When Jared Pechaček’s debut novel, The West Passage, came out last year, I heard no shortage of praise from my usual circles. However, much of the praise was for the weird worldbuilding (not usually a huge selling point for me), and it appeared to have a quest plot structure (something I actively dislike), so I… Continue reading Fantasy Novel Review: The West Passage by Jared Pechaček
This month, I’m pivoting a bit away from my usual Magazine Minis habit, which typically involves sampling some sci-fi/fantasy new releases and dedicating small review sections to publications with multiple stories that catch my eye. The process this month is the same, the difference is that the focus has not been on new releases. Instead,… Continue reading Tar Vol’s Magazine Minis: On Spec and The Deadlands
Automatic Noodle was one of those books that was impossible to avoid in certain spaces last year. I haven’t been particularly wowed by the cozy trend in SFF, so I let it pass upon release, figuring I’d circle back after the inevitable Hugo nomination. Fast-forward a year and it’s been shortlisted for Best Novella, so… Continue reading Sci-fi Novella Review: Automatic Noodle by Annalee Newitz
It’s been a bit of a slow novel-reading month, but I’ve still been hitting the short fiction plenty hard. I’ve already shared some recommendations in my magazine reviews, but guess what? I’ve got more. Let’s get to it: Short Fiction June Favorites Don’t miss my Clarkesworld and GigaNotoSaurus review or my Magazine Minis. There are several recommendations between them,… Continue reading June 2026 Round-up and Short Fiction Miscellany
This review is based on an eARC (Advance Reading Copy) provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Everybody’s Perfect was released on June 30, 2026. I’ve heard a lot about Jo Walton—both for her fiction and her nonfiction—but the only novel of hers I’d read was Lifelode, a strange, experimental piece… Continue reading Fantasy Novel Review: Everybody’s Perfect by Jo Walton
A new issue of Asimov’s, a review copy of Otherside, and several eye-catching pieces from Uncanny have given me a nice three-zine spread for this month’s Magazine Minis. As always, I have plenty of short fiction to recommend, so let’s get to it. Asimov’s A quick scan through the new fiction in the July/August 2026… Continue reading Tar Vol’s Magazine Minis: Asimov’s, Otherside, and Uncanny
I don’t read too much middle-grade fiction, but I do occasionally dip my toe, and The Last Cuentista by Donna Barba Higuera has been recommended by enough friends that it was high on my list to try. And with Middle Grade on this year’s Bingo board, there was no better time than the present. The… Continue reading Middle-Grade Sci-fi Novel Review: The Last Cuentista by Donna Barba Higuera
This review is based on an eARC (Advance Reading Copy) provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Ode to the Half-Broken was released on May 26, 2026. While Suzanne Palmer’s acclaimed Bot 9 stories fell into the liked-not-loved category for me, she’s written enough excellent stories for me to be intrigued… Continue reading Sci-fi Novel Review: Ode to the Half-Broken by Suzanne Palmer
I’ve settled a little bit back into my regular reading routine, but one bit of the routine that never changed was my monthly magazine reads. Let’s take a look at the June offerings from Clarkesworld and GigaNotoSaurus! Clarkesworld After a boom/bust May issue where the longest stories were the least suited for my taste, I… Continue reading Tar Vol Reads a Magazine (or Two): Reviews of Clarkesworld and GigaNotoSaurus (June 2026)
This review is based on an eARC (Advance Reading Copy) provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Palaces of the Crow was released on May 19, 2026. Ray Nayler wowed me a few years back with his debut novel, The Mountain in the Sea. My last couple reads didn’t quite hit… Continue reading Historical Speculative Novel Review: Palaces of the Crow by Ray Nayler
