Someone You Can Build a Nest In by John Wiswell is a creepy yet charming monster-slaying fantasy romance, told from the monster’s perspective. While the idea of humanizing the creature isn’t entirely new, this take feels fresh, featuring an amorphous shapeshifter trying to pass among humans and unexpectedly finding companionship. That twist alone hooked me.
Ebony Gate: The Phoenix Hoard is a book full of compelling hooks that drew me in quickly. The idea of families hosting different kinds of magic is always fascinating, and Emiko’s place in that world, being seemingly depowered, was what initially grabbed my attention.
Hey you! yeah you! Are you Hispanic/Latinx? Are you a member of the Alphabet Mafia? Do you find yourself looking for that representation in the books you read? Well look no further, The Name Bearer by Natalia Hernandez is the book you need!
In the enchanting realms of fantasy media, where dragons soar and heroes embark on epic quests, there lies a troubling trend: the portrayal of certain races as inherently evil. Dungeons and Dragons, a cornerstone of fantasy role-playing, has often been criticized for perpetuating harmful stereotypes, particularly in the depiction of races like Drow Elves and Orcs. This troubling trend not only limits the potential for rich storytelling but also serves as a problematic allegory to real-world racism.
The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi by S.A. Chakrabort was an absolute delight from start to finish. The narrative voice hooked me immediately. I loved the witty asides, the sharp humor, and Amina’s constant running commentary that makes you feel like you’re being told the story over drinks. It’s playful and clever, but also layered in a way that makes it feel conversational.
I went into City of Bones with mild curiosity, as I know people that have been really into the series years. What I got was… mixed. On the surface, it’s a decent urban fantasy. There’s hidden societies, demon-hunting, and secret bloodlines. But then it leans hard into that Special Girl Trope. The main character who discovers she’s not ordinary at all but actually super important and central to everything. Sometimes I can roll with it. I’m a Buffy guy! But here? It felt tired and predictable.
A book about reading books? What’s not to love?
Bookshops & Bonedust, the cozy prequel to Legends & Lattes captures everything that makes Travis Baldree’s world so endearing
Silver Nitrate by Silvia Moreno-Garcia is a haunting dive into cursed film, a skin-crawling horror romp that will leave you unsettled.
Blood, rage, and ruin. A Dowry of Blood by S.T. Gibson is a love letter written like the kind of poetry that makes you stop mid-page just to breathe it in. Told through the eyes of Constanta, one of Dracula’s wives, it’s less a gothic romance and more the long, unflinching memoir of someone who’s survived the most intoxicating and destructive relationship of their life.
Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree is a warm cup of comfort in book form. From the very first page, it delivers exactly what it promises: a cozy fantasy about an orc adventurer who decides she’s done with all the blood and glory, and instead wants to open a café. A café café. With coffee. In a town that’s never even heard of it.