Jul 6 2026
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Book Review: The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett

Title: The Tainted Cup

Author: Robert Jackson Bennett

Series: Shadow of the Leviathan #1

Genre: Fantasy

The Overview: In Daretana’s greatest mansion, a high imperial officer lies dead—killed, to all appearances, when a tree erupted from his body. Even here at the Empire’s borders, where contagions abound and the blood of the leviathans works strange magical changes, it’s a death both terrifying and impossible. Assigned to investigate is Ana Dolabra, a detective whose reputation for brilliance is matched only by her eccentricities. Rumor has it that she wears a blindfold at all times, and that she can solve impossible cases without even stepping outside the walls of her home. At her side is her new assistant, Dinios Kol, magically altered in ways that make him the perfect aide to Ana’s brilliance. Din is at turns scandalized, perplexed, and utterly infuriated by his new superior—but as the case unfolds and he watches Ana’s mind leap from one startling deduction to the next, he must admit that she is, indeed, the Empire’s greatest detective. As the two close in on a mastermind and uncover a scheme that threatens the Empire itself, Din realizes he’s barely begun to assemble the puzzle that is Ana Dolabra—and wonders how long he’ll be able to keep his own secrets safe from her piercing intellect. –Goodreads

Niki’s Review [4.5/5 stars]:

I’d heard this was a great book, and had even read and loved Bennett’s Foundryside, but even so I wasn’t expecting to love this one as much as I did! Everything worked for me and I came away eager to pick up the next one. What’s not to love?

World-building is my favorite component to SFF books. It’s the category that can often make or break my rating scale. I love it when authors can dazzle me, and this is exactly what happened with Tainted Cup. The basic magic system around the cool, engineered plantlife was great, enough to sustain entire series from other authors. Then you add in some subtle magical talents, which definitely made the characters more interesting. But wait, more?! Nothing big, just a freaking leviathan… it was superb. Between this and Foundryside, I’ve come to love this author for his wild creativity and great magic systems. If you’re a fan of Sanderson’s world-building, definitely give Bennett a try – he’s on par!

I also loved the characters even though I didn’t feel much of an emotional connection to them. They were enigmas, and I always appreciate enigma characters where you just know you’re going to find out a lot more interesting things about them in future books. It promises of satisfying discoveries and growth arcs. The best of it though was the quick wit and banter between them. My favorite scenes of the book involved this sort of back and forth and it was completely delightful. Not to mention funny!

This is a fantasy/mystery hybrid and I think it will appeal to readers of both genres. Lots of fantasy books include mysteries, but not many feature them quite to this degree. It unfolded with a very satisfying and quick pace, and there was enough substance for me to try to form my own theories. I think the punchline for the mystery, the “big reveal” if you will, could’ve been a touch stronger and a mite less straight-forward, which is my only slight letdown from the book. But it more than made up for that with all of the other amazing components.

So great world-building, interesting characters, lots of humor, a quick plot, and a fun mystery to solve – this book is solid! I can’t wait for the next one. :D

Thank you to my Patrons: Dave, Katrin, Frank, Jen, Karen, Sonja, Staci, Kat, Betsy, Eliss, Mike, Elizabeth, Bee, Poochtee, Kinsey, Alysa, Derek, Kelly, Grace, Carmen, and Leticia! <3

Dave’s Review [4.5/5 stars]:

The Tainted Cup initially found its way onto my radar when it won the Hugo Award last year. I knew little about it, and had never read anything by Robert Jackson Bennett prior to this. It is quite fortunate that the book came to my attention, because it is one of the best fantasy novels that I have read in some time. It is unique in that it is a fantasy novel very much in the style of a Sherlock Holmes or Hercule Poirot detective story, while also showcasing the imaginative worldbuilding that we come to expect in top-tier modern fantasy.

The mystery itself is compelling and near perfectly paced. The author drops clues mixed with twists and revelations throughout. The central conspiracy unfolded in a way that always kept me guessing and wanting to read just a bit further. I am unsure whether the author gives the reader enough clues to solve the mystery before the detective does, as I was kept guessing until the end, but that in no way diminished my appreciated for the book.

Much of the book’s charm and humor comes from the two main characters. Ana, the lead investigator, is unforgettable. She is sharp, eccentric, and intimidating, and we never quite know what she is thinking, as she is not the POV character of the story. Ana is very much the Sherlock Holmes of The Tainted Cup. Instead, we see the story through her assistant, Din. He is methodical and observant, our eyes in the narrative. He does not always understand Ana’s unconventional methods (as neither do we), but he trusts in her abilities and intentions. Their relationship evolves naturally over the course of the investigation, and their dynamic of both mutial respecy and dry humor is an incredibly endearing accompaniment to the mystery itself.

The worldbuilding is another standout in this book. Bennett details a civilization with some bizarre yet interesting biological augmentations that seemlessly blend into the political machinations of the story. There is also an ever-present threat of massive leviathans, which, if I am honest, did not factor into the story as much as I might have expected. Perhaps this will be a more prominent element in subsequent books, as this is the first of a series. The setting, though, is pretty original, and serves the story perfectly.

Sure there are some other mystery or detective stories in science fiction and fantasy, but at the moment, I am failing to recall any that I have read. That may be why this one stands out as quite unique in my mind. I would probably most liken this to some of the works of Brandon Sanderson, as the worldbuilding and writing style most remind me of his. This is a great start to a series that has a lot of promise. I plan to continue with the next book very soon, and also want to explore some of Bennett’s earlier novels as well. 4.5 stars.

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Jun 28 2026
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Book Review: The Last Contract of Isako by Fonda Lee

Title: The Last Contract of Isako

Author: Fonda Lee

Series: N/A

Genre: Science Fiction

The Overview: Get ready to be blown away by this searing standalone space opera where corporate samurai fight beneath merciless stars, and death is always a mere breath away. Isako is a legendary swordswoman, but every legend has to come to an end. When her long-time client unexpectedly retires, she plans to follow–to walk out into the frozen wasteland of their planet with her head held high and her family enriched by her legacy. But when a competitor offers her a final mission, it’s one she can’t refuse. Soon, she’s thrust deep into a world of corporate espionage, duty-bound duels, and shadowy secrets. What she uncovers will change humanity’s existence in the stars forever. –Goodreads

Niki’s Review [3/5 stars]:

“Corporate Samurai in space” is how this story is being pitched. While the description is technically true, it evokes certain expectations for me that were absolutely not met. I had visions of warriors going toe-to-toe on some desolate moon in these intricate, cinematic fight scenes. Of rich cultures where the samurai way is the most prominent part of the plot. But other than the fact that the main character carried a sword through most of the book, you wouldn’t really know she was supposed to be a Samurai. She certainly didn’t fight much. And when she did there wasn’t anything particularly interesting about the interactions. By my reckoning, this was a slightly futuristic mystery that, for lack of decent world-building, may as well have taken place somewhere on earth.

So I feel a little let down.

That said, it’s a Fonda Lee, so it was written well. A mostly interesting crime investigation, things moved along at a good pace and I was at least mildly engaged the entire way through. Even though the story wasn’t really something I’d usually pick up, it was still an enjoyable read. There was one point in the middle where I was wondering how she was going to sustain the plot for a couple hundred more pages. But before I could lose momentum, there was a massive POV switch, which I didn’t like at first, but it ended up being exactly what the story needed to sustain itself.

I also always like Lee’s character work. Having Isako as a fifty-something “warrior” trying to retain her edge against the next generation was a great shift from the usual 20-somethings women we usually follow in these types of books. I didn’t get nearly as much depth or feel as much emotional investment as I did with her characters in Green Bone Saga, but I still enjoyed my time with them. And actually, swinging back to world-building, I ended up loving Green Bone, but my initial complaint was that it didn’t have enough of fantasy/magic components. It’s interesting that one of my main complaints here is that it doesn’t have enough scifi components for my tastes. In any case, I think fans of GBS will find a lot of things to like about Lee’s work here. But newcomers to the author would be much better off reading GBS instead of starting here.

One more thing – without spoilers, the ending left me with a lot of bigger-picture questions. The plot was so narrowly-focused on a few key players throughout, which is fine, but I found my interest lay more in the societal implications of what was happening. It was a bit dissatisfying to set the book down without any resolution there, and I feel it a somewhat missed opportunity for a more lasting impact. As it was though, that was apparently beyond the scope of the intended story…

If expectations hadn’t played a role, and if I’d been generally more interested in this type of book, I think I would’ve rated it a 4/5 stars. As it stands though, I’m sitting happy at a 3 star rating. I liked it, and at no point was I considering a DNF, but overall it was just a basically decent book with nothing remarkable for me to hang onto.

Thank you to my Patrons: Dave, Katrin, Frank, Jen, Karen, Sonja, Staci, Kat, Betsy, Eliss, Mike, Elizabeth, Bee, Poochtee, Kinsey, Alysa, Derek, Kelly, Grace, and Carmen! <3

Dave’s Review [4/5 stars]:

After reading Lee’s Green Bone Saga a couple of years ago, I vowed to read more of her books. When I read that her latest book was a cyberpunk samurai space opera, I was completely sold! The actual book is, in my opinion, not exactly that, or at least not exactly what I envision based on that description, even if it is technically accurate. However, it is a solid book regardless, and this is likely more an issue with my own expectations or the marketing of the book, rather than any problem with the writing itself.

The Last Contract of Isako might be considered a blend of genres. It is definitely science fiction for a number of reasons, but it also contains elements of fantasy/speculative fiction, as well as a bit of dystopian and noir. It is a strange mix, but the author’s talent manages to make this work smoothly and believably. Lee’s writing is efficient and easy to follow, yet has an understated elegance. I read this as an audiobook, which I am still relatively new to doing, so I do not yet have experience with many different narrators. In this case I found the narration to be just good, even if not particularly noteworthy.

One of the more interesting aspects of the novel is Lee’s choice of protagonist. She is an aging assassin in a world that has little sympathy for its elderly. As the title implies, Isako is on her last contract before retirement, and it turns out to be a wild one. The author effectively captures the weariness of a woman who has lived a hard life in an unforgiving world. This world is quite well fleshed out in many respects, effectively woven into the narrative without the need for lengthy exposition anywhere, at least as far as I can recall. My only real complaint in this regard is that the story never really takes full advantage of its setting. There are a couple of futuristic science fiction concepts that are important to the plot, but otherwise, it does not feel much like a space opera. The “samurai” element is also quite muted. Perhaps this was by design, but I would have preferred the story to have leaned into these things a little more, in some way or another. It ultimately works though, as so much of the politicking that is central to the story do not depend very much on these aspects.

The plot of the book is solid, and takes off from pretty early on in the story. The pacing is pretty good, with a few minor lulls, but nothing that drags the book down. There are a few revelations and major plot developments along the way, which are quite ingenious, although on occasion I felt that the abruptness with which they are conveyed robbed the story somewhat of the impact or emotional weight that it could have held.

The Last Contract of Isako is comparable to Lee’s Green Bone Saga in many ways, while also feeling like its own distinct world and story. This book also has the morally complex characters, the snappy dialogue, and a great deal of political conflict that seems to transcend the scope of the story itself. This is also a leaner story than the Green Bone Saga, contained within a single standalone book, and focusing largely on just one or two important characters instead of an entire family. This is a solid 4-star book that succeeds on most levels that I would recommend to anyone interested in political science fiction.

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May 23 2026
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Book Review: Disquiet Gods by Christopher Ruocchio

Title: Disquiet Gods

Author: Christopher Ruocchio

Series: Sun Eater #6

Genre: Science Fiction

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

The Overview: The end is nigh. It has been nearly two hundred years since Hadrian Marlowe assaulted the person of the Emperor and walked away from war. From his Empire. His duty. From the will and service of the eldritch being known only as the Quiet. The galaxy lies in the grip of a terrible plague, and worse, the Cielcin have overrun the realms of men. A messenger has come to Jadd, bearing a summons from the Sollan Emperor for the one-time hero. A summons, a pardon, and a plea. HAPSIS, the Emperor’s secret first-contact intelligence organization, has located one of the dreadful Watchers, the immense, powerful beings worshipped by the Pale Cielcin. Called out of retirement and exile, the old hero—accompanied by his daughter, Cassandra—must race across the galaxy and against time to accomplish one last, impossible: To kill a god. –Goodreads

The Review:

It took me FOREVER to get through this book. Over a year with a couple of soft DNFs in the mix. I don’t think it was solely the book’s fault, but I finished almost 80 books in that same timeframe, so it wasn’t solely me, either. There was this one part about 30% of the way in where my eyes started to glaze over both times I tried to read it. Once I got past that, I enjoyed myself quite a bit… but it took a while.

At this point in the series, I would definitely say I’m invested to see how it ends. Despite my troubles I actually liked a lot of the stuff in this book. An addition of a new character being my favorite highlight. And actually I like all the characters. They’re all wildly interesting profiles to me, which is perhaps one of the main reasons I kept coming back.

I also still appreciate the writing style. It’s distinctive in its flowing nature and often lyrical delivery. It reminds me a lot of the introspection you get during those interludes in a Drizzt book. The writing is so good it makes it easier to ignore the repetition and generally overindulgent musings. Somehow they always feel like they need to be there even though the points have long been driven home.

Even with all of that, I have to say I didn’t love the plot of this one. It bounced from one thing to the next in a way that was jarring, the subject change so abrupt. Several times throughout the book we were suddenly dealing with something drastically different, sometimes with only a couple of pages of transition. It made it feel very hodgepodge. Like a cleanup novel where the author was scrambling to tie up all the loose ends so that he could launch into the next finale book.

Even though this book wasn’t the strongest of the bunch, I’m still happy to have read all the books to this point and overall have had a great time with the series. I am earnestly looking forward to the final book of the series!

Recommendations: Interesting characters, absorbing writing, wild scifi adventures – this is a series well worth a try if you haven’t already.

Thank you to my Patrons: Dave, Katrin, Frank, Jen, Karen, Sonja, Staci, Kat, Betsy, Eliss, Mike, Elizabeth, Bee, Poochtee, Kinsey, Alysa, Derek, Kelly, Grace, and Carmen! <3

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by Niki Hawkes

May 2 2026
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Book Review: Isles of the Emberdark by Brandon Sanderson

Title: Isles of the Emberdark

Author: Brandon Sanderson

Series: Secret Projects #5

Genre: Fantasy

Rating: 3/5 stars

The Overview: All his life, Sixth of the Dusk has been a traditional trapper of Aviar—the supernatural birds his people bond with—on the deadly island of Patji. Then one fateful night he propels his people into a race to modernize before they can be conquered by the Ones Above, invaders from the stars who want to exploit the Aviar. But it’s a race they’re losing, and Dusk fears his people will lose themselves in the effort. When a chance comes to sail into the expanse of the emberdark beyond a mystical portal, Dusk sets off to find his people’s salvation with only a canoe, his birds, and all the grit and canniness of a Patji trapper. Elsewhere in the emberdark is a young dragon chained in human Starling of the starship Dynamic. She and her ragtag crew of exiles are deep in debt and on the brink of losing their freedom. So when she finds an ancient map to a hidden portal between the emberdark and the physical realm, she seizes the chance at a lucrative discovery. These unlikely allies might just be the solution to each other’s crisis. In their search for independence, Dusk and Starling face perilous bargains, poisonous politics, and the destructive echo of a dead god. –Goodreads

The Review:

I wish I was about to give this a glowing review because I was SO excited for it… but even though I loved Sixth of Dusk, Emberdark didn’t quite land for me.

I think part of my problem may have been expectation. Based off of Sixth alone, I was expecting a story more akin to Tchaikovsky’s Cage of Souls (exotic jungle setting, amazing atmosphere, deadly encounters), but what I got instead was a story so out of left field, I wasn’t prepared for it. Another factor could have been the disjointed, gradual way I read this book. It was kind of my audiobook filler title for commutes and one I turned on to go to sleep to, which doesn’t really encourage a lot of engagement. But I have to wonder if I would’ve made it my main focus had I been enjoying it more in the first place.

It was really clever (and appreciated) how Sanderson incorporated the original short story into the novel. The creativity for all of the other components in the books was also off the charts. And for me even a Sanderson I’m not loving as much as his other books still gets a baseline good rating. But there are a few things I’d like to nitpick for a minute:

Pacing. Due to the inclusion of the short story, Sixth of Dusk, at the beginning of this novel as flashbacks (for which I just praised it) it took a long while for the story to get going. Then we had a decent clip for a while before it seemed to come to a crashing halt for a whole bunch of conversations and planning. And I swear the most drawn-out journey through a cave I’ve ever experienced (second only to Rhapsody by Elizabeth Haydon <-still loved). I’m being over-dramatic here, but it felt like 30% was at a standstill with no meaningful movement forward. Thank goodness the conversations were good (one scene of which was my favorite part of the entire book), else I may have started to get fed up with it. As it was, I just didn’t enjoy it as much as I should have. I did a Buddy Read of this with my Patrons and it seemed unanimous they thought the end portion of the book was solid.

I can’t abide a cackling villain. This character didn’t work for me at all. He didn’t seem realistic or particularly effective as a villain, and I got tired of the endless talking and threats without any apparent action. He felt more like a plot device than a fully realized character.

Those were pretty much my main complaints. I loved the birds – I wish we’d gotten more there. I was intrigued by Stirling and really can’t wait to see what sorts of effects she’s going to have on some of my very favorite Sanderson series in the future. And I loved the cameo from one of the Cosmere’s most notorious world-hoppers. I’d say overall I’m really glad I read this one, even though it didn’t give me anything close to what I was expecting.

Recommendations: This can be easily read without any knowledge of the Cosmere works, as it’s so far removed that it’s not going to spoil anything. But what little of the tie-ins I was able to spot (probably a fraction of what was actually there) made it a book dedicated Cosmere fans might get a lot out of. I mean, I’m a huge Cosmere fan too… yet I thought the implications cool but the actual story just okay… but I seem to be in the minority.

Thank you to my Patrons: Dave, Katrin, Frank, Jen, Karen, Sonja, Staci, Kat, Betsy, Eliss, Mike, Elizabeth, Bee, Poochtee, Kinsey, Alysa, Derek, Kelly, Grace, and Carmen! <3

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by Niki Hawkes

Apr 18 2026
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Book Review: Beast Business by Ilona Andrews

Title: Beast Business

Author: Ilona Andrews

Series: Hidden Legacy #6.5

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Rating: 4/5 stars

The Overview: Augustine Montgomery is an Illusion Prime who owns a premier PI corporation and alters his appearance with magic. The people who have seen Augustine’s real face can be counted on the fingers of one hand. The people who witnessed the full extent of his power are dead. The illusion isn’t just the brand of his magic. It’s become his lifestyle. Show as little as possible. Make them think that illusion is all you have. Your life depends on it. Augustine lives by this creed. He’s cold, rational, and calculating. He doesn’t get emotionally involved. Then one day Diana Harrison walks into his office and asks for his help. Diana is a Prime, an animal mage who bonds with animals through her magic and prefers their company to humans. Something precious has been stolen from House Harrison. Something Diana must recover at all costs. The two Houses are allied through a friendship pact. Assisting Diana is simply good business. And yet, there is something about her that disturbs the careful balance of Augustine’s inner world. Neither of them is who they appear to be. Both would die to keep their secrets. But the enemy they face is more powerful than either had imagined, and saving the life that hangs in the balance will demand the ultimate price neither Augustine nor Diana ever anticipated to pay – complete honesty. –Goodreads

The Review:

I am so ready for the next one…

It’s sometimes hard to get back into a series after an extended break – so not the case with Hidden Legacy. Every tiny detail regarding Arabella reminded me of my fierce passion for the series, and I truly cannot wait to read more about her in her forthcoming trilogy. She’s such an interesting character! And don’t get me wrong, I’ve loved spending time with each sister so far, but Arabella feels different somehow. More relatable. Likable in a flawed character kind of way. And I am really excited to see what they are going to do with her story arc because she’s starting with a baseline of not being able to measure up to her older sisters, but she also has this fierce determination that doesn’t seem to rely on external validation… I think it’s going to be good.

So I realize I’ve overlooked the technical selling point of the novella: the first hundred pages (Beast Business) which only includes Arabella as a peripheral character. Focusing instead Augustine and Diana – the leaders of two powerful houses, who I imagine will play pivotal roles in the upcoming trilogy. And even though it wasn’t my personal highlight of the read, it was still magic-filled and action-packed. After reading the short stories contained in the back of the book, I realize that Augustine is a character we’ve seen before during various conflicts in the main series, but it has been so long since I read it that he really didn’t leave the lasting impression. So I’m grateful for the refresher here, and getting to know more about his magic and the magic of his ally/presumably counterpart Diana. It also set the stage for the culture of Arabella’s story with Augustine is her mentor. The authors were very, very clear to imply that Augustine is in no way going to be a potential love interest.

And then we get another short story from Arabella’s perspective during the same timeframe. This is the piece of work that has me so excited! I love how Arabella presented in the story as a PI/Fixer type character, who is building her own career based on her ability to accurately psychoanalyze people and contain her own rather hostile magics during the process. I thought it was phenomenal how well she related to the other characters in the story, and how completely I felt the POV immersion into her character (down to unique mannerisms and careful word choices). She’s the type of character who inspires likability from the reader based on the fact that she can inspire likability with the other characters. It’s awesome!

And beyond that are some short stories that have been published before on the authors’ website, most of which I’m pretty sure I’ve read previously. But I went ahead and reread them anyway because I thought they were excellent refreshers to the world and to many of the key players presumably appearing in the next books.

I cannot state enough how freaking excited I am for book 7!

Recommendations: I went into this book thinking I was getting a 200 page Novella. Then it ended at 120 pages and I felt a little swindled… until I read all the good stuff that came behind it. Just go in knowing that this is a collection of pieces and not one long narrative. Also, if you haven’t read the series, please give it a try – it is awesome! There is romance involved as a secondary component, but this is not a romance-heavy series despite what the covers would have you think. It’s a perfect balance of all the elements.

Thank you to my Patrons: Dave, Katrin, Frank, Jen, Karen, Sonja, Staci, Kat, Betsy, Eliss, Mike, Elizabeth, Bee, Poochtee, Kinsey, Alysa, Derek, Kelly, Grace, and Carmen! <3

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My Annotations (contains spoilers!). This is for the print edition [ISBN: 9781641973724].

Beast Business (I didn’t get inspired to annotate until about halfway through this story)

[57] This page is reading like a bad romance. So weird. There hasn’t been enough time or interaction for anything to develop between Diana and Augustine yet, just superficial attraction. Maybe we’re ramping it up earlier due to the smaller page count?

[63] Vernal, Utah <- Cool!! And ironically one of the very few places in the state I haven’t been to yet.

[68] Best scene of the book so far. NOW I’m feeling a bit more invested.

[72] I wasn’t expecting Diana to be such a vicious hunter. The ferocity! She just became 10xs more interesting.

[74] Way too many poorly used F-bombs here. Swearing is an art form…

[75] “She walked toward him, and it was liquid sex.” Haha, is this really how far we’ve come? [Future edit: This really was a one-off. I think this was to establish physical connection. We’re getting the very basics here to show how these two house leaders ended up working together to set things up for the actual MC in the next trilogy. It’s making it clear that Augustine is NOT a romantic interest for Arabella. He’s a mentor. It makes me wonder how many issues came up in the early drafts to warrant this story being written and published.]

[103] “Your stomach is lacerated… If we don’t keep it wet, your intestines will dry out.” <- Learn something new every day.

[113] I liked Arabella’s peripheral inclusion in this story. It sets things up nicely for the next trilogy. Yes, we’d better get an entire trilogy.

Arabella Saves the Day (I loved this story so much!!)

[119] So funny that there’s more book… I thought Beast Business was going to be about 150 pages. Not complaining…

[124] I’m getting a lot of enjoyment out of this story! NOW we’re back to the awesomeness that is this series. :D

[128] Me too, girl. Me too. What a total asshat.

[130] I love the dramatic irony here. Arabella is such a dynamic and interesting character.

[131] Nice – I remember Arabella reporting briefly on this in Beast Business.

[135] “This is not high school. This is big-boy, adult shit.” haha

[136] Holy shit, this is triggering. ::anger spren::

[138] She’s a Fixer (like Oliva Pope)!! How cool?!

[145] I see her constantly making references that she’s not enough. That she can’t possibly measure up. I’m really hoping we get a wonderful growth arc where she sees that she is more than enough. I love how invested I feel already and her trilogy hasn’t even started yet.

[146] Oohhh, she psychoanalyzes too?! We’re going to get along brilliantly.

[148] I’m so glad I read this!! It 100% got me back into this world with all the enthusiasm I’d left behind. <3

A Misunderstanding

[159] Ramming the door with a tank car seems rather reckless… couldn’t that just outright kill the beings inside the panic room? I still love Grandma, though haha.

The Cool Aunt (I’d definitely read this one before)

[171] I ain’t going to lie, I feel this. Maybe as PTSD from childbirth.

[174] I really love the high level of POV immersion here.

Marty (mkay, who the hell is Marty?)

[177] Oh, okay this is Matilda’s POV. Marty is a critter.

[179] This strikes me as great parenting. Asking the hard questions. Being sensitive enough to see when pain was caused. Willingness to listen. Making amends.

[182] “If I wanted love, I didn’t have to look very far.” <3

Inn Talks (Fun Fact: George and his brother are originally from the Edge series, not the Innkeeper Chronicles)

[189] I like how much of a go-getter Arabella is. She has such a fire. And very little of it comes from external validation. I like this girl.

Augustine Montgomery

[195] I guess Augustine was quite involved in the main story, but I have to admit that I did not retain much, if anything, about him. Good thing we have been refreshed.

By Niki Hawkes

Jan 12 2026
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Book Review: The Frugal Wizard’s Handbook to Surviving Medieval England by Brandon Sanderson

Title: The Frugal Wizard’s Handbook to Surviving Medieval England

Author: Brandon Sanderson

Series: Secret Projects #2

Genre: Fantasy

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

The Overview: A man awakes in a clearing in what appears to be medieval England with no memory of who he is, where he came from, or why he is there. Chased by a group from his own time, his sole hope for survival lies in regaining his missing memories, making allies among the locals, and perhaps even trusting in their superstitious boasts. His only help from the “real world” should have been a guidebook entitled The Frugal Wizard’s Handbook for Surviving Medieval England, except his copy exploded during transit. The few fragments he managed to save provide clues to his situation, but can he figure them out in time to survive? -Goodreads

The Review:

I had a lot more fun reading this book than I thought I would.

The basic premise was really nothing to write home about: a character-driven portal fantasy that had more to do with relationships and cheeky concepts than exciting plot points. 2/5 stars.

The presentation, however, is what made this book a delight! Fully illustrated entries out of the “real” handbook reference throughout the story, including several excerpts. Interesting, if not really my taste, full-color art pages. And the best part – doodle illustrations in the margins involving this little wizard guy as secondary story alongside the main one <- easily my favorite part of the book. 4/5 stars!

And finally, Cosmere implications. This book offers a lot of backstory into one of my favorite Sanderson characters. There were lots of really good nuggets of information here. But to be totally real with you, I am having a hard reconciling this character, who seems a high-strung, bumbling fool, with the shrewd, calculating character I’ve come to love in previous works. The two just read like totally different profiles to the point where I’m going to need to see some compelling growth arc storylines in future books to be convinced that this was the intended backstory for him all along. It’s great though – now I have additional motive to keep reading more Cosmere. 3/5 stars.

Overall, definitely not my favorite Sanderson, but one that I liked a lot more than I thought I would. Compared to his other Secret Projects it’s not highly recommendable, but if you’re going to read it, absolutely pick up a physical copy.

Thank you to my Patrons: Dave, Katrin, Frank, Jen, Sonja, Staci, Kat, Betsy, Eliss, Mike, Elizabeth, Bee, Tracey, Poochtee, Kinsey, Alysa, Derek, Kelly, Meabh! <3

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by Niki Hawkes