Category: characters

Book Review: Hecate Cavendish and the Angel of Death, by Paula Brackston

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Title: Hecate Cavendish and the Angel of Death 
Author: Paula Brackston
Genre: Fantasy, historical 
Rating: 4.5 out of 5    

In her role as Assistant Librarian at Hereford Cathedral, Hecate continues to be guardian of the magical medieval map, and custodian of the ancient chained library. Equally important to her is her family of ghosts; the lost souls who haunt the centuries-old building, and who she has come to care about deeply. When a heartbroken Welsh warrior appears to her seeking her assistance, she sees it as her duty to help. As her friendship with the glassworker, Gil Wheatley, deepens, she understands the suffering of the lovelorn spirit. However, the arrival of a new Master of the Library throws her position into doubt, and may mean she must leave the cathedral.

Meanwhile, a savage murderer is terrorizing the city. When a second killing shows similarities and no clear explanation, Inspector Winter suspects something supernatural at work and calls on Hecate and her singular skills to help him.

With Hecate’s place in the cathedral no longer secure, her best friend soon to be wed, a growing relationship, everything in Hecate’s life seems in a state of flux. She must put aside her own personal concerns, however, if she is to fulfil her promise to the Welsh nobleman and succeed in stopping the murderous progress of the vengeful phantom who is terrorizing her city.

I’m sad to see this series end! I found the historical setting so engrossing, and all the characters are so vivid—including the ghosts. Hecate is an interesting character to read, and I love to see how her mind works. There was a lot going on here, and I enjoyed seeing how it all connected. Excellent writing and a fascinating read.

Paula Brackston is a bestselling author. Hecate Cavendish and the Angel of Death is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of St. Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review.)

Book Review: To Dream in Darkness, by Ann Liang

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Title: To Dream in Darkness
Author: Ann Liang
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 4.8 out of 5

China in the age of brilliance, where gods freely wander the three realms. Amongst them is the cruel and beautiful Death God, who has never failed to collect a soul on time. Until now. For when he seeks out Rujia, the noble god of healing―and the only god he is fated to kill with his own hands―she makes him an offer he can’t refuse: she will help lift the excruciating, century-old curse placed upon him if he gives her a one-month reprieve.

Rujia knows she isn’t as noble as everyone believes. Her deal with Death is merely an excuse to buy herself time while she figures out an escape plan. But when her plan causes the Celestial Palace’s collapse and the beloved crown prince’s disappearance, she and Death are both held responsible. The only way to avoid the wrath of all the other gods is to travel across the realms and safely retrieve the crown prince themselves.

Yet the journey proves far more treacherous than expected. As the unlikely alliance between them blooms into more, and Death’s resolve to kill Rujia weakens by the day, neither can outrun their intertwined fate without devastating consequences: A mysterious plague. An empire-destroying flood. A thousand deaths―and rising―to restore the balance Rujia’s disrupted. And if Rujia continues to live despite the will of the Heavens, this is only the beginning…

I really enjoyed this read! The mythology was interesting, even if the culture of the gods was a bit like…high school. I liked Rujia and Death both together and separately, as they both grew and learned to trust and think beyond themselves. Bits of this were sad, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Ann Liang is from Beijing and lives in Melbourne. To Dream in Darkness is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of St. Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review.)

What I Read in October (2026)

Books Read in October: 17
Books Read for the Year:  142/225

Topical Books/Monthly Goal Books:
Walking in the Dust of Rabbi Jesus, by Lois Tverberg (spiritual): This was a fascinating read!
A Seer and Present Danger, by Devon Monk (TBR): This was a solid mystery read! I do love the setting.

For Review:

Murder on the Sacred River, by Tasha Alexander. This felt quite slow, but it wasn’t a bad read.

In the Woods They Wait, by Carrie Lee South. This was pretty creepy–and not what I was expecting.

To Vex & To Hex, by Neena Noon. I’d say give this one a pass. The MCs are both whiny, immature, and terrible people.

The Worst Is Yet to Come, by Trish Lundy. This was a decent YA/thriller. Apart from the question of why the MC thought it was a good idea to venture into a deserted housing development in the middle of the night….

Where There’s Smoke, by Rachel Louise Adams. Apart from the creepy cover, there a fair amount of creepiness in the read itself. A solid thriller/murder mystery.

Strange Lights, by Mira González. This was a decidedly quirky read. Chupacabras, aliens, and werewolves…oh my!

Fallen Beauty, by Astrid Scholte. I found this to be very meh. The characters were okay. The premise didn’t really work for me.

This Shattered Tempest, by Thea Guanzon. Loved this series finale! Tons of actions, twists, and so many choices to be made.

The Paris Files, by Eva Jurczyk. This was NOT what I was expecting!

Sunderworld, Vol. 2: The Unfortunate Responsibilities of Leopold Berry. This was a definitely a fun, campy read.

Hecate Cavendish and the Angel of Death, by Paula Brackston. I’m sad to see this series end so soon! I do love Brackston’s writing, and these characters are wonderful.

The Queen of Roses, by Julia Kelly. Loved this read! Engrossing dual-timeline historical read.

The Sign of the Raven, by Pippa Dunn. I’d say pass on this. Great premise, but I didn’t care for the reality.

Just Because:
All In, by Jennifer Lynn Barnes (audio). Still enjoying this series!
Bad Blood, by Jennifer Lynn Barnes (audio). This was a good series wrap-up (I thought) …but there’s a new one out today!

Left Unfinished:

Galinda, by Gregory Maguire. I just need to remember that Maguire’s books/writing style just aren’t for me. I’m very much not a fan of the disjointed, rambling style he seems to like. This is the second book of his I’ve DNFed in a row.
The Lost Spectacular, by Zoe Duhaime. I didn’t like either MC, and the world of the story seemed very…nonsensical.
The Pools, by E. Lockhart. It would have been helpful to know upfront this was a novel written in verse, then I never would have picked it up.
Hallowed Bones, by Lucy Smoke. Eh…this just wasn’t a good fit for me. I’m not buying the whole why choose/four rich boys/whatever scenario.
An Auction of Souls, by Amber Chen. I just didn’t care about the characters, so I didn’t want to waste my time reading more.

Book Review: This Shattered Tempest, by Thea Guanzon

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Title: This Shattered Tempest
Author: Thea Guanzon
Genre: Sci-fi/fantasy
Rating: 5 out of 5

When the storm swallows the world, who will be left standing?

Throughout their political marriage, Alaric and Talasyn struggled to resist the undeniable pull between them, even as rising tensions forced them on opposite sides of a looming war. Hand in hand, they vanquished the cataclysmic threat of the Moonless Dark—and started to hope for a future together.

That hope is shattered when a devastating attack sets off a chain of events that tears them apart once more. Now, as two rival nations prepare for a final, decisive clash, the Master of the Shadowforged Legion and the last Lightweaver fight to find their way back to each other. But the odds are stacked against them, and time is running out…

Is love enough to rewrite destiny? Can a new beginning rise from the ruins of the past? Or are Alaric and Talasyn doomed to meet as enemies on one last battlefield? This explosive third and final book brings the beloved Hurricane Wars series to a stunning conclusion—where passion and power collide, and the fate of a divided world hangs in the balance.

I really enjoyed this trilogy! Yes, the first book especially gave me Star Wars déjà vu, but I ended up loving these characters and worlds for themselves. So much intrigue here! And lies. Everyone is playing a game, telling lies, and manipulating everyone around them. That’s probably a very accurate picture of the lives of politicians, but it was disturbing to me. I enjoyed how everything wrapped up, even though there was a lot to be sad about, too.

Thea Guanzon is a bestselling author. This Shattered Tempest is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Avon and Harper Voyager | Harper Voyager in exchange for an honest review.)

What I Read in September (2026)

Books Read in September: 17
Books Read for the Year: 125/225

Topical Books/Monthly Goal Books:
The Naturals and Killer Instinct, by Jennifer Lynn Barnes (audio). I enjoyed both of these audio books!

For Review:

Hawk & Sparrow, by Ayana Gray. I really enjoyed the steampunk setting of this novel (except for the treatment of women), and the two main characters were a lot of fun to read.

Gods Will Sing Our Song, by Autumn Krause, This was an aspect of World War II-era historical fiction I hadn’t read before, and that part was horrifying, but the story was riveting.

The Best I Never Had, by Amy Buchanan. This was a fun read!

Our Strange Duet, by Erin A. Craig. Having never read or seen The Phantom of the Opera, this story was a fascinating, glittering read.

Immortal Rose, by Alexandra Bracken. I reallt enjoyed this a lot!

Night Songs, by Alli Dyer. This was…a bit odd, but also pretty fascinating.

Fire Power, by Mir Benitz. This was a step above “meh” for me. Interesting premise, but the execution was uneven.

Sunderworld, Vol. I: The Extraordinary Disappointments of Leopold Berry, by Ransom Riggs. This verged on cheesy, but it was an enjoyable romp. Think…The Labyrinth.

The Oxford Guide to Scandal and Lies, by Kate Westbury. I liked this quite a bit. Just fast my favorite time period to read–World War II–but I thought the characters were very well-done, and the mystery was intriguing.

Fall into Place, by Kristyn J. Miller. i found this to be pretty predictable, but it wasn’t terrible.

A Lovely and Deadly Dance, by Claire Andrews. I have to say this was a step above “meh,” but nothing to write home about. I found it a bit confusing and it seemed to jump around a lot.

SistBook Review: Sisters of the Midnight Sun, by Fiona Valpyers of the Midnight Sun, by Fiona Valpy. This was a FANTASTIC read. I was engrossed from the beginning, and I loved both timelines and MCs equally.

Daughters of the Wreckage, by Stefanie Koens. This was another good historical fiction read, although what happened in the past was pretty horrific. I did enjoy both timelines, but I think I like the present-day one a bit more.

The Henchperson’s Guide to Unionizing, by Marshall J. Moore. This was a cute, if campy read. It was fun!

Just Because:
The Midnight Feast, by Lucy Foley. I read this on a recommendation and it was..twisty, with a lot of different layers of story and mystery.

Left Unfinished:
Heavensent & Hellbent, by Sara Jafara. This felt very juvenile.
Bound by Fury, by Noelle Monet. The beginning of this was too drawn out and the mystery felt like it was over-exaggerated just to draw attention, not because it needed to be.
Reign, by Bethan Croone. Honestly, I didn’t like the vibes from this. The women have no rights, the best friend is about to be married but thinks nothing of canoodling with the brother–and seems to have no compunctions about ratting out the MC. Just, no thanks.
I Haunt It That Way, by Isabelle Popp. Yeah, I did NOT like the MC here. She was very selfish and unlikable.
A Study in Sparkling, by Jody McAlister. I don’t know why I even tried this. I didn’t like the characters in the previous linked standalone. I DNFed this on page two because of its liberal details.

Book Review: The Henchperson’s Guide to Unionizing, by Marshall J. Moore

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Title: The Henchperson’s Guide to Unionizing
Author: Marshall J. Moore
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 4 out of 5

As the laboratory assistant to the brilliant but demanding Doctor, Igor spends his nights robbing graves, stitching together body parts, and ensuring that his master doesn’t electrocute himself (too badly). It’s thankless work, but Igor knows it’ll all be worth it once they finally succeed in the Doctor’s all-encompassing quest to create new life from dead flesh.

When a mob of peasants wielding torches and pitchforks drives them out of town (again), Igor and the Doctor relocate to the isolated Ravenwald Manor to resume their experiments. But Igor and the Doctor are not the only ones seeking refuge within the walls of Ravenwald. The manor is already home to a vampiric Count and his highly dissatisfied bride, Cornelia—and an enigmatic witch and her feline familiar, Grimalkin, intend to use it as the site of a magical ritual.

At Igor’s suggestion, the three pairs come to an uneasy agreement to cohabitate in Ravenwald, lest they attract the suspicion of the nearby village. In the wake of this truce, Igor, Cornelia, and Grimalkin soon begin to realize that they might have more common with one another than their respective masters. When the trio discovers that they’ve been unwitting participants in a horrible plan to destroy the world as they know it, they must work together to stop their masters from bringing on armageddon… and stop the increasingly suspicious villagers from reaching for their pitchforks and torches.

Igor, Grim, and Cornelia must unite to cast off the chains of their masters and embrace life on their own terms in the hilarious, heartwarming, and just-spooky-enough The Henchperson’s Guide to Unionizing.

This was a fun read! A bit campy and predictable, but I enjoyed it. The Doctor was a jerk and so was the Count, but Grim was wonderful. I enjoyed Igor’s point-of-view, I liked Cornelia, and Spare was so cute! This was just a lot of fun, like an old monster movie, and this is the perfect time of year to read it.

Marshall J. Moore lives in Atlanta. The Henchperson’s Guide to Unionizing is his newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Ballantine/Bantam in exchange for an honest review.)

Book Review: Daughters of the Wreckage, by Stefanie Koens

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Title: Daughters of the Wreckage
Author: Stefanie Koens
Genre: Historical fiction
Rating: 4 out of 5

Shortly before Christmas in 2018, Tess McCarthy, after years as a hard-working English teacher who never did anything out of the ordinary, flies to Western Australia’s remote Abrolhos Islands. She is in search of answers–both to the infamous Batavia shipwreck and her personal family crises.

Amsterdam, 1628. Saskia, an orphaned young Dutchwoman, boards Batavia with relatives, bound for a new and potentially dangerous life in the East Indies–only for her world to first collide with Aris Jansz, the ship’s taciturn under surgeon.

Tess, Saskia, and Aris–their lives linked by secrets that span generations–carry the baggage of past losses and the uncertainty of their futures. And, in the most unlikely circumstances, they may find qualities that echo through faith, acceptance, and love.

I’d never heard of the Batavia shipwreck but the details of what happened to the survivors was truly terrible. I did enjoy that past timeline, despite the portrayal of life on board the ship being so unpleasant. I actually enjoyed Tess’s POV much more as she stepped outside her comfort zone in a big way and learned how to grow and to heal. This was a good historical fiction read about a historical incident most people know little to nothing about.

Stefanie Koens lives in Perth. Daughters of the Wreckage is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Thomas Nelson Fiction | Thomas Nelson in exchange for an honest review.)

Book Review: Sisters of the Midnight Sun, by Fiona Valpy

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Title: Sisters of the Midnight Sun
Author: Fiona Valpy
Genre: Fiction
Rating: 5 out of 5

2001: Overwhelmed by grief in the wake of losing her twin sister, Ruby Reid has come to Scotland to escape. Her new job as companion to Hanna Kristiansen, an elderly woman living on a remote homestead in the wild and remote Shetland Islands, offers plenty of challenges and a welcome distraction from the devastating choice Ruby has to make.

1940: Hanna’s quiet life on the fjords of northern Norway is overturned when her hometown is attacked and her country falls into the hands of Nazi occupiers. But the Norwegians are a people as resilient as the ancient bedrock of their land. Hanna becomes involved in the resistance movement, fighting to help end the war that has taken so much from her. She’s sent to Scotland for training, where she meets a charismatic member of the shadowy special forces who are supporting Norway’s fight for freedom. Though she’s eager to join the fight in Scotland, Hanna must return to her homeland, and face the dangerous underground work that lies ahead for her and her twin sister, Liv.

As Hanna shares her story, Ruby begins to navigate the path of her grief. Hanna in turn finds comfort in discovering that confiding in her younger friend is helping them both heal. Ruby also learns that, like the beautiful untamed land of Hanna’s rural croft, there is strength to be found in fragility, as well as hope for new life, in the wildness of an island at the end of the world.

As she slowly finds healing in a place as delicate yet defiant as the people who tend it, can Ruby find the courage to face up to the heartbreaking decisions she must now make?

This was a fantastic read! I loved both timelines equally. I do love World War II-era historical fiction—it’s my favorite genre to read—but this was truly so, so good. The writing was excellent, the settings were great, and the characters were so well-done. I am not into the concept of remote living, but the writing was so good it made both settings appealing. Excellent book, if a bit heart-wrenching.

Fiona Valpy lives in Scotland. Sisters of the Midnight Sun is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Ballantine | Ballantine Books in exchange for an honest review.)

Book Review: Immortal Rose, by Alexandra Bracken

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Title: Immortal Rose
Author: Alexandra Bracken    
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Members of the ancient House Rosebourne have a strange gift born of a fairy ancestor: the ability to infuse fragrance with magic capable of manipulating mind, body, and emotion.

When a shocking murder leaves the kingdom of Albion vulnerable to a coup, royal spymaster Hugh Thornton seeks the one person who can help: Viola Lockwood, the last living Rosebourne and secret heir to a fraught legacy.

Livid at the silver-eyed aristocrat who had her thrown in jail to force her compliance, Viola nevertheless comes to an agreement with him. In exchange for crafting Immortal Rose, the singular perfume capable of saving Albion, illegitimate Viola can seize the life—and fortune—that should have been hers.

As Hugh and Viola race to find the perfume’s lost fairy ingredient, hidden deep in Albion’s dark underbelly, neither can deny the scorching attraction building between them—especially as the attempts on Viola’s life grow increasingly brazen.

But a terrible truth lurks in the heart notes of their kingdom—and while every bargain has a cost, Immortal Rose may demand more than Hugh and Viola can ever pay.

I really enjoyed this read! The secondary characters are fantastic, and I loved both of the main characters as well. The setting was believable (okay, except for the name of the city), and I loved the history and culture. A lot of action in this story, and layers of mystery and intrigue. I can’t wait to read more set in this world!

Alexandra Bracken is a bestselling author. Immortal Rose is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Avon and Harper Voyager | Avon in exchange for an honest review.)

 

The Gods Will Sing Our Song, by Autumn Krause

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Title: The Gods Will Sing Our Song
Author: Autumn Krause              
Genre: historical fiction, YA   
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

A divine favor can change everything.

1942. War rumbles across the world, gods stir in the wind, and two lives are set on a collision course that will change them forever.

Seventeen-year-old Ren Hamada has always been defined by his troubled past, while Violet Aratani has only ever worried about keeping her straight-A grades and helping her parents run their beloved print shop. The two have little in common beyond the old magic that thrums in their worn family relics—and the fact that they’re Japanese American in a country determined to cast them as the enemy.

Forced out of their homes and into ramshackle wooden barracks in the California desert by the US government, Ren and Violet collide. In a barbed wire world where everything they thought they knew is upside-down, the magnetic pull between them is the only thing that makes sense.

But there’s more than just desert dust swirling in the air. A god walks among them, his mortal form tethered to the camp, and only Violet and Ren hold the key to freeing him—an act that would earn them an immeasurable reward. Yet with tensions rising and their lives on the line, is even a divine favor powerful enough to save them?

I do love World War II-era historical fiction, but this dealt with something I haven’t read much about. Parts of it were horrifying and sad. Parts of it were inspiring, magical, and full of hope. I loved both Ren and Violet and found the mythology in the story fascinating. Even the secondary characters were vivid and had me emotionally attached. This is a solid read that I enjoyed very much.

Autumn Krause is from L.A. The Gods Will Sing Our Song is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Random House Children’s Books | Delacorte Press in exchange for an honest review.)