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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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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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Love is a patient, exasperated emotion, and she knew it well: Reviewing Swordheart by T. Kingfisher

Hi everyone! Happy Fall! Well, it doesn’t feel like fall yet but that isn’t going to stop me from trying to participate in fall activities. I have my “spooky” book reviews coming soon and I know some of you are really looking forward to that. For now, I have some other things to talk about. This book will be my fifth review for a book by T. Kingfisher. I even have a sixth one ready to go. Feel free to check out my reviews of her other novels. Let’s talk about one of her latest: Swordheart.

Content Warning: Some Violence, Some Gore, Mild Sexual Content, Animal Death

Halla, a respectable widow, unexpectedly inherits her wealthy uncle’s estate. Unfortunately, she has to contend with her dead husband’s horrid family members who are determined to marry her off so they can have the estate. Halla decides the only sensible solution is to kill herself. The only tool she can find in her uncle’s estate that might do the trick is an ancient sword that was just laying around. When she unsheaths the sword, an immortal warrior named Sarkis appears and informs her that he is now her personal guard. Sarkis was not expecting his weilder to be a woman like Halla. He certainly wasn’t expecting to go on the run with her, fleeing from angry family members and murderous priests. As Sarkis and Hall grow closer, they must face dangers and figure out if there is a way to free him from the sword.

I’m going to be honest. I have often looked down upon “romantasy” as a genre because it always felt so formulaic and cliche. Leave it to T. Kingfisher to write a romantasy that I absolutely loved from beginning to end. The writing is earnest, humorous, and creative. I loved the world of this novel and the interesting fantasy elements. There were so many fun moments peppered throughout that made me smile. The romance, though, is the main feature of this novel and I loved every second of it. While there certainly were tropes, the novel didn’t rely on the tropes to make the romance happen. Sarkis and Halla had such great chemistry. I loved seeing them come closer together. I also loved that the relationship wasn’t perfect and they had to work through things to come together. They reminded me a lot of Wesley and Buttercup from The Princess Bride. The main reason why I liked this book is because it was very reminiscent of works like The Princess Bride. The romance was lovely, the humor was great, and I loved the world of this novel. Go read Swordheart immediately because there is going to be a sequel next year.

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There was a song in this forest, too, but it was a savage song, whispering of madness and tearing and rage: Reviewing Uprooted by Naomi Novik

Hi everyone! I hope you are all doing well. I’m starting to transition into my “spooky” books for October, but I have a couple of others to finish before then. I’m not really going to ramble too much. Naomi Novik has been in my peripheral vision for a bit now, and this is my first experience with any of her novels. I also want to say thank you all so much for continuing to engage with my blog. It means more to me than you know. I hope you continue to read my posts whenever you’re feeling a little bored. With all of that being said, I’ll get to what you came to this post for. Let’s talk about Uprooted.

Content Warning: Violence and Gore, Disturbing Imagery, Sexual Content, Attempted Sexual Assault, Animal Death

Every ten years, a warlock who calls himself the Dragon comes to the village to pick a girl to take away. In exchange, he protects the village from the dangers that hide in the corrupted Wood. Agnieszka had never expected to be chosen by the Dragon. She and everyone expected Kasia to be chosen. The Dragon, however, chooses Agnieszka for reasons she cannot understand. Soon, she finds herself absorbed in the world of magic, court politics, and war. With no other choice, Agnieszka must fight against the evil Wood to save everyone she has ever loved.

I didn’t go in with any real expectations for this novel, and Uprooted exceeded my nonexistent expectations. Naomi Novik is insanely imaginative and well-written. This novel went places I didn’t expect it to go, and that made it all the more enjoyable. The book is so atmospheric, with classic fairy tale elements and interesting lore. There was also plenty of action. I was not expecting this novel to have any intense battle scenes, but there were some really cool scenes involving monsters and warlocks. I am going to cut this review a little short because I want to stay away from any spoilers. I highly encourage you to experience Uprooted for yourself. I will definitely read more Naomi Novik novels in the future.

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Hell is other people: Reviewing Katabasis by R.F. Kuang

Hi everyone! I hope you are all doing well. I could not be more excited to talk about this book with you. I’m sure many of you have heard the buzz around Katabasis and I am more than happy to give my take on it. If you want, you can check my review of Babel, another novel by R.F. Kuang. Let’s get to the point and talk about Katabasis.

Content Warning: Disturbing Imagery, Some Violence, Some Gore, Some Sexual Content, Grooming, Suicidal Ideation, Strong Language

Alice Law has sacrificed everything to become one of the leading minds in the field of Magick. With the help of her talented mentor, Professor Grimes, Alice has become one of the emerging stars in Cambridge University. Everything was going according to plan until Professor Grimes is killed in a magical accident. Alice, though, can’t let the man who can open every door for her rot in Hell. The only solution is to bring him back. She is not the only Grimes student with this idea. Peter Murdoch, her academic rival, convinces Alice to let him join her journey. Armed with nothing by chalk and academic texts, Alice and Peter must face the unknowable horrors of the afterlife and survive, lest they lose the one person who can write them a good reccomendation.

As I said before, there has been a lot of discourse circling around Katabasis and if its overly complicated or too academic. Here’s my consensus: what acutally happens in the novel is not complicated but the way the events are talked about is complicated. As someone who’s read a fair few academic articles and gotten a test of grad school, I understood what Kuang was “going for,” so to say. With that out of the way, I personally enjoyed Katabasis. It was dark, imaginative, and a little cheeky. Kuang’s take on the afterlife is visceral and strangely relatable. There is a quote that goes something like “hell is what you make it” and I think that perfecly sums up what Katabasis is going for. It’s as a much an analogy as it is a fun, dark fantasy with vivid and disturbing imagery. The more “academic” aspects of the novel don’t pull away from the tension of this dark journey. I thought the pacing was just a bit off at times, but that is honestly a minor complaint. Kuang goes out of her way to really flesh out her characters and make them so perfectly flawed. Alice is her own unique person, but she also serves as a mirror to anyone who is a bit hard on themselves. The other characters all felt three dimensional, even if they weren’t human or only appeared briefly. I appreciate Kuang’s attention to detail in her prose and her unflinching commentary on different social and political issues. With all of that being said, I thoroughly enjoyed Katabasis and I think it is fully worth your time. (You might have to do some Googling while you’re reading but I think that’s the fun part).

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The gods demand their justice, but we suffer for it every time: Reviewing Elektra by Jennifer Saint

Hi everyone! It’s been a bit, but I haven’t forgotten this blog. I like to think of myself as a reliable and dutiful source of book reviews. If you think otherwise, I completely understand. Guess what? I have another Greek mythology-inspired book for you all! This is also not my first review of a Jennifer Saint book. Check out my review of Ariadne if you so desire. I hope, though, that you are interested in this review of Elektra.

Content Warning: Violence and Gore, Sexual Assault, Disturbing Imagery, Suicide

Helen of Sparta goes missing, and Greece goes to war. Clytemnestra, queen of Mycenae and twin sister of Helen, is betrayed by her husband Agamemnon and quietly plots her revenge against the House of Atreus. Meanwhile, the Trojan princess Cassandra is cursed by the god Apollo and is plagued with visions of Troy’s fall. Elektra, the youngest daughter of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra, desperately wants her father to come home, but fears that her family curse will befall him once he sets foot in his home. Revenge, desperation, and love drive these women to do the unthinkable in the hopes of saving their families.

Elektra is a vivid, haunting, and unflinching look at three women who are often villainized or mocked in Greek mythology. Jennifer Saint allows her protagonists to be imperfect and scheming, while also being sympathetic and relatable. There is no right way to view these characters, and I think that is indicative of Jennifer Saint’s writing talents. I think it’s important to have female characters who are complex and, sometimes, cruel. It makes them all the more human. It is hard to read at times, but Jennifer Saint handles sensitive subjects with care. It is as grotesque as necessary. The writing is wonderful, and I actually really enjoyed the multiple POVs. It made the novel all the more dynamic and moving. I can’t recommend this book anymore. Elektra is a must-read for female-led novels and novels about Greek mythology.