This review was first published by Booklist on September 15, 2016.

This second entry in the Central Corps series is wall-to-wall action. It starts with a bang, opens new vistas of political and corporate intrigue, and pulls readers along to an ending that will leave them wanting more. After the events of The Cold Between (2016), Elena Shaw and Greg Foster were court-martialed for their actions. But instead of punishment, they’re put back on board their ship and assigned to patrol the Third Sector. When Syndicate raiders attack and destroy a fellow Corps ship, they must partner with a PSI captain and her crew to pursue the attackers. Elena’s former crewmates and commander open old wounds, as the pursuit leads to the site of one of her worst memories. Worse yet, there’s a saboteur on board. Bonesteel’s characters are what really stand out amid all the action—the relationships between them ground everything in the story, though this novel ditches the romance that characterized its predecessor in favor of more straightforward military science fiction. Fans of David Drake’s Honor Harrington series will find much to enjoy here.

This review was first published by Booklist on September 1, 2016.

A thousand years ago, the Five Warrior Angels rid the Five Isles of demons. Since then, their legends have given rise to religions, which now war for conquest. Many believe a prophesied apocalypse is near: some seek to hasten it, while a secret cult fights to prevent it. Magical weapons thought long lost are being found. But the legends may be lies, and the fate of the world depends on the daughters of a king, an assassin, a mysterious Vallè, and an orphan boy from a small fishing village. This is high fantasy in the vein of Stephen R. Donaldson or David Eddings, with generous helpings from George R. R. Martin. Durfee’s world building is exceptional: detailed and immersive, with a deep history and believable cultures. The plot is paced and driven, compellingly structured, with a conflict large enough to fuel forthcoming titles in the series. Some of the concepts and characters feel derivative, though archetype, and, unfortunately, the writing is inconsistent. For fans of high fantasy, the less-than-stellar writing shouldn’t detract from enjoyment of the world and the many entertainments of the story.

This review was first published by Booklist in August, 2016.

Shawl’s first novel offers a steampunk-influenced alternate history of the Belgian Congo from 1889 to 1919. It envisions what would have happened if Fabian Socialists from Europe and African American missionaries had purchased land in the Congo from King Leopold and established a free state made up of native Africans, freed slaves, European settlers, and even Chinese laborers. Told from the perspectives of several different characters, it touches on themes of colonialism, sovereignty, religion, prejudice, sexuality, and identity. It is structured episodically, with each chapter offering a snapshot from the lives of the characters and the history of Everfair; some chapters could almost stand on their own as short stories. Taken together, these snapshots weave an engrossing tapestry of the history and humanity of what might have been for the Congo. The work is elegant, rendered with masterful craft in simple, compelling language—a tour de force of Shawl’s tremendous ability to create deeply nuanced characters. This is a beautifully told, important entry in the movement for greater diversity in sf.

[Author’s Note: I regret not giving this book a starred review. It deserved one—it was one of the most interesting and compelling SF novels of the year and I think it will take its place as in important work in the history of the genre. Sometimes the true value of a book takes time to realize.]