ARC Review: Fishbone Cinderella by Elizabeth Lim

Fishbone Cinderella
by Elizabeth Lim
Publication Date: July 23rd 2026
Publisher: Del Ray
Find This Book: Fishbone Cinderella
Source: Physical ARC
Rating: 6/5

A bracelet. A curse. And golden fishbones to be returned to the sea ...

Guangdong, 1940. When Ha Yut Ying narrowly escapes Japanese soldiers by turning invisible, she knows her new-found magic must be kept a secret. But her mother, whose dreams foretell the future, suspects her daughter has changed, and warns her of a curse upon their family. For her protection, she gives her a gold bracelet whose links are shaped like fishbones.

After the war, Ha Yut Ying is sent to live with her father and his second wife, who have become wealthy factory owners in Hong Kong. Her stepmother, jealous of her beauty, forces her to work in the family's shoe factory.

But when Yut Ying collides with a boy on a bicycle on her way to work, she loses her bracelet. The boy is Tommy Yeung, scion of a local soymilk tycoon. And their encounter will change both of their destinies forever...

Fishbone Cinderella is a multi-generational historical fiction novel infused with magical realism about a mother and daughter navigating family curses, the immigrant experience, and the long-lasting impacts of war. I only dabble in historical fiction, but I love magical realism, and I’m a huge fan of Elizabeth Lim’s work, so I knew I had to give this one a try. Lim absolutely delivered and knocked it out of the park.

Fishbone Cinderella primarily follows Yut Ying as she lives through the Japanese occupation of China, life in Hong Kong during the Chinese Civil War, and her eventual immigration to America. The novel’s structure perfectly complements the story. Throughout Yut Ying’s journey, we also get glimpses of her daughter Marigold in present-day (1960s-ish) San Francisco. As the novel progresses, Marigold’s chapters become more frequent, and watching their storylines gradually intertwine was incredibly satisfying.

The themes are the true heart of this novel. Through Yut Ying’s relationships with her mother, her stepmother, and eventually her own daughter, Lim explores the complexities of motherhood across generations. There are family secrets, sacrifices, betrayals, and enduring love woven throughout the story. The theme that resonated with me most was the universal desire to be truly seen and understood—whether by family, friends, or the people we love.

Another thing Lim never misses is setting and atmosphere. Every location feels vibrant and lived-in, and her descriptions immerse you completely in each moment. Whether she’s depicting the turmoil of wartime or the quieter moments of everyday life, every setting feels rich with life and emotion.

I also loved how seamlessly the magical realism aspects were woven into the story. It never overshadowed the historical backdrop but instead deepened the emotional weight of the novel, reinforcing its themes of family, inheritance, and the burdens we carry across generations.

This is a beautiful, emotional story about resilience, identity, and the complicated bonds between mothers and daughters. Even if historical fiction isn’t your usual genre, I think readers who enjoy character-driven stories with a touch of magic will find a lot to love here. It’s easily one of my favorite reads of the year and another reminder of why Elizabeth Lim is one of my auto-buy authors.

eARC Review: Field Guide for the Formerly Villainous by Autumn K. England

Field Guide for the Formerly Villainous
by Autumn K. England
Publication Date: May 26th 2026
Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press
Find This Book: Field Guide for the Formerly Villainous
Source: NetGalley eARC
Rating: 2.5/5

When Oaklin Nettlewood accidentally joined an evil world-ending cult, mind control magic forced them to do unspeakable things. Years later, the realm's heroes have finally saved the day, defeated the villain, and shattered the last remnants of the spell...leaving destruction in their wake. And so, with a spell-damaged memory and whole bushel of trauma, Oaklin escapes to a small farm on the edge of Mossley's Rest and swears an After all the things they were forced to do with their magic, they will never use it again. Ever.

The no-nonsense ghost granny who lives in Oaklin's house has other ideas. As she coaxes Oaklin out of their shell and back into the world, they find companionship (a grumpy horse and a very good dog), friendship (a local bard and magical baker who should just kiss already), and tentative romance (a paladin-librarian who makes Oaklin's heart come alive for the first time in ages.) Magic even seems possible again—though strictly for foraging magical mushrooms and protecting the farm from bugs.

Healing comes in gentle waves, and Oaklin doesn't have to do it alone. So what does it mean when an inquisitor comes to town to hunt former cultists just as Oaklin begins to think that maybe, just maybe, they deserve a happy ending after all?

I went into Field Guide for the Formerly Villainous expecting a cozy fantasy, but it ended up being much quieter than I anticipated. The conflict is small-scale: the biggest question is whether Oaklin will be accepted by the town they've chosen to call home. The book explores themes of redemption, community-building, trauma recovery, and finding a place to belong, all of which sounded like they would make for a heartfelt story.

Unfortunately, the execution didn't work for me.

The biggest issue was that the book relied far too heavily on telling rather than showing. We're often told that Oaklin is making friends, settling into the community, or healing from their past, but we rarely get to experience those moments alongside them. Instead of watching relationships deepen through conversations, shared experiences, and vulnerable interactions, we're simply informed that those connections exist (especially with their baker and bard friends). As a result, I never felt emotionally invested in Oaklin or their relationships.

The pacing also felt slow. Cozy fantasy doesn't need high-stakes action to be engaging, but when a story intentionally keeps the external conflict minimal, the emotional journey has to carry the narrative. But as mentioned above, that emotional payoff really suffered from moments of "tell, don't show" when we're looking for moments of "show, don't tell." Without the emotional journey, the story lacked the momentum needed to keep me engaged.

I can appreciate what this book was trying to do. It offers a gentle story centered on healing and second chances rather than epic quests or dramatic battles, and I think readers who enjoy extremely slow-paced, slice-of-life fantasy may find comfort in it. For me, though, the combination of sluggish pacing and the persistent "tell, don't show" writing style kept me at arm's length from both the characters and the story, making it a miss for me.

eARC Review: Deathly Fates by Tesia Tsai

Deathly Fates
by Tesia Tsai
Publication Date: April 14th 2026
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Find This Book: Deathly Fates
Source: NetGalley eARC
Rating: 3/5

As a priestess paid to guide the deceased home, Kang Siying has never feared death. However, when her beloved father collapses, Siying realizes that even she is not free from the cruel grasp of mortality. Desperate to provide her father with the medical aid he needs, Siying accepts a dangerous job that promises a generous commission, and travels to a hostile state to retrieve the corpse of a missing prince.

But the moment Siying places her reanimation talisman on the dead prince's head, rather than make the corpse obedient to Siying's commands, the talisman brings the prince back to life. Worse, he won't stay alive for long—not unless he absorbs enough qi, or life force, to keep his soul anchored to his body.

In return for a reward worth twice her original commission, Siying agrees to aid the frustratingly handsome prince in finding and purifying evil spirits for their qi. As they journey across the countryside, encountering vengeful ghosts and enemy spies alike, they gradually uncover dark secrets about the prince's death—secrets that could endanger both Siying's father and their entire kingdom.

I was hoping this book would completely hook me and make it impossible to put down, but unfortunately that wasn’t the case. The execution felt lacking overall, and I found myself pushing through a story that never fully grabbed my attention.

I ended up loving Siying in the last few chapters, but for most of the book I struggled to feel invested in her goals or emotional journey. The dynamic between her and the back-from-the-dead prince had potential, but it needed far more development. I was told they were falling in love, but I never really felt that chemistry on the page. Their relationship lacked emotional depth, and both characters could have used stronger personalities.

The MMC especially frustrated me — he’s often an idiot and a coward, and while I appreciated that Siying actually calls him out on it, I couldn’t fully buy into her feelings for him. She spends so much of the book pining after him long before he shows meaningful character growth, which made the romance hard for me to invest in.

The most interesting part of the book was Siying’s role as a priestess of death, but ironically, the story barely explores that aspect. I kept wanting more of the worldbuilding, lore, and moral complexity tied to her position, and it felt like a missed opportunity.

Overall, this wasn’t a terrible read, but it never lived up to its premise for me. There were interesting ideas here, but the characters, romance, and execution didn’t fully deliver.

Review: Servant of Earth by Sarah Hawley

Servant of Earth
by Sarah Hawley
Publication Date: November 12th 2024
Publisher: Ace
Find This Book: Servant of Earth
Source: Purchased
Rating: 5/5

In the underground Fae realm, only the strongest and most ruthless have power—but a young human woman forced into a life of servitude is about to change everything.

Kenna Heron is best known in her village for being a little wild—some say “half feral”—but she’ll need every ounce of that ferocity to survive captivity in the cruel Fae court.

Trapped as a servant in the faeries’ underground kingdom of Mistei, Kenna must help her new mistress undertake six deadly trials, one for each branch of Fire, Earth, Light, Void, Illusion, and Blood. If she succeeds, her mistress will gain immortality and become the heir to Earth House. If she doesn’t, the punishment is death—for both mistress and servant.

With no ally but a sentient dagger of mysterious origins, Kenna must face monsters, magic, and grueling physical tests. But worse dangers wait underground, and soon Kenna gets caught up in a secret rebellion against the inventively sadistic faerie king. When her feelings for the rebellion’s leader turn passionate, Kenna must decide if she’s willing to risk her life for a better world and a chance at happiness.

Surviving the trials and overthrowing a tyrant king will take cunning, courage, and an iron will... but even that may not be enough.

Loved loved loved!!!

Servant of Earth tells the story of a vicious fae court from the perspective of a kidnapped human. It’s definitely dark so be sure to check out the content warnings! That being said, I tore through this.

The world building and magic systems were easy to follow, the main character was fierce and fun to root for, the pacing keeps you entertained, and there was plenty of political court intrigue.

Everything really shines in this book: the setting, the coming of age trials, the class systems, and all of the characters were so well developed!

eARC Review: Most Eligible by Isabelle Engel

Most Eligible
by Isabelle Engel
Publication Date: January 13th 2026
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Find This Book: Most Eligible
Source: NetGalley eARC
Rating: 4/5

Georgia Rose is not going on the hit reality dating show Love Shack to find love. She’s there to write a killer exposé on the producers, which will guarantee the journalism job of her dreams. But when Georgia’s unforgettable one-night stand from the year before, country singer Rhett Auburn, steps into the Malibu mansion as the season’s new host, all of her carefully crafted plans unravel.

Caught up in the drama of backstabbing contestants, producer blackmail, and death-defying dates, Georgia must keep her identity—and history with Rhett—a secret. Despite the lies between them, it isn’t long before Georgia and Rhett’s heated behind-the-scenes moments start to feel more genuine than the romance Georgia’s faking for the cameras. But with her assignment unfinished and the executive producer on her tail, a second chance with Rhett could be her riskiest move of all.

Most Eligible is a fun, behind the scenes romp through a Bachelor-esque dating show, and the premise absolutely delivers. Engel builds the world of Love Shack so well. The producer drama, the over the top dates, even the in-universe country songs all make the setting feel vivid and believable.

Georgia was the standout for me. She’s layered, driven, and full of secrets, and watching her juggle her undercover mission with her unresolved chemistry with Rhett was a blast. Her motivations and regrets gave her a depth that some of the other cast members didn’t quite match.

My only real gripe was that both male love interests felt a bit underdeveloped, which kept the romance from fully landing. Still, the writing is engaging, the pacing is quick, and the whole thing is just plain fun.

A great pick for contemporary romance fans; especially anyone who loves reality TV drama!

eARC Review: The Escape Game by Marissa Meyer and Tamara Moss

The Escape Game
by Marissa Meyer and Tamara Moss
Publication Date: April 7th 2026
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
Find This Book: The Escape Game
Source: NetGalley eARC
Rating: 4/5

It’s all fun and games until someone ends up dead.

Six months ago, season four of The Escape Game ended in horror when contestant Alicia Angelos was found murdered on set.

Now season five is underway, and new contestants are ready to put their skills to the test solving the show's trickiest escape rooms. There's Adi, the cryptographer; Carter, the math whiz; Beck, the wannabe game master, and . . . Sierra Angelos, the girl who got away with her sister’s murder. Or so everyone believes.

But Sierra’s not just here to win. She’s here for justice.

When the contestants begin uncovering clues that hint at the identity of Alicia’s true killer, it becomes clear that the stakes aren’t high in this competition, they’re deadly. If these teens want to win—and survive—the game, they must solve the biggest mystery of who killed Alicia Angelos?

The Escape Game is a fast-paced reality competition with a dark sub-plot: a murder mystery. The novel blends puzzles, high-stakes competition, and amateur detective work into an entertaining and suspenseful read. From the start, it hooks the reader with its eerie premise—after a contestant was murdered during a previous season, a new group of teens returns to the set, stepping closer to the truth behind that crime.

One of the book’s strongest aspects is its concept. The escape-room setting is creative and keeps the story moving at a brisk pace, as the contestants race not only to win the game but also to stay on set long enough to uncover more clues. The combination of challenges and mystery makes the setting feel fresh and engaging, and fans of thrillers and puzzle-based stories will likely find a lot to enjoy.

However, the book’s biggest weakness lies in its character development. With four main characters rotating through different POV chapters, it’s difficult to fully connect with any single one. While the multiple perspectives add variety, they also limit how deeply the story explores each character’s personality and motivations. As a result, the emotional stakes—especially surrounding Sierra and her murdered sister, Alicia—don’t always feel as impactful as they could have. This ultimately knocked the book down a star for me.

Still, I enjoyed the story overall, and with an open ending that clearly sets up another installment, I’m hopeful that future books will allow for a stronger connection to these characters.