Layered Psychological Horror Story: Catriona Ward – The Last House on Needless Street As someone who doesn't read a lot of horror books, this novel was one that still kept coming up. It came recommended so highly and from so many sources that I finally caved and picked it up myself. And now I have to join the chorus of people singing its praises because that was one damn good horror novel! THE LAST HOUSE ON NEEDLESS STREET…

A Multi-Layered Psychological Horror Story: Catriona Ward – The Last House on Needless Street

As someone who doesn't read a lot of horror books, this novel was one that still kept coming up. It came recommended so highly and from so many sources that I finally caved and picked it up myself. And…

They’re Back and Better Than Ever: Robert Jackson Bennett – A Drop of Corruption The Tainted Cup was easily my favorite novel published in 2024, so I was both excited and scared to read the sequel. Could it live up to the first book or would I end up disappointed once the novelty of Robert Jackson Bennett's world has worn off? I'm happy to report that not only did the book live up to…

They’re Back and Better Than Ever: Robert Jackson Bennett – A Drop of Corruption

The Tainted Cup was easily my favorite novel published in 2024, so I was both excited and scared to read the sequel. Could it live up to the first book or would I end up disappointed once the novelty of Robert Jackson…