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- This Immortal Heart A Novel of Aphrodite by Jennifer Saint

This Immortal Heart
A Novel of Aphrodite by Jennifer Saint
Pub Date Jun 09 2026 

This Immortal Heart is a book about Aphrodite and Ares. Told through Aphrodite's POV. I like Jennifer Saint's writing and have enjoyed a few of her books. I've never been academic about how I write reviews. If I enjoyed the book, it was entertaining, it flowed well, the characters weren't annoying, and I finished it without wanting to put it down; that's a win for me. This book is a 4-5 star read. I love mythology and retellings. Did I LOVE Aphrodite? Not really. She was her, and her nature made her behave and think in certain ways. I liked that her character made sense. She's the goddess of love. She's strong and loves her followers. This is a story about her, Ares, her followers, Hephestus, and the politics of the Olympian Gods. Zeus is, of course, the universal A-hole.  There really is no way to spin that one to make him any different. Ares and Hephestus, I really liked. They were true to their nature. They both had a past that shaped them and put them on different paths. Which I suspect is all of us. 
Reading as Aphrodite weaved through life and the politics of Olympian court life while staying true to her core was interesting. The story flowed well. It is not a long read. Well paced. 

Description

The epic, captivating tale of Aphrodite, the goddess of love, who must reconcile her mind and heart when she is drawn against all odds to Ares, the god of war, from the internationally bestselling author of Ariadne and Hera.

The stunning first edition hardcover of This Immortal Heart features gorgeous endpapers and a stamped case!

From the moment Aphrodite emerges fully formed from the sea, she is devastatingly beautiful and imbued with ancient power. Driven by passion yet strategic in how she moves through the halls of Olympus and the earthly realm alike, the free-willed goddess wields unparalleled influence over every living being.

When fate brings her face-to-face with Ares, she bristles at this surly, hot-tempered warrior who’s seemingly her opposite: disliked by everyone and devoted to stirring up conflict. Yet these gods are no more immune to the dizzying highs and lows of love and loss than anyone else, and soon, they are irresistibly drawn to one another.

As their love affair spans mortal lifetimes, Aphrodite begins to question the gods’ games and her role in them. But there’s only so much room for fire and passion in Zeus’s kingdom. Before long, she must test her devotion to her own divine purpose—and to a love that can only lead to ruin.

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Thank you, NetGalley and Ballantine | Ballantine Books, for this galley. I was under no obligation to leave a review. All opinions are my own. 

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: Your Soulmail Is Attached A Novel by Joan F. Smith

Your Soulmail Is Attached by Joan F. Smith

Harlequin Trade Publishing | MIRA

Pub Date Apr 14 2026

What can I say about this book? As described below, this book is about people receiving information about who their soulmate is. The world is changed overnight.  It isn't a hoax, it isn't traceable. The whole concept of a soulmate and there being one person that is out there for you is so mindblowing and unbelievable as it is. Then there is the question of what a soulmate is. The author, Joan F. Smith, must have done a lot of research. I had a very narrow description of what I considered a soulmate to be. Reading different takes on what a soulmate could be, reading how knowing could potentially be both good and bad for a population. It was so very interesting. I found myself going back and forth about how I would feel about knowing, if I would want to know, and what if I didn't like the information I was given? This made the book very interesting to me.

The FMC Olivia is thrust into the limelight as she accidentally becomes a viral sensation, and all of a sudden, all eyes are on her and her reports about Soulmail. Olivia doesn't want to know who her soulmate is. She's faced with many obstacles in navigating this new life and new world. I didn't agree with much of what she did but I could see what drove her to make the choices she made. Her character and history are complex. Navigating a world where information like this is out there is so new and nuanced. Smith did a wonderful job with this engaging, interesting romance that is so much more. Such a unique way to write about soulmates.

Description

What if everyone in the world found out who their soulmates are at the same time?

 

Olivia Adler’s life is picture-perfect: a behind-the-scenes job she loves in a bustling Manhattan newsroom, an engagement to golden-boy Wells, and a once-in-a-lifetime chance to create the documentary she’s always wanted to make.

 

Then one sleepless night, everything unravels.

 

One message on Wells’s phone shatters her engagement.

 

A second message—an anonymous global email quickly dubbed Soulmail—shakes the world.

 

Delivered to every individual on earth, Soulmail reveals the name and birthdate of their soulmates. Suddenly, love as the world knows it is rewritten overnight, and Olivia accidentally becomes the face of the phenomenon when she reports on the story live and goes viral.

 

With millions watching her every move, Olivia resolutely refuses to open her Soulmail. She’s not ready for fate to make her choices—especially not now. But when she crosses paths with her childhood best friend—the boy she loved and lost—everything she thought she knew about destiny, timing, and love comes into question.

 

Is true love written in the stars…or something we choose for ourselves?

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Peasreads- How to Find a Guy in Five Weddings by Cynthia Timoti

How to Find a Guy in Five Weddings

by Cynthia Timoti

 Pub Date: May 12 2026  

Great storyline, good pace, and relatable problems. 3.5 stars. FMC Kimiko is looking for a guy to date to inherit her late grandmother's yarn store. She was raised by her grandparents and loves them very much. They gave her a wonderful childhood. It is important to Kim to keep her grandmother's legacy. Her Grandfather is a wonderful man who is kind and loving. Kim has been abandoned and betrayed by people, and she doesn't believe in happy endings. Kim is encouraged by friends to try apps for dating. The dates she had were pretty over-the-top bad. Almost unbelievable. Granted, I have no experience. Kim can be a bit annoying but no one is perfect.

The dates are so bad that Rob, a friend who does believe in soul mates and happy endings, decides to help her. I am not sure of the history between the two. It is mentioned that they had a date, and Rob never showed up. Nothing else was mentioned after that. Rob is just an all-around good guy. Or maybe the bar is in hell because, honestly, he's just kind and thoughtful. 

All in all this was a fun read. 

Description

It’s 27 Dresses meets Sonya Lalli’s The Matchmaker’s List in this delightful romcom where she doesn’t believe in love…he’s determined to prove her wrong -- by being her matchmaker!

Kimiko Halim thinks happy endings only exist in fairy tales. But her late grandmother’s will specifies settling down as a condition to inherit her yarn store, and the family’s legacy is the only thing that matters. Kim’s plan is simple: find a guy, date him until the store is hers, then gently uncouple from the poor, unsuspecting victim.

But the clock is ticking, and her dates have been more frogs than princes. When Rob Carmichael, a perpetual groomsman and self-proclaimed proponent of happily-ever-afters, overhears Kim’s cynical view of love, he’s baffled. Having been surrounded by happy relationships all his life, Rob convinces her that he can find her a soulmate in one of the next five weddings he’s going to.

What can possibly go wrong?

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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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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 Trident and the Pearl by Sarah K. L. Wilson

  The Trident and the Pearl

by Sarah K. L. Wilson

Pub Date Feb 24 2026 

So magical. This is high fantasy that drew me right in. SO much so that by mid-book I thought, this better end well. It also better not be the start of a series. Side note- I do not like starting series that do not have an ending. For the most part, I will avoid any ARC or e-galley that is the start of a series, duology, or trilogy. It just makes me have to wait that much longer for the conclusion. There are some authors that I will read regardless, though. That being said. I looked this book up, and it is the first of a trilogy. It doesn't matter now because I am sucked in and 100 percent invested. How could I not be with an opening like this?

 "​I was born into the embrace of the sea on a moonless night in the month of the Ragged Tides. My mother did not bleed out her life into the sea with my arrival, nor was my father visited by a terrible curse."

Queen Coralys is faithful to her people above all. She is willing to trade her life for them when a storm ravages her nation. That is exactly what the gods ask of her when she strikes a bargain with them. The storm recedes, not before taking her husband. As payment, the Queen must marry the first man who sets foot back on the island. She must take him as her husband and take his station as well. The gods love their games. Coralys marries a fisherman with nothing but an empty dinghy. No supplies and no idea where he's taking her. She does not care. She goes willingly with only one thing on her mind. Revenge against the gods who have taken so much from her. She soon begins to suspect that her new husband is the very god she wants to destroy. She must find out and complete her mission. Her new husband has other plans. He is wounded, and his kingdom is threatened. He is certain that she can help him restore his kingdom and his people. Can they learn to trust each other?

I loved this book. FIVE stars. Was Coralys gullible? Yes. Did she make bad decisions? Yes. Was it still amazing? Also yes. Will I be waiting for the next book? Absolutely. 

You can read the first chapter here on Sarah's website.

A desperate queen makes a deal with the gods to save her land in this spellbinding romantasy debut from Sarah K. L. Wilson.

"Perfect for readers who love slow-burn romance steeped in lush fantasy!" ―Danielle L. Jensen, #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Fate Inked in Blood

Queen Coralys rules the Kingdom of the Five Isles, but when disaster strikes, killing her husband and destroying half her nation, she pleads with the gods for salvation. And they do save her, turning back the terrible winds and tide and snatching her islands from the brink of destruction.

But the gods have a wicked sense of justice and they demand an exchange for their help: Coralys must marry the first man to set foot on her pier. Coralys expects the fleet of a neighboring country to come to rescue her people, led by its prince, a loyal ally. What she gets instead is a fisherman so sunburnt and stinking that her court can barely keep their breakfast down.

Coralys marries the fisherman just as she promised the gods, and sets out with him in his unkempt dinghy, with nothing but hopes of revenge against the gods to keep her from despair. But what she does not know is that the fisherman is actually the god of the sea. And he stepped on her dock for a reason.

His own kingdom besieged, his body terribly wounded, and his place as a god threatened, the fisherman has plans to turn the tides set against him and finally offer a place of refuge for his people. But working the magic he needs will require the help of the one woman bent on his destruction.

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Peasreads: The Poet Empress by Shen Tao

Thank you to my oldest for this review of The Poet Empress

A huge thank you to the publisher for providing my physical ARC, all thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own! By all technicality, I’m totally posting this before 2026 …

━━ ⋅ ♡ ⋅ ━━━━━━

The Poet Empress is a strong debut that ticked all my boxes — lush setting, strong fmc, and complex characters / plot.

The most notable of these aspects is the characters. At its core, The Poet Empress is a novel about people, their motivations, their histories. From the beginning we are privy to Wei Yin’s thoughts and explanations for the sacrifices or choices she makes. But the actions of others appear mysterious or irrational to her (and thus, the reader) as she struggles to navigate court politics. This slowly changes as Wei Yin begins to listen to the stories of those around her, and peer more closely into their actions. By the end of the novel, everyone feels like their own autonomous being — their actions may still surprise us, but ultimately fit into their characterisation so well it’s satisfying.

In my opinion, the official summary is well representative of the novel! So if it appeals to you at all, I would absolutely encourage you to give this debut a chance. Doubly so if you enjoy complex characters as much as I do.

━━ ⋅ ♡ ⋅ ━━━━━━

With all of the polished writing out of the way, here are some of my more fragmented opinions:

⟢ I need all the Asian (historic or otherwise) fantasy out there please give me more … This is definitely a must read if you are also into these genres!

⟢ If you’re not as into ‘character study’ type narratives as I am, you might find this novel a bit slow at times. There are semi-frequent ‘fash-backs’ that take you away from the main storyline and may feel a bit tedious if you don’t enjoy them.

⟢ Although characters were the star of this novel, the worldbuilding and magic system are nothing to sneeze at! The Poet Empress had magic seeping into every inch of the world, which felt immersive without being overwhelming. Of course, the basis of ‘spells’ being poetry is just the cherry on top.

⟢ Romance is an important part of the narrative, but this is not a romance novel in my opinion! Important distinction.

⟢ It’s truly refreshing to get ‘morally grey’ characters that are … well … actually complex.

⟢ I’m not sure if this will be a standalone or if there is a sequel planned, but there’s no cliffhanger at the end! The conclusion leaves room for the future, but is satisfying on its own.

⟢ For trigger warnings: please read the note at the start of the book! My personal notes are: (view spoiler) This book is rated adult, but I would have been okay reading it as a teen. For others though, they may be uncomfy reading even as an adult. Moral of the story: it’s always okay to skip things that may harm you! Read over the triggers so you can make an informed decision.

DESCRIPTION

Debut author Shen Tao introduces readers to the lush, deadly world of The Poet Empress, a sweeping, epic and intimate fantasy perfect for fans of The Serpent & the Wings of Night, The Song of Achilles and She Who Became the Sun.

In the waning years of the Azalea Dynasty, the emperor is dying, the land consumed by famine, and poetry magic lost to all except the powerful.

Wei Yin is desperate. After the fifth death of a sibling, with her family and village on the brink of starvation, she will do anything to save those she loves.

Even offer herself as concubine to the cruel heir of the beautiful and brutal Azalea House.

But in a twist of fate, the palace stands on the knife-edge of civil war with Wei trapped in its center…at the side of a violent prince.

To survive, Wei must harden her heart, rely on her wit, and become dangerous herself. Even if it means becoming a poet in a world where women are forbidden to read—and composing the most powerful spell of all. A ballad of death...and love.

The Poet Empress is an epic fantasy that explores darker themes, subjects, and scenes that may not be suitable for all readers. Please see the author's content note at the beginning of the book.

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Peasreads: The Sun and the Starmaker by Rachel Griffin

 

The Sun and the Starmaker. 

"And when we return to the dust of the stars, I will whisper your name in the endless after so that I may find you even in death. Always I will come for you, and always will I stay.”

Are you kidding me!? So enchanting. 

I couldn't put this book down until I was almost to the end. I purposely put it down because I didn't want to finish it.  I didn't want the story to end, and to be heartbroken! I wanted this book to be longer. To learn even more about the village, the StarMaker. Aurora.  When I did finish, it was just so beautiful, even though I cried. It was more than I  could have wanted. Aurora is the female main character. she loves her family and does her best to provide for them. She is willing to do what it takes to save her family and village. Even if that means a painful task and being taught by the distant, cold-hearted Starmaker.  The Starmaker is tired; he is ready for his reign to end. He is a good Starmaker; he cares for those he serves. He has lived for a long time and pulled the sunlight across the village so it can survive for as long as he can remember.  Now it's time to teach Aurora to do the same.

Description

There once was a village so far north that most considered it the top of the world... and in that village, the Sun fell in love with her Starmaker. From the New York Times bestselling author of The Nature of Witches comes a whimsical and sweeping romantic fantasy.

Nestled deep in the snowy mountains of the Lost Range, the village of Reverie is a small miracle. Beyond the reach of the Sun, Reverie is dependent upon the magic of the mysterious Starmaker: every morning, he trudges across a vast glacier and pulls in sunlight over the peaks, providing the village with the light it needs to survive.

Aurora Finch grew up on tales of the Starmaker's magic, never imagining she'd one day meet him. But on the morning of her wedding, a fateful encounter in the frostbitten woods changes everything. The Starmaker senses a powerful magic within her and demands she come study under his guidance. With her newfound abilities tied to the survival of the village, Aurora is swept away to his ice-covered castle and far from everything she's ever known.

The Starmaker is as cold and distant as the mountain itself, leaving Aurora to explore his enchanted castle alone. Yet the more she discovers about the sorcerer, the stronger their attraction grows, pulling her closer to the secrets he refuses to share. But a deadly frost approaches and Aurora must uncover what the Starmaker is hiding before she is left in an endless winter that even the Sun cannot touch.

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Peasreads: The Legend of the Nine-Tailed Fox Katrina Kwan

 

FIVE-STAR read! Both Yue and Sonam were great main characters who have depth and are likable. They have a past that shaped them, but I also felt like they grew from their past. They aren't perfect, but that makes them real. I felt bad for Yue. She was just doing what was in her nature to survive. The characters end up in Hell, Yue being banished and dragging Sonam down with her. To escape, they must work together. Each challenge they face has them learning about not only themselves but their companions. The story is paced well and flows well. I will be adding a hard copy of this one to my shelves. Even if I have a copy on my e-reader! I have been telling everyone about this book. Romantasy that's just so good. One of my top 2025 reads. 

Pub Date Feb 24 2026

Description
From the author of The Last Dragon of the East comes a sweeping fantasy adventure with a dash of romance between a nine-tailed fox and the demon-hunter who captures her, banished to the underworld together and forced to form a reluctant alliance to escape the circles of Hell.

Yue may be the last of her kind. At night, she stalks the streets of the capital city of Longhao, luring in unsuspecting victims with the mask of a beautiful woman, then consuming them in her true form of the nine-tailed fox.

When she is captured by a powerful demon hunter named Sonam and banished to Hell, she manages one final act of revenge: dragging him—and two of his subordinates—down with her.

Now trapped in an abyss with unimaginable terrors, they’ll need each other’s help to navigate Hell and bypass the gods who preside over each circle, each of whom presents the group with a unique and deadly challenge. Forced to depend on one another as they claw their way out of the underworld, both demon and demon hunter discover that there might be more to the other than meets the eye.

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I received this egalley from NetGalley and Saga Press | S&S/Saga Press I was under no obligation to give a review. All opinions are my own. 

Peasreads: The House Saphir by Marissa Meyer

Mallory really irritated me. I think the story is good. She just irritated me. I guess I thought that she was sometimes cruel to keep the ruse going once she knew that there was true danger. I think that's just a me thing and others might enjoy the story more. I may have read this at a time where I was too sensitive.  The story is good though. The ghost wives are funny. I am glad I listened to the book. even if the FMC rubbed me wrong.

Description:

Mallory Fontaine is a fraud. Though she comes from a long line of witches, the only magic she possesses is the ability to see ghosts, which is rarely as useful as one would think. She and her sister have maintained the family business, eking out a paltry living by selling bogus spells to gullible buyers and conducting tours of the infamous mansion where the first of the Saphir murders took place.

Mallory is a self-proclaimed expert on Count Bastien Saphir—otherwise known as Monsieur Le Bleu—who brutally killed three of his wives more than a century ago. But she never expected to meet Bastien's great-great grandson and heir to the Saphir estate. Armand is handsome, wealthy, and convinced that the Fontaine Sisters are as talented as they claim. The perfect mark. When he offers Mallory a large sum of money to rid his ancestral home of Le Bleu's ghost, she can’t resist. A paid vacation at Armand’s country manor? It’s practically a dream come true, never mind the ghosts of murdered wives and the monsters that are as common as household pests.

But when murder again comes to the House Saphir, Mallory finds herself at the center of the investigation—and she is almost certain the killer is mortal. If she has any hope of cashing in on the payment she was promised, she’ll have to solve the murder and banish the ghost, all while upholding the illusion of witchcraft.

But that all sounds relatively easy compared to her biggest challenge: learning to trust her heart. Especially when the person her heart wants the most might be a murderer himself. 

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I received this egalley from NetGalley and MacMillian Audio MacMillan Publishing I was under no obligation to give a review. All opinions are my own. 

Peasreads: Lady Tremaine by Rachel Hochhauser

Now THIS is how a reimagining is done well. I want to feel the emotions and see the stories that lead up to how a character is shaped. I want to know their story and I want the story to make me understand, or at least give me a glimpse. This is a love story. Whether her actions were correct or not, Lady Tremine loves her children. Was she evil? Was she misguided? Was she a product of society and the time she was living in? At what lengths will a mother go to secure her children's futures in a society where women have so few rights afforded to them? 

Once Lady Tremine's plan start falling into place and her children's futures seem secure she discovers that the royal family is hiding a dark secret that could bring harm. Will she look the other way to cement a place for her girls in society?  This book was very good and I will re-read it.   

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Description

A breathtaking reimagining of Cinderella, as told through the eyes of its iconic "evil" stepmother, revealing a propulsive love story about the lengths a mother will go to for her children

Twice-widowed, Lady Etheldreda Verity Isolde Tremaine Bramley is solely responsible for her two children, a priggish stepdaughter, a razor-taloned peregrine falcon, and a crumbling manor. Fierce and determined, Ethel clings to the respectability her deceased husband’s title affords her, hoping it will secure her daughters’ future through marriage.

When a royal ball offers the chance to change everything, Ethel risks her pride in pursuit of an invitation for all three of her daughters—only to see her hopes fulfilled by the wrong one. As an engagement to the future king unfolds, Ethel discovers a sordid secret hidden in the depths of the royal family, forcing her to choose between the security she craves and the wellbeing of the stepdaughter who has rebuffed her at every turn.

As if Bridgerton met Circe, and exhilarating to its core, Lady Tremaine reimagines the myth of the evil stepmother at the heart of the world’s most famous fairy tale. It is a battle cry for a mother’s love for her daughters, and a celebration of women everywhere who make their own fortunes. 

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

Peasreads: The Women of Artemis Hannah Lynn

 

I'm always a fan of Hannah Lynn's writing. This was a great story. It was hard to read in some parts due to the domestic violence, sexual assault (Nothing described). It was also so sad that so many of the women were in these relationships. I think Hannah did a good job with how she wrote about the abuse and how each character dealt with it. I truly enjoyed this book.
Description
Mothers. Daughters. Warriors. Women.

This is the never-before-told story of history's most ferocious heroines: this is the rise of the Amazons.

When she first married at fourteen, Otrera imagined a relationship full of love. A partnership. Years later, living in destitution with her abusive husband, she knows that no such thing exists with a man. It is simply a woman's lot in life to accept the treatment of her husband.

Until it's not.

Rallying the women around her, Otrera fights back, taking no prisoners. Because it's clear to her: when men are in power, freedom isn't granted. It's bought with blood. It's a price she is more than willing to pay, if it means building a new life with other women far from the reaches of their abusers.

But a community of women - an army of women - is bound to make enemies of gods and men alike.

This is the story of Otrera and the first Amazons.

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I received this egalley from NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark I was under no obligation to give a review. All opinions are my own. 

Peasreads- 108 Asian Cookies Not-Too-Sweet Treats from a Third-Culture Kitchen by Kat Lieu

 

It's hard to review a cookbook. This one is beautiful. The photos are beautiful, the food looks yummy. I reviewed a digital copy. So I don't know what the print copy looks like. Some of recipes are very unique. However some of them are just regular cookie recipes with a few ingredients that were changed to make a cookie "Asian" like the salt to miso or soy sauce, and added some MSG to some.

I liked the section on traditional cookies the best. So nostalgic.

All the photos were beautiful.

One note of warning, this book doesn't do well on the kindle app on your phone.

I will be attempting to bake some ube cookies this weekend.

Description

From the IACP award winner and bestselling cookbook author comes a first-of-its-kind collection of irresistible cookie recipes inspired by Asian flavors and techniques to excite home bakers.

Growing up as a Canadian-born Vietnamese Chinese American, Kat Lieu sought comfort in the flavors of her youth like taro and black sesame. But she struggled to find a home for herself as a third-culture baker in American bakeries, online, or in cookbooks. In the auspiciously titled 108 Asian Cookies Lieu honors the varied and rich tapestry of Asian cultures and ingredients that inspired these recipes. And along with members from Subtle Asian Baking, the online baking group she founded, are a diverse array of original and member-submitted drool-worthy recipes for cookies and bakes incorporating ingredients from the diaspora including gochujang, ube, miso, fish sauce, sambal, tahini, matcha, and MSG stirred into each batter and dough.

 

Bakers will learn how to whip up both classics and entirely new desserts such as:

 

Spicy chai cookies

Amaretti cookies with pandan and pistachios

Taiwanese snowflake crisps

Milk and cashew burfi

Salted egg yolk corn flake haystacks

Mochi brownies

Matcha and wasabi drop cookies

And even instant ramen and pho cookies!

 

At many Asian tables, “not too sweet” is the highest compliment one can give—so whether these recipes are comfortingly familiar or new discoveries, 108 Asian Cookies will be sure to delight even the most discerning “not too sweet” kitchens for years to come.

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I received this egalley from NetGalley, Little, Brown and Company | VoraciousI was under no obligation to give a review. All opinions are my own.