"The Wicked and the Damned" by Rebecca Robinson

 

"The Wicked and the Damned" is the second romantasy novel in Rebecca Robinson’s Dark Inheritance Trilogy, and just as intense—if not more. It continues right where the first book ended, with stakes that are just as high, if not higher.

The first book introduced Vaasa Kozár, a princess of Asterya, and Reid of Mireh, a ruthless foreign ruler—characters one can't help but fall in love with, along with their story. The book ended with a deal made between Vaasa and Ozik, her father's counselor and a Zetyr witch. In return for Reid's life, Vaasa agreed to give Ozik access to her magic. The book ends with her being dragged back to her homeland in chains to be used as a political pawn and figurehead.

Ozik annuls her marriage to Reid and forces her to choose a noble to marry in order to gain more power and control. Forced to comply, Vaasa pretends to be obedient while scheming her way to freedom. She will have to use all her wits and her training to outwit her enemies. And there are many of them. 

Meanwhile, Reid has his own plans to rescue her and will do whatever is necessary, be it war or consorting with pirates—and their leader, Sachia—to achieve his goals. Sachia has her own agenda, and trust is slow to build. Betrayal, intrigue, revenge, conspiracy, found family, friendship, magic, and love all intertwine in this sweeping tale.

I was afraid of the second book syndrome, but this book is just as complex and good as the first one. Told in dual POVs, we get to know more about Vaasa and Reid, especially Vaasa. The author continues to develop the world, revealing more of its history and magical system. Vaasa learns more about her magic and how to control it. There is also a bit more political maneuvering here than in the first book, and Vaasa handles herself perfectly among all the underhanded dealings.

I loved the introduction of new characters, mainly Sachia, and what unfolds is an intriguing tale that blends political intrigue, action, magic, and moral dilemmas. One of the things I liked about this book was how creative it was. It combines an interesting plot with compelling, complex fantasy and plenty of twists. The characters are finely drawn, and we get just enough of the backstory in bits and pieces, which is how I prefer it to an info dump.

While the book mainly focuses on Vaasa and Reid, we also get a brief look into Ozik, which I loved. Even some of the villains have a human side, making all the characters feel fully realized. The book has everything I enjoy: a fantasy world with magic, heart, and a heroine caught in the middle of a dangerous game that tests her strength.
 
The story opens with a bang and builds to an explosive climax. The middle was a bit slow and could be tightened, but the action-packed ending is impossible to put down. There were a couple of spicy scenes that felt out of place, some occurring in the middle of danger, which felt out of place. There is a bit of a cliffhanger, but not as huge as in the first book.

One needs to read the first book before this one, as it doesn’t stand on its own. There is some recapping to remind readers what happened, but it isn’t enough for new readers to fully get into the story. Overall, I loved the book despite those small misgivings, so I rate it 4.5 out of 5 stars, rounded up to 5. I can’t wait to read the final book in the series. I recommend the book to those who read and enjoyed the first book and love books with strong heroines, a complex magic system, and political intrigue.

Note on content: The story includes elements that may be intense for some readers such as: Torture, violence, spicy scenes, imprisonment/captivity, manipulation & coercion.

*  Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc.  All opinions are my own.

* For more info about the book: "The Wicked and the Damned" by Rebecca Robinson

"Agnes Sharp and the Wedding to Die For" by Leonie Swann

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Agnes Sharp and the Wedding to Die For" by Leonie Swann is the third and final novel in the Agnes Sharp series. I’ve read and loved the other two books, so I eagerly awaited this one. It closes with a bang—literally—and not in a good way. But more on that later.

Agnes Sharp, a former police officer, shares her English country home, Sunset Hall, with a group of quirky seniors: Edwina, an ex–Secret Service agent who loves reptiles; blind Bernadette, the bride-to-be; her groom, Jack, a former hitman; Marshal, an ex-military strategist; Winston, who uses a wheelchair; Charlie, the new resident and vlogger; plus Hettie the turtle, Brexit the wolfhound, and Oberon, a white boa constrictor.

When Bernadette and Jack decide to marry at the high-class Foxglove Manor, which becomes available at the last minute, Agnes isn’t thrilled—Bernadette’s move will mean losing a beloved housemate. Still, she goes along with the plans. Time is short, and they need to come up with additional guests to make up the numbers. The unexplained death of the verger last year doesn’t help her peace of mind either, and she has to deal with Charlie’s latest idea—online dating—to boot. But once again, trouble follows the Sunset Hall gang: poison-pen letters, dead bodies, and a murderer on the loose, determined to stop the wedding.

This novel is packed from start to finish with murder, mayhem, mystery, intrigue, quirky characters, and shenanigans aplenty. The pace is slow, and the suspense-o-meter isn’t high—but it’s not that kind of book. It stands well on its own, though it’s best to read the previous installments first to fully appreciate the characters and their peculiarities.

I enjoyed most of it. It has the same humor, eccentric and likable characters, sharp writing, and creative plot as the earlier books. I loved the camaraderie among the characters and the hint of romance. The dating scenes were fun, and the few glimpses into Hettie the turtle’s and Oberon the white boa constrictor’s minds added a delightful, quirky touch.

However, the ending spoiled it for me. It didn’t fit the tone of the story or the spirit of the series, and the epilogue didn’t quite work either. It left a sour taste in my mouth. Therefore, I rated it 3.5 out of 5 stars, rounded up to 4. I reviewed the previous two books and loved them more—they had more heart and feel-good vibes, in my opinion. 

This book will appeal to fans of cozy mysteries with eccentric older sleuths. Even though the ending didn’t land for me, I’ll miss this oddball crew. It’s been such a fun, original series to follow. 

* Thank you Edelweiss and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc.  All opinions are my own.

* For more info about the book: "Agnes Sharp and the Wedding to Die For" by Leonie Swann

"Tyler Green Will Never Be Free" by Nicci French

 

"Tyler Green Will Never Be Free" by Nicci French is a cleverly constructed psychological thriller and the third in the Maud O’Connor Mysteries. I didn’t realize it was the third in the series, nor had I read the previous books, but that didn’t impact my enjoyment. It stands well on its own, and I had no issues following along.

The book follows the reunion of a group of old university friends and its aftermath. When they were students, one of them—Leo—was murdered, and another—Tyler Green—was convicted of his murder. He always claimed he was innocent. Now, almost thirty years later, Tyler is out of jail and asks his friends to reconnect, which they reluctantly agree to.

The reunion starts off as planned, but wine and accusations soon dampen the atmosphere and tensions rise. When another member of the group is found dead in the same manner as the first murder, suspicion falls on Tyler. After all, he is a convicted murderer. Detective Maud O’Connor is called to investigate, but she isn’t convinced Tyler is guilty. As the investigation unfolds, long-buried secrets and old wounds resurface.
 
The novel is a concoction of intrigue, psychological character study, and drama. The authors seamlessly weave themes of fallible human nature, morality, relationships, friendship, caring, abuse, bullying, justice—or the lack thereof—crime, and its consequences.

The story is told in third person, alternating between characters, and divided into two parts. The first part introduces the friends, giving us their backstories and psychological profiles, while the second focuses on Maud and the investigation.

The pacing of the mystery is somewhat slow, although it didn’t dampen my enjoyment. You won’t find any breathtaking tension here—the plot moves steadily, with limited action, focusing instead on the characters and atmosphere, which isn’t a bad thing.

I enjoyed the mix of psychological insight and suspense. It’s well-plotted, and what truly shines is the portrayal of the characters—their mindsets and the way their feelings of anger, fear, sadness, camaraderie, and pain feel so palpable. The authors excel at revealing character through both physical description and acute psychological observation.

I didn’t guess the identity of the perpetrator, and the curveballs thrown me back. I liked that Maud didn’t bow to outside pressures and insisted on conducting the investigation her own way, without prejudice. The writing is sharp and compelling, though it could use a bit of tightening, as the repetitions of the interrogations and the inclusion of some minor characters slowed down the pace.
 
Nicci French is the pen name of the husband-and-wife writing team Nicci Gerrard and Sean French, and the writing is so seamless that I couldn’t distinguish who wrote which parts. This is an exciting psychological thriller that keeps you guessing until the very last page. I enjoyed the book and its psychological depth, but the slow pacing and some repetitive scenes kept me from giving it five stars. I’m now eager to read the other two books in the series.

"Old friends, new secrets, one deadly reunion." Just what the doctor ordered.

* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc.  All opinions are my own.

* For more info about the book:  "Tyler Green Will Never Be Free" by Nicci French

"Carnival Fantástico" by Angela Montoya

 

"Carnival Fantástico" by Angela Montoya is a magical YA romantasy following two star-crossed lovers whose paths cross again. I love books that take place in a carnival, and this one didn’t disappoint. It’s a fabulous story chock-full of magic, mayhem, and mystery.

Esmeralda has run away from her master, the commander of the King’s army, and become the fortune-teller at a magical traveling carnival. The carnival isn’t your typical circus—it’s alive and moves from one place to another. To enter, one must pay the ticket fee, wear a costume, and be young at heart.

Unfortunately, the contract for the carnival’s performers lasts only a year. After that, they must leave the safety of the carnival. To stay on, Esmeralda must earn the lead act in the Big Top Show by passing the three challenges of the contest. The competition is fierce, as many covet the spot.

Ignacio, the son of the commander of the King’s army, has defected from the army. His investigation into his father’s corruption leads him to the carnival—and to Esmeralda. They were once friends and lovers, but circumstances tore them apart. Each believes the other abandoned them, and they fight the attraction that still simmers between them.

The two strike a deal: she’ll help him in his search for evidence in exchange for his help in the contest. Soon, they discover that the carnival holds its own sinister secrets, and nothing is as it seems.

I enjoyed this book very much. The magic, the world-building, the mythological stories, the mystery, and the developed romance all add flavor to the tale. The premise is brilliant. It may not be original, but the execution and twists make it shine. The writing is evocative, bringing the magical setting vividly to life—I could see myself there, wandering from one attraction to another.

The story alternates between Esmeralda’s and Ignacio’s POVs. I loved their nicknames for each other—dove and pigeon. Esmeralda is prickly, pushy, and sarcastic, forced to rely only on herself. She’s desperate to become the main act, as so much is at stake if she fails. She’s clever, strong, resourceful, and dazzling—and with the help of her friends, she changes and learns the true meaning of friendship.

Ignacio is sweet and honorable but struggles with his own self-worth. He’s rigid and organized, used to seeing the world in black and white, and must learn to let go. The misunderstanding between the two main characters may take too long to resolve, but that’s alright—it makes the resolution more satisfying.

Between chapters, there are notes the two exchanged in childhood, foreshadowing the present. I loved their interactions and the slow build-up of sexual tension. There’s also a vibrant supporting cast—not least the ostrich’s antics, which made me smile.

The circus itself feels like another character. I adored Esmeralda’s relationships with her friends Camila and Gabriel, especially her playful greeting with Camila: “You are the bee’s knees. You are the cat’s meow.”

The story starts at a steady pace before the plot picks up momentum. The book explores elitism, abandonment, friendship, family dynamics, found family, and moral conflicts. It has the charm of The Night Circus with the darkness of Caraval. If you combined both books into one, you’d get Carnival Fantástico. It’s that good!

I loved this book and recommend it to fans of magical circuses, endearing characters, and pure magic. I love going to circuses—but this is not a circus I’d have liked to visit...

* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc.  All opinions are my own.

* For more info about the book: "Carnival Fantástico" by Angela Montoya

"What We Did to Survive" by Megan Lally

 

This book has just the kind of tropes I love: the vacation-gone-wrong-at-sea trope. Throw in a survival story, and you’ve got me. What We Did to Survive by Megan Lally is a suspenseful survival thriller following four teens’ misadventure at large.

Hannah is vacationing with her best friend, Emmy, and Emmy’s family at a resort in Mexico. The vacation would have been better without Emmy’s older brother, Jackson, being there—due to an unrequited crush. Ben, Emmy’s wealthy new boyfriend, whom she just met on the retreat, invites Emmy and Hannah to join him on a day cruise on their last day at the resort. He charters a private sailboat for them, and Jackson joins in as their chaperone.

At first, everything goes smoothly, and Captain Keith seems capable. They relax, laugh, and enjoy themselves. That is, until the promised storm hits. As the weather worsens, tensions rise, and soon the storm brewing between them is just as deadly as the one raging outside. And just like that, survival isn’t just a word—their lives are at stake.

Overall, I enjoyed the book. I love a good survival story with high stakes—who doesn’t? After a slow start, the book picked up and turned into a rollercoaster, with one disaster following another. There’s plenty of action, and the suspense was always high on the suspense-o-meter. The sense of isolation, dread, and danger combined with the deadly weather gave me the shudders. I felt like I was on the boat with them, watching the story unfold—although I wouldn’t be as dumb as they were, ignoring weather alerts and common sense.

Emma and Hannah were opposites; opposites attract isn’t just a saying. Hannah was prudent, kind, and inventive; Emma impulsive, rash, and the life of the party. Still, they were best friends—that is, until the next guy came along and Emma threw caution to the wind, ignoring her friend’s warnings to be careful.

I was irritated with Emmy at first—her careless conduct and the way she dismissed her friend’s warnings to trust a stranger over her best friend. Frustrating doesn’t even begin to cover it. Ben wasn’t a piece of cake either, obnoxious as he turned out to be, flaunting his wealth and skills and mocking Emma's career choices. 

In fact, Hannah and Jackson were my favorites. Jackson was smart and kind, and I liked Hannah’s ability to improvise and adjust. I was surprised they didn’t insist on canceling the trip. I was even more surprised that Emmy’s parents didn’t put their foot down and forbid them to go.

There were a couple of twists—the last one I didn’t predict nor like. There was a whiff of young love, but it isn’t the main story. A few scenes demanded some suspension of disbelief. I can’t say I liked the ending, although it made sense in a way. Still, I would have preferred another one.

For a YA book, it’s rather dark, exploring fallible human nature. The story also touches on friendship, trusting the wrong people, fighting to survive against overwhelming odds, and how far you’ll go to stay alive.

Despite my slight issues with the book, I loved the writing and couldn’t stop reading. I rate it 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it to fans of the genre. After this book, you’ll think twice before boarding a ship…

* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc.  All opinions are my own.

* For more info about the book: "What We Did to Survive" by Megan Lally
 

"Here Lie All the Boys Who Broke My Heart" by Emma Simmerman

 

"Here Lie All the Boys Who Broke My Heart" by Emma Simmerman is a dark debut murder mystery about a college student whose habit of writing eulogies for her exes takes a deadly turn.

Sloane has a bad record: a history of substance abuse, a DUI, and an affair with one of her teachers. In short, a mess. On top of that, she writes fake eulogies in her journal every time a guy breaks her heart. Now she’s ready to start her senior year at Pembroke College and leave all that behind, with the support of her friend group.

The plot thickens when her exes turn up dead one by one, each with a note containing her eulogy near the body. She becomes the prime suspect and is forced to team up with her frenemy, Asher, to find the murderer. Between college parties, drinking to excess, a fake relationship, secret societies, and murders, her life has never looked darker.

I picked up the book because of the intriguing premise. While it delivered on that front, it disappointed on the character side. This is one of those books where I liked the plot but couldn’t care less about the protagonists. I enjoyed the group dynamics, the banter, the dark humor, and the mystery—but not the main characters.

To say Sloane is a mess is an understatement. She drinks too much, does drugs, and makes one bad decision after another—decisions that only make things worse. She’s 21; she should act like it and get her act together. That said, she does have some redeeming qualities.

Asher isn’t any better. He’s rude, manipulative, jumps from one girl to another, and only cares about himself. He does grow a bit toward the end, but it’s too little, too late. And no, his home circumstances don’t justify his behavior. I didn’t like the way he treated Sloane. For all her flaws—and believe me, there were many—she felt remorseful about the deaths of her exes and was big enough to forgive a few.

Asher’s family wasn’t any better. They knew what was happening at his home and did nothing. And don’t get me started on their friends. A memorial for a murderer? Really? I rolled my eyes when I read that.

The book explores themes of toxic relationships, abuse, found family, love triangle themes, psychological dread, betrayal, and forgiveness. There are a couple of smut scenes, so be aware. The romance is a slow-burn, and I liked that it was built up gradually rather than sprung on us. The last chapter is written from Asher’s POV, which didn’t make me like him any better.

To sum up: a great mystery with very unlikable characters. There are plenty of red herrings and twists. While I guessed the identity of the murderer toward the end, it still caught me by surprise. The ending is more implied than explicit, which I can’t say I liked.

Overall, it was a tense and quick read, so I only knocked off one star. Twisty, dark, and full of flawed characters you’ll love to hate—this one kept me hooked from start to finish. If you love a twisty mystery and don’t need to relate to the characters to enjoy it, this one is for you.

* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc.  All opinions are my own.

* For more info about the book: "Here Lie All the Boys Who Broke" by Heart Emma Simmerman

"The Astral Library" by Kate Quinn

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Have you ever wished to live inside a book? And what book would you pick? That's the premise of this enchanting story. Which book lover hasn’t dreamed of stepping inside their favorite book and living the dream? The Astral Library by Kate Quinn revolves around a magical library whose doors lead to new lives inside books.

The book follows twenty-six-year-old Alexandra Watson, or Alix. Abandoned by her mother at an early age and moving from one foster home to another, her life wasn’t exactly a bed of roses. Her refuge from reality was the library and its books that carried her to new horizons. Now working three dead-end jobs, she’s trying to make ends meet, having given up her dream of going to college. With only $36.82 to her name, she thought her life couldn’t get worse. When she’s fired from her job and kicked out of her apartment on the same day, she’s desperate. And to top it all off, someone has stolen her identity and changed the name on her bank account. What’s a woman to do? 

Taking refuge in her favorite place, the Boston Public Library, she stumbles through a door into the Astral Library and meets the Librarian — the guardian of the library who helps the desperate and the lost escape to new lives inside their favorite books. The only catch: it must be a book whose copyright has expired. Before she can start her new life, an unknown enemy threatens the Astral Library and its patrons (those in need of shelter). Aided by Beau, a costume-shop owner, and a couple of others, Alix and the librarian, and later on Beau, jump from one book to another, trying to save the day.

I enjoyed the book immensely. It started a bit slow, with too many descriptions of clothes and too much whining from the heroine about her lot in life, but the pace picked up after a while. They visited different books — such as the Regency drawing rooms of Jane Austen, the world of Sherlock Holmes, the parties of The Great Gatsby, the halls of Jane Eyre’s Thornfield, and the moors of Wuthering Heights, to name a few. I loved the exact descriptions of each book they visited, which made them come to life.

The idea of stepping through doors to other worlds or magically traveling into books isn’t new, but the execution here certainly was. The author expands on that theme by adding other kinds of magical libraries, such as the Art Library (led by the Gallerist) and the Computer Games Library (led by the Programmer). The book explores themes of grief, abandonment, found family, belonging, courage, friendship, the evils of corporations that think only of the bottom line, and the merits of public libraries. And there’s a book dragon! How cool is that?

While we don’t get an in-depth view of every character, there’s enough personality to make it work. I have to admit, I didn’t relate to the heroine at first, finding her too whiny, talkative, and thoughtless (running after a mirage in a strange world and risking her life was silly beyond words). And it wasn’t just once — she made several foolish decisions. But she grew on me, and I came to admire her spirit and bravery. She wasn’t the loser she thought she was, and I rooted for her as she grew.

Kate Quinn is an excellent storyteller who kept me engaged with gripping scenes and a creative plot that built suspense. She breaks the fourth wall by letting the narrator speak to us directly a couple of times, which I loved. I also liked the way the author inserted her name into the story when a side character referred to her as their boss. It was a nice touch. 

Overall, I loved the book, so I rate it 4.5 out of 5 stars, rounded up to five. I enjoyed visiting the pages of my favorite books and meeting old friends. I recommend the book to lovers of books, magical doors, and adventures. Known for her historical fiction, Kate Quinn takes her first step into the fantasy genre — and I hope more will follow, because for anyone who’s ever dreamed of living inside their favorite story, this book is pure magic.

* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc.  All opinions are my own.

* For more info about the book: "The Astral Library" by Kate Quinn

"Agnes Aubert's Mystical Cat Shelter" by Heather Fawcett

 

"Agnes Aubert's Mystical Cat Shelter" by Heather Fawcett is a charming cozy fantasy packed with magic, mischief, a grouchy magician…and an awful lot of cats! This is the first book I’ve read by the author, and I loved it; I’ll definitely be seeking out her other works.

Agnes Aubert, a widow, type-A personality, and ailurophile, runs a cat rescue charity. She’s organized and has lists for everything. Her life’s mission is to save stray cats and find them good homes. When the store she rents is destroyed by a group of warring magicians, she’s forced to find another place to lease. Not an easy task, since most shop owners wouldn’t rent to a business housing cats. The only place willing to take her in is a mysterious shop on Rue des Hirondelles.

Agnes soon learns that her new landlord is using her charity as a front for an illegal magic shop—and he is none other than the world’s most infamous magician, Havelock Renard. A shock to her, as she despises magicians due to the havoc they bring. Havelock is the opposite of her: disorganized, cantankerous, and allergic to cats. Before she knows it, Agnes finds herself entangled in dangerous magical battles, magical intrigue, and even a slow-burn romance. 

I enjoyed the book immensely. I loved the banter and sarcasm between Agnes and Havelock, her relationship with her sister, and above all, her love for cats. The snappy dialogue between the protagonists was a lot of fun. The author blended the real world with the fantasy world beautifully. The characterization is excellent, making each person come to life.
 
The cats feel like extra characters, giving the story a cozy, down-home feel. I’m a dog person, but I fell in love with the cats. I loved their quirks and diverse personalities—especially Majesty and Banshee—and admired the enchanted glowing spiders and the magical oven. I wish I had an oven like that! 

The world-building is fantastic. The spells and explanations of the magical system merge seamlessly with the plot. The story moves at a steady, comforting pace that suits the cozy fantasy atmosphere perfectly.

The book explores themes of family bonds, sibling relationships, loyalty, friendship, and second chances. This book was truly everything I want from a cozy fantasy novel and more—it left me with a warm, fuzzy feeling. The author weaves a tale of magic, intrigue, and fun that enchants and delights, hooking you from page one and leaving you wanting more.

The writing is captivating, and the plot is gripping. Brilliant characters, magical world-building, and plenty of adventure—what’s not to like? I loved this story from start to finish; the ending felt satisfying, heartwarming, and exactly what I wanted. Like a contented cat in a patch of sunlight, I turned the last page with a deep purr. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves a feel-good story with a dash of danger.

* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc.  All opinions are my own.

* For more info about the book:  "Agnes Aubert's Mystical Cat Shelter" by Heather Fawcetthtt

"A Field Guide to Murder" by by Michelle L. Cullen

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fans of The Thursday Murder Club and Only Murders in the Building will find plenty to love in Michelle L. Cullen’s engaging mystery, A Field Guide to Murder. The book follows 69-year-old Harry Lancaster and his caregiver, Emma, as they team up to solve a neighbor’s murder.

Harry, a globe-trotting anthropologist and recent widower, is bedridden after a bad fall that left him with a broken hip. His daughter and her family have moved to India, so she hires Emma — a nurse and millennial caregiver — to help him get back on his feet. Harry feels down, believing his glory days are behind him, and he still hasn’t recovered from the death of his wife, despite the well-meaning support of his quaint condominium community.

The plot thickens when one of his neighbors is found dead. Detective Nate Bradford, assigned to the case, rules it an accidental death, but Harry and Emma suspect foul play. As they begin their investigation, Emma also struggles with personal challenges, including a presumptuous fiancé and doubts about her future prospects. As their digging uncovers tidbits about their neighbors, they soon find themselves in the crosshairs of a murderer.

I enjoyed this debut novel very much. The main protagonists are likeable, and I loved the dynamic between Emma and Harry — their bond felt authentic. I appreciated the fatherly care Harry showed Emma and the way he encouraged her by subtly leaving books with inspiring titles on the table. Emma was caring, too, and I liked seeing her personal growth. At times, I wanted to shake them both for the unnecessary risks they took — I cared that much about them.

The characterization was excellent, bringing each person to life, even the minor ones. The pace was steady, and the writing smooth. The book explores themes of grief, friendship, learning to listen to your heart, doing what’s right for you (not what others think is right), and finding the courage to follow your own path despite external pressures.

Overall, I enjoyed this book immensely and give it full stars. I didn’t guess the perpetrator’s identity until the very end — the author truly managed to deceive me. The tone strikes a perfect balance between cozy and suspenseful, with touches of humor and heartwarming moments, set against the backdrop of a tight-knit condo community full of shadows. I loved this book and highly recommend it to readers who enjoy character-driven mysteries with heart, humor, and a touch of cozy intrigue.

* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc.  All opinions are my own.

* For more info about the book: "A Field Guide to Murder" by by Michelle L. Cullen

"Magic and Mischief at the Wayside Hotel" by Elizabeth Everett

 

"Magic and Mischief at the Wayside Hotel" by Elizabeth Everett is a feel-good cozy fantasy revolving around a sentient hotel, an eclectic cast of magical creatures, and a sprinkle of magic. It’s a story about second chances, friendships, and finding a home in the most unexpected places.

Pax Nomen, an ex-soldier, is the manager of the Number Five Wayside Inn and World Travel Hub, the fifth and smallest of six world travel hubs that manage magical travel between worlds. When Number Five Wayside gets stranded on Earth, they need to “reboot” it to keep it going on its magical journey. The guests are non-human, so adding humans to the equation seems like the way to go. However, there’s an ongoing debate about whether to accept them as tenants or use them as a blood sacrifice.

Here enters Josie LaChusia, a single mother dealing with debt, parenting doubts, and nosy in-laws. When she sees an ad offering a flat at a low rate, it seems like it was sent from heaven. Pax needs a new guest to restart his hotel, and Josie needs a new place to restart her life — it seems like the perfect fit. Little did she know she’d be living alongside eccentric tenants, including faeries, gargoyles, a vampire, vegetarian zombies, a gnome with a bad attitude and plumbing problems, and other beings. The guests vow not to kill each other while inside the walls of the Wayside, but it seems trouble is just around the corner.

Shenanigans, romance, and humor make for an entertaining read. The eccentric characters were adorable — well, most of them were. Josie was too polite for her own good, had low self-esteem, and lacked a backbone. I liked the developments she went through, and the way she learned to answer back. Her taste in books may be questionable, but her instincts are good. She is a good mom despite fearing otherwise.

Pax is sweet and a gentleman, and I liked how the tough soldier was soft inside and respectful toward women. I also really appreciated that he told Josie she deserves a happy ending, as she didn’t believe she deserved one and had trust issues. I also liked that he read comic books and researched superheroes to better understand Amos, Josie’s four-year-old son.

The book explores themes of racism, friendship, found family, social commentary, stability and safety, trust, and the power of love. The slow-burn romance was sweet and touching. It was endearing to read how Pax was tongue-tied when talking to Josie. Building a snowman, having snowball fights, and planting a garden were cute moments. I also liked the way the hotel responded to the residents’ emotions.

I really enjoyed the interactions between the characters. Their wonder at Earth’s customs and attempts to understand them were entertaining. While I appreciated that the plot was set in our reality, I didn’t like the negative wink toward a certain political figure, which showed bias and kind of threw me out of the cozy atmosphere. I also found the pace a bit slow at times, and the open ending left me wanting more closure. These issues kept me from giving it five stars.

That said, I did enjoy the tale. What’s not to like?? It’s a whimsical, heartwarming story full of charm, humor, and a touch of wonder — and I recommend it to fans of cozy fantasy, magic, mischief, and feel-good tales.

* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc.  All opinions are my own.

* For more info about the book: "Magic and Mischief at the Wayside Hotel" by Elizabeth Everett