Elle

I read Gogmagog very recently and felt confused here and there, I think because it was my first real dive into weird fantasy. Well, now that I’ve read this book, the second in the duology, I feel like the first gave me the training and experience I needed to understand this subgenre. Ludluda wasn’t written any differently, but I had a much easier time with it and it gave me an even greater appreciation for Gogmagog.

Ludluda started up just where Gogmagog left off and I love when that happens. As it’s a sequel, I don’t want to touch too much on plot, but I was pleasantly surprised with the direction it took. Though Cady is the main character, I expected most of the focus to be on Brin because Gogmagog ended with a Brin-centered event. Instead, we got full focus on Cady, and the book was more about her quest(s), which did ultimately include Brin and others, but not as I thought. I don’t know if that even makes sense, but the important thing to understand is that I really loved the way it was done and I’m glad the duology was actually about Cady’s experiences instead being a story about Brin witnessed by Cady. And not only that, but Cady’s story went places I would never have guessed. I think this duology has caused me to think “how did they think of this?” more than any other book I’ve read.

Speaking of Cady: once again, her curmudgeonly personality shines bright, and her interactions with everyone around her had me either laughing or loving that she’s actually a bit of a softie when it’s deserved. Now that I’m finished with these books, I’m really going to miss the old girl.

The story’s conclusion was satisfying mostly because I had no idea where it was going and had no expectations whatsoever, and I loved the very end.

Thanks very much to both Angry Robot Books ARC of this book.

With Not For the Faint of Heart, Lex Croucher has firmly cemented themself as my favorite rom-com author. I was pleased to find that this book has the same sweet and adorable slow burn I enjoyed so much when reading Gwen & Art Are Not in Love, as well as a cast of characters that are all so lovable, I can’t choose a favorite.

Main characters Clem and Mariel have traumatic family histories that had a strong hand in shaping them into who they are as young adults. Clem is free-spirited, fun, and silly (she reminded me a lot of a less ditzy Miss Bickle, my favorite character from Mortal Follies by Alexis Hall!) with a passion for helping anyone who needs it. Mariel has an extremely tough exterior, trouble showing her emotions, a strong sense of justice. They have a black cat/golden retriever thing going on with excellent and extremely entertaining banter. The supporting characters (fantastic LGBTQIA+ rep, btw) are all lovely. I have an especially soft spot for Morgan, but I grew attached to everyone and did not want to say goodbye at the end of the book.

The plot itself is sooo good, so much fun. Mariel is Robin Hood’s granddaughter so the timing isn’t too far removed from the formation of the Merry Men and Lex Croucher’s evolution of their story is really interesting. It’s pretty much nonstop adventure from beginning to end, with a twist that made me gasp (which made the man sitting near me in the library laugh) and an event that made me cry (while still in the library).

If you enjoyed Gwen & Art Are Not in Love, there’s no reason you won’t like Not For the Faint of Heart. You’ll also like it if you enjoy LGBTQIA+ (specifically sapphic) slow burn romance, and/or adventures in the vein of Robin Hood!

Thank you so much to St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley, from whom I received an ARC of Not For the Faint of Heart.

I love Gemma Amor’s writing. Her descriptions are so on point, it’s easy to feel like you’re right there. And I especially liked the way Morgan was written. She’s a complicated character who has been through something extremely traumatic and has all sorts of conflicting feelings about it. The way she treated her father was realistic and everything she felt was laid bare, even when she had horrible thoughts. I appreciated that, as I feel that a lot of times, the main character of a story doesn’t have enough realistic flaws or negative thoughts in order to keep them as likable as possible, but I prefer a character that feels more true to life.

I enjoyed the setup of the mystery and the arrival of the stranger was truly unnerving. I have to admit that I didn’t like the ending at first as I felt it was too confusing. But I read through bits of it a second time and found that while I was still a little confused by a couple things, I liked it more than I did originally. Sometimes, even if I don’t get all the answers I want, the writing and the premise are just too good, and that’s the case for me with The Folly.

I’d like to thank both Datura Books and Netgalley, from whom I received an ARC of this book.

I finished this book five days ago. I loved it so much that I made myself wait to write this review just to make sure I was no longer deliriously high on it and could write something that was 1) intelligible and 2) not so overwhelmingly positive that I seemed a bit out of control. But now that I’ve healed from the book hangover (the likes of which I have only seen once before), it’s still a 10/10, I have no notes, and I think I’m about to cry right now because thinking about how much I love this book makes me really emotional. Sooo, I’ve failed.

Sorcery and Small Magics is a big magical book about forgiving yourself and finding your place in the world. I easily fell in love with the main characters, Grimm and Leo, and I can’t pick a favorite but I have to say that Leo seems like he’d be so much fun. Maybe a little exhausting sometimes, but very fun. The idea of two characters that are complete opposites with more in common than they think isn’t new, but it’s done so well here that it felt fresh to me.

And the magic system! Okay. We have sorcerers, right? But they’re split into two types: scrivers and casters. Scrivers come up with and write the spells on paper. Casters take the paper and cast the spells. They must work together to create the magic. It’s an excellent system, it’s interesting and well defined, and also: Grimm is a caster, Leo is a scriver, they hate each other, and THEY HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER. Yes, it’s a common trope, no, it doesn’t feel common. It feels amazing, because witnessing the slow evolution of Grimm and Leo’s relationship from rivals to reluctant allies through forced proximity is like watching a beautiful sunrise. It takes time, but it’s never stagnant as there are tiny changes happening constantly.

I don’t have the ability to visualize but the world of Sorcery and Small Magics is so believable and feels so real that I could almost see it. When Grimm and Leo had to journey together in search of a counterspell, the woods they traveled through were full of danger, and I could nearly see it all, which is an extremely rare experience for me and the mark of fantastic writing. I had a thought that I’d love to watch a movie adaptation, but those are always disappointing, so I changed my mind. Who am I kidding though? It couldn’t possibly be as good as the book, but I’d still watch it and probably love it because Sorcery and Small Magics might be my personality now.

I’m so glad this book is the first in a trilogy because I need more. It’s charming, whimsical, and funny (both haha and hehe). I cried (three times) while reading and when I finished, I yelled “AHHHHHHH!” and then cried again because I was upset it was over. The only reason I haven’t preordered a copy is because I’m waiting to find out if I can get a ride to the book launch/author talk so I can meet Maiga Doocy and get a signed copy in person (and if I can’t, I will probably cry for a fifth time, just saying).

I will be more than eagerly and less than patiently awaiting the next book!

Thank you so much to both Netgalley and Orbit Books, from whom I received an ARC of Sorcery and Small Magics. I’m almost sorry I love the book so much because I’ve seen people say they don’t trust overwhelmingly positive 5 star ARC reviews. But not sorry enough to lie 🤷🏻‍♀️

I’ve been following @purr.in.ink on Instagram since 2019 and I’m a big fan of Luis Coelho’s work. When I saw The Book of Purrs on Net Galley, I pounced on it (like a cat!) without hesitation.

The Book of Purrs features nearly 100 short comics. Some have been shared on Instagram in the past while others are brand new, and all of them are extremely cute. I’ve always loved how ‘paw-sitive’ and encouraging the kitties are, and that definitely extends to the book. There’s a fair bit of variety in the content of the comics with very little repetition. A lot of the comics are motivational, with messages about healing, self-love, and acceptance. Many of them are silly and fun. A couple of them made me emotional.

Of course, the art is phenomenal. If you’re not familiar with Luis Coelho’s work, you should absolutely head over to @purr.in.ink and check out the art you can expect to find in The Book of Purrs. Look at his reels too, because he’s shared videos of the way he draws each cat and it is beyond impressive.

In a letter to the reader at the beginning, Coelho explains that he hopes we will pick up the book and open it to a random page whenever we need a message from a friendly cat. Because I had a digital ARC, I couldn’t easily read it that way, but I think reading it the way Coelho suggests, instead of from start to finish, would be perfect.

I’d like to thank both Net Galley and Andrew’s McMeel Publishing, from whom I received an ARC of The Book of Purrs.

***PLEASE NOTE: There are two versions of this book. One version was self-published several years ago. The second version has been rewritten and published in October of 2024 as a prequel to S.T. Gibson’s Evocation. Reviews posted before the latter half of 2024 are most definitely of the first version of the book, which isn’t even available anymore. Please consider giving the new version a try, especially if you’re a fan of Evocation, as many of the complaints old reviewers have are not present in the new version of this book.***

I cannot begin to explain how excited I was to receive this ARC from Netgalley and Angry Robot Books after how much I loved Evocation. It was so nice to be able to spend some bonus time with these characters during what feels like the longest wait everrrr for the next book in The Summoner’s Circle series!

There’s an event involving David, Rhys, and Moira that took place before the start of Evocation that is alluded to but not exactly explained. Whatever happened, it caused a major rift in Rhys and David’s friendship, so we know it was something big, and in this prequel, we finally get some answers.

While it was certainly an important and dangerous event, and I’m happy that I now understand what happened, I was a little disappointed in the reasoning behind Rhys and David’s falling out. The two men weren’t besties or anything, but Rhys considered David a friend at the start of the book, and the point where he changed his mind felt very lackluster to me. I was expecting something much worse. But I’m sort of torn on whether or not it’s bad thing that I got less than I expected. It actually feels pretty believable that a friendship would end over something so silly.

This novella gives us more than an answer to the Rhys/David friendship question, though. I loved the glimpse into Rhys and Moira’s life before the events of Evocation, when their relationship was extremely new and was very pleasantly surprised to find that S.T. Gibson included the story of how they met, which I thought was very cute and fun.

There’s also some beautiful art throughout the book I had to stop to really take in and stare at before moving on. It was really lovely and totally unexpected - I had no idea there would be any illustrations!

Odd Spirits reads a bit differently from Evocation in that it kind of feels like reading a parable. There’s a clear moral to the story that ties it all up rather nicely. It can certainly be read before Evocation, but personally, I really enjoyed reading the prequel and having questions answered afterward. If you want to go into Evocation knowing everything, read prequel first. If you like a bit of mystery, read Evocation first.

The Ravening is a horror/thriller, and while aspects of both genres were present throughout, it felt less like a mix than a 50/50 split. The first half of the book was heavy thriller, with an adult Jenna trying to escape a house where she is being held against her will for nefarious reasons, then the horror really amped up in the second half as Jenna fought an ancient evil for control of her body (and not in the way you might be thinking). It was a pretty cool shift from “Oh no, the bad guys are these people!” to “Oh dear god, this is also terrifying in a crazy supernatural way!”

As a main character, Jenna felt a bit one-note. She has (with good reason!) a very hard time trusting people and opening herself up to love, and while I’d expect that to be mentioned a fair bit, it’s really the only deep thing we learn about her. The story is told in third person from her POV and she has a lot of conversations with her inner voice, which, when it responds, calls her ‘babe,’ and it drove me crazy. A ‘babe’ here and there would have been okay, but almost every time her inner voice said anything, it threw a ‘babe’ in there. I think it’s because Jenna sometimes thought the inner voice sounded like her girlfriend, Holly, who calls her ‘babe,’ but even so, it was just too much. Otherwise, Jenna was easy to sympathize with and root for, and I formed some pretty strong feelings for a couple other characters too. Like big time hatred! But I was supposed to hate the people I hated, so it was a good hatred.

The story is interesting with a unique premise. I’ve never come across anything like it and I enjoyed it. I want to talk about some specific bits but when I consider the blurb, I feel like anything I say could be a spoiler. There were some excerpts from old texts inserted between chapters throughout the book that gave vague information about the ancient evil, allowing the reader to piece things together, but as soon as you read the final excerpt, everything is explained by someone anyway. We’re given the same explanation, but less vague, as if the author doesn’t trust the reader to have figured it out. So the excerpts feel sort of purposeless. My favorite part of the book was the dreamlike sequences that reminded me a lot of some fantasy I’ve read and I think horror fans who are also fantasy readers would enjoy those scenes as much as I did. I wasn’t expecting such a strong fantasy feel but I liked it!

Thank you to both Netgalley and Angry Robot Books, from whom I received an ARC of The Ravening.

I think Johnny Compton and I are psychically linked and he knows what I like: gruesome and violent AF horror, super unique vampires, and a straight up cult. I also love a book that gives me room to form my own theories about what’s going on, and Devils Kill Devils did that from the start, then opened up a little and gave me more room for even more outlandish theories, which is so much fun.

I did find myself a little bored during Harrah’s early chapters and a tiny bit lost during Cela’s early chapters, but their later chapters were just as good as the rest and I loved the stark difference in prose between each character’s POV. The way they spoke, thought, acted… it was always obvious which character the story was following because the writing actually changed very organically. And oh my god the foreshadowing drove me crazy in the very best way, like I knew something was being alluded to and I wanted to know what it was SO BADLY. In a couple spots, I had to stop myself from skimming, not because I was bored or didn’t want to read it but because I was so desperate to know what was going to happen.

I liked most of the characters and that stories of their pasts were included to give context to their actions and motivations (especially The Northman). Sarita is a great main character and she has a lot of strengths but one of my favorite things about her is that she isn’t your standard Chosen One. I like the idea that a Chosen One isn’t necessarily more special than anyone else, that it’s more like “well, someone had to be chosen,” and happenstance is what gives the Chosen One their power.

The author’s note at the end was really cool - I always love when authors include information about their inspiration and influences. It’s very interesting. Don’t skip it!

Thank you NetGalley and Tor Nightfire for the ARC of Devils Kill Devils.

Brom is one of my favorite horror authors, in part because his stories are just that good, but also because I love that he writes horror with heart. Evil in Me is no different, and it’s also an exploration of emotional turmoil.

Even before her possession, Ruby felt out of control of her own life. Beel, the demon possessing Ruby, is only doing so because he’s controlled by a more powerful demon. Control is an extremely prevalent theme as even side characters have suffered due to circumstances beyond their control, or circumstances they believe to be beyond their control. It’s easy to relate to Ruby as she struggles not just in the fight for her soul, but the fight for her power, the control she lost long before the ring found its way into her life.

As always, Brom created a fun cast of characters for Evil in Me. I loved Vutto, as I expect most people will (I’m serious – I expect you to like him and if you don’t, we can’t be friends), and everyone needs a friend like Tina. The book has major “roadtrip with a punk rock band of weirdos” vibes, which makes it really fun for a horror novel. There were high stakes, but aside from one scene, I didn’t feel particularly tense. This one definitely had more of a fun, lighthearted feel.

The narration of the audiobook was honestly amazing. Stephanie Németh-Parker voiced most of it and I loved how she laughed, scoffed, sang, etc. along with Ruby, instead of just telling us Ruby was doing it. I’ve never listened to an audiobook with a narrator that consistently added those types of emotions into their narration. Shahjehan Khan also did a great job with Richard’s narration. You can really hear Richard’s confidence in the beginning and how the events of the book affect him in his voice. But the narration itself isn’t the only thing to rave about because there is MUSIC. Ruby has to write a song and when she performs it, an actual band, The Maxines, performs it on the audiobook. It is the bee’s knees, as Richard would say. I love audiobooks that include more than just a simple reading of the book, so this one really checked off a lot of boxes for me.

The print version of Evil in Me has nearly two dozen illustrations and I’ve seen enough of of them (and Brom’s art in general) to know they are not to be missed, so I recommend listening while reading if possible for an immersive experience with both music and illustrations. Best of both worlds!

Thanks very much to both NetGalley and Macmillan Audio, from whom I received an ALC of Evil in Me.

I’d like to thank both NetGalley and Datura Books, from whom I received an ARC of Negative Girl.

I really liked the distinct neo-noir style of writing in this crime thriller. Every other chapter switches between the first-person POV of Martin and his assistant Valerie, and I like a good dual POV story, but these two characters are so alike that they don’t each feel like their own person. Their voices are too similar and I often found myself glancing back or checking the last page for a clue as to whose chapter I was reading.

Everyone in the book is either in a band, used to be in a band, plays an instrument, and/or is super into music, which is cool, but Martin and Valerie both talk about music and name drop a lot of bands and songs to the point that it felt like a bit too much.

The plot was a little predictable but enjoyable, and I loved the relationship between Martin and Valerie. As mentioned before, they’re very alike so they ultimately have a lot in common, including similar toxic situations with old friends. Their friendship, however, was lovely even when it was rocky. It was nice to read a book with a purely platonic male/female best friendship, where they loved and took care of each other but there were no underlying sexual motivations or tension.

I didn’t love Mr. Caesar in Mortal Follies but I was still happy for the chance to get to know him as the main character Confounding Oaths. Unfortunately I’m still not his biggest fan, but even he openly admits to being a shit, so perhaps I have the right idea.

Mr. Caesar isn’t the only carryover from Mortal Follies. Several characters from the first book make an appearance, including my favorite: Miss Bickle. She’s just as ridiculous as ever, with the added bonus of having become an author of Jane Austen fanfic. Alexis Hall—excuse me, the fairy hobgoblin narrator—seems to only tell queer stories, which I both love and respect, but it really is a shame that Miss Bickle is decidedly straight because I’d really love to be told a story in which she is the main character. Fingers crossed she’s a part of the queer community after all!

As for the story, I liked that it wasn’t strictly about Mr. Caesar saving his sister Mary, but also about Mary herself. She has a full-fledged character arc that is extremely relatable and reads a bit like a fairytale. Meanwhile, unlike Mortal Follies, Mr. Caesar’s romantic relationship with the captain isn’t front and center as much as it is in the background. Saving Mary is more important and all the crazy magical hijinks are distracting. I think it works for this book because I really liked Mary and for me personally, the romance between Mr. Caesar and Captain James wasn’t as captivating as the romance in the first book.

And so, my favorite hobgoblin narrator once again did a fantastic job of observing a great story, being 100% reliable, and making me laugh. I truly can’t believe Oberon hasn’t forgiven him yet, but I’m selfishly glad because he all but promised he has more stories for us and if he were to return to Oberon’s court, he would no longer have need to publish any more books.

Confounding Oaths could probably be read as a standalone, but there are enough characters from and callbacks to Mortal Follies that I highly suggest reading it first. It’s also a fantastic book, so it’s worth it!

I’d like to thank NetGalley and Random House / Del Ray from whom I received an ARC of Confounding Oaths.

I’d like to thank both NetGalley and Hachette Audio, from whom I received an ALC of Long Live Evil.

I wasn’t sure how I felt about it at first but once I gave in and embraced the camp, I had a really good time with Long Live Evil. I love the concept of the book and the idea that entering a story can change its plot. It’s a lot like the idea that if you travel to the past, you can’t change a single thing or the future will veer wildly off track. Rae’s presence in the book and the decisions she made changed the future of every character, and it was a lot of fun to see if those changes were for better or worse.

This is Sarah Rees Brennan’s first adult novel but the writing and especially Rae’s dialogue read to me like YA. I actually struggled to like Rae very much. At first I thought it was because of her childish dialogue and obsession with her new body’s boobs, and while that didn’t help, I think my main issue was that her insistence that none of the characters were real made it hard for me to care about anything, including her. By reminding so many times that no one was real, she was also reminding me that she isn’t real. She was telling me not to care for her either, and I decided to go ahead and listen.

Despite Rae’s best efforts, I found most characters interesting and each had a lot of depth. My favorite character, Key, is one of the first that Rae meets when she wakes up in the world of this story and he’s fascinating. I’m not much for book boyfriends but I might make an exception for Key.

I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Moira Quirk. That’s right, Mo from Nickelodeon GUTS narrated this audiobook. God, I’ve always wanted a piece of The Crag. Anyway, sometimes it seemed like she was reading parts of conversations too quickly, faster than the person speaking would actually say them, but for the most part I enjoyed her narration and I think she did the voices of the many characters very well.

Despite the few issues I had, Long Live Evil was ultimately a satisfying read. The ending left me wanting more so I’ll definitely be reading the next book!

I feel genuinely sorry for anyone who skips prologues and happens to read Mortal Follies. The book’s prologue provides an important introduction to our narrator, a hobgoblin who has been cast from Oberon’s court. Not only is he an amazing storyteller, worthy of Oberon’s forgiveness, but he’s extremely funny, and I was already laughing before chapter one began.

The way the Mortal Follies was written—excuse me, told by a hobgoblin, it reads a bit like an Austen novel but with magic. There are curses, old gods, sacrifices, witches, and there may or may not be kelpies.

The narrator wasn’t the only reason Mortal Follies was funny. I was laughing the whole way through, at the narration, the hijinks of the characters and the situations they found themselves in, and, well, Miss Bickle. Miss Mitchelmore’s best friend, Lysistrata Bickle, is an absolute delight and I will fight anyone who tries to harm a hair on her head. She’s a great friend and though she’s more than a bit naive, she’s quirky in all the best ways. She needs her own book about her adventures. I can’t decide if I wanted a friend like Miss Bickle, or I wanted to be a friend like Miss Bickle. The answer is both. I want both.

One of my favorite bits of the book was Miss Mitchelmore’s character arc. The ways in which she changes from the beginning of the story, when she’s a prim and proper young lady of high society who finds that she’s been cursed, to the end of the story when, well, she’s in love with a woman and shit is seriously going down… it’s impressive.

I loved that the story was told by this hobgoblin, who added in his own thoughts and opinions as events unfolded. By doing that, he became a character in his own right, and I really enjoyed getting to know him. I look forward to hearing his next story, Confounding Oaths (which, let’s be real, I’m going to start reading as soon as I’m done writing this 😂).

I discovered a love of Cozy Sci-Fi/Fantasy in March when I read another indie with my little chaotic readalong group (The Crossing by Laurie Janey). I’ve been passively looking for another book in that genre since then and was excited to find this one. It’s very cozy, but also very heartfelt and emotional.

Our main character, August, lives a lonely, unsatisfying life, and when she decides to make some changes, we get to come along for the ride. I instantly connected with August and it was a joy to see her making connections of her own. Her issues with her mother reminded me of my own issues with my father and I may have shed some tears as she reflected on their relationship. Yeah, I definitely shed some tears. Luscombe’s letter to the reader at the end of the book made me cry again, btw. I was kind of a mess there at the end. But a good mess.

I like to highlight lines in a book that I resonate with so deeply I could have written them myself, or they feel like they were written to or about me, and I was highlighting this one all over the place. So many things spoke to me in a way many books do not and it felt really good, like being given a hug by someone who truly understands how I feel.

If you’re anyone, you should give this book a read. But if you’re feeling or have ever felt burned out, stuck, or unseen, you might find a bit of yourself in August and especially enjoy Moon Soul.

I’ve read plenty of books about hauntings, and some of them involved children, but to actually read one from the child’s point of view is absolutely next level. Adults being haunted can make their own decisions but 8-year-old Bela was not only at the mercy of the haunting, she was at the mercy of her parents and whatever decisions they made. As a child, she’s completely powerless. Remembering and sitting with that feeling while reading made Incidents Around the House so much scarier for me.

Of all the books I’ve read that were written from the perspective of a child (but meant for an older audience) a couple have worked, but most haven’t. This one is definitely the most well done of them all.

Malerman does an amazing job of making the reader truly feel like they’re being told a story by a little girl. The writing is a little disjointed, but not distractingly so. When she uses a word a typical 8 year old may not know, Bela explains that Mommy or Daddo taught it to her. When we need more adult information, it’s told through a memory Bela has, or a conversation some adults have in front of her. Bela never knows more than she should or feels way too smart for her age, but her narration does still serve as a great reminder that kids can pick up on things and are smarter than most people give them credit for.

I think Incidents Around the House is the best of the horror I’ve read this year. It’s super unique and certainly among my favorites!

I’d like to thank both NetGalley and Levine Querido, from whom I received an ARC of Markless. These opinions are my own.

I don’t read a lot of young adult books (they can be a little hit or miss for me), but sometimes I read a blurb and I don’t care if I’m the target audience or not – I’m definitely reading that book. I felt that way with Markless and I’m glad I gave it a chance because I enjoyed it quite a bit!

I don’t read a lot of fantasy with major romance plots (Romantasy? Is this romantasy?) but I do love the enemies to lovers trope and when it’s sapphic? Yes please! I also really like what Malburi did with the soulmates trope in Markless. I admit I haven’t read a whole lot of romance with the soulmates trope, so I’m not sure if what was done here is common or not, but I thought it was nice that it explored the idea that choosing your own soulmate is always a possibility.

The main character, Ruti, was so well-written. Not only did I love her, but I could easily feel whatever emotion she was feeling. If she was confused, so was I. Whether she was upbeat or distressed, I was too. The evolution of her relationship with Princess Dekala felt very natural, which I appreciated. Speaking of Dekala, she was… an enigma, but an intriguing one. My favorite thing about her was that she was so hard to pin down. Sometimes it was frustrating, but hey, I was only frustrated when Ruti was frustrated, so it was perfect!

I did feel that the magic system was a little confusing. As soon as I thought I had a decent understanding of it, something new was introduced that threw me for a loop. I don’t think I ever quite understood the limits of the world’s magic.

My only other issue was that towards the end of the book, there was a part that felt to me like the oft frowned upon “and then I woke up” moment used in some media. It wasn’t that, but it gave me a similar feeling, and I was disappointed. But the ending itself was great. It made up for some of that disappointment and left me feeling happy with the book overall.

I like to explore all the different versions of the vampire trope and Liz Kerin gave us a really cool one in Night’s Edge. Mia’s mom Izzy isn’t exactly a vampire though, she’s a sara. Exploring the similarities and differences between saras and vampires and learning about Saratov Syndrome was really cool, but I didn’t expect all the heartbreak that came with everything else.

Izzy became a sara when Mia was just 10 years old, which left Mia beyond traumatized, but she had no time to deal with it as she was immediately thrust into adulthood long before her time. My heart absolutely ached for Mia, and for my own younger self, as I deeply related to her severe parentification. I felt so much anger on Mia’s behalf every time she had to make a sacrifice, keep another secret, hold herself back, pretend everything was okay. Man… yeah… this book gave me a lot of feelings and they were definitely not about the things I was expecting 😅 I can’t wait to dive into the sequel and feel the feelings that one gives me.

I listened to the audiobook, narrated by actor Chase Sui Wonders. I didn’t know it was Wonders until after I finished the book but I thought it was pretty cool. I really liked her in HBO’s Genera+ion. She did an excellent job, the narration was full of emotion. I’d recommend the audio over other formats for sure. But… the book is on Kindle Unlimited!

I’ve always been fascinated by the idea of multiverses and the infinite ways things could have been different depending upon not only my choices but the choices of others and the various circumstances of my life. I’ll Miss Myself explores that idea in a fresh and incredibly interesting way that had me absolutely hooked from the first paragraph.

While there were some bits that made me laugh, this story is a serious one. Shaw’s struggle with depression and the way he hid it from himself (and his selves) was really relatable. I must have highlighted the majority of this short story for how much I resonated with it. A lot of it really spoke to me and it was an excellent reminder that I’m never alone, even if I only have myself.

I can’t say I’m surprised by how much I enjoyed this one after reading Someone You Can Build A Nest In (it’s one of my absolute favorite books), but now that I’ve read more by John Wiswell, I can say he’s on my list of favorite authors.

I’d like to thank both NetGalley and Datura Books, from whom I received an ARC of Honeycomb for review.

I’ve been on a bit of a fantasy kick lately, but when I saw the blurb for Honeycomb, I knew I had to read it ASAP. It was such a fun, fast-paced thriller, one one disturbing enough be horror too, or at least border on it.

I spent the first half of my time with it doing some detective work, trying to figure out if the six drug trial participants had been lied to by the doctor running experiment, if the drug was working as intended, wondering how far the doctor would truly let things go, hoping Amanda could find someone to trust, you know, normal stuff. But the second half of my time with the book was basically just me thinking “oh shit, oh shit, oh shit!”

I appreciated that while the story centered on Amanda and her experience, we were also given glimpses into both the points of view and pasts of the other five participants of the drug trial. I liked that Claude, Arthur, Wish, Sherry, and Justin were all deeper than just nobody side-characters put there to give Amanda a hard time. I also found it really interesting how each of them responded to the drug trial in their own way. I thought their behavior would more or less be identical and I’m convinced the differences made the whole book even better.

It must be said, though I can’t explain: Honeycomb is the perfect name for the drug (and this book). Once you read it, you’ll know why!

I’ve discovered some incredible books and authors through Netgalley but I had no idea when I requested an ALC of The West Passage, a dark fantasy novel with a somewhat cryptic blurb, from Netgalley and Macmillan Audio that I’d found The One, but I have. I’ve found my favorite book of all time.

In The West Passage, we follow Kew and Pell on their individual journeys as they do what they feel is necessary to save their home from a terrible beast. But the story isn’t just about Kew and Pell, it’s about the massive sprawling palace grounds in which they live and travel through, a world with deep lore and rich history, some of which is too long-forgotten by its inhabitants. While on their journeys through this dangerous world, Kew and Pell meet plenty of interesting and quirky characters, and though the book is pretty dark, it reminded me a lot of both Alice in Wonderland and The Phantom Tollbooth. I got whimsical vibes and felt sort of nostalgic for those stories when listening to this one.

I was constantly impressed by Jared Pechaček’s immersive world building, beautifully descriptive writing, and immense creativity. His writing made me feel like he has actually been there and is simply describing everything for us, like he’s a historian of the palace. As if it didn’t come from his mind and it exists somewhere and he’s just telling us about it. Pechaček has written a textbook, and I listened to the audio but now I want a copy to highlight, make flashcards to study, memorize and learn the entirely too interesting history of this world as if it’s a real place.

I took my time listening to The West Passage on audiobook over the last week because there has never been a book I’ve wanted to savor more fully than this one. When I listen to audiobook, I always do other things, but I just sat and listened this time. I had to and wanted to focus on The West Passage because I felt like I was participating in this book, this event, and I didn’t want to participate in anything else. Though I did start out feeling as if the physical or ebook version might be a better choice, Steve West’s narration made me feel like I was a child being read a bit of a grand fantasy before bed, and I loved it. There are many, many characters in this story and West was able to change his voice wonderfully for each one. I especially liked the voices he did in a scene where there were 8 different frogs. If I can tell 8 frogs apart, that’s a damn good narrator.

If you cannot tell, I am absolutely obsessed with this book. It’s my Holy Grail. It’s my precious. Want to be sucked into a world that feels as though it will continue to live and breathe even after you turn the last page? This is the one.

Key Lime Sky’s blend of sci-fi, mystery, and autistic representation truly made for a compelling and refreshing read. This is my favorite kind of sci-fi, soft and cozy rather than hard, easy to get into and understand. And the importance of acceptance, understanding, and self-discovery are beautifully woven throughout a story that is honestly kind of alarming at times (it is about an alien invasion, after all)!

Denver is both autistic and nonbinary (xe goes by any pronouns but mentions that xe prefers xe/xem [which I don’t see in books very often!] so I’ll use those – I’ve never used them before and I looked it up but please forgive any mistakes and feel free to correct me). Xe is such a well-crafted character. I love xyr sense of humor and I can only dream of being as good at writing reviews as xe is. Xyr autism isn’t the most important part of xem, but it’s an important aspect of Denver’s life, so it’s a big part of the book. Al Hess is autistic himself, so I know and appreciate that Denver’s autistic traits are portrayed with both accuracy and sensitivity.

As for the plot itself: hell. yeah. I love a good alien invasion and Al Hess did a fantastic job setting the scene for unique story with a resolution I absolutely did not see coming. Alien invasions are serious business and it could be quite tense at times, so the different kind of tension we get from Denver and Ezra’s budding romantic relationship is extra welcome. I also liked that Denver isn’t the only one to struggle with acceptance, as Ezra and the other townspeople also have pasts and insecurities they have to work through.

I knew I’d like Key Lime Sky when I read the blurb, but I loved it even more than I expected I would and I was really happy to read a good book with an autistic character that feels realistic, instead of just a caricature, as it’s essential to have more stories like this that showcase diverse experiences in an appropriate way and promote empathy and understanding. Just a little advice though: when you read this book, make sure you have some pie handy, because Denver is going to make you want some.

I’d like to thank both NetGalley and Macmillan Audio, from whom I received an ALC of Honey (from Celadon Books) for review. These opinions are my own.

You can’t read the synopsis of Honey without thinking of Britney Spears. I was a young teenager when she became a household name. I wasn’t even a fan (I wasn’t allowed to listen to her music 😂), but I remember the constant rumors about her and the grown men on news channels arguing over whether or not she’d had a boob job and speculating on the status of her virginity. I remember how weird it made me feel about my own body, my own sexuality, and my own right to privacy when it came to those things.

Honey touches on those topics and more through the eyes of Amber Young, a teen pop star, as she rises from mediocrity to the kind of fame she’s always dreamed of. Although most of us have never been pop stars, many of us have been over-sexualized, treated like we are just our bodies, and it’s easy to relate to the way Amber feels when she’s treated that way by men. Part of me wishes Isabel Banta had gone a little deeper when it comes to the concepts of misogyny and exploitation in the music industry. There were instances of these things throughout the book, but it felt like they were just stated as facts rather than truly explored. But either way, I’m glad that the 90’s pop star experience wasn’t completely glossed over and glamorized.

While Amber deals with the disgusting problematic behavior of the men around her (and society in general), she also deals with a lot of internal struggle, including her desperate need to feel loved, and I imagine readers will relate to that very strongly. I enjoyed Amber’s journey and I like that the book covered the entirety of it. The inclusion of Amber’s friend and fellow pop star Gwen’s journey as well, though we didn’t get to see as much of it, was an excellent choice.

Of course, I want to talk about the audiobook, which was fantastic. Honey is written in first-person from Amber’s POV and the narrator, Brittany Pressley, either has the perfect voice or used the perfect voice for Amber. The lyrics to a few of Amber’s singles are in the book, and one of my favorite things about the audiobook is that when Pressley read the lyrics, there was pop music playing in the background. The music was different for each song and was really cool! It added so much to the listening experience, and to the book as a whole. I was fully immersed, even bobbing my head to the music a little. Because of this, I’m fully convinced the audio version is the best way to read Honey.

I usually start writing a review immediately after I finish a book, but I had to wait a bit after finishing Elegy for the Undead because I was crying too much. Matthew Vesely did an amazing job at portraying such raw emotion, I felt it so hard!

I’m not a fan of zombie media but the premise of Elegy for the Undead really gripped me and I’m glad I gave it a chance because it took the zombie trope in a direction I enjoyed much more than I typically do. The chapters jump back and forth between Lyle and Jude’s POV and from before the outbreak, during the outbreak, and after the outbreak, so we get a really clear picture of Lyle and Jude’s relationship.

The book isn’t really about zombies, it’s about Lyle and Jude – how they met, how they deal with difficulties within their relationship, and how they cope with Lyle’s ‘zombie’ diagnosis. Their love is a beautiful example of how messy, imperfect, and wonderful love can be.

I listened to the audiobook (by the way, I was unable to find either the ebook or audiobook through my local library, but it’s available through the Queer Liberation Library!), narrated by Daniel Henning and Charlie Thurston. Both Henning and Thurston did a great job with the narration. No complaints here!

I’d absolutely recommend this one even to people who aren’t huge fans of zombie stuff because at its core, Elegy for the Undead is a love story that illustrates how meaningful even a tragic love can be.

I’d like to thank both NetGalley and Angry Robot Books, from whom I received an ARC of The Branded. These opinions are my own.

I finished The Branded a few days ago and while I loved it, I’ve been dreading writing this review because there’s so much I want to say and I can’t say it all. I’m going to have to leave some things out and that’s going to be very difficult.

Here we go: I enjoyed the writing and loved every character. We get the most of Nara, as the book is written from her point of view. She can be a bit prickly but she’s got some of that feminine rage I love to see and she’s easy to root for. The world-building is well-done, with a great balance between fantastical elements and believability. There’s some romance, but I wouldn’t say the book is romantasy as it’s more of a side thing.

I love speculative fiction and The Branded speculates in spades. From the control and use of women as breeders to the segregation of the Pure and the Branded, which creates a thought-provoking commentary on societal hierarchies, discrimination, and the value placed on health and strength, the book provides a whole lot to think about in addition to a fantastic adventure.

This book gave me such a hangover. I couldn’t even touch a book the day after I finished it because I simply hadn’t had enough time to process everything yet. The Isfalki women, pampered like princesses so they don’t realize they are just breeding machines expected to pop out a baby a year until they’re no longer able to do so. Nara’s resistance to this way of life and longing to be something more than some random Pure man’s property. The disturbing twist that completely rocked me and highlighted the deep corruption of the leaders of Isfalk. The mysterious motivations of the Wrangler…

There’s a second book, so of course there are a whole lot of unanswered questions I’m looking forward to having answered next year!

I’d like to thank both Net Galley and Angry Robot Books, from whom I received an ARC of The Hunter’s Gambit. These opinions are my own.

I love the concept of The Hunter’s Gambit. The vampires are exactly as I imagine vampires would be. They live a life of opulence and they are truly vicious. Their annual mock coronation highlights their cruelty and disregard for human life and that aspect of the story is well-done and very effectively conveys the vampires’ callous nature.

I liked Kazan and was invested in her character, but I wish we had a better understanding of why she lies. I wanted to understand her better and I think the book could have benefited from a deeper exploration of her relationship with lying. At one point, she agrees to something, then changes her mind and apologizes for lying. But that wasn’t a deliberate attempt to deceive and I’d like to understand why she saw it as a lie. Otherwise, I loved how tenacious Kazan was and her defiance of the vampires and will to live in the face of incredible danger was admirable.

Adrius has a compelling backstory and his status among the vampires adds depth to his character, but I feel Reya could have been a little more developed, though I loved that she was a bit morally gray.

There was a spice scene that was several pages long but wasn’t as explicit as I thought it would be (because vampires are known for their debauchery) and personally, I liked that. It really worked for the story though and one of my favorite parts was that there was a question of consent/preferences before things got too hot and heavy.

Despite a couple personal issues I had the book, there are still aspects that resonated with me and made the story enjoyable, and I think complex world-building really makes The Hunter’s Gambit stand out.