Tag: fantasy

Review: Long Live Evil by Sarah Rees Brennan

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Rating: 5 out of 5.

Books have always been a solace for Rae, lying sick in the hospital with cancer. One night a mysterious stranger appears in her room and tells her she is about to die, and Rae is given a choice between death and a second chance at life. Rae accepts this magical bargain and awakens in her favorite book series, Time of Iron, a bloody and romantic fantasy saga of heroes, villains, and gruesome revenge. Unfortunately, Rae has no memory of the first book in the series which is exactly where she is supplanted. Worse, she inhabits the body of the villainess, the Beauty Dipped in Blood, days before her intended execution. Desperate to save herself, Rae turns to scheming, enlisting the help of some unexpected allies: a violent prone guard and a lady’s maid with a talent for axe-wielding. Being a character in a book should be fun, but as the clock counts down, Rae realizes the story itself is an ever-changing narrative and her limited knowledge may only get her so far. Luckily evil is in and there are few limits to Rae’s plans…

Long Live Evil is my first Sarah Rees Brennan novel and legitimately one of my favorite books of this year. Playing off of classic fantasy tropes, but subverting genre traditions, Sarah Rees Brennan delivers a fresh fantasy debut that asks the question: what would you do if set loose in your favorite fantasy series? Long Live Evil packs in the adventure but takes a nuanced approach to narrative and character archetypes. With villains running amok and heroes testing the boundaries of their morality, Long Live Evil isn’t your standard fantasy novel. It’s a campy, meta, absolute ball of a time and a reading experience I will not forget soon.

Long Live Evil is certainly a story for anyone who’s ever fallen for the villain, but it’s also a tale for anyone who has ever wanted to be the villain and make unexpected choices for the sheer thrill of it. Following Rae, a terminally ill twenty-something who has had to live her life in a hospital bed not knowing if she will survive, Brennan voices a character devoid of choice given access to a world brimming with opportunity. A layered story within a story with an unexpected third layer (the original narrative that is seemingly changing), Long Live Evil embraces all the nuance, pop culture references, and hilarity. Brennan pushes the boundaries of storytelling through this portal fantasy with layered narratives within narratives and a scintillating blend of humor undercut by moments of intense poignancy. This book is incredibly funny, and I think you’ll have to have a mind impacted by the various phases of the internet to truly appreciate it. I cackled at Rae convincing the king that “AF” stands for “as foretold” and Key’s murderous tendencies. Also a thousand points for The Mummy reference thrown in. Sarah Rees Brennan has shared in the author’s note how her own cancer diagnosis split her life into two parts, a before and an after. I admire how she gave voice to that through Rae, a testament to those forgotten after a cancer diagnosis and the tumultuous journey to recovery. Choosing the mantle of a villain is a personal transformation for Rae, who despite everything cannot return to the person she once was. Where her journey concludes is tremendously gratifying and I loved seeing the connection between the first and last chapters (IYKYK). We love morally grey characters who toe that line between good and evil and Long Live Evil has that in spades. Sarah Rees Brennan pens a unique fantasy series starter—an uproarious delight of inverted tropes, rage, and all the freedom in being a villain. Bring on more chaos, morally grey characters, and schemes!

Thank you to Orbit Books for providing a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Trigger warnings: cancer, murder, blood

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Review: The Hemlock Queen by Hannah Whitten

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Rating: 5 out of 5.

In the aftermath of the death of King August, Dellaire now stands on a precipice. Emerging from the rubble of a fractured kingdom, Lore must guard her power over death magic further as the now King Bastian elevates her to his right hand. Beset by enemies from outside and within, with the Kirythean Empire growing in presence and their closest allies having all but abandoned them, Lore and Bastian fight to stay the course. But the disquiet Lore feels is only exacerbated by the strange behavior from Bastian and a voice in the dark that commands her attention. Things are not as concluded from the events preceding the fall of the former king and Lore is certain something darker is working to overtake them. Bastian has his own plans, of which Lore plays the part, but as the impending coronation looms and Bastian’s unsettling behavior grows, she’ll have to rely on secrets of her own to outsmart her enemies. Because the voice in the dark has a name, and it belongs to someone Lore had hoped would stay buried.

Betrayal, lies, and deadly secrets invigorate this poisonous sequel to the Foxglove King, as Lore battles a war within her own heart and a divine force intent on overtaking the entire kingdom. In this sequel, Hannah Whitten brings readers into a world on the verge of ruin, and the three people that could save it from its deadly fate. The Nightshade Crown trilogy is Whitten in her element, and that is clear from this astonishing sequel that hits just as hard regardless of whether you’d read it yesterday or several months ago. After the cataclysmic conclusion of the Foxglove King, I was firmly awaiting the return to this world and where this story would go. Suffice it to say, I was unprepared for the devastation to my heart, and to Whitten’s own characters. 

The Hemlock Queen elevates the stakes of The Foxglove King, barbed with court politics and fraught dynamics between its core trio, now at odds. Still reeling from the events preceding King August’s death, Lore comes to terms with her new role and fights the cost of her own survival. Where the Foxglove King reaches out its claws, The Hemlock Queen develops a slow-building poison that gradually takes its deadly effect. Jumping into this sequel feels a little out of sorts at first, but I have a feeling that was because I had forgotten so much of what happened in the first book in the eight months since I had read it. That feeling passes as Whitten leans into the chaos and orchestrates her discordant symphony like a train wreck you cannot look away from. Though I was a huge fan of book one, it is the Hemlock Queen where the series really gains a foothold and all of the pieces laid in the Foxglove King begin to slot into place. With a slower pace, The Hemlock Queen takes its time to elevate the disquiet, the moves and counter moves its characters make in reaction to certain developments. The unsettling nature of the narrative feels prickly, like thorns barbed in skin – a feeling only heightened by the cold behavior from Bastian and the venomous court. Lore remains my favorite character in this series, her selfishness and her determination are the driving force behind everything and I love that so much. With all of the foreshadowing and angst layered in, I’m all the more scared for her in the forthcoming finale. The Hemlock Queen was nothing as I expected, but that alone is what makes it so devastating. Whitten bridges the world of gods and humans until they meet on a knife edge, where they remain until its heartwrenching conclusion. It’s safe to say Hannah Whitten knows how to write epic sequels. This twisted high fantasy trilogy continues to astonish and The Hemlock Queen shifts it from sensational to absolutely legendary. 

Thank you to Edelweiss and Orbit Books for providing the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Trigger warnings: gore, violence, parental abuse, alcohol consumption

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Let’s Talk: Spring Reads

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Friends! It’s been a while since I did a proper book wrap-up for my notable reads and with spring practically in the air I can think of no better time to close the loop on some of the books I’ve read recently. With my move to the UK just around the corner, I have been focusing my attention on ARCs on my physical TBR and books on my shelf I have not read yet. Spanning a variety of genres here, this is your one-stop shop for your next spring (or summer) read, all endorsed by me!

Lady Scandal by Laura Lee Guhrke

A Haughty, newly titled viscount, and a widowed countess and determined event planner butt heads over the management of The Savoy Hotel, courting scandal and unexpected romance as they fight to get their way. Reading Lady Scandal was simultaneously the best time ever and renewed my faith in the historical romance genre. Everything about this book from start to finish is sheer perfection, from the flowering wit to the punchy back and forth between leads Simon and Delia. Guhrke certainly knows how to elevate the chemistry to deliver an outstanding love story with characters that feel like they could leap off the page. Lady Scandal is a refreshing testament to the genre and an excellent addition to the Scandal at the Savoy series. I really just had the best time with this one and will absolutely be keeping up with the next book from Guhrke. 

Trigger warnings: death, miscarriage

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A Letter to the Luminous Deep by Sylvie Cathrall

A Letter to the Luminous Deep blends mystery and a light academic romance between two scholars as their correspondence uncovers a secret long buried about their world. Like dense fronds of seaweed unfurling, Sylvie Cathrall untangles a beautiful epistolary academic romance between shy but inquisitive “E” and esteemed scholar Henerey Clel who find a connection deeper than the boundless depths in which they reside. Split between their initial correspondence and the two siblings left behind to unravel the mystery through the letters they penned, A Letter to the Luminous Deep instills a quest for the truth, while providing insight into both the past and the present. Including discussions around mental health, academia, and scientific exploration, this magical underwater adventure leaves plenty to investigate. A wonderfully curious debut that completely enraptured me!

Trigger warnings: death, grief

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The Ornithologists Field Guide to Love by India Holton

In this fresh and absolutely absurd romance adventure, two rival ornithologists become the victims of an elaborate marketing plan … and suffer intense yearning, birding mishaps, and mixed variations of there was only one bed trope – all for the chance of becoming Birder of the Year. One thing about India Holton is that she will have you cackling one moment, and swooning the next. The reluctant team-up between rivals Beth and Devon was EVERYTHING, comprised of snarky banter, near misses, and a healthy dash of yearning. The Ornithologists Field Guide to Love will entangle you in a clever repartee between two rivals (who maybe aren’t), dangerous magical birds, hijinks, and most importantly, tea! This historical romance with a delightful fantasy twist is a new favorite.

Trigger warnings: animal captivity

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The Ex Vows by Jessica Joyce

A Napa Valley wedding rekindles the sparks between Georgia and Eli, once lovers now strangers, who may just have a chance to get back what they lost while building something altogether new. Filled to the brim with the bittersweet, The Ex Vows is a second-chance romance that encapsulates all of the joyous and painful parts of reuniting and reconciling the past. Georgia and Eli have both been through a lot, together and apart, and the focus on these experiences in mending what went wrong in their relationship made for a truly exceptional romance. The yearning, the underlying tension between the two leads, and the wonderful moments of rediscovery along the way completely bowled me over. Jessica Joyce’s sophomore novel expands on her talent and craft as she interconnects the past and present, focusing on mental health, and the power of love in finding healing. The Ex Vows is astonishingly vulnerable and its resolution will undoubtedly have you close to tears. Jessica Joyce supremacy!

Trigger warnings: grief, anxiety

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Floating Hotel by Grace Curtis

A jewel thief, a former assistant, singers, rebels, and spies converge in a spaceship hotel that traverses the galaxy to meet its clientele. Floating Hotel is a genre-bending, distinctly period drama-esque romp through space with the most delightful crew of characters and past and present timelines. Like elements of a secret code, Curtis reassembles the past to make sense of the present as time winds down for the Grand Abeona Hotel. This feels like a cozy mystery with an intense heart as victims across planets desperately seek a new home in the face of an empire destroying worlds. I enjoyed filling in the pieces and its bittersweet final destination. 

Trigger warnings: blood, death

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My Rogue to Ruin by Erica Ridley

No recommendation list is complete without a historical romance, and My Rogue to Ruin is my latest favorite. Part of an ongoing series from Erica Ridley, My Rogue to Ruin melds classic romance tropes with one untraditional family and their ensuing antics. Ridley returns to the Wild Wynchesters, this time taking on a massive forgery scheme. Armed with prickly hedgehogs and mixed with a bit of blackmail, My Rogue to Ruin takes the word chaos and reaches beyond to deliver a fresh and exciting historical romance. Locked in a room with the most rogueish and arrogant scoundrel, Marjorie Wynchester takes it upon herself to solve the family’s latest case. Forced proximity, a diverse cast, and swoony moments are what you can expect with this one, as Marjorie and Adrian realize they might be on the same side. Erica Ridley’s books are always the most entertaining romps and I know both seasoned and new readers to the genre will love this one!

Trigger warnings: ableism, confinement, misogyny

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Where the Dark Stands Still by A.B Poranek

We love sentient houses, strange forests, and Howl’s Moving Castle vibes!!! Entangled in Polish Folklore, Where the Dark Stands Still follows a young woman determined to undo the magic she possesses by bonding herself to the demon warden of the spirit wood, who promises her a trade: one year in his service for the ability to remove her magic. With dangerous bargains, folklore, and a house full of secrets, this debut wholly ensnared me even before I stepped into the bones of the story. The intrigue around the Leszy and the woods that are his domain, as well as the growing romantic connection with Liska played off of one another in increasingly devastating ways. With a final act bringing the conflict between immortality and older bargains smashing together, Where the Dark Stands Still has one of the best endings in a young adult novel I have read in years!! Sheer perfection in a book!

Trigger warnings: violence, blood, gore, death, animal death

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Review: A Song of Ash and Moonlight by Claire Legrand

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Rating: 5 out of 5.

Ever since the fire that almost claimed her life, Farrin Ashbourne has guarded her heart and her power over others. The fire that inevitably consumed the Ashbourne estate was set alight by none other than the Bask family, the great enemies of the Ashbourne’s. Long after her mother’s flight and the departure of her younger sister, Farrin has placed herself unflinchingly in the role as head of the family, and even with the curse dividing the Basks and the Ashbournes now broken, she finds no end to her restlessness. Now the Kingdom is on the brink of war with unseen forces and the barrier of the Middlemist is weakening. United, the Ashbourne and Bask families may be the only hope of fighting back. Unfortunately, this means Farrin will come face to face with Ryder Bask, the eldest son and handsome thorn in her side. With new magic blooming and many now missing, their list of allies grows thin. Worse, whispers of a city hidden in moonlight unable to be reached by prying eyes. As they join forces, Farrin finds an ally and friend in Ryder Bask, who carries a burden of his own. Finding the truth may mean finally taking off her well-worn armor and forging something different– for their adversaries bleed the old gods, and the new.

Claire Legrand has long been a legend in the fantasy genre and A Song of Ash and Moonlight is her stretching her skill in a wonderful blend of romance, action, and expansive fantasy. In this brilliant sequel, Claire Legrand elevates her foundations to create a beautiful slow burn enemies to lovers romance between steadfast sister Farrin Ashbourne, and the eldest son of the Bask family, Ryder. Ever since I read A Crown of Ivy and Glass last year and Claire gave us the most delicious crumbs between these two I have been aching to read their story. (The scene where her music causes him to approach her on stage while speaking an old forgotten language sustained me for a whole year if you could believe it). Farrin was easily one of my favorite characters coming out of the first book, and I’m such a fan of the guarded older sister archetype that this couldn’t be anything but the best book ever.

Claire Legrand returns to her Middlemist Trilogy and a world on the brink of change as the Ashbourne siblings set aside old grudges and work to rebuild a relationship with their family’s sworn enemies, the Basks. A Song of Ash and Moonlight weaves a cunning mythos and romantic arc in a sequel that showcases its characters at their height and brings old gods and new smashing together in cataclysmic ways. The stakes are the highest they can be with old barriers breaking down, and new horrors descending on the Ashbourne family and the world entire. Calculating and precise, Farrin Ashbourne is the essential perspective for this secondary chapter. Fighting old wounds and attempting to stave off the dangers while closely guarding her heart, she’s a heroine one can struggle with and heal through. Farrin stands at the front of everything Legrand has built in the series thus far and has earned her status as chief of the Ashbourne sisters. As always, I love the balance of plot and romance Claire has captured in her writing. It’s enough to have you chasing the next interaction with Farrin and Ryder while aching to break through that outer shell to unveil the truth. There are so many clever moments woven in that allow Farrin to confront her traumas and work to build something new for herself. Ryder Bask intersects this journey at exactly the right time, fighting wounds of his own and the perfect outlet for somebody like Farrin. There are fight scenes, quiet conversations, and a deep understanding they find with one another against the chaos. Amidst their developing romantic relationship, the continued focus on consent and sexual compatibility was excellent. It’s not something I see often intertwined in romantic fantasy and I loved how much of that was a core focus. This sequel is undoubtedly taking the crown for best in the series. Legrand expertly layers her character development, plot, and twists, and the final confrontation is one of the finest I have read from a fantasy novel in some time. A Song of Ash and Moonlight is exactly what I wanted from a sequel, revealing hidden ancestry and an unexpected connection to the gods while flawlessly merging high-stakes fantasy and devastating romance. The Middlemist Trilogy is an incomparable fantasy series and this sequel only has me more excited for its conclusion next year.

Thank you to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing the review copy.

Trigger warnings: fire, blood, violence, death

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Review: Faebound by Saara El-Arifi

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Rating: 5 out of 5.

All her life Yeeran has known bloodshed. Raised to inherit a war responsible for countless deaths, Yeeran now ranks as Colonel. In opposition is her sister Lettle, who spends her days divining the future and a way out of their troubles. After a routine patrol ends in the deaths of hundreds of soldiers, Yeeran is exiled from the elven lands and left to wander the wilderness beyond for the remainder of her days. Intent on rejoining her sister, Lettle ventures into the harsh landscape, and when the two finally reunite it is in a death that puts them face to face with the fae, beings that have been believed dead for centuries. Taken into their hidden world against their will, Yeeran, and Lettle shoulder the harsh reception of the fae court as Yeeran is put on trial for the murder of their prince. Instead, Yeeran awakens a legacy that has long awaited her as a half-fae, an individual who can bond to beings of immense power, and harness their abilities as Faebound. With her origins still a mystery, and many who want her and her sister dead, Yeeran and Lettle will have to gather their allies and discover a truth that will fracture an already unstable world.

Curses, prophecies, and magic intersect with devastating romance in this sensational sophomore series debut from author Saara El-Arifi. Faebound is everything I’ve been yearning for from fae-centered fantasy – rooted in compelling quests for truth, an end to generational traumas, and the altering of history and its power over entire civilizations. Bonus for its intricately developed relationships between women, romantic and familial. Saara El-Arifi is quickly becoming a fantasy author to watch, as she debuts a brand new trilogy here and is wrapping up her Ending Fire Trilogy this coming summer.

In Faebound, El-Arifi sketches a brutal landscape divided by war and two sisters on separate paths that must converge. Each must meet their destiny, Yeeran with her rough edges tested by her fate as a Faebound and her newfound abilities, and Lettle, a dreamer who must harness her innate power to divine. This is first and foremost a story of sisterhood and the power of that bond. Through Yeeran and Lettle, El-Arifi focuses on a younger generation growing up in a time of immense strife and the intergenerational consequences of war and colonization. These two have been dealt a lot of pain, but their bond underpins everything else and is a constant source of strength. Though there is more of a direct focus on Yeeran as she takes up the mantle of Faebound and comes to terms with her origins, it is Lettle who truly was my favorite to read from. Lettle is the outer perspective – the one who remains behind, the sister trying to hold it together when her loved ones have gone to war or passed on, and someone trying to make sense of her place in the world. Lettle seeks to read a world determined to sideline her. The themes of prophecy and divination are intrinsically tied into her arc of commanding divination and harnessing her own destiny. Separately, Yeeran is bonded to a snarky but loveable animal companion and set against a commander seeking vengeance for the death of her prince. There’s a bit of an enemies-to-lovers arc that evolved out of this and tied in very nicely with the focus on truth and the power of close bonds. Bringing in drum magic, legacies cast off and undertaken, and numerous twists it shall come as no surprise that this is a new favorite. This is a fast-paced, outstanding series debut and one I’ll be singing praises to for months to come. Faebound is a dark, glorious fae story empowered by love, sisterhood, truth, and an end to war.

Thank you to Del Rey for providing a physical arc to review.

Trigger warnings: death, blood, violence, murder, war, grief

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Review: The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett

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Rating: 5 out of 5.

In a world beset by leviathans, investigative assistant Dinios Kol is far too occupied with his boss’s eccentricities and solving their next case. Magically altered to remember everything he sees, Din has been called to assist Ana Dolabra, an accomplished detective, who with his assistance can solve a case without ever having to visit the scene of the crime. Now a case arrives unlike anything they’ve ever dealt with before, and Din is thrust into the forefront of a murder with deadly ramifications. On the estate of a well-regarded family, an imperial officer has been found dead in his bedroom with a tree sprouting out of his body. Improbable, yet Din is tasked with discovering just how this murder was brought about. When several others turn up dead in the exact same way, Din and Ana must contend with the fact that this crime has roots far deeper than they initially expected – into the beating heart of the empire.

An unthinkable murder looms large in an empire beset by leviathans, strange contagions, and corruption blooming at its heart. In his new series, Robert Jackson Bennett takes all his wit and talent for crafting ingenious fantasy worlds and imbues them into a new fantasy setting with an eccentric detective and her disaster bisexual assistant solving an impossible crime. The Tainted Cup found me on a late-night train back from Philly last month and was the reason I was awake well into the wee hours of the night. Looking back at its transition from start to finish and the technical parts it’s no wonder why this held all my attention and has won the title of one of my top books of this year.

Undeniably humorous and brilliant in its craft, The Tainted Cup is a bold new murder mystery that reinvigorates the classic investigative pairing with a plot almost serpentine in the way that it twists and turns back upon itself in an act of reinvention. There were many times that I thought I understood the general playing field, but Bennett reassembles it endlessly, making for quite an entertaining reading journey. It’s not just the act of layering in elements to execute the overall mystery, but subverting it entirely to simultaneously construct and deconstruct the situation at hand. Characters Din and Ana are amusing individuals through which we are introduced to this new world and trust to uncover all that is hidden. Ana is persnickety and armed with a keen intelligence, whereas Din is just straight-laced and in desperate need of a break (but will he ever get one). While Bennett introduces an incredible duo, he also establishes a world teetering on the edge of destruction from outside and from within – one that I could not help but fall in love with. The descriptions of a city forever waiting for an attack from the leviathans felt both forlorn and striking, further shaped by the inner workings of the empire exposed with each passing page. Ana Dolobra really gets all the points for her silly little tricks and iconic monologue towards the end. It was very much giving Benoit Blanc, but fantasy. This was all around a hilarious and highly entertaining first book in a series. Robert Jackson Bennett has constructed a stellar fantasy world alongside an inventive magic system and I am curious to see where The Shadow of the Leviathan goes next. This is an unpredicable, but nevertheless brilliant mystery equipped with a duo to rival Watson and Holmes. The kind of story to settle in and take root in the most unexpected places.  

Thank you to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing this review copy.

Trigger warnings: body horror, blood, murder, violence

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Let’s Talk: Recent Reads

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Basically, all the books I can’t shut up about.

So many good books, so little time to review them all individually so without further ado here’s a wrap on all the books I have read and loved in the past three months. For this chunk of the year I decided to focus on mood and curate a TBR for each month to check off according to what I was wanting to read. As we moved into fall I was in more of an SFF mood but have started reading some more seasonally appropriate books on my TBR. Several of the books here will be reviewed for the first time, but many will be in my blurb review format. This post introduces: a series that has become my new obsession, an upcoming historical romance, a stunning series finale, and a new favorite author. Happy reading!

My Recent Favorites

A Master of Djinn by P. Djèlí Clark

Clark’s alternate 1912 Cairo, where djinn roam the streets and magic is a daily reality is my new favorite world to get lost in. Fatma el-Sha’arawi, an agent of the Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments, and Supernatural Entities, is tasked with uncovering just who murdered the members of a secret brotherhood but discovers a plot that goes far deeper. This is my first P. Djèlí Clark and boy did it not disappoint. Not only is this a fantastic speculative debut, but it has a deep center of questioning that I really appreciated. The twists in this are so freaking good and Fatma and Siti are the cutest couple and badass team up EVER. Read for an amazing world, historical commentary, and sapphics uncovering a mystery together.

Trigger warnings: blood, violence, racism, slavery

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The Duchess by Sophie Jordan

Sophie Jordan returns to her Scandalous Ladies of London series. Valencia, a recently widowed dowager, teams up with the new heir to usher his unruly sisters into London society but finds her past confronting her newfound connections. Like the previous installment, The Duchess brings a fresh take on historical romance tropes while staying true to the realities of marriage and life for women in this period. It’s deeply satisfying to see Valencia work to secure the life she wants after years of abuse and suffering (and VERY entertaining at certain points). I have been waiting years for a historical series focused on women who didn’t get their happily ever after the first time around and it is here.

Trigger warnings: misogyny, sexual harassment, abuse

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The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett

An unthinkable murder looms large in an empire beset by leviathans, strange contagions, and corruption blooming at its heart. Assistant to a brilliant investigator, and magically altered to help her solve the crime, Dinios Kol is called in to lend his eyes to solving the murder in question. Undeniably humorous and brilliant in its craft, The Tainted Cup is a bold new murder mystery that reinvigorates the classic investigative pairing with a plot almost serpentine in the way that it constantly twists and turns back upon itself in an act of reinvention. Robert Jackson Bennett has constructed a stellar fantasy world alongside an inventive magic system. This is an unpredictable, but nevertheless brilliant mystery equipped with a duo to rival Watson and Holmes. The kind of story to seep in and take root in the most unexpected places.

Trigger warnings: body horror, blood, murder, violence

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The Will of the Many by James Islington

In The Will of the Many, Islington constructs a flawed world built on the backs of the many to benefit the few, centering on the one person who could expose a crack in the marble and bring down an entire empire. Orphan Vin Telimus is an heir to a kingdom overtaken by the very empire he now serves. Hiding in plain sight, resisting ceding his will to the hierarchy, Vin is taken in by an unlikely ally who will give him a way out if he infiltrates the academy training the next generation of upper citizens to figure out what is going on on the academy grounds. This book juggles so many different elements and executes them all flawlessly. Complete with a mystery, an inventive societal system, and a striking political landscape. I can’t believe I waited so long to read this absolute masterpiece and I cannot wait to continue the series.

Trigger warnings: blood, violence, gore, death, murder, body horror

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Mammoths at the Gates by Nghi Vo

The eternal question: did I finish this book or did it finish me? The Singing Hills Cycle by Nghi Vo is for sure one of my favorite novella series of the past few years, and every addition has become my new obsession. Mammoths at the Gates is no different. After the death of their mentor, Cleric Chih returns to the abbey to mourn the loss and lay them to rest with the rest of their community. Stories past and present merge as Chi and others mourn this loss and collectively grieve. Vo conceptualizes the diverse experiences with grief and memory and pays homage to the power of storytelling. Definitely teared up a little bit while reading this and can’t wait for more from this series.

Trigger warnings: death, grief, physical abuse (mentioned)

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The Fractured Dark by Megan O’Keefe

If you take nothing else from the books I am recommending here it is: read this series. Altered Carbon meets the Expanse in this inventive and action-packed interplanetary adventure. Megan O’Keefe takes her Devoured Worlds series to the next level with a mind-bending addition that tests already fragile alliances and humanity’s uncertain future. Naira and Tarquin confront deep-rooted power structures, enemies old and new, and a biological threat able to evolve in ways they never could have thought possible. Ingeniously layered with a deep sense of humanity at its core, O’Keefe questions identity, future frontiers, and families found. You won’t expect the twists and you will desperately wish you’d read this sooner.

Trigger warnings: suicide, blood, violence, emotional abuse

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The Silent Companions by Laura Purcell

The Silent Companions is an eerie Victorian gothic novel that kept me up into the wee hours of the night, both because of a desire to reach its end, and the unsettling feeling it placed upon me. I stumbled upon Laura Purcell’s books at Waterstones back in March and took a chance on The Silent Companions for its gorgeous cover and intriguing premise. A widow is sent to her late husband’s family estate for the remainder of her pregnancy but is left to uncover the strange secrets of this ancestral home and its horrific legacy. Safe to say that judging books by their covers is good because I just loved this one. It’s gothic, spooky, and perfect. This book will have you looking into dark corners while coming to terms with the most ingenious twist!

Trigger warnings: blood, death, murder, poisoning, forced institutionalization

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Masters Of Death by Olivie Blake

So you’re a vampire real estate agent trying to sell your latest house, but it’s haunted by the ghost of its former occupant. And the only way to help the ghost move on is to contact a medium who just so happens to be the Godson of Death? Yes, this book is as chaotic as its premise, with a slow build and a snarky cast of characters who must team up to master death himself. Masters of Death is the kind of book that feels more rewarding the further you wade into it. I had no idea how so many of these moving pieces would come together, but Olivie Blake makes it all work. I love its patchwork method of narrative and break from linear storytelling. Masters of Death has all the trappings of a morbid and folkloric bedtime story as vamps, reapers, ghosts, and gods must team up for good or for ill. It’s easily the most unexpected and chaotic fantasy book I have read in ages. 

Trigger warnings: murder, death, addiction

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Two Twisted Crowns by Rachel Gillig

Two Twisted Crowns, the expansive and completely life-changing conclusion to the Shepherd King Duology is here and it is quite possibly the best sequel I’ve read all year. Maintaining her sensational gothic atmosphere and gutting prose, Gillig adds several new points of view and expands her focus to those left behind in the aftermath of the events from book one. Characters Elm and Ione pull focus and what emerges is a well-rounded conclusion that tests the bonds of family, magic, and the world that these characters hold dear. We get more lore with the cards and the Shepherd King as Elsbeth is trapped by the Nightmare, which I loved. Two Twisted Crowns is certainly an ambitious sequel, but altogether romantic and action-packed. Rachel Gillig is definitely a new favorite author and I cannot wait to reread this series down the line.

Trigger warnings: blood, death, violence, murder, torture

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Review: A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid

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Rating: 5 out of 5.

Effy Sayre is Llyre’s newest architecture student, but she’d much rather be studying English. Heading into her first term, Effy clutches onto her battered copy of the Angharad, an epic fable detailing the triumphs of a mortal girl over the Fairy King. Plagued by visions of her own in which the Fairy King takes center stage, Effy is desperate for an outlet and enters a contest to redesign Hiraeth Manor, the house of the Angharad’s author, Emrys Myrddin. Redesigning Hiraeth Manor is a chore beyond measure, as portions of the estate have fallen into disrepair and ruin, and the house is seconds from losing itself to the sea. When Effy arrives, she finds another point of contention in Preston Héloury, her academic rival who has taken up residence, intent on proving Emrys Myrddin a fraud. Although he is everything she stands against, Effy can’t help but be drawn to Preston’s quest. Because there’s something dangerous lurking on the estate, something that echoes her past, and Hiraeth Manor hides secrets that could very well drag them both down for good.

A Study in Drowning is a swirling tempest of hope, love, and finding a way forward against all odds. This their third novel, It’s clear that Ava Reid cannot write a bad one. Enveloped in folklore and set in a Welsh-inspired fantasy world, this book is a balm for every person who has been an outsider in their lives and for those still fighting to have their voice be heard. All of this is characterized in our protagonist Effy Sayre; a young woman in academia struggling to keep her head above water. As the only woman in her architecture college, unable to pursue the field of education she desires, and consistently mocked and preyed upon, Effy is adrift in every sense. The only thing holding her together is the novel The Angharad.

Across her works, Reid has emphasized the power of storytelling and it is A Study in Drowning that focuses on the readers that find themselves within stories. This fraught relationship between author and reader is investigated within the novel as the Angharad’s authorship is contested. We get glimpses of the Angharad, both the story itself and scholarly critique, and the ways in which the story mirrors the real world, one in which a Fairy King may rule still. As Effy seeks the truth at Hiraeth Manor she develops a connection with Preston, her academic rival and, similarly, an outsider. If there’s one thing I trust with Ava Reid, it’s delivering a phenomenal romance. Preston and Effy’s relationship is a deeply gratifying slow burn between two kindred spirits forging a way forward in a world that has consistently denied them. There is so much genre work going on here as well. It’s a romance, a gothic, a mystery, and a dark academia all at once. All of these are interwoven with startling prose and imagery. Hiraeth Manor – with its peeling water-stained wallpaper, portraits of days past, and floorboards glistening with seawater is a beautiful and haunting example. Reading A Study in Drowning is like slowly sinking into an unruly sea and welcoming it with the knowledge that someone will be there to pull you out. It’s about owning your story in a world determined to control the narrative and finding healing despite past abuses. A book I’ll be keeping in my back pocket to weather any future storms.

Thank you to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Trigger warnings: parental abuse, sexual assault, sexual harassment, misogyny, bullying, sexism

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Lets Talk: My Favorite Books of 2022

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My top reads of 2022, are coming at you four months late, but as Harper Collins workers advocated for a fair contract these past several months, It was necessary to delay this. Looking back at 2022, I am left feeling like there were so many books that I didn’t get around to reading. Nevertheless, this year was very successful for me. I read a whopping 373 books which is the highest amount I have ever reached since I started documenting my reading, and a majority of these were 4-5 star reads. 2022 marked my deep dive into historical romance and fantasy, two genres I feel I had not been reading enough of prior to the start of the year, and as these were my two most prevalent genres in 2022, I can definitively say that went off without a hitch. Narrowing down my favorite reads of the year presented quite a challenge, but I managed to decide upon my top twelve. Given that I started bookselling this year I thought it would be fun to present them with the shelf-talkers I display at the store. It’s safe to say that there were many books I left out of this, but expect some romance and fantasy features in the coming month!

Top Reads of 2022

Joan by Katherine J. Chen

A revitalized look into the life and times of Joan of Arc, from her startings in Domrémy France, to her martyrdom and eventual rise to sainthood. Katherine Chen has created a version of Joan of Arc completely unheard of in our time, emphasizing the woman beneath the image, flawed and unyielding. With as much of a focus on the history surrounding the Hundred Years War as its central figure, this story slowly enraptured me. Joan is perfect for fans of historical fiction, or even readers wanting to take a stab at the genre. A brilliant novel for the ages.

Trigger warnings: blood, violence, war

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The Last Tale of the Flower Bride by Roshani Chokshi

Roshani Chokshi breathes life into this gothic novel centered around fairytales, myth, and the treacherous secrets of a marriage. Wandering the halls of the crumbling House of Dreams, Chokshi spins her tale, interweaving fairy tales into the central narrative amidst broken promises and childhood dreams. Expertly crafted, with lush writing and an unsettling undertone, this is everything you could possibly wish for in a gothic novel. The way it slowly approaches the final act will leave you breathless in its downfall.

Trigger warnings: blood, death, violence, murder

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The Daughter of Doctor Moreau by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

In a secluded estate far removed from the conflict on Yucatans peninsula, Carlota Moreau lives an isolated existence. That is, until the arrival of two strange gentlemen dissolve her fragile world into chaos. Layering in themes of colonization, class, and subjugation, Moreno-Garcia examines possession and the relationship between creator and subject. This is her best work by far. Wonderfully romantic and intense in its resistance.

Trigger Warnings: violence, blood, abuse, death, gun violence, suicide, experimentation

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Juniper & Thorn by Ava Reid

Last of the true witches in all of Oblya, Marlinchen and her sisters spend their days tending to their clientele, and placating the unending appetites of their cursed wizard father. A chance connection spells freedom, but at a price that may be too monstrous to pay. Gorgeously gruesome and brutal in its design, Juniper & Thorn is a twisted gothic horror retelling of The Juniper Tree, imbued with memory, a poignant examination of abuse, and survivorhood in all forms.

Trigger warnings: violence, emotional abuse, gore, blood, death, murder, body horror, cannibalism, eating disorder (bulimia), vomiting (graphic), sexual assault, antisemitism, xenophobia, drug use 

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A Far Wilder Magic by Allison Saft

In an isolated manor on the edge of town, sharpshooter Margaret Welty lives alone. When she spots the legendary Hala in the woods one evening, she knows that the annual halfmoon hunt is about to commence. The only problem? She appears to be short a partner. Allison Saft’s sophomore novel is purely evocative, with hunts in a moonlight wood, an exquisite exploration of loneliness, and a rediscovery of love lost. Full of words that drown you in their depths and a striking fantasy atmosphere, I loved every second of this (Margaret + Wes forever have my heart).

Trigger warnings: blood, gore, emotional abuse, neglect, antisemitism, xenophobia, nationalism, animal death and injury, ableism, parental death (mentioned), PTSD

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Babel by R.F Kuang

What can I say about this extraordinary book that hasn’t already been said? Babel is one of those books that slowly leads you through a flawed world and characters seeking to make it better and then leaves you to grapple with its legacy. R.f Kuang explores the longevity of empire and whether or not violence and sacrifice have become the only translatable actions. Through the eyes of a translation student at Oxford and five acts, Kuang conducts her discordant symphony and four students’ slow descent into disillusionment. I needed a whole month to recover from this (as well as several scones) and you will too.

Trigger warnings: racism, racial slurs, death, murder, war, slavery, colonization

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A Fire Endless by Rebecca Ross

There’s so much I could say about Rebecca Ross’s Elements of Cadence duology that would fall woefully short. This duology is a raging fire of community, belonging, love, and sacrifice that slowly rekindled my adoration for enemies to lovers and slow-burn fantasy. This series follows a suffering bard and his childhood enemy-turned-wife as they navigate clan wars, mysterious illnesses, and a world thrown out of balance. There’s so so much yearning and desperation to understand the world and our place in it. I’m absolutely obsessed with the main two couples in this book and I’m begging everyone to give this series a try.

Trigger warnings: blood, death, violence, grief

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The Oleander Sword by Tasha Suri

Declared the rightful empress of Parijatdvipa by the prophet of the nameless god, Malini wages war to get back what was taken from her. Meanwhile, Priya faces an unsettling situation back in Ahiranya. This follow-up to The Jasmine Throne stole my heart and destroyed my soul with a slow and delicate grace. Intensely ruthless and brutal at its core, The Oleander Sword is an astonishing sequel that blooms with betrayal, romance, and unintended sacrifice. Tasha Suri’s Burning Kingdoms is an exemplary fantasy series, altogether epic and expansive.

Trigger warnings: death, violence, war, suicide

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The Final Strife by Saara El-Arifi

In a world where the color of your blood determines your standing, two young women switched at birth to ignite a failed revolution reunite in an effort to achieve what they both desire. This is easily one of my favorite fantasy debuts of the whole year — ruthless and entirely ambitious. El-Arifi has poured her soul into this expansive story where loyalties are tested and history is not as truthful as it appears. Do yourself a favor and pick up this epic and queer fantasy debut.

Trigger warnings: blood, addiction, child abuse

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The Cartographers by Peng Shepherd

When her father is discovered dead in his office at the New York Public Library, in possession of the very map that tarnished her reputation and destroyed their relationship, Nell Young is drawn into an investigation with greater consequences than she could have ever imagined. Peng Shepherd draws together an incredible narrative of belonging, secret societies, personal history, and magic. I flew through this in one afternoon and could not stop thinking about it for weeks afterward. This book is unexpectedly ingenious and I could not put it down.

Trigger warnings: death, grief, murder, violence

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Exes and O’s by Amy Lea

Amy Lea’s follow-up novel to Set on You quickly flew to the top of my radar. Romance novel obsessed Tara Chen has had more than her fair share of heartbreak. After an inspiring interview, Tara gets an idea: revisit all of her past romances and reevaluate them with the hope of securing the time-honored trope, the second chance romance. Amy Lea has written the romance heroine of my dreams and one of my all-time favorite friends-to-lovers romances. A true love letter to every romance aficionado out there, and funny as hell!

Trigger warnings: sexism, gaslighting

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Happy Place by Emily Henry

Happy Place is absolute magic, bottled up and delivered in the form of saccharine summer days, happiness, teary moments, and newfound longing, and I loved every single second of it. Its wonderfully unique friendships and signature blend of past and present merge to deliver a truly unforgettable romance. Prepare to fall in love with Wyn, Harriet, and a friend group together across the years. Emily Henry is the master of the romance novel and Happy Place is her best one yet!

Trigger warnings: death, grief, alcohol consumption

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And that’s a wrap on my favorite reads of the year. So many amazing reads marked my journey through 2022, and I can’t wait to see what I get to in the coming year. There were many of my favorite reads that did not make the final cut (gone but never forgotten) and I will be highlighting those in a future post or collection so stay tuned for that. In the meantime, I’d love to hear if any of these were on your list and what books really impacted you in 2022.

Review: The Foxglove King by Hannah Whitten

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Rating: 5 out of 5.

Deep within the catacombs of the city of Dellaire, a young girl with power over death is raised by the Night Sisters, guardians of the tomb of the buried goddess. When she is thirteen, Lore flees from the world she knows to the city above, where death magic is considered heretical, and everyday people flirt with it through the power of Mortem, magic born from death. Many years pass, and as Lore grows older she takes on the role of a poison runner, taking part in an illegal trade that allows her basic survival. After a standard run ends with Lore revealing her power, she is taken captive by the Presque Mort, a group of warrior monks that give her an impossible task: find out why hundreds of villagers in the outskirts of the city are turning up dead. Someone in the court is responsible for this atrocity, and as Lore is led deeper into the intrigue of the King’s Court, she stumbles upon something that could reveal a misguided plot or a truth about her own divinity.

The Foxglove King is a knife-sharp amalgamation of court intrigue, high fantasy, and forbidden romance that captured my heart and held it captive until its glorious finish. Hannah Whitten first seized my attention back with her debut series, The Wilderwood Duology, and from that moment on I knew that I would be hanging on to anything else she wrote next. Now that I’ve made my way through her latest novel, I can unequivocally say that it has surpassed her previous work on so many levels. For the longest time, I have been craving a fantasy series set around court politics, romance, and magic, and The Foxglove King delivers that down to the last mark. Whitten plays to her strengths, detailing the misguided loyalties and strained influences of the Sainted King’s court and the unstable balance between politics and religion. Its central heroine Lore is admittedly very fitting. As someone who has been living in hiding for the death magic she possesses, Lore comes to embody the ongoing power struggle occurring within the court more than she realizes. She’s selfish and fearless to the extreme, two traits I both admire and crave more of with women in fantasy. Misfits make great company, and Whitten takes that into account with the chaotic trio she establishes in the novel. Gotta love a debauched prince, a duke turned warrior monk, and a powerful outsider trying to uncover a conspiracy while denying their feelings for one another. Now I know some people love a good love triangle but I think that this is going in a different direction. The overall plot and romantic development were well-balanced, leaving room for a stunning conclusion that threw me for a loop and left me to pick up the pieces. With the Foxglove King, Whitten establishes a world split apart by magic and godhood, and showcases the very nature of humanity to seek to control a dangerous power. It’s got messy bisexuals, court intrigue, morally grey characters, and an established romantic tension that is only going to get better from here.

Thank you to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing this arc to review.

Trigger warnings: blood, violence, gore, death, animal death, parental abuse

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