Empire of Shadows by Jacquelyn Benson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This really hit the spot.

Back in the day, I was amazed at how much I enjoyed movies like Romancing the Stone, which was a romantic comedy dressed up as Indiana Jones, and while there have been many movies like this since, I've never quite fully FALLEN for it as I did these originals.

Sure, sure, I'm dating myself, but so what. The giveaway is in the title and the SPIRIT of the book hella on target. Basically, if you liked either of these movies OR Brandon's Mummy movie, you'll love this. It's delightful and sexy.

This book's synesthesia is a lush green, complete with all the scents of the jungle.


Personal note:
If anyone reading my reviews might be interested in reading my own SF, I'm going to be open to requests. Just direct message me in goodreads or email me on my site. I'd love to get some eyes on my novels.

Arctunn.com

View all my reviews

Heretical Fishing 3 by Haylock Jobson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wholesome fantasy.

I mean, sure, there's all this massive corruption and personal growth challenges to keep it hopping, for the most part, it's a fantasy purely devoted to the good life and trusting your friends and yourself.

Hence--truly wholesome fantasy.

Piscomancy. Of course, it's not divination related, but straight power-sourcing. Maybe it's nectomancy? It definitely wouldn't be aquamancy because the power isn't in the water, itself. Any way you look at it tho, just drive all those pesky complications out of your brain and GO FISH.

Synesthesia for this one is oddly just the warm glow of hot lemony tea and a fire for roasting.


Personal note:
If anyone reading my reviews might be interested in reading my own SF, I'm going to be open to requests. Just direct message me in goodreads or email me on my site. I'd love to get some eyes on my novels.

Arctunn.com

View all my reviews

What Feasts at Night by T. Kingfisher
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I want to say that I liked this even more than the first Sworn Soldier Novella, but alas, no. The first had slightly more wry humor and the true horror aspect was superior.

The COVER for this novella, however, had me expecting a LOT more. So yeah, you might say that I may have judged this book by its cover. *sigh*

That being said, it IS a very solid, short horror with compelling characters and a very historical setting, complete with war flashbacks, modern sensibilities, and rampant superstition.

Not that we'd have ANYTHING like that NOW, of course. Oh, no.

Either way, it's worth the read and I'll be excited to read more when they come out.

A very sausage-flavored synesthesia for this work. Good in moderation, but quite heavy on the mental palate.


Personal note:
If anyone reading my reviews might be interested in reading my own SF, I'm going to be open to requests. Just direct message me in goodreads or email me on my site. I'd love to get some eyes on my novels.

Arctunn.com


View all my reviews

Heretical Fishing 2 by Haylock Jobson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

No complaints at all. I totally admit I'm a sucker for honey-sweet fish-catching CALM life.

I guess there's only so much grimdark one can take before the call of kindness, being good, having devoted friends becomes something of an ultimate goal. Fortunately, this fantasy is delivering on that particularly glorious type of fantasy.

More people are becoming cultivators here, and now the dangers are the old standby of fearful ignorance and belligerent idiocy. What else is new, right? Those who want to live a good life just want to live a good life, after all.

This novel's synesthesia effects are particularly strong. It's a fish paradise that doubles as a foodie paradise, and it sets my nose alight.


Personal note:
If anyone reading my reviews might be interested in reading my own SF, I'm going to be open to requests. Just direct message me in goodreads or email me on my site. I'd love to get some eyes on my novels.

Arctunn.com

View all my reviews

Heretical Fishing by Haylock Jobson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A fine, relaxing, good-natured, relaxing, cute, relaxing LitRPG.

Did I mention it's relaxing? It's not ALL fishing, but there's a good deal of it. The real trick here is how the main impetus of the whole novel is centered around BEING A GOOD PERSON.

It's almost too hilarious how much can be accomplished, how many plots can be thwarted, how many enemies can be defeated just by being a good bloke.

Is this fantasy?

Hell yes, in every sense of the word. But it's also highly amusing. Recommended.

Nothing fishy with this synesthesia. In fact, there's just the right mix of lemon and salt to go with it.


Personal note:
If anyone reading my reviews might be interested in reading my own SF, I'm going to be open to requests. Just direct message me in goodreads or email me on my site. I'd love to get some eyes on my novels.

Arctunn.com

View all my reviews

Paladin's Grace by T. Kingfisher
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Put simply? A fantasy-setting romance. A Paladin whose god has died, and a perfume maker down on her luck.

Light-hearted, a few funny moments, but really, it's mostly just a very horny book.

I won't say it blew me away, but I would recommend it to anyone wanting a little bit of fantasy setting with their heavy-breathing.

My synesthesia went a bit haywire with this one, but between all the sweets and the fresh pie, it's safe to assume that diabetics need not apply.


Personal note:
If anyone reading my reviews might be interested in reading my own SF, I'm going to be open to requests. Just direct message me in goodreads or email me on my site. I'd love to get some eyes on my novels.

Arctunn.com



View all my reviews

Creation Node by Stephen Baxter
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Stephen Baxter has remained a highlight of all SF for me. This newest book is no less outstanding than the rest.

While it isn't of the Xeelee sequence nor of the strange-yet-wonderful Time or Space companion alternate future histories, this one, like those, remains grounded in real science--while showing an appropriately wonderful sense of awe and scope that remains, at least to my widely-read SF sensibilities, the pinnacle of the best of speculative fiction.

The grand WHAT IF story is still alive and well in Baxter's hands.


This one begins with an exploration team heading toward the Oort cloud to visit the proposed 9th planet--which happens to be a singularity. From there, we get a nicely unique first contact story that is both fresh and truly refreshing. There are no space opera battles. Empathy and intelligence are the main movers. And yet, the sense of awe and discovery never lessens or gets dull.

The only concern I may have had about the novel was the disquieting focus on contemplation at the very end, but it's not a big concern. It's QUITE in line with the rest of the novel--and unusual enough in the SF field to warrant an appreciative mention.

Yes, we can be heroic, do the right thing--and yet still be utter fools.

Recommended.


My synesthesia tastes humus and pita bread with a perfect, comforting cup of Earl Grey. I feel tweed on my jacket.


Personal note:
If anyone reading my reviews might be interested in reading my own SF, I'm going to be open to requests. Just direct message me in goodreads or email me on my site. I'd love to get some eyes on my novels.

Arctunn.com

View all my reviews