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The Empress of All Seasons by Emiko Jean

Each generation, a competition is held to find the next empress of Honoku. The rules are simple. Survive the palace's enchanted seasonal rooms. Conquer Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall. Marry the prince. All are eligible to compete--all except yokai, supernatural monsters and spirits whom the human emperor is determined to enslave and destroy. Mari has spent a lifetime training to become empress. Winning should be easy. And it would be, if she weren't hiding a dangerous secret. Mari is a yokai with the ability to transform into a terrifying monster. If discovered, her life will be forfeit. As she struggles to keep her true identity hidden, Mari's fate collides with that of Taro, the prince who has no desire to inherit the imperial throne, and Akira, a half-human, half-yokai outcast. Torn between duty and love, loyalty and betrayal, vengeance and forgiveness, the choices of Mari, Taro, and Akira will decide the fate of Honoku in this beautifully written, edge-of-your-seat YA...
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Late September Reviews (2024)

Greetings

Welcome to the Books That Burn Fortnightly Roundup! Releasing every two weeks (one week early for Patrons) - at least that’s the plan. My father-in-law passed away at the end of September, and it’ll be a few weeks yet before everything is settled with that. If the next newsletter is delayed, it will not be by more than a week or two.

I’ve been participating in BBNYA 2024, and for the next two months there will be book spotlight posts on the blog. I’ve read parts of some of the books, but I’m sharing all the SFF books it seemed like you, the audience, might like, given that you like my reviews and the podcast.

News and Events

I am no longer using TheStoryGraph, due to their continued use of AI.

I track upcoming book releases by authors we've previously covered on a shareable google calendar.

Notable October Releases:

  • Right Hand by Natalie Zina Walschotts

  • Swordcrossed by Freya Marske

  • Don't Let the Forest In by C.G. Drews

  • The Reanimator's Remains by Kara Jorgensen

Recent Reviews

A CROWN SO CURSED by L.L. McKinney, book 3 of The Nightmareverse is Fantasy, with queer character(s), marketed as Young Adult. Alice has to defend her family when the Nightmares get stronger and stranger. Told in First/Third Person with Ensemble POVs.

Review forthcoming for SWORDCROSSED by Freya Marske.

Rereads and Older Reviews

I’m still re-reading October Daye, but I’m nearing the end and have started having room for new books.

Current Reads

THE HANDS OF THE EMPEROR by Victoria Goddard is a queer slow-burn about the Secretary to the Sun on Earth. It’s nearly a thousand pages, and the first 500 pages have been excellent.

FOUL HEART HUNTSMAN by Chloe Gong is the sequel to FOUL LADY FORTUNE. It’s been a while since I read the previous book, so my main praise for now is that it’s very forgiving of gaps in information, helping me catch up and remember what happened last time even as new things occur.

In Case You Missed It

This time last year I read TALES OF MUNDANE MAGIC: VOLUME FOUR by Shaina Krevat.

Pluggables and Podcast News

As for the podcast, hopefully you're enjoying our most recent episode. If you'd like to receive episodes early, as well as bonus content, please consider supporting us on Patreon. Patrons receive this newsletter one week early, as well as a list of upcoming podcast episodes and even more planned reviews.

Patrons at any level receive the booklist with our planned episodes for up to three months at a time.

Thanks for reading, the next roundup will be in two weeks!

-Robin

Co-host of Books That Burn

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