Superlative characters garner the spotlight in this quiet but absorbing fantasy.
In Cain’s series opener, a royal arranged marriage may bring peace—unless a steadfast assassin puts a stop to it.
Princess Azmei of Tamnen sails to the city-state of Ranarr, the place where she will come face-to-face with the man she’s to marry for the first time. It’s all part of a plan to end the war between Tamnen and the land of Strid, though her union will be with the prince of Amethir. While Prince Vistaren is determined to make a good impression on his bride-to-be, he’d much prefer, if given the choice, to be coupled with a man. He sails aboard the Dawn Starwith privateer Arama Dzornaea at the helm; she’ll take the prince and the princess back to Amethir, should they both agree to wed. But that’s not the only thing happening in Ranarr, which is a bevy of activity—there’s an assassin in the mix plotting to take out Azmei and ensure that peace isn’t possible. Cain’s brisk tale is surprisingly low-key in the telling, considering that “pirate captain” Arama is prominently featured; much of what unfolds in Ranarr concerns politics, burgeoning relationships, and potential romances. Will Azmei and Vistaren feel anything for one another, or simply accept their union as an obligation? And how will Arama answer an ultimatum from General Lozarr Algot, who’s long held affection for the typically guarded captain? By contrast, the narrative perspective of the assassin, who’s meticulously formulating the princess’ demise, layers the novel with suspense (“She’d packed two daggers in a false bottom for her trunk, along with an ornate garrote that looked like jewelry. She had all the supplies she needed”). The remarkable cast only reinforces the lively setting (including the city-state’s “series of markets”); there’s merchant Orya Perslyn, who travels with and befriends Azmei; Azmei’s brother and sword-sparring partner Razem; and softhearted Lord-Captain Destar Thorne of Tamnen’s navy. Readers will surely welcome any one of these individuals back in sequels.
Superlative characters garner the spotlight in this quiet but absorbing fantasy.Pub Date: Sept. 25, 2024
ISBN: 9781944774134
Page Count: 353
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: March 5, 2025
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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
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