“Second Son” by Ellison Blackburn

Second Son Ellison Blackburn In “Second Son,” Ellison Blackburn continues the story of Dr. Mallory Jacks, the archaeologist who stumbled upon…what? The skeleton of an angel?–in the first book. The action in “Second Son” overlaps with the action in the preceding book, picking up at the death of Grey, possible angel and Mallory’s lover, whose […]

“Redeployment” by Phil Klay

Redeployment Phil Klay In “Redeployment,” Phil Klay gives us a collection of short stories, all about the recent war in Iraq, mainly but not entirely featuring Marines who are or have been deployed there. Despite being Marine-centered, this polyphonic collection–and Klay masterfully writes with different voices–shows the diversity of experience that Americans deployed in Iraq […]

“When Things Fall Apart” by Pema Chödrön

When Things Fall Apart Pema Chödrön “When Things Fall Apart” is a short, pithy collection of essays by esteemed Buddhist nun and spiritual guide Pema Chodron about facing the difficult things in life, whatever they may be. Although Chodron sometimes discusses specific situations, and occasionally gives specific examples, sometimes rather amusing ones of her inability […]

“The Sandbox” by David Zimmerman

The Sandbox David Zimmerman A surreptitiously weird book, “The Sandbox” follows the story of Toby Durrant, soldier and screw-up, who ends up in something way over his head while deployed in Iraq. The weirdness begins when Durrant’s convoy comes across the body of a little girl lying in the road. When they stop to investigate, […]

“Spoils” by Brian Van Reet

Spoils Brian Van Reet Specialist Cassandra Wigheard is a tough girl from Arkansas who joined the army looking for adventure. What she got was deployment to Iraq and lots of close proximity with aspiring rapists, first from her own comrades in arms, then from the mujahideen who capture her and want to use her as […]

“Shadow War: A Tom Locke Novel” by Sean McFate and Bret Witter

Shadow War: A Tom Locke Novel Sean McFate and Bret Witter I stumbled upon this book when I read Sean McFate’s rebuttal to Eric Prince’s proposal to turn the US’s operation in Afghanistan over to private contractors, aka mercenaries. (Eric Prince, lest we forget, was the founder of Blackwater). Naturally I had to check out his […]

The Midnight Land I is Free Today!

Free Fantasy! Yes, why not grab a free copy of The Midnight Land I, free today on Kindle? If you’re tired of summer and ready for something a little more chill, I guarantee it will cool you right down. Plus there are foxes, wolves, elk, horses…you get the picture. Get it here. And here’s a picture […]

“Flying By the Seat of My Knickers” by Eliza Watson

Flying By the Seat of My Knickers Eliza Watson “Flying By the Seat of my Knickers” is part of the burgeoning genre of…I don’t know exactly what to call it…stories about hapless young women who have to turn their lives around by having adventures and finding love. It’s chick lit of a very specific sort. […]

Thanks to A.M. Justice for this interview, as well as her thoughtful reviews!

AM Justice

I came across E.P. Clark’s work when I participated in the Brain to Books Cyber Convention last April. Like Guy Gavriel Kay (one of my favorite authors), Clark writes not-quite-historical fantasies, and her Zemnian Trilogy is inspired by Russian history and geography. Each story in the Zemnian Trilogy is divided into two volumes; Clark has just released the second story, The Breathing Sea, Parts I and II, and I recently finished reading both volumes in the first story, The Midnight Land, which follows a princess called Krasnoslava Tsarinovna, aka Slava, as she journeys above the Arctic Circle and finds confidence and power through her dealings with malevolent spirits, bandits, gods, courtiers, and her own sister, the Empress of Zem.

I loved The Midnight Land (see my reviews of Part I and Part II on Goodreads), and found the story so thought-provoking I asked E.P. to join me here…

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“Native Invader” by Tori Amos

Native Invader Tori Amos I’ve always been conflicted about Tori Amos. Actually, that’s not true. I thought, and still think, that “Under the Pink” and “Boys for Pele” were not just a couple of the best albums released in the 1990s, but perhaps some of the best albums released in the 20th century. Bold words, […]

E. P. Clark: Author, Book Reviewer, and All-Around Literary Handiwoman

Month: September 2017