The Bone Shard Emperor returns readers to the world of Lin, Jovis, Phalue, and Ranami with a vengeance. In a new world where Lin is now the emperor, the work to undo her father’s dark legacy is only beginning. The stakes are sky-high, with Lin frantically employing her diplomacy skills in an attempt to win over the islands to her rule. But her father’s horrific legacy lingers and the islanders remember. Meanwhile, Jovis is forced to decide where his loyalties truly lie. Phalue and Ranami must weigh whether they will support the Emperor or a forced alliance. As rumors swirl about ancient magic returning, all of them will need to make important choices about who to trust. 

This was a fantastic sequel!! Since the world-building has been thoroughly established in book one, it is now able to be explored in even more depth in The Bone Shard Emperor. The mystery of the Alanga and their magic slowly unfurls and keeps the reader engaged. My favorite part of Stewart’s writing is how she expertly weaves in layers of clues for the reader to pick up on. When the moment is right, she carefully unveils that all of the small moments have been building towards a stunning reveal. 

The intricate world-building and compelling magic system are reminiscent of Sanderson. There was excellent dialogue, including reflections on what it means to have power. Mephi and Jovis remain an adorably inseparable duo, with Mephi embracing his teenager/cat tendencies with aplomb. It was nice to learn more about Jovis’ background and understand his complex motivations. I also enjoyed seeing Phalue and Ranami working together to keep their precarious rule afloat, while exploring their relationship and goals. Needless to say, I ship them!  

Definitely do not miss this sequel! From epic battle scenes and an intriguing magic system to lovable characters- The Bone Shard Emperor is a solid installment that promises to lead to a magnificent conclusion. Thank you to Andrea Stewart, Orbit Books, and Netgalley for a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

When Eden and Beck meet, they both think the other is someone they’re not. As they learn more, they charm and intrigue each other. Beck catches Eden at a vulnerable moment and a friendship is born. Eden has her younger sister Holly to think about and both Eden and Beck are grappling with grief. When news about a will rocks their world, will their newfound friendship/relationship survive the test? 

I enjoyed this! It’s lighthearted, great writing, and easy to like the characters. I loved how Eden had such a strong relationship with her sister, but ultimately had to recognize that some things changed as they became adults. Beck and Eden are very cute together, I enjoyed seeing them get to know each other. This was my first Sandra Kitt, but I’m looking forward to reading more from her. 

Thank you so much to Sandra Kitt, Sourcebooks Casablanca, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Something Spectacular follows Peggy, whose romantic lot in life thus far has been to pine after her beautiful friend Arabella. When it becomes clear that Arabella will never return her romantic feelings, Peggy dejectedly must decide what to do next. Before long, twins Arabella and Bonny have roped Peggy into a scheme that involves getting to know the stunning Orfeo, an opera singer. As their connection deepens, Peggy realizes that she is falling for Orfeo. Can the two of them explore their connection or will societal forces keep them apart? 

I will forever and always read anything by Alexis Hall. His writing is simply loudly-cackle-on-public-transportation hilarious to me. I love how his humor is almost blink and you’ll miss it; every sentence is imbued with a joke. The dialogue is incredible and I’m looking forward to listening to it via audiobook as well. I thought it was relatable how Peggy slowly comes to realize that she deserves more and even “something spectacular” in love. Belle and Bonny are as charming and ridiculous as ever; I appreciated how Peggy learned to find space for herself outside her friendship with them in this book. Valentine became even more likable to me in this book as he attempts to keep the twins (especially Bonny) out of trouble. 

Alexis Hall does a spectacular job with creating a historical romance that is very inclusive, everyone is LGBTQ+ (both Peggy and Orfeo are non-binary), and the world feels like an overall joyful place to be. Readers who enjoy K.J. Charles (The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen), Freya Marske (A Restless Truth), and Lex Croucher (Infamous) would enjoy this book. 

Thank you so much to Alexis Hall, Montlake, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.  

Ziggy Bergman has always been underestimated and she’s decided now is the time to do something about that. Not only is she the baby of the family, she’s also one of the youngest players on her national soccer team. That’s where Sebastian comes in- her brother’s teammate with a reputation in desperate need of rehab. They’ll be fake friends and help each other out. Of course, with a Bergman involved things are never that simple.

I was SO lucky to be gifted a copy of this eArc as a lived-experience bi reader with celiac disease. Honestly, it feels like this book was written for me!! It is my favorite Bergman book to date. Ziggy is such a fantastic character; I already can’t wait to reread her story. Ziggy is neurodivergent, determined to be brave, and can’t seem to stay away from Sebastian. Seb has a lot of work he needs to do before he can be anything more than a friend and I love that Chloe Liese showed him working through some of his trauma. I loved the chemistry in their relationship and how it grew out of a “fake” friendship.

I am thrilled to see celiac in a romance novel!! This is a huge first for me- I almost never see celiac in fiction, much less represented well. This representation makes me so happy!! I also hope that it helps raise awareness about celiac disease and normalizes a gluten-free diet.

The celiac representation is so well-done and thoughtful. Now I just want to live in this book so that I can also have the Bergman family making delicious and safe gluten-free food for me! Chloe Liese captures the difficult parts of celiac disease, from stomach pain to social anxiety. It is so accurate that dining out becomes a new experience and something that you need to plan for and not simply show up at. Sebastian is so lucky to have Ziggy to help him navigate those initial scary days after his diagnosis. His experience felt very realistic and relatable to what it’s like being diagnosed and then coming to terms with the diagnosis. I appreciated that there was a lot of joy and healing alongside the illness and pain.

Unsurprisingly, Chloe Liese nails the LGBTQ+ representation and creates an inclusive and realistic experience. I love how Ziggy was so confident in her identity and always knew exactly who she was. Ziggy’s sexuality is never defined by who she is in a relationship with, which is so important. Ziggy is bi and Seb is pan, which they are both open and confident about. Their slow-burn romance is filled with longing to be more and it is so satisfying when it finally unravels!

I read this book in about a day because I could NOT put this book down. It was way too delightful and compelling to stop once I got started! I loved the cameos from the other family members! It was great to see how Ziggy’s relationships with her brothers/sister grew and changed as she asserted her independence. The Bergman family just feels like the biggest hug and you wish you could hang out with them!

I’m very grateful that I could be a lived experience reader and would highly recommend this book to anyone!! Readers who previously enjoyed the Bergman series will absolutely need this newest installment. Fans of Talia Hibbert and Ali Hazelwood will love this book. I can’t wait to see how the adventure continues with Viggo!

Thank you so much to Chloe Liese and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Silver in the Bone is the fantastic new tale from Alexandra Bracken. I love her writing, so I was so excited when I saw she was writing a book that involved Arthurian legends. 

Silver in the Bone follows Tamsin Lark, a mortal without magic, who is determined to save her cursed brother. After their guardian disappeared, Tamsin and Cabell were forced to take odd and dangerous magical jobs to survive. When Tamsin catches wind of a job that could solve their problems for good, she eagerly takes it. However, the job comes with many dangers and the Larks are now a target…

I loved Silver in the Bone! I couldn’t put it down. It has a sense of classic adventure to it, with found family, and artful inclusion of Arthurian legends. I was spellbound! Tamsin is such a relatable heroine, making difficult choices but always fighting to protect her brother. I love stories about siblings who would do anything for each other. The secondary cast of characters is fantastic, from the loyal priestesses of Avalon to the charming and irrepressible Neve. 

The world-building is fantastic and I can’t wait to learn more about it in book two. Tamsin relies on a number of different magical methods to get by since she does not have magic, which were really interesting to read about. Silver in the Bone would be perfect for readers who love Arthurian legends, found family, and epic adventures. I can’t wait to see what happens next after that ending!! 

Thank you so much to Alexandra Bracken, Knopf Books for Young Readers, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.  

Romantic Comedy is the story of Sally, a comedy writer who has never managed to write a romantic screenplay or find a real-life romance of her own. When famous musician Noah stars on her show, she is shocked to find a flicker of chemistry between them. They fall out of touch, only to rediscover each other via email when the lockdowns of 2020 hit. In a world that feels like it’s falling apart, can Noah and Sally reignite their friendship and turn it into something more? 

I loved Curtis Sittenfeld’s writing in “Eligible,” and her sharp, witty prose is the same in Romantic Comedy. Sally never pulls her punches, she is always real and satisfyingly sarcastic. Sally and Noah have a grump/sunshine vibe respectively and Sally (understandably) must deal with the challenges that comes with being more than friends with a celebrity.

In the uncertain world of 2020, they must both decide whether their careers or happiness truly matters most to them. I think this is one of the first books I’ve read that has Covid/lockdowns as a major plot point and initially I felt uneasy about this. However, I think Sittenfield made it a part of the plot in a meaningful way, so that it didn’t take over and dominate the romance. 

I loved how Sally was so determined, comedically fearless, and clever. I enjoyed how Noah brought her out of her shell and called her on some of her more self-destructive tendencies. Romantic Comedy would be a good fit for readers who enjoy unapologetic writing, fans of 30 Rock/SNL, and hilarious women. 

Thank you so much to Curtis Sittenfeld, Random House, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. 

Loki’s Ring is the fast-paced and action-packed story of Gita, a captain who must make immense sacrifices to travel through space to her daughter Ri. Ri is an AI who Gita raised as a daughter. Loki’s Ring is a strange and isolated world created by an unknown alien species. Unfortunately, Ri has been trapped there after a mysterious contagion took over the crew. Ri’s only hope is her mother and crew. As Gita battles to her daughter's side, she must lead her crew through terrible danger, reconnect with old friends and enemies, and avoid infection from the deadly virus. 

Loki’s Ring is a book that was incredibly difficult to put down!! Gita is relatable as a mother who will do anything to protect her daughters and crew. Stina Leicht has thought out many of the complexities of space travel, what extended time in space would do to the human body, and how science might adapt. The dialogue is realistic and funny; I can’t wait to listen to the audiobook! 

As captain, Gita must make heartbreaking decisions and is unique in that she values AI as much as human life. I loved how fearlessly inclusive the world was and how characters were described using very affirming language. I enjoyed that there was a special focus on pronouns and their importance. Readers who seek older women as protagonists, mothers who will do anything for their children, and inclusive worldbuilding will love Loki’s Ring! I really look forward to seeing what Stina Leicht writes next!

Thank you so much to Stina Leicht, Gallery Books, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.