J. S. Fields

J. S. Fields (@galactoglucoman) is a scientist who has perhaps spent too much time around organic solvents. She enjoys roller derby, woodturning, making chainmail by hand, and cultivating fungi in the backs of minivans. Nonbinary, and pronoun indifferent, Dr. Fields has lived in Thailand, Ireland, Canada, and the USA, and spent extensive time in many other places. Her current research takes her to the Peruvian Amazon rainforest each summer, where she traumatizes students with machetes and tangarana ants while looking for rare fungi.

She lives with her partner and child in the Pacific Northwest of the USA, where one can go into a forest and not immediately be an entree.

Books by J. S. Fields

Book Reviews by J. S. Fields

Author(s):
Genre(s):
Reviewed by: 

A smart, sharp YA, Everyone’s Thinking It deserves a place on teen and adult reading lists . . .”

Author(s):
Genre(s):
Reviewed by: 

An enchanting, compelling, and deliciously tragic addition to the Odysseus lore . . .”

Reviewed by: 

Rust in the Root is an absolute delight of a book, with thick worldbuilding, a complex magic system, discussions of race, power, gender, and sexuality—all wrapped

Reviewed by: 

In this genderbending and queer retelling of Sleeping Beauty, treasure hunter Fi finds herself tasked with saving the cursed prince Briar Rose.

Author(s):
Genre(s):
Reviewed by: 

Jetta Chantray, necromancer, remains on the run from the army and rebels, all who seek the power of her blood.

Author(s):
Genre(s):
Reviewed by: 

In the final book of the trilogy, Jetta Chantray, necromancer and shadow player, must finish her quest to save her people, her land, and kill her biological undead father.

Author(s):
Reviewed by: 

Based on true events, Brent Spiner, of Star Trek: The Next Generation fame, takes a weird, often hilarious look at his early career via the lens of a fan stalking event that involves, amon

Reviewed by: 

A touch lighter on the hard science of space flight and a lot heavier on intrigue, new and old readers will find themselves quickly immersed in this complex alternate hist

Reviewed by: 

“fans of the series will absolutely delight in the final installation in Scalzi’s epic space opera trilogy.” 

Reviewed by: 

In the second of The Locked Tomb Trilogy books, Harrowhark Nonagesimus returns, having successfully consumed her cavalier and ascended to Lyctorhood. Well, almost successfully.

Reviewed by: 

“New readers and seasoned veterans alike will enjoy this dive back into the land of talking unicorns, demon-dead queens, brooding sex, and the Blood politics that made the series a favorite

Author(s):
Genre(s):
Reviewed by: 

The Ascent to Godhood is definitively not to be missed.”

Author(s):
Genre(s):
Reviewed by: 

“Gideon the Ninth is a whirlwind of dark fantasy and dark humor, all wrapped up in sarcastic, delightfully sapphic Gideon Nav.

Reviewed by: 

“Readers who enjoy the extensive worldbuilding of epic fantasy and are looking to get into space science fiction might find Ancestral Night the perfect gateway . . .”

Reviewed by: 

“Five Unicorn Flush is a perfect blend of space opera and high fantasy and includes an incredibly diverse cast of mythological features, from centaurs and unicorns

Reviewed by: 

“Carrying McGuire’s signature voice, Middlegame takes the reader through fantastic yet dark childhoods that blossom into a grim, powerful godhood.

Reviewed by: 

“well worth reading; however, readers should be prepared for the breadth of the stories and the occasionally problematic sexual encounters.”

Reviewed by: 

“a fascinating and entertaining read, and a welcome addition to the world of epic fantasy.”

Author(s):
Reviewed by: 

In the fairy tale mashup Stain, Princess Lyra is born with skin so pale that it burns in the sun and so delicate it bruises just by touching.

Reviewed by: 

"The Kingdom of Copper will appeal to fans of epic fantasy across the board . . ."

Reviewed by: 

“One part coming of age tale, one part contemporary magic school, and a sizable part dark reality, Vita Nostra is a beautiful, aching, nearly debilitating fantasy that bruises, and

Reviewed by: 

Billed as “The Breakfast Club meets Guardians of the Galaxy,The Disasters features Nax, an Ellis Station Academy washout.

Reviewed by: 

Why We Dream takes the reader on a tour of Western dream history and modern Western interpretation.

Author(s):
Genre(s):
Reviewed by: 

“A hard, mesmerizing book, The Monster Baru Cormorant will have deep appeal with fans of both dark and low fantasy (“hard” fantasy), as well as those looking for the world-as-chara

Reviewed by: 

“Rule masterfully navigates a series of difficult storytelling forms and tropes to emerge as a cohesive, compelling, and fast-paced fantasy adventure.”

Author(s):
Genre(s):
Reviewed by: 

“‘Hacks’ of all sorts, especially universal space opera lovers, will find themselves easily at home with The Consuming Fire.”

Reviewed by: 

“Fans of black and white good-versus-evil tropes, road trip stories, and slow burn horror will delight in Alice Isn’t Dead.”

Reviewed by: 

“Those who loved The Tiger’s Daughter for its slow burn romance will find The Phoenix Empress a stirring, compassionate book.”

Reviewed by: 

“Although aimed at a young adult audience, adult readers will find the pacing and worldbuilding of For a Muse of Fire comparable to adult high fantasy, and thus should feel right a

Reviewed by: 

Esmae is born cursed—destined to destroy her mother’s kingdom that her twin brother is to inherit.

Reviewed by: 

Reader warning: This review contains spoilers.

Author(s):
Genre(s):
Reviewed by: 

“In Starless, Jacqueline Carey has achieved what many have floundered: a story in which gender is complex and integral to the plot, but is not the plot within itself.”

Reviewed by: 

On the cusp of World War II, the paths of two spies continually weave together as they navigate politics, war, spirits, betrayal, and the afterlife in a gaslamp Ghostbusters alternate history.

Reviewed by: 

Two young women—one trying to escape her destiny on the moon, one trying to better her life on Earth—find romance and purpose in this low-stakes young adult sci fi novel.

Reviewed by: 

Pregnancy can be both an exhilarating and terrifying time in a person’s life, especially with the glut of conflicting information on the market.