The time for our team’s second culling has already come, and I am equally nervous and excited about it! Though, for those who got really scared after our brutal first update, rest assured, I can promise you this one is (slightly) less ruthless and bloody.
Just like last year, I decided to go into my batch of 6 books completely blind and committed to reading them all the way through, no matter what. As I mentioned in our team’s introduction post, I have extremely eclectic reading tastes, which quickly turned out to be both a blessing and a curse as a judge for this contest. Especially when all these indie authors just keep upping their game… how am I supposed to choose only one semifinalist from all these amazing stories at this point?
Anyway, if you are not familiar with my review style, then I suggest you go grab a snack and settle in, because I tend to ramble on… and on… and on. So, let’s stop wasting time and dive into my batch in the order I read them (decided by a spinner wheel, to keep things interesting). Enjoy!
Susan, You’re the Chosen One by Lauretta Hignett
As the title might suggest, Susan, You’re the Chosen One, book 1 in the Welcome to Midlife Magic series, is not your typical urban fantasy fare. This tongue-in-cheek spin on the genre is a hysterically funny yet surprisingly moving adventure that will instantly boost your dopamine levels and soothe your soul.
After a recent fall from grace due to sudden mental illness issues and violent psychotic breaks, Susan Moore is not exactly thriving. So when a group of ridiculously handsome models in Fae cosplay come knocking at her door and declare her the Chosen One, she just decides to play along and accept this latest wild hallucination for what it is. But as she goes off to save the world, she soon starts to doubt if she has truly gone insane this time, or if she has never been crazy at all.
Now, I certainly wasn’t intending to devour this book in one day, but that is exactly what ended up happening. Hignett just has an effortlessly engaging and highly amusing writing style, and I was immediately intrigued by this refreshing spin on the paranormal fantasy genre. I mean, when you give me a 40-year-old no-nonsense woman as the protagonist, and then add some dangerously handsome brooding Fae, a sentient house, a sassy unicorn (or, excuse me, a *duo*corn), and plenty of paranormal hijinx into the mix, how could that not be a recipe for success?!
Right from the very first page, Susan just proved to be an incredibly fun and compelling protagonist to follow, and I loved being introduced to the paranormal world through her eyes. Though she is generally quite sensible and rational, the fact that she assumes everything to be a hallucination gives her a level of reckless boldness that makes her interactions with anything paranormal just wildly amusing.
There really is no denying that the plot of Susan, You’re the Chosen One is a bit batshit crazy, but I quite enjoyed that it just didn’t take itself too seriously. At some points I did find myself rolling my eyes at the hyperfixation on everyone’s (ridiculously attractive) physical appearances and the toxic antagonism between all the women who were viciously insulting each other left and right, even if it may have been done in an almost satirical way to poke fun at the cliches of the genre. But still, generally the silly humour was just irresistibly amusing, and I couldn’t stop myself from snorting out loud multiple times.
Moreover, between all the shits and giggles, there are deeper emotional layers woven into Susan’s (back)story that gave this book a level of depth and nuance that I wasn’t anticipating. Themes of anxiety, toxic relationships, gaslighting, mental illness, menopause, infertility, and female rage are handled with surprising care and power, which is exactly why this paranormal romp stands out from the crowd for me.
With roughly 20 books in her connected universe already under her belt, Hignett is no newbie to the craft, and it definitely shows. There’s a surprising amount of world building packed into this short novel, and the story just moves along at a dangerously addictive speed. At times I do think the character work suffered a bit from the fast pacing, especially in the sense that the entire cast of supporting characters just felt a bit one-dimensional and paled in comparison to Susan’s vibrancy. Though with the enticing way this first instalment left off, I have a feeling we will get to see more development for them in the sequels, which I couldn’t be more excited for.
And you better bet I will be continuing the Welcome to Midlife Magic series, if only so I can see more of Cecil the sassy duocorn and his hysterical antics, what an icon! Susan, You’re The Chosen One is one of those delightful palate cleansers that still has a lot of substance, making it the perfect weekend read to just snuggle up with and let yourself get totally lost in.
Wish Givers by Shannon Knight
Featuring a tropical setting, tattoo magic, rich cultures, clashing religions, and deadly political intrigue, Wish Givers is a slow-burn yet unputdownable revenge story that shines in its uniqueness.
This is the story of Reva, an exiled member of the Mauli clan who is dead set on freeing her people from the oppressive rule of the Ali’i. With her gift of tattoo magic, she can bring anyone’s wishes to life, except those of herself and her clan. So unfolds a dangerous scheme to infiltrate the pink palace and work herself up in the Ali’i’s good graces, only to teach him just how careful you must be with what you wish for.
As a big tattoo lover, I was immediately captivated by this unique magic system, especially because it plays such an integral role in the story. This entire plot hinges on Reva’s cunning way of finding loopholes to twist the Ali’i’s wishes to her favour, which created such a riveting air of suspense for me. Moreover, all the tattooing scenes were described in such an evocative and artful way, almost to the point that I could feel and see the tattoos appear on my own body.
Now, much as I adored this magic system, Wish Givers unfortunately left me a bit wanting in some other aspects. Though Reva is a true force of nature with a very compelling and strong personality, I personally felt like we were dropped halfway into her story, and I never got the chance to fully latch onto her. Moreover, there was a second POV that didn’t grab my attention at all, and after the 75% mark we suddenly got random other perspectives from side characters that I had never gotten the chance to get invested in in the first place.
Given that this is such a small-scope and intimately character-driven narrative, this lack of emotional investment ended up hindering my personal enjoyment quite a bit. I think the main reason why I felt so detached is because of the slightly unconventional and choppy writing style, which just did not process well in my brain. Plus, the passage of time and the transition between scenes often felt very jarring to me, and at points I just couldn’t help but feel like there was just some connective tissue missing in the delivery of this tale.
All that said, I still think there is a lot to love and appreciate in Wish Givers, and the story did slowly grow on me the more I read on. Knight expertly uses a fantastical lens to tackle some difficult real world topics such as (cultural) racism, genocide, oppression, and religious strife, which really gave the story a ton of nuance, power and heart.
And speaking of heart, I really liked Reva’s unrelenting determination to fight for the freedom of her people and seeing how she sacrificed herself to keep her fellow prisoners safe. Also, I was so pleasantly surprised by the tender romance subplot that unexpectedly started to develop over the course of the story, and I loved how that dynamic somewhat softened Reva’s harder edges.
Ultimately, there’s truly no denying that Knight nailed her vision for this story with the powerful ending, really bringing home the core themes of freedom, survival, and of facing the dire consequences of your actions. While my personal quibbles held me back from enjoying Wish Givers as much as I might have wished for (pun very much intended), I still think this unique gem is well worth the read, because it is truly a great example of the wild imagination and diversity that indie fantasy has to offer!
A Vermilion Curse by D.C. Guevara
Pitched as “Baldur’s Gate 3 meets BatCat romantasy”, A Vermilion Curse is a highly entertaining and refreshingly diverse reluctant allies to lovers fantasy romance perfect for fans of Grace Draven, Carissa Broadbent, and Jenn Lyons. It’s got loveable disaster queers, epic battles, rich lore, heartwarming found family vibes, hysterical banter, steamy romance, and so much fun nerd culture; what’s not to love?
Set in a queer-normative D&D-esque high fantasy world, A Vermilion Curse follows a fugitive spymaster accused of regicide and a mercenary demon seeking redemption from his scholarly brotherhood. Though seemingly polar opposites, Cressida and Ryesand are drawn together by their shared interest in the outlawed religion, and they reluctantly team up to embark on a dangerous quest for answers. Soon both old friends and foes start popping up left and right, and tensions quickly rise to unimaginable heights. But in the end, it might just be their own pasts, secrets, fears, and developing feelings that could end up being their biggest risk to their lives.
So, first impressions are absolutely crucial in these types of character-driven narratives for me, and I am happy to report that both Ryesand and Cressida just immediately captured my heart within moments of meeting them. They simply burst off the page with their own strong and unique personalities, and their chemistry was just absolutely delicious from their very first disastrous meet-cute. I mean, if this wonderful battle couple doesn’t prove that opposites attract, then I don’t know what will.
Cress is a true badass (and a total disaster bisexual) with an attitude more fiery than her eye-catching red mane of hair, and I loved how she immediately intrigued and challenged Ryesand with her sharp tongue and dangerous fighting skills. Moreover, the slow unravelling of her complicated backstory and origin of her curse had me on the edge of my seat, and I can’t blame Ryesand for being inexplicably fascinated by her.
Now, I don’t think either Cress or I were expecting to start swooning over a demon, but here we are. Ryesand is just an absolute gem, and as someone on the ace spectrum, I deeply appreciated the authentic demisexual representation in his perspective. I mean, not only did it result in such a beautifully emotionally-driven romance story, but it’s also weirdly refreshing to see a man be the inexperienced one in bed. Their dynamic was just so wholesome and entertaining, and I loved that they shared such a deep mutual respect for each other hidden behind all the bantering and teasing.
Now, I know it might sound like the romance takes centre stage here, but I actually found the fantasy and romance elements to be beautifully balanced and seamlessly interwoven. Yes, the messy interpersonal relationships are the heart and soul of this narrative, but there’s also a looming war, a mystifying curse, lots of religious conflict and political strife, a messy reunion with Cress’ circus family, a ball at court, and so much rich history and lore to sink your teeth into. And honestly, I was pleasantly surprised by how tame things stayed for a long time… until a certain sex-pollen chapter, and then they weren’t; you better believe that the battle action and the explicit steamy action were equally pulse-pounding!
Though speaking of action, I do have to admit that the plot felt slightly too hectic and fast-paced for me personally, especially in combination with the frenetic present tense writing style that I bounced off of. Still, I think it is a testament to Guevara’s skill as a storyteller that I still ended up enjoying this story as much as I did despite those preference issues. And while some of the scenes during the climax (the battle climax, just to be clear) were a bit hard to visualise for me, there’s no denying that the ending was incredibly intense and epic. Opening portals, ancient curses, invading evil forces, meddling gods… the stakes were so high, and that satisfying yet ominous last chapter has me very curious about any potential sequels to this story.
Safe to say, I had an absolute blast with A Vermilion Curse, and I think it is a true breath of fresh air in the fantasy romance genre. To me, this feels like a perfect blend of all the best elements of both epic fantasy and sexy romance, making it just a beautifully well balanced read. It’s high stakes yet light-hearted, epic yet intimate, serious yet campy, familiar yet unpredictable, and overall just so much fun!
Of Wind and Lightning by Ella Walker Henderson
Set in a world steeped in legend and myth, Of Wind and Lightning is a wonderfully epic yet beautifully intimate political fantasy featuring fearsome women, lush scenery, complex interpersonal relationships, and page-turning tension and intrigue.
Through the eyes of two wildly different protagonists, we are transported into a breathtakingly beautiful world teetering on the edge of war. Desa is a legendary, one of the rare magically gifted warriors who can be enslaved by the ancient mystical relic that the three rival nations of this world are hunting for. Through unexpected tragedy, she is forced to hide behind her birth name Selah and soon finds herself barely clinging to life in the scorching desert, where her only hope of survival turns out to be a band of Northern mercenaries on the hunt for the relic. An inexplicable mystical connection between her and the leader, William, makes them tentatively put aside centuries of rivalry and distrust, and so they are thrown headfirst into an epic quest where danger, deceit, and betrayal are lurking around every corner.
Look, I can’t sit here and pretend that Of Wind and Lightning reinvents the wheel in terms of epic fantasy; questing, prophecy, rich legends, chosen one vibes, looming war, mystical magic, awe-inspiring landscapes… it’s got it all. And yet, I think Walker Henderson actually uses that comforting familiarity brilliantly to lull the reader into a false sense of security, only to then subvert tropes and expectations in little ways to tell an altogether more unique and unpredictable story.
For one, I really appreciated Walker Henderson’s refreshing portrayal of the strong female protagonist in Selah. She is a very cunning and fierce woman, yet at the same time she is allowed to be so messy and flawed, which makes her such a beautifully human and relatable protagonist. Then add to that her incredibly cool kabaraq lightning speed skills and her deadly affinity with knives, and she immediately became a woman after my own heart.
In a way, her voice was almost so strong and compelling that she started to overshadow the other characters, but luckily I quickly found myself warming up to our other protagonist, William. He soon proved to be a very compelling character in his own right, especially because his inner conflict was just so well written. At times his motivations were a bit incomprehensible to me, but I have a feeling that was intentional because my man was truly just tragically lost and confused himself, which was honestly quite endearing in a weird sort of way?
On top of that, I really enjoyed the camaraderie going on between him and the rest of The Eleven. And especially once Selah enters their party, I loved seeing their cultures clash and their world views be challenged; the tension was just delicious and I loved the reluctant found family vibes that started to develop despite the secrets and distrust. Also, I really appreciated how the dynamic between Selah and William became the heart and soul of this story, without it ever developing into a full-blown fantasy romance; though yes, the romantic tension is absolutely undeniable and I have to admit I would not object to seeing a romance develop in the future, because I love every single moment they are together on the page.
Even though travel/quest stories are normally not entirely my cup of tea, I just really loved the deeply immersive, slow-burn, and character-driven approach to the storytelling here. Through the intimate perspectives of Selah and William, we not only get to see a plethora of breathtaking landscapes, ranging from dry deserts to rainy woods, but we also get to gobble up so much rich history, culture and lore. Plus, we occasionally get treated to a very intriguing POV from someone back in William’s home country who is carrying out some deadly schemes, which created a looming sense of dread that just kept me in a chokehold.
And then all that carefully built up tension just absolutely explodes in the final few chapters. For me, the ending was almost jarringly hectic compared to the slower pacing and quieter tone in the rest of the novel, but ultimately I think Walker Henderson nailed all the shocking twists and turns, leaving me absolutely shattered by some of the backstabbing and betrayals. Despite its messiness, this is exactly the type of bittersweet ending that will make you want to jump straight into the next book, and you better believe I will be doing that as soon as possible.
Whether you think you like quest narratives or not, I’d dare to say that Of Wind and Lightning is a must-read for anyone who loves a slow-burn epic fantasy with tons of mystical magic, cutthroat intrigue, inescapable fates, and stirring emotions. Especially fans of Chakraborty’s Daevabad trilogy and Sienna Frost’s Obsidian: Awakening will find much to love here; this is just modern epic fantasy done absolutely right!
The House of Starling by Ciara Hartford
Ciara Hartford offers a unique and refreshingly dark twist on elves in The House of Starling. Filled with bloody action, mystical magic, deadly intrigue, intense family drama, and just the most delicious dash of seriously slow-burn romance, this character-driven dark fantasy will keep you on your toes from start to finish.
For years, the three elven races living in the lands of Rhend have been divided by hatred and prejudice. Now an ancient threat is reawakening, and the chance at peace seems to grow ever more impossible. But when Raemian Starling, a fearsome and renowned Shay warrior, gets captured by the royal family of the Bleck Larin, she finds out that they are not the monsters she thought they were, and an unexpected alliance is born. The sheltered prince Gastel might just be the only one able to help Rae with stopping the war, but his own personal destiny might be even greater still.
Now, while that synopsis might seem like The House of Starling has a lot of moving pieces that could make it a dense and intimidating read, the opposite couldn’t be more true. Hartford has a true gift for creating vibrant and rootable characters whose intimate perspectives just immediately suck you into their world, which makes for an incredibly immersive and smooth reading experience.
Truly, from the moment I met my badass warrior elf Rae in the first chapter, I just was just hooked. She is an absolute force to be reckoned with, but she also has a more tender side to her that really comes out beautifully through her interactions with her friends and newfound allies. And I mean, before I start rambling, let me first just take a moment to appreciate the incredibly strong and wholesome platonic friendship between her and Freck; THIS is the type of dynamic I want to see more of between my male and female characters!
And honestly, those beautiful interpersonal relationships is where this entire book shines for me. Complex (and ‘slightly’ dysfunctional) family dynamics, strong friendships, tentative alliances, and yes, also an enemies to lovers romance subplot like you have never seen before. You see, prince Gastel is just the most cinnamon roll to ever have cinnamon rolled, and I absolutely loved the development of the wholesome dynamic between him and Rae.
These two powerhouse characters absolutely carried this story for me, but I have to admit that I was pleasantly surprised to discover how minor and tantalisingly slooooow-burn the romance elements between them remained (at least in this first instalment). In fact, for a large part of the story they are separated and off on their own personal journeys, which not only made them stronger as individual characters, but also fleshed out the wider world in a fascinating way.
And speaking of the wider world, I really enjoyed how Hartford established the clashing cultures of the different elven races, which we got to explore through some compelling additional POVs from supporting characters who had their own unique story to tell. Especially the journey of Gastel’s brother, Belkin (whom I desperately need to see more of!!) really took me by surprise, and I love how Hartford continuously managed to make me completely change my mind on certain characters without me even realising it.
That said, I did sometimes feel like some of the character (re)actions and motivations felt a bit weak or out of left field, especially with certain characters letting go of their deeply ingrained biases and prejudices in an almost suspiciously convenient and quick way. Adding onto that, Queen Gemma felt a bit one-dimensional to me as an antagonist, taking the concept of cruel, evil stepmother to an entirely new level of messed up.
However, I still found the character development to be very strong overall, and I suspect that we might get more answers or explanations behind certain actions in the sequels. And speaking of the sequel… I needed that yesterday! Hartford is not afraid to go deviously dark, and I really loved seeing these characters having to deal with the heavy consequences of their own actions. The way that the looming threat of the reopening rifts just exploded during this gut wrenching and brutally bittersweet cliffhanger of an ending was just masterfully done, and I have a feeling we have only scratched the surface of all that’s to discover in this dark and mystifying world.
Safe to say, The House of Starling really surprised me in all the best (and devastating) ways, and I already can’t wait to see what type of emotional damage Hartford has in store in the rest of The Sundering of Rhend series. If you think elves in fantasy have become boring, then I dare you try this story and think again; this is the disturbingly dark yet deliciously romantic fantasy you didn’t know you needed!
The Song of Thyssia by S.J. Stiles
Well, if there was ever a book that deserves to be called “the next Game of Thrones”, it’s The Song of Thyssia. Filled with feuding families, mystical dark magic, intricate politics, rich world building, and ever-increasing tensions, this dark slow-burn fantasy of truly epic proportions is as romantic as it is tragic.
S.J. Stiles transports readers into the Thyssian Archipelago, a richly imagined world made up of six islands that each hold their own history, lore, secrets, and relics of immense power protecting them from the Void. The mother island, Thyssia, knows an especially bloody and complicated history between its three rivalling kingdoms, and when the king-consort of the Mountain kingdom meets his sudden end by invading raiders, any semblance of peace starts to shatter. But with their relic ruined and the threat of the Void growing ever more menacing, all their cutthroat political scheming and a looming war might be the least of their concerns.
Now, if that doesn’t scream epic to you, then I don’t know what does. And honestly, I can’t sit here and pretend that I wasn’t intimidated and overwhelmed when I first started The Song of Thyssia. You see, while I adore this cover, it did not set me up with the right expectations, and it took me about a quarter of the novel to fully adjust to what I was getting here.
Instead of the Sarah J. Maas vibes (which I can love) I was expecting, this book feels much more like a mix between the styles of George R.R. Martin, Guy Gavriel Kay, Rebecca Ross and Sarah A. Parker; yet somehow, it is also completely its own unique thing and reads like nothing I have ever read before. And honestly, once I did adjust, this book slowly started to grow on me and soon I found myself completely absorbed in this epic tale. A couple of minor punctuation and grammar errors aside, Stiles’ flowery prose is just breathtakingly beautiful, filled with evocative similes and metaphors that sing this lush world and vibrant characters to life.
Through a plethora of diverse POV characters, we are dragged straight into the messy situation that they and their families have found themselves in, which gives an almost frighteningly intimate and nuanced look into their lives. On the one hand, I really liked getting a glimpse into the heads of all these opposing characters, especially in a world where the consequences of mistakes made by past generations are now reverberating through the present and directly impacting the lives of their descendants.
However, I also tend to prefer the more intimate narratives with a slightly smaller scope, and at times I honestly found myself wondering if we really needed all these perspectives for the story to unravel in the most captivating way. Don’t get me wrong though, I think Stiles did an exceptionally fine job of distinguishing between all their individual voices, and I can see different readers resonating with different character’s journeys depending on their own life experiences.
Personally, I found myself quickly gravitating towards the younger generations, and I loved seeing them desperately trying to navigate the dangerous webs that their parents have (unintentionally) trapped them in, all while being torn apart between duty and desire. The yearning, the banter, the friction, the passion, the desperation… ooooh, I was just revelling in all the emotional turmoil!
Honestly, the way that Stiles interweaves the more mystical and magical aspects with all the (inter)personal drama and inner conflict was just so beautifully done, and I loved how things just got progressively darker as the threat of the Void came more to the forefront. I mean, dark alchemical magic, sinister necromantic forces, and disturbing body horror? Why yes, please, consider me morbidly fascinated.
With this being the first instalment in The Thyssian Archipelago duology, the story leaves off on quite the brutal cliffhanger that promises even more deliciously dark drama in the sequel, and I honestly can’t wait for it! If you like the sound of an entrancingly mystical epic fantasy that is even more tragic than anything the ancient Greeks could have conjured up, then I can’t recommend The Song of Thyssia highly enough.
Final verdict
Well, if those enthusiastic and rambly reviews didn’t make it obvious, I got extremely lucky with my batch this year and had an absolute blast with these books. The wide range of subgenres, tones, and vibes was just so exciting to me, and I truly want to thank and applaud each of these authors for bringing me (and so many other readers) so much joy with their unique and authentic stories.
In my mind, all of these books and authors are winners, but for the sake of the contest, there can only be one victor today (no, I unfortunately wasn’t able to pull the same trick as last year and choose two semi’s… trust me, I tried). If I would have to choose purely based on enjoyment level, the choice would have been impossible. So ultimately, I decided to look at quality, originality, emotional investment, lasting impact, and my personal favourite: the “gripped to the page o’meter”.
Okay, okay, no more stalling… Can I get a drum roll pleaseeee…
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The House of Starling by Ciara Hartford!
This story and its characters have been living rent-free in my brain ever since finishing the book, and I genuinely think this book is so well balanced that it has something to love for any and every type of fantasy fan. Major congrats to Ciara on becoming Fantasy Book Critic’s first semi finalist for SPFBOX, I am wishing you all the best of luck in the rest of the contest!
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1 comments:
Awesome reviews and I'm stoked to read House of Starling! It's on my list already.