Fantasy

This review is based on a complimentary Advanced Reader Copy provided by Requited. A thief, a swordswoman, a magic caster, and a weapons forger walk into a pub only to be thwarted by an immortal being in need of their oddly specific skillset. That more or less sums up Taylor J. LaRue’s debut novel Steelborn, the first entry in a planned trilogy titled the Steelborn Saga. This book’s fantasy elements are as widespread as its main character Reya’s talents, which can make it an exciting read or a narratively muddy one based on the reader’s taste. Featuring noteworthy action and high fantasy elements coupled with typical romantasy tropes and some messy world-building, I found this book to be a decent read, though one that I personally wasn’t very invested in (on Goodreads, 2.5‑star rating rounded up). A fantasy‑romance/romantasy book with prominent fantasy‑adventure storylines, Steelborn feels like a book specifically crafted for veteran romantasy readers who want a bit more flashy swordfighting than the genre norm. A skilled thief who doubles as a mercenary for hire, the story follows Reya Connery, a scrappy young woman known as the Crimson Dagger. As expected based on its premise, the book’s best moments are when…

The following review is based on a complimentary ARC provided by Forever, an imprint of Grand Central Publishing. Marketed as a new standalone story, V.L. Bovalino’s The Thief and the Traitor Bride is a fascinating book conceptually that has multiple identities just like Nore and Caspian. Featuring new main characters, a different romance trope, new magical system rules, and more, this book is a brand‑new story in a familiar world that is expanding in scale and complexity. Despite its new tale and characters with different careers in the high fantasy setting, this book is very much spinoff sequel to The Second Death of Locke, or at least a narrative epilogue after the previous book’s open‑ended conclusion. Expertly crafted, beautifully written, and featuring perhaps even better character development compared to the previous entry, The Thief and the Traitor Bride is an ambitious slow‑burn fantasy romance epic. Before getting into the review of the book itself, I know quite a few people are desperate to know if this book gives any closure to Grey and Kier, as the first book ends on a dramatic and rather open‑ended note. I can happily report that The Thief and the Traitor Bride definitely follows up…

Mid-life aging, mercenary glory, and good old-fashioned cross-country adventures have never been as fun and easy to enjoy as Nicholas Eames’s Kings of the Wyld. DnD-style fantasy at its finest, this book nicely balances fast-paced action and humor with unexpectedly strong themes of family and brotherhood. Chaotic and intentionally silly when it wants to be, framed by serviceable worldbuilding and epic fantasy elements, this book is incredibly entertaining provided one isn’t opposed to fantasy “bro” style humor and tone. As far as book synopses go, Kings of the Wyld’s summary is spot on, what you see is what you get. Described as a story about the once mean, dirty, feared, and famous group/band, the members of Saga have since gone their separate ways, aged and dulled by time. The book’s story is roughly divided into two main narratives: the first consisting of Clay and his ex-bandmate Gabriel tracking down the other Saga members to convince them to join what appears to be a suicide mission to save Gabe’s daughter Rose, and their journey across the dangerous stretch of the continent called the Heartwyld to reach her. The overall story is relatively simple despite being set within a high fantasy world…

This review is based on a complimentary Advanced Reader Copy provided by Berkley. 2026 is only halfway through, but Mackenzie Reed’s adult novel debut I Hope This Email Finds You in Hell is certainly in the running for the most amusing and eye‑catching book title. Mixing bits of office workplace banter with paranormal romance, this book is an accessible and casual adventure turned rescue road trip through hell. Tonally lighthearted while including moderately detailed paranormal fantasy lore, this book is best suited for contemporary romance or chick‑lit/women’s fiction readers looking for some fantasy‑action flavor. However, for veteran SFF readers or those purely invested in romance, the limited detailing and serviceable yet pedestrian romantic beats may leave something to be desired. Demon hunters, office shenanigans, a road trip through hell, oh my! If the title isn’t attention‑grabbing on its own, this book’s premise involving coworkers venturing into the corporate underworld is equally silly and genius. The story has a hilarious and solid start that’s consistently entertaining, with great office‑room banter mixed with familiar contemporary romance beats. Early chapters slightly resemble procedural Supernatural episodes where Sam and Dean Winchester pose as federal agents or office staff and a poor featured character is bewildered…

Like a callback to classic high-fantasy books but modernized for current readership, the Mistral by Felix Mosse is a wonderfully traditional epic fantasy story. Serving as both Mosse’s debut novel and the start to his Mythic Roots trilogy, the Mistral is expertly crafted, blending a wide variety of fantasy elements held aloft by an ethereal stream of wind and light. Consisting largely of detailed world-building and moving around its large cast of characters like chess pieces on a fantasy RPG board, this book is a refreshing return to the genre’s roots, one that I not only thoroughly enjoyed and found very polished with no notable weaknesses. As covered in the book’s synopsis, Mosse’s fantasy world revolves around the mystical entity the Mistral, a less turbulent jet stream-like air current crossed with the aesthetics of the aurora borealis or northern lights. Beyond serving as a distinctive visual phenomenon, this aerial force is believed to be root and source of magic, bestowing abilities upon individuals. Not only the source of magic in the land, the Mistral also is a revered religious icon, with two major belief groups interpreting its role and presence differently. Once prominent and beautiful, the Mistral has been slowly…