Latest reviews

There are almost 2,000 reviews on Fantasy Book Review with new ones being added on a daily basis. This page shows all the latest reviews grouped into sub-genres and age-groups. We hope it makes it easier for you to see what's new and what's been covered lately. Please feel free to contact us if you have any suggestions, they are always gratefully received.

New reviews
Speed Grapher Vol: 1

Speed Grapher Vol: 1

Tomozo and Yusuke Kozaki

8.6

Speed Grapher takes two people from different walks of life and throws them together.

The Lives of Tao

The Lives of Tao

Wesley Chu

8.5

A fun book with a lot of energy, action, adventure and martial arts.

IQ84

IQ84

Haruki Murakami

9.0

At times shocking, at others breathlessly poignant.

Lockwood & Co: The Screaming Staircase

Lockwood & Co: The Screaming Staircase

Jonathan Stroud

9.1

Another brilliant book from Jonathan Stroud.

Grimm Fairy Tales Presents: Sleepy Hollow

Grimm Fairy Tales Presents: Sleepy Hollow

Dan Wickline

6.0

An interesting parallel to the legend of Sleepy Hollow.

Reviews ordered by sub-genre
High / Epic fantasy
Lockwood & Co: The Screaming Staircase

Lockwood & Co: The Screaming Staircase

Jonathan Stroud

9.1

Another brilliant book from Jonathan Stroud.

A Kingdom Besieged

A Kingdom Besieged

Raymond E Feist

8.9

It has taken Feist twenty glorious years to produce a novel of the breath-taking quality of Magician

The Sacred Band

The Sacred Band

David Anthony Durham

9.2

An excellent end to an often overlooked trilogy.

Gateway of the Saviours

Gateway of the Saviours

AJ Dalton

8.3

Thanks to its rich tapestry of characters and incident there is never a dull moment.

Poison

Poison

Sarah Pinborough

9.0

An engrossing, intriguing and fun new take on an old story.

Heroic / Sword & sorcery
The God Tattoo: Untold Tales from the Twilight Reign

The God Tattoo: Untold Tales from the Twilight Reign

Tom Lloyd

8.8

Cleverly interwoven with recurring characters, action, mystery and politics.

Blackhand

Blackhand

Matt Hiebert

7.0

I loved the first half of the book but did not care much for the second.

Shadow Ops: Fortress Frontier

Shadow Ops: Fortress Frontier

Myke Cole

9.5

Those who like action packed military fantasy, you are in for a treat.

The Age of Ra

The Age of Ra

James Lovegrove

8.3

An action-packed mashing-up of the classical Egyptian pantheon with a heavy military theme.

Blood of Ambrose

Blood of Ambrose

James Enge

8.3

A truly rich story, incorporating Arthurian legend and classic sword and sorcery.

Contemporary / Urban fantasy
Speed Grapher Vol: 1

Speed Grapher Vol: 1

Tomozo and Yusuke Kozaki

8.6

Speed Grapher takes two people from different walks of life and throws them together.

IQ84

IQ84

Haruki Murakami

9.0

At times shocking, at others breathlessly poignant.

Ex Machina Volume 5: Smoke, Smoke

Ex Machina Volume 5: Smoke, Smoke

Brian K Vaughan

5.0

A crime thriller mixed with super hero style, in a graphic novel.

NOS4R2

NOS4R2

Joe Hill

9.5

A totally gripping and satisfying read, expertly constructed and brilliantly executed.

Avilion

Avilion

Robert Holdstock

9.0

This book also shows the evolution of Robert Holdstock’s writing.

Historical / Alternate history
Grimm Fairy Tales Presents: Sleepy Hollow

Grimm Fairy Tales Presents: Sleepy Hollow

Dan Wickline

6.0

An interesting parallel to the legend of Sleepy Hollow.

The Resurrectionist: The Lost Work of Dr Spencer Black

The Resurrectionist: The Lost Work of Dr Spencer Black

EB Hudspeth

8.0

This is a Gothic, tragic, and at times, shocking work of fiction.

Inheritance (Heir to the Blood Throne)

Inheritance (Heir to the Blood Throne)

Tim Marquitz

8.0

Tim Marquitz returns vampires, werewolves and the undead to their rightful place.

The Rithmatist

The Rithmatist

Brandon Sanderson

8.0

Just the right amount of terror to keep it interesting, and characters that ring true.

The High King of Montival

The High King of Montival

SM Stirling

8.8

Expertly handled by the undisputed current master of alternative historical fiction.

Science / Speculative fiction
The Lives of Tao

The Lives of Tao

Wesley Chu

8.5

A fun book with a lot of energy, action, adventure and martial arts.

No Return

No Return

Zachary Jernigan

9.0

A deep book, entertaining yet challenging and full of contrasts.

The Age of Scorpio

The Age of Scorpio

Gavin Smith

8.5

Striking imagery and incredible imagination, this is a dramatic and exciting slice of sci-fi.

The Beginning of Sorrows

The Beginning of Sorrows

Walter E Mark

9.0

I would recommend these books to anyone interested in fantasy or science-fiction.

Rogue

Rogue

Steven L Kent

8.6

A stunning sequel to Clone Republic.

Steampunk
Emilie & the Hollow World

Emilie & the Hollow World

Martha Wells

7.0

A lightweight YA story set in a really cool world with plenty of action.

Homunculus

Homunculus

James P Blaylock

8.8

The universe is marvellous, the characters even greater.

Grandville Mon Amour

Grandville Mon Amour

Bryan Talbot

9.0

A great read that will appeal to lovers of great graphic novels and stylish steampunk stories alike.

Ack-Ack Macaque

Ack-Ack Macaque

Gareth L Powell

9.8

Gareth L. Powell will be an author to look out for.

The Doctor and the Roughrider

The Doctor and the Roughrider

Mike Resnick

8.8

I for one cannot get enough of this series.

Vampire fiction
Inheritance (Heir to the Blood Throne)

Inheritance (Heir to the Blood Throne)

Tim Marquitz

8.0

Tim Marquitz returns vampires, werewolves and the undead to their rightful place.

The Immortal Rules

The Immortal Rules

Julie Kagawa

8.0

Not your average, vampire-human love story.

Redeye

Redeye

James Lovegrove

9.0

In your face door kicking down good!

Dracula Cha Cha Cha

Dracula Cha Cha Cha

Kim Newman

9.2

What more could you ask for? Dracula meets the Giallo murder mystery and Bond!

Redlaw

Redlaw

James Lovegrove

9.0

A nice take on vampire fiction but with a full-tilt action.

Dragon fiction
Seraphina

Seraphina

Rachel Hartman

8.4

Seraphina is a truly enchanting and magical story.

Victory of Eagles

Victory of Eagles

Naomi Novik

8.3

If you have not yet started the Temeraire series, I recommend you do so.

The Wilful Princess and the Piebald Prince

The Wilful Princess and the Piebald Prince

Robin Hobb

7.0

Fans of the Elderlings trilogy of trilogies will want to pick this novella up.

Dragon Lords Rising

Dragon Lords Rising

Lucinda Hare

9.0

New and existing fans will love the places Dragon Lords Rising takes them.

Legends of the Dragonrealm: Shade

Legends of the Dragonrealm: Shade

Richard A Knaak

6.7

Thin characterisation and convoluted plotting lets this otherwise entertaining novel down.

Dystopian fiction
IQ84

IQ84

Haruki Murakami

9.0

At times shocking, at others breathlessly poignant.

No Return

No Return

Zachary Jernigan

9.0

A deep book, entertaining yet challenging and full of contrasts.

Plague Nation

Plague Nation

Dana Fredsti

7.0

The same engaging and thrilling approach that really makes it a page turner.

Truancy City

Truancy City

Isamu Fukui

9.0

A great series for teen boys.

Gamer

Gamer

Chris Bradford

7.0

Gamer has the story, characters and the in-game feel that young readers have been waiting for.

Wizards / Magicians
A Kingdom Besieged

A Kingdom Besieged

Raymond E Feist

8.9

It has taken Feist twenty glorious years to produce a novel of the breath-taking quality of Magician

Scent of Magic

Scent of Magic

Maria V Snyder

6.0

Good solid fantasy books for young adults.

The Holders

The Holders

Julianna Scott

8.5

What really worked for me in this story were the characters.

Cold Days

Cold Days

Jim Butcher

7.0

I can see the transition of Harry to something more and looking forward to seeing how it turns out.

Taken

Taken

Benedict Jacka

7.5

Fast paced suspenseful fantasy thriller. Recommended.

Lore / Legend / Mythology
Avilion

Avilion

Robert Holdstock

9.0

This book also shows the evolution of Robert Holdstock’s writing.

Poison

Poison

Sarah Pinborough

9.0

An engrossing, intriguing and fun new take on an old story.

Gate of Ivory, Gate of Horn

Gate of Ivory, Gate of Horn

Robert Holdstock

9.0

Holdstock takes us right back to the beginning.

Taliesin

Taliesin

Stephen Lawhead

9.0

A novel about new beginnings, of legends come to life, of the romance between two people of differen

Ancient Echoes

Ancient Echoes

Robert Holdstock

9.6

Robert Holdstock’s imagery is impeccable in the real world.

Books of the Month: June 2013

Four books - old and new alike - that were a joy to read are selected each month. See past winners.

Image derived from The Sacred Band book cover.The Sacred Band
David Anthony Durham
Image derived from the No Return book cover.No Return
Zachary Jernigan
Image derived from the NOS4R2 book cover.NOS4R2
Joe Hill
Image derived from the Zoo City book cover.Avilion
Robert Holdstock