Court of Wanderers
by Rin Chupeco
The Court of Wanderers is the second novel in, Filipino author, Rin Chupeco’s Castylvania inspired duology centering around Remy Pendergast, a vampire hunter, who falls in love with two royal vampires, Lord Zidan Malekh and Lady Xiaodan Song. You can read my review of the previous book here. The trio is making their way to Fata Morgana, the center of Malehk’s court aka the Court of Wanderers where they hope that gravely injured Xiaodan can be healed. Along the way Remy encounters his repugnant father who is the antithesis of his heroic and yet kind son. When the Night Empress begins to invade Remy’s dreams he begins to wonder about her connection to his own mother and grows concerned about what he may have inherited in his own blood line from his mom. Chupeco’s words brings to life stunning visuals like haunting vampiric trees and Remy’s eerie surreal dreams as well as epic vampire battles. This will appeal to those who like high fantasy action/adventure and court intrigue with an added spicy dash of polyamourous romance mixed in. Consent between the members of the throuple and the meaning of love both fleeting and eternal is explored.
The Witch and the Vampire
by Francesca Flores
Ava and Kaye were best friends, but after an attack by vampires left Kaye’s mother dead and Ava and her mother turned into vampires has left them on opposite sides. Kaye is a Flame witch who is duty bound to kill any vampires. Eugenia, Ava’s mother, had been keeping Ava captive for the past few years in order to steal her power and hide her own vampirism. When Ava escapes Kaye joins her, but will the two find salvation and love together or will Kaye follow her training and end Ava as a potential threat? I enjoyed the audiobook version especially when the the narration of Ava’s mother who was gloriously over the top villainous. Narration is performed by Bailey Carr and Mary Helen Gallucci. The Witch and the Vampire takes some inspiration from the Rapunzel myth for those that enjoy fairytale retelling, but it strays enough from the original that it feels wholly unique. It is also a sweet friends to enemies to love story for queer romantacy fans.
Written by:
Aimee Harris
Information and Digital Services Manager
Hoboken Library Staff Picks 