• cover image for The Nature of Witches
    book review,  Books

    The Nature of Witches by Rachel Griffin

    Finally, I can share this gorgeous, visual YA fantasy by author Rachel Griffin. The Nature of Witches is an absolute delight, set in an alternative universe where witches control the weather. I could definitely see this book translated the big screen, too, as it has such gorgeous imagery. I received an advanced copy of the book from the Sourcebooks Fire via Netgalley; all opinions are my own. This post contains some affiliate links that may earn me a commission if you purchase through them. Synopsis for The Nature of Witches My Thoughts (a.k.a. where I rave about this book) The Nature of Witches is a YA fantasy book that I…

  • cover image for braver than you think, featured book in What I'm Reading Wednesday Redux
    book review,  Books

    What I’m Reading Wednesday, Redux

    I’ve been doing so much reading and not enough reviewing – at least, not here on the blog. Between my own writing (which was going well, and now is – not) and reading and life in general, I feel both overwhelmed and behind. (Is it possible for the year to have passed both quickly and painfully slowly at the same time?) Reflective of my brain, the blog feels both overweighted with book reviews and also…empty. What I need is consistency, and a schedule. So with that, I’m bringing back “What I’m Reading Wednesday“. With this, I can – at a minimum -share with you some of the good stuff that…

  • Book cover image of Sing Me Forgotten
    book review,  Books

    Sing Me Forgotten by Jessica S. Olson – Book Review

    Enough time has passed to almost forgive author Jessica S Olson for RIPPING OUT MY HEART in her novel Sing Me Forgotten, a hauntingly beautiful gender-bent retelling of Phantom of the Opera. Almost. Read on for my review. And send caramels. Many thanks go to Inkyard Press and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of the book. All opinions are my own. This post contains some affiliate links that may earn me a commission if you purchase through them. My Thoughts On Sing Me Forgotten This was a beautiful, haunting and, I’ll say it, heartwrenching book (GLARES AT THE AUTHOR).  Sing Me Forgotten is a gender-bent retelling of Phantom of…

  • Book cover image for The Girl of Hawthorn and Glass
    book review,  Books

    The Girl of Hawthorn And Glass by Adan Jerreat-Poole – Book Review

    If you’re looking for a YA fantasy that is dark and wild and imaginative that also has great LGBTQ+ rep, look no further than Adan Jerreat-Poole’s recent release, The Girl of Hawthorn and Glass. The world-building in this story is beyond imagination (I got some Wrinkle in Time vibes). Read on for my review in which I struggled to capture exactly why I couldn’t put this book down. I was provided an eARC of this book from Dundurn Press via NetGalley for review purposes; all opinions are my own. This post contains some affiliate links that may earn me a commission if you purchase through them. The Deets: My Thoughts:…

  • cover image for Swamp Thing: Twin Branches
    book review,  Books

    Swamp Thing: Twin Branches by Maggie Stiefvater

    Confession: graphic novels are NOT my usual genre. However, my teen who has recently fallen in love with them has been pushing me to step out of MY comfort zone. What better way to start than with Swamp Thing: Twin Branches, written by Maggie Stiefvater! I received an advanced copy of the book from DC Comics via NetGalley for review purposes; all opinions are my own. This post contains some affiliate links that may earn me a commission if you purchase through them. All The Deets: My Thoughts on Swamp Thing: Twin Branches The Story Swamp Thing: Twin Branches is dark and strange and beautiful. While I had initial hesitations…

  • book review,  Books

    Missing Travel? 4 Books To Soothe Your Wanderlust

    I love to travel because I think you learn as much about yourself as you do the place you visit. I’m longing to travel but not quite ready to venture too far with the ‘rona lurking. Instead of packing my bags, I’ve been pouring myself a glass of wine and settling into a comfy chair in a shaded part of my patio, living vicariously through characters in books. Today I’m sharing four books where the main characters venture abroad, and in the process, push themselves out of their comfort zones! The Little Bookshop on the Seine, Paris Is Always A Good Idea, 13 Little Blue Envelopes, and Eighty Days to…

  • Cover image for Wilder Girls
    book review,  Books

    Past Due Book Review: Wilder Girls by Rory Power

    When I wrote my review of Rory Power’s second novel Burn Our Bodies Down, I made a disappointing discovery. I hadn’t finished my review for her debut novel Wilder Girls here on the blog! In spite of how I shouted my love of it to the world on social media, I hadn’t finished the review here. Obviously, I’m rectifying this right now, because holy crap, this was a great book! Under the heading of better late than never, here’s my review, and if you haven’t read it yet, you should. Disclosure: This post contain some affiliate links that may earn me a commission if you purchase through them. The Book:…

  • book review,  Books

    Book Review: Burn our Bodies Down by Rory Power

    I was so blown away by Rory Power’s debut book Wilder Girls that I jumped at the chance to read an advance copy of her second novel, Burn Our Bodies Down. While they both have VERY different feels, the author’s skill at world building and creating atmosphere is evident in both – and like her first novel, this one left me a little speechless and off-kilter. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing a copy of the book; all opinions are entirely my own. This post contain some affiliate links that may earn me a commission if you purchase through them. Synopsis My Thoughts on BURN OUR BODIES DOWN…

  • Deeplight
    book review,  Books

    Book Review: Deeplight by Frances Hardinge

    If you’re looking for a captivating fantasy adventure with lush, gorgeous writing, DEEPLIGHT by Frances Hardinge should be your next book. Keep on reading for my review. I received an advance copy of the book from Amulet Books via Media Masters Publicity in exchange for an unbiased review.  All opinions are my own. This post may contain affiliate links. Synopsis Review “Everyone should read Frances Hardinge. Everyone. Right now.” – Patrick Ness, author of A Monster Calls Well, that blurb certainly caught my eye, and as a huge fan of Patrick Ness, I said the fastest “yes” ever to an offer to read a book. This was my first introduction…

  • book review,  Books

    Books to Help Understand Anti-Racism and Race

    Wanting to be a better white ally means learning about systemic racism. To do that, we need to dig a little deeper into U.S. history, because we’re simply not taught it fully in school, at least in a way that we understand the nuances and all that shaped how we ended up where we all are today. As the fantastic graphic above by illustrator Jane Mount shows, there is no shortage of books that talk about race and racism. Non-fiction offers a direct (and often blunt) path to understanding. Fiction provides an excellent means to see and feel things from a different perspective. Putting both together marries the factual aspects…