Red Star Rebels - Quick Book Review

 

Red Star Rebels

by Amy Kaufman

What is it about:

It’s 2067, and the Graves family has transformed Mars from lifeless rock into a chaotic patchwork of settlements—and everybody wants a piece.

Enter Hunter Graves: handsome, ambitious, and with spectacularly bad timing. He shows up at the United Nations base just as an emergency evacuation sends everyone scurrying for safety. Except he’s left behind. Uh oh.

Also stranded: Cleo, a sharp-tongued stowaway with no intention of dying today, and even less patience for overconfident trust fund boys. But the enemy of your enemy might just help you survive, so here we are.

Turns out the evacuation was just a cover for the mercenaries who came next, and they plan to blow up the base—and every trace of their crime—in eight hours.

Now, Hunter and Cleo have one shot to stop the explosion, escape alive, and deal with the inconvenient fact that they’re falling for each other.

The clock is ticking.

What did I think of it:

This book was promoted somewhere as 'Die Hard meets...' (Yes, I forgot what the other thing was.)

The Die Hard reference was enough for me to pick it up though.

And this is indeed a fun YA SciFi with elements that make the comparison to Die Hard a fair one.

The story is told from both Hunter's and Cleo's point of view in alternating chapters. After a short introduction to both and the setting, the action starts and keeps going in a pleasant pace. I really liked Cleo's fast thinking and creative solutions. There were a few surprises along the way, but those felt natural and believable.

All in all a very enjoyable read.

Why should you read it:

It's YA Die Hard on Mars

Clockwork Boys - Book Review

 

Clockwork Boys (Clocktaur War #1)

by T. Kingfisher

What is it about:

A paladin, an assassin, a forger, and a scholar ride out of town. It’s not the start of a joke, but rather an espionage mission with deadly serious stakes. T. Kingfisher’s new novel begins the tale of a murderous band of criminals (and a scholar), thrown together in an attempt to unravel the secret of the Clockwork Boys, mechanical soldiers from a neighboring kingdom that promise ruin to the Dowager’s city.

If they succeed, rewards and pardons await, but that requires a long journey through enemy territory, directly into the capital. It also requires them to refrain from killing each other along the way! At turns darkly comic and touching, Clockwork Boys puts together a broken group of people trying to make the most of the rest of their lives as they drive forward on their suicide mission.

What did I think of it:

I have really enjoyed Swordheart and the 3 Saint of Steel books I've read so far, so I decided to give the Clocktaur War Duology a chance as they're set in the same world.

And this was a very nice read.

I liked the characters, the banter between them, the setup. It just seemed to be a bit slow on the story. Now this might have been just me, but with a title "Clockwork Boys" I had expected more... Clockwork Boys. Our brave heroes do get drawn into other events, but they make sure to stay far away from the things this book is named after.

That aside, I had a good time with this book. Kingfisher's writing, characters, humor, and worldbuilding didn't disappoint, and I will most certainly buy the matching hardcover of The Wonder Engine when it releases in March.

Why should you read it:

It's a fun Fantasy read.

Teaser Tuesdays - The Maleficent Faerie

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"It's him, isn't it?" Dawn breathes. "It's the Maleficent One, the Void King. He wants-"

(page 13, The Maleficent Faerie by Rebecca F. Kenney)

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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!

The Entanglement of Rival Wizards - Book Review

 

The Entanglement of Rival Wizards (Magic and Romance #1)

by Sara Raasch

What is it about:

Will they conjure love, or evoke chaos? Two rival wizards are about to find out.

Sebastian Walsh: twenty-four. Grad student at Lesiara University in the Mageus of Evocation program. Human. The first of his family to go to college rather than the military (and it goes over at family get-togethers about as well as you’d think).

Elethior Tourael: also twenty-four. Also a grad student, but in the far more inferior Mageus of Conjuration program. Half-elf. The latest in a long line of Touraels to grace the hallowed halls of Lesiara U (what would the world do if the Touraels ran out of rich douches to lead their magical weapons manufacturing empire?).

―and the other finalist for the Mageus Research Grant.

Sebastian needs that grant to fund the last few months of research for his degree, after which he’ll get a job that actually helps people. He isn’t about to let anyone snatch this from him, least of all a snob who doesn’t even need the money because his family is loaded thanks to war profiteering.

But there’s something worse than having a conceited academic nemesis steal grant money from you: you could be forced to work with him. Thio is secretive, broody, and his stunning biceps take up far too much shared lab space―but even as volatile as their partnership is, Sebastian just might find himself falling for his rival―and it could blow up his whole future.

What did I think of it:

I totally fell in love with this cover and impulse bought this book with birthday money after reading the blurb.

This is a really fun and enjoyable Fantasy Romance.

I will confess I thought Sebastian was a total ass at first. Even though the story is told from his point of view it's clear he's being immature and prejudiced toward Elithior. I really admired Elithior for not getting out a taser and zapping Sebastian into next week.

That said: I enjoyed the writing, Elithior, and Sebastian's roommate/best friend, so I gave Sebastian the benefit of the doubt. And he grew on me! Discovering a bit more about his past helped as well.

I very much enjoyed the romance, as well as the worldbuilding, the magic system, and Sebastian and Elithior's background stories which where woven into who they are and how they react to things in a believable way.

All in all a great read, and I will most certainly keep an eye out for the next book in this series, which will be about Sebastian's best friend.

Why should you read it:

It's a fun and very enjoyable Fantasy Romance.

On McPig's Radar - Hopeless Necromantic

 

Looks like this is a re-release (and probably partly rewritten to add romance) of a book published in 2024, but it sure sounds fun.

Hopeless Necromantic

by Shiloh Briar

When new recruit Helspira takes on the doomed mission that no other soldier wants, life - and death - start to get a little complicated.

Helspira must play escort to Sikras - a frustratingly handsome necromancer with the power to raise the dead - as he attempts a mission that he's failed twice before; stopping an undead army at the edges of the kingdom.

No-one thinks he will succeed. Not even Sikras. But the more time the two spend together, the more they find they can imagine a brighter future. As secrets come out and the two grow closer - and Sikras's lively skeleton companion Benjamin tries desperately not to be a third wheel - will Sikras' and Helspira's changing feelings for each other be enough to overcome the growing danger?

Expected Publication: 7 augustus 2025

Six Scorched Roses - Book Review

 

Six Scorched Roses (Crowns of Nyaxia #1.5)

by Carissa Broadbent)

What is it about:

Six roses. Six vials of blood. Six visits to a vampire who could be her salvation… or her damnation.

Lilith has been dying since the day she was born. But while she long ago came to terms with her own imminent death, the deaths of everyone she loves is an entirely different matter. As her town slowly withers in the clutches of a mysterious god-cursed illness, she takes matters into her own hands.

Desperate to find a cure, Lilith strikes a bargain with the only thing the gods hate even more than her village: a vampire, Vale. She offers him six roses in exchange for six vials of vampire blood–the one hope for her town’s salvation.

But when what begins as a simple transaction gradually becomes something more, Lilith is faced with a terrifying realization: It’s dangerous to wander into the clutches of a vampire… and in a place already suffering a god’s wrath, more dangerous still to fall in love with one.

What did I think of it:

First: a confession: I totally tried to read and failed to finish The Serpent and the Wings of Night.

I really liked the writing and worldbuilding, but I loathed Oraya and Raihn. This whole lets act awful toward each other instead of just f@ck and get it out of our system is not my thing! No live or death tournament could persuade me to keep reading about those two jerks.

So it was with a bit of apprehension that I picked this novella up. And I totally fell in love!

This is such an amazing story. I loved Lilith from the start, and then Vale was introduced and he's amazing as well. I read this novella in one sitting, and I will most certainly reread it in the near future.

As I mentioned: Broadbent's worldbuilding is great, I loved discovering all about this world and its vampires and religion. The romance was sweet and intense at the same time, and everything I wish was in The Serpent and the Wings of Night. I will not give that book another try, but I might investigate other books by Broadbent.

Why should you read it:

It's a wonderful Fantasy Romance read.

Teaser Tuesdays - Red Star Rebels

The guy from Mars didn't know I was coming. 

"Hi?" he says, with an upward inflection that asks who I am, what I want, and why I'm standing here when he's already checked everybody off his list.

(page 1, Red Star Rebels by Amy Kaufman)

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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!

 

The Seventh Bride - Quick Book Review

 

The Seventh Bride

by T. Kingfisher

What is it about:

Young Rhea is a miller’s daughter of low birth, so she is understandably surprised when a mysterious nobleman, Lord Crevan, shows up on her doorstep and proposes marriage. Since commoners don’t turn down lords—no matter how sinister they may seem—Rhea is forced to agree to the engagement.

Lord Crevan demands that Rhea visit his remote manor before their wedding. Upon arrival, she discovers that not only was her betrothed married six times before, but his previous wives are all imprisoned in his enchanted castle. Determined not to share their same fate, Rhea asserts her desire for freedom. In answer, Lord Crevan gives Rhea a series of magical tasks to complete, with the threat “Come back before dawn, or else I’ll marry you.”

With time running out and each task more dangerous and bizarre than the last, Rhea must use her resourcefulness, compassion, and bravery to rally the other wives and defeat the sorcerer before he binds her to him forever.

What did I think of it:

This is a very interesting and cool reimagining of Bluebeard.

I was invested from the start and loved finding about all of Lord Crevan's wives. Rhea is a great lead character and she encounters lots of fun and creepy things on her quest to save herself and the other wives.

So yet another book for the keeper shelves.

Why should you read it:

It's a cool fairytale reimagining.

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!

Wolf Worm - Early Book Review

Wolf Worm

by T. Kingfisher

What is it about:

The year is 1899 and Sonia Wilson is a scientific illustrator without work, prospects, or hope. When the reclusive Dr. Halder offers her a position illustrating his vast collection of insects, Sonia jumps at the chance to move to his North Carolina manor house and put her talents to use. But soon enough she finds that there are darker things at work than the Carolina woods. What happened to her predecessor, Halder’s wife? Why are animals acting so strangely, and what is behind the peculiar local whispers about “blood thiefs?”

With the aid of the housekeeper and a local healer, Sonia discovers that Halder’s entomological studies have taken him down a dark road full of parasitic maggots that burrow into human flesh, and that his monstrous experiments may grow to encompass his newest illustrator as well.

What did I think of it:

New Nightmare Unlocked!

I'm not a fan of bugs and other creepy crawlies at the best of times, so knowing this book had parasitic maggots I went in with the expectation of being squicked out.

Turns out I was both squicked and freaked out by this book!

I loved the buildup, the setting, and the characters. Sonia (as all of Kingfisher's main characters) was easy to root for, and I could not put the book down, even (or especially) during the more icky scenes.

Kingfisher brilliantly weaves entomology with myth creating a horrifically awesome story that I most certainly will reread, even though it has given me new nightmares about insects.

Why should you read it:

if you are as squicked out by insects as I am, this is the perfect Horror for you!

Expected publication March 24, 2026

Snake-Eater - Book Review

Snake-Eater

by T. Kingfisher

What is it about:

From New York Times bestselling and Hugo Award–winning author T. Kingfisher comes an enthralling contemporary fantasy seeped in horror about a woman trying to escape her past by moving to the remote US desert—only to find herself beholden to the wrath of a vengeful god.

With only a few dollars to her name and her beloved dog Copper by her side, Selena flees her past in the city to claim her late aunt’s house in the desert town of Quartz Creek. The scorpions and spiders are better than what she left behind.

Because in Quartz Creek, there’s a strange beauty to everything, from the landscape to new friends, and more blue sky than Selena’s ever seen. But something lurks beneath the surface. Like the desert gods and spirits lingering outside Selena’s house at night, keeping watch. Mostly benevolent, says her neighbor Grandma Billy. That doesn’t ease the prickly sense that one of them watches too closely and wants something from Selena she can’t begin to imagine. And when Selena’s search for answers leads her to journal entries that her aunt left behind, she discovers a sinister truth about her new home: It’s the haunting grounds of an ancient god known simply as “Snake-Eater,” who her late aunt made a promise to that remains unfulfilled.

Snake-Eater has taken a liking to Selena, an obsession of sorts that turns sinister. And now that Selena is the new owner of his home, he’s hell-bent on collecting everything he’s owed.

What did I think of it:

If it's possible to call something cozy horror, this book is it.

I love Kingfisher's writing style, fell in love with her horror books, then fell in love with her Fairy Tale reimaginings, her Fantasy Romance, and now this book.

It's mostly cozy magical realism with hints to something more horrific, but for me it never got too dark.

I loved discovering Quartz Creek and its inhabitants together with Selena. There are a couple of really interesting and fun characters, as well as some surprises I didn't see coming. There's a pleasant cozy pace to this story and world, only disturbed by Snake-Eater. 

( I will confess I felt some sympathy towards Snake-Eater even while realizing Snake-Eater is the evil that needs to be banished for Selena to find happiness.)

All in all a story and setting I totally fell in love with. I hope Kingfisher keeps the books coining, because I want more.

Why should you read it:

It's lovely, cozy horror. 

On McPig's Radar - Sea of Charms

 

Sea of Charms (Spellshop #3)

by Sarah Beth Durst

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.

Expected publication July 28, 2026

Paladin's Hope - Book Review

 

Paladin's Hope (The Saint of Steel #3)

by T. Kingfisher

What is it about:

Piper is a lich-doctor, a physician who works among the dead, determining causes of death for the city guard's investigations. It's a peaceful, if solitary profession…until the day when he's called to the river to examine the latest in a series of mysterious bodies, mangled by some unknown force.

Galen is a paladin of a dead god, lost to holiness and no longer entirely sane. He has long since given up on any hope of love. But when the two men and a brave gnole constable are drawn into the web of the mysterious killer, it's Galen's job to protect Piper from the traps that await them.

He's just not sure if he can protect Piper from the most dangerous threat of all…

What did I think of it:

This is my favorite in this series so far!

I fell in love with Piper in Paladin's Grace, so seeing him getting his own book in this series made me so happy. Galen is a worthy love interest, and I loved seeing the two pine for each other. They're the sweetest couple yet, imo

I also loved learning more about gnole society, loved the gnole constable who asks Galen and Piper to join him on an investigation, loved seeing Brindle again... well, love for all things gnolish all around!

The overall story was suspenseful and fun. I had a great time with the weird situations they get into. 

All in all a delightful read.

I'll get to the last book soon, I hope.

Why should you read it:

It's a very enjoyable Fantasy Romance