Sent 8/31/2026
Hello again, dear readers! I apologize for the long summer hiatus, but here we are again—talking about writing and books and all things Fantasy!
Writing Updates
I’ve been doing a lot of reading, and especially adjusting to my new day job. Just now getting settled in after that big transition. It’s very strange to have to use both my body and my brain at my new job, though it will get easier with time. Every occupation and position has its upsides and downsides, and God has blessed me with a lot of upsides to this new one.
I was having some computer issues earlier this summer, but those have fortunately been ironed out. I’m back in the swing of editing, note-taking, outlining… occasionally even writing! Given my delays this year and my upcoming new kid this December, I may have to rethink my publishing timelines again, much as nobody wants to hear that. (Least of all me.)
I’d share some of the new ideas I’ve had bouncing around in my head/Google Docs, but at this point I have far too many of them. I will start completing and releasing more of them, I swear!
For now . . . reviews!
Book Reviews
The Licanius Trilogy, by James Islington. I recently read and loved his newer series, Hierarchy, but I still say he has yet to top his breakout hit. This is one I immediately knew I would be rereading at some point, and you do indeed catch a lot more the second time through. It was no less fun, and I was impressed even more by just how well-paced this debut from a (then) brand-new author was. He’s definitely one of a kind. Show me an author with more ambition and sheer story-spinning genius, especially one who can carry it with clean prose and emotional character arcs. And no, Brandon Sanderson doesn’t count anymore. . . .
One thing that stood out to me was how excellently divided the chapters were throughout this series by character viewpoint. Particularly books 1 and 2. Book Three had a few frustrating points in the first half, but I’d chalk that up to the staggering amount of storylines he was building up and waiting for. This careful placement of chapters is something that was sadly missing from his latest novel (barring his new standalone coming out tomorrow, September 1st), and I would assume that was an editorial change.
One of my few criticisms for this series would be that everything is always cranked sky-high on the tension-o-meter. The world is about to end. Characters are in danger, separated, teleporting halfway across the world, stuck in a dream, you name it, and there’s just no time to sit and take a breath. While that is considered excellent storytelling by many, I personally enjoy having a moment here and there to enjoy the world a bit. We never truly got to sit down and see this handcrafted world.
Wildfire | ★★★★★ — Taking a step outside the main chain of this prequel series by Michael Wisehart, we have a Ranger’s Apprentice novel (with disturbing monsters). An odd change of pace, but I thoroughly enjoyed it nonetheless. Great interlude and leadup into the finale.
Avalanche | ★★★★⯪ — The conclusion I’ve been waiting for. This book was epic in a more old-fashioned way than I expected. He takes his time with the book, because that’s what he likes to do best, and just sort of . . . conquers the main conflicts one by one. Don’t get me wrong, they were both fantastic, including a thrilling naval combat scene that was genuinely impressive. But Wishart definitely clings hard to this “good old” theme of fantasy that is inherently unambitious. He’s the exact opposite of James Islington. I enjoy his strong themes of family and very grounded worldview that his characters tend to see things through. This book was enjoyable, just a hair overly long for how much actual content was here.
Light’s Ascension, by Seth Ring. Being the last book (I believe?) in his latest series, The Exlian Syndrome, I recently chewed through the previous five and was eagerly anticipating this one. The last couple books had become a little predictable and formulaic, so I was a bit nervous on how this book would play out. In a LitRPG story like this, the characters begin to get so powerful that every twist in the story feels effortless and things are explained away quickly, but I had very few complaints throughout this book. The progression of both plot and characters felt both natural and satisfying, the action was excellent, and I think he balanced the power of the characters against the villainous forces surprisingly well. Mark and his friends had to use their wits, their powers and teamwork to win in the end, and the final conclusion was satisfying—with one exception: a very predictable twist. Overall, though, this was a blast and the ending was far better than I feared.
Romanov, by Nadine Brandes, author of Wishtress. This one didn’t quite capture me as much, partly due to her (admittedly laudable) dedication to historical accuracy in the first half of the novel. Overall, I enjoyed it quite a bit, but I would have finished it weeks or monthly early had it held my attention a bit better.
Dungeon Crawler Carl, by Matt Dinniman. Whatever you’ve heard about this book is probably accurate. It’s a zany spiritual-successor to The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy based on the strange idea that aliens are huge fans of DnD and gladiatorial games. It’s genius, outrageous, very funny at times depending on your sense of humor, and… really, really twisted. I couldn’t quite get past the last part. The constant satire of pop culture, politics and just about any stereotype is clever and well-implemented, and I think Carl is a good vehicle for a story like this, being a no-nonsense military dude with simple ambitions and simple morals. Almost any guy can relate to this poor dude.
But yeah, just a little too . . . much . . . for me. It was entertaining, I guess. Definitely not for kids. I’ll go with three stars.
Lastly, more reading from my men’s Bible study. Disciplines of a Godly Man, by Kent Hughes. I’ve been handing this book out left and right to Christian friends since I got a good bulk deal from Christianbook.com. It’s not perfect, nor comprehensive, but each chapter makes an excellent case for the importance of disciplines of a strong man and spiritual leader, such as family, pray, commitment, etc. There are no repeat chapters like in a lot of books, and nearly every chapter has a wealth of valuable information and exhortation. I recommend it.
See you next month!
— Jacob Gamber