Fantasy – Page 4 – Jill's Book Blog

Review: Love Advice from the Great Duke of Hell, Vol. 1

Title: Love Advice from the Great Duke of Hell, Vol. 1
Author: Unfins
Genre: Graphic Novel, Fantasy, Romance
Publisher: Webtoon Unscrolled
Source: Publisher
Format: Paperback
Release Date: November 5, 2025
Rating: ★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Hapless teenager Paul summons Astaroth, a Great Duke of Hell, to help him get a date with a girl in this devilishly funny fan-favorite WEBTOON comic.

The girl of your dreams barely knows you exist. Your friends can’t help. Your family is clueless. So where do you turn for love advice? Who can provide you with that essential assistance for the lovelorn? If you’re an average everyday teenager like Paul, you summon a powerful demon from the deep recesses of Hell, and frankly, hope for the best.

The demon in question is the Great Duke Astaroth, ruler of thirty legions of bloodthirsty hell creatures, powerful enough to raze cities to the ground. And now he finds himself on the mortal plane, compelled…to give a hapless kid dating advice?

In summoning Astaroth, Paul has set off a chaotic series of events. The Great Duke of Hell stands ready to claim Paul’s soul in less than a week, no matter how silly their bargain. Paul’s magic accidentally alerted the agents of the Holy Order, a group dedicated to protecting the world from the forces of evil, that something infernal is afoot. Paul’s sister Juliet, flabbergasted to find a demon in her home, has run away to hire an exorcist.

Plus, Paul’s dad is hiding something. And so is Elena, the object of all of Paul’s affection and the reason for all his complicated scheming.

But who ever said true love was easy?

This volume collects Season 1, Part 1 of the WEBTOON comic Love Advice from the Great Duke of Hell.

Review:

This is a funny graphic novel. Teenager Paul summons a great Duke of Hell to help him attract the girl of his dreams. The Duke is shocked because he’s usually summoned for much darker tasks, and he doesn’t know where to start with this task. This made for many funny scenes. There were a couple of side plots that I hope will be explored more in the next volume!

Love Advice from the Great Duke of Hell is a fun graphic novel!

Thank you Wattpad Books and Webtoon Unscrolled for sending me a copy of this book!

Have you read Love Advice from the Great Duke of Hell? What did you think of it?

Review: Cursed Princess Club, Vol. 1

Title: Cursed Princess Club, Vol. 1
Author: LambCat
Genre: Graphic Novel, Fantasy, Romance
Publisher: Webtoon Unscrolled
Source: Purchased
Format: Paperback
Release Date: January 3, 2023
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Meet Gwendolyn – living proof that princesses don’t always have it all. See, although she lives in a castle and her father is the King, Gwendolyn isn’t like a movie princess, or even a fairly-tale princess. She’s got a big heart, but isn’t particularly attractive and doesn’t have a Disney-quality singing voice. But one night, she accidentally stumbles upon the twisted world of the Cursed Princess Club, and her life will never be the same. Hexed and cast out, the ladies of the club are just the people Gwendolyn needs to show her that just because she doesn’t “fit the mold” does not mean she’s any less of a princess.

[Episodes 1-29]

Review:

Cursed Princess Club is a hilarious graphic novel! This story showed that appearances can be deceiving. The youngest sister, Gwendolyn, wasn’t as glamorous as her older sisters, but she was the kindest and most thoughtful. Since she wasn’t as pretty as her sisters, her suitor didn’t want to be with her as soon as he saw her, instead of getting to know her first. There were many laugh out loud moments in this story, especially with some unfortunate misunderstandings. I’m so excited to continue reading this series!

Cursed Princess Club, Vol. 1 is a funny graphic novel!

Other books in the series:

Cursed Princess Club, Vol. 2
Cursed Princess Club, Vol. 3
Cursed Princess Club, Vol. 4

Have you read Cursed Princess Club, Vol. 1? What did you think of it?

Review: Cinderella and the Beast (or Beauty and the Glass Slipper) (The Princess Swap #1)

Title: Cinderella and the Beast (or Beauty and the Glass Slipper) (The Princess Swap #1)
Author: Kim Bussing
Genre: Middle Grade, Fantasy
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Format: Ebook
Release Date: January 7, 2025
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

What would happen if Cinderella found herself in the beast’s castle, and Beauty woke up in some evil stepmother’s home? Fairy tales meet Freaky Friday in this series, where there’s a magical mix-up for every princess!

Ella’s spent her life dreaming about adventure, but it’s hard to have adventures when you’re stuck with a stepfamily who treat you like a servant. When she unexpectedly wakes up in a land far, far away, she’s thrilled at the chance to embark on an epic quest. That is, until she finds herself trapped once more—this time in the castle of a dangerous beast.

Belle, meanwhile, has plans. Her family’s trading company is on the brink of ruin, and to save it, she’s going to enter—and win—a royal competition in the prince’s honor. But when she unexpectedly winds up in a cellar with a wicked stepfamily who have their own plans to keep her from the competition . . . things get complicated.

Happily-ever-after couldn’t feel farther away. Can Ella escape the beast’s clutches? And can Belle get rid of this stepfamily in time for the competition?

For other Princess Swaps, don’t miss Snow White and the Dragon (or, Sleeping Beauty and the Seven Dwarfs)!

Review:

This book is such a clever twist on these classic fairytales. Cinderella and Belle had to live through each other’s story to get back to their former lives. Their lives were interconnected in a unique way. Their stories similar in the way that they had to both escape the place where they were being held captive. Though there were many similarities in the plot, there were some new additions to the stories.

Cinderella and the Beast (or Beauty and the Glass Slipper) is a great fairytale with a twist!

Thank you Tundra Books for providing a digital copy of this book!

Content warnings: death of parent (off page)

Have you read Cinderella and the Beast (or Beauty and the Glass Slipper)? What did you think of it?

Blog Tour Review: Brewed with Love

Title: Brewed with Love
Author: Shelly Page
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance, Mystery
Publisher: Joy Revolution
Source: Publisher
Format: Ebook
Release Date: January 14, 2025
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

A cozy, contemporary romantasy about a teen witch who wants to keep her family’s apothecary from falling to the competition but can only do so with assistance from her first crush.

Plant witch, Sage Bishop, is determined to run her family’s old apothecary one day. She spends her time trying to invent the perfect tonic to put Bishop Brews on the map. And she’s going to need one quickly, too, because their biggest competitor is drawing away customers.

Short-staffed, her nana hires Ximena Reyes, Sage’s ex-best friend and first crush, who’s more of an unwelcome distraction than anything. Ximena has always dreamed of leaving their small town behind while Sage wants to tend to her roots. And during one of their first shifts together, someone breaks into Bishop Brews, stealing several tonics, including the one Sage has been working tirelessly on, the same one that wipes a councilmember’s kid’s memory.

To avoid being shut down by the sheriff, Sage decides to investigate. If so much wasn’t at stake, she’d do it alone. But with her grandmother’s legacy and her future on the line, she must partner with her ever smug and unfairly pretty new coworker. As Sage begins to fall for Ximena (again), she’ll have to decide if the comfort of the familiar is worth missing out on a chance at real happiness.

Review:

Brewed with Love is a sweet YA story. This story had romance and mystery. Sage was a witch, and their town was full of magic. There was another kind of supernatural condition in the story, and I would have loved to see that one explored more. I think there’s potential for more stories set in this world!

Brewed with Love is a cute YA romance!

Thank you Penguin Teen Canada, Joy Revolution, and Publicity Prose for providing a copy of this book!

Content warnings: death of parents (off page), poisoning, memory loss

Author Bio:

Shelly Page is a young adult contemporary fantasy romance and horror writer. By day, she’s a practicing attorney representing homeless LGBTQ+ youth. By night, she’s writing stories about love, magic, and mystery—all with the hope of providing genuine representation for queer readers of color. Shelly lives in Los Angeles with her dog, Toby, and a collection of half-dead plants. Brewed With Love is her debut novel. She can be found online at shellypage.com or @shelly_p_writes.

Giveaway:

5 winners will receive a finished copy of Brewed With Love by Shelly Page– We will select the winners and ship directly
The giveaway starts at 12:01am ET on January 13th and ends January 26th at 11:59pm ET- Rafflecopter giveaway link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/74cc7a8d5/?

Have you read Brewed with Love? What did you think of it?

Review: The Princess in Black and the Kitty Catastrophe

Title: The Princess in Black and the Kitty Catastrophe
Author: Shannon Hale, Dean Hale, LeUyen Pham (illustrator)
Genre: Children’s, Fantasy
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Source: Publisher
Format: Hardcover
Release Date: September 3, 2024
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

The Princess in Black may know how to handle all kinds of monsters, but a kitten set on destruction? Me-OW!

Duchess Wigtower had heard that pets are fun, but all her kitten has gotten her is nine lives’ worth of problems. Eeeeek! It’s time for someone else to deal with this catastrophe. Princess Magnolia is thrilled when a kitten lands on her doorstep, but just as she’s about to play with Plumpkins (or should it be Hugmaster Floof?) the monster alarm goes off. When Princess Magnolia returns to her castle, her furry companion has carved up the wallpaper! In fact, each time Princess Magnolia leaves to help the Goat Avenger fight a very grouchy monster, her feline friend wreaks havoc. Has the Princess in Black finally met her match? Ten years after she first donned her cape, the Princess in Black returns for a purrfectly hilarious entry to the New York Times best-selling series.

Review:

This is such a cute book in The Princess in Black series! Princess Magnolia’s grumpy neighbour gives her the cat because he is so destructive. Magnolia must figure out how to get this new kitten to behave, while also defeating a monster in the village. I loved the way her problem with the kitten and the monster were related. The illustrations were adorable too!

The Princess in Black and the Kitty Catastrophe is a cute children’s book!

Thank you Candlewick Press for sending me a copy of this book!

Have you read The Princess in Black and the Kitty Catastrophe? What did you think of it?

Review: Andarta: Book 1 (The Ascending Veil)

Title: Andarta: Book 1 (The Ascending Veil)
Author: Leanne Staback, Sloane Kennedy
Genre: Fantasy
Publisher: Page Turner Books Inc.
Source: Bookinfluencers.com
Format: Ebook
Release Date: November 29, 2024
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

When legends awake, darkness trembles.

In the pulsing heart of Seraphim City, twins Emilia and Clara Benning walk a path veiled in the shadows of myth. Raised on tales of their fierce Viking ancestors, they are unaware of the destiny awaiting them. As the modern world grinds on, unseeing, the sisters draw closer to a revelation that will ignite the ancient power slumbering within their blood.

The cruel blight of human trafficking festers in the city’s underbelly, claiming innocent lives in a relentless grip. It is a plague that yearns for a cure-a cure that only Emilia and Clara, human hosts to ancient deities Andarta and Eir – dare to provide. With the unwavering strength of the gods and the courage of warriors, they stand between the darkness and the light.

But the battle for justice demands a terrible price. In the chaos of a harrowing rescue, Clara is lost, and Emilia’s grief ignites a fury that heralds her awakening. The true powers of Andarta flare to life, a beacon of rage and retribution. As Emilia becomes the embodiment of a legend, survival hinges on her ability to harness this newfound might and confront the demons that threaten to consume her.

In the midst of battle, Andarta, her steadfast sidekick Ty, and a legion of spectral Viking forebearers converge for an epic showdown. Together, they must dismantle a vile web spun by the most depraved of minds, their every move haunted by the chilling echoes of evil.

Can they break the chains of torment and rise triumphant? Or will Emilia’s fury consume all that she has come to cherish? Will the echoes of ancient valor be enough to conquer the malice that lurks in humanity’s depths? Seek the answers within the pages of Andarta, The Ascending Veil, Book 1, where the battle for souls is timeless, and the might of legends endures.

Review:

Andarta is a fantastic start to this fantasy series. It began with multiple different storylines that seemed to be very different from each other. However, they all came together in an unconventional way. I liked that it followed the twins Emilia and Clara from their childhood to young adult age. I flew through this book, and I couldn’t put it down! I’m excited to see what happens in the next book!

Andarta: Book 1 is a great first book in this fantasy series!

Thank you Bookinfluencers.com for providing a copy of this book as part of a paid campaign!

Content warnings: human trafficking, murder, gun violence

Have you read Andarta: Book 1? What did you think of it?

Review: Impossible Creatures (Impossible Creatures #1)

Title: Impossible Creatures (Impossible Creatures #1)
Author: Katherine Rundell, Ashley Mackenzie
Genre: Middle Grade, Fantasy
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Source: Publisher
Format: Hardcover
Release Date: September 10, 2024
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

The day Christopher saved a drowning baby griffin from a hidden lake would change his life forever. It’s the day he learned about the Archipelago, a cluster of unmapped islands where magical creatures of every kind have thrived for thousands of years—until now. And it’s the day he met Mal, a girl on the run who desperately needs his help.

Mal and Christopher embark on a wild adventure, racing from island to island, searching for someone who can explain why the magic is fading and why magical creatures are suddenly dying. They consult sphinxes, battle kraken, and negotiate with dragons. But the closer they get to the dark truth of what’s happening, the clearer it becomes: no one else can fix this. If the Archipelago is to be saved, Mal and Christopher will have to do it themselves.

Review:

Impossible Creatures is a great middle grade adventure. I loved the vivid world building. There is a bestiary in the back of the book which is so helpful to see what the creatures look like. I loved the illustrations throughout the book. It was nice to see the characters and story come to life in the illustrations. I’m so curious to see what will happen in the next book!

Impossible Creatures is a beautiful middle grade story!

Thank you Penguin Random House Canada and Tandem Collective for providing a copy of this book!

Content warnings: death of parental figure, death of animal

Have you read Impossible Creatures? What did you think of it?

Review: The Wedding Witch (The Ex Hex #3)

Title: The Wedding Witch (The Ex Hex #3)
Author: Erin Sterling
Genre: Romance, Contemporary, Fantasy
Publisher: Avon
Source: Purchased
Format: Paperback
Release Date: October 15, 2024
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Bowen Penhallow has always been a loner, studying dark and ancient magic on a mountaintop in Wales. He prefers it that way, but when his friend Declan—who happens to be a ghost—asks him to attend a Yuletide wedding at a grand estate deep in the Welsh countryside, Bowen reluctantly agrees.

Tamsyn Bligh is not a witch, but she makes her living off of them. As a procurer and seller of magical items, Tamsyn’s business is not always above board, but she’s been trying to fix that (mostly.) Bowen is an occasional customer—as well as the star of several of Tamsyn’s dirtiest dreams—but she’s been around enough witches to know that, as a human, getting involved with one is not the smartest idea. She’s finagled an invite to the Witchy Wedding of the Century in the hopes of finally making a score big enough to retire. Just one priceless magical artifact from Tywyll House would set her up for life.

But Tamsyn isn’t the only one sneaking about in Tywyll House, and the mix of a very strong spell combined with a wedding mishap transports Bowen and Tamsyn into Tywyll House’s past, to the Yuletide Celebration of 1957. As Bowen and Tamsyn work together to get back to the present, they must also face off with the origins of Tywyll House’s haunting, the suspicions of their fellow witches…oh, and the fact that somewhere between the mistletoe and the bonfire, they might be falling in love.

Review:

This was such a fun holiday romance! I liked that it was quite different from the first two books. This one followed the third Penhallow brother, but it was set mostly in Wales instead of Graves Glen. The first two books were set in Graves Glen and had a similar type of plot, so it made sense for this book to take a different path. It also involved time travel which is one of my favourite things to read about!

The Wedding Witch is a fun holiday magical romance!

Other books in the series:

Have you read The Wedding Witch? What did you think of it?

Review: Unicornia: Learning to Fly

Title: Unicornia: Learning to Fly
Author: Ana Punset, Diana Vicedo (illustrator)
Genre: Middle Grade, Fantasy
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Source: Publisher
Format: Hardcover
Release Date: December 3, 2024
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Do you believe in unicorns? School, friendship, and a certain magical beast will enchant beginning readers in this first of a series.

Welcome to Unicornia, the most wonderful place ever! Claudia is about to start her first day at the Unicornia Academy of Magic, where she’ll learn all about spells, potions, and most importantly, unicorns! But she will need to ace her first unicorn flying test at the end of the week if she hopes to advance. With the help of her new friends, will Claudia learn to ride in record time? Get ready for unicorns, glitter, and magic galore in this shimmering story of friendship and fun. Originally published in Spain, the popular series, with sweet illustrations and a simple, humorous text, is poised to charm young unicorn fans everywhere.

Review:

Claudia and her family have just moved to Unicornia, where unicorns fly in the sky. She’s excited to start her first day at Unicornia Academy of Magic where she will learn about potions and magic. However, she’s nervous about learning to ride a unicorn. Claudia must ace the flying test at the end of the week to be able to continue in the class, so her new friends join together to teach Claudia how to get comfortable riding a unicorn.

This is such a cute, illustrated chapter book. I loved that the illustrations were coloured in black, white, and pink. Claudia learned to make friends who in turn taught her how to fly a unicorn. Even though she was scared at first, Claudia faced her fear and learned how to do it.

Unicornia: Learning to Fly is a fun chapter book!

Thank you Penguin Random House Canada and Tundra Books for providing a copy of this book! This book was gifted to me from @penguinrandomca as part of the Holiday Book Magic Campaign! The Holiday Book Magic books are a curated list of books that are perfect for gifting and enjoying all year long!

Have you read Unicornia: Learning to Fly? What did you think of it?

Review: Third Shift Society, Vol. 2

Title: Third Shift Society, Vol. 2
Author: Meredith Moriarty
Genre: Graphic Novel, Fantasy
Publisher: Webtoon Unscrolled
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Format: Ebook
Release Date: October 29, 2024
Rating: ★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Eisner-nominated WEBTOON Third Shift Society is a story about stumbling head-first into a world of magic and mystery. Financially challenged Ellie discovers she has strong psychic powers and gets a job working for Ichabod, a paranormal detective with the head of a Jack-o-Lantern.

Life’s funny. One minute you’re jobless, deep in debt, and on the verge of eviction; the next you’re in a fight with a monster and getting a job working for a paranormal detective with the head of a Jack-o-Lantern. It’s an age-old story.

Now the clumsy but determined Ellie (who’s recently discovered she has strong psychic powers) and her pumpkin-headed boss Ichabod have to team up and fight the things that go bump in the night.

Ellie and Ichabod have some supernatural solves under their belts and Ellie has her psychic powers more (or less) under control. All they’re up against now are cryptic witches, sinister demons, and some ancient monsters hellbent on escaping their psychic prison. What could possibly go wrong?

This volume collects Season 2 of the bewitching WEBTOON comic.

Review:

Ellie, who has just discovered her supernatural powers, works with Ichabod, a man with a pumpkin head, to investigate the paranormal. Ellie must confess her dream of Alice, who left her with a real mark on her hand. Ichabod enlists the help of a witch to figure out what Alice’s plan is, while also investigating other paranormal creatures.

This was a fun second book in the series. There were a lot of fight scenes that made the story go by quickly. I love the mystery around Ichabod. There was some of his origin story in this story, but he is still secretive and a mystery. I’m excited to see where the story goes next!

Third Shift Society, Vol. 2 is a great spooky graphic novel!

Thank you Wattpad Books for providing a digital copy of this book.

Other books in the series:

Third Shift Society, Vol. 1

Have you read Third Shift Society, Vol. 2? What did you think of it?