If not entirely groundbreaking, an enjoyable and commendably bloat-free read.
In this fantasy novella, the first of a duology, an acolyte’s religious beliefs are shaken to their core—and also, the world is in danger.
Five seasons after each of her peers was chosen by a divine orisha and rose to the priesthood, Ashâke remains an acolyte, never having heard an orisha speak to her. Frustrated and resentful, Ashâke decides to force the issue by attempting to summon an orisha in a forbidden ritual that goes horribly wrong. In the aftermath, Ashâke resolves to depart from the temple and the only life she’s ever known and strike out into the world; but can she truly leave her past behind? (Answer: No.) Meanwhile, a creepy organization whose members prolong their existence by permanently taking over other people’s bodies seems close to finding something it’s long been seeking. Ashâke is a vividly drawn and sympathetic character, as is Ba Fatai, the former priest turned cranky witch doctor. Ogundiran offers some lovely worldbuilding inspired by Nigerian (specifically, Yoruban) myth and religion; one great example is the friendly traveling griots with the power to physically immerse you in their stories, leading to a unique use of magic in a pivotal scene. But he also leans on a trope familiar to readers of European-based epic fantasies: The protagonist’s obvious lack of a specific ability that their peers possess means that they are actually more special than everyone else. (Mentioning that last might seem like a spoiler, but it should be fairly obvious to the reader, even if it isn’t to Ashâke, which is also often part of the trope.) But in a typical fantasy of that type, the revelations that unfold near the end of this tightly written novella would merely be Act 1 of a doorstopper-size work that would be the start of a trilogy, at minimum. Instead, the story stops just when things are getting really interesting, which is an excellent way of whetting the reader’s appetite for the second (and concluding) novella.
If not entirely groundbreaking, an enjoyable and commendably bloat-free read.Pub Date: July 23, 2024
ISBN: 9781250907967
Page Count: 160
Publisher: Tordotcom
Review Posted Online: May 4, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2024
Although the melodrama sometimes is a bit much, the superb worldbuilding and intricate plotline make this a must-read.
Using mystery and romance elements in a nonlinear narrative, SenLinYu’s debut is a doorstopper of a fantasy that follows a woman with missing memories as she navigates through a war-torn realm in search of herself.
Helena Marino is a talented young healer living in Paladia—the “Shining City”—who has been thrust into a brutal war against an all-powerful necromancer and his army of Undying, loyal henchmen with immortal bodies, and necrothralls, reanimated automatons. When Helena is awakened from stasis, a prisoner of the necromancer’s forces, she has no idea how long she has been incarcerated—or the status of the war. She soon finds herself a personal prisoner of Kaine Ferron, the High Necromancer’s “monster” psychopath who has sadistically killed hundreds for his master. Ordered to recover Helena’s buried memories by any means necessary, the two polar opposites—Helena and Kaine, healer and killer—end up discovering much more as they begin to understand each other through shared trauma. While necromancy is an oft-trod subject in fantasy novels, the author gives it a fresh feel—in large part because of their superb worldbuilding coupled with unforgettable imagery throughout: “[The necromancer] lay reclined upon a throne of bodies. Necrothralls, contorted and twisted together, their limbs transmuted and fused into a chair, moving in synchrony, rising and falling as they breathed in tandem, squeezing and releasing around him…[He] extended his decrepit right hand, overlarge with fingers jointed like spider legs.” Another noteworthy element is the complex dynamic between Helena and Kaine. To say that these two characters shared the gamut of intense emotions would be a vast understatement. Readers will come for the fantasy and stay for the romance.
Although the melodrama sometimes is a bit much, the superb worldbuilding and intricate plotline make this a must-read.Pub Date: Sept. 23, 2025
ISBN: 9780593972700
Page Count: 1040
Publisher: Del Rey
Review Posted Online: July 17, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2025
A delightful, genre-defying debut.
Historical horror? Dark fantasy? Queer romance? All of the above!
“I was hundreds of years old before I ever met him, but that day we were both young.” While visiting his Florence offices in 2013, attorney Sebastian Grave unearths a bloodstained lambskin glove that belonged to a past lover—a man he’d met in the 18th century. Nestled within this frame narrative is a tale of desire, werewolves, and the French Revolution. In telling his story, Sebastian introduces Sarmodel, the demon with whom he shares a body, and a succubus named Livia contributes chapters in which Joan of Arc, her notorious ally Gilles de Rais, and the archangel Michael all make appearances. First-time novelist Sullivan wields the tools of multiple genres deftly, but what really makes this book special is its central character. Sebastian has powerful magic at his disposal, but he’s also human enough to fall hard for a hot young nobleman. When Sebastian goes hunting for the Beast of Gévaudan, he’s not looking for adventure. The first time, it’s because he can’t resist Antoine Avenel d’Ocerne. The second time, it’s because he dreams of a reunion with his love—even though he knows this is a hopeless wish against the advice of Sarmodel. Using Sebastian as a narrator keeps things light, in part because he has a droll, contemporary voice and in part because it makes the worldbuilding feel natural. There are footnotes, but there are no infodumps. The fact that Sebastian doesn’t know exactly what he is sets the tone for storytelling that leaves a great deal unexplained while providing enough detail to keep the reader engaged. Deploying Sarmodel as a sort of alter ego and allowing Livia to offer her own perspective on Sebastian also adds both depth and charm.
A delightful, genre-defying debut.Pub Date: Feb. 24, 2026
ISBN: 9781250362766
Page Count: 544
Publisher: Tor
Review Posted Online: Jan. 19, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2026
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