Synopsis Two parents and their recently-bitten-werewolf daughter try to fit into a privileged New England society of magic aristocracy. But deadly terrors await them – ancient prophecies, remorseless magical trials, hidden conspiracies and the PTA bake sale. When Vivian’s kindergartner, Aria, gets bitten by a werewolf, she is rapidly inducted into the hidden community of […]
Cozy Fantasy
Review: Hemlock & Silver by T. Kingfisher
Hemlock & Silver is a great retelling, unique in its approach, with stellar characters and a fun adventure narrative at its core. Anja was one of my favourite characters that I’ve been on a journey with this year!
Review: The Undermining of Twyla and Frank (Hart and Mercy #2) by Megan Bannen
Synopsis The entire town of Eternity was shocked when widowed, middle-aged Twyla Banneker partnered up with her neighbor and best friend, Frank Ellis, to join the Tanrian Marshals. Eight years later, Twyla and Frank are still patrolling the dangerous land of Tanria, the former prison of the Old Gods. Twyla might look like a small […]
Review: The Enchanted Greenhouse (The Spell Shop #2) by Sarah Beth Durst
A story that has a deep sense of exploration, of heartwarming whimsy and discovery – a cosy fantasy hit!
Review: Never the Roses by Jennifer K. Lambert
Never the Roses is a romantasy which is light on the overarching plot, and instead spends it’s time building up the relationship. The fantasy world is there, but as Oneira has shut herself away from it you only see glimpses and pieces of the world. This really worked for me. It felt like an easy-going read because of this and I think that really worked for this specific romantasy.
Review: A Necromancer Called Gam Gam (Chronicles of Gam Gam) by Adam Holcombe
Synopsis: A grandmotherly necromancer seeking resolution for her past with the help of her loyal entourage: an undead cat and a spectral knight. A girl on the run from the Eternal Empire for the mysterious power she possesses. When a chance encounter pulls them together, Gam Gam will do what it takes to protect Mina […]
Review: The Enchanted Greenhouse (Spellshop #2) by Sarah Beth Durst
Synopsis: New York Times bestselling author Sarah Beth Durst invites you to her new standalone novel nestled on a far-away island brimming with singing flowers, honey cakes, and honeyed love. The hardcover edition features beautiful sprayed edges. Terlu Perna broke the law because she was lonely. She cast a spell and created a magically sentient […]
Book Review: Everybody Wants to Rule the World Except Me (Dark Lord Davi #2) by Django Wexler
TL;DR Review: Beautifully balanced between epic and cozy, it’s an adventure as action-packed as it is heartwarming. Synopsis: Dark Lord Davi rules the kingdom, but she must now break the time loop that binds her in this hilariously bloody conclusion to the Dark Lord Davi duology. After countless failures (let’s not dwell on it), Davi […]
Review: The Baby Dragon Cafe by A.T. Qureshi
Synopsis When Saphira opened up her café for baby dragons and their humans, she wasn’t expecting it to be so difficult to keep the fires burning. It turns out, young dragons are not the best magical animals to keep in a café, and replacing all that burnt furniture is costing Saphira more than she can afford from […]
Book Review: A Clockwork’s Dreaming by Scott Oden
TL;DR Review: The cozy flavor of Beatrix Potter’s animal tales, but taken to new prosaic heights of wonder by the addition of magic and color. Synopsis: In Claude Moreau’s Garden, magic blooms between dewdrops and dreams, where scholarly mice debate proper tea service in a library housed within an ancient teapot, and frost spirits dance […]
Review: The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy (Hart and Mercy #1) by Megan Bannen
Synopsis Hart is a marshal, tasked with patrolling the strange and magical wilds of Tanria. It’s an unforgiving job, and Hart’s got nothing but time to ponder his loneliness. Mercy never has a moment to herself. She’s been single-handedly keeping Birdsall & Son Undertakers afloat in defiance of sullen jerks like Hart, who seems to […]
Review: Sorcery and Small Magics by Maiga Doocy
Synopsis Desperate to undo the curse binding them to each other, an impulsive sorcerer and his curmudgeonly rival venture deep into a magical forest in search of a counterspell—only to discover that magic might not be the only thing pulling them together. Leovander Loveage is a master of small magics. He can summon butterflies with […]