Fantasy

Field Guide for the Formerly Villainous by Autumn K. England

This was a sweet, cozy, queer romance. Oaklin Nettlewood accidentally joined an evil world-ending cult and mind control magic forced them to do unspeakable things. After the heroes crushed the cult and broke the curse, Oaklin is left with holes in their memory and a bucketload of trauma. Oaklin swears never to use magic again and they move to a small farm on the edge of Mossley’s Rest. But the no-nonsense ghost granny who lives in Oaklin’s house won’t stand for it. She slowly coaxes Oaklin back into the world and they slowly form a found family that helps them start to heal. Oaklin even begins to quietly help the residents of Mossley’s Rest, endearing them to the residents. So when an inquisitor comes to town to hunt former cultists, Oaklin is ready to run. What they didn’t expect was the town to work together to protect them.

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October 18, 2026 0

Most Ardently Yours by Freya Sampson

This was a charming book that answers every book lover’s question – what would you do if your favorite book boyfriend comes to life and plops down in the middle of your life? That’s exactly what happens to struggling romance writer Zoe, and she is not prepared for the chaos Mr. Darcy causes. After getting into a tiff with Nick, a grumpy independent book store owner, about romance books, she discovers a dusty copy of Pride & Prejudice and runs off with it. Imagine her surprise when she opens the book on the bus and Mr. Darcy appears in his finest clothes. They are both stunned, and have no idea what is happening. Even crazier things happen later in the book which really put a smile on my face and it was a fun ride to the end.

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October 18, 2026 0

Daggerbound (Swordheart #2) by T. Kingfisher

This book is so darn cute!! I’ve never read this author before and so my expectations were low, but this book blew me away. I love it when that happens!

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October 17, 2026 0

This Wretched Alchemy (Ruinous Fate Saga, #1) by Tina Mars

This was a fast-paced, action packed romantasy that kept my attention. The world is complicated and although there is some worldbuilding at the beginning, I found myself still confused about the structure of the society and the magic system. Hopefully things will become clearer in the next book.

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September 21, 2026 0

The Heart Trials by J. Elle

This is a YA dystopian romantasy that combines a deadly game with a dating show. We have the typical power dynamic where a powerful ruler surrounds himself with sycophants who live a privileged life. In this world they are the only people allowed to touch another person and fall in love. All others live in squalor with no hope of improving their lives. That is, until the ruler announces the Tournament of Hearts. The winning couple become highborn citizens with all the privileges that come with it. Our FMC Axira is a lowborn smuggler that gets into a sticky situation and makes a deal with the MMC Prince Caelus to enter the tournament to steal something for him. On the day the trials start, Caelus enters the tournament at his father’s command.

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September 13, 2026 0

Flickerstate by F. A. Davidson

I really like dark academia books with unique magic systems so was excited to read this book. The magic system here is definitely unique where magic users can manipulate different elements. Norah is our FMC and she can manipulate probability. When magic users use their magic, however, it can draw possibility beasts whose bites are deadly. When her father is bitten and his health quickly deteriorates, she joins the academy to follow a rumor that a cure can be found there. When she finds out that only senior research assistants are allowed in the archives—and you can only become one by winning a team trial designed to push your navigation abilities to the brink, Norah reluctantly joins a team.

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September 5, 2026 0

Hawk & Sparrow by Ayana Gray

This is a slow burn Gilded Age book that combines mystery, magic, and romance. Vesper is a young, ambitious journalist with the failing Basalton Globe. The book opens with her attending a society gala with the hopes of interviewing an inventor introducing this recent magical invention. Vesper resents Basalton high society who use sorcery to fuel their luxurious lifestyles rather than help those less fortunate. Vesper briefly interviews the inventor, however a brief time later finds him dead in the garden. Two men are the police’s main suspects, with the prime suspect being industrialist Maximilian Kite.

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September 5, 2026 0

The Infinite State (The Decurion Saga #1) by Richard Swan

WHO GIVES YOU LIFE?
PATER AETERNUS.

WHO GIVES YOU PURPOSE?
PATER AETERNUS.

WHO GIVES YOU JOY?
PATER AETERNUS.

This book was a wild ride! Pater Aeternus, governing party of the fascist, galaxy-spanning Decurion Empire, is run by the Eternal Father. He dictates your status, the work you can do, who you can marry, and women’s purpose is to have as many children as possible. The entire planet is heavily surveilled and even a whisper of discontent is immediately quashed. People are routinely snatched up and disappear forever (sound familiar?). Most are murdered. A few are “re-educated” and come back as fanatical loyalists.

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August 29, 2026 0

When Dealing With Dragons by Dana Swift

This book was so freaking cute!! A book about dragon veterinarians? At a dragon sanctuary? Yes, please!! Farren, the FMC, is attending the dragon academy so she can be a dragon vet like her father. She is a “lowly” copper crafter in their magic system. She is not popular and is teased by her classmates. James, the MMC, comes from a rich silver crafting family and is snobby and arrogant, and more importantly, Farren’s main competition for a college scholarship.

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August 2, 2026 0