SPEC.FIC

all about diverse, debut, and indie sci-fi & fantasy books written by women and nonbinary authors

Tag: book reviews

  • Book Review: Interstellar MegaChef by Lavanya Lakshminarayan

    Book Review: Interstellar MegaChef by Lavanya Lakshminarayan

    One of the most exciting and imaginative sci-fi adventures I’ve read. Please, don’t read this on an empty stomach though…or at least have some snacks ready!

    Saraswati Kaveri is a talented chef running away from something on Earth. Serenity Ko is trying to differentiate herself in the corporate world of tech simulations and immersive reality on the planet of Primus. A chance meeting kicks off a series of adventures involving an interstellar chef competition, found family, lots of drama, and a deep exploration into technology and food and what would it mean to integrate the two at the next level. And if it would even be ethical.

    We get a serious look at ambition from both the perspective of those with ambition who see the allure of it but also those affected negatively by being close to a person with high ambition. This was one of my favorite pieces of commentary in the book. What is the cost of ambition? What is the cost of isolation as well? And if people stepped up and spoke to their friends about poor behavior, can people recognize it and change?

    Additionally, the story dives into what it means to come to a new place as a refugee and exist as an other in a culture that isn’t yours, especially one that considers itself superior to all others in the galaxy and wants to enforce that superiority in all ways.

    So, while the cover and synopsis may indicate to some that this book is all fun and no bite, that couldn’t be further from the truth. The author hits many concepts and themes that are quite serious and complex. The book is rich and has great depth to it and I found myself wanting even MORE.

    Primus is a world that appears to be LGBTQIAP+ normative which is very welcomed!

    The world-building is exquisite, pacing is even, and the layout of scenes and plot points is well-crafted. The author leaves little breadcrumbs and moments later draws up the curtains for the reveals and it’s delightful. The writing/editing is class. Character development is supreme and the mini romantic subplot feels genuine.

    I was honestly salivating during several parts of this book, frequently debating whether or not to head straight over to the closest Indian restaurant I could find. It was delicious and I CANNOT WAIT to get started with the ARC of book #2 – Intergalactic Feast (March 2026).

    BTW – there is an AUDIOBOOK version of this. Book #2 will have one as well.

    About the Author

    Lavanya Lakshminarayan is an award-winning author also known for The Ten Percent Thief (a dystopian sci-fi set in the future of Bangalore). She has also worked in game design building worlds for Zynga Inc.’s FarmVille franchise, Mafia Wars, and others.

    About the Publisher

    Solaris Books is an imprint of independent publisher Rebellion Publishing based in the UK.

  • Book Review: The Library of Fates by Margot Harrison

    Book Review: The Library of Fates by Margot Harrison

    There are so many things I didn’t like about this book, it’s hard to decide where to start. Maybe with the lack of diversity…unless I missed something (which is possible listening to the audiobook), I didn’t pick up on any characters with any bipoc, lgbtqiap+, neurodivergent, disabled, etc. representation.  

    Library of Fates centers around two timelines, a group of students, their professor, a magical library, and a magical book. One timeline takes place while they are in college taking a seminar together. The other is 20 something years down the road when some of them reunite to solve a mystery about the magical book and the library it powers. 

    Without spoilers, the idea of the magic book/crux of the whole story falls short to me. It imagines a promise which the author makes it seem is assumed to be the natural choice for people. However, I found this assumption to be coming from a place of superiority and ego. It’s hard to say this without spoilers but the book assumes people would make a certain choice given the ultimate power of something at the end. That people read books to see only themselvs in as the hero. Yet many do and should read books with others represented as the main to learn about different perspectives and backgrounds and stories. The concept presented in the book assumes people center themselves in everything, and yes many do, but many don’t and given the choice wouldn’t and shouldn’t. 

    The romance is not believable and superficial at best. It’s also a little messed up. I didn’t know before going in, but the male main character is a “player”. That alone would have made me put the book down. The language used in this book, the terms used, the adjectives, the way the characters speak to each other is reminicent of 90s-2000s rom com american hollywood-speak, bland, crass, unimaginative, and infused with misogyny. Such quotes like “you look sexy when you use the power”…NO THANK YOU.   

    There’s one comment about American tourists in this book that reeks of a French superiority complex. Not that American tourists aren’t known to have a certain reputation but it added to the already pretentious francophilia of the book. 

    I wouldn’t recommend this at all. 

    Perhaps the only part I enjoyed was that it brought back memories of living in Boston and being around the areas mentioned in the book.  

    About the Author

    About the Publisher

    Graydon House is part of Harper Collins.