When Ivy Radcliffe suddenly inherits a country estate with a grand and ancient library from an unknown relative, it seems like a dream come true. But that dream slowly turns into a nightmare as the library’s dark secrets come to light. This is the premise of Hester Fox’s Gothic fantasy novel The Last Heir to Blackwood Library, which came out back in April. Continue reading Review of The Last Heir to Blackwood Library
Tag: fantasy
Review of Nettle & Bone—Fairy-Tale Fantasy
Marrying a prince seems like the ending of a fairy tale, but for Marra’s sister’s it is only the beginning of a nightmare. So, Marra sets out on her own fairy tale quest to find whatever magic or powerful allies can kill a prince in T. Kingfisher’s Nettle & Bone, which came out last year. Having thoroughly enjoyed Kingfisher’s Poe-inspired horror tale What Moves the Dead, I was excited to see what this author would bring to more straightforward fantasy. Kingfisher certainly has a gift for creating fantasy worlds that seem comfortingly familiar and yet also strange and unique. Continue reading Review of Nettle & Bone—Fairy-Tale Fantasy
Review of Book of Night—Crime and Shadow Magic
It’s a bad idea to mess with those who have magic abilities you could only dream of. But Charlie Hall is full of bad ideas in Holly Black’s debut adult fantasy novel Book of Night, which came out last year. I’ve been a fan of Holly Black’s YA faerie books for many years, most recently enjoying The Cruel Prince and its sequels. But with Book of Night, Black takes a fresh approach to the fantasy genre and proves that she can write just as powerfully for adults as for kids and teens. Continue reading Review of Book of Night—Crime and Shadow Magic
Review of Hell Bent—A Descent to the Underworld
Would you go to Hell and back to rescue a friend? Alex Stern is prepared to do just that in Leigh Bardugo’s Hell Bent, which came out earlier this year. If you loved the dark academia vibes and intricate paranormal world of Ninth House, then you do not want to miss this high-stakes sequel! Continue reading Review of Hell Bent—A Descent to the Underworld
Not Good For Maidens—A Goblin Market Retelling
Christina Rossetti’s “Goblin Market” has always been one of my favorite poems, so when I saw there was a new YA fantasy novel that takes this poem as its premise, I had to pick it up. Not Good for Maidens by Tori Bovalino, which came out last spring, tells the story of two generations of young women who face down the temptations of the infamous goblin market. Continue reading Not Good For Maidens—A Goblin Market Retelling
Review of A Restless Truth—Magical Murder at Sea
Being trapped onboard a ship with an unknown murderer is a frightening enough prospect on its own, without adding powerful magic to the mix. Luckily Maud Blyth is just as undaunted in the face of overwhelming odds as her brother Robin. I just reviewed A Marvellous Light, Book 1 in Freya Marske’s The Last Binding trilogy, the other week and went straight from finishing that one to reading the sequel. A Restless Truth, the second book in this fantasy romance series came out at the beginning of November. Continue reading Review of A Restless Truth—Magical Murder at Sea
A Marvellous Light Review—Edwardian Magicians
Getting cursed is just about the worst way to find out magic is real… An English baronet finds himself thrown headfirst into the world of magical conspiracies and sorcerer soirees in A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske, which came out last year. I’ve been a long-time fan of Marske’s podcast, Be the Serpent, but only just picked up her first book in preparation for reading the sequel, A Restless Truth, which came out earlier this month. Continue reading A Marvellous Light Review—Edwardian Magicians
Nona the Ninth Review
The world has ended before, but it could always end again…. The first two books of the Locked Tomb series (Gideon the Ninth and Harrow the Ninth) were two of my favorite books from the last few years, and now Tamsyn Muir is back with the third installment! Nona the Ninth, the penultimate book in this projected quartet, came out earlier this fall and continues to prove that Muir is one of the most creative minds in today’s science-fiction and fantasy scene. Continue reading Nona the Ninth Review
Review of Bone Weaver—Imperial Russia-inspired Fantasy
A girl raised by the dead discovers her own life-saving magic in Aden Polydoros’s second novel, Bone Weaver. I knew Polydoros was one to watch from the moment he first announced his Jewish historical thriller debut, The City Beautiful, which was one of my favorite books from last year. So when I heard he was diving even deeper into fantasy with his next book, which takes place in a secondary world inspired by Imperial Russia and Slavic folklore, I immediately requested a review copy and was not disappointed. Bone Weaver comes out tomorrow, September 20. Continue reading Review of Bone Weaver—Imperial Russia-inspired Fantasy
Review of the Greenhollow Duology: Silver in the Wood and Drowned Country
Looking for something short and sweet that will scratch that itch of wanting to run away into the woods with a forest spirit? Then may I recommend the Greenhollow Duology by Emily Tesh. These two novellas, Silver in the Wood and Drowned Country, came out in 2019 and 2020 respectively. But I just read them both together in the lovely audiobook narrated by Matthew Lloyd Davies. Continue reading Review of the Greenhollow Duology: Silver in the Wood and Drowned Country