Reading Level: Adult
Genre: Fantasy
Length: 370 pages
Publisher: Tor Books
Release Date: October 13, 2026
ASIN: B0G76V6XNQ
Stand Alone or Series: 2nd book in The Blacktongue series (can be read as a stand alone)
Source: eGalley from NetGalley for Review
Rating: 4/5 stars

“Professional thief and inveterate trickster Kinch Na Shannack has always enjoyed a good book. But now his life, and the future of all of Manreach, depends on deciphering a very bad book indeed; a stolen, sentient tome that tries to kill him every time he opens it—and often when it’s closed.

Galva, veteran of the goblin wars and death’s sworn handmaiden, has vowed to protect Kinch while he mines the book for its dark magic and even darker secrets. She does so not for Kinch’s sake—though the cheeky bastard is growing on her—but because the book is the key to stopping the shadowy tyrants out to kill the queen she serves—and loves.

The ruthless, all-seeing Taker’s Guild dogs their every step, and thief and knight must flee the known world entirely if they hope to succeed. But trouble finds Kinch wherever he goes, and the pair may have traded the devil they know for horrors far darker and hungrier as they enter lands unknown.”

Series Info/Source: This is the 3rd book in the Riftwalker series, but each book can be read as a stand alone. I got an eGalley of this from NetGalley for Review

Thoughts: I liked “The Blacktongue Thief” a bit more than this book, but enjoyed this more than “The Daughters’ War”. Buehlman has a completely unique way of writing and Kinch Na Shannack’s voice is distinct and unlike anything you’ve read before.

In this installment Kinch and Galva are fleeing from Kinch’s shadow guild into the mountains to allow Kinch time to learn dark secrets and spells from an evil book. Glava hopes that these new secrets and spells will help protect her beloved queen from Kinch’s shadow guild. However, right from the beginning of the journey, things go horribly wrong.

This book is gory, crass, and not for the faint of heart; similar to the other two books in this series. We are back to more humor here (versus “The Daughters’ War”, which was very dark throughout) and many parts in the first half of the book had me laughing out loud. I really enjoyed the humor, the action, and the adventure of the first half.

Things slow down quite a bit mid-book, and I struggled to get through some of these parts. The events that do happen are a bit wonky and hard to picture and follow. The story also gets much darker as we get into the second half of the book, and I just didn’t find this as enjoyable or entertaining to read. While I enjoyed the descriptions, sometimes the story gets a bogged down by these long descriptions. I would find myself skimming these portions and then have to force myself to go back and re-read those parts.

I really enjoyed the unique way language is used throughout. This series is really unlike anything else I have read, so I appreciate the novelty here. I also really loved how Kinch and Galva gain depth as characters and grow as traveling companions. I loved the adventure component to this story and enjoyed this complex world full of goblins, giants, and gods.

The ending is well done, and it seems like we can expect another book in this series (I hope). I would definitely recommend reading “The Blacktongue Thief” before reading this book. I would also recommend reading “The Daughters’ War” before reading this so you have Galva’s background; however, be prepared for a dark and depressing read when you read that one. I do think you could skip “The Daughters’ War” and get through this book fine; you just won’t understand Galva and her motivations as well.

My Summary (4/5): Overall I enjoyed this, not quite as much as “The Blacktongue Thief” but more than “That Daughters’ War”. I love the unique world here and really enjoy Kinch’s turns of phrase and general nuttiness. This is crass, gory, and a lot of fun. While this book started incredibly entertaining and moved at a good pace initially, it really slowed down mid-book and started to drag. Things did pick up again towards the end. I plan to continue with this series and look forward to the next book when it releases.

Reading Level: Adult
Genre: Horror/Thriller
Length: 320 pages
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: November 17, 2026
ASIN: B0GNYM9GCS
Stand Alone or Series: Stand Alone Book
Source: eGalley from NetGalley for Review
Rating: 4/5 stars

“Nora Pacetti is a new stay-at-home mother—she’s tired but coping while caring for her happy, healthy baby, Olivia. But then one morning, something that looks like a feather starts growing out of Olivia’s arm. Or at least, that’s what Nora’s mother, Giulia, thinks. Nora thinks her mother has probably spent too much time watching conspiracy videos on YouTube.

Nora’s husband thinks Olivia needs tests, specialists, hospitals. But Nora senses that whatever is happening to her daughter needs to be concealed—and a mother’s intuition is never wrong. Soon sinister people begin asking questions about Olivia, and Nora starts to wonder if there really is something wrong with her baby. But she’s determined to discover the truth about her daughter . . . no matter the cost.”

Series Info/Source: This is a stand alone book. I got an eGalley of this from NetGalley for Review

Thoughts: This was a very well done thriller/horror sort of book. It was compulsively readable, very hard to put down. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect coming in, but the pace was non-stop, almost leaving you breathless. I am a big fan of Christina Henry and have read her Madeline Black seris (loved it), the Chronicles of Alice series (loved it), “The Mermaid” (liked it), “The Girl in Red” (loved it), and “Horseman” (liked it).

This story follows Nora as she navigates being a new stay-at-home mother. She is growing resentful of her husband who is dodging parental duty with excuses of work and his own social life even though they agreed to do this baby thing together. Then one day her baby daughter, Olivia, is inconsoable. That is when Nora sees a tiny black splinter like thing growing from her daughter’s arm. Nora’s mother (who is a conspiracy theory nut and doomsday prepper) absolutely doesn’t think Nora should take Olivia to the doctor. However, Nora’s husband is adamant that they figure out what is going on. Nora is exhausted and being pulled between the two. Things start to unravel as Olivia’s issues continue and creepy things start to happen to Nora and her husband.

For the most part I enjoyed this. The pain and exhaustion Nora feels is very real and well depicted. There are a number of twists and turns throughout the story which I really enjoyed and the story is incredibly fast-paced and hard to put down.

I think my only disappointment was in the story device used to explain the “why” behind the pinfeathers that start growing on Olivia. There were hints that the reason behind this was something more, but then the main reason given behind this was a story device that has been way overused to explain why a human starts showing strange traits. Really the “why” behind all of this felt a bit muddled, like we were given a reason why but maybe it was something else, but we’re not sure. Maybe that uncertainty was deliberate but it left me feeling a slightly unsatisfied with the story as a whole.

The above is a pretty minor quibble, this was a very well done story and incredibly engaging and readable. It was creepy in a very real way and I found the ending incredibly satisfying (if a bit unhinged). This is the first of a series of creepy Halloween month reads I have lined up and it didn’t disappoint.

My Summary (4/5): Overall I really enjoyed this. I liked the fast-paced, the creepiness, the characers, and the twists and turns. I though the ending was spectacular. My only complaint is the over-used story device used to explain Olivia’s “condition”. I would recommend this as an excellent creepy read, especially for those who enjoy Henry’s writing and how unhinged it can be. I looked forward to what she writes next.

Reading Level: Adult
Genre: Science Fiction
Length: 571 pages
Publisher: Orbit
Release Date: June 15, 2011
ASIN: B0047Y171G
Stand Alone or Series: 1st book in The Expanse series
Source: Borrowed ebook from Library
Rating: 3/5 stars

“Humanity has colonized the solar system—Mars, the Moon, the Asteroid Belt and beyond—but the stars are still out of our reach.

Jim Holden is XO of an ice miner making runs from the rings of Saturn to the mining stations of the Belt. When he and his crew stumble upon a derelict ship, the Scopuli, they find themselves in possession of a secret they never wanted. A secret that someone is willing to kill for—and kill on a scale unfathomable to Jim and his crew. War is brewing in the system unless he can find out who left the ship and why.

Detective Miller is looking for a girl. One girl in a system of billions, but her parents have money and money talks. When the trail leads him to the Scopuli and rebel sympathizer Holden, he realizes that this girl may be the key to everything.

Holden and Miller must thread the needle between the Earth government, the Outer Planet revolutionaries, and secretive corporations—and the odds are against them. But out in the Belt, the rules are different, and one small ship can change the fate of the universe.”

Series Info/Source: This is the first book in The Expanse series. I got borrowed this on ebook from my library.

Thoughts: I read the first 40% of this book and just wasn’t enjoying it so I decided to set it aside. I have had this book on my TBR list since it released and kept putting it off because I thought it might be too hard sci-fi for me. I finally put it on my list of “10 books to read this year that I’ve had on my TBR list for ever but haven’t gotten to”. It wasn’t really too hard sci-fi, but it still wasn’t for me.

The first part is a bit confusing. The story starts with prologue from one POV, which I found interesting. However, after that you jump between two different POVs; that of Jim Holden and Detective Miller. I didn’t really like either of these characters. Holden didn’t have much personality and Miller was depressing. I found the members of Holden’s crew to be relatively interchangeable as well.

The pacing was incredibly inconsistent; things are slow, then super fast paced, then slow again. As soon as the story gains momentum, you are left on a cliffhanger and switch POV. By the time you get back to the “cliffhanger” POV, the story has lost its momentum. I never appreciate when an author uses the “cliffhanger” device as a way to keep the reader reading (either at the end of the book or at the end of a chapter). I always feel like the story should be interesting enough on its own that you want to read it, not that the author should force you into reading it.

I am not a huge fan of hard sci-fi, and to be honest, this has enough other things going on that it isn’t solely hard sci-fi. There are a lot of politics, imminent war, and a missing person’s investigation. It was a lot going on, and jumping back and forth between the stories (while not that confusing) felt scattered. I am sure everything eventually comes together and starts to make a cohesive story, but it was a long and slow journey there.

I know people say later books in this series are much better. However, I didn’t really like anything about this story in the first 40% so I am going to say this world isn’t for me. Giving it a neutral 3 stars in case the second half is amazing.

My Summary (3/5): Overall this wasn’t for me. The pacing is all over the place, the characters weren’t engaging or interesting, and the story feels scattered, like it is trying to be too many things at once. I stopped reading at 40% in and am completely fine with not knowing how the story progresses, which tells you how much I just didn’t care for this. I don’t plan on reading any more books in The Expanse series.

Reading Level: Adult
Genre: Historical Fiction
Length: 14 hours and 7 minutes
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Release Date: March 21, 2017
ASIN: 06WLNSH2W
Stand Alone or Series: Stand Alone Book
Source: Audiobook from Audible.com
Rating: 4/5 stars

“In their remote mountain village, Li-yan and her family align their lives around the seasons and the farming of tea. For the Akha people, ensconced in ritual and routine, life goes on as it has for generations—until a stranger appears at the village gate in a jeep, the first automobile any of the villagers has ever seen.

The stranger’s arrival marks the first entrance of the modern world in the lives of the Akha people. Slowly, Li-yan, one of the few educated girls on her mountain, begins to reject the customs that shaped her early life. When she has a baby out of wedlock—conceived with a man her parents consider a poor choice—she rejects the tradition that would compel her to give the child over to be killed, and instead leaves her, wrapped in a blanket with a tea cake tucked in its folds, near an orphanage in a nearby city.

As Li-yan comes into herself, leaving her insular village for an education, a business, and city life, her daughter, Haley, is raised in California by loving adoptive parents. Despite her privileged childhood, Haley wonders about her origins. Across the ocean Li-yan longs for her lost daughter. Over the course of years, each searches for meaning in the study of Pu’er, the tea that has shaped their family’s destiny for centuries.”

Series Info/Source: This is a stand alone book. I got this on audiobook from Audible.com.

Thoughts: I have had this on my “to be read” list for many years and finally made it a priority this year to read it. I remember it being on a list of top historical fiction books and I thought it sounded intriguing. There were parts of this book I really enjoyed and things that I enjoyed less. I listened to this on audiobook and the audiobook was incredibly well done, I would recommend listening to on audiobook if you enjoy audiobooks.

Li-yan is part of the Akha people who grow tea in a remote mountain village. Li-yan is incredibly bright and hopes to be one of the first of her village to go to secondary school and leave the village. Everything changes when she becomes pregnant with a “reject” and opts to put her daughter up for adoption rather than have her killed. Then when a stranger comes to their village in an automobile hoping to find Pu’re. Li-yan is the only person in the village who can translate for him and starts a new journey to become an expert in tea. Meanwhile her daughter, Haley, is adopted by a Californian couple and is navigating what it is like to be a Chinese adoptee in America.

A lot of this novel was very thoughtful and interesting. I loved learning about the Akha traditions and about the policies in China in the 1980s. The Akha way of life is fairly primitive and I kept checking the timeline for this story because they seemed to live so far in the past. I also really enjoyed Haley’s perspective and the discussion of issues that Chinese adoptees were dealing with in America at that time. I also enjoyed learning about the history of tea in China and in particular Pu’er.

I had some issues with both the characters and the pacing of the story. The middle of this book is very slow and I found my interest wandering. If I had been physcially reading this instead of listening to it, I would have really had to push through these parts.

I also found Li-yan’s character to be frustrating. She makes a lot of very poor decisions despite all the advice from her family and friends. For a supposed genius of a girl she is very low on wisdom and the decisions she makes put her on a much tougher path through life. I also found it frustrating that the success she does finally see doesn’t seem due to her growth as a character but to people doing favors for her, in part, because she is a beautiful young woman. I also was incredibly frustrated by the fact that nearly all her problems were solved by her marrying a rich man. The whole romance in the second half of the book seemed so contrived and solving all your problems by marrying into money felt like a cop out.

The ending felt very rushed. I would have liked a bit more to see how things played out for Li-yan and Haley. There is also some unfinished business between Li-yan and other characters in the story.

My Summary (4/5): Overall this was an intriguing look at rural life in China, a Chinese adoptee’s struggles in America, and the history of tea in China. The story gets very slow, especially mid-book, and I struggled to stay interested through part of it. Li-yan was a frustrating character to read about and was determined to make bad decisions but somehow ends up fairly successful through favors others do for her. The ending of the book felt both rushed and contrived to me. If you are intrigued by Chinese history (1980’s to 2000’s) this is an excellent read with a decent storyline. However, be prepared to deal with some slow parts and to roll your eyes a bit at Li-yan as a character.

Reading Level: Adult
Genre: Science Fiction
Length: 322 pages
Publisher: Del Rey
Release Date: August 4, 2020
ASIN: B08191MPPS
Stand Alone or Series: 1st book in The Space Between Worlds series
Source: Borrowed ebook from Library
Rating: 3/5 stars

“Multiverse travel is finally possible, but there’s just one catch: No one can visit a world where their counterpart is still alive. Enter Cara, whose parallel selves happen to be exceptionally good at dying—from disease, turf wars, or vendettas they couldn’t outrun. Cara’s life has been cut short on 372 worlds in total.

On this dystopian Earth, however, Cara has survived. Identified as an outlier and therefore a perfect candidate for multiverse travel, Cara is plucked from the dirt of the wastelands. Now what once made her marginalized has finally become an unexpected source of power. She has a nice apartment on the lower levels of the wealthy and walled-off Wiley City. She works—and shamelessly flirts—with her enticing yet aloof handler, Dell, as the two women collect off-world data for the Eldridge Institute. She even occasionally leaves the city to visit her family in the wastes, though she struggles to feel at home in either place. So long as she can keep her head down and avoid trouble, Cara is on a sure path to citizenship and security.

But trouble finds Cara when one of her eight remaining doppelgängers dies under mysterious circumstances, plunging her into a new world with an old secret. What she discovers will connect her past and her future in ways she could have never imagined—and reveal her own role in a plot that endangers not just her world but the entire multiverse.”

Series Info/Source: This is the 1st book in The Space Between Worlds series. I got borrowed this on ebook from my library.

Thoughts: I have had this on my “to read” pile for quite some time and made it a priority to finally read it this year. There are some intriguing ideas here but ultimately the story feels fairly forgettable. This book reminded me a lot of the “Firebird” series by Claudia Grey. I enjoyed the Firebird series a lot more than this book and would recommend that series over this if you enjoy reading books about multiverses.

The story follows Cara, who traverses realities. Cara was recruited from the wastelands to travel between multiverses because you can only survive travel to a paralell reality if your other self is dead in that reality. Out of the 380ish parallel realities that humanity can travel to, Cara is dead on 372 of them making her an incredible resource for multiverse travel. Cara is getting close to getting her citizenship in Wiley City, but the company she works for is on the brink on creating an autonomous way to visit these multiverses which would eliminate the need for human travelers. As a result she is struggling to figure out what is next. Then one of the realities she travels to almost kills her and she finds out there are a lot of dark secrets around this industry.

There were some things about this story I liked and some that I didn’t like. I like the premise behind the story; while not incredibly unique it is more well thought out than a lot of books about humans traveling between multiverses. I also enjoyed the way “prime” humanity is taking advantage of this ability to travel by information mining other multiverses.

Unfortunately there was a lot I didn’t like as well. Everyone’s acceptance of Cara’s reality as the prime reality was a bit odd. Wouldn’t everyone assume that their home reality is the prime reality? Also there were some twists and turns, that were incredibly predictable and you could see coming from miles away.

Lastly it felt like there was both too much going on here and that the story wasn’t going deep enough. You have Cara struggling to find a new job, you have humans taking advantage of information from other multi-verses, you have a number of sociaeconomic issues happening, and an egomaniac trying to basically control all multi-verses. It was a lot and it made the story feel unfocused and scattered. There was also a lot of potential to dive deep into some intriguing issues here but it felt like we never really go there. This hinted at intriguing world-building as well, but we never really understand what is going on outside of Wiley city and why the Ashlands are run the way they were. Some of this is briefly discussed but it wasn’t fully fleshed out.

I wasn’t a huge fan of any of the characters either, they all felt shallow and lacked depth. Cara was okay but because of the situation with her traveling so many realities she never seemed sure of who she was (I think this is part of the point).

This was an excellent idea story, but I didn’t love the way it was executed and don’t plan on reading the follow-up book to this series “Those Beyond the Wall”. I am a bit perplexed at how much hubbub was made about this novel when it was released. It’s fine but not great.

My Summary (3/5): Overall this was okay. I liked some of the ideas in here but the story felt scattered and a bit confused about what it was trying to be. This was an easy enough quick read, but it was also fairly forgettable. The characters and world felt under developed to me and the story was predictable despite having what I think were supposed to be big plot twists. I don’t plan on reading any more books by Johnson in the future. I would recommend Grey’s “Firebird” series over this one if you enjoy reading about this sort of multiverse thing.

Reading Level: Adult
Genre: Urban Fantasy/Horror
Length: 352 pages
Publisher: Harper Voyager
Release Date: November 17, 2026
ASIN: B0GNSDC2FB
Stand Alone or Series: 13th book in the Sandman Slim series
Source: eGalley from NetGalley for Review
Rating: 5/5 stars

“A devil’s work is never done.

James Stark, aka Sandman Slim, is trying to find his footing in a Heaven that’s anything but heavenly. And when God gets attacked and the angels and hellions start picking sides for a new war, the celestial realm is one spark away from an explosion. Stark just wants to be left alone to watch old movies, but when a madman named Dixie Midnight starts cutting a bloody path through the palace, he’s dragged back into the fray.

Stark’s investigation uncovers a conspiracy that goes deeper than he could have ever imagined. And every new encounter leads to yet another mystery, another foe, and—at one point—a spell that is inexorably draining his very essence. Betrayed by those he should be able to trust, hunted by supposed friends and enemies alike—all while running out of time, because apparently there is nothing after the afterlife—Stark must navigate the treacherous corridors of Heaven and the backroads of Hell to solve a problem he only sort of understands.

And he’d kill for a good apple fritter.

Death is not the worst thing that can happen to Stark—dealing with bureaucratic assholes, renegade angels, and homicidal sociopaths is. Stark thought he was done with being the monster killer…done with being the monster. He was wrong.
And that means Heaven must wait…”

Series Info/Source: This is the 13th book in the Sandman Slim series. I got an eGalley of this from NetGalley for Review

Thoughts: I was disappointed by how anti-climatic “King Bullet” (book 12) was and didn’t think it was a great ending to this series. Imagine my delight when I saw a 13th Sandman Slim book pop up and I was able to get a copy for review. This book was wonderful and ended the series in a much better place than “King Bullet” did.

Stark aka Sandman Slim is in Heaven and is finding adjustment to Heavingly living rough. What Stark needs is a purpose, a job. When the opportunity to run his own theater is dangled in front of him, he jumps at the opportunity but first he has to help solve a mystery of disappearing angels. Stark quickly finds out that Dixie Midnight is carving a bloody path through Heaven. However, nothing is ever simple and the factions of Heaven are restless.

I’ve absolutely loved this series from the very first book and was a bit disappointed at how King Bullet ended it. Then I was leery about another Sandman Slim book. Would it suck? Would it be awesome? Thank goodness it was awesome. Stark has changed a lot since the first book and this book definitely humanizes him even further. He is depressed, he is stuck, and, yep, he is in Heaven. It was great to watch Stark find new purpose and kick a lot of butt. Stark is joined on this new journey by former friends and allies that he had lost and has encounters with former enemies he had already vanquised.

I loved how this story played out. It was fast-paced with plenty of unexpected twists and turns. I love Stark as a character; his obsession with obscure movies, and his bulldozer way of approaching problems is always highly entertaining. This was pure fun from the beginning to the end.

My Summary (5/5): Overall I absolutely loved this and am so happy to end this series in a better place than we were left after “King Bullet”. I loved seeing Stark pick up the pieces, kick some butt, and be a general pain in the ass for powers that be. If you enjoyed the Sandman Slim series definitely pick this book up. It was super easy to fall back into this world and story and highly entertaining the whole way through. If you haven’t read the Sandman Slim series and like dark humor, and gritty action in your urban fantasy reads, what are you waiting for?

Reading Level: Adult
Genre: Historical Fantasy
Length: 304 pages
Publisher: Viking
Release Date: November 10, 2026
ASIN: B0GMTG3ZDK
Stand Alone or Series: Stand Alone Book
Source: eGalley from NetGalley for Review
Rating: 3/5 stars

“Eleventh century Kangzhu. In a small village, far from the political conflicts of the royal dynasty, a too-young Yu’er is sold off to be married at the word of a jing, a shapeshifting-demon who prophesizes that her parents will thus gain wealth beyond their imagination. Her new husband Xiaozhu is, like her, barely more than a child himself—but he’s kind, and, over the years, Yu’er heals as they build a home together. They become allies, then friends, then lovers.

Until misfortune befalls them, once again at the hands of a demon. They’re left destitute and estranged. Reeling from loss, and determined to never leave her fate in another’s hands, Yu’er decides to strike her own bargain with a jing: she will have all the agency and riches she desires. She just has to leave Xiaozhu and their home together, forever—a price that will cost her more than she then understands.

Yu’er’s choice sets off a saga that will lead her to the heart of the royal court, and bring her more power than she ever dreamed of, but may kill her humanity along the way, in this sweeping tale of love, revenge, and redemption.”

Series Info/Source: This is a stand alone book. I got an eGalley of this from NetGalley for Review

Thoughts: This was an odd story. I really enjoyed the first part of it, but then things get pretty confusing half-way through. I didn’t really enjoy the progression of the story after that and found the way the story ended to be depressing.

Yu’er and her sister are married off because a jing prophesied that once both of their daughters were married her parents would gain wealth beyond imagination. Yu’er finds herself dropped off in a destitute hovel with a husband who won’t touch her, an abusive drunk of a father-in-law, and a spiteful grandmother-in-law. Eventually Yu’er and her husband, Xiaozhu, start to build a life together. Then disaster strikes at the hands of another jing and Yu’er decides to strike her own bargain with a different jing, a bargain that will give her all the riches she desires.

This was told in an odd format. The first third or so of the book is told from Yu’er’s perspective. This part I enjoyed. We get a look at Yu’er’s day to day life and get to watch as she starts to make the best out of a very tough situation. Then, the second part of the book is told from her husband, Xiaozhu’s perspective. This part was confusing. It is set 6 years after the first part of the book and is mainly about him eking out a living and suffering after Yu’er leaves. We don’t know what happened to Yu’er.

Then Yu’er appears again and we still don’t know what happened to her during those seven years. Eventually, you figure out that the stories between chapters help to tell the tale of the time she went missing. It is a kind of clever way to tell the story but also very confusing to the reader.

In the end, this is a story of revenge and honestly a bit of a train wreck. Yu’er keeps making selfish decisions in an effort to get her revenge, but she never stops to realize how wonderful her life could be if she could just let that revenge and anger go and moved forward. The whole thing made me sad and depressed.

The side characters were underdeveloped throughout the story. Even though we read from Xiaozhu’s perspective, he seems like a very shallow and uninspiring character. All of the side characters were very one-dimensional. The world-building was also very thin here. We know that jing (shapeshifters/demons) exist but we don’t really get any background on how they are woven into the world. We know there is conflict between regions, but that is glossed over as well.

I read this fairly quickly, mostly because I was confused and trying to figure out what happened to Yu’er during the six years she was missing. However, I found the way this ended to be even more depressing and a bit abrupt. Everything about this book just felt a bit underdeveloped and off to me.

My Summary (3/5): Overall there are some interesting ideas here but the format at this book was confusing and hard to follow. Although Yu’er is an intriguing character, all of the side characters felt underdeveloped. The world-building also felt thin and underdeveloped. This is a depressing and bleak story that wasn’t really my cup of tea. I don’t plan to read future books by Marsden and wouldn’t really recommend this one. I finished it, but I didn’t really enjoy the process of reading it, this is a book I would have been fine skipping.

“Missy is a Wicked cursed with the ability to create disease, but that doesn’t make her evil. Too bad her rival, Atlantes Blackwood, doesn’t see it that way. As a Witch, he has a particular dislike for Wickeds, but he’ll just have to get over it. He needs her help figuring out what’s diseasing the Witches’ network of magic, and Missy is uniquely qualified to give it.

All she’s asking for in return is ten measly little dates to make her ex-boyfriend jealous. What a deal!

Atlantes wants nothing to do with Wickeds, and certainly not the woman who told him he has resting Witch face. From the moment Missy steps into his life, she’s an agent of chaos. If she’s not getting them invited to a cult couples’ retreat, she’s exploding pancake batter all over his kitchen or forcing him to face truths he’d rather avoid.

Together, they have the chance to change the future of all Wickeds and Witches, and maybe their own futures too, because those fake kisses are starting to feel real.”

Series Info/Source: This is the third (and final) book in the Wicked Sisters trilogy. I borrowed this on ebook through Kindle Unlimited.

Thoughts: I absolutely loved this third book in the Wicked Sisters trilogy. This book follows Missy and we learn a lot more about the balance between the Wickeds and the Witches.

Missy made a deal with Atlantes, one of the Pillar Witches; she will help him figure out the disease infesting the Witches’ network of magic if he promises to go on ten dates with her to make her ex jealous. Atlantes hates Wickeds and Missy in particular; when Missy enters his life it is nothing but chaos. However, Atlantes can’t help but admire Missy’s intelligence and toughness. When their fake dating ends up with them at a couples’ retreat, things start to steam up between the two of them.

This was an excellent balance of romance and progression of the story about the Wickeds, the Witches, and the Shadow Council. Missy is the bubbly one, the extrovert, and I was worried I wouldn’t like her as much as the other sisters. However, I ended up really loving her as a character and really enjoying Atlantes as well. The chemistry between the two of them was off the charts. This is definitely a sort of opposites attract type of story, and it was very well done.

The mystery behind the disease in the Witches’ magic network is also fascinating. I really enjoyed how this mystery progressed and loved the resolution to it. We get closure around the Shadow Council and around the instability surrounding the Wickeds’ magic.

This was an engaging story that was hard to put down and incredibly easy to read. The story pulled me through the book, and I read it in no time at all. I love reading this series in the fall and was a bit sad that we will be leaving this unique family of Wickeds behind. I thoroughly enjoyed this paranormal romance series. It is heavy on the romance but also has a good story and unique world to back up that romance.

My Summary (5/5): Overall I absolutely loved this conclusion to the Wicked Sisters series. Both Missy and Atlantes are fascinating characters and have excellent chemistry. I loved the progression of the story around the Wickeds and Witches and how everything tied up. This was a fun read, that was steamy and engaging. I have loved all the books in this trilogy. If you are looking for a wonderful fall read with good family vibes, steamy romance, and an intriguing world and mystery, this is a great series and I would highly recommend it.

Reading Level: Adult
Genre: Fantasy
Length: 400 pages
Publisher: Orbit
Release Date: November 10, 2026
ASIN: B0GTJSXHS7
Stand Alone or Series: 3rd book in The Echo Archives
Source: eGalley from NetGalley for Review
Rating: 5/5 stars

“Kembral Thorne is back on the job. Everything is going great—she hasn’t been in mortal peril for months, her daughter is learning to crawl, and she’s thinking about getting serious with her girlfriend, cat burglar Rika Nonesuch. But then a simple mission goes wrong, and a mysterious Echo hires her for her most dangerous case yet.

This time, the murder Kembral must solve is her own.

Her first warning: Watch out above you. It won’t be her last. The cryptic messages give Kem an edge against her would-be murderer—but there’s more at stake than her own survival.

Rips in the very fabric of reality are spreading through the Echoes, and Kem’s blood is the only thing that can close them. A traitor among her allies is willing to kill to stop her. To save all the worlds, Kem must figure out who she can trust—and Rika must decide how much of her humanity she’ll sacrifice for the power to protect the woman she loves.”

Series Info/Source: This is the third (and final) book in The Echo Archives. I got an eGalley of this from NetGalley for review.

Thoughts: I absolutely loved this whole series and thought that this book was the perfect conclusion to it. I am sad to see the end of this fascinating world and to say goodbye to the intriguing characters.

Kembral is working again, doing low risk jobs. Her and Rika are settling into a pleasant life together. Kem’s baby is learning to crawl, and everything is going great. Then Kembral finds a message from herself in a lower Echo to “watch out above you”. Kembral’s Echoes have been dying and that can only mean one thing, Kembral (as the Prime) is being murdered. So now Kembral has to solve her own murder. To make things more complicated the Ravens have found tears in the fabric of reality that can only be closed with a combination of Raven workings and Kembral’s blood (as the year-namer).

This was incredibly fun, fast-paced, and creative. It was such a joy to read. I love that Kembral is working on balancing her work, raising her daughter, and navigating her new relationship with Rika. It’s rare to get such a realistic dynamic shown in fantasy like this. Kembral and Rika are both fascinating characters. Kembral is known for her decisive action (brashness) and putting herself in danger to help others; but she must balance this with being a mother and anchor for Rika. Rika is known for her sneaky, behind the shadows antics and now for being half Empyrean; Rika must temper her sneakiness to coincide with Kembral’s sense of honor, and temper her protectiveness to let Kembral do her job.

I continue to find all these layers of Echoes fascinating. This is a world of parallel realities where the more layers you drop away from Prime reality, the more unhinged things become. The idea of a vast void infiltrating the Echoes is unique and intriguing.

The end of this book is flawless; the climax is amazing, and the ending is satisfying. I liked all the action and battle and the involvement of the Empyreans, but also really enjoyed getting a look into how things end up for our favorite characters once the dust settles.

This was incredibly easy to read; the writing flows well, the pace is fast, and the book is very engaging and kept my interest. I am eager to see what Caruso comes up with next!

My Summary (5/5): Overall I absolutely loved this conclusion to The Echo Archives series. This final book was the star of the trilogy and did an amazing job with both presenting a new problem for our characters to solve and wrapping up any loose threads from the previous books in the series. I absolutely love the world here and enjoyed the complex characters as well. The pace is fast and fun, and I enjoyed learning more about the Ravens and the world beyond the Echoes. I would recommend this series to those who enjoys intriguing, complex world-building, fascinating characters, and a fast-paced plot.

Reading Level: Adult
Genre: Cozy Fantasy
Length: 6 hours and 38 minutes
Publisher: Audible Studios
Release Date: January 21, 2025
ASIN: B0DT4R5QSL
Stand Alone or Series: 2nd book in the Tales of Rydding Village series
Source: Audiobook from Audible.com
Rating: 4/5 stars

“She found refuge in Rydding and security in bread.

Now a newcomer and a mysterious burglar threaten everything.

After a treacherous journey, Lucina found safety in the bakery of Rydding Village. Her peace is threatened when she learns that Nico, the new apprentice smith, is from the homeland she was forced to flee. Could he be an enemy agent who caught up with her? Even if he isn’t, the newcomer is the chief suspect in a string of burglaries, and Lucina worries the suspicion will spread to her because of their shared nationality. Her nightmares of being driven from the village may come true if she can’t clear his name.

Meanwhile, would-be wizard Bryn and healer Elwyn have their own concerns. The burglar leaves no trace, and the villagers are acting oddly. Is that related to the strengthening sense of magic around the village?

They’ll have to figure it out and find the thief quickly because a wealthy landowner is determined to accuse Nico, and she’s not willing to listen to the truth. Lucina will have to face her own heritage and take a leap of faith to secure the home she’s come to love.”

Series Info/Source: This is the 2nd book in the Tales of Rydding Village series. I got this on from Audible on audiobook.

Thoughts: I enjoyed this book. It was a good continuation of the Rydding Village series. This is a light and easy story that isn’t too complicated and was perfect for me to listen to while driving.

This story follows a different character in the village, Lucina. Lucina fled a revolution in her home country and ended up in Rydding village. When she learns that Nico, the new apprentice smith, is from her home country, she worries that he is spy sent to retrieve her. When a spat of burglaries happens throughout Rydding, everyone wants to blame the newcomer, Nico. Lucina is worried that she might have to flee because of her shared nationality with Nico. However, the truth behind the burglaries is stranger than anyone ever dreamed.

We do still get to her from Bryn and Elwyn as well. Bryn and Elwyn are trying to rebuild their relationship (after Bryn’s memories returned last book) and help the town to come together. However, it was fun to get to know a couple of new characters in Rydding. Lucina and Nico both had a rough road to Rydding Village and it was good to get to know them and watch them find a place to belong. The characters in general are all fine; I don’t love any of them but I like them all well enough.

The story here was very straight-forward and easy to follow. It was also pretty formulaic and follows the same format and patterns as the first book. I didn’t mind this because it made this an easy listen while I was driving. This ended up being a simple, feel-good, fantasy story. I continue to enjoy the idea of the town being alive and to enjoy watching this town find new inhabitants.

This audiobook wasn’t quite as good as the first one in this series. The way the narrator did Lucina’s and Nico’s accents made them sound halting and awkward, and was tough to listen to. I also noticed that, although there are three more books published in this series, this is the last audiobook. So, if I want to continue with this series I will have to switch to reading it on eBook. I started this series because I wanted a series of shorter books that I could listen to during my road trips for work. I should have been more diligent about checking that this whole series was being released on audiobook.

My Summary (4/5): Overall this was a fine continuation of this series. This is an easy to read, straight-forward, feel-good fantasy series with an intriguing sentient town and some interesting magic. The characters are all fine; I didn’t love them, but I liked them.

I am disappointed that the next few books aren’t being offered on audiobook. I am also disappointed they are not on Kindle Unlimited and that I would need to purchase each book for $6 to read. These are fairly short books, and I didn’t like them enough to spend that much on continuing the series. I would tentatively recommended if you are looking for a cozy fantasy series with some interesting magic. Just realize only the first two books in the series are available on audiobook and the others you will have to purchase either on ebook or paperback (they are not available through the library or Kindle Unlimited).