Tag Archives: Historical Fantasy

300 and Its Sequel Rise of an Empire Reflect the Respective Virtues of Sparta and Athens

Posted on December 20, 2022 by H.P.

The best thing about finally watching 300: Rise of an Empire after noticing it on HBO Max was that it spurred me to rewatch 300. That sounds like damning with faint praise and it kind of is. Rise of an … Continue reading →

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The Bitter Fruit of War – Necessary Evil by Ian Tregillis

Posted on September 21, 2021 by H.P.

Necessary Evil is one of those final books in a trilogy (the alternative history fantasy Milkweed Triptych) that is impossible to talk about without badly, badly spoiling the prior two books.  So if you haven’t read Bitter Seeds and The … Continue reading →

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The Bitter Fruit of War – The Coldest War by Ian Tregillis

Posted on September 9, 2021 by H.P.

The Coldest War is book 2 in alternate history series The Milkweed Triptych, and the sequel to Bitter Seeds.  If you’ve come here to decide whether to read Bitter Seeds—do it!—I’ll still be here when you get back.  If you’ve … Continue reading →

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The Bitter Fruit of War – Bitter Seeds by Ian Tregillis

Posted on August 31, 2021 by H.P.

British sorcerers versus German supermen in an alternate history WWII: what’s not to love?  Actually, the premise left me nonplussed initially.  Sorcerers v. supermen seems a little like grist for post-role-playing discussions turned story premise for nothing more than the … Continue reading →

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Short Review Roundup – Falling Behind (Expectations) edition

Posted on June 25, 2019 by H.P.

The purpose of a book review blog is to publish book reviews.  (Look at me—courting controversy!)  I really feel like I have been slacking off around here.  I haven’t even really been reading that much (fantasy), but I have a … Continue reading →

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Scavengers is a Fun Weird Western Yarn Starring an Underappreciated Historical Gunman

Posted on March 13, 2018 by H.P.

It’s a hard thing to be a living legend.  To be told by a prophet of God that if you never cut your hair no bullet nor blade can harm you.  True enough, in some twenty-five since the night he … Continue reading →

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Review of Tales of the Thieftaker by D.B. Jackson

Posted on December 26, 2017 by H.P.

Tales of the Thieftaker is a collection of short fiction about Jackson’s Ethan Kaille, a conjurer and thieftaker in colonial Boston.  There are ten short stories and one novella—the never before told story of the Ruby Blade mutiny (full TOC … Continue reading →

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Some Dark Holler Beats Manly Wade Wellman at His Own Game

Posted on September 5, 2017 by H.P.

Bauserman pitched an advanced copy of Some Dark Holler to me because I reviewed a collection of Manly Wade Wellman’s Silver John stories.  I get a lot of these, usually with the author comparing their work to some colossus in … Continue reading →

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Review of Breath of Earth by Beth Cato

Posted on August 23, 2016 by H.P.

Beth Cato’s debut The Clockwork Dagger showed promise.  Its sequel The Clockwork Crown showed improvement.  With Breath of Earth, a steampunk epic fantasy set in a Japanese-dominated alternate 1906 San Francisco, Cato shows she can tell a story with the … Continue reading →

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Review of Wolfsangel by M.D. Lachlan

Posted on February 29, 2016 by H.P.

M.D. Lachlan is one of several pen names of Mark Barrowcliffe. He just published a book stateside under another pen name, Mark Alder. I reviewed that book, Son of the Morning, last week. Wolfsangel is a darkly poetic re-imagining of … Continue reading →

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