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February 2025 Book Reviews

 


My birthday month is here!... which is neither here nor there, I just sort of felt like saying it. And it's time for many more book reviews. This month's new picks include science fact and science fiction, a murder mystery starring the queen of murder mysteries, and two books from very different fantasy series. Thanks as always to the authors and publishers who send books my way—be sure to go out and support these writers!

Bookish Candle: Frostbeard Studio's candle of the month, Star City, feels very appropriate to my fantasy reads for February. It's a light blend of ocean breeze, citrus, and musk. Use my link to get 20% off your purchase of this and other book lovers' candles!

Tea Pairing: Chapters is currently closed for the month as they move their business to the west coast. In the meantime, check out my London tea reviews—Whittard's English Rose blend would make an excellent companion to the nature-themed fantasy picks this month.

Note: I may receive a kickback for purchases made using these links/codes. Thanks for your support!



ALL BETTER NOW

by Neal Shusterman
Available now

A new global pandemic has begun. Dubbed "Crown Royal," this corona variant has a strange side effect: those who survive are changed. They are happier, more empathetic, more altruistic. Some see the risk of death as a worthwhile tradeoff for an enlightened life; others fear the lack of agency (and potential chaos) that comes with having all your negative emotions dampened. And three teenagers find themselves on the front lines of this evolving war.

Rón, the young son of one of the world's wealthiest men, finds new meaning when he discovers he's an alpha spreader: capable of "embracing" both the willing and unwilling into shared enlightenment. Mariel, a homeless girl who falls for Rón, is the yin to his yang, naturally immune but wishing for a way out. And Morgan, handed immeasurable wealth so its infected former owner couldn't give it away, searches for a cure: not out of kindness, but out of a belief that competition and dissatisfaction power our world. Regardless of who's right and who's wrong, many will die along the way—some from Crown Royale, others as collateral damage.

All Better Now comes on the heels of a massive pile of "COVID books," which ran especially rampant in the sci-fi and horror sphere. While a global pandemic will certainly spur discussion and creativity for years to come, it takes dramatically new angles and insights to keep a title from retreading old ground. All Better Now is about six of one and half a dozen of the other. Hidden in its musings on the morality inherent in the human reaction is the fascinating fictional idea of the perfect viral adaptation: desirability. The book does ask many fascinating questions: is altruism really altruism if it's not a choice? Do we have the right to force betterment on others? Do we really want to numb our darker emotions, or do we need them? While Shusterman's work is filled with excellent prose, interesting characters, and evocative questions, the story itself often feels as rudderless as Rón on his mission of enlightenment. Even clocking in at over 500 pages, it never quite has room to explore everything it's laid out for itself. As a series of philosophical questions posed, All Better Now succeeds; as a story, it flies, then fizzles.



THE FORGOTTEN EARTH

by Brilynn O'Neal
Available now

The world Willow and her best friend Olivia live in is grim. Plants no longer grow, food is scarce, and the last child in their small town has died. But Willow does all she can—both in terms of getting plants to grow again and by spreading forbidden books, even if the spread of knowledge (a privilege of the Elite class) could get her arrested or killed by soldiers. And if the soldiers don't kill her, the zombie-like creatures known as Claeg will.

When an unusually-sized wave of Claeg descends on their down, Willow and Olivia find help in Liam: a soldier who has seen the error of his ways and plans to fake his own death to escape. As the three travel abroad and learn to trust each other, they discover together that Willow has the power to make plants grow and rain fall. Willow and Liam also begin to fall in love, and that love seems to increase her powers. But once word gets out that Liam is alive and a girl who can bring green back to a dead world is out there with him, the Elite and their soldiers are quick to react. As the three separate to find allies, they also begin to discover more about what makes Willow special, and what that could mean for the world.

The Forgotten Earth opens with a lot of promise, especially what appear to be roots in Celtic mythology. But a lot of its promise fades quickly into standard post-apocalyptic YA, complete with a Chosen One and her one true love. Olivia, one of the most promising characters in the story as she navigates the loss of her wife Kat, spends most of her time as the sarcastic sidekick, with most of her actions being winks and smirks. And, while ample content warnings are given at the front of the book, there is a strange amount of sexual assault—moving far past a reflection on real-world systemic injustice into a sense that the author can only think of one way to keep tension high. The final battle feels rushed and strangely truncated, with little lead-up to establish the sheer importance of what is accomplished in said battle. There are threads and tendrils of great story here, but so much of what works feels insufficiently explored or tamped down into stereotypical post-apocalyptic YA. With room to grow, evolve, and subvert, this story could be something more and greater.



THE SIX - YOUNG READERS EDITION

by Loren Grush with Rebecca Stefoff
Available now

First published in 2023, Loren Grush's The Six follows the history of America's first six women astronauts. This month, an adapted version brings this story—the highs and lows, what's new and what hasn't changed in decades—to young readers. But even if you're not a young reader, and even f you've never read Grush's original treatment of the material, this is an excellent read.

This version of The Six starts from each woman's childhood, depicting her early dreams and how they would eventually lead each of them to applying for NASA's space program. Older readers will be all too aware of the reactions and mentalities of the time (some may even have lived through some of it); these historical moments are explained in a way that's culturally easy to understand without being condescending. The narrative is sprinkled with quotes from "the Six" and their collaborators (and occasionally their detractors), and gives insight into everything from the sizing of space suits to the internal investigation of the Challenger disaster.

As an older reader, old enough at least to have been one of the shocked students watching the Challenger in school, I appreciate the time and care given to explaining the changing viewpoints and landscape of the time. As a woman, I appreciate that the Six are never represented as a monolith. They were united in maintaining each other's dignity in front of the press and colleagues, but each had their own valid goals. Some chose parenthood before their first space walk; some put the program before any sort of personal life. Even the inclusion of a makeup kit shows itself to be in shades of grey, where some consider it sexist but another is relieved to be ready for the cameras. I'm happy to see us emerging from the era of there being a "right way to be a woman," instead seeing the uniqueness of each of these subjects allowed to shine alongside their accomplishments.



THE CASE OF THE CHRISTIE CONSPIRACY

by Kelly Oliver
Available February 16

Eliza Baker has little interest in the world of fiction, least of all the increasingly popular Agatha Christie. But in order to get a job as assistant to the secretary of the Detection Club—a gathering of murder mystery enthusiasts and authors—she'll have to learn about Christie's work and make nice with her. But on the night the club accepts Eliza's old friend Theo as a member, complete with an overly dramatic initiation ceremony, a man is killed under mysterious circumstances. And the lead suspect seems to be Ms. Christie herself!

While Scotland Yard is on the case, Eliza Baker puts all her talents—both as a clever chess player and as a former member of the force—to the test. While she's leery of "deduction" a la Holmes, the literary-minded Theo makes a bet with her regarding which of them can find the killer first. But the case is a convoluted one. Rather than not enough evidence, there seems to be too much; nearly everyone present seems to have both a motive and a (literal or figurative) smoking gun. Worse still, Agatha Christie has disappeared. Has a guilty murderess fled the scene, or is her life also in danger?

The Case of the Christie Conspiracy weaves real-world history through its narrative, pairing the early days and real members of the Detection Club with the mystery of Christie's eleven-day disappearance. There are hints that Eliza could be a returning sleuth herself, with Theo on deck as a will-they-won't-they paramour and her spy sister Jane asking for further monitoring of the mystery authors. Fans of Christie, and of cozy mysteries, will definitely want to give this one a look. The mystery itself is intriguing and, while astute readers may guess the ending early, the journey is still an enjoyable one.



CURSEBOUND

by Saara El-Arifi
Available February 18

Faebound introduced readers to a world inhabited by elves locked in a Forever War, ages after the passing of both fae and humans. But Yeeran, an elf commander exiled from her home by her chieftain and lover, soon discovers that the fae are still alive, if not well: bound by the last of the humans to an idyllic prison. Now the lover of the fae queen Furi and bonded to the catlike obeah—magical beings sacred to fae but hunted by elves—Yeeran finds herself entwined with the fate of the fae.

Cursebound is the second book of the trilogy, placing Yeeran and her seer sister Lettle at the center of political turmoil. There is unrest among the Lightless—fae unbonded to an obeah and thus lacking fae magic—as their situation renders them second-class citizens among their own people. As attempts are made on Lettle's life, the sisters attempt to navigate the intersection of prophecy and politics. Equality among the fae is just one of their goals: they also seek to break the curse of human magic binding the fae to their home. The appearance of Alder, a Nomadic elf with an affinity for obeah and a tendency to speak a strange language when sleepwalking, could change things for the better. But the four factions of elves, once at war, have set their sights on the fae, meaning time is running short.

Faebound, for all its excellent worldbuilding and stunning characters, occasionally showed its hand a little too much when it came to Lettle's prophecies. Rather than making the audience feel clever, it sometimes left Lettle looking a bit slow. Fortunately, El-Arifi has stepped up in Cursebound, striking the exact right balance between reader awareness and character discovery. Some threads can be picked up on and chased down; others will leave the reader guessing right up until the tense moment of discovery. El-Arifi also manages to do something few writers can: create tension from lack of communication without it feeling contrived. All the main characters suffer from the same fear of honesty, leading to a deluge of poor choices; but they are also caught in their hypocrisy when they confront each other about it, or kick off far-reaching consequences. But what shines most is the setting of the trilogy: a delicately intertwined world of magic, where humans are (for a change) the beings of legend and nothing is ever truly as it seems. Cursebound has set the stage for what will hopefully be an incredible finale.

Otaku USA Spring 2025 Issue Now on Sale!

 


It's that time again! The latest issue of Otaku USA Magazine is on the newsstands, and this time I have five pieces in the latest magazine. I've been doing my best not only to keep up with the latest titles coming out, but (where I can) to read or play the source material. It's been making the recent seasons much more interesting and giving me a lot more to talk about with you guys as I put these articles out!



Nina the Starry Bride marks the first of my two reviews—a really gorgeous romantasy series for which I have indeed been reading the manga (and continue to even after the anime has finished). It's a pretty series with a dangerous love triangle, promises of magic, and a unique mythology. I can only hope there will be further seasons to bring to life what I've seen in the manga.



Orb: On the Movements of the Earth is my second review this issue, and is one of my absolute favorite shows of both the fall and winter season. It's a buried treasure that hasn't been getting nearly enough attention. I especially love it as someone with an interest in astronomy and Medieval history. But even if those aren't fixations for you, I still feel like everyone would like this at least a little.



And now, feature time! I'll Become a Villainess Who Goes Down in History falls into that very specific brand of isekai I'm totally into: reincarnated as a villainess. But it also falls under the heading of protagonists who have no idea what wonderful people they're being and how they're improving the world around them. I'm glad I got a chance to talk this one up.



On the other end of the spectrum is The Do-Over Damsel Conquers the Dragon Emperor, which... I had some issues with. On the bright side, writing this feature gave me the opportunity to talk about writer choices and how even having a "legitimate explanation" for something unsavory is still glorifying something unsavory. No hate to anyone who enjoyed it—I kinda can't get past a couple that's 19 and 10 is all.



And back on the up side—I close with a feature on Magilumiere Magical Girls Inc. Much like Orb, Magilumiere ended up very ignored and passed over. It's a darling series that deserves more attention, especially if you're a grown-up magical girl fan looking for something that isn't a grim and depressing subversion. It's nice to know there will be a second season, and I hope to do more coverage then.

Pick up the latest Otaku USA at your local newsstand, and keep an eye on the official site for more articles from me and others every day!

TEA REVIEW: Three Teas from London

 


While Chapters is my go-to brand for tea these days, I can't help but splurge when I go to London. I love coming back with new things (and old favorites I can only get either by going in person or paying a lot for shipping). Several friends got tea and coffee, but I kept these three for me.

Months ago, I promised a friend that I'd review these properly. And for some reason I never did. But scraping the bottom of the tin on one reminded me that it's high time to rate these—and to ensure that you can all try them, too.



English Rose Black Tea
Whittard

One of the first places I go whenever I get into London is Covent Garden, and the first place I go there is Whittard. I know there are other shops, but the Whittard in Covent Garden is where I first discovered my love of rose Earl Grey, so I always stop in to try something and buy gifts. This time I picked up their English Rose black tea: a blend of Chinese, Indian, and Sri Lankan teas with whole rosebuds and rose petals.

When the reviews say this tea is "very rosy," they aren't kidding—and for someone like me who likes rose-flavored everything, that's a plus. It is naturally very sweet, so I wouldn't recommend any kind of sweetener. This is much better as an afternoon tea, since the strength of the rose (even for someone like me) can be a little cloying for morning. I have a feeling this would make an amazing milk tea... again, with no additional sweetener. If you don't like floral-flavored things, sit this one out; this is for people like me who've had the rose teas from other companies and didn't think they were enough.



Christmas Black Tea
Fortnum & Mason

In addition to fig preserves and cognac butter, I had to make sure to pick up some of the Christmas black tea from Fortnum & Mason's Christmas section (which was in full swing in late October). This blend smelled, at least to me, "like Christmas": orange, ginger, and cloves. And when brewed up, it delivers.

The orange and cloves are foremost in this tea, but it's not overpowering or unbalanced. The flavor is very warm and feels perfect for winter in general—and this arctic blast in particular. Does leave a bit of sediment when you brew a pot, thanks to all that clove, but that's easily strained out. This is absolutely best enjoyed hot, possibly with milk if that's your kind of thing, absolutely on a chilly winter morning.



Wedding Breakfast Blend
Fortnum & Mason

Despite not being a royal watcher of any sort, I'll absolutely drink their tea. I'm fascinated by the variety of blends F&M has made for the Royal Family over the centuries. They do tend to be the best of the best, which I suppose makes sense when they're for royal occasions. Their 2013 Christening Blend for Prince George was a previous favorite, so I tried this Wedding Breakfast blend. Unsurprisingly, another favorite.

This blend was made in 2011 in honor of Prince William's proposal to Kate Middleton, and is a blend of Assam and Kenyan teas (Kenya apparently being where he proposed). This is for certain a "tea-flavored tea," with no floral or spice notes added. This is just the leaves standing on their own. And honestly, it's gorgeous. If you like just a good straightforward black tea with no fuss or flavorings, or if you've only had Lipton and wonder what's so great about unflavored black tea, try this. It's an absolute winner.


January 2025 TBR Book Reviews

 


Honestly, choosing to do a set of TBR reviews at the back of each month has been great for me. Besides finally getting around to books I've wanted to read, I've also got an impetus to pick up books recommended (and sometimes written!) by friends. This month is no exception: one I've had on the shelf for a while, one by a friend, one that comes highly recommended, and two I backed as part of crowdfunding campaigns.

Bookish Candle: Frostbeard's January 2025 candle of the month, "Tall Tales," is only available for just over a week more! I've been loving having this candle in my library, with its notes of maple and cedar. Use my link to get 20% off your purchase of this and other book lovers' candles!

Tea Pairing: Between the witches, green men, murderers, and other such eerie things lurking through this month's books, Chapters' Poet's Pumpkin Spice feels like a perfect match. It may be a fall flavor, but it's still great in winter! Use code KARAD15 at checkout to get 15% off your tea purchase!

Note: I may receive a kickback for purchases made using these links/codes. Thanks for your support!



AND THEN THERE WERE NONE

by Agatha Christie

After seeing The Mousetrap in London, I found a forgotten copy of this in the piles of books still unshelved in my library. I have a few Christies to work through, but this one in particular is remembered as one of the greats.

Ten seemingly unconnected people are summoned to the secluded Soldier Island (which went under two different, unfortunate names in previous printings)—for gatherings, work of both benign and ignoble sorts, and the like. But when the visitors are gathered, eight guests and two servants, a surprise is sprung on them: their unseen host, Mr. U.N. Owen, has brought them all there to be killed. Each is complicit in a death that falls outside the law, and they themselves will die here for their crimes. No sooner has this been revealed than a guest drops dead, setting off a cascade of mysterious deaths.

As the days on Soldier Island continue, the guests die one by one: each death corresponding to a line in a nursery rhyme. And, one by one, ceramic figurines disappear from an arrangement of a group of ten. As the numbers dwindle, the remaining guests second-guess both their allegiances and their own presumed innocence. After all, there are ten potential victims, and only ten people on the island—meaning Mr. Owen must be one of them.

And Then There Were None is full of what I appreciated in The Mousetrap: Christie's ability to create a web of potential motives, as well as to paint numerous people as suspicious enough to warrant a second look. There are, indeed many similarities between this and The Mousetrap—a household of people cut off from the world and picked off one by one, to the tune of a children's rhyme, for their roles in long-forgotten crimes. It seems a little superfluous to say one of Agatha Christie's masterworks was very good, but there it is.



ARSENE LUPIN, GENTLEMAN THIEF

by Maurice Leblanc, illustrated by Vincent Mallié

I backed this edition of the book via a Kickstarter, followed by a printing of A Study in Scarlet also illustrated by Mallié. Considering how long I've been a fan of Lupin the Third, I figured it was about time I go back to the source properly.

First put to the page in July 1905, gentleman thief Arsène Lupin has become a legend of stage, screen, film, and even anime. Starting with his inaugural outing "The Arrest of Arsène Lupin" and concluding with Lupin's first meeting with Sherlock Holmes (or rather "Herlock Sholmes"), this volume contains the first nine adventures of Maurice Leblanc's best-known character.

Lupin has expensive tastes, a flair for the theatrical, and (at least once in a while) a heart of gold. He may swindle people out of gold and jewels and deeds, but he's also been known to solve the occasional murder or set things right for someone less fortunate. While Lupin takes pride in reinventing himself to the point that his "true" self is hard to pin down, we do see a bit of the man beneath the disguises when he crosses paths with Miss Nelly Underdown in both the first and last stories of the anthology. Even with nothing more than these few short stories in hand, it's easy to see why Leblanc's antihero is so beloved: he's charming, caring, arrogant, and occasionally gets hilariously angry if someone manages to double-cross him.

Making this volume even better are Vincent Mallié's illustrations. Somewhere between Georges Remi and Hayao Miyazaki, his art is both vintage and lighthearted, cartoonish but down-to-earth. His character designs for Lupin, his nemesis Ganimard, and the people they meet are full of life and personality. Even if you've read these stories repeatedly, you'll want this particular volume for your shelf.



CASTING THE RUNES: THE LETTERS OF MR JAMES

edited by Jane Mainley-Piddock

I backed this project on Unbound quite some time ago, but unfortunately my copy arrived in the mail right as I was reckoning with a lot of real-world issues and not doing much reading. After doing an article about Mark Gatiss's adaptations of James's ghost stories, I remembered it still needed reading.

MR James is, regardless of how many people actually know him by name, one of the most influential authors ever to come out of Britain. His slow-burn Gothic ghost stories, themselves influenced by the works of Charles Dickens and Arthur Conan Doyle, have gone on to influence much of our literature. However, as editor Jane Mainley-Piddock notes, no one had yet compiled a collection of this man's letters. Such books exist for other authors; and now they exist for James.

The collection begins in James's youth with letters home about his life at boarding school, complete with misspellings and corrections, and continue into his later years. Through these short letters and their footnotes, we get a clear picture of James through the many phases of his life: as a young student navigating everything from classes to spending money to smallpox, as a university student and doctor indulging his love of classic literature, and into later years as he tackles Dickens's unfinished The Mystery of Edwin Drood and changes in career. From quick announcement telegrams to work letters, from requests for new hats to updates on his cat's behavior, these letters create an enchanting snapshot of an amazing author.

Mainley-Piddock's footnotes, ranging anywhere from a sentence or two to chapter-long musings, avoid the dryness that often comes with volumes like these. Her enthusiasm for James's life and work, and her desire for other scholars to join her in her research, are both evident. She also muses on the similarities between moments in James's life and her time compiling this project during and just after the COVID-19 pandemic. It is a welcoming, relatable volume: history to be enjoyed and experienced, rather than consulted only for classwork.



DOCTOR WHO: THE RETURN OF ROBIN HOOD

by Paul Magrs

Another recent tie-in penned by lovely Paul, this is yet another in the series of books crossing Doctor Who over with classic literature. I enjoyed Josephine and the Argonauts and looked forward to seeing how this one played out.

It's been 20 years since the events of Robot of Sherwood—for Robin Hood, anyway. Disenchanted by his lack of progress and the continued absence of King Richard, the Prince of Thieves has altered his plans. Now he robs from the rich and gives to the bail fund to free Richard and bring him home. Lady Marian (still unwed) has noticed Robin's change of heart, but she and Friar Tuck have been captured by Guy of Gisborne. Fortunately, the legendary hero known as the Doctor has come to Sherwood Forest once again. But he looks and acts very different to Robin's friend of decades past, and even claims they've never met before!

Despite the awareness that he's once again been playing in his own timeline, the Fourth Doctor (accompanied by Sarah Jane Smith and Harry Sullivan) pitches in to help Robin and his Merrie Men free their friends and set things right. But there's another, much older force working against them: Mother Maudlin, an evil crone who wants to meddle in history. And the newly-arrived Doctor and his companions may give her an opportunity to do so. But how can they stop a witch who can slip inside the minds of anyone—even your closest friends?

Familiarity with Robot of Sherwood isn't necessary to appreciate The Return of Robin Hood, but it's lovely to see how Magrs has neatly stitched the two stories together. Primarily, the connection (besides acknowledging fans of the existing episode) offers a reason why Robin Hood so readily trusts the Doctor. It's also rather lovely to see new adventures with classic Doctors run all up and down the series's timeline (as seen in both Scratchman and Magrs's Josephine and the Argonauts). As always, Magrs is a master of matching not just the voice of the characters he's writing, but the tone of their era. The visuals described throughout the book bring to mind the same directorial choices one might expect to see in this era of the show. Mother Maudlin's hazy appearance in the TARDIS viewscreen late in the book, for example, is just the sort of sinister special effect we'd expect to see in a Baker story. It's another lovely addition to this line of Penguin Doctor Who books and very worth reading—but that's not at all surprising.



THE GREEN MAN OF ESHWOOD HALL

by Jacob Kerr

This one came recommended by the very lovely Johnny Chiodini. After their recommendation of Starve Acre in previous months, I will always take them at their word on book recommendations—especially as regards folk horror.

Izzy is 13 years old, but she doesn't go to school. With her father now the chauffeur and odd jobs man at historic Eshwood Hall, smack in the center of Britain, she now lives in the hall's servants' quarters and continues to look after her poorly mother Gerry. But her family is negligent at best, downright abusive at worst, and even the promise of a new and interesting home can't fix what ails her. But maybe the Green Man can.

She meets him by chance, finding his chapel as she wanders the forest around the river Esh. At first, the chapel is little more than an escape from the horrors of her everyday life: a chance for her to flee her mother's judgment and constant punishment. But soon it becomes evident that the Green Man and Izzy can do something for each other. He can fix her problems for her. But every favor has a price. Izzy has three favors she wants granted—and each will require a bigger sacrifice from her, with her final job altering her family forever.

The Green Man of Eshwood Hall is many things all at once, but it navigates being all these things with incredible ease. A coming-of-age story that moves through multiple points of view and voices, the book changes tone whether Izzy is in charge, or Gerry, or Izzy's little sister Annie. It treads the line of realism and folk horror, especially in its final chapter, tying the Green Man's influence to that wonderful and terrible moment when childhood innocence breaks and adulthood takes over. The final pages will leave you agape. Despite starting gently and benignly, it ends beautifully cruel and dark.

January 2025 Book Reviews

 


New year, same me... new books! I'm kicking off 2025 with five new releases for the month - four of which just happen to be romances interwoven with time travel, cults, and/or curses (real and imagined). To bring things back to center, there's a send-up of the cutthroat world of reality television.

Thanks to all the publishers who send their new releases my way. And if you have a book coming up in the near future, don't hesitate to reach out!

Bookish Candle: My library currently smells very wintry thanks to Frostbeard Studio's candle of the month! "Tall Tales" takes a page out of the American Midwest mythos with notes of maple flapjacks and cedarwood. Use my link to get 20% off your purchase of this and other book lovers' candles!

Tea Pairing: With so much magic and mystery afoot, this month's books pair well with Chapters' Magical Library Butterbrew. Use code KARAD15 at checkout to get 15% off your tea purchase!

Note: I may receive a kickback for purchases made using these links/codes. Thanks for your support!



A TRAITOROUS HEART

by Erin Cotter
Available Now

Jacqueline d’Argenson-Aunis is the lady-in-waiting to Princess Marguerite of France, but she's so much more than that: best friend, former lover, and aspiring spy. Jac's oncle and guardian Gabriel is a member of the shadowy Societas Solis, which she dreams of joining but from which he constantly shields her. However, an occasion to approve herself may have arisen: help broker a peace between the Catholics and Huguenots by convincing Margot to marry Henry of Navarre.

There are multiple problems with this, the first being that Margot is only interested in women. Jac is also reluctant to force a decision on a dear friend that she knows she doesn't want... and also, Jac and Henry are starting to fall in love. But between a murderer stalking the streets of Paris and Catherine de' Medici spouting dark prophecies, time is of the essence. In the wake of the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre, Jac will have to decide what she values more: her aspirations to Societas Solis, or the people she loves.

A Traitorous Heart bears much in common with Cotter's previous novel, By Any Other Name: a historical romance, bisexual protagonists, and the presence of a secret organization. But A Traitorous Heart is a much stronger outing for Cotter, largely in that Jac's story feels much more grounded in its time than Will's. Nowhere does it feel like the story breaks to teach a course in college ethics, and the characters' feelings and identities feel much more grounded in their time. This blend of romance, drama, and strong writing is what I hoped Cotter was capable of after reading her first book, and it's exciting to see her deliver.



BUILD A GIRLFRIEND

by Elba Luz
Available now

Amelia Hernandez's latest breakup is, sadly, no surprise. Her family is "cursed" to never have a lasting relationship, and only daughters are born in the brief relationships that do occur. The eight-woman Hernandez household may be primarily dedicated to opening their dream bakery, but now Amelia's mother, aunts, and sisters are turning their attention to a new project: helping her beak her curse. And to do that, she's going to go back and date all her exes, using data from each date to build up "what works" in the dating scene.

There's just one problem: Leon, who dumped her on her birthday and disappeared for two years, is back in town. And he and his dad are helping with construction of the bakery. He seems more than happy to act like nothing went wrong between them, but Amelia still hurts. So her plan takes a new turn: she'll win his heart, then crush it just like he crushed hers. But maintaining her many secret and goals becomes harder. Because there's one more thing she hasn't told anyone: she doesn't want to work in the bakery, and she's saving up to go on a gap year program. Can she get the money she needs, succeed in her plan to break Leon's heart, and break the Hernandez curse? Or are her feelings for Leon something more than anger?

Build a Girlfriend follows what's becoming kind of a standardized YA rom-com plot progression: character has something bad happen to them, has terrible idea, lies about terrible idea, world comes crashing down around them, and then they have to atone. This doesn't make the book itself bad, of course. It's absolutely formulaic, but Luz tells an important story with that formula that will resonate for many firstborns. The tug-of-war between finding out who you really are and being a people-pleaser is real. And for all that Build a Girlfriend follows the YA beats, it has a valid and wholehearted message about the possibility of standing up for yourself while showing love to others.



THE REALLY DEAD WIVES OF NEW JERSEY

by Astrid Dahl
Available January 14

Hope Bennett was meant to be a refreshing addition to Garden State Goddesses, a drama-saturated reality TV show centered on the wives of the Fontana family and their social circle. Hope's cousin Eden introduced her to Leo Fontana, leading to a marriage, followed by status as a Goddess. But this homegrown girl from Weed, California brings more to the table than a breath of fresh air: she brings scandal bigger than even this cast was prepared for.

As Hope attempts to navigate life with her fellow Goddesses—including the spite of Carmela and an affair with the openly bisexual Renee—she's also haunted by ghosts of her past. Her upbringing in her parents' cultish Brother God church led to tragedy in her early life, and a past love is haunting her now-active social media. The drama these different personalities stir up makes for good TV, which Eden is more than happy to exploit. But when real tragedy strikes and members of the cast begin dying around them, Eden and Renee must drop the theatrics and clear the names of the people they care about.

There is a lot going on in The Really Dead Wives of New Jersey, with the strongest storyline being the murder mystery that crops up two-thirds of the way through the book. For all its strengths, though, there's simply too much going on, and not enough thought given to making sure the book hangs together. Had it stuck to being a murder mystery doubling as a scathing (and deserved) takedown of reality TV culture, that would be one thing. But in trying to wrangle the latter, the former gets little room to breathe. There's also a Lady Whistledown-esque subplot in the form of "Shady Di," an Instagram gossip account, that feels like it doesn't get the handling it deserves. Overall, The Really Dead Wives of New Jersey is full of strong characters and has a compelling story underneath; but attempting to be so many things at once, rather than focusing on the one or two it does best, has led to it not quite sticking the landing it's aiming for.



THOSE FATAL FLOWERS

by Shannon Ives
Available January 21

Two legendary islands separated by time—the Sirenum Scopuli and the lost colony of Roanoke—are united in Those Fatal Flowers, a historical romance bridging millennia and cultures. At the center of the story is Thelia: once the companion and lover of Proserpina, now cursed to live with her sisters as a monstrous siren for the crime of not protecting the young goddess from being kidnapped by Dis. As the years roll on and the sisters suffer for Ceres's entertainment, Thelia searches for signs from her lost lover: and one day, she finds them. The sisters can be freed from their curse with a sufficient blood sacrifice, and a certain island is full of men who will make fine sacrifices for the Queen of the Underworld.

Disguised as a human princes seeking a suitor, Thelia ensconces herself in the New World colony. Amidst the residents' unfamiliar religion and rules, she initially witnesses signs that all human males will inevitably turn out as hateful and violent as Dis. But her slow-burn infatuation with Cora—a local woman who bears a striking resemblance to Proserpina—and her growing understanding of the settlement force Thelia to contend with her past preconceptions. There is indeed revenge worth seeking, but against whom?

Those Fatal Flowers appears at first glance to be front-loaded with mid-2010s gender essentialism—the belief that men can be nothing but violent and women can be nothing but their victims without literal divine intervention—but that is our narrator's initial notion, not the message of the book. Thelia is equal parts strong and flawed, her assumptions understandable but also fragile, and her journey in this story challenges even her deepest-held beliefs. The fact that she tells this story in the first person and present tense means we are always given her most current ideas. It also means we can watch those ideas be challenged and changed in real time. There are so many mythological retellings that, in their desperation to modernize, make sweeping backwards motions; this is not one of those books, though Thelia's early mindset is a clear acknowledgment that those books exist. Those Fatal Flowers shows a deep love and understanding for two foggy historical eras. And, as a Virginian who's seen my fair share of Lost Colony-inspired retellings, I was excited to see Ives do something legitimately new with the concept. Despite the darkness threaded through it, it's a book that preaches hope and second chances, especially in its final chapters.



THE ALCHEMIST OF ALEPPO

by Marie K. Savage
Available January 28

The Luck of Edenhall has always held a special fascination for Michael Salmaan and Kat Musgrave, and not just because it's a beautiful piece of art. The 14th-century glass creation marks a bond between these two strangers, as well as multiple other bonds that span generations and lifetimes. And when Michael and Kat meet in person, they can't deny the preternatural pull they feel to both the Luck and each other.

A dive into the history of the Salmaan family reveals a personal tie to the Luck: one that unveils a centuries-old alchemical marvel. The souls of lovers from hundreds of years ago are bound together by the Luck and its accompanying pieces, and Michael and Kat were instrumental in that discovery in former lives. But while some delight in reuniting with their lovers over and over again, others see their tie to the Luck as a curse. And while some simply want closure, others are willing to kill over and over again to get their revenge.

The Alchemist of Aleppo is the latest work of fiction to pay tribute to the legendary Luck of Edenhall (which is indeed a real vase on display at the V&A). The concept of the piece as a lodestone powering reincarnations for lovers across time is a wild one, and one that makes for some excellent romantic storytelling. While the complex and knotted timelines of the book are intriguing, the flow of the book is impeded by a lot of "telling" rather than "showing," with characters launching into unnatural-feeling monologues to fill in gaps. The villain of the piece has a sort of "Before I kill you, Mr. Bond" monologue toward the end, and a character introduced just before the finish line crams in a last-minute infodump that dilutes what should be a passionate scene. The concept itself is strong, as are the characters, and I hope to see Savage lean a little less into straight exposition in later works.

I'm Finally GMing a Game

 


It will always strike me as a little ironic how the people most fearful of judgment tend to go into creative fields. Of course, it's also because many of us are so desperate for validation when it comes to our creative work. It means a lot to me when someone reaches out to me and says they enjoy my writing; at the same time, being in the same room while someone reads something I've written is nerve-wracking. Back when I still did acting and improv, that immediate feedback felt good. It's different when it's writing.

Gaming straddles the line between that. As a player, it feels like improv. But running a game is somewhere between that and, you know, writing. And while I've always wanted to run games on occasion for my friends, I've also been terrified to. I've given a lot of different reasons, all of which are true to some degree. I'm worried I can't "Yes, and" fast enough at a group. I'm worried I won't be able to manage all the mechanics of a game rather than just one character sheet or playbook. But let's be real: the real reason I'm afraid of GMing is because I'm terrified that my story and setting will suck, and I'll have to watch my friends be bored and disappointed in real time.

But that's something I'm gonna have to get over, because I've committed to running a game for a small group of friends. Womp, as they say, womp.


My system of choice is Girl by Moonlight, a Forged in the Dark system published by Evil Hat. I generally like Powered by the Apocalypse/Forged in the Dark games already, as I've mentioned elsewhere, because of how much focus is put on actually embodying your character and their role in the chosen genre. (I also love advancements being a product of risk and/or failure.) GBM has the bonus of being a genre-savvy magical girl system with multiple "playsets" to make it lean in whichever direction you prefer. Friend/regular GM/housemate Phoenix is currently running a game using the "Brink of the Abyss" playset (for your Sailor Moon type stuff), and I've been enjoying how that game flows.

I'll be using the "On a Sea of Stars" playset, which mashes up magical girl tropes with mecha and space opera. That is, as has been mentioned, pretty much perfect for me. The system is relatively easy to learn, especially considering the time I've spent watching Oxventure's Blades in the Dark. The pacing of the campaign (or "season") is actually quantified using meters and dice rolls. You start players with one of two types of missions. Once a certain meter gets to a certain level, you move up to a different tier of mission. What the main threat is depends on those meters.

The nerves have been nervy, even though my chosen gaming group is three (perhaps four) very close friends who I trust to both challenge and support me. I have a setting and a story I'd like to tell, and so far the response to the little intro I wrote up has been good. It's nice to see people getting excited to build characters in a setting I made (or, more accurately, am making). It's kind of the same feeling I got when I saw other Forgotten Lives writers absolutely nail my Morbius Doctor's character. It's like being seen and understood, in a weird way.

While the anxiety is still there and likely will be until I rip off the Band-Aid and run the first session, I did have something of a Eureka Moment as I was piecing things together via the system and the playset. If you've seen GLOW, imagine the moment Debbie realized that pro wrestling is a soap opera. That was me, realizing that (at least for me) a game guide is a series bible. I'm used to working with those because of my work with Obverse (and some upcoming stuff): guidance for what you should and shouldn't do to align your own original story with the constraints of the sandbox you've been given. Once that hit me, the planning side felt a little less daunting. I'm not "learning a system" anymore: I'm consulting a series bible. And I'm an old hand at that.

It's a little awkward to admit to anxiety about GMing when so many people do this as, like, kids. I've tried it once or twice, always short-form. Once it just ended badly because I didn't know how to do it; once was to beta-test a game and it was still messy because I still didn't know how to do it. But now, between games I've been in and games I've watched, I've had so many good examples of chill GMs and supportive players. This is pretty much the only capital-R Resolution I made for 2025. I will report back on how this goes, both how I like running GBM and how the game itself goes, if I survive.