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A fantasy duology that takes a medieval setting and the elements of classic fairy tales to create a wholly original storyline. References to Sleeping Beauty work well with the power struggle between shape shifting wolf packs, downtrodden humans and an evil vindictive sorceress. Twin sisters Briar and Calla have always known that Briar was next in line for the throne and would marry Grae who happens to be Calla's best friend and soulmate. The trio share a secret and one that if it got out would threaten the tenuous balance of power and peace between the kingdoms. Of course politics and backstabbing get in the way and it is up to a handful of wolves along with a hodgepodge band of merry humans to restore peace, stop the sorceress and come out of it alive. There is a beautiful lack of traditional gender pairing which works flawlessly. A "love who you love" attitude with a dash of spice for a wild romp with wolves and GAME OF THRONES battles and political mayhem sure to please a wide variety of readers. 4 stars 
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A very wealthy power hungry woman tries to play "Goddess" when she manipulates the future of an underground facility for the next generations of survivors on a dying Earth. Climate change and chaos above have made it necessary for lucky lottery (or very wealthy) winners to go underground or to the space station. Jacqueline and some key members of New York's Inside facility have allowed only certain people to be admitted and are conducting a great experiment to see if the elimination of men will create a safe and happy female run utopia. Jacqueline becomes an absent mother keeping careful watch from space over her creation down below but will the experiment work? This feels like THE HANDMAID'S TALE meets STATION ELEVEN meets an all female cult of the future and creates as many questions as answers about gender roles, free will and control of any kind. Fascinating concept and a debut that readers of sci-fi but also feminist novels will embrace. 4 stars  A lighthearted fantasy on what it means to care - about someone, some thing or a group (not necessarily human). Viv didn't plan on getting stabbed and left to recuperate in a tiny town by the sea but here she is. She is used to slashing horrible creatures and spending weeks camping rough with her mercenary team searching for necromancers up to no good. Now, she spends her days hanging out at a dusty dysfunctional bookshop, nibbling incredible baked goods from the cute baker and trying to avoid a temperamental griffin and an eager warrior apprentice gnome. Viv lets down her guard and broadsword and begins to care which scares her more than the very scary necromancer that is headed their way. The audiobook was a fabulous cozy fantasy escape narrated to perfection. A host of authentic characters with a healthy dose of humor (especially from the bookseller and her choice of books for the locals) that will have you happily escaping the grind of everyday life. 4 stars  Happy book birthday to HUNT ON DARK WATERS by Katee Roberts A witch with an angry vampire ex on her tail jumps through a portal and finds herself being fished out of the sea and commandeered as a pirate monster hunter. Evelyn plans to escape this lifelong commitment asap only to find herself rescued, reeled in and romantically ensnared by the captain of the ship. As her feelings for Bowen get more heated so does their situation with being tossed off ships and the vampire getting closer. Paranormal sea adventure, spicy love scenes and a plethora of dragons, mermaids and monsters of all sorts make this the start of a new series that will thrill her fans and add a flush to your cheeks. 3 1/2 stars 3 1/2 stars  The madness that supposedly took June's mother and the Farrow women before her is now coming for June. Hallucinations of a red door and shadowy glimpses in the corner of her eyes call to her until her grandmother's friend gives her a locket and letter that changes everything. June will move towards the red door and step through in time to unlock her family mystery to stop the unspooling of time and answer the questions that fuel her journey. Small town community, generational love and trauma meet THE TIME TRAVELER'S WIFE or OUTLANDER in a love story that can survive everything. Young's writing is mesmerizing and flings fairy dust over what would be a small town murder mystery. 4 1/2 stars  Two sisters grow up with their grandmother deep in the forest of Norway practicing magic. Now with their grandmother's passing Kaija sees her chance to return to the village and live a regular life without magic while Minna feels the powerful need to obliterate the village that burned her mother at the stake. Living apart both women will use magic in secret for good and evil purposes and each will lose something because of it. A beautiful fairy tale of Norwegian lore and ancient magic mixed with a story of persecution, fear and the need to blame someone for bad luck and natural events. This book will be enjoyed by adults and young adults for fans of WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING meets THE VIKINGS. 3 1/2 stars  Happy book birthday to SWORD CATCHER by Cassandra Clare There are those who live in Castellane and serve the royal family and there are those who wield magic forbidden to live within Castellane's walls but serve the royals none the less. Two orphans find themselves on opposite sides of the wall but each are connected to the royal family whether they choose to be or not. Kel has grown up by Prince Conor's side as his Sword Catcher - his body double that will take a sword should need be but his love and loyalty to Conor are unquestionable. Lin and her brother have grown up without family as their grandfather pledged his alligence and magic as advisor to the king. Lin is a skilled physician using magic to heal but she is unable to save her best friend from the disease that is killing her without forbidden knowledge out of her reach. From the power hungry palace to battling underworld kings finding allies is much more difficult than finding danger. A war is coming. This brilliant fantasy takes its start from Medieval European history and adds layers of ancient magic, rich world cultures and a broad look at love. All the deceit , violence and power plays of GAME OF THRONES with the dry wit and multilayered characters that Cassandra Clare has given us in her young adult series. This is the fantasy series we have been waiting for and I want book two now. 4 1/2 stars  Happy book birthday to STARLING HOUSE by Alix E. Harrow Opal and her brother are just scraping by with Opal doing her best taking whatever jobs are available and whatever loose items happen to be within reach. She needs to make some fast money so she can send her teen brother to a good school and out of their crummy little town. As she passes the creepy house that she has always been attracted to its recluse owner offers her a job as housekeeper. The house is happy to have her and even Arthur warms up to this caustic but lovable young woman. But Arthur is the last in line of a history of wardens that guard against nightmare beasts getting out. Dark forces are gathering at the gate both the monsters of Underland and the wealthy monsters in town. A showdown is coming and with it Opal's chance at dreams instead of nightmares and redemption for Arthur. Alix E. Harrow has created wonderful characters similar to Don Quixote's fierce but ill equipped underdog heroes that will pierce your heart. 4 1/2 stars  With grant money in hand Holly gets the break she has been looking for. The only thing missing is a rental where she and the actors can develop the play and she thinks she finds it in the Hill House. Personalities aside it will take some doing for all of them to feel comfortable in the spooky remote mansion. Soon all of them feel the pull of the house and they begin confronting personal demons. This is the only authorized continuation of Shirley Jackson's classic. All the elements are there - the gothic house with a myriad of secrets, the skeptical housekeepers who won't stay after dark, the townspeople who want them gone, a storm brewing and a group of people whose emotions are running wild. You will slowly sink into the madness with them and you will never look at a rabbit the same way again. 4 stars  Happy book birthday to NIGHT OF THE WITCH by Sara Raasch and Beth Revis A excellent tale of old witchcraft both green and dark and the age old persecution of witches. In a small village a young girl hides while her mother is dragged off and burned for being a witch. Fritzi is now doing her best to protect the others in the coven while trying to keep ahead of the relentless Hexenjager (witch hunters). Otto is one of those Hexenjager but he has a secret agenda. When Fritzi is captured she must trust Otto or burn along with a hundred of the villagers. A clever mix of hunter and hunted with an enemy to lover angle that will delight both YA and adult readers. The author pair write well together and I look forward to the second book. 4 stars  |
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