☆Book Reviews☆

𝚅𝚎𝚎 🍁• 🐕 𝙳𝚘𝚐 𝚖𝚘𝚖 •🐍 𝚂𝚕𝚢𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚗

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Just a bookish girl, living in a fantasy world.

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☆Book Reviews☆ turned 1 today!

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REVIEW: The Overnight Guest By Heather Gudenkauf

4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

"It isn’t the dark you should be afraid of, the girl thought, it’s the monsters who step out into the light that you need to fear."

It's been a while since I read a thriller this good! It was fast-paced, dark, and twisty. This is my first Heather Gudenkauf book, and I was not disappointed.

Wylie, a true crime writer seeking solace from her everyday life, chooses a farmhouse infamous for a string of murders 20 years prior as her retreat for researching and writing her next book. During a terrible storm, she loses contact with the world, barricading herself inside. Unfortunately, she discovers a nearly dead child outside and must unravel the mystery of who the child is and how they got there.

The story unfolds across three timelines: the year 2000 during the farmhouse murders, an unknown time through the eyes of a little girl and her unraveling mother, and present day with Wylie.

From the start, the story was dark and eerie, with small-town county vibes surrounding the murders of a whole family. The build-up, covering the first 50%, was more engaging for me than the action in the final part of the book. The whodunit aspect had me hooked, trying to guess who's who, and I only figured out the author's formula close to the end.

Overall, a really good thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat. I'll definitely be reading more from this author in the future!

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REVIEW: Hell Bent By Leah Bardugo

4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

"If only the evil did terrible things, what a simple word it would be. "

This is a strange series for me. I loved it at times but was also really confused by it. I kept wondering, what is the bigger picture here? How do all these little pieces fit together? I did my best to read it quickly to maintain momentum and avoid losing interest. And that worked, I was definitely invested!! This series is THICK with history. No joke. It is not some easy read, and it did not feel like your average fantasy either. Maybe that's why it was hard at times to get into, I never liked history. But when you push through and peel back all that to get to the core plot, it's enjoyable. (It was for me, anyway)

Hell Bent was a better read for me than Ninth House. I understand the basics now and enjoy the character dynamics. The characters, especially Darlington, Tripp, Turner, and Alex, are my favorite part. Their banter was so funny that I actually wrote LOL in my book. Tripp, especially in this book, was HILARIOUS. I love Alex as a character; she didn't annoy me, but she does go through an excessive amount of beatings. SO MUCH BRUTALITY towards this poor girl. How is she alive?!

"Because magic never did the kind thing. There would be no prize at the end of all your suffering. There was no reward but survival. And dead was dead."

The pacing and side plots impacted my rating. The murders subplot didn't connect with me, and when it was resolved, I felt indifferent. I was mainly invested in the main plot of the Hell heist and the characters. Even with the main plot, when the antagonist was revealed, I didn't care much. I just wanted to keep going to see what would happen to the characters. The chapters regarding 'the past' in Hell Bent were less confusing than in Ninth House, but I wish they were shorter. At the end, everything connected, but the story dragged at times. However, I did enjoy learning significance of the rabbit and how it ties into Alex's Ground Zero story. And of course, learning more about DARLINGTON. I NEED MORE DARLINGTON. GIVE US MORE DARLINGTON!!

"Darlington?" Alex stammered. "I... Where are you going?" "To get some clothes, Stern," he said, climbing the steps and leaving bloody footprints behind. "A man can spend only so much time without trousers on before he begins to feel like a deviant."

Even after everything I still don't understand why Alex went through all this pain to save Darlington. Their relationship seemed more like co-workers, mentor/apprentice, with hints of something more. I needed more clarity on that. It was frustrating because there is still so much left uncovered and it will obviously continue on in the next book. I just wanted that info NOW. 😆 This was an extreme slow burn, everything kind of story. Even with Darlington and Dawes, that relationship not really explained. Dawes was emotional from the get-go about Darlington, and all that was said was that they were friends. IDK it left something to be desired.

The ending was action-packed, and I couldn't put it down. Excited for the next book; I wish it was already out. Overall, a good story, challenging but worthwhile because of the characters. I feel like I could say more but I've covered the thoughts at the front of my mind for now. 😆

"Maybe they were just two killers, cursed to endure each other's company, two doomed spirits trying to find their way home. Maybe they were monsters who liked the feeling of another monster looking back at them. But enough people had abandoned them both. She wasn't going to be next."

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REVIEW: NINTH HOUSE By Leigh Bardugo

3.75/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

I was SO excited to read this one—Gothic, dark academia, murder mystery, magic, fantasy—everything I could possibly want in a book; this was meant to be!

This is how it really went.. The beginning was really rough for me, especially the first 100 pages. I am not a stranger to 800-page fantasy books with complicated made-up worlds. So why was I unable to retain anything I was reading in this book? It was pretty much an urban fantasy, shouldn't have been difficult. I kept having to go back and reread. And as I made progress, I kept going back to the start to reread some more. It was not registering in my brain. I think the issue was not only a lot of historical information being dumped but the writing style, I now realize, was just so pretentious. This was not what I was used to by Leah Bardugo. I know this is her first adult book, but damn, it was really hard for me to understand!!

Some issues I had throughout the book were, while each chapter was a different time (past and present), there were also past and present moments woven into the chapters. So I was really struggling at times, thinking where the heck in time are we now? Once I started to understand the general plot and what was going on, it became easier to read, but the story was still coated by complicated histories and things I did not understand. The story was like a very thick onion, and the layers were being peeled off very, very slowly.

So now for Alex. This poor girl, I have never read a character who was more beat up than this one. How the hell is she even alive? 😅 Magic, I guess! This book was actually quite dark, especially regarding Alex's backstory, up to her present situation.

I didn't connect with Alex at first, but by the end, I did like her. I was hoping for some romance, but there was none in this book. I think there was maybe one scene I thought would be it, but it wasn't. Things got really interesting for me by the 60% mark. That's when I finally got into the story, and I couldn't stop reading. This book was also VERY LONG. So long it just felt like not much was going on at times. I think if it was cut in half the story would have been more impactful and faster paced.

The story really ended with a punch, so I am eager to start Hell Bent and see where the heck this story will go. I hope now that I have a proper understanding of the world, that it will make more sense off the bat.

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REVIEW: You Shouldn't Have Come Here By Jeneva Rose

3/5 ⭐⭐⭐

I was so excited for this book, as I really like Jeneva Rose! "The Perfect Marriage" and "One Of Us Is Dead" were really good!

Grace, a New Yorker, decides to take a break from city life and embark on a solo trip to Wyoming. There, she stays at an Airbnb owned by the handsome local, Calvin. He's essentially renting out a room in his house, so he's living there with her. As the two get closer, Grace begins to feel like things are not as they seem in this small town.

Okay, so I devoured this book in 2 nights. I was definitely engaged and wanted to know what would happen next. I enjoyed that we got 2 POVs, both from Grace and Calvin. As the story progressed, each of their perspectives revealed details about themselves and how the other was acting. I did feel the chemistry between the two of them, and I was team Calvin all the way.

There was a lot of insinuation via Grace's perspective that things are not as they seem and that there is unnerving tension. Personally, I didn't feel it. I also felt like there were so many obvious layers to the story, preparing us for a twist, that it lacked some suspense. There were some smaller twists here and there which were also obvious. I was hoping for something with a bit more punch. I won't say what triggered me to guess the twist, but I knew early on how it would end. There were some details I guessed wrong, but I knew who the antagonist was. The ending was a little over the top and we were provided with no explanation of substance as to how or why it got to that point.

Overall, not as twisty as described but still a fun read that held my attention.

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REVIEW: TWO TWISTED CROWNS

by Rachel Gillig

3/5 ⭐⭐⭐

The beginning of this book was much better and fast-paced than the first. Elm was the real MVP, I loved him!! I was surprised to see this one follows multiple POVs, but I was happy about it once I got into it.

I absolutely adore Elm's storyline. It was what carried me through the whole book. I still couldn't connect with Rayvn and Elspeth. They bored me in book one, and it didn't get better here, especially since Elspeth was locked in her own mind. The main character wasn't even really in the book.

I did enjoy Ione in this one. Her role felt very insignificant in the first, so I found her character under the maiden fun. The side characters of book 1 reigned supreme in this book. The ending was quite eventful, but when I was done, I didn't feel anything other than satisfaction for finishing it. (Did I tap the Maiden 3 times or something? 🤔)

Overall, I enjoyed the series enough that I don't regret reading it, but not enough to make a lasting impression.

"I'd be your king, but always your servant. Never your keeper."

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REVIEW: NINTH HOUSE by LEIGH BARDUGO

3.75/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

I was SO excited to read this one—Gothic, dark academia, murder mystery, magic, fantasy—everything I could possibly want in a book; this was meant to be!

This is how it really went..

The beginning was really rough for me, especially the first 100 pages. I am not a stranger to 800-page fantasy books with complicated made-up worlds. So why was I unable to retain anything I was reading in this book? It was modern but with magical elements, shouldn't have been difficult. I kept having to go back and reread. And as I made progress, I kept going back to the start to reread some more. It was not registering in my brain. I think the issue was not only a lot of historical information being dumped but the writing style, I now realize, was just so pretentious. This was not what I was used to by Leah Bardugo. I know this is her first adult book, but damn, it was really hard for me to understand!!

Some issues I had throughout the book were, while each chapter was a different time (past and present), there were also past and present moments woven into the chapters. So I was really struggling at times, thinking where the heck in time are we now? Once I started to understand the general plot and what was going on, it became easier to read, but the story was still coated by complicated histories and things I did not understand. The story was like a very thick onion, and the layers were being peeled off very, very slowly.

So now for Alex. This poor girl, I have never read a character who was more beat up than this one. How the hell is she even alive? 😅 Magic, I guess! This book was actually quite dark, especially regarding Alex's backstory, up to her present situation.

I didn't connect with Alex at first, but by the end, I did like her. I was hoping for some romance, but there was none in this book. I think there was maybe one scene I thought would be it, but it wasn't. Things got really interesting for me by the 60% mark. That's when I finally got into the story, and I couldn't stop reading.

The story really ended with a punch, so I am eager to start Hell Bent and see where the heck this story will go. I hope now that I have a proper understanding of the world, that it will make more sense off the bat.

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REVIEW: One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig

3.5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

I went into this book with low expectations, as with hyped books I am usually left disappointed. It was good, not nearly as mind-blowing as the reviews say but still enjoyable.

To summarize, our main character Elspeth is infected by a magical sickness. Due to this sickness, she has a monster in her head that speaks to her and provides her power of strength and brutality when she asks for help. This magical sickness is feared by the kingdom, and anyone who is infected is hunted by the King and killed (unless he deems their powers useful to him). The only way to cure the kingdom from this sickness is to collect all the Providence Cards. These cards are the only legal use of magic in the kingdom. Each card has a power like invisibility, mind control, strength, etc. The owner of the card can wield these powers. The cards are extremely valuable. (They reminded me of magic the gathering cards😅)

The story is essentially a quest to rid the kingdom of the sickness and thus heal the people infected. The magic that the infected people have causes a degeneration in them, and ultimately they can die from it.

Okay, so I really did enjoy how different the magical system was in this book. A+ for effort! The world-building was pretty basic after understanding the main plot point. The beginning was intriguing; we are introduced to what's what and all the characters. The pacing was fast at first; I was really into it. And it sort of just tapered off..

The middle of the book was really monotone and flat, in my opinion. I was doing my best to push through so that I did not lose momentum. There were no revelations that had me gasping or surprised me at all. Elspeth especially.. it just felt like the author made her really stubborn for the sake of appearing like a strong female lead. Besides her secret of having a monster in her head she did not elicit any emotion from me.

I did really like the side characters. The Yew family banter was fun, and I don't know why, but they reminded me of the Cullens. 😅 I am curious about Elm though. Its made apparent that he is disapproving of Elspeth and that he is disgusted by her and Rayvn's display of affection. He was also paired up with her so often in the "adventures" that it had me scratching my head. What kind of foreshadowing is this 🤔 or maybe it means nothing at all.

When it came to the romance, I did not feel any chemistry between Rayvn and Elspeth. I felt like Rayvn was meant to be that classic morally grey anti-hero. The author tried to make him seem like he was struggling internally, with his jaw clenching and his dismissive attitude towards Elspeth. In the end, I did not see him do anything that really surprised me.

The ending did pack a punch. Finally, something interesting happened, but even then, it was just okay. Although the cliffhanger was not surprising, I did enjoy it! At first, I gave this book a 4 after that ending. But after sleeping on it, my feelings towards it cooled off.

It's a good story, don't get me wrong, but even with lowered expectations, I just didn't jive with it as much as I wanted to. I will be starting the 2nd book, so hopefully, it will be even better!! 🙏

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REVIEW: SPOOKILY YOURS by Jennifer Chipman

4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Oh my gods. “A cursed talking cat? What is this, Sabrina the Teenage Witch?”

Okay, so good! I picked this up after seeing it on my feed. It's a quick, Halloweenie, cute but spicy romance. I was down for it.

This story is about a witch named Willow who adopts a cat. The cat isn't an ordinary cat; it's a demon cat, a demon trapped in cat form. Yes, you heard me. The demon cat is named Damien, and he's been cursed to remain in cat form. Willow helps break the curse and then is stuck with this hot man demon obsessed with her. A love story follows.

I didn't expect to like it so much! The dialogue was hella cheesy. Oh man, the things Willow said were so cheesy. BUT DAMIEN. WHAT? I LOVE him. Every time he called Willow "little witch," I swooned. It was the perfect amount of spicy; the romance was SO CUTE. It was such an easy read; there was barely any conflict or antagonist for that matter. Damien wasn't even in town for some evil matter; it was just overall very happy.

I don't really have much to say or analyze about this story. 😅 I expected it to be cheesy, and it was, IT REALLY WAS. BUT! It also surprised me for how much I loved it. I highly recommend it for a quick Halloweenie read!! 🎃

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REVIEW: THE SCARLET VEIL BY SHELBY MAHURIN

4.5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

"Les Éternels stalk the streets by moonlight, preying on the weak and seducing the immoral. That's why we always sleep at nightfall, darlings, and always say our prayers."

LOVED IT 🩸 I really enjoyed Serpent and Dove, I was super excited to find out about this VAMPIRE spin-off that takes place in the same world! Although the S&D trilogy did not end as strongly as it began for me, The Scarlet Veil was still a no-brainer, instant buy.

The story follows Celie, a secondary character from the original series. It starts off right where Gods & Monsters ends, so I do strongly suggest finishing that series before starting this one.

Celie has joined Les Chasseurs, and she is struggling to find her place amongst her Brethren. Jean Luc, her fiancé, and Chasseur captain, treats her like a "glass doll." He shares nothing with her, and she is kept locked up in the tower for her protection. (He is the epitome of wet blanket a la Tamlin) She is tired of being left out and overlooked by everyone.

”Some might call it fleeing, some might call it hiding, but some might be wrong. Some might say they want to protect me, but what they mean is they want to coddle me. To manage me. I will not be managed. I will show all of them.”

Until one day, she is kidnapped by Les Éternels, leaving all her loved ones panicked and searching for her. Among the captors is Michal, the vampire King, and his cousins Odessa & Dimitri. They eventually all band together to solve the murder mystery that happens at the start of the book.

I remember skipping over some of Celie's parts in the trilogy, so I was a little worried when I found out this book featured her. 😅 She is a wholesome and highly respectable young lady. She truly cares about her friends and family and is struggling with PTSD over what happened to her in the previous trilogy. My memory was a little fuzzy at first, but the author did a great job of slowly piecing together what happened in the past.

I found Celie to be quite annoying throughout the book. Her "I'm not a glass doll" argument got debunked so many times. She kept having to be saved because of how naive and foolish she was. She is very different from Lou's character. Celie is still finding her place in the world and learning what it means to be on her own. It took me some time to understand her, and although she made me cringe a few times, the ending made up for it.

Despite Celie irritating me, her romantic moments with Michal were 💉🩸 Very good 👏👏👏 the tension, the angst... all there. I love YA for that. Such good build-up.

"Because”—he presses it hard against my bottom lip—“I’ve been imagining how you taste since I met you." 

Michal was perfection. Everything you'd want a beautiful, dark, mysterious thousand-year-old vampire to be. He gave me KLAUS vibes and I swooned!! His intent was to kill Celie until circumstances changed and brought them closer together.  😈 

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE the characters of S&D. Lou, Coco, Beau, and Reid make appearances in this book and play an important role in the overall story. Beau is hilarious AS USUAL. I was so happy they had scenes in this book.

That cliffhanger got me good. I truly didn't catch onto any of the twists in the whole story and really enhanced the experience for me!! Now I'm stuck waiting for book 2, and it can't arrive soon enough!

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REVIEW: DRACULA by BRAN STOKER

3.75/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Dracula by Bram Stoker is a timeless classic that weaves together elements of Gothic horror and suspense. Stoker's vivid descriptions of Transylvania and his use of journal entries and letters create an immersive narrative.

The central theme of the vampire Count Dracula's attempt to spread his curse adds a chilling layer to the story. The novel explores societal fears, the clash between modernity and superstition, and the strength of human resilience.

Stoker's characterization, especially with Mina Harker and Van Helsing, adds depth to the tale. The interplay of horror, mystery, and the eternal struggle between good and evil make "Dracula" a must-read for fans of the genre.

I am a great fan of all things vampire and Dracula, and I will read and watch whatever I get my hands on. In this reread I do find that the story is quite long-winded. I remember reading this in university and was much more into it from an academic standpoint. Now, rereading it for leisure, I found myself quite bored at times🙊

I prefer the '92 film adaptation from Francis Ford Coppola the most. I find it really condensed and made the original story more entertaining. And of course, my feelings about wanting Mina to be with Dracula remain with me. I just prefer that the villain gets the girl 😆.

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REVIEW: SIGN HERE by Claudia Lux

3.75 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

"To be clear, Hell is not a department store. When she says 'blender aisle,' she means the aisle in the Downstairs in which people are put through blenders."

This was a wild ride, to say the least!!

The synopsis had me thinking this was a story about an employee of Hell. That sounded like fun to me. The beginning was pretty much that, and I thought I had it all figured out. Until other POVs came into play, and I had no idea what was going on. By the 30% mark, things started to make sense... but honestly, nothing really made sense until the end 😅 and even then... I felt like I read several different stories in one book. Maybe this sounds like a bad thing, but I actually enjoyed it. I couldn't put the book down.

There is a lot to unpack in terms of reviewing this book, so... I will attempt to keep it as condensed as possible.

Hell is described as an office building in a way. Where there are multiple levels, and depending on your service, you can move up. The Downstairs being the worst. You're either being tortured or are the torturer.

Peyote is our MC; he works on the 5th floor. They are considered to be the "sales" department as their job is to make deals with humans for their souls. He is teamed up with a newbie named Calamity. She is not what she appears to be and tends to cause trouble for Pey and his long-term goals.

In terms of POV, there is Peyote, who is our main hell worker. Then there was the Harrison family. We follow Lily, who is the mother and wife, and her daughter Mickey. I didn't understand why it was only their POVs when the family also included Silas, the husband/father, and their son Sean.

The Harrison family has a dark cloud over them due to Silas' brother having killed a girl 17 years prior, and that led him to kill himself in jail.

This ties in with Pey because according to Hell's rules getting 4 souls from the same family will get you a redo on earth. Peyote is only missing one more soul from the Harrison family, and then he is out of there. The Harrison family dysfunction and murder mystery were definitely a disjointed part of the story. There were so many layers to each member, and at times it didn't seem relevant to Pey's story until it was.

Speaking of Calamity, I found her whole backstory awful and confusing at times. It was incredibly intense, and at times I wondered how the author came up with this plot 😄.

I think this review was very chaotic. It's not a usual type of story, and my thoughts are scattered. Overall, I will say I was entertained and kept reading to find out how it will tie together.

"Love is all powerful, until you learn firsthand what happens when a vegetable peeler meets the far back surface of your tongue."

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REVIEW: Anatomy: A Love Story by Dana Schwartz

5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“I'm not a fool, Jack Currer, no matter how you might think of me.” “Oh, I assure, Miss Sinnett, I've taken you for a lot of things, but a fool was never one of them.”

Hazel is a 17-year-old lady who wants to be a surgeon. Such a thing is not allowed, nor expected of a woman in the 1800s. Since birth, it was decided that she will marry her cousin Bernard, the future Viscount. She never minded the idea of it so much, as Bernard has always been kind and seemingly supported her fantasies. But her head has never been in marriage, but books of anatomy, surgical procedures, etc.

Jack is a resurrection man. He steals bodies from their graves and then sells them for profit to doctors and surgeons who wish to teach and experiment for the advancement of science. When Hazel is turned away from a lecture due to being a woman, she strikes up a deal with the prominent Doctor Beecham. If she is to pass the physician's exam without attending the courses, he will vouch for her and also enable other women to study as well. That's when she meets Jack as he begins to provide her bodies for studying purposes.

I loved everything about this story. It had the same vibe as The Alienist and The Frankenstein Chronicles (which I loved!). I really enjoyed Hazel as a character. She was sound-minded, and not irrational. I did not feel like she was annoyingly naive or too young in any way. Hazel was pushing the boundaries of her time. As an aristocratic young lady who is assumed to have a fragile mind and meant produce heirs, she did accomplish a lot!

I did find it funny that she was left to her own devices in her castle. Her staff was there to help her with anything she wanted. No chaperone to pay any attention to her either. She worked out of her castle's dungeon, studying dead bodies, having access to all her money that she used to pay for everything she needed. I thought it was fun, and not the usual constructs of a story in similar settings. I learned a lot too about how it was like back then in terms of health care and how it evolved into what it is today. I know the author researched and provided a decent portrayal of that time.

JACK 😭❤ I love Jack. Him and Hazel are the unlikeliest pair on the outside. But totally meant to be on the inside. Their interactions were sweet and meaningful, yet the romance was not the whole plot. I see now how Anatomy: A Love Story could mean both Hazel's love for human anatomy and also her relationship with Jack. CLEVER!

What a twist at the end, I really didn't see it coming! I CRIED. 🥲 It was the perfect fall read, and I can't wait to start the next book, Immortality!!

“My heart is yours, Hazel Sinnet. Forever. Beating or still.”🖤🖤

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REVIEW: Morbidly Yours by Ivy Fairbanks

5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

My heart is so full! Oh my gosh!!! I loved this book so much!! 🖤❤

It was well-written, and the plot was fresh and different, making me feel like I do when I read Emily Henry or Ashley Poston. Extraordinary!

Lark, an American widow, gets a job in Ireland, hoping to run away from her pain and start over. Callum, an Irish mortician, is meant to inherit his family's funeral home if he can wed by his 35th birthday. The two meet, and a friendship ensues.

CALLUM. CALLUM. CALLUM. 🥵🥵

He was everything! I loved his shy, reclusive character, his stutters, and the way he opens up to Lark. He's closed off on the outside but has so much more to offer. Lark is bright and energetic externally but carries deep sadness and guilt internally. They balance each other and bring out the best in each other.

I enjoyed the Irish setting, cultural references, and language. I even learned a couple of things about dead bodies and the embalming process 😅

This book was the perfect mix of emotional and funny. Cozy, romantic, and the SPICE was SO GOOD. 🌶🌶🌶The build-up, tension, and angst were exactly what I love!

The next book was set up nicely, and will feature Cielo and Aidan. I liked that there wasn't too much spotlight on them in this book, just a mention. Sometimes authors are too obvious with their intentions for a second book, so I appreciated how this was done!

Don't walk, run to read this book! You won't regret it. Although it's not spooky, the setting and theme are perfect for an autumn TBR. I'm excited for the next book in the series! ☘🍀

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REVIEW: The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix

“We’re a book club,” Maryellen said. “What are we supposed to do? Read him to death? Use strong language?"

4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Patricia, underappreciated by her kids and husband, quit her nursing job to be a housewife. Despite finding herself unfulfilled and bored, her source of entertainment is her "Blook Club," which predominantly reads true crime. Joined by like-minded Southern women, they pretend to meet for Bible study to avoid judgment. When a handsome stranger moves in, strange things begin to happen.

This is probably my favorite Grady Hendrix book so far. He really knows how to write horror/comedy, making it feel light despite gore and creepiness.

I enjoyed the Southern early '90s setting and the interpretation of a vampire. It was funny, clever, and disturbing. Each chapter was named after a real true crime book, tying in well with the book club theme. The book also gave me True Blood vibes (The Southern Vampire Mysteries aka Sookie Stackhouse), and I am here for it!

I loved the dynamic between the women of the Book Club. They were at odds most of the time but came through when it mattered most. At times, I wished they were more involved with the mystery; instead, Patricia worked alone.

Overall, a really fun, fast-paced book with a bit of everything. It definitely had gruesome scenes (one, in particular, was quite cringe and terrible), but that's the beauty of Grady's works. 😅

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REVIEW: Butcher & Blackbird by Brynne Weaver

3.75 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

“He’s my f-fr…boy. Guy. A man-guy. I’m…with. Here.”

Sloane and Rowan are both serial killers who hunt other serial killers, à la Dexter. They become friends and meet up yearly to challenge each other to see who can catch and kill a specific serial killer. Over the span of four years, they become closer friends.

This book blew up on my feed, and I could not wait to read it. It had me at serial killers, chaos, and spice. The way the trigger warnings are written, DEAD. So good!! 'Accidental cannibalism?' I guess I'm a weirdo because I wanted to know what that meant!

The beginning of this book was great. The banter between Rowan and Sloane is HILARIOUS throughout the book. The gore was bearable, although the whole eye-popping business gave me the creeps 😅

Things began to feel weaker towards the end of the story. I realized that these characters weren't as fleshed out as I would have liked. Their backstories were very shallow, and it just didn't feel heavy enough to become a serial killer. You know? Maybe I am being picky, but if I compare this to the MindFck Series... Lana is an incredible character. Her past is so dark, so twisted, so painful you believe her purpose. It didn't hit as hard in this book. And maybe that was the point... it is a dark comedy, so it was definitely lighter. I also couldn't help but compare this to 'There Are No Saints,' Mara and Cole are just superb!! Maybe I reached my capacity for serial killer romance 😅

The spice was fun, but the descriptions of the piercings could have been left out. 😅 I also found Rowan's tenderness one moment and his attempt to be feral the next was off. One moment he tends to Sloane's injury; the next, he's telling her to pick a safe word. They are both too emotionally stable to be serial killers 😅 The ending was okay. I didn't catch on to the twist, and I didn't feel much at the ending.

Overall, a fun read for sure. I finished it in a day. I loved the playlist of songs the author provided for each chapter. It really did take the story to the next level. The next book is about Lark and Lachlan's story, but I don't know if I am interested in them. We'll see. 🔪

"I didn’t gouge them out, Butcher. I plucked them. Delicately. Like a lady."