Book review: Hunt the Ever Wild | S.E. Kiser

Hunt the Ever Wild by S.E. Kiser
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

King Edgard is offering a great prize to anyone who can catch the elusive phoenix and turn him into a bird, that is, someone who can find the spell to give him eternal life in order to extend his glorious reign over Gescany. Sylas (Sy) Cassirer, spellscribe to the King, jumps at this one chance to pay off his indenture and escape the King's whims. Anya Degen, a skilled huntress, needs to bind the phoenix to the witch in order to escape a curse. Both need the other to navigate Lichtenwald forest, evade other magicians, and capture the phoenix, but neither can actually split the prize, even though they agreed to. At least they're strangers, working together with the knowledge that they will eventually betray each other. Right?

Hunt the Ever Wild is a richly layered dark fairy tale (they use the term gaslamp fantasy, but idk, I'm giving up on genre terms and it does very much read like a fairy tale). Magic is powered by blood and words. The Forest has a will of its own. It feels very much like a story against Empire; not so much post-colonialism, but more of an angry Eat-the-Rich vibe.

Sy is the scholarship student who makes it, but finds himself in an untenable position - with an indenture (student debt) that hardly ever reduces no matter how hard he saves. He makes money from serving the nobility, but also performs "charity" (an act highly looked down on by his peers) by healing the ailments of the poor in the district (slum?) he grew up in. He's made it, but he will never fit in. His relationship with David is confusing at first - self-serving and selfish, amidst genuine care. It isn't until you learn that David, whilst secure in his own social class, is battling bankruptcy that you realise why the two of them, with Bernard (the failed spellscribe) and Sabina (the woman), end up pulling together, even if half the time they need to fight each other to stay afloat in society. Half-friends are better than no friends in a cut-throat society.

Kiser showcases in stark relief the attitudes of the rich nobility towards the poor and unfortunate, especially those who have managed to make something of themselves ("Oh, the poor indenture!"). Much of Sy's posturing is to hide his vulnerability from those who are supposed to be his peers, yet Anya sees them as an affectation put on to mock her. Funnily enough, Anya's secret origins may actually provide the acceptance in high society that Sy can never hope to gain.

The Forest itself is an active character in the book. It doesn't speak, of course, but it acts in subtle ways, changing every person who enters its domain - revealing the darkest secrets of those who came to hunt the phoenix, manipulating the actions of others to achieve its own goals. Even Anya, who has grown up in its shadow and knows how to navigate its whims, gets drawn into its plans without quite realising it. To be fair, she has other concerns on her mind - not just the curse that's transforming her, but her growing affection for and attraction to Sy, whom she knows she must eventually betray.

The slow burn romance between Sy and Anya works for me - a push and pull, a romantic tension that ebbs and flows. How much of it is the influence of the forest? And how much of it is the understanding that grows between two outcasts fighting for their lives? We'll never know, but it doesn't quite matter. What really nailed it for me, in the end, was Sy's intrinsic dignity and honour, the fact that his love was underscored with sacrifice - he accomplished what he meant to do, then he gave it away for her.

Note: I received a digital ARC of this book from Angry Robot via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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Book Blitz: Sins of the Fire: Purgatorio by Phoenix Ward

Sins of the Fire: Purgatorio
Phoenix Ward
(Sins of the Fire, #2)
Publication date: December 18th 2025
Genres: Fantasy, New Adult, Young Adult

The Church of New Haven extends its reach to those in need, however there are some lost souls that require more direct guidance, as their sins must be met with strong redirection. Thus, Jonah was created. Originally a man named M█████ ████, he contains over two-hundred thousand sinners. Until they reconcile with their offense to God, they are to fast and pray for their salvation for as long as it takes them to realize their folly, and call upon us.

The boy will be saved from the Dragon, even if he must waste away to understand their danger.

Kickstarter / Amazon

Sequel to:

Check out the Kickstarter here!!

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EXCERPT:

This morning was a reminder that not only was sleep important, but so was waking up before 10am.

Between the heads of bed hair, scruffy clothes and flip-flops, there were black suits, floral dresses and sweet smelling perfume clouding the entrance of the store. Conversations were held in front of the doorway, carts were being pushed around like they were going out of style, and somehow that wasn’t the thing that made us second guess our trip to getting our travel items here. No, that all paled in comparison to the white van-bus with the words “Destiny Baptist Church”, written in Times New Roman on the side.

It wasn’t the church we had a problem with— it was the fact that it was Destiny, a local mega church that made their way through the doors. The same Destiny that would play on my grandmother’s radio, from preaching almost twelve hours of gospel to choirs capable of going seven octaves without any pause for breath. For whatever reason, they were here. Maybe it was some food-based event, or some donation cause, or maybe someone felt the ‘Holy Spirit’ invade them to help out a few families with groceries— either way, it was crowded. Worse yet, the congregants brought their kids too. One wrong turn with a cart and we’d be anointed with oil and made to play the burning bush. Imani and I both shared wary gazed with one another as the chatting church folk mingled with folks that just wanted to get their groceries.

I was the first one to take the initiative, but Imani was quick to hold me back from going too far.

“Hang on, no plan?” She asked, “We’re just going to go in?”

I shrugged, scooting aside as a family of three slipped past us. “Yeah. We just gotta make it through the doors. We’ll probably just grab baskets and split. When we’re done, we’ll meet right by the self-checkout, next to the gift cards.”

Her eyebrows looked like they’d fly away. She released her gentle hold of my arm. “I guess I shoulda known you’d know how to handle yourself, considering the stuff you dealt with.”

“Is it weird to admit that the cult shenanigans actually wilder compared to this?”

Imani sped ahead of me, playfully pushing me out of the way. “Just pray you don’t get lost in here!”

“Ah, pray! Good one.”

The doors opened, our opportunity for a clear entry inside revealed itself. With clergy folk standing by the door, we said our ‘Good mornings’ and kept it moving. Basket procured, we both split up and went our separate ways. I immediately made a beeline to the deli. Three pre-packaged sandwiches were perfect carry-on for the long trip. From there, I shot for the snacks aisle. Chips, protein bars, and those salty peanut butter cracker packages were all loaded up in the basket with haste. I said my ‘hello’s, and my ‘excuse me’s to any passerby, some people greet me, others regard me with a nod.

I wanted to be away from the churchgoers. They didn’t take up the store, but they were too permeated— too mixed in.

Too indistinguishable.

I wanted to pretend that everything was back to normal. That after all of the conflict, the fears, the crying, the fighting, things were safe again. Two months of nothing should have been enough to convince me, but I knew better. Every aisle I walked down, there was a body dressed in black or white—formal clothing or just plain clothes. Without touching Mysherra, I couldn’t tell which was a Havenite and which wasn’t. Even outside of the store, regular people, clerks, judges, beggars, anyone could be a Remnant out to get me, or one to watch me.

I put my hand in my pocket and stood in front of the line of power-drinks. My fingers grazed over the surface of the pen.

The hairs on my neck stood up. Goosebumps bristled along my arms. Piercing spheres of heat sandwiched both sides of my sides.

I didn’t dare turn my head—Peripherals attuned to the presence of two white-robed Remnants on opposite sides of the aisle.

“Kane.”

“I know.”

Slowly, I inched my arm out of my pocket, pen wedged between my fingers. They wouldn’t be able to fight me, not with eyes watching them from the ceiling. They didn’t want their secret to be discovered just as I didn’t.

“Do not acknowledge their presence,” Mysherra spoke to me, “Walk with me down the aisle.”

My legs walked me sideways. I didn’t want my back turned to either one of these things. The power drinks transitioned to the flavored powders. Flavored powders to sparkling sodas. Neither one of the beings made a move.

“Once you get close, fire me.”

Senses were screaming at me to run or fight the closer I got to the remnant. My heart was thudding against my ribs.

“Just a little closer.”

Light conjured at the tip of the pen. The burning spread along my entire right side.

“Okay, the fires should be quiet enough to—”

“Excuse me.”

Someone bumped against my back, cutting off my focus. “Ah, sorry about th—”

All I did was turn my head. I had seconds, milliseconds, microseconds to process the burgeoning man unlatching his jaw in front of me. Ropes of saliva separated a hollow light at the back of his throat. Flesh, wet, and acrid already surrounded me, sounds of the outside muffled by the remnant’s mouth closing behind me. I must have fired four times— twice to the ribcage roof of the mouth and twice towards the light. Footing vanished, the dark closed in, and the door to the outside slammed shut behind stone teeth.

And I fell.

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Phoenix Ward is an indie black writer, and educator from Philadelphia. He has worked in the field of education for over five years, teaching all grades Mathematics and English. When he’s not writing, he is composing music using Logic Pro X, or tutoring children on subjects they struggle in. Currently, he lives in Philadelphia with his dog and cat.

 An avid world-builder, Phoenix has created many stories from youth to adulthood, but none have captivated him as much as his latest work Sins of the Fire, which combines his passion for storytelling with his deep understanding of human nature. He draws inspiration from the vibrant city life of Philadelphia and his own experiences as an educator, infusing his narratives with authenticity and depth.

In addition to his work as a writer and educator, Phoenix is committed to supporting young creatives in their journeys. He actively encourages students and adults alike to seek a way to create their own stories. Everyone has a message to share, and doing so in story is the best way to do so.

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Sins of the Fire: Purgatorio Blitz

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Book Review: A River From the Sky | Ai Jiang

A River from the Sky by Ai Jiang
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A River from the Sky picks up right after A Palace Near the Wind. Liu Lufeng is escaping the Palace near Feng with her younger siblings Chuiliu and Changqing, along with Geyser, also known as Exile Song. They are to meet Sangshu in Gear, but an encounter with the rebels disrupts all their plans.

This second novella of the Natural Engines duology is told in two POVs: Lufeng and Sangshu. On one hand, this gives us a deeper perspective of all the things that Lufeng has been completely unaware of. On the other, it makes for another confusing ride - we're not just grappling with the present, we're also having to come to terms with everything Sangshu has gone through in the years since she left Feng.

Where Lufeng had been almost passive, only stirring at last to try to save her younger siblings, Sangshu's story is one of both great ambition and betrayal. Sangshu caught up in all that progress and science seems to offer, only to find that gaining what she wants means giving up other things just as precious to her. These are presented as hard choices in the struggle for survival, and it's just not progress versus tradition, old vs new.

It's progress, but at what cost? Who (not just what) are you willing to sacrifice to get richer and more powerful? And is it truly worth it? But, as with the world we live in, everyone is complicit in the system and breaking away completely may have a higher cost than maintaining the status quo, no matter how terrible the system is.

There's layer upon layer of deception slowly being laid bare, and it should be exhilarating to finally discover what drives this world. And yet... after the build up in A Palace Near the Wind, the reveal here wasn't half as devastating as I was led to believe it would be. I found myself going, "Oh, that's it?"

Still, it's a gripping tale of surrender and sacrifice, and the desire to make the world a better place, not only for yourselves but for everyone - including your perceived enemies. Ai Jiang points out the interconnectedness of Feng, Glace, Clay, Engine; Wind Walkers and Water Shifters, Cogs and Land Wanderers, Natural Titans. Just like our world, no one place or people truly stands on their own.

Note: I received a digital ARC of this book from Titan Books via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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Book review: Death Bringer | Sonia Tagliareni

Deathbringer by Sonia Tagliareni
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Viola Corvi hates her magic. The death magic has only ever taken from her - her father, her grandmother, and now her sister. Sylas Ronin, a poison mage, also hates death magic - for taking his mother from them. And then the two are thrown together in Gorhail Institute of Magic and must learn to work together if they are to achieve their goal - to find and stop the serial killer who's coming after Viola.

Despite the academia setting, Deathbringer is more enemies-to-lovers than academic rivalry. Besides Lyria's desperate attempt to master lifedrain theory, there is little actual studying going on in the book; everyone's too busy panicking when students start turning up dead. Besides, Viola is adamantly refusing to actually learn anything about magic, even if it will eventually help her, whilst Sylas is pretty much an insufferable, reckless, know-it-all with anger issues. Okay, both of them have anger issues, but Viola is just a smidge better at using her anger to further her goals.

Tagliareni is deft with her knife, whether it's the twisty murders that keep happening or the devastating secrets that stab like a knife to the gut. To be honest, there are (a lot of) times where Sylas' bullheaded recklessness makes me want to slap him, but Tagliareni layers on the emotions and the painful backstory so well that it often feels forgivable or, at the least, understandable. The dual POVs work exceptionally well for this - giving readers both sides of the story, so to speak, and presenting a sympathetic point of contact/information for both rival houses instead of making one better than the other. There's no clear "evil" house or strand of magic in this one, even if death magic is often seen as dark and scary.

Loyalty is a theme that's explored with great depth - whether personal loyalty to one's friends and loved ones or loyalty to one's house/magic. Blind loyalty is both encouraged and called out at differing times, but where it's most wrenching is when it's pitted against love. Sylas has to decide whether to act with blind loyalty to the House of Poison, or if his growing love for Viola will force him change his beliefs. Viola has no loyalty to any mage or house, but it's the various loyalties of family, friends, and lovers in the past that has placed her in this current situation - as the one person sought after for her unwanted magic and relic.

Altogether, it's a very tantalisingly twisty dark fantasy. Deathbringer has been one of the most enthralling reads of 2026 so far.

Note: I received a digital ARC of this book from Atria Books via Edelweiss. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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Book review: We Interrupt This Program | Randee Dawn

We Interrupt This Program by Randee Dawn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

When I saw Randee Dawn's post that We Interrupt This Program was up on NetGalley, I tell you, I clicked that request button so fast. I loved Tune in Tomorrow, and this is another novel in the same magical universe!

The TROPE town of Seaview Haven is breaking down and Finch, an SCN intern, has wrangled an assignment to figure out what's wrong with it - so that he can prove his Unseelieness by dismantling it forever. But Winnie Arrowmaker, Siggy, and Martin are doing their best to prove to him that the town can still be saved. Can it?

We Interrupt This Program is a wild romp into a fantastical world and - at the same time - an insightful look into what it takes to be creative. At times, it feels a little meta - Winnie Arrowmaker is a writer of mysteries, and the Muses are involved - but as the book blurb says, "Winnie and Finch are going to have to tell a Truly Great Tale. Because, as they realize, real power lies not in the stories we watch, but in the stories we tell ourselves."

In this day and age when the great Threads fight of the day is whether it's ok to use AI for covers and for writing, it's validating to read something that's so honest about the struggles of writing something. (I was going to say "something worth reading", but who's the arbiter of what's worth reading? Everything written by humans is worth being read by someone.) And how it feels when your best work still isn't good enough. Will it ever be good enough?

In that same vein, Finch is also struggling to be good enough any anything. He's so convinced that his one Hideous Deformity makes him an Unseelie, despite all other indications, that he's willing to destroy his life and his friendships to prove it. And yet, he's...not really good at being naturally destructive? Neither is he good at being, well, Seelie.

Behind the hilarity and light-heartedness is a thoughtful exploration of how our perceptions of ourselves - and what we think others think of us - affect our behaviour, whether for good or for bad. And how best friends spur us to be the best of ourselves - but can also bring out the worst. And maybe we're not always just one thing, but many, in all our humanness.

Note: I received a digital ARC of this book from Solaris Nova via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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WE INTERRUPT THIS PROGRAM releases on 3 March! Preorder here (affiliate link)

Book Review: The Shadow of His Hand | Benjamin Patterson

The Shadow of His Hand: Book One of the Markulian Prophecies by Benjamin Patterson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A princess, a soldier, and a baby set off to fulfil a prophecy that will save the Realm: The Mark must reach a place known as The Hand of God before Embracing's Day, or all is lost. The problem is, The Hand of God now lies in Jerikan territory-the same enemy who's trying to destroy them.

The Shadow of His Hand is an interesting read, but uses several tropes that annoy me greatly. YMMV, so ignore the star rating as you like.

As an epic fantasy, the novel delivers. Our heroes set off on an impossible quest and face all kinds of hardships. There's friendship and betrayal, love and loss, and politicking galore. They trek through what feels like the whole world - jungle, desert, and the open sea. It is quite a militaristic book, so if you're not one for battle descriptions, you may find some of that just a tad too detailed. As a medieval fantasy, it is, as expected, rather Euro-centric. There are weirdly modern-sounding words or phrases that pop up at times which, when set against some almost-archaic formal sentences, feels a little odd.

The most annoying bit about the worldbuilding is the racism. Because, of course, the dark-skinned foreigners are described as heathens, poor, uneducated, primitive, lacking in ambition, eat weird food, are possible cannibals, and none of them speak the common tongue. They are the plot device that turn up to help our travellers (at least twice!) out of the sheer goodness of their hearts. When all of them are captured by slavers - on a journey they are only on because they are helping them on the quest - only our heroes make it out. Fredrick never even thinks of saving the slaves caught in the hold. The worst thing about this is that the Princess herself has foreign blood - her mother (or maybe grandmother?) comes from the same geographic area.

Now we come to the part where YMMV. The characters and their relationships are the major pain points for me, mostly because I'm easily irritated by some of these characteristics or character flaws.

If Patterson intended us to very annoyed at (or even hate) High King Eldilin Mancott, then he did a superb job there. I have a thing for competent people in important roles, and the High King is NOT it. Eldilin is always whining about his duties and responsibilities and acts as if the whole Realm is on his shoulders, but he isn't even competent at carrying them out. It's his adviser who does practically everything for him, but he has the gall to complain that he can't be himself and he can't do ANYTHING for himself. He's pretty useless, imo, and probably thinks its a sin to be happy. And when people actually try to help him, like his wife, he rejects their help (You don't understand! It Is My Duty!).

His wife, Jaithe, is another whole matter. Their marriage was the most insta-est case of (one-sided) instalove I have seen in a while. I mean, she sneaks into the hall to see him because she wants to laugh at her sister and the other hopefuls who want to be chosen as High Queen, and then SHE SEES HIM AND IMMEDIATELY FALLS IN LOVE. Because he's such a sad, sad man and just needs a woman to truly love him and then he'll get better. Um no. This is how women get trapped in bad marriages because they think they can change their husbands through the power of love. I guess if you like that trope you might like their "romance". Where, tbh, he spends most of the time ignoring her and shutting her down for even attempting conversation. At least they haven't even consummated the marriage because she refuses to sleep with a man who doesn't love her. Good for her, but also LMAO.

TBH, the other case of instalove in this book, is between Fredrick, our hapless soldier, and Princess Kathryn, who he saves, but at least Fredrick is aware enough to figure he's just crushing because she's rich and beautiful AND A PRINCESS. he's such a glorious mess anyway, so that just adds to his quirks. (He thinks he's crushing, but the text really wants to imply it's true love, so take from that what you will.)

Final bit! This is touted as Christian fiction, so let's look at it from the lens of faith. The faith set up is interesting (implied British tone), where there is a God - Elan - and twelve Guardians. The Realm is supposed to believe in Elan, but generally, worship practices have somewhat shifted from Elan to praying to/worshiping the Guardians instead (feels like a swipe at Catholics). It's a classic apocalyptic set up transplanted into a fantasy world - the world is ending, and the prophesied one must save the Realm. Jerika has summoners, who work with demons - so, very Good vs Evil, God vs Devil.

Patterson is daring in a sense that of the people sent on the quest, both Fredrick and Kathryn have shaky holds on their faith in Elan. Even High King Eldilin, who is supposed to uphold worship of the true God, only sends them on the quest because he can't deny the evidence of The Mark. Focusing on Fredrick's journey, you can see how his faith in and reliance on Elan grows. Fredrick comes across as a second-generation Christian-type, who knows generally what he's supposed to believe, but not why, and his relationship with God is affected by his circumstances growing up. He starts with a faith not his own, but grows in it through the hardships he faces in trying to fulfil the quest. Elan does step in to save the day several times (through various means), and the set up is good enough that it feels organic to the plot, with Elan as an active player instead of coming across as contrived/deus ex machina.

Final note on our heroes. At first, I was going to give them (both Fredrick and Kathryn) the Too Stupid To Live label, but honestly? They don't deserve it. They do try their best against the worst circumstances, so I'll just say that they work well together even if they're just Slightly Useless.

Note: I received a digital ARC of this book from the author. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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Book review: Saltswept | Katalina Watt

Saltswept by Katalina Watt
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Paranish has finally reopened its borders and returners and visitors alike are thronging into Umasa for the birth of the princess. But not all is as it seems.

Finlyr Pane has returned to Paranish - and finds himself barely escaping the gallows. Ris' daughter Biba has powerful magic she can no longer hide - and in an attempt to avoid the Temple, Ris sets out on the perilous quest of retrieving the treasure from the Lahon Maelstrom. Hanan achieves her wildest dreams - only to find out that the Bastion holds dark secrets.

Saltswept is a quest adventure on the high seas, but it's also a dark fantasy that dips into necromancy, which leads to... zombie sailors. A content warning here: the book may look and feel rather YA, but it does contain several sex scenes (not graphic). It is also categorised as Adult, but it's hard to tell from the blurb and/or cover (though don't ask me what would make a distinction).

The narrative switches between Finlyr, Ris, and Hanan's POVs in first person. I personally think that if you have more than two viewpoint characters, you really should be writing in third person. As it is, it flows well enough despite having to keep tracking down whose first person POV I'm in. (But would've been easier, just saying.) Finlyr and Ris' POVs intertwine quite a bit, and they switch off rather seamlessly since they join forces early on in the book. It's Hanan's POV that often feels jarring, like it's not quite connected to the rest of the story. That storyline is important because it gives us insight into what the stakes are, and what's going on with the Temple and the Bastion, but since the two don't actually intersect until near the end, it feels a little like you're also reading a side quest of some sort.

Overall, Saltswept was an highly enjoyable read and I'm looking forward to book 2!

Note: I received a digital ARC from the Hodder & Stoughton via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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Book review: The Elsewhere Express | Samantha Sotto Yambao

The Elsewhere Express by Samantha Sotto Yambao
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Near the anniversary of her brother's death, Raya Sia drifts off on the subway while on the way home. Q Chen Philips Jr. is delivering his last artwork to the gallery, and contemplating the end of his career and, possibly, his life. They both find themselves on the Elsewhere Express, a magical train that helps the purposeless find a sense of purpose and meaning. But behind the magic lies dark truths, truths that may very well destroy the entire train and everyone in it...

The Elsewhere Express is an exploration in letting go of the past. Raya is stuck in a holding pattern, pursuing her brother's dream of being a doctor, unable to move on because she blames herself for his death. Q knows it's only a matter of time until his sight fully disappears, so he's grabbing on to this new life on a magical train because he doesn't know who he is without his art. But letting go isn't about forgetting - even if people tend to conflate the two - and suppressing the past can be more dangerous and damaging than dealing with it.

I picked this up because I quite enjoyed Water Moon at the beginning of the year. Thematically, they're quite similar - both are about grief and regrets - but I did find it a little harder to get into this one. It's less whimsical and more surrealistic, for one, but the biggest hurdle for me was the concept of time. I spent a chunk of the beginning being confused about if they had actually died in real life, or if they'd entered the magical world but left their physical bodies behind. What if they never returned to the real world, since the point of the Elsewhere Express was for them to find a new purpose on the train? Would someone just find them dead? In the end I just had to stop wondering about it, and once I did, I enjoyed the story better.

For some odd reason, whilst Yambao never says where Raya and Q are from, they just had this Singaporean vibe. lol

Note: I received a digital ARC of this book from Transworld Publishers via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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HAPPY RELEASE DAY!

To Stream an Ocean

Arts of Substance trilogy – Novel 3

Quakes spread from the ocean floor. A small matter compared to corruption among the gifted, empty royal coffers, and regicide. Long live the new king.

Ambassador Danivid, the deceased king’s brother, is recalled from Dirklan Province to take on the role he never wanted. The kingdom’s shifting beliefs make it all the harder. Machines have reduced the need for the streaming and forming gifts that people once relied on. A new constitution has redefined the role of the monarchy and the guilds. Yet, amid rising prosperity, something is going terribly wrong. What had the previous king discovered before his sudden death?

As the crown is placed on Danivid’s head, a quake shakes the capital city—as ominous as the realization that his brother was murdered. An attempt on his life follows. Corruption, theft, and murder plague the kingdom. Quakes continue, and volcanic plumes roil the ocean. Danivid is the only streamer who pays attention. What a kingdom to be saddled with!

A neighboring country has gone silent and now provides a steady flow of a supposedly harmless drug, which is anything but. Danivid sends an ambassador to investigate. She is warmly welcomed, and the neighbor’s ambassador, Trellian, is appointed to accompany her home. Yet someone is determined to kill them en route. They survive only because Trellian is no ordinary ambassador.

In Danivid’s palace, Trellian discovers a plot more devious than simple murder of the king. As they close in on suspects, the volcano and ocean rise to fulfill their warnings. No former or streamer is prepared—except King Danivid. But how can one man stream an entire ocean and survive? Especially when some don’t want him to live.

To Stream an Ocean is the third novel in the Arts of Substance trilogy. These stories merge the excitement of epic fantasy with the camaraderie of cozy fantasy. Each stand-alone novel explores one of the world’s three substance gifts: forming, wind weaving, and streaming. With every ability comes risk. The gifts are neither easy nor safe. Who has the courage and wit to use their gift well? And at what cost?

Join the adventure.

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To Stream an Ocean will be available from Amazon and Kindle Unlimited on December 26, 2025. The paperback version can also be ordered from bookstores and libraries.

A note about reading order: The books of this trilogy can be enjoyed in any order. There are some minor spoilers in novels 2 and 3, but they won’t ruin your enjoyment of earlier novels if you read out of order.

To Stream an Ocean – Novel 3 - anna's review
Amazon.com
Other markets

To Weave the Wind – Novel 2 - anna's review
Amazon.com
Other markets

To Form a Passage – Novel 1 - anna's review
Amazon.com
Other markets (including audiobook)

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Author bio:

Sharon Rose has been weaving stories since her second-grade masterpiece, titled My Life as a Flying Squirrel. No publisher snatched it up, but her classmates loved it.

After creating home and family, Sharon pursued her dream of creating stories for people like you. To date, she has published eleven books, with more in the works. She writes fantasy and science fiction because they offer vast spaces to explore the realities that we all face. Her stories blend cultures and characters into adventures with mystery, romance, and hope.

When not writing or reading, Sharon may be traveling, enjoying gardens, or searching for unique coffee shops with her husband. She lives in Minnesota, USA, famed for its 10,000 lakes and vibrant seasons.

Website: SharonRoseAuthor.com

Other places to follow Sharon Rose:
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Book Review: To Stream an Ocean | Sharon Rose

To Stream an Ocean by Sharon Rose
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The first book in the Arts of Substance series, To Form a Passage, focused on the Formers and their work with stone, whilst the second, To Weave the Wind, focused on Wind Weavers and their work with air. I suppose it's only fitting that we finally get a story that focuses on Streamers and water. It's also the first that is wholly above ground!

The king of Welcia is dead and the Dirkland Ambassador, Danivid, returns to Regissa City to take the throne. But his coronation is marred by a quake and by his sister-in-law attempting to steal the crown for her daughter, Aneen. Recent changes during his brother's reign and the state of their finances soon make Danivid question what has been happening in the years that he was away.

A repeated theme from the earlier books is the misuse of the gifts for personal gain as well as the gradual falling away from faith as a society. However, unlike the other two books, To Stream an Ocean doesn't focus as directly on Ellincreo and the gifts, even though it's woven into the background. Yes, the frequent quakes are a concern and Danivid is butting heads with Shevnal, the Chief Former, to properly protect the city, but the main concern is the use of Ambertrop, a controversial new drug that seems fine in the short term but has devastating impact in the long term.

There's a lot of lovely political intrigue going on in Regissa, including poisoning, attempted murder, and theft. Trellian - a detective/ambassador from the neighbouring country of Felverland - was an interesting addition, and whilst I predicted some turns of events, I was expecting a little reveal at the end about her background that... doesn't happen. Oh well.

If you're looking for disability representation, Aneen's development is delayed, (view spoiler)[suspected to be due to her mother's use of Ambertrop while pregnant (hide spoiler)]. Whilst everyone ignores her, Aneen proves smart and observant despite her speech delays; she trains her Flyound dog to track down the people she loves, and her knowledge of events in the palace helps Danivid and Trellian fit the missing pieces together, even if her testimony cannot be used in court.

Overall, To Stream an Ocean is a great read, but personally, it a little weak compared to the first two books.

Note: I received a digital ARC of this book from the author. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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To Stream an Ocean will be available from Amazon and Kindle Unlimited on December 26,

2025. The paperback version can also be ordered from bookstores and libraries.

A note about reading order: The books of this trilogy can be enjoyed in any order. There are

some minor spoilers in novels 2 and 3, but they won’t ruin your enjoyment of earlier novels if

you read out of order.

Book Review: Mirror Marked | Vida Cruz-Borja

Mirror Marked by Vida Cruz-Borja
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Mirror Marked was a fascinating yet somewhat confusing read.

It's written mostly in the second person (the prologue starts off in first person then segues into second), which was a novelty (for me) - and very well done. In fact, the POV really lends itself to the story; a kind of strange blend of storytelling, immersion, and something almost epistolary. I loved it.

The prologue ends with the ominous question, "Do you know where this story begins?" and then the narrator proceeds to tell us the story, starting over and over at different times leading up to the wedding, and at different points in Kelly's life. Some of the latter felt disjointed at times, but Cruz-Borja draws you along with the promise that all of it is important, all of it will eventually make sense. The confusing part is mostly because I'm quite a linear reader, and Mirror Marked is a very non-linear story. In fact, each section brings you further back into the past, before it culminates in the present. You just have to allow yourself to be led by Cruz-Borja's masterful storytelling and trust that she will not let you down.

Mutya, the mother of the bride, is a witch, and one of Kelly's main tasks is to make sure that she isn't at the wedding. And yet, whilst the wedding, and the planning leading up to it, is the backdrop to everything that's going on, the core of the story isn't about the wedding, or even about love. It's about facing up to yourself and your past, and the healing that comes from that. It's about memory, and the stories we tell ourselves around painful ones. It's about difficult families and how broken parent-child relationships negatively impact a child's view of the world and themselves. It can be a difficult read at times - Cruz-Borja even advises you in her author note to take a break if you need to.

Best of all, Mirror Marked is gloriously Filipino. It's set in a Manila populated by Kapre, Diwata, Sigbin, and Engkanto. There's no over explaining, and even no glossary. There's a mix of cultural references, like "It’s giving Princess Punzalan in Mula Sa Puso" as well as "Toby Maguire and Kirsten Dunst’s upside-down kiss in Spider-Man". I don't always get everything, but I don't have to. Google exists and even without it, the story still stands on its own.

Note: I received a digital review copy of this book from PS Publishing. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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Book review: The Edge of a Knife and Other Stories | Beka Gremikova

The Edge of a Knife and Other Stories by Beka Gremikova
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What is our fascination with monsters and the monstrous? Can we truly tell who is monstrous by looking at them? What if the monsters are actually the victims?

In The Edge of a Knife and Other Stories Beka Gremikova presents a mix of new and retold stories, spanning fairy tales and science fiction, that urges us to rethink monsters in fiction. Her retellings come from earlier source materials where the price of human feet was to feel the stab of knives in every step and the evil queen was sentenced to dance to her death.

The best of Gremikova's stories lie in the intersection between the personal and national:
- In "Every Bone in the Body", deposed princess Adria Edeapli rebels against new laws to honour her dead brother in keeping with tradition. Her uncle, the new king, has to decide to save his niece or uphold his shaky grip on the throne. What is power worth if it divides and kills your own family and loved ones?
- "Once Upon a Pumpkin", a brilliant mash up of Cinderella and Snow White, ponders redemption & atonement. Can the Evil Queen truly change - and can her stepdaughter forgive her? And yet, does forgiving her mean allowing an ex-murderer to run free in society?
- Similarly in "Pay the Piper", Mayor Oswald wants to rid the city of Hamelin of the infestation of rats. But what is he willing to pay the piper? Sacrifices may be necessary, but is giving up your own child for power and glory ever necessary in the grand scheme of things?
- "Like a Fox" explores belonging and family, and the use of personal power to protect or oppress the weak.

Other notable stories include:
- "Echo Among The Stars", where Kaz Kitoska has to confront the true source of his family's inheritance.
- "Golden Child", a mix of Midas's golden hand and Romeo and Juliet.

There's darkness and horror in every story, but also redemption and the hope of a better future.

Note: I received a digital ARC of this book from SnowRidge Press via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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Book Review: Leave No Trace | Randee Dawn

Leave No Trace by Randee Dawn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Lexi has been living in the mountains for the past decade, taken there by her father, who is paranoid about the "sickness" in the world "Outside". Unbeknownst, to him, Lexi has that sickness he's trying to avoid -- she can do magic.
Outside, TJ Furey is an upcoming popstar who mesmerises his audience with his voice. To escape the paparazzi, TJ convinces his manager Tony that he wants to head into the mountains and shoot a bear.
And when city boys go into the mountains to do country boy things, you can bet that things go horribly, horribly wrong.

I'm kinda a little torn about this one. If you've read The Only Song Worth Singing, you'll get vibes of that in the sections with TJ and Stef. It's set in the same world, after all. There's that music magic, what I think are allusions to Ciaran, Mal, and Patrick, the appearance of the various fae, and, of course, the Green Place. But this book tells of a great war between humans and the fae, and how the Green Place is slowly shrinking and dying. I loved those bits.

The bits I didn't really like - and I think this is mostly due to the voice - is Lexi's parts. Which is terrible, because she's one of the main protagonists. She just kinda... annoyed me, and it was hard to gloss that over because her sections were written in first person. So like, 100% in her voice.

My conclusion, overall is that I still love The Green Place and what Dawn is doing with Irish mythology in modern, urban settings, but this one was a little too... rural for me. (I am, unfortunately, a very city girl).

Note: I received a digital ARC of this book from Caezik SF & Fantasy via Edelweiss. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

  

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Book Review: The Last Tiger | Julia Riew and Brad Riew

The Last Tiger by Julia Riew
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I picked this up because a) it was really pretty and b) it was inspired by true stories from Korean history.

In a classic rich girl falls in love with poor boy story, Choi Eunji and Lee Seung face not just class prejudice, but also racial discrimination - both from within and without. Whilst both of them are Tigers, the rich Choi family are considered race traitors/collaborators for sucking up to the Dragon administration to preserve their family wealth and power.

The POV switches between Eunji and Seung, which provides a well-rounded background to what both of them are facing and the obstacles they have to overcome. From Seung, we understand the struggle to survive - and the hope for a better future - only to be beaten down again and again by circumstances and those in power. From Eunji, we learn that even the rich can be powerless when everything they have is beholden to another party. Her life may seem like a fairy tale to others, but we soon see that one misstep by her father - or her - could end in not just a fall from favour, but death.

Kenzo Kobayashi is an annoyance, and I couldn't quite figure him out. He switched from helping Eunji to betraying her to double-crossing the Dragons so seamlessly, all coloured by Eunji's dislike of him, that it was difficult to pinpoint what exactly about him annoyed me.

I think my one criticism of the book is that at random times, often in speech, they seem to lapse into a kind of modern (teen?) slang which feels a little out of place with the setting. Still, since this is a YA book, maybe that was meant to resonate better with its intended audience.

All in all, I enjoyed reading The Last Tiger.

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Book Review: Writers of the Future, Volume 41

L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future, Volume 41 by L. Ron Hubbard
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Another great anthology of upcoming SFF writers and illustrators!
I enjoyed all the stories in this one, though nothing really stood out to me this round.

Quite a few focused on time travel and time skips - and heavier on the scifi - which could be a reason why. "Storm Damage" by T.R. Naus was easy enough to follow but "Blackbird Stone" by Ian Keith, however, kind of did me in. lol.

Peeling back genre trappings, each story seems to be interrogating human behaviour. "Storm Damage" tests if the keeper of time travel will be able to put public good and the safety of the world above personal glory. "Ascii" by Randyn C.J. Bartholomew considers whether killing one man to save the future is justified. "Karma Birds" by Lauren McGuire envisions a dystopic world where violence is met with instant karma, whilst "The Rune Witch" by Jefferson Snow has Jindei standing alone between the villagers and the demon Shijai.

If I were to pick my top three stories, I think the ones that I enjoyed the most were "The Stench of Freedom" (Joel C. Scoberg), "The Rune Witch (Jefferson Snow), and "A World of Repetitions" (Seth Atwater Jr.

Note: I received a digital ARC of this book from Galaxy Press via Edelweiss. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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The Absolution Series is in the Beloved SFF Sale!

So sometime last year, C.O. Bonham nominated Amok for the Beloved SFF Sale... I didn't get to participate then because I wasn't reading my comments (whoops), but Noor reached out to me to ask if I'd like to join them this year! 

There are over 100+ recommended books on sale, each with a recommendation by someone who loved it! It also includes over 50 additional books, including sequels (or complete series) that are also on sale. Many of these are also available wide or as KU books. 

SO.

Amok is on sale at 99 cents (or whatever the equivalent it is in your currency) on KDP and whatever platforms that go through D2D - PLUS the other two books in the series are on sale at $2.99!

So that's the whole series for like $7, as the Amazon Series page tells me. Ain't that a steal?

The sale runs from 7 to 11 August 2025, so go CHECK OUT ALL THE BOOKS AT THE BELOVED SFF SALE!

(And get mine too, if you were waiting for that discount!)

P/S Have you signed up for my newsletter to get your free ebook yet? 

Book Review: On Magic and Miracles: A Theological Guide to Discerning Fictional Magic | Marian A. Jacobs

On Magic & Miracles: A Theological Guide to Discerning Fictional Magic by Marian A. Jacobs
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The general church approach to fantasy fiction is often one of wariness - and often dependent on the individual pastor and their reading preferences. There are some clearly "accepted" fantasy works, such as CS Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia and Tolkien's Lord of the Rings. But everything else falls in a grey area - traditional fairy tales with elfs and pixies are okay, but Greek mythology may or may not be acceptable, whilst all kinds of Chinese mythology are "obviously evil".

This weird double standard in the church is often related to how "acceptable" a certain kind of mythology and/or culture is, and obviously, whether those particular myths are related to religions currently being practiced. In simple terms, Greek mythology appears more acceptable because it's both white-coded and a mostly dead religion, whilst Chinese mythology often relates to spiritual rituals or beliefs that are still being practiced.

In On Magic & Miracles: A Theological Guide to Discerning Fictional Magic, Marian A. Jacobs delves into scripture to explain what's often seen as "magic" in the bible vs "miracles", with 5 discernment questions to help you tell the difference. This takes up Part 1 of the book - and it's interesting ground to cover. Jacobs brings up both ends of the spectrum: materialism, where all these "supernatural" stuff doesn't exist at all, and overspiritualism (overcorrection?), where EVERYTHING is affected by spirits and demons.

Look, I've lived in the trenches of the latter - with "pastors" declaring that even wearing clothes with an animal image can imbue you with the spirit of the animal - and I live in Asia - where it's very obvious that the spiritual realm exists. So whilst I feel like Jacobs is balanced in her treatment, she does cater a more to her (intended) Western audience, with its unthinking acceptance of Western cultural practices as part of Christianity. There's a focus on New Age, pagan lifestyles, and occult practices, with interviews with ex-witches, and everything else swept mostly under a general "Eastern religions".

Part 2 looks at how the 5 Discernment Questions should be applied to fiction, with consideration to literary conventions and author intentions as well as the final message of the story. And how, at times, you need to READ THE WHOLE BOOK before you can judge whether something is good or bad. Many stories start with a not-ideal situation and bad characters with the goal of ending in a good place and evil defeated or bad characters given a redemption arc. And in recent days, with our poor comprehension skills and outrage culture, many readers write off something from the start without understanding the whole thing. This happens very often in uber-Christian circles, where you're not even supposed to depict evil - when the point of some stories is to point out that EVIL IS EVIL. It concludes with an example of how Jacobs herself applied the framework to the Harry Potter series, the series that pretty much divided the church about fantasy works back in the day.

Side note: Critical reading is important, people!

While Jacobs says it's not really a book for parenting, it does phrase an entire chapter on "how to choose good fantasy books for your kids" vs discerning good reading material for yourself. Which, I mean, you can apply to yourself, but it does have a bit of a parenting vibe lol. This isn't an issue, I just found it funny.

Overall, On Magic & Miracles doesn't tell you what you should or shouldn't read (or write!), but offers a framework to think about what you're reading - as with any theological guide, it comes down to spiritual discernment of what's good and beneficial for you. It's a solid work to look at for general theological principles, and is not a "what books am I allowed to read" list.

Note: I received a digital ARC of this book from the B&H Publishing Group. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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Book Review: Queen of Mercy | Natania Barron

Queen of Mercy by Natania Barron
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oh, such a brilliant, brilliant ending to The Queens of Fate Trilogy.

I think it's been noted somewhere that while you can read the second book, Queen of Fury, as a standalone, you really need to have read both that and Queen of None before you read this one as all the overarching threads and events in those books culminate in this one. (I did a re-read of Queen of None after reading this to remind myself of some key points, since I'd forgotten who Nimue was, lol)

Queen of Mercy begins ten years after Queen of Fury, and everything that Anna Pendragon set into motion in Queen of None is now bearing fruit. The glimpses we had of Morgen le Fay were varied and scattered in the earlier books, her true motives unclear, but here, we finally get to see from her perspective. We struggle with Morgen as she fights to retain her magic and protect Carelon in the wake of the loss of Vyvian du Lac, amidst a struggle for supremacy between the rising Christian faith and the dying old (magic? pagan?) ways of Avillion.

With each successive book, Barron increases the POVs - and here, whilst Morgen is the primary focus, there's a lot going on elsewhere. Morgen's daughter, Llachlyn le Fay, returns to court, along with Galahad - Lanceloch & Anna's son - and Percival - a squire who is purportedly a random king's bastard - and kicks off a quest for a new graal. Gawain & Hwyfar find themselves swept up in court events again in their bid to protect their young cousins, whilst Queen Mawra and Lanceloch scheme against Arthur in the background. It almost seems too much is going on, but Barron weaves it all together so tightly that you don't actually get overwhelmed.

Whilst it's a story of consequences, it's also one of redemption. Morgen faces her past and redeems it, finding peace with all the things that had been done to her and all the things she'd been compelled to do to others. Barron's Arthurian world is a bleak one for noble women, but she also shows how the women close to Arthur (Anna, Hwyfar, Morgen) find ways to shift things in their favour. There's also growing support from their loved ones - Bedevere, Gawain, Coel - as they learn to understand and depend on each other.

And because I'm always interested in representations of faith in novels, Barron presents a growing Christianity which is corrupt in its grasping for power, with adherents who are in it mostly for what they can get. Not much is said about the source of magic - its representation of good and evil is primarily based on what it is used for - though it's set against Christianity as a clash of religions/gods. In the midst of this, there is a beautiful passage from Galahad that encapsulates a true, pure encounter with God perfectly, at least in my mind. Barron mentions something in her afterword about her struggles with Christianity, so make of that what you will.

Note: I received a digital ARC of this book from Solaris/Rebellion Publishing via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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Other books in the series:

Book 1: Queen of None 

Book 2: Queen of Fury

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Wanna get hands on a copy?

Amazon affiliate link: Queens of Fate Series page

Book Review: The Only Song Worth Singing | Randee Dawn

The Only Song Worth Singing by Randee Dawn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Ooof, what can I say about this book? Randee Dawn first lured me in with tea at Glasgow Worldcon 2024 and her brilliant Tune in Tomorrow - and she definitely delivers again with The Only Song Worth Singing. There's much more beer than tea in this one, but it's a fantastic dive into Irish mythology and the lives of these three young rockstars from Dublin.

Ciaran (C) is the extroverted face of the band, Malachi (Mal) is the genius behind their musical arrangements, and Patrick (Patch, previously Padraig) often feels like the hanger on tagging along to support the dynamic duo. But what if, when they run into trouble with the sidhe, he's the only one who can save them? To do that, Patrick must face the past he's left far, far behind, and reconnect to the stories and superstitions he'd once been told to discard.

Part of Patrick's conflict in reconnecting with the traditions he'd grown up with as a boy is his later schooling and upbringing by the monks. Brother David tells him that it is possible to believe in both sets of stories - to believe in Jesus and also to honour and believe in the stories of his youth - but Brother David is sent away after that, and Patrick is made to leave the monastery the day he turned sixteen. Obviously this isn't the core of the story - but it's a thread that I would have loved to explore more.

For the underlying premise of The Only Song Worth Singing is actually quite an old trope - that the belief of humans is what gives the sidhe, or fairies, and other supernatural creatures their form. Dawn twists it and layers it, so it becomes much more than that - and the twists and turns are in turns delightful in their revelation and terrifying in their outcomes.

Ultimately, there's magic and music, and love and loss, and the power of friendship and loyalty to hold each other up. What's not to love?

Note: I received a digital ARC of this book from the CAEZIK SF & Fantasy via Edelweiss. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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The Only Song Worth Singing released yesterday! (Or today, depending on where you are). Get it here. 

Book Review: A Palace Near the Wind | Ai Jiang

A Palace Near the Wind by Ai Jiang
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Land Walkers, or humans, have been encroaching onto Feng territory for years, bringing with it progress and development. But whatever good they purportedly bring is destroying the very fabric of Feng society and the Wind Walkers' way of life. Liu Lufeng's arranged marriage to the King is meant to buy them more time, her bridewealth used to negotiate ways to preserve what little they have left. Yet Lufeng's mother and sisters' marriages have had little lasting effect - so what hope does she have that her own marriage will bring needed change? Thus, attempted murder.

Despite its length - or maybe because of it - A Palace Near the Wind requires careful reading. It's a little hard to get into at first as there are many new ideas and concepts to orient yourself to and there's little to ease your way - and I say this coming fresh off the Stormlight Archives. Maybe if Ai had given it more space to breathe, it wouldn't be so hard to connect.

And yet, once things fall into place, A Palace Near the Wind feels less dense, but more richly layered, exploring not just the destructive nature of unchecked development, but also the any layers of governance and the hidden powers behind the throne. Is the face of the government, be it a king or a president, really the one making the decisions? Or are there others behind them pulling the strings? Can you truly take anything at face value? Or must one always be wary of where the money flows?

The longer Lufeng stays in the Palace, the more secrets she uncovers - secrets that shake the foundations of her very life. What are the true origins of Feng? And what should she do when she discovers that the people she grew up trusting may be complicit in the destruction of her nation? These are delicious breadcrumbs that Ai scatters as twists in the story, leading up to a tantalising cliffhanger.

It is here that I wish that this weren't a novella duology, but that it had been written as a complete novel, because now I have to wait for the next book to be published.

Note: I received a digital ARC of this book from the Titan Books via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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