Author: thelibraryladiesmn

Ripley’s Reviews: “The Talented Mr. Ripley” (1999)

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“Ripley’s Reviews” is an ongoing series where I will review every book in Patricia Highsmith’s “Ripley” Series, as well as multiple screen adaptations of the novels. I will post my reviews on the first Thursday of the month, and delve into the twisted mind of one Tom Ripley and all the various interpretations that he has come to life within. Up next is the first film adaptation of a “Ripley” book I’m covering, the 1999 film “The Talented Mr. Ripley”.

Film: “The Talented Mr. Ripley” (1999)

I remember when “The Talented Mr. Ripley” came out. I was a freshman in high school, and Matt Damon was still riding high off of his turns in “Good Will Hunting” and “Saving Private Ryan” (and “Dogma” for this Kevin Smith fan, though it would be a couple years later that I fully dove into his whole deal). When I saw a trailer for “The Talented Mr. Ripley” it all seemed like another prestigious dramatic role for him, but then we got a pretty creepy turn as it went on and my 14 year old self was scandalized but intrigued. Toss in some Gwyneth Paltrow and a very new to me Jude Law (I was swooning) and I wanted to see it….. But didn’t get around to it until much later in life. I wanted to start with this film in my reviews of the films because it was the one that got Tom Ripley on my radar in the first place, and I was curious to see how it would hold up. AKA I was curious to see if it was actually as gay coded as I remembered and if it was as good of an adaptation I remembered. And I have great news: yes to both!

There are a number of changes that the film makes from the book, some of which work for me while others do not. I’ll start with what I did like in terms of changes. The first is that this movie really leans in to the whole ‘Tom is very much in obsessive love with Dickie’, and given how Ripley has been seen as a queer character even though Highsmith claimed he wasn’t this definitely worked. It makes it so that Tom’s longing isn’t only about coveting the things that he cannot have in terms of wealth and power, but also coveting a person that he cannot have. I’m not certain that it makes him seem more sympathetic (he’s still killing people, and one murder is particularly upsetting and ties into his identity), but it does make for a bit of a more complex character as the movie goes on. I definitely felt some pity for him as he pined for Dickie and is desperate for his affection and companionship, and thought that Damon played that angle of Tom really well. I also quite enjoyed the addition of Meredith (played by the iconic Cate Blanchett), a charming and naíve socialite that Tom meets almost immediately in Italy and impulsively passes himself off as Dickie towards her not an hour after arriving, which causes problems down the line. She kind of felt a bit like Heloise, Tom’s clueless but pretty nice wife in the books. Blanchett is always fantastic, and I really loved Meredith, even if she was a bit of a dope. But then she had no reason to not believe Tom, and it’s another layer of his manipulation skills that adds to his horribleness. Gwyneth Paltrow’s Marge is also expanded upon, and I really enjoyed seeing the direction that they take her, especially when it comes to her suspicions towards Tom as the story goes on.

But that leads into one of the changes that didn’t work as well for me, and that is how they basically assassinated Dickie’s character in this. In the book he is definitely a cad, and is blinded by his own privilege. But the movie REALLY trashes him. He’s unintelligent, condescending towards Marge, he’s having an affair with a local woman who he also impregnates, which leads to her killing herself because he refuses to take responsibility, and then when we get to the boat scene where Tom kills him with an oar, it is changed a bit to make it seem like Tom hit him in a moment of hurt and desperation and regretted it, only for Dickie to try and kill him. Which makes Tom fighting back and killing him a little easier to swallow. By making Dickie a villain in his own right it really takes away from Tom’s own reprehensible nature (that isn’t to say he doesn’t make up for it; there is a scene before the end of the film that makes it clear Tom has passed the point of no return that was chilling as hell). I just kind of felt back for the way book Dickie is thrown under the bus by film Dickie. Jude Law really is the perfect cad, though.

All in all I really enjoyed this adaptation! It’s eerie and unsettling, and I think that it’s a great portrayal of what Tom Ripley is, while giving him a little more complexity. Next up I’m going to tackle the 1960 film “Purple Noon”, the first adaptation of “The Talented Mr. Ripley”!

Serena’s Review: “The Beasts We Bury”

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Book: “The Beasts We Bury” by D. L. .Taylor

Publishing Info: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR), February 2025

Where Did I Get this Book: Edelweiss+

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

Book Description: Daughter and heir to the throne, Mancella Cliff yearns for a life without bloodshed. But as a child, she emerged from the Broken Citadel with the power to summon animals—only after killing them with her bare hands. Her magic is a constant reminder of the horrors her father, the ruler of the realm, has forced upon her to strengthen their power.

Silver is a charming thief struggling to survive in a world torn apart by Mancella’s father’s reign. When a mysterious benefactor recruits him for the heist of a lifetime, a chance to rob the castle, Silver relishes the opportunity for a real future—and revenge. But he’ll have to manipulate Mance and earn her trust to pull it off.

As the deception and carnage mount, Mance must find a way to save her realm without becoming the ruthless monster she’s been bred to be. And when Silver discovers that his actions are fueling the violence that Mance wants to prevent, he’ll have to choose between his ambition and the girl he’s falling for.

Review: I requested this one on a bit of a whim, largely due to the unique cover. I mean, who has seen a leopard made out of purple flowers on a book cover before? That said, I was also a bit hesitant, as I personally often struggle with shared POV novels, especially when they are YA. It’s tough to write one compelling character with a good story arc, let alone two in one book! But this book was here to prove why it’s always good to take a chance on a new author who may just prove that they’ve cracked the code!

And as I’ve already mentioned my typical struggle point, two POV characters sharing the lead of one YA fantasy novel, let’s just jump right into that point! I really enjoyed both of these characters! Not only did they each have rich back stories and compelling arcs throughout the novel in which they had to learn and grow, but they both had a distinct voice, making their chapters read as wholly unique to themselves. I was never confused about whose head I was in. I’d either be getting a hefty dose of Silver’s wit, craftiness, and struggles with the morality of his choices. Or I’d be in Mancella’s head, following her determination, her love/hate relationship with her powers, and her willingness to hope for and see the best in everyone around her, despite how often they let her down. I honestly couldn’t choose whose story I enjoyed more or was more invested in.

I will say, however, that I’m impressed with how well Silver was written. Here you have a character who is morally grey throughout much of the book and he’s up against another POV character who has incredibly unique and powerful magical abilities. It says something about the author’s strength as a writer that she was able to make Silver an equally compelling lead, sometimes even more so, given the nature of his history and the decisions he makes throughout this book.

Speaking of Mancella’s powers, I thought the fantasy elements in this book were incredibly good! There were familiar “abilities” here and there, but they were all twisted and used in creative and original ways. Obviously we spend the most time with Mancella herself, so we get a deep dive look into the extent and limitations of her powers. But as the story grows, so does our understanding of just what the possibilities are with a power like this. And, of course, the deep price that must be paid. But beyond our main character, there were also numerous other characters (villains and side characters, both) who had incredibly interesting abilities. There’s a fairly late reveal, in particular, that was very intriguing.

I also liked the balance between the romance and the action of the book. The author avoided instalove on the side of either of her characters. And while both slowly grow to trust and care for the other, they also never lose sight of their own goals or pre-existing relationships. All too often you see the romantic pairing fall in love and then seemingly lose interest in every other person they cared about previously in their life. Not so here. Instead, we have some nice looks into the challenges and joys of found family and sibling relationships.

Overall, this was a fun, fast read! It wasn’t necessarily breaking any boundaries as far as YA fantasy goes, but it was also leagues ahead of many other similar books I’ve read in the simple fact that the author created fully fleshed out characters who peopled an original and unique world and followed a well-paced plot. It’s refreshing to pick up a book like this and feel like you’re actually reading something new, and not just another “deadly magical competition” with an enemies-to-lovers instalove romance at its heart. If you’re looking for a solid, stand-alone YA fantasy novel, definitely give this one a go!

Rating 8: Absolutely charming and a breath of fresh air in the packed YA fantasy arena! D. L. Taylor is definitely one to keep an eye on!

Reader’s Advisory:

“The Beasts We Bury” can be found on these Goodreads lists: YA Novels of 2025 and Romantasy TBR 2025.

Kate’s Review: “Listen To Your Sister”

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Book: “Listen To Your Sister” by Neena Viel

Publishing Info: St Martin’s Griffin, February 2025

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

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

Book Description: For fans of Jordan Peele’s films, Stranger Things, and The Other Black Girl, Listen To Your Sister is a laugh-out-loud, deeply terrifying, and big-hearted speculative horror novel from electrifying debut talent Neena Viel.

Twenty-five year old Calla Williams is struggling since becoming guardian to her brother, Jamie. Calla is overwhelmed and tired of being the one who makes sacrifices to keep the family together. Jamie, full of good-natured sixteen-year-old recklessness, is usually off fighting for what matters to him or getting into mischief, often at the same time. Dre, their brother, promised he would help raise Jamie–but now the ink is dry on the paperwork and in classic middle-child fashion, he’s off doing his own thing. And through it all, The Nightmare never stops haunting Calla: recurring images of her brothers dying that she is powerless to stop.

When Jamie’s actions at a protest spiral out of control, the siblings must go on the run. Taking refuge in a remote cabin that looks like it belongs on a slasher movie poster rather than an AirBNB, the siblings now face a new threat where their lives–and reality–hang in the balance. Their sister always warned them about her nightmares. They really should have listened.

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

I’m the oldest daughter in my family, though given it was just me and my younger sister and that I’ve always had various mental health and learning disabilities I’ve contended with I’ve never felt like I’ve been ‘the one who holds it all together’, as many Oldest Daughters do. But my late Aunt Jan was absolutely the prototypical Oldest Daughter, having basically raised my mother (who was the youngest of five) due to a twelve year age gap and the burden of parentification thrust upon her over, and whenever I think about Oldest Daughter stories I always think of her. So when I heard about the general plot of “Listen To Your Sister” by Neena Viel I was very interested in the Oldest Daughter/Sister theme, and then even more so when it was being compared to Jordan Peele movies. What a combination! And I was pretty pleased with what I found.

In terms of the themes and the horror elements of this book, I really enjoyed the way that Viel portrays Calla, one of of three protagonists and eldest sister to her brothers Dre and Jamie, who is a teenager to whom she has been made legal guardian. Calla is clearly overworked, spread too thin, and deeply anxious about having to be a guardian to Jamie, who has been getting into various dust-ups that come back to her (as wholly justifiable as they may be in many cases). I don’t want to give too much away about this book and the horror beats that it possesses, as I think that these things are being held close to the vest for a reason, but I thought that the metaphors for an overburdened eldest child really worked in this book. The horror beats really do harken to the likes of a Jordan Peele movie, and I kept thinking about “Us” as I was reading, though that’s about all I am willing to say in regards to that, fearing I’ve already given too much away. Just know it’s uncanny and a bit freaky at times, but it all fits perfectly into the social commentary that Viel is putting forth.

I also loved the way that Calla, Dre, and Jaime clearly love each other, but are all still SO young and reeling from their traumatic childhoods and the racism that they face every day, and how that makes for difficult processing and damaged relationships in spite of their love for each other. The sibling relationships and the ups and downs that come with them felt very real, and this book has a HUGE heart that I enjoyed but isn’t afraid to put the dysfunction and messiness on display. Viel gives a lot of solid characterization to Calla, Dre, and Jamie, and by seeing the story through all of their eyes I could sympathize with all of them as well as get frustrated with all of them depending on the choices they were making.

I will say that there was a bit of a pacing issue in this book, at least for me, as it lagged a bit in the first half and then REALLY sped up in the second. As someone who tends to have attention issues when it comes to reading, especially when feeling high anxiety (and I mean LATELY that’s been ramping up again), the pacing disparities were noticeable. This may not be the case for all readers, but it was a hiccup for me.

Overall, I enjoyed “Listen To Your Sister”! It’s always great to see new horror voices and I’m going to keep an eye on Neena Viel in the future.

Rating 7: An entertaining horror story about family, generational trauma, and trying to hold it all together that has a lot of good symbolism and metaphors.

Reader’s Advisory:

“Listen To Your Sister” is included on the Goodreads list “Horror Books 2025”.

Highlights: February 2025

So far it’s been cold, but the snow has been lacking, for now the second year in a row! We know other places have been getting their share (if not MORE than their share at times). Why are we hitting negative digits but having to stare out at dirty, brown lawns?? Oh, who are we kidding. Our eyes are too glued to our books to be looking out windows. Here are some upcoming titles we can’t wait to check out!

Serena’s Picks

Book: “The Beasts We Bury” by D. L. Taylor

Publication Date: Feb. 4, 2025

Why I’m Interested: For one thing, I just think this cover is incredibly unique and interesting. For another, the subject matter sounds super unique and interesting! If a bit traumatic, since one of the main character’s abilities seem to be tied to animal death. I don’t love that topic, but if done well, I can also see how it could be used to craft a powerful character arc revolving around power and cruelty. It’s a duel POV title, however, between two love interests, something that I often struggle with. So we’ll see how this one goes!

Book: “Emily Wilde’s Compendium of Lost Tales” by Heather Fawcett

Publication Date: Feb. 11, 2024

Why I’m Interested: Well, obviously. This is probably my most anticipated sequel of the year, honestly. After the wild success of the first two books, I have every confidence that Fawcett will nail the landing on this one, too! I’m not sure if this is the last one in the series or not (hopefully not!), but the stakes have definitely never been higher! Emily and Wendell are finally making their way together back into Fae to reclaim Wendell’s kingdom. Of course, this is an excellent academic opportunity. But Fae politics are also nothing if not dangerous. It’s really been killing holding off on reading my early copy of this one until an appropriate time!

Book: “Upon a Starlit Tide” by Kell Woods

Publication Date: Feb. 18, 2025

Why I’m Interested: This one could go either way. On one hand, while the first book by this author I read had potential, I by no means loved it. It was maybe a 6 or 7? I also didn’t fail to notice the two portraits of men on the cover, heavily implying there will be a love triangle involved. But, on the other hand, I love fairytale fantasies, and “The Little Mermaid” has been a particularly difficult one to nail down. On the other, OTHER hand, I’m not so sure about the inclusion of “Cinderella,” as well! So, as you can see, I have some very mixed feelings going into this one. But the cover is gorgeous, and I’ve definitely had some surprises from authors on my second attempt with them!

Kate’s Picks

Book: “The Vengeful Dead” by Darcy Coates

Publication Date: February 18, 2025

Why I’m Interested: We are finally at the end of Darcy Coates’s “Gravekeeper” saga, and while I am eager to see how it ends, I’m also not ready to say goodbye to Keira and her ragtag group of friends and her ghostly adventures. I am such a fan of Coates and her really scary stories, but this sort of cozier and lighter series has been such a joy and has shown off her range. I am really hoping that she sticks the landing, but knowing her she will nail it.

Book: “Listen to Your Sister” by Neene Viel

Publication Date: February 4, 2025

Why I’m Interested: I am always on the look out for new voices in the horror genre, and this one has been getting a bit of buzz from other creators and horror reviewers that I generally trust. And when you are comparing it to the works of Jodan Peele I’m absolutely going to be very, very interested. “Listen To Your Sister” is a horror novel about family, hardship, sibling love and complications, and the way that our siblings can be both the most important thing in our life AND a huge stressor. This one caught my eye and I am very interested to see how it all shakes out.

Book: “Deep End” by Ali Hazelwood

Publication Date: February 4, 2025

Why I’m Interested: Well I am once again putting a book that is out of genre for me on my most anticipated list, and it in all likelihood won’t end up reviewed on here, but I don’t care, let me live! I have enjoyed almost everything Ali Hazelwood has put out, and she keeps up with the sub-genre jumping by taking on a sports romance with “Deep End”! I’ve had this one on pre-order from one of my favorite local bookstores for awhile now, and I can’t wait for it show up on my doorstep!

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

Serena’s Review: “A Crown So Silver”

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Book: “A Crown So Silver” by Lyra Selene

Publishing Info: Orbit, January 2025

Where Did I Get this Book: Netgalley!

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

Book Description: After her sacrifice on the Ember Moon, Fia is flush with powerful magic and eager to rush into battle against her murderous sister, Eala. However, Fia’s new husband Irian suggests they bide their time and retreat to the Silver Isle, a snowy island at the edge of the fae world.

Ruled by the cunning smith-king, the Silver Isle proves far from a safe haven. Fia and Irian become embroiled in the Tournament of Kings competing for a magical forging of immense power. Their relationship will be put to the test as they navigate their conflicting motivations, shifting allegiances, and ancient magic.

With the end of the tournament looming and Eala’s threat growing, Fia must decide just how much she’s willing to sacrifice to defeat her sister.

Previously Reviewed: “A Feather So Black”

Review: This was a highly anticipated sequel for me going into 2025! I absolutely loved the first book, “A Feather So Black,” as it took me completely by surprise with its perfectly tuned fairytale vibes and ability to present both a competent heroine as well as a non-cringeworthy love triangle that resolved in a believable manner. There was also the set up for an excellent villain with the twist that came towards the end. And, well…alas.

I’m really going to try to restrain myself from devolving into an incoherent rant with this one. But man, it’s going to be hard! I would have disliked this book on its own, but as a sequel to one that I enjoyed so much?! It’s hard to swallow. To start from the more broad view, I think this is a perfect example of a series that was unnecessarily extended into a trilogy. I’m not sure if it was the publisher or this was always the author’s plan, but something went very wrong with the pacing and story-structure of this series when we got to this book.

Simply put: nothing much happens! We barely see some of the major characters from the first book (including the original love interest who by his own rights seemed to have an interesting arc set up to follow) or even much of the villain. What plot we do have devolves into what feels like an extended side quest with stakes largely disconnected from the greater conflict as a whole. And that’s not even touching the fact that the first third of this book seems to be one long string of spicy scenes, which could be fine on their own if it wasn’t for the incredibly disjointed feeling this brings to the pacing of this novel, to start so heavily in this and only this area.

This point gets to one of my major gripes, which is with the way the romance was handled. Which is to say, it wasn’t handled well at all. I will acknowledge that perhaps it is more challenging to write a romantic pairing after they have committed themselves to one another, but it is by no means impossible! Especially if you’ve already established your characters as individuals with thoughts, fears, and goals outside of the romance, as well as a greater overall threat that they must face together. Relationships don’t simply become smooth sailing the moment they get together, but at the same time, more and more romantasy authors seem to contort their characters into the most contrived positions possible all in pursuit of “tension” while at the the same time forfeiting all believability or consistency within the character themselves.

We have both main character behaving absolutely terribly to one another (often completely out of character on their own) and then, worst of all, we have the introduction of ANOTHER LOVE TRIANGLE! Look, book one got extra props for handling a love triangle in a good way. But now this one gets extra negatives for the sheer gall and lack of creativity on display in going back to the same well twice (not even the same love triangle, mind you! A completely new character is introduced!!) I almost put the book down for good once I saw this happening.

Fia also read as almost completely unrecognizable from the character we met in the first book. There, she had worked hard to gain the abilities she had, and she was aware of her limitations. Here, in one of the very first action scenes we get, we see her behaving like the most foolish of fools, complete with “snarky” comments of bravado followed by immediate regret as she realizes the idiocy of her decisions. In many ways, she suddenly read like the worst of teenage YA protagonists, rather than the adult woman she came across as in the first book.

I’m honestly not sure what happened here. My best guess still goes all the way back to what I said in the beginning, that there simply wasn’t enough story to justify this book. And, lacking any true plot, the author instead stuffed it full of angst between characters (much of which could have been resolved with frank discussions and empathy for one another) and added another ridiculous love triangle into the mix to boot.

If you enjoyed the first book, buckle in for this one! I guess if you really enjoy love triangles and romantic angst in the form of miscommunication, than you may enjoy this more than me. All I can say is that now I’m going into the third book pretty much peeping between my fingers. Will we get the hat trick of a THIRD love triangle??

Rating 5: Maybe it would have been a “6” on its own, but as it’s a massive letdown from the first book…well, here we are.

Reader’s Advisory:

“A Crown so Silver” isn’t on any Goodreads lists yet, but it should be on Upcoming Sequels.

Kate’s Review: “Old Soul”

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

Book: “Old Soul” by Susan Barker

Publishing Info: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, January 2025

Where Did I Get This Book: I received an ARC from the publisher at ALAAC24.

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

Book Description: The woman never goes by the same name. She never stays in the same place too long. She never ages. She never dies. But those around her do.

When two grieving strangers meet by chance in Osaka airport they uncover a disturbing connection. Jake’s best friend and Mariko’s twin brother each died, 6,000 miles apart, in brutal and unfathomable circumstances. Each encountered a mesmerising, dark-haired woman in the days before their deaths. A woman who came looking for Mariko – and then disappeared.

Jake, who has carried his loss and guilt for a decade, finds himself compelled to follow the trail set by Mariko’s revelations. It’s a trail that weaves across continents and centuries, leading back to the many who have died – in strange and terrifying and eerily similar ways – and those they left behind: bewildered, disbelieved, yet resolutely sure of what they saw.

And, at the centre of it all, there is the same beguiling woman. Her name may have changed, but her purpose has never wavered, and as Jake races to discover who, or what she is, she has already made her next choice.

But will knowing her secret be enough to stop her?

Review: Thank you to G.P. Putnam’s Sons for providing me with an ARC at ALAAC24!

I don’t really read too much literary horror, but I always try to be open minded about the titles that I pick up even if they are not in my usual wheelhouse. When Serena and I went to ALAAC24 last summer I found myself with the book “Old Soul” by Susan Barker, and if I’m being honest it initially ended up in my ‘I could probably give this book away’ bag that I always find myself with at the end of the conference. After I had sorted things out and figured out what books I was going to read and which ones I was going to give to other librarians et al, “Old Soul” sat in a bag that was books that were just left over at the end of it. But then I kept seeing it on various horror lists, and my interest grew and grew. And I thought to myself ‘you know what, it’s not your usual go to sub-genre, but go for it!’ So I grabbed it from the bag it had been sitting within, and I dove on in. And in general I’m glad that I did!

“Old Soul” is a multi perspective tale about a mysterious woman who has existed through the decades, never aging but always preying on various people she encounters, who become unhinged and die horrible deaths shortly after meeting her. A chance meeting between a man named Jake and a woman named Mariko makes them realize his best friend and her brother were both victims of this woman, and we go backwards seeing the Woman pull people in and destroy them, sometimes through her perspectives, sometimes through the perspectives of loved ones of her victims. It’s such an interesting story structure that made the reading experience unnerving and dreamlike, with the strange outcomes and horrors building and twisting up super tense until it all snaps. The Woman is such a mysterious antagonist, and as we follow her both from her perspective at times but also through the eyes of others we get an eerie and almost Lynchian (rest in peace, sir) feeling that is both uncanny and cosmic, horror wise. It’s incredibly unique and I really appreciated that, and I do love seeing the bounds that literary horror will push and the ways that it will interpret the genre.

On the flip side, however, this book does move a little slower than I would have liked at times. I wholly understand why Barker wanted to give us all of the context of the mysterious Woman, and to show the ways that she has manipulated and preyed upon multiple people over the decades as she goes forward with her cosmic horror-y purpose, but it was getting to the point where I was feeling like it was a bit repetitive. I didn’t need to follow basically all of her victims for the point to come across, so by the time we were delving into one of the later ones I found myself skimming because it felt like more of the same to me. This could also be because in general cosmic horror hasn’t been SUPER on my radar until very recently, and perhaps as a sub-genre its one that doesn’t connect as well and it would work REALLY well for those who do like it AND literary sensibilities.

“Old Soul” is certainly compelling and a fascinating literary horror novel. People who like something kind of weird and unsettling who like a bit more experimental writing styles should definitely pick it up.

Rating 7: Eerie and strange, “Old Soul” is unique and compelling, but is a little slow at times.

Reader’s Advisory:

“Old Soul” is included on the Goodreads list “Horror Books of 2025”.

Serena’s Review: “The Night is Defying”

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

Book: “The Night is Defying” by Chloe C. Penaranda

Publishing Info: Bramble, January 2025

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

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

Book Description: Shaken from the aftermath of the Libertatem, the newly found star-maiden Astraea is determined to keep her freedom, even at the cost of betraying her heart. But time is running out to recover her memories with the hole it will unveil her killer.

Embarking on a journey to discover her past, Astraea’s awakening power spins the hourglass on a history threatening to repeat itself. While Nyte tries to regain control of the vampires hungry for bloodshed, a sinister plan by his brother to overthrow him sparks a dangerous feud. But are they willing to wear the blood of their kin to see it through?

For nothing in the past ever stays buried. Friends have turned into foes, brothers have turned into enemies, and what was written in the stars long ago ignites again in two hearts that were never meant to be. Letting Astraea go would save the world from darkness, but Nyte is no hero. It seems no monster is heartless, and no angel is without sin.

Previously Reviewed: “The Stars are Dying”

Review: While I struggled with the first book in this series, I did like the lyrical approach to some of the writing. One of my major complaints also revolved around the passive nature of the heroine, due to her lack of memories. As a sequel, I had high hopes that this last point could be improved upon, so I wanted to see where the story and romance would go!

So, while this didn’t rocket into becoming one of my favorites series ever, I can confirm that I did like it more than the first. Astraea made small steps towards becoming a more compelling heroine with more drive of her own to take control of her life and her choices. Did she still seem to need constant reassurance that she was capable? Yes. There were numerous pep talks throughout. But at least she also seemed to more fully come into her own as a character.

I also think the addition of Nyte’s (I still can’t with that name) POV helped the book. Having another character’s head to occupy, one who was less confused, distrusting, and passive really helped balance out the overall tone of the story. At the same time, however, sometimes it felt like his entire personality was simple adoration of everything Astraea said or did. I don’t enjoy artificial conflict or drama, but it also felt a bit too “gushy” for my taste. Added depth of his own, some more reflection on his relationships with other people, etc. all would have helped flesh him out a bit more.

However, the pacing continues to be a problem with this series. Like the first book, parts of this book really do drag, feeling as if the author is padding out the content with repetitive inner monologues and reflections (see the numerous pep talks). If you actually sit down and diagram out the action of this book, there’s very little actually there. In many ways, I think both books could have been condensed into one, much more tight, and successful narrative. As a fantasy reader, I obviously love series. But if there isn’t enough story to justify multiple books, an excellent stand-alone is always preferable to books that have been stretched too thin to make up a duology/trilogy/what have you.

Overall, this was an ok sequel. If you enjoyed the first book, than I’m sure you’ll love this one. If the first wasn’t really to our taste, this one does improve in some ways, but it also continues to struggle with regards to pacing and the passivity of its lead character.

On a secondary note, I realize that I’ve had a string of rather lackluster reviews now for the last several weeks! It really does seem like there are serious troughs that you hit every once in a while where nothing seems to be really clicking. I do try to space them out when I find myself in a situation like that. However, sometimes it’s unavoidable due to publication dates. Be assured, I’m well into my reading for February and there are several great reads heading your way!

Rating 7: While baby steps were made to allow the heroine more personal agency, the book still struggled with slower pacing and a romance that lacked tension.

Reader’s Advisory:

“The Night is Defying” isn’t on any relevant Goodreads lists, but it should be on Romtantasy TBR 2025.

Kate’s Review: “Lore Olympus: Volume Seven”

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Book: “Lore Olympus: Volume Seven” by Rachel Smythe

Publishing Info: Inklore, October 2024

Where Did I Get This Book: I own it.

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

Book Description: The rifts between realms grow ever wider as the temporary shelter Persephone had found in the Underworld is destroyed. Apollo has captured Demeter, turning the fugitive goddess over to Zeus in an attempt to win the king’s favor. Persephone and her mother must now stand trial for concealing Persephone’s unsanctioned act of wrath—though the goddess of spring feels secure with Hades on her side.

But safety is not guaranteed in the world of the gods.

As the trial brings to light truths and betrayals that threaten to upset everything—even Hades and Persephone’s relationship—the other gods face perils of their own.

Eros uncovers Ampelus’s secret during a fight in the Mortal Realm. Thanatos and Daphne’s budding relationship is threatened by a vengeful Apollo. Minthe is trapped in her cursed form until Persephone gains full control over her powers. And Hera is haunted by the specter of Kronos, whose influence in Olympus seems to be growing. . 

This edition of Smythe’s original Eisner Award–winning webcomic Lore Olympus features a brand-new, exclusive short story from creator Rachel Smythe and brings the Greek pantheon into the modern age in a sharply perceptive and romantic graphic novel.

Review: Guys, the end of 2024 was just a lot. A LOT. Not only was my anxiety exploding, I was also having issues balancing out my reviews and reading paths, to the point where when “Lore Olympus: Volume Seven” by Rachel Smythe came out in October, I just whiffed on fitting it in on my review schedule. This shows how totally scatterbrained I was given how much I LOVE this series. But it’s finally time, and I finally picked it up, and I shouldn’t have waited. Because coming back to Hades, Persephone, Hera, Hecate, and all the Greek deities and their shenanigans was so, SO healing.

My anxiety while I was reading this book (source)

So many wonderful beats in this volume, from the cute to the cathartic to the absolutely devastating. We are seeing Persephone and Hades get closer as she continues to stay with him in the Underworld while Zeus wants to bring her and Demeter to trial for hiding Persephone’s wrath that led to the deaths of many mortals sand permission. So we do have some lovely moments of closeness between Hades and Persephone that still feels appropriate and respectful from both of them, while still building up the romance. But my favorite part of this volume for these two is that Persephone has started the therapy process, and is starting to unpack her anxieties, her tumultuous relationship with her mother, and her sexual assault by Apollo. These scenes were so well handled as Persephone goes through so many emotions and breakthroughs, and I really, really appreciated how Smythe shows how raw and messy but powerful and empowering therapy can be for a person like Persephone. Seeing this kind of portrayal of mental health care in a book is always gratifying, and it fits in with the other themes that Smythe has been touching on from the jump.

We are also getting some more depth and richness for some of our other characters, whether it’s Eros and his changing relationship with Ampelus (who is Psyche in disguise, as suggested by Aphrodite), or Hera starting to have horrifying visions of Kronos (and setting up another potential arc in this story, as we know that Kronos’s strength is growing in spite of his imprisonment). I also really, REALLY loved getting more backstory on the relationship between Hades and Hera, as while I of course ship Hades and Persephone, the connection between these two is tragic even if it’s come to a certain comfortable understanding (and yes, Zeus was involved). We also get more interesting inversions of the original myths that these characters come from, with an especially harrowing and alarming take on the Daphne and Apollo myth that left me completely floored. Smythe is so good at pulling the themes from the source material and adapting it to fit this story, and I am continuously impressed by it.

I’m still absolutely loving “Lore Olympus”. We have ended on another cliffhanger, of course, but luckily it’s only a couple months before the next one comes out!

Rating 10: STOP DEVASTATING ME, RACHEL SMYTHE! This volume has so many heart wrenching beats, but hope is always present as well. Just fantastic.

Reader’s Advisory:

“Lore Olympus: Volume 7” is included on the Goodreads list “Great Graphic Novels Released in 2024”.

Previously Reviewed:

Not Just Books: January 2025

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 Day of the Jackal”

I’ve never read the original book or watched the much older movie, but of course I was going to eventually get around to watching this assassin-based action show! And it turned out to be much more than I was even expecting, especially the parallels drawn between the assassin and the special agent tasked with tracking him down. There were numerous moments where the show challenged our perceptions of morality and the ways in which small steps can lead down dangerous paths. There was also a fairly massive twist towards the very end that I 100% wasn’t expecting. Honestly, it’s been a long time since a show/book/movie truly shocked me in this way!

Video Game: “Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous”

Continuing my run through popular RPGs, I finally got around to tackling Pathfinder. And yes, it is just as intimidating as everyone says. When you start it up and are met with a character creator menu that has like 30 options (no exaggeration), you know you’re in the deep end. I’m really glad I played BG3 before getting to this one, as there is no way I’d have any idea what I was doing otherwise. Even now, I still feel like I’m barely scratching the surface of the mechanics behind this all. I’ll also say that I find it incredibly frustrating at times, with seemingly endless loading screens and some very difficult to navigate layouts. Overall, I’m still enjoying it though, and the writing is fantastic!

TV Show: “Squid Game”

Per the usual, I’m jumping on the bandwagon several years too late. Mostly, I just saw that “Season 2” was dropping so thought, hey, might as well watch season 1! (And now I’ve seen reports that the second season watches more like a “part 1” of a second season rather than a whole season, so I’ll probably delay that too!). I obviously expected all of the death and violence, but I didn’t expect to become quite so attached to all of the characters. Especially the main character who doesn’t exactly guild himself in glory in that very first episode! I’m very curious to see where the story goes from here, but I think I’ll try to restrain myself. We’ll see how it goes!

Kate’s Picks

Film: “Nosferatu”

If there is one thing I can count on when it comes to Robert Eggers’s films, it’s that the vibes are going to be IMMACULATE. I absolutely love “The VVItch”, and really enjoyed “The Lighthouse” (I still haven’t seen “The Northman”, I need to get on that), and when I heard he was going to remake “Nosferatu” I was like ‘oh how perfect’. I had seen the original silent film in college, and was curious to see what he’d do with it. And wow, what a creepy, unnerving, gorgeous, and kinda sensual masterpiece this is. When Thomas is sent to Transylvania to do a real estate deal with the mysterious Count Orlok, he has no clue that said Count has a sordid and obsessive past with Thomas’s new bride Ellen. And back in Germany, Ellen is sinking more into conniptions, fits, and moments of disassociation. And when Orlok arrives in their city, a monstrous plague descends with him, along with his desire to be reunited with Ellen. THE VIBES, MAN! But not only the vibes, the CAST, MAN! Willem Dafoe, Nicholas Hoult, and Bill Skarsgård (as the titular vampire) are all phenomenal, but Lily Rose Depp REALLY steals the show as the tragic yet determined (and on and off possessed) Ellen.

TV Show: “Canada’s Drag Race”

While the mothership show “RuPaul’s Drag Race” has indeed started, I have started giving it a few episodes before I put it on my “Not Just Books” list, because sometimes I think I’m going to like it but then don’t. But the good news is that we still get some drag queens on the docket this month because “Canada’s Drag Race” is back! And still incredibly charming and Canadian! With Brooke Lynn Hytes still in charge of the judges panel (and looking as radiant as ever) we had a whole crop of new queens representing the great white north! Favorites for me include Makayla Couture, Perla, and Minhi Wang (who didn’t even register on the radar at first and then REALLY turned it out), but I really loved the entire cast this time around as it showcases so many different drag perspectives and backgrounds. And did I mention that Brooke Lynn is radiant? She’s RADIANT.

YouTube Channel: “Jordan and McKay”

I’m sure that many of you have been following my years (and I mean YEARS, long before we started this blog) long obsession with the LDS Church and the history of Mormonism and the cult-like practices of the Church and the off shoot splinter groups and so on and so forth. And I’m always eager to hear the perspectives of people who have left the LDS Faith to hear their perspectives. I’ve actually been following Jordan and McKay on and off for a few years, as they have done collaborations with Fundie Fridays, but recently I jumped back in for two reasons. One was that they collaborated with Natalie and Amber on “Some Place Under Neith”, and the other was that I read Shari Franke’s memoir and wanted to see what they thought of it. Jordan and McKay are a married couple who used to be in the LDS Church, but left after becoming disillusioned and deconstructing their faith. Now they run a channel that talks about Mormonism and the various facts of the LDS Church, as well as their experiences as perspectives, both as former members and as a therapist in Jordan’s case. I like their commentary and feel like I learn a lot from them, and it feeds my special interest a bit.

Serena’s Review: “Prophesy”

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Book: “Prophesy” by M.L. Fergus

Publishing Info: Tundra Books, January 2025

Where Did I Get this Book: from the publisher!

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

Book Description: The only life Persephone has ever known has been one of servitude, and she dreams of a life of freedom, buoyed by a spirit and sense of humor that have never wavered. When a chance encounter with a handsome thief offers her a chance to leave, she grabs it with both hands . . . and the thief, Azriel, will just have to keep up.

But Azriel is not everything he seems, and he believes Persephone holds the key to a greater freedom for himself and his people, who have been hunted for years by the king’s regent, an evil and sadistic man who will stop at nothing in his quest for power. Azriel has a plan to defeat him, and he needs Persephone — but does Persephone need him?

As her journey brings her deeper and deeper into a cruel and dangerous world, Persephone must quickly learn who to trust . . . and whether an impossibly broad-shouldered thief holds the key to her future, or her ruin.

Review: While I’m always more hesitant than excited when a book is comped to one of Stephanie Garber’s titles (this one mentions “Once Upon a Broken Heart” in its marketing materials), I was also intrigued by the vague comparisons to “The Princess Bride” that I found floating around. It’s a hard target to hit, but when authors manage to balance humor, romance, and fantasy altogether, those end up being some of my all time favorite reads. And this one definitely sounded like it had potential!

Let’s start with some pros! One thing that this book definitely goes hard on is the quippy dialogue. Now, I’m quite picky about quippy dialogue, so the fact that this didn’t immediately put me off the book is a definite mark in its favor! Moreover, as much of the romance between these characters rotates around their quirky banter with one another, readers who enjoy this style of interaction are going to gobble this one up. While I did find myself getting a bit tired of it as it went on, there are definitely readers out there who will appreciate this style.

Further, I liked the addition of chapters from the villain’s perspective. This wasn’t something I was expecting, and I think it added a much needed note of seriousness to the affair. This character is truly vile, and I appreciated the fact that the author fully committed to writing this sort of character and devoting this amount of page time to him.

That said, the book as a whole failed to really land. Part of this is due to the pacing. The book starts off fast, but not in a good way. We meet Persephone and then literally three pages into the book, bam! Azriel shows up and their quippiness takes off at a gallop. I barely had time to meet the heroine or hear anything about this world before I was thrown into the scene of these two’s first meeting. Usually when you get a first meeting like this, you at least know and care about one of the characters. Through knowing them, the reader is given a window into how to interpret the this newly introduced character and the interactions between them.

But Persphone was just as much an unknown to Azriel when they met, so this didn’t give me any insight into either of their characters. Is she usually trusting or untrusting? Is she more chaotic or lawful in her approach to situations like this? As the story continued, of course, I got to know both of these characters better. But the sudden introduction of them both so early in the book put me on the backfoot right from the start. I’ll also add that I think some of the fun was taken out of the quippy dialogue due to these choices, as well. Due to this, the book always felt a bit lacking in its world-building and characterization. As the story continued and the pacing slowed down some, I appreciated the author’s attempts to more fully flesh these bits out. But in many ways it was too little, too late.

The pacing picked up again towards the end, with a lot of plot points hitting quickly all within the last few chapters. There were a couple of twists and turns here that I don’t think quite tracked with some of the information we had previously, but it’s also clear that everything was being set up for the sequel. We’ll see if I get around to checking that out, but there’s a decent chance that my estimation of this one could rise based on the execution of the next book. Overall, I’d say this was just an ok novel. In some ways it read as unexpectedly middle grade (both in the sheer number of animal companions and with the tone of the dialogue at various points). But I also think that it will appeal to a specific sort of fantasy reader who likes fast dialogue and quirky characters.

Rating 7: Had potential, especially for readers who enjoy lots of dialogue, but the pacing was off and some of the tone of the writing read veered closer to middle grade than young adult.

Reader’s Advisory:

“Prophesy” can be found on this Goodreads list: YA Novels of 2025.