Serena’s Review: “The Hedge Witch of Fox Hall”

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

Book: “The Hedge Witch of Foxhall” by Anna Bright

Publishing Info: HarperTeen, March 2024

Where Did I Get this Book: from the publisher!

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

Book Description: In this gorgeous stand-alone fantasy romance perfect for fans of Margaret Rogerson and Allison Saft, a rebellious witch undertakes a last-ditch quest to restore magic to medieval Wales—as two princes vie for her heart.

Ffion is the last hedgewitch in Foxhall. To work her magic, she takes only what nature can spare, unlike the witches of the powerful Foxhall coven, who sacrifice whole forests to fuel their spells. But across the warring kingdoms of Wales, all magic is fading. Even the dragons have vanished.

Prince Taliesin would love nothing more than to watch magic die. But when his father charges Tal and his brother, Dafydd, with destroying King Offa’s dyke—the massive earthen wall raised by their Mercian enemies to the east, which may be the cause of magic’s disappearance—he begrudgingly seeks aid from a witch.

Because whichever prince succeeds in destroying the dyke will win the throne, and Tal is willing to do whatever it takes to become king. Even if the Foxhall coven refuses to help him. Even if he’s forced to team up with a spitfire hedgewitch who hates him almost as much as he hates her magic. And even if Dafydd proves to be a worthier rival than he anticipated…for the crown, and for Ffion’s heart.

Review: This book has flown very under the radar as far as YA fantasy releases this spring season. And it’s really too bad, because this is definitely one of those cases where the “read-alike” authors, Allison Saft and Margaret Rogerson, both very popular for good reason, are perfectly paired with this title! There were perhaps a few stumbles here and there, but the basic bones of this book (its lovable characters, its whimsical fantasy elements, and the sweet romance at its heart) are just the sort to appeal to many readers looking for their next cozy fantasy read!

I really loved pretty much everything about this book! This was especially surprising because when I started it I had some concerns about the formatting, with the narrative split between three different characters: Ffion, and then the half-brothers, Tal and Dafydd. It also seemed to be split evenly, with the story formulaically alternating from one character, to the next, to the next, and repeat. But, after I started reading, I was pleased to see that even though they had equal numbers of chapters, Dafydd’s were much shorter than the other two, letting me focus in on Tal and Ffion for much of the story.

And really, it’s with these two characters that the story really lives and dies. Through both characters, we explore a wide spectrum of challenging relationships with parental figures, with both Tal and Ffion largely shaping their lives around decisions made in direct correlation with their struggles with their parents. Further, they each have an intriguing arc of self-discovery and self-acceptance. Tal, especially, starts the story with a very specific understanding of himself, but over the course of the book, he comes to a new view on his role in the world, while still staying true to his core character. And, for her part, Ffion was simply great in every way! She’s the kind of spunky but sympathetic character that I love rooting for. Aggressively independent, much of her story is coming to learn how to rely on and trust others.

I also loved the romance between Tal and Ffion. Their prickly relationship was laugh-out-loud funny at times, and the author perfectly nailed the type of “showing” moments that demonstrated their growing love for one another. For a book where we had both characters’ perspectives, it was refreshing how little time each of them devoted to mentally reflecting on their relationship with one another. Instead, the reader was often given small moments, often viewed from the opposite character’s perspective, to see their love blossom.

Now, as you may have noticed, we haven’t talked much about Dafydd. You might think this is because I absolutely hated this character or something, but surprisingly, I actually ended up very much enjoying him on his own merits. That said, his story largely felt tacked on to Tal and Ffion’s throughout much of the book. He has an arc of his own that was satisfying (especially given the small page count he was given to cover it), but many of his chapters, especially in the first half, felt largely unnecessary to the primary conflict and story on hand. Worst of all, the author used him to set up a love triangle, one that didn’t even really come into play until after the 50% marker, which is way too late for it to have any real weight. Luckily, it seems the author was aware of this, and the characters themselves reflect on the pre-existing camaraderie (if not love, yet) between Tal and Ffion. But even in this best case scenario, it once again put Dafydd in a superfluous position. In almost every way that matters, he would have been just as successful as a side character who never had POV chapters of his own. That said, he would also be a great main character in his own right, so it was a weird mixture of things where the character was good, but he wasn’t used well in the story we found him in.

So that’s most of my review, and it’s all character focused! But I will say that the book is solid in every other regard as well. The pacing is steady, the writing style is engaging, and the mystery at the story’s heart was compelling (if perhaps a bit predictable.) There were also some incredibly heart-wrenching scenes, especially in the beginning, that I wasn’t expecting. But, without getting into too many spoilers, everything does work out in a satisfying manner in the end. There were tears, however.

Overall, this was a thoroughly fun read! I had some quibbles about the love triangle and the third main character, but the strength of the first two and their romance was more than enough to carry me through! I’ll definitely be checking out more from this author in the future, and, as the blurb says, if you’re a fan of Saft or Rogerson, this is definitely one to add to your TBR pile!

Rating 8: Full of magic, romance and adventure, this was the perfect stand-alone fantasy story I was looking for!

Reader’s Advisory:

“The Hedge Witch of Foxhall” can be found on these Goodreads lists: Epic High Fantasy/Romance/Mythology in 2024 and The Most Beautiful Covers of 2024.

Kate’s Review: “Under the Palms”

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

Book: “Under the Palms” by Kaira Rouda

Publishing Info: Thomas & Mercer, May 2024

Where Did I Get This Book: I received an ARC from Sparkpoint Studio.

Where You Can Get This Book: WorldCat.org | Amazon | Indiebound

Book Description: During a weekend retreat, a powerful family plays a dangerous game of dark secrets and cold-blooded ambition in a novel by Kaira Rouda, USA Today bestselling author of Beneath the Surface.

Under the direction of the Kingsleys’ new president, Paige, the family has gathered for a weekend retreat at a luxurious Laguna Beach resort. Still clinging to the hope of succession are the sons of Richard Kingsley, the family patriarch and John, the oldest, who’s clawed his way back from a dark tragedy, and Paige’s estranged husband, Ted, the golden boy. When Richard’s ex and his wayward daughter join the fray, Paige finds herself with two fast allies. They know a secret that could shatter the family legacy. Call it leverage, call it revenge, the Kingsley women believe they have the upper hand.

But as the power games begin, greater threats than the howling Santa Ana winds are coming. Because this weekend, amid so much greed and betrayal, no Kingsley is safe. It’s family. Watch your back.

Review: Thank you to Sparkpoint Studio for sending me an ARC of this novel!

Well “Succession” has been gone a long while, and now that I’ve finished it up fully (and hooray, the person I was predicting to come out on top did so!) I can better see the overall arc of the tragic tale of a terrible family fighting for control of their dynasty. Ultimately it was a tragic show filled with garbage people, but who all had a lot of interesting depth and nuance even through their terribleness. I think that The Kingsley Family in “Under the Palms”, the next book in the series after “Beneath the Surface” haven’t QUITE risen to the levels of wretchedness or complexity as the Roys, but hey, there’s still backstabbing, infighting, and heirs fighting for power. But at least in Kaira Rouda’s new story is also another murder. That just adds to the salaciousness, and I oh so enjoy that.

I do love a guilty pleasure read, and the Kingsley Family’s shenanigans are so nasty, catty, and over the top that this I found “Under the Palms” to be a lot of fun. Much like “Beneath the Surface”, it is split into different perspective chapters involving some of our main players, some familiar, others new. The Kingsleys are still mostly miserable and totally unlikable, but if you like a story about terrible rich people doing terrible things and having terrible things happen to them you have come to the right place. We do have a new salacious mystery at hand, as well as a new out of their control weather threat (this time instead of a stormy sea we have a fast burning wildfire, and given that I’m writing this as I can smell Canadian fires at my home I’m finding that a bit situationally appropriate), and we have basically the same set of suspects. I kind of figured out the solution to the mystery pretty early, but I was having a fun enough time with the backstabbing and snideness that it didn’t really matter. Soapiness is always a plus.

In my review for the previous book, I did note that I wasn’t as impressed with most of the characters, as they mostly seemed like two dimensional tropes and archetypes, and that doesn’t really change here. But I think that this time around I was more expecting it, and therefore it didn’t really turn me off as much as I anticipated it would. Though I will say that one of our new characters, John’s new lady friend Krystle, was a bit of a fun addition because she does have some layers, as she is trying to present herself in a certain way to get into the good graces of the total dud John, as she has ambitions that only connections to the Kingsley fortune can provide. And I still like Paige, who is now in charge of the company but finding her place in question as she hasn’t been performing to the levels that patriarch Richard expects of her. Which leads back to questions of succession in the company. It’s a little more of the same, but again, it’s so soapy I can’t even be mad about it. OLD SCHOOL SOAP, PEOPLE.

Alexis Carrington Colby would be proud (source).

If you can embrace that this series has gone less in the direction of
“Succession” and more in the direction of 80s prime time soap operas, “Under the Palms” will surely be an entertaining little treat in our ongoing story of the wretched Kingsley Family. I will be curious to see where things go from here.

Rating 7: Another soapy and over the top family drama with a twist of murder, “Under the Palms” continues the most unfortunate vacation streak for the Kingsley Family.

Reader’s Advisory:

“Under the Palms” isn’t included on any Goodreads lists as of now, but it would fit in on the Goodreads Shelf “If You Liked Succession”.

Previously Reviewed:

Serena’s Review: “The Honey Witch”

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

Book: “The Honey Witch” by Sydney J. Shields

Publishing Info: Redhook, May 2024

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

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

Book Description: The Honey Witch of Innisfree can never find true love. That is her curse to bear. But when a young woman who doesn’t believe in magic arrives on her island, sparks fly in this deliciously sweet debut novel of magic, hope, and love overcoming all.
 
Twenty-one-year-old Marigold Claude has always preferred the company of the spirits of the meadow to any of the suitors who’ve tried to woo her. So when her grandmother whisks her away to the family cottage on the tiny Isle of Innisfree with an offer to train her as the next Honey Witch, she accepts immediately. But her newfound magic and independence come with a No one can fall in love with the Honey Witch.
 
When Lottie Burke, a notoriously grumpy skeptic who doesn’t believe in magic, shows up on her doorstep, Marigold can’t resist the challenge to prove to her that magic is real. But soon, Marigold begins to care for Lottie in ways she never expected. And when darker magic awakens and threatens to destroy her home, she must fight for much more than her new home—at the risk of losing her magic and her heart.

Review: This book has been popping up all over the place on people’s “most anticipated” lists for the spring. And it’s not hard to see why! Cozy fantasy is definitely seeing a surge in popularity, and the vibes of this book are right up the alley of those of us desperately hoping for warm weather after a long, dark winter. I also enjoy grumpy/sunshine romances, and it seemed like that might be the sort on offer, as well. Unfortunately, this one didn’t quite live up to what I was wanting, but I still think it will be a hit for a lot of cozy fantasy readers. Let’s get into the details!

First, let’s start with the positives! And those are mostly the writing style and, again, the vibes. This book is really checking all of the marks that readers looking for a “cozy” read will be expecting. The writing is lovely, the scene descriptions are lush, and it’s the sort of book that creates a sense of place where one wants to sink into the world and just be. The style of writing was also approachable and engaging, with a few lyrical turns of phrase here and there that were truly lovely.

Unfortunately, for me, the story fell apart with the characters themselves, and for a book like this, the characters kind of make or break the entire experience. Right from the start, things began to go downhill when I realized that I was learning traits and features about these characters primarily through info-dumping from other characters. There was a very “telling” approach to character development, and it put me on the back foot immediately. This is the exact sort of character-focused book where I really wanted to be shown who these characters are, to see them make choices and to learn and grow as the story progressed. Instead, we were simply told who they were and were left to do with that what we would.

I also was underwhelmed by the romance. The story has a very slow start, and I feel like I was already a third of the way in before the romantic interest even showed up in any real way. Not that I needed nonstop character interactions, but combined with the slower pacing of the little plot there is to be found, it left me struggling to maintain my interest in the book well into the page count. In the end, this struggle continued throughout, and I really had to push myself to continue to read.

All of that said, I do think this book will be a hit for a lot of cozy fantasy readers, especially those who are not as invested in plot and are ok for a very slow-development on the romance front. But I do think there are better cozy fantasy options out there. So this is definitely one where I’d recommend waiting to get it from the library before purchasing, just to make sure it works for you before spending any money on it.

Rating 7: The vibes are there, but that wasn’t quite enough to really draw me in, especially when the characters themselves were a bit lacking.

Reader’s Advisory:

“The Honey Witch” can be found on these Goodreads lists: Queer Romantasy 2024 and Novels about bees and beekeepers

Blog Tour: “When We Were Silent”

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

Staff Portraits

Book: “When We Were Silent” by Fiona McPhillips

Publishing Info: Flatiron Books, May 2024

Where Did I Get This Book: I received an ARC from the publisher.

Where You Can Get This Book: WorldCat.org | Amazon | Indiebound

Book Description: An outsider threatens to expose the secrets at an elite private school in this suspenseful debut novel

Louise Manson is the newest student at Highfield Manor, Dublin’s most exclusive private school. Behind its granite walls are high-arched alcoves, an oak-lined library…and the dark secret Lou has come to expose.

Lou’s working-class status makes her the consummate outsider, until she is befriended by some of her beautiful and wealthy classmates. But after Lou attempts to bring the school’s secret to light, her time at Highfield ends with a lifeless body sprawled at her feet.

Thirty years later, Lou gets a shocking phone call. A high-profile lawyer is bringing a lawsuit against the school—and he needs Lou to testify. Lou will have to confront her past and discover, once and for all, what really happened at Highfield. Powerful and compelling, When We Were Silent is a thrilling story of exploitation, privilege, and retribution.

Review: Thank you to much to Flatiron Books for sending me an invitation to participate in this blog tour!

When Flatiron Books approached me to be a part of the Blog Tour for Fiona McPhillips’s debut novel “When We Were Silent”, I was definitely interested, but also a little nervous judging by the plot. I knew that it sounded very interesting and that I wanted to check it out, but I also knew that the themes present, specifically that of a prestigious Catholic high school in Dublin covering up sexual abuses of teenage girls to protect a predatory teacher, would almost certainly set off a rage trigger as I was reading. But it intrigued me, and I went in, steeling myself to the themes, and I am glad that I did, because “When We Were Silent” is absolutely harrowing.

McPhillips is a journalist, and this is her debut novel, but reads like she’s been writing literary fiction for years. We have two timelines at hand, and she blends them together seemlessly. In the present we meed Louise “Lou” Manson, a professor living in Dublin who is approached by a lawyer about testifying in a lawsuit against Highfield Manor, as she herself had been a whistleblower of sexual abuse that, at the time, went unheard. At least until someone ended up dead. In the past we see Lou as a lower class student trying to fit in, while also trying to get revenge and retribution for a friend who had been raped by a popular swim coach, and who Lou is trying to expose in a time where the abuses of girls within a Catholic institution were almost assuredly covered up. And how she herself becomes one of his victims in her pursuit, and how she isn’t believed and villified. As we jump through the two times we see who Lou was before, and who she is now, and how the trauma, rage, regret, and lack of closure has defined her life, as well as the loves of other girls who were victimized. It is an unflinching look at predation and child sexual abuse within a religious institution, and it does not hold back (and this, of course, comes with many many content warnings of rape, abuse, suicide, gaslighting, and many other things). I found this to be a very difficult read at times, but McPhillips handles these very heavy themes with respect and care, and it never felt exploitative or like it was crossing a line, at least for this reader. It also makes the stakes of the mystery at the heart of this novel all the higher, and it makes the two comparisons of Lou then and Lou now very complex. It’s also a good comparison about how there has definitely been progress made when it comes to sexual abuse of minors and taking it seriously, though it also shows that some things haven’t changed much. It’s honest and raw and very emotional.

And back to the mysteries of this book, there are two at play. The first is the question of who actually died in the past narrative of they story. The second is the question of who is trying to intimidate Lou into not cooperating with the lawyer/testifying in the present, as she starts receiving mysterious anonymous messages trying to silence her. But while these mysteries are certainly compelling and kept me reading and interested, they are a bit of a footnote in this novel, never overhyped and never used as twists or gotchas. This is a mystery to be sure, but it’s moreso a literary work about trauma, abuse, privilege, corruption, and justice. It’s more about a woman who never got justice and was unfairly maligned because she spoke her truth, and how that has haunted her in the years since. It’s at times devastating, but it also a searing indictment of institutions that enable and cover up abuses to keep a hold on their own power, as well as an indictment of a greater culture that normalizes all of this. It’s rightfully angry and it’s powerful.

“When We Were Silent” is a difficult read, but it’s an important one. I will absolutely be checking out what Fiona McPhillips brings us next, because this was a great debut.

Rating 8: Harrowing, heartbreaking, and a rallying cry. “When We Were Silent” is a great debut from an author I am going to definitely follow going forward.

Reader’s Advisory:

“When We Were Silent” is included on the Goodreads list “52 Book Club 2024: #13 An Academic Thriller”.

Beach Reads: Summer 2024

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

Back for 2024, here is a list of some more favorite beach reads! Perhaps a little early, but Memorial Day is the traditional kick off to Summer, after all, and that’s just a week away. “Beach read” is a very fast and loose term for books people read over the beautiful summer months when we really should be outside “doing things” but are instead reading…maybe outside. Some people see these months as an opportunity to slog through long classics (we’re looking at you “Moby Dick”) before the busy-ness of the fall starts up, but for the sake of this list, we’re limiting our choices to fast paced, mostly feel good books (though there’s some obvious leeway here for Kate’s horror tastes!) that could be easily brought along on vacations. So, still a very loose definition, but hey, we had to start somewhere! We will select one title for each of the genres we most read.

Serena’s Picks

Fantasy Title: “The Witchwood Knot” by Olivia Atwater

At this point, Atwater is pretty much my go-to author for cozy fantasy. It’s a tough subgenre for me, as I’ve discovered I’m often quite picky and find many cozy fantasies to be….well…a bit too cozy. Yes, yes, I want to sink into all the lovely feelings and cushy vibes as much as the next person, but I still need a solid plot, good world-building, and, most of all, some actual stakes to the story being told. Atwater always comes through for me! Not only are her books simply lovely and a delight to read, the perfect fantasy story to crack open on a sunny, carefree summer day, but her stories are never short on all of the other elements to make a great book. For example, this one is somehow both cozy and also an excellent gothic haunted house story. Should these things work together? No! But does she manage it? Absolutely! There’s also always a lovely romance at the center of the story, and this one is no different.

Science Fiction Title: “Heavenbreaker” by Sara Wolf

I have a full review of this one scheduled to come out in about a week and a half, but when compiling this review, I couldn’t resist including it for this genre! When I think of “beach reads” for science fiction, books like Pierce Brown’s “Red Rising” series always come to mind. And this book is an excellent read-alike for that story! The story follows a woman bent on revenge who enters a tournament in which she must face off against the noble houses of her space station riding a massive mecha type robot ala “Pacific Rim.” The story features all of the classic science fiction themes such as scheming politics, thrilling but dangerous new technology, as well as half-way understood alien enemies. It was a blast of read, and I definitely recommend it for those looking for a fun science fiction adventure!

Mystery Title: “The Tainted Cup” by Robert Jackson Bennett

Ok, so this is a bit of cheaty pick, because there’s no denying that this is also a fully-fledged fantasy novel at its heart. Gigantic beasts are crawling out of the ocean, for heaven’s sake. Not to mention the wacky, dangerous plants and magical memory powers of the main character. But, aside from all of that, the actual plot of the story is solidly a murder mystery. So much so that readers will quickly discover that not only is it a mystery, but it’s the sort that is leaning heavily on the “Sherlock and Watson” vibes of its central two characters: a seemingly all-knowing detective and her dutiful assistant. There were all of the good parts of mysteries that one could want, with numerous red herrings and plenty of clues that readers can piece together to form their own conclusions. I’ve always loved this author’s straight fantasy titles, but I’m always thrilled to find an author who can also mix and match genres, and this is a perfect example of that!

Historical Fiction Title: “The Scandalous Confessions of Lydia Bennet, Witch” by Melinda Taub

Sorry, not sorry, I’m doing it again! Yes, my “historical fiction” pick does have the word “witch” right there in the title, so there’s no hiding the fact that yet again I’ve picked a story that crosses genres. But what can I say, I’m a fantasy reader, so many of my subgenres will including that as well! Plus, this is the sort of story that while it includes a healthy dose of the fantastical, it also is best appreciated by those who have read “Pride and Prejudice” and other Jane Austen novels. As the title implies, it’s essentially a retelling of that novel but now seen through the eyes of Lydia. What’s most impressive is the way the author managed to create this fantasy version of Lydia and her story but also neatly lay it alongside the original story in a way that wouldn’t change that novel at all. As it stands, both could have existed side-by-side. It’s all quite clever and I enjoyed it immensely!

Kate’s Picks

Horror Title: “This Delicious Death” by Kayla Cottingham

I try not to go TOO scary for beach read horror picks, as sometimes something too frightful can bring down the mood of a frothy vacation setting. So I figured that the gal pal road trip tale that also happens to involve some sentient zombies would be a good choice for this, because woo! Summer and road trips go hand in hand! And zombies are just icing on the cake, baby! What I loved about “This Delicious Death” when I read it was how fun and genuine it felt, as four teenage friends go on a road trip while being ‘ghouls’, or people who underwent a transformation due to a mysterious illness who crave human flesh, but are pretty much satiated by the synthetic stuff. That is, until one of the friends goes feral and kills someone. Cottingham has fun dialogue and a keen eye for zombie tropes that she reinvents, and this one is a fun ride about friendship and sticking together through thick and thin.

Thriller Title: “Whalefall” by Daniel Kraus

Talk about an addictive LITERAL beach read! Well, ocean read, I suppose, but still, it’s close enough. I was completely taken in by “Whalefall”, Daniel Kraus’s thriller about a diver being swallowed by a sperm whale and trying to find his way out before he either a) runs out of air, or b) is digested. You want pulse pounding action? It has that. You want suspense? UH, YEAH, IT HAS THAT. But it also has an interesting examination of a strained/toxic father son relationship, and a tenacity about the will to survive in even the more dire of circumstances. I had a hard time putting this one down when I read it last year, and I think that it would be a great read for vacations because it just flows perfectly and keeps the adrenaline pumping.

Graphic Novel Title: “Wash Day Diaries” by Jamila Rowser

A slice of life narration that examines hair care days of four Black women who are best friends is my choice for this year’s graphic novel beach read because it just feels cozy while also feeling poignant in some ways. As Kim, Cookie, Nisha, and Devene go through the steps to work on their hair on the day set aside to do so, we get to learn a lot about each woman through what they are experiencing in that moment, as well as getting to see the bonds that they have with each other. Slice of life stories are sometimes tricky to get a handle on, but Rowser does a good job of giving the reader a true sense of all of these women and how they all complement each other. It’s a breezy read that has heart and depth, and I think it would be easy to hop in and out during a vacation.

Non-Fiction Title: “I’m Glad My Mom Died” by Jennette McCurdy

One cannot deny how eye-catching this title is, but once you read it you will wholly understand why Jennette McCurdy may feel this way in her runaway hit memoir about fame, abusive parental relationships, mental health, and finding one’s way after trauma after trauma. All with a serious wit and dark humor to it (the cover alone perfectly encapsulates this tone, trust me). Like many I tore through “I’m Glad My Mom Died” when it came out, as McCurdy, who was a child actor on a Nickelodeon show and pushed to success by her stage mother, who was also an abusive and cruel narcissist, recollects some very painful and horrible memories with a candor and tone that makes it highly readable AND laugh out loud funny without minimizing the pain she had to endure for so long. This one also feels a bit timely with the docuseries “Quiet on the Set” coming out this Spring, as McCurdy also makes reference to her time on a children’s show that was run by an abusive showrunner. I know this doesn’t sound like a beach read BUT I ASSURE YOU IT IS.

Kate’s Review: “Against the Darkness”

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

Book: “Against the Darkness” by Kendare Blake

Publishing Info: Disney Hyperion, April 2024

Where Did I Get This Book: The library!

Where You Can Get This Book: WorldCat.org | Amazon | Indiebound

Book Description: This epic finale to the The Next Generation trilogy by New York Times bestselling author Kendare Blake ( Three Dark Crowns ) features the next generation of Scoobies and Slayers who must defeat a powerful new evil.

For generations, the Slayer was supposed to be the chosen, the one girl in all the world with the power to stand against the vampires, demons, and forces of darkness. When Willow used the scythe to call up all the potential slayers at once, it changed everything. For years, the slayers have been working and fighting together as a team. Then the Darkness came, killing many slayers and trapping the rest in an alternate dimension. And Frankie Rosenberg, the world’s first Slayer-Witch, found herself fighting evil alone. Sort of.

Sure, she has her new Scooby Gang, plus the help of her mom, Willow; Watcher, Spike; and even the brooding-but-hot Hunter of Thrace. But even though they have a master plan (obviously), the gang is more fragmented than ever.

So maybe it really is up to Frankie—and Frankie alone—to stand against the darkness. With Jake’s wild werewolf brother back in town, Dark Willow threatening to return, and the Darkness preparing for the final stage of their attack, now is not a great time to wallow in teen angst. After all, she’s the Slayer. It’s time to slay.

Review: Well, I knew that this moment was eventually going to come, and I honestly held off a bit because I was reticent to approach it. But Kendare Blake’s “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” reboot series is coming to an end, and it closes out with “Against the Darkness”, in which Frankie Rosenberg, Slayer-Witch of Sunnydale, and her new set of Scoobies have to fight against the Big Bad for one final showdown, with supportive former Scoobies Willow, Oz, and Spike in tow as Buffy remains trapped in a hell dimension. I have absolutely adored this interpretation of the “Buffy” characters since the first book, and I was VERY nervous approaching the end. Partially because I am always nervous about the end of a series I am enjoying, but also because so many of these characters are near and dear to my heart, and I wanted them to be okay. I should have trusted Blake, because “Against the Darkness”, for lack of a better word, slays.

As we are closing in on the end of this trilogy, Frankie, Hailey, Jake, Sigmund, and the original Scoobies left behind in Sunnydale are trying to stop rogue slayer Aspen and her group of traitors known as The Darkness, and free Buffy and the other slayers from the hell dimension Aspen trapped them within. Frankie continues to be an utterly charming main character who has the weight of the world on her shoulders, who feels like a fantastic predecessor to Buffy Summers because she has similar challenges, but is her own person without feeling like a clone. Her biggest obstacles this time around are 1) she knows time is running out for Buffy and the slayers all trapped in a hell dimension, especially with Aspen making moves against her, 2) her mother Willow is going to more and more dangerous lengths to try and harness her magic to help Buffy, and 3) her good friend and fellow Scooby Hailey has imbedded herself as a spy by trying to get into Aspen’s good graces… and Aspen is having more of an effect on her than the Scoobies would like. It all feels like an old school “Buffy” end of season arc, and Blake captures the wit, the suspense, the pathos, and the heart that the show had throughout its run. Frankie is so easy to love and so easy to root for, and she is a such a well rounded character that she blends in with familiar faces from the source material swimmingly. I love her relationship with Willow, I LOVE her slayer/watcher relationship with Spike, but I also love her relationships with her friends because it feels so nostalgic.

But once again it’s my OG original favorites who captured my entire heart in this book. Blake really gives me everything I need from the “Buffy” characters from the show. I loved seeing Willow struggle with trying to use her magic to help her daughter as well as Buffy and the other imprisoned slayers, and how it treads her towards her Dark Willow tendencies. I loved how Oz has so effortlessly fit into this story even though he left the show in season four, as Blake makes him a perfect addition to the team not only for his cousin Jake, but also for Willow, his ex and now close friend. I loved seeing Giles show up (yes it’s a spoiler but it’s GILES, I HAD TO!) and take his place as a wise but still a bit snarky Watcher to help pull the group back together when it’s most needed. And, of course, Spike. My beloved Spike has stayed true to his kind of reckless and impulsive sarcastic self, emotions constantly on his sleeve, but his paternal relationship to Frankie is so touching, and brings out so much more in him that shows his caring and loving side that always comes out when most needed. And I don’t want to spoil much here, but Spuffy shippers? THE PAY OFF IS PHENOMENAL. I tried to not be a Spuffy shipper for awhile even though I was hardcore into them in high school, but Kendare Blake has brought me fully back into it because my GOD. THESE TWO.

I just love them so much. (source)

And once again, so many wonderful Easter eggs and references to the source material. Is it fan service? Probably yes. But Blake does do this in a way that flows well within this story so that even if you don’t know that it’s a knowing nod to something from the show it just feels organic and doesn’t stick out awkwardly or like a sore thumb.

What a fantastic end to a very enjoyable series. “Against the Darkness” sticks the landing, does justice for all the Scoobies, old and new, and gave this “Buffy” fan an ending that I will happily revisit over and over again. That’ll put the marzipan back in your pie plates, bingo, indeed. If you know, you know.

Rating 10: A fantastic and super satisfying ending to a “Buffy” follow up I have adored from the start.

Reader’s Advisory:

“Against the Darkness” is included on the Goodreads lists “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”, and “YA hunting ghosts/monsters/zombies”.

Previously Reviewed:

Serena’s Review: “Romancing Mister Bridgerton”

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

Book: “Romancing Mister Bridgerton” by Julia Quinn

Publishing Info: Avon, July 2002

Where Did I Get this Book: from the library!

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

Book Description: Everyone knows that Colin Bridgerton is the most charming man in London. Penelope Featherington has secretly adored her best friend’s brother for…well, it feels like forever. After half a lifetime of watching Colin Bridgerton from afar, she thinks she knows everything about him, until she stumbles across his deepest secret…and fears she doesn’t know him at all.

Colin Bridgerton is tired of being thought nothing but an empty-headed charmer, tired of everyone’s preoccupation with the notorious gossip columnist Lady Whistledown, who can’t seem to publish an edition without mentioning him in the first paragraph. But when Colin returns to London from a trip abroad he discovers nothing in his life is quite the same – especially Penelope Featherington! The girl haunting his dreams. But when he discovers that Penelope has secrets of her own, this elusive bachelor must decide…is she his biggest threat – or his promise of a happy ending?

Review: With the new season of “Bridgerton” due to come to Netflix sometime in the next few months, I thought it was about time to go back and check out the book that this season is based on. The show is now out of order from the books, having skipped the third book (Benedict/Sophie’s season) and gone straight to Colin and Penelope. For the show, I think this makes a lot of sense given the focus on Penelope’s arc over the second season. But the book series didn’t have this same emphasis, so here we are in the fourth book.

While this book didn’t reach the high point that was the second book for me, I did enjoy this one quite a bit. Much of this comes down to the sheer charm that is Penelope. She’s an excellent main character, with all of the charm and wit you could want, but also a compelling story seeing tackle her insecurities and come into her own. But while I liked how the reveal of Lady Whistledown’s identity was handled, it did feel like a strange balancing act as far as the writing actually went. The reader is privy to much of Penelope’s inner thoughts before this, and it’s strange that this particular fact wouldn’t have surfaced earlier.

Colin is a bit more rough as a romantic lead, however. He was excellent in the first three books, always funny and affable, and while we see some of that here, he also becomes fairly insufferable at times. In particular, he didn’t fair overly well with his jealousy over Penelope’s success as Lady Whistledown. And I simply couldn’t make myself very interested in his own attempts at being an author. Instead, this focus seemed to undercut Penelope’s own story in some ways, with her having to reveal her identity and then retreat into the background as Colin moved to the forefront as an author who could publish under his own name, being a man and all. I get the historical limitations, but I hope the show changes some of how this is handled. I also keenly felt the loss of the funny Colin that we saw so much more of in the first few books.

That said, this book, as a whole, was quite funny. The scene where Colin and Penelope announce their betrothal to her family had me laughing out loud and re-reading it several times. I do hope the show finds a way of recreating this scene in some way, as it was hilarious. I also enjoyed all of the scenes with the larger Bridgerton crew. Eloise, in particular, had an interesting mini arch in this book. The show has changed several things already with the friendship between Eloise and Penelope, so I’m curious to see how they manage this set-up in the show. Given some of the events here, it naturally leads into Eloise’s story being the next up. So…is Benedict just going to be skipped forever??

Overall, I did enjoy this book, mostly down to the strength of Penelope as a leading lady. Colin was frankly a bit of a disappointment, given how great he had been in the previous three books. But I’m also all set to go on Eloise’s story! Though, if I’m trying to keep these reviews timed to around when the corresponding season is going to drop on Netflix…you’ll be hearing more from me in 5 years or so.

Rating 8: A sweet romance and some truly hilarious scenes, though I was a bit underwhelmed with Colin’s shift in personality and the second act role that his writing took on.

Reader’s Advisory:

“Romancing Mister Bridgerton” can be found on these Goodreads lists: “I’ve Loved You for Years” and Falling in Love with Best Friend/Best Friend’s Brother/Brother’s Best Friend

Kate’s Review: “Lore Olympus: Volume Six”

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

Book: “Lore Olympus: Volume Six” by Rachel Smythe

Publishing Info: Inklore, May 2024

Where Did I Get This Book: I own it.

Where You Can Get This Book: WorldCat.org | Amazon | Indiebound

Book Description: “We have to make an example of her.”

Chaos reigns in Olympus as Zeus publicly declares Persephone a traitor and issues a warrant for her arrest. But Hades defies his brother’s decree, sheltering Persephone in the Underworld—and as the pair spend more time together, they are able to speak openly about their pasts. The goddess of spring admits the truth behind the bloody secret that led to Zeus’s ire, and the king of the Underworld shares the trauma he suffered at the hands of his power-hungry father, Kronos.

But as Hades and Persephone’s relationship grows stronger, others begin to fall apart. The bond between Hades and Zeus is stretched to its limit, threatening to fracture the peace between their realms. Persephone and Artemis’s friendship hangs by a thread as the goddess of the hunt slowly uncovers the vile truth about her twin, Apollo. A line is being drawn in the heavens, putting everyone’s loyalties into question as all the gods are forced to choose sides.

And as the cracks in the foundation of the pantheon spread, something darker and more earth-shattering might soon be released. . . .

Review: I’m starting to really enjoy being able to count down to new “Lore Olympus” volumes as they have come out, usually one in the Spring and one in the Fall. It’s nice having a guaranteed amazing read to look forward to, and this Spring we are now on “Lore Olympus: Volume Six”. I try not to let myself bank too heavily on the quality of a highly anticipated read, but in the case of Rachel Smythe and her amazing reimagining of Greek Mythology I am pretty sure that I have no need to worry. She knows what she is doing. And what she is doing is putting some of my favorite deities through the ringer. Like, repeatedly. And skillfully. So on we go into the newest “Lore Olympus” collection, and man, did it once again blow me away.

When we left off, we saw Zeus demanding that Persephone and Demeter be returned to Olympus as fugitives so that Persephone could be punished for her crime of smiting morals, with Demeter punished for covering it up. Persephone ran into hiding, and Hades went looking for her. We don’t take too much time dilly dallying about Persephone on the run, and once Hades does reunite with her he now has some choices to make. He can either be loyal to his brother, who is also his ally in their alliance as Gods, or he can be loyal to Persephone, the woman he is falling in love with. It’s a great conflict and it’s a really good way to showing what a fucking narcissistic buffoon Zeus is, as the Gods all argue (over zoom call) as to what should be done next. Also, this zoom call is hilarious even thought it’s discussing some pretty heavy stuff. I especially liked Artemis being stuck on mute and not realizing it, and Hera just chain smoking in disdain for her husband and peeking into his frame every once in awhile. Smythe still has so many hilarious moments even as the story gets more and more intense and high stakes, and it never feels out of place or jarring.

In this volume, we are finally starting to get some full on answers about Persephone’s secret as the Bringer of Death. Earlier we got one version of the story, in that it was said that she massacred a number of mortals for pulling flowers in a forbidden area, which resulted in the deaths of many of Persephone’s flower nymph friends. What I really loved was that that initial explanation had been originally hyped up and sensationalized, and we had another version that seemed far more reasonable, if still disturbing. But Smythe decided that go even deeper, and to explore the idea that perceptions and realities might not line up still, and by letting Persephone tell it in her own words, and to open up to Hades about this, was a clever twist on its own. But this also leads to us learning more about Hades, and his own traumatic past of being swallowed and imprisoned by his father Kronos, and how that has affected his life going forward. In the previous volume Hades mentions that he didn’t really KNOW Persephone, and in this volume they now know each other in incredibly intimate ways, and their relationship is evolving and growing apace in a healthy way because of it. It is making this romance a slow burn for sure, but it’s also showing how two damaged people CAN find love and intimacy in spite of their baggage, and in a healthy way, and that they deserve to heal and be loved. It’s pretty clear to me that so much of “Lore Olympus” is about unpacking and healing from trauma, and I love seeing these two heal together.

It’s also the attention and expansion of the supporting characters that has always made Smythe stand out, and in this volume we not only expand upon previous characters and their motivations, but we also get to see new interactions between the characters that clearly set up or harken back to the source mythology. I really love seeing nods to tertiary players like Echo and Daphne, and Smythe opts to make these originally quite passive characters into three dimensional beings that I have fully come to care about (and which makes me nervous for their fates as the series goes on). The thing that really caught me by surprise was how suddenly invested I was in the burgeoning romance between Daphne, a flower nymph who is striving to be a fitness and beauty influencer, and Thanatos, God of Death who has been a resentful lackey to Hades and who has been plotting against Persephone with Minthe and Thetis. I never would have imagined these two interacting, and yet Smythe has built it up in a way that feels wholly natural, and gives Daphne the agency that she doesn’t get in the original myth (though as mentioned above, I’m very worried about where this is going).

Oh and new characters too! New characters that are fully representative of their original characterization, but still feel like their original intent. The biggest one in this Volume is that we finally get to meet Hephaestus, one of Zeus and Hera’s sons who, in the original myth, was ostracized from Olympus by Hera due to his disability (two club feet and inability to walk), but became a master craftsman and blacksmith. In this, it seems that he has extricated himself of his own choosing, and has an estrangement with his parents that is a bit more muddled. Perhaps it’s because he is an amputee, but you get the sense that it’s more about emotional unavailability from his parents (and the more we learn about Hera’s backstory, the more it becomes clear that being a neglected wife to Zeus is the LEAST of her traumas, which almost certainly affects her relationships with everyone). He is also more of a computer and tech wiz as opposed to a metallurgist, and I really, really loved that update. Oh, and now Leto is here too, aka the mother of Apollo and Artemis, and it’s pretty clear that HER appearance is going to set up the another big antagonistic arc for Apollo in this story. God he’s just the worst, and now we know that his mother played a part in that.

I’ve once again gone on and on in a review for this series, but “Lore Olympus: Volume Six” is another home run from Smythe. I’m always worried that it’s going to fall off, or start showing cracks, but man, it’s still going strong. I’m still wholly enamored.

Rating 9: New revelations, new relationships, and new threats are all emerging, but Smythe keeps the joy, humor, and heart in play.

Reader’s Advisory:

“Lore Olympus: Volume Six” isn’t included on many Goodreads lists just yet, but it would fit in on “Hades and Persephone”.

Serena’s Review: “The Fireborne Blade”

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

Book: “The Fireborne Blade” by Charlotte Bond

Publishing Info: Tor, May 2024

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

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

Book Description: Slay the dragon, find the blade. True love can’t be far behind…

Maddileh is a knight. There aren’t many women in her line of work, and it often feels like the sneering and contempt from her peers is harder to stomach than the actual dragon slaying. But she’s a knight, and made of sterner stuff.

A minor infraction forces her to redeem her honor in the most dramatic way possible, she must retrieve the fabled Fireborne Blade from its keeper, legendary dragon the White Lady, or die trying. If history tells us anything, it’s that “die trying” is where to wager your coin.

Will Maddileh prove her mettle? Or will she end up like countless knights before her―as a puddle of gore and molten armor?

Review: This was an obvious request for me just based on the cover alone! I’m always on the lookout for the next great dragon book, and, of course, the heroine front and center also places it firmly in my wheel house for reading preferences! The plot synopsis also promised a lot of classic fantasy fun: knights, dragon-hunting, and dangerous adventures full of redemption and possibly romance! So, how did it all turn out?

Well, for the most part, well enough. I know that’s not a killer start to a review, but it also sums up my reading experience fairly well. There was nothing objectively wrong with this book, and, frankly, there was a lot to like during much of it. But while we’ve seen other books shine with a reduced page count (see “When Among Crows”), this one shows the other side of the equation, one where the overall impact and pacing of the book was hampered by its short length. But let’s start with the good stuff!

First of all, I really enjoyed the structure of this book and the way it introduced the dragons of this world. In between chapters, we had inserts from past knights’ experiences with dragons, dutifully recorded by the scribes of this world. These brief tales were often the most fun parts of the book, being hilarious and terrifying in their own right and neatly delivering a ton of world-building and lore regarding the dragons and their magic.

And as for the dragons, I appreciated the mix of the “classic” dragon archetype alongside some creative new takes on their magic. For the most part, these dragons are the sort readers are most familiar with: live in caves with hordes of treasure, come out every once in a while to terrorize the land, and, of course, the best foes for a knight looking to prove their worth! But, alongside these familiar elements, the inclusion of the magical dangers that occur when a dragon dies added the dash of something new that I needed.

I also liked our main character and the cast of side characters that surrounded her. But here is where things began to fall apart a bit for me. While I liked what we were given, I also was left wishing we had gotten a bit more of a character arch. I liked the broad sweeps that we had, but the story had to rush through so many things, especially towards the end, that I never felt like the emotional stakes were as high as I was wanting. And, as for the pacing, the last fourth of the book felt incredibly rushed. I thought the way everything was resolved was clever, but it almost happened so quickly that it was over before I had fully realized what was even happening!

Overall, this was a fun, fast read, but it never quite rose to the highs that I was hoping for! The incredible potential almost ended up working against it, as I was increasingly aware of the few numbers of pages I had left as I made my way through the book. That said, if you’re looking for a high fantasy novella that delivers all of the classic fantasy goods, this is one to check out!

Rating 7: Checks all of the right boxes, but a rushed conclusion dropped my reading experience down a bit.

Reader’s Advisory:

“The Fireborne Blade” can be found on this Goodreads list: Sapphic Fiction 2024

Kate’s Review: “My Darling Dreadful Thing”

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

Book: “My Darling Dreadful Thing” by Johanna van Veen

Publishing Info: Poisoned Pen Press, May 2024

Where Did I Get This Book: I received an ARC from the publisher.

Where You Can Get This Book: WorldCat.org | Amazon | Indiebound

Book Description: In a world where the dead can wake and walk among us, what is truly real?

Roos Beckman has a spirit companion only she can see. Ruth—strange, corpse-like, and dead for centuries—is the only good thing in Roos’ life, which is filled with sordid backroom séances organized by her mother. That is, until wealthy young widow Agnes Knoop attends one of these séances and asks Roos to come live with her at the crumbling estate she inherited upon the death of her husband. The manor is unsettling, but the attraction between Roos and Agnes is palpable. So how does someone end up dead?

Roos is caught red-handed, but she claims a spirit is the culprit. Doctor Montague, a psychologist tasked with finding out whether Roos can be considered mentally fit to stand trial, suspects she’s created an elaborate fantasy to protect her from what really happened. But Roos knows spirits are real; she’s loved one of them. She’ll have to prove her innocence and her sanity, or lose everything.

Review: Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press for sending me an ARC of this novel!

I do love me a scary story that involves a séance or two, as the idea of speaking to the dead is a trope in horror that I have been a fan of ever since I saw “Bill and Ted’s Bogus Journey” as a little girl (the BEST Bill and Ted story, in my opinion, and not just because of Missy’s séance club). I also love Gothic horror stories, and Gothic shenanigans and séances go together OH so very well. Because of this it shouldn’t be any surprise that I was super game to read “My Darling Dreaful Thing”, a Gothic horror story about a young woman who has a spirit attached to her, and who catches the attention of a wealthy young widow after performing a fake séance. Though our protagonist’s ability to take her spirit friend inside of her to perform is very real. Or is it? Which is the question at hand after someone ends up dead. YUP, I was SOLD.

There is so much to like about this book. First and foremost, I really loved the setting of 1950s Netherlands, with the Second World War still bearing wounds. It is the perfect set up for Roos, our protagonist, to be used for grieving people in fake séances at the behest of her mother, because of COURSE a fascination with speaking to those who’ve been lost would be palpable in this setting. Roos does, however, have an actual spirit attached to her. This spirit, Ruth, appears to Roos as a decaying corpse (as it seems that she was alive centuries prior and thrown into a bog), but is her only companionship as her mother is severely abusive and their clients are either desperate with grief, or shady and violent. So when a wealthy young widow named Agnes Knoop meets Roos during a séance, and is so taken with her that she wants to bring her to her dilapidated country manor Rozentuin, Roos jumps at the chance to escape her life with her mother. It is there that she confides that she also has a spirit guide, and the two women form a bond. I really liked this set up, and I REALLY liked the descriptions of Ruth, the grotesque physical imagery being well described and yes, super scary, even if Ruth is something of a comfort for Roos. But we know from the jump that something isn’t right, as Roos has been accused of a murder and those around her believe that Ruth is actually a hallucination of a psychotic mind. The mystery about the murder is an engaging one, and went in a direction that I wasn’t expecting, which made for a more satisfying read because I was genuinely surprised and shocked by a few of the twists at hand.

And, like with any good Gothic horror novel, some of the greatest strengths of “My Darling Dreadful Thing” is the ambiguity and unreliability of our main character Roos, whether it’s regarding Ruth as a presence that is haunting her, or the mental state that Roos herself is in as the story unfolds. We are given a view into her own perspective through her first person narration, but we are also given an outside view through the notes of the doctor assessing her in preparation for her trial. The doctor sees a very mentally unwell woman with delusions due to a massive amount of trauma, and what I liked about this aspect is that 1) it makes for a mystery within the mystery of who has died and whether Roos did bit, and 2) this could ALSO be unreliable because of the time and place of the story and the way that medicine has a tendency to write women off as hysterical. I always love the way that a Gothic story can create more questions than answers, and this one does that very well and in unexpected ways.

If you like Gothic horror as well as Sapphic romances, “My Darling Dreadful Thing” is sure to be a winner. Just know that, like so many great Gothic horror tales before it, there is tragedy to behold, from many sources. So steel yourself for that as well.

Rating 8: A creepy and unnerving horror story peppered with a tragic story of love and loss, “My Darling Dreadful Thing” is a Gothic tale that will please fans of the genre.

Reader’s Advisory:

“My Darling Dreadful Thing” is included on the Goodreads lists “Sapphic Fiction 2024”, and “Queer Horror”.