Tag: fantasy book

Book Review: The Poet Empress by Shen Tao

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Fantasy
Length: 432 pages
Author: Shen Tao
Publisher: Bramble
Release Date: January 20th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Debut author Shen Tao introduces readers to the lush, deadly world of The Poet Empress, a sweeping, epic and intimate fantasy perfect for fans of The Serpent & the Wings of Night, The Song of Achilles and She Who Became the Sun.

In the waning years of the Azalea Dynasty, the emperor is dying, the land consumed by famine, and poetry magic lost to all except the powerful.

Wei Yin is desperate. After the fifth death of a sibling, with her family and village on the brink of starvation, she will do anything to save those she loves.

Even offer herself as concubine to the cruel heir of the beautiful and brutal Azalea House.

But in a twist of fate, the palace stands on the knife-edge of civil war with Wei trapped in its center…at the side of a violent prince.

To survive, Wei must harden her heart, rely on her wit, and become dangerous herself. Even if it means becoming a poet in a world where women are forbidden to read—and composing the most powerful spell of all. A ballad of death…and love.

The Poet Empress is an epic fantasy that explores darker themes, subjects, and scenes that may not be suitable for all readers. Please see the author’s content note at the beginning of the book.

TOOK ME OUT.

I didn’t know what to expect when I picked this up. I’ve just been hearing great things so I found an audiobook and dove in.

WHAT A STORY. THIS IS A DEBUT AUTHOR????? I’m sat.

This was dark and heavy and deep on the characters. Wei is set on this intense journey of brutal decisions while trying to maintain a semblance of self and the why of her decision to go to Azalea House. I could hardly predict Wei’s next move and was glued to my headphones. An incredible strength of soul to become The Poet Empress.

And please don’t go in thinking this is a romance. It’s an epic fantasy and you’ll still get many character relationships of all different levels and see how they all create this world. The politicking and battles and the magic system?? The combinations were lethal. And this writing style is easy to follow. I got a sense for every piece of this aching puzzle.

The constant battle to find a measure of hope and trying to find what good is left and is it good enough? are present themes throughout. It’s one of those stories I know will stick with me and I can’t wait to see what Shen Tao writes next.

[I might not have caught them all so please double check content warnings before reading]

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy
  • Language: mild
  • Romance: none
  • Violence: high
  • Content warnings: physical violence, sexual violence/abuse (including minors), alcohol abuse, partner abuse (often physical), blood/gore

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Book Review: Yumi and the Nightmare Painter (The Cosmere) by Brandon Sanderson

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 474 pages
Author: Brandon Sanderson
Publisher: Dragonsteel
Release Date: July 1st, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

#1 New York Times bestselling author Brandon Sanderson brings us a gripping story set in the Cosmere universe told by Hoid, where two people from incredibly different worlds must compromise and work together to save their worlds from ruin.

Yumi comes from a land of gardens, meditation, and spirits, while Painter lives in a world of darkness, technology, and nightmares. When their lives suddenly become intertwined in strange ways, can they put aside their differences and work together to uncover the mysteries of their situation and save each other’s communities from certain disaster?

LOVELY.

This was really dang good. Am I surprised? Not at all. And shoutout to my favorite audiobook narrators that read all of Sanderson’s books. Y’all are amazing.

I love how this subtly (but firmly) took on AI and the beauty and imagination of genuine artists. I felt this was really a nod to how important and impactful art (in all forms) is to a society.

The romance is sweet and actually at the for front of this story. Now I wouldn’t say this is a ROMANCE, but there is heavy focus on the relationship between Painter and Yumi. I adored these characters and how they both learned about the other, were honest about their struggles and were genuinely trying to do what was best.

Hoid once again narrates and I thought his little snippets were funny and quirky. While not necessarily my favorite aspect, I get the idea behind using this framework for the books that don’t necessarily fit into one of Sanderson’s already built systems.

This can be read as a standalone without prior Sanderson books. The narration might throw you off and you could see some Easter eggs from other parts of the Cosmere, but nothing spoiler based.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy / Romance
  • Language: a little
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: moderate
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: physical and magical altercations, nightmares, anxiety depiction, depression depiction,

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Monthly Reading Wrap-Up: October 2022

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Happy Halloween! Hope y’all have had an enjoyable reading month. I got to 42 books and some new favorites.

Favorites
– A Game of Hearts
– Foul Lady Fortune
– Nightwing
– Thank You for Listening
– Yours Truly
– It Starts With Us
– Faking Christmas
– How to Kiss Your Grumpy Boss

Least Favorites
– Dark Night Golden Dawn
– Kingdom of the Feared
– Wishtress
– So This is Christmas

  • [ARC] The Poison Season by Mara Rutherford
  • [Novella] Second Chance for Christmas by Anne Kemp
  • The Kiss Curse (Ex Hex #2) by Erin Sterling
  • A Crime of Passion Fruit (A Bakeshop Mystery #6) by Ellie Alexander
  • [ARC] Five Survive by Holly Jackson
  • From the Fields of Porthlenn (Cornish Romance #5) by Deborah M. Hathaway
  • Dark Night Golden Dawn (The Immortal Orders #1) by Allison Carr Waechter
  • Lux (Texas Reckoners #1) by Brandon Sanderson and Steven Michael Bohls
  • [ARC] A Game of Hearts by Joanna Barker
  • [ARC] The Empress of Time (The Keeper of the Night #2) by Kylie Lee Baker
  • House of Beating Wings (The Kingdom of Crows #1) by Olivia Wildenstein
  • Foul Lady Fortune (Foul Lady Fortune #1) by Chloe Gong
  • Smoke Show (Deadlights Cove #1) by B. Perkins and Aimee Vance
  • Kingdom of the Feared (Kingdom of the Wicked #3) by Kerri Maniscalco
  • Nightwing (The Starchaser Saga #3) by Renee Dugan
  • Spells for Forgetting by Adrienne Young
  • Thank You for Listening by Julia Whelan
  • [Novella] Mr. October by Bethany Weaver
  • Where Oceans Burn (Where Oceans Burn #1) by Casey L. Bond
  • Sky Without Stars (System Divine #1) by Jessica Brody and Joanne Rendell
  • [ARC] Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez
  • Just Like Magic by Sarah Hogle
  • Shattered Sea (Tattered & Torn #4) by Catherine Cowles
  • Wild About Denali (Wild About Alaska #1) by Sara Blackard
  • It Starts With Us (It Ends With Us #2) by Colleen Hoover
  • An Heir Comes to Rise (An Heir Comes to Rise #1) by C.C. Penaranda
  • The Lost Letter by Mimi Matthews
  • Court of Blood and Bindings (Fae Isles #1) by Lisette Marshall
  • [ARC] Merry Ex-Mas by Courtney Walsh
  • Christmas Baggage (Christmas Escapes #1) by Deborah M. Hathaway
  • Wishtress by Nadine Brandes
  • The Make-Up (Falling for Franklin #2) by Hailey Gardiner
  • [ARC] The Call of the Sea by Sian Bessey
  • So This is Christmas (A Princess for Christmas #3) by Jenny Holiday
  • Legacy (Keeper of the Lost Cities #8) by Shannon Messenger
  • Host for the Holidays (Christmas Escapes #2) by Martha Keyes
  • [ARC] A Very Merry Bromance (Bromance Book Club #5) by Lyssa Kay Adams
  • Deja Brew (Deadlights Cove #2) by Aimee Vance and B. Perkins
  • A Queen Comes to Power (An Heir Comes to Rise #2) by C.C. Penaranda
  • [ARC] Faking Christmas (Christmas Escape #3) by Cindy Steel
  • [ARC] How to Kiss Your Grumpy Boss by Jenny Proctor
  • One Dark Window (The Shepherd King #1) by Rachel Gillig

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Book Review: The Phoenix Priest (The Blood and Water Saga #2) by Cassidy Clarke

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Fantasy
Length: 780 pages
Author: Cassidy Clarke
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: April 22nd, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Elias Loch has nothing left to believe in.

After the loss of his battlemate, all he wants is to go home to Nyx and lose himself to grief. But when the Goddess of Death summons him to Artem, a kingdom of fire and steel, he finds himself plunged into a series of trials to earn him and his princely companion an audience with Artem’s Empress—trials that will force him to confront what it truly means to have faith in his goddess…and himself.

Finnick Atlas is playing a game against the gods, and he’s used up all his cheats.

Burdened by his new title and the two gods walking his halls, he needs to be at the top of his game to keep control over his kingdom. But with a maddening magic threatening to steal what’s left of his sanity, a goddess puppeting his little sister’s body for nefarious ends, and an arranged marriage with the Queen of Lapis looming on the horizon, he’s running out of sleeves to slip aces into. Luckily, a new friend from the Lapisian delegation may just be the key to winning all his games…if he can trick a worshipper of the Trickster Goddess.

Soren Nyx can’t seem to die.

Trapped inside her own body, she has only one goal left: to keep Anima, Goddess of Life, from seeing into her memories and finding her family’s weaknesses. But retreating into the depths of her own mind has unintended consequences, and with the help of an old friend, Soren must navigate the lost memories of her childhood as Soleil, all with one question in mind: will she finally give in to the death that’s been chasing her since girlhood, or will she rise again as someone new?

READ THIS SERIES.

I am so impressed by this series. 800 pages and I hardly notice. I love the writing. It’s captivating and keeps the pace moving. The characters are extremely easy to get attached to and I can’t believe some of the things that happened this round?! NOT OKAY.

I love how much depth we got from many characters. Specifically this time, Elias. He went through the ringer (and fire, literal fire) and now I can see just how strong of a character role he’s going to continue to play. And his bromance with Kallias? ADORE!!!!! We stan strong friendships. Moving towards Kallias, do I spy a romance? The slow burn is torturous, but oh so good.

MY SWEET BABY FINN. Easily my favorite character for this book. Wow his story took so many turns. I loved it. I love his morally gray, but fiercely protective self. My heart hurts for where his arc may lead. I need him comforted ASAP.

The plot moved beautifully. A mix of action and politicking. Sneaking out at night and creatures coming out of the woodwork. I loved the changes in scenery and all of the new characters that I got to meet. Everyone felt pertinent to the story and only added to how much I love reading these books.

ADD TO YOUR TBR ASAP PLEASE.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy
  • Language: little
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: med/high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: kidnapping, torture, physical altercations, creature attacks, near death experiences, poison, grief depiction

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