My review:⭐⭐⭐⭐

Violet Made of Thorns by Gina Chen is a fantasy story, with Violet, a prophetess who is willing to lie for what she wants.

I do enjoy court intrigue, and I liked this take with morally neutral characters.

It’s an entertaining story, with politics, romance and intrigue!

I was given this book in exchange for an unbiased review, so my thanks to NetGalley and to Hodder & Stoughton.

My review: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna is a contemporary fantasy. It’s a heartwarming story, and is one that I really enjoyed.

A witch is hired to be the tutor to 2 young charges, and the fun goes from there!

I found the characters to be good, the setting to be evocative, and the storyline to be entertai

I’ll be on the lookout for more books by this author!

I was given this book in exchange for an unbiased review, so my thanks to NetGalley and to Hodder & Stoughton.

My review:⭐⭐⭐⭐

Weyward by Emilia Hart has three storyline (and time lines) weaved together, to tell the truth about three different women. One is set in present day, one is set in 1600s, and one is set 1942, and they each show women struggling with the roles they’re in.

This feels like a book that’s getting a lot of attention at the moment.  There is a lot of female empowerment and the characters aren’t shown to be perfect, but are human.

I enjoyed the story unveiling itself through the use of the three timelines, and I was enthralled by what was going to happen next!

I was given this book in exchange for an unbiased review, so my thanks to NetGalley and to HarperCollins UK!

My review:⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Book of Azrael by Amber Nicole has shape changing vampires, witches and gods, this is a fantastical story that also looks at the dangers of making deals.

I enjoyed the story and agreed with what Dianna’s sister said to her about making deals with powerful men – that it’s not always a good idea!

I was given this book in exchange for an unbiased review, so my thanks to NetGalley and to Rose and Star Publishing. 

My review: 

The Atlas Paradox by Olivie Blake (book 2 in the Atlas series) continues the story from the last book (Atlas Six), this is a fantasy with magic that covers some different ideas such as telepathy, empaths, people who can move matter and move through time.  This is a book series that you do need to read the first book in order to understand the second book!

I enjoyed this series – I went and re-read the Atlas Six so I could remember everything! This felt a bit slow as it explored actions, hiding consequences and the aftermath of book 1, but I felt that this slowness was deliberate.

It feels like there will be a third book in the series at least, so I’ll be looking forwarding to seeing where this goes!

I was given this book in exchange for an unbiased review, so my thanks to NetGalley and to Pan McMillan.

My review:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Babel by R F Kuang is a fantasy where language can be used to enchant silver bars.

R F Kuang is a great grimdark author, and this is a dark academic fantasy story, set in a different Oxford. 

I found the cast of characters to be interesting, with lots going on.  

This is a big book, and has a lot of detail, characters that you might not empathise with, and other grimdark element, but I did enjoy the story and the adventure it took me on!

I really enjoyed listening to this storm. The voice acting added to the story.

I was given access to this audiobook in exchange for an unbiased review, so my thanks to NetGalley and to HarperCollins.

My review:

The Heart of the Circle by Keren Landsman is an urban fantasy set in Israel.

This book looks at one group being persecuted by another.  I found the idea of the book to be good, but I did find the story to be slow, and not always compelling.

It was interesting to read a book that was has been translated from Israeli, and to get an idea of what fantasy fiction is like in Israel.

I was given this book in exchange for an unbiased review, so my thanks to NetGalley and to Angry Robot. 

My review:🌟🌟🌟

In Together We Burn by Isabel Ibañez, Zarela is the daughter of a famous flamenco dancer and a dragonador (matador except for dragons instead of bulls).  There is an an accident, and her mother dies.

The story picks up a year later, and Zarela is a flamenco dancer herself, but feeling frustrated as the crowd doesn’t want to see her dances, they want her mothers.  Something happens, and Zarela decides the way she can help best is by becoming a dragonader herself.

I found some bits felt out of place – how Zorela feels before her mother dies is too young for a year to pass and her to be 18, and a dancer herself, in my opinion.  

I also found money to feel disconnected.  It didn’t feel quite right, or explained, so amounts felt inconsistent.

I did enjoy aspects of this book, but there are things that got in my way.

Together We Burn was published on 5th July 2022, and is available from Amazon.

You can follow Isabel Ibañez on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

I was given this book in exchange for an unbiased review, so my thanks to NetGalley and to Titan Books.