Funny Dark Squiggles

THE UNBROKEN by C.L. Clark is a political fantasy novel that takes place in a setting inspired by North Africa. Touraine was stolen as a child by the Balladairan Empire and conscripted into the army. She’s now back in her homeland to help squash a rebellion. Luca is the heir to the Balladairan throne and hopes that ending the Quazali rebellion will convince her uncle that she’s worthy of that throne. Luca saves Touraine from a military execution and makes Touraine a personal assistant of sorts, and Touraine begins to question her loyalties. THE UNBROKEN’s major themes are opposing loyalties, colonialism, and oppression. It was interesting to see how Touraine navigated her loyalties to both the colonizer and the colonized. I like the way the magic in this world works, too. I’m looking forward to reading the second book in the series (THE FAITHLESS). ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)

First read of 2025: BOOKSHOPS & BONEDUST by Travis Baldree. This is a prequel to LEGENDS & LATTES that takes place many years before Viv makes her way to Thune and opens her coffee shop. As with LEGENDS & LATTES, this is a cozy fantasy novel with lovable characters and a baddie for Viv and her friends to fight. BOOKSHOPS & BONEDUST is especially great because it centers on a…bookshop…and the newfound love of reading discovered by more than one character. I enjoyed BOOKSHOPS & BONEDUST a lot—it was just the right cozy story to kick off 2025. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)