Jul 6 2026

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Book Review: The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett

Title: The Tainted Cup

Author: Robert Jackson Bennett

Series: Shadow of the Leviathan #1

Genre: Fantasy

The Overview: In Daretana’s greatest mansion, a high imperial officer lies dead—killed, to all appearances, when a tree erupted from his body. Even here at the Empire’s borders, where contagions abound and the blood of the leviathans works strange magical changes, it’s a death both terrifying and impossible. Assigned to investigate is Ana Dolabra, a detective whose reputation for brilliance is matched only by her eccentricities. Rumor has it that she wears a blindfold at all times, and that she can solve impossible cases without even stepping outside the walls of her home. At her side is her new assistant, Dinios Kol, magically altered in ways that make him the perfect aide to Ana’s brilliance. Din is at turns scandalized, perplexed, and utterly infuriated by his new superior—but as the case unfolds and he watches Ana’s mind leap from one startling deduction to the next, he must admit that she is, indeed, the Empire’s greatest detective. As the two close in on a mastermind and uncover a scheme that threatens the Empire itself, Din realizes he’s barely begun to assemble the puzzle that is Ana Dolabra—and wonders how long he’ll be able to keep his own secrets safe from her piercing intellect. –Goodreads

Niki’s Review [4.5/5 stars]:

A few years ago I read Foundryside by this author and absolutely loved it. Then this book came out in 2024 and people have been absolutely raving about it ever since. Needless to say I went into The Tainted Cup with ridiculously high expectations. And you know what? It didn’t disappoint.

World-building is my favorite component to SFF books. It’s the category that can often make or break my rating scale. I love it when authors can dazzle me, and this is exactly what happened with Tainted Cup. The basic magic system around the cool, engineered plantlife was great, enough to sustain entire series from other authors. Then you add in some subtle magical talents, which definitely made the characters more interesting. But wait, more?! Nothing big, just a freaking leviathan… it was superb. Between this and Foundryside, I’ve come to love this author for his wild creativity and great magic systems. If you’re a fan of Sanderson’s world-building, definitely give Bennett a try.

I also loved the characters. Which is weird because I don’t think I had much of an emotional connection to them. They were novelties – highly interesting profiles that I can’t wait to learn more about in future books. I tend to really like flawed, enigma characters because they often have some of the better growth arcs. The quick wit and banter between the two main characters was easily my favorite part of the book. The back and forth was hysterical and made both characters immediately more endearing. Also, Ana might be my spirit animal.

This is a fantasy/mystery hybrid and I think it will appeal to readers of both genres. Lots of fantasy books include mysteries, but not many feature them quite to this degree. It unfolded with a very satisfying and quick pace, and there was enough substance for me to try to form my own theories. I think the punchline for the mystery, the “big reveal” if you will, could’ve been a touch stronger and a mite less straight-forward, which is my only slight letdown from the book. But it more than made up for that with all of the other amazing components.

So great world-building, interesting characters, lots of humor, a quick plot, and a fun mystery to solve – this book is solid! I can’t wait for the next one. :D

Thank you to my Patrons: Dave, Katrin, Frank, Jen, Karen, Sonja, Staci, Kat, Betsy, Eliss, Mike, Elizabeth, Bee, Poochtee, Kinsey, Alysa, Derek, Kelly, Grace, Carmen, and Leticia! <3

Dave’s Review [4.5/5 stars]:

The Tainted Cup initially found its way onto my radar when it won the Hugo Award last year. I knew little about it, and had never read anything by Robert Jackson Bennett prior to this. It is quite fortunate that the book came to my attention, because it is one of the best fantasy novels that I have read in some time. It is unique in that it is a fantasy novel very much in the style of a Sherlock Holmes or Hercule Poirot detective story, while also showcasing the imaginative worldbuilding that we come to expect in top-tier modern fantasy.

The mystery itself is compelling and near perfectly paced. The author drops clues mixed with twists and revelations throughout. The central conspiracy unfolded in a way that always kept me guessing and wanting to read just a bit further. I am unsure whether the author gives the reader enough clues to solve the mystery before the detective does, as I was kept guessing until the end, but that in no way diminished my appreciated for the book.

Much of the book’s charm and humor comes from the two main characters. Ana, the lead investigator, is unforgettable. She is sharp, eccentric, and intimidating, and we never quite know what she is thinking, as she is not the POV character of the story. Ana is very much the Sherlock Holmes of The Tainted Cup. Instead, we see the story through her assistant, Din. He is methodical and observant, our eyes in the narrative. He does not always understand Ana’s unconventional methods (as neither do we), but he trusts in her abilities and intentions. Their relationship evolves naturally over the course of the investigation, and their dynamic of both mutual respect and dry humor is an incredibly endearing accompaniment to the mystery itself.

The worldbuilding is another standout in this book. Bennett details a civilization with some bizarre yet interesting biological augmentations that seamlessly blend into the political machinations of the story. There is also an ever-present threat of massive leviathans, which, if I am honest, did not factor into the story as much as I might have expected. Perhaps this will be a more prominent element in subsequent books, as this is the first of a series. The setting, though, is pretty original, and serves the story perfectly.

Sure, there are some other mystery or detective stories in science fiction and fantasy, but at the moment, I am failing to recall any that I have read. That may be why this one stands out as quite unique in my mind. I would probably most liken this to some of the works of Brandon Sanderson, as the worldbuilding and writing style most remind me of his. This is a great start to a series that has a lot of promise. I plan to continue with the next book very soon, and also want to explore some of Bennett’s earlier novels as well. 4.5 stars.

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May 2 2026

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Book Review: Isles of the Emberdark by Brandon Sanderson

Title: Isles of the Emberdark

Author: Brandon Sanderson

Series: Secret Projects #5

Genre: Fantasy

Rating: 3/5 stars

The Overview: All his life, Sixth of the Dusk has been a traditional trapper of Aviar—the supernatural birds his people bond with—on the deadly island of Patji. Then one fateful night he propels his people into a race to modernize before they can be conquered by the Ones Above, invaders from the stars who want to exploit the Aviar. But it’s a race they’re losing, and Dusk fears his people will lose themselves in the effort. When a chance comes to sail into the expanse of the emberdark beyond a mystical portal, Dusk sets off to find his people’s salvation with only a canoe, his birds, and all the grit and canniness of a Patji trapper. Elsewhere in the emberdark is a young dragon chained in human Starling of the starship Dynamic. She and her ragtag crew of exiles are deep in debt and on the brink of losing their freedom. So when she finds an ancient map to a hidden portal between the emberdark and the physical realm, she seizes the chance at a lucrative discovery. These unlikely allies might just be the solution to each other’s crisis. In their search for independence, Dusk and Starling face perilous bargains, poisonous politics, and the destructive echo of a dead god. –Goodreads

The Review:

I wish I was about to give this a glowing review because I was SO excited for it… but even though I loved Sixth of Dusk, Emberdark didn’t quite land for me.

I think part of my problem may have been expectation. Based off of Sixth alone, I was expecting a story more akin to Tchaikovsky’s Cage of Souls (exotic jungle setting, amazing atmosphere, deadly encounters), but what I got instead was a story so out of left field, I wasn’t prepared for it. Another factor could have been the disjointed, gradual way I read this book. It was kind of my audiobook filler title for commutes and one I turned on to go to sleep to, which doesn’t really encourage a lot of engagement. But I have to wonder if I would’ve made it my main focus had I been enjoying it more in the first place.

It was really clever (and appreciated) how Sanderson incorporated the original short story into the novel. The creativity for all of the other components in the books was also off the charts. And for me even a Sanderson I’m not loving as much as his other books still gets a baseline good rating. But there are a few things I’d like to nitpick for a minute:

Pacing. Due to the inclusion of the short story, Sixth of Dusk, at the beginning of this novel as flashbacks (for which I just praised it) it took a long while for the story to get going. Then we had a decent clip for a while before it seemed to come to a crashing halt for a whole bunch of conversations and planning. And I swear the most drawn-out journey through a cave I’ve ever experienced (second only to Rhapsody by Elizabeth Haydon <-still loved). I’m being over-dramatic here, but it felt like 30% was at a standstill with no meaningful movement forward. Thank goodness the conversations were good (one scene of which was my favorite part of the entire book), else I may have started to get fed up with it. As it was, I just didn’t enjoy it as much as I should have. I did a Buddy Read of this with my Patrons and it seemed unanimous they thought the end portion of the book was solid.

I can’t abide a cackling villain. This character didn’t work for me at all. He didn’t seem realistic or particularly effective as a villain, and I got tired of the endless talking and threats without any apparent action. He felt more like a plot device than a fully realized character.

Those were pretty much my main complaints. I loved the birds – I wish we’d gotten more there. I was intrigued by Stirling and really can’t wait to see what sorts of effects she’s going to have on some of my very favorite Sanderson series in the future. And I loved the cameo from one of the Cosmere’s most notorious world-hoppers. I’d say overall I’m really glad I read this one, even though it didn’t give me anything close to what I was expecting.

Recommendations: This can be easily read without any knowledge of the Cosmere works, as it’s so far removed that it’s not going to spoil anything. But what little of the tie-ins I was able to spot (probably a fraction of what was actually there) made it a book dedicated Cosmere fans might get a lot out of. I mean, I’m a huge Cosmere fan too… yet I thought the implications cool but the actual story just okay… but I seem to be in the minority.

Thank you to my Patrons: Dave, Katrin, Frank, Jen, Karen, Sonja, Staci, Kat, Betsy, Eliss, Mike, Elizabeth, Bee, Poochtee, Kinsey, Alysa, Derek, Kelly, Grace, and Carmen! <3

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by Niki Hawkes

Apr 18 2026

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Book Review: Beast Business by Ilona Andrews

Title: Beast Business

Author: Ilona Andrews

Series: Hidden Legacy #6.5

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Rating: 4/5 stars

The Overview: Augustine Montgomery is an Illusion Prime who owns a premier PI corporation and alters his appearance with magic. The people who have seen Augustine’s real face can be counted on the fingers of one hand. The people who witnessed the full extent of his power are dead. The illusion isn’t just the brand of his magic. It’s become his lifestyle. Show as little as possible. Make them think that illusion is all you have. Your life depends on it. Augustine lives by this creed. He’s cold, rational, and calculating. He doesn’t get emotionally involved. Then one day Diana Harrison walks into his office and asks for his help. Diana is a Prime, an animal mage who bonds with animals through her magic and prefers their company to humans. Something precious has been stolen from House Harrison. Something Diana must recover at all costs. The two Houses are allied through a friendship pact. Assisting Diana is simply good business. And yet, there is something about her that disturbs the careful balance of Augustine’s inner world. Neither of them is who they appear to be. Both would die to keep their secrets. But the enemy they face is more powerful than either had imagined, and saving the life that hangs in the balance will demand the ultimate price neither Augustine nor Diana ever anticipated to pay – complete honesty. –Goodreads

The Review:

I am so ready for the next one…

It’s sometimes hard to get back into a series after an extended break – so not the case with Hidden Legacy. Every tiny detail regarding Arabella reminded me of my fierce passion for the series, and I truly cannot wait to read more about her in her forthcoming trilogy. She’s such an interesting character! And don’t get me wrong, I’ve loved spending time with each sister so far, but Arabella feels different somehow. More relatable. Likable in a flawed character kind of way. And I am really excited to see what they are going to do with her story arc because she’s starting with a baseline of not being able to measure up to her older sisters, but she also has this fierce determination that doesn’t seem to rely on external validation… I think it’s going to be good.

So I realize I’ve overlooked the technical selling point of the novella: the first hundred pages (Beast Business) which only includes Arabella as a peripheral character. Focusing instead Augustine and Diana – the leaders of two powerful houses, who I imagine will play pivotal roles in the upcoming trilogy. And even though it wasn’t my personal highlight of the read, it was still magic-filled and action-packed. After reading the short stories contained in the back of the book, I realize that Augustine is a character we’ve seen before during various conflicts in the main series, but it has been so long since I read it that he really didn’t leave the lasting impression. So I’m grateful for the refresher here, and getting to know more about his magic and the magic of his ally/presumably counterpart Diana. It also set the stage for the culture of Arabella’s story with Augustine is her mentor. The authors were very, very clear to imply that Augustine is in no way going to be a potential love interest.

And then we get another short story from Arabella’s perspective during the same timeframe. This is the piece of work that has me so excited! I love how Arabella presented in the story as a PI/Fixer type character, who is building her own career based on her ability to accurately psychoanalyze people and contain her own rather hostile magics during the process. I thought it was phenomenal how well she related to the other characters in the story, and how completely I felt the POV immersion into her character (down to unique mannerisms and careful word choices). She’s the type of character who inspires likability from the reader based on the fact that she can inspire likability with the other characters. It’s awesome!

And beyond that are some short stories that have been published before on the authors’ website, most of which I’m pretty sure I’ve read previously. But I went ahead and reread them anyway because I thought they were excellent refreshers to the world and to many of the key players presumably appearing in the next books.

I cannot state enough how freaking excited I am for book 7!

Recommendations: I went into this book thinking I was getting a 200 page Novella. Then it ended at 120 pages and I felt a little swindled… until I read all the good stuff that came behind it. Just go in knowing that this is a collection of pieces and not one long narrative. Also, if you haven’t read the series, please give it a try – it is awesome! There is romance involved as a secondary component, but this is not a romance-heavy series despite what the covers would have you think. It’s a perfect balance of all the elements.

Thank you to my Patrons: Dave, Katrin, Frank, Jen, Karen, Sonja, Staci, Kat, Betsy, Eliss, Mike, Elizabeth, Bee, Poochtee, Kinsey, Alysa, Derek, Kelly, Grace, and Carmen! <3

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My Annotations (contains spoilers!). This is for the print edition [ISBN: 9781641973724].

Beast Business (I didn’t get inspired to annotate until about halfway through this story)

[57] This page is reading like a bad romance. So weird. There hasn’t been enough time or interaction for anything to develop between Diana and Augustine yet, just superficial attraction. Maybe we’re ramping it up earlier due to the smaller page count?

[63] Vernal, Utah <- Cool!! And ironically one of the very few places in the state I haven’t been to yet.

[68] Best scene of the book so far. NOW I’m feeling a bit more invested.

[72] I wasn’t expecting Diana to be such a vicious hunter. The ferocity! She just became 10xs more interesting.

[74] Way too many poorly used F-bombs here. Swearing is an art form…

[75] “She walked toward him, and it was liquid sex.” Haha, is this really how far we’ve come? [Future edit: This really was a one-off. I think this was to establish physical connection. We’re getting the very basics here to show how these two house leaders ended up working together to set things up for the actual MC in the next trilogy. It’s making it clear that Augustine is NOT a romantic interest for Arabella. He’s a mentor. It makes me wonder how many issues came up in the early drafts to warrant this story being written and published.]

[103] “Your stomach is lacerated… If we don’t keep it wet, your intestines will dry out.” <- Learn something new every day.

[113] I liked Arabella’s peripheral inclusion in this story. It sets things up nicely for the next trilogy. Yes, we’d better get an entire trilogy.

Arabella Saves the Day (I loved this story so much!!)

[119] So funny that there’s more book… I thought Beast Business was going to be about 150 pages. Not complaining…

[124] I’m getting a lot of enjoyment out of this story! NOW we’re back to the awesomeness that is this series. :D

[128] Me too, girl. Me too. What a total asshat.

[130] I love the dramatic irony here. Arabella is such a dynamic and interesting character.

[131] Nice – I remember Arabella reporting briefly on this in Beast Business.

[135] “This is not high school. This is big-boy, adult shit.” haha

[136] Holy shit, this is triggering. ::anger spren::

[138] She’s a Fixer (like Oliva Pope)!! How cool?!

[145] I see her constantly making references that she’s not enough. That she can’t possibly measure up. I’m really hoping we get a wonderful growth arc where she sees that she is more than enough. I love how invested I feel already and her trilogy hasn’t even started yet.

[146] Oohhh, she psychoanalyzes too?! We’re going to get along brilliantly.

[148] I’m so glad I read this!! It 100% got me back into this world with all the enthusiasm I’d left behind. <3

A Misunderstanding

[159] Ramming the door with a tank car seems rather reckless… couldn’t that just outright kill the beings inside the panic room? I still love Grandma, though haha.

The Cool Aunt (I’d definitely read this one before)

[171] I ain’t going to lie, I feel this. Maybe as PTSD from childbirth.

[174] I really love the high level of POV immersion here.

Marty (mkay, who the hell is Marty?)

[177] Oh, okay this is Matilda’s POV. Marty is a critter.

[179] This strikes me as great parenting. Asking the hard questions. Being sensitive enough to see when pain was caused. Willingness to listen. Making amends.

[182] “If I wanted love, I didn’t have to look very far.” <3

Inn Talks (Fun Fact: George and his brother are originally from the Edge series, not the Innkeeper Chronicles)

[189] I like how much of a go-getter Arabella is. She has such a fire. And very little of it comes from external validation. I like this girl.

Augustine Montgomery

[195] I guess Augustine was quite involved in the main story, but I have to admit that I did not retain much, if anything, about him. Good thing we have been refreshed.

By Niki Hawkes

Jan 12 2026

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Book Review: The Frugal Wizard’s Handbook to Surviving Medieval England by Brandon Sanderson

Title: The Frugal Wizard’s Handbook to Surviving Medieval England

Author: Brandon Sanderson

Series: Secret Projects #2

Genre: Fantasy

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

The Overview: A man awakes in a clearing in what appears to be medieval England with no memory of who he is, where he came from, or why he is there. Chased by a group from his own time, his sole hope for survival lies in regaining his missing memories, making allies among the locals, and perhaps even trusting in their superstitious boasts. His only help from the “real world” should have been a guidebook entitled The Frugal Wizard’s Handbook for Surviving Medieval England, except his copy exploded during transit. The few fragments he managed to save provide clues to his situation, but can he figure them out in time to survive? -Goodreads

The Review:

I had a lot more fun reading this book than I thought I would.

The basic premise was really nothing to write home about: a character-driven portal fantasy that had more to do with relationships and cheeky concepts than exciting plot points. 2/5 stars.

The presentation, however, is what made this book a delight! Fully illustrated entries out of the “real” handbook reference throughout the story, including several excerpts. Interesting, if not really my taste, full-color art pages. And the best part – doodle illustrations in the margins involving this little wizard guy as secondary story alongside the main one <- easily my favorite part of the book. 4/5 stars!

And finally, Cosmere implications. This book offers a lot of backstory into one of my favorite Sanderson characters. There were lots of really good nuggets of information here. But to be totally real with you, I am having a hard reconciling this character, who seems a high-strung, bumbling fool, with the shrewd, calculating character I’ve come to love in previous works. The two just read like totally different profiles to the point where I’m going to need to see some compelling growth arc storylines in future books to be convinced that this was the intended backstory for him all along. It’s great though – now I have additional motive to keep reading more Cosmere. 3/5 stars.

Overall, definitely not my favorite Sanderson, but one that I liked a lot more than I thought I would. Compared to his other Secret Projects it’s not highly recommendable, but if you’re going to read it, absolutely pick up a physical copy.

Thank you to my Patrons: Dave, Katrin, Frank, Jen, Sonja, Staci, Kat, Betsy, Eliss, Mike, Elizabeth, Bee, Tracey, Poochtee, Kinsey, Alysa, Derek, Kelly, Meabh! <3

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by Niki Hawkes

Oct 13 2025

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Book Review: The Enchanted Greenhouse by Sarah Beth Durst

Title: The Enchanted Greenhouse

Author: Sarah Beth Durst

Series: Spellshop #2

Genre: Fantasy

Rating: 4/5 stars

The Overview: Terlu Perna broke the law because she was lonely. She cast a spell and created a magically sentient spider plant. As punishment, she was turned into a wooden statue and tucked away into an alcove in the North Reading Room of the Great Library of Alyssium. This should have been the end of her story . . . Yet one day, Terlu wakes in the cold of winter on a nearly-deserted island full of hundreds of magical greenhouses. She’s starving and freezing, and the only other human on the island is a grumpy gardener. To her surprise, he offers Terlu a place to sleep, clean clothes, and freshly baked honey cakes—at least until she’s ready to sail home. But Terlu can’t return home and doesn’t want to—the greenhouses are a dream come true, each more wondrous than the next. When she learns that the magic that sustains them is failing—causing the death of everything within them—Terlu knows she must help. Even if that means breaking the law again. This time, though, she isn’t alone. Assisted by the gardener and a sentient rose, Terlu must unravel the secrets of a long-dead sorcerer if she wants to save the island—and have a fresh chance at happiness and love. Funny, kind, and forgiving, The Enchanted Greenhouse is a story about giving second chances—to others and to yourself. –Goodreads

The Review:

Another delightful tale set in the same world as her Spellshop book!

This one started out stronger than the last – with a main character who immediately came across much more likable and a setting that was to die for. Terlu as a story lead was endearing and I liked the level of caring she exuded. That’s not to say I didn’t like the lead in the previous book – a woman who was a bit unapproachable and more in her own way (with a great growth arc!) – but Terlu here made for a much more relaxing reading companion.

And the setting!! A huge cluster of individual greenhouses hosting a wide variety of habitats and species. Truthfully I could’ve spent an entire book just reading about them taking care of plants and solving soil issues, but alas that’s not as marketable. It was the world-building component that kept my interest sparked and ultimately provided my favorite takeaways from the book. I especially loved the pollinator dragons.

So even though the best elements remained strong throughout the entire book, there were a few minor things that eventually knocked me off a slam-dunk high rating: conflicts and pacing.

The conflict in this story was off somehow, perhaps not quite robust enough for the length of the story. On one hand it’s a cozy fantasy and the conflict in those can be anything as simple as “Gosh I really need to spruce up this cottage because it’s filthy.” So maybe needing a more robust conflict wasn’t the problem, but it definitely needed something… more. More cozy-world problems. More day in the life of a greenhouse gardener-type of vibes. The grand conflict overarching the story I thought was great, but the solution didn’t require enough elements to merit a large page count, so it was kind of in and out.

And then you have a third drama point where the main character is fixated on the problems of a different character – that was the part I really didn’t like. It felt like she didn’t have enough going on to drive a story, so she had to borrow problems. So I think between her not having enough internal conflict and the simple overarching plot is why the pacing felt a little off. And there wasn’t enough of that cozy “nesting into our new environment” element to keep me engaged in the meantime.

While the romance in the first book was so subtle and lovely that it didn’t even feel like a major component to the book – in this one the romance was much more heavy-handed. I like that Durst’s male leads are kind people with a lot of compassion and and positive regard for the main characters. I also like that they both managed to showcase these attributes in completely different ways. I will admit that in this one, I found the back-and-forth between the two a bit too saccharin. But it’s a cozy fantasy so I just leaned into it.

Despite a couple of minor issues that kept the book from being higher rated than the first one, the last couple of chapters really brought it home for me and I ended up walking away really glad that I had read it. I’m especially excited for Sea of Charms currently slated for release on July 21, 2026

Recommendations: if you’re in the mood for a cozy fantasy with a touch of romance (and I mean only just a touch in the first book) this series is an absolute delight… give it a try!

Thank you to my Patrons: Dave, Katrin, Frank, Jen, Sonja, Staci, Kat, Betsy, Eliss, Mike, Elizabeth, Bee, Tracey, Poochtee, Kinsey, and Alysa! <3

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By Niki Hawkes

Sep 17 2025

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Book Review: The Air War by Adrian Tchaikovsky

Title: The Air War

Author: Adrian Tchaikovsky

Series: Shadows of the Apt #8

Genre: Fantasy

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

The Overview: An empress demands her birthright . . . All is in turmoil as the world moves towards war. In Solarno, the spies watch each other and ready their knives, while Myna sees the troops muster at its border and emotions run high as it vows never to be enslaved again. In Collegium, the students argue politics, too late to turn the tide. In the heart of the Empire, new pilots have completed their secretive training, generals are being recalled to service and armies are ready to march. Their Empress, the heir to two worlds, intends to claim her birthright. And nothing—either within the Empire or beyond it—will stand in her way. A conflict is coming, the like of which the insect-kinden have never seen. –Goodreads

The Review:

After two somewhat tangent novels, it’s nice to be back with what feels like a main storyline… and the beginning of an end-of-series arc.

It has taken me a couple of years to get to this point in the series, and although many of the characters are different from where we first started, the overall atmosphere and vibes and “fix“ that I get from reading an Apt book is going strong. I love the world building and have a lot of emotional investment on seeing how the story ends.

As a sidenote, I was realizing through this book that I’m confused on what it actually means to be “Apt”. I think it’s backwards than what I thought it was.

Anyways…

I’ll admit, I could be a little more invested if we’d stayed with some of the early characters a tad longer. It’s one of those situations where a new POV is introduced every couple hundred pages, and then their stories slowly start to become more prominent. Before long, you only have a small page count dedicated to the original core cast. I tend to latch on to early characters, and by the time I figured out that I needed to pay more attention to the new POVs because they were more than just passing, it was a too late to garner investment for them. So at this point in the series, I am more reading to find out what happens to who’s left of the OG people, and a little less so to see what happens to these new people. I have only just so much capacity of shits to give.

All that said, the series has felt immersive, expansive, and wildly creative, and I cannot wait to finish things out. The next book is shaping up to be very exciting, indeed.

Recommendations: if you like the first book Empire in Black and Gold, you’re pretty much in for a solid ten book series of enjoyable stuff. Give that one a try – it was one of the strongest introductions I’ve ever read and easily one of my favorite examples of creative world building. If you’d like to taste-test the author’s fantasy works first, pick up Guns of Dawn (a standalone).

Thank you to my Patrons: Dave, Katrin, Frank, Jen, Sonja, Staci, Kat, Betsy, Eliss, Mike, Elizabeth, Bee, Tracey, Poochtee, and Kinsey! <3

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