Author Archive: PaulineMorgan
Sword And Pen (The Great Library book 5) by Rachel Caine (book review).
Fire is capable of destroying in a way that is spectacular and devastating. Precious things, whether mementos lost in a house fire of important archaeological artefacts like those destroyed in the conflagration in Rio’s Museum can never be replaced. Most people have heard of the fire that supposedly destroyed the Great Library of Alexandria. It […]
The North Beyond Part 2: Maesrhon by P.M. Scrayfield (book review).
‘The North Beyond’ is one big novel divided into four books, of which this is the second part. As a result, there is little to guide the reader in the architecture of this fantasy world. Part one was the story of Numirantoro (none of the characters have a familiar diminutive), her childhood and how she […]
Electric Forest by Tanith Lee (book review).
One of the problems with choosing from the plethora of books on offer is which one. Should it be something a friend with similar tastes has recommended, a new author you’ve not yet sampled or one of the ‘classics’. The term ‘classic’ is itself a minefield. Younger readers tend to think of them as on […]
A Bite To Remember (Argeneau Family book 5) by Lynsay Sands (book review).
The ‘Argeneau Family’ series of books is like a relay race. The baton of focal character is passed on between the end of one novel and the start of the next. ‘A Bite To Remember’ is the fifth in the series involving the Argeneau family. What makes members different is that they are vampires in […]
Killing Gods: A Superhero Novel by Tony Cooper (book review).
One of the best reasons for writing a sequel is if the characters have more story to tell and if it is sufficiently different from their first outing to keep the readership enthralled while holding on to all the features that made the original idea captivating. It is not easy to do and many authors […]
A Brightness Long Ago by Guy Gavriel Kay (book review).
The idea of a fantasy set in an alternative world is not a new one. Often it is a single change that make all the difference. A number of authors have experimented with the sub-genre: what if Lincoln wasn’t assassinated or Hitler was? What if Napoleon had succeeded in invading Britain or the Romans hadn’t? […]
Tall, Dark And Hungry (Argeneau Family book 4) by Lynsay Sands (book review).
It is widely accepted that there is a section of readers who, having found a genre they like, demand more of the same. It is part of reason why Mills & Boon has been and still is such a success. Not all their novels have coy, virginal and idealistic heroines as the books have been […]
Black Static #29 Jul-Aug 2012 (magazine review).
There are some who will wonder if there is any point in reviewing a magazine at this distance from the publication date. In the case of some that would be a fair comment as the contents date rapidly but in the case of anything that contains fiction stories can remain current. There are collectors of […]
Powerless: A Superhero Novel: Volume 1 by Tony Cooper (book review).
Despite the rise in the number of novels and stories involving supernatural creatures such as vampires, werewolves and angels, there is still a fascination for the super-hero. I am sure there is no-one who has not wished at some time or another to have some power that is unique to us. That power may be […]
Binti: The Complete Trilogy by Nnedi Okorafor (book review).
The Science Fiction field and especially fandom is a place where diversity is celebrated. We have long got over the pulp SF trope of all sentient aliens being automatically hostile and, in some novels, the aliens have behaved better and with more honour than humans. There is never going to be total harmony and, as […]
