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Chelsea Trinder

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Christina Baker Kline, Anne Burt

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J.T. Ellison

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This is my third J.T. Ellison, and what I’ve discovered is that this woman can write a thriller.The story line was deep and layered, with shifting perspectives, timelines, and voices adding to the suspense and anticipation. The interwoven stories made for a twisty and tense read, The use of these tools also led me to a theory I held for much of the book, only to discover just how wrong I was. Much of the story takes place in the fictional twin of Brockville, a small town created to be a utopia. The author created such an eerie vibe, culty meets Stepford Wives. It is a purposely and meticulously planned town that seems perfect on the surface. But that perfection hides deep and dark secrets, which creates a pool of suspects to keep the reader guessing.  I love a flawed character, the feeling of reality and authenticity that they bring to a story. This book had several, all very believable. There wasn’t truly a main actor in this story that wasn’t flawed in some way, which informed so much of the story in such interesting ways. This is a fast-paced thriller with no shortage of potentially evil bad guys, including the mysterious narrator that appears from time to time. J.T. Ellison is masterful in the way she creates mind-bending plots that mess with the readers in all the right ways. She creates red herrings that are so subtle that only later does the reader recognize them as such, allowing for delicious twists and turns. I love being wrong when I read mysteries and thrillers, so I appreciated that I had a lot of different theories throughout, very few of them correct. And the ending suggests there might be more for these characters in store. There’s also a bit of an Easter egg, the setting of Marchburg, Virginia also being the setting for Ellison’s 2019 release, Good Girls Lie. That book is set at a private school, The Goode School. Halley’s father in this book is a teacher at that school, the events of Good Girls Lie referenced a few times within this story. That being said, they can be read independently of one another. You can read my review of Good Girls Lie here.

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Alphabet Soup/Author Edition: E, Linz the Bookwork & Logophile: author named Joe/Joseph/Josephine or a variant, PopSugar: married couple who don't live together

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Mercedes Lackey

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Once again, I love Alberich and his perspective on Valdemar! This story of this book is also told from the alternating perspective of Selenay, the new young queen of Valdemar. Which does lead to one small rant. Selenay's story in the book is the foundation for much of the conflict and intrigue, centered on her relationship and marriage. She knows that she will likely have to make a marriage of importance to the country rather than for love. Leading up to this is her lamenting her lack of choice in romantic partners. This is where it got a little unbelievable for me. She was raised from birth to rule the country in her father's stead. It has been established that future monarchs are very drilled in politics from day one. So how is she unaware that a neighboring nation has marriable princes of proper ages? There are treaties and agreements, ambassadors. Her lamentations as she wonders about eligible princes seems to fly in the face of reality. But a thing to celebrate... Herald Myste! I love her. She's a wonderful character for so many reasons. She's flawed, but relatable. She softens Alberich, who is usually so very stern. And she's not a spring chicken, which is one of my favorite things about her. She's middle-aged, which is not an age demographic found all too often in fantasy novels, especially in roles in which they get to do great things. So, yes, I adore her!

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Katherine Center

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This was a heartfelt, funny, and deeply emotional read with interesting characters, whether you loved them or hated them. I also enjoyed the nontraditional-in-romance-novels careers, with Hutch as a USCG rescue swimmer and Katie as a videographer. That was a fun framework for their story. There was a lot to love, subplots that gave a lot of added joy to the romantic plot and the happy ending. Katie's struggles with body image and body shaming hit hard, but it was handled in a realistic and beautiful way. There were moments that were hard to read, her hurt so palpable. But it was worth to go on that journey with her. Hutch's own story was also deeply emotional, albeit in a different way. He was an intense character, but one I really loved. And then there is Rue... what an amazing character in so many ways. In truth, she's the unspoken hero of the story.

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Linz the Bookworm & Logophile; shares author's initials; PopSugar: healing fiction

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Mercedes Lackey

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Jess Lourey

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This book was just incredible. The author uses multiple perspectives and timelines to tell the interwoven plotlines, which serves to build the anticipation to the max. So many secrets, so many connections, so many questions... and the answers just lead to more questions.Van is such a complex character. She's equal parts badass, softie, and victim. She puts on a display of detachment, but she craves connection even as she rejects it. It's clear her trauma has informed how she looks at and interacts with the world. Harry, too, has baggage which has shaped him into the man he's become. But his heart is huge, and his mind so open. The suspense level was off the charts with so many twists and turns, some deeply terrifying moments and situations. The stories told were so gripping, so intertwined. And it brought together some of the stories from the first two books in very satisfying ways.But what made the book for me was the ending. 100% in love with it. It was utter perfection.

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Cloak & Dagger, PopSugar: book about a cult

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Lauren Kung Jessen

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The beginning has a bit of a Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist vibe, with a random meeting that leads to an entire night exploring the city and falling for one another. I loved that book/movie, so that vibe really appealed to me, There's a certain mystique and romance, a beautiful innocence, to moments like that, and it is the perfect beginning to the story of Jackson and Rooney. The story is equal parts romance and a coming-into-oneself journey. Jackson and Rooney meet solely through chance, setting up the conversation between choice and fate. Jackson, the NASA scientist, relies on facts and figures, while Rooney, the artist, believes in fate. Their dynamic as opposites is what makes the story so engrossing. Their opposite natures set off journeys for both of them as they begin to redefine themselves. For Jackson, through Rooney and his grandfather, it meant accepting that life couldn't be fully lived if adhering only to his orderly world of science and facts. For Rooney, through Jackson and her mother, she learned to understand the importance of choices, rather than fate.

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S.R. Grey

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Anacostia Miller

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Mercedes Lackey

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Valdemar is portrayed as a land of liberal tolerance, but it’s interesting to see all of those ideals as seen through the eyes of the enemy, to see Alberich struggle to resolve what he thought he knew with what he experiences for himself, both in regards to Valdemar and his own homeland of Karse. It’s a bit of a commentary on discovering one’s own truths instead of blindly believing what you are told. It becomes an exploration of culture, religion, and beliefs through the eyes of Alberich. He’s also considerably older than the average newly-Chosen Herald, which adds a level of maturity to the storyline, which was nice.

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Ann Grech

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Jess Lourey

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This book, unlike the prequel and the previous, was more from Harry's perspective than Van's, something I quite liked. It was interesting to see the chinks in his armor, to get to know him beyond the calm, cool, and collected persona he's thus far presented. His past forms the subplot to The Reaping, weaving itself throughout the main storyline. The present-day story is interspersed with the flashbacks of both Harry and a character of Alku. I enjoyed this aspect of the storytelling, as it really allowed me as a reader to get to know the characters, to understand them and how their pasts informed their experiences. I truly love the dynamic of Van and Harry. On the surface, they are very different people, yet they work so well together. This book went a long way toward showing that in many fundamental ways, however, they

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Cloak & Dagger; Linz the Bookworm & Logophile: secret society trope; PopSugar: nonverbal character

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Mercedes Lackey

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Oathblood is a collection of short stories centered on Tarma and Kethry. Some of them are chapters from the first book, The Oathbound, reprinted in their original form. But the collection also contains several new stories that add a lot to the overall story of Tarma and Kethry, taking us farther into their lives. There's also an intro by the author to the stories, which lends a bit of a behind-the-scene feel to the book. All in all, a good collection that adds depth to two of my favorite characters!

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Mercedes Lackey

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As with all of the books in this overall saga, this is a story of intrigue, politics, and power struggles, as well as that of change. I loved the character growth that was present in this story. Kethry is finally able to open herself to the idea of love and partnership with a man she meets, finding in him the partner she needs to help her rebuild Tarma’s clan. She also becomes a much stronger mage, coming to her own with her abilities. The relationship between she and Tarma also deepens, and I enjoyed that. But it was also their relationships with others that I loved. It made both women seem like fuller people, more complete, and I liked that so much. This book also revisits some of the interesting plot lines from the books of Vanyel’s time, the lack of magic in Valdemar, setting the stage as well for future books that will be based on this premise.

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Roxie Holland

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Mercedes Lackey

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This is a strong female-centric book set in the bigger Velgarth world in which the Valdemar saga is set. Parts of it originally appeared as previously published short stories, but here they’ve been rewritten to be part of a bigger story. 
One of the things I loved most about the saga is the diversity of the cast of characters. The women have agency, rather than having been relegated to damsels in distress or gratuitously sexualized. Tarma and Kethry are a warrior and a mage respectively, Tarma also a woman of color. Also wonderful is that the two women are not pitted against one another but are supportive and close. In keeping with diversity, there is a positive representation of an asexual character.There are those that take issue of the off-the-page rapes, including those of a child, and the violence against other women. I understand that, but I also don’t have a problem with that as it is not used as a gratuitous element, but as a character-defining element in the cases of Tarma and Kethry, as well as an accounting of just how villainous the antagonists are.

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Jess Lourey

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This is one of those books that is just incredibly difficult to put down. The mystery at the heart of the story was gripping, fraught with twists and turns, and deeply emotional. But almost as intriguing as the mystery is Van Reed, the protagonist. She's an utterly fascinating character, with a haunting past that has deeply affected the woman she's become. She has an edge (which I won't spoil) but it's as much a curse as it is a gift for her chosen career. Combined, these things add a unique dynamic to her character and to the relationships she has. 

Almost as interesting is Harry, the forensics guy at the BCA. He has some ghosts in his own past, which are only barely unearthed in this book, so I can't wait to see more of him and his story. And it's clear that he truly sees Van, in ways she both craves and is terrified of.  Their dynamic is another one that had me deeply engrossed and turning the pages.

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52 Books: genre two set in summer; Cloak & Dagger

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Mercedes Lackey

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This is a Tarma-and-Kethry short, a bit of a departure into an alternate world. It has tie-ins to other stories by the second author, probably more of akin to those than to Valdemar. But it's still a fun read!

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Layla Hagen

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Mercedes Lackey

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This is one of the saddest books in the overall Valdemar saga. Lan has been uprooted from his country home and friends, moved to Haven, the capital of Valdemar. His parents are artisan Guildmasters who seek to rise in their fields, but he's left feeling as if he has no place. Even his siblings are following in their parents' footsteps, but Lan wants nothing to do with either family business. All he wants is to be a member of the Guard, which his parents forbid, feeling it to be "beneath" them. It has left Lan an outlier in his own family. To make it worse, they decide to send him to a school, one in which the headmaster leaves all the discipline and order to a group of older students who love nothing more than to cruelly bully the younger students. One thing leads to another, and a terrible accident occurs. But there's a silver lining... he finally finds his path, even if he will probably always remain an outlier, this time from those who fear him. It truly is a beautiful read!

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Mercedes Lackey

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Through Herald Mags and The Collegium Chronicles, whole new parts to the Valdemar universe have been revealed. In this one, his connections to relatives with in the Sleepgiver nation of assassins creates the backdrop for this book. His son Tory and his best friend, Prince Kyril, have been sent into the nation of Ruven in order to investigate the disappearance of one of the Sleepgiver cousins. Herald Mags is the King’s Spymaster, in charge of a vast intelligence network. Tory, however, is not a herald, but he has studied under his father his entire life, working as a spy agent since he was a child. The prince is also not a herald, but the two friends share the Gift of Farsight, working together in ways that are unusual. It’s because of their gift that they find themselves on a mission to find Siratai, the missing sleepgiver who found herself captured by Karsites. This book takes us to new places and builds upon things only touched on in other books, which I loved. The sense of adventure, the thrill of a quest, and the ultimate fight for good when faced with evil… these are the threads that bind together these books, and I loved every page!

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Jess Lourey

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As a prequel, this novella goes a long way to setting up an understanding of just who Harry and Van are as people. Despite the very short length, the characters were very well developed, and the action was appropriately paced. There were a fair amount of twists, surprising in such a short piece. Also surprising was the ending, which I didn't see coming. The perfect lead-in to the new series.

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Mercedes Lackey

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One of the best parts of the Valedemar books is that the stories build upon a rich cast of characters that are referenced through out the saga, allowing for a lot of in-depth character development. In this book, Abi (the middle child of Mags and Amily, first seen in The Collegium Chronicles series prior to this trilogy) is the focus. The daughter of two Heralds, she’s trying to find her own place in the world, her own calling. Another thing I love about this overall saga is the diverse representation… in sexuality, gender, and race. Abi is portrayed as aromantic, asexual, which I appreciated. I love all of the books of Valdemar. Part of that is the fantasy aspect, of course. But it’s also because the stories revolve around so much more than romantic relationships between characters. It’s about the quest for good over evil, the struggles with morality.

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Mercedes Lackey

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Unlike so many other heroes of the Valdemar stories, Perry is not a Herald. But that isn’t to say that he doesn’t have his own part to play in support of the monarchy. Perry has the gift of Animal Mindspeech, and his gift is powerful. And he uses it such creative ways. He also has the makings of a spy, just like his father. In many ways, the book is a coming-of-age story for Perry, as well as a journey for Mags, as he starts to realize that his son is coming into his own. And he’s forced to do that when Perry takes matters into his own hands when his son realizes what Mags himself hasn’t… that there is no one else to stop what’s happening on Valdemar’s borders.

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Mercedes Lackey

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In the other two books, the main conflict/intrigue was preemptive, stopping something before it could happen. The central conflict/intrigue of this book was different. In this one, they became embroiled in something already in progress. An unknown group was coming after the women of Haven, a group with a clear grudge against any woman who did not live their life in what that group believed was the proper way. While I would have enjoyed a little more intrigue, as I like to be kept guessing, I loved the story of Mags and Amily as they sussed out the bad guys. What I appreciated the most was the message of the storyline, the place of women in the world. Because that was what was at the heart of the story… the place of women, the rights of women, bullying, victim-shaming. It’s a book, although released only five years ago, seems incredibly poignant in late of the times we live in.

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Mercedes Lackey

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This is really a book of growth for both Mags and Amily as they navigate their still new roles as Heralds. And, of course, there is no end to the conflict and intrigue they need to work through! I love the way Lackey handles conflict in these books. Yes, there is the overall conflict within the plot, but there is always some kind of moral conflict as well. For the storyline, there is the discovered existence of a rebel faction, weapons being siphoned away in a futile attempt to overthrow Valdemar. Personally, there is the moral issue of excess. Mags is hyper aware of how little some people have, after his time as a mine slave. There are so many, even in Haven, with so little, and it has become his mission to help alleviate that whenever he can. Amily, too, is continuing to grow. Learning from her father and Mags, she has begun to create her own network of eyes and ears, those of the Handmaidens to the nobles of Haven.

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Mercedes Lackey

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I love Mags’ character so much. And I love his version of being a Herald. The Heralds are people above reproach, literally magically sanctioned people who are the foundation of what works for the Kingdom of Valdemar. And Mags is all of that, but yet still a bit on the shady side. But shady in the name of the greater good. As a Herald-Spy, Mags sometimes operates in the gray areas between the black and the white. In this book, he really comes into his own as he begins to work more and more on his own, expanding his network and finding his own way. This book is just as much about Amily, too. She’s spent her life a bit in the shadows. This is partly because she’s the daughter of the former King’s Own, the second most important person in the kingdom, and partly because her disability left her too often on the sidelines. But much has happened, both in healing her leg and the unexpected turn of events that left her as the new King’s Own. Overnight, everything has changed for her. Gone is the brown sparrow; now she’s the second most important person in the kingdom.

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Mercedes Lackey

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I love Lackey’s fluid writing, the way she draws a reader into the world she’s created in Valdemar. For me, reading her books is an experience, one that is practically spiritual for me. This experience was no different with this novel. Mags and Amily are among my favorite characters in the saga, and I loved getting so much of them in this book. The murkiness of Mags’ past left him, and readers, with so many questions, and this book answered many of them. Because Mags is so much of a favorite for me, I loved watching his character grow and come into his own. It’s a great end to this series and part of the overall Valdemar saga, and it’s a great lead into the next series.

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Breanne Randall

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I wanted to love this book, with witches and magic at its core. But I just didn't. The pacing was all over the place for me. At times, it raced over important plot points with nary a breath to deepen the moment. Then it was weirdly slow, fixated on things that seemed insignificant. It was a bit of a whiplash situation. And then the spicy scenes. They didn't seem terribly organic to the story. They felt forced, almost as if they were just bullet points on a list of things to get to within the story. And it was oddly timed, in my opinion. The world is ending, and everything needed to be done in a hurry, but there was plenty of time to just go at it. It didn't feel natural. Because of that, it made it difficult to take their romance as real and not just a side effect of what was happening. In and of themselves, the scenes were well written; they just felt out of place with the larger story. I don't think it helped that, for me, Calliope read more as a teenager than a grown woman. I just found her reactions to things very juvenile. One positive thing... I loved the magic system. The idea of sacrificing memories as payment for magic is something I've not read before.

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Linz the Bookworm & Logophile: book recommended on social media

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Victoria Jayne

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The setting of this book was wonderfully lush and atmospheric, tthe perfect backdrop for a bachelorette getaway and a bruised ego, if not a broken heart. It also makes for an interesting dynamic between Marissa and Beau, with its built-in end date for a vacay fling, as their relationship develops. It gave them the opportunity to let it all hang out, with the fair assumption that they’d never see each other again.And the plus-size representation was on point. I love the way Marissa fully embraced her body, showing a goddess-level of self-confidence. That was wholly inspiring in a world that is often less accepting. Sometimes, when an FMC is plus size, there is so much focus on it that it starts to feel like the body size is the majority of her personality/identity. But Jayne doesn’t do that. She lets Marissa be what she is without making it all that she is. I love that so much. I also loved the way Beau felt about her body, just loving it for what it was, finding it perfect and beautiful.Finally, I loved the balance between romance and real life. Sometimes book characters can be a little too romance-forward, making choices without any pragmaticism. That can be fun, if not terribly realistic. But I love even more a character that feels real. That was Marissa. She let her guard down during vacation, leading her to the fling with Beau. But when things began to have back-to-real-life possibilities, her head and heart were at odds with one another. I enjoyed that her character didn’t act in a romance-forward way but in a realistic way. She saw Beau’s situation as potentially problematic. She had the wisdom to be realistic. I enjoyed seeing that side of a FMC.

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Mercedes Lackey

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Mags is a character who has become one of my favorites. There is so much to love about his story as we travel with him through this series and watch him grow. I think what draws me to Mags so much is the way in which, while he grows, his fundamental self doesn’t. He stays honest and sweet, noble and kind, no matter what he goes through. There’s something moving about him, about seeing a child come from literally nothing and watching him come into his own. While maybe this story isn’t as fast-paced as some of the others, I still enjoyed it just as much. It gave us some good insight as to Mags’ past, from before he even remembers. In essence, this is as much a survival story as a fantasy, which is in keeping with Mags’ history. He’s put in situations that no one and nothing could have prepared him for, and it is only his smarts and sheer determination that allow him to survive.

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Mercedes Lackey

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Although I love the Valdemar saga, one of my favorite series that I go back to over and over again, I have to admit that this this installment of the Collegium Chronicles is my least favorite thus far.  I still love Mags, as well his friends Lena and Bear, but this particular book dragged for me.  Although his quest to find answers about his past was the focus of the novel, I think I enjoyed the stories of Lena and Bear and other characters more.  Their stories had much more of an arc to them, whereas the main point of Mags’ storyline was simply a carry-over from the previous novel. The other thing that dampened my enjoyment was Mags’ dialogue.  This is the third book into the series and, if anything, his accent was worse.  And that made reading difficult sometimes as I had to stop to puzzle out exactly what it was that he was saying. I understand the point behind the accent, but it was almost unreadable at times.

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Mercedes Lackey

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Intrigues is the second in the Collegium Chronicles series and continues to focus on Mags, a former mine slave.  I have loved this character from the beginning.  He was neglected and abused, as well as woefully under educated, during his years at the mine.  He saw things and went through things that would have broken most people, yet somehow his spirit stayed alive and stayed strong.  Instead of using his lack of education and lack of knowledge about the world as an excuse to give up or to complain, he finds a way to use it to his advantage.  There is an undeniably good message in that. The mystery and intrigue is at high levels in this book, with Mags’ past at the center of a lot of it.  He is a person without a past.  No one knows who he is or where he came from until a foreign operative seems to recognize him.  And that moment of recognition puts Mags in the spotlight, and not in a good way. 

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Mercedes Lackey

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I love Mags, one of my all-time favorite characters in the Valdemar series.  He is uneducated, but far from unintelligent.  When he is finally exposed to knowledge, he soaks it up like a sponge, ever aware of how little he knows about the world around him.  He has lived a life of mere survival, never experiencing anything other than mistreatment at the hands of the mine’s owner. This is one of my favorites, full of mystery and intrigue and emotional characters!

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Linz the Bookworm & Logophile: set in a school setting

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Mercedes Lackey

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short story in an non-Valdemar anthology

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Blackwing Chronicles

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Mercedes Lackey

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Vanyel is as protective and fiercely loyal as ever! He is also always willing to risk himself for the greater good. But Stefan… I wanted to love him, and I did like him, but there were moments that even that was a struggle. He was such a foil to Vanyel. Vanyel is loyal and noble and honest and I felt like Stefan skirted the edge of nobility and honesty. As a Bard, he had the means to use his Gifts to peacok a bit, to influence others, and to gain personal wealth. And while he used his Gifts in very good ways, he also tended to use them in ways that weren’t. And the attitude was always one of surprise when ethics were pointed out to him. That was largely unbelievable to me, considering the back story of the Bards and their training. And he did a whole lot of manipulating of Vanyel himself. He just didn’t get the drive that a hero has to save the world. In actuality, Stefan was probably the most realistic character in the novel. He was flawed and he was really just a regular guy with some musical gifts. But in the context of a high fantasy novel, he just seemed to be the odd man out. However, I did love the story. In true Vanyel style, he was driven hero of the story that risked himself repeatedly to save the kingdom and those he loved. He is the character that I always felt deserved to be truly happy and I am not sure he ever got that in life, not really. There were a lot of twists and turns in this book, some a bit predictable and some far less so. There was one regarding Stefan that I am truly not sure how I feel about, although it does answer a lot of questions. And the ending was a bittersweet one that I appreciated! 

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Vera Wong's Guide to Snooping (On a Dead Man)

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Vera Wong's Guide to Snooping (On a Dead Man)

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Jesse Q. Sutanto

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Vera Wong is exactly the kind of FMC I love in a cozy mystery. She's hilarious, even when she's not trying to be. But to have the level of self-confidence that she has? It might be borderline delusional, but I'm still jealous. She's the epitome of sassy as she meddles in the lives of those she loves and those she barely knows. She fronts as a helpless old lady, but she is anything but. She's full of life and love. And she loves a good mystery. Along with her newfound family from the last book, she throws herself into a new mystery, determined to solve it herself. The story is told from multiple points of view, giving the reader a fully complete view of the story. Sutanto is so good at juggling the plethora of POVs, never allowing the pacing to suffer for it. As much as it is a mystery, it's really much more than that. It's a story of cultural lifestyles and traditions, of found family and changing family relationships. It's about loneliness and boredom. It's about the lengths one will go in the name of greed and the lengths one will go in the name of love.

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52 Books: author has Edgar award; Craving for Cozies

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Vera Wong's Guide to Snooping (On a Dead Man)

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Mercedes Lackey

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Once again, I think Vanyel and his circumstances are universally relatable.  I love Vanyel and I love his story.  He is such a sympathetic character so it is easy to root for him throughout the story.  Even after everything he has done for the kingdom, his parents still can’t see him for who he is.  His father is still dismissive and his mother is still throwing her ladies at him.  And as a person, despite all that he has been through, he still has so much to learn about life, love, and moving forward after grief.  This book also answered a lot of questions about some characters from the first book, particularly the family priest and the weaponsmaster.  They were extraordinarily hateful in the first book with no real explanation as to why that was so extreme. As with the other books, this one is full of twists and turns and intrigue.  I think that there is an added level of suspense in this particular book because Vanyel is, as the series title suggests, the last of his kind.  He is the last Herald-Mage.  So much rides on him and there are moments when you wonder, even knowing there is another book in the trilogy, if he is going to survive. 

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Mercedes Lackey

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I absolutely love the blend of characters in this book.  No matter what your life story is, there is a character in this book that is relatable.  No two characters are the same, giving a rich tapestry of characters in a wonderful story.  I have heard many complain about the rather whiny attitude of Vanyel throughout the book.  They are not wrong; he is whiny.  But it is totally appropriate for the story.  He is a young teenager, a fact easy to forget, and the reality is that he has a lot to whine about.  I love that the character isn’t portrayed to be perfect, that he is portrayed as realistic. 

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Rylan Brown

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Juliette Cross

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This one is definitely darker than the previous books in this series. But I suppose that is par for the course when one of the main characters is a grim! I’ve not read many books with this type of supernatural character, so that was unique. And Gareth and Livvy took the chemistry off the charts! In a lot of ways, this was as much a journey of growth for each of them as it was a romance between them. For Livvy, she’d never found the person that challenged her they way Gareth did. For Gareth, a less-than-stellar childhood led to a feeling of loss and a lack of connection beyond very few. But both of them found what they didn’t even really know they were looking for with each other.

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Susan Mallery

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I went into this expecting a summery, beach read but this was not that. Instead, it was a story of secrets, questionable decisions, and a whole lot of betrayal. The themes in this were deep and highly relatable for many of us. At the forefront was the hard choice between loyalty and doing the right thing in a given situation. The author further complicates it by adding a divided loyalty into the mix. That created an incredibly messy, complex dynamic which felt all too real. With it comes the notion of blind loyalty and the ways that can completely encompass how people can view those close to them. There are some deeply twisted dynamics in this book, and it made for a great read. If I had a complaint, it would be the way in which the two women are able to be surprised by their shared connection. It just seems unrealistic that, in conversation, no one would mention a name. It seemed glaring enough that it took a star for me because I just couldn’t get past that.

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Joy Mullett

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While there were quite a few twists and turns, and a fair amount of suspense, this felt very rushed. It wasn’t bad, it just felt very surface level.

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Mercedes Lackey

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Kordas Valdemar, the OG king, is a wonderful character. He is as flawed as anyone else, but he cares so deeply that he will always sacrifice himself for the greater good for the people who have laid so much faith upon him. It is because of King Kordas and his deep love of his people that Valdemar came to have the Companions.

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The Skeleton Crew Anthology: Folklore, Fated Mates, and Deleted Scenes

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The Skeleton Crew Anthology: Folklore, Fated Mates, and Deleted Scenes

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Dahlia Donovan

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Megan Lally

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The dual storylines really added to the anticipation and suspense of the plot, such different perspectives to the ongoing story. Drew's chapters were full of emotion that ranged from fear to sadness to guilt to anger. It was hard not to fall into his story, to not feel what he felt. And Mary's chapters... the confusion, the rising  fears, the horror... all of it equally spine-tingling. The red herring trope is often overused in thrillers, but I loved the way it was used here, in a way I don't see too often. I'd say more but SPOILERs. So no. And the epilogue of the book gutted me completely!

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52 Books; cover font is primary color; Linz the Bookworm & Logophile: involves amnesia

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Mercedes Lackey

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The characters are engaging, even if their arcs concern timeworm themes of gaining confidence, learning to let in others, etc.  The dynamic between Skan and Drake is fantastic, despite the difference in species. They play off of one another and it makes for some unexpected humor. Gesten, a supporting character and a hertasi (a lizard-like, intelligent creature), is a bit on the sarcastic side, but his interplay with both Skan and Drake is great, often witty and sometimes just as the voice of reason. Zhaneel is one of my favorites, her story all about turning those things that you see as faults into strengths. Winterhart was not my favorite, despite her importance. She tended to let herself get wrapped up in bad situations without doing anything to stop them from drowning her. Because of that, she wound up taking it out on those around her. Her character probably changed the most throughout the story and, by the end, I sympathized with her. A standout favorite is Kechara, a misborn gryphon who is a supporting character, but adds warmth and sweetness to the story. 

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Lana Ferguson

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I've not read anything before that focused on this type of shifter, and I loved the take on the mythology/legend. This was my first by this author, and I enjoyed her attention to detail when it came to building the setting and creating the paranormal elements. It was richly and vividly done, which made for a fun reading experience. And, yes, the romance was STEAMY, but there was a great story around it, too. The mystery elements were engrossing as Key and Lachlan unravel the truth of his family's curse. My only issue was with one of the sex scenes. This truly could just be a me thing, but it crossed the line into cringe for me. Partial-shift intimate scenes just leave me utterly separated from the story. It really just turned me off from the whole scene. But aside from that, I really enjoyed this read.

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Mercedes Lackey

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Beyond tells the story of why the people of Valdemar fled the Eastern Empire to find a new land to settle. It is full of twists and turns, and it explains so much that will be found in later parts of the series. In its own way, it’s a cautionary tale about unchecked power and the corruption and greed it can create. It has become a matter of when, not if, the empire will fall. It’s far too late to change the course of its fall, the corruption too deeply embedded. So Baron Valdemar and his followers create a plan to escape. The meticulous organization their plan required is mind-boggling, years in the making. And it isn’t without out unforeseen problems, which just make the story that much more interesting. There is a different feel to Beyond, and I can’t quite put my finger on what that difference was. It didn’t put me off, but there just was something different about it. But I still quite enjoyed it, and I’m looking forward to the next book in the series!

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52 Books: plot includes heist; Linz the Bookworm & Logophile: involves a game

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Shea Hulse

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Mercedes Lackey

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This is more of an action novel than one of magic and mystery.  Although I enjoyed the story and I love the two new characters, it just wasn't as much fun to read.  Yes, there was a bit of mystery and some great action, but overall I felt like it just didn't move the story forward as much as the others.  It was good for character development, except for the fact that this book is the one and only one in the series that discusses these two characters. 

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Juliette Cross

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This is a fun collection of holiday-themed shorts that bridge the gaps in the Stay a Spell series, featuring  the characters found in the main series. There are five stories, with helpful timeline notes at the beginning of each story if the reader would like to intersperse them with the novels. Each story focuses on a different sister, some steamy interactions!

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52 Books: genre set in winter (paranormal romance)

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Mercedes Lackey

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Magic is unpredictable and what there is of it has changed. That is a big part of this novel, the changes in power and dynamics and how many of the characters react to that change. It also changes the underlying feel of the plot.  Yes, there is still magic and fantasy, but the focus was more on the mystery and intrigue that came with the Haighlei people. 

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Juliette Cross

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I love Violet as a FMC. She's entirely her own person, unapologetically so. She's also fiercely loyal and protective of those within and without her circle. Because of that, she's determined to help right the wrongs of the past with her special talents. What I love about her is that it's not okay for helping just those in her vicinity; she wants to take on the world... literally. In perfect counterpoint to her character is Nico, a werewolf. Werewolves are heavily discriminated against by every other supernatural, especially by witches and vampires. That makes it that much more extraordinary that Violet and her sisters are so determined to help them after centuries of being told to disavow them. This is a great story with a lot of depth, along with plenty of spice and steam. 

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Keri Arthur

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Mercedes Lackey

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This is the 18th anthology collection, companion stories set in the larger Velgarth world of the Valdemar saga. The stories are authored by a variety of authors, including Mercedes Lackey. The stories are a mix of standalone pieces and continuations of miniseries that run between anthologies. The stories are all centered on the theme of feuds, following previous themed collections in the Tales of Valdemar anthology series. While these probably could be enjoyed as one-off reads, for the best enjoyment, I would suggest starting with the first of the anthologies and reading from there. I enjoyed that there were several stories that dealt with Bards, as they aren't as often the focus of the books and stories within the Valdemar saga.

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Natalina Reis

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Mercedes Lackey

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This is the 17th anthology collection, meant to be read as a companion to the standalones, trilogies, and other series that make up the Valdemar saga of Mercedes Lackey's creation. Like each of the anthologies, these stories have the central theme of being able to do anything with very little. The stories are written by a wide variety of authors, to include Lackey herself, all set within the beloved world. Great addition to the world!

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Juliette Cross

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The two characters are very much of the "opposites attract" vibe. She is a nature-loving witch who's most content at home with her sisters, communing with animals or in her greenhouse. He's a jet-setting elite vampire with a wide range of skills, to include being a Bollywood movie star. Yet together, they make perfect sense, even if it takes a while for them to realize it. The romance is oh-so-steamy, but also very beautiful. It also took time to build, each of them coming at it from very different places. So many times, the main obstacle between the romantic protagonists is simply miscommunication or misunderstands/misconceptions that could be solved with a single conversation. And too many times, that is drawn out in a plot until it just feels nonsensical. This is NOT the case here. There is miscommunication and misunderstanding, but it was handled in a way that made sense. And it was solved without the too-lengthy period of time. And the mystery... it was so engrossing. The action level was on point and certainly kept me turning the pages. The perfect amount of suspense, too, led to some on-edge moments that I loved.

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52 Books: breaks the fourth wall, Alphabet Soup: D; Linz the Bookworm & Logophile: self-published

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Mercedes Lackey

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This anthology is a fun collection of stories centered on the theme of, well, shenanigans. Many of the stories featured familiar characters from other mini-series established throughout the anthology series, but there were many new ones, too. A lot of the stories are set in and around the Collegium, appropriate as this is the place where so many trainee bards, heralds, and healers come as youth. So much of the world of Valdemar is rather series, so this is a lovely lighter side that I really enjoyed.

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Juliette Cross

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I love female characters that are powerful in their own ways, as well smart and sassy, and Evie is all of that. She's a proud, unabashed fan-nerd, and I love her enthusiasm for it. She's not created to be perfect, which is something I appreciate. Mateo is full of hidden depths, even as he struggles with a mysterious hex. There is an underlying theme of bias, even in the paranormal world, where some paranormals are held in less esteem than others. I don't know if it was intended, but it was an interesting parallel to the real world. The romance between Evie and Mateo simmers from the beginning, although neither wants to acknowledge it. The paranormal side of the story was fantastic. The author created an interesting magic system, much of which I've never seen before. The mystery behind Mateo's hex was so engrossing, with lots of twists and turns from beginning to end. For much of the book, I was convinced I knew who was behind it, and I was completely wrong. And I LOVE being surprised!

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52 Books: multiple audio narrators; Alphabet Soup: W; Linz the Bookworm & Logophile: book for free; PopSugar: book for free

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Mercedes Lackey

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I truly love these anthology collections. I think the biggest reason lies in the fact that readers get to see aspects of Lackey's world from perspectives we don't always get within the OG canon. The majority of Lackey's books focus on Heralds or others in the world that do the big things in the world. These stories focus more often on the "regular people," the ones that would never likely have stories of their own. This is a lovely way to get to know the world from a very different perspective.

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Mercedes Lackey

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Passages is another collection of short stories inspired by the OG canon of Mercedes Lackey's Valdemar world. They are written by an assortment of authors, including the original author. The stories are curated from across the characters, stories, and places that Lackey has created. These anthologies, this one included, are fun not only because they provide some bite-sized additions but because they often feature characters that might now otherwise have been seen as major players within the world.

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L.P. Nascimento

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This was such an emotional read, with some incredibly deep themes. The author created a vivid world, with characters that are entirely believable. Ana is a wonderful FMC, with spirit and compassion and undying love and loyalty. She is incredibly brave, determined to stand her ground in order to protect the ones she loves. Jonah is a man of principle in a world where that is not the norm. He is driven by a desire to do right by the people he serves, and that gives an air of hope to what could be a rather dark story. It's the relationship dynamics that really make this book for me. The familial relationship between Ana and Gabriel was so strong, so loving, so sweet. The relationships between Jonah and his mother and his sister was strong and supportive. The romance between Jonah and Ana was often heart-wrenching, but oh so wonderful to read. Even the differing dynamics with the master-servant relationships was interesting, even as it was deeply uncomfortable.

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Mercedes Lackey

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Returning to Valdemar is always a joy. These stories are a wonderful addition the OG canon, mixing new characters with old, new situations with old. Some of the stories form mini-series with other stories by the same individual authors sprinkled throughout the anthology sereis. I always love reading more in the "Consequences" series with Lady Cera. Another favorite are the Temple of Thenoth series, each story title containing a collective noun for some type of animal. And the Dann family... I love these stories. Such fun, bite-sized reads!

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Mercedes Lackey

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There is little I love more in my reading life than to fall into Mercedes Lackey's world of Valdemar. It's a magical place, not perfect, but a place where good really does triumph. This collection of tales, like the others in this series, are full of adventure and magic. The stories are written by a variety of authors, all of whom clearly adore the world as much as I do. A great addition to the Valdemar world!

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Mercedes Lackey

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Like the others in this series, the book is a collection of stories by a variety of authors, including Mercedes Lackey, the creator of the Valdemar world. The anthology is a balance of stories about Valdemar's Heralds, or those to become Heralds, and about people and situations in other parts of the world. They, as in previous books, often incorporate already established characters with new ones. They very much follow the canon of the main Lackey books. Some of them connect to other stories within other books in this companion series, serving to create mini-series.

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Mercedes Lackey

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This is the 10th volume of short stories within the Tales of Valdemar series, a companion series to the greater Valdemar saga created by Mercedes Lackey. The stories are not all authored by the creator but by several authors, most of which appear in the other volumes of the series. The stories embody the original world, often combining old characters with new. Some, but not all, of the stories create mini-series with pieces in volumes throught the stories. The collection is a fun side to the greater saga.

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Mercedes Lackey

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This is the 8th anthology collection in the companion Valdemar series, the stories written by a wide variety of authors. All of the stories are set within the greater Valdemar world, bringing together old characters with new. Some of the stories form mini-series with stories by the same authors in other books of the series. While not necessary for the overall series, they are a fun addition to the world.

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52 Books: title starts with N; Alphabet Soup: N; Read It Again, Sam

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Mercedes Lackey

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Under the Vale is the the 7th anthology collection of short stories by a wide variety of authors. All of the stories are set within the Valdemar world created by Mercedes Lackey. The stories include old characters as well as new, and some of the stories from mini-series with other stories within the anthologies. Are they necessary for the understanding of the world? No, but they are a fun, episodic addition.

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Mercedes Lackey

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This is the 6th anthology of short stories set within the greater Valdemar world. Several of the stories continue the mini-series of characters found in other stories within the anthology collection, while others are standalones. They are a wonderful addition to the series and the world.

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Mercedes Lackey

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The short stories in this collection, written by both Mercedes Lackey and a variety of other invited writers, are a lovely "gift" of sorts to the Valdemar series. They embody both the feel of the world and that of the characters, weaving together old characters and new in ways completely in keeping with the world established by Lackey herself. With one exception. "Interview with a Companion" by Benjamin Ohlander. This story was set in the real world rather than that of Valdemar. In it, a Companion comes to Kentucky to give an interview with a journalist. To be fair, there is nothing wrong with the story. It's well written, witty and amusing. But its juxtaposition with the rest of the Valdemar stories and books was rather jarring for me. It was so out of place that I had a hard time with it. I confess that I am a bit of a purist when it comes to the Valdemar world.

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Mercedes Lackey

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As with the others in this series of anthologies, the short stories in this collection are set within the Valdemar world. While there is a story by Mercedes Lackey, the rest are by other authors, many of who are seen in several of the other anthologies. The stories are short and episodic, but still have that familiar feel with the characters and places found within the main series' books. New characters and old, these stories are a fun addition to the world!

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Mercedes Lackey

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This is another great addition to the series of short stories set within the Valdemar world. These are not all by Mercedes Lackey, but a number of authors. Characters from the original books can be found in many of the stories, joining new characters that fall perfectly with the established world. Also fun, a number of the stories form mini-series with other stories within the Tales of Valdemar series.

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Layla Hagen

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The Rebel is the fifth book surrounding the LeBlanc brothers, this one Anthony’s story. I love the dual perspectives the author uses for her stories. It really allows the reader to get to know both Anthony and Daisy. The chemistry between them is instant, and having the dual viewpoints really adds to the struggle they both feel with the awkwardness of their boss-employee dynamic. The author always creates characters that are well rounded, even if imperfect, with their own stories that are always deep and emotional. And as the Queen of the Family Saga, Hagen has created an enviable family dynamic in the LeBlancs that I always love to dive back into!

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Mercedes Lackey

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The short stories in this anthology are not all by Mercedes Lackey, but by a variety of authors writing within the world. There are characters orginally from the books woven into new stories with new characters. Some of the stories are also a part of mini-series with stories found in other books within the Tales of Valdemar series.

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Linsey Hall

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The premise of this last book in the trilogy was one I haven't seen often... the idea that the house is embued with its own personality. And that personality is angry, refusing to let anyone inside to repair it, much less live in it. Which is a problem for Isobel, as she's just inherited it, with the stipulation that she restore it within a month. Otherwise she loses the inheritance to an ornery uncle. The story between Isobel and Rafe is fun, watching the grumpy/sunshine, forced proximity unfold. I felt for Isobel, after the cold realization of her relationship with Tommy. It was a sad moment, but also one that was full of strength and hope, which I loved for her. But it was Rafe's story that broke my heart. For much of the book. he was a truly tragic character. The pain he carried with him, and the story behind it, was terrible, and I was Team Isobel as she took it upon herself to help him, no matter what. At its heart, this was a story of second chances in life, of finding hope in dark places, of finding your own strength. And it's all set in an enchanting magical world with fabulous characters.

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Craving for Cozies; Linz the Bookworm & Logophile: cantankerous main character

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Mercedes Lackey

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This collection of short stories is a wonderful addition to the Valdemar world. These are not all by the original creator of the world, Mercedes Lackey, but by a variety of authors. Some include characters from the books, while others are other new characters that fit seamlessly into the world. And many of the stories are part of a mini series that is threaded through other books within the Tales of Valdemar series.

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PopSugar: interconnected short stories; Read It Again, Sam

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Linsey Hall

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I had such mixed feelings with this installment in the Charming Cove trilogy. I liked Emma, a witch novice who is trying to earn her place as an official witch within the Aurora Coven.But there was a part of her that was often judgmental toward the lifestyles and trappings of Alaric and his family. It was a weird dichotomy, even as she adored them. Alaric as a vampire… it was often hard to remember that aspect of his character. I’m fine with an author eschewing the usual vampy tropes/myths, but I’m not so fine with nothing to replace it. Other than a few off-hand comments about the lack of visible fangs, a few more about blood in their drinks, there was absolutely nothing otherworldly about any of them. They were entirely humanized, which felt a little simplistic. My last complaint was the third-act misunderstanding. It happened, and then it ended without much of a fuss. It was a little underwhelming, as he basically showed up and looked good, and so all was forgiven. Other than that, I enjoyed the magical elements of the world. The revelation sticks and joy batteries were something new I’ve never seen in paranormal stories, so that was interesting. But really, the best magical part of the story was Penelope, the skunky familiar to Emma. She was a sassy girl with a love of coffee and pastries. So adorable!

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Linsey Hall

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I love witchy cozies set in magical small towns, and this fit the bill perfectly. Charming Cove is exactly the kind of place I'd want to live if I lived in a world where it existed! Aria's character wasn't created to be perfect, which is a big part of why I loved her. After years of failure with her magic, a childhood of bullying, she's left with some serious self-esteem issues when it came to her magic. She struggled, and no one was harder on her than she was on herself. And that's something I think many people can relate to. I enjoyed the story, but there were a few things I didn't love. One...the damsel in distress trope: Never my favorite trope, especially in more contemporary fiction, there was a bit of this in the story. Not from Aria's perspective but from Callan's. It wasn't huge, but it was there. Two...the age gap: It's only four years. That's not the problem. It's the initial meeting of our intrepid heroes, when she's but 17 and he's 21. It's obvious even then that he was wildly attracted to her, admitting that he shouldn't because of her age. Although the age of consent in England is 16, which I looked up, it felt a little weird. I wished she'd been aged up just a little.

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52 Books: title starts with M; Alphabet Soup: M; Craving for Cozies; Craving for Cozies Library Card: new-to-me author; Monthly Motif: snuggle up & read

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Lisa Henry

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This was a such a sweet story, without being saccharine, a touch of steam to offset the sweet. The main characters are both wonderful, individually and together. And the setting is the quintessential small town, full of interesting people and cozy vibes. I loved the way they each showed their feelings for one another. For Ryan, it was in the creation of beautiful little carvings... the perfect little flower or a quirky alien. For Adam, it was in little love notes. The love notes become a central focus for the story, with Ryan having both dyslexia and dyscalculia. I do wish that aspect of the story had been explored a little more, as I feel like it informed Ryan's character more than what was expressed. But I still loved the representation of it.

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J.S. Kennedy

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I loved the dynamics between Mackenzie and Lucan, the way their bond develops and grows over the course of their story. They are truly perfect foils for one another, even in the midst of the fight of their lives. The battle with Jasper is the central focus of this story, and the pacing leading to this was perfectly balanced. I appreciated that there were several twists and turns that were unexpected.

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Kerry Williams

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This book is just stunning, just as gripping as Daughter of the Drowned. The world Kerry Williams has created is darkly beautiful and truly intoxicating. There is so much emotional depth to the characters, and not just the FMC but also the supporting characters as well. That delved into all the characters really created beautifully deep layers to the story. The stakes in this story are ever higher, more dangerous. Lovely’s edges have sharpened as she’s had to face realities that were once unimaginable. She’s become fiercely determined, standing strong in her power and duty.

There are two things that really made this book so engrossing for me. One was the relationships and the dynamics between characters. The push and pull of love, the testing of loyalties, the bonds created and broken. It was impossible not to feel every moment of it. Second was the writing. The author writes in such a lyrical way, choosing words and phrasing in such a beautiful way.

This is just an incredible series, and this book is the perfect conclusion to it.

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Ann Grech

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One of the things I love about Ann Grech is the attention and care she pays to sex positivity and relationship dynamics, weaving stories that are spicy but also not fetishizing. She creates believable characters and gives them relationships that are based on true feelings and love. Puck Me, Baby is a perfect example of this. The author perfectly balances love and spice, emotions from fear to joy, and all the obstacles to forming lasting relationships. The dynamics that exist between Carina, Jacques, Rusty, and Travis are deep and varied, complex but not confusing. With such a complex relationship, it would be easy for their personalities to never become full formed, but the author instead created fully realized characters with their own pasts and histories, their own feelings and issues. It was so easy to love each and every one of the four!

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Nora Roberts

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Breen will forever be one of my favorite Nora Roberts’ characters. Her journey from who she became under her mother’s eye to who she became once she embraced her heritage was beautiful. I appreciated that her road to herself wasn’t always easy; that bad an otherwise fantastical story feel real. There were some deeply emotional moments as she made her peace with people in her past, letting them go and allowing herself that. And as much as I loved Breen, I also adored Marco. Throughout the trilogy, he was the best friend that we all want. The one who will always have your back, who loves you through it all. I loved that he had his own story and journey, especially in this last book. It was beautiful to watch him find his way, find his future.

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52 Books: nonhuman antagonist; Alphabet Soup: C; Linz the Bookworm & Logophile: fantasy novel; PopSugar: chosen family

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Nora Roberts

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Romance is something that readers have come to expect with Nora Roberts novels, but the fact that it isn’t given the priority is something I’ve come to love about her fantasy novels, that her characters are so multidimensional with stories that involve more than romance. For me, it’s the relationships that truly make this story for me, whether those of friendship, of family, and of romance. I adore Breen as a protagonist, love her story as she changes and grows and finds her strength. She is so determined to learn, to become stronger in all the skills she needs to battle and defeat Odran, but she never forgets to care for the people around her. I also love her determination to be true to herself, to never compromise again and who and what she is… for anyone. That’s something that’s often difficult to do in reality, so I love the empowerment of that in her character.

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Shari Lapena

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Clémence Michallon

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Tahereh Mafi

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The Grimoire Grammar School Parent Teacher Association

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The Grimoire Grammar School Parent Teacher Association

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Caitlin Rozakis

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The Grimoire Grammar School Parent Teacher Association

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Danielle L. Jensen

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Amy S. Kaufman

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E.J. Mellow

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T. Kingfisher

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This reimagining of Sleeping Beauty was interesting, with Sleeping Beauty less a victim and more of a villain. As the fairy changeling, she had no humanity, no compassion. This was an interesting twist, playing into the mythology of the fairy as less than idyllic creatures, unlike the Disneyfied versions. But the time setting. It was anachronistic. It was supposed to be set in the "real world," some time after the third plague. But that began in 1855 and ended no later than in the late 1950's. At some point, Halim tells Toadling that it's been more than two centuries since then, which would set this... in the future? Which it definitely wasn't, with questing knights and a setting that felt medieval. My other issue was with the way Halim as a Muslim was portrayed. There was a comment about his mother being "Muslim enough for all of them," which is pretty dismissive, as part of the Muslim faith involves individual responsibility for one's own actions. Devout or not, his continual touching of Toadling seemed odd, as did his offer to give a Christian prayer to break Fayette's curse. And then there was the matter of his previous interactions with Christian monks that seemed improbable with the medieval setting, a time when the Crusades were still a thing. It was these two things that really brought down the story for me, as it just didn't track.

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52 Books: fairy tale retelling; Linz the Bookworm & Logophile: by an author using a pseudonym, Fairytale: Sleeping Beauty

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Gypsy-Rose Blanchard

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Laramie Keiler

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This book was such an emotional ride! I loved that Tyler and Cassidy both had their own stories, above and beyond the one they shared. That made for a much deeper investment in the characters and in their happily ever after. Tyler's character had a depth that made him highly relatable, especially in his role as the baby of the family and the way that can shape the way you see yourself. On the flip side is Cassidy, the eldest child with a completely different, yet equally life-informing, dynamic. A deep, fully engrossing read.

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S.R. Grey

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Claire is such a great FMC, strong and independent, kind and caring. I HATED her father, and his attempts to control her. That idea of women as commodity drives me insane, but Grey didn’t glorify it, but showed it for what it is. Kudos! I loved Easton’s support of her, his willingness to step up for her, to be patient. All in all, it’s a great story with some fabulous characters.

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Irene Dilillio