Fire’s Catching: “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” (2023)

It’s been eighteen years since Suzanne Collins wrote “The Hunger Games”, the smash hit literary sensation that continues to feel relevant and capture the attention of readers. This ongoing series will be a review series of both the Suzanne Collins books, as well as the film adaptations of the novels. I will post my review on the last Thursday of the month as we revisit the totalitarian world of Panem and the hope of the Mockingjay.

Film: ” The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes”

Now that Horrorpalooza is over I am picking up my “Fire’s Catching” series where we left off, diving into the first non-Katniss centered film “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes”. This is, assuming all goes well at the end of the month, the only “Hunger Games” film I didn’t see in theaters, as my husband and I just didn’t get to it that year with the holidays and all that. But we did watch it eventually (I think for my birthday the next year?), and revisiting it for this series was enjoyable, even if this one is pretty dark and an overall bummer due to how it all ends.

I love the aesthetic of this one, as the set, costume, and character design feels retro compared to the previous films, looking very late 1940s to 1950s but if the 1940s and 1950s were in Panem and all that would entail (the post-WW2 vibes in the fashion were perfect). We also see the technology and how retro that is as well. It’s such a cool design choice, and it makes it feel like a previous time and a society in recovery post-war. The Capitol isn’t nearly as flashy, and while there are still bright colors in the styles there is also a veneer of grime and grit as the Capitol is still in economic recovery. As for 12, I loved the splashes of color that Lucy Gray and the other Covey have, and I loved seeing the familiar places like the meadow and the woods and the town square, seeing how it changes but still maintains some consistency. One design qualm: Jessup’s bat bite that causes the rabies is, to me, WAY too big. I think that maybe I’ll just tell myself it’s the infection angle that makes it huge but that’s why you REALLY need to take any kind of bat encounter seriously, as their teeth are so small you wouldn’t even necessarily notice a bite. That’s your public health PSA! Don’t touch wild bats!

They make some changes from book to screen, which isn’t surprising, and for the most part I didn’t mind them too much. Some of the deaths in the arena differ from the book, and we definitely condense down Snow’s time in District 12 as a Peacekeeper to cut down for time. I think that the two that stood out as a bit more significant in this film were the following: the first was how the movie decided to make Coriolanus’s father’s death during the war be explicitly by a District 12 rebel. Honestly, it’s a little on the nose. We know this guy has a beef with Katniss in the original trilogy and of course he’s bitter about Lucy Gray running off, but yeah, sure let’s make sure someone from 12 killed his Dad too. Again, on the nose. The other one is that in the book Snow is pretty disdainful of Sejanus and has nothing but contempt for him, whereas in the film I KIND of get the sense that Coriolanus does warm up to Sejanus a bit, and they do work together when they are mentors and BOTH decide to try and get the tributes fed while they are being held at the zoo (in the book it’s all Sejanus if I recall correctly and Snow only gets on board because he wants the credit). I don’t mind this change too much, Coriolanus can still be a villainous trash bag while also wanting to make sure his tribute is well fed for the Games.

And since we are jumping waaaaay back in time we have a whole new cast! These films continue to be incredibly impressive with casting. The obvious two to first talk about are Tom Blyth as Coriolanus and Rachel Zegler as Lucy Gray Baird. Blyth is perhaps too vulnerable as Coriolanus at times, as since we don’t really get the inside monologue that the book gives us we have to rely on mannerisms and how the actor interprets the character and one could argue that perhaps he is a little too ambiguous in his morality, at least at first. I don’t personally care too much if Snow comes off a bit more vulnerable because we KNOW he’s a shithead, and I do like seeing the in your face traumas that he experienced as a child (I completely forgot about the opening scene where the child aged Coriolanus and Tigris see a man cutting limbs off a body for cannibalistic purposes, good GRAVY) because trauma will absolutely fuck a person up (especially when being influenced by a manipulative psychopath like Dr. Gaul…. more on HER in a bit). But I understand how people took umbrage with this portrayal. Rachel Zegler is great as Lucy Gray, as not only does she have the compelling voice (because obviously), she also has the charm and dynamic personality down pat, as well as the calculated cunning. As for other stand outs, I just ADORED Hunter Schafer as Tigris, and she is a great foil to Coriolanus because she is such a great reminder that Tigris ALSO experienced the same traumas that Coriolanus did at not much an older age, but isn’t poisoned by resentment and rage and maintains kindness and optimism as well as the tenacity to survive and keep her loved ones safe, fed, and cared for. And I mean, Viola Davis as Gaul? UNHINGED PERFECTION. She may chew on the scenery a bit but I don’t even care because Gaul is the other villain in this story and she needs to be terrifying and manipulative as shit since she is the one who REALLY sets Snow on his final path to power with her influence and philosophy. And finally, I also enjoyed Peter Dinklage as the broken Dean Casca, who feels such despair and regret about creating the Games he self medicates all the live long day. Oh, and Jason Schwartzman as Lucky Flickerman? A true hoot. “Get me a drink, get me a drink right now” has become one of my vocal stims.

“The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” is another successful adaptation of a “Hunger Games” book. Similarly to the books it’s probably my least favorite adaptation, but it’s still a solid and enjoyable watch. And up next is the final film in the series as of now, “Sunrise on the Reaping”, which comes out the week before Thanksgiving and I will almost certainly be seeing for my birthday with my husband! What a, uh, FUN birthday film? That said it means, like this month, I will be reviewing that the first Thursday of December to give myself time to see it.

Serena’s Review: “Mooncursed”

This post may contain affiliate links for books we recommend.  Read the full disclosure here.

Book: “Mooncursed” by Holly Renee

Publishing Info: Sourcebooks Casablanca, November 2026

Where Did I Get this Book: ARC from the publihser!

Where Can You Get this Book: WorldCat.org | Amazon | IndieBound

Book Description: A cursed sea king, a stolen bride, and a fate meant for another.

They say madness dwells in the ocean’s depths…and in the eyes of the Drowned King. Cursed to take a human bride and break her mind the moment she sees his face, the Drowned King spends his life in torment, watching. Waiting.

Lou was never meant to be chosen. Branded from birth as a saltwitch, she has always been seen as the cursed shadow of her moonblessed twin. Now, veiled and bound in marriage to a man she must never see, she’s thrust into a life of ancient gods and unraveling fate…and unspeakable desire.

Yet even as fear becomes tangled with a perilous longing for the Drowned King’s heated touch, the truth of her choosing looms over her like a siren’s song. It rages louder with every breath she takes as whispers travel through the rumblings of war, of ancient goddesses awakening, of a queen with saltwater on her lips who will change everything.

Review: I’m not too proud to admit that I was definitely drawn in by the cover art on this one. I’m fairly picky about characters on covers, but something about the composition of this one seems to work for me. I’ll also admit that based on the title, I was perhaps under the impression that this was a werewolf story of some sort. Oops! That said, while I had a mixed experience with this book, I did enjoy the main fantasy setup and the ocean magic that was central to it all.

On that note, let’s start with what I did like. Once I settled into the type of fantasy story that was on offer, I did enjoy the general setup. The first chapter, especially, was lovely, detailing the conflict between gods that led to the current challenges faced by humanity. This is kind of an aside, but there does seem to be this odd trend where the sort of introductory chapter we get at the start of a novel is written in the lovely style of prose that feels very fairytale-like. But then, when the story switches to the main text, the style switches to a much more simplistic (and less interesting) style. I always find it to be quite disappointing, as if the author has pulled some sort of bait and switch on me stylistically.

That aside, though, I did enjoy the magic of this world. Not only was this background history interesting, but when the story gave itself time to breathe and focus in on the ocean, the threat of madness, and all of the rest, I really enjoyed how it was all woven together. That said, I don’t feel like enough time was really given to this portion of the plot.

Indeed, I’m not sure I can say that enough time was given to almost any portion of the plot, which is kind of a novel problem to have! Typically, a book overplays one side of things and underplays another, but here, the story seemed to get trapped in a cycle of events that repeated over and over again. And this cycle diligently ate up the page count without ever offering anything new, either to characterization, the story, or to the developing romance.

To the first point, basic facts seemed to be missing. I read an ARC, so maybe this will be added later or I could have missed it completely, but I don’t believe we are ever told the ages of our main characters. Of course, exact ages aren’t a requirement, but I wasn’t even sure what ballpark I was supposed to be operating within. Are these upper teens, like 18–20-year-old new adults? Late twenties? What?

The story also felt very repetitive. This cycle of events did include action, but as it was so often the same conflict and resolution, ultimately, the repetition of these scenes didn’t do anything to advance the overall story. I never came out of one of these scenes feeling like anything new had really been added to the equation.

And the romance struggled in much the same way. By the time these two came together, I think they had had maybe three or four scenes/interactions together. Total. And many of these interactions also felt very cyclical, with similar emotional beats being trodden in each repeated scene. So when the romantic climax comes, it in no way feels earned or like the characters would have had any time to develop these deeper feelings that are now being alluded to.

Overall, there was potential here. The writing was fairly solid throughout, and I think the general setup had a lot of potential. However, something didn’t work with the way things were pieced together. It feels suspiciously like the author had a good world idea and some general characters in mind, but then simply didn’t have enough of a plot to tie it all together into an actual story. All of this said, if you enjoy ocean magic and a familiar-feeling romance, this might still be worth checking out. I just wish there had been a bit more to it.

Rating 7: The vibes are strong, but the actual plot was a bit thin on the ground.

Reader’s Advisory:

“Mooncursed” can be found on these Goodreads lists: romantasy books that have to do with the oceans and starry night romantasy.

Kate’s Review: “Monster in the Mirror”

This post may contain affiliate links for books we recommend. Read the full disclosure here.

Book: “Monster in the Mirror” by Janasha Prabhu

Publishing Info: Sourcebooks Landmark, October 2026

Where Did I Get This Book: I received an ARC from the publisher

Where You Can Get This Book: WorldCat.org | Amazon | Indiebound

Book Description: Her uncle was a serial killer. The town whispers, could she be a killer too?

On the night Jiah Rai was found cradling her girlfriend Georgia’s dead body at the bottom of Wailing Cliff, everyone suspected her. There wasn’t enough evidence to charge her, but the town refuses to forget. Murder must run in the family. Jiah’s uncle was a convicted serial killer, and while he died behind bars, his legacy lives on in Jiah and her sister. It doesn’t matter that they’ve lived in Dumont their whole lives—they have never fit into the insular white community, and perhaps they never will.

But legacy isn’t done with Jiah just yet. A few years later, a threat from Georgia’s brother threatens to crumble the shaky peace Jiah has rebuilt. Desperate to feel safe again, Jiah decides to take matters into her own hands and seeks support from her best friend, Estrella. After all, Estrella has been there for Jiah ever since they met after Georgia’s death. But when Estrella never shows up to a dinner party, a series of texts lead Jiah to the beach below, where she finds a body positioned exactly how her uncle displayed his victims over a decade ago. The killer mocks Jiah, hinting they know about her secrets, too. But is Jiah really the monster Dumont thinks she is? As Jiah hunts the killer, she begins to realize she might be unable to save the next victim…and that she may not want to.

Review: Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark for sending me an ARC of this novel!

We have exited Horrorpalooza and are now into my birthday month of November! I feel like I tend to start playing catch up with the other genres that I review on the blog whenever November rolls around after my full month of horror reads, and I am jumping to a thriller! “Monster in the Mirror” by Janasha Prabhu felt like a nice way to get back into other genres, as I love a small town mystery, I love familial trauma stories, and I love the idea of perhaps a serial killer back to torment a person who thought they had escaped them in the past. I was hoping with all the really fun tid bits about the plot I would really enjoy this one, but unfortunately it was a bit more a mixed bag.

But first the good! I thought that the themes of having to exist in a predominantly white, Christian small town as a POC (who is also queer) were pretty well fleshed out and made the story that much more interesting as Jiah has to contend with rumors and speculation based on her identity. The way that everyone looks at her with suspicion was laid out in the narrative background even before her on again off again girlfriend Georgia was killed in an accident on the side of a cliff, with references to people trying to pressure her to join the church, rude comments being made in school about the food she brings from home, or comments about her father and his relationship with her white mother. The constant Othering that Jiah has to contend with even before the story starts for the reader added a lot of well done context and depth. I also liked how Jiah herself has a lot of issues that make her into a, frankly, rather messy main character, but in a way that feels completely understandable. She is complicated and messed up and fairly unlikable, but I liked that because women characters SHOULD get to be unlikable, dammit! So Jiah was also something I enjoyed about this book.

But I struggled with the way that the mystery played out. There is so much potential with this plot, I really had high hopes because of all of the aspects that involve a serial killer, a dead lover, new suspicions and murders happening, all of that really checks so many boxes for me. But I felt that the pacing was a bit off, and I had already figured out some of the reveals long before the actual twists were explained. This doesn’t usually bother me if the journey getting there is fulfilling, but while I enjoyed certain aspects of this book, the suspense didn’t really reach the levels I had hoped for and the mystery didn’t keep my attention as well as I would have liked. I enjoyed the concept, and I would definitely seek out future works by Prabhu because there is, like I said, such potential there. But the execution of the main suspense elements of this thriller never quite got off the ground.

So “Monster in the Mirror” had things I liked and things I didn’t, but I would say that if you are curious to check it out, definitely do so.

Rating 7: I liked the themes of small town closed mindedness and the main character was the kind of messy that I appreciate, but the mystery itself wasn’t as engaging as I had hoped.

Reader’s Advisory:

“Monster in the Mirror” is included on the Goodreads post “Upcoming Mysteries and Thrillers Readers Can’t Wait to Read”.

Highlights: November 2026

Alas, the clocks have changed and it’s starting to get dark up here in the north. This is the one time where the idea of early Christmas decorating might have something to it: getting more twinkle lights out on these dark streets could definitely liven things up! But cozy weather is always great for new books, so here are some we’re looking forward to this month!

Serena’s Picks

Book: “The Wolves of War” by John Gwynne

Publication Date: November 3, 2026

Why I’m Interested: It’s been a while since I’ve read a good, old school-feeling fantasy novel, and I know that John Gwynne has some highly praised works in his catalog. So the start of a new series by him seems like a great place to see what all the hype is about! This one sounds especially intriguing as it follows a father whose main concern is his family, especially is daughter who has been trapped in her body since birth. But she dreams of wolves, and lately these dreams seem to have greater import than ever. The cover is also fantastic on this one!

Book: “Murder at Enscombe Park” by Vanessa Kelly

Publication Date: November 24, 2026

Why I’m Interested: It’s been great fun having two Jane Austen mystery series to follow during the last several years. Emma has been a great amateur sleuth, and it’s always fun to see what shenanigans she’s going to get up to in each new entry. Here, I’m especially excited because Emma and company are travelling outside of Highbury for the first time, and the series is pulling in the Churchills, Frank and Jane, who were central to the original novel. Frank Churchill is also one of the few Austen men who straddles the line between heroic and villainous. By the end of “Emma,” readers are left to make their own judgements about him, largely. What will Kelly do with him here?

Book: “Mooncursed” by Holly Renee

Publication Date: November 3, 2026

Why I’m Interested: I maaaay have thought this was a werewolf novel when I first picked up the ARC that the publisher sent me. But really, with at tile like that and the moon so prominently displayed in the background, who could blame me? Instead, the book seems to be much more focused on the sea and a long-running feud between celestial beings? Throw in an ancient curse of madness, an arranged marriage, and ocean magic, and I’m definitely intrigued!

Kate’s Picks

Book: “Milkteeth” by Caitlin Starling

Publication Date: November 10, 2026

Why I’m Interested: I love vampire horror, I’m always extra freaked by body horror, and if you make that body horror tied into motherhood and pregnancy it’s going to be all the more distressing. Enter “Milkteeth”! Because apparently lady vampires also have to deal with the unfair and exhausting expectations of motherhood! I love the idea of a vampire being run ragged by raising fledglings, and then seeking out answers after a third one actually physically transforms her. Vampires generally don’t make great parents in horror stories, but this one sounds like it could be an interesting take on the mental load of motherhood but through a vampire’s eyes.

Book: “Pinfeathers” by Christina Henry

Publication Date: November 17, 2026

Why I’m Interested: I was very impressed with Henry’s last horror novel so I wanted to read this one almost the moment I heard of it. And it is another body horror book with motherhood themes, as it turns out! A mother named Nora is concerned about the fact that her baby is starting to grow feathers. While her husband wants to have the baby checked and examined, Nora would rather keep it hidden, as she worries about what would happen if people discovered this weird anomaly. I have a few theories about what the metaphors could possibly pertain to, but I definitely want to check it out and see what’s actually going on.

Book: “Until The Last Light Goes Out” by Courtney Gould

Publication Date: November 10, 2026

Why I’m Interested: And we round out the picks with something completely different! We trade in parental body horror themes for a good old fashioned slasher horror tale! And this one has some interesting themes of generational trauma to boot, when a bunch of kids of survivors of an infamous massacre go to the place of their parents’ trauma, at an abandoned resort in search of a missing person. Courtney Gould has some good horror tales under her belt, and this one sounds like it could be a lot of wicked fun!

What books are you looking forward to reading this month? Let us know in the comments!

Serena’s Review: “A Waltz of Sinister Import”

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Book: “A Waltz of Sinister Import” by Stephanie Burgis

Publishing Info: October 14, 2026

Where Did I Get this Book: from the author!

Where Can You Get this Book: WorldCat.org | Amazon | IndieBound

Book Description: When the notorious Lady Riven is summoned to Vienna to solve a supernatural mystery, her debonair vampiric husband insists on accompanying her. However, neither of them is prepared for the true scope of the danger lurking within the sprawling Hofburg Palace… and by the time they uncover the truth behind every glittering illusion, their relationship may change forever.

The third and final (for now!) sparkling installment of The Supernatural Adventures of Lady and Lord Riven contains copious amounts of delicious cake, a protective vampire husband, unexpected new friendships, and a waltz that might just sweep the whole continent into war unless Margaret is stubborn enough to prevent it.

Previously Reviewed: “A Marriage of Undead Inconvenience” and “A Honeymoon of Grave Consequence”

Review: I really enjoyed the first two novellas in this trilogy, so I was thrilled when the author reached out about a review for the final book in the series. The story picks up right where the second one left off, essentially, and immediately jumps back into the action.

It was easy to slip back into the world and rhythm of this story. There’s an ease to the storytelling, a perfect balance of coziness, mystery, and, of course, romance, all held together by the steady characterization of our leading lady. As I noted in my reviews for the first two books, Margaret is a familiar heroine, à la characters like Amelia Peabody and Emily Wilde. But in many ways, these notes of the familiar feel like friendly faces, not tired repeats. And, indeed, Margaret stands on her own with her unique blend of confidence and social wariness. Here, we see her once again thrust into the midst of high society, a place where she has only ever felt spurned and misunderstood. But this time she comes with renewed confidence from previous success, as well as the unwavering support of her vampire spouse.

Like in the first two books, other than the main character, my favorite part of this series is the use of less well-known magical creatures. Burgis clearly dives deeply into her fairytale folklore to find some of these beings, and while our delightful love interest may be a “common” vampire, the cast of supporting characters are often beings I’ve never heard of before and that then send me down my own research rabbit holes. Such was the case here, and I loved learning about some of these new (to me!) creatures.

I will say that this one felt a bit more uneven in its pacing than the previous books did. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but there were bits that did seem to drag a bit, especially in the beginning as Margaret ran into wall after wall in her quest to uncover what was happening. On one hand, her frustration was palpable to the reader. On the other hand, that still left me, the reader, frustrated as well, which wasn’t always the best. I also feel like this entry was lighter on the romance and that Lord Riven took even more of a back seat than he has in the other two books. There were also a few moments where events that should have been challenging to solve or escape from were instead wrapped up in a bit too convenient of a manner.

Overall, however, I still very much enjoyed this book. I’m sad to hear that it’s currently the final book planned for the series, as I think there is a wealth of opportunity still left in this world and with these characters. But I still enjoyed all the time I spent with them and recommend it to readers who are looking for more bite-sized cozy fantasy options!

Rating 8: For those who may be missing Emily Wilde, this entire trilogy is sure to be a balm to the soul! Margaret and Lord Riven are a delight!

Reader’s Advisory:

“A Waltz of Sinister Import” isn’t on any Goodreads lists currently, but it should be on 12 Dancing Princesses.

Kate’s Review: “All Hallows Eve”

This post may contain affiliate links for books we recommend. Read the full disclosure here.

Book: “All Hallows Eve: Stories of Halloween and Other Festivals of the Dead” by Ellen Datlow (Ed.)

Publishing Info: Titan Books, September 2026

Where Did I Get This Book: I received an eARC from NetGalley

Where You Can Get This Book: WorldCat.org | Amazon | Indiebound

Book Description: Halloween, Samhain, Día de los Muertos—festivals across the world where we can commune with those we have lost, when spirits can cross over, and when the boundary between the living and the dead is far, far too thin.

A young boy encounters a woman with an ancient and terrifying link to the holiday, a group of college students attend a Halloween party to die for, and a troubled girl exploits a local urban legend to try and turn her life around.

From America to New Zealand via the rural Romanian wilderness, this anthology explores our worldwide obsession with the spookiest season of the year, when the veil is lifted and the spirits come alive. Featuring 19 original stories from bestselling and award-winning masters of the genre, and from Hugo, World Fantasy, Locus, Bram Stoker and Shirley Jackson award-winning editor and horror legend Ellen Datlow, this anthology invites you to carve a pumpkin, light the lanterns and welcome in trick or treaters from across the world.

Review: Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this novel!

October always flies by so quickly! It feels like it was just yesterday that we were starting the spooky season, but here we are, two days out from Halloween, and I don’t know if I am ready to say goodbye to the season. But since we do still have those two days, and one more day of my Horrorpalooza reviews, I saved the most festive book for last. “All Hallows Eve: Stories of Halloween and Other Festivals of the Dead” is a new horror short story collection edited by Ellen Datlow, bringing in a number of horror authors to try their hand at Halloween-y (or other weird festival) fiction. How appropriate! I was definitely in the Halloween spirit when I picked it up!

As usual, I will review the three books that stood out to me the most, and then I will review the collection as a whole.

“Treats” by Clay McLeod Chapman: No surprises here that one of my favorites in the collection was by one of my favorite horror authors! A grieving husband and wife have turned their back on Halloween after their only son dies suddenly and tragically, opting to sit the night out as it was his favorite. But someone keeps ringing the doorbell, and every time the door opens, the costume changes but is always familiar. This one was my favorite of the lot, and it had me sobbing by the end of it. Chapman is so good with grief horror, and this one had a creepy building tension that oh so bittersweetly turned from suspenseful to tragic to perhaps a hope for closure. I just loved it.

“The Kuker” by Alma Katsu: Another piece of grief horror? Why not! But in a different way. A widow is still dealing with the loss of her husband, whose interest and knowledge of Eastern European folklore and custom led him to having a kuker suit that he liked to wear on Halloween. As she starts to clean out his office, she finds the suit that had always set her on edge. Katsu’s story is simple, and it is a bit quiet, and I really loved how she weaves such a gentle tale of grief, loss, and letting go.

“The Hungry Grass” by Siobhan Carroll: I love it when horror stories blend with historical fiction, and when that historical fiction gets political. An English man stationed in Ireland during the Irish Potato Famine is watching as many around him starve while food for the English is shipped on out, and ends up sharing a lodging with a strange young woman who was in a carriage accident. As she boards with him, he starts to feel more and more out of sorts. This vampire story is not only about a vampire who is stalking a colonizer, it is also about how colonialism as a whole is just as parasitic as vampires themselves. I really liked it.

As a whole, I had a few others that stood out to me, a few that were okay, and then a few that I just didn’t enjoy. I did like how there were a lot of different takes on Halloween and holidays about death celebrations, and how the authors took different interpretations of that prompt to create a wide array. It was mildly disappointing that we didn’t get a huge number of stories that knocked it out of the park, but my preferences may not line up with those of others.

“All Hallows Eve” is a festive short story collection that is just right for the upcoming holiday this weekend. Seek it out of you want some quick reads that will get you in the mood.

And with that, Horrorpalooza 2026 comes to a close! I hope that everyone out there has a Happy, Safe, and Spooky Halloween!

Rating 7: The strong stories were incredibly strong, and while some of them were middle of the road, it’s a nice batch of festive reading for Halloween!

Reader’s Advisory:

“All Hallows” isn’t included on any relevant Goodreads lists as of now, but it would fit in on “Books to Get You in the Halloween Mood”.

Serena’s Review: “Stormheart”

This post may contain affiliate links for books we recommend.  Read the full disclosure here.

Book: “Stormheart” by Julia Makin

Publishing Info: Books Fluent, October 2026

Where Did I Get this Book: copy from the publisher!

Where Can You Get this Book: WorldCat.org | Amazon | IndieBound

Book Description: Once an enslaved princess, now a fugitive, Tan is hunted across the Empire after a fatal mistake brands her its most wanted criminal. Desperate to survive, she strikes a perilous bargain with Kier—a cold, calculating pirate from the rebel stronghold of Stormheart. His promise: freedom on the open sea aboard the Revenge, a ship ruled by the sadistic Captain Blackthorn.

The price: her soul, bound to Blackthorn in an eternal blood-oath.

Unless she can win it back. To break the bond, Tan must defeat one of Blackthorn’s criminals in a deadly game, relying on Kier’s brutal training—and navigating the dangerous pull between them. But when passion awakens an ancient power even the Empire fears, Tan becomes the spark that could ignite a war.

As dark tides rise and loyalties fracture, she must choose: surrender to the darkness rising within her, or carve her own destiny before it’s too late.

Review: This book had a lot of potential, and there were definitely some high points. However, I struggled with inconsistent characterization and some of the world-building that made up the foundations of this society and the conflicts therein. But, like always, let’s start with the positives!

The book definitely starts on a strong note, and I was immediately pulled in by the greater concept: a princess who has been shunned and locked away as an outsider for her entire life must escape and find her own freedom. Of course, pirates are also always a pro, and I found myself enjoying any bits that focused more strongly on her experiences on the high seas.

However, while it started out with an interesting concept, it did quickly fall into some familiar fantasy tropes. I really could go for quite some time without a fantasy novel feeling the need to include some sort of deadly competition into the mix. And this one already had a lot of moving parts what with the caste system it had set up, the various political maneuverings between foreign bodies and the rebels, and then, of course, Tan’s own journey of self-empowerment and her budding romance with Kier.

I also struggled with Tan’s characterization at times. In the very first chapter, I began to have trouble reconciling Tan’s motivations or general motivations with her actions and her goals. For example, in this first chapter, an ally presents her with a risky but viable plan for them both to escape the palace once and for all. Not only is Tan incredibly hesitant (understandably), but by the time she does decide to move forward with this plan, she warns this other character to behave carefully, to not draw attention to himself or do anything that might throw this plan into disarray. From this, Tan seems to be a cautious but methodical character. Perhaps slow to act, but careful and thoughtful once she decides to move forward.

But then, only a few pages later, Tan, the very character who just lectured another about not creating waves, suddenly transforms into the ubiquitous “strong female character” who can’t keep her mouth shut and immediately must prove herself through snark and rebellion. She walks down a hallway from the room where she gave this lecture and immediately creates a massive scene with one of the most dangerous people in the palace and promptly blows up the entire plan before it even gets a chance to start. It was an incredibly frustrating bout of confused characterization, and it was a problem that persisted throughout the book. Characters would say one thing, or express a motivation to behave in one way, and then for no reason whatsoever, do the very opposite thing.

All of this said, there were still strong flourishes to the writing, and I’m definitely curious to read more from this author. Perhaps a stronger hand on the editorial wheel could help iron out some of the character wrinkles, and from there, you are left with a lot of potential. That said, if you enjoy feisty heroines and are able to roll with some punches, this is still a fun fantasy novel that is worth checking out!

Rating 7: A bit bumpy with its characterization (our main lead can’t decide whether she’s a cautious planner or a rebellious firebrand), but still a fun time, especially if you enjoy pirates and magical competitions!

Reader’s Advisory:

“Stormheart” can be found on these Goodreads lists: Swashbucklers and Pirates!

Kate’s Review: “Oubliette”

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Book: “Oubliette” by L.V. Russell

Publishing Info: Quill & Crow Publishing, October 2026

Where Did I Get This Book: I received an eARC from NetGalley

Where You Can Get This Book: Amazon | Indiebound

Book Description: Rue knows only bloodshed, longing, and isolation. Born into ancient wealth on the Cornish coast, Rue grows up in the crumbling Folkehaven Manor, steeped in rot and haunted by the dead. Twisted specters trail through the halls, the lords and ladies of high society Rue delivered to her mother. For her mother is hungry for attention…and for flesh. During one blood-soaked feast, Rue is drawn to Oren Pengelly, a quiet gentleman whose sister’s betrothed is consumed. Oren sees past Rue’s sins, beyond all the horrors, and sees someone deserving of love. But Rue struggles to leave her mother, for who will keep her fed?

With blood beneath her nails, and a soul darkening by the day, Rue wonders if there might be something more than violence and decay. Something more than hunger… Or if perhaps hunger is all she was ever made for.

Review: Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this novel!

We are starting to wrap up my Horrorpalooza celebration. October always goes so fast, and I am pleased with the varied books that I was able to tackle this time around. I am once again talking about vampires (ish? I feel like perhaps it could be a ghoul tale), one of my favorite sub-genres of horror, and “Oubliette” by L.V. Russell is on the opposite end of the spectrum that my last vampire read. Instead of a dark academia vampire romance, we are now into Gothic territory, with a dilapidated mansion, a Victorian time setting, and a vampire mother who keeps her daughter close, no matter how much the daugther wants to leave. It had great promise, and for the most part it delivered.

I do love a Gothic horror novel, just as I like complex stories about mothers and daughters no matter what the genre, and “Oubliette” combines the two into a vampire/ghoul story as well as a mother daughter tale where the child craves independence while the parent wants to hold on. Rue is a young woman who feels tethered to her vampire mother Sylvatica, and feels like she cannot leave her behind even though she would love to go live a life for herself and away from the rotting home, as well as the rotting parent. Sylvatica’s appetites and gory and gross, going above and beyond the usual ‘vampires drink blood’ and entering into straight up consuming flesh territory in ways that made my stomach turn, though it never got too be too much as I read. It had the right amount of gross horror without being distracting. We also get another well crafted metaphor of vampires feeding off of people in ways that go beyond just blood to sustain their life, as Sylvatica manipulates and guilts her daughter, feeding off of her innocence and her need to be devoted to her mother, no matter how monstrous she can be, because of the need to feel that maternal love from her. I was less convinced of Rue’s burgeoning relationships with the outside world, whether it was a romance with a young upper class named Oren or a friendship with his sister Anne. In Oren’s case especially it felt a bit rushed and like instalove. I suppose it could have been a commentary about how desperate Rue is to get away, latching onto the first thing that seems like an out, but if that was the intent it wasn’t as clear as I would have liked.

But I also appreciated that we did get some flashback backstory to Sylvatica’s past, from her birth to her childhood and young adulthood to her eventual descent into being a monster. I almost enjoyed her chapters more, watching as she went from powerless peasant girl, with no support at home, on a failing farm, so desperate and lonely, to something terrifying, was really gratifying to read. It doesn’t excuse who she becomes and the kind of mother she is to Rue, her insatiable hunger and refusal to let her child go for her own ends always terrible and tragic. It would have been easy to just see the thing she had become and the violence that she left behind, be it the physical of the people she eats (no matter how some may have deserved it), or the emotional of the daughter she refuses to let go of. It made Sylvatica far more well rounded than I expected and I liked it.

“Oubliette” was a spooky and sometimes heavy tale about independence and codependence, and I liked the complexities of it all, even if there could have been more branching out in other areas beyond the mother and daughter relationship. Overall, it was a good read.

Rating 7: A dark and ultimately bittersweet story about toxic parent child relationships and trying to break free from an abusive cycle.

Reader’s Advisory:

“Oubliette” isn’t on any Goodreads lists as of now, but if you enjoyed “Night’s Edge” by Liz Kerin, this would probably be a good fit.

Not Just Books: October 2026

While we do love us some books, believe it not, we do have a life outside of reading. So to highlight our other pop culture interests, on the last Monday of each month, we each will highlight three other “happenings” from the last month. Big events on favorite TV shows, new movies we’ve watched, old movies we’ve “discovered,” etc. Pretty much whatever we found of particular interest outside of the book world during the last month. Share your own favorite things in the comments!

Serena’s Picks

TV Show: “The Gentlemen” Season 2

This fall has been a great time for the return of some favorite shows, and this was one that my husband I jumped at right away! We were a bit late to the game, so we didn’t have quite so long a wait between seasons, but I was still very excited to get to return to the world of gentlemen drug dealers. There were some true high notes (the continued “will they/won’t they” tension between Eddie and Susie and some absolutely brutal action scenes), but there were also a few misses (I get what was being done with “The Godfather” homage, but it did spoil some important beats in the plot). However, I’m excited to see where season 3 takes things, and I hope we get a return of a bit of the humor from season 1 that was missed in this second entry.

Movie: “Obessession”

Hey, look at that! I actually watched a horror movie during October! Full points for me! I’m not sure how my husband and I even found this one, but we’d both heard about it independent of each other and decided why the heck not one night! And yeah, it’s upsetting, but it was also incredibly good. It’s a pretty simple concept and even if you are able to predict some of the major beats and the ultimate outcome, there were also moments of true horror and disgust that definitely had me covering my cat’s my eyes at certain points. If you’re looking for a thrill this October, this is definitely one to consider, even if you’re not a major horror fan on your own.

Kate’s Picks

TV Show: “Carrie”

I will admit that when I initially heard that “Carrie” was getting another adaptation my first thought was ‘why?’ But when I heard that Mike Flanagan was doing it I was definitely more on board because that man doesn’t miss. And then when it dropped I told myself that I would watch the first couple of episodes one night…. and then ended up binging the entire series into the wee hours of the morning. It was that good. It is SO good. It’s an adaptation of “Carrie” for modern sensibilities, and in the expected Flanagan fashion he adapts the story in his own way that holds on to the heart and essence of the source material. Summer H. Howell as Carrie is stupendous, bringing out the naiveté and vulnerability and coating it with earnest kindness that made her that much more tragic. But the show also goes a couple steps further and gives a lot of layers and complexity to usual two dimensional villains Chris, Carrie’s main bully at school who is watching her own life fall apart and looks for a victim to exert control over, and Mrs. White, Carrie’s zealous mother (played by an on point Samantha Sloyan), who isn’t an over the top abuser but is a more quiet fundamentalist who loves her daughter dearly, but who controls and manipulates her and hides her away from the world to keep her grip firm. It is absolutely fabulous AND it goes in a direction that opens up SO many possibilities for an extended King universe. I loved it.

TV Show: “Crystal Lake”

Hoo hoo, another horror classic reboot that brings in depth, complexity, and a hell of an emotional rollercoaster to a classic slasher tale!! Jason Voorhees from “Friday the 13th” has always held a special place in my heart, and the new show “Crystal Lake” decides to dive into his backstory. Well, mostly his mother Pamela’s backstory. The fans of the original franchise know that it is Pamela who is the slasher killer in the original “Friday the 13th”, driven insane by the death of her disabled and bullied son Jason when he drowned after the counselors at the camp she worked at were too busy flirting and fucking to pay him attention. Now we are seeing Linda Cardinelli as Pamela (she’s fantastic), in the depths of grief and falling into madness after her precious son’s death, and killing those she blames for it. This would be great on its own, but the show goes a couple steps further, not only showing us what little kid Jason is like as well as his relationship with Pamela (don’t think I wasn’t sobbing openly as we see the sweet little baby boy be adorable and precious ON TOP of his mother’s raw grief), but also a VERY interesting mystery about how Jason came to be, and secrets Pamela has been hiding even before she goes mad with grief. What a treat for this Jason fan girl.

Joint Pick:

Video Game: “Dressmaker”

Now for something COMPLETELY different. Along with all the usual fun scary spooky horror stuff I like to consume and cram in during October, I also found a new video game which was SO incredibly soothing and cozy that it held my attention in spite of the fact it was not horror related at all. “Dressmaker” is a game where you are, well, a dressmaker! You get commissions and prompts from customers, are given parameters and budgets, and get to design, measure, pattern, and sew dresses for all kinds of occasions! Someone need a dress for a funeral (but doesn’t want it to be black and it has to be OUTLANDISH?)? You can do it! Someone needs a new workwear outfit for doing chores and work around the farm? You are there to help! Someone need a spooky dress for a seance while she also harbors two spirits that have possessed her (and a possible vampire ALSO needs a dress to assist)? You KNOW you can make that work! As someone who used to watch “Project Runway” and currently watches “Drag Race” and could never fathom the concept of designing and sewing a dress, I’ve been having a lot of fun stretching my creativity muscles. I also like seeing storylines between various clients develop. All in all, it was an unexpected hit and I’m glad I stumbled upon it.

Hi, it’s me, Serena, tagging on to Kate’s pick! I actually started up an entry for this very same game before I scrolled down and came across Kate’s already completed portion! And it just goes to show how lovely, cozy, and approachable this game is! Because, like Kate, this isn’t necessarily my typical type of game. I usually go for my typical RPGs, be they action, tactical, what have you. But there was something so wholesome and soothing about this game. It had the perfect mix of opportunities for creativity without becoming overwhelming. And the simple process of constructing dresses was the perfect restful activity to get me through the last few hectic days of school break where my two boys were actively destroying my house. But boys, look at the pretty ballgown I made!!

Serena’s Review: “The Scarlet Ball”

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Book: “The Scarlet Ball” by Nghi Vo

Publishing Info: Tor Books, October 2026

Where Did I Get this Book: ARC from the publisher!

Where Can You Get this Book: WorldCat.org | Amazon | IndieBound

Book Description: Judith Ban, former convent girl, courtesan, and failed thief, is on the lookout for her next identity. The daughter of a Vietnamese adventuress and a French naval officer, she’s no stranger to risk, but she’s unprepared for the secrets of New York’s legendary Four Hundred, or for the women who build their power at the city’s heart through blood-soaked, gold-etched rituals of demonic marriage.

In exchange for enough wealth to outrun her past, Judith strikes a deal with the matriarch of the powerful Howard family: she will stand in for the missing Howard granddaughter, who was poised to make her debut when she disappeared. With Miss Iphigenia Marshall’s face stitched over her own, Judith is white, rich, and about to risk body and soul in the deadly games that determine which girls will find a match—and which will be devoured. If she can keep her wits and her life, her reward will be a husband with undreamt-of power who will be hers to command… so long as she can keep his infinite hungers fed. But to survive the season, Judith will have to seduce a storm in the shape of a man, before the night to which everything has been leading—the Scarlet Ball where the demons choose their brides.

A razor-sharp subversion of romance tropes and nightmare of manners, Vo’s fusion of history and fantasy does for Edith Wharton what her acclaimed debut The Chosen and the Beautiful did for F. Scott Fitzgerald.

Review: I’ve read a few books from this author and really enjoyed them. In fact, if I had one criticism about my experience with her titles, it was the fact that each time I turned the last page, I was always left wishing there was just a bit more. Her worlds are always incredibly creative and her style lush. But I’ve only read novellas, so I was excited to see how her talents would play out over a full-length novel where more management of plotting and pacing is required. Well, I’m pleased to say that I was blown away by this book in almost every way.

I’ve used this term before, but I would describe this one as “hard fantasy.” What I mean by that is, like “hard science fiction,” this sort of fantasy doesn’t hand-hold the reader. Vo has created a truly wondrous and horrifying version of Gilded Age New York, a place rife with terrific magic and danger, but also compelling beauty. But there is no hand-holding given or magic system detailed. Things are simply thrown at the readers, who are left to either accept what they’re given or spend the rest of their reading experience banging their heads against a wall.

For me, this added to the beauty and horror of this world. When we’re told that women swallow songbirds to perfect their voices, we are given no more and no less than that horrifying image. This manner of presenting the fantasy elements as straightforward facts allows them to shine an even starker light on the themes and motifs of this story: the value placed on beauty, the pursuit of power, the inherent sacrifices that are placed at the altar of both. And, above all, the choices that remain.

The most obvious example, of course, is the central premise of women pursuing husbands who are the literal embodiment of natural disasters, beings of incredible power who, through their consuming obsession with their wives, both grant those women access to their power but also loom as an inevitable destruction that awaits them. There are the low-hanging-fruit approaches to a topic like this, but Vo sidesteps them all. Instead, tropes are subverted at every angle. But while this subversion is happening, Vo also lets you somehow eat your cake, too, writing a disturbing love story into the background of the tale.

Like the world-building, Judith is a complex and complicated woman. Her background is presented only slowly, and the book often simply presents facts about her life with very little commentary to be offered. It was oddly refreshing to read a character like this who was herself unapologetic for her choices but also free of the shadow of authorial self-awareness that you often see peeking out between the pages.

I also loved the interplay between fantasy and historical fiction. The fantasy elements were wondrous (and truly, the body horror here was on the next level, which surprised me), but I also loved the framework of historical fiction and historical romance that underpinned much of the pacing of the story. Familiar beats were struck, but each filtered through the lens of the fantastic and horrific.

Overall, this was an incredible read. I really didn’t have many expectations going in, other than a confidence that it would be well-written. But this was absolutely fantastic. I highly recommend it to all fantasy readers, especially those who enjoy dark fantasy and historical fiction.

Rating 10: Luscious and dark like velvet, Vo will sweep you up in the fantasy of it all before sweeping you away into the night where monsters lurk.

Reader’s Advisory:

“The Scarlet Ball” can be found on these Goodreads lists: Gothic Fantasy  and Romance Novels with Asian Heroines… Upcoming and Current