Tag: fantasy

Book Review: The Price of Power – Michael Michel

Book Review: The Price of Power – Michael Michel

by Nicole Sweeney ♥ 0 Leave a Comment


Series: Dreams of Dust and Steel #1
Release date: April 2nd 2025
Publisher: Indie Published
Pages: 700
Find it: Goodreads Amazon
Source: The author kindly sent me an E-ARC to review
Rating: 5/5 stars

Synopsis

Prince Barodane could not hold back the darkness. Not even in himself. He laid an innocent city in its grave and then died a hero.

In his absence, war whispers across the land.

Power-hungry highborn dispatch spies and assassins to the shadows as they maneuver for the throne, while an even greater threat rises in the South. Monsters and cultists flock to the banners of a mad prophet determined to control reality…and then shatter it.

Destiny stalks three to the brink of oblivion.

A dead prince who isn’t dead. Barodane buried his shameful past in a stupor of drugs, drink, and crime. Now, he’d rather watch the world fall apart than wear the crown again.

An orphan with hero’s blood who’s forced to make a harrowing betray her country or sacrifice her first love.

And a powerful seer who has no choice at all–her grandson must die.

If any of them fails to pay the price…

The cost will be the world’s complete annihilation.

Review

The Price of Power is the first in a new epic fantasy series that follows three main characters – a mad Prince who everyone thinks is dead, living a life full of drugs and crime, a princess destined to inherit the throne but afraid she won’t live up to her family name and a powerful seer with no choice but to kill her grandson.  If they fail in their quests the world will end, but what will it cost them to succeed?

This book absolutely sucked me in right from the very first chapter and I did not want to put this one down. The Price of Power is the sort of book that has you so addicted that you dive back into the book at any opportunity, even if only for a few minutes. I adored this book and it will without a doubt be one of my favourite reads of 2025. This is a dark tale that I thought was well paced and executed really well, the plot was gripping and the last hundred pages or so of the book had me on the edge of my seat. I also thought the world building was excellent, it felt incredibly detailed and well fleshed out and very much gave me A Song of Ice and Fire vibes.

The Price of Power is very much a character driven story and I grew really attached to the complex characters that Michel has created in this story. I really liked all of our main characters but the one that stuck out most for me is Prince Barodane. He is a character struggling with grief and the mistakes he has made and he was overall just a fascinating character. I also really liked Ishoa and her ice tiger Rakeema. Each character felt very distinct and I am so excited (and a little scared) to see what will happen to them all in the next installment in the series.

If you love fantasy stories that are full of political intrigue, bloody action and captivating, compelling characters this is definitely a book you do not want to miss. I cannot recommend this book highly enough and I am counting down the days till the release of book two.

Book Review: Clockwork Boys – T. Kingfisher

Book Review: Clockwork Boys – T. Kingfisher

by Nicole Sweeney ♥ 0 Leave a Comment


Series: Clocktaur War #1
Release Date: March 18 2025
Publisher: Titan Books
Pages: 288
Find it: Goodreads Waterstones
Source: The publisher kindly sent me a copy of this book to review
Rating: 5/5 stars

Synopsis

In the first book of this touching and darkly comic duology, a paladin, a forger, an assassin and a scholar ride out of town on an espionage mission with deadly serious stakes.

When forger Slatee is convicted of treason, she faces a death sentence. But her unique gift for sniffing out magic (literally) earns her a reprieve—of sorts.

Along with a paladin, Caliban, possessed by a demon, her murderous ex-lover, and an irritating misogynist scholar, Slate sets off on a mission to learn about the Clockwork Boys, deadly mechanical soldiers from a neighbouring kingdom who have been terrorising their lands. If they succeed, rewards and pardons await, but they must survive a long journey through enemy territory to reach Anuket City.

And Slate has her own reasons to dread returning to her former home.

Slate and her crew aren’t the first to be sent on this mission. None of their predecessors have returned, and Slate can’t help but feel they’ve exchanged one death sentence for another. Her increasing closeness to Caliban isn’t helping for the first time in a long time, Slate might actually care about surviving.

Review

Clockwork Boys is the newest captivating fantasy release from T. Kingfisher and like all the T. Kingfisher books I’ve read in the past, I absolutely could not put this one down.

The story follows an unlikely group (headed by Slate the forger) as they attempt to infiltrate enemy lines and discover the secrets behind the clockwork boys – the mechanical soldiers that are destroying the kingdom’s army. The mission is likely a death sentence but can this ragtag ground band together to survive the mission and uncover the truth?

I really love Kingfisher’s beautiful writing and this book hooked me right from the very first chapter. This is an engrossing, well paced read and I thought the premise was such a fascinating idea. I cannot wait to see where the story will go in book two and I’m already counting down the days till it releases.

While I really enjoyed the plot of this story, my favourite aspect was the characters. I loved this little group and I really enjoyed seeing the dynamics between them, especially as the story progressed. I thought Slate was a brilliant main character and I particularly liked seeing how things developed between Slate and Caliban.

Clockwork Boys is a unique, engaging fantasy tale, full of T. Kingfisher’s trademark wit and banter. If you’re looking for an entertaining adventure story that will keep you hooked till the very last page, you won’t want to miss Clockwork Boys.

Book Review: Five Broken Blades – Mai Corland

Book Review: Five Broken Blades – Mai Corland

by Nicole Sweeney ♥ 0 Leave a Comment


Series: Five Broken Blades #1
Release date: May 7 2024
Publisher: Zaffre Books
Pages: 474
Find it: Goodreads Waterstones
Source: I bought a copy of this from Waterstones
Rating: 4/5 stars

Synopsis

The king of Yusan must die.

The five most dangerous liars in the land have been mysteriously summoned to work together for a single objective: to kill the God King Joon.

He has it coming. Under his merciless immortal hand, the nobles flourish, while the poor and innocent are imprisoned, ruined…or sold.

And now each of the five blades will come for him. Each has tasted bitterness―from the hired hitman seeking atonement, a lovely assassin who seeks freedom, or even the prince banished for his cruel crimes. None can resist the sweet, icy lure of vengeance.

They can agree on murder.

They can agree on treachery.

But for these five killers―each versed in deception, lies, and betrayal―it’s not enough to forge an alliance. To survive, they’ll have to find a way to trust each other…but only one can take the crown.

Let the best liar win.

Review

Five Broken Blades is the first in a fantasy series that follows a group of five people as they band together in an attempt to kill the King of Yusan. But how do you kill a God King? Each of the five killers have secrets and their own agendas to fulfill, but will they be able to trust each other long enough to succeed in their task?

This was such a fun, entertaining read and I really enjoyed reading this one. It was fast paced and addictive and I cannot wait to see what Corland has in store for book two. The world building was great and Corland’s writing style was easy to get sucked into. The story has plenty of twists and turns that had be on the edge of my seat and overall the ending wrapped up nicely but still left me very much excited to see where the story is going to go next.

I really love a heist story and I thought it was really well executed in this story. Each of our five characters have their own motivations and agendas. I was particularly fascinated with all the scheming as they attempt to work together or double cross each other. There were secrets revealed that I absolutely did not expect and each character had a pretty distinct narrative voice. This book is marketed as adult fantasy but to me it felt more like YA. My one gripe with this book was the romance aspect as it felt a bit over the top for all of the characters to pair off. I don’t mind a bit of romance but it did feel as though the various romances were taking away from the main heist plotline a bit.

Overall this an entertaining and compelling fantasy story. If you’re looking a fan of heist stories with the found family trope or you’re looking for a fast paced fantasy tale with tons of action, you won’t want to miss Five Broken Blades.

Book Review: To Cage A God – Elizabeth May

Book Review: To Cage A God – Elizabeth May

by Nicole Sweeney ♥ 0 Leave a Comment


Series: These Monstrous Gods #1
Release date: February 20, 2024
Publisher: Daphne Press
Pages: 480
Find it: Goodreads Waterstones
Source: The publisher kindly sent me a copy of this book to review
Rating: 3/5 stars

Synopsis

Join the rebellion to burn down a cruel tyrant in this heartracing new adult fantasy duology, perfect for fans of Shadow and Bone and The Wolf and the Woodsman.

To cage a god is divine.

To be divine is to rule.

To rule is to destroy.

Using ancient secrets, Galina and Sera’s mother grafted gods into their bones. Bound to brutal deities and granted forbidden power no commoner has held in a millennia, the sisters have grown up to become living weapons. Raised to overthrow an empire―no matter the cost.

With their mother gone and their country on the brink of war, it falls to the sisters to take the helm of the rebellion and end the cruel reign of a royal family possessed by destructive gods. Because when the ruling alurea invade, they conquer with fire and blood. And when they clash, common folk burn.

While Sera reunites with her estranged lover turned violent rebel leader, Galina infiltrates the palace. In this world of deception and danger, her only refuge is an isolated princess, whose whip-smart tongue and sharp gaze threaten to uncover Galina’s secret. Torn between desire and duty, Galina must make a choice: work together to expose the lies of the empire―or bring it all down.

Review

To Cage a God is the first in a new fantasy duology from Elizabeth May, author of The Falconer. The story follows sisters Sera and Galina as they attempt to infiltrate the place and overthrow the tyrant queen. Sera must team up with her estranged husband and Galina finds friendship in the most unlikely of places – with the royal princess. Will the two be able to free themselves from the tyranny of the empire or will they be its next victims?

I really loved Elizabeth May’s Falconer series so I was really intrigued by this book. It was also described as Shadow and Bone meets The Wolf and the Woodsman which made me really excited to pick this one up. Sadly it didn’t quite live up to those expectations and while I did enjoy parts of the story, overall this felt like a very average read for me. The world was interesting but I would have loved to know more about the gods and how they are caged inside a person – this might be something that’s explored more in book two and as this is only a duology I will likely pick up the sequel to see how things end.

The plot was interesting and I enjoyed the scheming as Sera and Galina work to get inside the palace and overthrow the Queen. The story was a bit more romance heavy than I was expecting and I wasn’t overly keen on Sera and Vitaly. I didn’t really click with either character and much preferred Galina’s point of view. I found the relationship between Galina and Vasilisa much more compelling and I was more interested in seeing how she would survive in the palace. I did also find Katya’s chapters quite compelling and I felt she came into herself more as the story developed. She finally stands up to the queen after years of torment and gets the justice she desires.

To Cage a God is a quick read one and while I didn’t love it, I am sure plenty of romantasy fans will adore this one. If you’re looking for a story that features gods, romance and rebellion this could be exactly what you’re looking for.

Book Review: Through Fire and Shadow – R M Schultz

Book Review: Through Fire and Shadow – R M Schultz

by Nicole Sweeney ♥ 0 Leave a Comment


Series: The Forged and the Fallen #2
Release date: May 30th 2023
Publisher: Independently Published
Pages: 588
Find it: Goodreads Amazon
Source: I received a copy of this book through LoveBooksTours
Rating: 4.25/5 stars

Synopsis

Kingdoms will burn. Heroes will rise.

At the decimated outpost of Nevergrace, Cyran Orendain and his companions stand watch. They await the full onslaught of Murgare’s retaliation. But one has turned against them and another village has been ravaged by whatever lurks in the woods.

With lady of the Never by her side, Cyran’s sister Jaslin arrives at the king’s city of Galvenstone to answer a summons. She will find the answers to the queen’s murder and the darkness lurking beneath the streets, no matter what—or who—stands in her way.

Meanwhile, Pravon the dragon thief follows the dragon assassin across the lands of Cimeren, hunting for emissaries who seek to bring peace between the kingdoms. For only one path can stop the coming war, and they will ensure this path is never found.

As the Dragon Queen returns from the Evenmeres, only those at Nevergrace sense the coming danger. The danger that stalks the far side of the Lake on Fire. Another prowls within the forest.

The growing shadows will consume all of the kingdoms and cover the lands in blood and dragon fire.

Review

Through Fire and Shadow is the second installment in R M Schultz’s The Forged and the Fallen series an epic fantasy series full of action, adventure and dragons. Following on from the events of book one, we follow Cyran, Sirra, Jaslin and Pravon as the kingdoms are gearing up for war. Will Belvenguard or Murgare be victorious and at what cost to the people who live there?

I picked up Through Fire and Shadow immediately after finishing book one, Through Blood and Dragons. This series is fast paced, addictive and full to the brim with magic and mystery. Over the course of the two books (and a prequel novella) I’ve grown so attached to these characters. Sirra is definitely my favourite, The Dragon Queen is such a great character with a fascinating background and I love that we get to learn more and more about her. I also feel like Jaslin really comes into her own in this installment as she attempts to uncover the secrets behind the assassination attempts on the Queen. Cyran and Pravon also have really interesting story arcs in this installment and I can’t wait to see where the story goes in future books.

I love all the different dragons in this story, there’s so many different kinds from forest and ice to shadow and blood. It’s something I’ve never seen in a fantasy series before and I’m always intrigued to see what new kind of dragon we’re going to meet next. The world building is excellent and Schultz does a terrific job of bringing the history of the world to life.

Through Fire and Shadow is a compelling and entertaining read. If you’re somebody who loves epic battle scenes with dragons, characters you really root for and plenty of courtly mystery and intrigue, this is a series you absolutely do not want to miss! I am already dying to get my hands on book three!

Book Review: When Among Crows – Veronica Roth

Book Review: When Among Crows – Veronica Roth

by Nicole Sweeney ♥ 0 Leave a Comment


Release date: 20th May 2024
Publisher: Titan Books
Pages: 166
Find it: Goodreads Waterstones
Source: The publisher kindly sent me a copy of this book to review
Rating: 4/5 stars

Synopsis

When Among Crows is swift and striking, drawing from the deep well of Slavic folklore and asking if redemption and atonement can be found in embracing what we most fear.

We bear the sword, and we bear the pain of the sword.

Pain is Dymitr’s calling. His family is one in a long line of hunters who sacrifice their souls to slay monsters. Now he’s tasked with a deadly mission: find the legendary witch Baba Jaga. To reach her, Dymitr must ally with the ones he’s sworn to kill.

Pain is Ala’s inheritance. A fear-eating zmora with little left to lose, Ala awaits death from the curse she carries. When Dymitr offers her a cure in exchange for her help, she has no choice but to agree.

Together they must fight against time and the wrath of the Chicago underworld. But Dymitr’s secrets—and his true motives—may be the thing that actually destroys them.

Review

When Among Crows is the newest release from Divergent author Veronica Roth and boy does this novella pack a punch! At just under two hundred pages, I completely devoured this book because it was so captivating.

The story follows our two main characters Ala and Dymitr as they embark on a quest to find Baba Jaga. Ala is suffering from a blood curse and Dymitr offers her the chance of a cure in exchange for help finding the legendary witch. Will the two find what they’re looking for and at what cost?

This is my first time reading a Veronica Roth book since the Divergent series and I absolutely loved it. Roth has created such a fascinating world and I loved the way she mixed in Slavic folklore in a modern Chicago setting. The characters were well crafted and I really enjoyed seeing the relationships between Ala, Dymitr and Niko develop as the story progresses. When Among Crows is a beautifully written story and one that kept me hooked till the very final page. I highly recommend this one and can’t wait to see what Veronica Roth does next!

Blog Tour: Sanctuary of the Shadow – Aurora Ascher

Blog Tour: Sanctuary of the Shadow – Aurora Ascher

by Nicole Sweeney ♥ 1 Comment


Series: Elemental Emergence #1
Release date: March 28th 2024
Publisher: Transworld Publishers
Pages: 387
Find it: Goodreads Waterstones
Source: The publisher kindly sent me a copy of this book to review
Rating: 3/5 stars

Synopsis

Some follow their destiny.
Others fall for it.

For humans, Salizar’s is a place of mystery and wonder. For Harrow, it’s a place to hide from those who slaughtered her entire clan. A haven where she can disguise both her abilities and who she really is.

Until he arrives.

He has no recollection of who—or even what—he is. He only knows that he’s a monster, with wings and powerful abilities never seen before. But beneath the layers of rage and isolation, one glimpse into those inky black eyes reveals a soul that calls out to the loneliness in Harrow.

And so she chooses him.

She is drawn to the mystery of him, her unquenchable need for his kiss. And as powerful enemies align and conspire against them, Harrow knows their only hope is escape.

Now, with every secret she unlocks from his past, a shadow from her own whispers free—luring enemies who will stop at nothing to get their final revenge on Harrow. And she’s given them the perfect weapon…because her winged beast is not what he seems.

But maybe it’s time they finally learn—neither is she.

Review

Sanctuary of the Shadow is a fast paced tale that follows a young woman working at a magical circus. Harrow is the last of her clan and the circus is the perfect place to hide her abilities and who she truly is. When a newcomer comes to the circus with no memory of who he is, Harrow finds herself drawn to him and must unravel the mystery of who he is.

Sanctuary of the Shadow is a compulsively readable story and one that I flew through in a few sittings. The story is quick paced and is easy to get into. I thought the story had a really intriguing premise I loved the idea of a circus setting and would love to learn more about the circus and its performers in future books. Ascher’s writing style is vivid and I found it really easy to lose myself in this magical fantasy romance tale. This is my first time reading a book from Aurora Ascher but I am certainly keen to read more from them, and I would be interested to see where the story goes in book two.

While this is a fantasy romance tale, it does lean heavily towards the romance and I do think the fantasy elements and worldbuilding could have been fleshed out a bit more. I liked our main characters Harrow and Raith, but their relationship develops very quickly and I think it could have done with the characters getting to know each other more. That being said both Harrow and Raith felt like dynamic and well crafted characters. I was really interested in the different elementals and the different abilities they had, this is definitely something I’d like to see explored a bit more in the next book in the series. There are also some very steamy scenes in this book which wasn’t what I was expecting but overall this was a quick and entertaining read.

While I didn’t completely fall in love with this one, Sanctuary of the Shadow is a story that will have fantasy romance fans absolutely glued to the page. So if you’re looking for your next fantasy romance read, this one should definitely be on your reading list.

Book Review: The Court of Miracles – Kester Grant

Book Review: The Court of Miracles – Kester Grant

by Nicole Sweeney ♥ 0 Leave a Comment


Series: A Court of Miracles #1
Release date: June 19 2020
Publisher: HarperVoyager
Pages: 464
Find it: Goodreads Waterstones
Source: I bought a copy of this from my local Waterstones
Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Synopsis

In the violent urban jungle of an alternate 1828 Paris, the French Revolution has failed and the city is divided between merciless royalty and nine underworld criminal guilds, known as the Court of Miracles. Eponine (Nina) Thénardier is a talented cat burglar and member of the Thieves Guild. Nina’s life is midnight robberies, avoiding her father’s fists, and watching over her naïve adopted sister, Cosette (Ettie).

When Ettie attracts the eye of the Tiger–the ruthless lord of the Guild of Flesh–Nina is caught in a desperate race to keep the younger girl safe. Her vow takes her from the city’s dark underbelly to the glittering court of Louis XVII. And it also forces Nina to make a terrible choice–protect Ettie and set off a brutal war between the guilds, or forever lose her sister to the Tiger.

Les Misérables meets Six of Crows in this page-turning adventure as a young thief finds herself going head to head with leaders of Paris’s criminal underground in the wake of the French Revolution.

Review

The Court of Miracles caught my eye because I saw it described as ‘Les Misérables meets Six of Crows.’  The story follows Nina, a young girl who has a talent for burglary and is a member of the thieves guild. When Nina’s adopted sister Ettie catches the eye of the Tiger (the lord of the Guild of Flesh) Nina must do everything she can to keep Ettie safe. Doing so will take her into the dark underworld of the guilds as well as the lavish court of Louis XVII. Will Nina be able to save her sister from the Tiger and at what cost?

The Court of Miracles has an intriguing premise and one that captured my attention early on. The story is quite a fast paced one and I enjoyed Grant’s writing style. The story feels very loosely inspired by Les Miserables so while I am familiar with the original story, I did not see too many comparisons with the original. The plot felt at times a little disjointed and I found the latter half of the book to be much more compelling. I am interested to see where Grant takes things in the next book in the series.

The thing that fascinated me most about The Court of Miracles was the setting. I loved the Parisian setting and the dark and seedy underworld of the guilds. The setting felt well detailed and Grant’s writing really brought that to life. The characters in The Court of Miracles are interesting but I didn’t feel massively attached to any of them. Nina is an interesting protagonist and I enjoyed seeing her go from strength to strength as she did all she could to save Ettie.

The Court of Miracles is a compelling start to a historical fantasy series and if you’re looking for something fast paced and inspired by Les Miserables, this could be exactly the book you’re looking for.

Book Review: Grieving Gold – Daniel McDaniel

Book Review: Grieving Gold – Daniel McDaniel

by Nicole Sweeney ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Series: The Luminocity Seed#1
Release date: February 1st 2024
Publisher: Endless Equinox
Pages: 603
Find it: Goodreads Amazon
Rating: 4/5 stars

Synopsis

Find your strength in the light, or lose your chains in the darkness.

Three sun gods bathe the city of legends, Luminocity, in their blessed light. The city stands on the decaying ruins of an ancient civilization. Skeletal skyscrapers guard their solemn secrets of forgotten technology and past tragedies.

But under the surface the light dies and shadows began. It is a dark god’s domain, even caged. And he holds his grudges through the eons.

Five fates intertwine, thrown onto the currents of destiny, played like puppets. Will they be able to tear free from their strings?

Laxerion Tama, disowned noble son and heist group mastermind, finds his leisurely life turned upside down. Both his estranged family and an enemy from the past test his strange ability to find lies in the light.

His brother, Val-Gustus Tama, general and golden son, is forced to take responsibility for threats to the city, as war brews on the horizon. Intrigue and betrayal test his resolve and character.

New and outlandish technologies emerge that push the boundaries of morality and the conscience of a young scientist, Ilumi. She arrived in Luminocity from the far north, carrying a dark secret.

A huntress of the depths, Aiana, struggles with her inner demons and the chains of her past.

Dawb, a young urchin struck by grief, searches for monsters prowling the short nights.

And deep down, below all, eldritch things stir in the dark.

Review

Grieving Gold, the first in an all new fantasy series from Daniel McDaniel, centres on five protagonists who live in Luminocity. Laxerion Tama has returned home as his father is gravely ill, but after years of being disowned, Laxerion finds the noble family house is not what it once was. His brother Val-Gustus Tama is doing what he can to uphold the mantle his father leaves behind and must do what he can to protect the city from war. Ilumi is a young scientist newly arrived in Luminocity, but is way more than meets the eye. Aiana is desperate to become a huntress and will do anything to make that dream happen. Finally Dawb is an orphan who spends his days running cons in the streets and seeks revenge for the loss of his best friend.

Grieving Gold is a hugely ambitious tale set in a really fascinating world. McDaniel has conjured a really fascinating world and the world building feels incredibly detailed. The magic system is unique and I really enjoyed getting to know the world and the characters. McDaniel’s writing style is easy to understand, though it did take me a little while to really understand the story and the characters. The book is well paced and I am intrigued to see where the story goes in subsequent books in the series. The story does end on a bit of a cliffhanger so this has definitely made me keen to pick up the next installment. McDaniel does a really good job of weaving fantasy, science fiction, and horror elements into the story. There’s plenty going on to keep the reader hooked and even a few monsters that I definitely wouldn’t want to meet.

Grieving Gold has a wide cast of characters and they’re all really well developed. Each POV felt unique and engaging, though it did take me a little while to get to grips with who was who. I enjoyed all the POVs though I did feel the most compelling ones were Laxerion and Val-Gustus. Grieving Gold is quite a chunky book at just over 600 pages, but the plot moves quickly and there were plenty of times I struggled to put the book down.

Grieving Gold is a compelling and thought-provoking tale, one that fantasy fans will completely fall in love with. If you’re looking for a unique and fresh fantasy series with compelling characters and a unique magic system, this is one you will not want to miss.

Book Review: Empress of All Seasons – Emiko Jean

Book Review: Empress of All Seasons – Emiko Jean

by Nicole Sweeney ♥ 0 Leave a Comment


Release date: November 6 2018
Publisher: Gollancz
Pages: 366
Find it: Goodreads Waterstones
Source: I received an E-ARC via Netgalley
Rating: 2.25/5 stars

Synopsis

In a palace of illusions, nothing is what it seems.

Each generation, a competition is held to find the next empress of Honoku. The rules are simple. Survive the palace’s enchanted seasonal rooms. Conquer Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall. Marry the prince. All are eligible to compete—all except yōkai, supernatural monsters and spirits whom the human emperor is determined to enslave and destroy.

Mari has spent a lifetime training to become empress. Winning should be easy. And it would be, if she weren’t hiding a dangerous secret. Mari is a yōkai with the ability to transform into a terrifying monster. If discovered, her life will be forfeit. As she struggles to keep her true identity hidden, Mari’s fate collides with that of Taro, the prince who has no desire to inherit the imperial throne, and Akira, a half-human, half-yōkai outcast.

Torn between duty and love, loyalty and betrayal, vengeance and forgiveness, the choices of Mari, Taro, and Akira will decide the fate of Honoku in this beautifully written, edge-of-your-seat YA fantasy.

Review

Empress of All Seasons is a fast paced YA fantasy tale that follows Mari, a young yōkai who has been trained all her life to take part in a deadly competition to choose the next Empress of Honoku. To succeed she must survive all the rooms, however, yōkai are forbidden from entering and so she must hide who she truly is. If she succeeds she can steal the Emperor’s fortune and return to her village a hero. Meanwhile Prince Taro wants nothing to do with the competition that will choose who his wife will be, instead preferring to spend time with his mechanical creations. When he has a chance encounter with Mari things begin to change and Taro begins to fight for what he believes in.

Empress of All Seasons is a book that I thought had a really intriguing concept but it didn’t quite hit the mark for me in terms of execution. The story is very very fast paced. I wanted more time to explore the season rooms and understand the different yōkai creatures. The romance also develops very quickly so it didn’t feel like there was much time to really get to know and root for the characters. I am also not a big fan of love triangles and that features in this book. As a standalone the story works quite well, but I would have liked it to be maybe a hundred pages longer in order to fully flesh things out.

I found the Japanese mythology really fascinating in the book and it was this aspect that interested me most. The characters were fine but I didn’t really connect with them. Akira was probably the character that interested me most and I enjoyed his POV as he becomes a warrior. I really enjoy competitions in stories and so the first half of the book that featured the competition gripped me a lot more than the latter half. If you enjoy fast paced YA fantasy this could be just the book for you but sadly didn’t quite hit the mark for me.