Review: The Great Tree of Iris, by Jess Skultety

 

The Great Tree of Iris: a place of unmatched healing power for humans. Top scholar Lia Tovar protects the Tree in honor of her dead father, but she has visions of its tragic demise. When Rory Elatha, an elf from the hidden city of Kyrali, arrives seeking experts to save the decaying, sacred sunflower fields, Lia suspects their situations are connected. For once, her books cannot help, and she answers the call. To save the Tree, Lia must learn to trust six allies.
When they discover one part of a deadly prophecy, Lia, Rory, and their party search desperately for a way to challenge fate. But as more natural disasters arise in their race across the continent, Lia must decide if she can let Rory into her heart, and if that will free or destroy her.

​“Everyone needs help sometimes.”

Jess Skultety's The Great Tree of Iris is a fantasy adventure in the most classical sense, a prophecy-driven quest with a diverse group of characters. Their PoVs alternate often, even in the course of the same chapter, giving it a chaotic feel that mirrors the franticness of their mission: a race against time, as an ancient tree lays dying, dragons scorch the land, and gods wait and see.

The story might have needed a little more pages to breathe, but as it stands, it's still a love letter to high fantasy and to J.R.R. Tolkien, from whom it borrows a few elements while giving it queer joy with a mostly queer cast and a variety of relationships. Especially beautiful was the reference to a poem with the fabled relationship of an Elf and a human, and the revealed layers as the story progressed. The three main couples, one already established, were all very sweet, especially the sapphic relationship involving Lia and the mysterious Elf she meets.

The Great Tree of Iris is a pretty tale.

✨ 3.5 stars

 

Snippet: The Hourglass Throne, by K.D. Edwards

 

As Rune Saint John grapples with the challenges of assuming the Sun Throne, a powerful barrier appears around New Atlantis’s famed rejuvenation center. But who could have created such formidable magic . . . what do they want from the immortality clinic . . . and what remains of the dozens trapped inside?
Though Rune and his lifelong bodyguard Brand are tasked with investigating the mysterious barrier, Rune is also busy settling into his new life at court. Claiming his father’s throne has irrevocably thrown him into the precarious world of political deception, and he must secure relationships with newfound allies in time to keep his growing found family safe. His relationship with his lover, Addam Saint Nicholas, raises additional political complications they must navigate. But he and Brand soon discover that the power behind the barrier holds a much more insidious, far-reaching threat to his family, to his people, and to the world.

"We are a people that share our love."

K.D. Edwards' The Hourglass Throne sticks the landing of this first trilogy in his Tarot Sequence, leaving the reader with many answers, general delight, bigger questions, and absolutely begging for more. This is a series of grand gestures and quiet moments, with the most beautiful depiction of found family and the many ties between loved ones that I've ever read about. Whether it be platonic or romantic, love is big and important and all-encompassing. At the same time, the author weaves an intricate plot with many moving pieces and implications that will be dealt with down the road. The worldbuilding continues to be stunning, and the main character's past trauma is always handled deftly and respectfully, never feeling like a gimmick that's there to move the story along or provide cheap conflict.

✨ 5 stars

 

ARC Review: Our Caged Fates, by Robin A. Costantin

 

In a frozen, hostile world, Elinros is on the run. After spending far too long in her beloved’s clutches—unaware of his true nature—she has now escaped into the arms of the unknown. But beyond Kastìel’s palace lies nothing but an endless forest, shaken by storms, buried in eternal snow, and teeming with monsters.
In that desolate land, Elinros wanders without memories, one step away from freezing to death and hunted by the man she thought she knew. That is, until an unexpected savior arrives, bringing truth, light, and warmth. Nattsòl is just like her: a survivor who escaped their beloved’s trap—and now she’s willing to do anything to get her revenge. But she needs Elinros’ help to stop him. Accompanied by Sliver, Nattsòl’s monster-dog, the two embark on a dangerous journey into the depths of the forest, where almost no light reaches and sinister things hide in the dark.

My thanks to the author for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Robin A. Costantin's Our Caged Fates is an atmospheric sapphic novella about escaping an abusive relationship and finding oneself again. This is reached through the age-old amnesia trope, and it's done in a way that feels fresh and effective. It's teeming with horrific imagery and near-eldritch beings, with female rage and some upsetting body-horror; but it's also a story about second chances and love.

The main character Elinros slowly relearns things about herself, slowly changing over the course of the book; her relationship to fellow survivor Nattsòl develops quickly, since this is a short novella, but it feels believable. Maybe a few more pages would have helped sell the romance more, but it's still a nice touch, and Nattsòl is very well-developed despite the lack of point of view narration.

The final third of the book is where the action and the most vivid worldbuilding really take place, making this novella pop out. The prose is also quite lyrical, something that's to be appreciated even more since English isn't the author's first language.

Our Caged Fates is a quiet gem.

✨ 4 stars

 

Review: The Last Sun, by K.D. Edwards

 

Rune Saint John, last child of the fallen Sun Court, is hired to search for Lady Judgment's missing son, Addam, on New Atlantis, the island city where the Atlanteans moved after ordinary humans destroyed their original home.
With his companion and bodyguard, Brand, he questions Addam's relatives and business contacts through the highest ranks of the nobles of New Atlantis. But as they investigate, they uncover more than a missing man: a legendary creature connected to the secret of the massacre of Rune's Court. In looking for Addam, can Rune find the truth behind his family's death and the torments of his past?

"I am, before anything else, a survivor."

K.D. Edwards' The Last Sun is a queer urban fantasy adventure that's brimming with heart, with a tight plot and poignant moments. It's witty and fast-paced, but also deals with found families while the protagonist faces the aftermath of a decades-old horrific assault, and there's even a bit of an achillean romance.

The emotional center of the book is without a doubt the platonic relationship between main character and sole narrator Rune and his bodyguard Brand. This beautiful bond of love, trust, and friendship defies the expected conventions of the genre, showing a healthy male relationship filled with moments of intimacy. Rune isn't the stereotypical main character of an action-packed urban fantasy either; he's kind and welcoming while being a competent agent and a great fighter. The romance doesn't take center stage in the narration, also because he's very tentative and traumatized, but his love interest is perfect in that regard. 

This trio of characters plays against each other very well, and I'm curious to see how things will develop in the rest of the trilogy and then the nine-books series. The rest of the cast is very well-developed, too, especially the two young boys with problems of their own.

The prose is very simple and matter-of-fact, but the world-building is very intriguing, teeming with some mysteries about the current situation came to pass and with conspiracies in the shadows, tantalizing tidbits that get the reader's attention while keeping, for now, most of the cards close to the author's chest. New Atlantis is a fascinating city, and so is the complex web of intricate influence held by the Arcana, living embodiments of the tarot cards who hold all the secular power.

The Last Sun is an excellent first installment.

✨ 4.5 stars

 

Review: The Color of Time, by Millie Abecassis

 

Princess Cyrelle has always been faithful and true to her family, country, and Goddess. But now her brother, King Elias of Cicia, has asked for—no, commanded—her hand in marriage. Desperate to avoid this incestuous union, Cyrelle requests a series of increasingly impossible gifts and petitions the Goddess for a sign to sway her resolute brother’s proposal. As Elias persists undeterred, Cyrelle must risk everything to escape the only life she’s ever known.
Soon, she becomes Green Scales, hiding and struggling to survive on her own, far across the galaxy. But Phau isn’t the peaceful refuge Cyrelle had hoped for, and when the leader of its burgeoning rebel faction recognizes the runaway princess, she is forced to choose between safety and freedom. With the fate of two kingdoms on the line and nowhere left to run, Cyrelle must decide what it means to be true to herself, to her people, and to her heart.

​“I will never hide who I am again.”

Millie Abecassis' The Color of Time is a sapphic science-fantasy retelling of Perrault's Donkeyskin, although the incestous father from the french fairytale is turned into the protagonist's brother. This novella packs a lot into a pretty short format, and it could have worked, but instead it feels like a summary of the novel it could have been. Time goes by quickly, and we jump from a scene to the next without actually delving into the meat of the story and the people we meet.

This is felt especially with the epic relationship between princess Cyrelle and another woman, whom we don't really get to know, but we're supposed to feel profoundly about some story beats. And the bones are there, promising to be something spectacular, but it's difficult to really care.

On the other hand, the worldbuilding is quite unique, with gods whose scope encompasses the entire universe, and beautiful snakes, and rich cultures. The second-person narration is also very well done, with some snippets of first-person sprinkled in-between. 

The Color of Time is a nice retelling.

✨ 3.5 stars

 

Snippet: Lambent, by T.D. Cloud

 

Komiren, Fox God of the Forest Shrine, has been alone for centuries. Duty is no longer enough, but with eternity staring him down, his options for companionship are limited. Cerdei the Lantern Spirit hasn’t been wandering this nebulous world just long enough to know he wants nothing to do with the lazy Fox God who spends more time sleeping than answering prayers. He’s content to walk his path alone, even if it does mean walking straight towards oblivion.
In this world, Fate always has a plan; whether or not you want to fall in with it, though, is something much less certain.

"I've been tired for longer than I can remember."

T.D. Cloud's Lambent is an atmospheric achillean novella loosely inspired by Japanese folklore, about a forest god learning to live again. The lush prose and the simple setting work very well together, creating a cozy but mournful feel. The character work on the other hand lacks some depth, as the fragmented narration and the hazy memories of past interactions make for an unclear read, and the link between the fox god and the spirit seems to come from nowhere. It's still pretty sweet, though, and the Raven character is the real highlight, a sort of trickster figure who moves things along and undergoes his own journey.

✨ 3.5 stars

 

ARC Review: Locusta, by Emily Dexter

 

Born in the ancient region of Gaul, Locusta is the last of her kind—a Druid whose communion with the spirit world grants her the dangerous gift of identifying and wielding deadly substances. When Roman soldiers attack her home and slaughter her mother, Locusta is captured and enslaved, taken to the heart of the empire where political plots abound and death commands a high price. Guided by Arawn, the god of death, she must learn to survive within the brutal, glittering world of ancient Rome.
Her strange talents soon catch the attention of the Roman elite, and she becomes ensnared in a double life—poisoner by night for the cunning Antonia Augusta, and lady-in-waiting by day to Livia, the Emperor’s ambitious cousin. As Locusta plants the seeds of revenge against those who destroyed her home, her connection with Livia deepens into a passionate, forbidden romance that threatens them both. Surrounded by danger and deceit, Locusta’s poisons become their only protection against the increasingly unstable Emperor Caligula and the enemies lurking in every shadow.

​Thank you to Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Emily Dexter's Locusta is a sapphic historical fantasy set in ancient Rome, inspired by the little that's known about the infamous titular character, a known poisoner. The book is very well researched, and it shows; the prose is also quite nice, with lovely turns of phrase. Locusta's journey from young woman to consummate poisoner is handled perhaps too quickly, with far less introspection one would expect from one who is dragged away from home and sold as slave after witnessing the murder of everyone she knows.

Instead, Locusta settles into her role with little doubt nor recollection, and quickly adapts to Rome and Rome's intrigue, especially when she falls in love with Livia. Their romance was sweet, and Livia's character ends up far more interesting than the protagonist, with her isolation and cunning. In general, all the female characters were very well done, especially Antonia Augusta.

The magical aspect mingles with history in an intriguing way, showing what a god's patronage and meddling might look like. 

Locusta has a strong premise, but it fails to stick the landing.

✨ 3.5 stars

 

Review: The Moon Blessed King, by Lindsey Byrd

 

Elician, a Giver with the power to raise the dead, is crowned King of Soleb, but it’s forbidden for Givers to rule. However, Elician is determined to end a generations-long war with the kingdom of Alelune – and will marry Alelune's rightful heir to do so. But Cat is a Reaper, able to kill with a touch, and is therefore feared by his own people. His claim to the throne is a gamble at best, until his tyrannical brother, Gillage, seizes power before Cat can lay his claim to it – and now the conflict Elician had hoped to avoid seems inevitable.
Just as the war between nations begins anew, the goddess of death releases a devastating plague across the continent. To stop it, Elician and Cat must confront Death herself, leaving Elician's rebellious sister, Fen, to do what she can to heal the sick in their absence. But when a coup threatens to upend her brother’s reign, Fen must decide exactly what she is willing to sacrifice to help her brother succeed. With the death toll rising and the struggle for the Alelunen throne in the balance, it’s a race against time to appease the wrath of a god with the monarchies of both countries at stake.

​“To die is to make life, and all life is sacred.”

Lyndsey Byrd's The Moon Blessed King is the lovely conclusion to the perfect duology that began with The Sun Blessed Prince (HERE you can read my review). This achillean tale of life and death and what it means to be human takes all its strong points from the first book, detailing the relationship of two kind and duty-bound princes as they strive to make peace between their nations despite the horros they went through in the first book. Kindness, honor, and mercy guide their hands, towards a moving finale that packs some truly emotional punches. This slowest of slow burns is not for the faint of heart, but it all pays off in the end.

Running parallel to this emotional journey is the tale of the young princess of the sun kingdom, as she struggles to help the war effort but, most importantly, to grow up. Her journey is a highlight of the book, and her chapters a great counterpoint to the bigger plot. She's young and abrasive and drenched in prejudice, but she's willing to learn, and therein lies her saving grace.

The worldbuilding keeps the excellent simplicity of the first book, expanding just the tiniest amount to incorporate a simple but profound philosophy and a beautiful exploration of godhood. At the same time, the magic system keeps the inspiration to science, making it a complex read.

The Moon Blessed King is a stunning conclusion.

✨ 4.5 stars

 

Review: Crueler Mercies, by Maren Chase

 

After nine years as the people’s beloved princess in the sun-soaked Kingdom of Carca, Vita witnesses the execution of her mother by her father’s hand. Forced into exile, Vita fades into obscurity with her only friends—the crows that visit her window.
Eleven years later, Vita is given a choice: marry an enemy general, granting him legitimacy to take the throne, or die as the forgotten princess. With time running out, Vita meets Soline, an intriguing lady-in-waiting who introduces her to the powerful-but-unstable magic of alchemy. If Vita and Soline can learn to control it—and the undeniable spark between them—they could burn the world of men to the ground.

​“Our legacy will be carved into the very core of this kingdom.”

Maren Chase's Crueler Mercies  is a sapphic tale of female rage, slowly meandering towards a strong ending. Vita's development is delayed when she gets thrown into a tower for years, making her a little slow on the uptake once she gets freed; in that sense she's a believable protagonist, although in the second half of the book she exhibits political acumen that would have been difficult to have with what we know of her life in the tower. Still, her naivete remains and gets put to the test often. Her relationship with the woman tasked as her lady-in-waiting develops organically enough, and Soline is a gorgeous foil, savvier and more knowledgeable.

The worldbuilding is pretty basic; magic as a strong importance in the second half of the book, but it's fainly developed and barely mentioned in the first half, making it feel like a deus-ex-machina. The two warring realms are pretty interchangeable, barring from some basic differencies. The main antagonists though are intriguing enough, and especially the general is menacing in his simple cruelty. The ending is impactful in its simplicity and suddenness.

Crueler Mercies is a nice standalone.

✨ 3.5 stars

 

Review: Honor and Heresy, by Max Francis

 

Roy Dawnseve cares more for philosophy than battle. But, in a society that shuns literature in favour of their ongoing war, Roy must face a difficult choice: brave the front lines or investigate the identity of their foes in the Orphic Basilica, an ancient, abandoned library. When Roy chooses to unravel the mystery, it soon becomes clear that the Orphic Basilica isn’t without its own horrors. Strange voices echo down the halls, ghosts roam the bookshelves, and those who stepped foot in the library have either emerged insane or were driven to their own demise.
Roy’s partner in the investigation is Percival Atherton, a manipulative, enigmatic and distractingly charming scholar who has no qualms about belittling Roy. As a fierce snowstorm isolates them from civilisation, Roy and Percival must grapple with their tormented pasts, an unexpected romance, and an age-old conspiracy whose secrets are certain to wipe Northgard from history.

​“​Better it be my nightmare than a whole country's.”

Max Francis' Honor and Heresy is an achillean dark academia novel set in a fantasy world where scholars are put to death. The intriguing premise doesn't live up to its promise, and we're put in a claustrophobic setting, an enormous library, where our two main characters have to do research about a nebulous threat. The novel is mostly about the research, and while the snippets we get of this world's body of work are tantalising, the focus narrows down to the narrator's trauma.

There wasn't a good balance between plot, worldbuilding, and the character's inner life, and what we get is a strange concoction whose abrupt and truncated ending makes no sense at all and falls absolutely flat. Which is a shame, because the bare bones of the novel are really good. 

Honor and Heresy is a missed opportunity.

✨ 3.5 stars