Tag: 9 Rating

Serena’s Review: “Weavingshaw”

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Book: “Weavingshaw” by Heba Al-Wasity

Publishing Info: Del Rey, February

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

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

Book Description: Three years ago, Leena Al-Sayer awoke with a terrible power.She can see the dead.Since then, she has hidden herself from the world, knowing that if she ever reveals her curse she will be locked away in an asylum.

When her beloved brother, Rami, falls fatally ill, Leena is faced with a terrible CHOICE: Let him die or buy the expensive medicine that will save his life by bartering the only valuable thing she has—her secret.

The Saint of Silence, a ruthless merchant who trades in confessions and is shrouded in unearthly rumors of cruelty and power, accepts her bargain, for a deadly price. Leena must find the ghost of Percival Avon, the last lord of Weavingshaw—or lose her freedom to the Saint forever.

As Leena’s search takes her and the Saint to Weavingshaw, she finds the estate and the surrounding moors to be living things—hungry for blood and sacrifice. Fighting against Weavingshaw’s might, Leena must also fight her growing pull toward the enigmatic Saint himself, whose connection to Percival Avon remains a mystery.

As the house begins to entomb them, time is running out on their desperate hunt for answers. For Leena has come to see that here in Weavingshaw, the dead are not hushed—and some secrets are better left buried with them.

Review: Gothic fantasy/horror has to be one of the more reliable subgenres for my own particular reading preferences. As long as the correct atmosphere is struck, the story will always start out a mile ahead of others. And here, that note was struck right away. This world is one of grim realities where the average person is caught between corporations trying to drain every last ounce from them and political forces in various countries working to subdue rebellions. Further, their history is one made up of demons and dark magic. And their only salvation? A mysterious trader of secrets for wealth, bargains that can turn deadly more often than not. And that’s not even getting into the location of Weavingshaw itself (to be fair, and to set expectations, the book doesn’t even move to this location until about halfway through) or the greater world-building/magical reveals that come later in the story.

And, of course, both of the main characters have their own ties to dark magic. The book takes place entirely from Leena’s perspective (again and always: well done for avoiding the trap of dual POVs that seem to always lead to a “telling” style of writing as far as relationship development!), so we learn a lot about her abilities to see ghosts. I really liked the various ways that her abilities were used, not only to move the plot along, but to bring together story elements and important pieces of characters’ histories. She was also a great character beyond her magic, determined to save her family and unwilling to fall under the thumb of her powerful employer. The slow-burn relationship between her and the Saint was so well done. These two have no reason to trust one another, especially Leena. It’s only slowly, as the story progresses, that she begins to understand the deeper, more tragic layers hidden beneath the Saint’s icy exterior.

I also really liked the Saint himself. It would have been so easy for him to come across as yet another shadow daddy love interest. There are definitely a few familiar notes of that even now. However, the book does a great job of including various other POV chapters sprinkled throughout that further develop his story, giving us greater insights into his past and motivations. While he and Leena grow slowly closer to one another, neither gives up their own goals. I can’t say too much about this character, as much of his story is a mystery that is only slowly revealed, but I loved what we got from him and the set up for the next book.

While the book starts out with a fairly straightforward setup (Leena indebted and working for the mysterious Saint of Silence), I was honestly surprised by the direction the story took. Given the title and cover, I went in expecting a gothic, haunted house story. But, like I said above, we don’t even get to Weavingshaw until about halfway through the story. And even then, it was much more of a setting for the plot than an integral part itself (usually in gothic stories, houses are a character in and of themselves, to some degree). Again, I don’t want to spoil the reveals, but this is much more a developed fantasy world than I had expected initially.

I really enjoyed this one! While it wasn’t quite what I was expecting, in many ways, it was even better for these changes! The slow-burn romance was well done, and the character work remained solid throughout. The story definitely ends in a setup for the next book, so readers should be aware of that going in. However, for me, this just made me all the more eager to get to the sequel as soon as possible!

Rating 9: Not what I was expecting in the best way possible! Gothic fantasy, but with a more developed fantasy world and swoon-worthy slow-burn romance!

Reader’s Advisory:

“Weavingshaw” can be found on these Goodreads lists: Gothic Fantasy and 2026 Most Anticipated Romantasy & Fantasy Romance Releases.

Fire’s Catching: “The Hunger Games”


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

Book: “The Hunger Games” by Suzanne Collins

Publishing Info: Scholastic Press, October 2008

Where Did I Get This Book: I own it

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

Book Description: Winning means fame and fortune. Losing means certain death. The Hunger Games have begun. . . .

In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV.

Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister’s place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before-and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that weigh survival against humanity and life against love.

Review: I got back from a week long cruise with friends this past Monday, having to sink back into the real world like one always does after a vacation. As I was taking my kid to school on Tuesday and I was pulling into the drop off lane, I noticed something that hadn’t been there before I left: there were now people in green vests standing on the corners by the various drop off and pick up entrances to her elementary school, keeping an eye on the drivers who were coming and going. I immediately clocked that they were there to watch out for ICE. Coming back to reality after a fun trip with dear friends is already hard; it’s even harder when you come back to an occupied metro area that has an ever present anxiety of our neighbors being harassed and kidnapped and murdered, especially when those being targeted include children.

Welcome to “Fire Catching”, my series where I revisit “The Hunger Games”, the dystopia phenomenon written by Suzanne Collins. It had been some time since I read the first book in the series, almost fifteen years probably by my count, though my husband and I have watched the movies many times. When I read it originally it was a fun dystopia with complicated world building, nuanced characters, and a lot of action that fit well together and created a book that I read in about one afternoon. I really loved it then. I still really love it on this revisit, though it feels a bit closer to home these days. This will be a review for the most part! That’s what you are here for. But I’m sure I’ll also be reflective a bit. I feel like I have to be.

(source)

What strikes me about “The Hunger Games” this time around is just how much Collins trusts her readers to be able to handle dark and complicated themes, while also being able to break them down for the audience in ways that aren’t condescending but are easy to understand. Katniss Everdeen is our first person protagonist, a sixteen year old girl living in a poverty stricken community known as District 12, one part of multiple districts that have to answer for a rebellion against The Capitol years earlier. The districts answer by sending two kids, one boy and one girl, drawn by a lottery, to a battle to the death. Katniss isn’t selected, she volunteers so that her gentle younger sister Prim doesn’t have to go. It’s most likely that you know the story. But I never get sick of it, and re-reading it this time I was pleased with how harrowing her story of training, preparing, fighting, and having to perform for her oppressors as entertainment remains. Katniss is prickly, she’s had to grow up far too fast (not just because of life in the Districts but also because of her father’s death leaving her mother catatonic for a spell), and now she has been chosen to be a prop for an oppressive government’s bloodsport. She’s complex and hard headed, but Collins is also great and bringing her vulnerability out, more than happy to remind the reader that she is a child who has been put into a horrifying situation. We see everything through her eyes, and while sometimes it’s a bit on the nose as to how she is misinterpreting things (girl, of COURSE Peeta adores you and has adored you this whole time), but at the same time I fully believe that she has EVERY reason to be paranoid and to think the worst of people, whether it’s her drunk mentor Haymitch, or even the sweet and quiet Peeta.

And we are just starting to scratch the surface of the world building for Panem and its history here, and Collins gives us enough information to make a compelling story while also holding enough back to give us much more to work with as the series goes on. The idea of children’s peril and death being used as punishment and control isn’t new by any means (from The Minotaur to “The Long Walk” to “Battle Royale” it has been seen in so many stories throughout history), but the way that Collins builds this world makes it feel freshly horrifying. With Katniss giving tidbits about how the Hunger Games work, the various ins and outs of how the system can be rigged and gamed based on social standing (because even in the oppressed districts there are still class differences within themselves and between themselves), hints of how The Capitol crushes dissent with a veneer of beauty and wealth, and showing how death has been turned into eagerly eaten up entertainment due to years of propaganda, the world building is rich and incredibly well done. The games themselves are horrifying, more horrifying than I remembered from the first time I read it. I’m sure that’s in part due to the fact I now have a child of my own that I can’t help but project into the horrors, as well as the other stuff going on in my community that seems downright dystopian at the moment. Still so relevant, unfortunately.

This is going to be a gratifying and intense re-read, I can tell. “The Hunger Games” is still such a great start to the series. Next up I will tackle “Catching Fire”. Which I haven’t actually read! So that will be interesting!

And please take a look at this link for Stand With Minnesota, a resource hub for mutual aid, donation drives, and other resources to help communities all over my home state right now. We need help.

Rating 9: Still as harrowing and relevant as when it first came out, which is both a positive (for timelessness purposes) and negative (for the too real feels of it all).

Reader’s Advisory:

“The Hunger Games” is included on the Goodreads lists “Best Dystopian and Post-Apocalyptic Fiction”, and “Best Survival Stories”.

Book Club Review: “The Hacienda”

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Book: “The Hacienda” by Isabel Cañas

Publishing Info: Berkley, May 2022

Where Did We Get This Book: The library!

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

Book Description: In the overthrow of the Mexican government, Beatriz’s father is executed and her home destroyed. When handsome Don Rodolfo Solórzano proposes, Beatriz ignores the rumors surrounding his first wife’s sudden demise, choosing instead to seize the security his estate in the countryside provides. She will have her own home again, no matter the cost.

But Hacienda San Isidro is not the sanctuary she imagined.

When Rodolfo returns to work in the capital, visions and voices invade Beatriz’s sleep. The weight of invisible eyes follows her every move. Rodolfo’s sister, Juana, scoffs at Beatriz’s fears—but why does she refuse to enter the house at night? Why does the cook burn copal incense at the edge of the kitchen and mark its doorway with strange symbols? What really happened to the first Doña Solórzano?

Beatriz only knows two things for certain: Something is wrong with the hacienda. And no one there will help her.

Desperate for help, she clings to the young priest, Padre Andrés, as an ally. No ordinary priest, Andrés will have to rely on his skills as a witch to fight off the malevolent presence haunting the hacienda and protect the woman for whom he feels a powerful, forbidden attraction. But even he might not be enough to battle the darkness.

Far from a refuge, San Isidro may be Beatriz’s doom.

Serena’s Thoughts

I’ve had this one on my TBR for a while now, ever since reading Kate’s review and thinking that it sounded like my sort of horror novel (that is, on the gothic side and only mildly horrific!). So when my prompt for book club was ghosts (guess whose prompt that was…), I knew that this was my opportunity, and boy did it not disappoint!

There was so much to love about this book that I’m not sure where to start. One thing really stood out, however: I don’t know enough about this location and point in history. The historical setting and events of the time played a crucial role in much of the story, and while the book didn’t go into tons of detail, I really enjoyed what we did see. For one thing, I liked the careful handling of the realities of so many revolutions. Often, they don’t end when they “end,” and there are rarely sides that are completely in the right or wrong, or who won’t switch positions on the moral compass as a conflict progresses. I didn’t expect to see these themes in a gothic ghost story, but I definitely enjoyed them!

I also really enjoyed our two main characters. Beatriz was brave but believably mystified about how to handle her increasingly terrifying prospects. And while Andres brings many answers to the situation, even he is challenged by the extreme horror of the situation before them. I really enjoyed the relationship that was built up between them, and the story took a surprisingly romantic turn toward the end of the book.

The gothic elements were also on point. The house itself was a character in and of itself (something that I think is almost a requirement for any haunted house story), and just when you think you have a handle on the mysteries, another wrench is thrown into the situation.

I really enjoyed this one! So much so that I definitely plan on checking out the other books by this author! Vampires, here I come!

Kate’s Thoughts

I still really love this book on a re-read. I was so happy that Serena picked it because going back to it with new eyes sounded like a fun time, and my opinions haven’t really changed much. It just goes to show that there’s a reason that Isabel Cañas is one of my favorite horror authors writing today.

Reading this again, I still feel like some of the strongest elements are the way that Cañas addresses the ways that European colonialism has destabilized and completely uprooted so much of the culture that Beatriz and Andres have been living within, whether it’s the realities of colorism and racism that Beatriz and other darker Mestizo characters have to deal with, or how Andres has decided to hide his brujo and healing skills by joining the Catholic Church as a priest.

And the book is still really really unnerving, with a great ghost story and a Gothic flair in a place that isn’t as expected in Gothic stories. Cañas is so good at capturing a time and place and creating unease and fear, while having many supporting players to be terrorized (or in some cases doing the terrorizing).

I really love “The Hacienda”! It absolutely holds up on a re-read and it created a lot of good discussion in our book club to boot!

Serena’s Rating 9: Just the right combination of fantastic and horrific, with a splash of historical fiction and romance to sweeten the pot!

Kate’s Rating 9 : Still so wonderfully Gothic and creepy with lots of interesting history and critique of imperialism within the aftermath of a revolution.

Book Club Questions

  1. How familiar were you with this time and place? What did you learn that was new?
  2. The various women in this book all experienced limited choices regarding their own lives and futures. What stood out to you about these women’s tales and what you have done similarly or differently?
  3. The story has a lot to say about religion, both Catholicism and author’s interpretation of local faith systems. How did religion and magic mix in this book and how well do you feel these themes were explored?
  4. This is a gothic horror novel. Did you enjoy the horror elements? What there a scene that was particularly scary to you and why?
  5. Beatriz and Padre Andres both experienced challenges in this book, ultimately turning towards one another to face their foe. Did you enjoy this relationship? How did you interpret the ending?

Reader’s Advisory

“The Hacienda” is included on the Goodreads lists 2022 Gothic and Books Set in Mexico.

Next Book Club Pick: “The Magic Fish” by Trung Le Nguyen

Serena’s Review: “Children of Fallen Gods”

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Book: “Children of Fallen Gods” by Carissa Broadbent

Publishing Info: Bramble, December 2025

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

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

Book Description: No war can be fought with clean hands. Not even the ones waged for the right reasons. Not even the ones you win.

Tisaanah bargained away her own freedom to save those she left behind in slavery. Now, bound by her blood pact, she must fight the Orders’ war — and Max is determined to protect her at all costs.

But when a betrayal tears apart Ara, Max and Tisaanah are pushed into an even bloodier conflict. Tisaanah must gamble with Reshaye’s power to claim an impossible victory. And Max, forced into leadership, must confront everything he hoped to forget: his past, and his own mysterious magic.

All the while, darker forces loom — far darker, even, than the Orders’ secrets.

As Tisaanah and Max are ensnared in a web of ancient magic and twisted secrets, one question remains: what are they willing to sacrifice for victory? For power? For love?

Previously Reviewed: “Daughter of No Worlds”

Review: One of the great things about traditional publishers picking up books that were already published as indies is the fact that each title in the series can be released quickly! It’s only been a few months since the first book in this trilogy released, and here we are already with the second one!

Per Broadbent’s standard approach at this point (at least as far as I can tell), this second book takes an already ambitious world and cast and then expands it out exponentially. She takes it to the very edge of leaving the reader lost and confused, but always manages to reel things back in at the last minute. This was definitely the case here.

First off, while the complicated politics of this world and its history were introduced in the first book, the actual plot and Tisaanah’s arc were fairly straightforward, following her quest for revenge and to save the friend she left behind. But through the brief glimpses into Max’s past and the few brushes against other political forces, it was clear that not all was well. And this book starts with a bang on this front, throwing the entire tower of cards into disarray and setting the stage for the larger conflicts to come.

As much of the story deals with war and conflict, both in the present and in continued exploration of Max’s past, this is by no means a happy book. Both of our main characters are already hauling around a ton of trauma, and the author doesn’t go any easier on them here. Indeed, much of the story is focused on the world-weary soldiers who are once again called upon to fight. That said, these darker elements were nicely balanced by the sweet and deepening romance between these two. While there perhaps wasn’t quite as much on the love story front as I would have liked, everything we did get was excellent, living up to the high expectations that I have for Broadbent’s romances!

Like the more intricate plot, the character list is also expanded, adding two other POV characters. Honestly, this took me a bit aback when I first ran into it in the first few chapters, as I thought I had a pretty good handle on how these books would play out. That said, I was easily drawn in to these two new characters, and they added a whole new layer to the story. I really liked Aefe right away and came to enjoy Caduan as well, though his story is definitely one that shows a different sort of path than what we usually see in books like this. Indeed, the relationship between these two was very different than between our original characters and, by the end of the book, was again a point of tragedy and darkness. I’ll be curious to see how all of this will be handled going forward!

There were a few big twists and turns towards the end of the book as well. I felt like the big one was fairly well telegraphed, but that didn’t mean it didn’t land when it arrived. For being so lengthy, and a middle book to boot, the story did a great job of keeping me invested throughout, and now I can only wait with bated breath for the final entry!

Rating 9: Even grander in scale than the first, but just as swoon-worthy in the end!

Reader’s Advisory:

“Children of Fallen Gods” can be found on these Goodreads lists: Under the Radar Page-Turners and New Adult Science Fiction and Fantasy.

Kate’s Review: “Sisters in the Wind”

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Book: “Sisters in the Wind” by Angeline Boulley

Publishing Info: Henry Holt & Co., 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: From the instant New York Times bestselling author of Firekeeper’s Daughter and Warrior Girl Unearthed comes a daring new mystery about a foster teen claiming her heritage on her own terms.

Ever since Lucy Smith’s father died five years ago, “home” has been more of an idea than a place. She knows being on the run is better than anything waiting for her as a “ward of the state.” But when the sharp-eyed and kind Mr. Jameson with an interest in her case comes looking for her, Lucy wonders if hiding from her past will ever truly keep her safe.

Five years in the foster system has taught her to be cautious and smart. But she wants to believe Mr. Jameson and his “friend-not-friend,” a tall and fierce-looking woman who say they want to look after her.

They also tell Lucy the truth her father hid from her: She is Ojibwe; she has – had – a sister, and more siblings; a grandmother who’d look after her and a home where she would be loved.

But Lucy is being followed. The past has destroyed any chance of normal she has had, and now the secrets she’s hiding will swallow her whole and take away the future she always dreamed of.

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

I was so elated when I saw that Angeline Boulley had a new YA novel coming out this year! I saw a big poster for it at ALAAC25 and it made my day (sadly I wasn’t able to attend her talk this year, but if she comes back she will get priority). I finally sat down to read “Sisters in the Wind” a few months later, and I went in with very high hopes. I’ve so enjoyed her other YA thrillers, and I was hoping for another winner. And I got it.

Like Boulley’s other YA novels, “Sisters in the Wind” tackles some pretty heavy societal issues to go along with the thriller and mystery elements in this story. In this book, the mystery is less about her main character, Lucy, solving a whodunnit, and more about the reader starting to untangle Lucy’s secrets and her difficult and traumatic past as a foster child who has been dealing with the foster care system since her father’s death. To make matters for difficult, her identity as an Indigenous person (as her mother was Indigenous and her father left her mother and took Lucy with him when she was a baby) has been suppressed her entire life, which cuts her off not only from her culture but from a family that is shocked to find her once they finally do. Boulley is so good at presenting difficult topics about racism and oppression of Indigenous people in this country to her audience, dismantling dark histories and white supremacy and showing how it reverberates and harms people. The big topic in this book is the Indian Child Welfare Act and how Lucy’s situation was lost through the cracks, and also puts a focus on the foster system and how corrupt and traumatic it can be. We don’t know what exactly happened to Lucy when the story starts, just that she’s on the run and someone wants to kill her, but as we go through her history we find a girl failed by so many finding her way back to a community that was taken from her. I know that some people have said that they found this endless tragedy to be unrealistic, but I don’t agree because Lucy’s story isn’t exactly unique to real world experiences, whether it’s racism, sexual abuse, coercion and manipulation, or even human trafficking. It’s a hard read, but it’s, sadly, still relevant.

We also have a welcome return to Sugar Island and familiar faces, characters, and the return of one who was missing in “Warrior Girl Unearthed”. In the timeline “Sisters in the Wind” takes place after “Firekeeper’s Daughter”, but before “Warrior Girl Unearthed”, and we find Lucy meeting a Daunis who exists between the scrappy teen in the first book and the grounded and nurturing mentor in the second book. I really enjoyed how Boulley gave us some more insight into Daunis and her trajectory, including more insight into her relationship with Jamie from the first novel, and I thought that she worked it in better in this one than the previous one. But I also appreciated that the presence of Daunis and Jamie and their connection to Lucy didn’t overshadow Lucy’s story or characterization, and if anything it made her family connections and her journey to the home she never knew feel all the more poignant and powerful. It also filled in some gaps and questions that were in place once we got to “Warrior Girl Unearthed” regarding how some of these characters got to the point they were at in the time jump, some of it incredibly satisfying, some of it devastating (but still satisfying? Just trust me). I really hope we get more stories from Sugar Island and the characters who live in the pages of these books.

“Sisters in the Wind” is another impactful and emotional thriller from Angeline Boulley. It had me running a full gamut of feelings, with difficult subject matter but an ever present thread of hope and love moving throughout the narrative. Good golly I love these books.

Rating 9: Another emotional and important book about Indigenous life in America from Angeline Boulley, with a compelling mystery, familiar faces, and some moments of heartbreak, hope, and coming home.

Reader’s Advisory:

“Sisters in the Wind” is included on the Goodreads lists “Native American Lit”, and “ATY 2026: Indigenous Character or Author”.

Serena’s Review: “The House Saphir”

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Book: “The House Saphir” by Marissa Meyer

Publishing Info: Feiwel & Friends, November 2025

Where Did I Get this Book: Netgalley!

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

Book Description: Mallory Fontaine is a fraud. Though she comes from a long line of witches, the only magic she possesses is the ability to see ghosts, which is rarely as useful as one would think. She and her sister have maintained the family business, eking out a paltry living by selling bogus spells to gullible buyers and conducting tours of the infamous mansion where the first of the Saphir murders took place.

Mallory is a self-proclaimed expert on Count Bastien Saphir—otherwise known as Monsieur Le Bleu—who brutally killed three of his wives more than a century ago. But she never expected to meet Bastien’s great-great grandson and heir to the Saphir estate. Armand is handsome, wealthy, and convinced that the Fontaine Sisters are as talented as they claim. The perfect mark. When he offers Mallory a large sum of money to rid his ancestral home of Le Bleu’s ghost, she can’t resist. A paid vacation at Armand’s country manor? It’s practically a dream come true, never mind the ghosts of murdered wives and the monsters that are as common as household pests.

But when murder again comes to the House Saphir, Mallory finds herself at the center of the investigation—and she is almost certain the killer is mortal. If she has any hope of cashing in on the payment she was promised, she’ll have to solve the murder and banish the ghost, all while upholding the illusion of witchcraft.

But that all sounds relatively easy compared to her biggest learning to trust her heart. Especially when the person her heart wants the most might be a murderer himself.

Review: Well, this was a delight of a read! I’ve only read a few Bluebeard retellings, but I can say that this is easily my favorite! Per Meyer’s typical approach to fairytale fantasies, this one is quite removed from the original story, and I think that only strengthened it. Beyond allowing original characters and a whole new story room to shine, I loved the ways that the older story wove in and out of the current version. There were several twists and turns, particularly in the second half, that interwove both tales together in incredibly creative ways.

I also really loved the gothic vibes of this book. From start to finish, the book has a distinctive flavor: creepy, fantastical, and just verging on the horrific. Of course, it also has a cast of ghosts who are hilarious, often in a fairly macabre manner. But like any good gothic story, the house itself often feels like a character, full of creeping sounds and mysterious locked doors. And to balance all of this gloom, we have our con artist of a main character, vigorously doing absolute nonsense to “cleanse” the ghosts from this house. The combination of the true menace exuded by the house alongside the antics of Mallory and her sister perfectly balanced the overall tone of the book. The world-building also expanded out from the house itself toward the last third of the book, adding an entirely new level to the magic of this world.

I also loved Mallory as a main character. She was funny, brave, and gloriously unapologetic for her con artist ways. Of course, as the story continues, we learn more about her and her family’s unique history, thus adding greater depth to her motivations and reactions. There are dark secrets here, many of which were tied up in her relationship with her mother and sister. I’m, of course, a sucker for sister relationships in fantasy stories, so this was all right up my alley.

I also really enjoyed the romance in the story. This was definitely a subplot to the book, but it was sweet, funny, and endearing in every way. Bastien was a lovely character, full of an earnest desire to earn Mallory’s trust but hiding secrets of his own. There were some really good twists tied up in his character as well. I was able to guess a few of them, but that didn’t make it any less gratifying to see them play out. Between him and his creepy ancestor, the book did a great job exploring some tough themes, like domestic violence, while still maintaining an approachable tone.

My one complaint here, however, is that Mallory routinely refers to Bastien as a “boy.” This is an adult man who, while young, is running an estate and business and living an adult life. I get that the book is straddling a tough line, as it’s marketed as a young adult title, but it’s just ridiculous to listen to two characters who are considered to be and behave as adults in their world refer to each other in this way. More than anything, I think this book should just embrace the “new adult” genre, refer to Bastien as the man he is, and do away with silly YA nods of this sort, especially when they make zero sense within the context of the story. Kind of a silly nitpick, but it bothered me throughout.

Overall, however, I really loved this book! Meyer continues to hit it out of the park, and this one is another fairytale banger! All the better, it is a stand-alone novel—a truly rare beast in the fantasy world recently. I definitely recommend this to all fairytale fantasy fans!

Rating 9: Gothic fairytale fantasy at its best! Meyer deftly navigates tough themes of domestic violence and manipulation while crafting a sweet and funny romance to boot!

Reader’s Advisory:

“The House Saphir” can be found on these Goodreads lists: Bluebeard Retellings and November 2025 Romance & Fantasy Book Releases.

Kate’s Review: “The Place Where They Buried Your Heart”

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Book: “The Place Where They Buried Your Heart” by Christina Henry

Publishing Info: Berkley, November 2025

Where Did I Get This Book: I received an ARC and a finished copy from the publicist

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

Book Description: A woman must confront the evil that has been terrorizing her street since she was a child in this gripping haunted house novel, perfect for fans of The Last House on Needless Street and Tell Me I’m Worthless.

On an otherwise ordinary street in Chicago, there is a house. An abandoned house where, once upon a time, terrible things happened. The children who live on this block are told by their parents to stay away from that house. But of course, children don’t listen. Children think it’s fun to be scared, to dare each other to go inside.

Jessie Campanelli did what many older sisters do and dared her little brother Paul. But unlike all the other kids who went inside that abandoned house, Paul didn’t return. His two friends, Jake and Richie, said that the house ate Paul. Of course adults didn’t believe that. Adults never believe what kids say. They thought someone kidnapped Paul, or otherwise hurt him. They thought Paul had disappeared in a way that was ordinary, explainable.

The disappearance of her little brother broke Jessie’s family apart in ways that would never be repaired. Jessie grew up, had a child of her own, kept living on the same street where the house that ate her brother sat, crouched and waiting. And darkness seemed to spread out from that house, a darkness that was alive—alive and hungry.

Review: Thank you to Kaye Publicity for sending me an ARC and a finished copy of this book!

I am kind of embarrassed to say that even though she’s a bit of a maven in the horror writing community with MANY books under her belt, I’ve barely read anything by Christina Henry. The only book I had read of hers up until this point was “Horseman”, which was an interesting take on “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” that I didn’t really connect with too well. But when I was asked to take a look at her newest horror novel “The Place Where They Buried Your Heart” I couldn’t resist giving it a go, as the description of a woman haunted by a house that ate (yes ATE) her little brother was just so intriguing to me. And once I started I immediately kicked myself for not going and reading more Christina Henry before now because wow, it REALLY snagged me and pulled me in.

I can honestly say that there were so many horror beats in this book that really, really got under my skin. The first is the obvious theme of a child being eaten, and I mean EATEN, by a house. This isn’t your typical haunted house story, and Henry doesn’t really mince words when it comes to portraying the horrors of an elementary schooler being devoured, leaving a traumatized older sister behind to lose her father AND mother to the house as time goes on. We also have plot points about family annihilators, more missing (and presumably eaten) children, self immolation, and finally hints of a cosmic horror entity that builds up strength through the blood of its victims and hopes to spread out further and further. As Jessie has to grow up with this in her neighborhood, constantly having to see the house that has caused her so much pain and suffering (and has her worried about her own son E.J. after he is born), we have a fight of good and evil, and it goes beyond what I was expecting of the usual haunted house with a dark history trope. And like I said above, woof did it unsettle me.

The other aspect of this book that I really enjoyed was the way that Henry portrays a neighborhood that has been plagued by a horrible presence and a lurking danger that still manages to find community and support amongst each other in spite of it all. A constant theme in this story is that Jessie, in spite of the trauma of losing her entire family to this horrible and ravenous house, she stays in her neighborhood because of the connections she has made with the other people there, and doesn’t want to leave them in the shadow of the danger to make herself and her son safe. It’s a thought I’ve struggled with a bit this past year, sometimes feeling like me and my family should just pick up and flee this country as it seems to get closer and closer to a dark future. But this book did a really good job of showing the other side of that, that staying and fighting with and for the ones you love is so important, and that courage sometimes isn’t easy. I also just loved the portrayals of Jessie’s connections with her found family, whether it’s her friend Ted (who is the grandfather of E.J.), or the neighbors Sheila and Frances, or her friendship with one of the boys who was in the house when Paul was eaten (and who lost one of his arms to the house). There is always this beast of a house, but there are also Thanksgiving dinners, and hang outs in each other’s homes, and love and connections, and it’s a well written reminder that there is always room for joy and love and community even when there is a looming danger that needs to be fought against, and because it can take time to defeat the evil fostering connections is crucial. It was just a great representation of that ethos.

“The Place Where They Buried Your Heart” is a must read horror novel. I definitely need to go back and read more Christina Henry after this one.

Rating 9: A scary cosmic horror novel combines with a tale about the strength and importance of love and community under the dark clouds of long lingering danger.

Reader’s Advisory:

“The Place Where They Buried Your Heart” is included on the Goodreads list “Best Haunted House Fiction That Isn’t “The Shining”.

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

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

Publishing Info: Inklore, October 2025

Where Did I Get This Book: I own it

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

Book Description: “The Underworld has a queen!”

Persephone and Hades are finally reunited when the banished goddess of spring returns to the Underworld to claim her rightful place as queen. Now that Hades and Persephone have defeated and imprisoned the power-hungry Kronos once more, nothing can keep them apart, and years of being separated have only made their desire for each other grow. But the other Olympians can’t help but meddle, pushing the pair to make things official with a coronation—and a wedding.

Ignoring the others who try to define their relationship, Hades and Persephone choose to take things at their own pace and focus on rebuilding the Underworld. They begin by investigating how Kronos was first able to escape, and they learn the horrifying truth that he has captured a powerful young god whose abilities help Kronos project his thoughts outside of Tartarus—thoughts he uses to plague Hera’s every waking moment. Though Kronos’s physical form is locked away, Olympus will never be free until they can rescue the child from the furious Titan’s grasp.

To save the realms, Persephone must figure out her fertility goddess powers and embrace her role as Queen of the Underworld—even as it takes her further from her mother’s expectations and her former place in the Mortal Realm.

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

Review: Given that last month was Horrorpalooza, I didn’t really have the theme that would fit the newest volume of “Lore Olympus”, but never fear! I didn’t forget! How could I forget my favorite adaptation of the Hades and Persephone myth? “Lore Olympus: Volume Nine” is here, and after a pretty intense previous volume where so much happened, we have a little bit of a breather. Persephone isn’t fighting any Titans this time around! Instead we get a focus on romance, healing, and other characters who deserve a little bit of the limelight.

After the huge confrontation between Persephone and Kronos, which basically saved Olympus, The Mortal Realm, and the Underworld (as well as Hades, Hecate, and all of the people Kronos had possessed in the Underworld), she and Hades are now trying to slowly and carefully figure out how to rebuild the Underworld, and how to approach their relationship. It’s a calmer volume and a quieter follow up to the action packed previous one, but I love that Smythe wants to give the reader a little breathing room, as well as wanting to be deliberate with how to build up their relationship now that so many obstacles are out of the way. Sure, there is still the issue with Demeter, who does NOT approve, and there is still the fact that Persephone has PTSD after her sexual assault by Apollo, but none of it feels insurmountable if the two of them are willing to support and adapt to each other. But Smythe is also sure to start giving us hints to what is coming next in this story, which brings back Kronos, Tartarus, and the war between the Olympians and the Titans that still has bad blood. It’s a good balance of breathing room as well as foundation for what’s next, and I enjoyed having both aspects.

But not only do we have a lovely and tender easing into a romantic relationship after a lot of pain and trauma, we also have some more great character development for other gods and goddesses who have appeared and played their parts, but haven’t had moments to shine on their own. Seeing Aphrodite have some development was great, especially since she is so often reduced to beautiful, vain, and vapid. I loved learning more and Thanatos and his tumultuous relationship with Hades, who basically raised him but had no idea on how to do it in a supportive and loving way. I REALLY loved seeing Psyche get some more story, especially as she has finally married Eros and has a larger part to play. And the most engaging and enjoyable character exploration in this was seeing Minthe again, no longer a plant, and dealing with her personal issues in ways that are surprising and incredibly gratifying. It’s so awesome that Smythe wanted to take the time for all of these characters, and made the story that much richer.

“Lore Olympus: Volume Nine” continues the fantastic reimagining of Persephone and Hades, and has started to set up the final storyline. I hear that we only have two volumes left until it’s all finished, and Smythe has laid out a very intriguing path forward. Can’t wait for the next one.

Rating 9: I love this series so much, and I love the focus of this volume being on Hades and Persephone building a healthy relationship after all of the trauma they have experienced. Also, more emotional character development for other characters!

Reader’s Advisory:

“Lore Olympus: Volume 9” is included on the Goodreads list “October 2025 Most Anticipated Romance Releases”.

Previously Reviewed:

Kate’s Review: “The Scammer”

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Book: “The Scammer” by Tiffany D. Jackson

Publishing Info: Quill Tree Books, October 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: New York Times bestselling author Tiffany D. Jackson delivers another stunning, ripped-from-the-headlines thriller, following a freshman girl whose college life is turned upside down when her roommate’s ex-convict brother moves into their dorm and starts controlling their every move.

Out from under her overprotective parents, Jordyn is ready to kill it in prelaw at a prestigious, historically Black university in Washington DC. When her new roommate’s brother is released from prison, the last thing Jordyn expects is to come home and find the ex-convict on their dorm room sofa. But Devonte needs a place to stay while he gets back on his feet—and how could she say no to one of her new best friends?

Devonte is older, as charming as he is intelligent, pushing every student he meets to make better choices about their young lives. But Jordyn senses something sinister beneath his friendly advice and growing group of followers. When one of Jordyn’s roommates goes missing, she must enlist the help of the university’s lone white student to uncover the mystery—or become trapped at the center of a web of lies more tangled than she can imagine.

Review: Than you to HarperCollins for the ARC of this book (and to Tiffany D. Jackson for signing it!)!

It has been a little bit but I am so pleased that Tiffany D. Jackson has a new YA thriller out for the world to read! I had the privilege of meeting her at ALAAC25 this past summer and not only did I get a copy of “The Scammer”, she also signed it for me. I waited for a little bit to pick it up, and when it was finally time I told myself that I would take it slow and savor it. But I ended up reading it in two long sessions over the course of two days. Yep. Tiffany D. Jackson is BACK, baby! “The Scammer” was addictive and everything I had hoped it would be!

“The Scammer” takes some inspiration from the Sarah Lawrence Sex Cult, in which a 63 year old man manipulated his daughter’s friends at Sarah Lawrence to become fully dependent upon him and held a sway over them like so many cult leaders do. But instead of at Sarah Lawrence we find ourselves at an HBCU in Texas, and our protagonist Jordyn is hoping for a fresh start after living with her high strung parents in the wake of her brother Kevin’s tragic death. When Jordyn’s roommate Vanessa asks the other girls if her brother Devonte can crash on their couch they all say yes, and Devonte has lots of ideas and philosophies that sound insightful and mind blowing. And it, of course, starts to spiral as Devonte manipulates, intimidates, seduces, and harms Jordyn’s friends, and expands his reach across campus, turning his ire on Jordyn when she doesn’t fall in line. I love a cult story, and I love the suspense of seeing people fall one by one to a charismatic leader who has dangerous ulterior motives and no conscience. It’s frightening and maddening, especially as people start targeting Jordyn and making her life a living hell when she dares question and push back. There are also some twists her, some of which aren’t super surprising others of which REALLY shocked me, and all of them felt well crafted and earned. As a thriller it’s really enjoyable, and as I mentioned above I couldn’t put it down very easily.

But I also appreciated how Jackson (as she does in so many of her books) layers in social themes to her narrative, particularly themes and issues that the Black community has to deal with, and in this book it’s the way that racism and systemic injustice can make members of the Black community connect with conspiracy theories that have some origins of truth within them but become warped and twisted into something completely different. Lord knows that misinformation and disinformation and conspiracy theories have been flourishing as of late, and I really appreciated Jackson’s nuanced take on those who fall prey to scammers and liars who use them as weapons for their own benefit. It doesn’t excuse the harm that some of these true believers subject Jordyn to, but it does try to unpack it to better understand how this kind of thought can be used to harm others, and I really liked that.

“The Scammer” is another sharp and suspenseful YA thriller from Tiffany D. Jackson! There’s a reason she’s one of my favorite thriller authors, and this book is a top notch return to novels!

Rating 9: A fast paced and incredibly suspenseful thriller from one of my favorite thriller authors!

Reader’s Advisory:

“The Scammer” is included on the Goodreads list “Dark Academia”.

Serena’s Review: “Daughter of No Worlds”

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Book: “Daughter of No Worlds” by Carissa Broadbent

Publishing Info: Bramble, October 2025

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

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

Book Description: Ripped from a forgotten homeland as a child, Tisaanah learned how to survive with nothing but a sharp wit and a touch of magic. But the night she tries to buy her freedom, she barely escapes with her life.

Desperate to save the best friend she left behind, Tisaanah journeys to the Orders, the most powerful organizations of magic Wielders in the world. To join their ranks, she must complete an apprenticeship with Maxantarius Farlione, a handsome and reclusive fire wielder who despises the Orders. The Orders’ intentions are cryptic, and Tisaanah must prove herself under the threat of looming war. But even more dangerous are her growing feelings for Maxantarius. The bloody past he wants to forget may be the key to her future… or the downfall of them both.

Tisaanah will stop at nothing to save those she abandoned. Even if it means gambling in the Orders’ deadly games. Even if it means sacrificing her heart. Even if it means wielding death itself.

Even if it means wielding death itself.

Review: I’d been holding out on reading this one for a while, anticipating the fact that with Broadbent’s increasing popularity, it was only a matter of time before these indie-published books received the trad publishing treatment! And here we are! As I’ve never disliked a book by this author, it was also one of those refreshing experiences where I could start a book with full confidence that, whatever was in store, I had a fun read ahead!

There was a lot to like about this one, but it did highlight something for me about my experience reading this author. I love her romances; they are complicated, developed, and take the time to fully earn the happily-ever-afters we get by the end. That said, while this book has a lovely romance as well, it was further in the background of the main plot of this book than I’ve seen in other books. And my revelation was this: while the love stories are great, the books by this author I’ve loved the most often focus more on the arc of the main character and the world-building/plot elements! Looking back, I think this partly explains why I’ve often enjoyed the first books in her duologies more than the second, where the romance often comes more to the forefront.

I loved the journey our main character takes within this one. Her story is hard, with many of her experiences focusing on incredibly dark subjects. However, this makes her continued drive, determination, and bravery in the face of these struggles all the more compelling. And the book doesn’t handwave away her journey with a quick montage. From little things, like the reality that learning another language would be an impediment when traveling to a new nation and not a skill quickly learned, to the bigger stuff, like hard-learned lessons about revenge, violence, and the costs these things bring about—it was all so carefully done. Tisaanah felt incredibly well-developed, and, by the end, I would be happy to follow her story wherever it may go (and, believe me, there are a variety of options given by the end of the book!).

I also really enjoyed the world-building and magic that was introduced in this book. And man, was there a lot! By the end of this book, we’d traveled quite far—from one nation to another and back again. And throughout, the reader is fed more and more details about this world and its history. There were also a number of mysteries caught up in the magical elements, many of which were only revealed at the very end, leaving plenty of unanswered questions to be dealt with in the next book.

For all of this, I did enjoy the romance as well! This was definitely more of a subplot than readers may have come to expect from Broadbent, but I think it works all the better for it. Tisaanah and Max are both adults who have led lives with complicated histories, so when they meet, their focus is on more than romance. That being the case, their slow, often unwilling, descent into romance was full of tension and sweetness. There are many stumbling blocks now before them, and I’m excited to see where their love story goes from here.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book! There was tons of action, and Tisaanah was a fantastic leading character. I enjoyed Max as well, but I’m hoping to see even more of him in future books to more fully explore his own backstory. Fans of Broadbent’s other books will likely love this one too!

Rating 9: Fierce yet tender, Daughter of No Worlds expands the boundaries of what can be done with the genre! Simply fantastic!

Reader’s Advisory:

“Daughter of No Worlds” can be found on these Goodreads lists: Under the Radar Indie Fantasy Romance and Romantasy Who did this to you?