Reviews

Vera Wong's Guide to Snooping (on a Dead Man) starts some time after Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers ends, with the various characters moving on to their respective happy/bittersweet endings. Vera should be happy too, with her fuller life and found family, and she is, definitely. But she's also bored. So, so bored that when the opportunity for a new case appears, she seizes it by the horns and tears after every lead she unearths, complete with towers of home-cooked food and a new cast of characters who, bemused and confuzzled, are pulled along in her wake. The moral of the story is that there is no stopping Vera Wong when she puts her mind to it. Oh, and come hungry.

At first, the beginning seems like it will follow a similar formulaic structure to Unsolicited Advice; however, patience pays off--after the (roughly) first third of the book, the plot veers off into a very different direction: Sutanto has several important points to make with this novel. I won't say too much about these (spoilers), but I came away from it both satisfied and impressed. It's hard to balance heartwarming comedy with the gravity of some of the themes without seeming to make light of a serious, ongoing issue, but Sutanto does this balance well. That said, it should be noted that while Unsolicited Advice is solidly cozy mystery/amateur sleuth-type mystery, this novel is definitely darker than its predecessor, an in-between book that straddles cozy and gritty mysteries with a garnish of suspense. Sutanto also notes in her acknowledgements that much of the darker material she uses is, unfortunately, derived from actual facts. On a lighter note, one of the best scenes was when Vera defends Robin at her school--what a hero!

Readers who enjoy this novel may also like: any of Sutanto's other works, Sisters of the Lost Nation by Nick Medina, The Return of Ellie Black by Emiko Jean, The Kamogawa Food Detectives by Hisashi Kashiwai, and Elevator in Sài Gòn by Thuận, among others. 

Saint Catherine is Anna Meyer's debut graphic novel. In this book, Catherine, an emerging adult, is living a pretty solid life in the big city--she has a job she thinks about quitting, friends she adores, and a sweet and caring boyfriend. But Catherine, who was raised Irish Catholic, has a secret--she has never missed a Sunday Mass and is terrified of the consequences if she does. Then, the one day she decides to skip church, she wakes up host to a demon prince and his 27 legions of Hell, sparking an existential crisis about herself, her loved ones, and the role of religion in her life.

Like Catherine, Meyer was raised Catholic and also had an existential crisis as a young adult, so although this story is fictional, it draws on the author's personal experience. The book focuses mainly on one's personal connections to family and faith, as well as the general culture of Catholicism. It also points out the potential generational and cultural differences in terms of connections to religion and the Church--Catherine's mother views religion differently from her children, and while there are commonalities in beliefs and practices between Catherine and her Russian Orthodox friend, her boyfriend's family--also Christian--views religion much more loosely than she does. These nuances, if brief, offer layers to the book as Catherine quite literally struggles with her own demons. The book does have an overall positive ending, though I'm kicking myself a bit over the plot twist at the end. Meyer's art is also very well rendered, with color-coded flashbacks and flowing panels. Her depiction of Vassago, Prince of Hell, was also quite fun--who knew that a blob could be both so cute and so scary?

Readers who enjoy this graphic novel may also enjoy: Visitations by Corey Egbert, Covenant by LySandra Vuong, Fun Home and Are You My Mother? by Alison Bechdel, and Hijab Butch Blues by Lamya H., among others. 

Water Moon is Manila-based author Samantha Sotto Yambao's fifth book and first fantasy, inspired by a trip to Kyoto and the role of pawnshops during the COVID-19 pandemic. A standalone novel, it follows Hana, the daughter of a magical pawnbroker who buys regrets and choices, and Keishin, a physicist who has come to Japan to do more than study neutrinos. Their adventures will change everything they once thought they knew about their worlds, themselves, and each other.

Firstly, this book's cover gets an enthusiastic five stars! It's gorgeous in that it can be examined from every single angle. It truly does bring out the magic of Yambao's worldbuilding, a world that I would love to see visualized, either as an animated film or as a graphic novel. Her settings and magic system (including the tattoos) feel like a love letter to Studio Ghibli and Makoto Shinkai's films, gorgeously rendered and nostalgic for Cool Japan and cultural traditions. That--and Haruto, origami master--were some of my favorite parts of this book. There were also some plot twists that I did not see coming. Overall, this was an enjoyable, cozy-adjacent fantasy. It is also available as an eAudiobook.

Readers may also enjoy: The Haunted Bookstore: Gateway to a Parallel Universe by Shinobumaru, Spirited Away (2001), Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022), The Dallergut Dream Department Store by Lee Miye, The Rainfall Market by You Yeong-Gwang, Your Name. (2016), and Weathering With You (2019). 

Wheel of the Infinite by Martha Wells is a standalone high fantasy novel. Originally published in the early 2000s, it tells the tale of Maskelle, Voice of the Adversary, and Rian, runaway monarchial bodyguard, as they try to protect the Wheel during the Hundred Years' rite in order to save the world as they know it.

I had been looking forward to this novel, as Martha Wells has been oft recommended to me. Indeed, the world-building was one of the best parts of this book, with complex political relationships and magic/deity systems. It reminded me very much of Tamora Pierce's work, and is a book in which the reader is dropped right into the middle of things and must figure out the rules themself as they read, similar to Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir. That said, I'm glad that my first Wells book was an older work, so that the newer, very popular ones can showcase her growth as a writer.

Readers who enjoy this book may also like: The Rising World and The Murderbot Diaries series by Martha Wells, anything by Tamora Pierce, Tanith Lee, and Sherwood Smith, The Locked Tomb series by Tamsyn Muir, and the Riverside and Tremontaine series by Ellen Kushner (et al.). 

The God and the Gumiho by Sophie Kim is the first book in the Fate's Thread series. Set in 1990s South Korea, the novel is an urban romantasy inspired by Korean mythology. Part vague police investigation, part slow-burn romance, this book is Sophie Kim's ode to K-dramas. Seokga, a former trickster god, is banished to the mortal world after a failed coup, where he is now a grumpy, coffee-loving detective. Kim Hani is a powerful, sassy gumiho (nine-tailed fox spirit) who is laying low as a barista after garnering too much attention in 1888. When drastic and unexpected circumstances pull them together, sparks fly in this secret-antagonists-to-lovers plotline.

I've been curious about this book for a while; one shouldn't judge a book by its cover, but this cover is gorgeous! Thus, I was hopeful, and thankfully not disappointed. This is a great read for those who enjoy a high stakes dramatic storyline with moderately spicy romance and quick back and forth banter, along with plot twists that will take readers by surprise. Sophie Kim also has a very engaging writing style, and a flow that will keep readers turning page after page. (Psst--fans of this book can rejoice: the sequel, The God and the Gwisin, comes out in June 2025....)

Those interested in similar titles may enjoy The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh, Immortal by Sue Lynn Tan, How to Become a Dragon by eon, Super Secret by eon, Legend of the White Snake by Sher Lee, The Last Dragon of the East by Katrina Kwan, The Fox Wife by Yangsze Choo, and A Taxi Driver, among many others. 

Leap by Simina Popescu follows two young adolescent girls as they navigate life, love, and friendship at their dance school in Bucharest, Romania. Ana is a contemporary dancer, but remains tied to the classical track by her very career-driven girlfriend of three years, Carina, who wants their relationship to remain a secret. Sara began in classical but has switched to contemporary in order to seek her passion for dancing, as well as to remain near the teacher she has a not-so-discreet crush on. As the meme goes, "And then they were roommates." Thrown together by chance, Sara and Ana quickly find solace in each other in this coming-of-age tale. Readers will laugh, cry, and cheer for these girls as they seek direction, support, and love while they dance their hearts out.

Popescu (they/she), a dancer themself in Bucharest, renders this story in fluid, energetic lines that capture both dance movements and the characters' tumultuous emotions with equal ease. They are also adept with color, using a mix of warm and cool tones to set the mood of a scene or to denote a flashback, but know when to use a pop of full color to emphasize a poignant moment. Script-wise, the story flows easily, and will keep the reader engaged from start to finish. A personal favorite element is (spoiler) that this story does not fall into the roommates-to-lovers trope--Sara and Ana have enough on their plates! The positive impact of LGBTQIA+ friendships should also not be overlooked, especially in works for YA and adult audiences. 

Readers who like Leap may also enjoy Even Though We're Adults by Takako Shimura, I Felt Myself Slipping by Ray Nadine, Sunhead by Alex Assan, and Our Colors by Gengoroh Tagame.

Castle Swimmer is Wendy Lian Martin's first published graphic novel. It is a lighthearted fantasy series inspired by aquatic--especially marine--wildlife; all the character designs stem from real animals. The series follows Siren and Kappa, two young men with very different backgrounds who are actually quite similar. Kappa is the Beacon, who swims around destined to solve/enact other peoples' prophecies, while Siren is prince of the Sharks, destined to kill Kappa to save his people. Enamored with each other and opposed to their fates, these merfolk decide to try and find a new solution, together. Volume One of this series contains Chapters 1-19 of the story, plus adorable bonus material.

I've been a fan of this comic for years and was ecstatic to learn it would be getting a print edition. I love everything about this series, from the expressive, full-color illustrations to the overall lighthearted tone of the story, which also doesn't shy away from darker elements later on. Martin's balance of humor, plot, and character is well-executed, as well as color palette and even font choice. This is a great series for fans of light fantasy, aquatic lifeforms, and merfolk stories. I can't wait for Volume 2!

Readers who enjoy this series may also like: Boyfriends. by refrainbow, Navigating With You by Jeremy Whitley, Tristan and Lancelot: A Tale of Two Knights by James Persichetti and L.S. Biehler, and The Darkness Outside Us by Eliot Schrefer.

Grimm Curiosities by Sharon Lynn Fisher is a historical supernatural Christmas romantasy set in mid-nineteenth century York, England. After her father's sudden passing from diabetes complications and her mother falling catatonic after a seance, young Lizzy Grimm runs the family curio store on her own. As Lizzy struggles to make ends meet and repay her family's mounting debts, she encounters two men who will change her life forever: Ambrose Stoke, who has a strangely intense interest in some mysterious old books in the shop, and Antony Carlisle, a lord-to-be whose younger sister bears an uncanny resemblance to the condition of Lizzy's mother. In this novel that is part ghost story, part mystery, and has a generous helping of romance, Lizzy must save her family, her livelihood, and her heart's desire, all before Christmas. Really, with all that going on, what's a girl to do?

A note: Despite the title, the novel has no connection to the Brothers Grimm fairy tales, except for the fact that Lizzy's paternal relatives originally hail from Bavaria. The book actually draws upon Yule lore, perfect for a supernatural Christmas/Yuletide read.

Something I very much enjoyed about the book is Fisher's use of location-specific terminology. Research is very important to Fisher, and she includes both a glossary at the beginning of the book to introduce York-specific vocabulary (ex. 'ginnel' and 'snicket'), as well as a list of research references in the acknowledgements for readers who want to learn more about York and its fascinating history. Similarly, Fisher is very good at creating a sense of place. The descriptions of alleys, interior spaces, and fantastical landscapes are easily imagined from her writing, and remain the best-remembered aspects of the novel, along with the visual descriptions of ghosts and folkloric creatures, such as the mythological 'printer's devil.'

The romance aspect is very much a slow-burn, and the pacing picks up once Croft & Croft is introduced. Charlie Croft is one of my personal favorite characters in this novel. Perhaps if Fisher makes this into a series, there can be a book about Charlie next? Those who enjoy C.S. Lewis's The Chronicles of Narnia, Holly Black and Sarah Rees Brennan's tales of the fae, Jane Austen's literary works, The Legend of Holly Claus by Brittney Ryan, and/or Silver in the Wood by Emily Tesh may also enjoy this novel.

A Vile Season by David Ferraro is a period vampire story with a twist. Often, these novels tend to follow a human encountering or trying to become a vampire, or, more recently, vampires who become curious about the humans they devour--not to mention the entire vampire sub-genre of paranormal romances. While all of these elements are indeed included in this book, the vampire protagonist Count Lucian Cross has a rather different problem. After being chased from his castle by an angry mob of vampire hunters, he makes a deal with the vampire god, Vrykolakas, to save his hide: Lucian will become human again in order to go undercover on a mission for vampire-kind--he is to find the identities of his attackers and win the hand of Ambrose Harclay, the eldest son and heir to the ailing Duke Harclay. In return, Vrykolakas will not only make Lucian a vampire once more, Lucian will will be even more powerful than before. However, a mission that should have been simple quickly becomes complicated as Lucian is beset by former soured relations, becomes embroiled in the mystery of Ambrose's missing middle brother, Emmett, and finds himself increasingly drawn to the youngest Harclay brother, Maxwell... What do you mean, there are consequences for one's actions?

Set in fantasy England during an unspecified historical time period, this novel combines mystery and the paranormal with a well-balanced ratio of romantic subplot. Referencing classic vampire tropes, such as shape-shifting, a sensitivity to garlic and crosses, and a fatal allergy to the sun, Ferraro pays homage to the original Gothic vampire tales readers know and love while putting his own spin on the genre. He adds colorful balls and game-show-esque challenges to the competition to become Ambrose's betrothed. This is not to say that there aren't also mysterious crypts, ghostly cemeteries, hidden passageways, and secret societies--there's plenty of those, too! This well-paced and adventurous novel, with its quirky cast of characters, will keep the reader engaged from dramatic start to happy end. This was an overall quite entertaining read! I will likely seek out Ferraro's other work in the future.

Readers interested in other vampire tales may enjoy Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice, Dracula by Bram Stoker, Carmilla by Sheridan Le Fanu, When I Arrived at the Castle by Emily Carroll, and Renfield (dir. Chris McKay). For those interested in neo-Gothic works, try Crimson Peak (dir. Guillermo del Toro) and Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia. For another new LGBTQIA+ fantasy mystery, try Voyage of the Damned by Frances White.

The Witchwood Knot by Olivia Atwater is a Gothic faerie tale set in a fantasy Victorian England. Winifred, or Winnie, an orphan pulled from a traumatic workhouse by a noble benefactor, is called away from London to Witchwood Manor as a favor to the dowager Lady Longfell, ostensibly to be a governess to the lady's grandson, Robert. In truth, Winnie is a black magician specializing in cartomancy, and her true task is to protect Robert from the faerie curse placed on the manor, which is tied to the mysterious Witchwood Knot. Armed with her wits, her magic, and her loyal ghostly feline familiar, Winnie's mission is complicated by the contrarian young Robert, his truly creepy father, and the mysterious butler-who-is-and-is-not a butler, Mr. Quincy.

This novel, the first in a series, draws on several mythologies for its inspiration--mostly from Celtic mythology, and a dash of Beauty and the Beast. Atwater's book is chock-full of detail; given the historical background she provides for her books, as well as her own personal interest in history, this was one of best parts in the book. This is also a book suited for fans of historical fantasy with a romantic subplot, or fans of romantasy with a subdued romance. Atwater does include a content warning at the beginning of the book, so wary readers are advised to glance at it before proceeding. Highlights of this book include its dark faerie tale elements and sardonic, witty heroine. Atwater's previous series (Regency Faerie Tales) may add extra world-building context.

Fans of Holly Black, Sarah Rees Brennan, Sarah J. Maas, and The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert would likely enjoy this novel.