Fern has weathered the stillness and storms of a bookseller’s life for decades, but now, in the face of boredom, she embarks on a journey to the city of Thune to be closer to her old pal, Viv.

A coffeeshop next to a bookshop, what could be a better pairing? Surely, a charming renovation montage will alleviate her boredom.

If only things were so simple, even in a cozy fantasy, you absolutely cannot have a seamless life transition; things are bound to come up.

It turns out that fixing your life isn’t a one-time prospect, and it’s not as easy as a change of scenery.

As a result, an unexpected adventure begins.

Fern, Fern, Fern… After reading Bookshops & Bonedust, I wasn’t entirely sure how I felt about Fern as a character. It wasn’t that I didn’t enjoy her character; it was more that her foul mouth took away a bit of the coziness for me, and I know that is an odd feeling to have. Again, I am no stranger to foul language, but, for some reason, it just felt so out of place, and I have a strong feeling this is going to be an uncommon opinion, but I have to say it. Many readers, including myself, might wonder why I wanted to read Brigands & Breadknives so badly when I knew the adventure focused on Fern, whom I didn’t really have a connection with in Bookshops & Bonedust. I’m here to say, I have enjoyed the storylines a lot, and I wanted to give Fern a chance for me to connect with her on a different level. Just because she has a foul mouth, and in this story that didn’t appeal to me, doesn’t mean she isn’t a good character. My thoughts were correct. Did the language take away from the coziness for me? Yes, it did. That didn’t change, and I didn’t think it would; however, I did get a better understanding of Fern. I connected with her more in this story. It was great for her to have an adventure of her own.

I still have many of the same feelings I had when reading Bookshops & Bonedust when it comes to the characters. I don’t seem to have as strong a connection with them as I did while I was reading Legends & Lattes. However, I still enjoyed the characters, especially the Goblin, Zyl, who is a prisoner being escorted by the one-eared elf warrior, Astryx, which gets me to my next point. I did enjoy their adventure. It seemed to be a little higher stakes than the other two books. My favourite part was seeing how the relationship grew between Fern and her new friend, Astryx. There was some depth there that kept me entertained.

Also, Macmillan Audio's production is immaculate. I never have any issues with their audiobooks; in fact, it’s typically a must-listen for me if the book happens to have an audiobook done by Macmillan Audio. They always have great narrators; in this case, Travis Baldree was the narrator, and I think he did a great job.

Rose Walker has always been able to see the dead.

Determined to leave that part of her life behind, she leaves her small Colorado town. She accepts a scholarship to Banecroft University in England, where no one there knows about her ability.

But when Rose’s roommate, Eleanor, dies under mysterious circumstances, her hopes of leaving her past behind are broken, crushed, stomped on. Haunted by Eleanor’s ghost and missing memories from the night of her roommate's death, Rose doesn’t know if her friend’s spirit seeks answers—or revenge, and let me tell you, neither do we. She’s not at all friendly, but neither would I be if I were murdered.

Desperate for the truth, Rose teams up with her new friend, Dawn, and a dangerously sexy and charming Mage Seeker, Val, who forces her to question everything she thought she knew about her abilities, despite not knowing very much. But when another student is attacked, it’s clear that her roommate’s death is just the beginning, and time is short.

I get absolutely giddy over a paranormal mystery, especially when it comes to paranormal themes in general, but a paranormal mystery? Count me in. Therefore, I was confident I would thoroughly enjoy this story, and I did. It's the perfect package of self-discovery, first love, and magic!

First of all, I had beef with Rose at the beginning. She doesn’t like being called a witch, and I understand her perspective, but what I would do to be a present-day witch and be called a witch is a dream. Poor Rose, she came to England to escape her past, she was thrown through the wringer, and she wasn’t even my favourite character. The guilt weighed heavily on my heart. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed her character, and with this being the first of a series, she was written in a way that she has room for development, and I’m going to be here for her all the way. She’s going to have her moment of badassery, and I cannot wait. The character that holds my heart was Dawn, Val was high up there too, but Dawn. Girl, she crushed it with the vibes. A girl’s girl. You know there’s more to her, and you’re just waiting for it, and then the emotions. They hit hard. She was a great character. Would love it if she were my friend. I could go on about the characters, because they each had something to love, but you’ll have to see for yourself!

I thoroughly enjoyed the storyline. It was spot on with the mystery; I didn’t know what to expect, and even as the story progressed, I was completely immersed, struggling to put it down. It just kept getting more and more chilling, and even a little grotesque with a hint of naive, first love. The first love was spot on; it was cute without trying to be cute. We’ve all been in this girl's position with the first love, you know, so completely relatable. What wasn’t relatable, though, was Rose’s battles with the dead. Give the girl a break. Luckily, she had Val there for some guidance; he was a typical prick, though, but a caring one. Their dynamic was enjoyable! The way they journeyed through this outrageous situation was quite inspiring. Once I got to the end, you would have had to pull the book out of my cold, dead hands to get it away from me. I couldn’t stop reading.

I’m so glad this is the first novel in the Death’s Legacy series; it would be impossible to end there. Rose needs her moment of badassery, she had a bit of one, but this girl is a strong woman; she will be delivering more, and I can’t wait.

Six has spent nine years drowning in the weight of other people’s destinies. Similar to the other foundling girls who traded a decade of service as a Deviner for a home in the great cathedral. Their lives revolve around sleep and dreams of seven unearthly figures known as Omens. From these dreams, the Diviners can predict terrible things before they occur. With that in mind, lords and common folk from across the Kingdom travel to the great cathedral to learn what their future has in store for them.

As the end of their services near, a mysterious knight arrives, setting in motion a chain of events that lead to a dream of a moth, the death omen. Then, one by one, the Diviners begin to disappear.

To find them, Six enlists the knight’s help, as the world outside of the cathedral is filled with danger. During her dangerous adventure, not only does Six rediscover her true self, but she also learns that the seven Omens are not merely figures that visit her dreams; they are real. She must face each of them to find the lost diviners.

I want to start with a round of applause for everyone’s favourite character, the gargoyle, also known as Bartholomew. It wasn’t just his dialogue that stood out to me; it was the way Rachel Gillig crafted a unique character who, despite a dark and dreary atmosphere, brought light to the story without it ever feeling out of place or outshining the atmosphere. I won’t say he didn’t outshine other characters, because let’s be honest, he was a top-tier character, but the lightheartedness of his character was written perfectly. With that being said, I did enjoy the characters; each of the Diviners had a distinct personality, despite being referred to by a number rather than a name, they were easy to identify. I enjoyed the dynamic between Six (Sybil) and Rory. If I am being honest, I do prefer a fantasy over a true romantasy, but having it as a subplot is perfect for me, and Rachel Gillig does an excellent job of that with her writing, which is one of the reasons I love her stories. Overall, the dialogue between the characters hit the mark, making me enjoy this book all the more.

I love the atmosphere and the storyline; everything was great, just how I like it. However, I’m going to keep this brief and wrap up my review here. I love Rachel Gillig, she is an auto-read author for me; however, her books are a big mood read for me. If I am being honest, The Knight and The Moth does not scream summer time in my head, so I was switching between physical copy and the audiobook. I fear I didn’t capture everything to the extent I wanted to when reading my top authors, so I will give this a reread closer to wintertime, allowing me to appreciate it more and I will do another review and dive more into the atmosphere and storyline.

One train. No stops. Final destination: Chicago, but for some, an even more final destination.

With a Vengeance is a deadly game that began as a scheme for revenge but quickly turned into a game of survival.

In 1942, six people destroyed Anna Matheson’s family, leaving her alone, and 12 years later, she’s ready for retribution.

Anna has lured those responsible for her family’s downfall onto a train once owned by her father from Philadelphia to Chicago. An overnight journey where she will confront the people who’ve wronged her, get them to confess and deliver them to authorities.

However, we all know that things never go as planned, whether in real life or books.

Anna’s plan is quickly derailed by the murder of one of the passengers, and as the night progresses, it becomes clear that someone else isn’t following Anna’s plan and that they won’t stop until everyone else is dead.

Now, poor Anna is forced to hunt the killer while protecting the people she hates the most.

Thrills, thrills, and even some chills. A true whodunnit, with what felt like endless options despite there being only so many people on the train. I enjoyed this one. I particularly enjoyed the train setting, with literally no stops, one destination and very few characters. It was reasonably easy to follow; sometimes the whodunits can get confusing, but there were moments. Overall, it was easy to follow, and I was on the edge of my seat quite early on. One thing I do want to mention, and this may be a spoiler, so skip the following two sentences: in whodunnits, it’s so easy to frame one person, in particular, and then everyone is quick to turn on that person, which annoys me. However, that didn’t happen here, and I was expecting it to happen, so I prematurely rolled my eyes, but it didn’t, and I apologize for the eyeroll. This was a great story; it flowed well despite the unfolding chaos, and I was impressed with the ending. I had assumptions, but I wasn’t entirely correct about them, so it was a pleasant surprise at the end.

In the end, I started to get a little antsy; it was beginning to feel a bit drawn out, with one setting and a few characters. There’s only so much you can do before it starts feeling repetitive. Don’t get me wrong, I loved the one setting, the few characters, but the length, and it really wasn’t a long book, it just started feeling that way toward the end, BUT, other than that, I highly recommend this book. I enjoyed the plot, the characters, and the ending was pretty good.

Let’s be honest, the synopsis had me at crow-shifter, and I was already dropping my current reads to pick this one up. Lucky for me, I was travelling and had to spend hours in airports and on planes, and what better way to pass the time than reading a romantasy about shapeshifters, especially birds, and yes, I am in my birdwatching era, so brace yourselves for a wild ride kind of review.

Angélique’s world collided with Earth 300 years ago, since then, her kind has been ruling over the world, passing as archangels: doves, swans, cockatoos. These white wings in half-shifted form are a sign of power.

Angélique should have been the next in line to be the new archangel Michaël, but, spoiler alert, her wings aren’t white. Blasphemy. Instead, she got the short end of the stick and was forced to stay hidden and train as a weapon rather than an archangel. With that in mind, this fallen angel has a different mission: to reside in Notre Dame, marry Elhyor and kill him on their wedding night. Sounds simple, as she has been training her whole life, but no, because he is a dragonshifter! Yes, yes, yeesss, we love a story with a dragon.

Killing a dragon is a lot more difficult than Angélique thought. This threw me off; who in their right mind would think it would be easy to kill a dragon? Come on, girl, smarten up!

Now, the colour white may be a sign of purity and innocence, but her father is downright evil, and it turns out, dragonshifter, Elhyor, might be her only chance at freedom…and an overall good time.

I’m going to get right into it. I loved these characters so much. Angélique is badass. She’s literally willing to risk her life to be stronger and more independent. She has daddy issues, but you know what, it’s totally understandable. Her dialogue, inner thoughts, and character development were already great to begin with; I fell in love with her character immediately, and it only kept getting better. Then we get dragonshifter, Elhyor, a dark and brooding man, what more can we ask for? Oh, right! He is kind, and he will do what it takes to protect those he cares about. I can’t say perfection, we all have our faults, but damn near perfect. The side characters, as well, Cassiopé and Leandré, were delightful. I had a lot of fun reading the parts of the story they were involved in. I can’t forget Brice, Elhyor’s right-hand man, a loyal character! These characters added depth to the story, and despite the dark and serious tone of Even Angels Fall, they provided some much-needed lighthearted and enjoyable moments.

I’m taking a lot about the characters, but I do want to mention that the story itself was compelling. I may have been stuck in airports and airplanes, but I had a hard time putting this book down. The story was captivating, and I couldn't wait to find out what would happen next! And we all love a book with short chapters, which makes it easier to read nonstop. There was a lot of excitement. I would have liked to see a little more action at the end with Angélique and Archangel Michaël, but overall, it was great! I’m excited to continue this story. Based on the Epilogue, I know I’m going to enjoy Even Vampires Bleed; it’s time to put a much-deserved spotlight on Cassiopé!

In case you missed it, the fourth book in The Ever After Series, Even Robots Die, recently had its cover reveal, and it’s STUNNING! So I’m telling you to start reading this series, because the cover reveal is just a sneak peek at what we can expect when Even Robots Die is released this fall!

I'm not sure I'll be able to do Blooms of Darkness the justice it deserves in this review. I'm not even sure if I have the words to describe my obsession with this storyline and these addictive characters! I don't even know where to begin.

Magic is power, and power means status in this realm. Yet, Princess Illiana Dresden, the sole heir of Brookmere, has no magical advantage. Though it leaves her vulnerable, she remains a strong heroine who refuses to be held back by her disadvantage.

As her father's illness worsens, it has been decided that Princess Illiana must marry. While the clock strikes urgency, the King of Brookmere orders an old-fashioned tradition where Fae fight from across the land to fight in deadly trials, braving a variety of magic and each other to prove themselves worthy of her hand in marriage, and, of course, the crown. Two of which are her best friend, Ian, and an arrogant, shadow-weilding Kade Blackthorn, who arrived out of nowhere…yes, we all know where this is going, and let me say, IT’S GOOD.

At this point, you get it, and I loved this story. There's so much more happening outside of just the trials, so no matter what chapter you're on, no matter what page or sentence, you're yearning for more. I couldn't put this book down. We all know I'm obsessed with characters and wanting to connect with them, and this story was all that and more. I loved the characters, the plot, and the banter was to die for. Eight Fae fighting for one woman, yes, especially when most of them are trash, and you get to root for two, and even you don't know who you want to win. It's exhilarating. I had whiplash trying to figure out who I wanted more. The added intensity of these random men, who are willing to do anything for power, even kill, could considering killing Illiana if they were to discover her secret! Ahh, chef's kiss! Also, you can never trust a man in these stories, especially one who comes out of nowhere. Is he here for her benefit, or is he the actual devil? Stay tuned to find out.

I felt a range of emotions while reading this story! I loved every second of it. The ending was great, ever so slightly predictable in some ways, but ultimately shocking and exciting. I'm a bit depressed about finishing this story, but lucky for me, I have an audiobook version to queue up!

Looking forward to Book 2, and I can't wait to read more from both of these authors. I can see them as some of my top authors to read soon!

The Enchanted Greenhouse was just as spellbinding as The Spellshop. When I need a cozy, whimsical and heartwarming fantasy, I know that a Sarah Beth Durst story will satisfy my every need.

In a world of magic, second chances and an adorable romance, Terlu Perna has found a new home. After being turned into a wooden statue as punishment for creating a magically sentient spider plant, a special shout-out to Caz, Terlu ends up tucked away in an alcove in the North Reading Room of the Great Library Alyssium where she believes she’ll be spending eternity.

Fortunately for Terlu, she does wake up. Unfortunately, though, she wakes up in the cold of winter on a nearly deserted island full of…you guessed it, greenhouses! She seeks refuge in one of the greenhouses only to encounter a grumpy gardener. I was giddy over this grumpy gardener, which leads me to one of the big reasons I loved this book, and all the books I’ve had the opportunity to read by Sarah Beth Durst: she is the queen at creating the most relatable and lovable characters. It’s an instant love for me with each story. I love a good slow-burn romance. I love the development of the relationship growing from zero to 100. The little sparks of the characters getting to know each other, and how one person’s passion slowly becomes the other person’s passion as they fall in love. It’s cute. What was unique about this story was the additional side characters, all of whom were plants, and I can’t forget about the flying cat, what’s not to love?

The characters had a great deal of depth, each striving to overcome their own challenges and growing both individually and as a pair as the story progressed. Terlu was having an internal battle over whether she should attempt more magic, given that her previous decision had ended in disaster, leaving her as a statue, so I understand her hesitation. I was stressed out for her, mainly because if I had the option to use magic, you can bet I would have been a wooden statue a long time ago. I love how easily I connect with these authors' characters; they stand out to me and stay with me for a long time, which is why I read.

Additionally, this was a listen for me, and the narrator, Caitlin Davies, did an exceptional job. She was a compelling narrator, and I believe that added even more magic to this whimsical tale!

Again, I feel that anything Sarah Beth Durst releases, I’m going to fall in love with instantly, so I will never hesitate to recommend her books. I highly recommend giving the audiobook a try.

Thank you Netgalley and Sarah Beth Durst!

A Devil’s Advocate is a thought-provoking story that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Randal Korn, a deadly prosecutor, has sent more men to their deaths than any district attorney in the history of the United States.

When a young woman, Skylar Edwards, is found murdered in Buckstown, Alabama, a corrupt sheriff arrests the last person to see her alive, Andy Dubois. Despite being innocent, all odds are against him since everyone in Buckstown believes Andy is guilty.

With no hope of a fair trial, my favourite fictional lawyer, Eddie Flynn, plans to destroy the prosecutor's case, find the real killer and save Andy from the electric chair.

But the murders are only beginning—there’s something far sinister behind this innocent woman’s death.

Based on what I have read, the Eddie Flynn series is…and I’m not exaggerating, outstanding. The characters are everything. We have a former con artist turned elite defence attorney, Harry Ford, Eddie’s mentor and a retired judge, who has a way with words that I was looking up to him as a mentor, AS A READER. Then we have Eddie’s new law partner, Kate Brooks, a strong, independent woman who is new to the career but doing exceptionally, and Bloch. Bloch is an amazing private investigator who scares me a little but in a good way. This unique group of four is a true force of intelligence—and it's impossible to put the book away. The face, what seems like the impossible, and they capitalize on every minuscule thing and turn it into something big that can completely change the outcome. It’s never written sloppily, where it seems like an afterthought for the author. Whenever I read anything from Steve Cavanaugh, I mentally map things out, and everything comes together perfectly. This makes his writing so addicting!

I haven’t tackled this whole series yet, but I’m working on it. It’s easy to read, but at the same time, it’s so intricate. I never feel lost with all the information. I’m mind-boggled but never lost, and I never think I am left with unanswered questions. This story, in particular, was interesting because the reader is so focused on saving this innocent life, the trial, and all the corruption, and you zone in on all that; then, as the story progresses, there’s a bigger picture. This was an excellent story; again, I love the characters, the plot, and the twists; this series will never get old for me; it’s far too exciting! I can’t wait for more! Lucky for me, I still have some of this series to catch up on.

Thank you, Netgalley, and Steve Cavanaugh!

Sancta Femina is a dark tale about science, truth and how one woman’s genetic heritage leads to an all-out war.

After completing her cadet training on Titan, Hella Nazari is heading back to Earth when a nuclear blast annihilates much of the planet. Without her scheduled destination, the 21-year-old orphan regains consciousness in an unfamiliar territory.

Her immediate relief upon discovering a lone laboratory after barely surviving the new and frigid atmosphere quickly dissipates when she realizes it belongs to the monster who destroyed her planet. From bad to worse, Hella faces new worries when the scientist claims she’s the genetic clone of a long-dead religious figure. Hella is destined to serve as his pawn in eliminating survivors unless she makes a grand escape from a seemingly impossible situation.

Sancta Femina is not for the faint-hearted. It has a deeply intricate storyline that revolves around dark plots and challenging concepts. With a fearless heroine heading the tale, this story will captivate readers from page one. The first part of the story provides an in-depth background on the catastrophe that has taken place and the reasoning. It provides the necessary details to connect with the main character and understand her actions and emotions—a great setup to keep the reader hooked and wanting more. In the first half, the characters are some of the strongest elements of this story. Not only is it easy to connect with the main character, but the side characters are also interesting and dealing with complex challenges themselves, making the story compelling. A special mention to Ramses, a robotic companion who will win over anybody’s heart within an instant.

Following the setup of the story and the excitement of Hella’s challenging situation, there was a section of the story that felt like it was dragging on. There’s a lot of action and explanation in the first bit, which makes a bit of the second part feel underwhelming. As the story progresses, there’s still much to learn, including jaw-dropping information. However, it felt a bit slow. As the story ends, there’s some expectation of a dramatic ending, but there wasn’t much to hook the reader fully. However, the ending does have its excitement and brings about a craving for the next book.

This extraordinary science fiction story had a central conflict, complications, climactic events and a resolution. This is a recommended read for all those who love an in-depth science fiction story. I received an Advanced Review Copy on Reedsy Discovery.

Tea You at the Altar’ — the title speaks for itself.

Back to the Tomes and Tea Series with Book No. 3! I keep saying it, but I will continue to say: I love Kianthe and Reyna. I love their relationship, their chatter, and everything about them. I will continue to read this series to enjoy more of this wholesome couple. That being said, this wasn’t my favourite adventure of theirs. A Pirate’s Life for Tea was good, but Tea is for Treason will always hold a special place in my heart. Unfortunately, Tea You at the Altar fell a little flat. I don’t have much to say, but I will say I love the characters in this series, but that wasn’t enough this time. This story didn’t excite me, so I had a harder time picking up the book.

Kianthe and Reyna are finally getting married, and friends, family, and even the queen are heading to Tawney for this special event. I love that for them! Also, is it even a wedding if there isn’t a side quest to overthrow a queen, specifically Queen Tilaine. How exciting, because she’s one nasty lady. A lot was going on, but it wasn’t capturing my attention. We did get some baby dragons, though. Who doesn’t love a baby dragon? But it wasn't as exciting as I had hoped when it came time for the wedding and overthrowing of the queen. Although I’ll say this is a cozy fantasy, there should have been no expectation from me for some epic battle, so this is a me problem and therefore, I will continue this series, because I do love it! I will always recommend it because it is a cozy, fantastical series with the perfect couple! OH! Also, I need to mention the ending. It had me yearning for more. Waiting for Alchemy and a Cup of Tea will be tough, which we can expect in August!