Tag: historical fantasy

Book Review: To Steal from Thieves (Thieves & Kings #1) by M.K. Lobb

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: YA Historical Fantasy
Length: 400 pages
Author: M.K. Lobb
Publisher: Little Brown Books
Release Date: March 25th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

In this high-stakes heist novel, an alchemologist and a con man team up to steal a rare necklace—but complicated feelings of attraction and deception threaten to destroy everything and everyone they love—for fans of Alexandra Bracken and Judy I. Lin.

Within the dazzling halls of London’s Crystal Palace, the event of the season has arrived: The Great Exhibition. An opportunity for the greatest minds of the century to come together under one roof in an unprecedented display of art and invention. And for two unlikely partners in crime, it’s about to become the score of a lifetime.

Charming conman Kane Durante works alone—or on occasion with his best friend, Fletcher. But when his boss, the infamous Kingpin of London’s magical dark market, gives him the impossible task of stealing a priceless artifact from the Great Exhibition, he knows it’s a job he can’t pull off alone. Enter Zaria Mendoza, daughter of one of London’s greatest alchemologists. Ever since her father’s death, Zaria’s been struggling to keep her underground business afloat, and impatient clients are becoming violent. When the infuriatingly handsome Kane offers her the promise of enough money to get out of debt and leave London entirely, she knows she can’t walk away from this dangerous partnership.

But robbing one of the most public, heavily-guarded buildings in London isn’t going to be easy, especially when love and betrayal threaten to ruin everything they’ve worked so hard for.

I LIKED IT.

I would read the next book. Which honestly could be the review in its entirety. Did I think this was anything ground breaking or like I have to shout at every person to go read it? No, but I had a good time and I have been craving all things fantasy and this hit that mark while ALSO having historical elements too! I had no idea (because I don’t often read summaries) that this was historical romance and I loved that world/magic elemental addition.

I enjoyed the characters and the back and forth of not knowing who was going to betray who as the heist loomed closer. I thought the slow burn romance was enjoyable and I hope to see more of that in the sequel too. It’s an easy read with a good premise.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Historical Fantasy
  • Language: mild – moderate
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: moderate

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ARC Book Review: This Silent City (The Grim Empire #2) by A.C. Hobbs

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Historical Fantasy Romance
Length: 488 pages
Author: A.C. Hobbs
Publisher: Counterpoise Press
Release Date: April 24th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

As the fallout from Xavier Raske’s crimes spreads through the Capital, alliances fracture-and the Devil of Eastgate tightens his grip on the city.

Demetrius Raske wrestles with the damning secret that his own uncle murdered dozens, challenging his faith in the League, his family, and even himself. Desperate to redeem his family name, Demetrius throws himself into the fight for peace between humans and vampires. But an increasingly hostile Senate threatens that dream. Xavier Raske must be brought to justice, but he’s vanished into the shadows. Fortunately, Demetrius knows the Devil who owns every dark corner in the city’s underworld.

Hades Cronus, the cursed gangster who runs the city’s largest crime syndicate, has problems of his own. His involvement in League affairs has attracted the attention of rival ganglords. Hades must decide where he belongs: as a clandestine official or as an Eastgate kingpin. A growing attachment to his protégé Gabriella Rose only complicates matters.

Gabriella’s growing mastery of her newfound powers has ignited her thirst for revenge. That hunger twists into a dark fascination with the gangster sworn to protect her. She senses that Hades possesses answers about her parents, Xavier, and the League’s darkest secrets-answers she’s determined to pry from his defenses. But Hades Cronus is running his own con, one with consequences none of them can predict.

By winter’s end, the Capital will discover the cost of trusting the Devil.

Thank you to the author and publisher for an eARC.

WHAT A STUNNER.

It’s often said the sequel in a trilogy doesn’t hold up, THAT IS NOT THE CASE TODAY FOLKS. May I present my most recent obsession?? And if you’re wondering now if you should go read book one that answer is emphatically YES.

This increased the action, drama, romance, world, magic and all the things. I loved how brutal and raw this book felt. The emotional pacing is perfect. Getting the soft and tender moments from the last character you’d expect while also getting his back story?? Savage. Amazing. NO NOTES.

I’m obsessed with all of the characters. Even the smaller roles have my attention. I love this kind of writing where the POV floats effortlessly from person to person creating this dynamic story telling that has you flipping the pages with fervor. I feel like I got everything I could have wanted in book two and I know I’ll be aching to get my hands on the finale.

I am very much feral over MANY of these scenes and I love seeing the push and pull between romantic relationships, friendships, political rivals and other bosses. This Silent City does not miss.

Overall audience notes:

  • Historical Fantasy + Romance
  • Language: mild+
  • Romance: vague/brief open door
  • Violence: high
  • Content warnings: loss of life, grief depiction, assault, attempted murder, physical violence, weapons violence, murder

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Book Review: Empire of Shadows (Raiders of the Arcana #1) by Jacquelyn Benson

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Historical Fantasy Romance
Length: 478 pages
Author: Jacquelyn Benson
Publisher: Crimson Fox Publishing
Release Date: April 2nd, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Nice Victorian ladies don’t run off to find legendary lost cities.

One trifling little arrest shouldn’t have cost Ellie Mallory her job, but it’s only the latest in a line of injustices facing any educated woman with archaeological ambitions.

When Ellie stumbles across the map to a mysterious ancient city, she knows she’s holding her chance to revolutionize Pre-Colombian history. There’s just one teensy complication. A ruthless villain wants it, and Ellie is all that stands in his way.

To race him to the ruins—and avoid being violently disposed of—she needs the help of maverick surveyor Adam Bates, a snake-wrangling rogue who can’t seem to keep his dratted shirt on.

But there’s more than Ellie’s scholarly reputation (and life) on the line. Her enemies aren’t just looters. They’re after an arcane secret rumored to lie in the heart of the ruins, a mythical artifact with a power that could shake the world.

Between stealing trousers, plummeting over waterfalls, and trying not to fall in love with her machete-wielding partner, will Ellie be able to stop the oracle of a lost empire from falling into the wrong hands?

Empire of Shadows is the first book in Jacquelyn Benson’s smart, swashbuckling Raiders of the Arcana series. Read it now and dive into a rip-roaring historical fantasy adventure perfect for fans of Romancing the Stone and The Mummy.

WHERE HAVE I BEEN?

This has been on and off my TBR since it released but I finally dove in when the audiobook was available and I do NOT REGERT MY DECISION Y’ALL. If you loved What the River Knows, I need you to go pick this one up too. I loved the historical fantasy vibes with some Indian Jones and The Mummy mixed in.

I was smitten from the beginning. And loved the way the romance flowed throughout the story. There’s heated tension, lots of action and perilous danger around every corner and the audiobook production is just fantastic. I could not get enough of listening to this book and the hours flew by.

(I realized that I had read the first book in this author’s previous series and had mixed thoughts on it so this just goes to show you that trying an author a second time can be a win).

I immediately downloaded book two and will be getting to that ASAP. I am obsessed with these characters, the SWOONY romance, and the fast action-packed plot.

Overall audience notes:

  • Historical Fantasy Romance
  • Language: low
  • Romance: heated make-outs
  • Violence: moderate – high
  • Content Warnings: weapons violence, near death experiences, attempted murder

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ARC/ALC Book Review: Carnival Fantastico by Angela Montoya

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: YA Historical Fantasy Romance
Length: 464 pages
Author: Angela Montoya
Publisher: Joy Revolution
Release Date: February 3rd, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Carnival Fantástico by Angela Montoya, is a dual-POV YA romantasy pitched as Hotel Magnifique meets These Violent Delights, in which Esmeralda Montero, a thief pretending to be a fortune-teller, competes for the starring role at a magical traveling circus in the hopes of gaining the wealth and respect she’s always longed for. But when the irritatingly handsome boy who once broke her heart resurfaces and warns her that carnival is more sinister than it appears, Esmeralda must decide whether fame and fortune are worth their deadly price.

Thank you PRH Audio for the audiobook and Get Underlined for the gifted copy.

TRULY FANTASTIC.

I think this is my new favorite from AM. I had such a great time reading this book and didn’t want to put it down. It gave me the vibes from Caraval and The Night Circus (both of which I loved so this is high praise). The audiobook narrators were wonderful too.

I really loved the angsty push and pull between Esmeralda and Ignacio. The fiery arguments and banter, the tender touches and longing glances, GOSH DANG. I wanted to shout to just kiss already so the slow burn was doing its job. I liked the mystery between their split because the reveals caught me a bit by surprise. It was nice to know somewhat of what was coming and to be enchanted by the rest. There’s a dark atmospheric layer over the whole carnival that sets you on edge.

Turns out this has a historical element too, being set in the 1920’s. It still felt like a fantasy book amongst the crowds of the big top though and that’s usually the way I prefer historical fantasies to feel. Absolutely charmed by this one y’all.

Overall audience notes:

  • Upper YA Historical Fantasy Romance
  • Language: low
  • Romance: kisses; one mention of sleeping together in the past
  • Violence: moderate
  • Content warnings: near death experiences, loss of life, parental abandonment, imprisonment, loss of loved ones

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