Fantasy Books
Book review: The Autumn Springs Retirement Home Massacre by Philip Fracassi
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Philip Fracassi is the Bram Stoker and British Fantasy Award-nominated author of the novels Don’t Let Them Get You Down, A Child Alone with Strangers, Gothic, and Boys in the Valley. His upcoming books include the novels The Third Rule of Time Travel, The Autumn Springs Retirement Home Massacre, and Sarafina.
Publisher: Tor Nightfire (September 30, 2025) Page count: 416 Formats: audiobook, ebook, paperback
I loved this book.
The Autumn Springs Retirement Home Massacre is, basically, a slasher horror set in a retirement home.
Rose DuBois is a fantastic protagonist. She’s in her late seventies, but still sharp, and tired of nonsense. She's also a little lonely, and carrying a lifetime of quiet damage she doesn’t talk about much. When residents at Autumn Springs start dying, she first mourns her friends. That's the thing with a retirement home - people die there all the time. But with deaths piling up, Rose decides to investigate.
The book is quick to read thanks to shot chapters and brisk pacing. I also enjoyed the setting. Life in Autumn Springs revolves around schedules, medications, compromises, and small social ecosystems. People know each other’s habits. They notice when someone doesn’t show up. They also know how easy it is for a death to slide by unquestioned. That tension between community closeness and institutional indifference plays an important role.
Since it's a slasher, you know there'll be violence. It's not extreme or gratuitous, but characters you'll root for will die. The violence isn’t goofy or exaggerated. It’s ugly, abrupt, and often sad. The story switches between cozy-ish mystery and slasher brutality. The investigation side, mostly driven by Rose and her friend Miller, is fun and their relationship adds warmth without tipping into sentimentality. Then the killings arrive and snap that comfort in half. The violence isn’t goofy or exaggerated. It’s ugly, abrupt, and often sad. I'll emphasize that Fracassi respects his characters too much to treat them as fodder. Most deaths sting, true, but they're well written.
The mystery holds together. You’re given enough to speculate without being led by the nose, and suspicion moves as new information comes out. The eventual reveal makes sense. There’s a light supernatural touch to it that some readers may wish were either pushed further or cut entirely.
You’ll like this if you prefer horror character-driven and if you enjoy mysteries where character matters more than clever twists, and if the idea of a slower, observant final girl appeals to you.
Categories: Fantasy Books
Spotlight on “Adrift” by Will Dean
LitStack Spots – Titles by Will Dean Here are some titles by Will Dean that…
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Categories: Fantasy Books
Blue Beard, Red Hood - Book Review by Voodoo Bride
Blue Beard, Red Hood (Beloved Villains #6)Rebecca F. KenneyWhat is it about:A spicy, adult romantasy retelling of "Bluebeard" and "Little Red Riding Hood," two of Charles Perrault's most famous stories.
Sybil Fallon has a habit of summoning demons unintentionally and at the most inconvenient times. When she, her mother, and her sister are invited to an upcoming dinner at the estate of the mysterious Theron Beresford, Sybil is desperate to ensure that her ability won't manifest and ruin the evening. But when she seeks help from her reclusive former mentor, Grandmother Riquet, she discovers that the old woman has changed in dangerous and disturbing ways... and so has the forest in which she lives.
As Sybil struggles to control an ability she doesn't understand, she becomes strongly attracted to Beresford, the brawny, handsome estate owner. His distinctive blue beard isn't his only unusual trait. In addition to socially acceptable dinner parties, he also likes to host secret gatherings in the refurbished barn on his property. Sybil's first invitation to one of his naughty midnight parties opens her mind to a world of new pleasures. But with local disappearances inciting the suspicion of the neighbors, and Beresford's secretive nature raising questions in her own mind, Sybil must navigate an increasingly treacherous path through the forest of her circumstances in pursuit of the future she wants.
What did Voodoo Bride think of it:Yes, I totally went on a Rebecca F. Kenney Binge.This one I got as an ARC, but I bought the ebook as well, because I didn't get to reading/reviewing before the release.
I've always thought Bluebeard would be a great fairy tale to reimagine into something more sensual. And here it is!
I really enjoyed this mashup of Bluebeard and Little Red Riding Hood. I liked Sybil, and was as intrigued by Beresford as she was. There lots of deliciousness, some creepy things, and lots of suspense. There's elements of both fairy tales, but once again Kenney weaves them into a wonderful reimagining all her own. I had a great time with this and it won't be the last book by Kenney I will read.
Why should you read it:It's a sensual, suspenseful fairy tale mashup.
Categories: Fantasy Books
Review – The Magic of Untamed Hearts (Wild Magic, Book 3) by Raquel Vasquez Gilliland (4/5 stars)
Reading Level: Adult
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Length: 368 pages
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: January 13, 2026
ASIN: B0F4Q7YQXK
Stand Alone or Series: 3rd book in Wild Magic series
Source: ebook from NetGalley for Review
Rating: 4/5 stars
“Like her sisters, Sage and Teal, Sky Flores has a touch of magic, and it’s caused nothing but heartache. Not only did she disappear into the woods years ago and reappear with no rational explanation, she’s also more comfortable talking to animals than to people. Different and misunderstood, Sky is shunned in the small town of Cranberry.
Sky’s neighbor, Adam Noemi, has his own problems. After being laid off from a prestigious newspaper, Adam, ever the ambitious reporter, needs a big headline to redeem his career. Enter Sky, a girl with a story that news outlets have been chasing for years. Sky agrees to grant Adam an exclusive interview on one condition: that he befriend Sky, in a very public way, to prove to everyone in Cranberry that she’s not an outcast.
As Sky shares her experiences with Adam, something much bigger than a simple agreement begins to grow between them. But for love to take root, Adam will have to take a leap towards a life that defies expectations, and Sky must open her heart – full of flora and fauna and mystical energies – to his curious mind.”
Series Info/Source: This is third book in the Wild Magic series. I got a copy of this to review on ebook from NetGalley.
Thoughts: This was a well done continuation of this series. I enjoyed reading about Sky’s story. My favorite book in this series remains the first book, but I enjoyed this one as well. You really feel for Sky and all that she’s been through; I thought her autism was well represented too.
Sky has a touch of magic; she can talk to animals. Unfortunately, with her long absence, she is more comfortable talking to animals than people, and the people of Cranberry town have not been kind to her. She feels like a burden on those around her. Sage and Teal have both moved on with their lives but still feel like they have to baby Sky. Sky is doing okay though; she has her job at the library and a couple of friends. She wants more and is trying to put herself out there. After some horrible experiences in an online dating app she finally clicks with someone online. Simultaneously, she keeps running into Adam. He was horrible to her in high school and is now the big time famous reporter (who seems to be down on his luck). Him and Sky have one thing in common, his father who is struggling with onset dementia. As Adam and Sky end up spending more time together via Adam’s father, they start to find out that they have more in common than they previously knew.
This was a cute story and I enjoyed it. I was excited to finally get Sky’s story, and she is by far the most timid of the sisters. I really felt for her and her feelings of loneliness, not fitting in, and of being a burden on those around her. I enjoyed watching her grow and find her footing throughout the story.
Sky has autism and this is represented throughout the story; she is sensitive to certain sensation and fabrics, has trouble with natural conversation and reading cues but she is trying to own it. I thought Gilliland did a great job representing this throughout the story. Sky is a high functioning individual who just needs to interact with people and things a bit differently. Adam comes off as a bit of a jerk initially, but I grew to enjoy his character more as the story progressed. The two end up having excellent chemistry together.
This story felt a bit slower than the previous two books. Sky had a mystery of a secret coven that she was trying to unravel but that was very much in the background and kept being forgotten throughout the story. There just didn’t seem to be as much to drive this story forward as there were in the first two books. I also love the Flores family, but they seem very scattered in this book. They do come together at times, but Sky felt very much on her own because she was very much on her own for a lot of the book. All the other members of the Flores family had valid but different priorities (new baby, new business, etc).
This was easy to read and cute and funny. I enjoyed it and think it was a decent close to this series about these magical sisters.
My Summary (4/5): Overall I liked this and thought it was a quick, cute, and fun read. It was a bit slower than the previous two books and I didn’t click with Sky as a character quite as well. However, I did like learning more about Sky and watching her grow and get her happiness. I would recommend this series to those who enjoy paranormal magic with a cozy feel; all of these books have an emphasis on family and finding happiness. I will definitely keep an eye out for Gilliland’s future books.
Categories: Fantasy Books
Colm Tóibín’s “Nora Webster” | Recovering Her Lost Self
The post Colm Tóibín’s “Nora Webster” | Recovering Her Lost Self appeared first on LitStack.
Categories: Fantasy Books
Friday Musings: Our Latest Adventure In Home Ownership
Last week, our septic system died. It had been giving us trouble for a while, making dyspeptic noises when we did the laundry or ran too much water through the pipes, draining too slowly, and generally seeming not well. You might say the whole thing crapped out on us. But shit happens….
We had someone come in to check it, and they told us the tank needed pumping. But when we had another someone come in to do that, they discovered that the tank, which is made out of cement, was broken, and had been KNOWN to be broken by the previous owners of the house, who had set up some weird makeshift patches over the broken section to hide or at least mitigate the problem. So, that was something of a pisser….
Then we had a third someone come in to remove the broken tank and replace it with one that, well, wasn’t broken. This was set to cost us a great deal of money — a butt-load, if you will. And they discovered that the broken tank was actually resting on a second tank, which was deeper in the ground. At which point, their already-substantial estimate ballooned further. That really stank. It felt like we were just flushing money down the toilet….
And actually, we had previously — as in just a couple of weeks ago — had to replace our hot water heater. Hence, you might say that the septic issues were our number two problem….
Okay, I’ll stop now with the terribly immature scatological humor. The septic problems were real — not something I made up to work in these awful jokes. Fortunately, the work is done, the expense has been borne, the bird feeders are back up, and the yard has been patched, though it will take a while for it to recover fully. The guys doing the tank replacement (who were great — professional, considerate, friendly, reliable, and determined to get the work done quickly) had to bring in some heavy equipment. There was nothing to be done about the lawn.
But that’s a small matter. Everything (for now) is working as it’s supposed to. You might even say that our problems are behind us now….
Enjoy your weekend!
Categories: Fantasy Books
A Tale of Vines and Vengeance - Quick Review by Voodoo Bride
A Tale of Vines and Vengeance (Wicked Darlings #3.5)by Rebecca F. KenneyWhat is it about:This is not a full novel, it is a short story connected to the Wicked Darlings series. It is meant to be read after you've completed all three of the main novels in the series, starting with A Court of Sugar and Spice. It contains some spoilers for the series.If you loved Clara and her handsome Sugarplum Faerie, Finias, you'll enjoy this small glimpse into their life after the events of the series.
What did Voodoo Bride think of it:I'm a rebel. I totally skipped over the third book in this series to read this short story about Clara and Fin.
And it's a quick read with both suspense and lots of deliciousness. If you loved Clara and her Sugarplum Faerie as much as I do, this is a must read!There's spoilers for the first two books, and maybe minor spoilers for the third book.
Why should you read it:It's fun and delicious.
Categories: Fantasy Books
Audiobook Review – Emergence (Eclipsed Evolution, Book 3) by Kim Harrison, Narrated by Xe Sands (3/5 stars)
Reading Level: Adult
Genre: Science Fiction/Paranormal
Length: 6 hours and 12 minutes
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Release Date: June 04, 2024
ASIN: B0CKWGFGHW
Stand Alone or Series: 3rd book in the Eclipsed Evolution series
Source: Audiobook from Audible.com
Rating: 3/5 stars
“As time has passed, Dr. Renee Caisson has begun to see the demonic, alien August as more than a research subject or an unlikely colleague—they’ve become friends. And together she and August have helped the two societies of Nextdoor and Earth through the confusion of first contact, the danger of misunderstandings, and the anger of mistreatment.
But when a popular blogger and conspiracy theorist twists August’s words, an uproar ensues, turning a powerful section of human society against the Neighbors—and resulting in Renee’s house arrest. Her could-be boyfriend, Major Jackson, says it’s to protect her, though that’s not how Renee sees it.
Torn between duty and friendship, August jumps Renee to freedom, fully aware that the journey might reveal more to her than she should know. The wily Neighbor has pieced together that Renee has been unconsciously using their magic, a fact that, if revealed, will cause more, not less, conflict between the humans and Neighbors.
For if the people of Earth can master magic and exile August’s people again, the Neighbors will not survive. . . .”
Series Info/Source: This is the third book in the Eclipsed Evolution series. I bought a copy of this on audiobook from Audible.
Thoughts: I am a bit torn about this series. I like the idea behind it and do enjoy some of the characters. However, it is really predictable and moves really slow (the novella format might have something to do with that). I got the first three of these on audiobook because I was looking for some shorter audiobooks that I could listen to during a car trip. The audiobook is okay; the narrator has a kind of raspy voice that can be tough to hear if there is a lot of background noise where I am listening (for example, in the car). I got these as a bundle deal and probably wouldn’t have kept reading after the first book if I hadn’t done that.
This book picks up right after where the second book in the series left off. Renee and August are starting to work on research projects together, and the Neighbors are now known to the rest of the world. When a popular blogger starts to twist the story, an uproar ensues and Renee ends up under house arrest. August jumps her out. However, the fact that Renee may be unconsciously using the neighbor’s spark magic has both human and neighbor sides concerned.
I like the idea behind this whole series; it is an intriguing blend of science fiction and paranormal elements. I also continue to like the characters; they are smart and kind, if a bit vanilla at times. I will also say that characters come across as very world-weary as well. I just feel like the story drags; the way things play out is exactly how I would expect them to play out. The actions characters take feel a bit underwhelming, and nothing is surprising. This makes the story feel strangely unoriginal (even though the premise is unique) and a bit tired.
Everything about this is okay but not great. I originally thought this was a trilogy and that this book would wrap up the series, however I was wrong. Nothing is resolved in this book, and there will definitely be more books in this series.
My Summary (5/5): Overall I find this series underwhelming. I like the premise and the characters, but struggle with how predictable and tired the story feels. If I hadn’t bought all three of these together, I probably wouldn’t have read past the first book. Now that I have the three released books in this series, I am still feeling underwhelmed and don’t plan on reading additional books in this series. This is definitely not Harrison’s finest. Despite the creative premise, this story has been very slow, predictable, and tired.
Categories: Fantasy Books
Spotlight on “The Final Problem” by Arturo Perez-Reverte
Titles by Arturo Perez-Reverte
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Categories: Fantasy Books
A Court of Hearts and Hunger - Book Review by Voodoo Bride
A Court of Hearts and Hunger (Wicked Darlings #2)by Rebecca F. KenneyWhat is it about:Just as Clara and her sister are settling into their new life, Drosselmeyer sends a desperate message to the Seelie Court. With Lir and Louisa occupied elsewhere, Clara and Finias (the Sugarplum Faerie) have no choice but to respond and forge deep into Unseelie Territory, where a cruel Queen, known as the Eater of Hearts, has taken the throne. As they infiltrate the Court of Dread, Finias and Clara are forced to keep their relationship a secret. Meanwhile, the ravenous victims of the Queen, called the Heartless, turn the Unseelie kingdom into a far more dangerous place than usual.
Brimming with drama, horror, and spice, this sequel to "A Court of Sugar and Spice" brings back Clara and Finias, while introducing new characters like the fiendishly hot Cheshire Cat, the enigmatic Rabbit, the terrifying Queen, and more.
What did Voodoo Bride think of it:I totally bought this because it had more Clara and Finias. And this book is a must have for anyone who loved them in A Court of Sugar and Spice in my opinion. They're chapters are worth it all by themselves.
I did really enjoy the chapters with Alice, Rabbit, and the Cheshire Cat as well, but more because of the Rabbit and Cheshire Cat than because of Alice. I didn't click with her at all. Her personality just felt off to me. That aside, I had a great time with this book, and treated myself to the print version as an early Christmas present after finishing it.(yes, I'm behind on my reviews and still catching up)
Overall a really enjoyable read with some darker elements, so I advice you to look into the content warnings before diving in.
Why should you read it:More Fin & Clara!
Categories: Fantasy Books
The Midnight King - Book Review by Voodoo Bride
The Midnight King: A Cinderella Retellingby Rebecca F. KenneyWhat is it about:Bound by magic, Celinda serves her step-family night and day with little hope of escaping the drudgery of her life, and even less hope of attending the upcoming series of royal parties hosted by the Crown Prince, who is seeking a bride. When a family heirloom summons a handsome Faerie, Celinda sees a possible avenue for escape. But she finds herself being seduced, not by the prince, but by his incredibly attractive father, the King. Tempted by the pleasure the King offers and drawn by the magic her Faerie godfather can access, Celinda's heart is tugged in two different directions, even as she fights to circumvent the cruel schemes of her malevolent stepmother.
This spicy romantasy retelling of the Cinderella fairytale will appeal to fans of Scarlett St. Clair, Karina Halle, and Raven Kennedy. It's a fantasy romance novella with a love triangle and frequent spicy scenes in addition to a compelling plot.
What did Voodoo Bride think of it:After finishing A Court of Sugar and Spice I immediately grabbed my e-reader and started on The Midnight King, which I got as a freebie by signing up to Kenney's newsletter.
For some reason I assumed it was a novella, so I was surprised to find out I read until deep into the night when I finished it.
This book is just as delicious, although with a very different (triangly) back and forth between Celinda and her Faerie godfather and the King.Not that I minded: I was totally engrossed and was eager to see where the story would lead and how Celinda would escape her miserable life and find happiness.I loved seeing how Kenney bends the original fairy tale and makes it her own,
And when I finished this book and saw there was a version of it with bonus content on Amazon, I totally bought it, as well as the other books in the Wicked Darlings series.
Why should you read it:It's a yummy Cinderella reimagining.
Categories: Fantasy Books
Review: The Trident and the Pearl by Sarah K.L. Wilson
Buy The Trident and the Pearl
FORMAT/INFO: The Trident and the Pearl will be published February 24th, 2026. It is 464 pages long and available in paperback, ebook, and audiobook formats.
OVERVIEW/ANALYSIS: With a storm threatening to wipe out her people, Queen Coralys strikes a desperate bargain: she will marry the first person to step foot on her island's pier, in return for an end to the disaster. Unfortunately, the first person to arrive is not the hoped for prince from a neighboring kingdom, but a lowly, smelly fisherman. But Queen Coralys honors her word, marries the fisherman, and sails off to her new home. What she doesn't know is that her new husband is actually the god of the sea - and he believes Queen Coralys is the key to stopping a dark threat facing mortals everywhere. Unfortunately for the sea god, Queen Coralys may have obeyed her bargain, but she secretly harbors revenge in her heart against the gods themselves.
Despite a strong start and lovely prose, The Trident and the Pearl completely flounders in creating romantic tension. That's quite a big thing to stumble over, given that this book is being marketed as a romantasy. While I could believe the sea god Okeanos had fallen for Coralys, I didn't for a second believe the reverse was true at any point in the story. Any tender moments towards the end of the story struck me as false.
I will give the book credit for having some high points that made me wish I liked it more. I was really pulled into the beginning of the story, with the initial introduction of Coralys's island nation, their culture, and the bargain she strikes with the gods. I enjoyed the turn the plot took at the midpoint, and thought it was taking the story into a genuinely interesting direction. The overall atmosphere is well done, and I loved the style of writing that felt appropriate for a story about a woman caught in the machinations of gods.
But overall, the plot just felt a bit of a mess. Characters refuse to divulge information to a frustrating degree, stalling out story momentum. Other characters seem deliberately obtuse. Even allowing for the emotions at play, the sheer refusal to consider evidence that they are being lied to or manipulated made me want to scream. The last third of the book felt scattered and meandering, and I ultimately lost interest in the plot.
I really wanted to like The Trident and the Pearl, and for the first several chapters it seemed like it would hit all the right boxes. Unfortunately, the plot completely stalled and characters behaved in a way that was frustrating to watch. I sadly cannot give this book a recommend.
Categories: Fantasy Books
Review – Brigands and Breadknives (Legends and Lattes, Book 2) by Travis Baldree (5/5 stars)
Reading Level: Adult
Genre: Cozy Fantasy
Length: 325 pages
Publisher: Tor Books
Release Date: November 11, 2025
ASIN: B0DQJ422QX
Stand Alone or Series: 2nd book in the Legends and Lattes series
Source: Borrowed ebook from from Library
Rating: 5/5 stars
“Fern has weathered the stillness and storms of a bookseller’s life for decades, but now, in the face of crippling ennui, transplants herself to the city of Thune to hang out her shingle beside a long-absent friend’s coffee shop. What could be a better pairing? Surely a charming renovation montage will cure what ails her!
If only things were so simple…
It turns out that fixing your life isn’t a one-time prospect, nor as easy as a change of scenery and a lick of paint.
A drunken and desperate night sees the rattkin waking far from home in the company of a legendary warrior, an imprisoned chaos-goblin with a fondness for silverware, and an absolutely thumping hangover.
As together they fend off a rogue’s gallery of ne’er-do-wells trying to claim the bounty the goblin represents, Fern may finally reconnect with the person she actually is when nothing seems inevitable.”
Series Info/Source: This is the second book in the Legends and Lattes series. I borrowed a copy of this on ebook from my library.
Thoughts: This was an amazing follow-up to Legends and Lattes and follows Fern, from the Prelude book. I really enjoyed that this went from more of a cozy fantasy to an adventure fantasy (with some coziness of course). I thought Fern’s struggles felt very real and was hoping for her to find her path and happiness. It was incredibly relatable.
Fern relocates her bookstore to Thune and gets set up with the help of Viv, Tandri, and Cal. However, she isn’t happy. Fern finds herself panicking when she realizes this move to Thune didn’t fill the empty spot in her. For a solution, she has a night of hard drinking and then wanders around town, inadvertently falling asleep in the back of a wagon. Unfortunately, she wakes up on the road with a famous warrior elf, the elf’s odd captive goblin, and no money whatsoever. Now Fern is on an adventure that will test her courage and make her question what she really wants out of life.
I really enjoyed all of the adventuring in this book. It is different from previous books in this series, but I enjoyed the change. The adventure is exciting and life-threatening at times, but still stays cozy feeling too.
I also really enjoyed all of the characters here. Fern is a foul-speaking Ratkin in a tough spot but she tries to be as helpful as possible and really is struggling to find her happiness. The elf warrior she joins up with is a creature of habit, she’s been a merc for centuries and can’t imagine doing things any other way. The captive goblin is pure chaos, and it’s tough to figure out if she’s actually a captive. In the end, they all end up being what the other party members need. They all end up pushing each other out of their comfort zones. The antics here were humorous, fun, and thought-provoking.
This was very easy to read and I enjoyed it. It is quite different from the last two books in this series in format and tone, but I thought that was a good thing. It was still a cozy and thought-provoking read. This was incredibly well written, and I breezed right through it and enjoyed every minute of it.
My Summary (5/5): Overall I really enjoyed this new installment in the Legends and Lattes series. The format is different this time around with a lot more adventure, but I liked the format even better than the previous books. We do see a bit of Viv and Tandri, but the story really focuses on Fern and a cast of new amazing characters. If you enjoy thoughtful adventure fantasy with some coziness, I think you will enjoy this. If you enjoyed the other two Legends and Lattes books, I think you will enjoy this as well, just keep an open mind and go along with the adventure.
Categories: Fantasy Books
Audiobook Review: My Husband’s Wife by Alice Feeney
I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.
My Husband’s Wife by Alice Feeney
Mogsy’s Rating (Overall): 3 of 5 stars
Genre: Thriller, Mystery
Series: Stand Alone
Publisher: Macmillan Audio (January 20, 2026)
Length: 8 hrs and 58 mins
Author Information: Website
Narrators: Bel Powley, Henry Rowley, Richard Armitage
Alice Feeney is an author I can usually depend on to deliver an edge-of-your-seat thriller, and on its surface, My Husband’s Wife sounded like it would be exactly that. So, imagine my disappointment when it did not work for me the way it clearly has for so many others. Now, I’m aware I’m in the minority with this one, but somewhere along the way I felt the story just went so far off the rails that I stopped enjoying myself.
The book opens with Eden Fox, an artist about to have her career breakout moment, deciding on an evening run to blow off some steam before her first gallery exhibition. As always, she leaves all her valuables including her phone, wallet, and wedding ring at home before she heads out. When she returns, however, she discovers something very wrong. The key to her house no longer works. Someone answers the door to see what’s going on, and it’s a stranger who looks remarkably like Eden—similar build, hair, facial features—and she claims that there must be a mistake, because she lives there, not Eden. Then, a man come downstairs to investigate the commotion, and Eden is relieved because it’s her husband, Harrison. He’ll sort out this mess and kick this crazy lady out of their house! Except to Eden’s shock, Harrison stares back at her with no recognition in his eyes. He insists the strange woman beside him is his wife, and that he has no idea who Eden is but if she doesn’t leave the property, they will have no choice but to call the police. Carrying no proof of her identity, Eden is forced to flee into the night, feeling frightened, hurt, and confused.
Running alongside Eden’s story is a second one following Birdy, a reclusive woman living in London who has just received a devastating diagnosis and may only have months to live. That same night, however, she is visited by a representative of her estranged grandmother’s estate and learns she has unexpectedly inherited a house in the seaside village of Hope Falls, where her family once lived. When Birdie arrives at the property, affectionately known to all the locals as Spyglass, she discovers a letter among her late grandmother’s belongings from a mysterious corporation claiming it can predict the exact date of a person’s death. Given the timing of her diagnosis, Birdy’s curiosity is understandable, and she decides to look more closely into the company’s mission and history. As her investigation unfolds, the novel gradually stitches together these two seemingly separate narratives, linking half-truths and coincidences that may not be coincidences at all.
For the most part, this works. I’ll say this about all Alice Feeney’s books: her prose is snappy, the atmosphere is intense, and the pace is so brisk that the thought of taking a pause is nearly impossible. I was genuinely curious and looking forward to the reveals for at least the first half of My Husband’s Wife, even when I wasn’t entirely sure what the hell was going on. After all, confusion is part of the deal here, completely by design, and the plot is structured in a way to make the reader feel disoriented.
Where the story started to lose me was in the second half, with its handling of twists. Not because there were too few, but because there were too many! At a certain point, the story completely gives up on building upon its own foundations and begins pulling the rug from under itself, over, and over, and over again. Shocking revelations became less about providing answers and more about being completely unpredictable, even if it doesn’t really make sense or throws everything that we know about the characters out the window. When you realize that anything can change at any second and none of the truths that were previously established matter, it all starts to feel rather pointless.
To be clear, I have nothing against twists. It’s one of the best reasons to read thrillers and why I enjoy the genre so much. But at the same time, My Husband’s Wife was a bit much even by Feeney standards. Thing is, I don’t want to remove all thinking from the equation. I’d like to be given the chance to form coherent theories and emotional attachments to characters that could hold out to the next chapter. Without that expectation, I’m afraid it undercuts tension rather than heightens it for me.
That said, the audiobook narration is fantastic. Read by Bel Powley, Henry Rowley, and Richard Armitage, all three delivered strong and engaging performances. I’m especially a big fan of Armitage, who does incredible voice work on anything he does, not just Alice Feeney audiobooks. To be honest, even when the story frustrated me, the narration kept me listening.
In the end, I think My Husband’s Wife will be very much a “your mileage may vary” thriller. For me, the book started strong but ultimately collapsed under the weight of its need to induce whiplash, leaving me entertained but mentally exhausted and emotionally detached. But like I said, I suspect I am the outlier here, and fans who love Alice Feeney’s books despite or perhaps because of her bold, major-suspension-of-disbelief twists will probably have a great time.
Categories: Fantasy Books
Teaser Tuesdays - What Stalks the Deep
Several people asked my opinion "as a military man." They were wrong about the man part, but the thought of explaining Gallacia's sworn soldiers to a boatload of Americans was so exhausting that I needed a gin and tonic just to contemplate it, and a second one to decide that explaining would be a bad idea.(page 1, What Stalks the Deep by T. Kingfisher)
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Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, previously hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following: - Grab your current read - Open to a random page - Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) - Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
Categories: Fantasy Books
Book review: Immaculate Conception by Ling Ling Huang
Book links: Amazon, GoodreadsABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Publisher: Page count: Formats: audiobook, ebook, paperback
I loved Ling Ling Huang’s Natural Beauty and couldn’t wait to read this one too. Sadly, Immaculate Conception didn’t fully live up to my expectations.
There’s a lot here that I admired. The ideas are strong and timely; we get cloning, AI replacing artists, art as commodity, art as theft. The obsessive dynamic between the narrator, Enka, and Mathilde is fascinating. That slow burn of jealousy and the way admiration curdles into resentment, guilt, and self-loathing is incredibly well written. Huang nails that emotional ugliness.
Enka isn't likable, nor is she relatable. She makes selfish, cruel choices and justifies them badly. But she’s believable in her pettiness and envy. She want what others have instead of building something of her own and I know people like this.
Despite my appreciation for the ideas, the book felt very detached and emotionally distant to me. I finished it, but I never truly connected to Enka, to Mathilde, or to the story as a whole. I wanted deeper character development early on, especially for Enka and Mathilde, before everything spiraled. Their bond is supposed to be intense, but I struggled to feel it.
Huang is an excellent writer, though. The art discussions are fantastic. I actually went and looked up the artworks mentioned, and that genuinely improved my experience. The performance art sections, in particular, are powerful.
To sum it up, where Natural Beauty pulled me in immediately, this one took effort. I was also, admittedly, hoping for a bit more weirdness and a little more unhinged energy. And while I appreciated what the book was saying, I think it could’ve been shorter.
In the end, I liked it more in theory than in practice. It's smart, thoughtful novel about awe, jealousy, and artistic obsession, but it kept me at arm’s length. Despite my reservations, I’ll absolutely pick up whatever Huang writes next.
Categories: Fantasy Books
TWELVE MONTHS by Jim Butcher (Dresden Files #18)
Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files is one of the best selling and most beloved fantasy sagas on the shelves. How can a series that is now 25 years old with 17 books on the selves stay fresh? Well, one way is to change up* how the story is told. Jim Butcher has said that a Dresden…
Categories: Fantasy Books
Anticipated 2026 Speculative Fiction Book Releases
Once again, I have scoured the internet for information on speculative fiction books coming out this year and compiled a list of works I wanted to highlight. After looking through book descriptions, early reviews, and any available excerpts, I’ve put together a list of 18 fantasy and science fiction books coming out in 2026 that sound particularly compelling to me. (Of course, some of these did not require research since I had already enjoyed previous books in the series or […]
The post Anticipated 2026 Speculative Fiction Book Releases first appeared on Fantasy Cafe.
Categories: Fantasy Books
Review – Murder on Hunter’s Eve (The Lamplight Murder Mysteries, Book 3) by Morgan Stang (5/5 stars)
Reading Level: Adult
Genre: Fantasy/Steampunk
Length: 378 pages
Publisher: Self-Published
Release Date:July 11, 2024
ASIN: B0D54FPW8Z
Stand Alone or Series: 3rd book in The Lamplight Murder Mysteries
Source: Borrowed ebook from Kindle Unlimited
Rating: 5/5 stars
“It’s the week of Hunter’s Eve, a yearly celebration of monsters, ghosts, and things that go bump in the night. But for Huntress Isabeau Agarwal, the event is a stark reminder that in her line of work, there is never a day’s rest.
Murders rock the city, and Isabeau is charged with solving them before the killer strikes again. One, a macabre accident during a dangerous magician’s trick gone awry. The other, a slain politician, his disfigured body displayed atop Lamplight’s most memorable landmark.
The deaths are seemingly unrelated, until Isabeau learns both magician and politician belong to the same mysterious social club filled with powerful paragons of the city, each with their own hidden agendas—each with a reason to kill.
And during it all, a werewolf stalks the streets, bounding from rooftop to rooftop and claiming the lives of innocent citizens. As Isabeau uncovers the city’s secrets, complications arise: the monster and the murders may be connected.
The magician. The police chief. The Ethereal Maiden. The professor. The criminal kingpin. The industrialist.
One may be a killer. One may be a werewolf. All are hiding something.”
Series Info/Source: This is third book in The Lamplight Murder Mysteries. I borrowed this on ebook from Kindle Unlimited.
Thoughts: I really enjoyed this third installment in The Lamplight Murder Mysteries. This book was a bit different than previous books in that we are let loose in the city of Lamplight rather than in an enclosed environment. I actually loved this format even more than the previous two books. I have been wanting to learn more about the mysterious city of Lamplight and this book didn’t disappoint.
There is a werewolf loose in Lamplight…and even worse a murderer loose. Isabeau and Evie are trying to enjoy a night at the theater, watching a magician, when his show goes very wrong and his assistant is killed. They quickly find out that this isn’t the only killing of the night, and Evie is called in on the case. Isabeau and Evie find out that both murders are linked to a mysterious social club, and the werewolf may somehow be linked into this all as well.
This book had a lot more action than the last couple books. I actually enjoyed this open format a lot more and really enjoyed exploring Lamplight. The things I like best about this series are the amazing world and the intriguing characters, and we get to see a lot more of both in this story. I actually am not a huge fan of murder mysteries or who-dun-it types of stories. However, I love this setting and these characters.
I also love that we learn a lot more about monsters and about Isabeau’s past in this book. Both Evie and Isabeau are growing and changing as characters which is fun to watch. There was a bit more about politics and we are exposed to more of the ghostly aspects of this world as well.
This was a very fun and easy read that I enjoyed immensely.
My Summary (5/5): Overall I really loved this book and thought that this was the best book in this series so far. I loved the more open format and venturing into the city of Lamplight. I loved how the murder mystery intertwined with other aspects like werewolves, ghostly apparitions, and politics. I really love the characters here and enjoyed learning more about their history and watching them grow. I would recommend to anyone who enjoys a creative dark steampunk-esque fantasy world with intriguing characters and a well done murder mystery.
Categories: Fantasy Books
A Court of Sugar and Spice - Book Review by Voodoo Bride
A Court of Sugar and Spice (Wicked Darlings #1)by Rebecca F. KenneyWhat is it about:With their inheritance restricted until their marriage, sisters Clara and Louisa, both in their twenties, must live with their godfather Drosselmeyer. One night, an accident brings to life one of the strange wooden dolls in Drosselmeyer's mansion. The Nutcracker doll is a cursed Fae prince, and he pleads for the sisters' help. During the ensuing journey into the Fae realm, Clara encounters the handsome Sugarplum Faerie, and he promises her the chance to enact all her forbidden fantasies. Meanwhile Louisa and the Nutcracker Prince battle and bicker over everything, despite the growing attraction between them. And to make matters worse, the entire Seelie kingdom is under threat of conquest by the Rat King, ruler of the Dread Court.
This is a spicy, adult, fantasy romance retelling of "The Nutcracker" fairytale.
What did Voodoo Bride think of it:I will confess I've had a couple of ebooks of this author linger on my e-reader, but I tend to skip over my digital library in favor of print books, so it took me seeing this mass market paperback and buying it to actually read something by Kenney.
And I've been missing out!
This is such a delicious read.I connected with Clara from the start. Louisa and the Nutcracker/Fae prince were less interesting to me, but the story was enjoyable enough to keep reading and to see what would happen next.
And then the Sugarplum Faerie entered the stage!I absolutely adored him and Clara together. From there on out I was hooked and was cheering Clara and Sugarplum/Fin on and enjoying their super delicious romance.
For those more familiar with The Nutcracker there will probably be a lot of overlap with the original tale, but as someone who only knows the music and not the story I can tell you, you can read this without having seen The Nutcracker.
And you bet I grabbed my e-reader after finishing this book to see what books by Kenney I had lingering there.
Why should you read it:It's absolutely delicious!
Categories: Fantasy Books
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