Contained is my original review from 2018, and my thoughts on my reread, as I finished just a few days ago. I always find it interesting how rereads can change an opinion on a book!

Nov 2025 Reread - Wow I've reached the end of this reread. It has been so interesting visiting this series six years after my first time around. It was such a formative experience, continuing my love of Arthurian Legend and opening up the potential of historical fiction. I am loving it equally the second time around, but for different reasons. The pain has stayed the same on this reread, perhaps even more so with the dramatic irony of where the story is going. That is the mark of an excellent book. I enjoyed Excalibur even more this time around, and it has eclipsed the spot of my favourite instalment of this series, over Enemy of God. Expectations are subverted, moments of incredible satisfaction delivered, as well as traumatic moments that stay with you. Tragedy and heroism are intertwined, and they are both present aplenty in Excalibur. A masterpiece of the historical fiction (or historical fantasy) genre.

“Tell your father” I said, “That I loved him to the end.”

Excalibur is the third and final book in The Warlord Chronicles by Bernard Cornwell. In short, it is one of the best endings to a series I have ever read, and one of my favourite books of all-time. I really hope you pick up this series if you have not already.

“This tale of Arthur, my Lord, my friend and the deliverer of Britain.”

Excalibur was utterly brilliant just like its predecessors. It is the finale of a story that has immersed me into the lives of the characters as my feelings became the victims to the scale of emotions experienced, from euphoria to misery.

“Only a fool wants war, but once a war starts then it cannot be fought half-heartedly. It cannot even be fought with regret, but must be waged with a savage joy in defeating the enemy, and it is that savage joy that inspires our bards to write their greatest songs about love and war.”

Excalibur contained the largest scale conflicts of the trilogy, with Arthur and his warriors forced to repel a Saxon invasion that far outnumbers them. One of the best duels I have had the pleasure to read was in this, and it was mesmerising, the tension and description moulding together to make the scene truly incredible, I will remember that duel for many years to come.

So many acts of heroism were performed that had me physically grinning and then there were the despicable actions that had me weeping as the characters I have so grown to love fell victim to those whose ambitions are insatiable. Some of my most loved characters and most hated were in this trilogy, Derfel and Arthur being two who I will genuinely miss. One of Cornwell's lessons is the grim reality that usually heroes fail because of their goodness. It is painful, but also delivers a grittiness that lends real substance and power to this series.

While Excalibur had its fair share of tragedy to say the least, it was also complete with moments of bitter satisfaction that we had been begging for since book one. These softened the blow slightly, but not enough to stem the tears….

“So, in the morning light, where they flapped in the drying wind, the bear and the star defied the Saxons.”

*Nov 2025 contribution - Excalibur was certainly a five-star rating for me, I would give it more if I could. It was a wonderful, brutal, heart-wrenching, beautiful story about friendship and loyalty. Despite the message that bad often prevails, it still inspires you to be good. To stand by your friends. To oppose evil and ambition, but to also understand that most people do not commit evil for the sake of being evil, and often have their own justifications.

The Warlord Chronicles is one of my all-time favourite series that has left me with a serious book hangover that will surely take a while to overcome. But now I must say farewell to the novel and all its contents, so goodbye to Derfel and his inspiring loyalty, Merlin and his wisdom, Galahad and his kindness and of course, Arthur, the Lord and saviour of Britain.
Farewell.

Short note on if this is historical fiction or historical fantasy... the argument for historical fantasy is most compelling in the series when pointing at Excalibur, but this is a chronicler's story from an elderly, unreliable man. Whilst I would probably on a reread go with calling this final instalment historical fantasy, there is still an argument that these aspects are only there to represent Derfel's own beliefs that have shrouded the reality of his memory... an interesting topic!

Hi friends! We recently had our monthly "Reading Recap" hang with our Cozy Quill paid members and, boy, did they come through with recs!

I wanted to share all these book recommendations with you asap because they just kept coming and they kept getting better. Thank you to everyone who popped into the virtual recap this month and shared the stories you're loving! Your contributions were very generous and I'm excited to offer the list to everyone in our cozy crew.

Scroll down and you'll see all 38 books our Cozy Quillers recommend this season! You can purchase them right from the Bindery site (I do earn a commission on that, I think? I haven't yet so I'm not sure ha!) or just add them to your TBR. Love you all! Until the next reading recap...

x, Meg

The fact that October is over already has me feeling discombobulated, but the fact that I read 9 books last month is next level! It's been another rough year and I've noticed that my reading pace has consistently been up to 6 books a month until now. My guess is that I got my hands on a lot of amazing new reads, felt the spirit of my fave season take hold, and my mood was cooperating with me (for once).

Anyway, let's get into my reviews:

(S)kin by Ibi Zoboi

YA Contemporary Fantasy • Novel-In-Verse

(S)kin is a vulnerable yet powerful story that blends Caribbean folklore w/ themes of colorism, self-image, & more.

This story has 2 POVs: 15-year-old Marisol & 17-year-old Genevieve. Marisol moved to Brooklyn w/ her mom who is a soucouyant, a creature who sheds their human skin & flies into the sky as a fireball to seek out a victim to drink blood from. Her mom is stern & controlling which adds to the isolating experience of being a newly arrived immigrant. When her mom suddenly gets a job as a nanny to Genevieve’s twin half-siblings, her behavior becomes stranger. Genevieve’s skin condition had been worsening until the nanny arrived which triggers suspicions too strong to ignore.

This story was short but punched me in the feels! As someone raised by Caribbean folks, I recognized the pain & confusion that can come from seeing an elder show more affection towards one child over another due to colorism.

I feel like (S)kin allows the reader to work through & release these emotions just as much as the characters do.

Burn Down, Rise Up by Vincent Tirado

Queer YA Horror/Thriller

I didn’t want to put this book down! Burn Down, Rise Up is an ode to the Bronx & the people who made it home.

No one can explain the string of mysterious disappearances in the Bronx over the past year which isn’t surprising since Black & Brown folks going missing doesn’t seem to be concerning to the police. When a mold-like disease takes hold of Raquel’s mom & her crush Charlize’s cousin vanishes shortly after, she begins to think they are linked. As the teens question what is really behind it all, they learn that the folks who disappeared didn’t follow the rules of the Echo Game, an urban legend tied to subway systems. Terrifyingly, the friends have to play the game in order to save their community from an evil lurking in a twisted version of their home.

This story is spellbinding, in part because the characters feel so real. Raquel’s parents are divorced, she’s questioning her feelings, & trying to juggle a lot on top of school. I especially love the way Tirado brought the complicated feelings a lot of Caribbean folks have about Christianity vs. religions like Santería & Vudú into the story. There’s so much to explore here, so y’all should get your hands on this novel ASAP!

Blood & Brujas by Mikayla D. Hornedo

Queer Adult Dark Romantasy

Hot Hot Hot! Blood & Brujas is an amazing example of Romantasy done well! It took me a minute to start reading it because the text was a bit small, but the audiobook helped me get immersed in this world & I quickly became addicted.

Dayanara is a badass warrior woman but when an enemy army suddenly decimates the Caldera army of brujas & knocks her unconscious, her mother & Acna offers her hand in marriage to the vampire king to secure peace. Daya wakes to find out that she is bound by a spell that keeps her & the king from harming each other, as much as she would like to knock his head off. Now, they have to convince their kingdoms that this is the best way to preserve the peace.

This all sounds a bit like the typical marriage of convenience trope, but Hornedo is clear that this is a "why choose" story. Daya is headstrong, so she's not the type to just do what she's told, which makes for a really fun & twisted tale.

Lightning in Her Hands by Raquel Vasquez Gilliland

Contemporary Adult Romantasy

This follow-up to The Witch of Wild Things, delivers a spicy romance w/ depth & humor, & compassion.

Teal Flores reaches out to estranged bestie Carter in desperation because she needs a date to her ex’s wedding. The thing is, they are estranged because Teal hopped into a relationship w/ said ex almost immediately after making out w/ Carter a little while back. Of course, She’s incredibly stressed about this situation & hasn’t been able to control her gift for a while. Her emotions keep triggering volitile weather. Carter is aware of it all & decides to make a deal. Teal will become his (fake) wife so that he can receive his inheritance. What could possibly go wrong between 2 people w/ unresolved romantic tension?!

I think that Gilliland handles Teal’s bipolar disorder w/ care & I’m glad it is never seen as something to fix. The focus of this story is on her relationships w/ Carter, her sisters, her mother, & herself. Despite how heavy that is, the author injects a lot of charm & perfectly timed (dirty) humor throughout the story, which I love! If this sounds like your vibe, I encourage you to read both of the books in this series!

Lucha of The Night Forest by Tehlor Kay Mejia

Queer YA Dark Fantasy

Lucha of the Night Forest was darker than I expected it to be but I loved it! Mejia writes characters with depth & never talks down to readers despite the themes of neglect, poverty, and drug abuse which I appreciated. Kids experience these things everyday & I hope they might feel seen/draw strength from books like this one.

Our MC is determined to keep her family afloat by taking some dangerous jobs. Just when she thinks she can finally walk away from it all, Lucha must make a decision that could lead to her own freedom or begin another fight for her and her little sister’s survival.

This book was addictive & I think there are a ton of things that made it great. I’m a big fan of plant magic in Fantasy, so that was super cool to see, but the lore of their goddess & world-building kept me locked in. The romance between Lucha & the mysterious acolyte was also really tender. I excited to read book 2!

BAIT by Adriana Herrera*

Queer Adult Dystopian Romance Novella

I’m obsessed w/ the novellas from After the End: A Dystopian Romance Collection! As a huge fan of Adriana Herrera’s books, I decided to start with her story BAIT & was not disappointed.

In this post-apocolypse story, a huge natural disaster sent people into bunkers for 3 decades.The bunker life is all 29-year-old Alma knows since she & her community have been told that the land & air outside are still lethal. Her world is flipped upside down when an act of defiance gets her pushed outside only to find that they had been lied to. Some of Alma’s loved ones rescue her & her libido goes into overdrive as they travel to their homestead through a once desolate landscape.

While there were a few problems w/ typos & the 2nd half of the plot could have been fleshed out more, I really enjoyed BAIT & would absolutely read a full-length novel version of it. Life in the bunker was vivid & I loved exploring the different versions of life “after the end.” This is a great short read for folks who want a super horny mash-up of Silo, Mad Max, & The Last of Us.

Blood Slaves by Markus Redmond

Adult Supernatural Horror & Alternate Hist. Fiction

Did you feel joy when you heard that the Nottoway Plantation burned down? Did you enjoy Sinners? If so, this is the book for you!

In the 1st novel of Markus Redmond’s Blood Saga, we follow the story of enslaved people on a Carolina plantation in 1710. After Willie’s failed attempt to run away, he finds out that his beloved Gertie is pregnant. Although the couple are excited to create their own family after being taken from theirs in West Africa, they are sobered by their reality; this baby will be born into slavery. Gertie believes that running is futile but Willie refuses to accept their circumstances after meeting Rafazi, a Ramangan (African vampire), who has a plan to revolt.

This novel is brutal but extremely satisfying! There’s so many themes thoughtfully woven throughout the story: We have folks who hope that “good behavior” will some day lead them to better lives while others can no longer submit. There’s discussions of colorism, what love should look like, & solidarity w/ a local Indigenous tribe.

Blood Slaves is a fantastic book that I hope y’all will pick up very soon!

Gabriela and His Grace by Liana De La Rosa

Adult Historical Romance

Gabriela And His Grace is a great conclusion to the Luna Sisters Series! I promise, I’m not just writing this because the MC & I share a name

The youngest Luna sister books a trip back to Mexico when a British suitor threatens to ruin her. Unbeknownst to Gabby, the infuriating Duke of Whitfield is heading to her homeland on the same ship. In a desperate attempt to save his family’s estate & regain financial security, Whitfield is visiting a mining project in Mexico that his good friend Sirius (Gabby’s BIL) invited him to join. Despite their years of contention, Gabby & Whitfield find themselves hating each other less & less as their journey goes on.

The tension between these MCs is palpable but their banter & barbs entertained me the most! I loved seeing them put down their verbal weapons and get to know one another. The intrigue surrounding Mexico’s fight against French control grounds the story in facinating history, as well.

I highly recommend this series to readers who love enemies to lovers, period dramas, & revolutionary women.

All Superheroes Need Photo Ops by Elizabeth Stephens (Out Nov 25, 2025)

Adult Contemporary Monster Romantasy

I got an ARC of All Superheroes Need Photo Ops by Elizabeth Stephens & I just wanna start this review by saying...hot damn!!!

Book 2 in the Supers in the City series focuses on Monika, the badass photographer from book 1, & Taranis, the superhero who used to be everyone’s favorite. Taranis hires Monika after seeing her popular photos of the Wyvern but his image becomes the least of her worries when an accidental recording implies that Taranis isn’t actually a “good guy.” Despite this, she is drawn to him. The former golden boy hates humans, but Monika is the 1 person who stirs something inside him that isn’t loathing.

Y’all, this couple is spicy on a whole other level! They’ve got that love-hate relationship w/ undeniable chemistry, mutual respect, & matching kinks. Their dynamic isn’t really my vibe, but I know folks who would eat this up. I enjoyed the action sequences a lot & it was cool getting to know Monika through her interests & family. I’m looking forward to seeing where this series goes next!

Here's to another month of good reading!!

*BAIT is a part of the After the End: A Dystopian Romance Collection.

Welcome back for another Author Interview! Last week we talked with author Stephanie Rose about her books, bookstore, and her publication press. Today we'll be talking to author Julia Jackson.

Julia recently debuted her novel Powder & Poison in October. The novel follows Marie Antoinette in her first few weeks at Versailles. I was able to read an advanced copy of this book and even got the chance to blurb it! I absolutely enjoyed Powder & Poison. Julia also has a short story in the As Told Under The Moon Short Horror Story Anthology.

1. Use this question as an introduction. Tell us a little bit about yourself and your book. 

Hi! I'm Julia, a GOOD FOR HER horror writer who watches an unhealthy amount of ghost hunting shows and scary movies. My stories strip away the masks women wear, revealing emotional depth and damage. Some of my faves? CJ Leede, Monika Kim, Lucy Rose, Rachel Harrison & Cassandra Khaw

I have some short stories in the world, was included in the Horror Writers Association's latest poetry collection, and my first book baby was born on October 16! It is called Powder & Poison and is a psychological horror following the first few weeks of Marie Antoinette's arrival at Versailles. Much like the books I love to consume, my story magnifies the atrocities against women throughout our history, leaning into Good For Her horror.  

2. You released your debut novel Powder & Poison last month. Care to tell us a little about your book?

My debut is finally out, and I still can't believe it! I thought I would share a bit about Powder & Poison with the dedication... 

To Marie, who was only 14 years old when she arrived at Versailles, forced into marrying a stranger on the same day. Tortured into perfection, she was left vulnerable and alone, like so many other girls throughout history. This book is for women like her, those who died and those who survived—we are still angry and still fighting.  

3. What inspired you to write it?

I have always been obsessed with history, and as I was dreaming up new story ideas I started thinking about Marie. I knew so much already about what she went through as a CHILD before she was handed over to another country, and thought THIS IS TRUE HORROR - controlling a little girl's mind and physical features to contort to expectations. I wanted to build on that horror, and suddenly, Marie was on the page. 

4. I know you're currently working on another novel. Any hints on what to expect from it? Will it have a historical setting as well or a more modern day setting? When do you plan to drop the title name? 

I am! It is a romantic horror novella that I have been calling Project Heart. It is actually set in our contemporary world (I know, I can't believe I've ventured from historical either!)! For fans of CJ Leede and Rachel Harrison, Project Heart is a raw glimpse into the mind of a woman who turns the wounds inflicted by men into satiating her own needs by any means necessary.  

The title will be announced later this month! Eeee! 

5. You did a fantastic job capturing Versailles! Have you ever been or do you plan to visit one day?

Thank you! I have been to Versailles, and it truly is unlike anywhere else in the world. Aaaand it lends itself perfectly to a horror story full of ghosts and murder. Though I had been there, I knew there was so much more to study about the people, the rules, and the world of that time. So, I fell down a rabbit hole... a very long 6 month rabbit hole of research before I wrote a single word of Powder & Poison. I wanted the time period to be natural in the story and the only way to do that was to truly understand Versailles and the historical figures of that time. 

6. Do you have a writing process? Any tips for aspiring writers?

I actually created something called Channeling Story, which is a process of getting to flow state through mindfulness practices and brain science. I teach online classes and at writing retreats, and it is the best feeling in the world when writers are able to tap into their story in new ways and have huge story breakthroughs. Tips for writers: Writing is hard, you're not alone - build your community and don't lose the love of the craft that got you started in the first place. 

7. What is your favorite scene in Powder & Poison?

Ash...how dare you?! How does one pick a favorite child?! I will admit though, that writing the scene in the sewer below Versailles was so disgusting and vile and visceral - and I loved every minute of it. 

8. What are some of your favorite horror books? Movies?

Give me all the feminine rage, cannibalism, and psychological unravelling! Some of my fave books are Maeve Fly by CJ Leede, The Eyes are the Best Part by Monika Kim, and The Lamb by Lucy Rose! I am obsessed with all ghost movies (The Others still haunts me), LOVED Pearl (Mia Goth is incredible), and I will forever be a Scream girlie. 

9. Were there any songs or playlists that helped you write Powder & Poison? 

All sorts of Femme Fatale playlists, but one that really helped me get into my Versailles was Sun in my Mouth by Bjork. It is creepy and haunting, yet beautiful. So I listened to a lot of Bjork throughout the day to get into the right mindset, and then as I wrote I listened to the Newton Brothers. 

10. Did you hit any writing blocks when writing Powder & Poison? If so, what helped you move past them?

Ouuu the biggest was my confidence in writing the romance... so I got help from my community! Kristin Dwyer helped me to let go and lean into the romance, and my CP Amanda Havill Adgate obsessed over the romance thread throughout the story with me until we got it right. 

Please feel free to add anything else you want to say! And if you can please send over a good picture to use in the blog post! Thank you so much for your time.

Our Giveaway is still open! (I've Linked for ease of access)

Amanda Havill Adgate, Jess Ferguson, and I really wanted to give a platform for female identifying horror writers (because we need to hear more female voices!) so started a press called Grave Belles (@gravebelles on IG)! We will be opening submissions for A WOMAN TRAPPED anthology soon! We are looking for short stories (3-5k words) that show a woman trapped... trapped in a bad romance, trapped in a parallel universe, trapped in a buried coffin... anything that is dark and dripping with character complexity.

Ash, thank you for being such a big part of this community and for supporting authors. I am so grateful! 

Thank you so much Julia for all your wonderful answers and advice! I appreciate you for talking with me!

Please be sure to pick up a copy of Powder & Poison! It's a haunting historical fiction that's guaranteed to mess with your mind!

Join us next week as I talk with author Kelly Dwyer about her book Ghost Mother!

Hello my loves! Many of you know that October is my reset month, after 18 straight weeks with 4 total days off and on my feet for 10-14 hours a day, and as we didn't do any travelling this go around, I really got to dig into my TBR for October. Some books were exactly what I was hoping for (see: The Everlasting!!!) and some fell a little short for me this time. Without futher ado...

Here’s my wrap-up for October:
The Good Vampire’s Guide to Blood and Boyfriends 3⭐
Cinder House 4.5⭐
A Land So Wide 3⭐
The Ruling Class 3 .5⭐
Cursed Cocktails 4.5 ⭐
Wild Reverence 5⭐
Dating and Dragons 3⭐
That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Demon 2.5 ⭐
The Woodsmoke Women’s Book of Spells 3.5 ⭐
Brigands & Breadknives 4.5⭐
Piranesi 4⭐
Beasts of Carnaval 2.5⭐
Soulgazer 4⭐
Buried Deep & Other Stories 4⭐
The Everlasting 5⭐

If you've read and loved any of these, or read and hated them, drop a comment and let me know your thoughts!

Thanks for being a part of the Inkspoken Books community! 💛💛