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!