The nitty-gritty: Moody, dark and romantic, Bane Bloom combines intrigue and a bit of magic in an atmospheric setting, perfect for fans of Gothic romance. Sharon Lynn Fisher’s latest fantasy romance is the perfect book to cozy up to as we slide into the Fall spooky season! Bane Bloom incorporates so many of my favorite […]
The nitty-gritty: Intricately constructed and full of surprising reveals and connections, The Girl With a Thousand Faces is an epic, emotional journey of revenge, trauma and forgiveness. “Pain and grief are holes that never fill. We just learn to step around them as we walk.” It’s been a four year wait for Sunyi Dean’s follow […]
The nitty-gritty: History and magic combine in this engaging debut fantasy story. The Geomagician wasn’t quite what I expected, but I ended up enjoying so many elements, even if there were a few things that didn’t work for me. Debut author Jennifer Mandula has taken a real life figure from history—Mary Anning, an English paleontologist […]
The nitty-gritty: Powerful, visceral and immersive, Angel Down explores war and angels, life and death, desires and miracles, in a surprising format that echoes the chaos of war. “and Goodspeed’s theory has a logic Bagger can’t quip aside, for if you were to forge new kinds of weapons, and those weapons flew farther and sailed […]
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: 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 […]
The nitty-gritty: A story told by a unique protagonist, Once Was Willem shines with well drawn characters, magic and found family. “Gird yourself, therefore. I speak of monsters and magic, battle and bloodletting, and the crimes of desperate men. I speak also of secret things, of that which lies beneath us and that which impends […]
The nitty-gritty: Sparkling writing, a fascinating setting and time period, and a lovely, slow burn romance make Grimm Curiosities a must read paranormal mystery. Grimm Curiosities is the perfect cozy fantasy/mystery to curl up with on a cold winter’s night. I always enjoy Sharon’s books, and her latest is an engaging historical fantasy with just […]
The nitty-gritty: A gruesome war story with surreal, ghostly elements, The Warm Hands of Ghosts is an emotional tale of a brother and sister during WWI. “Sometimes, as he walked the hotel corridors, Freddie told himself he was trying to find the door that led out, but he wasn’t. He didn’t have enough hope left […]
The nitty-gritty: Constance Sayers’ latest is a beautifully written, complex story about movies, curses, monsters and fame. “You would be wise to not run around asking about the film. It prefers to live in the shadows.” Like Constance Sayers’ other books, The Star and the Strange Moon is a complex, character-driven story that moves back […]