XPost: alt.books.reviews, alt.books

On Tue, 1 Mar 2022 08:51:01 -0800 (PST), Midwest Book Review <mwbookrevw@aol.com> wrote:

The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf

Dark Origins: Arkham Horror
Dave Gross, et al.
Aconyte Books
https://aconytebooks.com
9781839081187, $19.95, PB, 512pp

https://www.amazon.com/Dark-Origins-Arkham-Collected-Novellas/dp/183908118X

Synopsis: "Dark Origins: Arkham Horror" from Aconyte Books is an
anthology of four outstanding horror fantasy novellas by four
impressively skilled and imaginative masters of the genre. These four
novellas are: Hour of the Huntress by Dave Gross (the mysterious
disappearance of dilettante Jenny Barnes' beloved sister triggers a
frantic search through Arkham's darkest shadows); The Dirge of Reason
by Graeme Davis (for federal agent Roland Banks, investigating a
bizarre incident exposes him to the supernatural horrors of Arkham)
Ire of the Void by Richard Lee Byers (the astronomer and professor
Norman Withers finds himself the subject of a strange creature's gaze
when he agrees to assist in a fellow scientist's weird experiment);
The Deep Gate by Chris A Jackson (sailor Silas Marsh must return to
Innsmouth and confront his harrowing nightmares when he stumbles on a
tome foretelling the end of the world).

Critique: Each inherently fascinating and deftly crafted Arkham House
themed horror fantasy novella comprising "Dark Origins: Arkham Horror"
is a truly memorable (and haunting) read. Highly recommended for
community library Science Fiction & Fantasy collections, it should be
noted that "Dark Origins: Arkham Horror" is also readily available for
the legions of horror fiction fans in a digital book format (Kindle,
$14.95).

Gods and Dragons
Kevin J. Anderson
Tor Books
c/o Tor/Forge Books
120 Broadway, 22nd Floor, New York, NY 10271
www.tor-forge.com
9781250302205, $29.99, HC, 496pp

https://www.amazon.com/Gods-Dragons-Wake-Dragon-3/dp/125030220X

Synopsis: "Gods and Dragons" by Kevin J. Anderson is the story of two continents at war: the Three Kingdoms and Ishara which have been in
conflict with each other for a thousand years. But when an outside
threat arises in the form of the reawakening of a powerful ancient
race that wants to remake the world, these two warring nations must
somehow set aside generations of hatred to form an alliance against a
far more deadly enemy.

Critique: The third title in science fiction and fantasy author Kevin
J. Anderson acclaimed 'Wake The Dragon' series, "Gods and Dragons" is
still another imaginative, riveting, deftly crafted, and memorably
original novel by a true master of the science fiction and fantasy
genres. While absolutely and unreservedly recommended for community
library collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists
of the growing legions of Kevin J. Anderson fans that "Gods and
Dragons" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle,
$14.99).

Editorial Note: Kevin J. Anderson has written dozens of national
bestsellers and has been nominated for the Hugo Award, the Nebula
Award, the Bram Stoker Award, and the SFX Readers' Choice Award. His
critically acclaimed original novels include the ambitious space opera
series The Saga of Seven Suns, including The Dark Between the Stars,
as well as Wake the Dragon epic fantasy trilogy, the Terra Incognita
fantasy epic with its two accompanying rock CDs. He also set the Guinness-certified world record for the largest single-author book
signing, and was recently inducted into the Colorado Authors' Hall of
Fame.

Malefactor
Robert Repino
Soho Press
www.sohopress.com
9781641290982, $27.00, HC, 456pp

https://www.amazon.com/Malefactor-War-Name-Robert-Repino/dp/1641290986

Synopsis: Over a decade has passed since the ant queen began her
apocalyptic war with the humans. In the aftermath, she leaves behind a
strange legacy: a race of uplifted animals, the queen's conscripts in
the war effort, now trying to make their way in the world they
destroyed. While the conflict has left deep scars, it has also allowed
both sides to demonstrate feats of courage and compassion that were
never possible before. And now, after years of bloodshed, the
survivors have a fleeting chance to build a lasting peace.

But peace always comes with a price. The holy city of Hosanna (where
animals and humans form a joint government) finds itself surrounded by
wolves who are determined to retake the land. A powerful matriarch has
united the rival wolf packs, using a terrible power harnessed from the
Queen herself.

Soon, the looming violence pulls in those who sought to escape. The
war hero Mort(e) suspects a plot to destroy Hosanna from within, and
recruits a team of unlikely allies to investigate. Falkirk, captain of
the airship Vesuvius, must choose between treason and loyalty to save
the city. And D'Arc, sailing aboard the al-Rihla, learns that the
wolves may have triggered a new cycle of life for the Colony, bringing
a final reckoning to animal and human alike. Once reunited, the three
outcasts begin a journey into wolf territory to face the last remnant
of the queen's empire.

But while destiny has drawn them together, it may destroy them as
well, for even love, courage, and honor may not be enough to stop the
forces of destruction set to be unleashed on the world.

Critique: A deftly scripted and inherently fascinating dystopian
novel, "Malefactor" by author Robert Repino (and the third and final
title in his 'War With No Name' trilogy) is essentially a romantic
fantasy played out against the background of a Post-Apocalyptic world.
While highly recommended, especially for community library Science
Fiction & Fantasy collections, it should be noted for personal reading
lists that "Malefactor" is also readily available in a digital book
format (Kindle, $14.99).

That Was Now, This is Then
Michael Z. Williamson
Baen Books
P.O. Box 1403, Riverdale, NY 10471
www.baen.com
9781982125769, $25.00

https://www.amazon.com/That-was-Now-This-Then-ebook/dp/B09M931ZJ1

That Was Now, This is Then represents military sci-fi and alternate
history at their best. It tells of U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan flung
back to the Paleolithic Age, along with other historical figures from
different eras. As new allies and foes emerged from the fracas, the
team survived and even found a way back home.

Enter the present, where humans from the far future have done the same
thing to another group of humans, standing them in the past.
Sometimes, it's not enough to survive. Sometimes duty calls upon the
soldier to return to fight again. Thus it is that Sean Elliott, having
survived one time-travel disaster, is called upon, with his veterans,
to rescue another time-stranded team. The gripping, unpredictable
scenarios make for a story that is gripping and involving as past,
present, and future circumstances collide.

1637: The Coast of Chaos
Eric Flint, Paula Goodlett, and Gorg Huff
Baen Books
P.O. Box 1403, Riverdale, NY 10471
www.baen.com
9781982125776, $25.00

https://www.amazon.com/1637-Coast-Chaos-Eric-Flint-ebook/dp/B09M8ZX4BV

Prior fans of Eric Flint's classic 1637 Ring of Fire stories will
enjoy the short novel and stories in 1637: The Coast of Chaos, which
adds more segments to the adventure, expanding the political conflicts
that keep the stranded West Virginia town residents on their toes on
the past. In this story, the newly formed United States of Europe has
made an agreement that holds the possibility of abolishing slavery...
until the French send invading troops to New England to create a
special form of chaos that may change the future irrevocably.
Fast-paced tales emerge that will delight Eric Flint readers with
compelling drama and new events.

The War of the Dragons
Ronald D. Goode, author
Katherine M. Comacho, author
Dorrance Publishing Company
585 Alpha Drive, Suite 103, Pittsburgh, PA 15238
www.dorrancepublishing.com
9781638672555, $11.00, PB, 72pp

https://www.amazon.com/War-Dragons-Controlled-Powerful-Dragon/dp/1638672555

Synopsis: Toward the beginning of time, God created dragons of fire,
ice, and water from the Earth, who rule the planet by fear-untamed and
feeding on human race. Only one thing can bring peace to the chaos
that reigns: the Dragon Sword. But who will be God's chosen one to
wield it?

Critique: A deftly crafted novella by the team of Ronald D. Goode and
Katherine M. Camacho, "The War of the Dragons: Fire Dragons, Ice
Dragons, and Water Dragons All Controlled by the Powerful Dragon
Sword" is an inherently fascinating and entertaining read (and
featuring impressively attractive cover art) that will have special
appeal to fantasy fans with an interest in dragon lore fantasy
fiction. While recommended for community library collections, it
should be noted for personal reading lists that "The War of the
Dragons: Fire Dragons, Ice Dragons, and Water Dragons All Controlled
by the Powerful Dragon Sword" is also readily available in a digital
book format (Kindle, $6.00).

Goddess of Limbo
Lea Falls
Zauberfalls Publishing
www.leafalls.com
9781737011507, $17.31 (Amazon), PB, 698pp

https://www.amazon.com/Goddess-Limbo-Forgotten-Splinters-Chronicles/dp/1737011506

Synopsis: Free will is a relic of the past. Souls have a prewritten
path to heaven. If they miss it, they are doomed to roam the lost
realm of limbo as splinters of their former selves or worse-as demons.
Their only hope is the reaper Alames, whose own soul shattered when
her celestial lover, Balthos, usurped their creators to make them
gods. In her absence, he builds a pantheon of monsters and tricks the
mortals, whom he blames for his grief, into worshiping him. But when a
new generation defies Balthos's law, Alames's splinters appear among
them.

Brilliant physicist Ally longs for progress and innovation, but the
Council controlling her nation strips the "Mad Princess" of power.
Pregnant and uncertain, the unrivaled Captain Se'azana abandons her
career for the false promises of love. The starving serf Richard makes
a deal with a Fae demon to save his son. And teenage rebel Vana trades
her guitar for a blade when faced with ruthless nobility.

Critique: A veritable saga of a novel that will have special appeal
for fans of LBGTQ fantasy fiction, "Goddess of Limbo" is the debut
title for author Lea Falls new 'The Forgotten Splinters Chronicles'
series. Original, deftly crafted, and a truly memorable read, "Goddess
of Limbo" is especially and unreservedly recommended for community
library Science Fiction & Fantasy collections. It should be noted for
the personal reading lists of all dedicated fantasy fans that "Goddess
of Limbo" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle,
$4.99).

EDITOR'S NOTE:

The Midwest Book Review is an organization of volunteers committed to
promoting literacy, library usage, and small press publishing. We
accept no funds from authors or publishers. Full permission is given
to post any of these reviews on thematically appropriate websites,
newsgroups, listserves, internet discussion groups, organizational
newsletters, or to interested individuals. Please give the Midwest
Book Review a credit line when doing so.

The Midwest Book Review publishes the monthly book review magazines
"California Bookwatch", "Internet Bookwatch", "Children's Bookwatch",
"MBR Bookwatch", "Reviewer's Bookwatch", and "Small Press Bookwatch".
All are available for free on the Midwest Book Review website at www
(dot) midwestbookreview (dot) com

Anyone wanting to submit books for review consideration can send them
to:

James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive
Oregon, WI 53575-1129

To submit reviews of any fiction or non-fiction books, email them to
Frugalmuse (at) aol (dot) com (Be sure to include the book title,
author, publisher, publisher address, publisher website/phone number,
13-digit ISBN number, and list price).

James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review

(reformatted for legibility)

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)