Reactor: “The book began to feel not as if it stared at death, but like it had found a way to show how the tendrils of each life reach out and find their way into so many other lives. It was, in the least hokey way possible, life-affirming. And also just brilliantly put together.”
Publishers Weekly: Fans of sapphic romance and gory cannibalistic horror will find unexpected common ground in this masterful medievalesque fantasy from Starling (Last to Leave the Room). Aymar Castle is under siege, leaving the people trapped inside mad with hunger and desperate for any source of salvation. Loyal knight Ser Voyne attempts to maintain order while the king’s alchemist Phosyne urgently searches for a way to create food and serving girl Treila tries to keep her head down while secretly simmering with rage at Ser Voyne. When the castle is unexpectedly visited by the Constant Lady and her attending saints, the feast they bring appears to be exactly the miracle the starving people prayed for. But the truth is much darker, and Ser Voyne and Phosyne soon find themselves fighting to prevent a bloodthirsty bacchanalia that would consume them all, while Treila contemplates fleeing. Starling expertly balances the plot’s contrasting aims, offering gruesome horror and sweeping fantasy worldbuilding in equal measure. The dextrously delineated human hierarchy in the castle and the creepy saints’ bee-based faith system undergird the increasingly shocking events of the plot. The pace is fast, the twists are unexpected, and the complex queer characters—each of whom narrate in wonderfully distinct voices—are easy to root for. This is a feast. (May)
Library Journal: Thompson’s new novel of suburban scandals and secrets (following Such a Lovely Family) is set in a peaceful subdivision outside of Washington, DC. All appears normal for Aimee, Gwen, and Lisa, three neighborhood wives who share weekly dinners, exchange parenting advice, help each other out with their kids while their husbands tag along, and even go on family vacations together. One night after a group dinner in their neighborhood, Aimee overhears an argument between Gwen and her husband, Anton, from the next yard over. The following morning, the neighbors receive the news that Anton is dead—murdered. The subsequent police investigation creates waves among the group. Secrets begin to surface, and everyone’s perfect facades begin to crumble, creating doubt in all of the relationships. Some of the neighborhood’s residents are not who they say they are; many of them are harboring jealousy, judgment, and deceit.
VERDICT Thompson flawlessly creates engaging plot twists and imperfect, realistic characters that readers will love to hate. This is a must-buy for public libraries and perfect for fans of Adele Parks and Lisa Unger.
Shelf Awareness: An unassuming hero must move forward after trauma and seek reparations for a historic crime in this emotionally deep, friendship-affirming fantasy mystery. The Tomb of Dragons is the third in Katherine Addison’s the Cemeteries of Amalo series, set in the universe of her breakout novel The Goblin Emperor.
Othala Thara Celehar’s victory over a dangerous evil in the previous book, The Grief of Stones, came at the price of his power to speak to the dead and therefore his standing as Witness for the Dead. Now he must decide who he is without that title. He continues to follow the calling of his god, “even though I wasn’t sure I had one anymore,” as well as advising his mentee, Othalo Tomasaran, who finds herself suddenly thrust into the role of Witness for the Dead. His Archprelate charges him with investigating a large municipal cemetery that has stopped accepting the dead. Celehar finds a sea of disorganized paperwork and orphaned bones at the cemetery office, as well as a supervising prelate overwhelmed by the Sisyphean task of sorting it all out. He will also learn once and for all whether his calling is finished with him when a group of miners forces him to confront a long-dead, vengeful dragon spirit trapped within a mountain. Celehar will have to face down some of the nation’s most powerful players to see justice served.
Addison (The Witness for the Dead) continues to flesh out her world, adding new political and economic details along with her own take on dragons. Celehar finds plenty of mystery and intrigue, or it finds him, even without his power. The core of the story reckons with the complexity of healing, whether from a widespread social injustice or a personal crisis. Celehar’s previous adventure has left him shaken and unsure of his future, but he won’t endure his struggles alone. He is supported by familiar friends, including opera director Iäna Pel-Thenhior, and new ones such as Hanu Olgarezh, an honorable guard captain with eyes of “pale orange fire.” Fans will be happy to see cameos from the Goblin Emperor, among others. While the finale offers some closure, Addison leaves plenty of room to return to Celehar and his continuing escapades. Readers who are up to date on Celehar’s earlier ventures will derive the most enjoyment from this installment. Readers new to Addison’s world should consider enjoying her highly recommended backlist. —Jaclyn Fulwood, blogger at Infinite Reads
Shelf Talker: Katherine Addison’s fantasy mystery series continues with an emotionally complex story of healing and reparation.
Booklist: “Thompson initially creates a genial, sociable atmosphere that quickly turns dark, with steadily escalating tension, unexpected twists around every corner,revelations about how dark human nature can be, and an ending that is as shocking as it is shattering.”
Kirkus: An autistic Black teen in Florida battles on and off the field to define his own destiny and come to his brother’s aid. Sixteen-year-old Aiden Wright wants to play football with his older brother during their last school year together before Brandon goes to college. But sensory stress during Aiden’s team tryout leads to a meltdown, and he’s only invited to play when two other athletes leave. Meanwhile, Aiden is placed in a life skills class that’s typically reserved for kids who have challenges. There he’s partnered for a project involving getting a part-time job with friendly new girl Isabella, who got in trouble at her old school. When a teammate who’s long been cruel to Aiden because of his autism instigates a fight that escalates, Aiden becomes a victim of police violence. Brandon intervenes, trying to protect him, and is arrested and charged with assaulting an officer. Now Aiden battles complicated team dynamics while he tries to get Brandon exonerated. Aiden is a nuanced character with a well-developed inner life. The brothers’ realistically drawn relationship is both flawed and vulnerable, showing the different facets of their personalities. The coaches and about half the football players are white, and the Wrights live in a wealthy, predominantly white area of town; Davis’ debut explores the intersections of race and socioeconomic differences. An atmospheric gridiron tale that highlights the complexities of team sports, friendship, and bias.
Kirkus: A group of scuba-diving friends from the Florida Keys go on an adventure after high school graduation—but it may be their last. Phoebe “Phibs” Ray is a natural underwater. Her instincts have led her not only to befriend the Salt Squad, her crew of dive shop pals, but also to discover historic gold coins. The Salt Squad—Phibs, Lani, Isabel, Gabe, and Gabe’s twin, Will—have gone viral on social media thanks to Phibs’ find and her photos and videos of their dives. Over this last summer before they embark on different paths, the teens decide to go to Australia. Phibs, who knows nothing about her father and whose mother abandoned her, lives with her grandmother, and unlike her rich, college-bound friends, she isn’t excited about her future: staying home and caring for Gram. But she’s looking forward to this trip to a remote atoll off the coast of Western Australia, not least because she’ll get to spend time with dark-skinned Gabe, her crush (most other characters present white). Their destination is also the subject of gruesome, creepy stories about a mysterious, treasure-filled cave. Alternating timelines slowly and effectively reveal the Salt Squad’s shared secret and the truth about Phibs’ past. Phibs is a compellingly strong, nuanced lead, and her romantic scenes with Gabe are steamy. The book, which delves into environmental themes, ultimately reaches a conclusion that’s unusual and effective. A deep-sea adventure that snappily blends mystery and romance with social themes.
Library Journal: Grimshaw Griswald Grimsby may have finally achieved his goal as an auditor for the Department of Unorthodox Affairs in Boston, but his first case was full of mistakes and nearly cost him his closest friends. Grimsby is willing to do nearly anything to make things right and patch up these relationships, even stealing from an otherworldly vault, no questions asked. Things get more troubling when Grimsby finds out that his partner, Mayflower, has past secrets that might affect what comes next, and Grimsby’s willingness to keep quiet may be his biggest mistake ever. The novel’s setting in a magical Boston and its interesting characters are highlights of Butcher’s invested writing. Readers might be tempted to compare him to his prolific, bestselling father (Jim Butcher), but he is making his own mark on the urban fantasy subgenre. VERDICT: The third outing for Butcher’s troubled magical protagonist (after Long Past Dues) continues to provide answers and also ask more questions. Solid action and quippy dialogue will keep readers engaged for the long haul.
Publishers Weekly: Bennett’s wonderfully clever and compulsively readable sequel to 2024’s The Tainted Cup offers another winning blend of fantasy and classic detection, featuring off-beat sleuths who call to mind Rex Stout’s Nero Wolfe and Archie Goodwin but operate in a realm under constant threat of destruction from eldritch marine creatures known as the leviathans. Ana Dolabra, “a woman so brilliant she lives most of her days blindfolded and rarely leaves her rooms, for fear that common life shall overwhelm her mind,” and her legman, Dinios Kol, who has been genetically augmented with the ability to perfectly recall what he sees and hears, are the Khanum Empire’s go-to case-cracking duo. Bennett again gives them a baffling murder to solve: Immunis Mineti Sujedo, part of a Treasury delegation on a high-stakes mission, vanished from his locked room, only for his partial remains to surface five days later. The investigators must ascertain how he disappeared, who killed him, and why. Other deaths follow, muddying the waters. Bennett skillfully integrates humor and magic into the complex puzzle plot and plays fair with planting clues for the reader. Randall Garrett fans will be hooked. (Apr.)
Library Journal: This cozy fantasy mystery, set in the world of The Goblin Emperor, picks up where the previous book, featuring Witness for the Dead Thara Celehar, left off, with Celehar uncertain of his future after the loss of his abilities from his run-in with a deadly ghoul. But Celehar still has his intelligence, his dogged determination, and his contacts in the city. Serving as his Arch-Prelate’s troubleshooter, Celehar investigates the 50-year complete dysfunction of a city cemetery, gets kidnapped, and finds his abilities have miraculously returned when he faces a dead dragon who needs a witness to bring justice against a corporation capable of bringing down the whole empire. In theory, this series shouldn’t be cozy because Celehar has a knack for ending up in epically awful trouble, but he is such a cozy character, just getting the job done and taking each task as it comes to its conclusion. His self-effacing modesty makes him a delight to follow even as it drives his friends to distraction. VERDICT: Readers who are enthralled with the new cozy fantasy trend or love a cozy mystery will be delighted with Celehar and his latest investigation.