Sea of Charms by Sarah Beth Durst

August 7, 2026

Sea of Charms by Sarah Beth Durst

Marin is a supply runner, picking up and delivering order to the outlying islands of the Crescent Islands empire. On her most recent trip to the capital, the city is filled with unrest as rebel forces attempt to overthrow the government. With the help of her sea serpent friend Perri, Marin helps her friend Dax escape the violence in exchange for his help on her boat. And pretending to be her boyfriend.

The third book in the Spellshop magical series. The stories are intertwined with side characters from one story appearing as the main characters in another - Marin, Perri and Dax appeared in the second book in the series, as well as other characters from the first two books. Thoroughly enjoyable romantasy/cozy fantasy fiction, perfect for reading on a warm summer afternoon. The fourth book is The Magical Cheese Emporium - cheeses made from unicorn milk!

 

Bodies of Magic by Freya Marske

July 22, 2026

Bodies of Magic by Freya Marske

Five medical students are about to take their final exam to graduate from medical school. It's a practical exam and has five parts, and they must work as a team to pass. But when they arrive for the first part, they find the body of one of their most brilliant classmates dead on the floor. The five students must band together to solve the mystery while still passing the exam.

I really liked the concept of this book and wanted to love it. But there was a lot of information thrown at the reader, especially in the first half, and the pacing dragged at first. It picked up in the second half and raced to its conclusion. Because there were five main characters, we didn't really get to explore their individual powers, which was also disappointing.

Many thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

Queenswood by Kathleen Schwab

July 16, 2026

Queenswood by Kathleen Schwab

Angus is the High Prince of the Faerie world, destined to become king. He is dismayed when a seer tells him he must find a bride among the mortals, since the fae bloodlines are so weak they are no longer able to produce heirs. Angus finds an acceptable bride in Rhiannon, a girl from a noble family destined to become a nun before he abducts her. But many of his courtiers and the fae are not accepting of his human queen and displeased with his choice, and they plot to take his throne.

This story isn't sure what it wants to be: is it historical fiction, a romantasy, a mythological epic? Adventure, fairy tale, coming of age story? There are also overtones of the Snow White story. I think the author tried to incorporate too many ideas into one book, when maybe she should have written one book about Angus and Rhiannon, and then a follow up book about Angus' struggles to hold onto his kingdom. The moral of the story is that the fae world is a dangerous place for both the fae and humans. Not terrible, but it certainly wandered around. Beautiful cover art. Will appeal to readers who are into atmospheric reads with heavy world building.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

Butterfly Games by Kelly Scarborough

June 2, 2026

Butterfly Games by Kelly Scarborough

At the insistence of her mother, 14 year old Countess Jaquette Gyldenstolpe unwillingly becomes a courtier at the Swedish royal court. She soon meets Prince Oscar, the son of the crown prince, and they are immediately attracted to each other. But everyone at the court engages in love affairs known as butterfly games, and the court becomes a dangerous place for Jaquette.

Years ago, I read the book Desireee by Annemarie Selinko (which I highly recommend), about the daughter of a French silk merchant whose first romance was with Napoleon Bonaparte (yes, that Napoleon), and after she marries one of Bonaparte's generals, she unexpectedly becomes the Queen of Sweden. Sounds like a made-up story but it's all true - Desiree had a fascinating and well-documented life. Her sister Julie married one of Napoleon's brothers and became the Queen Consort of Italy and Spain. Not bad for the daughters of a silk merchant.

So I was very interested in reading this novel about Desiree's son, Prince Oscar. But other than having a historical setting, this is a lot more imagined romance than history. Facts about Jaquette are sketchy at best. While they were acquainted at court and were friends, the only evidence of an affair is hints in letters by other courtiers. Also, the writing is awkward at times and does not flow smoothly. This is a first novel that would have benefited from an editor. Disappointing. 

Countess Jaquette Gyldenstolpe Lowenhielm

Nobody's Baby by Olivia Waite

May 18, 2026

Nobody's Baby by Olivia Waite

Ship's detective Dorothy Gentleman is back for a new case, this time to solve a supposedly impossible mystery: the appearance of a baby on the interstellar luxury cruise ship the Fairweather. On Old Earth, babies were a common enough occurrence, but all the passengers on the ship have been modified to prevent such an event until they read their final port. So how did this happen, and more importantly, who made it happen? With the ship's limited space and resources, Dorothy needs to solve the mystery and make sure it doesn't happen again.

The second adventure for Dorothy Gentleman, ship's detective on the luxury star liner Fairweather. I love the world that the author is creating and want to know more about life aboard the ship, the passengers, and how they all came together. Also about Ferry, the ship's AI who (sort of) controls everything aboard the ship. Dorothy's nephew Ruthie and his husband John are delightful characters (John is a master mixologist who mixes cocktails that evoke a certain time or place, such as a sunset on a summer evening, which would be nice, since most cocktails evoke poor decisions and regret). A quirky read but in a good way. Looking forward to more Dorothy adventures.

Also, can someone please tell me what port this ship leaves from? I want to book a stateroom right away.

Many thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

The Fox and the Devil by Kiersten White

April 22, 2026

The Fox and the Devil by Kiersten White

Anneke Van Helsing, daughter of famed vampire hunter Abraham Van Helsing, works as a consultant for the Amsterdam police. Using the latest forensic methods, she analyzes complicated crime scenes for clues the police may have missed or ignored. But Anneke's real goal is to find the mysterious woman she found standing over her father's body. As she traces the woman across Europe, she discovers a string of murders that appear linked to her father's murder.

More mystery than fantasy with a slow moving plot. The setting and the forensics were the best part, but the characters were lacking and mostly flat. The main character is supposed to be highly skilled in the latest forensic science but she makes decisions without any kind of planning or thought. Acted more like she was 15 than 25. The cover is beautiful - wish the story had measured up to the cover art. Disappointing.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

Anima Rising by Christopher Moore

March 8, 2026

Anima Rising by Christopher Moore

On his way home from an evening on the town, artist Gustav Klimt sees a naked dead girl lying on the bank of a canal. Fascinated by the color of her skin, he stops to draw her, and then realizes that she isn't dead. He takes her home to his studio, where one of his regular models Wally takes her under her wing and nurses her back to health. But the drowned girl can't remember her name or how she got into the canal, so Klimt takes her to see his friend Dr. Sigmund Freud, and under hypnosis, the girl tells a fantastic tale of being murdered and reanimated by none other than Victor Frankenstein. Who also brings a Malamute named Geoff who loves croissants back to life.

Another out-there tale of history/fantasy/horror from Christopher Moore, featuring a number of real-life characters including artist Gustav Klimt and his favorite model Wally, Egon Schiele, Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung (Adolf Hitler even does a walk-on), and incorporating the story of the bride of Frankenstein (coincidentally, the movie The Bride starring Maggie Gyllenhall is just about to be released). Moore also incorporates Inuit mythology and stories of shapeshifters. The humor is darker than in many of his books and there are darker themes at work here as well, including sexual and physical abuse, sex work, some animal death that is mostly off-stage, murder, and mental health. My favorite character by far is Geoff the pastry-loving dog, who is Judith's protector, and yes, he is fine at the end of the story.

The Kiss by Gustav Klimt - he was known for the mosaic costumes on his models

Wickedly Ever After by R. Lee Fryar

January 30, 2026

Wickedly Ever After by R. Lee Fryar

Two elderly but still powerful witches are responsible for maintaining a balance of goodness and wickedness in their kingdom. But they face a new challenge when members of the younger generation refuse to act out the fairy tale that has kept their kingdom safe for nearly a thousand years. Even worse, they are starting to have feelings for each other.

This has been described as a screwball fantasy, and that's a good description. There are clever references to classic fairy tales as well as The Lord of the Rings. If you are looking for high fantasy, this isn't it - try Martha Wells' The Witch King or Rebecca Yarros' Fourth Wing. The dead of winter is a good time for a humorous romantasy. Beautiful cover. Recommended for light fantasy readers who enjoy a dose of silliness with their stories.

Many thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

One of Hector's black roses

Boleyn Traitor by Philippa Gregory

December 1, 2025

Boleyn Traitor by Philippa Gregory

Jane Boleyn, Lady Rochford, served at the court of King Henry VIII. Sister-in-law to Queen Anne Boleyn, Jane grew up at court and earned to play the many roles of a courtier: attendant, confidante, wife, spy, entertainer. Serving five of Henry's queens, Jane walked a fine line where a wrong move or remark could cost you your head.

Historians usually describe Jane Boleyn as a mean-spirited jealous self-serving woman, interested only in advancing herself (much in the same way they describe Anne of Cleves as fat, ugly, ill-mannered and disgusting, which is completely false - courtiers kept up the fiction as a way to flatter Henry). Gregory portrays Jane as a real person, well-educated, quick-witted, and attractive, sent to court as a child by her ambitious family and caught up in the machinations of her unloving husband George Boleyn and his devotion to his sister Anne. The author gives a detailed portrait of the life of a courtier as well as the realities of living as the widow of a convicted traitor, with the loss of her husband's properties and income, and dependent on her salary as a lady-in-waiting to survive (even Jane's not unkind father points this out to her). Jane was no dummy, coming to the notice of Thomas Cromwell and surviving to serve five of Henry's queens before being caught up in a final intrigue. Recommended to readers of historical fiction, especially those interested in the politics of the Tudor dynasty. One of the best books I've read recently. Really interesting cover art.

This is believed to be a drawing of Jane Boleyn, nee Parker, as a young woman - portraits from this time period were somewhat stylized and were frequently mislabeled, for example, there is a painting that has been identified as both Anne Boleyn and Jane Boleyn.

Accomplice to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer

November 18, 2025

Accomplice to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer

Evie Sage, assistant to the Villain, has been promoted to apprentice. She has her own little office and is the Villain's right-hand woman when it comes to things like magic and torture. But a prophecy is causing the kingdom to unravel and Evie has to figure out how to stop that from happening while falling head over heels for her boss.

The third book in the Assistant to the Villain romantasy series. Buckle up, buttercup, because everything gets turned upside down in this one, yet at times it felt like a bridge between books that are more relevant to the story. The ending provided a few answers (some of which I had guessed) but opened up more questions. There are some characters and locations introduced that really didn't advance the story and seemed unnecessary. There is a lot of conflict about parents here - parents who lied to their children, parents who cared only about their own interests, parents who abandoned their families. There is also a lot of romance among a lot of the characters - I mean, everyone is hooking up. Spoiler alert: Evie and Trystan finally find a convenient bed and get it over with. I guess there is going to be at least one more book. Kingsley is still my favorite character. Not the best book in the series, but the cover art is great. Recommended for fantasy/romance readers who like a slow burn romance spiced with humor.

Lucky Day by Chuck Tingle

November 12, 2025

Lucky Day by Chuck Tingle

Vera Norrie has just been hired as the youngest professor of statistics and probability at the University of Chicago. To celebrate, she and her girlfriend have invited their closest friends along with Vera's mother to brunch at their favorite cafe. But Vera and her mother quarrel, and her mother runs of the restaurant with Vera chasing her. Outside, they find a scene of unexplainable chaos.

I worry about what goes on in Chuck Tingle's mind, I really do. His brand of horror is so original and out there, I can't think of anyone to compare him to. There are overtones of The X-Files as well as Lost. I don't know if this is a fugue state or a fever dream. Possible triggers include violence, death, suicide, animal death, depression, and annihilation. I love the cover art.

Many thanks to the publisher and Edelweiss for providing an eARC for review.

Voyage of the Damned by Frances White

August 28, 2025

Voyage of the Damned by Frances White

Ganymedes is the Fish province heir in the kingdom of Concordia, but unlike the heirs of the other eleven provinces, he is a fraud: he doesn't have any magical powers. So when he is stuck on a twelve day cruise with the other heirs, he does his bests to hide his lack of magic and distract them with a wild stunt. Then the heir to the kingdom is found dead, and Dee realizes he is trapped on a ship with ten other people, one of whom is a murderer.

A locked-room mystery set on a fantasy cruise ship, like Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None in a magical setting. Has a strong YA feeling. I enjoyed the main character's snarky tone, but I can see where some readers were put off by it. The characters were mostly unlikeable, but that didn't bother me either - when the characters are unlikeable, you don't care when they get killed off. Overall, it was an enjoyable read.

Weyward by Emilia Hart

August 4, 2025

Weyward by Emilia Hart

Kate flees from her abusive partner to a cottage she inherited from her great aunt Violet, who lived there from the 1940s until her death. While living there, Kate finds writings from a woman named Altha, an earlier ancestor who was tried as a witch in the 17th century.

This book should come with a warning, several actually. Plenty of sensitive subjects and triggers including domestic abuse, animal abuse, violence against women, rape and sexual assault, obsession, humiliation, pregnancy termination, and violence in general, so reader, be warned. Three interconnected stories set in different times. I was much more interested in Altha and Violet's stories that in Kate. I've read enough variations of Kate's story to be over it. Yeah, men suck and they've been treating women like shit since time began. It was hard to read a whole book where there is one good male characters (Graham, Violet's brother) and only two women characters who haven't been abused by men (Kate's mother and her friend Emily). Also, magical realism is just not my thing. It does have a beautiful cover.

Weyward was the original form of weird, as in the Weird Sisters or witches in Macbeth. The first editions of Macbeth used weyward instead of weird.

Julie Tudor is Not a Psychopath by Jennifer Holdich

July 27, 2025

Julie Tudor is Not a Psychopath by Jennifer Holdich

Julie Tudor is 49 years old and has found the love of her life in Sean, her 25 year old coworker at the large financial services company where they both work. But he doesn't know that. All he knows is that she makes him uncomfortable. Julie knows that she and Sean are star-crossed, meant to be together until a young woman named Xanthe starts work at the company and throws a wrench into Julie's plans. But Julie isn't about to settle for anyone coming between her and Sean, so she decides it's time to take decisive action.

Oh, Julie, you are definitely a psychopath. Julie has a flirtatious relationship with reality at the best of times. Her unique world view and interior monologue kept me turning the pages - I felt like my mouth was hanging open in disbelief half the time. I admit I felt sorry for Julie when her coworkers were making fun of her and she didn't realize it, while at the same time cringing at some of the things she did. It's a fast read that is perfect for vacation or beach reading, dark, disturbing, creepy and funny all at the same time. If there is a more unreliable narrator out there, I don't know who it is. There are hints of animal cruelty, so sensitive readers should be warned. I could see this becoming a miniseries on Netflix. Love the cover art!

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

The Enchanted Greenhouse by Sarah Beth Durst

July 22, 2025

The Enchanted Greenhouse by Sarah Beth Durst

After using an illegal spell to create a sentient spider plant, librarian Terlu Pena was punished by being turned into a wooden statue, on display in the magical library as a warning to the rest of the staff not to dabble in the spells that they curated. But she hadn't meant any harm - she was just lonely. Nevertheless, the magic court decided to make an example of her. She stood on a pedestal in the library, frozen in place until one day, she wakes up to find herself in a winter forest on an island with no idea how she got there. Not only that, there is an enchanted greenhouse that is slowly dying, and a handsome gardener who expects Terlu to fix the greenhouse.

Charming cozy fantasy, not exactly a sequel to The Spellshop, more like a companion piece that provides the backstory of the librarian who made Caz the sentient spider plant. Terlu was the only character in the first book whose story was not resolved, so I'm glad the author decided to focus on her in this book. The greenhouses are marvelous creations, as are the green winged cat and the tiny dragons that act as pollinators. Themes are loneliness, forgiveness, and healing. The author has planned two or three more books set in this world. Another beautiful cover, too.

Many thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

A magical greenhouse

Disappoint Me by Nicola Dinan

June 26, 2025

Disappoint Me by Nicola Dinan

Max is a lawyer, part-time poet, and a mixed race trans woman. At 30 years old, after a break up with her longtime boyfriend, she falls down a flight of stairs at a New Year’s Eve party (and she wasn’t even drunk). Upon waking up in the hospital, she thinks it’s time to stop partying, settle down and be an adult. But she isn’t sure how to go about it. After she meets a man named Vincent, a British-Chinese man, she thinks she may be on the right track, but Vincent has his own set of baggage.

Someone described this as sad girl lit, which is pretty accurate. The main character, Max, is a mixed race transgender woman in a new relationship with a British-Chinese man. Both have their share of baggage (there are several scenes in the story of people packing suitcases), causing Max to wonder if we should judge people by who they are today or who they were in the past. Adulthood should come with a warning label. Complex themes include love, loss, identity, trans people, race, millennial angst. Love the cover. 

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

Pile of baggage, just like the people in this book

Catalina by Karla Cornejo Villavicencio

June 19, 2025

Catalina by Karla Cornejo Villavicencio

Catalina is a senior at Harvard, an aspiring writer who has worked a variety of unpaid internships, trying to figure out where she belongs. Born in Ecuador, she was sent to the United States to live with her grandparents following the death of her parents. Searching for love and romance, Catalina harbors a secret that can impact her future.

DNF at 51% - this was all over the place. It was like the author had a bunch of different stories that she just lumped together into one long stream of consciousness piece with no real plot or storyline, just a "year in the life." Did not care for the main character - extremely self-focused with no character growth, immature and pretentious at the same time. Actually, I didn't care for any of the characters. FYI, this is NOT dark academia - dark academia is Donna Tartt's The Secret History and others like it. The subject matter is important (the experiences of the undocumented living in the U.S., South American history and culture) so it's unfortunate that I found it so unreadable. Fans of the style of Sally Rooney or Dolly Alderton will probably enjoy it.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

Ecuador

The Default World by Naomi Kanakia

June 1, 2025

The Default World by Naomi Kanakia

Jhanvi is a trans woman living in San Francisco. Unfortunately she is very masculine looking: over six feet tall, broad shouldered, muscular, swarthy, with a prominent jaw and brow bone. Jhanvi knows she is going to need some serious surgery and drug therapy in order to successfully present as a woman. She learns that some major tech companies have insurance that will cover gender correction surgery, so she starts hatching a scheme to find someone to marry her. Some of her San Francisco acquaintances live in a communal house known as the Fun Haus and earn a lot of money, so her backup plan is to figure out a way to con them out of some of it.

The main character is a transgendered woman who wants to complete her transition who is unfortunately morally bankrupt. That doesn't have anything to do with her gender or her sexuality - she's just a shady person who will use anyone. She doesn't have a job (because even though she graduated from Stanford, working is boring), so she decides to try to scam one of her acquaintances (who graduated from Stanford with her, have good well-paying jobs, and work long hours) into marrying her for their medical insurance - she doesn't care if it's a man or a woman. The people she's living with aren't much better. Unnecessarily complicated, with unsympathetic characters. I did feel sorry for Jhanvi at a few points, like when she catches sight of herself in a mirror and thinks, I'm a man in a dress, I look like a man in a dress. BTW, the default world is what the rest of us call the real world. It's the people and place where, if you need help, people actually help you, stand by you, and support you. They are your real family and community - but there are rules, values, morals, principles, and goals attached to them.. Not sure who if anyone I would recommend this to.

Many thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

Bruce Jenner who became Caitlyn Jenner, one of the best known trans women in the world

Oye by Melissa Mogollon

May 31. 2025

Oye by Melissa Mogollon

With Hurricane Irma bearing down on Miami, Luciana's family is in a panic: Luciana's grandmother, her Abue, refuses to evacuate. Normally Luciana is relegated to the sidelines and everyone ignores her, but now that her sister Mari is away at college, Luciana is pulled into the family drama. Luciana is just trying to graduate from high school and figure out her sexuality. Meanwhile, Luciana's mother is treating their evacuation like a family road trip. But then Abue receives a devastating medical diagnosis and comes to live with them, taking over Luciana's bedroom.

This was like eavesdropping on a really long phone conversation. The story is told through a series of mostly one-sided phone calls between Luciana and her older sister. While I enjoyed it, I can see where some readers would be put off by the format. There are some parts that are hilarious - the family saga is like a telenovella, entertaining if somewhat confusing at times. Luciana's grandmother is great - even though she has been diagnosed with cancer, her main concern is getting her roots touched up and keeping in contact with her boyfriends while she is in the hospital, while at the same time keeping her nosy sister out of her life. The audiobook is excellent. Recommended for readers who like quirky contemporary novels.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

Dirtbag Queen by Andy Corren

February 17, 2025

Dirtbag Queen by Andy Corren

Corren's irreverant memoir of Renay, his outrageous Jewish redneck mother who raised six kids (sort of) by herself after she split from her husband, isn't like any other memoir you've read. Everyone in their town near Fort Bragg knew Renay, manager of the local bowling alley, gambler and party girl, collector of strippers, card players, bowlers, and other strays who needed a place to sleep for the night. While Renay may not have excelled at cooking, keeping house, or hanging onto money, she lived life to the fullest.