Book Review: A Lie So Pretty and Poisonous by Leah Bronwyn

This was such a unique book, something that caught me surprise by the twists and turns it took and the resilient lead of the story. The one thought that keeps going through my mind is that I wish the second book was already available because that last scene is still ringing in my ears. This has so many romantasy elements that will be sure to appeal to a wide range of readers and I'm sure that once this book is released, it will find its way onto so many bookshelves everywhere and I will find people to commiserate to about that ending because seriously, I need book 2.

A Lie So Pretty and Poisonous follows Aurora Alwine, "Rory", a young mother who fled from her mother's home and managed to build a happy life with her young daughter, Cora, in a new town where she works at an apothecary. When one of her mother's lackeys arrives to force Rory and Cora back to her mother's home, Rory's friends devise a way to get the mother and daughter to safety. While on the run though, Rory and Cora end up trapped in a land of demigods where they have been separated from humans on the other side of the continent. Now trapped, Rory has to curb her instincts and play a careful game of keeping up a facade of the delicate noblewoman all while trying to find any information on how to get back home. After forming an alliance with the demigod, Darragh, who has been assigned to protect her, Rory and Darragh's search for a way back home leads them to discoveries that threaten the safety of everyone.

First of all, the world-building is phenomenal. I was so impressed with every aspect of this other world where Rory and Cora ended up trapped. The way that the society was divided and how the religion was woven in made for a delicate situation that Rory found herself navigating. There were so many things that she needed to learn and I was grateful that it allowed the reader to, in turn, learn along with Rory everything that was needed to understand the world as the story progressed. There were a lot of things that kept the tension building for Rory and for Cora and Bronwyn handled each thread with ease, creating a world that glittered but had sharp edges underneath. Every new fact revealed worked in showing exactly what kind of place this really was and by the time everything came to light, I couldn't believe the book was over. Bronwyn has managed to bring readers through every point of this story, investing us in every aspect in a way that only the best romantasy books are able to do and that is an incredible feat.

Next, the characters were everything and more needed for a book like this. I was so happy to see an older FMC who was also a mother as a lead for book like this. The instinct that Cora had to sacrifice herself to keep her daughter safe was something I could identify with and her every thought being how to make sure her daughter would benefit made me love Rory. I thought Cora was an adorable and intelligent little girl, proving herself as the best motivating factor for her mother. Darragh was an interesting character, stoic and unsettling and yet quietly showing in little ways the way he had others interests at heart. I loved the tension between Darragh and Rory and I truly hope to see more development between them in the next book. Bronwyn built this incredible tension between these two characters but also managed to keep this necessary distance between them because of the circumstances of Rory being unable to go home. I also especially loved Anya, Rory's new friend and confidante, who quickly managed to prove herself trustworthy to the Alwines. I loved how she provided observations that Rory didn't have and how she helped Rory through the ups and downs she was going through in her new world. I hope to see much more of her and Rory being friends in the rest of the series.

As for the plot, I thought I had some things figured out but Bronwyn kept all the cards close until the right moments to reveal everything. The idea of trying to find a way home as a driving force was the perfect scenario to have in a story like this. There was enough of a threat hanging over Rory's head as a person in a foreign land to have Rory moving around the kingdom, learning about the world and trying to find a way back. At the same time though, slowly adding in a new threat for Rory to unearth helped with allowing readers become completely invested in figuring out exactly what was going on in this society. Suffice to say, after the way this book ended, I am completely on board for book 2. 

In the end, Bronwyn has created one incredible lead and a world I can't wait to visit again. I desperately need to know some more about the reveals given and I really hope for a happy outcome for Rory and for Cora once the next books are released.

Rating on my Scale: 10 Stars. I want more, end of story. I'm still not over that last chapter. The next book is too far away but I will be patient, not because I want to be but because I have to be patient. So there.

My thanks to Rattle the Stars PR and Leah Bronwyn for the eARC of this book in exchange for a honest review. All opinions are my own.

Book Review: Until the Sand Claims Us by Israh Azizi

After the month I've had, I was looking forward to reading a new fantasy novel and Until the Sand Claims Us was everything I wanted and more from a book right now. The world was beautiful, the characters claimed my heart and the twists kept me turning pages until almost dawn. I truly loved the way this story unfolded and I will follow Israh Azizi to every book they write from here on out.

Until the Sand Claims Us follows two leads, Yildiz, a bodyguard for the princess of the south, her cousin, and Dayyan, the prince of the north, also known as the prince of death. The pair cross paths when Yildiz is offered up in her cousin's place for marriage to a northern prince in the hopes of stopping the war that has been raging for years. Yildiz has been given a task by the sultan, kill the princes or face certain death. But her betrothed, Dayyan, is not the villain she thinks he is and he has been forced to follow the shah's every order so that he can keep his family safe. As the two come together, Dayyan starts to realize that he has feelings for his new wife, making her a new target to be used against him and to control him while Yildiz has to wonder if killing the prince would even be the revenge it was meant to be. Their marriage was supposed to be the start of a new peace but various factors are working against them and the pair will have to choose between what they are meant to do or their newfound love in an effort at changing their destinies and the furure of their homelands.

First of all, the world-building here is exquisitely done. There are so many interesting aspects to the world itself, from the the reason for why the North wants to conquer the South and how the people live to how that in turn affects everything that lives in the Khatatian Desert. Azizi provided so many answers to questions I had about the people and stories about how and why the war started. There was also an interesting addition to the start of every chapter and the discovery of what these lines turned out to be just left me feeling a little awed at how Azizi provided this interesting bit to fill in the world just that much more. I loved the development and the way Azizi gave each part of the story the information as it was needed. Enemies to lovers as a trope usually doesn't work for me but it was done to perfection in this novel because I believed everything about the developing relationship between the leads. Their story as a driving force for the novel kept my attention riveted because believe me when I say that I had to finish this book in a day, I couldn't put it down.

The characters in this book were perfection. Yildiz was a girl after my own heart with her fiery spirit and her fighting ability. I knew that Dayyan would be tragic somehow but the way Azizi developed his character into something so strong while sympathetic at the same time made me eager to see how this newly married couple would finally be on the same page together. Thanks to Azizi's writing, I was just as invested in the rest of the cast of charactets, including Dayyan's closest friend Zeki, and Bazmara, Omid and Delara, the siblings Dayyan would do anything for. Every character gets their chance to make an impact on the story and I loved them all by the end of the book.

As for the plot, I found the struggle of choosing between duty and love to be a particularly good driving force for this story. Trying to find a way for two people who have grown up being used as tools by the family that was supposed to protect them to finally accept a true and everlasting love made this just a beautiful story in the end. I wanted these two to grow together and find an understanding and their journey to find a way to be together and help their people made for such a fun adventure to go on. All in all, a very satisfying novel about taking chances and finding somewhere to belong for who you truly are.

In the end, this book was the perfect story that I was looking to read and I'm so grateful to have gotten the chance to meet Yildiz and Dayyan and have a chance to spend some time in this world.

Rating on my Scale: 10 Stars. I might have shed or two at a particular reveal so bear that in mind because it's good to know when an author has the talent to make you care that much about the people they have created.

My thanks to Behind the Pages and Israh Szizi for the eARC of this book in exchange for a honest review. All opinions are my own.

Book Review: The Has-Been by Wren Riley

It's been a while since I found a really good sports romance to read which is why I took the opportunity to read The Has-Been by Wren Riley. I've usually found sports romance to be charming, showing the pressures of being a professional sports player and how the lead has to figure out the balance of making a relationship work with their career. What makes The Has-Been different is that fact that it follows a couple where the lead MMC is a year out from a career ending injury with no hope of being to return to his sport and the future he envisioned for himself going pro. Instead, this book focuses on the fall-out of losing that dream and the future you put years of your life into and the ramifications that come from that loss and that was something that I found both unexpected and unique as it is not a subject matter I've seen covered as much in the genre. In the end, I really respected the way the various subjects were dealt with and the realistic approach to rebuilding your life. My only wish is that I would have wanted the book to spend more time with the couple once they are finding their peace in present after spending our time watching them deal with their grief.

The Has-Been follows former hockey player Liam Anderson, who has returned to school at Delleth College after taking a year off to deal with the career ending injury he suffered from and the many trials he went through after, including a break-up with his girlfriend. Liam is trying to take on enough of a course load to allow his to make up his junior year and still graduate not far behind the rest of his class. On the other hand, the book also follows Aubrey Vaughn, a student at Delleth College who has been dealing with her own issues after choosing to break up with her boyfriend, Liam, after she realizes that she could not help him with his trauma and health. The two of them are brought together again once they have to start doing clinical hours with the hockey team for the degrees. As they continue to spend more time together, the former couple have to deal with the feelings they still have for each other while also trying to deal with grief over the issues that drove them apart in the first place.

First of all, I really enjoyed the way that Riley set up the world here. It had the perfect small town vibe with its easy to find main areas to see the main characters, like the hockey rink and the local bar, alongside a full cast of characters that will most likely be seen in various other installments for the series. I love when a series opener does this, allowing the readers to learn the world and the various people in it, seeing the connections between other potential matches and showing just where the series might go next. Riley has developed a believable world and the people that populate it are complicated and realistic, filled with hope and grief and I am looking forward to see who will be the focus of book 2.

As for the characters, I wanted to give Liam and Aubrey big hugs because of everything they had to go through. The mental health representation was done beautifully here, showing the realistic way that depression and anxiety and other issues manifest in various ways and the ups and downs they take people through. It was gut-wrenching at times but Riley was able to give these issues the respect they needed as the story progressed. There was no shying away from the reality of these situations and Riley was able to use a deft hand in showing just how much these characters were worth with their emotions and the way they came through to the other side to find something they could want again.

As for the plot, second chance romances are a favorite of mine, the whole right person at the wront time leaves hope and this book had that and more. Readers get to see a couple who are still figuring out themselves so they can figure out how to be their new selves together and I love stories like that. This was wonderfully done and I can't wait to see what Wren Riley has in store next for this series.

Read this book if you like sports romance stories with a healthy dose of real issues and couples that learn to communicate and understand themselves and each other again.

Rating on my Scale: 8.5 Stars. I wanted more time with this couple but I'll just hope we get to see a little more of Liam and Aubrey in the next book.

My thanks to Rattle the Stars PR and Wren Riley for the eARC of this book in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.

Book Review: How to Survive Camping: The Ancient Things by Bonnie Quinn

I used to read a lot of horror back when I was in school. I started drifting away from it over the years, frustrated with villains that felt like they were one step away from twirling a mustache or monsters that didn't do enough to make the scares haunt my dreams. I stayed away from it for years but horror has always had a special place in my soul and I knew that one day I'd make my way back to the genre. So I made it a point to start seeking out more horror books this year and I found How to Survive Camping: The Lady in Chains on a list of titles to look out for in 2026. The title caught my ear and I looked up the book, realized it was a book 2 and promptly got the first book, The Man with No Shadow, from my library. I stayed up all night reading that book and by the time I had reached the last 50 pages, I had already gone online and ordered copies of the whole series. I loved the book and its sequel so much I bought copies of the first two books for my Dad to read. Cozy horror is a genre I had no idea would be a balm for my soul because something about these books just resonates with me. I've sat down to read each one and been done before going to sleep the same day. Without a doubt, these books are absolute favorites and the latest installment, The Ancient Things, is no different.

How to Survive Camping: The Ancient Things returns to follow camp manager Kate, who runs a campground that is also a home (or a cage) to otherworldly inhabitants. In an effort to keep her campers safe, Kate has compiled information into rules for a pamphlet that she sends to her campers entitled, "How to Survive Camping." Now the land is turning ancient and the threat is leaving the campground. Kate has every inhuman on her land eager to get rid of her so that they can take control of the land but Kate is going to fight back, hunting those that are after her and killing anything that is a threat. When the ancient land draws an ancient thing to the campground that has it out for a particular inhuman, Kate has to find a way to help that will leave the campground safe before it is too late.

I've loved this series from the start and a lot of that has to do with the writing. This book follows Kate's narration and the tone it takes is so matter-of-fact and no nonsense that it works perfectly to convey her character. This book works because of the tone it takes, it wouldn't work any other way. There's nothing flowery about the language which helps to drive home the fact that this character, Kate, has had to deal with things no one should have had to, and that goes for the inhuman inhabitants of the campground and the residents of the town who know what happens at the campground. This woman has a spine of steel and calculating mind and she needs that, so every word is concise, every reason makes sense, and every move is well thought out and every word in this books shows that. Each book follows the seasons of the year, from when the campground opens until it goes back to out of season and it is separated into parts to show that so everything follows a linear course. Readers get a sample of the "Rules" Kate has put together and as the book unfolds, readers get to see exactly what happened to inspire certain things. All of this just clicks together and feels so well-developed that it's easy to feel like this could be a real place and that the things Kate is telling us could save our lives. Quinn has made something really unique here and I love the research that is so easily woven into each story. I always end up with a few things that I want to research for myself once one of these books is done and this one was no different. I'm still in awe a little with the development that this book had.

As for the characters, I have loved each of them from the start and all the old favorites have returned for this installment. I love Kate, just completely love her, and I know she herself states that she can be difficult but I actually feel that sometimes she has too much patience for what happens on the campground so obviously she and I are two peas in a pod. I love the Old Sheriff and while he wasn't in this book as much, his presence is enough when he does appear, his wisdom and his patience and his genuine affection for Kate making him as important to readers and he is to Kate. I loved how this time around, Quinn gave us a little more about some of our recognizable names from previous books, like Bryan and his pack of dogs and the Children with No Wagon. Quinn has created so many interesting characters that when the time is taken to really delve into them in a book, the impact hits a little harder because we are already familiar with these faces and now we are given more and a lot of the time, what we learn is heartbreaking. This time around we also got to spend more time with Kate's brother, Tyler, and his family, which really shows more about the family dynamic as Kate and her brother were growing up and how they are together in the current timeline. By this point in the storyline, we love these characters and Quinn has developed a well-rounded cast that continues to make every moment of these books worth reading.

As for the plot, Quinn has been moving towards this development, the land turning ancient, for some time now and the way it was dealt with had me turning pages as fast as I could. Besides the fact that land is turning ancient, there are two inhuman inhabitants of the campground that are in a battle and the outcome of that fight will decide the fates for a lot of the inhabitants of the campground and it was fascinating to read. This is where I wanted to do some of my own reading because of the conflict between these two inhumans. I want to know more about this and the fact that Quinn used this folklore was impressive to me. All of the folklore that Quinn uses in these books appeals to me as a reader and sincerely, these books feel like they were made for readers like me. Also, I saw that the book originally had a different subtitle and I understand now why it was changed to The Ancient Things. It works a lot better without giving too much away and a lot of the plot works because of the discovery about the two inhumans and their battle and the whys for the fighting. In the end, I can't wait to see how all of this wraps up with the next book because we have seen and learned so much already and we care so much for Kate and her family that I am counting down the days to see what happens next for them and the campground and the town.

I can't repeat it enough, I LOVE this series. I am planning to read them all again once my Dad starts reading the books so we can go over every detail and just marvel over the world-building and the characters. Read this book if you love folklore, horror and the people who choose to stand between us and the monsters hiding in the dark.

Rating on my Scale: 10 Brilliant Stars!! I can't wait to see what happens next with these characters. Seriously, I'm camping out with my books while waiting for the next one to be released. Here's hoping it's sooner rather than later because I really need to know what happens next.

My thanks to NetGalley, Saga Press Books and Bonnie Quinn for the eARC of this book in exchange for a honest review. All opinions are my own.

Book Review: Our Strange Duet by Erin A. Craig

I remember the first time I was introduced to music from the Phantom of the Opera. Once upon a time, a friend had gifted me a snow globe, something with a wizard and a dragon in the glass with the base being this intricate castle set in the clouds. When I realized it had music, I quickly wound it and was mesmerized by the tune it played, a portion of the song, Music of the Night. It haunted me and I finally looked it up and listened to Michael Crawford sing this amazing piece of music. It's still a favorite of mine, decades later. When I heard that one of my favorite authors was going to write a Phantom of the Opera inspired book from Christine's point-of-view, I knew I had to read it. I wanted to be swept away by the story but unfortunately for me, I didn't fall in love with the book.

Our Strange Duet follows Christine Daaé, a young soprano who works at the Paris Opera House. She catches the eye of the masked figure that lurks beneath the place, a mysterious person who has, for years, made demands on those that run the Opera House. He falls in love with Christine and decides to do whatever is necessary to help nurture her singing ability and get his music out into the world.

The writing was extraordinary, there was never any doubt in my mind about that. It was haunting and atmospheric. I could see every location so clearly in my mind from the way it was described in the book to the dusty room that Christine was moved to where the Phantom first makes contact to the lake hidden down in the depths beneath the Opera House. Everything seemed so beautiful, drawing the reader in with the setting, and I was so impressed with all of the visuals. Craig was able to make the characters sing when they were hitting their cues, the connection between Christine and Erik, the opera ghost, being a little more believable than the connection to Raoul. When Christine and Erik were together, I could see how much Christine wanted to believe in Erik as her Angel of Music thanks to the way that Craig wrote them, showing the growing tide of emotion overtaking Christine in a way that felt like the best of romances. 

What bothered me was the characters. I was looking forward to a story showing everything the way that Christine saw it but in the end, I didn't really like her as a character. It felt like her choice in Erik or Raoul changed with a flick of her hand. I didn't believe her passion for either of them being a lasting thing, something she truly felt had changed her in the deepest parts of her being, because it felt like she kept choosing the one who could better her situation for the moments she considered her choices. Erik was an option because of the way he could help her with her music and singing. Raoul was an option because he made her remember a past where she was happy when her father alive. I believed she felt desire for them in the moment but it didn't seem to last once she was on her own. They both felt like horrible choices for her, one being a murderous villain and the other thinking he could make Christine want a life as just his wife, and I wanted the story to end with her choosing herself and leaving the both of them behind. If neither of them was truly making her happy, what was the point?

Also her friendship with Meg seemed very surface level. Christine would reminisce about Meg, how they were very best friends, almost sisters, and that they shared everything together but they were barely together on the page. Then when they were together, they were working on their parts in the opera production or they were out with a group. Christine would lament the loss of Meg and I would just shake my head because the relationship was not developed enough for me to believe that Meg was actually important to her. It felt like we were constantly being told that this was the truth but Christine never did anything more to keep the friendship she had with Meg strong so I didn't believe her when she felt "bad" about the distance growing between them. It almost felt like her constant lamentation was to convince herself that she was a good friend and not someone who would leave behind what she once treasured in order to gain something out of reach.

That brings me to the pacing. It felt like there was so much that was glossed over with words like "months" or "weeks" placed somewhere to indicate the passage of time. One moment we're meeting the Angel of Music for the first time and the next page, it has been months of lessons where Christine has been developing her singing voice, getting stronger under the tutelage of her teacher. At another point, Christine is staying with Raoul while the Opera House is being repaired and it has been weeks since Christine tried writing to Meg. I was surprised when Christine woke up and it was actually the following morning. It felt like the focus was too much on hitting the points made in the opera leaving only so much time to fill in the in between bits with Christine. With the issues with pacing, I felt like the development of the tragic love story didn't have the time it needed to expand correctly on the page. I didn't care for Christine in the end, I thought she was a bit selfish and extremely, if not naive, then at least foolish for continuing to back and forth with the two men she was stringing along. She knew the truth about the both of them and yet somehow, kept going back to them both, and I didn't believe her when she claimed she couldn't bear to be apart from either of them.

I wish I loved this more. There is no easier way to say that. There were some brilliant moments in the book and that final line almost made me reconsider my entire view of the story. Still, I had too much swimming in my head about the characters and the pacing to make me change my mind and believe me when I say, no one is more heartbroken about that fact than me.

Rating on my Scale: Solid 5 Stars. I still love Erin A. Craig and will continue to follow and read every book that Craig writes unto the end of time. This one, however, will not be the favorite I was hoping to read.

My thanks to NetGalley, Random House Children's Books, Delacorte Press and Erin A. Craig for the eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Book Review: Paper Ghosts by Sarah Addison Allen

I still remember the first time I found a book by Sarah Addison Allen. I was browsing a table of discounted titles and found a hardcover of The Sugar Queen. I took it home and read it over the course of a weekend, falling in love with the way that Allen spun her words, the images she created, the magic that infused her words and her world. I kept buying her books from there and went back to find Garden Spells when I realized there was a book released before The Sugar Queen. The Girl Who Chased the Moon is my favorite though, that book left its mark on my soul, it was beautiful and enchanting and just absolutely everything. I check every year if there will be a new Sarah Addison Allen book and when I saw that Paper Ghosts was being released, my heart lurched and then got lodged in my throat. I NEEDED  to read this book and yes, it is another brilliant addition for Allen fans. Paper Ghosts was haunting and magical, so much so that I wish there was more to it, more time for us to spend with these characters. 

Paper Ghosts follows two separate storylines, one focused on Willamena Wester in 1976 and the second focused on Bailey Wester in present time. Readers are introduced to the Wester women, who have lived in their house for decades and who the town avoids because somehow, the Wester matriarch, Willamena's grandmother, seems to know things that she shouldn't, things that keep the order she likes with a simple whisper in the right ear. Willamena ends up falling for a stranded musician, something she needs to keep secret, something that is just for her, at least until her grandmother finds out and she is forced to make a decision that changes everything. In present time, Willamena is trying to change things for her granddaughter Bailey, making new choices and hiding things about the Wester family. Trying to keep history from keeping her granddaughter stuck in their house, she forces her out into the world even though all Bailey wanted was to stay with her grandmother. Now things are changing again and Bailey has returned home for the answers and the secrets that have been kept from her.

First of all, Allen has done it again, creating the perfect small town world that feels like the kind of place that would be the setting for something magical. Allen has a way with creating a town that has a twist of difference, where readers can feel at home and where wondrous things could be possible. In this town, the people feel real because of their struggles and their secrets and their pain. I loved the little traditions that Allen added to the town, where people could get tea-themed ice cream at a local shop and apparently everything was named with a chicken theme in mind because of the town's name. All of these details added whimsy and yet at the same time, felt like it could be a real place. Every setting in Allen's books are like this and when opening this book, I knew I was coming in to a place where something more was possible again and it's something that I always look forward to when it comes to an Allen book. Every turn of phrase can conjure images, weaving an almost fairytale quality to the writing. Allen has always been a talented writer and does not disappoint with the talebshe has woven here.

The characters this time around though were a little more tragic for me than usual. I felt so sad for Willamena and the dreams she had and the control that was used to decide every part of her life. I wanted her to achieve everything she wanted and I loved when she took a chance and fell for a musician. At the same time, I felt so sad for Bailey, living with the Wester name in modern times and with maybe not so much overt control as had been seen with Willamena but still being led down a certain path by her grandmother, as had been done before. I felt so much heartache for these women, wishing for different things and suffering consequences for things outside their control. I wanted these characters to have more and because of that, I feel like this book left things on a quieter note for them. Not necessarily happy but maybe more at peace with the way things turned out. Still, I wanted more time with them, for readers to spend more time with them and for Willamena and Bailey to have spent more time together on the page. Unfortunately, it felt like these two spent more time apart, talking about each other while doing other things rather than spending that time together and that made me feel a little disappointed.

This leads me to the plot. It felt like the kind of story that was geared more towards quiet contemplation by the time the ending hits. I thought it was interesting to show how determined Willamena was to be different from her own grandmother, only to turn around and change things she thought she had a right to do, repeating the past for her own granddaughter and understanding that enough to try to change it again before Bailey becomes a permanent fixture in the house. But after spending the time that we did with Willamena as a teenager and then Bailey growing up, I thought the book would then go through a segment where we see both characters in present time together, working through what it meant to be a Wester and how Willamena wanted Bailey to be able to finally escape their town. Bailey has had to return home, something she is only doing because of the circumstances that are calling her home and I thought it meant that she would spend more time with her grandmother, working through the heartache she felt at losing the life she thought she wanted and what she thought being a Wester meant. Instead, after all the development that we were given about the Wester women, their legacy and the particulars of these specific Wester women, Bailey only spends a few days having tea with her grandmother and then something happens and is revealed and then POOF, we're done with the book. My lasting thought is still, "That's it?" The book just kind of ends, with only a little hope left for the characters and it feels incomplete. I still love these characters and the ideas that Allen put in this book, I just wanted to spend more time with them. The book just ends and because of that, while I love the book, I didn't LOVE it.

Still, this is a quietly moving book and for that alone, I am grateful I had the chance to read it. I loved the town and the people that were in it, just like I expect to do when I open an Allen book. That being said, I wanted to stay in this town longer. I wanted to force Willamena and Bailey to finally talk together. As a result, I feel like I'm left holding some threads of the book that didn't get the finish I thought they would and that leaves me a little dissatisfied overall.

Rating on my Scale: 7.5 Stars. This is a very respectable entry for Allen's shelf of magic but it hasn't taken down my favorite from its pedestal. Read for the usual magical prose and settings that fill Allen's books. I hope that Allen might go back to this town again and gives us another chance to spend time with the Wester family.

My thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Sarah Addison Allen for the eARC of this book in exchange for a honest review. All opinions are my own.

Book Review: Four Women in the River by Theo St. John

It's been a while since I read a thriller, one that keeps me turning pages and ruining my eyes while reading until the text blurs and I can't see anything anymore. I have read a few but I mostly stick to watching thrillers and I've always enjoyed the gathering of clues and the way my mind whirs, processing details and picking a villain until the ending arrives and I find out if I'm right. Four Women in the River started strong and just kept getting better, keeping the pages turning while the gears in my head ran down all the possibilities about what would happen. I'm still going over the book in my head, hours after staying up way too late to see what would be revealed and I'm happy to see that there is another book in this universe already published because I need to read more of Emily Watson and I'll be working my way through more of Theo St. John's books as soon as possible.

Four Women in the River follows journalist Emily Watson, called to Japan by veteran reporter, Reina Kubo, after four women have been pulled out of the Sumida River and are called suicides. Reina believes differently and so does Emily, who agrees to help with the investigation. In just a few days after her arrival, Emily has evidence of drugs that link the victims together, proving the suicide story false. As Emily works with her allies, trying to find justice for these women, she starts to realize that these four women were only the start and the men who are behind this are now watching her.

I have to hand it to St. John, this book is so well-written, the turns of phrase, the tone, everything is so very succinct, precise, even meticulous with the writing and the unfolding of this story. The way the information hits, the stark details, helps with the characterization and the threat that is hanging over the heads of the leads. This reminded me of some of the best thrillers I've watched in recent years, sincerely so well-developed with every piece of this story. Every word is carefully considered and each carries so much weight, making this such an enthralling read.

As for the characters, I want to read more about Emily Watson, I want to know what goes on in her head and where she came from. The way this woman was able to calculate her risks, to understand the threats and come up with ways around the obstacles she faced was incredibly impressive. I enjoyed spending the time with her as she worked to figure out how far up in government the threat went as to who had not only ordered that these women be removed but was also covering up how they'd done it in the first place. Emily had her journalist friend Reina for help, showing us the way these two worked to find their sources and how they used the information in their writing and I thought she was a great ally for Emily, showing the lengths these two were going through to find justice. There was also Tetsuo, who worked almost as a conscience for Emily as she kept pushing herself to try riskier things to find the truth, and Detective Haruka, a source of Reina's that started to work more and more with the group as the investigation continued. Each character had strong contributions, their risks felt palpable on the page and the tension kept ratcheting as reveals were made. Even the victims were given time, to learn who they were, who cared about them, why they had become victims in the first place and it made everything a little heart-wrenching to think about as they were gone. St. John wrote characters that felt like people and these people were worth caring about as they worked to find justice.

For the plot, it seemed straightforward enough, find who was responsible for ordering the deaths of four women, but it evolved into so much more before the story was over. Emily comes from a family with a lot of history and the things that she learned from her parents had a lot of bearing on the way Emily handled the investigation and the lengths she pushed herself to and it was all so cleverly plotted. It was chilling to consider exactly what was going on in this story and the way it unfolded kept me riveted to the page. I can't wait to read more from Theo St. John in the future.

Rating on my Scale: 10 Stars. I'm just so impressed with everything in this book. I want to see more of these characters so this is me, getting comfortable and waiting to see what comes next.

Book Review: Suhwa: The Guardians of the Dawn by S. Jae-Jones

I've been a fan of S. Jae-Jones since Wintersong and had been waiting for ages for a new book by the time Zhara was announced. I was determined to read it and while it wasn't an instant favorite, I still loved the fact that Jae-Jones was writing and publishing again so I kept going with the series. So of course, it turned out that each book was better and better than the one that came before it and overall, I LOVED this series and Suhwa was exactly the book I needed to close out the whole storyline.

Suhwa follows the title character, Min Suhwa, a young woman with a gift for illusions who has been living in a convent for the last decade. When the Bangtan Brothers come to a town not too far from the convent for a performance, Suhwa decides to take the chance and sneak out to go see them. Except Suhwa has walked into a world that is more than what she expected as the Morning Realms are in a civil war and Hunstmen are occupying towns, searching for magicians and the Guardians of Dawn, the fabled elemental warriors. Suhwa ends up almost captured by the Huntsmen and flees into the forest to try to figure out her next move and stay safe. The story also follows Zhara, Ami and Yuli, the Guardians of Dawn, who are trying to keep the north from claiming the throne and destroying all magicians while at the same time, trying to find a way to defeat the Mother of Ten Thousand Demons. The Guardians are on a quest to reach the Azure Isles to find the Guardian of Water so that they may save the Morning Realms and bring balance to the world.

Writing style wise, Jae-Jones has a way with words that make these books fun to dive into with each story. I was trying to find the time to read the first three books again but that plan quickly went up in flames so when I opened Suhwa, I was happy to see an opening that summarized the first three books, giving key story details that were needed to be able to read this book and yes, THANK YOU, I needed to read that, just a little refresher, no big deal. At the same time, Jae-Jones has created this entire world that is so easy to step back into, to recognize the aspects of the fairytale that is woven into and then also see all the various details that were made to make the Guardians of Dawn world its own creation. Everything felt familiar because of past books and gave a sense of comfort because, let's be honest, if you're reading book four of a series, you already know that you want to step back into this world and see what comes next for the characters you've come to know and love and it was just a delight to see how everything was finally going to be settled once and for all in this final installment. Jae-Jones had so many threads to weave for the overall plot and each was handled expertly, giving details when they were needed and hitting reveals at just the right moment to keep the pages moving.

In terms of characters, I grew to really love Suhwa over the course of the book. Knowing what I did because of the other stories, I was a little frustrated with her when she decided to leave the convent for a performance despite having been warned of the danger but she quickly grew on me. I loved how she was this girl who really wanted to know people her own age, to experience the world and have new adventures and I couldn't fault this kid for having big dreams and then trying to finally have a new experience. Then we get to see the rest of the Guardians and their banter is just as fun as I've come to expect because each girl is so unique and the way they meld together makes for a joyful reading experience. I loved how each girl was so strong, with Zhara trying to find a way to lead them, Ami working on her translations to find a solution to their problems and Yuli being a little brash at times but still so loyal to her friends and loved ones and the addition to Suhwa to their mix was just the right amount of a new level-headed and thoughtful personality to make these girls complete. I loved seeing all our previous leads back, Han, Gaden, Xu, and Jiyi, amongst others, and it goes to show how much each of them are essential to the outcome of the whole series that they are all back in this book. Each character had a role to play, a way to move the storyline where it needed to go and while the cast is kind of a lot, there was not a single unnecessary character in the bunch. When you have a cast this big, it takes talent to make each one important in their own way and I loved that about the way Jae-Jones developed these books.

I'm just going to go right out there and admit this now, this book made me tear up. There's a point in the story where everything seems to be going wrong and Jae-Jones takes a step back and only describes the characters and what they are doing without naming names and it was this moment that just made me choke up a little because I have spent so much time with these characters, years at this point, that those little details to explain who each person was and what they were doing to fight just filled me with so many emotions. I know who these characters are, I don't need their names anymore, and the imagery that those lines evoked just felt so all-encompassing in a way that I was just a little overcome because they were going into the end of the story, the big battles were culminating and I, hand to heart, got misty-eyed. The whole of this adventure had so many highs, so many reveals and twists and moments of triumph coupled with unexpected lows and I was just happy to be along for the ride one last time. I wanted to see how everything would play out and the entire journey was just, as I said before, exactly what I needed to close out this series. I love these girls and while I could have spent a little more time with Suhwa on her own before she joined the rest of the group, I can't complain about how this book manages to wrap everything up.

Read this book if you like fairytales, Sailor Moon and people trying to save the world all mixed together.

Rating on my Scale: 10 Stars. It made me cry, automatic 10 Stars when a book does that. I tested it, actually, and went back to read the scene again two more times and yep, still get teary. So there you have it, the end of a series of great adventures. I really hope S. Jae-Jones has something else in the works because I am ready for more books by one of my favorite authors.

My thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books and S. Jae-Jones for the eARC of this book in exchange for a honest review. All opinions are my own.

Book Review: The Halls of the Dead by S.M. Hallow

It's an exceedingly shallow trait of mine but sometimes cover art is what catches my attention and convinces me to read a book. I found The Halls of the Dead on a list of horror releases for 2026 and I immediately placed it on a list of books to schedule and plan out when I could pre-order my copy. Every aspect of this book was intriguing and I enjoyed every reveal that came about throughout the whole story. I have words swimming in my head, unique, enthralling, distinct, engrossing, and yet I still have not found the word that encompasses everything I think about when I look at this book. It made me really think and consider the ideas that were put forth in this story and when a book leaves me with that deep thought-provoking feeling, I know it was a worthy read.

The Halls of the Dead follows Irene Haley, a woman who has dedicated her life to necromancy. Necromancy is a form of magic that is forbidden and if caught, means death for the accused. Irene, alongside her undead husband St. John, has devoted her life to trying to rebuild the crypt, where the grimoires made of human skin that contained the spells of the necromancers were once housed before they were burned and the necromancers hanged. After Irene's love, Agnes, is hanged for witchcraft, Irene decides to try a spell that has not been successfully attempted in thousands of years, a true resurrection for her love to return to her. Irene manages to bring Agnes back into her body but Agnes is not the same. She craves human flesh and another malevolent spirit tied itself to Agnes before she left the Halls of the Dead. Now Irene needs to find a way to save Agnes, to help her be truly free, while trying to keep herself, her husband and her love safe from the man that sentenced Agnes to death in the first place.

First of all, hats off to S.M. Hallow because the way this was written was just awe-inspiring to me, just the amount of research and the ideas and the way everything unfolds, I am just left a little wowed because this is a debut novel. You can bet your bottom dollar I will be following Hallow to every other written work from here on out. I loved the set-up of this story, the ideas of the magic and how it was another side of what are commonly known religious aspects in society. The way this took something familiar and changed it just enough to keep it familiar and yet at the same time so wholly different BUT still entirely believable was something that made me grin a little because I could completely believe the magic of this world. It made so much sense to me and because of that, it was easy to learn the ins and outs of what Irene and Agnes could do and then what St. John was capable of, as well, because his being undead made his magic different from the necromancy that his wife and her love were able to do. Then there was the format of the book with separate chapters from each of the three leads, some going back in time to show the childhoods of Irene and Agnes, others showing what made St. John what he was as the undead. Then there were the quotes from some familiar names to open some chapters while others had lines from the grimoires mentioned that Irene and St. John had been trying to recover and when it is all put together, I'm kind of marveling over every well-thought out piece of this book. Hallow had an idea and the many different moving parts of the writing showed a clear understanding of the vision for this story and the end product proves that Hallow is a true writer, able to execute their vision with a clever hand and produce a truly respectable read.

As for the characters, I can't say enough about Irene, Agnes and St. John because each was so essential to the outcome of the story and each had their own individual, independent story arc of their own aside from the main story and I cannot see this book working without all of these characters. I loved Irene's determination and the strength she showed to take back Agnes from the fate she was given. This woman worked with blood and pain to make her magic work and the sacrifice it took to accomplish what she did left me in awe of her. I wanted to save Agnes from her life and I wanted to help her to truly be happy and I was so impressed with the turn her character took over the course of the story, the way she became her own force and was just as essential in getting the answers they needed to get their villains to get their comeuppance. St. John was this pillar of strength and devotion, ready to serve his wife and her love without question and then at the same time, a reckoning of his own to contend with and his background as the undead was a story I wish we'd gotten more of but what is on the page is still pretty much perfect.

The three of these characters together were already enough to keep the pages turning but then readers learn more about Irene's family life with her sister, Willa, and her parents and what it was like for Irene to grow up trying to learn necromancy in a household that forbade it. Then there was Agnes and her life with her brother who had a gambling problem and controlled every move that Agnes made and then there was St. John and the very many necromancers he'd known over the centuries he'd been undead and there are just so many threads to this story with the people in it and every moving part makes the whole of this book glitter with ingenuity, I'm still sitting here a few hours later wishing I could read this again a little bit slower so I can really appreciate every nuance of this book. It's just so well-done with the people and the magic and the ideas that I just really loved this story. 

As for the plot, I always believe that when a book puts for a question, it needs to be answered by the end of the book and this book had so many questions, I wasn't sure where the story was going to go by the time we reached the end. That being said, every question was answered, some in ways that were wholly unexpected and it was those moments that just elevated the story for me as each reveal was made. I knew some things would happen, certain characters being revealed, various acts of revenge coming to fruition, but Hallow turns the tables a bit with each given answer and it was those more moments that made the book so impressive to me. The way this story wraps up, it left me feeling so content with where the story left everything and that is a wonderful feeling to have after completing a book. I want to pass this story around to other readers. I want to read more by S.M. Hallow and I want to get this book and actually highlight my favorite lines because so much of the writing, the turns of phrases, the observations and the revelations, were the kinds of things I feel would be almost inspiring to read on their own when you don't have the time to read the whole book again. I will repeat myself, this is such an impressive, respectable read and a wonderful gothic/horror novel addition for readers everywhere.

In the end, I keep thinking about these three leads and I feel like they managed to create a new world for themselves in this story, something that would benefit the magic of the world for the future. The fact that it left me feeling like it was completely, uniquely it's own perfect whole is something I am so grateful for and I sincerely hope to read more from S.M. Hallow for years to come.

Rating on my Scale: 10 Stars. I can't say anything more about this book to convince people to read it. I thought everything was so interesting and impressive and I wish I could really delve into all the specifics that Hallow came up with but the discovery of each aspect is part of the fun of this book. Read if you like stories that take the familiar and turn them on their head, showing the darkness and the people who are daring enough to want something more.

My thanks to NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager and S.M. Hallow for the eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Book Review: Back For Blood: Never Whistle at Night Part II: An Indigenous Horror Anthology edited by Shane Hawk and Theodore C. Van Alst Jr.

I have the first book to this series so when I saw that there was supposed to be a Part II with a more horror edge, I jumped at the chance to read and review it, despite the fact that I haven't read the first one. Still, I am a horror fan and I thought I'd take a shot at reading a short story collection of just that type of writing. Some of these stories were amazing but, truth be told, I did not end up loving this as much as I thought I would. I'm pretty confident that this is an entirely me and not the book sort of situation as I'm just starting to realize that maybe the short story format is not the right fit for me. Still, I would like to go into detail on some of my favorites in this book so here we go.

Miss Cherokee Princess 1996 by Jessica Doe was the perfect opener for this collection and it definitely grabbed my attention. My note for this story simply reads, "Whoa." That's it, that's what I made a note of and I can still remember the detail of this story this many days later while writing this review. The ideas behind what someone thinks will make them more of anything, especially to win a pageant, and what they will do to get those things made my stomach turn in the best way. I'll be looking into more writing from Doe just because of this story.

Animal Dumb by P.C. Verrone made me feel a little heartbroken for the characters. The lead's struggle and then the way it ended made me wish I could have spent more time with these characters.

Civilized by A.J. Eversole was unsettling, the ideas behind it and the maybe reveal are still in my head and I'm left wondering about the ending. At the same time, it speaks volumes about what was hidden away when no one cared about the victims of violent crimes.

Footprints by Sonia Maria Barry was a another devastating and heartbreaking bit of horror. The fact that this could happen and did happen just makes my stomach turn and my heart twist. This story will live in my head for probably the rest of time.

My last favorite was Toothjar by Ramona Emerson, an unsettling look at what happens to the world when a virus starts killing people off. I'm not sure when it was meant to be set but the idea felt familiar and it was that fact that made it resonate for me as I read this story. I could understand why things went the way that they did and I know this story will stay in my head. I have questions but I think this was left at just where it needed to be, without all the answers placed on the page.

I will be following each of these authors to their other works. These are the stories that will stay with me and I really loved these tales.

Some of the other stories were interesting but I feel like a lot of them could have benefited from being expanded on just a bit more. Some of the stories also felt like too much like the "creature of the week" vibe, building up to a monster reveal only for the story to end a page or so later and I wasn't really unsettled by the monsters that were seen for the little page time that they had in each story. Also, there were a few stories that just felt too out there for me, leaving me confused about what a few of the stories were even about, and one or two even left me confused about who was even talking.

In the end, I respect what was chosen for this installment but, for me, I wasn't scared by these stories so the overall effect of the book is lost on me. I still plan on reading the first book, as I'm sure I will find a few gems that will lead me to more writers to follow. Again, I am fairly certain this is all on me as a reader and that this book will be adored by many, many readers who will love the monsters and the horror and the unsettling images placed on these pages.

Rating on my Scale: 6.5 Stars. I think the sad truth is that I'm not a fan of short story anthologies. I might need to continue to try them to see if I can start to appreciate them more but for now, I'll leave this book to the readers I'm sure will love and adore it the way it should be loved.

My thanks to NetGalley, Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor, Shane Hawk and Theodore C. Van Alst Jr. for the eARC of this book in exchange for a honest review. All opinions are my own.

Book Review: A (Dead) Thing Like Me by E.G. Young

The title drew me in, I'll admit that from the start. Then the cover art was eye-catching and I needed to know the plot of the book. A (Dead) Thing Like Me convinced me to read it with a mention of a ouija board and banana peppers, easy as that. As I was reading, I was intrigued by everything, every moment between Hot Dog and Logan, drawn in to their story of friendship and their learning about each other. I'm glad I took a chance on the book with the coffin on the cover because now I'll be following E.G. Young to their next book, just to see what else comes out of a mind that created such an intriguing premise as a debut novel because seriously, very respectable read, I truly believe that.

A (Dead) Thing Like Me is about a ghost called Hot Dog, a teenage ghost that haunts a hot dog stand outside the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Hot Dog has been trying for so long to get the owner of the stand to see her until one night she's summoned through a ouija board to a party in Florida and now everyone can see her. Everyone runs away except for Logan, the artist that was trying to summon her dead best friend and got Hot Dog instead. Hot Dog, who has stitches holding her mouth shut and a dress that chatters, wants to be Logan's best friend and is determined to prove she can do everything that a real live girl can do. But Hot Dog is not a human girl and something is following her. It has a place in Logan's house where it wants to drag Hot Dog through and in order to get it to leave her alone, Hot Dog will have to remember who she once was and how she died. If not, the thing that wants Hot Dog won't stop with just Hot Dog, it will take Logan too.

Young has created an interesting world here where Hot Dog exists just a little beyond the normal scope of things. She sees everything as it is and desperately wants to be a part of the world again, she yearns to be a normal girl and that emotion made her feel familiar. It was easy to move with Hot Dog, to watch her with Logan and to see how Logan knew about ghosts and easily accepted Hot Dog into her world. At the same time, Young added in these truly unsettling and sometimes beautiful additions to show what is a part of Hot Dog's afterlife. We see things that would explain why Hot Dog doesn't remember who she was and it was an interesting way to show how the dead lose things when they lose their body. I also loved the way Hot Dog held on to things that were important to her, the idea of being able to go back to those things the way she did was a really heartwarming aspect of the book. Young has so many interesting and unique ideas with Hot Dog and the journey through the book to see all of it was a treat.

Hot Dog and Logan felt so familiar, easily believable as teenage girls in the world today. They had recognizable concerns and griefs and their yearning to understand everything made them girls that I wanted to help and protect. Their pain made them tragic and yet they kept going, trying to figure out the truth about Hot Dog and trying to help Logan process her grief over the loss of her best friend. When these two were together, I could see how well they worked to make the other try to be more, especially with Hot Dog as she discovered more about just what she was capable of as a ghost. Their back and forth was charming and their growing friendship showed how they were growing together as characters that were changing for the better. Hot Dog was desperate to be Logan's new best friend, to prove that she could be normal, but it turned out that the things that made Logan want to talk to Hot Dog were the things that made her weird and different, aside from the fact that she was dead. In the end, I wanted to keep these girls safe and the reveals at the end of the novel were both unexpected and exactly what I thought was going to happen and those together were the perfect way to leave these girls.

As for plot, I was sure of some reveals but there were some unexpected turns that this book took that left me with my jaw hanging open because wow, that hit hard. The whys about what is following Hot Dog and how it was created were so devastating in nature. What started as trying to figure out who Hot Dog once was turned into why did Hot Dog do all of this to hide her truth from herself. Every clue led to something else, to explain something more that expanded the world and filled in a little more detail about Hot Dog until everything was revealed and when the truth was discovered I felt vindicated and then heartbroken for her. I want to say more but I will continue to avoid spoilers with soon to be published books so this is where I will end this review. I will add though that I still have some questions about the story and certain characters and I'm sure it's just me being nitpicky that those questions still ring in my head when I think of this book. I loved so many different parts of this book, I just don't think it's going to live on in my head for years and years.

In the end, I think E.G. Young is an extremely talented writer and I hope to be able to read more books by them in the future. If you like books with unsettling imagery and ghosts trying to be your new best friend, look no further, because Hot Dog is the ghost for you.

Rating on my scale: 8 Stars. I wanted to love this and there were many parts that awed me. At the same time, I am left with questions about different things. I feel like there were things that were left unexplored, maybe for a good reason, so if there's another book in the future in this world, most likely I will up the rating on this book. Either way, this was a great read and it introduced me to a writer I'm sure I will love in the future and that makes it worthwhile for me.

My thanks to NetGalley, Holiday House and E.G. Young for the eARC of this book in exchange for a honest review. All opinions are my own.

Book Review: Want Me, Take Me, Haunt Me, Make Me by Isabel Crowely

It was the title of this book that convinced me to request it. The rhythm of the words just rolled around in my head, leaving me feeling like I was trying to sing it over and over to myself after only reading the title once. I had actually left the page, convinced I didn't have the time to read this book so I needed to leave it behind but that title was still twirling around in my mind so five minutes later, after having put my phone down so I could go to sleep, I signed back in specifically to request this title and crossed my fingers before falling asleep. When I got my approval, I cheered, and once I'd opened this book, I knew my instincts were right.

This book was glorious.

I loved this book within the first few pages. I was intrigued by every aspect of this story. The descriptions kept me riveted to the page, the ideas and the characters kept me reading and I was not surprised when I looked at the clock and realized it was nearly the middle of the night and I needed to actually sleep. I can't believe this is a debut, it was that impressive in scope for me and a new favorite of not just 2026 but of all time. You can rest assured, I will be paying attention to every book release from Isabel Crowley from now until the end of all time. That is how much I ended up loving this book.

Want Me, Take Me, Haunt Me, Make Me follows Hazel Lewis, a medium who has been hired to conduct a seance for a man who is dying. Except when she enters his room, Hazel realizes that it is a trap set by the old man, a serial killer who has made a deal with a demon. Hazel gets away after being bitten by the demon but now things are changing for the worst. The bite is letting the supernatural bleed into the world around Hazel, causing hauntings and threats all around her. Not to mention if Hazel dies, the serial killer gets to take over her body so he can continue with the work he used to do. Hoping she can find a solution to her problem but also wanting to keep people safe, Hazel moves to an old house in a secluded location, ready to research every book she can find in order to figure out what her next move should be. As Hazel works to understand her new reality, a reporter learns about her last client and tracks her down, demanding answers. At the same time, Hazel meets her new neighbor, a bird watcher she seems to have a connection with but can't pursue thanks to the imminent danger that is waiting to use her for something horrible. Add to that the face that watches her at night that Hazel can't help feeling drawn to, wondering about who the demon has sent to keep watch on her. Hazel will need to figure out who she is and what she truly wants before the bite changes things forever, for better or for worse for her and the people in her life.

The world of this wonderfully titled book was easy to step into as it was ours but with just an added layer to it.  The idea of the supernatural existing already was something easy to believe in except in this book, it is a reality for our lead character, Hazel, a medium who does jobs on the side while working a regular job to pay her bills. I thought this was such an interesting aspect to the story, the fact that Hazel was a regular person, had her own things to take care of but it just so happens that she has the ability to see beyond our world, she can find spirits, conduct seances and cast protection spells on her house. I was willing to believe everything Hazel said because she felt like an authoritative figure, someone who had been doing this kind of thing for the majority of her life and who knew what she was talking about. The reader is basically thrown in to the first seance alongside Hazel and we are just taken along for the ride, easily absorbed into the story and the dangers that Hazel is now being faced with. I appreciated the "hit the ground running" feel of the introduction and I was quickly impressed by the world that Crowley colored just a little differently than ours. Not to mention the descriptions of the supernatural, which were enough to make me both delighted and a little freaked out by because Crowley definitely has a talent for horror elements and it was wonderful to behold the terrors that Hazel had to face. Half the time I was smiling and the other half I was cringing because wow, Crowley had a vision and it was executed perfectly in this story. Every detail was amazing and was easy to see these things in the corners of my rooms where the light could never hit right.

Character wise, Hazel was absolutely BRILLIANT. Honestly, I have no complaints whatsoever about this lead, I loved her, the way her mind worked and how she tried to solve her problems. I loved the fact that when faced with something she didn't know how to fix, her solution was to find any and every obscure text so she could painstakingly research everything to try to find a way to stop the demon and the serial killer that was determined to destroy her. I also loved Ligat, the follower of the demon that is forced to shadow Hazel's every move, reporting back to his master so they can be sure that Hazel has not found a way to save herself. The way that Crowley balances these characters, people who seem to have in common the fact that they want to stop the demon from gaining access to the regular world, was exceptionally done. I loved the way the reveals were done, the development that went into Hazel and her developing connection to her neighbor and the way she started to question the motives of the creature sent to watch her. Everything was done with a deft hand and Crowley set up some interesting twists that while yes, I thought that was going to happen, the fact still remained that this particular twist was only the start of something that just kept building and I couldn't wait to see exactly where all our characters would end up.

I will also say that the balance between horror and romance was top-notch. I wasn't expecting the amount of romance that ended up in this book but you'll hear no complaints from me about the way the book unfolded by the end. I was intrigued from the start about the idea of what it would take to make someone willing to make a deal with a demon and the fact that Crowley explored this from a couple of different angles was so interesting. I loved the question it made me want to ask concerning one of the leads, to explain why this character ended up in the position that they were in and how they were trying to get themselves out and make things better too. The fact of the matter was to get these characters to find something they were willing to sacrifice themselves for, something other than themselves, and that as a motivating factor made this story a little bittersweet and at the same time, something heartwarming. I LOVED the way this book turned out and enjoyed every moment it took to get there.

If Crowley decides to continue writing in this world, I will be there to read more about Hazel and her friends. Either way, I will be reading any and every book that Crowley will hopefully publish in the years to come because this book will be my entire personality for the foreseeable future. End of story.

Rating on my Scale: 10 Magnificent Stars!! I adored this story. I had so much fun with Hazel and I can't wait to have this book added to my bookshelves. I'm already trying to figure out what shelf will be dedicated to all books by Isabel Crowley, as I'm sure there will be plenty of books to join this one in no time flat.

My thanks to NetGalley, Sourcebooks Casablanca and Isabel Crowley for the eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. 

Book Review: Havoc by Constance Fay

The color of the cover art for Calamity caught my eye one night, a feat if there ever was one, as I was the mother to a newly turned 1-year-old and was still using a pump at night while everyone was asleep. I wanted to read something that would catch my attention and keep me from nodding off while I was working and there it was, Calamity by Constance Fay. A sci-fi adventure with romance? I finished that book in less than 2 days. Fiasco came out a few months before my second was born, the perfect book for late nights trying to find a comfortable position to sleep in and Chaos kept me company at night again, this time with a newborn in my arms, while I tried to survive the trenches of nighttime feedings. I loved every story, every pair that each book focused on, but I will admit, it was Itzel's book that I was waiting for and I'm so happy that Constance Fay decided to publish this. I pre-ordered it the moment it was available. I leapt at the chance to read this early and danced around when I got my copy. Like I said, this was the story I had been waiting for and it did not disappoint me one bit. Over the last few years, I've grown to adore this crew and it was a pleasure to spend time with them again for this last adventure. I will follow Constance Fay to every book release for years to come and if there is ever another adventure with this crew, sign me up. I will gladly follow these people wherever it is they go next.

Havoc, follows Itzel, who grew up as part of a monastery devoted to a death goddess but Itzel was forced out after a disastrous mission and has been a part of Temperance Reed's crew on the Calamity for years. The thing is, occasionally, Itzel still receives a name and because of her training and her beliefs, she does what she was trained to do, believing that it is not her place to question her orders, as she thinks it was that very thing that got her kicked out to begin with. When the crew of the Calamity is invited to attend a gathering that has all the most powerful families in the universe on one ship, Itzel joins them and that is where her old superiors give her another name. That name is Lucien Chandra, considered a prince to the Chandra family and a person from Itzel's past. Itzel wants to question her orders but she still tries to do what she was told to do and when that doesn't go exactly to plan, Itzel realizes she wants to learn more about Lucien and is starting to do just that when the Family Summit is hit with sabotage. Now faced with figuring out how to keep everyone safe, Itzel and Lucien have to work together to face a new enemy. If they succeed, the Families could start making a new world for everyone. For Itzel, she would have to discover if Lucien is willing to see a future with her in it beside him.

The world-building for these books has always grabbed my attention. The idea of the Families, how they wield power and then try to force others to do as they want by whatever means necessary, their politics, it all just makes for the most intriguing backdrop for each individual adventure. We are first introduced to the Families in Calamity, specifically through Captain Temperance Reed, who has been banished by her brother, the current head to the Reed family who after various events in the books are now part of the Five, known as the most influential and powerful of the families. Readers know that Temper hates the Families and then we thrown into an adventure in which we learn about every member of her crew while also getting to know Arcadio Escajeda, the second child of the Escajeda Family. It was the perfect way to give readers an in for this world, to help us to recognize the found family aspects of the crew and what they would do to keep each other safe and how Temper leads as a person who implicitly trusts her crew and loves them. It also helped with learning about another member of a Family and how Temper falling for them changes everything she had known in ways that will change the future for her, her crew and the Families they both came from.

Each book builds on this framework, the idea that the Families have something brewing that affects someone on the crew of the Calamity and everyone rallies together in their own way to help them. Each book also builds on the threat that the Families have on everyone they rule over with Chaos putting the Five in place for Havoc to have them all on one ship, with the idea being that one Family has been caught with nefarious plans and now has to be dealt with accordingly. Fay has built an intricate system in these books with the politics and the ruling power of the Families and each book works to display yet something else about the way this world works. Each member of the crew has has their own dealings with the Families, their own past they have tried to get away from, their own plights and struggles. Havoc is a culmination of the past three books and a worthy addition to the overall story arc and a fitting conclusion to the storyline. I said it before and I'll say it again, I was waiting for this book and everything that occurred kept my attention through many happenings in my world and it was a wonderful experience to read this book.

As for the characters, I've LOVED Itzel from the start. She always came across as interesting, having first been introduced as part of a religious order, or even a cult, that was devoted to the Dark Mother of the Void. She's small but deadly and her hands are covered in the tattoos that mark each name she has successfully gotten rid of for her previous order. She liked to make up new euphemisms that felt fun when they were revealed and she was happy to give people a shot to be part of the crew. I knew I would love her even more once she was the focus of the book and I can definitively say that Itzel did not disappoint. I loved the way she worked with her friends and how her past colored her present and her interest in Lucien Chandra. Every decision that Itzel made was carefully considered and the fact that she was so powerful was a treat. I loved how easy it was for her to move around, to fight and assess situations. She was just so much FUN to be with for this book and I knew it was going to be that way once I heard for sure that Havoc would be focused on her. I thought Lucien was the perfect match for her. Here was a guy who knew about Itzel's past and still trusted her, who believed in her, who cared so much about her after one adventure with her in their past. I loved how he was trying to keep so much on his shoulders and was trying to find a way to beat the threat that was hanging over his head without hurting anybody. He was admirable in his own right and was the exact type of person that would be perfect for Itzel. After spending three books learning about every member of the crew of the Calamity, it was wonderful to get to spend so much time with each of them in this book. We got to see each of them in their element, working hard to defeat their adversaries and keep everyone they loved safe and their back and forth with each other was a delight to witness. I had a feeling this book would be spectacular and it was that and more.

What really drew my attention to Itzel from the start was the Order that raised her and Fay does not shy away from discussing an order that raises acolytes for the express purpose of being assassins. Itzel was abandoned as a baby, left with the order, and she was great at her job until her last mission that got her expelled. I found the discussion interesting, the fact that even though she'd been kicked out, Itzel's faith was such an important part of her character. This was a woman whose faith was such an important part of her, that she wondered about her choices and how it would align with what she'd been raised to believe. The reveals given in this book that moved Itzel into a "crisis of faith" were surprising and the way it was woven into so much of this book for Itzel made me feel so much for her. I wanted to keep Itzel safe from what she was discovering and I was so grateful that she had Lucien by her side through every change that happened. Also, the reveals were just whoa, unexpected and yet at the same time, exactly what I feared would be revealed and the way Itzel moved with that and overcame what she went through were inspiring to see.

In the end, Havoc was a great way for this series to close. I loved each of these books and I can't wait to get my official paperback copy of Havoc to have next to the rest of the Uncharted Hearts series. If you have been wondering whether or not to try this series, you won't be disappointed with any of these books as each is worth reading several times over. If you love a sci-fi adventure that has a natural love story woven into it, you need to pick up this whole series and start reading. You'll thank me later.

Rating on my Scale: 10 Stars. I loved this series and LOVED Itzel, and Fay did something great with this series. It was not a disappointment at any point and I will be reading this series again and again in the future. Every book was a high point and if you've already been a fan, be prepared to love Itzel and Lucien and where the rest of the crew are by the time Havoc comes to an end.

Book Review: No Gods West of Here by Hanna Gaard

When I think about the book, No Gods West of Here, the first thing that catches my attention is the title. There is something almost lyrical about the way the words flow for the title of this book. It caught my attention and just held it, called to the poetic pieces of my soul, made me so invested in reading this book. Having just finished the book again, because yes, I went back a bit to just read the last quarter of the book for a second time, I am still left with the same resounding thought. That thought?

When is book 2 available?

I'm still reeling from the reveals, from the intricate details of the world-building, from the gamut of emotions I felt for every character in this book. I was devoted to this story by the second chapter and I blazed through this entire adventure in a day and a half. That's how much I truly LOVED this book. I am so grateful that there will be a second installment, I can't wait to try requesting it to read and I can't wait for my official copy to arrive.

And now, for the rest of the review.

No Gods West of Here follows Talia Salaren, a young scholar who wishes to continue her research but has been doing what everyone else wants from her for her entire life. Talia has discovered a journal that was written by one of the dead god's and everything she has found in those pages changes everything about the world as she knew it, proving that the gods are not what she was raised to believe. Talia decides to travel across the sea to Gateway for a fellowship, hoping to find more sources that would prove that the information she has found in the journal is the truth. While there, Talia ends up caught up in the schemes of a prophet/cult leader, a man who claims to have the same interest in the gods that Talia has focused her research on. Except that he's not interested in only studying the gods or finding the truth, he wants to become a god himself and he believes he knows exactly how to do that and he will use Talia to do that. Talia joins his expedition to the location he thinks will have everything that they would need to learn about the gods, but as they travel, Talia begins to see things differently about everyone in her company and everyone she knew back home. Talia is tempted by the promises cult leader has claimed he can fulfill but at the same time, Talia understands that if she chooses that path, she will become a tool under someone else's control, and now she has to understand what it will take for her to become something more than she has ever let herself want or even consider she could become ever before.

Back to the title, I love the scope it seems to suggest. The idea is that the gods once existed, something concrete that is still in evidence, but now they are gone and having that as this as fact expands the world before the opening line of the book even hits. Once the story starts, we're already on a boat, leaving everything behind for something new. Gaard has this perfect setup, with the ship and the journal that Talia has. We know that what was left behind was worth escaping from and we know that Talia has ambition if she's willing to leave everything she once knew behind. Gaard handles the introduction to her world with ease, allowing the reader to move along with the journey without overwhelming the reader with loads of information about this book world. We know what we need to know and we get every answer we need when we need it. At the same time, the writing is practically effortless, able to keep the reader engaged with every reveal and emotion, the pace moving at a steady clip that makes it so easy to lose track of time while reading this wonderful book. I sincerely loved the pull of the writing, the way it was easy to step into the pages and watch everything unfold. It takes talent to draw readers in like this and Gaard proves that within pages of the opening.

I loved the people of this book. I loved them so much it bears repeating with the caps lock on; I LOVED THESE CHARACTERS. I loved Talia and her eldest daughter tendencies that felt familiar as an eldest daughter myself. I adored Dawn, with her snipe and her revolvers and especially her pink hair. I thought Riven was brilliant and I loved the quiet strength he represented for his friends. I eventually came to enjoy other characters but I feel if I name specifics, I might give too much away so I'll leave that statement where it is. I loved the banter between the characters, the way each one worked with someone and then worked against them. There is no clear line of good versus evil in this book, every character is flawed, they've made mistakes, they've gotten people hurt and then turned around and made sacrifices to save one another. It's that balance that leant a nuance to this book, a feeling of recognition and understanding that can exist when reading about characters that could exist just as easily outside the book as they do within its pages.

Gaard made the wonderful choice to give various characters a voice in this book and I greatly appreciated the opportunity to spend time inside so many different views. I would be so frustrated with one character at one moment only to be defending them a paragraph later and seeing their every thought, their reasonings for what they do, was the ideal way to make me devoted to this group, this found family who fought and loved and breathed and exist in these pages and in my heart. There is no absolute ideal for each character as a villain or a hero and it's that messiness that makes these characters worth following and believing in. Seeing events from different angles helped fill in details that kept building the tension, kept our focus, so that when things culminated in the end, the payoff in the aftermath hit in such a way that I'm still so impressed with. I want to go back and read the book again, just to see every detail to these characters once more and to see if there was anything that I missed. I might need to take notes so that I'm ready for when I get to spend time with these people again in the future.

As for the plot, I was intrigued from the start. Again with the title, the fact that the gods existed is one thing but then Talia finds proof that the gods were different than what everyone believes, that they were jerks and horrible overall, and I wanted to know more about EVERYTHING. Every discovery made, every moment, felt earned and I loved the journey this book took with its characters and their expedition. Everyone was at risk, losses felt like they needed to be mourned, triumphs left me cheering as quietly as I could in the small hours of the night. I want to study every aspect of this story just to be sure I've absorbed every detail this book has given me. And that ending? It left me with both a feeling of elation and trepidation because the reveals that Gaard pulled out by the end were world-shifting in scope. Sincerely, truly, honestly, I LOVED this book. I can't find any other way to say it and I can only sit here waiting, somewhat patiently, to find out what comes next. It's an adventure I can't wait to behold.

In the end, I hope so many people find their way to this amazing adventure. Gaard has a fan for life from this reader and I can't wait to have a shelf dedicated to keeping every book release from Gaard in a place of honor in my library for the rest of time.

Rating on my Scale: a full 10 Stars!! All questions were answered, lines have been drawn in the sand, and I am counting down the days until the next installment is in my greedy hands. I NEED to know what happens next!!