Category: Mystery

Categories
Adventure Fantasy Horror Mystery Supernatural Survival

HOUSE OF THE BEAST

By Michelle Wong. NOW AVAILABLE.

Narrated by Jeanne Syquia

Rating 4*

PUBLISHER’S SYNOPSIS

Born out of wedlock and shunned by society, Alma learned to make her peace with solitude, so long as she had her mother by her side. When her mother becomes gravely ill, Alma discovers a clue about her estranged father and writes a message begging for help. Little does she know that she is a bastard of House Avera, one of the four noble families that serve the gods and are imbued with their powers—and her father is a vessel of the Dread Beast, the most frightening god of all, a harbinger of death.

In a desperate exchange for her mother’s medicine, Alma agrees to sacrifice her left arm to the Beast in a ceremony that will bind her forever to the House and its deity. Regardless, her mother soon passes, leaving Alma trapped inside the Avera’s grand estate, despised by her relatives and nothing but a pawn in her father’s schemes.

Now vengeance is the only thing that keeps Alma going. That, and the strange connection she has with her god—a monster who is constantly by her side, an eldritch being taking the form of a beautiful prince with starlit hair that only she can see. He tells Alma that she has been chosen to bring change upon their world, and with his help, Alma plots a perilous journey to destroy the House that stole everything from her.

A gripping coming-of-age fantasy novel marked by divine rituals, intense combat, and twisted romance, House of the Beast is a tale of revenge, resilience, and the power of love to see us through the darkness.

REVIEW

This was an interesting fantasy epic about an underestimated girl who is deeply connected to a god and driven by vengeance.

Alma had a terrible life after her mother died. She was despised by her entore family and used bybher father for his own devices hidden within a grand and altruistic outward agenda.

There are some slight romantic leanings, but this story is mostly about seeking justice and protecting those who cannot protect themselves, even if you are looked down at by the very people who ultimately depend on you to succeed. It had been awhile since I had read something where thr romance wasn’t high on the list and I actually did enjoy it.

Both the audiobook and the book were good, and I enjoyed the narrator.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Voyager for an advanced Audiobook & ebook copy in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Categories
After Dark Contemporary Fiction Cozy Mystery Paranormal Spicy🌶️ Supernatural Thick Babes

LOVE AT FIRST FRIGHT

By Nadia El-Fassi. Pub Date 09-16-25

Rating

PUBLISHER’S SYNOPSIS

Rosemary Shaw’s ability to see the dead has never scared her. In fact, it’s secretly inspired most of her horror novels. Now at twenty-nine, Rosemary is an acclaimed author, and her most successful book is about to be a blockbuster movie. The film set is in a beautiful manor house in the English countryside, and it’s no surprise there are ghosts hanging around. But ghosts are something Rosemary can handle; she’s not so sure how to deal with her infuriatingly handsome leading man, who is all wrong for the role.

Ellis Finch is a longtime Hollywood heartthrob with a secret of his own. He’s tired of playing the action movie hero and would much rather be gardening with his sweet dog, Fig. Frankly, he’s getting too old to maintain the industry’s standards of what a man should look like. Starring in a historical horror movie will be perfect for his new image, until he finds out that the author tried to get him kicked off the project, but Ellis won’t go down without a fight.

Amidst filming the movie and the chemistry-filled feuding between Rosemary and Ellis, Hallowvale manor comes alive, literally. Trying to balance the mayhem of her writing deadlines, an adorable ghostly dog, and a pair of Regency-era women who are definitely nothing more than friends, Rosemary is at risk of telling Ellis her secret, or worse—falling for him.

REVIEW

I really love a good paranormal romance and this had a very interesting premise, but when it came to executing it? NAILED IT. 

I loved the enemies to lovers trope and how well executed that relationship was and how realistically the author executed Rosemary’s ability to see ghosts. They presented it much like how you would expect it would in real life with having to mask that you’re chatting with people others can’t see. The side plot involving Ellis and his struggles with being who he is authentically also felt very much borrowed from real life.

But I can’t leave this review without talking about the romance piece. Honestly, I just expected a somewhat basic contemporary feel good supernatural romance type vibe, but holy sh** did I get so much more. This book is super hot. It trussed me up and ROASTED me with how deliciously spicy it was. I definitely discovered things about myself. It explores a few kinks in a very consenting way. You may want to make sure you’re not in a public place while reading (unless you’re into that).

Overall, definitely one of my FAVORITE books of 2025!

Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine for the advanced ebook copy in exchange for a fair and honest review!

Categories
Historical Fiction Mystery Romance Survival

The Madness of Miss Grey

By Julia Bennet

Rating: 4*s Madly in Love

Available now from Julia Bennet!

Publisher’s Synopsis:

“Everyone thinks Helen Grey is mad but, despite ten years imprisoned in a crumbling Yorkshire asylum, she’s managed to cling to sanity. When a new doctor arrives, she sees an opportunity. William Carter may seem like an honorable man but she’s sure he’ll prove easy to seduce…and trick into helping her escape.

Will would never bed a patient, no matter how tempting she might be. But once he realises Helen’s been imprisoned for no good reason, he’s determined to save her. They need to work together but freeing her won’t be easy, not when her mysterious benefactor is determined to keep her locked up and hidden from society forever.

When Helen is entangled in her own trap and begins to fall for Will too, she must fight not only for her liberty but for her right to love.”

REVIEW

This is a dark historical romance with themes of mental and some physical abuse. Our MCs are not the typical handsome duke and debutante. No, this is a house of madness and explores the dark times when a woman could be committed for little to no reason at the whims of the men who were their appointed guardians. Helen does not present with “Madness”, something William Carter figures out quickly during their interactions. She does suffer much abuse at the hands of her supposed caregivers, which William finds himself often in need of intervening. Yet, despite his findings, it seems that someone outside of the hospital is taking great pains to see she does not emerge from this dark place. As Helen and William try to figure out a way to get her out, feelings begin to develop between them that may set their lives on fire.

Part mystery thriller, part forbidden romance, with the slightest sprinkling of horror. I really liked this dark historical romance. ❤️

Thanks to NetGalley and the author for the free copy in exchange for an honest review!

Categories
After Dark Fantasy Mystery Romance Spicy🌶️ Survival Witchy!

ECHOES OF NIGHT

By Caitlyn MacFarland. Pub Date THIS TUESDAY,  04-15-2025!

Rating: 4*s

PUBLISHER’S SYNOPSIS

“She didn’t expect to survive the night…

To satisfy the terms of a treaty between her pack and the Alpha who murdered her brother, twenty-four-year-old Selene Beaumont finds herself taking the place of her spoiled sister as a sacrificial bride. Powerless as a wolfless pack servant, what chance does she stand against a monster like Killian Darrow, the only living heir of the depraved Alpha King?

But something happens when he touches her, something that echoes in her soul. Changed from monster to a man, a mysterious transformation is revealed, throwing all that is known about the murderous Alpha into doubt.

He’s looking to break a monstrous curse…

Killian prefers to keep others at a safe distance, but after Selene unlocks the mystery of his affliction, he has no choice but to keep her close. Skin-to-skin close. Or risk the monster rearing its ugly head.

But soon it becomes clear that not everyone wants him to be free, or see a wolfless woman married to the most powerful Alpha in a generation. As allies turn to enemies and old secrets stir, they will learn that nothing and no one is what it seems.“

THOUGHTS

This book scratched an itch for me in a completely satisfying way. I really wanted a spicy, angsty werewolf romance and this one dug deep into it with its claws and tore if up from the root. It’ll definitely grow back in time for the next installment.

There was plenty of plot, pack intrigue, political finagling between warring packs and other supes, and hidden origin story to keep this interesting throughout all 513 pages.

Not sure when we can expect the next one, but there will by 8 books in the Daughter’s of the Shattered Moon series including ECHOES OF NIGHT!

Thanks to NetGalley and Oliver Heber Books for the advanced copy in exchange for a fair and honest review

Categories
Adventure After Dark Fantasy Mystery Romance Spicy🌶️ Survival

A FIRE IN THE SKY

By Sophie Jordan. Now Available from Avon and Harper Voyager!!

Rating 4.5*s

PUBLISHER’S SYNOPSIS

“Dragon fire no longer blisters the skies over Penterra, but inside the lavish palace, life is still perilous…especially for Tamsyn. Raised in the glittering court alongside the princesses, it’s her duty to be punished for their misdeeds. Treated as part of the royal family but also as the lowliest servant, Tamsyn fits nowhere. Her only friend is Stig, Captain of the Guard…though sometimes she thinks he wants more than friendship.

When Fell, the Beast of the Borderlands, descends on her home, Tamsyn’s world becomes even more dangerous. To save the pampered princesses from a fate worse than death, she is commanded to don a veil and marry the brutal warrior. She agrees to the deception even though it means leaving Stig, and the only life she’s ever known, behind.

The wedding night begins with unexpected passion—and ends in near violence when her trickery is exposed. Rather than start a war, Fell accepts Tamsyn as his bride…but can he accept the dark secrets she harbors—secrets buried so deep even she doesn’t know they exist? For Tamsyn is more than a royal whipping girl, more than the false wife of a man who now sees her as his enemy. And when those secrets emerge, they will ignite a flame bright enough to burn the entire kingdom to the bone. 

Magic is not dead…it is only sleeping. And it will take one ordinary girl with an extraordinary destiny to awaken it.”

THOUGHTS

I honestly slept on this one. I did not expect it to be as good as it was. I don’t know what I was expecting, however–I LOVE Sophie Jordan’s historical romances and she’s one of my instabuy authors in that genre, but I guess it’s dragons? I’m relatively new. Late adopted to The Empyrean. I really need to stop being so hesitant to enjoy and indulge in less than cozy fantasy. This was dark fantasy at its finest, and so very spicy. I really love a good bonded couple and Fell and Tamsyn were delicious together. If I had to describe this book in food terms, I’d say it’s a dark chocolate lava cake with a dash of strong, spicy cinnamon. But that cliffhanger is going to kill me…

Thanks to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the advanced copy in exchange for a fair and honest review!

Categories
Fantasy Graphic Novels Horror Mystery Romance

THIRD SHIFT SOCIETY

Series Rating 4.5*s

VOLUME 1 & 2. By Meredith Moriarty

VOLUME 1

PUBLISHER’S SYNOPSIS

“In one afternoon, Ellie discovers that monsters are real, she has latent psychic powers, and a well dressed man with a pumpkin for a head wants her to be his partner. It’s a lot to take in. Now the clumsy but determined Ellie and her Pumpkin-headed boss Ichabod have to team up and fight the things that go bump in the night.

Before she can say “boo,” Ellie finds herself tangled up in a magical world where monsters are real, demons tend bar, and psychic conversations take place in a super unsettling mystical void. And there are even more dangerous forces at work, just out of sight.

This volume collects Season 1 of the bewitching WEBTOON comic Third Shift Society.”

REVIEW:

This was an excellent start to a much beloved supernatural mystery Webtoon series and the page setup for the graphic novel did it justice. There’s this will they/won’t thay that really plays out well and the art is reminiscent of other paranormal animated media, like the old Ghostbusters show/Scooby Doo. I mean that as a delicious compliment because they are shows I loved and they hit that nostalgia for me while also giving me a one-two punch  right in my romantic tension/spooky loving adult feels.

Thanks to Netgalley and Webtoon for the advanced copy in exchange for this review.

VOLUME 2

PUBLISHER’S SYNOPSIS

“Life’s funny. One minute you’re jobless, deep in debt, and on the verge of eviction; the next you’re in a fight with a monster and getting a job working for a paranormal detective with the head of a Jack-o-Lantern. It’s an age-old story. 

Now the clumsy but determined Ellie (who’s recently discovered she has strong psychic powers) and her pumpkin-headed boss Ichabod have to team up and fight the things that go bump in the night.

Ellie and Ichabod have some supernatural solves under their belts and Ellie has her psychic powers more (or less) under control. All they’re up against now are cryptic witches, sinister demons, and some ancient monsters hellbent on escaping their psychic prison. What could possibly go wrong?”

REVIEW:

This volume of Third Shift Society delves into Season 2 of the web comic in which we find Ellie getting more used to her powers. Ichabod is being really  secretive about stuff I suspect Ellie should probably know, especially now that we are beginning to understand the motivations of our demon friends and how they pose a major danger to sensitives like Ellie. The will they won’t they pull is a constant tug of war and I never thought some pumpkin headed guy in a suit would be so very alluring. Can’t wait to see where this story goes!

Thanks to Netgalley and Webtoon for the advanced copy in exchange for this review.

Categories
Mystery Romance Spicy🌶️ Witchy!

CURSED IN LOVE

BY EMILY COLIN, PUB DATE 2-14-2025

RATING:

“In the quirky, tight-knit town of Sapphire Springs, beloved for its chocolate-caramel milkshakes and spicy senior citizens’ book club, Rune Whitlock has always felt like an outsider. Gifted with the ability to see the future but cursed to have no one believe her premonitions, she’s accepted that romance isn’t in the cards. She’s got a cozy cottage, a fulfilling graphic design career, a loyal best friend, and Valentine—the sweet rescue kitty who is definitely not her familiar. So what if she’s sometimes lonely?

But everything changes when she meets Donovan Frost. A brilliant, brooding data engineer, Donovan is everything Rune is not: methodical, reserved, logical. He’s also grumpy, judgmental, and 5-chili-peppers hot. Thrown together on a mysterious work project, the two clash spectacularly—until an unexpected connection ignites between them.

Then, Rune’s gift reveals a chilling truth: they are destined for each other, but their love story is doomed to end in tragedy on their wedding day. To protect Donovan, Rune must push him away, even if it breaks her heart. But the harder she tries, the more entangled they become. As dark forces conspire against them and secrets come to light, Rune must unravel the mystery of her curse…before it’s too late.”

THOUGHTS

This was a lot darker than I expected and a little fever dreamy at times, but the romance and realization of what was really going on with Rune’s magic was wild. It kept my attention and I finished it pretty quickly. The characters were super interesting and well thought out and the pace and world building were bith pretty great. Loved the book club coven ladies!

I would give the spicy scenes 3 chilies.

Thanks to Netgalley and Black Orchid Books for an advanced copy in exchange for a fair review.

Categories
Adventure Mystery Science Fiction Survival

Full Speed to a Crash Landing

By Beth Revis

Rating: 5* – You need to read this space heist NOW.

Available NOW from DAW.

Publisher’s Synopsis:

“Ada Lamarr may have gotten to the spaceship wreck first, but looter’s rights won’t get her far when she’s got a hole in the side of her ship and her spacesuit is almost out of air. Fortunately for her, help arrives in the form of a government salvage crew—and while they reluctantly rescue her from certain death, they are not pleased to have an unexpected passenger along on their classified mission. 

But Ada doesn’t care—all that matters to her is enjoying their fine food and sweet, sweet oxygen—until Rian White, the government agent in charge, starts to suspect that there’s more to Ada than meets the eye. He’s not wrong—but he’s so pretty that Ada is perfectly happy to keep him paying attention to her—at least until she can complete the job she was sent to pull off. But as quick as Ada is, Rian might be quicker—and she may not be entirely sure who’s manipulating who until it’s too late…”

REVIEW:

Beth Revis is a MASTER of space bound suspense and this book just frigging proves it. She set out to write something great to spite a critic and she absolutely did. This is a fins specimen of space heist sci-fi fiction and I almost can’t say more without giving anything away. The suspense was great, the action- amazing! And the characters–oh boy.

Do yourself a favor and pick this one up. I’ve been recommending it to everyone who will listen, and if you’ve gotten this far, kudos–now stop reading this review and start reading this book.

Thanks to NetGalley and DAW for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

Categories
Mystery Romance

The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year

By Ally Carter

Pub Date: Now Available from Avon Harper Voyager!

Publisher’s Synopsis:

“The bridge is out. The phones are down. And the most famous mystery writer in the world just disappeared out of a locked room two days before Christmas.

Meet Maggie Chase and Ethan Wyatt:

She’s the new Queen of the Cozy Mystery.

He’s Mr. Big-time Thriller Guy.

She hates his guts.

He thinks her name is Marcie (no matter how many times she’s told him otherwise.)

But when they both accept a cryptic invitation to attend a Christmas house party at the English estate of a reclusive fan, neither is expecting their host to be the most powerful author in the world: Eleanor Ashley, the Duchess of Death herself.”

REVIEW:

This was like Clue at christmas time but with a rivals to lovers romance and plenty of twists, turns, and keep-you-up-all-night action. I loved the main characters who were just as layered as the rest of the plot. This was a HUGE nod to Agatha Christie’s books and personal history, which I suspected when I originally chose to read it, as I read it, and confirmed in the acknowledgements, and I think Carter did a fantastic job with that subject matter.  
One thing I always want with romances is a little spice. There was plenty of will they won’t they, but not too much in relation to spiciness. Still a fantastically funny romantic mystery that I recommend. 

Thanks to Netgalley, Avon Harper Voyager, and Ally Carter for the advanced copy in exchange for this review!

Categories
Horror Mystery Survival

People to Follow

By Olivia Worley, Pub date 10/31/2023

4*s. Best enjoyed when you need a good murder mystery.

Publisher’s Synopsis:

“A reality show on a remote Caribbean island. Ten teen influencers. One dead body.

Welcome to “In Real Life,” the hot new reality show that forces social media’s reigning kings and queens to unplug for three weeks and “go live” without any filters. IRL is supposed to be the opportunity of a lifetime, watched closely by legions of loyal followers. But for these rising stars–including Elody, an Instagram model with an impulsive streak; Kira, a child star turned fitness influencer; Logan, a disgraced TikTok celeb with a secret; and Max, a YouTuber famous for exposés on his fellow creators–it’s about to turn into a nightmare.

When the production crew fails to show up and one of their own meets a violent end, these nine little influencers find themselves stranded with a dead body and no way to reach the outside world. When they start receiving messages from a mysterious Sponsor threatening to expose their darkest secrets, they realize that they’ve been lured into a deadly game…and one of them might be pulling the strings.

With the body count rising and cameras tracking their every move, the creators must figure out who is trying to get them canceled–like, literally–before their #1 follower strikes again.“

Review:

It’s not often I come across a YA thriller that catches me a little off guard. I didn’t expect this to take the twist it did, but I was happy to be on the ride! In the last two years there have been a lot of influencer survival horror novels, the kind with what basically amount to the MCs being more antihero than hero. I’m a sucker for survival thrillers where isolation or the elements are involved and modern technology is out of reach. I’ve actually devoured three influencer-specific titles like People to Follow within the last six months alone. 

All that to say, this is a genre I’m really loving right now and People to Follow was no exception! It takes a lot for an author to hide the twist from me. I usually suspect it early on, but Worley got me off my game with this one. 

It has the same general premise as most of its counterparts like The Island or Never Coming Home, except the plot for this is brings in a new element entirely: a reality show where influencers with huge followings unplug for the camera. It has all the elements you would expect with a reality show—people finding themselves on an isolated island with their peers, some of which are decidedly not their friends—with no outside contact with the world. Makes for great TV, right? Except…something here is a little off. 

https://www.viator.com/tours/Seminyak/Nusa-Penida-Instagram-Tour-The-Most-Famous-Spots/d34198-109615P6

When a storm delays the film crew, leaving the influencers or “creators” stranded by themselves on the island, that’s bad enough. Then one of the least liked people on the island is found dead the next morning. They discover that not only have all ways off of the island been sabotaged, but someone is watching them through the cameras…and they want to play a game. 

Packed with dark secrets and pretty corpses, this one is bound to be the perfect thriller for those who love drama, fear, and big reveals you didn’t see coming.

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advanced ecopy in exchange for this fair and honest review.