What are you reading in this genre? 

1.  My first read of the year is Kindling the Moon (Arcadia Bell, Bk 1) by Jenn Bennett and it's pretty darn good, not to mention has been on my TBR shelf for quite a long time.

2.  My second book for the fantasy/science fiction genre is The Book of Joan by: Lidia Yuknavitch, a rather interesting take on life after man destroys life on earth.

3.  Backup (Dresden Files, Bk 10.4 byJim Butcher, 1/30/2022, is a delightful novellla about Thomas, Dresden's brother who takes on ghouls and a Stygian, (a creature assuming a human body and gathers from the minds of others) to save Dresden from harm.

4.  Archimedes Nesselrode by Justine Graykin 2/2/2022, is hilarious, chaotic, and romantic, a whimsical read that is so enjoyable. Stiil, something lurks behind the artist's obscure life. What made him become such a recluse? 

5.  Blood of Tyrants (Temeraire, Bk 8) by Naomi Novik, 2/10/2022, is the latest in a series I love.  Temeraire, a dragon, is a wonderful character.  Chinese dragons and soldiers have joined Russian counterparts in fighting Napoleon as he invades Russia.  The next book is out as well so I am looking for that one!

6.  The Echo Wife by Sarah Gailey., 2/11/2022, features a new author for me.  The tale is unusual in that the key character is a scientist involved in cloning people.  What happens is surprising when she discovers her ex cloned her to make a more malleable wife.  There is much more to the story and as I read the author's comments at the end, i decided I needed to check out her other works.

7.  Throne of Jade (Temeraire, Bk 2) by Naomi Novik, 2/19/2022.  Somehow I thought I had read the entire series but even though some of the scenes seem familiar as I read the book I may not have done so.  This story finds Laurence and Temeraire traveling to China with a diplomat  set on establishing trade with the country.  They battle both the French and a gang of outlaws.  Somehow Laurence survives several assassination attack.  Fun read indeed.

8.  Black Powder War (Temeraire, Bk 3) by Naomi Novik, 2/22/2022.  Amidst the war with Napoleon, Laurence and Temeraire must escort three dragon eggs to England before the hatching.  Taken prisoner when they arrive, they escape with the eggs.  It’s a long tale with battle after battle.  Tharkay, unpredictable and swaggering, chooses his own way yet comes through when he is most needed.  Iskierka adds humor and life when she hatches, chooses her own name and always, yes always, wants to go into battle.  Never mind that she must grow up first!  Add Grandby, Laurence’s second in command and the making of the adventure team is complete.  Great story.  Complex plot.  Wonderful characters.  All combine with skill and love so readers can travel the world to enjoy.  One can only hope that the next in the series is just as much fun.

9.  The Girl in the Clockwork Collar (The Steampunk Chronicles) by Kady Cross, 3/2/2022.  Returning to the adventures of the English duke, Griffin King, and his cohorts when they travel to America to rescue their friend Jasper from a trial for murder.  Romance between Finley Jane and Griffin intensifies as the group works to outwit a dangerous criminal intent on using a machine that dissolves matter for their criminal activities.

10.  Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami, 3/3/2022.  This tale is a fascinating read about a young man, Kafka, who runs away from home at age 15. and older man, Nakata, whose life is as simple as he is.  The story is strange at times but the author connects the two heros using what I believe alternate universes to explain the unusual incidents in the novel.  I liked it a good deal.

11.  The Drowned Cities (Ship Breaker, Bk 2) by Paolo Bacigalupi, 3/6/2022  In a dark time beyond today violence, terror, and grief touch everyone in America.   Mahlia and Mouse left the war-torn Drowned Cities and escaped into the jungle.  When they find a wounded half-man named Tool hunted by soldiers their safety fades.  This is their story in a world that could be ours some day.

12.  The Sea Peoples (Change Series) by S.M. Stirling, 3/13/2022, 4 stars.  This is the 14th Emberverse book but the first I've read in the series.  According to other reviewers it features numerous characters from previous installments.  No wonder I felt lost at times as it continues from the previous cliff-hanger ending with John in trouble because his spirit has been captured by some evil.  Friends, old and new, must travel spiritually through a confusing and dangerous landscape to free him.  Should I continue the series?  Not certain but I know I have to probably begin with the first Emberverse book!

13.  Rajan (Khe'chin, Bk 1) by Tim Lukeman, 3/14/2022, 4 stars.  Rajan is a peasant farmer who hopes to become a warrior and regain the honor and wealth his family once had.  When he kills the heir of a neighboring landowner in a duel of honor he finds himsself sought for murder.  He teams up with a sorcerer who promises protection, finds danger, deceit, love and more adventrure than he dreamed of finding.

14.  Tongues of Serpents (Temeraire, Bk 6) by Naomi Novik. 3/20/22/, 4 stars.  Laurence and Temeraire arrive in Sidney, Australia, a colony filled with the habitually criminal, the unwanted and those who made a mistake or two.  Charged with the care of three dragon eggs, they set across the country to find a route through the Blue Mountains.  When one egg is stolen they find themselves searching for the thieves.

15.  Lake Silence (World of the Others, Bk 1) by Anne Bishop, 55/9/2022, 4+ stars  Divorced, old thirty Vicki DeVine, is seeking a new life so she begins operating  the Jumble, a Lake Silence resort in a human town controlled by the Others with laws unlike those designed by humans.  Who are they?  Vampires, shape-shifters and paranormal creatures even more dangerous.  Most fearful are the Elders who have shown  the r in a dreadful permanent manner.  Humans know they share land with the Others who control so much of it and all water but who has ever seen one of them?  

13.  1.  A Plunder of Souls (Thieftaker Chronicles, Bk 3) by D. B. Jackson, 4 stars, 12/31/2023,  Ethan Kaille, a thieftaker  and conjurer, lives in Boston in the 1800s.  Time after time he pits his wits against Sephira Pryce and her goons.  It's hard to make a living when your well earned money is stolen by her gang.  Of course, there is the danger of being pounded by them as well.

Fantasy is not at the top of my must-read lists but I do read a few.  I stumbled on the book below in my library's "On Order" lists and thought it looked interesting.  DId not expect it to be so engaging or that it would leave me wishing dragons really were alive and well on plant earth.  This is a copy and paste on the thread I opened on Your "Go To" reference book for dragons    Definitely 5-Star worthy!

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I'm posting this here even though it doesn't look like this is a very active forum, still it belongs here.  I'm reading a great art book that is all about dragons.  Really quite a work of creative genius.  The book is an illustrated guide with "factual" biographies of all the known dragons in the world.  Needless to say the illustrations are gorgeous but it also gives their physical stats, preferred regions of the world, their diet, their history, and their population status.  Sadly, too  many are endangered or critically endangered.  The book is:   Dracopedia Field Guide: Dragons of the World from Amphipteridae through Wyvernae