iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

grady @gradyish.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

Had a nice agent in Edinburgh tell me to stop packing my books against my laptops in my carry-ons. To his credit I went from bag searches more often than not, to being hassle-free in the year since.

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grady @gradyish.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

No one expects them in the semifinals. For now I’ll enjoy historic results.

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grady @gradyish.bsky.social · 17/06/2026

Good guy Grady knows a trustworthy face when he sees one

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grady @gradyish.bsky.social · 27/04/2026

Thanks for sharing Steve. I had the pleasure of reviewing Alexia’s book and was gutted to hear this news. She can write electric and breathless scenes filled with vivid imagery. In the Name of the Flame is book 1 of a no spice romantasy series, highly rated on GR 🐉 #romantasy #dragons #bookstagram

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Reposted by grady

Erik Grove @erikgrove.com · 15/04/2026

Credit to the rec that ultimately got me to pick up THE EVERLASTING: I was at a write in & my friend @gradyish.bsky.social was pouring over a copy. I asked him about it. He was working on a review about it that is surely more sophisticated than my “FUCK YEAH”s www.sffinsiders.com/blog/review-...

sffinsiders.com

The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow — SFF Insiders

Fans of Lady knights and Yew trees rejoice! Skeptics, you’ll convert too. Harrow writes with rare beauty that promises to make “The Everlasting” a new classic.

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grady @gradyish.bsky.social · 21/03/2026

Tinkers Paul Harding Review threaded in pics🤘 Love a novella that can really mess with you. I’ve listened to Harding speak about writing for a while and always valued his insights so loved finally diving into this to check it out for myself. #pulitzer #bookreview #booksky #books #litfic

Tinkers Review

An emotional, dense novella. Paul Harding packed an incredible amount of life, loss, and adventure into this tidy package.

Follow along the final days of George Washington Crosby (it’s not a spoiler when it’s told in the very first sentence). Witness as we unwrap, then unravel, his life and that of his father’s.

The multi-generational journey is at times a bit of a mind-bender. It features an unconventional structure meant to pull you within the fold; large unbroken sections, and unformatted dialogue blend nearly seamlessly inline between characters. Choices that make “Tinkers” not the easiest read, but the result is like moving through a thick, turbid river, whose water is rich with life and wonder. Not particularly inviting and certainly not warm, but all the more intriguing and engrossing in its uncomfortable familiarity.

She took my face in her hands, which were cold and raw and calloused, and told me to open my mouth.
You must not speak for a week.
I began to say, No, I went looking for Father’s teeth in tree wood and his hair in the stalks of bushes and—but she clamped my face more tightly and said, Stop. Seven days. Your tongue will fall off if you speak any more. It may have been true, for all I ever knew.

This book has taken me time to digest, even with the benefit of having listened to Harding speak in the past on his process and recognizing some of the patterns he touched on: the steady distillation of thought, the percussive rhythm of prose, and shaping his literary music to fit the vibe of the piece just right.

“Tinkers” started as a short story, but it extended over the years as it was worked, and reworked. If I squint, I might guess where the additions were made around that original kernel, but his labor has made any such joinery perfectly seamless.

Author Paul Harding was surprised to win a Pulitzer for this. I think many were since it was an obscure debut from a fairly obscure publisher, Bellevue Literary Press (respectfully)…

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grady @gradyish.bsky.social · 23/02/2026

I’ve been slowly reviewing books on here since 2024 and I finally hit 100 followers 🎉🎊

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grady @gradyish.bsky.social · 20/02/2026

I tried to keep this review succinct while adding something fresh to the convo. Please enjoy and check out the full review at SFFInsiders.com www.sffinsiders.com/blog/review-... #booksky #books #bookreviews #fantasy @alixeharrow.bsky.social

sffinsiders.com

SFF Insiders

Dive into the world of science fiction and fantasy with reviews, author interviews, and cover reveals. Join the SFF Insiders community today!

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grady @gradyish.bsky.social · 20/02/2026

Harrow's writing is pure magic. It’s honey in how it sticks. Its smell, tantalizing. No word wasted. Each phrase, working on multiple levels to serve the story and our characters. It bursts of ripe apples, the juices flow down your chin with every bite.'

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grady @gradyish.bsky.social · 20/02/2026

Who have we crushed and suppressed in service of our unification? What does extolling our chivalric values bring at the expense of our communities? ...

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grady @gradyish.bsky.social · 20/02/2026

Excerpt: '“The Everlasting” is a book of multitudes. A sweet and ethereal romance. The fulfillment of the Arthurian legends. The myth-making, the nation-building. And yet, also undressing how overt propaganda is the counterfoil to these positive narrative aspects. …

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grady @gradyish.bsky.social · 20/02/2026

The Everlasting Alix E. Harrow I've been looking forward to this one for a while. Spiritually related to my previous reviews of "Hild" and "The Green Knight," this is the culmination of a lot of my recent thematic explorations. And all within a romance? Who would have guessed. …

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grady @gradyish.bsky.social · 15/01/2026

That’s great! The reputation they have is daunting, I can feel that pride and satisfaction too when I finish them and don’t feel completely lost 😂

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grady @gradyish.bsky.social · 15/01/2026

I’ll definitely share my thoughts when the time comes! Why did you think of the first two?

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grady @gradyish.bsky.social · 15/01/2026

I have both 3 and 4 on my shelf and plan to read them! But my tbr has grown quite a bit in recent months so will need to find room.

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grady @gradyish.bsky.social · 08/11/2025

Royal Assassin @robinhobb.bsky.social I’m prepared to suffer for this conclusion. Watch Hobb craft that bastard Fitz with the meticulousness of a Swiss watchmaker. It was a pleasure to write this review for SFFInsiders. Check it out at www.sffinsiders.com/blog/review-... 💙📚 #bookreview #books

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grady @gradyish.bsky.social · 05/11/2025

#bookvember day 4! Not necessarily a children’s series but I loved reading through the Guinness book of world records when I was young! Always exploring the edges of non-fiction in a way #booksky #nonfiction #books

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grady @gradyish.bsky.social · 04/11/2025

Same! I cherish my collection

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grady @gradyish.bsky.social · 03/11/2025

Right? So many memories. Watterson has such a wonderful outlook on everything that bleeds through those pages

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grady @gradyish.bsky.social · 03/11/2025

Bill Watterson, Calvin and Hobbes creator 🧡

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grady @gradyish.bsky.social · 02/11/2025

The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe was for a long while my favorite book. Narnia’s the first series I ever owned and read in full. CS Lewis was a beautiful writer. Captured dreamlike wonder from a child’s perspective magnificently #Bookvember #booksky #writesky #books #authors #narnia #cslewis

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grady @gradyish.bsky.social · 26/10/2025

You can’t just dip your toes into “Berserk.” You have to go all in, and meet it on its own heavy-metal terms (including its well earned Parental Advisory). This manga is a full on assault, and I couldn’t put it down. Read my full review at www.sffinsiders.com/blog/review-...

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grady @gradyish.bsky.social · 26/10/2025

Berserk Deluxe Edition Volume 1. Kentaro Miura As Halloween draws near, we find ourselves with an absolute heavy-weight on our hands that’s perfect for the mood. 💙📚 📚🪐 #manga #mangareview #berserk #kentaromiura #darkfantasy

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grady @gradyish.bsky.social · 22/10/2025

www.sffinsiders.com/blog/review-...

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grady @gradyish.bsky.social · 22/10/2025

Celebrating Ursula K. Le Guin’s birthday with my latest review of her book, The Left Hand of Darkness! Read my full review on SFFInsiders.com (link below) #booksky #books #bookreview #scifi #ursulakleguin 📚🪐

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grady @gradyish.bsky.social · 20/10/2025

It was great seeing you there too!

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grady @gradyish.bsky.social · 15/10/2025

We wake up one day realizing it all always has been a rodeo.

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grady @gradyish.bsky.social · 04/10/2025

“Have you just been sitting here in the dark? Sometimes I worry about you, Practical Frost, I really do.” Hilarious, dark, and sweet. Perfect. Check out the FULL REVIEW here: www.sffinsiders.com/blog/review-... 💙📚 📚🪐 #bookreview #books #firstlaw #fantasy #sff #grimdark @joeabercrombie.com

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grady @gradyish.bsky.social · 04/10/2025

Every now and then you’ll be smacked with a trifecta perfectly hitting all three notes of the dark-tender-humor trinity, and for me that’s when it shined brightest. Take this from Inquisitor Glokta:

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grady @gradyish.bsky.social · 04/10/2025

First Law Trilogy 1. The Blade Itself Joe Abercrombie All throughout, the writing is suffused with wry, black humor. How else can you cope in a world as grim and uncaring as this? Yet beneath the grotesqueness, there are glimpses of warm hearts and tenderness, even from the darkest seeming souls.📚💙

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grady @gradyish.bsky.social · 01/10/2025

I prefer the Walt Disney corp approved “gorsh!”

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grady @gradyish.bsky.social · 27/09/2025

I too am all for free speech but the microwave needs to be censored after the first beep.

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grady @gradyish.bsky.social · 27/09/2025

Btw you can now find me on SFFInsiders.com as a staff reviewer! I’ll keep my non-sff genre reviews separate still but everything else will be hosted there in full! See my first full length reviews for @robinhobb.bsky.social and @mikemollman.bsky.social at www.sffinsiders.com 💙📚 📚🪐 More coming soon!

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grady @gradyish.bsky.social · 18/09/2025

Always happy for Son. From his biggest supporter to now a rival 🤍

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grady @gradyish.bsky.social · 08/09/2025

4/4 We will likely talk books and beverages, and he can grill me on this review (LIVE 🔴)! Check back that day for the link to the stream, or just find him on Youtube and set up a reminder. #bookreview #books #novella #booksky 📚🪐 #scifi #sff #humor #funny #aliens #dogs #absurd #podcast

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grady @gradyish.bsky.social · 08/09/2025

3/x Also, shameless plug to check out @mikemollman.bsky.social and I during the live stream of Books & a Beverage, airing this Thursday the 11th 🙏🏻 4pm PDT!

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grady @gradyish.bsky.social · 08/09/2025

2/x Except poor us, there is to date, only this one installment currently available. So my chief complaint is Book Two, Jungle Planet, isn’t out yet. But I suppose patience is a virtue, after all… so, whatever. To read more, check out my FULL REVIEW on SFFInsiders.com @sffinsiders.com link below!

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