Let’s start by saying, Kathe Koja’s Dark Factory is a fun read! The ultimate dance club where the next step in AR/VR technology, called “Y,” allows clubgoers to customize the experience. Put that tiara on and go wild. I loved the characters in this book, and there were a lot of them, but I felt Read More …
This book will bring joy to all who read it. Simultaneously silly, dry, hilarious and profound, Nathan Pyle’s Strange Planet is populated with the most observant aliens I’ve ever [not] met. Touching on every topic imaginable, these “down to earth” aliens can put things in perspective. It is my go-to thought for the day book. Read More …
Seb Doubinsky’s novella, Paperclip, was extremely fun to read. It is set on Earth, in a world similar to ours, but countries are all run as City-States, and have different names. The story feels both classic and modern. There are references to social media and other technology, but the story has a real 60s detective Read More …
This was such a great read, a futuristic story covering historical topics: slavery. The entire story takes place on a massive ship named the Matilda as it travels through space taking its inhabitants to a “Promised Land.” The world-building on the ship is extremely detailed and imaginative. Unfortunately, the ship is broken down by class, Read More …
Review Ariadne, I Love you is a haunting new novella from J. Ashley-Smith (The Attic Tragedy) about unrequited love that is both beautiful and seriously creepy. Jude is a down-on-his-luck Alt-Country musician who has landed a comeback gig that brings him back into the life of his former bandmate, Ben, who also happens to be Read More …
The Bridge by J.S. Breukelaar is a wonderfully dark and complex story that hits a lot of themes. Meera was “made” in a cult by a misogynist cult leader named “The Father” who implants a bit of technology into his “Mades” to make them the perfect females: obedient and unimaginative and unable to reproduce. But Read More …
This eco-thriller was a fast-paced, enjoyable read. A mystery that kept me turning pages, though not as weird/experimental as previous work (which is one of the reasons I adore JV, but Dead Astronauts had more than its share, so that’s cool). The main character, “Jane,” gets a cryptic note from a barista that sends her Read More …
Speculate is a gorgeous (both in text and visuals) collection of prose-poetry by Eugen Bacon and Dominique Hecq. I thoroughly enjoyed these little snippets of literature, presented as one author’s response to the other’s writing. It worked well in this way, with a real stream-of-consciousness, dreamy quality that was entrancing. Highly recommended. One of the Read More …
I had been hearing about Lisa Jewell for some time and decided to try The Family Upstairs. The story jumps back and forth from the present, where a young lady, Libby, learns she has inherited a house associated with her real family, to the past, where a well-off family life goes from mainly normal to Read More …
I am excited to host a spot on Kathe Koja’s THE CIPHER blog tour, with a giveaway, guest post from the author, and my own mini-review of the book. First, my take on the book: I was blown away by her talent, her writing style and voice are stunning. Her mastery of the language, especially Read More …