Fantasy

Confetti Realms / Nadia Shammas

/ Alisha Helms / Leave a comment 
Confetti Realms
By: Nadia Shammas, Karnessa (Artist), Hackto Oshiro (Colorist), Micah Meyers (Letterer)
Genre: Graphic Novel
Number of Pages: 196
Published: October 17, 2023
Publisher: Maverick
Dates Read: October 3, 2023
Format: ARC / eBook

On Halloween night a group of teens are transported from a graveyard into another realm where they must collect molars in order to return home.

I loved the art of this graphic novel – the cover alone is what caught my attention. Throughout the entire novel, the art was clear and smoothed allowing easy reading.

What I felt fell a little short was that they were in this crazy and a bit ridiculous world and we only ever get a glimpse at it. I would get lost within the panels a bit and not pay that much attention to what’s in the speech bubbles because I was more interested in the background. Which is kind of what brings me to the part where I had a hard time understanding the characters – to me, it felt like they weren’t flushed out as much as they could have been. A lot of their bickering was repetitive.

I’m also not entirely sure I know what happened at the end??

I’ll try and reread it one of these days, but right now it just wasn’t for me.

*Thank you Maverick for an advance digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

The Weaver and the Witch Queen / Genevieve Gornichec

/ Alisha Helms / Leave a comment 
The Weaver and the Witch Queen
By: Genevieve Gornichec
Genre: Fantasy, Historical Fiction
Number of Pages: 424
Published: July 25, 2023
Publisher: Ace
Dates Read: September 28, 2023 - October 3, 2023
Format: Library Book / Hardcover

Gunnhild, Oddny, and Signy have been best friends since they were little. After a visit from a wisewoman who makes an ominous prophecy involving the girls, the three take a blood oath to always help one another.

Years after Gunnhild had run away from her cruel mother, Oddny and Signy’s farm gets raided and Signy gets taken. Oddny and Gunnhild are reunited in their journey to stop at nothing to save Signy. Oddny, who was spiraled out of the life she always imagined, finds herself drawn to one of the raiders who participated in the attack. Gunnhild, who fled her childhood home to learn the ways of the witch, is surprised to find her destiny intertwined with King Eirik, heir apparent to the ruler of all Norway.

But the bonds the women have are strong and on the journey to save Signy, these bonds will be tested and stretched in ways they never could have seen.

Just like The Witch’s Heart, I absolutely loved and devoured this novel. I also adored the characters – even with all their flaws. All of the side characters stood strong on their own as well and I always wanted to hear and read about all of them.

Everything about this book was captivating and absorbing for me. Genevieve Gornichec has always done an amazing job at getting me into ancient settings and keeping me there throughout the entire book. I could practically picture myself there.

I didn’t know much about Icelandic and/or Norwegian folklore or sagas before this (some Norse Mythology). I really enjoy when a historical fiction book also teaches me things as well – or gives me something to look up and research myself afterwards. 

I would highly recommend this book – especially those who like historical Norwegian fiction. And for those who liked The Witch’s Heart and are wondering if you’ll like this one too – I say give it a shot!

*Thank you Ace and NetGalleyfor an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

The Marvellers / Dhonielle Clayton

/ Alisha Helms / Leave a comment 
The Marvellers
By: Dhonielle Clayton, Khadijah Khatib (Illustrator)
Genre: Middle Grade, Fantasy
Number of Pages: 432
Published: August 29, 2023
Publisher: Square Fish
Dates Read: September 15, 2023 - September 18, 2023
Format: Audiobook, Paperback

Ella Durand is the first (and right now only) Conjuror to attend the Arcanum Training Institute for Marvelous and Uncanny Endeavors – a magical school up in the clouds where Marvellers from all around the world come to practice and learn their craft. 

Despite her eagerness to both learn and make friends, Ella soon finds out it’s not going to be easy. A lot of Marvellers mistrust her Conjuroring – they say it’s “bad and unnatural” and some aren’t in support of the new student entry into their school. But soon, Ella makes friends; a boy named Jason, a boy with a fondness for magical animals, Brigit, her new roommate who wants nothing to do with this world, and her mentor, Masterji Thakur.

When a dangerous criminal escapes prison, rumored with the help of a Conjuror, tensions grow extra tight in the Marvellian world and Ella gets a lot of extra attention. Worse, Masterji Thaku mysteriously disappears and Ella’s teachers are lying about it. With the help of her friends and the powers growing every day, Ella must find a way to clear her family’s name and save her teacher before it’s too late.

I had such a fun time listening and reading this novel this past weekend. I can definitely see this being a new favorite in Middle Grade (and even YA when it gets up there as the kids get older) readers who love reading about adventures in a magical school.

I love that it took us so long to find out which house the students get sorted into – it gives us so much to look forward to in the second book. I’m pretty stoked about the fact that by the time I read this, it’s right before the second book comes out. And you can bet I’m going to be going out and getting the second one on publication day

*Thank you Square Fish and BookishFirst for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

A Multitude of Dreams / Mara Rutherford

/ Alisha Helms / Leave a comment 
A Multitude of Dreams
By: Mara Rutherford
Genre: YA, Fantasy
Number of Pages: 384
Published: August 29, 2023
Publisher: Inkyard Press
Dates Read: August 29, 2023 - September 2, 2023
Format: Hardcover

Trigger Warnings: plague, death, blood, racism, murder, self harm, genocide, survivors guilt

A Multitude of Dreams is a reimagining of Edgar Allan Poe’s The Masque of the Red Death. Four years ago, King Stuart gathered his royals, noblemen, and daughters and locked them into the safety of the castle walls. Every window was boarded up and every door sealed shut – all to protect those within of the horrible mori roja plague ravaging the land outside.

Told in third person, this novel follows Seraphina, a Jewish girl, who is also the (fake) Princess Imogene, and Nico, who once lived a comfortable life but now works for Lord Crane, the man who saved his life after he lost everything. When Lord Crane sends Nico and two others on the search for survivors, Nico meets a princess who wants out. But both are living in giant webs of lies and deception that they must unravel if they’re going to survive. 

I wanted this title because I read The Poison Season and I really enjoyed it. So, when I saw Mara Rutherford had another YA novel coming out, I immediately put it on my TBR list. It’s also listed as Fantasy Gothic and 

I was all about it and also the cover – like, I love it!

There were a few twists in here I didn’t quite see right away, which was nice. And, even some of the ones that I did see coming, I still enjoyed Rutherford’s storytelling and it kept me interested. And yes, there is some romance in this, but it wasn’t the main focus of the story – surviving and getting out of the castle was.

Overall, I would recommend this to anyone who’s in need of a good gothic fantasy with a hidden identity, Jewish representation, a masquerade, and the fight of survival.

*Thank you Inkyard Press and BookishFirst for a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review

The Forbidden Spell (Mark of a Caster #1) / Kaely Rose

/ Alisha Helms / Leave a comment 
The Forbidden Spell (Mark of a Caster #1)
By: Kaely Rose
Genre: Fantasy
Number of Pages: 244
Published: October 9, 2022
Publisher: Self Published
Dates Read: June 15, 2023 - June 24, 2023
Format: eBook

Due to a curse put on him at birth, Senrind’s been forced to live stuck as a werewolf, unable to change into a human. With the help of his friend, Quinn, they go to a fortune teller who introduces them to a shapeshifting cat named Carithway.

Carithway can help him break the curse, but Senrind in return, must help Carithway out at his shop. Sentrind agrees and is thus thrown into a world of witches, spells, potions, and magic. As Sentrind tries to find answers to his past, he undercovers secrets from his father as well as something Carithway is hiding too. Was Senrind safer in his wolf form and now that he’s human – what can he do to help?

I’m not sure what it is with me stumbling upon cozy fantasies with found family tropes but I’m here for it and absolutely love it. The characters of this book are all so lovely and I’m a sucker for cats with magic, so Carithway could always make me smile.

With a lot of books, the main character gets everything bad thrown at them. But with this book, though there are trials and learning paths, Senrind seems to be doing well and it wasn’t filled with suspense and danger around every corner – hence why I’m calling it cozy fantasy. Sometimes that’s just what you need though.

There is a little romance in this book – but it’s just beginning, which I love because it seems very much more authentic and not rushed into in a few pages. This novel is marked as being #1 in the series, so I’m excited to see this relationship grow as well as the rest of the storyline continue.

This is a cozy read that would be perfect to snuggle up with in the fall – or honestly, you can be like me and read it right at the beginning of Summer and dream about the fall weather that’s mentioned in the book!

*Thank you Kaely Rose and The StoryGraph for a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

Chaos & Flame / Tessa Gratton & Justina Ireland

/ Alisha Helms / Leave a comment 
Chaos & Flame
By: Tessa Gratton & Justina Ireland
Genre: YA, Fantasy
Number of Pages: 336
Published: March 28, 2023
Publisher: Razorbill
Dates Read: May 29, 2023 - June 5, 2023
Format: Hardcover

Trigger Warnings: Misgendering, genocide (off page, but discussed), poison, knife violence, blood & gore, graphic violence, war, death

Written in the alternating points of views of Darling Seabreak and Talon Goldhoard, Chaos & Flame tells the story of the two navigating House politics while also being caught up in the High Prince Regent’s unknown scheme as they tour around the kingdom to the other Houses.

This book took me a while to get into it – it’s slow to start, but by the end of it, I was invested in what was happening with the characters, so I will be picking up the second book in this duology. I’m very curious to see how the authors are planning on bringing out more with the boons and if those will change with what could be happening in the second book.

I was really interested in Caspian’s character and wish I knew more about what was going on in his head since everyone just marked him as “being mad” when in fact, he just had a whole other agenda.

I do wish we had more history of the world. The world building was fantastic but I felt like 100 years isn’t a whole lot to have passed since the last phoenix was alive and that even with that, there should still be people around who were alive back then – wouldn’t they know more and have maybe some insight? 

I wasn’t the biggest fan of the insta-love between Darling and Talon, but it is YA and that’s typical YA romance so I’m not complaining all too much to be honest with you.

Overall, it was a slow build up to a good read and that I’m excited to continue reading when the next book in the series comes out (please don’t be too long!).

*Thank you Razorbill and BookishFirst for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

In the Lives of Puppets / T.J. Klune

/ Alisha Helms / Leave a comment 
In the Lives of Puppets
By: T.J. Klune
Genre: Fantasy
Number of Pages: 420
Published: April 25, 2023
Publisher: Tor Books
Dates Read: May 10, 2023 - May 21, 2023
Format: ARC / eBook / Library Book / Hardcover

Three robots – fatherly inventor android Giovanni Lawson, a pleasantly sadistic nurse machine named Nurse Ratched, and a small anxiety-filled vacuum named Rambo live with human Victor Lawson in the houses they’ve built into the branches of the trees in a forest – hidden and safe.

When Victor, Nurse Ratched, and Rambo find and repair an android with the label “HAP”, they learn of the dark past Gio and their new friend share. After getting back online, Hap unwittingly alerts robots from their past life to their current whereabouts and they capture and take Gio back to his old laboratory in the City of Electric Dreams.

Together, the makeshift family must journey across the country to rescue Gio from decommission, or worse, reprogramming.

Another amazing, beautiful, and touching found family novel from TJ Klune. I wrote down so many quotes from this novel (mostly from Nurse Ratched). I read over 100+ books a year and rarely do they make me actually cry – this one succeeded and therefore, it received 5 stars from me. And, like every year a new TJ Klune book comes out, this will be hard to beat for my choice of book of the year.

This is another book that, though it’s listed as SciFi/Fantasy, I can see so many people enjoying this. It does deal with Victor being the last human on Earth and the complications of loving those with an extremely complicated past, but it’s still a soft, found family read for me.

In the Lives of Puppets has an unforgettable cast of characters and the writing of Klune will make you care about an assembled group of robots and their human companion in a way I didn’t think would be possible.

I love this book and will be so highly recommending this to any and all for years to come.

*Thank you Tor Books and NetGalley for an advance digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

The Eyes and the Impossible / Dave Eggers

/ Alisha Helms / Leave a comment 
The Eyes & the Impossible
By: Dave Eggers
Genre: Middle Grade
Number of Pages: 256
Published: May 9, 2023
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Dates Read: May 4, 2023 - May 7, 2023
Format: ARC / eBook

Johannes, a free dog, lives in an urban park by the sea where it’s his job to be the Eyes for the park’s three elders, the Bison. His friends – a seagull, a raccoon, a squirrel, and a pelican – are Assistant Eyes, observing the comings and goings of the park who report their findings to Johannes, who then gives their, along with his own observations, to the Bison.

But changes are happening at the park – a new building means more humans, and more humans means more Trouble Travelers. And then there were the new animals called goats that literally appeared as a boatload. Upon their arrival, new, shocking revelations change Johannes’ whole world.

After I read Pax by Sara Pennypacker, I’ve kind of been on the hunt for another middle grade, animal book. I know there’s all kinds of these out there, but this one… it’s the way that Johannes’ voice is written I believe, that just gives me a warm, good feeling in my chest.

It was fun to hear Johannes and his friends explain things from the humans – sometimes they’re way off and it would give me a good giggle (like their viewpoint on time is way off, everything is 1,000 years and it’s just adorable).

This is going to be a book I can see myself recommending to anyone who just wants a chill, feel good book with animals. I’ve already talked about it pretty much nonstop since I got to work this morning. I know animal books are hard, and can be weird, but this one is cute and adorable.

*Thank you Knopf Books for Young Readers and NetGalley for an advance digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Daughters of Snow and Cinders / Núria Tamarit, Jenna Allen (Translator)Daughters of Snow and Cinders /

/ Alisha Helms / Leave a comment 
Daughters of Snow and Cinders
By: Núria Tamarit, Jenna Allen (Translator)
Genre: Graphic Novel
Number of Pages: 216
Published: May 9, 2023 (1st Published May 4, 2022)
Publisher: Fantagraphics
Dates Read: May 3, 2023 - May 4, 2023
Format: ARC / eBook

Fleeing her fire and war-torn homeland, Joana travels to the New World in search of gold to rebuild her life. Along the way she meets friends, foes, and an unlikely companion who may turn into her good luck charm. But the men in this New World are greedy and bloodthirsty for gold and along with a fearsome beast that’s lurking in the shadows, Joana has a lot to look out for if she wants to return home.

The themes of this graphic novel are of nature and protecting and living among/with it, human violence and what colonization has done to the plant.

The art of this is beautiful and interesting. I first saw this book as an ARC, so it was in black and white, and even then I knew I needed to read it in full color. Also, I’m a sucker for three legged animals and Peg had my heart within seconds, so I knew I needed to know her adventure.

I can see myself recommending this ecofeminist graphic novel to quite a few people.

*Thank you Fantagraphics and Edelweiss+ for an advance digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

Wynd, Book One: The Flight of the Prince / James Tynion IV, Michael Dialynas

/ Alisha Helms / Leave a comment 
Wynd, Book One: The Flight of the Prince
By: James Tynion IV, Michael Dialynas
Genre: Graphic Novel, Fantasy
Number of Pages: 256
Published: May 11, 2021 (1st Published June 17, 2020)
Publisher: BOOM! Box
Dates Read: April 19, 2023 - April 20, 2023
Format: eBook

Wynd works out of sight in the secret rooms beneath the floorboards at the local tavern in Pipetown in Esseriel. He dreams of being “normal” and meeting the castle’s groundskeeper he spies on working. But Wynd has pointy ears, a sign of the magical blood that runs through him. Usually his shaggy hair could hide them, but recently they’ve grown bigger and are now harder to hide.

Following a series of events, now Wynd, joined by his best friend Oakley and two others, must set off on a journey to discover the magic in the world outside the walls of Esseriel and, most important, the magic within himself.

So, I kind of found this book on random while on my library’s Hoopla account – but I’ve always enjoyed James Tynion IV’s work and usually give his stuff a go. This is definitely different from his works like Something Is Killing the Children or The Closet – on the complete opposite end really, but I loved it so much.

I have a feeling the little group that has formed in this first book is shaping up to be a found family and that is absolutely one of my favorite troupes!

The art in this is beautiful and the color pallet just makes everything pop and stand out.

This is definitely going to be one I will start recommending to others and you can bet I’m going to be reading Book Two as soon as possible!