All the books I’ve read this year that didn’t fall into my April reading challenge (or the speed dating books post that followed).

The Books I Enjoyed

About the Book

The Ninja Librarian (The Ninja Librarian #1) by Rebecca M Douglass

Skunk Corners is a pretty miserable place when the Ninja Librarian moves in. It’s just a dusty, tough town in the dusty, tough hills. Folks there aren’t too friendly, and they don’t see much need for high-falutin’ nonsense like schools–or libraries. But from the moment the unassuming, white-haired gentleman steps off the train and into these tall tales, the changes begin. The Ninja Librarian uses wisdom, patience, book-learning, and a few well-placed kicks and jabs to change the town forever.

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

An interesting collection of tales regarding the Ninja Librarian who decided to make Skunk Corners his home – and Big Al (Alice), the school teacher who wears men’s clothes and teaches the little hooligans of this uncivilized town. With each story, Alice becomes a better teacher and becomes more involved with the children and town.

I really enjoyed the stories, characters and setting.

About the Book

A Fair Deception by Lyndsey Hall

Falling for the prince could cost her everything, or make her every dream come true.

Spare to the throne, Prince Lonan escapes the tedium of the Gnome Castle to go for a ride through the woods on his trusty steed, River. Whilst out riding and dressed as a commoner, he collides with a mysterious young woman hunting pheasants on the Crown’s land. But neither are quite what they seem… Daya’s family has fallen on hard times since her father passed, she’s forced to put food on the table while her mother and sister work their fingers to the bone to keep the roof over their heads. Could a chance meeting in the forest be the answer to all her problems? When their worlds collide at the Winter Solstice ball and the truth is revealed, will the secrets they keep bring them together, or tear them apart? A FAIR DECEPTION is a companion novella to The Fair Chronicles, set in the Gnome Kingdom.

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

A magical retelling of Cinderella set in the Fair Realm (so faeries!) with a riveting storyline that just begs to be devoured in a single sitting.

About the Book

A Fair Vendetta by Lyndsey Hall

An Assassin’s Blade-style tale of revenge and retribution, set in the Fair Realm.
Mena, a young Sylph, is orphaned at the hands of Celeste guards. Years later, she sets out on a quest for vengeance against the man who stole her entire world from her.

As Samhain, and the anniversary of her parents’ death, approaches, she meets her match in a young woman from the wrong side of the Celeste border.

Is her vendetta worth throwing away her one chance at happiness?

A Fair Vendetta is a companion novella to The Fair Chronicles. It can be read at any time before, during or after the main series.

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

A sweet story about realising that vengeance isn’t the answer to healing past trauma, and that love can come from unexpected places. Great world-building.

About the Book

Enchanted Skies by various

High-flying adventure, magical mayhem, and new horizons are in the air. 

Take to the stormy skies on the backs of dragons or the ancient thunderbirds. In this clean fantasy anthology, you’ll soar into fantastic realms and meet creatures drawn from myth and legend. A hippogriff, Pegasus, harpies, and so much more.

Inspired by tales from around the world, these short stories will propel you into adventures of murder, mystery, and vengeance. These award-winning, bestselling, and emerging authors will lift and inspire you and leave you wishing you had wings of your own.

Fans of Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson & The Olympians series and Neil Gaiman’s Norse Mythology will adore this collection, where every encounter is a battle for survival and a test of wills.

All profits from this anthology will go to the Red Cross to support hurricane relief.

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

As with all anthologies, the stories were hit and miss. Reviews on individual stories.

The Simurgh and the Albino Prince by Elena Shelest

Sending a baby to die alone on a mountaintop and then deciding, decades later, he should return home… Yeah, I’m not feeling it. DNF.

Dragon Gold by Astrid VJ

Death of an entire family, feeling like a burden upon everyone – so not in the mood for self-pity. DNF

Crown of Dreams by KDT Casale

Firecracker personality and wild red hair. Starting a story with a cliché never ends well. DNF

The Blue Dragon’s Quest by Susan Stradiotto

It starts with the author’s note that the story is actually part of the final battle of a series. Yeah, no. Not reading this. DNF.

Wherever the Wind Blows by Xander Cross

Such a thrilling tale of music and magic – and faerie folklore! I absolutely enjoyed this tale.

Friendship and Thunderbirds by Donna White

Fast-paced, full of characters and a world already established. Though a lot happens, it doesn’t feel like the heroine is exerting any influence, only reacting. Fun to read anyway.

To Host a Ball by Sky Sommers

Loads of italics in this one. 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 cute dragon-filled retelling of the twelve dancing princesses. Some things, like Gregor not wanting to rule, was a bit repetitive, but still fun to read.

When Skies Darken by Lyndsey Hall

A tale of healing from loss, with a cute phoenix and a bit of romantasy thrown in for kicks. A sweet story.

The Silent Sister by Ashley Ann Steffenson

The girl being described as “generous and self-sacrificing” along with the guy quitting his job in the middle of winter (not too bright) doesn’t bode well for this story. DNF

Breath of the Skies by Rashmi P Menon

Making the girl seem foolish and inept – and scorned by all – doesn’t really work for me. DNF

I enjoyed the stories by the authors I usually read and found a couple of new (to me) voices to check out.

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

About the Book

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

The bestselling novel about love, loss and hope from the twice Carnegie Medal-winning Patrick Ness.

Conor has the same dream every night, ever since his mother first fell ill, ever since she started the treatments that don’t quite seem to be working. But tonight is different. Tonight, when he wakes, there’s a visitor at his window. It’s ancient, elemental, a force of nature. And it wants the most dangerous thing of all from Conor. It wants the truth.

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

A beautiful story about a monster tree that helps a boy through the grieving process as his mother dies of cancer. Full of emotion, hard truths and love. The end will leave a lump in your throat and tears in your eyes.

About the Book

Be Useful: Seven Tools For Life by Arnold Schwarzenegger

The seven rules to follow to realize your true purpose in life—distilled by Arnold Schwarzenegger from his own journey of ceaseless reinvention and extraordinary achievement, and available for absolutely anyone.

The world’s greatest bodybuilder. The world’s highest-paid movie star. The leader of the world’s sixth-largest economy. That these are the same person sounds like the setup to a joke, but this is no joke. This is Arnold Schwarzenegger. And this did not happen by accident.

Arnold’s stratospheric success happened as part of a process. As the result of clear vision, big thinking, hard work, direct communication, resilient problem-solving, open-minded curiosity, and a commitment to giving back. All of it guided by the one lesson Arnold’s father hammered into him above be useful. As Arnold conquered every realm he entered, he kept his father’s adage close to his heart.

Written with his uniquely earnest, blunt, powerful voice, Be Useful takes readers on an inspirational tour through Arnold’s tool kit for a meaningful life. He shows us how to put those tools to work, in service of whatever fulfilling future we can dream up for ourselves. He brings his insights to vivid life with compelling personal stories, life-changing successes and life-threatening failures alike—some of them famous; some told here for the first time ever.

Too many of us struggle to disconnect from our self-pity and connect to our purpose. At an early age, Arnold forged the mental tools to build the ladder out of the poverty and narrow-mindedness of his rural Austrian hometown, tools he used to add rung after rung from there. Now he shares that wisdom with all of us. As he puts it, no one is going to come rescue you—you only have yourself. The good news, it turns out, is that you are all you need.

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

Enjoyed the tips and inspirational stories in this book of how Arnold Schwarzenegger became who he is, and how anyone can achieve their dreams through hard work and commitment.

It is written in a conversational style with lots of honesty and a no-nonsense attitude. I could hear Arnie in my head and even laughed out loud in certain places.

There were things referenced that I had no clue about (things he said were quite public: marital issues, political issues, etc.) and I didn’t Google it, just assumed they were bad and went with it – a bit of background wouldn’t have been amiss.

Quite inspiring and well-worth reading, cussing and all.

About the Book

The Author’s Guide to Selling Books to Non-Bookstores by Kristina Stanley

Imagine walking into a grocery store, gift shop or other non-bookstore and seeing YOUR book for sale. This wonderful experience is within your grasp—if you’re bold enough to pursue it.

Selling to traditional bookstores and making a profit can be extremely difficult, but there is an alternative. In this step-by-step guide, best-selling author Kristina Stanley will show YOU how to move beyond the bookstores and sell to other retail outlets. Every step is detailed, from formulating a plan to collecting money.

Stanley speaks from experience. She’s sold more books through non-bookstore retail outlets than through traditional bookstores, and YOU can too. Read on, and turn your dream into reality. Success is within your reach.

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

Some common sense advice to get your books sold in stores that don’t normally or only sell books. Some tips and tricks to make things easier. Lots of advice about networking, etc. I’m already using, but it’s good to know I’m not grasping at straws. I had to laugh when the author suggested taking your dog with you to a market day stall where you sell your books as your dog will automatically draw people – I have Rottweilers and know that despite their loving natures, people would rather run the other way than approach them, so that tactic is out for me.

Good advice if you want to sell outside the normal channels.

About the Book

Jessica the Jazz Fairy (The Dance Fairies #5) by Daisy Meadows

Jessica the jazz fairy really wants to find her dance ribbon, as no one can jazz dance properly with it gone. The ribbon is definitely somewhere nearby but can Rachel and Kirsty help their fairy friend track it down?

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

Just as with all the Daisy Meadows fairy books, this one is a cute adventure where the human girls help the distraught fairy find her magic talisman before people can’t dance anymore. I like the idea that each type of dance has its own fairy.

About the Book

Magical Midlife Challenge (Leveling Up #6) by KF Breene

The signs are unmistakable, Momar isn’t just targeting Austin’s brother.

When one of Momar’s grunts breaks into Austin’s territory looking to grab Jessie for questioning, Jessie and her crew realize they are under fire. In order to protect themselves, it becomes obvious they need backup.

Thankfully, the basajaun’s people have invited Jessie and her crew into the basajaunak lands. This is their golden opportunity to seek their help.

The problem is, a host of mages and mercenaries are following them. Once they take Jessie this time it won’t be just for questioning, and she won’t be coming back.

To omit this detail to the basajaunak would result in punishment. And everyone knows “punishment” with basajaunak is synonymous with an unmarked grave. But to tell them would get their visit canceled and force them to face the threat alone. Either way could mean certain death.

Decisions, decisions.

Welcome back to O’Briens, where the only certainty is that nothing is normal.

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

It’s been a while since I’ve read an Ivy House Crew book, but I quickly fell back into their madness… and enjoyed every minute of it.

Only Ivy House would have a battle between dolls and gnomes…

I enjoyed the scenery and way the basajaunak live.

And Niamh – drinking everyone under the table and then wrestling with a basajaun. Of course.

The final battle in the book was quite intense and awesome. Edgar was surprisingly agile and deadly. Brochan… wow. Even Jessie’s gargoyle reacted to his bravery and amazingness.

I do wonder what Sebastian is up to… besides passing out in fear when challenged by a basajaun. LOL.

Can’t wait to read the next book. Too bad some of the language puts me off… (using the Lord’s name as an expletive isn’t cool).

About the Book

Magical Midlife Alliance (Leveling Up #7) by KF Breene

Book 7 in the ongoing Wall Street Journal bestselling Leveling Up series!

After returning from the basajaunak lands, it’s clear that Jessie and her crew need to find an alliance quickly. They need to head to Kingsley’s in less than a couple of months. If they go as they are, they’ll never be enough to save Austin’s brother from total annihilation.

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

The way the gargoyle society is set up was quite interesting – especially how only some were production groups and the top tiers more like the mob… LOL. Jessie handled them quite well – probably a lifetime of dealing with arrogant men like her ex giving her an edge.

Tristan is quite fascinating. And the magic he speaks of, interesting. In a way, he and Nessa make more sense as a couple than Nessa and Brochan as Tristan meets her inner darkness head-on. Brochan needs someone more like Jessie…

The scheming Sebastian… It seems he has a much bigger issue than gargoyles throwing him through the air.

I enjoyed the interaction of the Ivy House Crew with the various magical creatures visiting them. Especially Austin’s grandma and Ulric’s mum – LOL funny how they get along with everyone and do what they came to do.

Can’t wait to read the next book. Too bad some of the language puts me off… (using the Lord’s name as an expletive isn’t cool).

About the Book

Seahenge by JF Penn

What was drowned will be drowned again…

Marine archaeologist Dr. Evelyn Price has spent her life uncovering the mysteries of the deep ocean. But when a violent storm uncovers an ancient timber circle off the coast of England, she faces a discovery that will challenge everything she knows.
As the tide rises and storm clouds gather, Evelyn and her team race against time to decipher the strange symbols on the wooden pillars, before the sea comes to claim its own once more.

Seahenge is a gripping archaeological short story that blends cutting-edge science with ancient myth. It will leave you questioning what really lies beneath the waves…

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

I listened to the audiobook.

An interesting premise. I liked how technology was used to decipher what the timber circle had written over it. All the things that hid in the water along with what the AI computer model showed made me want to know more about this world. An atmospheric read with things unearthed by archeologists on-site and in the lab that keeps you wondering long after the story ends.

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

About the Book

Against All Odds (Crossroads #3) by Jacqui Murray [You can read an interview about this book here, read my review for book #1 and book #2.]

A million years of evolution made Xhosa tough but was it enough? She and her People finally reach their destination—a glorious land of tall grasses, few predators, and an abundance that seems limitless, but an enemy greater than any they have met so far threatens to end their dreams. If Xhosa can’t stop this one, she and her People must again flee.

The Crossroads trilogy is set 850,000 years ago, a time in prehistory when man populated most of Eurasia. He was a violent species, fully capable of addressing the many hardships that threatened his survival except for one: future man, a smarter version of himself, one destined to obliterate all those who came before.

From prehistoric fiction author Jacqui Murray comes the unforgettable saga of a courageous woman who questions assumptions, searches for truth, and does what she must despite daunting opposition. Read the final chapter of the People’s long search for freedom, safety, and a new home.

A perfect book for fans of Jean Auel and the Gears!

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

The last in the trilogy, and I can’t believe it took me so long to get around to reading it! I finally got to see how Xhosa, her People and wolves fared in their quest to find a new home. Such a stunning conclusion.

I really like the covers of this series. And did I mention how much I liked the wolves?

A must-read if you like adventure, survival and strong female characters.

About the Book

Nora Goes Off Script by Annabel Monaghan

Nora’s life is about to get a rewrite…

Nora Hamilton knows the formula for love better than anyone. As a romance channel screenwriter, it’s her job. But when her too-good-to work husband leaves her and their two kids, Nora turns her marriage’s collapse into cash and writes the best script of her life. No one is more surprised than her when it’s picked up for the big screen and set to film on location at her 100-year-old-home. When former Sexiest Man Alive, Leo Vance, is cast as her ne’er-do-well husband Nora’s life will never be the same.

The morning after shooting wraps and the crew leaves, Nora finds Leo on her porch with a half-empty bottle of tequila and a proposition. He’ll pay a thousand dollars a day to stay for a week. The extra seven grand would give Nora breathing room, but it’s the need in his eyes that makes her say yes. Seven days: it’s the blink of an eye or an eternity depending on how you look at it. Enough time to fall in love. Enough time to break your heart.

Filled with warmth, wit, and wisdom, Nora Goes Off Script is the best kind of love story–the real kind where love is complicated by work, kids, and the emotional baggage that comes with life. For Nora and Leo, this kind of love is bigger than the big screen.

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

A delightful tale about a screenwriter who finds love after a bad marriage with the male lead in her new movie. There’s so much to like about this book, including how amazing Leo is. Well-written with enough fantasy mixed with reality that one can almost believe it’s real, lump-in-throat during the dark night of the soul part of the story and all.

About the Book

Writing the Shadow : Turn Your Inner Darkness Into Words by Joanna Penn

Do you want to connect with readers on a deeper level?
Do you want your books to stand out in a sea of content by being authentic and personal in your writing whatever the genre?
Are you interested in creative self-development ?
If yes, Writing the Shadow is for you.

This is a book of my heart and it contains many personal stories — but this book is really about helping you reach readers with your words — and move to the next level in your writing.
Because we all long to write boldly, without filters or fear.
To spin stories that capture the messy beauty of what it means to be human.
Tales that lay bare the truth of living — darkness and all.
But something holds us back.
Whispers of “Who do you think you are?” and “You don’t have permission to write that.” Our own self-censorship and the judgment of others keep us from writing freely — and sometimes, from living fully.
But all great art taps into darkness , and your most compelling work emerges when you embrace your full humanity—both light and Shadow.

In Writing the Shadow , I’ll guide you on an intimate journey to explore the darkness and discover the gold lying hidden in its depths. Gold that may be the source of your best creative work in the years ahead.

The Shadow is calling. It’s time to turn your inner darkness into words.

Part 1 goes into the various ways you can tap into your Shadow. Since it lies in the unconscious, you cannot approach it directly. You need tools to help reveal it in different ways. You will find ideas here — ranging from personality assessments and identifying Shadow personas to mining your own writing and exploring your true curiosity — as well as ways to protect yourself so you don’t get lost in the dark.

Part 2 explores how the Shadow manifests in various aspects of our lives. I discuss the creative wound and how it may still be holding you back in your writing life, as well as aspects of traditional and self-publishing, then expand into work and money, family and relationships, religion and culture, the physical body and aging, death and dying.

Part 3 explores ways that you can find the gold in your Shadow, and turn your inner darkness into words through self-acceptance, letting go of self-censorship, deepening character and theme in your work, and opening the doors to new parts of yourself.
While the book is designed to be read in order, you can also skip directly to the sections that resonate the most.

There are Resources and Questions at the end of every chapter that will help you reflect along the way. You can answer them in your own journal or use the Companion Workbook if you prefer to write in a more structured way.

The Shadow is calling. It’s time to turn your inner darkness into words.

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

I enjoyed the way the author explored the shadow, from what it is and isn’t to how creatives can use it to fuel their creativity. Yes: that’s basically what the book is about.

And though I thought I was prepared to read and work through this book, there were moments I was uncomfortable. And that’s glimpsing the shadow. And I had to figure out why I was uncomfortable and not just shy away.

Much more illuminating than the title would suggest.

For some reason, though, the ending felt a bit abrupt.

About the Book

Starter Villain by John Scalzi

Inheriting your uncle’s supervillain business is more complicated than you might think. Particularly when you discover who’s running the place.

Charlie’s life is going nowhere fast. A divorced substitute teacher living with his cat in a house his siblings want to sell, all he wants is to open a pub downtown, if only the bank will approve his loan.

Then his long-lost uncle Jake dies and leaves his supervillain business (complete with island volcano lair) to Charlie.

But becoming a supervillain isn’t all giant laser death rays and lava pits. Jake had enemies, and now they’re coming after Charlie. His uncle might have been a stand-up, old-fashioned kind of villain, but these are the real thing: rich, soulless predators backed by multinational corporations and venture capital.

It’s up to Charlie to win the war his uncle started against a league of supervillains. But with unionized dolphins, hyperintelligent talking spy cats, and a terrifying henchperson at his side, going bad is starting to look pretty good.

In a dog-eat-dog world…be a cat.

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

An intriguing tale about an ex-journalist who inherits his estranged uncle’s villain empire – sentient cats and all. I absolutely enjoyed the various twists and turns. What made this book, though, are the cats and the way Charlie cares about their welfare and opinions.

What I didn’t appreciate was all the F-bombs and using the Lord’s name as an expletive. The cats had better vocabulary than the humans and dolphins.

An LOL read recommended to Bond and cat lovers.

About the Book

Encyclopedia of the Vampire: The Living Dead in Myth, Legend, and Popular Culture by S.T Joshi et al

Encyclopedia of the Vampire: The Living Dead in Myth, Legend, and Popular Culture is a comprehensive encyclopedia relating to all phases of vampirism–in literature, film, and television; in folklore; and in world culture. Although previous encyclopedias have attempted to chart this terrain, no prior work contains the depth of information, the breadth of scope, and the up-to-date coverage of this volume.

With contributions from many leading critics of horror and supernatural literature and media, the encyclopedia offers entries on leading authors of vampire literature (Bram Stoker, Anne Rice, Stephenie Meyer), on important individual literary works (Dracula and Interview with the Vampire), on celebrated vampire films (the many different adaptations of Dracula, the Twilight series, Love at First Bite), and on television shows (Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel). It also covers other significant topics pertaining to vampires, such as vampires in world folklore, humorous vampire films, and vampire lifestyle.

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

A comprehensive encyclopaedia that lists and expands on vampire topics in alphabetical order which one can search as needed.

About the Book

The Vampire Book: The Encyclopedia of the Undead by J. Gordon Melton

J. Gordon Melton has the credentials: he’s a religious historian, author of 25 books about religion and vampires, president of the American chapter of the Transylvania Society of Dracula (founded in Bucharest, Romania), and chairman of the committee that put on Dracula ’97: A Centennial Celebration in Los Angeles.

The Vampire Book is meticulously researched and well organized. Included are an article on the cultural history of the vampire; a historical timeline; addresses of vampire societies all over the world; a 55-page filmography; vampires in plays, opera, and ballet; a 13-page list of vampire novels; and an extensive index.

The A to Z entries, each with a short bibliography, include vampire lore in more than 30 different geographic regions and a comprehensive “who’s who,” and cover topics ranging from fingernails to sexuality, the Camarilla to Szekelys.

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

Of all the non-fiction books on vampires I’ve read, this one felt more complete in its search for folklore, the role of the vampire in social control and to explain away inexplicable deaths (usually from unknown diseases). There’s even an alphabetical order to which you can search for specific topics. I great resource that I will consult again.

About the Book

From Demons to Dracula: The Creation of the Modern Vampire Myth by Matthew Beresford

n blood-soaked lore handed down the centuries, the vampire is a monster of endless from Bram Stoker’s Dracula to Buffy the Vampire Slayer , this seductive lover of blood haunts popular culture and inhabits our darkest imaginings. The cultural history of the vampire is a rich and varied tale that is now ably documented in From Demons to Dracula , a compelling study of the vampire myth that reveals why this creature of the undead fascinates us so.

Beresford’s chronicle roams from the mountains of Eastern Europe to the foggy streets of Victorian England to Hollywood, as he investigates the portrayal of the vampire in history, literature, and art. Opening with the original Dracula, Vlad the Impaler, and his status as a national hero in Romania, he endeavors to winnow out truths from the complex legend and folklore. From Demons to Dracula tracks the evolution of the vampire as an icon and supernatural creature, drawing on classical Greek and Roman myths, witch trials and medieval plagues, Gothic literature, and even contemporary works such as Anne Rice’s Interview with a Vampire and Elizabeth Kostova’s The Historian .  Beresford also looks at the widespread impact of screen vampires from television shows, classic movies starring Bela Lugosi and Christopher Lee, and more recent films such as Underworld and Blade .  Whether as a demon of the underworld or a light-fearing hunter of humans, the vampire has endured through the centuries, the book reveals, as powerfully symbolic figure for human concerns with life, death, and the afterlife.

A wide-ranging and engrossing chronicle, From Demons to Dracula casts this blood-thirsty nightstalker as a remarkably complex and telling totem of our nightmares, real and imagined.

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

There’s a lot of historic data, folklore and some science in the mix, looking at various time periods and how the idea of vampirism came to be. Though interesting, there is a bit of a condescending tone that those who believe in the supernatural are not bright.

About the Book

The Werewolf Book: The Encyclopedia of Shape-Shifting Beings by Brad Steiger

When Darkness Reigns and the Full Moon Glows, Terror Emerges to Stalk the Unsuspecting…

From lycanthropic creatures found on television and film such as Teen Wolf, Twilight, and True Blood to the earliest folklore of shape-shifting creatures, The Werewolf Book: The Encyclopedia of Shapeshifting Beings is an eye-opening, blood-pounding tour through the ages of monsters with the most amazing camouflage capabilities—they hide among us! Along the way, you’ll land at the doorstep of creatures like hirsute mass-murderer Albert Fish, and Fritz Haarman, who slaughtered and ate his victims—selling the leftovers as steaks and roasts in his butcher shop—as well as visits to mythical shamans, sirens, and skin walkers.

Covering 140,000 years of legend, mythology, and fact, The Werewolf Book provides hair-raising evidence of strange and obsessional behavior through the centuries. Learn the basics of becoming a werewolf and the intricacies of slaying the beast. A true homage to werewolves and other full moon beasts, it includes topics such as …
• Bear, tiger, coyote, and other shape-shifting people
• Classic and modern werewolf movies
• Gargoyles, totem poles, and Internet depictions
• Serial killers and sadistic rulers
• Sorcery, spells, and talismans
• Television shows, songs, and computer games Werewolf hunters and fans of all ages will appreciate the detailed section on slaying the beast, while potential victims will find the information on detecting and warding away the occasional wayward wolfman more to their immediate liking―if not need. With over 120 illustrations and photos this ultimate lycanthrope compendium is richly illustrated. The Werewolf Book ‘s helpful bibliography and extensive index add to its usefulness.

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

A comprehensive book about shape-shifting, with a focus on werewolves from all over the world. I enjoyed the in-depth look at how werewolves changed through time because of popular beliefs. And who would have thought that “Beauty and the Beast” is actually a werewolf tale? All the folktales gathered within make for an intriguing read. The films and TV shows mentioned rounds out the modern culture aspect.

A great resource that I will consult again.

About the Book

De-Extinction of the Nephilim by JF Penn

Unearth the past. Awaken the future. When archaeologist Dr Emilia Kaya uncovers a massive sarcophagus containing the remains of a mysterious winged creature, she sets in motion a chain of events that could lead to the resurrection of the Nephilim—the fearsome giants of biblical legend.

Desperate to unlock the secrets hidden within the ancient bones, Emilia enlists the help of geneticist Dr Alex Novak, who races to decode the DNA that could confirm the existence of these beings. But their curiosity leads them into the center of a shadowy conflict over the power to redefine life itself—one that risks unleashing an unstoppable force.

In this gripping short story that blurs the lines between science and faith, award-winning author J.F. Penn weaves together elements of archaeology, genetics, and biblical mythology. De-Extinction of the Nephilim will leave you questioning the nature of humanity and the consequences of playing God.

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

I decided to listen to the audiobook version of the book as part of my move to consuming more audio content.

I like the cover! I also liked the narration.

There’s so much going on in this short story – especially beneath the surface – and is a rich tale. Lush sensory detail. A tale of curiosity killing the cat…

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

About the Book

What Lies in the Woods

Naomi Shaw used to believe in magic. Twenty-two years ago, she and her two best friends, Cassidy and Olivia, spent the summer roaming the woods, imagining a world of ceremony and wonder. They called it the Goddess Game. The summer ended suddenly when Naomi was attacked. Miraculously, she survived her seventeen stab wounds and lived to identify the man who had hurt her. The girls’ testimony put away a serial killer, wanted for murdering six women. They were heroes.

For decades afterward, the friends have kept a secret worth killing for. But now Olivia wants to tell, and Naomi sets out to find out what really happened in the woods―no matter how dangerous the truth turns out to be.

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

An entertaining read. Though I had most of it figured out from the start, it was still fun to see how it all came together – and to see Naomi go from fractured to the road of recovery.

A psychological thriller well-worth reading (if you can get over some of the language issues, e.g. using the Lord’s name as an expletive).

About the Book

The Last Chance Library by Freya Sampson

June Jones emerges from her shell to fight for her beloved local library, and through the efforts and support of an eclectic group of library patrons, she discovers life-changing friendships along the way.

Lonely librarian June Jones has never left the sleepy English village where she grew up. Shy and reclusive, the thirty-year-old would rather spend her time buried in books than venture out into the world. But when her library is threatened with closure, June is forced to emerge from behind the shelves to save the heart of her community and the place that holds the dearest memories of her mother.

Joining a band of eccentric yet dedicated locals in a campaign to keep the library, June opens herself up to other people for the first time since her mother died. It just so happens that her old school friend Alex Chen is back in town and willing to lend a helping hand. The kindhearted lawyer’s feelings for her are obvious to everyone but June, who won’t believe that anyone could ever care for her in that way.

To save the place and the books that mean so much to her, June must finally make some changes to her life. For once, she’s determined not to go down without a fight. And maybe, in fighting for her cherished library, June can save herself, too.

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

A melancholy tale about the library in a small town closing because of budget cuts. Everyone dependant on the library have sad reasons for needing it to be open: the teenager with no peace or space at home; the pensioners with empty lives; the foreigner with no friends – and the library assistant too afraid to be alive outside of the library.

They all band together to save the library and their friendships deepen. They also meet new people and all the melancholy seems to melt away in the fervour of protesting the loss of the library.

The usual small town everyone-knows-everyone; a cat that doesn’t seem to like June, our library assistant heroine, even though he lives with her; the politicians are out to get everyone trope; a bit of romance for June with a guy she hadn’t seen since high school who had returned to town to help his father during recovery from surgery; and a death that rocks the community.

It’s well-written, has heart, but the first part of the book with June feeling so sorry for herself nearly had me DNF – the library and its colourful patrons kept me reading. The use of the Lord’s name as an expletive is unacceptable.

About the Book

Greenwich Park by Katherine Faulkner

Helen’s idyllic life—handsome architect husband, gorgeous Victorian house, and cherished baby on the way (after years of trying)—begins to change the day she attends her first prenatal class and meets Rachel, an unpredictable single mother-to-be. Rachel doesn’t seem very maternal: she smokes, drinks, and professes little interest in parenthood. Still, Helen is drawn to her. Maybe Rachel just needs a friend. And to be honest, Helen’s a bit lonely herself. At least Rachel is fun to be with. She makes Helen laugh, invites her confidences, and distracts her from her fears.

But her increasingly erratic behavior is unsettling. And Helen’s not the only one who’s noticed. Her friends and family begin to suspect that her strange new friend may be linked to their shared history in unexpected ways. When Rachel threatens to expose a past crime that could destroy all of their lives, it becomes clear that there are more than a few secrets laying beneath the broad-leaved trees and warm lamplight of Greenwich Park.

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

There’s a lot about Helen that makes her an unreliable narrator – her mental health, how far along her pregnancy is, her social awkwardness. But because of all that, she makes for an intriguing narrator. Of course, Katie balances it all out and is the link to what everything is about. Rachel was clear from the start who and what she was and what she was after – even if it wasn’t always clear who the villains in the story were. And when the reveal happens… So much makes sense – including a dislike for certain characters.

Well-written and an interesting approach to a psychological thriller.

What bothered me, though, was the use of the Lord’s name as an expletive. Not cool. And the excessive use of italics gave me problems. 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.

Trigger warnings: high-risk pregnancy, miscarriages off page, rape, violence against women, mental health issues.

About the Book

The Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley

Secrets. Lies. Murder. Let the festivities begin…

It’s the opening night of The Manor, and no expense, small or large, has been spared. The infinity pool sparkles; crystal pouches for guests’ healing have been placed in the Seaside Cottages and Woodland Hutches; the “Manor Mule” cocktail (grapefruit, ginger, vodka, and a dash of CBD oil) is being poured with a heavy hand. Everyone is wearing linen.

But under the burning midsummer sun, darkness stirs. Old friends and enemies circulate among the guests. Just outside the Manor’s immaculately kept grounds, an ancient forest bristles with secrets. And the Sunday morning of opening weekend, the local police are called. Something’s not right with the guests. There’s been a fire. A body’s been discovered.

THE FOUNDER * THE HUSBAND * THE MYSTERY GUEST * THE KITCHEN HELP

It all began with a secret, fifteen years ago. Now the past has crashed the party. And it’ll end in murder at… The Midnight Feast.

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

Each chapter is in a different POV: Bella, Francesca, Eddie, Owen, the past in the form of a diary, the present in the form of fishermen and detectives. As each has its own unique voice, one doesn’t get confused, which I found refreshing.

The whole of chapter one is in italics. Why? 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.

And using the Lord’s name as an expletive/curse isn’t cool and completely unnecessary.

The folk horror aspect of the novel kept me hooked. It’s also an integral part of the novel: part setting, part atmosphere, part character. Without it, the thriller would have been merely okay.

I liked how it all came together to form a cohesive – and horrific – tale about rich kids who did whatever they wanted and got away with it. Until they didn’t.

A fascinating read that kept me hooked until the very end.

About the Book

You’re Never Weird on the Internet by Felicia Day

From online entertainment mogul, actress, and “queen of the geeks” Felicia Day, a funny, quirky, and inspiring memoir about her unusual upbringing, her rise to Internet-stardom, and embracing her individuality to find success in Hollywood.

The Internet isn’t all cat videos. There’s also Felicia Day—violinist, filmmaker, Internet entrepreneur, compulsive gamer, hoagie specialist, and former lonely homeschooled girl who overcame her isolated childhood to become the ruler of a new world… or at least semi-influential in the world of Internet Geeks and Goodreads book clubs.

After growing up in the south where she was “home-schooled for hippie reasons”, Felicia moved to Hollywood to pursue her dream of becoming an actress and was immediately typecast as a crazy cat-lady secretary. But Felicia’s misadventures in Hollywood led her to produce her own web series, own her own production company, and become an Internet star.

Felicia’s short-ish life and her rags-to-riches rise to Internet fame launched her career as one of the most influential creators in new media. Now, Felicia’s strange world is filled with thoughts on creativity, video games, and a dash of mild feminist activism—just like her memoir.

Hilarious and inspirational, You’re Never Weird on the Internet (Almost) is proof that everyone should embrace what makes them different and be brave enough to share it with the world, because anything is possible now—even for a digital misfit.

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

Honestly, I only vaguely know who Felicia Day is, even after reading the book. but I read it because a friend had recommended it. And the important lessons imparted in the book are applicable to all creatives who go indie.

The author struggled with comparisonitis, impostor syndrome, crippling anxiety, self-doubt, and a lot of other thinks all creatives I know have faced at some point or another. The big lesson in this memoir is to be yourself, authentically, and to get help when you need it (mental and physical health).

Though some comments did put me off (mainly to do with religion, and how she refers to starting a family as breeding), it didn’t offend me enough to DNF.

Recommended if you are a creative who needs reminding that you’re not alone with the goblins in your head.

The Books that are Probably Good but Triggered Me

About the Book

The Silver Brumby (Silver Brumby #1-4), The Silver Brumby Kingdom (Silver Brumby #5-8) & Silver Brumby Echoing (Silver Brumby #9-13) by Elyne Mitchell

These much-loved classics tell the story of Thowra, the magnificent silver stallion, king of the brumbies. Whether you are enjoying the Silver Brumby series for the first time or rediscovering it after many years, this is a book to be treasured.

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

I really wanted to read these books! A sweet beginning with foreshadowing of harrowing things to come – probably like ‘Bambi’. I had tears in my eyes when the two new mothers met up with their colts (much like whenever I apparently watched ‘Lassie’ as a girl…). Clearly animal stories trigger me and I’m in no mood to cry. Though I’d recommend this to young readers who love horses and atmospheric settings. DNF Chapter 1

About the Book

The Secret Horses of Briar Hill by Megan Shepherd

There are winged horses that live in the mirrors of Briar Hill hospital. In the mirrors that line its grand hallways, which once belonged to a princess. In those that reflect the elegant rooms, now filled with sick children. It is her secret.

One morning, when Emmaline climbs over the wall of the hospital’s abandoned gardens, she discovers something incredible: a white horse with broken wings has left the mirror-world and entered her own.

Tucked into the garden’s once-gleaming sundial, Emmaline finds a letter from the Horse Lord. He is hiding the wounded white horse, named Foxfire, from a dark and sinister force—a Black Horse who hunts by colorless moonlight. If Emmaline is to keep the Black Horse from finding her new friend, she must collect colorful objects with which to blind him. But where can Emmaline find color when her world is filled with gray?

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

Love the premise. The writing draws one in. but the girls are gravely ill – which would be okay, except it’s their lungs. And that’s a trigger for me.

DNF 8%

Books that were Merely Okay

About the Book

Spear of Destiny (ARKANE #13) by Joanna Penn

A desperate quest. A holy relic. The clock is ticking.

When a mysterious relic is stolen from a museum in Vienna, ARKANE agents Morgan Sierra and Jake Timber embark on a deadly race against time to recover the legendary Spear of Destiny — the holy lance that pierced the side of Christ.

As they follow clues through Nazi ruins, Tibetan temples, and Washington, DC’s greatest monuments, they uncover a sinister plot that threatens to unleash an unstoppable darkness upon the world.

But Morgan also carries a curse in her veins, a shadow placed upon her that now threatens her niece’s life. To save her, Morgan must find the Spear and unlock its fabled healing powers. Standing in her way is the fanatical Jericho Command and their elite leader, Gabriel, a man both blessed and burdened by strange powers and a mysterious past.

From the ashes of World War II to the mystical peaks of Tibet, from ancient crypts to the hallowed halls of the Library of Congress and the Capitol, Morgan and Jake must brave every danger, solve each puzzle, and face down enemies both human and demonic in their quest to find the Spear before its terrible power is unleashed.

Time is running out and the fate of the world hangs in the balance — will Morgan and Jake prevail or will the forces of darkness triumph?

From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author J.F. Penn comes a gripping and explosive thriller that delves deep into the heart of an ancient mystery and a chilling supernatural evil. An unputdownable story of supernatural suspense, Spear of Destiny is a rollercoaster ride into the dark legends of the past and the shocking evils of the present, with only a cursed relic lying between salvation and damnation.

This is book 13 of the ARKANE action adventure thriller series, but it can be read as a stand-alone story.

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

I enjoyed the various archives filled with books of every kind from various time periods. Gabriel was an interesting character, even if the circumstances of his conception are vile (as are all things Nazi-related). The various locations Morgan and Jake travel to are vivid in their descriptions, making one feel like one is there – as it is with all books in this series. The political unrest and zealotry felt genuine for our time. And there’s lots of action and adventure. Yet, something felt missing. I can’t put my finger on it, though. Maybe, despite all the great visuals (I mean, Morgan and Gabriel see demon hordes ready to possess the angry mob rallying in D.C. and spill blood) and Morgan’s niece in peril, the depth of emotion wasn’t there, pulling one fiercely along.

A fast-paced action adventure with a hint of the supernatural at the core, with parallels between Nazi Germany and modern-day USA.

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

Trigger warnings: ritual rape hinted at, demonic possession, Nazis, grooming, blood curses, torture.

About the Book

The Brides of Rollrock Island by Margo Lanagan

Rollrock island is a lonely rock of gulls and waves, blunt fishermen and their homely wives. Life is hard for the families who must wring a poor living from the stormy seas. But Rollrock is also a place of magic – the scary, salty-real sort of magic that changes lives forever. Down on the windswept beach, where the seals lie in herds, the outcast sea witch Misskaella casts her spells – and brings forth girls from the sea – girls with long, pale limbs and faces of haunting innocence and loveliness – the most enchantingly lovely girls the fishermen of Rollrock have ever seen.

But magic always has its price. A fisherman may have and hold a sea bride, and tell himself that he is her master. But from his first look into those wide, questioning, liquid eyes, he will be just as transformed as she is. He will be equally ensnared. And in the end the witch will always have her payment.

Margo Lanagan has written an extraordinary tale of desire, despair and transformation. In devastatingly beautiful prose, she reveals unforgettable characters capable of unspeakable cruelty – and deep unspoken love. After reading about the Rollrock fishermen and their sea brides, the world will not seem the same.

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

A collection of stories making up the tale of what had happened on this island. From what the dark-haired mothers eat, to the witch who brought them forth from the sea, to the red-haired fathers and lads who seem bespelled, to the bitter end of it all.

There’s a lot of questionable consent issues: especially on the side of the seal-wives. Questionable consent – even the lack thereof – is a staple of selkie lore, yet it isn’t questioned at all in this book, only accepted as part of how things are. Only a few brave boys even question the set-up and the melancholy of their mothers – and do something about it.

The sealers – those who kill seals for their fat, etc. – are vicious mercenaries who are allowed to do as they please. Even by the men who had seal-wives…

Though an interesting read, I’m not sure what the point was.

About the Book

I’m Thinking of Ending Things by Iain Reid

I’m thinking of ending things. Once this thought arrives, it stays. It sticks. It lingers. It’s always there. Always.

Jake once said, “Sometimes a thought is closer to truth, to reality, than an action. You can say anything, you can do anything, but you can’t fake a thought.”

And here’s what I’m thinking: I don’t want to be here.

In this smart and intense literary suspense novel, Iain Reid explores the depths of the human psyche, questioning consciousness, free will, the value of relationships, fear, and the limitations of solitude. Reminiscent of Jose Saramago’s early work, Michel Faber’s cult classic Under the Skin, and Lionel Shriver’s We Need to Talk about Kevin, *“*your dread and unease will mount with every passing page” (Entertainment Weekly) of this edgy, haunting debut. Tense, gripping, and atmospheric, I’m Thinking of Ending Things pulls you in from the very first page…and never lets you go.

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

This review might contain spoilers, but they’re important trigger warnings. One, speed read, or the endless dialogue in the first 30% or so will put you to sleep. Two, if creepy old houses/farms/small towns/high schools freak you out, don’t read. Three, if mental illness (e.g. schizophrenia) is a trigger, don’t read. Four, if suicide is a trigger, don’t read.

Okay. So as the title suggests, it’s about a person thinking of ending things – a relationship, a life, your choice. This is a psychological thriller, but the build-up is quite slow. At around 80% it feels like a silly teen horror where they end up at the high school at night to be chased by the monster. The end is what you expect from the title – the rest is as vague and weird as the blurb.

I’m not sure who had recommended this to me (it’s been a couple of years), but this book is boring and disturbing at the same time. The horror aspect, though, reminded me of a movie I’d seen where the guy is trapped in a haunted hotel room and the song “we’ve only just begun” started playing on the radio when he thought he’d escaped.

Yeah, just read if you need a reading sorbet…

About the Book

Vampires: The Myths, Legends and Lore by Aubrey Sherman

A thrilling treasury of vampire lore!

Since the seventeenth century, people have been frightened, mesmerized, and fascinated by the terrifying tales of vampires. In this book, you’ll uncover the history and mystery behind these bloodthirsty monsters with folklore, mythology, and poetry from every tradition in the world. From the Bosnian Lampir, whose disease-ridden corpse spread infection and death throughout villages, to Bram Stoker’s charming Dracula, who helped define modern-day vampires, the wicked stories surrounding these nocturnal beings are sure to captivate anyone who has ever wondered about these shadow-loving creatures. Whether you’re interested in exploring the culture of vampires or just want to learn more about their supernatural abilities, you’ll discover dozens of compelling tales, historical accounts, and haunting legends that shed some light on these sinister beings.

Complete with detailed illustrations, Vampires reveals the dark allure and gruesome power of these creatures of the night.

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

An interesting and seemingly comprehensive look at vampires from folklore to fiction. On the fiction side, it’s more about Dracula and Lestat, though others are mentioned, too. I would have liked a more in-depth look at the folklore, though, as that is what the title promises.

About the Book

The Everything Vampire Book: From Vlad the Impaler to the vampire Lestat – a history of vampires in Literature, Film, and Legend by Barb Karg, Rick Sutherland, Arjean Spaite

• An affordable, accessible companion to vampire literature, films, and TV • Several vampire movies are due out in 2008 and 2009: Twilight, Underworld: Rise of the Lycans, and The Historian • Vampire communities are flourishing on the Internet—a simple “vampire societies” search on Google yields over 580,000 results • Everything reference books have sold more than 575,000 copies! Bram Stoker’s Dracula Anne Rice’s Lestat Stephenie Meyer’s Edward Who can resist these erotic, exotic creatures of the night? And who wants to? In The Everything® Vampire Book, readers unearth all the secrets of this beautiful, terrible underworld, including: • How vampires live, hunt, and endure • Why they refuse to die • How to destroy a vampire—from holy water to decapitation • The best—and worst—vampire books, TV shows, and films • What constitutes the “vampire lifestyle” and blood fetish practices • All the incarnations of vampires—from the Greek Lamia to the Indian Churel • Real-life encounters with vampires Vampire aficionados will enjoy sinking their teeth into the notorious history and bewitching tales in The Everything® Vampire Book!

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

Oddly, some of the text is verbatim in “Vampires: The Myths, Legends and Lore”… And there’s a lot more emphasis on Dracula (the book, the background, the history) and movies than on actual folklore.

The Rest

About the Book

Life in the Fat Lane by Cherie Bennett

Beauty pageant winner, homecoming queen–Lara has the world at her feet.  Until she gets fat.

Despite a strict diet and workout schedule, Lara is soon a nameless, faceless, 200-pound-plus teenage blimp.  She’s desperate to get her to-die-for body back–and to find an explanation for her rapid weight gain.

When she’s diagnosed with a mysterious metabolic disorder that has no known cure, Lara fears she’ll spend the rest of her life trapped in a fat suit.  Who will stand by her?  Her image-conscious family?  Her shallow friends?  Her handsome boyfriend?  Or will she be left alone in the land of the fat girls?

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

Yeah, the airheads obsessed with who’s the thinnest and prettiest, enjoying the misfortune of others, the subtle cruelties – to read through all that to get to what supposedly makes this book good, is just way too triggering.

DNF 7%

About the Book

Riding Lessons by Jane Smiley

The first book in a new horse trilogy from Pulitzer Prize winner Jane Smiley starring a feisty young rider.

Eleven-year-old Ellen is a spunky–and occasionally misbehaving–young riding student. Her teacher Abby Lovitt (who readers might recognize from The Georges and the Jewels) is a high school student who introduces her to jumping, dressage techniques, and most importantly, Ned.

Ned is a colt who used to be a racehorse, until he hurt his leg and moved to Abby’s ranch. Ellen and Ned seem to understand each other, and their companionship is immediate. But Ellen is only allowed to go to riding lessons when she behaves at school. And with all that’s going on, from learning that she’s adopted to finding out her parents are adopting a new baby, it’s harder than ever for Ellen to pay attention and behave in class and at home.

Will Ellen be able to spend more time on the ranch with Ned? And will her parents ever let her have a horse of her own?

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

What a brat!

DNF 5%

About the Book

Local Woman Missing by Mary Kubica

People don’t just disappear without a trace….

Shelby Tebow is the first to go missing. Not long after, Meredith Dickey and her six-year-old daughter, Delilah, vanish just blocks away from where Shelby was last seen, striking fear into their once-peaceful community. Are these incidents connected? After an elusive search that yields more questions than answers, the case eventually goes cold.

Now, 11 years later, Delilah shockingly returns. Everyone wants to know what happened to her, but no one is prepared for what they’ll find….

In this smart and chilling thriller, master of suspense and New York Times best-selling author Mary Kubica takes domestic secrets to a whole new level, showing that some people will stop at nothing to keep the truth buried.

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

Random events with no context, though quite horrible.

DNF 5%

About the Book

Fat Chance, Charlie Vega by Crystal Maldonado

Coming of age as a Fat brown girl in a white Connecticut suburb is hard.
Harder when your whole life is on fire, though.

Charlie Vega is a lot of things. Smart. Funny. Artistic. Ambitious. Fat.

People sometimes have a problem with that last one. Especially her mom. Charlie wants a good relationship with her body, but it’s hard, and her mom leaving a billion weight loss shakes on her dresser doesn’t help. The world and everyone in it have ideas about what she should look like: thinner, lighter, slimmer-faced, straighter-haired. Be smaller. Be whiter. Be quieter.

But there’s one person who’s always in Charlie’s corner: her best friend Amelia. Slim. Popular. Athletic. Totally dope. So when Charlie starts a tentative relationship with cute classmate Brian, the first worthwhile guy to notice her, everything is perfect until she learns one thing–he asked Amelia out first. So is she his second choice or what? Does he even really see her? UGHHH. Everything is now officially a MESS.

A sensitive, funny, and painful coming-of-age story with a wry voice and tons of chisme, Fat Chance, Charlie Vega tackles our relationships to our parents, our bodies, our cultures, and ourselves.

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

Pining after the idiot senior, her mother preferring her best friend as a daughter… Yeah, not hanging around.

DNF 6%

About the Book

Daughter of Smoke & Bone (Daughter of Smoke & Bone #1) by Laini Taylor

Around the world, black hand prints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky.

In a dark and dusty shop, a devil’s supply of human teeth grows dangerously low.

And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherworldly war.

And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherworldly war.

Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real; she’s prone to disappearing on mysterious “errands”; she speaks many languages–not all of them human; and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she’s about to find out.

When one of the strangers–beautiful, haunted Akiva–fixes his fire-colored eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

I looked forward to reading this, but the language and tone put me off.

DNF 1%

DNF series

About the Book

Strega by Johanne Lykke Holm

Powerfully inventive and atmospheric, a modern gothic story of nine young women sent to work at a remote Alpine hotel and what happens when one of them goes missing

With toiletries, hairbands, and notebooks in her bag, and at her mother’s instruction, nineteen-year-old Rafa leaves her parents’ home and the seaside town she grew up in. Out the train window, she sees the lit-up mountains and perfect trees–and the Olympic Hotel waiting for her perched above the small village of Strega. There, she and eight other young women receive the stiff black uniforms of seasonal workers and move into their shared dorm. But while they toil constantly to perform their role and prepare the hotel for guests, none arrive. Instead, they contort themselves daily to the expectations of their strict, matronly bosses without clear purpose and, in their spare moments, escape to the herb garden, confide in each other, and quickly find solace together. Finally, the hotel is filled with people for a wild and raucous party, only for one of the women to disappear. What follows are deeper revelations about the myths we teach young women, what we raise them to expect from the world, and whether a gentler, more beautiful life is possible.

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

Not a fan of the language or the “then I did this” way of the story unfolding.

DNF 5%

About the Book

Anxious People by Fredrik Backman

A poignant, charming novel about a crime that never took place, a would-be bank robber who disappears into thin air, and eight extremely anxious strangers who find they have more in common than they ever imagined

Looking at real estate isn’t usually a life-or-death situation, but an apartment open house becomes just that when a failed bank robber bursts in and takes a group of strangers hostage. The captives include a recently retired couple who relentlessly hunt down fixer-uppers to avoid the painful truth that they can’t fix up their own marriage. There’s a wealthy banker who has been too busy making money to care about anyone else and a young couple who are about to have their first child but can’t seem to agree on anything, from where they want to live to how they met in the first place. Add to the mix an eighty-seven-year-old woman who has lived long enough not to be afraid of someone waving a gun in her face, a flustered but still-ready-to-make-a-deal real estate agent, and a mystery man who has locked himself in the apartment’s only bathroom, and you’ve got the worst group of hostages in the world.

Each of them carries a lifetime of grievances, hurts, secrets, and passions that are ready to boil over. None of them is entirely who they appear to be. And all of them—the bank robber included—desperately crave some sort of rescue. As the authorities and the media surround the premises, these reluctant allies will reveal surprising truths about themselves and set in a motion a chain of events so unexpected that even they can hardly explain what happens next.

Humorous, compassionate, and wise, Anxious People is an ingeniously constructed story about the enduring power of friendship, forgiveness, and hope—the things that save us, even in the most anxious of times.

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

Though some funny sentences, nothing makes sense and there’s not enough draw to keep reading.

DNF 2%

About the Book

Fat Girl on a Plane by Kelly Devos

Fat.

High school senior Cookie Vonn’s post-graduation dreams include getting out of Phoenix, attending Parsons and becoming the next great fashion designer. But in the world of fashion, being fat is a cardinal sin. It doesn’t help that she’s constantly compared to her supermodel mother—and named after a dessert.

Thanks to her job at a fashion blog, Cookie scores a trip to New York to pitch her portfolio and appeal for a scholarship, but her plans are put on standby when she’s declared too fat to fly. Forced to turn to her BFF for cash, Cookie buys a second seat on the plane. She arrives in the city to find that she’s been replaced by the boss’s daughter, a girl who’s everything she’s not—ultrathin and superrich. Bowing to society’s pressure, she vows to lose weight, get out of the friend zone with her crush, and put her life on track.

Skinny.

Cookie expected sunshine and rainbows, but nothing about her new life is turning out like she planned. When the fashion designer of the moment offers her what she’s always wanted—an opportunity to live and study in New York—she finds herself in a world full of people more interested in putting women down than dressing them up. Her designs make waves, but her real dream of creating great clothes for people of all sizes seems to grow more distant by the day.

Will she realize that she’s always had the power to make her own dreams come true?

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

Way too much swearing to be enjoyable, especially with all the obvious triggers for overweight girls. The dual timeline is a bit confusing; though it should show the before and after of weight loss, it’s more like angry and angrier. And the rude people…! I’m not subjecting myself to this any longer.

DNF 12%

About the Book

Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé

Gossip Girl meets Get Out in Ace of Spades, a YA contemporary thriller by debut author Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé about two students, Devon & Chiamaka, and their struggles against an anonymous bully.

When two Niveus Private Academy students, Devon Richards and Chiamaka Adebayo, are selected to be part of the elite school’s senior class prefects, it looks like their year is off to an amazing start. After all, not only does it look great on college applications, but it officially puts each of them in the running for valedictorian, too.

Shortly after the announcement is made, though, someone who goes by Aces begins using anonymous text messages to reveal secrets about the two of them that turn their lives upside down and threaten every aspect of their carefully planned futures.

As Aces shows no sign of stopping, what seemed like a sick prank quickly turns into a dangerous game, with all the cards stacked against them. Can Devon and Chiamaka stop Aces before things become incredibly deadly?

With heart-pounding suspense and relevant social commentary comes a high-octane thriller from debut author Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé.

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

Despite the good things I’ve heard about this book and how much I looked forward to reading it, Chaimaka’s POV was enough to put me off from reading further. There’s a difference between working hard for what you want, and being a bully while doing so.

DNF 5%

About the Book

France’s favourite country cop, Bruno, faces a dangerous threat to the town he polices and the people he protects. Loved by millions, the Dordogne Mysteries are the perfect combination of mystery and escapism.

The event of the Périgord tourist season is to be the re-enactment of the liberation of the historic town of Sarlat from the English in 1370. But it all goes wrong when the man playing the part of the French general is almost killed in the heat of the action.

The immediate question for chief of police Bruno Courrèges is was this an accident – or deliberate? The stakes rise when Bruno learns that the man, Kerquelin, was running Frenchelon, the secret French electronic intelligence base nearby, after being recruited from a brilliant Silicon Valley career. His old Silicon Valley colleagues have been invited to stay at the luxurious local chateau of Rouffillac as his guests to enjoy the Sarlat show.

As he investigates, Bruno discovers that Kerquelin’s wound was faked, that he is alive and well and secretly negotiating a massive deal to build a semi-conductor industry in France. But then a whole new and dangerous player emerges, determined to nip the deal in the bud.

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

The way the story’s told (describing a war and then the blow-by-blow action of the re-enaction they’re watching) is a bit boring. I have no idea who the main character is or why I should care about what’s going on.

DNF 6%

About the Book

The War Librarian by Addison Armstrong

The Paris Library meets The Flight Girls in this captivating historical novel about the sacrifice and courage necessary to live a life of honor, inspired by the first female volunteer librarians during World War I and the first women accepted into the U.S. Naval Academy.

Two women. One secret. A truth worth fighting for.

1918. Timid and shy Emmaline Balakin lives more in books than her own life. That is, until an envelope crosses her desk at the Dead Letter Office bearing a name from her past, and Emmaline decides to finally embark on an adventure of her own–as a volunteer librarian on the frontlines in France. But when a romance blooms as she secretly participates in a book club for censored books, Emmaline will need to find more courage within herself than she ever thought possible in order to survive.

1976. Kathleen Carre is eager to prove to herself and to her nana that she deserves her acceptance into the first coed class at the United States Naval Academy. But not everyone wants female midshipmen at the Academy, and after tragedy strikes close to home, Kathleen becomes a target. To protect herself, Kathleen must learn to trust others even as she discovers a secret that could be her undoing.

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

The writing flows and there’s a bit of mystery. But I’m not bonding with either woman. The books and librarian aspect is interesting, but not enough to grab me and keep me reading.

DNF 11%

About the Book

Misty of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry

“You’ll never catch the Phantom,” says Grandpa. “That horse is fast as the wind. She’s escaped from every roundup on the island!”
But Paul and Maureen want the beautiful wild mare for their very own.
“I’m going to capture her myself,” says Paul.

When Paul finally overtakes the Phantom, he makes a surprising discovery. Running at her side is a brand-new, silvery-gray colt – Misty!

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

Not a fan of how the horses are treated or where they’re headed.

DNF 7%

About the Book

Catherine House by Elisabeth Thomas

A story about a dangerously curious young undergraduate whose rebelliousness leads her to discover a shocking secret involving an exclusive circle of students . . . and the dark truth beneath her school’s promise of prestige.

You are in the house and the house is in the woods.
You are in the house and the house is in you . . .

Catherine House is a school of higher learning like no other. Hidden deep in the woods of rural Pennsylvania, this crucible of reformist liberal arts study with its experimental curriculum, wildly selective admissions policy, and formidable endowment, has produced some of the world’s best minds: prize-winning authors, artists, inventors, Supreme Court justices, presidents. For those lucky few selected, tuition, room, and board are free. But acceptance comes with a price. Students are required to give the House three years—summers included—completely removed from the outside world. Family, friends, television, music, even their clothing must be left behind. In return, the school promises its graduates a future of sublime power and prestige, and that they can become anything or anyone they desire.

Among this year’s incoming class is Ines, who expects to trade blurry nights of parties, pills, cruel friends, and dangerous men for rigorous intellectual discipline—only to discover an environment of sanctioned revelry. The school’s enigmatic director, Viktória, encourages the students to explore, to expand their minds, to find themselves and their place within the formidable black iron gates of Catherine.

For Ines, Catherine is the closest thing to a home she’s ever had, and her serious, timid roommate, Baby, soon becomes an unlikely friend. Yet the House’s strange protocols make this refuge, with its worn velvet and weathered leather, feel increasingly like a gilded prison. And when Baby’s obsessive desire for acceptance ends in tragedy, Ines begins to suspect that the school—in all its shabby splendor, hallowed history, advanced theories, and controlled decadence—might be hiding a dangerous agenda that is connected to a secretive, tightly knit group of students selected to study its most promising and mysterious curriculum.

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

I like the cover and blurb. But the writing is weird. For a lot of the book, I wasn’t sure whether I liked it or not. So I kept reading for the mystery hinted at in the blurb. About halfway through, though, I realised I couldn’t care less whether Ines becomes a whole person or not, whether there’s a mystery behind Baby’s death or just plain suicide, and whether or not the plasma concentration is running a massive cult/experiment/whatever. The coarse language and actions are enough to make one cringe. The lack of any progress to the plot is enough to DNF.

DNF page 139

About the Book

The Writing Retreat by Julia Bartz

A book deal to die for.

Five attendees are selected for a month-long writing retreat at the remote estate of Roza Vallo, the controversial high priestess of feminist horror. Alex, a struggling writer, is thrilled.

Upon arrival, they discover they must complete an entire novel from scratch, and the best one will receive a seven-figure publishing deal. Alex’s long-extinguished dream now seems within reach.

But then the women begin to die.

Trapped, terrified yet still desperately writing, it is clear there is more than a publishing deal at stake at Blackbriar Estate. Alex must confront her own demons – and finish her novel – to save herself.

This unhinged, propulsive, claustrophobic closed-door thriller will pull you in and spit you out…

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

The book tries hard to be edgy (language use and the topics of the previous BFFs wrote about) and not enough to make the MC likeable enough to stick around (she’s quite whiney).

Mainly, the clear jealousy and the foul language put me off.

DNF 2%

About the Book

Friday Black by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah

From the start of this extraordinary debut, Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah’s writing will grab you, haunt you, enrage and invigorate you. By placing ordinary characters in extraordinary situations, Adjei-Brenyah reveals the violence, injustice, and painful absurdities that Black men and women contend with every day in this country.

These stories explore urgent instances of racism and cultural unrest, and the ways we fight for humanity in an unforgiving world. In “The Finkelstein Five,” Adjei-Brenyah reckons with the brutal prejudice of our justice system. In “Zimmer Land,” we see a far-too-easy-to-believe imagining of racism as sport. And “Friday Black” and “How to Sell a Jacket as Told by IceKing” show the horrors of consumerism and the toll it takes on us all.

Entirely fresh in its style and perspective, and sure to appeal to fans of Colson Whitehead, Marlon James, and George Saunders, Friday Black confronts readers with a complicated, insistent, wrenching chorus of emotions, the final note of which, remarkably, is hope.

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

I expected impressive stories, and got a narrator obsessed with the colour of his skin… So not in the mood for it.

DNF 2%

About the Book

Realm of Dragons (Age of the Sorcerers #1) by Morgan Rice

REALM OF DRAGONS (Age of the Sorcerers—Book One) tells the story of the epic coming of age of one very special 16 year old boy, a blacksmith’s son from a poor family who is offered no chance of proving his fighting skills and breaking into the ranks of the nobles. Yet he holds a power he cannot deny, and a fate he must follow.

It tells the story of a 17 year old princess on the eve of her wedding, destined for greatness—and of her younger sister, rejected by her family and dying of plague.

It tells the tale of their three brothers, three princes who could not be more different from each other—all of them vying for power.

It tells the story of a kingdom on the verge of change, of invasion, the story of the dying dragon race, falling daily from the sky.

It tells the tale of two rival kingdoms, of the rapids dividing them, of a landscape dotted with dormant volcanoes, and of a capital accessible only with the tides. It is a story of love, passion, of hate and sibling rivalry; of rogues and hidden treasure; of monks and secret warriors; of honor and glory, and of betrayal and deception.

It is the story of Dragonfell, a story of honor and valor, of sorcerers, magic, fate and destiny. It is a tale you will not put down until the early hours, one that will transport you to another world and have you fall in in love with characters you will never forget. It appeals to all ages and genders.

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

Not sure when I got this book, but the cover and title are quite intriguing. Only, the content’s not what I expected. And honestly, the whole dead dragon scene just made me sad. So I DNFed at the end of chapter 1.

DNF

About the Book

Mack (The King #4) by Mimi Jean Pamfiloff

“THEY THINK KING IS EVIL, BUT HE’S GOT NOTHING ON ME.” -Mack

MY NAME IS MACK. And if I play my cards right, I will soon be dead. Permanently. Not even my powerful twin brother will be able to resurrect me. A good thing. Because a man like me has no business living. Not when I have killed. Not when I have betrayed everyone I have ever cared for. Not when I know I’m destined to do it again.

This is why I have come looking for her–the only one capable of ending me once and for all. But will she think I’m just another insane patient? Or will she believe the truth? I am thousands of years old, my heart too dark to be salvaged. And my name isn’t really Mack.
~~~
MY NAME IS TEDDI, short for Theodora. My entire life has been a canvas of grays, whites, and black. I can’t feel, I can’t understand joy, I’ve never truly lived. Until now. His name is Mack, and though he believes he’s cursed, my degree in psychology tells me otherwise. Besides, someone who’s capable of bringing so much light into my life can’t be anything but good.

But I can save him. If he’ll let me.

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

The first book in the series I got my hands on, and though I liked the premise, I didn’t like the language – a bit too coarse for my taste.

DNF chapter 1

DNF series

About the Book

Who Put This Song On? by Morgan Parker

Trapped in sunny, stifling, small-town suburbia, seventeen-year-old Morgan knows why she’s in therapy. She can’t count the number of times she’s been the only non-white person at the sleepover, been teased for her “weird” outfits, and been told she’s not “really” black. Also, she’s spent most of her summer crying in bed. So there’s that, too.

Lately, it feels like the whole world is listening to the same terrible track on repeat—and it’s telling them how to feel, who to vote for, what to believe. Morgan wonders, when can she turn this song off and begin living for herself?

Life may be a never-ending hamster wheel of agony, but Morgan finds her crew of fellow outcasts, blasts music like there’s no tomorrow, discovers what being black means to her, and finally puts her mental health first. She decides that, no matter what, she will always be intense, ridiculous, passionate, and sometimes hilarious. After all, darkness doesn’t have to be a bad thing. Darkness is just real.

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

Not keen on the tone of this book. Can’t put my finger on it, but it scratches at the inside of my skull.

DNF 4%

About the Book

The Banned Bookshop of Maggie Banks by Shauna Robinson

I, Maggie Banks, solemnly swear to uphold the rules of Cobblestone Books.

If only, I, Maggie Banks, believed in following the rules.

When Maggie Banks arrives in Bell River to run her best friend’s struggling bookstore, she expects to sell bestsellers to her small-town clientele. But running a bookstore in a town with a famously bookish history isn’t easy. Bell River’s literary society insists on keeping the bookstore stuck in the past, and Maggie is banned from selling anything written this century. So, when a series of mishaps suddenly tip the bookstore toward ruin, Maggie will have to get creative to keep the shop afloat.

And in Maggie’s world, book rules are made to be broken.

To help save the store, Maggie starts an underground book club, running a series of events celebrating the books readers actually love. But keeping the club quiet, selling forbidden books, and dodging the literary society is nearly impossible. Especially when Maggie unearths a town secret that could upend everything.

Maggie will have to decide what’s more important: the books that formed a small town’s history, or the stories poised to change it all.

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

It’s supposed to be funny, but a lot of the jokes fall flat – especially the ones about religion. The only reason I read the book was because of the bookshop and I wanted to know what happens to it… The characters were a bit meh. And Maggie herself, the heroine we must root for, is a pain. Not only doesn’t she read because in her opinion there are better things to do – so why did she take the job in the bookshop? – she decides to take a gamble on how things should be run in her friend’s bookshop, possibly destroying her friend’s livelihood. Seriously, can’t she just follow directions? And then there’s the fact that she thinks the classics are boring (she should be glad no Mr Darcy fangirls have clobbered her with parasols), but she’ll sort-of read them if Malcolm (her love-interest) does things out of his comfort zone that she thinks is good for him.

Yeah, I don’t have an issue with people still finding themselves in their twenties, or not being a fan of reading, or even being so arrogant as to think you know better than people whose livelihood you’re threatening with your ineptitude. But trashing the classics in favour of contemporary (romance?) without the great inclusivity that reading brings to those who love to read in a book about books and reading? There’s a lot to love about the classics and contemporary books (in any genre). I really don’t like either/or situations (it’s a very Sith way to look at things) and I especially don’t like books where the love-interests deliberately hold secrets if it isn’t a true enemies-to-lovers, and just an inconvenience because they are breaking rules for the fun of it.

DNF 44%

About the Book

The Goblin’s Winter by Alex Norton

Eleven-year-old Danny Hallow accepts his life, such as it is. His father is dead, his mother is gone. His three Keepers are the only people aware of Danny’s erratic and not-very-impressive psychic powers. He has no friends, his room is disorganized and his grades are terrible.

When his uncle dies under mysterious circumstances Danny and his Keepers are called to the town of Eddystone for the reading of the man’s will, and everything begins to change for Danny.

Arriving at the crumbling estate of Gnomewood Home, he falls into the weird web of his ancestor’s secrets and begins to question everything he thought he knew. Disturbing memories come to him in dreams. His psychic abilities begin to grow stronger. Strangest of all, a horde of cryptic creatures is plaguing the town of Eddystone, seemingly drawn out by the spell of an unusually cold February. Toothy little goblins that are sneaky, vicious and hungry. Goblins that take an interest in Danny.

Will the emergence of the alien, and potentially dangerous, traits he’s inherited from his peculiar family tree help Danny survive a goblin infested winter, attempts to befriend the town’s most feared bully, and the sixth grade?

Only if he learns to control them before they put him and everyone around him in danger. Before they convince some people he should never have been allowed to exist. Before he becomes just another twisted tale in his family’s bizarre history, kept hidden for centuries within the walls of Gnomewood Home.

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

It could have been interesting if it didn’t feel like the author had reached for a thesaurus to describe the inhabitants of this small town and the cold they were facing. The blurb sounded awesome, though.

DNF 1%

DNF Series

About the Book

Grim by Thea Atkinson

Monsters don’t exist. Period. Unless they do…
Nothing can convince Ayla to believe in the things that go bump in the night. Not her grandfather’s insistence that he’s some sort of wizard. Not her friend’s spine-tingling stories of witchcraft and dark magic that haunted her dreams until her friend disappeared. And her nightmares after that.

Then she gets ‘the text’. And since it’s from Sarah, alive and well after three years, Ayla will do what she must to help. Even if it means breaking into the abandoned Gothic cathedral in the middle of town. At midnight. Alone.

But while she’s prepared to face whatever dangers lurk in a creepy church in the middle of the night, she couldn’t possibly be ready to face what she finds when she arrives…

Readers who love Luanne Bennett and Amanda Bouchet will enjoy Grim.
Pick it up today and see if you believe in monsters.

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

Not a fan of the jokes about religion.

DNF 7%

DNF series

About the Book

The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill

Every year, the people of the Protectorate leave a baby as an offering to the witch who lives in the forest. They hope this sacrifice will keep her from terrorizing their town. But the witch in the forest, Xan, is kind and gentle. She shares her home with a wise Swamp Monster named Glerk and a Perfectly Tiny Dragon, Fyrian. Xan rescues the abandoned children and deliver them to welcoming families on the other side of the forest, nourishing the babies with starlight on the journey. 

One year, Xan accidentally feeds a baby moonlight instead of starlight, filling the ordinary child with extraordinary magic. Xan decides she must raise this enmagicked girl, whom she calls Luna, as her own. To keep young Luna safe from her own unwieldy power, Xan locks her magic deep inside her. When Luna approaches her thirteenth birthday, her magic begins to emerge on schedule–but Xan is far away. Meanwhile, a young man from the Protectorate is determined to free his people by killing the witch. Soon, it is up to Luna to protect those who have protected her–even if it means the end of the loving, safe world she’s always known.

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

Why was it necessary to make the entirety of chapter one italics? 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.

Starting the book with the POV of a horrible man who annually sacrifices children – babies! – and send any who resist him to the Tower (presumably to be tortured into docility) doesn’t bode well for the rest of the book.

DNF 4%

About the Book

Carnival of Secrets by Melissa Marr

In a city of daimons, rigid class lines separate the powerful from the power-hungry. And at the heart of The City is the carnival, where both murder and pleasure are offered up for sale. Once in a generation, the carnival hosts a deadly competition that allows every daimon a chance to join the ruling elite. Without the competition, Aya and Kaleb would both face bleak futures—if for different reasons. For each of them, fighting to the death is the only way to try to live.

All Mallory knows of The City is that her father—and every other witch there—fled it for a life in exile in the human world. Instead of a typical teenage life full of friends and maybe even a little romance, Mallory scans quiet streets for threats, hides herself away, and trains to be lethal. She knows it’s only a matter of time until a daimon finds her and her father, so she readies herself for the inevitable.While Mallory possesses little knowledge of The City, every inhabitant of The City knows of her. There are plans for Mallory, and soon she, too, will be drawn into the decadence and danger that is the carnival.

From Melissa Marr, bestselling author of the Wicked Lovely series and Graveminder, comes a brand-new tale of lush secrets, dark love, and the struggle to forge one’s own destiny.

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

There’s something there much like “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” but too much doom and gloom – and secrets – to keep me interested. And chapter 2 starts with another character before I could even bond with the first…

DNF page 17

About the Book

Curse of the Fae King by Delia E Castel

A curse only she can break. A love that will save the real.

When Neara’s dying father is abducted by faeries, she bargains with Drayce, a dark faerie cursed with the appearance of a beast.

To win her father’s freedom, she must join Drayce on a dangerous quest to find three powerful magical artifacts.

As Neara is drawn further into Dracye’s spell, she finds it impossible to resist the seductive creature beneath his monstrous exterior, but their burgeoning relationship stalls when they discover a plan to release an ancient evil and enslave the mortal world.

Now, Neara must break Drayce’s curse to help him fight the evil, but the cost of doing so is her Father’s life.

Torn between saving the human realm and saving her father, Neara must navigate a treacherous world of dark magic, mythical creatures, and retain her humanity, even if Drayce awakens something within her.

Curse of the Fae King is book one of an enemies-to-lovers romance with intrigues and betrayals, dizzying plot twists, a vivid world of Celtic mythology, and a strong female heroine. Perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas and Holly Black!

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

I’m not bonding enough with the character, the world or the magic. Perhaps it’s the obvious disdain everyone has for women? Even the supposedly nice guys see nothing wrong with “accidentally” pushing a woman out of the way so she falls, leering at a woman obviously under a spell who needs help, or asking a herbalist how to take away the pain after birthing enough so he can get it on with his wife sooner rather than later. Seriously? I can’t find anything redeeming to keep me reading.

DNF 10%

DNF series

About the Book

The startling, universally acclaimed breakthrough YA novel from master bestselling author Alice Hoffman, now in paperback.

Left on her own when her family dies in a terrible disaster, fifteen-year-old Green is haunted by loss and by the past. Struggling to survive physically and emotionally in a place where nothing seems to grow and ashes are everywhere, Green retreats into the ruined realm of her garden. But in destroying her feelings, she also begins to destroy herself, erasing the girl she’d once been as she inks darkness into her skin. It is only through a series of mysterious encounters that Green can relearn the lessons of love and begin to heal enough to tell her story.

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

I liked the green magic of the garden, but Green herself was way too self-pitying to be likeable or to stick with.

DNF 10%

About the Book

An Affair of Poisons by Addie Thorley

No one looks kindly on the killer of a king.

After unwittingly helping her mother poison King Louis XIV, seventeen-year-old alchemist Mirabelle Monvoisin is forced to see her mother’s Shadow Society in a horrifying new light: they’re not heroes of the people, as they’ve always claimed to be, but murderers. Herself included. Mira tries to ease her guilt by brewing helpful curatives, but her hunger tonics and headache remedies cannot right past wrongs or save the dissenters her mother vows to purge.

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

Magic, France during the reign of the Sun King – what more do you want? Despite my fascination with the era and intrigue over magic and alchemy, the story failed to deliver. It starts out well-enough, but then it seems that Mirabelle just loses herself and the story drifts. (What’s the difference, really, between poisoning an abusive husband vs an abusive king?) Even Jose picks fights for reasons unknown. I wanted to DNF around 30%, but I wanted to give the book a chance (the time period did that), but my patience ran out. Lots of dithering around without much happening (inside or out) and this could have been condensed with more thoughts and emotions of the characters shining through, instead of leaving the reader confused as to why they do certain things.

DNF 56%

About the Book

Ariadne by Jennifer Saint

Ariadne, Princess of Crete, grows up greeting the dawn from her beautiful dancing floor and listening to her nursemaid’s stories of gods and heroes. But beneath her golden palace echo the ever-present hoofbeats of her brother, the Minotaur, a monster who demands blood sacrifice.

When Theseus, the Prince of Athens, arrives to vanquish the beast, Ariadne sees in his green eyes not a threat but an escape. Defying the gods, betraying her family and country, and risking everything for love, Ariadne helps Theseus kill the Minotaur. But will Ariadne’s decision ensure her happy ending? And what of Phaedra, the beloved younger sister she leaves behind?

Hypnotic, propulsive, and utterly transporting, Jennifer Saint’s Ariadne forges a new epic, one that puts the forgotten women of Greek mythology back at the heart of the story, as they strive for a better world.

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

Midway through chapter 2 and it is still “and then this happened” with a couple of sparks of emotion and commentary about how women had it tough – yet it’s not enough to bond with Ariadne as the story is more about Pasiphae and Medusa: women wronged by Poseidon. Nothing about the heroine so one can bond with her and nothing new added to a well-known tale to make it worth reading after having read the original.

DNF 7%

About the Book

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

Sixty years after its original publication, Ray Bradbury’s internationally acclaimed novel Fahrenheit 451 stands as a classic of world literature set in a bleak, dystopian future. Today its message has grown more relevant than ever before.

Guy Montag is a fireman. His job is to destroy the most illegal of commodities, the printed book, along with the houses in which they are hidden. Montag never questions the destruction and ruin his actions produce, returning each day to his bland life and wife, Mildred, who spends all day with her television “family.” But when he meets an eccentric young neighbor, Clarisse, who introduces him to a past where people didn’t live in fear and to a present where one sees the world through the ideas in books instead of the mindless chatter of television, Montag begins to question everything he has ever known.

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

It’s okay, but burning books, etc. isn’t really my thing. Especially as I’m in the business of writing books… The scene with them burning the woman along with her books is really chilling.

DNF

About the Book

The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender by Leslye Walton

Magical realism, lyrical prose, and the pain and passion of human love haunt this hypnotic generational saga.

Foolish love appears to be the Roux family birthright, an ominous forecast for its most recent progeny, Ava Lavender. Ava—in all other ways a normal girl—is born with the wings of a bird.

In a quest to understand her peculiar disposition and a growing desire to fit in with her peers, sixteen-year old Ava ventures into the wider world, ill-prepared for what she might discover and naïve to the twisted motives of others. Others like the pious Nathaniel Sorrows, who mistakes Ava for an angel and whose obsession with her grows until the night of the Summer Solstice celebration.

That night, the skies open up, rain and feathers fill the air, and Ava’s quest and her family’s saga build to a devastating crescendo.

First-time author Leslye Walton has constructed a layered and unforgettable mythology of what it means to be born with hearts that are tragically, exquisitely human.

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

The whole family history thing instead of Ava’s story just didn’t work for me.

DNF 3%

About the Book

Anatomy (The Anatomy Duology #1) by Dana Schwartz

Edinburgh, 1817. Hazel Sinnett is a lady who wants to be a surgeon more than she wants to marry.

Jack Currer is a resurrection man who’s just trying to survive in a city where it’s too easy to die.

When the two of them have a chance encounter outside the Edinburgh Anatomist’s Society, Hazel thinks nothing of it at first. But after she gets kicked out of renowned surgeon Dr. Beecham’s lectures for being the wrong gender, she realizes that her new acquaintance might be more helpful than she first thought. Because Hazel has made a deal with Dr. Beecham: if she can pass the medical examination on her own, the university will allow her to enroll. Without official lessons, though, Hazel will need more than just her books – she’ll need bodies to study, corpses to dissect.

Lucky that she’s made the acquaintance of someone who digs them up for a living, then.

But Jack has his own problems: strange men have been seen skulking around cemeteries, his friends are disappearing off the streets. Hazel and Jack work together to uncover the secrets buried not just in unmarked graves, but in the very heart of Edinburgh society.

A gothic tale full of mystery and romance about a willful female surgeon, a resurrection man who sells bodies for a living, and the buried secrets they must uncover together.

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

I like the premise. I like the cover. The writing is decent. But I’m not feeling it.

DNF 7%

DNF series

Here’s a video I made of my 2024 TBR, books I’ve read crossed out and books I’ve added in a frame. Enjoy!

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