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Bright and Broken Things
Not yet published
Expected 22 Sep 26Set among the glittering parties and Egyptology craze of 1920s London, a young scholar learns he may be the key to uncovering an ancient Egyptian artifact coveted by a powerful cabal of magicians in this enthralling adventure from the author of
Enchanted Lies of Céleste Artois
.
Ezra Bright has returned to London after serving in World War I but, like many surviving soldiers, he’s haunted—by the horrors of the front lines, the loss of his adoptive brother and the strange magic flickering at the edge of his vision. Desperate to outrun his past, Ezra falls into a dazzling new world of socialites known for their elaborate costume parties and spralling scavenger hunts.
But these Bright Young Things are hungry. And none more than Celia, a disgraced heiress, who warns Ezra that these parties are only a glittering façade for a secret society of magicians. For centuries, the Order, at the behest of its mysterious leader, has plundered magical relics. Their ultimate prize lies buried in Egypt, and unlocking it requires ancient magic—one Celia believes Ezra alone possesses.
When a note in his room is mistaken for the opening clue of a scavenger hunt, Ezra and his friends are launched into high stakes race across Egypt. As secrets are unearthed and the dead refuse to stay buried, Ezra must confront the truth of his heritage—and the full cost of his power—before the Order claims it first.
Ezra Bright has returned to London after serving in World War I but, like many surviving soldiers, he’s haunted—by the horrors of the front lines, the loss of his adoptive brother and the strange magic flickering at the edge of his vision. Desperate to outrun his past, Ezra falls into a dazzling new world of socialites known for their elaborate costume parties and spralling scavenger hunts.
But these Bright Young Things are hungry. And none more than Celia, a disgraced heiress, who warns Ezra that these parties are only a glittering façade for a secret society of magicians. For centuries, the Order, at the behest of its mysterious leader, has plundered magical relics. Their ultimate prize lies buried in Egypt, and unlocking it requires ancient magic—one Celia believes Ezra alone possesses.
When a note in his room is mistaken for the opening clue of a scavenger hunt, Ezra and his friends are launched into high stakes race across Egypt. As secrets are unearthed and the dead refuse to stay buried, Ezra must confront the truth of his heritage—and the full cost of his power—before the Order claims it first.
Kindle Edition
Expected publication September 22, 2026
About the author
Ryan Graudin
24 books1,912 followersRyan Graudin was born in Charleston, South Carolina, with a severe case of wanderlust. When she’s not traveling, she’s busy writing and spending time with her husband and wolf dog. She is the author of Invictus, the Wolf By Wolf duology, The Walled City, and the All That Glows Series.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and to Orbit Books for the ARC of Bright and Broken Things by Ryan Graudin.
Based on the posted description, I thought this would be a book about a man named Ezra traumatized from WW1 who encounters a group of rich partiers using magic which spurs some sort of treasure hunt - that's not quite right. Instead, Ezra has always been different and seen things that have made him believe he is unstable and dangerous, which the war only exascerbated. While hiding away working on his doctoral thesis he runs into his adoptive sister Biz, her fiancé/his former lover Vincent, and a down-on-her-luck socialite named Celia who seems to have all the answers about the things that have haunted him. Held in his sister's orbit and curious about what Celia may be able to tell him, Ezra falls into a larger story where his own past and childhood in Egypt with his now-dead mother becomes front and center. As Ezra becomes enlightened about magic in the world and how the British magicians take it from unsuspecting peers and from relics of other nations, he finds connections to his mother that may mean a treasure is still waiting for him from her, but he will have to beat others there first.
I am maybe a bit frustrated with myself that I did not like this book more when it is exactly the Indiana Jones/Mummy/historical fiction I am usually an absolute sucker for (Jacquelyn Benson's Raiders of the Arcana series being an all-time favorite). It took me 11 days to read, and I struggled at times to pick it up even when I would finish a chapter and think "Wow, that's fascinating".
So, for the good: The descriptions and the writing itself are really great. The Find and Seek Party descriptions were enchanting, and the culminating scenes in the 80-90% range had me in tears. The book feels well researched and that it culturally honors both the Egyptians and the reality of the looting by the British and other nations. It also does a brutal and honest view of WW1 and the trauma that inflicts on many of the characters. The bones of the book are solid, and it is obvious that care went into the overarching characterization of the main characters - with Celia's being the strongest (I wanted more from Ezra's). I appreciated the twists of the overall story (trying not to give spoilers, so no details here, but the last 25% of the book really does give a lot more than the first 75%).
Where it lost me a bit:
- The plot seems to go in fits and starts. We go to our first Find and Seek, but by 20% of the way through still nothing has really happened. Then something else starts in the plot but we spend chapters of Ezra/Celia/Vincent/Biz sort of tapping on what their romantic entanglements (but in the most British way, so its very hands off and formal interactions) but they don't actually add to the story. There doesn't seem to be any real relationship building, romantically or familial-wise between Ezra and Biz, or friendship wise because no one trusts each other, because everyone has walls up (so British). It made it hard to care about the outcome of the relationships because everyone was always so guarded, and then I just wanted more of the actual plot-driven aspects because the character-driven ones didn't seem to go more than surface level.
- There is some switching between perspectives (mainly Ezra and Celia, but sometimes Vincent and Biz) that I think took away from the overarching story. In the end I think it's mainly a story about Ezra and Celia's motivations, and so there two perspectives would have worked on their own, but it doesn't seem to be evenly split and it seems to tangle in ways that take some of the overall power of each character away -- it subtracts instead of adds.
- I also found myself a bit bogged down in the overall magic system -- the British order seems to be some sort of magic donor pyramid scheme with one main person at the top, the Apex, but no one else seems to use magic that way? The relics might have a certain ability, but also so do imaginings and shadows and how the magicians wield them? When anyone with magic would fight I would just sort of be confused at the abilities they would all of a sudden have (except Celia -- her arc is great).
- There were certain aspects that were very muted metaphor and some that were very in your face, and I wish there had been a bit more of a balance between those two.
Overall I liked the story, I just wanted to like it more.
Based on the posted description, I thought this would be a book about a man named Ezra traumatized from WW1 who encounters a group of rich partiers using magic which spurs some sort of treasure hunt - that's not quite right. Instead, Ezra has always been different and seen things that have made him believe he is unstable and dangerous, which the war only exascerbated. While hiding away working on his doctoral thesis he runs into his adoptive sister Biz, her fiancé/his former lover Vincent, and a down-on-her-luck socialite named Celia who seems to have all the answers about the things that have haunted him. Held in his sister's orbit and curious about what Celia may be able to tell him, Ezra falls into a larger story where his own past and childhood in Egypt with his now-dead mother becomes front and center. As Ezra becomes enlightened about magic in the world and how the British magicians take it from unsuspecting peers and from relics of other nations, he finds connections to his mother that may mean a treasure is still waiting for him from her, but he will have to beat others there first.
I am maybe a bit frustrated with myself that I did not like this book more when it is exactly the Indiana Jones/Mummy/historical fiction I am usually an absolute sucker for (Jacquelyn Benson's Raiders of the Arcana series being an all-time favorite). It took me 11 days to read, and I struggled at times to pick it up even when I would finish a chapter and think "Wow, that's fascinating".
So, for the good: The descriptions and the writing itself are really great. The Find and Seek Party descriptions were enchanting, and the culminating scenes in the 80-90% range had me in tears. The book feels well researched and that it culturally honors both the Egyptians and the reality of the looting by the British and other nations. It also does a brutal and honest view of WW1 and the trauma that inflicts on many of the characters. The bones of the book are solid, and it is obvious that care went into the overarching characterization of the main characters - with Celia's being the strongest (I wanted more from Ezra's). I appreciated the twists of the overall story (trying not to give spoilers, so no details here, but the last 25% of the book really does give a lot more than the first 75%).
Where it lost me a bit:
- The plot seems to go in fits and starts. We go to our first Find and Seek, but by 20% of the way through still nothing has really happened. Then something else starts in the plot but we spend chapters of Ezra/Celia/Vincent/Biz sort of tapping on what their romantic entanglements (but in the most British way, so its very hands off and formal interactions) but they don't actually add to the story. There doesn't seem to be any real relationship building, romantically or familial-wise between Ezra and Biz, or friendship wise because no one trusts each other, because everyone has walls up (so British). It made it hard to care about the outcome of the relationships because everyone was always so guarded, and then I just wanted more of the actual plot-driven aspects because the character-driven ones didn't seem to go more than surface level.
- There is some switching between perspectives (mainly Ezra and Celia, but sometimes Vincent and Biz) that I think took away from the overarching story. In the end I think it's mainly a story about Ezra and Celia's motivations, and so there two perspectives would have worked on their own, but it doesn't seem to be evenly split and it seems to tangle in ways that take some of the overall power of each character away -- it subtracts instead of adds.
- I also found myself a bit bogged down in the overall magic system -- the British order seems to be some sort of magic donor pyramid scheme with one main person at the top, the Apex, but no one else seems to use magic that way? The relics might have a certain ability, but also so do imaginings and shadows and how the magicians wield them? When anyone with magic would fight I would just sort of be confused at the abilities they would all of a sudden have (except Celia -- her arc is great).
- There were certain aspects that were very muted metaphor and some that were very in your face, and I wish there had been a bit more of a balance between those two.
Overall I liked the story, I just wanted to like it more.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 16, 2026
Thank you NetGalley and Orbit Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
As someone who is quite obsessed with Ancient Egypt, I was thrilled when I found this book on Netgalley. If you are someone who enjoys Egyptology, Egyptian myths and beliefs, and magic, this book is for you. Overall, I really enjoyed this novel. It was a fantastic "escape" read for me, and I really enjoyed the historical fiction aspect of the plot.
Bright and Broken Things is set in the 1920's, and it follows scholar Ezra Bright. Traumatized from fighting in World War I and losing his brother right before his eyes, Ezra is fighting his own demons as he works on his Egyptology thesis. It doesn't take him long before he finds himself thrust into the magical world of the Bright Young Things, chasing after his ancestry and magic powers that have been simmering just beneath the surface.
When Ezra reunites with his half-sister and a group of her friends, he is introduced to the Bright Young Things - a group of young adults obsessed with obtaining priceless, magical relics from ancient worlds at whatever cost. For centuries, the mysterious "Order" has stolen and killed for these relics in hopes of unveiling more magical powers. Celia Sinclare, whom Ezra meets at one of the elaborate Bright Young Things parties, is desperate to avenge her father's death that was done at the hands of The Apex, the leader of The Order. She spots Ezra's magic simmering and begging to be released, and she capitalizes on the opportunity to recruit him in her quest.
When Ezra finds a scroll hidden away in a relic, it leads him, his sister, Celia, and Vincent (whom everyone has a VERY complicated relationship with) on a wild goose chase to find the end-all-be-all of relics before those who want to use it nefariously beat them to it.
The historical fiction and Egyptology aspects of this novel were incredible. I thoroughly enjoyed how Graudin integrated these into magical-realism. I found the character development to be great, especially for Ezra and Celia. My one gripe was with the last 30% of the book. The wild goose chase for the relic was thrilling, but there was just TOO much happening. It was incredibly hard to follow the "who, what, when, where, how" at times in the latter part of the book. I had to re-read multiple sections to make sure I understood what was happening. The ending, which is supposed to be chaotic for the characters, was chaotic as a reader. It felt extremely disjointed, and there were simply too many things happening at once. I feel it really took away from the central message and theme of the book that had been brewing up until this point. With that being said, I was still satisfied with the ending of the book!
I think anyone who enjoys Egyptology, magical-realism, or a fun historical fiction will be a fan of this book. Just be ready to dive into a crazy adventure with Ezra and the crew!
As someone who is quite obsessed with Ancient Egypt, I was thrilled when I found this book on Netgalley. If you are someone who enjoys Egyptology, Egyptian myths and beliefs, and magic, this book is for you. Overall, I really enjoyed this novel. It was a fantastic "escape" read for me, and I really enjoyed the historical fiction aspect of the plot.
Bright and Broken Things is set in the 1920's, and it follows scholar Ezra Bright. Traumatized from fighting in World War I and losing his brother right before his eyes, Ezra is fighting his own demons as he works on his Egyptology thesis. It doesn't take him long before he finds himself thrust into the magical world of the Bright Young Things, chasing after his ancestry and magic powers that have been simmering just beneath the surface.
When Ezra reunites with his half-sister and a group of her friends, he is introduced to the Bright Young Things - a group of young adults obsessed with obtaining priceless, magical relics from ancient worlds at whatever cost. For centuries, the mysterious "Order" has stolen and killed for these relics in hopes of unveiling more magical powers. Celia Sinclare, whom Ezra meets at one of the elaborate Bright Young Things parties, is desperate to avenge her father's death that was done at the hands of The Apex, the leader of The Order. She spots Ezra's magic simmering and begging to be released, and she capitalizes on the opportunity to recruit him in her quest.
When Ezra finds a scroll hidden away in a relic, it leads him, his sister, Celia, and Vincent (whom everyone has a VERY complicated relationship with) on a wild goose chase to find the end-all-be-all of relics before those who want to use it nefariously beat them to it.
The historical fiction and Egyptology aspects of this novel were incredible. I thoroughly enjoyed how Graudin integrated these into magical-realism. I found the character development to be great, especially for Ezra and Celia. My one gripe was with the last 30% of the book. The wild goose chase for the relic was thrilling, but there was just TOO much happening. It was incredibly hard to follow the "who, what, when, where, how" at times in the latter part of the book. I had to re-read multiple sections to make sure I understood what was happening. The ending, which is supposed to be chaotic for the characters, was chaotic as a reader. It felt extremely disjointed, and there were simply too many things happening at once. I feel it really took away from the central message and theme of the book that had been brewing up until this point. With that being said, I was still satisfied with the ending of the book!
I think anyone who enjoys Egyptology, magical-realism, or a fun historical fiction will be a fan of this book. Just be ready to dive into a crazy adventure with Ezra and the crew!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Bright and Broken Things by Ryan Graudin is an occult mystery about one man's journey to discovering the truth about his magical ancestry...
Ezra Bright returns home from serving in WW1 where a supernatural experience on the front line has haunted him ever since. Ezra falls in with a group of socialites whose raucous parties are hiding a magical world within a world. When Ezra becomes entangled in their web of secrecy and mystery involving ancient relics, he discovers that his connection to Ancient Egypt is highly desirable by a group of magicians who will stop at nothing to get what they want, even if it wakes the dead...
Give me a story about Egypt and secret societies and I am in love. Bright and Broken Things captured the Egyptology craze with the secret underground plot that involved occultists and magic. Ryan Graudin's signature lyrical and descriptive writing added a whimsical aspect to the story that made it enchanting. Personally for me, having read many Egyptian secret society inspired stories, I do prefer a more speculative take on the genre, rather than the fantastical. The story's wild goose chase was entertaining and the characters were each interesting. Ezra's story inspired by Egyptian mythology was very unique. At times the pacing felt off and there were some chapters where it felt as though too much was happening at once. Other than that, I enjoyed this book and really liked the plot.
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a free arc via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Ezra Bright returns home from serving in WW1 where a supernatural experience on the front line has haunted him ever since. Ezra falls in with a group of socialites whose raucous parties are hiding a magical world within a world. When Ezra becomes entangled in their web of secrecy and mystery involving ancient relics, he discovers that his connection to Ancient Egypt is highly desirable by a group of magicians who will stop at nothing to get what they want, even if it wakes the dead...
Give me a story about Egypt and secret societies and I am in love. Bright and Broken Things captured the Egyptology craze with the secret underground plot that involved occultists and magic. Ryan Graudin's signature lyrical and descriptive writing added a whimsical aspect to the story that made it enchanting. Personally for me, having read many Egyptian secret society inspired stories, I do prefer a more speculative take on the genre, rather than the fantastical. The story's wild goose chase was entertaining and the characters were each interesting. Ezra's story inspired by Egyptian mythology was very unique. At times the pacing felt off and there were some chapters where it felt as though too much was happening at once. Other than that, I enjoyed this book and really liked the plot.
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a free arc via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me a read.
I loved Ryan Graudin's WWII duology. It was just so well done that I admit I have not been following her other books since then. Of course it's been about 10 years or so.
So when I saw she was releasing a book that infused socialites of the 20's with the fascination of Egyptology, I had to read it. After reading it, I don't know what I expected but I was disappointed when finishing it.
There is a lot happening in terms of the characters and their motivations so lets not say that the motivations was the issue. I guess the story was my problem. A character of Egyptian descent is our protagonist and he is trying to figure out his place in a world that doesn't seem made for him - both racial and magic wise. Of course, he is confused on his magic powers he may or may not have (watching what happened to the men who killed his brother so to speak). So he becomes wrapped up in finding a reason of why he is seeing the things he's seeing.
I just felt that the direction was sort of lost on who was screwing who and who had feelings for who while competing against a story about magic and racial identity. I just didn't care about the other characters, I found them either annoying or underdeveloped for me to care.
All in all, I think there will be people who will enjoy this - if they hang more on the emotional drama of all these relationships but I didn't.
I loved Ryan Graudin's WWII duology. It was just so well done that I admit I have not been following her other books since then. Of course it's been about 10 years or so.
So when I saw she was releasing a book that infused socialites of the 20's with the fascination of Egyptology, I had to read it. After reading it, I don't know what I expected but I was disappointed when finishing it.
There is a lot happening in terms of the characters and their motivations so lets not say that the motivations was the issue. I guess the story was my problem. A character of Egyptian descent is our protagonist and he is trying to figure out his place in a world that doesn't seem made for him - both racial and magic wise. Of course, he is confused on his magic powers he may or may not have (watching what happened to the men who killed his brother so to speak). So he becomes wrapped up in finding a reason of why he is seeing the things he's seeing.
I just felt that the direction was sort of lost on who was screwing who and who had feelings for who while competing against a story about magic and racial identity. I just didn't care about the other characters, I found them either annoying or underdeveloped for me to care.
All in all, I think there will be people who will enjoy this - if they hang more on the emotional drama of all these relationships but I didn't.
Did Not Finish
July 14, 2026DNF at 49%-
I had extremely high hopes for this book based on the synopsis, which promised Egyptian mythology and a high-stakes adventure, but it ultimately fell flat for me.
First, the main plot doesn't really get going until about a quarter of the way through the book. I kept waiting for the exciting adventure to begin, but it took much longer than expected. Once it did, the pacing was inconsistent and constantly shifting.
One of my biggest issues was that the book tried to be too many things at once. There were too many themes, and they didn't come together in a cohesive way, leaving the story feeling disjointed. Additionally, the magic system didn't feel fully developed and was, at times, difficult to follow. It left me wondering how certain magical abilities evolved and what the rules of the magic actually were.
Unfortunately, despite my high expectations, this book just didn't work for me.
I had extremely high hopes for this book based on the synopsis, which promised Egyptian mythology and a high-stakes adventure, but it ultimately fell flat for me.
First, the main plot doesn't really get going until about a quarter of the way through the book. I kept waiting for the exciting adventure to begin, but it took much longer than expected. Once it did, the pacing was inconsistent and constantly shifting.
One of my biggest issues was that the book tried to be too many things at once. There were too many themes, and they didn't come together in a cohesive way, leaving the story feeling disjointed. Additionally, the magic system didn't feel fully developed and was, at times, difficult to follow. It left me wondering how certain magical abilities evolved and what the rules of the magic actually were.
Unfortunately, despite my high expectations, this book just didn't work for me.
July 7, 2026
Many thanks to Redhook/Hachette Book Group and Netgally for this ARC. All opinions are my own.
3.5⭐️ Rich youth in 1920s London with magic thrown in? This was a dream of a setting and plot! The author fully hopped on the Egyptology craze sweeping society at that time, and as an audience we were rewarded. Add in the magical artifacts angle and you have an intriguing storyline.
The characters are varied and well thought out. I loved some and detested the others which is a sign they are written with their own distinct personalities.
It’s paced well - slow enough to build suspense but always moving forward with purpose.
I didn’t like a number of the magical elements alas. The idea of harvesting ideas is absolutely creative, but they accomplish this seems a truly odd choice. There were other ideas that I had a difficult time grasping, either because they didn’t make sense or were just too convenient.
Overall though, I thought the writing and what the story contained on the pages to be memorable.
3.5⭐️ Rich youth in 1920s London with magic thrown in? This was a dream of a setting and plot! The author fully hopped on the Egyptology craze sweeping society at that time, and as an audience we were rewarded. Add in the magical artifacts angle and you have an intriguing storyline.
The characters are varied and well thought out. I loved some and detested the others which is a sign they are written with their own distinct personalities.
It’s paced well - slow enough to build suspense but always moving forward with purpose.
I didn’t like a number of the magical elements alas. The idea of harvesting ideas is absolutely creative, but they accomplish this seems a truly odd choice. There were other ideas that I had a difficult time grasping, either because they didn’t make sense or were just too convenient.
Overall though, I thought the writing and what the story contained on the pages to be memorable.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
⭐⭐⭐ - Neutral
The settings of 1920s London and Egypt felt well-researched and certainly well-described in Bright and Broken Things. There's a lot going on with its themes of racism, all manner of social injustice, class difference, past loves, grief, the trauma and survivor’s guilt of war, and complicated parent-child relationships.
To be honest, I kind of think there were too many themes, and I think the pace and character work suffered a bit because of a balancing issue. While the core group of characters—Ezra, Celia, Biz, and Vincent—were likeable enough and distinct from one another, none of them left a lasting impression on me.
Most of my complaints are personal nitpicks and preferences, but I think this book is a good option for readers looking for an Egyptian-themed historical fantasy adventure set in the 1920s.
Thanks to Orbit/Redhook for the eARC via NetGalley.
The settings of 1920s London and Egypt felt well-researched and certainly well-described in Bright and Broken Things. There's a lot going on with its themes of racism, all manner of social injustice, class difference, past loves, grief, the trauma and survivor’s guilt of war, and complicated parent-child relationships.
To be honest, I kind of think there were too many themes, and I think the pace and character work suffered a bit because of a balancing issue. While the core group of characters—Ezra, Celia, Biz, and Vincent—were likeable enough and distinct from one another, none of them left a lasting impression on me.
Most of my complaints are personal nitpicks and preferences, but I think this book is a good option for readers looking for an Egyptian-themed historical fantasy adventure set in the 1920s.
Thanks to Orbit/Redhook for the eARC via NetGalley.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5
Extreme historical fiction and fantasy lovers will love this book. This book makes you want to learn. I found it myself wanting to know more about Egyptian mythology, and even the history of Britain while reading this book. I really enjoyed the creativity and character depth in this book. Occasionally, you can get a little lost in the writing, and the streaming conversations in this book. But, for the most part your attention is kept enraptured. Overall, this book is a 3.5 for me because I didn’t love it enough to be a 4 star but I didn’t feel indifferent enough to give it a 3 star.
Thank you NetGalley and Orbit Books for giving me an advanced readers copy of this book.
Extreme historical fiction and fantasy lovers will love this book. This book makes you want to learn. I found it myself wanting to know more about Egyptian mythology, and even the history of Britain while reading this book. I really enjoyed the creativity and character depth in this book. Occasionally, you can get a little lost in the writing, and the streaming conversations in this book. But, for the most part your attention is kept enraptured. Overall, this book is a 3.5 for me because I didn’t love it enough to be a 4 star but I didn’t feel indifferent enough to give it a 3 star.
Thank you NetGalley and Orbit Books for giving me an advanced readers copy of this book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Curl up in a cozy corner and forget yourself. This book was utterly captivating and I mourned the fact that it had to end. Adventure, love, loyalty and betrayal. The author did a beautiful job of setting the scene and immersing the reader into the wild and enchanting world of grave robbers and young adults navigating a recently broken society in the aftermaths of war. This story has lingered with me and I happily recommend this book to everyone. I am grateful for the opportunity to read this from NetGalley as an ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Bright and Broken Things (Kindle Edition)
by Ryan Graudin
This is a remarkable change in story type form Ryan Graudin's books which I have read before. The magical and remarkable world he has created is a refreshing jaunt. The combination of historical fiction and supernatural fiction is a new look. The roaring twenties never were so magical. The regret and pain of the first world war is prevalent in the characters. Showing the problems of "shell shock" and the mental cost of warfare. This brings the characters to the forefront of the story.
by Ryan Graudin
This is a remarkable change in story type form Ryan Graudin's books which I have read before. The magical and remarkable world he has created is a refreshing jaunt. The combination of historical fiction and supernatural fiction is a new look. The roaring twenties never were so magical. The regret and pain of the first world war is prevalent in the characters. Showing the problems of "shell shock" and the mental cost of warfare. This brings the characters to the forefront of the story.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was a fast paced historical fantasy that blends the Egyptology craze of the 1920s with the socialites of the Bright Young Thngs, and focuses in on a young bisexual WWI veteran from Egypt, his childhood friend - a heiress who's on the verge of ruin, and a mysterious magical order interested by Ezra's powers and what it might mean for them. This was a fairly solid read, I like that our main isn't inherently ashamed about being bi, and this feels very in the vein of the Mummy from the 90s. Worth your time.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
1920’s + puzzle box mystery + treasure hunt + Egyptian mythology + archeology vibes and throw in a dash of speakeasy - this book DELIVERED. This pacing is fantastic, great character development, the plot is well-executed, and EXCELLENT queer and feminist representation. The author lands the plane with the ending! I truly did not see the twist coming. I was so impressed with this one. Absolutely loved.
Review of advance copy
RTC
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Graudin has a knack for writing intriguing plots, characters and world building. With such a unique and genuinely fantastic setup; Ezra Bright has a strong future ahead of him and the potential to grant a cult-like following. (Especially if there are more books..) It's so compellingly well done & unique impressions will linger long after finishing.
As someone who reads romantasy; the interpersonal relationships are realistic and well written. While Graudin's work in Bright and Broken Things isn't spicy, it is just as captivating and fulfilling to romantasy readers - which is a feat of its own.
As someone who reads romantasy; the interpersonal relationships are realistic and well written. While Graudin's work in Bright and Broken Things isn't spicy, it is just as captivating and fulfilling to romantasy readers - which is a feat of its own.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews