I totally love this author’s graphic novels. They always draw me in and just leave me feeling cozy & thoughtful. Since this one’s on the shorter side, it held the vibe of episode of Star Trek for me. Not going to lie, I was so glad to see the robots rebuilt at the end, and it’s always fun when you can emotionally invested even in a short piece. If you’re interested in a sci-fi in a unique world with a relatable premise, I definitely recommend picking this one up and I’m excited to see what the author comes out with next! Thanks so much to the author for sending me a review copy!
I really enjoyed book one, but book 2 wasn’t for me. I felt it was extremely plot driven, and I would’ve enjoyed more character and relationship development. I also felt like the post-apocalyptic virus/zombie vibes weren’t as strong here, and in general, I didn’t feel as invested in the story. Of course that’s just my subjective 2 cents, so if you loved the first one, I’d still give this a try. Though be warned, while I felt like the romance subplot was significant in book one, it is barely there in this one. (no rating.)
The number one question I get is about my books is: “Are you books ‘clean’?” That is a super hard question to answer, because everyone’s definition of ‘clean’ is different. So I’ve made these *very* specific content guides to help readers and parents determine if my books are right for them. Of course, if you have more specific questions, please be sure to reach out!
This post is specifically about my Into the Churn series, but I will also make posts for my Odriel’s Heirs series and my upper-middle-grade stand-alone, The Gatekeeper of Pericael. Thanks for reading!
So I usually try to include my writing updates in my bi-annual author newsletter (which you can sign up for here), but it’s been a while since I dropped one in the blog, and I’ve got a lot of irons in the fire, I figured I’d post a little recap.
As of this writing, I currently have ten books published.
The 5-book Odriel’s Heirs series is complete. Reading order: Odriel’s Heirs, Burning Shadows, Idriel’s Children, Night of Ash, Time’s Orphan. And honestly, I’m actively trying to step away from further investment in this series in the way of time or promotion. (It’s hard because I do love them so much, but I’m trying to look forward.) They’re all free to read somewhere, and Odriel’s Heirs pretty consistently lives in the top twenty of Amazon’s Free Teen & Young Adult Dark Fantasy ebooks and Teen & Young Adult Epic Fantasy ebooks. It’s downloaded regularly and has over Amazon 200 ratings with a 4.5 star average, so I’m pretty happy with that.
The Gatekeeper of Pericael remains as my only upper-middle-grade adventure, and again, I’m trying to actively step away from further investment. Also permafree, it still gets downloads on a weekly basis, and some reviews trickle in. An agent once told me, “You’ve written a beautiful book, but I have no idea how to market it,” and I completely agree with her. I love the creepy little monsterific book, but its target audience is strong middle grade readers who are looking for a good scare in their fantasy… which is a hard group to reach. As someone who was a horror-loving middle-schooler myself, I do absolutely love it though when it finds its way into the hands of the right reader. *So satisfying.* Strangely this “middle-school boy fantasy” is the only one I’ve sold out of at book signings, so that’s pretty cool too.
The 5-book Into the Churn series is also on the verge of completion. Reading order: Into the Churn, Into the Fire, A Churn in the Dark, Into the Abyss, A Churn in the (Virtual) Society. That last one now available for preorder and will release on September 16th. Since this is still a very new completed series, it’s currently the one I’m marketing most, and with Amazon ratings creeping up (184 now) I finally feel like it’s finding its audience. Overall, I’m super proud of this series, I can’t wait to hold that 5th book in my hands, and see what readers think of our last adventure in the Casolla system.
So where are we going here? Well, this year, my coauthor (E.P. Stavs) and signed a 2-book deal with Charlesbridge Publishing for Midnight Falls, our YA Paranormal Mystery (think of it as Gilmore Gils + Spirited Away + Addams Family.) But that won’t be coming out until Fall of 2027. Erin and I have two more Paranormal Adventures in that same universe—Borrowed Magic & Other Catastrophes (complete and with our agent) and A Witch’s Guide to Mischief and Moonlight (hoping to complete the first draft in June)—that we’re hoping to package together into a magical tourism series, but we’ll see how it goes.
But what about a 2026 release?! Well… I may have a little secret up my sleeve. It’s a little too early to say for sure, but I’m thinking my other Paranormal Mystery (think Veronica Mars + Bride + The Office) maybe be launching into the world in September 2026. The first draft is complete, but I’m still working on the first revision before I send it off to the powers that be. If all goes well, the official announcement will go out in October, and that will be part of a trilogy slated for 2026, 2027, & 2028 release. Fingers crossed!
But what about all of these other books you talk about? Indeed, dear reader, indeed. The traditional publishing pipeline is a long one with many ups and downs. My contemporary YA romcom, Inky & Heater IRL (think You Got Mail + Falling Into Your Smile), is technically on sub, along with my creepy YA Paranormal, The Ninth Circle (Stranger Things + Supernatural + Buffy), but we’ll be pivoting our energies to focus on my other WIPs ready to launch into the sub trenches.
Most notably, Codename: CNDRLA (Ever After + Mission Impossible) is the newest penguin to jump off the iceberg into the unpredictable waters of submission, and my agent (Kristen Terrette) and I are super excited for it!
Exit Seats (When Harry Met Sally + Fangirl) is next in line. And then I also have a *dark* NA Fantasy, House of the Chosen, (Gideon the Ninth + Phantasma) that I’m hoping to send my agent at the end of the summer.
And that’s basically the long and short of it. To sum up: 10 books published 1 book scheduled for September 2025 release 1 book planned for a September 2026 release 2 books planned for 2027 release 2 books planned for a 2028 release 3 books on sub 1 book with agent 2 books on route to my agent this summer
So where is my energy concentrated right now? – Promoting the Into the Churn series – Bagging that September 2026 contract – Crossing my fingers SUPER hard for Codename: CNDRLA (like SUPER hard. It’s seriously one of my favorite book children)
Anyways, thanks for coming on the journey with me! And if you want to make sure you hear about my releases, remember to sign up for my newsletter or follow me on Amazon for notifications when I have another book published!
If you’re looking for ways to support me and enjoyed my books, ratings & reviews help a ton.
Whoa. I read this book in one sitting when I was exhausted and worn out with the world, and it was exactly the breath of fresh air I needed. Brimming with emotion, haunting in its symbolism, and unapologetically unique, this is the book I didn’t know I was looking for. Human Scars on Planet Skin meets you at the intersection of environmental devastation, overwhelming grief, and dogged restoration. It’s a story of the scars of both the world and those we carry with us. Of the things we cannot carry. Of our place in the balance of nature, life, death, and the other souls around us. Of the pain and process of healing, even in the face of unspeakable horror. Told through the eyes of a psychedelic mushroom and somehow comfortingly bizarre, this is a one-of-a-kind story for those looking for a visceral, heartfelt journey that takes you to the depths of despair while also highlighting the tenacity of hope in a lovable word that you can feel to your bones. Highly recommend.
A smart, techy sci-fi adventure with big Star Trek & Battlestar Galactica vibes & side of slowburn romance. Skyla was definitely my favorite POV, and I loved the idea of the connection with the ships. (Also, I loved that she had Fenrir – think big, epic doggo!) Definitely recommend for sci-fi fans looking for a space opera with big military & science elements.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
We definitely need more sci-fi romance in the world!
A cozy, heartfelt sci-fi novella that perfectly explores the uncertainty of finding your way in new adulthood. With themes of navigating family, purpose, and connection on a peaceful, alien moon, this novella feels like a warm blanket one a cold day. Thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Definitely need a cozy read to recharge every now and then!
Aww I loved this one! A story of a bodyguard looking to set aside a peaceful life to explore the galaxy again and reclaim a part of his old self learns that not all prices are worth paying, and perhaps a peaceful existence surrounded by friends isn’t so bad after all. Engaging and fast-paced, I thoroughly enjoyed this graphic novel and would definitely pick up the next one.
Recommended to those (8+ ish) looking for a sci-fi graphic novel with characters you can root for and deeper themes.
What I liked: – Murderbot’s voice is hard not to love, man – Absolutely FABULOUS narration
What I didn’t like: – Honestly, I just wanted more. Murderbot kind of steals the whole show and I was hoping for a little more bonding between the characters. Totally in for book 2 though!
Recommended for anyone looking for short but engrossing and very character-driven sci-fi.
I really enjoyed this read! It basically reminded me of a mix of Gundam Wing and a medieval joust.
What I liked: – Unique World Building – Strong emotions (all the righteous rage and grief) – Morality is in all shades of gray. – Multi-POVs from characters with very contrasting perspectives – Slowly unfurling political intrigue – Solid audiobook narration
What I didn’t like: – The relationship between Rax and Synali. While I like both Rax and Synali individually, their relationship felt a bit forced to me and rather stagnant. For some reason, I see this is listed in the romantasy genre and brahhh, that is inaccurate. This is a straight sci-fi. – Very plot-driven. In general, there’s not a lot of deep, evolving relationships between the characters but that may be because… (see next bullet) – This book doesn’t stand alone in any way. Most readers won’t mind this, but the end reads like we kind of dropped off in the middle of the book, and it’s a bit of a pet peeve of mine.
Recommended for those looking for an engrossing sci-fi with some interesting world building and intriguing political turmoil. (But definitely not a romantasy)
⭐⭐⭐⭐½
If we can compare it to Gundam Wing, you’ve probably got me already.
Hayley Reese Chow 