An Alchemy of Masques and Mirrors is my most recent dive into steampunk SFF. Set in a world with floating islands, skyships, clockwork “priests,” musketeers and other French influences, shadow and mirror-related magics, and political maneuvering, this novel was a surprisingly good little adventure. Princess Isabelle des Zephyrs was born with a deformed hand and…
Hello, friends! Lately I have been compiling a list of fantasy books by people of color to buy after I complete my big move from the U.S. Midwest to the east cost. I wanted to share with all of you some of my top picks as a teaser for what reviews are to come. I…
Every city has a soul. New York has five. When a destructive, interplanetary force arrives in New York, the city chooses five residents to be champions of the city’s five boroughs: Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island. In this first book of the series we meet our champions, the intergalactic antagonist, get a…
Okay, okay. It’s fantasy again, but this time it is Bolivian mythological and historical fantasy… Ximena has been a decoy for the real Condessa, Catalina, for 10 years. When the Illustrians’ home was taken over by the conqueror Atoc and his magical relic, Ximena’s people fled the city to seek refuge in the hills. Knowing…
Escapism is the name of the game for me recently. So, more fantasy! At least it is historical fantasy this time? Vasilisa’s mother died bringing her into the world and her last words said that Vasilisa was special. Vasilisa comes from a family of women with mysterious powers and connections to the natural world. As…
I know I’ve been reading a lot of fantasy lately, but with the state of the U.S. (and honestly the whole world) right now I’ve been craving a lot of escapism. I do try to switch up my reading genres so that my reviews are more diverse, but right now bear with me! At least…
Foundryside takes places in Tevanne, a trading city where the old, rich families live in luxury and nearly everyone else lives in slums. The magic in Tevanne relies on sigils and the people who know how they work. These sigils can be inscribed on items to make heavy things float, make weapons stronger, and even…
Nevernight takes place in a world where three suns rarely set and full dark only happens every several years. When Mia was young her father was hanged for treason and her mother was imprisoned. While on the run from those who hurt her family, Mia discovered that she had strange powers over the shadows. She…
Arrah’s parents are both powerful witch doctors, but year after year her magic does not come. There are other ways to possess magic in this world, like trading your years for it, but such things are frowned upon. When Arrah’s grandmother sees strange visions about green-eyed serpents and children begin disappearing from her city, Arrah…
I was actually anticipating this book since the beginning of 2019. Once I heard about it I knew it was for me: Mayan and Mexican mythology and history, the jazz age, gods and creatures, adventure. When it first came out I heard a few mixed reviews, but I eventually had to read to it anyway.…
