Author: Brandon Sanderson Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ I picked this book up in an effort to try out fantasy books by male authors. Most fantasy (and most fiction in general) that I read is written by people who don’t identify as men. It seemed appropriate to start with Sanderson as he’s one of the biggest authors in... Continue Reading →
A Tempest of Tea: Vampires, heists and a proper brew
Author: Hafsah Faizal Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ In the city of White Roaring, humans coexist with vampires, and at Spindrift, people drink tea by day and vampires enjoy blood at night. The teahouse also serves as the home of a criminal gang including Arthie and Jin, who have created a place for humans to safely sell their... Continue Reading →
Bonded by Thorns: An escapist fantasy for romance-loving bookworms
Author: Elizabeth Helen Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ In this Beauty and the Beast inspired story, our heroine doesn’t just get one beast, she gets four. Rosalina has lived in Orca Cove her entire life after her mother disappeared when she was only a year old. Her father spent most of those years searching for her mother, who... Continue Reading →
When the Moon Hatched: Potentially unintelligible but with unexplored potential
Author: Sarah A. Parker Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ This book had distinct series-setup vibes. In this story, we follow Raeve, an assassin living in an evil kingdom, working with a group of rebels to bring down the evil king. Although this is by no means an original premise, I will say that I enjoyed the world the... Continue Reading →
The Night Ends with Fire: The darker, fantasy version of Mulan
Author: K. X. Song Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ You might think that a fantasy retelling of Mulan that mirrored major points in the Disney film would be boring and unnecessary, but I was impressed by what K.X. Song did with this reimagining of one of my favourite childhood movies (and a Chinese myth, but I don’t know... Continue Reading →
The Wren in the Holly Library: The key word is forced
Author: K. A. Linde Rating: ⭐️⭐️✨ Despite being very excited for this book, I’m sad to say it was a disappointing read. This book follows Kierse, an orphan and a thief living in a paranormal/dystopian New York City after a war between humans and monsters (vampires, werewolves, wraiths, etc). She’s hired to steal something valuable... Continue Reading →
Fourth Wing: Surpassed my lowered expectations
Author: Rebecca Yarros Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This book broke book spaces on the internet last year as it became one of the most loved and most hated romantasy books, gaining the honour of sharing thumbnails with A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR) in “What to read if you like….” as well as “What I hate... Continue Reading →
Legendborn: Criminally underhyped
Author: Tracy Deonn Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Shortly after she is accepted to the Early College programme at UNC Chapel Hill, Bree’s mother dies in a car crash. Fast forward three months, and Bree is starting the programme at UNC while still coping with the death of her mother when she starts to notice strange things around... Continue Reading →
Powerless: The Hunger Games, but romantasy … and bad
Author: Lauren Roberts Rating: ⭐️⭐️ Have you ever thought, what would The Hunger Games be like if it was romantasy and also if everything significant or interesting was stripped away? Well, if that sounds appealing, I give you: Powerless. Powerless follows our teenage heroine, Paedyn, a girl with no supernatural powers living in a kingdom... Continue Reading →
The God and the Gumiho: K-Drama – Fantasy crossover at its finest
Author: Sophie Kim Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ In the fictional 1990s city of New Sinsi, South Korea, our main character Hani, a gumiho who can shift into a nine-tailed fox, works in a café that caters specifically to supernatural creatures who live alongside humans (though secretly). She’s over a thousand years old and uniquely powerful due to... Continue Reading →
