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 →

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 →

Why Morrigan Crow is Better than Harry Potter

I'm really looking forward to the next book about Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend. And after a way, I wish it had been already a complete series; because then, I would know how much I can enjoy. For the time being, I'm waiting for the fourth book, and I can reassure you that the previous … Continue reading Why Morrigan Crow is Better than Harry Potter →

I’m not Impressed with Zelazny’s Amber, and Here are the Reasons

So, they say that Chronicles of Amber is a classic. A ten-volumes tale about an Amber prince and his son, a tale of alternative realities and parallel worlds, a symbolic tale of conflict between order and chaos. So they say. And I've read the whole thing, and I'm not that impressed. Maybe I'm based. Or … Continue reading I’m not Impressed with Zelazny’s Amber, and Here are the Reasons →

“His Dark Materials” (and Co.) as an Anti-Narnia

I would say that His Dark Materials and its sequels are a religion-sceptic response for books on Narnia by C. S. Lewis. Religion-sceptic, maybe even atheist, but not necessarily progressive. I don't mean, of course, that it is bad then. But to be honest, if I want to see the topics of class, race and … Continue reading “His Dark Materials” (and Co.) as an Anti-Narnia →