All the books I’ve read this year that didn’t fall into my April reading challenge or my Speed Dating Books post. I focused a lot on reading non-fiction.

The Books I Finished

About the Book

A Coastal Corpse (Seffi Wardwell Mystery #1) by Rebecca M Douglass

Just what the doctor fresh salt air, a garden to tend… and a fresh corpse behind the dahlias?

Retired science teacher Seffi Wardwell has moved to coastal Maine looking for peace, fresh air, and an accepting community. So far, she’s enjoying the sea air.

When a corpse turns up in Seffi’s flower garden, she can’t help asking questions about the victim and his death. Police officer Miah Cox doesn’t want her assistance, but Seffi’s curiosity is what made her a scientist.

The more she learns about the dead man’s background, the more she wants to know. Estranged from his wealthy family, and a village pariah for something that happened years before, the dead man had plenty of enemies. At least one wanted to make him disappear forever, and they’re all eager to see this case wrapped up and forget about him.

The way Seffi sees it, somebody has to care about him, and as a fellow outsider, she’s it. But all of her poking around is stirring up trouble in the village. It’s up to Seffi and Miah to figure out whodunit before they strike again, and before the locals decide the handiest scapegoat is Seffi herself.

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

Seffie is a relatable character and her interest in the murder isn’t far-fetched: it’s a man she’d taken a charitable interest in who got murdered and left in her garden. Being new to the small town, recovering from Covid, it makes sense that her interest is piqued. I like that Seffie ignores conventions and does things her own way. Too many people her age sit on a couch in a retirement home and wait to die.

The mystery around the murder, the threats to Seffie, and vandalism around town (especially beautiful gardens) kept me wondering to the end. I had several suspects, but even I didn’t see the full crazy mindset of the murderer.

So much fun to read.

I like the odd little town with its odd inhabitants. Though, if someone stole my flowers and sold them to the highest bidder, I’d probably take my pruning shears to their dyed hair… Seffie is so coolheaded – probably her years as a teacher. I think what I like most about Seffie is her way to find out the truth, keep a clear head even when suspected of murder (over flowers, yes), and persevering no matter what.

I can’t wait to spend more time with her.

About the Book

Washed Up With the Tide (Seffi Wardwell Mystery #2) by Rebecca M Douglass

Beautiful weather, bountiful baked goods, and… bodies on the beach?

Seffi’s pleasure in her long walks among the fall colors is more than a little marred when she encounters cantankerous fisherman Bob Hughes washed up on the shore—sodden, entangled in a net, and very definitely dead. Did the man drink too much and fall overboard in an unfortunate accident? Or was his death something more sinister? With an estranged wife, enemies in the fishing fleet, and ticked-off deckhands, there are plenty of people around Smelt Point who aren’t sorry he’s dead. But did any of them actually kill him? The scuttlebutt at the bakery raises more questions than it answers, and to top it off the fishermen gathering there have eaten Seffi’s favorite treats.

Once again Seffi needs all her reasoning and gossip-gathering talents to help village policeman Miah Cox get to the bottom of the mystery. But will Miah’s own secret tear the village apart?
More importantly, will Seffi ever get to finish her walk and enjoy her pastries in peace?

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

Another enjoyable adventure with Seffi in her picturesque seaside town. Of course someone targets her just for being curious… good thing her physical recovery from Covid is going well, or she’d have been one of the victims.

I had a different culprit in mind for the murders, but the actual offender makes so much more sense. Great red herrings!

We encounter new facets of town, like the marina and fishermen, while familiar parts like the bakery and library remain a constant in Seffi’s world.

I wonder if she’s going to get around to fixing the toilet, now that there aren’t any pressing puzzles to solve? LOL.

A fun read with lots of twists and turns.

About the Book

Edited Out (Seffi Wardwell Mystery #3) by Rebecca M Douglass

Who erased the writer?

Winter in Maine is long, dark, and cold, and California transplant Seffi Wardwell is combating the winter blues with a full calendar. Tending the plants at the local bed-and-breakfast, writing reports for the library, and keeping an eye on events in Smelt Point barely leaves time for pastry and gossip at Sweet Dreams, the local bakery and heart of the village.

When the participants at an artistic retreat held at the bed-and-breakfast grow combative, Seffi is there to smooth things over, stiffen the spine of the innkeeper, and keep things going. But when a writer turns up dead, Seffi’s called on to wield a different kind of expertise. Then someone lets slip there was poison in a coffee bought at Sweet Dreams, and it looks like Seffi’s favorite source of treats is in real trouble. Can her knowledge of plants save the inn—and the local bakery—before the killer strikes again and tears the heart out of Smelt Point?

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

An enjoyable mystery of who had killed the most condescending writer in the artist residency taking place at the inn in Seffi’s small town. When everyone had reason to kill the victim, Seffi has to figure out from which plant the poison came from and who had the means and opportunity to kill the snippy writer.

The blossoming friendship/romance between Seffi and the ME is sweet.

I like that the mystery kept one wondering and guessing right until the end.

There’s a definitive environmental care theme throughout the story (re-useable cups at the bakery, cloth napkins, etc.) that added a nice touch to the storyline as the entitled victim insisted on clean linens every day.

Seffi taking walks in the cold, dark, icy outdoors made me feel cold on her behalf. LOL. She has so much gumption. But I am worried about her: every psychokiller who comes to town wants to kill her at some point.

An enjoyable book that had me reading it in one sitting well into the wee hours of the morning.

Highly recommended to fans of cosy mysteries with LOL moments and great worldbuilding.

*I received an ARC from the author and this is my honest opinion.

About the Book

None of This is True by Lisa Jewell

Lisa Jewell returns with a scintillating new psychological thriller about a woman who finds herself the subject of her own popular true crime podcast.

Celebrating her forty-fifth birthday at her local pub, popular podcaster Alix Summers crosses paths with an unassuming woman called Josie Fair. Josie, it turns out, is also celebrating her forty-fifth birthday. They are, in fact, birthday twins.

A few days later, Alix and Josie bump into each other again, this time outside Alix’s children’s school. Josie has been listening to Alix’s podcasts and thinks she might be an interesting subject for her series. She is, she tells Alix, on the cusp of great changes in her life.

Josie’s life appears to be strange and complicated, and although Alix finds her unsettling, she can’t quite resist the temptation to keep making the podcast. Slowly she starts to realise that Josie has been hiding some very dark secrets, and before she knows it, Josie has inveigled her way into Alix’s life—and into her home.

But, as quickly as she arrived, Josie disappears. Only then does Alix discover that Josie has left a terrible and terrifying legacy in her wake, and that Alix has become the subject of her own true crime podcast, with her life and her family’s lives under mortal threat.

Who is Josie Fair? And what has she done?

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

If Josie is to be believed, she was groomed by her much older husband since she was thirteen. That he was a controlling, abusive husband. And that he abused their daughters – and any close friends they might’ve had.

If her mother is to be believed, Josie’s husband was first her boyfriend and Josie had seduced and married him. That Josie brought gloom with her.

If her husband is to be believed, Josie is a controlling woman who plays fast and loose with the truth.

If her daughters are to be believed, she was controlling, jealous, possessive and needy.

But as the title states: none of this can be believed. Or can it all be true in varying shades?

I liked the documentary style of the novel (once I got used to it) and the way Alix’s life is pulled apart and put together again was more interesting juxtaposed with Josie’s (whatever version is told at that moment).

As for not knowing the truth, not really, I liked that there was possibility for more shades of reality.

The mental health issues were a constant theme in this book without any resolution, making me question how much others have noticed and ignored these obvious calls for help that ended in so much tragedy.

An interesting psychological thriller that had me reading long after I should’ve gone to bed.

Trigger warnings: blasphemy, cursing, binge drinking, child abuse, murder, mental health

About the Book

The Greek Myths by Robert Graves

Combines in a single volume the complete text of the definitive two-volume classic, citing all the ancient myths. For a full appreciation of literature or visual art, knowledge of the Greek myths is crucial. In this much-loved collection, poet and scholar Robert Graves retells the immortal stories of the Greek myths. Demeter mourning her daughter Persephone, Icarus flying too close to the sun, Theseus and the Minotaur … all are captured here with the author’s characteristic erudition and flair.

The Greek Myths is the culmination of years of research and careful observation, however what makes this collection extraordinary is the imaginative and poetic style of the retelling. Drawing on his experience as a novelist and poet, Graves tells the fantastic stories of Ancient Greece in a style that is both absorbing and easy for the general reader to understand. Each story is accompanied by Graves’ interpretation of the origins and deeper meaning of the story, giving a reader an unparalleled insight into the customs and development of the Greek world.

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

An easy to read account of the Greek myths with footnotes to illuminate the text. A good primer for anyone wanting to know more about the Greek pantheon. I like the layout of the book, making it easy to read only about a specific character if one so pleases.

About the Book

No One Can know by Kate Alice Marshall

Fourteen years ago, the Palmer sisters―Emma, Juliette, and Daphne―left their home in Arden Hills and never returned. But when Emma discovers she’s pregnant and her husband loses his job, she has no option but to return to the house that she and her estranged sisters still own . . . and where their parents were murdered.

Emma has never told anyone what she saw the night her parents died, even when she became the prime suspect. But her presence in the house threatens to uncover secrets that have stayed hidden for years, and the sisters are drawn together once again. As they face their memories of the past, rivalries restart, connections are forged, and, for the first time, Emma starts to ask questions about what really happened that night.

The more Emma learns, the more riddles emerge. And Emma begins to wonder just what her siblings will do to keep the past buried, and whether she did the right thing staying quiet about what was whispered that night: “No one can know.”

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

A fascinating thriller about three sisters who’ve covered for each other for the murder of their parents – even if they weren’t sure what had happened. And then, when Emma has no choice but to move back to her parents’ house with her husband, everything about that night comes back to haunt the three of them and they finally uncover the truth.

There’s a lot of jumping from the present to the past as the mystery unfurls and present day issues dregs up the past. Emma taking only what she thinks she deserves out of relationships. JJ still battling her demons. Daphne taking care of terminally ill patients. And the parents who emotionally and physically abused them to believe that they weren’t good enough.

All the twists and turns make for a book I read in one sitting – and that final reveal made so much sense for the character!

Trigger warnings: child abuse, child abuse, police brutality, drug use

About the Book

Egyptian Mythology: A Fascinating Guide to Understanding the Gods, Goddesses, Monsters, and Mortals by Matt Clayton

From what we know of history, Egypt, along with Sumer, were the foundations of civilization. The Fertile Crescent, which stretched from the Nile Valley to the twin rivers in Mesopotamia, gave us our earliest glimpse of organized man. But organized how? For one, both locations gave us writing—hieroglyphics in Egypt and cuneiform in Sumer. There is still some debate about who was first.

In this book, we will start by looking at the gods and goddesses of Kemet—Ancient Egypt. Then, we will turn our attention to the monsters which likely gave them nightmares and humbled them in their quest to bring order to the world around them.
Finally, we will look at the mortals which shaped their civilization and made Egypt the bedrock of our own history. Though Egypt today is only a third-world nation, struggling with terrorism and poverty, their heritage remains vital to the understanding of who we are as a species.

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

Written in a story-telling way, it illuminates the creation and destruction of the Egyptian pantheon as well as note-worthy humans from Ancient Egypt. Lacks the feel of a factual, informative non-fiction book, reading more like an essay (or grouping of blog posts) about the topic.

About the Book

The Dark Queen by JF Penn

A sunken city. A lost goddess … and the woman who longs to find her.

Lara is part of a dive team exploring the sunken city of Thonis-Heraklion off the north coast of Egypt. When a storm threatens the site, there’s only time for one last dive and Lara is determined to be on it – even if it means diving with the man who threatened her this summer.

Because The Dark Queen is down there and Lara intends to find her before it’s too late …

Sink beneath the waves in this supernatural short story from New York Times and USA Today bestselling thriller author, J.F.Penn.

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

I listened to the audiobook.

Magic, mystery – and a lot of hurt in this story. What the MC should have remembered: be careful what your wish for. I liked the twist ending… One can imagine what she’ll get up to.

Trigger warning: sexual assault.

About the Book

Jewels of Darterra by J Lenni Dorner

Darterra is a moon world where people are born with a lit jewel at their suprasternal, or jugular, notch. The jewel determines the specialty of the person. People are generally segregated into a region based on their jewel color.

There are exceptions, such as the Purple jewels, which became the specialty known as Order. Long ago, Purples formed societies and created a code of morals and a set of laws. Another exception is the Red jewels, which are connected to the spiritual world.

The Silvers claim to be masters of portals. They believe they are meant to find portals that allow travel between their moon world of Darterra to Xeata-Lidoffad, the planet it orbits. It is alleged that the first Silver accomplished this but chose not to return.

New jewels have emerged in multiple colors. What will this mean for the population?

The Golds, masters of travel and discovery,  are adamant that multi-colored jewels are bad and that the people must be destroyed. Jaildarn, the current Gold leader, is determined to see the population diminish before following the Silvers to Xeata-Lidoffad.

How did Jaildarn get this way? That’s the real story.

Told from the perspective of Belp, a Brown, who was once Jaildarn’s friend.

What led Jaildarn to become the cause of such annihilation? Could Belp have prevented all this death, and if so, why didn’t he? Do some people having more options impair the existence of others who were born with a distinct path and purpose? Jewels of Darterra is a fantasy about a world as it collapses into change.

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

The cover is a gorgeous interpretation of the world. I liked the various jewel designations and thought it an interesting worldbuilding motif for classism, ableism, segregation, colonialism and more.

Personally, I would’ve enjoyed this story as a sprawling epic fantasy… Yes, I want to explore the “jewels” and their world (and the destruction thereof) more.

*I received an ARC from the author and this is my honest opinion.

About the Book

Egyptian Mythology: A Guide to the Gods, Goddesses, and Traditions of Ancient Egypt by Geraldine Pinch

From stories of resurrected mummies and thousand-year-old curses to powerful pharaohs and the coveted treasures of the Great Pyramids, ancient Egypt has had an unfaltering grip on the modern imagination. Now, in Egyptian Mythology , Geraldine Pinch offers a comprehensive introduction that untangles the mystery of Egyptian Myth.

Spanning Ancient Egyptian culture–from 3200 BC to AD 400–Pinch opens a door to this hidden world and casts light on its often misunderstood belief system. She discusses the nature of myths and the history of Egypt, from the predynastic to the postpharaonic period. She explains how Egyptian culture developed around the flooding of the Nile, or the “inundation,” a phenomenon on which the whole welfare of the country depended, and how aspects of the inundation were personified as deities. She explains that the usually cloudless skies made for a preoccupation with the stars and planets. Indeed, much early Egyptian mythology may have developed to explain the movement of these celestial bodies. She provides a timeline covering the seven stages in the mythical history of Egypt and outlining the major events of each stage, such as the reign of the sun God. A substantial A to Z section covers the principal themes and concepts of Egyptian mythology as well as the most important deities, demons, and other characters. For anyone who wants to know about Anubis, the terrifying canine god who presided over the mummification of bodies and guarded burials, or Hathor, the golden goddess who helped women to give birth and the dead to be reborn, or an explanation of the nun , the primeval ocean from which all life came, Egyptian Mythology is the place to look.

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

A good mixture of history and religion from Ancient Egypt, showing how these people lived and worshipped. I liked the different sections and how original sources were cited throughout. A thorough examination of Egyptian Mythology, just as the title promises. I especially liked the mention of minor deities that I haven’t encountered before.

A great resource.

About the Book

Cold Iron Heart (Wicked Lovely #0.5) by Melissa Marr

How far would you go to escape fate?

In this prequel to the international bestselling Wicked Lovely series (over a million copies sold), the Faery Courts collide a century before the mortals in Wicked Lovely are born.

Thelma Foy, a jeweler with the Second Sight in iron-bedecked 1890s New Orleans, wasn’t expecting to be caught in a faery conflict. Tam can see through the glamours faeries wear to hide themselves from mortals, but if her secret were revealed, the fey would steal her eyes, her life, or her freedom. So, Tam doesn’t respond when they trail thorn-crusted fingertips through her hair at the French Market or when the Dark King sings along with her in the bayou.

But when the Dark King, Irial, rescues her, Tam must confront everything she thought she knew about faeries, men, and love.

Too soon, New Orleans is filling with faeries who are looking for her, and Irial is the only one who can keep her safe.

Unbeknownst to Tam, she is the prize in a centuries-old fight between Summer Court and Winter Court. To protect her, Irial must risk a war he can’t win–or surrender the first mortal woman he’s loved.

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

I enjoyed spending time with Irial as he falls in love and learns what he is willing to sacrifice to keep those he loves safe.

You have to have read the original series for anything regarding the fae to make sense.

There’s a lot of swearing, on page sex, and violence. (The tone is much different than the YA series.)

Thelma (Tam?) is an interesting character. I do wonder how her story continued after breaking things off with Irial…

A good story with lots of emotion – as one would expect with Irial.

About the Book

7 Figure Fiction: How to Use Universal Fantasy to Sell Your Books to Anyone by T Taylor

There are only, in my humble opinion, two kinds of readers: Readers who love your books and readers who don’t know they love your books yet. But how do you reach those readers in the second category, no matter what kind of writer you are?

The answer to that question is…Universal Fantasy
Universal Fantasy is why my sales tripled when I “accidentally” wrote three books that landed in the Amazon Top 100.

Universal Fantasy is why some authors get gobs of gushing reviews and some authors who write “way better” get crickets.

Universal Fantasy is the answer to many of the questions you might have thought were unanswerable or simply up to luck, like…

• Will this sell?

• Why is that selling?

• Why didn’t this sell?

• Will readers like what I am writing?

• Why do I love the TV shows/books/entertainments I do?

• Why did I buy that thing I bought when I didn’t intend to buy it?

BE WARNED…once known, Universal Fantasy cannot be undiscovered. Leave this book be if you’re truly satisfied with your current writing life.

But if you’re not afraid—if you’re ready to know the secret hidden inside all bestselling stories, open this gift and find out how to use UNIVERSAL FANTASY to write and market books that SELL to ANYONE.

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

I’m so glad I heard about this book (on the Ink and Magic Podcast) and got to read it. The author broke down a couple of films/shows/books into their universal fantasies and something just clicked for me. Beyond tropes, universal fantasies are that extra bit of kick your stories need.

Highly recommended, no matter what genre you write.

About the Book

The Book of Barely Imagined Beings: A 21st Century Bestiary by Caspar Henderson

From the Axolotl to the Zebrafish, our planet contains a host of barely imagined beings: real creatures that are often more astonishing that anything dreamt of in the pages of a medieval bestiary. Ranging from the depths of the ocean to the most arid corners of the land, Caspar Henderson captures the beauty and bizzareness of the many living forms we thought we knew and some we could never have contemplated, inviting us to better imagine the precarious world we inhabit.

A witty, vivid blend of cutting edge natural history and meditative reflections, The Book of Barely Imagined Beings is infectious and celebratory about the sheer ingenuity and variety of life.

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

Honestly, the idea of a bestiary had me drawn in as I was hoping for fabulous creatures (hippocampi and other fantastical creatures as are usually depicted in bestiaries). I felt a bit let-down when the creatures turned out not to be from folklore. Not that they weren’t interesting! But I’m more of a folklore fanatic than hard-science aficionado – and the book didn’t deliver on either count, being more philosophical in nature. A cool idea, though. (Not sure about the A-Z nature of it as it doesn’t stay uniform in nature; feeling like it’s a bit of a rip-off of the A-Z Blogging Challenge in that respect…)

About the Book

Egyptian Gods: Discover the Ancient Gods of Egyptian Mythology by Stephan Weaver

△Egyptian Mythology△The gods of Ancient Egypt conjure up images of hieroglyphs with animal-headed people, fantastic civilizations, and a past that seems both unimaginably distant and still tenuously connected to the present day. Although the names Ra, Anubis, and Isis still linger today in modern fiction, the truth about these gods reveals the ancient Egyptians themselves.Inside you will read about…✓ Osiris ✓ Anubis ✓ Isis ✓ Ra ✓ Maat ✓ Hathor ✓ Wadjet ✓ Nefertum And many more! A look at the principal gods of Ancient Egypt gives insight into the culture of world’s first great civilization. Even today, their moments, their obelisks, and their pyramids endure and remind us that people can leave lasting marks on the world that humble and inspire us all.

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

Though not going in-depth on all the various deities of the Egyptian pantheon, it is a good overview and even included the primeval gods (the Ogdoad) that rarely get talked about. I liked that each of the major gods were given a bit of backstory as well as where they were primarily worshipped. A good primer to Egyptian gods.

About the Book

Pretty Girls by Karin Slaughter

Twenty years ago Claire Scott’s eldest sister, Julia, went missing. No one knew where she went – no note, no body. It was a mystery that was never solved and it tore her family apart.

Now another girl has disappeared, with chilling echoes of the past. And it seems that she might not be the only one.

Claire is convinced Julia’s disappearance is linked.

But when she begins to learn the truth about her sister, she is confronted with a shocking discovery, and nothing will ever be the same…

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

A story about sisters torn apart by a brutal psychopath and reunited over two decades later.

There were loads of reasons to DNF the book at the start: the use of the Lord’s name as an expletive, Paul being creepy in the alley, the disconnect between chapters so one cannot bond with a specific character, the description of the abused dog, all the law enforcement men being creepy.

But the mystery pulling it all together was compelling. The crimes were unspeakable. The twist surprising. And the action kept one reading until the end.

I’ll read more by this author.

Trigger warnings: blasphemy, rape, abductions, porn, police intimidation, arson, assault, stalking, blood.

About the Book

Ancient Egypt: A Captivating Guide to Egyptian History, Ancient Pyramids, Temples, Egyptian Mythology, and Pharaohs such as Tutankhamun and Cleopatra

Explore the Captivating History of Ancient Egypt

Free History BONUS Inside!

Ancient Egypt is one of the most fascinating and sophisticated civilizations in the known history. The Ancient Egyptians are remembered by their gods, pyramids, pharaohs, mummification, hieroglyphs, agriculture and much more. This book reveals the secrets of the captivating world of Ancient Egypt, the intriguing stories of its celebrities, such as the Akhenaten, Ramses the Great, Queen Cleopatra, and the boy-king Tut. You’ll learn about mighty gods and the magical link between the Sun and the people of Egypt, and explore the horrendous burial rituals that warranted a safe path to the afterlife. Find out the secrets of one of the most magnificent societies that ever existed and discover why it still manages to seize the attention of the world.

Some of the topics covered in this book include:

• Who Were Ancient Egyptians—Their Origins, History, and Geography
• Who Held the Power: The Social Structure of Ancient Egypt
• Kings and their Military Power
• The Magnificent Pharaohs of the New Kingdom and Their Empire
• The Decay and End of the Egyptian Civilization
• A Romance, Politics, and Tragedy: The Story of Cleopatra VII
• The Religion, Mythology, and Rituals of Ancient Egyptians
• Funerary Beliefs and Rituals: Mummification and Afterlife
• The Architecture of Ancient Egypt: Temples and Pyramids
• And much more!

Scroll to the top and select the “BUY NOW” button for instant download

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

It’s great that Egyptian women had the same rights as men of their station and could work outside the home, own property, and be whatever they wanted to be. Unless they were of the royal line: then they had absolutely no rights and had to do whatever (or unnatural) task was set before her.

I found it interesting that the average age of death was 35 because of disease or injuries, but that many people lived to reach old age.

An interesting book which covers various tiers of society, historic periods, and even the deities of Ancient Egypt with enough information to inform but not overwhelm. More like an introduction to the topic.

About the Book

The Aztec Myths: A Guide to the Ancient Stories and Legends by Camilla Townsend

The essential guide to the world of Aztec mythology, based on Nahuatl-language sources that challenge the colonial history passed down to us by the Spanish.

From their remote origins as migrating tribes to their rise as builders of empire, the Aztecs were among the most dynamic and feared peoples of ancient Mexico, with a belief system that was one of the most complex and vital in the ancient world. Historian Camilla Townsend returns to the original tales, told at the fireside by generations of Indigenous Nahuatl speakers. Along the way, she deals with human sacrifice, the raising of great temples, and the troubling legacy of the Spanish conquest.

Few cultures are generally understood to have been so controlled by their religion as the Aztecs, and few religions are envisioned as being as violent and celebratory of death as theirs. In this introduction to the Aztec myths, Townsend draws from sixteenth-century historical annals and songs written down by Nahuatl-speaking peoples, now known as the Aztecs, in their own language to counter this narrative, inherited from the conquering Spaniards. In doing so, she reveals a rich tapestry of mythic tradition that defies modern expectations.

Townsend retells stories ranging from the creation of the world, revealing the Aztec cosmological vision of nature and the divine, to legends of the Aztecs’ own past that show how they understood the foundation of their state and the course of their wars. She considers the impact of colonial contact on the myths and demonstrates that Indigenous engagement with the new cultural customs introduced by the Europeans never entirely uprooted old ways of thinking.112 illustrations

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

The myths that were covered were interesting. I would have liked to learn more about other deities like Xochipilli (god of beauty, youth, love, fertility, sexuality, arts and flowers) as those stories would’ve been a good foil for all the violence in some of the other myths.

A good, if broad, introduction to Aztec culture, history and beliefs – though I expected more on the myth end of things based on the title.

About the Book

Meet Me in the Margins by Melissa Ferguson

Savannah Cade’s dreams are coming true. The Claire Donovan, editor-in-chief of the most successful romance imprint in the country, has requested to see the manuscript Savannah’s been secretly writing while working as an editor herself—except at her publishing house, the philosophy is only highbrow works are worth printing and commercial fiction, particularly romance, should be reserved for the lowest level of Dante’s inferno. But when Savannah drops her manuscript during a staff meeting and nearly exposes herself to the whole company—including William Pennington, new publisher and son of the romance-despising CEO herself—she races to hide her manuscript in the secret turret room of the old Victorian office.

When she returns, she’s dismayed to discover that someone has not only been in her hidden nook but has written notes in the margins—quite critical ones. But when Claire’s own reaction turns out to be nearly identical to the scribbled remarks, and worse, Claire announces that Savannah has six weeks to resubmit before she retires, Savannah finds herself forced to seek the help of the shadowy editor after all.

As their notes back and forth start to fill up the pages, however, Savannah finds him not just becoming pivotal to her work but her life. There’s no doubt about it. She’s falling for her mystery editor. If she only knew who he was.

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

I had a problem with the italics as it messes with my eyes and head, making it difficult to read and enjoy the book. Authors and publishers: please consider the neurodivergent when making decisions about italics so books are accessible to all.

A hilarious, sweet rom-com where she only really knows who she’s falling for (very Phantom of the Opera!) by the end.

I particularly enjoyed the courthouse scene.

There’s so much to like about this book. But her family isn’t part of it: they’re too intense with their expectations, they insist on calling Savannah by a nickname she doesn’t like, and the way they force her to be okay with the fact that her boyfriend is now her sister’s fiancé is just infuriating. And only Will was brave enough to tell her it’s okay not to be okay with it, to have her feelings. He has many dreamy moments and I refused to believe the mystery editor to be anyone but him.

I liked that the kiss was the big build-up of the entire novel. And, of course, that he “put a ring on it”.

Savannah grows through the course of the book, sometimes because of her interactions with Will, other times because of her mystery editor.

It’s a book one can re-read. And I’ll read more by this author.

About the Book

The Witch Book: The Encyclopedia of Witchcraft, Wicca, and Neo-paganism by Raymond Buckland

A look at Witches, Witchcraft and the Wicca tradition from the author of Buckland’s Complete Book of Witchcraft

From Abracadabra to Aleister Crowley to Gardnerian Witchcraft to Rosemary’s Baby to sorcery and Zoroaster, The Witch Book by the late, great Raymond Buckland is unmatched in its coverage of witchcraft’s historical, practical, and cultural aspects. A student of the late Wicca pioneer Dr. Gerald Gardner, Raymond Buckland has been widely credited with introducing Wicca to the United States. He was one of the world’s foremost experts on Witchcraft, Wicca, and Earth religions. With 560 entries, a resource section, and 114 photos and illustrations, this is an exhaustive exploration of Witchcraft, Wicca, paganism, magic, people, places, events, literature, and more. It shows how, in pre-Christian and early Christian times, Witchcraft (with a capital “W”) was a magical and healing practice associated with early spirtual beliefs, including how the word “Witch” comes from the Old Anglo-Saxon wicce or wicca, meaning a “wise one”: the wiseman or -woman of the common people who had knowledge of herbs, healing, augury, and magic. It also tackles how Witchcraft and paganism were erroneously linked with Satanism, black magic, and pop-culture distortions. It defines both the darker Christian concept and the true concept of Wicca, concentrating on the Western European and later New World versions of Witchcraft and magic. The Witch Book is a broad and deep look at witches, witchcraft and the Wicca tradition.

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My Review

Not a cover-to-cover read, but useful for research. Should be used in conjunction with other sources as the author seems biased at times.

About the Book

Fourth Wing (The Empyrean #1) by Rebecca Yarros

Enter the brutal and elite world of a war college for dragon riders.

Twenty-year-old Violet Sorrengail was supposed to enter the Scribe Quadrant, living a quiet life among books and history. Now the commanding general—also known as her tough-as-talons mother—has ordered Violet to join the hundreds of candidates striving to become the elite of Navarre: dragon riders.

But when you’re smaller than everyone else and your body is brittle, death is only a heartbeat away…because dragons don’t bond to “fragile” humans; they incinerate them. With fewer dragons willing to bond than cadets, most would kill Violet to better their chances of success. The rest would kill her just for being her mother’s daughter—like Xaden Riorson, the most powerful and ruthless wingleader in the Riders Quadrant. She’ll need every edge her wits can give her just to see the next sunrise.

Yet with every day that passes, the war outside grows deadlier; the kingdom’s protective wards are failing; and the death toll continues to rise. Even worse, Violet begins to suspect leadership is hiding a terrible secret.

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

An enjoyable romantasy with an academy setting, dragons, combat training, secrets that can change everything, and a cute enemies-to-lovers couple. It has a lot of Divergent vibes. What I liked about the couple was that she admitted that she was attracted to him, but did her best to keep her distance (many reasons) and fell in love with him during the course of the story because of what he does and who he is; he stood next to her and not in front of her whenever a new challenge came (so she could grow and not be coddled). But, he doesn’t show or says that he loves her – just lust. And the supposed twist later, shows that he doesn’t trust her and doesn’t respect her. It does look like he respects her throughout, basically because her best friend doesn’t respect her at all telling her all the time that she’s too weak to be a rider (and even going as far as reading her mind without consent).

There are some plot issues (why did her mother suddenly decide that this frail girl should be sent to become a rider despite training to be a scribe her entire life? How could she lock her door with magic if she doesn’t have powers yet?), but if not looked at too deeply, it’s a fun book with lots of fantastical elements. Again, don’t look to deeply: there’s sex and lust, but not romance; there’s mention of other places, but the worldbuilding is stuck at the academy/city and not the rich worldbuilding one wants from fantasy. And let’s just look past the fact that someone prone to injuries (broken bones, torn ligaments, etc.) gets suddenly better just by exercising more…

Did I mention the dragons? They were my absolute favourite. I would have liked to spend more time with the dragons and learn more about them.

Though I enjoyed most of the book (the ending is horrible in many ways), I’m not continuing the series.

Trigger warnings: murder, senseless death, assassination attempts on the MC, MC has frail health, overuse of the F-word.

Here’s something about the language issue in this series:

About the Book

Egyptian Mythology: A Concise Guide by Robert Carlson

Egyptian Mythology * * *Download for FREE on Kindle Unlimited + Free BONUS Inside!* * * Read On Your Computer, MAC, Smartphone, Kindle Reader, iPad, or Tablet. In this brief introduction to the subject of Egyptian Mythology the author has given a lot of thought to the context of the subject. This makes it an easy read. There is a useful Historical Timeline which allows the reader to follow the complexities of Egyptian history and locate the mythology within the development of the country. Inside you will read about… ✓ A Timeline for Ancient Egypt ✓ Historical Egypt ✓ The Myth Of Creation ✓ The Pantheon Of Gods ✓ Mythology In Day To Day Ancient Egypt ✓ The Central Role Of The Temple And Some Temple Rituals ✓ Sources Of The History Of Egyptian Mythology ✓ The Underworld And Life After Death ✓ Pyramids And Their Locations The book includes the myths of the creation in some detail and introduces the top Deities in a Pantheon of over two thousand God and Goddesses. The presence and importance of the Nile is discussed and details of daily life, including the rituals followed in the temples, essentially the backbone of the economy, are well covered.

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My Review

History seems to be the focus more than mythology. Sources should have been cited at least at the end of the book, to show that this is a serious resource for researchers and those who want facts. The book doesn’t deliver on the promise of the title (mythology).

About the Book

Irish Fairy Tales and Folklore by W.B. Yeats

A classic collection of Irish fairy tales and lore by Nobel Peace Prize-winning author and poet W. B. Yeats

Originally published as two separate volumes in 1800s, this premier collection of Irish stories edited and compiled W. B. Yeats is the perfect gift for any lover of Irish literature and folklore. The lyrical prose and rich cultural heritage of each tale will captivate and enchant readers of all ages and keep them entertained for hours on end.

This volume contains more than seventy classic Irish stories, including timeless characters and mythology passed down for generations such as:
The Trooping Fairies
Changelings
Tir-na-n-óg
The Lepracaun
The Kildare Pooka
How Thomas Connolly met the Banshee
And many more!

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

My absolute favourite collection of Irish folklore. The stories always make me love my work (and heritage) so much more.

About the Book

The Hidden Island by Charity Rau.

After years of wondering what happened to her fiancé, Will, Marianna is thrilled when she discovers his message in a bottle. She hires a ship and crew and sets sail to find him. A storm washes her up on an island called Neverland. It’s magical and beautiful, like something from a dream, and best of all, Will is living there.

But it isn’t a friendly place, and she’s kidnapped soon after arriving by a strange boy named Peter. He clouds her memories with exciting outings and romantic gestures. Then a glimpse of Will breaks her from Peter’s trance, and she escapes. However, Peter doesn’t give up easily, and he’s planning to keep Marianna there forever.

On the run from Peter’s soldiers, Marianna learns the residents of the island are in turmoil, tormented by Peter and his minions. No one wants to go up against him. She finally meets a friend who is willing to help, and they devise a plan. Marianna must confront a being feared by everyone on the island in hopes of uncovering a way to stop Peter, so she can return home with Will. If she fails, Peter will destroy her along with everyone else on the island.

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My Review

A fun retelling of Peter Pan where Hook is the hero and Peter the psychopath stealing magic and forcing everyone to fight.

Themes of love, betrayal, drug use, taking things that do not belong to you (various ways this is depicted), and that there are rules for a reason, are explored.

There are things that I felt were left unanswered (what happened to Wendy’s brothers? Why did Peter want to destroy everything – besides being a destructive psychopath?), but it’s an interesting story that kept me intrigued.

The ending shows that Marianna’s magical adventures are far from over.

*I received an ARC from the author and this is my honest opinion.

About the Book

Treasury of Egyptian Mythology: Classic Stories of Gods, Goddesses, Monsters & Mortals by Donna Jo Napoli

The new National Geographic Treasury of Egyptian Mythology is a stunning tableau of Egyptian myths, including those of pharaohs, queens, the boisterous Sun God Ra, and legendary creatures like the Sphinx. The lyrical storytelling of award-winning author Donna Jo Napoli dramatizes the timeless tales of ancient Egypt in the year when Angelina Jolie will make Cleopatra a multimedia star. And just like the popular National Geographic Treasury of Greek Mythology, the stories in this book will be beautifully illustrated to bring ancient characters vividly to life. 

The stories are embellished with sidebars that provide historical, cultural, and geographic context and a mapping feature that adds to the fun and fascination. Resource notes and ample back matter direct readers to discover more about ancient Egypt. With its attractive design and beautiful narrative, this accessible treasury stands out from all other mythology titles in the marketplace. 

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My Review

An easy to read collection of stories about the primary players of Ancient Egyptian mythology and history. I liked the illustrations.

About the Book

Mythology: A Captivating Guide to Greek Mythology, Egyptian Mythology, Norse Mythology, Celtic Mythology and Roman Mythology by Matt Clayton

Explore Captivating Stories of Gods, Goddesses, Monsters, and Mortals while Learning Fascinating Facts about Five Mythologies

This book includes five captivating manuscripts:

• Greek Mythology: Captivating Stories of the Ancient Gods, Goddesses, Heroes, and Monsters
• Egyptian Mythology: Captivating Stories of the Gods, Goddesses, Monsters and Mortals
• Norse Mythology: Captivating Stories of the Gods, Sagas, and Heroes
• Celtic Mythology: A Captivating Guide to the Gods, Sagas and Beliefs
• Roman Mythology: A Captivating Guide to Roman Gods, Goddesses, and Mythological Creatures

The broad arc of the first manuscript takes us from the dim beginnings of creation as seen in the Greek mythology. We move through the birth of Titans, their overthrow by the Olympian gods, the gods’ dealings with mortals like Paris of Troy, Jason and the Golden Fleece, the Trojan War, and into historical times.

Here are just some of the topics that the first part of this book will cover:

• Uranus: Betrayal by Cronus
• Cronus: Fear of His Children
• Titans vs. Olympian Gods
• Olympian Rule
• Zeus and His Ladies
• Prometheus and Herakles
• An Unhappy Tale of the Underworld
• The Beauty Contest that Led to the Fall of Troy
• Poseidon, Metis, Athena and Atlantis
• Kraken and Other Monsters
• Jason, the Argonauts, and Medea’s Dragon
• Menelaus, Agamemnon, and the Trojan War
• Solon, the Athenian Law Giver
• 300 Spartans
• Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle
• Alexander the Great

The second part is full of fascinating facts and stories. For instance, it covers perhaps the most popular of all the Egyptian stories – the myth of Osiris.

Here are just some of the topics that the second part of this book will cover:

• Egypt in Context
• Creation
• Fall of Humanity
• Osiris Myth
• Chief Gods of the Egyptian Pantheon
• Lesser Known Pantheon
• Ancient Egyptian History

Here are just some of the topics that the third part of this book will cover:

• Norse Creation Story
• The Nine Realms
• Gods and the “Giants” of Jötunheim
• Midgard and the Humans
• Elves, Dwarves, Trolls and Valkyries
• Odin, Frigg, Thor, and Loki
• The Death of Baldr
• Conflict Between the Realms
• English Days of the Week

Here are just some of the topics that the fourth part of this book will cover:

• Celtic Animism
• Universal Celtic Gods
• Local Irish Celt Gods
• Local Gallic Celt Gods
• Celtic Sagas: The Cycles
• Celtic Beliefs: Animal and Human Sacrifice
• The Wicker Man
• Celtic Beliefs: Reincarnation
• Celtic Beliefs: Matriarchy

Here are just some of the topics that the fifth part of this book will cover:

• The Trojan Connection
• What History and an Analysis of Myth Tell Us
• Founding of Rome
• Purely Roman Gods
• The Creatures of Roman Mythology
• Borrowings from Etruria
• Influence of the Greek Pantheon
• Greek Creatures Adopted by the Romans
• Celtic Potpourri
• Roman Conquests of the Celts
• Truth Behind the Roman Gods

Download the book now to learn more about these five mythologies!

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

About the Book

Pilgrimage: Lessons Learned from Solo Walking Three Ancient Ways by JF Penn

Pilgrimage attracts the seekers. Those with a question to answer, a problem to solve, a sin to atone for, an illness to be cured, a prayer to be answered. Pilgrims walk with a desire to make a change, to mark a boundary from one life to another, to heal, to escape.

I needed all of these, and more. Perhaps you do, too.

In mid-October 2020, I walked the Pilgrims’ Way from Southwark Cathedral in London to Canterbury Cathedral in Kent, England.

The following year, in October 2021, as I recovered from COVID-19, I walked the St Cuthbert’s Way from Melrose in Scotland to Lindisfarne, Holy Island, on the northeast coast of England.

In September 2022, I walked the Camino de Santiago along the coastal route from Porto, Portugal to Santiago de Compostela, Spain.

These three solo pilgrimages helped me through a ‘dark wood’ in my life and changed how I see the way ahead.

In this book, I share my lessons learned and insights from walking these ancient ways, as well as historical, religious and cultural aspects, and plenty of tips. There are also questions for you to consider around your own journey.

Part 1 goes into practical and spiritual preparation before pilgrimage, including how to make decisions about the route and whether to walk solo, as well as what to take with you, and how to face the fears that might hold you back.

Part 2 covers the journey itself with the practicalities of the pilgrim’s day, as well as how walking the path of history and facing the challenge of the way can give you much-needed perspective on life — and perhaps even a glimpse of the divine.

Part 3 addresses the arrival at your destination, and how to leave room for the gifts of pilgrimage to emerge after your return home, as well as how my three walks impacted my experience of mid-life.

At the end, you’ll find appendices with practical tips for each of the three ways, as well as a gear list and bibliography for further reading.

I hope you find this book useful if you feel a call to pilgrimage, or a need for change in your life. These three walks have certainly been pivotal for me.

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

I listened to the audiobook.

The excerpts from other books weren’t clear until the source was cited, which probably works well in the written work, but needs something more to differentiate it from the main chapter in audio. As I recognised most of these quotes, it was jarring to hear as part of the book until the sources were cited.

I think the whole chapter about religion could just have been left out as it is something that divides us. It just made me sad for the author…

I like the idea of walking from one place to another, having the pain and hunger from it be the only focus. I like the idea of this being a way to clear one’s mind from the daily hustle-and-bustle to find what really matters.

There isn’t really much on what she experienced personally during the walks – the insights mentioned in the blurb. Talking about “leaving baggage behind” is quite generic. It’s more of a nuts-and-bolts book on what to take and what not to pack. There’s lots of talk about the Pandemic (Covid19), but not how things changed, just how much it depressed her.

The way the author describes some of the places make them come alive. It sounds like a great idea to go walking alone and let the world show itself to you.

Loads of tips on how to prepare for a pilgrimage.

About the Book

Imprint by Nicholas P Adams

Doctor. Savior. Prisoner.

Malcolm Silvestra’s Synthetic Organ Replacement technique saved the lives of thousands of people.

Then “The Scald” deformed and killed millions more.

Imprisoned above the Arctic Circle in the Canadian Northwest Territories, Malcolm’s only hope to stave off his execution is to find the cure to save not only humanity but more importantly, his beloved wife.

Will Malcolm’s brilliance unlock the secret to freeing Cynthiana from her prison of flesh? Or will he watch her die like all the others?

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

A thrilling and slightly terrifying look at what technology and advancement in science can bring.

I liked the use of artificial organs as part of the solution to disease and also the catalyst for extinction.

The android/cyborg/avatar creature created as an analogue interface for the ill wife of the scientist behind it all was an amazing creation – and the scariest part of it all.

An entertaining novella. Just the italics bothered me.

About the Book

The Rise and Fall of Ancient Egypt by Toby Wilkinson

Toby Wilkinson combines grand narrative sweep with detailed knowledge of hieroglyphs and the iconography of power, to reveal ancient Egypt in all its complexity. We see the relentless propaganda, the cut-throat politics, the brutality and repression that lay behind the appearance of unchanging monarchy.

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

I found it a clear and concise look at the history of Ancient Egypt (as the title suggests) with maps and photos to illustrate. A bit dry, but not boring. There are a few places where I would’ve wanted to know more (which is why I read widely), but it’s a good overview. I liked that there were resources for further study. As religion was an integral part of Ancient Egyptian life, it would’ve been good to have a bit more about that in the book (it’s there, but fragmented) – but then, that’s a whole book on its own.

About the Book

Secrets to a Successful Blog Tour by Donna Hubert

From the publicist who introduced the world to Fifty Shades of Grey, Donna Huber is now revealing her secrets to successful blog tours. She shares tips and tricks learned through organizing over 30 tours, blasts, and promotional events for nearly 50 independently and traditionally published titles.

Secrets revealed in this quick read include,

*Planning stage decisions
*Different types of tours
*Recruiting bloggers and keeping requests organized
*Best practice communication tips
*Tricks to making a great guest appearance
*How to organize a fun (and legal) giveaway
*Actions to take during the tour
*Next steps once the tour is complete
*Virtual tour and other promotional opportunities
*When to hire a professional

In this easy to follow manual, Donna does not stop there. She spills even more of her blog tour secrets to help authors get the most out of their events by providing,

*Tour checklist
*Tour invite tips
*Step-by-step guide to creating tour graphics
*10 broad guest post topics
*25 sample interview questions

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

I’ve been doing virtual tours and blog tours for my books for years and hoped to learn something new from this book that I didn’t already know. Sadly, the most I got was to be a bit more organised. It’s not a bad book, but it’s more for those authors who haven’t done this sort of promotional thing before and need to learn how to do it.

About the Book

This Is Strategy: Make Better Plans by Seth Godin

An essential guide to thinking strategically in a complex, ever-changing world.

From Seth Godin, one of the world’s most influential business thinkers and bestselling author of This is Marketing, comes a groundbreaking guide to creating meaningful change in a complex world.

Are you tired of quick fixes and short-term thinking? Do you want to make a lasting impact but feel stuck in outdated systems? This is Strategy is a modern classic – a must-read for anyone seeking to drive positive change, whether you’re revolutionizing an industry, sparking a movement, or building a career.

Godin challenges you
– Identify your “smallest viable audience” and make remarkable work they can’t ignore
– Understand and influence the systems shaping our world
– Prioritize long-term thinking over instant gratification
– Make smart, purposeful choices that shape a better tomorrow

With Godin’s trademark clarity and insight, This is Strategy provides a framework for effective and elegant strategic thinking, offering essential building blocks to turn vision into reality. It’s a rallying cry for doing work that matters.

Whether you’re an entrepreneur, a leader, or an individual with big dreams, this book will inspire you to think bigger, act bolder and make a difference.

Strategy turns our effort into impact. Your journey starts here

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

So much to learn in this book. It took me a while to work through it. I made loads of notes to improve my business. And though it is in a weird blog post format, it sort of works. Maybe. I’m sure a blog series would’ve been better… I would’ve liked more actionable advice, as it’s a book, instead of a list of things to think about.

About the Book

Wizard of Ends by Vanessa Finaughty

A powerful sorceress wants the Queen of Ends dead – revenge for the king’s refusal to hand over his crown. Believing the Land of Ends to be rightfully hers, the sorceress conjures creatures of darkness to hunt the queen. She is not expected to survive the night.

Only the wizard Lashlor Leaflin can protect Queen Narraki Dragonsbane. Except Lashlor believes that anyone who abuses magic will not see the goddess in the afterlife, so he avoids using it – at almost any cost. Torn between his beliefs and loyalty to the throne, Lashlor faces an impossible choice: risk the goddess’ wrath or risk the kingdom and all in it.

Lashlor is certain that a confrontation with such a formidable sorceress will be the death of him, but it soon becomes apparent that he may have no choice but to call on the power he holds within – power he doesn’t believe is strong enough.

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

An interesting story about a wizard who prefers to not use his magic if another way exists (e.g. not killing with magic if a bow and arrow would suffice). When others believe him to be face, Lashlor says to his queen: “I am what I claim, My Queen. Just because someone does not do something does not mean they cannot.”

I nearly stopped reading when a message to the king was stuck through the eye of his horse. It’s just horrific.

The beyeni remind me of hyenas.

I liked the fast pace of this high fantasy story. I would have liked a bit more fleshing out of the characters and world, but it didn’t detract too much from the core story. The fight scene involving all the wizards, witches and sorceresses was quite vivid.

I liked the queen. The king is a bit of an idiot.

I read the book in one sitting and cannot wait to see what Lashlor gets up to next to save his queen.

Trigger warnings: animal cruelty (horses run near to death, the horse with the message through the eye).

*I received an ARC from the author and this is my honest opinion.

About the Book

Wizard of Ends, Book 2: Dark Creature by Vanessa Finaughty

Escorted by soldiers of Ends, Lashlor sets out to find an old flame, Rune Arcana, the only person who can help to remove the curse placed on the Queen of Ends. Lashlor believes that Rune currently resides in the Mountains of Eclador. The only trouble is – Rune now despises him and, in all of recorded history, no one has ever returned from these mountains. Rune could refuse his request. She could be dead. Lashlor and his companions could meet the same fate.

If they do not brave the mountains, however, Queen Narraki will remain in the form of a rabid creature of darkness… forever.

Forever is a long time, and King Lanaran fears the Wizard of Ends will not return. Ignoring Lashlor’s advice not to meddle with the curse, the king employs other magic users to attempt to undo the dark magic – with disastrous consequences.

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

The enchanted mountain was an interesting twist.

Rune is a fun character and she has interesting powers. The relationship between her and Lashlor is cute in it’s complicated manner.

I would like to know more about the wizard’s unusual knowledge of magic and all he is capable of.

The magic users too scared to tell their king “no” are even more idiotic than he is. And that’s saying something.

The king’s friend is just as foolish as he is.

As for the bandits… They’re probably as crazy as their kings.

An interesting high fantasy story that gives you all the thrills of the genre without having to read a door-stopper of a book when you’re short on time and energy.

Trigger warnings: mental health issues – especially insanity.

*I received an ARC from the author and this is my honest opinion.

About the Book

Wizard of Ends, Book 3: United Army by Vanessa Finaughty

King Lanaran Dragonsbane of Ends ventures into the mysterious, unexplored Mountains of Eclador in search of his kidnapped long-time friend and ally, the King of Storher. Not expecting the rescue to be an easy one, the captain of his army, Lashlor Leaflin and Rune Arcana travel with him.

In Lanaran’s absence, a united army rides for Ends.

With the King of Ends away and aid not forthcoming, the looming war seems lost before it’s begun. Ends has no hope of defeating the enemy’s vast numbers. The enemy also appears intent on using magic for this war – something never done by any army in all the known lands.

In a desperate bid to save her kingdom, Queen Narraki Dragonsbane enlists the aid of the magic users of Ends. With their combined power, her kingdom might just stand a chance. It’s a risk, of course. Magic users have let her down before and, already, she defies tradition by not standing back and allowing the temporary Captain of the Army of Ends to take the lead in the pending war. She cannot fail.

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

The magic system is interesting – and that final scene with the wolf…!

Again, the rulers of Ends show their disdain for the knowledge of the wizard when it goes against their wishes and again their combined idiocy outweighs even their arrogance.

Rune and her penchant for impatience is stronger than she knows. I would’ve liked to see more of her and Lashlor interact in this story,

What I didn’t like was the druid enchanting animals to attack the enemy soldiers and protect Ends with their lives while all the soldiers and citizens of Ends hid.

A cliffhanger ending making one wait on the edge of your seat for the next book.

*I received an ARC from the author and this is my honest opinion.

About the Book

Wizard of Ends companion: Magic in the Real World by Vanessa Finaughty

Delve into the world of ancient magic, discover ancient magic books and ‘magical’ plants, and learn about how science is magic. A real-world school of wizardry? Yes, it exists! Healing magic in today’s world and modern attempts to use magic? Yes, those are real too. Is your mind a force to be reckoned with? Yes, it seems so!

Are people who believe in magic nuts, or is there something to it? There is evidence that every one of us has the ability to manipulate the energy all around us (scientifically proven energy) – this is what we call magic.

This companion to the Wizard of Ends fantasy adventure series includes eye-opening information about magic in the real world, along with character interviews, a guest post written by the series’ main character, Lashlor Leaflin, insights into the series, its characters and the author, and the first three chapters of Book 1.

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

Part 1 is what really interested me: magic in the real world (plants, spell books, etc.). Though it is short-form blog-style chapters, it was interesting.

Part 2 is comprised of character interviews, bios, etc. more in the line of what one can expect from a blog tour promoting the series. It also feels longer than the first part of the book connected to the title.

I was expecting this companion book to be more in line with the content of part 1, but expanded. There is more mention of book 1 with its buy links and a couple of chapters extracted from the book included than interesting folklore and mythology discussions, which makes this feel less like a companion book about magic in this series and how it’s found in the real world, too, which can stand on its own, and more like this is intended to sell book one.

*I received an ARC from the author and this is my honest opinion.

About the Book

Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear

No matter your goals, Atomic Habits offers a proven framework for improving—every day. James Clear, one of the world’s leading experts on habit formation, reveals practical strategies that will teach you exactly how to form good habits, break bad ones, and master the tiny behaviors that lead to remarkable results.

If you’re having trouble changing your habits, the problem isn’t you. The problem is your system. Bad habits repeat themselves again and again not because you don’t want to change, but because you have the wrong system for change. You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems. Here, you’ll get a proven system that can take you to new heights.

Clear is known for his ability to distill complex topics into simple behaviors that can be easily applied to daily life and work. Here, he draws on the most proven ideas from biology, psychology, and neuroscience to create an easy-to-understand guide for making good habits inevitable and bad habits impossible. Along the way, readers will be inspired and entertained with true stories from Olympic gold medalists, award-winning artists, business leaders, life-saving physicians, and star comedians who have used the science of small habits to master their craft and vault to the top of their field.

Learn how to:
– Make time for new habits (even when life gets crazy);
– Overcome a lack of motivation and willpower;
– Design your environment to make success easier;
– Get back on track when you fall off course;
…and much more.

Atomic Habits will reshape the way you think about progress and success, and give you the tools and strategies you need to transform your habits–whether you are a team looking to win a championship, an organization hoping to redefine an industry, or simply an individual who wishes to quit smoking, lose weight, reduce stress, or achieve any other goal.

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

Clear, concise, easy to follow steps to build new habits and how to stop bad habits.

I learned a lot about myself while working through the book – it’s worth figuring out your habits (the ones you have and the ones you wished you had).

I’m so glad Andy J Pizza recommended it on the Creative Pep Talk podcast.

As a creative, this idea of habit stacking to do the things you have to do but don’t actually want to, really spoke to me.

Highly recommended.

About the Book

Death Valley by JF Penn

A merciless desert. An unstoppable storm. Time is running out.

The Desert Sanctuary promises an exclusive escape for the ultra-wealthy, a five-star oasis in Death Valley’s unforgiving landscape. But when a devastating sandstorm cuts the resort off from civilization, paradise becomes a prison—and then a killing ground.

As the storm rages and the resort burns, eight lives collide in a desperate battle for survival:

• An adventure guide haunted by the child she couldn’t save
• An ex-military security chief obsessed with preparing for civilization’s collapse
• A billionaire pursuing immortality through illegal young blood treatments
• His trophy wife harboring lethal secrets and desperate plans of her own
• A social media influencer with a fetish for environmental sabotage
• A celebrity chef whose hunger for exotic meat leads him into a deadly trap
• A writer whose search for Spanish colonial treasure unearths horrors better left buried
• A resort owner watching her empire crumble as the desert she tried to tame awakens with a vengeance

Behind the luxury resort’s façade lies a web of lies, betrayal, and murder. As flames consume the hotel and the storm strips away all pretense of civilization, each survivor must decide how far they’ll go to escape—and who they’ll sacrifice along the way.

In this pressure cooker of primal instincts and deadly ambition, the only law is survival, and the only way out is through hell itself.

DEATH VALLEY is a pulse-pounding thriller that will keep you guessing until the final page. Enter a world where the desert’s fury is matched only by human darkness, and no one is who they seem.

Some secrets are buried for a reason. And some will kill to keep them that way.

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

I liked the description of the desert and all it’s made up of. Each of the POV characters had their own agendas, but Casey was the only relatable one. Each character’s motivations are given as you read, leaving nothing to guess at (except who will survive).

The snakes were my favourite.

There were a couple of repetitive sentences and phrases (maybe that’s just me) that drew me from the story. Because there were so many POV characters, I didn’t really get any emotional depth in the story. It’s fun to read, but I won’t be rereading it.

A fast-paced thriller about what humans hide beneath a thin veneer of civility and how nature is the great equaliser.

*I received an ARC from the author and this is my honest opinion.

About the Book

The House at Watch Hill (The Watch Hill Trilogy #1) by Karen Marie Moning

#1 New York Times bestselling author Karen Marie Moning is back with a gripping, imaginative, and seductive new series in which a young woman moves to Divinity, Louisiana, to inherit a large fortune and a Gothic mansion full of mysteries and ominous secrets…

Zo Grey is reeling from the sudden death of her mother when she receives a surprising call from an attorney in Divinity, Louisiana, with the news she has been left an inheritance by a distant relative, the terms of which he will only discuss in person. Destitute and alone, with nothing left to lose, Zo heads to Divinity and discovers she is the sole beneficiary of a huge fortune and a monstrosity of a house that sits ominously at the peak of Watch Hill—but she must live in it, alone, for three years before the house, or the money, is hers.

Met with this irresistible opportunity to finally build a future for herself, Zo puts aside her misgivings about the foreboding Gothic mansion and the strange circumstances, and moves in, where she is quickly met by a red-eyed Stygian owl and an impossibly sexy Scottish groundskeeper.

Her new home is full of countless secrets and mystifying riddles, with doors that go nowhere, others that are impossible to open, and a turret into which there is no visible means of ingress. And the townspeople are odd…

What Zo doesn’t yet know is that her own roots lie in this very house and that in order to discover her true identity and awaken her dormant powers, she will have to face off against sinister forces she doesn’t quite comprehend—or risk being consumed by them.

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

I had a problem with the italics as it messes with my eyes and head, making it difficult to read and enjoy the book. Authors and publishers: please consider the neurodivergent when making decisions about italics so books are accessible to all.

There were “big” words that I had to stop and think the meaning of, which drew me from the story. I have an expansive vocabulary, and encountering words I don’t immediately recognise doesn’t fall under relaxing reading – especially when it happens every couple of pages. And I’m not being facetious: I had to look up the meaning of certain words.

If one can get past all the confusing bits (future Zo chipping in, italics and a thesaurus to decipher) there’s a good story here. I liked the worldbuilding and how nothing can be taken at face-value. I do wonder at what her mother was hiding them from, why her BFF became so cold, and what had happened to the house. Those are intriguing enough to make me want to read the next book.

It’s a gothic tale in the style of paranormal women’s fiction (woman loses everything and has to start anew in a different place and finds she has magic and power she didn’t dream of, as well as enemies in this new life) only with a twenty-something heroine instead of the midlife heroine we’ve come to expect from indie books.

Though I enjoyed the book, I’m only giving it three stars. Why? Overuse of big words, italics and cursing.

About the Book

Slow Productivity: The Lost Art of Accomplishment Without Burnout by Cal Newport

Do fewer things. Work at a natural pace. Obsess over quality.

From the New York Times bestselling author of Digital Minimalism and Deep Work, a groundbreaking philosophy for pursuing meaningful accomplishment while avoiding overload.

Our current definition of “productivity” is broken. It pushes us to treat busyness as a proxy for useful effort, leading to impossibly lengthy task lists and ceaseless meetings. We’re overwhelmed by all we have to do and on the edge of burnout, left to decide between giving into soul-sapping hustle culture or rejecting ambition altogether. But are these really our only choices?

Long before the arrival of pinging inboxes and clogged schedules, history’s most creative and impactful philosophers, scientists, artists, and writers mastered the art of producing valuable work with staying power. In this timely and provocative book, Cal Newport harnesses the wisdom of these traditional knowledge workers to radically transform our modern jobs. Drawing from deep research on the habits and mindsets of a varied cast of storied thinkers—from Galileo and Isaac Newton, to Jane Austen and Georgia O’Keefe—Newport lays out the key principles of “slow productivity,” a more sustainable alternative to the aimless overwhelm that defines our current moment. Combining cultural criticism with systematic pragmatism, Newport deconstructs the absurdities inherent in standard notions of productivity, and then provides step-by-step advice for workers to replace them with a slower, more humane alternative.

From the aggressive rethinking of workload management, to introducing seasonal variation, to shifting your performance toward long-term quality, Slow Productivity provides a roadmap for escaping overload and arriving instead at a more timeless approach to pursuing meaningful accomplishment. The world of work is due for a new revolution. Slow productivity is exactly what we need.

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

I liked the examples of successful artists who embraced slow productivity – it gave me ideas to implement myself.

There were words I had to look up. LOL.

A sound argument for why pseudo-activity and constant busyness isn’t good for us and why we should focus on the core of our careers and do that well.

About the Book

YouTube Secrets: The Ultimate Guide to Growing Your Following and Making Money as a Video Influencer by Sean Cannell & Benji Travis

YouTube has changed our world—from how we view video to how we connect and market—opening a new entrepreneurial landscape to ambitious individuals. Millions of people generate six to seven figures annually from online video content. And, with the right roadmap, you too could be en route to real influence and income. In the NEW and EXPANDED edition of YouTube Secrets, online video experts Sean Cannell and Benji Travis draw on almost two decades of experience as well as interviews with more than two hundred top creators to give you a step-by-step YouTube success playbook.  You’ll learn  The seven essential ingredients for a profitable channel New strategies for getting views and subscribers Ten ways to make money on YouTube And much more Whether you’re a beginner or a veteran, this book will show you how to use YouTube to build a following, create a lucrative business, and make a massive impact in people’s lives.

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

I enjoyed the look behind the scenes of what makes a Youtube channel work (much the same as a successful blog). I especially liked the quotes.

I found a couple of tips I’ll be using on my own channel.

Marginalia Book Club

In January, author Leslye Penelope started the Marginalia Book Club to read and discuss writing craft books. I thought it was a great idea to spruce up my own writing, so I joined.

About the Book

Make a Scene Revised and Expanded Edition: Writing a Powerful Story One Scene at a Time by Jordan Rosenfeld

The definitive guide to writing scenes–now revised and expanded!

Scenes are the building blocks for any work of fiction–the DNA sequence that makes a novel un-put-downable and unforgettable. When writers are able to craft effective, engaging scenes, they can develop a complete, cohesive story–and a mesmerizing experience for readers.

Make a Scene Revised and Expanded Edition takes you step-by-step through the elements of strong scene construction and demonstrates how the essential aspects of a compelling story–including character, plot and dramatic tension–function within the framework of individual scenes to give momentum to the whole narrative. You’ll learn how to:


   • Craft an opening scene that hooks readers and foreshadows conflict.
   • Develop various scene types–from contemplative to suspenseful to flashback–that are distinct and purposeful.
   • Establish characters’ intentions within a scene that drive the plot.
   • Transition into new scenes by clearly establishing details of setting, character, and point of view.
   • Create resonating climactic and final scenes that stay with readers long after they’ve finished your story.
The revised and expanded edition includes brand-new examples, an increased focus on advancing plot and character development, and the same knowledge and clarity that writers have come to expect from Jordan Rosenfeld. Make a Scene is an essential part of any novelist’s library–make sure it’s in yours.

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

Probably good for beginner writers (and those who don’t read a lot to learn more of this in practice). Sometimes the tone felt a bit condescending… maybe that’s just me. I do like the idea of each scene having a consequence (Newton’s Laws in action). There’s a lot of sound advice in this book.

I like the cover of this edition, that and it being a book club book made me pick it up (and finish it).

Loads of repetition, referencing other books, and at times contradicting itself (e.g. not every scene needs subtext to going for every scene needs subtext). Listening to my book club, though, it seems I might have missed some of the nuance…

Not a bad book, but not something I think I’ll look at again.

About the Book

The Anatomy of Story: 22 Steps to Becoming a Master Storyteller by John Truby

John Truby is one of the most respected and sought-after story consultants in the film industry, and his students have gone on to pen some of Hollywood’s most successful films, including Sleepless in Seattle, Scream, and Shrek. The Anatomy of Story is his long-awaited first book, and it shares all of his secrets for writing a compelling script. Based on the lessons in his award-winning class, Great Screenwriting, The Anatomy of Story draws on a broad range of philosophy and mythology, offering fresh techniques and insightful anecdotes alongside Truby’s own unique approach for how to build an effective, multifaceted narrative. Truby’s method for constructing a story is at once insightful and practical, focusing on the hero’s moral and emotional growth. As a result, writers will dig deep within and explore their own values and worldviews in order to create an effective story. Writers will come away with an extremely precise set of tools to work with–specific, useful techniques to make the audience care about their characters, and that make their characters grow in meaningful ways. They will construct a surprising plot that is unique to their particular concept, and they will learn how to express a moral vision that can genuinely move an audience.

The foundations of story that Truby lays out are so fundamental they are applicable–and essential–to all writers, from novelists and short-story writers to journalists, memoirists, and writers of narrative non-fiction.

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

*This was on my TBR for years, though I’ve removed it in the great TBR culling of 2022. Unfortunately, I had to miss out on the bookclub discussion due to my health.

I like the idea of writing your story with layers and having everything do double duty. But the emphasis on plotting before writing was a bit overbearing (I’m a discovery writer) and the film examples (except Tootsie and The Godfather) weren’t stories I’m familiar with.

I did like that the author challenged structured writing, such as the 3 act structure, as it doesn’t always align with the story we’re writing. I also liked the breakdown of character types and that one should look at them as part of the whole and not in a vacuum.

Some of the ways to write character I just skipped… The idea that love stories tell us that two people can only be whole together (among other things stated) chafed – especially with the emphasis on planning everything before writing. Where are the organic stories and characters? There’s a lot of repetitive parts (e.g. need is desire from the idea to creating characters) instead of just explaining it and showing in action (in something everyone might’ve watched, like Terminator or Titanic). The author is also way too dismissive of genre fiction for me to take him seriously as a teacher (how can you be dismissive of genre fiction when teaching writers how to write using genre movies to illustrate?).

The book is way too prescriptive for me and I felt a lot of dissonance as I read through it. Leslye Penelope’s chapter notes helped to put it all in perspective and I can see that this book can be a helpful revision tool. Maybe.

About the Book

My Review

Ink and Magic Book Club

Around March, I decided to read a book a month for the Ink and Magic podcast book club to learn more from the discussion the authors have for each book in Nalini Singh’s Psy-Changeling Series.

About the Book

Slave to Sensation (Psy-Changeling #1) by Nalini Singh [YouTube Discussion]

Dive into a world torn apart by a powerful race with phenomenal powers of the mind—and none of the heart . . .

In a world that denies emotions, where the ruling Psy punish any sign of desire, Sascha Duncan must conceal the feelings that brand her as flawed. To reveal them would be to sentence herself to the horror of “rehabilitation”—the complete psychic erasure of everything she ever was . . .

Both human and animal, Lucas Hunter is a Changeling hungry for the very sensations the Psy disdain. After centuries of uneasy co-existence, these two races are now on the verge of war over the brutal murders of several Changeling women. Lucas is determined to find the Psy killer who butchered his packmate, and Sascha is his ticket into their closely guarded society. But he soon discovers that this ice-cold Psy is very capable of passion—and that the animal in him is fascinated by her.

Caught between their conflicting worlds, Lucas and Sascha must remain bound to their identities—or sacrifice everything for a taste of darkest temptation . . .

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

A futuristic world, yet our own, where Psy (those who have evolved mental abilities), Changelings (leopard, wolf, and other shifters) and humans co-exist. The Psy have no emotion. The Changelings are fiery creatures. And Sascha is a Psy who has to hide that she can feel. Believing she’s defective because of her emotions, she hides her mind completely from others in the Net (which connects all the Psy minds and keeps them alive) and acts like a text-book Psy. But the moment she meets Lucas, her walls start to fracture. The alpha Changeling challenges her and teaches her how to live.

I like that they got over her barriers to touch through dreams – really connecting even if she thought they weren’t real – before touching in the real world as the sensations she was deprived of her entire life would have otherwise overwhelmed her.

I liked the dynamics of the different Changeling packs and how they interact. The physical contact they required was a nice touch.

Though I would’ve liked to see them rip off the head of the psychopath hunting, destroying and killing Changeling females, for a romance it’s probably better left off the page. Still…

A story where everything counted towards the protagonists’ growth – even the sex scenes weren’t just there to be steamy, but for Sascha to become alive.

A good start to a series with great worldbuilding and intrigue.

About the Book

Visions of Heat (Psy-Changeling #2) by Nalini Singh [YouTube Discussion]

Hailed as a major new talent in paranormal romance, Nalini Singh takes us deeper into the world of the Psy and the changelings in her latest extraordinary novel, where a gifted woman sees passion in her future—a passion that is absolutely forbidden by her kind . . .

Used to cold silence, Faith NightStar is suddenly being tormented by dark visions of blood and murder. A bad sign for anyone, but worse for Faith, an F-Psy with the highly sought after ability to predict the future. Then the visions show her something even more dangerous—aching need . . . exquisite pleasure. But so powerful is her sight, so fragile the state of her mind, that the very emotions she yearns to embrace could be the end of her.

Changeling Vaughn D’Angelo can take the form of either man or jaguar, but it is his animal side that is overwhelmingly drawn to Faith. The jaguar’s instinct is to claim this woman it finds so utterly fascinating and the man has no argument. But while Vaughn craves sensation and hungers to pleasure Faith in every way, desire is a danger that could snap the last threads of her sanity. And there are Psy who need Faith’s sight for their own purposes.

They must keep her silenced—and keep her from Vaughn.

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

If it weren’t for the obvious romance story arc, this could’ve been classified as dark fantasy. The NetMind, the Telepath haunting Faith and killing various women, the pack politics, the idea that F-Psy are more prone to mental health issues – it’s quite intriguing.

I absolutely enjoyed the journey Faith was on to go from cosseted F-Psy to the mate of one of the most lethal cats of the DarkRiver pack. Vaughn’s backstory could’ve done with a bit more fleshing out, but the fact that his jaguar was on the surface most of the time because of what had happened to him as a child, was always there as a reminder.

Faith’s father makes for an intriguing character. So does Nikita Duncan, Sascha’s mother. There’s so much about the Psy that I want to know more of…

A feel-good story with lots of action, romance, and danger (especially on the psychic plane).

About the Book

Caressed by Ice (Psy-Changeling #3) by Nalini Singh [YouTube Discussion]

Explore new heights of sensuality in this return to the world of the Psy—where two people who know evil intimately must unlock the good within their icy hearts…

As an Arrow, an elite soldier in the Psy Council ranks, Judd Lauren was forced to do terrible things in the name of his people. Now a defector, his dark abilities have made him the most deadly of assassins—cold, pitiless, unfeeling. Until he meets Brenna . . .

Brenna Shane Kincaid was an innocent before she was abducted—and had her mind violated—by a serial killer. Her sense of evil runs so deep, she fears she could become a killer herself. Then the first dead body is found, victim of a familiar madness. Judd is her only hope, yet her sensual changeling side rebels against the inhuman chill of his personality, even as desire explodes between them.

Shocking and raw, their passion is a danger that threatens not only their hearts, but their very lives . . .

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

A book that leaves you feeling good when you’re done reading. A sensual story about healing.

Judd defected from the Psy to protect his young nieces and nephew from Rehabilitation. Living with Changelings in exchange for protection of his young family members hadn’t changed him: he was still Silent.

Brenna, abducted and tortured by the Psy sociopath Enrique, was slowly healing from her ordeal. Healers had done what they could to heal her, but she had to do the work not to let her tormentor win. Despite it having been a Psy who’d done unspeakable things to her, she’s drawn to the icy Psy who had helped others to rescue and heal her.

Judd isn’t unaffected by Brenna: Dissonance, the protective protocol for Silence, gets triggered whenever they’re together.

Someone (their POV irritatingly in italics) is out to murder Brenna. Quite logical why they want to. Also quite logical why Judd wants to crush their skull with his psychic abilities.

I had a problem with the italics as it messes with my eyes and head, making it difficult to read and enjoy the book. Authors and publishers: please consider the neurodivergent when making decisions about italics so books are accessible to all.

Loads of action, the Psy Council up to no good, intrigue, the Packs working together.

The core story, though, is how Brenna and Judd help each other see that they’re not broken, but strong and worthy of love.

This book is, of course, a trigger for those who’d suffered abuse (physical, mental, emotional, sexual) as both Brenna and Judd had been made to suffer at the hands of the Psy.

The only thing I didn’t like about the book: using the Lord’s name as an expletive.

About the Book

Mine to Possess (Psy-Changeling #4) by Nalini Singh [YouTube Discussion]

Nalini Singh pulls away another dark layer of sheer desire, revealing passions unknown, in her latest novel about the world of the Psy. A ghost returns from a leopard changeling’s past, making him question everything—even his base animal instincts . . .

Clay Bennett is a powerful DarkRiver sentinel, but he grew up in the slums with his human mother, never knowing his changeling father. As a young boy without the bonds of Pack, he tried to stifle his animal nature. He failed . . . and committed the most extreme act of violence, killing a man and losing his best friend, Talin, in the bloody aftermath. Everything good in him died the day he was told that she, too, was dead.

Talin McKade barely survived a childhood drenched in bloodshed and terror. Now a new nightmare is stalking her life—the street children she works to protect are disappearing and turning up dead. Determined to keep them safe, she unlocks the darkest secret in her heart and returns to ask the help of the strongest man she knows . . .

Clay lost Talin once. He will not let her go again, his hunger to possess her, a clawing need born of the leopard within. As they race to save the innocent, Clay and Talin must face the violent truths of their past . . . or lose everything that ever mattered.

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

I’m starting with a trigger warning: Tally was physically, mentally and sexually abused as a child. Clay violently killed the man responsible (in front of Tally to save her life). This violence colours much of the narrative and can be triggering.

Tally is some kind of social worker. When some of her kids go missing, some of the bodies found, and Enforcement doesn’t do much, she goes to the one person she knows will help her find these kids.

Clay, a Dark River sentinel, had thought Tally dead for nearly two decades. He has to work through his rage at that betrayal even as he helps her.

The Psy/Changeling/Human worldbuilding is great and more about the Psy Council’s dealings are shown (growing book by book).

The slut shaming, Clay pushing for intimacy (Tally needs therapy much more than she needs to be pushed into a sexual relationship and he should know better than to push and to slut shame as his “animal” can pick up on her emotions and physical responses) – all of this goes against what Changeling culture is about as we’ve learned in previous books. So why?

Honestly, two books back-to-back where the heroine had to be physically, mentally and sexually traumatised to then heal through love and be strong enough to be with her chosen hero is getting to be too much. It’s not a bad book, but it’s emotionally draining. And Clay biting all the time is weird, even for a cat. I’m taking a break from this series for a while.

The Books that are Probably Good but Triggered Me

About the Book

Starfire by Jennifer Lynn Alvarez

Fans of the Warriors, Survivors, and Guardians of Ga’Hoole series will love this first book in an action-packed tween fantasy series about winged horses from debut author Jennifer Lynn Alvarez. The Guardian Herd: Starfire tells the thrilling story of a young foal, Star, who controls the fate of the land of Anok and the five pegasi herds that live there.

Once every hundred years, a black foal is born, prophesized to either unite or destroy the five herds of flying horses that live in the land of Anok. He is fated to become the most powerful pegasus in all of Anok.

Star is this black foal.

Even though Star has malformed wings that make him unable to fly, the leaders of each herd will take no risks and want to execute Star before his first birthday. With the help of his friends, Star must escape the clutches of the powerful leaders, and his epic journey of self-discovery turns into a battle between good and evil that will keep readers eagerly turning the pages.

A gripping new animal fantasy series!

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

Yeah, seems I can’t read books about horses (even pegasi) without crying. Seriously? It seems like a good book, though, so go ahead and read.

DNF 11%

About the Book

Faceless by Alyssa Sheinmel

When Maisie Winters wakes up, she’s in the hospital.

The last thing she remembers is running through the hills of her neighborhood one misty morning. Slowly, she puts the pieces together. Before she could make it home, a storm gathered. Lightning hit a power line and sparks rained down, the hot-burning electrical fire consuming her. Destroying her face. Where her nose, cheeks, and chin used to be, now there is…nothing.

Maisie’s lucky enough to qualify for a rare medical treatment: a face transplant. At least, everyone says she’s lucky. But with someone else’s features staring back at her in the mirror, Maisie looks—and feels—like a stranger. The doctors promised that the transplant was her chance to live a normal life again, but nothing feels normal anymore. Before, she knew who she was—a regular girl who ran track and got good grades, who loved her boyfriend and her best friend. Now, she can’t even recognize herself.

New York Times bestselling author Alyssa Sheinmel has created a gripping and gorgeously written tale of identity and love. This is a story of losing yourself and the long, hard fight to find your way back.

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

It’s so well-written that my throat closed from anxiety and my teeth hurt from stress (I tried reading it twice). Clearly, this book is triggering for me.

DNF 19%

The Rest

About the Book

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called Le Cirque des Rêves, and it is only open at night.

But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway—a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors. Unbeknownst to them, this is a game in which only one can be left standing, and the circus is but the stage for a remarkable battle of imagination and will. Despite themselves, however, Celia and Marco tumble headfirst into love—a deep, magical love that makes the lights flicker and the room grow warm whenever they so much as brush hands.

True love or not, the game must play out, and the fates of everyone involved, from the cast of extraordinary circus performers to the patrons, hang in the balance, suspended as precariously as the daring acrobats overhead.

Written in rich, seductive prose, this spell-casting novel is a feast for the senses and the heart.

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

There was something in the opening that drew me, but the yada-yada backstory of the girl and boy made me put the book aside one too many times. The date and place stamps at the start of each chapter felt like I needed to look around to see if we’ve jumped ahead, back, etc. And there was nothing to anchor me to the story or the characters.

DNF 8%

About the Book

The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein by Kiersten White

Elizabeth Lavenza hasn’t had a proper meal in weeks. Her thin arms are covered with bruises from her “caregiver,” and she is on the verge of being thrown into the streets . . . until she is brought to the home of Victor Frankenstein, an unsmiling, solitary boy who has everything–except a friend.

Victor is her escape from misery. Elizabeth does everything she can to make herself indispensable–and it works. She is taken in by the Frankenstein family and rewarded with a warm bed, delicious food, and dresses of the finest silk. Soon she and Victor are inseparable.

But her new life comes at a price. As the years pass, Elizabeth’s survival depends on managing Victor’s dangerous temper and entertaining his every whim, no matter how depraved. Behind her blue eyes and sweet smile lies the calculating heart of a girl determined to stay alive no matter the cost . . . as the world she knows is consumed by darkness.

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

I was looking forward to this Frankenstein retelling. I like the title and the premise of the blurb.

2% in and I’m not feeling like I want to spend a lot of time with the characters. And just when the book should convince me, the flashback is all in italics. Seeing as the blurb indicates that the true story is in the flashback, I’m not feeling welcome.

I had a problem with the italics as it messes with my eyes and head, making it difficult to read and enjoy the book. Authors and publishers: please consider the neurodivergent when making decisions about italics so books are accessible to all.

DNF 2%

Culling my TBR

So, I’ve been looking at my TBR which is over 2k books… Then I came across this controversy about an indie author on YouTube whose books are on my TBR, and I’ve decided not to support them. You can listen to the video series if you want to learn more. Here’s the Emerald Lakes series page on Goodreads.

I hope you enjoyed this. For more books I’ve read and reviewed, check out either my Pinterest board about reviews or my Goodreads profile. Alternatively, you can check out my reviews on BookBub. Have you read any of the books? Loved or hated any of them?

You can watch my TBR here:

You can now support my time in producing book review posts (buying books, reading, writing reviews and everything else involved) by buying me a coffee. This can be a once-off thing, or you can buy me coffee again in the future at your discretion.

*FYI, my reviews are my honest opinion and if something bothers me, I tell it straight. How else will anything change? My opinions are based on being a voracious reader and book buyer, not an attack on the author.*