About the Book:

Title: Graceless Heart (The Spellbound History Quartet, #1)

Author: Isabel Ibañez

Publisher: Saturday Books

Release Date: January 13, 2026

Pages: 488

Genre: Adult Fantasy, Adult Romance, Historical Fiction

Synopsis:

A lush, atmospheric and achingly magical standalone adult fantasy romance set in Renaissance Italy from a #1 New York Times bestselling author.

In 15th-century Volterra, sculptress Ravenna Maffei enters a competition hosted by a secretive, immortal family who offer an invaluable boon to the victor. Desperate to win so she can save her brother, Ravenna reveals a rare magical talent–a dangerous act in a city where magic is forbidden. Her revelation makes her a target, and she is kidnapped by the Luni family and taken to Florence, a city of breathtaking beauty and cutthroat ambition.

There, Ravenna is forced into an impossible task where failure means certain death at the hands of Saturnino dei Luni, the family’s enigmatic and merciless heir. But under his cold reserve hides a vulnerability that draws her closer than she ever intended.

Meanwhile, Ravenna’s forbidden magic does not go unnoticed. The Pope, waging war against Florence, the Medici, and magic itself, has his own interest in her abilities, seeing her as a potential weapon in his ruthless campaign.

As alliances shift and war brews on the horizon, Ravenna must navigate the treacherous line between survival and betrayal, between love and duty. With time running out and her every move watched, the choices she makes will determine the fate of not just her own life, but the fragile balance of magic and power that could unravel Florence itself.

Review:

*I received an e-arc via Netgalley from the publisher. Thank you to Netgalley and Saturday Books for the opportunity. All thoughts are my own*

I love Isabel Ibañez’s writing, so it should have come as no surprise that I would enjoy Graceless Heart. Y’all, I LOVED it! I thought this was a fantastic adult debut, and it is one of my favorite books of the year!

I adored the setting of Renaissance Italy! I could tell that this was well researched, as I felt as though I was drawn back in time, and could picture everything quite vividly. There was a lot of political intrigue, and the Pope and the Medici family are among the cast of characters. Then add in magic, which made it chef’s kiss!

Ravenna is such a strong and fascinating female protagonist. I enjoyed watching her growth throughout the story. The love of her family is one of the things that drives her character the most, and I think that’s great. I would do just about anything for my family. Despite everything she comes up against, she doesn’t stop fighting, and she is truly inspiring. Saturnino gave me some whiplash, but I wound up adoring him.

Overall, this story was just beautiful and I highly recommend it! This is a standalone, but there will be future books set in this world, and I can’t wait for more!

About the Author:

Isabel Ibañez is a USA Today, Indie, Sunday Times, and #1 New York Times bestseller and the author of the Secrets of the Nile duology, Together We Burn, Written in Starlight, and Woven in Moonlight, which is listed among Time Magazine’s 100 Best Fantasy Books of All Time and was a finalist for the William C. Morris award. She is the proud daughter of Bolivian immigrants and has a profound appreciation for history, traveling, and writing stories where her characters are often running for their lives. She currently lives in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina with her family, their adorable golden doodle, and an overwhelming amount of books.

About the Book:

Title: Fallen City

Author: Adrienne Young

Publisher: Saturday Books

Release Date: November 4, 2025

Pages: 416

Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult

Synopsis:

In the great walled city of Isara, political turmoil ignites a rebellion one hundred years in the making. But when a legionnaire falls in love with a Magistrate’s daughter, their love will threaten the fate of the city and the will of the gods.

Luca Matius has one purpose—to carry on the family name, maintaining its presence in the Forum once his powerful and cruel uncle dies. But his noviceship with the city’s Philosopher places him in the middle of a catastrophe that will alter the destiny of his people.

Maris Casperia was raised amidst the strategic maneuvers of the Citadel’s inner workings, and she knows what her future holds—a lifetime of service to a corrupt city. But her years of serving as a novice to the last Priestess who possesses the stolen magic of the Old War has made her envision a different kind of future for the city. When she meets Luca, a fated chain of events is set into motion that will divinely entangle their lives.

As a secret comes to light and throws the city into chaos, Luca and Maris hatch a plot to create a calculated alliance that could tip the scales of power. But when an execution forces Luca to become the symbol of rebellion, he and Maris are thrown onto opposite sides of a holy war. As their fates diverge, they learn they are at the center of a story the gods are writing. And even if they can find their way back to each other, there may be nothing left.

Review:

*I received an e-arc via Netgalley for review. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity. All thoughts are my own*

3.5 stars rounded up to 4

Fallen City sounded really amazing, and I love Adrienne Young, but this one unfortunately didn’t wind up a favorite.

I think the structure of the book really impacted my feelings regarding the story. The story is told in dual timelines and alternating points of view, between the main characters, Maris and Luca. I think the flip flopping between past and present became confusing at times. There are also gods and a magic system in the story that I feel needed to be more fleshed out.

The ending of the story winds up on a cliffhanger and I am disappointed in the direction that the two main characters seem to be headed. I still want to read the next book to see what happens, and hopefully the author will clear up some of the things that were confusing in the first.

About the Author:

Adrienne Young is the New York Times and international bestselling author of the Sky and Sea duology, the Fable series, and Spells for Forgetting. When she’s not writing, you can find Adrienne on her yoga mat, on a walk in the woods, or planning her next travel adventure. She lives and writes in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina.

For information on release, appearances, ARCs, giveaways, and exclusive content, sign up for the newsletter at https://adrienneyoungbooks.com/

Instagram: @adrienneyoungbooks

About the Book:

Title: Wild Reverence

Author: Rebecca Ross

Publisher: Saturday Books

Release Date: September 2, 2025

Pages: 527

Genre: Fantasy, Romance

Synopsis:

Dear Matilda, I wrote.
I let the words flow for her.
And when the ink dried,
I gave my very heart
to the fire.

Born in the firelit domain of the under realm, Matilda is the youngest goddess of her clan, blessed with humble messenger magic she uses to carry words and letters through the realms. But the gods will kill for power, and Matilda holds a secret she must hide from even her dearest allies.

And there is a mortal who dreams of her, though they have never met in the waking world. Ten years ago, Vincent of Beckett wrote to Matilda on the darkest night of his life—begging the goddess he befriended in dreams to help him. His request went unanswered, and Vincent became a hardened, irreverent lord of the river who has long forgotten Matilda . . . until she comes tumbling into his bedroom window with a letter for him.

Matilda and Vincent were fated to find each other beyond dreams. But to rewrite the blood-soaked ways of the gods, Matilda will have to face something she fears even more than losing her magic: finally allowing herself to be loved.

Review:

*I received an e-arc via Netgalley for review. Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity. All thoughts are my own*

Solid adult debut! Rebecca Ross is one of my favorite authors, so I will read anything that she writes. Wild Reverence is the prequel story to the Letters of Enchantment duology. Her writing is just so vivid and sumptuous and pulls me into her stories.

Wild Reverence started out a little slowly for me, but once I really got into it, it was harder to put down. I really love Matilda and Vincent, and I appreciated how we got to know their characters over time and what really made them tick. They came up against so many challenges, and I loved how they persevered despite it all. The romance between them felt like a classic romance, and I loved this! The magic system and world building were spot on.

I recommend! Can’t wait to read more from Rebecca!

About the Author:

Rebecca Ross is the #1 New York Times and Sunday Times bestselling author of fantasy books for teens and adults.

She has written multiple highly acclaimed duologies, including LETTERS OF ENCHANTMENT, ELEMENTS OF CADENCE, and THE QUEEN’S RISING as well as two standalone novels: DREAMS LIE BENEATH and SISTERS OF SWORD & SONG.

When not writing, she can be found in her garden where she plants wildflowers and story ideas. She resides in Northeast Georgia with her husband and her dog. Find her on Instagram @beccajross or online at www.rebeccarossauthor.com.

Rebecca is represented by Suzie Townsend of New Leaf Literary & Media.

About the Book:

Title: A Land So Wide

Author: Erin A. Craig

Publisher: Pantheon

Release Date: September 9, 2025

Pages: 368

Genre: Fantasy, Horror, Historical Fiction

Synopsis:

From the No. 1 New York Times bestselling author of House of Roots and Ruin, an irresistible blend of dark fairytale and romantic fantasy set in the beautiful but brutal Canadian wilderness.

Like everyone else in the settlement of Mistaken, Greer Mackenzie is trapped. Founded by an ambitious Scottish lumber merchant, the tiny town on the edge of the American continent is blessed with rich natural resources that have made its people prosperous—but at a cost. The same woods that have lined the townsfolks’ pockets harbor dangerous beasts: wolves, bears, and the Bright-Eyeds—monsters beyond description who have rained utter destruction down on nearby settlements. But Mistaken’s founders made a deal with the mysterious Benevolence: the Warding Stones that surround the town will keep the Bright-Eyeds out—and the town’s citizens in. Anyone who spends a night within Mistaken’s borders belongs to it forever.

Greer, a mapmaker and eccentric dreamer, has always ached to explore the world outside, even though she knows she and her longtime love, Ellis Beaufort, will never see it. Until, on the day she and Ellis are meant to finally begin their lives together, Greer watches in horror as her beloved disappears beyond the Warding Stones, pursued by a monstrous creature. Swiftly realizing that the stories she was raised on might be more myth than fact, Greer figures out a way to escape Mistaken for the very first time. Determined to rescue Ellis, she begins a trek through the cold and pitiless wilderness. But Greer is being hunted, not only by the ruthless Bright-Eyeds but by the secret truths behind Mistaken’s founding, as well as her own origins.

Playfully drawing from Scottish folklore, Erin A. Craig’s adult debut is both a deeply atmospheric and profoundly romantic exploration of freedom versus security: a stunning celebration of one woman’s relentless bravery on a quest to reclaim her lost love—and claim her own future.

Review:

*I received an e-arc via Netgalley for review. Thanks to the publisher for the opportunity. All thoughts are my own*

I love Erin A. Craig, and her writing in this one is what drew me in! This was solid for her adult debut, drawing from Scottish folklore.

I absolutely loved the atmosphere she creates in the beginning of the story. It’s so romantic and gothic feeling. I definitely could relate to the character’s sense of being trapped within the town and feeling as though they had no idea what was out in the world. I did a buddy read for this one, and we both agreed that the events described in the synopsis did not really take place until about half-way through the book and felt as though they were already a given.

The story was well written overall, with the first half being very atmospheric and romantic. The second half of the book felt more rushed to me.

I recommend and can’t wait to read more from this author!

About the Author:

#1 New York Times bestselling author Erin A. Craig has always loved telling stories.

After getting her B.F.A. from the University of Michigan, in Theatre Design and Production, she stage managed tragic operas with hunchbacks, séances, and murderous clowns, then decided she wanted to write books that were just as spooky.

An avid reader, decent quilter, rabid basketball fan, and collector of typewriters, brass figurines, and sparkly shoes, Erin makes her home in West Michigan with her husband and daughter.

To find out more about Erin and the worlds she creates, follow @penchant4words on Instagram and Threads.

She is represented by Sarah Landis at Sterling Lord Literistic.