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Sword of Audantei by Ashley Holmquist, an epic Author Q&A

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I’m excited to share an epic author Q&A with Ashley Holmquist today for her upcoming book, Sword of Audantei!!

Cannot go wrong with an epic new fantasy series, and this one sounds totally thrilling. Plus, it’s definitely catching some of my fave tropes there (helloooo enemies to found family).

Legendborn meets The Sword of Kaigen in this captivating YA fantasy epic. Incorporating ancient legends and a mystical atmosphere, book one in the Artifacts of Anarchy series will transport readers on an extraordinary journey full of magic, betrayal, redemption arcs, and belonging. Will Danilo discover his true destiny and uncover the truth behind Audantei’s dark past? Sword of Audantei is perfect for fans of C.S. Pacat & Dune. Out on October 12th, 2023!

Read it for:
♡ Found family
♡ Elemental magic
♡ Enemies to family
♡ Desert setting
♡ Magic sword
♡ Grumpy dad/ hyperactive son

Get ready to be swept up in a captivating fantasy of high stakes and vivid world building, as we follow Danilo on an unforgettable journey.

Thank you to MTMC Tours for having me on the tour!

Hi Ashley, I’m so excited to have the chance to chat with you about your gorgeous debut, Sword Of Audantei! Can you tell us a little about your publishing journey, from first idea to finished book in our hands?

The initial brainstorm for the Artifacts of Anarchy started in 2019. It was largely inspired by Assassin’s Creed and split into two or three novels. Today the series has developed into a series of five that reads more like Lord of the Rings meets Six of Crows, with a hint of Legendborn.

As Sword of Audantei morphed between these ideas, I enjoyed building a community of writers and authors who encouraged me to continue writing my story. A few of them even helped to develop my novel into its current work.

The actual publishing journey has been fairly wild from beginning to, well, I’d say end but it never truly ends does it! Between novel formatting to copywriting, the publishing process has challenged the extent of my administrative skills and forced them even further. It has been a change to grow as both an author and an individual. In fact, since beginning my publishing journey, I’ve found my personal goals have shifted and I’ve taken on an active role in pursuing even the ‘mundane’ tasks.

What drew you to writing fantasy and what was your favourite part of creating your world?

I’ve always been a fan of fantasy. My dad started that obsession at a young age with The Princess Bride, and from there it became Lord of the Rings, Pirates of the Caribbean, and honestly so many more. So it’s not entirely surprising that my first book is fantasy.

My favourite part of creating my world? I genuinely love researching and piecing together information to create a life-like world. I’m a detail-oriented person, and I find it satisfying when all the details connect.

Tell us 3 random facts about Danilo!

He hates bread
He prefers to be underestimated, despite his reputation
If you were to classify him into an animal-lover category, he’d be a “horse girl”

When do you usually write and what is your writing space like?

I usually write anywhere I can. My life is full and busy, there’s always some sort of chaotic background noise claiming the air of whatever writing space I choose. More often than not, I’m at the dining room table with my headphones cranked. And if that happens to not be working that day, I’ll carve out a little time before bed and light a candle.

Can we beg for a hint about what you’re working on next?

I’m actually working on the sequel to the Artifacts of Anarchy series. And while I don’t have too much to share at this point in the book’s progress, I will share the following.

Danilo, having been sent to the Untamed North to aid Borak in his search for the Helmet of Nithar, meets a hauntingly familiar person from his past. Can he remain objective to the mission when his buried past continues to resurface? Meanwhile, the Medumara learn of Borak’s search. With the promise of more power, they send the Dagger of Mara after them.

And lastly! What have been some of your favourite author moments so far?

I think my favourite author moment has been the moment I held the book in my hand. After years of writing, rewriting, deciding on art, and finding an editor, when you get to the printing stage, you’ve almost forgotten what you sent out to accomplish. Getting the book and flipping through its pages, gives you a surreal feeling of accomplishment.

Thanks so much for all the amazing answers, Ashley!! And congrats on your new novel. ❤️

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ashley Holmquist is a first-time author of the mystical fantasy-adventure series—Artifacts of Anarchy. Her short stories have been published in multiple online magazines.She’s the eldest of five gremlin children, a socially-awkward Christian, and a book hoarder. She has been a racehorse owner, a counselling major, an office manager, an interior designer, and has travelled to multiple countries. She is also an avid gamer, so long as the video game is a solo experience. Ashley’s writing thrives in loud and chaotic surroundings that are usually impossible to focus in. And despite that success, her writing is best done in her quiet church office, where her flawed characters can live in untamed, unabashed ruthlessness in an attempt to hide their soft hearts. Website | Instagram | TikTok

Lieutenant Commander Danilo Altamura is torn between his commitment to his city and his desperate desire to escape the clutches of his deranged father, High General Llodis Altamura. When Danilo’s blood bonds with a powerful Stormthrower sword, Llodis labels him a traitor and he flees to Audantei’s deadly alleyways, where survival means staying hidden. But after stumbling upon an unexpected incident during Audantei’s notorious Hanging Day, his world takes a dark and twisted turn.
Seeking refuge among Audantei’s enemies, the Stormthrowers, Danilo strikes a deal with their reticent leader, Enzo Sapienti. In exchange for safety, Danilo finds himself a captive among the most dangerous of their kind.
As secrets unravel and loyalties shift, Danilo’s dormant magic is awakened, revealing the true extent of his exile. When the Stormthrowers capture Llodis, they discover the vengeful Royal Beseecher hunts Danilo, leaving him to choose which fate to Enzo’s threats or the tantalizing promises of his father.
Incorporating ancient legends and a mystical atmosphere, “Sword of Audantei” will transport young adult readers on an extraordinary journey. Will Danilo discover his true destiny and uncover the truth behind Audantei’s dark past? Find out in this captivating fantasy epic that will leave you breathless.

Amazon | Goodreads

out October 12th, 2023

Her Radiant Curse by Elizabeth Lim, A Lush Mythological Fantasy Prequel

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Time to fall back into the world of Six Crimson Cranes with this lush new fantasy prequel.

When you open Her Radiant Curse, you’re immediately thrown into the gorgeous prose and vivdly descriptive world of a classic Elizabeth Lim story. There’s such a fairy tale quality to it. It reads like getting lost in a myth where there are talking snakes and shapeshifting demons and an innocent girl who asked for none of the misfortunate about to befall her. This is the tale of two sisters (one beautiful and one monstrous) and their complex relationship that sets off an unstoppable chain of events.

Channi is only two-years-old when she’s cursed by a tiger and saved by a snake. It is the catalyst for an unfair future in a world were beauty is perceived as everything and women with snake-like features are hidden and shunned. And in true fairy tale fashion, Channi’s little sister is so gorgeous that kings and rich rules from all over the world are literally lining up to marry her, creating a polarising contrast between the sisters. All Channi wants is to break her curse, but first she must kill the tiger and figure out a way to to save her sister. Because either she stays cursed, or the demon gets her sister.

“I’m already a monster. What fear need I have of the Demon Witch?”

It is such a tale of sisterhood, of Channi and Vanna’s unbreakable bond that is just so rooted in love and affection for each other. The ending had me feeling way too many things–though of course this is the “step-mother origin story” from Six Crimson Cranes, so I knew a little of what would happen. I do think you can read this without having read SCC though!!

“A promise is not a kiss in the wind, to be thrown about without care. It is a piece of yourself that is given away and will not return until your pledge is fulfilled. Understand?”

Read it for:
♡ fairy tales and myths coming to life
♡ talking mythological creatures like serpent kings and dragons
♡ complex villains
♡ female rage
♡ face-paced plot with plenty of action
♡ deep sisterly love
♡ a girl who would destroy the world to save her sister
♡ imaginative and pretty fantasy world descriptions

A fairy tale not to be missed, this is a beautifully told story that will take you through a roller-coaster of emotions as you are swept up in a world of Asian mythology.

Thank you to Hachette Australia for the review copy!

From the New York Times bestselling author of Six Crimson Cranes comes a tale of two sisters – one as beautiful as the other is monstrous – who must fight to save each other when a betrothal contest gone wrong unleashes an evil that could sever their bond forever.
One must fall for the other to rise.
Channi was not born a monster. But when her own father offers her in sacrifice to the Demon Witch, she is forever changed. Cursed with a serpent’s face, Channi is the exact opposite of her beautiful sister, Vanna-the only person in the village who looks at Channi and doesn’t see a monster. The only person she loves and trusts.
Now seventeen, Vanna is to be married off in a vulgar contest that will enrich the coffers of the village leaders. Only Channi, who’s had to rely on her strength and cunning all these years, can defend her sister against the cruelest of the suitors. But in doing so, she becomes the target of his wrath – launching a grisly battle royale, a quest over land and sea, a romance between sworn enemies, and a choice that will strain Channi’s heart to its breaking point.

goodreads | dymocks | amazon | hachette aus

published august 29th, 2023

Twin Crowns & Cursed Crowns by Catherine Doyle and Katherine Webber (lighthearted fantasy romp!)

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If you’re looking for a lighthearted fantasy series, you want to try the Twin Crowns books!

I’ve been reading Twin Crowns and the sequel, Cursed Crowns, this year and they’re such pretty books! The style of fantasy gives me both fairy tale and Disney vibes–you’ll get all the drama and romance and banter you could ask for, with some feelsy moments as a bonus. I appreciate that they’re written with a younger-YA feel, which is so needed, because a lot of YA fantasy seems pretty aged up these days. This would be perfect for ages 12+ teens.

Twin Crowns, book 1, introduces us to two sisters: Rose (queen) and Wren (witch). They’re twins, separated at birth, and while Rose is “ruling” under manipulative guidance, Wren has been training with her witch powers to someday steal back the throne and release the kingdom from its oppressive rule. Wren knows Rose exists…but Rose has been left in the dark to the fact she has a sister. The story is part court-politics and part adventure-fantasy-romp as Rose gets kidnapped by Wren’s witchy people and taken back to their town, while Wren impersonates Rose for the crown as part of her scheme.

The sisters are both very dynamic characters. Rose is toffy and posh, definitely your classic-style princess, while Wren is bitter and impulsive. She will dive into danger. She will swim in it. Cannot be stopped!!

The books are quite long and not fast-paced, so readers who enjoy books that take their time will love this style. And of course there’s plenty of magic, witchy machinations, and a little romance as Rose develops feelings for her unwilling kidnapper, Shen, (aka Wren’s BFF) and Wren starts getting heart-eyes for a guard.

Cursed Crowns takes off pretty much straight after book one finishes. Now that the girls have things “sorted” and are in the castle together, they’ve got a lot of clean up from everything that went down in the finale of the last book to figure out. They’re still learning how to mesh together as estranged sisters, since their personalities are like ice and fire. There’s also pain to deal with, allies and people they love now gone or taken, and there’s still unrest in their kingdom. Everyone has been taught to believe witches are evil and must be stamped out, so now it’s up to Wren and Rose to change public opinion considering they are both, well, witches. And trying to rule here.

The story ends up splitting up the sisters again for separate quests, and I do wish they’d stayed together so we could’ve seen how they grow and develop. But there was a lot of ground to cover in this one. I appreciated Shen got more of a plot line too (love Shen!) and Wren takes off to do a bit of necromancy and get thoroughly out of her depth in the enemy kingdom. The tone is still light though, with plenty of banter and quips. Lots of girlpower and sister bonds and it leaves everything wide open for book 3.

A fun series with all the well-known fantasy tropes and quips, perfect for those who love both adventure and queens and sisterly bonds in their fantasy books.

Thank you to HarperCollins Australia for the review copies!

Wren Greenrock has always known that one day she would steal her sister’s place in the palace. Trained from birth to return to the place of her parents’ murder and usurp the only survivor, she will do anything to rise to power and protect the community of witches she loves. Or she would, if only a certain palace guard wasn’t quite so distractingly attractive, and if her reckless magic didn’t have a habit of causing trouble…
Princess Rose Valhart knows that with power comes responsibility. Marriage into a brutal kingdom awaits, and she will not let a small matter like waking up in the middle of the desert in the company of an extremely impertinent (and handsome) kidnapper get in the way of her royal duty. But life outside the palace walls is wilder and more beautiful than she ever imagined, and the witches she has long feared might turn out to be the family she never knew she was missing.
Two sisters separated at birth and raised into entirely different worlds are about to get to know each other’s lives a whole lot better. But as coronation day looms closer and they each strive to claim their birthright, the sinister Kingsbreath, Willem Rathborne, becomes increasingly determined that neither will succeed. Who will ultimately rise to power and wear the crown?

goodreads | dymocks | amazon | harpercollins

published may 3rd, 2023

the skull by jon klassen (the cosy gothic children’s book you need)

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When I say I am obsessed with The Skull by Jon Klassen, I am. Can we say cosy gothic?! Because it is.

This is a beautifully illustrated, dark and yet cosy, folktale about a girl who runs away and finds a mysterious abandoned mansion inhabited only by a skull. There is just such spooky whimsy on the pages, and it delivers the store in such a factual and endearing way. It’s retold from the original Tyrolean tale (I had to look this up, and it’s Austrian!) and I love how, at the end, the author talked about how this is how folktales should be passed down: each time they’re told and shared and spoken, they change a little. Stories truly do have a life of their own and every time we speak them, they grow that little bit more.

The story is perfect for younger readers with large, easy-to-read font. It’s also a quick read and not at all intimidating. On the spookier side? A little. I would’ve lapped this up as a kid too, because please yes talk to me about skeletons and abandoned mansions and bottomless holes in the ground under the house. And I found it equally enjoyable as an adult.

Jon Klassen’s art style is also absolutely incredible and I adore it. Macabre whimsy and soft tones; you just want to live in amongst the pages.

Do you need this book? Absolutely. It will live rent free in my head and I would like infinite books with this aesthetic. Gothic, cosy, and memorable.

Thank you to Walker Books Australia for the review copy!

Caldecott Medalist and #1 New York Times best-selling author-illustrator Jon Klassen delivers a deliciously macabre treat for folktale fans.
In a big abandoned house, on a barren hill, lives a skull. A brave girl named Otilla has escaped from terrible danger and run away, and when she finds herself lost in the dark forest, the lonely house beckons. Her host, the skull, is afraid of something too, something that comes every night. Can brave Otilla save them both? Steeped in shadows and threaded with subtle wit – with rich, monochromatic artwork and an illuminating author’s note – The Skull is as empowering as it is mysterious and foreboding.

goodreads | dymocks | walkerbooks

published July 7th, 2023

this summer’s secrets by emily barr (twisted and mysterious rich family saga)

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When a book is about old mansions and extravagantly rich families and their secrets…you know things are about to go down. And like, probably not legal things. 😂 I do have a soft spot for books about unhinged rich families, and I was very curious to dive into this. I read Emily Barr’s The One Memory Of Flora Banks back in in 2017 and I remember finding that fascinating, so I was curious about this latest release. This Summer’s Secrets centres around the mansion called Cliff House and the generational secrets buried there (literally). It’s a family saga as it covers three time frames (1940s, 1980s, and present day) and gives us a detailed view of the Roberts family and their complicated past and all the things they don’t want anyone to know.

In the present day, the story is mostly told by Senara, an outsider who has befriended the old, crotchety matriarch of Cliff House, Martha. Then Martha’s children and grandchildren visit because they’re worried Martha is about to write them out of the will. Senara gets sucked into the swirl of their extravagant life, latching on to a nebulous friendship with Clementine who is spoiled and bratty but sweeps everyone up with her magnetic personality. Josie, Senara’s friend also narrates, and she realises her family might be involved in some of the secrets that happened in Cliff House’s past so she’s keen to investigate. She also has far less tolerance for the privilege of the rich and her life is pretty hard as she cares for her disabled mother and is figuring out her sexuality. (Some really nice sapphic rep here too!)

There are bones in the garden and rowdy parties and the butterflies of first romance and secrets from the past that come back to haunt everyone. There are a lot of narrators and side-character names to keep track of, but if you like the wide scope of family sagas, this one might be for you! It also reads slice-of-life at times, going for a slowburn unveiling of the mysteries rather than a speedy thriller vibe. It definitely gave me We Were Liars vibes too.

With mysteries to solve, and legacies to unravel, This Summer’s Secrets makes for a compelling summer read.

Thank you to Penguin Australia for the review copy!

ONE HOT SUMMER, FIRST LOVE AND SO MANY BURIED SECRETS . . .
Senara has never been in love before. She’s not done anything exciting before. Always the sidekick . . . Until the summer that changes everything.
Cliff House is closed off for most of the year until its rich Londoner owners come down to Cornwall for the summer. This year, despite herself, Senara finds herself pulled into this world of wealth and ease, sunbathing and beautiful people. She even finds herself falling in love for the first time.
But Cliff House and its owners are hiding things. They’ve been hiding things for too long and now, despite all their efforts, their secrets are coming out . . . Secrets that involve Senara’s friends and her family in a way she could never have imagined.

goodreads | amazon | penguin aus

published June 13th, 2023

liar’s beach by katie cotugno (rich people problems mystery thriller)

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If you’re looking for a whodunnit mixed with the addictive spiral of rich people problems, this one is for you. It made me reminiscent of We Were Liars, but this one comes with an Agatha Christy retelling style bent. We follow Michael Linden on break from boarding school and eagerly accepting his rich roommate’s offer to vacation at his mansion. Linden is obsessed with the life of the wealthy and it’s all he dreams about achieving. But he also has a lot to hide, like a) he isn’t wealthy, in fact his mum cleans rich people’s houses, and b) the only reason he’s in a fancy boarding school is because of a sport scholarship and he’s just busted his foot and isn’t sure if he’ll ever play again.

Linden was an intriguing character for me, you can empathise with him and also ask yourself why he’s doing all these contortions just to fit into this world where wealthy people play games with money and life and nothing can touch them. He has a huge crush on his bestie’s sister, who is very enigmatic and plays the part of the manic pixie dream girl, always reading pretentious books and flirting just enough to reel Linden in but not confirm she likes him back. And then there’s a lot of family drama going on at his friend’s mansion that has to do with the neighbours and jail time and embezzlement. Linden was going to stay right out of that except…there’s an accident. A body is in the pool and they rescue the person, barely alive. Now there’s a mystery to solve and Linden must team up with his childhood estranged friend, Holiday, to dig deep into things he maaaaybe doesn’t want to find out.

It is definitely a mystery, but not actually a murder mystery as the person in the pool was still alive when they found them. Linden takes a bit more of a side-kick place, while Holiday does the investigating, which is reminiscent of the old mystery classics. It’s also a short read, which kept up the tension nicely.

A YA thriller with a classic mystery vibe, the insidious secrets of the rich, and an ending that begs for a sequel!

Thank you to Penguin Australia for the review copy!

A fresh new take on Agatha Christie’s classic murder mystery The Mysterious Affair at Styles , with iconic detective Hercule Poirot recast as a brilliant, brash teen girl named Holiday, and narrated by her childhood friend Linden, an athlete-scholar who fits right in at his elite New England prep school—all the while hiding some secrets of his own.
Michael Linden—or just Linden to his preppy boarding school pals—doesn’t belong in wealthy, storied Martha’s Vineyard. But when his roommate Jasper invites him to spend the end of summer at his massive beachfront home, August House, Linden tries his best to fit in. Linden wouldn’t call it lying, exactly. Though it turns out August House is full of liars.
Then someone is found unconscious in Jasper’s pool, and everyone has something to hide—Jasper, his beautiful sister Eliza, their older brother Wells, and their friends. The accident is written off as just that—an accident—but Linden begins to wonder…
Holiday Proctor. Linden’s childhood friend, and the one person on the island who knows the truth about Linden. There’s nothing Holiday loves more than a good old-fashioned mystery and she’s convinced there’s a potential killer on the Vineyard. The only question is…who?

goodreads | amazon | penguin aus

published May 5th, 2023

announcing the new title for my 2024 YA Horror — Don’t Let The Forest In

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My upcoming YA horror has a new title…Introducing DON’T LET THE FOREST IN.

Coming Fall 2024 from Feiwel & Friends!

I seriously can’t wait for you all to read this It’s achingly dark and lovely and ruinous. Think: boarding school, monstrous art coming alive, codependent angst boys, botanical body horror, and a forest that wants to eat your eyes. It also has ace/bi rep and mental health themes.

I’ve just finished another round of edits (my editor is the best) and had first talks about cover artists, so my current mood is a silent excited scream!! Getting a US book deal was a huge dream of line and I did it. Official blurb and release date haven’t been released yet, but you can add it on Goodreads and of course follow me on Instagram where I’m most active in talking about my upcoming writing projects.

Am counting down till I can lovingly ruin your lives in 2024.

His ribs were a cage for monsters and they cut their teeth on his bones.

 

Graphic designed by the incredible @thereaderandthechef!

the isle of the gods by amie kaufman (seafaring adventure of gods and magic)

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Gods, quests, seafaring adventures…The Isle Of The Gods delivers. This comes with a classic YA fantasy vibe that is both comfortable and familiar and easy to get lost in. Despite being over 400 pages, I flew through this one, and it does have the kind of ending that’s going to leave you hankering for a sequel.

One very interesting thing about it is definitely the world-building. It had this gaslamp historical fantasy vibe that felt reminiscent of our world (in the slang, the dollars, etc) but is still thoroughly a second-world fantasy. Like they have automobiles but also classic old-fashioned style ships. Enter lore and legends and magic systems with elemental spirits and slumbering gods, there is a lot to keep readers intrigued. I also admit my attention got snagged by the boys’ backstories–anyone else really interested in the prince’s school escapades with Keegan and Jude?! Because I would love a book on that.

“It’s not that I thought I’d live forever. I just didn’t expect this kind of advance notice about when I was going to die.”

We have quite a few of narrators, but I would definitely say Selly stole the show. She is your tough-as-bricks sailor girl who just wants to prove her mettle and also ditch life a lowlife deckhand and take her place at her father’s side. Then we have Leander, the sassy flirty prince who is not-so-keen on his destiny that includes a quest to the isle of gods. His old schoolmate (and total nerd) Keegan is an unintentional addition to the adventure. Then there’s Jude, a complicated teen who just wants to protect his family, but is forced to do the bidding of a gang lord. And Laskia, sister of the gang lord, who is helping her sister start a war.

Selly begrudgingly helps Leander on his quest to the gods, outwitting the terrorists who want him dead so they can start a war, there’s also so many chase scenes and fights and epic displays of magic. It also definitely delivers on the sailing and ships part, which was fun, and while they didn’t spend a lot of time with the gods, I was really intrigued when that part rolled around at the end. I think that’ll come out to play in a bigger way in the sequel.

If you’re after a YA fantasy with banter and seafaring journeys and stubborn magic with a tentative romance of yearning, this one is for you!

Thank you to Allen & Unwin for the review copy!

Magic, romance, and slumbering gods clash in the start of a riveting fantasy series spanning gangsters’ dens, forgotten temples, and the high seas from the New York Times bestselling author of the Illuminae Files and the Aurora Cycle.
Selly has saltwater in her veins. So when her father leaves her high and dry in the port of Kirkpool, she has no intention of riding out the winter at home while he sails to adventure in the north seas. But any plans to follow him are dashed when a handsome stranger with tell-tale magician’s marks on his arms commandeers her ship under cover of darkness: He is Prince Leander of Alinor, and he needs to cross the Crescent Sea without detection so he can complete a ritual on the sacred Isles of the Gods.
Selly has no desire to escort a spoiled prince anywhere, and no time for his entitled demands or his good looks. But what starts as a leisure cruise will lead to acts of treason and sheer terror on the high seas, bringing two countries to the brink of war, two strangers closer than they ever thought possible and two dangerous gods stirring from centuries of slumber…

goodreads | amazon | allen & unwin

published 2nd May 2023

a hunger of thorns by lili wilkinson – corrupt witchy magic and twisted forest underworlds

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If you’re looking for a book that embodies dark whimsy…A Hunger of Thorns is calling to you. It gave me huge vibes of “what if alice in wonderland was sapphic and full of witches and corrupt magic” and it delivers just that. This is a tale of fairy tales turned toxic, love turned obsession, desperate quests and unlikely allies. It lingers on the edge of horror tbh, and since I’m in a horror-mood, I really appreciated that angle.

The story is told by Maude who is a witch who has lost her magic…and she’s also lost her best friend to a mysterious shut-down power plant that is festering with corrupt magic. Maude and Odette’s relationship is complicated and bordering on toxic. Maude has been deeply in love with Odette ever since they were children, but Odette has grown up sharp-edged and crass. They haven’t been friends for a while when she goes missing, but that doesn’t stop Maude pledging to find her. Plus there are pieces missing in Maude’s memory and also in the history they’ve always been told about magic and witches. Throw in a complicated relationship with Maude’s long-dead mother (a twisted, possibly bad witch–or was she?) and two sapphic grandmothers who love Maude deeply but maybe are keeping things from her…and you have a plot threaded in mystery. Maude is also a very morally grey character, driven by a creepy obsessive love but who is also very loyal.

The world building was super interesting too, as it’s a similar-to-our-world-but-not-quite. It feels a bit like Britain/Ireland but it’s a world separate to our own.

The writing is super lyrical and reminded me of fairy tales, but again, with that twist of macabre whimsy. Egg moons and thrupenny biscuits and all the tea you could ask for (because doesn’t tea fix everything!!). When we end up deep in the toxic wasteland of the power plant, the descriptions grow wild and woolly just like the atmosphere and there is so much to explore. There are plenty of monsters to face–but physical and metaphorical.

Definitely a story to pick up if you like fairy tales on the darker side and sapphic witches and falling deep into worlds of twisted magic and wild, wild sentient forests. The sticklewood is here and it will get its hooks in you.

Thank you to Allen & Unwin for the review copy!

Maude is the daughter of witches. She spent her childhood running wild with her best friend, Odette, weaving stories of girls who slayed dragons and saved princes. Then Maude grew up and lost her magic – and her best friend. Storytelling is her only gift that remains.
Odette always hungered for forbidden, dangerous magic, and two weeks ago she went searching for it. Now she’s missing, and everyone believes she’s dead. Everyone except Maude.
Maude is sure she can find Odette inside the ruins of Sicklehurst, an abandoned power plant built over an ancient magical forest –a place nobody else seems to remember is there. The danger is, nobody knows what remains inside Sicklehurst, either. And every good story is sure to have a monster…

goodreads | amazon | allen & unwin

published 18 Apr 2023

fourth wing by rebecca yarros – the hype of deadly dragon schools

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The hype for Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros has been very very real. All you have to do is say DRAGONS and you know I will be showing up ready to devour every page. I had the absolute pleasure of being part of the MTMC cover reveal for Fourth Wing too, so like 😌 am here being trendy before it exploded all over the book community in all its firey, raging badassery glory.

The dragons did not fail me! I enjoyed this one. It is a hefty tome at over 500 pages but keeps up an engaging and stellar pace throughout. It has a ton of familiar tropes with a magic school setting, quests, training sequences, and high-risk battle scenes (and of course romance too) and I think that worked well for it. Enjoyable and yet familiar.

The story follows Violet Sorrengail who has a connective tissue disorder (yay for disabled main characters!!) and has spent her whole life ready to go into the Scribe Academy…only for her unforgiving, cold and callous mother to sentence her to join the Riders Quadrant instead. Basically: if you’re not super smart and tough = you die. The challenges are wickedly hard, the chances of landing a dragon slim. Not only do you have to survive brutal training but other cadets will pick you off so there’s more chance for them to score a dragon. Basically: Violet is screwed…except she refuses to die.

Violet is so easily loveable — she has that main character tenacity and clever wit, but she’s not entitled or irritatingly snarky. She recognises her weaknesses but doesn’t feel weak and she doesn’t consider herself broken. (Though I will say I don’t think disabled characters should have to work twice as hard to survive, but this was definitely a survival story.) I was just rooting for Violet the whole way through.

And can I just say I LOVE TAIRN. He is a grumpy old dragon and totally snipey and done with all these petty squawking little human problems. Tairn x Violet’s relationship is everything. 😂

There’s also plenty of magic, lots of badass fight scenes, not to mention flight scenes and academia elements too. The only thing I’m not keen on in epic fantasy is overly modern dialogue/slang, but that’s just a personal preference for me.

And we cannot miss talking about the amazing side characters. 😩💛 Rhiannon was an instant favourite bestie and loved getting to know Ridoc and Liam (um Liam is a sweetheart!?) Dain walks in as Violet’s childhood BFF and they have a lot of history, but his love for her is very brotherly and overbearing–he is so scared she’ll die that cannot see her as anything but fragile and never believes in her. I kind of liked how he fit into the story, as almost an antagonist but not a villain. It’s just an interestingly complex dynamic between them. And okay we have to talk about Xaden Riorson — son of a traitor, branded, dark and tortured past, merciless and cold and withdrawn…an absolute bad boy (but with a heart of gold). There’s enemies-to-lovers vibes here but it’s not toxic, which I appreciated. He has so much reason to hate Violet because of who her mother is and the suffering she’s wrought…so Violet and Xaden’s connection is super slowburn and then they get irrevocably tangled. You will be INVESTED. Love Xaden. 😭 Boy deserves to catch a break though.

Fourth Wing is powerful and captivating fantasy that flourishes in familiar fantasy ground while being full of bright personality, high-stakes, disability rep, and the best dragons you could ask for. 

Thank you to Hachette Australia for the ARC!

Dragons, war and Hunger Games-esque trials. Fourth Wing is a high-stakes, enemies-to-lovers fantasy romance perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo and Sarah J Maas. Welcome to the brutal and elite world of Basgiath War College, where everyone has an agenda, and every night could be your last . . .
Twenty-year-old Violet Sorrengail was supposed to enter the Scribe Quadrant, living a quiet life among books and history. Now, the commanding general – also known as her tough-as-talons mother – has ordered Violet to join the hundreds of candidates striving to become the elite of Navarre: dragon riders.
But when you’re smaller than everyone else and your body is brittle, death is only a heartbeat away . . . because dragons don’t bond to ‘fragile’ humans. They incinerate them.
With fewer dragons willing to bond than cadets, most would kill Violet to better their own chances of success. The rest would kill her just for being her mother’s daughter – like Xaden Riorson, the most powerful and ruthless wingleader in the Riders Quadrant.
She’ll need every edge her wits can give her just to see the next sunrise.
Yet, with every day that passes, the war outside grows more deadly, the kingdom’s protective wards are failing, and the death toll continues to rise. Even worse, Violet begins to suspect leadership is hiding a terrible secret.
Alliances will be forged. Lives will be lost. Traitors will become allies . . . or even lovers. But sleep with one eye open because once you enter, there are only two ways out: graduate or die.

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