Queer fantasy for the win! (You'll notice this is a subgenre I often like.) This novel has court intrigue with plenty of intelligence, but also a slow-burn romance with plenty of swoon, in what I consider the perfect proportions. It's also got a touch of magic, giving its fantasy country some extra spice. The characters kept surprising me in delightful ways—the seemingly cowardly prince showing his ferocity at some moments, and the stoic bodyguard/soldier coming through with his tender side. I was cheering for their blossoming love while also genuinely invested in the mystery of who was trying to infiltrate and destroy the kingdom. I'm excited to read more from Rowland!
A sweeping fantasy romance inspired by the Ottoman Empire, A Taste of Gold and Iron by Alexandra Rowland is perfect for fans of A Marvellous Light and The Goblin Emperor.
'A delicious tangle of romance, fealty and dangerous politics' - Tasha Suri, author of The Jasmine Throne
One false coin could topple an empire.
Kadou, the shy prince of Arasht, has no intention of wrestling for imperial control with his sister, the queen. Yet he remains at odds with one of the most powerful ambassadors at court - the father of the queen's new child. Then a hunting party goes…
It's love, it's whimsy, it's lite sci-fi/romance, it's New York City! I love when a story is unique to the point of being oddball, and this one qualifies. A young woman meets another young woman who turns out to have been stuck in a time loop on the NYC subway since the 1970s. When they fall in love over several train rides together, can they find a way to take their relationship out of the subway tunnels, or is this an unbreakable spell? Sapphic modern romance with an urban fantasy/sci-fi twist: give it a try!
For cynical twenty-three-year-old August, moving to New York City is supposed to prove her right: that things like magic and cinematic love stories don't exist, and the only smart way to go through life is alone. She can't imagine how waiting tables at a 24-hour pancake diner and moving in with too many weird roommates could possibly change that. And there's certainly no chance of her subway commute being anything more than a daily trudge through boredom and electrical failures.
But then, there's this gorgeous girl on the train.
Jane. Dazzling, charming, mysterious, impossible Jane. Jane with her rough edges…
One more queer fantasy/romance to round out my three favorites of the year! This novel has a delightful and cozy vibe, even though the monsters and magic do present a lethal danger to our protagonists. The central pairing, two magic-college students, are a proper grumpy/sunshine duo, which is a trope I love. The magic and world building were presented naturally and were easy to grasp, and I was intrigued by this world's setting. This is the first book of a series, so the romance is only barely beginning by the end of this volume, but I definitely sensed the chemistry throughout anyway, and was contented at where this book left off. Looking ahead with pleasure to the next book!
Desperate to undo the curse binding them together, an impulsive sorcerer and his curmudgeonly rival venture deep into a magical forest in search of a counterspell - only to discover that magic might not be the only thing pulling them together. An irresistible cosy fantasy for fans of A Marvellous Light and Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries.
Leovander Loveage is a master of small magics, content to spend his days thinking up charms that can summon butterflies or turn hair pink. That is, until a mishap with forbidden magic compels Leo to obey his longtime rival, Sebastian Grimm. Grimm is…
The town of Miryoku has ocean views, fragrant jasmine vines, and a thriving arts scene, including a popular nineties cover band. It also sits on the verge, sharing a border with fae territory, a realm of both enchantments and dangers.
Rafi has been unusual all his life: a human born to a fae mother, a mortal denizen of the fae realm, a form-shifter. He aches to join the human world, but prejudices and legal tangles stand in his way. After the death of his beloved human grandmother at the careless hands of fae, his only connection to humans is the cover band he plays with—until he meets Roxana.
Roxana is a dutiful single parent and a metalworking witch specializing in healing charms. When she meets Rafi one summer night and repairs an instrument string for him, they strike up a friendship that soon kindles into love. But she's moving away from Miryoku at summer's end, and Rafi must stay, determined to stop the fae who keep hurting townsfolk. Together, Roxana and Rafi formulate an idea that might tame the most dangerous offenders—or might only accelerate the doom of their hometown.
