Review: She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan
A reimagining of the rise of the Ming Dynasty, She Who Became the Sun is a historical fantasy novel that deftly explores destiny, gender, duty, desire – and the age-old thirst […]
Mini-Reviews: Stardust & The Lady’s Guide to Petticoats and Piracy
When Victoria tells Tristran Thorn that she’ll marry him if he can fetch a fallen star for her, the poor sod believes her. Only a foolish youngster like Tristran could […]
Review: La Belle Sauvage by Philip Pullman
The first in a new trilogy, La Belle Sauvage is as a prequel to the iconic His Dark Materials series. If you haven’t given the original series a whirl, let […]
Mini-Reviews: A Most Agreeable Murder & VenCo
Julia Seales’ debut is a delightful caper bursting with humour and wit. This isn’t your traditional historical mystery meets romance – it has elements of parody and even hints at […]
Review: Witch King by Martha Wells
Martha Wells’ latest fantasy offering suffers from comparison to her wildly popular Murderbot Diaries novellas. If you’re looking for more of the dry wit and solid characterization that Wells’ is […]
Mini-Reviews: Shadow of the Fox & Traitor’s Blade
The Shadow of the Fox is the series opener for a YA fantasy story inspired by Japanese legends – and feudal Japanese history. Three very different teenagers find their fates […]
Review: The Foxglove King by Hannah Whitten
The Foxglove King introduces a world of fallen gods, a corrupt monarchy and priesthood, and the death magic that connects them all. Lore is a young woman with a secret. […]
Review: The Last Tale of the Flower Bride by Roshani Chokshi
The Tale of the Last Flower Bride follows three main characters who have given their lives – in one way or another – in their desperate search to find the […]
Mini-Reviews: The Wicked King & A Duke by Default
This review is spoiler-free for the first and second books in the series. It’s been ages since I read The Cruel Prince, so I expected that it would take me […]
Review: Bad Cree by Jessica Johns
Bad Cree follows Mackenzie, a Cree millennial living a mundane existence in Vancouver…until the day she wakes from a nightmare holding a bloody crow’s head in her palm. Drawing on […]
Review: A Taste of Gold and Iron by Alexandra Rowland
When Prince Kadou’s social fumbling results in a politically charged scandal, he’s forced to accept two new charges: the first is a mission to unmask a counterfeiter, and the second […]
Mini-Reviews: Flamecaster & For the Duke’s Eyes Only
Flamecaster launches a new YA fantasy series set in the world of the Seven Realms, following the children of the protagonists from the original story. If you have any interest […]
Mini-Reviews: Sawkill Girls & The Governess Game
When Marion Althouse and her family move to the island of Sawkill Rock, they’re hoping it will be a place to recover from tragedy. Marion craves a change of scene […]
Review: Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman
Neil Gaiman’s Neverwhere is an urban fantasy classic, an iconic title that’s been adapted into a radio play, a television mini-series, and a comic book. Clearly, it’s a story beloved […]
Mini-Reviews: A Song Below Water & Newt’s Emerald
Bethany C. Morrow’s A Song Below Water is a YA urban fantasy with a great concept that unfortunately suffers from poor execution. Tavia and Effie are sisters in all but […]
Review: All the Seas of the World by Guy Gavriel Kay
When a pirate, a mercenary, and a would-be scholar are hired to assassinate the leader of a city state, a chain of events is set into motion that will change […]
Mini-Reviews: Kill the Queen & The Serpent
Kill the Queen follows Evie, a minor member of the Bellona royal family as she escapes the palace and becomes a magical gladiator in the name of revenge. If that […]
Review: A Dowry of Blood by S. T. Gibson
Less a love story and more the unmaking of one, A Dowry of Blood follows our narrator Constanta and her obsessive love for Dracula, referred only to as “My Lord” […]
Mini-Reviews: Just Like Home & The Black God’s Drums
Vera Crowder’s estranged mother calls her out of the blue to deliver bad news: first, she’s dying, and even worse, it’s time for Vera to come home. It’s been twelve […]
Review: Toil & Trouble edited by Jessica Spotswood & Tess Sharpe
With stories set in the past and present, in world real and imagined, the short stories in Toil & Trouble: 15 Tales of Women & Witchcraft are linked by their […]
Mini-Reviews: What We Both Know & Foundryside
Hillary Greene’s life has been put on hold so that she can take care of her father. Her father, an acclaimed novelist, has been prevented from writing his memoirs because […]
Review: Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree
Travis Baldree describes his debut novel Legends & Lattes as a “low-stakes cozy fantasy,” and this is one case where the marketing fits the bill. The story follows the quiet […]
Mini Reviews: Black Water Sister & The Queens of Innis Lear
When Jessamyn Teoh’s parents decide to move back to Malaysia from the USA, she tags along to help them get settled in. When Jessamyn Teoh’s parents decide to move back […]
Review: A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske
With a winning combination of magic, intrigue, and romance, A Marvellous Light is sure to please fans of historical fantasy. When the non-magical Robin Blyth is mistakenly assigned to a […]