Book Review: The Dragon Has Some Complaints by John Wiswell

 

Many Thanks to Astra House Publishing/DAW  for an advanced E-galley of this novel. All opinions are my own, of course. 

This novel comes out July 14 in the US and July 16 in the UK. We do have a cover battle situation. I really was a fan of the US cover... and then out of an abundance of curiosity - I looked up the UK cover and now... I'm torn.  Of course, because I had an E-galley, I don't really have any cover at this point in time.  ALAS, AlACK, ALAY. I will eventually remedy that but will I find that UK cover?  I want that UK Cover, and I want that US cover. And I do not have that kind of book money. 

John Wiswell is an author that can really- really tell a tale. I was sure that "Someone you can Build a Nest In"  was going to win the Hugo last year. It did not but it was definitely in contention. 

I then picked up Wearing the Lion- and proceeded to just groan with laughter and love for our main characters. 

So- when I saw this choice from DAW, I was primed to wonder - what the heck is John Wiswell up to with a straight up dragon story. 

Reader friends, this is a dragon story with so much. So So Much, Heart, humor, drama, tragedy and joy that I had a hard time containing my heart.  BUT... it didn't start out that way for me. 

    It starts off with this very cantankerous 3 headed dragon that used to be a 4 headed dragon. As a dragon, our Main dragon character is beastly.  They smell bad, act cowardly and sullen, and are grumpy. Their body is broken and messy. They have terrible breath, and--- no one likes them.  I didn't even like them. They are it seems in some sort of war time situation with some dragons being tamed and pampered battle steeds for a human settlement, and many more resisting working with the humans.  Humans, of course, seem to eff everything up. 

   To be honest, I may have put this one down at this point, but Wiswell, that smart feller- he then hooked me in as our main Dragon character - MDC... finds himself wholly rejected by the Dragon community and in desperation, finds himself rescued by the humans after a battle. Once rescued, he is assigned a DISASTER HUMAN, Raina. 

    Wiswell had the nerve, readers- to write a character that was SO fully relatable that I thus was fully sucked right in and had to know what was going to happen to Raina, even though... she was so relatable-that I had a hard time really LIKING her. I recognized all of the parts of me that I am not particularly proud of- on display, in a book- that was not about me... but yet, was it? I had a couple of uncomfortable chapters there.  

 SO we start off with me feeling like our MDC is so despicable that no dragon will host him, and our MFC Raina is such a disaster that her kind also sort of shun her. 

NORMALLY- as readers, we generally....feel the pangs of sorrow and understanding for those underdogs of the pages.  Wiswell created such wretched creatures that I felt like I'd likely flinch away from both the dragon and the human.  AND THEN... HE MADE ME FALL IN LOVE WITH BOTH OF THEM. 

What the what.  What did he put in this one. 

 Chapter after chapter, I started to love the fantastic disaster that Raina honestly is, and the transformation of our MDC (Garrodigh) from a miserable broken creature into a focused, magnificent fearsome dragon. These two magnificent and imperfect creatures take on invaders who seek to destroy them, and uncover a secret that is even more fantastical. 

I had so many reactions and hot takes that I do wish I'd done a series of "video reactions" as I was reading, but alas, I do work a full time job - not in publishing or media- so you get this word vomit here. 

I was locked in until the very end. I will freely admit, there's something... in this novel.  I laughed, and cringed, and cried enormous tears. I shared one passage with a friend- one passage- and she was suddenly sobbing too. (ONE PASSAGE, not the whole book- she didn't know anything but that one passage).  I'd love to share that with you, but but but the book isn't out yet. 

PUT THIS ONE ON YOUR TBR. 

Firstly because the story - as it unfolds is marvelous.  There is some quirky, amazing worldbuilding and dragon lore which I am sure Wiswell got from somehow real time dragon interaction- no way he just made that all up in his head- (Dragon sleeping habits have to be observed)  An inventive floating city, aloft on dragon magic (I mean, yes please!) and more. 

Secondly because so many of us have said we want to read stories that represent all kinds of people.  And this dragon fantasy- has organic inclusion of disability, trans persons, elderly persons, mental health struggles and more. So many novels attempt to be "representative" and it reads as inaccurate, forced or performative inclusion. Not this one. All of this just flowed in a way that made me say- of course, yes, this is the way of things. 

Will I be lining up on release day?  It will depend on my book money situation, but I will definitely definitely be cheering this one on no matter what. 

First Published :  7/14/26

Pages: 400

Available as an Audio Book :  yes 

Trigger Warnings: death, xenophobia, fire, fire injury, bullying, war, war injury,  Alcohol use, injury, miscommunication "trope", (this is not a full list, read responsibly)

Happy Publication Day!

   Book Two in the Ex Romana Series by Sophie Burnham is out in the world! 

BLOODTIDE  continues the adventure in an alternate world where the Roman Empire never fell. Apocalypse is coming, and unlikely alliances are being formed.

 I did receive an advanced reader copy from DAW- Astra House - and I can't wait to post up that review!

   This is a complex fantasy read which will appeal to readers who have wanted just a little more from their novels. Fully fleshed out characters, surprise twists and turns, and a storyline full of thought provoking moments.  And a story this complex is nothing with out some messy, complicated relationships! 

    And the COVER!  Design by Adam Auerbach   and illustrated by Simon Prades ( who is also know for his work for the New Yorker) - this one is a stunner!  

 Let me know if you pick this up!  Happy Reading! 

Book Review: Sargassa by Sophie Burnham

   I'm starting this post off with a huge thank you to DAW books  for sending me a copy of Sargassa in it's new cover!  This is an exclusive edition which will go with the second book- Bloodtide- which is due out in October 2025. 

I was OVER THE MOON  when this arrived.  

The old cover was fine:

But I have to admit the new cover has a finesse and luxe appearance that the first one is missing.  

 That said, I really had not picked up this novel before.  The Roman Empire- is not my Roman Empire- if you will!  but of course, I pulled out the trusty audiobook,  and started on an immersive reading journey. 

This book grew and grew on me.  Initially, I was overwhelmed by the moving time line, and multiple multiple characters.  I admit, I also started reading at a time which for me, personally- has been pretty bleak, which made it a bit hard to concentrate. That said,  I was able to stay on track with the audiobook- which would be fantastic as a multi-cast production! All of a sudden, I was immersed in a society that grew up as the Roman Empire never fell- adventure, high- and low- society, action, complicated messy relationships that we all love, powerful semi-magical kind of weapons and more. This is an adventure to savor. My absolute favorite character is Theo Nix.  The ending is a gentle cliff- hanger with a promise of more to come, without the dreaded jolt that many cliff hangers give. 

The only thing missing - and I can't believe I'm writing this- is a map.  I desperately need a map for this one. 

I will be picking up the next book Blood Tide as soon as it's out!  I'm excited to see what happens to all the characters, but especially Theo Nix! 

 

First Published : 10/2024 

Pages: 416

Available as an Audio Book :YES

Trigger Warnings: death, parent death, drug use, blood, medical situations, violence, murder, mental health situations. 

Not a full TW list, please read responsibly. 

Book Review Esperance by Adam Oyebanji

  Many thanks to Astra Publishing House/Daw books for the gift copy of Esperance to read and review.

  As seems to always be the case for this reader, a great cover sucked me right in! 

Small attempt at a synopsis: Detective Ethan Krol is called to an apartment in Chicago where a father and son are deceased with their lungs oddly full of sea water. Ethan knows this is strange, but he begins his investigation rather normally. Soon, he is swept wholly into the investigation leading him to Providence RI, and Edinburgh Scotland. 

A second story line introduces us to Abidemi Eniola who arrives in England from parts unknown. She hooks up with a modern gal, Hollie Rogers to help her along her way. Abidemi is super smart and has a lot of cool technology that Hollie's never seen, but sometimes seems like she doesn't quite understand how basic things like, airplanes, or pawn shops work. Abidemi states she has inheritances for several people she has to find and Hollie - who's at a loose end- decides to go along for the ride. 

What Hollie doesn't know is that the inheritances are for Descendants of a Rhode Island Merchant and Ship owner from back during slave trading days. 

Chaos ensues. 

Honestly, I did not know it was possible to write a cohesive novel that brought together classic noir detective fiction, supernatural sci-fi elements, Nigerian spirits/spirituality - the concept of debt to be paid (gbese) and historical events, I would have said that this might be a step to far, but somehow Oyebanji has put it all together into a bit of a Cyperpunk, Sci-fi, Detective Noir and Historic fiction novel that reads nicely and makes sense. 

Is this a book for everyone? No, it really is not.  I think it falls into the weird genre for me and will appeal to Sci fi readers, those who like weird stuff and those interested in cybertech.     I expect readers who enjoy Blake Crouch, or Rob Hart would find this appealing! Could it have a wider readership? It could because it's well written and easy to follow! 

STATS

First Published : May 2025

Pages: 432

Available as an Audio Book :YES

Trigger Warnings: Violence, police action, murder, references to slave trade, medical situations, blood, and injury. distant parent, parent death, child death.  As always this is likely not a complete list, so please read responsibly. 

Book Review: Last Chance to Save the World, by Beth Revis 5/5

 I was OVER THE MOON to get an advanced listener copy of the audiobook for Beth Revis' novella Last Chance to Save the World. Many thanks to Net-Galley and Astra publishing house and Dreamscape Media for the Advanced listener copy. It was Chef's kiss perfection! 

Me- flying in a balloon to get "over the moon"...

Navigation aérienne. Ballon & appareil de direction construit par M. Pompéien-Piraud, inventeur / / B. Arnaud. , 1883. [Lyon ; Paris: B. Arnaud, ?] Photograph. https://www.loc.gov/item/2002735905/.

  I have read all of the Chaotic Orbits series and this one is supposed to be the last. It promised a satisfying ending and I'm going to have a bit of a hot take, this was NOT at all satisfying, unless there is a fourth book or spin off on the way. 

If you are looking for a fun, slow-burn tension filled series that is both futuristic and realistic-with some devastating plot twists, this is a series for you! 

   While I suppose this could be read as a stand-alone, I think it really is better to start at the beginning  with  Full Speed to a Crash landing.  and read through to get the full impact of this funny and snappy rom-com set in space. 

   Last Chance to Save the World did not disappoint (despite my misgivings about the ending). Ada and Rian - our main characters continue to play their parts well. Rian's still the somewhat stiff G-man determined to impart rules and order to situations- convinced that by following them to the T- he can indeed save the world.  Ada, well- she's Ada. She is a bundle of chaos, impropriety, snark and surprise. She's also determined to save the world- but her methods are more...flexible shall we say.  Of Course... Rian is essentially obsessed with Ada, probably in part because she is so wildly unpredictable and "off limits" Ada's also  IN LOVE  but she's true to her own character, even a bit prickly to herself- not allowing herself nice things. Despite this not progressing to the on-page "spice" that readers today seem to be clamoring for, I think I appreciated it more because it takes something special to hold a readers attention with out that. 

These two spend some time in forced proximity, concoct a plan to literally save the original Earth, and yet still can't quite manage to figure each other or their situation out. If that isn't a very realistic romantic situation, I am not sure what is.  All of this, of course is set in space, with ships, space stations, interesting space foods and clothing.  

As readers we are taken along for the wild ride,  and left a bit short of breath as Ada takes things right down to the wire. Can Ada and Rian save the Earth? Can they save themselves? 

You 'll want to read to find out. My only warning to the reader is that while the ending is somewhat satisfying, it really doesn't feel like the end. So if you're listening DAW Books, readers want more! 

Shout out to the Audiobook narrators: Dara Rosenberg and David Bendena. They narrate the entire series, and for me they enhanced it entirely. If there were mispronunciations, I missed them, and the flow and pace was so natural and enjoyable. Highly recommend the audio for those who enjoy ear-reading. 

My only sadness with the Ear reading is that there isn't a beautiful trophy book for my shelf. The art for these covers is on-point, it reflects the fun, campy, snappy nature of the series and I hope at some point to get a full set. (Deep down I am hoping for maybe an omnibus, but I'd settle for a book 4...) 

STATS

First Published : April 8, 2025

Pages: 176

Available as an Audio Book : YES 

Trigger Warnings: parental death, illness, climate

As always - this is not a complete list, read responsibly!