Beautiful MG Fantasy of Friendship, Growing Up, and Family

 

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So, I've been reading a lot of middle grade contemporary, and urban fantasy lately. I tend to immerse myself in whatever genre my current work-in-progress is as much as I can and this time has been no different. In keeping with the theme that has emerged for this month's reviews, in sticking with the middle grade genre of fiction, today's will be one I picked up at McKay's Books-Knoxville. One of my favorite brick-and-mortar, used bookstores and one of my absolute favorite places to go in Knoxville. A real shocker for those who know what a bookdragon I am, I know! The blurb on this lovely novel by Jodi Lynn Anderson sounded like a winner in terms of being a good one to read in the genre I'm working in right now, and I wasn't disappointed by The Memory Thief the first in Anderson's Thirteen Witches trilogy. 

This book was one I became instantly immersed in. The prologue is intriguing and heart-wrenching and leaves you wondering what will happen next. From there we switch from the perspective of main character and twelve-year-old Rosie Oakes, who lives with a mother who can barely function and doesn't seem to know who she is most days. As the cover blurb for Anderson's novel reveals, "...Rosie Oaks’s mom is missing whatever it is that makes mothers love their daughters." We're also introduced to Rosie's best friend Germ. Gotta love that nickname! The two have been inseparable since kindergarten. But lately, Germ has been pulling away and not a interested in the fairy tale-like stories Rosie loves to weave about heroines brave enough to break the evil curses placed on their loved ones. 

This conflict becomes a major theme that is explored in the story, that push-pull of early adolescence where you want to simultaneously cling to the familiar interests and beliefs of childhood while also being drawn to explore more grown-up interests. Rosie's observations of the changes in her friend magnify how growing into one's adolescent self comes hand-in-hand with developing crushes on classmates, caring about personal appearance and navigating self-expression through how we dress which also comes at the cost of our youthful confidence to some degree. No matter how Germ seems to fight it, she can't fully escape the fears and insecurities that come with caring about what others think and wanting to fit in socially. In the process, Rosie feels more and more as if she is being left behind, something that she fears due to the isolation she'd be left with because Germ is the only true friend or family Rosie feels she has. Anderson handles these themes with a deft hand while simultaneously incorporating the wonder of the strange fantasy elements in the story. 

In a fit of self-pity after Germ's less than enthusiastic response to her latest tale, Rosie decides to get rid of all her stories. In doing so, she unlocks an unknown power. A discovery that leads her to find a family journal that reveals the stories and secrets of Rosie's family legacy. It seems she is descended from a long line of witch hunters. It is through the journal that Rosie learns that one such witch has the power to steal important memories, and she's the reason Rosie's mom is the way she is. Despite the gulf that has been growing between them, Germ is loyal to Rosie throughout the upheaval that ensues from all of these discoveries. I truly loved that even though their friendship is tested, their bond stays strong and her friend is unquestioningly willing to follow Rosie on her quest to save her mom and restore her to herself. In stories of friendship like this one, it could've been all too easy to isolate Rosie even more. But while there is some uncertainty there at times, Germ never abandons her best friend. I love the importance of loyalty and friendship that is stressed through those story choices and I think its something that would deeply resonate with many pre-teen and early adolescent readers. 

All of this combined with the adventure, danger and the beautiful prose that emphasizes the power of stories, made this one of my favorite reads for 2025 so far. Anderson truly makes the reader think as Rosie ponders her own abilities and power as a storyteller with observations like this one, "I lean back and watch with awe as they lift off--hundreds of them, rising into the sky. It is a beautiful, triumphant and sad thing...It's comforting because it makes me feel like the broken things of the world have a place after all, and that they get put back together again somewhere else....Maybe stories make powerful things out of broken ones" (Anderson). I also loved quotes like this one. This really got me thinking about the power of imagination and creativity where Rosie is told, "It took a dream to make the first house. The first language" (Anderson). I could add more as there were so many wonderful observations about the power of stories throughout the book. But hopefully these will be enough to wet your appetite for more and want to read this novel for yourself. I am looking forward to reading the other two novels in this trilogy and to root Rosie and her best friend Germ on to stop the thirteen witches from spreading their darkness and mayhem over this beautiful fantasy world. If you click on the book's title, it will take you to bookshop.org to purchase your own copy for those interested. You can also choose an independent bookstore to support in your area with your purchase. 

I am not sure what reviews will be in store for next month. I have several to choose from. I also hope to have some links and announcements to reveal by the end of June for an author website and newsletter. So, stay tuned! Last, but certainly not least, I am beyond excited to announce that my mystery Intuition of Evil is under contract with Rowan Prose Publishing. It will be out as both an ebook and trade paperback novel in April of 2027. But in the meantime, I will have a cover reveal to show everyone this coming June 25th. Here is a little teaser for that below.

I truly can't wait for you to meet my character Emily Monroe and follow her in her adventures!

Heartbreaking and Important Historical Fiction

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So, I know I mentioned several genres for my review today and this book is none of those. But it is a very appropriate one to recommend, I think, for Mother's Day. All He Knew by Helen Frost follows the journey of Henry a boy who is struck deaf by illness at a very young age. As he approaches school age, his parents seek outside help for his education as the small town they live in cannot offer him the services he needs to learn to read and write in the local public school system. In the 1930s and 1940s when the story takes place, this was all too common. His mother takes Henry to a school for the deaf where they insist on testing him to see if he is teachable or not before admitting him. Something that seems counterproductive nowadays, but again something that was likely all too common then. Not understanding the test, Henry fails it and his parents are told he is unteachable and the best thing they can do for him is to institutionalize him at Riverview, a home for the feeble-minded. 

I knew going in from reading the blurb that this book would be a challenging read. Not because it is a particularly long book. It's not. It is a novel-in-verse, utilizing mostly free-verse forms of poetry and it is geared toward middle school aged or middle grade aged readers, those between 8-12 years old. For those reasons, it is not hard to follow or understand for an adult reader at all. The challenge comes in reading about a boy, who today would be seen as just as capable mentally as any other child, being treated as less than because his family is poor and he cannot hear. It is hard to face that only a couple of generations ago that this was all too common an occurrence. That parents like Henry's were told to put them in an institution where they were often neglected, abused and where they were not given a basic education of any kind. That is hard to face as a contemporary reader. It is hard to face because it seems there are some people today who still believe this is the best option for those with disabilities. It is a mistake of the past that we seem in danger of repeating. But in reading books like this one, young people are offered an important glimpse of what people like Henry are capable of and can see how resilience and determination can help them overcome their own seemingly insurmountable challenges. 

In the story, a conscientious objector (CO) during World War II by the name of Victor helps Henry and helps others see that he is not in fact unteachable at all. The ending offers readers hope that others like him were able to experience positive changes after the war. The author's note informs us that the person who inspired her to write this novel did not in fact, escape his circumstances. But that is not Henry's story and in passing on this recommendation for this beautifully written novel, I hope that it does not ever have to be the story of anyone with a disability, whether it be physical or mental, ever again. If you love historical fiction with a powerful and ultimately uplifting message, I urge you to read this book by Helen Frost and to pass it on to young readers as well. I also wish all who are mothers and all who mother, a beautiful, safe, and very happy Mother's Day!

 

Cozy Fantasy Meets British Bakeoff

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A Fellowship of Bakers & Magic is a delightful cozy fantasy! I thoroughly enjoyed this one, and I think the premise was perfect for this genre. If you like lighthearted fantasy and are familiar with the Great British Baking Show you will likely love this book. Arleta Starstone is a master baker living in a sleepy shire. Her only stumbling block for achieving her dreams of opening her own bakery someday is that she is a magicless human trying to make her way in a world full of magical beings. When her next-door neighbor secretly enters her in the kingdom's Baking Battle, Arleta is shocked to learn she's been issued an invitation to compete. But she is equally certain she'll be disqualified when the judges learn she is a magicless human.

The premise of a baking competition for much of the story, lends a familiarity to this fantastical setting where the other competitors are elves, dwarves and halflings, making this a perfect fit for a cozy fantasy. The stakes are still high for Arleta to succeed in order to fulfill her greatest dream. But during the baking scenes, hearing how she feels most at home while mixing up delicious pastries, cakes or cookies is relatable for anyone who either loves baking or loves watching baking on TV (which is totally me). I also loved the friends Arleta makes along the way and her love interest in the story, Theo. The worldbuilding is fun as well. Instead of baking in a tent, they are baking in a castle in a city of elves. I don't want to give too much away, but I truly loved all the fantastical beings depicted in the story and suspect there will be more books in the series from these secondary characters' point of view.

Some may be a bit turned off by Theo's instant enamorment of Arleta. But this is believably explained later in the book, in my opinion. Often in this trope one character already has a crush on the other for some reason. So, I wasn't surprised by this for Fellowship. I did get a little frustrated with Arleta towards the end of the story at her stubborn inability to accept Theo's affections, even when he continues to help her after the Baking Battle. But other than that, I found this novel to be as strong in its writing and characterization as "The Spellshop" by Sarah Beth Durst or T. Kingfisher's "A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking." I look forward to reading more books by J. Penner set in Adenashire. She is one of my new favorite cozy fantasy authors.

As for my next review, stay tuned. I have several books I'm considering for May. But I have not settled on exactly which one will be next. So, my May 11th review will be a surprise. It will likely be a romance, or a YA fantasy, or an urban fantasy. It could also be a middle grade contemporary fantasy that I read recently that just had some incredibly beautiful prose and explored some important themes about the power of the written word and imagination. That one might be a definite review for next month. So, if you love any of those genres of fiction, one or all of them may be in my review line up for May and June. 
 

Unique Cinderella Retelling

 

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A Reluctant Assassin by J.C. Morrows follows an unique premise in terms of this Cinderella retelling. As the logline implies the story revolves around the idea of what would happen if Cinderalla was sent to the ball to kill the prince. That and the cover alone had me intrigued enough to turn the page. Overall, I enjoyed the results but there were some things I think could have made this stand out as a fairy tale retelling even more.

So, what did I like about this book. First, it begins with an ominous setting where Kayden is chosen from among several young women for the mission the extremely dangerous and mercurial head of the Order of the Moonstone wants to set in motion. There is tension and mystery embedded in this opening scene that did make me want to keep reading. From there the story begins with a ball and we get duel points of view from here between the prince Dvarius and Kayden our would be Cinderella. Morrows stays true to the original Cinderella scenario here by making Kayden a mysterious contender for the prince's attention. She is posing as a noblewoman to seemingly have the opportunity to be selected as the next princess for the kingdom and eventually the queen. The characteristics that Morrows gives her character makes it easy to see why she stands out from this crowd of beautiful women and captivates Prince Dvarius. Only we as readers know that her mission is more nefarious than anyone realizes. Another thing I appreciated at the start of the book was the way that Morrows conveys that this is not some high fantasy setting but instead is a dystopian kingdom several hundred years after a devastating world war. She does this by having Kayden study a series of paintings that depict different points in history. This was a clever way of giving us information without bogging us down in exposition. I also was surprised by this. I was not expecting the kingdom of Aurelius to be the remnants of what used to be our world. Other positives about this novel were how the Christian tones of the story play out through Dvarius in a realistic way without being preachy or overwhelming the overall plot. That isn't always an easy thing for a Christian writer to do. The hints we get of Kayden's training as she navigates the palace early on were also fun to read about in terms of her character development. 

That brings me to some things I would have loved to see more of in the novel. While the bits of backstory concerning Kayden's training for her mission are well-balanced in that they don't bog us down in flashback sequences, I would have loved to have seen some of this in an opening chapter before she gets to the palace in real time rather than getting hints about it. This is of course a deliberate choice of the author. But I love a good training and spy montage. That's a personal preference on my part. However, the backstory for Kayden also could have been developed a bit more. Early in the story a certain phrase is given true weight and significance on the page, hinting at a traumatic past of some sort for Kayden. But we never get a full view of what this phrase brings to the fore for her. We only are told that it is a trigger of some kind. As a writer, if you are going to give something like that significance early on, I feel it needs to have some kind of pay off for the reader at some point in the book, even if it comes at the very end. I did not feel that was the case in this instance. Instead, it is noted by the characters, the phrase is then avoided and it sinks into insignificance from there. The other thing I think was a missed opportunity for the story was fully utilizing Kayden's talents throughout the story. We start off strong at the beginning, but from one tense moment on, her skills become buried under all the will they won't they push and pull of the romance. If she is as intent on completing her mission as we are led to believe, if the stakes are really that high for her if she fails, I would have liked to have seen this play out more by her doing more assassin, spy-like stuff like mapping out the castle and any secret passages it might have, sending and receiving more coded messages, getting to know the other women competing with her for the prince's attention. Could one of them be another plant from the order? How are they monitoring how Kayden is doing? This would have kept the stakes higher and the tension much tighter, in my opinion, as Kayden fights her growing attraction for Dvarius. While some of this is touched on, I didn't feel it was given as much prominence to the plot and character as it could have been.

That being said, the ending had me wanting to read more in the series to find out what will happen next and how the two main characters might eventually secure a happily-ever-after together. Based on the ratings I've seen of the other books in the series, they seem to just get better from here. If you'd like to pick up a copy to check this one out for yourself, you can click on the title link to be taken to bookshop.org. You may also find copies wherever books are sold.

In a couple of weeks, I'm thrilled to be able to review another cozy fantasy, A Fellowship of Bakers & Magic  by J. Penner that I was gifted an ARC of from NetGalley and Sourcebooks in exchange for my honest opinion. It was originally an indie published novel, but has been picked up by Sourcebooks and is set to have a custom print edition published April 15 wherever books are sold. I plan to get a print copy when it comes out. Below is a blurb and the cover of the novel both copied from bookshop.org.

Image copied from bookshop.org

She doesn't need to have magic in order to be magic...

In the heart of Adenashire, where elvish enchantments and dwarven delights rule, human baker Arleta Starstone works twice as hard at perfecting her unique blend of baking with apothecary herbs. So, when her orc neighbor (and biggest fan) secretly enters her creations into the prestigious Langheim Baking Battle, Arleta faces a dilemma. Being magicless, her participation in the competition could draw more scowls than smiles. And if Arleta wants to prove her talent and establish her culinary reputation, she'll need more than just her pastry craft to sweeten the odds.

Though Arleta may not yet believe in herself, she makes her way to Langheim--with the help of a very attractive woodland elf--and competes. While on a journey of mouthwatering pastries, self-discovery, heartwarming friendships, and potential romance, Arleta will have to decide whether winning the Baking Battle is the true prize after all. But win or lose, her adventure is only beginning...

Light Adventure Romantasy

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Fate of Dragons by Alisha Klapheke is the first in a four book series that also includes a novella. It's a romantasy adventure with dragons and elves and a chosen one trope. It is also a quick read for those who like shorter fantasies. It is marketed toward young adults, but I think it would fit squarely in the new adult category as the main character is in her early twenties when the series begins. I thoroughly enjoyed this one and I'm glad I bought the omnibus set that includes all four novels and the novella. So, here is a review of what I loved and what I would have loved more of.

First, the worldbuilding for this novel is great. We open with Vahly scaling a cliff to gather a healing plant for one of the dragon kynd she lives with. All of the land dwelling beings left in the world seem to inhabit a single island and the sea folk are set on destroying it. The castle and caverns of the Lapis clan of dragon, who took Vahly in as a baby, is intriguing and well drawn. I don't think I've read a fantasy recently that depicted dragons as having a many leveled castle/cavern dwelling or a set hierarchy like the one in this book do. Most of the dragon books I've read have had the beings living in dwellings looking fully human and only dragoning out when they want to fly. Or the converse of that is dragons only as dragons and living in caves in the mountains or acting as flying steeds for humans. But Klapheke depicts them as a intelligent creatures who can shift to look more human, but still retain their dragon scales and qualities. They have a complex society with a matriarch as their head and distinct clans between the Lapis, the more scholarly clan, and the Jades, the more war-like clan of dragons. There are also a group of dragons that are referred to as oath breakers because they aren't attached to either clan. These rebel dragons are actually some of Vahly's closest friends because like her, they don't seem to quite fit in with the rest of society as they should. 

In addition to the worldbuilding and clan development for the dragons, I also found Vahly's characterization to be relatable and sympathetic. Vahly lives among the dragons because the matriarch of the Lapis dragon clan saved her right before the last human settlement on the island was flooded by the sea witch and her army. Amona, the Lapis matriarch, believes that a special mark that Vahly bears means that she is destined to be the last Earth Queen and will be the one who will stop the sea witch from flooding their island home and save the dragons and elves that remain. This belief sets up the source of conflict in the novel very well as Vahly has no magical powers whatsoever. Worse, she has no idea why or if there is a way to awaken any she might have lying dormant inside because there were no human records saved before the sea witch killed the last of the humans off. But the waters keep rising to ever more dangerous levels and time is of the essence for all land dwelling beings if they want to stop their home from being destroyed. One of Vahly's best friends of the oath breaker dragons, Nix has told Vahly that the Lapis clan might not have any human records in their library but they do have some recorded by the elves, a group the dragons dislike for some reason. This knowledge is what sets Vahly off on her quest to not only discover if any elves still exist in the Forest of Illumahrah, but also to see if they know of any human rituals that might help Vahly awaken her powers.Vahly feels her failure to be the savior everyone was counting on keenly. We also get a sense of the deep loneliness she feels as the last human growing up amongst dragons. As she interacts with them in the story, we learn that she is not widely accepted nor can she take it for granted that she will always be safe if she crosses a line with one of the dragons in her clan. Vahly has been raised to be all to aware of the fact that without Amona's protection she could easily become roasted meat for the other dragons who see her as a puny nuisance rather than the answer to their troubles. The interactions and Vahly's place in this world were different and very realistic in this way.

There were some things that I would have loved to see more in this novel, though. For one thing, I would have liked to have spent more time with Vahly in the realm of dragons, especially to see her interact with the ones she sees as friends. We do get to see her interact with Nix, a dragon cider house owner. We get to meet and have some limited interaction with some of the other oath breaker dragons. But I didn't feel we got nearly enough time with them or got to learn enough about them as characters to truly be able to connect with them. For this reason, when events unfold later in the story those events don't have quite the impact I think they could have if we'd spent more time with some of the secondary characters who aid her on her quest. I felt the same about the love interest in the story with the elf Arcturus that Vahly saves. In the blurb for the book, it hints that Arc might have some dark secrets of his own. But I didn't feel this conflict with him was as fully realized as it could be and I felt that the connection between him and Vahly was a bit rushed. I would have liked for them to have spent more time adventuring and getting to know one another in order for us in turn, to get to know Arc more to be able to connect with him fully.

All that being said, I do think Fate of Dragons is a fun read and I do plan to read the rest of the books in this series. As I mentioned earlier, the series is complete and there is even an omnibus available where you could purchase all the books in one. By clicking on the title link you can get your own copy of this novel on bookshop.org. Or if you'd like to check out what other books Alisha Klapheke has for sale, feel free to visit her website at alishaklapheke.com.

Next month I will be reviewing fun, fairy tale inspired adult fantasy A Reluctant Assassin by J.C. Morrows. It is a tale inspired by Cinderella, but what if Cinderella went to the ball not to meet the prince but to assassinate him. Check out the book cover and blurb below, both copied from bookshop.org.

Kayden never thought of herself as the Belle of the ball, much less that she would be unexpectedly thrust into the royal palace, surrounded by society darlings - all vying for the Prince's attention. But Kayden's intentions are far from innocent, as she has a mission to complete - to get close to the Prince... and kill him.

As she enters the palace under a false identity, Kayden must navigate the treacherous world of royalty and high society, all while hiding her true intentions. She may appear to be just another princess, but beneath the façade lies a cold-blooded killer waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

Meanwhile, Prince Dvarius is not prepared to take the crown just yet. He never wanted to rule, but due to his father's sudden death and an ancient law, he must find a bride before he can take his rightful place on the throne. And the one woman who catches his eye just might be the very same one who is plotting to end his life.

As Kayden and Dvarius' paths intersect, the tension between them grows, and they must navigate their conflicting desires and the deadly secrets they hold. Will Kayden carry out her mission, or will she succumb to the allure of the Prince? And will Dvarius be able to uncover the truth before it's too late?

For fans of The Selection and Throne of Glass this thrilling tale of love, betrayal, and royal intrigue will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end. Buy now and discover the dangerous world of A Reluctant Assassin in this unique Cinderella retelling.

Darkly Humorous Fantasy Horror for Middle Graders

 

Image copied from Goodreads

Quincy's Curse by Keith Robinson is the first novel I've read by this author. I had the privilege of meeting Robinson at a Con I attended recently in Chattanooga, TN, Con Nooga. I highly recommend it as a con if you love books, theatre, film or anime as it has tracks for writers, theatre and film actors and for those who just love all things anime or sci-fi/fantasy. After hearing Robinson talk on some writing panels and learning that he wrote mainly for middle grade readers, I picked up a couple of his books. I will say that I was not at all disappointed that I did after reading Quincy's Curse.

Unlike many of his other novels, this one by Robinson is a standalone story. One that incorporates a villainous demon inspired from German folktales that I'd never heard of before. But that isn't the only thing that sets this story apart from other fantasies I've read for this age group. Quincy's Curse starts off with dark humor and a contemporary tone set in a medieval world in a similar vein to something written by Terry Pratchett. For instance, we have a grumpy old man who wears long robes, has a beard and dabbles in magic but refuses to be categorized as a wizard. We also have Quincy, the titular character, who is somehow cursed with both good, bad and sometimes terribly rotten luck and Megan a village girl determined to befriend him. The novel is also populated with dragons, knights both inept and competent, witches and a host of other magical and mystical beings. But even though it begins with quirky, somewhat light-hearted humor it is mixed with some truly dark and complicated themes throughout as the story unfolds. 

I was drawn in by the humor and the unusual world. But I also found it amazing how the story is told. Rather than following just one or two main point-of-view characters, we instead are introduced to a new character with each chapter. Each one in some way helps to move the plot along and reveal a new thread that somehow ties in with Quincy and his curse. For this reason, the story also unfolds in a non-linear fashion as some characters take us back in time while others give us information about more current events. Often with stories that have so many characters, I find it hard to stay invested. How can you become attached to a story with some many perspectives after all? Nevertheless, Robinson is able to weave in clear stakes and clear character development in the space of a chapter for each individual and in the end, the fact that it all relates to the mystery surrounding Quincy kept me reading. I also appreciated how some characters are likeable and lovable, while others are much more complex, sometimes with truly tragic results. The villains in the story are truly scary individuals, too. So, if you don't like stories that can get dark and that have horror elements to them, you might want to steer clear of this one. That being said, as this is geared toward younger readers, Robinson does a fine job of keeping things from getting too horrific for his audience and the story does come to a satisfying end with a happy for now sort of conclusion for Quincy and his friends. 

My only complaint for this novel was the fact that I found Quincy the one character that I connected to the least. To me, he was less developed in terms of his internal wants and needs. He is sort of a sad sack throughout the book who has accepted his fate and doesn't seem to think there is any hope of ever escaping it or even figuring out how he got cursed in the first place. I would say Megan, who becomes his best friend, has more agency and motivation throughout the story than he does. For this reason, though I did enjoy this book and would recommend it to anyone who likes dark humor and fantasy, I would rate it a 4.5 out of 5 stars rather than a full 5 stars.  If you love fantasy/horror with a good mix of humor or have a middle school aged reader who would enjoy that sort of fantasy, I do recommend checking out Quincy's Curse. If you would like to pick up a copy of your own and review it, you would also be helping to promote an indie author, as Keith Robinson independently publishes all his own work. By clicking on the book title you will be taken directly to Amazon where you can purchase a copy both as a digital Kindle or a print paperback edition.

Stay tuned for my next review in a couple of weeks. I'll be reviewing the first in a five book series by another independently published author, Alisha Klapheke, from her Dragons Rising series. Check out the blurb and book cover below for Fate of Dragons, both copied from Amazon.

Image copied from Amazon

The world will drown beneath the waves…only the last mage can stop it.

Vahly, the last mage, is the world’s biggest disappointment. Raised by the dragons, she was born to become the magical Earth Queen, the only one who can stop the Sea Queen’s mad plan to drown everything in existence.

But there’s one problem: Vahly possesses no magic whatsoever.

The oceans begin to rise, limiting the dragons’ hunting grounds and fouling their water supply, endangering their very home. Vahly can’t let the dragons she calls family die under the Sea Queen’s magic, so as a last hope, she journeys to a legendary arcane library in search of answers.

When she discovers an ancient scroll about a ritual conducted deep in the homeland of the elves, she gathers her dragon allies to find the king of that great, forest-dwelling race.

Before she reaches that kingdom, she finds a handsome elven royal cloaked in dark magic, twisted and powerful. Arcturus. His memory has holes he can’t explain, and when they learn his king is in league with the Sea Queen, Vahly and Arcturus must band together to defeat the elven king and to gain access to the secrets of Vahly’s unique magic before the ocean swallows the dragons’ homeland.

***The Dragons Rising series is appropriate for all ages.

***Written in the same world as Enchanting the Elven Mage, Kingdoms of Lore Book One

Fast-Paced Romantasy Based on Chinese Mythology

 

Image copied from NetGalley

The Scorpion and the Night Blossom very much reminded me of an epic fantasy version of The Hunger Games meets Demon Slayer. Main character Àn’yīng is determined to learn to be a practitioner of magic and fighting so that she can save her younger sister and mother. In order to master these skills she must win a series of trials. The reason Àn’yīng must battle to save her remaining family is because a hoard of demons has invaded the mortal realm and is killing off humans by feeding on their souls. One such demon killed Àn’yīng's father and partially fed off her mother, who is alive but in a catatonic state. If Àn’yīng can win the trials and be one of the few candidates to make it to the end of them, she can gain a pill of immortality that will help restore her mother's life energy. These aspects of the plot very much reminded me of Katniss and her motivations for going to the capitol to compete in her sister's place. In this novel, Àn’yīng is the hunter, protector who her father chose to train as a fighter before his death.

Unlike The Hunger Games, more than one candidate can win at these trials and in between each one, the candidates are not allowed to kill one another. All bets are off though, in the midst of the actual competitions themselves. However, the bloodshed isn't as gratuitous as what Katniss faced and the trials are interesting as they test a different aspect of a potential warrior with each one. For instance, virtues like strength, courage, and fortitude are each components looked for by the immortals who host the trials in the mortal warrior practitioners they award a chance at immortality. In this way, the story reminded me of the training Tanjiro, from Demon Slayer, must go through and the tests he must pass in order to join the Demon Slayer Corp. Though, Àn’yīng is much more distrustful and closed off than Tanjiro. One of her flaws at the start of the novel is that she is also bigoted against those who are half human and half something else. She experiences some important character growth though as she learns that the fear and racist stereotypes that she'd been raised to believe were not only wrong but are wildly cruel and unethical. A plot twist later on in the book also creates some very believable tension and conflict between her and another character as well.

In terms of what I liked about this book, I really enjoyed the worldbuilding and the story's overall pacing. The first chapter opens with Àn’yīng collecting a special type of flower to treat her mother with, to keep her alive a little longer. Unfortunately, Àn’yīng comes across a demon and has to fight it in order to collect the precious blossoms she needs. Right away we get to see how tough and clever Àn’yīng is and how skilled she is with her crescent blade daggers. I also like the mysteries that are introduced as story threads at the very beginning. We don't know why Àn’yīng's family was attacked not by just any demon, but one of the Higher Ones, the equivalent of demon nobility. We also don't know why her father decided to train her to be a fighter when the Kingdom of Night, the demon realm, decided to invade the Kingdom of Rivers, the mortal realm. The only reason that Àn’yīng can come up with is that she was four years older than her younger sister and so, the more logical choice. Though, Àn’yīng still questions why her father did not allow her younger sister to do some training with them both, too. The other mystery we are introduced to early on is the meaning behind Àn’yīng's name. She is named for a cherry blossom, but the tree outside her house is a plum tree. These mysteries and the perils Àn’yīng must face to even get to the Kingdom of Sky and the immortal realm, where the trials will be held, kept me reading and turning the page. As for the romance aspect, I found the enemies-to-lovers trope to be tension filled and believable from Àn’yīng's perspective. I wasn't really sure I understood Yù’chén, the love interest's, motivations throughout most of the story though.

That brings me to some of the things that could have been better about the book. First, even though Àn’yīng is introduced right away as a strong and fierce fighter who is clever enough to outsmart demons, she still seems to be in need of rescuing several times throughout the story. It is one thing to have her ally herself with some stronger and more well-trained candidates to get through the trials. But I didn't feel that the partnership between her and some of the secondary characters was always equal. It seemed that Àn’yīng often got more from her alliances than she contributed. I also agree with some others who have said that the character development for some of the secondary characters was a bit lacking. One in particular that ends up playing a pivotal role in the story for Àn’yīng is very underdeveloped in terms of their arc and their interactions with her. For this reason, I found it hard to be invested in them or Àn’yīng's connection to them even after we find out how they are linked to her in the story. I also found the ending to be a bit rushed and some of the clues that were imbedded in the story to hint at the twist at the end could have been fleshed out more to make it more impactful when Àn’yīng finally gets the answers she's been searching for since arriving at the Temple of Dawn in the immortal realm.

Overall, I gave this a 4 out of 5 star rating because I did like the main character of Àn’yīng. She is fierce, brave, and clever but also flawed and closed off to everyone but her sister at the start of the novel. I also thought the worldbuilding and the way the trials were developed that Àn’yīng and the others have to face and overcome were interesting and original. The pacing for most of the novel was quick and Àn’yīng had relatable and compelling motivations for competing in the trials and for wanting to win no matter the danger or the cost. I did like the love interest of Yù’chén, even though I didn't always understand his motivations for his actions throughout the book. I did find the tension between him and Àn’yīng to be believable and spicy. I am interested enough in the story to want to see how things might turn out for Àn’yīng and her family in the sequel. I want to thank NetGalley, Random House Children's and Delacorte Press for offering me a chance to read an eARC of this novel in exchange for this honest review. You will be able to purchase your own copy of this novel wherever books are sold March 4, 2025.

My next book review will be of Quincy's Curse by Keith Robinson, an author I had to good fortune of meeting in person at the ConNooga book/theatre/film/anime con this past February. The blurb and cover image for the book below are copied from Goodreads.

Quincy Flack is cursed with terrible luck. After losing his parents and later his uncle and aunt in a series of freak accidents, it's no wonder he's reluctant to make friends.

For that reason, Megan Mugwood is a little worried about befriending him when he moves into the village of Ramshackle Bottom. But word has it that incredibly good fortune shines on him sometimes too. Indeed, it turns out that he found a bag of valuable treasure in the woods just a few months ago!

As luck would have it, Megan has chosen the worst possible time to be around him.