Some of you may be thinking, Amanda, why the heck did you just put out 3 book reviews on the same day when you say you hate letting them build up like that? Well, I’ve been working on something quite different from the regular, and I have to let you in on a project that’s now available for presale, and will be released in paperback!
Have you ever had a character that was meant for one time use, but that people loved so much they became a full fledged important part of a storyline? Meet Genevieve, who came into the story with cotton candy blue hair, and is a full fledged, as she would put it, faerie princess. Genevieve entered the adventure (having been born during a Dungeons and Dragons game I was DMing) at 12, and while she doesn’t enjoy typical “princess” activities like embroidery because she doesn’t have the patience, she had it in her to keep a journal written entirely in haiku.
Synopsis: One impending apocalypse. Several crazy faeries. A few troubling plagues of locusts and storms of fire … It’s just another day in Manchester for the Madhatter.
Madrona might still have amnesia and might yet prove to be a vicious murderess but that doesn’t mean she’s going to quit being a heroine just yet. However, while she might be prepared to go to any lengths to stop Rubus from triggering Armageddon, it’s equally possible that the world will end as a result of her actions too. Manchester is experiencing terrifying surges in magic which are causing all sorts of chaotic events to occur. With a dragon, several werewolves and a host of faeries by her side, there is still a thread of hope.
And green eyed, sexy arsed Morgan. There’s always him.
Review: There were so many good bits of this book, and twists and turns that wouldn’t be expected from characters we’d grown to know and love. I loved the description of things fae can do in chapter 8, and all of the bits of wisdom sprinkled throughout the novel, such as personalities having the ability to change and that no one is ever the same all the time, as well as being selfish creatures who make mistakes and have to work on righting them and being better in the future. There was an excellent(ly frustrating) end to the novel, which made me wish we had just a chapter (or a few more) to learn exactly how Madrona and Morgan ended up. That being said, this series is an excellent set up for the City of Magic book series, which I have almost already devoured in whole.
Synopsis: One wondrous faery with stupendous magical skills and a superior mind (not to mention incredible modesty). One drop dead gorgeous, green eyed stud muffin and his evil Fey brother. And the end of the world. Maybe.
Madrona might still not remember anything about her past, and she might be more of an evil villain than a fabulous super hero, but that doesn’t mean she can’t also be a super spy. With Rubus desperately searching for the magical dragon sphere which can return the faeries back to their homeland – and cause the apocalypse in this land – she doesn’t have much choice.
Someone with wit, intelligence and strength has to step up and save the world … and if that person happens to look super sexy while doing it then that’s just an added bonus.
This is the second book in the urban fantasy series, The Fractured Faery, and ends with a nail-biting cliffhanger.
Review: Oh. My. Gosh. Of COURSE I’m already reading book 3 because that cliffhanger is a doozy! This book is absolutely stunning, with Madrona coming into herself and learning both her personal style as well as continuing with her gigantic ego. There was definitely a part that I found very touching, albeit sad, but I quite loved the ending reveal and hadn’t figured it out exactly on my own, despite there being so many little nudges that we should have pieced it together (or that Morgan should have!) We have a bunch of awesome characters and it’s good to see Madrona trying to be her best good/bad self!
Synopsis: One corpse. Several bizarre looking attackers. Some very strange magical powers. And a severe bout of amnesia.
It’s one thing to wake up outside in the middle of the night with a decapitated man for company. It’s another to have no memory of how you got there – or who you are. She might not know her own name but she knows that several people are out to get her. It could be because she has strange magical powers seemingly at her fingertips and is some kind of fabulous hero. But then why does she appear to inspire fear in so many? And who on earth is the sexy, green-eyed barman who apparently despises her?
So many questions … and so few answers. At least one thing is for sure – the streets of Manchester have never met someone quite as mad as Madrona…
Review: I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about this book when I started it, but oh my gosh do I love Maddy! The entire book centers around Madrona not really knowing who she is and trying to find herself and who she can trust along the way. I had an idea from the start that our superhero may not be as benevolent as she thought herself, and I quite enjoyed the ride from start to finish, having to immediately start book 2. While this isn’t the same feel as the other Harper novels I’ve read and loved (Slouch Witch series, Firebrand) Madrona has such a kickass personality that you cannot help but need to know what happens next, becoming very quickly addicted to the story from the very first page.
It’s urban/modern fantasy, there’s fae, there’s A HUGE CLIFFHANGER, but the next book is out so go for it and read this book!
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.
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!
Synopsis: Donatella and Scarlett Dragna escaped their cruel father and made it out of Caraval alive, but the games aren’t over yet. What Scarlett doesn’t know is that, in order to gain their freedom, Tella made a deal with a mysterious stranger and now it’s time to pay.
Except what Tella owes is something that no one has ever been able to deliver: the true name of Caraval Master Legend. Tella’s only chance at uncovering Legend’s true identity is to enter the dangerous game of Caraval once more, and win. But what will she have to sacrifice to do that?
Review: Holy. Hell. This book took me for a spin I wasn’t expecting. I hadn’t quite liked Tella in Caraval, and that didn’t change for quite a while during this book, but I did enjoy seeing her learn that you cannot always be rash and sometimes you have to temper your ideas. There were plenty of different plots going on, and while some twists and turns I discovered along the way, despite finishing this last night I couldn’t stop thinking about what some of the reveals in this novel meant in regards to what happened in Caraval with Scarlett. The game was so different, yet so clearly slanted and pointed. I cannot help but wonder if all Caraval is about allowing ONE PERSON something in particular, having everyone else along for the ride, or if these two particular games are special. I love the idea that while both Scarlett and Tella are willing to take the world on their shoulders and try to carry all the burden that they learn that it’s okay to rely on others and accept help. A lot of this novel is descriptions of clothing and balls, and while that doesn’t bother me, it may not be to everyone’s taste.
This book left me with far more questions and burning desires than book 1, and I cannot wait to continue on with the Finale to perhaps get a picture of what the end goal is for our dear Legend, and what type of future our two Dragna girls have.
Synopsis: A magical library, an incurable curse, and a woman who loves her coffee.
Sage thought working in a magical library was already the stuff of fairytales. When a gargoyle named Freddy is your coworker, you know your job is anything but ordinary. But even Sage couldn’t have predicted the chaos that ensues when The Charming Four come knocking. With their leader, Prince Finn, cursed and Sage in need of a place to stay, she can’t help but get involved in his quest for a cure. When his brother, the Crown Prince, is up to no good and secrets are being kept, will Sage step up to the challenge or keep her cozy life cozy?
This enemies to lovers low-risk, high-stakes cozy fantasy romance is packed with sass, charm, and plenty of magic. If you enjoy the heavy male cast (but she only ends up with one person) in things such as Meteor Garden, the cozy fantasy vibes of That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Demon, but need that sprinkle of Beauty and the Beast this book is for you!
Review: I wanted to love this. A librarian who gets swept away into a Beauty and the Beast style story? It sounds too good to be true. That would be correct. This book is being marketed as a cozy read, and that it is, however, there are a lot of plot holes and general lack of adversity within the pages. Sage seems like a nice enough girl, but despite being clumsy and hurting herself multiple times, she never seems to be injured enough to be weighed down/actually maimed; something always saves her. There were also huge story gaps where we go from no one knowing of Sage doing anything for the Charming Four, to her former human friends just cozily having a picnic and acting as if it was no big deal. Everyone seems instantly drawn to her and she always happens to find just the right answer and people to talk to. Several times I thought, and this is where something REALLY bad get to her, but no; very little actual conflict and no stakes at all for her. Her parents, once gone, seem like a memory- they don’t write or come back into the picture at all.
All in all, I loved the play with honey, and I like that the author did tend to make things using ingredients how they are intended (such as lavender and chamomile for calm), but I never really felt drawn to or cared about Sage because everything was always working out perfectly for her and there was no real tension. The romance within was middling at best, with her outright asking if someone likes her–completely takes away from any sort of connection that may have been established. That being said, if you’re looking for something to read quickly for a bit of entertainment, it isn’t bad, bearing in mind that you never really feel that there’s a true objective, or anything at risk.
Synopsis: It’s difficult to find a husband in Regency England when you’re a young lady with only half a soul.
Ever since she was cursed by a faerie, Theodora Ettings has had no sense of fear or embarrassment—an unfortunate condition that leaves her prone to accidental scandal. Dora hopes to be a quiet, sensible wallflower during the London Season—but when Elias Wilder, the strange, handsome, and utterly ill-mannered Lord Sorcier, discovers her condition, she is instead drawn into peculiar and dangerous faerie affairs. If her reputation can survive both her curse and her sudden connection with the least-liked man in all high society, then she and her family may yet reclaim their normal place in the world. But the longer Dora spends with Elias, the more she begins to suspect that one may indeed fall in love even with only half a soul.
Review: This book was endearing, enchanting, witty, and altogether brilliant. I had apparently bought this book back in August of 2021 and like so many well meaning people with libraries allowed it to sit. The moment I had started it I found it enticing, in the same way books such as A Little Princess are. There were some definite inspiration points taken from other novels, with Chapter One featuring two references that seem very relatable to Alice in Wonderland. The further in we go, the more lessons we learn-about how hard it is to allow yourself to be more than angry at the world, about what makes someone virtuous and why you may think highly of someone. While this story was fantastical and definitely had some Alice and A Little Princess vibes, it stands on it’s own and I think it’s a very neat book about accepting yourself as you are, learning to harness your strengths and work on your weaknesses, and never give up on those who need your help.
I quite love the banter and peculiar way in which Dora views the world. Many have compared it to Howl’s Moving Castle and Bridgerton, some to Pride and Prejudice. It is very much a historical fantasy with a mystery and some romance; if that sounds good to you, you’ll likely love this book. I do intend to continue this series at some point as the writing pulls you in and you just want to know more, especially about one particular Lord Sorcier who seems bent on making everyone hate him…
Synopsis: In a void suspended in time, I find myself trapped in an abyss of darkness and despair.
With every ounce of strength, I fight to free myself from this suffocating sleep, while Kalyll, consumed by a fierce determination, searches tirelessly through the realm. His sole mission: to exact revenge upon those responsible for bringing me to the edge of death. No one shall escape his wrath, for everyone in his path will suffer the consequences.
Yet, the fate of his kingdom teeters precariously as his treacherous brother, Cardian, schemes to plunge the realm into all-out war. Cardian’s alliance with the heartless and ambitious Unseelie King threatens to shatter the fragile peace that remains.
In a cruel twist of fate, Kalyll falls into the clutches of his enemies, leaving the specter of war looming ever closer.
As time runs out, can I wake from my dark slumber and restore the light before the darkness consumes us all? The final battle looms, and our love hangs in the balance.
—- This is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast featuring a troubled prince, a strong heroine, and an amazing supporting cast. Enemies-to-lovers series suitable for 18+.For fans of Sarah J. Maas and Jennifer L. Armentrout.
Review: This book was an interesting read, and while overall I liked the conclusion, where were some heartbreaking moments. Some of the deaths elicited a shrug and nothing more as the characters hadn’t been developed/integrated into the story enough for there to be any true connection to them. The absolute last bit in the book was a bit off putting and seemed as if it was setting up for another book series/spin off. We were given a glimpse of what happens but left wondering whether or not the dreams that Kalyll and Daniella had worked for would come to fruition.
The spice in this book was frustrating; there was so much going on, intense war, and yet there seemed to be time for intimacy every few pages. The sex didn’t add to the story at all, and in many ways detracted and I found myself skimming to get back to the actual plot. Some of the metaphors and language were again off putting, and there were plenty more cases of “people are like abc because xyz”. That being said, the overall story was decent, and if you have Kindle Unlimited, like a bit of spice, faeries, and fairy tale retellings, here’s one you can read. I’d give the series overall a 4 out of 5 stars, but this book gets a 3.
Amy S. Brown 