Author Interview - Adrian Tchaikovsky

I haven't been doing interviews for quite some time now. Rather, after resuming writing here again, after life forced a long break due to my postgrad, family and whatnot, I have been focusing on reviewing stuff.

But when I got the chance to interview one of my favorite authors, and on the eve of the release of a long-awaited sequel, it was impossible to pass.

So, here is my short interview of the great 'Adrian Tchaikovsky', whose sequel to the acclaimed 'Elder Race' named 'Engines of Reason' is releasing today.


1) Hi and welcome to my blog. Hope you're doing well. Nowadays everyone who read fantasy or sci-fi know who Adrian Tchaikovsky is. Start by telling something about you that generally your fans aren't aware of, please.

AT: That’s a tough one. I feel like I’ve spilled just about everything about myself in one interview or another. Possibly people don’t know that I used to be an evil lawyer before the writing really took off? Or that my name isn’t spelled like this (check the copyright page of my books!). Honestly there’s not much to be outside the writing!

2) It's been 5 years since the release of 'Elder Race', what made you return to it?

AT: Sometimes sequel ideas take a while to come together. A lot of the time there’s a wait to see if the book will take off (and so if the publisher will even want a sequel) but in ER’s case it did inexplicably well right out of the gate – something about it caught people’s imaginations and I think it was the first of my books that really did well over in the US, for example. However it was also fairly self-contained, and for a while I wasn’t sure what the story would be about Lyn and Nyr’s future, that would be worth the telling. Presumably they just had something of a quiet life? Apparently not, as my imagination belatedly furnished! The story of Engines of Reason came to me a long time after, when a couple of fragments of book ideas sort of collided in my head and I realised the resulting amalgam looked a lot like it fit into Elder Race’s world.

3) We all remember Lyn and Nyx like it was yesterday. Have they changed much in this sequel? Will there be any new viewpoint characters this time?

AT: A good few years have passed for them, and not entirely happily. Political and personal changes have driven them apart, Lyn’s been married and has a child, Nyr is kicking about playing Merlin in the Lanessite court. Nobody’s particularly happy but it’s been a sort of gradual decline rather than anything catastrophic. At the start of the book there’s some bandit/rebel activity that starts to look as though someone has got a hold of the old colonial technology, meaning it falls into Nyr’s bailiwick, and that’s where we meet our new PoV character, Sendra, a bandit/rebel who also thinks he’s got a hold of the old technology, but in fact has found something rather more problematic…


4) Now that the second book is here, are there more stories you want to tell in this setting or using these characters?

AT: The end of the 2nd book ties off this particular story but leave enough threads that you can see where a third book will go. So there should eventually be a trilogy of novellas.

 

5) We all know about some of your future projects including The Grave of Perfection and The Eighth Face. Would you care to hint at or divulge some info regarding some unknown future projects?

AT: As usual there’s quite a lot on the plate. I have some new Warhammer stuff which hasn’t been announced yet, and I’m just finishing a Cage of Souls sequel. There are a couple more standalone SF books contracted for, one of which I’ve delivered, and a fantasy novella that’s quite different to anything I’ve written before, titled “Last Song of Ash”. The Terrible Worlds series has another three to go after the recently released Preaching to the Choir, two of which have been written. I’ve also got some plans to expand my repertoire into areas of the genre I’ve not previously touched. Watch this space!


6) So 2026 is more than half over. Any books you read from the year you liked?

AT: I got an advance copy of Claire North’s As We Fall Through Time and it blew my mind. Amazing book. Premee Mohammed’s Wickhills is very good, and Ian Green’s The Deep and the Drowned. Beyond that I’m still getting to read new stuff via Emma’s recommendations on the Starship Alexandria podcast, which people can check out.


7) I have been reviewing or blogging for about 12 years now. And only just have the time and decided to try my hand on writing fiction. Can you impart a bit of guidance or instructions for new writers like myself?

AT: It’s very tricky – from a craft perspective everyone has their own process and method, and you have to find that organically, trial and error. From an industry perspective, I got into print almost 20 years ago now, and things have changed so much in that time that I don’t really have up to date advice. I think the old adage of “Just write” is always good. The more you write the better you get – there are no shortcuts to that, and using aids like AI to write for you – however you try to limit that – will only rob you of the chance to hone your skills. You can’t ever get better that way, Also, write what you love. I think a lot of people try to write whatever looks popular, whether it speaks to them or not. Write the book that only you can write, not the book everyone else is trying to write.


Wow, that was an amazing interview. Not only did Adrian tell us some of the amazing work he has coming for us (I am especially intrigued by the Warhammer stuff), he also informed us about some great books from 2026. But I particularly liked his insight and advice for aspiring new writers like myself; his comment about AI and writing the book that only I can especially resonates.

About 'Engines of War' -

Visit a world where sorcery intertwines with science by multiple Hugo nominee Adrian Tchaikovsky in this highly-anticipated sequel to his hugely popular Elder Race.

On a planet where stories govern identity, where science and magic are a merely point of view, a fallen princess, a reluctant wizard, and a precocious child must unravel the past to shape the future.

Betrayal, ancient myths, and the clash of worlds converge in this spellbinding tale of courage, friendship, and self-discovery.

A profound exploration of identity, memory, and discovery from one of science fiction’s most compelling voices.

About Adrian Tchaikovsky -

Adrian was born in Lincolnshire and studied zoology and psychology at Reading before becoming a professional author in 2007. He is a keen role-player and board gamer and is trained in stage-fighting. His literary influences include Gene Wolfe, Mervyn Peake, China Miéville, Steven Erikson, Naomi Novak, Scott Lynch and Alan Campbell.

Adrian primarily explores deep themes, such as artificial intelligence and alien awareness within epic galactic and fantastical settings.

He has a deep interest in the animal world specifically insects from his studies in Zoology and has a particular penchant for spiders. 

Links - Website, Goodreads

My Musings on Hugo 2026 Short Stories Nominees

So, this year I finally completed reading all of the nominees of Hugo Short Stories picks, and that is just barely, on the eve of the announcement of the winner.

Upon ruminations, I wish I could have read some of the nominees of the other prestigious awards like Nebula or Locus, which didn't get the nod for Hugo. But, now that opportunity has surely passed.

The picks this year:

My Rating: 3/5, My Review 

My Rating: 4.5/5, My Review

My Rating: 4/5, My Review

My Rating: 3.5/5, My Review

My Rating: 3.5/5, My Review

My Rating: 3.5/5, My Review

What other stories could have been picked:

As I have mentioned before I haven't read much short stories from 2025. And what I have read wasn't good enough to be included in Hugo nominations in my opinion. Probably some other stories picked from the nominees from Nebula or Locus awards could've been picked, but I can't really speculate with reading them myself.

The  story that I want to win: 

I want either 'In My Country' or 'Wire Mother' to win, as these two were my favorites. The two stories dealing with two very interesting themes that I enjoyed. One dealing with the overall implications of governance in a state, the other dealing with much more personal concept of digitalization of self.

Both deserving to win in my opinion.

The story that will probably win it:

I think either 'Laser Eyes Ain't Everything' or 'Six People to Revise You' will win it.

Simply because I think these two will resonate with the voters more due to their concept and execution.

Well, there is less than 24 hours to go before we find out who bags the prize. Until then, best of luck to all the nominees.

Weekend Shorts - In My Country by Thomas Ha

Name - In My Country

Written by - Thomas Ha

Published on - Clarkesworld Magazine April 2025 (issue 223)

A timeless allegorical story with captivating prose, this one is a story remarkably fitting for current times, having a strong political message. The style and execution reminded me a lot of Ray Bradbury with its dreamlike quality, serine storytelling which is also deeply intense despite the initial appearance.

'In My Country' relates the story of a man and his family who reside in a country so much different from the ones we live in, yet so much similar when you look at it. There is government which allows criticism and maintains good governance, but only until you peel back the shiny veneer. But once you look deeper, there is the cruel reality of strict authoritarian fascism, where they are trying to regulate your thoughts and actions, while punishing you through their deceit for you trying to think for yourself.

Thomas Ha depicts the conflict inside the narrator so skillfully, peeling back the layers of the illusion and making us feel as powerless as he does. He then introduces his grief, his coming to terms with loss, and then finding hope even in such a bleak condition.

The author plays with so many allegorical elements in such a short space. The need for a writer to convey the truth, the dichotomy and dilemma with immigration, the false sense of security encompassing us, the vigour and rebellion of youth and future generations, and the inability of those who came before us to stand for what is right, etc. He tries to convey so many messages through his mesmerising prose in a poignant display of using genre fiction as literature.

This is one of my favourite stories dealing with these concepts and surely deserves the awards and nominations it received.

A well-deserved 4.5 out of 5 stars from me. I am cutting .5 because I think the author should have elaborated this into at least a novella. 

Weekend Shorts - Missing Helen by Tia Tashiro

Name - Missing Helen

Written by - Tia Tashiro 

Published on - Clarkesworld Magazine July 2025 (issue 226)

This one had quite an interesting concept dealing with a plausible future where clones are used like sperm banks for couples wanting to have children. The premise was sound, the themes the author was trying to explore were novel, but the means used were a bit uncomfortable at times, making the reading a bit strained.

This tells the story of a woman named Helen, who sells her genome for cloning purposes for money so that she might get a better future. Then by twists of fate that clone who is 16 years younger returns in her life as her ex-husband's fiance, awkward and yucky right. Then the two versions of the same person have a brief yet meaningful meeting.

The story has interesting themes like cloning depicted in a positive light, female empowerment, how relationships seemingly perfect erode away by time, a bit of narcissism, and the weird concept of your clone might be the best family for you if it were an option. All nice things to explore, but the introduction through ex-husband plot seemed kind of unnecessary and weird for me.

While an enjoyable story on its own, this is probably one of the weaker nominees for Hugo this year, this gets 3.5 out of 5 stars from me.

Retro Book Review - I Who Have Never Known Men

Name - I Who Have Never Known Men 

Written by - Jacqueline Harpman 

Translated by - Ros Schwartz

Narrated by - Nikki Massoud

Published by - Echo Point Books & Media, LLC

It is quite hard to find anything more to say for something like this. This is a novella that has been reviewed, analyzed, and talked about a lot. This is an attempt at telling a story, at creating a character who hasn't experienced the world we live in. The author doesn't pull any punches in detailing the dystopia she creates, doesn't hold our hand in explaining anything, and doesn't even provide a satisfying conclusion. And thus creates a beautifully unorthodox experiment that is sure to be talked about for a long time.

The story follows an anonymous narrator who has been raised in a cage with 39 other women who don't know why they’re there, or how they got there, and they have very vague memories of the past, but the narrator has no memory before the cage at all. Then, one day an alarm sounds and the guards flee, and they’re free. Thus begins their journey to find out the truth and to survive in a foreign land where no one else is around.

The plot is very bleak; they never find out anything, never find any other survivors. The landscape they travel through is very monotonous, and soon they have to stop traveling altogether due to advanced ages of some of the members. 

Author continues on describing their mundane ways of survival, but the author uses the narrator's inexperience with everything to color the story through her eyes. Tries to describe normal phenomena through the perspective of someone who has never known them; regular activities and objects get novel meanings and a curious point of view from her.

Then the story turns even more depressing as only the narrator remains the sole survivor, being the youngest after everyone else perishes. She starts to explore the terrain again, finds out some interesting things, and eventually comes to the point when she decides to write down her experience.

This novella is closer in concept to many dystopian works with a feminist angle that have been written, but very different in one aspect that it never really tries to depict or investigate the setting much, rather focuses on the unusual phenomenon through the lens of a protagonist so much different from us.

The translation by Ros Schwartz was very palatable and smooth, never hampering understanding. And the narration by Nikki Massoud was the driving force through some of the boring bits as she perfectly voiced the blandness and practicality with the protagonist perceives the world. This gave the audiobook a sense of authenticity and sensitivity.

While I certainly can't recommend this to everyone due to the slow pace and depressing content, the last 25% of the novella is so memorable and also includes a poignant piece by the translator who tries to explain the themes a bit in her own way. To any impressionable reader, the last portion and ending will linger in the mind for a while surely.

Overall, I will give this one 4 out of 5 stars.

New Metal Review - "Rituals of Shame" by Warning

Album Name - Rituals of Shame 

Band Name - Warning 

Genre - Doom Metal

Label - Relapse Records 

Release Date - June 19, 2026

Line Up -

  Andy  Prestidge - drums

  Patrick Walker - vocals, guitars

  Wayne Taylor - guitars

  Marcus Hatfield - bass

It has been 20 years since 'Watching from a distance' was released. No one, not even any ardent fans of Warning, thought they would come back and release another album after so long, let alone that would even be on par to be compared to that masterpiece. But Warning has done impossible it seems, creating another flawless album, incorporating the depressive traditional doom they are known for with modern production and matured sensibilities resulting from accrued experience of the past 20 years.

'Watching from a distance' was a depressive slab of utterly crushing doom metal, creating a sense of foreboding in its listener for years to come. Everyone who had heard the album became impressed almost universally, and it has also created a cult following in the underground scene.

To try to release a follow-up after such a long time was truly a daunting task, which I never thought the band would undertake. Even after learning about this album, unlike many, I was also sceptical. Wondering whether Warning might fail like so many had before, returning after a long time and being unable to recreate the magic. But upon starting to listen I was pulled in from the opening song, and upon reaching the phenomenal 'Stations' I was pulled in remorselessly and decided to get buried in this new monument of fathomless introspection and depression.

Only Patrick Walker and Marcus Hatfield remain from the members who put out the last album. A new drummer Andrew Prestidge is introduced and Wayne Taylor, who played bass with the band for a brief period during its early years, returns this time as the second guitar player. 

Walker has improved much since his days and changed his style a bit, while he focused more on agonized emotional delivery last time; this time he creates a sense of operatic cadence and his vocals have aged beautifully to create a captivating landscape of emotions. The overall song structures once again focuses on creating a doom-infused backdrop with their crushing melancholic riffs and raw yet immersive heaviness. The introduction of the second guitar adds a new layer, often freeing Walker to focus more on his vocal duties. Hatfield does a commendable job in the bass paying, but it occasionally do get buried under everything else. While the drumming sacrifices tightness and rigidity to create an immersive atmosphere of devastating emotions.

If we talk briefly about the songs, the opener does the perfect beginning for listeners with its careful use of the strengths to showcase what's on offer. But the real journey starts from 'Stations', certainly one of the best songs so far, starting with a perfectly weighted intro, blending into some beautiful vocals, utterly soul melting riffs and powerful instrumental part to end. 'Night Comes Down' pick up exactly on the same emotional vein, delivering an even more emotionally destructive doom experience, with tortured vocals and evocative riffs galore. The next track is a showcase of Walker's vocal prowess mostly. Then comes the finale, another amalgamation of what the band has to offer, ending in a deeply emotional vocals performance and atmospheric instrumentation.

I feel like a few words need to be said about the lyrics and production. Warning has the special trait of writing lyrics that are poetic, thought-provoking and with huge emotional  depth. There are lines that stay in your mind a long time after you have finished due to their melancholic poignancy. The production of this album is very clean, which might sound like a bad thing to some, but it makes the vocal shine and the riffs clearer, although it did sacrifice the bass a bit.

If I had to find a negative angle, I have to say that this album should have come with a warning, due to how depressed and suicidal it might feel, due to its heavy themes.

Overall Score -

                         9.5 out of 10.

For more info check out the bands official website and their metal-archives page -

https://www.warningband.com/

https://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Warning/10936   

Weekend Shorts - Six People to Revise You

Name - Six People to Revise You

Written by - J. R. Dawson

Published on - Uncanny Magazine (Issue 62)

Well, that certainly was some fine prose. The story seemed to flow so smoothly, making quite a simplistic premise shine due to sheer literary power. 

The story follows protagonist Liz, as she is thinking of going through a procedure called revision that would revise her being, cutting out the bad things, introducing new aspects, making her into a better version of herself. During the story she tries to collect input from six specific persons regarding herself, on what they would like changed about herself. 

We get to learn that Liz is queer, sensitive, and insecure; but she also has many endearing and positive qualities that she seldom recognizes herself. All the while we are discovering her, we travel towards a predictable yet emotional ending.

The story is rather simple; it has been done before, highlighting that we needn't always change to be better; instead, we should learn to embrace our true selves. Yet, the beautiful and captivating prose makes this very enjoyable and memorable.

This gets 3.5 out of 5 stars from me.

New Book Review - Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan

Name - Small Things Like These 

Written by - Claire Keegan 

Narrated by - Aidan Kelly 

Published by - Faber & Faber

Audiobook by - Faber & Faber Audio

This was a rather slim book, but packed a heavy punch in terms of the message on offer. Focuses on a time in the not so distant past, on a seemingly civilized setting, where people were acting quite hypocritically, acting blind to injustice and the needs of others and one man performing quite a small yet heroic act.

The setting is 1985, in a small Irish town, during the weeks leading up to Christmas. Our narrator, Bill Furlong, a coal merchant and family man, is quite busy during this time of the year. But one morning, while delivering an order to the local convent, he makes a shocking discovery which forces him to confront both his past and the present reality of a town controlled by the church.

The prose is simplistic, often using words of Irish dialect that forced me to use the internet to decipher meaning, but gave a feeling of authenticity. The story has no serious conflict; the pace is slow, yet the soothing calmness with the poignant inner monologues by Furlong kept me continuing on listening instead of going back to the other thriller I was listening to also at the time.

Furlong is a simple man, growing up through the kindness of a rich widow, didn't know his father, lost his mother early, but acquired a keen sense of morality due to his upbringing. His sense of morality is quite often absent in solvent people and unfortunate ones alike. And his willingness to work hard for his family and deciding to help others despite his own condition is what makes him the hero and the simple story remarkable.

This book also enlightened me about a small but significant bit of history, teaching me about Magdalene laundries in Ireland and atrocities being committed there using religion as cover, and in the guise of healing 'Fallen Women'. Yet another instance of history where social dogma and moral indifference triumph over basic humanity.

The narration by Aidan Kelly was quite unique, making me feel like Furlong is such a way, as often becoming quite melancholic and thoughtful. Without divulging much more, I want to just end the review by quoting one line from Furlong's inner monologue - 'Was there any point in being alive without helping one another?'

4.5 out of 5 stars.

New Book Review - A Plagued Sea by Kim Bo-young

Name - A Plagued Sea

Written by - Kim Bo-young 

Translated by - Sophie Bowman 

Series - Lovecraft Reanimated 

Published by - Honford Star  

First things first, I got this book from NetGalley, so thank you NetGalley and Honford Star for this opportunity.

This one started so well, had so much potential, the main character was portrayed with such finesse, yet somehow did not achieve what it promised. The Lovecraftian atmosphere was created with perfect nuances, racial angles were explored a bit, and the twists were also utilized quite well. Yet it could have been so much more poignant with a bit more work.

Kim Bo-young is one of the most famous science fiction writers in South Korea, has received various awards in his country, and one of the few writers from Korea to be translated into English. As far as I am aware, she had two collections published in English prior to this; 'A Plagued Sea' is her first novella published by Honford Star.

This novella is part of The Lovecraft Reanimated project by Honford Star, which translates Korean speculative fiction writers reimagining the works of horror master H.P. Lovecraft, giving them their own unique signature updating these stories for modern sensibilities.

The author manages to capture the true atmospheric charisma of the Cthulhu mythos in her attempt at recreating a modern version of 'The Shadow over Innsmouth'. Her interpretation incorporates the truly horrifying existential dread of Lovecraft, with even modern technological forms of communication unable to alleviate the despair of being locked in isolation, abuse, and racism in the form of social media posts and the characters using internet forums to create awareness and propaganda regarding the mysterious incidence of Haewon village.

The character of Moyoung was a fine creation, with her desperation and anguish over not being able to save her niece, her almost illogical yet understandable hatred towards the infected, her inner struggle of not being able to become a member of the villagers nor being able to be a member of normal society, and her manic paranoia in trying to deal with the source of her calamities. But sadly the other characters didn't get as much attention and felt rather like placeholders compared to her.

The author touched on the sense of racism, social stigma, and uncalled for abuse towards the unfortunate infected, but didn't really elaborate on this aspect of the story much, which in my opinion could have elevated this retelling to a whole new level. Rather she focused on the grotesque and monstrous horror angles of the story, which resulted in a fun reading experience nevertheless.

The prose was quite a delightful read; I simply loved the first chapter that introduced us to Muyoung and her niece, and also the chapter which revealed the new species. Sophie Bowman did a brilliant job with the translation, as I never really felt like I wasn't reading the book in its native form.

This was a fun read, made me interested in the Lovecraft Reanimated series as well as other stories from Kim Bo-young, but it also felt like a missed opportunity at creating the perfect Lovecraftian horror for the modern age due to its shortcomings.

3.5 out of 5 stars from me.

Weekend Shorts - Laser Eyes Ain't Everything by Effie Seiberg

Name - Laser Eyes Ain't Everything 

Written by - Effie Seiberg

Edited by - David Steffen

Published on - Diabolical Plots (DP fiction #123B)

Well, that was quite a lot of fun to read. In a modern writing landscape of overcomplicated stuff or stylistic approaches, a rather straightforward superpower science fiction with a quite relevant message for people all around.

Without spoiling much about this one, I'll just tell you that this one is about RazorBeam, who even after obtaining the power of having laser eyes, finds it difficult to get traffic circles built among her various struggles to get some comfortable accommodations for persons with disabilities. Then comes the supervillain Doctor Croc and things get interesting.

I was interested in this because of the title and with the knowledge decided to check out this Nebula winner and was quite delighted with the breezy prose, compassionate and interesting protagonist and a nice feel-good ending. While people are usually reluctant to read any genre fiction that tries to deliver a message, if it's done like this it certainly becomes worth checking out.

A deservedly award-worthy short story, this gets 4 out of 5 stars from me.

Metal Review - "Air Not Meant for Us" by Fires in the Distance

Album Name - Air Not Meant for Us

Band Name - Fires in the Distance

Genre - Melodic Doom/Death Metal

Label - Prosthetic Records 

Release Date - April 28, 2023

Line Up -

  Craig Breitsprecher - vocals, bass

   Jordan Rippe - drums

   Yegor Savonin - guitars, synths

   Kristian Grimaldi - guitars, vocals

Do you like some melody in your doom/death metal? Or music that unearths the melancholy, grief, and sorrow that you have been keeping buried deep within? Or just some truly well crafted soothing aggression packaged in crisp production to cure that nostalgic itch you have been craving? Then stop reading this and listen to this album by 'Fires in the Distance'.

The band creates an almost perfect mixture of the brutality of death metal with guttural vocals and heavy riffs, combining it seamlessly with the soaring and melodic melancholy of emotional doom metal aesthetics. The emotional vocals and dual baseline are complimented by virtuoso lead guitar, piano, synths and machine like drumbeats creating a sense of progressive technicality pervading the album.

The album keeps the music following since the short piano intro of 'Harbingers' and everything seems to work as a whole. The listener gets gripped in the sorrowful emotional onslaught that is unrelenting yet beautiful. The 50 minutes seem to end too quickly that I, as a mesmerized listener, immediately returned to the opener to once again immerse myself in this gloomy atmosphere.

The main problem with melodic metal albums these days is that they often have tracks that seem to sound too similar and repetitive, making the listener feel like they are hearing songs they have heard before, or forget about their experience. But here, these guys create a unique experience by making each track distinct yet making them also seem like part of a whole somehow.

'Wisdom of Falling Leaves' and 'Psalm of the Merciless' are rather shorter and tighter doom death songs; the instrumental track is reminiscent of early melodic death pieces with typical melodic riffs. 'Idiopathic Despair' has a soothing piano-based middle part with crushing beginnings and ends, while the first two songs attempt to give us the combined taste of the best of both genres. 

It is really hard to find any standout track in here but the opening 'Harbingers' and 'Crumbling Pillars Of A Tranquil Mind' truly represents the best of what the band has to offer here, while the instrumental track 'Adrift, Beneath the Listless Waves' creates a somewhat break by giving us more straight forward melo-death elegance and a moment of clarity.

Another topic worth mentioning is the poetic lyrics dealing with personal struggles, emotional anguish, and dread of existentialism. Listener like me who often look to the lyrics for some depth and meaning, this was another positive for the album. 

If I had to nitpick, I wish there were some other melodic instruments, some clean vocals and maybe the length could have been made a bit shorter to make this ever more memorable.

Overall Score -

                         8.5 out of 10.

For more info check out the bands official Bandcamp page and their metal-archives page -

https://firesinthedistance.bandcamp.com/

https://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Fires_in_the_Distance/3540474086   

New Manga Review - The Marshal King, Vol. 1 by Boichi

Manga Name - The Marshal King (Vol. 1)

Author - Boichi (Story & Art)

Original Serialization: Shounen Jump+

English Publisher : Viz Media LLC

Genres: Action, Western, Shounen

First things first, I got this book from Edelweiss as an ARC, so thank you Edelweiss and Viz Media LLC for this opportunity.

Almost on a whim I decided to request this first volume of the newest manga by Boichi. I had read about him and liked the samples of his artwork that I had seen on the internet, and was meaning to check out what the fuss was about for some time now. This one was enjoyable while it lasted, has some room to evolve in the future, had great art, but wasn't anything out of the ordinary or much memorable upon reflection.

The story follows Jimmu on his quest to become the Marshal King, for which he joins the Marshal Academy in this first volume, acquiring a few friends and fighting some outlaws along the way. This is Boichi's attempt at creating a spaghetti western mixed with Japanese manga style humor and style. But sadly so far it reads like something that has been done before in various settings and nothing makes it stand out as unique.

Characters are quite generic as to be expected, but as this is just the beginning there certainly is some room for improvement in the future in this department.

The art is the strongest point so far; the background is crisply detailed, the action bits are exquisitely drawn, with some stylistic character facial work to create a sense of spectacle that made me return to various panels quite often.

Hopefully, Bochi improves upon the story and characters in the future to create something unique in the following volumes as this definitely has beautiful artwork to keep things interesting.

Overall Score -

                            7 out of 10.

New Book Review - One Day All This Will Be Yours by Adrian Tchaikovsky

Name - One Day All This Will Be Yours

Written by - Adrian Tchaikovsky 

Narrated by - Adrian Tchaikovsky 

Published by - Solaris (Rebellion Publishing Ltd.)

Audiobook by - Penguin Audio 

The characteristic charm of Tchaikovsky that I adore is to be found all over this novella. Interesting protagonist, enjoyable and humorous prose, and a truly unique and well-thought-out setting to boot. But maybe I just wasn't reading it at the proper time, but I felt it should have been shorter or it lacked a bit of something giving it that extra edge.

This is yet another different kind of attempt by the author to write about the end times with his signature sense of humor and masterfully flowing prose. There was time traveling hijinks abound with lots of entertaining jokes at the expanse of historical figures and periods.

The protagonist was an irritable man and despite having a grey moral compass, he was very relatable as a narrator based on his circumstances. This really was a story of the times of COVID, incorporating the general chaotic psychological landscape on offer at the time.

But, I really wish I could have read it during the time when we were isolated and panicked and would have probably appreciated it much more.

Nevertheless, I give this 3.5 out of 5 stars.

New Book Review - Abyss by Nicholas Binge

Name - Abyss

Written by - Nicholas Binge 

Narrated by - John Lee 

Published by - Tor Publishing Group

Audiobook by - Dreamscape Lore

Well, this one is almost like how it was pitched on the cover. A work inspired by Lovecraftian horror mixed with bits from the show Severance. I enjoyed my audiobook listen of this, while also wishing it had a bit more bulk and some well-developed characters.

Binge knows how to tell a fast-paced thriller with twists, which is quite apparent from the beginning of his newest novella. The protagonist gets suddenly thrown into this mysterious job and meets some unorthodox co-workers and slowly unravels the truth about his sinister employers.

The real world relevance of the main characters' predicament as well as his inability to have social interactions was quite relatable. Adding a mixture of cosmic horror bits into the setting was another fun element, but once again the author kept things a bit unexplained at times regarding the side characters.

And a special shout out to the narration by John Lee, which was quite soothing with his delivery and pacing and probably made me enjoy the book much more than I would have liked if I had read it.

As a matter of fact, the novella felt like the story really could have benefited from a longer length in explaining stuff and dealing with the side characters. And that's my main complaint with the otherwise enjoyable read.

I will give this 3.5 out of 5 stars.

Graphic Novel Review - Aquaman: 80 Years of the King of the Seven Seas

Name - Aquaman: 80 Years of the King of the Seven Seas

Writers - Various 

Artists - Various 

Published by - DC comics

Initially, after reading "Aquaman: A Celebration of 75 Years", I decided against picking this one up as I had read most of the stories on offer here previously. The 2 or 3 issues that I hadn't read previously didn't seem very special. But, as time passed, I forgot some of the stories and changed my mind, thinking it might be fun revisiting various eras of Aquaman's long run.

The stuff presented here seemed somehow a bit more coherent than the aforementioned collection. There was more emphasis on the newer stuff, featured a great many cameos, one of the best issue from Peter David's awesome run and even an issue featuring the short lived character Arthur Joseph Curry. 

The short essays by various creators that contributed to the character were also a lot of fun and informative. I would have loved to hear a bit from Peter David though regarding his unorthodox yet brilliant run.

The varied art was really a feast for the eyes. I really loved the varied works on offer here. The works from Jim Aparo, Ramona Fradon, Ivan Reis and Stjepan Šejić were just plain spectacular to behold, to name a few.

All in all, I found this one much more focused and representing Aquaman better than the 75 years collection, justifying its need. It really intrigued me about jumping into the stuff that I haven't yet read sooner rather than later.

A well-deserved 4 out of 5 stars from me.

New Book Review - The Bone Door by Frances White

Name - The Bone Door 

Written by - Frances White 

Narrated by - Honi Cooke 

Published by - Hanover Square Press 

Audiobook by - Harlequin Audio 

This one was quite a journey to listen to, emotionally draining at times, dealing with some hard and brutal stuff, quite a lot of twists and skillful unraveling of plot, but also a bit too long or over explaining at times. But overall, certainly one of the surprises of the year so far.

The story details the journey of Hop and the strange companions he picks up along a mysterious labyrinth while being chased by a dark being. The kids have all seemingly lost their memories, and throughout their journey they slowly regain knowledge of what they are and how they came to be trapped in the maze.

The characters are portrayed brilliantly and their emotional journey is sure to resonate with readers. But despite their age, this one is definitely a book for adults with its serious subject matter and depiction of mutilation and death all throughout. Yet, it is also a book of hope, of second chances and the fact that even the most hopelessly damnable character has some inner goodness.

Another strong point is the mesmerizing world building, keeping me guessing what might be in store in the next chapter. The heavy themes are present dispersed between detailed and deliberately slow reveals as the author attempted to continue enchanting.

Honi Cooke did a masterful job of narrating, creating distinct voices for each of the characters, giving them unique personalities, and also conveying the emotional content quite brilliantly.

My only real complaint is that some of the dialogues and interactions just seemed to drag a bit too much, unnecessarily lengthening the prose. About 100 pages could have been cut off, making the book a tighter and compacter experience; then again, maybe the author was trying to emphasize the emotional depth even further somewhat.

Nevertheless, I thoroughly enjoyed this one and will give it 4 out of 5 stars.

Promising Books being published on August 2026

It's been a long time since I did a post like this. But as I seem to have a bit more free time nowadays, let's try to revive the tradition, even if, for a little while.

"A Drop of Blood (Shadow of the Leviathan #3)" by Robert Jackson Bennett Barker from Del Rey

An Ana and Din Mystery

Brilliant detective Ana Dolabra must prove a man's innocence to stop a civil war in the third book of the series that began with The Tainted Cup, named an Edgar, Hugo, and World Fantasy Award Finalist and one of the best books of the year (New York Times Book Review, NPR, Elle)—from the bestselling author of The Founders Trilogy.

In the canton of Sapirdad, two of the Empire’s most powerful families are moments away from going to war with each other, their hundreds of retainers gathered with swords drawn. If blood is spilt, the whole of the empire may be plunged into starvation and chaos.

To de-escalate matters, someone must do the impossible: prove that one family’s eldest son is innocent of a gruesome and unforgivable murder, despite the incontrovertible evidence against him.

It is with this undertaking that the great detective Ana Dolabra is tasked, her assistant Din at her side—and the two find themselves racing with great speed and little dignity to the scene.

As ever, the impossible proves little obstacle for the deadly combination of Ana’s intellect and Din’s keen eye, and mere hours after riding into the dusty town, Ana glimpses the greater pattern behind the crime. A deeper, subtler web of death is being woven in plain sight, by a mastermind with an ancient magical technology at his disposal.

But even Ana's uncanny insight is of little use when each new suspect she uncovers ends up dead--with each new killing calculated to bring tensions between the two rival clans past the boiling point. And as Din pursues their adversary through the canton's wild ranges, sprawling ranches, and reeking slaughterhouses, he finds his loyalties divided in unexpected ways.

[ I have been a fan of Bennett since 'City of Stairs" and have also read and loved the first book in the series a lot. Can't wait to finish the second and dive into this. Should be a blast. ]

"The Unknown" by Riley Sager from Dutton

In 1926, five women disappeared from a remote island in Vermont. Now, one hundred years later, it’s happening again.

Struggling actress Marin Keane is shocked when she lands a role in a major motion picture about the unsolved mystery of New Avalon, an island on sprawling Lake Faraday in Vermont. She’s even more surprised when she learns that the role requires a weeklong research trip to that very spot.

Because New Avalon isn’t your ordinary island. A century ago, it was a commune for spiritual mediums—until they all vanished in 1926. The only trace of them was five dresses hanging from the branches of an old oak tree in the middle of the island, one for each missing woman. Some locals say they simply left. Others think they were murdered. But the prevailing opinion, thanks to a diary left behind by one of the vanished, a young woman named Daisy Rue, is that a séance gone wrong conjured something supernatural that took them all one by one.

Not long after arriving, Marin and her castmates, including legendary actress Violet Wright and white-hot director Ronan Peters, begin to realize all is not right with New Avalon. They hear strange noises in the night and notice mysterious symbols left behind by the island's previous occupants. And after a sudden health emergency leaves Marin, Ronan, and the other actors stranded on the island, the disappearances begin again.

Is it the work of someone trying to derail the movie? Or is the island’s alleged supernatural past catching up with the present? As fear and suspicion mount, Marin turns to Daisy’s diary, hoping it holds the key to figuring out what really happened to the women of New Avalon—and how to keep the island’s terrible history from repeating itself.

[ Heard a lot of good things about this author, maybe it's finally time to check out what the fuss is all about. ]

"Upon the Forge of Battle (Age of Wrath #3)" by Anthony Ryan from Orbit

As the Age of Wrath reaches its bloody conclusion, the world will be reforged in steel and fire . . .

Thera Blackspear was once champion to the Sister Queens. Now she's a queen herself, with Elvine as her spear maiden, wielding a weapon forged by the gods. But while the traitorous Sister Lore plots in the shadows, Ascarlia will never be safe.

Felnir has won a crown of his own and forged a kingdom at the tip of his divine blade. Yet his dreams are troubled by visions of the brother he thought long dead. A brother who needs his help, and whom Felnir would give anything to save - even his hard-won kingship.  

Ruhlin's many victories have made him a hero to the Morvek, who believe he is the prophesied saviour who will overthrow their Nihlvarian enemies. But now he finds himself a prisoner of the Vortigurn, the King of Nihlvar, who has secrets and schemes of his own.

Secrets that could unmake the world.

Upon the Forge of Battle is the epic conclusion to Anthony Ryan's Age of Wrath trilogy, a gripping fantasy saga of bloody retribution, deadly intrigue, and soaring heroism.

[ Despite yet to read anything by him, Anthony Ryan is one of my to list everything into TBR pile authors. Hoping to binge him one of these days. ]

"The Dungeon Book" by Gareth Hanrahan from Orbit

Enter a world of dungeons and dragons, magic and manticores, goblins and gargoyles in this captivating standalone fantasy from the author of The Gutter Prayer

Bait doesn't remember a time before the dungeon. Before the dragon stole her from her cot. She doesn't know what her name was before she was handed over to the monstrous denizens of the dungeon beneath the sorcerer's tower. Luckily for Bait, they decided not to eat her. And so, she grew up in the dark - the goblins her adopted family, a vengeful minotaur her protector, a sentient skull her tutor and a faithful blob of corridor slime her main source of nutrition.

But the labyrinthine dungeon, with its haunted halls, buried temples and forgotten magics, draws treasure hunters like moths to flame. And as the outside world starts to intrude, Bait will learn what it means to be monstrous, and she will have to decide where she truly belongs.

[ This looks really promising somehow, everyone needs a bit of humor in their reading once in a while, and the cover just entices me more. ]

"Preaching to the Choir (Terrible Worlds: Transformations #3) by Adrian Tchaikovsky from Solaris

Elena Mendes thought she understood what “old money” was.

She knew her boyfriend Ross Enderbough was rich. Like, “old money” rich. She knew he was the scion of some eccentric British line that predates the whole United States. She knew he didn’t really get on with his family, and that he fled to America to study free of their influence.

Ross has been summoned to Enderby, the family mansion built as a monastery centuries ago, for an exclusive, mysterious family gathering that happens only once a generation. Spouses and partners aren’t invited, but Ross has asked Elena to come anyway for moral support.

But there are secrets in the mouldering old pile, and terrors in the unkempt woods on the estate. And Elena slowly comes to realise that “old money” means so much more than she’d ever imagined… 

[ Those who follow my reviews know that I am a huge fan of Tchaikovsky, I already read and reviewed this here as an ARC and loved him trying even yet another genre in delving into gothic horror. ] 

"Them" by W.H. Chizmar from Gallery Books

A top-secret government project hits upon a revolutionary idea for transporting matter across the vast reaches of the universe, and they succeed in bringing something back. Something alive. Something alien. They bring back THEM.

Mankind’s reign atop the food chain comes to an abrupt halt when a tractor trailer hauling a mustard-yellow shipping container mysteriously overturns and rolls off the highway, unleashing THEM upon an unsuspecting New England countryside. America soon falls, and the world follows.

Years later, one man emerges from the rubble of humanity, seeking other survivors and a shred of hope amidst an eerie and lonely landscape. He travels by night up the rural East Coast, discovering Americana ruins and encountering monsters the likes of which no human has survived before. Scarred and molded by the horrors of the new natural order, the man must face his own dwindling humanity, and pray that any other survivors have not become monsters themselves.

THEM is the spectacular debut novel by W.H. Chizmar, an exciting new voice in dark fiction. This story of survival and responsibility presents sobering questions about what it means to be human and will stick with you long after the final page.

[ This one seems like my kind of post-apocalyptic horror, should be a fun read I think. ]

"A Plagued Sea" by Kim Bo-young, Sophie Bowman (Translator) from Tor Nightfire

First the flood

Next the sickness

Last the change

Visionary Korean author Kim Bo-young unleashes a Lovecraftian nightmare of infection, transformation, and abomination.

While waiting for a train to Haewon, an isolated Korean seaside village, bodyguard Mu-young gets a disaster alert on her phone. TVs throughout the station report breaking news of a massive earthquake on the eastern coast. Despite the danger, Mu-young boards the train with her niece: she’d rather face the earthquake than leave the girl in her mother’s care. That choice haunts her for the rest of her life.

Three years later, Haewon Village is home to horrors. The earthquake unleashed an ancient plague that transforms its victims into fishy monsters, and the government’s lockdown has cut off any hope for help. Mu-young’s niece is dead, and all that’s left for her is to hunt villagers who break isolation. When an officious bureaucrat from Seoul arrives in the village, he stirs up even deeper trouble. Will Mu-young survive? Does she even deserve to?

[ I have been interested in this for a long time, since I read about it in Grimdark Magazine in their anticipated stuff for 2026. A short little translated horror novella, Lovecraftian vibes, from Tor, count me in already. ]

Weekend Shorts - 10 Visions of the Future; or, Self-Care for the End of Days by Samantha Mills

Name - 10 Visions of the Future; or, Self-Care for the End of Days

Written by - Samantha Mills

Published on - Uncanny Magazine (Issue 63)

Alternate realities are all the rage nowadays and this one is quite a fun attempt to put this genre into action, mixing it with a post-apocalyptic and cosmic twist. The prose was fun with bits of humor and an overarching theme of romance, but nothing that seemed rather new to me.

The narrator describes 10 possible futures that she experiences through visions, occurring mostly after an apocalyptic event that keeps the populace trying to survive in various disastrous situations.

This is my first reading of the works of this author, and I found her prose and character work quite enjoyable despite nothing remarkably original on offer.

3 out of 5 stars from me.