Tag: Fantasy

Serena’s Review: “Emily Wilde’s Compendium of Lost Tales”

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

Book: “Emily Wilde’s Compendium of Lost Tales” by Heather Fawcett

Publishing Info: Del Rey, February 2025

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

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

Book Description: Emily Wilde has spent her life studying faeries. A renowned dryadologist, she has documented hundreds of species of Folk in her Encyclopaedia of Faeries. Now she is about to embark on her most dangerous academic project studying the inner workings of a faerie realm—as its queen.

Along with her former academic rival—now fiancé—the dashing and mercurial Wendell Bambleby, Emily is immediately thrust into the deadly intrigues of Faerie as the two of them seize the throne of Wendell’s long-lost kingdom, which Emily finds a beautiful nightmare filled with scholarly treasures.

Emily has been obsessed with faerie stories her entire life, but at first she feels as ill-suited to Faerie as she did to the mortal How can an unassuming scholar such as herself pass for a queen? Yet there is little time to settle in, for Wendell’s murderous stepmother has placed a deadly curse upon the land before vanishing without a trace. It will take all of Wendell’s magic—and Emily’s knowledge of stories—to unravel the mystery before they lose everything they hold dear.

Review: I know I had a bit of a rough patch there, with several reviews back to back that were middling at best and often downright negative. But I did have one shining light through it all, and it was the fact that the third Emily Wilde book was releasing only a few weeks later! And finally, here we are!

The tough thing about writing reviews for series like this is the fact that when you have book after book that hits a home run, you start to run out of things to praise. What do you say when the author already has such a solid hand on the wheel, striking a perfect balance of world-building, immersive character arcs, and thrilling, fairytale-like story features? I guess one thing that can always be said is that by the third book, you know for sure it’s not just a fluke. Heather Fawcett is just this good, and Emily and Wendell are just this great as characters. And the romance is just this well done, even here, in the THIRD book, without a silly break-up or offensively mind-numb “miscommunication trope” in sight!

The strength of the romantic progression seen in this book truly demonstrates the strength of Emily and Wendell as their own established characters. We don’t need contrived plotting to drive the story. Instead, their relationship is tested by very real factors stemming from their own priorities and insecurities. Emily struggles to balance her scholarly ambitions with her new role as an incoming Queen of Faerie. Further, she sees Wendell in a new light, now that he is returned to his homeland, and must reconcile the two versions she knows, finding ways to bring her own wealth of knowledge to the forefront in their political challenges.

For his part, we see a very different Wendell here as well. He is still the lovably frivolous and rather self-centered character that we’ve come to know and adore. However, we also see more flashes of the dangerous aspects of his character. Beyond that, we see a new layer to him, as he comes into his own with the responsibilities of caring for his land, his people, and, of course, Emily (who would insist that she needs to caring for!).

There were so many excellent romantic beats, particularly from Wendell, that hit all of the right notes! Each book has been more romantic than the last, and this one was no exception. I love the way the relationship between these two progressed, while also very much staying the same, with each internally rolling their eyes at the other near constantly, while externally pledging undying support in whatever crazy pursuits they come up with next.

I also really enjoyed the main story we got here. I wasn’t quite sure where this book would go after the events of the second book. In many ways, that felt like the end of an excellent duology. But I was pleased to see that there was still plenty to explore in this world, including a hefty dose of danger and darkness. I will say, that like the two books before it, this one does have strange pacing towards the end.

Pacing is always tough, because it’s hard to explain exactly what is meant when you talk about it. But, on the other hand, a reader will often recognize strange pacing when they see it. And now in all three of these books, there has been this strange feeling of the book leading up to and hitting (perfectly, I might add) the climax of the story around the 75% mark. And then…the book just continues and an entirely new mini-adventure starts up and becomes the true end of the book. I always enjoy the story as a whole, including these final storylines. But they do sit oddly within the greater structure of the story. Perhaps, that initial 75% climax mark just hits too hard? But then, these are always incredibly impactful moments, and to lessen them would be a disservice. So, I’m not sure. Maybe just a strange feature, rather than a bug.

Overall, this one hit it out of the park! I’ve loved every minute I’ve spent with Emily and Wendell in this world, and this third book was no different! If I had to rank them, I’d say that the first one was still the best (as first books almost always are), but then this third one comes in right on its heels. But, as I adored the second book as well, this sort of ranking is ultimately rather meaningless. If you’ve enjoyed this series so far, boy, are you in for a treat!

Rating 9: Like Emily Wilde herself, Heather Fawcett is a force in her field! Everything a reader could hope for from a fairytale fantasy: dark forests, deep curses, and a desperately romantic love story.

Reader’s Advisory:

“Emily Wilde’s Compendium of Lost Tales” can be found on this Goodreads list: New In 2025.

Book Club Review: “Delicious in Dungeon (Vol. 1 & 2)”

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

We are part of a group of librarian friends who have had an ongoing book club running for the last several years. Each “season” (we’re nerds) we pick a theme and each of us chooses a book within that theme for us all to read. Re-visiting some of our past themes, we’re once again reading books that have had film/TV adaptations and then comparing the two mediums. For this blog, we will post a joint review of each book we read for book club. We’ll also post the next book coming up in book club. So feel free to read along with us or use our book selections and questions in your own book club!

Books: “Delicious in Dungeon (Vols. 1 &2)” by Ryoko Kui

Publishing Info: Yen Press, May 2017 & August 2017

Where Did I Get These Books: The library!

Where You Can Get These Books: WorldCat.org (Vol.1) (Vol.2) | Amazon (Vol.1) (Vol.2) | Indiebound (Vol.1) (Vol.2)

What We Watched: “Delicious in Dungeon” Episodes 1 & 2

Book Descriptions: Vol. 1: When young adventurer Laios and his company are attacked and soundly thrashed by a dragon deep in a dungeon, the party loses all its money and provisions…and a member! They’re eager to go back and save her, but there is just one problem: If they set out with no food or coin to speak of, they’re sure to starve on the way! But Laios comes up with a brilliant idea: “Let’s eat the monsters!” Slimes, basilisks, and even dragons…none are safe from the appetites of these dungeon-crawling gourmands!

Vol. 2: With the possibility of starvation as a constant companion, Laios’ party continues advancing deeper into the Dungeon. The adventurers have made it to the third floor but only rotting zombies, ghastly spirits, living paintings, and golems await them–all of them absolutely inedible. After coming this far by adapting and learning how to live off the dubious bounties of the Dungeon, how will they manage when even the meanest monster won’t make a decent meal?

Kate’s Thoughts

It had been a long time since I read any manga before our book club picked “Delicious in Dungeon” Volumes 1 and 2. Like, probably since we read “Sailor Moon” Volumes 1 and 2 a few years ago! I used to read more manga back in the day, but it has admittedly fallen away a bit, so I was eager to pick some up again. Especially since I’ve been doing an online Dungeons and Dragons campaign for the past year or so and this just SCREAMED D & D to me!

And it really did feel like I was reading a D & D campaign as our heroes go into the dungeon to find Laios’s captured sister and find the depths, the creatures, and other adventurers along the way. Not only is the lore of the dungeon expansive and super creative (different levels, different resting spots that have turned into markets and communities), I really enjoyed the many different creatures and how they are broken down and used for food, with thought out recipes and oddly mouthwatering pictures to boot! I also enjoyed seeing the party of varying characters try and maneuver through the monsters and the recipes, whether it’s determined leader Laios who wants to save his sister (and has always been curious about monsters as food for some reason), or anxious spellcaster Marcille, or steady locksmith Chilchuck, or fine dining chef dwarf Senshi (my favorite to be sure). And man, did that food look good even though it was made of slimes, scorpions, chimeras, and other dungeon dwelling beasts.

Will I go on in the series? Probably not. But it was a fun ride to be sure!

Kate’s Rating 7: Creative world building, fun characters, and some delicious looking food make for a fun adventure tale!

Book Club Questions

  1. Have you read manga before? If so, how did this manga compare with the other ones you’ve read in the past?
  2. Did you think that the art style and the structure of it fit the story? Do you think you may have liked this more if it were in a different format, like a long form fantasy novel?
  3. Which character did you connect with the most?
  4. If you watched the adaptation or parts of the adaptation, how did it compare to the source material? Do you think you liked watching it better or reading it better?
  5. Have you played any games that have dungeon quests or themes (like D&D, or any video or board game with dungeons and monsters)? How did those compare to this story?

Reader’s Advisory

“Delicious in Dungeon (Vols. 1 & 2)” are included on the Goodreads lists “Comics About Food”, and “RPG Board Games”.

Next Book Club Pick: “The Princess Bride” by William Goldman

Serena’s Review: “A Circle of Uncommon Witches”

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

Book: “A Circle of Uncommon Witches” by Paige Crutcher

Publishing Info: St. Martin’s Griffin, February 2025

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

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

Book Description: Doreen MacKinnon is doomed to die of a broken heart – if she can’t break the centuries old curse placed on her family.

Three hundred years ago, Ambrose MacDonald, a powerful male witch, fell in love with a MacKinnon. And when the MacKinnon witches forbade him from seeing his love, by secretly hiding her away, he retaliated by cursing the family and its future generations to never find love. But it wasn’t without a cost. Now, Ambrose is imprisoned by those same witches, trapped in a tempest and doomed to outlive everyone he has ever loved.

But Doreen isn’t like the other MacKinnon witches. As the 13th generation of the MacKinnon line, Doreen is one of the most powerful witches in centuries… and one of the loneliest. So when she discovers where Ambrose has been trapped, she releases him to help her break the curse, once and for all. Ambrose agrees to help, but with his own motive: vengeance. He plans to use her as bait to enact his revenge on her family.

Together, they enter a series of trials, which take them to a castle in Scotland, off a cliff, and into a world beyond their wildest dreams. As they work together, sparks start to fly, but soon Doreen must choose how far she is willing to go to break the curse, and what she’s willing to sacrifice.

Review: Ever since falling in love with “Practical Magic” (both the book and the movie) as a teenager, I’ve always been chasing that high with regards to romantic witch stories. Alas, I’ve never quite found the same, well, magic, for lack of a better word! But, ever hopeful, I requested this one right away when I saw it slated for publication this spring!

To start with what I did like, if you step back from the book and look at the overall plot and the grander design of the world and romance, there was a lot to like. The curse itself was interesting, especially its exploration of the morality of the choice the MacKinnons face: do they ensnare a man to love them through magic or do they choose to die young? Both of these have obvious downsides, and the added factor of manipulated feelings and the guilt that this would cause with regards to the former choice were compelling.

That said, the way this curse, these characters, and this world were first introduced was incredibly disjointed and sloppy. Instead of building up a story and a character who, over the course of the plot, would feed us the necessary information with regards to the curse, we are simply spoon-fed an explanation of the history and curse in several exposition-heaving dialogue scenes early in the book. The best word to describe it is clunky. Beyond that, because some of these greater facts are being presented so early, before I had any time to center myself in this world or care about these characters, I couldn’t truly appreciate the stakes of the curse, which should be dramatic.

Beyond that, I think the romance played out rather poorly. It walks right up to the line of instalove and then seems to tap a toe over it. Nothing is egregious, but it also wasn’t built up in a natural manner. Again, I struggled to become invested in these characters, both alone or together. At the same time, given how quickly they seemed to fall for one another, the actual progression of the romance felt very drawn out. I prefer slow-burns, but if you’re going to write characters who instantly fall for one another, I’d rather they act on that sooner rather than later. Instead, we got a rather frustrating game of hot and cold as the story continued.

There was a lot of potential to be found here, and I’d definitely check out another book by this author. I think there was a lot of potential in this world and concept, but some weakness with regards to pacing and characterization. However, if you’re looking for a fun, fast, witchy romance, this may be one to check out!

Rating 7: An intriguing concept with the magical curse, however the pacing and introduction of the world-building was clunky at times.

Reader’s Advisory:

“A Circle of Uncommon Witches” can be found on these Goodreads lists: Blessing and Cursing and Witchy Women.

Serena’s Review: “The Spirit Collection of Thorne Hall”

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

Book: “The Spirit Collection of Thorne Hall” by J. Ann Thomas

Publishing Info: Alcove Press, February 2025

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

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

Book Description: A young woman forced to live with ghosts in a mansion frozen in time must decide between forbidden love and the price of freedom in this gothic fantasy where Jane Eyre meets The Haunting of Bly Manor, perfect for fans of Starling House.

At Thorne Hall, a grand estate nestled in the Berkshires, fifteen restless spirits roam, bound within the mansion’s walls since the Gilded Age. Elegy Thorne bears the weight of her family’s curse to preserve the mansion as it was in the 1890s, using ancient folk songs to keep the spirits secret and silent in order to avoid deadly consequences.

When a mischievous child spirit wreaks havoc on the manor, the Thorne family calls upon their trusted preservationist to restore the mansion. He brings along his son, Atticus – a vibrant man full of life and ideas of modernization – and Elegy is captivated by him, igniting a longing for freedom she’s never dared to embrace.

Torn between her desire to follow her heart and her duty to her family and its legacy, Elegy begins searching for a way to release the spirit collection back to the afterlife and set both herself and the ghosts free. With century-old secrets, peculiar magic, and spirits both whimsical and deadly, Thorne Hall will haunt and enrapture readers—and you might just not want to leave.

Review: I love gothic fantasy, so when I read the description for this title, I knew it was one I’d want to check out! I have to admit, I was also a bit hesitant about how the modernity would work with everything else that was being promised. And, well, I just personally don’t love contemporary fiction, so there were ways that this could have went quite wrong, potentially. But, while it wasn’t quite the home run that I had hope for, it was still a thoroughly enjoyable read!

The book started off on an excellent note, hitting all of the historical and gothic vibes I could hope for! The language was lush and of the time, the splendor glittered, the horror spooked, and the mystery for the ongoing story was perfectly set up. This continued into the modern portion of the book when we first meet Elegy, and through her eyes, we meet the various ghoulish ghosts that make up the manor. I was most surprised here. While many of them were horrific and some of them downright evil, they were also given so much characterization and history that I became quite invested. I even found myself tearing up with some of the descriptions of the child ghosts and the reality of their experiences being trapped in this house.

I also enjoyed Elegy herself. She was an interesting character, being a young woman who is essentially living in a different time period than her contemporaries. Further, her future has always been charted for her, and its one that not only does she not want, but that she feels particularly ill-equipped to take on. The relationship between her and her father was quite toxic in all of the expected ways. However, there were also other relationships (such as the ones between herself and her friends/arranged fiancé and her step mother) that also took interesting twists and turns.

That said, I think the romantic relationship was by far the least successful. The love interest shows up, and it’s pretty much instalust/instalove right from the start. The author does give us a few throwaway lines here and there that this relationship built up more, but it’s all told to us, not shown. This comes in the form of long walks and hours spent talking together before the fire. But we’re not privy to much of this and are simply told after the fact that it happened and that Elegy now feels even closer than ever to him. As the plot progresses and the action picks up, we get to see a bit more of this development on the page, but it was still too little too late for me, as the entire foundation still felt weak.

The pacing itself was also a bit off. The first chapter, as I mentioned, is a banger. And then we meet Elegy and it feels like the story should continue at a decent clip. However, about a quarter of the way in, it feels like the brakes are slammed on, and it takes a long time for the actual plot to pick up again. Much of this time is instead devoted to these “long talks” that we don’t see and the continuation of the already-well-established feud between Elegy and her father figure. It takes quite a while for Elegy to move forward from her passive starting point. And while I think this hesitations is believable, it also made for a bit of a lagging reading experience.

It also feels like the author got a bit lost in the weeds with the blending of the historical and contemporary aspects of the story. I’m not sure if the contemporary setting really added to the story, as it necessitated various characters actively commenting on the oddness of Elegy’s habit of speaking and acting in a way that doesn’t line up with current standards. I’m not quite sure why it couldn’t have simply remained in the past, as the author clearly had a handle on that style of writing and it was the stronger of the two.

Overall, however, I still very much enjoyed this book! If you’re looking for a unique gothic fantasy story, this is definitely one to check out. It was more creepy than I had anticipated, but also more heart-wrenching, in the best way!

Rating 8: Full of shivers, both of the creepy and romantic variety!

Reader’s Advisory:

“The Spirit Collection of Thorne Hall” can be found on this Goodreads list: Forthcoming Fantasy, Dark Fantasy, & Horror (2025-)

Serena’s Review: “The Beasts We Bury”

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

Book: “The Beasts We Bury” by D. L. .Taylor

Publishing Info: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR), February 2025

Where Did I Get this Book: Edelweiss+

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

Book Description: Daughter and heir to the throne, Mancella Cliff yearns for a life without bloodshed. But as a child, she emerged from the Broken Citadel with the power to summon animals—only after killing them with her bare hands. Her magic is a constant reminder of the horrors her father, the ruler of the realm, has forced upon her to strengthen their power.

Silver is a charming thief struggling to survive in a world torn apart by Mancella’s father’s reign. When a mysterious benefactor recruits him for the heist of a lifetime, a chance to rob the castle, Silver relishes the opportunity for a real future—and revenge. But he’ll have to manipulate Mance and earn her trust to pull it off.

As the deception and carnage mount, Mance must find a way to save her realm without becoming the ruthless monster she’s been bred to be. And when Silver discovers that his actions are fueling the violence that Mance wants to prevent, he’ll have to choose between his ambition and the girl he’s falling for.

Review: I requested this one on a bit of a whim, largely due to the unique cover. I mean, who has seen a leopard made out of purple flowers on a book cover before? That said, I was also a bit hesitant, as I personally often struggle with shared POV novels, especially when they are YA. It’s tough to write one compelling character with a good story arc, let alone two in one book! But this book was here to prove why it’s always good to take a chance on a new author who may just prove that they’ve cracked the code!

And as I’ve already mentioned my typical struggle point, two POV characters sharing the lead of one YA fantasy novel, let’s just jump right into that point! I really enjoyed both of these characters! Not only did they each have rich back stories and compelling arcs throughout the novel in which they had to learn and grow, but they both had a distinct voice, making their chapters read as wholly unique to themselves. I was never confused about whose head I was in. I’d either be getting a hefty dose of Silver’s wit, craftiness, and struggles with the morality of his choices. Or I’d be in Mancella’s head, following her determination, her love/hate relationship with her powers, and her willingness to hope for and see the best in everyone around her, despite how often they let her down. I honestly couldn’t choose whose story I enjoyed more or was more invested in.

I will say, however, that I’m impressed with how well Silver was written. Here you have a character who is morally grey throughout much of the book and he’s up against another POV character who has incredibly unique and powerful magical abilities. It says something about the author’s strength as a writer that she was able to make Silver an equally compelling lead, sometimes even more so, given the nature of his history and the decisions he makes throughout this book.

Speaking of Mancella’s powers, I thought the fantasy elements in this book were incredibly good! There were familiar “abilities” here and there, but they were all twisted and used in creative and original ways. Obviously we spend the most time with Mancella herself, so we get a deep dive look into the extent and limitations of her powers. But as the story grows, so does our understanding of just what the possibilities are with a power like this. And, of course, the deep price that must be paid. But beyond our main character, there were also numerous other characters (villains and side characters, both) who had incredibly interesting abilities. There’s a fairly late reveal, in particular, that was very intriguing.

I also liked the balance between the romance and the action of the book. The author avoided instalove on the side of either of her characters. And while both slowly grow to trust and care for the other, they also never lose sight of their own goals or pre-existing relationships. All too often you see the romantic pairing fall in love and then seemingly lose interest in every other person they cared about previously in their life. Not so here. Instead, we have some nice looks into the challenges and joys of found family and sibling relationships.

Overall, this was a fun, fast read! It wasn’t necessarily breaking any boundaries as far as YA fantasy goes, but it was also leagues ahead of many other similar books I’ve read in the simple fact that the author created fully fleshed out characters who peopled an original and unique world and followed a well-paced plot. It’s refreshing to pick up a book like this and feel like you’re actually reading something new, and not just another “deadly magical competition” with an enemies-to-lovers instalove romance at its heart. If you’re looking for a solid, stand-alone YA fantasy novel, definitely give this one a go!

Rating 8: Absolutely charming and a breath of fresh air in the packed YA fantasy arena! D. L. Taylor is definitely one to keep an eye on!

Reader’s Advisory:

“The Beasts We Bury” can be found on these Goodreads lists: YA Novels of 2025 and Romantasy TBR 2025.

Serena’s Review: “A Crown So Silver”

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

Book: “A Crown So Silver” by Lyra Selene

Publishing Info: Orbit, January 2025

Where Did I Get this Book: Netgalley!

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

Book Description: After her sacrifice on the Ember Moon, Fia is flush with powerful magic and eager to rush into battle against her murderous sister, Eala. However, Fia’s new husband Irian suggests they bide their time and retreat to the Silver Isle, a snowy island at the edge of the fae world.

Ruled by the cunning smith-king, the Silver Isle proves far from a safe haven. Fia and Irian become embroiled in the Tournament of Kings competing for a magical forging of immense power. Their relationship will be put to the test as they navigate their conflicting motivations, shifting allegiances, and ancient magic.

With the end of the tournament looming and Eala’s threat growing, Fia must decide just how much she’s willing to sacrifice to defeat her sister.

Previously Reviewed: “A Feather So Black”

Review: This was a highly anticipated sequel for me going into 2025! I absolutely loved the first book, “A Feather So Black,” as it took me completely by surprise with its perfectly tuned fairytale vibes and ability to present both a competent heroine as well as a non-cringeworthy love triangle that resolved in a believable manner. There was also the set up for an excellent villain with the twist that came towards the end. And, well…alas.

I’m really going to try to restrain myself from devolving into an incoherent rant with this one. But man, it’s going to be hard! I would have disliked this book on its own, but as a sequel to one that I enjoyed so much?! It’s hard to swallow. To start from the more broad view, I think this is a perfect example of a series that was unnecessarily extended into a trilogy. I’m not sure if it was the publisher or this was always the author’s plan, but something went very wrong with the pacing and story-structure of this series when we got to this book.

Simply put: nothing much happens! We barely see some of the major characters from the first book (including the original love interest who by his own rights seemed to have an interesting arc set up to follow) or even much of the villain. What plot we do have devolves into what feels like an extended side quest with stakes largely disconnected from the greater conflict as a whole. And that’s not even touching the fact that the first third of this book seems to be one long string of spicy scenes, which could be fine on their own if it wasn’t for the incredibly disjointed feeling this brings to the pacing of this novel, to start so heavily in this and only this area.

This point gets to one of my major gripes, which is with the way the romance was handled. Which is to say, it wasn’t handled well at all. I will acknowledge that perhaps it is more challenging to write a romantic pairing after they have committed themselves to one another, but it is by no means impossible! Especially if you’ve already established your characters as individuals with thoughts, fears, and goals outside of the romance, as well as a greater overall threat that they must face together. Relationships don’t simply become smooth sailing the moment they get together, but at the same time, more and more romantasy authors seem to contort their characters into the most contrived positions possible all in pursuit of “tension” while at the the same time forfeiting all believability or consistency within the character themselves.

We have both main character behaving absolutely terribly to one another (often completely out of character on their own) and then, worst of all, we have the introduction of ANOTHER LOVE TRIANGLE! Look, book one got extra props for handling a love triangle in a good way. But now this one gets extra negatives for the sheer gall and lack of creativity on display in going back to the same well twice (not even the same love triangle, mind you! A completely new character is introduced!!) I almost put the book down for good once I saw this happening.

Fia also read as almost completely unrecognizable from the character we met in the first book. There, she had worked hard to gain the abilities she had, and she was aware of her limitations. Here, in one of the very first action scenes we get, we see her behaving like the most foolish of fools, complete with “snarky” comments of bravado followed by immediate regret as she realizes the idiocy of her decisions. In many ways, she suddenly read like the worst of teenage YA protagonists, rather than the adult woman she came across as in the first book.

I’m honestly not sure what happened here. My best guess still goes all the way back to what I said in the beginning, that there simply wasn’t enough story to justify this book. And, lacking any true plot, the author instead stuffed it full of angst between characters (much of which could have been resolved with frank discussions and empathy for one another) and added another ridiculous love triangle into the mix to boot.

If you enjoyed the first book, buckle in for this one! I guess if you really enjoy love triangles and romantic angst in the form of miscommunication, than you may enjoy this more than me. All I can say is that now I’m going into the third book pretty much peeping between my fingers. Will we get the hat trick of a THIRD love triangle??

Rating 5: Maybe it would have been a “6” on its own, but as it’s a massive letdown from the first book…well, here we are.

Reader’s Advisory:

“A Crown so Silver” isn’t on any Goodreads lists yet, but it should be on Upcoming Sequels.

Serena’s Review: “The Night is Defying”

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

Book: “The Night is Defying” by Chloe C. Penaranda

Publishing Info: Bramble, January 2025

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

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

Book Description: Shaken from the aftermath of the Libertatem, the newly found star-maiden Astraea is determined to keep her freedom, even at the cost of betraying her heart. But time is running out to recover her memories with the hole it will unveil her killer.

Embarking on a journey to discover her past, Astraea’s awakening power spins the hourglass on a history threatening to repeat itself. While Nyte tries to regain control of the vampires hungry for bloodshed, a sinister plan by his brother to overthrow him sparks a dangerous feud. But are they willing to wear the blood of their kin to see it through?

For nothing in the past ever stays buried. Friends have turned into foes, brothers have turned into enemies, and what was written in the stars long ago ignites again in two hearts that were never meant to be. Letting Astraea go would save the world from darkness, but Nyte is no hero. It seems no monster is heartless, and no angel is without sin.

Previously Reviewed: “The Stars are Dying”

Review: While I struggled with the first book in this series, I did like the lyrical approach to some of the writing. One of my major complaints also revolved around the passive nature of the heroine, due to her lack of memories. As a sequel, I had high hopes that this last point could be improved upon, so I wanted to see where the story and romance would go!

So, while this didn’t rocket into becoming one of my favorites series ever, I can confirm that I did like it more than the first. Astraea made small steps towards becoming a more compelling heroine with more drive of her own to take control of her life and her choices. Did she still seem to need constant reassurance that she was capable? Yes. There were numerous pep talks throughout. But at least she also seemed to more fully come into her own as a character.

I also think the addition of Nyte’s (I still can’t with that name) POV helped the book. Having another character’s head to occupy, one who was less confused, distrusting, and passive really helped balance out the overall tone of the story. At the same time, however, sometimes it felt like his entire personality was simple adoration of everything Astraea said or did. I don’t enjoy artificial conflict or drama, but it also felt a bit too “gushy” for my taste. Added depth of his own, some more reflection on his relationships with other people, etc. all would have helped flesh him out a bit more.

However, the pacing continues to be a problem with this series. Like the first book, parts of this book really do drag, feeling as if the author is padding out the content with repetitive inner monologues and reflections (see the numerous pep talks). If you actually sit down and diagram out the action of this book, there’s very little actually there. In many ways, I think both books could have been condensed into one, much more tight, and successful narrative. As a fantasy reader, I obviously love series. But if there isn’t enough story to justify multiple books, an excellent stand-alone is always preferable to books that have been stretched too thin to make up a duology/trilogy/what have you.

Overall, this was an ok sequel. If you enjoyed the first book, than I’m sure you’ll love this one. If the first wasn’t really to our taste, this one does improve in some ways, but it also continues to struggle with regards to pacing and the passivity of its lead character.

On a secondary note, I realize that I’ve had a string of rather lackluster reviews now for the last several weeks! It really does seem like there are serious troughs that you hit every once in a while where nothing seems to be really clicking. I do try to space them out when I find myself in a situation like that. However, sometimes it’s unavoidable due to publication dates. Be assured, I’m well into my reading for February and there are several great reads heading your way!

Rating 7: While baby steps were made to allow the heroine more personal agency, the book still struggled with slower pacing and a romance that lacked tension.

Reader’s Advisory:

“The Night is Defying” isn’t on any relevant Goodreads lists, but it should be on Romtantasy TBR 2025.

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

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

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

Publishing Info: Inklore, October 2024

Where Did I Get This Book: I own it.

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

Book Description: The rifts between realms grow ever wider as the temporary shelter Persephone had found in the Underworld is destroyed. Apollo has captured Demeter, turning the fugitive goddess over to Zeus in an attempt to win the king’s favor. Persephone and her mother must now stand trial for concealing Persephone’s unsanctioned act of wrath—though the goddess of spring feels secure with Hades on her side.

But safety is not guaranteed in the world of the gods.

As the trial brings to light truths and betrayals that threaten to upset everything—even Hades and Persephone’s relationship—the other gods face perils of their own.

Eros uncovers Ampelus’s secret during a fight in the Mortal Realm. Thanatos and Daphne’s budding relationship is threatened by a vengeful Apollo. Minthe is trapped in her cursed form until Persephone gains full control over her powers. And Hera is haunted by the specter of Kronos, whose influence in Olympus seems to be growing. . 

This edition of Smythe’s original Eisner Award–winning webcomic Lore Olympus features a brand-new, exclusive short story from creator Rachel Smythe and brings the Greek pantheon into the modern age in a sharply perceptive and romantic graphic novel.

Review: Guys, the end of 2024 was just a lot. A LOT. Not only was my anxiety exploding, I was also having issues balancing out my reviews and reading paths, to the point where when “Lore Olympus: Volume Seven” by Rachel Smythe came out in October, I just whiffed on fitting it in on my review schedule. This shows how totally scatterbrained I was given how much I LOVE this series. But it’s finally time, and I finally picked it up, and I shouldn’t have waited. Because coming back to Hades, Persephone, Hera, Hecate, and all the Greek deities and their shenanigans was so, SO healing.

My anxiety while I was reading this book (source)

So many wonderful beats in this volume, from the cute to the cathartic to the absolutely devastating. We are seeing Persephone and Hades get closer as she continues to stay with him in the Underworld while Zeus wants to bring her and Demeter to trial for hiding Persephone’s wrath that led to the deaths of many mortals sand permission. So we do have some lovely moments of closeness between Hades and Persephone that still feels appropriate and respectful from both of them, while still building up the romance. But my favorite part of this volume for these two is that Persephone has started the therapy process, and is starting to unpack her anxieties, her tumultuous relationship with her mother, and her sexual assault by Apollo. These scenes were so well handled as Persephone goes through so many emotions and breakthroughs, and I really, really appreciated how Smythe shows how raw and messy but powerful and empowering therapy can be for a person like Persephone. Seeing this kind of portrayal of mental health care in a book is always gratifying, and it fits in with the other themes that Smythe has been touching on from the jump.

We are also getting some more depth and richness for some of our other characters, whether it’s Eros and his changing relationship with Ampelus (who is Psyche in disguise, as suggested by Aphrodite), or Hera starting to have horrifying visions of Kronos (and setting up another potential arc in this story, as we know that Kronos’s strength is growing in spite of his imprisonment). I also really, REALLY loved getting more backstory on the relationship between Hades and Hera, as while I of course ship Hades and Persephone, the connection between these two is tragic even if it’s come to a certain comfortable understanding (and yes, Zeus was involved). We also get more interesting inversions of the original myths that these characters come from, with an especially harrowing and alarming take on the Daphne and Apollo myth that left me completely floored. Smythe is so good at pulling the themes from the source material and adapting it to fit this story, and I am continuously impressed by it.

I’m still absolutely loving “Lore Olympus”. We have ended on another cliffhanger, of course, but luckily it’s only a couple months before the next one comes out!

Rating 10: STOP DEVASTATING ME, RACHEL SMYTHE! This volume has so many heart wrenching beats, but hope is always present as well. Just fantastic.

Reader’s Advisory:

“Lore Olympus: Volume 7” is included on the Goodreads list “Great Graphic Novels Released in 2024”.

Previously Reviewed:

Serena’s Review: “Prophesy”

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

Book: “Prophesy” by M.L. Fergus

Publishing Info: Tundra Books, January 2025

Where Did I Get this Book: from the publisher!

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

Book Description: The only life Persephone has ever known has been one of servitude, and she dreams of a life of freedom, buoyed by a spirit and sense of humor that have never wavered. When a chance encounter with a handsome thief offers her a chance to leave, she grabs it with both hands . . . and the thief, Azriel, will just have to keep up.

But Azriel is not everything he seems, and he believes Persephone holds the key to a greater freedom for himself and his people, who have been hunted for years by the king’s regent, an evil and sadistic man who will stop at nothing in his quest for power. Azriel has a plan to defeat him, and he needs Persephone — but does Persephone need him?

As her journey brings her deeper and deeper into a cruel and dangerous world, Persephone must quickly learn who to trust . . . and whether an impossibly broad-shouldered thief holds the key to her future, or her ruin.

Review: While I’m always more hesitant than excited when a book is comped to one of Stephanie Garber’s titles (this one mentions “Once Upon a Broken Heart” in its marketing materials), I was also intrigued by the vague comparisons to “The Princess Bride” that I found floating around. It’s a hard target to hit, but when authors manage to balance humor, romance, and fantasy altogether, those end up being some of my all time favorite reads. And this one definitely sounded like it had potential!

Let’s start with some pros! One thing that this book definitely goes hard on is the quippy dialogue. Now, I’m quite picky about quippy dialogue, so the fact that this didn’t immediately put me off the book is a definite mark in its favor! Moreover, as much of the romance between these characters rotates around their quirky banter with one another, readers who enjoy this style of interaction are going to gobble this one up. While I did find myself getting a bit tired of it as it went on, there are definitely readers out there who will appreciate this style.

Further, I liked the addition of chapters from the villain’s perspective. This wasn’t something I was expecting, and I think it added a much needed note of seriousness to the affair. This character is truly vile, and I appreciated the fact that the author fully committed to writing this sort of character and devoting this amount of page time to him.

That said, the book as a whole failed to really land. Part of this is due to the pacing. The book starts off fast, but not in a good way. We meet Persephone and then literally three pages into the book, bam! Azriel shows up and their quippiness takes off at a gallop. I barely had time to meet the heroine or hear anything about this world before I was thrown into the scene of these two’s first meeting. Usually when you get a first meeting like this, you at least know and care about one of the characters. Through knowing them, the reader is given a window into how to interpret the this newly introduced character and the interactions between them.

But Persphone was just as much an unknown to Azriel when they met, so this didn’t give me any insight into either of their characters. Is she usually trusting or untrusting? Is she more chaotic or lawful in her approach to situations like this? As the story continued, of course, I got to know both of these characters better. But the sudden introduction of them both so early in the book put me on the backfoot right from the start. I’ll also add that I think some of the fun was taken out of the quippy dialogue due to these choices, as well. Due to this, the book always felt a bit lacking in its world-building and characterization. As the story continued and the pacing slowed down some, I appreciated the author’s attempts to more fully flesh these bits out. But in many ways it was too little, too late.

The pacing picked up again towards the end, with a lot of plot points hitting quickly all within the last few chapters. There were a couple of twists and turns here that I don’t think quite tracked with some of the information we had previously, but it’s also clear that everything was being set up for the sequel. We’ll see if I get around to checking that out, but there’s a decent chance that my estimation of this one could rise based on the execution of the next book. Overall, I’d say this was just an ok novel. In some ways it read as unexpectedly middle grade (both in the sheer number of animal companions and with the tone of the dialogue at various points). But I also think that it will appeal to a specific sort of fantasy reader who likes fast dialogue and quirky characters.

Rating 7: Had potential, especially for readers who enjoy lots of dialogue, but the pacing was off and some of the tone of the writing read veered closer to middle grade than young adult.

Reader’s Advisory:

“Prophesy” can be found on this Goodreads list: YA Novels of 2025.

Serena’s Review: “The Legend of Meneka”

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

Book: “The Legend of Meneka” by Kritika H. Rao

Publishing Info: Harper Voyager, January 2025

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

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

Book Description: Across the mortal and immortal realms, celestial dancers known as apsaras are revered for their beauty, allure, and enchanting magic. But Meneka knows that is not all they are. Trained as a weapon—a warrior—Meneka despises leaving each of her marks in thrall to her potent illusions. With every seduction Lord Indra, king of heaven, demands of her for his political gain, she craves her freedom more and more.

When a mortal sage’s growing powers threaten Indra’s supremacy in his own realm, Meneka seizes a rare opportunity. She strikes a deal—if she can seduce this dangerous man, Indra will allow her to forgo future missions. But upon meeting the sage, Kaushika, Meneka finds herself captivated by his energy, ignited by his empathy and passion, even though he threatens everything she’s ever known. Can she overthrow the man who is—little by little—stealing her heart, or is Kaushika seducing her instead? As war looms in the skies, Meneka must choose between her duty to protect her home, and the sage who is showing her what true love can mean.

Review: I feel like I’ve scheduled several Asian folklore fantasy stories all for review within a few weeks. It’s so funny how some of these trends work where certain types of stories all seem to come out around the same time, and then you won’t see hide nor hair of them again for months and months. (Obviously “Asian” fantasy is a bit of a nonsequitur since there are so many very different cultures, histories, and peoples that make up a huge swath of land.) This will be three out of four of my last reviews in this “category!” I’ve had a lot of positive experiences however with many of these stories in past, all the more exciting for the fact that I often know very little about the original fables and characters the story is drawing from. So, too, with this book. I went in with just the basic summary and was excited to see what we got!

Unfortunately, I’m 0-3 for really clicking with any of them. They’ve all had some definite strengths, and then very different stumbling blocks. But let’s start with the positive. Right when I picked up this book, I knew that barring anything egregious, I was going to at the very least enjoy the process of reading this book. Even within the first few pages, the author’s style of writing is made clear: lyrical, whimsical, and perfectly fitting the type of fairytale-like fantasy story that she was developing here. The pacing could get slow at times, but even during these lulls, the writing itself was still a joy to experience. It perfectly matched the emphasis on beauty that is so central to many of the themes of this book.

However, as I’ve already alluded to, the pacing of this book was a major drawback. It started off well enough, but then it quickly stalled. While the writing excelled at drawing out picturesque scenes and turns of phrase, it struggled to convey any sense of action or movement on the page. Instead, I felt several places removed from the story. This can’t all be laid at the foot of the pacing, however. There was also a tendency to slide into a “telling” rather than “showing” style. As Meneka’s powers grow, the reader was simply informed of these changes, rather than organically witnessing how these changes affected her or manifested in meaningful ways.

I also struggled to enjoy Meneka herself. Conceptually, she works as a character and it makes sense for her to be stuck in a rather depressed, negative headspace. However, as the book continued, it became more and more frustrating to retread this ground, with much of her inner thoughts turning into what felt like a constant buzzing of whining. Beyond that, for all the focus on weaponized beauty and manipulated love, the actual romance at the heart of this story landed with a thud. I didn’t feel any true connection between these two and simply couldn’t become invested in their story.

Overall, this was a bit of a let down for me. However, given the strength of the writing style in general, I’ll definitely check out some of the author’s other books. (Without knowing it, I already had one of her former titles on my TBR list, so I’ll probably start there). If you’re a fan of this author, this is probably one to check out. However, if you’re needing to get picky and are a reader who prioritizes characterization in your books, this might not be the best one for you.

Rating 7: Whimsical and lyrical writing carries this book a long way, but not quite far enough to overcome some of the short-comings in the characterization.

Reader’s Advisory:

“The Legend of Meneka” can be found on these Goodreads lists: Asian Mythology Inspired Books and Myth Feminist Retelling.