21+ hour, 25+ min ago  (861+ words) Substack Swoony Sunday Book Review: "Fate's Bane" C. L. Clark's remarkable sapphic romantasy is both emotionally evocative and deliciously thought-provoking. Warning: Full spoilers for the book follow. If you know anything about my reading tastes, you'll know that I can be counted…...

1+ day, 19+ hour ago  (925+ words) Substack TV Review: "The Testaments" (Season 1, Episode 7) The seventh episode of Hulu's dystopian series showcases the bonds between women, and how resistance can take shape from both within and without. Warning: Spoilers for the series follow. While The Testaments may…...

3+ day, 20+ hour ago  (990+ words) Substack TV Review: "Half Man" (Episode 3) Richard Gadd's remarkable show goes from strength to strength, giving us an episode that asks some tough moral questions that defy easy answers. Warning: Spoilers for the series follow. With its third episode, Richard…...

4+ day, 20+ hour ago  (912+ words) Substack Book Review: The Far Edges of the Known World: A New History of the Ancient Past Owen Rees' new book shifts the focus of ancient history to the margins, illustrating the remarkable interconnectedness of antiquity. It's been a surprisingly…...

5+ day, 20+ hour ago  (959+ words) Substack TV Review: "Rooster" (Season 1) Thanks to a strong cast and hilariously unhinged writing, "Rooster" is messy, fun, and sometimes even a bit poignant. Warning: Spoilers for the series follow. I'm slowly making my way through the shows I've been…...

6+ day, 20+ hour ago  (763+ words) Substack Film Review: "Hallow Road" Matthew Rhys and Rosamund Pike give a pair of terrifyingly good performances in a horror film that's all about claustrophobia and the terror of ambiguity. Warning: Full spoilers for the film follow. I am not,…...

1+ week, 19+ hour ago  (926+ words) Substack Book Review: "Water Dressed in Brown" Dan O'Hare's remarkable book is at once a love letter to Maryland's Eastern Shore and an exploration of the heartbreaking complexities and ambiguities of love. Warning: Full spoilers for the book follow. Dan…...

1+ week, 1+ day ago  (988+ words) Substack TV Review: "The Testaments" (Season 1, Episode 6) Ann Dowd gives a terrifyingly good performance in "Stadium," an episode that sheds new light on Aunt Lydia, her past, and her present motivations. Warning: Spoilers for the series follow. I have to…...

1+ week, 2+ day ago  (881+ words) Substack Reading Update: "Royal Assassin" (Chapters 11-Epilogue) Robin Hobb brings the second volume of The Farseer Trilogy to a triumphant and tragic conclusion. Warning: Full spoilers for the book follow. Well, I've finally finished Robin Hobb's Royal Assassin, and I'm…...

1+ week, 3+ day ago  (857+ words) Substack TV Review: "The Testaments" (Season 1, Episode 5) The fifth episode of the Hulu series continues to show just how effective Gilead is at papering over its cruelty and brutality with a brittle beauty. Warning: Spoilers for the series follow. I…...