It is, to say the least, a hot-button topic. And it's one that, as someone who works in a variety of fields affected by the arrival of generative AI, I have to write out my stance on clearly and accessibly. Because, as time goes on, it is going to be more and more essential to draw that line.

So first off, I should be clear about what this blog post isn't. It is not an attempt to change your mind, to make you understand that generative AI as currently utilized and marketed is bad for our brains, bad for the environment, bad for business, and bad for human creativity. If you were unaware of any of these points, the hypertext in the previous sentence will help you learn, and I encourage you to check those links out. But if these are all things you are aware of and you still champion large language models as "progress" (or even as "harmless" or "not great but"), then one middle-aged nerd in the U.S. is not going to change your mind.

If there's one thing this blog post is covering, it's my bases. Because I am a writer. I have books coming out, I review books, and I write for magazines and news websites. Every field I work in is being invaded by large language models, and people are being less and less open about their use thereof, or more and more slipshod with their admissions of use of it.

To that end, I want to be very clear about my stance, if I haven't been already. While I acknowledge the concept of artificial intelligence as useful in research and data processing and figuring out whether Freddy Fazbear is going to jumpscare you, I will never knowingly associate with a project that makes use of generative AI.

"But," say some of you, "you're going to be closing off a lot of creative venues." I sure am. And honestly, I'm probably going to have to step back from several things in the coming months and years. And I'll be sad to do so. But I am more committed to ensuring that I am never involved in the abuse of someone else's copyrighted creative work than I am in maximizing my income streams.

So, breaking it down:

I will never knowingly work with a publisher that allows the use of generative AI in their written work, in their covers, or in their press.

I will never knowingly attend a convention that employs the use of generative AI in its advertising.

I will never knowingly review or promote a book or project that uses generative AI.

I will never knowingly be a part of a project that uses generative AI, and if I discover too late that the project has employed generative AI without my knowledge, I will speak to the people in charge and discern whether they plan to continue using it. If they do, I will part ways with that project, and I will be open about why if asked.

Note that I put "knowingly" in every case. This is because I have ended up seeing generative AI integrated into projects after my portion was done, and without my knowledge. These happened at a time when I wasn't aware just how pervasive this would be, to the point that I would need to establish a stance and write it into any future agreements. Lesson learned. Going forward, this is going to be something I check regularly.

If you discover that a project I am currently active in is currently and actively employing generative AI, please don't hesitate to let me know. Because odds are I don't know about it and I'll want to be told.

With all that said, I'm very happy to say that two publishers I work with regularly - Obverse Books and 18thWall - are both of the same mind. Obverse makes a note of their commitment to human creativity in every book they publish now, and MH Norris of 18thWall spoke out about NaNoWriMo's misguided stance on generative AI and accessibility. I am proud to work with them and honored that they count me among their regular contributors.

I will continue to vet the projects I review, support, and in which I participate. There will be misses along the way, but it's more important to me to stand firm on this. Once this post goes live, I will link it prominently so it's always accessible.

To those of you who continue to value human creativity, thank you. You're keeping something really beautiful alive.

 

Thanks to the awesome people at Titan Manga for making me a part of this book tour! Be sure to check out the entire roster as we finish out the month, and get your own copy now!

I got to review volume 1 of Chang Sheng's gorgeous, genre-busting YAN for the Otaku USA website back in May. I was completely unfamiliar with Sheng's work, knowing only that I really like Titan's manga releases and that they tend to find titles that even avid fans might miss or overlook.

Reader, I was not prepared. I was so unprepared that, when I was offered a spot on the book tour for YAN Vol. 1, I accepted it, just to have a chance to say more.

First off, the obvious: the art. Every single page, every single panel of YAN is a treat. So often I see series that cannot walk the line between realism and expressiveness, with the need to achieve visual perfection making facial expressions look either strange or nonexistent. Until a month ago, I would have pointed out Kiyoto Shitara's amazing two-page spreads for Bug Ego as the only exception to the rule I'd personally seen and enjoyed.

YAN, though... good lord. For every character to stay on model, to stay expressive, and for the protagonist to spend a lot of time in ornate Peking Opera headwear and makeup? It's unbelievable.

The comic, for those of you who are unaware and who didn't read my OUSA review, is about Yan Tien-Hua, sent to prison for what was believed to be her role in a brutal massacre at her opera company. She was also believed to have died in prison—but here she is, decades later, looking no different than she did when she was put away. And she's out for revenge.

That story along would be more than enough; there are already multiple mysteries to unravel here. But even within the first volume, we're not done. There's also Higa Mirai, a Japanese go prodigy who appears to be able to see the future. How do their lives tie together? What really happened 30 years ago? Why is Yan the same as she was back then? This first volume lays out enticing mysteries, coupled with gorgeous visuals.

And then there's the book itself. I've mentioned I love Titan Manga, and Titan Comics in general. Besides the titles they pick up, I also love the print volumes they put together, complete with tons of bonus material in the back. This first volume of YAN is weighty—about double the size of your typical tankobon. The vibrant cover is the perfect gateway for the story inside.

I read a lot of manga and manhwa and webtoons and light novels for work, and these days it's rare for me to stick with something long-term unless an anime adaptation is on the horizon or it hits just right. YAN hits just right. I've truly never seen anything like it, and I want more.

YAN Volume 1 is now available from Titan Manga.

 No matter what anyone tells you, you don't need generative AI to help you build a game setting. All you need is some human collaboration—or, failing that, a creative jump-start from James D'Amato.

I've reviewed so many RPG tools from D'Amato here on my blog, from storytelling games to book that help you build a fully fleshed-out character. His latest contribution to the GM's toolkit is The Ultimate RPG Worldbuilding Deck: a set of cards that can be used alone or collaboratively to add details to your campaign or setting.

At the moment, as many of you know, I'm running a Girl by Moonlight campaign. As my players are about to go somewhere new and meet several new people, I figured this was a perfect opportunity to put the latest deck to work. For the purposes of the single session coming up, I pulled two cards from each of the five categories: People, Places, History, Rumors, and Institutions. Since I had a fairly solid idea of where these new elements would fit into the story, I allowed myself to switch out cards if something simply did not fit.

Each card gives you a heading that dictates what this person, place, or thing is. A Thief. A Sad-Sack. A Burial Site. An Accord. And so on. Underneath that, on the top half of the card, is a set of fill-in-the-blank or multiple choice questions. You don't have to create anything whole-cloth for the questions at the top. If you're stuck, you can flip a coin or roll a die to fill in answers.

Once that first half of the card is done, the second half then asks a series of questions based on what you've decided. This is where it's time for your own brain to tick over. But even if you're feeling a little blocked or uncreative, there are two things that make this easy. First, the questions generally start by stating a fact and asking you to elaborate. For example, rather than simply asking "what is this NPC like," the card might tell you that the character has a false exterior, then ask what they are hiding beneath it.

The second thing that helps is that every card asks two questions about how this new story element relates to a PC. For example, which PC does this character become fascinated with? Or, which PC has extra expertise that helps them adapt to a certain new place? I found that, by imagining my group in action, I had more ideas at the ready. This also serves the purpose of ensuring that every new addition serves the party and gives at least one player a chance to shine.

As a multiplayer experience, it's a bit like The Quiet Year, albeit without the mapping element. As players draw cards, they bounce ideas off each other, slowly creating a world that builds on everything that's come before. Much like D'Amato's Oh Captain, My Captain!, this feels like it could also be a great warm-up when played with fewer cards. If you happen to be GMing for a game that encourages collaborative worldbuilding, this could also be a way to get ideas flowing.

I have yet to encounter something from the Ultimate RPG Series that disappoints. Everything I read or play goes directly on my gaming shelf, if not directly into my gaming bag. This series has measurably improved my gaming experience both as a player and a GM, and this in particular is a tool I'll be pulling off the shelf on a regular basis.

The Ultimate RPG Worldbuilding Deck is now available from Adams Media.

 

Thanks to Second Sky for offering a copy of this book for my consideration!

Vanguard Strike: Paragon Space Book I hit shelves yesterday. This novel by Jarom Strong, the first of three in the series, takes place in a spacefaring future that's a little bit Warhammer, a little bit Gunbuster. Within this first installment, readers will travel from the horrors of the battlefield to a heist in nullspace.

Our hero is Lax, a former Vanguard: an enhanced super-soldier who, through a combination of metal implants and regularly-administered uppers and downers, fights for peace (albeit of a Helldivers sort, it seems) and for Paragon. When the war comes to an abrupt end, he finds eight years of reprieve with the love of his life and a lucrative job picking over ships as a "vulture." But when a job goes wrong, he'll lose everything and spend the next eight years behind bars.

This is where the story begins. An old friend and fellow former Vanguard offers to break Lax out of his 20-year sentence early. The catch? One last job. Instead of throwing fights for bets in prison, he can be part of a massive score. And the target is a big one: a Paragon battlecruiser, believed to be lost in the depths of nullspace. But even with a crack team at his disposal, the job is deadly on many levels.

While Vanguard Strike is great fun for fans of military sci-fi and heists, where it really shines is its unique depiction of PTSD. Lax's dreams of his lost love, the invading imagery of the day everything changed, and the peace he can find only from the medications he's become accustomed to all paint a very vivid picture of the difficulties of coping with trauma.

This is not a solely serious or depressing book, though. There's plenty of action, surprising moments of romance, and interesting and complex characters throughout. If you're ready for well-crafted sci-fi in a deeply developed world—and if you crave stories that value story and character above checking off a list of tropes—give this one a go.

Vanguard Strike is available now from Second Sky.

Want me on your book tour? Email karaATkaradennisonDOTcom to get in touch.

Summer is here, and it's hot. That's the bad news. The good news is, lots of summer reads are coming out! Fortunately, everything I'm reviewing here is 100% real. Which already puts most indie reviewers ahead of the curve.

Read on to sample romantasy, historical fiction for young readers, summery rom-coms, sexy noir comics, and a retelling of a classic ballet. Thanks as always to the authors and publishers who provide me with advance copies!

Bookish Candle: Frostbeard's June candle is Summer Thriller: a deep and mysterious blend of oud and amber with coconut notes to keep it summery. If you love a candle with a scent that fills a room, definitely give this one a try. Use my link to get 20% off your purchase of this and other book lovers' candles!

Tea Pairing: Chapters is back in business! Right now, I'm keeping cool in my home library with iced Poetic Peach: a caffeine-free fruit tea with tart peach and hibiscus notes. Check out Chapters' full catalogue of bookish teas, and use my code KARA15 for 15% off your order!

Always Be My Bibi
by Priyanka Taslim
Available now

16-year-old Bibi Hossain was convinced she wouldn't get to date for years, thanks to her father's rule: no boyfriends until Bibi's big sister Halima gets married. But things could be turning around, because Halima is engaged to tea garden heir Sunny, and the whole family is flying to Bangladesh for the wedding! For Bibi, though, this means splitting her time between wedding prep and putting in hours on her soon-to-be in-laws' tea garden. While there, she meets Sunny's younger brother Sohel. And while the two don't initially hit it off, they eventually become reluctant friends with a few shared goals in mind.

Goal 1? Break up Halima and Sunny so Halima doesn't have to give up on her law school dreams. Goal 2? Find Bibi a summer boyfriend from the local eligible bachelors. And, seemingly most impossible of all, find Bibi's grandmother's long lost college boyfriend. The first two of these goals are going swimmingly at first, but social and generational expectations threaten to cause a much bigger rift than either of them anticipated. Worst of all, Bibi might be catching feelings for Sohel.

While Always Be My Bibi does follow the teen rom-com novel format ("Boy meets girl, girl makes massive mistakes, rinse and repeat"), the novel's rooting in Bengali culture and tradition makes things a little less cut-and-tried than they might be in other books. The novel celebrates the beauty of the region while calling out its turbulent history; it praises the strength and importance of certain traditions while acknowledging that others could perhaps do more harm than good. This isn't the story of one teenager messing up constantly—it's the story of two families finding themselves at the intersection of their youngest members, and deciding what faith and tradition should look like at that intersection. This, presented through the eyes of a narrator who's imperfect but earnest and relatable, makes for a delightful summer romance.

A Dance of Lies
by Brittany Arena
Available now

Once, Vasalie Moran was Prince Illian's Jewel—the prized dancer in his court. But two years shackled in prison, framed for a crime she didn't commit, have left her weak and ill. But Illian offers Vasalie another chance: be his right hand at the Gathering, six weeks of artistry and feasting attended by all the royals of the region, and she will go free.

Vasalie may no longer be enamored of Illian, but she craves her freedom and is willing to play her part as a dancer/spy. But the more she learns about the people she's hurting, the more she shies away from her duties. Torn between feelings for her new dance partner and Illian's brother Anton, she begins digging deeper into Illian's schemes. And what she discovers could tear apart the whole kingdom. As her own past comes back to haunt her, she navigates new loyalties and new prophecies, hoping to save multiple nations before she herself breaks.

As a novel, A Dance of Lies does suffer a bit from some late-stage exposition dumps. Most of the story is threaded through beautifully, with the different threads coming together in the final chapters. But there is a bit of villainous monologuing that trips up otherwise excellent pacing. As a metaphor for disability, this novel shines. In her foreword, Brittany Arena is open about her struggle with POTS and how it is reflected in Vasalie's post-incarceration condition. It's a powerful statement not just on how chronic conditions can bring a person down, but on how those conditions can be overcome with creativity and perseverance. Life may not be the same as before, but it can still be made beautiful.

Heat Seeker: Exposed #1
by Charles Ardai and Ace Continuado
Available now

Pulp noir comic series Gun Honey continues its spinoff series Heat Seeker this month, focusing on the (not really) redheaded "mistress of misdirection" Dahlia Racers. Main series heroine Joanna Tan takes a back seat as Dahlia puts all her skills to the test to evade the most tenacious of foes: an online investigative journalist.

What does "Bitch with a Bone" Jacqueline McGee want with Dahlia? Simply put, her next big story—which she plans to hype up to her one million followers. But Dahlia isn't just protecting herself. She has others at home: people who need to be out of the spotlight even more than she does. In this first issue of the new story arc, Dahlia uses all the skills at her disposal to evade McGee's all-seeing eyes. But as issue #1 closes, we learn that Racers may have met her match in McGee.

Readers not already familiar with the Gun Honey universe may feel a little adrift in the first few pages, but any backstory is secondary to the real draw of Heat Seeker: Exposed. Long-time fans and newcomers alike can appreciate the steamy art, action-packed scenes, and cat-and-mouse tension between Dahlia and her new foe. It's a fun and exciting way to immerse yourself in the Hard Case Crime line, and may just make you race back to the beginning of Gun Honey!

Threat of the Spider
by Michael P. Spradlin
Available June 24

In this follow-up to last year's Rise of the Spider, we once again follow 12-year-old Ansel as he navigates life, friendship, and family in Germany circa 1929. Ansel loves his family, detective stories, and playing football with his friends. But as the Hitler Youth build an increasing presence in his town, everything he holds dear starts to fall apart.

Heinrich Himmler is preparing to make an appearance in town, and Ansel's journalist father intends to be present and report on the event. But after Ansel and his friends trounce some of the local Hitler Youth in a game of capture-the-flag, things turn dire when his father goes missing. It turns out the uprising in his hometown is more than just classmates in new uniforms and angry sympathizers throwing rocks through windows. Lives are on the line.

It's never easy to talk about turbulent times in history, and even more difficult to do so for young readers. But Spradlin's Web of the Spider series continues to thread the needle adeptly—presenting believable young people in a setting that meets middle-grade readers right where they are. It's never too dense (and indeed includes a glossary of important terms), nor does it talk down to readers. And while the book rests largely on detective aspirations and schoolyard games, it never shies away from the true terrors of fascism. This is a book worth reading, sharing, and talking about.

A Treachery of Swans
by A.B. Poranek
Available June 24

Thrown away by her birth family for her status as a gold-blooded sorcier, Odile found purpose as the adopted daughter and right hand of Rothbarte: the scheming masked director of the local theatre. He wants to bring back magic, healing the land of its curse of withered flowers and black snow. But to do so will require one last job from Odile: infiltrate the palace in the guise of Marie d'Odette, the so-called "Swan Princess," and obtain the goddess-gold crown that gives the royal family its power.

But this is easier said than done, even leaving aside Odile's complicated feelings for her childhood friend. The palace is crawling with dark legends and treachery—and just as the disguised Odile arrives, the king is found brutally murdered, the Dauphin's guard (and her estranged brother) Damien the only suspect. To solve the murder, Odile will have to breath the spell hiding Odette away in the shape of a swan. But digging into the mysteries of the palace, and of the goddesses who allegedly abandoned their people, will unearth an even darker history and set off a deadly battle.

A.B. Poranek debuted with Where the Dark Stands Still, which I reviewed in early 2024. Just as that book wove an enchanting story based in Slavic folklore, A Treachery of Swans spins the threads of Swan Lake into something new. Told from the point of view of "black swan" Odile, the ballet becomes a dark romance steeped in ancient legend and stolen magic. The contrasting personalities of Odette and Odile become two pieces of a larger puzzle, meant to fit together rather than contrast. Too, Poranek does a wonderful job weaving imagery from the original ballet into the narrative, from choices of outfit to the masked characters seen throughout. Whether you're a fan of the ballet or new to the story, it's a beautiful read.

Dravenor: A Dragon-Vampire Romantasy
by Yajna Ramnath
Available June 26

Nora knows relative few things about herself. She knows she is a daywalker: a vampire able to eat human food and stand in the sun. She knows she's about 100 years old. And she knows she's being horribly mistreated as a test subject in an institute overseen by ice dragon king Zayn Dravenor. When she escapes to the Firelands, ruled over by Zayn's brother Rhydian, she finds herself welcomed with surprising speed. And the sparks that fly between her and the fire dragon shifter are hard to deny.

But there's more going on. Nora is having flashbacks to her past life, and they seem to indicate a history with both Zayn and Rhydian. Moreover, there's some other power at work within her: something that sets her apart from her vampire kin. When the truth is revealed, though, it could tear apart two countries, and the relationship she's built with Rhydian.

Dravenor has its moments: there is clearly a lot of care and love put into it. But it feels very much like a first draft rather than a finished book, and one more keen on packing in romantasy tropes and quotable lines than developing the lore of this world or its characters. For example, I was constantly at sea on what exactly this fantasy world is. Is it an alternate version of our world with extra continents? While there are modern medical facilities, little is done to establish much beyond a generic fantasy tone. Meanwhile, Nora references Barbie, Oscars, and Frozen; she wears quippy vampire tees and ripped jeans; but this seems at odds with her surroundings rather than an extension of them. Too, there's a great deal of time spent establishing Nora as constantly sarcastic, to the point of being tiring and borderline unlikable. The fact that her reasons for being this way are never explored is a shame, as it could open up a wealth of compelling character development. As it stands, Dravenor speeds through much of its story, giving us little time to get to know or even like its triangle of protagonists. With another draft, this could become something truly beautiful and heartwarming.

For the entirety of the month of June, Plum Deluxe is shining a spotlight on Earl Grey: the best of all teas (at least to me). All Earl Grey blends on their site will be available at quantity discounts throughout the month. And if you'd like to see what they have available, they're currently offering a sampler of 11 bergamot-based blends!

I picked up the sampler and tried all 11 varieties—nine of which will be available for a limited time only this month. How do these adventurous blends rank? Read on to find out, and to pick up any that sound good to you!

Note: I do not receive any sort of compensation for purchases made through Plum Deluxe. This is a review based on teas I purchased myself. Enjoy!

Aloha Blend Black Tea: 3.5/5
Also listed as "Pineapple Grey," this one isn't quite as Earl Grey-y as the others. That doesn't stop this from being a refreshing summer tea that would be fantastic iced. But it doesn't quite fit the flavor profile I'd expect while seeking out Earl Grey blends. Is it a good tea? Yes. Is it a good Grey?... others in the box absolutely outshine it.

Caribbean Grey: 4/5
I've had watermelon oolong before and liked it very much, but I wasn't entirely sure I'd enjoy this one. Fortunately, this new blend turned out rather nice. It doesn't suffer from an artificial watermelon candy flavor, but has an undertone of sweet tartness that's very nice for summer. This one would be amazing iced.

Crème Brulée Earl Grey: 4/5
This is a lovely one, and it's what I really wanted the Honey Caramel Grey Black to be in terms of sweetness. A great dessert tea, and one I think would work extremely well as a milk tea. Fortunately, this is one of the two Greys that's available year-round!

Earl Grey Chai: 5/5
I'll be honest, I was legitimately not expecting to enjoy this one. I like chai, I like Earl Grey, but I wasn't sure if two very strong, very specific flavors could go together like that. I was wrong, and I was glad to be wrong. This is really really lovely. It's not a spicy or peppery chai, meaning it blends nicely with the bergamot. This would make an absolutely astounding milk tea.

Earl Grey Royale: 4/5
No muss, no fuss, just straight-up Earl Grey. This is a good way to figure out if Plum Deluxe's take on Earl Grey is right for you. While it's not really as strong as I personally like it (I am a triple bergamot fiend), it is a very nice one. If you like Earl Grey but are averse to the brands that advertise the strength of the bergamot, this will be a nice middle ground for you.

Grantham Grey: 4.5/5
Before trying Plum Deluxe teas, I'd never had violet in tea before. As a big fan of florals, I was not at all disappointed, and I'm still a big fan of it in the Grantham Grey. The bergamot takes a back seat in this one, blending nicely with the violet essence and letting it take center stage. This isn't one for days when you specifically want the citrus tang of bergamot, but it's definitely a delicious one.

Gratitude Earl Grey: 4/5
It's easy to see why this is a mainstay. It's a strong Grey that doesn't skimp on flavor. And while the strawberry is a bit weak until it cools off, it's a nice complement to the bergamot. This is another that's perfect for a milk tea, and might even go well iced.

Honey Caramel Grey: 4/5
This is one of the flavors I was most excited about—I recently had a Bridgerton-themed tea with honey notes and have been seeking out that same flavor ever since. This one is very naturally sweet, which is nice, but it goes over better when it's a little cooler. The rooibos comes on a bit too strong when it's piping hot. Much as with the Grantham Grey, this one isn't as bergamot-forward, with the flavor blending into the other notes.

Lady Grey: 5/5
Lady Grey tends to be an underappreciated take on Earl Grey. It's subtler, but it can still have a lot of flavor and uniqueness. The Plum Deluxe version has vanilla notes, which balances things out nicely. While a lot of the other blends in this sampler have the bergamot as a secondary element, it really stands out here. This is one of the best of the sampler.

Tango Grey Herbal: 3/5
Full disclosure, I'm very picky about herbal teas. This one was fine, generally speaking, but the lemongrass drowned out just about everything. If you aren't very specifically a fan of lemongrass, give this one a miss. It's approaching a nice decaf Grey blend otherwise, though.

Victorian Garden Grey: 4.5/5
This was the first one I tried, despite being the last one on the list (alphabetically, at least)—and it was a strong start. This Grey is primarily about berries and floral, though the floral notes tend to drown out the berry a bit. The scent of the tea is much more balanced. None of this stops the tea from being really great, with a very lavender-forward flavor.

Order the Earl Grey Month Sampler Kit.