Series: Curse Bearer #2
Release date: September 16th 2025
Publisher: Titan Books
Pages: 229
Find it: Goodreads Waterstones
Source: The publisher kindly sent me a copy of this book to review
Rating: 4.5/5 stars
Synopsis
A funeral. A heist. A desperate mission.
When Dymitr is called back to the old country for the empty night, a funeral rite intended to keep evil at bay, it’s the perfect opportunity for him to get his hands on his family’s most guarded relic—a book of curses that could satisfy the debt he owes legendary witch Baba Jaga. But first he’ll have to survive a night with his dangerous, monster-hunting kin.
As the sun sets, the line between enemies and allies becomes razor-thin, and Dymitr’s new loyalties are pushed to their breaking point.
Family gatherings can be brutal. Dymitr’s might just be fatal.
Review
To Clutch a Razor is the second instalment in Veronica Roth’s Curse Bearer series. Following on from the events of book one, the story follows Dymitir as he travels back to his family home in search of a book of curses that he can use to barter with Baba Jaga and get his sword back. To get the book Dymitir must not reveal his true nature to his monster killing family. Meanwhile Niko has been sent on a mission to kill the razor, one of the most legendary Knights there is. Will the two succeed in their tasks, and at what cost?
Cinder House is a new fantasy novella from Freya Marske, author of A Marvellous Light. The story follows a young woman named Ella, who is murdered by her stepmother and now haunts the house she once lived in. Unable to leave, she is trapped as a servant to her stepmother and two stepsisters. Ella’s days feel endless, until she manages to strike a bargain with a fairy – three days to be real again, to attend the ball at the palace, but when she gets there, all is not what it seems.
T. Kingfisher is back with another unputdownable novel. Hemlock and Silver follows Healer Anja, an academic with a fascination for poisons. When she is summoned by the King to help his daughter Snow (who is dying), Anja travels to the palace in an attempt to save her, but nothing seems to work. Accompanied by a guard and a sarcastic cat, Anja embarks on an adventure to a dangerous mirror world in an effort to save Snow and the very kingdom itself.
Michael S. Jackson is back with the next installment in the Ringlander series and if you’re looking for an engaging, coming of age fantasy adventure, this is a series you absolutely need to add to your TBR.
Nicholas Binge is back with a fast-paced science fiction novella that follows ex police detective Julia Torgrimsen as she teams up with a newly recruited constable to uncover who has murdered billionaire Bruno Donaldson. When they discover two bodies – both with the exact same fingerprints – the two become entangled in an investigation into London’s elite and a conspiracy that could destroy life as they know it.
Release date: September 25 2025
This gripping YA horror story follows siblings Mia and Johnny. Mia and Johnny are the children of an infamous serial killer who is currently serving life in prison for his crimes. Attempting to put the past behind them, Mia and Johnny attend university in Edinburgh. There, Johnny is offered the job of a lifetime, to interview Vlad Tepez, one of the most famous rock stars in the world. Tepez mysteriously vanished from public life, and if Johnny can find out why, it could make his career, but Vlad isn’t everything he seems. When two students turn up dead at the university, Mia begins to investigate; however, her investigation goes in a direction she absolutely did not expect.
Shauna Lawless is back with a new book in The Gael Song series, and it is absolutely unputdownable. Isolde, daughter of Fódla, has reappeared after her disappearance one hundred years ago. But worringly, Isolde has no magical abilities, and the strength of the Fomorians is growing. Soon, everything Isolde knows begins to change, and war is once again on the way. Will Isolde be able to stop the Fomorians from taking control, and at what cost?
Spiderlight is a gripping epic fantasy tale that follows a group of misfits as they embark on an epic quest to defeat the dark lord Darvezian. To do this, they must first seek help from the Spider Queen. The Spider Queen grants their wish, but sends along one of her children to accompany them. The group knows this quest will be a dangerous one, and those loyal to Darvezian will do anything to stop them.
Ascension is the newest release from A Dowry in Blood author S. T. Gibson and the second book in Gibson’s Summoner’s Circle series. Picking up after the events of Evocation, we follow Rhys as he tries to come to grips with his new role as High Priest. Things don’t go quite to plan, and Rhys finds himself with quite a lot on his shoulders. He is supported by his wife, Moira, and boyfriend David, but Rhus is determined to be an outstanding High Priest at any cost, even if that means biting off more than he can chew.
The Madness by Dawn Kurtagich is a dark and addictive gothic horror that follows psychiatrist Mina Murray. Mina receives an email from her old best friend, begging for help. Mina makes the decision to travel back to the Welsh town she left behind. Mina soon discovers Lucy has a strange illness, similar to a strange patient she had back home. As Mina tries to unravel the mystery of Lucy’s illness, she must confront the past she left behind.
The Bibliophile Chronicles 