So I picked up this this book on the recommendation of a friend and it is *exactly* what it says it is. If you can’t stomach darky-dark scenes, unhinged main characters, stomach-turning gore, or intense spice, turn back here. This book is like a super R-rated Dexter meets a RomCom and it states its trigger warnings up front.
All that said, I surprisingly enjoyed the read. I thought the concept of two serial killers of serial killers meeting up with romantic sparks, banter, and deranged creepy little competition. This book did *not* shy away from the darkness of the main characters, but at the same time balanced those super intense moments with super sweet ones and intense passion. The narration was fantastic, and interesting in that the male narrator reads all the male dialogue in both POVs, and the female narrator reads all the female dialogue in both POVs.
I’m a “could take it or leave it” spice person, but while, um… intense, the frequency didn’t overwhelm the plot, and I liked the tension leading up to it. So all that said, I recommend this book (especially the audiobook) for those looking for a super dark (but also kind of weirdly light?) quick romcom read. And though this book is satisfying on its own, I think I’ll be picking up the sequel too.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Yes, it was bizarre… but in a way you that made your weird friend recommend it to you… and then made you recommend it to your other weird friend.
**Note, I picked up the sequel and had to DNF. It just didn’t work for me. It also didn’t work for weird friend #1, so it wasn’t just me.*
I loved A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking as well as SwordHeart, so I think this officially marks me as a T. Kingfisher fan, and I’m pretty sure I have another three or four of her books downloaded at this moment.
What I liked: – Quirky characters with a fun voice – Interesting magic/horror elements – Quick read – The writing style is both fun and interesting, (and at times, revolting in a horror-y way) keeping me engaged from the first page
What I didn’t like: – This was a short book, but I feel like I would’ve like a little more from all of the support characters (but mostly the handyman)
Totally recommend for anyone looking for a quick, fun read with a fun main character and little pops of horror and magic. And I’m looking forward to my next read from Kingfisher.
⭐⭐⭐⭐½
Basically 2024 turned into a big T. Kingfisher year, and I’m all about it.
A Castle of Broken Memories was such an awesome addition to this series! I loved this spicy Jack and the Beanstalk retelling with werewolves, vampires, magic, and of course, my personal favorite—the irreverent Tenebris. Since this book focuses on a different MC than book 1, it could be read as a stand-alone, but I highly recommend reading the first book so you can get the full background and arcs of these characters as they change and develop. As usual, Stavs’s banter and fun characters are a stand-out as she blends old fairy tales with a modern, fast-paced flavor. I totally recommend this series for anyone looking for spicy fairytale retellings peppered with pop culture references, and I’ve got my fingers crossed for a book 3!
In many ways, this was a very classic high fantasy adventure with a reluctant hero, dragons, a prince, and Princess, a wizard and kings. But I enjoyed the quirky, whimsical voice. While I originally thought this would be more of a silly, light fantasy, it definitely evolved into something more epic, even if a little self-aware. Overall I enjoyed this audiobook, and would recommend for any fantasy reader looking for a fun read with a classic feel and maybe a bit of How to Train Your Dragon energy.
⭐⭐⭐⭐½
This one gets a smile from me. Sometimes you just need some good old-fashioned fantasy fun.
Things I liked: – From a historical perspective, I really thought this story hit the injustice and brutality of the period – The main characters are likable – The mystery kept me guessing
Things I didn’t like: – Slow pace – I didn’t feel like there was enough chemistry between the main characters – I found the ending unsatisfying in more than one way – The audiobook narration was not my favorite
Recommended for those looking for a historical court room drama that takes its time and has some open ends.
⭐⭐⭐½
I’m definitely in the mood for some killer hist fic, but this just didn’t quite do it for me.
Apparently, I’m very hot or cold on Emily Henry books, so I definitely approached this one with trepidation. My current EH Tally looks like:
Absolutely Loved: Book Lovers, Beach Read
Absolutely Not for me: People We Meet On Vacation, Happy Place
However, I definitely enjoyed this heartwarming romance, and I flew through it. The characters were likable, their chemistry and tension felt real, and I loved the premise. The ending felt a little rushed for me, so it wasn’t quite as satisfying as I was hoping, but I would still put it in the “highly recommend” category (behind Book Lovers and Beach Read.) Also, the narration was fabulous, so definitely try the audiobook!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
5 stars from me. Gotta love a book that lives up to the hype.
A Lady’s Guide to Mischief and Mayhem (Ladies Most Scandalous, #1): 4.5⭐
What I liked: – Fun Characters – Quick Pace – Downton Abbey Vibes – Cozy Mystery with Romance – Could be a stand-alone – Solid audiobook narration
What I didn’t like: – I felt like quite a few elements weren’t as fleshed out as I’d like. Both the romance and the ending developed very quickly.
Overall, a quick, fun read with romance and mystery that gives Downton Abbey vibes. Will be reading the sequel!
An Heiress’s Guide to Deception and Desire (Ladies Most Scandalous, #2): 4⭐
While it can be read as a stand-alone, this book is similar to book one with light second-chance enemies to lovers dynamic, Bridgerton vibes, and a mystery to solve. I found though that I didn’t quite like the main characters as much as I did in book one, and there was quite a lot of mentions of the uneven power dynamic between men and women in the time period. While I enjoyed the read, I don’t know if I would read another book in this series.
Overall series rating:
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Needed just a bit more mischief, mayhem, deception, & desire I think.
Every so often, I try to dive into writing craft books to learn and hone my skills. Here’s a few I read this year and the nuggets of wisdom I gleaned from them. If you’re looking for a star rating, I’ve decided against giving star ratings for craft books because, to be honest, I don’t enjoy reading them, but I do it for the learning opportunity. However, I did rank them from 1-7 here!
Story Genius(#2)
I actually bought this book several years ago, but just finished it today. I took a few solid nuggets away about character and motivation, however there’s a lot of how-to writing process detail in here that wasn’t quite what I was looking for.
However, if you’re a writer just starting out and looking for a breakdown of the story crafting process, this might be the right book for you!
Big Takeaway: The reader has to connect with the main character. If not, you’ve already lost them. (This book did bring an epiphany for me a few years ago, shifting my perspective from plot-driven to character-driven.)
Steering the Craft(#4)
I’m reading writing craft books this weekend, and as this one was recommended by quite a few internet strangers, I grabbed it from the library. This is definitely different from the other craft books I read in that it really is (and the author says this upfront) a workbook with exercises and examples like you would do in a workshop.
She even has recommendations for how many writers work best in working through the exercises in a peer writer’s group, how often to meet, etc. And not only does she have detailed exercises to drive home the different elements and tools of writing but examples from classic literature as well.
Overall, it was a quick, interesting read with a few insights that resonated with me, but I would most recommend this for those looking for exercises to work through in a peer writing group, especially when refining their writing at the line level.
Big Takeways: Write for you, be intentional with punctuation, listen for your rhythm, and beware the grammar bullies.
Bird by Bird(#6)
This is another one I started a long time ago, but only finished quite recently. This, I feel like is less a guideline on writing and more a philosophical take on it.
My Big Takeways: Write one step at a time, write for you, and if you something strikes you in an emotional way, write it down.
Story: Substance, Structure, Style, and the Principles of Screenwriting(#5)
This one is a little tough to review since I got the audiobook and I found the narration somewhat off-puting. I do like how this book approached story from a very broad level and then broke down the elements of story into extremely fine detail from beats to character to setting with examples from well-known movies.
Takeaway from this one: The best stories are multilayered and universal, and if every beat doesn’t serve the story, cut it.
Creating Short Fiction(#1)
A little dated in some respects, but I actually really liked some of the exercises here, especially when it comes to mining your experience to put things that really matter to you in your writing. The interplay between the unconscious and conscious mind was also interesting. Also, his thoughts on a “story-writing computer” were also amusing considering the present world we now live in.
Big Takeaway: As a microfiction writer, I also found his delineation between a sketch, an incident, an anecdote, and a story to be interesting. (The story involves emotional involvement and impediment.) And his thoughts on contrast also resonated. (That even grim stories must have viscerally light moments and vice versa)
Of the craft books I’ve read in the last two weeks, I think this is the one I would most recommend so far.
Writing the Blockbuster Novel(#7)
Of the six writing craft books I’ve read in the last few weeks, I think this one might be my least favorite. It mostly relies on the in-depth analysis of a few stories, and while I enjoyed the big points, overall I felt it was a bit of a dry read.
Big Takeaway: Blockbuster books rely on high stakes, powerful characters, dramatic scenes, intense excitement, “sexy” settings, 3-4+ point-of-view characters, intense emotional ties between the characters, and a radical premise.
Romancing the Beat: Story Structure for Romance Novels (#3)
This craft book was concise with a light sense of humor that made it super easy to read. While I don’t think this beat structure is universal for the romance genre, I do think it is a solid starting point, and there were some good insights here.
Takeaways: Romances are about two characters who each have some flawed misconception about love that is healed through a relationship journey that foundationally changes what they think about love. They most often progress in a 2 steps forward, one step back kind of dance and the dark moment will be related to their flawed romance-perspective.
As a writer, it’s important for me to read craft books so I can grow and learn… but I’m officially craft-booked out for 2024.
A sweet coming of age centering on the friendship between two sixth grade boys (one sporty, one STEM-y.)
What I liked: – Likable Characters – Tough topics (alcoholism & divorce) tactfully addressed – Sweet friendship – No romance (I usually love romance books, but I think this story worked better for its audience without it) – Important themes of accepting who you are – Dual POVs from very different kids – Tightly paced
What I didn’t like: – Marco’s basketball growth over a week seemed a little fantastical to me – It felt like the narrative was a little skewed to Isaac supporting Marco, and I would’ve like to see a little more of Marco supporting Isaac through his tough stuff.
Recommended for anyone looking for a sporty and sweet Middle Grade with solid themes and tough topics.
⭐⭐⭐½
Had a big MG-phase in my 2024 reading year. I don’t really know how it happened, but I definitely didn’t hate it.
We interrupt this book review blog for a book release update! A Churn in the Dark (Into the Churn #2.5) launched today and the blurb is below!
***
Love and murder stir between the stars.
Four months after the Belethea Race Royale team’s narrow escape from Otho and Casolla’s dark syndicates, Sylvia Long, Grady/Guns, and Belethea’s newest doubles team arrive on Crion for its inaugural New Year Race. But with Sterling/Hart enjoying their own holiday back home, Sylvia struggles to balance her ever-growing duties as both team coach and manager.
Meanwhile, Agent Shiro Tanaka—Sylvia’s boyfriend and the Belethea royalers’ one-man security team—is determined to use this working holiday to propose to Sylvia under Crion’s aurora-bathed skies. But when the race takes a dark turn, all their plans go out the airlock as Shiro and Sylvia rush to save their royalers.
The bad blood is still thick in Casolla, and someone isn’t about to let Belethea forget it.
***
Ebooks of this novella are available on Amazon and Whimsical Publishing’s website! If you want to check out the A Churn in the Dark vibes on Spotify, you can find the playlist here. And you can also add it to your Goodreads, here.
Also, the cover reveal for Into the Abyss (Into the Churn #3), the last book in the trilogy, is scheduled for December 3rd and will release in March, so keep an eye out!
As always, thank you so much for reading and all of your support—your recommendations, ratings, and reviews give these books wings! (And if you’d like to receive updates like this to your email, you can sign up for my author newsletter here!)
Hayley Reese Chow 