Book review: We Interrupt This Program | Randee Dawn

We Interrupt This Program by Randee Dawn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

When I saw Randee Dawn's post that We Interrupt This Program was up on NetGalley, I tell you, I clicked that request button so fast. I loved Tune in Tomorrow, and this is another novel in the same magical universe!

The TROPE town of Seaview Haven is breaking down and Finch, an SCN intern, has wrangled an assignment to figure out what's wrong with it - so that he can prove his Unseelieness by dismantling it forever. But Winnie Arrowmaker, Siggy, and Martin are doing their best to prove to him that the town can still be saved. Can it?

We Interrupt This Program is a wild romp into a fantastical world and - at the same time - an insightful look into what it takes to be creative. At times, it feels a little meta - Winnie Arrowmaker is a writer of mysteries, and the Muses are involved - but as the book blurb says, "Winnie and Finch are going to have to tell a Truly Great Tale. Because, as they realize, real power lies not in the stories we watch, but in the stories we tell ourselves."

In this day and age when the great Threads fight of the day is whether it's ok to use AI for covers and for writing, it's validating to read something that's so honest about the struggles of writing something. (I was going to say "something worth reading", but who's the arbiter of what's worth reading? Everything written by humans is worth being read by someone.) And how it feels when your best work still isn't good enough. Will it ever be good enough?

In that same vein, Finch is also struggling to be good enough any anything. He's so convinced that his one Hideous Deformity makes him an Unseelie, despite all other indications, that he's willing to destroy his life and his friendships to prove it. And yet, he's...not really good at being naturally destructive? Neither is he good at being, well, Seelie.

Behind the hilarity and light-heartedness is a thoughtful exploration of how our perceptions of ourselves - and what we think others think of us - affect our behaviour, whether for good or for bad. And how best friends spur us to be the best of ourselves - but can also bring out the worst. And maybe we're not always just one thing, but many, in all our humanness.

Note: I received a digital ARC of this book from Solaris Nova via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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WE INTERRUPT THIS PROGRAM releases on 3 March! Preorder here (affiliate link)

Book Review: The Shadow of His Hand | Benjamin Patterson

The Shadow of His Hand: Book One of the Markulian Prophecies by Benjamin Patterson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A princess, a soldier, and a baby set off to fulfil a prophecy that will save the Realm: The Mark must reach a place known as The Hand of God before Embracing's Day, or all is lost. The problem is, The Hand of God now lies in Jerikan territory-the same enemy who's trying to destroy them.

The Shadow of His Hand is an interesting read, but uses several tropes that annoy me greatly. YMMV, so ignore the star rating as you like.

As an epic fantasy, the novel delivers. Our heroes set off on an impossible quest and face all kinds of hardships. There's friendship and betrayal, love and loss, and politicking galore. They trek through what feels like the whole world - jungle, desert, and the open sea. It is quite a militaristic book, so if you're not one for battle descriptions, you may find some of that just a tad too detailed. As a medieval fantasy, it is, as expected, rather Euro-centric. There are weirdly modern-sounding words or phrases that pop up at times which, when set against some almost-archaic formal sentences, feels a little odd.

The most annoying bit about the worldbuilding is the racism. Because, of course, the dark-skinned foreigners are described as heathens, poor, uneducated, primitive, lacking in ambition, eat weird food, are possible cannibals, and none of them speak the common tongue. They are the plot device that turn up to help our travellers (at least twice!) out of the sheer goodness of their hearts. When all of them are captured by slavers - on a journey they are only on because they are helping them on the quest - only our heroes make it out. Fredrick never even thinks of saving the slaves caught in the hold. The worst thing about this is that the Princess herself has foreign blood - her mother (or maybe grandmother?) comes from the same geographic area.

Now we come to the part where YMMV. The characters and their relationships are the major pain points for me, mostly because I'm easily irritated by some of these characteristics or character flaws.

If Patterson intended us to very annoyed at (or even hate) High King Eldilin Mancott, then he did a superb job there. I have a thing for competent people in important roles, and the High King is NOT it. Eldilin is always whining about his duties and responsibilities and acts as if the whole Realm is on his shoulders, but he isn't even competent at carrying them out. It's his adviser who does practically everything for him, but he has the gall to complain that he can't be himself and he can't do ANYTHING for himself. He's pretty useless, imo, and probably thinks its a sin to be happy. And when people actually try to help him, like his wife, he rejects their help (You don't understand! It Is My Duty!).

His wife, Jaithe, is another whole matter. Their marriage was the most insta-est case of (one-sided) instalove I have seen in a while. I mean, she sneaks into the hall to see him because she wants to laugh at her sister and the other hopefuls who want to be chosen as High Queen, and then SHE SEES HIM AND IMMEDIATELY FALLS IN LOVE. Because he's such a sad, sad man and just needs a woman to truly love him and then he'll get better. Um no. This is how women get trapped in bad marriages because they think they can change their husbands through the power of love. I guess if you like that trope you might like their "romance". Where, tbh, he spends most of the time ignoring her and shutting her down for even attempting conversation. At least they haven't even consummated the marriage because she refuses to sleep with a man who doesn't love her. Good for her, but also LMAO.

TBH, the other case of instalove in this book, is between Fredrick, our hapless soldier, and Princess Kathryn, who he saves, but at least Fredrick is aware enough to figure he's just crushing because she's rich and beautiful AND A PRINCESS. he's such a glorious mess anyway, so that just adds to his quirks. (He thinks he's crushing, but the text really wants to imply it's true love, so take from that what you will.)

Final bit! This is touted as Christian fiction, so let's look at it from the lens of faith. The faith set up is interesting (implied British tone), where there is a God - Elan - and twelve Guardians. The Realm is supposed to believe in Elan, but generally, worship practices have somewhat shifted from Elan to praying to/worshiping the Guardians instead (feels like a swipe at Catholics). It's a classic apocalyptic set up transplanted into a fantasy world - the world is ending, and the prophesied one must save the Realm. Jerika has summoners, who work with demons - so, very Good vs Evil, God vs Devil.

Patterson is daring in a sense that of the people sent on the quest, both Fredrick and Kathryn have shaky holds on their faith in Elan. Even High King Eldilin, who is supposed to uphold worship of the true God, only sends them on the quest because he can't deny the evidence of The Mark. Focusing on Fredrick's journey, you can see how his faith in and reliance on Elan grows. Fredrick comes across as a second-generation Christian-type, who knows generally what he's supposed to believe, but not why, and his relationship with God is affected by his circumstances growing up. He starts with a faith not his own, but grows in it through the hardships he faces in trying to fulfil the quest. Elan does step in to save the day several times (through various means), and the set up is good enough that it feels organic to the plot, with Elan as an active player instead of coming across as contrived/deus ex machina.

Final note on our heroes. At first, I was going to give them (both Fredrick and Kathryn) the Too Stupid To Live label, but honestly? They don't deserve it. They do try their best against the worst circumstances, so I'll just say that they work well together even if they're just Slightly Useless.

Note: I received a digital ARC of this book from the author. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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Book review: Saltswept | Katalina Watt

Saltswept by Katalina Watt
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Paranish has finally reopened its borders and returners and visitors alike are thronging into Umasa for the birth of the princess. But not all is as it seems.

Finlyr Pane has returned to Paranish - and finds himself barely escaping the gallows. Ris' daughter Biba has powerful magic she can no longer hide - and in an attempt to avoid the Temple, Ris sets out on the perilous quest of retrieving the treasure from the Lahon Maelstrom. Hanan achieves her wildest dreams - only to find out that the Bastion holds dark secrets.

Saltswept is a quest adventure on the high seas, but it's also a dark fantasy that dips into necromancy, which leads to... zombie sailors. A content warning here: the book may look and feel rather YA, but it does contain several sex scenes (not graphic). It is also categorised as Adult, but it's hard to tell from the blurb and/or cover (though don't ask me what would make a distinction).

The narrative switches between Finlyr, Ris, and Hanan's POVs in first person. I personally think that if you have more than two viewpoint characters, you really should be writing in third person. As it is, it flows well enough despite having to keep tracking down whose first person POV I'm in. (But would've been easier, just saying.) Finlyr and Ris' POVs intertwine quite a bit, and they switch off rather seamlessly since they join forces early on in the book. It's Hanan's POV that often feels jarring, like it's not quite connected to the rest of the story. That storyline is important because it gives us insight into what the stakes are, and what's going on with the Temple and the Bastion, but since the two don't actually intersect until near the end, it feels a little like you're also reading a side quest of some sort.

Overall, Saltswept was an highly enjoyable read and I'm looking forward to book 2!

Note: I received a digital ARC from the Hodder & Stoughton via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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Book Review: Bouncing Back | Amber Gabriel

Bouncing Back by Amber Gabriel
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Bouncing Back completes Elam Bentley's redemption arc - he's finishing his stint in the Supervillain Rehabilitation Project by serving a one-year term on the Reno team. If he gets through this, he'll be a full-fledged hero. If he doesn't, well, it's back to jail. He has his work cut out to earn the trust of the team, though. And his attraction to his team leader, single mom Rightcross, isn't helping matters.

I'm not sure what I thought about this one. I enjoyed Stretched Thin, and I think Bentley is a fun character with much to root for, but for some reason, Bouncing Back didn't quite hit the spot. There was a lot going on with the DOSA team, along with a child with epilepsy, and everything just felt a little messy going between the POVs of Rightcross and Elam.

The gospel message was also a bit more explicit and in your face than other SVR books, so it felt a bit odd.

At any rate, it was still a fun read!

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Book review: The Elsewhere Express | Samantha Sotto Yambao

The Elsewhere Express by Samantha Sotto Yambao
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Near the anniversary of her brother's death, Raya Sia drifts off on the subway while on the way home. Q Chen Philips Jr. is delivering his last artwork to the gallery, and contemplating the end of his career and, possibly, his life. They both find themselves on the Elsewhere Express, a magical train that helps the purposeless find a sense of purpose and meaning. But behind the magic lies dark truths, truths that may very well destroy the entire train and everyone in it...

The Elsewhere Express is an exploration in letting go of the past. Raya is stuck in a holding pattern, pursuing her brother's dream of being a doctor, unable to move on because she blames herself for his death. Q knows it's only a matter of time until his sight fully disappears, so he's grabbing on to this new life on a magical train because he doesn't know who he is without his art. But letting go isn't about forgetting - even if people tend to conflate the two - and suppressing the past can be more dangerous and damaging than dealing with it.

I picked this up because I quite enjoyed Water Moon at the beginning of the year. Thematically, they're quite similar - both are about grief and regrets - but I did find it a little harder to get into this one. It's less whimsical and more surrealistic, for one, but the biggest hurdle for me was the concept of time. I spent a chunk of the beginning being confused about if they had actually died in real life, or if they'd entered the magical world but left their physical bodies behind. What if they never returned to the real world, since the point of the Elsewhere Express was for them to find a new purpose on the train? Would someone just find them dead? In the end I just had to stop wondering about it, and once I did, I enjoyed the story better.

For some odd reason, whilst Yambao never says where Raya and Q are from, they just had this Singaporean vibe. lol

Note: I received a digital ARC of this book from Transworld Publishers via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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HAPPY RELEASE DAY!

To Stream an Ocean

Arts of Substance trilogy – Novel 3

Quakes spread from the ocean floor. A small matter compared to corruption among the gifted, empty royal coffers, and regicide. Long live the new king.

Ambassador Danivid, the deceased king’s brother, is recalled from Dirklan Province to take on the role he never wanted. The kingdom’s shifting beliefs make it all the harder. Machines have reduced the need for the streaming and forming gifts that people once relied on. A new constitution has redefined the role of the monarchy and the guilds. Yet, amid rising prosperity, something is going terribly wrong. What had the previous king discovered before his sudden death?

As the crown is placed on Danivid’s head, a quake shakes the capital city—as ominous as the realization that his brother was murdered. An attempt on his life follows. Corruption, theft, and murder plague the kingdom. Quakes continue, and volcanic plumes roil the ocean. Danivid is the only streamer who pays attention. What a kingdom to be saddled with!

A neighboring country has gone silent and now provides a steady flow of a supposedly harmless drug, which is anything but. Danivid sends an ambassador to investigate. She is warmly welcomed, and the neighbor’s ambassador, Trellian, is appointed to accompany her home. Yet someone is determined to kill them en route. They survive only because Trellian is no ordinary ambassador.

In Danivid’s palace, Trellian discovers a plot more devious than simple murder of the king. As they close in on suspects, the volcano and ocean rise to fulfill their warnings. No former or streamer is prepared—except King Danivid. But how can one man stream an entire ocean and survive? Especially when some don’t want him to live.

To Stream an Ocean is the third novel in the Arts of Substance trilogy. These stories merge the excitement of epic fantasy with the camaraderie of cozy fantasy. Each stand-alone novel explores one of the world’s three substance gifts: forming, wind weaving, and streaming. With every ability comes risk. The gifts are neither easy nor safe. Who has the courage and wit to use their gift well? And at what cost?

Join the adventure.

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To Stream an Ocean will be available from Amazon and Kindle Unlimited on December 26, 2025. The paperback version can also be ordered from bookstores and libraries.

A note about reading order: The books of this trilogy can be enjoyed in any order. There are some minor spoilers in novels 2 and 3, but they won’t ruin your enjoyment of earlier novels if you read out of order.

To Stream an Ocean – Novel 3 - anna's review
Amazon.com
Other markets

To Weave the Wind – Novel 2 - anna's review
Amazon.com
Other markets

To Form a Passage – Novel 1 - anna's review
Amazon.com
Other markets (including audiobook)

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Author bio:

Sharon Rose has been weaving stories since her second-grade masterpiece, titled My Life as a Flying Squirrel. No publisher snatched it up, but her classmates loved it.

After creating home and family, Sharon pursued her dream of creating stories for people like you. To date, she has published eleven books, with more in the works. She writes fantasy and science fiction because they offer vast spaces to explore the realities that we all face. Her stories blend cultures and characters into adventures with mystery, romance, and hope.

When not writing or reading, Sharon may be traveling, enjoying gardens, or searching for unique coffee shops with her husband. She lives in Minnesota, USA, famed for its 10,000 lakes and vibrant seasons.

Website: SharonRoseAuthor.com

Other places to follow Sharon Rose:
Amazon
Goodreads
BookBub

Book Review: To Stream an Ocean | Sharon Rose

To Stream an Ocean by Sharon Rose
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The first book in the Arts of Substance series, To Form a Passage, focused on the Formers and their work with stone, whilst the second, To Weave the Wind, focused on Wind Weavers and their work with air. I suppose it's only fitting that we finally get a story that focuses on Streamers and water. It's also the first that is wholly above ground!

The king of Welcia is dead and the Dirkland Ambassador, Danivid, returns to Regissa City to take the throne. But his coronation is marred by a quake and by his sister-in-law attempting to steal the crown for her daughter, Aneen. Recent changes during his brother's reign and the state of their finances soon make Danivid question what has been happening in the years that he was away.

A repeated theme from the earlier books is the misuse of the gifts for personal gain as well as the gradual falling away from faith as a society. However, unlike the other two books, To Stream an Ocean doesn't focus as directly on Ellincreo and the gifts, even though it's woven into the background. Yes, the frequent quakes are a concern and Danivid is butting heads with Shevnal, the Chief Former, to properly protect the city, but the main concern is the use of Ambertrop, a controversial new drug that seems fine in the short term but has devastating impact in the long term.

There's a lot of lovely political intrigue going on in Regissa, including poisoning, attempted murder, and theft. Trellian - a detective/ambassador from the neighbouring country of Felverland - was an interesting addition, and whilst I predicted some turns of events, I was expecting a little reveal at the end about her background that... doesn't happen. Oh well.

If you're looking for disability representation, Aneen's development is delayed, (view spoiler)[suspected to be due to her mother's use of Ambertrop while pregnant (hide spoiler)]. Whilst everyone ignores her, Aneen proves smart and observant despite her speech delays; she trains her Flyound dog to track down the people she loves, and her knowledge of events in the palace helps Danivid and Trellian fit the missing pieces together, even if her testimony cannot be used in court.

Overall, To Stream an Ocean is a great read, but personally, it a little weak compared to the first two books.

Note: I received a digital ARC of this book from the author. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

View all my reviews

To Stream an Ocean will be available from Amazon and Kindle Unlimited on December 26,

2025. The paperback version can also be ordered from bookstores and libraries.

A note about reading order: The books of this trilogy can be enjoyed in any order. There are

some minor spoilers in novels 2 and 3, but they won’t ruin your enjoyment of earlier novels if

you read out of order.

Book Review: Mirror Marked | Vida Cruz-Borja

Mirror Marked by Vida Cruz-Borja
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Mirror Marked was a fascinating yet somewhat confusing read.

It's written mostly in the second person (the prologue starts off in first person then segues into second), which was a novelty (for me) - and very well done. In fact, the POV really lends itself to the story; a kind of strange blend of storytelling, immersion, and something almost epistolary. I loved it.

The prologue ends with the ominous question, "Do you know where this story begins?" and then the narrator proceeds to tell us the story, starting over and over at different times leading up to the wedding, and at different points in Kelly's life. Some of the latter felt disjointed at times, but Cruz-Borja draws you along with the promise that all of it is important, all of it will eventually make sense. The confusing part is mostly because I'm quite a linear reader, and Mirror Marked is a very non-linear story. In fact, each section brings you further back into the past, before it culminates in the present. You just have to allow yourself to be led by Cruz-Borja's masterful storytelling and trust that she will not let you down.

Mutya, the mother of the bride, is a witch, and one of Kelly's main tasks is to make sure that she isn't at the wedding. And yet, whilst the wedding, and the planning leading up to it, is the backdrop to everything that's going on, the core of the story isn't about the wedding, or even about love. It's about facing up to yourself and your past, and the healing that comes from that. It's about memory, and the stories we tell ourselves around painful ones. It's about difficult families and how broken parent-child relationships negatively impact a child's view of the world and themselves. It can be a difficult read at times - Cruz-Borja even advises you in her author note to take a break if you need to.

Best of all, Mirror Marked is gloriously Filipino. It's set in a Manila populated by Kapre, Diwata, Sigbin, and Engkanto. There's no over explaining, and even no glossary. There's a mix of cultural references, like "It’s giving Princess Punzalan in Mula Sa Puso" as well as "Toby Maguire and Kirsten Dunst’s upside-down kiss in Spider-Man". I don't always get everything, but I don't have to. Google exists and even without it, the story still stands on its own.

Note: I received a digital review copy of this book from PS Publishing. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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Book review: The Edge of a Knife and Other Stories | Beka Gremikova

The Edge of a Knife and Other Stories by Beka Gremikova
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What is our fascination with monsters and the monstrous? Can we truly tell who is monstrous by looking at them? What if the monsters are actually the victims?

In The Edge of a Knife and Other Stories Beka Gremikova presents a mix of new and retold stories, spanning fairy tales and science fiction, that urges us to rethink monsters in fiction. Her retellings come from earlier source materials where the price of human feet was to feel the stab of knives in every step and the evil queen was sentenced to dance to her death.

The best of Gremikova's stories lie in the intersection between the personal and national:
- In "Every Bone in the Body", deposed princess Adria Edeapli rebels against new laws to honour her dead brother in keeping with tradition. Her uncle, the new king, has to decide to save his niece or uphold his shaky grip on the throne. What is power worth if it divides and kills your own family and loved ones?
- "Once Upon a Pumpkin", a brilliant mash up of Cinderella and Snow White, ponders redemption & atonement. Can the Evil Queen truly change - and can her stepdaughter forgive her? And yet, does forgiving her mean allowing an ex-murderer to run free in society?
- Similarly in "Pay the Piper", Mayor Oswald wants to rid the city of Hamelin of the infestation of rats. But what is he willing to pay the piper? Sacrifices may be necessary, but is giving up your own child for power and glory ever necessary in the grand scheme of things?
- "Like a Fox" explores belonging and family, and the use of personal power to protect or oppress the weak.

Other notable stories include:
- "Echo Among The Stars", where Kaz Kitoska has to confront the true source of his family's inheritance.
- "Golden Child", a mix of Midas's golden hand and Romeo and Juliet.

There's darkness and horror in every story, but also redemption and the hope of a better future.

Note: I received a digital ARC of this book from SnowRidge Press via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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Book Review: Project Hanuman | Stewart Hotston

Project Hanuman by Stewart Hotston


I picked this up on a whim because it was by Angry Robot and because the blurb mentioned Indian mythology. This is usually a good strategy, but in this case, didn't quite hit the spot.

Project Hanuman on the whole, is a great science fiction novel about a strange alternate future (maybe far future?), where humans have finally uploaded themselves in the cloud, known as the Arcology. Everyone lives online, and only rebels and prisoners print themselves physical bodies. Great so far. Then the Arcology is attacked and Praveenthi "Prab" Saal (one of the rebels), Kercher (a prisoner pilot) and a sentient ship become the last survivors bringing the remnants of the Arcology and Sirajah's Reach to safety.

Hokay, so this is where my misunderstanding starts. For all that it's a scifi/space opera book, I kinda figured that these Indian mythology figures would come in as Actual Gods. But actually, no. Instead of Hanuman-a-god coming into save the day, one of the characters (I suppose you could guess, but let's avoid spoilers) lives out various events that correlate to Hanuman's experiences. There are a lot of cultural touchstones, references to dharma, samsara, death and rebirth - I would say a very Indian (Hindu?) outlook underpins both Kercher & Prab's view of society. In a way, this is very much a space opera retelling of mythology, but not quite what I expected.

One thing I found interesting was the idea that as much as we think we're rebelling against society, we are in many ways still reliant on it and the support network that it provides. Prab is one of the "Excluded", those who decide to live outside the Arcology, but she comes to realise that even her rebellion is supported by the Arcology itself. I feel like there is a commentary there on Empire and Colonialism and how it still affects our lives in very paternalistic ways, but I'm not going to go there in this review.

Another thing that also comes up, that I feel relates to the present-day AI wars, is that Hotston seems to be saying that for all that this utopia is run by AI, that everything is calculated by the great machine, at the end of the day, you still need humans to save the day. A machine can be smart and have all the facts, but in the end, it is the human experience that matters the most, that makes connections the Arcology could not see or recognise, and takes the leaps of faith where necessary. And as much as we are living in a digital society, physicality and embodiment is still very important.

Not gonna put a star rating on this because I can't quite define how much I liked it or not. On one hand, it was a great, thoughtful read, and I liked a lot of things thematically. On the other, I'm not really a space opera reader so I skimmed a lot of technical details, PLUS Hotston (or his editors) and I seem to have a fundamental difference in where commas should be placed, which made me have to stop and figure out what on earth the sentence meant way too many times.

Note: I received a digital ARC of this book from Angry Robot via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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Book Review: Leave No Trace | Randee Dawn

Leave No Trace by Randee Dawn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Lexi has been living in the mountains for the past decade, taken there by her father, who is paranoid about the "sickness" in the world "Outside". Unbeknownst, to him, Lexi has that sickness he's trying to avoid -- she can do magic.
Outside, TJ Furey is an upcoming popstar who mesmerises his audience with his voice. To escape the paparazzi, TJ convinces his manager Tony that he wants to head into the mountains and shoot a bear.
And when city boys go into the mountains to do country boy things, you can bet that things go horribly, horribly wrong.

I'm kinda a little torn about this one. If you've read The Only Song Worth Singing, you'll get vibes of that in the sections with TJ and Stef. It's set in the same world, after all. There's that music magic, what I think are allusions to Ciaran, Mal, and Patrick, the appearance of the various fae, and, of course, the Green Place. But this book tells of a great war between humans and the fae, and how the Green Place is slowly shrinking and dying. I loved those bits.

The bits I didn't really like - and I think this is mostly due to the voice - is Lexi's parts. Which is terrible, because she's one of the main protagonists. She just kinda... annoyed me, and it was hard to gloss that over because her sections were written in first person. So like, 100% in her voice.

My conclusion, overall is that I still love The Green Place and what Dawn is doing with Irish mythology in modern, urban settings, but this one was a little too... rural for me. (I am, unfortunately, a very city girl).

Note: I received a digital ARC of this book from Caezik SF & Fantasy via Edelweiss. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

  

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Book Review: The Unrepentant: Short Stories | Sharmini Aphrodite

The Unrepentant: Short Stories by Sharmini Aphrodite


I'm reluctant to put a star rating on this one. The stories are tight, hard-hitting. They speak volumes of the era, revealing unspoken biases and grudges that have been passed down through generations, a peek into what the silent minorities in our midst have experienced and continue to experience. These are things young Malaysians should read to understand our histories, where we come from.

Yet, I find myself drifting halfway through the collection. I'm not a big fan of historical fiction, especially around World War 2, and whilst this sort of circumvents my feelings about that specific era, at some point, the stories start to feel seem too similar. Sharmini seems to loop round several times - I can't tell if the stories refer to the same unnamed rebel (insurrectionist?), from different perspectives in different eras - or if it's a different person but with similar histories. I'm a noblebright kind of reader myself; I want a bit more hope in my stories than appear here.

And there are a lot of dark pain points in these tales - The Unrepentant: Short Stories is a visceral exploration of generational loss and sacrifice as well as Malaysia's struggle for independence. History is told by the victors, but in this collection, Sharmini shows us other perspectives and how everyone then, despite their differences in approach and clashing ideologies, were still working towards the same goal: Independence for Malaya.

Stories of note:
The Light of God is a great opening story, capturing me right from the start.
One Hundred Perumals is the voice of a people crying out for justice. There's a mythological feel to this, a creation of a hero of folklore, creating a beacon in the dark.
Atlantic City is an interesting exploration of voice, but with all the hedging going on as the POV character speaks around the main issue, whatever it is, it feels like the core of the story is lost. (It's explained in the Author's Note)
Kamus I like primarily because of its focus on language and intercultural marriages - what it means to marry out of your race, especially when one is a Malay and prescriptively Muslim. This is a uniquely Malaysian problem. How do you choose between your community and the one you love? It's a lose-lose situation, no matter what you decide.

Note: I received a digital ARC of this book from Gaudy Boy via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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The Unrepentant: Short Stories releases on 1 November 2025. Preorder your copy here. (Amazon affiliate link)

Book Review: The Last Tiger | Julia Riew and Brad Riew

The Last Tiger by Julia Riew
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I picked this up because a) it was really pretty and b) it was inspired by true stories from Korean history.

In a classic rich girl falls in love with poor boy story, Choi Eunji and Lee Seung face not just class prejudice, but also racial discrimination - both from within and without. Whilst both of them are Tigers, the rich Choi family are considered race traitors/collaborators for sucking up to the Dragon administration to preserve their family wealth and power.

The POV switches between Eunji and Seung, which provides a well-rounded background to what both of them are facing and the obstacles they have to overcome. From Seung, we understand the struggle to survive - and the hope for a better future - only to be beaten down again and again by circumstances and those in power. From Eunji, we learn that even the rich can be powerless when everything they have is beholden to another party. Her life may seem like a fairy tale to others, but we soon see that one misstep by her father - or her - could end in not just a fall from favour, but death.

Kenzo Kobayashi is an annoyance, and I couldn't quite figure him out. He switched from helping Eunji to betraying her to double-crossing the Dragons so seamlessly, all coloured by Eunji's dislike of him, that it was difficult to pinpoint what exactly about him annoyed me.

I think my one criticism of the book is that at random times, often in speech, they seem to lapse into a kind of modern (teen?) slang which feels a little out of place with the setting. Still, since this is a YA book, maybe that was meant to resonate better with its intended audience.

All in all, I enjoyed reading The Last Tiger.

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Book Review: Elsewhere | Gabrielle Zevin

Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Liz Hall gets hit by a car, dies, and goes to Elsewhere, where she is supposed to age backwards until she is born again.

Elsewhere is mostly about coming to terms with death and grief. Liz grieves for the things she will never experience in life: turning sixteen, prom, falling in love, learning to drive - all the things one associates with adulthood. The themes may seem heavy, but the writing itself is light, dealing with Liz's denial and anger in ways that aren't too over-the-top and yet full of teenage angst. I mean, how else do you accept you're dead when you wake up on a ship with no memory of what happened?

But as Liz soon finds out, she can still have most of those longed-for experiences in Elsewhere, once she lets go of her past life on Earth. It won't be exactly the same, but living is what you make of it, no matter where you are. She even gets more than she bargained for, with heartbreak thrown into the mix!

There's no twist ending to this. You know from the start that when Liz ages down young enough, her story in Elsewhere will end, rather like another death, but culminating in a new birth.

Note: I received a digital ARC of this book from Farrar, Straus and Giroux via Edelweiss. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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Book Review: Writers of the Future, Volume 41

L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future, Volume 41 by L. Ron Hubbard
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Another great anthology of upcoming SFF writers and illustrators!
I enjoyed all the stories in this one, though nothing really stood out to me this round.

Quite a few focused on time travel and time skips - and heavier on the scifi - which could be a reason why. "Storm Damage" by T.R. Naus was easy enough to follow but "Blackbird Stone" by Ian Keith, however, kind of did me in. lol.

Peeling back genre trappings, each story seems to be interrogating human behaviour. "Storm Damage" tests if the keeper of time travel will be able to put public good and the safety of the world above personal glory. "Ascii" by Randyn C.J. Bartholomew considers whether killing one man to save the future is justified. "Karma Birds" by Lauren McGuire envisions a dystopic world where violence is met with instant karma, whilst "The Rune Witch" by Jefferson Snow has Jindei standing alone between the villagers and the demon Shijai.

If I were to pick my top three stories, I think the ones that I enjoyed the most were "The Stench of Freedom" (Joel C. Scoberg), "The Rune Witch (Jefferson Snow), and "A World of Repetitions" (Seth Atwater Jr.

Note: I received a digital ARC of this book from Galaxy Press via Edelweiss. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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The Absolution Series is in the Beloved SFF Sale!

So sometime last year, C.O. Bonham nominated Amok for the Beloved SFF Sale... I didn't get to participate then because I wasn't reading my comments (whoops), but Noor reached out to me to ask if I'd like to join them this year! 

There are over 100+ recommended books on sale, each with a recommendation by someone who loved it! It also includes over 50 additional books, including sequels (or complete series) that are also on sale. Many of these are also available wide or as KU books. 

SO.

Amok is on sale at 99 cents (or whatever the equivalent it is in your currency) on KDP and whatever platforms that go through D2D - PLUS the other two books in the series are on sale at $2.99!

So that's the whole series for like $7, as the Amazon Series page tells me. Ain't that a steal?

The sale runs from 7 to 11 August 2025, so go CHECK OUT ALL THE BOOKS AT THE BELOVED SFF SALE!

(And get mine too, if you were waiting for that discount!)

P/S Have you signed up for my newsletter to get your free ebook yet? 

Book review: The Killer Question | Janice Hallett

The Killer Question by Janice Hallett
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Picked up this ARC from Edelweiss because I loved The Christmas Appeal. The Killer Question is written in a similar format - through emails, texts, police transcripts, and so on - so knowing what to expect made it easier to orient to the book. I do think that the underlying premise/framing of this one - Dominic Eastwood trying to pitch the bizarre story of his aunt & uncle and their pub to Netflix - made a lot more sense than a KC sending notes from a cold case to his ex-students to solve.

Sue and Mal Eastwood run a rural pub called The Case is Altered, and their one big draw is the weekly quiz nights, that Mal sets himself. Then a body is found in the nearby river, and a new team starts winning all the quizzes all the time. Tensions start running high - more for the quiz than the dead body. At the same time, Dominic includes transcripts of a police operation Sue and Mal were caught up in before their retirement, with the implication that both events are closely realted.

It's a bit slow in the beginning as you get to know Sue and Mal and the various quizzers at this quaint little pub, but snowballs (avalanches?) from the mid onwards to the end as secrets are revealed. Had some suspicions about what was going on at The Case is Altered, but did not expect that final twist!

Note: I received a digital ARC of this book from Atria Books via Edelweiss. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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Book review: Arc of the Universe | Nikki Alexander

Arc of the Universe by Nikki Alexander
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Dr Carrie Davenport has been given the opportunity of a lifetime: to design a system of government for the first colony in Mars. Complications quickly arise - a date with a girl she met at the bar leads to a racially-profiled arrest, the violent encounter goes viral, and team member Adam Kirkpatrick tries to take over her spot.

Set in the near future (about 2035?), Nikki Alexander crafts an alternate future that seems plausible - assuming Trump hadn't won the US elections in 2024. Somewhere in the timeline, America has had its first (half?) Latina president, and things seem to have changed for the better - none of this present lunacy. However, under the surface, things remain the same. Adam Kirkpatrick parrots many talking points against DEI and "woke" (and is a thoroughly dislikeable character). Beauregard Ball and his company that's sponsoring Project Mars appear to be progressive, but the first batch of colonists are 95% white and no one is batting an eye. It's the same old, same old, and Davenport manages to overlook a lot of things because of her position of educated privilege, until the violent arrest and the subsequent backlash takes the spotlight.

Whilst tagged as Science Fiction, Arc of the Universe is focused more on the journey leading to Mars - and the legal side of things, rather than the science getting them there. The latter only appears as milestones - a successful probe launch puts the pressure on Carrie's team to finish drafting their proposal, the ensuing celebration offers her an opportunity to scope out the people involved. Instead, there's a lot of focus on governance, democracy, constitutions and legal speak.

The overarching question that runs through the book is "What are we doing to make the future better?" Carrie has to wrestle with whether what she's doing - lecturing about law and drafting a constitution for Mars - is good enough, or if she has to follow in the footsteps of her activist mother and protest on the streets for change. There's pressure on her to do all the big things, like protest and sue and fall into the whole "activism rabbit hole". But is that the best use of her time and position? Especially when it goes against her nature?

Overall, Arc of the Universe is a thoughtful look at how to address different issues with nuance. It's also a reminder that everyone has a different role to play - and that even if someone is not out on the streets yelling for change, the things they do quietly in the background can have the same - or even greater - impact.

Note: I received a digital review copy of this book from Strawberry Tree Books. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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Book review: The Hodder Bible Commentary: James | Daniel K. Eng

The Hodder Bible Commentary: James by Daniel K. Eng
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It's been a while since I read a Bible commentary. This was interesting to read, but also a bit slow going because the writing style is pretty academic. Or maybe I haven't read a non-fiction book in too long haha. Pretty sure the messed up formatting* also contributed to some of my difficulty following some of the points.

James includes insight that's timely for these trying times - perseverance in hard times; how the church should be fair and just, not favouring the rich and powerful; judging others in the church vs not of the church; taming the tongue; heavenly vs earthly wisdom; submission to God; social injustice, etc.
(Also slightly amused by the connotation that "eat the rich" could possibly have originated from James HAHAHA)

There's food for thought about how some of the things stated by James had different cultural meanings to the original audience (diasporic Jews) and what it means to us now. And how some of these still parallel Eastern cultures/understanding of community instead of Western Christianity.

* I just wish that these publishers would format a proper ebook ARC instead of sending a PDF conversion, because all the tables were messed up (as well as most formatting to show the chiastic structure). It's super annoying, and I had to download it on the NetGalley Shelf to see what was going on there.

Note: I received a digital ARC of this book from Hodder & Stoughton via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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Book Review: DOSA Files: Tales from the SVR Universe, Volume 3 | H.L. Burke

DOSA Files: Tales from the SVR Universe, Volume 3 by H.L. Burke
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I enjoyed this one more than Volume 2 - I think maybe because it feels thematically tighter. There's a focus on relationships and family dynamics in all of them, except New Year, New Cat, New Life, which was kind of a conman's literal come-to-Jesus moment. I don't know if adopting a cat will really change your life.

Monsters by Jenelle Leanne Schmidt sets the tone for this, with all the family-feels, and a little bit of romance. Here, Nate Preston/Bazinga, the only single man on his team, perpetually mans the DOSA phone lines on Friday nights and saves a seven-year-old from the monsters under his bed (can't say more without spoilers). It's very charming, and even if you can kinda predict the romance, the power/antagonist reveal was a surprise!

Career Shift by Erin Dydek explores more family dynamics, especially around career choices. Brooke keeps her super-sight from her overprotective, anti-Sable parents, whilst Darren deals with the disappointment of being a "useless" dog-shifter and artist.

Marmalade by Gordon Deane has an illegal immigrant trying to escape the clutches of the Supervillains using her Sable gifts to steal, and somehow falling in with a British ex-secret service agent! Especially loved the spy vibes in this one.

Hoaxed by Leiana Arwen, while enjoyable, felt the most juvenile of the stories. Jane, the only non-Sable in her Superhero family, feels left out now that her older brothers are all on the same Superhero team. She creates an elaborate hoax in order to spend more time with her Superhero brothers - which was hilarious, until everything went wrong (that plot point felt shaky, but eh, teens do teen drama things and fall for anything out of guilt.)

Sparked by H.L. Burke was a surprising revelation. As I read it, I had this feeling that I knew something about Oliver and his quest to find his biological father... so this is actually a prequel (?) story to Wishing on a Supervillain, and fills in the bits on how Oliver decided he wanted to meet a supervillain, instead of a superhero. This one feels stronger as a story on its own compared to The Good Twin in Volume 2, which I now only realise is also related to a side character in Wishing.

A final mention is Search History by Janeen Ippolito, which I felt was a story for writers, rather than readers. Yvette Morris is trying to decide if she wants to join her fiance in DOSA, while also trying to figure out why the plot lines of her latest fantasy heist novel mirrors actual heists carried out recently by a Supervillain. I appreciated the twist of having an author valued for their plotting skills, though the comments on marketability and self-publishing were a bit hard hitting. lol

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