Cover art illustrated by Nekro XIII
The Mask of Mirrors by M.A. Carrick
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Series: Rook and Rose (Book #1 of 3)
Genre: Fantasy, High Fantasy
Pages: 688 pages (Paperback edition)
Word Count: 215,000 words
Publish date: 19th January 2021 by Orbit
The Mask of Mirrors is the start of a Venetian fantasy-setting series with a heavy focus on political intrigue, multiple identities, lies, and world-building. …
The Nightmare Virus by Nadine Brandes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
“If there’s one thing I’ve learned at the end of the world, it’s that hope is stronger than despair.”
The Nightmare Virus is exactly the kind of book I’ve been hungering for without being able to describe. This is fast-paced, high octane dystopian science-fantasy with incredibly high stakes and some captivating allegorical themes. The writing flowed wonderfully, there was a ton of believable character development, and the faith element mattered deeply to the plot. The story itself was fantastic and, while I could draw some comparisons to other stories I’ve loved, it also felt wholly unique. It felt familiar and true while still being a story unlike any other I’ve experienced. I loved everything about it. …
ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
The Price of Power by Michael Michel
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Series: The Price of Power (Book #1)
Genre: Fantasy, Epic Fantasy
Pages: 730 pages (Kindle edition)
Publish date: 6th February 2023 by Morningstar Books (Indie)
The Price of Power is a foundational character-driven fantasy debut with promises of great things to come.
“As much as the future is fickle, the past is solid and certain. What it tells me is things continue forward. The future persists even when bleak. I fight fear with wisdom.”
The Enchanted Lies of Céleste Artois by Ryan Graudin
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
I received an advance copy of this novel from the publisher, Orbit/Redhook, in exchange for an honest review.
When I first saw the title of this book, I couldn’t help but be excited. For obvious reasons. My name is an uncommon one, and I’ve never read a book featuring a protagonist who shares it. And then, earlier in the year, I read a delightful middle-grade novel, The Girl Who Kept the Castle, by the same author. Knowing how much I loved her writing for young readers, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on her adult debut. I might have set my expectations just a bit too high. While this book was expertly crafted, with gorgeous prose and lush settings and characters I grew to love, the pace and the scope didn’t quite work for me. But overall, this is a charming story that ushers readers into a magical world they won’t want to leave.
“People so often think their futures are set in stone, that their stories are written in the stars before they’re even born, but stone can be worn away, and stars will turn to dust if you wait long enough.”
Long Live Evil (Time of Iron #1) by Sarah Rees Brennan
My rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Publish date: 1st August 2024
How many times have you dreamt of entering the world of your favourite novel or series? Got lost in the thought of meeting that character or leading the charge against that villain? Being the one to entice that dark haired, shadow wielding … *cough* ok, let me bring it back to the point. Many of us dream of entering our favourite fantasy novel, with the usual caveats, of course. Obviously, we want to be one of the rich or powerful or beautiful characters, not the cannon fodder or poverty stricken nobodies that hover in the background, worth nothing more than a passing reference, if that. But what would it take you to actually DO it? Maybe your imminent death? That’s what happens to Rae. When a mysterious woman reveals that there’s no hope left for her, that her tumours have spread and the upcoming costs of treatment will destroy her family before she dies anyway, she’s offered one opportunity to change it all, to live. And she takes it. Who wouldn’t? Finding herself in the pages of her favourite fantasy series, Rae uses every bit of her (admittedly patchy) knowledge of the plot to keep herself alive and manipulate her way to her goal – stealing the Flower of Life and Death. It’s her only chance to live her real life again, free of disease and pain. But being a villain is harder than it looks and the real world is not the only place where death stalks the story…
Sanctuary by Ilona Andrews
My rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Publish date: 30th July 2024
Imagine this. You’re home for the holidays, sorting out the final trimmings for the best meal of the year. But just when you thought it was safe to relax and enjoy your Christmas, Chernobog, the God of Destruction, Darkness and Death, decides he needs something doing. Immediately. So he sends a dream request with no get out clause. We’ve all had bosses like it – no boundaries and can’t take no for an answer. On top of that, a child, bloody and near death, rocks up asking for sanctuary, with elite mercenaries and a catastrophically powerful priest hot on his tail. The whole situation reads like disaster – now, nobody gets to eat turkey and perhaps even worse, they might actually die. A rubbish outcome all round.
For Roman, a classic homebody (read: recluse with no desire to see or speak to people), this means a Christmas break gone completely to hell. But like any proud homeowner, he is more than prepared to defend his space, and everyone in it, from bad guys. Especially when they turn up with very bad attitudes and suspicious reasons for wanting to ‘take the child home to his parents’. Yeah right. We know how this works. And so does Roman. If you know anything about him from the Kate Daniels books, you know he has a bit of an attitude himself. More than enough to take on some jumped up soldiers, he’s the Black Volhv after all.
Review copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Cover art illustrated by Felix Ortiz
Sistah Samurai: A Champloo Novella by Tatiana Obey
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars
Series: Champloo (Book #1)
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 140 pages (Paperback edition)
Word Count: 30,000 words
Publish date: 1st November 2023 by Tatiana Obey
Sistah Samurai is legit one of the most entertaining action-fantasy novellas I’ve ever read.
“We were women, and mothers, and sisters, and cousins. We were teachers, and healers, and innovators, and warriors. And we went down fighting.”
Where Darkness Dwells by Andrea Renae
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars
Where Darkness Dwells is a lush, beautiful story with a radiant core of hope. It doesn’t shy from darkness, but it also doesn’t revel in it. Instead, it exposes the weak underbelly of that darkness, dwelling on the fact that, no matter how thick the darkness may seem, the Light is always able to overcome it. We might not understand why the darkness has held dominion for so long, or why the Light didn’t reclaim its rightful throne sooner. But we can know that a battle between the two forces is inevitable, and we rest assured of the fact that Light will win. …
The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Series: Kingsbridge (Book #1 of 5)
Genre: Historical Fiction
Pages: 992 pages (Hardcover edition)
Word Count: 410,000 words
Publish date: October 1989 by Macmillan …
Cover art illustrated by Janny Wurts
The Curse of the Mistwraith by Janny Wurts
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Series: Wars of Light and Shadow (Book #1 of 11)
Genre: Fantasy, Epic Fantasy
Pages: 611 pages (Hardcover edition)
Word Count: 233,000 words
Publish date: May 1993 by HarperVoyager
The Curse of the Mistwraith is the start of a super ambitious epic fantasy, and it is a book that will require your 100% concentration. …
