Stay for a Spell

 

Stay for a Spell- Amy Coombe

Ace

Release Date: April 14, 2026

Rating: 📚📚📚📚📚

Synopsis: Princess Tanadelle of the Widdenmar is disillusioned with life as a princess. She longs for real conversation, the chance to build a life of her own making, and uninterrupted reading time.

During a routine royal visit to the town of Little Pepperidge, Tandy’s dream comes true when she finds herself cursed to remain in a run-down bookshop until she unlocks her heart’s desire. Certain that someone will figure out how to break the curse eventually, and delighted by the prospect of an entire bookstore of her own, Tandy settles into life among the stacks. She finds it easy to exchange balls and endless state dinners for teetering piles of books and an irritatingly handsome pirate who seems bent on stealing her stock.

She even starts to believe she's stumbled into her very own happily ever after.

There's just one, minor problem: as Tandy's royal duties go unfulfilled, her frantic parents start sending princes to woo her, each one of them certain their kiss will break the curse. After all, what more could a princess want but a prince?

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We've all had the dream: if you were locked in a bookshop overnight, what would you do?

Tandy (Princess Tanandelle of Widdenmar) gets to find out the answer. She pops off for what should be a quick visit to a local bookshop in between royal duties on the road and finds herself cursed to stay in the shop until she finds her heart's desire. What's a book-loving woman to do when literally unable to leave a bookshop?

She dives right in and finds herself loving the quiet life. Before long it's just Tandy; a goth teenage assistant; a magical bookshop cat (every bookshop should have one); and a hot (also-cursed), pirate who seems to enjoy hanging out with them. Chaos and hilarity ensues when Tandy's parents start sending princes out to kiss her and break the curse. Because what else could a princess want? 

Stay for a Spell is a cozy fantasy that I can best describe as utterly delightful and adorable. Tandy is completely down-to-earth in a slightly naive way. Used to trying to make everyone but herself happy, she's suddenly confronted by the one question she's never asked: what does she want in life? Is the solution to all her problems a prince, the way her parent think? (Never mind that she's known them all for most of her life and would already know if she loved one). What else is she allowed to have? 

The secondary characters are well-done. Goth draconae Sasha is a classic teen, but once she drops the initial act she and Tandy get along really well and she's more of a delight than she'd want to know. Bash the cursed pirate gives off Once Upon a Time Captain Hook-lite vibes—so I completely fell for him. The slow build relationship between Bash and Tandy was completely charming. And though the competent Honey doesn't get much page time, she rocks what time she has.

If you're a cozy fantasy fan, and especially a fellow book-lover, make sure you read Stay for a Spell. 

I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Archangel's Ascension

Archangel's Ascension (Guild Hunter 15)- Nalini Singh

Berkley Publishing

Release Date: May 6, 2024

Rating: 📚📚📚📚

Synopsis: Aodhan and Illium. Adi and Blue. Sparkle and Bluebell. Friends become lovers, their future a wild unknown.

Finally reunited in New York, they must now learn to navigate the monumental shift in their relationship. But for these two members of Archangel Raphael’s legendary Seven, there is no time to rest. As they investigate a case for the Tower that echoes the darkness from Aodhan’s past, they will be forced to confront not only the scars that mark them both, but the promise of a vast power that flickers in Illium.

The threat of ascension has haunted and troubled Aodhan’s Blue for too long, the forces of change immutable and without mercy...and uncaring of Illium’s fierce wish to remain part of the Seven. Change is a constant in an immortal’s life, and this new horizon will bring with it both terrible heartbreak and a joy extraordinary enough to reverberate through time…

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Archangel's Ascension threw a curve right from the start by being broken into two timelines: "Today" which is actually 700 years in the future, and "Yesterday" which is the present for the series' normal timeline. I admit to a moment of panic when I fiugred that out, but I should have had more faith in one of my favorite authors. The majority of the book takes place in the current timeline, so situation normal.

Aodhan and Illium admitted in their last book that they loved each other and in this book we get to see them trying to figure out what that means. Because despite what they think, both men still have some issues they need to deal with. Together in New York they investigate the murder of a young vampire and his human girlfriend that has some similarities to Aodhan's past. Meaning he has to face that past, and we as readers get to learn some more about it. 

The murder investigation is pretty basic, but does a good job of helping reset a 'situation hopefully normal' and reminding everyone life doesn't need to be all about wars, zombies and other major craziness, but can be about the more day to day concerns as well. And perhaps should be. It also allows Aodhan a chance to consciously fit more into himself in a way he hasn't before. We see him trying to talk to strangers, to allow physical contact with friends. We see both Adi and Ilium talking to others to try and figure out how not to mess up their changing relationship and hurt each other as they grow. There's plenty of angst along the way, perhaps more than is needed, but readers who have been with the series since the beginning and have been cheering the two on will probably be more lenient with the repetition than they would be otherwise.

The title gives away what the "today" section will be about, and on the whole I thought that was really beautifully done. I did cry a bit in a few places, have to admit. You can tell the series is almost wrapped up, and it will be interesting to see if Singh goes back to the present day for the end, or jumps to her new future and shakes things up there.

This sequel to Archangel's Light is what readers have been waiting for- the conclusion of Illium and Aodhan's story.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review 

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A Fellowship of Bakers & Magic

A Fellowship of Bakers & Magic (Adanashire #1)- J. Penner

Poisoned Pen Books

Release Date: April 15, 2025

Rating: 📚📚📚 (3.5)

Synopsis: In the heart of Adenashire, where elfish enchantments and dwarven delights rule, Arleta Starstone, a human confectionist works twice as hard perfecting her unique blend of baking and apothecary herbs.

So when an orc neighbor secretly enters her creations into the prestigious Elven Baking Battle, Arleta faces a dilemma.

Being magicless, her participation in the competition could draw more scowls than smiles. And if Arleta wants to prove her talent and establish her culinary reputation, this human will need more than just her pastry craft to sweeten the odds.

While competing, she'll set off on a journey of mouthwatering pastries, self-discovery, heartwarming friendships and romance, while questioning whether winning the Baking Battle is the true prize.

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In a world where just about everyone has magic, human baker Arleta Starstone works twice as hard as everyone else to try and keep up. An orphan since 16, she keeps her emotional walls high and accepts help from no one, usually including her friends and neighbors the orcs who took care of her after her parents died. She's determined to make it on her own, seeing it as emotionally safer. When her neighbors enter her in the annual Baking Battle Arleta isn't sure she should accept. Magicless people aren't welcome and it probably won't come to anything. Why risk it? But Theo, the elf who delivers her invitation, encourages her to accept as well and Arleta decides to take the chance. It's a whole new world for her, with new experiences, new friends, and the chance for romance as well as winning the Baking Battle- if Arleta is willing to be brave.

Hands down the best parts of Fellowship were when it focused on the baking. Arleta clearly loves baking (the author too I think!) and without going into deep descriptions that send the reader off topic we get the sights and scents of home baked goods and showstopping cakes that make you want to run down to the kitchen and start baking too! 

Fellowship is a small, cozy world with lots to unpack and the author lets you do the unpacking yourself. Arleta and Theo travel together and have some equally delightful forced proximity/kindness to others on the road moments. The prejudice between some races (elves against everyone else and everyone against humans) shows this is not a perfect world, but there are plenty of secondary characters who show that this prejudice is not something everyone approves of. We could see more of that social change in future books in the series. Secondary characters like Doli and Jez (Jez especially) were fun and brought extra depth and personality to the story. Arleta had a lot of growing to do over the book and she had a tough time doing it. But I think she's someone we can all relate to- someone who has such a set idea about herself in her head that it is tough to accept all the evidence that something else, something positive, could be true instead. 

I'll definitely be on the lookout for more books in this series when they come out. A fast and fun read that should make you smile, A Fellowship of Bakers and Magic is best read with a hot cup of your favorite drink by your side, and some scones or cookies to help when the food cravings hit. Be sure to check out the recipes at the end!

I received a DRC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

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Of Starlight and Midnight

 

Of Starlight and Midnight- Amy Kuivalainen

BHC Press

Release Date: March 19, 2023

Rating: 📚📚📚📚📚

Synopsis: Of Starlight and Midnight combines adventure, romance, magic, and Norse myth and shows that some Fates are worth fighting for, especially when the Norns get involved. It’s been two years since light-elf brothers Aramis and Søren fought beside Anya in Russia. The Álfr mountain city of Svetilo is safe once more, but their books and relics are still scattered on the supernatural black market. When Aramis gets a lead on a book of magic, he and Søren decide to investigate and find more than they bargained for.Librarian Asta is still grieving over the death of her mother. All she wants to do is hide at the University of Oslo, unravel the mysteries of the strange book she inherited, and hang out with Tyra—the cool Norwegian cousin she never knew she had. The last thing she wants is to help arrogant Dr. Søren Madsen work on his book, no matter how good-looking he is, but she doesn’t want to get fired so she reluctantly agrees.Søren knows Asta is hiding something and when they are attacked by dark elves, he and Aramis will stop at nothing to learn the truth about the two mysterious women. But Tyra has a past of her own, and she’ll do anything to protect Asta’s secrets, even if it means siding with the dangerous light-elf brothers in a deadly war of dark and light.

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I loved this book so much! The flirty fun and banter between Tyra and Aramis made this book absolutey one of my instant all time favorites.

Of Starlight and Midnight is in the same world as Kuivalainen's Tales of the Firebird series, and takes place a few years later. Unlike The Exorcist and the Demon Hunter, I don't think you necessarily have to read the original series to read Starlight, although it helps. Starlight follows light-elf brothers Aramis and Søren (a favorite of mine in the Firebird series), now reconnected and searching for artifacts stolen from their magical site of Svetilo. They've tracked one to Oslo and librarian Asta seems to hold the key to finding it. Asta is greiving for her mother and would rather spend time figuring out her own life and her mother's secrets than helping arrogant Søren- but a magical attack by dark elves throws everyone's plans into chaos. 

Asta is kind of the stock character in some ways: she has magic and sercrets surrounding her, but she doesn't know it. I liked her because she stood up to Søren and his arrogant attitude from the beginning and completely knocked him off his game. He didn't know what he was doing when it came to Asta and it was fun watching this complete badass from the Firebird series be a confused wreck, and a total sweet guy with Asta as he helps her sort out her life once he's accidentally blown it up.

But it was Tyra who really stole the show for me. Asta's long-lost 'cousin', she is a dark elf. And just like Aramis and Søren are protectors of their people, Tyra is a next level protector. She's more likely to be saving Aramis than need saving, is as lethal with her sarcasm as her blades, and obsessed with modern Marvel and Lord of the Rings movies. Possibly for all the things they got wrong about the mythologies, but she still loves them. Like Søren and Aramis, Tyra has a dark past and plenty of broken pieces to her. But she rarely allows her past to control her present mood and to say she's perfect for lightening up the brothers is an understatement. She literally runs rings around Aramis, yet he's just what she needs in her own moments of doubt.

I wish the book  had been longer, and the ending was a bit rushed. But to me the story was really about the four main characters and their growth, their journey to discovering how their broken peices could fit together and how they didn't have to be perfect themselves to be perfect for someone else. Learning to trust someone and lean on them when they needed to, and giving Søren and Aramis the happiness they deserved, made a great story for me. I have to say I enjoyed it more than The Exorcist and the Demon Hunter. This was a fun, light-hearted, fantasy with entertaining characters. Tyra alone made this one that kept me smiling all the way.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and BHC Press in exchange for an honest review

 

The Exorcist and the Demon Hunter

 

The Exorcist and the Demon Hunter- Amy Kuivalainen

BHC Press

Release Date: September 26, 2023

Rating: 📚📚📚

Synopsis: My name is Jael Quinlan and I’m a freelance exorcist, no matter how much the churches in Melbourne hate it. There’s a darkness growing in my city and my boss Uriel, the sternly handsome and badass Archangel of the North, is expecting me to get to the bottom of it.

The problem is these demons are unlike any I’ve ever seen and they are all giddy about an upcoming apocalypse. On top of that, I’ve been having some crazy visions about a demon hunter on the other side of the world named Mychal. He’s frighteningly scary and has a serious depression problem. 

It turns out I’m caught up in one of those special missions from a higher power (you got to hate those) and I know I’m going to need Mychal’s and Uriel’s help in order to stop two rampaging Watcher angels and Hel’el (the big bad Devil himself) from kicking off a new apocalypse. 

I honestly don’t know what a human exorcist can do in a battle of supernatural good and evil, but all I know is finding out is going to be one hell of a ride.

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Amy Kuivalainen is a go-to fantasy author for me, and I was excited by the idea that in this book we would finally get to learn Mychael's full story. Having read the Firebird series, I had some definite theories about him, but that just led to more questions. Cleverly, this book was written enough as a standalone that if you haven't read the Firebird series (which is great, and you should read), you don't come to this one feeling lost. If you have read it, you know there are mysteries surrounding the Demon Hunter before you meet him, but you only have suspicions and aren't actually ahead of any new readers.

The first half of the book was a surprise to me (which I don't mean in a bad way) because it focused entirely on Jael, the exorcist. A freelance exorcist with a rather Buffy-like attitude to authority and tradition, Jael isn't connected to any particular church or religion, but just believes demons shouldn't be possessing people. She has the ability to get rid of them and has been trained since she was a teen by the archangel Uriel to do so, and as far as she's concerned, that is that. Melbourne seems to be dealing with a particularly severe demon infestation and Jael is trying to handle that and understand why those demons are so fixated on her. At the same time, she's trying to hang on to shreds of a normal (or semi-normal) social life to balance her out, and it isn't always working. 

Surprisingly, we don't meet Mychael until about halfway through the book, when things get even worse in the supernatural world. The book changes up at this point: Jael tells her story from the first person, while Part Two alternates between Jael's first-person and different third-person POVs. Mostly it worked, but I was thrown by it once and awhile, especially at first. It took a little adjusting. 

Kuivalainen's other books have all been more Finnish or Russian mythology-related, including the Firebird series with Mychael, so I was intrigued by the idea of her expanding her world-building here to focus on a more  Judeo-Christian theology. Jael isn't specifically of any church or belief, but the monotheistic God of Abraham is clearly the way she feels comfortable relating to the divine, and we are talking to priests, rabbis, demons, and archangels here. I don't know if everyone will be comfortable with this approach, but I thought it worked pretty well.

While her Magicians of Venice series is still my favorite, I enjoyed this book. People who have read the Firebird series will definitely want to read it because it happily wraps up a few loose ends that you thought had just been given endings in the last book. No further spoilers than that though!

Thanks to BHC and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review

The Court War

 

The Court War (The Godstone #2)- Violette Malan

DAW/Penguin Group

Release Date: July 25, 2023

Rating: 📚📚📚📚

Synopsis: The second book in this epic fantasy saga spins a tale of magic and danger, as a healer finds herself pulled deeper into a web of secrets and world-ending magic.

With innovative worldbuilding, witty banter, and world-ending magic, The Court War is epic fantasy at its best and most compelling.

Fenra Lowens, with her partner Elvanyn Karamisk, has already faced the Godstone. Now she has a different, simpler getting the stick-in-the-mud practitioners of the White Court to return to the old ways of practice, the ways that keep the World healthy.

But before she has a chance to present her case, the uneasy balance of power between the practitioners of the White Court and the mundanes of the Red Court—in existence since the World itself began—suddenly erupts into open warfare.

Fenra is torn between helping her friends and fellow practitioners and moving ahead with the demands of an increasingly impatient World. Though she has help from unexpected allies, Fenra begins to suspect that this conflict isn't just about politics. The hand of an old enemy may be at work here....

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After the events of The Godstone, Fenra Lowens goes to the council of the White Court of magic practitioners to encourage them to return to the old ways, when practitioners traveled through the different Modes and kept the World healthy. But the council is set in its ways and sees its job as keeping power for themselves at the expense of others- and is happy to make Fenra the scapegoat when things start to go wrong. When the Red Court nonmagical council declares war on the White Court to try and take the White's power for itself, chaos descends. The average people are the ones in danger. The World is not happy and is ready to create chaos to prove it. And Fenra is caught in the middle of all of the battles.

Fenra is in the unenviable position of knowing how to save the World and has pretty much no one in power who is willing to listen. Fortunately, she's incredibly stubborn and determined and has the dogged instincts of a healer who will fight to the end for her patient. And her allies are as stubborn as she is, particularly Elva. I quite liked that about both of them. It was never a question of "if" something could be done with them, but "how". They were also smart enough to question who they could trust, but once someone had earned their trust they would do whatever it took to rescue them if needed. Which happened often because there were plenty of backstabbing politicians and others out only for themselves!

Once again, Violette Malan shows her incredible talent as a world-builder in The Court War. She builds not one world but multiple ones (personally, I hope we get to spend more time exploring the New Zone if there's a third book- there sounds like a lot that could be done with a world and different magic there!) as well as the sentient World itself; there are a variety of belief systems that fit together; magic with carefully constructed rules that we never feel we're being lectured over but discover in often unique ways. From the very food and drink to the clothes and architecture around our heroes, Malan seems to effortlessly create her wonderful worlds. Yet she never forgets that the most important thing, perhaps the most grounding thing, of the story are the human beings. Humans in all their extremes, both good and bad, are what make the world go round, and that is certainly true here.

I definitely recommend reading The Godstone before reading The Court War, since the events of book 1 lead directly to book 2. You can start with book 2 and catch up, but you'll enjoy it more reading them in order. 

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review

Scarlet

 

Scarlet (Scarlet Revolution 1)- Genevieve Cogman

Ace

Release Date: May 9, 2023

Rating: 📚📚📚📚📚

Synopsis: It is 1793 and the French Revolution is in full swing. Vampires—usually rich and aristocratic—have slaked the guillotine’s thirst in large numbers. The mysterious Scarlet Pimpernel, a disguised British noble, and his League are heroically rescuing dozens of aristocrats from execution, both human and vampire. And soon they will have an ace up their sleeve: Eleanor Dalton.

Eleanor is working as a housemaid on the estate of a vampire Baroness. Her highest aspiration is to one day become a modiste. But when the Baroness hosts a mysterious noble and his wife, they tell Eleanor she is the spitting image of a French aristocrat, and they convince her to journey to France to aid them in a daring scheme. Soon, Eleanor finds herself in Paris, swept up in magic and intrigue—and chaos—beyond her wildest dreams. But there’s more to fear than ardent Revolutionaries. For Eleanor stumbles across a centuries-old war between vampires and their fiercest enemy. And they’re out for blood. . . . 

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I'm a huge fan of Genevieve Cogman's Invisible Library series, so as soon as I heard she had another book coming out, I was signing up for it. Basic description: French Revolution, with vampires? I'm in! But remember, this is Genevieve Cogman, so be prepared for so much more!

Eleanor is a maid working on the estate of the Baroness Sophie, a vampire, safe in England where they read about the atrocities of the French Revolution but know it isn't something that would ever touch them. She dreams of becoming a lady's maid, and maybe one day a modiste, never imagining a wider world than that. But the Baroness knows Eleanor is the mirror image of Marie Antionette, and happens to know the English aristocrats working to save French aristocrats from the Terror, led by the mysterious Scarlet Pimpernel. She loans Eleanor to them, they convince Eleanor to help them try and rescue the French Queen and her children. How hard could it be? 

The world building (as you would expect from Cogman) is excellent. Especially once we get to France, the reader really feels immersed in Eleanor's experiences. Not just the dust and dirt of the journey, but the fear in Paris itself was a palpable thing. The baying of a mob, the terror of seeing soldiers, just walking down a street to market became dangerous- not just an action but an emotional and physical feeling. I've read histories on the French Revolution and tried to imagine what the average person might have felt, Genevieve Cogman captures what I believe those daily emotions must have been. 

Watching Eleanor have her horizons expanded over the course of the book is an absolute joy. She grows in confidence, she realizes she's capable of thoughts and actions she couldn't have imagined before, and that she can question those above her. Eleanor's station means we get a unique, and frequently ironic, view of both the English aristocrats trying to help (specific) French and of the causes and goals of the Revolution itself. Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité might be a great rallying cry, but as a servant, Eleanor questions what aristocrats might accept. It's a brilliant call on Cogman's part.

Another good decision Cogman made is to give us tantalizing clues about the magic that used to live in the world, about the hidden history of vampires and their great enemies, and to have Eleanor experience enough to begin questioning what she has always known about vampires being "just like everyone else", but not to give us too much. It leaves us with lots of questions but we already know there are more books in this series coming. The book doesn't end on a cliffhanger, but certainly leaves us wanting to know more!

You don't need to have read the original Scarlet Pimpernel or seen the movies to enjoy this book (I haven't) but I'm curious about any crossover so I'm planning to read it while waiting for Book 2!  

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and AceBooks in exchange for an honest review

Rise of the Firebird

Rise of the Firebird (Firebird Faire Tale series #3)- Amy Kuivalainen

BHC Press

Release Date: March 21, 2023

Rating: 📚📚📚📚

Synopsis: Traveling from the battlefields of Skazki to the Underworld of Tuonela, Anya and her companions encounter the vicious dark goddess Louhi and gain two magicians, the mad hero Kullervo and Eldon Blaise--apprentice of Merlin himself.

As devastating secrets of history and the heart are revealed, Anya must fight the darkness within herself and rise up to be a symbol for the Neutral rebel army that rallies under the banner of the firebird. Ready to restore the balance at any price, the final battle of the three armies will shape the worlds forever in this exciting finale of the Firebird Faerie Tales series.

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The end of the Firebird series has definitely left me with a book hangover that will be staying with me for awhile. Like the first two in the series, (Cry of the Firebird, Ashes of the Firebird) Kuivalainen's amazing world-building abilities are on full display here as she takes Anya and crew through multiple worlds in true faerie tale quest fashion. They meet new allies, annoy new powers, and search for the powerful weapon that will help them defeat Baba Yaga and Yanka once and for all. 

Over and over we're reminded that power can be seductive and it is easy to slide to darkness. That seems to have been what happened with Yanka and Baba Yaga and while everyone keeps saying Anya looks like Yanka, and she certainly has some moments of anger, nobody worries about her becoming dark as much as I expected. Maybe because she worries about it, maybe they figure the Firebird won't let it happen? I was surprised it didn't come up more, especially since as the book goes on the idea of revenge comes up more. 

There was a lot going on in this book, almost too much for one book. Kuivalainen drags us all through the emotional wringer, even before the final battle. I was so attached to all the characters that even figuring a major final battle wasn't going to go well, losing some at the end made me cry. There were more loose ends left hanging in this book than I expected, very unusual for Amy Kuivalainen, which makes me wonder if there will be a spin-off with one or two characters in her next series to answer some of the questions she left us with at the end. And I have to admit I wasn't comfortable with the 'raising of the spring' ritual- felt like a trigger warning beforehand wouldn't have been out of place there. But maybe that's just me?

Overall Rise of the Firebird continues the beautiful blend of urban fantasy and Russian/Finnish mythology the series is know for. I do definitively recommend reading the first two books before reading this one, since this picks up right where books 2 left off.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

The Bloodstained Shade

 

The Bloodstained Shade (Aven Cycle #3)- Cass Morris

Published by Cass Morris

Release Date: January 31, 2023

Warning: Some Spoilers Ahead!

Rating: 📚📚📚📚📚

Synopsis: Latona of the Vitelliae, mage of Spirit and Fire, lies still as death. Her fate rests in the hands of her allies, who must redeem her soul from the churning void where Corinna, leader of a banished Discordian cult, has trapped it.

Protected by a cabal of corrupt priests and politicians, Corinna plans her most daring assault yet: a ritual striking at the ancient heart of Aven, with the power to swallow the city in a maw of chaos and strife. Her success would be Aven's doom, and the greatest violence would fall upon the most vulnerable.

Before Sempronius Tarren can join Aven's defense—and his beloved Latona—at home, he must end the war abroad, outwitting the blood-soaked machinations of his Iberian opponents. His own magical talents remain hidden, but dire circumstances tempt him to succumb to ambition and use forbidden tactics to hasten the way to victory.
To defeat Corinna, Aven's devoted protectors will need to perform extraordinary magic, rally support from unexpected quarters, and face the shadows on their own souls.

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In The Bloodstained Shade, Cass Morris saves her devoted fans (and main character Latona) from the cliffhanger ending she left us with in Give Way To Night. But she doesn't make anything easy on her characters, clearly being an author who believes that roasting characters in a fire brings out their strongest qualities. Latona and Vibia remain the two main Aven-centered characters, although I was glad to see sisters Aula and Alhena getting more of a role here as well. Both sisters continue to develop as strong secondary characters, willing to face their fears despite the risks, and I'm hoping for even more from them in the next book, particularly from Alhena and her magic. 

We get to see Sempronius, Latona's brother Vitellius, and their allies finish the war in Iberia, and I liked how Morris wrapped that up. enemies became allies, but even among the enemies and the terrible things they were doing, there was a deep humanity to every action. Morris examines how different people handle the gruesomeness of war- this kind of war in particular- in different ways, and can come back sometimes changed for the better, or at least come back thinking differently. Sempronius gets a few shocks along the way and didn't really know what to do with them, or his emotions, or the idea of possibly being vulnerable in any way. I have to admit I rather enjoyed that- suddenly he became a very human character, realizing the mistakes he was making and what he was risking in a way that his confidence had never allowed him to do before. I also have to admit, I'm pretty worried for what Morris is setting him up for in the next book, with a few of the not-very-subtle clues she dropped in this one.  

One of the messages I loved in this book was the idea that we are who we make ourselves. Corinna may get to say it best when she chides Latona for trying to tell Corinna's story. "Never try to reduce another woman down to something smaller than she is" Corinna tells Latona. Corinna has refused to allow that to happen to her from the beginning. But it's a fight Latona's had across the whole series, being made smaller than she is and gradually growing out of that- although it is something she still fights with here. One of the reasons enemies fear Latona (and Sempronius) is for trying to step out of their normal roles in society and reach for something bigger. Throughout the book, and the series, is always the question, will we give in to temptation? Will we blame someone else for out actions? Or will we, in the end, accept that we are both the good and the bad of ourselves, and that can make us weak, or incredibly, unbelievably, strong and united.

Full of fast-paced scenes, and excellent writing, with vastly different characters and places woven together into a brilliant and heart-pounding finale. Secondary characters continue to shine and develop, our main characters continue to show strengths and flaws enough to keep them both likable and relatable. Cass Morris' Aven continues to shine as an ancient Rome-inspired world built into something new and different, and I can't wait for the next book in this incredible series.  

Bloodstained Shade starts with a very good "previously in Aven" summary for readers who didn't reread the first two books before starting Book 3, but I wouldn't recommend starting Shade without having read  From Unseen Fire and Give Way to Night first. This is a series that build from one book to the next. 

  

Spotlights for December 2022

 

 Here are a few of the new releases from December of 2022 that I didn't write a blog post on, but a spotlight through Goodreads reviews:

Empire of Ice and Snow: The Disastrous & Heroic Voyage of the Karluk -Buddy Levy    

Rating: 📚📚📚📚

Release Date: December 6, 2022

Nonfiction/Polar Exploration

Set against the backdrop of the Titanic disaster and World War I, filled with heroism, tragedy, and scientific discovery, Buddy Levy's Empire of Ice and Stone tells the story of two men and two distinctively different brands of leadership: one selfless, one self-serving, and how they would forever be bound by one of the most audacious and disastrous expeditions in polar history, considered the last great voyage of The Heroic Age of Discovery.

 Beaverland: How One Weird Rodent Made America- Leila Philip

Rating: 📚📚📚

Release Date: December 6, 2022

Nonfiction/Science/Environmental

Before the American empires of steel and coal and oil, before the railroads, there was the empire of fur. BEAVERLAND tells the tumultuous, eye-opening story of how beavers and the beaver trade shaped American history and culture and our environment. Beginning with the early trans-Atlantic trade in North America, Leila Philip traces the beaver’s profound influence on our nation’s early economy and feverish western expansion, its first corporations and multi-millionaires.

 

Into the West: Mercedes Lackey 

Rating: 📚📚📚

Release Date: December 13, 2022

Fantasy

Baron Valdemar and his people have found a temporary haven, but it cannot hold all of them, or for long. Trouble could follow on their heels at any moment, and there are too many people for Crescent Lake to support. Those who are willing to make a further trek by barge on into the West will follow him into a wilderness depopulated by war and scarred by the terrible magics of a thousand years ago and the Mage Wars. But the wilderness is not as empty as it seems. There are potential friends and rapacious foes....

....and someone is watching them.

 Tudors in Love: Passion and Politics in the Age of England's Most Famous Dynasty- Sarah Gristwood

Rating: 📚📚📚📚

Release Date: December 13, 2022

Nonfiction/Medieval History

In this ground-breaking history, Sarah Gristwood reveals the way courtly love made and marred the Tudor dynasty. From Henry VIII declaring himself as the ‘loyal and most assured servant' of Anne Boleyn to the poems lavished on Elizabeth I by her suitors, the Tudors re-enacted the roles of the devoted lovers and capricious mistresses first laid out in the romances of medieval literature. The Tudors in Love dissects the codes of love, desire and power, unveiling romantic obsessions that have shaped the history of the world