Author Archives: Roseanna

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About Roseanna

A London-based reviewer mainly interested in scifi and fantasy, but occasionally prone to dabble in historical and mythological fiction. Currently an editor at Hugo and Ignyte award-winning fanzine Nerds of a Feather. When not reading, can be found playing rugby, collecting too many crafting hobbies or attempting to learn how to fight with a longsword.

Evocation – S. T. Gibson

Posted on 02/08/2024 by Roseanna

I missed the boat on A Dowry of Blood by S. T. Gibson. By every account I’ve seen, it’s an excellent, gripping, well-written book, and I was offered an arc of it, but I refused because I was busy. More … Continue reading →

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Hugo Awards 2024 – Novellas

Posted on 12/07/2024 by Roseanna

And on to the novellas. In many ways, this is a category I am more well-read in than novel – I read so many great novellas last year, and had a real difficult time deciding which to condense down onto … Continue reading →

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Hugo Ballot Novels – Top Two

Posted on 06/07/2024 by Roseanna

Another disappointing review this is going to be, because I’ve actually reviewed both of my top two before. I know, I suck. Or… well. I suck, because I’m great, by which I mean an early adopter. I read Some Desperate … Continue reading →

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Six from Six – Best Books of the First Half of the Year

Posted on 02/07/2024 by Roseanna

We interrupt my Hugo chatter briefly, because we are now half way through the year, to which I say “fuck, what, really? Already?? Surely not???”. The linear passage of time once again confounds me. But anyway, arbitrary designations of our … Continue reading →

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Translation State – Ann Leckie

Posted on 28/06/2024 by Roseanna

We continue my Hugo novel reading reviews with something of a jump upwards – for me, there’s a pretty distinct gap between my bottom 3 slots and my top 3 (and a jump from 3 to 5 stars in my … Continue reading →

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Witch King – Martha Wells

Posted on 18/06/2024 by Roseanna

Next up for my Hugo nominee reading is Witch King, the new fantasy book from previous winner Martha Wells, creator of Murderbot. I actually liked this more than I liked Murderbot. Despite the oft-repeated adage about everyone loving it, Murderbot … Continue reading →

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The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi – Shannon Chakraborty

Posted on 15/06/2024 by Roseanna

This is the second in my reviews of the Hugo novel nominees for 2024 (following Starter Villain by John Scalzi). Full context for this one, my only previous reading experience with Shannon Chakraborty was The City of Brass which I … Continue reading →

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Starter Villain – John Scalzi

Posted on 13/06/2024 by Roseanna

This is a review of the Hugo-nominated novel Starter Villain by John Scalzi. Or… well, is it? I’m going to talk about why I don’t like the book, it’s true (because I don’t, spoiler warning there for you), but that’s … Continue reading →

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What I Read on My Holiday – the reprisening

Posted on 07/05/2024 by Roseanna

Last year, I decided to take myself off to some remote(ish) part of England with a big stack of books for a long weekend of reading, quiet and generally ignoring the world. I had a great time, cannot recommend it … Continue reading →

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Signal Fire Books, or: how I tell if a reviewers tastes match mine, so their reading recommendations are of any relevance to my life and choices

Posted on 18/04/2024 by Roseanna

I consume a lot of reviewer content. Partly because I just like reading reviews, but in no small part because I like books and want people to tell me about books, quite possibly so I can decide if I want … Continue reading →

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