House of Bane and Blood by Alexis L. Menard

Title: House of Bane and Blood

Author: Alexis L. Menard

Genre: Fantasy

Series: Order and Chaos # 1

Publication: October 18, 2023

Source: Personal Library

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In a city split into two opposing sides, power comes in many bloodlines, money, love, and-most importantly-secrets.

An heiress in the most notorious family in Lynchaven, Camilla Marchese is doing all she can to keep her family's syndicate, the Iron Saint Railway, from slipping into bankruptcy. When the gorgeous and depraved Nicolai Attano, the leader of a rival family, offers to pay off the Inspector in exchange for her hand, she has no choice but to give up not only her throne-but her name.

Nico has his own motivations for their union beyond maintaining peace with her family. A serial kidnapper known as The Collector has been ravaging the streets of Remnant Row, stirring up mistrust between natives and descendants. If Milla can help restore safety to his streets, he'll have no need for her or her family's company. Find the Collector, prevent a war between their sides of the city, and pay off the family debt before she turns twenty-one. If Milla can fulfill her end of the bargain, she'll walk away with more freedom than she's ever had before.

But this deal plunges Milla into the city's dark underbelly where remnant magic and arcane science compete in a deadly game of depravity. When forbidden feelings rise for her new husband and dark family secrets come to light, Milla must discover the truth about her past before it gets them both killed or worse-collected.

MY THOUGHTS

What initially piqued my interest in House of Bane and Blood was its comparison to Peaky Blinders—and really, who doesn’t love that show? The book successfully captures a similar vibe, blending it with elements of Romeo and Juliet and a touch of magic. Plus, it features one of my all-time favorite tropes: marriage of convenience.

The worldbuilding and magic system were straightforward and easy to grasp. The story features non-magical people like Camilla, magical wielders called Benders, sometimes with multiple abilities, like Nico, and Wearh—essentially vampires. The city itself is steeped in corruption, with only a few powerful families controlling it. In this case, those families are Camilla's and Nico's.

Camilla and Nico made a fantastic lead couple, and I absolutely loved them both. Their chemistry and banter felt so natural and effortless. The leads, along with their entire families, were deeply flawed, just how I like them but in a way that stayed within a moral gray area where they often did bad things for the sake of their loved ones. This dynamic added depth to the story and made the family moments even more impactful. I especially adored Nico’s family.

Overall, House of Bane and Blood is a solid start to a new romance fantasy series. I’m excited to read the final book in Nico and Camilla’s duology.

Yellowface by R.F. Kuang

Title: Yellowface

Author: R.F. Kuang

Genre: Fiction

Series: N/A

Publication: May 16, 2023

Source: Libby Library

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Authors June Hayward and Athena Liu were supposed to be twin rising stars. But Athena’s a literary darling. June Hayward is literally nobody. Who wants stories about basic white girls, June thinks.

So when June witnesses Athena’s death in a freak accident, she acts on impulse: she steals Athena’s just-finished masterpiece, an experimental novel about the unsung contributions of Chinese laborers during World War I.

So what if June edits Athena’s novel and sends it to her agent as her own work? So what if she lets her new publisher rebrand her as Juniper Song—complete with an ambiguously ethnic author photo? Doesn’t this piece of history deserve to be told, whoever the teller? That’s what June claims, and the New York Times bestseller list seems to agree.

But June can’t get away from Athena’s shadow, and emerging evidence threatens to bring June’s (stolen) success down around her. As June races to protect her secret, she discovers exactly how far she will go to keep what she thinks she deserves.

MY THOUGHTS

Yellowface had been on my list since last year, and this year, I decided it was finally time to dive into R.F. Kuang’s work. Since Yellowface is one of her shorter books, I thought it would be a good place to start. Unfortunately, it turned out to be a poor choice, as I found the book extremely disappointing.

Marketed as a sharp, satirical novel tackling controversial topics like cultural appropriation, racism, and diversity, Yellowface certainly addressed these themes. However, I couldn’t get past the revolting and deeply unlikeable main character, June. While I understand she wasn’t meant to be likeable, I personally need to feel some kind of connection or sympathy for the characters I’m reading about, and with June, I felt neither. I simply despised her.

Despite its promise of humor, I didn’t find the book funny at all. I’m not even sure what its ultimate purpose was. While it does highlight important issues, these are conversations that are already happening—and for many readers, I suspect they’ll nod along in agreement while reading, only to forget about it shortly after finishing. The novel didn’t leave any lasting impact or profound impression on me.

I’ve heard great things about Kuang’s writing, which makes me wonder if she intentionally simplified her style for this book. It felt basic and unremarkable.

I didn’t enjoy a single aspect of Yellowface. That said, I’m still planning to explore Kuang’s other works, especially her fantasy novels, which I hope will resonate with me more. If you’re curious about Yellowface, I’d recommend borrowing it from the library as it’s definitely not worth the purchase. 

A Fate of Wrath and Flame by K.A. Tucker

Title: A Fate of Wrath and Flame

Author: K.A. Tucker

Genre: Fantasy

Series: Fate and Flame # 1

Paperback 496 Pages 

Publication: May 20, 2021

Source: Audible

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Gifted thief Romeria steals jewels under a notorious New York City crime boss. But when an enigmatic woman secures her services at swordpoint, Romeria is wrenched from this world and transported into a realm of opposing thrones, warring elven societies, and elemental magic.

Waking up in the body of a treacherous elven princess, Romeria quickly realizes she's entangled in a deadly plot and must hide her identity at all costs - not least from the princess's betrothed, King Zander, who detests her. Romeria is forced to play the smitten princess as the unwilling pair work together to uncover the danger that surrounds them.

But with their enemies closing in - and as she fights her growing feelings for the king - it's time for Romeria to find out who she truly is.

MY THOUGHTS

I’ve had A Fate of Wrath and Flame on my radar for a long time. I actually started the audiobook multiple times, but the narrator always put me off, and I never got past the prologue. Determined to finish it, I finally made it to the end. However, to my surprise, what started as a strong story ended up fizzling out. In a single word: underwhelming.

A Fate of Wrath and Flame is a portal fantasy that follows Romeria, a thief from New York who is transported to another world and inhabits the body of her doppelgänger, an elven princess. Tasked with finding a critical artifact, Romeria faces additional challenges: the body she now occupies just murdered her betrothed’s parents. Not only does she need to complete her mission, but she must also keep her true identity hidden.

I haven’t read many fantasy novels where characters transition from the real world into a fantasy setting. I like the concept, but everything else felt too familiar, and I wasn’t impressed. In this new world, vampire faes, mortals, and elemental magic users coexist. Mortals, predictably, are at the bottom of the hierarchy, often serving as slaves or workers for the immortal, aristocratic fae.

Romeria is street-smart, practical, and has a caring heart; all qualities I appreciate in a female protagonist. However, there were moments where she felt immature. As for Zander, I didn’t care for him much. He seems like a competent king overall, but his relationship with Romeria felt too erratic; hot and cold far too quickly. Even knowing that the "Romeria" before and after are two different people, I couldn’t buy into Zander’s acceptance of her. Personally, I wouldn’t be able to overlook the fact that my partner had murdered my parents, regardless of the circumstances. Like Zander and others repeatedly noted throughout the book: when Romeria is around him, all common sense seems to fly out the window.

Overall, A Fate of Wrath and Flame was just okay. Nothing about it stood out, and I never felt connected to the characters. With that said, I won’t be continuing with the series.

We Are the Beasts by Gigi Griffis

Title: We are the Beasts

Author: Gigi Griffis

Genre: Fantasy

Series: N/A, Standalone

Hardcover, 352 Pages 

Publication: December 10, 2024

Source: I received a review copy in exchange for a honest review.

Thank you, Penguin Random House!

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When a series of brutal, mysterious deaths start plaguing the countryside and whispers of a beast in the mountains reach the quiet French hamlet of Mende, most people believe it’s a curse—God’s punishment for their sins.

But to sixteen-year-old Joséphine and her best friend, Clara, the beast isn’t a curse. It’s an opportunity.

For years, the girls of Mende have been living in a nightmare—fathers who drink, brothers who punch, homes that feel like prisons—and this is a chance to get them out.

Using the creature’s attacks as cover, Joséphine and Clara set out to fake their friends’ deaths and hide them away until it’s safe to run. But escape is harder than they thought. If they can’t brave a harsh winter with little food… If the villagers discover what they’re doing… If the beast finds them first...

Those fake deaths might just become real ones.

MY THOUGHTS

We Are the Beasts takes place in 1765 in the French countryside. The town of Gévaudan is plagued by brutal animal attacks, and the townspeople believe it to be some sort of curse. Amidst this turmoil, the tragic death of a young man sparks an unexpected opportunity for the women and girls of Gévaudan to reclaim their power.

Based on real-life events, We Are the Beasts explores the historical mystery of the Beast of Gévaudan, a creature that terrorized the region. I hadn’t heard of this event before reading the book, but I found it fascinating. Even today, the true identity of the beast remains uncertain. It was described as wolf-like but not quite a wolf. The novel begins with a violent killing, but as the story unfolds, it becomes a narrative of women’s empowerment and rage, breaking societal rules, sisterhood, and finding family in unexpected places. The themes and messages are something I'm sure resonate deeply with many women and girls' experiences.

What I loved most was how Griffis wove an important message into a well-known historical event. She captured the essence of what it means to be a woman or girl in a patriarchal world. Whether it’s hundreds of years ago or today in 2024, the feelings and experiences remain strikingly similar. At its core, We Are the Beasts delves into those shared experiences: being surrounded by men—fathers, brothers, uncles, priests, friends, or authority figures—who are meant to protect, but instead often inflict harm. These men, through toxic dominance, verbal abuse, and physical violence, devalue the feminine. It’s a literal perversion of the masculine archetypes.

On the other hand, the novel celebrates women’s empowerment and sisterhood. I loved seeing the girls' band together to help each other escape the "beasts" in their lives, whether those beasts took the form of unsolicited advances, abusive family members, or the oppressive forces stifling their dreams. The journey evolves from saving one girl to saving a group, culminating in Josephine’s powerful realization that she, too, needed to save herself. One of the most poignant lessons I took away from this story is that power; real or perceived, is only what we allow others to have. Without our consent or acknowledgment, they are powerless.

We Are the Beasts is a powerful and thought-provoking YA novel that fills a much-needed space in the genre. It’s a book every young woman should read. I enjoyed it far more than I expected and highly recommend it to anyone who loves historical fantasy with a meaningful message.

COVER REVEAL: Arcana Academy by Elise Kova

Enter a world of tarot, magic, dark academia with an enemies-to-lover romance...your next Romantasy obsession!

BOOK 1, in The Arcana Academy Series

Out wherever books are sold, July 22, 2025!

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To learn more about Arcana Academy, please check out the author's website.

A woman who wields magical tarot cards lands herself in a false engagement with the headmaster of a mysterious academy in this first installment of an enthralling fantasy romance series from the bestselling author of A Deal with the Elf King.

Clara Graysword has survived the underworld of Eclipse City through thievery, luck, and a whole lot of illegal magic. After a job gone awry, Clara is sentenced to a lifetime in prison for inking tarot cards—a rare power reserved for practitioners at the elite Arcana Academy.

Just when it seems her luck has run dry, the academy’s enigmatic headmaster, Prince Kaelis, offers her an escape—for a price. Kaelis believes that Clara is the perfect tool to help him steal a tarot card from the king and use it to re-create an all-powerful card long lost to time.

In order to conceal her identity and keep her close, Kaelis brings Clara to Arcana Academy, introducing her as the newest first-year student and his bride-to-be.

Thrust into a world of arcane magic and royal intrigue, where one misstep will send her back to prison or worse, Clara finds that the prince she swore to hate may not be what he seems. But can she risk giving him power over the world—and her heart? Or will she take it for herself?

US Del Rey First Edition

UK Waterstone Exclusive Edition

UK Trade Hodderscape Exclusive Hardback Edition

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

ELISE KOVA is a USA Today and internationally bestselling author. She enjoys telling stories of fantasy worlds filled with magic and deep emotions. She lives in Florida and, when not writing, can be found playing video games, drawing, chatting with readers on social media, or daydreaming about her next story.

Connect with Elise!

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Blood Over Bright Haven by M.L. Wang

Title: Blood Over Bright Haven

Author: M.L. Wang

Genre: Fantasy

Series: N/A, Standalone

Hardcover, 448 Pages 

Publication: October 29, 2024

Source: Personal Library
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An orphan since the age of four, Sciona has always had more to prove than her fellow students. For twenty years, she has devoted every waking moment to the study of magic, fueled by a mad desire to achieve the impossible: to be the first woman ever admitted to the High Magistry. When she finally claws her way up the ranks to become a highmage, however, she finds that her challenges have just begun. Her new colleagues will stop at nothing to let her know she is unwelcome, beginning with giving her a janitor instead of a qualified lab assistant.

What neither Sciona nor her peers realize is that her taciturn assistant was once more than a janitor; before he mopped floors for the mages, Thomil was a nomadic hunter from beyond Tiran’s magical barrier. Ten years have passed since he survived the perilous crossing that killed his family. But working for a highmage, he sees the opportunity to finally understand the forces that decimated his tribe, drove him from his homeland, and keep the Tiranish in power.

Through their fractious relationship, mage and outsider uncover an ancient secret that could change the course of magic forever—if it doesn’t get them killed first. Sciona has defined her life by the pursuit of truth, but how much is one truth worth with the fate of civilization in the balance?

MY THOUGHTS

I usually don’t read standalones because when I dive into a novel, I want to immerse myself in the world and stay with the characters for as long as possible; meaning I need a multibook series. But Blood Over Bright Haven has been receiving rave reviews since it was indie published, and after reading the synopsis, I finally decided to give it a shot. Now, I’m kicking myself for not picking it up sooner! Blood Over Bright Haven was... wow. Just incredible. Phenomenal. A true literary masterpiece. Without a doubt, it’s the best book I’ve read in 2024.

When I began Blood Over Bright Haven, I was expecting a fun dark academia story about the first woman mage. I mean, who wouldn’t love to see a woman thrive and surpass expectations in an all-male field? (Well... maybe some men, lol.) But what I got was so much more than I bargained for. What started as fun, magical, and empowering took an intense, serious turn and it left me completely stunned and in awe.

I’ve always heard people talk about books that change their lives, but I never truly understood that concept...until now. Blood Over Bright Haven made me reflect deeply on myself and my life, and I believe it will have the same effect on many readers. It conveys so many vital messages, not just for men and women, but for future generations of girls as well.

Wang has achieved something very few authors manage to do: she seamlessly weaves real-world themes into her story without detracting from the reading experience. Instead, these themes elevate the book. Through this fantasy setting, Wang highlights prejudice, racism, sexism, corruption, and societal hierarchies, drawing clear parallels to our own world. And yet, it never feels preachy, as I’ve seen in other novels. I was fully absorbed in Sciona and Thomil’s journey while also gaining a deeper understanding of these issues.

Sciona is a realistic, relatable character who speaks to the experiences of women in a patriarchal society. Similarly, Thomil, Carra, and their people endure hardships in a world designed to see them fail, no matter what they do. Wang’s portrayal of these struggles is both profound and thought-provoking. I honestly don’t have the words to fully describe the life-changing experience of reading this book. It’s something every reader must experience for themselves.

Wang has created a complex, multifaceted world with unforgettable characters. Her storytelling is masterful, something to be studied and admired. What she has accomplished in a single book is beyond extraordinary. As I said before, this is a literary masterpiece. I’ve read countless books over my 13 years of reviewing, and I can confidently say that there are authors with entire series or 20+ novels under their belts who don’t come close to what Wang has achieved here. This is top-tier, crème de la crème writing.

If you haven’t picked up Blood Over Bright Haven yet, do yourself a favor and get it A.S.A.P. This is a book that belongs on your forever shelf, one you’ll want to read again and again. My rating scale is 1-5 but if I didn't have a raring scale this book would be infinity stars.

Lastly, the story starting with Thomil and Carra entering a bright and glittering city without their clan and ending with them leaving the city burning with a new clan....utterly brilliant!!!

Three Kinds of Lucky by Kim Harrison

Title: Three Kinds of Lucky

Author: Kim Harrison

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Series: The Shadow Age # 1

Hardcover, 452 Pages 

Publication: March 5, 2024

Source: Personal Library
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Petra Grady has known since adolescence that she has no talent for magic—and that’s never going to change. But as a sweeper first-class, she’s parlayed her rare ability to handle dross—the damaging, magical waste generated by her more talented kin’s spellwork—into a decent life working at the mages’ university.

Except Grady’s relatively predictable life is about to be upended. When the oblivious, sexy, and oh-so-out-of-reach Benedict Strom needs someone with her abilities for a research project studying dross and how to render it harmless, she’s stuck working on his team—whether she wants to or not.

Only Benedict doesn’t understand the characteristics of dross like Grady does. After an unthinkable accident, she and Benedict are forced to go on the run to seek out the one person who might be able to help: an outcast exiled ten years ago for the crime of using dross to cast spells. Now Grady must decide whether to stick with the magical status quo or embrace her own hidden talents . . . and risk shattering their entire world.

MY THOUGHTS

I've only read one of Harrison's Hollows books and enjoyed it. So, when she announced a new Urban Fantasy series, I immediately added it to my TBR list. Three Kinds of Lucky is what I’d call a “closed world” story, where the human/mundane population is unaware of magic.

Our protagonist, Petra Grady, works at a university dedicated to magic users, specifically mages. The magical hierarchy consists of four levels: Sweeper, Spinner, Mage, and Weaver. Grady is a Sweeper, meaning she can’t perform magic like the other three levels, but she has a unique ability to see and clean up dross, a waste byproduct of spellcasting. If not properly cleaned, dross can cause “bad luck” for anyone who comes across it. For example, walking over dross (imagine invisible black goo that only Sweepers can see) might cause someone to trip, spill their coffee, or twist an ankle. You get the gist.

The magic system, however, is a bit confusing. I understand the basics, but when the story delves into shadows and rezes, I get lost. When Benedict and the other mages discuss the science behind why inert dross isn’t harmful or its side effects, it feels overly complicated and hard to follow. These technicalities often pulled me out of the story, making it less enjoyable.

Petra was an okay heroine. I didn’t love or hate her. My main issue with her was that she came across as a bit of a Debbie Downer. Since childhood, she’s felt excluded because she doesn’t have the ability to wield magic. Her position as a Sweeper also causes others to look down on her, which I found ironic since she’s literally the best Sweeper of her generation. The whole concept of her “not having magic” also feels odd, as the ability to detect and eliminate dross seems like magic in itself. Mundane people certainly can’t do that.

The secondary characters were underwhelming. While the author described them well physically, they lacked depth and were ultimately plain and forgettable. Like Petra, I didn’t strongly like or dislike them, which was disappointing since characters are everything to me as a reader.

Three Kinds of Lucky was a decent series starter, but I’m unsure if I’ll continue. The author set up the next book with the main four characters embarking on a new adventure, but it didn’t sound particularly compelling. If you enjoyed Harrison's Hollows series, I’d suggest checking this one out to see how you feel about it personally.