Reading by the Moonlight: fantasy

Showing posts with label fantasy. Show all posts

Friday, August 28, 2026

“Beauty and the Beast: Lost in a Book” by Jennifer Donnelly

Title: Beauty and the Beast: Lost in a Book
Author: Jennifer Donnelly
Publisher: Disney Press
Year: 2017
Genre(s): young adult, fantasy, adventure
Part of a Series: Yes, Book 2

Why I read it: Beauty and the Beast is my favorite Disney movie

Summary: After the Beast gives Belle the library as a gift, she discovers that even the books can be magic. One allows her to escape the castle and travel to places, see things and enjoy adventures she had only ever read about. But as she escapes more and more into the book, will she find danger in living in a fantasy or will it prove to be key to her liberation?

Rating:

“Queen of Snow” by Laura Burton and Jessie Cal

Title: Queen of Snow
Author: Laura Burton and Jessie Cal
Publisher: Self-published
Year: 2021
Genre(s): fantasy, romantasy
Part of a Series: Yes, Book #1.

Why I read it: Saw it recommended on Facebook and was intrigued by a Beauty and the Beast/Man in the Iron Mask combo. But realized it was part of a series so decided to start with Book #1.

Summary: After his grandfather’s death, Jack falls through a mirror in his study and ends up in the Chanted Forest. There he befriends Aria, a young woman with magical ice powers and who is running from her evil stepmother, the Queen. Jack teams up with her to try to get back home but will he realize that maybe he’s already there?

Rating:

“The Secret Service of Tea and Treason” by India Holton

Title: The Secret Service of Tea and Treason
Author: India Holton
Publisher: Berkley
Year: 2023
Genre(s): historical fiction, historical fantasy, action
Part of a Series: Yes, Book #3. Read my review of Book #2 here.

Why I read it: Because I enjoyed Book #2.

Summary: To uncover and stop a plot to assassinate Queen Victoria, the Agency of Undercover Note Takers (A.U.N.T.) sends their best agents undercover as a pirate and her husband. Agent B (aka Daniel Bixby) is used to the ways of pirates but Agent A (aka Alice Dearborn) struggles to understand their ways. Not helping is her growing attraction to her partner. Will they stop the plot? And what will become of the feelings growing between them?

Rating:

“The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches” by Sangu Mandanna

Title: The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches
Author: Sangu Mandanna
Publisher: Berkley
Year: 2022
Genre(s): fantasy, romance
Part of a Series: No

Rating:

Why I read it: Once Upon a Book Club “Sweet Halloween” pick

Summary: Witches like Mika Moon have a lot of rules to follow, rules that guarantee that her life is a lonely one. But when she is summoned to serve as a tutor for three young witches, she starts to question the rules. Will her experience validate everything she’s been taught? Or will she come to realize she doesn’t have to live her life alone after all?

“The Deepest Blue (Tales of Renthia #1)” by Sarah Beth Durst

Title: The Deepest Blue (Tales of Renthia #1)
Author: Sarah Beth Durst
Publisher: Harper Voyager
Year: 2019
Genre(s): fantasy, action and adventure
Part of a Series: Yes, Book #1 (and likely adjacent to another book)

Rating:

Why I read it: Once Upon a Book Club pick

Summary: The kingdom of Belene is constantly besieged by the spirits that control nature all around them. The queen of Belene controls the worst of these spirits, the leviathans that dwell in the deepest blue of the oceans that surround the nation of tiny islands. Those who have the power to control the spirits are taken and given a choice: renounce everything – including their own identity – to become a member of the Faceless, guardians who fight the spirits, or take their chance to become an heir to the queendom, which requires facing an island of trials that will likely kill them. When Mayara reveals her powers to protect her village from an attack on her wedding day, she is taken and chooses to face the island. She starts to learn the truth of the system that she has believed keeps her home safe. Will she be able to survive? And if she does, will she have the courage to change everything she has ever known?

“The League of Gentlewomen Witches” by India Holton

Title: The League of Gentlewomen Witches
Author: India Holton
Publisher: Berkley Books
Year: 2022
Genre(s): historical fantasy, romance
Part of a Series: Yes, Book #2

Rating:

Why I read it: Saw it at Barnes and Noble’s and thought it would be a good read

Summary: In the Victorian Age, Charlotte Pettifer is the heir apparent to her family’s coven, a group of high society witches who use their magic to help the less fortunate. Charlotte is also the prophesized heir to Beryl Black, believed to be the first witch. When Beryl’s powerful amulet goes on display at the British Museum, Charlotte tries to claim her inheritance. But she finds herself up against her group’s nemesis – pirates who also lay claim to Beryl Black. When the amulet is stolen, Charlotte finds herself teaming up with pirate Alex O’Riley in order to retrieve it. But will they find more than just the amulet?

“The Lost Queen” by Signe Pike

Title: The Lost Queen
Author: Signe Pike
Publisher: Touchstone
Year: 2018
Genre(s): historical fiction
Part of a Series: No
Rating:

Why I read it: It was a Once Upon a Book Club pick.

Synopsis: Lailoken and Languoreth are the twin children of Morken, a chieftain in the time before Britain was Britain. Various tribes throughout the island continue to clash and it grows worse as Christianity starts to spread, bringing more strife as Christian monks threaten the people’s pagan ways. In these tense times, Lailoken is destined to become a Wisdom Keeper, trained in the Old Ways, while Languoreth is destined to marry a great lord to strengthen her father’s lands. But will her destiny lie with the upstart Pendragon, a champion of the Old Ways, or with ruthless Tutegal, who welcomes Christianity?

With an Old World on the verge of becoming a New World, Lailoken and Languoreth find their lives tied to both – and to one of the greatest stories of all time: King Arthur and the wizard Merlin.

“Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance” by Ruth Emmie Lang

Title: “Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance”
Author: Ruth Emmie Lang
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Year: 2017
Genre(s): fantasy, contemporary, coming-of-age, some romance
Part of a Series: No
Rating:

Why I read it: Once Upon a Book Club selection

Summary: Weylyn Gray is far from average. After being orphaned, he was raised for a bit by wolves. He’s always felt more comfortable with animals and has a special connection to them. Weylyn also appears to have control over nature itself – including stopping a tornado one Christmas. He travels the country and crosses paths with many people, amazing them and changing their lives. But he keeps himself separate from other people due to his powers, slowly learning that maybe he isn’t dangerous after all.