Tag: 8 Rating

Kate’s Review: “Guilt and Ginataan”

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Book: “Guilt and Ginataan” by Mia P. Manansala

Publishing Info: Berkley, November 2024

Where Did I Get This Book: I received and eARC from NetGalley.

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

Book Description: Autumn is in full swing for the town of Shady Palms—the perfect time for warm drinks, cozy cardigans, and…dead bodies?

The annual Shady Palms Corn Festival is one of the town’s biggest moneymakers, drawing crowds from all over the Midwest looking to partake in delicious treats, local crafts, and of course, the second largest corn maze in Illinois. Lila Macapagal and her Brew-ha Cafe crew, Adeena Awan and Elena Torres, are all too happy to participate in the event and even make a little wager on who can make it through the corn maze the fastest—but their fun is suddenly cut short when a dead body is found in the middle of the maze…and an unconscious Adeena lies next to it, clutching a bloody knife.

The body is discovered to be a local politician’s wife, and all signs—murder weapon included—point to Adeena as the culprit. But Lila knows her best friend couldn’t have done this, so she and her crew put on their sleuthing caps yet again to find the killer who framed Adeena and show them what happens when they mess with a Brew-ha…

Review: Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this novel!

I’ve been having a rough go of it for the past week and a half. My worst fears about the election came true, and I’ve been spending a lot of time either feeling lots of rage, or commiserating with/supporting my friends and loved ones who have so much to lose should all these promises made come to pass. So during this time I’ve been trying to be a little gentle on myself when it comes to what I consume, entertainment wise, and it was the perfect time to read “Guilt and Ginataan” by Mia P. Manansala, the newest cozy mystery in the “Tita Rosie’s Kitchen Mysteries” series! And besides, I also love a cozy mystery for fall, my favorite time of year. So I wrapped myself in the heaviest weighted blanket our house had to offer to feel cozy and to try and tamp down my ever ongoing anxiety attacks as I dove in.

As a mystery, I did have a few moments of being surprised and caught off guard. Manansala does a really good job of spreading out motives and suspects, with red herrings and misdirections that kept me on my toes. In this novel, Lila is on the case during the Shady Palms Corn Festival after a woman named Yvonne, the wife of a visiting Mayor, is found murdered in the corn maze, and Lila’s best friend and business partner Adeena is found passed out next to the body with a bloody knife in her hand. Lila always seems to have some kind of connection to the murders in these stories, usually because a loved one is accused of having something to do with it, and now it’s finally Adeena’s turn, which made the stakes feel incredibly high as Adeena has always been Lila’s number one supporter and confidant. I think that this entry into the series brings it back up to the top of its game after the last book that didn’t click as well as I had hoped it would, and the higher stakes were a huge part of that. I also liked seeing how Lila has grown as an investigator, and how she has become more in her element as the series has gone on without any frustrating roadblocks between her and her loved ones or her state as an amateur detective (still hoping she eventually opens up her own agency, but perhaps that would take away from her kind of Jessica Fletcher thing she has going on) .

One of the biggest things I look for in a cozy mystery series is a group of characters and a setting that is enjoyable, charming, and, well, cozy? And Shady Palms and everyone who lives there continue to be utterly engaging (though I still don’t really like Lila’s group of aunties, but they weren’t in this one very much so that was neither here nor there in this case). I also really enjoyed the autumn setting in this one, with the body of Yvonne being found in a corn maze during the Corn Festival in town. It also just feels like such a small town thing that resonates, as my Dad’s small hometown of Schaller, Iowa always has a Popcorn Days celebration that we would attend during family visits throughout my youth. I’m still really loving the life and details that Manansala is bringing to her setting and all of the quirky people who live there.

And finally, yes, there are more recipes in this book!! Boy do I still love a good recipe selection from a cozy mystery story, and once again there are many at hand this time that just sound to die for.

The “Tita Rosie Kitchen Mysteries” Series is still really fun, and “Guilt and Ginataan” keeps the vibes nice and chill while bringing in the kind of suspense I want from a cozy mystery story. We may be in need of some cozy comforts in the future when taking a break from reality to recharge, and this series is a good place to seek such things out.

Rating 8: Another fun cozy mystery about Lila Macapagal with some awesome recipes! Perfect fall reading here!

Reader’s Advisory:

“Guilt and Ginataan” is on the Goodreads list “2024 Cozy Mystery New Releases”.

Serena’s Review: “Sorcery and Small Magics”

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Book: “Sorcery and Small Magics” by Maiga Doocy

Publishing Info: Orbit, October 2024

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

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

Book Description: Leovander Loveage is a master of small magics.

He can summon butterflies with a song, or turn someone’s hair pink by snapping his fingers. Such minor charms don’t earn him much admiration from other sorcerers (or his father), but anything more elaborate always blows up in his face. Which is why Leo vowed years ago to never again write powerful magic.

That is, until a mix-up involving a forbidden spell binds Leo to obey the commands of his longtime nemesis, Sebastian Grimm. Grimm is Leo’s complete opposite—respected, exceptionally talented, and an absolutely insufferable curmudgeon. The only thing they agree on is that getting caught using forbidden magic would mean the end of their careers. They need a counterspell, and fast. But Grimm casts spells, he doesn’t undo them, and Leo doesn’t mess with powerful magic.

Chasing rumors of a powerful sorcerer with a knack for undoing curses, Leo and Grimm enter the Unquiet Wood, a forest infested with murderous monsters and dangerous outlaws alike. To dissolve the curse, they’ll have to uncover the true depths of Leo’s magic, set aside their long-standing rivalry, and—much to their horror—work together.

Even as an odd spark of attraction flares between them.

Review: While cozy fantasy has been more a miss than a hit this year, I ever live in optimism! Plus, it’s nice to see a romantic fantasy novel marketed as “rivals to lovers” instead of the getting-very-tired “enemies to lovers” (especially when the so-called “enemies” are nothing of the sort more often than not!). Add on top of that the promise of monsters and spooky woods, and this one sounded well-worth my time to check out!

For the most part, I very much enjoyed this one! This is definitely one of those books, however, that lives or dies with its main character. It’s told from a single POV (which I love and always wish would become more the standard), so if readers are not on board with the character, there may be challenges ahead. Beyond that, much of the book is made up of smaller moments between the two main characters, with much emphasis placed on their banter and their growth as they begin to understand and care for one another.

I also really appreciated the fact that this is a true slow-burn romance. By the end, even, very little actual “romance” has occurred. But in this way, the story feels more true and more meaningful. The author spends the time building up this love story slowly, giving the reader plenty of time to become attached to both characters together and separately. It’s also a great way to wet the palate for the sequel, since you’ll be sure to want more of what promises to be a great love story!

I also enjoyed the world-building that we got to see. There were tons of fun magical monsters, mysterious, enchanted rooms, and, of course, the curse that binds our two characters together. I also enjoyed the exploration of the magic system and the way high and low magic, essentially, worked in this world. As a lover of detailed magic systems and world-building, I could have used a bit more in both of these arenas, however. I, for one, always appreciate a map, for example! But, as I said earlier, this is a character-forward story, so this lighter touch on world-building and fantasy elements makes sense and works with the low-key vibes of the book itself.

Overall, this was a quick, fun read and a breath of fresh air for me personally, as it reminded me of the joys that can be found in cozy fantasy. Readers who enjoy slow-burn romances and whimsical fantasy stories should definitely check this one out!

Rating 8: A character-driven cozy fantasy that is full of heart and humor!

Reader’s Advisory:

“Sorcery and Small Magics” can be found on these Goodreads lists: Cozy Fantasy Readathon List and 2024 Debuts.

Serena’s Review: “A Tribute of Fire”

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Book: “A Tribute of Fire” by Sariah Wilson

Publishing Info: Montlake, November 2024

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

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

Book Description: Lia is the princess of Locris, a dying desert nation cursed centuries ago by an earth goddess—one still worshipped by the thriving and adversarial nation of Ilion. Every year, Ilion offers the goddess a sacrifice: two Locrian maidens forced to compete in a life-and-death race to reach her temple. In a millennium, no maiden has made it out of Ilion alive. This year, Lia is one of the hunted.

An education in battle gives her a fighting chance, but the challenges are greater than she feared: Lia’s beloved but untrained sister Quynh has been put in the path of danger. The winding streets of Ilion itself have been transformed into a labyrinthine maze of countless choices and dead ends. And if the risks weren’t significant enough, Lia is reluctantly drawn to the commandingly attractive Jason, an Ilionian sailor she loathes to trust and desires like no man before.

The tribute game is on. It’s up to Lia to lift the goddess’s curse, restore Locris to its former glory, and change the fate of every young woman destined to follow in her path.

Review: I haven’t read anything by this author before, but I was familiar with her name as as a contemporary romance writer when I was approached to cover this book. I’m always excited to see how established authors make the transition into writing in the fantasy genre! Sometimes, I feel like they bring a breath of fresh air to a genre that can feel bogged down in worn-out tropes more often than not. And while the summary itself didn’t feel all that new, it still intrigued me and I went in with high hopes!

And, overall, those hopes were met! As I said, the premise of this one did feel familiar at times, with many fantasy books over the last decade focusing on deadly trials and competitions. However, I really appreciated the way this was woven into the Greek mythology and history of the book. The author’s note was particularly interesting as it added some depth to the points of reference used for this story, many of which I hadn’t been familiar with before picking up this book.

I also really enjoyed our main character! Too often, we are introduced to FMC with a single badass fight scene in the first chapter…and then the book proceeds to bash readers over the head with reminders that the heroine is badass, but any actual evidence of that fact is nowhere to be seen. Here, Lia remains fierce and driven throughout, reinforcing the fact that she is a woman to be reckoned with. Of course, there is a very “Hunger Games” essence to the affair with the whole “beloved and untrained sister” thing, but even here, I feel like the book did enough to build up this relationship to distance it from too many comparisons.

I also enjoyed the romance, for the most part. Yes, it was a bit on the instalove/lust side, but there was enough chemistry between the two to pull me through. I enjoyed their banter and all of the scenes we had with them beginning to grow closer (of course, he’s an “enemy” so we’re checking off the seemingly required “enemies to lovers” trope that we see in so much romantasy currently). However, I feel like some of the twists and reveals at the end of this book were fairly obvious right from the start. This didn’t necessarily reduce my enjoyment of the book, but it’s something to note.

The story also ends on a fairly significant cliffhanger, so readers should know that going in. As a whole, the book was enjoyable and had a distinct arc, so this ending felt earned. What’s worse in my opinion is when books spend the entire first novel setting up a concept and then end on a cliffhanger right when the point of action/conflict is introduced. This one has enough adventure and intrigue to hold up on its own, so that’s a definite win. Overall, I thought this was a solid fantasy entry from an author making her first attempt in the genre. Romantasy fans should definitely give it a go!

Rating 8: Full of adventure, danger, and a swoon-worth romance, Sariah Wilson’s debut romantasy enters the genre with a bang!

Reader’s Advisory:

“A Tribute of Fire” isn’t on any Goodreads lists yet, but it should be on Best Books About Mythology.

Kate’s Review: “It Will Only Hurt For A Moment”

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Book: “It Will Only Hurt For A Moment” by Delilah S. Dawson

Publishing Info: Del Rey, October 2024

Where Did I Get This Book: I received an eARC from NetGalley.

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

Book Description: In this highly atmospheric thriller from the Bram Stoker Award–nominated author of The Violence, a young woman hopes to reinvent herself at an isolated artists’ colony . . . only to be drawn into its dark, twisted past.

Sarah Carpenter is starting over. She’s on the run—leaving behind her unsupportive, narcissistic ex-boyfriend and alcoholic, abusive mother—and headed for a new beginning at Tranquil Falls, a secluded artists’ colony on the grounds of a closed hotel. There, with no cell signal or internet to distract her, she hopes to rediscover her love for pottery and put the broken pieces of her life back together.

But when Sarah uncovers the body of a young woman while digging a hole for a pit kiln, things start to fall apart. Her fellow artists begin to act in troubling ways. The eccentric fiber artist knits an endless scarf. The musician plays the same carousel song over and over until his fingers bleed. The calligrapher grins with ink-stained teeth. Not to mention the haunting dreams Sarah has night after night.

When she discovers glass shards in her clay, Sarah wonders if someone is out to get her—or if she’s losing her grip on reality out here in the wilds, where the pounding of the waterfall never, ever fades. As she investigates the beautiful valley and the crumbling resort looming over them all, she unearths a chilling past that refuses to remain buried . . .

Review: Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this novel!

I gotta say, this Halloween season went by way too fast. I had a Halloween party this past weekend and a number of my friends and I were lamenting that October went by so fast, especially since the election is next week and none of us feel totally ready to see how that is going to shake out. Hell, my anxieties about that has plagued me pretty much all year, no doubt contributing to my near mental breakdown this past summer, some health problems, and the fact that I am SO behind on my reading as we enter the last two months of the year. But the horror I’ve read this month as been great, and I am SO thrilled to end my favorite month with Delilah S. Dawson’s newest novel “It Will Only Hurt for a Moment”. I loved her book “The Violence”, and this new one sounded like a perfect Halloween read. And it definitely scratched not only the scary itch, but also the dread that I’ve been feeling as of late thanks to the pulsing feminine rage this book has. Because same, girl.

Actual footage of me the past month. Months. Years.. (source)

As a horror novel it ticks a lot of the boxes that I really enjoy. Is there an isolated setting? Check. Is there a dark history to said isolated setting? Check. Is there a wide swath of strange characters who could be hiding something? Check. Are there ghosts? Big ol’ check. We follow Sarah, an artist who has been selected to join an artist’s colony/program located in the woods and at the site of an old fancy hotel, who just wants to be able to process some trauma by delving into pottery and having some self reflection time. But her fellow artists start acting strange, she starts having bad dreams, and she finds a long buried corpse that went unnoticed, and who appears to have tried to claw her way out of her coffin. I really enjoyed the way that Dawson slowly pieces together the mystery and slowly turns the dial of tension up so that the scares build and creep up slowly until they burst. The descriptions of the weird things that her fellow artists were doing, or the strange dreams that she was experiencing, were strange and surreal and unnerving to be sure.

But what worked best for me in this was the way that Dawson compares and contrasts the kinds of misogyny and abuse that women have had to contend with throughout history to that which they have to contend with today, peeling back insidious ways that the treatments have, in some ways, become more insidious and clandestine. In the modern time Sarah is reeling from the end of a long term relationship with her boyfriend Kyle, who she had come to realize was manipulative and emotionally abusive towards her. As she looks back at the relationship she sees the way he’s isolate her, how he’s denigrate her interests and separate her from her circle of friends, how he made sure that she was always dependent on him and felt the need to put him before herself. As she starts to learn the dark secrets of Tranquil Falls, and the history of the site and the way that women there were trapped within the confines of the era in which it was at its height, we find out horrors of women who were discarded, silenced, abused, and locked away for treading outside the expectations of their gender. There are some VERY upsetting moments portrayed in this book that could definitely be triggering for some people, so take that into account. But the rage and the fighting back that Sarah does, and the ghosts of the women who were subjected to such madness and violence make their rage and resistance known as well. I found it to both amplify my very present anxieties regarding next week, but to also give it a catharsis in some ways. Shitty men rarely get away with their shittiness in a Delilah S. Dawson novel, and I, for one, really needed to see that play out. Even if it terrified me at times and set me on edge.

“It Will Only Hurt For a Moment” is another stellar horror novel from Delilah S. Dawson, brimming with secrets and understandable anger. It’s not too late to pick it up for one last horror tale for the season.

And with that, Horrorpalooza comes to an end once more. And it feels like the right read to end with this year. I’m still feeling so much dread and terror about how next week’s election is going to go. But it’s good to see that there are other people who are making art to reflect similar feelings. Happy Halloween everyone. I hope that you all have a safe and fun and spooky holiday tonight. I hope that I can leave my personal terrors behind and it stays limited to this most wonderful holiday.

Rating 8: Filled with an eerie build up and many bursts of feminine rage, “It Will Only Hurt for a Moment” is a seething horror novel about misogyny, both old and new.

Reader’s Advisory:

“It Will Only Hurt for a Moment” is included on the Goodreads list “October 2024 Horror”.

Serena’s Review: “Blood Over Bright Haven”

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Book: “Blood Over Bright Haven” by M.L. Want

Publishing Info: Del Rey, October 2024

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

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

Book Description: An orphan since the age of four, Sciona has always had more to prove than her fellow students. For twenty years, she has devoted every waking moment to the study of magic, fueled by a mad desire to achieve the impossible: to be the first woman ever admitted to the High Magistry. When she finally claws her way up the ranks to become a highmage, however, she finds that her challenges have just begun. Her new colleagues will stop at nothing to let her know she is unwelcome, beginning with giving her a janitor instead of a qualified lab assistant.

What neither Sciona nor her peers realize is that her taciturn assistant was once more than a janitor; before he mopped floors for the mages, Thomil was a nomadic hunter from beyond Tiran’s magical barrier. Ten years have passed since he survived the perilous crossing that killed his family. But working for a highmage, he sees the opportunity to finally understand the forces that decimated his tribe, drove him from his homeland, and keep the Tiranish in power.

Through their fractious relationship, mage and outsider uncover an ancient secret that could change the course of magic forever—if it doesn’t get them killed first. Sciona has defined her life by the pursuit of truth, but how much is one truth worth with the fate of civilization in the balance?

Review: I haven’t gotten around to reading it, but I can’t count the number of times I’ve had the book “The Sword of Kaigen” pop up as a recommended title. So much so that I went ahead and ordered a copy through the recent Kickstarter that was live recently even though I still haven’t read it! All of this to say, I was very excited when I found an ARC of this title at ALA and immediately scheduled it down as one to review this fall. Let’s dive in!

As I said, it’s been unavoidable to not hear all of the praises sung for Wang’s previous novel. This left me with quite a high bar of expectation going into this one, and I’m happy to say that it largely lived up to this! So many aspects of this book were masterfully done, from the gaslamp/dark academia world-building, to the deep characterization of our two main characters, to the careful and thorough exploration of themes of misogyny, prejudice, ambition, and the careful balance between one’s intentions and the corresponding results.

As characters are always at the forefront for me, let’s start there. I really enjoyed both of our main POV characters. Sciona’s story, however, stood out. She begins as what I have to believe is an intentionally unlikable character, full of ambition and self-interest. Given the barriers that have been placed before her, however, it’s also easy to see how she has become the person she is. To succeed, she has had to “buy in” more fully than any of her peers, face added challenges, and constantly push through the prejudices of those around her. In doing so, she has needed to fully entrench herself in the culture into which she is trying to make headway. As her story unfolds, and she discovers more about her world, we see her grapple with the shocking revelations buried beneath much of her existence.

The story also grapples with many challenging topics. I was especially impressed with how carefully and thoroughly these themes were explored. Nothing was presented on a platter to the reader with a simple platitude or a bright arrow pointing towards “THE RIGHT WAY.” Instead, the book presents situations and conflicts, from the practical to the more abstract, and lets the reader, alongside the characters, struggle with the morality of it all. How far does one’s intentions take you when the results are bad? Or the opposite?

By the time we get to the end, I was deep in all of the feelings. As is expected, given the themes, the story goes to some dark places and there are no easy answers to be found here. However, I also can’t say that it doesn’t resolve in a way that felt earned and also necessary. Overall, I thought this was an excellent read and I’m excited to check out the author’s previous book when I finally get my hands on a copy!

Rating 8: Detailed world-building, intricate character work, and a thorough exploration of difficult but important themes all cement Wang’s place as a fantasy author to keep one’s eye on!

Reader’s Advisory:

“Blood Over Bright Haven” can be found on this Goodreads list: 2024 Dark Academia Releases

Serena’s Review: “Pride and Prejudice in Space”

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Book: “Pride and Prejudice in Space” by Alexis Lampley

Publishing Info: Union Square & Co, October 2024

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

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

Book Description: Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice is arguably the forerunner of all romantic comedies and certainly one of her most popular and irreverent works. And now, graphic designer and Nerdy Ink co-owner—and obsessive fan of Pride and Prejudice—Alexis Lampley gives this timeless, classic, Regency-era romance a new twist, setting it among the stars in a futuristic universe where spaceships and interplanetary travel is the daily norm. Featuring 50+ color illustrations of the Londinium Lunar System, drawings of gowns by Lydia Bennet, and spaceship designs by Elizabeth Bennet, this is a futuristic take on a classic by a dedicated Jane Austen fan, for Austen newbies and super-fans alike.

Review: While I have to draw the line somewhere (usually around the realm of contemporary romance), I try to read as many Jane Austen re-tellings as I can! This one had immediate appeal as it combined both a “Pride and Prejudice” re-telling with science fiction, one of my favorite genres! There was also the promise of beautiful illustrations to spur me forward!

There was a lot to like about this book! However, I do think that readers might not be properly prepped for the sort of story this is meant to me. When I first picked it up, I was expecting a loose re-telling in which the main characters and plot are the same, but the story itself is written over again in a wholly original manner. Instead, this falls much more in line with re-tellings like “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies” where the majority of the text is directly pulled from the original book. Now, the original book is obviously brilliant, and once I understood what we were doing, it was fine. But I do think some readers may be surprised to find themselves largely reading the original version of “Pride and Prejudice” all over again with a few tweaks here and there. Some of those tweaks, of course, were fairly straightforward changes. Instead of travelling by carriages, they would trap in space ships. The villages were not towns, but different planets and moons. There was also a very useful map included in the beginning which really helped with this new layout.

However, the book diverged further from the original novel by including chapters from other characters’ perspectives (like Jane’s) as well as various communications between characters (texts and emails and such). I think, overall, the latter was more successful than the former. With the messages and communications of that sort, the style was clearly different from the novel portions, so the change in language served to enhance the added information we were getting. However, when the book would switch from Jane Austen’s original text to a wholly original chapter from Jane’s perspective, for example, it was a bit jarring to mentally switch over. The author makes a strong attempt, but doesn’t quite capture the same tone as Austen’s writing, making these switches feel a bit clunky. They also felt largely unnecessary. This is, perhaps, one of those situations where less is more, and the book would have been better served to remain largely as a slightly adjusted re-imagining of the original, with the addition of the epistolary sections for extra flair and insight.

The unfortunate thing about reading this book in its ARC format was that I was cruelly teased with regards to the art. The cover, of course, is fantastic. And as I was reading, there were numerous spreads of art throughout. Unfortunately, this was all in greyscale, so I wasn’t able to fully appreciate what I’m sure were excellent pieces of art.

Overall, I thought this was a very fun re-telling of the classic tale. I do wish that it had perhaps committed a bit more fully one way or the other. Either, remain using mostly only the original language with only little flairs of unique text here and there. Or re-write the entire thing in the author’s own words. As it is, the story was a bit clunky and broken up at times switching between the two. However, fans of Jane Austen who are looking for a new version of this story should definitely give it a go!

Rating 8: Who knew that what we really needed was a version of “Pride and Prejudice” where Darcy and Elizabeth whizz around in space ships?? Well, we did, and this was great fun all around!

Reader’s Advisory:

“Pride and Prejudice in Space” isn’t on any Goodreads lists, but it should be on “Pride and Prejudice Retellings.”

Serena’s Review: “The Last Dragon of the East”

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Book: “The Last Dragon of the East” by Katrina Kwan

Publishing Info: S&S/Saga Press, October 2024

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

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

Book Description: At the spry young age of twenty-five, Sai has led a quiet life, keeping the family teahouse up and running—even if that means ignoring the past-due notices—and taking care of his ailing mother. But he has a not-so-secret gift that he’s parlayed into a side career: he was born with the ability see the red threads of fate between soulmates, which lends itself nicely to matchmaking. Sai has thus far been content not to follow his own thread, the only one he’s ever seen that’s gray and fraying.

But Sai’s ordinary existence is about to be turned upside-down by a pair of shining dragon scales. When his mother’s doctor sells them to him, claiming them as a miracle cure, Sai is pretty sure he’s being scammed. When the medicine actually works—and the terrifying, ruthless emperor catches wind—Sai is thrust into the search for a dragon long thought extinct that will lead him into the throes of a brewing war and deep into foreign lands, facing down challenges both magical and mortal on an unexpected adventure. And for the very first time, as his own thread of fate begins to move, he may be able to solve the mystery of his Fated One on the other end of the line.

Review: I was very interested in checking this one out when the publisher reached out about a potential review. For one thing, it’s rare that I see fantasy titles like this that are centered from the man’s perspective (I typically prefer a female POV, but some of my favorite books are from male POVs, too!). For another, I’ve read a few other stories that explored the concept of the red thread of fate, and I was curious to see how this author would tackle this topic. Plus, you know…dragons.

Overall, there was a lot to like about this one! As I’m often primarily a character reader, I’ll start with our main characters themselves. Sai was an excellent POV character, with all the charm and laughs that one could want. Yes, this did the tone of his narration did sit awkward with some of the more gruesome and gory descriptive moments. But on its own, he was a fun main character to follow. I also enjoyed the juxtaposition of his more light-hearted character type against the female love interest, Jyn’s, more stoic personality. It was a nice switch-up to the typical roles we often seen in romantic pairings like this. I perhaps wished there had been a bit more character exploration given to this character, but as the story picked up towards the latter half of the book, the character arcs took a bit of a back seat to the lore and romance anyways.

I don’t want to go into any spoilers here, but I very much enjoyed the dragon aspects of this story. I’m not sure what I really had in mind, but the story definitely took a few twists that I wasn’t expecting. Once I realized what was going on, I was definitely all in. However, again, even here I wish that the story had lingered a bit longer over this history and how it affected our characters. Much of the plot gets stuck in an escape adventure which starts to overshadow some of these details. And while exciting enough on its own, the dragon history was incredibly compelling, and I think the book would have been better served to just fully lean in on that part.

This was a fun, fast read! I think fans of adventure fantasy will definitely enjoy this, though the romance does play a prominent role (which I, for one, very much liked) towards the second half of the book. I’ll definitely look forward to whatever this author comes out with next!

Rating 8: An excellent exploration of Chines mythology and dragon lore, one that will likely appeal to many adventure fantasy fans!

Reader’s Advisory:

“The Last Dragon of the East” can be found on these Goodreads lists: East Asian Fantasy and Asian Mythology Inspired Books.

Serena’s Review: “Tomb of the Sun King”

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Book: “Tomb of the Sun King” by Jacquelyn Benson

Publishing Info: Crimson Fox Publishing, October 2024

Where Did I Get this Book: Netgalley!

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

Book Description: Archivist and suffragette Ellie Mallory always dreamed of putting her scholarly skills to work in the ancient sands of Egypt. She never imagined she would be doing so in order to save an object of legendary power from a batch of ruthless villains. Racing baddies to an arcanum of Biblical proportions is only one of Ellie’s problems. Her hopelessly academic and perpetually mortified step-brother, Dr. Neil Fairfax, is about to learn that she’s been gallivanting around the globe with his danger-magnet best friend, Adam Bates—the roguish surveyor for whom Ellie harbors increasingly complicated feelings. Add the petite and terrifyingly fearless Constance Tyrrell to the mix, and Ellie either has a crack team of artifact-saving experts to hand… or a recipe for disaster. Together, they’ll need to follow a trail of three-thousand-year-old clues from the necropolis of Saqqara to the temples of Luxor and beyond, where the ruined capital of a heretic pharaoh hides a secret with the potential to upend history. To keep an earth-shattering magic from falling into the wrong hands, Ellie will need to pull out all the stops—even if that means resorting to fisticuffs, ignoring proper archaeological processes… and facing a terrible choice between doing what she knows is right or breaking her own heart.

Previously Reviewed: “Empire of Shadows”

Review: I really enjoyed the first book in this series and was super excited when I realize that the second one was slated to be released only a few months later! While I love fantasy and romantasy, I do feel like I’ve been running into more and more books recently that feel like carbon copies of one another with a rather paint-by-numbers approach to characterization and plot. In this way, this historical adventure series has felt like a breath of fresh air!

While I remember comparing the first book to the 90s movie “The Mummy,” I have to say that this one really leaned into that vibe by relocating our characters to Egypt itself. And, of course, curses and other such hijinks immediately ensued! Like the first book, I enjoyed the detailed work that went into some of the historical and cultural aspects of the story. While Egyptian history and mythology is more widely taught here in the U.S., than the ancient cultures of South America that were explored in the first book, there is always still room to explore just how pernicious much of the early archeology that took place there truly was. It wasn’t the primary focus, but the story did a good job of highlighting just how corrupt much of the process became, straying far from scientific and educational purposes.

However, at its heart, this book was full of adventure and the continued build of the slow-burn romance between the two main characters. One of my criticisms of the first book was the pacing of the story, especially in the first quarter. Here, the book is better served for having our two main characters already travelling together, allowing the story to set off at a break neck pace and never really let up!

Ellie and Adam also continued to be excellent main characters, and their developing love story is just as sweet in this second go-around. As they are both fairly stable characters, as far as it goes, I was pleased to see the book introduce a few side characters, namely Ellie’s friend Constance and her brother (and Adam’s friend) Neil. While Ellie and Adam are the foundational core of the story, these two additional characters added a bit more zing to the affair. For their part, the villains remained fairly one-dimensional and straight-forward, but I think this choice worked in conjunction with the overall tone of lighthearted adventure that makes up this book.

There were a few word choices that began to bother me as I read, however, feeling a bit too modern for the book. While I know the word “guy” was around at this time, it began to feel overused and a bit anachronistic at times. I don’t know for sure, but from reading other books written around this time period, I just don’t think it was used nearly as casually or as often as we see it in the modern time. Perhaps I just got hyper fixated on it, but I couldn’t stop noticing how often men were being described as “that guy over there” and the like.

Overall, however, I really enjoyed this book! Everything that I enjoyed from the first book was back again here, and I think the story settled into its pacing a bit better this go around. Fans of the first book should definitely check this one out. And if you’re in the mood for a read that feels unique from much of what is currently being produced, definitely give this one a go!

Rating 8: In many ways, Ellie Mallory feels like Amelia Peabody’s natural successor, and I’m living for it!

Reader’s Advisory:

“Tomb of the Sun King” isn’t on any Goodreads lists, but it should be on Popular Indiana Jones Esque Books.

Serena’s Review: “The Bloodless Princes”

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Book: “The Bloodless Princes” by Charlotte Bond

Publishing Info: Tordotcom, October 2024

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

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

Book Description: It seemed the afterlife was bustling.

Cursed by the previous practitioner in her new role, and following an… incident… with a supremely powerful dragon, High Mage Saralene visits the afterlife with a boon to beg of the Bloodless Princes who run the underworld.

But Saralene and her most trusted advisor/champion/companion, Sir Maddileh, will soon discover that there’s only so much research to be done by studying the old tales, though perhaps there’s enough truth in them to make a start.

Saralene will need more than just her wits to leave the underworld, alive. And Maddileh will need more than just her Fireborne Blade.

A story of love and respect that endures beyond death. And of dragons, because we all love a dragon!

Previously Reviewed: “The Fireborne Blade”

Review: I read and enjoyed the first novella in this series, so it was mostly a given that I would check out this next entry. That said, I definitely would have picked this one up based on the cover alone. I mean, for heaven’s sake, one of the lead characters is cuddling some sort of magical cat creature! So, without further ado, let’s dive into the review.

This was a romp of a ride! It’s a short little adventure tale that packs in a lot of action and lore within a limited page count. While I enjoyed the dragon lore we got in the first entry (and could have wished for a bit more of it here), I also liked the shift into a more Greek-inspired tale. Adventures through the land of the underworld are always a good time, and this one tied in nicely with some of the events and reveals at the end of the first book.

Like the first book, I enjoyed the way the author played around with storytelling format, imbedding numerous folktales throughout the story through different perspectives. And, like the first book, I was surprised to find that some of these entries were almost my favorite parts of the entire book! Not that I don’t enjoy our main characters and their story, but given the short length of the story, there’s isn’t a lot of complicated character arcs to be found there. Which isn’t bad, but it also means that I wasn’t heavily invested in them either. I enjoyed following their tale, but I also enjoyed simply learning more about this world. And, of course, I loved the cat dragon. Was it perhaps a bit of a bone throne to fantasy-lovers? Sure. Did I mind it at all? No, no I did not.

Overall, this was a fun duology. It didn’t break any barriers within the genre, but it was also the sort of beach read fantasy that I think will appeal to many readers who want to escape on a fun adventure but not commit to a massive tome. Fans of the first book will likely enjoy this one, and I definitely recommend this duology to all fantasy readers looking for a fast-paced adventure tale following two fantastic leading ladies!

Rating 8: Adventure, romance, and a dragon cat, what more can you want?

Serena’s Review: “Nightstrider”

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Book: “Nightstrider” by Sophia Slade

Publishing Info: Orbit, September 2024

Where Did I Get this Book: Netgalley!

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

Book Description: Wren is a  a deadly manifestation of the frightening dreams of humans. She is forever bound to the insidious Para Warwick, the only night creature who can cross the boundary between the dream and waking realms. When she fails to retrieve information on a weapon that could finally end Warwick’s reign and is severely punished, she makes a snap decision to aid the growing rebellion in finding it. Here, she meets Alaric, another nightmare hell-bent on atoning for his sins. Though wildly suspicious of one another, they form a tentative pact to take down Warwick once and for all. 

The waking world is no better off. Prince Caine Fallon, Warwick’s ignorant human son, prepares to wed Ila Enevoldson, the young queen from a neighboring kingdom. But Ila is more than she She is a weaver, a protector of the ancient Boundary that separates the realms, and she has lost a precious weapon entrusted to her. She will do anything to retrieve it, including agreeing to an engagement with the son of her sworn enemy.  

When Caine catches Ila opening a portal to the dream realm and follows her through, he finds himself in a universe stranger than he could have imagined, where his father is more monstrous than he could have fathomed. Their destinies collide with those of the two lethal nightmares, and they are forced to band together to stop the vicious dictator—and prevent the very fabric of reality from unravelling. 

Review: I’ve been looking forward to this book ever since I saw that it was picked up by Orbit. The premise sounded incredibly creative, and while I could see the potential for “too many POVs” syndrome, there are also plenty of examples of books where that’s not a failing but instead a bonus. So, ever hopeful, I picked this one up right away when I received my copy!

And, for the most part, there was a lot to like in this one! The first thing that stood out was the unique world-building. I feel like I’ve read similar fantasy stories that play around with the concept of dream worlds populated by living personifications of dreams, but this one more fully fleshed that idea out. In many ways, it operates similarly to the human world, full of social hierarchies based on power structures (in this case, power mostly comes in the form of physical strength and violence). And within this struggling world, there are those who are fighting against the tyrant that rules over them and the powerful nightmares he has created and surrounds himself with.

Then, in a truly interesting contrast, the book switches to the human world where that exact same tyrant rules as well. However, in this world, he is seen as a human man who has human children, who, similarly to the nightmares of the other realm, he rules over with an iron fist. It’s such an interesting concept, to have two so completely different worlds, but both not only facing similar oppression, but plagued with the same powerful man in both. I also enjoyed the change in dynamics between the worlds. In the human world, we have the POV of Para Warwick’s human son, Caine, so the book explores that family dynamic. In the nightmare world, Wren is Warwick’s right-hand nightmare, the doom he sends out to do his bidding. Both have similar close ties to this powerful, dangerous man, but there were also notable differences that the book explores.

And these are only two of the for POVs we get. While I did struggle to enjoy all four equally, I think the author made a wise decision of essentially pairing them up early in the book. Two of them are introduced in the human world and quickly fall within each other’s orbit (through the oldie-but-goodies arranged marriage trope) while the other two are nightmares in the fantasy world who come together in their joint mission to take down Warwick. All four had their own strengths, though I will say that I felt like Caine had the least to do in this book. Much of his story is simply being the “naïve one” who is first learning about the details of these different worlds. Similarly, Alaric didn’t have much as far as a true plot line. He is introduced as a resistance fighter, but the moment he meets Wren, she essentially takes over this role. However, both Wren and Ila are given more chapters as well, so this probably affected this feeling of imbalance.

The pacing is fairly steady throughout, with action scenes coming hot and heavy pretty much from start to finish. This did lead to a bit of clunkiness in the writing itself, with some scenes and character left with little description, leaving me feeling a bit stranded in an ill-defined setting. A bit more editing and fleshing out in the descriptive aspects would have elevated this one to a higher level. However, the dialogue was snappy and clearly a strength of this author’s. Fans of multi-POV fantasy novels with a focus on adventure as well as romance should give this one a shot!

Rating 8: With snappy dialogue, swoon-worthy romance, and a creative new fantasy world, this is a debut well-worth checking out!