On McPig's Radar - Daggerbound

 

Daggerbound (Swordheart #2)

by T. Kingfisher

Four hundred years ago, three warriors were trapped inside enchanted swords, cursed to be immortal servants of whoever wielded the blade. One of them is the Dervish, a restless, fiery soul who hates his captivity and hates his wielders even more, but has never found a way to escape the sword’s magic.

Then one day, a disillusioned scholar named Learned Edmund is tasked with delivering the sword to a distant city, and, in the greatest of peril, draws the blade. The Dervish finds himself bound to a sweet, brilliant, and above all kind young man. And while he may be able to protect Edmund from bandits, cultists, dragons, and strange inhuman diplomats, he may find it much harder to protect his own heart.

Expected publication August 25, 2026

Masquerade of Mirrors - Early Book Review

 

Masquerade of Mirrors

by Samantha Hartwood

What is it about:

The only thing more dangerous than falling for a lie

is falling for the liar.

Don’t look at the desert. Don’t think about the desert. Never step onto the sand. Taera has followed these rules her entire life—until he arrives.

Impossibly gorgeous, with a face masked in magic, Nikolai kidnaps Taera and drags her deep into the dunes. He says she’s powerful and needs to be trained…if she ever wants to see her family again.

Thrust into a deadly school of illusions and lies, Taera can’t trust anyone. Especially not her breathtaking, ruthless captor. Top student and notorious liar, his secrets run deeper than the sand. He’s her worst nightmare—and everything she craves.

The cutthroat Halls of Glass have a mind of their own. Trapped within their looping corridors, Taera is surrounded by hostile students and forced to rely on Nikolai.

Taera knows she shouldn’t fall for his illusions. But magic requires a partnership, and he’s the only mage who can handle her wild, untamed power.

And the only way he’ll help her is if she pretends to be his.

What did I think of it:

I totally fell for the fake dating trope and the story set at a school so had to give this book a try.

And I will confess I really didn't like Nikolai for at least 50% of the book. Yes, he's meant to be a grey hero/villain, but the least he could have done is actually explain some things to Taera, in my opinion. Would have made things easier for himself as well, but instead he decides to be an insufferable jerk.

I liked Taera, though, so I kept reading to see what would happen to her. Nikolai finally shaped up enough to understandTaera's feelings for him, and from that point on, I enjoyed the book a lot more.

All in all, it's a nice read. Probably better enjoyed by readers who like their male main characters a bit more assholish than me.

I might read more books set in this world as the worldbuilding certainly lends itself to lots of other potentially interesting stories.

(received a digital ARC from the author)

Why should you read it:

It's an enjoyable Fantasy Romance

Expected publication February 17, 2026

Teaser Tuesdays - The Entanglement of Rival Wizards

 

"I don't-" Elethior clears his throat. His voice is thinner.

(page 59, The Entanglement of Rival Wizards by Sara Raasch)

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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!

Gifts Between Us - Quick Book Review

Gifts Between Us

by C.C. Adams

What is it about:

Elderly Londoner Augustus has lived a long, miserable life. Having driven his few remaining loved ones away years ago, he now whiles away his time drinking rum and hoping for the end.

One night his death wish is nearly granted by a mugger, but a local youth called Michael intervenes. Much to the old man’s horror (and fascination) Michael promptly begins to devour the mugger’s body.

Slowly, Augustus and his mysterious saviour form an unlikely friendship, one built on sharing the gifts of trust, camaraderie, and acceptance.

And one last a secret. It is the cause of Michael’s cannibalistic nature. And, perhaps, a reason for Augustus to go on living…

What did I think of it:

I was offered a review copy, and it sounded like I might enjoy it.

Well...

It had some unnecessary gross scenes in my opinion. I was left slightly nauseated and not so much horrified. The parts that weren't totally Eeeeew! were interesting, so if you can handle the ick, this might be for you.

Why should you read it:

If nauseating horror is your thing, go for it!

What Stalks the Deep - Book Review

 

What Stalks the Deep (Sworn Soldier #3)

by T. Kingfisher

What is it about:

Alex Easton does not want to visit America.

They particularly do not want to visit an abandoned coal mine in West Virginia with a reputation for being haunted.

But when their old friend Dr. Denton summons them to help find his lost cousin—who went missing in that very mine—well, sometimes a sworn soldier has to do what a sworn soldier has to do...

What did I think of it:

I am so in love with this series!

This book was yet another great read. It's funny, witty, suspenseful, and full of creepiness.

I absolutely adore Alex, they're sensible, but at the same time end up in trouble because they're also more courageous then they give themselves credit for.

I had a great time with this book and I wll most probably reread all three books in this series soon, while hoping Kingfisher writes tons more.

Why should you read it:

It's a fun and suspenseful Horror read.

The City in Glass - Book Review

 

The City in Glass

by Nghi Vo

What is it about:

A demon. An angel. A city that burns at the heart of the world.

The demon Vitrine—immortal, powerful, and capricious—loves the dazzling city of Azril. She has mothered, married, and maddened the city and its people for generations, and built it into a place of joy and desire, revelry and riot.

And then the angels come, and the city falls.

Vitrine is left with nothing but memories and a book containing the names of those she has lost—and an angel, now bound by her mad, grief-stricken curse to haunt the city he burned.

She mourns her dead and rages against the angel she longs to destroy. Made to be each other’s devastation, angel and demon are destined for eternal battle. Instead, they find themselves locked in a devouring fascination that will change them both forever.

Together, they unearth the past of the lost city and begin to shape its future. But when war threatens Azril and everything they have built, Vitrine and her angel must decide whether they will let the city fall again.

The City in Glass is both a brilliantly constructed history and an epic love story, of death and resurrection, memory and transformation, redemption and desire strong enough to burn a world to ashes and build it anew.

What did I think of it:

I love the The Singing Hills Cycle books by Nghi Vo, so wanted to give something else by Vo a try.

And got my heart stepped on and broken in the most devastatingly beautiful way.

This book is so gorgeously written. The imagery, the stories, the doomed city, I fell in love with Azril even where I didn't have it in me to love Vitrine. With all her passion and love for the city, Vitrine was too selfish to be the heroine in this story even as both she and the angel are changed by their connection. Instead she's the catalyst, the heart of Azril for better or worse.

All in all this is both a wonderful story and one I will not easily pick up for a reread, although it will definitely get a spot on my keeper shelves.

Why should you read it:

It's hauntingly beautiful.

Teaser Tuesdays - Six Scorched Roses

 

The first time I met death, it was in my first breaths - or rather, the first breaths I didn't take. I was born too small, too sickly, too quiet.

(page 3, Six Scorched Roses by Carissa Broadbent)

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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!