Archives for January 2021

Review Request: By the Sea, by Steven Lamperti

January 27, 2021 By S.D. Reeves Leave a Comment

I received this book for an honest review. All expressed opinions, cynical or otherwise, are my own.

The suspension of disbelief. Fantasy books live by it, and there is a lot that is often explained away under the dubious Deux Ex Machina that is magic. Pretty cut and dry. However, start tacking on sub-genres into your fantasy novel, or maybe dialing back the more magic-like aspects, and you will find yourself having to dodge extra obstacles to maintain that suspension. By the Sea, by Steven Lamperti, is a whimsical fantasy book that at times stumbles when it tries to run.

Rev Request: Witch’s Jewel by Kater Cheek

January 6, 2021 By S.D. Reeves Leave a Comment

I received this book for an honest review. All expressed opinions, cynical or otherwise, are my own.

Something is missing in modern fantasy today. The lion’s share that forms the bulwark of the genre’s ground troops seem lacking – like they are missing an important piece of their equipment. As if in haste, they all decided to leave their helmets back home before they went a-sieging the castle. Oh, there are several of the usual tropes. Fey creatures. Magic. However, the stories lack gravitas; the weight that these otherworldly things should bring. And this is where I find myself with Kater Cheek’s The Witch’s Jewel (Kit Melbourne book 1). Excellently written, with engaging characters, but a setting where encountering of the unusual has all the significance of suddenly deciding to order a different cup of coffee.