Kate’s Review: “Cross My Heart, I Hope You Die”

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Book: “Cross My Heart, Hope You Die” by Mallory Arnold

Publishing Info: Poisoned Pen Press, July 2026

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

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

Book Description: One isolated cabin. One cheating boyfriend. One plan to get even.

When Nora, Ruby, and Cham discover that they’ve each been dating the same man, what starts as outrage quickly spirals into a plot for revenge. Together they hatch a plan to lure their boyfriend to a romantic getaway in a secluded cabin at the top of a snow-covered mountain.

Only what was meant to be harmless payback soon takes a chilling turn when their not-so-adoring boyfriend is found dead in the cabin. 

Stranded and snowed in, the women begin to look at each other with increasing suspicion. And as tensions rise, hidden motives come to light. To survive, each woman must confront her own demons as they fight to uncover if one of them is the killer, or if something else lurks in the freezing wilderness, waiting to pick them off one by one. 

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

I’m always down for stories where shitty men get their comeuppance, especially if it is in part due to women getting vengeance against said shitty men. It just feels cathartic these days in a lot of ways. And because of this I was more than eager to read “Cross My Heart, I Hope You Die” by Mallory Arnold. It sounded soapy and fun, which is a great vibe for summer time reading. And if you are looking for a fast and suspenseful mystery to add to your pool reading, it’s a solid choice.

The premise sucked me in from the get go. Nora, Ruby, and Cham are three strangers, totally unconnected to each other except for the fact all of them are dating Jason, and don’t realize it, and when they do realize they’ve been duped (not only in love, but also out of a substantial amount of money), they decide to team up to get revenge… only for it to go horribly wrong. It is kind of like if you take the Millennial black comedy “John Tucker Must Die” and amp it up a bit into an actual murder mystery, with a potential cult issue lurking. And it all works really well. We follow the perspectives of Nora, Ruby, and Cham, and they all felt like they had clear personalities (even if at times they could feel a little two dimensional) that made them all stand apart. Some of them had issues that could work as red herrings to make all of them sometimes question each other (and make the reader question them too), and while I was mostly able to predict a fair amount of what was going to happen, it was still fun to see.

I also liked the weird implications of cult activity, as Ruby’s mysterious past comes into play as a believable device for the setting and the fallout (as she is adopted but finds herself the owner of a cabin in the wilderness after some inheritance stuff is worked out from her biological family…. which may be weird and creepy). I love weird cult stories and we get pieces of the lore through diary entries and transcripts, and I absolutely live for that kind of thing. It’s just absolutely cat nip to me and if you are a total freak like me and love cult stories, this one could be a fun read for you too!

“Cross My Heart, I Hope You Die” is some solid summer reading with twists and turns that I found super fun.

Rating 8: A fun thriller with some creepy cult elements, “Cross My Heart, I Hope You Die” is fun summer reading.

Reader’s Advisory:

“Cross My Heart, I Hope You Die” is included on the Goodreads blog post “Stock Your Summer Shelves With Highly Anticipated Fantasy, Sci-Fi, and Horror”.

Book Club Review: “Other Ever Afters”

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We are part of a group of librarian friends who have had an ongoing book club running for the last several years. Each “season” (we’re nerds) we pick a theme and each of us chooses a book within that theme for us all to read. For this blog, we will post a joint review of each book we read for book club. We’ll also post the next book coming up in book club. So feel free to read along with us or use our book selections and questions in your own book club! This season’s theme is books with specific colored covers where we all drew a color and matched it with a book.

Book: “Other Ever Afters” by Melanie Gillman

Publishing Info: Random House Graphic, September 2022

Where Did We Get This Book: from the library!

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

Prompt Color: Purple

Book Description: Once upon a time . . . happily ever after turned out differently than expected. In this new, feminist, queer fairy-tale collection, you’ll find the princesses, mermaids, knights, barmaids, children, and wise old women who have been forced to sit on the sidelines in classic stories taking center stage. A gorgeous all-new collection in graphic novel format from a Stonewall Honor-winning author and artist.

What if the giant who abducted you was actually thoughtful and kind? What if you didn’t want to marry your handsome, popular, but cold-inside suitor? What if your one true love has all the responsibilities that come with running a kingdom?

Kate’s Thoughts

This was actually my pick, as I knew that I wanted to do a graphic novel and this was one that stood out to me with a ‘purple’ cover. I also just liked the idea of a reimagining of fairy tales and fairy tale tropes with a queer twist. I do love a reimagining as we all know. I had also read other works by Melanie Gillman and was interested in seeing what they would do with the concept.

I did want more from this book as a whole, though it’s true that there were definitely stand outs in the collection that did really work for me. I enjoyed themes of found family, and love in unexpected places, and going beyond the ideas of happily ever after. I really liked a story about a woman who falls for a goat-like creature who accepts her for who she is, and I also liked a story about a knight that learns about love and community without expectations. But (and I think Serena will probably say the same) I also thought that some of the stories felt like they weren’t totally fleshed out. I know that Gillman said that some of these stories had origins in fast fiction challenges, and some of them really felt like it, which could make the stories feel hurried and flat.

But the artwork? GORGEOUS. The colored pencil aesthetic lends to a gentle vibe throughout the stories, and I thought that the colors and design were exquisite. I really enjoy Gillman’s style and it absolutely matched the fairy tale feelings.

“Other Ever Afters” will surely please people looking for queer stories that fill a gap of representation in a well loved genre. The ones that hit for me REALLY hit.

Serena’s Thoughts

I really wanted to like this one more than I did. For one thing, the art is absolutely fantastic, by far the best part of the book. Further, the author does a great job matching the overall tone of the stories included with the art itself. These both sound AND look like beautiful fairytales.

I also appreciated the wide variety of characters and themes that were explored. Like a good fairytale, there were a few that had dark moments, but overall, like the cozy art would suggest, most of the stories ran on the more optimistic side of things. I particularly enjoyed the last story about a knight coming to realize that relationships are not transactional, and another story that featured a woman who finally finds an unconventional relationship with a being who recognizes her for who she is.

That said, almost all of these stories felt somehow…lacking. Not only did the author leave several of the stories with hanging endings (something that you do see in fairytales, but the sheer number of them within this collection skewed the overall effect), but many of the themes introduced never felt like they properly landed. Almost all of the stories felt like they could use a few more pages to properly flesh out the stories they were telling.

I just wish there had been more to this book, and then I think it really would have connected with me well. As it stands, I’m almost a bit sad about what feels like missed opportunities and lost potential. That said, YA readers who enjoy fairytales and are looking for some twisted versions of classic tales featuring lovely art and diverse characters should definitely give this one a go!

Kate’s Rating 7: There are some sweet stories here and I absolutely loved the artwork and the concept, but a few of the stories felt unfinished.

Serena’s Rating 6: I loved the art and one or two of the stories, but I closed the book and the defining thought was “I wish there had been a bit more to it all.”

Book Club Questions

  1. Which story in the collection was your favorite? What was it about that story that spoke to you?
  2. In what ways beyond the choice of protagonists did these fairy tales subvert expectations of the genre?
  3. A lot of these stories have ambiguous or open ended endings that don’t necessarily play out on the page. Did you like that as a choice?
  4. What were your thoughts on the art style in this book?
  5. Who would you recommend this book to?

Reader’s Advisory

“Other Ever Afters” is included on the Goodreads lists: Queer mermaids and Royalty in Queer Romance.

Next Book Club Pick: “As I Dream of You” by Jennifer Lee, illustrated by LeUyen Pham

Serena’s Review: “The Demon Star”

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Book: “The Demon Star” by Jesse Aragon

Publishing Info: DAW, July 2026

Where Did I Get this Book: ARC from the publisher

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

Book Description: Gods rule this planet. Demons stalk its canyons while Kings beg for mercy. Can three mere humans rewrite its destiny?

The otherworldly religious conflict of Dune, the cosmic strangeness of Gideon the Ninth, and the heart-pounding action of Red Rising converge in this horror-tinged epic science fantasy debut.

Ysira Naktis was a human sacrifice, marked for death. Unlike the thousands ‘harvested’ each year, though, she did the unthinkable. She survived—and what she brought back with her could change the fate of worlds.

When Ysira’s estranged son is chosen to become the vessel of a god-killing demon, she is faced with a choice: allow him to harness cosmic power at an unspeakable cost, or doom millions to save him. She finds an unlikely ally in Brother Jacen Kheris, once a gifted exorcist, now a guilt-ridden addict, desperate for purpose.

From a demon-haunted canyon to a starbound satellite, they must battle their way through cultists, aliens, and the gods themselves. The truths they unearth are deeper and more sinister than anything they could have imagined.

Review: This was such an odd mashup of so many things that don’t seem like they should work together, but somehow do. Theology and exorcisms! Dune-like worms! Telepathy! And all told through a multitude of POVs, all of whom are morally gray to some extreme or another.

Let’s start with the characters. While there are various perspectives throughout, there are three primary characters, each with their own arcs and struggles. Through these three main characters, the story dives into themes such as addiction, the desperate drive for approval from others, and the toxic side of motherhood. “Toxic” is really the right word for many of the characters in this book. These are messy people who form messy relationships to one another, and this is by no means a “feel good” story when it comes to any of this.

There is sort of a romantic subplot, but it’s definitely not of the traditional sort. As I said, everything here is messy, including the relationships that form between these three. I didn’t love this aspect of the story, as it played into a few romantic themes that aren’t my favorite. Alas, I’m one of those romance readers who enjoy more straightforward, happy love stories, so this aspect of the story wasn’t my favorite.

But the main elements of a fantastic fantasy book were all here, including a hefty dose of horror. Everything exists on a grand scale, and the book neatly balanced introducing its complex world while also side-stepping into deep philosophical topics regarding religion, power, and the roles of gods and demons in this world. Again, like the characters, the book is heavy, complicated, and on the darker side. I found all of this so interesting, however, that I never felt bogged down by the bleakness of some of its themes.

And then comes the second half, with tons of twists and turns and gut punches around every corner. In the first half, the reader begins to settle into this world, as uncomfortable as it is, but the second half neatly rips away any sense of stability that was formed in that first half. Like the characters, the reader will simply stumble, reeling, from one crushing scene to the next.

Overall, this was a great fantasy read! It’s definitely on the darker, more horror-centric side, but I think it did a fantastic job with its world-building and exploration of complex themes. I struggled a bit with some character beats, but much of that comes down to personal preferences with regards to POV characters and their arcs. If you’re a fan of cosmic fantasy, definitely check this one out!

Rating 8: Heart-wrenching, horrific, and freakishly compelling, it’s the kind of book where you’re constantly waiting for the next twist to rip your heart out, but you can’t stop reading in spite of it!

Reader’s Advisory:

“Demon Star” can be found on these Goodreads lists: 2026 Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction and 2026 Debuts

Kate’s Review: “The View from Here”

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Book: “The View from Here” by Rachel Howzell Hall

Publishing Info: Thomas & Mercer, June 2026

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

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

Book Description: A paranoid widow fears her late husband isn’t gone at all in a gripping psychological thriller by the New York Times bestselling author of Anthony Award–nominated These Toxic Things.

After eleven years, Nicole Baxter and her husband Truman’s marriage is beginning to fracture. Suddenly, during a scuba diving accident near Catalina Island, Truman is gone. No body. No signs of foul play. Presumed dead.

Clinging to the hope that Truman might still be alive, Nicole is devastated, in denial, and struggling with insomnia, as well as guilt over the secrets she kept from the man she loved—a pregnancy, a miscarriage, and an incautious fling with an attentive neighbor. Then come the strange occurrences putting Nicole further on edge. The scent of Truman’s cologne. The wet footprints in the house. The cryptic texts from his phone. And the message written on her bathroom: I’ll luv u 4ever.

Nicole has never felt so alone, isolated, and paranoid. If she’s losing her mind, then why does it seem so real? If it’s real, how is that possible? As Nicole’s grip on reality slips away, the answers are becoming a matter of life and death.

Review: Thank you to Sparkpoint Studio for sending me an ARC of this novel!

We are in the thick of summer now, and I always kind of feel like summer is for thriller reads. I have read a few thrillers by Rachel Howzell Hall before, and I was interested in checking out “The View from Here”, her newest. Not only did I like her previous ones, this one sounded like it could be engrossing. A missing husband? A wife with secrets? MAYBE a ghost? Well yes, that’s definitely my kinda read!

The mystery is a classic one: Nicole’s husband Truman, with whom she has been having a strained relationship/marital problems with as of late, disappears while on a scuba diving trip, and is presumed dead. But then Nicole starts having weird experiences in her home, experiences that she can’t explain. The suspense builds up as Nicole tries to figure out just what is going on, unsure if it’s a ghost, or her grief, or perhaps Truman tricking her and tormenting her because perhaps he knew her secrets that she thought she had kept. It doesn’t really tread into new territory, but Hall still keeps it tense and interesting as more people question her sanity and Nicole insists, INSISTS, that something else is happening beyond her trauma and despair.

I also liked how this book really does manage to blur the lines between what is happening and what isn’t in Nicole’s life, whether it’s something supernatural, something earthly, or something all within Nicole’s head. There are plenty of hints to ANY of those outcomes, and all of them felt fairly plausible at least to a degree. I always like a claustrophobic high tension thriller that captures the mental state of an unhinged protagonist, and Nicole is UNHINGED. But is it because she’s being haunted, grieving and medicated, or someone messing with her (like perhaps a husband who isn’t dead? THE POSSIBILITIES). I kind of discerned pieces of the puzzle as it fell into place, but I will admit that I was questioning a lot because of all the plausible alternatives that Hall did, with lots of due diligence.

“The View from Here” is another enjoyable thriller from Rachel Howzell Hall. Throw it on the summer reading list!

Rating 7: A mystery thriller that blurs the lines between reality and paranoia and grief, “The View from Here” kept me guessing.

Reader’s Advisory:

“The View from Here” isn’t on any Goodreads lists as of now but it would fit on “Horror/Thriller Books by Black Authors”.

Serena’s Review: “The Eye of Leviathan”

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Book: “The Eye of Leviathan” by M. A. Carrick

Publishing Info: Orbit, July 2026

Where Did I Get this Book: Netgalley!

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

Book Description: In an alternate Spanish Golden Age, the Council of the Sea Beyond has risen to unrivaled power, exploiting the Otherworld’s most precious resources for their own gain. Estevan seeks to uncover their secrets, but he risks the exposure of his that he is a faerie, masquerading as a mortal.

The Hungry Girl is the human whose place he took. Lost among the fae and desperate to find some purpose for her existence, she leaps at the chance to help a group of Spanish explorers in the Sea Beyond…only to be horrified at the atrocities they commit.

A faerie pact has separated them– but only together can they bring down Spain’s worlds-spanning empire and save the homes they have both come to love.

Review: Well, mark this one down as another excellent fantasy story from the writing duo that is M. A. Carrick! After loving “The Rook and the Rose,” I was confident that I would like this one as well. But it also sounded very different, focused on an alternate version of Spain during the Inquisition, a version of the world where not only those who weren’t Catholic were persecuted, but the fae as well. It sounded ambitious, and after reading it, I think I underappreciated just how ambitious it was from the start!

Let’s begin with the worldbuilding and historical elements. This book definitely doesn’t shy away from its historical roots, so strict fantasy readers should buckle in for a hefty dose of historical fiction. While there are obvious adjustments to fit in the magical elements, there’s also a close look at the realities of the Inquisition and the oppressive society that made up this point in history, and many real-life historical figures are present in the tale. Further, the story takes its time exploring religion and the central role it played not only on a society level, but an individual level. It’s difficult to set aside the modern lens through which we often think of religion, but Carrick does an excellent job of exploring the theme here, both with how fundamental it was to those living in this time and the ways in which it shaped almost every aspect of their lives.

But on top of the historical events, I loved the way the authors pulled in their fantasy world, neatly layering an entirely new element smoothly and efficiently. This very much felt like a version of history that could have existed had, you know, fae been real. What’s more, through this portion of the book, the story explores themes regarding colonization and exploitation. There were some very tough moments in this book, but everything was handled carefully and with a light touch, avoiding the pitfalls of heavy-handed preaching that can sometimes happen with big topics like this.

I also loved all of the characters we had here. Obviously, the two main POV characters get the most attention, and each was very enjoyable in their very different ways. But I also really liked the side characters. Unlike some of the themes which are fairly black and white, the characters who make up this world almost all exist within some shade of gray. While what is being done to the fae is indefensible, there are large parts of their society and individuals operating within it who have their own inexcusable moments. Further, we see kindness and love from humanity, even if by and large, human society as a whole is at a low point.

Estevan and the Hungry Girl were both excellent leading characters. The story alternates between their chapters, and I will say that while I liked both of these characters, their stories felt very different, leaving the pacing feeling a bit uneven as we bounced between the two. Estevan’s story is slower, and this is the portion that reads like historical fiction almost more than fantasy. And for her part, the Hungry Girl’s story is a much more adventure-forward, fast-paced fantasy novel, full of dangers and thrills. I enjoyed both, but it was one of those cases where I would become invested in one and always be slightly disappointed to have to switch. Only to repeat that experience with the other storyline.

Other than this slight ding to pacing, there was one odd character moment that I’m not sure how I feel about. There are perhaps slight spoilers to follow, so skip the next paragraph if you want zero spoilers, even light ones.

We meet a character in the middle of the book who, while living as a man now, was born a woman. Like I said, this is a very historically accurate book, and much of that focus also includes the strict limitations put upon women. At one point, one character mentions that there are no women trapped in towers in Spain, like you see in fairy tales. Another character aptly responds that perhaps ALL women in Spain are trapped in towers. It’s a very powerful moment.

But then when it comes to this character, the theme gets pretty muddied. There are moments where the book seems to present them as a trans man who has always wished to be a man as an identity. But in the same breath, when exploring that character’s past, we see them running up against a society that isn’t allowing them the life and adventure they crave, simply for being a woman. Did they want to be a man? Or did they want the life and freedom of a man and this was the only option? Surely, there would be plenty of women who would struggle under the oppression and limitations put upon them simply due to their sex. So much so that dressing up as and presenting as a man to exist the way they prefer would be the obvious route, regardless of identity matters. It’s a tricky topic, but I think the book just missed the mark here, especially given the apt critique of society’s views of women throughout the rest of the book.

Back to the nonspoilers! I’ll wrap this one up by saying this was much lighter on the romance front than “The Rook and the Rose.” True, that trilogy worked up to it, but even from the start, it felt more prevalent than what we get here. One character has an extensive subplot romance, while the other may have one developing? Or not? I wasn’t quite sure how to read things there. But I just wanted to note that for readers who may have been looking for more romance from these authors again.

Overall, I really loved this book! It was a long read, but one of those books that I never wanted to end. Hopefully the second half of the duology arrives quickly!

Rating 9: A wonderful blend of historical fiction and fantasy, “The Eye of Leviathan” is as heart-wrenching as it is enthralling!

Reader’s Advisory:

“The Eye of Leviathan” can be found on this Goodreads list: Can’t Wait Sci-Fi/Fantasy of 2026.

Kate’s Review: “Slasher Summer”

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

Book: “Slasher Summer” by E.L. Chen

Publishing Info: Crown, June 2026

Where Did I Get This Book: I received an ARC from the publisher at PLA 2026

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

Book Description: In this campy love letter to the slasher films of the 1980s, seven friends reunite for a weekend of fun—only to be hunted down by a cold-blooded killer. But the real horror is not being able to escape who you were in high school…

The sleepy town of Cedar Lake Falls is best known as the shooting location of the campy ’80s horror flick Slasher. In high school, preppy Patrick, jock Jason, cheerleader Tiffany, stoner Freddy, goth Jennifer, and nerdy Michael had played the cast of Slasher during midnight showings, with virginal Carrie as the Final Girl, of course.

Years later, the friends reunite at the remote cabin where Slasher was filmed. They’ve changed since high school—Patrick came out, Mikey bulked up, and, well, Freddy’s still stoned—and they’re looking forward to a weekend to catch up. But when night falls, and the eponymous masked killer is spotted, the reunion takes a deadly turn. The friends discover their tires deflated and the phone line disconnected, and soon they’re being stalked by a mysterious assailant. Is someone trying to make their Slasher experience as authentic as possible?

One thing is for sure. Before the night is over, they each will have to take on the role they thought they’d left behind.

Review: Thank you to Crown for handing out ARCs at PLA 2026!

It is NO secret that I absolutely adore horror movies. You almost always find some kind of horror or horror adjacent nonsense on my “Not Just Books” highlights every month, and I’m still very much a part of my Terror Tuesday movie club (though admittedly it’s more like once every two months now as opposed to every week now that the pandemic has wound down). I especially love slasher movies for their over the topness, and it’s a genre that you don’t really get as much in the book world, possibly because so much of it relies upon visual gore and nonsense. But that said I’m always on the lookout for slashery stories, so of COURSE E.L. Chen’s “Slasher Summer” was a must read for me. And it was such a fun ride! My slasher loving heart was singing! And it’s the perfect time of year for it!

Nothing says summer like weirdos warning young adults about their impending deaths in the woods! (source)

This is such a fun love letter to slasher films. Chen knows the history of the genre, the important themes that the genre needs, and the character archetypes necessary for the genre. There are also Easter eggs dropped all over the place and references to other horror or horror adjacent movies, be it due to the characters being fans of horror movies, or just little nods in the narrative (for example, all of the characters having names derived from horror film villains). It all feels very meta and very tongue in cheek in some ways, but then when it wants to go hard on the slasher gore, it goes HARD. Yes there is a lot of humor as the story goes, but when the kills happen, they don’t hold back and they escalate in the way that you would expect from a slasher film. It’s not for the squeamish. And it definitely reads like a slasher movie plot, with each character fitting a role and each plot twist feeling right out of a movie. I could easily see this in my mind’s eye on a movie screen with my Terror Tuesday friends and I just vibing along with it.

BUT, it also has some really great deconstructions of the genre as well, playing with tropes that have become expected and turning the on their heads. Admittedly I can’t really go into too much detail without dropping some significant spoilers (which I don’t want to do), but I will try and talk about some that don’t feel particularly spoiler-y for me but make the point. The first is that one of our main protagonists who is incredibly much the ‘capable male hero’ is Patrick, who also happens to be a Black man who is a bit of a nerd and is obsessed with horror movies. In horror films, especially ones of the 80s and 90s, the trope of ‘the Black man always dies first’ was an unfortunate theme for a very long time. By making Patrick basically the expert on the genre who knows what to do and how to maneuver was a great subversion. Along with that, we have the queerness of both Patrick, who is an out gay man, and Jason, the stereotypical jock with the glossy blonde girlfriend, who is a closeted bisexual and who has a huge crush on Patrick (and thinks the feelings are not returned; BUT THEY ARE!). It’s no secret that ‘bury your gays’ has been another sad device in horror and thriller stories (and other stories too), as well as gay or queer people being villainous or mocking stereotypes. But in this they are just two guys pining for each other and it’s incredibly sweet and MAN was I rooting for them. It’s the things like this that really made this book pop. It’s a book that clearly loves the genre, but is also more than happy to critique it and improve upon it.

“Slasher Summer” is the PERFECT summer horror book, especially if you are a horror fan. I had a blast reading it.

Rating 8: A fun love letter to the slasher genre that not only perfectly pays tribute to slashers of the 80s, but also deconstructs old chestnuts in interesting ways!

Reader’s Advisory:

“Slasher Summer” is included on the Goodreads list “June 2026 Queer Releases”.

Highlights: July 2026

Well, it’s summer in Minnesota once again, which means Kate is waiting it out in appropriately air conditioned spaces/poolside while Serena has fled back home to the West Coast where it may be hot, but at least it’s a dry heat! But, of course, we have tons of great ARCs from ALA to check out and some new titles this month to look forward to!

Serena’s Picks

Book: “The Eye of Leviathan” by M. A. Carrick

Publication Date: July 14, 2026

Why I’m Interested: I really loved the “Rook and Rose” trilogy, so I was trilled when I heard the writing duo known as M. A. Carrick were going to be back with a new fantasy duology! This time, the story follows a changeling and his counterpart in an alternative Spain set during the Inquisition. After their last trilogy that was so full of unique world-building and character work, I can’t wait to see what they do when merging real historical events with fantasy elements. It’s a hefty read, coming in at nearly 500 pages, but I can’t wait!

Book: “The Exquisite Torment of Loving Your Enemy” by Brigitte Knightley

Publication Date: July 7, 2026

Why I’m Interested: On paper, I shouldn’t have enjoyed the first book in this series. In many ways, it sounded like yet another overly familiar “enemies to lovers” romantasy title, full of quipping characters and lackluster worldbuilding. But it just goes to show that you never know, and even tired tropes can be enjoyable in the right hands! Mostly, I enjoyed the humor of the first book, something that I think is almost the determining factor for enjoyment of these books for many readers. But it worked for me, for whatever reason, and I’m excited to see how it all wraps up here in the second half of the duology.

Book: “The Witch Below the Dreaming Wood” by H.G. Parry

Publication Date: June 21, 2026

Why I’m Interested: I’ve enjoyed all the books I’ve read by this author, so I’m always excited when she puts out a new title. This one was particularly of interest, however, as it’s been a while since I’ve found an Arthurian fantasy novel that really works for me. I don’t know why I struggle with these sorts of fantasy novels so much, but Parry is a strong author, so if anyone could make it work for me, she might just pull it off!

Kate’s Picks

Book: “Fabulous Bodies” by Chuck Tingle

Publication Date: July 7, 2026

Why I’m Interested: Chuck Tingle is a must read author for me, as he’s had a streak of really creative and engaging horror novels. And his newest “Fabulous Bodies” sounds just as creative and outlandish as I’ve come to expect from him, this time following a fashion influencer who is also a grave robber, and who robs the grave of a famous rock star….. Who refuses to stay dead. The description is a bit vague (are we talking zombie? Vampire? Something else?), but that just adds to the interest on my end! Tingle always comes up with wild stories and I’m very stoked for this one.

Book: “The Intrigue” by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Publication Date: July 14, 2026

Why I’m Interested: Another must read author for me!!! Silvia Moreno-Garcia is a genre hopping chameleon to be sure, though in “The Intrigue” she is returning to the Noir scene, with sex, lies, manipulation, and a 1940s Mexican backdrop. Ulises is a con artist who woos women and then steals their money, and while this has worked for awhile, the funds are starting to dwindle as the world grapples with war and a financial depression. But he thinks that maybe he can have one last big con on a lonely boarding house owner named Perla, who has a crafty niece named Inés. What Ulises doesn’t realize is that Perla isn’t as easily fooled as he thinks. I quite enjoy Moreno-Garcia’s works and I’m happy we have a new one this year!

Book: “Hot Girl Murder Club” by Ashley Winstead

Publication Date: July 14, 2026

Why I’m Interested: Boy do I love an addicted and soapy thriller and Ashley Winstead almost always delivers on those fronts. And in her newest book “Hot Girl Murder Club” we have a singer songwriter named Scout who accused of a murder she didn’t commit, and how her new notoriety must be overcome to not only clear her name, but also find some justice for her sister, who was murdered years before. I have found Winstead’s previous books very difficult to put down and this one just sounds like perfect summer reading!

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

Serena’s Review: “Harbour of Hungry Ghosts”

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Book: “Harbour of Hungry Ghosts” by Eliza Chan

Publishing Info: Orbit, July 2026

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

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

Book Description: The Au family serve the people of Hong Kong as demon hunters and blessing shrines, honoring the dead and dealing with dangerous yiaoguai incursions. The expectations on eldest daughter Kiamling are high, which is not something her strict grandmother and mentor will let her forget.

However, when British colonists interrupt a hungry ghost ritual, and her grandmother disappears, Kiamling must step up and lead the search.

Her bumbling language pupil Archie and her youngest sister Jingling will offer aid, alongside Hoi Gor, Kiamling’s recently returned childhood crush from Canton.

But when British fables mingle with local Chinese monsters, how can Kiamling prove herself, when the old rules no longer seem to apply?

Review: I had high hopes for this one! While I didn’t love her “Drowned World” series, I still appreciated the creative world-building and was excited to see her exploration of ghosts and colonization. However, the book failed to really nail any of its elements, leaving me bored more than anything.

I think many readers’ experience of this book will come down to how they feel about the prose itself. I can definitely be drawn in by the more descriptive, flowery tone, but I am quite picky in how exactly it’s pulled off. “Voice” is a hard aspect of writing to really nail down, but I think it’s this quality that is lacking when I have trouble connecting to a more elaborate prose style. And, sadly, such was the case here. Instead of feeling drawn into this world and able to relish in the plethora of details given about location, characters, and other plot elements, I felt disconnected and bogged down by what felt like extra words that weren’t truly conveying anything.

This also made the pacing read as slower than I think the story truly was. Things were happening, and, on its face, this is an action-packed tale. But again, because of this stylized form of writing, the whole thing began to feel heavy.

But where I really struggled was with the characters, especially the love interests. Yes, plural. Neither of these characters worked for me. Partly, they were each too expected. Each shows up and you know immediately everything you could possibly need to know about them, simply based on previous experience with similar character archetypes. It was also supremely obvious from the very beginning which was the “true” love interest, which made any time spent with the other feel like time wasted, further contributing to the lagging pacing of the storytelling. There was also an over-reliance on simply telling the reader everything we needed to know about these characters and their feelings. All of this combined to leave me feeling very cool on any of them.

Overall, this wasn’t what I hoped for. Fans of this author’s other books may simply connect better with her style and will likely appreciate this one more than me. But for my part, I found the whole thing rather dull and the romance boring to the point of tears.

Rating 6: I struggled with this one. Fans of the author will likely enjoy it, but I found it slowly paced and featuring two romantic interests (already stopped me at “two”) who brought nothing new to the table.

Reader’s Advisory:

“Harbour of Hungry Ghosts” isn’t on any Goodreads lists, but it should be on Asian Fantasy & Science Fiction.

Kate’s Review: “Death in the End Zone”

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Book: “Death in the End Zone” by Lynn Slaughter

Publishing Info: Melange Books LLC, April 2026

Where Did I Get This Book: I received a copy from the publicist

Where You Can Get This Book: Amazon

Book Description: In this sequel to “Missed Cue”, homicide detective Caitlin O’Connor is once again faced with a puzzling case: the murder of two star football players whose bodies are discovered in a compromising position in the end zone of their high school’s football field. While Caitlin identifies several suspects who might have had reasons to want to harm the boys, no clearcut evidence points to the culprit. She’s worried that she may get pulled off the case if she can’t figure out who killed the boys.

Review: Thanks to Books Forward for sending me a copy of this book!

It’s always nice to have a procedural mystery series to keep up with, and I say that as someone who has long loved a procedural mystery series be it on my TV or on my book shelf. It’s also nice following women detectives, and it’s the woman detective at the center of “Death in the End Zone” by Lynn Slaughter that brought me back for a second book. Caitlin O’Connor is a detective who is savvy and bright in her work life, but a little more hesitant to say such things about her personal life, and I enjoyed her personal life so much last time around I was game for another round with her to see how she has grown from Book One to Book Two.

So similarly to the previous Caitlin O’Connor book, the mystery at the heart of the novel was interesting enough, this time involving the deaths of two popular football players who are found posed in a compromising position on the high school football field. Their sexuality may play a part in what happened, and Caitlin wants to not only figure out who murdered them and why, but also keep them protected as best she can after their death sparks rumors and gossip. It’s a compelling concept, though I once again found myself wanting a bit more complexity in the mystery and the twists and turns. Whether it was witness or suspects or family members, I felt like they were mostly pretty two dimensional and interchangeable.

But it’s once again Caitlin’s personal life that made this for me. We are not only still getting therapy sessions (I am still very pleased to see this, let’s give our protagonist some mental health support!) for Caitlin, we are also seeing her start to build a more healthy relationship with her boyfriend Hank and his son Jack, even though they themselves are having some tricky moments in their lives that she has to witness. While we do have some realistic anxieties on her part about being a good romantic partner, especially to a man who has a child from a previous relationship, it’s refreshing to see her do less self-sabotaging and more introspection and maneuvering around healthy boundaries and what she herself wants from the relationship. This is in contrast to her partner Stan, who had been experiencing some bumps with his sobriety in the previous book, and who seems to still be struggling but unable to confide in anyone about it, which adds to her stress as the case goes on. The personal life problems enhanced the story for me and strengthened it where the mystery was shaky.

Overall, I’m still all about Caitlin O’Connor in “Death in the End Zone”. Hooray for self aware hard boiled detectives!

Rating 7: I really enjoyed the personal life side of this book with Caitlin O’Connor having to deal with some difficult realities about her partner, as well as some daunting changes in her relationship.

Reader’s Advisory:

“Death in the End Zone” isn’t included on any Goodreads lists as of yet, but it would fit on “Women Who Solve Crimes”.

Serena’s Review: “Nobody’s Quest”

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Book: “Nobody’s Quest” by Alyssa Day

Publishing Info: Entangled: Red Tower Books, June 2026

Where Did I Get this Book: from the publisher!

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

Book Description: Soli has spent most of her life being invisible—an indentured servant, a library mold-scrubber, the girl no one sees unless she’s in the way. So, when the king’s guards show up with swords drawn, she assumes it’s a mistake.

It’s not.

Moments later, she’s standing in the throne room while the king tells her she’s been chosen to retrieve a set of ancient keys—only the keys can save the goddess and stop the chaos beyond the palace walls. Because the world isn’t waiting to be saved.

It’s already burning.

And beside him stands Prince Kaelen: devastatingly beautiful, mercilessly cold, and certain Soli won’t survive the hard journey ahead.

He’s probably right.

But Soli’s survived a lifetime of hard everything. She may be a nobody—no training, no real power, and no idea why she was chosen—but she refuses to be expendable. Even if the quest ahead is anything but simple. When assassins, monsters, and impossible choices fracture the fragile alliance slowly building with the Prince, Soli realizes she can’t hide in the shadows anymore.

Because, for the first time in her life, she has something to lose…

Review: I ended up enjoying this one for the most part. It did read as a bit juvenile in the style of writing, and don’t think too hard about some of the plot developments or familiar character archetypes. But the writing was the definition of approachable, and the pacing was fast enough that even during moments where I came up for air to think critically about it, I was drawn forward fast enough to not get too bogged down.

While much of the fantasy elements will read as familiar to readers of the genre, there were a few aspects that stood out. I appreciated this author’s version of and depiction of depression. It was a nice touch to the story, and the author’s note further dives into her own experiences, acknowledging the fact that the slow recovery time often experienced in reality wouldn’t work in a fantasy novel; thus, we see our main character only truly mired down for a few days at a time.

I did like the main character as well. Her voice was steady throughout, and I appreciated that she didn’t come across as the typical “stabby” leading lady that we often see in books like this. Yes, there were moments that had me raising my eyebrow (she was quick to talk back to royalty, given that she’s spent her whole life as a lowly servant), but again, there was more to enjoy about her than there was to criticize.

I also really liked the found-family aspect of the story. The book starts out fast and throws characters at you at a mile-a-minute speed, it feels like. But once the quest aspect actually gets started, there is more time to settle into these characters and develop the various relationships between them.

I will say, the book blurb hypes this one as a “slow burn” and, um, that’s not this at all. Literally in the first scene we meet him, we see the prince immediately form a connection to Soli. The entire setup of this scene involves the search to find a “nobody” who can touch a cursed item. If you’re not the right “nobody,” you burn to death on the spot, as we see with another character early in the scene. And it’s clear that this is not the first time they’ve gone through this process. The prince is even described as looking “bored” by the proceedings (though there are plenty of hints given early that there is more to this character than meets the eye).

But then he exchanges, what, two sentences with Soli and goes on to have a massive reaction to her undergoing this process. It is pretty wild, honestly, to have this scene within the first 50 pages and then label it “slow burn.” This is insta-love if ever I’ve seen it! So I didn’t love the romance. I liked both characters well enough individually, however, which did manage to save it.

Overall, this book is exactly what you’d expect after reading the book description and other books from Red Tower. I will say that I’d put it on the higher side of my opinions on books from this publisher, so do with that what you will. The fantasy elements were fun, the pacing was fast with good writing, it was only let down by the unfortunate insta-love romance.

Rating 8: A fun, fast romantasy read! Though this is by no means a “slow burn,” so don’t fall for the marketing ploy on that one!

Reader’s Advisory:

“Nobody’s Quest” can be found on these Goodreads lists: All the New Romantasy Books Arriving in June 2026 and Romantasy TBR 2026.