A delightful story of faraway lands with an admirable protagonist at the helm.
An apprentice physician becomes a de facto spy to protect her sovereign nation in Page’s fantasy debut.
In a fantastical realm, 18-year-old Isabel Moller, apprentice to Karlsborn Castle’s royal physician, tends to the ailing monarchs. The queen’s ailments are physical, while the king suffers a “madness” that the physicians haven’t yet found a cure for. When Isabel’s close friend’s murdered body washes ashore on the Sanok Isles where she lives, the young apprentice is determined to unmask the killer. That means stepping out of her element and agreeing to act as a “guide” for soldiers from the neighboring country of Volgaard; they’re in the Sanokes on a scouting trip that they don’t fully explain. (Isabel’s true agenda is hunting down Volgaard’s reputed “terrible and deadly” weapon, whatever it is.) She cozies up to the soldiers, who include the general’s handsome son Erik, to get any particulars on this weapon. If she passes along the valuable information that Volgaard plans to attack, Isabel can ensure that the Sanokes don’t lose their independence—or something even more precious. Page’s leisurely tale comes with a generous serving of subtle humor, often in the form of contemporary-feeling dialogue and narrative details; characters offer middle-finger responses and indulge in sitcom sarcasm (“If you don’t like it, you can always, I don’t know, leave?”). The sympathetic Isabel gives the novel an emotional resonance as she displays courage while struggling with her self-worth, an insecurity that stems from her father abandoning the family years ago. While much of the story involves Isabel ingratiating herself with the soldiers, it also includes numerous instances of understated romance as well as signs of magic—one such instance gives Isabel (and readers) the opportunity to see the forested Volgaard despite the action unfolding in the treeless Sanokes. The author rounds out this epic tale with a menacing villain who gradually comes to light alongside some shocking deaths and unexpected bonds.
A delightful story of faraway lands with an admirable protagonist at the helm.Pub Date: July 16, 2024
ISBN: 4.99
Page Count: -
Publisher: Shadow Forge Publishing
Review Posted Online: June 4, 2024
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
A compelling and skillfully written end to a thrilling fantasy series.
In the final book of Corland’s dark fantasy trilogy, a ragtag band works together to liberate a colony and dethrone tyrants.
A group of spies, thieves, and murderers, united by a common goal of ending the treacherous rule of King Joon of Yusan, regroup after a bloody battle claims the life of one of their own—the banished Yusanian prince, Euyn. However, there’s little time for Mikail, Aeri, Sora, and Royo to mourn. Bounty hunters and assassins are after them, in part because they now possess three of five legendary Relics of the Dragon Lord. Mikail, who’s just found out that he’s the last surviving member of a royal family, wields the Water Scepter of Wei, while Aeri, King Joon’s daughter, holds the Sands of Tim and the Golden Ring of Khitan. The remaining relics—the Flaming Sword of Gaya and the Immortal Crown—remain with King Joon, who’s desperate to have all five to wield a great deal more power. Meanwhile, the cruel Count Seok, who once indentured Sora, has usurped the throne of Yusan. The group has two goals: overthrow the king and liberate the Yusanian colony of Gaya—Mikail’s homeland—so that it can again be a thriving, independent realm. The relics are powerful tools in combat, but using them is adversely affecting Aeri and Mikail’s health. They need allies, but trusting strangers is a dangerous gamble. Corland’s final book in her Broken Blades trilogy is a relentlessly thrilling and action-packed dark fantasy featuring memorable characters, intense battle scenes, romance, and a satisfying conclusion. Alternately narrated by Aeri, Mikail, Sora, Royo, and their long-lost friend, Tiyung, readers benefit from watching the story unfold through the perspectives of each compelling, well-drawn character. The author’s passion for the fantasy genre shines through in the novel’s richly detailed worldbuilding, including vivid descriptions of landscapes and palace layouts, as well as its exploration of magic. Readers will also delight in the sardonic humor sprinkled throughout, as when Mikahil narrates, “Rune thinks he fathered Seok’s son. Truly, the nobility of Yusan has too much time on their hands.”
A compelling and skillfully written end to a thrilling fantasy series.Pub Date: July 15, 2025
ISBN: 9781649379153
Page Count: 512
Publisher: Entangled: Red Tower Books
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2025
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A wallowing, emotionally wrenching family drama that leaves little time for romance.
Two people with bad luck in relationships find each other through a popular Reddit thread.
Emma Grant and her best friend, Maddy, are travel nurses, working at hospitals for three-month stints while they see the country. Just a few weeks before they’re set to move to Hawaii, Emma reads a popular “Am I the Asshole” Reddit thread from a Minnesota man who thinks he’s cursed—women he dates find their soulmates after breaking up with him, and the latest one found true love with his best friend! Emma has had a similar experience, which inspires her to DM the man and commiserate. She’s delighted by her witty, lively interactions with software engineer Justin Dahl, and is intrigued when he suggests that if they date each other, maybe they’ll each find their soulmate afterward. Emma upends the Hawaii plan and convinces Maddy to move to Minneapolis for the summer so she can meet Justin in person. The overly complex setup brings Emma and Justin together and the two hit it off, with Justin immediately falling head over heels for Emma. Jimenez then pivots to creating romantic roadblocks and melodramatic subplots centering on each character’s family of origin. Justin’s mother is about to serve six years in prison for embezzlement, which means Justin must move back home to care for his three much younger siblings. Emma was traumatized by her own mother for much of her childhood, left to fend for herself and eventually abandoned in the foster system. When her mother shows up in Minnesota, Emma must face her traumatic childhood and admit that she has prioritized her mother’s well-being over her own. There is little time devoted to Emma’s painful efforts to heal herself enough to accept Justin’s love, which leaves the novel feeling unsatisfying.
A wallowing, emotionally wrenching family drama that leaves little time for romance.Pub Date: April 2, 2024
ISBN: 9781538704431
Page Count: 432
Publisher: Forever
Review Posted Online: Feb. 3, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2024
SEEN & HEARD
SEEN & HEARD
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