Cosmic Reads Club

QOTD: How morally grey is too morally grey for a love interest?

Some books ease you into their world. This Monster of Mine throws you straight into the bloodshed, and I absolutely loved it. 🖤

Four years after someone tried to kill her, Sarai returns to the city where it happened as a Petitor, a prosecutor with the magical ability to detect lies. She is assigned to work alongside Tetrarch Kadra, one of the four judges ruling the land and the man she suspects may be connected to her own attack. While they investigate a series of eerily similar deaths together, Sarai is secretly searching for the truth about what happened to her.

This was dark, violent, mysterious and incredibly addictive. I loved the combination of murder investigation, political tension and dangerous magic, but what surprised me most was how much I enjoyed the romance. The enemies to lovers dynamic actually felt convincing, with so much tension and yearning between Sarai and Kadra without taking away from the larger plot.

The Ancient Rome inspired setting and the whole legal system also gave the story such a distinctive atmosphere. And while there were moments where I wished for a little more context, I actually appreciated that the book trusted me to piece things together rather than explaining absolutely everything.

And that ending? Definitely not where I thought we were heading.

⭐️ 5/5. Dark, brutal, emotional and one of my favorite reads.

Ancient Rome inspired fantasy · murder mystery · magical prosecutors · enemies to lovers · morally grey characters · political intrigue

QOTD: What’s one thing that instantly makes you want to pick up a book? A certain creature, a trope… or even something on the cover? 🐍✨

For me, it’s snakes. Put one in the title or on the cover, and you’ve already got my attention.

A Dance of Serpents is the sequel to A Curse of Crows, and thanks to this gorgeous copy from Gollancz , I finally have the motivation I needed to start the series.

Book one follows Diana, a young woman whose prayers can reach the gods. When a deadly illness changes everything, she’s pulled into a world of divine politics, ancient lies, vengeance, and dangerous alliances as she uncovers the truth behind the kingdom’s history.

Without spoiling anything, A Dance of Serpents picks up after Diana has embraced her true power. As she prepares to challenge the Divine King, the line between justice and revenge becomes thinner than ever.

I absolutely love the cover and in addition this has all the ingredients of a fantasy I’m going to love.

Thank you so much to Gollancz for sending me this beautiful copy. I can’t wait to finally dive into this series! 🖤

If you’re looking for a dense, lore heavy fantasy with celestial magic and intricate worldbuilding, The Last Starborn Seer is definitely worth a look.

Set in a world shaped by ancient prophecies, forgotten gods, and celestial powers, the story follows a young woman whose ability to glimpse the future pulls her into a conflict far bigger than herself. With its own calendar, mythology, and diverse races, it’s the kind of fantasy that rewards readers who enjoy diving into detailed worlds.

What I enjoyed most was the writing style and the worldbuilding. Everything feels carefully constructed, and I’m always a fan of stories that weave stars and celestial themes into their magic systems. The pacing also kept me engaged throughout.

The main character isn’t always easy to like, but her flaws make sense considering everything she’s been through, and I found that an interesting choice. My biggest issue was the ending. As the first book in a trilogy, it leaves a lot unresolved, and I would have preferred a little more payoff. The darker tone and some scenes involving non human creatures also made this a tougher read for me personally.

Overall, this is a well written epic fantasy with a fascinating world and plenty of potential, even if it didn’t become a favourite.

⭐ Rating: 3.75 / 5



epic fantasy · celestial magic · star magic · prophecy · immersive worldbuilding · ancient gods · morally grey heroine · fantasy trilogy

QOTD: Which fantasy academy has your heart? ❤️‍🔥

Some books are impossible to stop thinking about, and Arcana Academy has been one of them ever since I finished it. ✨

At its core, it’s a story about a gifted thief who finds herself at a magical academy, searching for a long-lost legendary tarot card. Add tarot-inspired magic, political intrigue, a fake engagement, and some of the most delicious slow-burn yearning I’ve read in a long time, and I was completely hooked.

So today I’m letting the book speak for itself. Swipe through for three quotes that made me fall in love with Arcana Academy.

And can we take a moment to appreciate this FairyLoot edition? The black-and-white design is just *chef’s kiss*.

If Arcana Academy isn’t on your TBR yet, I hope these quotes will change your mind. P.S. There’s never been a better time to pick it up… The sequel Prince of Swords releases on July 21st. 🗡️✨