The Hexologists – Til Death Do Us Part

Today I am excited to present one of the best romances I have read in a while that is out here masquerading as a fantasy mystery thriller. The Hexologists is the first book in the latest series by Josiah Bancroft, of Tower of Babel fame. It stars a duo of mature protagonists, husband and wife,…

Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia Of Faeries – A Wilde Ride

As I began crafting my 2023 TBR, I was pleased to see how many amazing books are coming out this month. It has given me something to look forward to now that the holiday season is over. With many amazing books on the horizon, start the year strong with Heather Fawcett’s new release, Emily Wilde’s…

Ocean’s Echo – A Tidally Fun Romance

Ocean Echo, by Everina Maxwell, is a pseudo-sequel to the very popular Winter’s Orbit from last year. It isn’t really a sequel, despite being set in the same universe, because it has zero overlapping characters. But Ocean’s Echo definitely embodies the same spirit as Winter’s Orbit. It’s another gay romance with two very different men…

A Taste of Gold and Iron – Smelts My Heart

I read Alexandra Rowland’s guest post over at The Fantasy Hive about “small magic,” and just knew I had to pick up A Taste of Gold and Iron. The post teased a plot about counterfeiting and money manipulation diving into the idea of magic users as an ecological niche that had my heart brimming with…

The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy – Somehow Making Undertaking Sexy And Fun

I am not sure who the target audience is for The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy, but I think most readers would have a good time. As long as you are interested in part of the bizarre mix of contents that Megan Bannen has stuffed inside its pages you will have a ton of fun.…

The Bridge Kingdom – Semi Suspenseful

The Bridge Kingdom and I have been circling each other for years. It’s another book that sat on my TBR for far too long, and I feel accomplished having finally read it. While I don’t think it lives up to the hype, it was still a fun and anxiety-inducing read as we watch Danielle Jensen…

A Magic Steeped In Poison – Identitea Crisis

My streak has ended. I’ve been reading straight bangers for the last few months, each book presenting well-plotted stories and engaging worlds filled with unique characters. My latest read—Judy I. Lin’s A Magic Steeped In Poison—has oodles of promise, but it ultimately falls short on numerous counts. Ning unknowingly brewed a poisonous tea that killed…

The Circus Infinite – It’s All Coming Up Aces

Vaudeville is a setting that seems to lend itself well to both science fiction and fantasy. There has been a number of very successful stories in this space with circus settings. There seems to be something appealing about joining a found family in a new job where differences are celebrated and anything in the imagination…