Fantasy Books

If you missed the first of my 2026 book recommendations events with the Ashland Public Library last night, you can catch the video on Youtube here. While last year’s program focused on both fantasy and science fiction, I’m primarily focusing on fantasy book recommendations this year. (But if you’re looking for more science fiction books this year, Elizabeth Bear has you covered!) For the first book recommendations event of the year, I recommended a couple of epic fantasy books, a […]

The post February 2026 Virtual Book Recommendations first appeared on Fantasy Cafe.

 

The Entanglement of Rival Wizards (Magic and Romance #1)by Sara Raasch
What is it about:Will they conjure love, or evoke chaos? Two rival wizards are about to find out.
Sebastian Walsh: twenty-four. Grad student at Lesiara University in the Mageus of Evocation program. Human. The first of his family to go to college rather than the military (and it goes over at family get-togethers about as well as you’d think).
Elethior Tourael: also twenty-four. Also a grad student, but in the far more inferior Mageus of Conjuration program. Half-elf. The latest in a long line of Touraels to grace the hallowed halls of Lesiara U (what would the world do if the Touraels ran out of rich douches to lead their magical weapons manufacturing empire?).
―and the other finalist for the Mageus Research Grant.
Sebastian needs that grant to fund the last few months of research for his degree, after which he’ll get a job that actually helps people. He isn’t about to let anyone snatch this from him, least of all a snob who doesn’t even need the money because his family is loaded thanks to war profiteering.
But there’s something worse than having a conceited academic nemesis steal grant money from you: you could be forced to work with him. Thio is secretive, broody, and his stunning biceps take up far too much shared lab space―but even as volatile as their partnership is, Sebastian just might find himself falling for his rival―and it could blow up his whole future.
What did I think of it:I totally fell in love with this cover and impulse bought this book with birthday money after reading the blurb.
This is a really fun and enjoyable Fantasy Romance.
I will confess I thought Sebastian was a total ass at first. Even though the story is told from his point of view it's clear he's being immature and prejudiced toward Elithior. I really admired Elithior for not getting out a taser and zapping Sebastian into next week.
That said: I enjoyed the writing, Elithior, and Sebastian's roommate/best friend, so I gave Sebastian the benefit of the doubt. And he grew on me! Discovering a bit more about his past helped as well.
I very much enjoyed the romance, as well as the worldbuilding, the magic system, and Sebastian and Elithior's background stories which where woven into who they are and how they react to things in a believable way.
All in all a great read, and I will most certainly keep an eye out for the next book in this series, which will be about Sebastian's best friend.
Why should you read it:It's a fun and very enjoyable Fantasy Romance.

Book links: Amazon, Goodreads
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Shen Tao immigrated to Canada at an early age, and grew up inspired by both Chinese and Western stories. She has wanted to be a writer for as long as she can remember. The Poet Empress is her first book.
Publisher: Bramble (January 20, 2026 ) Page count: 393 Formats: audiobook, ebook, paperback

I picked up The Poet Empress because several reviewers I trust wouldn’t stop talking about it. When that many sensible readers agree, I pay attention.
They were right. This is an excellent debut.
Wei Yin is a starving peasant girl in a famine-stricken empire. When she hears the heir to the throne is seeking concubines, she tries her chances. Not for romance or luxury, but for rice and hope for her family and village. So she volunteers to become a concubine to Prince Terren, a man known for cruelty.
The gossip wasn’t wrong. Prince Terren is indeed cruel and has little redeeming qualities. He tortures and then uses magic to heal the wounds he inflicts so he can begin again. The palace and other concubines are no better - jealousy, hate, and danger force Wei Yin to grow fast. Or she’s dead.
Wei’s plan is desperate and dangerous. She must learn to read and write in secret. She must craft a poem powerful enough to kill a prince. And to fuel that spell, she must understand him, perhaps even love him.
The Poet Empress does not flinch from abuse or violence. There are scenes that hurt and Tao doesn’t make Terren tragically misunderstood. He is monstrous despite his tragic backstory. As Wei uncovers fragments of his childhood and the fractured relationship between the princes, the story gains momentum and shows a brilliant, heart-wrenching family drama.
Wei herself is not a chosen one who is preternaturally clever. Tao never forgets that she is a peasant girl thrown into a political machine built to crush people like her. She makes mistakes, misjudges people, and learns slowly. That’s what makes her transformation so much better. The hopeful village girl doesn’t survive court life unchanged. She has to adapt and harden, and start playing the same ruthless games because the alternative is death.
For a debut, it’s remarkably assured. If this is Shen Tao’s starting point, I can’t wait to see what she does next.

Reading Level: Adult
Genre: Historical Fantasy/ Cozy Fantasy
Length: 464 pages
Publisher: Del Rey
Release Date: March 31, 2026
ASIN: B0F88WRKVG
Stand Alone or Series: Stand Alone
Source: eGalley from NetGalley
Rating: 4/5 stars

“Mary Anning wants to be a geomagician—a paleontologist who uses fossils to wield magic—but since the Geomagical Society of London refuses to admit women, she’s stuck selling her discoveries to tourists instead. Then an ancient egg hatches in her hands, revealing a lovable baby pterodactyl that Mary names Ajax, and she knows that this is a scientific find that could make her career—if she’s strategic.

But when Mary contacts the Society about her discovery, they demand to take possession of Ajax. Their emissary is none other than Henry Stanton, a distinguished (and infuriatingly handsome) scholar . . . and the man who once broke Mary’s heart. She knows she can’t trust her fellow scholars, who want to discredit her and claim Ajax for their own, but Henry insists he believes in the brilliant Mary and only wants to help her obtain the respect she deserves.

Now Mary has a new mystery to solve that’s buried deeper than any dinosaur skeleton: She must uncover the secrets behind the Society and the truth about Henry. As her conscience begins to chafe against her ambition, Mary must decide what lengths she’s willing to go to finally belong—and what her heart really wants.”

Series Info/Source: This is a stand alone book. I got this on ebook through NetGalley for review.

Thoughts: I really enjoyed this, it sounded like a story that I would really like, and it was. The story has Victorian London vibes to it but blends that in with an alternate history were witches are real and others can learn to be geomagicians and use magic for a cost.

This is about a fossil hunter, Mary, who really wants to become part of the geomagician society in London, only issue is they don’t allow women in the society. When she accidentally finds a real live pterodactyl, things start to change. Unfortunately, political unrest in London starts to unravel everything, making her personal ambitions pale in view of civil unrest over basic human rights.

I enjoyed all the discussion about fossils, and liked the world as well (it has subtle Victorian overtones). I didn’t realize how politically heavy this was going to be, and I am not big into politically heavy reads (especially with the world as it is at the moment). However, the political aspects are tightly tied into the rest of the story and were generally well done.

I enjoyed the idea of reliquaries that hold magic and people having the ability to sell their magic. This is the main back story behind the political unrest here; the poor in London end up having to sell their magic for a pittance, and the rich in London buy up the magic and use it for excess.

Some things that held me back from loving the story were that it just wasn’t as exciting as I hoped. I mean we are talking about living dinosaurs! I think the most dire thing that happens (dinosaur-wise) is that the pterodactyl nips at someone. The pace here is also fairly slow.

I also was a bit disappointed in how the characters were portrayed at times. Mary thinks she has friends, but they are constantly helping her only when it suits their ulterior motives. This leaves Mary thinking that everyone is only helping her for their own gain (which at times that is true). While I appreciated the character complexity, I got tired of the undertone that everyone was out to get everyone else.

I will definitely keep an eye out for future books by Mandula. This was an enjoyable read after having a slew of DNF reads.

My Summary (4/5): Overall I enjoyed this. I liked the Victorian setting with some alternate historical elements such as magic and witches. I enjoyed delving into the fossil science here as well. I generally liked the characters but wished that there wasn’t such an overtone of everyone being out for themselves. I do wish that the pace had been a bit faster and the story had been, well, just more interesting. However, this was a well done cozy fantasy read with complex politics and some intriguing magical aspects. There is a bit of romance in here as well but it very much not the main focus of the story. I would recommend to those looking for a magical, cozy, fantasy read; especially if you don’t mind some politics and science mixed in.

I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.

Nightshade & Oak by Molly O’Neill

Mogsy’s Rating: 3 of 5 stars

Genre: Fantasy

Series: Stand Alone

Publisher: Orbit (February 3, 2026)

Length: 304 pages

Author Information: Website

Going into Nightshade & Oak, I was genuinely excited. I really enjoyed Greenteeth, and one of the things Molly O’Neill does so well is blend mythology and folklore into something that feels more personal and grounded instead of grand but distant. That said, it’s hard not to compare the books. This one had similar foundations when it comes to setting and themes, and on paper it should have worked just as well. In the end, though, I still liked it, just not nearly as much.

The story opens on a battlefield in ancient Britain, following a brutal clash between the Iceni tribe and the Roman army. Mallt Y Nos, goddess of death, walks calmly through the carnage as she has always done, guiding the souls of the fallen to the afterlife. As she stops to tend to the body of a woman, however, she senses something wrong. Unbeknownst to her, the woman’s sister had been nearby, attempting a desperate spell to save her gravely wounded sibling. Instead, the magic backfires, catching Mallt in its effects and turning her mortal. Furious at the loss of her divinity, Mallt now must contend with all the physical weaknesses of having a human body, leaving her no choice but to bargain with the woman responsible if she hopes to reclaim her powers.

That woman turns out to be Belis, the magically gifted warrior daughter of Queen Boudicca. In trying to help her sister Cati’s soul, which is lingering in an in-between state, Belis has unwittingly bound her fate to a goddess, albeit a now diminished one. Still, Belis knows Mallt holds the key to reaching Annwn, the Otherworld, and will need a guide to survive and navigate her new mortal reality. If they can endure each other long enough to reach the realm of the dead, Belis may yet have another chance to save Cati. Reluctantly, the two women form a tenuous alliance, their goals aligned for now. But as they journey across the war-torn landscape, their quest grows ever more complicated and dangerous, especially with Roman forces on their tail, determined to hunt down the last surviving daughter of Boudicca and crush the rebellion for good.

Like Greenteeth, this novel is heavily inspired by folklore but it also weaves in historical events and figures anchored in real history. The author’s affinity for the mythology behind Mallt Y Nos is obvious here, and I liked her take on goddess’s story. At the same time, I couldn’t help feeling that the historical framework boxed the story in a bit. In a way, Boudicca’s fate, and by extension her daughters’, is a weight that hangs over everything.

Tonally, Nightshade & Oak is also a lot darker. There is war and reminders of it everywhere, creating an undercurrent of inevitability running through the story. That itself is not a flaw, of course, but I did miss the slightly offbeat charm and warmth that made the plot and characters of Greenteeth so endearing. Sure, Mallt’s adjustment to mortality has its moments, especially in the beginning, but overall, she and Belis didn’t quite win me over the same way. Even as their relationship deepened into something more towards the end, there was still that disconnect, largely because I never felt fully invested in it to begin with.

To O’Neill’s credit though, the plot here is much more ambitious, not simply a “go here, fetch this/fix that, rinse and repeat as necessary, then go home” structure. The stakes begin remarkably high and they keep expanding as the story builds. While Mallt and Belis are indeed set on a quest, it’s one that grows ever more complex than it first appears. And I admired that. That said, parts of the middle dragged, and I found it more difficult to stay engaged during those sections. The added layers made it richer, but also occasionally slower and more uneven.

In the end, Nightshade & Oak is a solid read and there’s a lot to love here with its themes of myth and history, gods made human, and love shaped by war. And yet, I just couldn’t shake the feeling that something was missing, perhaps that extra spark or emotional pull to truly bring it to life. Even so, I’ll absolutely keep reading whatever Molly O’Neill writes next, the promise of creative ideas blending history and fantasy always drawing me back.

Other LitStack Spots If you think you’ll like the title in this LitStack Spotlight, we’ve…

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Looks like this is a re-release (and probably partly rewritten to add romance) of a book published in 2024, but it sure sounds fun.

Hopeless Necromanticby Shiloh Briar
When new recruit Helspira takes on the doomed mission that no other soldier wants, life - and death - start to get a little complicated.
Helspira must play escort to Sikras - a frustratingly handsome necromancer with the power to raise the dead - as he attempts a mission that he's failed twice before; stopping an undead army at the edges of the kingdom.
No-one thinks he will succeed. Not even Sikras. But the more time the two spend together, the more they find they can imagine a brighter future. As secrets come out and the two grow closer - and Sikras's lively skeleton companion Benjamin tries desperately not to be a third wheel - will Sikras' and Helspira's changing feelings for each other be enough to overcome the growing danger?
Expected Publication: 7 augustus 2025

 

Buy Green & Deadly Things

FORMAT/INFO: Green & Deadly Things was published on March 3rd, 2026 by Tor Books. It is 368 pages long and available in hardcover, ebook, and audiobook formats.

OVERVIEW/ANALYSIS: In days of old, the Grim Lords ruled the land, nearly destroying their world with their dark necromantic powers. Although the Grim Lords have faded into legend, remnants of their magic remain, and the Idallik Knights exist to destroy that power wherever it lingers. But when a new threat faces the kingdom, novitiate Mathaiik wakes a Grim Lord in a desperate gambit to save the fortress where he trains. But waking Kaiataris reveals even more problems. This land is trapped in a cycle of raising chaos and order - and if Mathaiik and Kaiataris can't work to find a way to balance those forces, life across the continent will be wiped out.

Green & Deadly Things is a cinematic thrill ride that lacks fully developed characters to back it up. On the plus side, I can fully see the movie version of this book. There's a creepy plant enemy, an order of knights that uses elemental magic, and a whole lot of great action scenes. The author knows how to keep the plot moving, zipping you from one end of the country to the other as our heroes try to find a way to deal with the multiple threats facing the nation.

But with the snappiness of an action film comes the flimsiness of action characters. Most people you encounter along the journey are fairly flat, reduced to one or two traits. There's no real depth or history for most people outside the two main characters, and even they are fairly thin. The main villain is just out to rule the world; even with the stakes as high as the end of all life, I found myself simply not caring by the end of the book. The stakes just weren't personal enough. Even the romance felt by the numbers at best.

Green & Deadly Things is a great book for those who want a plot driven adventure. If you want to dash about a magical world from fight scene to chase sequence to fight scene, this will fit the ticket nicely. As someone who values characters over plot, I struggled a bit with this one, even though I've enjoyed the author's past works immensely. At the end of the day, this feels like a movie script adapted to book instead of the other way around, and as much as I enjoy a popcorn flick, this just didn't quite work for me as much as I'd hoped.

 

Six Scorched Roses (Crowns of Nyaxia #1.5)by Carissa Broadbent)
What is it about:Six roses. Six vials of blood. Six visits to a vampire who could be her salvation… or her damnation.
Lilith has been dying since the day she was born. But while she long ago came to terms with her own imminent death, the deaths of everyone she loves is an entirely different matter. As her town slowly withers in the clutches of a mysterious god-cursed illness, she takes matters into her own hands.
Desperate to find a cure, Lilith strikes a bargain with the only thing the gods hate even more than her village: a vampire, Vale. She offers him six roses in exchange for six vials of vampire blood–the one hope for her town’s salvation.
But when what begins as a simple transaction gradually becomes something more, Lilith is faced with a terrifying realization: It’s dangerous to wander into the clutches of a vampire… and in a place already suffering a god’s wrath, more dangerous still to fall in love with one.
What did I think of it:First: a confession: I totally tried to read and failed to finish The Serpent and the Wings of Night.I really liked the writing and worldbuilding, but I loathed Oraya and Raihn. This whole lets act awful toward each other instead of just f@ck and get it out of our system is not my thing! No live or death tournament could persuade me to keep reading about those two jerks.
So it was with a bit of apprehension that I picked this novella up. And I totally fell in love!
This is such an amazing story. I loved Lilith from the start, and then Vale was introduced and he's amazing as well. I read this novella in one sitting, and I will most certainly reread it in the near future.
As I mentioned: Broadbent's worldbuilding is great, I loved discovering all about this world and its vampires and religion. The romance was sweet and intense at the same time, and everything I wish was in The Serpent and the Wings of Night. I will not give that book another try, but I might investigate other books by Broadbent.
Why should you read it:It's a wonderful Fantasy Romance read.

Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Historical Fantasy/ Paranormal/ Manga
Length: 186 pages
Publisher: Yen Press
Release Date: December 16, 2025
ASIN: B0FGX7L2JM
Stand Alone or Series: 34th volume in the Black Butler series
Source: Bought in Paperback
Rating: 4/5 stars

“Compared to the evils Finny and Snake were expecting in the wake of the Sphere Music Hall’s carnage, F.O.L. appears to be on the up-and-up. Here, the orphans receive a progressive, sophisticated education and the skills they’ll need to serve their new family after fledging. But a young girl’s abrupt departure piques the curiosity of Finny, Snake, and certain students. As they follow the clues, their instincts, and the most recently fledged child―what secrets might the grounds of this orphanage whisper in the dark of night…?”

Series Info/Source: This is the 34th volume in the Black Butler series. I bought this in paperback format.

Thoughts: It took me a bit to get back into this story (it would be nice if these had a quick synopsis up front). This book is more about the Aurora Society, which is a storyline that I have not been loving all that much. The illustration remains beautiful, and I did enjoy some of the new characters introduced.

I had forgotten that we were heading to the orphanage, F.O.L, to follow another part of the Aurora Society storyline. Finny and Snake head there posing as new staff, and at first, everything looks fine. Finny is surprised to see that his old friend from the circus, Doll, is there as well. However, things take a suspicious turn when one of the students has a Fledgling Day and mysteriously disappears. Finny and Snake end up joining forces with the other head students to solve the mystery of what happens to students after their Fledgling Day. They end up finding out that both F.O.L and Doll are not at all what they appear to be.

I continue to enjoy the illustration here, and it was fun to spend time with Finny and Snake. I didn’t love the story as much though. This Aurora Society storyline is getting old and felt boring to me last volume, and this volume wasn’t much better. However, once I remembered what was going on again I did get sucked into the mystery of solving what was happening at F.O.I. Some of the new characters introduced were fun as well (I really liked Theo).

I am kind of on the fence with this one. We have really strayed from some of the original storyline and seem to be stuck with this Aurora Society one, which I wish would wrap up soon. I have been missing Ciel and Sebastian, we don’t see them at all in this volume. I was wavering between 3 and 4 stars for this one because we just haven’t been making a lot of progress here. I went with 4 stars because I still enjoy the illustration, liked some of the new characters, and did end up getting sucked in to this mystery.

My Summary (4/5): Overall this is a decent addition to the Black Butler series but is still stuck in the Aurora Society storyline which is really starting to feel old to me. I miss some of my favorite characters (Ciel and Sebastian) which have been practically non-exisitant the last few volumes. I will continue reading this series because I feel like I’ve been reading it forever at this point, but the last few volumes have definitely been slower and less exciting than previous volumes.

The guy from Mars didn't know I was coming. "Hi?" he says, with an upward inflection that asks who I am, what I want, and why I'm standing here when he's already checked everybody off his list.

(page 1, Red Star Rebels by Amy Kaufman)

---------
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!

 

A young girl named Leena is desperate to save her ailing brother pleads her case to the Saint of Silence (AKA St. Silas), the most dangerous man in the city. He collects secrets and more, but in turn, provides the bearer of those secrets with their heart’s desire. Leena’s secret – she can see the…

Reading Level: Adult
Genre: Fantasy/LitRPG
Length: 16 hours and 57 minutes
Publisher: Soundbooth Theater
Release Date: August 16, 2023
ASIN: B0CDCM4F92
Stand Alone or Series: 1st book in the Mimic & Me series
Source: Audiobook from Audible
Rating: 3/5 stars

“Damon has become a monster…sort of.

Betrayed and left for dead by a group of slaving nobles, he thought there was nothing left but to bleed out as he counted the number of bricks on the ceiling. But fate had other plans.

Moments before Damon’s death, a gelatinous, gluttonous mimic reveals itself to him. Fearing a more gruesome and horrible death down the mimic’s gullet, Damon offers the food in his pack—sandwiches, cookies, and everything else! Encouraged by the (admittedly forced) generosity, the Mimic fuses with Damon, enhancing his body and transforming him into a half-man half-mimic monstrosity.

Once a poor, down-on-his-luck scout, Damon now has new capabilities far beyond anything anyone on Basania has seen before.

The only problem? His new bodymate’s insatiable hunger for cake…and human flesh.”

Series Info/Source: This is the first book in the Mimic & Me series. I got this on audiobook from Audible.com.

Thoughts: This was an okay LitRPG. I listened to this on audiobook and the audiobook quality was amazing. I wasn’t a huge fan of any of the characters here, but the premise is unique and fun. I never found myself really drawn into the story at all. The writing was only so-so and the dialogue felt awkward.

Damon is a Scout. Scouts are lower class adventurers in The System; they are taken advantage of by the nobles and never allowed to advance. All that changes for Damon when he offers a Mimic a sandwich, and the Mimic decides to merge with Damon. Now Damon is something very different, and he can gain powers, levels, and new skills by eating other adventurers. I mean it is a bit yucky but Damon is kind of here for it.

What did I like about this….Well, the audiobook quality was amazing, and the Mimic voices were especially well done. The premise is intriguing, and I thought watching Damon gain new and unique powers in odd ways was somewhat interesting.

What did I not like about this book? Well, all of the characters in here are kind of jerks and mostly out for themselves. I didn’t really enjoy any of them. Partly because of this, I never really found myself engaged in the story. The other reason it was hard to engage in the story is that this is basically a party-building book. Throughout the book, Damon encounters new people that end up joining him, hence forming an adventuring party by the end of the book. There isn’t a solid main storyline really.

I also struggled with the world here; it is controlled by The System which is never well explained. It is just accepted that all these characters live in this odd System run world. I am going to assume later books in the series get into that more, but I will never find out because I didn’t enjoy this enough to continue the series. The writing here is okay but not great, dialogue is awkward at times, and the pacing is only so-so.

My Summary (3/5): Overall this was an okay LitRPG with an intriguing premise that ended up not being all that engaging. I liked the premise and the audiobook quality. I didn’t enjoy the characters, the world, or the lack of an engaging story. I finished it but won’t be reading any other books in the series. If you enjoy classic dungeon delvers but with a twist and mean characters and lack of world-building don’t bother you, give this a try, I guess. It wasn’t awful, but it wasn’t that good either.

I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.

A Box Full of Darkness by Simone St. James

Mogsy’s Rating (Overall): 4.5 of 5 stars

Genre: Mystery, Horror

Series: Stand Alone

Publisher: Penguin Audio (January 20, 2026)

Length: 10 hrs and 17 mins

Author Information: Website

Narrators: Anna Caputo, Saskia Maarleveld, Ari Fliakos

Simone St. James is one of those authors whose work I’ll happily read without needing to know much going in because I’m just so confident that she’ll deliver. Which is why I went into A Box Full of Darkness almost completely blind, preferring to be surprised. As such, it’s safe to say I had high expectations, but this book still managed to blow me away. From the start, the very moment I realized we would be heading back to Fell, New York, I just knew this was going to be something special.

If you’ve read the author’s The Sun Down Motel, the setting is going to feel familiar. While it’s not a perquisite, returning readers will catch the subtle references and understand the layers of uneasiness that seem to permeate the small town. A Box Full of Darkness is a new story, centering on Violet, Vail, and Dodie Esmie, three siblings who reunite at their childhood home in Fell after being summoned by what they believe is the specter of their younger brother Ben, who disappeared years ago when he was only six years old. “Come home,” was what the message had said. The siblings had never been able to deny their beloved Ben anything when he was still with them, and they can’t now either.

Violet, the oldest, has always seen ghosts, and she has no doubt in the significance of those two simple words. Vail, the middle child, has been making a living as a UFO investigator, drawn to the otherworldly and unexplained in order to fill the void left by Ben’s mysterious disappearance. And then there’s Dodie, a hand and hair model whose unresolved grief from losing her little brother has left her unable to form healthy emotional relationships. Of course, everything changes now that it appears Ben is back, even if it’s not in the way they’d hoped. But is the message really from him? Or might it be something far more sinister?

That hook alone is hard to resist, containing echoes of a haunted house story but also with strong emphasis on family relationships and shared trauma. Each sibling carries the loss of Ben differently, with the bulk of the first half delving into how the boy’s disappearance has defined their lives in separate ways. To be clear, if you’re looking for a horror novel that dives straight into the thrills and chills, this isn’t that kind of book. It’s slower, more deliberate, and very much character driven. That’s what ultimately gives this story its weight.

It’s also why the multiple perspectives work so well here. Alternating POVs between the siblings reinforces the tensions embedded in their shared history, and St. James gives each of them a distinct voice, their individual personalities coming through loud and clear in the audiobook. Dodie’s narration is flippant and performative, projecting a confidence that masks her fragility. Vail carries a heavy burden of guilt, convinced that if he had acted differently, the outcome might have changed. And then there’s Violet, whose ability to see ghosts has shaped her life in the most heartbreaking ways, forcing her to hide a part of herself, leading to a breakdown, a divorce, and a strained relationship with her daughter. At times, we experience the same memory or event in slightly different ways, depending on how it is remembered.

The horror itself is classic St. James. This is a paranormal story, but doesn’t play out like a conventional haunting, even if it does contain a few familiar elements. The mystery surrounding Ben unfolds in ways that feel unexpected, and I liked that it avoids the most predictable ideas. The style here is subtle, eerie, and atmosphere-heavy, perfect for creating a sense of dread by accumulation, where every odd sighting or fragment of local lore adds to the town’s mystique. Fell becomes much like Stephen King’s Derry or Hawkins in Stranger Things, a place that feels complicit in the horror.

In the end, A Box Full of Darkness is definitely one of Simone St. James’ stronger novels, and it made for an absolutely brilliant listen in audio format. It’s a paranormal horror that hits all the right notes, with family drama and a payoff that is absolutely worth it. If we get more books set in Fell, I’m all for it. Already looking forward to what she writes next.

It’s well known that a genre  – any genre – often relies on its tropes – some might say cliches. You know, fantasy involves elves, dragons and swords, SF involves spaceships, and so on. It’s part of the fun, and also the elements that fans love. To that group I must add the preponderance of…

 

The Seventh Brideby T. Kingfisher
What is it about:Young Rhea is a miller’s daughter of low birth, so she is understandably surprised when a mysterious nobleman, Lord Crevan, shows up on her doorstep and proposes marriage. Since commoners don’t turn down lords—no matter how sinister they may seem—Rhea is forced to agree to the engagement.
Lord Crevan demands that Rhea visit his remote manor before their wedding. Upon arrival, she discovers that not only was her betrothed married six times before, but his previous wives are all imprisoned in his enchanted castle. Determined not to share their same fate, Rhea asserts her desire for freedom. In answer, Lord Crevan gives Rhea a series of magical tasks to complete, with the threat “Come back before dawn, or else I’ll marry you.”
With time running out and each task more dangerous and bizarre than the last, Rhea must use her resourcefulness, compassion, and bravery to rally the other wives and defeat the sorcerer before he binds her to him forever.
What did I think of it:This is a very interesting and cool reimagining of Bluebeard.
I was invested from the start and loved finding about all of Lord Crevan's wives. Rhea is a great lead character and she encounters lots of fun and creepy things on her quest to save herself and the other wives.
So yet another book for the keeper shelves.
Why should you read it:It's a cool fairytale reimagining.

Reading Level: Adult
Genre: Fantasy
Length: 416 pages
Publisher: Hodderscape
Release Date: February 19, 2026
ASIN: B0DZ243W7W
Stand Alone or Series: 1st book in the Brilliant Soul Duology
Source: eGalley from NetGalley
Rating: 3/5 stars

“In a holy walled city where sin and sanctity are revealed through touch, Csilla – a girl born without a soul – is worth little to the Church that raised her. But when a series of murders corrodes the faithful magic that keep the city safe, the Church elders see a use for her flaw: she can assassinate their prime suspect, a heretic with divine heritage, without risking the stain of sin.

The heretic, however, makes Csilla a counteroffer: clear his name by helping him catch the real killer, and he’ll use his angelic gifts to grant her very own soul. Meanwhile, ruthless Ilan, desperate to earn back his position as Church Inquisitor, sees the case as his chance at redemption: he’ll bring in the murderer – or, failing that, Csilla and the heretic – and regain his title.

But as the death toll rises, and their hunt pits them against the all-powerful and callous Faith, Csilla finds herself torn. Will her salvation come at the cost of everything she believes in?”

Series Info/Source: This is the first book in The Brilliant Soul Duology. I got a copy of this on ebook through NetGalley.

Thoughts: I enjoyed the atmospheric writing and the intriguing world here. This is a dark world, and the city we spend our time in runs off of religion, and not in a happy, positive way. However, the lack of any engagement with the characters and the slow pace of the story had me constantly putting this down. I ended up giving this up at 40% of the way in (adding to my rather large DNF pile so far this year).

The story follows two points of view. The first is that of Csilla who has been trained by the church as Mercy. She goes out into the city and helps the poor. She also doesn’t seem to have a soul, which makes her lesser in the eyes of the Church. She is tasked with the job of poisoning a troublesome religious rebel, something that goes completely against the healing nature of a Mercy but feels she has no choice but to comply. The second POV is that of Ilan, who is a church Inquisitor. Ilan has a fondness for order and torture but is slowly loosing his status within the church. With a serial killer on the loose in the city and the seal failing, Ilan is trying to root out the source of this evil without loosing his coveted position of Inquisitor.

Like the last book I read, I really struggled with the characters here. I just never engaged with them or enjoyed them. Csilla comes off as incredibly naive, I know she is supposed to be gentle and caring because she was raised as a Mercy. However, you can be those things without being naive. She has been going out and caring for the sick and injured for years; you would think she would be more worldly. Ilan, the church Inquisitor, is an intriguingly complex character but was also very creepy. Then there is the Izar, who is part angel and comes across as a creepy and manipulative jerk.

While I did enjoy the serial killer mystery in this, I was frustrated at how unfocused the story was and at how slow the pacing was. Are we trying to solve Csilla’s lack of soul?, are we part of an insurrection?, are we solving a series of murders?…who knows. This is more a soap opera about these characters rather twisted lives than it is a good mystery. In the end, the slow pace and wandering story was not for me, and I stopped reading this about 40% of the way in.

I did enjoy the setting here and this dark religious city steeped in tradition and lore. There is a lot about angels and demons lurking around the edge of this story, but all of that never seems to become a big part of the story. The serial killer leaving demonic messages on bodies was intriguing but kept falling to the wayside throughout the book. I just didn’t have the patience for this.

My Summary (3/5): Overall this book has some strong points; I loved the dark and atmospheric setting and this darkly religious world hiding from demons. Some of the plot points were intriguing, like the serial killer on the loose and Csilla’s lack of a soul. However, I did not enjoy the characters, felt like the story was poorly paced, and that the plot wandered a lot. I also just don’t generally like stories heavily based around religion. If you are looking for a dark fantasy that focuses on religious corruption, you might enjoy this. It just wasn’t for me.

One week from today, I’ll be doing the first quarterly virtual book recommendations event with the Ashland Public Library in Massachusetts of this year. Unlike last year, I’ll primarily be focusing on fantasy books instead of fantasy and science fiction. There may still be the occasional science fiction recommendation, but I’ll mostly be featuring fantasy and author Elizabeth Bear is focusing on SF recommendations this year (and just did her first event last night!). I’ll be sharing these fantasy book […]

The post February 2026 Virtual Fantasy Book Recommendations Event first appeared on Fantasy Cafe.

 

Daggerbound (Swordheart #2)by T. Kingfisher
Four hundred years ago, three warriors were trapped inside enchanted swords, cursed to be immortal servants of whoever wielded the blade. One of them is the Dervish, a restless, fiery soul who hates his captivity and hates his wielders even more, but has never found a way to escape the sword’s magic.
Then one day, a disillusioned scholar named Learned Edmund is tasked with delivering the sword to a distant city, and, in the greatest of peril, draws the blade. The Dervish finds himself bound to a sweet, brilliant, and above all kind young man. And while he may be able to protect Edmund from bandits, cultists, dragons, and strange inhuman diplomats, he may find it much harder to protect his own heart.
Expected publication August 25, 2026

 

FORMAT/INFO: Enchanting the Fae Queen was published on January 27th, 2026. It is 304 pages long and available in paperback, audiobook, and ebook editions.

OVERVIEW/ANALYSIS: For years, the chaotic Queen Lorelei has flirtatiously sparred across ballroom floors with General Gerard de Moireul, the hero leader of a rival kingdom's army. Lorelei believes that underneath the stiff exterior and strict rule-following is a man who wants to do good - he just needs Lorelei to give him a little shove. So when tensions between the two kingdoms reach a breaking point, Lorelei does the only logical thing: she kidnaps Gerard to finally seduce him away from his king. As the two get caught up in a deadly fae tournament, they realize that their opposite personalities make them a perfect match - and only together can they stop Gerard's kingdom from spreading its cruel ways across the continent.

Enchanting the Fae Queen is a solid fantasy romance bolstered by the madcap energy of its lead heroine, Queen Lorelei. She's one of my favorite character archetypes: a person of seemingly pure whimsy and chaos who secretly has a crafty plan underneath. Her unpredictability and randomness mask her true actions and goals, outwitting many of her opponents until it's too late. I absolutely loved watching her work and found her a definite highlight of the book.

General Gerard is a great foil, exceedingly polite even while adhering to his unwavering moral code. Due to some past trauma, he believes he cannot put a single toe out of line, lest he bring dishonor on his family name. It takes the whirlwind force of Lorelei to force him to confront that goodness and blindly following the rules don't go hand in hand.

Although the characters themselves are enjoyable, I thought the romance itself was simply serviceable. I find it's hard to pull an audience into a romance where the characters have already been building romantic tension before the story begins. I like watching the build-up of a relationship, but here they're already halfway in love when we meet them - they just don't realize it yet. It made the story a pleasant escape, but not a romance that swept me away.

So far the Queens of Villainy romance stories have been a delight: powerful women refusing to be "put in their place" and finding men who whole-heartedly support them on that journey. I'm definitely looking forward to the upcoming third and final installment - a sapphic story no less!