Book Review – The Teller of Small Fortunes

19 May 2025 1 Comment

by Clare in Books, Reviews Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

The Teller of Small Fortunes is a stand-alone novel by Julie Leong (paid link). I received this book as part of a book subscription box where I am surprised by a beautiful special edition of a new release every month. You can find out more about Fairy Loot at this link.

I read the Fairy Loot hardcover edition.

Here is the blurb:

Tao is an immigrant fortune teller, traveling between villages with just her trusty mule for company. She only tells “small” fortunes: whether it will hail next week; which boy the barmaid will kiss; when the cow will calve. She knows from bitter experience that big fortunes come with big consequences…

Even if it’s a lonely life, it’s better than the one she left behind. But a small fortune unexpectedly becomes something more when a (semi) reformed thief and an ex-mercenary recruit her into their desperate search for a lost child. Soon, they’re joined by a baker with a knead for adventure, and—of course—a slightly magical cat.

Tao sets down a new path with companions as big-hearted as her fortunes are small. But as she lowers her walls, the shadows of her past are closing in—and she’ll have to decide whether to risk everything to preserve the family she never thought she could have.

I didn’t think that I’d like this book, but it was such a cute story and I loved it! I guess that this novel could be considered part of the newer genre of cozy fantasy, which I honestly thought sounded boring. How can a story be engaging without life-threatening stakes and constant dire risk to the characters? Well, this novel has none of those aspects, but it was a wonderful story.

The characters are the central focus of this book. Tao is the titular fortune teller who has fled her home and fears using her power for anything beyond minor readings. She meets the others mentioned in the blurb and they reluctantly decide to travel together out of convenience, but accidentally become inseparable friends by the end. They each become invested in each others’ small quests, and the biggest threat they face is the magefinder who trails behind Tao, insistent that she must be trained to use her power for the Crown.

Despite the low stakes in this book, the themes that it touches upon are serious ones, including confronting prejudice, following your own dreams and not those put upon you by others, believing in yourself, and finding what makes you happy, even if that isn’t money, power, or material things. I also loved the mule and the cat in this story, but I can’t say more without spoilers.

As stated in my intro, this is a stand-alone novel and was a fairly short read, at 346 pages in this hardcover edition. The cover on the Fairy Loot edition is drastically different from the standard one, and you can see it in the photos I’ve interspersed here. This is such a pretty book that while part of me wants to pass it along to someone else to read, my inner dragon wants me to add it to my book hoard. I tend to keep books if I really liked them or if they are part of an unfinished series where I might re-read them as later volumes are published.

Have you read anything in the cozy fantasy genre? I’m planning to read The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst in the next few weeks (paid link). What other books in this genre would you recommend? Let me know in the comments.

You can find more of my reviews here.

Book Review – Onyx Storm

15 May 2025 2 Comments

by Clare in Books, Reviews Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros is the third book in The Empyrean series (paid links). I had originally thought it was the final book, but it now looks like she is planning for five volumes in this series.

You can find my reviews of the earlier books below:

I read the hardcover edition.

Here is the blurb:

After nearly eighteen months at Basgiath War College, Violet Sorrengail knows there’s no more time for lessons. No more time for uncertainty. Because the battle has truly begun, and with enemies closing in from outside their walls and within their ranks, it’s impossible to know who to trust.

Now Violet must journey beyond the failing Aretian wards to seek allies from unfamiliar lands to stand with Navarre. The trip will test every bit of her wit, luck, and strength, but she will do anything to save what she loves—her dragons, her family, her home, and him.

Even if it means keeping a secret so big, it could destroy everything. They need an army. They need power. They need magic. And they need the one thing only Violet can find—the truth. But a storm is coming…and not everyone can survive its wrath.

I think it going to be impossible to write this review without some spoilers from the previous two books, so be warned going into this. I will try to avoid spoilers for this book though.

I enjoyed Onyx Storm more than Iron Flame, but not as much as Fourth Wing. I think that was partly because the first book was more focused and everything in Basgiath was new to me as a reader, so the experience of reading the story mirrored that of Violet experiencing the school. Onyx Storm has a massive sprawling plot, with a growing host of characters, more expansive politics, and takes place over an enlarging geographic region. While I often love that kind of thing, it made me feel like I didn’t know which direction things were heading.

Onyx Storm is filled with shocking events. I found myself wondering what else could possibly happen at several points in the book, only to be surprised by another twist a few pages later. For the most part, these surprises worked and didn’t feel forced, although the way the story has developed makes me want to re-read the series before the next book is released so that I’m not missing some of the smaller details.

Violet and Xaden’s relationship is challenged after he turns venin at the end of Iron Flame. He struggles against this destructive power and tries to keep his change secret from everyone but Vi and their dragons. It has to be tough as an author to keep the romance fresh through multiple books. Something has to keep the couple apart, whether it’s a fight, a breakup, political pressure, or becoming a power-sucking red-eyed demon, in order for them to have a reason to make up and keep things hot. I think that the author does a decent job of this through this book, but nothing that is much different than what happens in the first two books.

I pre-ordered this novel and the Deluxe Limited Edition is a gorgeous book. I love the design and the color choices with the black fading into silver. This edition also features sprayed edges with what else – dragons!

Have you read any of the books in The Empyrean series? Which one did you like the best? Let me know in the comments.

You can find more of my reviews here.

Book Review – Sorcery and Small Magics

20 Mar 2025 Leave a comment

by Clare in Books, Reviews Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

Sorcery and Small Magics by Maiga Doocy was one of the books that I purchased in a recent Fairy Loot box (paid link). My copy is one of the prettiest books I’ve received from them so far, with sprayed edges, interior cover art, and a foiled design on the front and back covers. Read on below to see what I thought of the book.

I read the Fairy Loot special hardcover edition.

Here is the blurb:

Leovander Loveage is a master of small magics.

He can summon butterflies with a song, or turn someone’s hair pink by snapping his fingers. Such minor charms don’t earn him much admiration from other sorcerers (or his father), but anything more elaborate always blows up in his face. Which is why Leo vowed years ago to never again write powerful magic.

That is, until a mix-up involving a forbidden spell binds Leo to obey the commands of his longtime nemesis, Sebastian Grimm. Grimm is Leo’s complete opposite—respected, exceptionally talented, and an absolutely insufferable curmudgeon. The only thing they agree on is that getting caught using forbidden magic would mean the end of their careers. They need a counterspell, and fast. But Grimm casts spells, he doesn’t undo them, and Leo doesn’t mess with powerful magic.

Chasing rumors of a powerful sorcerer with a knack for undoing curses, Leo and Grimm enter the Unquiet Wood, a forest infested with murderous monsters and dangerous outlaws alike. To dissolve the curse, they’ll have to uncover the true depths of Leo’s magic, set aside their long-standing rivalry, and—much to their horror—work together.

Even as an odd spark of attraction flares between them.

This was an easy-to-read story that is about two people who find themselves thrown together by an inadvertent curse and then have to find common ground to get themselves out of the situation. In the course of their misadventure, you can quickly tell that this is also a romance (M/M).

I like the way that the magic in this book required both a scriver and a caster in order to perform a spell. That was a unique piece of worldbuilding that added unexpected depth to the plot and the problem-solving required of the characters.

This book was good but also somewhat forgettable. I didn’t realize that it was going to be the first part of a series. I think that it would have worked better as a stand-alone if the author could have moved events along more quickly. However, the story implies that there are greater evils happening in this world that I expect our characters will be drawn into in later books. In the end, I was rather disappointed by the conclusion of this first book, and I don’t know if I’ll pick up the next volume.

One odd thing that I noticed while reading this book is that I have come across a lot of characters named Grimm lately – in this book, Perfectly Wicked by Lindsay Lovise (reviewed here), and Grimm Curiosities by Sharon Lynn Fisher (review coming soon; paid links).

What books have you read lately that have a unique approach to magic? Let me know in the comments.

Find more of my reviews here.

Book Review – The Gods Below

21 Jan 2025 Leave a comment

by Clare in Books, Reviews Tags: , , , , , , ,

The Gods Below is the first book in a new series (The Hollow Covenant) by Andrea Stewart (paid links). I have not read the author’s previous books, but received this as a beautiful hardcover edition from Fairy Loot.

As a reminder, if you don’t want to miss all my book-related posts, you can find me now on Instagram as @ihazabookproblem (here is a link).

I read the hardcover Fairy Loot edition.

Here is the blurb:

A divine war shattered the world leaving humanity in ruins. Desperate for hope, they struck a deal with the devious god Kluehnn: He would restore the world to its former glory, but at a price so steep it would keep the mortals indebted to him for eternity. And as each land was transformed, so too were its people changed into strange new forms – if they survived at all.

Hakara is not willing to pay such a price. Desperate to protect herself and her sister, Rasha, she flees her homeland for the safety of a neighboring kingdom. But when tragedy separates them, Hakara is forced to abandon her beloved sister to an unknown fate.

Alone and desperate for answers on the wrong side of the world, Hakara discovers she can channel the magic from the mysterious gems they are forced to mine for Kluehnn. With that discovery comes another: her sister is alive, and the rebels plotting to destroy the God Pact can help rescue her.

But only if Hakara goes to war against a god.

My favorite part of this book was the unique worldbuilding and magic system. The mystical and dangerous barrier between realms reminds me of the Shadowfold from Leigh Bardugo’s Shadow and Bone books. I really liked how vastly different the realms become when they are transformed in the aftermath of their “restoration”.

The magic used by Hakara and others involves the ingestion of gems which echoed Brandon Sanderson’s magic system in his Mistborn series. However, this author’s version felt more organic and natural to the setting than in Sanderson’s version.

As far as characters go, this book introduces multiple viewpoints, setting up a complicated series. I enjoyed Hakara as someone who is sympathetic, determined, and resourceful. She uses her skills creatively and struggles throughout the story. Her sister Rasha offers us a view into Kluehnn’s followers and a restored realm.

Mullayne’s viewpoint follows an aspect of the story that does not directly connect to the rest of the characters, but still serves an important purpose. Thassir is the mysterious and powerful stranger whom Hakara is pointedly NOT attracted to (guess where this goes?). The best parts of Thassir’s character are the mystery of his background and that he absolutely LOVES cats. In one particular scene, he risks all of the group’s careful planning to burst from hiding and prevent a cat from triggering a trap they had set.

I think of all the characters, I was least enamored with Sheuan, the desperate daughter of a failing clan and an informant for the rebels in a threatened realm. She betrays Mullayne’s trust in her bid to improve her clan’s situation. She also has a romance subplot that was very abrupt and unbelievable to me.

This book ends with action and some of the smaller plot threads are pulled together, but the larger story isn’t over. This is definitely the beginning of a series and NOT a stand-alone read.

I want to keep reading to discover more of Thassir’s background. I want to find out if Hakara and her sister can ever reconcile. And I want to see more of this world that Andrea Stewart has created.

Have you read any books by Andrea Stewart? Which ones would you recommend? Let me know in the comments.

Find more of my reviews here.

October 2024 Reading Wrap Up

04 Nov 2024 Leave a comment

by Clare in Books Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

October is over and wow, did that month go by fast! I was traveling for part of the month, and between my trip and a flurry of work before and after, it has brought me to November before I was ready. Our weather here has been unseasonably warm and dry, making the autumn leaves spectacular, but also uncomfortable to burrow under blankets for reading without that fall chill. Before I look ahead at November though, let’s look back at my reading for October.

Books finished: Somewhere Beyond the Sea by T.J. Klune, Drums of Autumn by Diana Gabaldon, The Past is Red by Catherynne M. Valente, The Hemlock Queen by Hannah Whitten, The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead (paid links).

I had really enjoyed The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune and you can find my review of it here. I picked up the sequel as soon as it was released. I continued to read the Outlander series, with Drums of Autumn being the fourth book. You can see my recent review of that one here. The Past is Red was a choice for a local book club and was a shorter read as a novella. While on my trip, I read The Hemlock Queen, which is the sequel to The Foxglove King (review here), then picked up the more serious The Underground Railroad as a stand-alone read (paid links).

If you read my blog occasionally, you may have noticed that I listen to audiobooks a lot. If you’d like to try an Audible membership, you can currently sign up here to get a Premium Plus membership for $0.99 (paid link).

Currently reading: The Boys Omnibus Vol. 1 by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson, The Saint of Bright Doors by Vajra Chandrasekera, The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon, The Gods Below by Andrea Stewart (paid links).

I will actually finish The Boys graphic novel this month, really! I’m continuing my read of the Outlander books and I’ve head that this fifth volume is less popular with other readers, so I’ll see how it goes. So far I’m only a few chapters in. The Saint of Bright Doors won the Nebula Award and was nominated for the Hugo for best novel. I’m about halfway through that one. Then I just started to read The Gods Below after receiving the beautiful Fairy Loot edition (see my previous post about this).

What else am I hoping to read in November? Here are some of the books that I’m considering.

Dawn by Octavia E. Butler is a selection for a book club discussion at the beginning of December. It’s also time to get back to my Wheel of Time reading with book #7 – A Crown of Swords. I read one book by Mark Lawrence in the past and was very much NOT a fan of it (because of the main character). However, The Book That Wouldn’t Burn caught my interest and maybe I’ll enjoy this one (paid links).

I have had Scorpica by G. R. Macallister on my shelf for a couple of years after hearing the author speak at New York Comic-Con. I also have the second book in the series. Then lastly, I picked up The Black Bird Oracle by Deborah Harkness as an audiobook. This is the latest installment in her All Souls series. I have also been watching Netflix for the third season of the television series based on her books – A Discovery of Witches (paid links).

I have been trying to be more intentional in creating time to read since I hit that slump in the mid-summer. I find that creating the right space and atmosphere helps. Do you like to set the mood for your reading? Here are some items that I would love to have on hand on a quiet chilly day. I like to buy candles, even when I already have candles, and this Hello Fall one is available in spicy pumpkin, apple cinnamon, or morning autumn scents (paid link).

Having a fuzzy blanket or throw is mandatory for fall and winter reading for me. Here are a couple of throws that look nice and plush and warm. This gray one comes in a variety of colors. For a heavier option, this one shown below in dark blue fleece might be nice, and also comes in several colors (paid links).

Something would be wrong with me if I didn’t pick up new books in October. A new Fairy Loot book arrived – Sorcery and Small Magics by Maiga Doocy. This is a new author and I’m excited to dive into this one soon. This special edition is also gorgeous, with foil inlay inside the cover, illustrations on the inside of the dust jacket, and printed edges.

My mother lent me The Alice Network, which appears to be a historical fiction novel about female spies during World War I (paid links). It doesn’t appear to be a fantasy or science fiction story, but sometimes that is okay.

I don’t want to think about it too much yet, but 2024 is nearly over. I am woefully behind on my Goodreads challenge for the year (31 of 96 books read). Their widget won’t even tell me how many books per week I need to read to meet my (unrealistic) goal.

What are you reading? What books are you still looking forward to reading in 2024? Let me know in the comments (above).

September 2024 Reading Wrap Up

02 Oct 2024 Leave a comment

by Clare in Books Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

Is everyone awake now? September has ended and that means that we’re entering the final quarter of 2024 and it’s time to look back at my reading for the past month!

I had another slow month, but I had to travel for work. So while that helps me read (while on a plane), it takes up time with the event and the packing and preparations. In September I finished reading Moon Shot: The Inside Story of America’s Moon Landings by Alan Shepard and Deke Slayton (review here) and The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo (paid links). I should have a review of The Familiar up later this week.

I had taken the graphic novel The Boys Vol. 1 with me on my trip, but then misplaced it when I unpacked, so I didn’t make much progress on it. It has since been found, so I should finish that soon. I’m also almost done with Somewhere Beyond the Sea by T.J. Klune (the sequel to the amazing The House in the Cerulean Sea) and The Drums of Autumn (Outlander #4) by Diana Gabaldon (paid links).

I recently signed up for one of those monthly subscription boxes (Fairy Loot), with the theme of this one being fantasy novels. My first delivery arrived last week and it’s a pretty hardcover of The Gods Below by Andrea Stewart.

Jewels and snakes on the edges of the pages.

I haven’t read anything by this author, but her earlier series (The Drowning Empire: #1 = The Bone Shard Daughter, #2 = The Bone Shard Emperor, #3 = The Bone Shard War) has been on my radar as a series of interest. The Gods Below looks like the first book in a new series (paid links).

I’ve included some pretty pictures of the features of this special hardcover edition.

Pretty artwork on the inside covers.

What’s up next for my reading? I’ll be traveling again, but for a vacation. While I’m sure I’ll have plenty of activities to keep me busy, I also plan to do some poolside and beachside reading.

I plan to start reading The Past is Red by Catherynne M. Valente this week for a book club discussion next week. I should be able to start the fifth Outlander book – The Fiery Cross soon. Then as far as other picks, I don’t know how many of these I’ll get to, but some of the possibilities include The Hemlock Queen by Hannah Whitten, The Book That Wouldn’t Burn by Mark Lawrence, and The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead (paid links).

Have you read any of these books? How do you decide what to read next? Let me know in the comments.

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