Category: Serena’s Reviews

Serena’s Review: “A Trade of Blood”

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Book: “A Trade of Blood” by Robert Jackson Bennett

Publishing Info: Del Rey, August 2026

Where Did I Get this Book: Netgalley!

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

Book Description: In the canton of Sapirdad, two of the Empire’s most powerful families are moments away from going to war with each other, their hundreds of retainers gathered with swords drawn. If blood is spilt, the whole of the empire may be plunged into starvation and chaos.

To de-escalate matters, someone must do the impossible: prove that one family’s eldest son is innocent of a gruesome and unforgivable murder, despite the incontrovertible evidence against him.

It is with this undertaking that the great detective Ana Dolabra is tasked, her assistant Din at her side—and the two find themselves racing with great speed and little dignity to the scene.

As ever, the impossible proves little obstacle for the deadly combination of Ana’s intellect and Din’s keen eye, and mere hours after riding into the dusty town, Ana glimpses the greater pattern behind the crime. A deeper, subtler web of death is being woven in plain sight, by a mastermind with an ancient magical technology at his disposal.

But even Ana’s uncanny insight is of little use when each new suspect she uncovers ends up dead–with each new killing calculated to bring tensions between the two rival clans past the boiling point. And as Din pursues their adversary through the canton’s wild ranges, sprawling ranches, and reeking slaughterhouses, he finds his loyalties divided in unexpected ways.

Previously Reviewed: “The Tainted Cup” and “A Drop of Corruption”

Review: Per the usual with this series, I finished the last page of this book and had to just sit for a bit. Partially to think through some of the deeper themes discussed in the story and how they relate to our world (this one deals heavily with food and the food industry, as well as the economy of labor), yes. But also partially to try to cope with the sheer amount of body horror that I’ve exposed myself to once again!

Like the other books in the series so far, the story starts out with Ana and Din traveling to another area of this realm and, of course, needing to solve some new horrific murder mystery. I really enjoy this general setup for the series, as this land itself and its half-forgotten history are so unique and veiled in mystery (even to the people who inhabit it) that this traveling setup really allows the story to expand into various corners of this world. Here, we’re further in from the wild and dangerous outer realms and instead focusing on the wealthier and more comfortable parts of society. But while they don’t need to worry about the massive beasts that accost this land so regularly, there is darkness beneath this sheen of civility.

This book in particular dealt with two feuding families who built their wealth around ranching, essentially. The murder itself is almost secondary to unpacking the disturbing elements that go into the way these two families operate and the way their businesses have been built. I don’t want to go into too many details, as there are quite a few surprises throughout, but the story quickly introduces some pretty horrific concepts. And even though you can see some of it coming, it’s one of those situations where you can’t look away. Instead, I was quickly turning pages in some sort of inner sick quest to finally see it all play out!

But while this original setup is the foundation, like in the first two books, by the time we get to the back third, the scope of the situation has expanded into the greater mysteries and history of this world. Even though it came late, I really enjoyed these later reveals and how they connected to Ana especially. There was also some great lore revealed about the history of this world, and I’m excited to see where some of it may go in future books!

Din, of course, as the main character, was also fantastic as always. We’ve had bits here and there about his past and family situation, but this book dives much deeper into them. I enjoyed learning more about him through these new perspectives. We also get a new layer exposed of his abilities. It’s only brushed upon here, but the foundation was definitely laid for new trials and tribulations in this arena.

There was also a fantastic set of side characters and potential suspects. I thought this book was a bit easier to piece together as far as some of the forefront dynamics went. But again, the book adds a late-game twist that does add a new and more unexpected layer to the entire mystery.

Overall, if you’ve enjoyed the first two books in the series, this is more of the same in the best way possible! Definitely check it out!

Rating 9: The horrors of family dynamics are only the tip of the iceberg in this terrifying new entry in the Din and Ana mystery series by Robert Jackson Bennett!

Reader’s Advisory:

“A Trade of Blood” is on this Goodreads list: Can’t Wait Sci-Fi/Fantasy of 2026.

Serena’s Review: “The Shadows That Listen”

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Book: “The Shadows That Listen” by Louisa Carmody

Publishing Info: Orbit, August 2026

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

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

Book Description: It’s been five years since the world was brought to its knees by an immortal war. Daemons crawled from the depths of hell and the sky bled gold as the angels arrived. Humanity thought it was saved, but the angels did not come to protect us.

Amara is a human warrior working for the Angel Intelligence Agency. She spends her days searching for those who don’t make it home after curfew. But when her boyfriend Jeremy goes missing, she decides to venture into the shadows to bring him back. Even if it means death.

Nathaniel is an archangel tasked with leading the destruction of humanity, for which he cares little. He doesn’t have time to protect little humans running around in the dark, especially those who stab him in the stomach.

But Nathaniel and Amara will soon realise they share a foe, one that lurks in the shadows and stalks them from the skies. She might long to kill him, but Amara knows that having an angel at her side is the only way to find the man she loves.

The shadows lengthen. They listen. Who will survive the night?

Review: I’ve always felt like fantasy books have been sleeping on angels. We have a bunch of demon stuff, but, as “Supernatural” proved, you can make angels just as badass as demons, if not more so! I also missed the train on “Angelfall,” which is one of the more popular angel series that currently exists. But I heard some comparisons being thrown around between these two books, so I thought I might get another chance at this sort of book with this series. Well, let’s just say the comparisons aren’t warranted, because this was a pretty big disappointment for me.

Honestly, there wasn’t much I liked about this one. I would say that the general idea was interesting, but, like I said, angels seem to be an untapped paranormal being in the current fantasy landscape, so their inclusion was always going to make this one stand out from the crowd. I’ll also say that this is one of those easily digestible romantasy reads that I know clicks with a lot of readers out there. The distinction between romantasy and fantasy romance is a big one, and I know that I fall more into the latter category. So this one, playing more toward romantasy (romance is the primary focus, fantasy secondary), was always going to be a bit of a tougher sell for me. However, readers with a strong preference for romantasy books and their current trends will likely connect with this one better.

But even still, this book was simply not well written. No other way to put it, really. From a technical standpoint, I’ve seen worse. But even on a line-by-line basis, it lacked any sense of voice or style, feeling flat and mechanical more often than not.

The worst sins of the writing came with the characterization, however. And, since characterization is king for me, this was a true enjoyment killer. The characters simply didn’t make sense. The world is set up in a very specific way, with a very specific dynamic between angels and humans. And yet, from the start, our main leads do not behave as if this is the case whatsoever. It’s one thing to have an almost all-powerful being come to appreciate those they have seen as beneath them and reflect on their own errors, eventually coming to a place where they are capable of forming a true connection with someone they would have historically seen as beneath them. But this wasn’t that. This was a being whom we were told saw humans as insects who immediately treats the heroine as anything but that, flirting away and in every way behaving as if she is not only worthy of any attention, but extra attention. Beyond that, this main romantic lead was simply boring. You know everything you need to know about him from the first introduction.

The same can be said of Amara. She’s exactly the sort of fantasy lead you’ve seen a million times before, especially in urban fantasy: feisty, seemingly competent, and the dreaded “not like other girls.” For all of her spunk, we’re never really given any reason that she should stand out to a being like Afriel. If anything, more often than not, Amara’s actions and choices don’t make a lick of sense.

The entire thing was boring, predictable, and, believe it or not, pretty cheesy. The dialogue was clunky, with characters randomly dropping tons of lore into responses in a context that makes no sense (the character to whom they’re speaking would already know this information, for example). And there were so many clichés it was almost a joke. Look, I’ve read some great paranormal romances. In fact, I’m right in the middle of reading Ilona Andrews’ “Burn for Me” trilogy and am absolutely loving it. Spunky heroines and overpowered love interests can work. But here, the author didn’t seem to have anything new to say and relied too heavily on tropes and clunky delivery to get her story across. Even for romantasy fans, I think there are better options out there that deliver on this same concept.

Rating 5: Not for me. Too many tropes, clichés, and poor characterization to really make any sort of impact other than an eye roll.

Reader’s Advisory:

“The Shadows That Listen” can be found on this Goodreads list: Dystopias I Would Like To Make An Exception For.

Serena’s Review: “Immortal Rose”

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Book: “Immortal Rose” by Alexandra Bracken

Publishing Info: Avon, August 2026

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

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

Book Description: Members of the ancient House Rosebourne have a strange gift born of a fairy ancestor: the ability to infuse fragrance with magic capable of manipulating mind, body, and emotion.

When a shocking murder leaves the kingdom of Albion vulnerable to a coup, royal spymaster Hugh Thornton seeks the one person who can help: Viola Lockwood, the last living Rosebourne and secret heir to a fraught legacy.

Livid at the silver-eyed aristocrat who had her thrown in jail to force her compliance, Viola nevertheless comes to an agreement with him. In exchange for crafting Immortal Rose, the singular perfume capable of saving Albion, illegitimate Viola can seize the life—and fortune—that should have been hers.

As Hugh and Viola race to find the perfume’s lost fairy ingredient, hidden deep in Albion’s dark underbelly, neither can deny the scorching attraction building between them—especially as the attempts on Viola’s life grow increasingly brazen.

But a terrible truth lurks in the heart notes of their kingdom—and while every bargain has a cost, Immortal Rose may demand more than Hugh and Viola can ever pay.

Review: Often when I talk about pacing, it’s in a negative light. But this book was one of those nice examples of pacing done right. What’s more, it was pacing done right across many aspects of the book, including individual character arcs, the romantic arc, as well as the world-building and storytelling itself.

To speak to the pacing in regard to the story and the world-building, I enjoyed the way the author introduced this world. Through some very clever early scenes, the reader is fed a boatload of world-building information, from how the magic of this world works, to the hierarchies at play within it, all the way down to some basic logistics about the sort of fantasy world this is (seems obvious, but I’ve read fantasy novels where I go in assuming it’s a high fantasy world and then am surprised around the 25% mark by some random mention of jeans!).

But all of this information is doled out carefully through a mix of dialogue, inner thought, and description, avoiding long info dumps. What’s more, the author does a good job of sprinkling in action throughout, so even while the reader is being inundated with new information, the story still feels lively and that things are happening at a steady pace.

I also really enjoyed the pacing of the character development. We aren’t told everything that drives the characters from the start, and instead must peel back layers as the story continues to discover what depths they contain. Notably, neither character is a perfect individual, and we see them grow and change over the course of the story.

This is particularly the case with the development of the romance. These two do not meet under the best of circumstances, and the story doesn’t rush the slowly changing feelings between them. It’s a true slow-burn romance, and part of it hinges on the characters reevaluating both themselves and their actions, as well as the other person. It made the payoff when things come together toward the end all the better.

That said, there were a few moments where I struggled a bit with the way plot points played out. There were times where characters behaved in ways that only made sense because the story needed to hit some particular beat. These were always frustrating to see, as so much of the rest of the book felt tightly written.

Overall, however, I enjoyed this read! I thought it was a refreshing example of a true slow-burn romance, and I appreciated the time and thought that the author put into the development of these characters and this world. Nothing felt like cardboard cutouts (either characters or plotlines) that are simply there to get the story to check off certain trope lists. Definitely give it a go if you’re looking for a more polished romantasy read!

Rating 8: A great example of a romantasy novel that commits to a true slow-burn love story!

Reader’s Advisory:

“Immortal Rose” can be found on these Goodreads lists: Regency Romantasy and whimsical romantasy books.

Serena’s Review: “The Infinite State”

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Book: “The Infinite State” by Richard Swan

Publishing Info: Tor Books, August 2026

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

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

Book Description: WHO GIVES YOU LIFE?
PATER AETERNUS.

Katherine Fuller’s husband is dead. As an esteemed member of Pater Aeternus—governing party of the fascist, galaxy-spanning Decurion Empire—he has left behind an estate of immeasurable wealth. And Katherine is going to inherit it.

WHO GIVES YOU PURPOSE?
PATER AETERNUS.

Life under the Eternal Father is rigidly stratified, surveilled, and controlled—each new day to be endured, not lived. But with Katherine’s newfound fortune, she is presented with a rare and dangerous opportunity: purchase a virgin world, and create a better, fairer society.

WHO GIVES YOU JOY?
PATER AETERNUS.

But the Empire cannot allow its wayward daughter to succeed. And as Katherine works in secret, recruiting allies she’s not even sure she can trust, she will discover exactly how far Pater Aeternus is willing to go to stop her. Because Katherine is going to create something nobody has seen for many years.

A democracy.

Review: I went into this one fairly optimistic. I had heard great things about this author and his various fantasy series and had been waiting for a chance to jump on the band wagon. Based on my experience here, I’ll definitely still be looking into his previous fantasy titles, but I don’t think the jump between genres worked as well for him as it may have for others making a similar switch.

To start with what I did like and the reason that I’ll continue to keep an eye on this author and try to read his previous titles, the writing itself was very strong. It’s clear that he has a particular talent for writing complex, interesting characters, and I was quickly drawn in to the stories of the various personalities we found here. Each was compelling in their own way, with their own rich histories and particularities of viewpoint that they brought to their experience of the events in this book. There was a lot of variety between them, which I really appreciated. In particular, I enjoyed the perspective of Katherine, a middle-aged (ish) woman who has struggled with fertility and goes on to lose her husband in a mysterious way. Hers is a perspective that we don’t often see in books like this, and I think it balanced nicely against some of the more expected perspectives.

Beyond characterization, the author has a great overall style to his writing. “Voice” is a hard concept to write about in a book review, but so often it is the one, nebulous element that really makes certain books stand out. The storytelling just flows in a way that is easy to read and enjoyable, and such was the case here.

Unfortunately, when we get into the nitty-gritty of this particular story and the worldbuilding/dystopian elements, that’s where things start to fall apart. Right from the very beginning, I was put on the backfoot by the fairly generic set up of it all. We’re introduced to an extremely authoritarian world with a heavy dose of social monitoring. Insert grand leaders and an obsession with fertility, and you’ve got most of the generic bases covered. And while many dystopian novels follow a similar vein, I kept reading for quite some time expecting some further depth to be revealed about this all. WHY was this society so obsessed with fertility? What was the original driving force behind this regime?

Instead of any actual depth, it felt like certain aspects of the world building (the fertility thing is the best example) were inserted just because they felt like hot button issues or coded towards certain viewpoints. But without something behind them, it all just felt kind of weak and silly. And then the regime itself felt evil simply because…they are evil? For an adult sci-fi dystopian novel, I needed more. Authoritarianism is bad, obviously. But if that’s all you got, it’s a pretty dull, generic, and ultimately, derivative reading experience.

There were also some issues with pacing and an over emphasis on certain plot points. I, for one, could have lived without some of the page count devoted to the world of racing that made up one character’s plot line. But even these scenes were written well, so while I don’t think the balance was quite right, had the overall dystopian worldbuilding aspects been better fleshed out, I don’t think these would have stood out to me so starkly.

Overall, this was a frustrating reading experience. On one hand, I think this author is very talented. On the other, I’m not sure what this book was trying to accomplish. Like I said at the start, transitioning from one genre to another can sometimes be a challenge, and this was a case where it felt like the author didn’t quite have enough to back up the story he was trying to tell and relied too strongly on basic genre conventions to hold the entire thing up. Fans of this author may still want to check this out, however, as well as those who perhaps care less about intricate world-building.

Rating 7: Way too generic on the dystopian front for my taste, but the author is clearly a talented writer and had some great characters, so I look forward to exploring his back catalog.

Reader’s Advisory:

“The Infinite State” can be found on these Goodreads lists: Best Dystopian and Post-Apocalyptic Fiction and Excellent Space Opera.

Serena’s Review: “The Lion and the Deathless Dark”

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Book: “The Lion and the Deathless Dark” by Carissa Broadbent

Publishing Info: Bramble, August 2026

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

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

Book Description: Under an eternal night, the world has been ravaged by ten years of war between humans and vampires. Kyrene scrapes by as a bounty hunter, bearing a blessed sword from the goddess of justice. But in the wake of a devastating loss, Kyrene commits a crime that makes her a target for mortals and gods alike – and she is still desperate for vengeance.

Her only chance at survival – and revenge – is making a deal with her enemy, the silver-tongue vampire prince, Septimus, who offers her one final to slay the gods themselves.

Together, Kyrene and Septimus must hunt the ultimate marks, all while navigating a web of prophecies and curses. Septimus is calculating and mysterious, masking secrets bloodthirsty enough to consume them both. Yet, most dangerous of all, Kyrene finds an unexpected kinship in him.

But their growing attraction is deadly in a world where the only currency is blood. And Kyrene will stop at nothing to fulfill her ultimate to kill the goddess of vampires, even if it means sacrificing love for revenge.

Review: It’s always great picking up books like this, ones that come from authors who have never let you down in the past. In the case of Broadbent specifically, the first book in a new duology has historically been the best, in my opinion, which made this book all the more exciting! And so it continues; I loved this book!

There was a lot to love about this one, but what stood out the most for me was the main character. I’ve enjoyed all the main characters in this series to different extents. Oraya was probably the more stereotypical stabby, sassy romantasy heroine, but her conflicts with her father gave her an extra edge to stand out from a crowded pack. And I enjoyed the change to a quieter, more optimistic heroine, Mische. But in that duology, it was the hero who really ticked the box for my favorite sort of romantic interest more than a particular attachment to Mische.

But Kyrene, oh Kyrene. Ever since I was a child whose favorite character was Rachel from the “Animorphs” series, I’ve always loved the warriors, especially the brave, blunt, impulsive sort who hide deeper layers within, often some sort of self-hatred or self-fear. And Kyrene ticked all of the right boxes. Every moment in her head was a joy, from watching her bullishly barge into any situation with a “hit first, ask questions later” mentality, to seeing her struggle with the concept of heroism and whether it could ever apply to a person like her.

By this point in the series, the general stakes have been set for this world: everything is awful, and it’s mostly the gods’ fault. So Kyrene’s arrival to the series with her single-minded focus on revenge fits perfectly to drive these final books forward. What’s more, we finally get to see more of Septimus, a character who has popped in and out of the series for several books now and who has always had something brewing under the lid. His focus on cool, meticulously laid plans, juxtaposed by Kyrene’s single-minded approach to vengeance, led to a really excellent pairing.

By this point in the series, we can always expect some major twists to come by the end of the first book in a new duology, and this one delivered on that promise. While I could see at least one of these reveals coming, there were also several that took me completely by surprise. There was even one that came around the 75% mark that totally blindsided me and completely reset the stage of what had come before and what was possible going forward.

And, of course, the romance was great. After Mische’s more romantic duology, it was a change of pace to follow Kyrene, a woman who has as few inhibitions around sex as she does violence. What’s more, the unavoidable tragedy that lies before them both set a different sort of tone for their developing relationship. The tension that was built was much less focused on the physical than it was on the emotional. Both Septimus and Kyrene have their own reasons for not wanting to become emotionally attached.

By this point in the series, it also shouldn’t surprise anyone that this book ends on a pretty big cliffhanger. But Broadbent has always been an efficient writer, so hopefully the wait for the last book in the duology (and the series as a whole!!) shouldn’t be long in coming. If you’ve enjoyed the series so far, this is a must-read. And it will be especially pleasing for any readers who enjoy the warrior woman archetype and who have been desperately longing for Septimus’s book for some time now!

Rating 9: Kyrene has my whole heart! Septimus was great, too, but I do love me a warrior woman protagonist!

Reader’s Advisory:

“The Lion and the Deathless Dark” isn’t on any Goodreads lists yet, but it should be on Can’t Wait Sci-Fi/Fantasy of 2026.

Serena’s Review: “Want Me, Take Me, Haunt Me, Make Me” by Isabel Crowley

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Book: “Want Me, Take Me, Haunt Me, Make Me” by Isabel Crowley

Publishing Info: Sourcebooks Casablanca, August 2026

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

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

Book Description: Hazel Lewis has a serious problem. The guy who hired her to conduct a seance before he died turned out to be a serial killer with a demonic contract, and the seance itself was a trap. Hazel escaped with her life, but not as she knew it: the bite of a demon is spreading through her body, letting the supernatural bleed into the world around her, and the now-dead serial killer is waiting to take over her body if she dies. 

Hoping to contain the damage, Hazel moves to a small house in a remote location. She figures she’ll stay on her own until she gets a handle on her new dark reality, but she soon finds out that she’s not alone. There’s the reporter demanding answers, the friendly neighbor with chemistry she doesn’t need and problems he can’t talk about…and the mysterious face she sees beyond her window, watching her every night with glowing red eyes.

Making her hunger.

Hazel knew a little bit about the world beyond the physical. Now she’s learning how much she doesn’t know, including who she can trust…and who she can become if she trusts herself enough to give in to the shadows stalking her dreams.

Review: This book started off on a high note, but unfortunately dropped off a bit as I continued reading. From the start, however, I appreciated the simple fact that this book was written in third-person perspective. This is definitely a preference thing, for sure, but more and more books that I pick up like this are written in first person and are often worse for it. I honestly think first-person perspective is harder to write, and I wish it wasn’t the default for romantasy authors nowadays, as I think a huge percentage of these books would be improved with the one neat trick that is third person! Here, the writing immediately felt more elevated simply for being written in this style.

Further, the book starts off with a strong first quarter to third of the story that is highly focused on action and horror. Hazel, as a medium, was an interesting character from the start, and the plot throws a lot at the reader right away. I was fully on board during this section and had high hopes for the rest of the book. Some of the horror elements were surprising in how far they went, and this is one of those cases where I appreciated the commitment to the darkness.

But then the romance started, and it all went wrong so quickly. Mostly because the romance itself happened so quickly. There were strong instalove/instalust vibes almost immediately, with almost no buildup of tension, emotional attachment, or much of anything. The spicy scenes themselves weren’t bad, but I do feel like once the spice started up, the balance between horror, romance, and action fell out of sync. It was at this point that the reading experience started to feel like a struggle.

What’s more, while I liked Hazel initially, as the story went on and more characters were introduced, I found it hard to maintain much interest in any of them or their personal stories. While the writing was strong enough, there was a distinct lack of “voice” to the entire affair, which left me feeling removed from much of the action as the story continued.

Overall, this was just an ok book. I do think that the writing was fairly good for the most part, and I appreciated that the author committed to some of the darker moments of the horror, especially in the beginning. I’d definitely be interested in reading another book from this author, as this could be a case where she grows into a greater talent. But the instalove and tepid characterization did make this one a struggle, especially in the back half. However, if you’re looking for another paranormal romance and you don’t mind instalove, this might be for you!

Rating 7: I appreciate the commitment to the horror elements, but the instalove really took me out of it in the end.

Reader’s Advisory:

“Want Me, Take Me, Haunt Me, Make Me” can be found on this Goodreads list: Upcoming Horror (2026, 2027, 2028).

Serena’s Review: “The Witch Below the Dreaming Wood”

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

Book: “The Witch Below the Dreaming Wood” by H.G. Parry

Publishing Info: Redhook, July 2026

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

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

Book Description: Wales, 1941. As the second world war ravages the globe and bombs fall from the sky, people all over the world begin to dream of King Arthur. The dreams spread like a fantastical plague, flooding people’s sleep night after night. Whispers arise of wonders and unexplained sights—dragons in the London Underground, and strange lights over Stonehenge. Self-proclaimed prophets claim they are miracles, heralding Arthur’s return at the time of Britain’s greatest need.

Elaine Ambrose has never dreamed of Arthur, and she doesn’t believe in miracles. A librarian at the British Museum, she wants only to protect the museum’s collection from the London Blitz, and is frustrated to be sent instead to catalogue a reclusive professor’s private library on the coast of North Wales. But all is not as it seems. Soon Ellie must confront what she’s tried to she dreams not of Arthur, but of Nimue—the Lady of the Lake. And her dreams promise not salvation, but a return to the darkness of the last days of Camelot. 

Review: This sounded like a match made in heaven when I came across it this spring! I’ve really loved everything I’ve read by Parry, and I’ve been desperately searching for a good Arthurian fantasy for several years now. There have been quite a few to come out, but for whatever reason, none of them have really scratched my particular itch. Well, that ends today!

There was so much to love about this book! I wasn’t quite sure what to expect with the format of this book, told in two timelines, one following Elaine during WWII and the other featuring Nimue recounting her life at Camelot. The latter sounded familiar enough, but how would Elaine and WWII figure into things? Well, I can’t get into how it all ties together, as that would include massive spoilers, but the twists and turns that wove it all into one cohesive tale were very impressive.

Further, I appreciated the historical fiction aspect that was explored through the WWII sections, with Elaine’s experiences and thoughts while living through the bombing of London and the national crisis that followed. Hers is a story of a nation living in a constant state of fear and desperately looking for heroes, even if they have to turn to long-lost myths. At first, I thought this general theme (the comfort found in stories during times of trouble) was as deep as this would go. But, again, the twists really pulled this all together in a deeper, more meaningful way.

Nimue’s tale, of course, gets into the more traditional Arthurian myths. However, even here, there were just enough twists and turns woven through the stories we’re more familiar with to keep me on my toes. Indeed, the very fact that there are so many variations on these tales is pulled into the narrative in a fantastic manner. And, of course, I loved the simple joy of getting to experience these characters on the page, all under the steady hand of an author who knows how to bring out what’s most important about each character without overdoing it. Merlin, Lancelot, Guinevere, Arthur. All fantastic.

I also loved Elaine and Nimue themselves. Elaine’s story is much more mysterious, as we’re never quite sure what’s going on with the dreams she is having. But through her attempts to unravel the mystery, there was a lovely friendship built up between her and Tom, the groundskeeper. This relationship was so lovely and, again, progressed toward a conclusion that was as beautiful as it was heart-wrenching.

And for Nimue, I loved the relationship between her and Merlin. This was an interesting relationship as, on its face, the romance is very much a subplot. But on the other hand, by the time you get to the end, it also becomes clear that the romance itself almost IS the plot. It was one of those love stories that you can’t fully appreciate until the book is over.

Overall, I loved this book. It was beautiful, heartbreaking, and full of deep themes. In particular, the core theme that fighting for what is right is enough on its own. Even if you can’t win, even if it feels hopeless, even if you know that doing what is right will lead to your own doom. I strongly recommend this to all fantasy fans, particularly those who enjoy Arthurian legends!

Rating 9: Absolutely brilliant! Parry takes familiar Arthurian legends and breathes new life into them!

Reader’s Advisory:

“The Witch Below the Dreaming Wood” can be found on this Goodreads list: 2026 Arthurian releases

Serena’s Review: “Vicious”

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Book: “Vicious” by V.E. Schwab

Publishing Info: Tor, September 2013

Where Did I Get this Book: copy provided by the publisher!

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

Book Description: Victor and Eli started out as college roommates—brilliant, arrogant, lonely boys who recognized the same sharpness and ambition in each other. In their senior year, a shared research interest in adrenaline, near-death experiences, and seemingly supernatural events reveals an intriguing possibility: that under the right conditions, someone could develop extraordinary abilities. But when their thesis moves from the academic to the experimental, things go horribly wrong.

Ten years later, Victor breaks out of prison, determined to catch up to his old friend (now foe), aided by a young girl whose reserved nature obscures a stunning ability. Meanwhile, Eli is on a mission to eradicate every other super-powered person that he can find—aside from his sidekick, an enigmatic woman with an unbreakable will. Armed with terrible power on both sides, driven by the memory of betrayal and loss, the archnemeses have set a course for revenge—but who will be left alive at the end?

Review: Somehow, even though I’ve loved V.E. Schwab’s work for years, I’ve never gotten around to this book. In this case, however, this has worked out for me since what was once a stand-alone novel has now turned into a soon-to-be-completed trilogy! So I thought now was the time to jump in so that I’d be all ready to pick up the final book when it drops this fall.

Right from the start, this is one of those compulsively readable books. The writing jumps off the page, and I was immediately drawn into the story and quickly invested in the characters. This is all the more unique as neither Eli nor Victor are particularly good people. But man, are they, especially Victor, the sort that you quickly grow to love in spite of (or because of??) these very same flaws.

The story alternates between two timelines. One is set when Eli and Victor are both students, sharing a room and dreaming of the limits of their world. The other is set years later, with Victor finally freed from the prison in which he’s languished for years, dreaming of his revenge against his former friend. Sometimes I struggle with dual timelines like this, but in this case it works really well. We get to see very different versions of both characters and slowly piece together how they go from that version to the ones we see in the current day.

Naturally, given the subject matter, there was a detailed exploration of what it means to be both a hero and a villain. Victor is very much an anti-hero, and Eli, the more “villainous” of the two, is the one the world looks to as a hero and who sees his own mission as the more virtuous. Through both characters, there’s much reflection on what makes one a hero or a villain: actions, intentions, or some nebulous combination of the two.

I will say that the ending left a bit to be desired. It’s an interesting thing, as when it first came out, it very much felt like a stand-alone affair, and this ending would have been even more frustrating. As it stands, I’m glad there are two more books to delve more fully into both of these characters and to get a better resolution to the entire storyline. If you enjoy fantasy novels with a strong focus on morally gray characters, I definitely recommend this one!

Rating 8: Compulsively readable, I really enjoyed this book and its greater exploration of what makes a hero…or a villain.

Reader’s Advisory:

“Vicious” can be found on these Goodreads lists: Super Hero Books [Not Graphic Novels] and Superhero Fiction.

Serena’s Review: “Among the Thorns”

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Book: “Among the Thorns” by Jennifer K. Lambert

Publishing Info: Bramble, July 2026

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

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

Book Description: Ambitious young sorceress Rose of Northbrooke is about to graduate. She’s the only known dream sorcerer of her generation and she’s a remarkable one—formidably powerful, strikingly beautiful, and destined for greatness. No wonder she has a prince of the realm trailing her skirts.

But when rumors of dream magic gone awry reach her ear, Rose discovers she’s not the only oneiromancer of her generation. And she might not be the most powerful.

In a faraway cottage, Thorn has lived a simple and isolated life. She’s kept hidden by magic that prevents her from wandering past the cottage fence. Thorn longs to be a part of the world, to learn more about her magic, to be rescued by a prince who could love her with his whole heart.

When she discovers there’s another dream sorceress out there who has everything Thorn has ever wanted—freedom, education, prince and all—her acceptance of her isolation transforms into a hunger for everything she has been denied. Everything Rose has.

When Rose and Thorn meet, they realize their lives have been a lie and their fates have been carefully planned by political schemers. The outcome is only one sorceress can live in the open, reap all the glory of her kingdom, and claim the prince’s loving hand… condemning the other to a life of perpetual non-existence.

Previously Reviewed: “Never the Roses”

Review: This one didn’t quite hit the highs of “Never the Roses,” but I still think it was an enjoyable, quieter fantasy read all the same. This quieter approach is one of the things that made both the first book and now the second stand out in the romantasy genre. We often see books in this genre rely on either spunkier heroines, quippy dialogue, or snappy action. But here, the pacing takes its time introducing the three characters, and much of the plot revolves around the dynamics formed between them.

I did enjoy all three of the characters, for the most part. Rose could come across as harsh at times, especially in the beginning chapters, but as she came into her own and understood the true circumstances of her life and Thorn’s, I loved her arc. Thorn was a great character from the start, much more reserved and needing to deal with the trauma inflicted upon her throughout her life. Hers is a story of discovering the strength within and the bravery of finally reaching out to take what is yours. Sebastian had his moments (I enjoyed his relationship with his half-sisters), but he was also the least interesting of the three. As this is very much Rose and Thorn’s story, I was ultimately fine with this, but it did leave me feeling a bit less interested in his particular parts of the story.

I did struggle a bit more with the writing here. There was nothing overtly bad about any of it, but for whatever reason, I continuously felt a bit removed from the action. It was one of those books where I never felt drawn into the story and was always very aware of the process of reading. I’m not sure exactly where the change came from, however, between this one and the first. Perhaps the writing here simply felt a bit more simplistic and didn’t flow as nicely. Perhaps the pacing was just a bit too slow in this one to really grab my attention like the first book did.

It was an enjoyable read, however, and I liked how things were wrapped up in the end. I’m still waiting on some sort of resolution for our main characters from the first book, though, so I hope a third book is on the horizon! But if you’re a fan of slower-paced, quiet romantasy, this is definitely one that might be of interest to you!

Rating 7: I struggled to fully connect with this one as much as the first book, and I’m not sure why. But it was still a lovely romantasy with a heavy focus on two strong women, each demonstrating that there are different ways to have strength.

Reader’s Advisory:

“Among the Thorns” can be found on this Goodreads list: July 2026 Most Anticipated Romance Releases.

Serena’s Review: “Rites of the Starling”

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Book: “Rites of the Starling” by Devney Perry

Publishing Info: Red Tower Books, April 2026

Where Did I Get this Book: from the library!

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

Book Description: Calandra’s five kingdoms are on the verge of destruction. The crux migration is coming. And in the wake of a devastating attack, I’ve been separated from the man who owns my heart.

I’m lost. Terrified. Homesick. Hunted by monsters, driven to exhaustion, and kidnapped by a powerful priest, the only thing keeping me going is the little girl counting on me to keep her safe. It’s my turn to become the Guardian.

Our lives change one fateful night. A night of death. A night of monsters. A night of truths. That night, I learn the real meaning of fear—and the depth of my own strength. Everyone wants me to be something I’m not—a queen, a spy, a sacrifice. But what if I embrace my crown? What if the secrets I uncover save our realm?

What if my sacrifice means salvation for the man I love? For too long, I’ve feared the monsters we make. It’s time to discover the monster within.

Previously Reviewed: “Shield of Sparrows”

Review: I’m a bit late to the game, but I finally managed to get my hands on this sequel! “Shield of Sparrows” was kind of a sleeper hit for me last year; on its face, it sounded much like every other romantasy title coming out that I often struggle to get through. But it surprised me with its detailed world-building, fast-moving plot, and a romance that felt properly balanced with the rest of the plot. It also ended on a fairly substantial cliffhanger, so I was excited to see how that was all resolved here!

While this one didn’t quite live up to the high of the first book, it still stands miles ahead of other titles of its sort, in my opinion. In this book’s case, much of what makes it stand out comes down to the world-building and the effective use of twists. Like I said, the first book’s world-building was surprisingly robust. But here, the book introduces an entirely new main character and, through her, an entirely new perspective on this world. I can’t go into many details without getting into spoilers, but suffice it to say, this world is much larger than was known and its history much longer. What makes this so great is the fact that this is presented as not only new information to the reader, but is also woven into the story itself, with explanations for why none of this was referenced in the first book.

The second point is the effective use of twists. It was already a fairly ballsy move to introduce a new POV character who isn’t just the romantic interest, but Devney carefully weaves this story in and out of the continuation of Odessa and Ransom’s story. Through her chapters, we get little pieces doled out, just enough to allow the reader to form their own theories about what is going on. But often, those theories only last until the next chapter, where some new puzzle piece is laid out, shifting all of the theories in a new direction. By the end, I had put most of it together, but every turn along the way felt fresh, and there were definitely guesses that I started with that turned out to be completely off base. There was one particular twist that I had wrong the entire time!

I also continued to enjoy the balance between romance and plot in this series. Our new character has her own developing romance, which works nicely as Odessa and Ransom are separated for a large chunk of this book. While this delay may frustrate some readers, I think it effectively built the tension and nicely prioritized the actual life-and-death stakes of the ongoing situation in this world. Too often, romantasy sequels have to either introduce contrived conflict into the romance to keep up interest or simply begin to sound repetitive, as the two characters tread familiar ground throughout the story. Here, we get a nice payoff from Ransom and Odessa’s eventual reunion, and by the end, they have an entirely new host of challenges ahead of them.

The story also continued its trend of tragedy and violence. Things do not go well for all of the characters here. The stakes were high throughout, and this was reflected in the fact that not everything works out the way we may wish.

Overall, I really enjoyed this read. The pacing was perhaps a bit more uneven, simply due to jumping back and forth between two POVs and two very different stories, but the incredible world-building really makes it stand out in the crowded romantasy field. If you enjoyed the first book, particularly if you loved it for its main plot and the fantasy elements, definitely continue on with this one!

Rating 8: Devney has really cracked the romantasy nut with this one, managing to weave a complicated, expansive world while also not skimping on the romance!

Reader’s Advisory:

“Rites of the Starling” is on these Goodreads lists: 2026 Most Anticipated Romantasy & Fantasy Romance Releases and Adult Romantasy.