Project Hail Mary
Ryland Grace from Project Hail Mary
Project Hail Mary
Heart the Lover
Artemis Fowl
Kiet from When Shadows Burn
Collin from Conform
Ryland Grace from Project Hail Mary
Project Hail Mary
Ryland Grace
Ryland Grace from Project Hail Mary
Heart the Lover
Ryland Grace from Project Hail Mary
Artemis Fowl
Ryland Grace from Project Hail Mary
Kiet
When Shadows Burn
Ryland Grace from Project Hail Mary
Collin
Conform
Project Hail Mary
Andy Weir
GENRE
Science Fiction
SERIES
Standalone
TIMELINE
FORMAT
April 1, 2026 - April 5th, 2026
Physical (Paperback)
Tropes
Found Family, Space Survival, Buddy Comedy
Similar Vibes
The Martian, Interstellar
RATING
SPICE LEVEL
No Spice
Tropes
THE Summary
THE REVIEW
Ryland Grace, a middle school science teacher who wakes up alone aboard a spacecraft with no memory of who he is or how he got there. As his memories gradually return, he discovers the staggering truth: he has been sent on a desperate mission to save humanity, a true Hail Mary.
Earth's sun is dying, drained by a mysterious alien microorganism known as Astrophage. Ryland's mission is to travel to a distant star system that appears to be unaffected by Astrophage and uncover the secret behind its immunity.
What follows is a thrilling blend of science, problem-solving, humor, and heart as Ryland races against time to solve an impossible mystery. Filled with clever scientific concepts, unexpected friendships, and high-stakes survival, Project Hail Mary is a story about ingenuity, sacrifice, and what it means to save the world.
Tropes
Amaze, Amaze, Amaze! For a book with so much science, Project Hail Mary also had a lot of heart. It was refreshing, in the real world where neighbors cannot even get along, to see two beings of different species work together and find someone to be brave for. It made me laugh, it made me cry and it made me yearn for an Eridian friend named Rocky.
FAVORITE QUOTEs
“Fist my bump”
“When stupid ideas work, they become genius ideas.”
The Martain, Interstellar
A Court This Cruel and Lovely
Stacia Stark
GENRE
Romantasy
SERIES
Kingdom of Lies #1
TIMELINE
March 29th, 2026 - April 2th, 2026
FORMAT
E-book (Kindle Unlimited)
Tropes
Enemies to Lovers, Forced Proximity, Hidden powers /special heroine, Morally gray shadow daddy MMC, Found Family, One Bed
RATING
SPICE LEVEL
THE Summary
THE REVIEW
In a world where magic is punishable by death, Prisca has always kept her powers hidden. When her powers are unexpectantly revealed, Prisca must leave her home and her family behind. She joins up with a band of mercenaries and recognizes its leader from her dreams. She eventually leaves them but their paths will cross again as Prisca tries to do what is just in a world that would kill someone like her.
This book was extremely predictable. Also, the morally grey MMC (Lorian) was almost a little too mean. He goes feral for Prisca (which I appreciated) but generally he was just mean. I liked Prisca, but would have liked if some of the other supporting characters got fleshed out a bit more. I like the scenes with Lorien’s gang. I wished Stark had leaned more into the found family trope with them. But the story felt like a completely different story when Prica gets to the castle.
FAVORITE QUOTEs
“How do you control a population? You keep the population poor and uneducated.”
“Until you face up to the reality of your life, you will forever be a victim to it.”
Tragically Yours
Jamie Applegate Hunter
GENRE
Romantasy
SERIES
Fae Kings of Eden #3
TIMELINE
FORMAT
April 2nd, 2026 - April 6th, 2026
E-book (Kindle Unlimited)
Tropes
Similar Vibes
Fated Mates, Touch her and die
All the other Fae Kings of Eden books
RATING
SPICE LEVEL
THE Summary
THE REVIEW
Dean had always been told his mate is dead, but he never stopped feeling her. When he finds her, he is desperate to be with her, and to uncover who has been trying to keep them apart.
With these Fae Kings of Eden books, one should be prepared for a sexy time, if not necessarily a long time or a good time. I respect the author for putting a disclaimer at the beginning of all of the books, acknowledging this.
Alchemy of Secrets
THE Summary
Holland has always hoped to find magic in the real world, ideally in the form of one of her Professor’s folktales. When she finally does, she is sent on a scavenger hunt to find the Alchemical Heart, an object with untold power. But she is not the only one looking for the Heart and is unsure who she can trust. As she gets closer and closer, she is led down a path along the darker/magical side of old Hollywood.
Stephanie Garber
GENRE
Fantasy
TIMELINE
April 4th, 2026 - April 6th, 2026
Tropes
Magical Scavenger Hunt
RATING
FAVORITE QUOTEs
"What is magic, if not something to make you believe and feel and wonder.”
SERIES
Alchemy of Secrets #1
FORMAT
Audiobook
Similar Vibes
Caraval, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
SPICE LEVEL
THE REVIEW
I really liked the journey but not the destination. I understand there is going to be a sequel, but there were too many questions left unanswered by the end of book 1. That being said, Garber is really good at creating worlds that pull you into something mystical, magical and alluring. She is also very good at making you 2nd guess her characters’ motivations. I am intrigued enough to want to read the next.
Conform
Ariel Sullivan
GENRE
Dystopian
SERIES
Reform #1
TIMELINE
April 7th, 2026 - April 8th, 2026
E-Book (Kindle Unlimited)
FORMAT
Arranged Partnership, Oppressive Government/Rebellion
Tropes
Similar Vibes
The Handmaid's Tale, The Hunger Games
RATING
SPICE LEVEL
THE Summary
THE REVIEW
In a world where one’s worth is determined by their genes and constantly monitored health, Emeline is somewhere in the middle. Her mismatched eyes are enough to make her unworthy of being an Elite, but she is still chosen to be arranged to one in a procreation program. When Emeline meets her new Mate, she is surprised to find he is not Elite, but Illum, an even higher class of ruling Elite. She is dressed in expensive dresses, invited to fancy parties and more heavily watched than ever before. Probably a bad time to befriend a member of the group rebelling against the Illum. Collin promises her protection, but will the promise hold when she begins working with Hal to bring down the Elite?
Part Hunger Games, part Handmaid’s Tale, this book surprised me with how much I liked it. Collin is a very intriguing character and constantly had me second guessing his end game. More than some other authors, Sullivan is good with toeing the line of morally grey with Collin. I think he truly wants to help Emmeline, but I am not sure how far he will go to do so. He clearly has his own agenda, but is it to advance the Illum, or is it to destroy them?
FAVORITE QUOTEs
“Things are made more beautiful by pain. You see everything differently afterward. Not right away. It takes time”
“Well, since I met you, I find myself watching the moon while I work.” Hal shot me one of his smiles that made his dimple appear. “What does watching the moon have to do with me?” “The moon rules our time, does it not?” “It does.” Hal raked a hand through his hair. “Since meeting you, you seem to rule mine.”
The Book Witch
Meg Shaffer
GENRE
Fantasy
SERIES
Standalone
April 7th, 2026 - April 8th, 2026
TIMELINE
Physical Book (Hardcover)
FORMAT
Missing person mystery, Portal magic, Forbidden Love
Tropes
The Wishing Game, Inkheart
Similar Vibes
RATING
SPICE LEVEL
THE Summary
THE REVIEW
Rainy March is a Book Witch, tasked with jumping into stories and saving them from the evil Burners, who would see most erased from history, for one reason or another. Rainy, who got in trouble a year ago for not leaving her favorite character within its pages, now needs the help of that very character to find her missing grandfather. Together, she and Duke travel through classic novels, like Arthur, Alice in Wonderland and the Great Gatsby to find her grandfather and answer an unsolved mystery about her past.
Who doesn’t wish they could jump into the pages of their favorite book? From the plot, to the structure of the book itself, everything about this book was a love letter to readers. I loved the concept but the execution was a little too meta for me.
FAVORITE QUOTEs
“Every story is a love story when you love stories.”
Artemis Fowl
Eoin Colfer
GENRE
Fantasy
SERIES
Standalone
March 25th, 2026 - April 10th, 2026
TIMELINE
FORMAT
E-Book (Free on Kindle)
Morally Gray Antihero, Heist, Enemies to allies
Tropes
Similar Vibes
Six of Crows, Sherlock Holmes
RATING
SPICE LEVEL
No Spice
THE Summary
THE REVIEW
Artemis Fowl is a 12 year old millionaire genius. With his family falling on hard times, he takes it upon himself to restore the family fortunes…by capturing a fairy and holding her ransom. When Holly Short, a Lower Elements Police (LEP) recon officer, gets kidnapped by a human, Commander Julius Root and Foaly the IT genius centaur will stop at nothing to get her back.
The nostalgia! I absolutely loved being back with Artemis, Holly, Butler, Root, Foaly, Mulch and Juliet. What a feat by Colfer to make Artemis absolutely unbearable and completely lovable at the same time. This book is filled with magical whimsy and much humor. It is hard to believe Artemis is only 12, but if you put the improbability of that aside, it is a fun story.
FAVORITE QUOTEs
“Confidence is ignorance. If you’re feeling cocky, it’s because there is something you don’t know.”
“If I win, I’m a prodigy. If I lose, then I’m crazy. That’s the way history is written.”
Heart the Lover
Lily King
Fiction
GENRE
SERIES
Casey Peabody #2
TIMELINE
April 6th, 2026 - April 10th, 2026
FORMAT
Audiobook
Second Chance
Tropes
RATING
SPICE LEVEL
THE Summary
THE REVIEW
When our FMC is in college, she starts dating a boy named Sam. In playing card games and cooking meals together, she soon realizes she is more into his roommate and best friend, Yash. Years later, life has taken her away from both Sam and Yash but sad news has her tumbling back into their world.
I liked the first part of this book, but not the 2nd. I didn’t know what this book was trying to say at all. I guess the reveal at the end would have been interesting if I had read other Lily King books.
FAVORITE QUOTEs
“You know how you can remember exactly when and where you read certain books? A great novel, a truly great one, not only captures a particular fictional experience, it alters and intensifies the way you experience your own life while you’re reading it. And it preserves it, like a time capsule.”
When Shadows Burn
Vanessa Lee
GENRE
Fantasy/Mystery/Dark Academia
SERIES
When Shadows Burn #1
TIMELINE
April 12th, 2026 - April 16th, 2026
FORMAT
E-Book (ARC received from NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group)
Academic rivals to partners, Slow burn friends first romance, Murder Mystery, Estranged Family Drama
Tropes
Similar Vibes
Big Hero 6, Ninth House
RATING
SPICE LEVEL
THE Summary
THE REVIEW
In a world where demon exorcism requires 2 people, a Caller and a Slayer, Kiet and Song quickly formed a bond. That didn’t change when Kiet dropped out of school, ran away from his suffocating family and opened his own private demon exorcism business, Inkspill Agency. Though Song remains at Phenbridge University, the perfect student, she helps Kiet with his business in her spare time. As Kiet and Song look into a demon killing spree that doesn’t fit the normal mold, they find connections both to Phenbridge Academy and to Kiet’s brother, who was killed a year prior.
It has been a while since I picked up a detective book, as I have been so invested in fantasy lately, but When Shadows Burn allowed me to enjoy some of the best aspects of both. This book's strengths are in its relationships between characters (I loved the opposites attract dynamic between Song and Kiet, as well as the heartbreaking dynamic within Kiet's family), as well as in its ability to delve into the very real feeling of never being able to live up to expectations, whether those expectations are from other's or of yourself. The magic system in this book is quite unique, which I love, but I wish there had been a bit more detail earlier on regarding exactly what demon hunting entailed and what exactly demons were capable of. Overall, I enjoyed this very much, and hope there will be a sequel.
The Poison Daughter
Sheila Masterson
GENRE
Romantasy
SERIES
Standalone
April 9th, 2026 - April 19th, 2026
TIMELINE
FORMAT
E-Book (Kindle Unlimited)
Enemies to Lovers, Arranged Marriage, Political Scheming
Tropes
Similar Vibes
Daggermouth
RATING
SPICE LEVEL
THE Summary
THE REVIEW
Harlow Carrenwell is part of a large family of magic users, who are tasked with ruling over Lunameade and keeping it safe from the Drained who roam about the woods right outside of the city walls. Harlow’s gift is her lethal kiss, which she uses to bring justice to the abusive men of Lunameade. That is, until one night, her target doesn’t die. The next day, she meets him again, a political adversary and her arranged future husband. Harlow dreams of one day escaping Lunameade with her sister and the freedom and safety that would come with being out from under her parents’ thumb. But first she will have to help them destroy her new husband’s family. But the more she learns about Henry and his hometown of Havenwood, the less she wants to destroy it.
The Poison Daughter, a standalone romantasy novel, was an ambitious work. With an entirely new magic system and religion, also telling a compelling, emotionally impactful story is no easy feat, but Masterson made it feel effortless.
Harlow was an incredibly compelling heroine. I wouldn't exactly call her morally grey, but she has a darkness about her that was very interesting to read. The nature of her power, a kiss that can kill, creates an immediate tension that hangs over every interaction she has with Henry. Their relationship was one of my favorite parts of the book. The romance was packed with tension, chemistry, and spice, but it never overshadowed the larger story unfolding around them.
Beyond the romance, the plot itself kept me invested from beginning to end. The world was fascinating, the stakes were high and I was constantly eager to learn more about the world that Harlow and Henry found themselves in.
And that ending! The reveal toward the end of the book was absolutely devastating. Looking back, the clues were there all along, but it still hit with full force when everything finally came together.
If you're looking for a romantasy with a unique magic system, high emotional stakes, sizzling romantic tension, and twists that will leave you reeling, The Poison Daughter is one I would definitely recommend.
Blood Bound
Ellis Hunter
GENRE
Romantasy
SERIES
Cursed Covenant #1
April 17th, 2026 - April 24th, 2026
TIMELINE
Physical Book (BOTM)
E-Book (ARC received from NetGalley and Atria Publishing)
FORMAT
Tropes
Enemies to lovers, Fated mates, Trials, Dragon riders, Found Family
Similar Vibes
Spark of the Everflame, Fourth Wing
RATING
SPICE LEVEL
THE Summary
THE REVIEW
Astrid , the Nachstern princess, has been training her whole life to duel the prince of Vatra, in order to win her kingdom the magical Heart and save it from the Blight that has been devastating their lands. Things change, however, when a new Vatran heir is discovered. Skylar grew up on the streets of Vatra, and wants no business in a duel to the death. But being at the castle, and meeting Astrid, helps her discover the power within herself.
I want to start this review by saying how absolutely GORGEOUS the physical book is, which I got from my April Book of the Month. Cover, inside cover art, sprayed edges: all of it, gorgeous. I also love a good author tag team, and I hope Katie Ellis Brown and Becky Hunter do for the romantasy genre what Christina Lauren did for romance. As for the story, there was a lot here for romantasy lovers to enjoy. Magic, dragons, rebels forming in the shadows. Though overall I enjoyed the story and the heart-breaking high stakes our FMC's found themselves in, something about the relationships between the main characters didn't quite hit for me. Their bonds were formed too quickly, and I felt we were told how close they became, instead of being shown how or why those bonds formed. But overall I enjoyed this book, and will definitely be reading the second.
To Drown a Witch
Lindsey Olsson
GENRE
Romantasy
SERIES
Projected Duology
April 15th, 2026 - April 27th, 2026
TIMELINE
FORMAT
E-Book (ARC received from NetGalley and Penguin Young Readers' Group)
Forbidden magic, Can I Trust you?
Tropes
Serpent and Dove, The Young Elites
Similar Vibes
RATING
SPICE LEVEL
THE Summary
Nes , a thief from the city’s criminal underworld with a dangerous connection to magic — becomes entangled with Toran, the Prince’s Crown and one of the kingdom’s most feared royal guards. Raised within the castle and loyal to the very system responsible for hunting women like her, Toran should be everything Nes despises. But as the two are forced to work together to track a deadly witch terrorizing the city, distrust slowly gives way to something far more dangerous.
THE REVIEW
Overall, I liked this book. The magic system, where magic is something to be consumed but is seen as criminal, was interesting. I liked the Salem witch trial meets fantasy world vibes. The ending confused me a little, as I felt several characters motivations and end games were abruptly delivered and therefore felt unfinished. That being said, the final page left me intrigued as to how a potential sequel would pick up.