Review: Requiem of the Rose King, Vol. 1 by Aya Kanno

Requiem of the Rose King, Vol. 1 by Aya Kanno My rating: 4 of 5 stars Richard, the ambitious third son of the House of York, believes he is cursed, damned from birth to eternal darkness. But is it truly fate that sets him on the path to personal destruction? Or his own tormented longings? …

Webnovel Review: Heaven Official’s Blessing by Mò Xiāng Tóngxiù

天官赐福 [Tiān Guān Cì Fú] by Mò Xiāng Tóngxiù My rating: 4 of 5 stars Eight hundred years ago, Xie Lian was the Crown Prince of the Xian Le kingdom; one who was beloved by his citizens and the darling of the world. Unsurprisingly, he ascended to the Heavens at a very young age. Now, …

ARC Review: Mermaid Saga Collector’s Edition, Vol. 1 by Rumiko Takahashi

Mermaid Saga Collector’s Edition, Vol. 1 by Rumiko Takahashi My rating: 4 of 5 stars Manga legend Rumiko Takahashi's classic horror series about mermaid flesh and immortality! They say that if one consumes mermaid flesh, one can attain immortality. Unfortunately, the more likely results include becoming horribly deformed or turning into a vicious monster! Even …

Audiobook Review: The Ghost Bride by Yangsze Choo

The Ghost Bride by Yangsze Choo My rating: 4 of 5 stars "One evening, my father asked me if I would like to become a ghost bride..." Though ruled by British overlords, the Chinese of colonial Malaya still cling to ancient customs. And in the sleepy port town of Malacca, ghosts and superstitions abound. Li …

Audiobook Review: The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang

The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang My rating: 5 of 5 stars When Rin aced the Kejuthe Empire-wide test to find the most talented youth to learn at the Academies it was a shock to everyone. That she got into Sinegardthe most elite military school in Nikan was even more surprising. But surprises aren’t always …

ARC Review: Sparrowhawk by Delilah S. Dawson, Matias Basla & Rebecca Nalty

Sparrowhawk by Delilah S. Dawson My rating: 4 of 5 stars After a young woman is kidnapped by an evil Faerie Queen and trapped in a far off realm, she must survive teen Victorian fairy fight club in order to get back home. As the illegitimate daughter of a Naval Captain, Artemisia has never fit …

ARC Review: The Lady Rogue by Jenn Bennett

The Lady Rogue by Jenn Bennett My rating: 4 of 5 stars Some legends never die… Traveling with her treasure-hunting father has always been a dream for Theodora. She’s read every book in his library, has an impressive knowledge of the world’s most sought-after relics, and has all the ambition in the world. What she …

ARC Review: Blade of the Immortal Omnibus 1 by Hiroaki Samura

Blade of the Immortal Omnibus 1 by Hiroaki Samura My rating: 4 of 5 stars A cursed, seemingly immortal warrior aids a young girl in her quest for revenge, as the students of a brutal new sword school tear a bloody path across Japan. Hiroaki Samura's massive manga series spawned an anime run, a spinoff …

ARC Review: Pan’s Labyrinth: The Labyrinth of the Faun by Guillermo del Toro & Cornelia Funke

Pan's Labyrinth: The Labyrinth of the Faun by Guillermo del Toro My rating: 4 of 5 stars Oscar winning writer-director Guillermo del Toro and New York Times bestselling author Cornelia Funke come together to transform del Toro’s hit movie Pan’s Labyrinth into an epic and dark fantasy novel for readers of all ages, complete with …

Audiobook Review: Sapphire Blue by Kerstin Gier & (translated by) Anthea Bell

Sapphire Blue by Kerstin Gier My rating: 4 of 5 stars Gwen’s life has been a rollercoaster since she discovered she was the Ruby, the final member of the secret time-traveling Circle of Twelve. In between searching through history for the other time-travelers and asking for a bit of their blood (gross!), she’s been trying …

Shouting from the Shelftops #5

Shouting from the Shelftops is a bimonthly feature to gush over book news that come to my attention, to celebrate good news amidst whatever the year is delivering to you. The basic mood for these posts is just Enthusiastic Screaming™. The last two weeks have been rocked with yet another set of shockwaves in book …

ARC Review: Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Vol. 6 by Koyoharu Gotouge

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Vol. 6 by Koyoharu Gotouge My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars In Taisho-era Japan, Tanjiro Kamado is a kindhearted boy who makes a living selling charcoal. But his peaceful life is shattered when a demon slaughters his entire family. His little sister Nezuko is the only survivor, but she has been …

ARC Review: The Kingdom of Copper by S.A. Chakraborty

The Kingdom of Copper by S.A. Chakraborty My rating: 5 of 5 stars Nahri’s life changed forever the moment she accidentally summoned Dara, a formidable, mysterious djinn, during one of her schemes. Whisked from her home in Cairo, she was thrust into the dazzling royal court of Daevabad—and quickly discovered she would need all her …

ARC Review: Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Vol. 4 by Koyoharu Gotouge

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Vol. 4 by Koyoharu Gotouge My rating: 4 of 5 stars In Taisho-era Japan, Tanjiro Kamado is a kindhearted boy who makes a living selling charcoal. But his peaceful life is shattered when a demon slaughters his entire family. His little sister Nezuko is the only survivor, but she has …

Review: The Dire King by William Ritter

The Dire King by William Ritter My rating: 4 of 5 stars The fate of the world is in the hands of detective of the supernatural R. F. Jackaby and his intrepid assistant, Abigail Rook. An evil king is turning ancient tensions into modern strife, using a blend of magic and technology to push Earth …