I’m thoroughly loving my current read which is A Widow’s Charm by Caitlyn Paxson which will be coming out in April from Arcadia Books This is an absolutely hilarious fantasy romcom, full of banter, saucy innuendos and a very cute dog called Rollo! It’s so much fun!

I received so many ARCs of my most anticipated reads! Are any of these one’s you’re looking forward to too? The Last Contract of Isako by @fondalee.bsky.social - out from @orbitbooks.bsky.social in May! The Inn at the Foot of Mount Vengeance by @chiarab.bsky.social - out from Del Rey UK in July!

@nilsreviewsit.bsky.social adds to my TBR again.

There’s a wrap up for February today’s as nails talks about the month’s faves over on The Fantasy Hive

February Reading Wrap Up! My favourites of the month were The Magician of Tiger Castle by Louis Sachar. I just loved how nostalgic this book made me feel! Mortedant’s Peril by @rjbarker.bsky.social A compelling murder mystery set in a strange & inventive world. I could not put it down! So good!

I loved this book!

This weekend I’m reading Mortedant’s Peril by @rjbarker.bsky.social which I’m loving! Mortedant Hasp can see the dead’s final moments but he’s been accused of murder. He has three days to prove his innocence. Aiding him we is Whisper, a non human bodyguard & Mirial, a street urchin. So much fun!

Nils reviews The Tricky Business of Faerie Bargains over on The Fantasy Hive today!

Today on @thefantasyhive.bsky.social I’m reviewing The Tricky Business of Faerie Bargains by @reenamccarty.bsky.social “a gripping, multifaceted tale, full of tricks, traps and shenanigans.” Review Link: fantasy-hive.co.uk/2026/02/the-...

Today on @thefantasyhive.bsky.social myself & Beth review The Elsewhere Express by Samantha Sotto Yambao Nils: “a breath of fresh air wrapped in beautiful lyrical prose…” Beth: “magical exploration of grief presented in a gloriously imaginative way” Review Link: fantasy-hive.co.uk/2026/02/the-...

Happy Lunar New Year!

I received The Lost Spectacular today by Zoe Duhaimw which will be released in September by @solarisbooks.bsky.social Thank you! “ode to the life-changing power of books, as childhood loves-turned-rivals chase each other through the stories that shaped them…” This sounds great & I love the cover!

Look at what Nils got!

This weekend I’ve been reading The Magician of Tiger Castle by Louis Sachar. Thank you @headlinepg for kindly gifting me a copy A doomed love, a young scribe about to be executed and a magician vying to prove his worth. I’m loving the Princess Bride vibe and the humour is fab!

Happy Valentine’s Day! The Swan’s Daughter by Roshani Chokshi is an enchanting, whimsical fairytale, with one of the best explorations of ‘true love’ I’ve come across. There’s even a dash of murder thrown in! (Or attempted murder… several times… by several characters 🤣) A fun read I’d recommend!

Check out our recommendations for some romantic reads!

I received a copy of Mortedant’s Peril by @rjbarker.bsky.social which will be released by @torbooksuk.bsky.social in May. Thank you for the copy! This book is described as an ‘epic historical fantasy of murder, mystery and unlikely alliances’ which honestly has me very excited to read it!

This weekend I’m cosying up with two exciting reads: The Tricky Business of Faerie Bargains by @reenamccarty.bsky.social - a bargain gone wrong and a Fae world full of tricks & traps! The Elsewhere Express by Samantha Sotto Yambao - a magical train made of thoughts and daydreams. It’s beautiful!

Today on @thefantasyhive.bsky.social I review Isles of the Emberdark by @brandonsanderson.com “the perfect blend of fantasy & sci-fi, with a found family I adored, magic and myth that captivated me and some incredible quests.” Review Link: fantasy-hive.co.uk/2026/02/crui... @gollancz.bsky.social

Today on @thefantasyhive.bsky.social I’m reviewing THE LUMINOUS FAIRIES AND MOTHRA by Shin’ichirō Nakamura, Takehiko Fukunaga, & Yoshie Hotta. Translated by Jeffrey Angles. “a Kaiju origin story that enthralled & enlightened me.” Review Link: fantasy-hive.co.uk/2026/02/the-...

Bookish gifts are the best gifts! Have you read any of these?

Here’s my January reading Wrap-Up My favourite read was The Blackfire Blade by @jamesloganauthor.bsky.social - a fun fantasy sequel that I adored by the end! My most surprising read was The Luminous Faeries and Mothra which is a Japanese translated novella on the origins of Mothra.

The Bone Door by @franceswrites.bsky.social will be published in May by @michaeljbooks.bsky.social A story about ‘trauma, friendship & hope’ with a boy called Hop who finds himself in an ‘unsettling labyrinth where he must complete impossible tasks to survive.’ I’m looking forward to this!

New review from Nils today

Today on @thefantasyhive.bsky.social myself & Beth review Books and Bewitchment by @delilahsdawson.bsky.social Beth: “capturing my heart in its warmth and sense of community” Nils: “a book you devour when you need comfort” Review Link: fantasy-hive.co.uk/2026/01/book... @titanbooks.bsky.social

I received some fab bookmail this week with truly magical cover art. The Isle of the Emberdark by @brandonsanderson.com fleshes out the short story Sixth of the Dusk. I’m so excited to read this and get back to my #cruisingthecosmere feature on The Fantasy Hive! Thank you @gollancz.bsky.social

Over on @thefantasyhive.bsky.social today, Nils reviews The Ornithologists Field Guide to Love by India Holton today.

Today on @thefantasyhive.bsky.social I’m reviewing The Ornatholigst’s Field Guide to Love by India Holton “a book full of wit, charm and an abundance of chaotic escapades!” Review Link: fantasy-hive.co.uk/2026/01/the-...

New post from Nils over on The Fantasy Hive.

Today on @thefantasyhive.bsky.social I’m reviewing The Blackfire Blade by @jamesloganauthor.bsky.social “surpasses its predecessor with emotionally charged character growth, intricate worldbuilding and its charm and wit.” Review link: fantasy-hive.co.uk/2026/01/the-...

Here’s what I’m reading this weekend! Between Two Fires by @buehlmeister.bsky.social - a medieval horror that is being trad published by @gollancz.bsky.social in March I’m also reading Books and Bewitchment by Isla Jewell @delilahsdawson.bsky.social - a cosy, witchy read with a sassy cockatoo 🤣

TO Munro looks at the subgenre of speculative popular culture that explores the notion of having a second chance at life - "The fascination of exploring those many ‘roads not travelled’ is one that attracts speculative fiction authors like moths drawn to a flame." More: tinyurl.com/ybme3a46

Here are two arcs I recently received! Kokun by Nahoko Uehashi and translated by Cathy Hirano is a Japanese epic fantasy with two female protagonists, one with blossoming powers the other secretly powerless, forming an alliance to save the empire. Thank you @europaeditions.bsky.social

Nils reviews Alexandra Bell's time-travelling fantasy THE WHITE OCTOPUS HOTEL: "Dazzling, mysterious and heartfelt this is a novel that offers magic and comfort." Read more: tinyurl.com/m5zy9x7m @nilsreviewsit.bsky.social

ICYMI - we run a year-end awards annually on the Hive celebrating our favourite books that came out that year. Check out all our nominations and winners!

We were thrilled to welcome back to the Hive Grady Hendrix for an interview with Nils on his recent horror novel WITCHCRAFT FOR WAYWARD GIRLS Read more: tinyurl.com/mr6s6hyr @torbooks.bsky.social @nilsreviewsit.bsky.social

Nils was so excited reading this one, she sent me so many whatsapps about it that I feel like I've read it vicariously through her 😂

Today on @thefantasyhive.bsky.social I’m reviewing The Swan’s Daughter by Roshani Chokshi “This is a spellbinding read that celebrates magic and whimsy.” Link: fantasy-hive.co.uk/2026/01/the-... @hodderscape.bsky.social

Happy New Year! Which books are starting 2026 with? I’m going to read The Ornithologist’s Field Guide to Love by @indiaholton.bsky.social I think a light-hearted, fantasy Rom-Com would be a great way to start the year.

Your 2026 tbr is going to explode with all the great books coming out this year! Take a look below!

Today on @thefantasyhive.bsky.social I’m sharing my top reads of 2025! Here’s the link to see the full list, including a brief summary of each one and who I would recommend it for. fantasy-hive.co.uk/2025/12/nils...

Beth wraps up her year of reading in this list of her Top 25 books of 2025. What were your favourite reads of the year? Check out Beth's here: tinyurl.com/2pfn96x2 @bethanmay.bsky.social

Today on @thefantasyhive.bsky.social myself and @bethanmay.bsky.social are reviewing Agnes Aubert’s Mystical Cat Shelter by Heather Fawcett. Nils: “A perfectly enchanting read!” Beth: “I want to pick this book back up and re-read it.“ Link: fantasy-hive.co.uk/2025/12/agne...

So pleased to see Lamprecht von Oldenburg in Grave Empire claim the title of "Most Evil Character"

Come and see who won our awards below!

This year for the Shimmering Worlds challenge hosted by @afantasysky.bsky.social I managed to do 10 out of 12 of the prompts. This challenge celebrates and highlights POC authors and so I love joining each year. The photos below show which prompts I managed.

Did you get any books for Christmas? My family won’t buy me books because I have enough, apparently! I disagree but hey ho! Thank goodness for bookish friends! I received A Far Better Thing by H G Parry and also Dragons and Mythical Beasts by Alistair Horne which is illustrated!

🤣

Merry Christmas Eve! The greatest Christmas film is being watched!

I’m excited to receive a copy of A God of Countless Guises by @bradleypbeaulieu.bsky.social which will be released in January from @headofzeus.bsky.social This is the sequel to The Dragons of Deepwood Fen which was a great start to this epic fantasy series! I’m a huge fan of the dragons in this!