The Gray Sheep by S.M. Somerset is a complex fantastical world with a rich history and plenty of conflict.
Cosette is doing her best to continue running her father’s jeweler shop in a war-torn country as he recovers from an illness that isn’t getting any better with her uncle in another part of town. When she gets word of his decline, she decides to risk everything to go see him, even though the space between them is occupied and extremely dangerous.
Resourceful, thoughtful, and quite stubborn, Cosette is a worthy heroine. This story is deeply political, as all the marketing materials promise. To be honest, some of it was a little too much for me, and it tended to linger in sections I felt could do with more urgency. The language was urgent in these spaces, but the actual sentences still took their time leaving a strange feeling of needing to move forward, but not being able to because there were just too many words to get through in the scene.
I really admired Cosette’s bravery and determination, and several of the characters she encounters were interesting, and at times unexpected.
Overall, I think people who enjoy the political side of fantasy will enjoy this, or even sweeping historical epics might try their hand at it and be delightfully surprised.
As a whole, it strikes me mostly as quite an accomplishment!
Note:: I received an early copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Details
Title::The Gray Sheep (The Lochsmith Book I) Author::S. M. Somerset Genre:: Historical Fantasy Publisher::Indie Length::582 pages Published::May 5th, 2026 The Litertarian Rating:: 4-Stars
Isabel Ibanez is on my watch list. I’ve truly loved some of her work in the past, so I wasn’t going to miss an opportunity to read her newest book, Graceless Heart.
Moving from Egypt in her previous historical fantasy series, this one takes place in Italy, a setting replete with historical potential.
It took a hot minute for the story to grab me, and I still felt like I was sort of bashing my way through a jungle of vines in order to get to the good stuff.
But the good stuff was good. Saturnino was one of those characters where you weren’t entirely sure the entire time if he was someone you could trust. Ibanez is so good at this morally ambiguous love interests! And the finale at the end of the book was truly fascinating and memorable.
If you are new to Ibanez I would honestly recommend her previous duology, beginning with What the River Knows, over this. I found it more immersive and chalk full of adventure and mystery I was more interested in. This one just felt a little too heavy with extraneous world building/political details that, while they may pay off eventually, also had an adverse effect on the story this novel could have been. As a writer myself, I understand the impulse to show off the impeccable world you’ve crafted that the story fits inside of…there just wasn’t enough, as a reader, to grab onto and really care about all those tracks.
Note:: I received an early copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Details
Title:: Graceless Heart (The Spellbound History Quartet #1) Author:: Isabel Ibanez Genre:: Historical Fantasy Publisher:: Saturday Books Length::488 pages Published:: January 13th, 2026 The Litertarian Rating:: 3-Stars
I have read over two hundred books this year, and I hope you believe me when I say that this is the best one of them. I don’t know what I thought The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow was going to be, but I certainly didn’t expect to be adding it to my all-time favorites book list (a very exclusive place). If you only ever read one book that I recommend, please let it be this one.
The Everlasting is an academic mystery thriller adventure love story hero’s journey epoch/epic legend historical fantasy that is witty and smart and twisted and surprising and endearing and wickedly romantic and I am going to read it again about a million times before I die because that’s the kind of reader I am. I got this book for free through netgalley and the publisher (thanks, by the way), and before I finished, I had ordered myself a limited-edition hardcover so I can study this masterpiece.
Sorry, are book reviews not supposed to be written like school-girl crush-fests? Let’s get into some better detail…
There was once a legend of an orphan girl called Una who was in the right place at the right time and was chosen by a worthy queen as her champion, and she served her as a hero through all the rest of her days. Centuries later, there is a boy with a broken family and a story that has saved him, again and again, from despair. That story is of Una Everlasting. That boy is a scholar, and he is called upon to rewrite Una’s story into a magical book that transports him back to actually meet her and live her story so he can record it with an honesty and integrity that doesn’t exist in our world.
Until he learns the truth.
This book is about heroism is unlikely places. It’s about the boundless nature of love. It’s about power and honor and duty and secrets. It’s about magic and fate and family. About lies and deep, unshakable truths. Its writing is sharp and honestly delightful. The tone is adventurous and fun. There are good guys and bad guys and lots of other guys in between. There is nothing not to like about this book, and it deserves every single one of its five-star reviews.
As an aspiring author myself, Alix, how the hell? This novel is impeccable, immaculate, amazing. Thank you.
Note:: I received an early copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Details
Title:: The Everlasting Author:: Alix E. Harrow Genre:: Historical Fantasy Publisher:: Tor Books Length::320 pages Audio Length::13h 41m Audiobook Narrator:: Moira Quirk & Sid Sagar Published:: October 28th, 2025 The Litertarian Rating:: 5-Stars
Where the Library Hides is the second book in the Secrets of the Nile Duology by Isabel Ibanez. If you have not started this wonderful historical fantasy series yet, please start with What the River Knows. If you’ve not read it, the review below may include spoilers.
Inez is in deep with the forgery circuit mystery in Egypt, too deep to ignore – too deep to turn back. The only way she can get out from beneath her uncle’s thumb of control is to marry Mr. Whitford Hays, a cunning man of mystery & deception she’s convinced herself she can trust. But when he betrays her within days of their secret wedding, Inez accepts that only she is in control of her destiny – there is no one left she can trust. If she doesn’t work to preserve the legacy of Cleopatra and other Egyptian relics, no one will. Her fiery a relentless personality is back in full force for this conclusion to the series. But what I love about Inez is that she’s not all fire. She also has so much compassion. She has an open heart for forgiveness and wants to give others the benefit of the doubt, even when they may not deserve it.
In this novel she is put through many trials, and jumps head first into dicey situations many would run away from. She’s brave. She’s strong. She’s noble. And she won’t stop until she succeeds.
Whitford Hays…oh Whit, Whit, Whit…what a rascal you are. Where he is a swashbuckling enigma in the first book, we get to see some deeper layers to the secretive genteel in this second book, and ladies, he’s far from perfect. He makes some big boo boos along the way, but in the end, the romance is as bombastic as we (and they) deserve.
I cannot recommend this series highly enough. The intrigue, the adventure, the tension…all of it is handled masterfully, and I’m not sure how I feel about it ending after only two books. Did it need more? No. But selfishly I want to linger far longer in this world. Luckily I own both books in multiple formats so I can revisit them literally whenever and whereever I want. #readergoals
Read it. Love it. Thank me later.
Details
Title:: Where the Library Hides (Secrets of the Nile #2) Author:: Isabel Ibanez Genre:: Historical Fantasy Publisher:: Wednesday Books Length::400 pages Audio Length::14h 29m Audiobook Narrator:: Ahmed Hamad and Ana Osorio Published:: November 5th, 2024 The Litertarian Rating:: 5-Stars
The Familiar is a sweeping historical fantasy novel of survival, deception, resourcefulness, cunning, and resilience.
Luzia has a gift for magic. She sings the songs of her ancestors, and God, or something like it, answers. It’s little things that help her in her daily life as a scullery maid: multiplying beans, mending small tears, or restoring burnt loaves of bread. Harmless things. Until her mistress begins to suspect her and devises a plan to use her magic to win friends and favor. Word spreads quickly of the maid who can wield magics, and soon the great Victor de Paredes becomes her patron for a contest to become the King’s champion. Politics are powerful, and everyone, even the greatest men in the land, are beholden to the whims of the King. Even Victor. But he’s feeling lucky, and Luzia’s gifts are real. Paredes sends Guillen Santangel to foster Luzia’s talents, to teach her to harness and hone them into something the King cannot deny. As the contest progresses, the stakes ratchet ever higher, and instead of just winning the King’s favor, it becomes clear her own fate is not the only thing on the line in this contest.
The setting is 16th century Spain, in the throes of the Inquisition, where heretics are being persecuted and often burned. Luzia’s parents are both dead, and her ambitious aunt is the only family she has left. Unlike most women of her rank, Luzia can read and write, which makes her existence as a servant even more droll. She wishes for finer things, but also knows there is danger in the spotlight, especially in times like these. She is a strong female lead who knows when to pick her battles, and ultimately creates her own path forward despite the advice flying at her from many directions.
The characters in this book are something special. Each of them are unique in their own authentic way. They are each driven by their own selfish motivations, which I feel is a very difficult thing to pull off and their stories follow through to endings they (mostly) deserved in a tingle-inducing finale.
I listened to this as an audiobook narrated by Lauren Fortgang and man, did she do an incredible job. I found it so immersive to hear all the words I might’ve otherwise not known how to pronounce perfectly spoken so beautifully and naturally. Sometimes a narrator really adds to the reading experience, and I feel like The Familiar certainly falls into that category.
It may not be a page-turner, pacing-wise, but if you go into it with patience, Leigh Bardugo will weave you a story that is captivating, rewarding, and really quite romantic.
If you are a fan of V.E. Schwab, specifically The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, I feel like you will certainly find value in this book. I found myself thinking of Addie’s story frequently while reading. I might even recommend this for people who really loved the Outlander series. The Familiar is not as spicy, but there is something similar about the complex characters woven within a historical context. This is the only thing I’ve read so far by this author, and I’m looking forward to reading Six of Crows now more than ever!
Details
Title:: The Familiar Author:: Leigh Bardugo Genre:: Historical Fantasy Publisher:: Flatiron Books Length::387 pages Audio Length::12h 57m Audiobook Narrator:: Lauren Fortgang Audiobook Publisher:: Macmillan Audio Published:: April 9th, 2024 The Litertarian Rating:: 5-Stars
When a book lists The Mummy as a comp in the blurb, you know your girl’s gonna pick it up. That’s as far as I got in the description (I love going in blind), and it was everything I’d hoped and more. There is something so intriguing about ancient Egypt, and when you add a touch of actual magic, you get What the River Knows.
Young Argentinian Inez Olivera’s parents spend half of every year in Egypt, working alongside and funding archeological digs there. They’ve never let Inez make the treacherous journey so far across the globe with them, but when Inez receives a letter that the two of them have been lost in the sands of the desert, she sneaks away from her family in Buenos Aires and steals away to Egypt to meet her uncle, who worked with them there. Inez is determined to find out the truth of what happened to her parents, their lives in Egypt, and whatever she can about the magic ring her father secretly sent to her before he died. Between her tight-lipped uncle who tries to push her onto an Argentina-bound boat every chance he gets, and his handsome rogue ‘aide’ he sets to mind her the rest of the time, Inez has to scheme to find out the secrets her parents kept from her, and the rest of the world. Meanwhile, her uncle is in a race to discover the tomb of Cleopatra before his biggest rival, and the ring Inez’ father sent her might just be the key he needs to do it.
This book is a grand adventure with stakes that reliably rise ever higher the whole time, down to the last line (which had my jaw on the floor). It reads like nineteenth century historical fiction, if there were magic rings, and magic sandals, and magic neckties back then. I absolutely loved the tangled webs of secrets and lies that build and build and leave you wondering if what you think you know is the truth, or just another deception. It was seriously compelling, but the pacing was maybe slower than some readers might prefer. Inez takes time to describe the things around her, which adds to the complexity of the world and gives the novel a rich, complete flavor.
The best part, perhaps, is our heroine. Inez is a spunky, resourceful woman in a time when those of her gender had very little power, if any at all. A book like this doesn’t work well with weak or arrogant main characters, and luckily, Ibanez gives us a smart, cunning woman we can trust to act rationally with the information she has. With so many trying to hide their truths from her, anything less would have been torturous to endure.
Did I mention the will-they-won’t-they slow burn forbidden romance plotline? Inez and Whittford Hayes, her uncle’s ‘aide’, are undeniably attracted to one another, but life isn’t that easy, and when she doesn’t know who she can trust, the tension is utterly delicious. Every little moment that betrayed their feelings I ate up with relish, including probably the shortest chapter I’ve ever seen:
Bloody hell.
Whit
I consumed this story as an audiobook narrated by Ana Osorio & Ahmed Hamad. Ana, especially, impressed me. There are several accents to juggle, and in general she handled it gracefully. It was a real pleasure to listen to.
The worst part? Having to wait until November for the sequel. The ending has you begging for what happens next. Masterful storytelling, honestly — and I cannot wait for more! So if you’re looking for a little more mystery and adventure in your life, What the River Knows will certainly scratch that itch.
Details
Title:: What the River Knows (Secrets of the Nile, #1) Author:: Isabel Ibanez Genre:: Historical Fantasy Publisher:: Wednesday Books Length:: 404 pages Audio Length::16h 36m Audiobook Narrator:: Ahmed Hamad & Ana Osorio Audiobook Publisher:: Macmillan Audio Published:: October 31st, 2023 The Litertarian Rating:: 5-Stars
Holy hell, I was not prepared for this book. I like to go into new stories blind, especially the hyped ones, and this one has earned its reputation. In fact, I’m not sure it’s popular enough! Y’all have to read this.
Iris E. Winnow has taken a job as an obituary writer at a local newspaper after her brother went off to war, fighting for a god, leaving her alone with her alcoholic mother to care for. She is in direct competition with fellow newspaper cleric Roman C. Kit for a columnist job. For Roman, it’s supposed to be the start of a respectable career, pressured heavily by his father – for Iris, it could change her and her mother’s entire lives. In the evenings, Iris types out long letters to her brother, but each and every one of them are unanswered. He’s disappeared. Then one day, a reply shows up…in her wardrobe. She and the mystery correspondent who wrote to her strike up an unlikely friendship through the pair of magically connected typewriters, and she resolves, eventually, to do anything she can to find her brother and bring him back home.
That’s all I’ll say without revealing too much. But Magical typewriters? Rivals to…more? FMC with a hero complex (in a good way)? Genuine friendships with good people? What is there not to love?
When I was young, I read a WWI YA romance – a random choice at the library (all the best ones are – aren’t they?). I can’t remember what it was for the life of me, but this book has me back in those same feels. It harks of a time where words wooed, expectations of ‘the right path’ were high, and love was quick and all-consuming in a different sort of way. When you find something you love in a war-torn world – you hold on tight and make each moment count, because anything might happen next.
Iris is not only pulling herself up by her bootstraps and earning every inch of what she has, she is constantly in search of more she can do, ways she can be of service. Listening to the accounts of soldiers in the divine wars, helping with evacuations…Iris is a symbol of many real-life heroes that existed in a war-torn Britian once upon a time.
It’s not often you read a book with a perfect title. The kind that actually reflects the content, not only on one level, but several. The kind where you reach for your book as you’re nearing the end, catch the title out of the corner of your eye, and realize what it means. Deeper than the surface level. On all the levels. Both Divine Rivals & Ruthless Vows (the sequel) have this epic energy.
Readers of historical fiction, especially of the early twentieth century/WWI&II era, will eat this up. It’s nostalgic of wartime British Isles, with a fantastical twist. It’s perfect for those looking to dip their toes into fantasy. The fantasy elements are certainly present, but they’re not overwhelming or difficult to understand. It’s really a scintillating wartime love story all readers can enjoy. Consider Divine Rivals a gateway drug, and prepare yourself to crave more!
Details
Title:: Divine Rivals (Letters of Enchantment #1) Author:: Rebecca Ross Genre:: Historical Fantasy Publisher:: Wednesday Books Length:: 357 pages Audio Length::10h 50m Audiobook Narrator:: Alex Wingfield & Rebecca Norfolk Audiobook Publisher:: Macmillan Audio Published:: April 4th, 2023 The Litertarian Rating:: 5-Stars
