The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna 4/5 Stars I liked a lot about this book. The witch rules (and curses) in this particular world are unique and well thought out. There’s a full cast of characters and they’re all distinct enough to stand out and on their own. I really enjoyed reading it and plan to read the next one but it didn’t “wow” me in a way that has me giving it high praise and…
The Alchemy of Flowers by Laura Resau 4/5 StarsI really like all of the tidbits about France and the French language in this book. The idea of a secret garden in France is an absolute dream. I love how this garden was described, the individual living spaces, the intricacies of their daily lives. One thing that was hard for me to believe is how easily the French language came back to Eloise after last using it fifteen years earlier in…
A Curse Carved in Bone (Saga of the Unfated #2) by Danielle L. Jensen 3/5 StarsUnfortunately I was underwhelmed by this one, as well as my reread of A Fate Inked in Blood in preparation for the sequel. I absolutely loved the first book when it came out and I don’t know why I didn’t like it as much the second time around. This one felt like Freya was sulking and bratty for most of the book. I found her…
Rebel Witch by Kristen Ciccarelli 5/5 StarsI love this book and I love that it is part of a duology. Series can drag on and on these days and I really appreciate a short and sweet story. One can’t really say much about subsequent books without giving too much away but just know that what I loved about the first one is the same for this one. The writing, the world, the craftiness of the people who are drawn to…
Cats of Rome is a cute book. I had no idea there were so many stray cat colonies in Rome so it was informative. The photography is okay and what has let me down a bit; there are several great photos but most of them leave something to be desired, usually in the way of composition. I looked up this photographer and her other photos are stunning so this could be an issue of just the ARC file having low-quality…
The Gorgon’s Fury (Tales of Newel and Doren #1) by Brandon Mull 5/5 StarsI’ve been an avid reader of Brandon Mull’s since probably 2007 or 2008 and I am just ecstatic that in 2025 we are still getting more books in the Fablehaven world. The Gorgon’s Fury is the first book in a new series based on everyone’s two favorite Fablehaven satyrs, Newel and Doren. I had a difficult time getting into the book because the first chapter gives a…
A Sea of Unspoken Things by Adrienne Young 4/5 StarsA few weeks out from reading this one, it feels like a beach read to me. I did enjoy reading it and love the atmosphere of the whole book, but it is a forgettable one. I had to read the synopsis to begin to remember what the book was about. Be Ready When the Luck Happens by Ina Garten 3/5 StarsThis is not one that I would have picked up on…
I do love a cozy mystery and this one is no exception. It has a strong sense of place and a large cast of characters who I found were very distinguished from each other, making it easy to keep everyone straight. Each character felt real and dynamic. Nora Breen is my first main character that was a former nun and I enjoyed the speculation on what challenges someone becoming a member of the public after so many decades would encounter….
Upon a Starlit Tide by Kell Woods 5/5 StarsWhat a fantastic story. Kell Woods must be a sea maid herself to have created such a tale. I don’t love a character who gives and gives and gives, and Luce is mostly that, trying to give everyone around her the benefit of the doubt. But as her story goes on she gets stronger and stronger and finds herself in the end (I don’t consider this a spoiler). The Bretagne setting is…
We Shall Be Monsters by Alyssa Wees 4/5 StarsA dark magical realism fairy tale, We Shall Be Monsters made me feel that if only I had a forest at the edge of my yard, these creatures would be waiting for me. I liked this story, this world, and I liked that there was adventure as well as deep dark soul searching. I would have liked to see a little more character development and a little more of the protagonists proving…