History & Alternate History – Page 14

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REVIEW: All the Right Places – Wayne Goodman

September 5, 2020 by scott

Genre: Speculative Fiction, Romance, Historical fiction LGBTQ+ Category: Gay Reviewer: Aethena, Paranormal Romance Guild Get It On Amazon About The Book All the Right Places is a collection of short stories, most written for submission to anthologies or collections. Starting in the near future and proceeding to the near past, men interact with other men in the pursuit of love and companionship. The Review This book is a collection of short stories that take place around the world in a variety of different time periods. From virtual reality in the future to 18th century Japan, each story conveys the challenges a gay … Read more

Viking Laid to rest for Likely “Mirror Afterlife”

September 4, 2020 by scott

Archaeologists in Norway have unearthed the 1,100-year-old grave of a Viking warrior, whose steel sword was placed in an unusual spot: on his left side. Though the sword’s sinistral position is still somewhat perplexing, one theory is that the Vikings perceived the afterlife to be a mirror image of the real world, so whoever buried this warrior may have been accounting for that, said Raymond Sauvage, the excavation’s project manager and an archaeologist at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) University Museum. According to that theory, the warrior would have been left-handed and worn the sword at his … Read more

ANNOUNCEMENT: Let There Be Night – Amir Lane

August 17, 2020 by scott

QSFer Amir Lane has a new gay/non-binary historic fantasy out: “Let There Be Night.” Monsters are real. The sooner Bertholdt accepts it, the better his chances of staying alive. Four months ago, reluctant priest Bertholdt Kaufmann was charged with protecting the true identity Alois, a teenage werewolf rescued from vampires. Bertholdt believed they were safe. He couldn’t have been more wrong. During tuberculosis outbreak that casts a cloud of suspicion over everyone, he sends away his young charge to protect her as witchfinders are called to their town. The witchfinders seek to prove the illness is linked to witchcraft, evidence of … Read more

REVIEW: Striking Balance – Jeanne G’Fellers

August 10, 2020 by scott

Genre: Historical Dark Fantasy, Magic Realism LGBTQ+ Category: MC is non-binary bisexual intersex by today’s terms, other rep includes lesbian, ace, aro, gay, bi, gender-fluid, poly Reviewer: Dan Get It On Amazon About The Book An Appalachian Elementals Historical Dark Fantasy Side Tale Benjamin Schnell is the possessor of secrets he wishes he could bury beneath the rich Nolichucky river flat dirt he farms alongside his dear friend, Conall. But secrets lead to lies, lead to more secrets, and all eventually come home to roost in a bed of distrust, even on the 1779 Appalachian frontier. After Ben is injured, … Read more

ANNOUNCEMENT: The Harp and the Sea – Anne Barwell and Lou Sylvre

July 28, 2020 by scott

QSFers Anne Barwell And Lou Sylvre have a new MM historical fantasy book out: “The Harp and the Sea.” In 1605, Robbie Elliot—a Reiver and musician from the Scottish borders—nearly went to the gallows. The Witch of the Hermitage saved him with a ruse, but weeks later, she cursed him to an ethereal existence in the sea. He has seven chances to come alive, come ashore, and find true love. For over a century, Robbie’s been lost to that magic; six times love has failed. When he washes ashore on the Isle of Skye in 1745, he’s arrived at his … Read more

REVIEW: The Harp and the Sea – Anne Barwell & Lou Sylvre

July 27, 2020 by scott

Genre: Fantasy, Historical, Romance LGBTQ+ Category: Gay Reviewer: Maryann Get It On Amazon About The Book In 1605, Robbie Elliot—a Reiver and musician from the Scottish borders—nearly went to the gallows. The Witch of the Hermitage saved him with a ruse, but weeks later, she cursed him to an ethereal existence in the sea. He has seven chances to come alive, come ashore, and find true love. For over a century, Robbie’s been lost to that magic; six times love has failed. When he washes ashore on the Isle of Skye in 1745, he’s arrived at his last chance at … Read more

Are You in the Market for a Vampire Slaying Kit?

July 20, 2020 by scott

You’re in luck. Live Science has the details: Inside the box are eight compartments holding: a copy of the New Testament published in 1842; a knife with a silver blade; a percussion cap pocket pistol; pliers, crucifixes and rosary beads; a vial with a metal lid — “contents unknown;” and a small bottle containing sharks’ teeth, according to the listing. Vampire folklore and the belief in vampires can be traced to the ancient world. Indeed, burials dating to more than 1,000 years ago in Europe took safeguards to protect the living against the restless undead, with suspected vampires buried with … Read more

ANNOUNCEMENT/GIVEAWAY: Striking Balance – Jeanne G’Fellers

July 20, 2020 by scott

QSFer Jeanne G’Fellers has a new queer historical dark fantasy/magical realism book out: “Striking Balance.” And there’s a giveaway! An Appalachian Elementals Historical Dark Fantasy Side Tale. Benjamin Schnell is the possessor of secrets he wishes he could bury beneath the rich Nolichucky river flat dirt he farms alongside his dear friend, Conall. But secrets lead to lies, lead to more secrets, and all eventually come home to roost in a bed of distrust, even on the 1779 Appalachian frontier. After Ben is injured, he realizes there are odd things happening around him that others cannot see. Corner shadows take … Read more

REVIEW: Merchants of Milan – Edale Lane

July 18, 2020 by scott

Genre: Historical, Fantasy, Romance LGBTQ+ Category: FF/Lesbian Reviewer: Devon Get It On Amazon About The Book Three powerful merchants, two independent women in love, one masked vigilante. Love blooms between Florentina and Maddie, but Florentina’s role as the vigilante Night Flyer could lead to her death and Maddie’s broken heart. Florentina, set on revenge for her father’s murder, creates an alter-ego known as the Night Flyer. Madelena, whose husband was also murdered, hires Florentina as a tutor for her children and love blossoms between them. However, Florentina’s vendetta is fraught with danger, and surprising developments threaten both women’s lives. The … Read more

INNOVATION: Cover Reveal

July 15, 2020 by scott

It’s gettin’ real, y’all. The marked-up manuscript came back from Ryane last week, and we’ve now heard from just about all of the authors with their changes and approval. Now we upload to Amazon for preorder! And it’s time for the cover reveal! Here’s the eBook cover: And here’s the print cover: Next up? Announceing the Judges’ Choices in about two weeks, and then publication on August 8th. So many great stories!