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Full title: Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber: A review I didn’t expect another trilogy from Stephanie Garber so soon after her Caraval one, let alone set in the same universe, but here we are! I put this off for a while until I was sure my libraries were doing this and the sequels (I have checked, and they at least have the next book!) and decided to once again venture into weird fancy writing style, romance and fated magic. Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber follows Evangeline Fox, the daughter of a curiosity shop owner who, while not wealthy, has grown up filled with stories from her dead parents about the magical North her mother is from, where fairy tales and history have merged into one, and tales of their ‘love at first sound’. Since then, she has believed in love and wants her own love at first sight, which at first seems to be local boy Luc. However, he suddenly proposes to her stepsister Marisol. Thinking that some sort of curse is afoot and desperate

I simply got this book because, once again, I visited the relative with no internet and needed a small book to pack (the other book was Tongues of Serpents). This was definitely small enough, but I had literally heard nothing about this book or its author who is debuting with this work. Sometimes having a completely unknown factor is a good thing, lending itself to surprises. Lord of Secrets by Breanna Teintze is the first in the Empty Gods series following illegal wizard Corcoran Gray. Gray’s magic, which involves making runes on objects or body with paint and then suffering from pain afterwards, is not controlled by the Guild, who governs which magics are acceptable and which aren’t. Gray instead uses any and all magic, even creating his own, which has led him to a life on the run. His current goal is to find and free his grandfather Acarius from Keir Esras, Examiner General, who plots a rebellion against the King. Unfortunately, Acarius is being hidden and Gray, despite his

With this book I finish the Tales of the Otori series. I already knew this was a prequel, written after the other four but listed as the first in the series, and that readers viewed this better than The Harsh Cry of the Heron, which I had found disappointing. I only hoped that those same readers were right. Heaven’s Net is Wide by Lian Hearn focuses on the events leading up to Takeo and Shigeru meeting. Although it starts with the death of the future Takeo’s father, much of the book focuses on the young Shigeru, heir to the Otori Lord Shigemori, his father. Despite his youth, Shigeru shows shrewdness, realising that his two uncles affect his father’s decision making more than they should, and patience coupled with a need to protect and provide for his home in the Middle Country through his lessons with the future Abbot and renowned warrior Matsuda. Through his life Shigeru will seek to help his younger brother Takeshi obtain matureness, share love with three women despite tragedy

“What?!” Michael had never seen Shadow more furious. He knew, had always known, that what he witnessed was going to annoy her, but he hadn’t counted on her being this aggressive. The anger wasn’t directed at him, but it was still a marvel at how her eyes blazed. Maybe he shouldn’t have followed the kid, but he had to know because… because this was important. “I’m telling you; the kid removed a tree from his home as a Machop and then his parents were crying and then they did a happy hug! Whatever they are feeling, it isn’t misery.” Shadow got up from the bench they were sitting on and began pacing. He could feel with every footstep what her thoughts were. How could this be? Why were they not sad? Had this happened with the others? Michael personally hoped the others so far were happy… They were currently at Cerulean Cape, which ironically was known for being a site for lovers, and Shadow had been the closest to a partner, even with all this stuff going on. He let his mind wander

Hi, this is Sharon Welby speaking… Oh hi Glinda! How are you? … Oh, you heard about that. Look, I’ve already made my report on it, couldn’t you just read that? … Oh alright, I suppose you would want to hear my side. Fine. Fine! Just let me get my coffee. … That’s better. So… my brother Jake is an idiot. Yes, I know that’s common knowledge… ish. I mean, he’s not a total idiot or he wouldn’t be a scientist… have been. Gosh the tense is so confusing! No, he isn’t an official scientist anymore. Are you going to let me continue? I like my bro, I do. He’s always so gung-ho about everything, eager to explore and solve stuff. He’s got the smarts for it, but I got all the common sense. That’s what our parents said anyway. Guess that explains why what happened happened… and why I was the assistant. Got to rein in his compulsive troublesome tendencies, you know? I sound like I’m describing a teenager? Honestly, Jake never left those rebellious years behind! Wow, I sound like an OAP… Stop

Continuing with tradition of one of these per year, I now come to book 6 of the Temeraire series (and coincidentally, this is my 19th review this year, and Victory of Eagles was my 19th review last year). I think this book marks the part 2 of the series, if it can be called as such, with the last four books I feel to be contrasting to the worldbuilding rush, action and initial friendship set up of the first five. I could be alone in that opinion, but what I don’t seem to be alone in if other reviews have shown me is the general consensus of this story alone. Tongues of Serpents by Naomi Novik sets off many months after the end of Victory of Eagles. Temeraire and Laurence have been exiled to Australia for their crimes, where the town of Sydney has only recently been set up and is home to mostly criminals. Governor Bligh wants Laurence and co., including Granby and Riley, to help him leave while also re-establishing order, while the rebels including MacArthur would rather have help in