Wera's 2026 Q4 Arc Reviews
Hello, fellow eggs! Welcome to the final issue of my quarterly reviews. Worry not! I will be continuing these in 2027. Joy and I also look forward to showing you how far we've progressed in our annual To Be Read piles!
I had the privilege of reviewing the following advanced reader copies (ARCs). To contribute to a successful release, my reviews for these ARCs do not contain spoilers. All books are rated on 5 Jade Rabbit scale, with 5 being the best. DNFs are not assigned a rating.
☆ Emily Heil: A PINCH OF MAGIC | 🐰🐰🐰.25 (Oct 6, 2026)
Thank you Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the ARC!
A PINCH OF MAGIC is an adult cozy paranormal with a side of romance. It follows ghostwriter Cam Parker as she works with a nightmare client to pay for the repairs of her grandmother's house while trying to resist the pull of a handsome local and uncover the mysteries of a ghost she accidentally summons from an old cookbook.
First off, I LOVE the idea of a cookbook author as an MC (and one in her 30s at that) because it offers variety, and as I get older; I lean more towards reading about older protagonists. The recipes make for an absolutely mouthwatering read! While it had elements I could fall in love with, the execution wasn’t strong enough to maintain my attention. The pacing is too slow, and it takes too long for the story to lean into the paranormal aspects. The romance is also lacking in that we don’t see the characters growing closer together, and I really wanted to understand why they should be paired. If the story leaned heavier into the ghostly elements, I think it would have kept me hooked. While I didn’t enjoy it as much as I thought I would, other readers looking for books with ghost shenanigans, strong family bonds, and second chances in a small-town setting may enjoy this read.
☆ Ashley J. Vinson: THE BARON AND HIS BRIDE | 🐰🐰.5 (Nov 5, 2026)
Thank you to Victory Editing for the ARC!
THE BARON AND HIS BRIDE is an adult Viking-inspired romantasy that sees the reunion of two childhood sweethearts as they enter a marriage of convenience.
Although the romance has its cute and heartwarming moments, it lacks depth needed for the reader to connect with the MCs. The opening starts in a rather odd spot, but the amount of male yearning was enough to convince me to give this story a chance. As I progressed further, the underwhelming conflict became more noticeable. I wanted to see them struggle more instead of everything handed to them so easily to give a more meaningful payoff.
I also wish we got to see the characters grow closer together instead of being told how they felt or how those feelings shifted. The ML was too perfect and I wish character flaws were more present as well as consistent characterization. This has the potential to be a sweet love story, but it really needs a stronger structure.
☆ Allie Nguyen: BLOOD OF SILVER | 🐰🐰🐰🐰 (Nov 10, 2026)
Thank you Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing | Margaret K. McElderry Books for the ARC!
BLOOD OF SILVER is a YA fantasy that follows Linh as she's transported to a magical world to learn how to wield magic after meeting a strangely familiar boy at her mother's funeral.
BLOOD OF SILVER has a strong YA voice with a breathtaking cover, a relatable MC, and the perfect dose of horror. Unfortunately, the slow-burn romance falls flat, and the character and setting descriptions leave much to be desired, despite Nguyen’s meticulous worldbuilding. I wanted more than lists of observations infused with Linh’s perspective to better understand how she perceives the world and become immersed in her POV. Elior has the potential to be a strong male lead, but I wanted more emotion out of him to be convinced he’s the perfect match for Linh. Nguyen does an excellent job of showing simmering romance with side characters, so I wanted the same with the main couple.
There are many tropes in this book that will attract different readers. I liked some elements, but altogether, it made the plot quite muddled. I never got the sense of excitement that made me feel "I absolutely need to know how this ends" that I normally get with romantasy novels (no matter the type of burn). This wasn't a terrible story by any means. While I didn't fall in love with it, it's still a very interesting debut with great potential and a Vietnamese MC (yay, SE Asian rep!) that'll appeal to readers who enjoy portal fantasy with deadly tournaments and family secrets.
☆ Gracie Marsden: BONES OF JADE, FLESH LIKE ICE | 🐰🐰🐰🐰🐰 (Nov 10, 2026)
Thank you Viking Penguin for the ARC!
BONES OF JADE, FLESH LIKE ICE is a dark historical fantasy with Taiwanese folklore that focuses on a young girl in 11th century Kangzhu who is married off to a stranger after her parents receive a prophecy from a shapeshifting jing. It is perfect for readers searching for books that feature feminine rage, revenge, and shapeshifting demons. CONTENT WARNING: This novel contains death, miscarriage, graphic torture, child marriage, child abuse and neglect, and graphic violence and gore. Please be aware my review will generally hint at this content, but will not directly speak to specific scenes. Read at your own discretion.
BONES OF JADE, FLESH LIKE ICE is one of those stories that leave a lasting mark on a reader, not only because of its characters but also the atmospheric world Marsden has created. Yu’er is such a visceral character who seeks to reclaim what she’s lost, but also just wishes to survive. Even as she’s forced to do unthinkable things, her heart doesn’t change. With all the greed she’s been around since her parents sold her off, she retains an incorruptible shard of innocence. Her pain becomes the reader’s pain, and while many of the injustices she faced would be hard for anyone to witness, I couldn’t stop reading. I wanted to see her succeed. Marsden has successfully created a protagonist that many readers will root for. Yu’er’s struggles will break your heart and turn you into a sobbing mess, but the short-lived positive moments will also make you laugh. This is truly one of the strongest debuts I’ve ever read and will remain one of my favorite books of all-time. I look forward to reading Marsden’s next work.
☆ Camille Wolfewood: THE TRUTH-TELLER'S AWAKENING | 🐰🐰🐰🐰.75 (Nov 11, 2026)
Thank you to the author for the ARC! THE TRUTH-TELLER'S AWAKENING is an adult romantasy and the final book in The Oracle's Duet. It picks up immediately where Book 1 ended. CONTENT WARNING: This novel contains graphic violence and gore, war, death, loss of bodily autonomy, references to emotional abuse, grief, trauma, and institutional oppression. For a full list of warnings, please visit the author's site here. My review will not comment on this content.
Camille has done it again! THE TRUTH-TELLER’S AWAKENING is a magical journey of reclamation, and I’m so happy that I was here to witness the conclusion to The Oracle’s Duet. Alethea and Nakir do what they do best: steal our hearts with mutual yearning and silence us with their heartbreaking vulnerability and admirable growth. Get a partner who looks at you like Nakir looks at Alethea!
The magic system gets significant expansion in this entry, and I commend Wolfewood on its unique structure and she seamlessly introduces it to the reader. Watching Alethea learn more about her powers as the Truth-Teller is like watching her break all the chains of resentment and insecurity she carried and stand as the strong woman we know she's meant to be. Not only that, her power is earned. We see her putting in the effort to become stronger and prouder of herself.
The romance is ELECTRIFYING. Not just because of the spice or the emotional intimacy, but because both work towards creating this partnership. There’s nothing more satisfying than seeing both characters recognize their shortcomings and work hard to be better individuals and as a couple. P.S. I am praying for spin-off justice for Balthy. The side characters are too likeable to let them disappear!
I highly recommend this story to anyone who has ever felt like they were never enough. I eagerly await Wolfewood’s next book and hope we revisit Senmarria sometime soon.
☆ Mara Rutherford: MY UNFAMILIAR | 🐰🐰🐰🐰🐰 (Dec 1, 2026)
Thank you St. Martin's Press | Wednesday Books for the ARC! MY UNFAMILIAR is a YA cozy fantasy romance that follows a grumpy mage and a familiar matchmaker as they navigate an unlikely connection amidst a royal competition. CONTENT WARNING: This novel contains animal cruelty and death, bullying, domestic abuse, emotional abuse, sexism, and misogyny. My review will not comment on specific scenes. It is a perfect story for those searching for more cozy reads focusing on the love between human and animal, a grumpy x sunshine couple with visible flaws, found family, and a whimsical world.
After reading two intense books that I absolutely fell in love with, I was not prepared for the instant admiration for Rutherford’s characters and world. I have a soft spot for Winnie, not just because her nickname reminds me of my first late pet, but also for her resilience and desire to follow her dreams. You can feel her love for her animals within these pages, and it’s a big part of her compassionate personality. She is the perfect counterpart to Bastian, offering light when he needs it most. Most people say there are books that feel like a warm hug, but Winnie’s determination to break free of societal expectations feels like a tender embrace for the reader.
The magic system isn’t complicated, but is unique and playful, which is one of this book’s many strengths. It’s a wonderful delight to be dazzled by every show of magic and never tire of what spell will be shown to the reader next. Rutherford doesn’t leave the reader guessing or reaching for more information, as she provides the right amount without disrupting the book’s cozy vibe.
The romance isn’t easy. Both sides have misunderstandings and assumptions, but they play into their character flaws. There is an interesting “will they, won’t they” component that pairs well with the royal mage competition plot. Instead of growing as individuals, they grow in a partnership, and that’s what makes it so easy to root for them.
It is truly a wonderfully cozy story that will leave your heart overflowing with warmth by the end.
☆ Vanessa Le: WHEN SHADOWS BURN | 🐰🐰🐰🐰🐰 (Dec 1, 2026)
Thank you Macmillan Children's Publishing Group | Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) for the ARC!
WHEN SHADOWS BURN is a YA dark academia fantasy with family drama, murder mystery, a medical magic system, demons, and secret identities. It follows a demon-hunting duo in an exorcist school as they uncover murder and corruption. CONTENT WARNING: This novel contains blood, gore, violence, injury detail, medical content, emotional abuse, murder, body horror, grief, and death. As a note, the magic system revolves around blood, which involves the characters pricking their fingers or creating cuts on their arms to exorcise demons. Although not intended to be self-harm, it could be triggering to some readers. My review will not refer to specific scenes.
I love how the story begins with the MC and his purpose in the world as a demon Caller. Not all books need to start with action, but I appreciated how Le kept the reader grounded by briefly weaving in explanations of world-specific terms in a way that would make sense in reality. The medical magic system was so unique, and I thought the body horror elements with the yeukai were going to creep me out, but I couldn’t put the book down! They’re unlike typical demons I’ve read about in books, as they take on combined animalistic characteristics, and it makes the action scenes more suspenseful.
I appreciate how the Slayers and Callers have limitations that make sense and how Le has crafted fictional diseases with realistic symptoms. It truly makes for a unique and developed. It’s interesting to see how Le’s application of her medical background has influenced this well-balanced story. Additionally, the characters’ limitations serve as direct counterparts, especially considering how a Slayer cannot operate without a Caller. It was especially intriguing interesting when Le took it a step forward and presented this duality as opposing views of the characters and the characters themselves (e.g., Kiet vs. his father, Oren).
My only critique is that the epilogue is very predictable, though I can’t deny it helps set up the sequel well. I still would be very interested in reading the conclusion to this duology!
DNFs
☆ LJ Andrews: THE EVER KING / THE EVER QUEEN / THE MIST THIEF | No Rating
Thank you Berkley Publishing Group / Ace for the ARCs!
THE EVER SEAS SERIES is a high-stakes adult romantasy in which a scarred king seeks revenge against his father's killer by kidnapping his enemy's daughter. CONTENT WARNING: This novel contains violence, torture, sexual content, war, death of a parent, kidnapping, physical abuse, and on-page attempted rape. My review will not comment on this content.
DNF at 14%. The pacing is too slow and I'm struggling to connect with the female lead because there is so much worldbuilding in these first few chapters and not enough action to keep me committed to continue.
☆ Kyla Zhao: HEIRS OF INFAMY | No Rating (Oct 13, 2026)
Thank you Penguin Young Readers Group | G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers for the ARCs!
HEIRS OF INFAMY is a YA historical romance that takes place in 1940s San Francisco Chinatown. It follows the forbidden romance between rival crime family heirs Alexis Sung and Zachary Ren as they attempt a dangerous heist to ensure their survival.
DNF at 24%. I was really intrigued by the premise and enjoy a historical fiction where the characters come from a criminal background because it hits that craving for crime fiction, however, I really struggled to connect with Alexis. The pacing feels too slow and Alexis drives home the inequality too much so that it's hard for me to stay committed to her journey. It had the potential to be an interesting story, but I wish there was more action and a little less reflection. Alexis comes off as a strong-willed protagonist which I liked, but I wanted her to do so much more. I think even though I didn't like it, others may view it differently.
☆ Jasmine Ahmad: CHOSEN ONES | No Rating (Oct 20, 2026)
Thank you to the author for the ARC!
CHOSEN ONES is an adult paranormal romantasy that follows the Jimenez sisters, as they prepare to face a dangerous threat that could threaten the future of all witches.
DNF at 26%. I found the world to be too simplistic, with not enough immersive details to the magic system to allow me to visualize scenes in the way I’m certain the author originally intended. I wanted more detail; instead of enemies appearing out of nowhere with no real buildup. If there were more tension in the action scenes, I would have felt the same urgency as the characters. Additionally, although there was a meet-cute with the male lead, he came on too strong, asking too many personal questions of Cordelia at their first meeting that didn’t feel appropriate and appearing too much without proper grounding that it came off rather stalkerish to me. I think if toned down, I would have to like him more, but the enthusiasm turned me off and was almost theatrical. While not for me, others may enjoy reading an accessible fantasy with witches.
☆ Ann Liang: TO DREAM IN DARKNESS | No Rating (Oct 27, 2026)
Thank you St. Martin's Press for the ARC!
TO DREAM IN DARKNESS is an adult historical fantasy that sees two gods on a journey to retrieve the crown prince after striking a bargain. Rujia, a healer god, promises to lift the Death God's century-old curse in exchange for an extra month of life. CONTENT WARNING: This novel contains death, torture, grief, body horror, violence, and mentions of child abuse. Please be aware my review will generally hint at this content, but will not directly speak to specific scenes. Read at your own discretion.
DNF at 37%. I can't seem to connect with the characters or the world. I really do think Liang's metaphors are truly beautiful when describing individual objects/small places, creatures, and the people around her, but I felt as though I couldn't really visualize the characters and where the scenes took place. While the initial pages were interesting and I enjoyed how the author showcased Rujia's healing abilities, it wasn't enough to keep me invested. At times, it leans more into fantasy or romance and it left me wanting a better balance.
I also found that the character POVs weren't distinct enough. It made it difficult to remember whose POV I was in, so I struggled to empathize with the characters. The dialogue tended to make the characters sound younger, which actually contrasted with how the characters perceived the world around them. I often had to remind myself that this is intended for adults. Although I didn't enjoy it, others might still be captivated by Liang's atmospheric metaphors, the immortal enemies-to-lovers dynamic, and godly curses.
Please share your recommendations in the comments below!
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