*The Bloodless Queen* by Joshua Phillip Johnson is delirious jaunt down the rabbit hole wrapped in an eerie, nightmarish package. Much like *Roadside Picnic* by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky and the *Southern Reach* series by Jeff VanderMeer, it plunges readers into a world where the boundaries between the mundane and the mystical are blurred, leaving you with a sense of dread that lingers long after the book is closed.

The novel does a beautiful job of combining our modern, broken world with the concept of fae-like forces, bringing those mythical, otherworldly beings into a realm that’s both absurd and terrifying. The story’s narration is sharp, sarcastic, and often hilarious—providing a perfect balance to the unsettling and sinister atmosphere. Johnson doesn't shy away from dropping dark humor and profanity when the situation calls for it, delivering exposition in a way that's both insightful and incredibly snarky. The wit and biting commentary kept me hooked and the atmospheric descriptions with the faerie felt like a fucked up fever dream which is a HUGE relief from the Faerie smut obsession that's overpowered the literary industry for far too long.

But don't be fooled by the humor. Beneath the clever banter, there's a thick layer of discomfort and dread. The atmosphere is downright viscous—like something sticky and unnatural that you can’t quite wash off. Cal's somewhat detached and aloof nature only deepens the sense of bleakness, as if you're observing the events from a cold, distant lens. And that’s what makes it so unnervingly effective: you’re not just reading about a strange world, you’re experiencing it like a top-down, watching over the shoulder where you feel both a part of it and completely apart from it.

The best bookish journey's are often the most frustrating, perplexing, and surreal. You might leave this one feeling a little more unsettled than when you started. The book is clever, frustrating as hell, and deeply unsettling—but that’s exactly why it works. It takes some effort to enjoy, and honestly that's the point.

Joshua Phillip Johnson’s *The Bloodless Queen* is an eerie, evocative blend of gothic horror and sci-fi, wrapped in the haunting mystique of fae folklore. At its heart, I think this novel is a deeply emotional exploration of grief, sacrifice, and the thin, shifting boundaries between the living and the dead. With its atmospheric worldbuilding and intricate magic system, the book invites readers into a world both familiar and unsettling, one where death does not always mean an end, and the mysteries of the Harbors loom ever larger.

I think the novel’s premise is as chilling as it is fascinating. One of the novel’s greatest strengths is its emotional depth. Beneath its thriller-like pacing and intricate plot lies a poignant meditation on grief and the longing for connection. Evangeline and Cal are grappling with the weight of their responsibilities. Their love adds a human core to the narrative, making their journey through political intrigue and magical peril all the more gripping.

Johnson’s writing is immersive, drawing me into a world that feels both ancient and futuristic. The Harbors, with their untamed wildness and the ever-present whisper of something lurking just beyond sight, are described with a richness that makes them feel alive. I think this novel’s magic system, is unique and unsettling in the best possible way. Pacing-wise, I think this is rewarding with moments of breathtaking revelation and eerie beauty. The novel masterfully balances moments of quiet introspection with bursts of tension, making for a reading experience that lingers long after the final page.

Johnson delivers a story that is both an intricate puzzle and a deeply personal meditation on what it means to live, die, and remember.

The Bloodless Queen is a must-read for those who love their fantasy tinged with horror, their sci-fi wrapped in folklore, and their stories infused with raw, unfiltered emotion. It will leave you haunted, questioning, and longing for more.

I have so much to say about this book that I don't even know where to start. I finished reading it mere minutes ago, after barely being able to put it down the past few days. Truly I can't wait for release day because I need so many people to read it immediately.
I don't think I've ever read a more unique or unsettling portrayal of faeries before, and I loved how terrifying and brutal they are. I'm not usually one for urban fantasy, so at first, I wasn't sure how I'd feel about this book, but honestly it ended up not even being an issue. There was the perfect splash of science fiction to round it out for me.
From the moment I met them, I fell in love with Cal, Winnie, Evangeline, and Tennyson (I'm a sucker for a protective, loving dog) and I was desperate for every moment of their family that I could get my hands on.
With tears in my eyes, I beg you to read this book as soon as it releases--you'll be doing yourself a favor.