Only One Survives by Hannah Mary KcKinnon My rating: 5 of 5 stars Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of Only One Survives in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The Gist Only One Survives is a chilling, fast-paced psychological thriller that tears the mask off fame and exposes the rot festering underneath. From the very first chapter, Hannah Mary McKinnon pulls readers into a twisted world fueled by ambition, secrets, and the relentless pursuit of celebrity. She reveals just how far people will go—lie, betray, even kill—for their moment in the spotlight. The Details At the heart of…
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The Djinn Waits a Hundred Years
The Djinn Waits a Hundred Years by Shubnum Khan My rating: 4 of 5 stars Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of The Djinn Waits a Hundred Years in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The Gist The Djinn Waits a Hundred Years by Shubnum Khan is a beautifully layered and haunting novel that shifts through time. Blending South Asian folklore with the eerie elegance of British gothic literature, it draws you into a story where the past never truly stays buried. Set in a crumbling English mansion called Cilmary, the story follows Ayesha, a teenager who moves in…
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Villa E
Villa E by Jane Alison My rating: 1 of 5 stars Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of Villa E in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The Gist I picked up Villa E expecting an atmospheric, emotionally rich novel. Jane Alison is known for her lyrical prose and experimental style, and the premise sounded promising: an architecturally stunning villa, layered timelines, and complicated relationships. On paper, it had everything I like—intellectual intrigue, sensual undertones, and an artful setting. In practice, it felt like wandering through a museum where nothing is labeled and the staff refuses to speak to…
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Deeper Than the Dead
Deeper Than the Dead by Debra Webb My rating: 3 of 5 stars Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of Deeper Than the Dead in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The Gist Deeper Than the Dead by Debra Webb starts off strong. A young girl discovers a body in a graveyard, and just like that, a quiet town in Tennessee becomes the center of a chilling murder investigation. The setup grips immediately, pulling readers into a story where nothing stays buried for long. The Details Dr. Rowan Dupont, a forensic psychologist with a tragic history, takes center stage.…
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Two Twisted Crowns
Two Twisted Crowns by Rachel Gillig My rating: 5 of 5 stars Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of Two Twisted Crowns in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The Gist To begin with, Two Twisted Crowns picks up right where One Dark Window left off—and from the very first chapter, Rachel Gillig pulls you even deeper into the eerie, enchanted fog of Blunder. This is the kind of sequel that not only meets expectations but shatters them, rebuilding its world with higher stakes, sharper emotion, and a story that cuts clean through the heart. The Details Firstly, Elspeth…
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Queen Among the Dead
Queen Among the Dead by Lesley Livingston My rating: 3 of 5 stars Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of Queen Among the Dead in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The Gist Queen Among the Dead by Lesley Livingston is a richly atmospheric YA fantasy set in a myth-infused version of ancient Ireland. With its fierce heroine, enchanted landscapes, and anti-authoritarian message, this book has all the elements of an epic. But while the premise is promising, the execution sometimes stumbles. The Details The story follows Neve, a strong-willed princess who refuses to be bound by the expectations…
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Cursed
Cursed by Marissa Meyer My rating: 3 of 5 stars Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of Cursed in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The Gist Cursed is the much-anticipated conclusion to Marissa Meyer’s Gilded duology, a haunting and magical retelling of Rumpelstiltskin. While this final installment offers a return to the eerie world readers fell in love with in book one, it struggles to maintain the same level of momentum and emotional depth. It’s still worth reading, but it didn’t quite leave the lasting impression I had hoped for. The Details The strongest element of Cursed remains…
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Life’s a Witch
Life’s a Witch by Amelia Ash and Kim M. Watt My rating: 1 of 5 stars Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of Life’s a Witch in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The Gist It’s 2025, yet Amelia Ash and Kim M. Watt still hand readers a heroine who feels obligated to mop up every man’s mess. Grown men toss their emotional garbage at her feet, and—surprise—she shoulders the blame. I kept waiting for one of these dudes to pick up a broom or, better yet, grow a conscience. No such luck. The Details Our protagonist flees her…
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One Smart Witch
One Smart Witch by Amelia Ash and Kim M. Watt My rating: 2 of 5 stars Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of One Smart Witch in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The Gist One Smart Witch had the perfect chance to grow the story—maybe by exploring more of the magical world or shifting the focus to fresh character dynamics. Instead, it treads the same tired path as book one. The plot sticks to the exact same structure, centering—yet again—on the brother. It’s like no one else in this universe is considered worthy of a storyline. The Details…
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Witch Slap
Witch Slap by Amelia Ash and Kim M. Watt My rating: 2 of 5 stars Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of Witch Slap in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The Gist Witch Slap started with a premise that held a lot of potential—a mix of magic, mystery, and dark humor that could have made for an entertaining read. Unfortunately, the book struggled to keep me engaged throughout. From early on, the pacing felt uneven and dragged in many places, which made the story hard to follow and ultimately frustrating. The Details One major issue for me was…
