Over the past five months I've read a lot of stories, and three novels, by Adam-Troy Castro, most involving Andrea Cort. They were not written in order of the chronology of her life. I've come to the end of the available stories, and might one day rearrange the page, but that will wait for now. The link will take you to the top of the page, the first published. Other related links at the bottom of the page.
I re-read Nicola Griffith's Hild a couple of weeks ago and edited that review. I made even more edits today, then added comments about the second book, Menewood. Both get my highest of recommendation. This link is for the full page.
Switching from regular books to a graphic story. If Dragon Tooth had been a rehash of what I had already read or seen on the show I would not have been interested. But it is a new story, set in between the sixth and seventh novels. The first volume does not disappoint.
Apologies for the problematic title of the latest book reviewed. It is not my book, and I'm sure the author was aware of the controversy. The story is very good regardless.
This year I have read ten novels, and two collections, by Grand Master Robin McKinley. The last is also the last one to be published, ten years ago. Shadows is enjoyable, if not up to the level of my overall favorite, Sunshine.
@madrobin@bookstodon
I should have also mentioned Chalice among the traditional fantasies. I use fantasticfiction.com a lot to track books and authors. Her page is:
FWIW, here are my favorite SFFH books of the year, in the order I read them, not by preference:
Novels:
The Terraformers - Annalee Newitz
Furious Heaven - Kate Elliott
Lone Women - Victor LaValle
Dual Memory - Sue Burke
The Water Outlaws - S. L. Huang
Exit Ghost - Jennifer R. Donohue
Novellas:
Lost in the Moment and Found - Seanan McGuire
The Mimicking of Known Successes - Malka Older
Rose/House - Arkady Martine
Mammoths at the Gates - Premee Mohamed
I've read the 11th, but hopefully not the last, Penric & Desdemona story by Lois McMaster Bujold. I would welcome more, at least another novel to wrap things up.
@jarulf@bookstodon They are Kindle only now, but they were released in hardcover by Subterranean. Small print runs though, and while you might find used copies they won't be cheap. I assume another collection would have to wait for at least one more story.
I review another Andrea Cort novella by Adam-Troy Castro. "Hiding Place," even though written more than 12 years ago, is as far into her life as he has gone so far. I am anxious to read the follow-up, whatever it might be, whenever he writes it.
Anyone have a list or a link they could share for books coming out late 2024? September-December, SF/F/H preferred. I have ARCs through August, but I haven't seen later ones at Net Galley or Edelweiss yet.
I should cancel the Subterranean newsletter and unfollow them on all platforms. It is disheartening to know about all their books I would like to buy but will never be able to afford. Today's announcement is for a limited edition of Kim Stanley Robinson's The Ministry for the Future, the least expensive being $195. I'll have to be content with the ebook I already have.
The third, and at this time last Andrea Cort novel by Adam-Troy Castro, War of the Marionettes is as much a sequel to the trilogy of novellas I reviewed last month as it is for the previous novels. Well written and exciting, but also bleak and foreboding throughout. Andrea survives, but I'm not sure she is happy about that. I'll find out next month when I read "Hiding Place," as far into her life as he has written so far.
Second review of the day is for "A Stab of the Knife," another novella by Adam-Troy Castro that features Andrea Cort, along with characters from other stories not yet read. Several great action sequences, with probing character interactions. Too bad is it only available in a back-issue of Analog. No other print version or e-book yet.
A short review for the only novel length Penric & Desdemona story, so far at least, and at this time the penultimate tale. Bujold continues to impress, and so does Penric. Recommended.
The first novella in a series that has extended to six titles so far, Jennifer R. Donohue's Run With The Hunted is fast-paced and exiting. I will follow up on this, maybe soon.