Jul 16 2026
I am high key obsessed with this inaugural magazine issue about roleplaying games in Malaysia. Aside from its decidedly and unapologetically local flavor, it provides a pretty terrific sampling of all the different kinds of RPGs currently being played in the country, from traditional tabletop games to story games, solo journaling games and more. Perhaps …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.thefrumiousconsortium.net/2026/07/16/a4-2b-d6-vol-1-issue-1-people-edited-by-aaron-lim/
Jul 15 2026
Ooh, Naomi Novik, you crafty little devil of a writer, you! I’m always so impressed when an author sets the reader up to intensely dislike a character, only for that same character to eventually and successfully capture our hearts later on. And I get it, there were a ton of mitigating factors for why our …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.thefrumiousconsortium.net/2026/07/15/the-summer-war-by-naomi-novik/
Jul 14 2026
I have recently been informed that Summerween — the practice of celebrating Halloween in the summer — is an actual thing, so reading and reviewing this book in July is totally legit, lol. Regardless of what time of year you encounter The Underwearwolf, I’m reasonably sure that you’ll be as charmed as I was by …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.thefrumiousconsortium.net/2026/07/14/the-underwearwolf-by-gideon-sterer-charles-santoso/
Jul 13 2026
For those unfamiliar with the phrase, a Tarot puzzle tale (as this game is subtitled) is a puzzle game hidden in a deck of Tarot cards. The Light In The Mist might actually be the first of its kind: I’ve never heard of any others, tho would be immensely pleased to learn that more exist! …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.thefrumiousconsortium.net/2026/07/13/the-light-in-the-mist-by-postcurious-jack-fallows/
Jul 12 2026
Among this year’s Hugo finalists in the four headline fiction categories — short story, novelette, novella and novel — no author has more than one nomination. I don’t think I have a particular view about this distribution. On the one hand, it’s neat when a writer has a banner year and gathers up two or even three …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.thefrumiousconsortium.net/2026/07/12/hugo-awards-2026-best-novelette-2/
Jul 10 2026
Hello, dear readers! This week, we have several exciting books that have only recently published, as well as some terrific books to look forward to! First up is Bridget Walsh’s absorbing historical mystery novel The Spirit Guide. Spiritualism is all the rage in late 19th century Victorian London. When detecting duo Minnie Ward and Albert …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.thefrumiousconsortium.net/2026/07/10/tantalizing-tales-july-2026-part-two/
Jul 09 2026
based on the epic tale attributed to Homer, ofc. I first read The Odyssey in a beautifully written and designed Hamlyn edition meant for young readers when I was 11. The hardcover volume was a gift from my best friend’s parents, and I devoured it repeatedly before I left for boarding school at 14. I …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.thefrumiousconsortium.net/2026/07/09/the-odyssey-a-graphic-novel-by-gareth-hinds/
Jul 08 2026
Ooh, boy, is Doug gonna be surprised when he reads my voting slate for this year’s Hugo Awards nominees for Best Novelette! Presented, as usual, in descending order of preference. Top of my list this year is Catherynne M Valente’s When He Calls Your Name. Perhaps oddly, it is one of the two nominees on …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.thefrumiousconsortium.net/2026/07/08/hugo-awards-2026-best-novelette/
Jul 07 2026
with the most charming illustrations by Breanna Chambers! This world does not have enough kindness and empathy, and certainly not enough readily available mental health support, so it’s wonderful that books like this exist for young readers. Tony, Mia and River are all fourth-grade classmates at Los Angeles’ Sycamore Elementary. Their teacher Mr Ortega wants …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.thefrumiousconsortium.net/2026/07/07/pooch-on-the-loose-the-after-school-kindness-crew-1-by-goldie-hawn-lin-oliver/
Jul 06 2026
I admit, dear reader, that I was finally unable to resist the hype surrounding this series and decided to go see what all the fuss is about. And the answer is: a lot, and most of it really good! Full disclosure, the tipping point for finally getting me to pick this up was likely the …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.thefrumiousconsortium.net/2026/07/06/dungeon-crawler-carl-by-matt-dinniman/
Al Singh
Doug Merrill
Doreen Sheridan
Emily Lauer
John Pitzel
Lars N. Goldschlager
Laura Eilers
Professor X
Robert Maedgen
Sylvere Ap Leanan
The Shire