the booked unicorn Archives - Tachyon Publications

February 23, 2023

With the perfect Jane Yolen stories, THE SCARLET CIRCUS makes for an enjoyable time

Rick Klaw Uncategorized fantasy cafe, Jane Yolen, john scalzi, lisa loves literature, los angeles public library, mary robinette kowal, paul semel, reading reality, tales untangled, the big idea, the book lover's boudoir, the booked unicorn, The Girl Who Reads, the scarlet circus

The recent release of Jane Yolen’s latest collection THE SCARLET CIRCUS (with an intro from Brandon Sanderson) spawned a flurry of internet activity with glowing reviews from The Book Lover’s Boudoir, Reading Reality, Lisa Loves Literature, Tales Untangled, and The Girl Who Reads. Yolen produced guest posts for John Scalzi’s The Big Idea, Mary Robinette Kowal’s My Favorite Thing, The Booked Unicorn, and Fantasy Cafe. Finally, a pair of interviews/discussions with Paul Samel and for the Los Angeles Public Library.

Cover for The Scarlet Circus, a collection of love stories by Jane Yolen — Cover by Elizabeth Story

I love fantasy and these stories were perfect. I enjoyed each and every one.
The Book Lover’s Boudoir

But overall I’m very glad I picked this up, and enjoyed the ways that it played with romances of many types and stripes and definitions. That “love is all there is is all we know of love” doesn’t have to mean that all loves are exactly the same type.
Reading Reality

I really liked a lot of the stories in this one!
Lisa Loves Literature

This is such a fun short story collection!

I loved every single one of these stories from mermaids, to djinn, to rabbits, and ghosts. The variety was so much fun. I often found I wanted to continue the story with the characters even though it was over. That’s a sign of great writing.
Tales Untangled

If you’ve never taken a look at any of Jane Yolen’s novels, take a look at these short stories. Her work spans multiple genres, so there might be something for you even if high fantasy isn’t your thing.
The Girl Who Reads

February 17, 2023

A whirlwind of a debut, Mia Tsai’s BITTER MEDICINE is one of the most anticipated books of 2023

Rick Klaw blog alan boyle, annalee newitz, bitter medicine, cosmic log, Dorilyn Toledo, mia tsai, mochi magazine, shooting stars mag, tender curiosity, the booked unicorn

With just a month until its March 14 release (the book, both physical and digital, is currently available for pre-order directly from Tachyon and other select outlets), excitement grows for Mia Tsai’s debut novel BITTER MEDICINE with recommendations from Dorilyn Toledo in Mochi Magazine, Shooting Stars Mag, and Tender Curiosity (latter two without comment). In an interview with Alan Boyle for Cosmic Log about their new novel The Terraformers, Annalee Newitz also recommends the book. And speaking of anticipated books, Tsai, at The Booked Unicorn, lists what forthcoming titles excites her.

cover for Bitter Medicine by Mia Tasi — Cover art by Jia-Ling Pan
Design by Elizabeth Story

The dialogue stands out for its wit, natural quality, and intentional omissions. This adult novel is a love letter to code-switching and its many forms: exchanging phrases in multiple languages, finding loopholes, and thriving under restrictive rules, adapting to different worlds. It is its own power and talent. While readers looking for escapism will enjoy the fantasy, “Bitter Medicine” highlights the wonders of our world. Tsai’s storytelling celebrates the incessant pursuit of human connection and its fragility. There are always more places to travel to, foods to try, and experiences to enjoy with loved ones. Prepare for a renewed lust for life.
Mochi Magazine

“It’s like James Bond crossed with, um, ‘Supernatural,’” Newitz says. “There’s elves and other supernatural creatures, and their magic is tied to various kinds of medicine. I can’t even explain it. It’s a delightful romance spy thriller with magic and elves. You just have to read it.”
Cosmic Log

I like to think of myself as a varied reader. I have broad tastes, but generally, I like science fiction and fantasy, romance, and medical and nature nonfiction. This year, however, there are two memoirs that have piqued my interest, plus a good crop of nonfiction. Without further ado, and certainly without any special favor, here is a list of ten books I’m looking forward to reading this year. Hopefully.
The Booked Unicorn

February 2, 2023

Recommendations ring out for Mia Tsai’s soaring tale, BITTER MEDICINE

Rick Klaw blog bitter medicine, christina ladd, eyes.2c, geekly inc, karla strand, kelly gallucci, lady business, layton's book reviews, mia tsai, ms magazine, netgalley, the booked unicorn, we are bookish

With a little over one months until its March 14 release (the book, both physical and digital, is currently available for pre-order directly from Tachyon and other select outlets), Mia Tsai’s debut novel BITTER MEDICINE is among the most anticipated books of 2023. Karla Strand for MS Magazine, Lady Business, The Booked Unicorn, and Geekly Inc‘s Christina Ladd (the latter two without comment) are all very excited about the book. At We Are Bookish, the title features in Kelly Gallucci’s “Upcoming Romance Books Getting Rave Reviews on NetGalley.” Eyes.2c calls it an amazing paranormal saga. And with their 5 star review, Layton’s Book Reviews feels much the same.

I love a good fantastical, paranormal romance, don’t you? About the only romance novels I go for these days include elves and fairies in slow-burn steam and magical mythology anyway, and Mia Tsai’s debut has plenty of all of it!
MS Magazine

I was recced this book via someone on TikTok, who described it as “Chinese immortal and a French elf navigate team up to solve bureaucratic problems, grapple with their pasts, and fall in love”. I do not know how accurate this is but it sounds incredible.
Lady Business

Highlighted as one of the most-anticipated books of 2023, this romantic fantasy features an immortal heroine hiding her true powers and an elf on a mission to break a curse. Educator Mikayla P called it “a fun, contemporary fantasy with a lot of heart” adding that “the world-building and magic system in Bitter Medicine is as delightful as it is intriguing, and Tsai has carefully crafted a world rich with linguistic diversity… This is a book as much about the love between these two characters as it is about finding yourself, being a little more selfish, and living your life without regrets. It is a powerful reminder that redemption is always possible and that it’s never too late to reach for what you want.”
We Are Bookish

I was absolutely glued to every word leaping off the pages. I kept along with them. Mai Tsai is a bright light bursting onto the stage of paranormal fantasy.
Eyes.2c

Overall, BITTER MEDICINE is a fantasy romance that will appeal to fans of The Invisible Library or These Violent Delights. One highlight of this book is that is an #ownvoices with a Chinese female lead. I am a huge fan of diversity in the fantasy genre. Another highlight of this book is the banter between the two leads. The romance is top-notch. Lastly, I loved the use of English, Chinese, and French in the book, which I appreciated more after reading author’s note about code-switching at the end of the book. If you’re intrigued by the excerpt above, or if you’re a fan of fantasy romance books in general, I highly recommend that you check out this book when it comes out in March!
Layton’s Book Reviews