This book is my pic for the October prompt of my 2025 Book Challenge: Something Witchy. To see all the prompts for the challenge and a list of recommeThis book is my pic for the October prompt of my 2025 Book Challenge: Something Witchy. To see all the prompts for the challenge and a list of recommended titles for each month, click here.
The Witch of Shadows took a while to find its rhythm, and I found myself struggling to stay engaged at first. Part of that might be on me. There was quite a gap between reading this and the previous book, and the lack of recap made it tricky to reorient myself in the story. Once the plot finally picked up, though, it became much harder to put down. The pacing still had its ups and downs, but there were definitely moments that pulled me back in.
Unfortunately, the ending felt a bit anticlimactic and left me unsatisfied. Between the uneven pacing and the underwhelming conclusion, this installment wasn’t my favorite in the series. I’m not sure yet if the buildup here is enough to carry me into the next book, but we’ll see.
-------------
I hope you enjoyed this review! This review and many more appear on my blog, Hooks, Books, & Wanderlust, where you'll find book reviews, lists, crochet tutorials & patterns, as well as camping, hiking and travel adventures.
I'd probably actually rate this 3.5 but wasn't moved enough to round up for GR.
I enjoyed the premise and the tropes. I found Seth's sarcasm humorous aI'd probably actually rate this 3.5 but wasn't moved enough to round up for GR.
I enjoyed the premise and the tropes. I found Seth's sarcasm humorous and there were some wonderfully written lines in the book. All the elements were there, but they just felt a little flat and some of the plot left me wanting more out of it (David) and I would have loved a little more history from a 200 year old ghost. Still, it was an easy and enjoyable read....more
A second chance romance that doesn’t shy away from the problems that resulting in needing a second chance. This book pulled no punches. It was raw andA second chance romance that doesn’t shy away from the problems that resulting in needing a second chance. This book pulled no punches. It was raw and emotional and real. If divorce and cheating (part of the backstory) are triggers for you like they are for me, this might not be for you or maybe it could be cathartic, which it was for me. Really cementing this author as one to read for me....more
After the last book I read for this month's 2025 Book Challenge prompt: Adapted to the Screen, I was hoping for a spot of redemption with this belovedAfter the last book I read for this month's 2025 Book Challenge prompt: Adapted to the Screen, I was hoping for a spot of redemption with this beloved classic. I loved the movie and it holds a special place in my heart and I will absolutely be seeing the next one when it comes out, but this is one of those rare instances when the movie was absolutely better than the book.
Even borrowing from the mood set in the movie as I listened to this one, I just didn't get the same vibe. The writing and descriptions felt messy and all over the place. It was difficult keeping track of whose voice we were reading when the scenes changed from Gillian to Antonia to Kylie to Sally's perspectives in a single paragraph. But probably the worst infraction is that there was no tension, no eerie mood pervading this story.
It was a quick listen and I'm glad I finally have this one under my belt, but it just wasn't for me.
-------------
I hope you enjoyed this review! This review and many more appear on my blog, Hooks, Books, & Wanderlust, where you'll find book reviews, lists, crochet tutorials & patterns, as well as camping, hiking and travel adventures.
This month's prompt for my 2025 book challenge is Adapted for the Screen. While I have seen the first few seasons of the Bridgerton Netflix series, I This month's prompt for my 2025 book challenge is Adapted for the Screen. While I have seen the first few seasons of the Bridgerton Netflix series, I never read the books, so I chose this book as my pick for the challenge this month. After all, the Netflix series was so fun, I assumed it would be an easy choice.
I did really enjoy most of this. It's an uncomplicated story focused more on witty banter than anything, though Simon's past does provide some depth to the story. I enjoyed the relationship between Daphne and her older brothers and her mother. I missed seeing more of Eloise and Penelope. For characters that eventually get their own stories, I thought there would be more characterization. But there was one scene that just ruined an otherwise delightful experience for me and I'm surprised not only by its presence in the story but by the way it was framed.
I'm going to spoiler tag the next bit because it does give away bits of the story, but I also feel this story needs a couple trigger warnings - and not in a good way. TW: dubious consent and forced procreation.
(view spoiler)[Daphne has come from a large and loving family. It is only natural that she'd want a large family of her own. She feels betrayed and I don't blame her there, though she did sign on to the marriage under the assumption that there would be no children. She was mislead about the how of it, but the end result was the same. It's all a bit murky here on who may have the moral high ground up until the scene in question.
Regardless of how betrayed she felt, those feelings don't justify the way Daphne took advantage of Simon's inebriated state to force him into possibly impregnating her. This scene was dubious consent at best and rape at worst. Was his body willing? Yes. Would he have wanted to risk pregnancy? No. Did he express alarm at the moment in question? Yes. Did she concede to his choice? No. She forced the issue. While this scene alone was enough to turn me off of this book, the way it was framed after the fact made it worse. Simon wasn't upset about her taking away his choice. He was more upset that she'd reduced him to stammering. Really?? THAT's what you're upset about? Moreover, the continuing story seemed to justify Daphne's actions. (hide spoiler)]
I understand that this was written two decades ago about a time period two centuries prior but still. Ew. This scene ruined the whole book for me.
-------------
I hope you enjoyed this review! This review and many more appear on my blog, Hooks, Books, & Wanderlust, where you'll find book reviews, lists, crochet tutorials & patterns, as well as camping, hiking and travel adventures.
For a story about two terminal patients in a hospital, this book is full of life, as well as friendship and love. I always love a good character studyFor a story about two terminal patients in a hospital, this book is full of life, as well as friendship and love. I always love a good character study and that is what we get with Lenni, a 17-year-old with a terminal illness, and Margot, an 83-year-old with a serious heart condition. The two become friends in an art therapy class and, discovering that they have lived 100 years between them, decide to paint a picture for each year they’ve lived.
Lenni and Margot complement each other so perfectly. They are both feisty and daring, and have something to teach one another. Margot tells her life story to Lenni so that Lenni can live vicariously, and Lenni gives Margot the courage she needs to reach for what she most wants, to keep living for both of them.
I laughed, I cried, then I cried some more. It is a very sad book, but for all of that, I took much joy from the story. It just goes to show you that no matter how short or long your life, there’s time to live it well.
-------------
I hope you enjoyed this review! This review and many more appear on my blog, Hooks, Books, & Wanderlust, where you'll find book reviews, lists, crochet tutorials & patterns, as well as camping, hiking and travel adventures.
Another 5 star read from Amy Harmon - my third in a row! Each of her books brings out strong feelings when I read them. Her characters are always dariAnother 5 star read from Amy Harmon - my third in a row! Each of her books brings out strong feelings when I read them. Her characters are always daring and strong with such depth. Her books always grab me by the heartstrings and this one was no different. Deborah Samson was a real life historical figure we weren’t taught about in history class. Harmon does a wonderful job positing what her experiences looked like while telling an unforgettable tale....more
3.25 stars This is one of those that I liked the start of the book better than the rest. I was really enjoying the story, really wrapped up in the firs3.25 stars This is one of those that I liked the start of the book better than the rest. I was really enjoying the story, really wrapped up in the first 40ish% of this book, but somewhere around the middle, it dragged. I found myself continually checking my progress only to notice the needle hardly moved at all. Still, I pushed through and found the ending to be okay. I enjoyed the lit references and the dark academia setting, though the world building wasn't what I expected. I wanted more. Also, I felt the characters to be incredibly childish and OTT with their responses to conflict. I mean, I know they're teens and tend to be more self-centered and less self-aware, but this went to the extreme. Overall, I think YA dark academia lovers will like it well enough and it's not a whole series commitment, so that's nice....more
I find myself on the fence about whether this was a fantastic book or only fooling me into thinking it is.
On one hand, it’s incredibly atmosp3.5 stars
I find myself on the fence about whether this was a fantastic book or only fooling me into thinking it is.
On one hand, it’s incredibly atmospheric and deeply, tragically romantic in an Emily Brönte kind of way, tortured love and all that. I love the reincarnation aspect and the idea that these souls are drawn together by their enduring love life after life. Add in the tragedy that this love always ends in death and I was getting The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue crossed with The Unmaking of June Farrow with a dash of Divine Rivals vibes. I was really excited about it.
As the book continued on, however, I found myself getting slightly bored at the repetitiveness of the glimpses of their previous lives. I understand that they were meant to be a device to parse out more breadcrumbs of the story, but I wonder if the same couldn’t have been achieved with fewer of these glimpses. Perhaps Evelyn could have shared memories in the 2022 timeline that accomplished the same thing.
Another thing I admired is that the book illustrates the “love is love” concept, that it’s about loving the truth of a person and not just what their outer shell presents to the world. She addresses this in the conversation when Arden asks Evelyn if she ever preferred one gender over another. But then on the other hand, it felt conforming to traditional gendering at times. I don’t know, I can’t put my finger on it. I could be off base here.
I loved how deep and meaningful the conversations between Evelyn and Arden could be, however brief, like the exploration of different beliefs on what happens after death according to other religions. But on the other hand, many of their conversations felt stilted and one-sided as Arden tries to both keep his distance emotionally and keeps the truth of why they are in this cycle. The frequency of these felt tired as the book progressed.
And while I was wrapped up in the idea of this soul-bonding, fated love at the beginning, I didn’t feel like all of the glimpses back into past lives established that love as sufficiently as I’d have liked and didn’t sustain that feeling throughout the rest of the story.
Ultimately, I feel like there was more that could have been done with the glimpses into the past lives to both condense the story and establish the connection between the characters more. It had a strong start, beautiful writing, incredible atmosphere, and an interesting conclusion, but altogether ended up being a bit disappointing....more
Wow! This book isn't even published yet and already I can't wait for the sequel. I need more, stat! I love different mythologies and I feel like NorseWow! This book isn't even published yet and already I can't wait for the sequel. I need more, stat! I love different mythologies and I feel like Norse mythology is overlooked a lot in the fantasy genre as the foundation for a magical system, so when I saw the description for this, I knew I had to read it for that alone and I was not disappointed.
If I were to summarize this book in three songs, they would be Bring Me to Life by Evanescence, Decode by Paramore, and I Hate Everything About You by Three Days Grace. Noyes doesn't pull any punches and the ending is going to leave me with a major book hangover.
Yes, we've got another shadow daddy on the scene, but the entire magical world is structured so differently than a lot of what I've seen in other YA Romantasy that I'm letting it slide. Elias is the epitome of morally gray, leaning heavier on the darker charcoal side of the spectrum. It took a little bit for Charlie to come off the page for me, but we got there in the end.
The twists are twisty, the burn is slow, the characters are fun and loveable, especially the vatte. There's tension, mystery, magic, and adventure. Such a fun ride!
Thank you Wednesday Books and NetGalley for an eARC of this title in exchange for my honest opinion.
-------------
I hope you enjoyed this review! This review and many more appear on my blog, Hooks, Books, & Wanderlust, where you'll find book reviews, lists, crochet tutorials & patterns, as well as camping, hiking and travel adventures.
I was blown away by this book. My mom recommended it to me and while she and I have similar taste in books, I tend to be a bit more crit4.5 rounded up
I was blown away by this book. My mom recommended it to me and while she and I have similar taste in books, I tend to be a bit more critical in what I like and don't, so I was going into this expecting it to be decent but not necessarily that it would blow me away.
I chose this book for June's travel prompt for my book challenge, seeing as it takes place in Portugal. I was expecting a fast-paced thriller, and it was that, but it was so much more.
I think what blew me away the most wasn't the corrupt politicians, the good ol' boy mentality or the elite entitlement on clear display here but the fact that such a story, such content, was written in a woman's POV by a man. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying men can't write women well, but let's be honest, it's rare. It's not their fault when the world caters to men and women have to learn to understand men better than men would ever have to understand women in order to live in that world. They've been conditioned not to need to expend the effort and relatively few go to the effort to do so, so it is what it is.
I'm hiding the next bit as a spoiler because once you know this part, while not especially spoilery, it may prevent the reader from going into the story the way the author intended.
(view spoiler)[What astounded me was the emotional accuracy and depth shown by the author when writing about sexual assault and rape. He has tremendous sympathy and compassion and writes with authority on the subject. Maybe he knows and cares for someone who has experienced SA, or maybe he just has a profound ability to completely empathize with women who have gone through it. Either way, it comes across very realistic and resonated with me. Add to this the political parallel between this story and the current U.S. President and I really wish we'd had a similar ending in reality as we did in fiction. (hide spoiler)]
It's jumps back and forth between present a flashbacks with a lot of characters to keep track of. It was also a bit predictable, but I still really enjoyed the story and would recommend.
-------------
I hope you enjoyed this review! This review and many more appear on my blog, Hooks, Books, & Wanderlust, where you'll find book reviews, lists, crochet tutorials & patterns, as well as camping, hiking and travel adventures.
Wow, I can already feel the book hangover starting after finishing this one minutes ago. If you enjoyed the Letters of Enchantment duology (Divine RivWow, I can already feel the book hangover starting after finishing this one minutes ago. If you enjoyed the Letters of Enchantment duology (Divine Rivals), you’ll love this companion novel! You don’t need to have read LOE to read this book. Though it is set in the same world, it takes place before the time period of that duo, exploring the mythology of that world in more detail. It was fun seeing little breadcrumbs in this story dropped like Easter eggs for people who have read the LOE duo, though.
This book was on the longer side at 544 pages, but with the exception of the first 15%, it moved at a good clip. All I wanted to do was devour this book. As I was reading, I found myself checking my progress, thinking I had been reading this book for so long that I surely must be coming up on the end, and I was dreading it. Then I would look and realize I still had more to go and the story, thankfully, was not over yet.
Gah, this book! I loved it so much!
Honestly, I liked this book better than LOE. I loved how Ross explored what it must have been like to be a god and grow up amidst the deadly games gods play, never knowing if someone is a true ally or waiting to take their shot, never knowing is someone loves you or feels any real affection for you or if they are using you for their own purposes. I loved the bargaining, the cunning of the gods and their choice of whether to pursue for gain or not, I loved Matilda and Bade’s relationship contrasted with Matilda and Thile’s, and I loved the wise Matriarchs and their knowing ways. I loved watching Matilda navigate this ever changing landscape all while coming into her power and growing, both as a woman and as a god.
The world-building is as we would expect from Ross, borrowing elements of historic settings we readers would be familiar with and peppering it with the fantastical world of the Skywards, the Underlings, and the Wastes. Those fantastical places were described so well I could see them clearly in my mind. The romance is so good, pure. There’s tension in the mortal/immortal pairing, the forced separation as well as forced proximity without any drama of cheating or misunderstanding. It’s simply about trust, patience, and love.
It was such a beautiful story full of love, magic and myth! I would love to see another novel about Bade and Adria and their story.
-------------
I hope you enjoyed this review! This review and many more appear on my blog, Hooks, Books, & Wanderlust, where you'll find book reviews, lists, crochet tutorials & patterns, as well as camping, hiking and travel adventures.
This is my first book by Elle McNicoll and I really enjoyed it! I am a big fan of hidden disability stories getting attention and as a neurospicy womaThis is my first book by Elle McNicoll and I really enjoyed it! I am a big fan of hidden disability stories getting attention and as a neurospicy woman myself (ADHD), I related to a lot of what the autistic characters in this book experienced. I don't know if the author herself is autistic or not, but she writes about it with kindness and gentleness in a way that also helps to explain some of autism's nuance to neurotypicals.
From a genre perspective, this is a small town, enemies to lovers epistolary romance and the You've Got Mail comparison in the book's blurb was on point, though I'd hesitate to call this a romcom...romance, yes, comedy, not so much. I loved the bookish setting, the majority of the story centered around a book store and a book festival. While I haven't read any of the author's previous work, there is a cameo from the characters in Some Like It Cold, but I didn't feel like I needed to have read that first to enjoy this, it's completely standalone. I really loved Jonah and found him very endearing and I respected the way Allegra stood up to bullies and set boundaries, something this people-pleaser always struggled with.
There were a couple things I found a bit off-putting but not enough to prevent me from appreciating the story. First, I felt like the author went a little too on-the-nose with some of her autism portrayal. Second, the swear words used in dialogue toward the end of the book felt incongruous with the characters as they hadn't been using them all along and the overall feel of the book was more wholesome. I'm no stranger to swearing, so the words themselves didn't bother me, but more the fact that they didn't feel authentic to the characters. Lastly, this book leans on the miscommunication trope, which I typically hate. While I found it as frustrating as ever in this book, it also felt authentic to the characters due to rejection sensitivity common in neurodivergent people.
Quick note regarding the cover, since this is an eARC. I saw that there were two different covers online for this title and it looks like the primary contender is this almost cubist rendering of a couple embracing versus the more common cartoon drawing that's more in line with the author's other book covers. If I had to choose my favorite, it would be the cartoon drawing. It's more in line with the author's other titles, as I said, but also more common to the romance genre. I'm not sure if I saw the other cover in the store that I would pick it up to read, and that would be sad because it's a great story.
Ultimately, the romance was sweet and rewarding, the story was pretty wholesome, spice level was at a 2 (on page but vague), and the autism rep was well done and will hopefully build empathy in neurotypical readers of the book. Miscommunication is a necessary element to telling this story but it was a little OTT at times, but I still enjoyed the story.
-------------
I hope you enjoyed this review! This review and many more appear on my blog, Hooks, Books, & Wanderlust, where you'll find book reviews, lists, crochet tutorials & patterns, as well as camping, hiking and travel adventures.
I love a good atmospheric Appalachian setting and The Witch’s Orchard delivers on it. Mystery, myths, and mysticism, what more could you ask for?
I reaI love a good atmospheric Appalachian setting and The Witch’s Orchard delivers on it. Mystery, myths, and mysticism, what more could you ask for?
I really liked Annie as a character. Former military, private detective, tough, she’s like a female Reacher. Some of her dialogue came off a little flat at times, but I still really like her. It feels like this may be the start of a series featuring Annie, and I hope it is. There definitely feels like there’s more to her story.
The mystery kept me guessing. Just when I thought I knew who it was, there’d be another breadcrumb dropped and I’d change to someone else. Some of the events that took place felt a little OTT for the scope of a week in this small town, but I was able to suspend reality enough to enjoy this procedural.
Triggers: kidnapping, alluded to SA
Thank you Minotaur for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.
-------------
I hope you enjoyed this review! This review and many more appear on my blog, Hooks, Books, & Wanderlust, where you'll find book reviews, lists, crochet tutorials & patterns, as well as camping, hiking and travel adventures.
The Waves is unlike anything I’ve read before. The book feels incredibly forward-thinking giving us access to the characters’ inner thoughts through lThe Waves is unlike anything I’ve read before. The book feels incredibly forward-thinking giving us access to the characters’ inner thoughts through long prosaic soliloquies. It is incredibly illuminating, showing how we see ourselves, how we imagine others see us, and how those perceptions shape who we are in any given moment. It also shows us how we hide who we are from ourselves by the misappropriation of importance on things that don’t matter or by the lies we tell ourselves. Reading it made me reflect on my own sense of identity, how I never feel like anyone fully knows me, and how I’m not sure I fully know myself either. Maybe who we are really does shift depending on the people around us, to an extent. Following these characters through their entire lives really shows too how age and experience can distill us down to the truest versions of ourselves.
As a piece of literature, it’s phenomenal. Woolf’s style deserves all the praise it gets. But I’ll admit I struggled with it, especially since I listened to the audiobook. Without visual breaks between the different voices, I often found it hard to keep track of which character was speaking. I suspect the book might be easier to follow on the page, though I’m not sure I would have made it through without the audio version pushing me along.
In the end, The Waves feels less like a story to follow and more like an immersion in the shifting currents of human thought and identity. It resists traditional storytelling, offering instead a meditation on how identities form, dissolve, and reform over time. It’s challenging, but it lingers with you, and I’m glad I read it....more
"Nobody can take care of you the way you need to take care of yourself."
This is one of those books that I'm happy to report lives up to the hype!
"Nobody can take care of you the way you need to take care of yourself."
This is one of those books that I'm happy to report lives up to the hype! I was pulled in immediately and the story never loosed its grip. It's been a while since I have been this sucked into a story, but i binged almost the entire audiobook in a single day, getting unreasonably angry at any interruptions.
Phoebe is a 40-something divorcee whose inability to have a baby led to the collapse of her marriage when her husband steps out on her. Her thoughts and feelings are so relatable, maybe not exactly to the extreme that she has gone to, but prevalent nonetheless. For that reason, because it was so easy to step into Phoebe's head, the beginning of this book was very hard to read and very emotional. However, upon meeting a group of strangers staying at the same hotel for a wedding and those characters' penchant for spilling their deepest darkest truths to her as a complete stranger, Phoebe begins to see the nuance to life again.
I live in St Louis, so it was fun seeing those references in the story. I also found the audio narration to give depth to the story--the narrator did a fantastic job. There are a lot of characters to keep track of and trying to keep up with each individual story could be hard to keep straight. However, seeing how everything is linked together in (fairly predictable) ways unknown to the characters until it all comes full circle was fascinating to me.
The only weird thing in this book was the kinks so many of the characters tended to share, which honestly was unexpected and felt incongruous but also exactly perfect for the story and funny at times too--a true dichotomy to be sure. LOL.
This is a story about being brave. Brave enough to be completely and unapologetically yourself and to stop trying to conform to others' expectations. Brave enough to be honest with yourself about what you want and to ask for it. Brave enough to let go of the shame and negative emotions we put on ourselves as we struggle to live up to what we think others want of us. It's got some heavy topics but has bits of humor sprinkled in throughout to help lighten the story. This story is beautiful, tender, full of hope and possibility, and there is wisdom to be gained if we are brave enough to apply that wisdom to our own lives. Highly recommend.
TW: Depression, death of a spouse and parents (off page), suicide, cheating spouse...more
Thank you Celadon Books for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
They say we are all fools in love, but I think Evie and Theo take it Thank you Celadon Books for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
They say we are all fools in love, but I think Evie and Theo take it to the next level in this book.
I wanted to like this book but honestly, it felt like a chore. The concept sounded believable and a great way to introduce the friends to lovers trope. This book has all the makings of a book up there with Emily Henry or Katherine Center. There’s humor, spice, trauma, and emotional baggage getting in the way of the two being together. That said, all of that just fell really flat for me.
I was never quite able to care about the characters. I liked that there was chronic illness rep in the book, as well as trauma rep, but she was getting in her own way so much, not achieving much in her character arc until the last 25%, it drove me nuts. Also, both of these things are used as her excuses at the end but only the trauma was played up to be believable. Maybe if it would have been more equally built between each, I would have believed it more.
My other problem with this book was it was way too long. It was repetitive in several different ways and I found myself skimming after about 50%. I felt like it could have been reduced by 100 pages easily. I was close to DNFing, but I was mildly curious how it would end, so I skimmed. I do not feel like I missed anything…nothing important anyway.
I would probably only rate this 1 star, but I’m opting for 2 stars since this is the author’s adult debut and it’s possible I was in the wrong mood for this book so maybe I’m being overly critical. However, I also feel that even so, good books will grab your attention and hold it. This just wasn’t for me....more
This is such a beautifully written book, as we have come to expect from Young. She expertly weaves together a story rich in setting, touched by magic,This is such a beautifully written book, as we have come to expect from Young. She expertly weaves together a story rich in setting, touched by magic, and steeped in mystery. I thought it was interesting how the author took the idea of twin telepathy and made it into something more. I loved how the woods were almost another character in the story as well, as she’s done before.
While the story is a slow burn, it has a steady build that keeps the reader enthralled as the story unfolds. I thought the portrait of grief and guilt in this book was particularly well done and made for quite an emotional read. The book also touches on small town dynamics and how far we go to protect our own.
It was a poignant tale of love and loss, grief and guilt and ultimately healing. This book just further cements Young as an author to read every time she publishes....more
Loading...
