By the Orchid and the Owl by Mariah Montoya

Title: By the Orchid and the Owl 

Author: Mariah Montoya 

Genre: Fantasy

Series: The Esholian Institute #1

Paperback, 415 pages

Publication: April 3, 2024

Source: Personal Library
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On the island of Eshol, a ruling council gifts magic to all its citizens — whether they want it or not.

Eighteen-year-old Rayna Drey should be excited for her Branding, when the island’s Good Council will infuse her blood with one of five sanctioned the ability to wield elements, summon objects, shift forms, talk to wildlife, or manipulate minds. The Good Council is good. The Branding doesn’t hurt. And the institution she must attend afterward, to learn how to control her new gift, is only a little dangerous.

Or, at least, that’s what Rayna has always heard. As soon as she arrives at the Esholian Institute, however, a peer-pressured dare makes her explode with a power as deadly as it is forbidden. Worse yet, the only one who can teach her how to hide it from the Good Council is Coen Steeler, a much-too-handsome fifth-year who can manipulate minds as easily as he breathes. He alone understands Rayna’s forbidden power…because he has the same one.

With their secret in each other’s hands, Rayna soon uncovers other dark secrets that threaten the very foundation of the island itself. And the worst of them? If the Good Council finds out what lurks in her and Coen’s blood, they’ll both face a fate beyond obedience — and a punishment worse than death.

MY THOUGHTS

I've had By the Orchid and the Owl on my TBR list for a while now. I didn't know much about the story but only heard great things about it. The book reminded me of an adult version of Harry Potter, except the characters are aged up with powers bestowed upon them through a magical brand. 

On the island of Eshol, when a person turns eighteen, they are whisked away to The Institute to be trained. Everyone is branded with a magical iron poker; and whichever magic is manifested lets them know which of the four houses they will be part of for the next five years. The houses consist of: Mind Powers, Power to talk to animals, shifters and elementals. I thought the overall premise and worldbuilding was interesting initially. I'm a suck for stories with school settings, no matter the genre. But it was a letdown in the end.

The book started out a bit slow as the world was set, and we're introduced to the different houses and peoples' powers. For majority of the book, we see the characters in their class environments and take tests to help develop their abilities. The book takes place over the course of a year. I would have thought a lot would happen in a year, but it doesn't. Halfway through the book I realized that this book is very low stakes and borderlines cozy fantasy...which isn't my cup of tea, unfortunately. It was literally class, test, parties and bullies' showdowns. 

Right from the start, we're shown that Rayna, the heroine, from a rural village is a special snowflake. She's powerful and advanced than majority of the student if not her entire house. There's little to no growth in the first book and while I know it's only the first book; there's just nothing memorable about Rayna (As I started this review, I had to go back and find her name because I already forgot after a couple of days). I also didn't care for the love interest, either. Also don't remember his name. But He was a mashup of everything we currently see and read in the Romantasy genre. Seen it all before. Thankfully, not another "Shadow Daddy" lol. 

I thought the whole pirate and faerie combination was weird. I guess because everyone lives on an island, we had to add in pirates? I don't know. I didn't like it nor care for it. I felt like it was just a useless plot device to explain 'Hey, you're special and not from here...you came from outside with the pirates'. 

By the Orchid and the Owl ultimately was just an okay read. Nothing special or memorable. The story was slow, stakes were low that I eventually didn't care about the plot or characters. I don't plan on continuing with the series but if you're interested and you have KU, I suggest reading on there for free/t to try out because this is not a book, I think many would reread.

Quicksilver by Callie Hart

Title: Quicksilver

Author: Callie Hart

Genre: Fantasy

Series: Fae & Alchemy # 1

Paperback, 622 pages 

Publication: June 4, 2024

Source: Personal Library
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In the land of the unforgiving desert, there isn’t much a girl wouldn’t do for a glass of water.

Twenty-four-year-old Saeris Fane is good at keeping secrets. No one knows about the strange powers she possesses, or the fact that she has been picking pockets and stealing from the Undying Queen’s reservoirs for as long as she can remember.

But a secret is like a knot.

Sooner or later, it is bound to come undone.

When Saeris comes face-to-face with Death himself, she inadvertently reopens a gateway between realms and is transported to a land of ice and snow. The Fae have always been the stuff of myth, of legend, of nightmares…but it turns out they’re real, and Saeris has landed herself right in the middle of a centuries-long conflict that might just get her killed.

The first of her kind to tread the frozen mountains of Yvelia in over a thousand years, Saeris mistakenly binds herself to Kingfisher, a handsome Fae warrior, who has secrets and nefarious agendas of his own. He will use her Alchemist’s magic to protect his people, no matter what it costs him… or her.

Death has a name.

It is Kingfisher of the Ajun Gate.

His past is murky.

His attitude stinks.

And he’s the only way Saeris is going to make it home.

Be careful of the deals you make, dear child.

The devil is in the details...

MY THOUGHTS

After seeing Quicksilver on my FYP for weeks, I finally took the plunge and read the book. I'm so glad I did! Like many Romance Fantasy/Fantasy series nowadays, Quicksilver features the usual fae, vampires, and gods, but it stands out with its unique and fresh take on these subjects.

I was effortlessly immersed in the world and writing within a couple of pages. The world-building is fascinating, vivid, and well-developed. While reading Quicksilver, I could easily imagine Saeris and Carrion running the third ward, and Kingfisher and Ren at the battlefronts. The magic system in Quicksilver is straightforward but complex enough without being convoluted or resorting to info-dumping. I absolutely loved all the characters. Saeris is probably one of my new favorite heroines. Imagine a petite, independent, kick-ass woman who can take down men three times her size, yet still has a big heart and a great sense of humor. Kingfisher was perfection—the kind of male lead/hero I enjoy reading about. I can't think of a single negative quality when it comes to Kingfisher. I loved their chemistry, interactions, and especially their banter. The banter was everything!

Quicksilver is very character-driven and centered. I love when an author writes fully developed, fleshed-out characters with flaws and attributes we can relate to and connect with. Whether it's a villain like Malcolm or a minor but adorable character like Archer, each character feels real.

Quicksilver is one of the best books I've read so far this year and easily in my top five reads. I loved it so much. If I could rate it more than five stars, I would. It was just that amazing. I highly, highly recommend Quicksilver if you haven't read it yet. You will not regret it! And you know what's crazy? The author mentioned that this was her first foray into the Romantasy/Fantasy genre and that she didn't have an audience for it. I was shocked to learn that because, as I mentioned earlier, the world-building is done really well. I can't wait for book 2, which comes out later this year in the fall!

Wings so Wicked by Emily Blackwood

Title: Wings so Wicked

Author: Emily Blackwood

Genre: N/A, Fantasy

Series: Golden City # 1

Paperback, 380 pages 

Publication: January 12, 2024 by
Source: Personal library 
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Huntyr has fought for survival her entire life. Raised under Lord, the master of assassins in Midgrave, she has spent over twenty years learning to kill the blood-hungry, depraved vampyres that lurk in the darkness. Huntyr is the most lethal fae in the kingdom, which is why Lord chooses her to complete the next mission.

Huntyr must survive Moira Seminary and make it into The Golden City—the mysterious elite society of the few remaining angels and the magic fae who live in luxury with no crime, no poverty, and certainly no vampyres.

Only when she arrives at the academy, she’s forced to room with Wolf—the terrifying fallen angel who happens to know her assassin identity.

Determined to keep her head down in Moira, Huntyr tries her best to ignore Wolf. Over time, though, he not only becomes the only person she can lean on, but the one who might keep her alive through the life-threatening tests to get into The Golden City.

MY THOUGHTS

I was so excited for Wings so Wicked – it seemed right up my alley. I mean, who doesn't love a good story of opposites attracting? In this novel, we follow a Vampire Assassin and a Vampire who must set aside their differences and collaborate to gain entry into the elusive Golden City. Only a chosen few get the chance to prove their skills at Moira Seminary, a school for the gifted, and the stakes are high – it's either the Golden City or death.

Wings so Wicked started off promising. I appreciated that the action kicked in early, thrusting our main protagonist, Huntyr, into Moira where she faced grueling training and obstacles. Unfortunately, the initial excitement didn't last, and the book went downhill. The scenes became incredibly choppy and jarring, lacking smooth transitions between scenes and dialogues. Another significant issue was with the characters – the interactions and dialogues fell flat. I didn’t connect with Huntyr or Wolf, and even their interactions felt forced. It was insta-love, but not the good kind. Despite being familiar with the alpha male and stubborn female trope, this was an absolute no for me. Wolf came off as more controlling than protective, and Huntyr's tough exterior seemed inconsistent with her projection of insecurities onto others. When everything inevitably crashed and burned, she turned more self-deprecating. It was annoying.

 As I reached the end of the novel, my interest dwindled, and I found myself not caring about the fate of the characters. I contemplated giving up, but I was already too deep into the book, and reaching the end felt like a relief. Personally, I cannot recommend this book and consider it a time-waster. If you're seeking a vampire-themed story with challenges, I suggest exploring The Serpent and the Wings of Night. I'm genuinely perplexed by the positive reviews and high ratings. Well, to each their own.