Tag: Lists

Highlights: October 2025

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

Serena’s Picks

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

Publication Date: October 7, 2025

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

Book: “Daughter of No Worlds” by Carissa Broadbent

Publication Date: October 14, 2025

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

Book: “The Everlasting” by Alix E. Harrow

Publication Date: October 28, 2025

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

Kate’s Pick

Book: “King Sorrow” by Joe Hill

Publication Date: October 21, 2025

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

Book: “Girl Dinner” by Olivie Blake

Publication Date: October 21, 2025

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

Book: “The Bone Thief” by Vanessa Lillie

Publication Date: October 28, 2025

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

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

Diving Into Sub-Genres: Werewolf Horror

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

We each have our own preferred genres of choice. Kate loves horrors and thrillers, really anything that will keep her up at night! And Serena enjoys escaping through hidden doors into realms of magic and adventure. We also read mysteries, historical fiction, graphic novels, etc. etc. And that’s not even counting the multitude of sub-genres contained within each greater genre. In this series, one of us will present a list of our favorites from within a given sub-genre of one of our greater preferred genres.

This past year I read a few werewolf horror novels. As I was reading them it occurred to me that I really haven’t read THAT MANY werewolf books over the years, probably because I’ve always been more of a vampire girl (what can I say? I’m basic). But when it was my turn to take on another sub-genre deep dive, I decided that I should take a look at werewolf horror. Because it’s not really a sub-genre in horror that gets as much attention as other monster tales.

Werewolf and shapeshifter mythology has been around for hundreds and hundreds of years. Whether it’s the story of Romulus and Remus being raised by a she wolf, or medieval trials of supposed werewolves being prosecuted and executed, or pre-Christian belief systems speaking of people who could turn into wolves, the werewolf has been with various cultures since the dawn of modern time. I’m far more familiar with werewolf movies than books, with films like “The Wolfman”, “The Howling”, “An American Werewolf in Paris”, and “Ginger Snaps” all being well loved by the horror movie community. And now I shift my attention to books, to promote the sub-genre of a monster who needs a little bit more attention! Vampires can’t have all the fun.

“The Werewolf of Paris” by Guy Endore

As mentioned above, Guy Endore’s “The Werewolf of Paris” is considered to be the “Dracula” of werewolf novels. It centers on Bertrand Caillet, a soldier during the Franco-Prussian War whose journal is found by a researcher years later, detailing his existence as a werewolf. It details his early life as a werewolf born into a werewolf family, and follows him through his adolescence and into his time in the military, where his violent urges could be used in a more constructive manner… until he is discovered. Told in a similar epistolary style as “Dracula” through journal and confession entries, “The Werewolf of Paris” hasn’t had the same staying power in the mainstream as the Count. But it’s still considered the start of the modern werewolf tale.

“Cycle of the Werewolf” by Stephen King

You know my boy Stephen was going to make this list. His novella “Cycle of the Werewolf” was a short but effective werewolf story about a small town being terrorized over the course of nine months by a mysterious wild animal, and a kid who is trying to solve what is going on. King loves having kid protagonists who are trying to solve a mystery, and he’s quite good at it, and “Cycle of the Werewolf” has Marty at the center, a disabled boy in a wheelchair who is on the hunt for the werewolf over the nine months of murders and fear, trying to figure out who in town has to be the lycanthrope menace. It was adapted into a movie called “Silver Bullet”, starring Corey Haim as Marty (may his memory be a blessing), Megan Follows as his sister (the best Anne Shirley), and Gary Busey as the wild and crazy Uncle Al (uh…. life imitates art I guess?). It’s a quick werewolf read that’s pretty straightforward, and it has the King flavor behind it.

“Mongrels” by Stephen Graham Jones

I love Stephen Graham Jones, and while it wasn’t my first read of his, it was the first one I heard of due to a friend really enjoying it. And Jones has such a unique perspective and voice in his horror stories that it’s no shock that his werewolf tale “Mongrels” is on this list. It follows an Indigenous family of werewolves that have had to stay ahead of their pasts and had to stay incognito as best they can, but the youngest member of the family is about to hit the age where they will be able to tell if he has inherited the wolf aspect of the family line. It’s part werewolf tale, part family drama, part coming of age, and Jones combines the themes to make a heartfelt and eerie tale of family and identity. But he also has some really interesting and sometimes fun werewolf lore, creating a fun mythology in a way that only Jones can.

“Such Sharp Teeth” by Rachel Harrison

I love Rachel Harrison and basically every take on a supernatural foe that she has (look for my review of her latest novel “Play Nice” during Horrorpalooza!), and her werewolf book “Such Sharp Teeth” is so on brand for her feminist and somewhat cozy horror style. “Such Sharp Teeth” follows Rory, a somewhat aimless woman who has reluctantly returned to her hometown to support her pregnant twin sister Scarlett. While there she is attacked by an unknown creature, and then as she approaches the full moon her body goes through some changes. This werewolf story does have the body horror that we come to expect from the sub-genre, but Harrison brings her personal touch to it by also exploring feminine rage, the lack of control over a body going through strange and unhinged changes, and the way that trauma can make a festering monster in all of us that will eventually have to come out.

“The Last Werewolf” by Glen Duncan

This is probably one of the more literary books on this list, and I remember when it was a pretty hot commodity at my library, being checked out a lot. I know that it is also a bit of a polarizing read, as some people thought that it was TOO literary. But I think that while we shouldn’t turn our noses up at genre fiction, it’s also cool to see a more literary authors take on more genre associated themes, so I say good on you, “The Last Werewolf”! Jake has been wandering the Earth in solitude for centuries, a werewolf with no pack, no connections, and a terrible affliction that he wishes to be rid of. While he plans his suicide, he suddenly gets pulled into the orbit of a person that he could actually find himself connecting with… Oh, and also a murder. I actually haven’t read this one, but I have read other books by Duncan (using another name) and I’m sure he did a lot of interesting stuff with it!

“The Devourers” by Indra Das

I’m ending the list with what is, to me, the most unique werewolf story on the list, taking from Indian mythology and folklore and creating a historical and present day werewolf story. A modern day college professor named Alok is living in Kolkata, India, and one night he is approached by a strange person who has quite the story to tell, and who is desperate to tell it, cobbled together from ancient parchments, notebooks, and even skins. As Alok hears the tale of a woman who is raped and impregnated by a shapeshifter from another place, and as she searches for answers and for retribution, she finds a world of monsters, shapeshifters, different cultures and societies. Alok takes down the story for the stranger, and learns of things he never thought could be true. It takes from mythologies that many Western readers may not be familiar with, and it’s relentless, gory, and unapologetic with how it tackles werewolves and shifters.

What werewolf books have you enjoyed over the years? Let us know in the comments!

Highlights: September 2025

School has at last started, though that has also highlighted once again all of the activities and scheduled events that also entails! But at least the weather has been beautiful recently, making State Fair trips a much more pleasant experience than they have been other years! Of course, we still must always make time for new books and here are a few we’re looking forward to this month!

Serena’s Picks

Book: “A Land So Wide” by Erin A. Craig

Publication Date: Sept. 2, 2025

Why I’m Interested: I loved “The Thirteenth Child” when I read it last year! I know that Craig has also written a number of other young adult fantasy novels, though I haven’t gotten around to them yet. That said, I’ve found myself clicking more with adult fantasy recently, so I was thrilled to see she was coming out with her debut adult title this fall! The story follows a young woman who must venture far into a dangerous woods to save the man she loves. One sentence, but pretty much everything I like, right there!

Book: “The Summer War” by Naomi Novik

Publication Date: September 16, 2025

Why I’m Interested: While I’m impatiently waiting for Novik’s next full-length novel, I have been enjoying the other books we’ve gotten from her in the meantime. I really liked the collection of short stories she put out last year, which included a shortened version of “Spinning Silver.” It was really interesting noting the differences between the shorten version and the novel itself. But seeing those big differences, I was curious to see how Novik would handle writing a novella, a book with a length somewhere between short story and novel. There’s room to do more, but still not tons of space, meaning every page and scene must be utilized to its fullest! However, this author has never let me down, so I fully expect to love this one!

Book: “Wild Reverence” by Rebecca Ross

Publication Date: September 2, 2025

Why I’m Interested: Here’s another “must read” author, so it’s really no surprise to find her latest book on this list. That said, while I enjoyed the “Divine Rivals” duology, it wasn’t my favorite of Ross’s books. Yes, she broke out onto the scene with those, but I think a lot of readers are sleeping on her earlier adult fantasy novels, which I loved even more! So this book sounds like a perfect fit for me! Set in the world of “Divine Rivals” (good) but an adult, stand-alone fantasy novel (great!).

Kate’s Pick

Book: “Fiend” by Alma Katsu

Publication Date: September 16

Why I’m Interested: I feel like it’s been awhile since we’ve had an Alma Katsu novel so I am VERY excited to see that she has a new one coming out! And not only that, it sounds like it’s going to be a story that pulls from the real life inspirations of the dreadful Sackler family and a family curse that until now has been working to their advantage. It sounds a bit like Mike Flanagan’s “Fall of the House of Usher”, which has me amped because I loved that mini series. I’m also interested to see what she does with a more modern setting!

Book: “Play Nice” by Rachel Harrison

Publication Date: September 9, 2025

Why I’m Interested: This sounds a bit like influencer gilded secrecy mixed with “The Amityville Horror”, and both of those things REALLY call to me. I have loved all of Rachel Harrison’s books as they do some really cool horror things while also bringing us complicated female protagonists, and now that she’s finally tackling a haunted house (I guess we got a haunted hotel from her before) AND the traumas of a childhood that spends some time there I am just chomping at the bit. This will probably be saved for Horrorpalooza, as it sounds like it will fit in perfectly.

Book: “Road Trip with a Vampire” by Jenna Levine

Publication Date: September 23, 2025

Why I’m Interested: YAY!! Another supernatural romance novel from Jenna Levine!! And not only that, it’s following the witch that she teased in her previous book! I so thoroughly enjoyed the two previous books in the series, and I love the fact that this time we are going to be following a witch named Zelda on a road trip with a new vampire love interest. I enjoy the humor that Levine brings to these rom coms involving blood suckers, and the fact that we now have a witch thrown into the mix makes it all the more tantalizing.

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

Another Take: Summer 2025

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

Don’t just take it from us, other readers like these books, too! And we have decided that we would like to showcase other reviewers and bloggers that have their own thoughts and feelings about books that we have loved. Here are a few of the books we’ve enjoyed recently and what other bloggers have to say about them.

Book: “Anji Kills a King” by Evan Keikam

Book Description: Anji works as a castle servant, cleaning laundry for a king she hates. So when a rare opportunity presents itself, she seizes the chance to cut his throat. Then she runs for her life. In her wake, the kingdom is thrown into disarray, while a bounty bigger than anyone could imagine lands on her head.

On her heels are the fabled mercenaries of the Menagerie, whose animal-shaped masks are magical relics rumored to give them superhuman powers. It’s the Hawk who finds Anji a surly, aging swordswoman who has her own reasons for keeping Anji alive and out of the hands of her fellow bounty hunters, if only long enough to collect the reward herself.

With the rest of the Menagerie on their trail, so begins an alliance as tenuous as it is temporary—and a race against death that will decide Anji’s fate, and may change the course of a kingdom.

Serena’s Review (9 Rating)

FanFiAddict

Eater of Stories (4 Stars)

Preacher Reads

Book: “A Legionnaire’s Guide to Love and Peace” by Emily Skrutskie

Book Description: On the eve of the battle that will decide the realm of Telrus’s fate, Katrien takes a hard look at her prospects. A mere legionnaire, she and her spear will be at the fore in the morning, facing off against the Demon Lord and his wretched army, and it’s all but certain she’ll perish in the fight. But if the end of the world is mere hours away, there’s no reason not to hook up with her handsome, dedicated battle partner Emory—despite any anti-fraternization policies their centurion may have in place.

Only, the world doesn’t end the next day. Instead, an insufferable prince raised in hiding comes out of nowhere with a plucky band of heroes, defeats the Demon Lord, and seals the rift to the hellish plane. The realm is saved. The war is over. And Kat suddenly has a lot more future than she knows what to do with. It’s a future that could include Emory . . . if only he weren’t so set on staying enlisted with the very army Kat was unwillingly drafted into.

And while the Demon Lord has been destroyed, peace is still a long march away. When Kat inadvertently draws the eye of the prince, she, Emory, and the rest of their motley unit are pulled to the fore of the formation—and the heart of the danger—as the army embarks on one last campaign. The mission: laying a road as a foundation for the prince’s future rule. The real mission: scouring the last of the Demon Lord’s servants from the material plane.

As Kat and Emory work to secure a lasting peace, they’ll have to decide what they want their futures to look like—and if there’s room for love at the end of the road.

Serena’s Review (8 Rating)

BookFrenzi

The Little Fox Lair

Nerd Initiative (8 Rating)

Book: “The Jasad Crown” by Sara Hashem

Book Description: Held deep in a mountain refuge, Sylvia has been captured by the Urabi, who believe she can return their homeland to its former power. But after years of denying her legacy and a forbidden alliance with Jasad’s greatest enemy, Sylvia must win the group’s trust while struggling to keep control of both her magic and her mind.

In the rival kingdom, Arin is caught between his father’s desire to put down the brewing rebellion and the sacred edicts he’s sworn to uphold. Arin must find Sylvia before his father’s army, but his search will call into question the very core of Arin’s beliefs about his family and the destruction of Jasad.

War is inevitable and Sylvia cannot abandon her people again. The Urabi plan to raise the Jasadi fortress, and it will either kill Sylvia or destroy the humanity she’s fought so hard to protect. For the first time in her life Sylvia doesn’t just want to survive. She wants to win. The fugitive queen is ready to come home.

Serena’s Review (10 Rating)

Books are the New Black (5 Stars)

Cannonball Read

One Book More (5 Stars)

Book: “Everyone Is Lying To You” by Jo Piazza

Book Description: Lizzie and Bex were best friends in college. After graduation, Bex vanished, leaving Lizzie confused and devastated.

Fifteen years later, Bex is now Rebecca Sommers, a “traditional” Instagram influencer with millions of followers who salivate over her perfect life on her ranch with her five children and handsome husband, Gray. Lizzie is a struggling magazine writer, watching reels while her young children demand her attention.

One night out of the blue, Bex calls Lizzie with a career-making proposition—an exclusive interview with her about her multimillion-dollar business venture and an invitation to MomBomb, the high-profile influencing conference.

At the conference, Bex goes missing and Gray is found brutally murdered on their ranch. Lizzie finds herself plunged into the dark side of the cutthroat world of social media that includes jealousy, sordid affairs, swingers, and backstabbing. She must learn who her old friend has become and who she has double-crossed to try to find her, clear her name, and maybe even save her life.

Piazza’s master storytelling and razor-sharp insight into the world of social media brings us a pulpy, juicy, and cleverly plotted read that will have you guessing all the way through and leave you gasping for more.

Kate’s Review (9 Rating)

Really Into This

Read & Wright (5/5)

Book Reporter

Book: “Lucky Day” by Chuck Tingle

Book Description: Lucky Day is the newest novel of terror from Chuck Tingle, USA Today bestselling author of Bury Your Gays, where one woman must go up against the most horrifying concept of all: nothing.

Vera is a survivor of a global catastrophe known as the Low Probability Event, but she definitely isn’t thriving. Once a passionate professor of statistics, she no longer finds meaning in anything at all.

But when problematic government agent Layne knocks on her door, she’s the only one who can help him uncover the connection between deadly spates of absurdity and an improbably lucky casino. What’s happening in Vegas isn’t staying there, and the world is at risk of another disaster.

When it comes to Chuck Tingle, the only thing more terrifying than a serious horror novel is an absurd one…

Kate’s Review (8 Rating)

FanFiAddict

Horror Bound (5/5)

Atomic Geekdom

Book: “Not Quite Dead Yet” by Holly Jackson

Book Description: In seven days Jet Mason will be dead.

Jet is the daughter of one of the wealthiest families in Woodstock, Vermont. Twenty-seven years old, she’s still waiting for her life to begin. I’ll do it later, she always says. She has time.

Until Halloween night, when Jet is violently attacked by an unseen intruder.

She suffers a catastrophic head injury. The doctor is certain that within a week, the injury will trigger a deadly aneurysm.

Jet has never thought of herself as having enemies. But now she looks at everyone in a new light: her family, her former best friend turned sister-in-law, her ex-boyfriend.

She has at most seven days, and as her condition deteriorates she has only her childhood friend Billy for help. But nevertheless, she’s absolutely determined to finally finish something:

Jet is going to solve her own murder.

Kate’s Review (10 Rating)

Book CLB

Daydreaming Ink

Down the Book Jar

Highlights: August 2025

The mugginess continues! Serena luckily escaped back home to the West over much of July, and Kate performed her usual trick of avoiding the outdoors altogether, unless she’s poolside of course! And with the craziness of school schedules and busyness staring us down, we’re eager to bury our heads in some good books instead. Here are some titles we’re both looking forward to this month.

Serena’s Picks

Book: “Hemlock and Silver” by T. Kingfisher

Publication Date: August 19, 2025

Why I’m Interested: I love how prolific Kingfisher is! It’s always great to find another must-read author. It’s absolutely the best when that same author puts out not only one but often two or three books a year! You get so spoiled! And, while I always enjoy the horror novels that Kate and I co-review, my favorites remain her standalone fairytale stories. And here we have a re-telling of “Snow White!” The great thing about this author is that her re-tellings are often true re-tellings, with only limited call backs or the original story. Often featuring wholly new characters and an entirely new main plot. So excited to see what she does with this one!

Book: “The Fallen and the Kiss of Dusk” by Carissa Broadbent

Publication Date: August 5, 2025

Why I’m Interested: Another favorite author, another highlighted title! Not only that, but this is the second book in the Shadowborn duet, and after that massive cliffhanger at the end of the first book, I’ve been on pins and needles waiting for this one. As it’s a romantasy, it’s pretty clear that some of the events at the end of that first book won’t stick, at least not in the way they usually do. But I’m incredibly curious to see how Broadbent resolves the very high stakes situation that has been set up! Not only for our two main characters, but for this world as a whole!

Book: “Katabasis” by R. F. Kuang

Publication Date: August 26, 2025

Why I’m Interested: Third time’s the charm! August is just a banger of a month with all of my favorite authors coming to play! But I’d also be interested in this one on its own. There have been a ton of dark academia titles recently, and even while they haven’t all been a hit, I find I still can’t resist a new entry into the subgenre. Still living off the high that was the “Scholomance” trilogy probably. Whatever it is, I’m incredibly excited to see what Kuang has to offer here. Plus, you know, the cover is incredibly cool.

Kate’s Pick

Book: “Lucky Day” by Chuck Tingle

Publication Date: August 12, 2025

Why I’m Interested: I just love Chuck Tingle, his previous two horror novels being hits for me, and therefore I was of course eager to see what he was going to come up with next! And it sounds really out there and like his most experimental novel yet! It sounds like it’s somewhat post-apocalyptic or dystopian, but mixed in with a Vegas based mystery and some kind of casino that may be leading up to ANOTHER apocalyptic event? It sounds weird, but that hasn’t ever stopped me in the past so why should it stop me now? Also I just love Tingle as an author and a person, so this one was clearly going to make my list!

Book: “What Hunger” by Catherine Dang

Publication Date: August 12, 2025

Why I’m Interested: This one caught my eye at ALA, because look at that cover!! So weird! So pretty but also unsettling! This is the second time that a book by Catherine Dang has caught my attention with a cover, and this one sounds like not only are we getting a coming of age tale with a Vietnamese American protagonist, but also perhaps something a little cannibalistic! After a horrible tragedy has thrown her family into turmoil, Ronny Nguyen now has to enter her Freshman year of high school with little guidance and lots of angst. After she is assaulted at a party and she fights back in a, shall we say ‘different’ way, she suddenly finds herself craving raw meat. And her hunger is becoming insatiable. It sounds creepy and also perhaps tinged with sadness. I’m into it.

Book: “A Game in Yellow” by Hailey Piper

Publication Date: August 12, 2025

Why I’m Interested: I discovered Hailey Piper last autumn and then I got to hear her speak at ALAAC25, and now I have her newest horror novel on my Highlights for this month because it sounds SO gripping and interesting and unique. Carmen and Blanca are in a relationship, but the passion has stalled out a bit, their usual kink filled love life feeling a bit stagnant. But when Blanca finds herself with access to the pages of a mysterious play that COULD drive the person reading it insane should they read its electrifying words for too long, the two begin to read it as ploy to spice up their love life with the danger of it. But things get strange as reality and fantasy starts to become interchangeable. Intriguing to be sure.

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

Not Just Books: July 2025

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

Serena’s Picks

Show: “Daredevil: Born Again”

While I haven’t kept up with or been overly impressed with what I’ve seen from Disney’s Marvel TV shows, I had a lot of hope for this one. I mean, I loved the first version of this show, and Disney rightly understood what they had with Charlie Cox and Vincent D’Onofrio and kept the focus largely narrowed in on these two. The show also did a great job of staying true to some of the more impactful themes from the first show (the focus on balance between vengeance and justice, largely). While I don’t think that the support cast was as good as in the first version, I was still satisfied with the new characters. All in all, it was just fun to return to this world and this story! (Plus, I now have an extra soft spot for Charlie Cox after he voiced my beloved Gustave in “Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.”)

Movie: “How to Train Your Dragon”

While I’ve been to a few movies in the theater with my oldest, my youngest has been hankering for his turn! So this June we decided to all go together to the movies for the first time, and this movie came out just in time! Now, I’ve definitely started to lose patience with the endless stream of live action re-makes, but this movie is proof that it can still be a winning strategy. For one thing, the makers of this film understood the prompt: a live action REMAKE of the original. I don’t want added songs or character arcs or “interpretations” from these movies, especially not when the original story is great on its own, as these additions almost always make it worse. No, here we have almost exactly the same movie, shot by shot, only now in live action. The music is the same, the script is largely the same, we even have the same actors for certain roles. There are large chunks of this movie where you could play the original and this side by side and they would show the exact same sequence. And that’s all I want from these remakes! Also, you know, my kids had a fun time!

Movie: “The Fountain of Youth”

This is movie was pretty much exactly what it looked like: an “Indiana Jones” lite quasi sequel. And, in that light, it succeeds fairly well. There was a lot of action-adventure fun to be had throughout! The writing was definitely a bit weak at times (especially some of the explanations at the end of the movie about how everything worked). So things really lived and died based on the charisma of the actors, mostly John Krasinski. The rest of the cast was good as well, but without his natural charm, I do think this one would have verged into extreme cheese ball territory. As it is, it wasn’t a masterpiece by any means, but still a fun time, especially as a summer popcorn flick!

Kate’s Picks

Film: “28 Years Later”

I remember going to see “28 Days Later” in the theater with one of my good friends from high school the summer after graduation, and we were both wholly blown away by it. I have loved this movie ever since. When I saw the trailer for “28 Years Later” with Terror Tuesday people, I was nervous, but intrigued (I really hated the previous sequel). And when Terror Tuesday went to see it in the theater, I was, once again, blown away. Set 28 years after the Rage Virus Infection’s start, Great Britain has been quarantined. Infected still roam the mainland, having become more feral but also more evolved, and some survivors live peacefully on an island off the coast. When twelve year old Spike and his father go to the mainland for his right of passage Infected hunt, he has to experience the Infected like never before, which in turn leads to a poignant coming of age tale when he returns to the mainland with his ailing mother in hopes of finding her help. Because there are rumors of a doctor nearby. Yes, the ending is jarring, I’ll admit it. But I found myself sobbing more than I would have anticipated, as this movie is, in many ways, heartfelt and beautiful and not only about zombies and the end of civilization, but also never forgetting those we love and lose at the end of all things.

TV Show: “The Gilded Age”

I still love a soap opera, and if it is all dolled up in historical fiction finery and opulence I will love it even more. That’s why I enjoyed “Downton Abbey” so much, and that’s why I enjoy “The Gilded Age” (both by Julian Fellowes, boy does he love his soapy aristocracy shenanigans!). Season 3 is finally here, and it’s already off to a very scandalous start! Bertha is haranguing daughter Gladys into marrying into a Duke’s family even though Gladys is terrified and uninterested (boy do I loathe Bertha, but I do love Carrie Coon)! Marian and Larry are having a secret courtship! Agnes is having a hard time accepting that younger sister Ada is in charge of the household now since she has a fresh inheritance and Agnes is now penniless! Peggy is perhaps finding romance?! And AUDRA MACDONALD’S VERY PRESENCE!!! Yes, this show makes me want to tear my hair out at times (I mean they REALLY want us to believe that because George Russell is a hot wife guy that his anti-labor robber baron ways are FIIIIINE), but I love the costuming, I love the time period, having worked in a historic house that was very much during this time, and I love the drama.

New Family Addition: KITTENS!

Back in March we had to say goodbye to our elderly twenty year old cat Baby, who had been with me since my husband and I were in college, along with her sister Kasha who passed in 2022. We decided that this summer was the time to add some new pets to our family. And we have started with two kittens! One belongs to my husband, the other belongs to my daughter (I intend on getting my own in a month or two, I’m being VERY picky about what I want in a cat…), and boy, I had forgotten what HOOLIGANS kittens can be. But The Beast and Betty Draper (my kid insists it’s just Betty, but given this cat’s personality it’s absoLUTEly Betty Draper in my mind) are both very cute and a lot of fun, even if they are complete menaces, like all kittens should be. And hopefully soon we will welcome our third and final kitten into the family….. We may be insane for getting a third, but hey, we wouldn’t have it any other way.

Highlights: July 2025

We’re back to good, old muggy Minnesota! Serena is anxiously looking forward to her escape to the dry heat of the West later this month and Kate is hunkering down either inside or poolside. And of course we both have piles of books to get through!

Serena’s Picks

Book: “Never the Roses” by Jennifer K. Lambert

Publication Date: July 8, 2025

Why I’m Interested: This book sounds right up my alley! Not only does it feature a mature hero and heroine, but they are warring sorcerers who have been pitted against one another by their respective nations for years. But when Oneira manages to finally retire, she becomes curious about the rival she never met. And, of course, romance ensues! While there have been a few misses here and there, Bramble has done pretty well as a new option for quality romantasy/romance reads, so I have high hopes for this one!

Book: “Red Tempest Brother” by H.M. Long

Publication Date: July 8, 2025

Why I’m Interested: I keep thinking this series is over when it isn’t! The first one I thought was a stand-alone. Nope! Then the second I thought was wrapping up a duology. Nope! And here we are with the actual conclusion to the trilogy. I’ve loved the heck out of this sea-faring fantasy story! It’s the perfect mix of high seas action, intricate fantasy world-building, and a lovely romance that is firmly a subplot but also given all the time and attention it needs to thrive. This entire series seems to be completely off so many readers’ radars, and it’s such a shame. Hopefully someone will pick it up for a special edition (looking at you “The Broken Binding”) or something else will propel it further into the public’s eye, because boy, does it deserve it! At this point, I’m not even concerned for the ending, just excited to see how it plays out!

Book: “The Jasad Crown” by Sara Hashem”

Publication Date: July 15, 2025

Why I’m Interested: It’s been two long, painful years, but the sequel to 2023’s “The Jasad Heir” is finally here! The first book took me completely by surprise with its excellent world-building and superb romance. Truly, that book was a masterclass in how to do enemies-to-lovers the right way! Of course, it left off with some major secrets being revealed and the stakes skyrocketing, so there’s a lot of ground to cover in this conclusion to the duology. Mostly, I’m worried how the romance will be managed with our two characters now separated not only geographically by ideologically. There are a lot of moving pieces, but if the first book taught me anything, it was not to doubt Hashem’s storytelling abilities!

Kate’s Pick

Book: “Everyone Is Lying To You” by Jo Piazza

Publication Date: July 15, 2025

Why I’m Interested: As someone who has always been very left wing, I am always so deeply fascinated/horrified by right wing propaganda disguising itself as life style tips, and the recent rise in ‘trad wife’ content has me OBSESSED because of how insidious it is. So OBVIOUSLY I’m interested in a thriller that is all about trad wife influencers, social media ambition, and MURDER! Bex and Lizzie were besties in college, but after graduation Bex fell off the face of the earth. Now she’s a picture perfect tradwife influencer, who reaches out to now journalist Lizzie with an offer for an interview and a trip to an influencer convention. But then Bex disappears, and her husband is found murdered. Can Lizzie figure out what happened? I guess I’m going to find out!

Book: “Not Quite Dead Yet” by Holly Jackson

Publication Date: July 22, 2025

Why I’m Interested: I have basically loved most of the books that I’ve read by Holly Jackson, and imagine how thrilled I was when I found out that she had a new thriller coming out… and that it was for adults! Don’t get me wrong, I love her YA stuff, but I feel like an adult story can open so many more doors for her thriller writing, and “Not Quite Dead Yet” sounds like a doozy. Jet is a somewhat aimless woman who is part of a wealthy, but somewhat damaged, family. When she is brutally attacked on Halloween, she has a head injury so complex that the doctors are predicting an aneurism in a few days time that will take her life, even though she is cognizant. So Jet decides that with the little time she has left she’s going to solve her own eventual murder, with the help of childhood friend Billy. Jackson hasn’t failed me yet and this one sounds amazing.

Book: “The Library at Hellebore” by Cassandra Khaw

Publication Date: July 22, 2025

Why I’m Interested: I’ve enjoyed Khaw’s work before, with their adept skill for writing stories that are incredibly gory and grotesque, but with the most beautiful language and descriptions. And now we aren’t getting a novella, but an actual novel! And it sounds like a gory and grotesque dark academia tale! The Hellebore Technical Institute for the Gifted is an elite school that has a very different kind of student. Namely, incredibly dangerous beings that can cause much violence and chaos, who may not want to be there in the first place. At least, that was Alessa’s experience, having been taken and enrolled against her will and told that Hellebore can offer a new start for hopeless cases. Until graduation night. Because on graduation night it becomes clear that Hellebore’s promises are filled with lies. Sounds like it could be some nasty fun.

Not Just Books: June 2025

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

(We’re posting this one a week early since next week we are devoting our Monday post to a re-cap of ALA 2025!)

Serena’s Picks

Show: “Outlast”

Ever wonder what would happen if you mixed the serious, skilled approach to outdoors survival that is required for “Alone” and mixed it with the social “strategy” trash heap that is “Survivor?” Well boy, oh, boy, do I have the show for you! My husband and I binged this over a few nights, hating it, and ourselves, for every bit of it. This is a show that tries to take itself seriously while also being so incredibly ridiculous that you can’t help but laugh at almost all of the people involved. It’s also a whiplash experience from some of the actual hardships of living in the wild (the cold, for example) and the extreme craziness that is some of these peoples’ “strategy” towards the teamwork portion of it. I can’t really recommend it unless you’re looking for trashy tv. But if you are, this is a perfect example of it!

Video Game: “Mass Effect”

I only got into playing video games fairly regularly in the last ten years or so, so there are several older RPGs (my favorite type) that I haven’t gotten around to. And as I’m in a bit of a lull before my next anticipated release comes out, I decided to try out the Legendary version of “Mass Effect.” I’m still finishing up the first game but am definitely enjoying it. Yes, it shows its age with the repeated layouts for buildings and such, but the main story is compelling and I like a lot of the companion characters. That said, I think the next two games are supposed to be even better, so I’m excited to get through this one and see what comes next in the story.

Movie: “Mission Impossible – The Final Reckoning”

It’s been soooo long since the first part of this movie came out. So long in fact that they dropped the “Part 1/Part 2” bit from the title altogether! But if there’s ever a movie franchise to prioritize seeing in the theaters, it’s these. And this one came through as always! Nonstop action, nonstop stunts! It’s also the first time that Tom Cruise was starting to look a bit older. Not in the quality of his stunt work, mind, just generally. I was also a bit sad to see that the balance between action elements and the other characters felt a bit off. Tom Cruise is great, yes, but what has made this franchise so fun has also come down to the team he works with. And here, there just didn’t seem to be as much time given to them as I would have liked. That said, it was still well worth the ticket price and I’m sure most fans of the series will be happy with it!

Kate’s Picks

TV Show: “Criminal Minds: Evolution”

Man, I never thought that I would still be into this reboot of a procedural that I didn’t REALLY get into when it was on, but lemme tell ya. The moment the first episode of the new season of “Criminal Minds: Evolution” dropped, I made a NIGHT of it. The BAU can’t seem to catch any breaks, given that Elias Voight, aka rampant serial killer Sicarius, was attacked in prison and now has legit amnesia, and they have to help him recover his memories in hopes that he can help THEM catch more serial killers. But since he has NO recollection of how he is or what he’s done, his (seeming) helplessness is making the team feel conflicted. Oh, and J.J. is also going through it when a horrible tragedy hits her family. Is it all a little melodramatic? Yes. Do I care? Not really! Melodrama is my jam, and this show is over the top in its sinisterness but I still find it to be a guilty pleasure watch. I’m not sure what I think about Voight’s sudden memory loss and supposed redemption arc (he’s murdered dozens of people, he can’t be redeemed can he?), but hey, if it gets more Zach Gilford on my screen, I’m not complaining.

TV Show: “King of the Hill”

It’s that time again! That time where I devote one of my non-book highlights to something that I’ve talked about before. But I decided to revisit one of my all time favorite shows “King of the Hill” for a couple reasons. One was that I was trying to stave off a huge anxiety spike like I had last summer, and a comfort show seemed like the perfect reason. Another is that the reboot is coming out in August (I will admit I’m skeptical; I just don’t know if it will hit the same way all these years later, especially with a few cast members no longer with us – see the next point), though I wanted to get in the right mindset. And 3), which is the saddest reason, Jonathan Joss, who voiced one of my favorite characters John Redcorn, was murdered at the start of the month, which is so awful and sad that it just felt right to keep watching. So I’m rewatching. And it’s still great, even if some of it feels bittersweet.

Documentary: “Titan: The OceanGate Submersible Disaster”

The Titan Submersible Disaster happened about two years ago (almost to the date: Serena and I were starting our 2023 ALA trip when it was all going down and we leave for Philadelphia on Thursday for ALAAC25), and I remember being totally enthralled and horrified as it was happening. Because of this I was obviously going to watch a documentary about it, and now “Titan: The OceanGate Submersible Disaster” is out and I jumped right in. This documentary is a pretty good examination of the history of OceanGate, its ambitious (and borderline sociopathic) founder Stockton Gates, and the disaster that claimed multiple lives and captured the world’s attention. I thought it was a solid background that gave a lot of good history and context, while also critiquing not only the capitalistic greed and cost cutting with Gates in charge (as well as a need for fame and his abusive treatment of anyone who would get in his way), but also the people left behind to mourn the deaths of their loved ones. I also liked the way it framed how so many people around the world are still so interested in the Titanic, and how far people will go to get a piece of that fame.

Beach Reads: Summer 2025

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

Back for 2025, here is a list of some more favorite beach reads! “Beach read” is a very fast and loose term for books people read over the beautiful summer months when we really should be outside “doing things” but are instead reading…maybe outside. Some people see these months as an opportunity to slog through long classics (we’re looking at you “Moby Dick”) before the busy-ness of the fall starts up, but for the sake of this list, we’re limiting our choices to fast paced, mostly feel good books (though there’s some obvious leeway here for Kate’s horror tastes!) that could be easily brought along on vacations. So, still a very loose definition, but hey, we had to start somewhere! We will select one title for each of the genres we most read.

Serena’s Picks

Fantasy Title: “The Thirteenth Child” by Erin A. Craig

This book is criminally under-hyped, and I’m not sure why! There is so much to love here! It’s an original fairytale with a lovely romance at its heart, all things that are particularly popular at the moment. What’s more, the god of Death is the main character’s godfather, and we all know how much fantasy readers enjoy characters like that! Beyond this, the story does an incredible job of exploring the morality of “for the good of many” decisions. But for all of its heavy and heart-breaking themes, the swoon-worthy romance and solid fantasy world-building were what really stuck with me and what make it a great pick for a vacation read!

Science Fiction Title: “Full Speed to a Crash Landing” by Beth Revis

Humor! Romance! Tons of action! What more could you want? Oh, also something super quick that you can probably finish up over a solid plane ride? Well, not only is this novella perfect for you, but the entire trilogy of novellas are already out! That said, you by no means need to read them all back to back, and this first book was an incredibly exciting read all on its own. Ava has to be one of the most fun sci-fi leading ladies I’ve read in a long time. She was laugh-out-loud funny but also incredibly smart, never questioning herself in the face of others judgements or opinions. If you’re on the lookout for a sci-fi story that is full of fast-paced action, this is the book for you!

Mystery/Historical Fiction Title: “Murder in Highbury” by Vanessa Kelly

In a change from previous years, I’m combining the mystery and historical fiction categories. Honestly, in the past, it was kind of a coinflip which books ended up under which category, as I almost always read a combination of the both (mystery novels that take place in a historical settings.) And here’s another example of that! I also often feature Jane Austen mysteries/re-imaginings in some way or another, so I’m nothing if not predictable with this choice. The beginning of a new series, this story focuses on Emma Woodhouse (now Emma Knightley) as she works to solve the titular “Murder in Highbury.” The mystery itself was very enjoyable, but I particularly loved all the scenes between Emma and Mr. Knightley. Very swoon-worthy!

Romance Title: “Swordheart” by T. Kingfisher

And now, since I’ve combined my other two genres, I’m going to pivot to including a romance title on this list. Not only is romance a huge genre, but it’s also one that I’ve been reading more and more of over the last few years, so it makes sense to give it a placeholder here. That said, I’m a fantasy reader first and foremost, so in all likelihood, this will often be a romantasy title of some sort. This time, I’m going back to the always great well of T. Kingfisher’s books. She has so many excellent stand-alone fantasy romances that it’s hard to choose just one. But “Swordheart” was just re-released by Bramble this last summer, so it’s bound to be readily available. Familiarity with Kingfishere’s “World of the White Rat” will make this one all the more enjoyable, but it’s also excellent as an entry point. Yes, the romantic interest is the spirit of a sentient sword, but I promise it’s not as weird as it sounds!

Kate’s Picks

Horror Title: “So Thirsty” by Rachel Harrison

I am fully aware that this book actually takes place in a cooler climate, but hey, I figure that a beach read doesn’t have to have a specific setting, just a specific vibe. And the vibe of “So Thirsty” is very much the kind of vibe I want for a beach or vacation read. It’s a little bit soapy, a little bit cheeky, and it has two entertaining main characters who find themselves in a whole lot of trouble when they run afoul a group of eccentric vampires. I definitely devoured this one in a couple of sittings when I read it initially, and not only is it a hoot, it also has some pretty scary moments and a solid vampire mythos to boot. Harrison is such a fun horror author because I feel like she can hit many emotional beats, and this book is a really entertaining pick and will keep you completely hooked.

Thriller Title: “Heart-Shaped Lies” by Elizabeth Agyemang

Love squares! Influencers behaving badly! Girls banding together to clear their names after their shitheel boyfriend is dead and they are all suspects! A murder! “Heart-Shaped Lies” is a propulsive YA thriller that really kept me interested when I picked it up, and it definitely came to mind for this list because, like the pick above, it just feels like the perfect beach read with its breakneck plot, surprising twists, and salacious plot points. It also had a solid murder mystery at its heart, and every perspective character is a suspect and could have reason to want the victim dead. I also just enjoy influencer based stories because there is SO much room for drama, which is something I do enjoy in my stories.

Graphic Novel Title: “Lunar New Year Love Story” by Gene Luen Yang and LeUyen Pham (Ill.)

While I’m sure we all know that Lunar New Year tends to be in winter, I think that a nice charming romance can fit in any time of the year, and sometimes I like to have romance on my vacation book pile because it can read so easily. That isn’t to say that “Lunar New Year Love Story” doesn’t have some serious moments of pathos, as Gene Luen Yang is very good at bringing out all the emotions of his books, but it’s very sweet and hopeful even if it touches on some tough subjects of love, family, and fears of opening up one’s heart to someone else, no matter how wonderful they may seem. Maybe have some tissues for this one with your beach bag.

Non-Fiction Title: “Dinner For Vampires” by Bethany Joy Lenz

I LOVE CULT MEMOIRS! I have not made this a secret by any means on this blog, as we have shared our thoughts on many a cult documentary, most of which were picks by me. Sometimes cult memoirs can be heavy, and while “Dinner For Vampires” does have it’s moments where “One Tree Hill”‘s Lenz was in very difficult situations, it’s also a biting and sometimes humorous look into the experiences she had with a fundamentalist Christian cult that was manipulating her and trying to take over her life (and finances) under guise of piety. Lenz is pretty self aware and candid about her experience, and even though I missed out on the “One Tree Hill” phenomenon (that was more my sister’s thing), it was still a LITTLE nostalgic to boot.

What are some of your favorite beach reads? Let us know in the comments!

Highlights: June 2025

We’re both getting excited for ALA 2025 in Philadelphia! And, while we’re there primarily for the convention itself, you know we both plan on getting in a good amount of personal reading time as well! Alone, in our separate hotel rooms, like true BFF introverts do! Here are a few titles we’re excited to check out this month!

Serena’s Picks

Book: “Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil” by V. E. Schwab

Publication Date: June 10, 2025

Why I’m Interested: V. E. Schwab is one of my favorite modern fantasy authors, so of course I’m looking forward to her new book! I’m particularly excited for this one to see how she tackles vampires. There are so many vampire books out there that I imagine it’s challenging to find a way to approach the topic from a new angle. On the other hand, I’m a bit concerned that this book might be a bit too similar to “The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue,” both focusing on long-lived beings and the challenges of staying “in the world” when you’re so disconnected from time and death. That said, I did enjoy “Addie LaRue,” so it may all work out in the end anyways!

Book: “The Rushworth Family Plot” by Claudia Gray

Publication Date: June 17, 2025

Why I’m Interested: This is another obvious pick for the month! Claudia Gray has been hitting every one of these books out of the park, and at this point, I’d be foolish to expect anything different. It’s always such a relief to be able to go into a book know that it will be good, and that’s what we have here. Plus, I’m excited to see how she handles a plot that is more closely tied to the characters from “Mansfield Park.” Not only is Edmund and Fanny’s relationship one of the more challenging ones to depict for modern audiences, but there are also several challenging topics, such as slavery and plantation wealth, that will likely be covered. Beyond that, I’m itching to see how Mr. Darcy and Miss Tilney’s fraught relationship progresses! The last book left off with their pesky fathers standing in the way of their happy union!

Book: “A Legionnaire’s Guide to Love and Peace” by Emily Strukskie

Publication Date: June 24, 2025

Why I’m Interested: I’ve heard next to no hype about this book up to this point, and even without having read it at this point, I feel like that’s a damn shame! The romantasy genre is desperately in need of fresh material and this book, with its focus on common soldiers with no special abilities (or dragons!) to speak of and their slow-burn friends-to-lovers romance, seems like the perfect fix! Of course, it also has to be good, but I have high hopes already! I, too, enjoy an enemies-to-lovers love story, but please, for the love of everything, can we have some variation in our fantasy romance stories??

Kate’s Picks

Book: “Bald-Faced Liar” by Victoria Helen Stone

Publication Date: June 17, 2025

Why I’m Interested: I don’t know why I insist on touching the hot stove of the huge triggering topic that is The Satanic Panic, but whenever a book about this ludicrous and highly maddening time comes out, I have to read it. So of course “Bald-Faced Liar” caught my eye! Elizabeth May is a traveling nurse who has been trying to run from her past as a witness to a high profile trial that involved the Satanic Panic, especially since she was revealed to be a liar who put innocent people in prison. Now she has settled down in Santa Cruz, still hiding, still planning to move on. But then someone starts stalking her, someone who may be eager to expose her identity, and to punish her for what she did. Sounds devilishly twisty.

Book: “Atmosphere” by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Publication Date: June 3, 2025

Why I’m Interested: I have loved every Taylor Jenkins Reid book that I have read, and while this may not end up being reviewed on the blog as it’s outside my genres (though if I love it enough I may make an exception), “Atmosphere” is high, high, HIGH on my anticipated titles for the year. Joan Goodwin is one of the women who has been selected to be a part of the NASA Shuttle Program of the 1980s, fulfilling a dream that seemed impossible until she was given the position. And when she meets Vanessa Ford, an aeronautical engineer who is a skilled pilot to boot, she realizes that not only could she potentially help make history, she could also perhaps find a kindred spirit. If Reid can do for space flight what she has done for 1970s rock bands, dysfunctional families, and tennis players, this will surely be a winner of a read.

Book: “With A Vengeance” by Riley Sager

Publication Date: June 10, 2025

Why I’m Interested: I haven’t missed a Riley Sager book yet and I don’t intend on doing it now! And besides, it wouldn’t be summer time if I didn’t have a Sager book at the ready. And this one sounds a little different. Anna has been plotting revenge against those who wronged her family for years, and her plan has all led to luring her targets onto a train in hopes of turning them all in after she makes them confess to their crimes. But then someone else commits a murder against one of her targets, and that just won’t do. Because SHE is the one who gets to get her revenge, not someone else! So now she has to figure out who wants them dead, and how she can save them… for now. Always nice to have Sager back in my reading rotation!