Thanks to NetGalley and Orbit Books for a review copy!

tl;dr
Strikes a perfect 50/50 balance between steamy romance and fantasy adventure. World building can be confusing, especially on the front end.

About
The undead wander the wilderness, but marshals like Hart patrol the border to take them down. Undertakers like Mercy prepare the bodies of the deceased so they can't be turned again. They should be a perfect pair, but there's been mutual hatred since they first laid eyes on each other. The only find comfort in their anonymous pen pals, unaware that they are baring their souls to each other.

Thoughts
What a great read! This book's a little longer than one might expect, but I finished it in a day anyway. Strong opener for an enemies-to-lovers romance, with some all the sniping and banter that one would hope for, and a wonderful supporting cast of complex characters, all with their own lives and dreams. Mercy's family is messy, in a deeply relatable way. Love and resentment all simmer in the same space as they try to navigate around each other and their own hopes, and I found myself equally frustrated by and cheering for them to make it out together. The letter writing portions very touching, and I found myself anticipating each one with the same eagerness as the characters. The hate switched to romance a little earlier than expected, but this is largely to facilitate the rest of the book's plot, which focuses on the zombie outbreak outside the city.  It can be very disappointing to see an interesting plot thread resolve itself off screen to make more room for the romance, so I was pleased to see this story taken to its conclusion. This was probably the portion of the book that was initially harder for me to follow, however. There's a lot of world building going on in here, including several sets of deities, and quite a bit of history. Once you manage to catch up with that, the final plot makes a good deal of sense, and the reveal at the end clicks into place quite neatly. Anyone looking for an engrossing enemies-to-lovers tale with some steamy scenes, paired against a fun fantasy zombie world should find this book very satisfying.

Thanks to NetGalley and Kodansha for a review copy!

tl;dr
Incredibly light on plot, with very cute illustrations, and a reasonable amount of comedic moments.

About
Kiichiro is smart, attractive, and incredibly wealthy. Unfortunately, he's also hopelessly clumsy, and the only thing keeping him from accidentally breaking everything his maid Miss Kishi. But despite all the help she gives him, he feels like he can't seem to find a way to properly thank her.

Thoughts
This manga is exactly what it claims to be: A lightweight romance (?) about a clumsy billionaire and the cool-headed maid who helps him. Cute misunderstandings and over-the-top romantic gestures are the order of the day, with very little by way of plot to tie it together. Artwork is pleasantly shoujo, with Miss Kishi's design being especially attractive. If you're looking for some fluffy light hijinks with no strings attached, this is a good afternoon read.

Thanks to NetGalley for a review copy!

tl;dr
Great atmospheric mystery that shifts into a sci-fi adventure, paired with a haters-to-lovers romance. Main character's development gets set back a few times, which may be frustrating to some readers.

About
Gracie Hart is on the run, and when she's caught stealing a ride on a circus train, she figures joining the circus is probably better than going to jail. But her job as a magician's assistant might be more deadly than she expects, especially with strange notes showing up out of nowhere, and a magician obviously keeping a supernatural secret.

Thoughts
Circus of Shadows, Or: The Gaslighting of Gracie Hart. Okay first off, I absolutely devoured this book. Just blazed straight through it. The writing is well-paced and exciting, with mysteries and tension building upon each other and pushing the reader to get in "just one more chapter." The atmosphere is delightfully spooky and tense, and the first few chapters in particular really roll out a troubling mystery. The genre shifts a bit once some soft sci-fi is introduced, but I feel like it was telegraphed well enough that it fits into the rest of the story. Unfortunately, this is where my biggest gripe comes into play. When I read that this was a gaslamp genre book, I didn't imagine that it would also be about love interests lying to the heroine repeatedly until she questioned her own sanity. But there it is. My least favorite plot device is miscommunication, and this book has willful discommunication in spades. Every time Gracie moved forward as a person, a lie would set back her character development, and we'd lose everything that we just gained in the previous chapter. It felt like an incredible disservice to her as a character to keep taking away her gains like that. It also really dragged the romance down, leaving us with a pair that kept taking steps backwards and retreading old arguments. That being said, if you like some haters-to-lovers romance with a dangerous man of mystery, and a touch of romance triangle, this will definitely scratch that itch. Recommended for anyone looking for an atmospheric read that turns into a sci-fi adventure.

Thanks to NetGalley and Orbit Books for an advance copy!

tl;dr
Powerful world building and a well-defined magic system set the stage for a likable hero and some strong supporting cast as they try to save the world. The front part of the book can be difficult to get through due to pacing and the number of terms.

About
Siyon Velo makes a living collecting alchemy ingredients from alternate planes of existence. It's dangerous, and lawfully dubious, work, but the wealthy alchemists of the city are always willing to pay. Siyon hopes to one day earn enough money to join the ranks of the alchemists himself, but one of the rare items he sells might put an end to that dream - and the entire city along with it.

Thoughts
Reading this book feels like watching someone playing with dominoes. The first half is dedicated to precise and meticulous world building. Characters, laws of magic, culture, politics, geography, and alternate universes are all placed carefully in line, and there's an almost overwhelming amount of things to collate and learn. But then the first domino tips and there's no place to catch your breath as everything falls into place in an fast-paced finale. I confess, it was definitely hard to get through the first part of the book for this very reason. There are a LOT of threads to hold on to. But every single one is stitched into the ending, for a decent payoff. Supporting cast are given a good deal of attention, with some winding up more complex that the lead himself. The author's notes mention Izmirlian was the most challenging character to get right, and I think the extra attention spent on him really shows. He's easily my favorite character of the bunch. The world building is probably the strongest part of the book - details about all aspects of the city and the people in it are thoroughly documented. This book should appeal to anyone looking for a fantasy with some hard world building and alternate plane adventures for a determined young man who finds himself out of his depth.

Thanks to Book Sirens for a review copy!

tl;dr
A fun book for fans of stories about magical school, dragons, and adventurous students who like to sneak around at night. Genre-savvy fans might feel familiar with the content.

About
Emily Roth lives in the commons, surviving day-to-day with the help of a secret power: the ability to make anything she touches disappear and reappear in a place of her choosing. But when her magic is discovered by others, she is given the chance to join the secretive magic community and train her powers at Selwyn Castle. Emily suddenly finds herself in a new world of dragons, spells, and wizardry, and secrets about her own lineage that might have been better off secret.

Thoughts
I came into this book from the wrong angle. Some of the marketing text had me expecting a heist-like adventure featuring young adults of a morally gray nature. What I got was an adventure at a magical school with spunky young heroes, and a hint of a bigger story at play in the background. Because of this, the first few chapters were a little tough for me to get through, but once I adjusted my expectations, I found that I really enjoyed the ride. Fans of magical boarding schools will find plenty to love: dragon riding, rivalries, sneaking around the school grounds at night, and a small small hint of a slow burn romance to cap it all off. The world building includes a setting that feels displaced in time (no cars, but the MC wears sneakers), with some really captivating ideas (the tree inside Selwyn Castle is a personal favorite). Magic differs per character, so it's hard to really nail down the overall magic system of the world, but it's at least consistent per person. Dragon riding scenes were especially fun, and I hope for more in upcoming installments. The characters all have pleasant and varied personalities, although the plot overtakes them a little bit. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the bully/rival character is written sympathetically, but also still entirely terrible. The complexities during those character interactions wound up being my favorite by far. Plot moves at a nice quick pace, with a few twists here and there, although longtime readers will probably find very few surprises. Overall, a competent and satisfying magical adventure than leaves the door open for bigger adventures in the future.

Thanks to NetGalley for an advance copy!

tl;dr
Unique and tantalizing flavor combinations, and easy-to-follow instructions make this a great book for beginner bakers looking to expand their skill set.

Thoughts
I bake a lot, and I have all my favorite recipes already, so the only reason I'd grab a cookbook these days is if I thought it would be a good gift for a beginner baker, or if it had a lot of recipes I've never tried. This book fulfills both of those prompts. Beginner bakers who have tried a few bake mixes and are ready to take more control over their work will find a lot of great tips and easy-to-follow recipes. A brief guide on tools and what they do is also useful for bakers who are newer to the experience. The last chapter moves on to slightly more complex concepts like yeasted doughs or using tangzhong, which is a great launchpad into more difficult baking. The recipes themselves are inspired by people, history, and global movements, and feature a lot of flavor combinations I've never tried in a cupcake before. The golden milk cupcakes and the arroz con leche both look especially tasty (can you tell I like cinnamon?) 

Of note, the introduction to the book also covers a lot of ground discussing food insecurity and how it's tied to other social issues. It's a good primer, especially for younger readers, and I found it a very encouraging read. He also highlights groups currently doing work to alleviate food insecurity including his own, along with some of my favorites like No Kid Hungry, and World Central Kitchen.

Overall, a great cookbook with some unique recipes great for beginner bakers.

Thanks to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for an advance copy. This review is posted voluntarily.

tl;dr
A well-illustrated, largely faithful adaptation of the Enola Holmes books great for young readers. Format change loses a lot Enola's internal monologues and characterization from the books, which may be disappointing to some.

About
A full-color graphic novelization of Enola Holmes mysteries 4-6.

Thoughts
I'm a fan of the original books, so I'm always eager to see more Enola Holmes in the world, and this book does not disappoint! The graphic novel is very charming, with bright illustrations, and a lot of fun journal-style notes in between chapters. I loved all the character designs, and the coloring style is absolutely beautiful. Layouts are clean and easy to read, characters are fun and expressive, and I'm impressed by how faithful the adaptations are. I think my biggest disappointment is how much of Enola's internal monologue we lose in the format change. I understand that long paragraphs of thinking don't translate well to a comic book format, but I always enjoyed reading Enola's thoughts in the books - everything from her complex feelings about her family, puzzling out a mystery, or picking her next disguise. A lot of that gets lost as we move from one scene to the next, assuming that she's done all the thinking in between the panels. The loss of her monologue moves the genre out of mystery and more into adventure territory, which makes this a great option for younger readers who might not be ready to jump directly into the books.

Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for an advance copy! I am posting this review voluntarily.

tl;dr
A gentle book about magic and flowers with a soft romance and a hopeful message.

About
Clara's magic is wild and uncontrollable, a fact that has kept her from being granted the official title of Witch, a position that will grant her recognition amongst her peers and the community. When her uncontrolled magic nearly kills her father, she makes a risky bargain with her childhood friend Xavier - his help, in exchange for her magic. But Xavier is different these days, and her bargain might be more dangerous than she knows.

Thoughts
Well, I was going to read a few chapters before bed, and wound up reading the whole thing in one sitting. Oops (but in the good way). The writing flows very naturally from one chapter to the next, and the pacing make it easy to just keep going. Compared to a lot of YA fantasy, this is a fairly low-stakes book, but that didn't make me care any less about what was happening. The world building and magic systems are only lightly described, but clearly defined and easy to understand. Full descriptions of flowers and nature abound, perfect for anyone looking for some cottagecore threads. Clara is a multi-faceted protagonist with a lot of heart, and I appreciated that her flaws and strengths were both written with honesty. Her journey learning to accept herself and build confidence was a very hopeful one to read. Xavier is a nice opposite for Clara, and the chemistry between them was very natural. In the center of all of this is a surprisingly frank discussion about mental health. Although the exact words aren't used, Clara's anxiety is a major character unto itself, portrayed very honestly as an extra voice that whispers lies. A brief discussion about depression (or something like it), and society's reluctance to face it, is also present, and appreciated. Overall, a very pleasant story in a beautiful magical setting with some likable leads.

Thanks to NetGalley and Rockridge Press for a review copy.

tl;dr
True to the title, a friendly entry-level book on growing, harvesting, and blending teas and tisanes. Plenty of easily searchable information, and illustrations are also very attractive.

Thoughts
What a useful guide! Hardcore tea aficionados know that true tea comes from the plant camellia sinensis and that all other plant brews are technically tisanes (insert joke about the champagne region here). But "grow your own tea" kits often feature plants that are not camellia sinensis, so I was expecting something similar here. Instead, I was excited to find that this book DOES cover growing camellia sinensis, along with a myriad of other plants that make excellent tisanes or blends. The book bills itself as being for beginners, and it absolutely is. Anyone who is new to growing will find a lot of useful starter information on caring for plants, when to water, and how to design growing spaces either outdoors or indoors. There's also a quick rundown of the differences in preparation and flavors of types of tea (white, green, black, oolong), and a very brief history of tea that unfortunately doesn't cover a lot of the juicier bits (but that's probably an entire book unto itself).

The bulk of the book, however, is a practical guide to various plants that one can grow to make tea and tisanes. Each plant is given a thorough rundown with tips on things like care, best regions to grow, flavor notes, and even health benefits. The charming illustrations also make the book fun just to page through. Recipes in the back also offer a great starting point for anyone unsure about making their own blends.

Thanks to NetGalley for a review copy!

tl;dr
Fun cozy fantasy with plenty of tea-centric narrative, light romance, and a hopeful message about the power of human connection.

About
Miyara, the fourth princess of Istalam, feels lost. Her sisters all seem to know what they want, but when it comes time for her to dedicate herself, the only path she sees is to give up her crown entirely. And so she goes on the run, hiding in a small town at the edge of the kingdom where strange magic laps at the borders, and the only safe haven she finds is a small, struggling tea shop.

Thoughts
What a pleasant read! While I love an action story, it's also a delight to read a story where conflict is solved largely by listening, developing emotional connections, and the power of community hope. Runaway princess stories have a tendency to speed through the "turns out I was sheltered" portion of the story, but this book focuses entirely on Miyara learning how much her old status in life really kept her out of reality. She's is an interesting lead, equal parts determined fighter and privileged princess, with the determined fighter winning out over the course of the story. Supporting cast all bring alternating perspectives to the story, with Entero probably being my favorite. There's also a very soft drama-free romance, great for fans of hand-holding and copious blushing. Segments about serving tea are thorough and well-researched. The world-building pulls a handful of East Asian influences with a Chinese-inspired tea ceremony, and some Japanese-inspired cultural markers for one of the people groups, but the world itself is not a direct one-to-one metaphor for any particular place. Overall, a great cozy read for anyone who wants a hopeful book about the power of human connection.