Archives for August 2026

The Last Rift Dragon by Shami Stovall

August 31, 2026 By 1 Comment

The Last Rift Dragon by Shami Stovall
Publisher: Capital Station Books
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Rated: 5 stars
Review by Rose

The City of Bridgehaven is under attack.

The nation to the west intends to murder Bridgehaven’s last three remaining dragons, rendering them extinct. They’ll stop at nothing to crush the eggs, flay the dragons, and burn Bridgehaven to the ground.

But Richter Whitlock is determined to make sure that doesn’t happen. He joins the Knights of the Silver Fog—individuals dedicated to protecting Bridgehaven, and the dragons, at all costs—in the hopes of caring for a fragile dragon egg, so that one day he may bond and fight back.

But there are traitors in Bridgehaven, and enemies are circling close.

If Richter hopes to save his home, and his egg, he’ll have to master his magic, learn to craft magitech, and become one of the greatest Knights anyone has ever seen…

Shami Stovall has done it again! A brilliant new series has arrived with wonderful characters, world-building that is literally out of this world, and non-stop action which would work so well on the screen. Not since her Arcanist series have I read a book that so instantly drew me in to such an extent that I could not put the book down until I had finished it!

There were so heartbreaking moments as well as moments that had me holding my breath until things were resolved. I really think this is Ms. Stovall’s best work to date. I love all the dragons, and it’s obvious there are a lot more about dragons to learn about. Great job!!!

I am so looking forward to the next installment of this series.

Filed Under: Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Movie Review: The Odyssey by Writers: Christopher Nolan

August 31, 2026 By 1 Comment


The Odyssey by Writers: Christopher Nolan
Director: Christopher Nolan
Starring: Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong’o, Zendaya, Charlize Theron
Publisher: Universal Pictures
Genre: Action/Adventure, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Historical
Rating: 4 Stars (8 on IMDB)
Reviewed by Dicentra

Odysseus, king of Ithaca, embarks on a perilous journey to return home after the Trojan War. Crossing the Mediterranean Sea with his fellow soldiers, they soon find themselves battling not only the elements, but an array of deadly obstacles and mythical creatures along the way.

Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, the latest adaptation of the Greek epic poem by Homer, was a massive endeavour and well worth the hype. I was impressed by the directors commitment to practical effects and how the movie was the first to be filmed entirely in IMAX, but the reliance on the audience’s previous knowledge of the story and some of the scenes that they cut out kept me from giving the movie a full five stars.

Matt Damon’s Odysseus was definitely the star of the movie. I was impressed with his ability to command different scenes, whether that was in the belly of the Trojan horse (where apparently Christopher Nolan was in there with them) or on deserted beaches acting opposite Charlize Theron’s Calypso. While he was definitely the focus of the movie, he was by no means the only talented actor. Anne Hathaway did an excellent job bringing Penelope’s quiet strength to the screen. Robert Pattinson did an excellent job bringing the smarmy suitor Antinous to life. And my jaw dropped with Samantha Morton’s whole portrayal of Circe. I was flabbergasted when I later learned that the scene in which she turns Odysseus’s men into pigs was mostly practical effects instead of all CGI.

While the actors in this movie were great, there are some scenes where the director relies on the audience’s prior knowledge of the story for them to make full sense. For example, the scene with the Laestrygonians on screen mostly just looked like giant people in armor smacking around Odysseus’ crew and killing them. They took out more of Odysseus’ crew than the Cyclopes or Charybdis and Scylla, yet they get no explanation time on screen. I was also saddened that the full ‘Nobody’ sequence from the original story did not make it into the movie, though I understand that adding multiple Cyclopes would have been out of the budget (even for a massive film such as this).The scene with Clytemnestra and Agamemnon’s homecoming also makes more sense when you know the catalyst for her decision (it got maybe 5 seconds of screen time hinting towards what happened).

Overall, this was a great movie and I’m glad I took the time to see it in IMAX (even though I wish I brought some earplugs to dull the noise, haha). I do recommend that people go see the movie in theaters, though I think for the best experience it would be good to brush up on the general outline of the story beforehand.

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Musings, Movie Review, Television Show Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Our Ghost Harry by Peter De Geesewell

August 31, 2026 By Leave a Comment


Our Ghost Harry by Peter De Geesewell
Publisher: Rowanvale Books
Genre: Middle Grade (8 – 12 y.o.), Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Paranormal, Horror, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller, Contemporary, Historical
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

How would you react if one day you found a genuine ghost sitting in your living room – declaring that from now on he’s your new housemate?

Meet Sir Henry, the bitter, mischievous ghost of Urquhart Castle in Scotland. Cursed by his own son to haunt his castle until he saves a girl’s life, he finally decides to leave his dilapidated, abandoned home and ‘emigrate’ to Switzerland, where he transforms himself into the genial and funny guardian spirit of his newly adopted family.

Our Ghost Harry is a charming ghost story that is equal parts spooky, hilarious and moving, perfect for readers aged 10 to 100. Ideal for reading aloud or enjoying on your own, it will terrify and delight audiences of all ages.

Regret is good, but fixing things is even better.

Sir Henry was a funny, cranky ghost whose past contained a few dark secrets he’d been wrestling with for over seven hundred years. Sometimes I loved him for his sense of humor and dramatic habits, but in other scenes I was exasperated by how unsympathetic and stubborn he could be. There’s something to be said for a character whose flaws are deeply woven into their personality and who was as well-rounded and interesting as he was.

The other characters in this book, especially the older members of Henry’s chosen family, were not given this same chance to shine. While I wouldn’t expect the exact same amount of time to be spent on describing what their personalities were like, the fact that I would struggle to describe how they behaved or what their biggest weaknesses were was why I ended up choosing a four-star rating. As much as I enjoyed the main character and the plot, I simply had too many questions about what the people around Henry were like to pick a rating higher than that.

This included a wonderful mixture of genres that I don’t get to see used together as often as I’d like to, especially when it came to combining comedy with horror. Some of my favorite scenes were the ones that explored the cultural differences between life today and what Henry experienced in the 1300s. His expectations of how things should proceed, especially when it came to who should decide how what was now a historical site should be used, were obviously wildly out of touch with what someone born several decades ago has grown up knowing as the proper way to do things. I know this is a little vague, but there are later plot points related to how the law and social norms have changed over the centuries that fans of history or adult readers might especially like.

Our Ghost Harry made me wish for a sequel. This was such an exciting romp through both modern-day and medieval life.

Filed Under: Horror, Mystery/Suspense, Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

Talking To the Dead by Harry Bingham

August 28, 2026 By Leave a Comment


Talking To the Dead by Harry Bingham
Publisher: Hachette UK (Orion)
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Fern

A crime you’ll always remember, A detective you’ll never forget

A young prostitute lies dead in a Cardiff squat. Her six-year-old lies dead beside her. It looks like an ordinary murder scene . . . except that a millionaire’s platinum bank card lies among the debris. How did it come to be there? And is there more to this case than meets the eye?

Investigating the case is rookie Detective Constable Fiona Griffiths – a new recruit with a reputation for being deadly smart, more than ordinarily committed . . . and unsettlingly odd. As she starts to follow up the clue left by that platinum bank card, she finds the disturbing hints that suggest a truly appalling crime has been committed – and release the demons of her own dark past.

DC Fiona Griffiths is still fairly new to the CID office of the police force. When a mother and her six year old daughter are found dead in a Cardiff squat, Fiona doesn’t understand why the case draws her so forcibly in. Compelled despite herself, Fiona continues to dig into the case trying to find the truth – and explain why she feels so connected to it.

This is the first book in the series and one I quite enjoyed. This is only the second Welsh police procedural/murder mystery series I’ve read and I found myself really drawn to it. The atmosphere of the Welsh setting felt a lot grittier and somewhat harder than other mysteries. I also was equal parts confused and hooked by the seeming mystery surrounding Fiona. Suffice to say she’s not your usual police heroine and I personally found her a very different – but rather gripping – protagonist and voice.

Readers who like simple and clear cut mysteries might not find what they’re looking for here. I found a lot of Fiona’s past and even some of her present mindset quite mysterious and at times opaque. There is obviously quite a bit going on behind the scenes in this book and while I found myself eagerly turning the pages to discover more – quite a bit of the time while reading this story I felt strongly that I wasn’t grasping everything I should have been. This is an unusual feeling for me and as it was a little uncomfortable I’m not sure this book will resonate with everyone. That said I certainly feel it should appear to readers who like something a little different, or outside the box, or even people just looking for a non-standard police mystery or clear cut storyline. I greatly enjoyed this, but it was not standard or “normal” in many respects.

I enjoyed Fiona’s character and also found the larger police team she worked with very interesting. It said a lot to me that most of the others on the police were as unsure about Fiona as I was – and while she certainly got along with the team in many respects there was none of the usual camaraderie or deeper friendships and links that is usually present in these books. There were any number of different mysteries going on in this book and while it’s absolutely a different kind of read I thoroughly enjoyed it and have already ordered the next in the series.

An atmospheric and gripping mystery with an unusual and intriguing main character, this was a solid mystery book and a new-to-me author I shall absolutely be reading again in the near future. Recommended.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,

Vile Aliens – Weird Tales of Sci-Fi, Pulp and Humor by Keith Vile

August 27, 2026 By Leave a Comment


Vile Aliens – Weird Tales of Sci-Fi, Pulp and Humor by Keith Vile
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Horror, Holiday, Contemporary
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Mass-murdering UFOs and a psychedelic conspiracy. A Navy sub overrun by an alien kegger. A mom abducted by a UFO on her worst day ever. Santa Claus vs. Space Nazis.

In these four tales of cosmic weirdness, science fiction collides with mystery, horror, noir and comedy as ordinary lives are upended by extraterrestrial subversion:

Pencilnecks: A struggling single mom’s terrible day gets much worse when she’s abducted for a disturbing alien experiment. A modern pulp tale featuring cameos from famous hip-hop legends.
The Heavens Keep a Body Count: A violent investigator uncovers a conspiracy involving mass-murdering UFOs, hate groups and psychedelic excess in a grim sci-fi noir mystery.
American Sub Presents: Nuclear Kegger – Unrated Edition: Partying aliens infiltrate a nuclear submarine by exploiting its crew’s loneliness in a raunchy, American-Pie-inspired story that’s equal parts hilarious and horrifying.
Claus Encounters of the Fourth Reich: After Space Nazis attack the North Pole and murder Mrs. Claus, Santa and his elf army (and Easter Bunny) wage war in a heartwarmingly weird tale that reveals the origins of Christmas magic.

Perfect for readers who enjoy bizarre science fiction, pulp adventures, dark humor and cosmic horror with a literary flair.

Weirdness is a badge of honor.

The body horror in “Pencilnecks” made me shudder, but it fit the alien abduction motif well. Few things are more frightening to me than losing control of one’s body, particularly when it involves creatures that are not human and therefore either cannot or will not communicate their intentions. I did find myself wishing the ending had been explained better, though, as it could have been heartwarming or scarier than ever depending on how certain aspects of it were interpreted.

“The Heavens Keep a Body Count” assumed a gorier result of human meeting aliens for the first time. Alien tales aren’t always told from the perspective of law enforcement officers who have to try to figure out what actually occurred after much of the conflict has already taken place, so I appreciated this point of view. It put an interesting spin on what might really happen if the aliens who first introduced themselves to humanity didn’t necessarily have the best of intentions, and the plot twists involving what the aliens were truly here for that were introduced later on were top-notch.

There was so much going on in “American Sub Presents: Nuclear Kegger – Unrated Edition” that I needed to read some paragraphs of it over again a second time to keep my thoughts about it organized. While I loved the zany approach some of the characters took to the strange occurrences on their submarine, their reactions were so out of place for sailors that it pulled me out of the plot and made me wonder why their commanding officers didn’t have better control over the crew.

Santa Claus’s new origin story in “Claus Encounters of the Fourth Reich” was as creative as it was deeply rooted in the fantasy genre. I especially appreciated all of the connections the narrator made between Santa and other similar mythical figures. That isn’t something I generally see when the jolly man in the red suit pops up in fiction, so it made me quite curious to discover just how many other famous figures he knew about and what they all thought of each other. This was my favorite section!

Vile Aliens – Weird Tales of Sci-Fi, Pulp and Humor was a creative collection that made me want to read more from Mr. Vile.

Filed Under: Horror, Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , , , ,

That-Man and Rob N. Vs. the Hunter of Hunters – The Dynamic Duo of the Upper Midwest by Lee A. Eide

August 26, 2026 By Leave a Comment


That-Man and Rob N. Vs. the Hunter of Hunters – The Dynamic Duo of the Upper Midwest by Lee A. Eide
Publisher: KDP
Genre: Mystery/Suspense/Thriller, Horror, Contemporary
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Two Batman fanboys morph into That-Man and Rob N. in order to save a herd of hunters abducted by a psychopathic, extremist conservationist. The arch villain shows snuff videos on YouTube in which a brown bear mauls the hunters while they’re trapped in a steel cage. The planet’s newest superhero and his foodie sidekick rush to unravel the mystery of where the hostages are being held so they can save the remaining victims.

Heroes come in all shapes and sizes.

The satirical tone made me chuckle. While being a fan of Batman isn’t a requirement for enjoying this novella, there were a few surprises, some of which were pretty funny, along the way for readers who already know about the original franchise. Humor is something I always love to see in darker and more serious genres like these ones, so I was thrilled to see it included here.

It would have been helpful to have more plot and character development in this piece, especially when it came to the descriptions of the characters and the things they experienced. I had trouble visualizing what was happening due to how little time was spent describing everything other than scariest moments. As much as I wanted to give this one a higher rating, I needed a greater depth of descriptions in order to do so.

Mystery and horror are two genres that blend together well in my opinion, and this was no exception to that rule. I enjoyed seeing how That-Man and Rob N. tackled the case of the missing hunters, especially considering how few clues they had to work with at first. Do note that there were some bloody scenes included, but nothing that would be considered out of place for horror fans in general. This is something I’m mentioning for the benefit of mystery lovers who might want to know in advance what to expect.

That-Man and Rob N. Vs. the Hunter of Hunters – The Dynamic Duo of the Upper Midwest was humorous and frightening.

Filed Under: Horror, Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,

Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge for August 26, 2026

August 26, 2026 By 3 Comments

Each Wednesday, Long and Short Reviews hosts a weekly “blog hop”. For more details on how to participate, please click here.

A Weird Fact I Learned From Reading Fiction

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Musings, Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge Tagged With: , ,

The Last Draft by Agatha Frost

August 25, 2026 By Leave a Comment


The Last Draft by Agatha Frost
Publisher: Pink Tree Publishing
Genre: Cozy Mystery, Contemporary
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Snowdrop

Meet Ellie Swan… an introverted bookworm with a history degree stuck at a crossroads. After putting her degree to work in a TV studio’s historical continuity department for years, the studio merges with a giant streaming service and Ellie loses her dream job. She finds herself working in a coffee shop to make ends meet, and while waiting for the perfect opportunity to come along… she gets a phone call informing her that her dear Granny Maggie has broken her hip.

Leaving the city and her coffee shop job behind, Ellie returns to her quaint hometown of Meadowfield to care for her grandmother, but she finds more than just the family’s beloved bookshop, Meadowfield Books, in disarray. Granny Maggie’s hip was broken during a robbery gone wrong, and the thief—a relative of a deceased local author—is found dead. The item the thief stole? The local author’s final manuscript.

While juggling caring for her grandmother and running the failing bookshop, Ellie finds herself in a web of mystery and murder, as she encounters a cast of characters each with a motive for coveting the author’s final manuscript. Utilising her passion for history and her old community ties, Ellie untangles a series of clever clues and red herrings. From the financial desperation of the thief’s father to the secretive actions of a local historian and antique dealer, the plot thickens when another of the family is also found dead. With a knack for history and a heart for sleuthing, Ellie uncovers hidden truths, from coveted manuscripts to clandestine motives, but can Ellie’s keen insights and tenacity ensure justice is served? And will she find a renewed sense of purpose in her long-forgotten home?

To begin with, every true reader likes a book with a bookshop setting, especially a bookshop that really needs organizing and any other reason to touch every book. Top that off with a granny with a broken hip who needs help in said bookstore, and you have a cozy.

I liked this cozy’s characters and its setting. Granny, who has broken her hip, is the owner of the bookstore. She’s as feisty and cute as can be. Then you have Ellie, her granddaughter who has come to help Granny but has reasons of her own for coming back. Ellie is the amateur sleuth She’s the type that does what the cops ask her not to and forgets to tell them about things. Some of this type of storyline has gotten a little old to me. I’m never sure why an author thinks it’s necessary to create a storyline that has a sleuth who always thinks the cops are second-rate.

Nonetheless, it’s worth the read to see what continues to happen at Meadowfield Bookshop.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,

When You Wish by Barbara Venkataraman

August 24, 2026 By Leave a Comment


When You Wish by Barbara Venkataraman
Five Fortunes Book 2
Publisher: Next Chapter
Genre: Young Adult (14 – 18 y.o.), LGBTQ, Romance, Contemporary
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

When Megan, Rihanna, Abby, Alison and Lori wish on a shooting star, they learn that what you want isn’t always what you need. The close-knit group of friends must each navigate their own journey of self-discovery, joy and sadness, mishaps and misunderstandings. With the help of good friends and a pinch of moxie, will they find their way?

Rihanna has a new set of problems to solve when her aunt moves in, while Lori must convince her parents to fulfill her heart’s desire. Megan fights for independence from a life that is stifling her and Abby struggles through a grueling year that promises a rewarding summer. Meanwhile, Alison is keeping a secret from the people she loves.

Rescue puppies, secret romance, teenage fashion influencers and helicopter parents make Barbara Venkataraman’s WHEN YOU WISH a fun story you won’t soon forget.

Life is full of surprises.

The romantic subplot blended in perfectly to everything else that was going on. If Ms. Venkataraman writes more about these characters someday, I would be thrilled to see where this romance goes. That is something I’m saying as a reader who only occasionally visits that genre but who absolutely adored the sweet and charming young ladies involved in this particular relationship. Bravo!

As I mentioned in my review of the first book in this series, I once again found myself wishing that there were either fewer protagonists or that this could be expanded into a full-length novel so that I could have more time to get to know all five main characters. There simply wasn’t enough space here for the character development I was hoping to see, and this is something I’m saying as someone who loved what I did get to see of Megan, Rihanna, Abby, Alison, and Lori’s lives. With that being said, I was a little more satisfied this time around, so fingers crossed that will continue in the future.

Some of the most memorable scenes were the ones that captured the emotional highs and lows of being a teenage girl ranging from how quickly friendships can change when someone is this age to the serious family matters some teens quietly deal with and don’t necessarily share with their friends. Reading this honestly made me feel like I was back in high school again!

This is something I’d recommend reading in chronological order for plot and development reasons.

When You Wish was a heartwarming and engaging read.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Eleven Fathom Gutter by Chris Browning

August 21, 2026 By Leave a Comment


Eleven Fathom Gutter by Chris Browning
Trains Book 1
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Mystery/Suspense/Thriller, Historical
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Jack Riser’s life has been struck by chaos. Recently discharged from the Coast Guard due to mental health issues, he has relocated to his hometown for a fresh start. However, his demons seem to have followed him, as he is haunted by specific delusions of people he encountered during formative times in his life. These four “friends” set Jack upon a unique purpose – cover train cars with messages detailing possible calamities and his own mental decline.

Jack’s endeavors are generally futile, but it is the people he encounters along the way, either intentionally or through happenstance, that keep the wheels of the story in motion. Gemstone is also the home of Phillip, Jack’s young, pillowcase-hopping neighbor who is struggling with pre-adolescence; Sigrid, Phillip’s best friend; Candy, a local prostitute who acts as a friend and sounding board for Jack’s various issues; and Blaise, a mysterious and devious obscene phone caller with dark intentions of his own.

While Jack is giving into his delusions, he also grapples with forgiving Scott, one of his “friends,” after bearing witness to the aftermath of his violent suicide years before. As he confides in Candy, he feels himself getting closer and closer to her and begins to worry about her safety. Jack also mentors Phillip through the divorce of his parents and various other obstacles, such as bullies and childhood crushes. Phillip and Sigrid navigate these pre-teen hurdles together, their youthful naivete contrasting Jack’s own struggles. When Sigrid’s babysitter is murdered at the end of the story, it symbolizes the decline of small-town innocence – with only the slightest hope of the proverbial light at the tunnel’s end in upcoming sequels.

Healing isn’t always a linear process.

Setting this in the 1980s was an intelligent choice for the storyline. Mental health care in that era was quite different than it is today, and inventions like the Internet and cell phones were not at all part of the daily lives of ordinary people. This meant that Jack didn’t have as many opportunities to test out what his delusions were saying to him as he might have had in the modern day or to keep track of old friends as easily. Without giving away spoilers, these limitations were an important part of the plot development and made this a stronger read than it would have otherwise been.

The multiple time jumps among various characters were confusing to me. This would have been easier to read if everything was shared in chronological order, especially given Jack’s struggles with his mental health that sometimes made me wonder how differently the same events would be described by other characters who were part of those scenes. That is to say, how accurate were his perceptions of certain events? Yes, this was tied into the mystery elements of the plot and some uncertainty was therefore expected, but having more clarity here would have made this a smoother read in my opinion.

Some of my favorite scenes were the ones that explored Jack’s trauma and grief from witnessing an act of violence when he was a young man. He lived during an era when men were discouraged from what was perceived vto be showing weakness by talking about their feelings, so processing those memories was difficult and time consuming. I thought these moments were well written and showed the audience a lot about who Jack was as a human being.

Trains Book 1 – Eleven Fathom Gutter was a wild ride.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , ,
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