When the opportunity to review Janine Ashbless’s sequel to Cover Him With Darkness came up, I was delighted. I enjoyed Cover so much and have been eagerly waiting to find out what happens next to Azazel and Milja since I finished reading it – Janine left us with a gasp at the end of it, and does the same thing here again! Which really just goes to show how good she is at her craft. Read More
The Book of Dragons by Roger Lancelyn Green, illustrations by Krystyna Turska, Puffin Paperback (1973)
Front cover of the Book of Dragons
Roger Lancelyn Green is more famous for his collections, similar to this one, of Greek myths, stories of Ancient Egypt, Robin Hood legends, and Arthurian tales. His work was not part of my childhood, but from what I have read, many children who grew up in the 60s and 70s recall these books with fondness.
I can see why this one perhaps does not have the same level of fame. Bringing together dragon stories and trying to present them with any cohesion is a difficult task. The very act of defining what a dragon is fiendishly complicated (more so with European dragons) and further difficulties arise deciding what stories to leave out because of the plethora of myths. Where does a collector being? By geographical location? By era? By type of myth i.e. similar thematic elements? Read More
I first read Nikki Magennis a few months ago when I picked up Best Erotic Romance (edited by Kristina Wright, see here to purchase). Her story, ‘Dawn Chorus’, which closed that anthology, was one of, if not the, standouts. So when Nikki put a call out for reviews (and a free copy) of her self-published anthology Crooked Hearts, I couldn’t resist. Read More