Naomi-Novik

Dear Author Recommends for March

Dear Author Recommends for March

March is sparse with recommendations but save your money because April has a full slate. Historical The Temporary Wife by Mary Balogh (reissued in a 2-in-1 with A Promise of Spring, which I’m NOT recommending). Recommended by Janine and Sunita.  Reviewed here. PNR Fair Game by Patricia Briggs.  Recommended by Josephine, Janine, and Jane (The(…)

REVIEW: Crucible of Gold by Naomi Novik

REVIEW: Crucible of Gold by Naomi Novik

Dear Ms. Novik, Though I fretted for almost two years waiting for this book, I can see from your author’s notes that you’ve had a lot to keep you busy having had your own little egg, as the dragons would say, in the interim. Still, what a book you’ve written for us. Excitement, danger, new(…)

REVIEW: Zombies vs Unicorns edited by Holly Black and Justine Larbalestier

REVIEW: Zombies vs Unicorns edited by Holly Black and Justine Larbalestier

Dear authors, I actually remember the various blog posts that inspired this anthology. Which was better: the zombie or the unicorn? It was a hilarious debate that suited the blog format. What I wasn’t sure about was how well this idea would translate to book form. I thought a lot of it depended on the(…)

REVIEW: Tongues of Serpents by Naomi Novik

REVIEW: Tongues of Serpents by Naomi Novik

NOTE: Though I’ve attempted to avoid spoilers, at this point there isn’t any way. If you’ve not read all the books preceding this one, read the review at your own risk. Dear Ms. Novik, Well, it has taken the better part of two years to get my hands on the next Temeraire book but it’s(…)

DA Recommends for July

DA Recommends for July

It’s hard to believe that July is here and 2010 is half over. This year seems to have flown by. I think I might have slept through some of it because I certainly don’t remember the months of April or May. Lady Isabella’s Scandalous Lover by Jennifer Ashley. Recommended by Jane. Bonds of Justice by(…)

Best of 2008 List: Reviewer Jennie F

This week we’ll post the “best of 2008″ list for each reviewer. Feel free to use this as a commenting launch pad but also as a way for you to measure your taste against the reviewer’s taste.

Jennie F is one of our “new-ish” reviewers. She reviews sporadically and has ecletic taste. Her list includes a variety of fiction books, not all of which are romance:

REVIEW: Victory of Eagles by Naomi Novik

REVIEW: Victory of Eagles by Naomi Novik

Warning: may include spoilers Dear Ms Novik, After finishing “Empire of Ivory,” I wondered where you’d take me in the follow up book. Answer: through the wringer. “Victory of Eagles” sees Temeraire and his captain Will Laurence having to face the results of their actions – seen as treasonous by most of the military –(…)

REVIEW: Empire of Ivory by Naomi Novik

REVIEW: Empire of Ivory by Naomi Novik

Dear Ms Novik, I’m so glad I waited until now to read “Empire of Ivory” even though I’ve had a copy in my hot little hands, well actually piled on top of my TBR heap by my computer, for months now. Something told me to wait, to keep it in reserve until closer to the(…)

REVIEW:  Black Powder War by Naomi Novik

REVIEW: Black Powder War by Naomi Novik

Dear Ms. Novik, I’ve now found out that even a lesser Novik book is still pretty good. But this one should come with a warning to load up on lots of chocolate, a glass of wine or some Prozac before starting. Jaysus, there were a lot of depressing events to read and, for a while,(…)

REVIEW: Throne of Jade by Naomi Novik

Dear Ms. Novik, Brava again for creating this imaginative world and for giving us the relationship of Laurence and Temeraire. I’m glad to see that their bond only strengthens during this book. We also get to see Temeraire growing up more and maturing into an even more thoughtful dragon. When they see slave traders off(…)

REVIEW:  His Majesty’s Dragon by Naomi Novik

REVIEW: His Majesty’s Dragon by Naomi Novik

Dear. Ms Novik, What can I say but “wow.” No, I guess “Wow!” would be a better way to phrase it. You’ve created a stunning new world with vivid characters, action and scenery. My colleague Jane has already filled our readers in on the plot so I’ll head straight into my thoughts on various aspects(…)

REVIEW: Throne of Jade by Naomi Novik

Dear Ms. Novik: This really is a series for the ages. I believe that this trilogy will make every best fantasy list out there. The things that I like best are learning about the dragons themselves and seeing the interaction between Temeraire and Laurence. The things I like least are the battle scenes. I got(…)

REVIEW: His Majesty’s Dragon by Naomi Novik

Dear Ms. Novik: I resisted for about 3 weeks in buying your book. It wasn’t a romance. It featured a male protagonist. It was about war and warlike things. War scenes are hard for me to follow. Even the glowing reviews couldn’t budge me but then I saw it for sale at Fictionwise and I(…)