Category: Sequel - Alyce Caswell - Author

Alyce Caswell - Author

Hope Springs Eternal

1/5/2025

Fae's Fate (Fated Mates of the Fae Royals)
by Helen Walton

The Spring of Life is dying and the Fae will not be far behind it. Princess Ciara and her best friend, Malachi, travel to Earth in an attempt to find a cure inside a magical library. But the answers may not be there. And they may need to make a great sacrifice in order to put things right. Ciara will do what she must; Malachi will support her. They've always been friends. Just friends. Never anything else...

I love this series... it's like a warm cup of tea, which is especially appreciated now that the weather is getting colder! Ciara and Malachi did frustrate me a bit (lol just figure your feelings out already!!) but they are so sweet together and you can't help but cheer when they finally stop dancing around the issue. I am so keen for the next - and last - book. But I don't want it to be over. Nooooooooo!

A Glittering Dilemma

5/4/2025

The King's Jewels (Sisters of the Sword #3)
by Terri Green

The Mirror of Great Britain, a set of jewels that symbolises the new and tenuous union of England and Scotland, has been stolen. Should this come to light, it will be a great embarrassment for King James. Lucinda McCrae must find the jewels. Not only for her country, but so she can avoid paying the loser's price: becoming the mistress of the visiting Danish king.

I love this series so much - historical romance starring a sword-wielding heroine? yes, please! - and each book completely engrosses me. Obviously, The King's Jewels is no exception. Green sends Lucinda - and us readers! - on an emotional rollercoaster. I couldn't read through the pages fast enough because I swear Lucinda's anxiety was my own. Another strong instalment. Eagerly awaiting the next one.

Content warning: sexual assault, infant death, miscarriage/pregnancy loss, references of physical abuse of children

Lost and Found

27/12/2024

The Highlander's Kilted Bride (Clan Kendrick #6)
by Vanessa Kelly

Charlie Stewart has no interest in doing as her parents bid. But with some help, she might be able to behave at her sister's wedding...except that she crosses paths with Kade Kendrick, a Highlander she has quietly admired since childhood. Kade is supposed to be writing a concerto, not being distracted by mad quests to find lost trinkets or lovely lasses. Some distractions are more pleasant than others!

Another enjoyable read from Vanessa Kelly. I have grown very fond of the Kendrick boys, even their grandfather, so this was a treat. I do feel that some of the moving parts didn't align perfectly plot-wise, but I managed to overlook that most of the time. The Highlander's Kilted Bride cheered me up during a rather trying week and I'm glad it's what I chose when I opened my Kobo.

More Books & Much Better

12/10/2024

More Days at the Morisaki Bookshop (Days at the Morisaki Bookshop #2)
by Satoshi Yagisawa

Takako's life has changed for the better after her days at the Morisaki Bookshop. She has maintained the friendships she made there and continues to drop by and help her uncle on her days off. Her uncle's shop is a comforting constant in her life. But not everything stays the same and not everything - or everyone - is a constant.

This was exactly what I wanted the first book to be. Yagisawa's writing skills clearly improved between the two instalments and the bookshop finally had some real life breathed into it. As before, the gentle rhythm of the plot was soothing. I quickly remembered the characters and how much I liked them - in fact, I liked them more this time around. Sometimes the sequel really is better!

Back to the Cafe

1/10/2024

Before We Forget Kindness (Before the Coffee Gets Cold #5)
by Toshikazu Kawaguchi

We return to Cafe Funiculi Funicula once more to witness customers travelling back in time to say things that were left unsaid - and to see loved ones who've since passed on. I think these were a stronger set of stories than those in the previous book... and no, I'm not surprised that Kawaguchi placed the most emotional segment right at the end. I am, however, delightfully surprised that it featured a queer character and that her story was so touching.

Much Ado About Nothing

1/10/2024

Dog Wizard (Windrose Chronicles #3)
by Barbara Hambly

After someone uses the Void to kidnap Joanna from our universe, Antryg throws himself on the mercy of the Council so that he can rescue her in his original universe. The Council claims ignorance of her whereabouts. But this is the least of everyone's worries, because a gate to the Void has been left propped open and all manner of nastiness is flowing through...

I was disappointed with this instalment, mostly because Joanna was given bugger all to do for most of it. Sure, it was great to see Antryg in his element and more deeply explore his place in his world, but it's the mark of a lazy author to not even bother to find space for the series' other main lead, who is now reduced to a damsel who conveniently gets thrown on ice until the plot requires her. The plot in general was okay.

Love, Magic and Computers

24/9/2024

The Silicon Mage (Windrose Chronicles #2)
by Barbara Hambly

Joanna is stranded in our universe after betraying Antryg, but she was a way back - if she follows the dark mage Suraklin through the Void. This means risking her life (and life as we know it in at least two universes). But she must do it. And she must know if Antryg still lives. If he isn't... well, Joanna desperately needs him whole (if not sane) in order to defeat Suraklin once and for all.

Even better than the first book! And this time I did my best to skim over the problematic stuff (cue a Bluey quote - "it was the eighties!"), because I really wanted to absorb every word and enjoy every minute. Some fantasy novels feel like a chore due to rambling middle sections. Not so here. Sure, we did get that rambling middle section, but the world Hambly created here is so interesting that I never once grew bored. Joanna is obviously my favourite. Caris is a close second, though, and I love his character journey. I should probably like Antryg more... but his obvious Sherlockisms grate on me a bit.

All's Well that Merriwells

29/6/2024

Never Wager with a Wallflower (The Merriwell Sisters #3)
by Virginia Heath

Galahad Sinclair is ready to pour his funds into a leisure establishment in London. The problem? He's bought the building right next door to the orphanage that Venus Merriwell feels extremely passionate about. Venus has had it with men betraying her. What she doesn't expect is her changing feelings for Galahad - or that he's been hiding the real reason for pursuing a connection with her.

I've loved every book in this series and so I'm sad to see it end, because its strength was the amusing array of characters connected to the Merriwell family. I also enjoy reading about a hero who makes mistakes and has to make it up to the heroine... so naturally, I enjoyed Never Wager with a Wallflower! I will say that there were some long passages that lingered inside characters' heads. This bogged things down a bit. Can't honestly remember if this was an issue in the previous books, though.

Rinse & Repeat

19/6/2024

Before We Say Goodbye (Before the Coffee Gets Cold #4)
by Toshikazu Kawaguchi

With these books, you always know what you're going to get - a charming cafe where charming stories are played out. At this point though... it's becoming repetitive. The second book gave us more information about the ghost. The third book gave us a different cafe, whose owner works very differently. But this fourth entry goes back to a time we had already passed by and doesn't offer anything new. More of the same. I suppose for some readers that's not a problem. I am hoping that the next book reenergises the series, though admittedly it doesn't matter if it doesn't... because sometimes you do just need more of the same. More healing fiction.

Uncontrollable Sobbing: Round 3

19/6/2024

Before Your Memory Fades (Before the Coffee Gets Cold #3)
by Toshikazu Kawaguchi

I was a bit uncertain about the change in scenery, but turns out it was an excellent idea. I adore Cafe Donna Donna as much as its Tokyo counterpart. As usual, some stories were better than others, though I noticed there seemed to be more focus on characters intending to commit suicide which is... a lot for a reader like me, especially when you've struggled with suicide ideation throughout your life. I note that Kawaguchi likes to end his books with the saddest stories, so that you weep afterwards... I am starting to feel a bit resentful of this, because it seems like an attempt to hide a book's flaws with a big (and very memorable) surge of emotion. That all said, it was still an enjoyable read.