At once a book within a book and a real-life dive into a fantasy story, the novel offers adventure and a quest; an everyday person in an extraordinary situation; secret identities; a ragtag, loyal group of friends; twists; and a forbidden romance with No Swooning. Maggie has long leaned on rereading her favorite fantasy series for comfort and security. She eagerly awaits the final book in the series, and by now she feels like she personally knows the characters and world of K

The second book in the series takes big swings with two large-scale mysteries (one that is hauntingly realistic and one that feels more outlandish) that only the wonderfully peculiar, genius PAR unit members of the FBI can solve. The mysteries take most of the focus, but we also witness some character development that I loved. The initial installment of John McMahon's police procedural series introduced Gardner Camden, a genius, socially awkward leader, and the rest of his sp

This second and final installment of Faizal's young adult duology emphasizes on the power of found family over blood ties; reveals chilling, ambitious, ruthless plans for creating a horde of vampires; and pushes characters to sacrifice for love. The first installment in Hafsah Faizal's young adult Blood and Tea series offered intriguing secrets, a swirling mystery, terrible betrayal, heartwarming found family, steady action, and vampires. That book ended with the city reeling

The fifth in Maureen Johnson's Truly Devious young adult mystery series showcases Stevie Bell's instincts, doggedness, and ability to uncover the truth, this time in London while she and her friends visit Stevie's long-distance boyfriend David and investigate a decades-old double murder in a group of Cambridge friends. In the fifth in Maureen Johnson's Truly Devious series, skilled amateur high school sleuth Stevie Bell is in denial about her senior-year to-do list. She is ov

I feel compelled to see this series through to its end. The Robin-Strike tension is finally spoken aloud, although not resolved, and the...

This first installment in the series sets up an overlooked princess who becomes a heroine; deadly monsters who may be being treated...

The first book in Hodgson's trilogy is smart, mysterious, charming, and layered. I loved the dark academia setting; the brilliant,...

The shadowy, eerie tone of the first title in Gillig's Stonewater Kingdom series gives way to heartwarming, sometimes funny moments as an...

In the second installment of the series, retired CIA agents build stronger bonds with each other in rural Maine while assisting (and...

While Veronica and Stoker stay close to home while entering into danger and solving the mysteries in book six of this series, Raybourn...

The first in the author's young adult steampunk Finishing School series offers wonderful, typically strong Carriger women with unique...

While I probably should stop reading "romantasy" because I prefer my fantasy and romance to remain separate, I was taken with the...

Royalty, Intrigue, and Magically Wonderful Stories It's tough to fall in love with the first book in a series and then twiddle thumbs...

I loved the premise, in which a golden girl and barrel-racer returns home to small-town Wyoming to figure out her future. I was looking...

The playful tone and clever main protagonist in Olivia Waite's science-fiction novella make for an appealing mystery and lay the...

The pacing of The Life We Bury built from slow and steady to a whirlwind. It always seemed clear that we would have clean resolutions to...

I love a frigid setting, and Rene Denfeld's The Child Finder immerses the reader in an icy, wild forest as instinctive, savvy, and...

I loved the worldbuilding and the headstrong, powerful loose cannon of Nahri, as well as the Middle Eastern fantasy setting. I found...

Killers of a Certain Age was darkly funny, action-packed, feminist, and friend-focused. I love the second installment's return to my...

This slim, debut novel about a small-town community in northern Maine introduces various faulted, interconnected characters making their...