Peasreads:Fishbone Cinderella by Elizabeth Lim

Publication date July 28, 2026.

Fishbone Cinderella follows a family for multiple generations. It weaves in the story of fishbone Cinderella, Ye Xian (Yeh-hsien), a 9th-century Chinese folktale regarded as one of the oldest Cinderella variants. This is a poignant story about love, belonging, mistakes made, finding yourself, and letting others see who you truly are.

Elizabeth Lim's storytelling is descriptive, and her characters are flawed yet real. Throughout the story you can see how our history and experiences can shape us. Lim addresses generational trauma and curses and weaves them into the fabric of each character with care.

There are different settings in the story, from wartorn villages in China and Hong Kong, to city life in those places, to life in America. Lim's portrayal of immigrants settling into life in America tugged on my heartstrings. It reminded me of stories my parents and family have shared about their experiences fleeing from their homes due to war and coming to America. With nothing but the clothing on their backs and the language of their country on their tongues. It was difficult. Heartbreaking at times, but survivors survive. 

This is a beautiful story. 

Description

A mother and daughter must break their family’s curse through trials of war and immigration, love, loss, and redemption in this riveting multi-generational saga with a shimmer of magic, from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Forgery of Fate.

1940s Hong Kong

When Japanese soldiers invade her hometown, Ha Yut Ying makes an unlikely escape—by turning invisible. But her miraculous survival is only the beginning. After the war is over, she’s sent to Hong Kong to live with her distant father and glamorous stepmother, who end her dreams of becoming a singer and turn her into the family’s servant. As the years pass, Yut Ying learns the hard truths of betrayal and ambition, of forbidden love and devastating loss, and discovers that sometimes the only way to endure is to disappear.

1960s San Francisco

Marigold has always had a knack for uncovering secrets, but nothing prepares her for the day she accidentally witnesses her mother vanish before her eyes. The moment fractures their bond, leaving questions that shadow her entire childhood. But when her mother’s condition suddenly deteriorates, Marigold is convinced she’s the only person who can save her. To do so, she must journey into the secrets her mother never shared and uncover the tragic, fairytale-tinged history their family has fought to forget.

A story of mother and daughters, the scars they inherit and the magic that binds them, Fishbone Cinderella is a tender and enchanting exploration of what it means, at last, to be seen.

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Thank you, NetGalley and Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore | Del Rey, for this galley. I was under no obligation to leave a review. All opinions are my own. 

Peasreads- Behind Five Willows by June Hur

A delightful five-star read!  Set in the era when King Jeongjo issued a strict import ban on Chinese fiction and carried out extensive censorship of the writings of Joseon scholars in 1972.  Main character Haewon is the second daughter in her family. She loves to read fiction and works as an illegal book transcriber. One of her favorite authors that she transcribes for happens to be a noble, Seojun. He has status, and his family is well respected. No one knows that he is the man behind the pen name Black Lotus.  These two keep meeting and are thrown together when Haewon's sister Jade enters a courtship with Seojun's friend. Both quickly judged the other, but as they spend more time together, perhaps they judged wrong? The nod to Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice was done so well in this book. It was romantic, with suspense and danger. I enjoyed reading this book so much, as stated before five stars!

Description

From the New York Times-bestselling author of A Crane Among Wolves comes a warm and romantic homage to Jane Austen set in historical Korea, about a reader and a writer who secretly fight against government book banning and find themselves irresistibly drawn together.

As the dutiful second-eldest daughter of a poor family, society would have Haewon believe that her only hope of a decent life is to marry well. But during a time of rampant government censorship and book banning, she instead works as an illegal book transcriber to make a little extra money. It’s dangerous work, but she loves it—especially when she gets to transcribe the work of her favorite author, known as Black Lotus.

When her older sister becomes smitten with a wealthy young gentleman, Haewon is roped into chaperoning them during their courtship. Which wouldn’t be so terrible... if it weren’t for the young man’s uptight and annoying best friend who also accompanies them.

As the only son of a noble, Seojun has a lot expected of him. Wealth. Status. Respectability. Certainly not frivolous and often illicit activities such as reading fiction. But Seojun loves to do something even more scandalous: writing. He’s kept his work secret from his father and friends, but with each passing day, the pressure of being his father’s son and the dispiriting actions of the government make Seojun question the purpose of it all. The only thing keeping him going are the encouraging letters he receives from his transcriber, known only as Magpie.

When his best friend falls hard for a girl of lower social status, Seojun finds himself forced to act as chaperone to the infatuated couple—along with the girl's younger sister, who is as irritating as she is judgmental. But as Haewon and Seojun spend more time together, they begin to suspect they may have judged each other too quickly...

Also by June Hur

The Silence of Bones

The Forest of Stolen Girls

The Red Palace

A Crane Among Wolves

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I received this egalley from NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group | Feiwel & Friends. I was under no obligation to give a review. All opinions are my own.  

Peasreads: This Wretched Beauty: A Dorian Gray Remix by Elle Grenier

Content warnings- Grooming, child abuse- emotional, sexual assault, depression, mental illness, and murder.  Nothing graphic or in detail, but these topics are in the book. 

This book, not unlike A Portrait of Dorian Gray was a heavy read. I found myself seething and mad at some of the characters. Rightly so if you've read the former. This Wretched Beauty gave Dorian more of a history and voice. We were able to really read his thoughts and feelings. Many times, that was heartbreaking. This, of course, doesn't excuse his behavior, but it gives a unique look into his story. It also introduces us to the "underbelly" of London in the 1800s. It gives voice to those who have always lived and loved in the same society that so shuns LGBTQIA people. This book not only flows well and is an enjoyable read, but the author is also sensitive in the way she weaves these hard topics into the story. 

Description

Haunted by a portrait that seems to taunt them, a conflicted young aristocrat spirals down a path to the worst possible version of themself in this suspenseful retelling of The Picture of Dorian Gray, perfect for fans of The Spirit Bares Its Teeth and These Violent Delights.

Happiness needs to be earned in the face of impossible odds, or there’s no beauty in it.

London, 1867. Dorian Gray is the heir to a title and their family’s estate, but they’ve never been given the chance to decide whether that’s actually what they want out of life. Forcibly estranged from their father by their manipulative grandfather, Dorian feels trapped in the life that has been decided for them.

Then one night they sneak out of their grandfather’s house, they meet a sweet and talented young painter named Basil, who immediately recognizes Dorian as his new muse. They agree to sit for Basil for a portrait, and Dorian is struck by the beauty and depth that Basil paints into their likeness—and they dare to begin hoping there might be more to life than being their grandfather’s perfect, empty-headed heir.

Dorian is further elated when Basil introduces them to the world of molly houses and drag performers—they’ve never seen such joyful variety of humanity and gender expression. But, as the barrier between the London they know and the one they're discovering begins to crumble, Dorian must face the fact that freedom and safety do not come hand in hand.

The aftermath of this realization pulls Dorian into a terrible downward spiral, torn between guilt over their own actions and hatred for the suffocating expectations of society. They push away those closest to them, surrounding themself instead with vapid courtiers and decadent socialites. And as Dorian’s spiral of self-loathing deepens, something strange happens—Basil’s portrait of them begins to change. Their smile becomes a little sharper, the glint in their eyes a little colder.

Dorian will have to choose—embrace the wickedness within and allow themself to become what they were always meant to be, or dare to try for something far more fragile and dangerous: a life of their own making.

The Remixed Classics Series

In the Remixed Classics series, authors from marginalized backgrounds reinterpret classic works through their own cultural lens to subvert the overwhelmingly cishet, white, and male canon.

A Clash of Steel: A Treasure Island Remix by C.B. Lee
So Many Beginnings: A Little Women Remix by Bethany C. Morrow
Travelers Along the Way: A Robin Hood Remix by Aminah Mae Safi
What Souls Are Made Of: A Wuthering Heights Remix by Tasha Suri
Self-Made Boys: A Great Gatsby Remix by Anna-Marie McLemore
My Dear Henry: A Jekyll & Hyde Remix by Kalynn Bayron
Teach the Torches to Burn: A Romeo & Juliet Remix by Caleb Roehrig
Into the Bright Open: A Secret Garden Remix by Cherie Dimaline
Most Ardently: A Pride & Prejudice Remix by Gabe Cole Novoa
This Wretched Beauty: A Dorian Gray Remix by Elle Grenier

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Goodreads reviews.

Thank you, NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group | Feiwel & Friends, for this galley. I was under no obligation to leave a review. All opinions are my own. 

Peasreads: The Ghost Cat by Alex Howard

This book is such a fun read. I loved seeing through a cat's eyes. Alex Howard tells the story of Grimalkin and his witnessing life in a 120 year span. There are beautiful touching moments and funny moments. I love the footnotes sharing the history of the times. I would recommend this book to cat lovers, dog lovers (me), anyone who likes historical fiction with a touch of magic and whimsy 

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Collins for the ARC. All opinions are my own and I was under no obligation to leave a review.

 

  Find more book reviews here under Peasreads.

Amazon reviews Katereviews.

Goodreads reviews.

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: A Song to Drown Rivers by Ann Liang

I received this book from NetGalley. Like all the other books I have read from NetGalley, I am not obligated to write reviews. I liked this book so much I preordered a copy for my shelves. 

It is inspired by one of the famous Four Beauties of Ancient China. 

Readers who enjoy historical fiction, strong female, and male characters, slow burn clean romance, Ancient China, and Chinese legends will love this book. It is about what it means to be a woman, a person. Where your value and worth lies. It is also about duty, war, revenge, and seeing both sides of a coin.

I truly enjoyed it.

Peasreads: THE NIGHT ENDS WITH FIRE by K.X. Song

 

Get ready for epic storytelling. I've heard so much buzz about this book. It's in my read next que. Mulan? Yes. Magic? Fantasy? The Three Kingdoms? Yes. Yes and YES please. Plus one of my favorite authors is singing praise about it:

“Sweepingly epic and tenderly romantic, The Night Ends With Fire

is a fiercely feminist adventure about a young woman fighting to

shape her destiny in a world of lore, magic, and war.”

—AMÉLIE WEN ZHAO, New York Times bestselling

author of Song of Silver, Flame Like Night

From the publisher:

Infused with magic and romance, this sweeping fantasy adventure inspired by the legend of Mulan follows a young woman determined to choose her own destiny—even if that means going against everyone she loves.

The Three Kingdoms are at war, but Meilin’s father refuses to answer the imperial draft. Trapped by his opium addiction, he plans to sell Meilin for her dowry. But when Meilin discovers her husband-to-be is another violent, ill-tempered man, she realizes that nothing will change for her unless she takes matters into her own hands.

The very next day, she disguises herself as a boy and enlists in her father’s place.

In the army, Meilin's relentless hard work brings her recognition, friendship—and a growing closeness with Sky, a prince turned training partner. But has she simply exchanged one prison for another? As her kingdom barrels toward destruction, Meilin begins to have visions of a sea dragon spirit that offers her true power and freedom, but with a deadly price.

With the future of the Three Kingdoms hanging in the balance, Meilin will need to decide whom to trust—Sky, who inspires her loyalty and love; the sea dragon spirit, who has his own murky agenda; or an infuriating enemy prince who makes her question everything she once knew—about her kingdom and about her own heart.

About the Author

K. X. Song is a diaspora writer with roots in Hong Kong and Shanghai. Raised between cultures and languages, she enjoys telling stories that explore the shifting nature of memory, translation, and history. She is the author of An Echo in the City and the forthcoming The Night Ends with Fire, her adult fantasy debut. You can learn more at kxsong.com

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Peasreads: Daughters of Olympus by Hannah Lynn

 

Retelling of mythology is one of my favorite genres right now and Hannah Lynn writes them so well. This one is about Demeter and her daughter Core, later Persephone. It's a story about living, learning, yielding, a mother's love, a daughter's faithfulness, and the events that shape us. 

The story is written around and built up around what we've been told about Demeter, Core, Hades, and Zeus. It creates such a lush rounded story that is a page-turner.

I would read this again. It's one of my favorites from Hannah. 

Description

A daughter pulled between two worlds and a mother willing to destroy both to protect her...

Demeter: a goddess of life, living half of one.

Demeter did not always live in fear. Once, she loved the world and the humans who inhabited it. After an act of devastating violence, though, she hides herself away among the grasses and wildflowers. Her only solace is her daughter… 

Before she was Persephone, she was Core. 

Peasreads: Puggleton Park by Deanna Kizis

 

HAPPY PUBLICATION DAY!

(This review has spoilers.)

My thoughts:

This book (and number two in the series) is written by Deanna Kizis with fun illustrations by Hannah Peck is a cute book for dog lovers and early readers. The story is about a Pug during the Regency era that gets lost in a London park. He is eventually rescued by a lady who tries to find the Pugs owner. It's adventurous and fun. However both the Pug and the rescuer start to form a bond. They both struggle with knowing they will have to be apart once the original owner is found. 

Spoiler: they end up finding the original owner. She left a letter saying that she had to go take care of a sick family member who was allergic to dogs and she hoped that a new owner would take the Pug in. I only mention this spoiler because I know that many people might read this as abandonment. So just a heads up. 

Peasread: A Spartan's Sorrow (The Grecian Women Trilogy, #2) Hannah Lynn

 

A Spartan's Sorrow (The Grecian Women Trilogy, #2) 

My thoughts:

This retelling of the life of Clytemnestra and later in the book her son, Orestes. The focus is on Queen Clytemnestra's life during the Trojan War. The King, Agamemnon, her husband is away with many of the men in the kingdom. Many await the return of their loved ones, and Clytemnestra hopes the King never returns. Agamemnon does the unthinkable and sacrifices their oldest daughter to a goddess. Clytemnestra is determined to keep her remaining children safe. 

This is a story about a mother's love, revenge, and obligation. I am a fan of Hannah Lynn and this subgenre. This is a great retelling. There is depth and complexity to the characters. If you liked Circe you'll love A Spartan's Sorrow.

Peasreads: Queens of Themiscyra by Hannah Lynn

Oh gosh this book. It made me so angry, sad, and hopeful throughout. What can we expect when it comes to Greek Mythology right? Women generally never win. However reading Hannah Lynn's take on Hippolyte's life in Themyiscryra as Queen, then her life away from her people, and her family as she navigates life as a married woman. So many feelings.

This is a retelling that is thrilling, heartbreaking, and written so well. I would recommend it to anyone who likes mythology, love, sisterhood, family, and retellings with strong female characters.

Peasreads: Strike The Zither by Joan He

From the publisher:

Book 1 in the Kingdom of Three duology, a reimagining of the Chinese classic

三国演义 helmed by a lady Zhuge Liang 

he year is 414 of the Xin Dynasty, and chaos abounds. A puppet empress is on the throne, and three warlordesses each hope to claim the continent for themselves.

Only Zephyr knows it’s no contest.

Orphaned at a young age, Zephyr took control of her fate by becoming the best strategist of the land and serving under Xin Ren, a warlordess whose loyalty to the empress is double-edged—while Ren’s honor draws Zephyr to her cause, it also jeopardizes their survival in a war where one must betray or be betrayed. When Zephyr is forced to infiltrate an enemy camp to keep Ren’s followers from being slaughtered, she encounters the enigmatic Crow, an opposing strategist who is finally her match. But there are more enemies than one—and not all of them are human.

My review

To say I devoured this series in a few days is not an exaggeration. Strike the Zither is a classic Chinese tragedy with so many twists and turns. I haven't read the original Three Kingdoms. I still loved the mystery, mind games, strategy, and how each character handles war and loss. This is a great book for those who like Asian retellings, strategy, war, rivals to lovers to enemies fans.

#NetGalley 

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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 on my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

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: The Painter's Daughters- Emily Howes

 

This is a fictional story about Peggy and Molly Gainsborough, daughters of English portrait painter Thomas Gainsborough. Drawing both from history and weaving in a fictional story line Emily Howes paints a story about sisterhood, family life, mental illness, protection, obsession, and what society expects of both women and men in the 1700s.

This is a heartbreaking look into mental illness and the stigma it often brings. What people are willing to see regardless of the truth. Caregiver strain. What we are willing to do for those we love.  Excuses we make for the ones we love. Excuses we make for ourselves in our care for those we love. Haunting beautiful Howes tells a tale that is gripping.

Peasreads: Neferura

Neferura by Malayna Evans

This is another book that is right up my alley right now as far as genre. Historical fiction/fantasy. Retelling or reimagining of folktales, myths, or historical figures and their lives. Neferura was the daughter of a female Pharaoh, this is a short description from Wikipedia:

Neferure or Neferura was an Egyptian princess of the Eighteenth Dynasty of Egypt. She was the daughter of two pharaohs, Hatshepsut and Thutmose II. She served in high offices in the government and the religious administration of Ancient Egypt. Wikipedia

The book follows the tradition that she was the daughter of two Pharaohs and married her half-brother Thutmose. There is little known about her, even her date of death is not known. Malayna Evans weaves a story around known details and adds imaginative storytelling.  

Neferura is the daughter of the great Pharaoh who happens to be female. Both of their positions are precarious due not only to their gender but also because Neferura has a half-brother. Thutmose shares the same father as Neferura. The previous Pharoah. Thutmose seeks to regain what he believes is rightfully his. 

Both the Pharoah and Thutmose seek power above all else. They will do anything to get it. Neferua a high priestess of Ketmet loves her people and knows where her duty lies. For the people and land that she loves. Neferua is smart, compassionate, and kind. Is she strong enough to stand up and serve the people when she's forced to marry Thutmose and produce a male heir? Knowing that once she does produce an heir, her life will end. She's determined to secure her people's safety, even if that means sacrificing her own life.

Peasreads: The Shield and the Thorn (The Wraith)

 

So. The final book in the duology of The Wraith. We're back in the midst of both the Fair Lands and Regency London. The Wraith, Theo has saved the Fair Lands. I almost think these two books could have just been one since it's all Theo mostly. I was hoping we could be done with Theo and Lily's story as sweet as it was. I hoped Shelby could shine in his very own adventure where Theo was a supporting character. To me, Theo is again the main character. 

I wanted more of Shelby, more of Miss Firethorn. As loyal as Shelby is to Theo, it's wonderful and amazing really. I also wanted HIM to just be the one. A great conclusion to the adventures of the Wraith. The Fair Lands will be safe, but now it's a matter of winning the trust of the Fair people so that there can be peace among them.

On Wings Of Devotion- ( The Codebreakers Book 2) Book Review

Here it is! The second book in the Codebreakers series. I have to say, I was so excited to read this book because I had learned that we would get a glimpse into the lives of other characters from Roseanna M. White's books. Books I have thoroughly enjoyed and reread many times. Roseanna has a way of writing that makes you fall in love with each character, for their strength, grit, whit, weaknesses. Turns out that On Wings Of Devotion has given me more characters to love to get to know! 

Peasreads: The Number of Love (The Codebreakers Book #1)

Heyo folks, this review is written by the 15 year old daughter of peasreads. Just a heads up :) and apologies in advance T^T

This book really deserves every single one of those stars. Normally, I shy away from giving books a 100% because perfection's pretty hard to obtain. *The Number of Love* (asterisks stand for italics) got impressively close. I practically devoured this book like a black whole, so I hope this review gives it justice and doesn't bore you to death :)

Peasread: Carnegie's Maid

Carnegie's Maid

Marie Benedict

Pages 288

ISBN 9781492646617

Publisher SOURCEbooks

At 288 pages Carnegie's Maid is a quick read, perfect for a lazy afternoon. Once I started I couldn't put it down. This book is about Clara Kelley who is an Irish immigrant. She arrives in Pittsburgh to find work so she can send money back home to her family. Clara is mistaken for a girl who was experienced to come work as a lady's maid. Clara takes on the missing girls identity and takes on the job of lady's maid for Mrs. Carnegie, Andrew Carnegie's mother. 

Peasread: The Address

The Address
Fiona Davis
368 pages
Publisher: Dutton (August 1, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 152474199X

If you like historical fiction, suspense, and mystery. This book is a wonderful read. The story weaves together the lives of  Sara Smythe and Bailey Camden who live 100 years apart, they both reside in the historic Dakota in Manhattan. I loved reading some of the history about the building itself, so much so that the book had me doing research on my own about this famed landmark.

Peasread: A Name Unknown

A Name Unknown

Shadows Over England #1

Roseanna M. White

 434 pages

Publisher: Bethany House Publishers (July 4, 2017)

ISBN-10: 0764230417

ISBN-13: 978-0764230417

 Book description from publisher:

Edwardian Romance and History Gains a Twist of Suspense 

Rosemary Gresham has no family beyond the band of former urchins that helped her survive as a girl in the mean streets of London. Grown now, they concentrate on stealing high-value items and have learned how to blend into upper-class society. But when Rosemary must determine whether a certain wealthy gentleman is loyal to Britain or to Germany, she is in for the challenge of a lifetime. How does one steal a family's history, their very name?
Peter Holstein, given his family's German blood, writes his popular series of adventure novels under a pen name. With European politics boiling and his own neighbors suspicious of him, Peter debates whether it might be best to change his name for good. When Rosemary shows up at his door pretending to be a historian and offering to help him trace his family history, his question might be answered.
But as the two work together and Rosemary sees his gracious reaction to his neighbors' scornful attacks, she wonders if her assignment is going down the wrong path. Is it too late to help him prove that he's more than his name?