I’m a bit of an introverted extrovert who has a love/ hate relationship with people. I’m lucky to have wonderful family and friends, but social media baffles me and makes me question the future of mankind. I still can’t look away though. A degree in history, a love of psychology, and being a writer definitely foster my people-watching obsession. This fascination extends to fictional characters. Plot twists and world building are fantastic, but it is cheering for a character that pulls me in and keeps me hooked. As I’m also a moody reader, I love to pick the right character story to suit my mood!
Mia Rayner’s world is normal, even boring, with her 9-5 administrative job and slightly anti-social disposition. The Seer offers her a chance to change everything and become a warrior guardian. She tempts Mia with magic, dreams of future adventures, and even a family. It seems too good to be true…and then the Seer is murdered and Mia’s new world crumbles in a pool of blood. Can she still become a warrior guardian and protect a gifted child or will Mia become the next victim?
If gas prices are too high for you, join Mia on a contemporary fantasy road trip! You’ll get to visit multiple cities and have a mountain lion as a companion. Five books are available now for binge reading.
The magical world reveal is a favorite trope of mine and Tori handles it with pluck and a ‘fake it ‘til you make it’ attitude. Things don’t always work out as she intends and she seems to always get into trouble, but she plows through it and I admire that. I also like that she isn’t an all-powerful chosen one. This one has a younger feel though not quite YA and the series includes a slow-burn romance. Despite the title, please note this isn’t a reverse harem situation. It is a delightfully easy read and, if you’re like me, you’ll move quickly to the next books in the series.
Broke, almost homeless, and recently fired. Those are my official reasons for answering a wanted ad for a skeevy-looking bartender gig.
It went downhill the moment they asked me to do a trial shift instead of an interview — to see if I'd mesh with their "special" clientele. I think that part went great. Their customers were complete dickheads, and I was an asshole right back. That's the definition of fitting in, right?
I expected to get thrown out on my ass. Instead, they… offered me the job?
It turns out this place isn't a bar. It's a guild. And…
I’ll preface this by saying I haven’t watched the Netflix version of this fantasy world (Shadow and Bone), but I hope Kaz is treated well there. I’m a planner who is obsessed with details and my family/ friends depend on (and mock) that. While Kaz is planning a heist/ revenge instead of a family vacation, I love that he is always thinking ahead. Others count on that even if he isn’t good at communicating those plans. He’s not just a smart guy, Kaz gets bonus points for being a bad boy too!
*See the Grishaverse come to life on screen with Shadow and Bone, now a Netflix original series.*
Nominated for the CILIP Carnegie Medal 2017, this fantasy epic from the No. 1 NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author of the Grisha trilogy is gripping, sweeping and memorable - perfect for fans of George R. R. Martin, Laini Taylor and Kristin Cashore.
Criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams - but he can't pull it off alone.
A convict with a thirst for revenge. A sharpshooter who can't walk…
Can’t we all relate to feeling a disconnect to the ‘real world’ in these times of rampant social media and fake news? I know I sometimes slip into zombie mode in my life so I could easily relate to R. Even as a zombie though, he feels wonderfully human as he tries to change his life and looks for a better way. I absolutely fell in love with him for that. You’ll definitely get Romeo and Juliet vibes too so expect some zombie romance too. The movie is fun—the book is better!
Now a major motion picture starring Nicholas Hoult, Teresa Palmer and John Malkovich, Warm Bodies is the ultimate zombie read this Halloween.
'R' is a zombie. He has no name, no memories, and no pulse, but he has dreams. He is a little different from his fellow Dead.
Amongst the ruins of an abandoned city, R meets a girl. Her name is Julie and she is the opposite of everything he knows - warm and bright and very much alive, she is a blast of colour in a dreary grey landscape. For reasons…
Fairy tale retellings are another favorite of mine and I enjoyed this one as a light, frothy fun read. Part of the reason it worked well was Arnessa. She makes a great Cinderella by working hard and dreaming of more. Yes, there are definitely some family issues and a cute guy too. It doesn’t hurt that you can order a shot of luck at the magical coffee shop! If you need a pick-me-up during darker times, give this sweet read a chance!
A modern magical retelling of the classic Cinderella tale
After years of slaving beneath her step-mom's rule, Arnessa longs for something more.
She dreams of leaving her small town to attend a university where she can train to master her magic. Her stepmother denies this dream.
When all hope appears lost, a charming stranger enters her life, offering to guide Amessa in her studies, giving the teen confidence to stand up for herself.
An Unexpected Brew is part of a fairytale universe - inspirational tales filled with magic, rising hope, and personal discovery. These four separate adventures can be read…
Fair warning, this one may require a trigger warning for some readers. Sam has a traumatic past that happens ‘off the page,’ but she re-lives it in current nightmares. She also has a great journey of learning about herself and taking ownership of her life. Don’t let the damsel in distress start discourage you—Sam confronts her past, embraces her present, and kicks ass! She is also the owner of the supernatural bookstore and bar (which makes me so jealous)! There is a setup for romance further along the series, but it’s not a huge part of book 1.
A “master class in storytelling and survival.” —Publisher’s Weekly (starred review)
Welcome to The Slaughtered Lamb Bookstore and Bar. I’m Sam Quinn, the werewolf book nerd in charge. I run my business by one simple rule: Everyone needs a good book and a stiff drink, be they vampire, wicche, demon, or fae. No wolves, though. Ever. I have my reasons.
I serve the supernatural community of San Francisco. We’ve been having some problems lately. Okay, I’m the one with the problems. The broken body of a female werewolf washed up on my doorstep. What makes sweat pool at the base…
When I joined the Peace Corps in the early nineties, I wasn’t allowed to take much luggage. I decided to bring a Tarot deck, figuring I’d finally have time to learn it while parked in an Estonian forest. That Tarot deck opened up a world of Renaissance mysticism and magic, and I’ve been hooked ever since. Tarot cards and readings feature prominently in many of my cozy mystery novels, not the least of which are the Tea and Tarot mysteries. Now my imaginary Tarot reader from that series, Hyperion Night, has recently written his own Tarot guidebook,The Mysteries of Tarot.
Seeker: As societies grow increasingly fragmented, hopelessness, nihilism, division, and despair are on the rise. But there is another way—a way of mystery and magic, of wholeness and transformation. Do you dare take the first step? Our path is not for the faint-hearted, but for seekers of ancient truths...
Legacy of the Witch is a spellbinding, interactive tale of a woman’s midlife quest to understand the complexities of her own heart. A paranormal women’s fiction murder mystery for anyone who’s wondered if there might be more to their own life than meets the eye…
Seeker: As societies grow increasingly fragmented, hopelessness, nihilism, division and despair are on the rise. But there is another way—a way of mystery and magic, of wholeness and transformation. Do you dare take the first step? Our path is not for the faint-hearted, but for seekers of ancient truths.
All April wants is to start over after her husband’s sudden death. She’s conjuring a new path—finally getting her degree and planning her new business in bucolic Pennsylvania Dutch country. Joining an online mystery school seems like harmless fun.
But when a murdered man leaves her a cryptic message, she catches…
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