Ever buy a bunch of books because they sound good, you liked them, or you thought they’d be in your classroom library and you didn’t end up becoming a teacher? Well, be prepared for lots of random books I bought in paper and now am looking for whether to keep or sell to be reviewed in the coming months. It took me quite a long time to realize that while hoarding books can be called collecting, but even if you have a library instead of a living room you should make sure it’s only filled with books you adore- ones with purpose, or that you intend to lend out, that you are attached to, or plan to read again. That being said, I will be doing a great library purge, but then spending that money on more books that I absolutely adore (you’ll have an uptake in sales, K. M. Shea and Delemhach).
Month: January 2024
Review of The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau
Synopsis:
The city of Ember was built as a last refuge for the human race. Two hundred years later, the great lamps that light the city are beginning to flicker. When Lina finds part of an ancient message, she’s sure it holds a secret that will save the city. She and her friend Doon must race to figure out the clues before the lights go out on Ember forever!
Review:
This book was a nice, quick, light read that still brings the reader deep into another world underground. The City of Ember continues with the ever popular middle school dystopian series that have been gaining in popularity/been required reading since before I was in middle school. This book is both meant for a younger audience and also very easy to empathize and get into. Amazon recommendations are for 5th to 7th graders, but given that this doesn’t use a lot of higher level vocabulary and the concepts are rather simple, I’d likely say 9 years and up. While this book was rather fast paced and had a great variety of depth, it very much ends on a cliffhanger of uncertainty.
For the age it was intended for, I’d give this book a 5/5. For me personally, I’d give it a probably a 4/5. A book for the same age group as this would be The Giver by Lois Lowry, with an older and more obvious dystopian series being The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. A really neat standalone Dystopian style futuristic novel for teenagers I would recommend would be Feed by M. T. Anderson.
Star rating: ✯✯✯✯
Review of The Burning Witch: A Humorous Romantic Fantasy by Delemhach
Synopsis:
A young woman navigates a web of politics, assassination attempts, and romance in the first book of a new series set in the world of the House Witch trilogy.
Katarina Ashowan was not made for courtly life. Sure, her father is the famous house witch of Daxaria so she was raised among majestic castles, proper manners, and royal expectations. But Kat is also a mutated witch whose power aligns predominantly with fire. She’s more comfortable riding horses or learning to fight than she is making polite conversation and wearing fancy dresses. Which is why her upcoming assignment—serving her best friend, Alina, the soon-to-be crowned Troivackian queen—is anything but ideal.
Even worse, Kat is forced to make the long journey from Daxaria to Troivack with Alina’s extremely irksome brother, Eric, the crown prince of Daxaria. Kat and the formerly missing prince are constantly at each other’s throats—until, that is, they begin to form an unexpected kinship . . . with perhaps something more flickering beneath the surface. Now Kat must contend with the strictures of Troivackian court, mysterious assassination attempts, and her unsettling new feelings for Eric, all as her fiery powers are becoming harder and harder to control.
In this fast-paced, humorous, and romantic start to the Burning Witchtrilogy, the same charming magical mayhem that wooed readers of the House Witch series gets a brightly burning new star in Katarina Ashowan.
The first volume of a new spin-off of the hit romantic-fantasy series that has more than a million views on Royal Road—now available on Kindle, Kindle Unlimited, and Audible
Review:
A time will not come that I will can condense all the good things I have to say about Delemhach and their works in one short review. This book, like The House Witch trilogy and The Princess of Potential that leads to this, was impossible to set down. Excellent worldbuilding with vivid imagery, from the first page setting the scene of exactly what type of place the characters are in. There were risks; not just politically because of Kat’s fiery nature but also due to the threats of people who do not wish to see change. There were so many different angles and morals and dilemmas thrown constantly around that it very much mirrors the real world; nothing is ever quite what it seems, fact can be stranger than fiction, and while you may try to run from yourself in the end introspection can work wonders.
I loved all the little niche Kat things, such as her “magitch” and that while she feels quite alone and as if no one truly understands her, she also believes (and knows) that each “mutated” witch likely feels the same; they don’t have a mold to fit in so they must simply be themselves. Despite their differences I quite enjoyed how the Daxarians all stuck together and fought against anyone disrespecting part of their party, besides themselves. I absolutely adored the quips back and forth, with Kat’s fiery nature reminding me of another redheaded witch that I adore. “Your Highness, need I remind you, I am the most vexing woman on the planet, and I have earned that title. If you try to annoy me, I will be ten times worse in retaliation.” (Chapter 30, Page 208)
Seeing Eric step up to help Kat by regaling her with stories of how her father did things back when he got Kraken made Eric seem to be more wholesome and as if he’d come full circle. In the end I loved the thought we are left with, another moral/message: do we change/do things for others simply because we care about the others or is it something to do with us as well? Is it worse to change because you want to keep up with someone else even if it’s for the better? But then again, only you can choose to change- and isn’t it amazing when someone, even if they vex us, brings out the best in us?
Highly recommend this book series, the original trilogy of The House Witch, and the book right before this one The Princess of Potential. It’s cozy romantasy and I do not believe I will ever get enough of Delemhach’s books.
P. S. The pigpen scene is just *chef’s kiss* (Fin probably doesn’t agree though)
Star rating: ✯✯✯✯✯
Review of Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands by Heather Fawcett
Synopsis:
When mysterious faeries from other realms appear at her university, curmudgeonly professor Emily Wilde must uncover their secrets before it’s too late, in this heartwarming, enchanting second installment of the Emily Wilde series.
Emily Wilde is a genius scholar of faerie folklore who just wrote the world’s first comprehensive encyclopaedia of faeries. She’s learned many of the secrets of the Hidden Ones on her adventures . . . and also from her fellow scholar and former rival Wendell Bambleby.
Because Bambleby is more than infuriatingly charming. He’s an exiled faerie king on the run from his murderous mother and in search of a door back to his realm. And despite Emily’s feelings for Bambleby, she’s not ready to accept his proposal of marriage: Loving one of the Fair Folk comes with secrets and dangers.
She also has a new project to focus on: a map of the realms of faerie. While she is preparing her research, Bambleby lands her in trouble yet again, when assassins sent by his mother invade Cambridge. Now Bambleby and Emily are on another adventure, this time to the picturesque Austrian Alps, where Emily believes they may find the door to Bambleby’s realm and the key to freeing him from his family’s dark plans.
But with new relationships for the prickly Emily to navigate and dangerous Folk lurking in every forest and hollow, Emily must unravel the mysterious workings of faerie doors and of her own heart.
Review:
“I may not be a miller’s daughter, but you are not so different from the Folk as you think, Your Highness.” (Page 309)
My goodness, what a whirlwind and wonderful adventure. Not only do Emily and Wendell end up on an amazing journey, but a few more characters find their way close to the couple. The language was impeccable, the worldbuilding doubly so. While Emily still doesn’t do well with people, it was a blessed change to see her become a bit more than the mousy scholar many believe her to be- a bit more assertive and less likely to take crap from both humans and fae alike. Wendell’s tricks of fae magic (especially regarding pencils) were quite ingenious and amusing.
There were more new fae creatures and information learned that was always interesting, much like the first book. The descriptions were marvelous and truly brought forth the creatures to life. It was interesting to see what others might desire to do if they were leading the expedition and how some may go about creating goodwill in case one needs to return to the same place later. Seeing how Emily puts together a mystery in front of her and by force of will follows it to the end is marvelous.
The nature of people was more of a subject in this novel than perhaps the last, and it becomes easy to see that while quite different by human standards, that might be what makes Emily and Wendell so great together. They are the antithesis to the other. While people may be one way with those they care about, there is still a certain level of intimidation and dominance people can have even without magic, and it is interesting to see how abilities might be underestimated given one’s station in life; even if their personality/will/might may be stronger.
All in all this was a brilliant second book that leaves you both happy but desperately yearning for a third book, in which Emily and Wendell’s adventures will continue.
Star rating: ✯✯✯✯✯
Review of Nettle & Bone by T. Kingfisher
Synopsis:
This isn’t the kind of fairy tale where the princess marries a prince.
It’s the one where she kills him.
Marra — a shy, convent-raised, third-born daughter — is relieved not to be married off for the sake of her parents’ throne. Her older sister wasn’t so fortunate though, and her royal husband is as abusive as he is powerful. From the safety of the convent, Marra wonders who will come to her sister’s rescue and put a stop to this. But after years of watching their families and kingdoms pretend all is well, Marra realizes if any hero is coming, it will have to be Marra herself.
If Marra can complete three impossible tasks, a witch will grant her the tools she needs. But, as is the way in stories of princes and the impossible, these tasks are only the beginning of Marra’s strange and enchanting journey to save her sister and topple a throne.
Review:
I was looking for something to read on the 15th while waiting for the next Emily Wilde book to come out and I have to say that I didn’t expect to be completely swept away to another world that I did not want to leave. Instantly we are transported to a world where Marra is set trying to do three impossible things while considering her worth and abilities as the third royal daughter of a kingdom. There are so many amazing twists and turns of dark magic, forcing oneself to forge forward into what should be impossible, the knowledge gained in least expected places, and the relationships forged along the way.
Marra finds herself not as smart or brave as she wishes she could be, yet she pushes herself to become an unlikely heroine- a nun with more power than a princess. Throughout the novel she demonstrates countless times how her real knowledge came from those who nurtured her, realizing things such as “our own flaws infuriate us in other people”. (Chapter 12, Page 132) Marra has a few qualities that I found myself completely empathizing with and I’m sure many would feel the same; the desire to help others and make things right (even if the others do not see/desire it themselves), and that when putting forth to a huge task there is a daunting sense that despite having done so much it was still just the beginning and there is still so much more to do. It is a truth well known that it is quite hard to keep direction when it’s you that you are following.
I highly recommend this book and very much think it will be a standout read of 2024. It’s got an epic fantasy adventure, a demon, people who speak to the dead, those who are trying to do the impossible to save their family, and those they come to love along the way.
Star rating: ✯✯✯✯✯
Review of Romance Rules for Werewolves by Linsey Hall
Synopsis:
Autumn is a time of snuggly sweaters, crisp breezes, and…. sexy, broody werewolves?
When I inherit a magical house in the beautiful seaside village of Charming Cove, it’s just what I need to turn my dismal life around. Fresh off a bad breakup and with magic that I’ve ignored for a decade, I’m ready to rekindle my inner witch.
The catch? The house is inhabitable until I renovate it, and the only place to live is with a brooding, rugged boat-builder who definitely doesn’t want me in his space. Though there’s no denying the electric spark between us, neither of us is willing to act on it.
To make things more complicated, I have to renovate the house in thirty days or I’ll lose it. But the house hates anyone who enters it and attacks with loose floorboards and horrific odors. I can’t get a single contractor in Charming Cove to help me out.
That leaves only one option—convince my new roommate to help me until I can untangle the mystery of why my new home is so moody. It’ll mean spending every day with the sexy, infuriating werewolf, but I’ll do whatever it takes to make my dreams a reality.
Review:
The book starts out with Isobel in a pretty crappy situation, and within a couple of chapters she’s suddenly gotten an entirely new lease on life and become an entirely different person. While I’m all for change, especially after removal from a toxic situation, the way in which the change was instant was a bit much. Rafe, our werewolf, is far more steady in his demeanor and desires. That being said, watching as Isobel makes a new life for herself and slowly becomes close to Rafe was absolutely worth the time spent. I quite liked how Isobel and Rafe’s relationship grew as they spent more time together and learned more about each other. While I loved seeing the Charming Cove ladies of books past, it seemed very odd that everyone was offering Isobel free help and instant friendship- though it is nice to welcome new magic users into a small town! There was a continuity issue in this novel with Emma’s future grandmother-in-law being named Vivienne when in the previous book her name was Vivian which I wish had gotten caught in editing.
This book is sweet but with a lot of depth to the main characters and their relationship, this is a quick and easy cozy romantasy I’d recommend you give a read to.
Star rating: ✯✯✯✯✯
Spice rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Review of How to Fake-Date a Vampire: A magical romantic comedy by Linsey Hall
Synopsis:
Faking it with a vampire duke should be easy, right?
I’ve got one chance to prove to my coven that I’m worth my wand. But to do it, I’m going to have to make a deal with a vampire duke. I get to use his gorgeous estate in Cornwall to host the Beltane Ball–and in exchange, I’ll pretend to be his girlfriend. But it’s all a show for his grandmother.
The rules of our fake relationship are simple:
No flirting. No emotion. No sex. Easy, right?
Except I can’t seem to ignore the allure of the infuriating and devastatingly sexy vampire. Falling for a duke isn’t an option, though. I would lose the anonymity that protects me and my coven, and that would ruin my life–and the lives of the other witches in my coven.
So yeah, totally easy.
How to Fake-Date a Vampire is a fun, frothy romantic comedy full of laughter, love, and magical hijinks. It’s the second in a series of stand alone romances set in the seaside village of Charming Cove. The books do not need to be read in order.
Review:
This book was quite amusing from the beginning with Emma’s accidental meeting of the “it” guy that everyone wants to sneak a peek of and become close to. Emma wants what everyone wants; to feel part of a family/connected/wanted. While perhaps she starts off a little backhandedly in trying to get everything she wants, seeing her interact with Alaric’s family makes everything seem just within reach. I quite enjoyed Emma’s thoughts on being a witch and about how it made her feel powerful; so long as she is clever and strong enough it is flexible and she can do anything.
Very light in feel/depth, it is understandable why Alaric doesn’t want to open up, but it seemed to me as if the connection between Alaric and Emma was a bit too instant for my liking- there wasn’t a lot of development. Things seemed also a bit too easy to reconcile with a big gesture, as if all the issues/problems leading up had really been nothing and it made it seem as if there had really never been any stakes to what the reader has spent an entire book hoping for. All in all, a quick and easy cozy read of light romantic fantasy; while there isn’t a lot of depth it is a decent read.
Star rating: ✯✯✯✯
Spice rating: 🌶️🌶️
Review of The Modern Girl’s Guide to Magic: A magical romantic comedy by Linsey Hall
Synopsis:
So here’s the deal—I’m a magical disaster. A witch from a family of witches, and the only one whose magic blows up in her face. Which is why I came up with my rules…
1. Never get involved with magic
2. If you must get involved, do not enter a competition to win the biggest magical fortune in England
3. And definitely don’t fall for Callan Hawthorne, the sexy billionaire mage who you’ve hated for years
So how the heck do I end up in a situation that promises to break all those rules? It’s the only way to save Seaside Spells, my family’s magical potion shop.
But it’s cool. When I go back home to Charming Cove—a village of ancient pubs and foul-mouthed familiars—I will totally ignore Witch Weekly’s Sexiest Man of the Year. I’ll win the competition, and if I’m lucky, I won’t turn myself into a toad in the process.
This’ll be fine. It’ll all be fine.
Riiiight.
Review:
Aria is quite an intriguing character as is Boris, and while Callan might seem standoffish, he becomes quite understood as time goes by. While this book seems to be a bit of split perspective from Aria and Callan, it is predominantly about Aria reclaiming her life and figuring out that just because you’re different doesn’t make you bad. I loved the past connection and bits of flash backs from Callan and Aria’s past. Callan does nothing but endear as he continuously does all he can to help Aria become her best self, and I am all for that. I picked up one saying that I hadn’t heard before this novel that I quite liked and think everyone would do well to consider in life: “There was no need to borrow trouble.” This is a quirky quick cozy light fantasy romance read that while not holding much depth, does leave the reader with warm fuzzy feelings afterwards.
Star rating: ✯✯✯✯✯
Spice rating: 🌶️🌶️
Review of Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Hawcett
Synopsis:
Cambridge professor Emily Wilde is good at many things: She is the foremost expert on the study of faeries. She is a genius scholar and a meticulous researcher who is writing the world’s first encyclopaedia of faerie lore. But Emily Wilde is not good at people. She could never make small talk at a party—or even get invited to one. And she prefers the company of her books, her dog, Shadow, and the Fair Folk to other people.
So when she arrives in the hardscrabble village of Hrafnsvik, Emily has no intention of befriending the gruff townsfolk. Nor does she care to spend time with another new arrival: her dashing and insufferably handsome academic rival Wendell Bambleby, who manages to charm the townsfolk, muddle Emily’s research, and utterly confound and frustrate her.
But as Emily gets closer and closer to uncovering the secrets of the Hidden Ones—the most elusive of all faeries—lurking in the shadowy forest outside the town, she also finds herself on the trail of another mystery: Who is Wendell Bambleby, and what does he really want? To find the answer, she’ll have to unlock the greatest mystery of all—her own heart.
Review:
I cannot say enough good things about this book. This book is the quintessential fantasy adventure; it has adventure, a strong female protagonist, romance, and growth. It was impossible to put down, and even though you start off knowing that Emily doesn’t do well with people, you find yourself hoping that she changes. From the start Emily is off to work and we’re left with a less than desirable portrait of Bambleby, but throughout the novel we learn that not everything is as it appears. Emily has widely studied the fae, which makes her more knowledgeable about how to deal with them than most, leaving others wondering if she is magical herself. Her own response is, “One doesn’t need magic if one knows enough stories.” (page 195) While on quite the journey, there are still many lessons to be learned along the way for all involved, one being that if you’re a person in power, people model themselves to behave in a similar way to you so you must be conscious of that.
This book is also quite unique in that it is written entirely as a journal of Emily’s adventures trying to learn more of the fae; a style that hasn’t been widely used. This book is Edwardian, and has footnotes of Emily’s “dryadology”, serving as additional information about the creatures/fae situations that people may not be familiar with. It is well written, well paced, with quite a lot of Scandinavian folklore entwined and while there is a hint of a romantic subplot it does not detract from the overall fantasy plot of the novel.
All in all this story is a wonderful return to fairytales and what can happen when humans deal with the fae. I highly recommend this for anyone who loves enchanting stories of fae, those who study them, and those who grow to open themselves to more. Book two of Emily Wilde’s adventures is out tomorrow, and I cannot wait to start reading it!
Star rating: ✯✯✯✯✯
Happy New Year! 2023 Recap/Book Recommendations
In 2023 I read 93 books, which is 20 more books than last year! Oh my! I went through to break down my reading on a month to month basis which looked like this:
Jan 11
Feb 6
Mar 4
Apr 8
May 8
Jun 9
Jul 7
Aug 10
Sep 4
Oct 7
Nov 12
Dec 7
Most of these books were rather lengthy, but as always, we end the year/begin the new year with the stand outs that I would highly recommend.
Books:
The House Witch by Delemhach
This book is an amazing find about an ornery magic user who doesn’t want people thinking he is more than a humble cook. The world building is amazing, and from the first page I found myself completely immersed in the world, invested in what happened next. This book is cozy and wholesome; a story where people realize they are more than just what they appear to be on the outside and that everyone has the potential to greatness. This is the start of a trilogy, with a spin off stand alone book, and another trilogy after that.
Vespertine by Margaret Rogerson
It’s no surprise that I love Vespertine since I’ve loved Rogerson’s other books, An Enchantment of Ravens and Sorcery of Thorns. This book happened to be the right book at the right time for me and really helped me when dealing with the loss of a close family member. While perhaps a book about dealing with the dead and keeping them from rising again might not be useful to others in such a time, it transported me to another world and allowed me to deeply care for the flawed characters within that had a lot of trauma and issues to work through on their own. This is another book that leaves you with the thought that not everything is black and white, and that there are often mixing shades of grey interwoven in life.
Spellbreaker (Spellmaker) by Charlie N. Holmberg
This book duology was unique in its magic system as well as the connection between the two main characters. Elsie is easy to care for and to want to see thrive, especially given that she is an unlicensed magic user fighting against the injustice of the aristocracy. When Braccus Kelsey discovers her using her forbidden magic, she strikes a deal to help him remove curses around his estate but as a rogue spellcaster, Elsie has to keep a low profile or find a way to make her presence not be suspicious.
Within These Wicked Walls by Lauren Blackwood
I was never a real Jane Eyre fan, but this book takes that original story, adds magic, true connections, and interesting dilemmas faced by the debtera (exorcist) Andromeda as she tries to help Magnus face his horrors and be able to move on to a new age, even if that means letting go of what he once had. While perhaps inspired by Jane Eyre, if that wasn’t revealed the book does entirely stand on its own in shining gothic glory.
Half a Soul by Olivia Atwater
This story was immersive from beginning to end, starting with Dora losing/being separated from half of her soul and becoming a very intriguing child that doesn’t quite know/think through all she does. The banter between her and the quite well known to be of bad temper Lord Sorcier is amusing and leaves one to wonder if there is more to both than meets the eye. It’s a true fairy tale in the sense that the fae make bargains, take what they want, and do not consider humanity. I personally in my own review have compared this to have a similar feel to Alice in Wonderland and The Little Princess, others have said it is a mixture of Bridgerton and Howl’s Moving Castle, even some mentioning Pride and Prejudice. That being said, it’s an amazing story that stands on its own and very much is about accepting yourself as you are, harnessing your strengths and working through/on your weaknesses, and never giving up on those who need your help.
The London Séance Society by Sarah Penner
This book was interesting on multiple levels, from the story itself of a scientist looking to find the occult and be able to speak to one who has passed on to solve a murder, to the relationships of those who passed and those left living (both hidden and in the open), as well as the mention both in book and additional at the end of what secret societies, religion and mourning styles were like. Though I personally was not a fan of some parts of the romantic side of this novel, overall I loved the twists and turns of illusion versus truth, and what people are willing to do both for those they love and what they have worked for.
Salt and Broom by Sharon Lynn Fisher
Shockingly another Jane Eyre retelling made it on the list, and another involving magic (which is likely less shocking). This book was gripping from the very beginning, where we wonder if our Jane is about to get in deep trouble. There is quite a lot of Lizzy/Darcy of Pride and Prejudice tension between our Jane and Mr. Rochester, with Jane’s tenacity and fiery spirit drawing us in and making us root for her more. There were always stakes, and one was always left wondering what, exactly, Jane and Mr. Rochester were up against. I absolutely loved the witchy aspects of this novel, and both highly recommend this book and have already gifted a copy to a friend.
The Book of G by Lily Archer
The only book on this list that is smut/romance, a Beauty and the Beast retelling about our favourite villain. Before reading this book I never would have considered ever finding Gaston redeemable in any way ever, but throughout the novel G grows and learns and fights and is left both wondering who he is, and what he’s worth. The banter through this book is absolute perfection. This book features morally grey, enemies to lovers, Beauty and the Beast retellings and a whole lot of spice- five whole peppers worth.
Authors:
Delemhach
Amazon Page
While known predominantly for The House Witch series, this author writes in a way that is gripping, funny, immersive and hard to put down. If you love infuriating characters and fantasy, The House Witch and other series of Delemhach are for you. In the words of Fin, “What can I say; being infuriating is part of my charm.”
Tessonja Odette
Amazon Page
Excellent worldbuilding, from The Fair Isle Trilogy to the Entangled with Fae series, to Prophecy of the Forgotten Fae, I’ve yet to find a book/series by her that I truly haven’t enjoyed and devoured. None of her stories are exactly the same as ones you think you already know, and there are always some interesting twists and turns worked throughout.
K. M. Shea
Amazon Page
What can I say; another author that I absolutely cannot get enough of. Her books are immersive, amusing, and highly entertaining. There has yet to be a book out of hers that I haven’t loved, and she seamlessly switches between writing fantasy and modern fantasy. My only problem is with so many amazing modern fantasy connected books in Magiford, being able to pick my favourite of the trilogies has become completely impossible.
T. A. Lawrence
Amazon Page
Lawrence is the author of a series called The Severed Realms, a series of fairy tale retellings that are never quite what you expect them to be. I have quite loved all of the series I’ve read so far, and highly recommend this series to any who love fairy tale retellings and fantasy.
Greer Rivers
Amazon Page
The only fully romance/smut series on here; The Tattered Curtain series may be a bit unhinged at times, but is absolutely amazing. Though there are bits of some of the books that didn’t resonate with me, usually those bits fly by so quickly that you forget they exist. Sometimes the characters can be slightly caricature, but they are dark gothic romances and I very much enjoyed them.
Stephanie Garber
Amazon Page
I had Caraval on my list for so long, and once I finally fell into it I couldn’t imagine setting it down. The world is immersive, interactive, and never quite what it seemed. While I thought that was going to be one of my favourites for a while and impossible to compare to, I feel so much stronger for the spin off series Once Upon a Broken Heart. I cannot recommend Garber enough for people who love fairy tales, fantasy, and magic never quite working out how it was meant/originally intended to.
Amy S. Brown 