These books were received as Advanced Reader Copies to be read and reviewed prior to publication.
I expected Nomad to be a quiet story about grief and life in the Arizona desert. I didn’t expect it to hit quite so close to home. Cynthia A. Johnstone’s debut surprised me with its beautiful writing, complicated characters, and one very persistent stray dog. Here’s why this one stayed with me.
I don’t consider myself a horror reader.
Which makes it particularly funny that I requested a book about blood witches, body horror, magical science, and a creepy mansion in the Appalachian Mountains.
But *The Forest Bleeds* caught my attention on NetGalley with two words: “arcane bioengineering.” Add a blood witch and a gorgeous cover, and apparently that was enough to make me click Request.
I’m glad I did.
Rachel Kitch blends science and magic into a creepy, atmospheric story with complicated characters, dark academia vibes, and enough hopefulness to balance out the horror. I even gobbled it up in two days.
Sometimes following the thing that makes you curious leads you somewhere you didn’t expect to enjoy.
Read my review of *The Forest Bleeds* to find out why this non-horror reader is already feeling ready for spooky season.
I don't read a lot of dark romance, which means K!ll for Me was something of an experiment for me. I went into it with an open mind. I wanted...
A mystery that knows it’s a mystery
There are few things more fun than a mystery that knows exactly what kind of mystery it is.
How to Write a Murder puts a group of mystery writers in an isolated monastery, gives everyone secrets and motives, and then starts killing people.
Naturally, I had a great time.
But what really made this one work for me was how Jessica Brody plays with the conventions of the genre. The characters know they’re behaving like characters in a murder mystery. The book itself keeps winking at the reader. And somehow, beneath all that cleverness, there is a surprisingly thoughtful exploration of how the roles we believe we’re playing can shape who we become.
I had a blast with this one. And yes, I have thoughts about that cover, too.
Read my full review of How to Write a Murder.
Despite being nearly 500 pages, *Bodies of Magic* became the book I reached for every chance I got.
If dark academia, magical medicine, layered mysteries, and unlikely friendships sound like your kind of story, this review might help you decide whether Freya Marske’s newest fantasy deserves a place on your TBR.
Read the full review →
There are books you read because you want to be challenged. And then there are books you reach for because real life is a lot and you need somewhere else to be for a while.
*The Dark Lord’s Guide to Honeymooning (and Other Acts of Tyranny)* was that book for me.
With villains, found family, romance, assassination attempts, ancient evil, and a pastry chef who just wants to bake scones, Tiffany Hunt’s latest is a fast-paced, over-the-top romantasy that manages to deliver both humor and heart.
In my newest review, I’m talking about what worked, what wobbled, why I enjoyed this sequel even more than the first, and why this 600+ page book was exactly the kind of escape I needed during a stressful season of real life.
Some books earn five stars.
Some books earn permanent shelf space.
*Daggermouth* surprised me by doing both.
In my newest review, I’m looking beyond the plot to explore why its unforgettable cover perfectly prepares readers for what’s inside, how its slow-burn romance actually works, and why this dark dystopian fantasy left me immediately wanting book two.
If you’ve been wondering whether the hype is deserved, I have thoughts.
Destination Funeral blends grief, friendship, romance, and a time loop into one emotional, funny, beachy summer read worth getting hyped for.
A thoughtful review of Ignore All Previous Instructions—a queer, AI-driven sci-fi exploring identity, storytelling, and the cost of control.
Five strangers wait for a train—and one won’t make it home. This thought-provoking thriller explores judgment, forgiveness, and the hidden stories we all carry.