The nitty-gritty: A dreamy and magical story about fairy tales, real and imagined. Happily ever after is the dropping of a curtain, a signal for applause. It is not a guarantee, and it always has a price. From the moment I saw this darkly atmospheric cover, I knew I had to read Roses and Rot. […]
The nitty-gritty: An original world-building idea that just didn’t get off the ground for me. Perhaps a novel might work better? I was excited to check out a shorter piece of fiction by Fran Wilde, whose Updraft I really enjoyed, and so when Tor.com announced The Jewel and her Lapidary, I jumped at the chance […]
The nitty-gritty: Potential not quite realized, but a fantastic premise full of hilarious dialogue and some hard-hitting emotional moments near the end. And once again a cool cover and a really good idea grab my attention and I immediately hit that “request” button! Down with the Shine does have a great concept: a girl is […]
The nitty-gritty: A lush and romantic story of palace intrigue, with a supernatural subplot that adds a sense of danger to the tale. The gorgeous colors on this cover initially attracted me to Masks and Shadows, like a bee to a beautiful flower, but I was happy to find an exciting story behind the cover […]
The nitty-gritty: A heartbreakingly sad but wonderfully magical tale about growing up. What she wanted most didn’t need to be spoken, for they shared her hunger, her brutal, unforgiving desire: what she wanted most was a door, and the things that waited on its other side. But unlike the rest of them, she knew where […]
The nitty-gritty: A short but powerful twist on the Lovecraftian tale, a story that didn’t quite work for me, but overall an interesting, clever and atmospheric tale. Mystery lingered in the air like the scent of a scorched book. It wasn’t until I had finished reading The Ballad of Black Tom that I found out […]
The nitty-gritty: A refreshingly original YA fantasy with pirates, sea monsters and deeply developed and complex relationships. They can try to kill me all they want, but I’m the girl who stands on the backs of the beasts of the NeoPacific. The Minnow blazes from within, promising life and warmth and villainy, but out here […]
The nitty-gritty: A delicious blend of magic and intrigue, deception and romantic tension, a perfectly paced follow-up that will leave you longing for more. Beware: spoilers await all ye who have not read A Darker Shade of Magic! It’s been a year since I read A Darker Shade of Magic, but I easily fell right […]
The nitty-gritty: A gritty and magical story with plenty of danger, romance and a very special drink called sorcerer’s shine. Magic can achieve a lot of things, but it can’t undo the past. I’ve sworn off sorcery, buried my magic with earth, blood, and tears below the ground, but I’d gladly sell my soul to […]
The nitty-gritty: A big, complex and emotional sequel that delivers on all levels, with the best female characters you’re likely to read all year. Mulaghesh slows to a stop as it comes into view. It is like a dome—a broad, brown, curving structure nearly thirty or forty feet wide. But it is made entirely out […]