The nitty-gritty: An entertaining, cheeky fantasy with outstanding humorous banter, The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy is a solid series starter by a very promising writer. Some readers love this book and others don’t, and after reading it for myself I can appreciate both opinions. The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy […]
The nitty-gritty: Sarah Beth Durst revisits the world of The Spellshop in this magical, cozy and emotionally satisfying companion novel. “Behind her, Rijes let out a small gasp as she beheld the bookshelves–it was the sound of a woman who didn’t expect to find happiness but discovered it anyway. Terlu knew that sound well.” I […]
The nitty-gritty: Cats, cozy fantasy and time travel combine in this delightful witchy feel-good romance. I was expecting An Ancient Witch’s Guide to Modern Dating to be a cute rom-com, but I didn’t expect it to have so much heart and emotion. I ended up falling head over heels for Thorn, Walls and all the […]
The nitty-gritty: The Palace of Illusions is a unique Nutcracker retelling with magic, charm and sparkling characters. The Palace of Illusions was a breath of fresh air in a crowded pool of “retellings,” and I was in love from the first page. In this case, Rowenna Miller takes on the story of the beloved Christmas […]
The nitty-gritty: The House on Utopia Way is a weird cabinet of wonders, set in a mind-bending, mystery-filled landscape. “It was a drawn breath of a day, sky the colour of a computer error screen, low wind.” The author told me this book was “too weird” for traditional publishing, but I read and review a […]
The nitty-gritty: Cosmic horror with a twist, You’ve Awoken Her provides mystery, chills and relatable characters. You’ve Awoken Her is the latest YA horror book from Ann Dávila Cardinal, and although I usually shy away from YA these days, I do take chances on YA horror from time to time, and this one did not […]
The nitty-gritty: Ashley Poston channels the joy of music in this funny, romantic story about following your heart. This is the fourth book in what I’ll call Ashley Poston’s magical realism romances, and I say, keep ‘em coming! Sounds Like Love is an ode to music and finding your passion in life. It’s also about […]
The nitty-gritty: A twist on the magical school trope told from the parents’ point of view, Caitlin Rozakis’s latest is a fun, heartfelt story with wry humor and a cozy vibe. “Oct 27 12:05 p.m. A kind reminder after last year’s incident that many of the off-the-shelf (Halloween) costumes sold in mundane stores are considered […]
The nitty-gritty: Tochi Onyebuchi’s latest melds hard boiled noir and fantasy in a perfectly paced story with humor and heart. “The français are a Harmattan that never ends.” Harmattan Season is a tautly written crime story with magical overtones, set in a fantasy version of postcolonial West Africa. This is a slow-burn mystery told from […]
The nitty-gritty: Ghosts, demons and magic infuse this well written, high-stakes tale that addresses racism, queer love, interracial relationships and much more. A Spell For Change is an unexpectedly thoughtful and emotional story that takes place after World War I in a small town in Tennessee. It’s also a demonic possession story, which I wasn’t […]