Isis of Egypt is an Egyptian Mythology retelling that focuses on the story of the Goddess of magic. With the influx of Greek mythology retelling in the last few years, this book was incredibly refreshing in its theme.

This book is lyrical in its writing and I found myself highlighting so many beautifully written verses as I read through it. The description of the characters appearances beautiful, the colours of their skin, eyes, hair and clothes were so full of texture, that is was so easy to imagine these glittering figures. I also really appreciated the unique personification of the Gods, I loved finding out that this version of Mut loves a bit of pageantry, or that Ma'at has a wicked sense of humour, it not only humanised them, but added a bit of dimension to the overall narrative. It also challenged traditional depictions, like Ammit the devoured actually being quite sweet by nature. The only thing I was a little miffed about was that Sekhmets' myth was changed and in doing so, her ferocity which is such an integral part of her composure as a goddess was reduced. But that is absolutely a me problem, as I struggle to 'switch off' and just appreciate changes that are made to advance the plot of the story when it comes to Ancient Egypt.

The prose is able to communicate key contextual knowledge to the audience through Isis' exploration of the world (as she and her siblings came into the world fully grown) we learn who the existing deities are and what their domain is, the flora, fauna and scents of Egypt (which created such a vivid picture) and general beliefs (like the five components of the soul). As a result of this, it is an incredibly accessible book for those who have only an introductory understanding of Ancient Egyptian mythology. For the most part, this book stays close to the major versions of the myths associated with Isis. Like Greek Mythology, there is not always one version, or an original version of a myth, with them evolving and changing over time to suit the needs of the society (given how often the Egyptians synchronised two Gods together, their associated myths adapted too).

I found the pacing of the book was quite good, Evan's made sure to establish in the text the movement of time, sometimes millennia, others, centuries or decades. It allowed us to understand the immortality of Isis and the other Gods, without being bogged down and having a story that dragged (I don't want it to feel like its taking milennia to get to the point).

Thank you to Netgalley and Alcove Press for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review. These thoughts and interpretations are all my own.

Emily Wildes' Encyclopaedia of Faeries is such an interesting and engaging story that masterfully engages in magical realism. The characters in this book are incredibly well rounded, but, if I were to apply classic tropes to this book it would be 'black cat (her) x golden retriever (him)' with a dash of 'touch her and die'. This book is perfect for fans of Holly Black, traditional representations of Faeries, subtle romance and academia settings. I am ecstatic that it is part of a series and I look forward to studying faeries further under the tuteledge of Dr Emily Wilde.

Though not explicitly stated, Emily is clearly a neurodivergent character, I very much resonated with her struggle to make friends and ingratiate herself socially. I especially found the moments where she was self aware of this especially poignant. Her determination and drive were well conveyed and her hyperfixation on faeries as a whole complimented this. Her strict adherence to effective research methodology and her desire to gain academic validation through tenure added another layer of authenticity to her character. Too often characters who are neurodivergent coded end up riddled with stereotypes, but I was so pleased with how well rounded her character was.

Though the world this book is set in is imbued with magic and fantasy elements, it is clearly grounded in our reality (though in the not so distant past) with academia being full of misogyny, nepotism and general toxicity. The structure of this book as a diary or record of Emilys' fieldwork allowed for footnotes and additional explanations that would, in other modes of writing, essentially be info-dumping. Recent fantasy series have used Fae and Faeries as characters and romanticised them, this book does a great job of getting back to the folklore and representing how terrifying they actually are (as someone with Maltese ancestry, I was truly terrified of the specific type only found in Malta that are mentioned in the earlier chapters). The side characters all play important roles in the story, certainly propelling the story further, but it is Shadow who steals the show. I love a furry friend in a story and found his presence (somewhat as a literal shadow to Emily) so cosy and comforting. Shadow is a good boy and deserves all the praise.

This book is not a romance, however, the slow burn between Emily and Wendell was such a satisfying and enjoyable subplot. He is, from his very first letter, clearly enamoured and a bit obsessed with her, and its delightful. Wendell's character is certainly perculiar from the start and he is such an interesting contrast to Emily. Wendell has moments where he fits into the traditional male love interest role that has been established in popular fantasy in the last decade. He has fierce protectiveness that manifests in violence. However, he is refreshingly unique in the construction of the rest of his character, essentially, he is full of whimsy. His attention to detail in both home decor and clothing are particularly different, taking joy in his appearance and in the space he resides in were interesting character details.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for giving me access to this book in exchange for an honest review, these thoughts and interpretations are all my own.