River Readers

Toby is sent to investigate the trouble happening at a startup tech company run by the fae. One by one individuals are being killed, but no memories are left in their blood for Toby to read. Will she be able to save her liege's niece who runs this tech company? will she be able to save anyone? what about the cats that prowl the grounds.

An enjoyable read.

We are introduced to Toby Day, half fae-half human. She's been enchanted as a goldfish for 14 years after a botched investigation for her liege. Initially she tries hard to avoid all things fairy and live in the mundane world. Unfortunately, the death of her sometimes friend Evening Winterrose, pulls her back into the fairy realm.

Xar is an self-centered younger brother, son to the Lead Wizard, whose wizarding powers haven't come in yet. Wish is a Warrior princess daughter of the Queen of Warriors, who struggles to be warrior-like. They live in opposing settlements, who long ago defeated and drove out the evil witches, but now these 2 factions battle each other. Wish and Xar will learn that witches still exist and they may need to help each other to survive the witches as well as their demanding parents. An enjoyable read.

Reeling from a bad divorce Laura is bequeathed, a house that contains all sorts lost items that her employer had collected over the years. Her employers requests that she try to return the items to their original owners.

King Jaron is in power for less than a month, when his councilors decide a regent must be named until he comes of age. In the meantime they will squirrel him away to keep him safe. Actually the anticipated regent wants Jaron away it because it will be easier to kill/assassinate Prince Jaron. Jaron leaves Tobias in the safety house and infiltrates the pirates who've been hired to kill him.

Commoner Pomella has been invited to the trials to be the next High Mystic's apprentice. People are outraged that a commoner has been selected over a highborn, and the local royalty tell Pomella that if she goes to the trials she will be "unclaimed" or made a pariah. Pomella decides to risk it anyways.
A surprising twist ends this fun novel.

Ghostbusters meets Brother’s Grimm!
This title was soo good, I read it at 2nd time; actually my husband and I read it to each other (and I submitted the review to the newspaper)

What if fairy tales pick people to be their vehicles, so their story can be told? What if some people are born predisposed to being an archetypal character or more precisely a fairy tale character? What happens in this tale, is that these narratives get out of control and become deadly. Because these aren’t Disney’s versions, these are the Brother’s Grimm.

Angie's description made this title sound similar to Seanan McGuire's book Indexing, where narratives can control people's lives. While I managed to finish this book, I found the tension to be excessive. Things go from struggling, to worse and worse, and the protagonist makes stupid decisions. Interesting, but not my cup of tea.

Princess Kestra born into a wealthy noble family is kidnapped and blackmailed into finding the Olden Blade, the only weapon that can kill the brutal repressive emperor. Lots of twists and turns and reveals. A bit too much tension for my taste, but Kestra is a worthy hero.

Khemry has been raised to be one of the millions of princes in the Galaxy. He thinks its about honor and a life of luxury. Yet when he graduates to full prince and receiving his first priest - a chief assassin - another prince attempts to kill him off shooting at him from the corners.
Khemry has to learn quickly how to survive. He's been raised to think he is superior to normal humans, however several of his trials, involve turning off his advanced biomech, psymech, and other cybernetic improvements. He needs to learn some humility as well.

Sage and several other orphan boys are rounded and have 2 weeks to learn how to imitate the Lost Prince Jaron. Those failing the audition will be killed, escape is Not a real option.