The last time I did the A to Z Book Survey was all the way back in 2018, seven years ago! I thought it would be fun to bring it back as a little “get to know me” post for all my fellow book lovers (and maybe introduce you to some new favorites along the way). From authors I adore to the books I can’t stop recommending, this survey is the perfect mix of nostalgia and bookish joy.
So grab a cup of coffee, soda or tea, settle in, and let’s talk books from A to Z.
Trust is the thread that binds us . . . and the rope that hangs us.
In Nadezra, peace is as tenuous as a single thread. The ruthless House Indestor has been destroyed, but darkness still weaves through the city’s filthy back alleys and jewel-bright gardens, seen by those who know where to look.
Derossi Vargo has always known. He has sacrificed more than anyone imagines to carve himself a position of power among the nobility, hiding a will of steel behind a velvet smile. He'll be damned if he lets anyone threaten what he's built.
Grey Serrado knows all too well. Bent under the yoke of too many burdens, he fights to protect the city’s most vulnerable. Sooner or later, that fight will demand more than he can give.
And Ren, daughter of no clan, knows best of all. Caught in a knot of lies, torn between her heritage and her aristocratic masquerade, she relies on her gift for reading pattern to survive. And it shows her the web of corruption that traps her city.
But all three have yet to discover just how far that web stretches. And in the end, it will take more than knives to cut themselves free...
The Liar's Knot picks up a couple of months after the dramatic events of The Mask of Mirrors. The Rook and the Black Rose succeeded in saving their city, rooting out the corruption of Mettore Indestor and the Cinquerat. Renata is now officially inscribed into House Traementis’s register, Vargo has risen to nobility, and finally, we uncover the identity of the Rook! However, peace in Nadežra is fleeting. Unchecked power and unsanctioned numinatria and eisar are wreaking havoc on unsuspecting citizens, leaving them vulnerable to its taint. Once again, Ren, Grey, Vargo, and their allies must set aside their differences to protect their city.
Just when I thought I had a handle on the intricacies of this world and its characters, authors Marie Brennan and Alyc Helms proved me utterly wrong. The duo continues to expand their already rich, multifaceted world, adding more layers to both the characters and the lore. I absolutely adore the chemistry and dynamic between the central trio; Ren, Grey, and Vargo. In this sequel, while the main trio remains front and center, Tess, Giuna, and Alsius (a.k.a. Master Peabody) are given more time to shine. Tess and Giuna, once timid and reserved in the first book, show tremendous growth, evolving into strong, capable women you don't want to mess with.
That said, Master Peabody completely stole the show every time he appeared. His humor and wit had me smiling and laughing throughout, and his scenes are a true highlight. I also appreciated learning more about Vargo and Alsius’s backstory and the bond they share. Honestly, I would love to read an entire book centered on a young Vargo’s rise from runner to Knot Boss to nobleman. Just putting that out there!
This series boasts some of the best characters and world-building I’ve encountered in a long time, and I read a lot. The sheer depth of key players, hierarchies, the city’s history and clans, gods and religion, the magic system, and more is staggering. Yet, at no point did I feel confused or overwhelmed. The authors weave astrology, astronomy, numerology, and tarot seamlessly into the story, creating a world that feels both intricate and alive.
I was completely immersed in this unique world and its complex characters, only to be constantly surprised by twists and turns I never saw coming. It’s rare to find a book that can genuinely keep a reader on their toes, and this series accomplishes it masterfully.
The Liar’s Knot is a phenomenal continuation of an amazing series. It’s just as fantastic as The Mask of Mirrors, and I can’t recommend this one-of-a-kind fantasy enough. If you enjoy hidden identities, political intrigue, morally gray characters, and exceptional world-building, this series deserves a top spot on your TBR. Trust me, you won’t regret it.
I can already tell this will be my 2025 top read and new favorite series!
I never thought in a million years that the bones would choose me.
The power, the magic, was supposed to go to someone else in the family. I was counting on it.
But now my Grammy Ruby is gone, and here the bones sit on my kitchen table.
I thought bitter relatives would be my biggest problem. But I’ve barely had time to find a familiar before trouble comes a-knocking. The kind that possesses smoldering green eyes and a smile that can turn any woman dumb.
His name is Rogan Kendrick, and he’s certain that someone is hunting down and taking my kind.
According to him, I’m next.
This is a world that I never wanted to be a part of, but magic gives no fucks and takes no prisoners... At least we have that much in common.
I don’t know what my ancestors were thinking when they chose me, but I’m going to give them a run for their money. My name is Lennox Osseous, but you can call me the Bone Witch.
Hadrian has been serving the Empire in military engagements against the Cielcin, the vicious alien civilization bent on humanity's destruction. After Hadrian and his Red Company achieve a great victory, a cult-like fervor builds around him. However, pressures within the Imperial government scared of his rise to prominence result in an assassination attempt, luckily thwarted.
With the Empire too dangerous to stay, Hadrian and his crew leave for a massive library on a distant world. There, he finds the next key to unlocking the secrets of the Quiet: a set of coordinates for their origin planet, unnamed and now lifeless. Hadrian's true purpose in serving in the military was to aid his search of a rumored connection between the first Emperor and the Quiet, the ancient, seemingly long-dead race linked to so many of Hadrian's extraordinary experiences.
Will this mysterious lost planet have the answers?
Hadrian Marlowe has had many battles; such as family expectations, living on the streets, as a gladiator in the Colosseum on Emesh and on the front line as a soldier against the Cielcin. But in the latest installment, Demon in White, Hadrian is confronted with a new battle, politics. Within the Sollan Empire amongst Caesar’s court Hadrian is thrown head first in invested waters. He must learn to navigate court maneuverings and decipher who is a friend or foe.
Like all books in The Sun Eater series, the story is narrated by Hadrian as he recounts his journey across the galaxy. I’ve mentioned in previous reviews how I love this style of writing. It’s an intimate panache of storytelling. Readers are truly able to peek behind the proverbial curtains to see and feel what the writer is expressing. Before Hadrian became the infamous Halfmortal, Emperor Reborn, Demon in White he wanted to be a scholiast. And it hit me while reading, that he actually achieved it (Since the book started at the end as Hadrian narrates his rise and fall). A Scholiast is a commentator on ancient and classical literature. That’s precisely what Hadrian is doing and we’re reading his commentary! Ruocchio is absolutely brilliant!
The first two novels were well plotted and written and Demon in White is no exception. Just when I thought the series couldn’t get any better and more complex; Ruocchio peels back another layer of the world expanding on the systems, beliefs and characters. While I love everything about this series. What makes this series stand out from other Sci-Fi novels and memorable are the characters. This series is extremely character driven. The characters are a great representation of the world that Ruocchio has created. They are multifaceted, rich, realistic, flawed yet redeemable. I’m sure many readers feel the same way when I say that we’ve been with Hadrian and the gang since the beginning that we know them like we know ourselves.
Demon in White was another incredible addition to the series. As I said before these books are well written and the crème de la crème of its genre. I don’t know why but with this third installment I can see and just instinctively feel like Ruocchio has hit his rhythm with Demon in White. Or maybe as a reader, this is one of those big turning moment for Hadrian as friends and enemies from the beginning seem to fall away and the core main players are now defined.
I highly recommend reading this series if you haven’t read it yet. It’s pretty damn near perfection as a series goes. And as always, start at the beginning with Empire of Silence, Book 1 because you can’t miss anything, everything is crucial! I can easily say this is one of my all-time favorite series. I cannot describe my love for this series nor how it makes me feel. No words can do it justice…but if it must be said/read please check out my previous reviews of the first two books :D. I’m excited to start the next book and ecstatic to learn that this is no longer a quartet; book 5 arrives at the end of 2022.
