Daughter of No Worlds by Carissa Broadbent

Title: Daughter of No Worlds

Author: Carissa Broadbent

Genre: Fantasy

Series: The War of Lost Hearts # 1

520 Pages, Hardcover

Publication: January 7, 2020

Source: Personal Library

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A former slave fighting for justice. A reclusive warrior who no longer believes it exists. And a dark magic that will entangle their fates.

Ripped from a forgotten homeland as a child, Tisaanah learned how to survive with nothing but a sharp wit and a touch of magic. But the night she tries to buy her freedom, she barely escapes with her life.

Desperate to save the best friend she left behind, Tisaanah journeys to the Orders, the most powerful organizations of magic Wielders in the world. But to join their ranks, she must complete an apprenticeship with Maxantarius Farlione, a handsome and reclusive fire wielder who despises the Orders.

The Orders’ intentions are cryptic, and Tisaanah must prove herself under the threat of looming war. But even more dangerous are her growing feelings for Maxantarius. The bloody past he wants to forget may be the key to her future… or the downfall of them both.

But Tisaanah will stop at nothing to save those she abandoned. Even if it means gambling in the Orders’ deadly games. Even if it means sacrificing her heart.

Even if it means wielding death itself.

MY THOUGHTS

Daughter of No Worlds has been on my TBR since it first came out, back when it was still self-published. I was hesitant to start it because I didn't particularly enjoy Crowns of Nyaxia, but I'm glad I decided to pick this one up because I liked it much more.

I really liked the magic system. It's nothing entirely new, but Broadbent made it her own by putting a unique spin on the elements. The story follows Tisaanah as she does everything she can to enter the prestigious Order and master her powers so she can save her people, those less fortunate than herself. I thought Tisaanah and Max were great leads. I loved both their personalities and their relationship. I swear, the mentor x mentee dynamic is one of my weaknesses, it never disappoints.

I loved pretty much everything about Daughter of No Worlds. The writing was strong, the plot was excellent, and the characters kept me invested. The only thing I didn't like was the power Tisaanah had to absorb and house. I wasn't a fan of the entity taking over, and every time it happened, it pulled me out of the story. I hated seeing Tisaanah take a backseat whenever it occurred. With the way the book ended, I hope she'll have more control over it in the next installment. I can't wait to read the sequel and see what awaits them when they return home.

Silence Fallen by Patricia Briggs

Title: Silence Fallen

Author: Patricia Briggs

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Series: Mercy Thompson # 10

371 Pages, Hardcover

Publication: March 7, 2017

Source: Personal Library

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Attacked and abducted in her home territory, Mercy finds herself in the clutches of the most powerful vampire in the world, taken as a weapon to use against alpha werewolf Adam and the ruler of the Tri-Cities vampires. In coyote form, Mercy escapes—only to find herself without money, without clothing, and alone in the heart of Europe...

Unable to contact Adam and the rest of the pack, Mercy has allies to find and enemies to fight, and she needs to figure out which is which. Ancient powers stir, and Mercy must be her agile best to avoid causing a war between vampires and werewolves, and between werewolves and werewolves. And in the heart of the ancient city of Prague, old ghosts rise...

MY THOUGHTS

In Silence Fallen, Mercy is taken from her usual stomping grounds of the Tri-Cities to Europe, where vampires and werewolves operate very differently from what she's used to. The action starts almost immediately, and within the first couple of pages, we not only find Mercy in a completely new place, but she's also alone and literally cut off from her pack bonds and allies. I had grown so accustomed to seeing Mercy with Adam and the pack that I never imagined this could actually happen, but the change of scenery was refreshing.

Mercy is a magnet for trouble, and being kidnapped was the least of her worries. After finally escaping the vampires, she immediately falls into the hands of werewolves and then straight into an even worse group of vampires. But Mercy, ever resourceful, quickly rescues herself and navigates unfamiliar territory with relative ease or at least as much ease as one can without clothes, food, or money. During her time apart from the group and she spends most, if not all, of the book on her own, we get to see more of what she's capable of, including her powers over spirits and other newly discovered abilities that neither she nor the reader knew she possessed. It was cool to see.

However, I did have a few complaints this time around. I wasn't fond of the alternating chapters between Adam and Mercy, although I understand why they were necessary. We needed to see both what was happening to Mercy and what Adam and the others were doing as they searched for her. I can't quite put my finger on it, but I just didn't particularly enjoy reading Adam's point of view. I also wasn't interested in the history of the European supernaturals. They mention Zach and the falling out between the European pack leader and the Marrok, but I didn't remember any of it from previous books, nor did I really care. The explanation for why Mercy was taken and how everything had been orchestrated by the vampire Jacob also fell flat for me. He's supposedly the scariest, strongest, and most ruthless vampire in the world, yet his grand plan was to trick Adam into flying all the way to Europe just to clean up his little coup? That was so dumb and underwhelming. Also, why bother with mentioning how easy it was for Mary to create Vampires, only to have it not matter in the end. It didn't really move the story forward. I don't know, I thought it was pointless.

While I enjoyed Mercy's storyline, the highlight of the book was probably the little twist at the end when Mercy recognized one of Adam's men. That was both funny and clever. Overall, it's still a solid installment, but it's not one of my favorites in the series.

The Dark Mirror by Samantha Shannon

Title: The Dark Mirror

Author: Samantha Shannon

Genre: Dystopian, Urban Fantasy

Series: The Bone Season # 5

Publication: February 25, 202,5 576 pages

Source: Personal Library, Purchase

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Paige Mahoney is outside the Republic of Scion for the first time in more than a decade – but she has no idea how she got to the free world. Half a year has been wiped from her memory.

As she makes her way back to the revolution, her journey takes her to Venice, where she learns a dangerous secret – one that could change the face of the war between humans and immortals. Before she can return to London, she must help the Domino Programme unravel the sinister Operation Ventriloquist.

And it soon becomes clear that the one person who could recover her memories – Arcturus Mesarthim – might also hold the key to saving Italy.

MY THOUGHTS

I was a little worried going into The Dark Mirror after reading the synopsis and learning that six months had passed since the last book and Paige had lost her memories. It's not a trope I typically enjoy, but I had faith that if anyone could pull it off, it would be Shannon. At the start of the book, we find Paige in Poland, where she's reunited with a friend who eventually leads her back to the Domino Programme. The Domino Programme gives Paige another assignment that takes her to Italy, where she once again goes head-to-head with Scion.

We're now five books into this series, and Shannon is neither letting up nor pulling any punches. What I realized I'd been missing since the last book was the Seven Dials crew, and I was so happy to finally see some familiar faces again. Same crew, another adventure together. Of course, there are other factions that come into play, and everyone wants Paige.

There were so many moving pieces throughout the book, and questions from previous installments finally began forming a bigger picture as we hurtled toward the ending, which was incredibly satisfying. The twist at the 80% mark literally had me gasping out loud, and everything that followed was nonstop action right to the very end. I loved every moment. It was like the Trafalgar Square scene from book one and the scrimmage scene from book two multiplied by ten. And it was brilliant of Shannon to have it all unfold in Rome, at the Colosseum of all places. I thought it was the perfect setting.

I also loved seeing Arcturus and Paige's relationship develop further. For once, they're finally being honest with each other about their feelings. It's been so rewarding to watch this slow burn unfold over the course of five books, seeing them grow from skeptical allies to true allies, then friends, and finally lovers.

I'm also glad we got to see more of another character, one I know we're supposed to despise, but who's such a compelling and fascinating character. I can't wait for The Moth Reborn to come out next year. It's been a wild ride so far, and I have no doubt the final two books will be nothing short of masterpieces.

The Unicorn Hunter by Katherine Arden

Title: The Unicorn Hunter

Author: Katherine Arden

Genre: Historical Fantasy

Series: N/A

368 Pages, Hardcover

Publication: June 2, 2026

Source: Libby Library

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Anne of Brittany was a child when France invaded and drove her royal father to his death. Now she is a young woman, sovereign duchess of an occupied realm, and France means to crown their conquest by marrying her to their king. Such an alliance would put her title, her lands, and her body forever in the hands of her enemies.

But Anne refuses to be the last duchess of Brittany.

Her only hope of resisting conquest is another alliance sealed with marriage, so Anne arranges a daring last gambit: a secret betrothal to Charles of France’s greatest rival. But secrets are hard to keep in a world where rival courts spy on each other with diviners.

The forest of Brocéliande was once the haunt of Merlin the Enchanter and the long-lost faerie queen. But magic is long gone from Broceliande, except for the occasional sight of a unicorn and one critical quirk: This ancient forest is completely hostile to divination.

While pretending compliance with France, Anne plans a unicorn hunt in Brocéliande. A bit of pointless pageantry. A diversion so she can wed in secret.

Or so she thinks.

MY THOUGHTS

I've been looking forward to reading The Unicorn Hunter since I first heard about it. I love a good historical fantasy, and this novel is inspired by the real Duchess Anne of Brittany and the famous Unicorn Tapestries. I'm somewhat familiar with Anne's history and the tapestries, though I wouldn't call myself an expert. Even so, I found myself disappointed and underwhelmed by this book.

When readers first meet Anne, she is only eighteen years old and essentially running Brittany herself, surrounded by her guardian, diviner, her brother Henri, her younger sister Isabeau, and the household staff. Charles, the King of France, wishes to marry Anne and bring Brittany into France's fold, but Anne promised her father she would keep Brittany as sovereign as possible. Believing an alliance with Maximilian of Austria is the answer, she devises a plan to marry him by proxy in secret. To buy herself time to put the plan into motion, she declares that they must all go unicorn hunting.

I could see where the author drew inspiration from history and mythology to create this story, but, frankly, it just wasn't that interesting. Anne tried to act older than her age, but no matter what, I could only picture a child masquerading as an adult. Everyone viewed her as holy and ethereal, placing her on a pedestal because she could partially tame the magical unicorn and commune with spirits.

What further lost me was that every single man seemed to be in love with her. Sure, history tells us Anne was married multiple times, and the novel reflects that in the men/suitors, but it felt excessive. The proxy groom liked her, King Charles wanted to marry her, Maximilian agreed to wed her, Louis, Duke of Orléans, suddenly found her irresistible and enchanting, and, of course, the Korrigan King also wanted to marry her. Five suitors! (I'm counting the proxy too, don't care) Four men and a fairy king, all vying for Anne's affection was simply overkill.

I also didn't find the plot particularly engaging. Much of the story consists of everyone waiting for someone else to make the next move while others try to counter it. Spirits are sprinkled throughout the novel from beginning to end, but the reason for their presence felt rather underwhelming. I assume they were meant to show Anne possible futures or demonstrate how long the Korrigan King had been trying to cross over, but by that point, I no longer cared about the characters or the story.

The ending was especially anticlimactic. If you're familiar with Anne's history, you'll already know who she ends up with by the conclusion. Overall, I did not enjoy The Unicorn Hunter and can't recommend it.

Fire Touched by Patricia Briggs

Title: Fire Touched

Author: Patricia Briggs

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Series: Mercy Thompson # 9

320 Pages, Hardcover

Publication: March 8, 2016

Source: Personal Library

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Tensions between the fae and humans are coming to a head. And when coyote shapeshifter Mercy and her Alpha werewolf mate, Adam, are called upon to stop a rampaging troll, they find themselves with something that could be used to make the fae back down and forestall out-and-out war: a human child stolen long ago by the fae.

Defying the most powerful werewolf in the country, the humans, and the fae, Mercy, Adam, and their pack choose to protect the boy no matter what the cost. But who will protect them from a boy who is fire touched?

MY THOUGHTS

The last Mercy book that went in-depth on the Fae was the third installment, Iron Kissed. But the Fae take center stage once again in the ninth installment, Fire Touched, when Zee is broken out of Underhill along with a human child touched by the Fae who is seeking sanctuary with Mercy and Adam from the Gray Lords.

I'm surprised to say this, but I think Fire Touched is my favorite Mercy novel in the series so far and I'm only a little more than halfway through. I loved seeing many of the key players again. We have Zee, Tad, and the entire pack, but we're also introduced to new characters such as the other Gray Lords, Baba Yaga, and Aiden, the human child.

To be frank, this far into the series, I was afraid the story would start to feel repetitive or monotonous, but that wasn't the case at all. I love that I can still enjoy the series and continue to be surprised by it. The last time I read a Mercy book, her relationship with the pack was still rocky, and in Fire Touched we still see some of that strain while also watching those relationships slowly improve.

It was cool to see Adam's pack making unprecedented changes that could affect all packs across the U.S., although I'm sure that will bring even more trouble in future books. The Fae politics were also interesting. Many of the Fae were hoping to go to war with the humans, indirectly through Adam and Mercy, so we got to see how that all played out and how it affected the Marrok.

Another thing I appreciate about this book and the series overall is seeing the evolution of Mercy and Adam's relationship. Most of the time, especially in newer books, we don't get to see the "after" in happily ever after once the lead couple finally gets together. Stories usually end too early. And even when we do get to see it, it's often poorly done, treated as unimportant, or pushed to the back burner.

That's not the case here, though. Seeing their relationship continue to grow and strengthen is so refreshing. I love how honest and open their communication is. They're mature, supportive, and always have each other's backs. It's just wonderful to see in fantasy books.

I can't wait to read the next book in the series, and I hope this is the last time we see Christy because she is nothing but bad juju and drama.

The Lesser Devil by Christoper Ruocchio

Title: The Lesser Devil
Author: Christoper Ruocchio

Genre: Scifi Fantasy

Series: The Sun Eater #1.5

Publication: February 1, 2020, 85 pages

Source: Libby 

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Crispin Marlowe grew up in his brother’s shadow, but Hadrian is gone, and his grandmother—the duchess of Delos—is dying. Answering her summons, Crispin takes off on what should be a routine flight to the ducal palace from the castle at Devil’s Rest. But he is flying into a trap. There are whispers of treachery among the duchess’s many daughters, rumors of hidden knives in the planet’s court . . . if he can even make it there. With no one coming to save him and only his sister, Sabine, and a few injured guardsmen to protect him, House Marlowe’s least famous son must make his heroic stand, and contend not only the foes arrayed against his house, but with the cultists who dwell in the mountains above his family’s ancestral home . . . .

MY THOUGHTS

I'm further along in the Sun Eater universe, but I've been wanting to return to this novella focused on Hadrian's younger brother, Crispin. It's been a while, and I sometimes forget that Hadrian has siblings. It was nice to get a glimpse into another part of Hadrian's family and see what was happening while he was out there fighting for his life and the Empire.

I'm glad I read this novella because I wouldn't have known how much Crispin cared about what Hadrian thought of him or that he actually looked up to his older brother. It was kind of sad to see how deeply he craved a familial relationship.

After an assassination attempt on him and his sister, we see Crispin step up not only to defend them both but also to protect a group of villagers who came to their aid after their crash. I enjoyed seeing this side of Crispin, especially since Hadrian's POV often made him seem like a spoiled, lazy prince. The author explored religion a bit, which I thought was interesting.

It was a nice and quick read, and a great addition to the Sun Eater series.

The Prison Healer by Lynette Noni

Title: The Prison Healer
Author: Lynette Noni

Genre: YA Fantasy

Series: The Prison Healer # 1

Publication: April 13, 2021, 416 pages

Source: Personal Library 

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Seventeen-year-old Kiva Meridan has spent the last ten years fighting for survival in the notorious death prison, Zalindov, working as the prison healer.

When the Rebel Queen is captured, Kiva is charged with keeping the terminally ill woman alive long enough for her to undergo the Trial by Ordeal: a series of elemental challenges against the torments of air, fire, water, and earth, assigned to only the most dangerous of criminals.

Then a coded message from Kiva’s family arrives, containing a single order: “Don’t let her die. We are coming.” Aware that the Trials will kill the sickly queen, Kiva risks her own life to volunteer in her place. If she succeeds, both she and the queen will be granted their freedom.

But no one has ever survived.

With an incurable plague sweeping Zalindov, a mysterious new inmate fighting for Kiva’s heart, and a prison rebellion brewing, Kiva can’t escape the terrible feeling that her trials have only just begun.

MY THOUGHTS

I had The Prison Healer trilogy on my shelf for almost five years. I've been meaning to get to it for ages. Anytime I see people asking for book recommendations, this series is always mentioned. I finally made it a priority to read it.

Readers are immediately dropped into the story and introduced to our protagonist, Kiva, who works as a healer in Zalindov Prison. We witness the corruption and abuse within its walls and learn that Kiva has been there since she was eight years old, working alongside her father, the prison's former healer, before eventually inheriting the role herself. Prison life becomes more interesting when the Rebel Queen is brought to Zalindov and an elemental trial is held in honor of her capture. With a threat hanging over her head, Kiva volunteers to take the Queen's place.

First off, I thought it was strange to have a prison where children and adults reside together. And despite being her father's protégé, it wasn't believable that the adults, especially the prison warden, would allow a child to administer medical care to inmates. A major part of the book revolves around the trials, and I have to say they were some of the lamest and most boring trials I've read in fantasy. If you've read fantasy before, you've probably encountered your fair share of trials, and these simply didn't feel high-stakes. There was no real sense of urgency, and it didn't help that Kiva kept receiving help from all directions while seemingly only needing to show up and endure them.

Throughout the book, Kiva repeatedly passes secret messages to her family, and it became incredibly annoying to have the same letter repeated over and over again. It happened so frequently that it constantly pulled me out of the story. I didn't immediately put two and two together regarding Kiva's identity, but in hindsight, I probably should have, considering how much emphasis was placed on those messages. Then again, I was so often distracted by their repetition that I wasn't paying attention to the clues.

I also thought Kiva and Jaren's relationship leaned too heavily into insta-lust, especially with how often Kiva went on about how attractive he was and how jealous she became for no real reason. I didn't particularly care about or connect with any of the characters. As far as FMCs go, Kiva felt like a bit of a MarySue. The only saving grace of the book was the two, three-ish? twists at the end. They piqued my interest enough to make me want to continue the series. Although now I see Kiva as a manipulative snake. I kept wondering why she gave Jaren such a hard time for not revealing his identity, after all, he barely knew her but here she is keeping massive secrets of her own and lying to everyone around her.

Despite how aggravating I found parts of the story; it wasn't all bad. It's rare where I rate low and still want to continue...just to see what happens next and because I already own all the books.