Tag: Fantasy

Serena’s Review: “Sisters of the Lizard”

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Book: “Sisters of the Lizard” by Jackson Ford

Publishing Info: Orbit, May 2026

Where Did I Get this Book: Netgalley!

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

Book Description: All Sayana wanted was to enjoy her life in the rolling grasslands of the Tapestry. After she and her fellow Rakada managed to ride humongous fire-breathing lizards to face down the Great Khan’s army, they should have been able to kick back a little for once. Not too much to ask, right?

Instead, the Tapestry is in turmoil – invading armies threaten, the other raider clans are at war, and inside his fortress city of Karkorum, the Khan broods and plots. What’s more, the Rakada’s giant lizards are getting sick, and they have no idea how to cure them. If they die, there’s no telling what might happen to the Tapestry.

But then the Rakada receive a vision – apparently from the gods. A deep emerald pool surrounded by bone-white sands – one that may be able to heal their lizards. With no other option, the raiders set out on an epic quest across the mountains and into the desert.

But the danger that awaits them will be one greater than they’ve ever faced before. These guys really can’t catch a break.

Previously Reviewed: “The Bone Raiders”

Review: After really enjoying the first book in this series, this had a firm spot near the top of my TBR. And this sequel succeeded in the most basic sense: it was more of what I liked from the first book!

The first book introduced a wide cast of female characters, all with excellent and distinct personalities and inner arcs. Here, we got more of the same. While I like all of the main characters, I was especially excited to see that Hogelun moved more to the center stage of the story. She was probably my favorite character from the first book, the one with the most surprising personal story of the sort that we don’t often see in these sorts of stories. And here we see that arc continue even further as Hogelun is pushed to come more fully into her own. The lasting effects of her previous emotionally abusive relationship remain a challenge, and it was so satisfying watching Hogelun progress forward through her own struggles. And while this sounds like a lot of slow, introspective work, the author manages to explore these deeper psychological moments all while making his characters fight on the back of giant lizards!

Sayana’s story also went in a surprising direction. Her story was built more around the fears and challenges the Bone Raiders face in this book, some of which are truly tragic. There was also a stronger emphasis on the religion and lore of this world that was brought to the forefront in Sayana’s story, wrapping up in some fairly incredible twists and turns.

I also continued to be impressed by the author’s ability to merge an action-packed fantasy world alongside deeper themes of family, leadership, and loyalty. Like I said, there was definitely more tragedy in this book, and I definitely found myself tearing up at points. That said, I wouldn’t say it was a heavy read. The action was exciting and there was a humorous tinge to most of the writing.

My one qualm comes down to something that I praised in the first book. There, I enjoyed the fact that the author devoted so much page time to the villain of the story. The same approach was taken here, and while I did appreciate some insights into this character’s perspective, I also disliked them so strongly that I had a hard time wanting to spend any more time with them as the story continued, especially as I became more and more invested in the other storylines.

Overall, this was a fantastic sequel. It delivered on the same strengths in the first book and elevated the overall stakes of the world and story going forward. If you liked the first book or are looking for an action-packed fantasy series, I strongly recommend these books so far!

Rating 8: A bit darker than the first book, but “Sisters of the Lizard” was still a blast, full of action and fierce women!

Reader’s Advisory:

“Sisters of the Lizard” can be found on this Goodreads list: All the New Fantasy Books Arriving in May 2026

Kate’s Review: “We Hexed the Moon”

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Book: “We Hexed the Moon” by Mollyhall Seeley

Publishing Info: Saga Press, June 2026

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

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

Book Description: Bunny meets The Craft in this speculative debut about four best friends who perform a ritual on the moon in a last-ditch attempt to hold onto one another but are forced to reckon with the consequences.

It is the summer after high school graduation, and four island-grown best friends are about to be forced apart by their Plans for the Future. Rather than process the world of expectations bearing down on them or the secrets they’ve kept hidden even from one another, they perform a ritual on the moon in an impulsive fit of teen bravado.

They don’t expect it to actually work.

But suddenly the moon is gone from the sky and at their sleepover, and she’s not interested in going back where she came from. As the balmy August night unfolds, the girls scramble to find a human sacrifice to replace the moon before their world is plunged into chaos.

Equally tender and biting, We Hexed the Moon is coming-of-age at its best, cutting to the very quick of girlhood to reveal hilarious and brutally honest insights about friendship, gender, and desire.

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

I love seeing stories about tight knit girl friend groups, especially if they are coming of age, in part because I never really got to experience that during my formative teenage years. Yes, I had two other girl friends I was close to and people saw us as a trio, but I was always VERY clearly the odd one out when it came down to it, and my true best friend in high school was a guy. I didn’t really find that solid girls friend group until I was well into college (we called ourselves “The Clever Girls” because of “Jurassic Park” and we were tight and I’m still friends with them all to this day, even if it’s in different capacities due to life), and by that time I was very clear about who I was as a person. But these stories still speak to me as a woman with close girl friendships and who knows how wonderful (and complicated) they can be. “We Hexed the Moon” by Mollyhall Seeley takes on this kind of girl friend group bildungsroman tale and throws in some witch shit and a dark fantasy magical realism bent. Suffice to say, it’s my kinda jam.

Jen, Goldie, Maycie, and Harding are best friends about to go their separate ways after high school. With personal baggage, an existential dread of the next steps and the climate crisis, as well as constant doom and gloom feelings to the life they are inheriting, they decide to hex the moon just for funsies as one last bonding experience. Unfortunately, it works, and the moon not only disappears from the sky, threatening to throw the world into chaos and death, it shows up in the form of a woman who tells them that they need to sacrifice someone to become the new Moon, or else everyone dies. The concept is creative and interesting, and it feels a bit more dark fantasy than horror to me (human sacrifice and end of the world notwithstanding). Seeley splits the story into two timelines, the day before where the friends are clinging to their friendship because they feel it falling apart (be it because of the upcoming change in location or their own baggage with each other), and then the time after they hexed the moon and are having to confront their choices AND the cracks in their friend group. I liked seeing the story unfold and the build up to what choice they were going to make, and found it suspenseful and more tense as time runs closer to running out. I think that it petered out a little bit by the end, but the journey there was still incredibly enjoyable.

But what I enjoyed most about this book were the four girls themselves, and how Seeley explores all of their messiness and complexities and draws out who they are and why they are the way they are. There could have been four girls who fit into obvious stereotypes (Goldie the self centered mean girl, Jen the pretentious stick in the mud, Harding the repressed prude, and Maycie the wholesome naive one), but Seeley takes care to give us perspectives from all of them to see their reasons for their complexities. We have girls who have suffered great loss, like Goldie losing her twin, or a fractured family life, like Jen and her broken relationship with half brother Max as he dives deeper into red pill content, or religious trauma for Harding whose family is repressive, or having to grow up with a lack of structured guidance, like Maycie whose parents all but checked out. There were moments I wanted to shake all of them, but I also felt for all of them too. It shows the way they cling to each other bur resent each other too as they grow apart and change. It’s messy girlhood. It’s heart wrenching at times.

“We Hexed the Moon” is a bittersweet coming of age witchy book. It’s relatable and dreamy, and I think that if you like coming of age girlhood tales it will work for you.

Rating 8: A witchy story about girlhood, anticipated loss, desperation, and coming of age, “We Hexed the Moon” is a magical realism dark fantasy that captures girlhood on the edge of becoming an adult and all the complicated feelings that come with it.

Reader’s Advisory:

“We Hexed the Moon” is included on the Goodreads list “The 52 Book Club 2026: #44: Literary Device- Personification”.

Serena’s Review: “Thistlemarsh”

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Book: “Thistlemarsh” by Moorea Corrigan

Publishing Info: Berkley, April 2026

Where Did I Get this Book: from the publisher!

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

Book Description: In the wake of World War I, the world is a decidedly unmagical place for Mouse Dunne. She once dreamed of becoming a Faerie anthropologist, but with one telegram, her world shattered. At the Battle of the Somme, her cousin’s body disappeared into the mud, and her brother was left with debilitating shell shock. It was time, she knew, to put aside childish dreams.

When Mouse receives news that her uncle has left her the Faerie-blessed Thistlemarsh Hall, a dilapidated manor in the English countryside, she must leave her brother’s side and return to her childhood home to claim her birthright. But there is a catch in her uncle’s will: If Mouse does not rehabilitate the crumbling house in one month’s time, she will forfeit her inheritance and any hope of caring for her brother.

It quickly becomes clear it’s impossible to repair the manor in the allotted time, until a mysterious Faerie appears with a proposition. He offers to restore Thistlemarsh…for a price. Mouse knows better than to trust a Faerie—especially one so insufferably handsome and arrogant—but she is out of options. There are dark and magical forces at work in the house, and Mouse must confront the ghosts of her past and the secrets of her heart or lose Thistlemarsh, and herself, in the process.

Review: While this wasn’t a perfect read, there was a lot to like about this book! It started off strong right off the bat with the setting and time period. While we see historical fantasy often enough, it still seems rare that we see books set during World War I, especially not as explicitly as this one is. The war isn’t simply mentioned; it’s a driving force behind much of the plot and character arc of the main character. We see the lasting effects in the village with its reduced number of young men. We see the complicated juxtaposition of a woman who has the skills and experience of a trade, but is still living in what is very much a man’s world. And we have the harsh realities of what life after war looks like: the loss of loved ones forever, the lingering pain of veterans who will never recover, and the challenges left to those who care for them and must move life forward.

I also really liked the way this more “true to life” historical fiction narrative was tied together within a world that once took for granted the presence of magic and Faeries, beings who have only fairly recently disappeared from the world. Of course, this is a fantasy book first and foremost, so no one but our main character is surprised when a Faerie shows up fairly quickly to involve himself in the mission to restore the dilapidated Thistelmarsh Hall. Speaking of which, I also really liked the general premise: a young woman given an impossible task; a magical being who comes to her aid with an unlikely bargain. It’s all familiar, but in a nice, familiarly pleasant way.

That said, while I appreciated the familiarity of the story being told, the manner in which it played out felt a bit plodding. The pacing in general was too slow for my taste, and there were numerous “day-in-the-life” sort of scenes that felt like throwaways to me, adding little to the story or character development. This sort of “coziness” doesn’t really work well for me personally, but I know others really enjoy it, so it really depends on your own personal preference how well this aspect of the book works for you. For me, the story itself felt like it was dragging, especially towards the middle, and scenes that I believe were meant to draw me in further to the character fell flat.

I also struggled a bit with the characters and the romance. This was a bit surprising when I looked back on my experience of the book, as I really enjoyed Mouse in the beginning of the story. She was smart, grounded, and driven to succeed where she had been meant to fail. But then, towards the middle of the book, she makes one truly wild and unnecessary decision that felt very out of character and was hard to reconcile with the version of Mouse we’d seen before. I also thought the romance played out in a rather strange way. It had some good things to say about consent, but overall, I didn’t find it very compelling by the time we finally got to the resolution at the end of the book.

Overall, I thought this was a nice historical fantasy novel. It was a bit too slow-paced and cozy for my personal taste, but the historical aspects really carried it through some of the weaker elements. Fans of cozy fantasies that move at a slower pace will likely gobble it up!

Rating 8: The pacing was on the slower side, but the strong historical setting and interesting blending of fantasy and Faeries overall left me quite pleased with it!

Reader’s Advisory:

“Thistlemarsh” can be found on these Goodreads lists: 2026 Debuts and Edwardian Fantasy.

Serena’s Review: “A Kiss of Crimson Ash”

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Book: “A Kiss of Crimson Ash” by Anuja Varghese

Publishing Info: Orbit, May 2026

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

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

Book Description: Nandapore is a city of secrets and spellcasters where seduction reigns and a power-hungry king is never satisfied, plotting to unleash a weapon that has only lived in myth… until now.

To stop him, an ancient goddess seeks out a newly crowned queen, a heartsick prince, a common thief, and a courtesan with magic in her blood. Together, they chart a course through brothels, temples, taverns, and palaces, setting a trap for the empire’s most powerful men.

Linked by desire, destiny, and a dangerous foe, they each must decide…

Review: This was a mixed bag of a read for me, partly because it felt like the book was mis-marketed as a romantasy when it was more fantasy-focused, truly. But then at the same time, the book felt the need to include repeated and often unnecessary (either for plot purposes or character development purposes) spicy scenes that felt like they were shoe-horned in simply to chase trends and/or reinforce that this book is an adult book instead of YA. For the former, I think all books are worse off for trying to capture what are only brief moments of popularity that will likely either date your book immediately or fall off so quickly as to be useless. And as for the latter…

That is, simply write your book with adult characters and trust your audience.

What I liked most was probably the mythology and the ties to Indian culture and history. I especially enjoyed the blending of elements that seemed to come from actual folklore alongside a pantheon of deities that were created specifically for this world. I think this sort of approach for fantasy folklore is often the most successful, where authors don’t feel too tied down to recreating exact myths or using deities from actual religions within their fantasy story. I think a bit more could have been done with them, ultimately, but the general approach was good.

The story itself was OK. I wasn’t blown away by anything that was happening (indeed, there were several moments where side characters would randomly show up with the exact thing needed for a given situation or conflict), but I also was interested enough throughout to keep going. The writing itself was fairly limited with regard to its imagery as well, which was unfortunate, as if there is one word that comes to mind when I picture India, it is “lush.” It would have been nice if the writing could have better risen to the inspiration it was calling upon.

The characters were likewise fine. I didn’t hate them, but they also all felt fairly flat. And it’s here where I really hold the spicy scenes against the book. My personal preference is for a limited number of spicy scenes, used in a way that moves the characters or relationship forward. But that’s just my own taste. However, books are also limited to a certain page count, and the inclusion of certain scenes means taking page time away from other aspects of the story. If a good handful of these spicy scenes had been taken out, and the story refocused on developing these characters more fully, not only would the book itself be better, but the spicy scenes that remained would have hit with more of an impact.

So, overall, this was just an OK read. I don’t feel like I wasted my time reading it, as I got through it quickly and it had flashes of fantasy elements that I did enjoy. However, the overuse of spice, the flat characters, and the limited word craft didn’t ever let me become fully invested. That said, if you’re looking for a more spice-focused Indian fantasy story, this still might be a good read for you!

Rating 7: It never quite reached the potential that you could see glimmering behind the unnecessary spice scenes.

Reader’s Advisory:

“A Kiss of Crimson Ash ” isn’t currently on any Goodreads lists but it is on: Romantasy TBR 2026

Serena’s Review: “The Tapestry of Fate”

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Book: “The Tapestry of Fate” by Shannon Chakraborty

Publishing Info: Harper Voyager, May 2026

Where Did I Get this Book: from the publisher!

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

Book Description: Amina al-Sirafi thinks she’s struck gold. Tasked with hunting down arcane artifacts for the council of immortal peris, she can savor the occasional rollicking adventure on the high seas with her cherished criminal companions while still returning home to raise her beloved daughter, Marjana. But when Raksh, the spirit of discord with whom she is reluctantly wed, provokes the council’s wrath, Amina is charged with a seemingly impossible quest: steal a spindle capable of rewriting fate from a mysterious sorceress on an island no one can escape.

Forced to leave Marjana—who is increasingly frustrated at being peddled what are clearly lies about her mother’s life and her own past—Amina finds her mission almost immediately thrown into peril. But deadly storms, an erratic poison mistress, and old enemies are the least of her worries. For the peris’ story is unraveling, hinting at a far deadlier game whose rules Amina must swiftly puzzle out. A game that sets her against an adversary more cunning and powerful than she has ever faced.

A game that not everyone on her crew wants her to win.

Review: Insert “old lady Titanic gif” here, or something of that effect! But seriously, it’s felt like forever and a day since the first book in this series came out. I know the author has had a lot going on, so I’m sympathetic. But my greedy, book-loving heart kept obsessively checking the Goodreads page for the last few years, hoping for an update. And at last, here we are. And it was well worth the wait!

The story picks up a few months after the first book, and I’ll say right at the top, this was the most challenging part of this book for me. On one hand, I appreciate that the author just jumped right into the action; and for future readers who pick this one up immediately after the first book, this will work even better. But for the rest of us who are reading this now, after it’s been a few years since the first book, some of this transition was rough. Not only was I trying to piece together my memory of the plot of the first book (some of which is crucial to understanding the main character’s current predicament), but I was also struggling with more simple things, like remembering just who everyone was and what their stories were. Perhaps some sort of prologue or even “cast of characters” supporting materials somewhere in the book would have helped. As it stands, the book does very little to reintroduce you to these characters or the current stakes, so for me at least, it took a bit to feel like I was really caught up with exactly what was going on.

That said, even in the midst of my confusion, this was simply an excellently written book and a fun time to read. Amina is a great narrator with a unique voice who immediately drew me back into the story. And beyond that, the plot doesn’t skimp on the action, starting out with an exciting action scene and then delving quickly into the main plot of the story and the various mini-quests that make up that storyline. It was easy enough to simply let myself get caught up in what was going on on the page and trust that it would all come back to me. If possible, I recommend other readers take the same approach: it will all come to you eventually, just enjoy the ride in the meantime!

I also really liked the central plot of this story and the secondary story that was woven throughout the book in chapters that follow another character. I can’t go into much here without getting into spoilers, but there were some really great themes of motherhood, rage, and the gray line when victimhood can turn into villainy. There were some really touching scenes here that were darker than I expected. But this darkness was always balanced nicely by Amina’s narrative that was so strongly rooted in her core characteristics: her determination, bravery, and loyalty to those she loves.

I also really like the storyline we got between Amina and her friend, a woman who is as distrusting as they come. While I was equal parts frustrated as I was intrigued, this storyline took a close look at the complex nature of friendship, as well as the dark underside of self-sacrifice and atonement.

The core mystery and focus of the adventure of the story was also excellent. The magical components were all so unique and interwoven (ha!) in interesting ways, often taking turns that I hadn’t expected. Again, some of these twists and turns were fairly dark, but some of these heavier moments were as beautiful as they were heart-wrenching.

I will say that the middle portion of the book is where I lost the single point in my rating, dropping it from a 10 to a 9. There was a brief period in the middle of the book where it felt like the plot was spinning its wheels. Most of the major players had been well established, the mystery set up, and then it felt like the story took a few too many turns through Amina’s confusion and frustration before getting moving again. But I’ll also say that this slowdown in the pacing at this point in the story also worked very well, narratively, for Amina’s own experience of her situation.

The book does end on a bit of a cliffhanger, I will say. The main plotline is fully wrapped up, but on the very last page, the author drops a major bombshell into the current situation. That being the case, I can only hope that the next book comes quickly! If you were a fan of the first book, I highly recommend you check this one out! I’m sure it will be a massive hit with all fantasy fans!

Rating 9: Full of swashbuckling adventure and sweeping vistas, “The Tapestry of Fate” will catch you up in its rollicking good time before punching you with an emotional hammer of a mother’s rage. Simply fantastic!

Reader’s Advisory:

“The Tapestry of Fate” can be found on these Goodreads lists: All Books with “Tapestry” in the Title and Arabian, Egyptian, and Indian Fantasy.

Serena’s Review: “Smoke and Summons”

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Book: “Smoke and Summons” by Charlie N. Holmberg

Publishing Info: 47North, February 2019

Where Did I Get this Book: own it!

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

Book Description: As a human vessel for an ancient spirit, Sandis lives no ordinary life. At the command of her master, she can be transformed against her will into his weapon—a raging monster summoned to do his bidding. Unlike other vessels, Sandis can host extremely powerful spirits, but hosting such creatures can be fatal. To stay alive, she must run. And in a city fueled by smoke and corruption, she finds a surprising ally.

A cunning thief for hire, Rone owns a rare device that grants him immortality for one minute every day—a unique advantage that will come in handy in Sandis’s fight for freedom. But Sandis’s master knows how powerful she is. He’s determined to get her back, and he has the manpower to find her, wherever she runs.

Now, to outwit her pursuers, Sandis must put all her trust in Rone and his immortal device. For her master has summoned more than mere men to hunt her down…

Review: After absolutely loving “The Shattered King” and “The Half-Hearted Queen,” I eagerly jumped into Holmberg’s back catalog. Seriously, I think I bought probably two or three e-books in one night after turning the last page on that duology. Out of the many options I purchased for myself, I wanted to try another series, so I picked up this, the first in a complete trilogy.

This didn’t quite live up to the high that was “The Shattered King” duology, but I definitely enjoyed it for what it was! And, honestly, if the bar hadn’t been set quite so high, this one would have landed even better, so any/all qualms I had felt very much a product of unreasonable expectations more than anything else.

To start, I absolutely loved the world-building and magic system introduced here. For the world, our characters live in a highly corrupt city-state, essentially, that eats up its poor and doesn’t allow any past their gates. Right from the start, we see a system that doesn’t care about justice and, if you’re poor or unimportant, you can be disappeared without so much as a bat of the eye. In this world, our MMC, Rone, has pried out a life for himself and his mother by creating a name for himself in the criminal underworld. As for our FMC, Sandis, her side of the coin is the more unfortunate tale of those who have lost everything and been lost themselves, caught up by powerful players with very few options for escape.

The magic system was also great. There are hints of an ancient world that had magical resources that have been lost to this time, except for a few rare trinkets, including a device that allows Rone to be unkillable for a very short period of time once every 24 hours. Sandis’s story, however, is the one that centers more fully around the true magic of this series, that of summoners and the powerful beings that can be called forth from within them. But the process by which this happens is brutal and oppressive, with dire requirements for the body of the one who turns into the summoned creature and a horribly oppressive dynamic often coming from the summoner who controls them.

I also really liked both Rone and Sandis. This might actually be one of the rare books where I think I enjoyed the MMC POV more than the FMC. Sandis was a great character, but she was also a bit too perfect and too naive at times. She treaded the ground of the “perfect victim” stereotype a few times. That said, I did still very much enjoy her. For his part, I think Rone’s voice was stronger, and his character was often the driving force behind much of the action of the story. His arc is also the more complicated, with his attempts to balance protecting his mother as well as this new woman he finds himself working alongside. He doesn’t always make all the right decisions, and I liked him all the more for it.

Overall, I really liked this one! The pacing was a bit uneven at times, with Sandis and Rone playing out a bit of a circular pattern of being on the run, finding temporary safety, and then being found again and again. But their love story was lovely, and the end of this one set up some pretty high stakes for the next book. Of course, I already own it and will be jumping in again soon!

Rating 8: The FMC was a bit weaker than I prefer, but the world-building, magic, and MMC were all excellent, and I’m excited to see where the trilogy goes from here!

Reader’s Advisory:

“Smoke and Summons” can be found on these Goodreads lists: Slow-Burn Romance and Best Kindle Unlimited Books.

Joint Review: “Japanese Gothic”

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Book: “Japanese Gothic” by Kylie Lee Baker

Publishing Info: Hanover Square Press, April 2026

Where Did We Get This Book: NetGalley;

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

Book Description: In this lyrical, wildly inventive horror novel interwoven with Japanese mythology, two people living centuries apart discover a door between their worlds.

October, 2026: Lee Turner doesn’t remember how or why he killed his college roommate. The details are blurred and bloody. All he knows is he has to flee New York and go to the one place that might offer refuge—his father’s new home in Japan, a house hidden by sword ferns and wild ginger. But something is terribly wrong with the house: no animals will come near it, the bedroom window isn’t always a window, and a woman with a sword appears in the yard when night falls.

October, 1877: Sen is a young samurai in exile, hiding from the imperial soldiers in a house behind the sword ferns. A monster came home from war wearing her father’s face, but Sen would do anything to please him, even turn her sword on her own mother. She knows the soldiers will soon slaughter her whole family when she sees a terrible omen: a young foreign man who appears outside her window.

One of these people is a ghost, and one of these stories is a lie.

Something is hiding beneath the house of sword ferns, and Lee and Sen will soon wish they never unburied it.

Kate’s Thoughts

Given how much I adored Kylie Lee Baker’s previous novel “Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng” I knew that I wanted to get my hands on “Japanese Gothic”. Baker really has a solid grasp on how to craft a well done horror story that not only reflects her cultural background, but also universal fears across many different people. Reading about “Japanese Gothic” had me excited, and when Serena asked if we wanted to do a joint review I was in because I really wanted to see how our two different perspectives of the genres involved (fantasy and horror) would meld. It’s always fun to see how we approach the same book through these lenses.

As I was reading it I kind of found myself feeling like this book was more dark fantasy than horror (only because while it had spooky elements it didn’t really invoke dread in me), but given that I love dark fantasy as well that wasn’t a detriment. The suspense was there and as we follow two different perspectives (that of murderer Turner in our modern timeline, and that of ambitious would be samurai Sen in a timeline centuries before, who both live in the same house), Baker creates a time bending and mysterious story with murder, mystery, and two damaged people making a connection. We don’t really know why they are having this overlap, but as we learn more about the both of them I found myself getting more attached even though both of them, especially Lee, seem pretty menacing. I also liked how Baker carefully peels the layers back of both Lee and Sen, letting them learn about each other and letting us see how they could be drawn to one another through a weird dreamlike connection that feels otherworldly and strange. I liked both of them and all of their trauma, be it Lee’s mother who disappeared and who he thinks was kidnapped for human trafficking purposes, or Sen trying so desperately to impress her uncompromising samurai father. All of it worked for me and kept me on edge.

I will say, though, that if you are a little squeamish around violence and gore, this book has it’s moments. I still don’t really think it’s horror, but others may disagree due to some of the story beats and violent moments.

I enjoyed “Japanese Gothic”! It’s unique and weird and it will surely satisfy horror and dark fantasy fans alike.

Serena’s Thoughts

It’s always fun when we can find authors that cross over between our two genres. I had read Baker’s YA duology, “The Scarlet Alchemist,” a few years ago and really loved it. Her next book, “Bat Eater,” I saw was more horror-focused and left to Kate. But when I saw this one coming down the pike, the mentions of “dark fantasy” and “gothic” sounded more up my alley, so a joint review was definitely in order!

And it really came through in that way! I’d agree with Kate that this felt much more like a dark fantasy than a horror novel. I’ve read and enjoyed a few horror novels here and there, and as Kate identified, a feeling of dread is key to that genre. And while this had spooky elements, it didn’t have that lingering feeling in the back of your mind that something terrible was right around the corner. That said, it’s definitely not a book for the faint of heart; Baker doesn’t back away from some of the more gruesome moments and depicts them quite starkly on the page.

Part of the darkness came down to the two main characters, each with their own simmering issues. They are the sorts of characters that you catch yourself rooting for, and then take a step back and look at them objectively and start questioning whether you really should be supporting them so fully. It’s an interesting dynamic and one that had me sucked into each of their stories, perhaps even despite myself at times.

I also really liked the way she used the two timelines and wove them together. There were plenty of twists and turns throughout, and I was on the edge of my seat for much of it to see how it was all going to come together in the end. Towards the end, some of these twists and turns began to feel a bit overwhelming as characters were dropping left and right, but I found the end itself satisfying.

Overall, I enjoyed this one and definitely think it’s a great read for dark fantasy fans!

Kate’s Rating 8: A suspenseful and time bending dark fantasy with two complicated protagonists and a hell of a hook.

Serena’s Rating 8: Dark in just the way like: full of twists and turns and grounded in two protagonists that you’re not quite sure what to do with at times.

Reader’s Advisory

“Japanese Gothic” is included on the Goodreads lists “Weird Lit”, and “2026 Women in Horror”.

Serena’s Review: “The Tricky Business of Faerie Bargains”

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Book: “The Tricky Business of Faerie Bargains” by Reena McCarty

Publishing Info:  Orbit, April 7

Where Did I Get this Book: ARC from the publisher

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

Book Description: When Poppy Hill was a child she was stolen from her family’s Montana homestead and taken to the land of the fae, where she spent more than a century as a cook in the Wild King’s castle. Now back in the human world, she works for a company that brokers fairy bargains, looking for loopholes in their contracts.

Then a bargain that Poppy is negotiating goes disastrously wrong and she has to return to the world she grew up in to try to rectify her mistake, facing danger, intrigue and a pesky ex-boyfriend along the way.

Review: Once I settled into what this book was, I ended up really enjoying it. But let’s start with what it isn’t: looking at that description above, I went into this one fully expecting some sort of “second chance” romance wrapped in the trappings of a fantasy world focused on faerie bargains. Well, part of that is true, but it was definitely not the romance part. While there are hints of a love story here, the romance took a decided back burner, was not following the trope that this description hints toward, and then, sadly, seemed to fizzle out towards the end. It seems like there could easily be a second book which might retroactively make this love story more compelling, but from the start, readers should not go into this one expecting a romantasy of any kind (and publishers should knock it off with trying to cash in on the popularity of the genre by misleading book descriptions, which just pisses people off and doesn’t get you readers in the long run).

What I did like was the main character and the concept of this world. I’ve always loved the versions of faeries that focus highly on the duplicitous nature of faerie bargains. We’ve seen comedy versions, dark/horror versions, and here, we have the bureaucratic, where faeries interact with our world through a business front, conducting their bargains dressed up in the trappings of our modern society. This was all very creative, and I enjoyed the ins and outs of how this all worked. If anything, I wish the book had focused even more on these bureaucratic shenanigans, which, on the face of it, doesn’t sound like a good thing. But in the context of this book, it was great!

I also really enjoyed Poppy and the challenges she faced. Her backstory, that of a child stolen away for one hundred years to the land of the fae, was incredibly compelling. This left her with a distinct feeling of being a “fish out of water,” even now that she is back in the human world, presumably where she belongs. Her time spent in the land of the fae naturally left her with unique skills for understanding the small print of their tricky bargains, and so her work helping humans find loopholes was fun. But her inner story, that of trying to find her place, her people, and herself, was very compelling.

Overall, I definitely enjoyed this one. The writing was strong throughout, and I really enjoyed the world-building in this one, especially the unique ways that the human and fae worlds interacted. The romance was definitely a letdown, as it might as well have not existed, really. But I’m hopeful that there will be a second book that might resolve this aspect better. If you enjoy stories of fae bargains with heroines who have an interesting inner arc, then this might be one to check out!

Rating 8: Light on the romance, but the focus on Poppy’s journey to find her place between two worlds was more than enough to carry me through!

Reader’s Advisory:

“The Tricky Business of Faerie Bargains” isn’t currently on any Goodreads lists, but it should be on Everything Fae.

Serena’s Review: “Burn the Kingdom Down”

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Book: “Burn the Kingdom Down” by Addie Thorley

Publishing Info: Sourcebooks Fire, April 2026

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

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

Book Description: One year ago, Rowenna Harrack, the crown princess of Tashir, left her homeland in a wedding dress of chains—sent away to the enemy nation of Vanzador as a captive bride.

Now, Rowenna is dead. Brought home in a coffin after an alleged fall from a cliff.

Second-born princess, Indira, knows her sister’s death was no accident. Desperate for truth and vengeance, Indira agrees to wed the prince so she can infiltrate Vanzador, find Rowenna’s murderer, and burn their kingdom to the ground.

Indira’s plan is simple, she will make nice until she can find out how to avenge her sister and free her country from the rival nation’s stranglehold. But when Indira arrives, nothing is as terrible as Rowenna described. As Indira grows closer to her new husband, Prince Alaric, and uncovers more about Vanzador, the source of its powers, and what happened during Rowenna’s final days, she’s no longer sure what—and who—to believe. Because everyone, even her sister, has secrets. Deadly ones.

Review: This one wasn’t actually on my radar at all until it randomly showed up on my door, but the book description sounded interesting. And, well, we all know that I’m a sucker for sister stories, so even if the sister in question seems to die immediately to set up the plot itself, it’s still an intriguing driving force for our FMC.

So, this was a fun enough read. What probably stands out the most was the mystery aspect of the story, which you don’t often get in romantasy books these days. That being the case, the plot structure of this one felt very different than the typical action-oriented romantasies with the “stabby” heroines doing their “stabby” thing every second of the day. Instead, the story focuses down much more narrowly on the political situation that Rowenna finds herself in, the myriad dynamics going on between the players at court, and her attempts to unravel exactly what happened to her sister.

This did lead the middle of the book to drag a bit, with the plotting and pacing feeling like they were bottoming out at times. Rowenna spends much of this period of the book circling around the same questions with only the barest hints of any progress to be found. As the story is a slower experience as a whole, this didn’t bother me overly much, but it did feel as if it could have benefited from some editing to tighten up the plot to only what is necessary.

Of course, alongside this slower structure, the romance itself was a slow-burn affair. These are my favorite kinds, so I was happy enough to follow along as our characters slowly began to trust and care for one another. I thought the author did a decent job using this slow-burn approach to build up the tension between the two, and the payoff, when it came, was well worth the wait.

That said, neither of these characters stood out to me particularly. Again, neither was a bad character, but I also never felt deeply invested in them or their burgeoning relationship. The author relied a bit too heavily on simply telling readers how Rowenna was feeling for me to ever have the chance to fully try to understand her, and in the attempt, grow to care about her.

I think this was a decent romantasy read, however! Readers who enjoy political fantasy with court intrigue will enjoy the general plot, and romance lovers who enjoy slow-burn love stories will likely be pleased with the way that portion of the story plays out.

Rating 8: It didn’t blow my socks off, but in a very crowded romantasy field, this one did a great job of introducing a mystery and a true slow-burn love story into the standard plot we’ve come to expect from this sort of book.

Reader’s Advisory:

“Burn Down the Kingdom” can be found on this Goodreads list: April 2026 Most Anticipated Romance Releases

Serena’s Review: “Wolf Worm”

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Book: “Wolf Worm” by T. Kingfisher

Publishing Info: Tor Nightfire, March 2026

Where Did I Get this Book: Netgalley!

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

Book Description: The year is 1899 and Sonia Wilson is a scientific illustrator without work, prospects, or hope. When the reclusive Dr. Halder offers her a position illustrating his vast collection of insects, Sonia jumps at the chance to move to his North Carolina manor house and put her talents to use. But soon enough she finds that there are darker things at work than the Carolina woods. What happened to her predecessor, Halder’s wife? Why are animals acting so strangely, and what is behind the peculiar local whispers about “blood thiefs?”

With the aid of the housekeeper and a local healer, Sonia discovers that Halder’s entomological studies have taken him down a dark road full of parasitic maggots that burrow into human flesh, and that his monstrous experiments may grow to encompass his newest illustrator as well.

Review: Here I am, back with another T. Kingfisher review! Honestly, this one might have fallen better under Kate’s genres, but I got here first! Seems like every other month I’m reviewing a book by this author, but that’s the great thing about prolific authors, especially when they always deliver.

There was a lot to enjoy about this one for sure. Most especially, I enjoyed the combination of the time period of history alongside the classic gothic trappings of a mysterious house hidden away in the woods and under the care of an even more mysterious owner. But unlike the typical gothic story, there’s no romance to be found here, just body horror galore.

I wouldn’t say that I’m the sort of person who is squeamish about bugs. If anything, my husband is always busy squashing them on first sight while I quietly work behind the scenes to simply transport them to safety outside. All my protestations about spiders being useful bugs seem to fall on deaf ears. THAT SAID, Kingfisher may have turned me around on all things creepy crawly. I don’t live in the south (obviously), but after reading this book, I pretty much never want to visit there again. Bot flies?? No thank you! Forget the creepy mushrooms that reanimated the dead, this thing takes body horror to an entirely new level and man, was it gross at times. Even thinking about some of the scenes now gives me a major ick. That said, it was definitely successful in being creepy for this very same reason. Your fear factor will likely greatly depend on your relationship to bugs, but, like I said, even the most hardened are likely to be grossed out here.

As for the rest of it, we have many of the staples of Kingfisher books. A solid, sympathetic, yet funny, leading lady character. A cast of assorted quirky side characters. And a villainous presence lurking behind it all. Of these all, I think the main character stood out the most. I enjoyed the side characters and villain (such as it was), but they also felt fairly familiar at this point. The main character also felt familiar, but her experiences as a woman working in a male-dominated world and her struggles with imposter syndrome were a compelling personal arc to follow.

I will say that this book is on the slower side. While the characters are the true heart of the story and were enough to pull me in right away, the story takes a while to truly set its scene. There’s a lot of slow buildup as Sonia begins her work and only gradually begins to suspect that all is not right around her. Once the midpoint of the book hits, things pick up from there. But it does create a situation where readers really need to stick with it through some of the quieter moments in the beginning to get to the payoff in the end. For my part, I feel that a lot of this slow buildup is a staple of gothic horror, slowly ratcheting up tension and atmosphere before building to a crisis point. However, it does leave for a bit of an uneven reading experience.

Overall, this was an excellent horror, gothic novel. The bug stuff was truly horrifying, and there are more than one scenes that I wish to scrub from my memory permanently. I have been missing the romance in the last few Kingfisher books I’ve read, but this one is a solid entry in the gothic genre and well worth checking out, especially for those who enjoy body horror.

Rating 8: Bugs have never been more gross, and I mean that in the best way possible.

Reader’s Advisory:

“Wolf Worm” can be found on these Goodreads lists: Horror to Look Forward to in 2026 and Nature Horror.