Seagarden Plotting the Stars #2 by Michelle A. Barry Fantasy Mystery Science Fiction * * * Stars (Pretty good) Myra and her friends saw their secret moon garden destroyed when it was discovered. They’ve started another one, but it’s not ideal. What’s worse is that Myra’s Botan magic seems to be going wrong when she tries to use it (something to do with the trauma of what she experienced with the previous garden). They’re still … Read more
Bunnybirds by Natalie Lim Fantasy Graphic Novel Mystery * * * * Stars (Great!) The Bunnybirds exist in a joyful state where nothing really seems to bother them. This isn’t really true, but that’s the facade they are supposed to project – especially their Princess. But when other members of the flock start disappearing and the Princess Aster starts having prophetic dreams about what’s happened to them, it’s hard to be joyful. When the King … 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
A Whisper in the Walls sequel to A Door in the Dark by Scott Reintgen Fantasy * * * * Stars (Great!) Ren is bent on avenging her father’s death – murdered by the powerful Brood family. To that end she has infiltrated their ranks by way of the youngest Brood son, Theo, with whom she is now magically bonded. The Brood family just wants Ren out of the way, however, and Landwin Brood, the head … 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
To Shape a Dragon’s Breath by Moniquill Blackgoose Fantasy * * * * Stars (Great!) Anequs, a fifteen-year-old indigenous girl, discovers a dragon’s egg on her people’s island, and brings it back to her village – as tradition dictates – where everyone gathers to dance and sing and tell stories to welcome the dragon within. When the egg hatches, the hatchling, Kasaqua, chooses Anequs to be her Nampeshiweisit (her person). Anequs’ brother who has lived … Read more
Lonely Castle in the Mirror (manga series) by Mizuki Tsujimura & Tomo Taketomi Fantasy Manga Mystery * * * Stars (Pretty good) Kokoro and 6 other teens are chosen to visit a magical castle which they reach by traveling through mirrors. Ookami-sama (a girl in a wolf mask) greets them and explains that they have 1 year to find a key that will grant one of them their dearest wish. In the meantime, they can … Read more