I had a weird time reading Heir of Illusion. I was interested enough to keep reading but I never actually felt excited about anything happening other than the first and last chapter. It was fine for what it was, but I don't think this book lived up to its potential.

The worldbuilding is minimal, but what we do get about the magic system and politics is interesting. The problem is the execution of the plot itself. On the surface, it's a lot of fun and fast moving, but the more I think about it, the less sense it makes. The entire book is like a collection of events stitched together with random time jumps that got us to the next plot twist. It just didn’t feel like there was any flow to the story and there are so many scenes that I think back to and wonder what the point of those events were.

The romance was weird and the progression from strangers to "touch her and die" in like a week felt absurd. There was no setup, and both Ivy and Thorne lack distinct personality traits, so their relationship felt empty despite going from strangers to "touch her and die" within a week. What really bothered me the most about their interactions was how tone-deaf Thorne’s “protective” behavior was towards Ivy at times. The main story is about King Baylor’s control over Ivy and this collar that guarantees total obedience from her. Yet Thorne would either shame her for not standing up to the king or he’d even provoke Baylor without considering that Ivy would face the consequences. It gave me the ick, and I was side-eyeing him the whole book.

My biggest pet peeve is that Ivy's character traits fluctuate to serve the plot. She's quick-witted and clever when the story needs banter and snark, but doesn't ask obvious questions when the author wants to withhold information from us and build intrigue. For example, when someone mentions that she looks and acts like her real father (who she doesn't know btw), she doesn't even ask who he is. The author definitely wanted to save that reveal for later, but it was one moment of many that felt unnatural and like a missed opportunity for Ivy's character.

All in all, it was fine for what it was. I can see two groups of people who would really enjoy this: readers who want to turn their brain off and enjoy the ride, or those new to fantasy/romantasy. If I were in either category, I probably would have enjoyed it more.

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Thank you to NetGalley and Zando for the ARC!

Lately, it feels like every book I read is the same story repackaged with different character names and a new setting. Dawn of the North was the breath of fresh air I needed.

I don’t know how Demi Winters does it, but every book in this series has been better than the last. Usually, when I’m three books into a five book series, I expect a lot of filler and fluff. That is absolutely not the case here. We got character growth, even more worldbuilding, and expanded the setting into a whole new kingdom.

First things first, definitely read Hekla’s novella, Roots of Darkness, before diving into Dawn of the North. I say this as a chronic novella skipper. I promise you will be totally lost if you don’t.

We're following three main storylines told through six POVs: Kassandr and Saga in Zagadka, Silla and Rey in Kopa, Hekla continuing the mission with the mist, and Jonas. As someone who doesn't typically like more than three POVs, I worried I’d be frustrated by the constant switching. Instead, I found that I was excited to jump to the next POV. Each perspective adds something different, whether it be character growth, relationship development, or plot advancement. The downside is that it takes a while for the story to get going because we're re-establishing so many storylines in the beginning. I thought it was worth it and loved how all the POVs converged at the end, but if you're used to faster-paced fantasies, the setup may feel slow.

Like the other books in this series, the romances are present but don't overpower the plot. Because the couples are paired off into their separate storylines, the relationship development is woven into the plot naturally. The characters are given the space to grow together and develop real feelings for another instead of being thrown into a relationship solely because of the circumstances. I think this is why Demi Winters’ romances feel so believable. Also, I adore Kassandr. I liked him in Kingdom of Claw, but he levels up so much in this book.

Overall, this was a great third book in The Ashen series and it solidly sets the stage for the final two books. I will definitely be continuing with this series!

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Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine for the ARC!

I had no idea what to expect with When Among Crows. It’s a little outside my comfort zone as I don’t typically enjoy folkloric stories or urban fantasies. So imagine my surprise when it gripped me the way it did.

The story follows three unlikely allies on a quest to break a curse. The main story is about responsibility, redemption, and atonement and I thought those themes were handled well. What I was not expecting was commentary on deeper issues like immigration, identity and belonging, and religion.

Somehow this novella tackles all these topics and the plot in 160-ish pages. It is probably the best paced novella I’ve ever read, but I would not have minded if it was a little longer. Because the plot is crammed into so few pages, some moments felt a bit forced and unnatural, especially considering the characters have only known each other for a few days.

Lastly, I would have loved a glossary/pronunciation guide. There were a few Polish lines or terms where a translation and explanation would have been useful.

Highly recommend this novella, especially to fans of folklore-heavy urban fantasies that tackle heavier topics.