Category: Fantasy Page 9 of 46

REPOST: A Necromancer Called Gam Gam by Adam Holcombe: Knitting, Skeletal Cats, and Other Kinds of Magic

DETAILS:
Series: Chronicles of Gam Gam, Book One
Publisher: Bounty Ink Press
Publication Date: May 30, 2023
Format: eBook
Length: 110
Read Date: June 3-5, 2023

A cat, free from the restraints of flesh, muscle, and organ, stretched on the edge of the wagon, as if that would do anything for its skeletal body. Then it jumped down next to Mina and plodded over to the woman, who had returned to her chair by the fire. A partially- knitted scarf coiled in her lap as she continued to work on it. The skeletal cat found a comfortable piece of the woman’s dress, curled up at her feet, and licked its non- existent crotch with a non- existent tongue.

What’s A Necromancer Called Gam Gam About?

Twelve-year-old Mina is being pursued by armed men—armed men who had just killed her father. She has a special kind of magic, and those in power want to use her because of it.

She runs across a kindly grandmotherly type who introduces herself as Gam Gam. Gam Gam, it turns out, is a necromancer with a soft spot for endangered little girls. (probably endangered women, and males of all ages, too). She takes her Mina in and promises her safety. Gam Gam is a necromancer and can back up that promise (not definitively, but more than most people can).

They tell each other their stories—Mina tells her why she’s on the run, and Gam Gam tells her that she became a necromancer after the death of her grandchildren so she could resurrect them.

But first, Gam Gam decides that she needs to do something to keep Mina safe.

The Types of Magic

The bundle of bones at the top of the stove raised its feline skull and looked at Mina, then disregarded her and returned to a nap. Why did skeletal cats need so many naps?

Great question. But that’s not what I want to talk about here.

We see two types of magic portrayed with our two protagonists—with others floating out there in this world for us to encounter in future installments, I assume.

Necromancy is rarely something I’m interested in reading about unless the necromancer is about to be thwarted. I know there are exceptions (including here), but it’s hard to think about magic involving reanimating the dead as a good thing. But Holcombe not only makes that specialty seem interesting but gives the reader a necromancer you can root for.

I really liked the way one of the characters describes Gam Gam’s magic to Mina. It grounded the practice, for starters—you could understand it. It’s also idiosyncratic enough to fit Gam Gam to a T. From that point on, I could see that explanation at work—even when the text doesn’t refer to it.

Now Mina’s magic is a kind I’ve never encountered before—maybe a few things like it (particularly in SF rather than fantasy)—but it took almost no time at all for Holcombe to convey the potential—both for a character in fiction, as well as for an evil empire to exploit. In the hands of someone with little experience—for example, a 12-year-old—it could be dangerous. Okay, it could be dangerous in the hands of anyone, but people with experience would control and target the damage they inflict, a child would just inflict damage.

Having a novel (or novella, in this case) with a great magic system is a good start—but it’s how you convey the use of magic to the reader that’s the make/break point for me. And Holcombe nails this part. Mina’s as well as Gam Gam’s. This is a big selling point for me.

The Unexpected Content

Tears escaped her and raced down her cheeks. Was it possible to ever run out of tears? She couldn’t possibly have many more before she would start shriveling up.

Okay, you’ve got this friendly and caring Grandmother-type character. You’ve got a lost little girl who needs comfort. There’s a cute (in a certain way) cat. And using knitted goods as a bribe/reward/gift for the undead. Really, this sounds like it’s full of warm fuzzies and maybe a little bit of fun along with the adventure that a Fantasy should bring. Rightly or wrongly, I expected something with a similar tone to A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking.

And it’s there. However…

You’re dealing with a twelve-year-old girl whose devoted father was murdered in his own home trying to protect her. She’s on the run from armed men who are out to use her for their own purposes. You’re also dealing with an elderly woman who mastered an entire type of magic at her advanced age, fueled by grief in a gambit to cheat death. There’s nothing warm and fuzzy there.

These two characters are suffering—they need each other to get through what they’re dealing with. There’s healing (and the promise of more to come). But healing, comfort, and all that comes at the end. The cliché “the only way out is through” comes to mind here—most of this book (and likely future books) is in the “through.”

This is a bigger selling point for me.

So, what did I think about A Necromancer Called Gam Gam?

When [the zombie] chose socks, Gam Gam instructed it to lift a foot, then tugged the sock into place.

“Is this necessary, Gam Gam? Can they even feel the cold?” Mina asked.

“Of course it’s necessary, sweetie,” Gam Gam said as she pulled the second sock onto the zombie’s other foot. “Just because they’re undead doesn’t mean they have to be neglected.”

I was charmed instantly by this book, and that only grew throughout. Particularly once I cottened on to the fact that it wasn’t going to be a cozy kind of read—despite the scarves and sweaters. Once I saw what Holcombe was up to, I really got into things.

I don’t want to spoil anything but don’t get attached to any character. Just sayin.’ (okay, it’s called Book One of Chronicles of Gam Gam, so it’s probably safe to get attached to one. Although, given the loose correlation between death and characters doing things in this book…)

Holcombe has created a great little world for his characters to dwell in, and pairing Mina and Gam Gam together is a big one. He knows how to show the emotions of the moment—and to get the readers to buy into it. Even better, his depictions of the way magic works here are really well executed.

Even his choice of novella-length was smart. This isn’t a story that would work well with another 2-300 pages to tell it. Nor should it be the first part of a novel—this tight story is one that needs to be by itself.

I see that there’s a short story in this world that takes place sometime before this novel. I’ll be jumping on that soon while I begin the wait for Book Two.

This is a short read that packs the punch of a longer one, and I encourage you to give it a shot.

4 Stars

This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase from it, I will get a small commission at no additional cost to you. As always, the opinions expressed are my own.
My thanks to The Write Reads for the invitation to participate in this tour and the materials they provided.

BOOK SPOTLIGHT: A Necromancer Called Gam Gam by Adam Holcombe

By HCNewton

On August 18, 2025

In Book Tour, Fantasy

I’m very pleased today to welcome The Write Reads Blog Tour for Adam Holcombe’s, A Necromancer Called Gam Gam! Now, I read this back in 2023, so in addition to this Spotlight, I’ll be reposting what I said then–I’ll also be reposting what I said about the first two short stories in the series, “The Knight Revenant” and “Nugget’s Tenth Life“. But it’s not just re-runs here today, nosiree Bob! I have A Few Quick Questions with Adam Holcombe coming up in a little bit, too! (these links will actually work when the posts go up). If you take a look at the feed for https://twitter.com/WriteReadsTours over the next few days, you’ll see a lot of bloggers who had interesting things to say about it. A Necromancer Called Gam Gam was the 2nd Place Finalist for the 2024 Book Blogger’s Novel of the Year Award, so you know there’s a lot of good to be said about it–but before getting to this Spotlight, let’s start with a word about BBNYA.

BBNYA:

BBNYA is a yearly competition where book bloggers from all over the world read and score books written by indie authors, ending with 15 finalists (16 in 2024) and one overall winner.

If you want some more information about BBNYA, check out the BBNYA Website https://www.bbnya.com/ or take a peek over on Twitter @BBNYA_Official. BBNYA is brought to you in association with the @Foliosociety (if you love beautiful books, you NEED to check out their website!) and the book blogger support group @The_WriteReads.

Book Details:

Title: A Necromancer Called Gam Gam
Genre: Fantasy
Age Category: Adult
Format: Paperback/Ebook/Audiobook
Length: 110 Pages
Publication Date: May 30, 2023

About the Book:

A grandmotherly necromancer seeking resolution for her past with the help of her loyal entourage: an undead cat and a spectral knight.

A girl on the run from the Eternal Empire for the mysterious power she possesses.

When a chance encounter pulls them together, Gam Gam will do what it takes to protect Mina from the rogue sergeant hounding her–including raising the dead. As long as they’re dressed for the occasion.

Book Links:

Amazon Canada ~ Amazon US ~ Amazon UK ~ Goodreads ~ The Story Graph

About the Author:

Adam Holcombe daylights as a programmer and moonlights as an author. After spending years toying with the idea of writing, he decided to fully commit and work toward releasing his first novel. Then Gam Gam got in the way, and his first novel became his first novella. The novel will come later. When he’s not locked in a cold basement, typing away, he can be found hanging out with his wife, his dog, and his tortoise or playing D&D or board games with friends.

BlueSky ~ Patreon ~ Instagram ~ TikTok ~ Goodreads

My thanks to The Write Reads for the invitation to participate in this tour and the materials they provided.

REPOSTING JUST CUZ: Grave Cold by Shannon Knight: She Sees Dead People

By HCNewton

On August 15, 2025

In Fantasy, Fiction, Self-Published Authors Appreciation Week

The third book in this trilogy just released this week, and since I can’t talk about it yet (hopefully soon), I figured I’d repost this to remind people of the series.

Grave Cold

by Shannon Knight

DETAILS:
Publication Date: May 2, 2023
Format: e-Book
Length: 394 pg.
Read Date: May 16-21, 2025

Where Does Grave Cold Take Place?

In a dystopian future the geography of the (what we’d now consider) the Western U.S. looks much different—states are a thing of the past, and two major population centers are the District of Utah (which does contain Salt Lake City) and the District of Portland (Oregon, not Maine). There are people who have been Genetically Modified for one reason or another—and in the D.P. they’re largely feared and ostracized because of what they are and what they can do.

D.P. is where the action takes place in the novel—and it feels like it came out of Portland, OR, too. And not just because Voodoo Doughnuts still exists. Yes, even in a quasi-dystopia people want their donuts. Maybe they need them more than we do, come to think of it.

There’s a lot of the tech, etc. that one usually associates with more utopian-looking/feeling SF. And maybe for many people it’s just that. But D.P.’s government is definitely of the dystopian type (and, boy howdy, do we learn more about that as the book continues), and the area outside the District feels that way, too, filled with mutants and who knows what else.

If you’re one of those readers who really gets into worldbuilding, you’re going to be happy with this read.

What’s Grave Cold About?

Cait’s a beautician with a lot flair and very little money. She’s scraping by, barely. When she sleeps (which she tries not to), the dead come to her and talk to her, trying to get her to do things. So…it’s easy to understand why she doesn’t like to sleep.

A man named Nyle sneaks into Portland after having been prevented legal entrance by a guard—and he’s not the only one like him who has been denied entrance. Nyle, however, is older, more experienced, more powerful, and probably more determined. He and those like him are called “ravens” (although there are other, more contemporary(?) names like “ferrymen”)—they’re tasked with freeing the spirits of the dead from their bodies. It’s been so long since they’ve been permitted in D.P. that Nyle has been compelled to come so he can do his work.

He and Cait have a strong rapport right away, she has some friends (and some family she has a troubling relationship with), but not that many. The two of them click right away, and Cait helps Nyle change his appearance so he can hide from the authorities. He tells her that she’s not Genetically Modified, she has supernatural abilities like him—she’s a necromancer.

While it’s not the same power, it’s close to his and he has experience with necromancers and guides her to use her abilities better.

Working together, they begin to free the spirits of the dead and learn why ravens have been blocked from entering D.P.—those spirits are being used by newly developed technology. This pits the pair against the authorities and other powerful people.

Here’s the Thing

I don’t get magic/paranormal/supernatural systems like this one where someone/something is required to separate souls from bodies at/around/near death. Whether it’s this book (and it’s oncoming sequel), Amber Benson’s Calliope Reaper-Jones series, the TV show Dead Like Me, or any of the other examples I had in mind for weeks to bring up that disappeared as soon as I started composing this post. It just doesn’t make any sense to me.

This doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy these works of fiction. I just don’t understand what ties these non-corporeal entities/substances/existences/whatever to the body at or after death and why someone has to come along and separate them.

So I guess I’m saying two things here—1. If you’re like me on this point, you can still get into this book. I honestly didn’t think about it while reading the Grave Cold, it’s only when I think about the book/system that it gives me pause. 2. If you’re not like me…can you explain this?

So, what did I think about Grave Cold?

I cannot describe it to my satisfaction, but Knight has embued this novel with an atmosphere, a texture that you can’t help but feel as you read. Her descriptions are pretty sparse, but at the same time, I really think I know what Cait’s environs look and feel like.

It’s difficult to think of spirits as capable of being mistreated or abused—they’re spirits of dead people, right? But in Knight’s world that’s exactly what’s happening. Abusing the dead ranks right up there with elder-abuse somehow. As Nyle says,

“It’s easy to see the dead as non-persons when you’re alive. It’s harder when you know them.”

Instead of going on to whatever is next once the spirit is released, the former citizens of D.P. are trapped and exploited.

While this story is dark and harrowing, there’s a real pleasure (and sometimes lightness) in watching the friendship between Nyle—a centuries-old being—and Cait deepen and grow stronger. It’s a tricky thing to attempt (much less pull off), but Knight does it well.

Great world-building, questionable (to me) magic system—but it’s cool to see in action, some well-designed characters (including all of them that I didn’t mention here), a plot that moves well and is intricate enough that you’re kept wondering where it’s going until the end. Knight has written (on my blog) about coming up with the sequel, so I know one is coming. And I’m looking forward to it—at the same time, were this a stand-alone, it’d be very satisfactory as one.

3.5 Stars

Self-Published Authors Appreciation Week Footer

The 2024 Self-Published Authors Appreciation Week Logo was made by Witty and Sarcastic Book Club

REPOSTING JUST CUZ: I’m Not Sure How to Write About The Blacktongue Thief (Audiobook) by Christopher Buehlman, But I Really Liked It

By HCNewton

On August 14, 2025

In Audiobook, Fantasy, Fiction

It really feels like I should take another crack or three at this before posting. But that’s just not going to happen. I either post this or I dither about for another eight months and give up. So, here it is.

The Blacktongue Thief

by Christopher Buehlman

DETAILS:
Series: Blacktongue, #1
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Publication Date: May 25, 2021
Format: Unabridged Audiobook
Length: 12 hr.,  26 min. 
Read Date: January 2-5, 2024

What’s The Blacktongue Thief About?

I don’t know how to answer that question in under 8 single-spaced pages (okay, that’s hyperbole…but it feels honest). Also, this is one of those audiobooks that leaves a listener without a clue how to spell just about everything (for example, I just learned how to spell the main character’s name), so you have to factor into my utter inability to write character/nationality/etc. names to my trepidation about trying to sum it up.

So I’m going to just paste what the publisher’s site says…

Kinch Na Shannack owes the Takers Guild a small fortune for his education as a thief, which includes (but is not limited to) lock-picking, knife-fighting, wall-scaling, fall-breaking, lie-weaving, trap-making, plus a few small magics. His debt has driven him to lie in wait by the old forest road, planning to rob the next traveler that crosses his path.

But today, Kinch Na Shannack has picked the wrong mark.

Galva is a knight, a survivor of the brutal goblin wars, and handmaiden of the goddess of death. She is searching for her queen, missing since a distant northern city fell to giants.

Unsuccessful in his robbery and lucky to escape with his life, Kinch now finds his fate entangled with Galva’s. Common enemies and uncommon dangers force thief and knight on an epic journey where goblins hunger for human flesh, krakens hunt in dark waters, and honor is a luxury few can afford.

The Narration

(I’m sure I’ve said this before) It can be dangerous for an author to narrate their own book, but when they’re good narrators, they can bring something special to the performance as they understand the book in a way a hired gun never can. Buehlman is one of those authors who should read his own material all the time. He did a bang-up job with the accents, the characters, the comedy, and the drama.

I don’t know how this would come across in the print version—I’m assuming it would somehow—but in the audiobook, Buehlman makes Kinch speak with some sort of Irish accent (probably safer to say it’s more Irish-ish so he can deviate when he wants), which communicates so much about him. You hear that, and you automatically get his strange cynical optimism, the poverty he came from, his odd sense of humor. I don’t know how quickly that would be communicated with some other accent—but it immediately made sense to me. Galva’s accent is very different, and utterly fitting, too. I don’t know if other narrators would’ve made choices like he did to communicate that all so well—but I have to give him kudos for that.

So, what did I think about The Blacktongue Thief?

I can’t really discuss what I think of this book and the various plotlines/characters without spoiling the whole thing. So let’s stick to overall impressions.

Buelhman can create a character that shows up for a few pages—or recurs throughout the whole book—that is so well-drawn that you could imagine them carrying their own novella (at least). The magic system (systems?) are inventive—or at least used inventively—and I can think of several mages from other series that would be in trouble if they tried to cross some of these. The main storyline for Kinch seems locked-in early on, but also it’s pretty clear (I think) that he’s going to diverge from his assignment early. But the way it happens is enough to make you sit up and take notice (and perhaps mumble something like, “Are you sure about this, man?”).

Among the many subplots here is a love story—and I don’t know if I’ll come across one so effective for the rest of the year.*note It’s so sweet, so real. And really strange in the way that only fantasy can pull off.

* Okay, I wrote that sentence before I got too far into Charm City Rocks by Matthew Norman a day later, I really shouldn’t make statements like that in January.

By the same token, there’s this rivalry between Kinch and someone he knew in childhood. Their lives took very different paths, and Kinch (somewhat rightly) feels guilt over the way things went—Malk feels a lot of resentment about it (somewhat rightly, entirely understandably). Watching them navigate this reunion in various circumstances is a real treat. There’s some good depth, some believable realism to it—and Beuhlman is able to keep it entertaining.

I don’t want this to sound like it’s a comedy or a light-hearted caper kind of novel. It’s not. There’s a lot of darkness in these pages, a lot of tragedy and bloodshed, there’s some kind of duplicity on almost every page, and absolutely no one comes out of this unscathed. Assuming they come out of this at all. But you will be hooked; you will be invested in these characters; you will be mystified, weirded out, and perhaps a bit grossed-out by the magic; and you will probably want to avoid large bodies of water juuuuust in case one of Beuhlman’s krakens are nearby.*

* I know nobody has happy, shiny krakens full of humor and rainbows. But something about his seemed a degree or two worse.

I picked this up on a whim, mostly out of mild curiosity. But now I have to know what’s coming next.

4 Stars

This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase from it, I will get a small commission at no additional cost to you. As always, the opinions expressed are my own.
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Guard in the Garden by Z. S. Diamanti: The Difficulty of Finding a New Path

By HCNewton

On August 12, 2025

In Fantasy, Fiction

Guard in the Garden

by Z. S. Diamanti

DETAILS:
Series: A Fable of Finlestia 
Publisher: Golden Griffin Press
Publication Date: March 4, 2025
Format: eBook
Length: 294 pg.
Read Date: July 30-31, 2025

What’s Guard in the Garden About?

After a lifetime of effort and service, Felton Holdum is admitted to an elite group of warriors, a culmination of his work. Shortly thereafter, he’s seriously injured. He’s convinced he’ll recover enough to rejoin his team, but no one else seems that convinced.

After convalescing for a while on the couch at a home his aunts share, he tries to rejoin his—or any unit. They politely guide him to the City Guard while he “continues to gain strength.” The Guard takes him on and assigns him to patrol the Districts he lives in. One of the quietest, most peaceful, crime-free districts in the city—or in all of Fiction from what I can tell.

He takes the job seriously, however (which is his basic approach to life). Then he goes home each night to wallow in self-pity.

But slowly, thanks to the people he meets on patrol, acquaintanceships he renews, and some wise words from a fellow injured-vet, he starts to find new purpose in life.

The Little Things

Let me pause here for a moment to say that Felton Holdum is a name that screams “dwarf” to me somehow, and yet it’s probably the least dwarfish name. Seriously, come for the sweet story, stay for the details like “Bendur Clagstack.”

There are loads of tiny touches that really bring this world to life, grounds it in Fantasy, and gives a little boost to the whole experience. These names, characteristics, creatures, and so on. One detail that I liked that I can’t resist sharing is that one of Felton’s neighbors is a human blacksmith in a Dwarven city. And he’s a successful one at that, which is strange to everyone. While noting the strangeness, everyone accepts him because of the work—and that part of town is just like that.

My New Favorite Curse

I try not to curse personally, but I fail at that daily. So I do try to be creative about it, and steal from fiction just to make myself grin. The first time I read Felton say, “Shave me,” I knew I found a winner. Not only is that a perfect curse for a dwarf—seriously, how have I not seen someone else use this? It’s right there, fantasy writers!

But also, as a bearer of a chin curtain, it’s just a great curse. It carries the same self-maladictory tone as the more popular alternative—and it won’t get me looks from anyone at work.

So, what did I think about Guard in the Garden?

This book is the walking, talking definition of Cozy Fantasy. You can see most of this book coming light years away—and you don’t care. You just don’t. This isn’t about suspense or plot twists—this book is about healing, growth, satisfaction, and finding joy in new ways. It delivers that in abundance.

The meet-cute that really kicks this story into a new gear is as cute as you could want—you can’t help but smile at it. And really, that goes for just about everything else.

I should note that there was one paragraph of really awkward dialogue—it stood out to me because the rest of the book was so seemingly-effortlessly smooth. But as it was the one moment like that, and I only remembered it because I made a note about it.

Do we get the blow-by-blow about Felton dealing with his demons? No. Do we get all the details we want about the romance? No. A lot of both of those happen between chapters, and we see the result of the work he’s doing. The way we see the bonds developing and deepening between Felton and the people in his District, his friends, and family.

This is a pleasant read that will leave you feeling warm and hopeful. You’ll enjoy the characters and getting to watch them. It’s everything that a Cozy promises to be—what more could someone ask?

3.5 Stars

This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase from it, I will get a small commission at no additional cost to you. As always, the opinions expressed are my own.

PUB DAY SPOTLIGHT: War Song by Michael Michel

By HCNewton

On August 7, 2025

In Dreams of Dust and Steel, Fantasy, Fiction

I’m excited to help Michael Michel spread the word about today’s publication of the relaunched prequel novella in his Dreams of Dust and Steel series, War Song. A sequel novella is due in a couple of months, and what better way to tide yourself over until Book Three than by reading a couple of novellas that help introduce the world?

Book Details:

Title: A Graveyard for Heroes by Michael Michel
Series: Dreams of Dust and Steel, #0
Format: eBook
Length: 103 pg.
Publisher: Chainbreaker Books
US Publication Date: August 7, 2025

About the Book:

Admar’s future is a path paved with broken glass.

Each step forward living under Scothean tyranny cuts away another piece of his humanity–right down to the bone.

But even a meager life as a miner is better than a pointless death. A sister, a mother, a lover, all lost at the uncaring hands of the Scoths, have left him with nothing but memories and ash for comfort. While stories like his are all too common, they still aren’t enough to stoke rebellion among the oppressed.

If Admar is to find hope amid the brutal occupation of his homeland, he’ll have to question how deep his convictions go. For with every crack of the enemy’s whip, he’ll know torment. With every swipe of their axes, he’ll know suffering. And every moment he refuses to act will drag him further from his destiny.

Maybe there are no more heroes left…

Or maybe they’re waiting to be made.

Book Links:

Amazon

About the Author

Michael Michel lives in Bend, Oregon with the love of his life and their two children. When he isn’t obsessively writing, editing, or doing publishing work, he can be found exercising, coaching leaders in the corporate world, and dancing his butt off at amazing festivals like Burning Man. His favorite shows are Dark, The Wire, Arcane, and Norsemen. He loves nature and deep conversations. Few things bring him more joy than a couple of hours playing table tennis.

Website ~ Twitter ~ Instagram ~ Goodreads

20 Books of Summer 2025: July Check-In

By HCNewton

On August 1, 2025

In Books, Currently Reading, Fantasy, Fiction, General Fiction/Literature, Mystery/Detective Fiction/Crime Fiction/Thriller, News/Misc., Non-Fiction, Science Fiction, Urban Fantasy

A quick check-in for this Reading Challenge hosted by Emma of Words and Peace and Annabel from AnnaBookBel (you can read more about it here).

I’ve read 9 really good-to-great books so far this summer, and have high expectations for the rest. I’m really just having so much fun with this challenge this year.

So here’s the list:

1. The Lords of the West End by Peter Blaisdell
✔ 2. King of Ashes by S. A. Cosby
3. Mississippi Blue 42 by Eli Cranor
✔ 4. Guard in the Garden by Z. S. Diamanti
5. Mushroom Blues by Adrian M. Gibson
✔ 6. The Bright Sword by Lev Grossman
✔ 7. Everybody Knows by Jordan Harper
8. Interstellar MegaChef by Lavanya Lakshminarayan
✔ 9. Sabriel by Garth Nix
✔ 10. Lirael by Garth Nix

11. Abhorsen by Garth Nix
12. Welcome to Pawnee: Stories of Friendship, Waffles, and Parks and Recreation by Jim O’Heir
13. Futuristic Violence and Fancy Suits by Jason Pargin
14. Men at Arms by Terry Pratchett
✔ 15. A Tail of Mystery by Paul Regnier
✔ 16. Samurai! by Saburo Sakai with Martin Caiden and Fred Saito
17. The Crew by Sadir S. Samir
18. When the Moon Hits Your Eye by John Scalzi
19. Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
20. Leveled Up Love by Tao Wong & A. G. Marshall

(subject to change, as is allowed, but I’m going to resist the impulse to tweak as much as I can).

On the other hand, I’ve only got one to go on my Books on My Summer 2025 to-Read List (That Aren’t on My 20 Books Challenge), and I’ll be tackling that the week of the 18th.

✔ 1. Stone and Sky by Ben Aaronovitch
✔ 2. Algospeak: How Social Media Is Transforming the Future of Language by Adam Aleksic
3. Light From Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki
✔ 4. The Blue Horse by Bruce Borgos
✔ 5. Five Broken Blades by Mai Corland

6. This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar, Max Gladstone
✔ 7. The Medusa Protocol by Rob Hart
✔ 8. Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel
✔ 9. Mrs. Plansky Goes Rogue by Spencer Quinn
✔ 10. Dogged Pursuit by David Rosenfelt

Okay, if you think it as a percentage, I’ve read 60% of the books I called my shot on for the summer. I’m satisfied with this–and I expect I’m going to make great progress over the next month. I’m not so bold as to expect I’ve got this locked…but I’m okay with that.

(and no, I don’t see a conflict between this and the Orangutan Librarian’s recent post about competitive reading. This is me comparing myself with my goals, or my past self, or—worst of all—my expectations.)

20 Books of Summer '25 Chart July Update

The Irresponsible Reader On…Self-Published Fantasy

By HCNewton

On July 25, 2025

In Books, Fantasy, Fiction, Miscellany, News/Misc., Self-Published Authors Appreciation Week

(updated 7/25/25)

From the first moment that people did the strange thing of asking me to talk about their books on my blog, I’ve been impressed by the quality of a lot of what’s been published by authors going out on their own, taking all the risks, shouldering all the responsibility and doing all the work to get their words, their dreams, their blood, sweat, and tears. This should be celebrated—it’s definitely appreciated, as we’re trying to show this week.

As part of this week-long celebration, I’m continuing my habit of highlighting the self-published works that I’ve blogged about over the last few years (or meant to blog about, but at least read)—just a sentence or two. Hopefully, this’ll be enough to make you click on the link to the full post. Beyond that, it’d be great if I inspired you to add a few of these to your TBR. Also, be sure you check out the other posts over at the SPAAW Hub.

Today we’re going to be looking at Self-Published Fantasy. These are some of the most imaginative, creative, and enjoyable Fantasy novels I’ve read since I started blogging. These authors approach this beloved genre in ways that surprise and inspire me. Check out these books, hopefully, you’ll find something good.

I should also add that this list has grown more than the others this year…maybe half of the new books I’m talking about this week are here.

bullet Healed by Carrie Alani—A tired and beleaguered nurse gains the ability to heal (my post about it)
bullet Partial Function by JCM Berne—a fun-as-all-get-out wuxia-inspired novel where a former legendary warrior has to try to rescue her kidnapped daughters, and who knows what wake of destruction she’ll leave along the way (my post about it)
bullet Of Honey and Wildfires by Sarah Chorn—Chorn’s Western/Fantasy about…I don’t have room here. It’s beautiful prose, heartbreaking stories, and a stellar example of writing. (my post about it)
bullet Oh, That Shotgun Sky by Sarah Chorn—the follow-up to the above. A handful of people trying to come to grips with the new world they find themselves in. (my post about it)
bullet Seraphina’s Lament by Sarah Chorn—A planet is dying, political upheaval, and the dawn of a new reality. One of the most brutal reads in recent memory (and one of the most disturbing covers!). I absolutely loved it and would be literally counting down the days until the sequel if I knew the date. (my post about it)
bullet One Man by Harry Connolly—A man hiding from his past becomes a one-man army trying to save a kidnapped mother and daughter. (my post about it)
bullet Buddy the Knight and The Queen of Sorrow by Peter David—A valiant teddy bear knight, who is devoted to protecting his Person from the monsters from The Realm-Under-The-Bed, has spent years defending a little girl named Mieya from these fearsome foes. He’s frequently assisted by his companion, a stuffed tamarin—a mandolin-playing bard. Esteban not only fights at Buddy’s side, but his songs frequently tell the tales of Buddy’s victories. These two (and allies they’re yet to meet) take on the ultimate foe. (my post about it)
bullet 1-800-CallLoki by Dawn Blair—a collection of novellas tracing Loki’s adventures in 21st Century America. (my post about it is forthcoming)
bullet Toby and the Silver Blood Witches by Sally Doherty—A young boy who takes care of his seriously ill mother, gets the surprise of a lifetime when a witch crashes into his attic and asks for his help! It’s a fun MG adventure. (my post about it)
bullet Haven by Ceril N Domac—a family in a slightly grimmer (and future) version of the U.S. has to go on the run to a safe settlement when they start to display signs of being more than human. (my post about it)
bullet The Hero Interviews by Andi Ewington—A Loremaster conducts a series of interviews with Fantasy heroes, and others, to find and describe the essence of heroism. A thoughtful look at the idea is buried under jokes that will appeal to Fantasy Readers and RPG Players in particular-but many others, too. I had a great time with this. (my post about it)
bullet The Story of Lucius Cane: Book One by Vanya Ferreira—a mildly atypical vampire goes up against a lycanthrope-ish rogue in 1794. (my post about it)
bullet The Impudent Edda by Rowdy Geirsson—a brilliant retelling of Norse mythology set in the Boston area. (my post about it is forthcoming, was hoping for yesterday. Or back in April.)
bullet The Camelot Shadow by Sean Gibson—Victorian academics face off with druids (and others?) on a hunt for an Authurian artifact. Finding it will determine course of history. (my post about it is forthcoming)
bullet The Blackwood Saga by Layton Green—three brothers from New Orleans travel to a fantasy version of Earth and have to fight their way back home. (I haven’t finished this series yet, and it’s driving me crazy)
bullet The Brothers Three (my post about it)
bullet The Last Cleric (my post about it)
bullet The Spirit Mage (my post about it)
bullet The White Room by Pierce Taylor Hibbs—There’s a lot going on (visibly and invisibly) in this Pennsylvanian small town. (my post about it)
bullet The Knight Revenant by Adam Holcombe—this short story introduces Gam Gam the Necromancer in a fantastic way. (my post about it)
bullet A Necromancer Called Gam Gam by Adam Holcombe—a newly orphaned child finds refuge with a knitting Necromancer in a fun adventure, that isn’t afraid to explore other emotional environments. (my post about it)
bullet Nugget’s Tenth Life by Adam Holcombe—what was life (rather, were lives) like for Gam Gam’s cat before she brought him back? (my post about it)
bullet The Wishing Stone by Adam Holcombe—Gam Gam has a map that could get Mina what she’s looking for. If they can survive the attempt. (my post about it is forthcoming)
bullet Stone of Asylum by Hilarey Johnson—In the late 1800s, as the Gold Rush in the Northwest starts to die off, a Korean warrior, with particular magical abilities, tries to track down his missing sister.(my post about it)
bullet Sunbolt by Intisar Khanani—a street thief/revolutionary finds herself over her head after her latest mission. A fast and fascinating read. (my post about it)
bullet A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking by T. Kingfisher—A 14-year-old young woman whose magic controls baked goods is the only thing standing between her city and an invading army. You know, that old yarn. It’s delightfully charming. (my post about it)
bullet Grave Cold by Shannon Knight—a mix of creepy fantasy and creepier SF in a dystopian future. (my post about it)
bullet The Conjuring of Zoth-Avarex: The Self-Proclaimed Greatest Dragon in the Multiverse by K.R.R. Lockhaven—A group of magic users summons a dragon into 21st Century U.S. and immediately lose control over it. Heroics and hilarity ensue. It’s part corporate-satire, part fantasy-trope satire, part celebration of those same tropes, and all very funny. (my post about it)
bullet Mrs. Covington’s by K.R.R. Lockhaven—This book about friendship and nachos describes a young man looking to get out from his weathly father’s shadow who ends up buying a capybara-themed pub and running it with his new friends. There’s also a treasure hunt. Warm fuzzies, kindness, and good times ensue. (my post about it)
bullet Zoth-Avarex’s Escape Plan: A Pick-Your-Own-Path Experience by K.R.R. Lockhaven—A short Choose-Your-Own-Adventure style sequel about what happens to the dragon after the novel. (my post about it)
bullet The Glass Frog by J. Brandon Lowry—an orphaned teen who has dreams beyond the village she was raised in gets the change to see the larger world when a stranger washes up on shore. A great mix of light moments and emotional depth. (my post about it)
bullet Bones & Betrayal: Silence of the Dead by Andi Ewington/Erica Marks—A necromancer and his partner are compelled to investigate a murder in a fairly typical Fantasy city. It’s a truly compelling mix of magic and mirth. Mystery and intrigue. And pie. Delicious, and sometimes deadly, pie. (my post about it)
bullet A Graveyard for Heroes by Michael Michel—the second Dreams of Dust and Steel novel. The story grows grander, our perspective enlarges—and assuming that the pre-series status quo was as good as it could be, this civilization is in trouble from many sides. Stunning work. (my post about it)
bullet The Price of Power by Michael Michel—the first novel in the Dreams of Dust and Steel series. We focus on four characters as their nation is on the verge of collapse–and get glimpses of the roles they can pay in keeping it from complete disunion (or their roles in pushing it toward the end). (my post about it)
bullet The Culling by M. T. Miller—a bleak fantasy world is beset by monsters, and The Culling is a committed group of warriors wandering the countryside to fight them. These are dark books, but so fun to read.
bullet Apex Predator (my post about it)
bullet Brotherhood of the Worm (my post about it)
bullet The City of Scales (I accidentally deleted my post when it was almost done, and I’m having a hard time replicating it. But it’ll be here soon)
bullet The Nameless Chronicle by M. T. Miller—humanity struggles in a desolate, post-apocalyptic world. One man rises to fight the despots ruling them. He suffers, he bleeds, he dies. He just can’t seem to stay dead.
bullet Ascent (my post about it)
bullet Bedlam (my post about it)
bullet Risen (my post about it)
bullet A Strange Chemistry (my post about it)
bullet Strife (my post about it)
bullet The Complete Nameless Chronicle—the series is now published in one “boxed set” eBook
bullet Curse of the Fallen by H.C. Newell—a woman whose magic has her marked for death and her closest friend journey to find a way to break the curse she’s under. (my post about it is forthcoming)
bullet Heart of Fire by Raina Nightengale—two young people surprisingly find themselves bound to dragons, and the world may soon change because of them both. (my post about it)
bullet Sir Thomas the Hesitant and the Table of Less Valued Knights by Liam Perrin—a wholesome and comedic Arthurian tale about knights not quite good enough for the Round Table (my post about it)
bullet Bizarre Frontier Omnibus #1 Brock Poulsen-a group of novellas following the adventures of a Wild West lawman cursed to never die as he takes on supernatural foes. (my post about it)
bullet Bard Tidings by Paul Regnier—a light-hearted Fantasy adventure about a bard who finds himself in the unlikely position to save a village from an invading army. He’s also strangely capable of it (with the right allies). (my post about it is forthcoming)
bullet Panacea by Alex Robins—in an alternate ancient Greece, the war between the gods comes to Earth. (my post about it is forthcoming, if I can ever figure out how to put what I want to say into words)
bullet Klone’s Stronghold by Joyce Reynolds-Ward—a temporary teaching job becomes so much more. (my post about it)
bullet Cursed Cocktails by S.L. Rowland—a battlemage tries to enjoy his retirement by relaxing and starting a business. If only the world would let him. A heart-warming cozy fantasy. (my post about it)
bullet Sword & Thistle by S.L. Rowland—an adventurer is sent on a near-impossible task. But the payoff will make the struggles worth it. Another heart-warming cozy fantasy in this series. (my post about it is forthcoming)
bullet An Unexpected Afterlife by Dan Sofer—wide-scale resurrection of the dead causes more than a few problems for everyone in modern Israel. (my post about it)

If you're a self-published author that I've featured on this blog and I didn't mention you in this post and should have. I'm sorry (unless you're this guy). Please drop me a line, and I'll fix this. I want to keep this regularly updated so I keep talking about Self-Published Authors.

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Cover Reveal: Memento Mori Station by Shannon Knight

By HCNewton

On July 15, 2025

In Fantasy

I’m very pleased today to welcome the Cover Reveals for Shannon Knights’s upcoming Death Rights. I’m more than pleased, I’m excited. No one (including me) has talked more on this site about covers than Shannon Knight, so for her to have a new one, you know thought has gone into this. I’m eager to get my mitts on this book, too. Naturally, the cover is an eye-grabber. Lastly, the cover is one to maybe induce a little placebo effect on your mind on a hot June day. There are plenty of reasons that I’m excited is what I’m saying.

I’ll show you this cover below, but first let’s learn a little bit about the book and author, shall we? It’ll just take a moment, and then we can all take a peak at the cover.

About the Book:

Memento Mori Station: Protect the Dead

A thousand years have passed. Nyle, the only raven still on Earth, dutifully continues to tend the dead. His mind-reading assistant, Em Collins, helps him return to the present when memories pull him into echoes of the past. However, a mysterious invitation from a distant space station breaks Nyle’s routine. He’d had no intention of leaving Earth, but the message ends with a coded SOS from his old friend Ethan West. Nyle doesn’t hesitate.

As his spaceship approaches the station, Nyle has plenty of time to consider the deep cold that signals a massive quantity of untended dead. Records show that multiple ravens had traveled to the station, yet no raven has ever left. Nyle doesn’t intent to abandon either Ethan or the dead, but the vast distances of space mean that whatever mysteries or obstacles surface, Nyle will have to face them with only the aid of his small team.

The past and the future come together in the final installment of the Grave Cold trilogy.

Ebook ISBN: 979-8-9985251-1-7

Book Links:

Goodreads ~ Author’s Website Series Page ~ Amazon Series Page

About the Author

Shannon Knight is a fantasy, science fiction, and horror author living in the Pacific Northwest. She graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor’s in English. Winter Moon Press is her imprint for self-publication.

Author Links:

Website ~ Bluesky ~ Amazon ~ BookBub ~ Goodreads

and now…

The Cover

cover for Memento Mori Station by Shannon Knight

The Complete Series (click the image to embiggen):

Kudos to these fine folk for their work on this eye-grabber:
Cover design by Winter Moon Press
Cover photography by Kiselev Andrey Valerevich

Now, would someone go get that poor woman a jacket?

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Bones & Betrayal: Silence of the Dead by Andi Ewington/Erica Marks: Murder, Magic, Puns, and Pie. As Yummy As It Sounds.

By HCNewton

On July 14, 2025

In Fantasy, Fiction, Mystery/Detective Fiction/Crime Fiction/Thriller

Bones & Betrayal: Silence of the Dead

by Andi Ewington/Erica Marks

DETAILS:
Series: Bones & Betrayal, Book One
Publication Date: August 5, 2025
Format: eARC
Length: 286 pgs.
Read Date: June 12-24, 2025

What’s Bones & Betrayal: Silence of the Dead About?

Holtar is a former adventurer who has left that life for a quieter and safer option in the city. Sadly, as a necromancer, he’s only somewhat welcome. He’s a walking NIMBY target, really. Being a Dark Elf probably doesn’t help much, either.

But the Captain of the city guard has decided he has a use—who better to help than a necromancer who can call the dead back long enough to ask who killed them? It really tends to make solving a murder pretty easy (and, for all his good points, it really seems that Capt. Moorland isn’t incredibly well-suited for solving crimes). So it’s really not much of an event for Holtar to be called to the shop of a merchant specializing in strange goods to consult on his storeowner’s death.

It becomes an event when Holtar can’t raise him—in fact, quickly decides that his death points to a dark magic that runs a chill down his spine. Holtar and his partner barely start investigating this murder before another one happens. And there’s really no reason to doubt that the killer is just getting started.

Also…will the charming elven baker’s business be able to survive when the word gets out that her pies have been weaponized and turned into the murderer’s weapon? (assuming she isn’t the killer)

Holtar

I’ll be the first to admit, I’m not knowledgeable about necromancers. There’s the one in The Hobbit, and a couple here and there that I’m familiar with. Oh, and of course, Adam Holcombe’s Gam Gam. But that’s not really many—and really, the specialty doesn’t appeal to me. So, I really didn’t know what to expect out of Holtar.

I didn’t figure on a Dark Elf with anxiety and no natural grace (the guy can’t even climb wooden stairs without creaking like crazy—who knew that was possible for an elf?). He seems to have a strong degree of talent, with one trademarked spell—and, who knows, he might have more to develop if he wasn’t putting up with Moorland’s chores.

With his adventuring days behind him, he really just wants a quiet life—and who can’t relate to that?

It’s easy to forget what Holtar does for a living throughout the book, but the authors will slip in a quick reminder here and there to remind you that there’s something inherently creepy about Holtar and his magic. He is not a creep himself, but necromancers aren’t particularly popular people in this world. For good reason.

One way we’re reminded of the dark nature of Holtar’s magic is this impulse he calls The Urge, which is essentially an impulse to let the magic go wild and raise whatever dead happen to be in range of his abilities. Holtar’s worried enough about it that I can’t help but wonder if at some point or another, he didn’t resist The Urge to calamitous results.

Another way is Holtar’s friend/partner…

Seymour

Seymour is a thief—a full-fledged member of the Thieves Guild—who used to travel and work with Holtar until…well, for our purposes, we’ll call it an industrial accident. Remember that their industry involved parties of adventurers who included a necromancer. But thanks to the same necromancer, Seymour isn’t (as Miracle Max would say) all dead. He doesn’t have much of a body—or any organs, he’s simply a talking skull.

Somehow, he can eat, drink, and move around—don’t ask Holtar how any of that works. Which is great fodder for comedy and a pretty neat trick, all things considered. Seymour has a great sense of humor, he loves puns (I’m talking puns/wordplay that would make Burt Ward’s Robin distancing himself), and is not above joking about his body-less state. He’s also a loyal friend who has some pretty clever ideas from time to time (although he typically reserves his cleverness for quips and pranks). He’s the ultimate in wise-cracking sidekicks.

But Holtar is very aware of the optics of a necromancer carrying around a skull that he talks to all the time. So, he pretty much hides Seymour and only takes him out in private.

If you have only one talking skull in your literary life, go with Dresden’s Bob. If you have room for two, however, Seymour is your guy.*

* I can see myself being open to changing the ranking after another book or two.

The Tone

This is a buddy-cop kind of book, technically a buddy-P.I. (of sorts). A partnership full of banter and rarely expressed affection, and obvious loyalty. On page or screen, I’m a sucker for this kind of thing.

It’s best to think of this as a PI novel set in a Fantasy world—the tone and focus hold up better than if you think of it as a Fantasy novel featuring PI-types. (That’s still correct, but I think it gets the accent in the wrong spot).

There are hard-boiled elements, but it’s still light-hearted and comedic. It’s not a cozy, but it’s not far off from it. I think it’s a shade less cozy than Baldree’s Bookshops & Bonedust, for example.

While most of the banter comes from the interplay between Holtar and Seymour, that’s not all of it. The same kind of humor displayed in Ewington’s The Hero Interviews or the sillier parts of Peter David’s Apropos of Nothing books is more than evident here. I could bask in the jokes for a while (and have).

So, what did I think about Bones & Betrayal: Silence of the Dead?

There’s a lot to commend about this book, and very little to quibble with. There’s some really subtle world-building at work here, including some nice references to Ewington’s Hero Interviews, and this expands and adds depth to that world nicely. There are some wonderfully composed sentences in this book—they’re just so efficient that they can deliver a paragraph’s worth of meaning in them—moving the plot forward, or showing a character trait—while doing some effective world-building. Or a combination of the others. This happens often enough that I had to stop and admire them, because it’s one thing to do that once or twice—but Marks and Ewington did it often enough that it had to be purposeful, and it’s just so nice to see, particularly in Fantasy which has a tendency to take too long with this kind of thing.

This is a really good PI story, first and foremost. I think it takes Holtar a little too long to figure out what’s motivating the killer—I talked back a lot to the book on these lines. I don’t know if it’d have hurt things for him to suss that out as quickly as he should’ve. But the rest of the mystery elements are so well done that I can shrug that off (mostly). There’s some good comedy going on, but it’s not the focus–it’s a function of how Holtar’s mind works and the way he and Seymour relate. So, yeah, it’s funny–but it’s not a goofy mystery. It fits along Duncan MacMaster, Gregory Mcdonald, Lee Goldberg, and Marshall Karp’s early works. Which means it’s just what I want a steady diet of.

Then you get the whole Fantasy world of it all–so there’s the D&D-ness of The Hero Interviews. But also the Fantasy+mystery novel of Alex Bledsoe, Luke Arnold, and Keith DeCandido’s Precinct novels. Also, the tone of The Chronicles of Pell (that’s the closest match I can think of right now).

I really want to spend more time with Seymour and Holtar, for the sheer entertainment of the banter alone. But I also like seeing their partnership at work, and a solid buddy-dynamic like theirs should be celebrated as often as possible. I’d like to see something develop between the flirtation between Holtar and [name withheld] (although I’m not certain the attraction is two-way, but dealt with correctly, that could be funny). I could enjoy seeing Holtar butt heads with Moorland more, or Moorland being replaced by someone, too–really not sure I care. And, I’m super curious about the events that the ending sets up for Book Two.

This novel delivers the perfect amount of bang for your entertainment buck. It is a satisfying combination of mystery, tension, magic, and stupid jokes and puns. The friendship that forms the heart of this book will endear you to the protagonists as much as their banter will make you grin. Setting the whole thing in a Fantasy world that will be instantly recognizable to anyone who reads the genre or has played D&D, just makes the whole thing even more satisfying. I had a blast with this–and I literally have a list of people I’ll be giving this to as a gift. I’m eagerly awaiting another two or three installments in this series already.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this ARC from the authors in exchange for some feedback, and I was invited to do this post, too. But I think I was also offered this ARC because Marks and Ewington are pretty cool froods. Any opinions expressed are mine alone and freely offered.

4 Stars

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