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!
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…
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.
Growing up in New England, my mother had a set of books that she kept in the living room, more for display than anything else. It was The Works of Edgar Allen Poe. I read them and instantly became hooked on horror. In the seventh grade, I entertained my friends at a sleepover by telling them the mysterious clanking noise (created by the baseboard heater) was the ghost of a woman who had once lived in the farmhouse, forced to cannibalize her ten children during a particularly bad winter. And I’ve been enjoying scaring people ever since.
In 1939, on a remote Pacific island, botanical researcher Irene Greer plunged off a waterfall to her death, leaving behind a legacy shrouded in secrets. Her great-niece Julia, a struggling journalist recovering from a divorce, seeks answers decades later.
Tasked with retrieving Dr. Greer’s discovery–a flower that could have world-changing properties–Julia unearths a story rife with hidden agendas and a missionary community unwilling to share the truth. As she confronts the eerie legends and a fellow traveler with his own motives, Julia finds that the longer she stays, the thinner the line between reality and the fantastical becomes until she…
From the award-winning author of Dead Souls and Poe comes an all-new bone-chilling novel where a mysterious island holds the terrifying answers to a woman's past and future.
In 1939, on a remote Pacific island, botanical researcher Irene Greer plunges off a waterfall to her death, convinced the spirits of her dead husband and daughter had joined the nightmarchers-ghosts of ancient warriors that rise from their burial sites on moonless nights. But was it suicide, or did a strange young missionary girl, Agnes, play a role in Irene's deteriorating state of mind?
