James Nicoll Reviews

The Serpent & the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent (December 2023)

The Hunger Games meets vampires in this heart-wrenching, epic fantasy romance of dark magic, and bloodthirsty intrigue from bestselling author Carissa Broadbent. 

For humans and vampires, the rules of survival are the same: never trust, never yield, and always – always – guard your heart. 

The adopted human daughter of the Nightborn vampire king, Oraya carved her place in a world designed to kill her. Her only chance to become something more than prey is entering the Kejari: a legendary tournament held by the goddess of death herself. 

But winning won’t be easy amongst the most vicious warriors from all three vampire houses. To survive, Oraya is forced to make an alliance with a mysterious rival. 

Everything about Raihn is dangerous. He is a ruthless vampire, an efficient killer, an enemy to her father’s crown… and her greatest competition. Yet, what terrifies Oraya most of all is that she finds herself oddly drawn to him. 

But there’s no room for compassion in the Kejari. War for the House of Night brews, shattering everything that Oraya thought she knew about her home. And Raihn may understand her more than anyone – but their blossoming attraction could be her downfall, in a kingdom where nothing is more deadly than love. 

The Serpent & the Wings of Night is the first book in the Crowns of Nyaxia series. 

The Death I Gave Him by Em X. Liu (September 2023)

A Twenty-First Century Hamlet. 

Hayden Lichfield’s life is ripped apart when he finds his father murdered in their lab, and the camera logs erased. The killer can only have been after one thing: the Sisyphus Formula the two of them developed together, which might one day reverse death itself. Hoping to lure the killer into the open, Hayden steals the research. In the process, he uncovers a recording his father made in the days before his death, and a dying wish: Avenge me…With the lab on lockdown, Hayden is trapped with four other people — his uncle Charles, lab technician Gabriel Rasmussen, research intern Felicia Xia and their head of security, Felicia’s father Paul — one of whom must be the killer. His only sure ally is the lab’s resident artificial intelligence, Horatio, who has been his dear friend and companion since its creation. With his world collapsing, Hayden must navigate the building’s secrets, uncover his father’s lies, and push the boundaries of sanity in the pursuit of revenge. 

Like Smoke, Like Light: Stories by Yukimi Ogawa (June 2023)

A monster wearing the stolen dress of a deceased mother agrees to help the woman’s orphaned son. A girl whose blood can cause hallucinogenic visions makes a daring escape from the merchants who traffic her. In a society where people are prized for their jewel-hued skins — indigo, silver, amber, emerald — one girl endures brutal bruises to shine brightest of all, while another, her eyes sealed inside a featureless helmet, risks death to retrieve colors from the outside world. In the future of that culture, one where androids serve with brimming resentment and artificially altering one’s skin color can be a crime, the most ordinary in appearance can prove the best detectives, and the most subtly effective rebels. On a far distant space station, another android encounters a goddess humans forgot. 

Saevus Corax Gets Away With Murder by K. J. Parker (December 2023)

If you’re going to get ahead in the battlefield salvage business, you have to regard death as a means to an end. In other words, when the blood flows, so will the cash. Unfortunately, even though war is on the way, Saevus Corax has had enough. 

There are two things he has to do before he can enjoy his retirement: get away with one last score, and get away with murder. For someone who, ironically, tends to make a mess wherever he goes, leaving his affairs in order is going to be Saevus Corax’s biggest challenge yet. 

Classic Fantasy Imperative by Lawrence Whitaker (September 2023)

Unveil a Realm of Adventure with Classic Fantasy Imperative! 

Step into a world where imagination knows no bounds and epic tales are woven by your choices. Classic Fantasy Imperative invites you to embark on thrilling quests in realms of fantasy and wonder.

Whether you’re a battle-hardened fighter, a cunning rogue, a wise magic-user, or a steadfast cleric, Classic Fantasy Imperative invites you to become the hero of your own saga. Collaborate with friends as you navigate treacherous dungeons, forge alliances, and battle fearsome monsters. The dice determine your fate, but the choices you make will define your destiny.

Unearth hidden treasures, confront legendary beasts, and weave stories that will be recounted for generations to come. Are you ready to unleash your creativity, forge unbreakable bonds, and experience unparalleled adventures? The path awaits, and your destiny is in your hands.

Harnessing the power of the ORC License, Classic Fantasy Imperative offers you the key to a realm of creative freedom. Craft your own adventures, shape unique characters, and worlds as vast as your imagination. The ORC License empowers you to create, modify, and share your own content derived from Classic Fantasy Imperative, whether whole or in part. And the accompanying System Reference Document (SRD) provides an easy way to access the Licensed Material of Classic Fantasy Imperative, igniting your creative prowess.

Grab your dice, gather your friends, and let the journey begin. Welcome to Classic Fantasy Imperative – where the only limit is the scope of your imagination!