This Dark Descent is pitched as Peaky Blinders meets The Scorpio Races but it really missed the mark for me.

Mikira Rusel is from a family of breeding enchanted horses and helps her family's ranch after their fall from grace. They are threatened increasingly by Kelbra house, which they owe their debts to. Mikira is backed into a corner in order to protect her father and farm, and enters into the dangerous Illinir, a horse race with enchanted horses but she isn't allowed to race with an enchanted horse. Mikira has to work with Damien Adair, another lesser house lord. She meets Arielle through Damien, a black market enchanter, who is to help Mikira win the race. All have their hidden reasons for working together.

We follow two different POVs throughout this book, Mikira and Arielle. Damien and Reid, a servant of Damien, are also two main characters we follow through the plot. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to really connect with them. We are told about the characters and their characteristics, like Mikira is different from others girls and comes off prickly, rather than being immersed in the story and seeing it through her actions. As a whole, I had a truly hard time connecting with them and didn't really care for them as a whole. This also translated into the romance. I do think the romance aspects were well written and there was LGBTQ+ representation, but due to my lack of connection with the characters I just couldn't connect with the romance well. 

The plot takes off so quickly, like within the first three chapters so much has happened and sets it up for the rest of the book, but then the middle slogs so so much until you get to the last 20%. Essentially huge changes happen in the character's lives before we really meet them so it lacks any emotional connection. The world-building was there, but it was lacking. It talks about a huge war and all these different regions but there was no map for me to follow along. It has a large ancestry chart of the royals which truly was not needed as we only meet the King and his two children, but maybe for the sequels? I will say the Kinnish people are based on Jewish people, with their religion, anti-seminitism, and history, and this was very fleshed out and in depth. Another question I had was why horses? Why did they use enchantments on animals and why was that the most used function of it when they could also use it for pretty much everything else in their life such as household items and inanimate objects?

For a book that is pitched about horses and centers around them so much, I was really hoping the author would apply an extensive knowledge of breeding, riding, and temperament of horses. Instead it felt it was written the same as when any horses are included in fantasy. When discussing breeding, it's relatively only in regards to the magic. I might have just been giving myself higher expectations, but I was hoping that a lot more of the scenes with horses would include more depth of knowledge of the animal. Additionally, this is comped with Peaky Blinders and I was really looking forward to that side of the story. And yes there is violence, betrayal, and gangs, but the actual writing leans extremely younger YA and each character does not seem mature enough in those settings. It was just a weird combination of the setting and writing that did not jive with me. 

The last 20% did actually hook me a bit more. The plot finally came together in a way, whereas before there were SO many different plot lines that we had to follow. There is betrayal and some things I didn't see coming and it leaves on a cliffhanger that definitely wants you to pick up the next book. 

However, this book just didn't really work for me, but I do think I am in the minority. I do plan to read other books by this author, but I will not be continuing this series. 

Thank you to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group/Roaring Book Press and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review! 

Two Twisted Crowns is a wonderful follow-up to One Dark Window and one of my most anticipated reads of the year! 

We pick up right off where the events ended in the previous book. Elspeth is now completely taken over by the Nightmare which uses her body as his own. Ravyn now must travel to retrieve the Twin Alders card with his lover turned monster. Elm is within the King's halls as the new heir with his brother still recovering from his wounds, and Ione is still using the Maiden card and trapped with its side effects. 

We have more POVs in this book, with Elm and Ravyn taking center stage. I did really like Ravyn's character and how much more smarter and determined he was compared to the first book. I also LOVE the Nightmare's relationship with Elspeth and Ravyn. You can tell he truly cares for Elspeth and then also has a such a bantery relationship with Ravyn. Even though we missed out with Elspeth, I genuinely enjoyed reading about his character. Elm is a complete surprise and we see a completely separate perspective outside the journey for the Twin Alders card, which is important because it moves the plot and we see what's happening to our other characters. However, I do wish more time was spent from Elspeth's POV, she has very small time from her perspective and a lot of it is spent learning about history and the Nightmare's past. 

The plot moved very quickly, which kept me engaged in the story and always wanting to read the next chapter. We also FINALLY learn so much more about the creation of the cards and the Nightmare's past as the Sheperd King. It provides so much more needed context and wraps up all the areas I had questions. The author also continued with the dark and gothic atmosphere. I truly really liked how this issn't exactly a retelling, but it has such a unique dark fairy tale setting. The world that this setting has established was truly unique and the magic system was so perfect explained. We do also learn more about the cards, and the true effects of using them. 

The romance was amazing, but I really wanted more Elspeth and Ravyn! I will say the pining and just slow attraction between Ione and Elm was great and I'm glad there was that element in this book. Ione's story was very heartfelt and she goes through so so much, so I'm so happy to see them together.  I will say the romance definitely stays more YA, despite the book being designated as adult. 

The ending was amazing, and I felt like each character really developed and filled into their role. It was a bittersweet ending that I really enjoyed. Definitely pick this up if you want a more YA, dark fantasy duology! 

Thank you to Orbit and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This was a fun rom-com for me, but I think I enjoyed The Bodyguard a little bit more!

Sadie is an artist that specializes in portraits and finally seems to be getting her big break. She beat out thousands of others for a prestigious art competition with a huge cash prize. However, she has a seizure in a street and is saved by a good samaritan. In the hospital, she has to undergo brain surgery and wakes with a horrible side effect, face blindness. As Sadie tries to fake her way through life until it *hopefully* heals, she ends up becoming close with her vet, and also her new next door neighbor, but she can't tell them apart. 

I think the best part about this was the romance and the love interest. Joe was so swoony and just generally a good guy. I loved how the romance built and all the little interactions they had. The main character, I had a harder time with Sadie. It took me a little bit to get used to her writing and inner dialogue which just isn't how real people interact and think. Additionally, she tries to fake not being face blind which just seems weird? Like I don't exactly understand her reasoning and motivation for that, especially because she often ends up embarrassing herself more. 

I do think that a really cool thing this book did was actually talk about bias and how confirmation bias affected Sadie's life and her relationship. She would assume she is talking with someone and know who they are based on biases and not actually using her other sense and communication. I liked how the Sadie reflected on this at the end. 

This does have a hefty amount of miscommunication, so keep that in mind if you are not a fan of the trope! 

Wow, wow, wow. This is my first book by this author (which is crazy!) and I absolutely loved this. The Tainted Cup combines an eerie fantastical and dystopian world with a murder investigation. 

 

Dinios Kol is an assistant investigator to the eccentric Ana Dolabra. Since he started this job, they mostly have been working on wage fraud, until he is called to investigate a horrible murder. Din visits one of the gentry's mansions where a high ranking officer was killed by a literal tree that erupted from his body. Din is an engraver, meaning he can remember every single thing he sees, touches, and hears and must memorize it and report back to his investigator. As they follow the crime, it leads to them investigating a nearby province where other similar murders have occurred of engineers which are essential to protecting the empire. At the same time, Din realizes how great of an investigator Ana is and is worried she'll find his secrets. 

 

I found the world building was extremely unique, and almost dystopian? It's an empire that is made up of three rings, with the outer wall meant to protect against leviathans which are huge monsters that try and attack during the wet season each year. The blood of leviathans allow the empire to "graft" people where they can have enhanced senses (such as Din being an engraver). However, this can lead them to be more susceptible to contagion, where things like plant based growth occur in their body. 

 

I feel like in a lot of fantasy worlds, the "empire" is a bad thing, but this wasn't necessarily the case here. Throughout the book, Ana teaches Din that the empire can be good and bad. There are gentry who hold a lot of political power and control, but I will say it's not completely ignored by the government. We follow a story that divulges into the infrastructure of an empire and how each individual supports the entire system, which was a unique look outside of most fantasy based books. 

 

Ana and Din have a straight up Sherlock and Watson dynamic, and it was so fun to read! Ana is definitely eccentric, but she is so smart and hilarious. Din on the other hand is very rational and has a very straight moral compass. He doesn't have a sense of humor, which makes his interactions with Ana some of my favorite parts of this book. He is the sole perspective we do read from and we learn about the twists in the investigation and what Ana figures it out as he learns it. I do think that Ana is neurodivergent based on how her character is described (not explicitly stated), with her aversion to social situations and overstimulation, but it doesn't stop her from her job and brilliance. Character wise, I think there is still so much more we could learn from their background because most of what we do know and learn is in the present. 

 

The mystery had so many twists and turns, and I was able to figure out some things, but others completely surprised me and I loved the entire reveal as it unfolded. The clues are there if you are smart enough haha, so once Ana draws her conclusions it makes sense and isn't just magical ability. The investigation and mystery aspects was well balanced in a fantasy world. It felt very seamless and there was no info-dumping on the reader. At its forefront, this book is a mystery that just has a unique setting and fantastical background. 

 

This is the start of a series so I am really hopeful that we get to explore further in this world and the history of the empire. I do think the scope of this book took place in such a small part, and I would love to see a setting in the inner two rings. There's also not a ton of background to the origin and history of the established empire. 

 

Overall, this is an incredible book and I look forward to further sequels. If you like a mystery with a Sherlock and Watson characters in a fantasy setting, definitely pick this up! 

 

Thank you to Penguin Random House Ballantine/Del Rey and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Lies We Sing to the Sea was an absolutely surprising read that I really liked, but it's definitely an inspired Greek myth story rather than a retelling. 

Of course, one of the first things I've heard about this book was how the author did not read the Odyssey and the Illiad before writing an Odysseus retelling because it was "long and prosey." And now that I've read it, it's more understandable because the author just uses those myths are a background to the setting that the story is established. 

We follow three characters in the kingdom of Ithaca. Every year there is a sacrifice of 12 women in Ithaca to Poseidon that no one can prevent, otherwise they inter his wrath. Prince Matthias sentences Leto to death as one of the sacrifices. However, Leto survives and washes up on an island to meet Melantho. Leto learns from Melantho that the only way for the sacrifices to end, they must kill the Prince. 

World-building wise, this is set in the Greek world of Ithaca and the reason for the sacrifices comes from Odysseus coming home to Penelope and murdering her 12 maids after his voyages. The mythology is also the typical Greek mythology. However, there's definitely more of a YA feel and the language is super simple and a bit more modern than the historical setting. I think for the most part though, it wasn't glaring. Because the language was so simple and fast paced, it was easy to read and get invested.

This was pitched as sapphic, and it definitely is, but there is more than one romantic relationship. It's kind of like a love triangle, but kind of not? I would characterize it more as why choose. In fact, the relationships/romance was the best part for me and honestly I found the relationships were so well established, especially between her and Melantho. 

I think the ending for a lot of people wasn't what they wanted but I found it perfect. It really takes a lot of common themes from Greek myths (ahem Greek tragedies*) and includes that in this ending. It's a wonderful story and I think the ending was very powerful. And yes, I definitely cried.