Tag: Fantasy

Book Review

The Leaving Room

TheShelfLife

The Leaving Room by Amber McBride

Publication Date: October 2025 |Thanks NetGalley for an ARC

Overall Verdict: Lyrically presented in verse, this novel provides a short but sweet story about the power of connection.

3.5/5 Stars

Book Summary: Gospel is a Keeper of The Leaving Room, providing a place and help for those who pass on. Whether it’s playing a game, talking or cooking food, Gospel helps the children that come to her room to move on. When she meets another Keeper named Melody, things begin to change. Everything that has been routine suddenly is interrupted and the connection between Melody and Gospel becomes entangled.

My Analysis: The concept of The Leaving Room being this place where someone can pause for a moment if they need before they move on is a powerful one. I thought this was beautifully written in a verse format that suited the story. If you are not a fan of novels in verse, this one may not be for you. It does incorporate more of a poetic style than some verse writing does. I do wish there was more to this though. This is just a little snippet of a much larger idea, and if you’re accepting of that then it was well done. I however always want more background information than not, and that was not the way this book was presented. Touching on the impact of connection, I appreciated how things wrapped up at the end. Overall it is a quick and worthwhile read if you’re looking for a powerful yet fantastical story.

Book Review

Mindworks: An Uncanny Compendium of Short Fiction

TheShelfLife

Mindworks: An Uncanny Compendium of Short Fiction by Neal Shusterman

Publication Date: November 2025 |Thanks NetGalley for an ARC | Based on a limited (yet large) provided selection of stories from collection

Overall Verdict: A collection of imaginative stories that fans of Shusterman will appreciate.

4/5 Stars

Book Summary: A compilation of new and previous work of Shusterman together in one collection. These short stories stretch the imagination and have a wide range of focuses that fall within the realm of science-fiction, fantasy and horror.

My Analysis: First off I have to talk about the book cover. As an adult I can see the artistic vision behind it in incorporating elements from the stories. However, working with teens for as long as I have, there is a zero percent chance they would pick this one up because of that cover. They absolutely judge by the cover and I could even recommend it and they can see who the author is (he’s a popular one for us) and they would still be hesitant. As far as the stories go I was able to read the provided selection of shorts in the ARC, and it was still pretty extensive. From what I have gathered these are stories that are both new and previously written. They all definitely have that Shusterman flavor. Some I enjoyed far more than others, and I tended to be more intrigued by the sci-fi stories more than anything else. One in particular was fantastic, and I hear they may be adapting it to a film. All of the shorts varied in length, but all had the elements necessary for the reader. The writing was extremely imaginative and thought-provoking. If you are a fan of Shusterman’s other work there is a good chance you will like this collection too.

Book Review

Immortal Consequences

TheShelfLife

Immortal Consequences by I.V. Marie

Publication Date: July 2025 |Thanks NetGalley for an ARC

Overall Verdict: Unique fantasy world filled with memorable characters and survival.

5/5 Stars

Book Summary: Blackwood Academy is located on the outskirts of the afterlife. Students here are living in a purgatory of sorts, helping lost souls find their way to move on. Every decade Blackwood hosts an opportunity for one lucky student to showcase their skills and win the choice to either live among the Ascended with a permanent place in society with full access to magic, or to cross to The Other Side. This year, students become a part of a competition, pitting friends against one another to win the coveted chance to choose their fate. When this celebration becomes a competition, survival becomes paramount and relationships are tested.

My Analysis: Now THIS is a book! Any synopsis of this novel doesn’t do it justice. This is so much more than a book about a competition – that element just adds to what is an amazing story. I thoroughly enjoyed the concept of these characters in a purgatory, and thought that the author did a great job developing this entity. The plot was continually interesting, kept me wondering what was going to happen and wanting to read more. The characters were well-developed and I adored their relationships with one another. This is the first in a series (or perhaps a duology?) and I cannot wait to see what happens next after a cliff hanger ending. If you enjoy a unique fantasy world that combines together friendships, romance and survival…then you need to read this one. I can see a wide audience of YA fantasy readers liking this one. I highly recommend it!

Book Review

Grief in The Fourth Dimension

TheShelfLife

Grief in the Fourth Dimension by Jennifer Yu

Publication Date: July 2024 |Thanks Netgalley for an ARC

Overall Verdict: Speculative fiction that dives deep into grief and the process of healing from a loved ones death.

3/5 Stars

Book Summary: After their deaths, Kenny and Caroline find themselves together in a mysterious white room. They come to realize that they are able to view their families and friends as they work through the process of grieving their losses. In addition, there are small ways in which Kenny and Caroline can influence the events that are currently happening to others back home. As the two connect further in the room, they realize their connection to one another and their deaths extended beyond coincidence.

My Analysis: The uniqueness of this plot made me want to pick this one up instantly. There are a lot of heavy themes within this one- content warnings for discussions of death and suicide. Yu does a nice job of making the topics of death and grief and their impact very accessible. If it weren’t for the depth of the topics, I would almost say this reads a little younger. The characters are interesting and I liked the connections that were made both in and out of the white room. The depictions of Kenny’s family restaurant were my favorite scenes. I don’t want to give away any spoilers, so I’ll just say that I’m not entirely on board with how things wrapped up for this one. I get where the author was coming from in how she had some characters react to certain situations, but I’m not sure if I totally agreed with some of it morally. That though is definitely something that could be subjective, based on the opinions of the reader. I was also able to figure out one of the bigger twists early on (which was a good one but I wish I hadn’t seen it coming) and another which I had not and was interestingly revealed. If you’re into speculative fiction and want an introspective look into grief, give this one a try.

Book Review

The Prisoner’s Throne

TheShelfLife

The Prisoner’s Throne by Holly Black

Publication Date: March 2024

Overall Verdict: A satisfying end to the duology, full of everything fans of Holly Black love about her work.

4.5/5 Stars

Book Summary: Prince Oak is imprisoned for his betrayal to the new Queen Suren. High King Cardan and High Queen Jude will do whatever is necessary to retrieve Oak, even if that means war. Faced with impossible circumstances Oak must decide where his loyalties lie while also using his charm and wit to prevent catastrophe.

My Analysis: This was a very satisfying end to the duology, and I liked how things wrapped up. She also left things open plot-wise for her to continue with another supplemental series if she wishes. I’ll admit it did take me until about halfway through to really get into this one, it was a little slow moving to start with. But I really love the characters Oak and Wren and their relationship with one another, and that alone was enough to keep going. Once things started picking up though, there were some interesting twists and turns! Fans of the Folk of the Air original series will appreciate the appearances of Jude and Cardan throughout this one. Overall, if you love this world Holly Black has created, you need to read this one as well.

Book Review

The Invocations

TheShelfLife

The Invocations by Krystal Sutherland

Publication Date: January 2024 |Thanks NetGalley for an ARC

Overall Verdict: A beautifully written but ultimately unsatisfying story revolving around witches and the occult.

3/5

Book Summary: Zara Jones will do anything to bring back her murdered sister, even if that means partaking in the occult to raise the dead. Jude Wolf is cursed after a deal with a demon went horribly wrong, and she has been suffering the consequences ever since. Emer Byrne is a cursewriter, helping desperate women exchange part of their soul for power. As these three paths cross, the more each realizes they must work together for their goals to succeed. When Emer’s clients start to be murdered, they turn to one another for answers.

My Analysis: Sutherland’s writing is beautiful. The imagery she provides is outstanding. The story however- absolutely boring. I had hoped this one would be an improvement over House of Hollow, but to me it wasn’t. Both written elegantly but the plots just aren’t interesting enough. I’m not sure if she’s just trying to hard to make it this gruesome story that has shock value and is failing, but the overall story is not satisfying. The characters she portrays are well developed, and I did appreciate their relationships with one another. Especially given the fact that these characters are pushed together as strangers who become friends. If you’re really into witches and the occult, it’s worth a read, but if not I say it’s one to skip.

Book Review

This Cursed Light

TheShelfLife

This Cursed Light by Emily Thiede

Publication Date: December 2023| Thanks NetGalley for an ARC

Overall Verdict: An underwhelming conclusion to the duology, but worth reading if you really liked the first novel.

2/5 Stars

Book Summary: Six months after saving the world, a new threat emerges. Desperate to seek answers to what is coming, Alessa, Dante and their friends try to locate the exiled Ghiotte to recruit as allies. Between Dante’s lack of powers and Alessa’s new growing darkness, it’s more challenging than ever. What does it cost to save the world again? And who will be willing to pay the price?

My Analysis: I was very underwhelmed by this conclusion to the duology. To me, the best part of reading This Vicious Grace was the banter and relationship between Alessa and Dante. In this one however, I found that to be severely lacking and their interactions seemed more immature than before. I was also put off by the repetition and inconsistencies that were present throughout. Hopefully this is something that will be fixed as a final edit, but the fact that I noticed so many was disappointing. What do I like about this series? The magic system. It is very creative and I really like the idea of the Finestra amplifying powers of those around her. The underlying concept was there but just didn’t work well with how it was written. If you really enjoyed This Vicious Grace then it is worth a read to have a conclusion and to learn a bit more about the magic the characters hold.

Book Review

A Curse for True Love

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A Curse For True Love by Stephanie Garber

Publication Date: October 2023

Overall Verdict: A satisfying ending to a magical trilogy full of fairytale curses and stories.

4.5/5 Stars

Book Summary: Evangeline has come a long way in her adventure for a happy ending. Now she is married to a prince and it seems as though things couldn’t be better. Little does she know exactly what she has sacrificed to gain this happiness. True love is put to the test and the battle for a happy ending wages on.

My Analysis: This was a solid close to this fantasy trilogy. The author did a nice job of wrapping the story up and tying loose ends together. This novel did share a dual POV, unlike the first two, which I didn’t really care for. I can understand wanting to gain additional perspective based on what is going on in the plot, but I definitely found myself liking one much more than the other. I have loved the relationships Garber has built between these characters and this one did not disappoint as they only continued to develop. If you’re looking for a magical series that is very heavy on fairytale concepts this will be right up your alley! I highly recommend this series!

Book Review

The Scarlet Veil

TheShelfLife

The Scarlet Veil by Shelby Mahurin

Publication Date: September 2023 | Thanks NetGalley for an ARC

Overall Verdict: Give it a read if you really enjoyed the Serpent and Dove series and it’s characters and are willing to put up with a slow moving and sometimes predictable plot.

3/5 Stars

Book Summary: Set after the Serpent and Dove series. Celie has taken her vows to become the first female Chasseur. A new evil is on the horizon, resulting in many dead bodies. As Celie works to investigate, she finds herself in the company of vampires. How far is she willing to go to do what is right? What will she learn about herself in the process?

My Analysis: I really wanted to like this book, but unfortunately it fell short for me. I am a big fan of Mahuin’s Serpent and Dove series, and as soon as I heard this was coming out, it was immediately on my TBR list. The same world and characters and the inclusion of vampires? Sounded like a win. Overall there were some really interesting parts to the book, and I thoroughly enjoyed the vampire characters. To me, getting to know them was absolutely the best part. My biggest hang up with this story was Celie’s character development. I can understand the author trying to share the feminine side of this protagonist, but to me she seemed to come off as way too weak and innocent. More so than she really needed to be to get her point across. The Scarlet Veil is written as Celie’s story and as such the first 60% of the book was rough for me to get through because of her character. The story does pick up though towards the end and it is action packed (although somewhat predictable) until the last page. Ultimately, if you really enjoyed Serpent and Dove, want to read more about those characters and can put up with a slower pace, this is worth a read.