Accomplishments of the Duke's Daughter, Vol. 4 by Reia; Hazuki Futaba

Accomplishments of the Duke's Daughter, Vol. 4 by Reia; Hazuki Futaba

My Rating: ★★★★

Now that Iris and the duchy are back in the green, she’s ready to prepare for future disasters starting with preparing for potential floods. Unfortunately for her, the second prince’s camp is forging full speed ahead, especially once it looks like the king is not long in this world. Just when Iris thinks she’s prepared for anything, she receives a marriage proposal from an opposing kingdom and bad news comes her way…

I’ve been enjoying this series a lot, but I have been wondering if Iris was ever going to deal with the fact that she was reincarnated into a video game. I was glad to see she sort of deals with it this time around. It wasn’t anything deep, which I expected, but I’m glad it finally happened since it’s something I keep thinking about as I get deeper into the series.

A portion of this book was a little iffy because it focuses so much on Iris working and introducing new things to her duchy. The fact that every new thing she introduces goes super well is starting to get old, so I’m hoping to see at least one new system she brings forth get some pushback and/or just not go well in the future.

That said, there was a ton of character development for some characters and that was super exciting. It was also great to finally see the first and second prince’s factions finally fully face off. Plus, that cliffhanger was something else. I’d hate to see Iris of all people sit down and marry someone else instead of the person she’s in love with, but her reasons for being resigned to her fate also make complete sense. I guess we’ll see what happens! Hopefully, Dean will get it together and fight for her but we shall see.

Mushishi Collector's Edition 1 by Yuki Urushibara

Mushishi Collector's Edition 1 by Yuki Urushibara

My Rating: ★★★★★

I received a copy from Kodansha Comics through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Ginko is a traveling Mushishi who can never stay in one place too long because he’ll attract the very mushi he helps people deal with. The mushi exists somewhere between the living and the dead, and not everyone can see them, but he knows what to do once he’s looked into the situation. Along the way, he meets a variety of people he finds who are being affected by the mushi, including other Mushishis.

I’ve read Yuki Urushibara’s work before and really enjoyed it, so I was excited to get a chance to start this series. The story is absolutely wonderful. We follow Ginko on his adventures and see him helping several people, including those who don’t necessarily want his help. Along the way, we slowly begin to learn about Ginko and his life along with the characters he’s helping.

If you’re looking for a super mellow series, this might be up your alley. It’s a pretty slow burn, but we get a peek into the lives of those Ginko helps and get a little attached to some of them before it’s time for him to move on. The artwork is beautiful as well, so I really enjoyed going through the ups and downs with the characters. I’m looking forward to seeing what’s in store for Ginko along with what characters and different types of mushi we’ll see along the way.

Of Swamp & Sea, Vol. 2 by Mia Jay Boulton; Laurel Boulton

Of Swamp & Sea, Vol. 2 by Mia Jay Boulton; Laurel Boulton

My Rating: ★★★★★

I received a copy from 23rd St. through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

After Mercy Gray Harding accidentally got possessed by the mist wolf that killed her father, things have gotten crazy. She has to leave home and never come back, and now that she has feelings for Jonah, she’s not entirely sure going back is something she wants to do. Together, they’re on a mission to get the wolf mist’s spirit out of her, but what if Mercy isn’t entirely sure that’s what she wants anymore? If only Jonah would stop insisting to lead a lonely life until the mystery behind his supernatural eye catches up to him…

I was so excited to start the second volume of this series. We’re back to following Mercy and her monster hunting friend, Jonah. This time around, we got some solid backstory on Jonah, which I was super interested in. Plus, it’s clear the two of them have feelings for each other, but Jonah is the stubborn party here. Though, I guess I don’t blame him once we learn about The Visitor and how he’s connected to it.

That said, we got to meet a new cast of characters and slowly set up the next volume in the process. I really enjoyed the group of traveling musicians they met. While I doubt we’ll see them again, it’ll be interesting to see if they pop up again, especially after the way things turned out. I also loved meeting Jonah’s old friend and getting confirmation on something I suspected might happen when I read the first volume.

All in all, I really enjoyed this book and seeing the character growth that occurred. The artwork was stunning as always, and I really enjoyed the concept art at the end. I’m really enjoying this series, and now that it’s really picking up speed, I’m even more excited for the next volume than I predicted I’d be!

Murder on the Marlow Belle (The Marlow Murder Club #4) by Robert Thorogood

 

Murder on the Marlow Belle by Robert Thorogood

My Rating: ★★★★

I received a copy from Poisoned Pen Press through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Judith was just minding her own business when Verity Beresford approached her about her missing husband, Oliver. Unfortunately, Oliver washed ashore shortly after, so of course Judith is on the hunt for the killer with her fellow crime busting friends. Along the way, Suzie claims there’s a prophecy about Judith, and Tanika may be out of a job if they get busted investigating. What will these friends do?

I enjoyed the first two books in the series, but the third installment was a total dud. However, I wanted to read this book because I was determined to give this series a chance because it wasn’t a series destroying book. If you were also disappointed in the third installment, I encourage you to pick this up because it’s back to being the same series we all know and love. I especially love that Suzie came in with a so-called prophecy after giving herself a Tarot reading, which was absolutely hilarious.

All in all, I found this to be a fun read. I enjoyed the murder mystery even though the real killer seemed somewhat random in the grand scheme of things. I enjoyed seeing Becks figuring out how to deal with not liking her daughter’s boyfriend. I grew to dislike Judith in the last book and now she’s back to being a character I enjoy. Lizzie Jenkins, the big actress who returned to Marlow, was an interesting character that I almost wish we saw more of. Plus, Judith met her match during the investigation, and that was extremely enjoyable to see play out. I’m excited to read the next book!

Accomplishments of the Duke's Daughter, Vol. 3 by Reia; Hazuki Futaba

 

Accomplishments of the Duke's Daughter, Vol. 3 by Reia; Hazuki Futaba

My Rating: ★★★★

Iris has come out on the other side of every threat to her wellbeing with the help of her family and those she trusts most. Now she faces a few new threats, and one of her closest friends and personal guards asks a question not even she expected. Is Iris truly ready to defend the duchy with everything she has? It’s something she has to think about while she faces the fact that she’s in love with Dean and that someone is plotting something right under her nose…

This time around, we see the aftermath of Iris overcoming being excommunicated. It’s open season on her, but between her own abilities and the people she trusts most at her back, she’s not one who will easily be taken down. This was a fun read, but I think my favorite parts ended up being when we see a different person’s perspective. I do think Dida’s perspective was ultimately lacking, but I still enjoyed seeing it.

Overall, this was a good read, but the ending rolled through so quickly that it was a little short on the details in some areas. I was hoping for more details there, but it is what it is. All in all, I’m excited to pick up the next book and see where we go next. We got a smidge past where the seventh volume of the manga adaptation left off, so I’m excited to see where Iris and company go next. I’m also hoping that we’ll start to rotate perspectives more often as well as seeing if there’s anyone else reincarnated into this world.

I Lived an Honest Life Only to Have My Fiancé Betray Me, So in My New Life I'll Live as the Villainess, Vol. 2 by Sakura Shiba; Yuta Tomonari

 

I Lived an Honest Life Only to Have My Fiancé Betray Me, So in My New Life I'll Live as the Villainess, Vol. 2 by Sakura Shiba; Yuta Tomonari

My Rating: ★★★★★

Doomed to restart her life every time she gets to where everything went downhill in her first life, Mianna Caroline is determined to prove love isn’t real. Funnily enough, the only way to get out of this loop is to discover true love for herself! Knowing this, Mianna still doesn’t believe love is real, and finds herself lonely and sad as she runs away from the major changes she’s gone through. What will she do, and will she continue to refuse to see what’s blooming in her heart?

I really enjoyed the first volume, so of course I had to pick this up! We pick up right where we left off and watch Mianna’s injured and frozen heart start to defrost. I enjoyed seeing the character growth for her and the other characters, especially Prince Elliot. The ending of this volume might irritate some people, but I understand why she’s resigned as she gets closer to the ending of her current life.

That said, it was nice to see Mianna begin her healing journey. I think that part of the reason that I’m enjoying this series so much is because I see some of myself in Mianna. I understand a lot of what she’s gone through, so I’m rooting for her. It’ll be nice to see her make progress in her healing journey, find love and happiness, and hopefully justice as well by the end of the series. 

I’m looking forward to reading the next volume when it comes out. I’ll be a little sad if Mianna does start all over again, but I have a feeling that this will be the life that breaks the cycle. Either way, I’m looking forward to seeing where this goes and if Mianna’s step sister is ever finally busted for being a vile excuse for a human being.

I Lived an Honest Life Only to Have My Fiancé Betray Me, So in My New Life I'll Live as the Villainess, Vol. 1 by Sakura Shiba; Yuta Tomonari

I Lived an Honest Life Only to Have My Fiancé Betray Me, So in My New Life I'll Live as the Villainess, Vol. 1 by Sakura Shiba; Yuta Tomonari

My Rating: ★★★★★

Mianna Caroline spent her first life doing everything right. Originally born a light mage, she worked hard to please her father once her mom passed away, but even he never cared about her. Being dumped by her fiancé in favor of her vindictive step sister was the final straw, which unleashed magic never before seen in humans. Next thing she knew, she was reborn and given a second chance at life… only for her to be determined to prove that love is fake!

I enjoyed this book so much. We follow Mianna, who keeps being reborn so that she could discover love. However, she’s determined to prove that love is fake even though she’s been informed that she’s going to keep repeating this life until she finds love and heals. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but what I got was amazing.

Mianna and the other characters are so much fun to follow. Well, except her step sister that basically no one seems to notice is an awful person because she’s cute and dumb. I know that sounds silly, but I’ve seen people go for this in real life, so it’s not that far-fetched. It’s also fun to see Mianna surprised by the very people she always believed hated her.

All in all, I can’t wait to start the next book. It’s a good read with an excellent story, interesting characters, and stunning artwork. It starts off a little sad and rocky, but it’s nothing crazy, and it quickly evens out and gets rolling. It’s ultimately a story of healing, which I like a lot.

The Dashing Zaddy and His Icy Protégé, Vol. 1 by Fumito

The Dashing Zaddy and His Icy Protégé, Vol. 1 by Fumito

My Rating: ★★★★

I received a copy from Kodansha Comics through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

On the surface, Takanashi has everything: good looks, great health, and a blossoming career. Privately, he’s struggling with ED, so he’s been politely turning down every woman who throws herself at him. Everything changes when he bonds with Hiwatari and decides to confide in him only for things to look up… a little too up! Now things are flip flopping all over the place at work and Hiwatari just wants to be close to Takanashi even if things remain platonic.

This story was absolutely hilarious. We follow Takanashi and one of his subordinates, Hiwatari, as they come together to deal with two very different issues. Hiwatari wants to confess his feelings while Takanashi wants to tell someone about his struggles with ED, especially because he hasn’t told anyone! There’s a series of hilarious events that has them bonding in the most unexpected ways, and Takanashi starts developing feelings of his own somewhere along the way.

The artwork is fun and the story is pretty lighthearted and is hilarious in ways I couldn’t have predicted. This ended up turning into a pick-me-up story I didn’t know I wanted. However, if it wasn’t for the way the volume ended, I think it could’ve worked as a stand-alone. Since it is the first in a series, I’m looking forward to seeing how these characters develop. I predict that the romance will be a slow burn, which is fine by me. All in all, it was a fun read, so I’m excited to pick up the next volume.

In Love's Key, Reprised by Guri Nojiro

In Love's Key, Reprised by Guri Nojiro

My Rating: ★★★★★

I received a copy from Vertical Comics through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

When Kiri’s health forces him to take time off from work, he begrudgingly returns to his hometown. Nothing seems to be going right for him, and social media is booming with tales of his terrible attitude as a conductor. Insert Osamu, who is vibrating from excitement about Kiri’s return. It’s been years since Kiri unknowingly saved him, and he’s determined to help Kiri in any way he can. Will Osamu melt Kiri’s frozen heart?

This is such a sweet story about loneliness, burnout, friendship, and love. I really enjoyed following Kiri and Osamu through their tentative friendship that turns into love. They have totally different personalities that work well together, and it was great seeing them learn to trust each other as the story progressed. I also loved how open and caring Osamu’s family was to the point that I would love to hang out with them.

I enjoyed this so much that I can’t wait to check out the author’s other work. It’s a slow burn romance, and I really enjoyed seeing how Kiri and Osama learned to work together and communicate along the way. Plus, the artwork is stunning! If you’re up for a contemporary romance, I think you’ll enjoy this.

Accomplishments of the Duke's Daughter, Vol. 2 by Reia; Hazuki Futaba

Accomplishments of the Duke's Daughter, Vol. 2 by Reia; Hazuki Futaba

My Rating: ★★★★★

It’s been two years since Iris was publicly humiliated by her former fiancé and remembered her past life as an accountant. Since then, she’s turned being banished into a fulfilling life. Her business is booming and she’s transformed Armelia for the better. Now her life is about to change once again because the royal family has invited her to a celebration, which will force Iris back into the politics of high society. With her family and friends at her back, she’s about to learn how to play the game and discover who else is on her side.

I’ve been enjoying the manga adaptation of this series, so I’m excited that I’ll be continuing the light novels because I loved this volume. The first volume was good, but the manga adaptation was so close to that volume that I wasn’t sure if I would be continuing after this one. We’re starting to see how the light novels are able to expand more on the characters and this world. I think this will be a pattern we’ll see as the story continues, which will make the manga adaptation a great companion to the series. I’m excited to check out the next volume soon.

Clementine: Book Three by Tillie Walden

Clementine: Book Three by Tillie Walden

My Rating: ★★★

Clementine, Olivia, and Ricca finally find a peaceful settlement they can all agree on hoping to call it home. Unfortunately, they just can’t seem to catch a break when they suffer a loss they couldn’t have predicted. Now Clementine finds herself on the edge of self-destruction while working under a mentor who understands her, but what will she do when it turns out this mentor is addicted to power?

While I wasn’t ready for this series to wrap up, I still picked up the final volume so I could see how the character’s journeys end. The official summary gave away a major character death, but I still wasn’t expecting how it would happen. The entire scene was so random that it honestly would’ve made more sense if it turned out the town was poisoning whoever they decided could go.

The final volume had a different vibe from the previous installments, which I think set the tone for the story, but it lacked heart in some areas. That said, I enjoyed seeing the characters and their world one last time. It’s not what I was expecting, but overall, I’m happy with how this series ended.

Branded by Saffron A. Kent

 

Branded by Saffron A. Kent

My Rating: ★★

I received a copy from Forever through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

When Reverie started writing to an inmate under her best friend’s name, she never expected to fall in love. It’s why she’s taking a chance by meeting Bo at a café after he was released. Being perfectly safe and apparently boring never made her feel the way Bo does. The only problem is that Bo doesn’t seem to like what he sees because he blatantly rejected her. Reverie can’t let it go, but that only led to trouble because now she’s been abducted and is being forced to marry Bo… except it turns out that her pen pal was never really Bo all along.

I’ve officially been influenced by the dark romance readers of TikTok and picked up a dark romance novel. We follow Reverie and “Bo” through their rotating perspectives, but our main protagonist is Reverie. Several chapters include some of their letters before the actual chapter gets started, and I thought that was pretty cool. I love when there are letters or journal entries included in or between chapters.

However, I’m on the fence about the romance itself because I didn’t think they had much chemistry. I had a hard time believing they were into each other enough that they kept chasing after each other no matter how many times one pushed the other away. Honestly, the amount of times Reverie gets pushed away had me wondering why she kept running back. Sure, she’s naive, but “Bo” is also extremely immature, and neither of them seem to notice or acknowledge that part of him.

That said, I don’t think it’s a bad book. I just didn’t care for the leads and their lack of chemistry in addition to how many times Reverie got pushed away only to come running back. I also found myself more and more interested in some of the supporting characters and non-romance plots as the story went on. If you’re looking for a fast paced book with a range of predictable to crazy twists and turns, this may be something you’re interested in. I think it’s all about what you’re in the mood to read with this one.

All Are Welcome (Cat's Café #3) by Gwen Tarpley

All Are Welcome by Gwen Tarpley

My Rating: ★★★★★

Everyone is welcome at Cat’s Café! In this third book in the series, follow all your favorite characters in a series of touching, heartwarming, funny, and relatable comics! It’s hard to feel left out when reading this because there will always be at least a couple comics that are relatable!

This time around, I was really excited to see some Halloween comics as well as cryptids making their way into the cast of characters! Whether you’re looking for something fun and relatable or just seriously adorable, the cast of characters will be happy to welcome you in. I’m excited to see where Gwen Tarpley takes these characters next, and if we’ll see more cryptids in the future!

Accomplishments of the Duke's Daughter, Vol. 1 by Reia; Hazuki Futaba

Accomplishments of the Duke's Daughter, Vol. 1 by Reia; Hazuki Futaba

My Rating: ★★★★

Iris was a workaholic who loved playing otome games during what little free time she had. Everything changed when she was hit by a car and woke up in one of the games she played! Now she’s Iris Almeria, and even though she’s the daughter of the Prime Minister himself, she’s had the unfortunate luck of remembering who she used to be right as she’s about to get the bad ending of the game. If she thinks fast, can she avoid getting sent to a nunnery?

I read the first eight volumes of the manga adaptation of this series, so of course I had to check out the light novels! We follow Iris Almeria right as she’s getting the bad ending of the otome game she played in her past life… or is she? Because she’s using her newly remembered past life to squeak by and find fulfillment with her new path in life! We quickly discover that Iris was never truly a villainess to anyone but her ex-fiancé's soon to be new fiancé.

While I enjoyed reading this, I found that there are very few differences between it and the manga adaptation. I was expecting there to be at least some expansion of the story and characters, but at this point, I might as well have skipped reading the light novel since I already read the manga. I’m going to check out the next volume anyway, but if it turns out to just be the written account of every panel of the manga adaptation, there’s a good chance I’m going to bow out since the only difference is the form it takes to tell the story.

The Shocking Experiments of Miss Mary Bennet by Melinda Taub

The Shocking Experiments of Miss Mary Bennet by Melinda Taub

My Rating: ★★★★

I received a copy from Grand Central Publishing through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Mary Bennet has always been different from her sisters. Considered the ugly sister by society and the odd one by just about everyone, she’s never fit in. As a scientist, what other people think mostly doesn’t matter as long as she is able to find ways to learn about and practice it. Everything changes when Mary finds a friend in Septimus Pike after striking a business deal with him. When her hard work becomes extremely fruitful, Mary discovers that Pike isn’t what she believed him to be, and he discovers that she can raise the dead.

This is among the most interesting Pride and Prejudice retellings I’ve read because it’s also a Frankenstein retelling! Told through a series of letters, and later diary entries, we follow the ultimate middle child: Mary Bennet. The story truly brings the forgotten sister to the forefront and we get to watch her fight her way to get around what society will allow a woman to do. During her journey, we also see her figure out how to bring the recently deceased back to life and how that quickly goes south.

You have no idea how excited I was to read this book! It was almost everything I’d hope it would be. I was completely absorbed in the story until the very end, which is when it started to fizzle out. My only real complaint is that Mary’s early letters sound more like they came from her memoir, and the rest of her letters were really just diary entries before they actually became her diary entries later on. Otherwise, I really enjoyed the story.

The Ayakashi Hunter's Tainted Bride, Vol. 3 by Mamenosuke Fujimaru; Midori Yuma

The Ayakashi Hunter's Tainted Bride, Vol. 3 by Mamenosuke Fujimaru; Midori Yuma

My Rating: ★★★★★

Just when Nanao was finally settling in, her cousin and former fiancé seem to be very determined to ruin her life now that she’s finally found happiness. She and Yako have chosen each other, but outsiders are determined to break them apart… thankfully, Nanao’s abusers are crashing and burning, but will they take Nanao with them?

I have been enjoying this series so much. We pick up right where we left off and hit the ground running. We’ve got Nanao’s jealous cousin, Akemi, trying to destroy her life out of jealousy yet again. I liked seeing a glimpse into the past again. It was just enough to see even more about how Akemi has always been as a person before jumping to the present where her life is falling apart. Then we’ve got Nanao’s former fiancé throwing divorce on the table because he’s determined to make Nanao his wife. The man is a creep with a wandering eye.

Nanao has grown so much since the first volume even though not that much time has passed. She may be quiet and wary, but she’s finding her strength and is learning how to use it to defend herself. Trust me when I say you will want to pick up this series. The plot is excellent, the artwork is stunning, and let’s just say that justice gets served and that it’s even better than expected.

I’m so excited to pick up the next volume and see how things will continue to unfold. Plus, I really like the little extras we get at the end of each volume. I’m hoping to get my hands on volume 4 soon!

The Haunting of Bellington Cottage by Laura Parnum

The Haunting of Bellington Cottage by Laura Parnum

My Rating: ★★★★★

I received a copy from Storytide through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Iris has been looking forward to finally seeing Violet again after years because it’s sure to be even better than the last time their families took a trip together. She’s ready to repeat the fun they had giving their previous rental a spoopy makeover, but when Violet arrives, nothing is the same. She now goes by Vee, and not only does she not want to be there, but also doesn’t want to do much with Iris. Things only get worse when it turns out that their current rental is haunted and everyone thinks Iris and Vee are behind the ghost’s activities. It’s up to them to figure out who is haunting the house and help put them to rest!

If you’re looking for a paranormal coming of age story, then you can’t possibly go wrong with this book! We follow Iris as she’s finally reunited with her old friend Vee. Unfortunately for her, Vee isn’t excited to be on this trip, and she’s changed a lot since the last time they saw each other. Between getting the blame for the ghost’s activities and the struggles Iris and Vee are silently going through, it’s hard for the two to get on the same page. Thankfully, teaming up to help the restless ghost does them and the ghost a lot of good.

I love that this is a paranormal mystery that helps these former friends reconnect and discover the power of communication. It’s a great message for middle school readers who may relate to Iris and Violet. It’s also a story about change, and I think a lot of the target audience will relate to this, especially because it also involves navigating friendships that are changing due to various reasons. I like that it’s not afraid to touch on jealousy and loneliness as well as figuring out how to deal with it.

All in all, this was an excellent read. It’s also something I would’ve especially loved when I was in middle school. Plus, there’s a paranormal mystery that is sure to draw readers in. I think it’s an excellent read and that you really can’t go wrong with picking this up.

Witchy Stitching: 25 Patterns to Haunt Your Home by Meg Black

Witchy Stitching: 25 Patterns to Haunt Your Home by Meg Black

My Rating: ★★★★★

If you’re looking for some spoopy cross stitching patterns, then this is the book for you! Inside, you will find 25 wonderful patterns along with a couple extras. Other than the great patterns that are both fun and spoopy, I really like that there’s a comprehensive materials guide on top of all the information you need on how to actually cross stitch. I love this because it means that people who have never cross stitched before can pick this up and learn how to cross stitch and read patterns. It’s also the first time I’ve seen a solid guide on what needles to use!

Plus, there’s a tutorial on how Meg likes to make bookmarks and a section on how to stitch with beads. I thought that this was really cool, especially the section on stitching with beads. I’ve been cross stitching and doing embroidery for years now, but I haven’t started using beads yet either. Seeing this section really inspired me to buy some beads and start adding it to some of my projects. I already use glow in the dark floss from DMC and Kreinik, but now I’m excited to start adding beads!

All in all, this is an excellent book. If you’re on the fence and not familiar with The Witchy Stitcher aka Meg, I urge you to look up their shop or check out their social media to see what kind of patterns they have available to see if you like their style. Personally, I think you really can’t go wrong with this pattern book if you like anything Halloween or otherwise spoopy!

Amari and the Despicable Wonders (Supernatural Investigations #3) by B.B. Alston

Amari and the Despicable Wonders by B.B. Alston

My Rating: ★★

Dylan Van Helsing has officially declared war on the supernatural world, and it’s up to Amari and her friends to beat him to the final punch that will destroy everything. But first… she needs to hide out because she’s now public enemy #1! Magicless, on the run, and trying to save the world, Amari has her work cut out for her!

I’ve really been enjoying this series, but unfortunately, this one was a bit of a dud. There was a lot of filler, which didn’t help with the pacing issues. We were either going at a snail’s pace or straight into full action. Plus, there’s some major plot holes and I’m still trying to figure out how a certain event that occurs at the end even makes sense, especially with how the laws of magic work in this world. I’m not even going to get into how middle school age readers are given a lesson about hotheaded decisions before throwing that lesson straight out the window.

That said, there were some things about it. I really enjoyed the new characters along with seeing all of our old favorites. There are some funny moments and some pretty solid emotional moments. I liked seeing some of the characters grow as well as one of the characters realizing how far they’ve come since the start of the series.

All in all, I’m feeling iffy about this book. It feels like it was meant to be the final book. If the book had a slightly different ending, this would stand up very well as the end of the series. However, there are some good things going for it, and the previous two books were excellent reads. I’m going to give the series a chance and check out the next book because I think this will likely be the lone dud.

The Genius Bat: The Secret Life of the Only Flying Mammal by Yossi Yovel

 

The Genius Bat: The Secret Life of the Only Flying Mammal by Yossi Yovel

My Rating: ★★★

I received a copy from St. Martin's Press through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

If you’re looking for a book on bats, this might be for you! Inside, you will find a lot of information on bats covering everything from their roosting habits to their evolution. While there’s almost 1500 species of bats, some good coverage on a smaller selection of bats without touching on everything. I think that if you’re super interested in echolocation, this will be up your alley for sure.

That said, while this book was an interesting read, a lot more time was spent on covering the research community and travels than I expected. I was expecting a lot more information on bats, less echolocation coverage, and less research and travel coverage. I think that it was an enjoyable read, but it was different from what I was expecting. If you’re interested in this book, just know that it’s selective about the bat species covered and that there’s a huge emphasis on echolocation before jumping in. It’s all about adjusting your expectations so you’re not in for a surprise later because I was hoping for more bat species coverage than what was actually covered.

Formerly, the Fallen Daughter of the Duke, Vol. 3-4 by Ushio Shirotori; Ichibu Saki

 

Formerly, the Fallen Daughter of the Duke, Vol. 3-4  by Ushio Shirotori; Ichibu Saki

My Rating: ★★★★

Claire Martino has managed to land on her feet in Paffuto. Thanks to her hard work and dedication paired with her honest personality, she’s starting to make a name for herself. Unfortunately, that also means she’s caught the attention of the people behind her mother’s death. At least she has the protection of the crown, but her new engagement to Vik also means she will have to face the people she ran away from.

I’ve been really enjoying this series. Following Claire as she creates a new life for herself and getting to know all the characters has been wonderful. I really liked that we didn’t see anything about Claire’s life being a dating game for a while, but then it came in and shook things up just when things were getting really interesting!

Thankfully, the story is still good, but I’m a little iffy about how we suddenly speed through events to get to where the story can get going again. It’ll be interesting to see where we go from here and what Claire will choose to do about the different game saves that are the different paths her life can take. I’m most interested in seeing what her sister, Charlotte, does this time around. We got to see exactly how far she’s willing to go to make things go her way, so it’ll be interesting to see what the similarities and differences will be this time around.

Formerly, the Fallen Daughter of the Duke, Vol. 1-2 by Ushio Shirotori; Ichibu Saki

Formerly, the Fallen Daughter of the Duke, Vol. 1-2 by Ushio Shirotori; Ichibu Saki

My Rating: ★★★★

Claire Martino’s life had been planned from the second she was born. Everything changed when it turned out she had weak magical abilities. Her family turned on her, her fiancé prepared to marry her younger sister, and every single good thing in her life slipped straight through her fingers. When it turns out her little sister is behind setting her up to lose everything, Claire sneaks away to start over. Now that she’s in Paffuto, it turns out that even her magical abilities are far stronger than anyone could’ve ever imagined, and now she’s a governess who is attending the royal academy to learn how to control her magic.

When I picked up the first volume, I was not expecting to get so sucked into the story. I read the first two volumes back to back because I just couldn’t get enough. We follow Claire as she discreetly slips away from her life to start over, but she accidentally finds herself close friends with the future king of Paffuto and discovers that her magical abilities are crazy strong!

I love seeing Claire start over and slowly uncover the mystery behind her mother’s birth. The characters are interesting, the plot is top tier, and the artwork is stunning. I’m particularly interested in seeing how things slowly unfold with her jealous younger sister as the story progresses. Plus, it’ll be interesting to see just how much Claire can do and how many people have figured out who her mother really is.

All in all, I’m really enjoying this series and I look forward to checking out the novels as well. My only complaint is that it turns out that Claire’s life is also a video game. At this point, it doesn’t really make sense because we’ve barely spent any time with her in our world. The things she’s learned from the brief moments she’s been in our world hasn’t added anything to the story because she either already had that information or was headed in that direction anyway. So far, this plot point has only disrupted the pace of the story, but I hope to see it pan out as I continue to read.

Penguin & House, Vol. 1 by Akiho Ieda

 

Penguin & House, Vol. 1 by Akiho Ieda

My Rating: ★★★★★

I received a copy from Kodansha Comics through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Pen and Hayakawa are best buds, but Pen isn’t just anyone. He’s a penguin! He loves to cook, bake, and hang out with his best friend. Hayakawa is a bit of a mess, but he means well, and he loves Pen with his whole heart! What shenanigans will Pen get up to in the name of Hayakawa?!

This is such an adorable book. We follow Pen the penguin and his best friend and owner, Hayakawa, who is a university student. Hayakawa is lazy and accident prone, but he’s also nice and loves Pen with every ounce of his being. It’s too bad that his thoughtlessness leads to a lot of grief for poor little Pen!

If you’re looking for a feel good story told through a series of short chapters that are a lot like short comics following the characters, then I think this will be a pretty solid read for you! It’s so cute and funny, and we get to see Pen bond with more than just Hayakawa. I loved it!

My Roommate from Hell by Cale Dietrich

 

My Roommate from Hell by Cale Dietrich

My Rating: ★

I received a copy from Wednesday Books through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Owen’s college life was already not going as planned when he finds out that not only is Zarmenus, the literal prince of Hell, going to his college, but he’s also his new roommate. It wouldn’t be so bad if they got along, but they’re rarely on the same page. When Zar’s activities begin to put the already fragile demon-human relations on the line, Owen finds himself agreeing to pretend to be the prince of Hell’s boyfriend. What will happen when these fake boyfriends begin to develop real feelings?

I was excited to start reading this because enemies to lovers, forced proximity, and fake dating? Sign me up! Unfortunately, I quickly discovered that I didn’t particularly care for Owen, and he’s the narrator of the story, so you can just imagine the kind of pickle I was in. I think I would’ve liked it a lot more if Owen’s narration didn’t go overboard at times. It felt like we were getting a blow by blow narration of every little thing, which made the story drag for me.

That said, I do like that there are some realistic issues thrown in. For example, there’s a lot of issues that could’ve been solved with some basic communication, but these are a bunch of brand new adults at a university and communication isn’t always the first choice. The usual college life shenanigans were also fun to see play out.

All in all, I really wish I enjoyed the book more than I did, but I only made it about halfway through before I gave up. It was getting harder and harder to follow Owen as he seemed to narrate every second. I liked Owen and Zar’s parents, and Zar didn’t seem so bad, but I think that me not liking Owen or his narration put a huge damper on the book. Is this a book for you? It could be! It just wasn’t for me.

Bound to the Shadow Prince by Ruby Dixon

Bound to the Shadow Prince by Ruby Dixon

My Rating: ★★★★

When Princess Candra learns she’s about to spend the next seven years of her life bricked away in a tower, she’s pissed. Now she has mere days to prepare to trade her pampered life full of games and lovers for a life of solitude by candlelight. Candra would give anything to escape her fate, but she knows that running away will doom her people to the wrath of their goddess. It’s even worse when she’s reminded it’s seven years with a Fellian prince because they come from enemy kingdoms… or is it? Nemeth is certainly different from everything she’s been told about the Fellians.

I love Ruby’s other books, so I had been dying to pick this up. We follow Candra from the moment she realizes that her life is about to change in this Rapunzel inspired story. I thought Candra being forced to live in a tower with a prince was a fun twist. We’re served enemies to lovers with a nice side of forced proximity. If that’s not your thing, you should probably skip this book. However, if that’s up your alley, I urge you to pick this up. There’s so many layers to this story that I was fully sucked in until the very end.

While I loved reading this, I do think that the pacing was a bit off, and that we sped straight through the ending and into the epilogue while skipping over some things. Plus, the entire saga around the magical knife could’ve gone better. Otherwise, I enjoyed the characters and the romance. It was mostly a pretty good read and different from what I’m used to seeing from Ruby.

SOS Hotel: For a Supernaturally Safe Stay! (SOS Hotel #1) by Adam Vex, Ariana Nash

SOS Hotel: For a Supernaturally Safe Stay! by Adam Vex, Ariana Nash

My Rating: ★★★

When Adam Vex decided to open a hotel that’s a safe haven for the supernatural with his sex demon business partner, he thought it was a great idea. Then opening day came and not a single thing went right. The hotel has a bunch of protestors, there’s a reporter questioning how he managed to buy the property out from a very rich and very angry real estate mogul, and his only client is an elite vampire who doesn’t like demons. Just when things couldn’t get any worse, a dead body turns up. Poor Adam doesn’t have time for a murder mystery because this hotel must stay open at all costs!

The story is narrated by Adam, a not-so-human guy, from the moment he opens SOS Hotel. He needs this hotel to make it because the safety its wards provide will keep him alive in the event someone figures out what he is. It’s  one of those books that is a really easy read. It has some great characters, it’s funny, and it feels like it could go in any direction at any moment. It feels like I’m just lounging inside Adam’s brain and watching his life unfold.

However, I thought it was weird that the story is not very forthcoming about his biggest secret when it’s the main reason behind Adam opening the hotel. The pacing is pretty fast, but sometimes it seems like we’re spending too much time on the most random moments. It was a really entertaining read, so I don’t think that it’s that big of a deal, though.

Overall, I did enjoy reading this. Zodiac and Tom are my favorite characters, and I’m interested in seeing how the story unfolds. It’ll also be interesting to see what exciting new characters will be entering the pictures along with all the hilarious interactions and other shenanigans.

Of Swamp & Sea, Vol. 1 by Mia Jay Boulton; Laurel Boulton

Of Swamp & Sea, Vol. 1 by Mia Jay Boulton; Laurel Boulton

My Rating: ★★★★★

I received a copy from 23rd St. through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

When Mercy Gray Harding hired a monster hunter, she thought he’d hunt down the monster that brutally murdered her father. Unfortunately, things don’t go as planned, and now she’s possessed by a mist wolf! Now Mercy and the wolf seem to be merging into one, and Jonah is determined to do his best to fix things since it was his hunt that went wrong.

When I picked this up, I didn’t know just how much I was going to love it! We follow Mercy, a young woman who is mourning her late father. Once she gets possessed by the wolf, we see her and Jonah become a team of sorts as the story continues. I really liked how much we began to get to know the two of them while also confirming that Jonah has a lot of layers just waiting to slowly be revealed.

I really like Mercy, so it’ll be interesting to see if she and the wolf possessing her eventually happily merge… or if it’ll go how Jonah fears. I also really liked seeing one of the judgmental folks from town get to discover that Mercy isn’t one to mess with. The budding romance looks promising and I really liked the style of humor as well as the artwork. I’m looking forward to checking out the next volume!

My Instructor Won't Yield by Deme Kingyobachi

 

My Instructor Won't Yield by Deme Kingyobachi

My Rating: ★★★★★

I received a copy from Kodansha Comics through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Chiba is a driving instructor with such a shining personality that everyone can’t help but fall in love with him. However, his last relationship ended so badly that he’s sworn off love all together! Everything changes when a nervous driving student, Yaotome, gets in his car. His coworkers call Yaotome the sharp-suited prince, but it turns out he’s an easy going and accident prone guy with a heart of gold. What other secrets are about to come out between this love-scorned driving instructor and his shy student?!

This is such a cute and funny contemporary romance following a driving instructor and his shy student. What starts as a slow accidental friendship slowly blossoms into a sweet romance as Chiba and Yaotome slowly get to know each other. While it’s mostly light and fluffy, we do see their individual struggles and how Chiba became so jaded by romance.

If you like contemporary romances with a touch of humor, I think this will be an excellent read for you. It’s a pretty quick read, but it’s a sweet and funny one at that. Plus, the artwork is nice and helps bring the story to life. You can’t go wrong by picking this up! I liked it so much that I’m excited to check out the author’s other work in the future.

Amigurumi Critters: 25 Imaginative Crochet Designs for All Skill Levels by Amy Ting

 

Amigurumi Critters: 25 Imaginative Crochet Designs for All Skill Levels by Amy Ting

My Rating: ★★★★★

I received a copy from Cider Mill Press through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

If you’re looking for a super cute and comprehensive crochet pattern book, then this is the book for you! Inside, you will find 25 adorable patterns along with a pretty good guide to crocheting. I also like that there’s QR codes included for anyone who needs them, whether it’s yarn recommendations or tutorial videos. Plus, the patterns are well written, have difficulty levels listed, and include multiple photos that will be helpful to crocheters of all skill levels.

My favorite pattern is Perry the Pug. It’s the pattern that really caught my eye and I can’t wait to crochet that up! That said, every single pattern is super cute, and I’m excited to see capybaras included because I’m obsessed with them.

The Ayakashi Hunter's Tainted Bride, Vol. 2 by Mamenosuke Fujimaru; Midori Yuma

The Ayakashi Hunter's Tainted Bride, Vol. 2 by Mamenosuke Fujimaru; Midori Yuma

My Rating: ★★★★★

After spending so many years being used and abused on top of being an outcast abandoned by even her own parents, Nanao still feels like her new life is a dream that can end at any time. However, she’s slowly learning that there’s an entire world out there who won’t consider her a tainted and impure person. It will be a long road to recovering for Nanao, but she’s learning that she has more in common with Yako than she expected. As the man known as the Tsubaki Demon, Yako knows what it’s like to have even your own family look at you in disgust. They will face their past as they try to run full speed ahead toward a better future. It’s just a question of whether or not that is something they will do together.

I absolutely loved the first volume, so you have no idea how excited I was when I learned that the second volume was out already. We pick up right where we left off and learn how deep Nanao’s scars truly run. I feel so bad for her, and I’m so happy to watch her slowly discover that she’s worthy. We’re also learning more about Yako and his past, and how he has more in common with Nanao than even he realized. It’s really great to see them slowly get to know each other and slowly fall in love during the process.

I’m also really excited to learn more about the supporting characters and see their friendships in action. Plus, we’re learning more about Nanao’s cousin and how deep her jealousy runs, so it’s also nice to see that karma is knocking on her door. Reito isn’t an ounce better than his wife, so I think they deserve each other. There’s so much going on that I can’t say because they’re spoilers, but phew. It looks like everyone from Nanao’s past is about to have a lot of in-fighting.

All in all, this was another amazing read and I can’t wait for the next volume. There are so many layers to this story that I truly cannot recommend it enough.

Creepy Cross-Stitch: 25 Spooky Projects to Haunt Your Halls by Lindsay Swearingen

Creepy Cross-Stitch: 25 Spooky Projects to Haunt Your Halls by Lindsay Swearingen

My Rating: ★★★★★

If you’re a cross stitcher and love all things spoopy, then this is the book for you! Inside, you will find 25 wonderfully spoopy patterns classified by dearly departed, haunted homes, dark florals, spooky rooms, creature feature, or vintage Halloween. Plus, there’s a comprehensive materials and techniques section that will help newer cross stitchers!

Other than loving the patterns, I’m particularly happy that the pattern charts are in full color. However, it won’t be hard to transfer them into black and white patterns yourself if that is your preference. I bought the ebook, and the majority of the patterns are single page patterns in the ebook. All in all, I am really happy with this book and am excited to get into the full Halloween spirit with it!

A Crochet World of Creepy Creatures and Cryptids by Rikki Gustafson

A Crochet World of Creepy Creatures and Cryptids by Rikki Gustafson

My Rating: ★★★★

If you’re a crocheter who enjoys making amigurumi and loves cryptids and other mythical beings, then this is the book for you! Inside, you will find 40 wonderful patterns separated into the following sections: cryptids, man-eaters, creatures of the deep, forest dwellers, mischief makers, and winged beasts. There’s a little bit of information on each being before the pattern, which I love!

I wouldn’t say that this is a beginner friendly pattern book, but there are patterns that will be easy for beginners to follow. However, the patterns do not have experience levels listed for anyone looking for that. If you’re newer to crocheting but still want to pick up this book, I say do it. You can determine which patterns will come easier to you based on your experience level after looking at the finished project photos and reading the patterns. Of course, you can always choose to challenge yourself based on what experience you have and what you’re ready to take on! Otherwise, you just have to be aware of what your typical gauge is using the same types of yarn the author uses because they did not include the gauge for the patterns.

All in all, I love this book and am excited to pick up some yarn to make some of these patterns in the future. The patterns are well written and easy to follow, and I never thought about painting safety eyes for my projects. I learned something new when I didn’t expect to!

A Vampire in the Bathhouse by Niko Izuki

 

A Vampire in the Bathhouse by Niko Izuki

My Rating: ★★★★★

I received a copy from Kodansha Comics through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Luka is not one to admit he’s suffering from a terrible hangover. He’s a vampire, and he’s way too powerful and regal to let alcohol get the best of him! So what’s his response? Well, a nice trip away from the demon world is in order! That’s how Luka finds himself taking a nice, rejuvenating dip at a bathhouse. His clothes may have gone missing when he was sent from the demon world to the human world, but now he needs to bond with someone so that he has more control over his vampire powers during his stay. What could possibly go wrong?

I picked this up hoping to find a cute and funny story, and that’s exactly what I got. What I didn’t expect was for it to also be a heartwarming story! We follow Luka and Sakura during their adventures during this fun story. Luka is a vampire in need of a vacation, and Sakura is the grandson of the bathhouse owner who works hard to take care of the bathhouse and his little brother. Together, hilarity ensues!

Throughout the story, we get to know the small cast of characters and what makes Sakura’s family bathhouse so amazing. We get to watch Luka discover their town’s sense of community all while growing close with Sakura and his family. I really loved the sense of found family we get in this story, but it’s also absolutely hilarious. If you’re looking for something sweet and funny, I urge you to pick this up.

A Kingdom of Shadow and Ash (Kingdom of Gods #1) by J.F. Johns

 

A Kingdom of Shadow and Ash by J.F. Johns

My Rating: ★★★★

I received a copy from the author through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Mal Blackburn has always been different. Born with purple eyes exclusive to witches, she’s always heard whispers about herself. A witch hasn’t been seen since the war that wiped them straight out of existence a century ago. Now Mal is facing an arranged marriage meant to unite the Kingdom of Darkness with the Kingdom of Fire. However, she doesn’t plan to help unite the kingdoms. She plans to kill the fire prince and break the curse that’s been waiting to take effect for the last century, but what will happen when she discovers that her future husband isn't the cruel man he’s rumored to be?

The first couple chapters had me so confused that I almost ditched this book. I decided to give it a chance anyway and I am so glad that I did because it turned out to be really good. We follow a range of characters through their rotating perspectives, and each chapter is broken up by bits of journal entries from the woman who cast the curse looming over the few who believe in it. There’s a huge cast of characters, but it works out because many are well developed and we hop around perspectives all book long. However, you might need to prepare yourself because it’s going to take a good minute to get everyone down.

The romance between the main couple, Mal and Ash, was nice but I didn’t feel the fire the two swore they felt burning between each other. If anything, they seemed doomed from the start, and without dropping spoilers… I still feel that way about them. The real chemistry was all between Kai and Alina. Those two were sizzling every time they even thought about each other!

I do think the author needs to find another way to describe facial expressions though. If anyone decides to take a shot every time someone’s lips curled, they’d have alcohol poisoning. I don’t think I want to ever see anyone’s lips curling in a book again after this, so I hope there’s a lot less of that in the next book.

That said, this was a really good read. If you’re looking for excellent world building, intricate plots, enemies to lovers, lovers to enemies, great sibling dynamics, court politics, magic, and a good dose of betrayal, then I urge you to pick this up. When I reached the end of the book, I kept telling myself that I was going to read one more chapter and found myself still awake and totally blown away by some of the revelations at 3am. The foreshadowing was flawless, the story kept me entertained until the very end, and now I’m excited to see where this goes in the next book.

Sweet Obsession (Dark Olympus #8) by Katee Robert

Sweet Obsession by Katee Robert

My Rating: ★★

When Icarus chose to sacrifice himself to make sure his sister could escape, he knew what it meant for him. He knows that if he plays his cards right, he may be able to turn being Poseidon’s captive into an advantage…

I was looking forward to reading this because Icarus and Poseidon had crazy chemistry the entire time they were at the dock. Plus, the events of the last book was a really good setup for the non-romance plot, so I was ready to jump straight into this. While they still had chemistry, most of it fizzled out before the romance could truly start. It didn’t help that we were being told basically everything rather than being shown it, so I was bored for much of the book. 

I really struggled my way through this one. I liked Poseidon, but I found Icarus to be extremely fake even in his own head. Between their chemistry taking a huge dip, the plot with Circe vs Olympus moving at a snail’s pace, and feeling like the characters were doing some kind of long-winded almost info dump in their minds, I was just slugging along. There were some interesting parts, but otherwise, I was just bored and waiting for something to happen.

I am interested in seeing the series through to the end because I want to see how everything pans out, so I’m still going to check out the next book. I think this one might’ve just been an accidental miss because I don’t think it was supposed to fizzle out the way that it did. However, I’m going to keep my expectations low and see what happens because I have been looking forward to reading Zeus and Hera’s book.

Elvira's Cookbook from Hell by Cassandra Peterson

Elvira's Cookbook from Hell by Cassandra Peterson

My Rating: ★★★★

I received a copy from Grand Central Publishing through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

If you’re an Elvira fan and like to collect anything related to her, then this will be a good book for you! Inside, you will find a variety of spoopy recipes and crafts. While the ARC I received is a 29-page excerpt, I fully plan on buying the book.. From the 29-pages I did receive, it looks like a fun book full of tasty recipes and dining crafts with a spoopy spin on them. While there isn’t anything necessarily new, it’s perfect for the Halloween vibes whether or not you are an Elvira fan.

Stumpwork Embroidery & Thread Painting: Stitch 3-D Nature Motifs by Megan Zaniewski

 

Stumpwork Embroidery & Thread Painting: Stitch 3-D Nature Motifs by Megan Zaniewski

My Rating: ★★★★★

I was recently introduced to stumpwork embroidery, so of course I had to pick up this book when I saw it. Inside, you will find everything you need to know about stumpwork and thread painting along with information on materials, finishing techniques, and instructions for the other stitches used in the patterns. Of course, all of the templates are located at the back of the book.

This book is pretty comprehensive and easy to understand no matter what your skill level is. The step by step instructions and pictures that accompany them are really easy to understand and made me excited to stitch up some 3-D projects in the future. I love that there are some miniature projects featured, which really rounds out the range of patterns featured. All in all, I think this is a great book and it’s really opened my eyes to what’s possible with embroidery.

Loving You When the World Ended by Gene

Loving You When the World Ended by Gene

My Rating: ★★★★

Nuowan was breaking up with his fiance at a fancy hotel when the apocalypse hit. Knocked out for days, he wakes up to find that he’s being cared for by an employee who was with him when the apocalypse started. He and Yu Sen are complete opposites. Nuowan is a spoiled rich guy who has never had to put work into anything, while Yu Sen is an orphan and was previously in the military. Now that it seems like they’re the only two people left alive, these strangers must stick together to survive this new world.

I picked this book up expecting a cute read, and that’s exactly what I got! We follow Nuowan and Yu Sen starting right before the apocalypse starts. While they’re total opposites, they work well together, and slowly fall in love as time goes on. Yu Sen complains about how much work it is to take care of Nuowan, but since we’re privy to his thoughts, we also know he loves it. Meanwhile, Nuowan is not prepared to rough it for his own survival, but he slowly learns to adapt as well as he can. The duo bicker a lot, but it’s so cute to watch them slowly fall in love and see Nuowan find someone who loves him for him and not him and his family’s money.

If you’re looking for a book that dives heavily into the dystopian setting, this will not be the book for you. However, if you are looking for a cute and fun read that takes place in a dystopian setting, you should jump on it. It gets bleak here and there due to the setting as well as Nuowan and Yu Sen’s individual pasts, but it mostly sticks to the light side and will make you laugh. Plus, the artwork is beautiful and really helps bring the story to life.

The Resurrectionist by Kathleen S. Allen

 

The Resurrectionist by Kathleen S. Allen

My Rating: ★★★★★

I received a copy from Roaring Brook Press through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Dilly Rothbart has always wanted to follow her father’s footsteps and become a surgeon. It’s a path he refused to let her take, but since he died in a terrible accident, she’s determined to pursue her dream. Between entering the world of corpse-stealing and stumbling upon her dad’s journal that reveals the secrets of resurrecting the dead, Dilly’s entire life is about to be turned upside down.

I’m a sucker for retellings of classic literature, so of course I had to read this! In this Frankenstein retelling, we follow Dilly as she begins to figure out how she’s going to afford medical school if she manages to get into the few that accept women. With her twin sister, Dee Dee, by her side, she’s determined to make sure she and her sister both make their dreams happen. Unfortunately, things go awry when a fight leads to the untimely death of her sister, but it’s a good thing she has her dad’s notes on resurrection… It’s too bad Dee Dee came back completely different.

I could not get enough of this book. It’s really well written and had me on the edge of my seat the whole way through. Each of the characters are interesting, even the supporting characters we don’t learn a whole lot about, and they all felt so real like we were actually meeting these people. The opening of the first chapter had me hooked right away, and there’s a couple of excellent mystery plots weaved throughout the entire book.

If this sounds up your alley, I highly recommend it. It’s a haunting story that takes us on a wild ride as Dilly keeps getting dug deeper and deeper in a huge mess after becoming a true resurrectionist. It’s a book that will make you find yourself still awake and reading at 3am. It makes me really excited to check out what else the author will publish in the future.