The Library Ladies

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Book: “The Exquisite Torment of Loving Your Enemy” by Brigitte Knightley

Publishing Info: Ace, July 2o26

Where Did I Get this Book: the publisher!

Where Can You Get this Book: WorldCat.org | Amazon | IndieBound

Book Description: Osric is a member of the Fyren Order, a guild of assassins who gleefully murder for money. Aurienne is a Haelan, a scholar-healer whose Order’s motto is Harm to none. Clear-cut absolutes separate them: good and bad, right and wrong, light and dark . . .Until they don’t.

When Osric first bribed Aurienne to heal him, he never imagined those lines would begin to blur. But every healing session draws them closer together. He finds himself developing unwanted feelings for Aurienne as her capable hands heal his body—and his heart.

Aurienne’s perfect life has been flung into chaos in the form of a devastatingly handsome assassin. She should be in her research lab, not illicitly healing a Fyren every full moon—nor wrestling an attraction to him that threatens to slip into something else.

Things go superbly sideways when Osric and Aurienne discover more about the deadly Pox deliberately unleashed through the Tīendoms. The plague may be the work of another Order—an Order far nastier than either of them can handle.

As the lines between Osric and Aurienne continue to blur, the balance between peace and war, and love and hate, trembles, shifts, and hinges on a heartbeat.

Previously Reviewed: “The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy”

Review: While I had mixed feelings on the first book in this duology, this is one of those pleasant instances when the series actually ends stronger than it begins! Across the board, from pacing, to characterization, to the use of humor, all were improved here. So, from the start, if you were like me and not quite sure after the first book, I definitely recommend finishing up the duology!

One of my struggles with the first book was the use of humor. It was a weird experience, because there was a lot that I found genuinely funny. But there was also a strong reliance on fairly crude humor that’s just not really my style. Well, here, there was much more of the former and only a few instances of the latter. Indeed, the balance all around of humor to plot to romance was much better done, so when the comic moments or banter came, it landed much stronger for not being layered on so thickly throughout the entire read.

I also enjoyed the love story here more. The first felt like it dragged the “enemies” portion of the romance on just a bit too far. Here, the book still needs the entire page length to get to the true HEA, but both characters are in the process of managing their own growing feelings and then transition more into the challenges of the relationship as a whole. Further, the plot itself gave us more instances to see these characters come into these feelings through their actions rather than the strong reliance on inner monologues that we had in the first book. That still was here too, of course, but I appreciated the more action-based approach to the love story in this book.

The plot and pacing were also more interesting. The first book did a lot to set up the characters (less so the world, which was left fairly unexplained). But here, we got more into the true stakes of the story and the villainous players. I will say, I still struggled with some of the world-building and whether some of it was truly necessary. For example, like the first book, I continued to not understand why it was necessary to have different countries as unique entities involved at all. The entire plot of this book is based around a conflict between the magical faction, and then there is a throwaway line, essentially, that various factions are working with such-and-such country. But we never meet any of these countries’ leaders, never travel to their capitals, literally never get any reason why we should care about them at all.

All in all, this was a great conclusion to the duology. In every way, it felt like a more mature book, with better plotting, characterization, and a proper balance between romance, action, and humor. The romantic storyline wraps up well; however, the state of this world at the end is still very much up in the air. It definitely makes me wonder whether we’ll see more in this world following new characters! If you were a fan of the first book, definitely finish out the experience with this one.

Rating 8: A stronger finish than it was a start, this duology ended up being a blast, full of romance, action, and a healthy dose of humor.

Reader’s Advisory:

“The Exquisite Torment of Loving Your Enemy” can be found on this Goodreads list: 2026 Romance Duets.

This post may contain affiliate links for books we recommend.  Read the full disclosure here.

Book: “A Tangled Magic” by Andrea Eames

Publishing Info: Erewhon Books, July 2026

Where Did I Get this Book: ARC from the publisher!

Where Can You Get this Book: WorldCat.org | Amazon | IndieBound

Book Description: All her life, Netta has only known the Tower—its musty shelves of books she cannot read, ink-splattered quills, and endless scrolls of paper. Her mother, ambitious and analytical, has spent decades perfecting her greatest masterpiece: a spellbook of unspeakable power. Netta’s only companions are her long red Hair, which moves of its own accord, and a telepathic raven named Baldbeak. Her only amusement lies in crafting intricate embroidery from scraps of silk and thread.

When attackers storm the Tower, her mother and the spellbook vanish. Determined to find her, Netta ventures into a kingdom on the brink of civil war. The monarch lies dying, while pious Temple fanatics and the noble elite scheme for the throne, forging secret alliances and building hidden armies. For reasons she cannot yet fathom, all these factions seek Netta—and the dangerous, uncontrollable magic in her Hair.

But whom can she trust? The sharp-eyed pickpocket bent on revolutionizing the use of magic? The elusive black market trader known only as the Book Man? The charming magician who slips between shadow and light? From masked carnivals to opulent ballrooms, from hidden monasteries to catacombs, Netta must untangle a web of lies and intrigue – not only to find her mother, but also to uncover the true nature of the power that has shaped her life.

Review: Given the title and the comps listed for this one, I did go into this expecting a closer “Rapunzel” retelling. However, I was more than happy with what we got instead! This is a slow, quiet fairytale that clearly draws from many traditions but is more focused on highlighting a softer sort of heroine than it is on retelling a specific plot, like that from “Tangled” or “Six of Crows” (another comp title, which I get even less than the “Tangled” one!).

Luckily, I very much enjoy this sort of quieter fantasy tale. It’s not cozy, but it does remind me of some of Juliet Marillier’s books, and as she is one of my favorite fantasy authors, this is quite the point in this book’s favor! Like Marillier, Eames has created a heroine who is soft, reserved, and not prone to grand gestures. Hers is an inner strength, and one that she needs to build throughout the book, having started from a quite naive, sheltered perspective early in the book. So too, there’s a strong focus on “womanly” work, such as the embroidery that Netta works so diligently at.

I also enjoyed the complicated mother-daughter relationship that is explored in this book. I always find this particular relationship so interesting both in the original fairytale and in other adaptations, like “Tangled.” What a complex knot of emotions, a parent-child relationship all caught up in exploitation and lies.

For all that I did enjoy Netta’s quieter type of heroism, she was quite naive even long into the book. On one hand, I think this makes sense given her circumstances, but it did make the character read younger than she is supposed to be. That being the case, the entire affair felt more on the YA side than adult, which is fine, but will make its task of finding the right readership perhaps a bit more difficult. So too, I felt like the very small romantic subplot was largely unnecessary. As much as I enjoy a good love story, it didn’t feel like it fit well here. It either needed more to resolve things and make it stand more on its own as an arc, or it could easily have been removed altogether.

Overall, this was a nice read. It didn’t amaze me, but it was also the sort of slow-paced, quieter fantasy novel that you don’t see as often. Fans of this sort of fairytale fantasy should definitely give it a shot!

Rating 8: This was a lovely little fairytale read that, if it gets into the hands of the right readers, I think will be very much enjoyed!

Reader’s Advisory:

“A Tangled Magic” is not on any Goodreads list yet, but it should be on Fairy tales & Retellings.

This post may contain affiliate links for books we recommend.  Read the full disclosure here.

Book: “The Demon Star” by Jesse Aragon

Publishing Info: DAW, July 2026

Where Did I Get this Book: ARC from the publisher

Where Can You Get this Book: WorldCat.org | Amazon | IndieBound

Book Description: Gods rule this planet. Demons stalk its canyons while Kings beg for mercy. Can three mere humans rewrite its destiny?

The otherworldly religious conflict of Dune, the cosmic strangeness of Gideon the Ninth, and the heart-pounding action of Red Rising converge in this horror-tinged epic science fantasy debut.

Ysira Naktis was a human sacrifice, marked for death. Unlike the thousands ‘harvested’ each year, though, she did the unthinkable. She survived—and what she brought back with her could change the fate of worlds.

When Ysira’s estranged son is chosen to become the vessel of a god-killing demon, she is faced with a choice: allow him to harness cosmic power at an unspeakable cost, or doom millions to save him. She finds an unlikely ally in Brother Jacen Kheris, once a gifted exorcist, now a guilt-ridden addict, desperate for purpose.

From a demon-haunted canyon to a starbound satellite, they must battle their way through cultists, aliens, and the gods themselves. The truths they unearth are deeper and more sinister than anything they could have imagined.

Review: This was such an odd mashup of so many things that don’t seem like they should work together, but somehow do. Theology and exorcisms! Dune-like worms! Telepathy! And all told through a multitude of POVs, all of whom are morally gray to some extreme or another.

Let’s start with the characters. While there are various perspectives throughout, there are three primary characters, each with their own arcs and struggles. Through these three main characters, the story dives into themes such as addiction, the desperate drive for approval from others, and the toxic side of motherhood. “Toxic” is really the right word for many of the characters in this book. These are messy people who form messy relationships to one another, and this is by no means a “feel good” story when it comes to any of this.

There is sort of a romantic subplot, but it’s definitely not of the traditional sort. As I said, everything here is messy, including the relationships that form between these three. I didn’t love this aspect of the story, as it played into a few romantic themes that aren’t my favorite. Alas, I’m one of those romance readers who enjoy more straightforward, happy love stories, so this aspect of the story wasn’t my favorite.

But the main elements of a fantastic fantasy book were all here, including a hefty dose of horror. Everything exists on a grand scale, and the book neatly balanced introducing its complex world while also side-stepping into deep philosophical topics regarding religion, power, and the roles of gods and demons in this world. Again, like the characters, the book is heavy, complicated, and on the darker side. I found all of this so interesting, however, that I never felt bogged down by the bleakness of some of its themes.

And then comes the second half, with tons of twists and turns and gut punches around every corner. In the first half, the reader begins to settle into this world, as uncomfortable as it is, but the second half neatly rips away any sense of stability that was formed in that first half. Like the characters, the reader will simply stumble, reeling, from one crushing scene to the next.

Overall, this was a great fantasy read! It’s definitely on the darker, more horror-centric side, but I think it did a fantastic job with its world-building and exploration of complex themes. I struggled a bit with some character beats, but much of that comes down to personal preferences with regards to POV characters and their arcs. If you’re a fan of cosmic fantasy, definitely check this one out!

Rating 8: Heart-wrenching, horrific, and freakishly compelling, it’s the kind of book where you’re constantly waiting for the next twist to rip your heart out, but you can’t stop reading in spite of it!

Reader’s Advisory:

“Demon Star” can be found on these Goodreads lists: 2026 Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction and 2026 Debuts

This post may contain affiliate links for books we recommend.  Read the full disclosure here.

Book: “The Eye of Leviathan” by M. A. Carrick

Publishing Info: Orbit, July 2026

Where Did I Get this Book: Netgalley!

Where Can You Get this Book: WorldCat.org | Amazon | IndieBound

Book Description: In an alternate Spanish Golden Age, the Council of the Sea Beyond has risen to unrivaled power, exploiting the Otherworld’s most precious resources for their own gain. Estevan seeks to uncover their secrets, but he risks the exposure of his that he is a faerie, masquerading as a mortal.

The Hungry Girl is the human whose place he took. Lost among the fae and desperate to find some purpose for her existence, she leaps at the chance to help a group of Spanish explorers in the Sea Beyond…only to be horrified at the atrocities they commit.

A faerie pact has separated them– but only together can they bring down Spain’s worlds-spanning empire and save the homes they have both come to love.

Review: Well, mark this one down as another excellent fantasy story from the writing duo that is M. A. Carrick! After loving “The Rook and the Rose,” I was confident that I would like this one as well. But it also sounded very different, focused on an alternate version of Spain during the Inquisition, a version of the world where not only those who weren’t Catholic were persecuted, but the fae as well. It sounded ambitious, and after reading it, I think I underappreciated just how ambitious it was from the start!

Let’s begin with the worldbuilding and historical elements. This book definitely doesn’t shy away from its historical roots, so strict fantasy readers should buckle in for a hefty dose of historical fiction. While there are obvious adjustments to fit in the magical elements, there’s also a close look at the realities of the Inquisition and the oppressive society that made up this point in history, and many real-life historical figures are present in the tale. Further, the story takes its time exploring religion and the central role it played not only on a society level, but an individual level. It’s difficult to set aside the modern lens through which we often think of religion, but Carrick does an excellent job of exploring the theme here, both with how fundamental it was to those living in this time and the ways in which it shaped almost every aspect of their lives.

But on top of the historical events, I loved the way the authors pulled in their fantasy world, neatly layering an entirely new element smoothly and efficiently. This very much felt like a version of history that could have existed had, you know, fae been real. What’s more, through this portion of the book, the story explores themes regarding colonization and exploitation. There were some very tough moments in this book, but everything was handled carefully and with a light touch, avoiding the pitfalls of heavy-handed preaching that can sometimes happen with big topics like this.

I also loved all of the characters we had here. Obviously, the two main POV characters get the most attention, and each was very enjoyable in their very different ways. But I also really liked the side characters. Unlike some of the themes which are fairly black and white, the characters who make up this world almost all exist within some shade of gray. While what is being done to the fae is indefensible, there are large parts of their society and individuals operating within it who have their own inexcusable moments. Further, we see kindness and love from humanity, even if by and large, human society as a whole is at a low point.

Estevan and the Hungry Girl were both excellent leading characters. The story alternates between their chapters, and I will say that while I liked both of these characters, their stories felt very different, leaving the pacing feeling a bit uneven as we bounced between the two. Estevan’s story is slower, and this is the portion that reads like historical fiction almost more than fantasy. And for her part, the Hungry Girl’s story is a much more adventure-forward, fast-paced fantasy novel, full of dangers and thrills. I enjoyed both, but it was one of those cases where I would become invested in one and always be slightly disappointed to have to switch. Only to repeat that experience with the other storyline.

Other than this slight ding to pacing, there was one odd character moment that I’m not sure how I feel about. There are perhaps slight spoilers to follow, so skip the next paragraph if you want zero spoilers, even light ones.

We meet a character in the middle of the book who, while living as a man now, was born a woman. Like I said, this is a very historically accurate book, and much of that focus also includes the strict limitations put upon women. At one point, one character mentions that there are no women trapped in towers in Spain, like you see in fairy tales. Another character aptly responds that perhaps ALL women in Spain are trapped in towers. It’s a very powerful moment.

But then when it comes to this character, the theme gets pretty muddied. There are moments where the book seems to present them as a trans man who has always wished to be a man as an identity. But in the same breath, when exploring that character’s past, we see them running up against a society that isn’t allowing them the life and adventure they crave, simply for being a woman. Did they want to be a man? Or did they want the life and freedom of a man and this was the only option? Surely, there would be plenty of women who would struggle under the oppression and limitations put upon them simply due to their sex. So much so that dressing up as and presenting as a man to exist the way they prefer would be the obvious route, regardless of identity matters. It’s a tricky topic, but I think the book just missed the mark here, especially given the apt critique of society’s views of women throughout the rest of the book.

Back to the nonspoilers! I’ll wrap this one up by saying this was much lighter on the romance front than “The Rook and the Rose.” True, that trilogy worked up to it, but even from the start, it felt more prevalent than what we get here. One character has an extensive subplot romance, while the other may have one developing? Or not? I wasn’t quite sure how to read things there. But I just wanted to note that for readers who may have been looking for more romance from these authors again.

Overall, I really loved this book! It was a long read, but one of those books that I never wanted to end. Hopefully the second half of the duology arrives quickly!

Rating 9: A wonderful blend of historical fiction and fantasy, “The Eye of Leviathan” is as heart-wrenching as it is enthralling!

Reader’s Advisory:

“The Eye of Leviathan” can be found on this Goodreads list: Can’t Wait Sci-Fi/Fantasy of 2026.