I'm not even sure there's a way for me to explain the plot to this book in under 10 minutes just because there is so much going on. It's very densely written there's both fantasy elements, science and math going at once for different reasons. It leans a little more on the science fiction side for me.

The entire book is clearly based off of Tennyson's poem The Faerie Queen. Notably the Fencer Calidore. Who in many ways finds himself paralleling the character he named himself for. And suffering and sacrificing himself to save the ones he loves.

It's examining human nature, looking inward at yourself and the terrible things you have to do to protect others. Looking at what it might take to protect the planet from those who would harm it.

If you have a hard time with very sad heart crushing endings this one may not be for you. It's been a while since an ending made me cry this hard.

𝐀𝐑𝐂 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐝𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐛𝐲 𝐉𝐨𝐬𝐡𝐮𝐚 𝐏𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐩 𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐞 𝐚 𝐛𝐢𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐭𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐨𝐧 𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐧—𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐬𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐥𝐲, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐦𝐲, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐬𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐥𝐲 𝐩𝐞𝐞𝐥𝐬 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐲 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐬. 𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐬 𝐚𝐧 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐲 𝐝𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐈 𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐚 𝐛𝐢𝐭 𝐭𝐨𝐨 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐲 𝐨𝐧 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐩𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬. 𝐈 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐦𝐲𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐡𝐬 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐤𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐫 𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐮𝐞. 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐝, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐰𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐬 𝐮𝐩 𝐭𝐨𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐝. 𝐈 𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐧’𝐭 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐡𝐢𝐭 𝐬𝐨 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐝, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐮𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐣𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡 𝐢𝐭. 𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐥, 𝐚 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐩𝐚𝐲𝐨𝐟𝐟—𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐛𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐲.

Gabe Henry's "Enough is Enuf" is a delightful and surprisingly informative romp through the centuries-long, often comical, and ultimately persistent quest for simplified English spelling. Don't let the academic-sounding premise fool you; this isn't a dry linguistic treatise. Instead, Henry delivers a brisk and witty 500-year tour of the Simplified Spelling Movement, populated by a fascinating cast of characters – from the pragmatic Benjamin Franklin to the literary giants Mark Twain and C.S. Lewis, and even the opinionated George Bernard Shaw.

The book cleverly frames the inherent absurdity of English orthography – the silent 'g' in 'gnome,' the unpredictable vowels, the sheer illogicality that has plagued generations of writers. Henry uses these inconsistencies not as a source of frustration, but as a springboard for a humorous exploration of the many attempts to rectify them. We learn about the passionate, sometimes eccentric, individuals who dared to declare "Enough is enuf!" and proposed radical (and often hilariously impractical) changes to our written language.

Henry skillfully weaves together historical anecdotes, biographical snippets, and linguistic explanations without ever becoming bogged down in jargon. He paints vivid pictures of these "rebel wordsmiths," highlighting their motivations, their proposed reforms (think "thru" for "through" and "laf" for "laugh"), and the often-fierce resistance they encountered. The book is peppered with amusing examples of simplified spellings and the sometimes-outlandish arguments for and against them, making it an engaging read even for those who haven't given much thought to the vagaries of English spelling.

What makes "Enough is Enuf" particularly engaging is its lighthearted tone. Henry approaches the subject with a playful curiosity, never mocking the reformers but rather highlighting the inherent humor in their ambitious endeavors and the stubborn resilience of traditional spelling. The book acknowledges the well-intentioned efforts and the logical arguments behind simplification while also recognizing the deeply ingrained nature of our current system.

The narrative seamlessly transitions from historical figures and their pamphlets to the modern digital age. Henry astutely observes how technology – from the character limits of early texts to the informal language of Twitter and the visual shorthand of emojis – is, in its own way, contributing to a natural simplification of English. This contemporary perspective adds a satisfying layer to the historical overview, suggesting that perhaps the long-fought battle for easier spelling is subtly being won in the digital realm.

In conclusion, "Enough is Enuf" is a surprisingly captivating and genuinely funny exploration of a topic that might initially seem dry. Gabe Henry has crafted a concise and entertaining history of a persistent linguistic dream, populated by memorable personalities and filled with insightful observations about the ever-evolving nature of language. It's a perfect read for anyone who has ever cursed a silent letter or wondered why English spelling seems designed to trip us up. You'll likely finish the book with a newfound appreciation for the quirks of our language and a chuckle at the enduring human desire for a little more linguistic logic.






Write a review of The Bloodless Queen by Joshua Phillip Johnson. Summary: Part ecological Orpheus and Eurydice myth and part gothic thriller, discover this atmospheric near-future sci-fi novel about fae mysteries deep within strange nature preserves



Perfect for readers of Jeff VanderMeer, Chuck Wendig, and Sunyi Dean • “Richly imagined and beautifully written, with a highly original and very creepy magic system.” —R. F. Kuang (on Johnson's The Forever Sea)



On the autumnal equinox of 1987, after fencing off half of the Earth’s land for huge nature reserves called Harbors, the leaders of the world called on their peoples to celebrate. Then began the horror and the magic.



Everyone who died that day—all 132,329 of them—instead of going cold and still, turned odd and fae. They became mischievous and murderous, before disappearing into their nearest Harbor, never seen again. And each year after that on the autumnal equinox, the same terrible transformations would occur: the wretched dead not dying, but instead riddling and whispering of a faerie queen—bloodless and powerful—while fleeing into the wild confines of the Harbors. 



In the present day, Evangeline and Calidore are working as fencers, government-employed protectors whose magical powers come from mysterious tattoos of prime numbers. When they aren’t fixing the fences of the Midwest Harbor that separates the human world from Faerie or patrolling on the equinox, they are parents of an almost-seven-year-old daughter named Winnie. 



But as the new year’s autumnal equinox approaches, Evangeline and Calidore find themselves thrust into a vast conspiracy that stretches across governments, religions, and fencers worldwide.  As they race to untangle this web of power and intrigue, they will need to confront the questions that have haunted the world since the fences were built: 



What lies at the heart of the Harbors? Who waits there?



A Tangled Thicket of Myth and Dread: A Review of Joshua Phillip Johnson's "The Bloodless Queen"
Joshua Phillip Johnson’s "The Bloodless Queen" is a captivating and unsettling novel that successfully blends the haunting beauty of ecological disaster with the eerie allure of fae mythology, all wrapped in a compelling near-future gothic thriller. Fans of Jeff VanderMeer’s atmospheric dread, Chuck Wendig’s genre-bending narratives, and Sunyi Dean’s unsettling mysteries will find themselves drawn into the strange and dangerous world Johnson has crafted.

The premise itself is immediately arresting: on a supposed day of global celebration, a horrific event transforms the dead into a mischievous and murderous fae, who then vanish into vast, fenced-off nature preserves called Harbors. This annual, equinox-linked tragedy sets a chilling stage for the present-day narrative, where Evangeline and Calidore, magically empowered "fencers," patrol the borders between humanity and the increasingly mysterious and menacing Faerie within the Harbors.

Johnson masterfully builds atmosphere. The Harbors are not simply nature reserves; they are spaces imbued with an ancient, unsettling magic, places where the natural world has become intertwined with something otherworldly and potentially hostile. The descriptions of these wild confines are evocative, hinting at both breathtaking beauty and lurking danger, echoing the ecological anxieties that underpin the narrative. This creates a palpable sense of unease, a feeling that something ancient and powerful stirs just beyond the fences.

The Orpheus and Eurydice undertones are cleverly woven into the story through Evangeline and Calidore’s relationship and their connection to the Harbors. Their role as protectors, constantly guarding the boundary between worlds, carries the weight of that tragic myth, hinting at potential loss and the perilous allure of the forbidden. This mythological framework adds a layer of depth and resonance to the unfolding events.

Beyond the atmospheric setting and mythological echoes, "The Bloodless Queen" delivers a compelling thriller plot. The approaching autumnal equinox throws Evangeline and Calidore into a sprawling conspiracy that implicates powerful institutions and challenges the very foundations of their world. Their investigation is a race against time, filled with intriguing clues, dangerous encounters, and the constant threat of the fae. The mystery surrounding the "bloodless queen" and the true nature of the Harbors keeps the reader guessing, peeling back layers of intrigue with each revelation.

Evangeline and Calidore are well-developed protagonists, their relationship as both partners and parents adding an emotional core to the narrative. Their anxieties about their daughter, Winnie, living in a world perpetually shadowed by the equinox transformations, ground the fantastical elements in a relatable human experience. Their magical abilities, tied to prime number tattoos, are a unique and intriguing detail, adding another layer of mystery to the world-building.

Johnson’s writing is both lyrical and sharp. He paints vivid pictures of the Harbors and the unsettling transformations while maintaining a brisk pace that propels the plot forward. The creeping sense of dread is expertly managed, building tension without resorting to cheap scares. The "creepy magic system" praised by R.F. Kuang is subtly integrated, feeling both organic to the world and deeply unsettling in its implications.

"The Bloodless Queen" is a thought-provoking novel that explores themes of ecological responsibility, the fear of the unknown, and the enduring power of myth. It’s a story that lingers in the mind long after the final page, leaving the reader to ponder the secrets hidden within the strange nature preserves and the true nature of the bloodless queen who reigns within. For those seeking a genre-bending tale that is both atmospheric and thrilling, "The Bloodless Queen" is a journey into a darkly enchanting world well worth taking.

Beautiful prose meets a quietly powerful narrative. It’s not flashy, but it resonates emotionally and rewards patient reading. A gentle, lingering story that stays with you.

Thank you to DAW for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Well that was one hell of an opening. Strange and ethereal fae and supernatural humans, hunting and the hunted, and a doorway through worlds set into a tree. Alright, you got me. Let’s go!

Aaaaand that’s unfortunately about as far as it goes. By a quarter of the way through I’m waiting for something, anything to happen. It’s not extensive in world building because it’s mostly dystopian modern day. We don’t get any idea of the fae or what’s driving them at this point. I’m desperately trying to connect with any of the characters and… I just can’t. I am afraid it’s a DNF for me. I need more. I need to feel like I’m there. It’s all so passive that I can’t get into the story. I love the premise. I just with the execution was an inventive as the concept.

Don’t call a fantasy book fantasy/sci fi if all the sci fi elements peter out and dry up. Also, I’m sorry, but I never cared about any of the characters. I’m bored. That’s all, folks

Many parts of this book I absolutely loved. Dystopian, dark, urban fantasy aspects. Immediately I was pulled in with the first few chapters. I think Joshua Phillip Johnson’s writing is clear cut and easy to follow through. Moreover the fencers powers were unique and an absolute joy to read about when in use. I will say however I struggled with the middle part of the book given that there was a lot of “telling” rather than “showing”. Overall a great fantasy with weird asf fae creatures, great action scenes, and a teary ending.


Thank you to NetGalley and DAW for this ARC!

I should have known when heard of this book that it wouldn't be for me. I did not end up finishing this one because I felt that the further I went the lower my rating would have dropped. This is no fault of the book itself, I just really do not like parent/child and other family dynamics in my stories. The parent/child and marriage relationships and themes in this were very heavy handed, and for good reason, but I was just not vibing with it at all. Thw writing and worldbuilding however, were great, hence the three star rating. Unfortunate that this isn't for me but I will keep an eye out for future stuff from Joshua Phillip Johnson.

While the concept was interesting, this just didn't grip me the way I wanted it to. It was difficult to care about any of the characters or the world created.

ARC Review: The Bloodless Queen by Joshua Philip Johnson

Thank you to Netgalley and DAW for providing me with an ARC of this book.

3 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️

In The Bloodless Queen, creepy creatures known as fae roam swatches of land called Harbors. These are not your typical hot fae from romantasy books, but twisted inhuman entities. Every autumnal equinox, everyone that dies during that time will turn into one of them. In this story we follow two Fencers, Cal and Evangeline. People with the job and strange ‘magical’ abilities to fight the fae.

Let me start by saying that concept is so interesting. I was immediately intrigued by the creepy fae that play such a huge part in the daily lives of these fencers. Joshua Johnsons strengh lies in balancing ‘mundane’ daily activities, family relationships and the fantasy and horror of what’s going on in this world. I also liked the themes of corruption, religion and environmentalism playing a huge role in the story.

I liked the main characters, Cal and Evangeline. Their relationship and bond felt real and tight from the start. I really liked their interactions with their child and how they raised her despite all the horrors.

My main issues lie with the chaotic feel of the story and the pacing that didn’t always make sense to me. In the beginning there was just so much going on in terms of names, lore, history and crises. There was a bit too much going and I noticed myself not caring about all of the elements. Later the focus of the story shifted more to characters having personal issues, where I actually wanted a little bit more explanations. Even though there was so much information, I had several questions throughout the story that weren’t really answers. I felt myself a bit dissappointed in the end because I wanted to learn even more about the fae.

All in all a very interesting book whicj I would recommend checking out if you like a twist on some beloved themes and creatures.

Read if: you want to read a zombie book but the zombie are scary fae or you want a book with great lyrical writing that will break your heart

I think this book might take a while to kick in for some people but once it gets you, you wont be able to stop reading. This book was pure heartfelt sci fi/fantasy with a dash of horror and I loved it. The horror parts especially stuck with me throughout the book.

The premise of, and world building in, this book is so interesting. The set up and the academic articles throughout the book gave me just enough information to understand and appreciate the rules and logic of this world but not so much that I got stuck in it.

You sit with the characters and their ordinary life long enough to fall in love with them, and then before you get complacent, the book kicks into action and horror sequences making you wish you were back in the slice of life chapters where everyone was happy and safe.

I do wish there was more of an answer as to why the Harbours were created and more digging in to the conspiracies surrounding their creation - but they may have also felt out of place in a book that was ultimately about one family in this world, and not about the world itself. I'm just nosy, but in this case I'm perfectly happy to sacrifice those answers for the story this book focuses on. I'd also happily read another book set in this world that maybe goes into those aspects a bit more

I care about Cal, Evangeline, Winnie, and their loyal dog Tennyson so much and the ending of this book made me cry. If you love am urban sci fi/fantasy book with horror elements and a cast of characters who would go to the ends of the earth for each other, this book is for you.

Thank you to NetGalley and DAW for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

A lot about this book is very promising, but ultimately Johnson overexplains to the narrative’s detriment. There’s plenty that could be considered a twist or a surprise if it was embedded— instead, we’re met with a lot of exposition. I would encourage the author and editor to have a little more faith in the reader, and to edit down ALL of that exposition.

I did liked this book
Is a fantasy with a storyline different from the other books out there. The story follows grief and parental devotion combined with it darks plot

Rating 3.5 Rounded up

This was nothing like any Fae novel I have read before. This is more magical realism based in modern times with an elaborate magical system in place to protect humans from evil Fae. This story is so unique and interesting. There is a lot of detail given, a lot. Into the characters and their role but even still sometimes I felt a bit confused on who was vital to the story and why. It felt choppy in some places but after going back and reviewing I was able to figure it out.

I appreciated the world building. Setting up the story so the reader knew how and why the Fencers came to be and their current job. I liked the incorporation of climate change and the political atmosphere round it. The historical imagery into science and political climate of the time was very well done.

What I wish there was more of is info on the religious aspect around the Fae and the Bloodless Queen. I also wish there was more story during and after the equinox event. We spend nearly 70% of the book prepping for this event and boom it’s over. Is there another book? I hope so.

What a fantastic book! The first one I have read by this author but definitely can't wait to read more! The characters stay with you long after you finish the book. Highly recommend!

I need this book to already be out because I want to talk about it to everyone. Wow is all I can say right now. This was a great book.

This book was an amazing blending of sci-fi and fantasy! I am used to reading about fae being a certain way in most fantasy novels, but this novel depicted them a bit differently, which was a bit refreshing to have a new spin. I loved the story and especially the character development of Cal, Winnie, and Evangeline. The only downside I felt to the book was the pacing, but overall, it was a great read! I may have even shed a few tears while reading! If you like sci-fi and fantasy, this is a great book!

this was a great book! I really enjoyed the combination of fae, greek mythology, and science fiction. It was a fantastic blend of genres and the storytelling by the author was great. I liked the way it flowed, and I would love to read more from this author!!

Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complimentary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!

As someone who doesn't usually enjoy fae centered stories, I was intrigued by this book because of the totally different take on this subgenre. I love that the fae were seen as these grim gothic creatures in this urban sci-fi/cli-fi world, and I found the prime-number based power system the author created super fascinating (honestly wanted more lore about it). What fell short for me was the pacing, I felt like way too much time was spent in setting the scene for the first half of the book, too much mundane bloat that resulted in the main conflict in the story being presented at the 80% mark. I found that this led to a fairly rushed final act that could have packed more of a punch if given more time to play out. Regardless I still really enjoyed the story because of the really unique concept and I'd be interested in exploring more of this world in a following book.

This is a cool book, I loved the cover and the concept itself. I struggled to get into this one. I know the writing style will not be for everyone, as it is intended to be artistic, but it was not for me. I will likely end up picking this book again in the future and giving it another chance when I am in a bit of a different mood and am ready for the length of this book, but for now this book is not for me.

I appreciate the opportunity to leave honest feedback voluntarily!