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But I’ll find a way, because I need to, and I’ll walk barefoot through hell for what I need: Reviewing Starling House by Alix E. Harrow.

Hi everyone! I hope you are all doing well. I’ve been dragging my feet a bit to review new books. Instead, I’ve made a point to re-read some of my favorites. I re-read Wuthering Heights in spite of the newest movie adaptation, and I’ve re-read Project Hail Mary because I’m excited for the new movie adaptation. I plan to reread Jane Eyre because it’s been a while, and I plan to reread The Odyssey because I am tentatively excited about the movie adaptation coming out this summer. All of that is neither here nor there, though. You are all here for my newest review. I have been meaning to read another Alix Harrow book since I read The Once and Future Witches some time ago. Feel free to check out that review. After so long, I am finally delving back into the world of Harrow. With that being said, let’s talk about Starling House.

Content Warning: Fantastical Violence, Sexual Content, Discussions and Depictions of Racism, Discussions and Depictions of Hate Crimes, Discussions and Depictions of Slavery, Strong Language, Forced Marriage, Domestic Abuse, Incest

The small, simple town of Eden, Kentucky, hides a dark secret. Among the failing businesses and coal mines, Starling House waits with darkness in its many rooms. No one would dare approach this home. Opal, though, isn’t just anyone. She dreams of the house every night and finds herself insatiably curious about why Starling House is seemingly calling to her. Starling House also just so happens to be the former home of Eleanor Starling, the author of Opal’s favorite childhood book, The Underland. When Opal is allowed to finally know the secrets of Starling House and earn money for her brother’s education, she jumps at the opportunity. Unfortunately for her, that means dealing with the manor’s enigmatic and standoffish owner, Arthur Starling. The longer she spends in Starling House, the more Opal learns about the true history that lies beneath the home. For once, Opal won’t run away. Instead, she’ll fight for a chance to finally live and overcome her own dark past.

Starling House is a darkly fun blend of Gothic vibes, fairy-tale allusions, and magical realism. I saw many different story elements here, such as Beauty and the Beast, the myth of Hades and Persephone, and a dark take on Alice in Wonderland. All of this is wrapped up in an interesting (albeit dark) story of American history. It is a bit of a slow burn, but that helps establish that dark atmosphere that seeps through every page of this novel. I appreciate Harrow’s sharp, atmospheric prose and her talent for building tension. Her characters are complex and endearing. I particularly enjoyed Opal’s bravery, wit, and kindness. She made for a compelling heroine and the ideal underdog. I also appreciated that the story was pleasantly unpredictable. I didn’t know where the story was going, and that was what made it such an enjoyable experience. There weren’t any sharp plot twists or intense reveals, but I didn’t know what to expect, which made it all the more fun. I think you can guess my overall thoughts at this point. I definitely recommend Starling House and plan on reading more Harrow books in the near future.

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If we get to the point where we don’t help each other anymore, that’s when we stop being human: Reviewing Dungeon Crawler Carl (Book 1 of the Dungeon Crawler Carl Series) by Matt Dinniman

Hello everyone! I hope you are all doing well. Not that anyone asked, but I’ve been going through a weird time. There’s been some sad things, and some good things. All of these have happened in a short amount of time, so I’m still processing a lot. Things, however, are looking up. I wanted to read something a little more lighthearted to improve my mood just slightly. I also thought that you all might want to read a review about something not depressing. Dungeon Crawler Carl has been making the rounds on social media, so I decided to give it a fair shot. Now, it’s time to discuss the first book in the Dungeon Crawler Carl series.

Content Warning: Crude Humor, Strong Language, Cartoonish Violence

Carl isn’t having a good time. First, his girlfriend breaks up with him. Second, she leaves him with her prize-winning cat named Princess Donut. As if this doesn’t suck enough, then the Earth is attacked by aliens. The survivors of the attack must survive a deadly game of survival that’s being aired to wider galaxy. With nothing but his boxers and a fluffy cat, Carl must fight his way through enchanted traps and deadly creatures, all while trying to impress viewers and not get vaporized by the producers. Safe to say that this isn’t your typical game show.

Dungeon Crawler Carl is a fast-paced, action-packed, and humorous take on literary RPGs. This novel certainly stood out to me in many aspects. I appreciated the overall setup of the novel and its consistent tone. This is one of the few novels where infodumping was beneficial to the story. You don’t have to be familiar with RPGs to understand general mechanics of the story and Matt Dinniman takes the appropriate measures to ensure that the readers understand the world of the novel. My favorite part of the novel was Carl as the main character and narrator. His grounded and pragmatic demeanor helped provide an anchor in a novel full of absurd elements, like killer llamas and a talking cat. I enjoyed the expansive and unpredictable world of the novel. I like that I never knew what absurd thing would happen next. The novel is just absurd and silly enough, without distracting from the fact that this is a survival story. The only element that was really hit-or-miss for me was the humor. Humor is fully subjective. I’m not going to act like I’m above something crude, crass, or juvenile. With being said, the humor of the book didn’t do a lot for me. It was just a little too gross at times. It felt like something akin to South Park or Family Guy, which I find to be hit-or-miss. It was just a bit too gross for me personally. It wasn’t overly offensive, though, and toed the line without crossing it. My main reaction was to roll my eyes because I found it to be distinctly male, if that makes sense. I won’t let that draw away from my overall positive opinion about the book. At the end of the day, this was the ideal book I needed for an adventurous and fun escape. I can even see myself picking up the sequel in the future. If you need something absurd and energetic, then I will go ahead and recommend Dungeon Crawler Carl.

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If you take her bones, carve her name, so she is not alone: Reviewing On the Savage Side by Tiffany McDaniel

Hi everybody! I hope you are all doing well. I’ve been in a bit of a funk lately. The weather where I live is erratic, so it’s hard to plan anything. I have had some good days, so that counts for something. I then, however, turn around and read some of the most depressing novels I have read in a bit. Before I even give my usual content warnings, I will say that this book is also a heavy read that covers a lot of dark topics. If you are unsure, I will give the content warnings, and then you can decide if you want to proceed. If you are a curious soul and comfortable with discussing such topics, then feel free to stick around. Let’s talk about On the Savage Side.

Content Warning: Drug Abuse, Addiction, Prostitution, Child Abuse, Sexual Abuse, Miscarriage, Strong Language, Misogyny, Grief and Mourning, Overdoses, Disturbing Imagery

Arcade and Daffodil are twins, sharing fiery red hair and mismatched eyes. The sisters use their imaginations to retreat into fantastical worlds. With the guidance of their grandmother, they begin to imagine a life outside of their small town of Chillicothe, Ohio. Unfortunately, the generational curse of addiction catches up with them. Arcade tries her best to be strong for her family, but must contend with her own trauma. When young women like Arc and Daffy start to go missing, Arc is forced to face the reality that a killer is targeting women who are already ignored by everyone. Despite everything she has been through, Arc is determined to keep herself, her sister, her mother, and her aunt safe. She might, however, not be able to escape the “savage side.”

On the Savage Side is a dark and harrowing novel about the cycles of addiction and the harsh reality of those who struggle with it. This was a hard read, but I’d argue it is a necessary read. Tiffany McDaniel’s prose is both elegantly metaphorical and fiercely unflinching in the face of such dark topics. The book is actually written in tribute to six young women who were killed in Chillicothe, which makes it all the more necessary to read. Small towns, like Chillicothe, are often overlooked in every sense. McDaniel’s novel is as much a love letter to the town and the people who live there as it is a rallying cry to the tragedy that lies in towns ravaged by drugs. Everything about this book was written with great care. Arc, as a main character, is as tragic a figure as they come. All of the characters, particularly the female characters, are so beautifully humanized by McDaniel. As the reader, you only want the best for them, but are forced to contend with the realities of drug addiction. On the Savage Side is a difficult read, I’m not going to lie. It is something I needed to read, though. I think it’s important that we, as readers, have a responsibility to read about difficult topics. It’s the only way we can develop empathy and understand the wider world around us, including the tragedies. On the Savage Side is a powerful novel that is worthy of your time.

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…Proof that no matter how far you ran, you always ended up back where you started: Reviewing Pretty Girls by Karin Slaughter

Hello everyone! I hope you are all doing well. I’m not sure about you all, but January was rough. It felt like it was never-ending. It didn’t help that we go slammed with snow too. I’ve been surviving off of large mugs of tea, hot cocoa with tons of marshmallows, and plenty of good books. I debated not reviewing this one but, after the end, I decided I needed to talk about this. I heard a lot of good things about Karin Slaughter so I had to see for myself. With that being said, let’s talk about Pretty Girls.

Content Warning: Discussions and Depictions of Sexual Assault, Disturbing Imagery, Strong Language, Discussions and Depictions of Substance Abuse, Graphic Violence, Torture, Discussions of Misogyny, Self-Harm, Suicide, Sexual Content

Twenty-four years ago, Julia Carroll disappeared while on a late night walk through her college campus. Her disappearance shattered her family. Her father became obsessed with solving her case, even though it cost him his health. Her mother tried desperately to move on, and her sisters stopped talking to each other. Claire married a millionaire and Lydia made a life for herself after recovering from her addiction. They are forced to face the past when Claire’s husband, Paul, is killed in a robbery gone wrong. Whne the sisters reunite, they begin to realize that Paul’s death and Julia’s disappearance are somehow connected. As they work together to solve these seemingly random cases, they discover an ugly truth that will change their lives forever.

Recently, I have been hesitant to pick up any crime thrillers. It seems as though the market is saturated with books that follow the formula of “these people had seemingly perfect lives but something strange happened and now everyone is being weird about it.” Like I said in the beginning, I wasn’t sure if I was going to review this because I didn’t think Karin Slaughter could stand out. Thankfully, I was proven wrong. Pretty Girls is an intense, tragic, and twisted tale of revenge and reconciliation. It is a book that faces many grotesque horrors head on, but does not do so in a salacious manner. I appreciated the fact that this book does not rely on ambiguity or coincidence to move the plot along. Slaughter masterfully crafts a mystery that, while not enjoyable to solve, is satisfying to resolve. There’s so much palpable emotion between the two main characters, Lydia and Claire. They felt real and capable. They used logic and strength to solve their problems, but they showcased plenty of flaws that readers can find relatable. Nothing in this book felt too unrealistic, which is what I appreciated the most. I am going to recommend this book if you enjoy crime thrillers, but I implore you to heed my content warnings. This was a great read, but it was upsetting at times. Karin Slaughter, though, handles the subject matter better than most. With that being said, this one has my stamp of approval and I would be interested in reading other Karin Slaughter books in the future.

Picture from @sweetenerobert from Pinterest

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Fear is the death of reason…and reason the death of fear: Reviewing Empire of Silence (Book 1 of The Sun Eater Series) by Christopher Ruocchio

Hi everyone! It is snowy as hell over here so I’m taking advantage of the poor weather and making a dent in my TBR pile. There are a few series I’m starting or continuing this year, so be one the lookout for those. I might do some more mini reviews this year too. Before I get into this review, I want to give a full disclosure and talk about two books I recently DNF’d: The Water Cure by Sophie Mackintosh and Wicked Saints by Emily Duncan. I might give Wicked Saints a second chance, but I could not bring myself to be interested in The Water Cure. That’s all I have to say about those books. I do, however, have a lot to say about Empire of Silence so let’s pivot to that.

Content Warning: Violence, Some Gore, Some Strong Language, Discussions of Sexual Assault, Intense Battle Scenes, Torture Scenes

Hadrian Marlowe is a young noble with every opportunity at his fingertips. Him following his dreams, though, hinges on impressing his father, a stern and unforgiving man. When Hadrian makes a terrible mistake, he is forced to flee from his father. This decision, however, will change his life forever. Completely on his own, Hadrian must navigate the rough streets filled with thieves and liars, the bloody life of a gladiator, and the complicated politics of the upper eschelon. All of these will ultimately lead Hadrian to a galaxy-wide war that is only just beginning.

I found myself compelled by this first entry of Ruocchio’s The Sun Eater series. The influences on this first book are obvious. It has a galatic world not too dissimilar to Star Wars, a society is a mix of European monarchies and the Roman Empire, and a complicated political system like Dune. It can be a tiny bit overwhelming but Ruocchio does a good job pacing it out the story and taking the time to build each aspect of this world. The anchor that holds all of this together is Hadrian Marlowe as the narrator and I was impressed with him as a main character. Hadrian avoids a lot of the tropes that many MMCs in sci-fi and/or fantasy tend to fall into. Hadrian isn’t a character built on machismo, nor does he brood. He is a bit entitled in the beginning, but he is self-aware. At times, he’s even pathetic and unlucky. With that being said, his actions drive the story forward in a way that doesn’t rely on coincidence or brute force. I found him to be endearing and I wanted him to succeed in some capacity by the end of the novel. That is what ultimately makes this novel work. Overall, I was impressed with Empire of Silence and I can see myself picking up the second book in the near future.

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I live in pain because pain is what the world gave me, and I am powerful with it: Reviewing Faithbreaker (Book 3 of the Fallen Gods Trilogy) by Hannah Kaner

Hi everyone! I hope you are doing well and staying warm if you live in a chilly area. Now is the best time to curl up with a good book, in my opinion. Before you read this review, feel free to checkout my review of the first two books, Godkiller and Sunbringer. It’s time to talk about the epic conclusion with Faithbreaker.

Content Warning: Violence, Intense Battle Scenes, Strong Language, Sexual Content, Animal Death

War has come to the continent of Middren. The fire god Hseth has a massive army of devoted followers who make her more powerful by the day. Only a powerful alliance can save the country. Elo reunites with his childhood friend and king, Arren. Their relationship, though, is still damaged by past betrayal. Elo and Arren must come to terms with the past in order to have a future. Meanwhile, Inara joins her mother on a mission to rekindle old alliances. When human alliances falter, she and Skediceth see if they can make peace with the gods and creates allies before the battle begins. Kissen, however, still has no alliances to people or gods. She does still have her family, but she must decide if she is willing to leave them once more to save them. Everything hangs in the balance and one battle will decide everyone’s fate.

Finales can be tricky things, but Hannah Kaner delivers a satisfying conclusion to her action-packed trilogy. It seems, to me, that it’s a rare thing to have a book series that is just the right length and doesn’t falter towards the end. Faithbreaker is a well-paced and cinematic novel. What I appreciated about this novel is how nothing felt gratuitous. There wasn’t too much swearing. The sex scenes weren’t overly explicit. The battle scenes weren’t too gory. Everything was just as it needed to be in the end. It was maybe a tad on the predictable side at times, but nothing that annoyed me as a reader. There were enough moments of tension that made the novel feel unpredictable to a degree and that was enough for me. As for the character arcs, I was overall satisfied with how the main characters reached the end of their development. Too often do writers try to throw in some random, out-of-character moments that are there for the sake of drama. Kaner, however, is nothing if not consistent in her literary craft. Overall, the Fallen Gods ended on a gratifying note with Faithbreaker. If you need a fun fantasy trilogy, then this is the first series to check out.

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Better to Die in War Than Rust Through a Time of Peace: Reviewing The Sword of Kaigen: A Theonite War Story by M.L. Wang

Hello everyone! I hope you are all doing well. This year may have already begun, but I am determined to be a bit more timely with reviews. My resolution is to spend less time on social media and more time reading and/or writing. This particular review is long overdue, and I have a lot to say, so let’s talk about The Sword of Kaigen.

Content Warning: Violence and Gore, Suicide, Miscarriage, Domestic Violence, Grief and Mourning, Disturbing Imagery, Misogyny

The Kaigenese Empire is one of the most powerful forces on Duna, and there live families said to be descended from the gods. On the Kusanagi peninsula live the Matsuda families, who are wielders of the Whispering Blade, an ancient and legendary weapon. Misaki, the wife and matriarch of the Matsuda family, had to leave behind her days of adventuring to raise a family. Unhappy in her marriage, Misaki longs for change. When an old friend from her past appears with a warning, Misaki realizes that she may have to fight once more. Mamoru, the oldest son of the Matsuda family, is destined to follow in his father’s footsteps and become a fearsome warrior. Mamoru’s world is changed when a new classmate from a different country tells him that the Empire is not the benevolent power he had always thought it was. Now, Mamoru has to contend that he might have to fight for something he doesn’t believe in. With an invasion on the horizon, the Matsuda family will have to find the strength to fight together or risk being torn apart.

I don’t like to toss around the word “epic” a lot to describe a book, but The Sword of Kaigen absolutely earned the adjective. It’s so action-packed and rich in its lore. M.L. Wang’s world is endlessly imaginative. I learned something new in every chapter. Every culture in this book was so well thought out. The character development, though, isn’t sacrificed in favor of the world-building, which tends to be a pitfall of many fantasy books. Wang’s characters are so life-like, and I loved how much time was dedicated to exploring them as people. With all of that being said, I really wish that this had been part of a duology. There are a lot of moving parts in this novel, and it can be overwhelming because there’s so much information to absorb. I found myself constantly flipping to the back to double-check the terminology in the book. That isn’t to say that it wasn’t understandable. I simply wish that I had gotten to spend more time in this world so that I could familiarize myself with Wang’s intricate landscape. That, however, is mostly a “me” problem. I recommend picking up The Sword of Kaigen immediately.

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Love makes Fools of us all. Including the Muses. Including even the Gods: Reviewing We Love You, Bunny (A sequel to Bunny) by Mona Awad

Hi everyone! Happy New Year! Let’s hope for a great 2026! This is now my fourth review of Mona Awad. Feel free to go back and check out my review of this novel’s predecessor, Bunny. I’ll save all of my thoughts for my review below. Let’s kick this year off with my first review, We Love You, Bunny.

Content Warning: Violence, Disturbing Imagery, Strong Language, Sexual Content, Disturbing Imagery

Years have passed since Samantha Heather Mackey had her encounter with the Bunnies at Warren University. Now, she has a book out about her experiences with the stranger graduate students. Not everyone is happy for Samantha. The Bunnies want to tell their side of the story. After kidnapping Samantha, they force her to understand what really happened and why they did the things they did. Their captive audience will know about their inexplicable bond and their first foray into dark magic.

I wish I was starting this year out with a bang, but this review is going to be more of a whimper. Before I go into details, I will say that I still recommend reading Bunny and I still enjoy Mona Awad as an author. That isn’t where my positives stop. I enjoyed the writing of the novel. Awad is so good at creating bizarre and unique characters. This novel showcases Awad’s talent for writing twisted and poetic prose. I will also not diminsh the novel’s message about who art belongs to and the intensity of the creative process. With all of that being said, though, I just really didn’t like this book. It felt way too long and very little happened until the last half of the book. The Bunnies, while they are entertaining, do nothing for a majority of this book. I learned nothing new about them. I barely understood why they worked as a group, other than happenstance. The most annoying aspect of this book is how the main characters constantly scream at each other. Their intense, melodramatic emotions felt unearned. They weren’t unlikeable in a “fun” way. All of their work was glossed over in favor of the section of the book that is narrated by their first creation. I understand that Awad was going for a Frankenstein angle by having the creators and the creation each have their own stories to tell. The main difference is that Victor Frankenstein is a fleshed out character and the Bunnies felt so flat. The worst thing about this book is that it made me root for the main male character in a book that had plenty of interesting female characters to work with. The pacing also just didn’t help. I kept forgetting that the book is centered around them kidnapping Samantha from the first book. Not to keep ranting, but I hate these sequels/prequels that try to demystify the previous work. Unfortunately, We Love You, Bunny was a flop for me. I only take solace in seeing that other people had this book on their worst and/or most disappointing books of 2025 lists. Just read Bunny and don’t even bother with this sequel/prequel.

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When the whole world hurts, you bite it. Don’t you?: Reviewing The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones

Hi everyone! I hope you’re all staying nice and warm this winter. This review will be my last review for the year. I fully intended to finish this book last month, but the hustle and bustle of the holidays hit me with full force. This book, however, felt appropriate as a winter horror book, so I finished it sooner than later. This is now my second venture into Stephen Graham Jones’ novels. Feel free to check out my review of My Heart is a Chainsaw. Now, it’s time to talk about The Only Good Indians.

Content Warning: Violence, Gore, Disturbing Imagery, References to Racism, Animal Death, Some Strong Language

Ten years ago, four childhood friends from the Blackfeet Nation went on a hunting trip. This trip would forever change their lives. Unknowingly, they unleash a vengeful entity after slaughtering a herd of elk. Since then, each of these men and their families has been plagued by tragedies that resulted in death. Now, with the inevitable creeping up on them, the remaining men must find a way to break the cycle of revenge before it claims them.

Stephen Graham Jones continues to deliver bizarre and compelling takes on somewhat traditional horror narratives. While I have read stories in the past of venegful spirits, Graham Jones stands out by providing a unique cultural standpoint. I felt immediately immersed in the cultures of the main characters and was fascinated by their perspectives. One of the best elements of the novel, in my opinion, was the narrative tone. It comes across as casual to the point of being conversational. It makes the horror elements more insidious and jarring because I felt like I was reading a stream-of-consciousness narrative at times. This, though, helped me better understand and sympathize with the characters, including the antagonist. With all of that being said, I fully plan to read another Stephen Graham Jones novel in the future and highly recommend giving that you give his novels a chance.

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All we can do is honour the lessons this brings, look honestly upon who we were and what we have done, and try to do better when the next sun rises: Reviewing House of Odysseus (Book 2 of the Songs of Penelope Trilogy) by Claire North

Hi everyone and happy holidays! With the hustle and bustle of everything, I haven’t been able to do much reading. I may be able to post one more book review before my annual favorites of the year post. It all just depends on my mood. Before you read this review, I encourage you to read Ithaca, the first book in this series. Now, let’s talk about House of Odysseus.

Content Warning: Violence, Strong Language, Spousal Abuse, Discussions of Sexual Assault, Discussions and Depictions of Misogyny

Penelope, the queen of the Ithaca, struggles to maintain her power over the suitors that continue to ravage her home. With little hope of her husband’s return, Penelope relies on her wit and cunning to keep her place on the throne. Her troubles, though, had only worsened when Elektra and Orestes turned up on her shores. Orestes is mad with guilt over the murder of his mother Clytemnestra, and Elektra isgrieving her father Agamemnon and desperate to put her brother on the throne. Everything is thrown into further disarry when Menelaus, brother of Agamemnon and king of Sparta, comes to Ithaca in search of his murderous niece and nephew. Helen, the woman who broke the world, is also here to annoy Penelope. With Ithaca thrown into turmoil, Penelope must fight for her rightful place with the help of some unlikely allies. The queen’s plight, though, has caught the eye of the goddess of love herself, Aphrodite, who may give her a fighting chance.

Claire North continues to impress me with her ability to inhabit all of these characters and breathe life into them in a way that very few adapatations have in the past. This novel is part murder mystery, part family drama, and part re-telling. Its dynamic nature is what made it just as enjoyable as its predecessor. What I particularly appreciated about the novel was having Aphrodite as the narrator. Not to be a mythology nerd, but I always for Aphrodite to be one of the more underrated deities in the Greek pantheon. Her commentary about love and desire ties into the themes from the first book about women’s struggles in such a seemless way. Claire North does a fantastic job creating unique character voices that feel so rooted in reality in a strange way. With all of that being said, I am so excited to read the third book in this trilogy and I think that you should check this one out too.