This book delivers sharp, witty banter on nearly every page which makes the characters wildly entertaining. The chemistry between the FMC and MMC feels effortless and playful, and is the epitome of enemies to lovers. Just when you think you've figured out where the story is headed, an unexpected plot twist flips everything on its head in the best possible way. This book is charming, clever, and surprisingly daring... a must-read for fans of romance with a twist (and a solid plot).
This book is written with razor-sharp prose that's as immersive as it is devastating. Every page carries with it tension and purpose, making it impossible to put down. While it did drag a little in the middle for me, the beginning and ending of the book made this a 5-star read for me. The characters are complex and constantly evolving, blurring the line between right and wrong in the most compelling way. This book is a masterclass in storytelling that grips you from the first word to the last.
Winner of the Reddit Fantasy Award for Best Debut 2018
'The best fantasy debut of 2018' - WIRED
A brilliantly imaginative epic fantasy debut, inspired by the bloody history of China's twentieth century and filled with treachery and magic.
When Rin aced the Keju - the test to find the most talented students in the Empire - it was a shock to everyone: to the test officials, who couldn't believe a war orphan from Rooster Province could pass without cheating; to Rin's guardians, who had hoped to get rich by marrying her off; and to Rin herself, who realized she…
This is the absolute ideal fall read, if you ask me! This book has one of the most fresh, distinctive voices I've ever come across. Its eerie atmosphere grabs you from the very first page, wrapping you in shadows and mystery before you even realize it. The story feels refreshingly original, bending gothic tropes into something strange and wonderful. Harrow's unique writing style pulls you in like a spell... you won't want to find your way out. This was a 6-star read for me.
'Alix E. Harrow is an exceptional, undeniable talent' - Olivie Blake, author of The Atlas Six
Step into Starling House - if you dare . . . Alix E. Harrow reimagines Beauty and the Beast in this gorgeously modern Gothic fantasy, perfect for fans of V.E. Schwab and Naomi Novik.
Nobody in Eden remembers when Starling House was built. But the town agrees it's best to let this ill-omened mansion - and its last lonely heir - go to hell. Stories of the house's bad luck, like good china, have been passed down the…
What if the concept of karma wasn't just wishful thinking, but an actual duty that's guaranteed to be fulfilled?
For 30-year-old Maren Cordeau, it is. Having been through multiple incarnations and a daunting number of past lives, she's finally landed among the ranks of the Noires—karmic vigilantes who carry out the eternal sentences of those who have ultimately chosen to "sell their soul", be it for riches, fame, power, or something much, much darker. It's no surprise that invoking nightmares to carry out said sentences has become one of her favorite pastimes... How could it not when she's exacting justice for the innocent and defenseless?
Such a dangerous role requires the protection of a Sigard, assigned to all Noires at the time of incarnation. It's a shame it's Brant Colborn, her rival from previous lifetimes; but, regardless of their blatant animosity toward one another, they always find a way to work together—and actually grow to do a little more than tolerate each other this time around. But when Maren receives her next assignment, a trip into the underbelly of the shopping district to gather supplies turns into a nightmare of her own—her go-to shopkeeper, the Elder Witch of a coven, turns up murdered, in which she's the number one suspect.
With so many things working against her, Maren can't help but wonder if this is her own twisted rendition of karma playing itself out. But, as she revisits past lifetimes, what she discovers is much more than she'd bargained for... and could alter the very fabric of reality of years past and subsequent years to come.
