With a surprise snow storm and plenty to keep us busy this first week of the month, I can finally get this shared. Then I’ll get caught up with the wrap up and share the April hopefuls/TBR.
Thanks to the publishers or authors for any gifted copies here!
THE PRINCE WITHOUT SORROW – Maithree Wijesekara (Thank you to Harper Voyager for the copy – Released March 18th, 2025)
Drawing on inspiration from the Mauryan Empire of Ancient India, debut author Maithree Wijesekara plunges readers into the first amazing book of the Obsidian Throne trilogy, a new fantasy series of hunted witches, romantic angst, and political intrigue. Perfect for fans of The Hurricane Wars and The Jasmine Throne.
A prince born into violence, seeking peace.
Prince Ashoka is the youngest son of the tyrannical Emperor Adil Maurya. Considered an outcast by his father for his rejection of the emperor’s brutal onslaught against the witches of the empire, Ashoka longs for change. When the sudden and unexpected death of his father leaves the monarchy in disarray, Ashoka is sent to govern a tumultuous region annexed by Emperor Adil that is terrorized by nature spirits—a task many see as doomed to fail. Suspected by a disdainful governor and evaded by distrustful witches, Ashoka must question his rigid ideals and fight against becoming the one person he despises the most—his father.
A witch shackled by pacifism, seeking revenge.
Shakti is a a witch bound by a pacifist code. After witnessing the murder of her aunt and village at the hands of the emperor, Shakti hurtles down a path of revenge, casting a curse with unexpected consequences. Posing as a maidservant in the famed palace of the Mauryas and armed with newfound powers beyond her imagination, Shakti attempts to dismantle the monarchy from within by having the royal progeny ruin themselves and turn their father’s legacy into nothing but ash.
In a world where nature spirits roam the land, and witches are hunted to extinction, Ashoka and Shakti will be forced to grapple with the consequences of to take it for themselves or risk losing it completely.
My Thoughts: 3/5 stars
I know the synopsis mentions some romantic angst, but if you’re looking for romantasy, then you’ll probably be disappointed. This is more just straight fantasy with some hints at possible romance later in the series. If you’re nervous to start a high fantasy series, then don’t worry, this isn’t that either! The start of a new trilogy, and I’m very curious to see where it goes.
We alternate POVs between Prince Ashoka – the youngest son of Emperor Adil Maurya. He’s considered the outcast of the family because he refuses to embrace their brutal violence against the witches of the empire.
Shakti is a witch, and despite her desire for revenge, she is bound by the pacifist code the witches follow. After witnessing the murder of her aunt and the entire village, she is determined to dismantle the legacy of Emperor Adil and destroy his family from the inside out.
There are a ton of mixed reviews for this book out there, and I can see both sides. The mythology alone had me captivated – who isn’t going to be when there are winged serpents involved? I think the complaints some readers had all stem from this being book one in a series. There are a lot of unanswered questions and setups that are seemingly abandoned, but I think there will be more to come in book two where the readers will appreciate that callback.
The characters didn’t feel completely developed,but again, book one, so there’s a lot of time for growth and exploration of their motivations and choices. It does end on a cliffhanger, so this will be a trilogy you have to read from start to finish (no possibility for standalones). I’m curious to see where this continues and will give book two a look to see how things progress.
THE UNLUCKY ONES – Hannah Morrissey (Thanks to Minotaur Books for the copy – Released March 25th, 2025)
A police transcriber-turned-novelist returns to Black Harbor to help solve the case of her ex-husband’s murder in the newest riveting Black Harbor mystery by acclaimed author Hannah Morrissey.
Black Harbor is a tinderbox. Temperatures and violent crime have both risen to all-time highs, a new drug razes the city, and the scene to which Sergeant Nikolai Kole responds is anything but a rote homicide. In the back of a clubhouse lies a body wrapped in garbage bags and doused in bleach.
It isn’t just any body. Tommy Greenlee, the ex-husband of Kole’s former lover, Hazel, has been shot several times and left for dead. What’s more…the killer left what appears to be a calling card.
Elsewhere, Hazel is haunted by her memories of Black Harbor. Lured there after eight years, she returns to find out who killed Tommy and why. Now back in Kole’s orbit, their love affair can hardly pick up where it left off. They both used each other to their own ends before, which begs the question: would they do it again?
With the atmosphere growing more volatile by the second, Hazel and Kole call a truce, and as they work together to solve this murder, they will not only unearth Black Harbor’s deepest, darkest secrets—they’ll each have to face their own.
My Thoughts: 4/5 stars
While books 1 – 3 could probably be read as standalone books, I think you’ll need to read them before starting this (bare minimum Hello, Transcriber) to get all the background on our two main characters. A lot has happened with Hazel and Kole!
Welcome back to the dark and desolate place that is Black Harbor, Wisconsin. A town brimming with crime, drugs, and violence. I’ll hand it to Hannah she knows how to make a gritty and dangerous town and really set the atmosphere for us. Hazel is the police transcriber turned author, and she put Black Harbor and her abusive ex-husband behind her as soon as she could. What’s bringing her back? The murder of that same ex-husband.
Sergeant Nikolai Kole is on the scene of a grisly murder – a man shot and left for dead. He recognizes the victim, Tom Greenlee, the ex-husband of the woman he had a love affair with (Hazel). The most concerning part? A calling card was left behind. Are these murders just getting started?
Teaming back up with Kole, Hazel is back to try and solve the murder. Their chemistry is palpable, and I loved having them back together again. The closer they get in the case, the more dangerous it becomes. In a place like Black Harbor, the secrets run deep, and they’re gruesome. This book is more on the bleak side of police procedurals, and I can’t stop with this series! Highly recommend picking up Hello, Transcriber, and traveling to Black Harbor
THE HOME – Judith Sonnet (Released January 15th, 2025)
THE HOME – In the early ’60s, in a seemingly more “innocent” time, a group of teenagers were lured into a supposedly haunted house. The place on Sycamore Lane has a morbid history, but that’s just hearsay and rumor, isn’t it?
THE HOME – His name was Robbie Miller, and he was a killer. Driven mad by the THING that lived in The Home, he now exists to serve. He’ll do whatever the creature that calls itself Mr. Friendlyman asks . . . He’ll even become a ghost . . .
THE HOME – Now, decades later and much older, they are returning to The Home. A retired fantasy writer, A doting grandfather, and a mysterious old woman who seems to know things she should not . . .
THE HOME – A dark storm is brewing over this wicked house. A storm that will break down the very fabric of reality. A storm that demands blood and sacrifice, and feeds on the ghosts of anyone who dies within it’s premises.
My Thoughts: 5/5 stars
This is my second book from Judith Sonnet and I love the variety already. My first book was GASPS! a short story collection of quiet horror. Believe me, this is definitely NOT quiet horror and I loved it. Prepare for some gore, supernatural elements, some great scares, HP Lovecraft vibes, and a creepy new entity, with an even creepier name – Mr. Friendlyman.
We meet Griffin, Orville, and Eunice. Three teens who find themselves in the supposedly haunted house on Sycamore Lane. That day they stepped foot into The Home will change their lives forever. After the traumatic events of surviving their encounter with Mr. Friendlyman, they all thought that would be the end of it. Well, 50 years later, he calls to them again and they have the reunion they never wanted back at The Home.
Alright, I love anything to do with urban legends and entities. Your boogeyman, slenderman, and other similar unnerving characters. I love the variety of back story some can have but can sometimes be vague and up for interpretation. Not Mr. Friendlyman. He has a fully fleshed out origin and this thing is the thing of nightmares. Soul-sucking, cosmic, shapeshifting creature of the worst parts of your imagination.
We have multiple timelines going on between Griffin, Orville, Eunice, and another character, Robbie Miller. I love the back and forth between the timelines and the stories and the build to the final pages. The detail in this book is something to be admired. The characters, the settings, the dialog, the gore and blood – everything completely immerses you and you get sucked into the story.
You definitely won’t catch me taking a wrong turn down Sycamore Lane (well, street in my case) near our house!
Jessicamap Reviews 