Fantasy

Review of Ruthless Devotion by Rebecca Kenney

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Synopsis:
He was the other half of my soul—the mirror to my every dark desire. My destruction, my redemption, my salvation: my Heathcliff.

Cathy Earnshaw’s got the devil inside her—or at least that’s what the small, cultish community she’s spent her whole life trapped inside would say. She can sense death coming, and every loss sends her spiraling into a violent, uncontrollable episode of grief, wailing like a banshee across the swampy forests of the Lowcountry. With a secret as dark as hers, there’s no hope of relief, or escape, or finding someone with a chance of understanding.

Until she meets him.

Heathcliff’s got his own trauma, and a secret just as dangerous as Cathy’s. Stolen as a child, raised by necromancers, he’s the most forbidden sin she could ever imagine…and the most desperately tempting. Violent in his passions, tender in his affection, he feels like the other half of her soul, but even as they claw desperately to be together, the world seems just as determined to keep them apart.

Because it turns out their little Southern community was built long ago on a graveyard of lies…and every cult needs its sacrificial lamb.

Review:
“… his soul and mine were cut from the same shimmering fabric, hewn from the same rock, dipped from the same pool. Wherever souls come from, we share the same source.” (Page 274)

I wasn’t sure that anyone or anything could make the story of Wuthering Heights have Cathy and Heathcliff be redeemable characters that you would actually care about and not just think about as horrible people but Kenney did the impossible! There were a lot of changes to the original in family matters etc that I did wonder for the first 3/4 of the book why she decided to have this be a Wuthering Heights spin off and not let the story live on it’s own without the very flimsy connections but in the end it did make sense. In many ways I think this story stands as a Dark Modern Fantasy book of its own. There was an extra dimension to this retelling by mixing in religion and cult practices, with much thought given to how people can be persuaded to do things that might usually be against their better judgement or interests. This book also features a lot about death and what can go into mourning.

There are complicated family dynamics, lots of different types of magic, and a love that could not be separated even by death. If that sounds interesting to you, I’d highly recommend this book. Once I started it, I found it near impossible to put down, even though I didn’t really want it to end.

Star rating: ✯✯✯✯✯

Review of The Wizard’s Cat by Nathan Lowell

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Synopsis:
It started with a dandelion.
Innocuous. Ubiquitous.
Who knew it was a warning?

After claiming his big bonus, things are coming up roses for Roger Mulligan. A job he loves. A house that feels like home. Money in the bank. A solid roof over his head and job security.

But when he finds a dandelion on the pristine grounds of Shackleford House, he starts down a twisted, garden path. Old man Shackleford says the fairies have a problem, the pixies keep falling down on the job, and the house seems to grow weaker by the day.

He’s soon tossed into a confusing mixture of fact and fantasy, accompanied by Shackleford’s cousin and – of all things – a stray cat. Surrounded by the fantastical, it’s hard to tell magic from mundane.

Review:
I loved how Barbara got to become front and center in this novel, and how Roger, while changed, has become more resilient than he ever thought possible. While following Roger was always amusing, it was clearly the cat who was the star of the show. I really enjoyed this novel, but in some ways I felt like it didn’t feel as extravagant and all encompassing as the first in the series. In the first novel there were a series of different things that Roger, the house and family had to overcome. In this novel, while there was technically more to be overcome, most of the discourse and nitty gritty of such things (Barbara’s turmoil, the company issues) were done off the page and only vaguely mentioned or referenced. I don’t feel like we are done with the Wizard, his Apprentice, or the Cat so I really hope there will be another book in the future.

I would recommend this series to anyone who loves the average guy using his wits to save a situation (especially the magically people involved), people stepping out of their comfort zones and finding their true place, and in the second book- cats!

Star rating: ✯✯✯✯

Review of Too Many Curses by A. Lee Martinez

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Synopsis:
The wizard Margle the Horrendous takes special pride in never killing his enemies. Instead, he transforms them into various accursed forms and locks them away in his castle. His halls are filled with his collection of fallen heroes and defeated villains, along with a few ordinary folk who were just unfortunate enough to draw Margle’s attention.

It’s Nessy’s duty to tend this castle. It’s a lot of work, but she manages, taking pride in housekeeping talents that keep the castle from collapsing into chaos. But when Margle suddenly dies, everything begins to unravel. Nessy finds herself surrounded by monsters, curses, a door that should never be opened, and one very deadly dark wizardess.

Nessy doesn’t have might or magic on her side; she’s just a kobold: short, furry, and sensible. Her allies aren’t much better: a voice without a body, an angry fruit bat, a monster under her bed, a wizard in a jar (or some of him, anyway), and a one-eyed, one-horned, flying, purple, people eater. It would be smarter to walk away, but taking care of the castle is Nessy’s job, and that’s just what she intends to do.

If only she could find time to polish the silver while beating back the forces of darkness.

Review:
This book was gifted to me for Christmas, so therefore counts towards the paper books read tally. I personally found the book a bit hard to get into, but then it wasn’t a book I would have picked up for myself. This book was interesting in that it dealt with a lot of neat Dungeons and Dragons adjacent creatures/effects. This was definitely a younger age book than I would have expected, though marketed for adults I really think 8+ could read and enjoy this novel. There were a lot of good moments of learning about one’s self and abilities and not being defined by a title you may have gained/have or what you are considered because of the station you were born into in life.

I would recommend this to any young readers into DnD that like adventure.

Star rating: ✯✯✯

Review of The Wizard’s Butler by Nathan Lowell

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Synopsis:
“He thinks he’s a wizard,” they said. For five grand a month and a million dollar chaser, Roger Mulligan didn’t care how crazy the old geezer was. All he had to do was keep Joseph Perry Shackleford alive and keep him from squandering the estate for a year. They didn’t tell him about the pixies.

Review:
“Ebooks. This is my only connection to the outer world.” (Page 84)

This book has everything except romance, and always left me wanting to keep reading on. I had to sleep halfway through a chapter many a night because I didn’t want to put this book down! While this book has some sort of wizard, maybe, one of the main focuses is easy to relate to Roger Mulligan, who is former army/former EMT. He’s got a steady mind and can be quick on his feet, which makes his entry into a world he had never imagined; that of being a butler, a job that many think doesn’t even exist, all the more exciting. Especially when you add in that Shackleford thinks he’s a wizard. Despite being about the mundane things we do not want to think about in our own day to day life, Lowell writes Mulligan’s activities in a way that make you want to see more of just what a butler may do and how his job influences and interacts with all of the other ongoing plots. All of the characters had great depth and motives. While at times it seemed a very low-risk cozy modern/urban paranormal fantasy, the fatality at stake leads one to need to keep reading. I loved seeing how the house encouraged change for the inhabitants, and how it helped them to find what they most needed in their lives. Mulligan needed this job, but in many ways, Shackleford needed him to lead him into a new era. I’ve already started the second book, and so far (19% in) it is just as good as the first.

I loved this book immensely and cannot wait to share it with my husband and friends in the near future.

Star rating: ✯✯✯✯✯

Review of The Ether Witch 2: Confronting the Crafty Concubine by Delemhach

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Synopsis:
A devil, a familiar, and magic gone wild—Tam’s life is more than a little complicated! Can he turn the chaos into triumph, or will it drag him someplace far darker?

Having narrowly escaped capture by the Zinferan army, Tam, Eli, and Luca find themselves on the run.

Their goal?

Find a way home to Daxaria.

Preferably alive!

But as Tam carries on his family legacy, he continues to land himself in a whole cauldron of hot water!

Despite discovering his familiar and beginning to embrace his magic, greater powers like corrupt covens and a villainous concubine loom over him.

Will he be able to guide his loved ones out of danger, or will he be forced to take drastic actions to end the brewing calamity?

Find out in the second volume of The Ether Witch!

Review:
“Sometimes in life, the disaster we find ourselves in aren’t our faults. But it’s still up to us to figure it out. And sometimes, the best person to save us is ourselves.” (Page 134)

Ah, to be back in with Tam! In this book, Tam really came into his own. He learned how to be assertive and speak up about his thoughts and feelings, in part because he knows he has to be an example for Luca. This book featured quite the epic journey and more hidden surprises along the way. It was also awesome seeing Eli step more into herself and find a true voice. I absolute did not expect Tamlin to go as far as he did, given his social standing, but it was definitely the right thing to do. I adore Penelope and cannot wait to see what happens with her and everyone else in the future!

There were so many unexpected characters throughout this novel that really made it more enjoyable. It has been wonderful getting to learn more about characters we’ve gotten to know and journeyed with for three trilogies. I can only hope that we will have more epic journeys with future characters after the third book in this series comes out; an ending I look forward to reading.

Star rating: ✯✯✯✯✯

Review of A Skirl of Sorcery by Helen Harper

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Synopsis:
Death has a new address—and it’s Kit McCafferty’s.

When Kit offers a room to a powerless ban sith who has lost her magic, she sets off a chain reaction across Coldstream’s supernatural streets. Her neighbours are panicking. Dangerous werewolves are on the prowl. And Kit finds herself trying to solve several desperate problems all at once.

Kit knows the world’s a messy place, especially when magic’s involved. But this reeks of something dark and nasty. She’s paws deep – and there’s every chance that Thane, the copper-haired werewolf who stirs Kit’s heart, will become collateral damage.

Her house is full of cats, and her city is full of monsters … fortunately, Kit McCafferty is one of them.

A Skirl of Sorcery is the third book in the captivating urban fantasy crime series The Cat Lady Chronicles. Expect mystery, adventure and a posse of cats.

Review:
“We all had our demons; some were simply more obvious than others.” (Page 17)

This book was amazing! I wasn’t sure how much Thane was going to play into this novel given how close it was to the full moon, but I actually loved the way his past was tied in to the plot. It was nice seeing Kit remind herself that she is a very capable woman and she can handle things. This book also served as a great reminder that if you’re good to your neighbors/village, they will be willing to do things for you… or maybe Dave just really has grown on Kit/really owed the ban sith. Trilby made some excellent points as well, and I hope that maybe in the very far future we’ll have a series based on her since she is so unique. The ending was both perfect and so frustrating because I cannot wait to hear Tiddles name!!


Star rating: ✯✯✯✯✯

Review of Tea & Alchemy by Sharon Lynn Fisher

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Synopsis:
A tea leaf reader in nineteenth-century England falls in love—and in danger—with a reclusive alchemist in an enthralling historical fantasy by the author of Salt & Broom and Grimm Curiosities.

Cornwall, 1854. The people of Roche have always whispered about the recluse in the black granite tower that looms above the moorland. But one young woman is driven to discover the truth behind the old tales.

Her life overshadowed by family tragedy, Mina Penrose escapes her lonely days by working at The Magpie, a cozy tearoom on the village’s edge. Lately she’s been seeing shapes in the sodden leaves that hint at the future. After one such omen, Mina stumbles upon a murdered man on the heath. Villagers immediately suspect Harker Tregarrick, a living, breathing mystery who never ventures beyond the bounds of his centuries-old estate.

Until the day after the murder, when the handsome and compelling recluse visits The Magpie…leading to a meeting that will change both their fates. Captivated by a man around whom danger and rumors of death swirl, Mina has never felt more alive. Can she uncover Harker’s heartbreaking history—and the truth about the murder—before tragedy strikes again?

Review:
“I may not have spent much time around other people, but I’ve read more books than I can count, and I think if there’s anything that defines us as human, it’s wanting things that we shouldn’t.” (Page 179)

Ah, this book was so intriguing! Mina and Harker have such interesting pasts and separate lives, and I loved how they managed to entwine. I really enjoyed the added touches of mysticism with Mina’s predictions and Harker’s potions. What really struck me as unique was the creature and way in which so much of this began; something so unique like the way the beast appears in Disney’s version. The familial connections gave this a very deep and different feel than the book it takes some inspiration from–Jack can be so frustrating and yet you know he’s really trying. I also quite loved Mrs. Moyle, especially her ideas such as, “Being a woman is not excuse for being uninformed.” (Page 5)

All in all, I think this is an excellent book of Romantasy, for those that like the dark and mysterious, and retellings that turn an original story upside down.

Star rating: ✯✯✯✯✯

Review of What Stalks the Deep by T. Kingfisher

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Synopsis:
The next installment in the New York Times bestselling Sworn Soldier series, featuring Alex Easton investigating the dark, mysterious depths of a coal mine in America

Alex Easton does not want to visit America.

They particularly do not want to visit an abandoned coal mine in West Virginia with a reputation for being haunted.

But when their old friend Dr. Denton summons them to help find his lost cousin—who went missing in that very mine—well, sometimes a sworn soldier has to do what a sworn soldier has to do…

Review:
“And now we were talking about feelings. I would almost rather he had poured the burning oil on me.” (Page 154)

I could not put this book down! I loved all Alex’s quips on life and keeping to themselves, and poor Dr. Denton and his cousin. I really enjoyed seeing Angus get on with Dr. Denton’s equivalent–very capable people all around. I adored how Alex internally reasoned and tried so hard to not let fear get the best of them, because, you know, they certainly aren’t afraid. I absolutely adore the writing style and voice of this novel; it’s a big part of what ensnares you, because it is almost like a journal written in first person as you go along on the adventure with everyone.

“Christ’s blood, now what?” I asked. Kent appeared and pressed coffee into my hands. I blessed him and all his kin and swore undying fealty to his house. I took several sips of coffee before I realized I’d been speaking Gallacian, which was probably just as well. (Page 76)

This was certainly a different type of paranormal than the last two books, and I quite enjoyed the novelty of it as I haven’t read of anything of the sort before!

Highly recommend for those who enjoyed Mexican Gothic, and enjoy Gothic Horror/Fantasy in general. It’s one that will leave you waiting for another adventure to come along, though I am certain Alex wishes they were done with that life, thank you very much.

Star rating: ✯✯✯✯✯

End of Year Reading Recap/Recs: Best of 2025

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I intended to keep up with what books were read when, and honestly, that all fell to the wayside with sick animals and catastrophes. Will this year be better? Here’s hoping I can keep all the books read reviewed within the same month, but hey, in the end, they are reviewed and I enjoyed reading them–which is the most important thing.

This year I read 62 books on kindle and 24 in paper form for a grand total of: 86 books. We are up 8 books since last year read in total, though to be fair, one was quite short, and four were graphic novels/manga. Regardless, they were read!

I had challenged myself to read 2 paper books a month to start weeding through my library of randomly begotten books so I could instead have a library of intention. While I did manage to get 24 paper books read, they were not read 2 a month as I had originally intended, and many were not necessarily ones I already owned. 5 of the books had been purchased during the year and 2 were gifted to me (and read). All in all, this process certainly has made me appreciate what paper books I hold on to more, and I have gotten much better at letting go of books that no longer serve me. I intend to read at least 24 books this year, and hope that I can decide whether many stay or go. 6 books were set to depart the library from this challenge. Of course, I bought 5… but so it goes.

On to what you’re actually here for:
The Recommendations!

In the series category we have:
Beautiful Villain by Rebecca Kenney
The first book I read in 2025 was by far one of the best. Filled with pop culture but not enough to draw you away from the story, this book constantly had action, well developed characters, and breathtaking love. This is a retelling of The Great Gatsby and it was better than I could have ever imagined. Both Gatsby and Daisy are given depth, but the story shifts to fit in with our modern times, with a sprinkle of supernatural. I absolutely adored how the Gatsby/Nick/Myrtle/Daisy/Tom connection worked and that while Nick doesn’t remain the narrator, he is given more depth, backstory and love than the original story had. *Blurb taken from my original review posted on January 31, 2025.

Wishful Thinking by Helen Harper
Faery Godmothers have one of the best jobs; trying to make everyone’s life better by granting their deepest desires. Unfortunately, some of them have gone missing, so when Saffron Sawyer accepts a job opening to work there after so long dealing with a very different type of clientele that needs help, it seems like it was too good to be true. Enter the Devil’s Advocate, a dashingly charming faery who is looming around and you have a recipe for fae who are not going to let someone take their dreams (and dream jobs) away.

The Devil Made Me Brew It by Sarah Piper
It may break the third way by saying so itself, but this book is very much if Hallmark made Halloween movies. A witch down on her luck who is good at making teas that help with all sorts of things, and a demon who gets sucked into working with her, who have to find and grant her true desire in order to part ways. True desires aren’t always what they seem, because the outside view doesn’t always reveal what’s most important within. Warning: This book made making teas sound so good that I got a bunch of raw ingredients to infuse my own. It is not that simple. *As of right now, there is a lone book though it is listed as in a series online.

Enchanted to Meet You by Meg Cabot
Magic is the core of this book, and while there is certainly something dark and scary out there, Jessica wasn’t looking to become Merlin. Having been reprimanded from making a bad magical choice in her teen years, Jessica doesn’t usually associate with officials from the World Council of Witches (she was banned from the organization, after all). Imagine her shock when she learns that she has to be the one to save her town, whether or not all the other witches in it are good, all thanks to the handsome and so annoying Derrick. *As of right now, there is a lone book though it is listed as in a series online.

Enchantra by Kaylie Smith
Lured into a mysterious and dangerous game, Genevieve finds that if she’s to survive and try to get answers about her mother’s past, she’s going to have to pretend to be desperately in love with Rowin, who has offered to compete with her. A dazzling and thrilling follow up to Phantasma that I likely recommend for those who love Dark Fantasy/Dark Romantasy.

Waifs and Strays by Helen Harper
Kit is a purple haired cat lady who seems nice and perfectly harmless. Enter a teenage werewolf who wants to rent her upstairs flat, and suddenly she’s embroiled with all sorts of mystery and magic-caused mayhem. Luckily for Kit, she is more than she may appear. The worst thing you can do is underestimate a cat lady.

The Ether Witch by Delemhach
Of the Ashowan children, Tamlin was the one who never needed to be worried about. Appearing anti-social, shy, and unapproachable he’s always lived in the shadow of his famous parents, and his loud and rambunctious sister. When he is saddled with a new assistant he definitely didn’t ask for, and the need to check on the stability of Zinfera, his own personalities and abilities finally get a chance to shine. *This book is in the same world/series as The House Witch and The Burning Witch. While they aren’t completely necessary to read this series, they are amazingly fun and addictive and I’d recommend all three trilogies.

Swordheart by T. Kingfisher
A very capable blonde widow ends up trapped by relatives who want to steal her inheritance, and ends up on a long adventure with a warrior who appeared out of a sword she unsheathed in her room. They must evade capture and gain help of those who upkeep the law while also traveling together without causing too much suspicion from anyone.

Thorn Season by Kiera Azar
Imagine a world in which you were born with a specific gift that the King would annihilate you for. Now imagine that you have to go to court for your rose season in which you’re supposed to find a husband, and that same King has declared this year he will find a wife–and his eyes appear to be on you. Political intrigue, magic, fantasy–you won’t be able to put this book down, and will wish the next installment was immediately available.

Season’s Schemings by Katie Bailey
A jilted on television nutritionist and the head hockey player of the team she ends up working for end up having a marriage of convenience to fix both their problems, but what if they fall in love? A holiday romance that is addictive, well written, and with clear knowledge of both hockey and nutrition. A fun, quick read that will have you immediately grabbing the second book in the series.

How to Survive a Fairy Bargain by Laura J. Mayo
Enter the world of the fae and so many hidden secrets, outspoken faerie familiars (here’s looking at you, Theo), and the sudden need to find who tried to stage a thousand year old assassination attempt. Mix in with the melancholy of missing a former familiar and the need for great haste in uncovering the mystery. An awesome follow up to How to Summon a Fairy Godmother.

The Rose Bargain by Sasha Peyton Smith
A lost sister in hiding, a fallen family, and a fae queen who requires that all females who come of age make a bargain with her. Bargains can better the lives of the families, and secure better matches, but with the fae something is often given in return. Enter the crown prince looking for a wife, and suddenly what was just a ceremony for a bargain becomes a series of tests to find the new princess–something that could save Ivy’s family’s social standing. Victorian style fairy tale esque, highly recommended for those who love romantasy.


And for standalone books I’d recommend:
Grimm Curiosities by Sharon Lynn Fisher
Lizzy is a strong and independent girl, who has to be, because her father has passed and her mother is stricken unresponsive after speaking with ghosts. She comes across Antony Carlisle while managing her parents floundering antique shop, whose sister is facing the same ailment as her mother. Together, they navigate the past, including that of a Yuletide story from long ago. They are both compelled to solve the mystery–no matter what it may bring to light.

Nocticadia by Keri Lake
Lilia watches her mother succumb to an unknown illness and knows that someday she wants to do two things: leave the city she is stuck in, and find out what killed her mother. Enter admission to a college she knows can help in her search, and Professor Bramwell, who is searching for something else entirely. Through research and forbidden relations, perhaps Lilia and Bramwell could find the answers they are searching for together. Dark Academia Dark Romance has never been written better.

Uprooted by Naomi Novik
Every ten years the Dragon comes to take a girl from the village as a companion. Agnieszka isn’t graceful, poised, or the most beautiful, yet she gets chosen. Agnieszka is not a maiden to be locked away in a tower forever when she can do something to help those she loves, even if the Dragon, a master wizard, has told her to sit tight. Fairy tale esque with lots of magic and interesting flora and fauna.

Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik
Everyone is willing to take when they don’t think they will have to repay anything, but Miryem is done living in squalor with all the money they had lent away. Good at her job, she soon has her own house sorted, and takes in another from the village to help as well. Words have a way of traveling, and when they reach the Staryk king from a winter land of snow, a fae of sorts, that she can change silver to gold, her future fate becomes entwined with his as they fight to do the impossible and save both of their homes from ruin.

Review of Swordheart by T. Kingfisher

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Synopsis:
Halla has unexpectedly inherited the estate of the wealthy distant uncle she’s been caring for for the past decade. Unfortunately, she is also saddled with money-hungry relatives full of devious plans for how to wrest the inheritance away from her.

While hiding in her bedroom to escape her family, Halla inspects the ancient sword that’s been collecting dust on the wall since before she moved in. On a whim, she pulls it down and unsheaths it—and suddenly a man appears in her bedroom. His name is Sarkis, he tells her, and he is an immortal warrior trapped in a prison of enchanted steel.

Sarkis is sworn to protect whoever wields the sword, and for Halla—a most unusual wielder—he finds himself not fending off grand armies and deadly assassins but instead everything from kindly-seeming bandits to roving inquisitors to her own in-laws. But as Halla and Sarkis become closer, they overlook the biggest threat of all—the sword itself.

Review:
I absolutely loved this book and it was impossible to put down. Sarkis is dark, mysterious, sarcastic, and the type of protect-her-or-die asshole we all wish we had. I really enjoyed getting to know Halla, who is not only a very capable woman, but one who isn’t aware of just how precious she is. It was enjoyable having an older protagonist who knows she isn’t seen as the town’s version of beauty, but is still very strong and nice and capable. One thing that Kingfisher has been doing consistently is making sure that body types don’t determine capability–something true in life as well. I came to care far more for a priest than I thought I would in such a novel.

The ending of this book was so perfect when there were so many times that it seemed that not everyone could possibly have a happy ending. I cannot wait to continue reading about everyone’s adventures in future books to come.

I highly recommend this book to those that love strong women, magic, and those who have worked hard getting what they actually deserve (and were willed).

Star rating: ✯✯✯✯✯