When Oceans Rise
Robin Alvarez

Publisher:
    Creative James Media

Pub Date: May 23rd, 2023
​
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary
​

Synopsis:


Submerged in a toxic relationship and disconnected from everyone, she turns to the sea to decide her fate. Its decision? Toss her to the sea witch.

Seventeen-year-old Malaya is cursed. In her family, every girl’s first love ends in death after falling for someone evil. Good thing Malaya’s dream guy isn’t monstrous.

Except the curse is real and preventing Malaya from noticing how much he has gaslit and isolated her until she can’t be saved. With no other options, the sea witch is the only one to help her. Bartering her voice for a new life where she and her abusive boyfriend never met, Malaya accidentally swaps places with an alternate timeline version of herself who didn’t make her mistakes. As she tries to undo the switch, the sea witch uses Malaya’s voice to unleash Filipino mythological creatures into the worlds.

Can a champion, an alternate timeline sister, and Malaya fight these beasts and stop the sea witch before she destroys both timelines?
Content Warning: gaslighting, one paragraph with physical abuse

Tell me a little about how this story first came to be. Did it start with an image, a voice, a concept, a dilemma, or something else?


This book started with a moment in my past when I chose to go surfing during a hurricane. Not during the day of the storm, of course. People who live near beaches will likely know this, but in the days leading up to a hurricane, the storm will feed the ocean. At seventeen, I chose to go out into those dangerous swells, and I almost died.

A creative writing professor asked me to explore why, and my immediate answer was that I was seventeen and at seventeen you just do reckless things. But I’d blocked out most of the truth…

At the time, I’d been in an abusive relationship with a guy who gaslit me until I’d lost my power, my sense of self, and my connections with the people who could have saved me. That day in the surf, I got caught in a fierce riptide, and I wondered if it would just be easier to let go.

Ultimately, I didn’t. But When Oceans Rise is built around that entire scene of powerlessness and struggle and questioning what I was worth.


Can you share something about the book that isn’t in the blurb?


One of my favorite aspects about this book that never gets mentioned is the web series Debunking the Aswang! In When Oceans Rise, the sea witch gains power as people see and believe the monsters she’s releasing. So Malaya and her family create a paranormal hunters web show called Debunking the Aswang to prove the monsters aren’t real (even though they are), so that they can keep the sea witch from gaining the power she needs to escape her underwater prison.


What books or authors have most influenced your own writing?


Marie Lu is a big influence. I loved her Legend series! I also mention Maggie Stiefvater! Her prose is so lyrical, and her plots are intricate. I always have to read her stuff at least twice: once for enjoyment and once for studying!


What life experiences have shaped your writing most?


I was quite the introvert as a child and very fearful of speaking up when people misunderstood me. Just feeling unheard for so long drives me write! At least, if someone picks up my book it’s because they’re choosing to hear me.

​
What do you like to do when you're not writing?


I like to take on new hobbies just to see if I can do them and then give them up! No, but seriously, I really like learning new things. I know how to do a lot of stuff like surfing, woodworking, knitting, etc, because I just want to do a bunch of different things. I always secretly justify it by thinking, maybe I can make a superhero character who likes to knit or a woodworking vampire!


What other projects are in the works?

​
I am working on a novel about soul families called Starseed! It’s based on the idea that we all come to Earth to experience growth as souls, and we do that by signing contracts about the experiences on Earth we will endure that will help us grow.

But these two sisters, who are twin flames and love each other very much in the soul realm, actually betray and kill each other in every human life to the point of near obliteration. They have to figure out how to navigate their next human life cycle or risk their own destruction.

About the Author:


Robin Alvarez is the author of the #1 New Release YA Ethnic Fairy Tale When Oceans Rise (May 2023). 


Strong female characters, mythological creatures, and mixed-race perspective are hallmarks of her work. While she’s spent the majority of her life in beach towns, having almost drowned several times, she currently resides in a desert where the waters are less likely to kill her.


Robin’s work has been featured on OwlCrate, ABC, and NBC news affiliates.

A Shadow Crown
The Halfling Saga #2
Melissa Blair

Publisher:
    Union Square & Co.

Pub Date: May 9th, 2023
​
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary
​

Synopsis:

​The highly anticipated second installment of the fantasy saga that took BookTok by storm sees Keera navigate political scheming, backstabbing, and her own grief as she moves against the cruel king that holds her kingdom hostage.

To the kingdom, Keera is the king’s Blade, his most feared and trusted spy and assassin. But in the shadows, she works with Prince Killian and his Shadow—the dark, brooding Fae, Riven, who sets her blood on fire. Together, they plot to topple the crown that sits upon the king’s head.

A secret can only survive as long as its conspirators, and when nothing is as it seems, all are in danger. Keera swore she would never open her heart again after a loss she barely survived. But she will soon find she has more to lose than she ever imagined . . .

About the Author:


Melissa (she/her/kwe) is an Anishinaabekwe of mixed ancestry living in Turtle Island. She splits her time between Treaty 9 in Northern Ontario and the unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinabeg in Ottawa, Canada. She has a graduate degree in Applied Linguistics and Discourse Studies, loves movies, and hates spoons.

​Melissa has a BookTok account where she discusses her favorite kinds of books including Indigenous and queer fiction, feminist literature, and non-fiction. A Broken Blade is her first novel.

The Rules of Us
Jennifer Nissley

Publisher: Labyrinth Road /
    Random House Children's

Pub Date: May 9th, 2023
​
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary
​

Synopsis:


​Come out. Break up. Stay friends? In this heartwarming queer love story about love of all kinds, exes navigate new crushes, new feelings, and a newly uncertain future after unexpectedly coming out to each other on prom night turns their lives–and their friendship–upside down. Can they figure out how to move on without losing each other?

Jillian and Henry are the kind of couple who do everything together. They take the same classes, have the same hobbies, and applied for the same super-competitive scholarship so they can go to the same dream college. They even come out as gay to each other on the same night, after junior prom, prompting a sudden breakup that threatens their intertwined identities and carefully designed future. Jillian knows the only way to keep everything on track is to approach their breakup with the same precision and planning as their scholarship application. They will still be “Jillian and Henry”–even if they’re broken up.

Except they hadn’t planned on Henry meeting the boy of his dreams or Jillian obsessing over a cool girl at school. Jillian is desperate to hold on to her best friend when so much else is changing. But as she and Henry explore what–and who–they really want, it becomes harder to hold on to the careful definitions she has always lived her life by. Stuck somewhere between who she was with Henry and who she might be on her own, Jillian has to face what she can’t control and let go of the rules holding her back.

Jillian and Henry's story is complicated.. and not just because their relationship is being pulled in opposite directions by their recent revelations. They're also smart, messy, complicated individuals who are prone to allowing their feelings to dictate their behaviors.

Both Jillian and Henry are extremely driven, college-bound students. It seems as if they've shared everything since they met, been absolutely in-step with one another all the way. Here those steps are starting to falter.

From a character standpoint, they each are alternately flawed and frequently relatable, if somewhat hypocritical. Unfortunately, this aspect of Jillian's personality is heavily frontloaded in the story, which made me dislike her for awhile.. but as things evened out, I began to root for both of them.

Generally speaking, the characters are diverse and adorable. I liked the supporting cast as much as the leads, sometimes more. I cared about them as people and their struggle resonated with me. It's not always easy to do what's right for oneself without causing collateral damage to those in our immediate circle, try as we might.

Initially this author had a small habit of interjecting really cringe internal monologue in what appeared to be an effort to use niche modern vernacular. While that would be fine for me if the rest of the book's tone matched it, the lines would come out of nowhere after a flowery description or more standard stylings. It just felt, out of sync with the writing as a whole.

I promise you though, it gets better. If it throws you off at the beginning, push on. Nissley does ease up on those kinds of phrases. Once they become fewer and farther between, softer even.. they stop jarring the reader out of the moment. 

The story itself is inherently cute, filled with themes of self-discovery, hope, and perseverance. I was pleased to see important topics discussed as well, like the flaw in idealized allyship over the importance of an individual's needs and wishes. I read it through in one shot and enjoyed it immensely. ​

About the Author:


Jennifer Nissley (she/her/hers) is the author of THE MYTHIC KODA ROSE, which will be published by Simon & Schuster in Summer 2021. Although her first love is writing, she is powerfully attracted to video games, horses, and pretty much any piece of clothing or interior design with an animal on it.

She received her MFA in Fiction from Stony Brook Southampton and lives in Queens with her wife and doggo, but sadly no horses.
​
Currently, she’s at work on multiple writing projects.

Fake Dates and Mooncakes
Sher Lee

Publisher: Underlined / PRH

Pub Date: May 16th, 2023
​
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary
​

Synopsis:


Heartstopper meets Crazy Rich Asians in this heartfelt, joyful paperback original rom-com that follows an aspiring chef who discovers the recipe for love is more complicated than it seems when he starts fake-dating a handsome new customer.

Dylan Tang wants to win a Mid-Autumn Festival mooncake-making competition for teen chefs—in memory of his mom, and to bring much-needed publicity to his aunt’s struggling Chinese takeout in Brooklyn.

Enter Theo Somers: charming, wealthy, with a smile that makes Dylan’s stomach do backflips. AKA a distraction. Their worlds are sun-and-moon apart, but Theo keeps showing up. He even convinces Dylan to be his fake date at a family wedding in the Hamptons.
​
In Theo’s glittering world of pomp, privilege, and crazy rich drama, their romance is supposed to be just pretend . . . but Dylan finds himself falling for Theo. For real. Then Theo’s relatives reveal their true colors—but with the mooncake contest looming, Dylan can’t risk being sidetracked by rich-people problems.
Can Dylan save his family’s business and follow his heart—or will he fail to do both?

1. Slow-heating romance: 
It's a fake dating story that takes its time. The near-miss romantic moments making you yearn for Theo and Dylan to find their way to each other.

2. Diaspora culture preservation: 
Examples of Chinese diaspora experiences are littered throughout the book as Dylan strives to preserve his culture and Theo grasps at the threads of his own via his connection with Dylan.

3. Positivity and productivity around grief: 
The story journeys along an exploration of grief and the different ways we deal with that, whether it be mourning a death or another type of loss, but remains light-hearted and full of warmth.

4. Loveable, relatable characters: 
Theo and Dylan are both sweet, wonderful characters. While they're not perfect, they're genuine and care deeply about those around them.

5. Quick, cute read: 
Perfect for a day read, most of the topics are handled gently and Dylan's family is a delightfully, fun bunch.

'Fake Dates and Mooncakes' is a delightfully queer, Not-So-Meet-Cute in the vein of To All the Boys I've Loved Before. 

Dylan is a quiet, hard working guy who's struggling to preserve his connection with his late mother and the culture he grew up in, while trying to balance school and helping to save his aunt's Chinese takeout. Surrounded by his loving, supportive family.. for the most part, life is pretty good.

Theo seemingly has it all. He's gorgeous, wealthy, and worldly for his age. There's a kindness to him that Dylan finds almost suspicious. So, when he talks Dylan into being his fake boyfriend for a family wedding, Dylan spends the weekend sort of waiting for the catch and trying to remind himself that none of it's real.

The pair are both lovely and I really enjoyed the slow, inevitable way they were drawn to each other initially. Though they met under strange, even uncomfortable circumstances, I found myself really wanting to see things go well for them.

While Dylan's family is great, Theo's leaves a little something to be desired. For the most part, they're inherently self-absorbed, unpleasant people.. with just a few exceptions. 

The romance was sweet, not overdone at all and I love that Lee did not just jump them right into physical intimacy. I also really enjoyed the glimpses of Dylan's heritage through the proverbs his family had carried with them, the expression of how they conveyed their traditions and feelings through their creation of meals, as well as little anecdotes relating to their spiritual beliefs.

This was a really cute, quick read and I didn't want to put it down. I look forward to seeing more stories from this author and would recommend the book to anyone looking for something relatively light that's filled with hope and joy.

About the Author:


Sher Lee writes rom-coms and fantasy novels for teens. She lives in Singapore and has an abiding love for local street food (including an incredible weakness for xiao long bao).
​
FAKE DATES AND MOONCAKES, pitched as Heartstopper meets Crazy Rich Asians, is her debut YA rom-com coming Summer 2023 from Penguin Random House.

The Night Mother
NightWhere Series
John Everson

Publisher: Dark Arts Books

Pub Date: June 1st, 2023
​
Genre: Erotic Horror
​

Synopsis:

Selena, a fallen angel, knew that once exposed, you could never escape the pull of NightWhere, a mysterious underground club. Cassie, a driven dominatrix, didn’t.
​

When both are drawn into the club’s secret rooms that promise an ecstasy of forbidden pain and pleasure, they must somehow try to protect the men they love. Because the club’s Midnight Queen, the Night Mother, has a deadly plan that may very well swallow not simply their bodies, but their souls.

"Come on in and sin." Yes, please!

'The Night Mother,' the upcoming release from Bram Stoker Award Winning Author--John Everson, is a welcome trip down the erotic horror genre lane. This standalone follow-up to Everson's 'NightWhere,' is not for the squeamish.

Told in multi-pov, this book tracks the stories of a fallen angel and her lover Mark, his ex Rae and her lover the Midnight Queen, and a dominatrix named Cassie who finds her path merging with them all. The seemingly mythical underground bdsm club is always on the move and the only way in is by invitation, but getting out is even harder once NightWhere takes an interest in someone.

As the events play out, the scenes get more and more gruesome, and you will quickly realize Everson isn't bound by much in the way of limits. There are no safe words here, not for those being admitted beyond the walls of the club.. and not for any of us. 

While this is fantastic for me, I know such graphic depictions can be difficult for others, so make sure you know what you're getting into before picking up the book. I discovered erotic horror via the old Hot Blood book series, so if you like those.. rest assured.. you will enjoy this too.

Scenes of violence and kink ramp up considerably over the course of the tale. The first few are relatively sedate in my experience, but they grow in scope and spectrum to a very gruesome, intense level. 

Personally, I had a blast reading this book and I applaud Everson for being able to keep up the rather aggressive pacing he set throughout the entire story.

About the Author:


John Everson is a Bram Stoker Award-winning horror author with more than 100 published short stories and 13 novels of horror and dark fantasy currently in print.


His first novel, Covenant, won the Bram Stoker Award for a First Novel in 2005. His sixth novel, NightWhere, was a Bram Stoker Finalist in 2013. His 13th novel, Five Deaths for Seven Songbirds was released in March 2022. His characters Danika and Mila Dubov appear in the Netflix series V Wars.

Silver in the Bone
Alexandra Bracken

Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers

Pub Date: Apr. 4th, 2023
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Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
​

Synopsis:

#1 New York Times bestselling author Alexandra Bracken cements her status as one of the top fantasy authors writing today in this stunning series opener inspired by Arthurian legend and fueled by love, revenge, and pure adrenaline!

Tamsin Lark didn’t ask to be a Hollower. As a mortal with no magical talent, she was never meant to break into ancient crypts, or compete with sorceresses and Cunningfolk for the treasures inside. But after her thieving foster father disappeared without so much as a goodbye, it was the only way to keep herself—and her brother, Cabell—alive.

Ten years later, rumors are swirling that her guardian vanished with a powerful ring from Arthurian legend. A run-in with her rival Emrys ignites Tamsin’s hope that the ring could free Cabell from a curse that threatens both of them. But they aren’t the only ones who covet the ring.

As word spreads, greedy Hollowers start circling, and many would kill to have it for themselves. While Emrys is the last person Tamsin would choose to partner with, she needs all the help she can get to edge out her competitors in the race for the ring. Together, they dive headfirst into a vipers’ nest of dark magic, exposing a deadly secret with the power to awaken ghosts of the past and shatter her last hope of saving her brother. . . .
​
Content Warning: foster family dynamic, childhood abuse, mention of suicidal thoughts, self-harm, and gore/blood

About the Author:


Alexandra Bracken was born in Phoenix, Arizona. The daughter of a Star Wars collector, she grew up going to an endless string of Star Wars conventions and toy fairs, which helped spark her imagination and a deep love of reading.

After graduating high school, she attended The College of William & Mary in Virginia, where she double majored in English and History.

She sold her first book, Brightly Woven, as a senior in college, and later moved to New York City to work in children’s book publishing, first as an editorial assistant, then in marketing.

​After six years, she took the plunge and decided to write full time. She now lives in Arizona with her tiny pup, Tennyson, in a house that’s constantly overflowing with books. 
Alex is a #1 New York Times bestselling and USA TODAY bestselling author. Her work is available across the world in over 15 languages. 

Hidden
The Vampires of Marchwood Book 1
Shalini Boland

Publisher: Second Sky
Pub Date: Mar. 21st, 2023
​
Genre: YA Fantasy, Paranormal Romance

​Falling in love has never been so dangerous…

From USA Today bestselling author Shalini Boland comes the addictive Vampires of Marchwood series. Perfect for fans of K.F. Breene, Sarah J. Maas and Tracy Wolff.

My name is Madison Greene. On my seventeenth birthday, I inherited an old mansion and wealth beyond my wildest dreams. I thought it was a joke, but as I step through the creaking door of the sprawling building, I realise my life in foster care is in the past. I’ve been chosen and my world has changed forever.

But I wasn’t told that Marchwood House hides a secret.

As I explore every inch of the crumbling property, I stumble upon a set of large, dusty boxes in the basement. When I pull back the lid and look down, I find myself staring at the most handsome face I’ve ever seen. High cheekbones, porcelain skin…

And when he wakes up and locks eyes with me, I realise my heart already belongs to him, even though my head is screaming at me to get as far away from Marchwood as possible. Because I know what he really is.

I never planned to fall in love – but it’s too late now. Alexandre has a dark and dangerous past. He needs me and I have to help him. But can a human really save a vampire?

Falling in love has never been so deadly…

From USA Today bestselling author Shalini Boland comes the addictive Vampires of Marchwood series. Perfect for fans of K.F. Breene, Sarah J. Maas and Tracy Wolff.

My name is Madison Greene and I was an ordinary teenager until I fell in love… with a vampire. Alexandre is tall, with a sexy French accent and mesmerizing eyes. He makes me feel protected, and he’s completely captured my heart.

At Marchwood House, our sprawling mansion nestled in the English countryside, we’re in our own perfect bubble together. But, in the blink of an eye, everything changes when an old enemy of Alexandre’s sets a trap and rips me away from my boyfriend’s arms.

The ancient demon takes me to his underground city, deep beneath the windswept desert. In the twisting tunnels and enormous vaulted caverns, there’s a bloodthirsty vampire around every corner. I’ve never been so terrified…

It seems like there’s no way out from this underground maze. My life is hanging by a thread, and every second I’m here is a step closer to death. I can’t just sit here and hope that Alexandre will rescue me.

Can I outsmart a city of vampires to escape from this hellish place? And will I ever see Alexandre again?

Falling in love has never been so complicated…

From USA Today bestselling author Shalini Boland comes the addictive Vampires of Marchwood series. Perfect for fans of K.F. Breene, Sarah J. Maas and Tracy Wolff.

My name is Madison Greene and my boyfriend is a vampire. And not just any vampire, one with brooding good looks and a smile that makes my heart skip a beat. As I curl up against Alexandre’s side, our hands entwined, I feel like the luckiest girl in the world.

Although our relationship hasn’t been easy. I’m human, so there were always going to be complications. But I thought we’d banished the demons from his previous life. I couldn’t have been more wrong…

Because there’s a new threat in the form of Nadia – a blue-eyed beauty who seems determined to do everything she can to break us apart. I trust Alexandre but I don’t trust her.

As I start digging into the truth to find out who Nadia really is, centuries-old secrets begin to unravel. And in order to set Alexandre free from the chains of his past, we must return to the ancient underground city of vampires to defeat Alexandre’s archnemesis once and for all.

Can I finally save Alexandre? Or will loving a vampire be the death of me?

'Hidden' by Shalini Boland is a dual pov, cross century story about a girl and her brother who are just barely getting by in the foster system. Madison is of course, a bit of an outcast. She wears a lot of dark clothing and has little money. Lately, stress also has her acting out at school. 

Just when things seem about at their worst, the siblings inherit wealth and a house. As the eldest, she's in charge of their fortune, guided by a solicitor representing the estate of their ancestors. But there's always a catch. 

Alexandre is a feisty Frenchman who always seems to find himself in trouble. Also the eldest of his family, he's expected to set a good example and maintain a good reputation for his own siblings as they come into their own. Easier said than done.

After upsetting another group of nobles, he and his family leave town for a bit on the trip of a lifetime. Off to Turkey on a career making archaelogical expedition, his sister doesn't even want to go. She finds the entire idea off-putting and boring, but has no choice other than to accompany them. 

What I love about this tale is the origin story for the vampires. It's uncommon to see authors dig deep (no pun intended) for their characters turning points, but Boland does this in a way that's almost reminiscent of the vampire queen herself, Anne Rice. 

Boland excels at the backstory, the social structure of the world she builds for that time, and the dialogue is well-done. Even Madison and Ben's backstory is handled pretty well. I find them to be less interesting characters in general, but largely because they are mostly stereotypes. They're still likable and you want to see them succeed.

I enjoyed the way the two timelines were written, with the dual-narrations coinciding with each other.. drawing closer and closer until they merged. It's at this point I think the story struggled a little, however. 

Somewhere, Alexander's personality got lost when he was put in the modern setting. Dialogue didn't mesh well and chemistry could have been better between the pair. Madison's reactions flipped in moments, in ways that didn't feel authentic. 

Nonetheless, I am looking forward to trying book two. It's possible that since this is just the first in the series, Boland hadn't fully settled into her groove yet and as it had a ton of potential, I'm hopeful the improvements will show themselves there.

Still, it was a solid enough read if you don't mind a slow pace. I think Alex could be lovely.

About the Author:


​Shalini Boland is the USA-Today bestselling author of seventeen psychological thrillers. With over two million copies sold, her titles are published by Amazon Publishing, Audible, Bookouture, Second Sky and Grand Central Publishing.

Shalini lives by the sea in Dorset, England with her husband, two teens and their increasingly demanding dog, Queen Jess. Before kids, she was signed to Universal Music Publishing as a singer/songwriter, but now she spends her days writing (in between re-stocking the fridge and dealing with endless baskets of laundry).

She is also the author of two bestselling Sci Fi and Fantasy series as well as a WWII evacuee novel with a time-travel twist.

Spell Bound
F.T. Lukens

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Pub Date: Apr. 4th, 2023
​
Genre: YA Fantasy, Magic, LGBTQ+
​

Synopsis:

Two rival apprentice sorcerers must team up to save their teachers and protect their own magic in this lively young adult romantic adventure from the New York Times bestselling author of In Deeper Waters and So This Is Ever After.

Edison Rooker isn’t sure what to expect when he enters the office of Antonia Hex, the powerful sorceress who runs a call center for magical emergencies. He doesn’t have much experience with hexes or curses. Heck, he doesn’t even have magic. But he does have a plan—to regain the access to the magical world he lost when his grandmother passed.

Antonia is…intimidating, but she gives him a job and a new name—Rook—both of which he’s happy to accept. Now all Rook has to do is keep his Spell Binder, an illegal magical detection device, hidden from the Magical Consortium. And contend with Sun, the grumpy and annoyingly cute apprentice to Antonia’s rival colleague, Fable. But dealing with competition isn’t so bad; as Sun seems to pop up more and more, and Rook minds less and less.

But when the Consortium gets wind of Rook’s Spell Binder, they come for Antonia. All alone, Rook runs to the only other magical person he knows: Sun. Except Fable has also been attacked, and now Rook and Sun have no choice but to work together to get their mentors back…or face losing their magic forever.

On the surface, this story might just look like a simple story about magic and unplanned romantic entanglements, but it's so much more.

Rook is a brilliant kid, near the end of probably the roughest year he's experienced. He's lost his only relative and been thrust out of the only community he knows. Alone and feeling untethered, he's got a plan to work his way back in. His biggest problem is that none of it is legal.

Despite his situation, he's almost relentlessly positive and incredibly determined to succeed. He's a warm, lovely character who's quick to banter and tries hard to respect personal boundaries, even if he's not as good about that where his boss' work is concerned.

Antonia is his boss. A tremendously powerful sorceress, though she rejects him at first, she ends up taking him on. She's got a history of her own to contend with and she sees something in him at their first meeting that slips beyond her infamously prickly defenses. 

I love Antonia and her penchant for bucking the rules. If I'm being honest though, it'd be difficult for me to choose a favorite amongst my top three characters in this book. They're all relatable in their own ways.

Sun. Their name couldn't be more ironic, as they're the grumpy to Rook's sunshine. Largely though, their grumpiness is a defense mechanism. They have a serious need for personal space and they typically struggle to grasp social situations, resulting in them sort of always being on edge. Experience has them expecting ridicule instead of empathy, but they are kind and care so deeply for those they let in.

While this read is mostly light and fun, there are a lot of important topics touched upon too. There are lessons to be learned about gatekeeping, different types of adversity, similarities between diverse people, familial structure, even questioning societal norms. 

The story is endearing and I can't wait to read another title from F.T. Lukens because this one really won my heart. Though at first glance, it doesn't 'appear' to be as complex as most titles that I give five star ratings, that complexity is just delivered in a softer.. more reader friendly package. The characters are well-developed, the plot progresses nicely, and there's a lot of diverse representation included amongst the cast of characters.. much of it is never called out.. but rather treated with normalcy and respect.

About the Author:


F.T. Lukens is a New York Times bestselling author of YA speculative fiction including the novels So This Is Ever After, In Deeper Waters, and the forthcoming Spell Bound as well as other science-fiction and fantasy works.

Their contemporary fantasy novel The Rules and Regulations for Mediating Myths & Magic was a 2017 Cybils Award finalist in YA Speculative Fiction, the Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Gold Winner for YA fiction and won the Bisexual Book Award for Speculative Fiction.

F.T. resides in North Carolina with their spouse, three kids, three dogs, and three cats.

Of Love and Forge
Carly Spade

Publisher: Self-Published

Pub Date: Feb. 28th, 2023
​
Genre: NA/Adult Fantasy, Steampunk, Romance
​

Synopsis:


​*The god of the forge…*

Life was good in the Neosphere District. I’d made a name for myself as a renowned supernatural bounty hunter, holding the record for most harpies slayed. But the best part about living in the future? Avoiding the other Olympian gods. Banishing a guy from Olympus because he was “imperfect” tends to make one hold a grudge. Go figure. And no other god possessed the means to time travel. But I did. Thanks to the portal hopping device I forged.

Yup. Life. Was. Grand.

Until a bounty popped up on a certain love goddess. Aphrodite and I had been friends since we were wee gods. I’d be lying to myself if I never thought our “innocent” flirting banter were real on occasion—kidding myself if I said I never wanted things to go beyond platonic. Hence, why I recently kept my distance. For my own sanity. So, of course, I made the grave mistake of taking the godsdamned bounty.


*The goddess of love…*

Since reconciling with my son Eros, after centuries of bad mojo, I’d decided it was time to clean up my act. Ride the straight and narrow. My companion service, Sans Solo, became just the ticket I needed. And it allowed me to use my powers in disguise in modern California under the name Vena Milo.

With the aid of my best friends, and fellow goddesses, the Graces, we ran a legitimate business. All was right in the world.

Until the volcano god showed up. Hephaistos. Heph—a lifelong friend who never failed to confuse me mind, body, and soul. Especially when he showed up with a magical pair of handcuffs. His audacity pissed me off, but the mere sight of him, the smell of him, made my stomach flutter. That…I couldn’t deny. And when Heph's plan goes to Tartarus things got even dicier and we became...the hunted.

​It's probably been a year since one of my coven sisters (Rachel or Willow, I know it was one of you, forgive me lol) first brought Carly Spade's books to my attention. At the time it was Hades, which is a character I love in just about any retelling and I still haven't gotten to that book. So, I jumped at the chance to read 'Of Love and Forge,' when it came up in the tour email and I'm so glad I did!

This book is a lot of fun. Just a great romp through a city with cyberpunk vibes where people are enhanced to the nines and barely bat an eye at whatever wild thing is going down nearby.

From a writing standpoint, it's very light, simple, and straightforward. The story moves quickly, the plot isn't overly complex, but there are layers to the lead characters. There's lots of great banter between them, interspersed with action sequences, and some smoldering interactions as well. 

I love, love Heph. He's hot as would be expected, a bit grumbly, but with a definite vulnerable side. He's got this wall built from the image as the world has made him see himself, other gods included.. but there's so much more to him than meets the eye.

Ro, as he likes to call her, should be an out of touch personality probably, but despite her spoiled goddess behavior here and there, she's extremely likable and surprisingly relatable at times. She really tries to complicate things for him in the beginning and you come to see that's just the kind of relationship they have had over the centuries.

If you're looking for a break from heavier reads, want to sit down and have a good time, this would be a great book to pick up. It's pretty fast-paced and enjoyable. 

About the Author:


An adult romance writer who has been writing since she could pick up a pencil. After the insanity of obtaining a bachelor’s and master’s degree in cybersecurity, creating worlds to escape to still ate at her very soul. She started writing FanFiction (which can still be found if you scour the internet ? ), and soon felt the need to get her original ideas on paper. And so the adventure began.
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She lives in Colorado with her husband and two fur babies, and revels in an enemies to lovers trope with a slow burn.

Seven Faceless Saints
(Seven Faceless Saints #1)
M.K. Lobb

Publisher: Little Brown Books for Young Readers

Pub Date: February 7th, 2023
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Genre: YA Fantasy
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Synopsis:


In the city of Ombrazia, saints and their disciples rule with terrifying and unjust power, playing favorites while the unfavored struggle to survive.


After her father’s murder at the hands of the Ombrazian military, Rossana Lacertosa is willing to do whatever it takes to dismantle the corrupt system—tapping into her powers as a disciple of Patience, joining the rebellion, and facing the boy who broke her heart. As the youngest captain in the history of Palazzo security, Damian Venturi is expected to be ruthless and strong, and to serve the saints with unquestioning devotion. But three years spent fighting in a never-ending war have left him with deeper scars than he wants to admit… and a fear of confronting the girl he left behind.


Now a murderer stalks Ombrazia’s citizens. As the body count climbs, the Palazzo is all too happy to look the other way—that is, until a disciple becomes the newest victim. With every lead turning into a dead end, Damian and Roz must team up to find the killer, even if it means digging up buried emotions. As they dive into the underbelly of Ombrazia, the pair will discover something more sinister—and far less holy. With darkness closing in and time running out, will they be able to save the city from an evil so powerful that it threatens to destroy everything in its path?


Discover what’s lurking in the shadows in this dark fantasy debut with a murder-mystery twist, perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo and Kerri Maniscalco.
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Content Warning: various types of violence (shooting, poisoning, beheading), graphic descriptions of blood/bodies, death of parents/ friends/ siblings, a parent depicted with memory loss/confusion, PTSD and flashbacks, descriptions of war, prejudice, religious intolerance, hallucinations, paranoia, alcoholism, and mentions of self-harm.

About the Author:


M. K. Lobb is a fantasy writer with a love of all things dark— be it literature, humour, or general aesthetic. She grew up in small-town Ontario and studied political science at both the University of Western Ontario and the University of Ottawa. She now lives by the lake with her partner and their cats. When not reading or writing, she can be found at the gym or contemplating the harsh realities of existence.
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Her debut novel SEVEN FACELESS SAINTS will be published February 7, 2023 by Little, Brown (Hachette). The sequel, DISCIPLES OF CHAOS, will follow in early 2024. M. K. is represented by Claire Friedman at InkWell Management.