North Sun, or The Voyage of the Whaleship Esther, was entirely off my radar in the first year from its release. But one of the questions I ask annually in my Hugo Readalong is which books from the previous year were snubbed in the nomination process. And when someone advances something I’ve never heard of… Continue reading Historical/Magical Realism Novel Review: North Sun by Ethan Rutherford
I review Clarkesworld and GigaNotoSaurus each month. If you’re a regular reader, you know that. If you’re new here, those are a couple monthly magazines publishing sci-fi and fantasy short fiction. Either way, let’s get to it. Clarkesworld The August issue of Clarkesworld opens and closes with a pair of short stories, bookending three novelettes… Continue reading Tar Vol Reads a Magazine (or Two): Reviews of Clarkesworld and GigaNotoSaurus (August 2026)
This review is based on an eARC (Advance Reading Copy) provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Slow Burn was released on August 18, 2026. Amal Singh has come across my reading list with a few short stories in Clarkesworld, and they’re always good reads. So, while short fiction and long… Continue reading Fantasy Novel Review: Slow Burn by Amal Singh
This review is based on an eARC (Advance Reading Copy) provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Preaching to the Choir was released on August 11, 2026. I first read Adrian Tchaikovsky six or seven years ago, and he quickly became one of my favorite authors. But I soon realized that… Continue reading Horror Novella Review: Preaching to the Choir by Adrian Tchaikovsky
This review is based on an eARC (Advance Reading Copy) provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The Inevitable Undoing of Zahara Douglass was released on August 11, 2026. With her roots in fantasy romance, Leslye Penelope is an author I’d seen discussed but had never really sought out in the… Continue reading Science Fantasy Novel Review: The Inevitable Undoing of Zahara Douglass by Leslye Penelope
This review is based on an eARC (Advance Reading Copy) provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. A Trade of Blood was released on August 4, 2026. For much of the summer, I’ve been struggling to find long reads that truly captured my attention. With air travel ahead, I was looking… Continue reading Fantasy Novel Review: A Trade of Blood by Robert Jackson Bennett
All this week, I have been posting my rankings and overall assessments for the four single-work print fiction categories in the Hugo Awards for the year’s best in science fiction and fantasy. I’ve already covered Best Novel, Best Novella, and Best Novelette. For those who have not seen the previous posts, let me re-share my… Continue reading 2026 Hugo Awards Ballot: Best Short Story
This week, I’m posting my ballots for the Hugo Awards for the year’s best in science fiction and fantasy. Monday, I posted my Best Novel ballot, and Wednesday, I posted my ballot for Best Novella. Today, I’ll be covering Best Novelette. For those who have already read my preamble, skip down one paragraph and jump… Continue reading 2026 Hugo Awards Ballot: Best Novelette
For those who missed it Monday, I have also published my ballot for the Hugo Awards for Best Novel. If you haven’t seen the preamble yet, I’ll quote it here. Otherwise, skip down one paragraph. For the sixth straight year, I have read and reviewed the finalists for four print fiction categories in the Hugo… Continue reading 2026 Hugo Awards Ballot: Best Novella
I’d heard some positive buzz about Freya Marske’s Cinder House before awards shortlists were released, but seeing as how I didn’t seem to fit any of the target demographics, I let it pass by until a Hugo nomination sent it climbing back up my TBR. Even though I hadn’t picked it off the shelf on… Continue reading Fantasy Novella Review: Cinder House by Freya Marske
