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The Bridge Kingdom Series

by Danielle L. Jensen

The Bridge Kingdom: Raised as a warrior, Princess Lara knows two things: King Aren of the Bridge Kingdom is her enemy. And she must be the one to bring him to his knees. The Bridge Kingdom is the only route through a storm-ravaged world, and it uses its power to deprive Lara's homeland of vital resources. So when she's sent to be King Aren's bride, Lara will do whatever it takes to bring down the kingdom's defences. The Traitor Queen: Lara has watched Ithicana be conquered by her own father. But when she learns her husband, Aren, has been captured in battle, Lara knows her father is only keeping him alive to lure in his traitorous daughter. It is bait she fully intends to take. Risking her life, Lara returns to free the Bridge Kingdom and its king using her father's greatest weapons - her warrior sisters. But her greatest adversary of all might be the very man she's trying to free.

“The Bridge Kingdom” series by Danielle L. Jensen (specifically books 1-2) is the tale of the arranged marriage of Princess Lara of Maridrina and King Aren of Ithicana, a waterlocked territory impenetrable to outsiders. The contract, on its surface, seals the treaty of peace between the two kingdoms, but unbeknownst to Aren, Lara is a trained assassin sent by her father to kill him and expose Ithicana’s vulnerabilities to invasion. When the two fall in love, Lara’s betrayal rocks Aren’s spirit, and he must work to forgive her while fighting to restore his kingdom. Lara must redeem herself in not only Aren’s eyes but also his people’s if they are to work together to stop the war and live happily ever after.

Readers who have already plowed through the works of Sarah J. Maas and are enjoying Rebecca Yarros’ “The Empyrean Book” series, and are struggling to find a series that hits the same way, will find that “Bridge Kingdom” is everything Jennifer L. Armentrout’s “Flesh and Fire Series” wishes it were. Jensen’s prose is fluid and on point for romantasy (with mild spice), and her characters are well-rounded and robust. Lara is convincing as a killer with an unearthed heart of gold without being a weak self-insert, and Aren is believable as a spurned lover who must work at forgiveness. The side characters support the main characters effectively while being interesting enough with their own motivations that Jensen devotes books 3 and 4 to two of them (and a fifth on the way!).

The narrative of “The Bridge Kingdom” series successfully balances plot and character-driven elements, creating an engrossing page-turner. The story weaves romance, political intrigue, adventure, and believable worldbuilding into a captivating tale that keeps readers hooked from start to finish. This series is a solid adventure romance that lovers of SJM, Yarros, and JLA will eat up, but readers should keep in mind that it does not deliver maximum spice.

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The Vampire And The Scorpion:

Book One of the Blood and Venom Saga Kindle Edition

by K. E. Beale

My name is Ava Monroe, failing student at Kinwich University, and what started as a scheme to make my ex jealous has turned into a nightmare. I have a choice: join a coven of vampires, werewolves, witches and shapeshifters, or suffer a long, bloody death at the hands of the coven’s tyrannical leader. He will stop at nothing to keep his coven a secret from humans. Unless I pass a trial to prove I’m worthy of membership, who knows what warped execution method he’ll use? To top it off, I’m distracted with impure thoughts about another coven member: a tall, brooding vampire with long legs and a backside that makes me tingle in the most inconvenient places. Will I pass my trial? Or will I lose my humanity trying to survive?

The Vampire and the Scorpion is K.E. Beale’s first novel in a planned series. Ava is a lost soul looking to fill the void in her life where Family should be. The novel opens with Ava going through the motions during her last year in college, realizing the found family she sought in the community of students isn’t what she anticipated it to be. On an ill-fated night, she goes home with an odd man from a dance club to make her ex-boyfriend jealous, only to find herself in a world she never imagined existing, embroiled in intrigues centuries old, and with a timer over her head to join or become another face on a missing poster.

As worldbuilding goes, this novel does a good job of adhering to old supe lore while adding in new touches; it succeeds at finding a middle ground with the explanation of lore between readers who have less experience with these worlds and readers who cut their teeth on high fantasy. The novel is slow to start with the prose feeling stilted, perfunctory, and like statements of facts. The characters’ voices aren’t unique enough to be distinguishable without the prose providing names to who’s speaking. Instead of a rich cast, the side characters are flat, depthless, and almost caricatures, à la Jerk Ex, Party Girl, Sympathetic Best Friend, and Mentor. Ava’s inner monologue is void of where you would reasonably find rich emotions, instead, the reader frequently knows what Ava is thinking only when she says it bluntly in dialogue. The first and second acts of the narrative feel rushed to establish camaraderie, emotional beats feel unearned given Ava’s circumstances and timeline, and the violence the Beale warns about seems like a shortcut to establish the brutality of this world without actually building up real menace or terror. The third act is where the narrative really begins, and the hope is the upcoming books in the series carry this momentum. The spice content is minimal, but one of the better-written parts of the story, and hopefully is explored to maximum effect in the upcoming novels.

Readers who are looking for a more robust narrative and experienced prose may not find much engagement in this story, but if you’re looking for a good beach read, this isn’t a bad way to while away a lazy afternoon. One last thing to note is the promise of the exploration of “polyamorous and LGBT+ relationships” is unfulfilled in the first book, so readers who select this title with that in mind should expect these themes will appear in the next titles.

I received an ACR from StoryOrigin

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To Sir Phillip, With Love

by Julia Quinn

Sir Phillip knew from his correspondence with his dead wife's distant cousin that Eloise Bridgerton was a spinster, and so he'd proposed, figuring that she'd be homely and unassuming, and more than a little desperate for an offer of marriage. Except . . . she wasn't. The beautiful woman on his doorstep was anything but quiet, and when she stopped talking long enough to close her mouth, all he wanted to do was kiss her... Eloise Bridgerton couldn't marry a man she had never met! But then she started thinking... and wondering... and before she knew it, she was in a hired carriage in the middle of the night, on her way to meet the man she hoped might be her perfect match. Except... he wasn't. Her perfect husband wouldn't be so moody and ill-mannered. And he certainly should have mentioned that he had two young - and decidedly unruly - children, as much in need of a mother as Phillip is in need of a wife.

To Sir Phillip, with Love by Julia Quinn is book five in her “Bridgertons” series. The novel follows Eloise, the fifth child, as she learns that actions have consequences after her impetuous decision to set off on her own—unchaperoned!—to meet Sir Phillip, a suitor whom she has never met and of whom her family knows nothing. The feeling of being left behind after her friend and fellow spinster marries Eloise’s brother in a love match guides Eloise’s choice to run off. Unfortunately, she soon finds that easy romance is a fantasy and relationships require work.

Despite being written in the early aughts, Quinn’s series evokes the yesteryear of your grandmother’s Fabio-covered romance novels, and To Sir Phillip is no exception. Quinn writes Eloise well as a gently bred upper-class lady; the reader feels her hopes and dreams while understanding her naivete. Conversely, Sir Phillip quickly loses any favor the reader has for his situation as a lonely widower. While readers can sympathize with his trauma, his entitled and self-absorbed attitude will make them feel sad for Eloise, who, because of her reckless behavior, must now be shackled to him ‘til death do they part. If this were a different novel genre (feminist commentary or gothic), a reader could forgive the outcome of Phillip and Eloise’s union, but the narrative is lacking and the HEA is disingenuous for a book marketed as a romance.

Despite the underwhelming state of her protagonists’ marriage, Quinn’s prose is fluid, articulate, and close enough to a Regency pastiche to be immersive. Her characters are easy to get to know and connect with. If Phillip and Eloise had done a deeper dive into their expectations and how to resolve their issues instead of glossing over his attitude and her rose-colored glasses using sex and raising his children to distract themselves, this could have been a great spicy romance story about essentially an arranged marriage. The potential of this story could have made it a compelling read for contemporary romance readers, but in a post-MeToo world, it gives the ick.

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Murphy’s Law

by Rhys Bowen

Molly Murphy always knew she'd end up in trouble, just as her mother predicted. So, when she commits murder in self-defense, she flees her cherished Ireland, under cover of a false identity, for the anonymous shores of late nineteenth-century America. But when a man is murdered on Ellis Island, a man Molly was seen arguing with, she becomes a prime suspect in the crime. Pounding the notorious streets of Hell's Kitchen and the Lower East Side, Molly undertakes a desperate mission to clear her name before her deadly past comes back to haunt her new future.

Murphy’s Law by Rhys Bowen is the story of Molly Murphy, an Irish immigrant on the run from the law, who finds herself out of the frying pan and into the fire when a man she quarreled with on the ship to America ends up dead.

This is book one in a series, and the reader can tell that Bowen meticulously researched the immigration experience and NYC life in the 1920s. However, the misery of boat travel in steerage and of being a foreigner in a foreign city with no job or residential prospects doesn’t quite fit the tone of plucky and independent woman detective. Molly is an outlier in a time where a lone, unmarried woman without a chaperone would be shunned. Instead, she comes and goes as she pleases, and any hint of scandal slides off her. To any reader who has read her “Royal Spyness” series, Murphy’s Law reads like a retread of its content—except instead of a down-and-out English aristocrat who stumbles into murder with her love interest, it’s a highly educated, lower-class Irish woman who stumbles into murder with her love interest. Whereas Georgiana’s naivete comes across as endearing and plausible, Molly’s lack of worldly intelligence at 23 comes across as a plot device to keep Molly stumbling into trouble.

Despite the inaugural book’s shortcomings, history buffs and lady detective connoisseurs will find Murphy’s Law engaging with a plot twist that will keep even an avid mystery reader guessing.

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Where They Lie

by Joe Hart

The murder of an influencer’s family exposes the disturbing secrets behind the facade in a haunting novel of suspense by Joe Hart, Wall Street Journal bestselling author of Or Else.

Where They Lie by Joe Hart is a mystery thriller that follows Nora McTarvish, a CPS employee, as she embarks on an off-the-books investigation after a family tragedy since she was the last agent to check on the foster placements.

Nora is a captivating protagonist: a graduate of foster care herself, she is haunted by her past and uses work to cope instead of getting therapy, and isolates herself from those in her life who genuinely care for her. Anyone who works in an office will feel Nora’s pain as she navigates inept coworkers and a boss who plays favorites as she tries to use the system to help those whose cases she works. When tragedy strikes a family in her caseload in the form of a plane crash, something doesn’t pass the smell test, and Nora embarks on an unsanctioned investigation that will have readers turning pages and trying to put the pieces together as they play along at home. Hart drops enough hints that any seasoned mystery reader can follow and puzzle together, but it will not be too obvious to anyone who is just along for the ride.

This is book one in a series, and Hart nicely sets up the recurring characters while also creating a backdrop and premise that will have readers wondering what Nora will do in the next book.

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Drop Dead

by Lily Chu

One mysterious mansion. Two rival journalists. Three weeks to uncover the story—and love—of a lifetime. Don’t miss this unforgettable romantic comedy!

Drop Dead by Lily Chu follows rival journalists Nadine Barbault and Wesley Chen as they race to discover the untold tale behind one of bestselling author Dot Voline’s books. Nemesis since college, Nadine and Wesley must put aside their rancor for a chance at a defining story of their careers.

Chu is a master of the lighthearted, feel-good rom-com tale. Drop Dead has everything readers of the genre expect from the rival-to-lovers trope, and while she throws in a dash of miscommunication, it is just enough to raise the stakes and cement deeper connections between our two protagonists and not too much that the plot depends on it. Nadine and Wesley come from their own places of hurt and have their own preconceptions; readers will empathize, sympathize, and root for Wesley and Nadine’s personal and business success. All of Chu’s characters are relatable to life in every way, with believable villains and friends who are also flawed. The narrative is character-driven, but the plot is engaging and will suck readers into the intrigue.

Lovers of this genre of books will want to delve into this story post-haste, but crime enthusiasts and readers looking for heavy angst may not find it appealing.

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Sutherland’s Crossing

by Gwen Kelly

What began as a missing person’s case now has Detective Beau Crenshaw heading in a different direction when a body turns up at a swamp. The pattern of death is eerily similar to an unsolved murder from years earlier. Beau goes on the hunt for a killer. He can’t mess up this time. He’s given a second chance to get a madman off the streets. What follows is a dark web of intrigue and deception that will push Detective Beau Crenshaw to his limits.

Sutherland’s Crossing by Gwen Kelly is the story of Beau Crenshaw, a police detective in a small town in the 90s, who is determined to solve the murder of a local woman whose high-society family must be backmanaged, while also trying to keep his marriage from falling apart.

Kelly’s novel, while set in 1995, does a good job of capturing the spirit of a hard-boiled 40s noir while managing to contemporize it. The story is a boilerplate crime novel that lovers of the genre will feel comfortable with, and it successfully walks the line between a twist no one could see coming and one that’s obvious from the first. (While there are graphic descriptions of murder, death, and dying, they seem more suited for the horror genre, coming off as a bit melodramatic in this narrative.) Beau’s a former gambling addict with a tragic backstory and a missus who just wants him to be present and is trying to prove he has earned his place as lead detective. The story jumps between Beau’s tumultuous marriage counseling sessions with wife Kathleen and his investigative endeavors on his case. However, the sessions don’t add much to the story, and any info the readers learn could have easily been woven into the narrative elsewhere (readers will have to decide for themselves if we only see Kathleen through Beau’s eyes, or if Kelly had trouble giving this frustrated and traumatized housewife depth past what she could do for the plot). The police work is the meat of the story, and any reader who enjoys procedurals will eat up Beau’s attempts to connect all the dots—even when he has to erase some and rethink what he thought he knew. Despite Kelly writing in 3rd person, the tale mainly follows Beau, which makes some of the POV shifts to other characters feel a little out of place and inconsistent. Still, most of the main characters maintain their unique voices, which makes the world of the novel robust and convincing.

Lovers of detective novels will find this an easy and enjoyable read, and even if they find the perp fairly obvious, the twists and turns will still make the journey satisfying. Readers who are looking for spice or a more complicated whodunnit may not find the tale gratifying.

I received an ACR from Reedsy Discovery.

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A Ruse of Shadows

by Sherry Thomas

Charlotte has been busy, plotting to prise the man her sister loves from Moriarty’s iron grip. Disruption, however, comes from an unexpected quarter. Lord Bancroft Ashburton, disgraced and imprisoned as a result of Charlotte’s prior investigations, nevertheless manages to press Charlotte into service: Underwood, his most loyal henchman, is missing and Lord Bancroft wants Charlotte to find Underwood, dead or alive. But then Lord Bancroft himself turns up dead and Charlotte, more than anyone else, meets the trifecta criteria of motive, means, and opportunity. Never mind rescuing anyone else, with the law breathing down her neck, can Charlotte save herself from prosecution for murder?

“A Ruse of Shadows” by Sherry Thomas is the 8th book in her Lady Sherlock series, and it follows Charlotte Holmes as she and her companions—Mrs. Watson, Lord Ingram, & Inspector Treadles—attempt to find Mr. Underwood under the threat of blackmail by Lord Bancroft Ashburton.

Charlotte Holmes is back at it again in this installment of Thomas’ detective novels. The characters by this point are comfortable and familiar, with an emotional growth shown by Charlotte that is the payoff from books 1-7. The case tracks the disappearance of one of Ashburton’s underlings, which surprisingly ties into one of Charlotte’s earlier cases and leads to an accusation of murder against herself, and the reader will delight in seeing how Charlotte’s analytical mind and calm under pressure serve to extract her from a tangled web once again. As usual, the reader will become invested in the twists and turns of the case while also rooting for the happiness of the supporting characters.

“A Ruse of Shadows” is a satisfying and enjoyable read that doesn’t veer much from the equation of the previous books, but readers who have made it this far may start to wonder if the overarching conflict with Moriarty begins to grow thin and repetitive.

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The Teacher Chronicles

by Abi Black

Meet Jane Austen and her three friends — Megan Thyme, Daisy Rhyme, and Alexandria Lions — dedicated educators. Jane, passionate about teaching and journalism, faces a crisis when Adrian Darcy threatens to dismantle the school's thriving journalism program. Determined to save it, Jane enlists her friends' support, but each are grappling with personal challenges of their own. As pressures mount and friendships are tested, these four women must navigate love, loss, and the complexities of their careers. With resilience and unwavering friendship, they discover that sometimes the greatest lessons are learned outside the classroom.

The Teacher Chronicles by Abi Black is the story of Jane, Daisy, Alex, and Megan, four teachers who experience turmoil on the job and in their personal lives over several months during the school year. The narrative is an ensemble cast, but Jane Austen, whose storyline loosely mimics her namesake’s, is the A-plot.

Black’s tale is an idealized fantasy version of teaching and follows the camaraderie of four friends during adversity caused by the school board and their own misunderstandings. Chronicles is a bubblegum pop, twee narrative that would make an excellent adaptation for an original Hallmark movie. The women have stereotypical relationship drama, there are a lot of tears, and storylines are wrapped up tidily with the promise of happily-ever-afters. Jane, Daisy, Alex, and Megan are interchangeable as characters who haven’t matured much past high-school mindsets and give the impression of listening to your friend vent about their problems and realizing they are the problem. Much of the interpersonal conflicts in this tale could be easily solved with basic communication, and bigger conflicts are solved more so with deus ex machinas and less so with the characters taking the initiative to fix their own problems. Emotional beats fall flat with characters telling their feelings instead of showing, and several plot points that would have benefited from detail to engage the reader and convince them of relationship building are glossed over with time jumps. The women’s love interests don’t exist much past providing plot points and are solid examples of “women writing men,” and there are one too many sage older mentors who only exist to pop in with kernels of wisdom. The reader must keep in mind at all times that this story is meant to be a fantasied telling to suspend their disbelief.

Readers who love soapy dramas with happy endings and aren’t looking to put too much thought into a quick book may find this novel good for a light read during a commute or a waiting room. Readers who love Austen, are real-life educators, or are used to a bit more substance even with their fun reads may want to give this a pass.

I received an ACR from Reedsy Discovery

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A Caged and Restless Magic

by Emmie Christie

Saida is a fox-shifter who gardens magic in each of the five Sense-enhanced worlds, but the Vision world’s magic is fading fast. She must find and transplant magic from the other worlds to save it, and a human on Sound has the strongest voice magic she’s ever heard. Saida fears humans and the touch of their hands, but she might have to make an exception for Alesio. Alesio is an ex cage match fighter and aspiring singer. All he wants is to sing at the best concert hall in town, but his old gang haunts him, trying to make him return to fighting, and his partial deafness makes him doubt his dream. He never imagined meeting someone like Saida or traveling to different worlds. Meanwhile, by accident, Saida opens a portal to a different Plane than the Sense worlds altogether and releases a monster: a monster hungry for her magic. She needs to find enough transplants to save Vision while running from the monster; but what she fears the most is the trust and attraction blossoming between her and Alesio.

A Caged and Restless Magic By Emmie Christie tells the narrative of Saida, a foxan whose task it is to keep magic pruned and blossoming across all the worlds in her purview. However, the magic eater, Watthe, stalks her travels and threatens life as she knows it—good thing she runs across Alesio, a human who seems to have magic to spare! (Now, if only she can convince him to help…)

Christie weaves an enchanting fantasy tale that immerses readers straightaway and has them committed to the interweaving stories of Saida and Alesio as they both do what it takes to survive—Alesio as a Cathedral guard trying to escape his past as a cage fighter and Saida as she tries to save magic in a race against time against Watthe as he grows even stronger. Saida and Alesio are drawn to each other’s magic in a way that mirrors their relationship of complements. The reader will enjoy discovering the worlds Saida visits through Alesio’s eyes while also experiencing the urgency Saida feels to Fix Magic. Christie subtly weaves in the past traumas both Saida and Alesio must overcome before they can come together to fight as a team, however, the reader might find the initial confidences between the two a bit unearned and the healing a bit unbelievable as the characters seem to heal by the power of good thinking instead of the hard work usually involved. The cohesive narrative has a satisfying conclusion that brings everything and everyone together for a conflict that is just long enough to raise the stakes without meandering to the point of disinterest. The novel wraps up cleanly but leaves room for a sequel that would no doubt expand Saida’s world further.

A Caged and Restless Magic is a solid read for any fantasy reader, and those who typically read higher fantasy will enjoy the worldbuilding in between heavier novels. This story is light enough to be a pleasure read and very accessible to readers who typically do not foray into fantasy.

I received an ARC on Reedsy Discovery

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Collapse of the Time Web

by Q E Daniels

The goddess Meandyra, in her first job as a braider of time, watches helplessly as one world after another destroys itself. She refuses to stand by and let it happen again. Against all rules, she creates offshoots to the braid of time, parallel worlds made up of the same people, starting fresh after having made a better decision. She never dreamed she'd get caught. But now two braids have broken free; people are crossing over; two worlds are at war. They may bring down the entire web with them. The enraged mystic witch Caprice, seeking unlimited power and vengeance, faces the Least High Druid, talented enough to be careless, out to prove he was always meant to be the true hero. Meandyra's only hope lies with Herb, the gentle itinerant spirit guide who trained them both. To fix this, Meandyra crosses lines that haven't even been drawn yet. The more she intervenes, the worse things get, and the deeper she goes. She's driven her friend and mentor, Futz Knotworth, to the edge. He would never betray her; but he can't stop her. And she won't let him go.

Collapse of the Time Web by Q E Daniels is the second book in a series and it follows a higher-level being and braider of time, Meandyra, as she attempts to guide the lesser beings in the world she’s tasked with overseeing after she creates the problem of colliding multiverses. The lesser beings from Book 1—Thundersquat, Herb, Least High Druid, Wolfmini, Blundren, and Smidgel—must contend with the alternate universes Meandyra has created as they attempt to stop the witch Caprice from wiping out the human race across the time braids.

Daniels has crafted an excellent fantasy tale in a rich world that’s sometimes philosophical, sometimes humorous, immersing the reader in the foibles of low and high beings who haven’t quite figured out what they want or are doing. This narrative has its main focus on the characters’ self-reflection of their actions and trying to do better (…or not), with action sequences having briefer screen time; the plot ushers the characters along as they try to make sense of their successes and failures with little time for them to breathe before the next potential catastrophe. Each character has their own grievances and rationalizations, which is refreshing and keeps the reader invested in their outcomes. Meandyra’s drive is a blessing and a curse to her, and as the de facto main protagonist, readers will simultaneously root for and scream at her actions. However, with the lesser beings, there are oftentimes too many alternate versions of characters in the same place at the same time with a web of overlapping connections to keep straight, even though they all have their own unique inner journeys; there’s too little novel and too many of them for the readers to glean more than a high-level glance at their hopes and dreams.

Collapse of the Time Web is a well-crafted story with engaging characters that any veteran fantasy reader will enjoy, especially if they like Terry Pratchett. Still, casual readers may find the worldbuilding inaccessible. Readers who historically annotate their tomes will find their habit useful in keeping track of who-what-where, whereas casual readers may not have the patience to keep the versions straight. Daniels’ third as-yet-unreleased book, A Crawlspace Under Heaven, will continue in this world for readers who prefer a series to a standalone novel.

I received an ACR from Discovery.

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Trailing Darkness

by A. L. Gordon

Do you believe in angels? Would you know if you met one? Would you know if you were one? Brienna is a normal, somewhat quirky, human being—or so she thinks—until one day, the archangel Michael visits her and she finds herself tasked with the responsibility of sealing the nine Gates to Hell that reside on Earth. Amid the growing evil that has been infecting the Earth and disturbing the balance between light and dark, Brienna must travel the world in a race against time to prevent the underworld from rising. But as in the quests of old, with great responsibility comes great tribulations. Can Brienna survive her adventures and seal all of the Hell Gates or will the Earth fall to darkness?

Trailing Darkness, the debut novel by A. L. Gordon, is the story of Brie, a directionless coffee addict who finds out she’s the soul of an angel who volunteered to live in a human’s body to fight the spreading darkness on Earth. With no memory of her life as an angel, her superiors task Brie with closing the Hell Gates across the land to save humanity—and along the way, she must decide if she’s still in love with her mate, the archangel Michael.

A thrilling Magical Girl story, Darkness engages the reader almost immediately as Gordon drops them into a world with the conflict already in progress. (The POV switches from Brie and Michael, but make no mistake about whose story this is—even Michael’s chapters are centered around Brie.) We meet the cast of characters in the prologue through the eyes of the warrior-angel Sabriel, Brie’s alter ego, before the eyes of our heroine—a move that familiarizes the reader with the world and gives them a leg-up in comprehension while Brie is still grappling with her new (past) normal. The worldbuilding is excellent, taking a page out of Supernatural’s book and combining the Judeo-Christian traditions with older mythologies. This is an action-adventure story at heart that eases the reader into the lore of the world without it becoming too overwhelming, though at times that action is glossed over in favor of the interpersonal relationships of Brie, her BFF Callie, her mate Michael, and everyone’s favorite villain, Lucifer. The other cadre of angels have some screen time, but mostly as comedic relief and as a source of Plot. This is Book 1 of a planned series, and it does its job well setting up the greater upcoming conflict and the additional foils the heroes must overcome to ensure good balances evil in the world once more.

Readers who enjoy simple fantasy or are looking for a light read will find this book much to their tastes, and its publication date is advantageous for a pleasant summer read. However, readers who prefer more high fantasy or literary prose may find themselves searching for more meat in this story. And despite the c-plot romance, those looking for Romantasy should be aware there is no spice or slow-burn here, but there is a mild miscommunication trope.

(Author's Content Warnings: “car accidents, brain injuries, chronic pain, depression, PTSD, murder, sacrificial rituals, and violence.”)

I received a free ARC from Discovery

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Softly, She Floats

by Natalie Stepfan

Prepare for a heart-pounding journey through the chilling labyrinth of a town's secrets, where every whisper is a lie and danger lurks behind every softly spoken word. Katlyn's detective skills are put to the test as the body count rises. With her loyal partner Colin by her side, she delves deep into the twisted mind of a murderer who leaves no trace. But as the investigation intensifies, Katlyn's own past demons resurface, threatening to consume her. With a tight-knit community on the brink of panic, and her own life in danger, Katlyn must confront her own secrets and untangle a web of deceit that hits too close to home. In "Softly, She Floats," the line between hunter and hunted blurs, and the true face of evil may be closer than she ever imagined. Can she unveil the killer's identity before the darkness claims its next victim?

“Softly, She Floats” by Natalie Stefan is the second book of the Kat Snowden series. This book follows our erstwhile heroine Kat, her own discovery of a body on the beach has stymied her decision to resign from the police force. Determined to find the victim’s killer, Kat embarks on an investigation with her partner, Colin, that is not without its hurdles.

This is an engaging murder mystery and readers will find it a page-turner. Stefan drops hints and red herrings throughout the book, leaving the reader guessing the true killer. Kat as a character is your typical hard-as-nails female cop archetype who won’t apologize for her commitment to her job, even when it comes at odds with her pledge to be a present mom. (Frequently, readers may be frustrated to see Kat acting against her own best interests, but that’s what makes for an engaging character and an interesting read!)

At times, Stefan relies a bit too much on the unhelpful-authority-figure trope to add conflict instead of organic obstacles, but it does not detract from the enjoyment of the plot. It’s unclear what Kat’s age is, which could help in assessing her character: was she a young mom now in her early 30s fighting the old guard? or is she a middle-aged cop getting back into the swing of her career? The time period of the story is also in question as it seems to be current, but the investigative methods seemed outdated, and contemporary search techniques that have been standard in cop media for at least the past decade were not present. Readers may be scratching their heads that Kat and her team don’t repeatedly employ common sense.

Readers looking for a good rainy day or bead read who enjoy women-led crime thrillers will do well to pick up this book for a fun popcorn read. Those looking for a more substantial and cerebral intrigue might do best to stick to some of the more popular pulp authors like Tom Clancy.

I received a free ARC from StoryOrigin

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Fates of Magic and Myth: A Limited Edition Fantasy Boxset

by J.A. Culican, S.R. Breaker, Sara Sines, Miranda Herald, David Neth, E.A. Burnett, Lou Paduano, River Cross

Dive into enchanting worlds with the "Fates of Magic and Myth" boxset, featuring eight captivating books by acclaimed authors, including USA Today and Amazon bestsellers. Experience epic battles, magical quests, and mythical creatures in stories filled with heroes, sorcerers, and warriors fighting dark forces. Each tale offers a thrilling adventure in fantastical realms where magic rules and legends unfold. Perfect for any fantasy lover, this collection promises endless excitement and intrigue.

Fates of Myth and Magic by various authors is a great compilation of fantasy stories for the ever-voracious consumer of all things fantastical. The authors paint a rich world full of a diverse set of creatures and mythologies with both new takes on lore and the older, more established lore of supernatural creatures. The prose was well-written and edited, each style matching the flavor of the world well with nothing seeming anachronistic in the context of each individual story. Characters were robust and engaging, and readers will find that each story is a page-turner.

While some of the stories contained within are of your tried-and-true adventure story, or of political intrigues, other stories lean more toward romantasy and have some spice in them. There is indeed something for everyone on this compilation, so if one sample is not to a reader’s liking, there are several others to skip to. It also serves a hidden purpose of time management—instead of getting sucked in for hours while chores and sleep beckon, the end of each story is a good stopping point for readers who cannot put a story down once they start!

But readers be warned: each story is but a small excerpt of either a longer novel or series. While it is a fun jaunt into the typical escapism of the genre, this compilation functions more as an advertisement for the authors and stories contained, with the main purpose seeming to get the reader to go out and buy the complete versions of each sweeping narrative. If you are a reader always looking for new material to consume, this is the perfect compilation to test the waters without an initial commitment. However, if you are a reader looking for a complete narrative and self-contained storyline, this may not be the book for you.

I received a free ARC from Story Origin.