Melissa Caruso graduated with honours in Creative Writing from Brown University and holds an MFA in Fiction from University of Massachusetts - Amherst.
Don't Touch That! (2022) A Sci-Fi and Fantasy Parenting Anthology edited by Jaymee Goh
Melissa Caruso recommends
The Tricky Business of Faerie Bargains (2026) Reena McCarty "Come for the fascinating world of corporate-brokered fairy bargains - stay for the adventure, intrigue, and betrayal! With a relatable mortal protagonist way over her head in a fairy realm as compelling as it is dangerous, this book casts an entrancing glamour!"
The Gentleman and His Vowsmith (2025) Rebecca Ide "The Gentleman and His Vowsmith grabbed me from the first page and kept me hooked with flawless spooky gothic vibes, wonderful characters, delightfully messy relationships, buried family secrets, and a compelling murder mystery. I loved it to the last page!"
North Is the Night (2024) (Tuonela Duet, book 1) Emily Rath "North Is the Night casts a wintry spell of myth and magic, love and despair, dread and wonder. A compelling, immersive ride with characters I adored and a story that kept me turning pages!"
A Magic Fierce and Bright (2024) Hemant Nayak "An adrenaline-fueled, action-packed, nonstop ride full of magic and danger, family and friendship, loss and triumph - and one sentient motorcycle that will steal your heart and race it to the finish line. With brilliant pacing, fantastic characters, and a wildly creative world, A Magic Fierce and Bright is a true winner!"
Tonight, I Burn (2023) (Witches of Halstett, book 1) Katharine J Adams "Tonight, I Burn kept me turning pages with fascinating magic, compelling dark fairytale vibes, and heart-wrenching plot twists. I can't wait for the next one!"
The Surviving Sky (2023) (Rages Trilogy, book 1) Kritika H Rao "The Surviving Sky weaves a compelling web of wounded hearts and warped duty, as conflicting forces of ambition, love, and magic strain its characters to the breaking point in a lush world on the brink of destruction. Fall from its floating city's edge into a storm of emotions!"
Empire of Exiles (2022) (Books of the Usurper, book 1) Erin M Evans "Empire of Exiles has it all: characters I love, intertwined compelling mysteries in the past and present, plot twists that keep coming, and a unique and fascinating world and magic system!"
Notorious Sorcerer (2022) (Burnished City, book 1) Davinia Evans "Notorious Sorcerer feels like a dream you don't want to wake from. . . I devoured it and want more!"
Kalyna the Soothsayer (2022) (Failures of Four Kingdoms, book 1) Elijah Kinch Spector "Kalyna the Soothsayer is dangerously good: a spellbinding story, captivatingly told, with a cast of unforgettable characters and plot twists that kept me turning pages past my bedtime."
Nettle & Bone (2022) T Kingfisher "Nettle & Bone is the kind of book that immediately feels like an old friend. Fairytale mythic resonance meets homey pragmatism in this utterly delightful story. It's creepy, funny, heartfelt, and full of fantastic characters I absolutely loved!"
The Stardust Thief (2022) (Sandsea Trilogy, book 1) Chelsea Abdullah "Sizzling with action and secrets, The Stardust Thief is a grand adventure with unforgettable characters, enchanting magic, and plenty of heart."
The Midnight Bargain (2020) C L Polk "The Midnight Bargain is a delicious mix of forbidden magic and social ritual, with dangerous secrets, impossible choices, coded grimoires, and stolen kisses dressed up in a sensory feast of fancy carriages and corset stays. It’s Pride and Prejudice meets Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, with two brilliant clandestine sorceresses up against the patriarchy!"
Rule (2020) (Unraveled Kingdom, book 3) Rowenna Miller "Miller weaves a fresh, richly textured world full of magic-stitched ball gowns and revolutionary pamphlets. The vivid, complex setting and deeply human characters make for an absorbing read!"
There Will Come a Darkness (2019) (Age of Darkness , book 1) Katy Rose Pool "A brilliantly woven story with compelling characters, surprising twists and a prophecy driven not by distant fate but by hard, human choices. There Will Come a Darkness was a pleasure to read and left me eager for more!"
The Ten Thousand Doors of January (2019) Alix E Harrow "All the magic you once knew but have almost forgotten waits in these pages for you to discover again. With a masterful voice and a spellbinding story, reading The Ten Thousand Doors of January feels like coming back to a beloved childhood classic to find it unexpectedly grew up with you. It's a deeply satisfying pleasure to read, and lingers in your heart afterwards. I loved it!"
Empire of Sand (2018) (Books of Ambha, book 1) Tasha Suri "Empire of Sand is a lovely dark dream full of wrenching choices and bittersweet triumph. This gorgeous, magic-woven story and its determined heroine spin hope from hopelessness, power from powerlessness, and love from desolation."
The Wolf of Oren-Yaro (2017) (Chronicles of the Bitch Queen, book 1) K S Villoso "An action-packed plot and deep, vivid world-building."
Age of Assassins (2017) (Wounded Kingdom, book 1) RJ Barker "With an original, immersive world that wouldn't let me go and a pair of assassins worth rooting for, Age of Assassins is a pleasure to read. I can't wait for more!"
