Feed aggregator

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

Songbird of the Sorrows by Braidee Otto

Mogsy’s Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Genre: Romance, Fantasy

Series: Book 1 of Myths of the Empyrieos

Publisher: The Dial Press (February 3, 2026)

Length: 400 pages

Author Information: Website

Even if you’re just a casual reader of YA or New Adult romantasy, I think Songbird of the Sorrows by Braidee Otto will instantly feel familiar. You have your secret princess, a shadowy network of spies, and a dangerous mission that places the protagonist in a “last one standing” style competition against others. It’s the kind of setup that immediately signals the types of tropes this story is interested in exploring.

The novel follows Aella, a king’s daughter cast out of the palace at a young age and raised instead in the Aviary, a school for orphans which is in fact a front for an organization that trains its students to become covert operatives for the Empyrieos. After completing years of training, successful graduates of the program are given new identities and code names inspired by birds. For example, when Aella finally earns her place among the full-fledged members, she takes the name of Starling and is given her first major assignment as part of the Aviary’s elite unit, Alpha Flight.

This mission sends her straight into enemy territory under the guise of competing in the bridal trials hosted by the Prince of Eretria to choose his future queen. Having been born a princess, Aella already possesses many of the skills expected of a highborn lady thanks to her early palace upbringing, making her return to the role of Princess of the Sorrows a natural fit. Combined with the spycraft and combat training she received at the Aviary, she becomes a serious contender in the trials. Beneath all the spectacle, however, Alpha Flight’s true objective is to gather intelligence and support a larger operation led by Raven, a senior agent with whom Aella shares a complicated past—one that only heightens the tension as she struggles to maintain her cover and survive the cruel prince’s dangerous games at court.

As the story unfolds, Aella is pulled in several directions at once. It doesn’t help that the bridal trials themselves function less as a The Bachelor style competition and more as a backdrop for political maneuvering and espionage. Unfortunately, the biggest hurdle for me was the journey it took to this point where hints are finally revealed about the larger power struggles beneath the surface. To put bluntly, the first half of the novel is a collection of clichés, from the emotional blackmail that drives Aella to perform her task to the absolute cringiness of a group of ladies competing for the hand of a prince. For one, Aella is threatened with her beloved friend’s death should she fail, and this is one device that has always bothered me. Our protagonist is clearly capable, but the story takes a while to let her feel like she’s acting for herself rather than being pushed from one obligation to the next.

The good news is, things improve drastically in the back half of the book. Once the groundwork is out of the way, the plot becomes more engaging and less predictable. Secondary characters start to stand out, the suspense surrounding the court intrigue sharpens, with the broader implications of Alpha Flight’s mission becoming clearer. The focus turns towards unpacking the secrets, while the big yikes situation between the bridal competitors begins to develop real momentum beyond banal pageantry. By the final page, the author has delivered an ending that hooks the readers and makes the larger series feel worth sticking with.

On a final note though, the writing tends to be on the purple side, and it didn’t surprise me to find out that Songbird of the Sorrows is a debut. On top of the plot being very ambitious and occasionally frazzled, at times the prose feels overwritten with “first novel” energy—as in just a tad too excessive with the flowery metaphors. Hopefully, that will soon turn into a cleaner style with Braidee Otto’s later books because I can see a lot of potential in this series. As a first installment, this is a solid if uneven start, but it’s also a beginning that hints at a stronger follow-up down the line!

Arabic publisher Aser Al-Kotob has just acquired the Arabic translation rights for Robert McCammon’s Stinger. The deal just happened, so there is no additional information at this time. This will be the first Robert McCammon novel translated into Arabic.

Update 2026-02-10: Aser Al-Kotob has created a “Coming soon” page for their edition of Stinger:

Stinger on Aser Al-Kotob

Dean Wesley Smith, one of the most influential voices in indie publishing, has updated his most essential writing books for 2026. Through our Kickstarter, which just launched, get all four ebooks for $20, and, if we hit our stretch goals, receive hundreds in online writing workshops as well.

You can also opt for four of my books on writing as a reward.

Lots of learning here, and all at a discount. But the Kickstarter won’t last forever, so order your copies now.

 

Polish publisher Vesper has revealed the cover for Jeździec opatrzności, their translation of Robert McCammon’s The Providence Rider, due for release on February 18, 2026! The cover art is by Krzysztof Wroński. The book can be pre-odered now from Polish booksellers.

Jeździec opatrzności at Vesper.pl

Please sir, do not put my laundry in the machine. It’s done no harm.

Why is he protecting the laundry?

You REALLY don’t want to know.

My favorite blanket is in there. I call her…Eileen.

That is so not okay.

You hadda ask.

Hey now, don’t kink shame.

The time has come to make choices. Not always comfortable, not always happy for all concerned, but such is the nature of this bloodbath competition.
FBC Judging Process

Our judging process is straightforward. Each of the five judges is assigned (randomly) six books and can select one of them as a semi-finalist. We then evaluate each other's semi-finalists and assign ratings. The book that receives the highest score is chosen as the finalist. 
Each judge determines their own approach to reading their set of six books. This year, I made sure to read a minimum of 25% of the books assigned to me. 
If you're interested, a few words about my preferences. I love genre-bending books and character-driven stories. I love good pulp fiction, too. My pet peeves include unnecessary wordiness, redundancy, and blocks of exposition (I don't care about the world or magic if you won't hook me with your voice or make me care for characters, first). 
Before I wrap things up, I want to emphasize that SPFBO's main strength and addictive nature lies in the wonderful community and process of discovering and discussing books. Submitting your book to a contest takes courage, and I applaud all of you for doing so. 
Getting involved in the community is one of the best things any self-published author can do. I encourage you all to follow the contest and engage with bloggers and other authors regardless of the outcome of this round of cuts. I hope my mini-reviews will allow potential readers to pick books that may appeal to them. 
Here is our first batch of six books (in alphabetical order). Let's take a closer look at each of them.



Amoran by Debra KoelherPublished August 28, 2025; 424 pages (Kindle edition)Genre: Romantic Fantasy, Portal Fantasy
Amoran was a nice surprise. It’s very readable from the first chapter. Kerrin Scott is juggling work, marriage, kids, deadlines, and mild existential dissatisfaction when a strange pink letter appears in her house and refuses to be either read or ignored. Soon after, a grumpy dwarf-like guardian shows up, followed by elves, vortexes, and the revelation that Kerrin is far more important to the fate of two worlds than her calendar currently allows. 
Kerrin lands on Amoran, a strange, colorful world tied to ours through an energy vortex that is slowly destabilizing. If the vortex collapses, both worlds are done. Not ideal. The complication is that Kerrin was supposed to remember who she really is, and due to an unfortunate toilet-related incident, she doesn’t. The rest of the story builds around that missing knowledge, Kerrin's training and light romantic tension. All with a touch of humor. Well, actually, more than a touch.
Humor is everywhere. Sometimes a bit too much. The jokes are good-natured, in character, and generally pleasant. They fit Kerrin’s voice and never feel out of place, but they tend to pile up. Moments often go like this: something happens, Kerrin reacts, explains why it matters, reassures herself, then cracks a joke. As a result, scenes last longer than they need to, emotions are explained, and internal monologue often repeats what the scene already showed. 
Anyway, this is clearly meant to be a feel-good portal fantasy. Stakes exist, but they’re softened by humor and reassurance. Nothing feels truly threatening, and the tension comes more from logistics and timing than from genuine unpredictability. Readers looking for a fun, comforting story with an enjoyable heroine, a warm tone, and light romantic tension will likely have a great time here. 
That’s ultimately where Amoran lands. It’s competent, comforting, and easy to sink into, but it doesn’t push hard against its genre boundaries. The tension comes more from logistics and timing than from genuine unpredictability. 
Overall, Amoran is a smooth, accessible start to a fun portal fantasy series that cares more about readability than innovation. If you like gentle humor, likable heroines, and fantastical world, you'll enjoy this one. 


A Sharper, More Lasting Pain by Alex Harvey-RivasPublished November 1, 2024; 282 pages (Kindle Edition)Genre: Dark Fantasy Horror
A Sharper, More Lasting Pain is dark, explicit, and emotionally heavy. It’s also clearly written by someone who knows what they’re doing. 
The characters carry the book. Simone is controlled and distant, while Nadia is sharp-tongued, self-destructive, and spiraling, but never written as helpless. Their relationship is intense and unhealthy, and often uncomfortable. The supporting cast (Etienne, Chantal, Luc) feels functional, not just there to fill space.
I mostly liked the writing, which is confident and effective. With one caveat - it doesn’t know when to stop. Metaphors stack up, emotions get spelled out, and scenes sometimes end past the point where they’ve made their impact. For a book this short, it drags more than it should.
Structurally, the story overpromises. The prologue hints at something bigger ( monsters, dangerous research, deeper magic), but what follows is a very narrow, character-focused story set almost entirely in one place. A dark-academia mystery teases itself into existence and then mostly refuses to develop. Many of the more interesting ideas are introduced and left untouched.
Basically, this is a tragic sapphic romance about illness, addiction, and self-destruction, and that part works. Everything around it feels underdeveloped by comparison.
Worth reading if you’re here for characters and atmosphere. Less so if you want plot momentum, mystery payoffs, or world-building that actually goes somewhere.

Empire of Ash and Blood by Matthew ThompsonPublished January 13, 2025; 433 pages (Kindle Edition)Genre: dark science-fiction dystopia
This is an ambitious, angry book. It follows Matias, a long-lived bloodman who has suffered deeply and wants you to understand exactly how and why. 
Matias is bitter, thoughtful, and shaped by loss. His relationships show how faith, violence, and love pull him in opposite directions. The plot sounds great on paper, since it contains escape, rebellion, forbidden relationships, and the looming threat of imperial power. Sometimes, it works well, sometimes it has a serious self-control problem.
The novel, you see, explains everything. Then explains it again. Then pauses to make sure you understood the moral implications. In other words, there are moments when backstory overwhelms forward motion. Whole sections feel like they exist because the author didn’t want to let them go, not because the story needed them right then. And so the book feels longer than it needs to be and heavier than it has to be. 
Still, there’s no denying the commitment here. Empire of Ash and Blood makes a serious statement about power, freedom, and who gets to define monstrosity. Whether it succeeds will depend on how much patience you have for monologues, ideology, and backstories.



Life Remains  by Niranjan K.Published September 16, 2021 ; 202 pages (Kindle Edition)Genre: Romantic Urban Fantasy
Life Remains does almost everything right, even though its portrayal of vampires is far away from what I prefer. I like vampires to be about death. These ones walk in daylight, eat normal food, run society, and spend a lot of time talking about coexistence. 
The story follows several connected threads. Mabel, whose parents were killed by vampires, is forced to live under the protection of Frederick, one of their leaders. Ken, a human hunter (and Frederick’s lover), tries to help people without starting a war. Luke and Clint are two boys caught in the middle, owned by vampires who decide their fate without asking. Secrets, latent powers, old connections, and shifting loyalties slowly push everyone toward conflict even though most of them would really prefer to avoid one.
From a craft perspective, there’s little to complain about. The book is well paced, clearly structured, and easy to read. The chapters move quickly, action scenes are clean and understandable, and the story never gets bogged down in exposition. Characterization is solid across the board. 
That said, the plot rarely surprises. The intrigue is competent but most twists are easy to see coming. If you’re waiting for a moment that genuinely changes the game, it never arrives.
Overall, Life Remains is a well-written, dark urban fantasy with vampires who are more interested in control, politics, and relationships than blood and death. To be fair, they don't experience emotions the way people do. A good pick if you want a smooth, fast read and don’t mind your vampires being civilized.



Pilgrim by Mitchell LüthiPublished October 31, 2023; 693 pages (Kindle Edition)Genre: Dark Fantasy / Horror / Medieval
As a fan of dark fantasy and cosmic horror, I was stoked to check this one out. And it delivered.
Pilgrim is set in 12th-century Jerusalem, at the tail end of the Crusades. Dietmar, a broke and grieving German knight, is hired to smuggle a holy relic back to Europe. That’s the plan, anyway. Instead, a sandstorm drops him and his companions into a nightmare road trip through lost cities, ancient gods, and places that feel fundamentally wrong.
I can't imagine the amount of research that went into it. Lüthi is clearly a scholar, and it shows. Pilgrim pulls from Christian, Islamic, Arabic, and pre-Christian traditions and smashes them together. 
The vibe is bleak. Monsters show up often, but the real horror is existential and theological. It shows faith breaking down, reality bending, and the sense that God might not be what anyone thinks He is. Any moment of safety gets erased fast and hope is in short supply by design.
That said, it’s long. Like, 700 pages long. And you feel it. The structure starts to repeat: arrive somewhere strange, encounter a horrifying mythological entity, people die horribly, survivors move on, repeat. Not every encounter feels necessary, and some conversations circle the same questions about faith and evil without really moving things forward. I liked the ideas being explored, but there were stretches where it felt like a lot of words to cover familiar ground.
The characters are interesting, but not always fully developed. Dietmar’s grief and guilt drive the story, but his motivations feel a bit muddy. Razin, on the other hand, is fantastic. Lüthi’s knowledge of Islamic philosophy really shines through him. Still, it can be frustrating that Razin, who clearly understands more than anyone, constantly withholds insight. I get that uncertainty is a theme here, but sometimes I just wanted someone to try and put the pieces together on the page and for people to communicate.
Pilgrim has issues. It’s too long. It repeats itself and drags in the middle. It could’ve been tighter. But it’s also bold, deeply researched, and unique. I’m really glad I read it, and I’ll absolutely be checking out more from Lüthi.



Reflections of Lilje Damselfly by Natalie KeldaPublished June 23, 2025; 219 pages (Kindle Edition)Genre: Romantic Fantasy
Reflections of Lilje Damselfly has a solid idea. Lilje is a water nymph suffering from a chronic illness and constant pain. Her father sends her to an Edwardian spa retreat to live among humans and, hopefully, get better. This means learning human customs, clothing (important), and social norms. Some of this is played for gentle humor, and it mostly works.
Lilje is a likable protagonist. Her illness forces her to leave her family and familiar surroundings, and that sense of loss comes through. The book takes a warm, affirming approach to disability and chronic pain, and despite the subject matter, the overall tone stays light and comforting. There’s also a sapphic romance, which develops without much melodrama (well, there's just a bit of it). This is very much a feel-good story.
Unfortunately, the execution didn’t work for me. The stakes are close to non-existent, and there’s no real urgency to the plot. Things happen, but rarely feel like they matter much. The characters are pleasant but shallow, and most of them don’t develop beyond a single defining trait. Even at just over 200 pages, the book feels over-written*. There’s a lot of description, a lot of explanation, and very little momentum.
I understand the story is, above all, about coping with disability and it can be therapeutical. With that said, I wasn't impressed by writing about disability. Lilje tells us she’s in pain. Often. But we rarely feel it through the scenes themselves. Combined with the slow pacing, this made the reading experience feel flat.
If you’re looking for an easy, cozy read with a warm take on disability, self-acceptance, and finding love despite hardship and illness, this might work for you. If you’re hoping for tension, depth, or a tighter plotting, it probably won’t.
* After checking GR reviews, I'm definitely in the minority. Most readers loved lyrical writing.
*---------------*---------------*---------------*

Verdict

The books in my batch were solid, but, being perfectly honest, only one impressed me. So, without further ado, our first semi-finalist is:

Pilgrim by Mitchell Luthi. Congratulations to Mitchell Luthi and commiserations to the fallen.

My neighbor across the street wants flowers blooming in her front yard from spring until the end of summer. To do so, she’s planted dozens of tulips, daffodil, California poppies, wildflowers, and other random bloomers.

Her yard is bright and colorful for months.

Autumn is creeping in, though—just the breath of it cooling the breeze and tempering the sunshiny days. Her flowers have done their job spectacularly, but now their colors have faded.

I love autumn, I do. But seeing her yard go fallow made me realize summer went by far too quickly. I stood at my gate wondering if I had enjoyed the sun enough. Had I drank lemonade, dipped my feet into lakes, rivers, oceans? Had I taken time to run through a sprinkler, sleep outside beneath a wide starry sky, told the people I love just how much I love them as we laughed and sang old songs?

Had I savored it enough, the sweet summer-ness of summer?

I’m happy to say YES! I did all those things! Summer was wonderful. I mean, Life has still been Life, with happy days and really sad days, hard things and joys. But time moves us all forward, and the seasons are turning once again.

I think this autumn I’ll take a hint from my neighbor. I have buckets of daffodil, iris, and tulip bulbs down in the shed. Maybe it’s time to plant them, a small hope—a promise—of more sweet summers to come.

Worldcon was a very fun experience for me this year! Here I am on day 1, waiting in the registration line. Even though I arrived just after noon on Wednesday, it took an hour for me to make it to the front of the line and there were even more people arriving behind me.

I headed straight to the dealers’ room, and was happily shopping all the tables (So Many books and authors present!) when I heard a familiar voice. Who should I see but…

the fabulous, amazing author (and terrific friend!) Nina Kiriki Hoffman!! We strolled more of the dealers room together and eventually went out for a bowl of chowder at Pike Place Chowder.

I’d just had a bowl of Mo’s Chowder a few days before, and sorry, Mo’s, Pike Place Chowder was the superior bowl.

I can’t quite remember the order of things but eventually Nina and I ended up going to Martha Wells Q&A session:

I thought it was a wonderful Q&A, and that Martha had thoughtful, interesting comments about her writing process, what she’s writing next, and even a bit of what she would take away from the Murderbot show and possibly use in her upcoming work (it’s the costuming, and how the people from Preservation leave obvious patches on their clothing to acknowledge both injuries and recovery.)

I finally caught up with my fabulous roommate (and writer friend) Diana Pharaoh Francis by the evening and if I remember right, we talked for hours and called it a day.

These were the signed books I gave away to folk on my Patreon last year:

We also have an active discord.

For higher tier Patrons I do consults and chapter critiques.

Also social media follows, early signed copies of upcoming books, and tuckerisation into new novels.

In addition, I have a collection of unpublished work including 7 books and numerous short stories that tier 3+ patrons can access.

So ... check it out!

Patreon is a great way to support authors and get involved in their work at a deeper level.

 Join my Patreon.Join my 3-emails-a-year mailing list.







.

It’s been a minute since I’ve been here. I’ll be blogging more often to keep folks updated, so here we go!

First bit of news: HOUSE IMMORTAL (ebook) is now re-released with a new cover! Book two and three (INFINITY BELL and CRUCIBLE ZERO) also have new covers and are up for preorder!

Good news! I’m writing a new series set in the town of Ordinary, Oregon. It’s funny, cozy fantasy with a dash of mystery. It features new characters, and of course, many of the favorites from the Ordinary Magic series. If things go to plan, you’ll see the first three of those books out this year!

Am I knitting? Yes, of course! I made this cute little car hat for a kiddo who loves cars:

and I also tried my hand at crochet, and made the same kiddo a race track rug:

That’s it for now, friends. More new soon, so stay tuned, and happy reading!!

 

HELL OF A WITCH
coming out Oct 1, 2024!The hotly anticipated sequel to HELL FOR HIRE...

One month ago, Bex, the demon queen, and Adrian, witch of the Blackwood, pulled off the upset victory of the century. Now, they find themselves facing the question all unexpected champions must answer: what next? They declared war on Heaven, but how do you actually bring down a divinely powerful tyrant when your army’s still in the single digits and your magical fortress is an illegally modified Winnebago?

It seems like a hopeless situation. As always, though, Adrian Blackwood has a plan, and this time, he’s going big. He’s got an idea to take down the Seattle Anchor, the giant magical fortress that houses the Anchor Market and every other bit of critical infrastructure that connects Heaven to Earth.

How the Anchors work is a closely guarded secret, and getting to the good stuff will require going deep into the heart of Gilgamesh’s power. There’s a reason even the Queen of Wrath has never attacked one directly, but now that Adrian’s on her team, Bex thinks they can do it. She’s finally got the power she needs to actually move the needle on this war, and she’s going to hit that Anchor with all the fire she’s got.

But the enemies of Heaven aren’t the only ones making plans. After the fiery return of his most persistent annoyance, Gilgamesh has ordered his princes to take care of the demon queen problem personally. It’s time to roll out the big guns and show these rebels what divine wrath really means, starting with the Hell of a Witch who made it all possible.

Coming out October 1 in ebook, Kindle Unlimited, paperback, hardback, and an absolutely incredible audio edition!Preorder Now!Boston, what are you doing? Get out from in front of the title!

*Attempts to push familiar away with broom. Broom and cat team up. The author is forced to retreat.*

Ahem... It's sequel time! Y'all made HELL FOR HIRE one of my best new launches ever, and now the second book is almost here. HELL OF A WITCH has more of everything you love, and it's coming out all formats on October 1! Hooray!

Thank you all so much for making this series such a success. I'm so grateful you're enjoying the story, because I love these misfits to death. So much that I've already written book 3, which will be coming out in early 2025! So many books! It's the best of times.

I really hope you'll give HELL OF A WITCH a try, and if you haven't cracked into my Tear Down Heaven series yet, what are you waiting for? It's awesome! The audio book in particular is *chef's kiss*. One of the best things we've ever done. Highly recommended. 

Again, thank you all so so much for being my readers and listeners. I hope you love this book as much as I do. It's just so much fun and I can't wait for you to get into it. This series is going to be a truly epic ride.

Thanks again for making my dreams come true! Yours always and forever,

Rachel AaronWitch Career Counselor Assistant to the Familiars
HELL OF A WITCH is the second book in the Tear Down Heaven series. If you're new, start from the beginning with HELL FOR HIRE. I promise you won't be sorry!

 

"Featuring a motley crew of loveable demons, a chaotic male forest witch with a sassy talking cat familiar, snarky sentient weapons, wicked warlocks, and plenty of magical mayhem, Hell for Hire is a bewitching and diabolically fun urban fantasy that is as thrilling as it is wholesome." - Before We Go Book Blog

"Rachel Aaron has never ever failed to deliver an effortlessly engaging story filled with lovable characters, and an amazing, yet accessible, worldbuilding that is uniquely hers. It came as no surprise that Hell For Hire has all her usual winning trademarks and is possibly her best first book in a series so far." - Novel Notions

"Hell for Hire is an urban fantasy tale that follows a ragtag group of demons and the outcast witch they're hired to protect. Boasting loveable characters, unique lore, and a whole lot of heart, this urban fantasy romp is an absolute delight." - Simple Reads

"Hell For Hire is an absolute blast to read as it combines action, comedy, and lots of magic for a unique story. Rachel Aaron with her eighth (or ninth) series opener showcases exactly why she has no peers in the urban fantasy genre. If you want to have lots of fun, thrills and action, look no further. Hell For Hire is available to fulfill all your needs and more." - Fantasy Book Critic

"Aaron has done it again, giving us a whole new world in which to enjoy her outstanding craft. While many of the themes will be familiar, Aaron has created something fun and wonderful that delighted me. I blazed through this book, sacrificing sleep and productivity. Loved the world building and as usual with Aaron, loved her characters and the obstacles they face, overcome, and the new crises that arise from the ashes to challenge the protagonists anew. Can’t wait for the next book! This is already a must-read." - J Graham (audiobook review)Get your copy now in ebook, print, audio, or KU!The time has finally come! I finally get to share the book that's consumed my last year with you, and I can't wait for you to read/listen to HELL FOR HIRE, which is available right now in ebook, print, audio, and Kindle Unlimited!

I know it's not the DFZ and there aren't any dragons (yet), but I still hope you'll give it a try, because this book was an absolute blast to write! I've never had so many great critic reviews right off the bat. And if you're worried about starting a new book 1, I've got you, because book 2 is already written and going through proofreads, which means it will be available later this year. This series, she is rolling!

And speaking of rolling, you should give the audio edition a try on this one, because our new narrator, Nicholas Cain, narrated the hell out of it, pun entirely intended. ;) The audiobook is also available in stores other than Audible this time! Here's a list of all places you can find it, I hope you'll give the story a listen :D

If print is more your thing, we have hardbacks, and they are sexy! I mean, just look at this.



Ah, the sight fills my book-hording heart with joy <3 

I think that's enough promo for one morning. Thank you all so, so much for coming along with me on this crazy journey! I couldn't do any of this without your support, and I hope from the bottom of my heart that you love HELL FOR HIRE as much as I do. Thanks again, and I'll see you for the next book!

Yours sincerely,
Rachel AaronProfessional Familiar Consultant, talk to me about talking cats!
HELL FOR HIRE is the first book in the new Tear Down Heaven series, which will be five books in total. The second book will be out in Fall of 2024. I hope to see you then!

 

Introducing...HELL FOR HIRE coming out June 4!The Crew
A hulked-out wrath demon who eats gamer rage and loves cats, a shapeshifting lust demon who enjoys their food a bit too much, and a void demon who doesn’t see the point of any of this. They’re not the sort of mercenaries you hire on purpose, but Bex wouldn’t trust her life to anyone else.
 
Ever since the ancient Mesopotamian king Gilgamesh decided death wasn’t for him, killed the gods, and conquered the afterlife, times have been rough for a free demon. But the denizens of the Nine Hells aren’t the quitting sort, and Bex and her team have been choking a living out of the Eternal King’s lackeys for years. It’s not honest work, but when Heaven itself declares you a non-person, you smash-and-grab what you can get.
 
This next gig looks like more of the same…until Bex meets the client.
 
The Job 
Adrian Blackwood is a witch with a problem. His family has skirted the edges of King Gilgamesh’s ire for centuries, but thanks to a decision he made as a child, Adrian is personally responsible for putting his entire coven in Heaven’s crosshairs.
 
Determined to set things right, Adrian drags his broom, caldron, and talking cat thousands of miles across the country to Seattle where he can fight the Eternal King’s warlocks without bringing the rest of his family into the fray. But witchcraft--like all crafts--takes time, and if the warlocks catch him before his spells are ready, he’s dead. So Adrian does what any professional witch would do and hires a team of mercenaries to keep the warlocks off his back. He didn’t expect to get demons, but when you’re already on the killing-edge of Heaven’s bad side, what’s a bit more fuel on the fire?
 
Sometimes you get more than you paid for.
Neither Adrian nor Bex knew what to expect when they signed their contract, but witch-plus-demon turns out to be a match made in the Hells. With this much chaos at their fingertips, even impossible dreams start to come back into reach, because Bex wasn’t always a mercenary. She used to be the Eternal King of Heaven’s biggest nightmare, and now that she’s got a witch in her corner, it’s time to put the old magics back on the field and show Adrian Blackwood just how much Hell he’s hired.
 Preorder Now!Big day in book-land! 

First up, BY A SILVER THREAD is on sale this week for $0.99, so if you haven't given my new DFZ Changeling series a try, now's a great time to pick it up for cheap!

Second (and way more excitingly), I've got a brand-new book for you to dive into! Introducing HELL FOR HIRE, the first in the Tear Down Heaven series and a return to the classic Rachel-Aaron-style of big ensemble casts full of funny characters, crazy magic, world-ending stakes, and epic swordfights. If you liked my Eli Monpress fantasy books or the original Heartstrikers series, this is going to be right up your alley. There's a new magical system, demons with weird immortality issues, witch-family drama, and terrifying heavenly princes who will murder you while looking gorgeous. It's just a ton of fun and I can't wait for you to read it!!

HELL FOR HIRE comes out June 4, 2024 in all formats, including ebook, print, KU, and audio. If any of that changes, I'll be sure to let you know. Thanks for being my readers/listeners! I couldn't do any of this without you. 

Yours always,

Rachel AaronDivine Orchestrator Professional Demon Herder

Want to see all of my books in order, read samples, and know which series are finished? Visit www.rachelaaron.net!

No Victor lasts forever.

Victor thought he won when he became the Hero. He thought he won when he took over the DFZ. He thought he’d made himself untouchable.

He’s wrong.

Lola isn’t the sad little monster she used to be. She has a plan, she has allies, she has more magic than she ever dreamed possible. Killing one blood mage should be easy with an entire fairy kingdom at her fingertips, but Victor didn't make himself a god by playing fair, and his bag of tricks is far from empty. Taking him down will require everything Lola and her friends can bring, but if there’s one thing Lola’s always been, it’s determined. No matter the cost, no matter what it takes, she will see this through.

To the bloody end.

Get your copy now in ebook, KU, print, or audio!This was an extremely satisfying book to write. I don't think I've ever enjoyed wrapping a series so much. It's epic, it's awesome, and I cannot wait for you to read it in ebook, print, or KU or listen on audio, cause they're all out today!

Thank you so much for coming with me on Lola's journey. This wasn't the sort of story I ever thought I'd write, but when the book needs to happen, it needs to happen, and I'm very glad this one did. I hope you enjoy this series as much as I do and that you'll join me for what comes next.

And speaking of what comes next...

This is going to be a very exciting year for new releases! Lola's series is done, but I've got a brand new Urban Fantasy set in a brand new world that I think you're really going to enjoy.

The first book will be called HELL FOR HIRE and it's all about a team of demon mercenaries who get hired by a witch. There's tons of action, mystery, ancient Sumerian sorcery, a loveable snarky cast, a know-it-all talking cat, magical sword fighting, and overall hijinks in modern Seattle. It's just the BEST. I'm so in love that I'm already working on the draft for book 3. It's THAT GOOD, and as soon as I have a cover, you will be seeing a lot more of my new favorite thing. This is the most fun I've had with a series since Heartstrikers, and I just know you're going to love it.

So yeah, gonna be a lot of reads coming in 2024. :) As always, mailing list gets first dibs on everything, so sign up if you're not already and keep an eye on your email box, 'cause it's going to get wild!

Thank you again so much for being my reader/listener. You are the reason these stories exist, and I hope you'll come along with me for many more novels to come. Thank you from the bottom of my heart, and please enjoy TO THE BLOODY END!

Yours always,

Rachel AaronMother of Dragons Bethesda's Unpaid Intern
TO THE BLOODY END is the third book in the DFZ Changeling trilogy. If you're new, start from the beginning with BY A SILVER THREAD. I promise you won't be sorry!

No Victor lasts forever.

Victor thought he won when he became the Hero. He thought he won when he took over the DFZ. He thought he’d made himself untouchable.

He’s wrong.

Lola isn’t the sad little monster she used to be. She has a plan, she has allies, she has more magic than she ever dreamed possible. Killing one blood mage should be easy with a fairy kingdom at her fingertips, but Victor didn't make himself a god by playing fair, and his bag of tricks is far from empty. Taking him down will take everything Lola and her friends can bring, but if there’s one thing Lola’s always been, it’s determined. No matter the cost, no matter what it takes, she will see this through.

To the bloody end.

Preorder Now!Happy 2024 everyone!

I've got a lot of good books lined up for y'all this year, but first... The end is nearly upon us! The third and final book in Lola's epic quest to punch Victor in the face comes out on February 2, 2024 in ebook, print, KU, and Audible audio book! Hooray!!

Mailing list subscribers have already seen this (not on the list yet? Sign up now! It's free, there's no spam, and you get first dibs on everything!) but here's the cover for TO THE BLOODY END featuring the art of the amazing Luisa Preissler! I love the torn up Hero poster behind her and the glowing crown on her head (which IS in the book, and it's GREAT!).

This series has been a wild ride and I'm so pumped for you to finally read the ending. It's one of the most exciting and strange final battles I've ever written. I think you're going to really like it, so if you haven't already, please preorder the book or add it to your KU to read list so you don't miss out!

This is hopefully just the first of many books I'll have for you this year. I don't want to overshadow Lola (poor little changeling has been through enough) but I've got a brand new Urban Fantasy in a brand new world involving witches launching this summer, and it is SO much fun! Mailing list people will be getting everything first, so sign up if you haven't yet, and I promise you'll hear all kinds of cool things from me soon!

Thank you again for being my fans. I couldn't do any of this without you!

Yours sincerely,

Rachel AaronMayor of the DFZ
TO THE BLOODY END is the third book in the DFZ Changeling series. If you're new, start from the beginning with BY A SILVER THREAD! I promise you won't be sorry!

Daughter of The Moon Goddess ( The Celestial Kingdom #1)bought on Audible
Synopsis from Goodreads
Growing up on the moon, Xingyin is accustomed to solitude, unaware that she is being hidden from the feared Celestial Emperor who exiled her mother for stealing his elixir of immortality. But when Xingyin’s magic flares and her existence is discovered, she is forced to flee her home, leaving her mother behind.
Alone, powerless, and afraid, she makes her way to the Celestial Kingdom, a land of wonder and secrets. Disguising her identity, she seizes an opportunity to learn alongside the emperor's son, mastering archery and magic, even as passion flames between her and the prince.
To save her mother, Xingyin embarks on a perilous quest, confronting legendary creatures and vicious enemies across the earth and skies. But when treachery looms and forbidden magic threatens the kingdom, she must challenge the ruthless Celestial Emperor for her dream—striking a dangerous bargain in which she is torn between losing all she loves or plunging the realm into chaos.
A captivating debut fantasy inspired by the legend of Chang'e, the Chinese moon goddess, in which a young woman’s quest to free her mother pits her against the most powerful immortal in the realm. Daughter of the Moon Goddess begins an enchanting, romantic duology which weaves ancient Chinese mythology into a sweeping adventure of immortals and magic—where love vies with honor, dreams are fraught with betrayal, and hope emerges triumphant.
8.5/10* * *
This turned out surprisingly good! I started the book rolling my eyes hard at sugary romance between the prince and his companion. Classic xinxia setup! 
However, they both proved me wrong with their level of maturity. Basically, both ML and FL got over themselves pretty quickly and went on with their lives like adults. 
The secondary romance developed so fast I must have blinked and missed its onset, but it definitely added tension and depth, especially when two men had to work together. * snort* Oh, the antagonism!
I'd say the action sequences were the most interesting and best written and I wished the author elaborated more about Xingyin's missions in the army as I was entertained the most with their descriptions.
Overall, a solid four star read. Will be checking out the next book in the series. 

Standing up to Victor was only the beginning.

Three weeks ago, Lola put her soul on the line to save her sister and stop an abusive blood mage from making himself a god. But while she managed to derail the worst of Victor’s plans, the rest of the world still sees her old master as the hero. To make matters worse, the Nightmare King Alberich has entirely escaped his prison and is now leading the Wild Hunt on a rampage of fear and chaos across the skies of Europe.

With Alberich playing the villain, it’s only a matter of time before Victor convinces all of humanity that his abusive magic is their only hope. Lola’s not about to let him get his dirty hands on that kind of power. But while she’s free to fight him, Simon and the Black Rider are still trapped under the blood mage’s boot. Lola will have to break them both out before she can take Victor down, but her former master’s plans are far from finished. He’s playing a game none of them can predict for a prize no one yet understands, and once all of his pieces are in place, the future of the world will hang on the edge of a golden sword.Get Your Copy Now!Hooray! It's here! WITH A GOLDEN SWORD is out today in eBook, KU, print, and audio!

WITH A GOLDEN SWORD is the second in Lola's trilogy, but since I've been on a crazy writing binge, the third book, TO THE BLOODY END, is already written and up for preorder! This means the series will be complete Feb of next year, which I'm pretty sure is some kind of record for me o_o. I've just been on fire for this series and I can't wait for y'all to see where it goes.

Thank you all so much for coming on yet another DFZ journey with me! I hope you check out the book, have a great week, and I'll talk to you all again when the next book is on the horizon. Until then, please enjoy WITH A GOLDEN SWORD!

Yours always,

Rachel AaronCat Endangerer Loving Author
WITH A GOLDEN SWORD is the second book in the DFZ Changeling series. If this is the first you've heard about it, start from the beginning with BY A SILVER THREAD! I promise you won't be sorry!

 

Butterflied Lover (2023)

22 episodes, watched on Viki

Synopsis from MyDramaList

Inspired by the romance of Liang Shang Bo and Zhu Ying Tai, the story revolves around two lovers who will overcome all obstacles to remain together. 

Ling Chang Feng is an honourable general and has been in a passionate marriage with his wife for the past 3 years. 

However, a strange disturbance hits their city on their third anniversary, and "madmen" run wild in the town, attacking innocent citizens violently.

 Ling Chang Feng leaves his wife behind to protect the people, but when he returns, finds that his wife has been infected by this phenomenon. 

He refuses to reveal this, as he knows that anyone who turns mad will be killed. He keeps her by his side in secret while trying to solve the cause of this frightful phenomenon.

8.5/10

* * *

It's an exceptionally well made bite size drama, folks (each episode is only 15 mins). You can see they had a very tight budget but they used it so, so well. The plot is fresh, the scenes are carefully crafted and the cinematography is masterful. I watched other two short dramas from the same director, and they were both fantastic (The Killer is Also Romantic, A Familiar Stranger). So, please, don't hesitate to invest your time in this drama.

It starts with Chang Feng and Qian Yue happily married in a fictional Chinese city state. She keeps having a recurring dream about reliving the same day until it actually happens and she gets embroiled in a tragic attack by this world's equivalent of vampires. 

After that we are taken into the past, where it shows how Chang Feng met his future wife and how their relationship developed. As she says, her memory starts from him. So she herself is full of secrets and has no memory of her past, a woman who literally had to learn anew everything. 

Their relationship develops from him looking after her as this almost childlike creature until she slowly matures and finds her strengths turning into a woman who loves fiercely. Chang Feng himself is a reticent workaholic who keeps away from politics or anything that doesn't require him just to guard his city. Qian Yue slowly changes that, and it's very sweet to see them together.

For once, the second couple's love story here is also touching and very cute. Considering that last time I saw the second male lead, he was playing the main villain in Blood of Youth, and he started as an antihero here as well, I was ready to dislike him, but he went from one dimensional, cold man to a shy, confused and hilariously out of sorts young lover pretty fast, and this melted my resolve to not like him.

Phew, I don't know how I managed not to give you any spoilers! Here is a fan vid to show you the beauty of this drama, folks. I hope after this you will give it a chance. It was great. Humorous, humane and lovely. Two thumbs up from yours truly. 

 

I've Fallen For You (2020)

24 episodes, watched on Viki

Synopsis from MyDramaList

A story that follows the quirky female investigator Tian San Qi as she searches for her long lost 'brother' and cracks many cases along the way.

Growing up, Tian San Qi had a strange liking for performing autopsies. She had an older 'brother' who would always be by her side and they spent many good years together. One day, he mysteriously disappears. San Qi as a child promises to find her true love and vows never to marry unless it's him.

In her search, she comes across many potential candidates and forms new friendships. The gang accidentally becomes involved in several cases in the area one of which seems closely related to the disappearance of her 'brother' all those years ago. A shocking conspiracy that is 10 years in the making comes to light.

~~ Adapted from the web novel "Jin Xin Ji" (锦心记) by Han Xue Fei (韩雪霏). 

8/10

* * *

Straight away I just wanted to clarify the synopsis: "brother" here is Chinese gege/older brother which can mean both your actual older brother or an older than you male you are familiar with. Same as you would be able to call an older girl -jiejie (older sister) or an older woman who is not your mom - ayi (aunty). 

This is a very cute and engaging drama despite its silly light heartedness, and the characters are very young. I can't quite pinpoint what exactly snared me in I've Fallen For You. 

It had Esther Yu whom I love since her performance in Love Between Fairy and Devil, and she is a very, very interesting actress. She is able to pull off cutest silliest pouts with great charm in her tinny tiny voice but at the same time give an impression that this is just a mask she adopted and make her moments of brilliant intelligence and sorrowful wise stares absolutely believable.

Liu Yi Chang who plays the male character, Zhao Cuo, is adorable as well. Grumpy, rough around the edges, abrasive, throwing money around and standoffish, he is actually covering his kind and trusting nature with this behaviour like a hedgehog with its needles to protect himself from getting hurt. You really feel his tentative pure nature straight away, and because he also doesn't bother to mince words, most people find him too rude and turn away until San Qi (FL) convinced that he is her long lost childhood sweetheart bulldozes him over. 

That poor boy has no chance to withstand against her, and they go through all the phases of good relationship: partnership where they gain mutual respect for each other's abilities (she is great at solving cases, he is a brilliant martial artist), friendship (when they develop an easy camaraderie to each other), and at last, love.

The way Zhao Cuo shows his love for San Qi is especially adorable. There is a scene where she decides to leave him for another guy who she thinks is her real childhood sweetheart, and Cuo after battling his inner demons for awhile accepts it to make her happy and on the day of her departure spends all morning buying her favourite foods for the road and running after the carriage. After she takes the food and drives off he just dissolves into an ugly cry right in the middle of the road. Not a pretty staged "artful tear sliding down my cheek" sort of cry, but proper ugly, suffocating, can't breathe from heartbreak cry. That really touched me.

There were quite a few moments like this, and I surprised myself really enjoying this drama. The soundtrack was a surprise too, it was more a kdrama type, rather than typical Chinese fantasy drama OST.

Overall, despite the strong comedy vibe, this was not only an entertaining but touching and adorable short drama. Recommended!

 

A Magic Steeped in Poison by Judy I. Lin (The Book of Tea #1)

bought on Audible

Synopsis from Goodreads

 For Ning, the only thing worse than losing her mother is knowing that it's her own fault. She was the one who unknowingly brewed the poison tea that killed her—the poison tea that now threatens to also take her sister, Shu.

When Ning hears of a competition to find the kingdom's greatest shennong-shi—masters of the ancient and magical art of tea-making—she travels to the imperial city to compete. The winner will receive a favor from the princess, which may be Ning's only chance to save her sister's life.

But between the backstabbing competitors, bloody court politics, and a mysterious (and handsome) boy with a shocking secret, Ning might actually be the one in more danger.

A Venom Dark and Sweet by Judy I. Lin (The Book of Tea #2)bought on Audible
Synopsis from GoodreadsA great evil has come to the kingdom of Dàxi. The Banished Prince has returned to seize power, his rise to the dragon throne aided by the mass poisonings that have kept the people bound in fear and distrust.
Ning, a young but powerful shénnóng-shi—a wielder of magic using the ancient and delicate art of tea-making—has escorted Princess Zhen into exile. Joining them is the princess' loyal bodyguard, Ruyi, and Ning's newly healed sister, Shu. Together the four young women travel throughout the kingdom in search of allies to help oust the invaders and take back Zhen's rightful throne.
But the golden serpent still haunts Ning's nightmares with visions of war and bloodshed. An evil far more ancient than the petty conflicts of men has awoken, and all the magic in the land may not be enough to stop it from consuming the world...
7.5/10* * *
If I was breaking the rating for the two books, the first one would have 8/10 (4 stars) rating as it was more coherent and engaging than book two (3.5 stars). While listening  to the book two I caught myself drifting and missing chunks of what was happening which for me is not a good sign, hence lower rating for the duology.
The best part of this duology is its unique magic system where people with certain abilities could brew tea from any plants, herbs, berries, flowers, etc. or their combinations for different healing reactions in patients or for imbuing people with particular powers and enhancing certain reactions. This whole concept was fascinating and very well done.
Book one with its competition and much tea making was perfect in its simplicity. Ning had a goal to win and get the best medical help possible for her younger sister. She also acquired friends, enemies and a love interest along the way who rounded up the story nicely.
Getting into book two, the plot stretched itself pretty thin. Ning got bogged down in endless quests. Get to point A, grab the object X, continue to point B. And apart from the willow episode and the hike through the bamboo forest, there was nothing juicy here. Kang, the love interest, lost all colour here and quite a lot of backbone. The amount of people who got tortured and killed around him, and he, the prince of the empire, was powerless to do anything to help. I didn't like it at all. I felt like he had no spark or spine and mostly reacted to events, rather than be a force to instigate them. His father had no personality and the villain was outright cartoonish from start to finish.
*Sigh*
Overall, it's an okay listen with a refreshing magic concept. Recommended with reservations.