Synopsis From Axie Oh, the New York Times-bestselling author of The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea, Final Fantasy meets Shadow and Bone in this romantic fantasy reimagining the Korean legend of Celestial Maidens. Sunho lives in the Under World, a land of perpetual darkness. An ex-soldier, he can remember little of his life from […]
Asian Inspired
Review: Fathomfolk (Drowned World #1) by Eliza Chan
Synopsis Welcome to Tiankawi – shining pearl of human civilization and a safe haven for those fleeing civil unrest. Or at least, that’s how it first appears. But in the semi-flooded city, humans are, quite literally, on peering down from skyscrapers and aerial walkways on the fathomfolk — sirens, seawitches, kelpies and kappas—who live in the polluted waters […]
Review: Lost Horizon by James Hilton
Synopsis: Hugh Conway saw humanity at its worst while fighting in the trenches of the First World War. When an uprising in Baskul forces Hugh Conway and a small group of English and American residents to flee, their plane crash-lands in the far western reaches of the Tibetan Himalayas. There, the bewildered party finds themselves […]
Review: Babel by R.F. Kuang
Synopsis Traduttore, traditore: An act of translation is always an act of betrayal. 1828. Robin Swift, orphaned by cholera in Canton, is brought to London by the mysterious Professor Lovell. There, he trains for years in Latin, Ancient Greek, and Chinese, all in preparation for the day he’ll enroll in Oxford University’s prestigious Royal Institute […]
Review: The Teller of Small Fortunes by Julie Leong
Synopsis A wandering fortune teller finds an unexpected family in this warm and wonderful debut fantasy, perfect for readers of Travis Baldree and Sangu Mandanna. Tao is an immigrant fortune teller, traveling between villages with just her trusty mule for company. She only tells “small” fortunes: whether it will hail next week; which boy the […]
Review: Mushroom Blues (The Hofmann Report #1) by Adrian M. Gibson
Gibson’s fungalpunk detective noir is a stunning read, elevated by Imogen Church’s performance in the audiobook.
Review: A Palace Near The Wind (Book #1 of the Natural Engines Duology) by Ai Jiang
Synopsis The Feng people have bark faces, carved limbs, arms of braided branches, and hair of needle threads. Bound by duty and tradition, Liu Lufeng, the eldest princess of the Feng royalty, is the next bride to the human king. The negotiation of bridewealth is the only way to stop the expansion of the humans […]
Blood Brothers Beyond by Rob J. Hayes
Synopsis Their brother is dead but nothing will stop the remaining Blood Brothers from risking it all to honor Subaru’s last request and secure his place in Heaven. Everything from dangerous bandits to powerful spirits will try to stop them from completing their mission. Review Time changes many things, but some things never changes as […]
Book Review: Blood Brothers by Rob J. Hayes
TL;DR Review: A sad, sweet, heartfelt story about remembering fallen loved ones wrapped up in magic, action, and a fascinating world. Synopsis: Blood Saberu is dead. His last request, that his brothers carry his body up the Heaven’s Trail mountains to make sure he gets into Heaven. Full Review: It was wonderful to be back […]
Review: Nameless Sovereign by Nameless Author
Synopsis Gods. Devils. Men. Red will surpass them all. Red wakes without memories in a cursed prison – the moonstone mines. To escape, he embraces a dark power that would put him in the crosshairs of cultivation sects if discovered. He must disguise his true abilities while racing to advance his cultivation – outpacing the […]
Review: The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh
Synopsis: Deadly storms have ravaged Mina’s homeland for generations. Floods sweep away entire villages, while bloody wars are waged over the few remaining resources. Her people believe the Sea God, once their protector, now curses them with death and despair. In an attempt to appease him, each year a beautiful maiden is thrown into the […]
Book Review: Inferno’s Heir by Tiffany Wang
TL;DR Review: A morally gray heroine, a psychopathic King-to-be, and a twisty-turny rebellion story with a lovely heist flavor. Synopsis: Fearing for her life, an outcast princess joins the rebellion against her own kingdom and family . . . but when playing with fire, someone always gets burned. Teia Carthan abandoned her morals long ago, and now […]