Tag: 9 Rating

Serena’s Review: “A Study in Drowning”

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Book: “A Study in Drowning” by Ava Reed

Publishing Info: HarperTeen, September 2023

Where Did I Get this Book: Edelweiss+

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

Book Description: Effy Sayre has always believed in fairy tales. She’s had no choice. Since childhood, she’s been haunted by visions of the Fairy King. She’s found solace only in the pages of Angharad – author Emrys Myrddin’s beloved epic about a mortal girl who falls in love with the Fairy King, and then destroys him.

Effy’s tattered, dog-eared copy is all that’s keeping her afloat through her stifling first term at Llyr’s prestigious architecture college. So when Myrddin’s family announces a contest to design the late author’s house, Effy feels certain this is her destiny.

But Hiraeth Manor is an impossible task: a musty, decrepit estate on the brink of crumbling into a hungry sea. And when Effy arrives, she finds she isn’t the only one who’s made a temporary home there. Preston Héloury, a stodgy young literature scholar, is studying Myrddin’s papers and is determined to prove her favorite author is a fraud.

As the two rival students investigate the reclusive author’s legacy, piecing together clues through his letters, books, and diaries, they discover that the house’s foundation isn’t the only thing that can’t be trusted. There are dark forces, both mortal and magical, conspiring against them – and the truth may bring them both to ruin.

Review: First off, what a fantastic cover! I think this one is my favorite of the year, so far. It sets the tone for the novel and is just interesting in its own right, with little details that pop out the longer you look at it. Other than that, this book was an obvious choice to read this month. I struggled a bit with Reid’s most recent book, but I really enjoyed her first. And even in the more recent one, my struggles came down to some personal preferences, as her writing and world-building is beyond reproach, as far as I’m concerned. And man, am I glad I got to this one! This is now my favorite book by this author, overtaking “The Wolf and the Woodsman.”

Per the usual for Reid at this point, she tackles some dark, complicated themes in this book. Specifically, this one deals with the challenges that women historically have faced when daring to venture into realms previously dominated by men. After being denied entrance to the most prestigious, and her preferred, college, Effy must settle for being the only woman in the second, lesser choice. Her experience goes wrong from the very start, and while the majority of this book doesn’t take place at the college itself, her inner journey is largely based around the events that occurred there.

But beyond real world dangers, Effy’s life has been one of constant vigilance against the dark beings that haunt her, beings that she believes are signs of her own mental weakening. This book is promoted as a gothic fantasy, and I can’t think of a better example of the subgenre. You can feel the atmosphere dripping from the pages, with descriptions of crumbling staircases, flooded basements, and a landscape that is unsteady beneath the feet. The side characters only add to this pervasive sense of building doom. The man who runs the house is mercurial and cryptic, his family history full of cobwebs and deceptions. And their are other beings, lurking around corners, with Effy never quite sure how much is real and how much is in her head.

The book is also marketed as an academic rival romance, which I think is less on point. Effy and Preston are rivals for a hot second before quickly coming to a mutually beneficial agreement of cooperation. And, really, I don’t have a problem with that in this case. There are so many other mysteries on hand that I was happy to see the romance play out in a fairly straightforward manner. Effy has enough on her plate without long bouts of snark and delayed understanding between the two. Instead, their romance follows a slow, steady progression, serving as a solid backbone to all of the uncertainty around them.

There is clearly a lot of thought that has went into building this world. Effy and Preston’s nations are at war, there is a religious system built up around folklore and the deification of great artists, there’s a tragic history of large swaths of the countryside suddenly being swallowed by the sea. While I liked all of it in its own right, I was left wanting a bit more from all of these arenas, at the same time. I’m not quite sure what purpose was served by the nations at war, as this never plays into the story in any meaningful way? And while the religion and folklore received more attention, I was still left with some questions by the end.

However, wanting more is probably one of the best problems to have with a book! As I said above, this book is all about the atmosphere. Effy and Preston are good characters, but now after reading three books by this author, I think I can say that the strengths of her writing lie more with her world-building and dark fantasy elements. Fans of gothic fantasy should definitely check this one out!

Rating 9: Reid presents a master class on how to write a gothic fantasy, delivering a story where the sense of place is just as much a character as any of the human (or not!) variety.

Reader’s Advisory:

“A Study in Drowning” can be found on these Goodreads lists: 2023 Dark Academia Releases and 2023 Gothic.

Kate’s Review: “What Kind of Mother”


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Book: “What Kind of Mother” by Clay McLeod Chapman

Publishing Info: Quirk Books, September 2023

Where Did I Get This Book: I received an ARC at ALAAC23

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

Book Description: After striking out on her own as a teen mom, Madi Price is forced to return to her hometown of Brandywine, Virginia, with her seventeen-year-old daughter. With nothing to her name, she scrapes together a living as a palm reader at the local farmers market.

It’s there that she connects with old high school flame Henry McCabe, now a reclusive local fisherman whose infant son, Skyler, went missing five years ago. Everyone in town is sure Skyler is dead, but when Madi reads Henry’s palm, she’s haunted by strange and disturbing visions that suggest otherwise. As she follows the thread of these visions, Madi discovers a terrifying nightmare waiting at the center of the labyrinth—and it’s coming for everyone she holds dear.

Combining supernatural horror with domestic suspense into a visceral exploration of parental grief, What Kind of Mother cements Clay McLeod Chapman’s reputation as a “star” (Vulture) and “the twenty-first century’s Richard Matheson” (Richard Chizmar, Chasing the Boogeyman.)

Review: Thank you to Quirk Books for providing me with this ARC at ALAAC23!

One of my missions at ALAAC this past summer was to see if I could get my hands on an ARC of Clay McLeod Chapman’s “What Kind of Mother”. After reading “Ghost Eaters” and being wholly blown away and freaked out, his newest book was a must read. I was very happy when I did, indeed, get an ARC, and while I knew it was a high priority read, I would have to prepare myself. For one, Chapman is absolutely no holds barred brutal in his horror stories when he wants to be, whether that be seen through horrifying imagery, or soul shattering pathos. And for another, the themes of this story include a missing and presumed dead child. So combine the two and I’m probably going to be wrecked. But hey, with enough emotional preparation and steeling of oneself, surely I could come out of this relatively emotionally unscathed, right?

Ha ha ha, WRONG. (source)

Chapman has once again knocked me off my feet because his ability to pull out so many elements of multiple genres and apply it to this horror tale is so, so phenomenal. I knew that this was at its heart a horror story, but he also effortlessly brings in glimmers of dark fantasy thriller, with our protagonist Madi. Madi is down on her luck and trying to start over back in her home town, with her teenage daughter in tow (the daughter whose impending birth made a pregnant and teenage Madi flee this town in the first place). She sets up shop reading palms and cold reading clients to tell them what they want to hear. But when she reconnects with old flame Henry, whose own son Skyler disappeared a few years prior when he was a baby, she realizes that she is having actual visions of Skyler, and may be able to find him. As a dark fantasy thriller this is already great. So when Chapman also added in a slight pathos driven romance between the former lovers, as they are both at the end of their ropes and connecting over Skyler’s potential presence. I liked seeing these two desperate characters and seeing them team up, and fall into something potentially emotionally unhealthy. Madi and Henry both have a lot of pain that manifests in different ways, and their complicated personalities and relationship echoes what I expect from gritty complex woman centered thrillers. That alone drew me in. It’s suspenseful and poignant, as the idea of a child going missing is a complete nightmare to me and it felt like Henry’s grief and guilt was pretty spot on.

And then Chapman threw me for a loop that I didn’t at all expect, and it completely fucked me up. I don’t want to go into any spoilers here because I think that it needs to be a surprise. But I will talk about the horror elements in some terms that keep it a bit close to the vest. Firstly, so much nasty body horror. And what I loved about it was that this book isn’t super gory, but Chapman still made me cringe and squirm with some of the descriptions. It’s also incredibly creative in the direction it goes and what it means for the characters who are dealing with it. So the imagery is definitely freaky and unsettling. But then there is the more visceral and personal horror of this book, and that is the grief, fear, and guilt that comes with a missing child for any parent that is going to be reading this story. Chapman really taps into that deep seated horror (one that I absolutely have when it comes to my daughter) and twists the knife, creating moments that are gut wrenching either because of the despair involved, or because as a parent there were moments where something just awful was happening… and I couldn’t really assure myself that I wouldn’t be behaving in a similar way were I in a similar situation. These were the moments that just gutted me, and as the story unfolded in a new way that explored parental devotion and inability to either seek or accept closure, the more disturbed I became. This one is going to sit with me for a long time because of these moments. Goddamn you, Clay McLeod Chapman (I say that mostly in awe of you, sir).

“What Kind of Mother” is just brutal, but it’s a must read for horror fans. Clay McLeod Chapman is an up and coming powerhouse in horror literature, and if you haven’t checked him out yet, now is the time. But be warned: you aren’t going to see crabs the same way after reading this.

Rating 9: Devastating, horrifying, and a brutal depiction of parental grief, guilt, and devotion. I’ll be thinking about “What Kind of Mother” for awhile.

Reader’s Advisory:

“What Kind of Mother” is included on the Goodreads lists “2023 Gothic”, and “Horror to Look Forward to in 2023”.

Year of Sanderson: “Warbreaker”

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“Year of Sanderson” is an on-going, monthly series that will post on the last Friday of each month in which I will cover various Brandon Sanderson-related things. This will largely be comprised of book reviews (some from his back catalog and some from the books being released this year), as well as assorted other topics like reviews of the items in the swag boxes that will be coming out as part of Sanderson’s Kickstarted campaign. Frankly, we’ll just have to see what we get from this series, very much like the Kickstarter itself!

Book: “Warbreaker” by Brandon Sanderson

Publishing Info: Tor, June 2009

Where Did I Get this Book: own it!

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

Book Description: From #1 New York Times bestselling author Brandon Sanderson, Warbreaker is the story of two sisters, who happen to be princesses, the God King one of them has to marry, the lesser god who doesn’t like his job, and the immortal who’s still trying to undo the mistakes he made hundreds of years ago.

Their world is one in which those who die in glory return as gods to live confined to a pantheon in Hallandren’s capital city and where a power known as BioChromatic magic is based on an essence known as breath that can only be collected one unit at a time from individual people.

By using breath and drawing upon the color in everyday objects, all manner of miracles and mischief can be accomplished. It will take considerable quantities of each to resolve all the challenges facing Vivenna and Siri, princesses of Idris; Susebron the God King; Lightsong, reluctant god of bravery, and mysterious Vasher, the Warbreaker

Review: This is one of the few other standalone fantasy stories that I’ve read by Sanderson (he really hasn’t written many that aren’t parts of larger series). And as I’ve already covered the other, “Elantris,” I knew that I wanted to work this one into this review series. Like that book, it’s been rumored that there will be some sort of sequel to this book eventually, but there are also a few others the author has mentioned wanting to get through before he gets to those. But, being the crazy book-producing machine that he is, readers can feel fairly confident that the sequels will happen eventually.

That being the case, it was fun to go back and re-read this book. I’d only read it once before, but I had a pretty clear memory of what it was about. And most of that comes down to the fact that I absolutely loved this book when I read it the first time, and loved it just as much the second go-around! Honestly, this book checks off so many things in my personal favorites for fantasy stories that it’s not even funny. There are sisters. There is an arranged marriage/forced proximity romance. There’s an interesting magic system. There’s political maneuverings and upheaval. All good stuff, all good stuff.

The story is split between four POV characters, but like the first time I read it, it really felt as if the story lived and died based on the strengths of the two sisters, Vivenna and Suri. I love both of these women so much. They are so different from one another, and the entire book spends a lot of time challenging them on the aspects of their personalities that they thought were strengths and how their true strengths may lie in different arenas altogether. They each start the book with very clear understandings of themselves and the roles that they are expected to play, but by the end, they are both in wildly different positions than they ever would have expected. What’s more, while almost all of the narrative sees these two separated, throughout the course of the story, you feel them each grow to respect the other sister’s own particular strengths. Both of their arcs are very different, but equally fascinating.

As always, Sanderson also has a very unique, complex magic system built into this world he’s created. There are two kingdoms that had at one point been one. There’s an old and new religious system, with the new one made up of living gods who are mortals who die heroically and are then reborn as gods. And throughout it all is woven a system of magic that sees individuals having various levels of Breath, with it all tied to colors. The cover image of this book is not only beautiful in its own right, but perfectly illustrates the magic system at the core of this story.

Sanderson also likes to have mysterious characters who are operating on a different level in his stories. Here we have Lightsong, a god who is questioning everything around him, and the very unknown element, Vasher, who has his own agenda. While I preferred the sisters’ stories over these characters’ chapters, both Lightsong and Vasher added crucial depth to the goings on that make up the larger plot and mystery of this book. And when the reveals do come, there’s a clear bright line running throughout the story laying out clues to the ultimate resolution.

This an excellent, stand-alone fantasy read. It’s definitely satisfying to read as it is, but I’m also very curious to see where a sequel story would go. Probably still a few years wait on that one, but I’ll be at the front of the line to get my copy when it finally does release!

Rating 9: Complete with all of my favorite fantasy themes, “Warbreaker” is further proof that Sanderson doesn’t need an epic series to weave a fully-realized world and magic system.

Reader’s Advisory:

“Warbreaker” is on these Goodreads lists: “High Fantasy” with Female Leads / protoganists and, funnily enough, Arranged Marriages/Marriages Of Convenience.

Joint Review: “Mister Magic”

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Book: “Mister Magic” by Kiersten White

Publishing Info: Del Rey, August 2023

Where Did We Get This Book: Kate received an eARC from NetGalley and a physical ARC at ALAAC23, Serena received an eARC from Edelweiss+.

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

Book Description: Thirty years after a tragic accident shut down production of the classic children’s program Mister Magic, the five surviving cast members have done their best to move on. But just as generations of cultishly devoted fans still cling to the lessons they learned from the show, the cast, known as the Circle of Friends, have spent their lives searching for the happiness they felt while they were on it. The friendship. The feeling of belonging. And the protection of Mister Magic.

But with no surviving video of the show, no evidence of who directed or produced it, and no records of who—or what—the beloved host actually was, memories are all the former Circle of Friends has.

Then a twist of fate brings the castmates back together at the remote desert filming compound that feels like it’s been waiting for them all this time. Even though they haven’t seen each other for years, they understand one another better than anyone has since.

After all, they’re the only ones who hold the secret of that circle, the mystery of the magic man in his infinitely black cape, and, maybe, the answers to what really happened on that deadly last day. But as the Circle of Friends reclaim parts of their past, they begin to wonder: Are they here by choice, or have they been lured into a trap?

Because magic never forgets the taste of your friendship. . . .

Kate’s Thoughts

I thought I knew exactly what to expect when I picked up “Mister Magic”, because I thought that I knew how Kiersten White ticked and would tell this story. I’ve greatly enjoyed her horror stories in the past, and I thought that this one sounded like an interesting take on the “Candle Cove” creepypasta with some children’s TV nostalgia and deconstruction to boot. But what I got was something that was far more personal and emotional, and something that connected with me in ways I never anticipated, all while being, yes, very creepy. Because yes, “Mister Magic” is definitely a weird fiction dark fantasy horror about a group of adults who are being drawn back into the children’s TV show they participated in as children, but has since been wiped from the pop culture zeitgeist for reasons the reader doesn’t know at first.

But it’s also a story about childhood trauma, trying to leave a repressive and high control society and culture, and the repression of oneself to live the way others, namely parents and adult figures, think one should to make their own lives easier. I loved the sinister imagery of Mister Magic and the slow dropping of clues from various found texts, I loved following Val as she is brought back into the fold with her former “Mister Magic” compatriots as they all return for a reunion (held by a mysterious podcast in the town in which they filmed the show), and I loved seeing all of them realize that something is very wrong, and it’s NOT just the potentially supernatural elements. As someone who has been trying to raise a very spirited toddler in ways that won’t cause lasting emotional turmoil (and as someone who felt a need to repress my own emotional difficulties as a child and teenager, which led to a VERY dark mental state), this book really cut me to the bone. I applaud Kiersten White for exploring these themes, and for being vulnerable in her author’s notes about her own journey to leave a group that was causing her trauma.

I really enjoyed “Mister Magic”. It spoke to me in ways I never could have predicted, while also creeping me all the way out.

Serena’s Thoughts

Like Kate, I also went in feeling like I knew a decent amount about the kind of book I’d be reading. I’ve enjoyed White’s books in the past, and I felt like this would be a good collab since it would be creepy but not like “trauma level” horror of the ilk that Kate can handle but I definitely can’t! But also like Kate said, the story given in the blurb is only half of what this book has to offer, and the much more straight-forward half at that (believe it or not, the fact that a TV show might have been real is the simple part!). There was a lot of depth to be found in this one, exploring childhood (how it’s experienced by children and how adults idealize it), family (how the “real” families can sometimes be damaging and the joy that can be found in families created oneself), and in the power of oneself, in the face of forces telling you who you can be.

Reading the author’s note, it’s also very clear that this is a personal book for Kiersten White. And while I applaud her for taking a very large topic and finding a creative way of talking about it without, you know, talking about it, I do think that the read itself suffered a bit from the pacing and the mashing together of “typical horror/thriller” and the commentary on larger themes. There were points in dialogue where characters would literally just go on a several-paragraphs-long mini speech just laying all of these greater points out. And while I loved the insightfulness of what was actually being said, it did take me out of the actual book itself. I struggled to connect at these moments, feeling clearly that no one would actually speak like this.

But, again, in total I think this was a highly ambitious book and that it accomplished everything it set out to do. If its quality as a straightly told horror/thriller is dinged a bit by the tendency of its themes to rise above its plots, than in this case, that’s a deal I’m willing to make!

Kate’s Rating 9: Creepy, personal, VERY emotional and hopeful, “Mister Magic” upended my expectations in the best ways.

Serena’s Rating 8: Packing in layers upon layers in themes regarding individuality, identity, and personal strength in the face of oppression, this book will suck you in and take you to some dark, but important, places.

Reader’s Advisory

“Mister Magic” isn’t on any Goodreads lists as of now, but it would fit in on “Creepy Kids”.

Serena’s Review: “The Jasad Heir”

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Book: “The Jasad Heir” by Sara Hashem

Publishing Info: Orbit, July 2023

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

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

Book Description: In this Egyptian-inspired debut fantasy, a fugitive queen strikes a deadly bargain with her greatest enemy and finds herself embroiled in a complex game that could resurrect her scorched kingdom or leave it in ashes forever.

Ten years ago, the kingdom of Jasad burned. Its magic outlawed; its royal family murdered down to the last child. At least, that’s what Sylvia wants people to believe.

The lost Heir of Jasad, Sylvia never wants to be found. She can’t think about how Nizahl’s armies laid waste to her kingdom and continue to hunt its people—not if she wants to stay alive. But when Arin, the Nizahl Heir, tracks a group of Jasadi rebels to her village, staying one step ahead of death gets trickier.

In a moment of anger Sylvia’s magic is exposed, capturing Arin’s attention. Now, to save her life, Sylvia will have to make a deal with her greatest enemy. If she helps him lure the rebels, she’ll escape persecution.

A deadly game begins. Sylvia can’t let Arin discover her identity even as hatred shifts into something more. Soon, Sylvia will have to choose between the life she wants and the one she left behind. The scorched kingdom is rising, and it needs a queen.

Review: I really wasn’t sure what I would be getting when I requested this book. On one hand, I was very intrigued by the “Egyptian-inspired” aspect of the story (more on that later). But on the other hand, much of what is described in the summary sounds very familiar. How many books have I read in the last few years where magic is outlawed and some heir to some throne somewhere is on the run only to be called upon to once again take up their crown? However, as I said recently, sometimes popular things are popular for a reason, and I was happy to be wrong with my initial concerns with this one! Indeed, I enjoyed it quite a bit!

First off, let’s get my little note about the inspiration for this book out of the way. Most likely this was a completely personal failing on my part, because I don’t think I know enough about Egyptian culture, religion, or history to truly appreciate the “inspired by” aspects of this story. Instead, I mostly fixated on the fact that there is a large river that is central to the geography of the various kingdoms which was obviously a stand-in for the Nile. I was able to recognize the near-personification of this river as a clear call-back to the relationship the regions surrounding the Nile had/have to that great waterway. But, other than that, I really felt like a lot of the Egyptian aspects were going over my head. Readers who are more familiar may get more out of these aspects of the story than I did. Honestly, if that line hadn’t been right there in the summary of the book, I don’t think I would have made the connection, even with the all-important river.

Even without perhaps fully appreciating these aspects of the story, I really enjoyed this book! Much of this comes down to how much I enjoyed the main character. Here was a truly flawed and complex individual who was also incredibly sympathetic and understandable. Her life has been one of horror, pain, and loneliness. Her memories are scattered and her ability to rely on or trust anyone but herself has been broken many times. Out of this rises a woman who knows that she makes selfish choices, but while she berates herself for this quality, much of the book is spent with her diligently examining why people make heroic choices, even in the face of horrible odds or against their better interest.

Beyond this, she was simply a fun character to spend time with. The dialogue was funny at times and heart-breaking at others. And, best of all, we got to see her in action in a number of bad-ass action set pieces. I also enjoyed her very slow-burn relationship with the man that should be her natural enemy. This was a true “slow burn” in the sense that months pass over the course of this story, and the characters truly do go through the ringer to slowly make their way towards understanding and caring for one another. This is exactly how you pull off this sort of relationship. Anything other than this meticulous and slow build simply reads as unrealistic between characters like these who have no reason to like or trust one another quickly. I also really liked the romantic hero, Arin, on his own. I do have a think for the quiet, meticulously powerful ones, and he checked a lot of boxes for my reading preferences.

There was also a lot put into the world-building and history of this world. And I’ll be honest, even halfway through, I was still struggling to keep straight exactly which gods were connected with which kingdoms, how the various cultures were different from one another, and how exactly this world was laid out. I read this book on my Kindle, so I do think this was one of those situations where having a map would have helped me quite a lot. Especially given the fixation on maps that Arin himself is referenced as having!

The story does end on a fairly substantial cliff hanger. And there are a lot of dangling mysteries to be had, not only about both of our main characters, but about what truly happened in the history of this world, both recent and long ago. But I think it’s well worth the torment, and any fans of detailed, fantasy worlds and compelling heroines should definitely check this one out!

Rating 9: What a wonder! A debut that is rich in world-building and lead by a fantastic, feisty heroine, Hashem checks all the boxes as a SFF author to keep your eyes on!

Reader’s Advisory:

“The Jasad Heir” isn’t on any Goodreads lists yet, but it should be on Egyptian Mythology.

Serena’s Review: “Bonesmith”

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Book: “Bonesmith” by Nicki Pau Preto

Publishing Info: Margaret K. McElderry Books, July 2023

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

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

Book Description: Gideon the Ninth meets the Game of Thrones White Walkers in this dark young adult fantasy about a disgraced ghost-fighting warrior who must journey into a haunted wasteland to rescue a kidnapped prince.

Ready your blade. Defeat the undead.

In the Dominions, the dead linger, violent and unpredictable, unless a bonesmith severs the ghost from its earthly remains. For bonesmith Wren, becoming a valkyr—a ghost-fighting warrior—is a chance to solidify her place in the noble House of Bone and impress her frequently absent father. But when sabotage causes Wren to fail her qualifying trial, she is banished to the Border Wall, the last line of defense against a wasteland called the Breach where the vicious dead roam unchecked.

Determined to reclaim her family’s respect, Wren gets her chance when a House of Gold prince is kidnapped and taken beyond the Wall. To prove she has what it takes to be a valkyr, Wren vows to cross the Breach and rescue the prince. But to do so, she’s forced into an uneasy alliance with one of the kidnappers—a fierce ironsmith called Julian from the exiled House of Iron, the very people who caused the Breach in the first place…and the House of Bone’s sworn enemy.

As they travel, Wren and Julian spend as much time fighting each other as they do the undead, but when they discover there’s more behind the kidnapping than either of them knew, they’ll need to work together to combat the real a dark alliance that is brewing between the living and the undead.

Review: While I haven’t yet gotten around to “Gideon the Ninth” (I knoooow, what’s my deal??), I have always loved fantasy books that deal with death/ghost magic and necromancy. Dark? Yes. But often that same darkness leads to a lot of delicious action and plot! “Sabriel” by Garth Nix was probably one of my first introductions to this particular subgenre of fantasy, and I’ve been a convert ever since! All of this to say, I knew the moment I saw the awesome cover for this one and read the description that this book would be right up my alley. And that it was!

So, I read and reviewed the first book in Preto’s first YA trilogy, “Crown of Feathers.” It…wasn’t my favorite. But I do love to discover that either an author has improved their style, or that the first go around was just a fluke disconnect in taste! Without having read the second two books in that trilogy, I can’t say whether I would have liked them more due to more confidence in the author’s style or what. What I can say, is that I absolutely loved this one and will be lining up for more as soon as possible!

This book had so many things that I liked. The world-building was interesting, with a history of magical “smithing” families who have different connections to substances like gold, iron, and, of course, bone. What’s more, their land is plagued by the fact that the dead will rise again if they are not put to rest by bone smiths. Such is our protagonist. Wren is everything I love in a heroine. She’s brave to the point of foolish, a bit selfish, but also has the skills to back up a lot of her talk. Naturally, her story is one of finding a balance between her more thoughtless tendencies to rush in without thought and the need to sometimes step back and wait. She also comes from a supremely dysfunctional family, and I loved the unravelling mysteries to be found in Wren’s past.

The pacing and plotting were also tight and fast-paced throughout the story. I picked it up and never wanted to put it down! There were some excellent action scenes, as well as some descriptions and perils that were verging on horror. I was able to guess a few of the twists, but there were also genuine surprises to be found in this story. What’s more, there were several moments where the story walked right up to a YA trope or pitfall, seemed to stare at it a bit, and then neatly sidestepped the issue that I was all geared up to hate. I love it when authors manage this!

I also really enjoyed the love interest and side characters. Julian was stoic, competent, and also had a lot to learn about his view of the world. More importantly, this author took advantage of a writing choice that I REALLY wish authors would utilize more often. The book is told from Wren’s perspective for 95% of the story. But sprinkled throughout, we have two or three chapters from Julian’s perspective, and even a few from the captured prince’s. Why don’t authors do this more often?? This choice was so much more effective than had the author tried to make this the ever-popular, and often unfortunate, alternating dual POV story. So rarely is there truly enough story to justify two equally balance POVs. Instead, you often have characters repeating things that were discussed or dealt with in the previous chapter. Or you have one compelling character who has a legitimate story arch and then….another character who’s just kind of there. Instead, Preto gave us a few needed glimpses behind the curtains that clued the reader (but not Wren) in on what was going on in the heads of both men, but didn’t cut into a story that was, at its heart, Wren’s own. It was a very restrained decision, and one that I think speaks very highly to the skills of the author to know what is (and isn’t) needed to make the story sing.

Overall, this was an excellent read. I had a blast reading it, and I think it has the sort of cross-over appeal that will make it great for both YA and adult fantasy fans!

Rating 9: Darkly brilliant, this story plops you down in a fantastical world chock full of wonder and horror. You probably wouldn’t want to live there, but man, it’s a blast to visit!

Reader’s Advisory:

“Bonesmith” isn’t on any Goodreads lists yet, but it should be on something like this list Popular Necromancy Books.

Serena’s Review: “Thief Liar Lady”

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

Book: “Thief Liar Lady” by D. L. Soria

Publishing Info: Del Rey, July 2023

Where Did I Get this Book: NetGalley!

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

Book Description: I’m not who you think I am.

My transformation from a poor, orphaned scullery maid into the enchantingly mysterious lady who snagged the heart of the prince did not happen–as the rumors insisted–in a magical metamorphosis of pumpkins and glass slippers. On the first evening of the ball, I didn’t meekly help my “evil” stepmother and stepsisters primp and preen or watch forlornly out the window as their carriage rolled off toward the palace. I had other preparations to make.

My stepsisters and I had been trained for this–to be the cleverest in the room, to be quick with our hands and quicker with our lies. We were taught how to get everything we want in this world, everything men always kept for themselves: power, wealth, and prestige. And with a touchingly tragic past and the help of some highly illegal spells, I would become a princess, secure our fortunes, and we would all live happily ever after.

But there’s always more to the story. With my magic running out, war looming, and a handsome hostage prince–the wrong prince–distracting me from my true purpose with his magnetic charm and forbidden flirtations, I’m in danger of losing control of the delicate balance I’ve created…and that could prove fatal.

Review: I was both excited and nervous when I first picked up this book. On one hand, I love fairytale retellings, and it seems like it’s been a bit since I’ve read one lately. On the other hand, “Cinderella” has always been a particularly hard nut to crack, as far as I’m concerned. There’s just so little “there” there. I mean, she meets the guy for three nights and then they get married. Kind of a tough sell for modern audiences who want a bit more foundation to their romances. “Ella Enchanted” did it well. But that book is also middle grade fiction and decades old at this point. And this one is not only not middle grade, but it’s not even YA (the usual haven of fairytale retelling). Nope, straight adult fantasy! But wow, was I impressed with this book!

There were a lot of really smart choices that I think the author made right off the bat that got this book off to a good start. For one thing, the story opens up after Cinderella/Ash has won her prince. After the balls. After the glass slipper. From there, we also swiftly learn that this fairytale romance is not what it seems. Ash herself is not what she seems. Instead of the picture perfect maid-turned-princess, she’s a spy with her own agendas. And I say agendas, plural, because there are layers to the schemes behind her journey to the palace. As the story progresses, we have a few jumps backward in time, so we do see some of the actual ball and events seen in the traditional fairytale. But even here, there are twists and turns behind how these events played out and what was truly going on behind the scenes. All of this gave the story an incredibly fresh, unique feel. Yes, you can clearly see the influences from the original. But 90% of the book is its own story.

This leads to the second choice the author made that I think was incredibly smart: changes to our main characters. Ash, of course, is no Disney princess. Her history, while containing many of the same bullet points from the original story, is one that has shaped a very different woman. Indeed, she’s partly aligned with her “evil” stepmother to further their own hatched plans. But further, she has her own political motivations, fighting for her mother’s homeland, a country that has suffered greatly under the pressure and power of this realm’s king. She’s brave, brash, and a truly morally grey character. She makes no excuses for the fact that she is bespelling and using the prince for her own ends. I enjoyed her entire arc throughout this story. It is a journey of accountability, of compromise, and of understanding just what sacrifices she is willing to make for the sake of a cause.

I also really enjoyed the fact that the romance was changed around. Instead of the prince (who is both sympathetic for being manipulated by Ash but also incredibly unlikable at different points), the love story is shifted to a different character. I really loved the slow burn nature of this romance. And even more than that, I enjoyed how the development of this romance forced Ash to confront some of the realities behind the choices she was making and the people she was working alongside. Beyond the shifts to Ash and her prince, I really like the roles the evil step-sisters played in the story. We don’t get tons of page time with them, but I think there was some really interesting commentary to be found there about sibling relationships, especially those formed in abusive households.

The writing was also incredibly strong. The book both made me laugh out loud, but was also incredibly sad at various points. Indeed, my one complaint about the book comes down to a bit of a dissonance in tone. I like the fact that the book went to some dark places (honestly, way darker than I was ever expecting). But then the switch in tone from light, funny, and action-packed to incredibly tragic, and back and forth…it became a bit hard at times to fully make that switch when the story took a sudden swerve one way or the other.

But even with this minor quibble, I was so pleased with this book! I had a blast reading it, and it’s definitely the sort of story that I can see myself re-reading many times in the future.

Rating 9: Fresh, vibrant, and bringing us a morally grey “Cinderella” who you can’t help but root for!

Reader’s Advisory:

“Thief Liar Lady” isn’t on any relevant Goodreads lists yet, but it should be on Cinderella Retellings.

Year of Sanderson: “Tress of the Emerald Sea”

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

“Year of Sanderson” is an on-going, monthly series that will post on the last Friday of each month in which I will cover various Brandon Sanderson-related things. This will largely be comprised of book reviews (some from his back catalog and some from the books being released this year), as well as assorted other topics like reviews of the items in the swag boxes that will be coming out as part of Sanderson’s Kickstarted campaign. Frankly, we’ll just have to see what we get from this series, very much like the Kickstarter itself!

Book: “Tress of the Emerald Sea” by Brandon Sanderson

Publishing Info: Dragonsteel Entertainment, April 2023

Where Did I Get this Book: own it!

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

Book Description: The only life Tress has known on her island home in an emerald-green ocean has been a simple one, with the simple pleasures of collecting cups brought by sailors from faraway lands and listening to stories told by her friend Charlie. But when his father takes him on a voyage to find a bride and disaster strikes, Tress must stow away on a ship and seek the Sorceress of the deadly Midnight Sea. Amid the spore oceans where pirates abound, can Tress leave her simple life behind and make her own place sailing a sea where a single drop of water can mean instant death?

Review: Those who signed up for Brandon Sanderon’s record-breaking Kickstarter are aware that this book has been a long-time coming. Honestly, I can’t even be mad about the fact that its arrival was several months delayed. The response to the Kickstarter was completely crazy, and it’s hard to imagine any small publisher managing that sort of volume in a perfect manner, especially when there has been a lot of upheaval in the book printing industry ever since Covid. All of that said, I was so, so excited to receive this book in the mail! And it will mark the first review of a brand new Sanderson book in this review series (instead of the reviews of previously published works that I’ve posted in the past.)

First off, I want to say that I understand that there were some pretty hefty price tags alongside the various levels of this Kickstarter. I’m going to try to do a review of some of my favorite items from the monthly boxes somewhere in this series, but I’ve been incredibly impressed with the quality and uniqueness of the items. I’ve subscribed to book boxes in the past, and very often they feel like they’re simply churning out low quality, similar items in every box. Not so here. But, more importantly for this review, I’m so happy that I went ahead and bought the special editions of these books. Judging by this first one, it will be well worth the price. The cover art is beautiful. The foiling and “leather” binding is awesome. And the interior artwork is simply gorgeous. I can’t say enough good things. It’s the kind of book that I now have prominently displayed on my shelves, and every once in a while I’ll just look over at it and it makes me happy. Sparks joy, and all of that.

The story itself is exactly that as well: joyful. I had a smile plastered on my face from start to finish. This is the type of “cozy fantasy” that I think will appeal to readers across the SFF board. It doesn’t lean too hard into any one aspect of “coziness,” but instead simply revels in being an action-packed story, with fun characters, snappy dialogue, and wonder-filled magic. The marketing and author’s note for this story mentions that the inspiration for this story came from “The Princess Bride” and the question: what if Buttercup had tried to rescue Wesley when he was “killed” by the Dread Pirate Roberts instead of simply…accepting it? Not only is that concept amazing, but the book that Sanderson produces perfectly matches the type of book that should have any connection or reference to “The Princess Bride.”

The story follows Tress, a young woman who has lead a quiet life on a remote island up until she is forced to team up with pirates in an attempt to rescue the love of her life who has been kidnapped by a powerful sorceress. Tress is a fantastic leading lady. She starts from humble beginnings and her evolution to the leader she becomes is organic and believable. Indeed, as the story progresses, the narrator of the story is very determined in highlighting just what makes Tress special. She doesn’t suddenly reveal here-to-unknown magical powers or an ability to suddenly become the best fighter/assassin/pirate/what-have-you. Instead, her strengths are the quieter kinds, the ones that people often forget about as so necessary to what makes a hero great to begin with. Her determination, her bravery, her willingness to question others’ and her own assumptions. It’s all great stuff.

Speaking of the narrator, the story is told by Hoid, a character who both shows up on the page and “tells” us the story. Now, this will either mean a whole lot to you or nothing at all depending on your familiarity with Sanderson’s back catalog. And the best thing I can say here is that either way, whether you know all about Hoid or are just meeting him for the first time here, this book functions equally well. I do think that fans of the Cosmere will appreciate the little Easter Eggs sprinkled throughout the story, but they also were so lightly touched upon that I don’t think they will feel noticeable or out-of-place to the casual reader. As a fan of the previous books, I really enjoyed reading a book narrated by this character. Yes, there were times where some of the humor was a bit too juvenile for my taste (such is often the case, I’ve found, with Sanderson’s YA work), but there were also entire paragraphs that I found myself re-reading several times and wanting to physically highlight for the clever and insightful things being said.

I loved everything about this book! For one reason or another, it’s been a long time since I’ve picked up a book by Brandon Sanderson, but this read was the perfect kick-in-the-butt I needed to remind myself why I need to work better at staying up to date with his writing. But, come on, the guy writes a crazy amount! It’s like a full-time job reading all of his stuff as it comes out! That is one very nice thing about these four new novels coming out this year: they’re all stand-alones (as far as I’m aware), so I can look forward to the next three with the simple joy of knowing I’m not committing to any more series. If you’re a fan of Brandon Sanderson, cozy fantasies, or, really, anything SFF, you should definitely add this on to your TBR list!

Rating 9: With first book in Sanderson’s series of four, he proves once again that yes, he really can write this many books and still maintain a level of quality that blows the mind.

Reader’s Advisory:

“Tress of the Emerald Sea” is on these Goodreads lists: Best books of 2023 and Fantasy with cozy vibes…

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


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Book: “Lore Olympus: Volume Four” by Rachel Smyth

Publishing Info: Random House Worlds, June 2023

Where Did I Get This Book: I own it.

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

Book Description: The rumor mill of Olympus is constantly churning, but Persephone and Hades are all anyone can talk about. With the constant gossip creating intense pressure on the pair, they decide to slow down their budding romance and focus on sorting out their own issues first. But that’s easier said than done.

Hades struggles to find support in his personal life, with Zeus trivializing his feelings and Minthe resorting to abusive patterns in their relationship. And while Hades tries to create healthier boundaries where he can–like finally putting a stop to his sporadic, revenge-fueled hookups with Hera–he still feels lonely and adrift.

Persephone feels equally ostracized as her classmates shun her for her connection to Hades, and she can find no refuge at home, with Apollo constantly dropping by unannounced and pushing his unwelcome advances. And on top of it all, the wrathful god of war, Ares, has returned to Olympus to dredge up his sordid history with the goddess of spring, threatening to surface Persephone’s dark and mysterious past and ruin her tenuous position in the land of the gods.

Despite agreeing to take it slow, Persephone and Hades find themselves inextricably drawn toward each other once more amid the chaos. The pull of fate cannot be denied.

This edition of Rachel Smythe’s original Eisner-nominated webcomic Lore Olympus features exclusive behind-the-scenes content and brings the Greek pantheon into the modern age in a sharply perceptive and romantic graphic novel.

Review: The problem when I binge read an ongoing series is that once I have consumed everything there is to consume, I then have to wait for the next batch of new content to drop. And I am not good at waiting. But eventually the wait ends, and in this case we now have “Lore Olympus: Volume 4”! This series is so wonderful and amazing and I am so glad that we are going forward in the series, because it’s still juicy, it’s still sexy, it’s still heartfelt, and it’s still hilarious. Rachel Smythe has a lot of characters and storylines to juggle and it feels like she just keeps adding more, but she is still absolutely killing it. KILLING IT I SAY!

We’ll start with Hades, as when we left him his heart had been once again stomped on by his on again, off again girlfriend Minthe, who had been manipulated by her frenemy Thetis to stand him up on a date that she had coordinated. So when we see Hades again, he is trying to understand what Minthe’s deal was, and we get to see the VERY toxic aspects of their relationship as the fallout comes down all around the both of them. Minthe is a very interesting character to me, as while she is just AWFUL to Hades in this moment, I really like that Smythe, once again, decides to explore how nuanced she is, while also calling her out on how wrong she is in this moment. Minthe is one of those characters who could easily just be a two dimensional bitch, but instead we get to see how much she struggles with herself and how much she regrets that way she behaves, and can’t seem to control her reactions and volatile nature. And it was the perfect way to segue into Hades own trauma and how that has plagued him for so long, and how it has shaped how he reacts to romantic relationships. Or really any relationships. It gives insight into both characters, and I loved that.

And Persephone is just having a horrible time of it right now too. She is still dealing with the fallout from when Apollo raped her, and now to make matters worse the classmates are no longer trusting her because of her close relationship with Hades (as Hades, being Hades, sought out revenge on the tabloid reporter who published the picture of the two of them that made Persephone’s life very difficult, who was friends with one of her peers). She’s ostracized at school, is still trying to stay out of a murky relationship with Hades, and Apollo just keeps. Dropping. By. But this is what makes Persephone’s story finally turn from the initial naïve young goddess who is sweet and demure. Because now Persephone is angry. VERY angry. And we are getting more and more hints as to what an angry Persephone may mean, with her fury at Apollo overflowing and hinting at previous rage.

And that brings tidings of great joy, because due to her abject rage being so visceral, Ares is here after taking notice. Which is so funny to me because I NEVER cared for Ares back in the day when I was obsessing over Greek Mythology, but in this he is HILARIOUS and such a dick but did I mention HILARIOUS? Smythe’s skills are so on point because she really does take all of these Greek Gods and Goddesses and keeps them true to their natures while also making all of them very entertaining and funny with very relatable moments. I hate Zeus for how he treats Hera and Hades, but I also LOVE it when he drops by Hades house insisting on brunch. Ares is a macho dunce who is aggressive to the extreme, but he also makes me laugh and he is a great ally to his mother Hera. In fact, the only character that is just plain despicable is Apollo, but given that that itself is a bit of a subversion from his original mythological profile, it’s great.

Okay I also really, really need to gush and talk about the Hades/Hera relationship in this Volume. It had been very much implied that there is SOMETHING going on between these two, and this one finally reveals that they, occasionally, hook up when they are feeling glum or unappreciated. I mean, that on it’s own is super hot in my book, as I love both Hades and Hera in this and there is absolutely potential there. But Smythe, being the very cruel sadist that she is, decides to take it one step further, and starts to create a backstory between the two of them that makes their sometimes romantic relationship all the more bittersweet. I won’t go into details because you just gotta see it start to unfold, but god DAMMIT do I think it’s going to be rough as we learn more. I love how Smythe adds so many complexities to these relationships and how she makes at least some of them, like Hades and Hera, feel somewhat healthy in the midst of so many unhealthy ones (see above. ARG, Minthe, you’re killing me girlfriend!).

I love this series so much. I know that the webtoon is long long long, which only means that we are going to have SO many volumes to consume, and I, for one, am THRILLED with how it is progressing. Next one is out in October! Be still my impatient heart.

Rating 9: This series continues to shine brightly and to make me laugh on one page while tearing my heart out on another.

Reader’s Advisory:

“Lore Olympus: Volume 4” is included on the Goodreads lists “2023 Greek Mythology Retelling Books”, and “The Ultimate Hades and Persephone Directory”.

Year of Sanderson: “The Hero of Ages”

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

“Year of Sanderson” is an on-going, monthly series that will post on the last Friday of each month in which I will cover various Brandon Sanderson-related things. This will largely be comprised of book reviews (some from his back catalog and some from the books being released this year), as well as assorted other topics like reviews of the items in the swag boxes that will be coming out as part of Sanderson’s Kickstarted campaign. Frankly, we’ll just have to see what we get from this series, very much like the Kickstarter itself!

Book: “The Hero of Ages” by Brandon Sanderson

Publishing Info: Tor Fantasy, October 2009

Where Did I Get this Book: own it

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

Book Description: Who is the Hero of Ages?

To end the Final Empire and restore freedom, Vin killed the Lord Ruler. But as a result, the Deepness—the lethal form of the ubiquitous mists—is back, along with increasingly heavy ashfalls and ever more powerful earthquakes. Humanity appears to be doomed.

Having escaped death at the climax of The Well of Ascension only by becoming a Mistborn himself, Emperor Elend Venture hopes to find clues left behind by the Lord Ruler that will allow him to save the world. Vin is consumed with guilt at having been tricked into releasing the mystic force known as Ruin from the Well. Ruin wants to end the world, and its near omniscience and ability to warp reality make stopping it seem impossible. Vin can’t even discuss it with Elend lest Ruin learn their plans!

Previously Reviewed: “Mistborn” and “The Well of Ascension”

Review: Here we are, the last book in Sanderson’s first Mistborn trilogy! And this is very much where the proof was in the pudding as far as his future as a rock star fantasy author goes! It’s one thing to write a great started to a series. Another to not get caught up in the sophomore slump of the second novel. But it’s an entirely different beast to tackle an ending. And boy oh boy, what an ending it is!

Things are not looking up for Vin and Elend. Yes, Elend evaded death by becoming a Mistborn himself, but balancing his duties as leader with learning to master the powerful abilities now at his hands is more than most can accomplish. For her part, Vin is grappling with the world-changing results of her actions after she accidentally released Ruin, an almost all-powerful destructive force, back into the world. Now, with the very world around them turning against them, Vin and Elend must fight once again not just for the freedom of their people, but for their very survival.

What can I saw about this book that hasn’t been said a million times before and isn’t just me reduced to incoherent gushing?? I mean, simply put, it’s an excellent book and a fantastic finisher for the trilogy as a whole. It is the conclusion of large character arcs for both Vin and Elend which has seen each character grow from fairly simple beginnings to the very complex beings we see here. As the challenges they face have grown more complicated, so, too, do we see Elend and Vin grapple with decisions that seemingly have no “good” answer. Vin, in particular, a being who is almost all-powerful in her own way, must learn navigate the complicated fall-out of the decisions she made in the previous book. And, for his part, Elend, now granted the abilities that Vin wields so masterfully, must face where his strengths and Vin’s differ.

In many ways, this book has a much darker, more grim overall tone. The world is literally falling apart around our cast and crew, and, like I mentioned above, the decisions they are facing have no easy answers. That said, these dire circumstances are prime ground for more world-building and the exploration of this planet’s complicated history. There is one particular reveal that comes over the course of this trilogy that is truly impressive. In fact, there are so many reveals about how certain beings and magic systems work that come to light in this last book that it is proving fairly hard to review it! Suffice to say, one of the true joys of reading this book is seeing how it weaves together loose threads (and even things that the reader didn’t know was a threat at all!) from the previous two books.

I also think that Sanderson nails the end of this book. Almost all of the characters ended up in situations that were completely different than what I had expected going in. The stakes are high and the end result is appropriately bittersweet. This story is also fairly action packed from start to finish, as can only be expected in a plot focused on preventing the literal destruction of an entire people and world! In a similar vein as the “threads you didn’t know where threads” aspect of the first two books, this book lays out very subtle hints about Sanderson’s larger Cosmere universe as a whole that pay off nicely for fan who go on to read his other works.

Rating 9: An excellent conclusion to the trilogy and proof that Brandon Sanderson has all the goods, from start to finish!

Reader’s Advisory:

“The Hero of Ages” is on these Goodreads lists: Most Interesting Magic System and Best Heroine in a Fantasy Book.