Jade City by Fonda Lee

Title: Jade City

Author: Fonda Lee

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Series: The Green Bone Saga # 1

529 pages, Paperback

Publication: November 17, 2017

Source: Libby Library

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The Kaul family is one of two crime syndicates that control the island of Kekon. It's the only place in the world that produces rare magical jade, which grants those with the right training and heritage superhuman abilities.

The Green Bone clans of honorable jade-wearing warriors once protected the island from foreign invasion--but nowadays, in a bustling post-war metropolis full of fast cars and foreign money, Green Bone families like the Kauls are primarily involved in commerce, construction, and the everyday upkeep of the districts under their protection.

When the simmering tension between the Kauls and their greatest rivals erupts into open violence in the streets, the outcome of this clan war will determine the fate of all Green Bones and the future of Kekon itself.

MY THOUGHTS

I’ve had Jade City on my TBR for years. The premise always intrigued me; an urban setting with gangs and magical jade… interesting, right?

The beginning started off strong with a memorable scene where a couple of teenagers try to steal jade from a Green Bone member. As expected, it goes awry, which leads to the Kaul family realizing someone is encroaching on their turf. To be quite honest, the magic system felt too vague, too simple, or just confusing to fully grasp at the start, at least for me. From what I gathered, only certain bloodlines are able to wield magical jade, which grants them enhanced strength. But even after finishing the book, I’m still not entirely sure what their magical abilities actually were. They all fought with blades or guns, so it felt a bit muddled. I guess I expected something more overtly magical. And if you’re not from the right bloodline, jade makes you sick and can eventually kill you. Each syndicate scouts for those with the right lineage to build their ranks.

Most of the characters felt bland; no one truly stood out or made a lasting impression. I never connected with any of them, and for most of the book, I felt pretty impassive toward their struggles. The only character who briefly grabbed my attention was Shae, the sole prominent female and the reluctant Kaul family member. I thought the writing itself was well done, but the story just didn’t hold my interest. There were a few standout scenes, but they were far between, and the pacing dragged in the gaps. Two moments were clearly meant to be major turning points, but they ended up feeling anticlimactic, especially the final fight.

Jade City was a decent read, but I don’t think I’ll be rushing to pick up the second book anytime soon, if at all.

Red City by Marie Lu

Title: Red City

Author: Marie Lu

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Series: The New Alchemists # 1

420 pages, Hardcover

Publication: October 14, 2025

Source: Libby Library

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Alchemy is the hidden art of transformation. An exclusive power wielded by crime syndicates that market it to the world’s elites in the form of sand, a drug that enhances those who take it into a more perfect version of themselves: more beautiful, more charismatic, simply more.

Among the gleaming skyscrapers and rolling foothills of Angel City, alchemy is controlled by two rival syndicates. For years, Grand Central and Lumines have been balanced on a razor’s edge between polite negotiation and outright violence. But when two childhood friends step into that delicate equation, the city―and the paths of their lives―will be irrevocably transformed.

The daughter of a poor single mother, Sam would do anything to claw her way into the ranks of Grand Central in search of a better life. Plucked away from his family as a boy to become a Lumines apprentice, Ari is one of the syndicates' brightest rising stars. Once, they might have loved each other. But as the two alchemists face off across opposite sides of an ever-escalating conflict, ambition becomes power, loyalty becomes lies, and no transformation may be perfect enough for them both to survive the coming war.

MY THOUGHTS

I read Lu’s Legend series back in the day when the dystopian genre was big and booming, so I was surprised and excited to hear that she had finally published an adult novel. Red City felt like a long time coming. The concept of crime syndicates mixed with alchemy intrigued me enough to pick this one up.

The opening chapters introduce us to a young Sam and Ari during their school years, from junior high through high school graduation. It’s during this period that they become involved with opposing syndicates: Sam joins Grand Central and Ari joins Lumines. From there, the story jumps ahead five years, and the two don’t cross paths again until a major syndicate event.

It took me a little while to settle into the story. I appreciated the background, but some of the childhood scenes felt unnecessarily long and drawn out. I found myself wondering if a flashback structure might have been more effective than concentrating their entire childhood arc in one chunk of the book. However, once the narrative shifts to the present day (five years later) the pace picks up quickly. By then, Sam and Ari are fully established in their respective syndicates and have made names for themselves in the criminal underground with fitting code names.

The worldbuilding was straightforward and easy to follow, but the magic system took longer to grasp, especially regarding its hierarchy and abilities. Sam’s powers, enhanced by a drug called Sand, make her hard to notice or remember, almost like invisibility, and allow her to transmute organic matter into inorganic material. Ari’s bioalchemy lets him influence molecular structures within the body. Every alchemist can transmute weapons from organic or inorganic sources; turning water into acid, pulling a blade from a brick wall, and so on but I still found certain parts of the system confusing in terms of how and why these abilities work.

Despite the lengthy section dedicated to Sam and Ari’s childhood and the story centering around them as adults I didn’t connect with them as strongly as I expected. I was more drawn to the side characters, especially Sam’s mother, Connie, and Diamond’s son, Will. Given how the book ends, I’m curious to see if Will appears again in future books. Their backstories felt more compelling and tragic, and they helped me understand their motivations in a way the main characters didn’t quite achieve.

Overall, Red City is a solid start to a new series. The book held my attention for most of the journey, and the fight sequences were excellent. I’ll definitely be checking out the next installment.

Night Broken by Patricia Briggs

Title: Night Broken

Author: Patricia Briggs

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Series: Mercy Thompson # 8

320 Pages, Hardcover

Publication: March 4, 2014

Source: Libby Library

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An unexpected phone call heralds a new challenge for Mercy. Her mate Adam’s ex-wife is in trouble, on the run from a stalker. Adam isn’t the kind of man to turn away a person in need—and Mercy knows it. But with Christy holed up in Adam’s house, Mercy can’t shake the feeling that something about the situation isn’t right.

Soon her suspicions are confirmed when she learns that Christy has the furthest thing from good intentions. She wants Adam back, and she’s willing to do whatever it takes to get him, including turning Adam’s pack against Mercy.

Mercy isn’t about to step down without a fight, but there’s a more dangerous threat circling. Christy’s stalker is more than a bad man—in fact, he may not be human at all. As the bodies start piling up, Mercy must put her personal troubles aside to face a creature with the power to tear her whole world apart.

MY THOUGHTS

In Night Broken, Mercy’s standing within the Pack is still fragile as everyone continues dealing with the fallout from the previous book’s events. To make matters worse, Adam’s ex-wife seeks shelter in their home while fleeing an abusive man and there’s a serial killer on the loose in the Tri-Cities.

I enjoyed Night Broken much more than I expected. I loved meeting all the new characters, especially ones we had heard about before but had never actually seen on the page, such as Christy and a Gray Lord. There were also some unexpected appearances, including more of Coyote and the introduction of a supposedly lost sibling, which was a pleasant surprise. Mercy and the Pack’s interactions with this newcomer added a fun and interesting dynamic to the story; it was probably one of my favorite parts.

The plot was great, and I loved how Briggs tied two seemingly unrelated subplots into one cohesive storyline. Clever! I also appreciated the ongoing development in Mercy and Adam’s relationship. With Adam’s ex moving in, Mercy could have reacted very differently, but her maturity really stood out. Readers also learn alongside Mercy as she discovers more about her evolving abilities. She has certainly come a long way since the first book, when we believed she was just a simple shapeshifting mechanic.

I can’t wait to continue with the next books in the series. I’ve loved the Urban Fantasy genre ever since discovering it in the early 2000s. If you enjoy books with rich world-building, strong character development, and intriguing elements of Native folklore, I highly recommend checking out the Mercy Thompson series.

Heir of Illusion by Madeline Taylor

Title: Heir of Illusion

Author: Madeline Taylor

Genre: Fantasy

Series: Verran Isles # 1

Publication: April 1, 2025

460 pages

Source: Libby Library

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She is not the pet they tamed.

Blessed with the power of illusion, Iverson Pomeroy has many tricks up her sleeve. However, none of them are a match for the enchanted collar at her throat that keeps her bound as assassin and mistress to a ruthless king. Forced to play the role of his obedient pet, she plots in secret to destroy him and claim the freedom she has always been denied.

She is the beast they let inside.

When a mysterious reaper, Thorne, arrives in the city with his sights set on the same weapon Ivy needs—the only artifact that can remove her collar—she must decide how far she’s willing to go.

And she will show no mercy.

With a tenuous alliance tying them together, Ivy learns there is more to her reluctant companion than meets the eye... He sparks her curiosity and ignites dangerous desires within her. But will the secrets they harbor destroy each other? And does it even matter, when anyone who so much as touches Thorne dies?

MY THOUGHTS

Finally! My prayers have been answered. I don’t know what it is, but the last few books I’ve read have been duds. I decided to pick up Heir of Illusion because the synopsis sounded promising and I’m so glad I did. It finally got me out of my reading rut!

Heir of Illusion had me from the very first page. Talk about one heck of an opening line! The book is being pitched as the “Next Romantasy Hit,” and honestly, I think we should retire the word romantasy because it’s becoming synonymous with mediocre books and poor writing (to me) which Heir of Illusion is absolutely not. It is so much more than what’s currently dominating the romantasy space. The worldbuilding and magic system felt refreshing and unique. I loved how the world was divided into different Isles and the Gods who inhabit them. The abilities granted by each God and how they manifest in the citizens and their heirs were fascinating to explore. The worldbuilding was complex enough to feel layered yet still easy to follow, which I appreciated. The writing was excellent, the pacing was great, and everything flowed so smoothly. Some dialogue might be considered modern for a fantasy setting, but because I was enjoying the story so much, it didn’t bother me at all.

Iverson was an amazing protagonist, flawed yet incredibly self-aware, which I appreciated. It was such a nice change from many current FMCs who are, frankly, oblivious and intolerable dolts. Iverson endured a terrible upbringing, and the more we learn about her, the easier it is to root for her. For a first book in a series, her growth felt realistic and very easy to emotionally connect with. She reminded me of old-school heroines: kickass with questionable decision-making at times, but ultimately full of heart. I like Thorne, for the most part. I’m still not entirely sure what to make of him because I’m not used to morally gray characters who openly express their feelings as easily as he does. He’s so understanding and considerate that it sometimes gave me pause. Still, Iverson and Thorne were fantastic leads, and I loved their early banter. The secondary characters were also well-developed and compelling. I adored Darrow, he was such an unexpected standout, and I’m glad we got more of him beyond the first chapter.

I truly thought I knew where this story was going, but I did not see those twists and turns coming! I love when a book can move me, keep me engaged, and genuinely surprise me. And the ending…Thorne…Iverson… absolutely brilliant! Heir of Illusion is an incredible start to a brand-new trilogy, and I cannot wait to read the next book. I’m shocked this is Taylor’s debut because the writing, worldbuilding, and plot were so impeccably done. For once, I wholeheartedly agree with the rave reviews, Heir of Illusion will be the next big fantasy obsession. One hundred percent earned. I highly recommend Heir of Illusion, such an incredible book!

Witch of the Wolves by Kaylee Archer

Title: Witch of the Wolves

Author: Kaylee Archer

Genre: Fantasy

Series: Witch of the Wolves # 1

Publication: September 30, 2025

352 pages

Source: Libby Library

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Cordelia Levine comes from a long line of powerful witches. She's been flying under the radar in the human world, focused on strengthening her magic. She loves working at her aunt's apothecary in London, secretly serving supernaturals.

Until the truth about her family is revealed.

She always assumed her enhanced sense of smell came from her French perfumer father. But when Bishop Daniels abducts Cordelia at the request of her father, the Alpha, Cordelia learns she's a lycan--sharing both witch and werewolf traits. She's brought to Trevelyan, the pack estate, under the guise of protection from foreign threats who want to use her to continue their bloodline.

She quickly learns that to keep her from being sold off to another pack, her father intends to give Cordelia as a mate to Bishop. His second in command and the future Alpha.

Cordelia refuses to accept this as her fate. She can't rely on her magic alone to escape and when she learns Bishop plans to challenge her father's power, she reluctantly begins to trust him. The cracks within the Pack become evident and something is bound to break. And Cordelia and her growing desire for the man who shouldn't set her on fire are right at the center of it all.

MY THOUGHTS

Witch of the Wolves was one of my most anticipated reads this year. I’ve been looking forward to it ever since I first heard about it. A Victorian setting and supernatural creatures? That’s right up my alley, two of my favorite things combined! The book started off strong, and I was immediately immersed in the story. I honestly thought it would pull me out of my disappointing reading streak because it had so much potential. Unfortunately, it hit a snag halfway through and never fully recovered.

The worldbuilding and magic system were promising at first but ultimately built like a house of cards; weak at the foundation and barely held together by hope and readers' obliviousness. There’s almost no explanation of how werewolves are made or how their transformations work, aside from a vague mention that it’s painful. It feels like the author expected readers to fill in the blanks rather than creating her own lore. The witches fare no better; their spells are given the most unimaginative names possible: knockback, fireball, privacy, and fog, which sound just as lame as they read. The worldbuilding overall was poorly executed. Although the synopsis claims a Victorian setting, the only indication of the Victorian Era were Cordelia’s wardrobe and the period-typical gender dynamics, where, unsurprisingly, most women are relegated to subservient roles.

I actually liked Cordelia at first, but halfway through, right around the time she got involved with Bishop, she turned into a naive, immature child. The insta-love/lust between them was unrealistic; they barely knew each other for a week before falling all over each other. Throughout the book, Cordelia verbally fights her arranged marriage to Bishop but when the day arrives, she immediately accepts it. Then when a family member is killed, the natural reaction would be rage or grief right? What does she do? Rolls into bed with Bishop like the person wasn't killed less than an hour ago. Sure, we get one paragraph afterwards of her crying but the whole situation gets swept over like it never happened.

We’re constantly told how special Cordelia is, “the first of her kind,” a witch and a Lycan whom everyone covets for her power or bloodline. But despite being hyped up as immensely powerful, she barely uses her magic. Most of the time, it sputters out. Near the end, she kills a single person and suddenly everyone gasps, “Oh my god, she’s more powerful than we imagined!” Give me a break. It was lazy and anticlimactic. She never steps up when it truly matters. Bishop wasn’t much better. He falls into lust at first sight the moment he sees Cordelia and spends the rest of the book making promises he never actually keeps while acting all bashful about how she tests his ability to “remain a gentleman.” He’s supposed to be Alpha material, but he never once gave that impression. By the halfway point, I’d stopped caring about either of them or the outcome of their story.

The plot itself was equally disappointing. It boiled down to petty, repetitive family drama that went nowhere. You know those endless arguments where everyone insists, they’re right and nothing gets resolved? That’s this book in a nutshell. Cordelia’s father has beef with her mother and aunt, Bishop’s family has beef with Cordelia’s father, and her grandmother has beef with everyone and the pack. I didn’t pick this up to read about childish family squabbles. The only characters who held my attention were Bishop’s inner circle and a mute little girl who had minimal dialogue or page time. Nuff said.

In the end, I do not recommend Witch of the Wolves. I’m just glad I borrowed it from the library instead of buying it.

Thorn Season by Kiera Azar

Title: Thorn Season

Author: Kiera Azar

Genre: Fantasy

Series: Thorn Season # 1

Publication: September 11, 2025

464 pages

Source: Libby Library

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In the Kingdom of Daradon, a persecuted few are Wielders, in possession of a magical Spectre–a shimmering thread that can extend beyond their visible body to give a loving caress, pick a lock . . . even kill. Feared for this ability, Wielders have always been Hunted.

Alissa Paine, heiress and daughter of a Hunter family . . . is also a Wielder. At eighteen, Alissa knows she’s escaped execution thus far only due to painful self-control and the efforts of her beloved father.

Summoned to the harsh and glittering royal court for the debutante season, Alissa finds herself caught in a web of intrigue and betrayal—and caught between two equally dangerous one a brutal ruler with the handsome face of a fairy-tale prince, who would destroy her if he knew the truth—and the other a beguiling foreign ambassador with secret agendas of his own.

With the threat of discovery lurking around every corner—and romance becoming an increasingly dangerous temptation—Alissa will find that she has more to lose than her secrets. It’s Rose Season at the palace, but to survive she’ll need to become the most vicious of thorns. . . .

MY THOUGHTS

I had such high hopes for The Thorn Season. The synopsis sounded intriguing, with court politics and an heiress hiding her ability as a wielder but unfortunately, it did not live up to my expectations.

It took quite a while for the story to grab my attention. The world-building felt underdeveloped, and the concept of wielding was barely explained. As I began writing this review, I actually had to reread the synopsis just to remind myself what the ability even was. It turns out, it’s exactly what the main heroine, Alissa, uses it for, which I found poorly executed and lazy. Readers are never told why some people are born with this power or how it came to exist in the first place. If the author mentioned it, I must have missed it, because I finished the book only a few hours ago and still couldn’t tell you. Which goes to show, this book is not memorable at all.

I’m not sure if this book is meant to be Young Adult or Adult fantasy. Alissa is eighteen, while the male characters are in their early to mid-twenties but they all acted immature. I didn’t care for Alissa and never felt connected to her character. Throughout the story, she tries to act tough but ends up getting kidnapped and thrown into a cell, twice, and both times needs rescuing. She even unalives a man, yet I still didn’t feel anything for her. She came across as all talk and no substance. By the halfway point, I was just trying to finish the book out of obligation since I had already invested so much time.

The romance aspect was also frustrating. Three potential love interests were far too many. Two would’ve been excessive, but three was overkill. None of them were likable or distinct enough to stand out. The characters overall, main and secondary alike felt flat and two-dimensional, including Alissa’s friend, father, and even her enemies.

If I had to sum up The Thorn Season in one word, it would be meh. The story isn’t original, the characters are dull, the plot is boring, and the writing is subpar. I didn’t enjoy any part of this book and am simply glad I made it to the end.

The Wolf King by Lauren Palphreyman

Title: The Wolf King

Author: Lauren Palphreyman

Genre: Fantasy

Series: Wolf King # 1

Publication: September 12, 2023

475 pages

Source: Personal Library

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When a princess is kidnapped by an alpha , war rages between the humans and the wolves. But soon, forbidden attraction starts to grow. . .

Princess Aurora longs to escape the castle and the marriage that has been arranged for her.

But on the night before her wedding, at a dog fight where captured werewolves are made to fight for sport, she spares the life of a young wolf. It puts her on the radar of the powerful alpha who was going to kill him. And it changes everything.

That night, when the alpha escapes, he kidnaps her and takes her to the rugged lands north of the border — where the once warring werewolf clans are beginning to unite. He thinks that she is the key to winning the war against the humans.

Only, as they spend time around one another, forbidden attraction starts to grow. And as Aurora learns that not all wolves are bad, the alpha discovers that she is in danger from both his enemies, and those he once considered friends.

With monsters on both sides, a bloodthirsty war between humans and wolves raging, and undeniable passion growing between them — will their story end in love? Or tragedy?

And will Aurora ever get home?

Does she even want to?

MY THOUGHTS

The Wolf King has been all over my social media lately. I’ve been hearing nonstop raving reviews for months. After checking out the synopsis, I decided to give it a try as werewolves and shifters are some of my favorite types of supernaturals.

The Wolf King started off pretty strong, and I was immediately hooked from the first chapter. It was giving me Outlander vibes, which I quite enjoy. I loved the idea of humans versus the wolf clans and seeing the hierarchy of the alphas under the Wolf King. However, the book started going a bit downhill for me around the midway point. The worldbuilding was easy to follow and straightforward, but overall pretty basic. The writing was clunky and felt overly simple. To be frank, it read as if it were written for someone with a low reading level or slow comprehension. Even the short-chapter format felt intentional, seemingly designed to cater to people’s short attention spans nowadays. However, I believe that if a story is well-written, with an engaging plot and fleshed-out characters, that wouldn’t be an issue.

Aurora, Rory was one of the most basic, simple-minded, and annoying characters I’ve read so far this year. I understand she’s twenty, but she acted like she was fifteen. I hated her internal monologue, constantly reminding readers how obedient and meek she had to be but no, now she’s a fierce young woman who isn’t like that anymore. It felt like she was throwing a tantrum every other chapter. There were countless scenes where she acted like the immature brat that she was, trying to provoke people around her, only to whine when she didn't get a reaction or their attention. She was truly exhausting, and I was tired of her shit.

The author inserted a possible love triangle into the mix, and while I usually love a good love triangle, this was not it. There was a clear favorite and obvious endgame I saw early on. Was anyone swooning over Callum? Because I certainly wasn’t. He was truly a big oaf, as everyone so often said, the epitome of brawns and no brains. I didn’t understand why Rory was falling head over heels, declaring her love for him when he literally did nothing for her and kept making promises he didn’t keep. Then again, she acted like a dumb child. There was a scene where he raised his voice at her, and that’s when I knew exactly what kind of “man” he was. I’m not sure if the author tried to write Callum as a copy of Jamie Fraser, but he ain’t no Jamie, that’s for sure. All ego, no action to back it up. I liked Blake, though; he’s everything I enjoy in a male lead. It annoyed me to no end that Rory kept accusing him of things he never did. Every time he tried to help or give her advice, she’d insist, both internally and out loud that he was lying or sabotaging her, yet she’d still take his advice and later discover he’d been telling the truth all along.

While The Wolf King was a quick read, it read like a bad CW TV show you can’t help but keep watching. I liked some parts of the story, it had its moments, but overall, it was a pretty mediocre book. Same Romantasy type book flooding the market right now. Despite it all, I’m curious to see how the story plays out after what Blake did at the end and to see who the true endgame will be. I plan to read the sequel for only Blake. This is not a book I'd recommend as there are better written werewolf/shifters books out there.