I’m continually impressed by the world building in this series. The author is going after certain archetypes of fantasy races in the various peoples that live in the city of Elantra, but they’ve all got some interesting twists to them. And Kaylin as a character continues to have a very interesting back story for someone […]
Cast in Silence – Michelle Sagara Read More »
This book focuses on Roman, from the Kate Daniels books, priest of Chernobog, the god of destruction, death and darkness. Contrary to what that could make you think of how he should be as a person, we get to see Roman as a protector of the innocent and therapist to the gods. The authors do
Sanctuary – Ilona Andrews Read More »
I love that Nigel Slater’s books are read through cookbooks. I enjoy the recipes, but the atmospheric intros make his books for me. This book is really more about the entire first part of the winter season, which just so happens to include a lot of Christmas traditions. Since that’s pretty much how I’ve landed
The Christmas Chronicles – Nigel Slater Read More »
This is a fun continuation of Sorcery of Thorns. Nathaniel and Elisabeth have been living at Thorn Manor for a few months when it starts to go crazy, and they have to figure out exactly what the house wants. It’s a fun romp through a semi-sentient house, and it’s interesting to explore Nathaniel’s family history,
Mysteries of Thorn Manor – Margaret Rogerson Read More »
Lexi lives in the small village of Near, where everyone knows each other, and magic is there, but also a thing of the past. Still, they distrust strangers in Near. So when a stranger is seen near the village just as children start to go missing, Lexi struggles to solve the mystery of what’s happening.
The Near Witch – V. E. Schwab Read More »
This book is an interesting play on vampire stories. The author uses Celtic mythology to create a different kind of origin story for a vampire family in Cornwall. I really respect that this book was begun based on vibes – she really wanted a back story to what sounds like a very romantic ruin she
Tea and Alchemy – Sharon Lynn Fisher Read More »
This is a collection of previously published stories in the Kate Daniels universe. Fortunately, I hadn’t read any before. There are a few original stories, a few that don’t actually involve Kate or any of the regular crew, and it ends with several vignettes from Curran’s point of view. I really enjoyed Julie’s story, where
Small Magics – Ilona Andrews Read More »
If I wanted to get a chic lit or romance reader into fantasy, I’d give them this series. (First book reviewed here.) Twyla is 53, and is still trying to trying to find her way into what it really means to be a wife/widow, mother and grandmother. I don’t have kids, but I’m the right
The Undermining of Twyla and Frank – Megan Bannen Read More »
Iris and Malina are twins, and their family has a magical ability to ‘gleam’ – manipulate ordinary things into art. But their mother has always insisted that they keep their abilities secret, and that they never fall in love. This story is set in Montenegro, and I really liked the descriptions of their home city
Wicked Like Wildfire – Lana Popovic Read More »
When Byatt was asked to retell a myth, she chose Ragnarok. What’s lovely about this is how personal that story is her – the frame of this book is herself reading it as a child during World War II, and how closely that story of ending mirrored what was going on in the world around
Ragnarok: The End of Gods – A. S. Byatt Read More »
