Wera's 2026 Q1 Arc Reviews
- Wera Niyom
- Mar 6
- 8 min read
Hello, fellow eggs!
For the months of January through March, I had the privilege of reading the following advanced reader copies (ARCs) and offering a review prior to release. To contribute to a successful release, my reviews for these ARCs do not contain spoilers.
1. QUEEN OF STARS by Mariel Araya (released January 13, 2026)
Thank you to the author, Mariel Araya, for providing an ARC ahead of this review! The following feedback is my own opinion.
I finished Queen of Stars in one short sitting and enjoyed the romantic tension between Solstice and Callisto. However, looking closer into their relationship, it felt very superficial. There is a strong physical attraction between the characters that doesn't appear to go deeper. I found myself wanting more interiority in the beginning to understand why they didn't want to be with anyone else or walk away from the relationship other than the physicality. I'm a fan of love at first sight (but not insta-lust), but it's evident there are some plot beats missing to help progress the romance development at a comfortable pace. Given that Callisto is portrayed as a brooding male lead, it felt like there should be more resistance between him and Solstice. We're missing character goals and motivations, mostly on Callisto's part. The reader is told what's happening, rather than seeing it unfold organically.
In terms of the worldbuilding, the setting is identified immediately with the help of detailed notes prior to the prologue. I personally find worldbuilding notes in the beginning of the story to be overwhelming and would prefer for it to be sprinkled throughout the story as we get to learn more about the world the author has created while we read. The setting and character description are surface-level, so I had difficulty visualizing the scenes in their entirety.
The fantasy elements don't really come into play until around 75% into the book, so I wish the elements were stronger prior to that point. It would have helped not feel as "random." Nevertheless, the story was a sweet, quick read.
2.5 Jade Rabbits / 5 (rounded to 3 on Goodreads)
2. THE PRODIGAL TIGER by Samantha Chong (forthcoming, March 17, 2026)
Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Young Readers Group | G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers for providing an ARC ahead of this review! The following feedback is my own opinion.
Prodigal Tiger served as a wonderful introduction to Malaysian folklore. From including different dialects in dialogue to the exciting descriptions of Malaysia through a fantastical lens, I enjoyed every minute of getting to know this magical version of Malaysia through the characters’ eyes.
I would have liked more breathing room between action scenes where we could relax with the characters and come to terms with everything happening with the council, the island, and the ghosts. In the middle of the book, there are constant obstacles happening back-to-back right when they are on the cusp of finding something new. I did like how these obstacles built off each other rather than maintaining one level of tension, but I found some fatigue with the constant attacks/explosions. Around the last 15% of the book, it slows down, and we see more of their daily life as they come to terms with the choices the major characters have made. I really appreciated how loose ends were tied up in a nice bow, but would have liked more of these scenes interspersed in earlier parts of the book. It should also be noted that while I found some plot twists to be predictable, it makes the book a nice, comfortable read. The predictability doesn’t shift my experience negatively, as instead of focusing so much on understanding the world and the magic, I could simply be with the characters.
The romantic tension between J.J. and Caro is sweet, and I like that when Caro returns to the island, there isn’t instant forgiveness. Both sides have things to work on in their relationship. While I wished to have male yearning early on, this story is primarily told through Caro’s perspective. J.J.’s hesitation shows some hints of potential male yearning, but I liked how it was left up to Caro to make the first move since she was the person who left. How they left things is always in the back of her mind, and I liked how it’s a consistent element that ties into her feelings of belonging.
The folkloric creatures and incorporating the Hungry Ghost Festival tie really well together. I got a huge kick out of seeing Chong’s interpretation of the Naga, as that also exists in my culture. There is something eerily chilling about the magic system, but thrilling. I would recommend this story to anyone interested in branching out into contemporary fantasy inspired by Asian culture, featuring darker folkloric tones, reuniting loved ones who must navigate a prior separation, and yearning for belonging.
3.5 Jade Rabbits / 5 (rounded to 4 on Goodreads and Netgalley)
3. THE SCALES OF LOST HARMONY by Jasmine Willis (forthcoming, March 18, 2026)
Thank you to the author, Jasmine Willis, for providing an ARC ahead of this review! The following feedback is my own opinion.
The Scales of Lost Harmony is a wonderfully fantastic take on real-world problems with a heartstring-pulling slow-burn romance. Asana is a character that is easy to relate to. Her desire to find her place in the world is a chilling aspiration that many of us seek these days. I loved watching her develop into a stronger person and felt that every person she opened up to offer another layer of emotional healing to myself. Music is a powerful tool for healing, and I thought it was absolutely brilliant to approach it from that angle as these characters navigate their own traumas.
The romance never comes across as awkward and is comfortably paced. It's always a breath of fresh air when I read a story with a male lead who respects the female lead's boundaries. Green Flag MCs for the win! I enjoyed how they each had their own struggles to overcome, but it wasn't an obstacle that was resolved quickly. It was a constant point of tension that helped push that "will they, won't they" in a way that was masterful. Most "will they, won't they" stories annoy me because there's too much pull, but this novel had just the right amount of tension.
The worldbuilding is easy to understand, and I thought it was great to see it draw parallels to the real world. The only elements that kept me from rating it a complete 5/5 were the clunkiness of earlier chapters that could be tightened for smoother readability and the amount of similes used to describe emotions. The former improved drastically as the story progressed. Although the similies were meaningful, it became too much at times and could be resolved with more sentence variation. But nonetheless, this was an absolutely beautiful story, and I think it’s something that everyone should read if they ever reach a point where they feel they don’t belong or don’t like who they are. After finishing The Scales of Lost Harmony, a greater appreciation for life is sure to rub off on the reader. I await the author’s next release with bated breath.
4.75 Jade Rabbits / 5 (rounded to 5 on Goodreads)
4. SEA BLOOMS by H. P. Lane - (forthcoming, March 23, 2026)
Thank you to the author, H. P. Lane, for providing an ARC ahead of this review! The following feedback is my own opinion.
"We live for the little things." I believe this story is an accurate representation of how we should live life now. It's easy to get lost in the chaos of daily responsibilities, but I'm grateful I had time to put my worries aside and delve into this cozy fantasy.
Sea Blooms is a refreshing YA cozy fantasy featuring a merman who seeks to pave his way in the human world by trying to save a failing flower shop amidst prejudice against magical creatures. The voice perfectly caters to the young adult age group and is extremely memorable. I enjoyed the simplicity of the magic system because it allowed me to really focus on Oddie's journey and connect with him. I think it was a smart choice to tell the story in a single, first person perspective. It gives enough without being overwhelming. The romance subplot offers some tension, but the male yearning will always be my favorite element! The only criticism I have towards the romance progression is while we it's meant to be a one-sided unrequited love, I would have loved to see how Lily's feelings evolve throughout the story through Oddie's eyes. There could have been more foreshadowing in her body language or facial cues to suggest she's interested in him because it mostly felt platonic until the first kiss. Aside from those minor romantic foreshadowing, I really loved the choice of a slowburn romance.
The ending is satisfying, but I felt it wrapped up a little too neatly and too fast. It would be nice to see a scenario where maybe one person involved in the story didn't win or get the ending they hoped for. The antagonist's personality felt inconsistent with what we'd been shown for most of the story, contributing to this. Still, I greatly enjoyed the story. It's a nice break from the fated soulmate books I've been binging! It's almost waiting for a cup of your favorite tea to finish brewing and when you finally take that first sip, it's fragrant, relaxing, and layered.
4 Jade Rabbits / 5
5. AICHA by Soraya Bouazzaoui - (forthcoming, March 24, 2026)
Thank you to Netgalley and Orbit Books for providing an ARC ahead of this review! The following feedback is my own opinion.
Aicha is a wonderful presentation of female rage and anti-colonialism. The bonds between Aicha and her family and how far she'd go to protect her loved ones is admirable, but the way her emotions are presented in the story feel slightly stiff. Each section of the novel builds up to the siege where Aicha's people will finally break free from their oppressors. The story is slow to start, but it picks up around the 60% mark as we get closer to the day of the siege and the stakes rise.
I would have liked more fluidity in the arrangement of scenes, as there are around 3-4 flashbacks that felt out of place. I believe that instead of backtracking and showing characters’ motives for why they behave the way they do in the present timeline could have been integrated throughout the story. It would have avoided disrupting the tension and connected me to other characters on a deeper level.
The romance between Rachid and Aicha, while tender, doesn’t really show why these two need to be together. It feels as though their relationship developed out of necessity or mutual empathy, rather than specific qualities of the person. For that reason, I didn’t connect with or believe them as a couple for much of the book. I appreciated Rachid’s respect for Aicha’s boundaries as the relationship developed, but still think there’s something lacking. The spicy scenes are well written, and I loved the level of care that went into them especially since Aicha hasn’t been intimate with any other man before.
Having grown up Muslim for part of my childhood, I understood some words and phrases, but many were lost on me, especially the food dishes, and I wish the meanings behind them had been made clearer. I love learning about other cultures through language, so I felt I missed out a little not being able to understand or infer the meaning of some words/phrases. However, this aspect was not prominent enough to be part of the reason for my rating, as other elements, as stated above, were harder to disregard.
3 Jade Rabbits / 5
Are any of these books on your list to read in 2026? Let me know in the comments!
Comments