Review: The Sharp Edge of Fate

The Sharp Edge of Fate by TF Johnson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I would call this cosy fantasy with a side of definitely-not-cosy.

We're starting with an assassin (hello, my weakness) who is working for an A-grade A-hole. So when he tasks her with a job inside the palace, she doesn't really have a choice despite her gut going against it.

Unfortunately, the job has consequences that soon lead to her searching the city for a lost friend with a mage in tow. She still plans to kill him, and he's probably still holding a grudge, but somehow they have to work together. While Piper (our assassin) also has to care for the two kids of her missing friend.

So, look. There is a lot of detail in taking care of the kids, which tbh is not really my vibe. But I didn't mind it so much here because there was enough magic and strange things happening in the background to hold my interest. Plus, taking care of the kids was a huge part of Piper's character so I just went with it and it is the main factor that gives this fantasy book its 'cosy' vibe. I mean, there are scenes of lounging around doing homework, and drinking hot chocolate. Nothing says cosy like a ho cho.

Still, it is a fantasy story so there is magic and strange creatures and villains and fight scenes and basically plenty of action to keep things interesting. Things get pretty intense with some of the fights, but on the whole it never gets too dark.

It's all set in the same city, so there's no real grand adventure here. It's actually quite modern, with trams for public transport, pubs that serve burgers and chips, and indoor plumbing. It threw me at first, to be honest! It does get a little repetitive at times, with Piper and Alec on the streets, then at home with the kids, then wandering the streets again ... but I never really felt bored by it so there was enough happening that it never became a pattern.

I did get a little confused with the Rylan/Alec/Alexander business - Piper had been hanging out with Rylan, and then all of a sudden this Alec guy was in her doorway and making eyes and things and I literally went flicking back trying to figure out who Alec was (it's the same guy). So there were some clunky moments like that in the writing where it seemed to just want something to happen so forced it out. This lead to some confusing moments that did take me out of the story a bit.

It was a very chill vibe for a fantasy novel about an assassin, but there was still enough here to build a connection to. It wasn't what I expected at all, but I found the cosy vibe actually really worked for me.

I don't know that this'll be for everyone, but fans of slower, calmer kinds of fantasy should still enjoy it, and Piper is an interesting protagonist. I'd recommend it for fantasy fans looking for something a little more mild, and different to the norm.

Was lucky enough to get a copy signed by the author at Supanova 2025. Happy. :)

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Review: Lords of Uncreation

Lords of Uncreation by Adrian Tchaikovsky
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A worthy, epic conclusion.

This trilogy has been a bit of a slog but well worth it.

Third and final, this book begins with a lot of technical jargon and politics. It made it a little slower to get into but as soon as Oli appears again (working for an old enemy, in fact) the action is off and running.

I'm going to be real - without Oli, I'm not sure I would have enjoyed this series half as much as I did. She's a total badass.

Idris, our main protagonist, has some big things to deal with for the finale - notably, the moral question of whether eliminating the Architects is okay given the information he learned in the last book. But his companions are gunning for it anyway, so he's got his work cut out for him here.

I really loved the philosophical questions in this one. There was a lot to absorb, and I quite enjoyed doing so through Idris.

There's plenty of other things happening, and despite everyone being scattered across the universe, all ties nicely together for a cohesive, fast-paced thrill ride.

The pacing was great (once we got past the first 70-odd pages of the boring bits) and kept things running smoothly, with plenty of character development and a decent side of humour to boot.

All in all, I enjoyed this as much as previous books. While it was slightly too heavy to get the full five stars from me, it's an admirable sci-fi trilogy with characters you'll grow to love. Highly recommend to sci-fi fans.

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Review: Alanna: A Graphic Novel Adaptation

Alanna: A Graphic Novel Adaptation by Vita Ayala
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a black and white, early preview so I can't say too much about the art, but I really enjoyed this adaptation!

Tamora Pierce was a big part of my childhood, but I somehow never got around to reading Alanna's quartet. That made it particularly delightful to read this graphic novel adaptation now.

This is a familiar story - Alanna (under the guise of a boy, Alan) enlists to become a knight so she's sent to the castle to undergo training. Sword fighting, archery, horsemanship ... all those good things we love to see in a training montage. She gets along well with the other boys for the most part, and it's really nice to see friendship blossom instead of the usual trope of bullying and isolation. There's a taste of that but it's swiftly dealt with in favour of Alanna just getting on with things.

The story brilliantly handles challenges with kindness and compassion, and the warmth of the story is evident even in this more condensed format. The characters are easy to like and the friendship between Alanna and Jon is particularly endearing.

There's also a nice amount of action that picks up towards the end to keep you invested.

Really enjoyed this story. Good for all ages, but particularly for young girls who need a reminder that they can do anything they want, no matter what others say.

With thanks to NetGalley for an ARC

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Review: The Curse of Monte Cristo: A Reimagining of the Novel by Alexandre Dumas

The Curse of Monte Cristo: A Reimagining of the Novel by Alexandre Dumas by David Dabel
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Not too bad, but nothing beats the original.

This was quite dark in both story and art. It's a twist on the original that introduces the theme of slavery and features a deal with a devil, so it's definitely darker than the Dumas classic.

I really love how grey the original story is, but this keeps things rather more obvious. Vengeance is the goal and we know immediately that something is off, and Dantes should not be doing what he's doing. I think by condensing the novel into this short graphic novel, you really do lose a lot of the nuances.

That said, taken on its own merit this is a decent story that moves at a decent pace and touches on some important themes.

It's a horror story, so there's plenty of gore and on the whole it's very dark. I wanted a little more, to be honest, but this got right to the point of things.

The artwork suits the story rather well, and some nice clean lines show plenty of detail.

I enjoyed this, and while it didn't quite compare to the original novel, it was enjoyable in its own right.

With thanks to NetGalley for an ARC

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Review: Blood on the Vine

Blood on the Vine by J.T. Falco
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Narrated by Abigail Reno
Presented by Spotify Audiobooks

Clearly written by a man, this one.

Aside from the gratuitous sex scenes, though, not too bad a crime novel.

Two bodies turn up so our protagonist is sent back to her hometown in Napa Valley to investigate. Along the way she's got to deal with the local rich family, a cult, and the sheriff that put her father in prison many years ago for the murder of her best friend.

I was quite intrigued at first but once the cult was introduced my mind started to drift a little bit. It all seemed a bit too far-fetched and I just found it hard to follow how everything was tying in.

The pace wasn't too bad - there always seemed to be something happening and there are plenty of different threads to follow. Lana is not too bad for a protagonist, but nothing particularly new, either.

Some of the occurrences did seem a bit unnecessary for me, and the male author was very evident. I don't think it needed as much detail as it included.

I liked the setting, with some interesting tidbits on wine-making and the like.

The narrator was decent, and gave a good performance. It was fairly easy to distinguish most voices, and there was enough emotion to convey urgency when needed. I'd happily listen to this narrator again.

Nothing particularly memorable, but a neat crime novel that ties everything together nicely.

With thanks to NetGalley for an audio ARC

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Review: Between the Sheets: True Tales of a Woman’s Pleasure at Sea

Between the Sheets: True Tales of a Woman’s Pleasure at Sea by Madame Butterfly
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

Narrated by Madame Butterfly
Presented by BooksGoSocial Audio

DNF @ 38%

Admittedly, it's my fault for being curious.

This is literally just a woman describing every sexual encounter she has.

That's it.

There's no feminism, no new way of thinking, no female empowerment. It's literally just a woman having lots of sex with multiple people and describing each act in awful detail, often with embarrassing similes and metaphors (lots of 'oysters' and 'precious pearls').

Plus, it's narrated by the author who sounds like she's never narrated anything in her life. There's no emotion, no inflection, no change in pace or tone or anything. It's just a monotone reading words.

I was curious in particular about the 'at sea' portion and was hoping there would be a look at the life of a woman in a typically male role, but I still have no idea what kind of ships this woman was sailing on and if indeed there was actually any sailing at all, since everything seemed to tee off at bars and beaches.

This was utter trash from the second it started and 38% was as far as I could stomach.

Do not recommend to anyone, to be honest. Even readers interested in the kinky details of her sex life will likely find more excitement elsewhere.

Hard no.

With thanks and apologies to NetGalley for an audio ARC

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Review: Shatter Me

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Narrated by Kate Simses
Presented by HarperCollins UK Audio

This book is so hyped, so when the audio popped up on NetGalley I had to request.

The audio sucked me in right away - Juliette is this pathetic character with a saccharine sweet voice that somehow conveys naivety and low-key strength at the same time. She's also quite clearly batsh*t insane, as demonstrated by her constant repetition of words and phrases.

So much of the start had me just captivated, listening to her insane ravings. I liked the way this started, but I wish her crazy time in the cell had lasted longer, to be honest.

As the story unravelled, I started to get a little bored, to be honest. I feel like it spent a lot of time working the romance angle and so the world-building got left behind. I ended up not really understanding the setting, so when they were running around towards the end I couldn't really picture what was going on.

It also seemed to drag a bit in the middle, with things that felt a little unnecessary to me. Romance fans may disagree.

A few cool characters get introduced towards the end, but none of the characters were particularly unique to me - they seem very familiar to characters I've met in other YA fantasy. It doesn't make them any less likeable, but it does make them a smidge predictable.

I think my biggest gripe, though, is that Juliette doesn't really do anything. The book is mostly about how she has this power that can kill people and she barely uses it in any kind of context. I feel like it was very under-utilised, though evidently powers will have a bigger role in the sequel.

So I guess in the end I wasn't a huge fan, but I really enjoyed the audio experience. I think if I'd been reading it I'd have skimmed a lot, or maybe even added it to the DNF pile. But I really enjoyed listening to the narrator (even if the characters did start to sound the same as more were introduced) so it ended up being okay. So a bonus star that belongs entirely to the audio.

I think fans of YA romance will probably get more out of this, but the classic dystopian vibe is there so others will likely enjoy the series.

With thanks to NetGalley for an audio ARC

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Review: Godzilla: Here There Be Dragons II―Sons of Giants

Godzilla: Here There Be Dragons II―Sons of Giants by Frank Tieri
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was a lot crazier than the first series.

Where the first book was a pirate telling his story of shipwrecking on Monster Island, this features a Kaiju cult, a president and some really rather ridiculous plot points.

Still, I kind of enjoyed it.

There are some great pages of monsters battling in all their magnificence, so kaiju fans should be happy with that, and there are some clever links to different mythology and cultures of the past that work in a fun kind of way.

I think the ending was a bit much for me, so I don't know that I'd pick up the concluding arc, but as a sequel to the first it wasn't so bad. The highlight is definitely the monsters brought to life in stunning colours.

With thanks to NetGalley for an ARC of the collected story

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Review: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Vol. 1: Return to New York

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Vol. 1: Return to New York by Jason Aaron
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was such a great re-introduction to the Turtles!

They're all split up after the events of the previous run (of which I know nothing, to be honest) and the series begins by showing us what each have been up to. Each has their own chapter, with the eventual reunion coming together as Donnie's position becomes precarious.

I really loved how this was set out, and it was nice for the guys to have their own screen time. It's actually refreshing to see a little hostility - they've all become so focused on their own thing they've forgotten what it means to be brothers.

Artwork is fantastic and complements the story nicely. The turtles each have their own unique look now that kind of reflects what they've been through, and I enjoyed that detail a lot. Poor Donnie!

Overall, this was a really great way to start the new run. I've been reading the monthly singles as well and it's always a long wait for the next month to come along!

Immense fun - TMNT fans should be happy with Aaron's work on this one.

With thanks to Netgalley for an ARC of the collected edition

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Review: The Ashfire King

The Ashfire King by Chelsea Abdullah
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

My most anticipated read of the year did not disappoint.

Loved this as much as the first.

All the faves are back, but they're trapped in Djinn land and things are not going to go well for them.

This was super easy to fall back into - there's a wonderful recap at the start, cleverly disguised as one of the many stories told throughout the series, so getting caught up is easy and we can get straight back to the action.

There's further character development of our regulars which is quite rewarding, and there are some fun new faces which will hopefully have some more air time in the third book.

There's plenty of action, magic and storytelling, and the stakes are nice and high. It took a little bit for me to understand what was being asked of Loulie, but it was still easy enough to follow along.

There's a new threat in this story which was fun to follow, and there is a lot of grey in the characters so choosing sides is never easy.

There's also strong friendships and bonds which just make my heart melt. I feel so much for these characters.

Absolutely loved it - just as absorbing as the first with more magic, more action, and more fun.

Very keen for the last book in the series and already hoping there are plenty of spin offs!

With thanks to NetGalley for an ARC

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Review: Prince of Fortune

Prince of Fortune by Lisa Tirreno
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

DNF @ pg 174 (43%)

This was just really not for me.

It's more romance than fantasy, and it's insta-love to boot. It was too much, too soon and really turned me off reading instantly.

The writing is okay but very 'ye olde English' so it slows down an already slow story.

There's a slight flicker of an interesting magic, but it's heavily overshadowed by the romance between the two main characters.

I gave up because honestly there was just nothing in this first 174 pages that interested me enough to commit when I have so many good books waiting.

Fans of M/M romance should love this, but fantasy fans will need patience to get to the good stuff.

Not for me, but I can see romance lovers enjoying this.

With thanks to the author for an ARC

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Review: Where There's Smoke

Where There's Smoke by Jodi Picoult
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Narrated by Amy Finegan
Presented by Bolinda Audio

Definitely too short, but apparently there's a novel coming soon featuring this character so that would make more sense.

I enjoyed this, but it definitely ended too soon. The focus here is on the consequences of actions, and there's definitely enough to the story that a full length novel could be had from it. Serenity is a psychic, and I liked how it was done. I'd be curious to know more about this character, though admittedly she wasn't particularly likeable.

The narrator did a great job of the characters, though the 'immersive experience' sound effects were hit and miss. Some really added to the listening experience but others - for example, the contrived sound of footsteps - seemed more gimmicky than anything. Still, it was an easy listen and the sound effects gave it something a little different.

Overall, I did enjoy this listen though it wasn't particularly memorable. An easy way to spend an hour or so, though I'd be interested in the follow up novel to add more to this short story.

With thanks to NetGalley for an audio ARC

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