This book was fun, but on the sole premise that you really don’t take this seriously and just go for the ✨vibes✨

It was fun, chaotic and camp. And NGL, I’d love to be part of this friend group! Ollie, in particular, has become my favourite out of this bunch.

The mystery and the case however, yeah, let’s just go for vibes. I also wasn’t a fan of repeating various scenes from different POVs. I get that each POV adds a new layer to it, but it was repetitive to the point that I found myself skipping over the parts I already know.

Still, I enjoyed this one and would pick up the next books should there be more.

Thank you to Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for a copy of this book! Comment

The premise is pretty interesting and I like the general idea of it. I just think the execution could be improved more.

The writing style flows well and is one of the strong points, however the plot and the pacing just was not for me.

Still, I’m a fan of Cindy and this was a good debut! I’ll definitely keep supporting her with whatever is next.

Thank you to Netgalley for a copy of this book

It’s 1635 and a war is waging. Sister Ursula, a catholic nun, teams up with a peasant farmgirl named Elsebeth to escape a group of soldiers trying to take advantage of them. They venture deep into the Bavarian forest where they run into a dying man clutching a box with a skull in it.

Strangely enough, the bone is still white and not decaying. Sister Ursula surmised that this was the skull of a saint. The dying man then revealed that if you reunite the saint’s skull with her body, she will grant you a wish.

Unbeknownst to them, there is a necromancer who wants the exact same thing and will stop at nothing to get the skull from them.

This book is full of the horrors of war, gore, cannibalism, extremist religious beliefs, a war crimes, and at the heart of it all, love between two women that apparently even god could not get in the way of.

I like the german folklore included! One of my favourite monsters was the aufhocker which was a zombie that latched itself onto the backs of passers by, gripping them by the neck and forcing them to take it to its grave, or else they’ll be strangled to death

The writing for this is beautiful, the setting is gritty and dark and upsetting. I really like the mic drop endings of the chapter. It adds so much suspense and drama to it.

The villain - the necromancer is also such a good character. I liked his takes morality despite being someone who literally made a deal with the devil.

Now the romance, I thought this was gonna go the toxic route like Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil but it didn’t and I was pleasantly surprised. I like their relationship and how it developed and how they just view themselves from a place of love and beauty and I like how the author kept it that way. I also read the author’s note in the published version and how she didn’t want to add homophobia to the complications of their relationship AND I SUPER APPRECIATED THAT!! There’s a war going on. People are doing WAY worse things. We have bigger problems to face than love between two women.

This book was just so good and made me want to read more from Johanna Van Veen

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book!

This was such a fun coming of age book and I would have loved to read this when I was younger.

It’s funny and light-hearted while still dealing with serious issues young girls face today.

Definitely a must-read 🙂‍↕️

This started off really strong and was super interesting! A history student set to recover an Ancient Egyptian artifact and is being chased by members of the Thule Society is a good premise.

The FMC however, was so unlikable. The book felt very preachy, and ultimately, it felt like a story that could be set in modern times. I wanted more rootedness in the 1930s if that makes sense.

Thank you to the author for an ARC of this book.

This took me a bit to get into at first, but when I got the hang of it, was I sucked in! The book has so much rich worldbuilding and lore, and it was beautifully done. The characters are complex, and I loved reading about Charl and Roe's development. They started off as friends, and now are technically enemies, but there's so many layers to that. All the history they have between them and deception and lies and also love that's encompassed into it is what makes it so compelling to read about.

I loved how the book talks about good and evil, and that it's not always black and white.

With a compelling narrative that makes you think, along with a diverse array of characters you're for sure going to get attached to, The Gilly Willy is a must read for everyone!

Thank you to K.M. McKenna for a copy of this book!

DNF at 37%

The story has strong points. And I like the dialogue between the characters. Elvira also totally would’ve loved 2000s emo.

I like the lore and the magic system is interesting, but unfortunately this book was not for me. I couldn’t really sympathise with Caius and his curse nor Elvira and her jealousy towards her twin.

Still, thank you to the author for an ARC of this book!

This book had me HOOKED and it was so engaging. The prose was a really strong point of the book. I loved the Viking inspiration here though the world building kept me wanting for more from it. The pacing also felt a little off for me, and I wished there could have been more action.

Overall it's still a pretty strong book and I'm for sure picking up the sequel.

Thank you to Robyn Abbott for a copy of this book

Let me just say, I love the trope of the reluctant adult as the chosen one. And I love reading about a group of adults or older getting up to shenanigans. So let me tell you this book delivered on both fronts. It's so much fun to read!

The characters are what really made this book so good for me. Yes, they can be a little on the nose with their names (Belladonna for a potioner), but hey, that's part of the charm!

This book is whimsical, lighthearted, and just feels like a hug. The perfect read on a beautiful day outside.

Thank you to H.R. Leigh for a copy of this book!

The book follows Daisy and Max, childhood best friends who’ve always had feelings for each other. They grew apart after high school and have kept minimal contact through voicemail. After an unexpected career scandal, Max is reluctantly back in town. Now, on top of trying to keep the hotel she owns afloat, Daisy is confronted with her feelings for Max. As they reignite a spark they’ve both long ignored, the two must face what broke them apart and what’s still holding them together.

I enjoy small town romances, and this one is no different. Set in a desert town with an old hotel, a sweet tuxedo cat, and an art musem, this book was just the vibe I was looking for! I really liked the artsy vibe and the museum aspect of the book, it adds so much charm to the overall story.

I enjoyed reading about Daisy and Max, and how they figure out their relationship dynamics. I liked the progression of this "get it out of our system" to "just for the summer" to something even more than that. I also liked how this book dealt with grief, especially with Daisy over her mom passing

I was not a fan though, of Daisy’s decision towards the end. I feel that there could've been some other compromise. It still was a sweet reunion at the end though.

Thank you to Theresa Christine and Love Notes PR for a copy of this book.