Hazelthorn is the kind of book that doesn’t simply end when you reach the last page. It lingers.

There’s something beautifully eerie and enchanting about this story, but there’s also a constant sense of unease. The atmosphere is creepy and ominous, and you never quite know what, or who, you can trust. The characters themselves add to that feeling; there’s always something lurking beneath the surface, keeping you on your toes and wondering what might happen next. 🌿✨

I’m normally not a horror reader, but this is the second book by C.G. Drews (I read ‘Don’t Let the Forest in’ at the end of last year) that I’ve been completely swept away by. 🖤 And because I’d read that one, I thought I knew what I was getting into. I still wasn’t prepared.

This book ripped my heart out. The hurt, the loneliness, the tragedy, and the complicated emotions of the characters stayed with me long after I finished. And honestly, I think that’s what makes C.G. Drews’ books so powerful. They don’t give you easy answers or a happy ending, because mental illness doesn’t simply disappear when the story ends. There’s something incredibly raw about that. It makes you feel, think, and understand a little more.

And the beautiful, tragic prose makes you truly feel and experience Evander and Laurie’s story. The angst, the anger, but also the yearning… it all felt so incredibly real.

Again, a fantastic read. 🖤

The Starlight Savior was such a fun read! As a first novel, I think Tatum Jayme deserves extra credit for creating a story that ticked, at least for me, a lot of boxes. The premise pulled me in immediately, and I flew through this one because I genuinely wanted to see where everything was going.

The romance was cute, but at times it felt a little emotionally flat. The feelings were expressed, but I would have loved a bit more depth and development to really feel the love. The found family aspect, though? Loved it! So wholesome. And Althea is funny as f***. 😂

My biggest point of attention would be the worldbuilding. There were moments when I found myself wanting more context and a deeper understanding of the world, its different parts, and its history. I really liked the magic system; the different wielders and the way they use their magic, so I would have loved to explore that side of the world even more.

And then there’s the big bang. 👀 After the build-up, I was hoping for a bigger impact. It happened somewhat quickly, and then some of the loose ends were tied up from another POV. It made sense, but I would have loved to experience more of those revelations unfolding rather than having them explained afterwards. There were also several storylines hinted at that I would have loved to see explored further instead of being left wondering.

That said, most of my points really come down to wanting more. More lore, more depth, more exploration, and a little more emotional punch. And knowing this is book one? I’m actually really excited to see where Tatum Jayme takes this world next. I genuinely had a good time with this one, and I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for book two! 💫