The Dagger and the Flame - Catherine Doyle // Book Review

   

The Dagger and the Flame
Catherine Doyle || Publication Date - 02.10.2024

Seraphine witnesses her mothers murder, over a commodity believed shouldn't exist...

Fantasy | Romance

In Fantome, Shade-magic is a scarce and deadly commodity controlled by two enemy guilds: the Cloaks and the Daggers - the thieves and the assassins.

On the night of her mother's murder, 17-year-old Seraphine runs for her life. Seeking sanctuary with the Cloaks, her heart is set on revenge. Nothing can prepare Sera for the moment she finally comes face-to-face with Ransom, heir to the Order of Daggers. Ransom is shocked to discover that this unassuming farmgirl wields a strange and blazing magic he has never seen before...

As the Cloaks and the Daggers grapple for control of Fantome's underworld, Sera and Ransom are consumed by the push and pull of their magic, and the deadly spark that keeps drawing them back together...

The Review (may contain spoilers)

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me early access to this eARC for an honest review!

For a young adult fantasy novel, I was surprised that I had found myself really enjoying the story. It's definitely not a genre I actively seek out much anymore as I am no longer the target demographic, however, sometimes something like this comes along and it truly is a gem.

It is definitely playing off the age old 'Romeo & Juliet' style enemies to lovers trope. Two factions, both fighting for control and distinctly do not like one another. Seraphine is a Cloak, one of the thieves and Ransom is a Dagger, an assassin. Both are forced into investigating an insurgence of monsters plaguing the city of Fantome and eventually end up fighting an enemy no one had seen coming.

What I loved was how easy it was to read, and the 500 pages felt like absolutely nothing at all. Catherine's ability to world build and draw in atmosphere was what sold me to continue reading the series. It had everything I would have expected for a novel towing the line between typical enemies to lovers and deep underground crime influences shaping the way these characters see and interact with each other. There's a history of bad blood between the two factions and you can see this being played out even as the main protagonists know there is something far deeper going on than a simple gang feud.

Overall Thoughts

It took me a while to get into this book, however, once I hit that tipping point I loved it. I enjoyed the story, and the characters were compelling. Most of all though, I enjoyed the descriptive writing that Catherine brought to the table. The scenes and events within the book were beautifully written and I thoroughly applaud Catherine for her ability to set the atmosphere. It really made immersing myself in the world a lot easier and most of the time I truly felt like a fly on the wall.

I look forward to reading future novels by Catherine, as I'm very excited to see what comes next!

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Baldur's Gate 3: Astarion - T. Kingfisher // Book Review

   

Baldur's Gate 3: Astarion

T. Kingfisher || Publication Date - 29.09.2026

The legendary charlatan Astarion... beaten, enslaved and Hell's bent on revenge.

Fantasy | LGBTQIA+

Astarion was a smart mouthed, impeccably styled magistrate in the Faerûn city of Baldur's Gate. His duties mostly involved the lowlife scum of city criminals, and sentencing them when found guilty of their crimes... which usually involved death.

Little did Astarion know that his own sentence was closer than he would have liked. A severe beating, a lucky stranger and a gift that would last forever became his new reality. Along with this gift came new duties, enduring hours of torture and perpetual slavery.

What he also didn't know, was what his slaver Cazador had planned for one of his children. If they could bring him a vial of the most exclusive blood he'd tasted, he would provide the winner true freedom. To become a true vampire.

 

The Review (may contain spoilers)

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me early access to this eARC for an honest review!

For those of you who may not have played 'Baldur's Gate 3', I do believe this novel is perfectly readable without having played it. I feel this would be a perfect starting statement as a lot of people may think it a requirement. As someone who is a massive fan of the developer (Larian Studios) and thoroughly enjoyed BG3, I am incredibly biased to already love this book. Pair it with T. Kingfisher as the writer and honestly I couldn't pick a better author to have penned Astarion's back story.

The writing captures his snarky personality perfectly. Everything that makes Astarion the man beloved by the community is there, and if there was one thing which could have gone wrong when writing this novel, it would have been conveying his particular style and demeanor. Safe to say, T. Kingfisher nailed it. It has a lot of elements within the writing as easter eggs to BG3 and Dungeons & Dragons too, so if you have played either, there will be a few times you will find yourself laughing over the dialogue or situations. I love the thought and detail which has gone into the novel, to me it was a feast for my hungry nerd heart.

As for the story and writing, removing my bias as best as I can, ultimately this is a work of T. Kingfisher. I love their writing, and their novels have always been a good time for me. It's witty, adventurous and funny without being overdone. The characters are fleshed out enough they feel unique to the plot, and those who are more established like Astarion and Cazador, have been written with the context of BG3 in mind. The lore of Dungeon's & Dragon's, and more specifically The Sword Coast, is vast to say the least. With city's including Baldur's Gate, Neverwinter and Waterdeep, each featuring various TTRPG campaigns, video games and source books there is a lot of material to draw from. Despite this, I do believe Kingfisher has done a great job of grabbing bits and pieces to set the tone for the novel and surrounding events. 

Overall Thoughts

I loved this novel. Hands down. I am aware I am biased as a fan of T. Kingfisher, BG3 and D&D. With that being said however, if you like queer main characters with questionable morality being forced into high stakes situations which could possibly leave them killed by either a cult worshipping a dead God or by each other, this would be for you!

I would highly recommend this book if you are also a fan of T. Kingfisher, BG3 or D&D as well. It was a great read, which didn't overstay its welcome and allowed us to gain more content for this beloved game and its characters. All I can hope is that each of the other main companions get their own novels too, because I know for a fact I will be reading and buying every single one of them.

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Tonight, I Burn - Katherine J. Adams // Book Review

Tonight, I Burn
Katharine J. Adams || Publication Date - 01.11.2023

Some witches move winds, some forge mountains, and others burn. 

Fiction | Fantasy | LGBTQIA+

Penny isn't just a run of the mill witch you read about in fairy tales, she's about to turn 21, and she's about to burn at the stake. Her elder sisters burned too, everyone in her Coven burns. Because they are Thorn Witches, ones with powers to cross the veil from life into death and protect it. Until one night one of her sisters, Ella, goes to patrol death and does not return.

While Ella is seemingly trapped in death, Penny is trying to convince her family and her coven to go in and save her. Unfortunately, a caveat to walking in death is that only one Thorn Witch can be in the veil at any one time. But Penny knows something is wrong, she can see her family acting strangely and she's decided to break the most fundamental rule... she will cross into death to save her sister.

What follows are countless revelations about the world she lives in, the immortal tyrannical ruler who has all covens bound to his servitude, and how Penny discovers who she really is and what she is capable of doing to destroy the suffering of everyone around her.

The Review (May Contain Spoilers)

Off the bat, this book is very descriptive, there's an air of mystery surrounding the complex world that these witches are living in. Especially when it pertains to the library, where there are books which have been restricted by the High Warden and effectively banished. There is a looming gothic presence, which I love, however, I felt the plot a little hard to grasp in the beginning. It seems to jump straight into the plot with not a lot of set up. Granted the plot isn't really that convoluted, but it does raise some questions that I have that I'll point out a little later.

Despite the jumpstart, it is incredibly dark. These witches we are following are Thorn Witches. Their job in this world is literally to die, every night, by burning at the stake and enter through the veil into death. There is a lot of description around death, and dying, and watching others go through this process that it really hammers home the idea that these witches are not to be envied. Their job in death is to patrol the veil to make sure that the souls of recently departed cross the 'Horizon' safely into eternal rest. If they do not, the souls risk twisting and turning into fog-wraiths. These nasties can cross over into Life if the veil is damaged and wreak havoc. 

Here in lies the first of my grievances with this novel. Penny at one of her first passings into the veil draws a sword into the sand, manifests this sword and slays a fog-wraith. Bad ass, good for her. However, no where previously written has she gone to any classes, or been shown training with a sword to kill them. She simply states that killing a fog-wraith was nothing for her with all her training. The only places she has been to in this book up until this point has been the burning chamber, her bedroom, the dining hall and the library... It set the stage for a lot of magic in this book to be spontaneously convenient.

One of my other issues with this book was the characters and their relationships felt very hollow. Penny doesn't seem to have any friends outside of her sisters, and her first relationships outside of her own family appear to be love interests. Unfortunately, I feel the same as I did when I was reading 'Shadow & Bone', that the relationships were only there to be a plot device to drive the narrative forward. There was nothing else about these relationships which felt compelling. Things may develop over the 2nd novel, and I am really hoping they do, because relationships of convenience are not my thing.

Overall Thoughts

I can confidently say this book did nothing new for me in terms of genre or storytelling, but it also did not suck. Katherine put a lot of work into developing a world suppressed by a tyrannical ruler, multiple different types of witches within a compound suppressed by his rule, and each coven being unique and completely different from any other. The richness of the world however, was lost on me. As I had mentioned above, a lot of the magic and characters felt convenient. There was no real development of the world, and instead of seeing a fleshed out magic system explained and then utilized, it was used but never explained.

How do the Thorn witches cross over through the veil? How do they come back into life? How does the Guilding magic actually work? When did Penny learn to fight with a sword? Why can Thorn witches draw swords into the sand in death and then manifest them physically? When did Penny learn to control her magic? These and more questions I do wish were answered in this book, and I hope maybe there will be an explanation in the 2nd.

I would recommend this book to you if you enjoyed 'Shadow & Bone' or 'The Dagger and the Flame'. The narratives are not like each other in the slightest, but have themes of practical uses for magic, faction style divisions between users of magic, and follow one main female protagonist who is trying to discover how to destroy a looming threat over their freedom. Personally I feel that 'The Dagger and the Flame' did these concepts the best, and I would recommend it if you have read this novel and wanted something similar to read in future.

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Ruin & Rising - Leigh Bardugo // Book Review

 

Ruin & Rising
Leigh Bardugo || Publication Date - 17.06.2014

Battle worn and almost out of hope. The fate of the world rests on the shoulders of their new Saint.

Fiction | Fantasy | Adventure | Young Adult

After their last fight with The Dark One, Alina is now recovering trying to build her strength and fight to find the last of the Amplifiers she requires to beat him.

Her journey to find the Fire Bird is based on a myth, not even guaranteed to find this illustrious creature. However, though the odds are not in her favour, she and a band of her closest allies are on the hunt for their last chance at winning this war.

But like any power, great sacrifice must be made, and Alina is constantly weighing her choices to truly find if she is ready to find out what is on the line.

The Review (may contain spoilers)

I found this last instalment mediocre at best. Apologies for the harsh wording, but the premise and storyline up until this final book was fun and interesting. I had this overarching feeling through the whole series that Alina and Mal's relationship was written purposely for convenience and this final book proved my concerns.

The characters as people never improved and the ones I initially liked upon meeting stayed my favourites. Alina and Mal are quite honestly two of the most uninteresting people on the planet and faltered the story in my opinion. I can appreciate if this was intentional as some people don't like reading about already extraordinary characters gaining Chosen One powers and saving the world. That being said, making them painstakingly dull is also not a win.

My favourite characters do appear in later books within the Grishaverse, and I will definitely be delving into the other duology's by Leigh Bardugo in the future. Her writing style is nice and she explains things in her world very well. Magic systems can get convoluted and I appreciate hers being creative and easily grasped by readers. Ultimately, I feel the ending closed off the saga quite well and I didn't have many unanswered questions or unsavory explanations. 

Overall Thoughts

This trilogy was a good way to introduce the politics, systems, characters and overarching world building required for a multi-novel series. I do however, think this is best seen through the eyes of a prologue to give context to the other books set in the Grishaverse. I have not read the Six of Crows duology so I'm unsure how those books go in terms of explaining intricate details of Ravka, however if they function perfectly well as standalone books (which I will be able to advise and update this passage later) then I would simply recommend to skip this trilogy and read those instead.

That being said, if you are a fantasy fan and want something easy to read and a fascinating world with interesting side characters then this would be a nice and quick series to grab.

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Siege & Storm - Leigh Bardugo // Book Review

  

Siege & Storm
Leigh Bardugo || Publication Date - 04.06.2013

The world is changing, revelations have come to light and now Alina and Mal are on the run.

Drama | Literary Fiction | Mystery

Alina and Mal have escaped a harrowing and eye opening ordeal in The Fold, and are now on the run to try and find the remaining Amplifiers to complete Alina's goal - destroy The Dark One.

They find themselves sailing with a brigand of privateers under the watchful and respected eyes of Sturmhund. All while being stalked by The Dark One, who has emerged from The Fold with a new unnaturally strong power and a need to regain his control of the Sun Summoner.

Alina has some choices to make. Grow her power and continue to seek out the Amplifiers. Remain on the run with Mal, constantly being hunted by The Dark One. Or, surrender to The Dark One and allow him to take control of her and her powers for his own twisted plans.

The Review (may contain spoilers)

This book was a step in the right direction considering the first book. More interesting (my favourite actually) characters are introduced into the story and character development runs rampant. However, I believe in the case of Alina and Mal, this character development is just running in circles asking the same questions until the book passes to the 3rd instalment.

I enjoyed the continuation and, explicitly, this section of the plot compared to the first book. It had more action, it was written a lot smoother and had a genuine feel of developing substantial character relationships. The world development however lacked here, and even though it did give a grander scale to Ravka which would be explored in the following book, I felt that it was not nearly enough to give enough of an urgency as the book seemed to require.

Unfortunately I don't seem to have much more to say for this book as I did the first... which is disappointing as I was expecting the 2nd book in the trilogy to really set the stage for the finale novel and give the push forward this story deserves. 

Overall Thoughts

In my opinion this book was a fine continuation of the story. As stated it had a lot more elements to it than the first but I still don't think it bridged the gap as well as it should have when I compare it to the next volume.

If you have read the first book and enjoyed it, I would not be reserved to recommend to read this one as well. However, if you did not enjoy Shadow & Bone, I wouldn't recommend continuing. I feel the other books in the Grishaverse are more worth the time and energy than what is essentially a prologue spread out over 3 books. 

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Shadow & Bone - Leigh Bardugo // Book Review

  

Shadow & Bone
Leigh Bardugo || Publication Date - 05.06.2012

The weight of the world rests in the scarred hand of an orphan and her childhood best friend.

Fantasy | Young Adult Fiction | Adventure

Alina Starkov and Malyen Oretsev started their lives as orphans. As they grew into young adulthood, they would enlist themselves into the military.

Alina had taken on the role as a cartographer. She would be going all over the country and drawing her maps safely out of harms way. Mal would be drafted to the frontlines as a soldier. Their journey's coincided with each other when they were to be sent with a convoy into The Fold, a void of darkness which scarred their landscape and held a variety of horrors - created by The Dark One.

On this journey through The Fold, something goes horribly wrong and the once normal Alina is discovered to be, what the world call, "Grisha". These people are equipped with the power to control the elements. And hers is the key to overpowering the darkness and saving the World.

Upon her disbelief, she is whisked away to a new life, leaving her beloved best friend behind. Nothing she knew would ever be the same again.

The Review (may contain spoilers)

Like myself, most new people to this series may have picked this up due to the release of the Netflix series. I am one of those people who would prefer to read the source material before going into the TV adaptation, and Shadow & Bone was no exception.

Following Alina on her journey made a bunch of new characters come forward. Unfortunately, I had the immediate impression that everyone else in this story was more interesting than our 'Chosen' main heroine and her best friend Mal. Their personalities left so much to be desired and this was a common theme throughout the entirety of the trilogy. I could compare it to being dragged, very slowly, over gravel for a few hours in heavy clothing. Not going to harm you much, but not very enlightening.

The relationships which bloom around our main character Alina with everyone else other than Mal are infinitely better, and allow her to be shown as more than someone who is constantly pining over her best friend. Despite the latter being the reality of a lot of her internal dialogues and is the flame for her primary concerns after discovering she is Grisha. This lead me to believe wholeheartedly her ties to Mal and their incoming relationship upgrade was entirely for convenience and nothing more.

The world and the storyline however, are very well thought out and amazing to invest into. The magic system is also something to be admired and is very interesting in terms of how it forms the world's alliances/challenges. As Ravka is currently in the middle of war, there are battles being fought against the northern and southern bordering countries which just adds to the tension. The fact I enjoyed the base setting of this trilogy so much is 100% my motivation to pick up the next duology in the Grishaverse - Six of Crows.

Overall Thoughts

My thoughts on this series are mixed. Ultimately I feel the main character, Alina, brings this world down. As this is how she acts throughout the entirety of the trilogy, this seems purposely done and I believe not a fault of the author but an inability on my own behalf to enjoy people and characters that are as she is. The world however is a completely different story and is entirely my reasons for rating these books consistently. I love the magic system, I love the world events and a lot of the other characters which appear in this series are amazing and colourful and witty.

As this is a young adult fantasy, if you enjoy world building and interesting magic systems and don't particularly care for the characters then I would definitely recommend this book and series.

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Throne in the Dark - A. K. Caggiano // Book Review

  

Throne in the Dark
A. K. Caggiano || Publication Date - 28.09.2022

Damien will not let anything stand in the way of his dark destiny, except maybe her...

Fantasy | Adventure | Romance

Damien Maleficus Bloodthorne, his resume runs thick with dark and evil musings. He is the spawn of a demon lord, a prince of darkness, prophesized realm destroyer and saver of kittens. His latest creation is a tool to command, which inevitably he will be using to ensure the release of his father from banishment. That is until Amma comes along and tries to steal it.

Unfortunately for Amma, this tool for control is a single use item, which has now been absorbed into her body. The only way Damien can get it back to use it for its intended purpose is to kill her. However, he doesn't particularly like the mess that would cause and Amma understandably has an aversion to death.

There may be another way to free Amma from this artifact without the inconvenience of dying, which takes this reluctant pair over the realm in attempts to save her life, and allow Damien to unleash his father.

The Review (may contain spoilers)

I specifically waited until the 3rd book in this series was published by Sourcebooks to be able to publish this review. Not only do I ADORE the new covers for the series, but there is now worldwide distribution physically for 'Throne in the Dark' and I couldn't be happier. What a series A.K. Caggiano has written...

Firstly I need to get my gushing out of the way. If you're looking for a review which is not tainted by absolute love for this series, I'm afraid this writing will not be for you. The premise is very standard Fantasy, the son of a demon lord and a thief meet in less than stellar circumstances. What ensues is a literal rumble through every single quest objective ever known to anyone who has played a Fantasy RPG. There's witches & wizards, werewolves, cults, vampires and a slew of various other races and enemies fondly detailed within the genre.

There is adventure and humor in spades throughout the novel. Ashley's writing and characters are beautifully detailed. In addition to the writing, there are over 400 pages of quests, escapades, fights and plot to get through. Generally longer Fantasy novels burn me out, especially if I feel there is not enough within the book to sustain the amount of pages. However, with 'Throne in the Dark' I felt this length was not a negative at all. The full narrative had not been explained within these pages, and I had spent a lot of time not reading the book imagining all the ways it could be going. All those theories on my part were very wrong.

I also cannot leave without speaking about the dynamic between Amma and Damien. This romance is incredibly slow burn, almost to the point of torture. If you like fast pace relationship development, this will not be a series for you. There's plenty of tension, banter and steam which develops naturally over the time the characters spend together. It was pure joy experiencing their reluctant friendship grow and pure frustration simply wanting them to FUCKING KISS EACH OTHER...

Overall Thoughts

With the above all being said, if you're looking for an adventure full of wit, funny characters and some truly absurd quest hooks, then look no further. I've never wanted to go back through and re-read a series when I've completed it and A.K. Caggiano has inevitably ruined that sentiment forever. I can see myself going back to this world and these characters over and over again.

I've personally purchased this series twice, once on Kindle and the other being the new Sourcebooks published copies to have for my trophy shelf. It is available on Kindle Unlimited for those who have it, and if you do I would highly recommend giving it a go.

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Five Broken Blades - Mai Corland // Book Review

      

Five Broken Blades

Mai Corland || Publication Date - 07.05.2024

A thief, a strongman, a spy, an assassin, a nobleman, and an exiled prince add up to a ring of liars.

Fantasy

Six criminals are brought together for one purpose, to kill King Joon - The God King. His crown is an artifact from the age of the Dragon Lord which makes the wearer immortal. The plan, remove the crown during a tournament and while King Joon is mortal, strike.

As they all gather to begin their journey to a treasonous end, they kill for each other, bleed and care for each other... and some even fall for one another. However, not one of them trusts any other as far as they could throw them.

Betrayal is rampant, no one truly knows what's happening until it's too late and by that time, they're all as good as dead.

The Review (may contain spoilers)

Multicast novels are a new one for me, generally the most POV's I'm following are from a simple romance duo. I am loving how different and unique each of the characters are feeling. It's well written enough to me to distinguish between the characters we are following and I appreciate they all have their own dialogue styles which feel natural.

The tropes in this book between everyone is making this so much more enjoyable and I'm thriving reading this novel. Even though they're all on a mission to kill a God King, I can't escape the fun banter between everyone. Some have known each other for a few days and others have known each other since they were children. They all have different motivations for attempting the assassination, and it's so much fun watching each of them navigate the situations they're dealing with within their internal monologues.

Of the three pairs which we are introduced to through the story I am obsessed with Ty and Sora. Not only is their dynamic the kind of trope I eat up in romance, but Sora is such a well written character to me. She's got so much on her plate and in her mind, yet through it all she seems the most relateable - despite never being in a situation where I could even possibly relate to her circumstances. Sora is such a bad ass and I love her so much.

My biggest gripe with characters was Royo. His chapters after a certain stage always sounded the same, just worded differently. Everyone else had something unique to say, even if there was some rehashing of previous character concerns. Royo effectively sounded like a broken record and this really diminished his character as the story went on for me. Like we get it, your girl died and you don't want to get close to another again for fear of her also being killed... genuinely Royo thinks about nothing else...

One small thing which threw me while reading was a common saying for us. Someone being 'down to Earth'. It's not so much of a negative, but it jarred me out of the story when a character described another in that exact phrasing. I assumed this was taking place in a fictional world, so seeing Earth referenced when realistically it doesn't appear to exist was a little weird lol.

Overall Thoughts

I had such a great time reading this book. A lot of people have compared it to 'Six of Crows' by Leigh Bardugo, which is a favourite for a lot of readers I follow that have similar taste to me. Definitely going to have to pick that one up sooner rather than later if this is the case. If you are a fan of 'Six of Crows', maybe this is a sign to give this a try if you haven't already.

What I will say is I am 100% going to be continuing this series. I love the characters (mostly) and the world is interesting. Definitely cannot wait to see what happens in the next instalments!

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A King's Trust - S. E. McPherson // Book Review

     

A King's Trust
S.E. McPherson || Publication Date - 24.03.2025

Every mistake I've made was worth it for this.

Fantasy | Romance | LGBTQIA+

Beau is a Prince, the spare, the one who was never meant to be King. Beau's older brother Char was a model Prince and would soon make a model King. His beautiful Queen by his side and competently ruling the land as it should be. This was all until Char died. Beau's life came to a shattering halt. He has lost his brother, he has lost his freedom and he has lost his family's respect.

What comes now is Beau picking up the pieces to a kingdom which is under siege, supposed hidden magical artifacts have been stolen and may be in the enemies hands, and worst of all he has to marry. The biggest roadblock is that Beau is in love with his excruciatingly loyal personal guard Elias. Becoming a King when he was never supposed to couldn't be more difficult when the lives of the ones he loves are on the line.

The Review (may contain spoilers)

Thank you to the author for allowing me early access to this eARC for an honest review!

In respect to this novel, I had a very good time. It took a little while to get into the swing of things, as it was painfully obvious that the main character Beau was insatiably in love with his guard Elias. To a point where the comments were getting on my nerves with how frequent they were. I get it Beau, your guard is a hot piece of ass and you want to ride him home through the sunset. As the book went on and the story started to gain momentum, the comments prevailed but were less irritating.

What I did love about this book was the integration of polygamy. Whether it is, or can be, an accurate representation of relationships under that umbrella I would have absolutely no clue. However, the nonchalant nature of Penny coming into the picture and accepting that Beau was in love with Elias before she was even an option was randomly wholesome? If only the real world could have the same level of tolerance and understanding as the newly crowned Queen of this novel.

I'm hoping the sequel broadens the world more and integrates the political nature which was shadowed in this story. I love a political structure within a Fantasy setting and would love to see it expanded and brought to the forefront. There is also an entire magic structure that was touched on during the novel which I also can't wait to have fully explained.

McPherson's writing was honestly very good! The characters felt very fleshed out and I loved how they communicated with each other. Banter between the characters felt natural in my opinion, however, the interactions with Penny's little sister felt very 'modern' compared to how everyone else was communicating. Almost like she had a smartphone and was on TikTok, while everyone else wasn't. I wish more time was put into the descriptions of the environment. Theatre of the mind really took the wheel here as a lot of it was briefly glossed over. The characters were so crisp, their setting almost felt like a blurred background.

Overall Thoughts

As this is the first experience I've had with McPherson as an author, I am delighted to be pleasantly surprised. The novel was very well paced and definitely didn't feel too long or too short for the story it wanted to tell. I loved the characters, especially after the half way point when all the mystery and intrigue finally cleared. The magic system has me wanting to continue the series and I'm very grateful to have been given a copy of the 2nd novel by the author to dive straight into.

I would recommend this if you enjoy medium to fast paced political Fantasy's which integrate magic and LGBTQIA+ relationships. I would also happily recommend this as a stand alone as well. The closure received at the end of the novel felt complete and left it open for readers who want to continue in the series.

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Innamorata - Ava Reid // Book Review

     

Innamorata
Ava Reid || Publication Date - 17.03.2026

Death ruled, betrayal came and ripped it all away... Agnes will steal it all back.

Historical | Fantasy

Agnes, the ever silent and plotting cousin of Marozia has been tasked with ensuring the marriage of the Mistress of the House of Teeth with the son of the King, Prince Liuprand. She has also been tasked by her late grandmother to bring down the crown and reignite the legacy of her ancestors. As Marozia and Agnes make the journey to the castle, Agnes has everything she needs to begin her task. The secrets of death magic, and the key to restoring her family's honour is within the walls of the grand betrayers castle.

The only thing which poses a threat to her success is the Prince himself. She will stop at nothing to bring her revenge to the crown that took everything from them. But will the crown sweep her off her feet while she's on her path of destruction.

The Review (may contain spoilers)

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me early access to this eARC for an honest review!

This would be my second turn around with Ava Reid. The first I had read from her was 'Juniper & Thorn' which I enjoyed, but found the prose way too flowery for my own tastes. As a reader, I appreciate her use of description really setting the dark and gothic vibes her novels are known for. They're immersive and invoke a grotesque style of descriptive writing that is truly beautiful, albeit quite morbid. 'Innamorata' comes through with the same in spades, truly the prose is fantastic.

One issue I feel I have with Ava's novels are her characters. I was hoping it might have been a singular issue with the first book I'd read and it would develop as Ava continued to write and hone her art. But for me, it's hard to describe. I feel there is a glass panel between myself as the reader and the characters of the novel that I cannot break through and make a connection. It's the same feeling I had while also reading 'The Familiar' by Leigh Bardugo. Something about the characters felt inaccessible to me, and the fact this has now happened twice, over two books is making me think Ava's characters are not for me to connect with.

As the story continued, the prose became way too much to deal with. Same as I had felt reading 'Juniper & Thorn', every mundane aspect of the situation and environment does not need a flowery sentence full of description dedicated to it. It is Ava's artistic choice to write this way and I feel it's a polarising style. I personally realise that I am not a fan of it, which after feeling the same way after the first of Ava's novels I read, I am content expressing her writing is beautiful and not writing I enjoy reading.

Overall Thoughts

One of the biggest issues I had with this novel was the marketing. The ending tag line to the blurb is as follows:

For Agnes’s final order is the gravest: She must not fall in love.

I want to stress for anyone going into this, reading that tag line and thinking this is a fantasy romance. Romance is definitely twisted into the book, however it is NOT a romance.

Despite knowing there were going to be dark and gothic themes, as with most Ava Reid works, I would recommend looking up trigger warnings. There are some themes within the novel which I believe were overdone to a point of overshadowing the narrative being told. Especially towards the second half where things get DARK. Gore is also very prevalent, and if that's not something you can't stomach on a good day, with the descriptive nature of Ava's prose this may not be a good pick for you.

However if you don't give a shit about gore and triggers, it was an interesting narrative to be sure.

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Nightshade & Oak - Molly O'Neill // Book Review

  

Nightshade & Oak
Molly O'Neill || Publication Date - 03.02.2026

A delightful tale of unexpected meetings, trust, friendship & what it means to be human

Fantasy | Adventure | Mythology

Mallt is the Goddess of Death. Her task for thousands of years has been to assist the dead and dying towards the afterlife. After a battle between Britons and Romans has left a field full of carnage, she sweeps through the despair with her hounds, pulling souls from their tortured and mortal lives and ushering them away. As she leaves the battlefield, one final scene captures her attention. A woman lay dying with her soul tethered to her body, unable to escape. When Mallt touches the woman's face to coax her soul, the next thing Mallt knows is that she's mortal and comes into contact with Bellis, a princess.

Bellis is the reason why Mallt is no longer a Goddess, and is now trapped within a mortal body. Much to her dismay, she is forced to travel weeks westward to enter the afterlife and by chance regain her Immortality. Bellis on the other hand, wishes to go to the same place, in order to save her sisters life.

The Review (may contain spoilers)

I would like to thank Hachette UK for providing me a copy of this book for review purposes.

I did feel the beginning of this novel was a bit clunky. Being written in first person is not much of an issue, however the profuse use of 'I' at the beginning of each sentence got irritating very quickly. As the story progressed, this became less of an issue and I was able to really sink into Molly's writing style, which I did end up really liking. By about 20% of the way through, it was exactly the kind of Adventure Fantasy which I was hoping for.

Both Mallt and Bellis as characters were unique and fun to get to know. We have snippets sprinkled through the novel of Bellis as she grows up, watching her sister being born and experiences life as a Princess and the next leader of her people. The only excerpt we get regarding Mallt and her duties as a Goddess are within the first couple of chapters. However I feel this provided the perfect amount of context to the book and gave enough of the world building to allude that we are within a historic tale woven with Mythology.

As a decent hook for this book is a journey to the gates of the afterlife, this novel could have blown the travelling portion out significantly longer than it did. I believed that a decent chunk of the 270 pages were going to be the characters travelling. Molly needs an award or something, because this is not even what the book is narratively going to focus on. The afterlife is corrupted, and in danger of being destroyed. This is what the novel is truly about and what a pleasant surprise that was.

What lowered the rating for me in terms of enjoyment was the final stages towards the ending of the book, which felt rushed. A lot was packed into the last 30 or so pages and it was jumping around trying to close off plot lines while also adding in a smaller side possibility at the same time. It didn't harm the narrative overall, but did make the ending appear lightning fast, and I do feel it made the final moments a little less impactful.

Overall Thoughts

What I loved the most about this novel is that it is a STAND ALONE Fantasy! So many lately have been a part of a series and I've been hanging out for a novel I can sit and devour without having to worry about a sequel. Another thing I loved about it was both Mallt and Bellis. Nothing overstayed its welcome and the story moved swiftly and steadily towards the conclusion.

If you're looking for a novel that's easy to read, fun and a Fantasy under 300 pages, please look no further than 'Nightshade & Oak'. It certainly wasn't a perfect read, but it was exactly what I've felt the Fantasy market has been lacking for a very long time and it was a refreshing welcome.

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Books & Bewitchment - Isla Jewell // Book Review

 

Books & Bewitchment

 Isla Jewell || Publication Date - 03.02.2026

Inheritance, magic and moving to a town you swore you would never be seen in...

Fiction | Fantasy | Romance

Rhea Wolfe is down on her luck, living pay check to pay check in a dead end job that she's spontaneously made redundant from. She has two younger sisters who are similarly life challenged and Rhea feels a lot of responsibility to be the role model big sister they deserve since their parents passed away.

One boring weekday, Rhea is given the news that her estranged grandmother has died - and she's inherited everything as the oldest direct descendent. Finally things are starting to look up, and this may be the ticket she and her sisters needed to get a boost to their finances and situations.

The only barrier between Rhea and this inheritance is that she has to go back to Arcadia Falls, in which she had promised her late mother she would never do...

The Review (may contain spoilers)

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me early access to this eARC for an honest review!

When I requested this book, I was very excited to read it. It seemed to have all the elements for a cozy style romance that I would be looking for. However, everything in this novel fell flat to me. I don't know whether that was a me issue or an issue for the book overall. The characters were basic and uninteresting, the MMC honestly was kind of weird, and the grandmother was obnoxious to the point of infuriating.

I believe that a lot of this book could have been edited out. Most sentences and passages only added to the word count and nothing valuable to the story as a whole. There was a lot of explaining to the reader, when it was easy enough to decipher what was being alluded to and I do believe the book could have ended perfectly two chapters before it did. It felt like a natural end to the story, and the final two chapters were, again, only adding to the word count and brought nothing new or interesting.

One thing I disagree with in the official blurb is that there is no immediate danger to the town or its residents.

As she gets ever closer to solving the mystery of what exactly is happening, each clue points to Arcadia Falls’ magic hanging in the balance. To keep her new home safe, Rhea must step into her enchanted birth right and harness her newfound powers . . . before it’s too late. - NetGalley & Goodreads

Unfortunately the way this book is being marketed is that it has significantly higher stakes than there is. Nothing has been a glaring issue for the other magical inhabitants or their safety, and Rhea coming to town does not inherently save anything.

There's also the pressing issue of the overly used puns and dad jokes. This was honestly brutal to read through, and made it very difficult for me to power through. I lost count how many times I nearly DNF'd this book because of the forced humor.

Overall Thoughts

I did feel this novel was trying too hard to be a quirky addition to the 'Cozy Fantasy' bandwagon which has been flooding the market recently. I have the same opinions as I did with 'The Baby Dragon Café', there was a lot of content in this novel which I felt did not need to be there and believe this would have been better digested as a novella.

My sentiment stands that if you're a specific fan of these types of books, you may enjoy this one. It's a closed door romance, with little description of spice and features a lot of tropes which have been common within the genre. Throw in a small town where everyone knows everyone and voila, cozy. There's also the benefit of being incredibly low stakes, despite what the blurb may wish you to believe.

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City of Ghosts - Victoria Schwab // Book Review

  

City of Ghosts
Victoria Schwab || Publication Date - 28.08.2018

A girl who can split the veil between the living and the dead, and her best friend, who is a ghost...

Fantasy | Paranormal | Middle Grade

Cassidy nearly died (or did die and she refuses to accept it), and since this incident she's been able to see what lies between the veil. Growing up in a household with scholarly parents known to the wider community as paranormal investigators, she has kept her gift a secret. Along with her gift, Jacob has also been kept under wraps. Her very dead and very ghostly best friend.

One day after school her parents surprise her with the adventure of a lifetime. They will be filming a TV series and going all over the world investigating locations rumoured to be haunted. Their first port of call will be Edinburgh, Scotland.

While across the pond, her eyes are opened to the intricacies of her abilities and she learns things she never knew she could even do. All the while investigating on her own a Red Raven that's terrorising the local area.

The Review (may contain spoilers)

As a whole I quite enjoyed the story and the characters. Cass and Jacob have a sweet relationship despite their circumstances, and I want to continue the series to see how their relationship develops. I did listen to this as an audiobook, and this is my preferred way to read middle grade/teen fiction. I feel narrators do a great job at making these books appear as if you're listening to a story from your friend. For 'City of Ghosts' this is no exception.

Due to the intended audience for this book, ultimately not being a woman in her 30's, this wasn't something to be read for a deep and substantial story. However, if you want to introduce your teens to a well written and fun paranormal story I wouldn't hesitate to give this one a go.

That being said, if you are also an adult in your 30's and want something to read that is fun, simple and leaves you feeling good, I would definitely recommend giving this one a look.

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Juniper & Thorn - Ava Reid // Book Review

   

Juniper & Thorn

Ava Reid || Publication Date - 21.06.2022

A young witch fighting for her independence against an oppressive father who has never given her a chance. A retelling of "The Juniper Tree".

Fantasy | Historical | Romance | Horror

Marlinchen, a young witch imprisoned in her own home with her two older sisters by her father. They spend their days making money for their home using their magical gifts on the normal humans who come to see them.

The three young women sneak out of their home to attend a newly opened ballet theatre, where one of the performers quickly and sharply captures Marlinchen's heart.

As Marlinchen continues to defy her father and sneaks out at night to see this man, her town is turned to horror when a monster is skulking around at night. She has a choice to make, continue to be trapped under the tyrannical rule of her father or, uncover the secrets of her terrorised city to expel this evil for good.

The Review (may contain spoilers)

This book hit a lot of really good marks for me in terms of genre and writing. I also feel that in terms of length, it was spot on. My quarrel with rating this higher than I did comes down to the opening of the book and how it overall made me feel.

The characters were good, and I enjoyed the dynamic displayed between the sisters and their abusive father. Unfortunately the opening to this book in my opinion just tried too hard in terms of the prose and descriptions. It took me a few chapters to get used to the writing style, which is not the fault of the author, and it felt like everything needed a comparison description rather than it just being what it is.

For example:

“Magic is the first sip of good wine that makes the edges of your vision blur. Magic is the cool breeze of the boardwalk at night and organ music in the air. Magic is landing a grand jeté and nearly going deaf with hate crowd's applause. Magic is the low flicker of tavern lights and the girl your courting leaning close so you can kiss.”

Why do we need 4 sentences to describe to us what Magic was like? There were also times the descriptors of items, environment and feelings tried to be too clever and ultimately sounded silly.

The relationship between Marlinchen and Sevas also seemed very hollow. Sure enough they were attracted to each other, which I don't think Marlinchen could say anything else about Sevas other than how attractive he was. Sevas also seemed to like her for some reason. Other than being attracted to her kindness and physical body, there didn't seem to be much more there either. Another relationship which could have had depth and gave it more of a place in the story, but never did.

Overall Thoughts

Ultimately I felt the writing was very strong as I got used to it, other than my points mentioned in terms of descriptors going too far. The premise and story did not overstay its welcome in terms of length and it was creative for a retelling, but did not blow my mind.

I do not feel the genres given to this book or it being nominated on Goodreads for "Best Horror of 2022" are warranted. There was a small instance of the monster attacking people which could be considered horrific, but this book had no indication of horror at all.

I am very keen to read more from Ava as I felt she has an amazing mind and one day she will, without a doubt, write something which will be my next favourite book.

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Manners and Monsters - Tilly Wallace // Book Review

 

Manners and Monsters

Tilly Wallace || Publication Date - 07.06.2019

An amicable amalgamation of a stemmed zombie apocalypse and Victorian polite high society.

Historical | Fantasy | Mystery

Hannah isn't a normal polite lady in high society, she's a brilliant minded daughter of a renowned scientist and a zombified mother.

A product of war, face powder, was used to assail the city of London and it's most prevalent citizens. It had been tainted with a curse of magic which turned any who used this powder into one of the Afflicted. Hearts stopped beating all over London and over the next few days, many women (and men) were presumed dead. Much to the horror of those who loved and lost, the dead did in fact reanimate and are now, years later, integrated with society and seem to live comfortable, albeit altered, lives.

Hannah's mother was unfortunately one who was taken prematurely by the cursed cosmetic. She and her father have been studying this Affliction trying to find a way to reverse it's affects, kickstart her mothers heart, and return her to the living. This research gets put on hold when a gruesome murder at the hands of a rogue Afflicted occurs and Hannah is poised to learn the truth. Her reluctant partner, whom she is dragged along with, Viscount Wycliff is determined to slag the Afflicted and smear their reformed progress through the mud.

Can Hannah ensure the integrity and reputations of the Afflicted high society remain intact, while also using her knowledge to catch a murderer?

The Review (may contain spoilers)

I want to preface this by admitting that I had won an audio copy of this book through the Storygraph giveaways. And whatever giver of luck that I had pleased to win this, I am forever grateful. Had I not, I likely would never have remembered this title existed and subsequently would never have read it.

This book was so much fun! I loved the main character Hannah and her family. Her outlook and disposition on the entire world was very modern and progressive for the time in which this book is set in. She is also partial to opinions from both sides of the fence, with her mother being one of the Afflicted, and her father a scientist trying to find a cure.

The way that magic is weaved into this world is not particularly explained, however it's a common occurrence for all characters involved. I would assume in later volumes in this series that the world would further be explored and questions would be answered. However, I am also expecting different types of supernatural beings to exist as others had been mentioned in passing.

As for the plot, this murder mystery was nothing particularly special. Most of my accolades for this novel come from the characters and creative setting. The mystery was a good introduction to the reader for the world, the placing of the characters and their lives along with establishing the future instalments for Hannah and her new ventures.

Overall Thoughts

If you're in the mood for a Historical fiction set in Victorian high society, with a "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies" type of feel then this would be an amazing book for you. It has the elements of a fun and creative idea, excellent writing and a wonderful and smart main female lead.

I had the pleasure of listening to this on Audio and I would recommend both mediums. It wasn't particularly long, and would be something I could happily listen to while doing housework or driving to my day job.

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The Gods Time Forgot - Kelsie Sheridan Gonzalez // Book Review

The Gods Time Forgot

 Kelsie Sheridan Gonzalez || Publication Date - 08.04.2025

She's emerged from a pool, in someone else's body... with no idea who she is.

Fantasy | Historical | Mythology

Rua emerges from a pool of water, surrounded by people trying to capture her - calling her 'Emma'. In her confusion and fear, she runs, and finds herself found and being walked up the stairs of an opulent housing estate in England's countryside. The Harrington's are ecstatic to have their daughter back safe and sound. Unfortunately, Rua on the other hand has no clue who these people are, neither the faintest idea of how she even got here.

Now imposing as Emma Harrington, Rua takes it upon herself to find out what's going on and why this has happened to her. High Society is cruel, but visions and dreams have assured her that she can be crueller. Especially when those visions show a man she has seen before on a battlefield, connected to her in some way, and she wants to find out where and how they could know each other. 

The Review (may contain spoilers)

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me early access to this eARC for an honest review!

I very much enjoyed the beginning of this novel. It was intriguing and the woven mythology which presented itself was compelling to keep me going. The characters were interesting, however, I didn't particularly feel connected to them. A lot of the time I found them fairly average in their personality and conversations with each other. Especially the main couple Rua and Finn. I wanted to like them more than I did.

As the novel progressed, I felt a lot of the chapters could have been edited out or condensed. After about the 60% mark the novel dragged and not a lot was actually happening. It seemed the discussions and reveals made in this chunk of the book had already been given prior, and it was as if the writer or editor was filling in space to up the page count. It made me disinterested as a whole as by this point I simply wanted the book to end.

Finn's connection with the orphanage was also weird to me. Almost as if there had to be something to allude to the fact he wasn't inherently a bad person? I felt the writer did a fine enough job of convincing the audience of his character without this being included. If the significance of this location was explained more, it could have made more sense.

I felt this book could have improved with more of a POV in earlier chapters of how Finn came to where he is. I understand the mystery aspect, however it made things seem a little disjointed despite he went through the exact same thing Rua did. I feel it would have been interesting to explore as they both came to the realisation of their circumstances and who they really were.

Overall Thoughts

As a whole, this book was alright. It wasn't amazing and it told a story. The comparisons to 'Outlander' I feel are quote loose - and if you picked up this book with the expectation this was a similar story, you would likely be disappointed. Because other than a displaced person in time, this novel had nothing else in common with that series.

It's not one I would actively recommend, however if the premise sounds interesting to you I wouldn't stop you from giving it a go.

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Roll For Romance - Lenora Woods // Book Review

Roll For Romance

Lenora Woods || Publication Date - 17.07.2025

Romance budding between D&D characters and their players - Yes please!

Fiction | Fantasy | Romance

Sadie is down on her luck. She's been fired from her job, and has now left the loving bustle of New York City for a small town in Texas. Her long time best friend, Liam, has offered to house her while she gets back on her feet and finds another job. Unfortunately, Sadie is far from ready to throw herself back into the corporate world so soon.

For something to do, Liam invites Sadie and a small group of people to play a campaign of Dungeons & Dragons. They're all new players, and people she may have met in town should she have ever left the house for longer than 5 minutes. One that strikes her interest is a ruggedly handsome bartender at the new local hotspot 'The Alchemist'.

As the campaign progresses, and the groups friendships grow, Sadie has a choice to make. Does she go back to a life of corporate servitude in the big city? Or does she leave that all behind to grow roots in this quaint small town?

The Review (may contain spoilers)

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me early access to this eARC for an honest review!

I need to gush over how this novel is written. I'm loving the split between the out of character normal lives of Sadie and the other players, however, also having the in game scenarios being played out by all their player characters is so much fun. My only gripe with the scenario is that the characters are acting as if they are experienced D&D players, whereas the table is formed by players new to the game. For storytelling reasons this makes sense, however as an experienced TTRPG player myself I found it a bit odd.

I'm not particularly a fan of the beginning of the romance. It's giving very instalove and for me this isn't my favourite. I can definitely appreciate being attracted to someone from the get go, but he is kind of a bit creepy with it. Sadie is a bit more realistic with her attraction at least telling herself to cool off... As they progress through the novel it becomes so much more wholesome and sweet, thankfully and I found myself rooting for them. Especially when they decided to role play as their D&D characters out of game. That was so freaking cute!

I enjoyed the 3rd act drama in this novel as well. It wasn't miscommunication, thankfully, as both characters actually spoke about their concerns and their plans. They were okay with a type of relationship which was 'we will see where we end up', even though secretly hoping they end up together. It was refreshing and realistic and I loved how they navigated the challenges this type of relationship can bring up.

Overall Thoughts

I loved this novel, it was so much fun! The characters were awesome, the D&D Campaign scenario which was played through the novels characters was like a mini story all on its own and it was a wholesome romp the whole way to the end. If you like romance, I would recommend this book. If you like fantasy, I would recommend this book. And if you like D&D, I would recommend this book! It ticks so many boxes for me that I will definitely be buying a physical copy to go back and re-read when I need something fun to dip back into.

Thoroughly keeping my eyes on this author and I'll be buying their next release if/when it's available because I could easily see them becoming a new favourite author.

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The Serpent Called Mercy - Roanne Lau // Book Review

The Serpent Called Mercy

Roanne Lau || Publication Date - 25.03.2025

Begging for money, in debt and working for abusers just to make ends meet. What if risking your life could bring you comforts far beyond your wildest dreams?

Fantasy | Fiction

Lythlet and Desil have been sworn siblings since they were children after Lythlet came into the care of Desil's parents. However, growing up together hasn't always been smooth sailing for the pair. After Desil was desperate to save Lythlet's life, he made a deal with a loan shark and has been drowning in the crippling cycle of debt ever since.

One day, after giving up hope they're ever going to break free of their debt and be able to start living better lives, they make the heavy decision to join the arena as Conquessor's. Fighting in a Colosseum style match-up between themselves and sun-cursed beasts, Desil and Lythlet have the capacity to shape their futures and roll in wealth they could only have dreamed of.

However, when things start going down a different path, it's up to them whether their friendship is worth more than riches.

The Review (May Contain Spoilers)

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me early access to this eARC for an honest review!

I felt while reading this book, that there were multiple story hooks which didn't quite gel together. As much as I enjoyed the concept of the story, and it had the foundations for being an epic fantasy novel, I couldn't help but have the impression for how disjointed it was. It would have been more enjoyable if each storyline was broken up over a duology, too much wanted to happen in this single book.

The main friendship and their debt is clearly the focus of the novel. It's their driving force to becoming Conquessor's and fighting for money to pay off the collector and be able to be free. I would have loved to have seen more of Desil's internal monologues and character viewpoints through the novel. It's essentially written solely through Lythlet, and I do believe it could have benefitted for some sections or chapters divided up to incorporate Desil.

One of the traits being highlighted in this novel is Lythlet's financial skills. This to me is unique, and I'm genuinely happy to see this being showcased in the forefront of a characters skillset. I see money being used a lot in Fantasy novels, but there's never really any mention of characters being versed in their own financial situation. She's also incredibly perceptive, which as a skill is remarkable however seen far too often in my opinion.

Overall Thoughts

As a whole, I personally felt this novel was trying to be too much all in one sitting. There's arena battles, magical beasts, gods/goddesses, magic, fugitive thieves, espionage and a political social hierarchy all trying to take centre stage in this one book. All of these ideas and the development of them could have been so much more enjoyable if they were spread out over more book real estate. A lot of the time this story felt disjointed and too much was happening in too many different areas for me to really keep a grasp of what was happening.

I would have also liked to have explored Desil's point of view more than we had. I truly believe he would have been a useful and refreshing voice in the jam packed narrative which could have helped flesh things out a little more and extend the story to a sequel at best.

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The Sirens - Emilia Hart // Book Review

The Sirens
Emilia Hart || Publication Date - 29.01.2025

A haunting and atmospheric tale of magical realism.

Fiction | Fantasy | Historical | Magical Realism

'The Sirens' follows a young woman named Lucy, set in 2019. While at University housing she attacks a boy as she was sleepwalking and, terrified of the consequences, she flees.

Twin sisters Mary and Eliza, set in 1800, are being sent to Australia from Ireland on a convict ship. They have also committed a similar crime and have been sentenced to the New World.

Lucy is experiencing odd dreams of these two sisters from over 200 years ago, she has no idea why, and decides to try and track down her older sister Jessica to see if she can get some answers.

When Lucy arrives at Jessica's house, she finds it practically abandoned. It's almost as if her sister has disappeared, the same as a dozen men off the coast of this clifftop town have done... without a trace. 

The Review (May Contain Spoilers)

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me early access to this eARC for an honest review!

This is the first novel I have read that's been written by Emilia Hart, and after making her debut in 2023 with 'Weyward,' I can see why she's celebrated as a talented author. That being said, this novel had all the parts I would need to piece together an amazing story. Mysteries that are interconnected with Historical events which shape the lives of modern day characters. Eerie and captivating folktales which may or may not actually be true. And I cannot forget the underlying narrative of empowering women, especially those who have suffered at the hands of someone else. Putting this all together in 'The Sirens' however, left me underwhelmed towards the end of the novel.

To say this novel is drenched in atmosphere is an understatement. It was a constant looming presence over the entire duration of the novel. I loved the uncertain, mystical energy it created. Definitely the strongest point of this novel next to Emilia's writing. Phenomenal. Emilia's descriptions of events, especially during the voyage of Mary and Eliza, were haunting to say the least. It was cruel, callous and full of wavering despair as the girls and their fellow convicts were hauled to Australia.

I had hoped that the weaving storyline of Mary and Eliza didn't abruptly finish when Lucy and Jessica end up together, unfortunately this was the case. It made their involvement and story almost meaningless as this novel could be told entirely without their perspectives and still make sense. There was a huge emphasis on these two girls, and for them to get pushed aside made them seem almost trivial, or an afterthought, to make the story fantastical. I would have liked to have seen them integrated properly into Lucy and Jess's discovery solidifying their linked storylines.

Overall Thoughts

I cannot speak for those who have read Emilia's first novel 'Weyward', however, as a stand alone novel it was a solid story. As I had described above, for me personally, it had all the elements I love when it comes to magical realism and enriching a modern story with it. The premise was interesting and the mixed media components of the novel made it engaging. I do wish, wholeheartedly, that the novel leaned into the fantastical more than it did. I feel it could have raised the potential of this novel, but instead it felt like an afterthought.

If you enjoy stories around magical realism, especially when it influences modern characters, magic and eerie associations with disappearances and the ocean, I could recommend this to you. I would double down on this recommendation if you have read and enjoyed 'The Lost Apothecary' by Sarah Penner. Although the premise is quite different, it has very similar themes and both stories embrace the empowerment of women's voices giving justice to those who have been harmed.

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The Baby Dragon Cafe - A.T. Qureshi // Book Review

  

The Baby Dragon Cafe
A.T. Qureshi || Publication Date - 16.01.2025

Baby dragons, a cafe, and a cozy feel good read for everyone!

Fiction | Fantasy | Romance

Saphira loves baby dragons, the only problem is, is that she was not lucky enough to have one of her own. With the recent passing of her beloved Grandmother, the promise she made, and a little help from her inheritance, Saphira has created her dream cozy space in the world with 'The Baby Dragon Cafe'. The only place you can get a dragon-roasted coffee, a cheerful smile, and a treat for your little 'draggo' all in the one location.

As much as Saphira adores her cafe, she is constantly faced with the financial burden of letting babies that can breathe fire into her business. Unfortunately time, and savings are running out to continue replacing damaged chairs... and very, very expensive coffee machines. Thankfully, from what seems like a chance meeting, Saphira is introduced to Aiden. A grumpy local heart-throb, with his own baby dragon in serious need of training.

Can she help Aiden with his baby dragon problem? And can Saphira manage to keep her treasured cafe afloat?

The Review (may contain spoilers)

Firstly I would like to acknowledge and thank the Publisher and NetGalley for giving me an early eARC of this novel.

As much as I loved the premise for this book, and was enjoying the world which was briefly explored throughout 'The Baby Dragon Cafe', I didn't think too much of it. I believe the main reason this novel wasn't a hit for me was the writing. It's very matter of fact, which to me doesn't flow well and creates an impression that the editors didn't bother to restructure sentences to make them read more naturally. An example is quoted below:

This style also follows into the conversations between characters in the book. I have found, personally, that I can have issues keeping track of who is saying what in written conversations. I don't think I'll ever have to worry about that in this novel, because each dialogue line is followed, or started, with the character that spoke, or, will speak it. To me this feels like the other end of the spectrum where I don't need my hand held completely reading a book. I'm a big girl, I can figure it out... It did get a little better as the story went on, but by that point I was already annoyed.

I enjoyed the world more than the characters. Saphira is kind of boring. There's nothing particularly interesting or over the top about her, which can be refreshing when everyone in a romance book is a bombshell. Aiden, on the other hand, has as much personality as wet cardboard. I'm not a huge fan of the 'Instalove' trope, and that was where this novel kicked off. It doesn't feel genuine (to me) when characters are instantly infatuated with each other, I like my characters to suffer. 😊 There's also the weird dynamic that Aiden is from a prestigious family of 'Dragon Riders', and then Saphira's impromptu employer. Saphira notices that his actions are kind of weird, and props to her because yeah... it kind of is. But who cares when he's hot right? 😩

Overall Thoughts

In my honest opinion, I felt like this should have been a novella. There's a lot of writing here which is repetitive and unnecessary padding out scenes. The 3rd act drama appeared to have taken place 100 pages into a 320 page novel. Not to mention the ending of the novel was rushed and out of place.

I agree with the sentiment that if you're a fan of books like 'Pumpkin Spice Cafe', 'Legends and Lattes' or even 'Magic, Lies, and Deadly Pies', this will hit the same spot. It was cozy, it was very easy to read, and didn't take a lot of thought to enjoy the story being told. I would also forward this book onto readers who enjoy Fantasy, but don't want to be overwhelmed with the nuance of the genre, and Romance readers who don't like a lot of spice in their reading.

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