I haven't read Borne. On its own, without context, this feels rather experimental. A bioengineered (?), birdlike creature crosses a post-apocalyptic world, gets captured, and generally doesn't seem to have much agency. Some interesting horror elements though.
⭐⭐⭐
I haven't read Borne. On its own, without context, this feels rather experimental. A bioengineered (?), birdlike creature crosses a post-apocalyptic world, gets captured, and generally doesn't seem to have much agency. Some interesting horror elements though.
⭐⭐⭐
I had a good feeling about this one! People who love bugs tend to be wonderfully enthusiastic about it. This little book describes the biology of a common, solitary bee and teaches you how to make your yard a friendlier place for them. Incredibly charming.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I had a good feeling about this one! People who love bugs tend to be wonderfully enthusiastic about it. This little book describes the biology of a common, solitary bee and teaches you how to make your yard a friendlier place for them. Incredibly charming.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
#1 · Gormenghast · 511 p. (started 2025)
Here we follow Titus through childhood and adolescence. It's a tumultuous time for the castle as Steerpike continues his ascent to absolute power. Irma wants to throw a party. The school headmaster is a human dumpling in a high chair.
#1 · Gormenghast · 511 p. (started 2025)
Here we follow Titus through childhood and adolescence. It's a tumultuous time for the castle as Steerpike continues his ascent to absolute power. Irma wants to throw a party. The school headmaster is a human dumpling in a high chair.
Opens with a rape scene that seems to be front loaded for shock value; I stalled out here for a while. The rest is such a rushed oops-all-werewolves horror story with such basic prose that it feels like the outline of an actual novel—something you'd read on a flight.
Opens with a rape scene that seems to be front loaded for shock value; I stalled out here for a while. The rest is such a rushed oops-all-werewolves horror story with such basic prose that it feels like the outline of an actual novel—something you'd read on a flight.
Essentially, Jim is told to go rescue an English prince from France and he goes and does that. What follows is a huge waste of time negotiating a "dragon passport", waiting for NPCs to show up, talking to NPCs who don't matter, and musing about medieval culture.
Essentially, Jim is told to go rescue an English prince from France and he goes and does that. What follows is a huge waste of time negotiating a "dragon passport", waiting for NPCs to show up, talking to NPCs who don't matter, and musing about medieval culture.
A save-the-girl isekai with the gimmick of a protagonist stuck as a dragon. An enjoyable (meandering) ride, but don't think too much about whether medieval England + magical creatures makes sense. It's not quite as good the second time.
⭐⭐⭐½
A save-the-girl isekai with the gimmick of a protagonist stuck as a dragon. An enjoyable (meandering) ride, but don't think too much about whether medieval England + magical creatures makes sense. It's not quite as good the second time.
⭐⭐⭐½
Prehistoric cats discover fire. Ratha, who seems to lack any sense of self-preservation, spends much of the book making dumb choices that result in hunger, exile, and general misery. It's a Greek tragedy, really. She's not like other girls. There's also a sex scene.
Prehistoric cats discover fire. Ratha, who seems to lack any sense of self-preservation, spends much of the book making dumb choices that result in hunger, exile, and general misery. It's a Greek tragedy, really. She's not like other girls. There's also a sex scene.
#27 · Lord Darcy Investigates · 229 p.
An alternate 1900s where a British-French empire rules most of the world and sorcery has become a science. Lord Darcy is the King's personal investigator, tasked with cases of murder and intrigue among the aristocracy.
#27 · Lord Darcy Investigates · 229 p.
An alternate 1900s where a British-French empire rules most of the world and sorcery has become a science. Lord Darcy is the King's personal investigator, tasked with cases of murder and intrigue among the aristocracy.
Some cardboard cutouts with stock fantasy names crawl across an empty map to recover the magical sword from the bad guy. Our two (human) protagonists are incongruously named Shea and Flick. They might as well be Hobbits. The ripoffs aren't exactly subtle.
Some cardboard cutouts with stock fantasy names crawl across an empty map to recover the magical sword from the bad guy. Our two (human) protagonists are incongruously named Shea and Flick. They might as well be Hobbits. The ripoffs aren't exactly subtle.
#1 · Pawn of Prophecy · 258 p.
A resolutely generic quest to track down a magical orb before it awakens an evil god. The second half seems to forget the urgency of the situation and focuses on a meeting of kings that could've been an email. The prologue negates any uncertainty.
#1 · Pawn of Prophecy · 258 p.
A resolutely generic quest to track down a magical orb before it awakens an evil god. The second half seems to forget the urgency of the situation and focuses on a meeting of kings that could've been an email. The prologue negates any uncertainty.
#1 · Lyra's Oxford, 2003, 55 p.
A chapter, really, of Lyra and Pantalaimon back at Jordan College, two years after the events of The Amber Spyglass. Bird-themed; small and self-contained, but with the possibility of more stories in this space. Hits all the right notes.
🐦⬛🐦⬛🐦⬛🐦⬛🐦⬛
#1 · Lyra's Oxford, 2003, 55 p.
A chapter, really, of Lyra and Pantalaimon back at Jordan College, two years after the events of The Amber Spyglass. Bird-themed; small and self-contained, but with the possibility of more stories in this space. Hits all the right notes.
🐦⬛🐦⬛🐦⬛🐦⬛🐦⬛