Tag: Magic

To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods (To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods: Book 1) by Molly X. Chang

Publisher: Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine, Del Rey

Date of publication: April 16, 2024

Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult, Romance, Young Adult Fantasy, Fiction, Science Fiction, Asian Literature, High Fantasy, Adult, Magic

Series: To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods

To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods—Book 1

To Kill a Monstrous Prince—Book 2 (expected publication date: January 1st, 2025)

Purchase Links: Kindle | Audible | B&N | AbeBooks | WorldCat

Goodreads Synopsis:

She has power over death. He has power over her. When two enemies strike a dangerous bargain, will they end a war . . . or ignite one?

Heroes die, cowards live. Daughter of a conquered world, Ruying hates the invaders who descended from the heavens long before she was born and defeated the magic of her people with technologies unlike anything her world had ever seen.

Blessed by Death, born with the ability to pull the life right out of mortal bodies, Ruying shouldn’t have to fear these foreign invaders, but she does. Especially because she wants to keep herself and her family safe.

When Ruying’s Gift is discovered by an enemy prince, he offers her an impossible deal: If she becomes his private assassin and eliminates his political rivals—whose deaths he swears would be for the good of both their worlds and would protect her people from further brutalization—her family will never starve or suffer harm again. But to accept this bargain, she must use the powers she has always feared, powers that will shave years off her own existence.

Can Ruying trust this prince, whose promises of a better world make her heart ache and whose smiles make her pulse beat faster? Are the evils of this agreement really in the service of a much greater good? Or will she betray her entire nation by protecting those she loves the most?

First Line:

The sky was crying again.

To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods by Molly X. Chang

Important details about To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods

Pace: Alternates between medium and fast

POV: 1st person (Ruying), 3rd person (Antony for a chapter), 2nd person (following Ruying on a mission for a chapter)

Content/Trigger: To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods contains themes of colonization, death, addiction, violence, drug abuse, toxic relationship, xenophobia, murder, genocide, torture, war, kidnapping, racism, blood, confinement, physical abuse, gaslighting, injury & injury detail, child abuse, child death, drug use, emotional abuse, gun violence, sexism, slavery, death of a parent, misogyny, grief, medical trauma, classism, gore, trafficking, toxic friendship, sexual harassment, pandemic/epidemic, bullying, self-harm, police brutality, medical content, suicide attempt, abandonment, racial slurs, rape, suicidal thoughts, and alcohol. Please read carefully if any of these triggers you.

Language: To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods contains mild swearing and language that might offend some people.

Series: To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods is the first book in the To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods series.

Sexual Content: There is mild consensual sexual content* in To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods.

  • It is implied that Ruying has sex with Antony after they escape from Donghai.

Setting: To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods is set in the world of Pangu. Most of the book is set in Jing-City (in Er-Lang). Ruying and Antony travel to Donghai (in Sihai) in several chapters.

My Review:

To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods has been on my wishlist since I saw it appear on several blogs last year. I love books that are based on Chinese mythology/culture. So, when I saw that Random House had it wish only, I decided to take the chance and wish for it. I was delighted when I got the email saying my wish had been granted. But I was also cautious because I have a habit of hyping books up and being disappointed when I read them. Happily, this wasn’t the case with To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods. I loved the book!!

To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods is the first book in the series with the same name. Since this is the first book, you can read it as a standalone. But I will go on a limb and say that the rest of the series will not be standalone. There was so much world and character-building that it would be hard to jump right in if you started reading later in the series.

The main storyline of To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods centers around Ruying. It was well-crafted and well-written. Add in the more minor, secondary storylines (with Ruying’s family, Antony’s family, and the resistance), and I couldn’t put the book down. I devoured this book in one sitting.

Ruying was not a likable character when the book began. Was she sympathetic? Yes. But, likable, no. She hated the Romans with a passion. She witnessed her father and sister get addicted to a drug that they introduced to the population. She also chafed under the rules that they imposed. So, I wasn’t surprised when she did something stupid and got caught by the Romans. There was a change in her after the Romans caught her, which saddened me. But, again, I understood. Everything she did, she did to protect her grandmother and sister.

I did not like Antony. He used terror and psychological tactics to tear down Ruying and build her up to what he wanted. He was a master manipulator who said all the right things to Ruying to gain her trust and confidence. But I couldn’t help but pity Antony in a way. He, too, was shaped into what he was by a cruel adoptive grandfather and father. I wasn’t surprised when a huge secret of his was revealed. I did see it coming, but I wasn’t prepared for what it did to Ruying.

The magic in To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods was fascinating. People were either born with or without magic. But, since the Romans arrived and after they destroyed the temples (where people learned to control their magic), magic was disappearing. The author showcased different levels of magic, going from common to rare. Ruying’s magic fascinates me because of what is tied to it (every life she takes shaves years off her life). But I also wondered if that was true (something Antony said to Ruying made my antenna go up). I also wondered if her sister’s magic (life) would come into play later in the series.

The book had a romance angle, but it made me slightly sick to read. I understand that Ruying was developing something akin to Stockholm Syndrome, and her feelings came from that. But still. Her other romance choice, a childhood friend turned drug kingpin, wasn’t much better. But I would have chosen him over Antony.

The end of To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods only raised more questions than it answered. Nothing was resolved, but a lot was revealed. Given how the last chapter ende, I look forward to what will happen in book 2.

Many thanks to Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine, Del Rey, NetGalley, and Molly X. Chang for allowing me to read and review the ARC of To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

If you enjoy reading books similar to To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods, then you will enjoy these books:

Draw Down the Moon (Moonstruck: Book 1) by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press, Wednesday Books

Date of publication: April 2nd, 2024

Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult, Romance, Magic, Young Adult Fantasy, Fiction, Witches, Fantasy Romance, Paranormal

Series: Moonstruck

Draw Down the Moon—Book 1

Purchase Links: Kindle | Audible | B&N | AbeBooks | WorldCat

Goodreads Synopsis:

New York Times bestsellers P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast return with a new duology set in a dark and magickal world filled with incredible danger and irresistible romance.

Wren Nightingale isn’t supposed to have any powers. Born of magickal parents but not under a moon sign, she was destined for life as a Mundane—right up until she starts glowing on her eighteenth birthday. In a heartbeat, Wren’s life is turned upside down, and she’s suddenly leaving her home for the mystical Academia de la Luna—a secret magickal school on a hidden island off the Seattle coast.

Lee Young has always known about his future at the Academia. He has one goal: pass the trials, impress the Moon Council, and uphold his family’s reputation. But he wasn’t expecting to be attending alongside the girl he’s been secretly in love with for as long as he can remember.

As Wren and Lee are thrown into the Academie’s gruelling trials, they quickly learn there’s something different–and dangerous–about the school this year. Wren will have to navigate a web of secrets, prophecies–and murder. And Lee will have to decide who to protect–his family’s legacy, or the girl he loves.

First Line:

I’m pretty sure that, at any moment, blue and red lights will flash and the local sheriff will tear down the street and stop me. Again.

Draw Down the Moon by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast

Important details about Draw Down the Moon

Pace: Medium

POV: 1st person (Wren and Lee)

Content/Trigger Warnings: Draw Down the Moon contains themes of death, violence, blood, grief, death of a parent, murder, gaslighting, toxic friendship, injury & injury detail, bullying, classism, misgendering, *anxiety & anxiety attacks, death of a sibling, boating accidents, and knife violence. Please read carefully if any of these triggers you.

  • Anxiety & Anxiety Attack—Lee remembers anxiety attacks that plagued him as a child while talking with Wren.

Language: Lost & Hound contains mild swearing and language that might offend some people.

Series: Draw Down the Moon is the first book in the Moonstruck series.

Sexual Content: There is very mild sexual content in Draw Down the Moon.

Setting: Draw Down the Moon is set in Oregon (Fern Valley and Seattle) and on an island in the Pacific Northwest (Moon Isle).

My Review:

I have been a big fan of P.C. Cast, having read her Tales of a New World series and loved it. So, when I saw that she had a new book, Draw Down the Moon, I knew I needed to read it, and I was thrilled when I got the widget from St. Martin’s Press in my email. Having read the book, I think it was an excellent start to this series.

The main storyline of Draw Down the Moon centers around Wren and Lee. Wren is born a Mundane in a world where magic is powerful. On the other hand, her best friend, Lee, is a potent healer and is going to the highly sought-after Moon Isle to learn how to harness his magic. But everything changes when, on the night of her eighteenth birthday, Wren suddenly develops magic. At a loss of how it happened, Wren soon finds herself on a ferry to Moon Isle. Once on the island, Wren is plunged into a treasure trove of secrets and lore. With the secretive head of the school seemingly watching her, the elemental assigned to her house protecting her, and her feelings for Lee growing daily, Wren must figure out what is going on. But the truth will have a cost, either breaking Wren or setting her on a path to right old wrongs.

The main storyline of Draw Down the Moon was well written. Even the fact that it was a dual POV didn’t bother me. The author could seamlessly go between Wren and Lee’s POV without disrupting the storyline. I also liked that while I figured out what was happening (around when Wren had the 2nd trial), I was still surprised at what happened and the fallout.

I did get some strong Harry Potter vibes during the chapters where the other students were assigned to their houses. But I did like how they were assigned (it was better than the Sorting Hat, and yes, I am prepared for backlash on that). The Harry Potter vibe got stronger when they entered the dorms. But, as soon as Wren got her room, those vibes stopped, and the book started to take shape. I will warn you, there is no kindly headmaster (actually, just the opposite) or teachers with an agenda (well, not that I saw). The only magical creatures are the elementals that allowed the school to be on the island, and they are dangerous.

I liked Wren. She was mischievous and not afraid to stand up for herself. She was also out of her element during the first few days in school. Her lack of magic did set her apart. But it was during the first trial that I noticed something about her power. That thought grew when the elementals started approaching and talking to her. I did wish that she and Lee weren’t so tight. I would have loved to see her interact with Sam or any other students she befriended more.

Lee was all right, and I felt terrible for him. The poor kid was under so much pressure to live up to the family name that he suffered panic attacks. Add in that his older sister was killed while at the school, and he was barely keeping it together. At times, I could see almost two different sides of Lee. There was one side where he was this carefree boy man who just wanted to hang with his girl, and there was the other side where he was this anxiety-ridden mess who couldn’t/wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize his family name. I wasn’t surprised by any of his decisions. They were all done to further his family name. The only thing he couldn’t control was Wren or his feelings for her.

The fantasy angle of Draw Down the Moon was amazing. I loved that the author chose the magic system based on astrology. At first, there wasn’t much information about the different signs and magic. But, as the book went on, the author did start explaining the origin story of the Moonstruck and the other magic. I also liked that the author used elementals instead of the usual creatures featured in these books. The fact that the elementals were aware of Wren and were protecting her, but no reason was given, was frightening.

The fantasy angle also included a book Wren could not read (the writing was messed up). How she got the book was pretty funny, but she needed to decode it once she got it. All she knew was that Lee’s older sister wrote it, and it was something explosive. I wasn’t prepared for what it was and the fallout that happened. But I did like seeing the lore and the island’s past brought into better focus. It explained a lot.

The last couple of chapters of Draw Down the Moon were heartbreaking. While I like it when an author kills off major secondary characters, I was very heartbroken and surprised by who the author chose. While I had figured out Wren’s magic, I was not prepared for what happened at the end of the book. The revelations that were revealed were earth-shattering, as was the fight that went along with them. I also didn’t blame Lee for what he did.

The author ended Draw Down the Moon on a cliffhanger. There were so many questions that needed to be answered. And when I say so many questions, I mean it. I cannot wait to read book two and see what the fallout from the death and Wren and Lee’s actions have on the island.

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press, Wednesday Books, NetGalley, P.C. Cast, and Kristin Cast for allowing me to read and review this ARC of Draw Down the Moon. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

If you enjoy reading books similar to Draw Down the Moon, then you will enjoy these books:

Other books by P.C. Cast

A Fate Inked in Blood (Saga of the Unfated: Book 1) by Danielle L. Jensen

Publisher: Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine, Del Rey

Date of publication: February 27th, 2024

Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Fantasy Romance, Mythology, Adult, Fiction, Magic, High Fantasy, Science Fiction Fantasy

Series: Saga of the Unfated

A Fate Inked in Blood—Book 1

Purchase Links: Kindle | Audible | B&N | AbeBooks | WorldCat

Goodreads Synopsis:

A shield maiden blessed by the gods battles to unite a nation under a power-hungry king—while also fighting her growing desire for his fiery son—in this Norse-inspired fantasy romance from the bestselling author of The Bridge Kingdom series.

Bound in an unwanted marriage, Freya spends her days gutting fish, but dreams of becoming a warrior. And of putting an axe in her boorish husband’s back.

Freya’s dreams abruptly become reality when her husband betrays her to the region’s jarl, landing her in a fight to the death against his son, Bjorn. To survive, Freya is forced to reveal her deepest secret: She possesses a drop of a goddess’s blood, which makes her a shield maiden with magic capable of repelling any attack. It was foretold such a magic would unite the fractured nation of Skaland beneath the one who controls the shield maiden’s fate.

Believing he’s destined to rule Skaland as king, the fanatical jarl binds Freya with a blood oath and orders Bjorn to protect her from their enemies. Desperate to prove her strength, Freya must train to fight and learn to control her magic, all while facing perilous tests set by the gods. The greatest test of all, however, may be resisting her forbidden attraction to Bjorn. If Freya succumbs to her lust for the charming and fierce warrior, she risks not only her own destiny but the fate of all the people she swore to protect.

First Line:

My mother taught me many skills to ensure I’d make a good wife to my husband.

A Fate Inked in Blood by Danielle J. Jensen

Important things you need to know about Ill-Fated Fortune:

Pace: Fast

POV: 1st person (Freya)

Trigger Warnings: A Fate Inked in Blood contains themes that include violence, war, death, blood, gore, death of a parent, fire & fire injury, murder, sexism, injury & injury detail, animal death, grief, bullying, domestic abuse, emotional abuse, infidelity, misogyny, physical abuse, vomit, kidnapping, gaslighting, classism, suicide attempt, bigamy, and toxic relationships.

Series: A Fate Inked in Blood is the first book in the Sage of the Unfated series.

Language: There is moderate swearing in A Fate Inked in Blood. There is also language used that might offend some people.

Sexual Content: There is moderate sexual content in A Fate Inked in Blood. But, the lead-up to Bjorn and Freya having sex is explicit.

Setting: A Fate Inked in Blood is set in Skaland.

Plot Synopsis (as spoiler-free as I can get):

In an unwanted and abusive marriage, Freya lives to keep her husband, a child of the gods, happy. Freya is also hiding a huge secret, one so big that it could rip apart everything that she knows. And it happens; her secret is discovered the day her husband decides to have her killed by the king so he can marry another woman. What is Freya’s secret? She is also a child of the gods. She is The Shieldmaiden of a prophecy where she is foretold to unite a fractured Skaland.

Brought to the capital of Skaland by a fanatical Snorri (the king), Freya is forced to marry him and then is bound by a blood oath to keep his secrets. Snorri then orders his son, Bjorn, to train and protect Freya. Freya is desperate. She needs to learn to fight and control her magic to appease Snorri and the gods. Meanwhile, she survives attempts on her life and trials given by the gods. Freya is also battling an attraction to Bjorn, which is forbidden since he is technically her stepson. Can Freya live up to what the prophecy said and unite Skaland? Or do the gods have other plans for her?

My Review

I was browsing NetGalley (specifically the Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine page) when I noticed A Fate Inked in Blood and saw it was wish only. I was going to pass (the cover didn’t thrill me then), but when I read the blurb, I knew I needed to read it. This book was based on Norse mythology, and from the blurb, it looked good. So, I took the gamble and wished for it. I was thrilled when I got the email telling me it was granted. Now that I have read the book, I can tell you that it is fantastic. It was a rare five stars for me!!

A Fate Inked in Blood’s main storyline centers around Freya, her magic, and Bjorn. The author took Norse gods and goddesses and interwove them into a violent and bloody storyline that reflected how the way of life was back when people still worshipped the gods. But she put her own spin on things, which made this book so good.

I loved Freya. Her life wasn’t great the entire book. But she kept her wits about her and used her circumstances to better herself. I also liked how she handled being told that she would unite Skaland. Her reaction was something that I could see an ordinary person doing.

Freya’s magic was a huge aspect of the book, but at the same time, so little was known about it. Her training wasn’t excellent (she had to be trained fast), and most of what she knew was instinctive. A massive twist in her origin story took me by surprise. I hope that in book 2, she gets the training to understand and use her magic.

Oh, Bjorn, let me tell you about Bjorn. He was utterly devoted to Freya when his father made him her protector. But, even before that, he looked out for her. His backstory was tragic. It was a little drawn out, and I figured out what was happening before the book’s end. But, it was that drawn-out story, along with his utter devotion to Freya, that made him so amazing to read.

I want to warn you that A Fate Inked in Blood has a lot of gore and violence. But, considering when this book took place, I thought it was weird if there wasn’t any (if that makes sense).

Several secondary storylines involve Snorri and his war. From the threats to kill her family to marrying her to going into battle, it helped flesh out Freya’s storyline and made me better understand what she was going through.

The fantasy angle of A Fate Inked in Blood was terrific. The author did her research when it came to Norse gods and customs of that era. I couldn’t put the book down when Bjorn and Freya battled through the caves or when the gods came to witness her battle.

While I saw how Bjorn’s storyline would end, I did not expect the book to end the way it did. I was utterly floored by what was revealed about Freya and Bjorn. I didn’t see it coming, and I had to reread those chapters several times to understand everything. Events happened so fast that I did get turned around. It also made me very excited to read book 2. Because I can’t wait to see what a pissed-off Freya is capable of!!

Many thanks to Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine, Del Rey, NetGalley, and Danielle L. Jensen for allowing me to read and review this ARC of A Fate Inked in Blood. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

If you enjoy reading books similar to A Fate Inked in Blood, then you will enjoy these books:

Other books by Danielle L. Jensen

Ill-Fated Fortune (A Magical Fortune Cookie: Book 1) by Jennifer J. Chow

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books

Date of publication: February 20th, 2024

Genre: Cozy Mystery, Mystery, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Magic, Fantasy, Magical Realism

Series: A Magic Fortune Cookie

Ill-Fated Fortune—Book 1

Purchase Links: Kindle | Audible | B&N | AbeBooks | WorldCat

Goodreads Synopsis:

The first in the heart-warming and deliciously mysterious Magical Fortune Cookie series from Lefty Award-nominee Jennifer J. Chow.

Felicity Jin grew up literally hanging onto Mom’s apron strings in their magical bakery in the quaint town of Pixie, California. Her mother’s enchanted baked goods, including puffy pineapple buns and creamy egg tarts, bring instant joy to all who consume them. Felicity has always been hesitant in the kitchen herself after many failed attempts, but a takeout meal gone wrong inspires her to craft some handmade fortune cookies.

They become so popular that Felicity runs out of generic fortunes and starts making her own personalized predictions. When one customer’s ill-fated fortune results in his murder, Felicity’s suspiciously specific fortune has the police focusing on her as the main culprit. Now Felicity must find a way to turn her luck around and get cleared from suspicion.

First Line

It only took twenty-eight years and one bad take-out meal to unlock my superpower.

Ill-Fated Fortune by Jennifer J. Chow

Important things you need to know about Ill-Fated Fortune:

Pace: Medium

POV: 1st person (Felicity)

Trigger Warnings: Ill-Fated Fortune contains themes that include racism, anxiety & anxiety attacks, dead bodies, asthma, murder & attempted murder, and physical assault.

Language: There is mild swearing in Ill-Fated Fortune. There is also language used that might offend some people.

Sexual Content: There is no sexual content in Ill-Fated Fortune.

Setting: Ill-Fated Fortune is set in Pixie, California. There are also some scenes in Fresno.

Plot Synopsis (as spoiler-free as I can get):

Growing up in a magical bakery and witnessing her mother use her magical power to bring happiness to their customers, Felicity waits for her to manifest. After many failed attempts, Felicity has given up. That changes the day she gets an awful fortune cookie from a take-out Chinese cookie. After making a batch of homemade fortune cookies, Felicity’s magic manifests. She makes delicious fortune cookies and writes handmade fortunes that come true.

But her happiness is short-lived. A rival enters her shop, gets a cookie and a fortune, makes a scene, and leaves. The following day, Felicity finds his body in the dumpster behind the bakery, holding her handwritten fortune. Now, Felicity is the number one suspect in his murder. Desperate to clear her name, she starts sleuthing. Will Felicity find out who killed that customer and why?

My Review

I enjoy a good cozy mystery. I also enjoy cozy mysteries that incorporate magic (or paranormal) themes into the storyline. But, lately, I have found those types of cozy mysteries lacking. Either they were too over the top, or I found them boring. So, I did go into reading Ill-Fated Fortune with the mindset that it could be either of those types. And I was pleasantly surprised when I started reading this book and realized it was good.

The main storyline centers around Felicity, her magic (or lack of it), the murder, and her investigation. It was a well-written, humorous storyline that kept me guessing who the killer was and the motivation behind it.

I did like Felicity and felt a little bad for her throughout the book. Her bad luck didn’t start until after the murder, and it just snowballed. I did think that the detective had tunnel vision. But I also felt that Felicity made herself a target by not doing what the police asked. It was a “damned if she did, damned if she didn’t” type of situation.

The mystery angle was interesting. I say interesting because there were a bunch of people who wanted that guy dead. So, I thought everything was good until I realized how much I had left in the book. The author didn’t even begin to scratch the surface of what happened. I was shocked when the true motives and the real killer were revealed. Someone wasn’t even on my radar until the very last minute. And even then, I was a little iffy if it was that person.

The end of Ill-Fated Fortune was a nail-biter. I am concerned about how Felicity will cope in the upcoming books (if you read the book, you understand). Also, I can’t wait to read the next book (for the above reasons).

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books, NetGalley, and Jennifer J. Chow for allowing me to read and review this ARC of Ill-Fated Fortune. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

If you enjoy reading books similar to Ill-Fated Fortune, then you will enjoy these books:

Other books by Jennifer J. Chow

Not Your Crush’s Cauldron (Supernatural Singles: Book 3) by April Asher

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press, St. Martin’s Griffin

Date of publication: February 13th, 2024

Genre: Romance, Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, Paranormal, Witches, Contemporary, Adult, Magic, Fiction

Series: Supernatural Singles

Not the Witch You Wed—Book 1

Not Your Ex’s Hexes—Book 2 (review here)

Not Your Crush’s Cauldron—Book 3

Purchase Links: Kindle | Audible | B&N | AbeBooks | WorldCat

Goodreads Synopsis:

In April Asher’s new Supernatural Singles novel, a witch takes a stroll on the wild-ish side, sparking an alert that saddles her with her very own Guardian Angel…who happens to be her secret crush―and new roommate.

Olive Maxwell much prefers teaching about the supernatural world to taking part in it and leaves the magical shenanigans to her two sisters―the Prima-Apparent and Bounty Hunter-In-Training. But after assigning her college students a project designed to nudge them outside their comfort zones, Olive realizes that she’s never once stepped a toe over her own…and it’s about time that changed. Her first
trip into the unknown? Moving in with her long-time crush―and friend…tattooed, motorcycle-riding, and pleasantly pierced, Baxter Donovan.

Bax Donovan, Guardian Angel not-so-extraordinaire, has acquired so many black marks on his record it looked like a scantron sheet. He’s given one last chance to keep his Guardian wings intact, a high-profile Assignment he knows all too well. Olive is usually as low-risk as it got. Hell, she wrote the safety manual. But something landed her on the Guardian Affairs radar and his guess was it had something to do with the heart-pounding stunts she’s determined to check off her Dare I Docket list.

Keeping Olive out of trouble is about to be his toughest assignment yet, and not because he’s forced to shake the dust off his feathers and embrace his inner aerialist. He’s at real risk of shattering the only Guardian Angel Code of Conduct Rule he’s yet to Don’t fall in love with your Assignment. And he isn’t so sure that’s a bad thing.

If love didn’t play by the rules, why should they?

First Line:

Committing a felony had never looked so appealing to Olive Maxwell.

Not Your Crush’s Cauldron by April Asher

Important things you need to know about Not Your Crush’s Cauldron:

Pace: Medium

POV: 3rd person (Olive and Bax).

Trigger Warnings: There are no trigger warnings in Not Your Crush’s Cauldron.

Language: There is moderate swearing in Not Your Crush’s Cauldron. There is also language used that might offend some people.

Setting: Not Your Crush’s Cauldron is set in New York City.

Plot Synopsis (as spoiler-free as I can get):

Olive is the youngest of the Maxwell triplets. After watching her sisters find true love and their true purpose in their lives (one is the Prima-Apparent and the other is a Bounty Hunter in Training), she is content to teach magic at her local college. But, when she assigns her students an assignment intended to make them go outside their comfort zone, she decides to do it with them. The first thing on her list is moving in with Bax, her longtime crush and friend.

Bax is a guardian angel who isn’t very good at his job. His record has more black marks than any other angels in the department. To keep his career, Bax is given a low-risk assignment. To his shock, his assignment is Olive. What Bax wasn’t counting on was Olive trying things outside her comfort zone. He soon begins accompanying her on different outings and fighting his growing attraction to her. One of the three rules of his department is not to get involved with their charge.

As Olive and Bax spend more time together, their attraction grows. But with Olive being Bax’s charge, he cannot make a move on her. Will Olive push Bax out of his comfort zone? Will Bax be able to control his feelings for Olive until his assignment is over? Or will he risk losing his wings for her?

Characters:

Olive Maxwell and Bax Donovan are the main characters in Not Your Crush’s Cauldron. Having been introduced to Olive in the previous book (I haven’t read the entire series, just book 2), I did think that she was pretty mellow and less low-key than her sisters. I felt there was nothing wrong with playing it safe, having outfits for certain days of the week, or having schedules for everything. That’s how she liked her life. I got grumpy during the college party scene where she overheard unkind remarks about her. But, it did get her thinking, and she decided to join the assignment with her students. Bax joining her was an enjoyable addition to the list.

Bax Donovan was an interesting character for me to read. At first, I thought I had him pegged as a slightly bad Guardian Angel who only went through the motions at his job. And I was partially right about that. Bax didn’t exactly put himself out there with his charges (the gargoyle wing scene did make me laugh and wince). But the more I read about him, the more I understood him. He liked Olive and maybe loved her early on in the book. But he had to put aside those feelings when assigned her (because of the rules). On top of that, he had to deal with a father who was borderline mentally and emotionally abusive to him. It was a lot, and he tended to deal with that by shutting down and internalizing it.

The characters from the other books do make an appearance in this one. I loved that they didn’t overtake Bax and Olive’s story. Instead, they added depth to the main storyline. There was one character (Harper) who I would love to see a book about. There were sparks between her and a certain werewolf, and I need to see if that will go anywhere (I hope!!)

My review:

I was excited when I got the widget for Not Your Crush’s Cauldron. I had enjoyed reading the previous book (Not Your Exes Hexes) and planned to read this one if/when it went on KU. So, to say I was excited is an understatement. I couldn’t wait to read this book.

The main storyline of Not Your Crush’s Cauldron centers around Olive and Bax, their romance, Bax’s assignment, Olive’s assignment, and Olive’s attempt to push her limits. It was a well-written, funny, and very hot storyline. I did get sad in spots because of different things that were brought up as the book went on. Examples are:

  • Bax’s father (who I couldn’t stand).
  • Olive’s fear of living outside her comfort zone.
  • The guardian angel conundrum.

But don’t let that stop you from reading this book!! The author interwove those themes throughout the book with tact.

The romance angle of the book was scorching hot. Now, the author did wait to have Olive and Bax have sex until well past the middle of the book. But, by then, the sexual tension had built up, and when they did have sex, it was explosive. I was surprised by Bax’s piercings (an angel with penile and nipple piercings?!?). I should have been because it was talked about up to them having sex. And, of course, the makeup sex was perfect (because each romance novel has hot makeup sex).

I loved the fantasy angle, too. The author did a great job creating a universe where all supernatural beings were out and accepted. The magic was used casually and wasn’t over the top. Even Bax’s guardian angel status (wings included) was treated normally. I loved it!!!

Several secondary storylines involved Olive’s sisters that were interwoven into her storyline. Instead of taking over (and I was afraid they would), the author kept them in the background. Each was wrapped up by the end of the book.

I do want to touch on Bax’s storyline with his father. Michael, his father, was a vast douchecanoe. I couldn’t believe what he said to Olive (at the college party or the Guardian Angels headquarters). He was such an asshat that he went out of his way to try and get Bax fired. Why? Because he couldn’t deal with his son being a guardian angel instead of a warrior. I did like how both Bax and Olive dealt with him. But I do wish that there was a resolution to that storyline. It was the only one that was left up in the air.

The end of Not Your Crush’s Cauldron was perfect. I loved how the author wrapped up Bax and Olive’s love story. I liked that Olive came to her senses and understood why Bax couldn’t tell her about his assignment. And I appreciated that Bax gave her space to do so. I hope there will be a book 4 (as mentioned at the top of this review). I would love to see Harper get her HEA.

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press, St. Martin’s Griffin, NetGalley, and April Asher for allowing me to read and review this ARC of Not Your Crush’s Cauldron. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

If you enjoy reading books similar to Not Your Crush’s Cauldron, then you will enjoy these books:

Other books by April Asher

Suggested Playlist (feel free to add songs or remove songs)

  1. “Good Days” – SZA
  2. “Lost in the Fire” – Gesaffelstein & The Weeknd
  3. “Watermelon Sugar” – Harry Styles
  4. “Levitating” – Dua Lipa ft. DaBaby
  5. “Electric Feel” – MGMT
  6. “Sweater Weather” – The Neighbourhood
  7. “Blinding Lights” – The Weeknd
  8. “Golden” – Harry Styles
  9. “Stay” – The Kid LAROI & Justin Bieber
  10. “Heat Waves” – Glass Animals
  11. “Shut Up and Dance” – WALK THE MOON
  12. “Deja Vu” – Olivia Rodrigo

The Frame-Up by Gwenda Bond

Publisher: Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine, Del Rey

Date of publication: February 13th, 2024

Genre: Romance, Fantasy, Contemporary, Adult, Mystery, Fiction, Magical Realism, Magic, Crime, Paranormal Romance

Purchase Links: Kindle | Audible | B&N | WorldCat

Goodreads Synopsis:

A magically gifted con artist must gather her estranged mother’s old crew for a once-in-a-lifetime heist, from the New York Times bestselling author of Stranger Suspicious Minds.

Dani Poissant is the daughter and former accomplice of the world’s most famous art thief, as well as being an expert forger in her own right. The secret to their success? A little thing called magic, kept rigorously secret from the non-magical world. Dani’s mother possesses the power of persuasion, able to bend people to her will, whereas Dani has the ability to make any forgery she undertakes feel like the genuine article.

At seventeen, concerned about the corrupting influence of her mother’s shadowy partner, Archer, Dani impulsively sold her mother out to the FBI—an act she has always regretted. Ten years later, Archer seeks her out, asking her to steal a particular painting for him, since her mother’s still in jail. In return, he will reconcile her with her mother and reunite her with her mother’s old gang—including her former best friend, Mia, and Elliott, the love of her life.

The problem is, it’s a nearly impossible job—even with the magical talents of the people she once considered family backing her up. The painting is in the never-before-viewed private collection of deceased billionaire William Hackworth—otherwise known as the Fortress of Art. It’s a job that needs a year to plan, and Dani has just over one week. Worse, she’s not exactly gotten a warm welcome from her former colleagues—especially not from Elliott, who has grown from a weedy teen to a smoking-hot adult. And then there is the biggest puzzle of why Archer wants her to steal a portrait of himself, which clearly dates from the 1890s, instead of the much more valuable works by Vermeer or Rothko. Who is her mother’s partner, really, and what does he want?

The more Dani learns, the more she understands she may be in way over her head—and that there is far more at stake in this job than she ever realized.

First Line

Dani was settled at a sticky back table in the empty dive bar, waiting, when the mark arrived.

The Frame-Up by Gwenda Bond

Important things you need to know about The Frame-Up:

Pace: Fast. The storyline of the book takes place over ten days.

POV: 3rd person (from Dani’s POV).

Trigger Warnings: There are scenes involving emotional abuse (on and off page), blood (mostly off page), fire (on page), gaslighting (on page), abandonment (off page and was done to and by Dani), injury & injury detail (on page), toxic relationship (on and off page), grief (on page), sexual assault (off-page but described in general terms via a journal Dani found written by her great-great-grandmother), suicide (off-page but described in general terms in the same journal mentioned previously), and murder (off-page). If any of these triggers you, I suggest not reading the book.

Language: There is moderate swearing in The Frame-Up. There is also language used that might offend some people.

Setting: The Frame-Up is set in Lexington, Kentucky. A brief chapter at the beginning shows Dani doing business in St. Louis, Missouri.

Plot Synopsis (as spoiler-free as I can get):

Growing up, Dani was molded into an expert forger by her art thief mother. But, at the age of seventeen and desperate to get her mother out of that lifestyle and away from her shadowy business partner, Archer, Dani contacted the FBI and arranged for her mother to be arrested. Dani didn’t expect backlash from the people who helped raise her.

That all changed when Archer hunted her down and asked her to forge a painting and steal the original for him. He promised that she would be able to make things right with her mother and with her mother’s gang if she did it. It wouldn’t be easy, though. The painting he wants stolen is in a private collection about to be sold at auction. That means Dani and her accomplices would need to infiltrate the auction. Dani is counting on her ace up her sleeve, her magical talent, and the magical talents of most of the gang to get the painting and get out.

But, with the clock ticking and rival gangs casing the joint, Dani needs to work fast. There is something bothering her about Archer and his reason for wanting the painting. Also, her mother has miraculously decided to talk to her again and shows great interest in the job. Can Dani figure everything out before the heist?

Characters:

The main characters in The Frame-Up are Dani and her border collie, Sunflower. She was a sympathetic character with a heartbreaking backstory. The only thing I was even a little “meh” about was her wanting to have a relationship with Maria (her mother). But I will get into that during the actual review.

The secondary characters (Maria, Rabbit, Mia, Elliot, Brad, and Archer) did add some oomph to the storyline. But I didn’t feel the connection that I did with Dani. I was a little grumpy with Rabbit because of how she treated Dani, but having read the book, I understand why she acted that way. Just remember that things aren’t what they seem with Maria’s gang.

My review:

When I started reading The Frame-Up, I expected it to be a rom-com centered around an art heist. I did think that the premise was strange, but I have read books that featured a jewel thief, so I went with it. Well, the blurb wasn’t exactly right about the book. The Frame-Up is more of a fantasy chick-lit crime book with a touch of romance. And again, I didn’t mind it. But some people do, so I want to give everyone a heads-up.

The main storyline of The Frame-Up centers around Dani, Archer, Maria (her mother), a plan to steal a painting, and Dani reconnecting with the only family she knew. The storyline was well written, but it did lag in spots (mainly at the end when everything went to hell). I found some situations unbelievable, but since this was a fantasy, I went with it. In the end, I did enjoy the book.

I liked how the author took an art heist and made it magical. Except for Mia, everyone had magic powers. Dani could accurately reproduce any painting, her mother had the gift of persuasion, and Rabbit was a whiz on technology. I also liked how the author kept the highest, generally, in shades of gray. Yes, stealing and replacing a painting was awful, but Dani did it for a reason. She wanted to reconnect with Maria. Yes, lying and pretending to be security consultants was terrible, but again, Dani was doing it to get to the painting, and she helped stop heists before they happened.

I was disappointed that the author didn’t explain Dani’s ability. There was one scene where she was reproducing Archer’s painting, and that was it. Otherwise, it was all about the finger tingles and memory of Monet when she was a child.

I liked that the author kept Dani and Elliott’s romance in the background. With everything going on, if the romance were more up in your face, it would have ruined the book. I also liked being kept guessing if Dani would go with Elliott or with Brad for most of the book. That pseudotriangle did keep me on my feet.

Other than the heist, the main focus of this book was the relationship between Dani and her mother. Dani did what she thought was right and turned Maria in. All she wanted was for her mother to be out of Archer’s control and back to being a somewhat normal parent. But, as the book went on and the more Dani interacted with Maria, the more I saw that Maria wasn’t nice.

Archer is the big elephant in the room. He was very mysterious in his dealings with Maria and with Dani. It was in the scene where Dani saw the painting where I thought something was up. And there was. The journal scenes explained so much and explained why he wanted the painting. It also changed Dani’s mind about helping Archer. He got what he deserved in the end.

The end of the book is chaos. There was so much going on and so much revealed that my head spun from processing it all. I was left with a headache and feeling that the book hadn’t ended (if that makes sense).

Many thanks to Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine, Del Rey, NetGalley, and Gwenda Bond for allowing me to read and review this ARC of The Frame-Up. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

If you enjoy reading books similar to The Frame-Up, then you will enjoy these books:

Other books by Gwenda Bond

Suggested Playlist (feel free to add songs or remove songs)

  1. “Paint It, Black” – The Rolling Stones
  2. “Strange Mercy” – St. Vincent
  3. “Pictures of You” – The Cure
  4. “Shadowboxer” – Fiona Apple
  5. “Canvas” – Imogen Heap
  6. “The Gallery” – Murray Gold (from Doctor Who)
  7. “The Suburbs” – Arcade Fire
  8. “Portrait (He Knew)” – Kansas
  9. “Colors” – Halsey
  10. “Vincent” – Don McLean
  11. “Starlight” – Muse
  12. “Land of Confusion” – Genesis

Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands (Emily Wilde: Book 2) by Heather Fawcett

Publisher: Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine, Del Rey

Date of publication: January 16th, 2024

Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Adult, Fae, Fantasy Romance, Magic, Historical Fantasy

Series: Emily Wilde

Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeires—Book 1 (review here)

Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands—Book 2

Purchase Links: Kindle | Audible | B&N | Kobo | WorldCat

Goodreads 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—she just wrote the world’s first comprehensive of encylopaedia of faeries. She’s learned many of the secrets of the Hidden Folk 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. So 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 danger.
 
And she also has a new project to focus a map of the realms of faerie. While she is preparing her research, Bambleby lands her in trouble yet again, when assassins sent by Bambleby’s 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 Bambley’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.

First Line:

The foot would not fit in my briefcase, so I wrapped it in cloth and wrestled it into an old knapsack I sometimes carry with me on expeditions.

Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands by Heather Fawcett

Important things you need to know about the book:

Pace: Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands has a medium to fast pace.

POV: Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands is told from two POVs. It is told from Emily’s (and, in one chapter, Wendell’s) 1st person POV. But, it is also told from a 2nd person POV (the entire book is journal entries.)

Series: Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands is the 2nd book in the Emily Wilde series. It would help to read Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries before reading this book.

Trigger/Content Warning: Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands has trigger and content warnings. If any of these triggers you, I suggest not reading the book. They are:

  • Violence
  • Injury/Injury Detail
  • Animal Death
  • Murder
  • Animal Cruelty
  • Gore
  • Blood
  • Body Horror
  • Chronic Illness
  • Poisoning

Sexual Content:  There is very mild sexual content (mainly kissing, but there are hints of more) in Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands.

Language: There is mild swearing in Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands. There is also language used, while correct for the period, that could be considered offensive to some people.

Setting: Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands is set in various places. It starts in Cambridge, England, then shifts to a mountain village in Austria. Several journal entries also detail Emily’s time in The Borderlands and Wendell’s kingdom: Court of Silva Lupi in the Faerie Realms.

Age Range: I recommend Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands to anyone over 16.

Plot Synopsis (as spoiler-free as I can get):

Emily Wilde is off on another adventure. But this adventure has a sense of urgency. Wendell Bambleby, her former rival and exiled Fae king, is being targeted by Fae assains sent by his stepmother. One of the assassins succeeds in poisoning Wendell at a birthday party, and he is slowly dying. He needs to get back to his realm to heal and is having problems finding a door to the realm.

Meanwhile, Emily is trying her hardest to keep the head of her and Wendell’s department, Dr. Farris Rose, from expelling her and Wendell from the college. Everything comes to a head when assassins attack Wendell while lecturing, forcing him to use magic to defend himself. By doing that, he exposes himself as Fae, and Rose is livid. He wants Wendell and Emily gone but will forget everything if Emily takes him on her expedition to the Austrian mountains.

Emily, who doesn’t back down from anything, reluctantly agrees. She plans to complete her map and look for Wendell’s door; two extra people will hold her back. But Emily didn’t expect the village to be surrounded by the Fae or to start seeing apparitions of a discredited scholar and her friend while in the mountains. It will take all of Emily’s knowledge and resources to cure Wendell, find his door, figure out the mystery of what happened to the scholars, and complete her map. Can she do it?

Characters:

The primary and secondary characters were well-written and well-fleshed out. The author was able to keep surprising me by introducing different nuances into characters already introduced (mainly Wendell and his love for Emily).

Emily, who is the main character, is deliciously grumpy and cantankerous throughout the book. I did expect her several times during the book to whip out her umbrella and smack Rose with it (he deserved it). I also didn’t expect her to go to the lengths she did for Wendell.

My review:

It isn’t often that the sophomore book in a series blows me away. So, I was shocked when I ended up loving Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands. I could not read this book fast enough and had it finished within a day. I loved everything about it. I couldn’t get enough of Emily and Wendell’s relationship with the Fae, Emily’s relationship with people other than Wendell, and her absolute determination to save him.

The main storyline of Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands centers on Emily, Wendell, his sickness, her map, and the search for his door. I found the storyline to be well-written. As stated above, it captured my attention. The storyline had twists, turns, and a few surprises along the way.

My only quibble with this book is that I wished the author had stayed more in Wendell’s court: The Court of Silva Lupi. But, because of the duration of the visit (only a couple of journal entries), she was able to pique my interest. With what happened, I hope there is more of this court in future books.

The fantasy angle of the book was terrific. I liked how the author took fairytales and mythical creatures and put her spin on them (the satyrs will forever be etched into my memory…and not in a good way). Returning to the Faerie Realm, I was fascinated by every person/creature in that realm. There was so much lore and information that it was almost hard to process.

The romance angle was also interesting. I did think that Wendell’s affection was one-sided until halfway through the book. Then it started to spice up. But, when Emily talked to Wendell’s stepmother, his stepmother said something, making me wonder exactly why Wendell was with Emily. I hope it is addressed in the next book because it was disconcerting to read.

The book’s angle with the two missing scholars was interesting up to a point. After they came out of Faerie, I started to lose interest. And besides, I thought that the woman was a complete jerk to Emily (who had a bad case of hero worship up to that point).

I am also interested in seeing how Ariadne will figure into upcoming books. She was an absolute sweetheart in this book, and she was also fearless.

The end of Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands was interesting. I liked how the author wrapped up the main storyline. But there was so much kept open. I am eagerly looking forward to book 3!

Many thanks to Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine, Del Rey, NetGalley, and Heather Fawcett for allowing me to read and review this ARC of Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

If you enjoy reading books similar to Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands, then you will enjoy these books:

Other books by Heather Fawcett

Flower and Thorn by Rati Mehrotra

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press, Wednesday Books

Date of publication: October 17th, 2023

Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult, Young Adult Fantasy, Romance, Fiction, Historical Fantasy, Magic, Historical Fiction, Historical

Purchase Links: Kindle | B&N | Kobo

Goodreads Synopsis:

One girl. One boy.
A promise broken.
A magic stolen.

Irinya has wanted to be a flower hunter ever since her mother disappeared into the mysterious mist of the Rann salt flats one night. Now seventeen, Irinya uses her knowledge of magical flowers to help her caravan survive in the harsh desert. When her handsome hunting partner and childhood friend finds a priceless silver spider lily–said to be able to tear down kingdoms and defeat an entire army–Irinya knows this is their chance for a better life.

Until Irinya is tricked by an attractive imposter.

Irinya’s fight to recover the priceless flower and to fix what she’s done takes her on a dangerous journey, one she’s not sure she’ll survive. She has no choice but to endure it if she hopes to return home and mend the broken heart of the boy she’s left behind.

First Line:

The man had been dead for a while, as was obvious from the stench.

Flower and Thorn by Rati Mehrotra

Important things you need to know about the book:

Pace: Flower and Thorn has a medium to medium fast pace.

POV: Flower and Thorn is told from Irinya’s 3rd person POV.

Trigger/Content Warning: Flower and Thorn have trigger and content warnings. If any of these triggers you, I suggest not reading the book. They are:

  • Gore
  • Violence
  • War and War Themes
  • Classism
  • Poverty
  • Sexism
  • Indentured Servitude
  • Drugging
  • Dead Bodies
  • Death of a Parent
  • Grief & Loss Depiction
  • Captivity & Confinement
  • Knife & Sword Violence
  • Murder & Attempted Murder
  • Physical Assualt

Sexual Content: There is no on-page sexual content in Flower and Thorn.

Language: Flower and Thorn had no swearing or offensive language in it.

Setting: Flower and Thorn is set in 16th-century India.

Age Range: I recommend Flower and Thorn to anyone over 21.

Plot Synopsis (as spoiler-free as I can get):

Since her mother disappeared when she was five, Iriniya wants to be a flower hunter. Flowers in India are magical, and because of that, they are increasingly rare. So, when her best friend shows Irinya where he found one of the rarest flowers, a silver spider lily, she promises to him to let it be. But, when Iriniya meets a handsome young man who claims to be working for the general fighting the war against the Portuguese, she feels compelled to tell him about the flower and get it for him. Soon, she discovers his promises are lies, and she has shattered the trust of her kul and best friend. Determined to win back their trust and set things right, Irinya starts a journey from the salt flats of Rann to the capital city of Ahmedabad. But, along the way, she attracts the attention of the Grand Wizer, Ishman Khan, and becomes embroiled in palace intrigue. Can Iriniya right the wrong she did?

Main Characters

Iriniya: I liked Iriniya. She made some pretty big mistakes at the beginning of the book (trusting the wrong guy, destroying the trust her best friend and kul had in her) that had tragic consequences. I agreed when she decided to right the wrongs against herself and her kul. Iriniya had some tremendous character growth throughout the book. The Iriniya portrayed at the end of the book was not the Iriniya at the beginning. I also liked how she handled adversity. She could think on her feet and anticipate what was asked of her. I only saw her hesitate when she had to leave the camel (her uncle’s prize possession). But, even then, she talked the time he could stay in the stable up from what the wizer initially said.

My review:

I have been looking forward to Flower and Thorn since I saw several blogs post early reviews. Not only were the reviews excellent, but I loved the cover. So, I was thrilled when St. Martin’s Press/Wednesday Books sent me a widget. Then, life happened, and I got behind on my reviews. Flower and Thorn kept getting pushed back on my schedule until this month (way past the publication date). I don’t want that to happen, but it does. Usually, my desire to read the book has faded by that point, but in this case, it didn’t. I was excited to read Flower and Thorn, and this book exceeded my expectations.

The main storyline in Flower and Thorn is centered around Iriniya and her quest to find the silver spider lily. The storyline was well-written and kept me on my feet reading it. I had no problem focusing on her adventures, even with all the background noise (the war with the Portuguese and the power play in the palace). The focus stayed on Iriniya and her quest for the entire book. The secondary storylines outlined in the book added to her storyline.

I loved the use of the flowers in Flower and Thorn. The author took everyday things we take for granted and added a mystical feel to them. Adding that these flowers are becoming an endangered breed and that levies were placed on flower hunters just added to the story. The flower’s uses were just as intriguing. They are

  • White Jasmine—cure sickness
  • Bloodread Hibiscus–mind-control
  • Sunflower—to find things
  • Bluestar—a cure for the hibiscus
  • Green Rose—used for communication
  • Silver Spider Lily—used to win wars
  • Chrysanthemum (Chrys in the book)—used to open strange doors (aka not real ones)
  • Sacred Lotus—Unknown (never really said in the book)

Almost all of the flowers (except the sunflower) were used in the book. Again, this was fascinating and frightening. The lengths that people were willing to do whatever (including murder) to get the last three flowers was scary.

I liked the bit of romance that the author threw in. Iriniya’s love interest wasn’t clear (at first, I thought she didn’t like girls or guys). But that wasn’t the case. It was more of her being so single-minded that she blocked anything romantic out. I won’t say who she ends up with at the end of the book, but I will say that I wasn’t surprised.

The end of Flower and Thorn was interesting. I liked that Iriniya’s backstory was almost fully explained (I did have some questions about who her father was). The author did leave enough of the storylines open for me to wonder if there will be another book. I would love to know more about certain storylines and people.

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press, Wednesday Books, NetGalley, and Rati Mehrotra for allowing me to read and review this ARC of Flower and Thorn. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

If you enjoy reading books similar to Flower and Thorn, then you will enjoy these books:

Other books by Rati Mehrotra

Heir of Broken Fate by Mads Rafferty

Publisher: Mads Rafferty

Date of Publication: May 1st, 2023

Genre: Fantasy, Fantasy Romance, Romance, Fae, Magic, New Adult, Fiction

Purchase Links: Kindle | B&N | AbeBooks | WorldCat

Goodreads Synopsis:

One hundred and fifty years ago the Fae race vanished. Along with their magic and creatures. With the fallen Fae lands the humans were soon to follow as corruption spread throughout the realm. Heir to the throne, Delilah Covington is forced to watch her people suffer under the sinful hands of her father, the king—while she herself suffers his cruel hand. Delilah has longed for change, her prayers going unanswered until she discovers salvation.
Fae are alive.
In desperation, Delilah flees her home and crosses the border, in hopes that the Fae will save her people.
Yet she isn’t the only one who needs help.
Caught in a web of lies and riddles Delilah’s only chance at hope is Knox, one of the irritating, yet frustratingly charming Fae kings. Together they’ll need to unravel the many mysteries to bring freedom to both their oppressed people, or damn them all.

First Line:

No matter how strong I get, I always end up here.

Heir of Broken Fate by Mads Rafferty

Important things you need to know about the book:

Pace: The pace of Heir of Broken Fate started slow and gained momentum by the end of the book. There was some slight lag towards the end of the book, but it didn’t affect how much I enjoyed reading it.

Trigger/Content Warning: There are trigger and content warnings in Heir of Broken Fate. If you are triggered by any of what I list below, I suggest skipping this book. I don’t get triggered easily, and there were some very tough scenes to digest at the beginning of the book, mainly because they brought up memories that I don’t like to think about. They are:

  • Physical Abuse (graphic)
  • Violence (graphic)
  • Child Abuse (graphic)
  • Death (moderate to graphic)
  • Emotional Abuse (moderate)
  • Torture (moderate)
  • Domestic Abuse (minor)
  • Child Death (moderate)
  • Grief (moderate)
  • Genocide (moderate to graphic)
  • Slavery (minor)
  • Murder (moderate)

Sexual Content: There is explicit sexual content in the last half of Heir of Broken Fate. I was a little surprised by it, considering that this is a book geared towards young adults.

Language: There is moderate to explicit swearing in Heir of Broken Fate.

Setting: The beginning chapters of Heir of Broken Fate are set in the kingdom of Aloriah. The rest of the book is set in the Fae Lands, mainly in the Essence Kingdom. There are journies to Air Court, Earth Court, Water Court, Fire Court, the witches’ lands, and the mermaid’s territories.

Representation: There is LGBTQ representation in Heir of Broken Fate. Easton, Delilah’s best friend, is gay.

Tropes: Forced Proximity, Enemies to Lovers, Incapable of Love, High Stakes

Age Range: Heir of Broken Fate is marketed as a Young Adult book, and it is until the last 20% of the book that graphic sex is showcased. Because of that, I recommend this book to those 21 and older.

Plot Synopsis (as spoiler-free as I can get):

One hundred and fifty years ago, the Fae disappeared. Everything about them was erased from people’s minds, and they became myths. But to Delilah, the Fae represent freedom. Horrendously abused by her father and forced to be compliant with his horrendous acts of violence against his people, Delilah longs to get away. Then, one day, everything changes. Delilah’s mother, abused into lunacy, gives Delilah a necklace that allows Delilah to see the impossible. The Fae are alive. Taking that hope, Delilah barely escapes to the Fae Lands. There, she hopes to find someone to help her stop her father and free her people. But instead, Delilah finds a dying land and people. She also discovers that she is Fae, but she is also more. To free her people and the Fae, she must unravel a 150-year-old mystery: Why the Fae disappeared and who is behind it. But Delilah isn’t alone. She is helped by Knox, the Fae King of Essence, and his friends. But, what they find will shake them to the core. Can Delilah free the Fae and help her people?

Main Characters

Delilah Covington: Delilah was one of the strongest people in this book (other than Knox). Even when faced with the threat of physical, verbal, and emotional abuse, she wasn’t afraid to speak up when it came to the safety of her people. As soon as Delilah could, she left with Easton (and gave Annie word to jet with the horses after a month). But, once she reached the Fae Lands, she morphed into a jerk. Yes, I said it; she was a jerk. I understand why she has issues with men (I would, too), but since meeting her, Knox was polite and helpful. I started to get grumpy with her and wanted to shake some sense into her. Then, her character did another 180, and she turned back into that strong woman. I almost got whiplash because of how fast she turned.

Knox Holloway: I am not going to mince words here. I loved him. He was dirty-minded (omg, the things he said and insinuated to Delilah). He was loyal and fiercely protective of his friends and people (the Essence court subjects). Knox wanted to find out why his parents were killed and why the magic was draining from the Fae Lands. I thought he was perfect for Delilah. He was willing to wait for her to drop her walls and let him in. The build-up to that was almost unbearable. He also knew who Delilah was to him from nearly the minute they met, but he didn’t push her into anything. He saw that she was traumatized. I liked that Knox waited for Delilah to tell him about her father’s abuse (seeing the scars on her body did hasten that). I can’t wait to see what he will do in the other books and how his character will progress.

Secondary characters: I say this in every review, but the secondary characters made this book, even the animal ones. They each added depth to Delilah and Knox’s storyline(s), and when something happened to one, I felt it. I cannot wait to see what these characters will do in book 2.

My review:

The main storyline centered around Delilah, Knox (later on), and their quest to save both worlds. I enjoyed this storyline, but I did have some questions. I was trying to figure out if the storyline took place during the present day or if it was in the past. There was electricity and bombs, yet they went by carriage and horse everywhere (in the Human Lands). It wasn’t evident. I also did have an issue following the storyline once they figured out who was behind everything. The whole Tree of Life chapters (what Delilah did) confused me, and I read those chapters 2 to 3 times.

I liked the fantasy angle. I enjoyed seeing the Fae paired with various elements. I also liked that the Fae could have multiple elements. I enjoyed seeing the mythological creatures (the griffins and mermaids had excellent portrayals). I also enjoyed the magic system. How people were losing their magic and dying made absolute sense.

The romance angle was a little “meh” to me. I felt that Delilah, for almost the entire time she was in the Essence Court and the Fae Lands, was too damaged for romance. And while Knox and Delilah ended up together, it did seem forced and a little unrealistic. But I did like that there was at least a genuine feelings for Knox behind Delilah’s wanting to push him away.

The end of Heir of Broken Fate was interesting. I liked how the author wrapped up the banishment and magic storyline. But it almost seemed too convenient, and I think Queen Aurora was behind everything. But I could be wrong. The book did end on a cliffhanger, which I detest. But it did its job, and I cannot wait to read Book 2 when it comes out!!

Many thanks to Mads Rafferty for allowing me to read and review Heir of Broken Fate. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

If you enjoy reading books similar to Heir of Broken Fate, then you will enjoy these books:

Zhara (Guardians of Dawn: Book 1) by S. Jae-Jones

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press, Wednesday Books

Date of publication: August 1st, 2023

Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult, Young Adult Fantasy, Fiction, Mythology, High Fantasy, Romance, Magic, Asian Literature, Retellings

Series: Guardians of Dawn

Zhara—Book 1

Purchase Links: Kindle | Audible | B&N | AbeBooks | WorldCat

Goodreads Synopsis:

Sailor Moon meets Cinder in Guardians of Dawn: Zhara, the start of a new, richly imagined fantasy series from S. Jae-Jones, the New York Times bestselling author of Wintersong.

Magic flickers.
Love flames.
Chaos reigns.

Magic is forbidden throughout the Morning Realms. Magicians are called abomination, and blamed for the plague of monsters that razed the land twenty years before.

Jin Zhara already had enough to worry about—appease her stepmother’s cruel whims, looking after her blind younger sister, and keeping her own magical gifts under control—without having to deal with rumors of monsters re-emerging in the marsh. But when a chance encounter with an easily flustered young man named Han brings her into contact with a secret magical liberation organization called the Guardians of Dawn, Zhara realizes there may be more to these rumors than she thought. A mysterious plague is corrupting the magicians of Zanhei and transforming them into monsters, and the Guardians of Dawn believe a demon is responsible.

In order to restore harmony and bring peace to the world, Zhara must discover the elemental warrior within, lest the balance between order and chaos is lost forever.

First Line:

The rent was due, rodents had gotten into the rice, and Zhara had just dumped a bag of salt instead of sugar into the custard filling.

Zhara (Guardians of Dawn) by S. Jae-Jones

Jin Zhara’s life hasn’t been easy. Her mother died as a baby, her father was taken and killed in a purge of magicians, and she is treated horribly by Second Wife, her father’s second wife. She also has to hide that she has magical powers. Her only joy is tending to her blind younger sister, reading romance serials, and working at the apothecary shop. But that will change when she bumps into a young man named Han. Through him, Zhara discovers that a plague corrupts the magician’s powers and turns them into unrecognizable monsters. She also finds the secret organization, the Guardians of Dawn, sworn to help the surviving magicians and discover what caused the plague. Zhara doesn’t know or understand that she is instrumental in balancing order and chaos. But Zhara must learn to control her magical abilities, or the world as she knows will be lost. Can Zhara do that? Can Zhara learn to control her magical powers and save the world?

When I got the email containing the widget for Zhara, I was pleasantly surprised. I had read Wintersong a couple of years ago and enjoyed it (which, it turns out, puts me in the minority). I accepted the invitation and downloaded the book. Also, what figured into my downloading the book was that I love the mythology and lore of South Korea. Seeing that this book is loosely based on those myths and lore, I knew I needed to read it.

Before I get further into the book, I want to put up some trigger and content warnings. The warnings are:

  1. Child abuse (off-page but prevalent. It consists of emotional, verbal, and physical)
  2. Genocide (off-page and vividly remembered by everyone in the book)
  3. Death of parents (Zahara’s mother died of a fever when she was a baby, and her father was killed in the genocide of the magicians in the land. Han’s mother was also killed during that same genocide)
  4. Possession (on and off page. Demons possess the living bodies of magicians and transform them)
  5. Body Horror (Zhara, without permission, used magic to try to help Suzhan (her stepsister). Instead, she ended up blinding her sister)
  6. Abelism (Second Wife shames Suzhan constantly for being blind. Suzhan’s suitors discard her after discovering she is blind.)

If any of these trigger you, I suggest not reading the book.

Zhara is the first book in the Guardians of Dawn series. Here is where I post if this book is a standalone or if you need to read the other books in the series. But since this is the first book in a new series, you can disregard anything I usually say.

The author has a forward explaining how this book is loosely based on Korean mythology and lore. She also apologizes for any inconsistencies that arise because of it. It was a very tongue-in-cheek forward, and it did make me smile.

There are three storylines in Zhara. One follows Zhara, her introduction to the Guardians of Dawn, and her home life. The other storyline follows Han and his search for a book, Songs of Order and Chaos, and the shenanigans he and Xu get into. Towards the middle of the book, Han and Zhara’s storylines merge, following them as they look for a cure for the plague and figure out who was behind it. All of these storylines were wonderfully written and could keep my attention.

I loved the characters in Zhara. I found them all to be complex characters. Some of these characters had more depth, more layers, to them than what the author had written.

The storyline following Zhara, the Guardians of Dawn, and her home life broke my heart. I was beyond angry at Second Wife and her treatment of those girls. She kept reminding Zhara that she kept her safe from the Kestrels and that she houses and feeds her. The abuse that both Zhara and Suzhan went through (even if it wasn’t on page) was awful. But, at the same time, I liked that Zhara started to see herself as more than Second Wife’s property (even though she wasn’t). Her character growth during the book was terrific. It reached a head during the battle scene, where she faced and overcame her demons (literally).

The storyline following Han, Xu, and their shenanigans did give a bit of a comedic break between Zahra’s chapters. But, there was a darker undercurrent running underneath. Han and his brother were forced to watch their mother die because she was a magician. Before she died, Han’s mother made him promise to take care of his brother, who was a magician himself. It was a lot to put on an 11-year-old, but he did it. He ensured his brother was kept safe from the Kestrels at all costs. His friendship with Xu was one of the best I have ever read. The search for the book became a backdrop when Han and Zahara’s storyline merged.

The storyline following Han, Zhara, the plague, the reason for the plague, and the search for the book was interesting. I liked that Zhara slowly started to accept that she was worthy of her power and love. There was a part that I wasn’t fond of. It was the engagement of Han and Yuli. This brings me to another thing I didn’t like: Han keeping who he was from Zhara. It made that scene where she finds out heartbreaking.

The fantasy angle of the book was wonderful. The author created a world that, while similar to ancient Korea, was different. I liked that magic was something people were born with. I also loved that there were antimagicians. I wasn’t expecting that revelation, and who was revealed to be one.

There is an LGBTQIA rep in the book, and I loved how the author wrote those characters. Xu was gender-neutral. I loved their personality and their friendship with Han. They were like Jiminy Cricket was to Pinnochio with Han: a voice of reason. Yuli, who is introduced later in the book, is lesbian. She isn’t exactly loud and proud, but she doesn’t hide it either.

The end of Zhara was interesting. The battle scene and what happened while Zhara was in the Void was anti-climatic. But Zhara needed it. The fallout from that battle was widespread but needed. Also, something shocking happened, something that I didn’t see coming. The author did wrap up most of the storylines but left a few hanging. That makes sense if there is going to be a second book. Also, the epilogue was fascinating, and I can’t wait to find out if that person is a friend or foe.

I would recommend Zhara to anyone over 16. There is no language, but there is violence and a couple of kissing scenes. Also, see my trigger warning list.

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press, Wednesday Books, NetGalley, and S. Jae-Jones for allowing me to read and review Zhara. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

If you enjoy reading books similar to Zhara, then you will enjoy these books:

Other books by S. Jae-Jones: