Review Policy/Contact

NOT (CURRENTLY) OPEN FOR REQUESTS

PSA:

Requests currently open but I am trying to keep them under control, so don’t take it personally if I can’t read your book (yet), please. My tbr is vast and patient.

In case I end up dnfing your book or not enjoying it, I’ll be honest, clear about why, and send the book along to someone who might love it. For that reason, I prefer physical books (makes it possible to pass it on) but I am now accepting e-copies.

I can receive books in Portugal or Scotland.

I only take requests for Adult SFFH (science-fiction, fantasy and horror) books. I’m not the genre police. If your book is somewhere within/borders those boundaries, I’ll read it.

I don’t take requests for:

Western, Military fiction, Erotica, Poetry/Verse, Romance, Romantasy, Self-help, Memoirs/Biographies, Non-fiction. I don’t enjoy these genres much and I abhor letting strangers down so please don’t make me say no to you.

I also tend to avoid Viking fantasy and Greek fantasy. They just don’t seem to hit the mark for me.

I don’t take request for YA/MG.

Genres I love:

Sci-fi and Fantasy are my home but I love a good Horror, Crime, Thriller and Historical. They must have some speculative element to them, though.

I will be drawn to anything with a peculiar, out-of-the-box premise and cool worldbuilding. I particularly love stories that build on a small, creative idea, blooming it into an interesting world.

I don’t care if your characters are assholes. In fact, I welcome it. I don’t subscribe to always reading my equal and I applaud any author that keeps me hooked on a terrible character. That being said, I’m not the audience for books with rapist/abuser mcs.

A few, specific elements that are sure to draw me in:

• Snarky tech (robots, androids, AI, etc, as protagonists);
• Genre blender (sci-fantasy, space horror, sff murder mystery, and tech-noir are particularly dear to me);
• A good ol’ first-person POV with a suffering male protagonist. I love to see a man hurt (this is obviously a joke. I love to see any gender hurt);
• Murder…IN SPACE;
• Non-western-centric settings and worldbuilding;
• Galactic empires;
• Space opera where everyone’s a self-serving asshole;
• Court intrigue;
• That sunuvabitch who always gets away with being a sunuvabitch;
• Openly-affectionate, platonic male friendship;
• Platonic male-female friendship;
• Queer fantasy (not Romantasy);
• Multi-POV Fantasy with distinct personalities;
• Anciet/Long-lost alien civilizations;
• Sibling/friendships on opposite sides (I thrive on complex relationships of loyalty and strife);
• Alien predator (ah!);
• Gray-moral rogues who are gold-hearted shitheads;
• Expansive (which doesn’t mean overexplainative) worldbuilding; the kookier, the better!

Some of my favorite books/series:

The Boy Who Walked Too Far by Dom Watson, The Forever Sea by Joshua Philip Johnson, Guns of Liberty by Jamie Mauchline, The Archive Undying by Emma Mieko Candon, Arch-Conspirator by Veronica Roth, Steel Guardian by Cameron Coral, The Helm of Midnight by Marina J. Lostetter, Son of the Storm by Suyi Davies Okungbowa, A Song of Ice and Fire by George R. R. Martin, The Saxon Stories by Bernard Cornwell, Sevenwaters by Juliet Marillier, The Mystery of the Pale King by Sam Flynn, Walking to Aldebaran by Adrian Tchaikovsky, Mickey7 by Edward Ashton.

NOT OPEN FOR REQUESTS

I don’t take requests for:

• Erotica
• Poetry/Verse
• Self-help
• Memoirs/Biographies
• Religious non-Fiction

I am a mood reader so will venture outside of my norms occasionally for a break, meaning requests will be taken on a book-to-book basis and the below portion is more of a guideline. 

I love to read sci-fi/fantasy – pretty much everything under that umbrella (epic, coming of age, YA, adventurey type, military etc, and fairy-tale retellings). I’m not too tired of all the fantasy tropes yet.

I sometimes read fantasy romance, steam punk, urban fantasy, pulpy sci-fi, and wuxia.

I rarely read LitRPG, magical realism, history/alt history, or hard sci-fi.

I read romance but I rarely ever take requests for it. I am picky about straight-up romance. 

I don’t like too bleak or depressing. If it’s dark, that’s fine but there has to be a bit of light, or hope, or amazing characters at the end of that bleakbow. (I need payoff for the struggles)

I am pretty ok with most violence and I especially love fight scenes of all types… swords, knives, hand to hand, far away, military, bring ‘em on.

It’s not a deal clencher, but I prefer not to have a lot of (or any, if it can be helped) onscreen rape. 

And lastly, I am totally ok with any LGBTQ content.

NOT OPEN FOR REQUESTS

I don’t take requests for:

• Romance
• Paranormal
• Erotica
• Poetry/Verse
• Self-help
• Memoirs/Biographies
• Religious Fiction/non-Fiction

I love to read:

• Fantasy
• Science Fiction
• Historical Fiction (Medieval and prior)

I have a preference for modern fantasy and classic sci-fi, though as long as the world is deep and the characters complex, I’ll read just about anything.Books that are unusual, imaginative, tonally dark, and populated with flawed characters will almost certainly capture my gaze, as will anything sporting the lurid neon of cyberpunk.

NOT OPEN FOR REQUESTS

I don’t take requests for:

• Erotica
• Military fiction
• Epic Fantasy
• Poetry/Verse
• Self-help
• Memoirs/Biographies
• Religious non-Fiction
• Sci-fi

I love to read:

• Fantasy
• Mystery
• Thriller
• Crime Fiction
• Historical Fiction
• Contemporary Fiction

I’m looking for books with themes of found family, friendships, and mystery. I love everything with mythology or a strong folk tale vibe. If music is a strong feature, sign me up! I prefer snarky humor or dark humor, but when it comes to it, anything can be a hit or miss. I definitely don’t like bathroom humor. 

While I read pretty widely in the Fantasy genre, I’m less likely to accept a request for Epic Fantasy, Nautical Fantasy, and Military Fantasy – that’s not to say it won’t happen, though, I’ve been proven wrong before. But I don’t like too many battles in my books. YA I might consider, but I’m leaning more toward fiction aimed at an adult audience. Romance is fine, if it’s not overpowering, these days I’m more inclined to pick up cozy fantasy.

I’m okay with books containing violence as far as it’s not too excessive. I’ve read some great Grimdark books in my time, so that’s fine. Although these days I’m reading less dark fiction than I used to. There is just too much going on, so I’m looking for more light escapism than anything else. I also don’t mind LGBTQ content. 

These days I take up audiobooks more quickly, so if you happen to have one, that’s definitely a plus!