Synopsis

Maika, Kippa, and Ren return to their own world to discover a full year has passed in their absence—and Zinn is back in the clutches of Maika’s father, the megalomaniacal Lord Doctor. From the relative safety of the pirate-controlled Spice Islands, Maika and her friends must regroup, recover, and find a way stop the Lord Doctor’s murderous rampage before he destroys the Known World.

Review

*This review contains SPOILERS for the Monstress series by Marjorie Liu and Sana Takeda.*

Monstress continues to be one of the most captivating and well plotted series that I have ever read. Each year I look forward to reading the newest installment in this epic fantasy/science fiction series and I have become incredibly attached to the characters author Marjorie Liu and illustrator Sana Takeda have brought to life. As Monstress progresses, I am in constant awe of the complexity of the worldbuilding and the deft, beautiful way that the plot continues to unfold. Due to the complexity of the series, I also find it helpful (and fun!) to reread the series in its entirety before reading each new volume in order to keep myself “up to date” with Maika Halfwolf and the Known World.

Volume 8: Inferno was a complicated, heartbreaking addition to Maika’s journey that took turns that some readers struggled with. Upon reading Volume 9, I found myself incredibly impressed by Liu’s planning and the ability to develop the history of the world(s) and characters she created while showing the nuances of war, power, growth, love, loyalty, and oppression. Monstress is truly a masterclass in storytelling with The Possessed reintroducing readers to characters from previous volumes and delving deeper into lore.

After spending Volume 8 in the world of Golga, the prison-planet of the Old Gods, Maika, Kippa, and Ren return to the Known World to find it being overtaken by the Lord Doctor, who has untethered the connection between Maika and Zinn and attached himself to the powerful monstrum. However, the Lord Doctor continues to be perplexed by his inability to link himself fully with Zinn. While reading I began developing my own theories as to the reasoning behind this somewhat failed connection. I feel that a lack of autonomy and consent are the most likely causes and I’m fascinated by this portrayal and the way that Liu asks readers to question power dynamics within relationships.

Volume 9 also reiterates the importance of community/support through the characters of Maika, Kippa, and Ren who we learn have a mysterious, powerful connection to one another that has even sparked the interest of Maika’s foes. This trio of characters remain a light in this dark, violent world and I love seeing the ways that their relationships change and grow as they learn more about themselves/each other. Whether this trio of heroes has been brought together by fate or chance is yet to be determined, but Liu provides a satisfying look at the complications of love as these characters examine their roles in each other’s lives.

Monstress has always handled themes of oppression, dehumanization, and the impact of war with immense thought and care. I felt that Volume 9 did an excellent job expanding upon these themes, recognizing that the oppressed can sometimes become oppressors themselves. While the series has never shied away from depicting violence, The Possessed skillfully portrays the trauma of war and how those in places of power enact cycles of abuse/trauma.

The Possessed feels like the beginning of something greater to come for the Monstress series. Maika is preparing to face her father but may have greater foes to conquer as the Defiled set the bearers of the Mask of Power in their sights. It seems that the Cats and their abilities in world-walking will become vital in the battles to come, too. As Maika uncovers the truths about her family, past, and her abilities she will also have to battle internal struggles and trauma of her own to save the Known World for Arcanics and the Federation.

Monstress has cemented itself as an all-time favorite series of mine and I am excited to read the next volume. Takeda’s art is truly breathtaking and deserves the highest praise. Liu’s portrayal of mental illness, the strength of community, and political complexities are incredibly well done and implemented seamlessly into a unique, matriarchal fantasy-setting. I’m looking forward to seeing some of my favorite characters return (looking at you, Lord Corvin) and uncovering more of the mysteries surrounding Maika and Zinn in Volume 10.

Synopsis

When the legendary Cosmic Widow vanishes from the galaxy’s premiere art museum, Agent Lilline Renault delves into a shadowy underworld to hunt down the missing masterpiece.

Her only clue: the thief’s enigmatic calling card. Following a scant trail of evidence, Lilline crosses paths with shady art dealers, eccentric university professors, and elusive forgers in a tangled search for the stolen work of art. But the robber’s end game is more sinister than mere theft. Sleeping secrets stir inside the Cosmic Widow… If they wake, an arcane mystery locked away for ages could spell disaster across the stars.

Review

Although the books can be read as standalones, I would highly recommend that readers check out all the books in the Agent Renault Adventures. GAM-OPs agent, Lilline Renault, is a fantastic character who practices her poetry in between missions to save the galaxy. Cosmic Widow is the latest addition to the series and takes readers for a thrilling ride.

This book sees Agent Renault investigating the theft of the famous portrait, the Cosmic Widow. Nevair has truly found his stride writing mysteries. I so appreciated the world building that was done to provide depth to the history/mythology of the art in this galaxy and the care that was given to allow the mystery to play out. While reading, I was eager to discover clues and see how each point would connect and was left pleasantly surprised by the way that the author incorporated the history of art into the galaxy/story on a wider scale.

As usual, I loved Lilline and her grandmother, Kissy, as characters. Nevair allows his characters to be multifaceted and flawed, which is so refreshing. I found it incredibly heartwarming and relatable to read about Lilline and Kissy’s interests, failures, and conflicts with each other, whether professional or personal. The detail and care given to Lilline and Kissy is really stellar.

While the book is fast-paced thriller, the author doesn’t shy away from bringing humor to his story and characters. Beloved characters like Pin and Grandma Kissy bring a lot of classic humor and funny, awkward moments to the table, but I think that Lilline’s trademark sarcasm is not to be overlooked and adds a lot to the novel. Nevair has a talent for writing humor into his characters’ dialogue as well as pointing out the humor in their daily lives.

From travel, to technology, to the mannerisms of characters, the author has done a fantastic job giving detail to the world he created and made the story much fuller in doing so. Callbacks to previous books in the series were funny and well-timed, and the imagery throughout the novel was excellent. This attention to detail also helped with the pacing of the story and I felt that the chapters themselves were rich but had me anxious to keep reading. So anxious in fact, that I would love to dive deeper and learn more about the different species present in the galaxy.

Cosmic Widow is an art mystery/thriller, but at its core the novel is about time. I was blown away by the way that Nevair so deftly tackled the construct of time and how we allow it to shape our lives. Past, present, and future are things that Nevair connects, and he addresses the fear and resistance that exists when we are asked to access our own memories or reflect on experiences throughout time. This reflection on time was so poetic and truly the highlight of the book for me.

Nevair continues to impress me with the Agent Renault Adventures. Cosmic Widow is a spectacular book that I feel would appeal to a variety of readers and I am thrilled to see where the series goes next!

Thank you to Jonathan Nevair for allowing me to beta read Cosmic Widow! All thoughts in this review are my own.

Synopsis

For most of her life Sabira is treated as less than. Although she is forced to remain ignorant of the circumstances, Sabira is biologically engineered and mistreated by a society and systems that dictate the classes and “necessary order.” She enters the fighting pits in order to work towards a life of “glory” as a servant and live up to the honor earned by those in her bloodline, specifically her grandfather. When Sabira sets forth on a mission to prove herself, the direction of her life and what she knows of the world drastically changes.

Review

Before the Shattered Gates of Heaven is a fast-paced, beautifully written, sci-fi story. Glosemeyer tackles many difficult topics and the growth of his characters with immense thoughtfulness. I was especially appreciative of the way that this book depicted the main character, Sabira, and her journey to greater understanding. I found the symbolism throughout the novel to be extremely well done and also felt that the author didn’t shy away from writing about the questioning of systems, colonialism, consent, and the emotions of his characters.

Certain parts of this novel can be pretty hard to read. There is a lot of violence depicted and I also found parts of the third act to be really heavy. However, I think that these moments are absolutely necessary to the progression of the characters and the novel. Glosemeyer also does a great job developing secondary characters that are exciting and interesting to read about. I would love to learn more about some of them, especially Maia, who was a great addition to the story and really helped to expand the world that Glosemeyer created.

Overall, I would highly recommend Before the Shattered Gates of Heaven. This book is wonderfully crafted and sets itself up perfectly for future additions to the series. Science fiction fans will love this book, but I think that the topics explored open the book up to a wider audience.

Synopsis

A mythical relic believed to have the ability to grant any wish.

A map, leading the way through ancient and sealed catacombs.

Gam Gam’s return to Capital City is not what she expected when she stumbles upon her first clue to the Wishing Stone’s whereabouts. Joined by Mina and her new friend Emil, along with the undead retinue of Nugget, Sloughy, and Gerald, they set out to uncover secrets that could unravel more than just their lives.

Review

A Necromancer Called Gam Gam was one of my favorite reads of 2024, so I was really eager to dive into Holcombe’s second installment of the Chronicles of Gam Gam. I often find that sequels struggle to live up to the first book in a series, but The Wishing Stone exceeded my expectations. Holcombe takes readers back into the world of the Eternal Empire, several months after the events of A Necromancer Called Gam Gam, bringing wonderful new additions to this fantastical, found family, delving into his characters’ magical abilities, and handling the complexities of growing through grief with immense kindness. Holcombe also creates a simply dastardly villain, and provides readers with the POV of a lovable, undead cat, “Nugget.” 

While Holcombe’s writing is incredibly creative and endearing, I am continually impressed by his ability to work in and handle difficult topics. Throughout the novella, main character Mina learns more about and practices her neuromancy skills, and I was moved by the way that this growth in skill was portrayed. Holcombe was able to delve deeper into the grieving process with his characters by showing how love and empathy can be a catalyst for growth. Mina battles fear and sadness over the loss of her father, but learns that by leaning into memories and the support of others, rather than pushing them away, she’s able to help herself (and others) heal.

Holcombe’s Chronicles of Gam Gam is a light-hearted, fantasy series that really has a powerful impact. I love books that allow me some self-reflection, and while reading The Wishing Stone I found myself questioning a few things:

-How can I value the memories that I have created?

-What does it mean to support those around me who are grieving?

-Who are the people/what are the things that I can lean on in difficult times?

The Wishing Stone is a beautiful entry in a heartwarming, fun series and tackles grief, relationships, and the endurance of memories with incredible care. I would highly recommend this book/series to readers of all ages, but have your tissues nearby!

Thank you to the author for an eARC in exchange for an honest opinion/review. Opinions above are all my own.