Reviewed by Stephanie Chapman for Readers' Favorite

H.C. Newell’s Curse of the Fallen features Neer’s quest to rid herself of a curse placed on her by the Order of Saro’s High Priest. The curse prevents Neer from using her magical abilities without alerting the mercenaries to her location. Neer is accompanied by Loryk and Gil as she searches for the arun, an artifact that could break the curse. After Neer manages to teleport with her friends to Vleland, they enter a magical cave. She learns that to use the arun, she must go through the Trials of Fire. Gil is unable to go with Neer, but Loryk refuses to part from her. As they travel, they encounter Klaud, an elf who is also going to the trials. They journey together, meeting people who are on the hunt for invading elves and magic wielders. Loryk's abilities as a bard prove to be far more valuable than anyone anticipated.

H.C. Newell exceeded my expectations with this epic fantasy. Every page is filled with vivid depictions of the characters and their surroundings. I felt like I was walking with the travelers. Neer’s determination and compassion are unrivaled by her companions. Klaud’s intentions were admirable but he is self-centered. Loryk was brave to stay with Neer, especially since he didn’t have any magical abilities and was an average person. This made his character relatable as he voiced his fears and attempted to prevent Neer’s emotions from misguiding her. Neer's point of view, in my opinion, focused on her emotional pain. The cliffhanger ending was completely unpredictable and left me desperate to read the sequel. The Curse of the Fallen is highly recommended to readers who enjoy fantasy stories with intrigue and well-developed characters.

Reviewed by Vincent Dublado for Readers' Favorite

Children of Alpheios by Diana Fedorak raises thought-provoking questions about genetics. Welcome to Alpheios, a genetically engineered colony. Like most mothers, twenty-one-year-old Alina had her baby, Mandin, at Genodyne, a pristine and heavily protected building impervious to the storms. However, Genodyne’s lab tests found a genetic anomaly in Mandin that draws the interest of the colony’s central corporation. It appears this mutation came from Alina’s father and remained undetected, as Genodyne did not initially search for it. In Mandin, the mutation has moved to a new level. As her protective maternal instinct kicks in, Alina will do anything to protect her baby and, in the process, keep the children of Alpheios safe.

The preciousness of human life and its preservation are overarching themes in Children of Alpheios. It also shows that evolution must be allowed to take its course without artificial intervention, as humans must continue to develop to meet the demands of changing environments. Diana Fedorak’s tale has the potential to pose profound scientific and philosophical questions about medical ethics and humanity’s future. It may be highly speculative, but it is serious storytelling with valid arguments, well-placed in a character-driven plot. Children of Alpheios gives you a compelling reason to read it because you are treating yourself to a well-written story that adequately explores the gift of being human and what we can do to embrace our humanity.

Reviewed by Divine Zape for Readers' Favorite

Price of Innocence is the first entry in the Sonder's Song series by Michelle Piper. It is a wonderfully plotted and skillfully written opening into an epic fantasy series that will surely grab the attention of fans of the genre. A ruthless and merciless queen, Aspera, is responsible for the fall of Sosten. With the help of four criminals, she destroys the descendants of Auza-Verndari, taking the last of the descendants into her palace, the infant Sonder. Sonder grows up knowing another captive, a Lorist princess called Rhianwyn. As they become aware of the evil orchestrated against their families, can they gain the support of the only existing Black Knight who once protected Auza-Verndari and who is now the most trusted of the Queen's men? And can Bran be strong enough to honor the truth and serve justice?

Price of Innocence is loaded with mystery, suspense, and enough intrigue to keep readers turning the pages. The characters of Sonder and Rhianwyn are stunningly imagined and inspire empathy in readers. Readers instinctively love these characters and want to see them succeed against the queen. The writing is excellent with details that enrich the narrative. This is a tale of power and wickedness with the aim of an evil queen to bury her treachery. The plot is unpredictable and keeps readers turning the pages as they want to know what happens next. This novel is a fantasy that beautifully imagines a world in which vulnerable characters struggle against the machinations of evil. It is an immersive read with unforgettable characters.

Reviewed by Jessica Barbosa for Readers' Favorite

Fleur La Salle had been raised by her loving grandparents Eileen and Joe Lewis in the beautiful town of Antigonish. She had moved away to marry Arthur Boden but her marriage eventually fell apart. She realized how much better she was away from her passive-aggressive, jealous ex-husband who never supported her passion for painting. It has been one year since Fleur moved back to her hometown. After her divorce, things seemed to be looking up for her but then strange dreams started to haunt her sleep. What are these dreams trying to tell her and where will they lead her? Read Mark Of A Crescent Moon by Clara Fay to find out!

Mark Of A Crescent Moon was a fantastical and intriguing novel. The lyrical narrative and beautifully portrayed setting transported me into a fairytale-like world. Reading about Fleur’s hometown from her point of view relaxed me. When I closed my eyes I could almost see myself admiring the sun across the bay and smelling the wildflowers in the air. Clara Fay knows how to paint a beautiful picture with words. The plot, characters, and exquisitely depicted settings enthralled me. The deeper I read, the more engrossed I was with this beautifully written tale! Fleur was an intriguing character. She was warm and passionate about what she loved. Her passion was what drew me into her story. I felt sad for her when she remembered what she was like before she met her husband and before her love and confidence had slowly been whittled away by his jealousy and actions. I saw her haunting dreams to be an opportunity for her to get back something she lost and maybe even gain something new. Magical and suspenseful, Clara Fay's Mark Of A Crescent Moon took me on an unforgettable adventure of romance, magic, and so much more! Excellent work!

Reviewed by Pikasho Deka for Readers' Favorite

FitzDuncan's Gambit by John J. Spearman IV is the fifth book of The FitzDuncan Series. After being declared the legitimate son of a lord, Casimir FitzDuncan (Cas) rises to his new responsibilities, leading his troops brilliantly in the border skirmishes against the nomads despite being outnumbered in hostile terrain. Weary but not defeated, Cas returns home to his wife, Lucy, who has grown into her unique abilities just like Cas. Soon he must set off again with his friend Lord Rawlinsford (Freddy) to a foreign country to retrieve pieces of rare tan-zyan, playing a dangerous game that can cost them their lives. In the meantime, Cas travels to Easton Manor with his former foe-turned-companion Fenwick, the Royal Assassin, and finds himself having to rescue the daughter of a noble he was accused of kidnapping all those years ago.

Although low on fantasy, FitzDuncan's Gambit contains plenty of political intrigues, compelling relationship dynamics, and thrilling battle sequences to satisfy the appetites of readers who enjoy stories set in medieval worlds. The one thing that John J. Spearman IV excels in above all is his portrayal of medieval warfare battle tactics. Every action sequence in this book is vividly described, with a logical structure around it that raises the stakes and make the narrative feel authentic and immersive. Character interactions are genuine and the dialogue gives the impression that these characters have known each other for a long time. I enjoyed this installment and recommend that for the best reading experience the books of this series should be read in the order of publication.

Reviewed by Alma Boucher for Readers' Favorite

The Golden Alicorns is a fantasy romance by Catherine Banks. Nadia wanted to join one of the magic guilds. By joining a guild, Nadia hoped to fill the void of not being part of a loving family. Nadia met Dart and three brothers while she waited for the ceremony to display her magic power and choose a guild. Most scanners could not detect Nadia’s magic because Norma, a demoness stole Nadia’s magic when she was young and sealed it in a magical container. When Nadia’s magic level was finally revealed, the guild she wanted to join did not make her an offer. Nadia decided to join the Golden Alicorns Guild as she had seen the camaraderie between the members.

Catherine Banks outdid herself with The Golden Alicorns. It was out of this world, and I was intrigued from the start. The author created a fantasy environment with interesting worlds and fairy tale characters. The fascinating revelations during the story were interesting and exciting. Magic, humans, and gods were intertwined throughout, and everything was clearly explained. The writing style was descriptive, and it was easy to visualize. The story was fast-paced, and with all the action, there was never a dull moment. The characters were brilliant and authentic. I enjoyed Nadia’s journey to become who she was meant to be. The interaction between Nadia and Norma, the demoness, was entertaining. This is an excellent fantasy novel and much more than I expected.

Reviewed by Foluso Falaye for Readers' Favorite

Everything changes for Sara when she becomes the subject of a recent transfer's assault. For an introvert like her, being the center of attention for such a newsworthy thing as an attack is the last thing she needs. Shortly after, Sara finds out she belongs to a family and a community of gifted beings, which she has trouble believing. Accepting that her dog and her one friend, Bobby, are not who they seem to be also proves challenging. However, more shocking surprises lie in wait for her as she discovers more about herself, her abilities, and the hostile yet magical world of supernaturals. Sara's Fear, Book 1 in K. C. Roy's Elementals series, captivates readers with a sensational tale about a young heroine who faces both life-threatening danger and thrilling adventure after discovering she's part of a secret supernatural society.

Thank goodness for stories like Sara's Fear since they offer you an opportunity to experience grand adventures and fantasies from the comfort of your home. Roy's sophisticated worldbuilding had me in a blissful world of imagination. Colors are used to represent different amazing magical abilities, known as essence. Additionally, everything connects smoothly, and the book's magic is neatly intertwined with the characters and the dangers. For example, Sara is targeted because of how powerful she could be; working on her magic and combat skills will help her survive the enemy's sinister plots. Readers who enjoy young adult fantasy, adventure, and action should prepare for an immersive experience that rivals the best in these genres. Imagine running from killers, jumping off a cliff, and controlling the trees to break your fall. There's plenty more where that came from in K. C. Roy's masterpiece.

Reviewed by Grant Leishman for Readers' Favorite

The Curse of Conchobar: A Prequel to the Adirondack Spirit Series by David Fitz-Gerald is a short but deeply compelling spiritual journey back to pre-history North America to C.E. 549. Conchobar has spent most of his life working on building stone steps on an island monastery, creating a staircase for the monks. One day, he makes a fateful decision to borrow a fishing boat and set out to sea on a fishing expedition. Caught in a violent storm, he is lost at sea for many nights and days before finally being washed ashore, barely alive, in a foreign land, among foreign people with a distinctively warlike nature. Conchobar finds himself engaged in a never-ending battle for survival as his villagers engage in a tit-for-tat battle against a neighboring village. Despite the constant predations of the harsh environment and the imminent threat of violence, Conchobar begins to build a life among the villagers, even falling in love with one of his adopted sisters. Weighed down by a curse he believes he carries, and following a series of deaths of his family members, his adopted family, also believing him cursed, cast him out of the village and he must look for somewhere new to call home.

The Curse of Conchobar is a fresh and innovative look at the tribal histories of the Americas long before the arrival of the first Europeans. Author David Fitz-Gerald paints a vividly realistic picture of functioning societies in which survival and the continuation of the family is the prime motivation, followed closely by the protection of that family structure by the use of force against any suspected or real interlopers into their world. The deeply spiritual nature of Conchobar and his interactions with both his new family and his spiritual nature are beautifully captured by the author. I particularly enjoyed the author’s ability to draw out Conchobar’s naivety, especially as it contrasted with the spiritual and mystical features of his special abilities and foresight. This is a lovely story despite the necessary violence, and it reminds us all that often everything is not always as it seems to be at first glance. There are hidden depths and meaning to all aspects of life, and we can see this in many of Conchobar’s actions, thoughts, and dreams. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and only regret that it was shorter than I felt it could have been. The opportunities to explore more of the mystical side of the story abounded, but I’m sure the author will have done that in the books that make up what I’m convinced is an excellent series. I can highly recommend this book.

Reviewed by Rabia Tanveer for Readers' Favorite

Demons, the Great White North and the Blind Detective by Shawn Adair Johnston is a modern-age Sherlock Holmes with supernatural elements and high-tech innovation. Set in the year 2080 when flying cars are real, and the world is far more advanced than it is now, the story follows Peter Straw (the blind detective) and his intelligently augmented seeing-eye dog Watson as they work on their biggest case yet. Someone or something is brutally murdering people and their companions in Inuit villages. Peter and Watson join law enforcement to figure out who is behind the killings and then do whatever it takes to stop them before it is too late. Can the famous detective team get the job done or will they become a victim of the killer as well?

The cover of the novel is deceptively simple, but the story is anything but that. The novel is surprisingly existential at times while always focusing on the mystery at hand. The synergy between Watson and Peter is fantastic. Watson is something special and not just because he is intelligently augmented. He is the eyes and ears of Peter; he sees what Peter cannot and then works with Peter to get the answers they desperately need to solve this case. Author Shawn Adair Johnston beautifully integrates murder mystery and science fiction to develop an entertaining story. I would not be surprised if this becomes a movie one day because it has the potential. The author lays the foundation of the story on the idea of soulless humans and immortal souls. The author is a genius with words. He knows which characters to boost, which characters should take a step back, and when to let the descriptions take the lead. I loved the dry humor and the intensity of the chase. This is perfect!

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

Chambers of the Heart is a collection of short fiction in the science fiction and anthology subgenres. The stories included in the collection are suitable for the general reading audience and were each penned by author B. Morris Allen. The book contains a diverse selection of stories that span across different themes and ideas with a variety of self-contained narratives around subjects such as arranged marriages, what life could look like post-Earth, simulated companionship, and the bravery of finding hope in dire times.

This collection is charming in both its ideas and its eclectic nature, as even with the focus on speculative fiction the diversity of themes and styles within the collection is very impressive. B. Morris Allen’s incredible imagination is matched only by his gift for prose which masterfully brings each story’s world to life before seamlessly moving along to the next one. It’s a genuine challenge to pick a favorite story from the collection as there was never any dip in quality from one story to another. However, if pushed, I would highlight Memory and Faded Ink as a great example of Chambers of the Heart’s formula of introducing an interesting idea, then exploring it in with an engaging and intriguing tale that doesn’t waste an ounce of the potential the concept has. Overall, Chambers of the Heart is an exemplary collection of speculative fiction that quickly moves from one idea to the next, stopping only to fully consider the ideas each story puts on the table. I'd highly recommend it to fans of thought-provoking speculative fiction.