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kirstyslibrary92 wrote a review...

4h

kirstyslibrary92

Aug 29, 2026

Run on Red

2.5

Enjoyment: Quality: Characters: Plot:

✨️Run On Red by Noelle W Ihli✨️

Tropes:

Survival Thriller Fast Paced Isolated Setting

A very fast paced and addictive read! The beginning really hooks you in, and I found myself on the edge of my seat wondering what was going to happen next.

Unfortunately, as the story progressed, it started to fall a little flat for me. Some of the decisions the FMCs make were frustrating and questionable, and there was A LOT of repetitive internal dialogue.

There are also some pretty graphic and disturbing scenes, so definitely check the trigger warnings before picking this one up.

Overall, the premise had me hooked, but the execution just didn't quite keep that same momentum for me.

🏷 Bookstagram • Run On Red • Noelle W Ihli • Survival Thriller • Fast Paced • Isolated Setting

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4h

Run on Red

Noelle W. Ihli

A rural country road. No cell signal for miles. A terrifying game of cat-and-mouse. By the time Laura and Olivia notice the headlights tailing them through the hills, it’s too late. What seems, at first, like a case of road rage quickly unfolds into a heart-pounding chase—and a battle for survival. Who are the men in the truck? What do they want? And can Laura and Olivia outrun—and outsmart—them long enough to call for help, even if it means taking their chances in the hills on foot? As their situation grows more perilous, the girls realize that the real terror has only just begun. But flight won’t save them from their pursuers. If they’re going to make it home alive, they'll have to fight.

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4h

The Tenant

Freida McFadden

There’s no place like home… Blake Porter is riding high, until he's not. Fired abruptly from his job as a VP of marketing and unable to make the mortgage payments on the new brownstone that he shares with his fiancee, he's desperate to make ends meet. Enter Whitney. Beautiful, charming, down-to-earth, and looking for a room to rent. She's exactly what Blake's looking for. Or is she? Because something isn't quite right. The neighbors start treating Blake differently. The smell of decay permeates his home, no matter how hard he scrubs. Strange noises jar him awake in the middle of the night. And soon Blake fears someone knows his darkest secrets... Danger lives right at home, and by the time Blake realizes it, it'll be far too late. The trap is already set. #1 New York Times bestselling author Freida McFadden knocks at your door with a gripping story of revenge, privilege, and secrets turned sour…

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1d

The Tenant

Freida McFadden

There’s no place like home… Blake Porter is riding high, until he's not. Fired abruptly from his job as a VP of marketing and unable to make the mortgage payments on the new brownstone that he shares with his fiancee, he's desperate to make ends meet. Enter Whitney. Beautiful, charming, down-to-earth, and looking for a room to rent. She's exactly what Blake's looking for. Or is she? Because something isn't quite right. The neighbors start treating Blake differently. The smell of decay permeates his home, no matter how hard he scrubs. Strange noises jar him awake in the middle of the night. And soon Blake fears someone knows his darkest secrets... Danger lives right at home, and by the time Blake realizes it, it'll be far too late. The trap is already set. #1 New York Times bestselling author Freida McFadden knocks at your door with a gripping story of revenge, privilege, and secrets turned sour…

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2d

kirstyslibrary92

Aug 27, 2026

The Marriage Act

2.5

Enjoyment: Quality: Characters: Plot:

✨️The Marriage Act by John Marrs✨️

Book 4 in the Dark Future series and unfortunately, this one just wasn’t a favourite for me.

Tropes:

Dystopian future AI & technology Government-controlled marriage Multiple POVs Psychological thriller Disturbed/unhinged characters Toxic relationships Coercive control

There are A LOT of POVs to keep track of, and I found it a little confusing at the start. At just over 400 pages, it also felt too long, with parts dragging more than they needed to.

This has got to be one of the weirdest and most disturbing books I’ve read in a while. Some of the darker material is seriously bleak, particularly the themes of abuse, violence and coercive control, so definitely check the content warnings.

And Jeffrey’s POV? Absolutely the hardest to read. That man is deeply disturbed.

I love how John Marrs explores unsettling possibilities of technology and the future, but this one just didn’t hit the same for me as the earlier books in the series.

🏷 Bookstagram • John Marrs • The Marriage Act • Dystopian Thriller

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2d

The Marriage Act

John Marrs

What if marriage was the law? Dare you disobey?Britain. The near-future. A right-wing government believes it has the answer to society’s ills — the Sanctity of Marriage Act, which actively encourages marriage as the norm, punishing those who choose to remain single.But four couples are about to discover just how impossible relationships can be when the government is monitoring every aspect of our personal lives — monitoring every word, every minor disagreement — and will use every tool in its arsenal to ensure everyone will love, honor and obey.

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6d

Bound: a steamy monster romance (Skullstalker Brides Book 1)

Isabelle Taylor

Sweet witch Ruby Waterstone would do anything to protect her town—even open a portal and offer herself to a Skullstalker, a benevolent monster who lures lost travelers into his shadowy void to be devoured. But the void she steps into is shockingly beautiful despite its darkness. The Skullstalker is even more so.Ruby finds herself reluctantly charmed—even after the mysterious Skullstalker reveals what she must do to protect her town.—Slate is too busy sleeping away the centuries to concern himself with mortal affairs. That is, until a stray witch appears in his void, begging him to fix the failing ward protecting her town. In return, she will give him whatever he wants.Unbeknownst to her, the ward can only be replenished by a mating ritual. And Skullstalkers can't mate with mortals without practice. Thorough, repeated practice.But it's not as if he's confining her to his nest. There’s a sinister reason the ward is failing, and they must venture deep into his void to find it.Both are surprised to discover how much Ruby thrives in his dark realm. As they get closer to fulfilling the ritual, Slate starts to realize what he wants from her when all this is Her heart. —BOUND is a high heat monster romance with smutty magic rituals, surprisingly comfortable monster nests, and a HEA. Perfect for fans of Opal Reyne and Katee Robert. It can be read as a standalone.

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6d

kirstyslibrary92

Aug 22, 2026

The Family Experiment

5.0

Enjoyment: Quality: Characters: Plot:

✨️The Family Experiment by John Marrs✨️

What a dark, twisty, thought-provoking read!

Tropes:

AI / artificial intelligence Virtual reality / Metaverse Technology gone too far Dystopian Future Virtual babies Reality TV Multiple POVs Everyone has secrets Strong black mirror vibes

AI children, virtual reality & reality TV all rolled into one and yes, that combination is as unsettling as it sounds.

What made this book particularly creepy for me is that, given the direction AI and technology are heading, AI children really don’t seem like such a far-fetched future possibility.

There are a lot of POVs to keep track of, but once I got into the rhythm of the story, I couldn’t put it down. And THAT ENDING?! I absolutely did not see that coming!

Perfect for fans of Black Mirror, dystopian thrillers and stories that make you question just how far technology could go.

While this can be read as a standalone, there are lots of little connections to Marrs’ other books in the Dark Future series, as they’re all set in the same universe which made this even more fun!

🏷 Bookstagram • The Family Experiment • John Marrs • AI • Virtual Babies • Dystopian Future • VR/Metaverse • Reality TV • Multiple POVs

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6d

Run on Red

Noelle W. Ihli

A rural country road. No cell signal for miles. A terrifying game of cat-and-mouse. By the time Laura and Olivia notice the headlights tailing them through the hills, it’s too late. What seems, at first, like a case of road rage quickly unfolds into a heart-pounding chase—and a battle for survival. Who are the men in the truck? What do they want? And can Laura and Olivia outrun—and outsmart—them long enough to call for help, even if it means taking their chances in the hills on foot? As their situation grows more perilous, the girls realize that the real terror has only just begun. But flight won’t save them from their pursuers. If they’re going to make it home alive, they'll have to fight.

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6d

The Family Experiment

John Marrs

From the acclaimed author of The One and The Marriage Act, The Family Experiment is a dark and brilliant speculative thriller about families: real and virtual. Some families are virtually perfect… The world's population is soaring, creating overcrowded cities and an economic crisis. And in the UK, the breaking point has arrived. A growing number of people can no longer afford to start families, let alone raise them. But for those desperate to experience parenthood, there is an alternative. For a monthly subscription fee, clients can create a virtual child from scratch who they can access via the metaverse and a VR headset. To launch this new initiative, the company behind Virtual Children has created a reality TV show called The Substitute. It will follow ten couples as they raise a Virtual Child from birth to the age of eighteen but in a condensed nine-month time period. The prize: the right to keep their virtual child, or risk it all for the chance of a real baby… Set in the same universe as John Marrs's bestselling novel The One and The Marriage Act, The Family Experiment is a dark and twisted thriller about the ultimate Tamagotchi—a virtual baby.

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When the Witch Met the Minotaur (Leafshire Cove Monsters, #2)

Lila Appleton

She crafts perfection; he conjures chaos—and neither is prepared for the spell they cast on each other. I am respected in Leafshire Cove because I perform magic exactly the way it should be performed—with a witch’s intuition. My spells are precise, and they’re either wonderfully practical or completely fun. Regardless, my magic is true magic. On market days, my cart always has the longest line. That is, until he arrives. An arrogant, foolish minotaur with a ridiculously posh accent sets up shop right beside me. And even though his magic is only a mishmash of tacky illusions and over-the-top displays, townsfolk flock to him. Infuriating. When one of his stupid illusions triggers a magical mishap, I have to step in to keep the whole town from going down. And just when I think he’s my biggest issue and I might have to murder the fool, we discover something far, far more dangerous hiding beneath the streets of Leafshire Cove. This rivals to lovers cozy fantasy romance features spice, monsters, and banter that will have you kicking your feet. Book Two in the Leafshire Cove Monsters series, this book is a standalone with a happily ever after ending.

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1w

When the Witch Met the Minotaur (Leafshire Cove Monsters, #2)

Lila Appleton

She crafts perfection; he conjures chaos—and neither is prepared for the spell they cast on each other. I am respected in Leafshire Cove because I perform magic exactly the way it should be performed—with a witch’s intuition. My spells are precise, and they’re either wonderfully practical or completely fun. Regardless, my magic is true magic. On market days, my cart always has the longest line. That is, until he arrives. An arrogant, foolish minotaur with a ridiculously posh accent sets up shop right beside me. And even though his magic is only a mishmash of tacky illusions and over-the-top displays, townsfolk flock to him. Infuriating. When one of his stupid illusions triggers a magical mishap, I have to step in to keep the whole town from going down. And just when I think he’s my biggest issue and I might have to murder the fool, we discover something far, far more dangerous hiding beneath the streets of Leafshire Cove. This rivals to lovers cozy fantasy romance features spice, monsters, and banter that will have you kicking your feet. Book Two in the Leafshire Cove Monsters series, this book is a standalone with a happily ever after ending.

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1w

kirstyslibrary92

Aug 20, 2026

Veil of Web and Ruin

3.5

Enjoyment: Quality: Characters: Plot:

✨️Veil Of Web & Ruin by Aria Ashbrook✨️

This series landed on my TBR thanks to @reading.in.nz so I decided to start with the prequel novella to get Rose’s backstory before diving into book one.

At under 100 pages, this was a super quick and easy read and gave some interesting insight into Rose and her motivations. I especially enjoyed the focus on her relationship with her sister Kay and getting a little introduction to the world-building before starting the main series.

It did exactly what I wanted it to do & gave me some context before starting the series. Now onto book one!

🏷 Bookstagram • Veil Of Web And Ruin • Aria Ashbrook

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Veil of Web and Ruin

Aria Ashbrook

Before Rose enters the tournament that will change her fate, she’s fighting a different kind of battle – one she can’t afford to lose. Cast into the slums after Prince Kyor’s lie shattered her family, Rose is barely surviving. With her parents gone and her younger sister facing a future as bleak as the frostbitten alleyways around them, Rose will do anything to protect what little she has left. So when a ruthless underworld queen offers Kay a respectable job in exchange for a single favour, Rose takes the deal. The task? Steal a deadly plant from the Goddess’s own temple garden – a theft punishable by death. The heist forces her into the heart of Wrohelm’s sacred rings, where priestesses tread softly, wolves sniff out lies, and the Goddess of Life watches from every shadow. And when the night twists into bloodshed, Rose discovers that even the smallest choice can stain her hands forever. 𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒈𝒓𝒊𝒑𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒒𝒖𝒆𝒍 𝒏𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒍𝒍𝒂 𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝑹𝒐𝒔𝒆 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒏𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒕𝒓𝒖𝒆 𝒑𝒓𝒊𝒄𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒗𝒊𝒗𝒂𝒍 – 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒊𝒓𝒔𝒕 𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝒔𝒉𝒆’𝒍𝒍 𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒓𝒚 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑻𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒏𝒂𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑮𝒊𝒇𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈. 𝑷𝒆𝒓𝒇𝒆𝒄𝒕 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒇𝒂𝒏𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒅𝒂𝒓𝒌 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅𝒔, 𝒍𝒐𝒚𝒂𝒍 𝒔𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒔 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒖𝒓𝒏 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒔𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆. This novella is available only to those subscribers on Aria’s email newsletter!

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What Happened to Nina?

Dervla McTiernan

An emotional novel of suspense about two families at war. Nina and Simon are the perfect couple. Young, fun and deeply in love. Until they leave for a weekend at his family’s cabin in Vermont, and only Simon comes home. WHAT HAPPENED TO NINA? Nobody knows. Simon’s explanation about what happened in their last hours together doesn’t add up. Nina’s parents push the police for answers, and Simon’s parents rush to protect him. They hire expensive lawyers and a PR firm that quickly ramps up a vicious, nothing-is-off-limits media campaign. HOW FAR WILL HIS FAMILY GO TO KEEP HIM SAFE? Soon, facts are lost in a swirl of accusation and counter-accusation. Everyone chooses a side, and the story goes viral, fueled by armchair investigators and wild conspiracy theories and illustrated with pretty pictures taken from Nina’s social media accounts. Journalists descend on their small Vermont town, followed by a few obsessive "fans." HOW FAR WILL HER FAMILY GO TO GET TO THE TRUTH? Nina’s family is under siege, but they never lose sight of the only thing that really matters—finding their daughter. Out-gunned by Simon’s wealthy, powerful family, Nina’s parents recognize that if playing by the rules won’t get them anywhere, it’s time to break them.

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1w

Mate

Ali Hazelwood

A Human hybrid and an Alpha Were claw against the bonds of fate in the highly anticipated companion novel to the New York Times bestselling Bride. Serena Paris is orphaned, pack-less, and one of a kind. Coming forward as the first Human-Were hybrid was supposed to heal a centuries-long rift between species. Instead, it made her a target, prey to the ruthless political machinations between Weres, Vampyres, and Humans. With her enemies closing in on her, she has only one option left—if he’ll have her. As Alpha of the Northwest pack, Koen Alexander commands obedience. His authority is so absolute, only a fool would threaten his mate. It doesn’t matter if Serena doesn’t reciprocate his feelings, nothing will stop him from keeping her safe. But power-hungry Vampyres and Weres are not the only threats chasing Serena. Sooner or later, her past is bound to catch up with her—and Koen might be the only thing standing between her and total annihilation…

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kirstyslibrary92 DNF'd a book

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Bound to the Orc Warlord (Brides of the Moon Blade Clan, #1)

Krista Luna

One wish changes my life forever. Now I’ve got an extra-grumpy “married at first sight” orc husband. Getting caught blowing the whistle on a mob boss isn’t the worst part of my day. No, that would be getting sucked through a portal to Faerie. Or finding out I’m a witch who can fly… very, very badly. Or fighting off a soul-sucking fae who wants to drain me dry. Or getting stuck in a tree, flashing an orc my hot-pink panties. Actually, that last one might not be so bad. Dravarr’s scowls highlight his smoldering eyes and sharp cheekbones, and his touch makes me swoon. Especially since he has to hold me all day and night to keep me from floating away. But the soul-sucking fae come back. And a meddling goddess plays matchmaker and marries me to the grumpy orc warrior! I don’t want to be Dravarr’s wife of duty. How can I become the bride of his heart? Bound to the Orc Warlord is a steamy fantasy monster romance featuring a grumpy orc warrior who falls hard and a sunshiny heroine ready to soar. Welcome to the Moon Blade Clan, where heart-melting romance, toe-curling steam, magic, and adventure combine into stories you’ll devour.

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Bound to the Orc Warlord (Brides of the Moon Blade Clan, #1)

Krista Luna

One wish changes my life forever. Now I’ve got an extra-grumpy “married at first sight” orc husband. Getting caught blowing the whistle on a mob boss isn’t the worst part of my day. No, that would be getting sucked through a portal to Faerie. Or finding out I’m a witch who can fly… very, very badly. Or fighting off a soul-sucking fae who wants to drain me dry. Or getting stuck in a tree, flashing an orc my hot-pink panties. Actually, that last one might not be so bad. Dravarr’s scowls highlight his smoldering eyes and sharp cheekbones, and his touch makes me swoon. Especially since he has to hold me all day and night to keep me from floating away. But the soul-sucking fae come back. And a meddling goddess plays matchmaker and marries me to the grumpy orc warrior! I don’t want to be Dravarr’s wife of duty. How can I become the bride of his heart? Bound to the Orc Warlord is a steamy fantasy monster romance featuring a grumpy orc warrior who falls hard and a sunshiny heroine ready to soar. Welcome to the Moon Blade Clan, where heart-melting romance, toe-curling steam, magic, and adventure combine into stories you’ll devour.

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kirstyslibrary92

Aug 14, 2026

The One

4.5

Enjoyment: Quality: Characters: Plot:

✨️The One by John Marrs✨️

I picked this one because of its intriguing premise and it absolutely delivered! The One was extremely addictive and I genuinely could not put it down.

Even though there are multiple POVs, they surprisingly worked really well and were all easy to follow. There are SO many shocking twists, and I loved how each storyline kept me wanting to know what would happen next.

What makes this one so unique is the way it makes you question whether love is actually about choice, or whether we’d trust science to tell us who we’re supposed to love.

A fast-paced, twisty and thought-provoking read that kept me hooked from beginning to end!

⚠️ Please check the trigger warnings before reading!

🏷 Bookstagram • The One • John Marrs • Sci-Fi Thriller

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The One

John Marrs

How far would you go to find The One? A simple DNA test is all it takes. Just a quick mouth swab and soon you’ll be matched with your perfect partner the one you are genetically made for. That’s the promise made by Match Your DNA. A decade ago, the company announced that they had found the gene that pairs each of us with our soul mate. Since then, millions of people around the world have been matched. But the discovery has its downsides: test results have led to the breakup of countless relationships and upended the traditional ideas of dating, romance and love. Now five very different people have received the notification that they’ve been “Matched.” They’re each about to meet their one true love. But “happily ever after” isn’t guaranteed for everyone. Because even soul mates have secrets. And some are more shocking than others… A word-of-mouth hit in the United Kingdom, The One is a fascinating novel that shows how even the simplest discoveries can have complicated consequences.

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