​Evie Sharpe is a powerful land witch who has given years of her life to ECRA, the Environmental Crisis Response Agency.  ECRA has used Evie's power to its limit and manipulated both her and Ruby, the farseer witch she hopes to adopt.  When Evie finds a way out of her contract, she quickly acts.  Evie applies to be the caretaker of the sentient Thornwood House in the village of Iskendra. Thornwood House's caretaker died without leaving an heir, leaving Thornwood House distraught and acting erratically.  ECRA reluctantly allows Evie and Ruby to go; however, they must fulfill certain conditions or else return to ECRA.  Upon arriving at Thornwood House, Evie and Ruby find the house missing.  Evie coaxes the house back to its foundation and enters, but the house is out of sorts, even when Evie shares her magic with Thornwood House.  As Evie and Ruby settle in, they get to know the townspeople of Iskendra; some are more welcoming than others. Evie also continues to work with Thornwood House, trying to discover the secrets that it has locked away. 

"The Reimagining of Thornwood House" is an exciting cozy fantasy with wonderful characters, worldbuilding and a powerful storyline. From the beginning, Evie's strength, determination, kindness and magical power were evident.  From the beginning, I enjoyed how Evie found a loophole to leave ECRA and protect Ruby.  Evie also took the time to get to know Thornwood House, working slowly to understand it.  Thornwood House itself was created beautifully, able to show emotions through actions, changing and moving its interior and exterior and revealing different parts of itself. I enjoyed seeing Thornwood House interact with and adapt to Evie and Ruby and would love to know more about the sentient houses. I enjoyed the mystery of the Star Oak, its connections with Thornwood House, and the influence of their presence.   I enjoyed Evie's journey as she built her life in Iskendra, got to know Thornwood House and defined herself as the land witch supporting Iskendra.  

This book was received for free in exchange for an honest review. 

Cybil is the first daughter born to the Harding family in 1592 and is believed to be cursed. Her father believes their power is angelic and that he has broken the curse; so instead of being left for the wolves, Cybil is raised in Harding Hall.  However, the shadows find her and one-by-one those close to Cybil die. When Miriam, an immortal demon, finds Cybil, she is drawn to the power of Cybil's soul, but soon finds more in Cybil as a person as well.  When Cybil's life hangs in the balance, Miriam strikes a deal with Cybil that will keep the pair in a centuries-long game of cat and mouse as Cybil attempts to break her curse. 

"As Many Souls As Stars" is a gothic story of love, acceptance and redemption. Cybil's character seemed doomed from the start, and yet continuously chose kindness.  She also grew and learned in each reincarnation.  I liked that her view of herself and her curse changed each time she was reborn. Miriam was very interesting as an immortal being. Her attraction to Cybil began with a desire to devour excess soul, but through observation and getting to know Cybil, it evolved into wanting her as a person.  Cybil and Miriam's relationship also had a different dynamic in each reincarnation—from friends to lovers to nemesis—which kept the story and the characters' reactions unpredictable. The ending Cybil finally crafted for herself and Miriam was delightfully deceptive and unexpected, yet perfect for both of them and the deal they struck centuries before. 

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Ella is dead, dying shortly after her stepmother killed her father.  Now, she is the ghost that haunts her house, visible only to those tied to it.  As part of the house, Ella has a compulsion to keep things tidy and do repairs, much to her stepmother and stepsister's delight.  Ella grows with the house, testing the limits of her bounds and finding new ways to explore.  Ella finds ways to go into town for short periods and develops a kind of friendship with a fey, but is always pulled back to the house by midnight. One of Ella's stepsisters has also developed magical powers, using them mostly to indulge herself and keep Ella in line.  Ella decides to take a chance to feel alive again and makes a deal with the fey: she can attend the prince's ball for three nights to dance, be touched and eat again, but only for those three nights. 


Cinder House is a unique take on the Cinderella story creating a magical and Gothic atmosphere. I loved the idea of Ella being part of the house and how she could sense when something was wrong or off within it through her own body. Since magic was a large part of Ella's world, her presence felt natural, as did her stepfamily's acceptance of her and her stepsister's development of powers.  Ella's fairy friend, Quaint was an interesting friend and godmother. The two enjoyed each other's company, but Quaint couldn't go against her mischievous nature. The Prince's dancing curse was another interesting element that led to a surprising relationship only he could have with Ella. It seemed Ella almost had her fairytale ending, if only she weren't dead. Ella, the Prince and his new Queen create a surprising trio; however, and are perfectly suited to each other along with a few unusual accommodations. 

Ravenna Maffei is a talented sculptress in 15th century Volterra, Italy.  Ravenna is also hiding her magical abilities because they are forbidden in the city.  However, Ravenna combines her magic and sculpting abilities to win a contest and gain a boon to save her brother.  Carving a sculpture of a god using a magical nightflame stone, Ravenna wins the contest and gains her boon, but she is taken by the immortal Luni family. Ravenna is kept hostage in Florence by the Luni's in order to complete an impossible task.  Ravenna must extract five nightflame stones encased in rock, a task that has killed countless others.  While Ravenna attempts the extraction, Saturnino Luni watches her every move; they learn each other's secrets.  Meanwhile, the Pope wants to use Ravenna as a pawn against his enemy, the Medici.  As Ravenna is pulled in separate directions, she must decide where her allegiances lie and how to best use her magic. 

Graceless Heart is a historical romantasy featuring strong characters and an intense plot. From the beginning, Ravenna's magic and her reasons for hiding it pulled me in.  I wish she had learned something about her magic, especially with all the power it carries.  I enjoyed the incorporation of history into the plot including Medici's rule over Florence, the takeover of Volterra, and even da Vinci's designs for war machines.  Ravenna and the Luni family are all strong characters.  Ravenna's passion for her work and her family is admirable.  Her work with stone is intriguing and only enhanced by the magical abilities she is so scared to use.   The Luni family is mysterious and powerful, using their strength and immortality to dominate the city.  Saturnino and Ravenna's romance is an enemies-to-lovers story.  A slower paced romance that continually asks, "Will they or won't they?" Ravenna and Saturnino's reluctance to trust one another builds tension until they finally reveal their true selves.  The ending blends magic, danger and romance for a wonderful conclusion. 

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Piers Morgan is a celebrated interior decorator, however, her home life is far from perfect.  Piers' husband, Henry is abusive, controlling and has threatened to kill her. In order to escape, Piers implements a complex plan to make it look like she has killed herself and escape to her Aunt Myrtle's in the remote Crow Lake, New York. Piers has never understood her PICA diagnosis, her proclivity for the poisonous pokeweed. Arriving in Crow Lake, Myrtle takes Piers under her wing, slowly explaining the ways of the women in her family.  Their family is a Venery of Bane Witches, poison eaters, each woman is called to ingest a poison in order to dispatch bad men.  Piers may have missed the chance with her husband, but with Myrtle's help, she might stop the serial killer terrorizing the community. 

The Bane Witch combines fantasy, mystery and the irresistible pull of powerful women for a thrilling story of growth and acceptance. Piers' story is filled with trauma: a childhood of shame, her mother's death, and an abusive marriage.  This was difficult to read, but it was central to Piers' story, as well as so many other women's stories.  Piers' escape was harrowing and I marveled at her bravery and rooted for her as she made her way to her Aunt's house.  As an avid forager, I was intrigued by the idea of eating poisonous foods and passing the effects along to others. I liked Myrtle's description of them being a family of crows, feeding off of what others can't, as well as being instinctive, not impulsive.  I absolutely loved the women of the Venery, their personalities, and their take on their work.  Most of all, I enjoyed watching Piers' journey from a woman escaping an abusive man to a feared hunter of men. 

​In 2062, President Vince Quinto challenges America to conquer death before the turn of the century.  Technology has advanced significantly, featuring increased lifespans, medical breakthroughs, transportation upgrades and AI that works with people.  However, no one has come close to resurrecting the dead until the young physicist, Deeley Carr publishes her breakthrough, the Theory of Everything, which suggests a path forward.  Deeley is recruited to work on Quinto's challenge for the government.  With the help of two androids, Xina and Xara, Deeley makes progress quickly.  With progress comes danger.  The same technology that could conquer death could also be used to spy on and control others.  

Quinto's Challenge is a cerebral work of speculative fiction.  The style of writing did not engage me, but I was very interested in the plot.  The writing relies more on telling than showing, using news broadcasts, speeches and transcripts to deliver information.    I was very interested in the science behind the resurrection process and there is definitely a lot of science involved.  I was surprised at how quickly everything was solved, often with a successful trial the first time or perhaps a quick tweak followed by success.  Deeley's character was endearing and I did enjoy her view on life as well as her relationships with the Androids.  The story did a good job of raising questions about science ethics, government agencies' power and control, Artificial Intelligence standards and how science fits into government process. I enjoyed the last several chapters the most, as they focused on resurrecting a human and interacting with her. 

This book was received for free in return for an honest review. 

​Captain Tova Lir, a third-class courier, and her latest foster child AI bot, Agatha are en route from Luna to Phoebe Station when they come across wreckage from another courier ship.  Obligated to carry out the last wishes of a fellow courier, they make plans to get the courier's body to the sun.  However, they soon learn about devastating destruction to the docks on Luna.  Tova's family ties to Luna politics make involvement unavoidable, and she soon learns she is somehow caught up in the events on Luna. An assassin pursues Tova, and Agatha sacrifices herself so Tova can capture the assassin.  Now, with the assassin in tow, Tova travels the universe to find her previous bot foster children, hoping to get Agatha back and figure out what really happened on Luna. 

Sunward is an exciting space adventure with high stakes and deep emotional resonance. Wonderful characters drive the plot forward through a series of memorable and interesting interactions.  Tova and her juvenile bots each have their own unique personalities and challenges.  I enjoyed visiting each interstellar destination and appreciated the world building.  Most of all, I enjoyed experiencing Tova, often solitary, find her group of people and bots as she learned to relate to those around her.  The writing is fast paced and features much action across different parts of the universe, introducing many characters to create a chaotic yet fun atmosphere. 

​Sisters Florence and Evie Caldwell are the Witches of Honeysuckle House.  As Octeober 13th approaches, they disagree on how to handle this cursed year.  Every 13th year, a Caldwell or someone close to them is taken. Evie thinks she can break the curse by sharing her magic with the community; Meanwhile, Florence believes the curse will break if she stays away from Honeysuckle House and refrains from using her magic at all. Honeysuckle House, however, knows the truth and history of the curse and has a plan to help the sisters break it, if only they would listen. 

Witches of Honeysuckle House is a story of family, sisterhood, trauma and healing wrapped up in magic and a curse.  I enjoyed both the characters and the mystery of the curse.  The writing alternates between Florence and Evie in the present and the Caldwell sisters, Regina and Violet, in the 1960s. Tracing the Caldwell family's history reveals how generational trauma has been passed down and compounded into the curse.  My favorite character, however, is Honeysuckle House itself.  Honeysuckle House is protective of its family, gives a helping hand and warns of danger.  I loved that Honeysuckle House also had a voice in the story and was willing to give up so much to save the Caldwell family.  The magic the Caldwells use is very grounded, I enjoyed reading about the candles and the care taken in dipping them and raising the bees that create the wax. The story moved quickly as the curse seemed imminent, and the sisters desperately tried not to repeat the mistakes of the past while seemingly doomed to do so. 


This book was received for free in return for an honest review.

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Two sisters, Esther and Ysabel Hawthorn tend to the Willow Trees along the banks of the River Liss.  In the tiny town of Thistleford, the Willows along the River give magic to their users and serve as a portal to the land of Faerie, Arcadia.  The sisters sing to the Willows in order to pay them tribute, together Esther and Ysabel weave the strongest songs. A neighbor to the Hawthorn's, Samuel Pollard seeks to make a land deal by marrying into the Hawthorn family and forcefully courts Esther despite her interest in Rin, a citizen of Arcadia. Samuel takes Esther's refusal badly and turns worlds upside down with his actions. 

The River Has Roots is a fantasy novella written in flowery prose.  Much like the River Liss, you have to let this story take you as it flows along.  The story begins by setting the scene and describing the unique magic that exists in this world, Grammar, or words create magic.  I was entranced by the system and wished there were more and deeper examples of how residents used this magic.  The sisters are the main focus of the story, their strong relationship and reliance upon one another as well as the power of their voices together.  The songs that the sisters created and sang were charming and clever, I wish I could hear their melody.  I enjoyed seeing the sisters interact and navigate within town and with the other residents.  Rin's character adds another element of magic and mystery, I was entranced with their many forms and abilities. I would have loved to stay in Arcadia longer and see the many ways that Grammar can work.  The ending combines magic, song and sisterhood to solve a riddle of a missing sister.