The Scorpion Queen

Fears, Mina. The Scorpion Queen. 2025. 320p. ISBN 9781250392350.

Amie, a young woman from a wealthy Timbuktu family in Renaissance Mali. Her older sister was accused of an improper relationship with a noble, and rejected the blame on Amie. As a result, Amie suffers a tragic fall from grace. Disinherited by her angry father, and separated from her sister, Amie is forced to serve Princess Mariama in the imperial palace almost as a slave, as all of her wages are to be paid to her father, and not to her. Amie will never again see the boy she loves, Kader.

Princess Mariama is also a prisoner in her own palace. Her father, the Emperor of Mali, has devised a series of deadly trials for her suitors. Designed to weed the nobility of its sons, the trials have resulted in ninety-nine deaths. Despite the hardships and the princess's volatile personality, Amie and Mariama form an unexpected bond. When Amie discovers a map that leads them to the desert and to the home of one of the exiled gods, who could provide a hammer that would end the trial once and for all, she devises a desperate plan to escape the palace with Kader and two other maids, and make their way to the desert and retrieve the hammer. Only then will the trial end, freeing Mariama from her father's control, and allowing Amie and Kader to live happily every after.

Only, things don't go according to plan. Caught by the god after suffering in the desert, Amie makes a startling discovery. Faced with a difficult choice, Amie must decide for whom she is fighting, and whether the effort is worth it. 

The Scorpion Queen is inspired by a Malian folktale, and features a strong character with divided loyalties. Amie often makes the wrong decision for the right reasons, adding to her challenges. Family dynamics and rebellion are also explored as Amie attempts to reassert control over her own life. Fans of fantasy with a touch of light magic will appreciate this story told from a perspective we are not familiar with, but will enjoy the universal themes of betrayal and love.

Inheritance of Scars

Seitz, Crystal. Inheritance of Scars. 2024. 416p. ISBN 9781665959926.

When Astrid's grandmother goes missing, she returns home to her ancestral village, a place her father removed her from when she was young. As a child, she loved spending time with her grandmother, who would tell her stories about the creatures that dwell in the Tiveden Forest, and especially of the King of the forest and of his bloodthirsty draugrs.  But her father feared something in this village, and he took Astrid away. Now she's back, and not much seems to have changed in the village.

Searching her grandmother's house, Astrid discovers a hidden chamber and inadvertently awakens Soren, a centuries-old warrior imprisoned within. Initially fearing him as a monstrous creature who has been imprisoned by Skaga, one of her ancestors. Soren at first believes Astrid to be Skaga, and it takes effort to convince him otherwise. As they spend time together, Astrid gradually realizes that Soren, while possessing supernatural strength, is not the villain he is perceived to be by the forest's residents.

As they delve deeper into the forest, facing perilous encounters with mythical creatures and uncovering a long-buried family secret, Astrid and Soren develop an unexpected connection. When Astrid suddenly discovers that her family, including her grandmother, is responsible for the horrors inside the forest, she must decide whether love or blood is stronger.

Inheritance of Scars explores themes of identity, family legacy, and the blurred lines between good and evil. While the world-building within the modern-day setting could be further developed. The captivating atmosphere within the ancient forest, filled with danger, intrigue, and a touch of forbidden romance help the story move along, and fans of fantasy and romance will enjoy this story set in an unfamiliar setting.

Berserk Deluxe Edition, Vol. 2

Muira, Kentaro. Berserk Deluxe Edition, Vol. 2. 2019. 704p. ISBN 9781506711997. 

In Berserk Deluxe Edition, Vol. 1, we were introduced to Guts and his quest to punish those who did him harm. In Berserk Deluxe Edition, Vol. 2, the story jumps back in time and tells of Gut growing up, how he ended up serving as a poor boy learning the skills of a soldier from Gambino, only to be sold to satisfy the needs of one of Gambino's soldiers. Having killed Gambino, Guts escaped and eventually ran into Griffon's Hawks, a famous mercenary outfit led by an overly ambitious and skilled soldier. Guts was subdued by Griffon in combat, and agreed to join the mercenary band. Casca, Griffon's second-in-command, was not pleased. 

Over the years, Guts and the Hawks fought in countless wars as mercenaries, defeating enemies on the battlefield. Guts got better, but he keeps on being used by those around him. As Griffin climbs the ladder of political power, Guts finds himself learning that he is but a pawn in a well thought-out game. Encountering Zod, a supernatural demon, Guts and Griffin were all but defeated when Zod noticed the behelit hanging around Griffin's neck and left the battle.

With power on the line, an attempt by the King's brother is made to assassinate Griffin, but its failure leads Griffin to instead unleash Guts on the general. Not everything goes according to plan, and Guts ends up slaughtering plenty of the members of the general's household during his escape. Meanwhile Casca is not thrilled by the direction Griffin seems to be heading ...

The story continues in Berserk Deluxe Edition, Vol. 3.

Berserk Deluxe Edition, Vol. 1

Muira, Kentaro. Berserk Deluxe Edition, Vol. 1. 2019. 689p. ISBN 9781506711980. 

Guts, also known as the Black Swordman, travels the world looking for vengeance against those who did him wrong. Armed with a massive sword, Guts bears the marks of torture and war. His left hand has been replaced with a metal one, and he also bears on his skin the unholy symbol of the Brand, which attracts evil to him. Guts is no hero. He's not here to protect the weak and avenge the innocent. He's on his own mission to track down those who gave him the Brand. When he violently frees a small flying elf named Puck from certain death at the hands of bullies in a tavern, Guts acquires a follower who acts partly as his conscience, and partly as someone who questions the world around him.

Continuing his travels, Guts returns to the Count's city where he confronts the Count's formidable captain of the guard, who has been transformed into a horrific monster. Puck is captured and handed to the Count's daughter, who's the only person not aware of the Count's dark desires and horrible penchant for human flesh. Cutting his way through the castle, Guts defeats the Captain of the guard, before confronting the Count himself, this time in his true demonic form. 

Many times Guts is almost defeated, only to muster the willpower to act again. The Count is brought down, but he appeals to the Godhand, a group of five overpowerful demons who offer him a deal in exchange for dealing with Guts, a deal even the Count may not be willing to pay ...

The story continues in Berserk Deluxe Edition, Vol. 2.

The Puppets of Spelhorst.

DiCamillo, Kate. The Puppets of Spelhorst. 160p. ISBN 9781536216752.

Walking in town one day, an old salty captain saw five puppets in the window of a toy shop. There was a girl, a boy, a king, a wolf, and an owl. He immediately felt the need to purchase the girl puppet. When the owner told him he must buy all five, the captain relented and agreed. The girl puppet reminded him of a girl he had once been in love with. Placing these puppets in his trunk, the old captain soon died, and his puppets found their way to a family with young children.

The king always loved to order everyone else around, for what is a king supposed to do? The girl loved to sing, but she only knew one song. The boy knew he was destined to be a hero, for why else would he have a bow and a quiver filled with arrows? The wolf was very impressed with her sharp teeth, and she knew everyone should be scared of her. The owl was filled with wisdom, but longed to fly the skies. As the puppets discovered their new home, they also found new desires and developed new relationships and understandings with each other. Each of them realizes that they are part of a story, and despite their ups and downs together, they belong with each other. The two girls who now own the puppets craft a play they perform in front of their family. In this play, the puppets end up acting the story of a young man who is cursed by a wizard to lose the love of his life, and who looks for her the rest of his life, in a story that resembles that of the old sea captain.

Beautifully told, the story of the puppets resemble folk tales, with bigger than life characters who discover themselves during their adventures, even if they are only puppets. Wherever we found ourselves on the road of life, we can always trust that we will find friends along the road.

Silver in the Bone

 Bracken, Alexandra. Silver in the Bone. Book 1 of the Silver in the Bone series. 2023. 480p. ISBN 9780593481653.

Unlike all of the people she knows, Tamsin has no magical abilities to speak of. This unfortunate circumstance makes her chosen profession especially difficult, as breaking into ancient burial sites looking for magical treasures also sought by sorceresses and faeries puts her at a clear disadvantage. Thankfully her younger brother Cabell is able to see the magical threads that link objects and people, which facilitates their job.

Abandoned by their foster father, who disappeared one night after stealing a powerful Arthurian ring rumored to be able to break the curse of lycanthrope that affects Cabell, the two of them had to fend for themselves. Now ten years later, Tamsin hears rumors that the ring is back in play, and that a powerful sorceress seeks it. Tamsin receives a comtract to find the fabled ring, only to discover that her erstwhile enemy, Emrys, is also looking for the ring.

Forced to unite their abilities for the time being due to the swarm of other seekers also looking for the ring, Tamsin, Cabell and Emrys track the last whereabouts of her foster father, only to stumble upon the Arthurian lands themselves through a gate. But the sickness that has taken over these lands threatens not only that kingdom, but also their present. With danger and treachery swirling around her, Tamsin's lack of magical abilities may in fact be her greatest strength ...

Guinevere's Gift

McKenzie, Nancy. Guinevere's Gift. Book 1 of the Chrysalis Queen Quartet. 2002. 327p. ISBN 978-0-375-84345-7. 

Young Guinevere is living at the court of Gwynedd, where her aunt Alyse is Queen. Her mother, a Queen in her own right, died in childbirth, leaving Guinevere alone. When she was born, a local witch prophecized that she one day would wed a great King and become the highest lady in Britain. Guinevere has never particularly liked that prophecy, and does not put much stock in it. At seven, when her father the King died, she was sent to her aunt to learn court etiquette and complete her education. Now thirteen, Guinevere has not yet blossomed into a young woman, unlike her cousin Elaine, who cannot wait to get married. Unlike her cousin, Guinevere would rather wear boys' clothes and ride her horse out in the forest, though she does like her studies. 

During one of the rides, she meets Llyr, a member of the tribe that lives in the hills, outside of the kingdom. Llyr reveals that the prophecy is real, and that the hill people have been guarding her since her birth. As a result of these revelations, Llyr is exiled from his community, since he shared a secret that was not his. 

King Pellinore, Alyse's husband, has brought his men and they joined young King Arthur's army in his campaign against the Saxons. During his absence, Queen Alyse runs the kingdom. Since the beginning of spring, cattle and lambs have been stolen out of the King's fields, and no one seems to know who is responsible. Queen Alyse tasks the house guard's second in command, Marcus, to investigate in secret.

Sir Darric, the youngest son of one of King Pellinore's earls, comes to visit Gwynedd, and brings several men with him. Offering his services to Queen Alyse, he promises to catch the thieves who have been cattle rustling. Elaine is instantly attracted to Sir Darric, but Guinevere finds him dark and slimy. 

As Marcus investigates, he realizes that Sir Darric is behind the cattle stealing, and he plans on overthrowing Queen Alyse and taking control of the kingdom of Gwynedd before Pellinore comes back. With Sir Darric putting the final pieces of his plan in place, Guinevere, Marcus, and Llyr can stop this coup, but they will need to risk their lives!

Children of Blood and Bone

Adeyemi, Tomi. Children of Blood and Bone. Book 1 of the Legacy of Orïsha series. 2018. 544p. ISBN 9781250170972. 

Orisha once was a land filled with magic. People could manipulate flames, water, and even the souls of the departed. A ruthless king took power, however, and immediately eliminated those known as maji, people would could control magic. As a result, magic died in Orisha. At least, that is the official line. In practice, magic survived, but those that practice it are being hunted down by the king and his forces. Zelie Adebola lost her maji mother by the king's command, and now she and her people are barely surviving on the scraps of humanity. 

Zelie runs into Princess  Arami, who has just escaped after discovering she herself has magical abilities. Zelie realizes that this may be the one way she can fight bak against the king and re-establish magic throughout the land, as Amari has as much claims to the throne as her father. Unfortunately, Inan, the princess's brother is looking for her, his devotion to destroy all things magic being widely known. 

As they cross Orisha, seeking allies and hoping to escape the prince, Zelie must not only avoid traps and the dangers offered by the land, but she must learn to control the magic that is slowly building inside her, with no one to give her the guidance she needs ...

The Hobbit

 Tolkien, J.R.R., illustrated by David Wenzel. The Hobbit. 2012. 134p. ISBN 978-0-345-44560-5. Available in the graphic novels section of the library. 

Bilbo Baggins lives a quiet hobbit life in a house under the hill, where good food and good tobacco can be found. When he greets Gandalf the Wizard on a sunny morning, little does he know that he's about to embark on a dangerous but very profitable adventure. For you see, most hobbits find adventures repellent, and they much prefer sticking close to home, with all of its comforts, than galavanting out in the wilderness. 

When Gandalf mentions that he's looking for an adventurous hobbit, Bilbo politely declines the invitation, but he is then surprised when a large group of dwarves end up at his home the following day. Having been gathered by Gandalf, the dwarves are on a mission to recuperate the treasure in their former home under the mountain, where Smaug the dragon now dwells. They need a burglar, someone who is skilled at quietly retrieving items, and they think Bilbo fits the bill.

Convinced despite his misgivings, Bilbo accompanies the dwarves on what turns out to be the adventure of a lifetime, with encounters with trolls, goblins elves, and a large red dragon. Dangers abound at every corner, but through it all Bilbo's resiliency and grit allows him to survive and eventually return home richer and wiser.

One of the earliest fantasy book, and the precursor to Lord of the Rings, this graphic novel version of the Hobbit does a fantastic job of illustrating this wonderful tale and visually recreating the rich world that is Middle Earth.

The Gilded Ones

Forna, Namina. The Gilded Ones. Book 1 of the Deathless series. 2021. 432p. ISBN 9781984848697. Available as an audiobook from Overdrive.

In Deka's society, all girls who turn sixteen participate in a blood ceremony, where the color of their blood is examined. Red, and the girl is allowed to live in the village as a full member of the community. Gold, and the girl is executed for being a demon, a cursed being who represents a threat to the village and the empire. As the ceremony nears, Deka hopes her blood is pure, but fears that it isn't. Deka is already much different from the other residents of the village, with a skin darker than most, and with an intuition that seems to be right more often than not. With her mother long dead, all Deka has left is her father.

But just before it is time for her blood letting ceremony, Death Shrieks attack the village. As warriors run to attack the monsters, Deka's eyes turn gold, and her voice seems to paralyze the creatures. Accused of being in league with the demons, and denounced by her own father, her blood is revealed to run gold, and Deka is killed ... only to return. Those with gold blood are known as the Alaki, and they are nearly immortal. Each Alaki has one true death, but until it is discovered, they can be slain but will always awaken again. 

Recuperating from another painful death, Deka meets White Hands, a mysterious woman from the capital who offers her a position among an army of Alaki being assembled by the emperor to fight a mass of Death Shrieks now assembling on the borders of the empire. Faced with the prospect of certain death if she remains in the village, Deka agrees and travels to the capital. She meets other Alaki like her, and eventually discovers that the empire's reasons for training Alaki may not be what they seem at first glance.

With armies assembling on the field of battle, Deka will be faced with a painful choice: Fight for what's right, or fight for her friends?

A tale inspired from West African myths and legends, The Gilded Ones offer a different view of fantasy that is unfamiliar yet very relatable. Deka's struggle to accept her new role feels realistic, and the world-building includes several twists and turns that propel the story forward.

The Lightning Thief

Riordan, Rick. The Lightning Thief. Book 1 of Percy Jackson and the Olympians series. 2005. 377p. ISBN 9780786838653. Available at FIC RIO on the library shelves.

Twelve-year-old Percy Jackson has never known his father, and though his mother does her best to protect him, her no-good husband, Percy's stepfather, is a self-centered and abusive jerk who wants Percy out. Attending a private school, Percy once again finds himself close to being suspended. Despite himself, he's always getting in trouble. It's as if trouble followed him wherever he goes... At school, Percy's only friend Grover does his best to help him stay on the right path, but it is so difficult. The only thing Percy enjoys is his Latin class, where the teacher makes the antique world come alive.

On a class field trip to a museum, Percy is attacked by his math teacher, and soon discovers that he is in fact the son of Poseidon, god of the sea. The Greek gods survived to today, and they continue to toy with humanity. Someone stole Zeus' lightning bolt, and Percy has been blamed for the theft, and Poseidon is threatened with war if it is not returned. Percy is stunned to learn all of this from his friend Grover, who is actually a Satyr sent to protect him.

Percy's mother decides to take him to Camp Half-Blood for his own protection, because all kinds of mythological monsters and beasts are now hunting him, but she is killed by a Minotaur on the border of the camp. Camp Half-Blood is a safe space for the children of the gods, and there Percy meets Annabeth, daughter of Athena, and soon he, Grover, and Annabeth find themselves on a quest to retrieve the lightning bolt, save his mother from Hades, and prevent a war between the gods. Percy will need all of his wits to survive a cross-country trip with gods, monsters, and beasts all wanting to be the ones to capture him and deliver him to Zeus for swift punishment....

A fantastical tale where the gods are still present and living in New York City, the story of Percy combines heroics of Greek mythology and modern sensibilities to deliver a fast-paced tale that readers who appreciate fantasy or tales from the antiquity will surely enjoy.

The Final Reckoning

Jarvis, Robin. The Final Reckoning. Book 3 of the Deptford Mice series. 2003. 304p. ISBN 9781587172441.

Having escaped from his oblivion in The Crystal Prison, Jupiter has returned to once again destroy the world. Now even more menacing than ever, the ghostly cat is slowly regaining his physical shape, and this time he means to destroy both the moon and the sun, plunging the world in eternal darkness. 

Audrey has barely enough time to return home and enjoy life that this new threat presents itself. First, the bats fly away, sensing Jupiter's return to London. The Starwife, leader of the squirrels, is then attacked by ghostly figures and barely survives, warning the mice of the danger that awaits them. Morgan the rat returns, this time in command of an army he voluntarily delivers to Jupiter so they can be turned into ghosts. And Picadilli continues to long for Audrey, despite all indications that she does not like him. An epic battle is brewing, one that will change the mice's lives forever!

The conclusion to the Deptford Mice trilogy, The Final Reckoning ties up some loose ends, and manages to drop hints about subsequent events. Favorite characters meet their death in this book, but it helps propel the story forward. Fans of fantasy will appreciate that the story does not end with "and they live happily ever after," but rather features a satisfying and realistic ending.

The Crystal Prison

Jarvis, Robin. The Crystal Prison. Book 2 of the Deptford Mice series. 2002. 256p. ISBN 9781587171611.

With the death of Jupiter in The Dark Portal, the rats have been thrown into disarray and no longer represent a threat to the Deptford mice. The community is recuperating from the ravages committed by the rats. Oswald is still very sick, however, and every day his health declines a little more. For his part, Twit is contemplating returning home to his fields. Audrey and Twit are summoned by the Starwife, the leader of the squirrels, and they are accompanied by Twit's friend, the old sailor mouse. There, they learn that Madame Akkikuyu has survived the collapse of the rat empire, but that her mind has gone. She doesn't remember her role in Jupiter's reign, and the squirrel queen wants her out of her territory. Audrey is therefore tasked with accompanying Akkikuyu to the countryside, and in exchange she will be provided with an healing potion that will save Oswald. Audrey reluctantly agrees, only to learn that she will need to live with Akkikuyu until the old rat dies.

Accompanied by a merchant, Audrey, her brother Arthur, and Twit head out on boats, and eventually arrive in Fennywolde. Audrey and Arthur are introduced to the local mice. Twit's best friend Jenkins is being beaten by his religious father, Isaac, who considers every action to be heretical against the Green Mouse. They also meet Mr. Woodruffe, the the King of the Field, and Alison Sedge, a local beauty who instantly takes a dislike to Audrey. 

When young field mice are attacked by an owl, Akkikuyu intervenes and saves their lives, and even brews a potion that heals them, earning the admiration of the village. Audrey is bitter at having to stick with the rat, and they drift apart. She consoles herself by building a doll from corn stalks. Akkikuyu begins to hear a voice, that of a spirit called Nicodemus. Nico is attempting to escape his prison, and he promises the rat much magical powers if she helps him. As a trap is set for Audrey, who will serve as the sacrificial mouse that will release Nico from his current existence, the unsuspecting mouse is unaware that an old enemy lurks nearby ...

The story concludes in The Final Reckoning.

The Dark Portal

Jarvis, Robin. The Dark Portal. Book 1 of the Deptford Mice series. 1989. 240p. ISBN 9781587171123.

In London dwells a section of town the local mice affectionally refer to as Deptford. There they live their lives in a tight-knit community that enjoy each other's company (mostly), and that is layered in culture and mythology. All of the mice fear the Grille, the entrance from their building down to the sewers, where the rats live. Jupiter, the lord of the rats, has whipped his supporters in a frenzy in the last few years, for a purpose unknown to all. 

Lured there by the magical power of the Grille, Albert Brown, an otherwise respectable mouse, met a city mouse named Piccadilly, but they soon were captured by the rats. Piccadilly managed to escape, but Albert was given to Jupiter. With her father missing in the sewers, his daughter Audrey decides she will go look for him, even though she was always told never to go there. Accompanied by Oswald the albino mouse and Twit, a field mouse visiting Deptford, the three of them enter the rats' domain, looking for Albert but discovering dark magic at work and an even darker plan set in motion by Jupiter and his lackeys. 

With the rats looking for Piccadilly and for Audrey, with a witch rat called Madame Akkikuyu, an evil rat lieutenant called Morgan and an even meaner rat named One-Eye Jack, the mice, along with some friends, bravely face the hardest challenge of them all, surviving the deadliest plot of all!

Fantasy told from the perspective of animals, The Dark Portal begins a trilogy with wonderful world building, an unforgettable cast of character, and actions galore. Fans of the genre will revel in the mice's grit and dedication.

The story continues in The Crystal Prison.

Ember Queen

Sebastian, Laura. Ember Queen. Book 3 of the Ash Princess series. 2020. 465p. ISBN 9781524767143. Available as an audiobook from Overdrive.

In Lady Smoke, Princess Theodosia assembled a fleet of ships to carry her ragtag army back to Astrea to wage war against the Kaiserin, her former friend and the daughter of the Kaiser's own Thain. Having assassinated the Kaiser and seized power, the Kaiserin is ready to exploit a newfound magical power Theodosia unwittingly delivered her when she was attempting to kill her instead. With Prince Soren held hostage by the Kaiserin and untold number of troops blocking their path, Theodosia and her friends will need to devise an unorthodox plan to turn the tide of war and restore her to her rightful throne.

Whatever has affected the Kaiserin also affected Theodosia, however, and she's able to control fire in a way that stoke hope in her people's heart. Poorly armed, yet led by inspired commanders, soldiers who have nothing to lose begin a series of marches getting them ever closer to the palace, with the ultimate infiltration and destruction of the Kaiserin their goal.

But as armies assemble, and as hearts collide, Theodosia will be faced with a difficult choice. Save the one she loves, or save her kingdom from a terrible fate under the continuing rule of the Kaiserin. Can Theodosia defeat cruelty and evil to restore faith and peace to Astrea?

Descendant of the Crane

He, Joan. Descendant of the Crane. 2019. 416p. ISBN 9780807515518. 

Hesina has led a privileged life. As the daughter of the King of Yan, she has been trained to one day succeed him. However, she always thought that it would much later in her life that this would happen. Instead, when her father is found having been poisoned, she is thrusted onto the Yan throne, where she must hold her kingdom together while enemies threaten her borders. Meanwhile sooth, people who are imbued with magical abilities to see into the future and who are considered heretics deserving of death by a thousand cuts, are suspected of infiltrating the imperial capital, causing tensions among neighbors who suspect each other.

Wanting to avenge her father's death and find out who the killer was, Hesina herself engages the services of a sooth to discover any hint that can lead her to the person responsible. This quest soon turns deadly as the investigation conducted by the tribunal reveals a nefarious plot to destroy Yan. Relying on her family members, and unsure if she can trust them, Hesina recruits the mysterious Akira, a man currently held in the dungeon for unspecified crimes. Brilliant but odd, Akira agrees to help Hesina. 

But the forces allied against them quickly grow in strength and ready themselves to destroy the Yan kingdom once and for all. Will Hesina be willing to pay the cost required to protect her nation?

Gilded

Meyer, Marissa. Gilded. Book 1 of the Gilded series. 2021. 502p. ISBN 978-1-250-61884-9. Available at FIC MEY on the library shelves.

Serilda was blessed by Hulda with the abilities to tell stories, or so her father tells her, along with the story that he had saved a god and had been granted the wish of a strong and healthy child. For others, however, Serilda was cursed, with eyes that look like golden wheels. Always distorting the truth and weaving in outlandish lies, Serilda has grown up in the small village of Märchenfeld with her father, the local miller. Her mother disappeared one full moon night, lured by the hunt, the one time of the month there the veil between this reality and that of the Dark Ones breaks down. 

Led by the Erlking, the hunt seeks rare animals, monsters, and other creatures, and its call often lulls humans to its ranks. Most die, but some are found later confused and abandoned. Often, children are taken by the hunt and are never seen again. The Erlking dwells within a castle on the other side of the Ashen Wood, which borders Mächenfeld.

On a full moon night, Serilda heard the hounds of the Erlking. Going outside her home despite the legends warning her not to do so, she saw two moss maidens attempting to hide. She helped them disappear in the crawl space below the house, and when the hunt and the Erlking at its head. His Grim inquired what she was doing out in the middle of a winter full moon, and Serilda's tongue once again got the better of her as she claimed she was here to harvest winter wheat so she could weave it into threads of gold. 

Intrigued, the Erlking let her live, and Serilda could almost have imagined the whole thing except for the ring and necklaces the moss maidens offered her as payment for saving their lives. The next month, the Erlking returned, and this time he demanded she accompany him to his castle to prove that she could in fact weave gold from wheat.

Caught by her own lie, Serilda is imprisoned in the castle, where she meets Gild, who can in fact weave gold from wheat, but his help will come at a cost. As the months repeat themselves, and the amount of weaving increases, Serilda finds herself a captive in the Erlking's evil plans. The castle is imbued with a curse, its inhabitants now ghosts bound to the Erlking's service, but she's sure that if she could break the curse, then the Erlking's power would dissipate, and the denizens would be free.

Engaged in a deadly battle of wits with the leader of the Dark Ones, Serilda can only count on the power of her stories, and the help of unlikely allies, to keep her safe, while knowing that every day that passes gets her closer with a reckoning that could cost her her life.

Fans of fantasy will love this reimagining of the tale of Rumpelstiltskin from an author who successfully recreated the tale of Cinderella into Cinder, the first of awesome Lunar Chronicles series. 

The Witcher, Vol. 3: Curse of Crows

Tobin, Paul and Joe Querio. The Witcher, Vol. 3: Curse of Crows. 2017. 136p.  ISBN 9781506701615.

Geralt is on his way to Novigrad and he is traveling with his daughter, the beautiful Ciri. They have been contracted to slay the Striga that plagues the city. A mythical monster stronger than most and exceedingly violent, most witchers stay clear of Strigas. Geralt, however, once confronted one and survived to tell the tale. With his daughter at his side, Geralt believes they can successfully defeat the Striga.

On the trip over to the sinking city, Ciri asks Geralt to explain how he defeated the first one. He tells her of the Duke who impregnated his sister and tried to marry her. She died in childbirth, and so did her child, but not before the midwife, who now runs a bath in Novigrad, witnessed the horrible creature that was birthed. 

This midwife is in fact the one who contracted the witchers to solve the Striga problem. Her son meets Ciri and reveals he can transform into a crow, and that his sister is the Striga they seek. Yennifer, Geralt's former wife, pays him and her daughter a visit, and attempts to stir them away from the Striga, convinced that they are in danger if they attempt to slay it. But Ciri wants her own adventure ...

All the Stars and Teeth

Grace, Adalyn. All the Stars and Teeth. Book 1  of the All the Stars and Teeth series. 2020. 373p. 744 mins. ISBN 9781250307781. Available as an audiobook from Overdrive.

Amora Montara is the first daughter and princess of the King of Visidia. Her family masters the magic of souls, and Amora and she has spent her whole life preparing to ascend the throne as the High Animancer. In this role, she will rule the islands that comprise Visidia with fairness, judging each soul on its merits. Each island is known for one type of magic, and all work together for the greater glory of Visidia.

However, not all is as it seems. The kingdom is plagued by a rebellion that seeks to overthrow the monarchy. An entire island has been laid waste, its population now starving. When Amora fails the test designed to demonstrate that she masters the complicated soul magic, her life is immediately in danger. Her father has no choice but to imprison her until the royal council can determine what to do with her. Rescued by a handsome pirate named Bastian, and accompanied by Ferrick, her fiancee and magic healer, they depart Visidia. Bastian explains that a strange magic is at work in the rebellion, where people are wielding multiple kinds of magic instead of being limited to one. 

In order to regain her name and the right to rule the kingdom, Amora sets off to stop the rebellion, only to learn that there are far more powerful secrets out in the world she was never allowed to visit ...

The Witcher, Vol. 2: Fox Children

 Tobin, Paul and Joe Querio. The Witcher, Vol. 2: Fox Children. 2014. 136p.  ISBN 9781616557935.

Looking for transport to Novigrad, Geralt the Witcher and his dwarven friend Addario book passage on a ship heading for that city. The passengers, led by Mr. Fysh, happen to be on a secret mission. At first glance it appears they have been hired to retrieve a child that has been kidnapped by a vulpess, a fox imbued with intelligence, the ability to transform into a human, and the cunning skills of a master illusionist. Unfortunately for the group, they were unable to find the child, so instead they captured another vulpess child and are bringing that creature back to Novigrad to collect the reward. Geralt knows this is a really bad idea, but since the ship is already underway, it is too late for him and Addario to get off.

As they sail down the river, the crew soon becomes aware that the mother vulpess is trailing them. Soon the ship and its crew finds itself hopelessly lost in the swamp, and dangerous illusions begin to play havoc on the dim-witted crew members. Sometimes, however, the real monsters are not the creatures out there in the swamp, but those on the ship ...