Serena’s Review: “Savage Blooms”

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Book: “Savage Blooms” by S.T. Gibson

Publishing Info: Orbit, October 2025

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

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

Book Description: Adam has been in love with his best friend Nicola since college, but the closest he can come to admitting his feelings is inviting her to travel with him to Scotland in search of a legendary cave from his grandfather’s bedtime stories. When a storm washes out the road, Adam and Nicola find themselves at the mercy of Eileen, an eccentric aristocrat, and Finley, her brooding groundskeeper. The Americans quickly get more than they bargained for as they become entangled in Eileen and Finley’s world of mind games, kink, and ancient enchantment.

Review: Oof, this book was not what I expected and not what I wanted. Yes, I did see the word “kink” snuck in there at the very end of the book description, and while kink isn’t really my thing, I’m not for writing off entire books based on one piece of it. Well, more fool me, as the percentage of this book summary that focused on plot versus erotica was WAY out of line with what the book actually had to offer.

I was led to believe that this was going to be a Gothic fantasy set in the Scottish countryside. I was promised mystery, I was promised enchantment, I was promised misty nights and shadowy doors. But no, what I got was page after page of spicy scenes with practically no plot to speak of. This book could have been set anywhere, at any time, about any random characters, and it hardly would have mattered.

Now look, there is nothing wrong with erotica in principle. That said, it needs to be incredibly clear right from the start (and this includes the book summary!!) that that is what readers are getting. When I say there was no plot here, I mean there was really no plot here. What little plot we got felt like it was there just to move characters from one sexy-times room to another sexy-times room. The erotic scenes were pages long and took up well over fifty percent of the book, I’d say.

Beyond that, when we did come up for air and have a moment to get to know these characters, I found them all to be incredibly unlikable. None of these people felt like they were in a healthy place in their own lives, let alone in various combinations of “relationships” (if we can even call what we’re seeing here “relationships”). It was incredibly toxic and messy, but not in a fun way. More in a frustrating, “get your shit together” way where I just wanted to smack everyone across the back of the head.

It’s hard to know how much to focus on editing when reviewing ARC books since they are early copies and still going through the publishing process. But this one was above average with its errors. And it was across the board: spelling errors, missing words, and inconsistencies in basic facts given in the plot. It was incredibly distracting. Of course, much of this could change in the finished book, but even for an ARC, this book was in a poor state.

I know that Gibson is a beloved author, so I’ll be curious to see how this is received. Frankly, it feels like one of those books that fans might gaslight themselves into thinking is good, just for the author’s sake. Because as it stands, this isn’t something I’d recommend to just about anyone.

Rating 5: Don’t sell me straight erotica under the guise of “Gothic fantasy” and expect it to go well.

Reader’s Advisory:

“Savage Blooms” can be found on these Goodreads lists: 2025 Gothic and Creepy Fruit.

Kate’s Review: “The October Film Haunt”

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Book: “The October Film Haunt” by Michael Wehunt

Publishing Info: St. Martin’s Press, September 2025

Where Did I Get This Book: I received an ARC from the publisher at ALAAC25

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

Book Description: Horror Movie meets the scope and emotion of Stephen King in this heart-pounding, magnetic tour de force about a woman pulled into a cult horror film that is determined to have a sequel, by critically acclaimed author Michael Wehunt.

Ten years ago, Jorie Stroud was the rising star of the October Film Haunt – a trio of horror enthusiasts who camped out at the filming locations of their favorite scary movies, sharing their love through their popular blog. But after a night in the graveyard from Proof of Demons – perhaps the most chilling cult film ever made, directed by the enigmatic Hélène Enriquez – everything unraveled.

Now, Jorie has built an isolated life with her young son in Vermont. In the devastating wake of her viral, truth-stretching Proof of Demons blog entry — hysteria, internet backlash, and the death of a young woman — Jorie has put it all, along with her intense love for the horror genre, behind her.

Until a videotape arrives in the mail. Jorie fears someone might be filming her. And the “Rickies” – Enriquez obsessives who would do anything for the reclusive director – begin to cross lines in shocking ways. It seems Hélène Enriquez is making a new kind of sequel…and Jorie is her final girl.

As the dangers grow even more unexpected and strange, Jorie must search for answers before the Proof of the movie’s title finds her and takes everything she loves.

This riveting and layered horror novel unleashes supernatural terror in a world where truth can be manipulated, and nothing is as it seems. Beautiful and horrifying, with an unforgettable cast of characters, The October Film Haunt will shock and delight readers all the way to its breathless final page.

Review: Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for providing me with an ARC of this novel at ALAAC25!

Before I head out to the Annual American Library Association Conference every year I make a list of titles that I am going to keep an eye out for. Usually it’s from authors that I love, or hyped up titles that I keep seeing across my feeds, but there are also dark horse selections of books that may not be getting much attention, but I still keep stumbling upon. “The October Film Haunt” by Michael Wehunt was one such book, as it’s a debut and I hadn’t seen MUCH about it around the time I was plotting out my searches. But the premise of a horror film aficionado content creator getting too involved in a cursed film urban legend (that may actually be a REAL creature lurking in some woods) was tantalizing to say the least. It only sweetened the deal when the rest of the plot involved a zealous and potentially dangerous cult following radicalized by Internet lore and connection. Scary AND a bit timely? Oh yes, I was interested, and was stoked when I snagged a copy at the conference.

I love a cursed film urban legend, and the foundation of “The October Film Haunt” has a really well developed and creepy one to hold up the rest of the tale. It feels a little like “Slenderman” meets the original “Blair Witch Project” (at least with it’s wild ‘this may have actually happened’ marketing), with a cult horror film rumored to be real inspiring a tragedy with people who were too engrossed with the lore, as well as questions about culpability of content creators who feed into the mythos and hysteria for their own gains only for it to spin completely out of control. Our former horror content creators Jorie and Beth are brought back together after a falling out due Internet backlash in the wake of their content about the cult film “Proof of Demons” by mysterious director Hélène Enriquez, possibly contributing to a girl’s death, mostly because they feel like someone or someones are watching them, stalking them, and coming after them. The slow dread as they are stalked and harassed is effective and chilling, as is the slow build up of the “Rickies” who are after them. I also just loved the creep factor of the way that Wehunt explores the way that the Internet can stir up an almost shared psychosis and cult-like mentality that can make people do scary and murderous things (something that has felt all too relevant as of late). And hey, I really enjoyed the lore of the Pine Arch Creature. I was a Slenderman fan back during the Marble Hornets days so it’s kind of fun to see how much he has endured as a modern folk legend, even if he feels played out by many at this point.

This was more literary than I was anticipating. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing, mind you, as I love it when horror stretches beyond the genre limits than is usually expected (hell, I absolutely loved the book “Reprieve” which was SUPER literary with a horror backdrop). And I do like that it kind of matched the surrealistic and disjointed paranoia that Jorie and Beth are experiencing as they are getting more and more engulfed in their past actions catching up to them and being possibly targeted by a group of zealous fans. But I will also acknowledge that sometimes it made for the story hard to follow, or could throw off the pacing, especially when we would jump to perspectives of other characters and get snippets of their actions and motivations within the same surrealistic and disjointed style. I think that had there been a faster pace with the story in general when we were in the Jorie and Beth sections (or even the interludes, which I almost always really enjoyed) it could have been easier to swallow, but as it was I found the book a bit trickier to get through because of the choppy pacing and weirdness as a whole. And for horror fans who aren’t as into a literary style when it comes to reading, I could see this being a very cumbersome read. It’s just good to have expectations managed going into it, I think.

“The October Film Haunt” is dark and strange, and it probably won’t be for everyone. I appreciated what it was trying to do, and if you like some experimental literary edge to your horror stories, it may be worth checking out.

Rating 6: A strong premise, well done lore building, and some great introspection about groupthink has the makings of a creepy literary horror tale, but be warned that sometimes it gets in the weeds a little bit. Overall, an interesting horror story that is sure to spark debate!

Reader’s Advisory:

“The October Film Haunt” is included on the Goodreads list “Lost Films & Cursed Movies”.

Serena’s Review: “Dealing with a Desperate Demon”

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Book: “Dealing with a Desperate Demon” by Charlotte Stein

Publishing Info: St. Martin’s Griffin, October 2025

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

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

Book Description: Nancy has just about given up on finding her special person when Jack Jackson—big, scary and the town loser—walks into her bookstore. He’s apparently even more desperate for help in the romance department than she is. And after a bit of gentle persuasion, he finally accepts her guidance in securing his dream girl. Practice dates, lessons in tenderness—you name it, she can teach it.

There’s just one his dream girl might have more than an issue with his dating skills. Because Jack isn’t just a little clueless; he’s actually the demonic son of Satan, from the deepest depths of hell. He’s spent his entire long underlife dragging evildoers to their fates, while really trying not to live up to his Dad’s expectations.

Now, it isn’t just about getting a date with his dream girl. He needs to become a better man to win over the woman he’s been cosmically bound to, in a Beauty and the Beast style pact. If he fails, everyone he cares for will face a terrible fate. Luckily for him, Nancy may well be the witch she’s always tried to pretend she wasn’t. She can save him, he knows it—and she’s starting to know it too. Even if every day spent with him is an agonising reminder that she isn’t the girl he’s fated for.

But as the deadline approaches she’s starting to wonder… Could it be that she’s finally found her Prince? Or is she about to lose her heart to hell?

Review: This book was a bit of a hit-and-miss experience for me, similar to the first book in this world that I read by this author. Like that book, the strengths lie in the cozy vibes that are strewn throughout. Indeed, the book routinely comments on the fact that this town is known as one of the coziest places on earth! That vibe carries through the descriptions of the town itself, from the characterization of our main couple, all the way down to the homey, approachable style of writing. If nothing else, this book was a fun read to simply sink into while holding a mug of steaming tea.

After reading the first book, it was easy enough to spot potential candidates for upcoming sequels, and Nancy was one whom I was particularly interested in! Who doesn’t want to read more about the lovely bookstore owner who has forgotten her own magic? Unfortunately, as a main character, Nancy was less charming than I found her to be in the first book. By no means was she unlikable, and I’d even say I enjoyed her personal arc of rediscovering her own magic. However, she also came across as incredibly obtuse and dense at times, particularly with regard to the romance. A fairly major plot point is her giving the romantic interest “dating tips” for the mysterious girl he’s interested in. “Mysterious”… right. But apparently, to poor, dull Nancy, it truly was a mystery—which boggled the mind.

This was a problem I had in the first book as well. In theory, we’re supposed to be reading about adult characters who have lived adult lives. But, perhaps in pursuit of “coziness,” the author seems prone to dumbing down her characters to a point where I struggle to find them believable as mature people. In both that book and this one, the leading ladies read too much like rather dimwitted teenagers with very little understanding of other people and romance in general.

I liked Jack better, for the most part. His shtick became a bit tiresome after a while, but I still liked his stumbling attempts to charm Nancy. That said, the curse of the nicknames struck again, and I inwardly cringed every time he called Nancy “kid.” Of course, this particular nickname didn’t help my ongoing struggles to envision Nancy as an adult woman.

The pacing was also fairly slow at the start of this book. Things did pick up toward the middle, but it was still a slight slog getting to that point. Fans of the first book will likely be happy to go along, as the pacing is helped by familiarity with the world and some of the side characters. But for new entrants, it takes a bit of time to fully feel invested in the story.

Overall, this was a sweet, cozy fall read. It didn’t blow me away, and I did struggle with the main character at times, but I think the romance itself was nice. I’m rather picky with my cozy reads, so I think more tried-and-true fans of this subgenre are going to gobble this one up!

Rating 7: Full of charm and coziness, this one will likely appeal to readers looking for a sweet, fall read. That said, I felt like the main character was unnecessarily childish at times and the pacing was slow to start.

Reader’s Advisory:

“Dealing with a Desperate Demon” can be found on these Goodreads lists:

Kate’s Review: “Play Nice”

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

Book: “Play Nice” by Rachel Harrison

Publishing Info: Berkley, September 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: A woman must confront the demons of her past when she attempts to fix up her childhood home in this devilishly clever take on the haunted house.

Clio Louise Barnes leads a picture-perfect life as a stylist and influencer, but beneath the glossy veneer she harbors a not-so glamorous secret: she grew up in a haunted house. Well, not haunted. Possessed. After Clio’s parent’s messy divorce, her mother, Alex, moved Clio and her sisters into a house occupied by a demon. Or so Alex claimed. That’s not what Clio’s sisters remember or what the courts determined when they stripped Alex of custody after she went off the deep end. But Alex was insistent; she even wrote a book about her experience in the house.

After Alex’s sudden death, the supposedly possessed house passes to Clio and her sisters. Where her sisters see childhood trauma, Clio sees an opportunity for house flipping content. Only, as the home makeover process begins, Clio discovers there might be some truth to her mother’s claims. As memories resurface and Clio finally reads her mother’s book, the presence in the house becomes more real, and more sinister, revealing ugly truths that threaten to shake Clio’s beautiful life to its very foundation.

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

I remember being a teenager and reading about The Amityville Horror case, not the actual book itself (though I DID read that years later), but in some random haunted house book. For the unfamiliar, the run down is that a young family moved into a house on Long Island that had been the site of a mass murder years before (committed by the oldest son of the Defeo family, Ronny). The Lutzes started experiencing horrible things, then moved out after not even a month because it was SO HAUNTED. I also remember renting the original film with Margot Kidder and James Brolin and watching it on the tiny TV in the basement of my childhood home, eating take out tacos and banished away because I was the only horror fan in the family.

And I remember finding out as an adult that it was all bullshit, made up by the Lutz Family as well as the lawyers for Ronnie Defeo. It’s a fun story, but it’s built on lies. “Play Nice” by Rachel Harrison clearly has some influences from and shades of “Amityville”, and the description made me REALLY excited to read it, especially since I have genuinely enjoyed every horror novel that Harrison has written. And “Play Nice” is now my favorite of her books, because not only does it have shades of “Amityville”, it is also a very emotional story about unpacking family trauma and long festering family dysfunction.

This basically sums up a solid chunk of the problems this entire family has in this book (source)

Our main character is Clio, a free spirited influencer who has tried to build a carefree and adventurous life after a difficult childhood, where she and her sisters Lena and Daphne and mother Alex moved into a house after her parent’s divorce that Alex claimed to be haunted by a demon. She even wrote a book about it that became a cult hit. The problem is that Clio and her sisters remember it differently, with an abusive alcoholic mother terrorizing them until she lost custody, and they cut off contact. Until her death. Clio, being the youngest, remembers the least, and while her sisters refuse to attend the funeral, Clio does, and then inherits the house from her childhood. She thinks fixing it up would be a good content opportunity and moves in. And then it all starts to unravel. So this could very easily be solely a haunted house story, as Harrison gets back to her early horror roots with “Play Nice”. It has genuinely horrifying moments, descriptions, and a slow building up dread that makes the reader want to keep reading… while also being very, very unnerving and creepy. I loved having both Clio’s present day experiences as well as the excerpts from the book (with personalized annotations from Alex for Clio, exposing the untrue things with a bitter commentary). As a straight up horror story it works really well.

But Harrison has always been someone who likes to tap into the messiness of being a woman in modern society and the way they aren’t allowed to be imperfect without scrutiny, and in “Play Nice” we REALLY dive into imperfect women who are complicated, maddening, but so well rounded because of it. This is not only a haunted house story, it’s also a story about childhood trauma, unclear memories, deep familial dysfunction, and trying to parse out truth from lies that others tell and that we tell ourselves. Clio is such a fascinating main character because I genuinely had a difficult time with her, but wholly understood why she is the way she is. Harrison has created an honest and sometimes painful story about a woman trying to uncover darkness within her family, and there are few clear answers and a whole lot of nuance, which I really appreciated. Alex is monstrous in a lot of ways, but it’s also not as simple an explanation as, say, a demonic presence that would explain everything. I thought that at times it was a very raw story, and it packs a wallop because of it.

“Play Nice” is Rachel Harrison’s best horror novel yet. It’s scary and deeply emotional, and I highly recommend it for Halloween.

Rating 9: Harrison effortlessly creates a haunted house story that tackles family dysfunction, childhood trauma, and the demons that haunt us, not matter what kind that may be.

Reader’s Advisory:

“Play Nice” is included on the Goodreads lists “Ultimate Female Horror Authors”, and “Horror Books 2025”.

Highlights: October 2025

Kate’s favorite month of the year has arrived! As well as our kids’ favorite time of year, the period of months where candy seems to be springing out of the woodwork every direction you look, starting with Halloween and not ending until, what, Valentine’s Day?? Of course, this just means we have to try to restrain ourselves from sneaking it all when they’re off to bed. But with the cooler weather, of course, comes plenty of opportunities to cozy up with some new books, so here are a few we’re looking forward to this month!

Serena’s Picks

Book: “Dealing with a Desperate Demon” by Charlotte Stein

Publication Date: October 7, 2025

Why I’m Interested: I leave the true spooky stuff to Kate most of the time (though I’ll make exceptions for Gothic books). So in place of any real Halloween stories, let’s check out a cozy romcom featuring, you guessed it, a demon! I read the first standalone book in this series last fall and thought it was mostly a cute, fun time. It was easy enough to guess who a few of future characters would be, so I was pleased to see that this one was going to follow the local bookstore owner we met in the first book. Excited to see how this one goes!

Book: “Daughter of No Worlds” by Carissa Broadbent

Publication Date: October 14, 2025

Why I’m Interested: Given how popular Carissa Broadbent’s “Nyaxia” series has been, I knew that my patience would eventually be rewarded and her other backlisted titles would make their way through a traditional publishing house. And lo and behold, here we are! While I have greatly enjoyed her vampire tales, I’m especially intrigued to see what she has to offer in a completely fresh world with completely fresh characters. I’m not too worried about being disappointed with this one, which is always a relief going into a new trilogy!

Book: “The Everlasting” by Alix E. Harrow

Publication Date: October 28, 2025

Why I’m Interested: Here’s another title that I’m looking forward to with very few worries of disappointment! Harrow has never lead me wrong, and she’s definitely an author who has pushed the boundaries of the genres and subjects about which she has written. You never quite know what you’re going to get, but you know it’s going to be good. This one seems to be tackling time travel, a particularly tricky topic, as it’s very easy for readers to get too bogged down in the “how” of it all to truly enjoy the story. However, Harrow has a knack for writing incredibly compelling characters, and if that holds true here, I’m sure I’ll be too caught up in their story to bother overly much with the ins and outs of time travel rules.

Kate’s Pick

Book: “King Sorrow” by Joe Hill

Publication Date: October 21, 2025

Why I’m Interested: It has been SO LONG since Joe Hill has come out with a full length novel, and the wait is finally over. And it’s a HONKER of a book, clocking in at almost 900 pages! That doesn’t intimidate me, as not only do I love Joe Hill, but his new horror novel has a FREAKIN’ DRAGON at its core. Oh how I love dragons. A group of friends are bound over the years to a vengeful dragon that they pulled out of a mysterious and magical book bound in human skin, having to pick a sacrifice to King Sorrow every year lest their misdeeds bounce back against them. It’s a stunning bit of power, and as we all know, power corrupts. I love Hill’s books, I was AMPED to get a copy of this at ALAAC25 (as well as getting to have him sign it), and the time is finally here to tackle it.

Book: “Girl Dinner” by Olivie Blake

Publication Date: October 21, 2025

Why I’m Interested: This one has been on my radar for a few months now, the pastel-y cover splashed with blood really catching my eye back when I first stumbled across it. I am a huge fan of thrillers and horror novels about femininity and the expectations that come with it, and if you add in some potentially vicious sorority sisters and maybe some cannibalism (maybe? I think?) and I’m almost assuredly raring to go. Sophomore Nina is hoping to put a dismal freshman year behind her, and joining the most elite sorority on campus will surely be the thing to help her maneuver herself into better social standing. On the other side of the coin, adjunct professor Sloane is trying to adjust to being a new mother and working mom, with not as much support as she needs. Both women are hoping to live up to expectations set before them no matter the cost. Very intriguing stuff.

Book: “The Bone Thief” by Vanessa Lillie

Publication Date: October 28, 2025

Why I’m Interested: I really enjoyed the first Syd Walker book “Blood Sisters” and had hoped that Vanessa Lillie would continue the series, and lo and behold she did! This time Sid Walker is investigating not only a missing girl connected to an elite summer camp, but also bones that have been going missing. And to make matters more sinister, there has been a pattern of missing Native girls that has been going back generations, with connections to a colonial historical society that has been butting heads with the tribal community for decades. I am thrilled that we have a new Syd Walker mystery on our hands, and can’t wait to read it.

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

Serena’s Review: “Druid Cursed”

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

Book: “Druid Cursed” by C. J. Burright

Publishing Info: Entangled: Amara, October 2025

Where Did I Get this Book: from the publisher!

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

Book Description: Every fifty years, Kellen Ravenwood escapes his magical prison for seven days. This Samhain is his last chance to break the curse, or he’ll be bound forever. All he needs is a sacrifice: the blood of Maggie O’Malley, the last living descendant of the witch who cursed him.

Maggie, desperate for cash after a brutal divorce, jumps at the chance to win a $500,000 prize at a mysterious Irish estate. She never expected ancient rituals, strange magic, or Kellen, the dangerously charming man who claims she’s the key to his freedom.

But Maggie won’t be anyone’s sacrifice. And if there’s another way to break the curse, she’ll find it.

Because some destinies are meant to be rewritten.

And some love stories are worth defying fate for.

Review: I was excited to check out this book when I was approached by the publicist. I think it always would have been interesting to me, but it just so happened that I was in the middle of a run of “Baldur’s Gate 3” where I was romancing the druid, Halsin, and bemoaning the fact that druids really aren’t seen in fantasy books all that much. And low and behold, here we get a book referencing druids right there in the title!

I really like the cover on this one, but I have to say, I do think it’s a bit misleading for the type of book you’re picking up. At some point I knew this was a paranormal romance, but by the time I picked it up, when I glanced at the cover, I was assuming we were back in good ole “second world” fantasy. Nope! Main character is a divorcée out to win big cash and get on her with her life. What she doesn’t expect, of course, is to find herself caught up in an ancient curse and drawn into another romantic entanglement right off the bat.

To that last point, while I ultimately really enjoyed this book for what it is (a fun paranormal romance!), I do think that the instalove straight after divorce thing was a bit much. The story was saved by its fun writing and solid characters, but from afar, the love story happened incredibly quickly and was all the more strange for the fact that she had just gotten divorced and would, rightly, probably need a bit of a break from love.

That said, the story was so fast paced and full of action and romance that I barely had time to really linger on the timing of it all. For one thing, there is a certain tone to paranormal romances that lends them a sort of propulsive energy. Thins happen quickly, and that’s all for the best!

The book also had a tough sell trying to straddle the worlds of dark, gothic fantasy and fun, cozy romance. I perhaps would have liked to lean in a bit more towards the gothic side of things at times, but overall, I was impressed the author was able to pull off this balancing act at all! This duality was best expressed in the dialogue, switching between the modern lingo that Maggie uses and the more old-fashioned and formal way of speaking that Kellen employs.

Overall, I thought this was a fun paranormal romance. I think the combination of gothic, Irish estate full of strange magic alongside a more lighthearted character and romance worked well. I also really enjoyed the side characters (perhaps more than the main characters??). If you’re looking for a fun, fast read, I think this is definitely one to check out this spooky season!

Rating 8: Curses, magic, and romance, oh my! Quite the balancing act to pull off combining dark, gothic vibes and cozy romantasy, but this book does it!

Reader’s Advisory:

“Druid Cursed” isn’t currently on any Goodreads lists, but it should be on Paranormal Romance Outside the Box.

Serena’s Review: “The Sleepless”

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

Book: “The Sleepless” by Jen Williams

Publishing Info: Wednesday Books, September 2025

Where Did I Get this Book: Netgalley!

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

Book Description: Elver is the guardian of the wild and dangerous monster forest. Saved from the brink of death by a god, her skin will poison anyone she touches.

Artair is on a mission—one that takes him face-to-face with Elver at her most ruthless. But her defenses are useless when she discovers he’s the only human impervious to her deadly gift. For Artair isn’t human: he’s one of the Sleepless, cursed to share his body with an evil spirit.

Lucian inhabits their body while Artair sleeps, and he is hell-bent on manipulating Elver for his dark purposes. But Elver is harbouring secrets too, and she has her own reasons for feigning an alliance with these two souls.

Caught in the crossfire of gods, monsters, and a dangerous magic they can barely understand, it is only a matter of time before the paths the three of them choose to take will set alight the very foundations of their world.

Review: I’ve had to take some time to really sit and think about how I feel about this book due to one very important factor: I didn’t plan ahead and see that I was going to be reading two love triangle books in a row. As my least favorite romance trope, it was easy to anticipate this affecting my reading experience here.

So, to get it out of the way, I still didn’t love the love triangle, but it was much better done than in “Never Ever After.” The concept of both “romantic interests” being in one body, while not completely new (ahem..“Belladona”), was interesting enough and added some interesting dynamics to the love story. Secondly, the romance was definitely a subplot to the main story, so it didn’t feel like it was overtaking the plot. Indeed, readers who go in with a “romantasy” title in mind may find themselves disappointed, as the characters only begin to head in this direction towards the end of the book. And even there, several twists are thrown in that put a wrench in affairs.

All of that said, I really enjoyed the world that was set up here. Jen Williams doesn’t skimp on the fantasy elements; there are gods, monsters, curses, magical powers, etc. All that classic fantasy goodness. Because there was so much, I will say that none of these features were particularly deep, but I think they set an interesting stage upon which the story takes place. Throughout the book, the reader is constantly being fed new little pieces of lore and information.

As for the main character, she was fine. I appreciate that her POV was written in a way that read as true to her age (seventeen). As an adult, increasingly I’ve struggled to connect with younger characters, but I think Williams is a strong enough writer overall to pull it off. The male POV character felt a bit older in some ways, though I believe he is supposed to be around the same age. Of course, both characters have experienced life in very different ways, so these differences were important.

I enjoyed the plot overall, and I was definitely invested in the story throughout. In particular, I think the end opened up some really interesting doors for the second book. So, while I was blown away by anything here, I did enjoy myself (and I think YA fantasy readers will likely love it!) and I’m intrigued enough that I plan on checking out the next book in the series.

Rating 8: Luckily for me, the love triangle was understated and played out in a unique manner. Other than that, I enjoyed the world-building and am intrigued by the twists and turns introduced at the very end!

Reader’s Advisory:

“The Sleepless” can be found on this Goodreads list: Romantasy TBR 2025 (though I’m not sure it really belongs here…)

Kate’s Review: “Acquired Taste”

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Book: “Acquired Taste” by Clay McLeod Chapman

Publishing Info: Titan Books, September 2025

Where Did I Get This Book: I received an ARC from the publisher at ALAAC25

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

Book Description: They’re feeding on you too.

A father returns from serving in Vietnam with a strange and terrifying addiction; a man removes something horrifying from his fireplace, and becomes desperate to return it; and a right-wing news channel has its hooks in people in more ways than one. 

From department store Santas to ghost boyfriends and salamander-worshipping nuns; from the claustrophobia of the Covid-19 pandemic to small-town Chesapeake USA, Clay McLeod Chapman takes universal fears of parenthood, addiction and political divisions and makes them uniquely his own. 

Packed full of humanity, humour and above all, relentless creeping dread, Acquired Taste is a timely descent into the mind of one of modern horror’s finest authors.

Review: Thank you to Titan Books for giving me an ARC of this book and to Clay McLeod Chapman for signing it (and the delightful conversation)!

Happy October, readers!!! It’s my first post in the new month, and that month is October, and you all know what that means!! It’s time for Horrorpalooza 2025!!!

It’s the mooooost wonderfuuul tiiiiiiime of the yeaaaaaar! (source)

Horrorpalooza is my favorite time on the blog, when I devote all of my reviews to horror stories, sometimes delaying my reviews of books that came out earlier so that they can come out during this celebrated blogging time (celebrated by ME, anyway). And it made perfect sense to devote the first of those reviews to Clay McLeod Chapman’s new collection of short stories, “Acquired Taste”. I had the opportunity to attend a panel with Chapman during ALAAC25 where he talked about horror in general and this book, and had an even cooler opportunity to chat with him for awhile between panels, which only solidified how cool he is as a person in spite of the fact he concocts some of the most fucked up horror that I read these days. So I eagerly dove in recently, ready to be wholly disturbed. And I was.

As I am wont to do with short story collections, I will highlight the three stories that stood out the most, then talk about the collection as a whole.

“Stowaway”: Ah the horrors of being a teenage girl in a world where there could be predators at any turn. A girl and her family are on a family roadtrip, but whenever they stop at a motel, the same mysterious man is there, waiting for her to talk to him. While it’s implied that there is something supernatural potentially going on in this one, the way that it made me SO uncomfortable because of the very real implications of what this guy wants with her just had me on the edge of my seat.

“Psychic Santa”: I think this was POSSIBLY my favorite story in the collection (though the next one gives it a run for its money)? But there’s just something about a Christmas ghost story that really gets me. A department store Santa haunted by some parts of his past can see the ghosts of dead children, who come to ask him for what they really want for Christmas in hopes he can help them. So when I talk about Chapman being so good with the emotional beats of a grief horror story, this is the kind of story I’m talking about. I was so, so saddened by the thought of dead children, but then heartened at the idea of a man looking to repent being able to help them with their unfinished business so they can move on. Get the tissues for this one, it’s less scary and more bittersweet.

“Stay on the Line”: This is the one that may beat out “Psychic Santa”, and big surprise! It’s grief horror again! But with a little more dread. After her husband dies during a hurricane, a widow finds out that the old pay phone in her small town by the sea can actually make calls to dead loved ones. As she and the townsfolk try to make connections with those they lost, she starts to think that maybe it isn’t her husband she’s speaking with after all. The raw sadness of this story was palpable, and I wholly understood the reasoning as to why our protagonist with cling to the hope that she is actually speaking to her husband, even as terrible tragedies start to occur. This one is incredibly sad and also terrifying as the unease builds and builds.

And as a whole, it’s pretty much exactly what I would expect from Chapman, in that it’s outlandish, out there, supremely gross at times, incredibly upsetting, but also so incredibly emotional. And sometimes quite funny. The thing about his stories is that I almost can’t look away from how WILD they get, even when they make me supremely uncomfortable, as there is just something about this way with words, his imagination, and his uniqueness in the stories he tells. He’s definitely not for everyone and I can see how some people would be repulsed, but his stories almost always work for me. And the ones that don’t (there were a few here, but that can be said of basically any short story collection) would very easily work for others who like the more gross out and extreme stuff.

“Acquired Taste” is a fun and unhinged (in a good way) collection of short stories from Clay McLeod Chapman. I’m glad I saved it for the kick off of Horrorpalooza 2025!

Rating 8: A totally outlandish, nasty, and at times bittersweet collection of short stories from a horror author I have come to really appreciate.

Reader’s Advisory:

“Acquired Taste” is included on the Goodreads list “All the New Horror, Romantasy, and Other SFF Crossover Books Arriving in September 2025”.

Serena’s Review: “Never Ever After”

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Book: “Never Ever After” by Sue Lynn Tan

Publishing Info: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, October 2025

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

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

Book Description: Life in the Iron Mountains is harsh and unforgiving. After the death of her beloved uncle, Yining has survived by becoming a skilled thief and an even better liar. When she acquires an enchanted ring that holds the key to a brighter future, it is stolen by her step-aunt, and Yining must venture into the imperial heart of the kingdom to seize it back.

Amid the grandeur of the palace, Yining catches the eye of the ruthless and ambitious prince, who tempts her with a world she’s never imagined. But nothing is as it seems, for she’s soon trapped in a tangle of power, treachery, and greed—her only ally the cunning advisor from a rival court who keeps dangerous secrets of his own. To break free, she must unravel the mystery of her past and fight for a future that both frightens and calls to her.

Review: Unfortunately, I’m starting to think that this author just isn’t for me. This is incredibly disappointing since so many other fantasy readers absolutely love her work, and, on paper, I should, too! I mean, the book summary alone on this one (love triangle aside) definitely sounds up my alley! A fairytale re-telling but mixed and reimagined with Chinese folklore? Sign me up! But somewhere within the actual reading experience, I’m missing what others love so much about these books.

To start with the positives, objectively I can see the appeal of the storytelling and writing. There’s no denying Sue Lynn Tan has a way with words, and when the writing is focused on the worldbuilding, lore, or the action of the plot itself, I was easily drawn in to the story. While I think the mixing of the “Cinderella” story with some of the Chinese folklore bits were a bit clunky at times, not naturally aligning as well as they could have, I also think the ambition was well served in the end with a story that was compelling and interesting. Readers who are looking for a new take on a very well-trod fairytale are sure to appreciate the twists and turns offered up in this one.

However, I’m a character reader first and foremost, and I think that’s always where I bounce of Tan’s stories. There’s nothing wrong with her FMCs, but I also never feel particularly invested in their stories either. Like my previous experiences with these leads, Yining is just kind of…there. The story happens, she participates, but I just couldn’t seem to care to strongly one way or the other. I turned the page because the plot was interesting enough, but not because I was particularly excited about what came next for Yining.

Predictably, I also had low tolerance for the indecision regarding the love interests. The romance in this one is definitely low key, which is probably one of the better points in its favor for me, considering how I feel about love triangles. But even with that being the case, I still struggled to not zone out whenever Yining began to reflect on either of these two characters. I also feel like the ending is set up in a way that is incredibly overplayed at this point. Perhaps the author will surprise me and change things up in the sequel, but as it stands, it feels like the entire dynamic of this love triangle has been done before and often. I don’t think I’ll read it to find out, but I may scroll through some other reviews to see how it plays out.

Ultimately, I think much of this was a “me” problem. I don’t connect with this author’s characters for whatever reason, and love triangles are almost always a huge turn off. That said, I appreciated the mixing of “Cinderella” with Chinese folklore, and I think fans of this author in general will probably really enjoy this one.

Rating 7: The highlights include the mixing of Chinese folklore and the classic fairytale “Cinderella.” The lowlights were the love triangle and my general “meh” towards the main character herself.

Reader’s Advisory:

“Never Ever After” can be found on this Goodreads list: Epic High Fantasy/Romance/Mythology in 2025

Kate’s Review: “All of Us Murderers”

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Book: “All of Us Murderers” by K.J. Charles

Publishing Info: Poisoned Pen Press, October 2025

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: The lush Gothic drama of Crimson Peak meets the murderous intrigue of Knives Out with an LGBTQIA+ love story to die for from award-winning author KJ Charles.

WHO WILL SURVIVE LACKADAY HOUSE?

When Zeb Wyckham is summoned to a wealthy relative’s remote Gothic manor, he is horrified to find all the people he least wants to see in the world: his estranged brother, his sneering cousin, and his bitter ex-lover Gideon Grey. Things couldn’t possibly get worse.

Then the master of the house announces the true purpose of the gathering: he intends to leave the vast family fortune to whoever marries his young ward, setting off a violent scramble for her hand. Zeb wants no part of his greedy family―but when he tries to leave, the way is barred. The walls of Lackaday House are high, and the gates firmly locked. As the Dartmoor mists roll in, there’s no way out. And something unnatural may be watching them from the house’s shadowy depths…

Fear and paranoia ramping ever-higher, Zeb has nowhere to turn but to the man who once held his heart. As the gaslight flickers and terror takes hold, can two warring lovers reunite, uncover the murderous mysteries of Lackaday House―and live to tell the tale?

Review: Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press for sending me an ARC of this novel!

It’s still pretty hot here in Minnesota (THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING IN LATE SEPTEMBER!), but I’m definitely settling in and eager for the cooler temps, the longer nights, and the overall coziness of Fall to finally set in. And while October is dedicated to all horror reads when it comes to my reviews (Horrorpalooza 2025 starts on Thursday!), I do have a great historical mystery to put on your Autumn reading lists to talk about! I had seen “All of Us Murderers” by K.J. Charles floating around, the retro cover really catching my eye, and I was definitely interested in it when Poisoned Pen Press reached out with a request for me to take a look at it. What’s not to love? It’s Gothic! It’s Queer! It’s a SUPER VINTAGE COVER DESIGN! I was excited to dive in, and man, it did not disappoint!

I really do enjoy a Gothic thriller (well, Gothic anything), and “All of Us Murders” pretty much had my attention from the start and didn’t let go until the end. The premise is pretty straight forward: The Wyckham Family has a powerful but notorious history, and when Zeb Wyckham is called to the family estate for a meeting with his immediate and extended family, as well as his ex-lover Gideon, who is now working for head of family Wynn Wyckham who called the meeting. Wynn tells them all that he’s shifting the inheritance around and that they only way to get the money is to marry his young ward Georgina, and then the bitterness and dysfunction of the family is put to the test when he won’t let them leave and a fog rolls in. Then people start dying. It’s locked door, it’s Gothic, it’s family dysfunction, and EVERYONE IS A SUSPECT! Charles really set the scene in a way that was gripping, and as Zeb and Gideon try to figure out what is going on (is it a family curse? is someone plotting against everyone else?), the mystery deepens and the twists keep coming. I’m usually someone who can parse through red herrings and misdirections when it comes to thrillers, at least a little bit, but in this book I had a really hard time guessing where it was all going, and I was absolutely delighted by that. I also love how an isolated house surrounded by fog and a family filled with vipers just makes for that much more of a heightened stake for Zeb and Gideon, who may be in serious danger.

And on top of the really well done Gothic mystery, we also have a pretty sweet romance at the center of the book! Zeb and Gideon are just so likable, their chemistry is off the charts and I love how they aren’t perfect in their love for each other, but they also aren’t melodramatic or constantly being torn away from each other for merely dramatic purposes. Gideon is a very steady and pragmatic (and oh so patient) character, and he is a great foil for the somewhat scattered and anxious Zeb (also, side note, I LOVE seeing ADHD representation in books and Charles did a good job with Zeb, keeping it within the time frame’s understanding while also completely nailing it), and I was SO rooting for them basically from the jump. I love a solid and sexy romance in a mystery like this, it’s just so moody in the best way and I loved Zeb and Gideon.

“All of Us Murderers” is a fun and atmospheric Gothic mystery that kept me guessing up until the end. I could just feel the fog and melancholy of the moors as I was reading it, and it’s a moody read just in time for Autumn.

Rating 9: A stellar mystery, a lush Gothic setting, and a steamy romance combine to make a delightful thriller with a nasty family that may be cursed at the center.

Reader’s Advisory:

“All of Us Murderers” is included on the Goodreads list “A History or Historical Fiction Book”.