Birdie Bagshaw has never known her parents. Having grown up in a children’s home for mixed race children in 1950s Leeds, now she has come to live with her great-aunt in the Yorkshire Dales. From her arrival, Birdie is treated like an outsider by the local children. When their bullying drives Birdie to hide in the nearby coal mine, she finds an unexpected rescuer in the form of Mr Duke, the last remaining pit pony in the village. As the weeks pass, Birdie forms a special bond with the spirited little pony. But his future is in danger, and Birdie comes up with a daring plan to save his life in return . . .
In 1970, four boys on the cusp of becoming teenagers notice strange events occurring in Maplewood, NH, timed with the late-night arrival of an old magician who has taken up residence in a boarding house in their neighbourhood where one of the tenants is a reclusive pulp horror writer. The writer’s fears have kept him from venturing outside in over forty years, fears linked to the magician’s previous visit. As children go missing in town, the four boys try to piece together seemingly unrelated phenomena and realize dark forces are at work, but no one will believe them.
PUBLICATION DATE: 10th OCTOBER 2024 PAPERBACK ORIGINAL | £ 9. 99 | ORENDA BOOKS
Description
When Áróra receives a call telling her that a child she’s never met is claiming to be her missing sister reincarnated, she is devastated … as ridiculous as the allegations might seem. For three years she has been searching for her sister without finding a single clue, and now this strange child seems to have new information.
On the same day, Icelandic detective Daníel returns home to find a note from his tenant, drag queen Lady Gúgúlú, giving notice on her flat and explaining that she has to leave the country. Daníel is immediately suspicious, and when three threatening men appear, looking for Lady, it’s clear to him that something is very wrong…
And as Iceland’s long dark nights continue into springtime, that is just the very beginning…
Format: 120 pages, Paperback Published: July 28, 2022 by 404 Ink ISBN: 9781912489602 (ISBN10: 1912489600)
Description
Since its inception decades ago, the tabletop roleplaying game Dungeons & Dragons has offered an escape from the real world, the chance to enter distant realms, walk in new shoes, and be part of immersive, imaginative tales as they unfold. More so, in Thom James Carter’s opinion, it’s a perfect vessel for queer exploration and joy.
Journey on, adventurer, as Dungeon Master Thom invites readers into the game’s exciting queer, utopian possibilities, traversing its history and contemporary evolution, the queer potential resting within gameplay, the homebrewers making it their own, stories from fellow players, and the power to explore and examine identity and how people want to lead their lives in real and imagined worlds alike.
Grab a sword and get your dice at the ready, this queer adventure is about to begin.
My Review
This was an interesting little book about D&D and Queer culture, exploring the background and history of D&D, and the use of D&D by Queer people to explore their identities. It’s an interesting essay and the structure is fun. It is a introduction to the game and TTRPGs generally, but if you’re already in the fandom, you might not find much useful in it.
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Format: 496 pages, Paperback Published: May 2, 2023 by Head of Zeus — an AdAstra Book ISBN: 9781801108430 (ISBN10: 1801108439)
Description
Arthur C. Clarke winner and Sunday Times bestseller Adrian Tchaikovsky’s triumphant return to fantasy with a darkly inventive portrait of a city under occupation and on the verge of revolution.
There has always been a darkness to Ilmar, but never more so than now. The city chafes under the heavy hand of the Palleseen occupation, the choke-hold of its criminal underworld, the boot of its factory owners, the weight of its wretched poor and the burden of its ancient curse.
What will be the spark that lights the conflagration?
Despite the city’s refugees, wanderers, murderers, madmen, fanatics and thieves, the catalyst, as always, will be the Anchorwood – that dark grove of trees, that primeval remnant, that portal, when the moon is full, to strange and distant shores.
Ilmar, some say, is the worst place in the world and the gateway to a thousand worse places.
Format: 280 pages, Paperback Published: February 18, 2023 by Aethervale Publishing ISBN: 9798987850206
Description
When life gives you lemons, squeeze them into a stiff drink and stir.
After twenty years defending the frozen north against some of the most dangerous threats in the nine kingdoms, Rhoren “Bloodbane” has finally earned his retirement. While the blood mage’s service to the realm may have ended, burning veins and aching joints remain, and Rhoren soon learns that a warmer climate offers relief from his chronic pain.
And a chance at a fresh start.
In the warm and relaxing atmosphere of Eastborne, the umbral elf finds a new purpose and a sense of belonging. He may have left the frozen north behind, but he brings with him the skills and strength gained from a lifetime of defending the realm. Along with his most prized possession—a book of drink recipes inherited from his father.
Spilled cocktails may not carry the same weight as spilled blood, but opening a tavern brings a unique brand of challenges. With the right friends and a little bit of luck, he might just have a recipe for success.
Last night I attended the BFS Awards, and thought I’d share the winners. I am sure there are already lists out there and the ceremony was live streamed.
The awards were hosted by Stew Hotston. The awards aren’t ready yet (supply chain issues) so the are replaced by framed prints and will be delivered eventually.
The first award was the BFS Short Story competition.
Presented by Stew Hotston
Catherine Rose Davis
P = f/A, by Hannah ?
Samuel, by Very Bruce
Art Competition
Presented by Jenni Coutts
Fungus Night, by ?
Night Witch, by Sophie Hill
Survival, by Tara Bush
Best Collection
Presented by Shona Bond
Jackel, Jackel: Tales if the Dark and Fantastic, by Tobi Ogundiran (Undertow Publications)
Best Novella
Presented by Nick Wells
The Last Dragoners of Bowbazar, by Indra Das (Subterranean Press)
Best Non-Fiction
Presented by Pete Sutton
Writing the Future, eds. Dan Coxon and Richard V Hirst (Dead Ink)
Best short fiction
Presented by Priya Sharma
The Brazen Head of Westinghouse, by Tim Major (IZ Digital)
Best Anthology
Presented by Robin Duncan
Out There Screaming: An Anthology of New Black Horror, ed. Jordan Peele (Picador)
The Tiny Bookcase, by Nico Rogers and Ben Holroyd-Dell
(Nico’s speech was very funny!)
Best Independent Press
Presented by Bella Pagan
Flame Tree Press, collected by Nick Wells on behalf of everyone at Flame Tree
Sydney J Bounds Award for Best Newcomer
Presented by Anna Smith Spark
Teika Marija Smits, for “Umbiblical” (Newcon Press), and “Waterlore” (Black Shuck Books)
Best Magazine/Periodical
Presented by Jenni Coutts
Shoreline of Infinity
The August Derleth Award for Best Horror Novel
Presented by Ramsey Campbell
Don’t Fear the Reaper, by Stephen Graham Jones (Titan)
Robert Holdstock Award for Best Fantasy Novel
Presented by Stephan Aryan
Talonsister, by Jen Williams (Titan)
Charles Edward Wagner Award
Presented to Shona Kinsella
Ramsey Campbell
Legends of FantasyCon
Presented by Karen Fishwick
Debbie Bennett
You don’t have to, but if you want to, you can make a donation below. It keeps me in pens, books, and allows me to travel to events like FantasyCon. I’m currently saving to got to World Fantasy Convention 2025. It’s in Brighton, that place is expensive!
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It’s about half six on Sunday afternoon. The last panel ended almost three hours ago. I’ve had a nap and finally have some time to write about my experience of FantasyCon 2024.
Everything Is Better With Dragons 