The Song that Moves the Sun, the latest from Anna Bright, is a stunning celestial fantasy that also powerfully tackles the subject of mental health. Anxious with a capital A Rora has struggled with anxiety for her entire life, but…
‘Hotel Magnifique’ review: Emily J. Taylor’s whimsical hotel holds dazzling secrets
Emily J. Taylor enchants the senses with her debut fantasy, Hotel Magnifique. The French, art deco inspired novel takes readers on a whimsical journey to a magical, teleporting hotel where crystal orange trees grow out of the marble floors and…
‘A Magic Steeped in Poison’ review: Judy I. Lin brews a magical Chinese inspired fantasy
Judy I. Lin delights the senses with her magical tea fantasy, A Magic Steeped in Poison. Rich world-building, a unique magic system, and high stakes turn this story into a vibrant and engrossing tale. The story follows Ning, a magical…
‘A Forgery of Roses’ review: Jessica S. Olsen builds a new world
Sisterly love outshines romance in Jessica S. Olsen’s sophomore novel, A Forgery of Roses. After being blown away by her first book, Sing Me Forgotten (it was my favorite debut of 2021), I couldn’t wait to check this out. Another…
‘Edgewood’ review: Kirsten Ciccarelli’s latest fantasy spirits readers away to a dark, fae forest
Kirsten Ciccarelli’s latest offering, Edgewood, invites readers to the edge of a forest full of deadly fae, horses made of fire, and shadows waiting to devour the next unsuspecting victim. This urban fantasy overflows with deadly magic and romance that…
‘The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea’ review: Axie Oh’s latest fantasy delivers a whimsical retelling of a classic Korean folktale
Based on the Korean Folktale “The Tale of Shim Cheong,” Axie Oh’s The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea takes readers into the spirit realm beyond the sea floor, a place full of immortal beasts, cheerful spirits, and brooding gods.…
‘Vespertine’ review: Margaret Rogerson’s Joan of Arc retelling is full of ghostly action
Margaret Rogerson’s latest offering Vespertine is a fresh departure from standard YA fantasy, with a romance free plot full of ghosts, nuns, and powerful relics. Pitched as Venom meets Joan of Arc, Vespertine captures a bleak, grey toned world that…