Sea of Charms - Early Book Review

 

Sea of Charms (Spellshop #3)

by Sarah Beth Durst

What is it about:

Marin is a supply runner with her own boat that she sails from island to island, delivering whatever anyone will pay her to deliver: letters, flour, even the occasional enchanted lemur. It’s a lonely life, but it’s hers, and she wouldn’t trade the freedom of the sea for anything. Her only companion is a sea serpent, Perri, whom she saved from a fisherfolk’s net.

One day, she sails to Alyssium and discovers the city is on fire. There’s been a revolution, and the empire has fallen. Marin, with Perri, begins transporting refugees, finding them new homes where they can start over. One such refugee is Dax, a composer who refuses to leave behind his instruments, no matter how much she tries to emphasize the gravity of the situation. Intrigued by his stubbornness, his passion for stories, and his charming smile, Marin discovers perhaps she isn’t saving him ― maybe it’s the other way around.

What did I think of it:

I absolutely love The Spellshop and The Enchanted Greenhouse so I was super happy to receive an ARC of Sea of Charms.

The book felt initially slow. I get why it started where it started, but as it overlaps time- and event-wise with The Enchanted Greenhouse it felt like a rehash at times and that's what took the speed out of it for me personally. But luckily after a few chapters the story moved away from the previous book and took on speed. 

I especially enjoyed Ree, the sentient plant, and Perri, the sea serpent. I love how Durst manages to give the plants in this series their own personality.

I didn't totally get into the relationship between Marin and Dax. Marin seemed unreasonably obsessed with Dax from the start even while telling herself they can never be together, while Dax is a cinnamon roll where someone forgot to add the cinnamon. 

I didn't mind much though. The adventures of the four of them were more than fun and enjoyable enough to keep me entertained. I loved seeing even more of the world these books are set in, and to discover more of what happened in the aftermath of the revolution. There's exciting action, lots of humorous situations, and more. There were a few delightful cameos from characters from the other books along the way as well.

All in all a fun and entertaining addition to the series. I will most definitely get my trotters on the hard cover once it releases.

Why should you read it:

It's a very enjoyable Cozy Fantasy

Expected publication July 28, 2026

On McPig's Radar - A Long and Speaking Silence

 

A Long and Speaking Silence

(The Singing Hills Cycle #7)

by Nghi Vo

Every story begins somewhere.

On the banks of the Ya-lé River, the town of Luntien gathers to celebrate the start of the rainy season, but the celebration is marred by the arrival of refugees from the sea. Everyone has a story about the foreigners newly in their midst—lazy, violent, unwanted—while the refugees themselves grieve the loss of the home they loved.

Cleric Chih, very recently still Novice Chih, is also a stranger in Luntien. A moment of carelessness and bad luck leaves them waiting tables as they struggle to establish themself as a real cleric. A cleric’s job is to listen and record, but the stories emerging in Luntien are ugly and violent, as hard to predict as the river itself. With their hoopoe companion Almost Brilliant by their side, Chih must help the refugees while also unraveling a mystery that may have roots in their own faraway home in the abbey of Singing Hills.

In the seventh entry of the award-winning Singing Hills series, we meet Chih and Almost Brilliant just beginning their journey together as Chih assumes their place on the road and in the world.

The novellas of the Singing Hills series are standalone stories linked by the Cleric Chih, and may be read in any order.

Expected publication May 5, 2026

The Maleficent Faerie - Book Review by Voodoo Bride

 

The Maleficent Faerie (For the Love of the Villain #2)

by Rebecca F. Kenney

What is it about:

A spicy, Fae Sleeping Beauty retelling with a male version of Maleficent, a dying realm, and intriguing twists on the old tale.

When Malec, the Void King, attacks Princess Dawn's carriage, her Fae bodyguard Aura switches places with her. Glamoured as a human, Aura must fool Malec into thinking she's the Princess he cursed 25 years ago. Relentless and powerful, but with a vulnerable side he hides from others, Malec begins to crave Aura's respect as much as he craves her body.

What did Voodoo Bride think of it:

I've very much enjoyed the other books I've read by Kenney so far, so I treated myself to The Maleficent Faerie to see if I'd enjoy stories not connected to her Wicked Darlings series.

And this book was such an enjoyable read!

I'd call this a re-imagining instead of a retelling as the story differs greatly from the original fairytale (in the most yummy ways). I fell hard for Malec (I do love a tortured hero/villain) so it was easy to lose myself in the romance between Aura and Malec. There were of course story elements connecting this story to its inspiration, but those were used in original ways to create a whole new story with a romance at the heart of it that doesn't need a prince to save Aura. 

All in all I had a great time with this very steamy and delicious Fantasy Romance and you bet I got my hands on another book in this series of standalones.

Why should you read it:

It's a delightful Fantasy Romance re-imagining of Sleeping Beauty.

Teaser Tuesdays - Apparently, Sir Cameron Needs to Die

 

"Why should he be mad? He's the one who fucked me over," I grumbled, then winced, hoping the construct circling some distance below hadn't caught my words.

(page 68, Apparently, Sir Cameron Needs to Die by Greer Stothers)

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Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, previously hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following: - Grab your current read - Open to a random page - Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) - Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their  TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Awesome Book Mail - part 2

 

It's time to show the books Jeffe ordered for me, because I couldn't order them myself.

You'll notice they have a theme ;-)

The US hard cover of Nine Goblins!

Now I will confess a certain online retailer had it listed, but when I ordered it, it went in stasis for an undetermined time as is often the case when I preorder at that particular site, so I asked Jeffe to buy it for me as she was going to send a package anyway.

I confess I wanted this edition just for these end papers alone!

The other books were the Owlcrate editions of the Sworn Soldier books.

Yes! I already got my trotters on the amazing US hard covers, but just look at the pictures below! I could not resist.

What Moves the Dead

What Feasts at Night

What Stalks the Deep

I can tell you T. Kingfisher got her own shelf in my bookcase by now.

I hope you enjoyed seeing so many cool book mail pictures.

I promise I'll have reviews again next week

Teasing on a Wednesday - Sea of Charms

 

This sailboat was her freedom, her heart, her hope.

On the other hand, this was a plant.

(page 65, Sea of Charms ARC by Sarah Beth Durst)

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Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, previously hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following: - Grab your current read - Open to a random page - Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) - Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their  TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Awesome Book Mail - part 1

I got the most amazing book mail at the end of February!

Jeffe sent a package with both presents and books she managed to get hold for me, because I couldn't order them myself.

First the presents!

There was an ARC of Sea of Charms by Sarah Beth Durst.

I'm reading it at the moment so check back soon for my thoughts on it.

Signed paperbacks of two of Jeffe's own books.

The UK edition of Never the Roses!

(It's bigger than the US hard cover.)

And it's purple!

The Owlcrate edition of Never the Roses!

There's notes and other illustrations on the cover.

And Bad Bunny!

It has pretty painted edges.

Illustrations on the end pages.

Another bunny.

And it's signed as well.

The dust cover is reversible and has gorgeous art as well.

Painted edges comparison.

And here are all my Never the Roses copies together!

(In June I'll have to make room for the US paperback to join them)

Thank you, Jeffe!

Stay tuned for part 2 of this book haul.