Reviews, articles on fantasy and folklore, lists, excerpts, news & special offers.

Sample Newsletter (Issue 1 for 2020)

New humorous fantasies in the last 90 days  (I haven’t read any of them yet):

Featured fantasy website:

Jurgen: A Comedy of Justice by James Branch Cabell (a very oldy but goody, published in 1919): with more respect for accuracy than for political correctness, Cabell instructed us on the pronunciation of his name (CAB-ble not CAY-bell): “Tell the rabble, my name is Cabell.” He is said to have influenced Terry Pratchett (a considerably more select group than those who claim to be following Pratchett’s lead. “A romp through a medieval cosmos”: sounds fun.

Undeading Bells by Drew Hayes: Book 6 of Fred, the Vampire Accountant. The first book (The Utterly Uninteresting and Unadventurous Tales of Fred, the Vampire Accountant, in which Fred attends his eventful high school class reunion) was funny and enjoyable, though I haven’t read the others yet. Hayes is also the author of NPCs, reviewed in the next issue.

Undeading Bells by Drew Hayes: Book 6 of Fred, the Vampire Accountant. The first book (The Utterly Uninteresting and Unadventurous Tales of Fred, the Vampire Accountant, in which Fred attends his eventful high school class reunion) was funny and enjoyable, though I haven’t read the others yet. Hayes is also the author of NPCs, reviewed in the next issue.

Undeading Bells by Drew Hayes: Book 6 of Fred, the Vampire Accountant. The first book (The Utterly Uninteresting and Unadventurous Tales of Fred, the Vampire Accountant, in which Fred attends his eventful high school class reunion) was funny and enjoyable, though I haven’t read the others yet. Hayes is also the author of NPCs, reviewed in the next issue.

Undeading Bells by Drew Hayes: Book 6 of Fred, the Vampire Accountant. The first book (The Utterly Uninteresting and Unadventurous Tales of Fred, the Vampire Accountant, in which Fred attends his eventful high school class reunion) was funny and enjoyable, though I haven’t read the others yet. Hayes is also the author of NPCs, reviewed in the next issue.

Wyrde and Wayward (House of Werth Book 1) by Charlotte E. English. The chronicle of a peculiar Regency family with a penchant for dealing with the dead (“Refined Regency manners meet gothic comedy” according to the blurb) by the author of the Modern Magick series. An intriguing combination for those who like the Regency period (reading about it, at least--not actually being there).

What Fresh Hell (Book 1 of The Gods Are Bastards) by D. D. Webb. This is the first volume in the novelization of a long-running popular web serial. It has an unusual setting for a fantasy: the American West, though apparently elements of traditional fantasy such as elves and other beings as well as magic.

The Limpet Syndrome (Book 1 of How to Survive the Afterlife) by Tony Moyle. John dies and receives an odd assignment in order to return to life. As the blurb says, “If you love books about reincarnation, corruption, the human condition and talking pigeons then this is the book for you.”

If you like lists and categories, this is the place or you. The site is very opinionated and makes no bones about it, putting everything in hierarchical order. Along with the (literally) 10, 25, 50, or 100 best or most in myriad categories from subgenres such as Vampire Fantasy and Steampunk to works by decade are more unusual lists such as Best Non-English Fantasy Books and Worst Fantasy Books (including several by well-known authors). The latest yearly listings are for 2017.

An intriguing premise: Cabal renegotiates his deal with Satan in which he gave up his soul in exchange for arcane knowledge (necromancy: communicating with and raising the dead). He now has one year to garner 100 souls to exchange for his own as well as a peculiar and so far unsuccessful demonic carnival to attract them.

Good points: witty, full of wry humor and funny banter, with interesting situations and characters, including Cabal’s brother Horst, a conscientious vampire. And a great cover.

Less successful: A rather tedious amount of unpleasantness, including Cabal’s bad deeds, disintegrating vivified corpses, anger and violence (though not graphic). Certainly well-written and intriguing enough to read more (though it may be hard to sustain through the many books and offshoots of the series) .

Quick-take review:

S volkami zhit’, po-volch’i vyt’. (Live with wolves, howl like a wolf.)

Johannes Cabal the Necromancer, Book 1 of the Johannes Cabal Series, by Jonathan L. Howard

This issue’s tidbit from Russian folklore:

Future newsletters will discuss subgenres of humorous/light-hearted fantasy (such as cozy witch mysteries and hard-boiled demon hunter stories), with reviews of websites and books, lists,  folklore tidbits, excerpts and updates on book 2 of the Baba Yaga Chronicles, and special offers.

Happy reading!

Hexed in Texas

Book 1 of the Baba Yaga Chronicles

Is now available on Amazon for a special introductory price of $0.99 for a limited time (regular price $2.99).

Hexed in Texas

As a newsletter subscriber, you’ll be notified of special offers through KDP promotions and will receive free excerpts and updates on book 2.

Reviews are greatly appreciated!

Reviews, articles on fantasy and folklore, lists, excerpts, news & special offers.