A Universe of Wishes is such a beautiful and compelling anthology! It feels like there is something for everyone, ranging from fantasy to sci-fi settings. One of my favorite things about this anthology was the absolutely delightful LGBTQ representation. Whether the story featured a main or side character, almost every story had a thread of LGBTQ rep woven in. This made me so incredibly happy! Reading stories with positive and well-written LGBTQ rep is not as easy to find in fantasy or sci-fi as one might think, much less in such a lovely collection of short stories.

While some stories brought me to tears, others made me smile, and several sparked creative inspiration. I wished that many of these short stories would become full books! Every story is woven by a master storyteller. You can feel the writing craft and strength in these words, making it a joy to read. A Universe of Wishes contains retellings, sci-fi, fantasy, modern twists, and nods to stories that we assume we know.

However, trying to pick a favorite is an impossible task on par with some of the tasks posed to protagonists in this book! I will say that Habibi (Tochi Onyebuchi), Longer Than the Threads of Time (Zoraida Córdova), and Cristal y Ceniza (Anna-Marie McLemore) were three of my very favorites! The raw emotion in Habibi, the bewitching modern retelling of Rapunzel, and the acceptance found in Cristal y Ceniza stole my heart. I truly treasured and enjoyed each story. I would highly recommend this anthology to anyone!

A Universe of Wishes releases on December 8, 2020. Thank you so very much to Dhonielle Clayton, all the participating authors, Crown Books for Young Readers, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Within These Wicked Walls is an outstanding debut from Lauren Blackwood. It follows Andromeda, a debtera who can cleanse the Evil Eye. When she is thrown out by her mentor, Andi is forced to take a job no one else wants- Thornfield. Magnus Rochester has a castle filled with chilling manifestations and deep secrets. As Andi investigates and gets to know the inhabitants, she soon discovers that this may be a bigger problem than she was ever trained for.

Within These Wicked Walls has an intricate magic system which was fascinating to read about. Andromeda is a strong and brave character, who readers will love. The unraveling of mysteries within the house was expertly done, leaving me on the edge of my seat and glancing over my shoulder! This book will drag chilly fingers down your spine while a romance inexplicably blossoms. All of the characters are complex and flawed, making it particularly compelling to watch them attempt to cleanse the Evil Eye from the castle. I loved how Andi was very grim and no-nonsense, but was also hilarious and resilient. I especially enjoyed Andi and Jember’s emotional journey.

If you like books with elaborate magic systems, fierce characters, and creepy castles then you need to check out this book! I can’t wait to see what Lauren Blackwood writes next! Thank you so much to Lauren Blackwood, Wednesday Books, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Nothing But Blackened Teeth is a bone-chilling and eerie novella. It follows a group of friends as they host a wedding ceremony in a Heian-era mansion, only for the night to rapidly spiral out of control. Old secrets are revealed, jealousy flares, and the house is watching. Tensions rise as it soon becomes clear that they are not alone in the mansion. What more do you need for an ideal wedding location?

Khaw expertly introduces the characters and cuts to the heart of their insecurities and motivations. I absolutely couldn’t look away as the group fractured and found themselves pushed to their limits. Khaw paints a clear picture using sharp and sinister language. I love intricate prose, so this was the perfect novella for me! If you’re not a fan of purple prose, this may not be the novella for you.

I have not read much horror, but this is easily one of my new favorites. I would recommend readers pick this up if they love horror stories about haunted mansions, complicated relationship dynamics, and intricate prose. Thank you so much to Cassandra Khaw, Tor Nightfire, and Netgalley for a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.