Something for every fantasy reader

by MK French

What kind of fantasy novel do you enjoy? If fairy tales, fantasy adventures, cozy fantasy, or young adult dark fantasy are your cup of tea then check out my recommendations below.

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We Shall Be Monsters by Alyssa Wees

November 2024; Del Rey; 978-0593357521
audio, ebook, print (320 pages); fairy tale

Gemma Cassata lives with her mother in an antiques shop near an enchanted gateway to fairyland. Gemma isn't supposed to go into those woods, but she often defies her mother's commands. Her mother had once gone into those same woods, and a witch cursed her true love just days before Gemma was born. Virginia will do whatever she can to protect her daughter—even if it means stealing Gemma’s memories. When the witch takes Virginia, Gemma must rescue her mother and break the curse.

Virginia had entered the woods long ago and is looking for the means to end her love's curse. She has until Gemma's fifteenth birthday, but the Slit Witch doesn't play fair. Gemma is left to continue on her mother's mission in the second part of the book, saving her father from becoming the monster the Slit Witch wanted him to become. She is on a classic magical quest through the forest, which is now guarded and full of traps. The forest doesn't help her, and the stories she heard from her fairy boy aren't quite true. Her instincts are good, and she has the trust and belief of a teenager trying to save her family. She gives up something in exchange for magic she tries to use; using magic selfishly and without exchange is what led to the Slit Witch. 

The magic here is the kind that let's fairies exist, or guardian wolves that speak, trees that drink blood, or venom that keeps bodies alive in perpetuity even when mangled. Within this forest are the deadly creatures of stories, but not all creatures are monsters. Gemma realizes the difference as the story progresses, but she also comes into her own. All the dangling threads are tied up at the end, and I really enjoyed the turns that part three contains. She is a great protagonist, one I enjoyed spending time with. 

Buy We Shall Be Monsters at Amazon

Conan and the Cult of the Obsidian Moon by James Lovegrove

November 2024; Titan Books; 978-1835411674
ebook, print (304 pages); fantasy

Conan befriends married couple Hunwulf and Gudrun and their son, Bjørn. A decade ago, Hunwulf eloped with Gudrun after killing her betrothed, so they're on the run from her tribe. When the couple plan to ambush the tribe, they leave Bjørn with Conan. Bjørn is kidnapped when Conan is betrayed, so Conan and Bjørn’s parents search for him. Bjørn and other “gifted” children were taken by murderous bat-winged figures from the Rotlands. The trio must go to the heart of the Rotlands, where strange, horrifying fates await at every turn.

We meet Conan early on, before he befriends Hunwulf, Gundrun and their son. While at first it seems like extra detail, we see Conan fighting at his best and the reasons why he is later betrayed. We also learn the couple's history and Hunwulf's ability to see into the past or future through his other lifetimes, using that information to help him in his current one. This aids the trio in their search for Bjørn, and when they learn about the Rotlands about halfway through the book.

Buy Conan and the Cult of the Obsidian Moon at Amazon

Craving of the Sands by Cearnach Grimm

November 2024; Sagaflare; 979-8891960145
ebook, print (396 pages); fantasy

The EyeStone, a modified communication stone, allows people to share what they think and do with others. Wilhilm Grindtosser accidentally rises to fame when his magic goes awry and all of Tiringar can see it. Aside from this, there are more unsavory side effects to using the EyeStone, like spontaneous combustion, ominous shadows, and dramatically whispering. Along with his friends, Wilhelm is determined to uncover the truth behind the EyeStone. An old nemesis has a plan to annihilate the world—just when there’s a new restaurant in town they’d really like to visit.

We open with an ad of sorts for the Runebreakers, which helps to set the tone that we're about to see. This novel doesn't take itself seriously and is firmly within the cozy fantasy genre. There's a little more death and fire than the usual cozy fantasy, but it's played as slapstick than serious. Chapters are short and punchy, with titles drawn from modern songs. The Runebreakers see themselves as "chaos with a side of competence," and that's certainly what we get. Wilhelm the magician doesn't even like magic and tends to be clumsy and make mistakes. He and his friends travel around, crack jokes, and seem to make random decisions. This adds to the slapstick nature of the book, and it's almost a comedy of errors to fix everything.

Within the scope of the book, the EyeStone seems to function like our phones. His attempt at podcasting gives him the validation that modern podcasters get, but others get so entranced at times that they don't even respond to the real world. (sound familiar?) Wilhelm hears whispers from the EyeStone right before things go terribly wrong, and is encouraged to look into the EyeStone problem. There are nods to social media, influencers, podcasting, and convention life. About halfway through we see what Wilhelm's problem really is, and what the EyeStone is really connected to. Not to worry, I won't spoil it, but it only seems to add to the commentary on social media. It also plays on a lot of the fantasy tropes that are out there, which adds to the fun of this book.

Buy Craving of the Sands at Amazon

The Monstrous Kind by Lydia Gregovic

September 2024; Delacorte Press; 978-0593572375
audio, ebook, print (400 pages); YA fantasy

Merrick Darling is immune to the toxic fog in England, so she will never transform into a monster. She is a daughter of the Manor Lord of Sussex, safe yet unable to inherit the manor. She must marry well or live with her elder sister Essie. When their father dies, Merrick can no longer enjoy New London society and must return to Norland House. Essie is withdrawn and frightened of the attacks on the borders. The fog is starting to close in, meaning the monsters are more likely to arrive. The other eleven Manor Lords watch for weakness, so revealing this is out of the question. When Essie goes missing, Merrick needs help. But who can she trust?

If Regency London was transported to a gloomy post-apocalyptic kind of zombie world, this is that world. The twelve great Manor Lords who descended from the original people are able to push back the fog and the people-eating monsters it contained. Rather than a bite being the contagion vector, it's the fog itself, and the Manorborn family descendants are the only ones able to be in the fog without turning. This adds tension for Merrick, because there have been more breaches in Sussex, villagers resenting her family, and a dire need for more people to patrol the fog borders. The world of Manor Lords involves jockeying for power and social standing, and for a long time, Merrick thought her only value was to secure a good marriage. Even in the short time she was away in New London, more and more secrets had accumulated in her absence. 

There's a lot of world-building in the first third of the book, and the inherent mistrust that Essie has rubs off on Merrick. The system is rigged, and she has a more moral code than most around her. That makes it harder for her to tolerate the apparent coldness of her cousin and cousin-in-law, the plight of the villagers without protection, and even the secrets in her family. She's drawn to the guard that helps her investigate, as well as the neighboring heir. In a world run on secrecy, subterfuge, and privilege, revealing the truth is dangerous. I sympathized with her grief and tangled emotions,  and the end was a fascinating and fitting end to the story. 

Buy The Monstrous Kind at Amazon

Born and raised in New York City, M.K. French started writing stories when very young, dreaming of different worlds and places to visit. She always had an interest in folklore, fairy tales, and the macabre, which has definitely influenced her work. She currently lives in the Midwest with her husband, three young children, and a golden retriever.

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