Intro Ok, I haven’t written a book review in a while. I haven’t written a native book review in a while, so bear with me while I try to find my footing again. This is a review of Rites of the Starling, the audiobook version. The Gist This book review is on “Rites of the Starling” by Devney Perry, and this is the second book in the “Shield of Sparrows” series. I didn’t bother to write a review on the first book, well, because I was planning on it and then I forgot. I work fulltime with the public, sometimes I forget that during the work week I have zero…
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Fourth Wing
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros My rating: 1 of 5 stars The Gist I went into Fourth Wing expecting fire-breathing dragons, high-stakes battles, and a fierce heroine. What I got was a hormonal fever dream with wings. Call me cynical, but if I wanted this much panting and brooding, I’d rewatch a teen drama from 2009. The Details The protagonist is supposed to be training for survival in a deadly war college. Yet somehow, she spends more time obsessing over jawlines than strategy. Every guy gets described like he walked off a romance cover. Every moment alone with one becomes a slow-burn cliché. The world is literally falling apart, but…
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Emily Wilde’s Compendium of Lost Tales
Emily Wilde’s Compendium of Lost Tales by Heather Fawcett My rating: 5 of 5 stars The Gist Heather Fawcett has done something magical with the Emily Wilde trilogy, and this final installment, Emily Wilde’s Compendium of Lost Tales, is a masterpiece in quiet fantasy. It’s the kind of book you clutch to your chest after reading—the kind that lingers in your heart and makes you believe in the strange and beautiful all over again. The Details The Scholar Returns—Sharper, Braver, and Still Herself Emily Wilde remains one of the most distinct and refreshing protagonists in fantasy. She’s brilliant, socially stilted, and completely uninterested in playing the polite academic. Yet her…
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The Vanishing of Josephine Reynolds
The Vanishing of Josephine Reynolds by Jennifer Moorman My rating: 5 of 5 stars Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of The Vanishing of Josephine Reynolds in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The Gist The Vanishing of Josephine Reynolds by Jennifer Moorman hooked me from the very first page. This novel blends a captivating mystery with a heartwarming small-town vibe, creating a reading experience that feels both comforting and exciting. The Details The story centers on Josephine Reynolds, an ordinary woman who disappears without a trace. But this isn’t just a typical mystery. Moorman uses Josephine’s disappearance as…
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Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands
Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands by Heather Fawcett My rating: 5 of 5 stars The Gist Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands is a masterfully written sequel that deepens every element I loved in the first book. Heather Fawcett has once again crafted a story that feels like curling up by a hearth with a cup of tea—only to be swept into ancient forests, mischievous faerie courts, and the bittersweet truths of the human (and fae) heart. The Details We return to the journals of Emily Wilde, the fiercely independent and marvelously awkward dryadologist whose passion for faerie research remains unmatched. Her voice continues to shine—wry, intelligent, and deeply…
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Starling House
Starling House by Alix E. Harrow My rating: 1 of 5 stars The Gist Starling House lured me in with its promise of Southern Gothic atmosphere, mysterious magic, and a heroine haunted by both grief and ghosts. I was ready for lyrical storytelling and a deeply unsettling house with a mind of its own. What I got instead was a meandering non-story drowning in its own metaphors—and a narrator whose dreamy tone nearly lulled me into a coma. The Details A Plot as Hollow as the House I’m not even sure how to describe the plot. The setup takes forever, the stakes feel imaginary, and the so-called climax arrives so…
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Anatomy: A Love Story
Anatomy: A Love Story by Dana Schwartz My rating: 1 of 5 stars The Gist Dana Schwartz’s Anatomy: A Love Story is a historical romance with elements of gothic horror and medical intrigue. Unfortunately, it falls short of delivering on its ambitious premise. Set in 19th-century Edinburgh, the novel follows Hazel Sinnett, a young woman determined to become a surgeon in a world where such aspirations are nearly impossible for women. While this setup holds promise, the novel struggles to balance its many themes, resulting in a disjointed and underwhelming read. The Details One of the most noticeable issues with Anatomy is the pacing. The novel often feels sluggish, with…
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A Song to Drown Rivers
A Song to Drown Rivers by Ann Liang My rating: 4 of 5 stars Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of A Song to Drown Rivers in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The Gist A Song to Drown Rivers by Ann Liang is a novel that pulls you in with soft hands and doesn’t let go. It’s the kind of book you read slowly, letting each sentence settle before turning the page. Liang blends magical realism, family secrets, and raw emotion into a deeply atmospheric young adult fantasy that stays with you. The Details The story follows a…
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Corpse Walker: The Night Parade
Corpse Walker: The Night Parade by Ralynn Kimie My rating: 3 of 5 stars Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of Corpse Walker: The Night Parade in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The Gist I went into Corpse Walker: The Night Parade with cautious optimism. The synopsis was intriguing—dark folklore, mysterious parades of the dead, and a lyrical writing style that immediately drew me in. Ralynn Kimie has crafted something thoughtful and unsettling, with the potential to be deeply moving for the right reader. Unfortunately, I now realize this book was never going to be a good match…
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Celestial Banquet
Celestial Banquet by Roselle Lim My rating: 3 of 5 stars Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of Celestial Banquet in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The Gist When I picked up Celestial Banquet, I expected food to play a strong role. What I didn’t expect was for nearly every emotional beat, memory, and plot turn to be filtered through recipes, ingredients, and cooking. That’s not inherently a flaw—it’s simply not to my taste. If you love food-centric stories, you may find this novel magical. But if you prefer your fiction with less focus on culinary detail, you…
