Ramblings
Frost and snow have come to stay in central New York. Time to settle in with a warm cat and a good book during the long evenings. Here at the end of the year, I want to thank you for being part of this journey — whether through reading my stories or following along with my ramblings in these newsletters.
A few years ago, I wrote Midwinter Knots as a holiday companion for my novel Knots and made it free to all subscribers of this newsletter. Simply follow the link below to download it. Whether this is your first visit to the world of Knots or a chance to reunite with its characters (especially Trefoil the cat), I hope you enjoy this little story.
I wish you a season filled with warmth, joy, and the time to enjoy a good story or two. Thank you for your support, and here’s to more stories to come in the new year!
Our Books
Midwinter Knots
Chuck Boeheim
A holiday short story set in the world of Knots. Escher and Emeline have brought a tree into the house to decorate. Trefoil the cat is quick to investigate—and discovers something unusual. This isn’t just any tree; it’s home to a dryad, and she’s not happy about being uprooted. As mayhem unfolds, it’s up to Trefoil to defend the house from the growing chaos… if he doesn’t get put outside first.
Free download from StoryOrigin
Knots
Chuck Boeheim
Knots features a cast of eccentric and only conditionally-trustworthy characters that will appeal to fans of Roger Zelazny or Neil Gaiman. Or if you enjoy the inventive magic systems of Brandon Sanderson, let Knots introduce you to Topomancy. In this world, a precisely tied knot, an exactly folded paper, or a cunningly drawn figure can unlock wonders and horrors.
Resche, an art thief, finds himself in a quaint Swiss town that borders Spain on one side and South America on the other. Mages are engaged in a game of Geomancy with tiles the size of cities. When he is caught stealing from one of them, he becomes a pawn in their intricate game.
The Fractalist priest is enigmatic, the Jeweler may not be what he seems, and the Astromancer turned up dead the night he consulted her. Emeline, the newspaper editor, seems sympathetic, but what are her motives? His companion Trefoil tells Resche to trust her, but what does a cat know (even a talking one)? It’s time to find a way back to his own world, but the bridge he crossed has vanished in the fog.
Wouldn’t you love to have a Knot of Confusion to use against your enemies? Step into the unique world of Knots today. Just remember your way back.
What We‘re Reading
Visit our archive of reviews and recommendations on the Books We Like page of our website. You‘ll find over one hundred recommendations in Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Non Fiction.
A Thousand Words for Stranger
Julie Czerneda
I finally got around to reading Julie Czerneda’s A Thousand Words for Stranger, and I’m glad I did. It’s a blend of space opera and personal mystery, set in a universe that feels big, messy, and alive — the sort of story I’ve enjoyed in Czerneda’s books.
The book opens with Sira, a young woman with no memory of who she is or why she’s being hunted. She falls in with Captain Morgan, a trader with a ship, a sharp tongue, and more patience than I expected. Together, they navigate a galaxy full of strange worlds, alien species, and tangled politics. Sira’s journey isn’t just about survival; it’s about figuring out who she is, who she can trust, and whether she gets a say in her own future.
Czerneda’s background in biology comes through in the worldbuilding. The aliens feel alien, not just humans with funny foreheads, and the Trade Pact universe has the kind of complexity that makes it easy to imagine living there — or at least visiting. The relationship between Sira and Morgan walks a fine line between partnership and mistrust, which adds a lot of tension without feeling forced.
I appreciated the way Czerneda handled the themes of identity and agency. Sira’s struggle to understand and define herself is central to the story, but it’s never overexplained. It’s woven into the plot, letting the reader uncover answers along with her.
Buy on Amazon
The Dead Cat Tail Assassins
P. Djèlí Clark
Eveen is an assassin—and also dead. The “Cat Tail” part? Pure branding courtesy of her boss. Eveen serves the goddess of Assassins, Aeril, who protects assassins who abide by her laws. And there are a lot of laws. Hundreds of them. As part of the deal, all assassins have all memory of their former lives wiped, so they have no entanglements.
When Eveen accepts her latest contract (Rule #1: you must accept a contract, as long as it is just), things go very wrong. She’s tasked with killing a girl asleep in a tower, but instead of carrying out the job, she ends up rescuing her. Someone set Eveen up to fail in the most spectacular way. Now, she must unravel who wants the girl dead, who wants Eveen permanently dead, and how to escape the wrath of Aeril herself—all without breaking the rules of the guild that binds her.
The city of Tal Abisi comes alive in Clark’s hands, rich with culture, food, customs, and faiths. It’s a place so vividly drawn it feels like it must exist somewhere out there in space and time. One of Clark’s great strengths is his ability to imply depth with small, well-chosen details. For example, when Eveen quotes guild rule #481 to herself—“Never enter a room you can’t get out of”—you immediately grasp the society’s highly structured, rule-bound nature without needing an ounce of exposition.
If you’re looking for a story that’s smart, sharp, and filled with twists, grab this one. Bring your own knife.
Buy on Amazon
You may also enjoy…
Cave of Time
Luna Fox
A plague has swept through the village of Dasen, taking all the magic from the place and the druids. Master Rody longs for the day that it returns. Back when conversing with nature is normal and casting spells is natural to them.
The desire grows urgent as deadly forces arise from years of captivity. Years of magical absence has left the village defenseless. But just when everything seems bleak, an ordinary boy rises up to the challenge. Will he be able to prove himself among his cruel peers? Will he even reach the Cave of Time before it’s too late?
Free via StoryOrigin
A Time of Dragons Boxset
Cynthia Vespia
**A slayer of dragons, tasked with royal commands, has a change of heart when she learns the truth about her next target. **
A Time of Dragons is a symphony of sword and sorcery, high fantasy, and a heroic quest that is like The Mandalorian merging with Game of Thrones. Fans of Mistborn or The First Law Trilogy will fall in love with the fierce female lead Rayna and the Time of Dragons series.
2024 Finalist in the Action & Adventure category of the Next Generation Indie Book Awards
Boxset includes the complete trilogy:
- Rayna the Dragonslayer
- Rayna the Dragon Warrior
- Rayna the Dragon Rider
Buy via StoryOrigin
Tales from the Galactic rim
Jay Toney
Tales From The Galactic Rim is a collection of sixteen stories from author, Jay Toney. The stories span from near future Earth to distant star systems across the galaxy.
Alien Cargo: Be very cautious with the space junk you pick up. It may not appear to be what it is, and the consequences can be…
Blowups Happen!: A schizophrenic rockhopper and his imaginary companion discover an alien relic while prospecting.
Deal Of The Century: Some deals are better left undone. If you discover this planet—Run!
Find these and more in this galactic collection.
Buy via StoryOrigin
