Weavingshaw by. Heba Al-Wasity | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Spice Rating:

Title: Weavingshaw (#1)

Author: Heba Al-Wasity

Format: ebook

Pages: 464

Format: ebook (Libby)

Publication Date: 2/24/26

Categories: Fantasy, Gothic, Romance, Paranormal, Series

In this debut gothic fantasy, the first book of an enthralling fantasy romance trilogy, a young woman who can see the dead strikes a deal with a magnetic and dangerous purveyor of dark secrets to save her brother’s life.

Three years ago, Leena Al-Sayer awoke with a terrible power.
She can see the dead.

Since then, she has hidden herself from the world, knowing that if she ever reveals her curse she will be locked away in an asylum.

When her beloved brother, Rami, falls fatally ill, Leena is faced with a terrible CHOICE: Let him die or buy the expensive medicine that will save his life by bartering the only valuable thing she has—her secret.

The Saint of Silence, a ruthless merchant who trades in confessions and is shrouded in unearthly rumors of cruelty and power, accepts her bargain, for a deadly price. Leena must find the ghost of Percival Avon, the last lord of Weavingshaw—or lose her freedom to the Saint forever.

As Leena’s search takes her and the Saint to Weavingshaw, she finds the estate and the surrounding moors to be living things—hungry for blood and sacrifice. Fighting against Weavingshaw’s might, Leena must also fight her growing pull toward the enigmatic Saint himself, whose connection to Percival Avon remains a mystery.

As the house begins to entomb them, time is running out on their desperate hunt for answers. For Leena has come to see that here in Weavingshaw, the dead are not hushed—and some secrets are better left buried with them.

Content Warning: violence, death, kidnapping, suicide

World Building: I was so immersed in this gothic atmosphere of Weavingshaw. There is political unrest, and powerful players like the aristos, plus demons and worshiping of saints. One man, St. Silas, the Saint of Silence is one of the most powerful men in this country and Leena needs to make a bargain with him so she can get medicine to save her brother. I really loved the intrigue and secrets that are all over this story, it lends to the dark, gothic atmosphere. And the paranormal elements are fantastic – Leena can see ghosts and her ability is what St. Silas needs. Loved it all!

Characters: Leena loves her brother and she’s a survivor, they both are. But I love how she doesn’t show her fear even though St. Silas is someone feared – he deals in secrets. He has the power to take anyone down. Leena is determined, brave, and gets under his skin. St. Silas has so many secrets and I love how as the story goes on, Leena tries to uncover them. Leena also has a few secrets of her own though. I also love Rami her brother, though he’s a hot-head, and Mrs. Van, St. Silas’ housekeeper who has a history of her own. I love some of the ghosts too.

Romance: This is the slowest burn or slow burns EVER. It kept me hook on the story, as I waited to see if St. Silas would just give in to his yearnings for her. There is just a steamy kiss…that’s it! I think if there was maybe something a little more my rating would have jumped to 5 haha. But I love how she didn’t feel anything for him but fear, until she learns more about him and his actions spoke louder than words. I am kind of relishing the slow burn but I hope in book two, there is a little more steam.

Story: I read this one in two days – I was hooked and could not put it down. I love the gothic romance, the ghosts and deals with demons (they thrive on delicious secrets), the atmospheric writing, the strong willed FMC and the powerful MMC trying to hold himself together. I cannot wait for book two – oh and it has a cliffhanger ending.

Vibes: it might just be me but it was giving me Jane Eyre vibes – the gothic vibes.

Final Thoughts:

I really couldn’t put this book down it had everything I want in a gothic romance, I just want a little more steam but the the yearning, the secrets, demons, ghosts, and atmosphere is just so good. I can’t wait for book two!

Read if you like:

gothic romance
paranomal
dark secrets

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Deathly Fates by. Tesia Tsai | ALC and ARC Review | Audiobook and Ebook

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating:

Title: Deathly Fates

Author: Tesia Tsai

Narrator(s): Katharine Chin

Format: audiobook (NetGalley)

Pages: 368 Listening Time: Approximately 10 hours 25 min

Publication Date: 4/14/26

Publisher: Macmillan Young Listeners

Categories: Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult, Asian Literature, Paranormal

Disclaimer: **I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

Thank you to Macmillan Young Listeners for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

A sweeping debut inspired by the Chinese folk practice of necromancy, Deathly Fates is perfect for fans of Descendant of the Crane, The Bone Shard Daughter, and A Magic Steeped in Poison.

As a priestess paid to guide the deceased home, Kang Siying has never feared death. However, when her beloved father collapses, Siying realizes that even she is not free from the cruel grasp of mortality. Desperate to provide her father with the medical aid he needs, Siying accepts a dangerous job that promises a generous commission, and travels to a hostile state to retrieve the corpse of a missing prince.

But the moment Siying places her reanimation talisman on the dead prince’s head, rather than make the corpse obedient to Siying’s commands, the talisman brings the prince back to life. Worse, he won’t stay alive for long—not unless he absorbs enough qi, or life force, to keep his soul anchored to his body.

In return for a reward worth twice her original commission, Siying agrees to aid the frustratingly handsome prince in finding and purifying evil spirits for their qi. As they journey across the countryside, encountering vengeful ghosts and enemy spies alike, they gradually uncover dark secrets about the prince’s death—secrets that could endanger both Siying’s father and their entire kingdom.

Content Warning: violence, death, mention of suicide, hauntings, grief

+ I really enjoyed this audiobook because of the narrator’s voice – I love the warmth in it and she did such a good job with all the characters she had to voice. Though I started off reading this ebook, the audiobook really kept me invested because of the narrator.

+ Siying is a corpse driver – a priestess who guides the dead to their resting place, and she can revive the dead, she’s a necromancer. She’s following in her beloved dad’s footsteps – and now that he’s older and sick she takes on more jobs so that she can help raise money to take him to a healer. She takes a job reviving a corpse not knowing that he is the second prince – but now that he’s sort of awake, she has to gather more qi to keep him alive or else he will die again. This quest for qi takes them through some haunted places which I really enjoyed! I loved the paranormal elements and the dangerous spirits they encounter.

+ I love the family elements. Siying loves her father dearly and will do anything to help him get better. But in the end, she has to accept she’s done everything can and let him go. Ren also deals with some family issues. Ren doesn’t want the crown – throughout their journey they encounter angry people and their stories of exploitation carried out by the kingdom. There is threat of a war coming so Ren doesn’t want to deal with that until he is forced to face the truth of things about his older brother, the heir.

+ The romance is slow burn and so sweet! It’s a dislike to like kind of romance, at least on Siying’s part. I love how Ren is playful and Siying is always scolding him. She’s grumpy and he’s the sunshing – they are opposites but very cute together.

~ Grief and anger really takes over Siying at the end with so many things happening at once – and I was surprised with her feelings of vengeance and rage. I know she was in a hurt place inside, but she really wanted to take someone out and it felt a little out of character. Would have loved more moments between her and her father also.

Final Thoughts:

I enjoyed the audiobook version of this book! Siying and Ren’s journey through haunted woods, a mansion and a haunted town really kept things interesting. I enjoyed the slow burn between Siying who’s the grumpy FMC and Ren who is a golden-retriever who doesn’t want the responsibilities of being a prince. We get to learn both characters and their motivations through their adventures and I also really loved the family element though I wish there were more scenes between Siying and her dad. The romance is slow burn and sweet. Overall, I think this is a good debut.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Half City by. Kate Golden | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️

Title: Half City (Harker Academy, #1)

Author: Kate Golden

Format: hardcover and ebook

Pages: 496

Publication Date: 2/17/26

Categories: Urban Fantasy, Dark Academia, Series, Romance, Paranormal, Mystery

Welcome to Harker Academy for Deviant Defense. Keep your daggers sharp, and your wits even sharper.

Viv Abbot is an average twenty-one-year-old girl. She lives in an expensive city where the rent is too high, works long hours at a thankless job, and is dating a guy she doesn’t even like in the hopes of winning her prickly mother’s approval.

She also happens to be a demon hunter.

Ever since her father’s murder, she’s been forced to hunt deviants alone, meaning everyone, including her family, sees her as an outsider . . . until the day she crosses paths with a dangerously alluring demon, Reid Graveheart. The reformed deviant tells her of a school for people just like her: Harker Academy for Deviant Defense. If she enrolls, she’ll learn to hone her craft, work with other hunters, and never be alone again.

But Viv has a deadly secret. One that not even her new friends at Harker can know about, not if the school might hold the answers to untangling the mystery surrounding Viv’s father’s death. When strange occurrences begin to plague the students, Viv will have to figure out who she can trust, all while trying to ace her classes, avoid falling for a demon, and make it through her first year at Harker in one piece. How hard could that be?

Content Warning: violence, death

+ Set in an alternate Earth, Harker Academy is a place for demon hunters to learn and train to hone their skills. Viv trained since she was a child with her father, who was a hunter – but he never told her about this school. So when Viv gets an invitation to attend, she goes for the sole purpose of finding out more about her father. Being at Harker Academy open Viv to a whole new world and some secrets revealed leads to betrayal. I loved all the paranormal elements and the fights with different species and monsters. I also was invested in the mystery aspect of the story.

+ I like Viv but she definitely has her stubborn moments. She’s dealing with grief and guilt, but she also is the black sheep in the family. Her mom is running for mayor and it’s all about being proper and keeping up with appearances in her family but Viv is a hunter. And aeon hunter at that so the desire to hunt and kill is strong in her blood, not politics. At first she is someone who doesn’t want to get close to people, she has a best friend she loves dearly in the mortal plane, but at Harker she meets hunters like her and I loved how she grows. She is at times impulsively because of her aeon blood that is hyper-focused on stalking her prey, but she learns the longer she’s at Harker that maybe getting help is a good thing.

+ I loved the secondary characters like Sophia (her roommate), and her other new friends Peter and Eliot. I thought there was a good balance of academia and action in the book. I liked both the scenes of Viv learning in her classes and also being out in the streets hunting.

+ The romance is a slow burn between student and teacher but I really liked how it progressed. Reid is a demon but allowed to teach at Harker, even though he is the enemy. But throughout the story we get to know a little more about him each time and I love how eventually their attraction grows and they learn they work better together than separate – since Viv is stubborn enough to not listen to him. And the spice between them was nice!

~ There is a very abrupt cliffhanger ending! I’m so happy book two comes out this year as well.

~ Viv is leading a double life, she spends all her time at Harker, which is on another plane, and she’s lying to her family and best friend of where she is living. But I didn’t know how she could pull off not showing up to work for 3 weeks – it works out too conveniently for her.

Final Thoughts:

I loved this book, and can’t wait for book two which comes out this year. I’m so glad we don’t have to wait too long!

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Midnight on the Celestial by. Julia Alexandra | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: Midnight on the Celestial

Spice Rating:

Author: Julia Alexandra

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 352

Publication Date: 3/3/26

Publisher: St Martin’s Press

Categories: Young Adult, Fantasy, Mystery, Horror, Paranormal

Disclaimer: **I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

Thank you to St Martin’s Press for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Roe Damarcus has never been afraid of the dead. Her power to summon spirits has awed the guests of her esteemed family’s galas for as long as she can remember. Her future is certain, and her gift will be another shining jewel in the Damarcus legacy.

But when she fails her realm’s trial to keep her magic and is deemed too dangerous for society, she faces a harrowing choice: give up her gift or serve a punishment sentence aboard the Celestial, a luxurious magical cruise ship where staff members compete for guest votes to earn a coveted retrial.

As a concierge, Roe juggles the demands of affluent guests, cruel bosses, and the suspicion that an infuriatingly handsome silks performer, Ivander, is determined to keep her from a retrial.

But the true dangers surface after her shift ends when the Celestial transforms into halls of nightmares that kill staff members after dark. Faced with the reality of serving aboard, Roe begins to question the ship, trials, and the system that put her there. But the moment Roe sinks into the ship’s dark history, she’s wrongly framed for a guest’s murder. Vowing to conjure her own second chance, Roe will use whatever power she has to uncover the secrets of the ship, her family, and their entwined bloody past… before she becomes the Celestial’s next victim.

Content Warning: torture, death, gore

+ I didn’t know what to expect with this book but it was like horror and magic on the Titanic, which I thought was a very fascinating combination. It was more gory than I expected. I enjoyed the horror elements because it made things unpredictable on the ship.

+ I thought the magic system was very interesting. Some people are born with magic and they are called Morphics, but they have to show control of their magic. If they have no control and don’t pass their trial they can choose to have their magic extracted fully or they can serve time on the Celestial, which is an interesting cruise ship where non-Morphic tourists get to experience magic in a “safe” way. The Morphics serving time on the Celestial get a chance for a retrial, as long as they are on good behavior and people on the ship vote for them.

+ Rosaline/Roe’s magic is resurrection, which is very rare and dangerous. She ends up on the ship by choice, but finds out it’s hard work and they get tortured each night by the bosses who extract a tiny bit of magic from Morphics on the ship to keep it powered. Roe meets Ivander, who is supposed to show her the ropes on the ship, but they kind of have a little enemies to lovers relationship going on – barely enemies…more like dislike to like. It’s a slow and sweet romance though. Roe also meets all of Ivander’s friends, good kids, who all have a different story of why they ended up on the ship.

~ The pacing was a bit off. I was engaged for the first half, especially when learning about the ship and then the second half, I struggled to stay invested. Roe and her friends work on the ship and we get to see a lot of that happen, then they undergo this torture every night from the Bosses on the ship, it’s a bit repetitive. I wanted to know more about why the horror happens on the ship and why it’s contained to certain parts. Also wanted the story to lean more into the horror.

~ The ending feels rushed but it is a standalone, so I think that’s why things were wrapped up quickly.

Final Thoughts:

I thought the magic ship idea was really creative. I also found the magic interesting and I like the horror elements. I was invested in the first half of the story but I kind of struggled in the second half. The world-building on the ship was much stronger than when the story shifts to being on land, so the ending feels a bit rushed but overall, a good debut.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

She Drinks the Light by. Yasmin Angoe | ALC and ARC Review | Audiobook and Ebook

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Spice Rating:

Title: She Drinks the Light

Author: Yasmin Angoe

Narrator(s): Ashley J. Hobbs

Format: audiobook (NetGalley)

Pages: 336 Listening Time: Approximately 7 hours 50 min

Publication Date: 3/3/26

Publisher: Feiwel & Friends Audio Publisher: Macmillan Young Listeners

Categories: Young Adult, Contemporary, Fantasy, Paranormal, LGBT+

Disclaimer: **I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

Thank you to Feiwel & Friends and Macmillan Young Listeners for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

For fans of Sinners and Immortal Dark, a teen girl must uncover her family’s deadly secrets in order to save her best friend and her island in this heart-pounding YA debut.

Addae has spent her whole life on the Golden Isle, a private island off the coast of South Carolina that has been in her family for centuries. Island residents don’t really fraternize with mainlanders, and for good reason. Golden Isle was founded by the Kinfolk, descendants—including Addae and her Nana Ama, the island matriarch—of escaped enslaved Black people.

But the Isle and the Kinfolk have secrets that must be protected from the outside world. Secrets of spirituality, mythology that are deeply rooted in their West African culture, beliefs, and traditions. The Kin are bound to protect the Golden Isle and, in turn, it protects them.

When Addae’s best friend Naria goes missing and one of the Kin turns up drained of blood, Addae’s way of life is threatened. It looks like the work of the Adze, West African supernatural beings that drink human blood in order to survive—also known as vampires.

Believing Naira is alive, Addae travels to the mainland. But as Addae gets closer to finding Naria, she uncovers deep secrets about Nana Ama’s past, and about her own… secrets that could change how she feels about the Golden Isle and her lineage.

Torn between two worlds, Addae will have to decide how far she is willing to go—and who she is willing to cross—to save her best friend, and even herself.

Content Warning: violence, death, slavery history, cursing

** I listened to this as an ALC but I also had the ebook arc, and I’m glad I had the ebook because the audiobook had issues and I don’t know if it’s on my end, but many chapters would cut out or skip. Parts of the audio would go silent and come back again. I did mostly listen to it though because I love how the narrator brought the story to life. But for me, this ALC copy wasn’t the best and it was helpful that I had the ebook. **

+ Addae lives on Golden Isle, off the coast of South Carolina and her family’s West African roots are preserved on this island. Her grandmother, her only guardian used to be a slave so she has come a long way to owning her own island. So there is a lot of anger, resentment and a need to protect themselves and the island from mainlanders. But when Addae’s best-friend Naira goes missing, she has to find help on the mainland where she discovers her cousin was involved with a boy, Luke, who’s family was all about collecting artifacts and maybe wanted something from Golden Isle. I think there is a lot of growth for Addae. She didn’t like that Naira wanted to leave the island because she didn’t see any reason to want to be anywhere else, or that she was dating a white boy. But her search for Naira opens her eyes to a lot of things. Also, her relationship with her grandmother is one of respect, but there is a lot of secrets between them that gets revealed in the end.

+ I don’t know much about West African culture, but I did hear some familiar mythological names like Anansi (I used to read my kids the story about Anansi the spider) and Nyame. I kind of got excited that those names were familiar to me and it made me more interested in the story to see what more I could learn about them. Also I didn’t expect the paranormal elements in the story, the vampires and zombies.

~ The first half off the book is slower than the second half. We meet Addae, and see her life on the island with her grandmother and other families. But Naira goes missing, and she goes missing for awhile. It seems people are quick to say she is gone except Addae. So Addae is basically trying to find Naira on her own until she runs into Luke’s sister, Hailey. Still, there doesn’t seem much urgency in finding Naira and except for some stories of strange sighting or going-ons, there are no leads. I found that part slow. But things pick up in the second half because it’s like the story turns in another direction.

~ The ending feels rushed because so many things are revealed and happening at once. I do wish more hints about vampires were dropped earlier in the book.

Final Thoughts:

I love the West African history and heritage that was represented in this story and it also doesn’t shy away from slavery that was part of South Carolina’s past. I do think pacing was an issue, first half went a little too slow but it switches up and picks up but then the ending feels rushed. I really liked the family and vampire elements of the story. I thought Addae had a lot of character growth throughout the book. Definitely check this one out if you are into vampire stories.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

The Uninvited by. Nancy Banks | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating:

Title: The Uninvited

Author: Nancy Banks

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 288

Publication Date: 12/16/25

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Categories: Young Adult, Paranormal, Vampires, Suspense

Disclaimer: **I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

Thank you to Delacorte Press for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

A YA paranormal fantasy about vampires in the Paris underground, where a young woman’s bohemian dream turns into a chilling nightmare. Now her survival hinges on bringing to light the city’s darkest and deepest secrets.

When 17-year-old Tosh Reeves moves from Portland, Oregon to Paris, it’s a dream come to life. The city embraces her with its street-life, iconic architecture, and infinite gustatory delights. There’s even a charming expat boy, Nick, who introduces her to sights tourists never see.

From medieval catacombs to the viciously competitive street art scene, Tosh’s immersion in Paris makes her feel wholly alive in a way she’s never before experienced. She belongs.

But when a series of brutal vampiric attacks creeps closer to her new circle of bohemian friends, Tosh will confront the darker side of her beloved Paris, and learn how deeply monsters can strike at a young woman’s power and heart.

Content Warning: violence, assault, death

+ Tosh and her father has moved to Paris, France for his job. She falls in love with Paris and I love how we get to experience it with her especially as she goes to different places like the catacombs, meet all kinds of people, experiences the art scene and most of all, the food!

+ I liked seeing Tosh, make new friends and really make a new life for herself in Paris. She’s lost her mom to cancer as a child, and her Dad takes off for work a lot so this friend group becomes a found family for her. Except there is one person in that group that comes off a little bit aggressive. He reminds her of another guy from home who she has bad memories of.

+ As for the vampire attacking girls in Paris. I did feel the suspense of wondering who it may be – there is a danger on the streets of Paris and there were many times that I felt Tosh wasn’t safe. The scene in the catacombs was suspenseful, and just knowing that Paris has a place like that underground just brings in the creepy and eerie factor. I like how this issue of a vampire attacking girls brought up the bigger theme of girls being attacked by men in general. Tosh has had experience with this at home, with a regular boy from school and in a sense, when she deals with this vampire it’s a means of taking her power back.

~ I think the story started off strong but felt like it slowed down in the middle. I was waiting for more information about this vampire. Is it real? Was it just someone pretending to be a vampire? We don’t know until later and the story picks up when the vampire is exposed. But I wanted more about the vampire! The ending did feel a little rushed though.

Final Thoughts:

I loved that this story was set in Paris – it brought cultural exploration, architecture, history, art, and food – I was living vicariously through Tosh’s experiences! But not only was Paris this beautiful place in this story, it was also dangerous because of a vampire roaming around and they go to eerie places like the catacombs. I definitely felt the suspense! As for the vampire, I wish there was more about it. But I liked the message I got from this story which is females shouldn’t have to be afraid to be outside and alone! Tosh has experienced fear with a human boy and a vampire boy but this time she takes her power back. I think teens and young adults will enjoy this one!

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

The House Saphir by. Marissa Meyer | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating:

Title: The House Saphir

Author: Marissa Meyer

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 432

Publication Date: 11/4/25

Publisher: Feiwel & Friends

Categories: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance, Mystery, Paranormal, Retelling of Bluebeard

Disclaimer: **I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

Thank you to Feiwel & Friends for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Mallory Fontaine is a fraud. Though she comes from a long line of witches, the only magic she possesses is the ability to see ghosts, which is rarely as useful as one would think. She and her sister have maintained the family business, eking out a paltry living by selling bogus spells to gullible buyers and conducting tours of the infamous mansion where the first of the Saphir murders took place.

Mallory is a self-proclaimed expert on Count Bastien Saphir—otherwise known as Monsieur Le Bleu—who brutally killed three of his wives more than a century ago. But she never expected to meet Bastien’s great-great grandson and heir to the Saphir estate. Armand is handsome, wealthy, and convinced that the Fontaine Sisters are as talented as they claim. The perfect mark. When he offers Mallory a large sum of money to rid his ancestral home of Le Bleu’s ghost, she can’t resist. A paid vacation at Armand’s country manor? It’s practically a dream come true, never mind the ghosts of murdered wives and the monsters that are as common as household pests.

But when murder again comes to the House Saphir, Mallory finds herself at the center of the investigation—and she is almost certain the killer is mortal. If she has any hope of cashing in on the payment she was promised, she’ll have to solve the murder and banish the ghost, all while upholding the illusion of witchcraft.

But that all sounds relatively easy compared to her biggest learning to trust her heart. Especially when the person her heart wants the most might be a murderer himself.

Content Warning: violence, death, murder

+ I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book because I haven’t read a book from this author in awhile and I am not totally familiar with the Bluebeard story. So I can speak to how good of a retelling this is since I don’t know Bluebeard’s story too well. But what an enjoyable story this turned out to be.

+ Mallory and her sister are hacks – they claim to be witches and have powers, and maybe they are part of a bloodline of witches but something happened in the past that messed it up for them. Now someone from the Saphir bloodline has come asking for their help to rid his estate of dangerous ghosts. Mal and her sister agree because they need money but how are they going to get rid of ghosts if they don’t really know how to do that?

+ My favorite part of this book – it is funny! I was laughing out loud, literally! Mallory and her sister are such characters and the ghosts of the wives Monsieur Le Bleu had murdered were funny as well. I haven’t had this much fun reading a book in a long time! Also later on in the story Mal solicits helps from some other characters who have magical powers and hunt down monsters, and they were a fun duo as well.

+ Mallory is such a fun character because she loves everything spooky. She gives people tours of a haunted house (she’s basically trespassing and scamming people). Thing is though she can actually see ghosts, but I love that the more morbid something was, she wasn’t afraid, she was delightfully obsessed with it.

+ There is a little bit of romance in the story and I adored it. I also loved the twists and turns of the story. Monsieur Le Blue as a villainous ghost did a great job at being an awful person/spirit. I was hoping Mallory would end him. There is monster hunting, ghost hunting and the ending is chaotic but again, fun.

~ The only thing about the story that maybe I had a little issue with is – how was Mallory going to fake her way into getting rid of Monsieur Le Bleu’s ghost? She had no clue what she was doing at all (and her sister liked to point this out). I was hoping her being at the estate and meeting the ghost wives would teach her something about magic. Eventually she figures out she needs help but I did want more witchcraft in the story.

Final Thoughts:

I loved this book because I had such a fun time reading it and that’s kind of rare to find now especially in a romantasy type of of book. It’s actually perfect for a fall read because it has haunted houses, ghosts still in their murdered form, mythological monsters, possession, murder, magic and mystery! Even a little romance.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From this Author:

Cinder by. Marissa Meyer ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Renegades by. Marissa Meyer ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Blackthorn by. J.T. Geissinger | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️

Title: Blackthorn

Author: J.T. Geissinger

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 368

Publication Date: 11/4/25

Publisher: Bramble

Categories: Dark Romance, Mystery, Paranormal, Gothic Romance, Monster Romance

Disclaimer: **I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

Thank you to Bramble for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

ou never forget your first love. Especially when he’s also your worst nightmare.

Twelve years ago, Maven Blackthorn fled her small hometown, leaving behind the wreckage of her mother’s suspicious death. But now, drawn back for her grandmother’s funeral, Maven steps onto Blackthorn soil once more, only to find herself thrust into a fresh nightmare: her grandmother’s body has vanished.

The Blackthorns immediately suspect the Crofts—the ruthless titans of Croft Pharmaceuticals, whose bitter blood feud with the Blackthorns has spanned generations. But when Maven comes face-to-face with Ronan Croft, the son of her mother’s suspected killer and the only man she ever loved, she discovers the forbidden passion they once shared is as alive—and dangerous—as ever.

As long-buried family secrets claw their way to the surface, betrayal lurks behind every whisper, and old vendettas ignite anew. The deeper Maven digs for answers, the more treacherous the game becomes. And the one man she can never seem to escape is hiding a truth that could burn their whole world down.

In a town where the dead won’t stay buried, is love salvation…or the deadliest game of all?

Blackthorn is a page-turning gothic romance with darker themes and scenes that may not be suitable for everyone. Please see the author’s content note at the beginning of the book.

Content Warning: violence, death, occult

+ I felt like this started good – it definitely gave dark, mysterious vibes. Maven is back home in Solstice with her two aunts, it was giving me Practical Magic vibes at first. The wealthy family in town are the Crofts and Ronan Crofts knows Maven is back and he wants her again.

+~ The back and forth romance between Ronan and Maven is tense, and at first purely sexual until we find out more about their past. Clearly he is obsessed with her and stalks her but she can’t stop her feelings for him either. It’s a forbidden romance, because Ronan’s father has told him to stay away from her – he doesn’t know why. And it’s spicy with even a monster spice scene. But there was something about the romance for a moment that made me feel uncomfortable even though it’s resolved later.

+~ There is a mystery going on in this story in that Maven is back in town for her grandmother’s funeral but her body goes missing at the funeral home. Maven sets out to do an investigation and finds out things about some of her mom (who’s passed) and about the Croft family. I don’t know why but I wasn’t immersed into the mystery as much as I was into the romance.

~ I felt like the ending was rushed and the reveals of the mystery was just dropped upon me from nowhere. I was surprised. Is there a part two? I felt like there was no build-up to that ending.

Final Thoughts:

I think this started off well, and I was invested in the romance, but I needed more of the mystery and especially needed more of a build-up to that ending. I was confused about the way it ended, it felt rushed.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

The Possession of Alba Díaz by. Isabel Cañas | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice:

Title: The Possession of Alba Díaz

Author: Isabel Cañas

Format: ebook (borrowed)

Pages: 369

Publication Date: 8/19/25

Categories: Gothic Horror, Historical Fiction, Paranormal

When a demonic presence awakens deep in a Mexican silver mine, the young woman it seizes must turn to the one man she shouldn’t trust… from bestselling author Isabel Cañas.

In 1765, plague sweeps through Zacatecas. Alba flees with her wealthy merchant parents and fiancé, Carlos, to his family’s isolated mine for refuge. But safety proves fleeting as other dangers soon bare their teeth: Alba begins suffering from strange hallucinations, sleepwalking, and violent convulsions. She senses something cold lurking beneath her skin. Something angry. Something wrong.

Elías, haunted by a troubled past, came to the New World to make his fortune and escape his family’s legacy of greed. Alba, as his cousin’s betrothed, is none of his business. Which is of course why he can’t help but notice her every time she enters a room or the growing tension between them… and why he notices her deteriorate when the demon’s thirst for blood grows stronger.

Content Warning: demon possession, exorcism, murder

+ Isabel Cañas is a must read author for me! I love her historical fiction horror writing style and once again I was sucked into this story she created. How does she write horror in such a beautiful manner?! I love it. The lyrical prose always has a way of seducing me into the horror stories that she writes.

+ This story is set in New Spain – Mexico, in a town with a silver mine. I love all the history I learned from this book from the silver mines to the power of the Catholic religion. It was a time during the Spanish Inquisition and though there is only one priest who is with this family, his authority had power – enough to demand a whole town to stop worshipping other idols from their culture.

+ Alba is trying to take ahold of her future. She knows as a young woman, she has no choice but to marry but she chooses a friend of hers, Carlos, to marry because she feels like it’s her only path to freedom. But when she goes with him to the silver mine his family owns, something possesses her – a demonic spirit and now she has to fight it for freedom of her body and mind! I liked the parallels and how it’s a story about a woman trying to fight for her freedom.

+ I grew up Catholic so exorcism and demonic possession always scared me. But it’s always fascinated me also. There are some creepy parts in this story especially when Alba is possessed, and a little body horror but this was not scary.

+~ There is even romance in this story which I loved. I like a man who isn’t afraid of a little possession! 😅 But I would have liked more build-up between them, even more time spent together and getting to know one another before falling for one another.

~ The beginning starts off a little slow, but once they travel to the mines the story picks up. I also wanted to know a little more about the alchemy and mercury. Elías is such a worldly character with such a tragic backstory, I wanted to know more of him.

Final Thoughts:

I’m so glad I saved this one for October, it’s the perfect gothic horror read for spooky season! It’s beautifully written and I was hooked. I look forward to reading what this author writes next.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

Vampires of El Norte by. Isabel Cañas | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Hacienda by. Isabel Cañas | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Middle of the Night by. Riley Sager | Audiobook Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: Middle of the Night

Author: Riley Sager

Format: ebook (Libby)

Pages: 376

Publication Date: 6/18/24

Categories: Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Paranormal

The worst thing to ever happen on Hemlock Circle occurred in Ethan Marsh’s backyard. One July night, ten-year-old Ethan and his best friend and neighbor, Billy, fell asleep in a tent set up on a manicured lawn in a quiet, quaint New Jersey cul de sac. In the morning, Ethan woke up alone. During the night, someone had sliced the tent open with a knife and taken Billy. He was never seen again.

Thirty years later, Ethan has reluctantly returned to his childhood home. Plagued by bad dreams and insomnia, he begins to notice strange things happening in the middle of the night. Someone seems to be roaming the cul de sac at odd hours, and signs of Billy’s presence keep appearing in Ethan’s backyard. Is someone playing a cruel prank? Or has Billy, long thought to be dead, somehow returned to Hemlock Circle?

The mysterious occurrences prompt Ethan to investigate what really happened that night, a quest that reunites him with former friends and neighbors and leads him into the woods that surround Hemlock Circle. Woods where Billy claimed monsters roamed and where a mysterious institute does clandestine research on a crumbling estate.

The closer Ethan gets to the truth, the more he realizes that no place—be it quiet forest or suburban street—is completely safe. And that the past has a way of haunting the present.

Content Warning: death, grief, insomnia

+ This is the first Riley Sager book I’ve read and I thought the narrator really did a great job bringing this story to life. I liked how it jumped from the present and to the past where we get to learn of the kids in the neighborhood and the families. The present shows a great picture of how time have past and how things have changed or stayed the same. There were a few factors in this story that made this mystery very interesting.

+ Ethan is an unreliable narrator – he is dealing with trauma from that night his best friend was taken from the tent in his backyard. Because of it he has insomnia and at times in the book think he is losing his mind. I really like how the past is set in 1994 – it was nostalgic for me and I really liked Ashley, Ethan’s babysitter, and how she always looked out for him.

+ I like the mix of paranormal, possible occult rituals, the mysterious academy behind the neighborhood and the different relationships between the guy friends trying to lead us in different directions in the story. But who killed Billy really was a mystery and one I didn’t figure out.

~ It’s a mystery so I felt like the beginning moved slow as Ethan is back in the neighborhood, facing trauma and memories of the past while thinking he was losing his mind.

Final Thoughts:

Overall, I enjoyed this audiobook version of Middle of the Night! The story picks up more at the halfway mark and from there on, I was hooked. I look forward to reading more from this author!