Fantasy Romance

Monday News: Mark Coker of Smashwords suggests that $3.99 is the new black; Copyright reform for consumers introduced to Congress; Gender hypocrisy exists outside romance

Smashwords: New Smashwords Survey Helps Authors Sell More eBooks – Mark Coker shares some Smashwords data with the public. How much of this can be extrapolated to overall sales is unknown. Some interesting points include that the #1 bestselling book outsells the #500 by 37 times in total revenue; longer books sell better; and $2.99(…)

REVIEW:  Assassin’s Gambit by Amy Raby

REVIEW: Assassin’s Gambit by Amy Raby

Dear Ms. Raby: I love a good enemies-to-lovers story. What also helped pique my interest in this book was the gorgeous cover of a strong woman NOT in a bizarre contorted supposed-to-be sexy pose. On its face, this is the story of a super-assassin who falls in love with her target. Vitala Salonius is trained(…)

REVIEW:  Dark Dealings by Kim Knox

REVIEW: Dark Dealings by Kim Knox

Dear Kim Knox: Lately I’ve been in the mood for something different. It’s that reader restlessness that strikes me from time to time and makes me desperately want something new. It’s been that kind of year in terms of books. Because of this, I went into Dark Dealings with no expectations. It’s been a while(…)

Friday Film Review: The Princess Bride

Friday Film Review: The Princess Bride

The Princess Bride (1987) Genre: Fantasy/Fairy Tale/Romance Grade: A- “Death can not stop true love.” “Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.” I’ve actually been a little scared to write this review. It’s been such a favorite story of mine – both the book which I read yonks ago(…)

Recommended Reads Saturday: Lord of the Fading Lands by CL Wilson

Recommended Reads Saturday: Lord of the Fading Lands by CL Wilson

Lord of the Fading Lands by CL Wilson is recommended by Amy Kathryn. Like most who drop by Dear Author, I must get my fix everyday. A chapter after the alarm goes off and before I can throw the covers off, a few pages on the ereader as I grab lunch, or even a whole(…)

REVIEW: Herb Witch by Elizabeth McCoy

REVIEW: Herb Witch by Elizabeth McCoy

Dear Ms. McCoy: This book came highly recommended from Reader Shana. It is a fantasy story set in some land with detailed and intricate world building. What’s even better is that there is a strong romance underpinning to the story. Unfortunately, I am not the right type of reader for this book. I find this(…)

REVIEW: The Silicon Mage by Barbara Hambly

REVIEW: The Silicon Mage by Barbara Hambly

Computer programmer Joanna Sheraton must rescue an imprisoned wizard to save the universe from destruction. There was a time when Joanna Sheraton knew nothing of the Void. She was an ordinary computer programmer, toiling in a cubicle in air-conditioned Southern California comfort, unaware that sinister forces had penetrated her universe. But from across the interdimensional(…)

REVIEW: Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey

REVIEW: Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey

Dear Ms. Carey, Kushiel’s Dart, your fantasy novel, is the story of Phedre, who begins life in the Night Court of Terre D’Ange. The Night Court is peopled by prostitutes, known in this world as Servants of Naamah, the goddess of such things. Terre D’Ange is modeled on Renaissance France, but with some substantial differences,(…)

REVIEW: A Wind Out of Indigo by Callan Primer

REVIEW: A Wind Out of Indigo by Callan Primer

Dear Callen Primer: Thank you for sending me your book for review.  I really liked the idea of this book as pitched in the review query and initially I was very excited about where the story was going.  Alice Standish, former mistress of the King, is kidnapped and brought to the palace.  Either marry Louis(…)

REVIEW: Touch of Power by Maria V. Snyder

REVIEW: Touch of Power by Maria V. Snyder

Dear Ms. Snyder, I feel like I’ve been neglecting the fantasy genre. This is a terrible thing in my opinion because I love the genre. So I thought to rectify the decided lack of non-YA fantasy in recent reading. I thought your latest novel, the first in a new series, would be a good way(…)

REVIEW: A Clockwork Christmas by Nina Gooden

REVIEW: A Clockwork Christmas by Nina Gooden

Dear Ms. Gooden, I’ve never read a steampunk book and frankly had doubts that it would be to my taste but since I’m trying to expand my reading of new-to-me authors, I thought why not try a new genre as well. The results weren’t what I was hoping for but the reason for the grade(…)

REVIEW: The Silent Tower by Barbara Hambly

REVIEW: The Silent Tower by Barbara Hambly

Seventeen titles in all are republished by Open Road Media and can be perused here. Dear Ms. Hambly, In the discussion of my review of your book “Bride of the Rat God,” lots of our readers chimed in with their favorite Hambly books and with suggestions of what book of yours I might try next.(…)

REVIEW: Kingdom of Gods by N.K. Jemisin

REVIEW: Kingdom of Gods by N.K. Jemisin

Dear Ms. Jemisin, While I didn’t think the first two novels of your Inheritance trilogy were perfect, I liked that they were different and introduced some much-needed fresh air into the fantasy genre. I wasn’t sure what to expect from the final installment given that it’s about the child god, Sieh, and the thought of(…)

REVIEW: Bride of the Rat God by Barbara Hambly

REVIEW: Bride of the Rat God by Barbara Hambly

Dear Ms. Hambly, The title of this book is what got my attention. I mean, how could it not? Once I saw it, I knew I had to read it. Who’s the Rat God? Who is his bride? What on earth is going on here? If not for her actress sister-in-law Chrysandra Flamande taking her(…)

REVIEW: Cast in Ruin by Michelle Sagara

REVIEW: Cast in Ruin by Michelle Sagara

Dear Ms. Sagara, Ah, the peril of the long-running series. I knew in the back of my mind that your ongoing Elantra series consisted of many books but checking Amazon, I see that Cast in Ruin is book 7. This both surprises me and makes me wince. Surprise because I can’t believe it’s been that(…)