Source: Netgalley - many thanks to Orbit for the review copy!TL;DR: Full of promising themes and a beautiful world, however cold and distant characters truly killed the story. Plot: An actually fantastic idea - Fathomfolk (water dwelling folk) and human politics coming to a head.Characters: I've met cardboard cutouts more interesting than these characters. Big... Continue Reading →
An Education in Malice by S.T. Gibson
Source: Netgalley - Many thanks to the publisher!TL;DR: A worthy follow-up to A Dowry in Blood. Even with a slightly predictable ending I really enjoyed this. Plot: The classic Carmilla remixed. Laura and Carmilla are rivals in a poetry course, it was believable and engrossing.Characters: Really loved these over the top and flawed characters (though... Continue Reading →
The Butcher of the Forest by Premee Mohamed
Source: Netgalley - Many thanks to the publisher!!TL;DR: Dark and gloomy, but beautiful and fast paced. A dangerous ride, I definitely recommend for dark fantasy fans. Plot: Veris is sent into the North Woods, an enchanted place, to find two lost children. It's a dark time.Characters: Veris is our main PoV and we stay pretty... Continue Reading →
The Forgotten Beasts of Eld by Patricia A. McKillip
Source: Tachyon Press - Thank you so much for the arc!!TL;DR: A OG Romantasy in my opinion. A fantasy that focuses on the idea of love, in it’s myriad of forms, and a powerful woman. Loved this one. Plot: Sybel gets caught between the boy she raised, the man she loves and the wars of... Continue Reading →
The Princess Protection Program by Alex London
Source: Netgalley - Many thank to the publisher!!TL;DR: An unexpectedly fun little fairy tale twist. Look forward to princesses with attitude and fair godmothers who hate their jobs. Plot: Rosamund must figure out this new place she's in and why, and figure out how to escape the Uponatimes. It has some unexpected twists along the... Continue Reading →
The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett
Source: Netgalley - Thank you so much to the publisher for reaching out to me!TL;DR: Such a slow build but I really think it was worth it. A Holmesian mystery with lots of fantasy and plant magic/science! Plot: This was slow. It started with a single gruesome murder and evolved to a bigger, empire risking... Continue Reading →
Projections by S.E. Porter
Source: Netgalley, thank you to the publisher!TL;DR: I do not know who to recommend this too unless you can look past the bloat and ride it out just for the revenge. Plot: A young woman is murdered and tethered to her murderer as a ghost and must find a way to get revenge.Characters: These were... Continue Reading →
Heartsong by TJ Klune
Source: NetGalley, Thank you so much to the publisher!TL;DR: Just rip my heart out and step on why don't you? Plot: A very well implemented jump forward in time after Robbie is kidnapped by the Alpha of all and the Bennett's have to retrieve himCharacters: The Green Creek pack with a focus on Robbie and... Continue Reading →
Mislaid in Parts Half-Known by Seanan McGuire
Source: NetGalley - Many thanks to the publisher!TL;DR: It's starting to get old, and we genuinely need to return to our main cast. Plot: Meanders a bit to be honest. Returning to Antsy's world, with a short stint in Stephanie's (see cover). It felt very lacking for me.Characters: Antsy is fine, and we do get... Continue Reading →
Sky’s End (Above the Black #1) by Marc J. Gregson
Source: Netgalley - Thank you to the publisher!TL;DR: An absolutely thrilling ride following a once disgraced young man attempting to rise in ranks through hunting giant sky serpents. Wow Plot: Conrad's family was thrown Low, to poverty by the betrayal of his uncle so he works to rise back up for revenge. Action and so... Continue Reading →