Fitcher’s Bird

Title: Fitcher’s Bird

Author: A.G. Slatter

Rating:4.5/5

Info: 160 Pages, first published by Titan Books 10/06/2026

Genre: General Fiction, Horror, LGBTQIAP+

Fitcher's Bird follows three sisters: Chloe, Zoe, and oldest sister Dido. Chloe, being the youngest, is the bridge between her two sisters. So when Chloe and Zoe disappear, it is up to the oldest sister to figure out what happened. Even if it means dredging up their dark childhood secrets.

This was a short and sweet mystery/horror story. While there is horror, I feel like it leans more toward mystery as we mostly follow Dido as she searches for her sisters. The ending, which I will not be spoiling, was interesting and I liked it. Since the reader spends the most time with Dido, I felt I got to know the best. Although, even with the short page count, I feel like I have a pretty good understanding of all three sisters.

I recommend this to anyone looking for a short, creepy story about missing girls and their sister who will stop at nothing until she finds them.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Titan Books for providing me with the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Bloodless We Go Buried

Title: Bloodless We Go Buried

Author: D. Firth Griffith

Rating: 3.75/5

Info: first published by Unshod Press, Robinia Press 11/09/2025

Genre: horror

Bloodless We Go Buried is the second book in a series. I didn’t realize that when I requested the ARC. I am going to look into reading the first of the series to see if having that context changes my review. I thought I was getting a post-apocalypse scifi story, which I did, but I got so much more. Before we go any further I have to say if you are struggling with grief, tread carefully. There are lessons to be learned from the main character, Lu, which might be helpful. However, there is a lot of death and grief so just be careful. 

This was a proper horror novel with monsters, gore, suspense, dread. Griffith created an interesting world that I would like to learn more about. Since this is a part of a series I hope the questions I have about the world will be answered in the first book of the series. Another reviewer said the book was dreamlike and I agree with that. It really is difficult to fully explain what it is like to read. 

I recommend this to anyone looking for a post-apocalypse scifi story centered around dealing with loss and survival.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my review.

The Stitch Witches

 Title: The Stitch Witches

Author: Krissie K. Williams

Rating: 3.75/5

Info: 160 pages, Published by Quill & Crow 10/09/2026

Genre: Historical Fiction, Horror

Promise Land, a Puritan haven, finds itself in the middle of some pretty nasty murders. With the Salem Witch Trials only a few decades past, the town’s residents try to figure out who among them is responsible for the gruesome crimes. 

The story is told through multiple POVs, though three characters seem like the most important: Orphelia Dudley, Settie, the Dudleys’ slave, and Mr. Dudley. There are late-night meetings and deep, dark family secrets to be revealed, and town leaders scrambling to stop the murders and keep Promise Land from tearing itself apart. All of it is interesting stuff. However, there are a few cons that prevented me from enjoying it more. 

The story itself is a short novella and moves very quickly. I was hoping for more focus on the witches, especially with that cover, but it turned more into a study of the Puritans and their hypocrisy. Had it just been listed as Historical Fiction I would have rated it higher. While there was some horror, I expected more and found what I did get lacking. Because it was so short I ended up having unanswered questions that I feel would have been answered had it been a full length novel. Again, not bad, just disappointing. 

I’d recommend this to anyone that wants a short historical fiction story about Puritans with a dash of spooky. 

A big thanks to NetGalley and Quill & Crow for the ARC. 

What the Forest Devours

 Title: What the Forest Devours

Author: Elaine Vilar Madruga

Rating: 4.5/5

Info: 304 pages, first published by HarperVia on 10/20/2026 

Genre: Horror, Literary Fiction, Women’s Fiction

Wow, this book. What the Forest Devours is a story about an isolated hacienda and its inhabitants. We have Benedicta, Lazaro, Ifigenia, Ananda, Romina, Grandma/The Old Woman, and The Children. They are trapped in a horrifying tragedy. To survive, they must feed the forest children. In return they get to live in the hacienda, hidden away from the evils of the village nearby. The entire story feels like one big, horrifying allegory for motherhood and how society treats and views women. There is a whole lot of violence in this book. Violence to children, women, men, animals, anyone and everyone, so be aware of that. If you think, “How bad can it be?” don’t say you weren’t warned. 

I enjoy the horror genre, so I’m used to violent content. The violence itself wasn’t what bothered me. It was what it represented that made my skin crawl. So, job well done, Madruga. I can’t say I like any of the characters. Do I pity some of them? Yes absolutely, but like… eh that’s a stretch. That’s alright though because this isn’t that kind of story. I don’t want to write too much about the plot because half of the experience of reading this book is getting gut-punched by plot points. 

If you want a trippy horror story focused on women that goes much deeper than your average slasher, this is your book. Just be warned: it is a very, very, very bleak book.

Thank you NetGalley and HarperVia for giving me nightmares and the ARC of this book.

Swallow Us, Black Sun

Title: Swallow Us, Black Sun

Author: V.M. Harrigan

Rating: 3.75/5

Info: 120 pages, first published by Manifold House 08/25/2026

Genre: Horror, Sci Fi

Swallow Us, Black Sun is the story of Charles. He finds himself in the Land of the Black Sun, a purgatory-like dimension. He and everyone else there don’t know how they got there. Unlike everyone else, Charles still retains some of his memories from before he got there. What’s a purgatory stuck lad with memories supposed to do? Try to escape, of course.

The road trip story was a good idea for the topic. However, the book was too short. The concept worked, but there wasn’t enough room for the journey, not to mention the supporting characters, to be fleshed out. Charles does go on a journey, but his journey felt much too short and rushed. The world was interesting, and I wanted to see more of it. I also would have loved to learn more about the other inhabitants of the land. There were demon-like inhabitants that worked there, and Charles wonders if they were once like him. We get teased with two of them, but they are just used as gross-out obstacles that Charles must get past.  The story ended up feeling more like an appetizer when I wanted a main course.

I’d recommend this to anyone looking for a short purgatory-type horror story.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Hollow Folk

Title: Hollow Folk

Author: Andrew K. Clark

Rating: 3.5/5

Info: 260 pages, first published by Quill & Crow Publishing House 09/29/2026

Genre: Sci Fi, Romance, Horror

Trying to come up with a summary of what this book is like is difficult. Ethan Ray, Kal, and Teresa all work the night shift at the Holloway hotel. During one of their shifts, the clock strikes 3 a.m. and then stops. With me so far? Good, because that’s about as far as I can go with a summary. What follows feels like a fever dream, and I’m still not entirely sure what I read. From there, the characters dive headfirst into the weird. They meet… people? They have visions. They experience emotions that may or may not be their own. There is body horror, and parts are genuinely gross, so keep that in mind before picking this one up. It didn’t bother me, but it was weird. Trypophobia sufferers should probably stay away. Overall, this was a trippy horror story that reveled in the weird. If that sounds like your kind of horror, I think you’ll enjoy the ride.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Quill & Crow for providing me the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

A History of Malpractice

Title: A History of Malpractice

Author: Clarice Montgomery

Rating: 4/5

Info: 280 pages, first published by Köehler Books 09/15/2026

Genre: Fiction, Horror, Mystery

Thank you to NetGalley and Köehler Books for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.  

A History of Malpractice follows Abigail, who is less than thrilled when she and her boyfriend, Garrett, are forced to move from Chicago to hole-in-the-wall Harperfield, Illinois. From a comfy condo to an old abandoned office building, Abigail couldn’t think of a worse situation. She is so convinced they won't be there long that she doesn't even bother unpacking. A few days, maybe a few weeks. Two months, tops. Then, on their first night, Abigail learns the building has a ghost.

I can honestly say this might be the best-written new book I’ve read so far this year. Montgomery crafted a fun mystery that follows Abigail trying to figure out who the ghost is and why it’s there rather than settling into her new life. She ends up fitting in thanks to small-town hospitality, which apparently comes with a complimentary couch. The story is split between chapters following Abigail, Abigail’s childhood in the foster care system, and Dr. Carlson, the man who left Abigail the old downtown office building despite never having met her.

As Abigail digs into the mystery, we learn that her relationship with Garrett is pretty one-sided. He seems much more invested in her than she is in him. As more of Abigail’s past comes to light, her reactions to Garrett make more sense. I really enjoyed the brother and sister who became Abigail’s new friends. They, especially Kennedy, brought the funny, which added some levity to a story with so many heavy elements.

There isn’t much negative for me to say. I had a genuinely enjoyable reading experience. What really stood out to me was how well everything was constructed. Abigail’s choices make sense once we learn about her past. The mystery of Dr. Carlson makes sense. The haunting makes sense. Why he left Abigail the building ends up making sense. I do question why horror was one of the genres chosen for this book. General fiction and mystery, yes. Horror, no. The publisher might want to rethink that.

I also appreciated that Abigail is allowed to be imperfect. She isn’t very nice to most people in the story. At one point she’s straight-up a jerk to someone and gets called out on her behavior. She apologizes. The person accepts the apology but acknowledges Abigail was in the wrong. I’ve read too many books that have the main character do something wrong only for everyone to tell them they have nothing to feel bad about. It was refreshing to read a book where the main character can actually be wrong and not have the story bend over backward to justify her. 

I’d recommend this story to anyone looking for a mystery novel with some spooky ghost elements, but also a story about a lost little girl trying to find her place in the world. 

The Infested

Title: The Infested

Author: Renee Lake

Rating: 3.75/5

Info: 265 pages, first published by  Victory Editing 06/23/2026

Genre: Horror, YA

The Infested is a story about Desdemona and her family set in a 1900 alternate-history U.S.A. The first few paragraphs give the specifics of the danger zone that stretches across the middle of the country. This area is already inhospitable because of the land itself, but it is also home to creatures, ghosts, monsters, demons, spirits. Whatever you want to call them, they are not friends to regular human beings.

Desdemona lives with her family on their homestead, Ash Hollow, in Nebraska. Ash Hollow is protected by magic wards and they do their best to provide travelers with a safe place to rest and fix up their wagons. The story begins with Desdemona and her siblings dealing with a death and some new guests while their father is away guiding a caravan through the Infested. 

The story splits between the siblings at home and the first-person POV of their father as he travels with the caravan. I found the father’s chapters more exciting than the siblings’ storyline, although I was interested in both. The world building was probably my favorite part and I would love to spend more time in it. 

The Ash Hollow drama didn’t hold my attention quite as well as it probably should have, but I don’t really fault the author for that. A lot of it revolves around YA relationship drama, and that just isn’t my favorite thing to read. I was much more drawn into the father’s storyline, especially the challenges that he was facing. That’s a personal taste thing more than an actual criticism of the writing.

There are some good twists and turns, along with some truly creepy scenes, and enough action for me to speed through the book. My favorite parts were all the ones that involved people dealing with the Infested land. I especially loved seeing the creatures that live there. Some of them are wonderfully unsettling. 

A much bigger story is taking place that this book is just a part of. It definitely feels like the beginning of a series. If it doesn’t get follow-up books, that would be a shame. Fortunately, the story wraps up nicely while leaving enough for me to want more. 

I’d recommend this to anyone interested in YA horror or spooky books in general, especially if you like the idea of mixing horror with westward expansion.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing for providing this ARC.

Hail Holy Queens

 Title: Hail Holy Queens

Author: Chris McGinley

Rating: 3.5/5

Info:  228 pages, first published by Fringe Press 07/28/2026

Genre: Historical Fiction, Horror, Mystery

A big thank you to NetGalley and Fringe Press for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Hail Holy Queens is a journal-style story written by Henrietta, who addresses the reader throughout her tale. Henrietta finds herself at a convent as part of her doctor and husband’s treatment plan for her behavioral problems, with her writing dark tales as the biggest problem. At the beginning of her stay, she keeps to herself, writing away in her cell and participating in convent life as little as possible. On the eve of her release, a snowstorm hits, and with it comes evil creatures and the Long Nun to guide the convent in a holy war.

What follows is a wild tale of battle nuns, wolf monsters, sisterly bonding, and a lot of blood and violence. Did I mention the blood? It's a crazy fun ride with some minor issues. 

This first issue is definitely a me thing. This is a Catholic convent filled with nuns, so there are a lot of references to rituals, rites, and articles of clothing I had to look up just to understand the story. As a newcomer telling her story to readers who may or may not know what these things are, I think Henrietta should have explained these better. 

Henrietta sounded a bit too modern at times when talking to the reader. The Long Nun did as well, but it felt different when she did. I got the feeling that she might have been an angel in disguise or something along those lines, so her speech didn’t bother me. Henrietta, on the other hand, was supposed to be a society woman, and her wording sometimes felt more modern than the late 1800s. 

Lastly, when the nuns went on the hunt for the devil/demon (?) monsters, the story became a bit repetitive. This isn’t a long book so I feel like it shouldn’t have felt like it was dragging. But it did. Maybe the repetition was intentional, mimicking the nuns’ daily rituals? If so, I missed that. 

Still, it was an interesting tale that danced the line of classic pulp horror and modern-day horror. 

I’d recommend this to anyone looking for a short, Catholic-themed pulp horror story. 

The Sticklepath Phantom

Title: The Sticklepath Phantom

Author: Ali Simpson

Rating:4/5

Info: 272 pages, first pub by Troubador 06/28/2026

Genre: Mystery, Fiction

Set in England during the autumn of 1931, twins Kitty and Nora Markham have another mystery on their hands. Their new friend, Lady Evelyn Underhaye, is linked to a series of murders that mimic different ghost stories from her ghost tour. The twins rush to figure out who is behind it, and why, before they strike again.

This was a fun, quick read. Kitty, Nora, and the rest of their household are all fun characters. I enjoyed seeing two women who were feminine and capable. They didn’t sit around and wait for the men to figure things out. They were alongside the police, helping solve the case every step of the way. When they had to sit something out, it was because they weren’t police officers, not because they were women. While I’m not sure how historically accurate the portrayal was, it was fun nevertheless.

There were some twists I didn’t see coming, but they never felt like they came out of nowhere, which I always appreciate. I did raise an eyebrow at the motivation of the killer. Other than that, it was a fast, fun mystery that I’d happily recommend to mystery fans.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Troubador for providing me with this ARC.

The Curse of the Saltmarsh Girl

Title: The Curse of the Saltmarsh Girl

Author: Clare Marchant

Rating:3/5

Info: 296 pages, first pub by Boldwood Books 08/07/2026

Genre: Historical Fiction

Two different time periods, two different women, the same spooky place. The story follows Margery, a young woman in 1665 searching for her missing mother, and Angel, a woman in the present day grappling with the mystery of her birth family. Margery’s mother headed to the village of Saltmarsh to visit her eldest daughter and never returned. Angel heads to Saltmarsh to stay with her brother after learning she might have finally found her biological family. While Margery searches the village, a mysterious illness sweeps through the town, killing everyone it touches. Angel has some big decisions to make quickly as the woman who may be her biological mother is dying.

I enjoy historical fiction in general. I especially enjoyed Margery’s storyline. The villagers of Saltmarsh are either hostile or dismissive of her search. People are getting sick and dying, and they blame Margery for bringing the illness to their village. A demon dog, ghosts floating around in the marsh, what isn’t to love?

For me, Angel’s storyline didn’t work. Angel dealing with finding her birth family, learning why she was abandoned, and navigating the emotions that came with it was interesting. However, her attempts to solve the mystery of Saltmarsh were less exciting. She discovers mysterious markings in the church and tries to figure out what they mean. The problem was that I already knew who wrote them and what they meant because I was also following Margery’s story. So, Angel’s mystery didn’t really do anything for me. There was creepy stuff happening in the marsh, sure, but I was not invested in her uncovering the mystery.

Now, a moment about the setting, which is where I think the novel really shines. I love love love the setting of Saltmarsh. It is isolated, filled with creepy fog, surrounded by ghostly ruins of a village abandoned during the Black Plague, and threatened by the ever-present possibility of flooding. Yes, yes, and yes. This setting checked every box for me. I think as far as setting goes, Marchant hit a home run with this one.

The reason I am rating this 3 out of 5 stars is that I could have done without Angel’s storyline. I found myself rushing to get through her chapters to get back to Margery and would have preferred this to be a full Margery story instead of the dual-protagonist structure.

Overall, this is a book that fans of female-focused historical fiction will probably enjoy.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for providing me this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

A Ghostwriter’s Guide to Murder

 

Title: A Ghostwriter’s Guide to Murder

Author: Melinda Mullet

Rating:4/5

Info: 320 pages, first pub by Crooked Lane Books 07/29/2025

Genre: Mystery &Thrillers

 

Mystery writer Maeve Gardner lives aboard a houseboat with her lovable dog, the Captain. He is a good boy with a nose for trouble and a hankering for snackies. When Maeve’s ex-boyfriend turns up dead in the canal where her home is docked, she suddenly finds herself at the center of a mystery of her own.  With Maeve as their prime suspect the police have little interest in pursuing other leads. That leaves Maeve and her eclectic band of besties to figure out the truth and clear her name.

This was a fun book with all the ingredients for a light summer read. The houseboat setting adds some quirky charm. Maeve’s circle of friends-Paul the friendly pub owner, India her best friend and floating bookstore proprietor, the Wicca couple next-door, and her hacker neighbor Ash-pack the story with personality. The mystery is paced just right for a quick vacation read or weekend escape.

While the book didn’t break new ground for me in terms of plot or mystery structure it was still enjoyable and entertaining. I recommend this to readers who appreciate mysteries with a charming setting and lovable cast.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing me the ARC.

The Bloodless Queen

Title: The Bloodless Queen
Author: Joshua Phillip Johnson
Rating: 4/5
Info: 464 pages, first pub DAW books 07/08/2025
Genre: General Fiction (Adult), Sci Fi & Fantasy

In 1987, I was seven years old, eating burritos and rocking out to the movie The Chipmunk Adventure. In Joshua Phillip Johnson’s alternate history, 1987 played out very differently. In this world, people who died on the autumn equinox didn’t stay dead. Instead, they became fae—inhuman and dangerous beings who maim and kill anyone standing between them and the protected areas of the world known as Harbors.

The story is set in the present day and follows Evangeline and Calidore, a married couple who serve as fencers in the Midwest Harbor. Fencers are essentially government-sanctioned superheroes, granted unique powers through prime number tattoos that mysteriously appear on their skin. The smaller the prime number, the greater the power. Evangeline and Calidore juggle the looming threat of the equinox with the recent death of Cal’s father, the challenges of raising their nearly seven-year-old daughter Winnie, the rise of a cult-like, Fae-worshiping religion called the Church of Always Giving, and the politics of defending a world that doesn’t fully understand the danger they face. Public opinion is shifting, with many believing fencer funding could be better spent elsewhere.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Bloodless Queen. The fencer powers were original and memorable—not your standard superhero fare. I also appreciated the alternate history elements, particularly the excerpts from in-world history books. Instead of skipping over them like I sometimes do in other books, I found myself looking forward to each excerpt.

The narrative is told in third person but focuses primarily on Evangeline and Calidore. I liked both characters, though I especially connected with Calidore—probably because I’m a book nerd too. Their love and devotion to each other and their daughter was touching, even if it occasionally felt a little over the top. The pacing started off slow for me, but once the story picked up, I was hooked. By the time the climax arrived, I found myself missing the earlier, quieter moments I initially thought were too slow.

I would recommend this book to fans of fantasy. While there are sci-fi elements, the story leans more into the fantasy genre. Be aware that grief and death are central themes. Calidore’s struggle with his father’s death is a key emotional thread, and the Church of Always Giving glorifies death and suicide. The fae are terrifying, and those who die on the equinox become one of them. This book doesn’t shy away from emotional weight, so go in prepared.

One last (mild) spoiler: the dog lives.

Many thanks to NetGalley and DAW Books for the ARC. This review reflects my honest opinion.

Believe Me Now

 Title: Believe Me Now
Author: S.M. Govett
Rating: 4.5/5
Info: 320 pages, first pub Crooked Lane Books 06/10/2025
Genre: General Fiction (Adult), Mystery & Thrillers


Believe Me Now follows two women: Natalie Campbell and Helen Stratton. Natalie lives with severe PTSD after being sexually assaulted by her boss. Helen is a police investigator trying to uncover what happened to her sister Alice, who disappeared as a teenager.

Natalie begins experiencing episodes of lost time. She relies heavily on her husband, Ryan, and daily routines she has in place for herself. Although her life isn’t perfect, it feels manageable until Ryan is accused of raping a coworker. Not long after, Natalie starts receiving threatening letters at home. Although the letters are anonymous, she recognizes the style and believes they are from her former boss’s wife, the same woman who once blamed Natalie for ruining her life.

Meanwhile, Helen is trying to navigate a complicated work environment. Her boss is someone she recently ended an affair with, which her coworkers probably all know about. To add further complications, she is assigned a new, eager-to-please partner who can’t wait to prove himself. 

Believe Me Now is perfectly placed in the mystery and thriller genres and delivers on both. The plot is filled with twists and turns, and I was eager to see how Natalie and Helen’s stories would eventually connect. Even with multiple threads and voices in play, I never felt confused. Govett gives each woman a distinct voice, making it easy to follow both perspectives.

I found it to be a quick read, mostly because I was so invested in the outcome. I think it deserves a second read to fully catch all the subtle clues and hints woven throughout the story.

What stood out most to me was how well the female characters were written and how thoughtfully the author portrayed the challenges women face, especially in relation to the men around them. Helen constantly has to fight to be taken seriously. Natalie, in contrast, is babied by her husband. Both women are much stronger than the men in their lives give them credit for.

The male characters are also compelling in their differences. Ryan is meant to be seen as a supportive husband, at least through Natalie’s eyes, but I disliked him from the beginning. On the other hand, Helen’s new partner was likable right away, even if she was slow to trust him. Helen’s boss immediately rubbed me the wrong way. I’m tempted to reread the book and look more closely at the parallels between Ryan and Helen’s boss, as they seem to represent a quiet form of control disguised as caring.
 

Overall, Believe Me Now is a solid and engaging read that balances emotional depth with high-stakes suspense. I‘d recommend it to anyone looking for a mystery that keeps your heart racing and pages turning.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Last Ferry Out

 

Title: The Last Ferry Out

Author: Andrea Bartz

Rating: 3.75 /5

Info: 320 pages, first pub Ballantine Books May 20, 2025

Genre: Fiction, Women’s Fiction, Mystery

 

Abby was supposed to be getting married and living happily ever after. Instead, she heads to Isla Colel, the place where her fiancée Eszter died from an allergic reaction. Desperate to find out everything she can about Eszter’s time on the island Abby talks to everyone she can. Instead of finding closure she starts to wonder if Eszter’s death wasn’t an accident.

Abby is a character dealing with grief and all the troubles that entails. She can’t concentrate on work, figure out how to move on, or figure out how to wake up everyday knowing Eszter won’t be there. While it might feel a little extreme at times I think Bartz did a good job at showing how overwhelming grief can be. Abby did a few questionable things during the story, like oversharing and immediately trusting strangers. However, her grief and being cut off from her tiny support group back home made it all make sense to me. Plus, I think she felt immediately close to Eszter’s friends because they were “vetted” by Eszter.

I enjoyed the novel but I have some nitpicks. While I enjoyed reading about the tropical paradise Abby finds herself in, I enjoyed the flashback scenes more. There wasn’t really anything wrong with the real time parts, it was more that I found what was going on in the flashbacks to be more interesting. The second nitpick I have is the way some of the chapters end. There were a few cliffhangers that felt like their only purpose was to be a cliffhanger. There was only one cliffhanger that worked for me and that was about 75% of the way in. I don’t mind reading cliffhangers but I need them to feel like they actually provide something to the narrative.   

This is a book about grief and dealing with it. Full stop. Yes, there is a mystery around Eszter’s death but the mystery is told through the lens of Abby's grief. Bartz does a good job but it is something the reader should be aware of in case it is a sensitive topic. Some other topics readers should be aware of are scenes of push back from family about their relationship, self-harm, character death scene, and drug and alcohol use.

Overall rating 3.75. I’d recommend this book to anyone that enjoys a good mystery and reading an examination of grief set in a beautiful location.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine Books for this ARC.

A Spell for Change

 Title: A Spell for Change
Author: Nicole Jarvis
Rating: 4/5
Info: 480 pages, first pub Titan Books 05/06/2025
Genre: LGBTQIAP+, Sci Fi & Fantasy

 

A Spell for Change is set in the small Appalachian town called Chatuga. Here, Nicole Jarvis weaves a moving tale that centers on three characters, Nora Jo, Kate, and Oliver. Each of them is haunted in their own way. Nora Jo by the magical family legacy she never learned. Kate by cryptic visions of the future. Oliver, a war veteran, haunted by the memory of his best friend’s death, and the invisible scars of a battlefield he can't escape. Together they try to navigate the burdens of expectations and the mysterious forces they don't understand.
 

Nora Jo is determined to maintain her independence. She is passionate about teaching and believes an education will better the lives of the children of Chatuga. Unfortunately, her modern ideas put her at odds with the conservative community which eventually leaves her without a job. In her darkest moment a mysterious man offers to take her as his apprentice and teach her the ancestral magic she never had a chance to learn. Nora Jo, desperate and out of options, accepts.
 

Oliver, known as Junior to most, returns from World War I carrying invisible wounds: trauma, damaged lungs from mustard gas, survivor's guilt. He also brings back something stranger—an ability to see the dead. His parents don't understand; his father wants him to take over the family business while his mother thinks all he needs is a good wife. Oliver struggles to make a place for himself in a world he no longer fits in.
 

Kate has seen visions for as long as she can remember, flashes of a future she doesn’t always understand. Some are terrifying, others hopeful. When her family announces their plan to move to Nashville for a better life, Kate tries to find a way to stay. Taking on extra work to help make ends meet and chasing the romantic visions she has.
 

Each protagonist wrestles with the roles their community tries to force on them. For Nora Jo and Oliver, marriage is presented as a cure-all. For Kate, escaping to the city is seen as her only hope. But each of them resists these “solutions” and tries to find their own path.
 

This book felt shorter than it actually is. Once through the introduction, the chapters fly by. I cared deeply for Nora Jo, Oliver, and Kate—not just because they were well-written, but because they felt so real. I wanted them to succeed, to find peace, to be happy. While I can’t say I was completely satisfied with how Jarvis concluded each of their stories, the endings felt honest and earned.
 

I recommend A Spell for Change to readers who enjoy historical fiction that contain just enough magic to remind you that wonder still exists.

Thank you NetGalley and Titan Books for providing me with the ARC.

Poisoner's Vengeance

Title: Poisoner’s Vengeance

Author: Talia Greer

Rating: 3.75/5

Info: 311 pages, first pub Skull & Violet Books 03/31/2025

Genre: General Fiction (Adult), Romance, Sci Fi & Fantasy

Annette is a nun in a garden themed religion. She has worked hard to become the best of her class ever since she was given over to the abbey at ten years old. Then, just like that, the award for top poisoner goes to a different nun. Annette, who never felt like she fit in at the abbey, quickly decides to sabotage the abbey recertification. If her plan works everything that year will have to get looked at and redone. She hopes this will lead to her getting her award. Along her path for revenge she teams up with a relic that talks to her in her head and a demon named Rigo.

Annette is the POV character. At first, I didn’t like Annette. She immediately jumped to revenge. Also, her attitude that the award was owed to her I found somewhat off putting. Over the course of the story I grew to really enjoy Annette and what I first thought was a weakness in character writing I came around on. Annette isn’t well liked by the others that live in the abbey and Greer shows the reader why that is. Greer also digs deeper so by the end of the story I feel like I watched Annette grow and mature. I started the story rolling my eyes at her childishness just to eventually understand why she acts the way she does. I ended the story cheering her on.

The world building was very interesting and pulled me in right away. A religion based around gardening? Nuns sticking their feet in dirt to ground themselves as part of their daily practice? Love all of that. I would like to see more stories take place in this world. I want to learn more about the world outside of the abbey. I want to learn more about the demons.

Overall, I enjoyed Poisoner’s Vengeance. The plot was pretty predictable, imo, but that didn’t take away from my enjoyment of the story. The world building kept me reading till the plot picked up. The characters weren’t as fleshed out as I would have liked to see but we are only seeing them through Annette’s eyes. I’d recommend this to anyone that likes romantasy stories. I do hope Greer keeps writing in the world she created.

Thank you to NetGalley and Skull & Violet Books for providing me an advanced copy of this book.

Medieval Cats

 Title: Medieval Cats
Author: Catherine Nappington
Rating: 3.5/5
Info: 208 pages, first pub Clarkson Potter/Ten Speed Press 03/04/2025
Genre: Arts & Photography, History, Humor & Satire

Catherine Nappington’s Medieval Cats was a hilarious read. I had a great time reading the quotes and stories about cats while looking at all the crazy medieval art. It warmed my heart reading about people from hundreds of years ago dealing with the same cat behavior I deal with today. From cattitude to zoomies to butt licking all our favorite, and not so much, behaviors get a mention.  One picture is of a manuscript with cat paw prints in ink on it. This brought to mind all the times my cats have stepped on my laptop while I am working. Same struggles, different tech. The art is exactly what I expected it to be so no complaints there.
A quick note about the elephant in the room. Yes, there are some rather unhappy stories about cats presented in a humorous manner. I don’t mind dark humor and the way it was presented in this book didn’t bother me. This will be up to the reader’s own taste and sensitivities though. It is something to keep in mind if you are going to buy this for yourself or another cat lover.
All in all, I found Medieval Cats to be a fun, fast read. I imagine this would be the perfect coffee table book depending on what size the physical version is. I recommend it to anyone that likes cats and the crazy art styles from the medieval period. The only caveat being some readers might be upset by some of the stories due to mentions of cat harm.
Thank you to NetGalley, Clarkson Potter, Ten Speed Press and Catherine Nappington for providing me with an copy of this hilarious book.

The Girls

 The Girls by Emma Cline

Published: June 14, 2016

Publisher: Random House

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction

The Girls follows Evie, a middle aged woman slouching through life, as she recounts her summer with a Manson family like group during the summer of '69.

I just could not connect with any of the characters in the story. If it had been Suzanne or Roos' POV I think I would have found it more interesting. Instead I had to follow Evie, a fourteen year old girl of privilege. I get being a lonely teen is rough, dealing with divorced parents is rough, dealing with trying to navigate your sexuality is rough. My problem was Evie's struggles didn't interest me. She comes from a well off family and her parents are selfish people. She likes girls more than boys but it never comes up aside from her internal struggles.  Compare that to the little bits we get about Suzanne or Roos. One had to work as a stripper, maybe, the other was an abused wife that left her husband. Let's not even think about all the people out there who, because of their sexuality, faced homelessness after being disowned by their family and violence.

Cline also was constantly pointing out how dangerous men are. How they look lustfully at young girls and take advantage of them. How women are all wrapped up in pleasing men to the point of denying themselves their own identities. Okay, but again I'm following Evie. Yes, some guys perv on her but compared to what Suzanne or Roos had been through? I just had a hard time caring.

Maybe if I had been alive during the time period I would connect more with Evie. It isn't a badly written book. The prose gets a little purple here and there but nothing so egregious that I'd dock points. Someone that finds the time period or the whole cult angle interesting might love this book. Unfortunately, this book just wasn't for me.

The Stranger At Black Lake

The Stranger At Black Lake

Author: Christina McDonald

Publisher: Intrigue Ink Publishing

Projected Publication date: March 19, 2024

Genre: Fiction, Mystery, Thriller

Black Lake is more than a peaceful new start for Jess Lambert and her 

husband. New friend? Check. Rumors and local legends about an old

 house? Check. Grisly murder scene? Unfortunately, also a check. Jess soon 

forgets about settling in and becomes obsessed with solving a mystery.

 

A big thank you to Netgalley and Intrigue Ink Publishing for the ARC of The Stranger

 At Black Lake.

 

McDonald’s novel These Still Black Waters is on my TBR so when I saw this novella

on NetGalley I quickly applied. The Stranger At Black Lake is the backstory for 

readers of Jess Lambert’s adventures. It can also be a taste test for anyone 

that wants to see if McDonald’s style is for them. Short, sweet, and entertaining this 

is an easy pick for mystery lovers.