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A better than average first issue under the new editor, Sheree Renée Thomas, it features interesting stories by C. L. Polk, Madeleine E. Robins, Molly Tanzer, Robin Furth and a fascinating story by Marie Brennan based on the legend of "The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter".

This is not deep fiction nor is it profound dark fantasy with much to offer those abyssal questions about life and existence. It is, however, good, old-fashioned, shallow fun with plenty of guns and earthy reality twisted into a conspiracy theorist's dream. Great fun!

I proofread this book for the author, thinking it wouldn't be my kind of thing, but I LOVED IT! Loads of fun, really creepy in parts and full of magic and danger.

Set in Leeds, it includes references to actual magical practices and Yorkshire's thriving magic sub-culture.

A great, fast-paced story with a strong 'Do It Herself' female lead. Can't wait to proof read the sequel.

An average issue, with lots of shorter pieces of fiction and only a few longer ones. The stories that I found more interesting are those by Fawaz Al-Matrouk, Ai Jiang, Julie Le Blanc, Taemumu Richardson, Shreya Ila Anasuya and John Wiswell.

Full review on BookWyrm [ https://bookwyrm.social/user/sohkamyung/review/180959/s/average-issue-of-fsf-with-more-shorter-pieces-of-fiction ]

A ripping yarn of disguise, deception and misdirection, propelled along by a brilliantly written period style that firmly places you in the world.

A rollicking ride through alternate-history Britain after the Luddite uprisings. Recognisable locations mixed with carefully applied genre tropes keep this book from becoming yet another steampunk adventure and raise it above its fellows.

What a fantastic book!

Loved every minute, there's never a lag, and the characters are full, interesting, and complicated.

Now that some secrets have been revealed, the ante has upped, and things or GOING OFF!

Immediately started the sequel.

This book pulls you into a richly detailed 12th Century world of politicking lords, dangerous Welsh border raids and a likeable protagonist in the form of Guy of Maebury. A careful, steady feed of recognisable, but not yet legendary, characters tops it all off.

The slow build-up is worth it and does contribute to a much livelier, fuller world and more meaningful character motivations.

If you haven't read any of Cat Hellisen's books before, read this first.

A beautifully crafted tale. Otherwordly, sinister, near-horror, it has sides and edges I couldn't grasp, as my eyes slid off them, unable to focus while it slowly insinuated its pages, paragraphs, sentences, words, and letters into my brain.

A MUST READ, and it will only be the beginning of your journey!

As stunning, different, deep, exhilarating, and as wonderfully written as Origin Complex, but with a rawness that its successor lacks, in place of sequel polish.

Two exciting books in this science fiction universe is simply not enough. Sorry, Andrew.

Virginia teases the twist right from the off. But The Year We Lived is so finely written and enchanting that you lose yourself in the world and simply enjoy it, forgetting about this possible twist.

You'll quickly relax and let the sun-dappled fens, the reeds, woods, the description of the Hall and its inhabitants wash over you and pull you like a slow current into its 11th Century setting.

As fab as everyone everyone said it was.

A fantastic and fantastical short tale that provides a much-needed respite from medieval-styled Western fantasy.

Written in a mythological format, Jiwe gives us a world of magic, gods, and the usual evils of man. Curses intended to redress balance and strong women working to save broken lives.

Kiko Enjani's work is sublime, and I can't wait to read her longer stories.