City of Ghosts - Victoria Schwab // Book Review

  

City of Ghosts
Victoria Schwab || Publication Date - 28.08.2018

A girl who can split the veil between the living and the dead, and her best friend, who is a ghost...

Fantasy | Paranormal | Teen Fiction

Cassidy nearly died (or did die and she refuses to accept it), and since this incident she's been able to see what lies between the veil. Growing up in a household with scholarly parents known to the wider community as paranormal investigators, she has kept her gift a secret. Along with her gift, Jacob has also been kept under wraps. Her very dead and very ghostly best friend.

One day after school her parents surprise her with the adventure of a lifetime. They will be filming a TV series and going all over the world investigating locations rumoured to be haunted. Their first port of call will be Edinburgh, Scotland.

While across the pond, her eyes are opened to the intricacies of her abilities and she learns things she never knew she could even do. All the while investigating on her own a Red Raven that's terrorising the local area.

The Review (may contain spoilers)

As a whole I quite enjoyed the story and the characters. Cass and Jacob have a sweet relationship despite their circumstances, and I want to continue the series to see how their relationship develops. I did listen to this as an audiobook, and this is my preferred way to read middle grade/teen fiction. I feel narrators do a great job at making these books appear as if you're listening to a story from your friend. For 'City of Ghosts' this is no exception.

Due to the intended audience for this book, ultimately not being a woman in her 30's, this wasn't something to be read for a deep and substantial story. However, if you want to introduce your teens to a well written and fun paranormal story I wouldn't hesitate to give this one a go.

That being said, if you are also an adult in your 30's and want something to read that is fun, simple and leaves you feeling good, I would definitely recommend giving this one a look.

Juniper & Thorn - Ava Reid // Book Review

   

Juniper & Thorn

Ava Reid || Publication Date - 21.06.2022

A young witch fighting for her independence against an oppressive father who has never given her a chance. A retelling of "The Juniper Tree".

Fantasy | Historical | Romance | Horror

Marlinchen, a young witch imprisoned in her own home with her two older sisters by her father. They spend their days making money for their home using their magical gifts on the normal humans who come to see them.

The three young women sneak out of their home to attend a newly opened ballet theatre, where one of the performers quickly and sharply captures Marlinchen's heart.

As Marlinchen continues to defy her father and sneaks out at night to see this man, her town is turned to horror when a monster is skulking around at night. She has a choice to make, continue to be trapped under the tyrannical rule of her father or, uncover the secrets of her terrorised city to expel this evil for good.

The Review (may contain spoilers)

This book hit a lot of really good marks for me in terms of genre and writing. I also feel that in terms of length, it was spot on. My quarrel with rating this higher than I did comes down to the opening of the book and how it overall made me feel.

The characters were good, and I enjoyed the dynamic displayed between the sisters and their abusive father. Unfortunately the opening to this book in my opinion just tried too hard in terms of the prose and descriptions. It took me a few chapters to get used to the writing style, which is not the fault of the author, and it felt like everything needed a comparison description rather than it just being what it is.

For example:

“Magic is the first sip of good wine that makes the edges of your vision blur. Magic is the cool breeze of the boardwalk at night and organ music in the air. Magic is landing a grand jeté and nearly going deaf with hate crowd's applause. Magic is the low flicker of tavern lights and the girl your courting leaning close so you can kiss.”

Why do we need 4 sentences to describe to us what Magic was like? There were also times the descriptors of items, environment and feelings tried to be too clever and ultimately sounded silly.

The relationship between Marlinchen and Sevas also seemed very hollow. Sure enough they were attracted to each other, which I don't think Marlinchen could say anything else about Sevas other than how attractive he was. Sevas also seemed to like her for some reason. Other than being attracted to her kindness and physical body, there didn't seem to be much more there either. Another relationship which could have had depth and gave it more of a place in the story, but never did.

Overall Thoughts

Ultimately I felt the writing was very strong as I got used to it, other than my points mentioned in terms of descriptors going too far. The premise and story did not overstay its welcome in terms of length and it was creative for a retelling, but did not blow my mind.

I do not feel the genres given to this book or it being nominated on Goodreads for "Best Horror of 2022" are warranted. There was a small instance of the monster attacking people which could be considered horrific, but this book had no indication of horror at all.

I am very keen to read more from Ava as I felt she has an amazing mind and one day she will, without a doubt, write something which will be my next favourite book.

The Maid - Nita Prose // Book Review

  

The Maid
Nita Prose || Publication Date - 20.01.2022

Imagine being invisible, a piece of hotel furniture - thrown in to solve a murder you have been accused of.

Crime | Mystery

Molly Grey is a hotel maid. She prides herself in her efficiency and discreet duties while maintaining the utmost professional demeanour within her workplace. She is never friends, only acquaintances, and has a particularly hard time maintaining and understanding social relationships after her Grandmother had passed away.

It was a day like any other. Get to work, do her job, leave and wait for another day. However, this day would throw a wrench in her beloved monotonous routine when she would be the one to discover one of the hotel guests dead. And not just any hotel guest... the illustrious high roller Mr. Charles Black.

The week to follow is full of accusations, misunderstandings and investigations while the Police try to hang Molly for this crime, all while she is trying to clear her name.

The Review (may contain spoilers)

This was an amazingly enlightening read. I loved the pacing, the writing and the premise. It all was executed wonderfully within the book and the ending felt whole and complete. There was also the added component of the main character Molly seeming to be neurodivergent. Even though this is not explicitly stated. it is heavily implied with her interactions and the support she received from her grandmother.

I am usually wary of books which are written in a short, in story time frame. This book is no exception as the entire story takes place in a single week. However, Nita does a great job of making the story feel fluid and paces the events very well. There were never times in the novel which felt out of place or confusing in the overall timeline. I was also impressed by how the characters had a lot of input on the events and each felt different to each other.

Unfortunately for me this book just didn't wow me. It was a pleasant read, and a pretty good mystery novel that divulged the culprit over time so it was not a surprise at the end of who had done it. I don't think this took away from the story at all, and definitely seemed fully intentional.

Overall Thoughts

For readers of light mystery, or someone who just wants a fun book to read I would recommend this one. It is not too difficult to follow, the characters are diverse and engaging and the overall plot is interesting. That being said, if you enjoy your mysteries to, well... stay a mystery until the end, then this would not be a good book for you. As I said above, this novel drip feeds you the culprit throughout and leaves for a satisfying but not surprising ending.

The Duke & I - Julia Quinn // Book Review

The Duke & I
Julia Quinn || Publication Date - 05.01.2000

Thank you to Netflix for enlightening me to the formidable regency drama series - Bridgerton.

Romance | Historical

I would like to introduce you to the 1813 summer season. Families are rushing to have their freshly 'come of age' daughters fussed and dressed in the latest fashions ready to promenade around London. Bachelors are sighing as they're attending social events in the hopes that one of these pretty damsels will become their wife and carry on their estates.

One of these women is none other than Daphne Bridgerton. A newfound woman who is intent on finding a good husband and marrying to start a large and boisterous family of her own. Maybe even one to rival that of the one she grew up in.

On the other side of this coin is the Duke of Hastings, Simon Bassett. A man of contrary nature to our feminine protagonist, he is hell bent on never marrying, never settling down and never EVER having a child of his own. As his boots touch down back in London after a while travelling the world, he is /basically/ forced to attend a ball held by the honourable Lady Danbury in which the events of our novel take fruit and blossom into the romance which captivated audiences 20 years earlier than Netflix.

The Review (may contain spoilers)

While I enjoyed the book for what it is - there were a lot of times I really wanted more. It started off very promising, and I thoroughly enjoyed Daphne and Simon's mannerisms together, especially their back and forth banter towards each other and their surroundings. I was quite disappointed that as the relationship came into fruition, this aspect of their relationship fell away. It was even more disappointing that this happened close to half way through the book.

I do however, enjoy the book from a character development standpoint. I felt all the characters, even the side characters, were very well stationed in the book. They felt like well rounded people and even though some had points which made me dislike them, I appreciated them for who they were.

Overall I felt this book was perfectly within the realm of the story it was trying to tell and the characters it was telling it with. Despite the 2nd half of the book, which to me was the most unenjoyable, it still made me want to read the other books in this series. Other characters are elaborated on and ultimately it is the Bridgerton family that I am invested in and not necessarily who each of them end up with in their respective novels.

Overall Thoughts

Ultimately I believe this book is worth a read if you enjoy historical fiction/romance, if not simply to enjoy the older 3 Bridgerton boys (Anthony, Benedict and Colin) and their constant commentary. If you prefer your romance to have a lot of smutty scenes, this will not be one for you. However, if you enjoy watching two people overcome struggles within their relationship (somewhat controversially to be honest) this would be a good one to add to your TBR pile.

Manners and Monsters - Tilly Wallace // Book Review

 

Manners and Monsters

Tilly Wallace || Publication Date - 07.06.2019

An amicable amalgamation of a stemmed zombie apocalypse and Victorian polite high society.

Historical | Fantasy | Mystery

Hannah isn't a normal polite lady in high society, she's a brilliant minded daughter of a renowned scientist and a zombified mother.

A product of war, face powder, was used to assail the city of London and it's most prevalent citizens. It had been tainted with a curse of magic which turned any who used this powder into one of the Afflicted. Hearts stopped beating all over London and over the next few days, many women (and men) were presumed dead. Much to the horror of those who loved and lost, the dead did in fact reanimate and are now, years later, integrated with society and seem to live comfortable, albeit altered, lives.

Hannah's mother was unfortunately one who was taken prematurely by the cursed cosmetic. She and her father have been studying this Affliction trying to find a way to reverse it's affects, kickstart her mothers heart, and return her to the living. This research gets put on hold when a gruesome murder at the hands of a rogue Afflicted occurs and Hannah is poised to learn the truth. Her reluctant partner, whom she is dragged along with, Viscount Wycliff is determined to slag the Afflicted and smear their reformed progress through the mud.

Can Hannah ensure the integrity and reputations of the Afflicted high society remain intact, while also using her knowledge to catch a murderer?

The Review (may contain spoilers)

I want to preface this by admitting that I had won an audio copy of this book through the Storygraph giveaways. And whatever giver of luck that I had pleased to win this, I am forever grateful. Had I not, I likely would never have remembered this title existed and subsequently would never have read it.

This book was so much fun! I loved the main character Hannah and her family. Her outlook and disposition on the entire world was very modern and progressive for the time in which this book is set in. She is also partial to opinions from both sides of the fence, with her mother being one of the Afflicted, and her father a scientist trying to find a cure.

The way that magic is weaved into this world is not particularly explained, however it's a common occurrence for all characters involved. I would assume in later volumes in this series that the world would further be explored and questions would be answered. However, I am also expecting different types of supernatural beings to exist as others had been mentioned in passing.

As for the plot, this murder mystery was nothing particularly special. Most of my accolades for this novel come from the characters and creative setting. The mystery was a good introduction to the reader for the world, the placing of the characters and their lives along with establishing the future instalments for Hannah and her new ventures.

Overall Thoughts

If you're in the mood for a Historical fiction set in Victorian high society, with a "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies" type of feel then this would be an amazing book for you. It has the elements of a fun and creative idea, excellent writing and a wonderful and smart main female lead.

I had the pleasure of listening to this on Audio and I would recommend both mediums. It wasn't particularly long, and would be something I could happily listen to while doing housework or driving to my day job.

The Gods Time Forgot - Kelsie Sheridan Gonzalez // Book Review

The Gods Time Forgot

 Kelsie Sheridan Gonzalez || Publication Date - 08.04.2025

She's emerged from a pool, in someone else's body... with no idea who she is.

Fiction | Fantasy | Historical

Rua emerges from a pool of water, surrounded by people trying to capture her - calling her 'Emma'. In her confusion and fear, she runs, and finds herself found and being walked up the stairs of an opulent housing estate in England's countryside. The Harrington's are ecstatic to have their daughter back safe and sound. Unfortunately, Rua on the other hand has no clue who these people are, neither the faintest idea of how she even got here.

Now imposing as Emma Harrington, Rua takes it upon herself to find out what's going on and why this has happened to her. High Society is cruel, but visions and dreams have assured her that she can be crueller. Especially when those visions show a man she has seen before on a battlefield, connected to her in some way, and she wants to find out where and how they could know each other. 

The Review (may contain spoilers)

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me early access to this eARC for an honest review!

I very much enjoyed the beginning of this novel. It was intriguing and the woven mythology which presented itself was compelling to keep me going. The characters were interesting, however, I didn't particularly feel connected to them. A lot of the time I found them fairly average in their personality and conversations with each other. Especially the main couple Rua and Finn. I wanted to like them more than I did.

As the novel progressed, I felt a lot of the chapters could have been edited out or condensed. After about the 60% mark the novel dragged and not a lot was actually happening. It seemed the discussions and reveals made in this chunk of the book had already been given prior, and it was as if the writer or editor was filling in space to up the page count. It made me disinterested as a whole as by this point I simply wanted the book to end.

Finn's connection with the orphanage was also weird to me. Almost as if there had to be something to allude to the fact he wasn't inherently a bad person? I felt the writer did a fine enough job of convincing the audience of his character without this being included. If the significance of this location was explained more, it could have made more sense.

I felt this book could have improved with more of a POV in earlier chapters of how Finn came to where he is. I understand the mystery aspect, however it made things seem a little disjointed despite he went through the exact same thing Rua did. I feel it would have been interesting to explore as they both came to the realisation of their circumstances and who they really were.

Overall Thoughts

As a whole, this book was alright. It wasn't amazing and it told a story. The comparisons to 'Outlander' I feel are quote loose - and if you picked up this book with the expectation this was a similar story, you would likely be disappointed. Because other than a displaced person in time, this novel had nothing else in common with that series.

It's not one I would actively recommend, however if the premise sounds interesting to you I wouldn't stop you from giving it a go.

Julie Chan is Dead - Liann Zhang // Book Review

Julie Chan is Dead

Liann Zhang || Publication Date - 29.04.2025

"I want to begin by saying, I did not kill my sister..."

Fiction | Thriller

Julie Chan is living her worst life. She's a cashier at a supermarket that she hates, her aunty is abusive and all she's trying to do is make ends meet, and not keep tabs on her twin sister Chloe Van Huusen. It's very easy to do, to cyberstalk her twin sister however, considering Chloe's an incredibly popular influencer. Garnering hundreds of thousands of views on social media. One day Chloe randomly appears at her workplace and surprises her by buying her a house as the subject of an #emotional YouTube video.

This leads to a phone call which viscerally changes Julie's life forever. After discovering Chloe dead in her high rise apartment in New York, Julie has a choice to make: go on with her boring, and uneventful existence as Julie Chan? Or take over the life of her twin sister Chloe and live in the luxury she's always dreamed.

The Review (may contain spoilers)

Okay... so I have a lot of thoughts about this book. Firstly the premise was wild, like a good time through a really weird dream type of wild. It went from morally apprehensible decisions, to a fever dream of luxury and indulgence fuelled by the likes and comments of strangers, to discovering and wiping out a generational cult.

If all of the above sounds like a good time to you, well you're in luck! This book is available and on shelves for you to experience yourself.

This book made me question a lot about my own life, honestly. I work what a lot of people would call a standard job, nothing fancy, but it pays the bills. If you were to see my house, it's definitely not extravagant. And I'm grateful enough to be living within my means that I don't need to steal supermarket sandwiches. All that being said, if I did have an estranged twin sister that lived the life of luxury I'd always dreamed and found her dead... would I take her place should the outrageous opportunity arose?

The other aspect which poked in my brain a little was also the social media facet. I'm not millions of followers deep to be fair, but the life which can be made just by being lucky, or even knowing the right people, can be luxurious. The way that Liann portrays this lifestyle is sickeningly positive, and I love how this contradicts Julie's previously negative and depressing life prior. It's giving drug addiction, and I'm living for it.

I also have to praise the writing. It was conversational in a way, while also being completely unhinged. Please see below, probably one of my favourite quotes to come from literature...

I love my girls so much I can identify each of them by their teeth, their Cupid's bow, and how many cc's of lip filler accentuate their perfect pouts.

Like hello? What the fuck!? 😂 

Overall Thoughts

My first thought when I'd finished this book was 'What the fuck did I just read?'. I've seen this novel compared to 'Bunny' which is another on my TBR - and if the comparison is accurate, I'm sure I will devour that book too. I had such a good time, it went as deranged as I had thought it would and for that, Liann, I thank you. She's definitely been put on my author watch list, and considering this was her debut, what a banger to kick off your career.

I recommend this book for anyone who wants a good time, especially unhinged existential chaos. I had such a great time with it, and reading as a part of a book club had the benefits of enjoying everything the book had to offer with others.

Breathe In, Bleed Out - Brian McAuley // Book Review

Breathe In, Bleed Out

Brian McAuley || Publication Date - 29.04.2025

Can you really be free from your past haunting you?

Fiction | Thriller | Horror

Hannah is dragging the deceased corpse of her fiancé trying to get back to some form of civilisation after a holiday ended up going horribly wrong. She's trying to come to terms with his death and the guilt she feels being unable to save him. As a result, she's haunted by the events of that day, and his ghost.

Due to a near fatal nursing mistake at work, Hannah is forced on leave from her job and is working with her therapist closely to try and get to the bottom of her guilt and subsequent hallucinations.

Hannah and a group of her friends whisk her away to a wellness retreat. Supposedly so exclusive and successful, it almost feels like a cult... and when Hannah's friends start to go missing, she's torn between her feelings of going insane or if there really is something sinister going on at this retreat.

The Review (may contain spoilers)

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me early access to this eARC for an honest review!

I wasn't sure what to expect when I picked up this novel. I was purely drawn to the style of the cover, and I am so glad I was.

Brian's writing is so easy to read and immersive. As I'd been reading it's like a movie was playing out in my head. The characters feel so oddly detailed, when really there's only a brief description of them as they're first introduced. They're intricate and funny, and their banter is perfectly written to give the impression they have genuinely known each other for years.

I'm obsessed with the creepy vibes through the novel. It starts off with a banger of a chapter, and has a tendency to throw in horrific scenes at random. I never truly know when something will happen, and it's always executed in a seamless way. Poor Hannah having already dealt with the death of her fiancé, is now experiencing the random trauma of hallucinating his restless corpse and being haunted by him. As scary and traumatic that would be for her, for me it's a damn good time 😂

The true unsettling nature was knowing this is supposed to be a horror/thriller, but there's absolutely no indication where this will trigger. It was deeply eerie and provided the perfect level of isolated confusion I was anticipating.

Overall Thoughts

Definitely an unexpected favourite coming into this novel. I had a blast with the story, the characters and the conclusion was impeccably satisfying. Brian's writing was immersive and easy to read, which was awesome as I ploughed trough this book. The writing was eerie, atmospheric and funny which kept me engaged the whole time to find out what the heck was going on through the book.

Unfortunately for me the twist was predictable, however that still didn't take away from the enjoyment I had reading the novel.

If you're looking for a thriller that's easy to read and has some amazing characters - look no further than this one. Genuinely had a great time reading and I'm definitely adding Brian McAuley to my author watch list.

Everyone in This Bank is a Thief - Benjamin Stevenson // Book Review

 

Everyone In This Bank Is a Thief
Benjamin Stevenson || Publication Date - 30.09.2025

Trying to get a bank loan for a detective agency has never been so difficult...

Fiction | Crime | Mystery

Ernest is coming fresh off his Christmas Special, where he has travelled to the middle of nowhere for the possibility to begin a new life. The man who's nearly been killed multiple times, degloved, shot and hails from a family of killers - wants a bank loan. One to kick start his detective agency and hopefully, leave behind all the death that surrounds him.

Unfortunately for Ernest, this loan is begrudgingly more difficult to acquire than he had hoped. He's thrown into a hostage situation with a robber who wants a single dollar, and with every hostage in the room as suspicious as the next. So what does Ernest do? He assumes the position of the original bank robber and proceeds to solve not only the murder of the bank owners brother, but also his own. 

The Review (may contain spoilers)

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me early access to this eARC for an honest review!

I will start this review out exactly as I had for the last. It's written from the perspective of Ernest recounting events from his past. A formula we are already well established with for this series of novels. This time, we listen to Ernest narrate the final letter he is writing to his Fiancé as he is locked inside of a safe that only he knows the code for, and no one knows he is inside of.

We are welcomed to the scene a little differently this time around, there is a missing persons mystery to be solved. To be awarded the bank loan he's been chasing to start his detective agency, Ernest is required to find the bank owners brother who went missing after changing the code to the banks vault. Ernest reluctantly agrees and is then charged with solving 2 murders, a bank robbery and how each person within the hostage party could be connected to something greater.

While these events have already taken place, rather than finding out through a post event memoir, we learn what happens through the lens of a decreasingly more oxygen deprived Ernest. As his life is being slowly taken away, he is writing a letter to his Fiancé breaking down all the events and ultimately to give her all the clues to assist in solving his own murder.

I did find the circumstances for this novel and some of the mysteries to be quite outlandish if I am honest. There was definitely some heightened absurdity for this book compared to the previous instalments, and I am still undecided whether it was a little too much. That being said, I did enjoy the novel none the less. There is definitely an element of creativity needed to pull these stunts off and I believe Benjamin did a fair job in keeping the reader engaged while also having fun with the story.

Overall Thoughts

Once again, as a fan of Benjamin Stevenson, I happily devoured this novel. With that being said, this being the third novel in the series, not much has changed in the formula of the writing. It will not be the case for myself, but I do believe that this novel will be where a lot of readers will likely drop the series if they were to stop reading it.

Unfortunately unless something fresh comes into the story from a narrative perspective, I don't believe it's a series which will continue to wow and impress people. I'm not too sure where Benjamin can go from here, but I will continue to keep looking forward to his releases and see if he has any new tricks up his sleeve!

Spider to the Fly - J.H. Markert // Book Review

  

Spider to the Fly

J.H. Markert || Publication Date - 02.09.2025

You're a fly trapped in a web, not knowing the Spider is closer than you think...

Fiction | Crime | Thriller

You're at home, cooking dinner for yourself and your young daughter when she comes into the kitchen begging you to look at the TV. She's pointing at a murder victim, the latest victim of the I-64 serial killer dubbed 'The Spider'. This instance wouldn't normally cause too much alarm, except the person on the TV looks identical to you, in every single way.

This was Ellie's reality, and as a result of wanting to know more about this woman look alike, she became one of the most researched minds on the I-64 killer and a best selling novelist collating her research. 

When Ellie's therapist is arrested and charged for the murders of the I-64 killer, she is more determined than ever to find out exactly who this person is to save an innocent man from spending the rest of his life behind bars.

The Review (may contain spoilers)

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me early access to this eARC for an honest review!

As far as Thrillers go... Unfortunately the suspense and atmosphere this book was trying to convey did not land for me. The plot was an interesting concept, but I feel the pacing was too slow for the punch of the book to really impact my reading experience. I'm also sad to say that I was not invested in any of the characters at all in this story. They all appeared very bland, which I'm sad to say exacerbated the dull reading experience.

All of the above is not to say this wasn't a well written book. I enjoyed the authors writing, and I definitely feel they have the ability to pull in feedback from this release and really step it up for their next novel.

I wished there was more elaboration for the events being held in this story. Too much of it, I felt, was being kept from the reader in the attempt to keep the mystery. However, to me this was detrimental. The mystery behind a lot of the plot never really made sense, and this lead me to thinking, 'why is this even happening in the first place?'. A little more writing from behind closed doors from other characters involved in the novel could have really added to the Thriller. Especially from the point of view of those who had married into the Brock family.

I also did not understand the inclusion of the main character having a fear of men. It had some relevance to the beginning of the book, and obviously was supported by her experienced trauma. However, approaching the middle, it's lost in the narrative and ultimately feels irrelevant. I would have appreciated this characteristic of the main character if it was conveyed and supported through the entire book. Relating to my above point, adding to the Thriller and exposing traumatic events from a present tense point of view would have helped solidify her fears. It would also have helped if her fear didn't just suddenly fall off the face of the Earth half way through the book.

Overall Thoughts

Generally speaking, this was a fine novel. It was written well and has things which would add to the narrative to elevate it up a notch. The story premise was interesting to a point and it had potential. Unfortunately for me, this wasn't a stand out novel.

A lot of the mystery felt too closed off from the reader. And despite knowing I don't need my hand held, additional characters experiences from behind those closed doors could really have added a lot to the story being told.

I wouldn't recommend this book to a seasoned Thriller reader. However, inherently it's not a bad book, and if you're new to the genre it would be a good entry point to see if you enjoy the type of writing and tropes which feature within thriller/crime novels.

Roll For Romance - Lenora Woods // Book Review

Roll For Romance

Lenora Woods || Publication Date - 17.07.2025

Romance budding between D&D characters and their players - Yes please!

Fiction | Fantasy | Romance

Sadie is down on her luck. She's been fired from her job, and has now left the loving bustle of New York City for a small town in Texas. Her long time best friend, Liam, has offered to house her while she gets back on her feet and finds another job. Unfortunately, Sadie is far from ready to throw herself back into the corporate world so soon.

For something to do, Liam invites Sadie and a small group of people to play a campaign of Dungeons & Dragons. They're all new players, and people she may have met in town should she have ever left the house for longer than 5 minutes. One that strikes her interest is a ruggedly handsome bartender at the new local hotspot 'The Alchemist'.

As the campaign progresses, and the groups friendships grow, Sadie has a choice to make. Does she go back to a life of corporate servitude in the big city? Or does she leave that all behind to grow roots in this quaint small town?

The Review (may contain spoilers)

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me early access to this eARC for an honest review!

I need to gush over how this novel is written. I'm loving the split between the out of character normal lives of Sadie and the other players, however, also having the in game scenarios being played out by all their player characters is so much fun. My only gripe with the scenario is that the characters are acting as if they are experienced D&D players, whereas the table is formed by players new to the game. For storytelling reasons this makes sense, however as an experienced TTRPG player myself I found it a bit odd.

I'm not particularly a fan of the beginning of the romance. It's giving very instalove and for me this isn't my favourite. I can definitely appreciate being attracted to someone from the get go, but he is kind of a bit creepy with it. Sadie is a bit more realistic with her attraction at least telling herself to cool off... As they progress through the novel it becomes so much more wholesome and sweet, thankfully and I found myself rooting for them. Especially when they decided to role play as their D&D characters out of game. That was so freaking cute!

I enjoyed the 3rd act drama in this novel as well. It wasn't miscommunication, thankfully, as both characters actually spoke about their concerns and their plans. They were okay with a type of relationship which was 'we will see where we end up', even though secretly hoping they end up together. It was refreshing and realistic and I loved how they navigated the challenges this type of relationship can bring up.

Overall Thoughts

I loved this novel, it was so much fun! The characters were awesome, the D&D Campaign scenario which was played through the novels characters was like a mini story all on its own and it was a wholesome romp the whole way to the end. If you like romance, I would recommend this book. If you like fantasy, I would recommend this book. And if you like D&D, I would recommend this book! It ticks so many boxes for me that I will definitely be buying a physical copy to go back and re-read when I need something fun to dip back into.

Thoroughly keeping my eyes on this author and I'll be buying their next release if/when it's available because I could easily see them becoming a new favourite author.

Everyone on This Train is a Suspect - Benjamin Stevenson // Book Review

Everyone on This Train is a Suspect
Benjamin Stevenson || Publication Date - 17.10.2023

Death seems to follow Earnest wherever he goes... Even on an author's retreat across the country.

Fiction | Crime | Mystery

Following the events of 'Everyone in my Family has Killed Someone', Ernest Cunningham is trying to live a quiet, non-death filled life and revel in the fact he is now a published author. However, when Earnest published his novel, he didn't think he would be on The Ghan travelling with some of the most prolific authors in the industry. He also didn't think that he would be dealing with another murder... or two.

Unfortunately, this is where he finds himself. Travelling on a luxurious train from Darwin to Adelaide, his fiancé by his side, a murderer, and a corpse in the train's fridge.

Now the train is occupied by authors who turn into amateur sleuths to try and figure out what is happening before they all end up dead.

The Review (may contain spoilers)

Just like 'Everyone in my Family has Killed Someone', it's written from the perspective of Ernest recounting events from his past. Already within the first pages I am happily thrown back into the writing style that I fell in love with in the first novel. It's funny, it's clever, and deadpan in a deliciously good way.

I can understand why readers following on from Stevenson's first book would echo that it's the same as the first, but set on a train. However, for me, something about the writing and how the narrative is told to me is like 'fairy floss for my brain'. It connects with me and, honestly, is simply a great time. Enjoyment in a book is worth a lot to me, and I very much enjoy Benjamin Stevenson's writing, even including his earlier novels.

For some who have not already read the first instalment, 'Everyone in my Family has Killed Someone', this does reference people who appeared and events which happened within that novel. I don't necessarily believe that it is a must read for you to appreciate this story, however, it would give amusing context to a lot of comments and quips thrown throughout this book.

I did rate this book lower overall compared to the first in the series. Some of the scenes within the novel I found a little confusing to follow along, specifically where there was action involved... because there was some including The Ghan and a car. Albeit amusing, it added something different to the structure of the novel and even though I did just it a bit hard to follow, I enjoyed it none the less.

Overall Thoughts

As an Australian, I will admit I am biased to Australian authors. Benjamin Stevenson is one of those such authors that is also Australian and I am biased to. His writing is fun and witty, the mysteries are enjoyable, and I love the structure to this series of novels. They don't seem to take themselves too seriously and are self aware enough to acknowledge when something is plainly absurd.

I find myself excited to see when a new book in this series is going to be released and recently, this has been a severely missed feeling for me. If you enjoyed the first, I'd hesitate to say you wouldn't enjoy this one too. I'd also like to point out that if this is the first time you are seeing this book or series, give it a shot! I'd place my bets that the writing is not for everyone, however if you're looking for an easy read, mystery crime novel that doesn't take itself too seriously, this would be the series for you.

The Lost Apothecary - Sarah Penner // Book Review

  

The Lost Apothecary
Sarah Penner || Publication Date - 20.01.2022

When women don't have a voice or power, there is one place in service just for them. Any ailment they have, can be taken care of.

Historical | Fiction | Mystery

Taking place simultaneously in 18th century and modern day London, this story follows a brief snapshot into the lives of Caroline, Nella and Eliza.

Aspiring historian Caroline is breaking away from her Husband who has been unfaithful to her. The revelation happened just before the couple were planning to spend their anniversary in London. She decided, despite the situation, to continue her plans and get on the plane without him and enjoy some time to herself as far away from him as possible.

While in London, she meets a group of people who are passing the afternoon away digging in the mud around the river Thames, looking for treasures or historical items. Caroline stumbles on a vial which doesn't look like much, however, when she takes this to a Librarian a local buried mystery surfaces.

Now we introduce Nella, an 18th century apothecary who has her shop hidden away behind a fake wall in the small streets of London. Her mother, the previous owner of this shop, is known in the female community for being able to heal and relieve any ailment. Nella has inherited all her mothers knowledge and burdens as she continues to work for the women of London.

When Eliza shows up at her shop requesting assistance with the removal of her mistresses burden, the man of the house, Nella provides her a poison. However, despite Nella having done this a multitude of times, this time is different and the safe stowaway shop is now in jeopardy from being discovered, from the 18th century police and present day Caroline.

The Review (may contain spoilers)

As much as I'm not fond of books which switch perspectives a lot for every chapter as this one does, the way this book had been set out made it easy to follow. I personally find it challenging to keep track of multiple storylines happening at the same time.

Each of the 3 characters who are focused on in this book did act as if they were their own person. I enjoyed each of them individually, however, sometimes it felt hard to connect with the adult characters due to their pursuit of motherhood, a sentiment I do not share. This sole similarity was much of the character's motives when it came to their decisions and I personally believe is the catalyst for this story even existing.

The premise of the book was very promising, however, the ending does feel quite lacklustre. There was also not a lot of depth when it came to the plot. It was very surface level, and I feel that the characters quite honestly deserved more, especially when it came to Nella and Eliza. The last few chapters seemed a bit of a rush to close the book. The ending events described by Caroline, which she read in through a newspaper article, I wish were told through Eliza and Nella's perspectives as additional chapters.

Overall Thoughts

I thought this book was interesting and honestly a decent read. As I had previously mentioned, I do wish that it had a few more extra chapters to really give Nella and Eliza a nice closing to their stories. Having their final events told through Caroline in present day just didn't do them justice in my opinion.

If you want a historical fiction which underlines and gives voices and power to women in the 18th century then this would be right up your alley. It was a lovely sentiment despite murder being involved and was an interesting take on women supporting other women in their own specialised ways.

The Staircase In The Woods - Chuck Wendig // Book Review

The Staircase in the Woods

Chuck Wendig || Publication Date - 29.04.2025

What lengths would you truly go to for your friends?

Fiction | Horror

Three dysfunctional friends are living their separate lives when they receive an email from their fourth friend Nick, telling them all he has cancer and to use the plane tickets he has purchased them to see him one last time.

He's promised them a weekend of alcohol, drugs and debauchery as a final farewell before his terminal diagnosis finally takes him away. However, upon arrival to the party, nothing is going to be the same again.

Nick has brought his friends to a remote part of the woods, and convinces them that the resort he has booked for them all is only a short hike away. What they don't know is he has lured them to an impromptu campsite next to an abandoned staircase. Very similar to the staircase which claimed Matty a few decades prior.

What follows is a fever dream of trauma, horrors and facing their own worst demons as they try to find the friend they abandoned all those years ago.

The Review (May Contain Spoilers)

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me early access to this eARC for an honest review!

I have been craving the type of book lately that gives me the absolute creeps and Chuck did not disappoint. The atmosphere in this novel is truly eerie. I don't think I'll ever be able to look at a Staircase the same again...

The characters that are being focused on in this novel are fucked up in so many ways, however, their bond is wholesome and chaotic. I love their idea of The Covenant. It's gone from a pact to help each other through their lives major setbacks, to invoking unbridled and messy situations. It really opens up the question of "What would you REALLY do for your friends?". The novel explores so many various forms of trauma and character personalities that it's hard not to find an experience through them to relate to. I felt this added even more layers to the horrors the characters are being exposed to, as they are actively being forced to face them head on.

I love how these chapters are set out. It's coasty for a couple of chapters and they continue to get shorter as something looms. Then you're back to longer chapters which keeps building in a sense of dread, and because they keep getting shorter, the pace quickens making everything seem much more urgent and tense.

If there's a single triumph from this novel - I am truly proud to say it gave me the ever loving creeps. I had yet to find a book which actively made me feel uncomfortable, and this gave it to me in spades. Chuck's writing and how immersed I felt during the story truly gave me the feeling I had been searching for when it came to being given the heebies. And deeply I want to thank him 😂

Overall Thoughts

This was an absolute banger of a novel. From start to finish I was gripped by the situation, the characters and the calamity which ensues through the book. So many emotions were felt while reading, all overshadowed by a pressing sense of dread, and it was perfect. As I've said above, this is probably the first horror novel that actually left me physically uneasy while reading. I'd been craving something to make me feel this way and I loved how Chuck's writing imbued me with unease.

If you're looking for a book surrounding dysfunctional friends and a fucked up house, look no further than this. I highly recommend you pick this novel up for yourself, it was a damn good time and I'm so glad I got to read it.

The Serpent Called Mercy - Roanne Lau // Book Review

The Serpent Called Mercy

Roanne Lau || Publication Date - 25.03.2025

Begging for money, in debt and working for abusers just to make ends meet. What if risking your life could bring you comforts far beyond your wildest dreams?

Fantasy | Fiction

Lythlet and Desil have been sworn siblings since they were children after Lythlet came into the care of Desil's parents. However, growing up together hasn't always been smooth sailing for the pair. After Desil was desperate to save Lythlet's life, he made a deal with a loan shark and has been drowning in the crippling cycle of debt ever since.

One day, after giving up hope they're ever going to break free of their debt and be able to start living better lives, they make the heavy decision to join the arena as Conquessor's. Fighting in a Colosseum style match-up between themselves and sun-cursed beasts, Desil and Lythlet have the capacity to shape their futures and roll in wealth they could only have dreamed of.

However, when things start going down a different path, it's up to them whether their friendship is worth more than riches.

The Review (May Contain Spoilers)

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me early access to this eARC for an honest review!

I felt while reading this book, that there were multiple story hooks which didn't quite gel together. As much as I enjoyed the concept of the story, and it had the foundations for being an epic fantasy novel, I couldn't help but have the impression for how disjointed it was. It would have been more enjoyable if each storyline was broken up over a duology, too much wanted to happen in this single book.

The main friendship and their debt is clearly the focus of the novel. It's their driving force to becoming Conquessor's and fighting for money to pay off the collector and be able to be free. I would have loved to have seen more of Desil's internal monologues and character viewpoints through the novel. It's essentially written solely through Lythlet, and I do believe it could have benefitted for some sections or chapters divided up to incorporate Desil.

One of the traits being highlighted in this novel is Lythlet's financial skills. This to me is unique, and I'm genuinely happy to see this being showcased in the forefront of a characters skillset. I see money being used a lot in Fantasy novels, but there's never really any mention of characters being versed in their own financial situation. She's also incredibly perceptive, which as a skill is remarkable however seen far too often in my opinion.

Overall Thoughts

As a whole, I personally felt this novel was trying to be too much all in one sitting. There's arena battles, magical beasts, gods/goddesses, magic, fugitive thieves, espionage and a political social hierarchy all trying to take centre stage in this one book. All of these ideas and the development of them could have been so much more enjoyable if they were spread out over more book real estate. A lot of the time this story felt disjointed and too much was happening in too many different areas for me to really keep a grasp of what was happening.

I would have also liked to have explored Desil's point of view more than we had. I truly believe he would have been a useful and refreshing voice in the jam packed narrative which could have helped flesh things out a little more and extend the story to a sequel at best.

The Midnight Library - Matt Haig // Book Review

   

The Midnight Library

Matt Haig || Publication Date - 13.08.2020

Imagine feeling like each decision you have ever made in your life could be undone and you could experience what your life could have been.

Contemporary | Fiction | Literary

Nora finds herself at an all time low. She's lost her job, her depression is gripping her life and of all things her beloved cat has passed away. What was left for her?

After struggling to grasp any real reason to continue being alive, Nora fatefully decides to end her life. However, this decision opens her up to a world where any decision she has ever made could be undone. Nora would have the opportunity to see what life could have been like if she had never made decisions she regretted in life.

Does this mean Nora will be fulfilled in attempting to fix what she regrets in life? Or will everything remain as dismal as it was before she took this unexpected journey?

The Review (May Contain Spoilers)

This novel was a ride!

From the beginning I was skeptical. It was taking a long time to get anywhere and even though the premise made sense, I felt as if it took a few too many times to actually get to the meaty part of the novel. I did audibly complain that this book was repetitive, and considering it brings in the multiverse theory, it felt like groundhog day. I believe it was the last 100 pages of this novel where things actually started to move forward with the narrative it was trying to tell, and I do believe some of the writing could have been cut down to save on being repetitive.

We get it, she can choose any of the millions of books in her Library and live that life.

That being said, I loved the writing and the main character Nora. Her messy life and circumstances made this novel relatable and highlighted real questions I'm certain everyone has asked themselves when things haven't gone right.

It was very easy to sit there with her and wonder "What would have happened if I had done this differently".

This book also gave rise to one of my favourite quotes:

"So long as there are still books on the shelves, you are never trapped. Every book is a potential escape."

I've never annotated a book before, and The Midnight Library was the first I had read which made me want to do it. There were so many quotes and passages which were fantastic to read and reflect on.

Overall Thoughts

If you like contemporary fiction, or maybe even like reflecting on life, I would highly recommend this book to you. It has amazing writing, the premise is solid and it really has a feel good ending which despite the content, made me feel as if things are okay even if they're not.

The novel does touch on mental health issues such as anxiety, depression and suicide. If this is something you cannot read about or would not be able to comfortably take in, then this book would not be for you. The main character does in some passages get very emotional and offloads to the reader her feelings which could be triggering for some.

Everyone in my Family has Killed Someone - Benjamin Stevenson // Book Review

Everyone in my Family has Killed Someone
Benjamin Stevenson || Publication Date - 02.01.2024

How do you handle a family reunion, where everyone in the room is a killer?

Fiction | Crime | Mystery

Murderers, life-takers, killers... unalivers? It doesn't matter what descriptor follows the various members of the Cunningham family, because all of them have, in fact, killed someone.

Now, Ernest is reluctantly joining his family as they converge to spend a weekend at a snowy mountain resort in northern Victoria. Unfortunately, no matter how each family member has partaken in any various version of the 'cide's', they're all now prime suspects in a homicide.

Can Ernest solve this mystery before everyone's resume amends to victim? Or will the murderer succeed in covering up the existence of the Cunningham family for good?

The Review (May Contain Spoilers)

Cover to cover, I had a blast reading this novel and I loved every character. They were all the same but also so different in so many ways and it was so much fun reading and learning about all of them with how this book was set out. The premise was outlandish, but incredibly deep, and explored so many moral conundrums. People make decisions and ultimately this can lead to the death of another, but how you feel about each family member is completely different dependent on these circumstances.

There were also layers of misdirection paved through the writing and each time it came up I couldn't help but laugh. Numerous times I chuckled to myself and each time I got caught out by the phrasing or narrative... it felt so silly but so obvious at the same time. Benjamin's writing is very witty. Even at the beginning of the novel, he has outlined the guidelines the novel will follow, and, when certain events happen down to the page. yet even knowing these, you're still stumped or surprised by what's happened. It felt incredibly unique and I feel that's what made this book so enjoyable for me.

The only thing that could have given this book a negative mark was that I did guess who the killer was, quite significantly, before the end of the book. However, I loved every single word that it didn't take away from my enjoyment at all and I feel that is something worth keeping the star for.

Overall Thoughts

I don't think it's surprising to say that I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. It was unique in its storytelling, it was compelling and held discussion for morality and blame, and it was incredibly funny. If a book can make me laugh, it automatically gets brownie points.

If you're a fan of crime, I would not hesitate to recommend this novel to you. If you're a fan of super serious all the time crime, I still wouldn't hesitate to recommend this novel to you. It was a perfect pallet cleanser, and a reminder that even during the worst times of peoples lives there's still time for a laugh.

Love From Scratch - Amy Hutton // Book Review

Love From Scratch
Amy Hutton || Publication Date - 05.06.2024

Babysitting for an upcoming A-List Celebrity isn't all it's cracked up to be.

Fiction | Contemporary | Romance

'Love From Scratch' is a delightful rom-com that will take you away to the glistening beaches and film sets of my home country, Australia. Meet Ethan James, a charming movie star with a newfound love for dogs, and Hazel, a talented chef on a forced hiatus.

Their worlds collide when Ethan needs someone to care for his anxious dog, Harry, while his time is taken up shooting a film. After hosting interviews and his original choice for dog-sitter falls through, Hazel, reluctantly agrees to the job.

Exploring the nuance of following career dreams, or listening to your heart, you'll be sure to experience a series of humorous and heartwarming events.

The Review (may contain spoilers)

I wanted to thank NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Australia for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book early.

Ethan and Hazel couldn't be further in career paths. He's a budding movie star and she's a down on her luck chef. While Ethan is preparing to film his next movie, a sequel to the hit romcom 'Sit, Stay, Love', he requests some professional pet minding assistance for his dog Harry. While interviewing potential candidates, he is introduced to Hazel, and from then on their lives become acquaintances to friends to head over heels for each other.

When going into this, I didn't realise this novel was a sequel, and even if I hadn't known, it reads perfectly as a stand alone. I loved Ethan's character, I loved Hazel's character and together I loved their banter. They sounded like a genuinely fun couple to write and it made me very happy to see Ethan find love after his supposed shafting for another man in the first instalment.

There were some issues towards the beginning of the book with how choppy I felt the writing to be. It didn't seem to flow very well and was quite robotic in tone. However, as the novel progressed, I noticed this less over time as more dialogue was introduced into the book. Amy has a great way with writing characters conversing and I found myself laughing with all of her characters witty comments.

I would also really like to personally thank Amy for giving her characters a pet name and NOT OVERUSING IT! It's a huge peeve of mine and the nicknames felt really sweet, deliberate and personal. As they should!

I did at times think the editing might have chopped off bits of the story haphazardly. We would be reading about one scene and immediately the following paragraph could be hours or even the next day later. It was quite jarring and took me out of the book. This book is split POV, but not per chapter, so both characters perspectives and described events are concurrent.

Overall Thoughts

'Love From Scratch' was an enjoyable read and I would highly recommend it to anyone who loves a cosy and light-hearted romance. There are some plot devices which seemed to be disjointed due to the writing style of my copy - I am hoping this has been edited and amended in the final published copy of the novel.

I enjoyed the narrative and Amy's character writing so much that I have gone out and purchased her first novel in this series 'Sit, Stay, Love' to capture the beginning of this world and explore how Ethan ended up as he did at the beginning of this novel.

Wild Dark Shore - Charlotte McConaghy // Book Review

 

Wild Dark Shore
Charlotte McConaghy || Publication Date - 04.03.2025

It's amazing what a little isolation and a climate crisis will make you do.

Fiction | Literary | Thriller

A small family living on an isolated island between the ocean of Tasmania and Antarctica have saved a woman from a frozen grave. Her wounds were extensive, Dominic had little hope she would make it. However, his suspicion gripped when he couldn't think of a reason why she would be here at all. No one comes here.

This family only have a few weeks left before they would be packaging precious cargo and moving off this god forsaken rock. Each day looms ever closer that the ocean is rising, weather is more chaotic and the world is falling victim to impending climate change.

The woman has come here to find something, the family are trying to keep things hidden, and nothing will prepare them for what comes next.

The Review (May Contain Spoilers)

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me early access to this eARC for an honest review!

I could easily write my own novel as to why this book was incredible. Everyone in this story is on edge, and you can really get roped in with their emotions as their conversations wax and wane through various topics. It was truly a devastating and haunting experience of a novel.

Exploring multiple themes over the length of a few weeks, I found it impressive in the way that it effortlessly weaves in and out of family, tragedy and compassion. You are never given the time to get comfortable with the characters, new aspects of their history on the island or interactions with other characters constantly throw new and tense situations into the mix. Towards the end I was gripping my seat because it all comes crashing into a myriad of emotions and circumstances that by the end of it, you're sitting there pondering everything that's just happened.

This novel explores what it's like to be human. The various emotions we exhibit and how perception changes and alters the way we feel about certain situations. What it's like from the outside looking into a future where humans have radically changed the course of an entire planet and it's inhabitants. Most importantly, and my personal favourite, the resilience of nature in all its forms.

It discusses the choice to have a family, how this choice can impact the lives of not only the ones coming into the world, but also those already existing. The biggest impact was the commentary of who really has this choice. Subtle cues indicating that even though women are the ones creating the life inside their bodies, they're almost expected to throw their own life away in the process, especially if something bad were to happen during birth.

Lastly how love transcends all other emotions. It's almost written in this novel as a superhuman aspect of humanity. It can be powerful and heartbreaking all at the same time. However, it remains to be said that without it, humanity would fail. The smallest things have an impact, and it can chain into some of the biggest accomplishments our species can achieve.

Overall Thoughts

Despite the bleak and overarching impending doom of the planet due to climate change, I don't know if I speak for everyone when I admit I found this book incredibly uplifting. It's slow pace was really the only negative for me in terms of narrative. However, towards the end, everything ramps up and all you're left with is sitting on the couch for 10 minutes while you ponder your life and everything in it.

The social commentary within the book is provoking enough on its own without throwing in the countless moral dilemmas that happen to all the characters. It left me with so much to think about, so many passages that resonate with me and I truly believe this will be a novel that sticks with me for a while.

I would highly recommend this novel, especially if you run a book club or discussion groups. Everything in this book is primed for conversation, which in turn a lot of these conversations being prompted are incredibly relevant to today's issues. A phenomenal piece of literature and I hope it gets the praise it deserves.

The Wolf Tree - Laura McCluskey // Book Review

The Wolf Tree
Laura McCluskey || Publication Date - 11.02.2025

There's always someone whispering about something...

Fiction | Mystery | Thriller | Crime

After an apparent suicide, DI's Georgina Lennox and Richard Stewart are sent to conduct a routine investigation into the death and confirm what everyone already suspects. Where they are headed is a picturesque small island approximately an hour off the mainland coast of Scotland.

From their first arrival, DI Georgina, or George as she commonly likes to be referred by, suspects something is simply not quite right. She's in her own head with something she cannot shake about the death of eighteen-year-old Alan. Things don't add up, and while questioning the island inhabitants, there's even more to this place than she could have even imagined.

What unfolds is an eerie mashup of local history, townsfolk who are way too nice for their own good, and folktales which turn out to have some truth to them after all.

The Review (May Contain Spoilers)

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me early access to this eARC for an honest review!

Incredibly atmospheric from the first page. I loved the eerie nature of the investigation and the island the detectives went to. I remember starting this book on a 42°C summer day and had goosebumps with how cold this novel made me feel.

There were so many layers of mystery coming into this book. One of the main detectives possibly being ill, or recovering from being so. Inconsistencies between the investigation they have been sent on and what is really happening in the case. There's also the creepy small village atmosphere where everyone knows everyone and is pretty aware of others business on the Island. The ending caught me by surprise and I had no clue where it was going until it was finally revealed. I loved the journey and for a debut it was an incredibly well written novel.

One of the best features was the interactions between the characters. Both the inspectors and the people who live on this island, and the inspectors between themselves. There's so much to everyone and it's hard to know if people are being genuine or are actually conspiring behind others backs. It creates an awesome amount of tension and I loved it!

The created lore of the island is another one of my favourite running lines of narrative. I don't know if it was intentionally referencing the disappearance of three lighthouse keepers from the Flannan Isles lighthouse in late 1900, however if it was, it made this novel even more intricate for me. It's a real story which immediately stuck in my brain while reading, and made this island feel like a real place I could go to and hear the howling for myself.

Overall Thoughts

For a debut novel, incredible. It was eerie, it had complex and genuinely well written characters, and the mixture of historical lore tying into the death investigation made this such a fun read. I would not hesitate to recommend this novel if you like detective novels for one. However, if you like a little history and/or folklore tying into your mystery books, this nailed it for me.

I am partial to a good story which involves close-knit communities with secrets and suspense. Throw a death investigation in there and reading how the author navigates the investigation and the characters is always a good solid time. Another top rated novel for me which follows this same style of narrative was 'One Dark Night' by Hannah Richell. Both are masterfully atmospheric and develop complex character relationships very well.

Tonight, I Burn - Katherine J. Adams // Book Review

Tonight, I Burn
Katharine J. Adams || Publication Date - 01.11.2023

Some witches move winds, some forge mountains, and others burn. 

Fiction | Fantasy | LGBTQIA+

Penny isn't just a run of the mill witch you read about in fairy tales, she's about to turn 21, and she's about to burn at the stake. Her elder sisters burned too, everyone in her Coven burns. Because they are Thorn Witches, ones with powers to cross the veil from life into death and protect it. Until one night one of her sisters, Ella, goes to patrol death and does not return.

While Ella is seemingly trapped in death, Penny is trying to convince her family and her coven to go in and save her. Unfortunately, a caveat to walking in death is that only one Thorn Witch can be in the veil at any one time. But Penny knows something is wrong, she can see her family acting strangely and she's decided to break the most fundamental rule... she will cross into death to save her sister.

What follows are countless revelations about the world she lives in, the immortal tyrannical ruler who has all covens bound to his servitude, and how Penny discovers who she really is and what she is capable of doing to destroy the suffering of everyone around her.

The Review (May Contain Spoilers)

Off the bat, this book is very descriptive, there's an air of mystery surrounding the complex world that these witches are living in. Especially when it pertains to the library, where there are books which have been restricted by the High Warden and effectively banished. There is a looming gothic presence, which I love, however, I felt the plot a little hard to grasp in the beginning. It seems to jump straight into the plot with not a lot of set up. Granted the plot isn't really that convoluted, but it does raise some questions that I have that I'll point out a little later.

Despite the jumpstart, it is incredibly dark. These witches we are following are Thorn Witches. Their job in this world is literally to die, every night, by burning at the stake and enter through the veil into death. There is a lot of description around death, and dying, and watching others go through this process that it really hammers home the idea that these witches are not to be envied. Their job in death is to patrol the veil to make sure that the souls of recently departed cross the 'Horizon' safely into eternal rest. If they do not, the souls risk twisting and turning into fog-wraiths. These nasties can cross over into Life if the veil is damaged and wreak havoc. 

Here in lies the first of my grievances with this novel. Penny at one of her first passings into the veil draws a sword into the sand, manifests this sword and slays a fog-wraith. Bad ass, good for her. However, no where previously written has she gone to any classes, or been shown training with a sword to kill them. She simply states that killing a fog-wraith was nothing for her with all her training. The only places she has been to in this book up until this point has been the burning chamber, her bedroom, the dining hall and the library... It set the stage for a lot of magic in this book to be spontaneously convenient.

One of my other issues with this book was the characters and their relationships felt very hollow. Penny doesn't seem to have any friends outside of her sisters, and her first relationships outside of her own family appear to be love interests. Unfortunately, I feel the same as I did when I was reading 'Shadow & Bone', that the relationships were only there to be a plot device to drive the narrative forward. There was nothing else about these relationships which felt compelling. Things may develop over the 2nd novel, and I am really hoping they do, because relationships of convenience are not my thing.

Overall Thoughts

I can confidently say this book did nothing new for me in terms of genre or storytelling, but it also did not suck. Katherine put a lot of work into developing a world suppressed by a tyrannical ruler, multiple different types of witches within a compound suppressed by his rule, and each coven being unique and completely different from any other. The richness of the world however, was lost on me. As I had mentioned above, a lot of the magic and characters felt convenient. There was no real development of the world, and instead of seeing a fleshed out magic system explained and then utilized, it was used but never explained.

How do the Thorn witches cross over through the veil? How do they come back into life? How does the Guilding magic actually work? When did Penny learn to fight with a sword? Why can Thorn witches draw swords into the sand in death and then manifest them physically? When did Penny learn to control her magic? These and more questions I do wish were answered in this book, and I hope maybe there will be an explanation in the 2nd.

I would recommend this book to you if you enjoyed 'Shadow & Bone' or 'The Dagger and the Flame'. The narratives are not like each other in the slightest, but have themes of practical uses for magic, faction style divisions between users of magic, and follow one main female protagonist who is trying to discover how to destroy a looming threat over their freedom. Personally I feel that 'The Dagger and the Flame' did these concepts the best, and I would recommend it if you have read this novel and wanted something similar to read in future.

One Dark Night - Hannah Richell // Book Review

 

One Dark Night
Hannah Richell || Publication Date - 01.01.2025

One dark night in the woods, and a party that takes a disturbing turn. 

Fiction | Thriller

There's a legend in this small town. On a lonely stretch of road engulfed on either side by dense forest, there's a girl in a white dress. She wanders aimlessly, and if you see her, it's said you will never be seen again.

The morning after Halloween, a scout group is hiking a trail through these woods which leads to an old stone folly. What they discover, is the grim and staged body of a girl in white. This rocks the small town, for believers of the woman who haunts the forest, and those who are terrified a murderer is roaming the streets.

Was this girl the victim of a Halloween party turned violent in the woods? Or was she killed to represent something more sinister, ritualistic perhaps? The answers lie with a local police detective and a broken family, where they attempt to navigate this crime and try to piece together the case, and their family.

The Review (May Contain Spoilers)

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me early access to this eARC for an honest review!

Firstly I want to acknowledge that I thoroughly devoured this thriller. It left everything up to the imagination and gave nothing away until the very end. Hannah's writing was atmospheric and created the dank and eerie picture I needed to get sucked into this mystery. No one in this novel was as they seemed and it leant heavily into the creepy, claustrophobic, small town aura I loved.

As much as I love that it played on a real location, it would have been fun to have leant into the superstition a little more, even leaving a final 'is it really true?' impression that lingers in the back of readers minds. There was also a scene in the book which takes place between two characters at a house. This was CREEPY! Intricately disturbing, but sadly, nothing really went anywhere with it. It was disappointing, because with the above mentions, I felt that Hannah had the makings of something truly gripping, but let it slip into 'just another crime novel'.

I do feel, however, that the writing does an amazing job of tying everything together. As much as there are influences in this novel I wish had more attention paid to them, overall it was a solid read. I was guessing where it was going to go next, the entire book. There were a lot of layered twists that I did not see coming. One twist I did see coming, but was exponentially creepier than I was expecting and I was gripping my seat hoping someone would make it out alive. And the overarching mystery surrounding the death of the girl in the woods was interesting and intricately planned.

Overall Thoughts

If you like slow burn, eerie atmosphere, and questionable characters, then I would easily recommend this as a read for you. I generally don't write my ratings in my long form reviews, but this one I gave a 5☆ without question. I definitely had some issues, especially pertaining to the supernatural story that's loosely tied into the novel. I really wish they went harder with that aspect, as it is a main point in most of the marketing for this book and is seemingly casually brought up to add flavour to the story, but no spice.

Though with my feelings pushed aside, and if the supernatural hook is forgotten completely. I loved this novel. It genuinely kept me guessing through the whole story and had moments of pure, delicious, creepy tension, which I love.