Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

Wizard’s Masquerade is a work of fiction in the medieval fantasy romance subgenre, and it forms the first half of the Huskarl Duology. The work is intended for the adult readership owing to explicit scenes of a sexual nature, fantasy violence, and references to suicide, and was penned by author Jay Pellegrin. In this gothic-styled slow-burn romance, we follow the exploits of Leyna, who survives a horrific injury but knows it will leave her career prospects as a wizard severely hampered. She is lucky and surprised to receive an offer to work for the Royal Guard, but disheartened by the post until the secrets of the castle and the attention of an irksome court jester set off a chain of events she will never forget.

This novel has some truly gorgeous elements to it that fantasy romance fans will absolutely adore, and I feel that author Jay Pellegrin has really achieved a high standard of suspenseful romance, deep character development, and lavish worldbuilding within the pages of Wizard’s Masquerade. An ideal new adult read for those wanting light medieval historical touches with plenty of fantasy, danger, and mystery, it was also refreshing to see an imperfect protagonist in Leyna. The narration and her vivid character presentation through action and dialogue make Leyna someone you can relate to very deeply, especially for her headstrong nature but also her vulnerabilities and insecurity about adjusting to change in her life. Overall, Wizard’s Masquerade is a high-quality fantasy work that will certainly please fantasy romance fans everywhere, and I’d highly recommend it to all.

Reviewed by Tracy Orchard for Readers' Favorite

Ithandryll by Nikki Auberkett is a young adult fantasy romance with the wow factor. Enchanting, spell-binding, and magical. Roxi is haunted by her dark past. Trying to escape it she moves to Chicago, only to find the magical world of the fae is waiting for her. Waking up in Ithandryll, Roxi finds herself in a race to be caught by prospective fae husbands! She runs! She hides, gets caught, and is rescued. Phew, and all that is the introduction to the new world she finds herself in. Devon is her gorgeous savior, and the two of them set off on a journey to find Roxi’s way home. Only as time goes by, she realizes more and more that actually home is right where she is. But with her past can she ever trust again?

Nikki Auberkett has obviously poured her heart and soul into creating this enchanting and captivating romance. She has created diverse characters with depth and personality. Flashbacks are clear and well-written so as not to interrupt the story flow. Her writing style is easy to read and carried me along its magical journey. The descriptions and the Ithandryll world-building are quite stunning and I loved all the details. The relationship between the two main characters is passionate and I longed for them to get together. There is a little pull-and-push tension between them and each of them is holding back a secret or two. I devoured this first book and it ended on such a cliffhanger that I am thirsting for the next one…

Reviewed by Jamie Michele for Readers' Favorite

Kara, Shieldmaiden of Eire by Jay Veloso Batista is a Viking Age saga and the fourth installment to The Forerunner Series. The first three novels progress in a linear timeline and include Thorfinn and the Witch's Curse, The Vardoger Boy, and On Viking Seas. Kara is in Eire, post-migration medieval Ireland, having fled her family and home after a disastrous attempt to see her married off. The winds of power change as often as the tide in Dublinn and Kara's place as a shield maiden in the King's guard is dangerous for a young woman, let alone a young teenager. The continual threat of the newest King getting their throat slit never ends. Cub has been saved from bondage and as he fights and strengthens a natural ability for politicking, his desire remains to claim his rightful place. Thorfinn is left to his own devices in the same way Sorven and Dunn are, but Sorven and Finn are both attacked by malevolent forces in different ways and with different outcomes. Everyone experiences the anguish of loss, but in battles against man and myth, there is rarely a clear winner.

Kara, Shieldmaiden of Eire by Jay Veloso Batista does not relent in the tension and shocking twists found in the previous three Forerunner books, which I have had the pleasure of reading as well. The books circle in, out, and around characters, and readers who are married to the series in the same way as I am will not be surprised that Kara's name being on the cover only gives her a slight advantage as the star character over the others. Kara's character arc is first-rate and she goes from strong to stronger, until a stunning and completely unexpected plot maneuver sends her into full berserker mode. In a terrifying instant, she is a warrior grown and a young woman broken. The irony is crushing and having grown to love the granddaughter of Ironfist, my heart crumbled. Finn also experiences unexpected growth to a lesser degree, which doesn't mean much since the temperature was molten, to begin with. I died a little inside when casualties ran rampant for him too. You would think by being four books into the series that not much can elevate a reader to shock and awe yet Batista keeps the clanking swords and witchy sorcery coming. I cannot wait for Marauders in Jotunheim. Very highly recommended.

Reviewed by Demetria Head for Readers' Favorite

Children of Jade by Morgan Cole is a hauntingly poignant and emotionally charged story that delves into human suffering and resilience amidst war and political intrigue. Set in a world teetering on the brink of chaos, a powerful tale of loss, betrayal, and the unwavering pursuit of justice is weaved. From the very first lines, the reader is plunged into the life of the protagonist, Marilia Sandara, whose world has been torn apart by war's violent and tragic events. Her longing for revenge against her enemies and herself is palpable and heart-wrenching as she grapples with the weight of her past decisions and their devastating consequences.

Morgan Cole masterfully tackles themes of war, power, and the destructive nature of humanity. The characters' complexities, particularly Governor Victoria Ildoran and the Graver, add depth to the narrative, questioning the nature of good and evil and exploring the blurred lines between righteousness and cruelty. The vivid and evocative descriptions of the setting, from the stunning landscapes to the claustrophobic confinement, create a hauntingly atmospheric backdrop that heightens the story's emotional impact. It is poetic and gripping, drawing readers into Marilia's internal struggles and battles. The narrative's vivid descriptions and raw emotional intensity make it impossible to look away, captivating readers until the very last page. Children of Jade is a masterfully written and emotionally charged story that explores the depths of human suffering, resilience, and the quest for justice in the face of impossible odds.

Reviewed by Miche Arendse for Readers' Favorite

Tragedy ensues in The Necromancer's Daughter by D. Wallace Peach when the Queen of Verdane dies while giving birth to a stillborn baby. Although never having seen the light of day, the beautiful baby girl captures the heart of the necromancer present. Barus cannot bring himself to leave the infant and steals away with the little girl to his home in the woods where he brings her back to life. Aster was raised by the necromancer and taught to appreciate all life. It is on her nineteenth birthday that her quiet life is disrupted and changed forever.

The Necromancer's Daughter by D. Wallace Peach was simply amazing. Peach’s world-building in this novel was near perfection with such beautiful descriptions that allowed the world to come to life in your mind's eye. The pacing of the story was just right, enabling you as the reader to not only build an attachment to the characters and get to know them but feel comfortable in your knowledge of this new fantasy world. I appreciated Peach’s writing style and thoroughly enjoyed the story as a whole. Aster is such a sweet and endearing character and, throughout the plot, you can only hope for her to overcome her struggles and find happiness. The story has everything to offer in terms of a great plot, charming characters, and a wonderfully imagined world. I think that any fan of fantasy novels would love this book and I consider myself a fan of this author after having read the book.

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

Sentinals Justice is a work of fiction in the epic fantasy and adventure sub-genres and it serves as the third installment of the Sentinal Series. The work is best suited to the general adult reading audience for its mature themes and moderate sexual and violent content and was penned by author Helen Garraway. Continuing the epic action-packed adventures of the high fantasy world of Remargaren, we follow the events of this particular novel into the intricacies of the court of King Benedict. Diplomatic tensions result in a meeting between Commander Jerrol Haven and Grand Duke Randolf, with an unexpected guest along the way.

Author Helen Garraway holds a lot of information together in this massive fantasy world, and it makes for a truly thrilling setting filled with political and royal intrigue, interpersonal drama, and dangerous games of secrets, warmongering, and missing persons. I really enjoyed getting to know Jerrol and exploring the various pressures he was under in such a tense situation, but the character selection is so large that everyone will find someone they can relate to in the wider ensemble cast. The dialogue was also a big part of the engagement factor in this novel for me, as I felt like I got a lot of plot-relevant information from it which kept the novel pacey and interesting despite the epic nature of the overall story arcs. Overall, I would not hesitate to recommend Sentinals Justice to fans of epic fantasy and the series so far; you won’t be disappointed.

Reviewed by Jamie Michele for Readers' Favorite

Of Blood And Fire by Ryan Cahill is high fantasy fiction and the first full-length novel in The Bound and The Broken series, with a prequel companion novella called The Fall, and book two in the series, Of Darkness and Light, already released. A young villager named Calen Bryer embarks on a coming of age quest called The Proving with his two best mates, Dann Pimm and Rist Havel. The outcome is successful but The Hunt is also remarkable in a most unexpected way: an encounter with a beast thought long-gone that re-merges. The three young men are soon unexpectedly ripped from village life and thrust into a rebellion; a journey where the world around them expands and contracts with mystery and magic, a dragon, and the unfolding of Calen's destiny as a Draleid for the sake of all Epheria.

Starting a new fantasy series requires a massive amount of trust from a reader. The components have to be executed to near perfection; what world was built, the backstory, the magic structure, and the ways of its realm. Ryan Cahill accomplishes this in Of Blood And Fire. All of the pieces fit together beautifully and a story emerges that promises a journey of our own. Calen, Dann, and Rist are all fully-fleshed characters with their own arcs, but together they grow and fight and secure some hard-won lessons in a transition from boy-to-man that makes The Proving look awfully pale. There's a dragon! I promised I'd refrain from screaming this in the first two sentences but now: THERE'S A DRAGON! There is also a parallel story with Calen's sister who is coming to terms with her own choices and the danger of her own arc, with nominal point of view shifts that permit a broader spectrum beyond Calen and co. This is a wonderful first read and I am excited to see where we are taken next.

Reviewed by Asher Syed for Readers' Favorite

Sentinals Rising by Helen Garraway is the high fantasy sequel in the Epic Fantasy Sentinal Series, preceded by book one, Sentinals Awaken. This installment continues to follow its protagonist, Jerrol Haven of Remargaren, as he identifies an engraving of a Sentinal Tree that happens to be a catalyst for a prophetic vision, one which puts him firmly in the role of Lady’s Captain. Three thousand years prior, the Ascendants fought to enslave Remargaren, and are determined to do so once more by employing the mind-control magic of Mentiserium, piercing the protective veil, and seizing control to topple those who have long fiercely secured it. Jerrol will risk life and limb to shatter the hold of the Mentiserium spell and to save Remargaren once and for all.

There is a moment near the midway point of Sentinals Rising that feels even more prophetic than a vision: “Captain Haven and his guards will ensure our safety.” Yeah. That is the understatement of three millennia. I'm not going to beat around the cauterized fingers too much here and will just come right out and say that Helen Garraway is a wildly gifted writer. There are multiple points of view that define each of the characters we meet and each stands comfortably independent of the other. The action is ripe and the tension is enough to keep a reader furiously turning pages without the usual pitfalls of taking it too far. Even fantasy and magic have their limits when it comes to suspension of disbelief and the mark of a seasoned, skilled author is knowing when to say 'uncle.' The visuals and dialogue are all spectacular and the frailty of good when being pushed by evil is executed well. Overall, this is a book and a series that is likely to be adored by all fortunate enough to read it. Very highly recommended.

Reviewed by Jennifer Ibiam for Readers' Favorite

In the Kingdom of Duminborne, the people and witches hated each other, but they coexisted. A sage and a witch birthed twins. The first became the second, and destinies switched. Frallec became a sage while the king knighted Calec as a debt owed to the twins’ father. When the people of Duminborne started dropping dead from an illness that mimicked the Winter Plague, the king asked Sir Calec to investigate the matter. Sir Calec was sucked deep into a web of lies, secrets, and scandals from the lowest serf to the church and royal house. Were they dealing with a plague or mass murder? And when war loomed between his mother’s and father’s sides, where would his loyalty lie? Read Knights, Witches, and Murder by R. M. Schultz for all the details.

Knights, Witches, and Murder by R. M. Schultz is a tale of budding love, royal manipulations, magic, treachery, duty, and honor. I loved the storyline: a thorough blend of fantasy, mystery, and murder. The novel also had a historical flavor to it, and the plot was unique. Calec’s situation was a difficult one. It was like a war between good and evil with him trapped in the middle. But who made these rules of what’s right and wrong? Do we think ourselves superior to others because we practice different religions, cultures, beliefs, or ideologies? Eristin, Father Nicobe, and the likes are examples. Perhaps it’s time we understand that our strengths as living entities lie in our differences. Schultz is a gifted storyteller who wove this story to perfection. Please give us more!

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

Redeem The Knight is a work of fiction in the dark fantasy horror subgenre. It is best suited to the adult reading audience and was penned by author David V. Mammina. This epic fantasy collection brings three novels together in one to tell the whole trilogy of our protagonist Arl Baelin. In a post-apocalyptic world where the New Vatican sends holy knights out to rid the world of dark and dangerous creatures, Arl is a disgraced paladin looking for redemption. As mysteries and challenges are sent his way on his path to heroism, Arl finds himself on the path toward an unspeakable evil that must be stopped at all costs.

Author David V. Mammina presents a superb fantasy epic that readers could fly through in a flash for its easy-to-read style, or really take their time with to get into the detailed lore and background of the dystopian vision he’s created. I for one loved the concept of the New Vatican and its many proposed holy acts, which were beautifully juxtaposed against the many creatures and supernatural beings of the new world. There was a great balance of good and evil on both sides, and Arl sits neatly in the middle as a damaged and relatable hero that you cannot help but root for. I felt the close narration really enhanced his emotional journey and the exciting and deadly events sent to test him were well balanced against his growth as a redeemed man. Overall, I would highly recommend Redeem the Knight as a must-read for dark fantasy, horror, and dystopia fans everywhere.