fantasy

The Tainted Cup

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The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett

High-ranking Investigator Ana Dolabra needs a new assistant, and is matched with Apprentice Engraver Dinios Koll. Din has a big secret; he’s dyslexic and has trouble writing as well as reading. He’s been magically altered to capture memories of scenes and conversations, triggering his recordings with vials of various scents. Other talents become apparent later, including lockpicking. A death from dappleglass is his first crime scene to inspect and record. Ana prefers to stay in her apartment, often wearing a blindfold to reduce visual stimuli. She has learned to read a sort of Braille. The pair are later sent to Talagray, near the seawall, which is dangerous territory during the wet season when immense leviathans try to breach the seawall. I thought of whales, but leviathans are much, much bigger and quite dangerous. Several civil engineers who maintain the seawall have recently died in a similar manner. Wealthy or well-connected people live further from the sea, protected by other ring walls, and Din sends money home to his family in hopes that they can relocate.

Dangerously modified plants, poison, and fire are other elements in a very clever fantasy mystery. Ana and her young sidekick Din were inspired by fictional detective Nero Wolfe and his assistant Archie Goodwin, created in the 1930s by Rex Stout. The Tainted Cup won the Hugo Award in 2025, and sequels in the Ana & Din series include A Drop of Corruption, and A Trade of Blood, coming out this August. The series, confusingly, is also known as The Shadow of the Leviathan. A little dark, but very compelling reading, and Din is an appealing main character. I read this for my book group, and probably wouldn’t have read it otherwise, but found it quite a pageturner.

Brenda

Magic & Mischief at the Wayside Hotel

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Magic & Mischief at the Wayside Hotel by Elizabeth Everett

Josie LaChiusa is a single mom who works in the financial aid department at a college. Her boss likes to have lots of meetings, and even pre-meetings. Josie’s son Amos is 4 and has had significant health issues in the past. Spoiler: no health issues for Amos in this story! His grandmother Gloria is critical of Josie’s parenting while Grandpa Al is quiet. They both love Amos and miss their son Dan. Josie doesn’t have any other family since her grandmother died.

An apartment opens up near her job, and it’s partly furnished. Building superintendent Pax Nomen interviews Josie after rejecting another prospective resident. The other building employee is Maddy, who loves to make rules for the residents. She always wears a turban, because she’s secretly a Medusan. There are gargoyles, fairy cheerleaders, a grumpy gnome, a handsome vampire and other interesting residents, but they must all pretend to be human for Josie and Amos. The building is Wayside Hotel #5 and it’s been stuck on Earth with an empty fuel tank. The lack of magic on Earth seems to be part of the problem, and the Hotel seems to like Josie and Amos.

The apartment is great, and the other residents study up at the public library to learn about children’s books and Spider-Man, while the fairies love Taylor Swift’s music. Pax and Josie have awkward yet charming encounters, and the residents are peaceful, at least for a while. Maddy over organizes a garden committee after it’s decided that Amos needs somewhere to play. A snowball fight is cute, a magical accident nearby is colorful, and Josie and even Pax become a little worried for Amos’s safety, and also begin a sweet romance. Amos is always happy at the Wayside Hotel and feels safe, even though this cozy fantasy can be a little bit scary. The cozy vibe, cute kid, outspoken residents and found family theme remind me of The House in the Cerulean Sea, even though the residents and plot are not that similar.

Brenda

The Book Witch

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The Book Witch by Meg Shaffer

This portal fantasy was a bit of a slow start for me, partly because I was reminded of other similar books, like the Thursday Next series by Jasper Fforde and The Invisible Library by Genevieve Cogman. But soon enough I was hooked by the story, possibly by a black umbrella, which is the tool Rainy March uses to move in and out of stories. And yes, Rainy knows what a cliché her name is. Her cat Koshka travels with her and does a little investigating, but does not speak. Rainy’s grandfather is a book witch, as was her late mother, Ellery.

Rainy takes a big risk when she falls in love with the Duke of Chicago, a fictional private eye.  While the Duke is Shaffer’s creation, other familiar characters are also present, including Nancy Drew, Elizabeth Bennett, and Alice from Wonderland. Bookstores, libraries, readers and authors are also featured. There is adventure, romance, magic, mystery, and even a bit of horror in a fantasy designed to tug on your heartstrings. A good, memorable read. In readalike news, the 8th Thursday Next novel, Dark Reading Matter, will be published this October. The first Thursday Next story was The Eyre Affair. Shaffer’s first book was The Wishing Game, which I thought was terrific, followed by The Lost Story, which was pretty good.

Brenda

Darksight Dare

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Darksight Dare: a Penric & Desdemona Novella by Lois McMaster Bujold

Another Penric and Desdemona fantasy novella is always a treat to read. Following The Adventure of the Demonic Ox, Penric’s brother-in-law, General Arisaydia, has sent him a new challenge. Young Captain Cinar Camurat, a cavalry officer, sails with his brother from Cedonia to seek help from Learned Penric, a Temple Sorcerer and physician with a demon named Desdemona. Cinar was blinded recently, and hopes that Penric can help him regain his sight, as he once helped Arisaydia. At first meeting, Penric knows that he can’t, but perhaps there is another way to help Cinar.

In a village about two days away, there is a woman named Iva, who is dying young. She also has a demon, and is afraid the Temple will kill the demon when she dies. Instead, Penric reassures her that her demon can move to another host, in this case, and not exactly as planned, to Cinar. Demons give their hosts a sort of dark sight. Still worried about the Temple, Cinar and his demon flee, but in a moving and funny way, choose to help rather than hide as Iva did. Another reader pointed out that one of the appeals of this novella is that there is no villain, which is refreshing. There is adventure and plenty of humor in the Penric and Desdemona novellas, and they are also heartwarming. I plan to reread some more of the novellas, which begin with Penric’s Demon, which is also in a 3-novella collection, Penric’s Progress.

Brenda

Hemlock & Silver

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Hemlock & Silver by T. Kingfisher

This novel is inspired by the fairytale Snow White and has hints of Alice Through the Looking Glass, but isn’t too similar to either. Fantasy with some romance and a little horror, there is also a talking cat in Hemlock & Silver. Well, Grayling is probably a cat.

Anja is a healer who specializes in researching antidotes to poisons. Anja is summoned by the King to diagnose and treat Snow, the King’s 12-year-old daughter. Snow is frequently ill, and may have been poisoned. Very reluctantly, Anja travels with the King’s retinue and guards Javier and Aaron across the desert to the King’s country home.

Snow’s mother and sister have died, so the King will do anything to save her. Anja eventually discovers silvered apples that Snow has eaten, and learns that they come from the other side of the mirror. Anja, Grayling the Cat, and handsome guard Javier have adventures in the beautiful and creepy mirror world. Reflections there do not always behave as predicted, and Snow has an unexpected reason for eating the silvered apples. Some humor along with the adventure, plus a romance, make for an enchantingly good read.

Brenda

The Astral Library

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The Astral Library by Kate Quinn

Known for her historical fiction including The Rose Code, the author now turns to magical realism. This novel has been highly publicized, and Quinn has the storytelling chops to lure a reader into The Astral Library and make them not want to leave.

This is definitely not a cozy fantasy, but compelling settings, a fast-paced and twisty plot, and memorable characters make this a book to cheer for. Alix Watson is desperate, and her past as a foster child and her present as a twenty-something working three part-time jobs are both rather bleak. Where Alix feels most at home is in the library, re-reading a favorite book.

Then she gets invited into a very special library, where she can finally say yes to the question: “Have you ever wanted to live inside a book?” Only the Astral Library and its Patrons are threatened, and it’s up to the Librarian, Alix, and struggling costume designer Beau to save the day, along with the Library itself.

While the opening is reminiscent of early 20th century novels by Grace Livingston Hill in which a young, poor heroine does a good deed and then gets a good job and meets a gentleman, Alix is not exactly sweet and kind, and swears rather a lot. Once Alix enters the Library, I was reminded of the Thursday Next novels by Jasper Fforde, beginning with The Eyre Affair, set in Book World, and also of humorous fantasy novels by Terry Pratchett set in the Unseen University’s library, with a librarian turned orangutan.

Daughter of a librarian, Quinn has created a magical library for book lovers and library fans to dream about. More, please!

Brenda

Nine Goblins

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Nine Goblins: A Tale of Low Fantasy and High Mischief by T. Kingfisher

A perfect novella for readers of Travis Baldree. Self-published in 2013, this was Kingfisher’s first book for adults. Under the pen name of Ursula Vernon, she’s published wonderful fantasies for children that are a bit on the dark side but still charming, including Minor Mage and A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking. As T. Kingfisher, she’s now known for dark fantasy/horror novels including Swordheart and Nettle & Bone. I’ve enjoyed all four of these works, so I was delighted to find Nine Goblins.

Goblins don’t usually star in books. They are not much to look at, complain a lot, some are not that bright, and they tend to be smelly. But in Kingfisher’s world, they are not evil or cruel. They are, frankly, great fun to read about. Nessilka is the sergeant of the Nineteenth Infantry. She doesn’t like being in charge, though she’s very good at it, having experience as the oldest of six goblin siblings. The Nineteenth is known as the Whinin’ Niners, and includes Corporal Murray, a technical genius who likes to invent things, and Corporal Algol who is tall (59 inches!) and likes animals. The Niners are on the march, ready for battle, when they’re not complaining about the terrain or their food. A battlefield encounter with a human wizard has Nessilka, the wizard, and eight other Niners transported to the edge of a forest, near farms and a village.

In the forest lives Sings-to-Trees, a handsome elf who cares for every ill or injured animal for miles around. He is currently helping an ungrateful unicorn give birth, when not petting a coyote, feeding a gargoyle, or raising a baby raccoon. Not a big fan of unicorns, Sings-to-Trees really prefers trolls. When the goblins meet up with the elf, they find something terribly wrong in the village, and have to deal with an even more frightening wizard. This part does get rather dark, though the tragedy has already happened before the goblins arrive.

A colorful cast of goblins, the untidy elf, a clever teddy bear, a kitten, and a magical deer skeleton make for a memorable story, as the goblins seek a way to get home again. Funny, sad, dangerous, and poignant, readers will root for Sergeant Nessilka, the Niners and the elf. Some illustrations are included.

Brenda

The White Octopus Hotel

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The White Octopus Hotel by Alexandra Bell

Imagine visiting a luxury hotel in the Swiss alps, reached by ferry or, in winter, a sleigh. The hotel has a wonderful aquatic spa, numerous fountains, and is decorated with white octopuses and clocks. Also, the hotel is probably haunted. Add in time travel, and the scene is set.

Eve Shaw has a small, quiet life, ever since a family tragedy when she was a little girl. She feels haunted by rabbits and apples, with a nod to Alice in Wonderland. Eve is an art appraiser and loves music. She meets an elderly composer, then travels to the White Octopus Hotel in 2015. Her room is designated for time travelers, and she opens her door and steps into 1935 and 1918, still at the hotel, as well as the present. She meets some of the same people in each time, and participates in a treasure hunt which may give her a prize to change her past.

Eve meets Max, who is haunted by his friends who never made it home from World War I. They explore the hotel and its grounds together, and Eve even glimpses herself as a child, along with her mother. No money is collected from Eve for her stay; her payment is the memories of her time at the hotel. Octopuses are everywhere, including on a unusual tattoo on her leg. Her hotel room has a magical wardrobe, which opens to reveal just the right outfit she’ll need for the next adventure, which fits perfectly.

Magical, often melancholy, and luxurious, the White Octopus hotel is a wondrous setting for a compelling read.

Brenda

Turns of Fate

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Turns of Fate: An Isle of Wyrd Novel by Anne Bishop

“Words have power. Intentions matter.”

The Arcana allow visitors on the Isle of Wyrd from the Spring Equinox until the Fall Equinox. They will need a coin for the Ferryman, and can have their fortunes told. In Destiny Park uncanny statues can be glimpsed and the most daring venture through a Moon Gate. Read and heed the signs, and don’t fall in the water.

Turns of Fate begins a new dark fantasy series which will have strong appeal for readers of The Others series by Bishop. Young Detective Beth Fahey loses a coin toss and makes her first visit to Wyrd on official police business, and meets Lucas Frost at the dock. She will return again, drawn to the island, and for information on missing people. The Arcana may show antlers after dark, or webbed hands. There are even purple cows, and llamas. Well, sort of llamas.

People who need refuge may find it, traveling far or transforming their lives. Some overly curious or violent men will regret their visit. Creative, amazing, uncanny, and occasionally very dark, this long novel is a pageturner for the right reader.

Brenda

Costumes for Time Travelers

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Costumes for Time Travelers by A. R. Capetta

I really enjoyed this teen time travel fantasy. There is plenty of adventure and some romance. Calisto (they/them) is growing up in Pocket with three parents and siblings. One parent was a history professor in Australia, another was a priestess in ancient times, while the third parent is a Pocket native. Pocket has several moons and is a waypoint that most time travelers pass through. The travelers get new costumes for the next time period they’ll be visiting and have the cobblers resole their time boots. Calisto works in the costume shop with their grandmother Mena, a tailor. They design and sew costumes with a huge variety of fabrics for their customers. I really liked how the author makes costume design and sewing seem very cool.

Fawkes, a time savant, arrives in a dramatic fashion from the far future, where he had a mostly solitary upbringing. Calisto is shocked that Fawkes has only one outfit, and no home to return to. In a kaleidoscope of a story, Fawkes and Calisto time travel to the Elizabethan era where Fawkes is in one of Shakespeare’s plays. They also meet the Minotaur in Crete, and travel to Stanford University where Californians are worrying about Y2K and computers. Time wardens want to stop new time lines, and Fawkes and Calisto try to stop a time quake that may affect Calisto’s beloved Pocket, which is governed by a group of elders at their book club meetings. The romance is sweet, and the sense of place and time are vividly drawn, along with the costumes. I didn’t get any sense of how time travel actually works, and wasn’t sure if this was as much science fiction as it is fantasy, but definitely enjoyed the journey.

Brenda