book reviews

  • West Heart Kill Book Cover
    West Heart Kill
    I love me a good mystery novel. West Heart Kill, my friends, is not that. West Heart Kill is set at a hunting lodge in the 70s. The bodies start piling up, and our ace detective, Adam, just happens to be there for the holiday celebrations. I knew from the first few pages that I did not like the …
  • Starter Villain book cover featuring a photorealistic image of a cat in a suit and tie.
    Starter Villain
    I’m a huge fan of John Scalzi. I’ve enjoyed everything of his that I’ve read. Lately, it seems like I alternate between reading a new release of his with something older (that I haven’t read before). Most recently, this was The Android’s Dream, followed by Starter …
  • Book cover for Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands
    Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands
    Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands is the second book in the Emily Wilde series by Heather Fawcett. Emily is a professor and dryadologist, and these books follow her on adventures. If you haven’t read the first book in the series, I’d suggest starting there. If you have read it and …
  • Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow book cover.
    Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow
    Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin is a touching story about two socially awkward people and how their lives came to be entangled. At its core, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow is a story about love, friendship, and belonging. Our main characters, Sam and Sadie, seek …
  • Talking to Strangers book cover
    Talking to Strangers
    I recently listened to Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell on Audible. Unfortunately, this is my least favorite Gladwell book so far. And actually, I don’t think I care for Gladwell that much. His work feels highly overrated, and his application of research to his chosen topics seems …
  • In the Lives of Puppets by TJ Klune book cover, featuring art showing a cabin and treehouses.
    In the Lives of Puppets
    I was so excited when NetGalley sent me an ARC of In the Lives of Puppets by TJ Klune. I have enjoyed everything I have read by TJ Klune, and was eager to read this. I know I mention this in many of my reviews, but discussing this novel without giving away too much of the plot is a challenge. I …
  • Book cover showing a woman in a ring of fire.
    The Secret Within
    The Secret Within by Sean Platt and David Wright is an urban fantasy novel about a psychic detective, Delaney West. Delaney has been hired to find a missing person, and his girlfriend, Anika, might be the only one with answers. This novel started well and was exciting and engaging. I was into the …
  • River Woman, River Demon
    River Woman, River Demon by Jennifer Givhan is a captivating novel that takes readers on a journey into the world of Hoodoo, a spiritual practice that blends African and Native American traditions. The novel is a fun, fast-paced, and engaging story, with unexpected twists and turns in the mystery …
  • Wolfsong by TJ Klune
    Wolfsong by TJ Klune is a captivating novel that explores the themes of identity, love, loss, and acceptance through the eyes of Ox, a young man with a speech impediment who has always felt like an outsider in his small town. The story follows Ox as he becomes entangled in the world of werewolves …
  • January Reading Recap
    I keep telling myself that I will review every book I read. Or, at least, more of the books I read. And I keep not doing it. Sometimes, I feel like it’s a herculean task to get my thoughts about a book out of my mind and written out. Other times, I’m not sure I have enough unique …