Review: Nightshade and Oak by Molly O’Neill
26 January 2026
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Book Review, Book Reviews, Books, Fantasy, fiction, Greenteeth, Molly O'Neill, Nightshade and Oak, Review
My Five Word TL:DR Review: History and Mythology Perfectly Blended
I absolutely adored Greenteeth and couldn’t wait to read more by this author and Nightshade and Oak certainly didn’t disappoint. O’Neill has a way of blending history and folklore that is quite magical, she also seems to like to bring together two totally different characters, who, on the face of it, really shouldn’t get on, and then throw them into a situation. In Greenteeth we had a lake monster and a witch and in Nightshade and Oak we have a Goddess and a warrior.
The start of the story is amazing. We witness the Goddess of Death, Mallt Y Nos, and her pack of dogs roaming as they sweep through the carnage of a battlefield. Mallt is responsible for sending souls to their final resting place, helping those that are stuck or unhappy. Unfortunately, during her work she is struck by an errant spell that strips her of her immortality. She becomes a frail human, no longer blessed with great strength and speed. The person responsible for this action is a female warrior called Bellis, daughter of Boudicca. The Iceni tribe were making a final stand against the Romans, it didn’t go well and Belis was trying a spell of healing. The two are now thrown together through need and to be fair, although they set out on a quite simple quest things become much more complicated along the way.
What I loved about this.
It’s a really easy story to engage with, similar to Greenteeth. It’s set in a period where myth and magic were still believed in and it blends into the story easily.
I love Mallt. She’s a great character to get along with. She’s been a Goddess for so long, she barely thinks about the things she now does, it’s all automatic, she takes for granted her long life and her abilities so when she loses them not only is it devastating for her but it does make for some situations that definitely bring light relief. She’s so naturally arrogant, but then she finds she can’t climb a hill without hurting everywhere, she feels hunger, she can’t run fast, and she’s smaller in stature than Belis. It’s all quite unbelievable to her and she has to go through a massive learning curve, understanding once again how to speak to others, how to ask for help and finally realising that she can be hurt, both physically and emotionally. She’s interesting and easy to read.
Belis isn’t quite as quirky so in some ways she takes a back seat. She also doesn’t share as much page time as Mallt so although we are treated to little chapters where we see her in the past, it’s not as easy to become attached. Don’t get me wrong, I liked this character, she’s steadfast and clearly been taught well but a lot of what she does takes place off page so you don’t really witness her capabilities. It’s like we’re more wrapped up in Mallt’s conundrum than Belis’s. Which I really didn’t mind.
The world building is to the point. It definitely is the sort of story that expects readers to pick up and run with things and I can’t deny that I found that easy enough to do. This isn’t a history lesson and I’m not sure how historically correct certain story lines depicted are but I enjoyed the way the story blends the Roman elements with the mythological. I also really liked the dialogue and the style in which the story is told. It isn’t heavily described but it conjures a picture and the dialogue isn’t olde worlde but at the same time it isn’t modern and I really appreciate that.
I think I’ve seen the author described as ‘cosy’ fantasy. I can see where this description fits in some ways as there is almost a fairytale element to her storytelling, probably more so with Greenteeth I think, but, I don’t know that I’d say this is cosy. This certainly doesn’t shy away from warfare and death. There is a very slow building romance but there’s also a bittersweet ending – which to me felt like the only real way that this story could end.
Overall, I had a really good time reading this and in fact practically completed it in only two sittings because I didn’t really like putting it aside. I think I can safely say that Molly O’Neill is an author that I will be watching with interest.
I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.
My rating 4 of 5 twinkly stars
Review: Rings of Fate (Curses and Crowns #1) by Melissa de la Cruz
12 January 2026
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Book Review, Books, Curses and Crowns #1, Fantasy, Melissa de la Cruz, Review, Rings of Fate, Romance, romantasy
My Five Word TL:DR Review: Didn’t Quite Hit the Mark
Well, I’m on a bit of a romantasy reading ‘thing’ at the moment and so this book appealed to me with its description of a cursed prince and a hard working barmaid who reluctantly strike a bargain that ultimately puts their hearts at risk!
Prince Dietan is living under a curse. Only a few select people know the details and I’m not going to spill them here in this review. He’s currently travelling the country, supposedly looking for a bride. In truth, he’s looking for someone with magic who might be able to help him.
Aren Bellamore is a hard working barmaid with dreams of escaping her small world. Unfortunately she has too many responsibilities to make this dream a reality, until a handsome prince walks into her world and strikes up a bargain.
What worked for me.
This was definitely an easy to read story. It had a kind of Cinderella vibe but with a totally different angle. We have Aren, hard working and responsible, her mother has died and her elderly father takes a back seat in affairs. She has two sisters – but far from being evil step sisters they are beautiful and adorable and Aren wants nothing more than to see them happily settled. And, of course, we have a handsome prince, supposedly looking for a bride to secure alliances for his country to stop the threat of war.
The story is told in alternating chapters by Aren and Dietan. I really liked this approach letting the readers get into both heads to see what was really going on and of course it gives us a bit of insight into the world itself.
To be honest, I didn’t have any problems reading this, it was light, fun in parts and I was never at the point of putting it down and not picking it up again.
What didn’t work too well for me.
Well, firstly, this being adult fantasy I did expect the foundations to be a little stronger. That being said, I’m new to romance and romantasy so I’m never really quite sure what to expect. Personally this felt very focused on the romance and less so on the fantasy. The world building was thin, I never really got the feeling of threat and most of the story was the two povs travelling together with little thought about the looming war – I don’t know, I just didn’t feel any real urgency just a lot of backward and forward ‘does he doesn’t he like me’ and ‘does she doesn’t she like me’.
I also thought that the other characters were very underplayed. I mean, let’s take a look at Aren’s sisters for example. They fall in love instantly, they have no voice at all, they do nothing whilst Aren runs herself into the ground running a bar, staying up into the early hours sewing dresses to make them look amazing, cooking – I mean, she really is a Cinderella character – but they’re adorable, supposedly, I just don’t understand why they don’t offer to help maybe, or occasionally get more involved, or, maybe they don’t want to be married off either? The same with Dietan who has his two closest friends travelling with him – they never really get to play a strong role or have anything useful to contribute. The four of them exist purely so they can all fall in love and not take part in the story at all, so why include them at all? Just start with Dietan and Aren and keep it simple. It felt like a missed opportunity not to have the four of them contribute a little more.
That probably sounds a little more critical than I intended. On the whole, this was an entertaining and light read. It didn’t quite work for me but I can definitely see it working for other readers who are not only more familiar with romance and therefore know what to expect but also have a firmer grip on what they’re really looking for. These are new waters for me and I’m still really finding my feet so strictly speaking it’s more a case of ‘it’s me not you’ at play here.
I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.
My rating 3 of 5 stars
Review: What Stalks the Deep (Sworn Soldier #3) by T Kingfisher
5 January 2026
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Book Review, Books, Fantasy, Horror, Review, Sworn Soldier #3, T Kingfisher, What Stalks the Deep
My Five Word TL:DR Review: Soft horror with Unexpected Outcome
I am enjoying the Sworn Soldier series by T Kingfisher although the first book still remains my favourite.
In this story Alex Easton travels to America to help out an old friend whose cousin has gone missing, last known destination – an abandoned coal mine in West Virginia.
The story is a mystery that takes our MC into a supposedly haunted mine where the threat of rock falls or suffocation is the least of the problems. Disturbing lights can be seen where there shouldn’t be any light and strange things go bump in the night.
What I really enjoyed about this.
First and foremost the writing. I love reading Kingfisher, she manages to write compelling characters who find themselves in the strangest places and she infuses her stories with her own brand of humour and darkness.
I like the character that she’s come up with for this series and that’s also what I find myself returning for. Alex Easton is a good friend and a strong person who doesn’t flinch from danger or discomfort. In the past stories Alex has dealt with strange mushrooms and ghosts and in this edition, well, I don’t want to give away any spoilers but this went in a direction that I really didn’t see coming. Really quite creepy – and I must mention the dog! I realise I’m being very cryptic but you have to discover these things for yourself.
I liked the setting although at the same time this was also the issue that brought the story down a little for me. It started off very dark, creepy and claustrophobic. Alex isn’t a lover of small spaces and so caving and crawling through tight spaces into the unknown really brought out the fear factor. I did feel that after the reveal the tension and atmosphere seemed to dissipate. I still enjoyed the story and this is a very quick read but I didn’t feel the sense of dread that I had felt during the first half when the unknown occupant of the mine was creeping around.
Overall, a good instalment in the Sworn Soldier series. I can’t wait to see what dilema Alex gets into next and I hope for many more weird and wonderful adventures.
I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.
My rating 3.5 of 5 stars rounded to 4
Monthly Wrap Up/What’s On My Plate: October/November/December
3 December 2025
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Book Review, book-blog, Books, Books Bones & Buffy, Monthly Wrap Up, October/November/December, reading, TBR, What's on my Plate
I’m trying to post a wrap up for the end of each month, mainly to help me to keep track of my reading and at the same time look at what I’m intending to read during the month ahead (inspired by Books Bones and Buffy’s What’s on My Plate.
I’ve missed one of my monthly wrap up posts so I’m going to try and give a quick update for October and November and what I’m planning to read in December.
My Monthly Wrap Up: October
The following is the list of books I posted in September that I was hoping to complete in October. Lets take a look:
- Cinder House by Freya Marske
- Alchemy of Secrets by Stephanie Garber
- The Cold House by A.G. Slatter
- House of Splinters by Laura Purcell
- Ring the Bells by CK McDonnell
- The Last Witch by C.J. Cooke
- The Possession of Alba Dias by Isabel Cañas
- Murder Most Haunted by Emma Mason
- King Sorrow by Joe Hill
- The Last Death of the Year by Sophie Hannah
- The Everlasting by Alix E Harrow
I’ve linked the books with reviews. The Possession of Alba Dias I set aside because it was a period when my reading mood wasn’t good and so I shall be going back and picking that one up. Murder Most Haunted I also made a start with – I’m not totally sure this one is going to work for me but I’d like to give it another shot. The Last Death of the Year I’ve not picked up yet but I am excited to do so.
My Monthly Wrap Up: November
The following is the list of books I was hoping to complete in November. Lets take a look:
- The Blackfire Blade by James Logan
- The Place Where They Buried Your Heart by Christina Henry
- I’ll Make A Spectacle of You by Beatrice Winifred Iker
- Outlaw Planet by MR Carey
I have read The Place Where They Buried Your Heart – which I loved and already reviewed. I’m currently reading The Blackfire Blade and Outlaw Planet is my next planned read. It doesn’t look as though I read many books in November but I think some of my October reads were actually read in November but because I wasn’t posting weekly wraps it’s difficult to place everything! This is why I need to be more organised. Anyway. It is what it is.
What’s On My Plate: December:
I’m hoping to catch up with review books that I’ve carried forward from October and also complete my last books from November (plus a late addition that went onto my September shelf:
- What Stalks the Deep by T Kingfisher
- The Possession of Alba Dias by Isabel Cañas (Carried over from October)
- Murder Most Haunted by Emma Mason (Carried over from October)
- The Last Death of the Year by Sophie Hannah (Carried over from October)
- The Blackfire Blade by James Logan
- I’ll Make A Spectacle of You by Beatrice Winifred Iker
- Outlaw Planet by MR Carey
If possible I’d love to complete these by the end of December but I recognise that I’m not reading quite as much at the moment as there are too many other distractions at the moment. We’ll see. Maybe I’ll have a strange burst of reading. Never say never.
I’ve been terrible with this challenge this year – I think I’ll just declare this year a failure and start again next year with a proper list to try and get myself into gear.
Bookforager‘s Picture Prompt book bingo.
and the text version:
PICTURE PROMPT BOOK BINGO 2025 (TEXT VERSION)
| 1. A prehistoric flint knapped stone knife | 2. A lighthouse | ||
| 5. A very large mechanical telescope | 7. |
||
| 9 |
|||
Today, I’m ticking off: No. 7 A Stag – which I’m using Clockwork Boys by T Kingfisher for (you’ll know why if you’ve read it). I’ve also gone back through my list and I’m using The Vipers by Katy Hays for No.15 – A stylized sun with a human face – because the setting is the beautiful and dazzling island of Capri and the season is Summer – so plenty of sunshine and sparkling seas. For No.4 – the Archery Target with Arrows in it – I’ve chosen the Bone Raiders by Jackson Ford because one of the female raiders is an expert shot with bow and arrow.
So, three more prompts left – not sure I’m going to make it this year, these last three are tricksy, a flint knife, a lighthouse and a telescope. I might have to do some creative thinking.
The prompts I’ve crossed off so far:
No. 16 – A Roman helmet – and I’m using This Monster of Mine by Shalini Abeysekara.
No. 3 – an apple on a leafy branch – Hemlock and Silver by T Kingfisther
No.10 – A Sheaf of Wheat – The Enchanted Greenhouse by Sarah Beth Durst –
No. 11 – An Old Mechanical Typewriter – The Bewitching by Silvia Moreno Garcia
No.8 – The ruins of a temple-like structure – I’m using Daughter of Chaos by A S Webb
No. 12 – A cluster of four mushrooms – I’m using Emily Wilde’s Compendium of Lost Tales by Heather Fawcett
No. 13 – A fringed umbrella/parasol – I’m using A Fortune Most Fatal by Jessica Bull
No.14 – A chemistry set-up of bottles and tubes – I’m using Wooing the Witch Queen by Stephanie Burgis
No.9 – A Crab – I’m using The Devils by Joe Abercrombie – if you’ve read this already you’ll be able to guess why. There are some very unusual creatures in this story.
No.6 – A Human Skull – I’m using The Man Made of Smoke by Alex North – because this is about a serial killer and there are definite human remains included in this one.
Number of books read this year: 78 (well below target – boo!)
Review: The Everlasting by Alix E Harrow
20 November 2025
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Alix E Harrow, Book Review, Books, Fantasy, Review, Romance, romantasy, The Everlasting
My Five Word TL:DR Review: Another Contender for Best Book
Honestly, I’ve been reading some fantastic books just recently. I mean books that are just so good they’re not only going to stay with me probably forever but I’m undoubtedly going to be ‘pushing’ them and recommending them at every and any opportunity. The Everlasting is definitely one such book.
I went into this a little wary. The reviews were glowing and so I started to avoid the book chatter in order to keep my expectations from going through the roof, and as I started the read I would describe my initial reaction almost as a little doubtful. I think before I picked this up, although I’d heard the general hullabaloo, I had little idea what the story was about and I hadn’t quite expected it to take the turn it does in the first few chapters. Now, take all this with a very large pinch of salt because as soon as the story took this ‘turn’ I fell head over heels in love with it in, literally, a New York minute. In fact it’s ridiculous how much of a big pushover I really was given my initial thoughts that this wouldn’t be for me. I hadn’t expected this whole time loop, nor the Arthurian legend (with a twist) to poke it’s head above the parapet and then the love interest – the nerdy scholar who has read all about her exploits and is perhaps her biggest fan!. It all works so perfectly.
I’m not even going to tell you about the plot because going into this story with no knowledge was a winner for me – so maybe it will be for you too.
So,
Are you enjoying your romantasy at the moment? If so, this is about to knock your socks off. This is the romantasy I didn’t know I needed in my life. I don’t like romance and I really dislike it if the fantasy elements are tacked on rather than grounded. That isn’t the case with this book. This is a love story that puts a stupid smile on your face when you’re reading, it makes you want to turn the pages faster, it makes you want to skip the pages (don’t) so you can find out what’s going to happen, it makes you want to cry but more than that it delivers all the feelings.
Then we have this whole ‘Arthurian legend’ element. The central couple work so well together. The strong knight and the geeky, book loving scholar turned on its head by the fearsome, undefeated knight, being the female whilst the male brings his strength to the table in the form of ‘knowledge’.
Thirdly, the scope of the story is quite breathtaking. This is a couple who know how to wait for each other. They’ve been through so much together but actually trying to simply hold onto it, to retain their own little bit of happiness, is so difficult. They’ve made themselves rules, they’ve broken the rules, they’ve loved, laughed, fought and died for each other but they keep trying and waiting underneath the old yew tree and believing that maybe the next iteration will succeed.
It helps of course that I liked all the characters. Even the antagonist is the perfect fit for the story. I’m not going to say too much about her because, again, I don’t want to ruin the discovery, but she has motivations that you can actually understand, even if you don’t sympathise with her, she’s trying to find her way and to succeed in an environment where she would most probably be cast out with ridiculous ease if not for all her own dastardly interventions.
The writing is, much as I expected from this author, quite beautiful and utterly beguiling to read. This element of the story I can truthfully promise was not a surprise to me. I’ve read Harrow before and love her storytelling. Okay, well, maybe she surprised me a little by not only delivering a first class romantasy to a sceptic but also managing to deliver a story that can at times be so beautiful and yet so dark and brutal.
In conclusion, come for the great writing and stay for one of the most deliciously unexpected romantasies that you’re likely to read. This is a story about the power of stories, a story with many stories creating the whole and a story that truly shows the power that stories can wield. Dare I say – the pen is mightier than the sword!? Maybe not if the sword is wielded by Sir Una Everlasting. Read it and weep people.
I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.
My rating 5 of 5 of the most dazzling stars
Books and travelling with Lynn 