Book Review: Dark Water Daughter by H.M. Long

By Meghan Mazzaferro

Content warnings: gore, death, sexual assault, gun violence, slavery, kidnapping  

As a Stormsinger, a woman whose voice can control the weather, Mary Firth has a limited number of options: be forced into service with the military, or servitude on a pirate ship. When a notorious pirate seeks out Mary, she must side with his nemesis to protect herself and hopefully find the mother she lost years ago. Following Mary is Samuel Rosser, a broken Sooth with a connection to the Dark Water,  the magical world beneath theirs, desperate to regain his honour along with a talisman Mary stole from him. Their paths will take them across the Winter Sea and force them to confront forces more powerful than the mortals who seek to enslave them: Samuel wrestles with his growing powers, and Mary struggles to understand her connection to ghistings which are spectral creatures connected to the Dark Water and who protect the ships that sail the Winter Sea.

Why is it always so much harder to review a book that you love than one that you hate? I think it’s because it’s very hard to put inhuman screeches of love into words, but I will do my best. I’ve been a fan of H.M. Long since her debut novel, but I think this is my favourite of her books so far. Dark Water Daughter is rich, cold, fast paced, and incredibly immersive. Mary and Samuel jump off the page, the world feels real and gritty, and the magic system is one of the most unique and interesting that I’ve ever seen.

Trying to summarize this book was incredibly challenging because , even though bound copies look nice and tiny, so much happens in this story. There are feuds, warring pirates, hidden treasure, a host of magical creatures, dark magical forces, an old mystery, and more. I won’t go into too much detail because I want to avoid spoiling anything, but I will say that all these pieces come together in a way that is incredibly satisfying and gripping to read. Long’s writing is cinematic and fast-paced, she crafts flawed and realistic characters, is able to explore a multitude of dynamics and relationships in a fairly short page count, and is able to write both gripping and visceral fight scenes as well as slower character moments effortlessly.

Both Mary and Samuel are well-crafted, distinct characters who leap off the page and feel real enough to touch. They each have their own journeys and character growth throughout this book, and the connection and pull they feel towards each other had me kicking my feet with anticipation, but Long doesn’t sacrifice other character relationships in support of Mary and Samuel’s connections. The large cast of side characters all feel fleshed out and compelling, and both Mary and Samuel have a variety of interactions and relationships throughout this book that all feel equally real and authentic. Even the story’s villain, with a relatively low page count, is distinct and his goals are explained and explored, though never justified.

This story’s plot wraps up in a satisfying way while still having enough seeds hidden throughout that it’s clear there is so much more to come. This is a unique magic that I feel each of H.M. Long’s books possess, and which makes her one of my favourite fantasy writers. The fact that she can craft such immersive worlds that even without a cliffhanger you know that you have to go back, is such a testament to her skill at both character work and worldbuilding.

Okay, enough trying to be eloquent. The book is amazing, and I can’t think of a single criticism I have for it. It’s pirates in a northern setting with spirit magic, and singing to control storms,  and an old mystery, and so much more. I highly recommend it. Go read it. Right now.

Book Review: The Wild Ones by Nafiza Azad

By Meghan Mazzaferro

Content warnings: sexual violence, misogyny, rape, sexual assault, suicide, child abuse, child trafficking, toxic relationships, death of a parent

The Wild Ones is a lyrical story following a group of girls who call themselves the Wild Ones. Many years ago, Paheli, the first Wild One, was betrayed by her mother.  After escaping the man she was sold to, she met a boy with stars in his eyes who tossed her a box of stars and disappeared. The stars give Paheli access to the Between and unlock a hidden world of magic layered over her own. Paheli uses the stars to help other girls like her, and together they use the Between to travel the world and work through their traumas. When the boy with stars in his eyes reappears, the Wild Ones will need to fight to protect his freedom and their own.

This book is beautifully written, with a lyrical voice and several different points of view. The majority of the chapters are told from the collective perspective of the Wild Ones. By using we instead of I or they, this book invites the reader to become one of the Wild Ones and speaks directly to the reader about the universal dangers girls and women face. There are also chapters from Paheli’s point of view that give us insight into the mind of the first Wild One, a girl who has tasked herself with protecting as many people as she can while struggling to let any of them close, as well as pages with poetry that capture the experiences of each of the Wild Ones.

The book deals with heavy subject matter and has a plot steeped with overcoming abuse and reclaiming your body and sense of self, as well as exploring class differences and the pressures from different cultures on girls.

It is also full of magic, beautiful descriptions of different cities around the world, and a sisterhood of girls who protect and provide for each other. The story moves slowly, but the lyrical and unique writing style is really beautiful and helped keep me engaged. I did find the magic system a bit confusing, and this was not a book I could read super quickly, but every time I picked it up, I connected with the story again and was very emotionally invested in the characters and their journey.

The relationship between Paheli and Taraana, the boy with stars in his eyes, is particularly compelling and complex. I also loved the relationships between the Wild Ones,  the ways they support each other, and the ways they connect with Taraana. The book doesn’t shy away from the traumas each of these girls has experienced, but it also puts power back in their hands and shows them embracing safety, comfort, and community as they walk together through cities they know and love, eat and laugh together, and keep each other safe when threats emerge.

The plot of the book is interesting but definitely takes a backseat to the atmosphere and character work that happens in this story. I did enjoy the plot, but the main reason I picked the book up every day was because of the characters and the writing style, which I found to be impactful.

If you’re a fan of lyrical and uniquely written, character-driven, feminist stories that examine trauma and are full of girls who embrace their wildness and are willing to fight for their freedom, I would suggest checking this one out. It’s slow, but very impactful and vastly different from anything else I’ve ever read.

Thank you, Simon and Schuster Canada, for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: VenCo by Cherie Dimaline

By Larissa Page

Cherie Dimaline has made a name for herself writing gritty, genre-bending stories, from the dystopian world in The Marrow Thieves and Hunting by Stars to the modern retelling of traditional Métis story in Empire of Wild. With VenCo, Dimaline tries her hand at something a little different than before: witches.

A coven must be formed, using enchanted spoons found by women who become members. Time is not on their side and an ancient enemy is at their door. When Lucky St. James finds a spoon in a very odd place, she gets pulled into a different world, and has days to complete an important task. She, with the support of the rest of the coven, must find the final witch to complete the circle.

There is no doubt that Cherie Dimaline is a skilled storyteller. Her writing is engaging and accessible, and her characters are both damaged and loveable. The relationships she writes are what kept me going through this book. Lucky and Stella are stars, Meena and Wendy are heart, and the rest of the coven is so important, too. I do wish I had gotten more from the rest of the coven. While we are given peeks into the lives of Freya, Morticia, and Lettie from before they found their spoons, I wanted more. I wanted more of their histories, but I wanted more of them from their place within the coven as well. I felt particularly drawn into the story of Lettie, only to be left wanting to know her better.

I did feel the world of magic in this story was underexplored. I found it so interesting that I wanted more details. I will be happy to have those details in another book (like a sequel, or even more stories on each of the characters), but I felt left wanting to know what each character’s magic did and how it worked. What is this coven, once formed, meant to accomplish in more concrete terms? I also wanted to have a better understanding of VenCo or perhaps other covens from around the world. The world of magic Dimaline has created is potentially very interesting and intricate and I want to know more about it, especially with the secondary levels of magic that support witches.

This story features road trip-style adventure, a really solid grandmother-granddaughter relationship, solid smash-the-patriarchy themes, and a new world of magic to be introduced to. For lovers of witchy reads, this one does provide, with room to speculate. You’ll love it in particular if you love feisty, unconventional, no-nonsense grandmothers.

Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: Delicious Monsters by Liselle Sambury

By Meghan Mazzaferro

Content warning: body horror, death, child death, sexual assault (off page), childhood sexual assault (off page), child abuse, emotional abuse, animal death, torture

Delicious Monsters by Liselle Sambury follows two Black girls separated by ten years as they try to discover the secrets of a dark house in Northern Canada. Daisy has always felt trapped by her mother and her life, so when they finally get the chance for stability in the form of a house given to them by a mysterious relative, Daisy hopes this can mean a fresh start for her mother and a chance at freedom for herself. But there is something wrong with the house, something connected to the ghosts Daisy has seen her whole life, and to the past her mother has kept secret from her.

Ten years later, Brittney is desperate to bring justice to forgotten Black girls, starting with the girl who died in the house. She will stop at nothing to unravel Daisy’s story, even as the things she uncovers connect painfully to her own past and relationship with her own mother.

While I like a good paranormal story as much as the next person, I am an absolute coward and not great at horror or psychological thrillers. When I read the concept of this book I was intrigued but scared to read something outside of my comfort zone, but I am so glad I pushed myself because once I started this book it was impossible to put down. This book has so many secrets, so many twists and turns and people hiding things, and I absolutely had to get to the bottom of it.

The writing style is tense and eerie, and the plot unfolds slowly while revealing just enough in each chapter to make the reader uneasy and desperate for more crumbs of information. The balance of paranormal happenings with psychological and real-world threats was really well done, and the way the story explored the dangers of both supernatural and human evil was riveting.

Both Daisy and Brittney are wonderful characters, flawed and complex and scarred from their respective pasts and traumas, and they both feel so real and grounded. Daisy makes a lot of mistakes, but you never question why. Her actions all make sense, and as the story begins to escalate it becomes clear that she has no good options, which is so frustrating to read in the very best way. Brittney is sometimes abrasive, harsh, or untrusting, and she feels so deeply for the story she is trying to uncover. Both these girls were absolutely fantastic to follow, and I loved the way the story wove their two narratives together.

This book does deal with a lot of heavy subject matter, and I highly recommend checking content warnings before reading. My copy of the book included an author’s note from Sambury that details the subject matter, which is thorough and which I really appreciated before diving into this story. Yes, it’s heavy. It is dark and twisting and deals with layers of abuse and trauma. But it also explores hope, and coming out the other side of that trauma, which I found very powerful.

Lastly, I will say that it never fails to bring me joy to read a book set in Canada. Seeing my home town mentioned put a smile on my face, and I adored the references to Tim Hortons and all-dressed chips, and Thunder Bay gets mentioned!

This book is absolutely incredible, and while I do think it’s best to go into it informed, I highly recommend checking out this story if you’re interested in ghosts, cursed houses, generational trauma, or the complicated relationships between mothers and daughters. I could not put this book down, and I cannot wait to see what Sambury writes next.

Thank you to Simon and Schuster for providing a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: Spice Road by Maiya Ibrahim

By Meghan Mazzaferro

Content warning: colonization, animal death, violence, grief, torture, war, threat of sexual assault, addiction, death

Spice Road by Maiya Ibrahim is a YA fantasy novel following Imani, a Shield in the thriving, hidden desert city of Qalia. Her people were chosen by the gods to protect the world from monsters in exchange for misra, a spice that, when consumed as tea, gives the Shields magical affinities. Imani’s family is one of the most prestigious in Qalia, but a year ago her brother disgraced her family and disappeared. Now there is news that her brother may be alive and fighting in the kingdoms outside of Qalia. Imani will do whatever it takes to save him, including allying herself with a boy she hates, and a djinn she cannot trust.

Spice Road had a really interesting premise and magic system. I found the idea compelling, and the further I got into the book, the more the complexities of the plot spoke to me. This book is all about colonization and the ways in which people could overcome social divides in order to help each other, and the second half of the book explored those well. 

Unfortunately, the first half of the book was really difficult for me to get through. I struggled with the writing style that is very flowery with overused metaphors, which made it hard for me to get into the story. I also found the beginning rather jarring, which led to some difficulties later in the book. A major part of the plot is the supposed and real differences between Qalia and Alqibah, the outside world, but because Qalia isn’t described in any great detail, the full emotional impact of those differences doesn’t have the same weight it could have had. That being said, I did find the descriptions of Alqibah and the struggles of its people to be really powerful and impactful.

Likewise, Imani’s relationship with her family, particularly her brother, is told to the reader rather than shown. While the latter half of the book does a good job of exploring Imani’s relationship with her sister, who, in my opinion, is the most fleshed-out and interesting character, the bond Imani feels towards her brother felt shallow. Imani’s love for her brother is the driving force of this book and leads Imani’s growth and character development, and that falling flat took away from the impact of the rest of the story for me. We see all the characters through Imani’s eyes in this book, and while I appreciate that the story shows her as an unreliable narrator, we still get the story through her lens and that took away from my ability to connect to any of the other characters in this book.

Imani’s own character development also falls a bit flat; we didn’t learn enough about why she was who she was at the beginning of the story, so the changes she experiences towards the end don’t have the impact they could have. I think this is my biggest issue with this story. Aside from the writing style being a bit overwritten for my tastes, the beginning of the story doesn’t explore the most important things to this plot, particularly the settings and character dynamics that drive the rest of the story. While the second half of the book is much more interesting and deals with some complex and emotional themes, this book lacks the foundations it needed to really give those things the full impact they could have had.

Overall, this book fell flat for me. I do think the story is heading in a promising direction, I found the second half of the book much more interesting and entertaining to read, and I enjoyed what the book was trying to do, but the writing style and weakness of the first half impacted my reading experience.

Thank you, Penguin Random House Canada, for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty

By Robyn Rossit

Shannon Chakraborty has been on my list of authors I need to check out, as an avid fantasy reader, for quite some time. When I got the opportunity to review her latest, The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi, to say I was excited would be an understatement. Amina al-Sirafi, after an exciting career as one of the most notorious pirates of the Indian Sea, has retired to live a peaceful life with her young daughter and family. However, when she is tracked down and blackmailed out her out of retirement to track down a wealthy woman’s kidnapped granddaughter, she can’t refuse the money that would give Amina’s family extra financial comfort. However, very quickly she discovers there is a lot more to the girl’s disappearance than a simple kidnapping.

My imagination was immediately captured by the narration style. The story is told as if Amina is telling her life story to a chronicler, which is one of my favourite ways of storytelling. The setting was also so vivid, and I felt like I was truly out to sea with Amina and her crew.

The characters were so interesting. Of course, I immediately loved Amina—a fierce, older female character. She is unapologetic about her life choices and does things on her own terms. The side characters were all fascinating as well. Amina’s crew is diverse both in ethnic backgrounds and faiths. The way they all got along and respected each other was beautiful. Dalila, the Mistress of Potions, was certainly a favourite and constantly had me chuckling with her explosive reputation. Needless to say, the found family trope was very much present, and I loved every moment of it.

There were some very interesting themes present in the story. One of the most important ones was self-discovery and defying societal and gender norms. Chakraborty explores this serious topic in a lighthearted and easy-to-digest way. Amina is a mother, but also an adventurer who does not care about what people expect of her. She is not willing to confine herself to what society expects.

The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi was action-packed, very much unputdownable, and an instant favourite. It was the historical fantasy with pirates that I didn’t know I needed in my life. I absolutely cannot wait to see where her story goes next, but in the meantime, I will be eagerly picking up Shannon Chakraborty’s backlist.

Thank you, HarperCollins Canada, for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

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

By Meghan Mazzaferro

Content warning: injury, injury detail, blood, self-harm, animal death, confinement, violence, kidnapping, psychological torture

Emily Wilde’s novel Encyclopaedia of Faeries is about a Cambridge professor and dryadologist’s first-hand account of her experiences studying a rare and elusive group of northern faeries while compiling the first complete encyclopedia of faeries. Unfortunately, the Hidden Ones, fae made of ice and cold that live in the north, are considered little more than myth, and Emily’s attempts to complete her research in a small northern town are complicated by struggles with the locals and a meddlesome fellow scholar. This story is told through Emily’s field notes as she recounts her experiences getting to know the northern locals, her encounters with several species of northern fae,  her attempts at managing her meddlesome Cambridge colleague, Wendell Bambleby, and her own nagging desire to learn more about the mysterious faeries of the north.

Emily is a delightful character to follow; she’s blunt, harsh, and prefers books and research to people, and I really enjoyed being in her mind throughout this story. Bambleby acts as her perfect opposite, ridiculous, extravagant and affectionate, and the two of them make an excellent pair. I adored the way their relationship developed and how their personalities contrasted. All the side characters were also interesting and fleshed out, which could have been challenging with the story being told from Emily’s perspective, but Fawcett handled it expertly. The small northern town felt grounded and real, and I was invested in the people and their struggles, while also feeling a strong connection to Emily. This book, and our narrator, don’t shy away from the fact that Emily’s main motivation is academia. Most of her actions are motivated by her fascination with the fae, but Fawcett also does an excellent job of showing Emily’s concern for the locals of the area without Emily herself realizing just how involved she’s gotten in the lives of her research subjects. I admire how Fawcett captured the complexity of Emily’s character (and I also loved how Bambleby was there, seeing that complexity in her all along. He was delightful and melodramatic and fully reflected my love for Emily while reading).

I also adored the way the fae were presented in this book and seeing them through Emily’s eyes was captivating. Emily is a woman who is fascinated by faeries, and she depicts them in all their complexity and unpredictability. Some fae were helpful and generous, while others were ruthless and cruel, and even those who were friends followed a logic that humans can’t always understand. I really enjoyed how the fae were connected to stories and found the whole fae aspect of the story fascinating and delightful to read. The pacing of this book is slower, but that suited the field guide style and allowed a short read to feel full and complex, alluding to a much wider field of faerie studies that I wish existed.

I am a huge lover of the “memoir/research notes of a scientist studying a magical phenomenon” fantasy subgenre, so this book was perfect for me. The exploration of northern faeries was fascinating, the villagers were wonderful, and Emily and Bambleby were an absolute delight to read about. If you’re a fan of A Natural History of Dragons, or want to read a narrative book with the same spirit as the field guide in The Spiderwick Chronicles, I would definitely recommend checking this book out.

Book Review: Temple of No God by H.M. Long

By Meghan Mazzaferro

Content warning: murder, violence, gore, child death, rape

Temple of No God is the second novel in H. M. Long’s Hall of Smoke series of standalone fantasy books, and follows Hessa, now a High Priestess of the god of the north. After bringing tentative peace to the north, Hessa discovers a new god in the south with a frightening power, and she is recruited to back one of the three heirs vying to unite the Arpa empire. While marching her army south, Hessa must navigate the rising threat of the Arpa empire and shifting loyalties within her own camp, all while journeying to unlock a buried magic that will bring the new Emperor unimaginable power. But even Hessa herself does not know what she will do once she reaches the heart of the empire: crown a new emperor, or destroy Arpa from within its heart.

Hall of Smoke is a fantastic novel, and I was curious to see how a sequel following the same main character and set in the main world, but which could be read as a standalone, would play out. While I definitely recommend reading Hall of Smoke first, I do appreciate how Temple of No God can be read on its own. This book has its own worldbuilding and explains enough of the events of book one for a new reader to understand what’s happening, while also crafting a new plot unrelated to the first one.

Hessa is an incredibly complex and compelling character, and I enjoyed following her in this story. She is a fierce barbarian queen while also being a wise priestess, and I enjoyed the way Long balances Hessa’s status as a legend in her world, grounded in several fight scenes where we get to see how Hessa has earned her reputation, and with a deeper look into the character’s psyche, wants, and insecurities. I found her magic in this book really interesting, and I loved the way the fight scenes were written. These books have cinematic action scenes; they’re intense and visceral, and absolutely suck you into the story. They’re also an interesting tool to develop the characters, particularly Hessa—she is a warrior priestess with the power of the gods in her veins, but she is also mortal, and watching her fight in different settings demonstrates both her powers and her limitations in an interesting way.

Most of the other characters are also well developed, and I particularly liked Uspa, an outcast Eangen whom Hessa takes under her wing and who worms her way into Hessa’s affections. The only character I wish I knew more about is Imnir, Hessa’s estranged husband. He is crucial to the plot and to Hessa’s character, but I found him difficult to connect to and a bit underdeveloped. That being said, I thoroughly enjoyed the characters in this book, and it was through them that I got invested in the plot.

This story has a new setting, and I enjoyed the journey through the Arpa empire. I could visualize the scenes and felt immersed in the world. I also found the plot interesting, and the new god, their priests, and dark magic were frightening and intense. I enjoyed the mystery and background scheming, and while I do feel like the mystery progressed a bit slowly and the reveals were a little rushed, the novel was still well paced, and I was invested the entire time. I found the climax really interesting, and it had me on the edge of my seat. Long does an excellent job of developing the power and skill imbalances between mortal and immortal warriors, and that imbalance and Hessa’s disadvantage were particularly interesting in the final battle.

Overall, while it didn’t quite captivate me as much as Hall of Smoke did, I found the story really enjoyable and intense, and I would definitely recommend it if you’re a fan of Viking-inspired fantasy and intense, standalone stories.

Book Review: The Cat Who Saved Books by Sosuke Natsukawa

By Carmen Lebar

The Cat Who Saved Books by Sosuke Natsukawa is a wholesome tale about Rintaro and his grandfather’s bookshop. When Rintaro’s grandfather dies, he is left with his grandfather's bookshop, which he will eventually have to leave to go live with his aunt. Unexpectedly, Rintaro is visited by an orange tabby cat who needs his help to free books from various perils. The two, plus classmate Sayo, go on a bookish adventure that teaches them the importance of books in one’s life. I enjoyed Rintaro’s story and think it’s a simple yet effective novel that explores the theme of grief.

What I enjoyed most about this novel was how the journey Rintaro takes ultimately leads him to deal with his grandfather’s passing. At the beginning of the novel, we see Rintaro isolate himself from those he cares about, and from his classmates. An unnamed tabby cat convinces Rintaro to go on a journey to save books through a portal at the back of the bookshop. Once he begins his journey entering the various labyrinths and meeting unexpected people, he starts to build his confidence. It was heartwarming to see Rintaro regain his footing in life and find ways to honour the life of his grandfather. Although the novel centres around a lot of bookish tropes, the underlying story of grief and closure was very touching, and a joy to read. 

There is only one critique I have with this novel, and it is with how the book was marketed. It’s marketed for an adult audience, but I feel like it is best suited for a younger audience. That is not to say that adults can’t enjoy this novel—I did. Rintaro is in high school, dealing with his grandfather's passing, questions about his future, and also figuring out his own identity. These are dilemmas that affect many people Rintaro’s age, which I think would make it a great book for a younger audience. It’s a perfect novel to present to someone younger if they’re dealing with the loss of a loved one or going through a difficult time while in school. Although there is a lot of youthfulness to this book, the overall themes in this story made me realize how important books are—regardless of age. It is a journey not just through books, but through identity and the processing of grief.

The Cat Who Saved Books is a wonderful book for a cozy time, snuggled up in bed, and sipping some hot tea. If you like books about books, this should be your next read. It’s also a great short book for a buddy read or book club. It’s short but will surely have people talking. It’s also a great read for anyone who has lost a loved one and needs a cozy read that may help them to see the positive in life again. Funny, heartwarming, and perfectly bookish, The Cat Who Saved Books is a fun adventure novel that you can get lost in.

Thank you to HarperCollins Canada for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: Wrath Goddess Sing by Maya Deane

By Shantell Powell

Content warning: homophobic slurs, misogyny, slavery, racism

Wrath Goddess Sing is the debut novel of Maya Deane, a graduate of the Rutgers-Camden MFA program in creative writing and has been a fan of The Iliad since she was six years old. Wrath Goddess Sing is a retelling of the story of the Trojan War from the perspective of Achilles as a trans woman.

I was looking forward to reading this novel. As a Classics graduate, I have long been fascinated by Greek mythology. When I learned this novel depicts Achilles as trans, I was sold. This interpretation has bones. I can easily see how the story can be viewed in this way, and I was excited to read the tale of Achilles as written by a trans woman. That being said, I unjustifiably presumed this rendition would be retold in a similar vein to Madeline Miller’s The Song of Achilles, which takes a more capital-L literary approach to the story. Instead, Wrath Goddess Sing reads more like an adventure story with a plucky, female protagonist who is overflowing with sass. Okay. I can dig it.

However, the story threw me a few stumbling blocks. The biggest problem I have with it is the rampant homophobia in the setting. This is orthogonal to my understanding of ancient Greek culture. Ancient Greece is notable for being queer as all get-out, with queer relationships considered par for the course. Same-sex relationships were not at all unusual and were frequently encouraged within the military based on improving morale. The Olympian gods and heroes had same-sex relationships, too, with such examples as Zeus/Ganymede, Herakles/Hylas, and Achilles/Patroclus.

In the alternate history of Wrath Goddess Sing, homophobia and gay bashing are rampant. I have a much easier time seeing Achilles looked down upon for presenting as female than I do for presenting as a gay or bisexual man. It seems strange to me that the character of Achilles is derided more for being gay than for being a woman. Generally speaking, women had a much rougher go of it in ancient Greece than homosexual/bisexual citizens.

A lot of liberties are also taken with other relationships of Achilles. His parentage is changed, and so is his relationship with Agamemnon. I found the sexual relationship between Achilles and Agamemnon to be bizarre. In The Iliad, Agamemnon is jealous of Achilles and treats Achilles abhorrently. In Wrath Goddess Sing, Achilles swims through a storm to seduce Agamemnon on his ship. Perhaps this was done in the book to show Achilles’ dominance over the king. But then Achilles swims back to her own ship to take care of her chariot horses.

The clincher that made me unhappy with this book was when Achilles’ horses were seasick and had vomited everywhere. Horses cannot vomit. I dearly wish an editor had caught this. This was the final straw for me, and I found myself unable to finish reading the book.

If alternate history/zoology/mythology appeals to you, and if you like sassy, girl-boss protagonists in a swords-and-sandals setting, this may be the book for you. It was not the book for me.

Thank you, HarperCollins, for a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman

By Shantell Powell

Content warning: blasphemy

Good Omens is a satire about the biblical end of days as told by legendary authors Neil Gaiman and the late Terry Pratchett. It has been a cult classic since 1990, and now that it has been released as a live-action fantasy comedy series on Amazon Prime, it has gained even more popularity. Neil Gaiman is the award-winning author of The Sandman, American Gods, and Neverwhere. Terry Pratchett is best known for his Discworld series of fantasy novels. I cannot tell who wrote what in Good Omens. The transitions are seamless.

I have owned many different editions of Good Omens over the years, yet, I only have one copy left. This isn’t because I chose to offload some, but because the books were lent to people and were never returned. I think it says something about the quality of the book that it gets perma-borrowed so frequently. I know that I am not the only fan of the book who has this problem. People just can’t stop stealing Good Omens, and Terry Pratchett’s books were considered the most shoplifted in Great Britain.

I hadn’t read the book in a couple of years, so this time around, I decided to go with the full-cast audiobook produced by HarperAudio. This was my first time experiencing it as an audiobook. I wasn’t sure how this would translate since the text version of the book contains a multitude of footnotes, but I needn’t have worried because it works beautifully. There are fifteen different actors for this audiobook, and the cast includes the same actors as the film adaptation. The actors do a phenomenal job bringing the characters to life. With such a large, talented cast, this feels more like a radio play than it does an audiobook and is a master class in voice acting. I found myself just as engaged listening to it as I was reading the text version or watching the show. Good Omens is one of those rare gems where the film adaptation is just as good as the text version.

Good Omens contains biting social commentary about pressing issues such as climate change, pollution, war, capitalism, mutually assured destruction, and grid-locked traffic jams. It also delves into religious history, witch burnings, and misogyny, miraculously transforming these heavy topics into a literary confection as sweet and light as meringue. The book makes use of a wide cast of characters including angels, demons, witch hunters, a sex worker, children, insurance brokers, and the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Their interactions with one another make me laugh aloud.

If you are a fan of Monty Python, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, and stories about the antichrist, this is the book for you. If you are appalled by blasphemous takes on Christianity, stay far, far away.

Book Review: The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna

By Meghan Mazzaferro

Content warning: xenophobia, abandonment, child neglect and abuse, homophobia, death, death of a parent, racism

In The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, it is the curse of every witch to be orphaned young and to live in isolation for most of her life. Mika Moon knows the Rules, and though she lives by them, she craves a community and posts videos online “pretending” to be a real witch. These videos attract the attention of an eclectic group seeking a magic teacher, leading Mika to discover a tight-knit family harbouring three young witches. With an impending deadline putting their little family at risk, the group of caretakers at Nowhere House beg Mika to teach the girls to control their magic, and though Mika knows it breaks all the Rules, she agrees to stay. For a girl whose life has been spent isolated and on the move, Nowhere House may be just what Mika needs—if she’s willing to open herself up to it.

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches is a romance, but it is also a deeply moving story about family, choosing your community, and letting go of the traumas of your past to build a better future for yourself and your loved ones. This book feels like a warm hug, and from the moment you open the book to when you read the last line, there is a feeling of comfort and peace.

I absolutely loved the writing style of this book. While it has a more modern voice, the humour and narration style reminded me of The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels by India Holton, which is excellent because that style of writing really brings me into the story and makes me immediately invested. Each of our main cast of characters was vibrant and unique and wonderful to read about, and their little quirks and habits had me smiling and seeing them in my head as I read. I, for one, would love to join the wonderful family at Nowhere House.

I found the plot of this book really interesting, and the pacing well executed. The book did a great job of explaining the magic system organically while still leaving a feeling of whimsy and, dare I say, magic to the whole thing. Mika’s journey as both a teacher, and as a member of Nowhere House, felt organic and smooth. Likewise, her relationship with Jamie, the grumpy librarian, was very well done. I know we all love the grumpy/sunshine trope, but it can be hard to execute well, and I feel like Sangu Mandanna nailed it.

The stakes of this book felt appropriately high, and I enjoyed the way the book balanced the heartwarming found-family moments with the fears the characters faced at the thought of the girls’ witchcraft being discovered, and at the threat of their family falling apart. This book balanced a very valid justification of why witches must remain isolated with the proof that they may not always have to, and that was excellent to read. Mika’s exploration of what a witch should be, and what type of community she is allowed to find for herself, was really compelling and powerful, and the plot of this book helps that discovery progress in a really natural and impactful way.

This book is absolute perfection. I don’t mean to oversell it, but literally my only criticism is that this book was published in August when it has perfect winter vibes—but also, I could not have waited another second to read it, and neither should you.

Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: Half Sick of Shadows by Laura Sebastian

By Kaylie Seed

Laura Sebastian’s debut adult novel, Half Sick of Shadows, is based on an Arthurian Legend where the Lady of Shalott, Elaine, reclaims her story. Elaine is cursed with knowing what the future holds and when the future comes for Elaine, Guinevere, Lancelot, and Morgana, they join Arthur as he takes the throne in Camelot.

Readers who are big on Arthurian legend will notice that there are some blurred lines when it comes to historical accuracy and authenticity. That being said, the author is subject to their own creative flare, so those readers who may be looking for historical accuracy and authenticity may want to be aware that it’s not always the case with this one. Sebastian has managed to take characters who have already been fleshed out in the original stories and through other retellings and manages to still keep them new and exciting to readers who are both familiar and unfamiliar with the original story.

Half Sick of Shadows begins in the middle of a story that is already happening, and when a book begins in the middle of a story rather than having a formal opening, it can be hard for readers to place what is going on for a couple of chapters. A non-linear timeline can be effective but when flashbacks, visions of the future, and events from the present day are all in the same chapter, it can become disjointed and difficult to follow. Readers may find themselves having to reread sections to be sure that they are following along with the plot. While the follow-through for Half Sick of Shadows may not be strong, readers will enjoy getting to know the different characters that Sebastian brings to life in her reimagining of this tale. Readers who enjoy Arthurian legend and fantasy alike will want to pick this one up.

Thank you, Penguin Random House Canada, for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: A Natural History of Dragons by Marie Brennan

By Meghan Mazzaferro

Content warnings: death, animal death, miscarriage, sexism, grief, animal cruelty, animal attacks kidnapping

We have all, of course, heard of Lady Trent, the world’s leading dragon naturalist. But while Lady Trent’s discoveries have been widely published and have shaped our understanding of dragon anatomy and behaviour, she has never gone into detail about her expeditions—until now. For the first time, Lady Trent is compiling all of her experiences into a series of novels, beginning with her childhood and detailing her various adventures (and misadventures) on her mission to learn everything possible about one of this world’s most mysterious creatures.

A Natural History of Dragons is written like a memoir and is told by Lady Trent, an elderly dragon naturalist revisiting the moments in her life that led her to the top of her field. This book explores the young Isabella’s first experiences with dragons and her first expedition to study the creatures for herself. This story balances the whimsy of dragons with a scientist’s eye for detail, exploring dragons not as magical creatures but as animals with all the beauty and terror that comes from studying a wild animal with wings and unusual breath. If you’re a fan of How to Train Your Dragon and are looking for a story with a strong young woman fighting for her passions and studying dragons in all their glory, this book is definitely for you!

The book has a slower pace. It truly reads like a memoir, but Lady Trent has a very distinctive voice, and the balance between young Isabella’s passions and the elderly Lady Trent’s asides and comments on her own actions and the actions of the people around her makes sure that even while the story takes its time, you’ll always be entertained. The pacing might be slow, but it’s also consistent. There is always something happening, whether Isabella is scheming to dissect a tiny dragon or the team is trying to discover a dragon’s nest or a complex conspiracy is being revealed. The plot itself is interesting, mostly following Isabella’s obsession with dragons and the lengths she will go to get to study them. The second half of the book really shines as we begin to see how Isabella will thrive as a dragon naturalist in the future.

I went into this book looking for a story with multiple different dragon species and a person studying them (I wasn’t lying when I said this book has How to Train Your Dragon vibes!), and I really loved Isabella and all the characters’ fascination with dragons as animals to be studied. The book balanced the marvel of dragons as these fantastical creatures with Isabella’s need to understand them from a naturalist perspective, and I enjoyed reading about her experiments and discoveries. I also enjoyed the time period of this book; while the story is set in a fantasy world, it seems to mirror our world around the industrial revolution, and I really liked the story’s exploration of science, the ways in which it was lacking, the technology of the period, and its limitations, and more. And of course, this story explores the sexism and prejudices of the period, and while Lady Trent is still quite young when this story ends, I can’t wait to see her blow away all the men who will underestimate her because of her sex!

This book is only the first in a five-book series, and I, for one, am absolutely obsessed. This book filled a need I never knew I had, and I am so excited to jump back into this world and reconnect with Isabella in the next installment. If you’re intrigued by this premise, don’t worry—it’s a completed series, and all five books are out now for you to read!

Book Review: Wildwood Whispers by Willa Reece

By Hayley Platt

Wildwood Whispers by Willa Reece is the author’s adult fantasy debut novel. Her previous works are published under the name Barbara J. Hancock and span many genres including romance and fantasy. 

Wildwood Whispers is the story of Mel Smith, a young woman who grew up in the foster care system. She has one close friend, Sarah Ross, whom she met in one of the homes and stuck with until both were in their twenties. After Sarah’s sudden death, Mel is determined to return Sarah to her home town and is quickly drawn into the quirky and magical town of Morgan’s Gap, nestled in the Appalachian Mountains.

Coming in at just under 400 pages, this felt like a longer book that was on the slow side. The first part of the book is very heavy in description of people and scenery, which will appeal to many readers, but others will appreciate the uptick in the plot in the last third of the story. This book is definitely recommended to people who love to read about the woods and love to visualize the setting of a story as they move through the pages.

This was a true genre-spanning novel; parts of it were fantasy, romance, and mystery all rolled into one storyline. Overall, this mixing of genres was done well, but some aspects (the romance parts in particular) were very minor and could have either been embellished more or taken out and the story would have had the same effect. 

There are a lot of characters who help pull the story together, many with minor roles. At the beginning it is difficult to keep them straight but as the story begins to pick up it becomes easier to keep track of who you need to keep track of.

One consistent topic in this book is the need to protect the environment and our connection with nature. Many readers will be able to relate to the storyline because of this aspect alone.

This book is recommended to readers who love magical realism and books covering multiple genres at a time. This would be a great book for a book club or discussion group, since every person who reads it will pick up on different aspects and come away with their own conclusions about Sarah and Mel’s story.

Thank you so much to Hachette Book Group Canada for the complimentary copy of Wildwood Whispers so that it could be impartially reviewed.

Book Review: A Cruel and Fated Light by Ashley Shuttleworth

By Meghan Mazzaferro

Content warning: blood/gore, depression, off-page suicide, on-page suicide, racism, violence, emotional abuse, physical abuse, self-harm (*Note, an extensive content warning is provided with an author’s note at the beginning of the book, please read before starting the book.)

A Cruel and Fated Light is the second book in the Hollow Star Saga by Ashley Shuttleworth. Picking up where the first book left off, we follow our characters as they deal with the consequences of their confrontation with the ironborn murderer. Nausicaa strikes a deal with the High King that will allow Arlo to study alchemy, but in exchange, Arlo is thrust into the Fae Summer Court right at a time when the Summer Queen seems poised to make a play for the throne. Each of our characters must plot and scheme, learning what they can about their magic, the dark plot that surrounds them, and who, if anyone, can be trusted. A vague summary? Perhaps. But to avoid spoiling book one, that’s all you’ll get from me.

I was a huge fan of A Dark and Hollow Star (a full review is available here). I found it a fun and immersive YA urban fantasy that handled darker themes beautifully, and I was incredibly excited to read a story featuring almost every supernatural creature set in Toronto. While I did have a few critiques of the book, I thought it was a unique and promising start to what I hoped to be an awesome series. Now book two is finally out, and I was not disappointed. While the majority of A Cruel and Fated Light is set in Nevada, not Toronto, the book gave me everything else I wanted—dynamic and dimensional main characters, multiple queer romances, incredibly complex court politics and schemes, untrustworthy fae, and more. This book takes the seeds planted in book one, and while it doesn’t give us all the answers, it pulls us deeper into the complicated politics of the mortal and immortal worlds and the young people that are unwilling pawns in it all.

I found each of the core five characters in this book super interesting and easy to root for. Shuttleworth takes the time to explore each character’s thoughts and motivations, and while I don’t agree with each action characters take in this book, I understand why they each do what they do. Arlo and Nausicaa’s relationship in this book is incredibly sweet and funny while diving deeper into each character’s traumas and fears. Aurelian and Vehan dance around each other and each struggle with their feelings and their roles in their respective worlds, and Celadon is a welcome addition to our cast of main characters, playing a surprising and shockingly poignant role in the story. Riadne makes an excellent antagonist, equal parts untrustworthy, unsympathetic, and yet excellently fleshed out and deliciously villainous. There are no one-dimensional villains in this story, and for that, I must applaud Shuttleworth.

In fact, this book addresses all my critiques of the first one. The first book introduces a lot of different characters, politics, and different mythologies and creatures, to the point that things become a little muddled. This book works to juggle all those different players, and while more elements are introduced, they feel much better integrated than in book one. Likewise, while I found the climax of book one a little disappointing, this book stepped up. I devoured the last 200 pages of this book, and I simply cannot wait to have the next one in my hands. While I do believe there were some pacing issues in this book, I found I didn’t mind, as I was so interested in each character’s individual journey that I appreciated the story taking its time.

Overall, I loved this book. I thought it lived up to and exceeded the promise of the first one, and I am desperately waiting for more. If you like urban fantasy, dark fae, a vibrant cast of characters and complex schemes still in the process of being revealed, I definitely think this series is a must-read.

Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: The Witches of Moonshyne Manor by Bianca Marais

By Larissa Page

The newest novel from Bianca Marais comes out a little later this summer and it has been compared to “Golden Girls meets Hocus Pocus,” which I think is a pretty apt description. It is the story of six geriatric witches who have lived at Moonshyne Manor since childhood. Now in their eighties, they run the risk of losing a home that has become part of their sisterhood itself. In order to save their home, they must work against the clock to find a lost treasure they stole thirty years before. They’ve waited thirty years to have their sixth sister back, to find the treasure, pay off their debts, and save the manor—but it simply won’t be that easy.

This novel is a departure from Marais’s previous works of fiction. She is well loved for her two previous and similar novels and has also recently released an Audible original audiobook that steps into the sci-fi/dystopia genre. This novel, however, is modern and magical while still employing many of Marais’s go-to literary tools. It is rife with red herrings and misdirection, which gives the novel a few small, surprising twists.

This novel was a lot of fun. It wasn’t heavy even though there were aspects and topics that could have been. It was light, but the characters were still well crafted and their relationships still meaningfully described. The cast was large: six witches, a teenage TikTok-er, and a villain. While it did take a little bit of effort not to confuse all the characters and they could have been a little bit more developed, I didn’t feel like anything from the story was lost with how it was told.

One thing I did find to be a bit heavy was the pop culture or cliché references. I attribute this to personal preference, as most of the books I read are not pop culture-related books, but I think other readers will find these really fun (and I did as well, I just found there to be a lot). There was a Harry Potter reference, which in this day and age can be exciting for some people and problematic for others. It wasn’t harped on, though, so I moved past it easily. The thing I think I found most surprising was how balanced the book was between the deeper topics such as sexuality and gender fluidity/transition, and the pop culture references and fun things like a magical heist.

Ultimately this upcoming novel by Bianca Marais might not be what you are expecting if you’ve read her previous work, but it is very fun, it is witchy, it is feminist, and it is worth the read.

Book Review: The Kingdom of Copper by S. A. Chakraborty

By Samreen Khan

The Kingdom of Copper is the second book in the Daevabad trilogy, and it is mesmerizing. 

Assuming you have already read the first book, you know that it ended in a bloody battle between Prince Alizayd and the dashing warrior Djinn Dara. Jump forward five years to where the second book begins—in which we see an exiled Alizayd, a married Nahri, and an allegedly dead Dara. 

As Nahri is learning how to navigate court politics while being married to Alizayd’s elder brother Muntadhir, we see an exiled Alizayd reluctantly return to Daevabad due to the political machinations of his maternal family. Upon his return, Alizayd is unable to control his outrage at the treatment meted out to the shafit population of Daevabad (who are of mixed human and Djinn heritage). As a result of his outrage, he commits to partnering with Nahri to help fulfill her dreams of opening a magical hospital that would offer treatments to everyone, regardless of their blood status. Meanwhile, in another part of the kingdom, Dara has been returned to his original Daeva body without his consent by Manizeh (she is the long-assumed-dead magical healer) who has been biding her time to return to Daevabad and exact vengeance on King Ghassan. All this culminates in a genocidal attack on the city and palace during the Navasatem celebration, which is the celebration of a new century in the magical world. This wreaks havoc on the magical city of Daevabad and its residents, who ultimately pay the highest price they ever could: the loss of all magic. 

The Kingdom of Copper sets forwards three different character arcs: that of the trapped, restless yet brilliant Nahri; the forever kind, humanitarian Alizayd; and the honourable yet helpless Dara who has been resurrected from the lap of death to be used as a weapon without his consent. Nahri’s character becomes more pragmatic as the book progresses and she learns that her position entrusts her with far greater authority than she could ever bargain for. Alizayd’s character slowly realizes that while his faith keeps him grounded no matter what, the definition of good versus evil isn’t rigid—these two polarities are in fact very fluid. Dara, on the other hand, realizes that consent is of utmost importance when your agency is lost. He also comes to acknowledge that his loyalty to his tribe cannot take precedence over the humanitarian treatment of others. 

This book is much more intense than the previous installment due to its emphasis on different points of view and the parallels it draws in from contemporary world history. You can see the impact of colonial powers overtaking Nahri’s human world while her own world is being ruined by megalomaniacs with whom she plays deadly court politics. Through Alizayd, Chakraborty weaves in the much-needed perspective on the injustices of the magical world—the treatment being meted out to the shafit population is very reminiscent of our world’s refugee crisis. All the while, Dara’s character is a stark reminder of how single-minded devotion to certain leaders or ideologies can cause even the best of intentions to be meaningless. 

Chakraborty not only weaves contemporary political issues into her books’ characters, she also seamlessly imbues the concepts of consent and othering in a rich tapestry of storytelling and worldbuilding. What attracts me the most in this book is that Chakraborty enmeshes her characters completely into their faith, from which they draw strength and solace. This is not a common trait in many books, and it resonates with readers like myself, for whom faith is a source of comfort and resilience. This book is a must-read if you like non-Eurocentric plot lines with complex characters and earth-shattering magical beings. 

Book Review: The Sisters of the Winter Wood by Rena Rossner

By Sara Hailstone

The residue of my reading experience with Rena Rossner’s The Sisters of the Winter Wood was an “aha” moment after finishing the novel and reading of the book’s historical rootedness in the author’s Jewish family history, and the intertextuality of folklore blended with the fantasy genre. In a historical note following the story Rossner records that “On March 20, 1903, the body of a young Christian Ukrainian boy named Mikhail Rybachenko was found drained of blood in the garden of a Jewish man named Yossl Filler in the shtetl of Dubossary, on the border between the Ukraine and Moldova.” This event resulted in over 1,300 pogroms, attacks on Jewish persons in the Ukraine. Rossner has personal ties to this history. “As a result of the pogrom in Dubossary, my great-uncle, Abraham Krovetz, made his way to America via Ellis Island in 1905.” The extension of this narrative is that during World War II the Nazis exterminated the remaining Jewish people of Dubossary and buried all 6,000 in a mass grave. Rossner writes, “Every family member of mine who did not make it to America from 1903 to 1912 was slaughtered by the Nazis in 1940, together with the rest of the Jews of the town. Only 100 to 150 Jews from Dubossary survived.” So, as a debut novel in 2018, The Sisters of the Winter Wood is grounded in historical, biographical, and literary elements of truth, fantasy, and fiction. 

The story depicts the coming-of-age and fantastical loss of innocence of two sisters, Laya and Liba, who live close to the village of Dubossary with their parents. Despite the novel’s intriguing idea of combining history with a re-imagining of Christina Rossetti’s “Goblin Market,” the literary parallels suffer from the pacing of the plot. Before the parents are called away from their homestead to the deathbed of grandfather-rabbi with the intention to achieve familial reconciliation, the reader is shown rather quickly that both parents shapeshift.  

           The mother is a swan and the father is a bear, and there is family history of separation between the swan and bear lineage. The sisters are left alone to process the reality of shapeshifting, family truths of parental heritage, and their own changing existences of human into animal—Laya will become a swan like her mother, and Liba will grow into a bear like her father. I wanted to fall into this fantasy environment like I would with elements of magic realism in literary fiction, but the writing did not enable me too. I finished the story knowing I do not fully believe or am convinced. I think if these details were revealed slowly with a more integrated backstory, the shapeshifting wouldn’t feel rushed or artificially inserted. 

When I first picked up the novel I was interested in the evident shift in narrative point-of-view between the two sisters in both prose and poetry sections. I was excited for the poetry sections. The textual style reflects the sister’s personalities. Prose is detailed and reveals observation, emotional intelligence and deep thought with Liba, the older sister. The poetry sections flow with pockets of air and space around them. One text of underbrush fit for a bear. One text of air fit for a swan to fly. I wanted the poetry to inspire and captivate me, but I found while reading that these sections were sentence fragments. I wanted lyrical poetry with imagery, metaphor, and a deeper message. One strength of the writing style is Rossner’s language that achieves interconnectivity between the sisters and nature. These descriptions were poetic and convincing. 

I suggest that in attempting to achieve a cross-genre text of history, fiction, and fantasy, Rossner could have written a creative nonfiction text combining historical records and direct literary references to “Goblin Market.” An intertextual product could possibly achieve her desire to integrate the history of atrocity of the Jewish people of Dubossary, her family history, literary references and the sensuality of “Goblin Market,” and the author’s Russian/Romanian/Moldavian/Ukrainian heritage. Overall, in making a connection to Jewish suffering, scapegoating, and shapeshifting, a point of existence could be mastered of other worlds/realities, hidden dimensions, and capacities that could close the gaps in the narrative to make it more believable. The novel needs a firmer understanding of a magic system, worldbuilding, and a power structure or system of government in flushing out who holds power within this world. 

Thank you to Hachette Book Group for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: The City of Brass by S.A. Chakraborty

By Samreen Khan

There is no other way to put this—I read this book in four days flat, which is a huge feat as I am a working mother of two kids and also because this book is 500 pages long. 

The City of Brass is the first book of the Daevabad trilogy. And you should read this book if you like Muslim folklore; grew up in a Muslim household listening to such folklore; are intrigued by the story of Prophet Suleiman and the Djinns; and if you thrive on stories revolving around mythical creatures, warring tribes, vengeance, sibling squabbles, love, loyalty, friendship, and strong female protagonists. 

This book is a dream come true for Muslim fantasy nerds—it represents a part of Muslim culture and identity in a way that I never thought was possible. The book starts off in Cairo with Nahri, who is a con woman by profession and our lead female character who carries forward all three books of the trilogy. Nahri uses tricks, deceptions, sleight of hand, and knowledge of natural medicines to perform healing rituals to earn her livelihood. One day while performing a zar (a healing custom for troubled souls), Nahri unknowingly taps into a long-forgotten part of her heritage and ends up calling a warrior Djinn named Dara to her aid. And from here the adventure begins and she is transported to the ancient, magical City of Brass—Daevabad—that is hidden from human eyes and is the capital city of all magical races. 

Nahri is catapulted from the war-torn streets of Cairo where ghouls are chasing her to the edgy city of Daevabad that traces its political lineage to the times of Prophet Suleiman (Solomon). It is here that Nahri must face the question of who she really is. Does she truly belong to the lost ancient bloodline that was destined to rule Daevabad as per Suleiman’s wish? The city is fraught with tribal rivalry and rife with tensions between pure blooded Djinns and the Shafit (who are of mixed human and Djinn heritage). And all this is kept under tight control by the current ruler of Daevabad, Ghasan Al Qahtani, who views Nahri as a direct threat to his throne. Nahri unwittingly gets involved with court politics, Dara her warrior Djinn, and Ghasan’s two sons Muntadhir and Alizayd. 

If the plot summary above sounds like a lot—that’s because it is. It’s an entire parallel universe that has been created from scratch by the author who has been very true to Islamic sources and Muslim folklore, and must be applauded for the same. 

I truly enjoyed reading the book because of how it is set parallel to the French invasion of Ottoman Cairo in the 18thcentury; in the human world Nahri faces the impending invasion and then she gets transported to the magical world where again rebellion is brewing. The character of Nahri grows exponentially from the first chapter to the last. Nahri works for her survival at all times, but as her friendships cement with Dara, the warrior sworn to protect her, and Prince Alizayd, she realizes she is not as independent of emotions as she thought she was. She begins to care about the people who surround her and care for her in their own ways. She also learns to trust more, even at times to her detriment. We don’t see much growth in terms of Dara’s character arc, but the character arc that will truly impress readers is that of Prince Alizayd who is standoffish and orthodox in his approach to faith; he has very strong principles and is against the injustices that he sees. Alizayd’s character grows from a rigid box to that of a more open-minded person as he becomes friends with Nahri due to his father’s pressure. After befriending a woman who used to thrive on conning others, Alizayd is amazed at his acceptance of her nature, and he becomes more receptive to the fact that the world is grey-toned. 

Chakraborty writes with a flow and charm that cannot be denied. As a first-time novelist you can see the author’s writing style pick up after the first few chapters when the characters get more drawn out and the plot thickens. Overall the writing is well-researched and the influence of history and medieval Islamic world is evident in it. 

The City of Brass is a well-crafted universe where magical creatures reside, magnificent cities exist, and astounding palaces and libraries hide secrets of the unknown. It takes readers down a mesmerizing fantastical journey that ties intrigue, mystery, love, and loyalty in varying shades of grey. It is a whole new world that awaits you, much more fulfilling than any contemporary magical series can be. This book fills a much needed gap in the Muslim fantasy fiction genre.