Content warning: Torture of a main character. I’m pretty sure that if I start by saying ‘genderswapped Princess Bride where the Princess rescues the stable boy’, about half of you won’t read any further in this review because you will be too busy one-clicking the book. Certainly, that was my reaction when I saw this title appear on NetGalley. And if genderswapped Princess Bride is what you are looking for in a book, you will … Continue reading The Princess Will Save You by Sarah Henning →
The first time I read Paladin’s Grace, I finished it, turned back to the beginning, and immediately read it again. This is partly because it’s very good, which I’ll get into later, and partly because for me, it was the right book at the right time. I’ve been having a hard time reading this year because of, you know … (*jazz hands*) everything. It’s hard to connect with Happily-Ever-After when we’re in the middle of … Continue reading Paladin’s Grace by T. Kingfisher →
The Wolf of Oren-Yaro by K.S. Villoso presents a strong entry in the annals of badass fantasy heroines in the form of Queen Talyien of Jin-Sayeng. She is the first queen of her small martial country. During the book’s first sentence we learn that she is known as the “bitch queen” and the “She-wolf” because she murdered a man on the eve of her coronation and (purportedly) exiled the husband who was supposed to be … Continue reading The Wolf of Oren-Yaro →
Daughter of the Sun is the second book in the Tales of Inthya series, but it stands alone, and does not overlap at all with The Queen of Ieflaria. It is a simple, sweet story about the power of kindness to inspire love and change. Orsina is a Paladin of the God Iolar, whose mission is to fight evil and in particular to banish Chaos Gods, who enthrall their worshippers and lead them into destructive … Continue reading Daughter of the Sun by Effie Calvin →
I know what you’re thinking! Amanda, it isn’t exactly time for Wednesday Links yet. And you’re right. Today is a slower post day and we didn’t want to leave you with nothing to read this morning on SBTB. Why not do Links a little early to have with your morning tea or coffee or gin? Look, I won’t judge. … Fantasy author Tara Sim wrote about “reclaiming fantasy.” She also mentions her latest book, which is … Continue reading Links: The Kids Are All Right & The Witcher →
I keep reading books that are very hard for me to grade, because I have conflicting reactions to them. The Bridge Kingdom started out incredibly strong, but things that happened in the last 15% or so of the book soured the reading experience for me. The fact that I enjoyed the book quite a lot until that point made my disappointment even more intense. I’ve been a fan of Danielle L. Jensen since her debut … Continue reading The Bridge Kingdom by Danielle L. Jensen →
Hey there! My brain is currently mush, so if I’ve already posted some of these links in the last couple weeks, my apologies. I was at a wedding this weekend at a distillery. It was cold, but thankfully there was an open bar, prime rib, and some of the most delicious wedding cake I’ve ever had. I say this as someone who has attend five weddings this year. … Just in case you want to … Continue reading Links: Hamilton, Dracula, & More →
In Kill the Queen Jennifer Estep introduced readers to a fantasy world that was immersive and blissfully lacking in info-dump. It featured female gladiators, political machinations, and an underdog heroine. I really enjoyed Kill the Queen, so I was delighted to find that I loved the sequel Protect the Prince even more. It’s a blend of fantasy-adventure, romance and mystery, and I devoured it in a single day. You do need to read Kill the … Continue reading Protect the Prince by Jennifer Estep →
Kill the Queen by Jennifer Estep is the first book in a fantasy series that features a badass female gladiator on a quest to reclaim the throne from her murderous cousin. It’s tremendous fun, although it wraps up quickly. Lady Everleigh Saffira Winter Blair is a low ranking member of the royal family of Bellona. She’s never going to inherit the crown and, in a world that values magic, she has no real magical power. … Continue reading Kill the Queen by Jennifer Estep →
Happy Wednesday! We hope you’ve been enjoying your week and if not, that’s okay. Make sure to take some time for yourself to do something you enjoy. Here are a few links that might do damage to your TBR pile. … Love romantic fantasy? Well there’s a giveaway going on that’s perfect for you! One winner will receive a starter-kit of romantic fantasy books, and twenty runners-up will get a copy of Phoenix Bound by Grace Draven! … Continue reading Links: Book Recs, Fantasy, & More →
I live in the upper Midwest, so I am prepared for some pretty gnarly winter weather. We had all thought spring had sprung when in mid-April we got hit with the second worst snowstorm in our state’s history. I didn’t leave the house for three days except to dig out our dryer vent to keep us from accidently asphyxiating. So what’s a Bitch to do when stranded at home? Make sure you’re stocked up on … Continue reading Spindle Fire by Lexa Hillyer →
