Priory of the Orange Tree (Samantha Shannon) - Just as enjoyable on a second pass. The depth of the world building, the different textures of the characters, settings and story beats, and the deft handling of such a heavy plot are all admirable. A lovely mix of the familiar and the refreshing.

Me trying to get out of bed during the school holidays

I read a lot of books, but every time I go back to Pratchett I'm astonished anew by how clever, warm and funny everything he wrote was. They're so frictionlessly flawless that I blast through a Discworld book I've read a dozen times before in 48 hours. Assured a spot on fantasy's Mount Rushmore.

The whole smoke from the Sistene Chapel thing would be much better if they got it to form the face of the new Pope, like Gandalf showing off to a hobbit

I don't know when publishers realised that hardback books with spray painted edges could be used as a direct attack on my bank balance, but the war has now reached it's 500th day and I'm hemmed in by exclusive editions on all sides

I wrote this article about the amazing work @netrunner.nullsignal.games is doing and the excitement surrounding the world championships being in Edinburgh this year!

The Raven Scholar (Antonia Hodgson) - really enjoyed this one. Political intrigue is more central than the promised murder mystery, but great world building, characters, humour and plotting. Expect something veering slightly more towards YA than epic fantasy, but a really fun read.

Taking things to the charity shop might be the most awkward social encounter in modern Britain; both sides extremely but politely uncertain about who is doing who a favour

Check out my latest article for Brig's sister magazine, Braw, on the reclamation of the word "queer". It's quite personal, and was fun to write and cathartic to think about. I'm chuffed with how it came out and have alreadt received some amazing feedback on it

brignews.com/2025/02/15/r...

The Empire of the Wolf trilogy (Richard Swan) - vividly bleak writing, like Joe Abercrombie but with more political wrangling and despair. Some might be disappointed that the murder mystery of the first book gives way to examinations of religion and mysticism as the trilogy unfolds.

Two and a half years after the first game’s release Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector successfully makes space feel even bigger.

@shanodin.bsky.social reviews this must-play RPG.

www.startmenu.co.uk/home/review-...

Illuminae (Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff) - I love these two writing together. It's a typical sci-fi story but uniquely written as excerpts, data entries and transcripts, and the result is a book that I found refreshing, fun and gripping.

The Aurora Cycle by the same authors is also excellent.

Just saying 'I don't like Romantasy' is lazy and a little bit snobbish.

But it's valid to say that most examples of the genre are very character focused, and you prefer your fantasy to be based on intricate world building, epic events and twisty plots.

Keep an open mind though! It's just a label.

The Familiar (Leigh Bardugo) - a strange book. Setting a book in the Spain of the Inquisition is refreshing, but too often it assumes familiarity rather than giving it to you. The plot meanders sweetly without ever being exhilarating.

Still hunting for that high of Six of Crows.

Finished 'The Teller of Small Fortunes' (Julie Leong): this didn't grip me as much as some other cosy fantasy, so wouldn't be where I'd recommend new readers of the genre start, but still a very pleasant and well crafted read if you've enjoyed others.

Plus the Waterstones edition is gorgeous.

Went to see War of the Rohirrim and had a lovely time. Having said that, you could put Howard Shore's score over footage of a colonoscopy and I'd probably sit there riveted so I might not be the most objective critic.

Picked up The Village Library Demon Hunting Society (by C.M. Waggoner) based on the cover and pithy title and finished it within a day - think Thursday Murder Club with a fantastical bent. Enjoyably quirky easy-reading.