Book Review: City of Iron and Ivy by Thomas Kent West

This book wasn't on my radar when I received it for review and I want to extend my deepest thanks to the person who sent me this book because this was truly a MAGNIFICENT BOOK. I've been reading when I should be sleeping, eating, everything and everywhere I could, I was reading this book. My son was in my lap enjoying his breakfast and I had my phone in my hand, trying to read. I've gone to my group chat of book friends and sung the praises of this book. My copy is ordered and set for delivery on release day after which I will hopefully go back to my book community and fawn over this book with other people who loved it as much as I did. This book is everything I wanted from a historical romantasy with a murder mystery edge and Thomas Kent West has become the latest author that I will follow for the rest of their writing career.

City of Iron and Ivy follows Elswyth Elderwood, the last debutante of the Elderwood line who has to enter London society in search of a husband. Elswyth would rather study botany at Oxford, where she was just accepted, but when her sister Persephone goes missing and is declared dead with little investigation into her disappearance, the role of saving their family falls to Elswyth. Elswyth's London is filled with floromancy, the ability that allows the user to sprout plants from their skin. Floromancy is used by people to decorate their clothes, for medicinal purposes, and by one known as the Reaper, who leaves their victims with organs missing and plants sprouting from their insides when they're left in the streets. Elswyth believes her sister's disappearance might have a connection to the Reaper, and when she realizes the Reaper might be a nobleman, Elswyth's efforts to find a husband also merge with her investigation into the suitors and friends her sister had gathered in the season before she went missing. Elswyth must learn how to defend herself and understand the nobility in order to find the Reaper or she might end up just like her sister.

I'll start with the writing. This was intricately done, finding the perfect tone to feel set in the 1800s. The writing translated well, building a world that seemed familiar and yet stood apart with its magic system. As a book focused on a murder mystery and a woman trying to learn what she needed to enter society, the book managed to find the perfect balance between these two vastly different subjects. Readers are shown enough of Elswyth's lessons and her interactions with her peers to feel the strain these rules had on society and how they keep Elswyth struggling to fit in. Elywyth, a scholar, is forced to learn etiquette and how to curtsy depending on who she is speaking to, and everything feels like a lady being forced into the marriage market is a game that only the most skilled have learned how to play. All Elswyth can do is hope to survive the encounters with the nobility as she attempts to question them about the last few weeks before Persephone disappeared. On the other hand the mystery is well-handled, keeping the suspense steady so that every moment Elswyth is out with others, the tension can still be felt as she continues her search. Elswyth has to find the time to keep up her investigation and every moment she can magage to find is devoted to understanding her sister and what led to her demise. The merging of the two keeps the reader turning pages, waiting to see if another victim will come to light or if Elswyth will manage to impress the ton, both feats keeping readers on the edge of their seat. The writing is accesible and the rhythm is smooth, easily enthralling readers with the world West has created.

As for the characters, everyone is detailed, whether they spent a lot of time on the page or not. I loved, truly, absolutely, LOVED Elswyth. I loved how Elswyth was passionate about her studies, using her knowledge to find ways to interact with her peers. She was forced into learning lessons from a matchmaker and she fought it in ways and at intervals whenever she could but at the same time, her interest in botany helped to make her stand out. The moments where she truly shined were when she used plants to talk to people, helping her to make connections that could have been beneficial to her future. Her knowledge of plants gave her the chance to spend some hours working for a highly influential doctor where she helped with his experiments and she was able to use plants to truly engage with some of the suitors she hoped would make a match for her. Her efforts over and over to pick her head up and try again when so many of the nobility wanted to cast her out and they tried their hardest to destroy her, made me love her just that much more. Nothing was easy for her and it felt realistic to see Elswyth struggle, to see her feel dejected and then rally again for the sake of finding out what happened to her sister. That dogged determination felt like true sisterly love which was impressive, as Persephone is only mentioned in passing because of the circumstances of her being the missing person of the mystery central to the plot. I believed in their relationship without having to see it for myself and that kept me believing in Elswyth as a character.

As for the rest of the cast, I loved both Elswyth's uncle Percival and his steward Kehinde. I loved how Percival was the outcast of his generation, able to relate to Elswyth's struggles and able to talk to her on their level, to show her how he managed to go out and make his own path even if it didn't fit with what was expected of him in society. He could understand her struggles and he cared for her happiness and he worked to make a difference with his role in Parliament that he never wanted for himself but he made do with the hand he was dealt. I also enjoyed how Kehinde respected Elswyth's intellect, choosing to challenge her and teach her to defend herself because he knew she was capable of more. I loved how quickly Kehinde accepted Elswyth and how in turn that became him willing to step in and take care of her when she needed help. I especially loved Mrs. Rose, Elswyth's matchmaker and tutor, who was pushy and snarky and who butted heads more often than not with Elswyth but still managed to show just how much she cared for her charge with her actions every step of the way with the story. I thought Persephone was clearly drawn for readers with the recollections of every character that described her, marking her as the more approachable of the sisters and yet still someone important to Elswyth. The love interest, Silas Blackthorn, was intriguing with the circumstances we are introduced to him with and the background of his birth and his current status in society. There are more characters like Dr. Gall, who Elswyth worked for, and Venus Forscythe, a former close friend of Persephone's, all who make impacts on the story that keep Elswyth working hard to get what she wants, a husband and information about her sister. Everyone has a part to play and no one felt like they needed more development as they all felt like fully fleshed out people with their wants, their dreams and their schemes and machinations.

The mystery itself, the idea about the Reaper and what they could do to their victims was riveting. The magic system was unique enough already but the way it was used to have the Reaper when they had another victim was so engrossing. The idea of someone killing people in this way was enough to make my stomach turn a bit and yet I couldn't turn away from the page at the same time. The different developments kept me locked in to the story and the reveals were each bigger than the last, showing West has a deft hand at handling the different elements of a good mystery. By the time the book ended, I can confidently say that West kept me guessing until the last moment what would happen and that ending was in a word, PERFECTION. I have no idea if West would ever return to the world created in this book but if it were to happen, I'd be first in line to read it.

In the end, City of Iron and Ivy has become another favorite and Thomas Kent West has become an author to follow from here on out. I loved every moment of this book and I can't wait to see what West has in store next for readers. I'm sure it will be another favorite for my shelves when the time comes.

Rating on my Scale: 10 Stars. I honestly had no complaints about this book. Everything worked and I will probably read it again when it arrives in the mail. This was a truly magical book and I hope so many readers find their way to this London to spend time with Elswyth and see her in action.

My thanks to Netgalley, Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and Thomas Kent West for the eARC of this book in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.

Book Review: The Faraway Inn by Sarah Beth Durst

My thanks to Netgalley, Random House Children's Books and Sarah Beth Durst for the eARC of this book in exchange for a review.

I've been reading Sarah Beth Durst's work for YEARS. The first book I bought by Durst was Ice and I've bought nearly every release since (nearly because there are still a few books I'm trying to find on my shelves before continuing to collect Durst's work). I love the worlds that Durst creates, the ideas that come to life in the pages of the books she writes. When I saw the artwork for Durst's next release, The Faraway Inn, I was immediately entranced. The colors were gorgeous and the depiction of the inn on the cover immediately made me want to step into the pages to learn more about it. I jumped at the chance to read this book and it was the perfect book to open the New Year with and I wish there could be more in this world. The people in it, the places, everything was exactly what I wanted to see and experience. This has become a new favorite of Durst's work for me, at least until Sea of Charms is released.

The Faraway Inn follows Calisa, a sixteen-year-old who has had to overhaul her summer plans after discovering that her ex is a lying cheat. Calisa decides the best way to get over her ex would be her parents' suggestion to help her great-aunt with her B&B in rural Vermont for a few months. When she arrives at the inn, Calisa is surprised by how rundown everything has gotten and when she sees her aunt for the first time in years it becomes clear that Calisa was not invited to stay for the summer. Worse, Auntie Zee wants Calisa to turn around and go straight home. But Calisa is determined to stay, not just to get over her ex but to help Auntie Zee with anything and everything to get the inn in better shape. Trying to prove that she can be an asset, Calisa starts to work on different projects at the inn, cleaning rooms that haven't been used in years, helping with the cooking and working on the landscaping with the groundskeeper's son, who wants to keep the inn open as well. As the pair work together, Calisa starts to notice things about the inn's few guests and the inn itself, things that can't really be explained. As time passes, Calisa realizes there is something special about this inn she has found a space for herself in. But if the inn is going to continue to run, Calisa needs to discover the truth about the inn and her Auntie Zee before it's too late to save it.

It's obvious from the start that there is something special about the inn but the slow unraveling about everything special is what keeps the smile on your face while you're reading. There is so much to discover about The Faraway Inn, from the way the guests talk to the things Calisa sees out of the corners of her eyes. Suffice to say, Durst has a knack for making a setting feel like a real place, filling it with wonders and people you wish you could meet. These things are better left discovered by the readers so I won't delve more into the details. The magic of the place is part of the appeal and the act of reading to uncover the truths will keep the pages turning.

I loved the characters in this book. I felt bad for Calisa's situation and I was sure I'd like her when I read her way of thinking things through, determined to see her ex for what he was and cutting herself off from him to be sure she could move on. I liked that she was willing to put in the work to get the inn cleaned up, spending her days dusting and cleaning bathrooms. A teenager that cleans? A rare sight indeed. It might have started out as a method to get her to stay but Calisa quickly started to want to help, to want to get the inn back to its former glory. I liked how she tried, her strength in continuing on. She was a great lead to follow even if she had a tendency to ignore the rules. I liked the groundskeeper's son, Jack, and the way he helped Calisa, doing the repairs around the place and showing her that she was worth listening to and understanding what she said. Jack helped Calisa to believe in herself and they were so sweet together. It was lovely to see how they supported each other as friends and co-workers.

I loved the guests, sweet Mulligan, regal Kendra, and earnest Melidor. They each had a way of getting Calisa to become a bit more, to getting her to a place where she could listen and learn from the guests so Calisa could be what they needed to help them during their stay. They were each magical in their own way and their being willing to help Calisa in her quest to stay and then her task of trying to get the inn back to the way it was made me love them each a little more. As the story continues and more magical people join the fray, I wanted to learn more about them and where they came from. What little we were given was both enough and not enough. If Durst ever wanted to continue with companions to this book, focusing on the inn's occupants, I'd be first in line to read those books.

This was a comforting, cozy read. The discoveries made and the magic of the book still bring a smile to my face when I think about it. A book automatically becomes a five star read for me when it manages to make me a little teary-eyed and this book managed to do that more than once. I cared about this place and the people it sheltered. I wanted to step in and take a break at the Faraway Inn and now I can once I get the book in my hands.

Rating on my scale: 10 Stars!! This one of the sweetest books I've read in quite sometime. Read this book if you're a fan of Diana Wynne Jones and Patricia C. Wrede.

Book Review: Clara & the Devil by Olivie Blake, Illustrated by Little Chmura

My thanks to Netgalley, First Second Books, Olivie Blake and Little Chmura for the eARC of this graphic novel in exchange for a review.

It's a goal of mine to collect and read as many works by Olivie Blake as I can find. When I saw that there would be a graphic novel by Blake, I immediately pre-ordered a copy for myself. The title, the synopsis and what I saw of the artwork on the cover was enough to convince me to give this a shot. I'm happy to report that this was a stunning piece of work, quietly gripping and beautiful to behold.

Clara & the Devil follows Clara, a young woman with plans to marry her long-time boyfriend and get a job at the library in her seaside hometown. One day, a person that identifies themself as the Devil asks for a library card and everything begins to change. Clara spends the summer trying to understand why the Devil came to her town, what the Devil wants with her best friend Jonah, and what the Devil wants with her.

This was an interesting tale. It's sparse with the dialogue, focusing a lot on the inner workings of Clara's mind, showing how she keeps herself contained and observes the people around her. She has her plans in place but the arrival of the Devil forces her to take a closer look at exactly what she wants for herself. The appearance of the Devil in the work is kept to a minimum, working more with the IDEA of what the Devil means to Clara in helping her to confront her deepest desires. The Devil doesn't actively work to make Clara change and that is a key part of the story, showing how the growth of Clara as a character is dependent on what she chooses for herself.

Besides the Devil, the only other character given page time is Jonah, Clara's best friend. There is enough page time to show that Jonah has also kept parts of himself hidden away from people and that with the arrival of the Devil, Jonah begins to actively pursue what he truly wants. There is mention of a co-worker, Marianne, at the library, and Clara's supposedly devoted boyfriend, Andrew, but they're not given enough development to stand apart from what they mean to Clara. I guess we'll have to see in other volumes if there will be more to these characters of if their lack of page time indicates their importance to the story.

The artwork is in a word, gorgeous. There is a water-color quality to the colors used in the art, allowing each page to feel like swimming through the waters of the seaside town, showing the flow of change in Clara as she again and again comes face to face with the Devil. There are a lot of greens, blacks and muted teals and blues swirled in the background, with the brightest colors being certain splashes of red and orange, either to indicate changes in Clara's thoughts and world or to highlight the flush in her face and the Devil's face, and even bright blue was used for both the Devil's and Clara's eye color and certain accents around the Devil when they were trying to make a point. Alongside the water dripping off certain frames and panels, there are a lot flames used in the background, outlines meant to indicate the changes that the characters are experiencing, and I loved the use of these images to give more heft to the work. I want to find more work by Little Chmura to see what other styles they use because this book is beautiful. Where the prose keeps itself back, allowing for the reader to fill in the blanks between sentences, the art rises like the tide behind the images of Clara, the Devil and Jonah. Both Blake's words and Little Chmura's art are needed to make this graphic novel something that stands apart from recent releases. It's a dreamy look into hidden desires and the meaning of power, being power over others and power over one's own self.

In the end, I'm looking forward to more volumes of Clara & the Devil. From what I can find, there might be more available on the Webtoon site if I want to get ahead in the story. At this point, I'm seriously considering it.

Rating on my Scale: 9 Stars. While I'm still a bit in awe of this book, I wish there was more available in the first official volume. I'm going to have to look into the webtoon to get more of this world and answers to the questions that I have at this time. On one hand, this need to seek out more is a good thing but on the other, I don't know if the webtoon is being recreated in the official release as an exact copy or if it's been redone in any way. Still, if you are fan of either of these creators, you won't be disappointed by what you find in these pages.

Book Review: A Tangled Magic by Andrea Eames

It was fortune or fate that I saw an announcement and leapt at the chance to be a part of the ARC team for this book. I loved A Harvest of Hearts and I knew that I NEEDED to have a chance, however small, to read this book. When I saw my name on the list, my heart jumped in my chest and I was so grateful to be a part of the team. I read this book in a matter of days and it was everything I hoped it would be and more. From the plot, to the characters to the world itself, everything is so unique and enthralling, I anticipate this being a big hit for, well, EVERY reader. It's just that good. 

A Tangled Magic follows Netta, a young woman who has grown up in isolation with her mother in a tower. Her mother has spent the entirety of Netta's life working on a book that contains her research into magic and her creation of a powerful spell. Unable to read the books around her, Netta has her hair, which contains magic and almost a mind of its own, and her telepathic raven, Baldbeak to keep her company. Netta works on making the inks and quills for her mother and anything else she needs while her mother works on her masterpiece book. Also, when Netta has the time, she enjoys making intricate embroidery, using her needle and threads to work through emotions by putting them to fabric. One day, Netta wakes up to find that the tower has been attacked and her mother and the spellbook are gone. Determined to find her mother, Netta ventures into the kingdom outside the tower, which is coming close to war. Different factions are trying to gain power and for reasons unknown to Netta, they want her and the power she has in her hair. In order to find out what happened to the only family she has, Netta needs to discover the truth about her magic and how to wield it along with her place in the kingdom.

I'll start with the writing. Everything is concise, with reveals given at opportune times, making it easy to follow along with the story and Netta on her quest. The ease of the story allows it to be accessible and yet complex enough to be intriguing with the different motivations that are driving the country to be close to a civil war. Eames has talent and it shows with the way the story unfolds, every moment earned and every decision made with just enough trepidation that the risk of making a wrong choice or right one keeps the reader guessing from one moment to the next. Nothing is unnecessary, everything has a part to play, and all questions are answered that need to be answered by the end of the story. There is also enough left for the reader to want to follow Netta into another installment, which hopefully is in the future for this book. I want to know more about EVERYTHING and I hope it is not too long of a wait to see what comes next for this world and the people in it. I also enjoyed the insertion of the various embroidery stitches that Netta uses, which were placed as explanations at the beginning of every chapter. Each example provided an insight into the coming chapter that made me appreciate the research that Eames put into this aspect of the story. It made the story that much more immersive, allowing the readers a chance to understand the significance of the embroidery and how it ties in with the story.

Next is the worldbuilding. I hope there is a map in the future for this book because I am desperate to chart Netta's path through the kingdom of Virelith to the various places she went while searching for her missing mother. The world of this book is unique, especially the information given about the magic system. There are different forms of magic, some people have more than one type of magic, and some even have only a small talent, called an affinity. All of the magic is kept under strict control, with most who can wield it being taught in Temple schools so that they can become a part of their order. It turns out that a plague, started by a mage who used bone magic outside of its purpose, swept through the kingdom, killing many people and forcing the kingdom to burn their dead from then on as a precaution. It also forced magic to be contained into books, so that only those who were worthy would be able to learn it and all other magic was forbidden. Now different factions have gained power but they want more in the current timeline and they will do whatever they can to gain it.

The Temple has gained power through their story of being the only ones who were able to abolish the plague and eradicate bone magic, all for the sake of keeping the kingdom safe. There is the monarchy, which is in peril because the king appears to be ill. There is the nobility and mages, where magic is kept in families usually through marriage, in order to gain the power for themselves and keep it away from common folk. There is also the Followers, a nomadic group of people who walk through the kingdom and are allowed safe passage by the Temple. All of these people have a stake in the story and their interest in Netta is a driving force in keeping Netta on the move, forcing her to deal with the turmoil in the kingdom while trying to find her mother. It's all so intricate and I hope any future installments will delve more into the history of the kingdom, possibly even giving us the complete story of the plague and who started it. I would be first in line to read any of that background story.

Netta, my dear sweet Netta, I wanted to take her with me and have her join a sewing circle so she could embroider to her hearts's content. I thought she was brave and intelligent, proving that she had the strength to leave the safe confines of her tower and venture out into a world she'd only heard about from her mother. Her instincts were spot on and her tenacity was inspiring. I'm so grateful she had her magic hair because I would have been a ball of nerves at every new trial that came Netta's way. Not because Netta was unable to take care of herself but because the worst of the characters in this world were determined to make things difficult for her. It all served to help Netta become more than she could have ever thought with the way she was raised and I loved the way she grew and learned from the people she met and I will follow her and Baldbeak wherever they go next. As for Baldbeak, his loyalty was beautiful to behold, his choosing Netta over and over again made him the animal companion book characters could only dream about having for themselves. If anyone were to be lucky enough to find an animal companion with a devotion like Baldbeak, they would very blessed. I could not get enough of these two together. Their story showed the true depth of emotion that can join two souls together, and Netta and Baldbeak are a pair meant for greater adventures, side by side forever.

As for the rest of the cast, each is important in their own way. Patrick, a traveling magician, was interesting and yet suspicious enough to keep Netta on her toes trying to determine what his motivations were. Patrick in turn led Netta to the Followers, who offered Netta safe passage into the city where she was told by Patrick to find Mieka, an associate of his who offers her a place to stay her first night in the city. There is also the Book Man, known only as the Book Man for now, who was a former associate of Netta's mother, and who also offers his assistance in helping Netta in her search while also offering her shelter. Every one of these people were individuals that Netta chose to accept into her life, most of them for the better, helping her learn more about the person she was and who she could become. After twenty years locked up in a tower with only her mother as her only other human company, Netta is able to step up and make a mark on these people's lives, changing them just as much as she changed herself. I hope to learn more about each of them in future books.

As for the plot, this book is just as much if not more a story of self-discovery as it is a book about a young woman searching for her mother. On this journey, Netta is forced to come to terms with the magic she has and where it came from and how it ties in to the strife currently going on in the kingdom. The discoveries she made were exciting and the decisions she made as a result were enough to make Netta one of my new favorite leads in the book world. It takes talent as a writer to get a reader to the end of the book only to look back and see just how much more intricate the story is about a young woman coming in to herself as a powerful mage in her own right. She just needed the space to grow and to prove that she could more than just an assistant to her mother's great work. The fact that Netta was able to come to terms with just what kind of relationship she truly had with her mother and how it had affected so many parts of herself just proves that Eames has talent galore and is an author to follow. I can't wait to see what Eames comes up with next. It is sure to be a sight to behold.

In the end, I can truly say that I was honored to have the chance to read this book. Everything worked for me and I can't wait for my copy to arrive so it can join my beautiful copy of A Harvest of Hearts and force me to make room for what I'm sure will be many more Eames books to come. That's when I know a book is truly a new favorite, when I have to leave space around it on my shelves to accommodate future works. Only the best books make me rearrange my library.

Rating on my Scale: 10 Magnificent Stars! I hope I was able to clearly convey just how much I loved this book. I was trying to be as clear and concise as possible without being too emotional. But now that that is done, let me be just a little more direct: READ THIS BOOK! YOU'LL LOVE IT!

Okay, now I'm done. Have a wonderful, magical day.

My thanks to Netgalley, Kensington Publishing and Andrea Eames for the eARC of this book in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.

Book Review: When the Light Returns by Joanna Ruth Meyer

Once upon a time, I saw a title of a book and it called to me. The way the words worked together, just two of them, something felt familiar about them, like they were something I once knew. I picked up the book and read the synopsis just as a gesture because I had already decided to buy the book and I knew immediately that my favorite fairytale was some inspiration for the story. I bought the book and spent the next day or so immersed in the story. From there it was simple, read everything I could find by this author. What was the book, you ask?

Echo North by Joanna Ruth Meyer.

I make it a point to search for my favorite authors to see if there is going to be a new release in the following year. When I found the book While the Dark Remains up for pre-orders, I immediately bought a copy. The world-building was exquisite, the characters were heartbreaking and it was overall a brilliant book. The only complaint I had was that I didn't like the FMC's close friends and their absolutely narrow way of judging things. Still, I was on the lookout for another Meyer release and was looking forward to the sequel, When the Light Returns. When I saw that it was available to review, my heart leapt into my throat and I jumped at the chance to read it. I finished this book in about a day. My eyes are filled with grit and I'm dragging more than a little because I stayed up until nearly sunrise to read this but I had to finish this book, I NEEDED to see how it would end. I have a list of people I would axe but I still loved this book. That's the effect reading this book had on me.

When the Light Returns follows Brynja and Ballast after having banished the dark after the events of book 1. But things are not going peacefully. Ballast has been trying to change things for the better after the damage wrought by his late father but the emperor and those working for him want Ballast to give up his claim to the throne and Brynja was the one who made him do it with her magic. Brynja is sent to Iljaria as a result, hoping to return to the home she once knew and report the findings of her mission to the queen herself. However, Queen Valrun has her own agenda that she is working towards that requires Brynja to be forced into helping her to gather the power of the First Ones for the queen's own use. New revelations bring Ballast to Iljaria as well, leaving the two to work together once again to try to save the world from a queen desperate for the power to destroy the world and remake it to her ideals.

The book's main storyline picks up about six months after the end of book 1. The first book had Brynja as a narrator and jumped between two timelines, showing Brynja as a child forced to be a pet acrobat to the king of Daeros and then present day Brynja with her new family heading back to Daeros to overthrow the abusive king. This book continues with Brynja as a narrator but also adds Ballast, as well as Saga, Vil, and the queen Valrun. The chapters again go back and forth in time, with Ballast's chapters also showing some scenes from the first book and the past from his point of view. The main series of events are with Brynja in Iljaria, with each changing view showing each character as they move towards coming together in Iljaria to stop the queen. Every reveal keeps the pages turning, keeps the rhythm moving, made me wish I could read faster because every event made my heart ache and my stomach twist. The only point of view I could have done without was Vil's, who has left a sour taste in my mouth since the first book. I did not enjoy Valrun's but I could understand why it was added in for the sake of the story. I did enjoy seeing things with Saga play out, seeing her struggle to understand her brother's actions and how to save her country. Every character has a part to play and seeing how they move towards each other and are related was riveting. I'm still reeling a bit from the reveal from Ballast's past. I did not see that one coming.

After all of the buildup of the first book with the world of the first ones and the gods and magic, this book spends the majority of its time in Iljaria where every person has magic of some sort and have been trained since childhood to use it. It was interesting to see what Brynja and Ballast could have had if they had been raised in Iljaria. It was also a real eye-opener to see the people that worked for the queen and what they were trying to accomplish. I thought Kallias was one of the worst villains I've seen in the book world for quite some time but Valrun really made me change my mind. The magic system and how she manipulated it made me determined to get through her passages quickly because I needed to see how the characters would be able to get the upper hand. I enjoyed seeing Ballast trying to learn about his magic in a class of children, showing the strict way the school worked and how Ballast was powerful and yet at the same time very behind in his studies of magic.

The magic system itself is expanded quite a bit for this story and it definitely worked as a benefit for this book. After book 1, I'll admit, I wasn't absolutely clear on every discipline of magic shown in the book and who the patron god for it actually was but this book helped with bringing each power into the forefront of the story and show the wielders of it and what they could do with their magic. Readers saw their losses and how they believed in the magic being what makes them superior to the rest of the world. At the same time, we were able to see the other side of the story with Saga learning to accept the magic that she thought had a hand in destroying her life and with Vil trying desperately to acquire power he felt was his to take because he deserved it. All views showed how Brynja and Ballast were a part of each world and yet still held separate and this was what made them best suited to make changes for the better for every country in turmoil in this story.

By the time this book was reaching the end, I was holding my breath and flipping pages as fast as I could tap my thumb. All of the developments were finally coming together and I could not wait to see exactly how Brynja and Ballast managed to defeat the villain and save the world. The resolution was perfect and it made me feel hope and peace at the way Meyer wrapped up her story. Every question I had was answered, each reveal felt earned in the story and the end felt like the right beats were hit, the best growth was accomplished for each character. I LOVED this book by the time I finished it this morning. I can't wait to see what Meyer publishes next.

Rating on my Scale: 10 Stunning Stars! This duology was amazing for me. Every part of this book worked, each development and revelation made this incredible. I can't wait for my copy to arrive so it can go on my shelf of absolute favorite reads.

My thanks to Netgalley, 47North and Joanna Ruth Meyer for the eARC of this book in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.

Book Review: The Disaster Gay Detective Agency: A Novel by Lev A.C. Rosen

When I was given the chance to try an eARC of this book, The Disaster Gay Detective Agency by Lev A.C. Rosen, I leapt at the chance to sign up and hoped I'd get the chance to read it. I'd seen books by Rosen before but hadn't had the chance to read any of them yet. After reading this, I've already borrowed several others copies of Rosen's titles from my library. I definitely want to read more of Rosen's books. This book has so many wonderful things going for it that it is sure to find fans once it is released.

The Disaster Gay Detective Agency follows four queer friends determined to solve a mystery and a murder. The book starts with Brandon working the night shift at a hotel when a handsome guest, Jon, checks in. Jon invites Brandon up to his room and after a quick consult with his friends, Brandon decides to throw caution to the wind and take a leap head first into a chance at true love. Except Jon is gone by the time Brandon shows up for work the next day and he hasn't answered any of Brandon's texts. Jon leaves a bag and a phone in his room and Brandon takes the chance again to find Jon to return his things, making himself a kind of hero and saving the day for his new true love. Except when he arrives at the meeting site with his friend Ollie in tow, they witness a murder. Now the four of them, including Ian and Nicole, are trying to figure out what trouble Jon is mixed up in before someone decides to get rid of Brandon, Ollie, Ian and Nicole instead.

The best part of this book was the characters. I loved the four of these friends together. They've known each other since college and have managed to keep a standing brunch date and a group chat going for them to talk. They know everything about each other and are in constant contact so that there is always one of them available to help when another needs it. This kind of support system is so wholesome and wonderful to see in a book. I adored when these four were together as they really worked best when they were all in the same room.

That being said, I wanted to sit Brandon down and give him a lecture. This sweetheart was head over heels for a man he only just met and was determined to ignore EVERYTHING, I mean every RED FLAG wrong with Jon. Brandon was quick with the excuses, with the defense, with ANYTHING really, to prove that Jon was going to be his future and I just wanted more moments of clarity with him. There were times where he would start to face the truth but Brandon was just so stubborn, he'd dismiss it quickly to go back to trying to save Jon because obviously THAT was what Brandon was meant to do, save Jon so they could live in love together forever. It made me sigh and grumble a lot when we joined Brandon again in the book.

Now, the rest of the characters were amazing. I loved Ollie with his love for murder podcasts and his dog walking business. I thought Ollie was so sweet with the way he was quick to offer compliments and words of love for his friends. I wanted to scoop Ollie up and give him a hug and then also find them someone to talk to about what might have been depression with the tragic loss they'd experienced. I wanted the rest of the group to really sit down and have Ollie start to open up. Ollie's interest in murder mysteries really endeared him to me and I loved how the focus of solving the case made Ollie shine.

I thought Nicole was the level-headed one of the group. I loved her for her ambition and her need to take care of her friends. Her chapters showed a woman who had purpose and drive and was determined to make something of herself. I want Nicole to find the right vision for her life and to succeed in her profession and her love life. I enjoyed every chapter with Nicole and I think I identified with her mothering instinct the most. Nicole was focused on her job but she was quick to drop everything to take care of her friends and that kind of devotion is admirable.

Ian is the last of the group and they were fun and complicated at the same time. Ian had issues with a past relationship that they had let take up a lot of their time and I wanted Nicole to sit Ian down, as the most I guess responsible one of the group, and tell them to let their past go but I'm sure that is easier said than done. Ian's chapters were interesting and intriguing, even with Ian's point of wanting to stay angry at their ex. I thought their dreams, wanting to own their own club and be the headliner, share their life with their friends, were lovely and I wanted Ian to be happy.

Still, I did have some issues with the book. A lot of the main action started over from every character's perspective, showing the same conversations over and the same beats again, which made the book seem a repetitive. I found myself kind of skimming these sections because it was almost exactly the same, they just had little asides added in to color what had happened and then eventually we moved into something that we didn't see before and then the story moved on. It wasn't my favorite way to get the story moving.

Another issue I had was with a fifth narrative added in to the book that didn't have any identifiable means for these passages. When I read the first one, I thought it was an excerpt from a book Ian was reading and I had no idea why it was there. Eventually, after the second or third excerpt I realized what the passages were but it feels like something formatting might be able to help to distinguish it better. Maybe a page break and italics so readers know these pieces are linked and separate from the main narrative. Just something because it was just added in at the end of some chapters and they felt out of place as a result. 

In the end, I liked this book. I wanted to LOVE it but Brandon's love story as the driving force of the case kind of frustrated me. The constant belief in this fated love was not great for me. Maybe if Brandon was not so focused on this love of a lifetime, I would have liked the story better. If he'd had more moments where he knew his love interest was flawed and then maybe had given him up and then worked on the case for the sake of understanding what they saw and solving the murder, I think the book would have been a lot stronger for me. Still, I WILL be reading more Rosen books soon and I hope to love those when I get to read them.

Rating on my scale: 6.5 Stars. The way this one ends feels like there is a potential for a sequel and if there is, I will be back to see more of this friend group. The cast of characters and the representation among them was diverse and strong and I loved them even if I didn't love the story I had to see them in. 

My thanks to Netgalley, Poisoned Pen Press and Lev A.C. Rosen for the eARC of this book in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.

Book Review: Behind Five Willows by June Hur

It has been an esteemed part of British literature for quite some time, that novel called Pride and Prejudice. Students have studied it for ages, me myself included. I remember having to read it my senior year of high school, the first of several reads for classes over the years, and I have to admit that I most sincerely, ardently dislike Jane Austen's book, Pride and Prejudice. I'll pause a moment here to collect myself because honestly, I've always felt kind of guilty for my general feeling of distaste for this book. Which is funny because I have enjoyed adaptations of the work over the years, be they film, television or literature in their presentation. Which brings me to Behind Five Willows. I own ALL of June Hur's works. I have loved every one of them for their story, their characters and the rich history woven into each of them. So when I caught wind of the fact that June Hur was releasing a book that claimed Pride and Prejudice as an inspiration, I told myself that if ANYONE would be able to get me to love a book with that in its background it would have to be June Hur. 

So it is with great confidence that I can declare YES, I did LOVE this book. Let's be plain about the facts, this book was sweetness and longing and it made me smile and even rejoice when the leads were together or even apart because then their thoughts were filled with each other and that is the exact kind of love story I was hoping to find in this book. I wanted something that would inspire me to read again and I finished this one in two nights, reading until my eyes were drooping because I didn't want to put the book down. If that's the kind of book that appeals to you, add this one to your shelves immediately.

Behind Five Willows follows two leads, Haewon and Lord Yu Seojun. Haewon has taken it upon herself to try her best to take care of her two sisters while at the same time working as an illegal book transcriber to make some extra money. Her job is dangerous because of government censoring and book banning which has led to many people having to read and trade books in secret. Haewon loves her work, especially when she has the chance to transcribe the works of Black Lotus, who Haewon has traded letters with for some time. When her older sister has the chance to fall in love with a wealthy young gentleman, Haewon is determined to be the support and encouragement her sister needs while the two begin courting. The problem is that the suitor's best friend, an uptight young man who seems to look down on Haewon, is the other chaperoning individual. Seojun has worked hard to keep his father happy and to care for his elder sister. He also enjoys reading and helps to get books for his sister in private. But Seojun also loves to write and he has to keep that a secret from his father, a government official, and his friends. With the continuing actions of the government in censoring books, Seojun is finding it difficult to find the peace he used to with his writing. He looks to the letters from his transcriber, Magpie, for encouragement in this time of strife. When he is tasked with chaperoning his best friend's new courtship, Seojun finds himself forced to spend time with a young woman that he finds frustrating, Haewon. But as time passes and the two are forced again and again to spend time together, Haewon and Seojun start to understand that their first impressions of each other were misleading and that there is more to know about each other than they first realized.

There is a lot to love about this book. One thing that I greatly admire is the fact that the book is told from both Haewon's and Seojun's perspectives. I know that the point of the story is that the two were two quick to judge the other but it helped to see it from both sides, to see how what one said affected the other and vice versa. I loved the chance to see into the home lives of each lead, to see how they were focused on family and how their love of books led them to the actions they take over the course of the novel. As the two of them were drawn together, I found myself smiling constantly at the awkward actions of Seojun or admiring the strength Haewon showed when she was with her family. The dual narrative was the perfect way to show the complete story and I loved the chance to see what shaped these characters and their present circumstances.

The setting was interesting and Hur shows the times with an expert hand. I had no idea about the edicts and policies that were enacted in this time period. Readers are not given a lot information in one go, just enough to understand what had been declared, and then we are given the chance to see how these things played out for the people they affected. We see how people had to go about finding books, how books were transcribed from the originals because they weren't allowed to be reprinted and then how government officials would search for sources they claimed were an attack on their way of life. It made every action that Haewon and Seojun took feel more important for the fact that they both tried so hard to find joy in books while leading respectable lives. I learned a lot from this book and now I am interested in reading more about both the time period and the writers that Hur mentioned specifically in her resources.

This is not an exact retelling but there is enough for me to recognize pieces of Pride and Prejudice while at the same time being able to appreciate how Hur turned things around for the sake of this story. Everything that I vaguely recall that irked me about Austen's work has been given a different take, enough that I can say YES, that is so much better, that works for me. Seojun had a tendency to be a little too focused on status but he was given a chance to recognize mistakes he made and to change for the better. Haewon was given the chance to learn that anyone could hide multiple truths behind a respectable facade and the opportunity to learn more about someone she dismissed once would prove to be the best decision she could ever make. I enjoyed how both leads were meant to learn not only about each other but were also able to come to better understandings with their family, how they fit together and change. In the end, this book made me find my complete collection of Jane Austen's works to try to read her book again. Maybe this time around it'll become a favorite.

Read this book if you like a sweet, slow burn love story and if you're already a June Hur fan, this book does not disappoint. This is officially one of my best of 2026 reads and I plan to go back and read some of my other June Hur books again, starting with A Crane Among Wolves. If you have not had the chance to read a book by June Hur, this is the PERFECT book to start that journey.

Rating on my scale: 10 swoony stars. I look at this book and just smile and sigh because it was sweet but it is over and all I can do is either read this story again or just read all of June Hur's books again, which let's be honest, I'm going to do both of these things in the very near future.

My thanks to Netgalley, Macmillan Children's Publishing Group and June Hur for the eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.