I need to come up with a better name for these. Anyways here are the short reviews for the last two books I read. Both were very good and I would highly recommend either of them.
A Judgement of Powers by Benedict Jacka
Published: November 2025
Stephen Oakwood’s ambitions used to be simple. Pay his bills, track down his father, and take care of his cat. Maybe study a little magic after work, if he had time.
Now it’s a year later and he’s got everything he wanted. But it’s come with a price.
The Winged, a mysterious group involved with his father, have noticed Stephen, and they want him to join them or else. His career as a corporate locator has hit a dead end. And his new job as bodyguard to Calhoun Ashford is proving a lot more lethal than expected due to assassination attempts from outside the House, and possibly also from within.
To survive, Stephen’s going to need allies of his own. And along the way, he’s going to have to figure out the secret of his own gift, and what it means. The cults, Houses, and corporations of the magical world are locked in an endless battle for dominance, and Stephen is beginning to realize that he’s going to have to pick a side . . . before someone else picks it for him.
Confession:
This is one of the slowest moving series I have ever read, but I really mean that in a good way. Yes the story doesn’t progress as quickly as most people would like, but the trade off is well developed characters, a complex magical system that is always being explored and added to, a hero who is not all powerful, but learning to find his way and wealthy and powerful families who control all of the magic.
This is the third book in the series and even though things didn’t progress much in the way of plot, we do learn quite a bit more about the world and the magic. Stephen is also growing in his skills and magical ability. He is fighting for himself and not willing to give up his freedom to fight for others. It is not always clear who are the good guys and who are the bad ones, but Stephen and his friends are definitely on the side of right.
If you like urban fantasy with a great cast of characters both good and bad, a great magical system which almost makes you believe in magic, then this is a series you should consider adding to your list. It is well written and while slow moving it is still a great story.
The Crimson Throne by Sara Raasch and Beth Revis
Read by Alex Wingfield and Lianne Walker
Published: October 2025
Summary from Goodreads:
Samson Calthorpe’s curse has isolated him from everyone he has ever cared about. So, when the opportunity arises to break the curse, he grabs it. All he has to do for his freedom is risk his life and become a royal spy, using every bit of the skills and resolve he’s picked up on the streets of London to infiltrate the court of the Scottish Queen and uncover a plot to assassinate Queen Elizabeth.
For years, Alyth Graham has been protecting Mary Queen of Scots from threats both physical and magical, including the Queen’s own husband, Lord Darnley. Alyth is more than meets the eye though, the child of a fae prince and a human mother, she is among the most powerful protectors in Scotland: guardians sworn to defend against the Red Caps, a bloodthirsty fae clan . . . that Lord Darnley is in league with to overtake Scotland.
As Alyth and Samson circle each other in the volatile and glamorous Scottish court, both seek to uncover threats to their own countries. They have one unifying link: their shared hatred and suspicion of Lord Darnley…and their undeniable pull towards each other. Using secret codes, hidden messages, and a little bit of magic, Alyth and Samson unravel a plot centuries in the making. Lord Darnley is only a pawn, and in this game, the queen takes all.
Confession:
This is going to be a hard one to keep short as this was a really good book that I really enjoyed. I thought it was a standalone, but it is a duology. I hope we don’t have to wait to long for the next book as there was a bit of a cliffhanger at the end. The two readers were also excellent and I would listen to them again on another book.
This is a YA historical romance set in Scotland during Queen Mary’s reign. The fae are very much around in this one, and in fact many of the characters are half fae. I loved how the authors wove the true story of Queen Mary’s court with the fantasy elements. It really worked well. There is a close relationship with the Scotts and the fae and it showed in this book.
I loved both Sampson and Alyth and found myself rooting for both of them. Alyth is a very strong female character that doesn’t take crap from anyone, including the Queen. Sampson just wants to end his curse and will do what it takes to find the answers. They do fall in love but their romance does not overshadow the main story line.
A well written historical fantasy with lots of plot twists to keep you on your toes. Plus you will fall in love with the characters and will be rooting for them from the start. This is one you really don’t want to miss.
Confessions of a Serial Reader 