Book Review

Review of Lady Agatha Speaks Her Mind by Elisabeth Aimee Brown

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Synopsis:
If anyone else had been her fairy godmother, Lady Agatha’s birthday party would have gone swimmingly.

It really wasn’t Agatha’s fault that she insulted all those guests. After preparing for years to receive a select list of suitors for her charming, fairy-blessed hand, the last thing she wanted to do was alienate the lot of them … but her godmother’s final gift was, well, difficult to control. Now her father doesn’t care that she didn’t mean to call the visiting foreign prince a pathetic little fungus—the damage has been done.

Prince Limplemoyne would’ve been more offended if he was actually attending the party to court Agatha, but that’s not what brought him to these backwoods, fairy-infested mountains. He just wants to find a godmother powerful enough to free him from the royal life he never asked for. But when a mischievous fairy answers his plea in an unexpected way, he finds himself suddenly stuck with the beautiful, sharp-tongued Lady Agatha. Fairies can’t help them get out of this unwanted alliance—they’ll have to stop bickering long enough to figure it out on their own.

Lady Agatha Speaks Her Mind is a no-spice, standalone reimagining of King Thrushbeard, perfect for readers who like both whimsy and comedy in their mutually-annoyed-strangers-to-lovers romance.

Review:
“I can’t abide lying, and you’d gotten so smooth at it—poor thing! I could tell you wanted to speak your mind, so I’m helping you.” (Page 36)

This book was amazing from start to finish. Agatha has a very elevated status given her godmother, but because of it, she’s lived in the sort of box that one reserves for dolls and fine china. Lem has also lived a very closeted life, but how he gained it is quite the opposite sort of luck than Agatha’s. This book is an amazing coming of age story that pushes limits to show that even with gifts, personal abilities and strengths are always stronger than one thinks. Though some characters are very hard to find any redeeming qualities of, it is interesting to see the depth and characterization of some that, along with Agatha, the reader may have overlooked or underestimated. The ending was left rather open, and I very much wish to see more of this world and the future that awaits Agatha and Lem. I found this book quite engaging and found setting it down very difficult.

If you like fairy tale retellings, especially obscure fairy tales, magic, quests, and two characters who realize that they may compliment each other despite their differences, this book is perfect for you.


Star rating: ✯✯✯✯✯

Review of The Ether Witch: The Divining of A Devil by Delemhach

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Synopsis:
Magic. Mystery. Mayhem. Fate has come due.

Having defeated the corrupt concubine Soo Hebin, and cast the first witch into a prison she shouldn’t be able to escape easily, Tam thinks some rest is in order.
Sadly, because the Zinferan emperor has it in his mind that Eli should be the heir to his throne, there isn’t much time for that.

With help from Katarina Ashowan and the Ryu family, Tam, Eli, Luca, and Penelope set sail for Dazaria at long last.

Only, leaving Zinfera doesn’t get rid of their troubles for long.

Upon rescuing some mysterious Lobahlans from Zinferan pirates, and learning that the rebellion of the covens is coming to a climax, Tam finds that his new moniker, the devil, is starting to sit a little heavily on his shoulders.

Can he manage to help stop an all-out war from breaking out between witches and humans? Will the First Witch stay banished and leave him and his family alone? And most importantly, can he convince the freedom-loving Eli to agree to marry him?

Discover the epic conclusion in The Ether Witch, Volume 3: The Divining of a Devil—a spellbinding fantasy filled with witches, royal intrigue, magic, and star-crossed romance.

Review:
This book has everything: sass, cats, chickens (you’ll understand when you read it), and our favourite hybrid human-witch family reunited once more. Tamlin has grown so much since the first book in this series, and it is hard to say goodbye–but this book does have an absolutely lovely send off. While so many were always so hard on Tamlin, it is easy to see how he really shaped the younger family members he cared about. Perhaps some may consider him a bit too willing to jump into self sacrifice, but what is a familiar for if not to talk their witch down from making some quite stupid mistakes? Though the ending is bittersweet, there were also some very serious subjects throughout this novel of choice and what people do under pressure for those they love. One is set to dislike Luca’s mother for the way he had been reared, but after hearing how everything transpired, it is hard not to feel a modicum of sympathy for her; as in the real world, nothing in Tam’s life is completely black and white. With everything wrapped up neatly in Epilogue 2 one might have thought that this is our last glimpse into the world of The House Witch… but Epilogue 1 has me thinking that this may not be the last readers see of the Ashowan family. (May the empurror and empurress long reign!)

Star rating: ✯✯✯✯✯

Review of Alchemy of Secrets by Stephanie Garber

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Synopsis:
What if the urban legends you’ve always heard about were real?

It starts with a class in an old movie theatre. Folklore 517: Local Legends and Urban Myths, taught by a woman called the Professor.

Most students believe the Professor’s stories are just fiction, but Holland St. James has always been convinced that magic is real.

Her search for the truth leads her to a dazzling new world, a deadly secret hidden at the heart of Los Angeles, and into the path of Gabriel Cabral, who says he’s been sent to save her life.

But when another magnetic stranger, Adam Bishop, makes the same claim, Holland realizes that at least one of these men is lying to her. And if she can’t figure out whom to trust, her magical reality could change from a Hollywood dream to a nightmare.


Review:
Garber’s first adult modern fantasy novel sucks the reader in and I, for one, certainly didn’t want to leave. This novel blurs the line of folklore and reality while expertly entwining hidden agendas and personas. This book was quite hard to set aside, with each new bit of knowledge, unfolded piece of the mystery leaving more questions than answers–even the end left me wanting to know more! This book is built on layers of layers of history, great character development, and an intriguing magical tie in.

Without giving anything away, I absolutely loved the Hollywood influence throughout this novel. I also thought that Holland’s reality spasms made the shift between reality and what could be, as well as what she felt she should do intuition wise versus thinking things through all the more realistic. For some reason I could only see the Professor as Hetty from NCIS Los Angeles but it seemed rather fitting for the part. There are so many loose ends that I wish we had the chance to learn more about, and I am desperately hoping that another book may be forthcoming that will tie in Chance and Holland in this same world/setting.

If you enjoy reading paranormal fantasy books with a Hollywood twist and loads of mystery/intrigue I would highly recommend this book. If you love fantasy, specifically YA, I would recommend both Garber’s Caraval series and Once Upon a Broken Heart.

Star rating: ✯✯✯✯✯

Review of Managing the Vampire’s Mansion by K. M. Shea

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Synopsis:
Starting over as a house manager in a charming small town sounded perfect. Until my new boss turned out to be a vampire.

After burning myself out at my corporate career, I take a job managing a mansion in a picturesque tourist town to reset my life.

The house is historic. The town is charming. The locals are welcoming. And, as I accidentally discover, my unfairly handsome employer, Beckett Kinge, is a vampire in hiding.

Beckett prefers order, privacy, and absolutely no supernatural mishaps.

Unfortunately for both of us, a rogue vampire is attacking the locals. The same people who have been nothing but nice to me. As attacks escalate and secrets unravel, staying uninvolved is no longer an option.

And somehow the only person who steps up to find the vampire is me—the mansion manager with poor people skills who knows absolutely nothing about supernaturals.

At least… I think I’m the only one working this case. But somewhere between tracking a killer and trying not to die, I realize Beckett isn’t just protecting his secret. He’s protecting me. And that might be far more dangerous for my emotional well-being.

Regardless, the rampaging vamp has to be found, or no one in town will be safe. Not even me.

This stand alone cozy urban fantasy story is set in the same world as the Magiford Supernatural City trilogies, but is located in a different (real life!) town in Wisconsin. If you’re searching for a stand alone story with cast of characters that will make you laugh while they try to solve a mystery and muddle with the supernatural, pre-order this book today!

Review:
“Jonas rubbed his hands together and beamed at me with the joy of an extrovert adopting an introvert.” (Page 20)

Getting another K. M. Shea book was such an unexpected treat! I am absolutely thrilled that she has semi-returned from her hiatus. While she may not be up to writing the epics that I originally found and loved her for, this book was just the right amount of cozy Magiford fun that I’d been missing. Abigail is human, but she isn’t a typical human. While never explicitly stated, her neurodivergent quirks make her all the more alluring and enchanting to those around Beckett/in his employ. I absolutely loved Abigail and how she could be so singularly minded about things–and that she was willing to do whatever she thought it took/would mean that she pushed herself to live more. There were so many things that she pushed herself into trying and doing that she had never done before, and it made her so relatable! Beckett was also quite relatable in that sometimes it just seems easier to not get involved with things and stick to yourself, until you realize that maybe people aren’t all quite as bad as you had given them credit for.

While the mystery here was a little lack luster and seemed quite obvious to me from the beginning, having figured it out early did not in any way deter from my giddy enjoyment of being back in the Magiford world, with special joy seeing some familiar faces (love you Aphrodite!)

If you’re into modern fantasy, vampires, someone being their authentic self and in doing so finding their people, and obviously K. M. Shea books, I’d highly recommend this novel.

Star rating: ✯✯✯✯✯

Review of The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn

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Synopsis:
ANTHONY’S STORY

This time the gossip columnists have it wrong. London’s most elusive bachelor Anthony Bridgerton hasn’t just decided to marry—he’s even chosen a wife! The only obstacle is his intended’s older sister, Kate Sheffield—the most meddlesome woman ever to grace a London ballroom. The spirited schemer is driving Anthony mad with her determination to stop the betrothal, but when he closes his eyes at night, Kate’s the woman haunting his increasingly erotic dreams…

Contrary to popular belief, Kate is quite sure that reformed rakes do not make the best husbands—and Anthony Bridgerton is the most wicked rogue of them all. Kate’s determined to protect her sister—but she fears her own heart is vulnerable. And when Anthony’s lips touch hers, she’s suddenly afraid she might not be able to resist the reprehensible rake herself…

Review:
I hadn’t been certain how I would like this book compared to the second season of the television show Bridgerton but this book far exceeded any expectation or preconceived notions I may have had. This book offered a depth to both Anthony and Kate that wasn’t seen within the television series. While some edits may have been made to make a more compelling visual story, there was a lot of changes of the how and why Anthony and Kate became acquainted.

I love how far reaching and gripping people find Lady Whistledown’s column enough to make their own judgements based on her say so instead of their own personal observations. Kate’s family isn’t the most well to do, and while her sister is a classical beauty Kate seems to forget that her own hobbies and interests can be just as intriguing to a potential suitor as her sister’s looks. I absolutely loved everything about how Kate came to meet the Bridgertons, and her banter with Anthony was always top tier. I also liked that when Kate found contradictory information from what she had originally assumed she was willing to own up to it and apologize.

Anthony himself has such depth and characterization that really doesn’t shine through in the television series. He is known to have a lot of responsibility because of his position as eldest male heir but while the television show series merely grazed that his father’s death effected him, the depth was far more pronounced and understood throughout this novel. Although female, I greatly empathize with the way Anthony viewed his father’s death, and had a very similar spiral myself at one point.

I love how well Anthony and Kate complement each other and help themselves to move past past traumas and face a bright future. I love how they challenge each other and encourage each other. This is by far my favourite of the Bridgerton books so far, and maintains my position of season 2 of Bridgerton being top tier (though maybe I’m biased due to how much they like horses–something taken from Daphne’s novel).

I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves regency romance, enemies to lovers, and of course the Bridgerton television series.

Star rating: ✯✯✯✯✯

Review of The Thorn Queen by Sasha Peyton Smith

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Synopsis:
Wed to one brother.

In love with the other.

Bridgerton, The Selection, and The Cruel Prince collide in this Victorian-inspired romantasy; the sequel to the instant New York Times bestseller The Rose Bargain.

Having won the hand of the faerie King Bram, Ivy is now Queen of England.

But with his ascension to the throne, Bram unleashed the fae into the human world. After hundreds of years of being kept from their favorite playthings, the Others are looking to make up for lost time—and they do, with wicked revelry that sweeps through the country.

To survive, Ivy acts the sweet, devoted wife. Behind the smile, she plots to banish her husband, save her sister Lydia, and reunite with the love of her life, Emmett.

Yet Emmet and Lydia are trapped in the Otherworld, where fae games are deadlier than ever—and a queen must play most viciously of all. Or see herself dethroned.

Forbidden romance, deceptive bargains, and lethal court intrigue intertwine in this mesmerizing, fae romantasy sequel that will captivate fans of Once Upon a Broken Heart and Belladonna.

Review:
This book had so many layers of heartbreak! While Ivy was working in the modern world to keep society from crumbling, she had no idea what was going on with Emmett and Lydia. There were times when I really disliked Lydia; yes, she was thrust into a world she didn’t want to be in/hadn’t dreamt of, but her actions directly effected Ivy and she didn’t seem willing to empathize with her. While Lydia may have experienced more time/life than Ivy given the difference between how fast time goes in the two realms, she had already been the older sister and should have been more understanding that Ivy did have to deal with a lot, suddenly, in the modern (regency) world. I did really enjoy how the fae were depicted. Perhaps because audiences are after whimsy and the hope that they could have magic and adventure just by knowing other races with inherent magic, most of said races have been depicted as if they were human but with magic, whereas folklore and fairy tales tell a very different story about the proclivities of the fae. All magic comes with a price, which seems to be missing in most popular fae/magic based novels–but not this one!

This book left you wondering whether or not there was going to be a happily ever after and if the ending you hoped for was even possible. I absolutely loved the ending of this novel, and I thought it was the perfect end to this story. I would highly recommend this book to any who love faerie tales about creatures that care more about their amusement than making nice with humans, like resilient heroines, and believe that people can change, evolve and learn to coexist within other communities/with other races.

As a big fan of the Once Upon a Broken Heart series, I would say this is certainly a high recommendation. In terms of fae/fairy tale esque books, I would put this series along with both the Emily Wilde series by Heather Fawcett as well as Olivia Atwater’s Regency Faerie Tales and Victorian Faerie Tales. I quite enjoyed this book, but there was much more romance in the first book of this series than most of the recommendations listed here.

Star rating: ✯✯✯✯✯

Review of Cat Dragon by Samantha Birch

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Synopsis:
In the whimsical world of Tangleroot Valley, magic flows like the seasons, and every witch has her cat dragon – except Aloysia Papplewick.

She’s far from bonding with her fiery feline familiar, and with her magical farm in chaos, her prattling pumpkin patch meddling in her life and the annual Harvest Festival to prepare for, Aloysia has enough to handle – even before her best friend’s insufferable brother, Hollis, brings danger and distraction to her door.

When she and Hollis are whisked away on a quest to a mysterious mountain, Aloysia must contend with magic, mayhem – and a spark she never expected.

Review:
“Aloysia (A-lo-wish-a)(noun) A famous warrior. A plant used mainly for brewing teas, though rumoured to have some topical healing effects; smells faintly of sherbet lemons.” (Page 3)

This book is marketed as being something Studio Ghibli, Harry Potter, and cottagecore people will enjoy and for me it hits all the marks. There is a great depth to this story that while not necessarily giving a full background on the character we find ourselves on a journey with, it is possible to deduce that she’s the last of her family line. It’s interesting to see how she navigates having to do everything to keep her family’s lineage and homestead intact while trying to keep up relations and hope that she will reach the witchy milestone that every witch has had by her age–except her.

I love how Hollis constantly trails between being a protective authority figure/older brother to someone who sees Aloysia for all she is and can be. I absolutely loved the banter in this book; all of the characters were well fleshed out. I loved all of the animals/creatures, the Guardians, and the way that magic could be used, if by a skilled practitioner in the way that we are almost over reliant on technology to do for us today. There was never a time that I skipped ahead/was bored of what was happening; I was fully engaged and always wanted to know what was going to happen next! Even during the misunderstandings, I couldn’t wait to see Aloysia hopefully rise above circumstances. There were multiple times at night that I mentioned to my husband before going to bed some random tidbit about what was happening with the Cat Dragon book and how I really hoped they managed to accomplish their task!

I would highly recommend this book to those who love: found family, magical creatures, coming of age/coming into one’s self, fantasy and witches. I was incredibly sad to finish this book, but I am so ecstatic that a new book is coming out November 16th!

Star rating: ✯✯✯✯✯

Review of How to Negotiate With a Nightmare by Amy Boyles

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Synopsis:
In this cozy romantasy, the villain finally gets the girl.I have three problems:

One: The hot guy I met in the bushes (don’t ask) has magic so cold and dangerous it should come with a warning label.

Two: My family’s dragging me to a ball hosted by the Nightmare King—you know, the cruel monster who rules the dark half of town where the sun literally never rises.

Three: Turns out Hot Bush Guy and Nightmare King are the same person. And when our magic touches? We make flowers. Which would be romantic if I wasn’t supposed to be terrified of him.

Eryx Nightshade has spent ten years alone in his castle, haunted by a voice in his head that demands blood and revenge. Until I walked into his spell and the voice went from “destroy everyone” to “she’s pretty, don’t mess this up.”

Now he’s thrown a ball to find me. I’m trapped in pink tulle and sparkly sneakers. And every time we touch, our magic does things that shouldn’t be possible.

He thinks I’m his salvation.

I think he might be mine.

But I’m supposed to marry someone to save my family’s dying magic, and he’s got a revenge plot ten years in the making.

Falling for the Nightmare King wasn’t part of anyone’s plan.

Especially the nightmare’s.

Review:
“Sparkles don’t equal sweetness.” (Page 138)

This book did an amazing job of showing people with two very different types of trauma regarding having/being in relationships and what they had to do to overcome their biases. Usually instant attraction/fated mates/magical explosions are not a way to endear me to a relationship, but I think that for these particular two it was justified. As with all Boyles’ Seven Suitors books so far I would say it’s rather plot light/obvious but the story was well done. I actually much preferred seeing Chelsea have to really look insider herself and assess why she thinks so negatively about romantic relationships (not just short entanglements) to most of the work between Eryx and Chelsea. Nightmare was just so perfectly there–I couldn’t imagine the story without him. This story really had elements of so many fairy tales that I am not sure I could state which in particular she wanted to highlight; there’s obvious nods towards red riding hood, Cinderella, and Beauty and the Beast. All in all, a great light cozy fantasy book.

Star rating: ✯✯✯✯

Review of Kiss My Ash by Lara McKenzie

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Synopsis:
Trauma handled with care. Humor sharp enough to draw blood.

Charlotte Marelli survived human trafficking and a catastrophic marriage.

Her life inside Umbrafore is small and deliberately constructed: work, wine, walls. The supernatural coffee shop runs smoothly. The vampire friend with benefits is a practical arrangement with no feelings involved.

Her therapist recommends rage journaling. Charlotte thinks it’s ridiculous, but starts anyway.

When the truth about her past unravels—about who sold her out, and how far the betrayal goes—Charlotte has to decide whether the life she’s built is living, or just survival.

Review:
“Old vampires were walking lie detectors with enhanced senses and centuries of practice, which was deeply inconvenient.” (Page 13)

“Some people enter a room and improve it. Others enter a room, and I remember that murder requires paperwork.” (Page 18)


“I wasn’t the woman things happened to anymore. I was the woman who happened back.” (Page 300)


We know Charlotte as an icon and this book jumps right in to show us exactly how iconic she is. I didn’t realize how much I needed this book from a slightly older and more experienced woman who everyone considers completely put together and nearly perfect. Everyone has things in their past that have shaped them to who they are today, but seeing how strong Charlotte is really put into perspective the welcoming environment she has created at Pulse. While I had an inkling from the beginning of what the big mystery was going to turn out to be that in no way deterred my great enjoyment from this novel. I absolutely love how scathing and snarky Charlotte can be, and I love that the reason we haven’t already seen that is because of a little journaling habit. (It might have made me wonder if I should do something similar.) All in all I could not get enough of this book, and I would continue reading more of Charlotte if there is more in the future.

This is by far my favourite book in the Umbrafore universe to date. Highly recommend if you’ve read Maya’s Blog book series.

Star rating: ✯✯✯✯✯

Review of Owl Be Dreaming by Leanne Leeds

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Synopsis:
For witch Astra Arden, newlywed life is almost perfect.
A little too perfect.
Even her snarky owl familiar, Archie, is getting suspicious.

After the chaos of her wedding, Astra is ready for some peace, but instead of mayhem, Forkbridge is facing a wave of… blissful departures. One by one, residents are vanishing overnight, leaving behind happy notes about chasing their wildest dreams. It’s a mystery with no victims, a crime with no culprit, and a town that’s getting emptier by the day.

When Astra’s own sister is the next to follow a mysterious magical calling, the disappearances hit too close to home. Astra senses an ancient, alluring power at work—one that doesn’t want to hurt anyone; it only wants to grant their every wish… forever.

Now, Astra must solve a case where the only crime is getting everything you’ve ever wanted.

No gore, intimate scenes, or swearing – only a captivating story suitable for adults.

Review:
“Real connection isn’t about getting everything you want. It’s about choosing to want the people who choose you back.” (Page 289)

Astra has come a long way from the girl who refused to wear anything but her military uniform and gloves! It’s interesting how Astra is now having to explain and use knowledge and experiences she’s had since coming home to combat with her younger sister feeling how she once felt. Given how clearly Astra wants her sister back more than anything, one has to wonder if the other two who had gone missing would have been chased quite so fervently. As a newlywed it’s great to see Astra trying to plan thinking of others and not just rushing in and expecting to be able to handle everything on her own all the time. It’s been great seeing her grow and adapt and learn and become more than what her job had been in the past, or the star power thrust upon her. I also really loved how a certain cop became a main player in this particular story; it reminded me of how things used to be with Emma and Astra.

As always, a nice cozy mystery and looking forward to the next one, which is available on May 21st.

Star rating: ✯✯✯✯