DOWN BELOW BEYOND

2nd Edition

A NEW COVER BY TOM EDWARDS DESIGN

I am thrilled to be sharing the brand new artwork for the second edition of Down Below Beyond by T. A. Bruno. Here is everything you need to know about the book and the new cover art…

BLURB

Lodespace is a collection of worlds dominated by the Fessenog Fleet trade empire. Thanks to the Voyalten portals, alien civilizations from all over the universe can gather for glorious trade. For the wealthy, there has never been a more lucrative circle. But the Fleet is hiding something from its investors. A secret that, if exposed, could bring the empire to its knees.

Levort Aatra is a prospector on the planet Tayoxe. While scavenging the wastes of the abandoned world, he discovers a mysterious starship and stakes his claim on it. Little does he know, he just made himself the most wanted man in Lodespace.

DOWN BELOW BEYOND is a stand-alone sci-fi fantasy adventure filled with aliens, planets, and portals set in a universe crafted by T. A. Bruno, author of the award-winning Song of Kamaria trilogy.

AWARDS:

Indie B.R.A.G/ Medallion Honoree
Readers’ Favorite 5-Star Seal
Literary Titan Gold Book Award

About the Cover Artist (From the author):

Down Below Beyond launched a little over a year ago, and readers had a chance to explore Lodespace like never before. Since then, I have realized the original cover, although beautiful, was too vague. I wanted something more specific that the fans who have already read it would love, and new readers would have a better idea of what kind of book they were stepping into.

I found Tom Edwards via Instagram, and I liked his policies about never using A.I. and having a “new partnership rate” for authors who work with him for the first time. His style was exactly what I was looking for, and I think he nailed the look!

About the Cover:

Tom and I batted around a few ideas before landing on this cover. I wanted to give readers some fan service, including Vobsii nice and big, and having Skipper present. (Tom probably thought I was crazy when I kept insisting on how vital a common weed in a pot would be to the cover.) The
Tumbleweed rests on the back cover under a blanket of stars. I love the color scheme (always a sucker for blue and orange!) And Bayfo looks excellent next to Levort, with a nice contrast between the characters.

And there’s more…

DOWN BELOW BEYOND 2nd Edition features more interior artwork made by T. A. Bruno in the physical editions than before. You’ll get full artwork of Piper, Sevodan, Kurnult, and an alternate of Bayfo. In the back, there’s a full-cast artwork!

LINKS:

http://tabruno.com

https://www.tomedwardsdesign.com/#aboutme

https://www.audible.com/pd/Down-Below-Beyond-Audiobook/B0CBL6GCVT?source_code=AUDFPWS0223189MWT-BK-ACX0-358370&ref=acx_bty_BK_ACX0_358370_rh_us

Synopsis

An utterly gripping story of alien encounter and survival from Adrian Tchaikovsky, author of the Arthur C. Clarke Award-winning Children of Time.

They looked into the darkness and the darkness looked back . . .

New planets are fair game to asset strippers and interplanetary opportunists – and a commercial mission to a distant star system discovers a moon that is pitch black, but alive with radio activity. Its high-gravity, high-pressure, zero-oxygen environment is anathema to human life, but ripe for exploitation. They named it Shroud.Under no circumstances should a human end up on Shroud’s inhospitable surface. Except a catastrophic accident sees Juna Ceelander and Mai Ste Etienne doing just that. Forced to stage an emergency landing, in a small, barely adequate vehicle, they are unable to contact their ship and are running out of time. What follows is a gruelling journey across land, sea and air. During this time, Juna and Mai begin to understand Shroud’s dominant species. It also begins to understand them . . .If they escape Shroud, they’ll face a crew only interested in profiteering from this extraordinary world. They’ll somehow have to explain the impossible and translate the incredible. That is, if they make it back at all.

Due to be published 27 February 2025

Review

Shroud is an epitomical example of Tchaikovsky’s ingenious world building and memorable non-human characters.

The feat of world building, from the flora and fauna, to the weather and chemical composition of the environment, is beyond anything I’ve ever encountered. It felt like I learned some new things from a scientific perspective too.

The story gets off to a slowish start, aboard a ship orbiting Shroud – a moon intended to be harvested for its resources. There is a lot of dense hard science thrown at you from the get go and a dystopian-esque, hierarchical human equivalent of the civil service in space. This is where we are introduced to our characters, through the POV of Juna – the assistant to the director of a special research team.

The characters live in a universe where humanity seek to expand by prospecting alien worlds and moons, but at a cost. The Concerns, akin to business-like organisations, measure the wage-worth of their inhabitants – employees – and if you don’t provide value to the cause, you’re put back on ice until your services might be needed again.

As things develop and the action shifts to the moon of Shroud itself. This is where the story picks up in pace and Tchaikovsky’s wild imagination really takes on a life of its own.

Despite some hard science and completely alien landscapes and beings, I never felt lost (not as lost as our human characters, anyway). The author manages to describe everything in a way that is accessible and vivid.

Shroud is suspenseful, with some real moments of horror, but with a smattering of well placed humour that helps ease the mounting sense of unease.

The non-human characters are as weird as weird gets. The Shrouders also provide a secondary POV, giving a unique perspective on first contact with aliens.

The character development through adversity is done well, both from a human and alien perspective. The Shrouders’ development throughout the story is fascinating, both in how we perceive them, through their interactions with our characters’ pod, but also in how they perceive themselves, their world, and the alien humans. Tchaikovsky really shines in these moments of realisation and learning from the aliens.

Tchaikovsky is excellent with his social commentary through his speculative fiction. Another aspect I appreciated from Shroud is the strong theme of connection running through it – highlighted by the disconnection of humanity, but how we could achieve so much more by being more connected with each other in our common goals, was a message not lost on me, especially in this ever increasing fractious world we live in right now. We (humanity) have become disconnected from ourselves and each other in this future universe. The need for meaningful connection is portrayed well through both POVs throughout.

Tchaikovsky really goes beyond the realms of imagination with Shroud – a world full of mindblowing alien life and landscapes, based on (what I believe to be) well thought out scientific ideas. This is a hard sci-fi adventure done in the most brilliant and accessible way.

eARC provided by the publisher through Netgalley UK.

It’s the end of the year as we know it (and I feel full of cheese and chocolate).

2024 has been an extremely good reading year for me, and with so many highlights it’s made this post very difficult to narrow down. So I’m going to do something a little different and break it up into some obscure categories and lists, like a chaotic awards ceremony of sorts.

This year has been dominated by the number three due to the number of trilogies I’ve read and for three authors who have dominated by TBR…

The Three Kings

This year I read all 13 of Joe Abercrombie’s published books. Suffice to say, I am late to the party, but I had a ball nonetheless. With his First Law Trilogy, standalones, and Age of Madness Trilogy, I have found some of my favourite characters in fiction. Take a bow Sand dan Glokta, et al.

I have also got through the remainder of Mark Lawrence’s published works, with his Book of the Ice trilogy being a surprise favourite. Lawrence has become one of my favourite writers of all-time, his prose and genre-defying stories set him apart from many of his contemporaries.

Finally, I have continued my deep-drive into the works of Adrian Tchaikovsky – the master world-builder of SFF, the most prolific author currently writing across the genres, whose output is both consistent and astounding.

These three authors have each provided me with at least one read a month for the past year, and are firm favourites as a result.

All hail the three kings of SFF and the recipients of the Sinead O’Connor Award, aka The ‘Nothing Compares to You’ Award!

3 is the Magic Number, or My Top 3 Trilogies of the Year

The Age of Madness by Joe Abercrombie

The Green Bone Saga by Fonda Lee

The First Law by Joe Abercrombie

My Top Reads – Released and Read in 2024

(in no particular order)

The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett

A complete surprise how much I enjoyed this read. Fantastic world building and a brilliant mystery plot. But it’s the characters that drive it and the irreverent humour. Can’t wait for book 2.

Alien Clay by Adrian Tchaikovsky

If you want an example of how to create alien worlds, then look no further. Tchaikovsky is the master world-builder and this book is phenomenally creative.

Blood Brothers Beyond by Rob J. Hayes

When Rob dropped this surprise novella on the world I was so excited to get back to his Mortal Techniques world. I was not disappointed. This is a brilliantly written novella, filled with action, emotion, and humour. One of my favourite worlds and series.

Service Model by Adrian Tchaikovsky

It’s Tchaikovsky again. This time he brings us the end of the world – a robot apocalypse with a difference.

Service model shows us the best of Tchaikovsky’s non-human character work alongside his astute observations and wit.

The Escher Man by T.R. Napper

Napper delivers his best work to date, which is why he’s become an auto-buy author for me.

The Escher Man is a dark, near future cyberpunk punch in the face.

Brilliantly written and visualised.

The Mercy of Gods by James S.A. Corey

The Expanse remains my favourite sci-fi series, so I came into this book with trepidation. This is so different (thankfully) and so good too. The set up in here promises much for this series.

Mushroom Blues by Adrian M. Gibson

Debut novel of the year for me. SBFBOX finalist and a damn good read.

This had everything I needed – unique world building, great character work, and an interesting plot, filled with intrigue and action.

An accomplished debut with depth and strong themes.

The Book That Broke The World by Mark Lawrence

Book 1 in this series was my book of the year last year. This book was just as good. If Lawrence maintains this quality and momentum in book three, then this will likely be one of my all-time favourite series.

The World to Come by Yuval Kordov

This is how you conclude a trilogy.

This series is phenomenal on so many levels. You just have to read it. I loved it – genre defying, dark fantasy, dystopian, post apocalyptic, EVERYTHING!

Ninth Life by Stark Holborn

I read book 1 and 2 earlier this year and really enjoyed them. Then book 3 released…

This was a something else. A shift in direction from the previous two, it takes on a life of its own. Intricately structured, plotted, and paced to perfection. This is a series I highly recommend.

And Finally…

A few honourable mentions and a few ‘where have I been until now’ reads:

Two stand out self-pub reads for me in 2024 were Dreams of the Dying by Nicolas Lietzau and Hall of Bones by Tim Hardie. Both well worth your attention.

And finally, some new-to-me authors who had me shouting, “where have I been until now?!”

Guy Gavriel Kay with Tigana – beautiful and thought-provoking.

Octavia E. Butler with Parable of the Sower – eerily prophetic and powerful.

Becky Chambers with The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet – an absolute joy!

All of the above blew me away!

To close, I’d like to thank you all for indulging me in my rambling review of the year – it’s been emotional. I hope 2024 brought you as much reading pleasure as it did me. Here’s to another great reading year in 2025. Happy reading and Happy New Year all!

Synopsis

Endel ‘Endgame’ Ebbinghaus is a violent man, a street-level enforcer for a drug cartel. Or is he? In The Escher Man, nothing is as it seems. Friends, enemies, the past and the present, all become blurred in a world where memory manipulation has become the weapon of choice for powerful corporations.

From the gaudy, glittering demimonde of Macau, to the war-torn, steaming streets of northern Vietnam, Endel must fight to save his family, his life, and the fading memory of the man he once was.

Review

The Escher Man is less cyberpunk and more cybermetal – heavy metal. This book rocks!

Memory and reality are questioned in this metaphysical maelstrom of a novel. Brilliantly perceived through the eyes and mind of its main character.

Napper returns to his near future world, with its southeast Asian setting, providing a very believable speculative view of our near future. Vivid and violent, and with Napper’s cool wit, we take a different look at many popular themes of the genre, like AI, social media, and humanity’s interaction with technology and it’s manipulation of the mind.

It’s the little touches that add so much depth to the world building, relatable and sometimes tongue-in-cheek, like the ego and opinion feeds (Insta and X perhaps).

The plot and story is driven by the well fleshed-out, morally grey characters – following the vibe from his debut 36 Streets – the main character here is as grey as they come, a violent criminal but a dedicated family man. Endgame is a superb narrator for the story – a gangster with hidden depths, he’s engaging and feels real.

At times this is a total mindf#&k, in the best sense of the word, and so rewarding. The ideas on memory, reality, and technology are extremely well developed, fascinating, and worryingly believable too.

The Escher Man brings together everything I’ve enjoyed from this author’s work so far. T. R. Napper has quickly become a new favourite of mine. With each new book he continues to deliver. He has a distinctive voice that is perfect for this genre. His prose and pacing are all pitch perfect, never missing a beat.

Synopis

Bless the Eternal One!

Or suffer her wrath. God-engines close in on the Union, pushing them back to the brink of savagery. A secret convoy heads north to get help from an old clan, but they have to cross Hell to get there.

The Hellmouth opens.

Spilling forth its legions. From west to east, no one is safe. But as civil war pits hammer against shield in Bastion, no one is watching.

“What are you going to do?”
“Rescue my daughter.”

Meanwhile, two unlikely companions race through it all to save their children from a war no one can win.

Who will usher in the World to Come?

—

For fans of Dan Simmons’ Hyperion Cantos, Iain Banks’ Culture novels, Dune, and other classic metaphysical science fiction.

Expected publication September 3, 2024

Review

The World to Come is the dark, harrowing, emotionally intense, mind-bending, and hugely rewarding, conclusion to the Dark Legacies trilogy.

A fully immersive fever dream of a book that consumed me from beginning to end. With hidden moments of beauty and tenderness, this was a complete reading experience.

To say this is the best book of the trilogy would be unfair, but also an understatement; the previous two books are equally as good, laying the groundwork for this powerful and satisfying conclusion to the trilogy.

The author provides further world building and character development, which takes the reader on an intensely physical and mental journey. Described in wonderful detail, the imagery is as vivid as ever, but purposely obfuscated with the blurred lines between reality and nightmare.

The mental and psychological states of the characters is brilliantly done, it feels both immediate and real.

There are moments of bewilderment, fear, and horror, to get heart racing; there are moments of bliss, beauty and love, to pull on the heartstrings. All said, it’s an anxiety fuelled, visceral roller-coaster from start to finish.

I genuinely believe fans of the series will be mostly, if not completely, satisfied with the way this trilogy is closed out. There are many character journeys that are brought to a close in one way or another.

A special mention for the epilogue, which provided much needed catharsis from all that has gone before. The imagery used is powerful and beautiful, and may well leave a tear in your eye.

A final note on the writing, which has been brilliant throughout the series. The use of imagery and metaphor adds to the metaphysical aspect and the nightmarish nature of the world. The prose fits each character POV perfectly, transporting the reader into each character’s mind and thoughts, so you really see and feel what they do.

The World to Come and the Dark Legacies world has surprised, shocked, and amazed me in equal measure. When I discovered book one, The Hand of God, I knew the series would be something special. To find a series that encompasses almost all of my favourite aspects of SFF fiction is a rare thing. Will there be more? The author has hinted as much.

Whatever else comes from this world, I will be there.

Thank you to the author for providing me with an eARC.

I am thrilled to be hosting this cover reveal for Aaron M. Payne’s debut novel, Falling Into Oblivion.

I think you’ll agree that it’s an awesome cover that just yells cyberpunk!

Here’s the full artwork and everything you need to know about the cover, book blurb, author, and ARC sign ups…

Cover & Project Details:

Cover Artist: Katerina Belikova (ninjajo_art):  https://www.instagram.com/ninjajo_art/

Publisher: Ampersand Books LLC

Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D6GRDXGP

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/214377963-falling-into-oblivion

Author Website: https://www.bibliotheory.com/my-books

ARC Link: https://forms.gle/DUtVM3ry2Un9P54j7

Target Release Date: 4th October 2024

Book Details

Title: Falling Into Oblivion

Series Name: Tendrils of Chrome

Length: 70K words

Genre: Sci-Fi, Cyberpunk, Noir

Blurb

MODIFICATIONS COME AT A PRICE.

Detective Sol Harkones is tangled in the wires of a deadly conspiracy involving defective body modifications causing permanent brain damage. A suspect is known, but something more dangerous may be lurking in the shadows.

A city plagued by waste.

Violence fills the streets.

Oblivion is within reach.

Falling Into Oblivion is the electrifying first book in the Tendrils of Chrome cyberpunk sci-fi series. If you’re a fan of William Gibson’s Neuromancer, HBO’s True Detective, or Philip K. Dick’s Blade Runner, you will love Aaron M. Payne’s rapid-fire saga.

About the Author

Aaron M. Payne has long been a fan of all things science fiction and fantasy, especially books! He loves reading so much that he created a YouTube channel called BiblioTheory to discuss his passion and talk books.

He currently lives in Lakeland, Florida, with his wife, daughter, and two fluffy dogs.

Cover artist: Author’s wife
Publisher: Self-Published
Release Date: May 31st, 2024

I am thrilled to be hosting this cover reveal for a debut self-publishing author, who I first met at FantasyCon in 2022. When Will asked me if I would help him out with his reveal, I didn’t hesitate. And when I saw the cover for the first time, I was even more excited that he asked me to be the one to share it with you.

Blurb

The Gods have lost, and the world fallen to ice and darkness.

All Pel has ever known are the frozen hills and safe walls of home, but that is about to change. Now he must travel to Brightfont, the last city. Deadly creatures roam the wasteland and not everyone is who they claim, but he carries with him a message and a secret that will change the world, and he must survive.

In an era before the Gods fell, Saphielle lived for her daughter first, and her country second. That was until the brutal slaughter of her brother. Now her father – the King –  seeks retribution and stokes the fires of a holy war. Whilst armies clash, Saphielle alone hears the voice of her goddess warning of an ancient and forgotten enemy, one only she can defeat. She must succeed or condemn the world to ice, unless war tears it apart first.

Separated by time, connected by prophecy, the fate of Eberia rests on their shoulders.

Here are some quotes from the novel, provided by the author:

The great white creature reared before her. Its huge wings beat and the wind they created was like a winter storm. Its body was that of a lizard, a thousand times larger than any that ran around the palace gardens. It brought its spined head lower on a long, twisting neck to sniff the air around her. There was a cunning behind its cold blue eyes. Its lips peeled back to reveal rows of fangs and Saphielle could have sworn it smiled cruelly.

Choice is an illusion. We never truly get to decide our fate, even if it seems at times that we do. Life is lived in-between inevitabilities and this is one of those focal points we get swept towards without knowing. Best just to get it over and done with.

Stories, it turns out, are what sustain people. Told around fires the length and breadth of the land night after night.

Above the paper, a section of mist billowed outward. In the swirling greyness a shape began to form. It emerged from the fog like a great bird, except it was larger than any bird he’d ever seen. At that distance the shape was only as large as his thumbnail, but given it flew over the peaks and he could still make it out, the thing must have been enormous. Larger than a house for certain, perhaps a row of houses. It spread pointed wings and blew the mist into swirling eddies with each beat.

About the Author

Will was born in Canterbury, Kent. He learnt to read early and spent most of his free time with his head in a book or a Beano. As a child, his father would read the Chronicles of Narnia at bedtime and this instilled his love of fantasy, enhanced in later years by Redwall, Eragon, Gemmell and Tolkien.

His love of books and stories has followed him since those earliest days. Aged five, he wrote a six line story about Farmer Tom which was so good it won him a Head Teacher’s Award! His lunchtimes at secondary school consisted of being a student librarian and writing (and rewriting and rewriting) a fantasy novel with his friend and future co-best man. This book will never see the light of day. It did, however, kindle a passion for writing that has continued to this day.

Echoes of a Lost Goddess, book one in the Voices of the Ilskini series, is Will’s debut novel and will be published in May 2024.

You can follow Will at his website and on social media, via X and BlueSky, for further updates:

https://www.inkbornblade.com/

https://x.com/InkbornBlade?t=Abfbz3cP6kxP9sB0TGFdIg&s=09

https://bsky.app/profile/inkbornblade.bsky.social

A note on the cover artist: Will’s wife does not want any exposure (yet), but I think you’ll agree that she has done an epic job with the cover art. I just wanted to include this note as assurance, and on behalf of the author, that a human being is responsible for this excellent cover art.

Synopsis

Alien Clay is a thrilling far-future adventure by acclaimed Arthur C. Clarke Award-winning author Adrian Tchaikovsky.

The planet of Kiln is where the tyrannical Mandate keeps its prison colony, and for inmates the journey there is always a one-way trip. One such prisoner is Professor Arton Daghdev, xeno-ecologist and political dissident. Soon after arrival he discovers that Kiln has a secret. Humanity is not the first intelligent life to set foot there.

In the midst a ravenous, chaotic ecosystem are the ruins of a civilization, but who were the vanished builders and where did they go? If he can survive both the harsh rule of the camp commandant and the alien horrors of the world around him, then Arton has a chance at making a discovery that might just transform not only Kiln but distant Earth as well.

Review

My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Tor (Pan Macmillan), for providing me with the eARC.

Because it can’t be hell without fellow sinners to suffer amongst.

Alien Clay provides further evidence of Adrian Tchaikovsky’s unparalleled and unfathomable imagination. A master storyteller and world builder, Tchaikovsky delivers yet another fascinating speculative vision of an alien ecology, that is both innovative and immersive.

The book takes place in a future where a dystopian Earth utilises alien planets as prison colonies, with the prisoners providing free and disposable labour. Enter Arton Daghdev, xeno-ecologist and political dissident, who is literally dropped onto planet Kiln with little hope of survival beyond his landing.

The first person narrative, solely from Daghdev’s perspective, lends to the mystery of the planet; through Daghdev’s journey, we learn about the planet, its inhabitants, the politics of the prison camp, and by association, that of Earth. This style and perspective works well, maintaining anticipation and intrigue throughout, which made this story a real page turner.

There are no spiders. There are worse things than spiders.

Life on Kiln is not as we know it. This is where the author’s imagination takes us on a trip of sheer mind-blowing ideas and spectacle. The nature of Kiln is mysterious and unusual to say the least. This is first contact with a difference – close encounters of a revolutionary kind.

The ecology of the planet is linked strongly with the themes of the book. The inhabitants of the planet are the metaphorical clay in the Kiln.

What links us to the world links us to each other.

The human story works in symbiosis with the planet’s nature, with strong themes of evolution and revolution. Whilst the Sardonic cynicism of Daghdev’s narrative adds to the dystopian feel, there is a distinct undercurrent of hope – that things can get better and worth fighting for. Empathy, evolving relationships, and philosophical musings of working together is better than working against one and other. The parallels between the revolutionary aspects of the human contingent and the evolutionary nature of the planet work very well together.

Despite some minor pacing issues, where I felt the story became a little bogged down in the middle third, I had a very enjoyable time with this story. The author, through the narrative style, leaves subtle hooks in each chapter that makes you want to continue to the next chapter. As a standalone novel it has a satisfying ending, leaving room for questions and speculation afterwards. The philosophical and metaphysical aspects provide food for thought on the impact of the themes explored in the story.

Overall, Alien Clay is a solid example of what speculative fiction should strive to be – imaginative, thoughtful, philosophical, and good fun too! A story that challenges the status quo, inviting the reader to think and to question.

Adrian Tchaikovsky quickly has become one of my favourite authors, and with Alien Clay he has delivered yet another reminder of why that is. So if you are looking for a standalone entry point to Tchaikovsky, then Alien Clay would be a very good place to start.

Alien Clay is due to be published on 28th March 2024.

Suffice to say, 2023 has been my best reading year by far. And not just for the quantity read, but most importantly the quality.

I have read widely across the SFF spectrum, both self-published and traditionally published, reading many authors for the first time, and discovering some new favourites along the way.

This year has also rekindled my love of science-fiction, alongside my penchant for post-apocalyptic and dystopian stories.

Deciding on a list of top reads was difficult, but I eventually got it down to a top 10 (including books read between January and November).

But just before I get to my top 10, I must spotlight one of my many reading highlights from this year.

The Expanse series by James S.A. Corey

This was such a rewarding experience, and one of the best sci-fi series you will ever read.

You can read my series review here: Series Review: The Expanse by James S.A. Corey | FanFiAddict

Now, let’s get to my list…

Drum roll…

10. Bob the Wizard by M.V. Prindle

This is a book I still think about often. A work of pure fantasy escapism that I couldn’t stop reading. With fresh spins on some tried and tested fantasy tropes, I got swept away on Bob’s epic fantasy quest, with so many great characters.

My full review can be read here: Review: Bob the Wizard by M.V. Prindle | FanFiAddict

09. Shadows of Nyn’Dira by H.C. Newell

The third book in Newell’s Fallen Light series really hits a high point. The author truly found her voice with this book. With gut-punch moments, bloody gruesome battles, vivid imagery, and great character moments, I felt fully immersed in all the glory and gore of this story. 

Newell ‘famously’ wore a t-shirt at DragonCon that said “The next Ryan Cahill” on it. After this book, and certainly if the rest of the series continues at this level, there will be authors wearing t-shirts stating “The next H.C. Newell”! Definitely an author to watch and add to your TBRs in 2024.

08. Ascendant by Michael R. Miller

Ascendant gave me everything I expected from an epic fantasy dragon rider story – all the usual tropes are present, like coming of age, found family, good vs evil, magical bonds – but it felt so fresh and new. Miller has taken a tried and tested formula and made it his own. I loved Holt and Ash!

My full review can be read here: Review: Ascendant (Songs of Chaos #1) by Michael R. Miller | FanFiAddict

07. The Shadow Gate by L.L. MacRae

The Shadow Gate is a sweeping epic fantasy sequel that just kept getting better and better. Tight, fluid prose, exemplary character work, and extraordinary world building. Absolutely incredible, and as close to perfect as you are going to get.

My full review can be read here: Review: The Shadow Gate (Dragon Spirits #2) by L.L. MacRae | FanFiAddict

06. Of War and Ruin by Ryan Cahill

There’s no hiding the fact that The Bound and the Broken is my favourite ongoing fantasy series. Cahill’s writing gets better and better with each book. His plotting, pacing, worldbuilding, and character development is taken to yet another level in this instalment. Filled with action, suspense, emotion, and humour, it’s a wonderfully crafted saga, with one of the largest casts of characters I think I’ve experienced.

If you haven’t picked this series up yet, now is the time. With three books, three novellas, and more to come, I can’t recommend it enough.

05. The Necessity of Rain by Sarah Chorn

This is a book that can and should be appreciated by everyone, not just SFF readers. This is a work of literary fiction of the highest quality; I am in awe of the achievement, but not surprised. Sarah Chorn is still one of favourite writers. Ever.

My full review can be read here: The Necessity of Rain by Sarah Chorn | FanFiAddict

04. The Will Of The Many by James Islington

I haven’t actually written a review for this one yet, so I’ll just provide a few lines here to sum up my thoughts.

This book at some of the best plotting and worldbuilding of any modern fantasy I’ve read. It perfectly delivers some tried and tested tropes in a way that will appeal to both YA and Adult audiences, whilst alienating neither.

If I had to sum it up then it’s a Greco-Roman version of Hogwarts (think Goblet of Fire) meets Red Rising and Gladiator.

This book also has one of the most mind-bending epilogues ever written, and I can’t wait to see what happens next.

03. All Of Our Sins by Yuval Kordov

I could have included The Hand of God in this list, but decided on its sequel instead. This debut series has really blown me away this year.

All Of Our Sins is a psychotropic fever dream, the follow-up to The Hand Of God. The Dark Legacies series is proving to be one of the most all-consuming reading experiences I have had.  The vivid, dark, and immersive hellscape introduced in book one is further explored and developed in this cerebral and cinematic sequel.

My full review can be read here: Review: All Of Our Sins (Dark Legacies #2) by Yuval Kordov | FanFiAddict

02. Cage of Souls by Adrian Tchaikovsky

Adrian Tchaikovsky is one of those authors I have always wanted to read. I finally made the plunge this year, starting with his award winning Children of Time (which could have also made this list), but it is Cage of Souls that stood out. It really impressed and entertained me.

A captivating work of speculative fiction of the highest order. A standalone that felt more like a series in scope and imagination. Adrian Tchaikovsky’s world building and storytelling is off the charts in this outrageously entertaining story.

My full review can be read here: Review: Cage of Souls by Adrian Tchaikovsky | FanFiAddict

01. The Book That Wouldn’t Burn by Mark Lawrence

This was my first foray into Mark Lawrence’s writing. And what an introduction! His writing, storytelling, plotting, characterisation, and twists and turns, left me in awe. This book burned itself into my mind and I cannot wait for book 2! Words alone can’t do justice to how good this book was for me.

My full review can be read here: Review: The Book That Wouldn’t Burn (The Library Trilogy #1) by Mark Lawrence | FanFiAddict

And so ends my list of top reads for 2023. I hope you’ve had as good a reading year as I have; I hope you pick up some new reads from this list, and the others published throughout December on FFA.

I want to finish up by saying thank you to all the authors, readers, reviewers, bloggers, creators, and everyone who help make this community such a wonderful place to enjoy the love of reading. Here’s to more awesome reading in 2024. Cheers!

Synopsis

The Sun is bloated, diseased, dying perhaps. Beneath its baneful light, Shadrapar, last of all cities, harbours fewer than 100,000 human souls. Built on the ruins of countless civilisations, surviving on the debris of its long-dead progenitors, Shadrapar is a museum, a midden, an asylum, a prison on a world that is ever more alien to humanity.

Bearing witness to the desperate struggle for existence between life old and new, is Stefan Advani, rebel, outlaw, prisoner, survivor. This is his testament, an account of the journey that took him into the blazing desolation of the western deserts; that transported him east down the river and imprisoned him in verdant hell of the jungle’s darkest heart; that led him deep into the labyrinths and caverns of the underworld. He will treat with monsters, madman, mutants. The question is, which one of them will inherit this Earth?

Review

Cage of Souls is a captivating work of speculative fiction of the highest order. A standalone that felt like an entire series in scope and imagination. Adrian Tchaikovsky’s world building and storytelling is off the charts in this outrageously entertaining story.

The story is told in the style of a historical memoir, as written down by the main character of the piece, Stefan Advani. Advani is a social historian, activist, outlaw, prisoner, and witness to the beginning of the end of the world as he knows it. The narrative is delivered in Advani’s wry, sardonic wit, which is acerbic and irreverent at times, providing some dark humour which I really appreciated. The anecdotal style, with his random musings, gradually paints the bigger picture of the world and its people.

Advani’s story, told in several parts, moves back and forth between his recent and immediate past. The nonlinear timeline works well, as it fits the journal-like style of the storytelling, with Advani going off on various tangents of memory, thought, and opinion.

Aside from Advani, there is a great cast of characters, all richly envisioned and covering the spectrum of humanity – mostly the bad. Passing characters are also described in wonderful detail, making the world all the more authentic. The vindictive Marshal at the prison is particularly fun, with his grim outlook and indifference to executing anyone who looks at him funny. There are so many great characters throughout (too many to mention here) all brought to life through Advani’s candid recollections.

There is no obvious plot to speak of, as we follow Advani through the chaos, and it doesn’t really matter. The story serves more as a commentary on society, faith, religion, culture, politics, science, and morality. There is a metaphysical and philosophical quality to the writing, particularly highlighted in the part involving the mysterious Faith. I felt it was an extremely clever use of a character, giving double meaning to a lot of the passages.

What Tchaikovsky does so brilliantly is, he holds a mirror up to our own history, society, and humanity, thus creating a truly unique perspective through his astounding world building (which is the true beauty of the book) .

So let’s talk about that world building. Set in a far future, dystopian version of Earth, following an unknown apocalypse, we find Shadrapar, with its lost technologies, lost environment, and lost histories. The world and society building is unlike anything else I’ve experienced. The remains of humanity have little understanding of the ‘ancients’ – which I interpreted as our Earth now, or in the near future, where we have caused the end of our world as we know it. Centuries later, we are at the beginning of another end of times, in Advani’s time. The world has an archaic vibe rather than far future – from a technological perspective, with flintlocks and sabers being used alongside recovered technologies like energy weapons. There are hints at ‘old’ technologies like cryogenics, AI, time travel, genetic engineering, and much more, which the Shadrapans have little to no understanding of, making assumptions or even religions around them.

With an almost Victorian-gothic vibe at times, particularly in the underworld and the Island, it’s extremely difficult to categorise this future world adequately. All I can say is, Tchaikovsky is a master world builder, with a phenemonal imagination. His ability to take you on a journey to another place and time, whilst immersing you there fully, is unparalleled.

Cage of Souls is one of the most fascinating and unique versions of a post-apocalyptic, dystopian society and world I’ve read. Adrian Tchaikovsky is a true marvel. His ideas, imagination, and creativity is beyond most of anything else I’ve experienced.