The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George is an ode to the power of books and letting go of the past — Monsieur Perdu owns and runs a literary apothecary, where he proscribes books for whatever ails his customers. However, he is unable to proscribe a book for his own pain, so that he too can move on from the past and what is holding him down. …

The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss is every bit as good as people say (mostly) — Kvothe is a pub owner in a small town, which means he rarely has that much to do. And it’s beginning to wear on him. When a chronicler arrives and identifies him as a legend in the world, what follows is Kvothe’s story told in his own voice. This book…

Just like your favorite cupcake, Dusk or Dark or Dawn or Day by Seanan McGuire is light, fun, and enjoyable to consume — Jenna has a debt, a life debt, that she has to pay off by being a ghost among the living. It’s not all bad, except she refuses to do what she could do and take her time from the living. Instead, she assists at a suicide hotline to honor her…

The Wizard’s Butler by Nathan Lowell is a charming story about belonging and belief Roger Mulligan is hired by the niece of an older gentleman troubled by dementia to be his butler. But what starts out as a simple assignment to keep Joseph Perry Shackleford alive long enough for his…

Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett is an interesting story with a mostly likeable character — Emily Wilde is a Cambridge professor visiting the northern village of Ljorsland to document a type of Faery called The Hidden Ones. She’s driven and focused on finishing her Encyclopedia of Faeries when her colleague, Wendell Bambleby, arrives on her doorstep to “help” her. …

Oddjobs by Heide Goody and Iain Grant is a fluffy, easy-to-read series with an end of the world seriousness that makes it enjoyable — Hell on Earth is coming. No, it’s not a threat, but the reality the Consular staff in Birmingham UK (and in other places) have been dealing with for decades. The Vensilarn invaded at some point in the past and their only goal is to bring on a hellscape, where humans…

Rich with tragedy, secrets, and the entanglement of family bonds, The Distant Hours by Kate Morton is fantastic — A long-lost letter from 1941 sets Edith Burchill on a path to discover her mother’s past and the entangled secrets of the Blythe family. Along the way, she finds out more about who she is and where she wants to go than she expects. I read this book on a…

A beautiful tale, Witchmark by C.L. Polk is about love, betrayal, loss, and bravery, but it’s too short Miles Singer is a healer with a secret. When a dying man is brought to the hospital by a good-looking wealthy man and requests Dr. Singer help him, it sets Miles on…

Ghosts, family, and forgiving your past fills The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield with depth and mystery Margaret Lea is shocked to discover that England’s greatest writer, Vida Winters, who never tells any truths about her past, has written her to ask Margaret to write her biography. …

Full of flowers, prose, and family emotion, The Probable Future by Alice Hoffman is good but might be a little long The Sparrow women each are given gifts on their thirteenth birthday. For Elinor, she can tell when someone lies. For Jenny, her daughter, she can see people’s dreams. And…

A story with a strong character journey, The Mask of Mirrors by M.A. Carrick held my interest Ren is a con artist, and she comes into town playing the long game of tricking a noble family to take her and her sister in, so that they’ll never be hungry or…

A novella featuring a blind protagonist, The Labryinth’s Archivist by Day Al-Mohamed was so good I wished it were longer Azulea is one of a long line of people who protect and catalog the information of the byways, passages, and secrets of the Labrynth. Due to her blindness, however, she…

The stories selected for The Urban Fantasy Anthology is a good selection, although some are too gritty This book features short stories in the mythic fiction, paranormal romance, and noir fantasy subgenres for urban fantasy. Each subgenre has an introduction to the subgenre and how it came to be. …

Prince of Thorns by Mark Lawrence is a disturbing dive into the motivations, rage, and manipulation of its sociopath protagonist — At thirteen, Jorg Ancarth (Prince Jorge) runs with a gang of ruthless killers, who take what they want no matter the cost. He has an agenda, but none of his crew know it. …

Tooth and Claw by Jo Walton is a unique and enjoyable take on the classic Victorian novel (if a little bit gruesome) A family rocked by the death of their father. A selfish greedy brother-in-law. Two young girls looking for stability and marriage in a society filled with rules. A…

Kings of the Wyld by Nicholas Eames is a fantastic character-driven story. — Clay Cooper is satisfied with his quiet life in Coverdale after years of being a mercenary. He’s had his fun and just wants to stay with his wife and daughter. But when one of his old band mates, Gabriel, shows up on his doorstep with grim news of his daughter…

The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake is an amazing multiple POV story that left me wanting more — Every ten years, six people with magical abilities are recruited to join the Alexandrian Society. At the end of the first year, one recruit will be eliminated. What comes next is betrayal, alliances, and power grabs, and not just among the recruits. I was worried I wouldn’t like this, since…

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig is beautiful and reminded me what life is really all about Nora is depressed and feels as if she is loved by no one and loves no one, so she decides to die. When she wakes up, she’s in a library of infinite life…

Circe by Madeline Miller is just as good as the hype — Circe is the daughter of Helios, the God of the sun (Titan). She lives with the gods and only wants to be seen, to be valued, and to fit in amongst the others in her world. When Zeus discovers she has the power of witchcraft, she is banished to an…

Sailing to Sarantium by Guy Gavriel Kay had depth and robust characters set in a rich historical background Crispin, a master mosaicist, takes the place of his mentor when the Emperor requests him to come to Sarantium and practice his art. …