Review: A Thief Among Fae by Maddy Calder

Title: A Thief Among Fae
Author: Maddy Calder
Series: Of Thieves & Tombs #1
Publication: September 16, 2026
Genre: Fantasy Romance
Find it on: Amazon US | Amazon CA | Amazon UK | Amazon DE | Amazon BE | Amazon AU
Rating: 4/5★

She’s the key to the cursed tomb that can save his people. He’s the prince who promises her the ultimate treasure—but only if she binds her soul to his own.

Cynthia's magic is only good for one thing: raiding deadly tombs.

Desperate to buy a better future for her ailing sister, Cynthia enters a soul-binding bargain with a frustratingly handsome fae prince. Her task? Help him break into a king’s cursed tomb for the heist of a lifetime.

But allying with Desmond puts Cynthia in the crosshairs of his blood-soaked past. He’s scorned by his own kingdom, hunted by assassins, and infuriatingly sarcastic. Cynthia despises him—except he sees potential in her magic that she’s never dared to see in herself.

What Cynthia doesn’t know is that Desmond is a necromancer, a power forbidden by the gods, and he’ll do anything to free his people. Crossing him will cost her life, but the irresistible pull between them might cost her heart.

A Thief Among Fae is the start of a slow-burn fantasy romance series, packed with sword fights, perilous adventures, and a dash of necromancy. Perfect for fans of Skyrim and daring heroines like Lara Croft.

A Thief Among Fae is Maddy Calder's debut novel and honestly? You'd never guess this was a debut novel because the writing feels like the work of someone who's been writing books for years. It was a really good story with fantastic characters and very well-written. I'm already looking forward to the next book!

The story follows Cynthia a.k.a. Cyn who's been tomb raiding with the help of her magic in hopes of securing her parents and younger sister a better future. When she makes a binding deal with the mysteryious fae prince Desmond, who's also known as the Prince of Death, she joins him and a crew of thieves on a mission to break into a cursed king’s tomb. But as they face deadly dangers and uncover secrets about Desmond’s forbidden necromancy, their growing attraction makes the bargain far more complicated than either expected.

I do have to admit it took me a good 25%-30% to really get into the story. TThe beginning was a little slow, probably because there was quite a bit of world-building needed to properly set the scene. But this was totally worth it once I got to know more acquainted with this fantasy world and the characters in it. I ended up really falling in love with the story. What I loved the most was the adventure of the tomb raiding (I cannot express how fun this was to read about!) and how there was almost non-stop action. This made for a really exciting read!

Also, if you mention necromancy in a fantasy book, I'm so there and I was not left disappointed with it in A Thief Among Fae. On top of that, I really enjoyed the romance. The slow-burn between Cynthia and Desmond had plenty of chemistry and tension, without ever taking over the main plot. The secondary characters were also all a great bunch to read about and each brought something unique to the story that I ended up loving.

A Thief Among Fae by Maddy Calder had everything I look for in a fantasy romance: dangerous adventures, magic, fae, a cursed tomb and a slow-burn romance with plenty of tension. It was a solid debut that left me excited to see where the series goes next.

About the author:

Maddy Calder writes fantasy romances filled with ruthless fae, impossible bargains, dangerous magic, and love worth risking everything for. A lifelong lover of enchanted worlds, Maddy creates stories for readers who believe the best adventures begin with a little danger and end with a happily ever after. When not writing, Maddy can be found playing cozy video games, sewing, or reading with a cup of peppermint tea.

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Review: The Intimate Afterlife of Myth by Venus Gunyeli

Title: The Intimate Afterlife of Myth: Ancient Stories for the Inner Life
Author: Venus Gunyeli
Publication: August 14, 2026
Genre: Nonfiction, Mythology, Psychology
Find it on: Amazon US | Amazon AU | Amazon CA | Amazon BE
Rating: 4/5★

MYTH IS NOT OVER.

It survives in the choices we repeat, the losses we carry, and the questions that return when certainty gives way.

What if the figures of myth were not distant symbols, but lives we could approach more closely—lives shaped by love and loyalty, power and error, grief and change?

The Intimate Afterlife of Myth revisits ten Greek and Mesopotamian myths, from Persephone and Gilgamesh to Inanna, Psyche, Hector, and Prometheus. Rather than reducing them to simple lessons or fixed interpretations, the book stays with the psychological and emotional questions their stories leave unresolved and with the ways those questions still echo in modern life.

Each chapter brings together:

• Literary myth retellings grounded in ancient sources
• Thoughtful explorations of what each story leaves unresolved
• Imagined voices that draw the mythic figures closer
• Reflective questions and space for personal integration

Read from beginning to end, return to the figure whose story calls to you, or follow one of the thematic paths offered at the close of the book.

Neither a conventional mythology collection nor a prescriptive self-help book, this is an invitation to remain with ancient stories long enough to recognise where they continue and what becomes visible when their questions meet your own.

For readers drawn to Greek and Mesopotamian mythology, psychology, literary reflection, and ancient stories that still speak to modern life.

"A path does not have to be visible before movement begins. For now, one direction is enough."

The Intimate Afterlife of Myth offers a thoughtful, intimate look at myths that have survived for thousands of years, from Mesopotamian to Greek myths. I love it when mythology feels less like something from the distant past and more like something we can still see ourselves in. And this book shows exactly just how timeless these stories and the questions they raise can be.

I really liked how each chapter began with a short retelling of a myth rooted in ancient sources, then explored the unanswered questions surrounding it, delved into what the character themselves may have thought, and ended with some thoughtful self-reflection. I enjoyed this unique format and how the book falls somewhere between an exploration of mythology and personal reflection, both of which really spoke to me.

Overall, The Intimate Afterlife of Myth: Ancient Stories for the Inner Life by Venus Gunyeli was an insightful and nuanced examination of mythology that gave me a new way of looking at these ancient stories.

About the author:

Venus Gunyeli is an Istanbul-born writer interested in what stories, traditions, and forms of knowledge become as they pass from one life and one era into another.

Her interest in ancient cultures began in childhood and has remained a quiet constant in the way she reads and understands the world. Her work turns to ancient texts, inherited practices, and cultural memory without treating the past as a storehouse of ready-made answers. She is drawn instead to what survives change: the questions a story continues to hold, the knowledge carried through ordinary acts, and the meanings that shift when old forms enter new lives.

Across her books, this has led her from the healing traditions and everyday knowledge of Anatolia to contemplative practice inspired by Rumi, and most recently to the unresolved human questions held within Greek and Mesopotamian myth.

Years spent working within holistic wellness and exploring movement disciplines deepened her attention to the ways inner life, the body, and everyday experience continually shape one another. Art and music have long been part of how she notices image, rhythm, atmosphere, and form.

She lives near the Aegean coast and writes about what we inherit, what we alter, and what remains.

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Review: How Lumi Learned to Fly by David Michael

Title: How Lumi Learned to Fly: The Little Butterfly that Learned to Believe in Herself
Author: David Michael
Illustratior: Raees Asma
Publication: August 24, 2026
Genre: Children's, Picture Book, Self-Esteem/Personal Growth
Find it on: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU | Amazon BE
Rating: 4/5★

How Lumi Learned to Fly

Lumi has always dreamed of flying.

But when the time comes to spread her wings, Lumi discovers that learning to fly isn’t as easy as she imagined. With a little courage, determination, and encouragement from those who believe in her, Lumi begins to discover that sometimes the hardest part of reaching your dreams is simply believing you can.

Join Lumi on a sweet and inspiring adventure as she learns to face her fears, keep trying when things don’t go as planned, and discover the confidence that was inside her all along.

How Lumi Learned to Fly is a heartwarming story about courage, perseverance, self-confidence, and believing in yourself. Young readers will love following Lumi’s journey as she learns that mistakes and challenges are simply part of growing and learning.

A wonderful read for parents, teachers, and caregivers looking for a gentle story that encourages children to:

• Believe in themselves
• Try again when something feels difficult
• Face new challenges with courage
• Learn from mistakes
• Discover their own unique strengths

Sometimes, you don't need to know how to fly before you spread your wings. You just need to be brave enough to try.

Let Lumi show you that anything is possible when you believe in yourself!

"It wasn't fear anymore—it was something lighter. Something brave."

How Lumi Learned to Fly is a short, sweet and heartwarming story about believing in yourself and never giving up. I almost never read children’s books like this one but I ended up enjoying it nontheless, especially because of its lovely message.

I also really loved the beautiful illustrations (made by Raees Asmar), which brought the story to life. Lumi is such a cute butterfly! I’m more than sure that small kids will be drawn to pictures as well. I can totally see this book finding a beloved spot in libraries alongside other books about animals, self-esteem and growing and learning.

Overall, How Lumi Learned to Fly: The Little Butterfly that Learned to Believe in Herself by David Michael is a sweet and inspiring story that leaves young readers with a wonderful reminder to believe in themselves.

About the author:

David Michael, the pen name of Mike Dreyfuss, is a pediatric occupational therapist with more than 10 years of experience helping children with special needs build confidence, independence, and essential life skills. Inspired by the children and families he works with each day, he began writing children’s books that encourage important virtues such as courage, patience, kindness, and perseverance. Through heartfelt stories and memorable characters, David hopes to inspire every child—especially those who struggle with self-confidence—to believe in themselves, face their fears, and discover the strength they already have inside.

David lives in Texas with his wife and their two young children, who continue to inspire his stories and remind him of the magic found in everyday moments. Amazon | Facebook | Instagram

 

Review: The Year 1000 by Valerie Hansen (From the Archives)

 

This post is part of my new From the Archives series, where I revisit past reviews. Some will be unchanged, others will have a bit more added perspective.
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Title: The Year 1000: When Explorers Connected the World – and Globalization Began
Author: Valerie Hansen
Publication: April 13, 2021 by Penguin
Genre: Nonfiction, History
Find it on: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Libro.fm | Waterstones
Rating: 4/5★

When did globalization begin? Most observers have settled on 1492, the year Columbus discovered America. But as celebrated Yale professor Valerie Hansen shows, it was the year 1000, when for the first time new trade routes linked the entire globe, so an object could in theory circumnavigate the world. This was the 'big bang' of globalization, which ushered in a new era of exploration and trade, and which paved the way for Europeans to dominate after Columbus reached America.

Drawing on a wide range of new historical sources and cutting-edge archaeology, Hansen shows, for example, that the Maya began to trade with the native peoples of modern New Mexico from traces of theobromine - the chemical signature of chocolate - and that frozen textiles found in Greenland contain hairs from animals that could only have come from North America.

Moreover, Hansen turns accepted wisdom on its head, revealing not only that globalization began much earlier than previously thought, but also that the world's first anti-globalization riots did too, in cities such as Cairo, Constantinople, and Guangzhou.

Introducing players from Europe, the Islamic world, Asia, the Indian Ocean maritime world, the Pacific and the Mayan world who were connecting the major landmasses for the first time, this compelling revisionist argument shows how these encounters set the stage for the globalization that would dominate the world for centuries to come.

So I randomly bought this book when I was browing a bookstore one time because the cover drew me in and the title was also something that jumped out at me. It was kind of a sponaneous buy for me. And I decided to save it for this year's Nonfiction November. I'm very glad I did so because it was a perfect nonfiction to dive into. Sometimes you just connect with a book, whether it's fiction or nonfiction and I really did connect with this one. It was so good!

The author, Valerie Hansen is a professor of History at Yale University so obviously she really knows her stuff and this really shows in the book. It's very well-researched as a book about history should be. There are also some amazing photographs of artifacts included in the book which I always love because you can actually look at some of the things mentioned in the book. I especially enjoyed taking a look at the blond men on the Chichen Itza murals, which may or may not be actual vikings. It gives a lot of food for thought, that's for sure.

I loved all of the chapters and even wished some were a little longer like the chapter about the vikings. I haven't read much about vikings in general but I'm even more interested in them after reading this book. As far as early exploration goes, they were some of the greatest. It was probably my favorite chapter out of them all, even though they were all really great to read. Consider me now a viking fan!

The Year 1000: When Explorers Connected the World – and Globalization Began was as fascinating as I hoped it would be. It was super engaging and written in an easy-to-read way. In short: it was quite the page-turner. I would love to read more of Valerie Hansen's work.

About the author:

Valerie Hansen teaches Chinese and world history at Yale, where she is professor of history. In the course of writing The Year 1000, she traveled to some twenty different countries and was a visiting scholar at Xiamen University in China, University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom, and the Collège de France in Paris.

Having lived in China for six plus years, Valerie has visited at least 300 temples, climbed the Great Wall multiple times (once during a lightning storm), and posed next to the Terracotta Warriors eleven times. (All this in the company of her husband and three children)

Her books include The Silk Road: A New History, The Open Empire: A History of China to 1800, Negotiating Daily Life in Traditional China, Changing Gods in Medieval China, 1127-1279, and Voyages in World History (co-authored with Kenneth R. Curtis).

Website | Goodreads

 

Review: Cleopatra by Saara El-Arifi

 

Title: Cleopatra
Author: Saara El-Arifi
Publication: March 3, 2026 by Penguin Random House Audio Publishing Group
Genre: Historical Fantasy
Find it on: Amazon UK | Amazon US | Barnes & Noble | Waterstones | Libro.fm 
Rating: 4/5★

Cleopatra tells her own story in this evocative and sensuous historical epic from the bestselling and award-winning author of Faebound and The Final Strife.

“Enchanting, smart, and subversive—this is El-Arifi’s masterpiece.”—R.F. Kuang, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Katabasis

This stunning edition includes designed endpapers and a custom case stamp.

YOU KNOW MY NAME, BUT YOU DO NOT KNOW ME.

Your historians call me seductress, but I was ever in love's thrall.

Your playwrights speak of witchcraft, but my talents came from the gods themselves.

Your poets sing of my bloodlust, but I was always protecting my children.

How wilfully they refuse to concede that a woman could be powerful, strategic, and divinely blessed to rule.

Death will silence me no longer.

This is not the story of how I died. But how I lived.

"This is not the story of how I died. But how I lived."

Cleopatra by Saara El-Arifi took me by surprise in the best way possible. When I started the book I didn't realize how in love I would fall with this novel. Not only was it one of the best retelling of Cleopatra's life, it also ended up as one of my favorite books of the year. I can't recommend it enough!

Cleopatra is one of my favorite figures from history and I've read my fair share of both nonfiction and fiction books about her life so not every fictionalized story about her has been a hit for me in the past. With Saara El-Arifi’s Cleopatra, it felt as though she revitalized the queen who has been portrayed countless times. The story was told in a way that felt refreshingly new and original. Another thing I loved about Cleopatra was how El-Arifi portrays her with deeply human emotions. She had her flaws, she made mistakes, she was ruthless at times but also had the capacity for love as is shown in her relationships with her children and her lifelong trusted companion Charmion.

The one minor point was the ending. Anyone knowing how the life of Cleopatra ended knows how tragic it was. I was fully prepared to cry my eyes out and I nearly did. However, the story ended with some fantasy elements. The author's choice (which is her full right of course!) to end the story in this way wasn't my favorite ever. It took me a little out of the story and I was a little confused, to be honest. This is just my personal preference and in the end this was only minor compared to my love for the entire book.

The audiobook was narrated by the incredible Adjoa Andoh and she did an amazing job at voicing pharaoh Cleopatra as well as the other characters.

About the author:

SAARA EL-ARIFI is a No. 1 Sunday Times bestselling author of fantasy and historical fiction. El-Arifi knew she was a storyteller from the moment she told her first lie.

After a decade of working in marketing and communications, she returned to academia to complete a master's degree in African studies specialising in Cleopatra's myth and her impact on Black women.

She currently resides in London as a full-time procrastinator.

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Review: Daughter of Exile by Tana Rebellis

Title: Daughter of Exile
Author Tana Rebellis
Series: The Exile Duology #2
Publication: September 24, 2024 by Little Piggy Publishing
Genre: Historical Fiction
Find it on: Amazon UK | Amazon US | Waterstones
Rating: 4/5★

Aemilia Lepida was closer to becoming empress than anyone knew when she was betrothed to Claudius—but her parents’ disgrace leads to the dissolution of her engagement, and her life changes forever.

Aemilia comes of age in Rome at a dangerous time, one in which her heritage makes her a desirable pawn in the schemes of others. Her own efforts to restore her family’s honor place her on a treacherous path of vengeance and intrigue that will consume her life even as it ultimately reveals a strength she never knew she possessed.

Meanwhile, Titus begins a journey harder and longer than he could have imagined, spanning from Rome to Dacia and back again. He will sacrifice more than he bargained for as he struggles to accept his new identity: a deserter in hiding, shielding a secret that could disrupt the empire, not knowing if he will ever again see the woman for whom he has upended his life.

Aemilia and Titus, and those around them, must decide whether their differences will keep them apart, or if Julia and her exile—their sole unifying connection—will be enough to bind them together, perhaps saving all their lives.

Daughter of Exile was a great conclusion to The Exile Duology by Tana Rebellis. I'd highly recommend both if you enjoy books set in ancient Rome, especially if you like reading about the Julio-Claudian dynasty.

In this sequel the focus is more set on Aemilia Lepida, the daughter of Julia the Younger who is still in exile. It also still follows Titus and Rufus from the first book who are both on their own journeys. Eventually all their lives come together again as the book reaches its ending.

This second book heavily featured themes of vengeance and political intrigue. They are explored through the actions of the main characters and the conflicts they faced. And just like in the first the book I highly enjoy the way the author wrote the descriptions of the Roman Empire which was still in its early stages.

I think fans of HBO's Rome tv series would absolutely love this duology as it shares a similar historical tone, political intrigue and compelling characters.

About the author:

Tana Rebellis is a pen name of Kasey Morris, who also writes romantic comedies (www.kaseymorris.com). She studied Classics at Princeton University, then Classical Archaeology at Oxford. When not reading, writing, or working, she and her husband spend time with their animals on their farm in Virginia.

The Exile Duology stems from her research on the phenomenon of Julio-Claudian island exile, a project for which she won the 2014 Princeton University Department of Classics John J. Keaney Prize for Best Senior Thesis.

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Review: Wolf Worm by T. Kingfisher

Title: Wolf Worm
Author: T. Kingfisher
Publication: March 24, 2026 by Tor Nightfire
Genre: Gothic Horror
Find it on: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo
Rating: 4/5★

Something darker than the devil stalks the North Carolina woods in Wolf Worm, a new gothic masterpiece from New York Times bestselling author T. Kingfisher.

The year is 1899 and Sonia Wilson is a scientific illustrator without work, prospects, or hope. When the reclusive Dr. Halder offers her a position illustrating his vast collection of insects, Sonia jumps at the chance to move to his North Carolina manor house and put her talents to use. But soon enough she finds that there are darker things at work than the Carolina woods. What happened to her predecessor, Halder’s wife? Why are animals acting so strangely, and what is behind the peculiar local whispers about “blood thiefs?”

With the aid of the housekeeper and a local healer, Sonia discovers that Halder’s entomological studies have taken him down a dark road full of parasitic maggots that burrow into human flesh, and that his monstrous experiments may grow to encompass his newest illustrator as well.

Wolf Worm by T. Kingfisher is a gothic horror novel that stands out for its slowburn tension that slowly creeps up on its reader and the bodyhorror that is guaranteed to make anyone shudder.

Set in North Carolina in 1899, the story features scientific illustrator Sonia Wilson who's offered a position in Dr. Halder's manor to illustrate his expansive collection of various insects. But soon she realizes that something sinister is going on. What happened to her predecessor who just so happened to be Halder's wife? Why do the local animals behave so strangely? What are the blood thieves? And who or what is hidden in the shed in the woods? When Sonia uncoveres the truth she realizes that Halder's entomological studies have become twisted and horrifying.

I'm not a fan of insects at all and as grossed out as I was by the majority of some scenes, I still found many things that I enjoyed about this story. Insects are basically horror gold, let's be honest. I loved that this book had quite a few female characters that stood out, like Sonia who came to work for Halder. Especially since the book was set in 1899, a time when women had few opportunities, particularly in the scientific field. The writing as per usual with this author was sublime. She always manages to hook me as a reader.

Wolf Worm was very much a slow burn and T. Kingfisher was a master of telling it in a haunting and lingering way. The story kept me guessing at every turn and the plot unfolded in ways I couldn't have predicted. It's a must-read!

About the author:

Ursula Vernon, aka T. Kingfisher is the author and illustrator of far more projects than is probably healthy. She has written over fifty novels for both children and adults, an epic webcomic called “Digger” and various short stories and other odds and ends.

The daughter of an artist, she spent her youth attempting to rebel, but eventually succumbed to the siren song of paint (although not before getting a degree in anthropology.) Ursula grew up in Oregon and Arizona, went to college at Macalester College in Minnesota, and stayed there for ten years, until she finally learned to drive in deep snow and was obligated to leave the state.

Having moved across the country several times, she eventually settled in New Mexico, where she works full-time as an artist and creator of oddities. She lives with her husband, her garden and his chickens.

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Review: Lily of the Nile by Stephanie Dray

Title: Lily of the Nile
Author: Stephanie Dray
Series: Cleopatra's Daughter #1
Publication: January 4th 2011 by Berkley
Genre: Historical Fiction
Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Google Play | Kobo
Rating: 4/5★

 

The extraordinary daughter of Cleopatra and Mark Anthony seeks to reclaim her birthright in the first novel of an epic historical fiction trilogy from the New York Times bestselling author of America's First Daughter.

With both of her parents dead, Princess Selene and her two surviving brothers are left at the mercy of their captors, taken from Egypt and put on display as war trophies in Rome. Trapped in an empire that reviles her heritage and suspects her faith, Selene struggles for survival in a court of intrigue. She can’t hide the hieroglyphics that carve themselves into her hands, nor can she stop the emperor from using her powers for his own ends.

Faced with a new and ruthless Caesar who is obsessed with having a Cleopatra of his very own, Selene is determined to resurrect her mother’s dreams and succeed where she failed. But there’s no telling what success will cost her in a treacherous political game where the only rule is win or die...

I've read several stories by Stephanie Dray but I hadn't actually picked up her debut novel, Lily of the Nile. I had some minor doubt about a story because a story about the daughter of Cleopatra is one I've read before and I was worried it would be too similar but I worried for nothing because it was actually really amazing. I ended up being instantly hooked by the story and I want the read the other books in the trilogy as soon as possible.

It's actually a little strange that I waited so long with purchasing this book because I adore anything related to ancient Egypt. Most of the book is set in Rome but it is about the daughter of Cleopatra and Mark Antony who's named Cleopatra Selene, so it did manage to sate my desire to read anything about the time it's set in.

The story starts in Egypt when Cleopatra famously commited suicide by snake bite. After that Selene, her twin brother Helios and younger brother Philadelphus are taken to Rome to be raised in Emperor Octavian's household. For the most part Selene struggled with coming to terms with being in Rome after losing her parents the way she did and taken away from her beloved Egypt, not wanting to lose her connection to her country and the goddess Isis. She eventually makes friends with the other children in the household and there's even a hint of romance forming with her tutor Juba. Hopefully there's a little more of that in the second book. 

One thing I definitely hadn't expected and what was maybe my favorite thing was the magical aspect that the story and Selene had because of her connection to Isis. It mixed historical fiction with magic and myth. I loved every single part of it. I also loved how complicated most of the characters and their the relationships were. Especially the relationship between Octavian and Selene. There were hidden depths within everyone. 

Overall, Lily of the Nile by Stephanie Dray was as fantastic as I thought it would be. The writing took me back to the fascinating time and political intrigue of ancient Rome. I would highly recommend it.

Author bio:
Stephanie Dray is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal & USA Today bestselling author of historical women’s fiction. Her award-winning work has been translated into eight languages and tops lists for the most anticipated reads of the year. Before she became a novelist, she was a lawyer and a teacher. Now she lives near the nation’s capital with her husband, cats, and history books.
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