​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.

​
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. 

​Dr. Catherine Coldbridge marries soldier Frank Humble in Montana Territory, 1879.  Two weeks after their wedding, Frank sets out for the frontier and is killed in a Sioux attack.  Consumed by grief, Catherine sets out with Frank's friend, Falling Bird, to find Frank's body.  Catherine, however, is not only trained in medicine, but has also trained in the occult.  After finding Frank, she pieces his body back together and begins a resurrection ceremony.  The resurrection is a success, but Frank is no longer himself, imbued with magick strength, he goes on a killing spree and Catherine flees.  Twenty five years later, Catherine is ready to right her wrong.  With the help from hired assassins, brothers Frank and Aubrey, Catherine sets forth to find Frank who is now travelling with a Wild West show as the Unkillable Frank Lightning.  

The Unkillable Frank Lightning is an imaginative and heartfelt Frankenstein retelling in the Wild West.  Catherine's character is impressive and driven, becoming a female doctor while studying the occult and taking on caring for soldiers in the field.  The narrative skillfully interweaves timelines, revealing details of Frank's death, reanimation, and subsequent life as Catherine tracks him down. Her journey highlights the profound impact of her past decision on her conscience. Frank's life has significantly changed, and he has found a new family within the Wild West show, demonstrating his inherent goodness even in his altered state. I particularly enjoyed the wonderful characters among Frank's show mates and would have loved to learn more about them. The eventual reunion of Frank and Catherine prompts them to re-evaluate their perceptions and rediscover one another, ultimately leading to self-acceptance and redemption.


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

​Lacrimosa Arriscane returns to her home in Verse, recently expelled from her school, she is disgraced to return to her brother's home and failing salt mine.  Upon returning home, her brother's rejoice, but tell Lacrimosa that they may have to sell their home and mines to their neighbor, Alastair Felimeth to repay a debt.  Lacrimosa was once good friends with Alistair and his sister, Camille, but was pushed away by Alastair.  Lacrimosa goes to the salt mines to pray to her god, Therion, only to find her brothers in discussion with him.  Lacrimosa learns that she has been promised to marry Therion and join him in his world every salt season.  In return, Therion will restore the salt harvest.  Lacrimosa decides that she will marry Therion, but their ceremony is interrupted and Therion is bound to a world in between his and Lacrimosa where Therion is quickly fading.   Despite their crumbling relationship, Lacrimosa enlists Alistair and Camille to help her unravel the mistake from the botched ceremony. 

Tenderly, I am Devoured is an immersive Gothic Fantasy. Loosely based on the mythology of Hades and Persephone, but with unexpected twists and interesting character interactions. I found myself drawn into Lacrimosa and her world that was driven by salt mining and her god, Therion.  Lacrimosa is passionate, determined and feels everything deeply.  The writing bounces back and forth between the present and Lacrimosa's time in school as we slowly Iearn why she was expelled, leading to a deeper understanding of her wounds and why she has made the decisions that lead her to Therion. I would love to know more about the world that Verse is part of and how all of their gods fit in. Poetic writing surrounded descriptions of the ocean, homes and Lacrimosa's inner thoughts.  I wish Therion himself was a larger character or had some chapters from his perspective to understand his need for Lacrimosa.  The suspense unfolds slowly after Lacrimosa's botched betrothal leading Lacrimosa down several paths with her brothers, Alistair and Camille and the mysterious Salt Monks.  The romantic tensions layered during this time and added to the drama surrounding the characters. Finishing with an appropriate flourish for all of the characters involved, Tenderly, I am Devoured shows the desire, honesty and darkness in us all. 

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

Orson Fletcher Is  often considered an outsider at school due to his unique ability to discern truth and understand how things work. His father, a trillionaire tech CEO, invites Orson on an extraordinary work trip: a journey to an alternate timeline in 2077 Massachusetts. His father's goal is to extract advanced technology from this future and bring it back to their own time. Believing Orson will thrive in this technologically advanced society, where people are divided into classes like the Thinking Class and Pebbler Class, his father thinks Orson will fit right in.  Orson quickly befriends students at the local university, learning their transportation methods, games, and societal norms. However, law enforcement in this timeline soon detects the anomalies caused by the timeline jumpers, thrusting Orson into the heart of a conspiracy.


The Frequency of Long Shadows is a speculative fiction adventure with plenty of action, conspiracy and mystery.  While Orson is the central character, the narrative unfolds through multiple perspectives. These include his father; his university friends Aurelia, Myka, and Bowen; other time travelers; an assassin; and Special Detective Pinto and his Artificial Partner 8008. These diverse viewpoints contribute to rich world-building, offering insights into the daily lives, leadership structures, transactions, friendships, education, and leisure activities of different classes within this timeline. The narrative gradually reveals information, encouraging trust that details will unfold naturally. The story builds with numerous twists and turns, and Orson's personality and deductive reasoning truly shine as he unravels the conspiracy. I particularly enjoyed witnessing Orson's personal growth and his realization of his true potential.
 
This book was received for free in return for an honest review. 

​Turtle was born with an illegal genetic modification; meant to increase her lung capacity, the mod instead gave her gills and the ability to breathe underwater.  Later in life, the mod began to create unusual health issues and all of the illegally modded children were rounded up and placed in a group home on a boat, The Mermaid, with volunteer caretaker, Constance.  Ever vigilant and overprotective, Constance slowly cut off all of the kids from the rest of the world.  Now, as kids living off of the coast of the slowly sinking Spoonbill Island, Turtle and the other teenage Mer scavenge drowned houses in order to sell items for Constance.  However, on Constance's last scavenging trip, a chance encounter with a human diver will change her perspective on being a Mer and lead her on a fight for rights in a changing world.

Sea Change is a young adult, speculative fiction story that delves much deeper than romance.  In the beginning, Turtle seems like a very typical teen, concerned about romance, friendships and her own internal struggles.  While she values her ability as a Mer, she also longs for connection with the "normal" world, especially after meeting Kai, a human boy. Her desire to reunite with her family, from whom Constance has isolated her, is also a driving force. I found it engaging to learn about the daily life aboard The Mermaid and the different Mer's viewpoints on their unique existence and interactions with human society. Although the budding romance between Turtle and Kai, and the decisions Turtle makes as a result, appear to be central to the plot, the narrative extends beyond this. The story skillfully explores the complexities of the situation on Spoonbill Island, where there isn't a clear antagonist. The choices made by different characters, including Constance's overprotective actions that lead to isolation and the subsequent prejudice from the outside world, are presented with understandable, albeit flawed, intentions. The Mer children are victims of non-consensual genetic modification, leading to their separation from society and eventual displacement. Turtle's personal journey, as she navigates her identity between the Mer community and the human world, creates a compelling dynamic as she strives to help the Mer survive and reconnect with their families while also seeking her own place within the family she lost. Furthermore, the looming threat of climate change serves as a significant backdrop, influencing the characters' decisions as they grapple with survival in a sinking world.

Overall, *Sea Change* is a thought-provoking story that delves into themes of acceptance, prejudice, and the impact of climate change.


I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.

Ciann Gennett has lived her whole life on a p-planet, a man made, metal planet orbiting Earth to support Earth's excess population.  Ciann's birth mother was an Earther, and Ciann has the hair to prove it, but she sees herself firmly as a p-planet citizen.  Not one to turn down a fight, Ciann finds herself in trouble with the law.  On her latest run in with the law, Ciann receives a labor punishment, working at the port facility.  Luckily, Ciann's best friend Tidoris, has also taken a position at the port facility to help prove to his family that he doesn't need their name or money to succeed. With Tidoris' help, Ciann is staying out of trouble until an Earth pilot, Mael, docks at Ciann's port and asks for her assistance in hiding precious cargo and getting the cargo to a safe place.  Tidoris reluctantly agrees to help, especially when he finds out what the cargo is. While trying to help, Ciann finds out the truth about her birth mother and the difficult situation on Earth. Tidoris concentrates on trying to keep his family, especially his brother from interfering.  

Orbit is an exciting and suspenseful young adult science fiction.  I was intrigued by the idea of the p-planets and the hierarchy that had been developed on them.  Ciann's character immediately caught me with her fiery disposition. I would have loved to know more of her backstory from the beginning to understand her anger. The story picks up as Ciann is placed on labor duty at the port.  The descriptions of the port and seeing space and Earth from the p-planet were amazing.  I liked Mael and the artificial first officer who give context as to what is happening on Earth.  The cargo that they were hiding created an interesting turn of events, I wish I knew more about the characters simply called You and Me.  However, their presence created a situation that led Ciann and Tidoris to learn the truth and find out more about the past. Tidoris' brother is another twist in the story that I wish I knew more about.  The group's mission is exciting and inspirational, ending with a satisfying epilogue. 

​Around 2030 people stopped dying.  A genetic variant gone wild, called the Methuselah gene has now gone viral, wreaking havoc on the Earth's resources.  The world is now divided between those within a normal lifespan and the Lifers, or ultra aged. A man now known only by Zinn who helped to create Methuselah is on the run, chased by CIA biowarfare specialist and fellow Lifer, Adele. Adele is looking for a cure; however, some of Adele's old friends and political operatives, Dan and Marion, are actively fighting for Lifers rights.  Meanwhile, Dan and Marion's son, Nolan, has created a drug that will kill the recipient one year after they finish the dose and their granddaughter, Claire is working for the President to actively solve the problem of the Lifer situation.

Lifers is an intriguing and thought provoking speculative fiction mixed with political thriller. Lifers brings up many topical issues such as resource use, ageism, and the generational divide. The point of view switches between Dan, Marion, Adele, Zinn, Nolan and Claire, giving a well rounded view of how Methuselah is affecting different groups of people.  Resources dried up, and some of the Boomer generation only got richer while others are out on the street. Medical care for the aging is in stress despite medical advancements.  Social Security no longer exists.  Housing is in crisis. Some of the ultra-aged are enjoying their extra years, finding peace, meaning and continued learning and growth.  The younger population is finding it difficult to secure housing and making decisions to not have children. The clash between the Lifers and the non-Methuselah infected government was thought provoking; obviously there were problems that needed to be solved, but prejudices seemed to prevail as the solution was to make Lifers want to kill themselves off for the greater good while the Lifers just wanted to be allowed to live.  There seemed to be no good solution and I found myself seeing the logic in both sides of the argument.  As the two factions come to a head, regrettable decisions are made, but Marion and Claire, grandmother and granddaughter arise with a solution. 
 
This book was received for free in return for an honest review. 

Dagny Losh is an aspiring adventurer; however her biggest adventure to date has been escaping the neighborhood that flooded and killed the rest of her family.  Dag was taken in by the Benzaga's, a friend of her deceased brother, Alex and now lives a luxurious life, but wants a purpose.  Dag is in luck when she  finds a group of adventurers who need her help to rescue a boy from one of the crumbling Oracle towers.  With a successful adventure and renewed purpose, Dag joins the adventurers only to find out that her sister, Grete may be alive.  Another adventure into the dangerous Limerstown reunites the sisters, but time has passed and Limerstown has changed Grete.  Something that Grete has taken from Limerstown and carries within her has made her yearn for another place to hopefully give back what was taken.  Dag wants to help Grete, but Grete's compulsion might leave her behind to follow the Night Road. 


Ever the Night Road is a young adult fantasy adventure that creates a world of danger, intrigue and magic.  I was really interested in Dag's world, the different neighborhoods, the people and what seemed like a lost realm and belief system.  The story began a little slowly for me as Dag was introduced and we got to know about her family and her world.  As the adventures began with Dag and her new friends in the Oracle Tower, the pacing picked up.  I was very curious about the Oracle and the large crow that Dagny seemed to befriend on her adventure.  The adventure continued as Dagny found out about her sister and embarked on a different adventure in a very different place.  Limerstown showed a different side of their world and the inequities present between different areas and the dangers present.  Grete's presence added a mystery to the mix with her distant and strange behavior as well as her insistence upon needing to return something that she had stolen from Limerstown created a sense of urgency and continued the adventure.  I liked that Dagny's adventures helped her to find her own sense of family.  With a new adventure beginning, I can't wait to start the second book. 


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

​Beginning right where Ever the Night Road leaves off, Jud catapults us into the strange world of the underground road that Dagny is hoping to navigate with her new friend Melwes and his spirit guides in order to find an entrance into the realm of Jud and hopefully connect with her sister Grete.  Dagny is able to make it into Jud only to be separated from Melwes and is now facing a new set of dangers in an unknown world. With the help of some new friends, Dagny is reunited with Grete only to embark on her new mission to return to find Odestinias, the former ruler of Jud and return what she stole.  


Jud is an exciting fantasy adventure through new worlds.  There was non-stop action as Dagny, Melwes, Grete and Feruda navigated through Jud's everchanging landscape.  I enjoyed experiencing all of these different parts of Jud along with Dagny, each was unique with their own personalities, quirks and possible dangers.  The stories of Jud's creation were very interesting and helped to fill in some gaps.  I wish we got to hear more about Jud, especially from the Queen herself.  Dagny's journey in this book is more emotional as she finds that she can not always fix everything for everyone and that she can not accomplish everything by herself.  I loved the addition of Melwes character, with his innocence and knowledge of the underground, Pren, who is trying to escape family obligations, Eidfur an amazing wolf and Feruda, a traveler between the two worlds.  Each adventure is suspenseful and keeps the pacing quick as Dagny and her new team face multiple new challenges.  With themes of friendship, family, purpose and destiny, Jud delivers a successful sequel. 

​The world of Atterah is fueled by magic, yet no one is allowed to practice magic except within the borders of Etabon.  Etabon is ruled over by a vicious and powerful warden, Hallowfeld, who uses the magic chaos created by violent fights between magic beings to fuel Atterah.  Kiera knows that entering Etabon could ruin her chances at a further education, but when several school mates ask for her help to sneak into a festival there, she can't resist the payment.  However, when one of the school mates pushes Kiera over the border, her magic activates and Kiera becomes a rare shifter.  Her form quickly catches Hallowfeld's attention and Kiera becomes bound to Hallowfeld and Etabon. 


The Last Refuge is a Young Adult dystopian fantasy steeped in magic.  I was immediately hooked by  the idea of banned magic in a world that seems to need magic to survive.  Kiera's character drew me in since she wanted so much to acknowledge her magic, but also wanted to live a quiet life with her mother. In Etabon, I enjoyed Kiera and Attalin's relationship, level of trust and bond that they quickly formed.  Hallowfeld's use of fear to control  the magic of Etabon with violence instead of compassion creates a powerful and dangerous adversary.  Etabon itself was a carefully crafted world that welcomed magic while pitting magical creatures against one another at the same time. While the fights that Kiera had to endure were entertaining and showed off the powers of the different creatures in Etabon, my favorite parts of the story were when Kiera  and Attalin had time to explore Etabon and find out the origin of the curse that is allowing Hallowfeld to thrive and control the flow of magic.