Senlin Ascends is a brilliantly crafted, character-driven fantasy with steampunk elements and I'm kind of obsessed. It's incredibly creative and exploSenlin Ascends is a brilliantly crafted, character-driven fantasy with steampunk elements and I'm kind of obsessed. It's incredibly creative and explores themes of morality, equality, love, and friendship in novel ways. It follows a introverted headmaster on a honeymoon trip with his younger, spirited bride. They are visiting the famous tower of Babel, where each level of the enormous tower contains it's own "ringdom", all with wildly different customs and systems of governance. They are there for a few days on holiday, but things go very wrong when Senlin loses his wife and must find his inner strength to ascend the tower and find her again. Little does he know how dangerous the tower really is and what lies in store for him.
This was such a wild ride and Senlin is a fantastic character. He is forced to push past his comfort zone, his character and morality are sorely tested, and he must use his mind and heart to guide him through murky waters. The world of the tower is so vivid and fascinating. One level is supposedly an interactive theater but is, you come to realize, an incredibly creepy and horrifying place. Each area we visit has elements that seem beautiful and seductive, but overlying a rotting core that preys on those who are poor, weak, and alone. We get occasional flashbacks where you learn about Senlins unlikely romance with his wife, and she sounds like an incredible person who I hope we get to know better as the series progresses. I'm not really sure how to talk about this book adequately, but it's well worth picking up. It sucks you into the narrative, moves at a good pace through this wild and fascinating world while also touching on deeper themes throughout. This is definitely a new favorite for me and I look forward to continuing with the series! ...more
Tempest is a fantastic mail order bride romance with a fierce, spunky heroine falling for a quiet, widowed doctor with a 6-year-old daughter. It beginTempest is a fantastic mail order bride romance with a fierce, spunky heroine falling for a quiet, widowed doctor with a 6-year-old daughter. It begins with Regan accidentally shooting Dr. Colton Lee, her husband to be in the shoulder, and things only get more entertaining from there. Funny, romantic, and informative, we get Beverly Jenkins signature brand of historical romance where you learn some serious history about people of color that is often left untaught. Regan is definitely a new favorite heroine for me. She is fearless, stands up for herself, cares deeply for the people she loves, and responds to racial microagressions with grace and spunk.
The conflict is mostly external which I liked. Colton and Regan have good communication and a relationship with wonderful banter. Funnier and steamier than other books from this author, but I really loved it. There are wonderful, low-key discussions of uneven gender expectations regarding sexuality, and of racism and racial microagressions. I truly loved this one and will continue exploring more from Ms. Bev!...more
Neanderthal Seeks Human is such an interesting romance! It is light and tropey, intended to be a bit over the top and not taken too seriously. What's Neanderthal Seeks Human is such an interesting romance! It is light and tropey, intended to be a bit over the top and not taken too seriously. What's weird is that with a different tone, this could easily be a creepy thriller involving an obsessive stalker. Instead, we get everything from the perspective of quirky, socially awkward Janie with a humorous tone that made this surprisingly enjoyable to read. If you think too much about the behavior of the hero, it's definitely creepy, but Janie's oblivious and blunt approach to life turns this into a soapy and rather charming story full of mishaps, nerdy trivia, melodramatic drama, and unexpected romance.
I should note that I usually have very little patience for controlling, overprotective heroes but in this case, I think it works because it doesn't read as if it's romanticizing this behavior. Rather, it's kind of taking things to extremes in a humorous way and Janie refuses to allow anything she isn't comfortable with. It's definitely different from other books I've picked up and I'm interested in reading more from this author. One thing I did find mildly irritating is that Janie is constantly engaging in negative self talk about her body and appearance. This continues throughout the book, even with people telling herself she's beautiful....more
American Hippo is a bindup of the two novellas (River of Teeth and Taste of Marrow) plus two new short stories set in the same world, and I loved all American Hippo is a bindup of the two novellas (River of Teeth and Taste of Marrow) plus two new short stories set in the same world, and I loved all of it! This is a rolicking adventure with a cast of characters as oddball as they are diverse, and it was a whole lot of fun.
Apparently, at some point in (actual) American history, there was a proposal to solve a meat crisis by introducing hippos to the Louisiana marshes and raise them for meat. Now, this was a terrible idea for a lot of reasons and the bill was not passed by Congress, but in these stories Sarah Gailey reimagines American history if that bill DID in fact pass. And so, we get cowboys riding domesticated hippos and a wild group of people hired to herd feral hippos down the Mississippi River. It's both violent and hilarious, with a dose of romance and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Included in this cast of characters are:
- A pansexual man of color seeking revenge on the man who burned down his hippo farm - An enby demolitions expert who tries to poison someone with sweet tea - A fat and dapper woman con artist with some gender fluidity, because no one ever suspects the fat one - A bisexual Latinx killer who is a badass and simultaneously pregnant
A very silly (but in a good way) Highlander romance full of attractive and nice, but not too bright characters trying to solve a murder mystery. ThereA very silly (but in a good way) Highlander romance full of attractive and nice, but not too bright characters trying to solve a murder mystery. There are also lots of steamy bits involving kilts. This was very entertaining and often quite ridiculous. Thanks to my friend Mara from Books Like Whoa for sending me a copy and telling me to read it!
After an untimely death, Greer has become a new Laird, but he still spends a lot of time wearing kilt, hooking up with maids, and swimming in the loch. Saidh has seven (yes, seven!) brothers and grew up riding astride, swearing, and generally behaving in unladylike ways. Which makes her the perfect match for Greer, except that they are threatened by a hidden enemy. Silly, but a whole lot of fun....more
An Unkindness of Magicians is a smart page-turner of an urban fantasy novel, and it works as a standalone! Set in New York City, the magical world is An Unkindness of Magicians is a smart page-turner of an urban fantasy novel, and it works as a standalone! Set in New York City, the magical world is entering a period of upheaval as mage houses battle for political control. Dark secrets come to light and many players have their own agenda. Full of intrigue with a twisty plot and interesting characters, this fast-paced novel completely sucked me in.
Underlying themes include racism, oppression, and abuse of power, seamlessly woven into this thrilling narrative. I honestly don't want to say too much about it because it's probably better not knowing, but I highly recommend checking this one out. I'm so impressed at how much the author was able to put in this fairly small book! It's very tightly plotted, but without losing character development and world-building.
There are going to be a lot of content warnings here including murder, depictions of violence and gore, bloodletting, abuse of children, sexualized violence....more
I picked this up on the recommendation of a couple of friends who review romance, and I'm so glad I did! The Headmaster is a tActual Rating: 4.5 stars
I picked this up on the recommendation of a couple of friends who review romance, and I'm so glad I did! The Headmaster is a twisty sort of romance/mystery with a gothic feel to it. I will echo others by saying you shouldn't know too much going in, but this was a fun and smart ride.
We follow Gwen, a teacher in her twenties out of a job, as she stumbles upon the prestigious Marshall School, a private institution for boys with an attractive headmaster that is looking for a new English & Literature teacher. She takes the job, but some things are a bit strange....
I won't say too much more about this plot but I thoroughly enjoyed it and I enjoyed the way it wove in subtle commentary on racism, misogyny, and homophobia, but without deterring from the story. It's short, but incredibly well done. I would definitely read more from this author! ...more
PSA: If you are a traditional fantasy reader looking to get into fantasy romance, THIS is the book for you!
Despite a slow start, Reign & Ruin is a brPSA: If you are a traditional fantasy reader looking to get into fantasy romance, THIS is the book for you!
Despite a slow start, Reign & Ruin is a breathtaking debut full of political intrigue, realistic-feeling action scenes, interesting world-building, fully fleshed out characters (including some fantastic side characters), and a slow-burn romance that gave me everything I love and so many feelings! If you like romance that feels like a true partnership with respect, entertaining banter, friendship, emotional vulnerability, a powerful heroine, a hero who isn't too much of an alpha-male, AND a couple of steamier scenes that are well-handled, then definitely pick this book up. I really loved it and felt deeply invested in the relationship, which few romance stories are able to accomplish for me. But for fantasy readers who are nervous about picking up a romance, fear not! This is a very plot-heavy book with lots of potential for a larger plot through the series that will keep your attention. I feel like this is the perfect bridge book between high fantasy and fantasy romance.
Naime is heir to the throne of Tamar, but her father, the Sultan, is slowly losing his mental stability and the Council is pushing for her marriage to one of their sons, rather than see her rule as a Queen. But Naime is a powerful mage and a brilliant tactician with plans of her own, including hopes of an alliance with neighboring country Sarkum.
Makram is the younger brother of Sarkum's ruler and is the leader of their military. A powerful mage in his own right, his family loyalty blinds him to the severity of his brothers faults and leaves him with deep scars from childhood insecurities. In hopes of preserving the hope of an alliance, he secretly travels to Tamar where he meets Naime. Political games and slow-burning sparks ensue!
The world of Reign & Ruin is inspired by the historical Middle East and draws significantly on that culture and history. It is worth noting in the author bio that she served as a military officer and spent time in Beirut. That experience shines through and offers a realistic feeling to scenes involving action and military aspects, as well as scenes dealing with trauma from experiences in battle. It feels sensitively handled and with nuance I appreciated.
In general, there is a lot of richness to this story. It deals with gender, trauma, politics, and the challenges of caring for a parent with something akin to dementia or Alzheimer's. And is is a beautiful romance. If you can't tell, I really loved this. The first 50 pages are definitely slow and could have been more tightly written, but then the pace really picks up. And as this is a debut novel, I'm very excited to see what else we get from this author. I hope to continue on with this series and would definitely recommend it. I received an advance copy of this book from the author for review. All opinions are my own....more
I loved this one so much! Spark is a heartwarming middle grade fantasy novel about how even quiet kids can be brave and find their voice for change. II loved this one so much! Spark is a heartwarming middle grade fantasy novel about how even quiet kids can be brave and find their voice for change. It is a beautiful story about Mina, a shy girl with social anxiety and her lightning dragon as they show everyone who they really are and what they are capable of. It is about being who you really are, finding your voice (even if it looks different than others) and fighting for change in the world around you. It feels like a call for political activism and standing up for what is right, even when everyone underestimates you. Mina and her dragon are both endearing and inspiring. This is for kids who feel overshadowed and drowned out by louder voices in their families and schools. What you have to say matters too....more
Empire of Sand is a debut tour de force, a stunning fantasy inspired by Mughal-era India, and my newest personal obsession! A perfectly paced page-turEmpire of Sand is a debut tour de force, a stunning fantasy inspired by Mughal-era India, and my newest personal obsession! A perfectly paced page-turner with deep characterization, well-crafted world-building, emotional resonance, and rich thematic content that explores power, empire, love, gender, trauma, oppression, and mixed-race identity, among others. This one came highly recommended to me by a friend and fellow reviewer, so when the publisher sent me a copy for review I was thrilled. Now I'm just wondering, what took me so long to pick this up?!
In a patriarchial world ruled by an emperor, Mehr is the illegitimate daughter of an empirial governor and and Amrithi woman. Her mother's people are outcasts, nomads, and are slowly dying off. But they also have magic in their blood, as distant descendants of the Daeva. When Mehr attracts the attention of the long-lived Maha (the spiritual head of the empire), she is pushed into a marriage she doesn't want, in service of an empire she despises. Now Mehr must survive, and find her own path to power.
Seriously, from the moment I began, I did not want to put this book down! Mehr is such a compelling character, with great inner strength and capacity for love. The book took so many unexpected turns and in several places where I thought I knew where it was going, it gave me something at least a little bit different, if not wildly so. That is incredibly refreshing after how many fantasy books I read. This book goes to some dark places (check CW for more on that below), but the heart of it is so hopeful and beautiful. There is a relationship in this book that I absolutely love and this author handled difficult issues and scenes with such care, places where things easily could have gone very wrong. I also appreciate that Mehr is a different sort of strong heroine, with a power that is quiet and strategic rather than brash. And I would also call this a quietly feminist fantasy. I adore so much of what it is doing here.
This was almost a perfect book in my opinion, hitting just the right balance of in-depth character work, strong and complex relationships, political intrigue, action, world-building, powerful themes, and an emotionally resonant climax with a hopeful tone. And that ending was just....perfect. I am stunned by how much I loved this and you can bet I will be recommending it a lot! Thank you so much to Orbit Books for getting this into my hands! All opinions are my own.
CW include forced marriage (manipulation), magical control of character actions (including the threat of its use for rape, i.e. trying to force one person to rape another), physical abuse & violence, murder, depictions of blood and bloodletting, rituals, intimidation, cults, sterilization, enslavement, attempted genocide, possibly others as well....more
I wasn't quite sure what to expect given the mixed reviews I have heard, but The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer is one of the most compulsively readable bookI wasn't quite sure what to expect given the mixed reviews I have heard, but The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer is one of the most compulsively readable books I have picked up in awhile. I didn't want to put it down and easily could have read it in a single sitting. (I read it in two because sleep and parenting small children!)
This is a YA thriller with an unreliable narrator and a swoony bad-boy love interest that keeps you turning the pages. I was definitely here for it. After a traumatic accident where Mara was the only surviver and lost her best friend, her family moves to Florida for a fresh start. But Mara can't remember what happened, looses chunks of time, and is having hallucinations of her dead friends. Because she is unsure of what is real, we don't always know if everything that happens actually happened or is a hallucination.
Enter Noah Shaw- the British heartbreaker with a past who has set his sights on Mara. But there may be more to him than meets the eye. I really liked Noah. He is exactly the kind of boy I would have had a thing for in high school and the author does a great job of developing their relationship and building tension.
This book does a lot of things very well. There is an underlying tension that carries through the book as creepy things happen and we aren't sure why. The romance is well-executed, and Mara's family is pretty well fleshed out as well, exploring complex family dynamics. Particularly sibling relationships and her complicated relationship with her psychologist mom.
I'm still not sure how I feel about the way the book ended. It wasn't what I expected and I'm very interested to see if the author can effectively carry this through the rest of the trilogy. But a very strong start to the series!...more
Bethany (Beautifully Bookish Bethany)
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