Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ This was my first cozy fantasy and I was not disappointed! If you're looking for something sweet and simple, with low stakes and solvable problems, this is a happy little story for you. Did it completely wow me? Not exactly, but I was pleasantly entertained throughout. Make no mistake, this is a very satisfied three stars. Excellent for a feel-good story. Overview: Viv is done questing. She's a battle-hardened orc who has had her fill of bashing skulls and now sh

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ I'm not going to lie—I've been more than a little disappointed by the most "popular" fantasy books of late. But One Dark Window was a true breath of fresh air! Thank you, Ms. Gillig, for restoring my sense of bookish adventure, my faith in magic systems and FMCs, and above all else, giving me something that felt like a rare gem . This book had been on my TBR for a while and I wish I picked it up sooner. The playing-card magic system, misty folktale-style lore, a

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ This martial arts-focused epic was a 650-page undertaking that proved to be well worth my time. From the astonishing character arcs to the endlessly fascinating elemental magic, I found it to be an excellent read I could not put down. We follow the dual POVs of Misaki and her son, Mamoru, while they unravel secrets that lead to the front lines of an unexpected and devastating war. This standalone world is intricately built, and if you're a lore nerd like me, you

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ I heard remarkable things about this book. Since it's the recipient of both the Orange Prize and the PEN/Faulkner Award, I went into it expecting to be wowed. I'm loath to say I wasn't. Is this a beautiful book with some of the most detailed, lifelike characters? Yes. Was it as wildly remarkable as I thought it would be? Sadly, no. I think, for me, it came down to believability and perhaps a lack of experience at the opera. Overall an enjoyable read, but I would s

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ I had high expectations of the author who penned The Kite Runner and I must begin by saying that Khaled Hosseini did not disappoint. This is not a true story, but it cradles the truth of countless stories. The characters we meet are undoubtedly echoes of real lives whose pain and tragedy are as visceral as the love and sacrifice rooted firmly in the heart of this book. A Thousand Splendid Suns follows the intertwined stories of two women who find true friendshi

Rating: ⭐⭐ Let me begin by telling you that I struggled with this book because of how much I wanted to like it. I appreciated its romantic ode to linguistics. I enjoyed the detailed, life-like characters. I was wowed by the outstanding and wildly impressive amount of research that went into this book. And I cheered for the righteous examination of history that calls imperialism in for grueling questioning. But did I like the book? Truthfully, no. And it breaks my heart to ad

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I must begin this review by saying— what an outstanding read. Without embellishment, this might be the best book I've read this year. In layman's terms, I've been describing it to people as 'persecuted earth-benders take on the multi-cataclysmic end of the world', but honestly, that description is significantly lacking for something so special. Let's start with the obvious accolade: N.K. Jemisin is the first and only author to win the Hugo Award for best s

Rating:⭐⭐⭐⭐In her second novel, Madeline Miller gives us an intimate glimpse into the life of the witch-goddess, Circe, from the famed Odyssey tales. You may remember the story of the witch of Aiaia, who turned the men who visited her island into pigs, but I’m certain you’ve never heard Circe’s side of the story. As the immortal-born daughter of a nymph and the sun Titan, Helios, Circe lived in stagnant perpetuity within her father’s halls. But when she dares to challenge th

Rating:⭐⭐⭐⭐ A charming genre mashup of thriller, sci-fi, and romance with even a dash of comedy thrown in, The Ministry of Time proudly delivered on all accounts. Our story revolves around a London woman working for a government entity that has discovered time travel- but doesn't know how to work it. Instead of sending modern humans through time, they select a few individuals who would have died in past centuries and pull them into the future, hoping to successfully adjust t

Rating:⭐⭐⭐⭐ I would be remiss if I didn't do a review on arguably the most highly-anticipated Fantasy/Romantasy book of 2025. I have a lot of good things to say about Rebecca Yarros' Empyrean  series, but this third book in the projected five-book series has my heart. The range of emotions I experienced reading this book spanned the full human spectrum and I wouldn't change a thing. For everyone else out there who is still emotionally recovering- take heart, we are in this t

Rating:⭐⭐ This book had me in the first quarter, lost me in the middle, and surprisingly redeemed itself a little at the end. The plot features a master thief, a monster treaty, a daring heist, and a broken bargain. At first glance, the world seemed to set itself apart from the typical Romantasy scenes of late, so I had high hopes. Disappointingly, the middle felt like an overplayed song- too familiar and unsurprising. The characters felt like a copy/paste (tough-as-nails fem

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Talk about an eye-catching title. I saw this on the shelf of a bookstore and thought, "wow, that's ambitious." I didn't end...

Rating: ⭐ Like your drunk uncle's monologue at Thanksgiving dinner, I kept waiting for The Signature of All Things  to become more profound or even more interesting. It did not. Great expectations abound for this book since it boasted tremendous endorsements by journalistic titans and is authored by the same woman who penned the widely renowned Eat, Pray, Love . Unfortunately, this book's tumble from my (arguably high) expectations is certainly something to lament. There were

Rating:⭐⭐⭐⭐ I don't believe I need to tell you that Margaret Atwood is a superb author. Her writing style is as unique as it is brilliant and there's a reason people study it in school. I decided to tackle this lauded novel for myself this fall, to see what treasures it has in store. What I found, were treasures indeed. I will say up front- this novel is not for those looking for a plucky Romantasy. You must be prepared to strap in and truly appreciate Atwood's message throu

Rating:⭐⭐⭐⭐ Candid and bold, Lukianoff (First Amendment expert) and Haidt (social psychologist) tackle our society's growing ideological controversies with logical clarity. They discuss the origin and ongoing effects of what they refer to as "The Three Great Untruths" that plague society and staunch intellectual progress for the next generation. I found this to be an insightful look into the ideological problems that hold us back and a road map for a correction course into a

Rating:⭐⭐⭐⭐ A simple and timeless story about the endless love of family, the value of hard work, and the trials and tribulations of growing up. This is a wholesome, principled novel that I would absolutely read to kids not only because it's a beautiful story, but also because of the values it preaches. Today's children may struggle with motivation and applying themselves- not so with the March Family! All four daughters participate in some form of daily work and still come h

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Often described as a retelling of Mulan, The Night Ends With Fire  delivers so much more. A fascinating story exploring freedom, ambition, and fate, K.X. Song takes us on a journey we are not soon to forget. While the beginning offers a darker echo of the Disney Mulan, it quickly deviates and takes on a life of its own. Overall a fast-paced novel- I never found myself trudging through sweeping descriptions or pointless plot events. Song makes a point of each cha