The Faithless is the incredible and highly-anticipated sequel to The Unbroken. Touraine and Luca have fallen out of contact, when Touraine is picked as an ambassador to attend Luca’s coronation. The doused fire between them immediately flares to life. However, Luca’s scheming uncle Nicholas is determined to see that Luca is never crowned. Luca must rely on unexpected allies and long-forgotten magic to fight for her rightful throne. Meanwhile, Touraine is forced to choose how far she will go for her homeland and whether her personal happiness matters in the fight for an empire. 

I was thrilled to receive an ARC of The Faithless, one of my most anticipated books! It is truly not an exaggeration to say that I couldn’t put this book down! The Faithless continues the adventure where it left off in The Unbroken, with Touraine and Luca heading in different directions. C.L. Clark’s writing is action-packed, profound, and witty. Touraine and Luca must grapple with colonialism and decide what their future could hold as they fight off assassins and power plays. 

C.L. Clark’s world-building is extensive and feels so realistic. Action-filled fight scenes are vividly captured. Luca has shown so much character growth, as has Touraine. I love watching them work out what they are and could be to each other, while always fighting for their homelands. The tension and chemistry between them is unparalleled and it was fantastic to see this further explored. It was a joy to meet newer characters like Ghadin and Sabine, while getting to further learn about characters like Gil and Pruett. As this is a sequel, I don’t want to say too much about the plot except to say that it is brilliant and I loved every moment of it. I already can’t wait to re-read! 

The Faithless is without a doubt one of my top books of 2023. The end of the book was very satisfying and yet I can’t wait for the third book!! I need to see what Luca and Touraine choose next!! I would recommend this for readers who love politics, high fantasy, LGBTQ+ characters, and excellent writing. Readers who enjoy Saara El-Arifi, Andrea Stewart, and Shelley Parker-Chan will love this series!! 

Thank you so much to C.L. Clark, Orbit Books, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. 

Savvy and Griffin are walking down the aisle when their secrets leak at the worst possible time. She’s a witch and he’s a witch hunter- sworn enemies. As the ceremony devolves into chaos, can Savvy and Griffin ever find their way back to each other? To try, they’ll have to re-examine everything they took for granted about how they met and fell in love. Is their love stronger than a decades old enmity? 

Mr. & Mrs. Witch was such a fun adventure! I could see the nods to Mr. & Mrs. Smith, but the story stands on its own. I really liked the magic system and how Griffin and Savvy had to work together to uncover the truth. I enjoyed the twist at the end and the reason behind the chaos.The one thing I struggled a little bit with was the switching back between present and past. It felt a little disjointed at times. I really enjoyed the chemistry between Griffin and Savvy, including the specific details like meeting at Little Shop of Stories!

I recommend Mr. & Mrs. Witch for readers looking for a lighthearted, engaging, magical adventure! I enjoyed Mr. & Mrs. Witch and look forward to reading what Gwenda Bond writes next! I hope we get to see more stories from this world. 

Thank you to Gwenda Bond, St. Martin’s Griffin, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. 

Pippa and Gabe didn’t realize when they bought their cliffside cottage that it was near a spot where people come to end their lives. Gabe develops a reputation as someone who can talk people off the edge. One night, a mysterious woman comes to the edge and Gabe goes out to speak with her. But did she jump or was she pushed? Pippa’s husband has secrets that are starting to reveal themselves…but surely she knows everything there is to know about her soulmate? 

I flew through The Soulmate- I couldn’t put it down! This was my first book from Sally Hepworth but will absolutely not be my last. Hepworth’s writing is twisty, witty, and there is never a dull moment. I felt so in tune with Pippa as she expressed her worries about Gabe, her daughters, and her family’s approval. Pippa is trying to keep so much going for her family, it is impossible to look away as the figurative castle on the cliffside begins to crumble. I loved that it was in Australia, one of my favorite settings! 

I enjoyed having the point of view of Max and Amanda, especially as their connection to Pippa and her family is revealed. When a particular character is revealed to be neurodiverse, Hepworth is careful never to blame mental illness for anyone’s actions and makes it clear that their choices are their own. This is so important as thrillers often broadly paint people with mental illness as dangerous, which is stigmatizing and can have real-world consequences. I loved the satisfying ending of the book and will definitely reread it! I would recommend this to anyone, particularly if you enjoy Ruth Ware, Liane Moriarty, or Alice Feeney.  

Thank you to Sally Hepworth, St. Martin’s Press, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Renaissance of Gwen Hathaway is the story of Maddie, a high schooler who lost her mom to cancer last year. As she travels with her dad on the familiar Renaissance Faire circuit, she tries to keep track of all the moments that she’ll always want to remember using tallies. When she meets Arthur, the exuberant and kind son of the new Faire owners, she is positive that they will never be friends. As the summer goes on, Arthur and Maddie (still not friends) go on road trips, adventures, and perform together. For the first time in her life, Maddie is playing a princess. But can Maddie ever truly let Arthur in, when she still feels like everyone will always leave? 

I was immediately drawn in by the cover and premise of the book. I loved that the setting involves Renaissance Faires, which always seem magical and filled with community. Maddie is such a lovable character, who is wrestling with grief from losing a parent. Maddie is a plus-size character who is learning what it feels like to be comfortable in her body and have confidence in herself. Arthur is the sweetest! What a fabulous book boyfriend and adventure companion. 

Schumacher’s writing is nuanced, including plenty of fun moments alongside poignant moments of processing grief and holding space for sadness. Maddie also struggles with the compulsion to keep tallies (tracking important or mundane events meaningful to her) after the death of her mom, which she is receiving professional support for. The Renaissance of Gwen Hathaway is a heartfelt and charming book- I would highly recommend it!  This book would be perfect for readers who enjoy Emma Lord, Samantha Markum, and readers who love Renaissance Faires! 

Thank you to Ashley Schumacher, Wednesday Books, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
 

The Shadow of Perseus is an eye-opening and heartbreaking retelling of Perseus as told by the women who knew him. In traditional tales, Perseus is the beloved son, the rescuer, the hero to save everyone from a monster. The Shadow of Perseus re-examines this narrative and instead tells the story of a destructive villain. 

I loved this retelling!! I thought it was SO well-done! Perseus’ mother, wife, and Medusa all get a chance to share their experience with Perseus. While at times difficult to read, I thought that this version of Perseus seemed a lot more realistic than the paragon he is in other retellings. For me, the most heart-breaking section to read was from Medusa. Medusa’s strength, her history, and her steadfast intention to take care of the Gorgons was so deeply felt. Seeing her point of view really casts a new light on how Medusa’s story is told. I hope to see more books that tell her story! 

The sections from Danae, Perseus’ mother, and Andromeda were also striking. The re-imagining of Andromeda’s story is horrifying and unimaginable. Andromeda loses everything to Perseus and yet is reliant on him to have any form of power or protection. As his mother, Danae is the person who has known Perseus the longest and she has always tried to raise her son to be a far better man than who he turns out to be. Perseus himself is such an aggravating and nefarious character. While he demeans and punishes the women in his life, he slips by on the privilege of being a man in ancient times and believes himself to be descended from Zeus. 

The Shadow of Perseus is a well-written and striking retelling of Perseus- but more than that, it brings into light three women who are cast aside in traditional retellings. This is the story of Danae, Andromeda, and Medusa. It is a heartfelt and unputdownable tale. I would recommend this for fans of Madeline Miller! 

Thank you to Claire Heywood, Dutton, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.