Impossible Places
Piranesi by Susanna Clarke
My Review:
This is a curious book. I came across it in an online discussion about books that are reminiscent of the Narnia series. This book is a series of journal entries by a man known as Piranesi who lives in a mysterious series of halls which are filled with statues. Birds fly through the halls, and fish live in the waters that wash through the lower halls. We piece together the story of what is really happening though the eyes of Piranesi as he explores the halls and encounters other people.
It is hard to say more without giving spoilers, but this was a very enjoyable and intriguing book.
7. A Book in Parts
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by JK Rowling
(A Play in four Acts)
My Review
I read this (well, listened to an audio version) after rereading all the other Harry Potter books. This book is a script rather than a novel, and comes complete with stage directions.
Story wise I thought the story was OK, but it felt more like a piece of fan fiction than an actual continuation of the Harry Potter saga. There is a lot of revisiting of old material along with a lot of changes to established facts - so much so that I was almost surprised to see Rowling's name on the cover.
It would probably be spectacular to see on stage (if done well), but for my own part I think the Harry Potter series does just as well without it.
8. Gods and Pantheons
Codex Alera: Princeps Fury by Jim Butcher
My Review
The story continues, with most of the action in this one taking place in the land of the Canae, the doglike warrior people who live across the seas from Alera.
In this case thare are multiple pantheons in play, starting with Furies of the Alerans and continuing with the multiple other nations
9. Last in a Series
Codex Alera: First Lord's Fury by Jim Butcher
My Review:
In this, the final book of the Codex Alera, Tavi comes into his own as the new First Lord of Alera, defeating his enemies and forging new alliances for the future. I found that this book brought the series to a very satisfactory conclusion.
Without going into spoiler territory, there are many things I liked about this series. The world, with its multiple peoples and species, is well imagined. There are a lot of very likeable characters, and I was especially pleased with the various love stories which are told along the way.
Most satisfying is the story of Tavi, the young man who over the course of the series grows to be the first lord, forging friendships and overcoming obstacles, first through his wits and skill alone and later as he comes into his own as a furycrafter.
10. Book Club or Readalong
The Aeronaut's Windlass by Jim Butcher
My Review
The start of Jim Butcher's latest series is a solid first entry to a new epic tale. We have a strange and well described world with lots of fascinating details of setting, character and technology (for want of a better word). Being book one most of these remain unexplained at the end of the book, but there is no doubt that explanations exist. My only reservation here is that the series has only two books written of a much longer series, and there is a distinct possibility it is never finished.
Characters are well imagined, and I very much enjoyed that talking cats form part of the cast. The story contained more action scenes than I really care for, and seemed to go from fight to battle to scuffle to military engagement almost without relief. Very well done if you like that sort of thing, but a little more than I cared for.
11. Parents
Dark Matter by Blake Crouch
My Review:
My second Blake Crouch book after the excellent Recursion, this one dealing with quantum uncertainty and parallel worlds as it explores the question: what if the choices that shape your life had been made differently? In this book the protagonist finds himself in a world where different decisions have been made, and must try to find a way back to the world where he has a wife and son.
While I enjoyed this book I didn't feel that
Piranesi by Susanna Clarke
My Review:
This is a curious book. I came across it in an online discussion about books that are reminiscent of the Narnia series. This book is a series of journal entries by a man known as Piranesi who lives in a mysterious series of halls which are filled with statues. Birds fly through the halls, and fish live in the waters that wash through the lower halls. We piece together the story of what is really happening though the eyes of Piranesi as he explores the halls and encounters other people.
It is hard to say more without giving spoilers, but this was a very enjoyable and intriguing book.
7. A Book in Parts
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by JK Rowling
(A Play in four Acts)
My Review
I read this (well, listened to an audio version) after rereading all the other Harry Potter books. This book is a script rather than a novel, and comes complete with stage directions.
Story wise I thought the story was OK, but it felt more like a piece of fan fiction than an actual continuation of the Harry Potter saga. There is a lot of revisiting of old material along with a lot of changes to established facts - so much so that I was almost surprised to see Rowling's name on the cover.
It would probably be spectacular to see on stage (if done well), but for my own part I think the Harry Potter series does just as well without it.
8. Gods and Pantheons
Codex Alera: Princeps Fury by Jim Butcher
My Review
The story continues, with most of the action in this one taking place in the land of the Canae, the doglike warrior people who live across the seas from Alera.
In this case thare are multiple pantheons in play, starting with Furies of the Alerans and continuing with the multiple other nations
9. Last in a Series
Codex Alera: First Lord's Fury by Jim Butcher
My Review:
In this, the final book of the Codex Alera, Tavi comes into his own as the new First Lord of Alera, defeating his enemies and forging new alliances for the future. I found that this book brought the series to a very satisfactory conclusion.
Without going into spoiler territory, there are many things I liked about this series. The world, with its multiple peoples and species, is well imagined. There are a lot of very likeable characters, and I was especially pleased with the various love stories which are told along the way.
Most satisfying is the story of Tavi, the young man who over the course of the series grows to be the first lord, forging friendships and overcoming obstacles, first through his wits and skill alone and later as he comes into his own as a furycrafter.
10. Book Club or Readalong
The Aeronaut's Windlass by Jim Butcher
My Review
The start of Jim Butcher's latest series is a solid first entry to a new epic tale. We have a strange and well described world with lots of fascinating details of setting, character and technology (for want of a better word). Being book one most of these remain unexplained at the end of the book, but there is no doubt that explanations exist. My only reservation here is that the series has only two books written of a much longer series, and there is a distinct possibility it is never finished.
Characters are well imagined, and I very much enjoyed that talking cats form part of the cast. The story contained more action scenes than I really care for, and seemed to go from fight to battle to scuffle to military engagement almost without relief. Very well done if you like that sort of thing, but a little more than I cared for.
11. Parents
Dark Matter by Blake Crouch
My Review:
My second Blake Crouch book after the excellent Recursion, this one dealing with quantum uncertainty and parallel worlds as it explores the question: what if the choices that shape your life had been made differently? In this book the protagonist finds himself in a world where different decisions have been made, and must try to find a way back to the world where he has a wife and son.
While I enjoyed this book I didn't feel that
it was as good as Recursion. It felt like there were too many unanswered questions, and the ending, though satisfying to a degree, was not as completely satisfying as it might have been.
12. Epistolary
Darwinia by Robert Charles Wilson
Significant portions of this book are the expeditionary journal entries.
My Review:
This was a curious book. The scenario is that in the early 20th century, all the inhabitants of Europe are suddenly replaced with a completely different biosphere, as if from an alternate version of the evolution of life. The story follows the effects this has on the wider world, the different theories made to explain it, and what is found by the various parties of explorers who investigate it. strange and thought provoking stuff.
13. Published in 2025
Absolute Superman Vol 1 by Jason Aaron
My Review:
I don't read too many comic which aren't manga, but a recent podcast episode talking about the new DC comics Absolute Universe sounded intriguing, so I decided to check out Absolute Superman. The comic retells the story of the story story of Superman, changing many things but keeping the essentials the same.
14. Author of Color
Ratman Vol 1-4 by Sekihiko Inui
I read a lot of Manga, and I hope that Japanese authors count as People of Colour. If nt, I've missed this square.
My Review:
I came across this manga earlier in the year. In a world where super heroes keep the world safe, young Shooto Katsugari dreams of becoming one. When he is offered the chance by a mysterious stranger he accepts without hesitation - only to realise that he has just been signed up by the super villain team and not the super heroes. As the newly minted supervillain Ratman he is obliged to obey his villain overlords - but still finds a way to use his evil powers to the greater good.
This is an amusing twist on the regular superhero fare, and one I quite enjoyed.
15. Small Press or Self Published
Beware of Chicken 2 by CasualFarmer
This book has been picked up by a publisher, but I am including it because I started reading the story when only the first volume was just on Royal Road, and only continued this year.
My Review:
I read this book as the continuation from Beware of Chicken. I enjoyed the first book as it was a Cosy fantasy in a Cultivation setting, showing what happened when the hero Jin Rou turned his back on the highly dangerous and cutthroat world of Cultivation and took up the simple life of a farmer.
16. Biopunk
Mickey7 by Edward Ashton
Not 100% sure this meets the definition of Biopunk, but the cloning machine is definitely Bio.
My review:
I read this book after seeing the movie earlier in the year. As in usual in such cases, the book is better. While the movie delights in the various bloody deaths suffered by Mickey (17 to the book's 7) and adds an element of political satire which feels somewhat forced the book tells a much more streamlined and satisfying story, and includes a lot of detail about the history of human interstellar colonisation which is absent from the movie.
Quite a clever piece of science fiction.
17. Elves and Dwarves
Farming Life In Another World by Yasuyki Tsurugi
My Review:
I came across mention of this story somewhere - in an online discussion about anime, perhaps? - and read some 30 chapters of it online. A standard enough Isekai story with an overpowered protagonist and a bunch of impossibly beautiful females (including the Elves required for this card). Pleasant enough if you're into that sort of thing, but it got old pretty fast.
18. LGBTQIA+ Protagonist
The Day Tripper by James Goodhand
In this book, the LGBTQIA character is a student of the main character. This character is alos a POC.
My Review
I came across mention of this book after looking up info about another similar book, Oona Out of Order. In this book Alex Dean, age 20, has a bright future ahead of him,
12. Epistolary
Darwinia by Robert Charles Wilson
Significant portions of this book are the expeditionary journal entries.
My Review:
This was a curious book. The scenario is that in the early 20th century, all the inhabitants of Europe are suddenly replaced with a completely different biosphere, as if from an alternate version of the evolution of life. The story follows the effects this has on the wider world, the different theories made to explain it, and what is found by the various parties of explorers who investigate it. strange and thought provoking stuff.
13. Published in 2025
Absolute Superman Vol 1 by Jason Aaron
My Review:
I don't read too many comic which aren't manga, but a recent podcast episode talking about the new DC comics Absolute Universe sounded intriguing, so I decided to check out Absolute Superman. The comic retells the story of the story story of Superman, changing many things but keeping the essentials the same.
14. Author of Color
Ratman Vol 1-4 by Sekihiko Inui
I read a lot of Manga, and I hope that Japanese authors count as People of Colour. If nt, I've missed this square.
My Review:
I came across this manga earlier in the year. In a world where super heroes keep the world safe, young Shooto Katsugari dreams of becoming one. When he is offered the chance by a mysterious stranger he accepts without hesitation - only to realise that he has just been signed up by the super villain team and not the super heroes. As the newly minted supervillain Ratman he is obliged to obey his villain overlords - but still finds a way to use his evil powers to the greater good.
This is an amusing twist on the regular superhero fare, and one I quite enjoyed.
15. Small Press or Self Published
Beware of Chicken 2 by CasualFarmer
This book has been picked up by a publisher, but I am including it because I started reading the story when only the first volume was just on Royal Road, and only continued this year.
My Review:
I read this book as the continuation from Beware of Chicken. I enjoyed the first book as it was a Cosy fantasy in a Cultivation setting, showing what happened when the hero Jin Rou turned his back on the highly dangerous and cutthroat world of Cultivation and took up the simple life of a farmer.
16. Biopunk
Mickey7 by Edward Ashton
Not 100% sure this meets the definition of Biopunk, but the cloning machine is definitely Bio.
My review:
I read this book after seeing the movie earlier in the year. As in usual in such cases, the book is better. While the movie delights in the various bloody deaths suffered by Mickey (17 to the book's 7) and adds an element of political satire which feels somewhat forced the book tells a much more streamlined and satisfying story, and includes a lot of detail about the history of human interstellar colonisation which is absent from the movie.
Quite a clever piece of science fiction.
17. Elves and Dwarves
Farming Life In Another World by Yasuyki Tsurugi
My Review:
I came across mention of this story somewhere - in an online discussion about anime, perhaps? - and read some 30 chapters of it online. A standard enough Isekai story with an overpowered protagonist and a bunch of impossibly beautiful females (including the Elves required for this card). Pleasant enough if you're into that sort of thing, but it got old pretty fast.
18. LGBTQIA+ Protagonist
The Day Tripper by James Goodhand
In this book, the LGBTQIA character is a student of the main character. This character is alos a POC.
My Review
I came across mention of this book after looking up info about another similar book, Oona Out of Order. In this book Alex Dean, age 20, has a bright future ahead of him,
Apple Podcasts
Absolute Reimagining of DC Comics
Podcast Episode · Imaginary Worlds · 25 February · 39min
only to suffer an unfortunate turn of events. When he wakes up he is 14 years into the future and his life has fallen apart. Each day he awakens in a different time. Over the course of the book he must what is going on, why has his life turned out so badly, what has happened to the people he loves, and can he fix it?
An engaging and clever exploration of time, life, love, and the importance of small choices.
19. Five Short Stories
The Hidden Girl and Other Stories by Ken Liu
My Review:
I read this book after watching the TV series Pantheon which is based on some of the stories in this volume. Like any collection. my reaction varies. For the most part the stories are near future science fiction stories dealing with things like mind uploading and the technological singularity, but there are other stories both science fiction and fantasy.
An interesting collection and one I would (mostly) recommend.
20. Stranger in a Strange Land
The Antventure Bgins by RinoZ
My Review:
Not sure where I came across mention of this book (probably an online discussion on Reddit) but it proved to be an amusing little piece of LitRPG about a young man who suddenly finds himself in the body of an ant monster in a world with RPG like mechanics. A lot of time is spent on game mechanics and there are a lot of battles (especially towards the end) but it kept my interest enough to keep listening to the end, and probably to at least one more of the many sequels.
21. Recycle a Bingo Square (2025: First in a Series)
Codex Alera: Furies of Calderon by Jim Butcher
My Review:
I was recently challenged to read this book by a friend after we had been discussing Jim Butcher's other series, The Dresden Files, which he is a big fan of and I have not taken to. This series apparently results from a challenge made to Butcher that he could not write a good book based on the "Lost Roman Legion" cliché. This he has done, and with Pokémon thrown in to boot.
In this book we have a Roman-inspired world in which people have skills with "Furies", elemental being with powers of air, earth, fire, water, wood or metal. Fury Crafters can use these elemental powers in combat or in daily life.
This story is engaging and well told. We have plots and counter plots, a wide cast of characters and some very well executed world building. I am very much taken with this series and will definitely be reading the rest of them.
22. Cozy SFF
DragonSinger by Anne McCaffrey
My Review:
The second part of of the story of Menolly, begun in Dragonsong, sees her taking up residence in the Harpers Hall and follows the first week of her life there as she finds her place in her new home.
This book would probably classify as cosy fantasy. Stakes are not high, not a whole lot happens, but we enjoy getting to know the characters a bit better and explore a new place.
23. Generic Title
Dragonsong by Anne McCaffrey
My Review:
I was given a copy of this one by a friend (thanks Brad!) and found it an enjoyable read. Nothing particularly complex here or high stakes, just a fairly simple story about a young woman who runs away from home looks after a clutch of singing lizards.
My main gripe is that the story feels very short and barely seems to have got going before it is over, but since it is part one of series I guess I can forgive that.
24. Not a Book
Beauty and the Beast (Musical) by Tim Rice
For my "Not a Book" I took part in a community theatre production of the Disney Beauty and the Beast, playing Maurice. In this case I have an external review:
https://theatrehaus.com/2026/01/beauty-and-the-beast-brisbane-musical-theatre/
25. Pirates
The Olympian Affair by Jim Butcher
Not sea pirates, but air pirates.
My Review:
he second book of the Cinder Spires series. This one started a bit slow. The first part was a little confusing and did not really hold my interest, but it picked up in the second half with a few spectacular battles and some
An engaging and clever exploration of time, life, love, and the importance of small choices.
19. Five Short Stories
The Hidden Girl and Other Stories by Ken Liu
My Review:
I read this book after watching the TV series Pantheon which is based on some of the stories in this volume. Like any collection. my reaction varies. For the most part the stories are near future science fiction stories dealing with things like mind uploading and the technological singularity, but there are other stories both science fiction and fantasy.
An interesting collection and one I would (mostly) recommend.
20. Stranger in a Strange Land
The Antventure Bgins by RinoZ
My Review:
Not sure where I came across mention of this book (probably an online discussion on Reddit) but it proved to be an amusing little piece of LitRPG about a young man who suddenly finds himself in the body of an ant monster in a world with RPG like mechanics. A lot of time is spent on game mechanics and there are a lot of battles (especially towards the end) but it kept my interest enough to keep listening to the end, and probably to at least one more of the many sequels.
21. Recycle a Bingo Square (2025: First in a Series)
Codex Alera: Furies of Calderon by Jim Butcher
My Review:
I was recently challenged to read this book by a friend after we had been discussing Jim Butcher's other series, The Dresden Files, which he is a big fan of and I have not taken to. This series apparently results from a challenge made to Butcher that he could not write a good book based on the "Lost Roman Legion" cliché. This he has done, and with Pokémon thrown in to boot.
In this book we have a Roman-inspired world in which people have skills with "Furies", elemental being with powers of air, earth, fire, water, wood or metal. Fury Crafters can use these elemental powers in combat or in daily life.
This story is engaging and well told. We have plots and counter plots, a wide cast of characters and some very well executed world building. I am very much taken with this series and will definitely be reading the rest of them.
22. Cozy SFF
DragonSinger by Anne McCaffrey
My Review:
The second part of of the story of Menolly, begun in Dragonsong, sees her taking up residence in the Harpers Hall and follows the first week of her life there as she finds her place in her new home.
This book would probably classify as cosy fantasy. Stakes are not high, not a whole lot happens, but we enjoy getting to know the characters a bit better and explore a new place.
23. Generic Title
Dragonsong by Anne McCaffrey
My Review:
I was given a copy of this one by a friend (thanks Brad!) and found it an enjoyable read. Nothing particularly complex here or high stakes, just a fairly simple story about a young woman who runs away from home looks after a clutch of singing lizards.
My main gripe is that the story feels very short and barely seems to have got going before it is over, but since it is part one of series I guess I can forgive that.
24. Not a Book
Beauty and the Beast (Musical) by Tim Rice
For my "Not a Book" I took part in a community theatre production of the Disney Beauty and the Beast, playing Maurice. In this case I have an external review:
https://theatrehaus.com/2026/01/beauty-and-the-beast-brisbane-musical-theatre/
25. Pirates
The Olympian Affair by Jim Butcher
Not sea pirates, but air pirates.
My Review:
he second book of the Cinder Spires series. This one started a bit slow. The first part was a little confusing and did not really hold my interest, but it picked up in the second half with a few spectacular battles and some
Theatre Haus
‘Beauty and the Beast’ // Brisbane Musical Theatre
Brisbane Musical Theatre’s Beauty and the Beast’ charged to the stage with high energy, a large set and cast, and all the magic you’d expect from a Disney show.
clever plot twists. We learn more of the world, though there is still a lot more to learn about it. The news that the third volume of the series is coming out later this year is welcome.
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Reddit
From the Fantasy community on Reddit
Explore this post and more from the Fantasy community
r/Fantasy Daily Recommendations and Simple Questions Thread - March 29, 2026
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**Welcome to the daily recommendation requests and simple questions thread, now 1025.83% more adorable than ever before!**
Stickied/highlight slots are limited, so please remember to ~~like and subscribe~~ upvote this thread for visibility on the subreddit <3
——
This thread is to be used for recommendation requests or simple questions that are small/general enough that they won’t spark a full thread of discussion.
Check out [r/Fantasy](https://www.reddit.com/r/Fantasy/)'s [2025 Book Bingo Card here](https://www.reddit.com/r/Fantasy/comments/1joxlrr/official_rfantasy_2025_book_bingo_challenge/)!
As usual, first have a look at the sidebar in case what you're after is there. The [r/Fantasy wiki](https://www.reddit.com/r/Fantasy/wiki/recommendations) contains links to many community resources, including "best of" lists, flowcharts, the LGTBQ+ database, and more. If you need some help figuring out what you want, think about including some of the information below:
* Books you’ve liked or disliked
* Traits like prose, characters, or settings you most enjoy
* Series vs. standalone preference
* Tone preference (lighthearted, grimdark, etc)
* Complexity/depth level
Be sure to check out responses to other users' requests in the thread, as you may find plenty of ideas there as well. Happy reading, and may your TBR grow ever higher!
——
[^(tiny image link to make the preview show up correctly)](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ITpGPzWOOd7MHhCY2d6Zv_6MWsntfT3s/view?usp=sharing)
art credit: special thanks to our artist, [Himmis commissions](https://himmis.carrd.co/), who we commissioned to create this gorgeous piece of art for us with practically no direction other than "cozy, magical, bookish, and maybe a gryphon???" We absolutely love it, and we hope you do too.
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https://preview.redd.it/l2cosnpoixbg1.png?width=3508&format=png&auto=webp&s=cb9f4a2807499edc796351cc28ec39b3aea4d7c2
**Welcome to the daily recommendation requests and simple questions thread, now 1025.83% more adorable than ever before!**
Stickied/highlight slots are limited, so please remember to ~~like and subscribe~~ upvote this thread for visibility on the subreddit <3
——
This thread is to be used for recommendation requests or simple questions that are small/general enough that they won’t spark a full thread of discussion.
Check out [r/Fantasy](https://www.reddit.com/r/Fantasy/)'s [2025 Book Bingo Card here](https://www.reddit.com/r/Fantasy/comments/1joxlrr/official_rfantasy_2025_book_bingo_challenge/)!
As usual, first have a look at the sidebar in case what you're after is there. The [r/Fantasy wiki](https://www.reddit.com/r/Fantasy/wiki/recommendations) contains links to many community resources, including "best of" lists, flowcharts, the LGTBQ+ database, and more. If you need some help figuring out what you want, think about including some of the information below:
* Books you’ve liked or disliked
* Traits like prose, characters, or settings you most enjoy
* Series vs. standalone preference
* Tone preference (lighthearted, grimdark, etc)
* Complexity/depth level
Be sure to check out responses to other users' requests in the thread, as you may find plenty of ideas there as well. Happy reading, and may your TBR grow ever higher!
——
[^(tiny image link to make the preview show up correctly)](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ITpGPzWOOd7MHhCY2d6Zv_6MWsntfT3s/view?usp=sharing)
art credit: special thanks to our artist, [Himmis commissions](https://himmis.carrd.co/), who we commissioned to create this gorgeous piece of art for us with practically no direction other than "cozy, magical, bookish, and maybe a gryphon???" We absolutely love it, and we hope you do too.
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My year of French Speculative Fiction – Bingo Reviews
Hello everyone ! :D
This year I have managed to fulfill three cards - A french novels one, a novella one, and a graphic novels one. This is my reviews for my french novels one.
Note, my requirement for the books were to be the their first language was to be french, not that the author had to french, although it ended very french all the same.
In terms of authors there are 17 that i have discovered with the bingo, with only two that I would have never read without the bingo. I had the bad idea to buy a loooot of books the year before hoping they would somehow fit in the bingo, and I have a lot of leftover... Including a few notorious authors that I still haven't read, so this bingo is hardly a state-of-french-fantasy-in-2025. Maybe next year!
(Or no. I have also a lot of anglophone books, so next bingo I will probably read whatever I want and see where I am in november. Challenges are fun, but planning too much in advance sucks for me.)
https://preview.redd.it/gjbsces0gzrg1.png?width=1722&format=png&auto=webp&s=8d73c2afdb52e82f0185f67a201295b8520c6531
On to reviews! I noted if it was translated in english. I also forgot to note HM on the bingo maker, so I will try to note if fill the requirement.
1. Knights and Paladins - Knight Club - Arthur de Pins
HM, I guess? Like the one real knight promises to defend the village alongside the other mercenaries
This is a graphic novel – kinda cheating because I have a separate bingo for that, but well, I’ve started Lancelot, the Knight of the Cart and found out that there weren’t really enought speculative elements for my taste.
On the actual comic: the plot is not really original, since it’s another retelling of The Seven Samurais but in the middle east, around the crusades. The characters are well-made and the plot is well crafted, obviously, so the real interest is the art. It is really stunning, in a really clean-made-on-computer graphics, it doesn’t lessen the brutality of war, without being gory. This come from a fairly known artist in French, and while I liked the book, it’s not its best.
2. Hidden Gem - Le jour où l'humanité a niqué la fantasy - Karim Berrouka
65 ratings, published in february 2021, so freshly HM
Fantasy creatures exist, exiled under Earth’s surface, and they are unhappy about their misrepresentation in human folklore. So unhappy that they are willing to destroy humanity to prove their existence, leaving only the worthy to live. This is a book that doesn’t take itself seriously (the title translates to The day when Humanity screwed fantasy, that certainly set the tone), but the plot and characters are well done, and the humor really kept me reading.
3. Published in the 80's - Le silence de la cité - Elisabeth Vonarburg
Translated: The silent city
Elisabeth Vonarburg is apparently a big name in quebec SF, and with this book I clearly understand why. The book is set in the future, when the wealthy took refuge in underground artificial cities, living for centuries while leaving the rest of humanity to fend for themselves after nuclear devastation and health problems resulting from it. In the remnants of humanity, the gender imbalance grew, with way more women being born than men. Does that mean they took power and this is a matriarchy? Lol no.
The main character is a woman born in the city, the first kid in a century, created so she could spread her regeneration genes to humanity, without the living for centuries because people kinda go mad after living too much. Like her creator, who is like a dad to her, then a mentor, a dictator and a lover (yeah, incest is a theme in the book, but it deals with it fairly well, it’s not \~magically good inecst\~). I won’t reveal the plot too much, but this the kind of old SF I love, a good story exploring intersting themes like gender, sex, sex inequality, emancipation and freedom. And for a eighties book, the subject of sex changing was graciously done, if not realistic.
There’s a
Hello everyone ! :D
This year I have managed to fulfill three cards - A french novels one, a novella one, and a graphic novels one. This is my reviews for my french novels one.
Note, my requirement for the books were to be the their first language was to be french, not that the author had to french, although it ended very french all the same.
In terms of authors there are 17 that i have discovered with the bingo, with only two that I would have never read without the bingo. I had the bad idea to buy a loooot of books the year before hoping they would somehow fit in the bingo, and I have a lot of leftover... Including a few notorious authors that I still haven't read, so this bingo is hardly a state-of-french-fantasy-in-2025. Maybe next year!
(Or no. I have also a lot of anglophone books, so next bingo I will probably read whatever I want and see where I am in november. Challenges are fun, but planning too much in advance sucks for me.)
https://preview.redd.it/gjbsces0gzrg1.png?width=1722&format=png&auto=webp&s=8d73c2afdb52e82f0185f67a201295b8520c6531
On to reviews! I noted if it was translated in english. I also forgot to note HM on the bingo maker, so I will try to note if fill the requirement.
1. Knights and Paladins - Knight Club - Arthur de Pins
HM, I guess? Like the one real knight promises to defend the village alongside the other mercenaries
This is a graphic novel – kinda cheating because I have a separate bingo for that, but well, I’ve started Lancelot, the Knight of the Cart and found out that there weren’t really enought speculative elements for my taste.
On the actual comic: the plot is not really original, since it’s another retelling of The Seven Samurais but in the middle east, around the crusades. The characters are well-made and the plot is well crafted, obviously, so the real interest is the art. It is really stunning, in a really clean-made-on-computer graphics, it doesn’t lessen the brutality of war, without being gory. This come from a fairly known artist in French, and while I liked the book, it’s not its best.
2. Hidden Gem - Le jour où l'humanité a niqué la fantasy - Karim Berrouka
65 ratings, published in february 2021, so freshly HM
Fantasy creatures exist, exiled under Earth’s surface, and they are unhappy about their misrepresentation in human folklore. So unhappy that they are willing to destroy humanity to prove their existence, leaving only the worthy to live. This is a book that doesn’t take itself seriously (the title translates to The day when Humanity screwed fantasy, that certainly set the tone), but the plot and characters are well done, and the humor really kept me reading.
3. Published in the 80's - Le silence de la cité - Elisabeth Vonarburg
Translated: The silent city
Elisabeth Vonarburg is apparently a big name in quebec SF, and with this book I clearly understand why. The book is set in the future, when the wealthy took refuge in underground artificial cities, living for centuries while leaving the rest of humanity to fend for themselves after nuclear devastation and health problems resulting from it. In the remnants of humanity, the gender imbalance grew, with way more women being born than men. Does that mean they took power and this is a matriarchy? Lol no.
The main character is a woman born in the city, the first kid in a century, created so she could spread her regeneration genes to humanity, without the living for centuries because people kinda go mad after living too much. Like her creator, who is like a dad to her, then a mentor, a dictator and a lover (yeah, incest is a theme in the book, but it deals with it fairly well, it’s not \~magically good inecst\~). I won’t reveal the plot too much, but this the kind of old SF I love, a good story exploring intersting themes like gender, sex, sex inequality, emancipation and freedom. And for a eighties book, the subject of sex changing was graciously done, if not realistic.
There’s a
follow up titled In the mother’s land, apparently way better and it’s advised to read it first, but well it was published in 1994 so it wouldn’t fit for the bingo, which is why I started with The silent city. With how much I loved the one I read, I will for sure check it.
4. High-Fashion - Plein-Ciel - Siècle Vaëlban - HM
In a word hierarchised by type of powers, the Opera is the highest form of Church. A performance goes bad? In worst case, that might mean hunger for the year. But is it really the way of the gods, or a political manipulation? Ivoire will soon discovers all types of conspiracies when she’s enrolled to create the dress of the actors.
Overall it was fun YA book, with a looooot of lore, which is my main complain. Like it makes sense, but it’s way too dense and I feel it needed a few more rounds of editing to be more thight-knit. It’s not a book for everyone, but if you loved The mirror visitor (especially the first book), it should be up your alley.
5. Down with the System - Noblesse Oblige - Maiwenn Alix
Another YA book, this time set in an alternate world where the french revolution failed. If you judge the cover and the summary, you might find it very similar to The Selection by Kierra Cass. And you would be right! It’s The Selection if it was focused on the revolts and the politics instead of the romance. And I loved it! In fact I loved it so much that Ibought and read the second and last book the week after finishing this one. The whole duology is great and is very satisfying to read, fyi.
It is way more dark than I thought it would be, with a conspiracy akin to the Epstein Files, so be warned.
6. Impossible Places - Nouveaux contes de fées - **La Comtesse de Ségur/**Sophie Rostopchine
HM - translated: can be found under the title Old French Fairy tales
This one is more or less a reread, as I’ve read this book countless of times as a kid, except my edition at the time had only three stories out of the original five. So it’s only half a reread! (Fits for the square bc it’s fairytale logic, with forest you can’t get out of etc.)
Anyway I loved (re)discovering these stories, just as enchanting as I remembered. The Comtesse de Ségur have a way with words that send me straight back to my childhood. Is it prefect? Nope, way too much virtuous and christian for my adult taste, with a lof of sexist expectation. But if, as a kid, I could understand the circumstances it was written in (the 19^(th) century), I can do it as an adult and not expect something else than what it promises.
7. A book in parts - Une valse pour les grotesques - Guillaume Chamanadjian
If I had a nickel for every time I’ve read Napoleon becoming a mere general instead of an emperor, which isn't a lot, but it's weird that it happened twice this year. OK this was just a side note in both books (this one and Noblesse Oblige), but still it is a funny coincidence. I’ve read this book back in June and I must say I don’t have strong memories or feeling about it. I remember liking it a lot, it just didn’t hold to the test of time.
I noted on my original review that there were too many POVs so we would spend too little time with any of them, which might explain why it did not stay fresh on my mind. I also noted the originality of the wolrd-building/plot, and yeah I do like what I remember. It builds off of our french fantastique, which is mostly strange stuff going on with the protagonist (and the reader therefore) is not sure it’s real or not.
Yeah the more I remember the more I like it.
8. Gods and Pantheons - La dernière tentation de Judas - Philippe Bataglia
Ok I might get ire from christians for getting this book on this square, since the only god is the christian God, but I’ve done my confirmation years ago so I don’t give a fuck about their opinion. Also they would probably object on the book itself so whatever.
The plot: Judas and the others Apostles (and a other few select) are still alive in modern
4. High-Fashion - Plein-Ciel - Siècle Vaëlban - HM
In a word hierarchised by type of powers, the Opera is the highest form of Church. A performance goes bad? In worst case, that might mean hunger for the year. But is it really the way of the gods, or a political manipulation? Ivoire will soon discovers all types of conspiracies when she’s enrolled to create the dress of the actors.
Overall it was fun YA book, with a looooot of lore, which is my main complain. Like it makes sense, but it’s way too dense and I feel it needed a few more rounds of editing to be more thight-knit. It’s not a book for everyone, but if you loved The mirror visitor (especially the first book), it should be up your alley.
5. Down with the System - Noblesse Oblige - Maiwenn Alix
Another YA book, this time set in an alternate world where the french revolution failed. If you judge the cover and the summary, you might find it very similar to The Selection by Kierra Cass. And you would be right! It’s The Selection if it was focused on the revolts and the politics instead of the romance. And I loved it! In fact I loved it so much that Ibought and read the second and last book the week after finishing this one. The whole duology is great and is very satisfying to read, fyi.
It is way more dark than I thought it would be, with a conspiracy akin to the Epstein Files, so be warned.
6. Impossible Places - Nouveaux contes de fées - **La Comtesse de Ségur/**Sophie Rostopchine
HM - translated: can be found under the title Old French Fairy tales
This one is more or less a reread, as I’ve read this book countless of times as a kid, except my edition at the time had only three stories out of the original five. So it’s only half a reread! (Fits for the square bc it’s fairytale logic, with forest you can’t get out of etc.)
Anyway I loved (re)discovering these stories, just as enchanting as I remembered. The Comtesse de Ségur have a way with words that send me straight back to my childhood. Is it prefect? Nope, way too much virtuous and christian for my adult taste, with a lof of sexist expectation. But if, as a kid, I could understand the circumstances it was written in (the 19^(th) century), I can do it as an adult and not expect something else than what it promises.
7. A book in parts - Une valse pour les grotesques - Guillaume Chamanadjian
If I had a nickel for every time I’ve read Napoleon becoming a mere general instead of an emperor, which isn't a lot, but it's weird that it happened twice this year. OK this was just a side note in both books (this one and Noblesse Oblige), but still it is a funny coincidence. I’ve read this book back in June and I must say I don’t have strong memories or feeling about it. I remember liking it a lot, it just didn’t hold to the test of time.
I noted on my original review that there were too many POVs so we would spend too little time with any of them, which might explain why it did not stay fresh on my mind. I also noted the originality of the wolrd-building/plot, and yeah I do like what I remember. It builds off of our french fantastique, which is mostly strange stuff going on with the protagonist (and the reader therefore) is not sure it’s real or not.
Yeah the more I remember the more I like it.
8. Gods and Pantheons - La dernière tentation de Judas - Philippe Bataglia
Ok I might get ire from christians for getting this book on this square, since the only god is the christian God, but I’ve done my confirmation years ago so I don’t give a fuck about their opinion. Also they would probably object on the book itself so whatever.
The plot: Judas and the others Apostles (and a other few select) are still alive in modern
times thanks to receiving the Holy Spirit. Judas is still moping around after betraying his lover (Jesus), on order of the Holy Father (God), but discovers an ancient lost and unofficial gospel that promises him happiness if he recovers the thrity pieces of silver he received for selling out Jesus.
It’s a pretty fun quest book, with mad apostles (from years of torture without dying. And also from power.) going slightly BDSM like, and also transness. Yes it’s a queer exploration all the way through. It’s also a reflexion on faith, godhood, sin, perfection and well the meaning of Church across history and modern times.
It got a little long in the middle, but I still loved everything and the conclusion was… quite weird? But in a good way? Like I do remember this book pretty well, which bodes well.
9. Last in a Series - Les Sœurs Carmines #3 : Dolorine à l'école - Ariel Holzl
(Review of the whole serie)
An extremely strong MG series, with obvious Tim Burton energy. Or magasin des suicides if you happen to know this one. I say MG, but I think it wouldn’t hold in America, probably way too murdery and gothic for this country. Yeah, dying is in fashion Grisailles, the city where the books happen, be it you or others. This is a really humorous book, choke full of jokes on violence and death in a cartoony way, with memorable characters and universe. My favorite of the trilogy was Tristabelle, the first born, who in real life I would call a bitch while in book she was just the highlight of cruelty and indifference to suffering. If you die, please don’t get blood on her dress, that would ruin it!
Anyway this third book is focused on Dolorine, the youngest of the sisters, on her first year of boarding school. While still good, it lacked the superior irony of her big sister and felt slightly too much like a normal kid book, with her trying to get into this band of young classmates. There was also a lack of her possessed teddy bear, who still payed an important role but was too much absent in the first part.
10. Book Club or readalong - The Magnus Archives - Jonathan Sims - HM
There’s an absence of french books across book clubs, so this is my exception to my card.
Anyway at first I was afraid of not being able to follow along an english podcasts or to grow bored, and instead I listened to the whole thing in about three weeks.
Yeah I liked it just fine.
11. Parents - Vertèbres - Morgane Caussarieu - HM
This book was sold as “Goosebumps but for adults” and by god it delivered. Absolute fun all around, with werewolves and fake illness and overbearing moms and kidnappings and innocent girls nearly being eaten. I will definitely read more of the author.
12. Epistolary - Récits du Demi-loup #4 : Clémente nous soit la pluie - Chloé Chevalier - HM
I’ve read the last three books this year, and they’re all told through the way of journals.
This is lowkey our Game of Throne (not in popularity tho), with political plot with little magic. None in fact, it’s really low-fantasy.
And I absolutely loved it. It’s female led, so plenty of rep and relationships and messy feelings galore. No girl power, though, because realistic leadership means that they’re gonna suck one way or another. I loved the world building, it is not focused on it but it’s just so well-connected, you can feel the author loved connecting the dots.
The biggest complaint I have is that there are multiple POVs, written as they would write in their journals or letters and it did not feel distinctive enough. Luckily I really liked the writing so on my side it’s mostly nitpicking.
13. Published in 2025 - Le Livre des étoiles #5: La magie des Korrigans - Jimmy Blin
If asked my favorite book ever in middle school, it would have been the original trilogy The Book of Stars by Erik L'Homme. This book litteraly changed my life. So what better news than hearing a fan wrote a follow-up and it got approved by the original author and will be published? I was elated
It’s a pretty fun quest book, with mad apostles (from years of torture without dying. And also from power.) going slightly BDSM like, and also transness. Yes it’s a queer exploration all the way through. It’s also a reflexion on faith, godhood, sin, perfection and well the meaning of Church across history and modern times.
It got a little long in the middle, but I still loved everything and the conclusion was… quite weird? But in a good way? Like I do remember this book pretty well, which bodes well.
9. Last in a Series - Les Sœurs Carmines #3 : Dolorine à l'école - Ariel Holzl
(Review of the whole serie)
An extremely strong MG series, with obvious Tim Burton energy. Or magasin des suicides if you happen to know this one. I say MG, but I think it wouldn’t hold in America, probably way too murdery and gothic for this country. Yeah, dying is in fashion Grisailles, the city where the books happen, be it you or others. This is a really humorous book, choke full of jokes on violence and death in a cartoony way, with memorable characters and universe. My favorite of the trilogy was Tristabelle, the first born, who in real life I would call a bitch while in book she was just the highlight of cruelty and indifference to suffering. If you die, please don’t get blood on her dress, that would ruin it!
Anyway this third book is focused on Dolorine, the youngest of the sisters, on her first year of boarding school. While still good, it lacked the superior irony of her big sister and felt slightly too much like a normal kid book, with her trying to get into this band of young classmates. There was also a lack of her possessed teddy bear, who still payed an important role but was too much absent in the first part.
10. Book Club or readalong - The Magnus Archives - Jonathan Sims - HM
There’s an absence of french books across book clubs, so this is my exception to my card.
Anyway at first I was afraid of not being able to follow along an english podcasts or to grow bored, and instead I listened to the whole thing in about three weeks.
Yeah I liked it just fine.
11. Parents - Vertèbres - Morgane Caussarieu - HM
This book was sold as “Goosebumps but for adults” and by god it delivered. Absolute fun all around, with werewolves and fake illness and overbearing moms and kidnappings and innocent girls nearly being eaten. I will definitely read more of the author.
12. Epistolary - Récits du Demi-loup #4 : Clémente nous soit la pluie - Chloé Chevalier - HM
I’ve read the last three books this year, and they’re all told through the way of journals.
This is lowkey our Game of Throne (not in popularity tho), with political plot with little magic. None in fact, it’s really low-fantasy.
And I absolutely loved it. It’s female led, so plenty of rep and relationships and messy feelings galore. No girl power, though, because realistic leadership means that they’re gonna suck one way or another. I loved the world building, it is not focused on it but it’s just so well-connected, you can feel the author loved connecting the dots.
The biggest complaint I have is that there are multiple POVs, written as they would write in their journals or letters and it did not feel distinctive enough. Luckily I really liked the writing so on my side it’s mostly nitpicking.
13. Published in 2025 - Le Livre des étoiles #5: La magie des Korrigans - Jimmy Blin
If asked my favorite book ever in middle school, it would have been the original trilogy The Book of Stars by Erik L'Homme. This book litteraly changed my life. So what better news than hearing a fan wrote a follow-up and it got approved by the original author and will be published? I was elated
of course, even if book 4 was little disapointing. The main character have disappeared and it felt like transition book. (Eh, the fanfiction I wrote at 12 featured his OC of a grand-daughter, so I made no better.)
Book 5 was a major upgrade for me, even though I'm not 12 anymore it was just as fun. The only complain I have is that HE KILLED MY FAVORITE CHARACTER!!! WHY! It was a very satisfying death, sure, but like he spend 15 years safe in my head :(
14. Author of Color - Quand vient la horde - Aurélie Luong
Not a bad book, but it made me discover that dark fantasy is not really for me. War, murder, violence, rape, vengeance, rinse and repeat. Yay. The main character had an arc, but the whole circle of violence and vengeance did not made me feel anything.
Finished the book and moved on immediately.
15. Small Press/Self-published - Les Chroniques d'Arawin #1 : Une idée d'incandescence - Naël Legrand - HM
Indie published, it was a little too inspired by Discoworld for me. The wolrd was well build, the characters interesting, the plot okay, but yeah it was not the most inspired. You can tell the author had fun writing it, but a book need a little more originality for me. I still liked it, but it will hardly stay with me.
16. Biopunk - Les olympiades truquées - Joëlle Wintrebert
In a world where genetic is not left to chance anymore, boys outnumbers girls by far, leaving them prey to sexism, sex predator and the like. There’s really no winning on the gender war, damn.
Published around the same time than Silence of the City, it deals with the same ideas but less well. There’s also the issue of athletes and drugs, and how far they’re willing to sell their body for the best spectacle. And just like Silence of City, incest! We keep winning! Because a subplot is the existence of clones, with some created only for their organs, and some like one of the two main character, cloned from the dead wife of her “father”. Yes, dude, raising the clone of the love of your life as your daughter will obviously lead her to fall in love you. Sure. Nothing wronger here,buddy, your plan is foolproof.
The problem with this book is that alllllllll the issues ares uper interesting, but it just breezes over them. The plot is centered on the olympics and a group of terrorist meaning to prevent them, against the super-powered steroids destroying the athletes bodies.
And then nothing changes.
I guess it’s just like real life, as you can get earth shattering news/war going on around the world without feeling a change in your life, but it was just super unsatisfying to read about. Like the issue of raising a clone just for their organ is like an interlude where you understand the subtext, and then it’s never mentioned again.
So really interesting concept, but the final result is just not up to my modern sensibilities.
17. Elves and dwarves - Les Clopin-Clopant #1: Bande de bras cassés - Agnès Marot
Another MG book, sadly I did not like it. It had all the elements that I usually like, but it did not take. Maybe a little too preachy for my taste?
The illustrations were really lice tho.
18. LGBTQIA Protagonist - Meute - Karine Rennberg
Werewolves in a post-apo wolrd told in 2^(nd) person? Sign me up.
The book was everything I wanted, although not for everyone. If you think it will be gory and full of violence, yeah not really. It’s more a book about healing, finding your own family (your own pack, if you will), trying to live peacefully in a broken world and a broken system. Absolutely lovely,
19. Five Short Stories - Récits fantastiques - Maupassant - HM
Fantastique is roughly the french equivalent to gothic fiction, and Maupassant was the figurehead of the genre. This book contains all his work related to the genre, including Le Horla, a short story studied in highschool. That had not been my case though, so it was my first time reading every stories included there, and I must say the one who marked me the
Book 5 was a major upgrade for me, even though I'm not 12 anymore it was just as fun. The only complain I have is that HE KILLED MY FAVORITE CHARACTER!!! WHY! It was a very satisfying death, sure, but like he spend 15 years safe in my head :(
14. Author of Color - Quand vient la horde - Aurélie Luong
Not a bad book, but it made me discover that dark fantasy is not really for me. War, murder, violence, rape, vengeance, rinse and repeat. Yay. The main character had an arc, but the whole circle of violence and vengeance did not made me feel anything.
Finished the book and moved on immediately.
15. Small Press/Self-published - Les Chroniques d'Arawin #1 : Une idée d'incandescence - Naël Legrand - HM
Indie published, it was a little too inspired by Discoworld for me. The wolrd was well build, the characters interesting, the plot okay, but yeah it was not the most inspired. You can tell the author had fun writing it, but a book need a little more originality for me. I still liked it, but it will hardly stay with me.
16. Biopunk - Les olympiades truquées - Joëlle Wintrebert
In a world where genetic is not left to chance anymore, boys outnumbers girls by far, leaving them prey to sexism, sex predator and the like. There’s really no winning on the gender war, damn.
Published around the same time than Silence of the City, it deals with the same ideas but less well. There’s also the issue of athletes and drugs, and how far they’re willing to sell their body for the best spectacle. And just like Silence of City, incest! We keep winning! Because a subplot is the existence of clones, with some created only for their organs, and some like one of the two main character, cloned from the dead wife of her “father”. Yes, dude, raising the clone of the love of your life as your daughter will obviously lead her to fall in love you. Sure. Nothing wronger here,buddy, your plan is foolproof.
The problem with this book is that alllllllll the issues ares uper interesting, but it just breezes over them. The plot is centered on the olympics and a group of terrorist meaning to prevent them, against the super-powered steroids destroying the athletes bodies.
And then nothing changes.
I guess it’s just like real life, as you can get earth shattering news/war going on around the world without feeling a change in your life, but it was just super unsatisfying to read about. Like the issue of raising a clone just for their organ is like an interlude where you understand the subtext, and then it’s never mentioned again.
So really interesting concept, but the final result is just not up to my modern sensibilities.
17. Elves and dwarves - Les Clopin-Clopant #1: Bande de bras cassés - Agnès Marot
Another MG book, sadly I did not like it. It had all the elements that I usually like, but it did not take. Maybe a little too preachy for my taste?
The illustrations were really lice tho.
18. LGBTQIA Protagonist - Meute - Karine Rennberg
Werewolves in a post-apo wolrd told in 2^(nd) person? Sign me up.
The book was everything I wanted, although not for everyone. If you think it will be gory and full of violence, yeah not really. It’s more a book about healing, finding your own family (your own pack, if you will), trying to live peacefully in a broken world and a broken system. Absolutely lovely,
19. Five Short Stories - Récits fantastiques - Maupassant - HM
Fantastique is roughly the french equivalent to gothic fiction, and Maupassant was the figurehead of the genre. This book contains all his work related to the genre, including Le Horla, a short story studied in highschool. That had not been my case though, so it was my first time reading every stories included there, and I must say the one who marked me the
most would have been the guy who believed in reincarnation and finishes in an asylum. Yep there’s a lot of madness going on there, which is quite ironic considering Maupassant himself went mad from syphilis.
20. Stranger in a strange Land - Un corps d’avance - Lou Jan - HM
This one sounded promising, with humans living for centuries on the condition than once every 75 years old they have to cut tie with everyone they know and leave the country to get a fresh start. Except in later involves the queen Aliénor d’Aquitaine alongside her last lover and her second husband, Henry II, king of England. Not bad in itself, it was just not what I signed for. I also found the writing very dry.
21. 2018, One Word Title - Nous - Christelle Dabos - HM
Translated: We
There’s not a single book by Christelle Dabos that I haven’t liked, this one included. The magic system was quite new, with the magic manifesting itself by having a specific need to help society on a whole. That goes to destroy all cockroach in 3 meters radius, to help every grandma cross the road in a 5km radius. Awesome? Mostly tiring, maybe even dangerous considering one of the main character have prosthesis instead of arms. But in a society where I doesn’t exist and only us matters, everyone tries their best to be best version of themselves to better the society. The best of the best of the best, yep. Clearly a book about individualist society vs community first, it’s still a very good YA story with enjoyable characters. The second part could have been a separate book that it wouldn’t have been shocking, but at least there’s no need to wait and also no need to present the characters twice. It’s like two book in one!
22. Cozy SFF - Prospérine Virgule-Point et la Phrase sans fin - Laure Dargelos - HM
Translated: Saving Ellipsis
Such a fun book! Prospérine lives inside a book – she’s not a chracter, but the village is in charge of taking care of the manuscript, a forgotten WIP by a young woman in our world. Except it’s been forgotten for so long that it threatens to collapse, potentially destroying her village. So she enlist the help of a young man living in the Capital to contact the author (very verboten) so she can finally finish the story, letting the fictional village prospering.
A fun romcom, the plot reminded me of the thousands of hallmark movies where they need to save christmas or whatever. The highlight was clearly the writing and the wolrdbuilding, a world where everything is based on text. So there are characters typing in helvetica, a Mary-Sue, Characters Speaking With A Capital Accent, or italique, it was just so inventive! I would be quite curious to discover the english translation.
23. ~~Generic Title~~ -> 2021 Titled Chapters - Peau d’âme #1 : Les Lilas du Roi - Aude Ziegelmeyer
This kinda reads like a typical romantasy, except I expect the romance part will be featured in the second book. A fairly good book, but in the end it felt like not a lot happened even if there were a lot of stuff. I think it was hyped a little too much about exploration of feminity and sexism but it felt more like a standard YA book. I will be reading the next one, but probably won’t be screaming it’s the best book ever.
23. Not a book - La quête d'Exilan, tome 1 - Andarta Pictures
Pierre Bottero got a cult following during his life, and his death has not helped. So the adapation was highly awaited, and I must say I'm not disppointed. It could have been better, it could have been way worse. It's still very satisfying to finally being able to watch the story on tv, and I hope they will be able to adapt every single book. Yes, that would requires at least 13 seasons, I don't care that's not my problem. I just want them.
24. Pirates - La semeuse de vents, 1 : La respiration du ciel - Mélodie Joseph - HM
The sumary looked quite fun, and it lived up to the hype. This debut book is not without fault, mostly the writing can feel a
20. Stranger in a strange Land - Un corps d’avance - Lou Jan - HM
This one sounded promising, with humans living for centuries on the condition than once every 75 years old they have to cut tie with everyone they know and leave the country to get a fresh start. Except in later involves the queen Aliénor d’Aquitaine alongside her last lover and her second husband, Henry II, king of England. Not bad in itself, it was just not what I signed for. I also found the writing very dry.
21. 2018, One Word Title - Nous - Christelle Dabos - HM
Translated: We
There’s not a single book by Christelle Dabos that I haven’t liked, this one included. The magic system was quite new, with the magic manifesting itself by having a specific need to help society on a whole. That goes to destroy all cockroach in 3 meters radius, to help every grandma cross the road in a 5km radius. Awesome? Mostly tiring, maybe even dangerous considering one of the main character have prosthesis instead of arms. But in a society where I doesn’t exist and only us matters, everyone tries their best to be best version of themselves to better the society. The best of the best of the best, yep. Clearly a book about individualist society vs community first, it’s still a very good YA story with enjoyable characters. The second part could have been a separate book that it wouldn’t have been shocking, but at least there’s no need to wait and also no need to present the characters twice. It’s like two book in one!
22. Cozy SFF - Prospérine Virgule-Point et la Phrase sans fin - Laure Dargelos - HM
Translated: Saving Ellipsis
Such a fun book! Prospérine lives inside a book – she’s not a chracter, but the village is in charge of taking care of the manuscript, a forgotten WIP by a young woman in our world. Except it’s been forgotten for so long that it threatens to collapse, potentially destroying her village. So she enlist the help of a young man living in the Capital to contact the author (very verboten) so she can finally finish the story, letting the fictional village prospering.
A fun romcom, the plot reminded me of the thousands of hallmark movies where they need to save christmas or whatever. The highlight was clearly the writing and the wolrdbuilding, a world where everything is based on text. So there are characters typing in helvetica, a Mary-Sue, Characters Speaking With A Capital Accent, or italique, it was just so inventive! I would be quite curious to discover the english translation.
23. ~~Generic Title~~ -> 2021 Titled Chapters - Peau d’âme #1 : Les Lilas du Roi - Aude Ziegelmeyer
This kinda reads like a typical romantasy, except I expect the romance part will be featured in the second book. A fairly good book, but in the end it felt like not a lot happened even if there were a lot of stuff. I think it was hyped a little too much about exploration of feminity and sexism but it felt more like a standard YA book. I will be reading the next one, but probably won’t be screaming it’s the best book ever.
23. Not a book - La quête d'Exilan, tome 1 - Andarta Pictures
Pierre Bottero got a cult following during his life, and his death has not helped. So the adapation was highly awaited, and I must say I'm not disppointed. It could have been better, it could have been way worse. It's still very satisfying to finally being able to watch the story on tv, and I hope they will be able to adapt every single book. Yes, that would requires at least 13 seasons, I don't care that's not my problem. I just want them.
24. Pirates - La semeuse de vents, 1 : La respiration du ciel - Mélodie Joseph - HM
The sumary looked quite fun, and it lived up to the hype. This debut book is not without fault, mostly the writing can feel a
little too much like a summary and the characters lacks dephts, but it was really fun to read and I loved it overall. I mean, next book should feature the sky pirates more prominently, and who would complain about sky pirates?
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Modern novels that combine fantasy with realism?
Hello everyone. I was curious if there were any modern novels you would recommend where the line between realism and fantasy is blurred. (E.g. the novel basically takes place in the real/a realistic world, except dragons/ancient deities happen to exist)
I do not know if there is a specific term for this, though that type of story sounds quite interesting to me. I would like to see if there are any good recommendations.
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Hello everyone. I was curious if there were any modern novels you would recommend where the line between realism and fantasy is blurred. (E.g. the novel basically takes place in the real/a realistic world, except dragons/ancient deities happen to exist)
I do not know if there is a specific term for this, though that type of story sounds quite interesting to me. I would like to see if there are any good recommendations.
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First Time Shannara Chronicles Viewer
My Shannara Chronicles background: I vaguely knew that the show existed and takes place in future America cosplaying as not-midieval Europe. I had no idea that there were 40 Shannara books.
I just started watching MTVs Shannara Chronicles season 1. (So please dont spoil anything for me.) From the outset, its very fast paced and doesnt leave me bored. I like the set pieces and the costumes. And the simple fact that the plot gets to the point.
Classic fantasy tropes like elves and magical trees feel cozy to me. It struck me as very similar to LOTR and then I saw that John Rhys Davies is in it too.
As a fan of the CWs Arrow, I really enjoy seeing Manu Bennet again. Austin Butler looks very convincing as an ethereal elf though I wasn't initially impressed with his acting. A few episodes in, he has turned into a true leading man IMHO.
I see that the show is trying painfully hard to be inclusive of female characters. It certainly gives lots of screen time to the Ranger...I mean "Rover" and elf princess, but mature women seem to get killed off ASAP (Wills mom and the elf aunt). Its a shame too because it would have been interesting to see if the aunt and Allendon would have reconnected, and the aunt seemed quite knowledgeable and skilled. I wonder why she seemed to be estranged from the rest of the family. (The show may have mentioned why, but Ive forgotten.)
In the gauntlet race, since they are elves, I wasnt sure if maybe the genders just have different strength and speeds than human genders do. I guess the female elves are in fact supposed to be comparable to human women vs human men. So it makes the gauntlet win and Wills encounters with the Rover a bit..noticeable, shall we say.
Overall, Im enjoying the show a lot even though I find it contrived. Why does everyone immediately believe Will is a Shannara without any proof? How was the human girl so utterly controlled by her father when it turns out that she could easily defeat his entire camp in minutes?
But it has some pretty good, clean(ish) fantasy fun. I want to see this demon horde and baby Yggdrasil tree. And I really do like Will and Manu Bennet.
Im confused about how much combat skill Will and Brendan(?) supposedly have and where they supposedly learned. But I like the Fury creature design and Im hoping that the princes develop into noble rulers.
Im sometimes unsure of whats really important and what is mostly filler. So what do I need to keep a close eye on?
Without spoilers: Does the show explain what happened to the old civilizations and how humans evolved into the different races?
Are the elves basically just humans? Will seemed shocked that Bennets character was so old, so I guess these elves dont live as long as Tolkeins.
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My Shannara Chronicles background: I vaguely knew that the show existed and takes place in future America cosplaying as not-midieval Europe. I had no idea that there were 40 Shannara books.
I just started watching MTVs Shannara Chronicles season 1. (So please dont spoil anything for me.) From the outset, its very fast paced and doesnt leave me bored. I like the set pieces and the costumes. And the simple fact that the plot gets to the point.
Classic fantasy tropes like elves and magical trees feel cozy to me. It struck me as very similar to LOTR and then I saw that John Rhys Davies is in it too.
As a fan of the CWs Arrow, I really enjoy seeing Manu Bennet again. Austin Butler looks very convincing as an ethereal elf though I wasn't initially impressed with his acting. A few episodes in, he has turned into a true leading man IMHO.
I see that the show is trying painfully hard to be inclusive of female characters. It certainly gives lots of screen time to the Ranger...I mean "Rover" and elf princess, but mature women seem to get killed off ASAP (Wills mom and the elf aunt). Its a shame too because it would have been interesting to see if the aunt and Allendon would have reconnected, and the aunt seemed quite knowledgeable and skilled. I wonder why she seemed to be estranged from the rest of the family. (The show may have mentioned why, but Ive forgotten.)
In the gauntlet race, since they are elves, I wasnt sure if maybe the genders just have different strength and speeds than human genders do. I guess the female elves are in fact supposed to be comparable to human women vs human men. So it makes the gauntlet win and Wills encounters with the Rover a bit..noticeable, shall we say.
Overall, Im enjoying the show a lot even though I find it contrived. Why does everyone immediately believe Will is a Shannara without any proof? How was the human girl so utterly controlled by her father when it turns out that she could easily defeat his entire camp in minutes?
But it has some pretty good, clean(ish) fantasy fun. I want to see this demon horde and baby Yggdrasil tree. And I really do like Will and Manu Bennet.
Im confused about how much combat skill Will and Brendan(?) supposedly have and where they supposedly learned. But I like the Fury creature design and Im hoping that the princes develop into noble rulers.
Im sometimes unsure of whats really important and what is mostly filler. So what do I need to keep a close eye on?
Without spoilers: Does the show explain what happened to the old civilizations and how humans evolved into the different races?
Are the elves basically just humans? Will seemed shocked that Bennets character was so old, so I guess these elves dont live as long as Tolkeins.
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Lois McMaster Bujold announces 16th Penric novella, Darksight Dare, to be released this April.
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Lois McMaster Bujold's Blog - Penric 16 impending! - March 28, 2026 12:20
I am pleased to report that I have just today finished the first draft of a new Penric & Desdemona novella, to be titled Darksight Dare. I plan to read...
Bingo Round Up Part 2: The Trash Panda Returns.
You fools, you poor fools. You thought I was gone? You thought I would give up? Nay! Nay, I say. Book reviews for the common people. The people who want popcorn. Who don't want to do deep literary analysis. Come one, come all, see what the Trash Panda has prepared for you! I've given some thoughts on each book and listed at least 1 or 2 squares. I probably missed some squares since I tend to forget pretty quickly if a book qualifies for a book in parts etc. And I don't tend to google an authors race, once I know I have an author for that square.
1. Emily Wilde's Compedium of Lost Tales - Heather Fawcett
I've been really enjoying reading this series. It has romance, but not a vomit inducting amount and it's not a red hot chili pepper erotic situation. I don't have much to say about this specific entry, beyond that I'm happy we got some character growth. >!The leads are getting more comfortable with having authority/power over other people. And the will they/won't is completely behind us.!< We got to see some more of Fairy Land in this book, which was also exciting! The portrayal of the area of Fairy land the book focuses on was very in depth and satisfying. Both because I like the description, and it's very in character for Emily to document *all the things* like she's Charles Darwin or something.
Squares: Epistolary (but I don't like it for this one. Basically the MC is journaling for every book. To me, the spirit of Epistolary is stuff like World War Z or the book I'm actually using)
High Fashion: I didn't originally plan to use this for this square, but it does qualify. Just not as hard mode. The main character does stuff like drawing, but she doesn't do any of the hard mode requirements. A main supporting character does sewing etc. which becomes plot relevant.
2. The Everlasting - Alex E. Harrow
Are you in the market for a pretty book? Maybe one that has art inside? I was! I'm glad I picked this one up. Harrow has been a little or miss for me. The fairytale books she wrote *should* have been right up my alley, but they just weren't. This was a definite comeback. I'm not sure if I enjoy *quite* as much as 10 thousand doors, but it's close! This book does a good job showing how obsession can shape you. Fair warning, if romance isn't your thing, I would give this one a pass. It's not romantasy by any means, but being in love is central to the story.>!They also have alot of fun with time travel and when did the loop start. The author did a good enough making the time travel changes fun and engaging that I'm willing to not nitpick!<
Square: Knights and Paladins. ( Sidenote, this square was one of the harder ones for me to fill, because I haven't read that much traditional fantasy recently.)
3. Saga of Old City by Gary Gygax
I had to dig deep for this one. Because of my reading habits when I was younger, I've read a truly astonishing amount of fantasy books that were written in the 80's. Just, so many. So I had to ask my ask my father to dig *deep* in his collection. Which had some interesting results. I enjoyed reading it, but I think this a case of leaving the 80's in the 80's. I will not be hunting down the sequels. Some fun facts about this book:
Despite not being a special edition, it had art throughout! The art sometimes completely contradicted the text in regards to what people were wearing, but it was there! Comparing that to the special editions frenzies of now is crazy.
I feel like if this book was published now, people would be writing rant reviews about it. Gygax was playing problematic themes bingo.>!The main character checks out a child prostitute. Granted, he is also a child. But still.!<
You definitely feel/see the D&D connection. At certain points the main character just leaves one "zone" and goes to another "zone" I know plenty of fantasy books involve travel, but it literally felt like when a D&D session ends, or the DM puts away one map, and takes the next map out of the binder.
It was interesting comparing this to more modern
You fools, you poor fools. You thought I was gone? You thought I would give up? Nay! Nay, I say. Book reviews for the common people. The people who want popcorn. Who don't want to do deep literary analysis. Come one, come all, see what the Trash Panda has prepared for you! I've given some thoughts on each book and listed at least 1 or 2 squares. I probably missed some squares since I tend to forget pretty quickly if a book qualifies for a book in parts etc. And I don't tend to google an authors race, once I know I have an author for that square.
1. Emily Wilde's Compedium of Lost Tales - Heather Fawcett
I've been really enjoying reading this series. It has romance, but not a vomit inducting amount and it's not a red hot chili pepper erotic situation. I don't have much to say about this specific entry, beyond that I'm happy we got some character growth. >!The leads are getting more comfortable with having authority/power over other people. And the will they/won't is completely behind us.!< We got to see some more of Fairy Land in this book, which was also exciting! The portrayal of the area of Fairy land the book focuses on was very in depth and satisfying. Both because I like the description, and it's very in character for Emily to document *all the things* like she's Charles Darwin or something.
Squares: Epistolary (but I don't like it for this one. Basically the MC is journaling for every book. To me, the spirit of Epistolary is stuff like World War Z or the book I'm actually using)
High Fashion: I didn't originally plan to use this for this square, but it does qualify. Just not as hard mode. The main character does stuff like drawing, but she doesn't do any of the hard mode requirements. A main supporting character does sewing etc. which becomes plot relevant.
2. The Everlasting - Alex E. Harrow
Are you in the market for a pretty book? Maybe one that has art inside? I was! I'm glad I picked this one up. Harrow has been a little or miss for me. The fairytale books she wrote *should* have been right up my alley, but they just weren't. This was a definite comeback. I'm not sure if I enjoy *quite* as much as 10 thousand doors, but it's close! This book does a good job showing how obsession can shape you. Fair warning, if romance isn't your thing, I would give this one a pass. It's not romantasy by any means, but being in love is central to the story.>!They also have alot of fun with time travel and when did the loop start. The author did a good enough making the time travel changes fun and engaging that I'm willing to not nitpick!<
Square: Knights and Paladins. ( Sidenote, this square was one of the harder ones for me to fill, because I haven't read that much traditional fantasy recently.)
3. Saga of Old City by Gary Gygax
I had to dig deep for this one. Because of my reading habits when I was younger, I've read a truly astonishing amount of fantasy books that were written in the 80's. Just, so many. So I had to ask my ask my father to dig *deep* in his collection. Which had some interesting results. I enjoyed reading it, but I think this a case of leaving the 80's in the 80's. I will not be hunting down the sequels. Some fun facts about this book:
Despite not being a special edition, it had art throughout! The art sometimes completely contradicted the text in regards to what people were wearing, but it was there! Comparing that to the special editions frenzies of now is crazy.
I feel like if this book was published now, people would be writing rant reviews about it. Gygax was playing problematic themes bingo.>!The main character checks out a child prostitute. Granted, he is also a child. But still.!<
You definitely feel/see the D&D connection. At certain points the main character just leaves one "zone" and goes to another "zone" I know plenty of fantasy books involve travel, but it literally felt like when a D&D session ends, or the DM puts away one map, and takes the next map out of the binder.
It was interesting comparing this to more modern
LitRPG. In some ways I liked this more. The way the main character leveled up was a little bit more subtle, compared to modern LitRPG where the characters practically summarize their skill tree.
The afterword summarizes the characters stats, and the D&D campaign that the story was being pulled from.
1. King Sorrow - Joe Hill
Would you like a door stop? Because I have one! I've read comics written by Joe Hill before, but this was my first actual full length novel by Hill. This book is a commitment in more ways than one. Aside from it's physical length, it covers a fair bit of time as well. You see characters go from early college to established adults with careers. You see them make big decisions that have an impact 300 pages later. If you disagree with something they are doing, you are trapped with them in that decision tree for years, in book time. I had a lot of \thoughts* about the plot itself, but I also collectively hated every characters love life for a good chunk of the book.
Narratively, it was really fun read. Joe Hill chose to start the book in the past, so the characters actually live through real historical events. Real enough that a time I or two I paused reading so Google could tell me how much was real. >!I also loved how the rules and history of King Sorrow were handled. On the one hand we had set of very solid written in blood rules, on the other hand, no one could agree on how they summoned him! The combination of scientific method and essentially whimsy when it came to the magical elements of the book really tickled my fancy. !<Joe Hill managed an insane balancing act that made an insane magic system and the stories supporting that magic system feel grounded.
Bingo Square : A Book in Parts.
5. Idol Fire - Grace Curtis
A very good pick! In a small way, it reminded me of This Spear Cuts Through Water, but wayyyy less complicated. To a small extent there is a layers narrative, in the sense there is another narrator in the chapter breaks. There's a grand adventure across the landscape! And unlike Gygax, you get more of a constant view of said landscape. There's party members who probably would not have chosen each other, if given the choice at the outset. There's cultural clash and characters struggling with the life they are living in the moment vs. the values they were raised with. Also there is queer longing and romance >!with an ending that doesn't feel like fanfic. They don't just ride off into the sunset together forever.!<I will definitely be looking out to see what else this author has to offer.
Bingo Squares:
Knights and Paladins: Kinda? Bit of rules lawyer situation in my opinion. There is technically a knight though.
Gods and Pantheons: You could even argue it's hard mode! A big part of the magic system in this series directly involves the gods.
LGBTQIA Protagonist: Yes, very.
6.Violet Thistlewaite is not a Villian Anymore - Emily Krempholtz
I have mixed feelings about this one. I like the character concept and I've actually wanted to read it since I went to a Tor advertising panel at a con when it hadn't come out yet. I have a soft spot for plant mages and I really like books that focus on the villian/former villians. Unfortunately, I think this book may have been a bit *too* cozy for me. I'm used to Ilona Andrews levels of cozy. Everybody was almost too nice? And the romance dynamic was not my favorite. G>!rumpy and sunshine being insta horny for each other is not my cup of tea. Also the twist at the end where half the town is former villians just felt way too sappy/conveniant.!< I don't regret reading the book, but I'm going to take this as confirmation that I'm just not that into cozy.
Squares:
Cozy - So cozy it's legends and lattes adjacent.
Published in 2025. - Yep, published in November
7. A Letter to the Luminous Deep - Sylvie Cathrall
This book is so cute! I loved the multiple layers of letters. On one layer, you have the original letter writers getting to know each other despite the fact that at least one of them has rusty social skills. And then on the second
The afterword summarizes the characters stats, and the D&D campaign that the story was being pulled from.
1. King Sorrow - Joe Hill
Would you like a door stop? Because I have one! I've read comics written by Joe Hill before, but this was my first actual full length novel by Hill. This book is a commitment in more ways than one. Aside from it's physical length, it covers a fair bit of time as well. You see characters go from early college to established adults with careers. You see them make big decisions that have an impact 300 pages later. If you disagree with something they are doing, you are trapped with them in that decision tree for years, in book time. I had a lot of \thoughts* about the plot itself, but I also collectively hated every characters love life for a good chunk of the book.
Narratively, it was really fun read. Joe Hill chose to start the book in the past, so the characters actually live through real historical events. Real enough that a time I or two I paused reading so Google could tell me how much was real. >!I also loved how the rules and history of King Sorrow were handled. On the one hand we had set of very solid written in blood rules, on the other hand, no one could agree on how they summoned him! The combination of scientific method and essentially whimsy when it came to the magical elements of the book really tickled my fancy. !<Joe Hill managed an insane balancing act that made an insane magic system and the stories supporting that magic system feel grounded.
Bingo Square : A Book in Parts.
5. Idol Fire - Grace Curtis
A very good pick! In a small way, it reminded me of This Spear Cuts Through Water, but wayyyy less complicated. To a small extent there is a layers narrative, in the sense there is another narrator in the chapter breaks. There's a grand adventure across the landscape! And unlike Gygax, you get more of a constant view of said landscape. There's party members who probably would not have chosen each other, if given the choice at the outset. There's cultural clash and characters struggling with the life they are living in the moment vs. the values they were raised with. Also there is queer longing and romance >!with an ending that doesn't feel like fanfic. They don't just ride off into the sunset together forever.!<I will definitely be looking out to see what else this author has to offer.
Bingo Squares:
Knights and Paladins: Kinda? Bit of rules lawyer situation in my opinion. There is technically a knight though.
Gods and Pantheons: You could even argue it's hard mode! A big part of the magic system in this series directly involves the gods.
LGBTQIA Protagonist: Yes, very.
6.Violet Thistlewaite is not a Villian Anymore - Emily Krempholtz
I have mixed feelings about this one. I like the character concept and I've actually wanted to read it since I went to a Tor advertising panel at a con when it hadn't come out yet. I have a soft spot for plant mages and I really like books that focus on the villian/former villians. Unfortunately, I think this book may have been a bit *too* cozy for me. I'm used to Ilona Andrews levels of cozy. Everybody was almost too nice? And the romance dynamic was not my favorite. G>!rumpy and sunshine being insta horny for each other is not my cup of tea. Also the twist at the end where half the town is former villians just felt way too sappy/conveniant.!< I don't regret reading the book, but I'm going to take this as confirmation that I'm just not that into cozy.
Squares:
Cozy - So cozy it's legends and lattes adjacent.
Published in 2025. - Yep, published in November
7. A Letter to the Luminous Deep - Sylvie Cathrall
This book is so cute! I loved the multiple layers of letters. On one layer, you have the original letter writers getting to know each other despite the fact that at least one of them has rusty social skills. And then on the second
layer you have the people who found their letters and are trying to piece together a timeline of what happened. The characters are *so* lovable, but they also feel like real people. People with strong preferences, flaws, and mental health issues. To be honest, this is more my level of preferred cozy, but I recognize it's not quite the traditional definition of it. There is a sequel, which I will be devouring after April 1st. I need to know what happens next! I'm also dying to know how the author keeps of the epistolary format, >!since the characters siblings have "caught up" with all the letters by the end of the book. !<
Squares: Epistolary
8. The Book That Held Her Heart - Mark Lawrence
And we have our conclusion! This book did a decent job of tying up loose ends and did a half way decent job with social commentary. I liked that Lawrence chose to respect real history, rather than completely rewriting it. That being said, this book was not a favorite of mine, I renew at least once from the library to finish it. >!It's one of the books where the characters you like from previous books get separated into groups and spend most of the book trying to get back together. It's just not favorite trope of mine.!<
Unfortunately, I think this may be one of the last Lawrence books I read. I appreciate his reliability in getting books out in a timely manner. And I love that he puts little summaries in the front of all his sequels, in case the reader doesn't remember all the things. But convenience aside, his stories don't quite grab me the way some of my other faves do. And while the ending of this series made sense, by the time it happened I just didn't care that much emotionally speaking.
Squares: Last Book in a series, Published in 2025
9. Ink Blood Sister Scribe - Emma Torzs
A very good book. It pulled off the secret magic world being hidden in the real world really well. I also liked the way it handled family conflict and emotional trauma. All the cracks in the family bonds felt very real and present. My main real complaint is that some of the last act of the book felt a touch YA. A character who is a focus later in the book is a tad sheltered, so he doesn't feel like an adult in the same way Esther and Joanna do. It's hard to put into words, but the parts of the final climax just reminded me strongly of a YA book with how the finale was handled. Overall a decent book though.
Squares: Book Club, Generic Title
10. Symbiote - Michael Nayak
Let's put some scifi/medical thriller in the mix! It's definitely speculative fiction, so it counts! I almost always enjoy fictional disease stories. This one in particular was very fun, in part of the shifting perspectives. It was a bit like watching a horror movie, where you get to watch one person die, and then it switches to the next perspective. The author did a great job making the character voice feel distinct from character to character. The sense of creeping menace kept me hooked from beginning to end. >!And the end had me going oh...oh no... What do you mean there's an infected survivor??!< I plan to check out the sequel at some point. I will say that part of the final twist, while realistic, was not my fave. >!Having the dude the government wanted to observe the infection manage to survive, feels a little bit convenient.!<
Square: Author of Color
11. The Tainted Cup - Robert Bennett
I feel like with this one's level of popularity, I don't need a hugely long review. Yes, it is very good! I've already read the sequel, self control was at an all time low. I will say, as a person who is frequently disappointed by fiction that pulls from Sherlock, this one impressed me. The Sherlock being largely housebound was a fun twist. I can't wait to see where this series goes.
Square: Biopunk
12. Running Close to the Wind - Alexandra Rowland
I have a complicated relationship with this book. I simultaneously never want to see it again, but also want to know what happens next. I forced my friend to listen to me summarize this book while we were in line to go into a concert. I
Squares: Epistolary
8. The Book That Held Her Heart - Mark Lawrence
And we have our conclusion! This book did a decent job of tying up loose ends and did a half way decent job with social commentary. I liked that Lawrence chose to respect real history, rather than completely rewriting it. That being said, this book was not a favorite of mine, I renew at least once from the library to finish it. >!It's one of the books where the characters you like from previous books get separated into groups and spend most of the book trying to get back together. It's just not favorite trope of mine.!<
Unfortunately, I think this may be one of the last Lawrence books I read. I appreciate his reliability in getting books out in a timely manner. And I love that he puts little summaries in the front of all his sequels, in case the reader doesn't remember all the things. But convenience aside, his stories don't quite grab me the way some of my other faves do. And while the ending of this series made sense, by the time it happened I just didn't care that much emotionally speaking.
Squares: Last Book in a series, Published in 2025
9. Ink Blood Sister Scribe - Emma Torzs
A very good book. It pulled off the secret magic world being hidden in the real world really well. I also liked the way it handled family conflict and emotional trauma. All the cracks in the family bonds felt very real and present. My main real complaint is that some of the last act of the book felt a touch YA. A character who is a focus later in the book is a tad sheltered, so he doesn't feel like an adult in the same way Esther and Joanna do. It's hard to put into words, but the parts of the final climax just reminded me strongly of a YA book with how the finale was handled. Overall a decent book though.
Squares: Book Club, Generic Title
10. Symbiote - Michael Nayak
Let's put some scifi/medical thriller in the mix! It's definitely speculative fiction, so it counts! I almost always enjoy fictional disease stories. This one in particular was very fun, in part of the shifting perspectives. It was a bit like watching a horror movie, where you get to watch one person die, and then it switches to the next perspective. The author did a great job making the character voice feel distinct from character to character. The sense of creeping menace kept me hooked from beginning to end. >!And the end had me going oh...oh no... What do you mean there's an infected survivor??!< I plan to check out the sequel at some point. I will say that part of the final twist, while realistic, was not my fave. >!Having the dude the government wanted to observe the infection manage to survive, feels a little bit convenient.!<
Square: Author of Color
11. The Tainted Cup - Robert Bennett
I feel like with this one's level of popularity, I don't need a hugely long review. Yes, it is very good! I've already read the sequel, self control was at an all time low. I will say, as a person who is frequently disappointed by fiction that pulls from Sherlock, this one impressed me. The Sherlock being largely housebound was a fun twist. I can't wait to see where this series goes.
Square: Biopunk
12. Running Close to the Wind - Alexandra Rowland
I have a complicated relationship with this book. I simultaneously never want to see it again, but also want to know what happens next. I forced my friend to listen to me summarize this book while we were in line to go into a concert. I
thought this would be an easy square for me, I love pirates! I've since realized that I mainly appreciate Pirates in non-book form. The music and cool visuals are a large factor in my enjoyment. So this was last minute pick, based on what I could get from the library quickly. A few quick thoughts below. If you have follow up questions in comments, go for it.
This is one of the horniest non-erotica novels I have ever read. Lots of talking about getting laid, but pretty much all of it is off screen. Everyone not Markefa needs to take a nice long cold shower.
This book actually has a small amount of Epistolary elements, I would have liked more. Julian is a very creative writer, let's put it that way.
Teveri's backstory is very cool. I liked that leaving the cult went beyond just one passing mention. >!I especially like his coat with it's embroidered messaging.!<
Avra - May we never meet in a dark alley. You need to be shaken like a coconut. If the "relationship" you are in is love, may that love never find me. >!This is not a judgement against poly people. Teveri won't even let him sleep in the bed, but somehow has the moral high ground?? Is denial of a comfy sleeping arrangement a fetish for gay men I was unaware of?!<
The Cake Competition!!! I can see why the Pirates do this every year. >!It is amazing, I love all the goofy rules. I want pictures of the cakes. I want fanart or possibly an animated short of just the cake competition and all the insults, with the ambassador in his terrible disguise.!<
There is an actual plot. I feel if Markefa or even Teveri had been in charge of the book, the plot would have been more relevant. It does exist. Though I felt like it could have been close a bit better if this was intended as a stand alone. >!They aren't done with the sciencing yet! Like they slightly more than half of the equation, and we're just done? Because Julian is willing to have sex now? Aghh, this book. !<
Square: Pirates, LGBTQIA
13. It was her house first - Cherie Priest
A murder mystery combined with a ghost story. Always a fun combo. I enjoyed all the twists in regards to who was truly guilty of what. And the main character sort of being in life stage part II was nice. I was always enjoy a protagonist who's established adult who has problems outside of the magic stuff that's happening. I really enjoyed all the minutae about home repair combined with the haunting.
Square: Recycle a Bingo Square - This fits several old bingo squares including ghosts and title with 5 words.
14. Swordheart - T. Kingfisher
I really enjoyed this book, but maybe not quite as much as Hemlock & Silver. The characters were fun and liked I how the chemistry was built. I also appreciated Halla getting way focused on minutae instead of the big picture. It's pretty normal to get focused on the sorts of problems that are familiar and feel personal to you. It was nice to read a book that was essentially one persons really annoying situation vs. having to take down the *Dark Lord* I'm definitely going to have read another book in this universe, because the rat priests were *amazing*.
I only really had 2 complaints
When you've read enough T. Kingfisher books alot of her protagonists start to feel similar. They aren't necessarily the same person, but maybe they all attend the game night/knitting circle? I wish she would stretch a little and a right some more distinct characters. I'm guessing this less of a problem for people who have only ready 1 or 2 of her books.
The twist with how he ended up in the sword. >!It being a punishment, and what it was punishment for, made sense.!< But something about how it was written just didn't work for me. >!And maybe I liked the idea of a guy agreeing to be a sword for *heroism* and then discovering all the downsides, and realizing the people/country he was loyal to, didn't even do a good job of holding onto him. That's a different story! I have to accept the one the author wrote, I just don't love it. It felt like an excuse for them to have a fight? And then it's largely
This is one of the horniest non-erotica novels I have ever read. Lots of talking about getting laid, but pretty much all of it is off screen. Everyone not Markefa needs to take a nice long cold shower.
This book actually has a small amount of Epistolary elements, I would have liked more. Julian is a very creative writer, let's put it that way.
Teveri's backstory is very cool. I liked that leaving the cult went beyond just one passing mention. >!I especially like his coat with it's embroidered messaging.!<
Avra - May we never meet in a dark alley. You need to be shaken like a coconut. If the "relationship" you are in is love, may that love never find me. >!This is not a judgement against poly people. Teveri won't even let him sleep in the bed, but somehow has the moral high ground?? Is denial of a comfy sleeping arrangement a fetish for gay men I was unaware of?!<
The Cake Competition!!! I can see why the Pirates do this every year. >!It is amazing, I love all the goofy rules. I want pictures of the cakes. I want fanart or possibly an animated short of just the cake competition and all the insults, with the ambassador in his terrible disguise.!<
There is an actual plot. I feel if Markefa or even Teveri had been in charge of the book, the plot would have been more relevant. It does exist. Though I felt like it could have been close a bit better if this was intended as a stand alone. >!They aren't done with the sciencing yet! Like they slightly more than half of the equation, and we're just done? Because Julian is willing to have sex now? Aghh, this book. !<
Square: Pirates, LGBTQIA
13. It was her house first - Cherie Priest
A murder mystery combined with a ghost story. Always a fun combo. I enjoyed all the twists in regards to who was truly guilty of what. And the main character sort of being in life stage part II was nice. I was always enjoy a protagonist who's established adult who has problems outside of the magic stuff that's happening. I really enjoyed all the minutae about home repair combined with the haunting.
Square: Recycle a Bingo Square - This fits several old bingo squares including ghosts and title with 5 words.
14. Swordheart - T. Kingfisher
I really enjoyed this book, but maybe not quite as much as Hemlock & Silver. The characters were fun and liked I how the chemistry was built. I also appreciated Halla getting way focused on minutae instead of the big picture. It's pretty normal to get focused on the sorts of problems that are familiar and feel personal to you. It was nice to read a book that was essentially one persons really annoying situation vs. having to take down the *Dark Lord* I'm definitely going to have read another book in this universe, because the rat priests were *amazing*.
I only really had 2 complaints
When you've read enough T. Kingfisher books alot of her protagonists start to feel similar. They aren't necessarily the same person, but maybe they all attend the game night/knitting circle? I wish she would stretch a little and a right some more distinct characters. I'm guessing this less of a problem for people who have only ready 1 or 2 of her books.
The twist with how he ended up in the sword. >!It being a punishment, and what it was punishment for, made sense.!< But something about how it was written just didn't work for me. >!And maybe I liked the idea of a guy agreeing to be a sword for *heroism* and then discovering all the downsides, and realizing the people/country he was loyal to, didn't even do a good job of holding onto him. That's a different story! I have to accept the one the author wrote, I just don't love it. It felt like an excuse for them to have a fight? And then it's largely
explained away.!< I know *a* twist has to happen, this one just didn't land for me.
Square: Generic Title, Book Club
Bonus! - For Not a Book I watched Pluribus. Mostly because all my friends wanted to talk about it. Alot. Overall a decent show, I'm sad the next season is going to take so long and *deeply* concerned about the fact that apparently the writers are pantsers instead of plotters. I keep changing my mind about how I feel about Carol and look forward to even more debates with people when the next season comes out.
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Square: Generic Title, Book Club
Bonus! - For Not a Book I watched Pluribus. Mostly because all my friends wanted to talk about it. Alot. Overall a decent show, I'm sad the next season is going to take so long and *deeply* concerned about the fact that apparently the writers are pantsers instead of plotters. I keep changing my mind about how I feel about Carol and look forward to even more debates with people when the next season comes out.
https://redd.it/1s70ray
@r_fantasy
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My 2025-26 Bingo Year in Review (Not My Favorite Year)
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my completed bookless bingo card (and accidental book bingo card)
I wasn’t planning to engage with the bingo this year – I like the concept and enjoy the reviews/cards others post, but I’m too much of a mood reader and series/author binger to do it myself. Tried it once, did not have fun, decided it’s just not for me.
Last year I did a bookless bingo card to see whether one could even complete the bingo without being a big reader since it is the most unique and interactive aspect of this sub, and found the experience more fun than my book bingo attempt. Still, had no plan to do it again.
Until somewhere around June or July 2025 I realized I have not watched any new shows, seen any new films, and whenever I wanted to do some gaming, I’d pick one of the games in which I already have a few hundred or thousand hours clocked already instead of trying something new. So I thought… maybe I should try the bingo after all.
So here it is:
#my bookless bingo card for 2025
(the recycled square is Family Matters from 2022)
Was it overall doable? Yes, with the one allowed substitution. Last year I had to substitute the Book Club/Readalong square since there was nothing that fit it, but this year there was a listen-along for The Magnus Archives podcast, which worked for the card. Instead, I had to substitute the Hidden Gem square, because it specifically referring to Goodreads ratings disqualifies any non-books in my opinion. I mean, either every show/film/game/podcast etc is a Hidden Gem by the definition of the square, since none of them have any Goodreads ratings, or I’d have to work out a sensible conversion between Goodreads and IMDB/Steam/Letterboxd or any other website that tracks user ratings and reviews. Which I tried to do! But I just wasn’t satisfied with anything I came up with, so it was just easier to substitute.
‘Not a book’ was tricky for me, because I didn’t want to just make it a free square. It would have been cheeky to put any book I read in this bingo period to reflect the spirit of the square, but then it would also be pretty much a free completion. So I thought… what the opposite of reading a book? Writing a book! I have no ambition of ever writing a book, but a fanfic seemed doable, they can be really short and do not require me to have original ideas.
My highlights from the card:
Knights and Paladins: KCD Fanfest Malešov | Wonderful experience, got to hang out in a restored 14th century fortress, shoot a crossbow and enjoy a day of medieval vibes that ended with a lovely concert. Also, bought a bottle of fantastic local mead that I brought with me to another holiday which was also pretty great. There wasn’t anything explicitly fantasy-themed, since the games the fest was based on are historical rather than speculative, buuut there were some nods like an alchemy station and I just wanted to brag about being there, so.
A ~~Book~~ Game in Parts: Dispatch | I knew I would love it from the moment I saw a trailer for the first episode, and I loved it from the first episode when I played it. It was not perfect, but close enough that I had to stop myself from marathoning the whole game in under 2 days. If the writers gave us better romance options (at least one person who is neither your boss or your employee! Royd was right there!!), it would be a 5/5.
Gods and Pantheons: The Mighty Nein | I HATED Vox Machina and dropped it after one season, but people online were saying this show has a more serious vibe so I gave it a go, and… they were right, what a great start. The characters are all lovable, the plot seems interesting, the relationships are compelling, the animation was really good too! Cannot wait for the next season!
Book Club or Readalong: The Magnus Archives | Ahhh the show that gave me such a fiction hangover that I didn’t read or watch anything else for like a month after I finished my absolutely deranged binge, because all
I wasn’t planning to engage with the bingo this year – I like the concept and enjoy the reviews/cards others post, but I’m too much of a mood reader and series/author binger to do it myself. Tried it once, did not have fun, decided it’s just not for me.
Last year I did a bookless bingo card to see whether one could even complete the bingo without being a big reader since it is the most unique and interactive aspect of this sub, and found the experience more fun than my book bingo attempt. Still, had no plan to do it again.
Until somewhere around June or July 2025 I realized I have not watched any new shows, seen any new films, and whenever I wanted to do some gaming, I’d pick one of the games in which I already have a few hundred or thousand hours clocked already instead of trying something new. So I thought… maybe I should try the bingo after all.
So here it is:
#my bookless bingo card for 2025
(the recycled square is Family Matters from 2022)
Was it overall doable? Yes, with the one allowed substitution. Last year I had to substitute the Book Club/Readalong square since there was nothing that fit it, but this year there was a listen-along for The Magnus Archives podcast, which worked for the card. Instead, I had to substitute the Hidden Gem square, because it specifically referring to Goodreads ratings disqualifies any non-books in my opinion. I mean, either every show/film/game/podcast etc is a Hidden Gem by the definition of the square, since none of them have any Goodreads ratings, or I’d have to work out a sensible conversion between Goodreads and IMDB/Steam/Letterboxd or any other website that tracks user ratings and reviews. Which I tried to do! But I just wasn’t satisfied with anything I came up with, so it was just easier to substitute.
‘Not a book’ was tricky for me, because I didn’t want to just make it a free square. It would have been cheeky to put any book I read in this bingo period to reflect the spirit of the square, but then it would also be pretty much a free completion. So I thought… what the opposite of reading a book? Writing a book! I have no ambition of ever writing a book, but a fanfic seemed doable, they can be really short and do not require me to have original ideas.
My highlights from the card:
Knights and Paladins: KCD Fanfest Malešov | Wonderful experience, got to hang out in a restored 14th century fortress, shoot a crossbow and enjoy a day of medieval vibes that ended with a lovely concert. Also, bought a bottle of fantastic local mead that I brought with me to another holiday which was also pretty great. There wasn’t anything explicitly fantasy-themed, since the games the fest was based on are historical rather than speculative, buuut there were some nods like an alchemy station and I just wanted to brag about being there, so.
A ~~Book~~ Game in Parts: Dispatch | I knew I would love it from the moment I saw a trailer for the first episode, and I loved it from the first episode when I played it. It was not perfect, but close enough that I had to stop myself from marathoning the whole game in under 2 days. If the writers gave us better romance options (at least one person who is neither your boss or your employee! Royd was right there!!), it would be a 5/5.
Gods and Pantheons: The Mighty Nein | I HATED Vox Machina and dropped it after one season, but people online were saying this show has a more serious vibe so I gave it a go, and… they were right, what a great start. The characters are all lovable, the plot seems interesting, the relationships are compelling, the animation was really good too! Cannot wait for the next season!
Book Club or Readalong: The Magnus Archives | Ahhh the show that gave me such a fiction hangover that I didn’t read or watch anything else for like a month after I finished my absolutely deranged binge, because all
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