Book Description: For fans of Naomi Novik and Kerri Maniscalco, “a slow-burn dark academia filled with delicious yearning, dripping with atmosphere, and a compelling mystery” (Ellis Hunter, author of Blood Bound) about a death mage who hates her magic and a poison mage who hates her that are forced to work together to stop a killer before one of them is next. Everything about Sylas Archyr feels like a sin. Born with the ability to speak with the dead, Viola’s […]

As a Bookshop affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases. To Shape a Dragon’s Breath by Moniquill Blackgoose, the first book in a trilogy set in an alternate historical version of our world with dragons, was one of my favorite books published in 2023. Since I wanted to refresh my memory before reading To Ride a Rising Storm, the second book in the Nampeshiweisit trilogy that was released earlier this year, I decided to reread it and write a lengthier review […]

As a Bookshop affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Masquerade, O. O. Sangoyomi’s debut novel, is a rare instance of a book I read without really knowing what to expect. I believe it first came to my attention when it became a finalist for the Goodreads Choice Awards for Debut Novel, and after that, I saw some readers mention they enjoyed it. I knew it was loosely based on the myth of Persephone, that it promised politicking in a reimagined […]

As a Bookshop affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Book Description: Book 1 in the Witch Roads duology, the latest epic novel by fan favorite Kate Elliott.. Status is hereditary, class is bestowed, trust must be earned. When an arrogant prince (and his equally arrogant entourage) gets stuck in Orledder Halt as part of brutal political intrigue, competent and sunny deputy courier Elen—once a child slave meant to shield noblemen from the poisonous Pall—is assigned to guide him through the […]

As a Bookshop affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases. The Dream Hotel by Laila Lalami is a standalone literary science fiction novel set in a version of the not-too-distant future where the Risk Assessment Administration monitors data to evaluate the likelihood that an individual will commit a crime. It’s a chillingly plausible story that will likely make you wish to go off the grid completely, and I thought it was excellent at creating a future that seems possible based on […]

As a Bookshop affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases. The Knight and the Moth is the first book in The Stonewater Kingdom, a new gothic/romantic fantasy series by New York Times bestselling author Rachel Gillig. This was one of my most anticipated books of 2025 because One Dark Window, the author’s debut novel and the first book in The Shepherd King duology, was a fun, difficult-to-put-down story—and, as such, was one of my favorite books of 2022. Unfortunately, I was […]