Tag Archives: Young Adult

Bardugo Caps One of the Best YA Series of the Young Century with Ruin and Rising

Posted on March 23, 2021 by H.P.

“I am not ruined.  I am ruination.” Ruin and Rising brings Leigh Bardugo’s Grisha Trilogy to a close.  I was in at the ground floor, reading the first and second books right around the time they came out.  I inexplicably … Continue reading →

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Siege and Storm is The Empire Strikes Back of the Grisha Trilogy

Posted on March 9, 2021 by H.P.

Siege and Storm is the second book in The Grisha Trilogy and the follow-up to Bardugo’s very promising debut, Shadow and Bone.  Rest assured there is no sophomore slump.  The second act of a trilogy can be the high point … Continue reading →

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Shadow and Bone is an Inspired, and Russian-Inspired, Fantasy

Posted on February 23, 2021 by H.P.

Alina, an orphan turned military cartographer, has her life changed forever when her military unit attempts a crossing of the Fold, a mysterious, flesh-eating monster-filled swath of darkness that cuts her home country off from vital sea trade.  The army’s … Continue reading →

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Half a King was my Introduction to Joe Abercrombie

Posted on August 27, 2019 by H.P.

Half a King is Joe Abercrombie’s first book marketed as Young Adult.  It was also my introduction to Abercrombie’s work.  It’s easy to see why he is so popular.  He displays an easy skill with the technical aspects, both at … Continue reading →

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Vintage Science Fiction Month: Space Cadet by Robert Heinlein

Posted on January 17, 2019 by H.P.

I know that Space Cadet is a good book on an intellectual level.  But it doesn’t evoke the same kind of visceral gut reaction that Have Space Suit—Will Travel did.  There certainly isn’t anything remotely as gripping as the two … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Reviews, Science Fiction, Throwback SF | Tagged , , , | 14 Comments

The Tethered Mage is an excellent fantasy debut, if a little YA for my tastes

Posted on November 28, 2017 by H.P.

The Tethered Mage is an excellent fantasy debut, if a little YA for my tastes.  It benefits tremendously from a rich, Venetian-inspired setting, a well-crafted plot, and two strong leads. Heiress Amalia is pulled into empire politics when chance (and … Continue reading →

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2017 Dragon Awards Ballot

Posted on August 22, 2017 by H.P.

The Dragon Awards, associated with massive multi-media con DragonCon, are in their second year.  Unlike the Nebulas, which limit voting to SFWA members, and the Hugos, which limit voting to WorldCon members, the Dragon Awards open voting to anyone interested.  … Continue reading →

Posted in Alternate History, Science Fiction, Sundry | Tagged , , , | 8 Comments

Review of Age of Assassins by R.J. Barker

Posted on August 1, 2017 by H.P.

I might not have picked Age of Assassins up, but a blogger friend passed along an ARC.  And man am I glad she did.  Age of Assassins may not do anything that hasn’t been done elsewhere, but the worldbuilding is … Continue reading →

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Review of For Steam and Country by Jon Del Arroz

Posted on June 21, 2017 by H.P.

Jon Del Arroz’s steampunk YA novel, For Steam and Country, shows a lot of promise, but unfortunately it too often typifies what I like least about both steampunk and YA.

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Giveaway! And Review of Firebrand by A.J. Hartley

Posted on June 6, 2017 by H.P.

I was all kinds of impressed by Hartley’s Steeplejack. Firebrand improves on it. Hartley is more confident in his story, his setting, and his characters, and it shows. Ang Sutonga is back as a private detective/secret agent for parliamentary backbencher … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Reviews, Fantasy | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments