The Rose Bargain by Sasha Peyton Smith

The Rose Bargain by Sasha Peyton Smith

The Rose Bargain #1, 389 pages

⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

London, 1848—For four hundred years, England has been under the control of an immortal fae queen who tricked her way onto the throne. To maintain an illusion of benevolence, Queen Mor grants each of her subjects one opportunity to bargain for their deepest desire.

As Ivy Benton prepares to make her debut, she knows that not even a deal with the queen could fix what has gone wrong: Her family’s social standing is in shambles, her sister is a shadow of her former self, and Ivy’s marriage prospects are nonexistent. So when the queen announces a competition for Prince Bram’s hand, Ivy is the first to sign her name in blood. What a bargain can’t fix, a crown certainly could.

Ivy soon finds herself a surprising front-runner—with the help of an unexpected ally: Prince Bram’s brother, the rakish Prince Emmett, who promises to help Ivy win his brother’s heart…for a price. But as the season sweeps Ivy away, with glittering balls veiling the queen’s increasingly vicious trials, Ivy realizes there’s more at stake than just a wedding. Because all faerie bargains come with a cost, and Ivy may have discovered hers too late.

Squire by Nadia Shammas and Sara Alfageeh

Squire by Nadia Shammas and Sara Alfageeh

305 pages

⭐⭐⭐.5/5

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

Aiza has always dreamt of becoming a Knight. It's the highest military honor in the once-great Bayt-Sajji Empire, and as a member of the subjugated Ornu people, Knighthood is her only path to full citizenship. Ravaged by famine and mounting tensions, Bayt-Sajji finds itself on the brink of war once again, so Aiza can finally enlist in the competitive Squire training program.

It's not how she imagined it, though. Aiza must navigate new friendships, rivalries, and rigorous training under the unyielding General Hende, all while hiding her Ornu background. As the pressure mounts, Aiza realizes that the "greater good" that Bayt-Sajji's military promises might not include her, and that the recruits might be in greater danger than she ever imagined.

Aiza will have to choose, once and for all: loyalty to her heart and heritage, or loyalty to the Empire.

Babel by R. F. Kuang

Babel by R. F. Kuang

544 pages

⭐⭐⭐⭐.5/5

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

Traduttore, traditore: An act of translation is always an act of betrayal.

1828. Robin Swift, orphaned by cholera in Canton, is brought to London by the mysterious Professor Lovell. There, he trains for years in Latin, Ancient Greek, and Chinese, all in preparation for the day he’ll enroll in Oxford University’s prestigious Royal Institute of Translation—also known as Babel. The tower and its students are the world's center for translation and, more importantly, magic. Silver-working—the art of manifesting the meaning lost in translation using enchanted silver bars—has made the British unparalleled in power, as the arcane craft serves the Empire's quest for colonization.

For Robin, Oxford is a utopia dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge. But knowledge obeys power, and as a Chinese boy raised in Britain, Robin realizes serving Babel means betraying his motherland. As his studies progress, Robin finds himself caught between Babel and the shadowy Hermes Society, an organization dedicated to stopping imperial expansion. When Britain pursues an unjust war with China over silver and opium, Robin must decide . . .

Can powerful institutions be changed from within, or does revolution always require violence?

Review

So good! It's very dense, but incredibly well researched and tackles such interesting topics, especially the relationship between colonialism and language, and also race, class and academia. And I loved how the magic was based around language.

The Untitled Books by C.J. Archer

 

The Untitled Books (The Glass Library #3) by C.J. Archer, 282 p.

"When a set of bound manuscripts written on magician-made paper is brought to the Glass Library, Sylvia and the professor send the owner away. After all, the library collects books about magic, not containing it.

But the murder of the bookbinder who bound them sees the books returned to the library, along with Gabe in his role as consultant for Scotland Yard. When his investigation uncovers a link to Sylvia’s past, they’re even more determined to find the murderer. But they’re not the only ones searching for answers. Someone has gone to great lengths to find the truth behind the binding of the books.

The hunt for the killer leads them to dark corners of London and unscrupulous players with much to gain by owning the collection. It also leads to the discovery of long-buried secrets, and staggering revelations that shed light on Sylvia’s past."--Amazon blurb

Great third installment in this series that I am continuing to love. I'm glad that there are more coming. Archer has a great writing style and this series has had a good character-driven plot. Several mysteries come into play, and the hunt for a killer (am I the only one that thinks this is maybe Jack the Ripper?) continues. Can't wait for the release of the 4th book!

The Medici Manuscript by C.J. Archer

The Medici Manuscript (The Glass Library #2) by C.J. Archer, 280 p.

"One book can change your life. Finding an old manuscript in the attic has always been a fantasy of Sylvia’s. She just never expected the fantasy to come true, or for it to lead her to answers about her mysterious family.

The silver clasps binding the pages contain rare magic – the same magic that might run through Sylvia’s veins. To discover a link to her ancestors means understanding the book itself, but it’s written in a code that proves difficult to crack. The only thing she knows for certain is that it was once owned by the Medicis, the powerful family that controlled Renaissance Florence.

With the help of Gabe and his friends, Sylvia investigates the book’s origins. But following the clues throws up more questions – questions they need help answering. Trusting others is not Sylvia’s strong suit, but with Gabe at her side, she becomes capable and confident. Until their trust is shattered when the book is stolen.

Uncovering the thief proves dangerous, particularly when someone is also trying to kidnap Gabe. With his own mysteries to unravel, Gabe’s private life becomes more complicated. Sylvia tries to keep her distance but staying away from someone as magnetic as Gabe is impossible. With so many distractions, can they find the thief before the book is lost forever? Or will the secrets contained within its pages remain unsolved and will Sylvia’s past continue to be a mystery?"--Amazon blurb

 The second in The Glass Library series did not disappoint. Another perfect example of a short, yet full novel. The magic system in this series is interesting, and the characters are fun and the mystery keeps you intrigued. Looking forward to the continued unveiling of Sylvia's past!

The Librarian of Crooked Lane by C.J. Archer

 

The Librarian of Crooked Lane (The Glass Library #1) by C.J. Archer, 279 p.

"Librarian Sylvia Ashe knows nothing about her past, having grown up without a father and a mother who refused to discuss him. When she stumbles upon a diary that suggests she’s descended from magicians, she’s skeptical. After all, magicians are special, and she’s just an ordinary girl who loves books. She seeks the truth from a member of the most prominent family of magicians, but she quickly learns that finding the truth won’t be easy, especially when he turns out to be as artless as her, and more compelling and dangerous than books.

War hero Gabe is gifted with wealth, a loving family, and an incredible amount of luck that saw him survive four harrowing years of a brutal war without injury. But not all injuries are visible. Burying himself in his work as a consultant for Scotland Yard, Gabe is going through the motions as he investigates the theft of a magician-made painting. But his life changes when he unwittingly gets Sylvia dismissed from her job and places her in danger.

After securing her new employment in a library housing the world’s greatest collection of books about magic, Gabe and Sylvia’s lives become intwined as they work together to find both the painting and the truth about Sylvia’s past before powerful people can stop them. But sometimes the past is better left buried…"--Amazon blurb

While this book is much shorter than what I normally read, I can't say no to books about books and libraries. This was my first Archer book and I enjoyed this immensely. There's something to be said for a well-written, shorter book. There was no fluff. There was no dragging anywhere. Well-written, engrossing story and I look forward to the next in the series. 

The Hexologists by Josiah Bancroft

The Hexologists (The Hexologists #1) by Josiah Bancroft, 318 p.

"The first book in a wildly inventive and mesmerizing new fantasy series from acclaimed author Josiah Bancroft where magical mysteries abound and only one team can solve The Hexologists.

The Hexologists, Iz and Warren Wilby, are quite accustomed to helping desperate clients with the bugbears of city life. Aided by hexes and a bag of charmed relics, the Wilbies have recovered children abducted by chimney-wraiths, removed infestations of barb-nosed incubi, and ventured into the Gray Plains of the Unmade to soothe a troubled ghost. Well-acquainted with the weird, they never shy away from a challenging case. 

But when they are approached by the royal secretary and told the king pleads to be baked into a cake—going so far as to wedge himself inside a lit oven—the Wilbies soon find themselves embroiled in a mystery that could very well see the nation turned on its head. Their effort to expose a royal secret buried under forty years of lies brings them nose to nose with a violent anti-royalist gang, avaricious ghouls, alchemists who draw their power from a hell-like dimension, and a bookish dragon who only occasionally eats people. 

Armed with a love toughened by adversity and a stick of chalk that can conjure light from the darkness, hope from the hopeless, Iz and Warren Wilby are ready for a case that will test every spell, skill, and odd magical artifact in their considerable bag of tricks."--Amazon blurb

This was a fun and different type of fantasy. Loved the relationship between Iz and Warren, and the shenanigans they get up to. I will say this took me a while to get through. It picked up about halfway through and I didn't want to put it down. Bancroft is a new-to-me author, and think I'll try another series of his, too.

The Rise and Fall of D.O.D.O. by Neal Stephenson and Nicole Galland

Neal Stephenson and Nicole Gallard

The Rise and Fall of D.O.D.O.: A Novel by Neal Stephenson and Nicole Gallard --- 752 pages including Cast of Characters and Glossary

Magic used to be real. Possibly, it could be again. And so the top secret Department of Diachronic Operations is created to build an Ontic Decoherence Cavity and recruit KCWs to perform DEDEs that will send DOers on DTAPs.

This book could serve as a doorstop for an ODEC. It's the perfect summer read, pages upon pages of quasi-historical, quasi-scientific Quixotic Quest with a capital Q. But make sure you have a pillow on your lap to prop the book on or it will sprain your wrists as surely as the contents will sprain your brain.

When a best selling master of speculative fiction and an inventive writer of historical fiction decide to collaborate, what ensues is a romp through time that combines swords, sorcery, quantum physics, a hero obsessed with the job, a heroine (obsessed with the hero) trapped in 1851 London, government bureaucracy on steroids, and mercenary warriors from Fourth Century Constantinople running amok in near future Massachusetts, and the dreadful fate of the Elizabethan poet, Christopher Marlowe.

Click HERE to read the review from Kirkus Reviews.

Click HERE to read the review from Starburst Magazine.

Click HERE to listen to a June 16, 2017 interview with both authors from Youtube.

Click HERE to read a review from The Guardian (UK).

The Far West by Patricia C. Wrede

The Far West by Patricia C. Wrede, 378 pages

Eff has grown over the last two books and in the third installment of the series, she is headed back into the wild west with her brother, best friend, mentors and others. The expedition hopes to discover more about the wildlife and the dangers/benefits to the settlements beyond the Great Barrier. The book still moves along slowly with rare moments of action. A touch of romance weaves through the final book but doesn't really blossom until almost the very end. Once again, the author literally saves all the "bests" for last. I will say that more is explained about the magical token Eff wears around her neck. I did enjoy learning more about the different types of magic woven into the necklace. The romance between Eff and one member of the expedition party is very subtle and sweet. The epilogue gives a subtle hint that we might see more of Eff, Lan and William in further stories. All in all an okay series for teens who enjoy a bit of western and a whole lot of detail.

Across the Great Barrier by Patricia Wrede

Across the Great Barrier by Patricia Wrede, 339 pages
(book 2 in Frontier Magic series)

The 13th child, Eff, we previously met in "The 13th Child"is back again for the second time. This time she is a young adult still struggling with her magical skills and ready to graduate high school. When her twin brother (the 7th son of a 7th son) pushes for her to attend a magic university, Eff insists on going to work instead for the local menagerie and as an assistant to one of the professors of the local school of magic. When trouble again brews across the great barrier, Eff is called upon to travel with Wash and the professor to discover the cause. Before she can leave, however, an urgent message arrives concerning her twin, Lan. Will her magic finally work the way it should in time to save her brother and the settlements? The story meanders slowly through Eff's life and interactions. Once again, the story is very detailed oriented about the "Wild West" and the settling of the land. The true action is not reached until the last few chapters of the book.

Dark Triumph by Robin LaFevers

Dark Triumph by Robin LaFevers, 387 pages
(2nd book in His Fair Assassins series)

Dark Triumph focuses on Sybella's life more so than the historical facts of the time. Sybella has been raised by a monster of a father and has experienced all forms of abuse at his and her brothers' hands. Her story grips you to the soul as you experience the madness that touches her mind from being forced back into the life she thought she was free of upon becoming one of Death's handmaidens -- an assassin for the god Mortain. The abbess of Mortain has sent Sybella back to the very hell she came from. Her mission - to discover what her cruel earthly father is up to and how it can harm/help the cause for Duchess Anne. We first met Sybella in the first book Grave Mercy. I'm thrilled that this book was dedicated solely to her though we did get to visit with all the characters from the first book. From Sybella's cruel past to her most awesome future, this was a fantastic read. I have to be careful to not give too much away. The romance, mystery, murder, cruelty, compassion and loyalties that Sybella discovers in her story are well worth the read. I was very thrilled that the Beast had a role to play in Sybella's story as well. He was a very strong and like-able character in Grave Mercy -- deserving of some attention to his own story.

Grave Mercy by Robin Lafevers

Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers, 549 pages
(Book 1 of His Fair Assassin series)

Ismae is born with the mark of Mortain and becomes the bane of her "father's" existence. Thinking to rid himself of her in the most painful way possible, he marries her to a pig farmer he knows will abuse and mistreat her. But the god Mortain has other plans for his daughter. He arranges for an herb witch and priest to rescue her and take her to a nunnery in service to him. There she learns all the ways to become an assassin - Death's handmaiden. She is sent with Gavriel (the bastard son of a Duke) to discover who is trying to betray the young Dutchess. Ismae must swallow her revulsion of men and become all that she despises to weed out the traitor in the midst. As much as she hates Gavriel, she finds herself inexplicably drawn to him. When Mortain's mark is aimed at Gavriel, will she follow her heart or her oath to serve Mortain alone?
 The second time around is even better than the first read. There was so much I had missed. The subtleties throughout the book will be missed the first read through. I found myself liking Ismae, the trained assassin of St. Mortain, even more than I did the first time. The romance between her and Gavriel was much sweeter this time. The treachery, mystery, and tidbits scattered through out the pages were more easily discovered than when my mind was first engaged in guessing where the author was taking this historical fantasy fiction story.

The Beautiful and the Cursed by Page Morgan

The Beautiful and the Cursed by Page Morgan, 340 pages

An exciting and well-written tale about a young lady, her twin brother, younger sister and the gargoyle that is guardian to them. Filled with romance, danger, adventure, mystery, murder and suspense, this is a "must finish in one sitting" kind of book. I thoroughly enjoyed it. This book is newly published 5/13.

Soulless by Gail Carriger

Soulless by Gail Carriger, 384 pages
(book 1 of The Parasol Protectorate series)

Well written and entirely entertaining are the best way to describe this book. I thoroughly enjoyed the idea of a person being born soulless and able to "neutralize" all the supernaturals (werewolves, vampires, ghosts, fey, etc.). I laughed my way through the book from beginning (where she kills a vampire with her parasol) to end ... even on the parts that weren't suppose to be funny. The love connection/storyline between the main character and a supernatural was well done. I already have the rest of the series on my "must read" list. Romance, danger, comedy, fantasy ... you name it, this book has it.

Charmed Destinies: Mercedes Lackey, Rachel Lee and Catherine Asaro

Charmed Destinies - 3 stories in 1,  384 pages

Counting Crows by Mercedes Lackey is a story about a young woman who is wedded to a border Lord to protect the king's claim on the land and to keep the young woman's father safe from a neighboring dark wizard. After being "Glove Fasted" to a husband she's never met, Gwynn heads to her new home escorted by rough soldiers accompanied only by her half-sibling Robin. She is determined to love her husband and be a good wife. When she meets him, however, she finds him to be a true terror and faces beating after beating at his hands. But, she is not without resource. Gwynn is also a sorceress and the way she deals with her abusive husband will leave you smiling.


Drusilla's Dream by Rachel Lee is a funny tale of two modern day office workers. Their desire for each other meets up in a fantasy world reality. As each begins to spin their own tale in their fantastical worlds, they are interrupted at key points by every day life like the janitor mopping the floor or the computer having an error. You'll find yourself chuckling at their creative imaginations that play out like dreams. In the end, will they finally confess their mutual attraction and live the fairytale?

Moonglow by Catherine Asara was by far my favorite tale in this book. Iris is a powerful young mage who thinks her power is quite limited. Jarid is a young prince who watched his parents die before his eyes before he lost his hearing, sight and voice, and was raised by one of the murderer's as a son. Each has hurts that they bury deep inside leaving them crippled to their true power. When Iris accidentally discovers that Prince Jarid is still alive, the kingdom works fast to set the new King on the throne. Because Iris is the strongest female mage in the land, she becomes Jarid's wife before he can see/hear/speak with her. Yet they can reach each other through their emotions and in that comes great healing. This a warm fuzzy story that will leave you sighing with contentment.

Dodger by Terry Pratchett

Dodger by Terry Pratchett --- 360 pages

Terry Pratchett is arguably the finest writer of comic fantasy in the late 20th-early 21st century. His Discworld novels comprise a universe unique and complete in itself, and in addition to these he has written a number of fantasy novels for children and teens --- of which Dodger is the latest example.

The tale takes place in a setting we instantly recognize as Dickensian England; early 19th century, Victoria only lately come to the throne, with guest appearances by Sweeney Todd, Sir Robert Peel, Charlie Dickens himself and a young and ambitious Ben Disraeli. Young Dodger has lived by his wits on the streets of London since escaping from the workhouse where he was consigned as a foundling child. He started life as a mudlark and is now a tosher --- a person who searches for small items that can be salvaged from the muck of London's ancient sewers.

One night during a raging storm, Dodger stumbles upon a young woman trying desperately to escape from two brutal captors. He rushes to her assistance, aided by the timely appearance of two gentlemen, who prove to be the social reformer Henry Mayhew and the newspaperman Charles Dickens. Much to his amazement, Dodger finds himself embarked upon a whole new career as a most unlikely hero.