Sister Snake

Sister Snake by Amanda Lee Koe is the story of attaining what you want through enlightenment, but then having to live with the consequences.

Sisterhood is difficult for Su and Emerald. Su leads a sheltered, moneyed life as the picture-perfect wife of a conservative politician in Singapore. Emerald is a nihilistic sugar baby in New York, living from whim to whim and using her charms to make ends meet. But they share a secret: once, they were snakes, basking under a full moon in Tang dynasty China.

A thousand years later, their mysterious history is the only thing still binding them together. When Emerald experiences a violent encounter in Central Park and Su boards the next flight to New York, the two reach a tenuous reconciliation for the first time in decades. Su convinces Emerald to move to Singapore so she can keep an eye on her—but she soon begins to worry that Emerald’s irrepressible behavior will out them both, in a sparkling, affluent city where everything runs like clockwork and any deviation from the norm is automatically suspect.

Sister Snake is a great read. Full of humor, emotion, family dynamics over centuries and so much more. Read this book!

Koe, Amanda Lee. (2024). Sister Snake. New York: Ecco.

Night Owls

Night Owls by A.R. Vishny is the story of two folkloric Jewish monsters, Estries, who run a theater on the Lower East Side of Manhattan.

Clara loves rules. Rules are what have kept her and her sister, Molly, alive—or, rather, undead—for over a century. Work their historic movie theater by day. Shift into an owl under the cover of night. Feed on men in secret. And never fall in love.

Molly is in love. And she’s tired of keeping her girlfriend, Anat, a secret. If Clara won’t agree to bend their rules a little, then she will bend them herself.

Boaz is cursed. He can’t walk two city blocks without being cornered by something undead. At least at work at the theater, he gets to flirt with Clara, wishing she would like him back.

When Anat vanishes and New York’s monstrous underworld emerges from the shadows, Clara suspects Boaz, their annoyingly cute box office attendant, might be behind it all.

But if they are to find Anat, they will need to work together to face demons and the hungers they would sooner bury. Clara will have to break all her rules—of love, of life, and of death itself before her rules break everyone she loves.

Vishny has written an amazing genreblend of mystery, historical folklore, New York history, romance and more. Read this book! 

Vishny, A.R. (2024). Night Owls. New York: Harper. 

Into the Riverlands (Singing Hills Cycle #3)

Into the Riverlands by Nghi Vo is the third novella in the Singing Hills Cycle that follow cleric Chih on their journey.

When cleric Chih reaches the Riverlands, an area known to be rough, and sits down to lunch, there is a fight. A large man come in to cause trouble and is dispatched by a small woman with a great deal of strength and fighting skill.

Chih joins Wei Jintai and Mac Song to travel the Riverlands with and older couple who know all of the legends of the area as they travel toward the Betony Docks.

Vo has created a wonderful novella series that reads like folk tales or myth. With each installment you will become more enamored with cleric Chih and Almost Brilliant. 

Buy this series as it comes out. You will reread them over and over for years to come. 

Vo, Nghi. (2022). Into the Riverlands. New York: Tor. 

Gods of Jade and Shadow

The Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia is the tale of a human young woman getting in the middle of a battle between the Mayan gods of death. 

Casiopea Tun and her mother live with her grandfather in the Yucatán. Though other relatives also live there, including her horrible cousin Martin, she and her mom do all of the cooking and cleaning. It has something to do with the fact that her mother married someone of whom her grandfather did not approve. 

Martin is always getting Casiopea in trouble. He resents her relationship with their grandfather. When she is left home from a trip to the beach, she sees her chance to find out what is in the trunk in her grandfather's room.

What she finds is a skeleton! And when she touches it, a shard stabs her finger and her blood brings it back to life. Soon she is looking at the god of Hun-Kamé, one of the twin Gods of Death. 

After years, he can get revenge on his brother Vucub-Kamé who stole his throne. But when gods fight, it is often the humans who are at risk.

Moreno-Garcia has brought the mythology of the Mayan Popol Vuh to life in this fantastic novel set in the roaring twenties. 

Moreno-Garcia, Silvia. (2019). Gods of Jade and Shadow. New York: Del Rey.

In Fury Born

In Fury Born by David Weber is a thrilling ride through space, special ops and Greek mythology. A space opera for the ages.

Alicia DeVries is a marine like her grandfather. She is sent to far off planets who are part of the Earth empire. Tapped for an elite squad of drop commandos called the Cadre, she is a killing machine.

Follow Alicia through this store that was originally two novellas and a novel. Readers will encounter pirates, revenge, voices in their heads, artificial intelligence and more.

Weber is a master of science fiction story telling. This stand alone novel is a great introduction to him and his kick ass female characters set in world where men and women are treated as equals.

Weber, David. (2006). In Fury Born. New York: Baen

Forged in Fire (Sarah Beauhall #3)

Forged in Fire by JA Pitts is the third book in his series featuring Sarah Beauhall - a lesbian blacksmith who lives in a Seattle with dragons, dwarves and witches.

The Black Briar team - a medieval reenactment/fighting group are healing after a battle with a dragon while also focusing on finding a dark magic wielder in the area. There is also the danger of the Dragon Liberation Front who want dragons to rule in public instead of behind the scenes.

Sarah and Katie are recovering after a fight at the home of a fellow blacksmith. The witch Quindra is still trapped inside that home, keeping the forces at bay. In the mean time, Sarah is filling in for Quindra with the dragon Niddog - she who controls the Seattle area.

Pitts has created a fun series for fans of fantasy and mythology. The setting is both familiar and drastically different than our own world, which makes it easier for new readers of fantasy.

Pitts, JA. (2012). Forged in Fire. New York: Tor.

Merchant of Alyss (Legends of the Realm #2)

Merchant of Alyss by Thomas Locke is the second book in his Legends of the Realm fantasy series.

Hyam, the reluctant hero who fought the Red Mage, is slowly recovering from battle. He and his wife, Joelle, live outside of Fallmouth Port. The city has grown with those who are against the tyrant king and want to live under a reasonable ruler - the rightful ruler of the realm.

When a mage arrives with a cart full of ancient scrolls, Hyam is drawn toward their power. Though no one else can even see writing on the page, Hyam can see and read the forbidden language of the Milantian. Also included are two small scrolls in a language Hyam has never seen.

The Earl puts together a group to travel with Hyam and Joelle to find more scrolls and a way to translate the new language. But their quest will soon change focus as evidence of a new evil appears.

Locke's first Legends of the Realm book, Emissary, is one of the best fantasy books I have read. Merchant of Alyss is of equal interest and quality. This is a great series for fantasy fans - and an approachable series for those who are not yet fans of the genre.

Locke, Thomas. (2016). Merchant of Alyss. Grand Rapids, MI: Revell.

Black Blade Blues (Sarah Beauhall #1)

Black Blade Blues by J.A. Pitts is the first book in the Sarah Beauhall trilogy. Sarah is a smith who lives in Seattle. During the day she works the forge and at night she works for a low budget movie as prop manager.

Sarah has loaned her favorite sword to the movie - a black blade she got at an auction. When the annoying main actor swings the sword and does not pull up, but hits the edge of the stage, it shatters.

As a smith, Sarah will be able to fix the sword, but it will not be easy. And she wants to do it right. One of the movie extras (who claims to be a dwarf) wants to watch. He says the sword is old and was not properly repaired or it would not have broken.

When Sarah fixes the sword things begin to happen. With the power of the sword restored, dragons can feel its power. A world Sarah never knew existed is taking notice of her.

Some of her friends in her medieval re-enactment group, including her girlfriend Katie, believe that the stories told as mythology are true. They are ready to help Sarah in the coming battle.

Pitts has created a fascinating world within our own. Sarah is a great, but flawed, character who is trying to overcome a childhood of brainwashing and learn to be happy in her life and with her girlfriend. This is a great book for fangirls everywhere.

Pitts, J.A. (2010). Black Blade Blues. New York: Tor Books.

American Gods

American Gods by Neil Gaiman is the tale of what happens when people move to America, bringing their gods with them - and then, over time, forgetting the old gods.

Shadow is about to be released from prison after three years. He is getting nervous that something will happen to stop him from going home to his wife. He senses a change coming in the air.

On his way home there is a man sitting next to him on the plane. The man seems to know a lot about Shadow and offers him a job. But Shadow had a job all lined up. He was going back to his old job at his best friend's gym. Only now everything has changed.

After getting off of the plane at a stop along the way, Shadow rents a car to drive the rest of the way. When he stops at a bar in the middle of nowhere for food, the man from the plane is waiting for him.

The man, calling himself Wednesday, really wants Shadow to work for him. He is on the road and could use someone to watch his back. By the end of the night, he has convinced Shadow to work for him.

Now they are crisscrossing the United States while Wednesday tries to get an eclectic group of mostly older people to promise to join him. He knows a war is coming and they have to band together to stand against the new order.

Gaiman has written a great story of gods from all over the world and how they are trying to get by in the US without the support of people worshiping them. This is a fun book.

Gaiman, Neil. (2001). American Gods. New York: Harper Torch.

Blue Dragon (Dark Heavens #3)

Blue Dragon by Kylie Chan is the third book in her Dark Heavens fantasy series about humans, gods and demons in Hong Kong.

John Chen, also known as Xuan Wu - God of the Northern Heavens, is living in human form in Hong Kong. He is becoming weak from being in human form for so long and all of his efforts are to make sure his daughter, Simone, can take care of herself before he returns to the Celestial plane. Once he does, it will take years to regain enough power to return.

The family has been attacked repeatedly by a demon who wants to advance in the demon hierarchy. Demon One-Two-Two is hoping to collect the head of Xuan Wu to gain a position as Number One, second only to the King of the Demons.

Emma, Leo, and Michael, along with a host of lesser gods and the Four Winds themselves are around to help protect Simone and allow her to spend time with John before he must depart. One-Two-Two will force his hand, making him choose between staying longer and removing a threat.

This third book in the series continues the journey of Emma in her study of martial arts and energy work. Fans will be surprised to see there is not a fourth book in the series, but instead another trilogy that continues the story eight years later: Journey to Wudang (Earth to Hell; Hell to Heaven; Heaven to Wudang). This is a great fantasy series for fans of mythology.

Chan, Kylie. (2007). Blue Dragon. New York: Harper Voyager.

Red Phoenix (Dark Heavens #2)

Red Phoenix by Kylie Chan is the second book in her Dark Heavens series - a fantasy series set in modern Hong Kong and based on Chinese mythology.

Emma Donahoe is the nanny for Simone, daughter of John Chen. Chen is actually Xuan Wu, a god and one of the four winds. His daughter is half shen (god) and half human, and due to the greed of demons, she is a target.

Emma has been training in martial arts in order to be able to protect Simone. She has also become part of the family, along with the other protector, Leo. Because of the energy it takes for the gods to remain in human form, it will be necessary for John Chen to return to the celestial plane soon. He wants Simone to be as protected and skilled as possible by that time.

While Emma, Leo and Simone continue their martial arts training, a particularly vile demon is plotting to capture one of them in order to present to the demon king. Any demon who accomplished it would be made second in command.

Chan has created a universe with gods moving among humans. Readers will devour the books to see where the story leads.

Chan, Kylie. (2007). Red Pheonix. New York: Voyager.

White Tiger (Dark Heavens #1)

White Tiger by Kylie Chan is the first book in her Dark Heavens series - a great fantasy series that reads like a realistic action thriller.

Emma Donahoe is an Australian living and working in Hong Kong. She teaches English at a school for small children and she tutors Simone Chen - the daughter of a mysterious, wealthy business man. When she quits her job at the school, Mr. John Chen offers her a full-time position tutoring and taking care of Simone. The job will include a generous salary and room and board.

Emma move into the penthouse apartments with Mr. Chen, Simone and Leo, the driver and bodyguard. Emma has no idea what Mr. Chan does for a living - his description makes him sound like a spy. Soon Emma is drawn into a world of martial arts, ancient legends and gods and demons.

Chan has created a wonderful beginning to this series. Her characters are full and compelling, her story will have readers staying up late to see what happens next. This is book one in a trilogy that will appeal to fans of Lian Hearn's Tales of the Otori and Steve Bein's Fated Blades series. Buy book one today!

Chan, Kylie. (2006). White Tiger. New York: Harper Voyager.

Stormdancer (Lotus War #1)

Stormdancer by Jay Kristoff is the first book in his Lotus War trilogy - set in the fictional world of Shima that resembles Japan and lead by a Shogun.

The Shima Empire is run by one man - the ninth Shogun of the Kazumitsu Dynasty. Though he is in charge of the running of the empire, he is more concerned with getting what he wants personally. And others in the Tiger Clan as well as the other three clans (Fox, Dragon and Phoenix) must no offend him or they will be killed. What he wants now is a thunder tiger - a mythical griffin-like creature that has been extinct for years.

Yukiko will join her father on a wild griffin chase to the Iishi mountain range - a place where humans do not travel due to legend of demons - knowing that failure will result in the death of the whole hunting party.

When Yukiko and a thunder tiger meet, her secret gift of being able to communicate with animals may be the only thing that will save her life.

Kristoff has created a dystopian world where the Blood Lotus is destroying much of the population - either with it opiate or by destroying the land in which it is planted. The regime is oppressive and ripe for someone to challenge it.

Ragnarok (Chess Team #4)

Ragnarok by Jeremy Robinson is the fourth book in his Chess Team series about a an elite black ops team that is tasked with any extraordinary threats.

After losing his whole team Rook decided to take some time to himself to process. He ended up in Norway in a town where suddenly all of the people are acting strangely. In the mean time, the Chess Team is looking for him because there are strange phenomenon occurring around the world.

Globes of light have been appearing in various cities around the world. When they disappear again all that was inside goes with them - buildings, people, cars, everything. The Chess Team must figure out how to find one before it leaves so they can try to find out what they are, what is causing them, and how to stop them.

Robinson, writing this time with Kane Gilmour, has created a series that will appeal to fans of military fiction, science fiction, and more. The Chess Team is an unstoppable force.

Robinson, Jeremy. (2012). Ragnarok. St. Augustine, FL: Seven Realms Publishing.