Book Review | THE NIGHTBLOOD PRINCE by Molly X. Chang

THE NIGHTBLOOD PRINCE

The Nightblood Prince Series, Vol. 1
BY MOLLY X. CHANG | PUBLICATION: JULY 1, 2025
RANDOM HOUSE | GENRE: YOUNG ADULT FANTASY
RATING: ★★★★

"Fei’s defiance of the gods, her refusal to be a pawn, and the enigmatic premise kept me hooked."

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Two princes. One prophecy. A fate she cannot outrun.

The night Fei was born, a prophecy was made: she would one day become the Empress of All Empresses.

Torn from her family as a child and raised in the palace to one day marry the Crown Prince of the most powerful empire in the land, Fei has only ever known loneliness. When the opportunity arises to seize her own destiny for the first time in her life, Fei sets out to hunt a legendary tiger, knowing it might cost her everything. What she doesn’t expect is to fall under the mercy of Yexue, the beautiful runaway prince from a rival kingdom. Blessed by the night, harboring a dangerous magic, and capable of commanding an army of deadly vampires, Yexue could be the key to Fei gaining more than just her freedom.

But to outrun destiny, Fei must spark a wave of events that will change the world as she knows it. Torn between two princes and plagued by nightmares of bloodshed, she finds that the stars might be more inescapable—and more irresistible—than she ever considered before. . . .-PRH

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A prophecy. A tiger hunt. A prince cloaked in night. THE NIGHTBLOOD PRINCE delivers a sweeping tale of destiny, defiance, and blood-soaked magic that reads like a fever dream stitched from the histories of Vlad the Impaler and Genghis Khan.

Fei, the prophesied Empress of All Empresses, is a heroine who refuses to be confined by fate. Torn from her family and raised in a palace that treats her more as a symbol than a person, Fei’s journey is one of reclaiming agency—of choosing herself over the empire’s expectations. Her inner battle is compelling, though at times confusing. She longs to be chosen for who she is, not for what she represents. And while her arc is powerful, her inability to fully “let go” until it’s too late left me aching.

The story is fast-paced, with no dull chapters to slog through—a rare treat. The love triangle trope, which I usually avoid, didn’t bother me here. Perhaps because it’s woven into a larger tapestry of royal court intrigue, enemies-to-lovers tension, and slow-burning emotional stakes. Yexue, the rival prince with dangerous magic and a vampire army, is enigmatic and beautifully written. The romance simmers rather than scorches, and I appreciated that restraint.

Fei’s defiance of the gods, her refusal to be a pawn, and the enigmatic premise kept me hooked. There were moments that made me cringe—scenes that felt a bit too dramatic or forced—but they didn’t derail the experience. The familial connections and communal responsibilities added depth, grounding the fantasy in something tender and real. And the inclusion of Chinese proverbs throughout the story adds a quiet reverence for heritage, grounding the tale in cultural memory while honoring the wisdom passed down through generations.

Who Should Read This
Beyond its fantasy trappings, The Nightblood Prince feels eerily relevant and speaks to timely themes: autonomy, identity, and the cost of being a symbol. Fei’s struggle to define herself outside of prophecy mirrors the pressure many face today to live up to inherited expectations—whether cultural, familial, or societal. Her refusal to be used as a justification for conquest mirrors a deeper truth: power rooted in brutality is not strength—it’s cowardice dressed in armor.

In a world where war is still wielded as a tool of pride and dominance, I hope the younger generation reads The Nightblood Prince. Not just for the magic and monsters, but for the mirror it holds to history. This book invites readers to reflect—to see how power has been wielded, how symbols have been used, and how empires have risen on the backs of the unwilling.

We are living in a time that feels precarious. The world teeters between progress and regression, between civility and the savagery our ancestors tried to haul us from. I do not believe in “casualties of war.” Fiction like this reminds us that destiny is not fixed. I believe in stories that challenge the arrogance of empire and remind us that choosing wisely—choosing peace, truth, and autonomy—is the bravest act of all.

“Fate is not as strong as the human heart.”
(命不如心强 — Mìng bùrú xīn qiáng)

Final Reflection
As Fei learns, and as we must remember: Fate is not as strong as the human heart. Stories like THE NIGHTBLOOD PRINCE remind us that even in the shadow of prophecy, we can choose who we become.

I peeked at the hardbound cover art by Gollancz and loved how it captured the story’s haunting tone. I’ll be waiting for Book Two, curious to see how the stars shift next.

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About the Author:

Molly X. Chang is the bestselling author of To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods and the upcoming young adult fantasy The Nightblood Prince. She’s a first-generation immigrant born in Harbin, China. Photo by Katrina Wong

*Penguin Random House provided the eARC
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Book Review | THE LAST TIGER by Julia Riew; Brad Riew

THE LAST TIGER

BY JULIA RIEW, BRAD RIEW | PUBLICATION: JULY 29, 2025
KOKILA | GENRE: YA FANTASY
RATING: ★★★

"...the blush of first love and bridging impossible divides."

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Inspired by true stories from the authors’ grandparents’ lives during one of the darkest periods in Korean history, The Last Tiger is a debut young adult fantasy novel about the power of love to give voice to a silenced people.

In a colonized land where tigers are being hunted to extinction and ancient magic stirs, two star-crossed teens—Lee Seung, a servant yearning for freedom, and Choi Eunji, a noble girl defying tradition—join forces to try and reshape their respective fates.

But their relationship evolves from begrudging accomplices to bitter adversaries as they soon find themselves on opposite sides of a battle over the last tiger, a symbol of their people’s lost freedom and key to the liberation of their country. As the ties between Seung and Eunji are complicated by their conflicting loyalties, tensions rise—especially when a charming princeling of the empire begins to rival for Eunji's affection.

In this friends-to-enemies-to-lovers story of forbidden romance, antagonists turned allies, oppression and liberation, neither Seung nor Eunji can abandon their mission—or each other. And as they embark on separate quests to find the elusive creature, each must also find the power within themselves to make their own destiny. -PRH

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I finished this book, but not without a fight.

The Last Tiger has all the ingredients of a compelling historical fantasy: a colonized Korea under Imperial Japan, magical realism rooted in dragon spirits and ki, and a symbolic quest to protect the last tiger—a living emblem of resistance and cultural identity. The premise is rich, and the authors’ inspiration from their grandparents’ real-life love story adds emotional weight.

But despite its potential, this story didn’t resonate with me.

The central romance—between a noble girl and a servant—leans heavily into the princess/poor trope, which I’ve never found appealing. The narrative still hinges on familiar beats: forbidden love, class defiance, and a princeling rival. It felt more like a YA fantasy checklist than a fresh take.

That said, the protagonist deserves credit. Choi Eunji didn’t wait to be saved. She climbed, she fought, and she earned her place through grit and determination. Her arc was the only thing that kept me coming back, even when the rest of the narrative felt like a chore. I huffed, I puffed, I put the book down more times than I can count—but I finished it.

I admire the historical context, especially the brutal depiction of tiger executions, which echoes the violence of cultural erasure. As someone whose own grandparents lived through the Japanese occupation of the Philippines, I felt a personal connection to the themes of oppression and survival. But even that couldn’t carry me through the story’s pacing and emotional tone.

This book might speak more deeply to younger readers—those drawn to the blush of first love and bridging impossible divides.

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About the Authors:

Julia Riew is a Korean-American composer-lyricist, librettist, and novelist from St. Louis and NYC. She is best known for her viral hit Dive, a reimagining of the Korean folktale Shimcheong, which has captivated millions online and is currently being developed for the stage at the American Repertory Theater with Tony-Award winning director Diane Paulus and GLAAD-Award winning playwright Diana Son.

Brad Riew is an MFA candidate in Fiction at New York University's creative writing program. He graduated from Harvard College in 2018 with a degree in Psychology, where he won the Ecker Short Story Prize. The Last Tiger, co-written with his younger sister Julia Riew, is his first novel. Brad lives in Brooklyn, New York.

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THE HISTORY OF LOVE Revisited

THE HISTORY OF LOVE

BY NICOLE KRAUSS | PUBLICATION: JANUARY 1, 2005
NORTON | GENRE: LITERARY FICTION
RATING: ★★★★★

"This book was hard to forget."

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Fourteen-year-old Alma Singer is trying to find a cure for her mother's loneliness. Believing she might discover it in an old book her mother is lovingly translating, she sets out in search of its author.

Across New York an old man called Leo Gursky is trying to survive a little bit longer. He spends his days dreaming of the lost love who, sixty years ago in Poland, inspired him to write a book. And although he doesn't know it yet, that book also survived: crossing oceans and generations, and changing lives...

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A Reflection Across Time and Isolation

In 2013, I wrote a review of Nicole Krauss’s The History of Love that tried—however inadequately—to capture the emotional gravity of the novel. I described it as a book that moved me to tears and laughter, often within the same page. It was a story that felt too vast for words, yet too intimate to ignore.

Now, more than a decade later, I return to it not just as a reader, but as someone who has lived through a global shift. The COVID-19 pandemic changed the way we see ourselves, especially the way we see the elderly. And in that shift, Leo Gursky’s quiet desperation to be remembered feels more urgent, more universal.

Leo Gursky: Then and Now
Leo Gursky’s fear of being forgotten—his desperate need to be seen—is one of the most enduring emotional threads in The History of Love. He was afraid of dying alone, of being invisible. In 2005, when the book was published, that fear felt poetic. Today, it feels prophetic. In the years since the book’s release, the world has changed dramatically, especially in how older adults navigate visibility and connection.

During the pandemic, countless seniors were isolated—cut off from family, community, and routine. Many died without the comfort of presence, without the rituals of remembrance. Leo’s fear became reality for too many. His outrageous acts to be seen—dropping things in public, making noise—mirror the silent pleas of those who simply wanted someone to remember they were still here.

Technology helped some. Video calls, social media, and digital archives offered new ways to connect. But Leo’s story reminds us that visibility isn’t just about being online—it’s about being remembered, being valued, and being loved. And while technology offers new avenues, it’s the human connections behind the screens that truly matter.

If Krauss Wrote The History of Love Today…
Nicole Krauss’s writing already dances with metaphysical questions and emotional truths. Post-pandemic, I imagine her lens would be even more introspective, more attuned to the quiet devastations and unexpected connections that defined those years. I imagine a different kind of Leo. One who struggles with Zoom, who writes tweets no one reads, who leaves voice messages that go unheard. His invisibility would be digital, not just physical. The book within the book might be a forgotten PDF, a digitized manuscript buried in cloud storage. The idea of legacy would shift from paper to pixels, raising questions about permanence in a world of endless scroll. Krauss’s themes—memory, displacement, love—would deepen. The novel might explore how time collapsed during lockdowns, how grief became disoriented without touch, and how connection became both more possible and more elusive.

“At the end, all that's left of you are your possessions.
Perhaps that's why I've never been able to throw anything away.
Perhaps that's why I hoarded the world: with the hope that when I died,
the sum total of my things would suggest
a life larger than the one I lived.”

Why This Book Still Matters?
The History of Love is a mirror. It reflects our longing to be remembered, our fear of vanishing, and our hope that love—once written, once felt—can ripple through time. Revisiting it now is a literary nostalgia. It’s a reckoning. It’s a way to honor those who felt invisible, to remember those we lost, and to remind ourselves that being seen is a human need that transcends age, technology, and even pandemics.

Closing Reflection
This book was hard to forget.
In a post-pandemic world, where silence and absence have left their mark, the profoundness of being merely remembered feels sacred. And I marvel.

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About the Author:

Nicole Krauss has been called “one of American’s most important novelists and an international literary sensation” by the New York Times, “a contemporary master,” by Esquire, and “one of American’s greatest writers” by the Financial Times. She is the author of the international bestsellers, Forest Dark, Great House (a finalist for the National Book Award and the Orange Prize) and The History of Love, which won the Saroyan Prize for International Literature and France’s Prix du Meilleur Livre Étranger, and was short-listed for the Orange, Médicis, and Femina prizes. Her first novel, Man Walks Into a Room, was a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book of the Year. Her short stories have been published in The New Yorker, The Atlantic, Harper’s, Esquire, and Best American Short Stories, and were collected in To Be a Man, which received the Wingate Award. She was the inaugural Writer-in-Residence at the Zuckerman Mind, Brain and Behavior Institute at Columbia University, and has received fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation, the American Academy in Berlin, and the Cullman Center at the New York Public Library. Her books have been translated into 38 languages. Photo by Goni Riskin.

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Blog Tour | THE TORTURED KINGDOM by Bryan Asher

About the Book:

THE TORTURED KINGDOM
BY BRYAN ASHER | PUBLICATION: JANUARY 31, 2025
SIMON & SCHUSTER/SAGA PRESS | GENRE: ADULT FANTASY

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After a comet strikes the continent of Yohme, it's left in shambles. Nations lay in rubble, magic has been corrupted, and a plague has turned most of the inhabitants into flesh-eating, undead, ghouls.

Traveling this apocalyptic landscape is Evan, a bounty hunter taking missions to survive. However, his latest quest to capture a thief leads to more than he bargained for. After uncovering an ancient map, he forms a party to hunt the sacred treasure inside the most formidable dungeon.

Once inside, they'll have to overcome the trials of a god to reach it, and they're not the only ones searching.

AMAZON | GOODREADS | THE STORY GRAPH

"I really enjoy books that include trial-like elements and I was not disappointed here."
-KINDIG
"The world is very well built and makes me wonder if Asher would do another story set in the same realm."
-Sly Fox Reviews


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About the Author:

Bryan Asher is a native Washingtonian and lifelong fan of fiction in all its forms. He started out like many kids from the '90s, being enthralled by all the superhero comics and cartoons crossing his vision. His love of literary fiction came when he was handed a copy of John Bellairs, “The Chessmen of Doom” by his local librarian. Bryan still credits John Bellairs as his greatest literary influence, with his books featuring multiple illustrations and stand-alone adventures, just like Bellairs.

After years of dedication and planning, he debuted his first novel in 2020, “The Assassin of Malcoze.” The following year he released his second novel, “The Treasure of Lor-Rev,” which went on to win multiple awards.

Bryan still lives in Renton Washington with his loving wife and two awesome children. He also still has the first comic book he ever purchased (which cost a quarter in 1990).

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BBNYA Blog Tour | CLUES TO YOU by Claire Huston

About the Book:

CLUES TO YOU
WINNER of BBNYA 2024
BY CLAIRE HUSTON
PUBLICATION: SEPTEMBER 19, 2023
GENRE: ROMANCE, ADULT MYSTERY

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One murder mystery weekend. Two rival sleuths.
They’re looking for answers. But will they find love?

Kate Brannon is delighted to be attending her first murder mystery weekend in a movie-worthy Victorian manor house. Still getting over being dumped, cracking the case would be a welcome boost to her flagging confidence. And the prize money wouldn’t hurt either.

But Kate’s dreams of victory become a nightmare with the arrival of Max Ravenscroft. Smart, enigmatic and annoyingly handsome, Max is Kate’s sleuthing nemesis.

When she and Max are forced to work together, Kate despairs. But, as the investigation brings them closer, she finds being his partner in solving crime isn’t all bad.

With growing suspicions that the game is rigged against them, can Kate and Max beat the odds to find the killer? And, as their partnership deepens, can they find romance too?

A sweet romantic comedy with a cosy mystery at its heart. Perfect for fans of Kathryn Freeman, Laura Jane Williams and Katie Fforde.

This rivals-to-lovers romance is a standalone romcom and part of the Love in the Comptons collection.

AMAZON | GOODREADS | THE STORY GRAPH

" It’s a story about friendship, personal growth, self-esteem, and trust — all wrapped up like a gift in a light romance. "
-Gina Rae Mitchell
"This was a fast paced read throughout, and there wasn’t a single dull moment."
-Worlds Unlike Our Own
"All the stars for this incredible read which mixes a perfect blend of cosy mystery and romance."
-Karla_Bookishlife

[BBNYA is a yearly competition where book bloggers from all over the world read and score books written by indie authors, ending with 15 finalists (16 in 2024) and one overall winner.

If you want some more information about BBNYA, check out the BBNYA Website or take a peek over on Twitter @BBNYA_Official. BBNYA is brought to you in association with the @Foliosociety (if you love beautiful books, you NEED to check out their website!) and the book blogger support group @The_WriteReads.]

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About the Author:

Claire Huston lives in Warwickshire, UK, with her husband and children. She writes uplifting modern love stories about characters who are meant for each other but need a little help to realise it.

A keen amateur baker, she enjoys making cakes, biscuits and brownies almost as much as eating them. You can find recipes for all the cakes mentioned in Art and Soul, her first novel, at clairehuston.co.uk along with over 150 other recipes. This is also where she talks about and reviews books.

You can also find Claire on various social media platforms.
Find your favourite here: https://linktr.ee/clairehuston_author

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Blog Tour | MARIA'S SHADOW by D.L. Cary

About the Book:

MARIA'S SHADOW
BY D.L. CARY | PUBLICATION: APRIL 19, 2025
GENRE: THRILLER

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Maria's Shadow by D.L. Cary is a gripping thriller that follows Maria Hernández, a young Salvadoran woman ensnared by the sinister Saffron Veil after chasing a Hollywood dream. Trapped in a California mansion, she escapes with a dangerous secret, pursued by the powerful Senator Edward Grayson. As Detective John Jefferson uncovers a web of corruption in North Carolina, their paths converge in a high-stakes battle against a shadowy cabal. Packed with suspense, betrayal, and relentless pursuit, this novel explores courage and sacrifice against overwhelming odds.

AMAZON | GOODREADS | STORYGRAPH

"This is a fast ride jammed packed full of crime, secrets, and power players that I would never trust. And lot’s and lot’s of action."
-Sarah Reads
"No gratuitous gore, no over-the-top language—just tight, edge-of-your-seat suspense, fully realized characters, and plot twists that kept me flipping pages like a caffeine-fueled binge. "
-Nikki


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About the Author:

D.L. Cary is a Christian suspense and clean-thriller author who loves delivering pulse-pounding intrigue without the profanity or graphic violence.

His debut series, The Veil Chronicles, drops you into covert conspiracies and spiritual warfare while championing themes of redemption, justice, and hope. If you enjoy inspirational fiction, redemptive suspense, or spiritual thrillers you can share with the whole family, you’re in the right place.

He calls Alabama home, where he lives with my best friend (and wife), Heile. Before that, they lived in North Carolina. Finishing up their crew is a rambunctious group of dogs and cats, with Alex, an orange tabby, being the newest addition.

Every page he writes is fueled by faith and by readers who crave values-driven stories where hope endures, and justice prevails.

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Book Review | THE BOOK OF LOST HOURS by Hayley Gelfuso

THE BOOK OF LOST HOURS

BY HAYLEY GELFUSO | PUBLICATION: AUGUST 26, 2025
ATRIA | GENRE: HISTORICAL FICTION
RATING: ★★★★✬

"An incredible premise with a deeply moving message."

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For fans of The Ministry of Time and The Midnight Library, a sweeping, unforgettable novel moving from pre-WWII Germany to Cold War-era America to the mysterious time space, a library filled with books containing the memories of those who bore witness to history.

Nuremberg, 1938: On the night of Kristallnacht, eleven-year-old Lisavet Levy is hidden by her father from approaching forces in a mysterious place called the time space, a library where all the memories of the past are stored inside of books. When her father doesn’t return for her, she becomes trapped, spending her adolescence walking through the memories of those who lived before. When she discovers that living timekeepers are entering the time space to destroy memories and maintain their preferred version of history, Lisavet sets about trying to salvage the past, creating her own book of lost memories. Until one day in 1949, when she meets an American timekeeper named Ernest Duquesne, who is intent on keeping her from her task. What ensues sets her on a course to change history and the time space itself forever.

Boston, 1965: Amelia Duquesne is mourning the death of her uncle and guardian, Ernest, when she’s approached by Moira, the enigmatic head of the CIA’s highly secretive Temporal Reconnaissance Program. Moira tells her about the existence of the time space—accessed only by specially designed watches whose intricate mechanisms have been lost to time—and enlists her help in recovering a strange book her uncle had once sought. But Amelia quickly realizes that the past—and the truth—are not as straightforward as Moira would like her to believe.

A sweeping, cinematic love story, this feat of imagination explores memory, time, and the lengths we will go to in order to protect the existence of those we love.

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"We Choose Love"

From the moment I saw the cover, I felt summoned. Some books whisper. This one beckons.

Hayley Gelfuso crafts a haunting, poetic timespace where memory is both sanctuary and battleground. Unlike typical multiverse narratives, this story unfolds in a library of lost hours—a purgatory of recollection, where time doesn’t bend but bruises. Azrael’s description of this realm lingers: it’s not a portal, it’s a reckoning.

The premise alone is a marvel. But it’s Gelfuso’s lyrical voice that elevates the experience. Despite the dual timelines and shifting perspectives, her prose remains fluid and evocative, never losing its emotional cadence.

Lisavet and Amelia are compelling, but it was Ernest Duquesne who pierced me most deeply. A man who loves through ruin, who chooses tenderness even when time itself conspires against him. His love story with Lisavet doesn’t just endure—it defies chronology.

Gelfuso also knows how to sculpt a villain. The antagonist is despicable in the most effective way, a force that makes the stakes feel real and raw.

"Time is the beast that makes mortals of all, one way or another.
It takes everything heedless of wealth or status."
I read this slowly. I didn’t want it to end. I left marginalias in the edges—my own memory etched into the pages. And while I won’t spoil the final chapters, I will say this: even in death, Time can still take everything. But love, when chosen again and again, leaves a trace.

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About the Author:

Hayley Gelfuso is an author and poet who works in the environmental nonprofit sector. As a writer, she is drawn to stories of the wild and wonderful that are rooted in real world history and science. Her poetry about her experiences working in the conservation field has been published in the Plumwood Mountain Journal. She lives in the Chicago suburbs with her husband.
Photograph by Angelo Gelfuso, Gelfocus Photography

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