Kingdom of the Cursed Kingdom of the Wicked #2 by Kerri Maniscalco Fantasy Romance Review #1 * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) Emilia becomes the Queen of the Wicked with only one vow – to avenge her sister’s death. That means even wedding the Prince of PRide, the king of demons. Emilia must overcome a series of tests and steps to avenge her sister. No matter the cost. The ending had me on such … Read more
Malice Malice duology #1 by Heather Walter Fairytale retelling Fantasy LGBTQ+ Romance for adults/older teens * * * * Stars (Great!) Alyce, known as “Malice” the Dark Grace, is part Vila, and one of her ancestors is responsible for having cursed the princesses of the Queendom of Briar with death if they do not receive true love’s kiss by their 21st birthdays. Although she is extremely powerful and patrons regularly seek out her dark magic, … Read more
Entwined by Heather Dixon Fantasy Romance Supernatural Suspense Thriller Review #1 * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) A retelling of “The Twelve Dancing Princesses” fairy tale, but with more romance and suspense. It is about twelve princesses who are trying to find a place to dance after their father, the king, tells them they’re not allowed to. They find their way into a magical garden and discover the mysterious man, “Keeper,” who lives there. … Read more
Toilet-bound Hanako-kun (series) by Aidairo Adventure Fantasy Manga Mystery/Thriller Supernatural Review #1 * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) OKAY. The name is weird, but the story is hilarious and interesting. I will promise you now that it won’t be about random bathroom jokes. The story has a main character of Hanako as the series implies. He is one of 7 ghosts in a school (as they are known, The 7 Mysteries). A girl named … Read more
Aster and the Accidental Magic book #1 by Thom Pico and Karensac Adventure Fantasy Graphic Novel Tween * * * * Stars (Great!) Aster is not super thrilled when her parents move them from the city to a small mountain town so Aster’s mother can continue work on her robo-birds (that will save them all from the enormous crow migration that’s about to take place). After she meets a mysterious old lady shepherd who gives … Read more
Manu by Kelly Fernandez Fantasy Graphic Novel for teens * * * Stars (Pretty good) Manu is a foundling who was taken in by the sisters who run La Academia de Santa Dominga, a magic school for girls. She’s both powerful and a bit wild and is always wreaking havoc and getting into trouble. When a curse interferes with her ability to use her magic, Manu and her friend Josefina summon a spirit to help … Read more
The Iron Trial Magisterium #1 by Holly Black and Cassandra Clare Fantasy Mystery Tween * * * * Stars (Great!) Callum Hunt is going to do his best to fail his entrance exam to the Magisterium. His father has warned him that magic is dangerous and the mages will try to kill him, and despite these warnings and his own fear and misgivings, he is taken on as an apprentice by one of the Masters. … Read more
Once & Future Once & Future #1 by A.R. Capetta Arthurian Legend readalike Fantasy LGBTQIA Science Fiction * * * Stars (Pretty good) Each time Arthur fails to fulfill his prophecy, he is reincarnated (along with all of his compatriots – Lancelot, Guinevere, etc.) and the cycle begins again. This time the spirit of Arthur lives on in teenage Ari, who is both orphaned and exiled from her homeworld when the all-powerful corporation, Mercer, seals … Read more
The Last Graduate Scholomance #2 by Naomi Novik Fantasy Suspense Thriller Adult/teen * * * * Stars (Great!) In this sequel to “A Deadly Education,” El comes into her true power as the school throws more and more magical monsters and impossible tasks her way. She begins to suspect that it is training her up for a specific purpose, which, fortunately or unfortunately aligns with her own goals – to get EVERYONE out. Safely. All … Read more
Wee Free Men Tiffany Aching #1 (Discworld) by Terry Pratchett Fantasy * * * * Stars (Great!) Tiffany Aching is a young woman with a good head on her shoulders. She’s also a fledgling witch whose world is being invaded by an evil queen whose favorite attack seems to be invading dreams. Tiffany has to use her witchy ways to defeat the queen and save her world. She has little experience in this, as she’s … Read more