“Across the river from the mundane human towns lies the Isle of Wyrd, inhabited by the magical beings known as the Arcana, who will, for the right price, read your future and offer you the possibility of changing your fate. It can be a refuge for the vulnerable but a deadly danger to the reckless and unprepared. Changing your fate can involve physical transformation and transportation to all kinds of odd locations, and both are directly shaped by what you say or intend. An author escaping her abusive fiancé, a pair of brutally selfish but well-connected brothers, a pack of teenage bullies and their kind-hearted potential victim, a college professor whose obsessive quest for knowledge overpowers his courtesy and common sense, and a police detective who yearns to understand the truth about herself all get what they deserve by setting foot on the island. Although a lot happens, there isn’t a solid throughline of plot; this first in a series is clearly more about explaining the world, introducing the characters, and setting the stage for future books…As noted at the launch of her previous series (Lake Silence, 2018), Bishop has a true gift for remixing the same plot elements over multiple books and making you like it, somehow. You’re going to get violent, stupid people who, despite multiple warnings, manage to piss off incredibly powerful beings and get shredded, while polite, kind-hearted people will earn those same powerful beings’ friendship and protection. Aggressively formulaic yet still appealing in its own way.” — Kirkus

“Beth is new to the police force, a rookie member of the team that investigates unusual happenings, the things that connect with the Arcana living on the Isle of Wyrd. Her first assignment is to cross the river and look into the origins of a ghost gun in Destiny Park. She gets some answers but is left with even more questions—and the challenges of navigating the rules of the Arcana while doing her job as a detective in the human world. Breaking those rules can have dire consequences, some of which are difficult for the human world to understand. Meanwhile, some humans’ thirst for power or revenge drives them to stir up tensions between uneasy neighbors. As the police investigate strange disappearances—and even stranger reappearances—Beth’s mysterious past starts to catch up with her. Fortunately, the arcane side of the river can also be a place of sanctuary. Bishop’s (The Lady in Glass, 2024) series starter is a satisfying tale of consequences and bargains, both for good and ill, with a central character who works through difficult changes and ultimately lands on her feet.” — Booklist

“In this sprawling series opener, Bishop (the Black Jewels series) crafts an entertaining and sometimes brutal tale of magic, mystery, and mischief. Shortly after Junior Detective Beth Fahey is assigned to the Penwych police’s 13th precinct special investigations team, she’s tapped for an unusual case involving a magical gun. The inquiry sends her across the Fate River to the Isle of Wyrd to search for answers with the Arcana, the Isle’s enigmatic, fae-like inhabitants who believe that bargains are sacrosanct, intentions have power, and nothing comes free. Swiftly entangled in the doings of the mythical and mysterious, Beth discovers her presence among the Arcana is no accident, and her destiny rests in the hands of their Sorcerer King, Lucas Frost. Meanwhile, a series of intertwined disappearances and deaths create tension between the Arcana and their human visitors, building to a crisis point. Over multiple perspectives, Bishop dwells on themes of escaping abuse, finding freedom, and determining one’s destiny. There’s a fairy tale morality at play: those who embrace cruelty or ignore warnings tend to experience horrible fates, while those seeking peace or safety are offered opportunities for healing and sanctuary. Subtle in its magic if not its messaging, this is a thought-provoking work.” — Publishers Weekly

“The Isle of Wyrd is a place where mundanes can supposedly safely meet the uncanny. Whenever humans disobey the rules, however, Precinct 13 goes out to clean up the mess and pick up the bodies. Not every cop can hack the isle, but newcomer Beth Fahey feels like she’s come home—and the Arcane who control the isle are sure she’s theirs. They also believe that the influence of her past—and theirs—is going to kick off a deadly confrontation on both sides of the Fate River between humans who think the rules don’t apply to them and primeval forces who can’t be influenced, bribed, or bought—only appeased. Bishop’s (“Black Jewels” books) series opener is a story of fate, truth, and consequences, compelling in its description of a world where humans are not in charge yet still have the hubris to believe they are, and where the wild, the weird, and the wonderful are forces that demand obedience and responsibility, as seen through the eyes of a determined investigator who can see both sides of a seemingly insurmountable divide. VERDICT Highly recommended for lovers of dark fantasy and weird urban fantasy, especially fans of Bishop’s “World of the Others” series.” — Library Journal, Starred Review

“This collection contains Bishop’s (The Queen’s Price) previously published flash fiction and short stories, along with a handful of new tales. Bishop has organized her stories based on theme and provides a short introduction to each section. Her notes about the stories are intimate and often set the scene for the upcoming titles. The stories themselves consist mostly of high fantasy or dystopian science fiction and include much of her early fiction, fairy-tale retellings, and some stand-alone stories. While Bishop includes a few stories set in the worlds of her beloved series (“Black Jewels,” “A Novel of the Others”), readers can also expect a wide variety of new worlds that still contain the familiar themes of feminine power and justice. The book will likely hook her tried-and-true fans with extra stories from her successful series, but this collection’s strength lies in its other tales, with “Friends and Corpses” being the highlight.

VERDICT Recommended for fans who are curious about Bishop’s journey as a writer and are interested in reading about the inspiration and motivation behind her stories.” — Library Journal

“In the aftermath of the troubles from the previous book, The Queen’s Weapons, three young women must make decisions which will affect not only themselves, but those around them, as Witch provides them with guidance. Queen-in-training Zoey may now be safe within the walls of SaDiablo Hall, but she is still vulnerable to those with sharp tongues and dark thoughts. When a stranger arrives at the hall looking for sanctuary, Zoey’s attempts at friendship could put everyone around her in danger. Meanwhile, Jillian is preparing for her rite of passage that ensures she’ll keep her witch power and the jewels she wears, but a heart secret means facing her powerful family members and their lethally protective natures. Then there’s Saetien, who travels away to discover information, which may finally let her face her own truths as daughter of the High Lord of Hell.

VERDICT A fine continuation of the “Black Jewels” series, keeping the legacy alive with its tangled web of family and power. Bishop’s devoted fans will devour this, while readers of Nalini Singh and Ilona Andrews who enjoy high fantasy may want to start this series from the beginning.” — Library Journal

“A new entry (following Lake Silence) in Bishop’s “World of the Others” urban fantasy series set in an alternate North America. It’s Trickster Night in Lake Silence, a celebration of ghosties and ghoulies and things that go bump in the night. Lake Silence is a mostly human settlement in an area controlled by the terra indigene, or the Others (a group of supernatural beings and cryptids), making Trickster Night a perfect chance to generate tourism from humans who want to walk a bit closer to the real wild side. It’s all fun and games and just a bit of a fright, until someone uses those small fears to turn humans and terra indigene against each other in order to cause trouble and learn how to get the better of the powerful Others. It’s up to the human storyteller, the police chief, and the local vampire leader to figure out what’s gone rotten in town before the overseeing council sweeps in with a permanent and deadly solution.

VERDICT A compelling exploration of manipulative personalities, small town murders, and the lengths to which these fascinating and beloved characters will go in order to protect one of their own.” — Library Journal