Review: To Conquer Death by Richard H. Moon

CW: Animal deaths, death of a pregnant woman

So, this book is being marketed as historical fantasy. But in my opinion, when you look at the often gray line between dark fantasy and horror, To Conquer Death lands on the horror side.

This is not just because it's a zombie book, but because of the way the violence is described, the intimacy of it. Some of you will now be skipping to the next review. Some will be perking up.

But I warn only because somebody could easily pick this up and expect something more traditional, mainstream fantasy. The one Amazon review is not helpful in this way.

Because this is definitely a pretty decent book. Moon's egyptology is, as far as I can tell, solid. His ancient world is distorted by the bad stuff - an insane god raising the dead has pretty much destroyed Europe, including Greece and Rome, and is now turning his gaze on Egypt.

Brothers Koshei and Tyfon are charged by the Pharoah to investigate this threat before it lands on their shores.

They're too late.

Not only are dead people rising, but dead animals too, and the entire world is being wrapped in darkness.

Our characters are flawed, real people, with family. (And Tyfon is clearly aroace; the word is not used, but the explanation is definitely there). They love and hate each other. It's very dark, it's very grim, and it definitely invokes fear and disgust, hence why I'm calling it horror.

But it's also very good as epic fantasy, with interesting worldbuilding mapped onto historical knowledge.

Recommended, but only to people who like their zombies.

Review: The Sea Prince by Elizabeth Schechter

CW: Dementia, in character ableism

Ah, refreshing! Specifically, the good polyamory rep in this book. They're so cute together.

Schechter has woven a fun nautical tale here. The people of Meradon have fled beneath the waves and now live in giant submarines (none, as far as I know, are yellow). They are still at war with the Evil Empire <tm>.

Tarjiaan is the Sea Prince, heir to the throne of Meradon, but he was never meant to be heir - he was sixth in line before the disastrous battle that killed half the royal family and left Tarjiaan himself crippled. Separated from Daantir, his battle companion and lover, he has built up quite the reputation as a war captain.

Then the Empire offers peace, and with peace, a bride...Nika...whom Tarjiaan must marry. Fortunately, they hit it off.

This book does have unexamined royal bloodline stuff, including bloodline-related magic. However, it also has some amazing worldbuilding, interesting characters, and if the plot is fairly standard fantasy, the nautical focus is rarer.

Recommended for epic fantasy fans.