BOOKS | Review: Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross

Name: Divine Rivals (Letters of Enchantment #1)

Author: Rebecca Ross

Publisher: Magpie Books (Harper Collins)

Date published: April 2023

Genre: Fiction, young adult, fantasy, romance, historical

Pages: 368

Rating: 5/5

When two young rival journalists find love through a magical connection, they must face the depths of hell, in a war among gods, to seal their fate forever.

After centuries of sleep, the gods are warring again. But eighteen-year-old Iris Winnow just wants to hold her family together. Her mother is suffering from addiction and her brother is missing from the front lines. Her best bet is to win the columnist promotion at the Oath Gazette.

To combat her worries, Iris writes letters to her brother and slips them beneath her wardrobe door, where they vanish - into the hands of Roman Kitt, her cold and handsome rival at the paper. When he anonymously writes Iris back, the two of them forge a connection that will follow Iris all the way to the front lines of battle: for her brother, the fate of mankind, and love.

- From Goodreads.

This was a very dramatic and compelling story that kept me invested all the way to the end. I liked that the story took you on quite a journey and the setting was often changing and the characters had a lot of opportunity to learn and grow and change.

Roman and Iris were wonderful main characters, both had a lot of depth, a lot going on in each of their lives that pulled at your heart and made you feel for them, and you could see why they would be drawn together despite their initial rivalry and begin to have such an intense and meaningful connection that I really loved.

I thought the world was so interesting and the way it was built and all the ideas put into it were so creative. The idea of the gods fighting a war but using the humans to do it and it also being set in a time equivalent to something between World War One and Two in our world was quite clever because it brought together something so ancient and powerful as the gods but in almost a modern setting. I thought the war scenes were described very well, you could feel how terrifying it was to be in the middle of all the destruction and how heartbreaking it was to be surrounded by all the loss.

Overall, it was a really incredible book that I was really happy to have enjoyed so much. I was devastated by the ending so I will have to pick up the sequel soon to find out what happens next!

BOOKS | Review: The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer

Name: The Wishing Game

Author: Meg Shaffer

Publisher: Jo Fletcher Books

Date published: 2023

Genre: Fiction, adult, romance, contemporary, mystery, books about books

Pages: 283

Rating: 4/5

Make a wish...
Lucy Hart knows better than anyone what it’s like to grow up without parents who loved her. In a childhood marked by neglect and loneliness, Lucy found her solace in books, namely the Clock Island series by Jack Masterson. Now a twenty-six-year-old teacher’s aide, she is able to share her love of reading with bright, young students, especially seven-year-old Christopher Lamb, who was left orphaned after the tragic death of his parents. Lucy would give anything to adopt Christopher, but even the idea of becoming a family seems like an impossible dream without proper funds and stability.
But be careful what you wish for...
Just when Lucy is about to give up, Jack Masterson announces he’s finally written a new book. Even better, he’s holding a contest at his home on the real Clock Island, and Lucy is one of the four lucky contestants chosen to compete to win the one and only copy.
For Lucy, the chance of winning the most sought-after book in the world means everything to her and Christopher. But first she must contend with ruthless book collectors, wily opponents, and the distractingly handsome (and grumpy) Hugo Reese, the illustrator of the Clock Island books. Meanwhile, Jack “the Mastermind” Masterson is plotting the ultimate twist ending that could change all their lives forever.
... You might just get it.

- From Goodreads.

This story was whimsical and delightful but also able to deal with some darker and more emotional themes. Anyone sensitive to themes around childhood abuse and neglect may want to tread carefully with this book as it is a big theme. The foster system and adoption are also mentioned because of Lucy's struggle to adopt Christopher, and there is a lot of discussion in general of the terrible things children can go through. Lucy's sister is ill throughout their childhood so that is also something that is dealt with. As well as that, and this is something that does not happen to any of the main characters, and it is just mentioned in backstory as happening to a child that one of the characters knew, but there are mentions of sexual abuse and the death of a child. I thought it was all dealt with well and with sensitivity and thoughtfulness but these things can effect everyone differently so you may just need to consider your own tolerance levels to these topics when picking up this book.

I liked the concept of the book in general, the idea of the eccentric author of a fantasy series actually living on an island like the one from his books and inviting people there to take part in a game also as from his books was a lot of fun and entertaining to read. 

I really loved the romance in the book. Hugo and Lucy were really sweet together and it was lovely to see them open up to each other and understand each other. I think it would have been nice to get a little more focus on their romance towards the end, maybe a scene or two more with just the two of them, but overall I was really happy with how their story ended.

The only other thing I thought could have been improved was that some of the side characters and minor characters did not feel completely fully rounded out and like they needed a little more development to feel more like real people. They were not completely flat, I think they just needed a little more work to feel like they were not just waiting in the background until they were necessary. All of the main characters felt fully developed though, all of them were interesting and I was happy to follow their journey through the book.

Overall, while it was not perfect, I still enjoyed the book a lot, I thought it was very wholesome and had a great message to it. I might pick up another book from the author in the future if she writes a similar romance.

BOOKS | Review: Upon a Frosted Star by M.A. Kuzniar

Name: Upon a Frosted Star

Author: M.A. Kuzniar

Publisher: HQ (HarperCollins) 

Date published: September 2023

Genre: Fiction, adult, fantasy, historical, fairy tales, retellings

Pages: 384

Rating: 3/5

This review contains major spoilers.

When the snow falls, she will be free...
The invitations always arrive the same way - without warning, appearing around the city on the first snowfall of the year, simply inscribed with 'Tonight.'
When struggling artist, Forster, finds an invitation, he's bewitched by the magic of the evening, swept up in the glamour of this notorious annual party and intrigued as to who is behind them.
Determined to find out more about the mysterious host, Forster discovers an abandoned manor house silent with secrets and a cursed woman who is desparate to be free...

- From Goodreads.

Upon a Frosted Star had all the magical atmosphere, whimsical fairytale elements and beautiful descriptions that Midnight in Everwood had, but with a unique set of characters, different plot structure and new setting. I think you could enjoy this if, like me, you loved the previous book, and will find yourself swept away in a completely new story too. It will depend though on how you like sad endings as to whether you like the ending of this book. Personally they are not usually for me and I do not think this one was either, but I do not think it reflects badly on the book, it will just be a matter of personal preference. Obviously if you know the story of Swan Lake you might be able to see the way the story is going, I was just not sure after Midnight in Everwood had such a hopeful ending if this book might take a more romantic story approach rather than a tragic tale, but it did not in the end.

However, there was a brief mention of Marietta from Everwood and what happened to her after her book that made me very happy to see and I was glad we got to have that.

Other than being conflicted by the ending, I thought the rest of the book was very well written. The characters were full of life and loveable, the romance was beautiful and full of yearning and tenderness. I thought the mystery was very suspenseful and kept me intrigued to the end, so I mostly enjoyed reading the story apart from being so nervous for the characters and what was going to happen to them of course. I am just not sure I would read it again because of the ending. I still adore Midnight in Everwood though and would definitely give another book from the author a chance.

BOOKS | Review: Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands by Heather Fawcett

Name: Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands (Emily Wilde series #2)

Author: Heather Fawcett

Publisher: Orbit

Date published: January 2024

Genre: Fiction, adult, romance, historical, fantasy, fairy tales, mythology, folklore, cosy fantasy

Pages: 352

Rating: 5/5

Emily Wilde is a genius scholar of faerie folklore - she just wrote the world’s first comprehensive encylopaedia of faeries. She’s learned many of the secrets of the Hidden Folk on her adventures... and also from her fellow scholar and former rival, Wendell Bambleby.
Because Bambleby is more than infuriatingly charming. He’s an exiled faerie king on the run from his murderous mother, and in search of a door back to his realm. So despite Emily’s feelings for Bambleby, she’s not ready to accept his proposal of marriage. Loving one of the Fair Folk comes with secrets and danger.
And she also has a new project to focus on: a map of the realms of faerie. While she is preparing her research, Bambleby lands her in trouble yet again, when assassins sent by Bambleby’s mother invade Cambridge. Now Bambleby and Emily are on another adventure, this time to the picturesque Austrian Alps, where Emily believes they may find the door to Bambley’s realm, and the key to freeing him from his family’s dark plans.
But with new relationships for the prickly Emily to navigate and dangerous Folk lurking in every forest and hollow, Emily must unravel the mysterious workings of faerie doors, and of her own heart.

- From Goodreads.

I really enjoyed how this book expanded the world building that was started in the first one. We got to see more of both the mortal world and the faerie realms and there was so much detail in the descriptions and in the history and backstories, it felt very real. I loved the way the faerie realms had to be described differently to the mortal world and sometimes Emily did not even have the words for them, it really gave the sense that it was something otherworldly and almost incomprehensible to humans, too beautiful to witness.

The romance was so sweet and affectionate. I loved how clearly Wendell adored Emily and how Emily tried to be brave when taking steps in their relationship. I think they were both good for each other and helped each other grow. I loved that Emily was quite honest with herself and so her relationship with Wendell was quite open and honest too and they told each other how they were feeling. Reading them together was just very enjoyable as they could be both lighthearted and humorous and also serious and romantic and I think both sides to them were written very well.

I think it was a great sequel to the first book, the author was able to continue writing in both Emily and Wendell's voices well and I will definitely be reading the next book as I am very much looking forward to finding out what happens next on their adventures.

BOOKS | Review: Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett

Name: Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries (Emily Wilde series #1)

Author: Heather Fawcett

Publisher: Orbit

Date published: January 2023

Genre: Fiction, adult, historical, fantasy, romance, fairy tales, folklore, mythology, cosy fantasy

Pages: 315

Rating: 5/5

Cambridge professor Emily Wilde is good at many things: She is the foremost expert on the study of faeries. She is a genius scholar and a meticulous researcher who is writing the world's first encyclopaedia of faerie lore. But Emily Wilde is not good at people. She could never make small talk at a party - or even get invited to one. And she prefers the company of her books, her dog, and the Fair Folk.
So when she arrives in the hardscrabble village of Hrafnsvik, Emily has no intention of befriending the gruff townsfolk. Nor does she care to spend time with another new arrival: her dashing and insufferably handsome academic rival Wendell Bambleby, who manages to charm the townsfolk, get in the middle of Emily's research, and utterly confound and frustrate her.
But as Emily gets closer and closer to uncovering the secrets of the Hidden Ones - the most elusive of all faeries - lurking in the shadowy forest outside the town, she also finds herself on the trail of another mystery: Who is Wendell Bambleby, and what does he really want? To find the answer, she'll have to unlock the greatest mystery of all - her own heart. 

- From Goodreads.

This was such a delightful story to read, I really struggled to put it down anytime I had to stop reading. I always wanted to know what would happen next and wanted to see more of the characters.

Emily and Wendell were both so loveable. I loved how they both had their own quirks and were both a little ridiculous at times but in a way where you could not help but be fond of them. Their friendship and developing feelings for each other felt so unique and was slowly built in a perfect way. I really liked the place they ended up at by the end of the book and how, although it felt like a satisfying ending, there was still room for more growth in their relationship in the next book.

It has been quite a while since I have read a book written in journal entries and I really liked how it was done in this one. It did not feel like it restricted us from getting the full story and was used very effectively to add suspense and intrigue and the characters wrote in their own distinct voices which really added to developing their personalities and giving us a good sense of who they were. They also both wrote in quite a humorous way that made it even more entertaining to read.

I loved the way folklore, myth and fairy tales were interwoven throughout the story. It made the world feel very real, with a rich history and it was all clearly well researched, including details and elements of folklore from our world while also creating its own tales and magic.

Overall it was just a perfect story for me, so charming and full of fairytale magic, but also with some darker moments that made it feel intense and compelling. I will definitely be picking up the next book!

BOOKS | Review: The Witchwood Knot by Olivia Atwater

Name: The Witchwood Knot by Olivia Atwater (Victorian Faerie Tales series #1)

Author: Olivia Atwater

Publisher: Olivia Atwater

Date published: November 2023

Genre: Fiction, adult, romance, fantasy, historical, gothic

Pages: 328

Rating: 5/5

Victorian governess Winifred Hall knows a con when she sees one. When her bratty young charge transforms overnight into a perfectly behaved block of wood, she soon realises that the real boy has been abducted by the Fair Folk. Unfortunately, the lord of Witchwood Manor is the only man in England who doesn’t believe in faeries - which leaves Winnie in the unenviable position of rescuing the young lord-to-be all by herself.
Witchwood Manor is bigger than its inhabitants realise, however, and full of otherworldly dangers. As Winnie delves deeper into the other side of the house, she enlists the aid of its dark and dubious faerie butler, Mr Quincy, who hides several awful secrets behind his charming smile. Winnie hopes to make her way to the centre of the Witchwood Knot through wit and cleverness... but when all of her usual tricks fail, who will she dare to trust?

- From Goodreads.

I like that the author did something different to her previous books in this story. All her books feel distinct from each other in terms of plot and characters, while still having the the similar writing style and perfect romantic feelings that I love from her books.

The gothic, dark atmosphere was done perfectly. It definitely took a darker turn from her other books but worked very well for this story. All of the descriptions of the setting and all the details in the house and the way it became a whole sinister world of it's own all added to the spookier feeling of this story.

The characters were so fascinating and a joy to follow. I loved Winnie and how she slowly became more caring and protective of Robert who she had been hired to be a governess for, and how he slowly came to trust her.

I also loved the slow build of the relationship between Winnie and Mr Quincy. How they went from enemies who could not trust each other to falling in love and telling each other things they had not told anyone else was done so perfectly and written so well. I just adored every scene they were in together and he was such an intense, intriguing character.

The plot was thrilling and suspenseful, and I was intrigued the whole time to find out how Winnie would unravel the mystery and help to fix everything. I think it resolved well while also leaving enough suspense for the next book, which I will be very excited to read. I think this book solidified that Olivia Atwater is a new favourite of mine and I will definitely continue to read everything she writes.

BOOKS | Most Anticipated New Books of 2024

Here are ten of the books I am most anticipating that are releasing this year!

1. The Prisoner's Throne by Holly Black

Expected publication 5th March 2024

Elhame #5,  The Stolen Heir Duology #2

An imprisoned prince. A vengeful queen. And a battle that will determine the future of Elfhame.
Prince Oak is paying for his betrayal. Imprisoned in the icy north and bound to the will of a monstrous new queen, he must rely on charm and calculation to survive. With High King Cardan and High Queen Jude ready to use any means necessary to retrieve their stolen heir, should Oak attempt to regain the trust of the girl he's always loved, or remain loyal to Elfhame and hand over the means to end her reign - even if it means ending Wren, too...
With war looming and treachery lurking in every corner, neither Oak's guile nor his wit will be enough to keep everyone he loves alive. He will have some terrible choices to make.

- Goodreads.

I still need to read The Stolen Heir, but I am hoping to read it soon so that as soon as The Prisoner's Throne comes out I can get straight into it and find out what happens next in this series. I really loved The Folk of the Air trilogy so I have been really looking forward to finding out what happens next with the characters, it certainly seems like Holly Black has lots of dramatic reveals and plots twists in store!

2. A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandana

Expected publication 12th September 2024

Sera Swan was once one of the most powerful witches in Britain. Then she resurrected her great-aunt Jasmine from the (very recently) dead, lost most of her magic, befriended a semi-villainous talking fox, and was exiled from her magical Guild. Now she (slightly reluctantly and a bit grumpily) helps Aunt Jasmine run an inn in Lancashire, where she deals with her quirky guest’s shenanigans, tries to keep the talking fox in check, and longs for the magical future she lost.
When she learns about an old spell book that could hold the secret to restoring her power, she finds herself turning to Luke Larsen, a gorgeous and icy historian who might be the only person who can help her unlock the book’s mysteries. The fact that he also happens to be her one-night stand from years ago is totally irrelevant.
Running an inn, reclaiming lost magic, and trying not to fall in love is a lot for anyone, but Sera is about to discover that she doesn’t have to do it alone... and that the weird, wonderful family she’s made might be the best magic of all.

- Goodreads.

I absolutely adored Sangu Mandana's The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches and this sounds like it will be another wonderful cosy fantasy romance with some charming humour and loveable characters, so I am very excited for this one!

3. A Fragile Enchantment by Allison Saft

Published 4th Jauary 2024

Niamh Ó Conchobhair has never let herself long for more. The magic in her blood that lets her stitch emotions and memories into fabric is the same magic that will eventually kill her. Determined to spend the little time she has left guaranteeing a better life for her family, Niamh jumps at the chance to design the wardrobe for a royal wedding in the neighboring kingdom of Avaland.
But Avaland is far from the fairytale that she imagined. While young nobles attend candlelit balls and elegant garden parties, unrest brews amid the working class. The groom himself, Kit Carmine, is prickly, abrasive, and begrudgingly being dragged to the altar as a political pawn. But when Niamh and Kit grow closer, an unlikely friendship blossoms into something more - until an anonymous columnist starts buzzing about their chemistry, promising to leave them alone only if Niamh helps to uncover the royal family’s secrets. The rot at the heart of Avaland runs deep, but exposing it could risk a future she never let herself dream of, and a love she never thought possible. 

- Goodreads.

I enjoyed reading both Down Comes the Night and A Far Wilder Magic by Allison Saft, so I think I should enjoy this next book from her too! This one sounds like it will be another well written romance with some intriguing drama, and I am curious to see how the plot plays out.

4. A Dawn with the Wolf Knight by Elise Kova 

Expected publication 1st August 2024 

Married to Magic #5

To enter the woods as a human is death... But I am no mere human. They call me, "witch."
As one of the last surviving witches, her sole duty was to keep the protective barriers on the forests where the lykin roam - creatures who can shed flesh for fur. But when she has a magical encounter with the rare, primordial spirit of the moon, she’s taken to the magical land of Midscape and claimed by the Wolf King as his bride.
But the king’s blisteringly handsome knight who’s now her sole protector has other ideas...

- Goodreads.

I really liked the first three books in the Married to Magic series, my favourite being the first, A Deal with the Elf King, so I hope I will enjoy this next one, and the fourth one that was released last year that I still need to read, A Duet with the Siren Duke, as much as I did the first one. I think the world of this series is really interesting and I always think the concept of each book is really fun. 

5. The City of Stardust by Georgia Summers 

Expected publication 25th January 2024

Curses are made to be broken.
For centuries, generations of Everlys have seen their brightest and best disappear, taken as punishment for a crime no one remembers, for a purpose no one understands. Their tormentor is a woman named Penelope, who never ages, never grows sick - and never forgives a debt.
Ten years ago, Violet Everly's mother left, determined to break their curse, and never returned. Now Violet must find her mother, or she will be taken in her place.
To do so, she must descend into a seductive magical underworld of power-hungry scholars, fickle gods and monsters bent on revenge. She must also contend with Penelope's quiet assistant, Aleksander, who she knows cannot be trusted - and yet to whom she finds herself undeniably drawn.
Tied to a very literal deadline, Violet will travel the edges of the world to find Marianne and the key to the city of stardust, where the Everly story began...

- Goodreads.

This sounds like it will be a wonderful magical adventure, with some fascinating characters, that I think I could really enjoy, and since it is a debut I am curious to see what the author's writing style is like.

6. The Darkness within Us by Tricia Levenseller

Expected publication 25th July 2024

The Shadows Between Us #2

Chrysantha Stathos has won.
By hiding her intelligence and ambition behind the mask of a beautiful air-headed girl, she has gathered important secrets, earned her father’s constant care, and become a wealthy duchess - all by age nineteen. Now, she is only one elderly, dying duke away from having all the freedom, money, and safety she’s ever wanted.
Or so she thought.
Turns out her little sister somehow snatched the true victory away from her: Alessandra is wedding the Shadow King, the most powerful man in the world. Meanwhile, after the death of Chrysantha’s no-good, lecherous husband, a man claiming to be the duke’s estranged grandson turns up to inherit everything that should be hers.
Chrysantha is enraged. There is no way that she’s going to let some man take everything from her. Never mind that he’s extremely handsome and secretive and alluring with mysterious power... No, Chrysantha wants Eryx Demos dead, and in the end, a Stathos girl always gets what she wants.

- Goodreads.

When I originally read the first book, The Shadows Between Us, Alessandra's sister did not sound very likeable, so when this book was announced I was not sure how to feel about it and if I would enjoy a book from her perspective, but I enjoyed the first book a lot and I am curious enough to see what happens in this one and if I could like it, and just generally curious to see what Tricia Levenseller had in mind for what happens next in this world and it would be fun to see if any of the characters from the first book are included at all, even if it is just a mention.

7. Tales of the Celestial Kingdom by Sue Lynn Tan

Expected publication 1st February 2024

The Celestial Kingdom #2.5

Return to the Immortal Realm, a world of gods, magic, and legendary creatures - and embark upon new adventures of valor, danger, and love.
Tales from the Celestial Kingdom collects nine spellbinding stories - two previously published, seven original, including the epilogue to the duology - set in the enchanting world of Sue Lynn Tan’s stunning debut. Filled with magic and mythology, friendship and love, these stories intertwine through the past, present, and future of the two novels, told from the perspectives of multiple characters, including Chang’e, Shuxiao, Liwei, and Wenzhi.
With beautiful illustrations from Kelly Chong throughout, these wondrous tales make the perfect complement to Sue Lynn Tan’s breathtaking series.

- Goodreads.

The Celestial Kingdom duology was beautifully written and I really enjoyed the reading experience, so I am excited to read more stories from this world, which I think was wonderfully crafted. The first two books felt like an old myth so I think short stories from this world will be the perfect format for more stories from this series.

8. The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst

Expected publication 11th July 2024

Kiela has always had trouble dealing with people, and as librarian at the Great Library of Alyssium, she hasn’t had to.
She and her assistant, Caz, a sentient spider plant, have spent most of the last eleven years sequestered among the empire’s precious spellbooks, protecting the magic for the city’s elite. But a revolution is brewing and when the library goes up in flames, she and Caz steal whatever books they can and flee to the faraway island where she grew up. She’s hoping to lay low and figure out a way to survive before the revolution comes looking for her. To her dismay, in addition to a nosy - and very handsome - neighbor, she finds the town in disarray.
The empire with its magic spellbooks has slowly been draining power from the island, something that Kiela is indirectly responsible for, and now she’s determined to find a way to make things right. Opening up a spell shop comes with its own risks - the consequence of sharing magic with commoners is death. And as Kiela comes to make a place for herself among the quirky townspeople, she realizes that in order to make a life for herself, she must break down the walls she has kept so high.

- Goodreads.

I read and enjoyed Fire & Heist by Sarah Beth Durst some time ago and ever since then I have been wanting to pick up another book by her, and this new book seems like the perfect opportunity to! As mentioned earlier I really loved The Very Society for Irregular Witches, and this sounds like aother cosy fantasy romance with a similar feeling to that book, so I will be looking forward to giving it a try!

9. Lore Olmpus: Volume 6 by Rachel Smythe

Expected publication 7th May 2024

Lore Olympus #6

Chaos reigns in Olympus as Zeus publicly declares Persephone a traitor and issues a warrant for her arrest. But Hades defies his brother’s decree, sheltering Persephone in the Underworld - and as the pair spend more time together, they are able to speak openly about their pasts. The goddess of spring admits the truth behind the bloody secret that led to Zeus’s ire, and the king of the Underworld shares the trauma he suffered at the hands of his power-hungry father, Kronos.
But as Hades and Persephone’s relationship grows stronger, others begin to fall apart. The bond between Hades and Zeus is stretched to its limit, threatening to fracture the peace between their realms. Persephone and Artemis’s friendship hangs by a thread as the goddess of the hunt slowly uncovers the vile truth about her twin, Apollo. A line is being drawn in the heavens, putting everyone’s loyalties into question as all the gods are forced to choose sides.
And as the cracks in the foundation of the pantheon spread, something darker and more earth-shattering might soon be released...

- Goodreads.

I always have such a good time reading each volume of Lore Olympus, it always brings me such joy. Hades and Persephone and their slowly developing relationship is of course the highlight, but the other characters are so well done too, the art style is alway lovely to look at, the humour is delightful, and the plot always keeps me turning pages and wanting to find out more, so I am sure I will be picking up the next volume as soon as I have it.

10. Where the Dark Stands Still by A.B. Poranek 

Expected publication 29th February 2024

Raised in a small village near the spirit-wood, Liska Radost knows that Magic is monstrous, and its practitioners, monsters. After Liska unleashes her own powers with devastating consequences, she is caught by the demon warden of the wood - the Leszy - who offers her a bargain: one year of servitude in exchange for a wish.
Whisked away to his crumbling manor, Liska soon discovers the sinister roots of their bargain. And if she wants to survive the year and return home, she must unravel her host’s spool of secrets and face the ghosts of his past.
Those who enter the wood do not always return...

- Goodreads.

This book just sounds like it was made for me. It has been compared to so many of my favourite things, Howl's Moving Castle, Beauty and the Beast, authors like Margaret Rogerson, Brigid Kemmerer and V.E. Schwab, it would just be ridiculous if I did not read this.

So those are ten of the books I am most excited about that are releasing this year! In the comments below, let me know if you are also looking forward to any of these, and if there are any not on this list that you are eagerly anticipating!