Peasreads: Deathly Fates by Tesia Tsai

 

Tesia Tsai has woven a story so beautifully that I read it in two days. A story about duty, honor, love, letting go, and holding on. Fighting for what you love and knowing when to let go is best. Siying is a priestess who is tasked with guiding the deceased to their resting places. She lives in a kingdom that is in the midst of war. She takes on a job to bring a soldier to his home across the border. The soldier turns out to be the missing crown prince. When she reanimates him, he comes to life. Though not completely, she soon finds out that he needs qi to actually stay alive. They set off on a journey to bring him home, gathering purified qi along the way.

I do hope @illumicrate it @fairyloot will do a special edition of this one I can't wait to have a copy on my bookshelves.

Description

A sweeping debut inspired by the Chinese folk practice of necromancy, Deathly Fates is perfect for fans of Descendant of the Crane, The Bone Shard Daughter, and A Magic Steeped in Poison.

As a priestess paid to guide the deceased home, Kang Siying has never feared death. But when her beloved father collapses, Siying realizes that even she is not free from the cruel grasp of mortality. Desperate to provide her father with the medical aid he needs, Siying accepts a dangerous job that promises a generous commission, and travels to a hostile state to retrieve the corpse of a missing prince.

But the moment Siying places her reanimation talisman on the dead prince's head, rather than make the corpse obedient to Siying's commands, the talisman brings the prince back to life. Worse, he won't stay alive for long—not unless he absorbs enough qi, or life force, to keep his soul anchored to his body.

In return for a reward worth twice her original commission, Siying agrees to aid the frustratingly handsome prince in finding and purifying evil spirits for their qi. But as they journey across the countryside, encountering vengeful ghosts and enemy spies alike, they gradually uncover dark secrets about the prince's death—secrets that could endanger both Siying's father and their entire kingdom.

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I received this egalley from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | Wednesday Books I was under no obligation to give a review. All opinions are my own. 

Peasreads: Selkie by Nataly Gruender

More Selkie books please! I like Selkie lore and this one is from the author of Medusa which I really enjoyed (so good!). This wasn't as good o ONLY because it was a little rushed in the end and I didn't want it to end! From the start I if course was angry for Quinn, I saw red when she was held against her will. I understood her feelings towards those adults around her. It made me sad. Reading her journey was so so good though. This didn't end like I thought it might, I'm sad about that but also happy with how it ended for some of the characters. Not happy for others. It was a quick read. I started it yesterday. Finished it today. 

Thank you NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for this egalley. I was not obligated to leave a review. All opinions are my own 

Description

From the author of Medusa comes a beautiful and emotional story featuring a selkie: a mythological creature who can turn from a seal into a human. 

Seven years ago, Quinn finally dared to transform from a seal into a human and took her first steps on land. As a selkie, she is both a daughter of land and sea. But when a human stole her pelt, he stole her freedom as well, forcing Quinn to become his wife and bear his children. As legend tells, capturing a selkie will bring you luck, and she became a coveted prize.  

Constrained to a life that was no longer her own, Quinn longed for nothing more than to find her pelt and seize her freedom. Then one day, her eldest daughter hands Quinn her pelt and without a second thought, Quinn snatches it and escapes to the sea. But she's no longer used to swimming and doesn't know where her herd has gone. And after an almost disastrous encounter with her former husband, leaving her severely injured, Quinn doesn't have the strength to go searching.  

Instead, she finds herself taking shelter on a nearby island with a lighthouse and three lighthouse keepers. Quinn doesn't trust humans anymore and wants to stay hidden from the keepers. But she can't survive on her own. Can she learn to trust these humans and shed her hatred of all humankind? Or will she give into her fears and accept the monstrous fate that others have bestowed upon her? 

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I received this book from NetGalley for this review. I was under no obligation to give a positive review. All opinions are  my own.

Peasreads: The Invisible Wild by Nikki Van De Car

 

My first time reading a book by this author. It was an excellent read. I laughed, I cried, and I was overwhelmed by the beauty and mystery of Nikki Van De Car's Hawaii. The relationships in this story from the teen friendships, teens and siblings, to teens and their parents are written so well. Hearing about Hawaii this way makes me both want to go and want to protect it for it's people. What a moving read.

Pub Date May 06 2025 

Running Press | Running Press Kids

An epic adventure steeped in Hawaiian lore, this enchanting novel explores the connection between our world and that of the spirits of the wood, from bestselling author Nikki Van De Car.

According to legend, when the kanaka 'ōiwi sailed over two thousand miles across untraveled seas to the most remote island chain in the world, they encountered another people living there. They were two to three feet tall, squat and strong, good and kind, and bothered no one without cause—they were the Menehune. When the Hawaiians came, the menehune chieftains feared the changes they brought. So, on the night of a full moon, they called all men and their firstborn sons and ordered them to leave Hawai’i. Some refused and, instead, hid behind to remain with their families. In the early 1800s, Kauai chief Kaumaualiʻi took a census of his people—and 65 of his 2,000 subjects were all that remained of the original people of Hawai’i. 

 

Flash forward to today: sixteen-year-old Emma is out running errands when she comes across a boy from Hilo living in the woods, saying things that do not make sense. It’s here, in these woods, that Emma has memories of finding a space between “the worlds” as a child. She soon realizes this boy has accessed the place she lost, as well as the people, the Menehune. She helps him hide until whatever spell has been cast over him is broken. Together, Emma and the Hilo boy have to figure out what the Menehune want before it’s too late to save the only home any of them have known.  

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I received this book from NetGalley for this review. I was under no obligation to give a positive review. All opinions are  my own.

Peasreads: Greenteeth

Molly O'Neil KNOCKS it out of the park with her debut Green Teeth! Just magical. First time hearing about Jenny Greenteeth. Just a solid fantasy book. 

Great clean fantasy storytelling. Solid characters. A wild ride of a story.

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I received this book from NetGalley for this review. I was under no obligation to give a positive review. All opinions are  my own. I am disclosing this per the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Peasreads: Glass: A Cinderella Tale by Kathryn Lasky

 

From the Publisher:

Newbery Honoree and New York Times bestselling author of the Guardians of Ga’Hoole series Kathryn Lasky delivers an enchanting prequel to the Cinderella story from the perspective of a young fairy godmother.

In a grand glass house, there was a girl named Bess whose power would, one day, change the fate of her family. . . Bess Wickham has always felt like a bit of an outcast among her family of extraordinary glassblowers, but then an immense, magical power that’s lain dormant in her bloodline begins to emerge. So, when she suspects her family’s business has taken a sinister turn, Bess must find the strength to defeat dark magic and save a certain cinder girl. But will she shatter under the weight of such evil or get her happily ever after?

Peasreads: The God and the Gumiho by Sophie Kim

One of my favorite reads so far this year!

This story about a Korean diety (Seokga)

who has lost everything and is sent to the moral world to earn his powers and position back. His job is to catch demons that tried to help him take over as top god. He is on the hunt for a notorious gumiho. 

The Gumiho, Hani is a nine tailed fox. She is powerful, witty, smart, funny.  She inserts herself into the investigation to throw Seokga off her trail. 

These two characters are fun, snarky, smart, and determined. It's a battle between two strong characters both with everything to lose. Will they risk it all in the end? 

The flow of this book is a good steady one with some twists. In the end I was surprised. I cannot wait for the second installment.  If you like folklore, mythology, kitsune\gumiho, Asian stories read this book! I will definitely add this title to my personal library.

 

Publisher description. 

They'll do anything to outsmart each other. Anything, except fall in love.

In this delightful Korean contemporary fantasy, a fallen trickster god must pair up with a coffee-slinging, shapeshifting fox to track down a demon of darkness before it devours the mortal world.

Kim Hani - the once-terrible gumiho known as the Scarlet Fox - spends her days working at a café and trying not to let a certain customer irk her.

Seokga - a trickster god thrown from the heavens for his attempt at a coup - spends his days hunting demons and irking a particular gumiho.

When a demon of darkness escapes the underworld, and the Scarlet Fox emerges from hiding before quickly vanishing, Seokga is offered a chance at redemption: kill them both, and his sins will be forgiven.

But Hani is prepared to do anything to prevent Seokga from bringing her to justice, even trick her way into his investigation. Anything, that is - except fall in love . . . 

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I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher. I was under no obligation to give a review. All opinions are my own. I am disclosing this per the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Peasreads: Folktales for Fearless Girls by Samantha Newman and Khoa Le

This is a collection of stories and folklore focusing on strong female characters. The stories are fun, some I have heard of before, and many I have not. All of them were interesting, and engaging, and had information on where the story had originated.  Khao Le illustrates the book pages in a colorful rich palette. It is fun to look at. This book is great for kids who are 8 years and up. Some themes are very sad. Loss of parents, rejection from parents and society, death, murder. Nothing graphic. 

This is a fun collection for children of all ages if you discuss with your child some of the themes. 

 Description

Meet the heroines who take charge of their own destinies ...

This beautifully illustrated book retells an inspiring collection of 15 traditional stories from around the world. The classic folk tales feature bold, stereotype-defying young women who strike out with courage, and provide wonderful role models for young readers. Each tale is brought to life by the mesmerising full-colour artwork of award-winning illustrator Khoa Le.

Perfect for children aged 8+.

Peasreads: Fathomfolk (Drowned World, #1) by Eliza Chan

Folklore, mythology, magic, mystical creatures, East and South East Asian vibes. This book is a great read if you like all of these things. It is the first in the Drowned World series. Fathomfolk live in the depths of the Ocean that has become polluted by humans, and some of them live among the humans. Fleeing the polluted waters as refugees. They are seen as less and looked down upon. This story touches on classism, racism, and how different people deal with living in these conditions. Mira the half-siren tries to do things "by the book" though she is well aware that the humans are oppressing all Fathomfolk. Nami the dragon is a little hot-headed, she wants change, and she knows the source of her people's pain. She joins an extremist group. 

Both will have to decide if change is worth the price they each will pay. Stakes are high, lives are lost. Freedom the goal.

Such a fantastic book! I highly recommend it.

 Description

Revolution is brewing in the semi-submerged city of Tiankawi, between humans and the fathomfolk who live in its waters. This gloriously imaginative debut fantasy, inspired by East Asian mythology and ocean folk tales, is a novel of magic, rebellion and change.

Peasreads: The Fox Wife by Yangsze Choo

 

The Fox Wife is a tapestry of mystery, folklore, culture, love, revenge, family, and obligation. Woven together by Yangsze Choo to tell a story set in Manchuria, 1908. The story of a detective with the ability to tell when people are lying, a fox named Snow who is a mother seeking revenge, and a family who's curse haunts them. Their paths merge and weave in and out of each other in this beautiful story.

This is one to put on your TBR pile this year if you like mystery, folklore, slice of life, long lost loves. I am definitely getting a hard copy for my shelves.

Description

Some people think foxes are similar to ghosts because we go around collecting qi, but nothing could be further than the truth. We are living creatures, just like you, only usually better looking . . .

Peasreads: Song of Silver, Flame Like Night (Song of the Last Kingdom Book 1)

 

Before you sit down to read this book, go ahead and preorder the second one. You won't want to wait to dive right into it. Trust me. I purchased this book as soon as I found out I was chosen to read and review the second one. I'm so glad I did. I want copies of both to be able to reread.

Song of Silver, Flame Like Night is the first in the Song of the Last Kingdom series. It is a fantasy inspired by ancient China and its mythology. I grew up watching Chinese kung fu movies set in ancient China. The characters dressed so beautifully, they would fly through the air with billowing sleeves and it was always so visually stunning. Amelie Wen Zhao has a way of word building that paints her characters, world, and the whole story so vividly in your mind. Just visually beautiful. 

But in rare moments like this, when the sun hung ripe and swollen as a mandarin over the glittering sea, there was still a shattered-glass beauty to be found in the remnants of a conquered land.- Song of Silver, Flame Like Night

I had just started reading, and when I got to the second paragraph I read a sentence that stopped me. The one above. I reread it and knew that I was going to love the richness of how the scenery and the characters were going to materialize in my mind. I came to find that this was consistent throughout the book. I could read the pain and desperation of people who were worn down from occupation. I could sense their pride as they also clung to whatever they had left of who they were at the core.

The story from the beginning grips you and you just want to keep reading to see what happens next. There are twists, turns, and surprises. The story flows well, and you'll fall in love with the characters. Not just the main ones, but many of them. 

Peasread: Seer Of Sevenwaters

Thank you Juliet Marillier for writing another Sevenwaters book that I really liked! Okay, I've liked most all of them, but some I liked a little less, and some a little more. Seer of Sevenwaters, I liked a little more. It is about another of Lord Sean and Lady Aisling's daughters, Sibeal. Sibeal is a young seer who has known her path since she was younger. She is called to join the Druids. Before she takes her final vow does she visits Clodagh and her other family on the Island of Inis Eala. This island is where Johnny trains his elite warriors. While Sibeal is on the island there is a shipwreck. Three mysterious survivors are found. Knut, a warrior who everyone on the island likes and makes friends with. His wife, Svala, who is strange in her behavior and she does not speak.

Peasread: Heir To Sevenwaters

I can't help but finish the books in this Sevenwaters series. I am actually done and have been but writing out a review it just takes more effort. This fourth installment by Juliet Marillier was pretty good. I liked it, I will say none of them have compared to Daughter of the Forest. Still I feel that the  fantasy aspect is back, it was not as prevalent in the last book. There was magic of course, as Fianne had magic powers. This is just a different, other world setting that I liked.

Peasread: Child Of The Prophecy

Continuing the Sevenwaters Trilogy/Series with Child of the Prophecy. A return to Sevenwaters through the eyes of a new female character, Fianne. Fianne is the daughter of Ciaran and Niamh, her heritage is both of the Sevenwaters clan and the dark sorceress Lady Oonagh. She was raised in a small village away from Sevenwaters by her father who trains and teaches her magic and druid lore. Fianne is very different from Sorcha of Daughter of the Forest and Laidan of Son of the Shadows. She's more conflicted in many ways.

Peasread: Son Of The Shadows (Sevenwaters #2)

If you read my review on Daughter of The Forest, you know that I really like this author. Son Of  The Shadows was a good book, I really liked it. The story was a good one, a great one even. It had elements, situations, and characters that could have made it just as good as Daughter Of The Forest. It took me twice as long to read this book than the first because I just wasn't as convinced that the characters were as good as Ms. Marillier intended for them to be. I liked the characters, but I didn't connect with them as I did with the first book in this series. There will be spoilers in this review.

This story picks up after Sorcha and her husband have settled in at Sevenwaters.

Peasread: Daughter Of The Forest, Sevenwaters #1

Hello, welcome to Give Peas A Chance, no worries, this is still a food blog. Today I am posting a book review. I have posted book reviews here before but they were also product reviews. This is simply a book review.  I picked Daughter Of The Forest up at our public library. We love the public library and utilize it often. This book is by Juliet Marillier and it is a trilogy. I hadn't heard anything about it I just happened to see it on the shelf and it looked interesting. The book is about 500 pages. It's not a quick read but it doesn't take more than a few days or so. Or a whole day and night if you want to be a zombie while pushing your kids out the door for school the next morning.