Novel Notions -

One of the highlights of my reading year always comes right on the heels of Christmas, when I snuggle in and read the newest Wayward Children novella right ahead of its release. Through Gates of Garnet and Gold is the eleventh installment in the series, and marks the eighth year of this tradition I always anticipate.

“We can mourn the winter when the thaw comes, but without it, the spring will not return. It’s all right to grieve. It’s all right to mourn what’s missing. Spill your sorrows on the ground, and let the joy flow home.”

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Book Review: Endymion (Hyperion Cantos, #3) by Dan Simmons

January 6, 2026 Petrik Leo Comments 0 Comment

Cover art illustrated by Gary Ruddell

Endymion by Dan Simmons

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Series: Hyperion Cantons (Book #3 of 4)

Genre: Science Fiction, Space Opera

Pages: 578 pages (Kindle Edition)

Word Count: 198,000 Words

Published: 1st January 1996 by Spectra

I am conflicted. There were some great moments and incredible world-building in Endymion, but this penultimate installment of the Hyperion Cantos is not up to the high standards of the first two Hyperion books.

“The shortest route to courage is absolute ignorance.”

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Book Review: Katabasis by R.F. Kuang

December 30, 2025 Petrik Leo Comments 0 Comment

ARC provided by the publisher—Harper Voyager—in exchange for an honest review.

Cover art illustrated by Patrick Arrasmith

Katabasis by R.F. Kuang

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: Standalone

Genre: Fantasy, Dark Academia

Pages: 540 pages (Hardcover Edition)

Word Count: 160,000 Words

Published: 26th August 2025 by Harper Voyager

At this point, it is safe to say Katabasis by R.F. Kuang has an assured path to take the bestseller spot in many outlets around the world. That being said, can this relatively bizarre novel win the reader’s heart?

“How wonderful, truly, to have a friend whose silence you adored.”

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Book Review: Isles of the Emberdark (Secret Project, #5) by Brandon Sanderson

December 17, 2025 Celeste Comments 0 Comment

Isles of the Emberdark by Brandon Sanderson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

“Sometimes the only path forward is costly. We must travel it regardless.”

Isles of the Emberdark is a story I’ve been both excited and nervous to experience. Getting a new novel in Sanderson’s Cosmere is always an amazing feeling, but I always have this small sense of trepidation when approaching a new world, a fear that I might not love it as much as I’ve loved those onto which he’s already invited me. He’s never let me down so far, and Emberdark didn’t break that trend. I loved this new world, and I loved seeing how the technological development of these fantastical worlds is making the Cosmere smaller in a sense. The opening, in which a young Dragon is finally getting her draconian form, delighted me. It was a sweet, lovely, joyful way to start a story. From there, we shift to a place and people wholly different. It was interesting to see how the two disparate parts of the story interact. Starling, the young Dragon, and Sixth of the Dusk, an Eelakin trapper on the isle of Patji, on the world First of the Sun. …

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Book Review: The Restitching of Camille DuLaine (The Rivenlea Sphere, #2) by Lindsay A. Franklin

November 25, 2025 Celeste Comments 0 Comment

The Restitching of Camille DuLaine by Lindsay A. Franklin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I received an advance digital copy of this novel from the publisher, Enclave. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.

The Unraveling of Emlyn DuLaine was one of my favorite reads of 2024, so to say that my expectations for its sequel, The Restitching of Camille DuLaine, were high would be an understatement. I can happily report that every one of those expectations and hopes were met. The Restitching of Camille DuLaine is a brilliant sequel, building on the beautiful foundation laid for it by its predecessor. If you’re a lover of story, specifically the stories that have shaped and continue to shape our culture and our world, the charming portal fantasy that is the Rivenlea Sphere duology was crafted with you in mind. This is a love letter to so many of the books that I loved as a child, and to those I have come to love as an adult, while still being its own wonderful, unique story. …

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Book Review: Fawkes by Nadine Brandes

November 10, 2025 Celeste Comments 0 Comment

Fawkes by Nadine Brandes
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Remember, remember!
The fifth of November,
The Gunpowder treason and plot;
I know of no reason
Why the Gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot!

I’ve always been fascinated by Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder Plot. This is due in large part to my deep and abiding affection for the film adaptation of V for Vendetta, which has been my favorite movie for well over a decade, which helped popularize the famous poem quoted above. And yet, I’ve never read any fiction inspired by the actual historical events. I’m happy to have now rectified this oversight in my reading life. Fawkes is a fantastic, fantastical reimagining of one of the most famed failed plots in history. …

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Book Review: Glass Across the Sea (Realms of Allumeria, #1) by Sara Ella

November 3, 2025 Celeste Comments 2 comments

Glass Across the Sea by Sara Ella
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

“Light always finds a way to break free.”

Cinderella has never been one of my favorite fairytales. But after reading Glass Across the Sea, my opinion has radically shifted. This YA fantasy reimagining of “Cinderella”—with nods to The Count of Monte Cristo mixed in—did a beautiful job of paying homage to the original tale while still being very much its own wonderful, compelling story. Ella did a brilliant job of portraying Noelle, her Cinderella, as selfless, kind, and strong in ways that retroactively improved my opinion of the literary figure who served as her inspiration. This is a truly lovely novel, one that stands strong on its own while still leaving me hungry for whatever comes next in the series. …

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Book Review: Singularity (Eternities, #2) by Shannon McDermott

October 16, 2025 Celeste Comments 0 Comment

Singularity by Shannon McDermott
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

While Singularity is the second half of the Eternities duology, there is no cohesive plot linking this book to The Time Door While both novels take place in the same world, sharing a speculative history and technology and certain characters, each book is entirely its own self-contained story. I loved The Time Door, and found it one of the strongest works of science fiction I’ve read in years. While Singularity was still tense and thought-provoking, it didn’t entrance me in quite the same way, or to the same intensity, as its predecessor. …

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Book Review: All That We See or Seem (Julia Z, #1) by Ken Liu

October 15, 2025 Petrik Leo Comments 0 Comment

ARC provided by the publisher—Saga Press—in exchange for an honest review.

All That We See or Seem by Ken Liu

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Series: Julia Z (Book #1 or 3)

Genre: Science Fiction, Thriller

Pages: 416 pages (Kindle Edition)

Published: 14th October 2025 by Saga Press (US) & 9th October 2025 Head of Zeus (UK)

All That We See or Seem is the newest near-future sci-fi thriller from Ken Liu, one of my favorite authors of all time. Did it manage to live up to the quality of his previous works?

“Freedom, belonging, telling a story about yourself that you love. Dreaming together. Meaning in all that we see or seem.”

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