Finley Donovan by Elle Cosimano

 

Pages: 1,020

"Finlay Donovan is killing it . . . except, she’s really not. She’s a stressed-out single-mom of two and struggling novelist, Finlay’s life is in chaos: the new book she promised her literary agent isn’t written, her ex-husband fired the nanny without telling her, and this morning she had to send her four-year-old to school with hair duct-taped to her head after an incident with scissors. When Finlay is overheard discussing the plot of her new suspense novel with her agent over lunch, she’s mistaken for a contract killer, and inadvertently accepts an offer to dispose of a problem husband in order to make ends meet... Soon, Finlay discovers that crime in real life is a lot more difficult than its fictional counterpart, as she becomes tangled in a real-life murder investigation. Fast-paced, deliciously witty, and wholeheartedly authentic in depicting the frustrations and triumphs of motherhood in all its messiness, hilarity, and heartfelt moments."

Best beach read I could have taken on vacation. I could not stop reading these and was laughing the whole time. The hilarity with which Finlay gets herself tied up in different crimes, without committing a single one, is amazing. Another author-ception with Finley basing her new block-buster books after her adventures with her nanny (accountant/accomplice) and juggling a single-mother life with pseudo-contract killer reputation. I cannot wait for the next installment after the cliff-hanger at the end.

Silvered Serpents and Bronzed Beasts by Roshai Chokshi

 

Pages: 406

"Severin and his team members might have successfully thwarted the Fallen House, but victory came at a terrible cost -- one that still haunts all of them. Desperate to make amends, Severin pursues a dangerous lead to find a long lost artifact rumored to grant its possessor the power of God. Their hunt lures them far from Paris, and into the icy heart of Russia where crystalline ice animals stalk forgotten mansions, broken goddesses carry deadly secrets, and a string of unsolved murders makes the crew question whether an ancient myth is a myth after all. As hidden secrets come to the light and the ghosts of the past catch up to them, the crew will discover new dimensions of themselves. But what they find out may lead them down paths they never imagined. A tale of love and betrayal as the crew risks their lives for one last job."

Pages: 400

"In love they breathed. In destiny they believed. In the end, will divinity be their demise? After Séverin's seeming betrayal, the crew is fractured. Armed with only a handful of hints, Enrique, Laila, Hypnos and Zofia must find their way through the snarled, haunted waterways of Venice, Italy to locate Séverin. Meanwhile, Séverin must balance the deranged whims of the Patriarch of the Fallen House and discover the location of a temple beneath a plague island where the Divine Lyre can be played and all that he desires will come to pass. With only ten days until Laila expires, the crew will face plague pits and deadly masquerades, unearthly songs and the shining steps of a temple whose powers might offer divinity itself...but at a price they may not be willing to pay."

Both amazing installments for this series. I really enjoyed Severin's arc even though I hated it in the moment and some of his choices. It was human and realistic and I wanted him to reach out to his friends the whole time. And I love Laila and how they wrapped up their story at the end. The pairings are great and the banter between them all is always a great piece of dialog. Combined with its unique magic setting and industrial revolutionary history makes this a wonderful and unique trilogy.

The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi

 

Pages: 388

"It's 1889. The city is on the cusp of industry and power, and the Exposition Universelle has breathed new life into the streets and dredged up ancient secrets. Here, no one keeps tabs on dark truths better than treasure-hunter and wealthy hotelier Séverin Montagnet-Alarie. When the elite, ever-powerful Order of Babel coerces him to help them on a mission, Séverin is offered a treasure that he never imagined: his true inheritance.

To hunt down the ancient artefact the Order seeks, Séverin calls upon a band of unlikely experts: An engineer with a debt to pay. A historian banished from his home. A dancer with a sinister past. And a brother in arms if not blood.  Together, they will join Severin as he explores the dark, glittering heart of Paris. What they find might change the course of history--but only if they can stay alive."

Historical heist plus a cool magic system?? Count me in! I loved the industrial vibes combined with the interesting magic system that reminded me of the small science from the Grisha universe. I have so many questions after finishing, not to mention a pile of tissues from the ending, I cannot wait to start the next one!

Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree

 

Pages: 305

"Worn out after decades of packing steel and raising hell, Viv the orc barbarian cashes out of the warrior’s life with one final score. A forgotten legend, a fabled artifact, and an unreasonable amount of hope lead her to the streets of Thune, where she plans to open the first coffee shop the city has ever seen.

However, her dreams of a fresh start pulling shots instead of swinging swords are hardly a sure bet. Old frenemies and Thune’s shady underbelly may just upset her plans. To finally build something that will last, Viv will need some new partners and a different kind of resolve.

A hot cup of fantasy slice-of-life with a dollop of romantic froth."

I loved this book. I wish it was longer and I was so excited to see another book in the universe is being written. Give me more fantasy slice of life stories! The cozy vibes were amazing and I love all the side characters, especially their little pastry chef and watching as the coffee shop came together. I would definitely recommend this as a fantasy cozy genre blend.

The Amber Spyglass by Philip Pullman

 

Pages: 465

"Will is the bearer of the knife. Now, accompanied by angels, his task is to deliver that powerful, dangerous weapon to Lord Asriel - by the command of his dying father.

But how can he go looking for Lord Asriel when Lyra is gone? Only with her help can he fathom the myriad plots and intrigues that beset him.

The two great powers of the many worlds are lining up for war, and Will must find Lyra, for together they are on their way to battle, an inevitable journey that will even take them to the world of the dead..."

This book might be my favorite of the trilogy. I loved seeing Dr Malone interacting with the new world and exploring their language and culture. The heartbreaking moments were so well done, I wanted to hold Pantalaimon and tell him it will be okay and the ending wrecked me. Listening to the author read the Audiobook version was amazing and I always love when they have a voice cast for the characters. Definitly would recommend to anyone who enjoys adventure and audiobooks.

The Wolf and the Woodsman by Ava Reid

 

Pages: 448

"In her forest-veiled village, Évike is the only woman without power, making her an outcast clearly abandoned by the gods. When soldiers arrive from the Holy Order of Woodsmen to claim a pagan girl for the king's blood sacrifice, Évike is betrayed by her fellow villagers and surrendered. But when monsters attack the Woodsmen and their captive en route, slaughtering everyone but Évike and the cold, one-eyed captain, they have no choice but to rely on each other. As the son of a reviled foreign queen, Gáspár understands what it's like to be an outcast, and he and Évike make a tenuous pact to stop his brother. As their mission takes them from the bitter northern tundra to the smog-choked capital, their mutual loathing slowly turns to affection, bound by a shared history of alienation and oppression. However, trust can easily turn to betrayal, and as Évike reconnects with her estranged father and discovers her own hidden magic, she and Gáspár need to decide whose side they're on, and what they're willing to give up for a nation that never cared for them at all."

I loved the premise for this story, mixing the Jewish and Hungarian mythologies and religious prejudice set a great background for the plot. I was a little disappointed in the dialog, it got a little repetitive and the chemistry between the love interests was a lacking.

A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas

 

Pages: 757

"Nesta Archeron has always been prickly-proud, swift to anger, and slow to forgive. And ever since being forced into the Cauldron and becoming High Fae against her will, she's struggled to find a place for herself within the strange, deadly world she inhabits. Worse, she can't seem to move past the horrors of the war with Hybern and all she lost in it.  The one person who ignites her temper more than any other is Cassian, the battle-scarred warrior whose position in Rhysand and Feyre's Night Court keeps him constantly in Nesta's orbit. But her temper isn't the only thing Cassian ignites. Meanwhile, the treacherous human queens who returned to the Continent during the last war have forged a dangerous new alliance, threatening the fragile peace that has settled over the realms. And the key to halting them might very well rely on Cassian and Nesta facing their haunting pasts. "

I wish there was more of the adventure than romance to fit in with the previous books. The spice level was a little over the top for me and I wanted to see more of the interactions between the new Valkyries and get more of their stories and growth. I really enjoyed Nesta's journey and growth as she found her place in a world she was forced into and found her own little family. As for Cassian, I loved him in the original trilogy, but he felt a little off in this book. The plot also felt really rushed and concluded way to fast. Even though it was left open with the potential of another big badguy. Maybe more will be done in future books.

The Woman in the Library by Sulari Gentill

Pages: 288

"The ornate reading room at the Boston Public Library is quiet, until the tranquility is shattered by a woman's terrified scream. Security guards take charge immediately, instructing everyone inside to stay put until the threat is identified and contained. While they wait for the all-clear, four strangers, who'd happened to sit at the same table, pass the time in conversation and friendships are struck. Each has his or her own reasons for being in the reading room that morning-it just happens that one is a murderer."

Author-ception is how I would initially describe this book. It starts out with a letter written to a fictional author by a fan who is writing a mystery novel about an author writing a mystery novel. That layering alone intrigued me but I stayed for the multiple mysteries the different authors were experiencing. It was also interesting to see how authors write things they see in everyday life as inspiration for their books seen both by the author writing back and forth with a fan at the end of each chapter and the characters of the mystery novel themselves competing for who gets to write the quirky neighbor into their novel. I really enjoyed the story overall though the characters read a little flat, the parallel story lines and the mysterious fan correspondence kept me interested.

Sorry, Bro by Taleen Voskuni

 

Pages: 351

"When Nar’s odar (non-Armenian) boyfriend gets down on one knee and proposes to her in front of a room full of drunk San Francisco tech boys, she realizes it’s time to find someone who shares her idea of romance. Enter Mom. Armed with plenty of mom guilt and an actual spreadsheet of Facebook-stalked Armenian men (complete with their height and weight), Mom convinces Nar to attend Explore Armenia, a month-long series of events in the city. But it’s not the mom-approved playboy doctor or bro-slinging engineer that catches her eye at the very first gathering—it’s Erebuni, a woman as equally immersed in the witchy arts as she is in preserving Armenian identity. Erebuni helps Nar see the beauty of their shared culture, and makes her feel understood in a way she never has before. But there’s one teeny problem: Nar’s not exactly out as bisexual. Her mom doesn’t even want her wearing flats, how would she feel about Nar bringing home a woman? The clock is ticking on Nar’s double life, though—the closing Explore Armenia banquet is coming up, and her entire extended family will be there, along with Erebuni. But Nar is determined to be brave, determined to claim her happiness: proudly Armenian, proudly bisexual, and proudly herself for the first time in her life." 

The beginning of this book was strong. Following Nar as she navigates her job, an unexpected proposal, and now the pressure from her family to find a good Armenian man. I was a little surprised that this was ladled as a RomCom style as there was a little too much tension that overshadowed the light-hearted moments. The ending conflict was resolved a little too easily in my opinion as well. Other than that, it was a fun romance that includes some cool looks into Armenian culture. The food descriptions kept making me hungry!

The Rose and the Dagger by Renée Ahdieh

 

Pages: 420

"In a land on the brink of war, Shahrzad is forced from the arms of her beloved husband, the Caliph of Khorasan. She once thought Khalid a monster—a merciless killer of wives, responsible for immeasurable heartache and pain—but as she unraveled his secrets, she found instead an extraordinary man and a love she could not deny. Still, a curse threatens to keep Shazi and Khalid apart forever. Now she’s reunited with her family, who have found refuge in the desert, where a deadly force is gathering against Khalid—a force set on destroying his empire and commanded by Shazi’s spurned childhood sweetheart. Trapped between loyalties to those she loves, the only thing Shazi can do is act. Using the burgeoning magic within her as a guide, she strikes out on her own to end both this terrible curse and the brewing war once and for all. But to do it, she must evade enemies of her own to stay alive."

I am happy and upset at the same time with this ending. I loved how we got some more of the magic than the first book and how it was woven in to the story. Though now I am crying for Irsa, she deserved a happy ending. I wished we had more interactions between the main pairing as I loved their chemistry but this second half of the duology was more focused on the curse and near war.

The Wrath & the Dawn by Renée Ahdieh

 

Pages: 404

"Every dawn brings horror to a different family in a land ruled by a killer. Khalid, the eighteen-year-old Caliph of Khorasan, takes a new bride each night only to have her executed at sunrise. So it is a suspicious surprise when sixteen-year-old Shahrzad volunteers to marry Khalid. But she does so with a clever plan to stay alive and exact revenge on the Caliph for the murder of her best friend and countless other girls. Shazi’s wit and will, indeed, get her through to the dawn that no others have seen, but with a catch . . . she’s falling in love with the very boy who killed her dearest friend.

She discovers that the murderous boy-king is not all that he seems and neither are the deaths of so many girls. Shazi is determined to uncover the reason for the murders and to break the cycle once and for all." 

I love the blend of Arabian nights stories. A story of revenge turns into an intriguing romance with 'touch her and die' vibes. I love Shazi and how she is always putting people in their place, even if it gets her in trouble. And now a secret curse that would shed a new light on the heinous crimes of the boy-king is leading into the second book and leaving off on a cliff-hanger!

Belladonna by Adalyn Grace

 

Pages: 416

"Nineteen-year-old Signa Farrow, orphaned as a baby, has been raised by a string of guardians, each more interested in her wealth than her well-being—and each has met an untimely end. Her last remaining relatives are the Hawthornes, an eccentric family living at the glittering and gloomy estate of Thorn Grove. Thorn Grove’s patriarch, Elijah, mourns his late wife, Lillian, through wild parties and drink, while eldest son Percy grapples for control of the family’s waning reputation and daughter Blythe suffers from the same mysterious illness that killed her mother. And when Lillian’s spirit confronts Signa and claims she was poisoned, Signa realizes that Blythe could be next to die.

Signa’s best chance of uncovering the culprit and solving Lillian’s murder is an alliance with Death himself—the very man she hates most. And Death, that fascinating, dangerous shadow who has never been far from her side, shows her that their connection may be more powerful than she ever dared imagine."

I was initially drawn to this one for the cover. The first edition hardback is gorgeous and I need to find one;

I really enjoyed Signa discovering society life is not what she thought it was while at the same time trying to solve a mystery. I could not have predicted the ending and the Gothic vibes were amazing. Who doesn't want a murder mystery in a haunted mansion, being assisted by Death himself! I am now obsessed and want the next book to come out.

The Subtle Knife by Philip Pullman

 

Pages: 326

"Lost in a new world, Lyra finds Will—a boy on the run, a murderer—a worthy and welcome ally. For this is a world where soul-eating Specters stalk the streets and witches share the skies with troops of angels.

Each is searching—Lyra for the meaning of Dark Matter, Will for his missing father—but what they find instead is a deadly secret, a knife of untold power. And neither Lyra nor Will suspects how tightly their lives, their loves, and their destinies are bound together... until they are split apart."

This series is really starting to feel more like a science-fiction adventure. Lyra hops to different dimensions that are similar to each other, but have different rules. She meets another boy, Will, who is also moving between dimensions on a different quest. But they both work together as their ultimate goals are related to an epic war that is about to begin once again. They keep hinting at the origins of this war and more powerful artifacts that only they can use are appearing. I do miss the characters left behind in the first book, I hope a particular bear re-appears in the final book!

Finale by Stephanie Garber

 

Pages: 478

"It's been two months since the Fates were freed from a deck of cards, two months since Legend claimed the throne for his own, and two months since Tella discovered the boy she fell in love with doesn't really exist. With lives, empires, and hearts hanging in the balance, Tella must decide if she's going to trust Legend or a former enemy. After uncovering a secret that upends her life, Scarlett will need to do the impossible. And Legend has a choice to make that will forever change and define him.

Caraval is over, but perhaps the greatest game of all has begun. There are no spectators this time: only those who will win, and those who will lose everything. Welcome, welcome to Finale. All games must come to an end..."

Oh the twists! The game has become reality as mysterious Fates have been released and are slowly waking up to wreck havoc. The story follows both sisters this time flipping back and forth as they both try and figure out how to save everyone and each other at the same time. Tella's love triangle (?) was really interesting and I got excited when I found out Jacks is in Garber's more recent series. One more for the TBR!

Legendary by Stephanie Garber

 Pages: 451

"After being swept up in the magical world of Caraval, Donatella Dragna has finally escaped her father and saved her sister Scarlett from a disastrous arranged marriage. The girls should be celebrating, but Tella isn't yet free. She made a desperate bargain with a mysterious criminal, and what Tella owes him no one has ever been able to deliver: Caraval Master Legend's true name. 

The only chance of uncovering Legend's identity is to win Caraval, so Tella throws herself into the legendary competition once more--and into the path of the murderous heir to the throne, a doomed love story, and a web of secrets...including her sister's. Caraval has always demanded bravery, cunning, and sacrifice. But now the game is asking for more. If Tella can't fulfill her bargain and deliver Legend's name, she'll lose everything she cares about--maybe even her life. But if she wins, Legend and Caraval will be destroyed forever. "

I was not expecting the shift in perspectives but I love how we are now getting Tella's story after Scarlet's. We still get some of Scarlet but the focus is more on her sister Tella and how this Caraval is more real than ever. It was hard at first to believe that things were getting real after the first book.

Caraval by Stephanie Garber

Pages:  407

"Scarlett Dragna has never left the tiny island where she and her sister, Tella, live with their powerful, and cruel, father. Now Scarlett’s father has arranged a marriage for her, and Scarlett thinks her dreams of seeing Caraval—the faraway, once-a-year performance where the audience participates in the show—are over.

But this year, Scarlett’s long-dreamt-of invitation finally arrives. With the help of a mysterious sailor, Tella whisks Scarlett away to the show. Only, as soon as they arrive, Tella is kidnapped by Caraval’s mastermind organizer, Legend. It turns out that this season’s Caraval revolves around Tella, and whoever finds her first is the winner.

Scarlett has been told that everything that happens during Caraval is only an elaborate performance. Nevertheless she becomes enmeshed in a game of love, heartbreak, and magic. And whether Caraval is real or not, Scarlett must find Tella before the five nights of the game are over or a dangerous domino effect of consequences will be set off, and her beloved sister will disappear forever."

The mystery and intrigue in this book! You cannot tell what is real and what is not. I am on the second book and I still have doubts about some of the happenings in the first one! I do not think the game ever ends. There are so many twists and turns and motivations seem to change at the drop of a hat. I hope the ending is real, I would be heartbroken for Scarlett if the act continues on through the next books.

The Bone House by Emily Lloyd

 Pages: 352

"Seventeen-year-old Aderyn ("Ryn") only cares about two things: her family, and her family's graveyard. And right now, both are in dire straits. Since the death of their parents, Ryn and her siblings have been scraping together a meager existence as gravediggers in the remote village of Colbren, which sits at the foot of a harsh and deadly mountain range that was once home to the fae. The problem with being a gravedigger in Colbren, though, is that the dead don't always stay dead.

The risen corpses are known as "bone houses," and legend says that they're the result of a decades-old curse. When Ellis, an apprentice mapmaker with a mysterious past, arrives in town, the bone houses attack with new ferocity. What is it that draws them near? And more importantly, how can they be stopped for good?"

I wish this author has more standalone fantasy novels. I really enjoyed the Drowned Woods with is quirky magic (and the corgi!!) and strong characters. This one was a twist of more welsh folktales with more of a horror twist and another fun sidekick/pet in the goat.

Half a Soul by Olivia Atwater

 

Pages: 304

"Ever since she was cursed by a faerie, Theodora Ettings has had no sense of fear or embarrassment - a condition which makes her prone to accidental scandal. Dora hopes to be a quiet, sensible wallflower during the London Season - but when the strange, handsome and utterly uncouth Lord Sorcier discovers her condition, she is instead drawn into dangerous and peculiar faerie affairs. 

If Dora's reputation can survive both her curse and her sudden connection with the least-liked man in all of high society, then she may yet reclaim her normal place in the world. . . but the longer Dora spends with Elias Wilder, the more she begins to suspect that one may indeed fall in love, even with only half a soul."

One store describes this novel as Bridgerton meets Howl's Moving Castle and I cannot agree more. With such a short story, there was a lot packed in with dealings with cruel fae, a slow burn romance with scheming mothers, and a mysterious plague that is somehow connected with Dora's condition. Definitely recommend as a feel good romance.

Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik

 

Pages: 465

"When an ill-advised boast draws the attention of the king of the Staryk--grim fey creatures who seem more ice than flesh--Miryem's fate, and that of two kingdoms, will be forever altered. Set an impossible challenge by the nameless king, Miryem unwittingly spins a web that draws in a peasant girl, Wanda, and the unhappy daughter of a local lord who plots to wed his child to the dashing young tsar. But Tsar Mirnatius is not what he seems. And the secret he hides threatens to consume the lands of humans and Staryk alike. Torn between deadly choices, Miryem and her two unlikely allies embark on a desperate quest that will take them to the limits of sacrifice, power, and love."

Spinning Silver is a retelling of Rumpelstiltskin anchored in reality. Miryem gains a reputation as a moneylender who turns silver into gold through investments and interest. Unfortunately mysterious creatures called the Staryk covet gold and want her to make some for them. The clever solutions to the challenges are amazing and the universe that the author weaves is so magically atmospheric. The story is told through six different perspectives, but it does not get muddled and confusing like other multiple pov stories. The separate threads flowed with each other so well and kept me excited to see each one instead of waiting to go back to the original.

The Golden Compass by Philip Pullmann

 

Pages: 399

"Lyra is rushing to the cold, far North, where witch clans and armored bears rule. North, where the Gobblers take the children they steal--including her friend Roger. North, where her fearsome uncle Asriel is trying to build a bridge to a parallel world.

Can one small girl make a difference in such great and terrible endeavors? This is Lyra: a savage, a schemer, a liar, and as fierce and true a champion as Roger or Asriel could want--but what Lyra doesn't know is that to help one of them will be to betray the other."

I am not sure if this fits in the genre of Science Fiction or Fantasy as elements from both were blended together in this book. I read this when I was younger but re-reading it I pick up on more details. I think this book could be enjoyed by both children and adults, though it is geared towards a younger audience. The audiobook was amazing with the host of great voice actors and the narrator's voice is so soothing I fell asleep listening a few times.