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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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My Favorites of 2025

Hi everyone! I believe this post requires no introduction. You know the drill with this one. Please enjoy my favorite things from this year. Here’s to a great 2026! (Let’s face it. 2025 was a sh*t show. The only way to get through was by finding literally anything to enjoy.)

Books

  • Oathbringer (Book 3 of the Stormlight Archive) by Brandon Sanderson
  • Ithaca (Book 1 of the Songs of Penelope) by Claire North
  • Rhythm of War (Book 4 of the Stormlight Archive) by Brandon Sanderson
  • Psyche and Eros by Luna McNamara
  • Near the Bone by Christina Henry
  • The Final Empire (Book 1 of the Mistborn Saga) by Brandon Sanderson
  • The Fury of the Gods (Book 3 of the Bloodsworn Saga) by John Gwynne
  • Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins
  • Once There Were Wolves by Charlotte McConahgy
  • The Children of Jocasta by Natalie Haynes
  • Kindred by Octavia E. Butler
  • The Archive Undying by Emma Mieko Candon
  • Brother by Ania Ahlborn
  • Ripe by Sarah Rose Etter
  • And Then I Woke Up by Malcom Devlin
  • The God of Endings by Jacqueline Holland
  • I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman
  • The Monster of Elendhaven by Jennifer Geisbrecht
  • The Well of Ascension (Book 2 of the Mistborn Saga) by Brandon Sanderson
  • Orphia and Eurydicius by Elyse John
  • The Hero of Ages (Book 3 of the Mistborn Saga) by Brandon Sanderson
  • Assassin’s Apprentice (Book 1 of the Farseer Trilogy) by Robin Hobb
  • Wind and Truth (Book 5 of the Stormlight Archive) by Brandon Sanderson
  • The Reformatory by Tananarive Due
  • The Alloy of the Law (Book 4 of the Mistborn Saga) by Brandon Sanderson
  • The Swan Thieves by Elizabeth Kostova
  • Dune by Frank Herbert
  • Elektra by Jennifer Saint
  • Blood on Her Tongue by Johanna van Veen
  • Katabasis by R.F. Kuang
  • Uprooted by Naomi Novik
  • Swordheart by T. Kingfisher
  • One’s Company by Ashley Hutson
  • Grey Dog by Elliot Gish
  • We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer
  • The Unworthy by Augustina Bazterrica
  • The Haar by David Sodergren
  • Diavola by Jennifer Thorne
  • One Yellow Eye by Leigh Radford
  • Shadows of Self (Book 5 of the Mistborn Saga) by Brandon Sanderson
  • House of Odysseus (Book 2 of the Songs of Penelope) by Claire North
  • The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones

Movies

  • Sinners (dir. Ryan Coogler)
  • Thunderbolts* (dir. Jake Schierer)
  • Superman (dir. James Gunn)
  • The Fantastic Four: First Steps (dir. Matt Shakman)
  • The Long Walk (dir. Francis Lawrence)
  • Frankenstein (dir. Guillermo del Toro)
  • Wicked: For Good (dir. Jon M. Chu)

TV Shows

  • It: Welcome to Derry (Season 1, HBO Max)
  • The Mighty Nein (Season 1, Prime)
  • Heated Rivalry (Season 1, HBO Max)
  • Severance (Seasons 1-2, Apple TV)
  • Murderbot (Season 1, Apple TV)
  • Hazbin Hotel (Season 2, Prime)
  • Yellowjackets (Season 3, Paramount)
  • Fallout (Season 2, Prime)
  • Andor (Season 2, Disney+)
  • Only Murders in the Building (Season 5, Hulu)

Music

  • Hurry Up Tomorrow by The Weeknd (album)
  • The Giver by Chappell Roan (single)
  • Forever is a Feeling by Lucy Dacus (album)
  • RUSHMERE by Mumford and Sons (album)
  • At The Beach, In Every Life by Gigi Perez (album)
  • I Don’t Know How But They Found Me! by Jensen McRae (album)
  • Even In Arcadia by Sleep Token (album)
  • Man’s Best Friend by Sabrina Carpenter (album)
  • Virgin by Lorde (album)
  • The Cosmic Selector Vol.1 by Lord Huron (album)
  • BITE ME by Renee Rapp (album)
  • Willoughby Tucker, I’ll Always Love You by Ethel Cain (album)
  • Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party by Hayley Williams (album)
  • Breach by Twenty One Pilots (album)
  • Good Boy by Paris Paloma (single)
  • The Life of a Showgirl by Taylor Swift (album)
  • Everybody Scream by Florence and the Machine (album)
  • The Hand by Annabelle Dinda (single)
  • Silver Spoon by Erin LeCount (single)
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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.

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I rip out his tongue to stop the lies. I stab out his eyes to hide from his gaze. You will be free: Reviewing Shadows of Self (Book 5 of the Mistborn Saga) by Brandon Sanderson

Hi everyone! Happy belated Thanksgiving to my fellow Americans. I promise I wasn’t intentionally avoiding reading or writing in this blog. You all know how it is. Life happens. Stuff gets in the way. Motivation is lost. I’m back, though, and have plenty more reviews for you before the end of the year. I just picked a lot of long books to read, which is part of the reason why I have been slow to post. That, however, is the past. It’s time to revisit the Mistborn Saga once more. Let’s talk about Shadows of Self.

Content Warning: Violence, Some Disturbing Imagery

Waxillium “Wax” Ladrian is forced to give up his life as a lawman in the Roughs after forsaking his responsibilities as the lord of his house for too long. He hardly imagined that life in the city would be exciting, but an assassination attempt on a prominent governor proves Wax wrong. Soon, the city of Elendel is thrust into turmoil as riots break out among the workers, and churches are attacked. The culprit? An ancient being who may be sent by God himself. It’s up to Wax, Wayne, and their recently befriended constable Marasi to figure out what’s happening before the city of Elendel is destroyed by its own people.

Brandon Sanderson surprises me with every single book I read. Just as I think I’m hitting a lull or thinking that the plot is predictable, Sanderson provides me with literary whiplash. I say all this with love. As someone who is a fan of action and adventure, the Mistborn Saga continuously delivers with all of the best elements of a genre that is usually hard to encapsulate. Shadows of Self stands out because of how it connects back to the original Mistborn trilogy. Sanderson isn’t afraid to question his own texts and the motives of his characters. Most authors wouldn’t want to deconstruct their worlds or let their characters look too imperfect, but Sanderson isn’t afraid to change the rules without completely demolishing everything he created. It feels like a natural progression in the story. This particular entry in the saga was more like a mystery, but that is what I ended up enjoying about Shadows of Self. In case you couldn’t tell, I have been really enjoying this series, and I am going to continue to recommend it to all of you.

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Without faith, there is no refuge: Reviewing The Unworthy by Agustina Bazterrica, translated by Sarah Moses

Hey everyone! I hope your October is going well. As I write this, the temperature has dropped, and all of the Halloween decorations are up. I think it’s time for another creepy book review. If you would like to, you can check out my review for Tender is the Flesh, also by Agustina Bazterrica. It’s time, though, to talk about The Unworthy.

Content Warning: Violence and Gore, Sexual Assault, Disturbing Imagery, Animal Death, Religious Trauma, Psychosis

The world has ended. Sea levels rose, fires burned, and the population was all but wiped out by their own doing. The survivors grouped together to find some sort of salvation. One particular survivor joined a cult called the Sacred Sisterhood. Deemed one of the unworthy, she goes by unseen during the day but hopes that she might become one of the Enlightened. At night, she secretly writes her story in the hopes that someone will read it. One day, an enigmatic and charming woman named Lucia arrives, and the survivor is inexplicably drawn to her. As she develops a relationship with Lucia, the survivor reconsiders her past and realizes that she can no longer ignore the danger that lies within the Sacred Sisterhood.

Agustina Bazterrica is nothing if not intense, morbid, and profound in her writings. Much like Tender is the Flesh, The Unworthy is a speculative tale of a ruined world and desperate people. Unlike Tender is the Flesh, this novel is a bit more abstract in its prose. Bazterrica’s choice to have the nameless survivor as the narrator makes it all the more immersive. What drew me to the novel was Bazterrica’s use of religious imagery juxtaposed with stark images of a world ruined by humanity. With that being said, I can’t say I liked this more than Tender is the Flesh. The prose was a little too choppy, and there wasn’t enough “showing” for me. Just when I thought I was going to see something shocking or exciting, the novel would jump to something else. There was so much lore in this book, and it was packed very tightly into 175 pages. I would have loved a full novel of this book. With all of that being said, you may consider this my soft recommendation if you want something disturbing and atmospheric.

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When things felt right, it only meant there was so much more that could go wrong: Reviewing We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer

Hi everyone! I hope you are all doing well. Life has happened. Things have changed. This blog remains. That’s my quick summary of how events have unfolded for me recently. I’m doing fine and have a lot to look forward to, but transitions are rarely easy. Thankfully, I have books as my steadfast coping mechanism. There are plenty of spooky books to read this October. It’s time the newest addition, We Used to Live Here.

Content Warning: Violence, Some Gore, Disturbing Imagery, Some Strong Language

Eve and her girlfriend Charlie bought an old house to renovate and resell. Eve finds the old house unsettling, but reminds herself that this is only temporary. One night, when Eve is alone in the house, she finds her dealing with some unexpected guests. A man who claims to have once lived in the house wants to give his family a tour. Despite her worry, Eve decides it wouldn’t be so bad to let this man take a trip down memory lane. Once the family sets foot in the house, everything goes wrong. The youngest child goes missing. The layout of the house changes. A ghostly figure appears. Terrified, Eve tries to get the family to leave the house but they don’t seem to want to leave. Worst of all, Charlie goes missing. Eve fears that she is going insane as her reality begins to change and the house won’t let her go.

We Used to Live Here is such an interesting take on the classic “the house is wrong” trope. It’s part liminal space horror, part supernatural horror, and part internet mystery all wrapped up in a dynamic narrative. Marcus Kliewer does a great job toying with ambiguity throughout this novel. That, to me, is what makes a story truly scary, or unsettling, at least. There is just enough in the material to give you a good idea of what’s happening, but there is not enough to give you any certaintly as to what is actually happening. There’s also these random little mysteries planted throughout the book, like Morse code lines, that make it all the more intriguing. It combines a lot of the things I like about online “creepypastas” without being obnoxious or heavy handed. It’s safe to say that I truly enjoyed We Used to Live Here and think you should add it to your TBR pile ASAP.

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I am no garden, but the woods, and if you ever come near me again, every bit of wildness in me will rise up to bite you: Reviewing Grey Dog by Elliot Gish

Hi everyone! Happy October! We are officially in spooky season! I wanted to kick it off with something interesting. There will be plenty of horror reviews coming up soon. I hope you are all excited! Let’s talk about Grey Dog.

Content Warning: Violence, Gore and Mutilation, Sexual Content, Sexual Assault, Miscarriage and Stillbirth, Child Death, Animal Death, Psychosis, Domestic Violence, Child Abuse, Discussions and Depictions of Misogyny

1901. Ada Byrd accepts a position as a school teacher in the tiny, rural town of Lowry Bridge. Eager for a fresh start, Ada quickly integrates herself into the town. She develops friendships, teaches her students about nature, and begins to feel confident in herself. Lowry Bridge, though, is not what it seems. Ada begins to experience strange things. She hears a disembodied voice. She sees animals mutilate themselves. Ada begins to believe that a mysterious entity, called the grey dog, is the one causing these disturbing things. Ada fears she is slowly unraveling after doing everything she can to hold herself together. One’s true nature, though, can only be hidden for so long.

Grey Dog is a slow-paced, atmospheric tale of oppression, madness, and the power of nature. Gish does a wonderful job building tension and creating uncertainty throughout the novel, which is told through Ada Byrd’s diary. She captures the spirit of rural Gothic horror with unabashed, gory detail. There is an underlying commentary, though, about the oppression experienced by women and the extreme lengths we have to go through to “unlearn” society’s standards. With that being said, it is also a bit of a cautionary tale against losing oneself completely. Grey Dog is ambiguous enough to allow the reader’s imagination to run wild, without avoiding the grotesque and macabre. This book would be the perfect way for you to kick off spooky season. I would hate for Grey Dog to go unrecognized so I implore you to read this novel as soon as possible.