Darkover Revisited: Thendara House

My review of The Shattered Chain, the first book in The Saga of the Renunciates, was actually more like a sporking in two parts. This time, my reflections of Thendara House are going to be closer to a review. However, still BEWARE HEAVY SPOILERS, please. Have you ever had an impression that some fantasy/sci-fi books … Continue reading Darkover Revisited: Thendara House →

Darkover Revisited: The Shattered Chain, Part Two

Today, we'll delve into the second part of The Shattered Chain by Marion Zimmer Bradley. Twelve years have passed since the first time and now Magda Lorne, a Terran agent raised on Darkover, begins a journey in a disguise of a Renunciate, on Lady Rohana Ardais' orders: she thinks that Kyril, the Lady's son kidnapped … Continue reading Darkover Revisited: The Shattered Chain, Part Two →

Darkover Revisited: The Shattered Chain, Part One: Orientalism

The world of Darkover created by Marion Zimmer Bradley is an universe I'd always return to. When I was a teen, books about Darkover were like a symbol to me. A symbol meaning that I knew English well enough to read novels written in it, and that I could buy books from the US at … Continue reading Darkover Revisited: The Shattered Chain, Part One: Orientalism →

Heart of Thorns by Bree Barton is Just a Nice YA Fantasy Series

"Heart of Thorns" is a recently published YA trilogy about Mia Rose, a girl from the kingdom of Glas Ddir, betrothed to a prince against her will, a girl who believes that witches, the Gwyrach, are utterly bad. As you may predict, this is only the beginning and everything Mia Rose thinks will be turned … Continue reading Heart of Thorns by Bree Barton is Just a Nice YA Fantasy Series →

Fantasy and Orientalism

I'm going to disappoint you. This post isn't about C. S. Lewis and his racism towards Middle Eastern people. This post isn't about Tolkien's coding of Sauron's allies and Easterlings. It's about authors whose works and worlds are almost as famous as Narnia and Middle-Earth. So let's prepare yourself for Terry Pratchett, Diana Wynne Jones, … Continue reading Fantasy and Orientalism →

I Like Pratchett’s Discworld, but I Have Problems with It, too

Let me begin by a controversial statement: nowadays, problematic aspects of famous books are spotted not as often as you may think. Not everything is deemed racist and sexist. There are authors who are judged harshly, and deservedly, but there are also authors who are still liked on the progressive side despite of their books … Continue reading I Like Pratchett’s Discworld, but I Have Problems with It, too →

Winter’s Orbit is a Delight

"Winter's Orbit" is a sweeping blend of space opera, novel of manners, and romance, written by Everina Maxwell. It tells the story of Kiem and Jainan. Kiem is a careless prince from the dynasty of the interplanetary Iskat Empire. Jainan is a count from Thea, one of the vassal planets. Being widowed by Taam, Kiem's … Continue reading Winter’s Orbit is a Delight →

The Witness for the Dead by Katherine Addison

How a book can be an uneasy delight? This happened to me as I was reading "The Witness for the Dead" by Katherine Addison. Her novel creates a strange and original world, so strange and original that while immersing into it, you have to recall, sooner or later, LeGuin's Earthsea and Robin Hobb's Realms of … Continue reading The Witness for the Dead by Katherine Addison →

Darkover Series by Marion Zimmer Bradley is Problematic

So, maybe you know or maybe you don't, but a famous sci-fi and fantasy writer, Marion Zimmer Bradley, was a paedophile hurting her own children. And this crime is the most important problem we should have with her works. However, there are others. And in this post, I'm not going to judge myself or other … Continue reading Darkover Series by Marion Zimmer Bradley is Problematic →

Ivory Apples by Lisa Goldstein

It was a very nice trip. It reminded me of Melissa Albert's series on Hinterland, except for less dark-fairy-tale twists and heavy atmopshere. In both cases, there is a story of a girl whose kinswoman has produced a cult fantasy novel to stay far from the public afterwards. And in both cases, there is a … Continue reading Ivory Apples by Lisa Goldstein →