The Endless War by Danielle L. Jensen Adventure Fantasy Romance Review #1 * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) Political romance, Zarrah has been sent to Devil’s Island, which no one has escaped. She is sent there because of her star-crossed love to the enemy’s kingdom’s new king. The king must team up with neighboring nations to help rescue Zarrah. Published for adults.
A Natural History of Dragons: A Memoir by Lady Trent Lady Trent Memoirs #1 by Marie Brennan Adventure Fantasy Historical Fiction Review #1 * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) Growing up in a Victorian-esque era, Isabella Hendemore has a problem. She likes dragons—, no, she loves dragons. However, this is not very ladylike. And, when an incident with a dragon who is most definitely not dead leaves Isabella with several scars across her shoulder, … Read more
Aurora Aurora #1 by Red Adventure Fantasy Graphic Novel Review #1 * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) The city of Vash has fallen to a mysterious mage known as the Collector, who has taken the soul of its god. Kendal, the city’s sole survivor, has been tasked to retrieve said god. He soon encounters Alinua, a hermit who is finally free to see the world. The two set off on an adventure neither of … Read more
A Sorceress Comes to Call by T. Kingfisher Fantasy * * * * Stars (Great!) Cordelia’s mother Evangeline is a sorceress who often makes her behave by taking control of her body. She’s not allowed any privacy, and if her mother disapproves of anything she does she is punished by being made to be obedient. It is the most horrible feeling/experience. When their current benefactor stops paying the bills, Evangeline decides that it’s time for … Read more
Through the Elder Woods Nothing Special, v. 1 by Katie Cook Adventure Fantasy Funny Graphic Novel * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) Callie’s dad has a magical items shop, and he regularly goes through the gate (she’s not allowed) into another world where he retrieves these objects. The reason of WHY she’s not allowed beyond the gate is a discussion they’ve tabled until she’s older, but before they can have that talk, he disappears. … Read more
The Raven and the Reindeer by T. Kingfisher Adventure Fantasy Retelling of the Snow Queen Romance * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) In her author’s note, T. Kingfisher says this has its roots Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Snow Queen,” but it’s much more palatable. “Hans Christian Andersen was a weird dude…His idea of a happy ending is that everybody died attended by angels (or if you are very fortunate, in church with your feet … Read more
Toto by AJ Hackwith Fantasy Retelling * * * Stars (Pretty good) The Wizard of Oz from Toto’s point of view (with nods to current culture trends). This is a breezy read in some ways – just touching upon a lot of plot points that receive more attention in L. Frank Baum’s books/the movie. But the characters offer up a lot of surprises – the Scarecrow wasn’t always thus and is a magic practitioner in … Read more
I’m Afraid You’ve Got Dragons by Peter S. Beagle Dragons Fantasy Funny Romance * * * * Stars (Great!) Princess Cerise is Exhausted from interviewing a never-ending succession of princes (all vying for her hand) until she meets Prince Reginald in the forest one day and finds herself completely smitten. She rushes home to put the castle in order before his arrival and entreats her father to bring in the dragon exterminator, as their accommodations … Read more
Pony Confidential by Christina Lynch Mystery * * * Stars (Pretty good) Penny loved her pony more than anything else, but she is separated from him at the age of 12 when a murder causes her family to move across the country and she’s forced to sell him. The pony is super salty about his treatment afterwards and vows to find Penny and get revenge. But in the telling of the story of Penny’s ultimate … Read more
Dungeon Crawler Carl Dungeon Crawler Carl #1 by Matt Dinniman Adventure Fantasy Science Fiction * * * * Stars (Great!) Earth has been repossessed by aliens for its minerals, and anyone who was inside some kind of structure when the aliens showed up is immediately crushed out of existence. Any remaining humans have been invited to participate in a dungeon crawling game for their survival and the rest of the universe’s entertainment, as their progress … Read more