An enjoyably lighthearted installment of a genre-blending series.
Murray and Fahrie offer the sixth short urban fantasy time-travel novel in their ongoing series about a quest for the ultimate treasure: the Holy Grail.
Lucy and James are Manhattanites who’ve time-traveled from modern times to the age of King Arthur, and James can transform into a wolf whenever he desires. At the beginning of this latest round of supernatural adventures, King Arthur is throwing a masquerade ball that’s rudely interrupted by some vampires. Although the fanged creatures are quickly defeated, Merlin warns Lucy and James that there’s more trouble soon to come. As he phrases it, “Something evil and terrible is about to descend on Camelot,” and that evil, as it turns out, is a coming plague. The only solution is for Lucy and James to retrieve the Holy Grail, which “has the power to heal any illness and make the world whole again.” This journey will not be easy, but the two will not set out on it alone: They will have at their disposal three intelligent dogs, as well as a donkey. The largest canine, Argo, is no stranger to “difficult battles,” while the smallest, Capo, is less experienced, but “very sweet and has the heart of a lion.” On their way, the team meets friendly elves and a suicidal knight named Tristan who has something of a relationship problem. Lucy and James also receive assistance from their old friend Lancelot. Soon enough, the band are battling vampires and witches. As it turns out, the enemy has plans to spread the plague by sending bats into Camelot. Can Lucy, James, and their friends stop them in time?
This fanciful tale moves very fast: No sooner has King Arthur’s party started than vampires are trying to ruin it. The villains seem to be able to pop up whenever they want, and such surprise attacks keep the action moving. It helps, too, that the danger is not merely limited to vampires and witches; other malicious creatures enter the picture later. Yet, despite the variety of foes, the bad guys always prove to be incompetent, which may disappoint some readers. It doesn’t take much effort for King Arthur’s knights to save his masquerade ball, for instance, nor are many of the later attempts to defeat the heroes even remotely successful. When an evil witch named Davida offers Lancelot the opportunity to join her clearly lost cause and become King of Camelot, his decision is too easy to be compelling; after all, why should he betray his friends for a bunch of inept villains? Characters also sometimes say obvious things, as when one gushes to Lucy and James, “It warms my heart that there are such caring people like the two of you left in this world.” Still, such comments add to the adventure’s overall playful spirit, which is maintained throughout the work’s short length. Although the heroes’ success is rarely in doubt, readers will appreciate the twists and turns along the way. Fortunately, the story never takes itself too seriously, allowing for a remarkably fun journey.
An enjoyably lighthearted installment of a genre-blending series.Pub Date: Sept. 28, 2024
ISBN: 9798340592156
Page Count: 208
Publisher: Self
Review Posted Online: Nov. 4, 2024
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A beautiful meditation on queer identity against a supernatural backdrop.
Three women deal very differently with vampirism in Schwab’s era-spanning follow-up to The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue (2020).
In 16th-century Spain, Maria seduces a wealthy viscount in an attempt to seize whatever control she can over her own life. It turns out that being a wife—even a wealthy one—is just another cage, but then a mysterious widow offers Maria a surprising escape route. In the 19th century, Charlotte is sent from her home in the English countryside to live with an aunt in London when she’s found trying to kiss her best friend. She’s despondent at the idea of marrying a man, but another mysterious widow—who has a secret connection to Maria’s widow from centuries earlier—appears and teaches Charlotte that she can be free to love whomever she chooses, if she’s brave enough. In 2019, Alice’s memories of growing up in Scotland with her mercurial older sister, Catty, pull her mind away from her first days at Harvard University. And though she doesn’t meet any mysterious widows, Alice wakes up alone after a one-night stand unable to tolerate sunlight, sporting two new fangs, and desperate to drink blood. Horrified at her transformation, she searches Boston for her hookup, who was the last person she remembers seeing before she woke up as a vampire. Schwab delicately intertwines the three storylines, which are compelling individually even before the reader knows how they will connect. Maria, Charlotte, and Alice are queer women searching for love, recognition, and wholeness, growing fangs and defying mortality in a world that would deny them their very existence. Alice’s flashbacks to Catty are particularly moving, and subtly play off themes of grief and loneliness laid out in the historical timelines.
A beautiful meditation on queer identity against a supernatural backdrop.Pub Date: June 10, 2025
ISBN: 9781250320520
Page Count: 544
Publisher: Tor
Review Posted Online: March 22, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
PERSPECTIVES
PERSPECTIVES
A thrilling, immersive tale that shows that some bargains demand more than just a crown.
A reluctant princess is thrust into deadly political intrigue in Perry’s sweeping, high-stakes romantasy.
Odessa is the overlooked and underestimated princess of Quentis, whose life takes an unexpected turn when a deal is struck between her father and the formidable Turan warriors force her into an arranged marriage with their enigmatic prince, Zavier Wolfe. Intended as a mere formality to secure trade routes and military alliances, the betrothal spirals into something far more dangerous when ancient magic, a ruthless Guardian, and a looming war threaten to upend everything she knows. Finally emerging from the shadow of her seemingly perfect half sister, Mae, Odessa must navigate court politics, monstrous creatures, and her own uncertain place in a world where survival often depends on strategy rather than strength. As tensions rise, she finds herself entangled with the dangerous, enigmatic Guardian—a man whose silver eyes hold secrets of their own. Perry’s worldbuilding is lush and immersive, crafting a kingdom rife with old magic, deadly beasts, and political machinations that add depth. The pacing is relentless, carrying Odessa from one life-altering event to another as she grapples with duty, defiance, and a destiny she never chose. Her internal conflict is compelling, torn between the expectations placed upon her and the fierce independence that threatens to make her an outcast in her own kingdom. Romance simmers as Odessa struggles to reconcile her obligations with her growing attraction to the Guardian, whose past is as shadowed as his reputation. Mae is introduced as Odessa’s political foil, and although her presence drives much of Odessa’s internal drama—being constantly overshadowed or underestimated—she’s mostly seen through Odessa’s perspective. Her motivations, ambitions, and political maneuverings might have benefited from deeper exploration to give more nuance to the power dynamics. However, Perry’s evocative prose and intricate plotting make for a gripping tale. Readers looking for a slow-burn romantasy with rich political intrigue and a protagonist forced to create her own fate will find much to enjoy.
A thrilling, immersive tale that shows that some bargains demand more than just a crown.Pub Date: May 6, 2025
ISBN: 9781649378514
Page Count: 528
Publisher: Entangled: Red Tower Books
Review Posted Online: March 26, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2025
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
© Copyright 2025 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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