In many ways, the Khanum Empire is a reflection of the real world. And, A Trade of Blood is a timely reminder of the remarkable power of fantasy to capture the dynamisms of this world.

If Game of Thrones taught us anything, it’s that the characters we hate the most tend to outlive everyone else.

The Second Stone feels like a bridge between two plateaus, and an uneventful but necessary trip from the highs of book 2 and whatever new peaks the author plans to scale next.

The Kheld King continues in the character-driven vein of its predecessor, while bringing more drama and action to a solidly woven plot.

The final act in The Devils was a complete ten out of ten, from the betrayals to the reveals and secrets. I’m intrigued to see what comes next.

Sordaneon was a timely reminder of why few pleasures genuinely compare to reading, and why the fantasy genre remains my first literary love.

They Came From The Sea takes a different path from standard fantasy, mixing myth and survival with the rising dread of invasion

Agent Arimonu: The Guardian Spy comes off as unselttling and bold for readers, as it doesn’t read like your typical fantasy book.

Verity of Old is a marked improvement from Memory of Stone, with a massive finale reveal that makes the final book an immediate must-read.

The character development is intensified in Stone of Farewell, as readers are taken deeply into the minds of the main characters, invited along on the epic ride.

One word for The Poppy War: UNHINGED! I’ve listened to/watched R.F. Kuang’s interviews, so I’m not entirely shocked that this brilliance came from her.

The Midnight Library doesn’t offer easy answers, but it does offer this: that life’s value isn’t being perfect but being present.