April 2026 archive

Amy Gets Eaten by Adam Kay & Henry Paker

Honestly, seems appropriate to be reading and reviewing this on the day I spent way too much time making sure my doctor had the relevant sample she needed. But hey, maybe we’ll finally figure out why I’ve been so sick these last few months! Anyway, Amy is a piece of corn on the pizza of …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.thefrumiousconsortium.net/2026/04/30/amy-gets-eaten-by-adam-kay-henry-paker/

Let’s Make Cocktails! by Sarah Becan

subtitled A Comic Book Cocktail Book. This is, bar none, one of the best illustrated reference guides to learning about and making cocktails for beginners that I’ve ever seen. Sarah Becan’s approach to mixology is as refreshing as some of the drinks she features in this volume, and I say that both as someone who …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.thefrumiousconsortium.net/2026/04/29/lets-make-cocktails-by-sarah-becan/

Through The Garden Gate by Sharon Rose & Erin Brown

This is a beautifully illustrated fairy tale for modern children that could, perhaps, use a few more pages to better explain some of the story diversions it takes while chronicling the magical adventures of its young protagonist. Said protagonist Miles is boooooooored, in the manner of all kids with too much time and not enough …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.thefrumiousconsortium.net/2026/04/28/through-the-garden-gate-by-sharon-rose-erin-brown/

How To Survive The End Of The World by Katy Doughty

with the subtitle A Graphic Exploration Of How To (Maybe) Avoid Extinction. And while this book is aimed at teens, I think that anyone with an interest in science and the many different ways in which the world could end will gain a lot from this well-researched and innovatively drawn volume. Never has the end …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.thefrumiousconsortium.net/2026/04/27/how-to-survive-the-end-of-the-world-by-katy-doughty/

Paladin’s Strength by T. Kingfisher

Paladin's Strength by T. Kingfisher

In the world of the White Rat, the gods call clergy and paladins to their service. Clergy are straightforward enough; they minister to the faithful, they administer the affairs of people and property affiliated with the deity, they perform the necessary rites, and so forth. Paladins are holy warriors for their faith; filled with the …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.thefrumiousconsortium.net/2026/04/26/paladins-strength-by-t-kingfisher/

The Element of Fire by Martha Wells

The Book of Ile-Rien by Martha Wells

Come for the opening heist in a magician’s home, stay for the burgeoning civil war and Martha Wells’ willingness to keep changing the story. The Element of Fire was her first novel, originally published in 1993. (The current edition was revised in 2022, though her author’s note does not say anything about the extent of …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.thefrumiousconsortium.net/2026/04/25/the-element-of-fire-by-martha-wells/

Tantalizing Tales — April 2026 — Part Four

April is almost over, dear readers, and we have so many delicious books to look forward to as the weather warms here in the Northern Hemisphere! First up is a globe-trotting delight, as the prolific Jesse Q Sutanto takes a break from her usual mysteries to explore what it feels like to start over again …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.thefrumiousconsortium.net/2026/04/24/tantalizing-tales-april-2026-part-four/

Was That Normal? by Alex Potts

Is it weird that I read this book and immediately assumed that the protagonist must have grown up with a super critical parent or guardian who absolutely failed him in preparing him for an autonomous life? Lol, the irony there, ofc, being me asking if that’s weird, given the title of this book. And I …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.thefrumiousconsortium.net/2026/04/23/was-that-normal-by-alex-potts/

Hafsa’s Way by Aisha Saeed

Back when I was growing up in Malaysia, the private school I went to for a good part of my primary and secondary schooling essentially gave up on teaching after the General Certificate of Secondary Education exams, and organized fun extracurricular activities for us instead. One of these was trips to the nearby zoo, and …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.thefrumiousconsortium.net/2026/04/22/hafsas-way-by-aisha-saeed/

More Spring Speculative Fiction by Beloved Authors!

Three teens smile in a magical bubbly atmosphere on the cover of the genie game by Jordan Ifueko

The Genie Game by Jordan Ifueko comes out today! It’s extremely exciting to have the start of a new middle grade series from this beloved author. Joining it this Spring, we also have The Somewhat Wicked Witch of Brigandale, a cozy new standalone from C.M. Waggoner, and A Long and Speaking Silence, a new installment in …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.thefrumiousconsortium.net/2026/04/21/more-spring-speculative-fiction-by-beloved-authors/