2.5 With its haunting premise and eerie fairytale atmosphere, Bitterthorn by Kat Dunn sets the stage for a story steeped in gothic beauty, magic, and l2.5 With its haunting premise and eerie fairytale atmosphere, Bitterthorn by Kat Dunn sets the stage for a story steeped in gothic beauty, magic, and longing. At its core, this is a sapphic fantasy about sacrifice, isolation, and finding connection in unexpected places, all set within a cursed kingdom that lives under the shadow of an ancient tradition. Despite a compelling setup and a promising romantic thread, however, Bitterthorn ultimately doesn鈥檛 live up to the emotional or narrative potential it sets out to achieve.
Dunn鈥檚 writing is lyrical and rich with atmosphere, conjuring crumbling castles, snow-draped forests, and an underlying sense of melancholy that lingers over every scene. The gothic aesthetic is strong throughout, and the quiet moments between Mina and the Witch are among the most emotionally resonant. Their relationship is tentative, fragile and slow-burning鈥攅lements that would normally work well in a fairytale setting, but here often feel underdeveloped.
The biggest challenge with Bitterthorn is its pacing. The middle section drags considerably, with much of the narrative devoted to introspection, wandering, and repetition rather than plot progression. While the story is clearly aiming for a slow, meditative tone, it unfortunately struggles to maintain momentum, and the emotional payoff in the final act feels muted as a result. Characters outside of Mina and the Witch lack depth, and even the central romance, while sweet, is often buried beneath the weight of the novel鈥檚 more philosophical musings.
There鈥檚 a beautiful, aching story buried within these pages, and for readers drawn to quiet, poetic fantasies with gothic flair and feminist themes, there鈥檚 still something worthwhile here. But it鈥檚 difficult to shake the feeling that Bitterthorn could have been something more鈥攕harper, more urgent, and ultimately more impactful.
Pre-Review: This had all the gothic vibes I wanted, but the pacing dragged so much. Loved the eerie atmosphere and sapphic romance, but I needed more from the characters....more
Natalie Haynes鈥� A Thousand Ships offers a fresh and necessary perspective on the Trojan War, centring the voices of the women who have too often be3.5
Natalie Haynes鈥� A Thousand Ships offers a fresh and necessary perspective on the Trojan War, centring the voices of the women who have too often been silenced in myth. With lyrical prose and a wide-ranging narrative, the novel brings together the stories of queens, warriors, widows, and goddesses, giving them the space to grieve, rage, and endure. While deeply ambitious and beautifully written, its fragmented structure and occasional lack of depth in certain perspectives hold it back from reaching its full potential.
Told through multiple viewpoints, A Thousand Ships spans the war itself and its aftermath, from the fall of Troy to the struggles of the women left behind. Through figures like Penelope, who pens letters of frustration to her absent husband Odysseus, and Briseis, a captive trying to reclaim her agency, Haynes reclaims these stories from the margins. The novel shines most in its quieter, introspective moments, where grief and survival are given space to unfold with nuance.
However, the sheer number of perspectives can make the narrative feel scattered, and some characters are given more emotional weight than others. While the novel strives to weave a cohesive tapestry of voices, the result sometimes feels more like a collection of vignettes rather than a unified story. Additionally, the shifting tones鈥攆rom poetic and tragic to wryly humorous鈥攃an be jarring at times, making it harder to fully connect with certain narratives.
Despite these structural challenges, A Thousand Ships remains a compelling and important read. It brings long-overdue attention to the women of the Trojan War, offering them not just sorrow, but power, resilience, and voice. For readers who appreciate feminist retelling and mythological reimagining, this novel is a valuable addition鈥攖hough it may not leave as lasting an impact as some of its contemporaries.
Pre-Review Loved the concept, but the execution felt a little uneven. Some perspectives were incredible, others鈥� not so much. But when this book hit, it hit. The women鈥檚 rage? Chef鈥檚 kiss....more
Erin Morgenstern鈥檚 The Night Circus is a novel that feels like stepping into a dream鈥攅nchanting, immersive, and filled with a kind of slow-burning magErin Morgenstern鈥檚 The Night Circus is a novel that feels like stepping into a dream鈥攅nchanting, immersive, and filled with a kind of slow-burning magic that lingers long after the final page. With its lush prose, intricate world-building, and a romance that simmers beneath layers of mystery, this book is as captivating as the circus at its heart. While it doesn鈥檛 race toward its conclusion, The Night Circus is a novel to savour, one that rewards patience with a story that unfolds like a carefully orchestrated illusion.
I adore Erin鈥檚 writing, she has such a poetic, mesmerizing style, and it shows. Every description is so vivid, so enchanting鈥攊t鈥檚 impossible not to be completely swept away. The way the story unfolds like a slow-burning enchantment, intertwining the fates of Celia and Marco, makes it feel less like a traditional novel and more like an intricate magic trick that reveals itself piece by piece.
But as much as I loved the atmosphere, the plot moves very slowly, and sometimes it felt like I was wandering through a dream with no clear destination. The romance is beautifully understated, but I wanted more from the characters鈥攎ore depth, more tension, more emotional weight. It鈥檚 a book that prioritizes vibes over plot, which isn鈥檛 a bad thing, but it does mean you need to surrender to the experience rather than expect a fast-paced, character-driven story.
That being said, The Night Circus is still one of the most breathtaking books I鈥檝e ever read. It鈥檚 magical, immersive, and completely unforgettable. This is the kind of story that lingers with you long after the final page. 4 stars!
Pre-review: This book felt like magic. The atmosphere? Immaculate. The writing? Gorgeous. The plot? ...Kinda just vibes, but I was here for it....more
4.5 Emily Henry has done it again. Funny Story is a heartfelt, hilarious, and quietly profound novel about love, grief, and the unexpected ways we find4.5 Emily Henry has done it again. Funny Story is a heartfelt, hilarious, and quietly profound novel about love, grief, and the unexpected ways we find our way back to ourselves. With Henry鈥檚 signature sharp dialogue, aching emotional depth, and characters so vividly real they feel like old friends, this book is as much about romantic love as it is about self-discovery and forging new paths when life veers wildly off course.
There鈥檚 something about Funny Story that lingers long after the final page. Yes, it鈥檚 full of Emily Henry鈥檚 trademark wit and swoon-worthy romance, but it鈥檚 also deeply introspective, peeling back the layers of identity, belonging, and the versions of ourselves we create for others. Daphne鈥檚 journey is beautifully rendered鈥攈er heartbreak raw and authentic, her slow rediscovery of joy and spontaneity genuinely moving. And then there鈥檚 Miles. Oh, Miles. He鈥檚 one of Henry鈥檚 best love interests yet鈥攃harming, soft-hearted, a little chaotic, but steadfast in a way that makes it impossible not to fall for him. Their relationship unfolds in stolen moments and inside jokes, a warmth growing between them that neither of them quite knows what to do with.
And the banter? Absolutely top-tier.
At its heart, Funny Story is a book about love in all its messy, complicated, wonderful forms. It鈥檚 about the families we鈥檙e born into and the ones we choose, about learning to let go while also allowing ourselves to hope again. If you鈥檙e looking for a novel that will make you laugh, cry, and text your best friend about how unfairly good Emily Henry is at this, Funny Story is the book for you.
Pre-review: This feels like an OG Emily Henry book, and I am here for it. I laughed, I swooned, I lived. Daphne and Miles own my heart....more
鈥淚t isn鈥檛 a contest, there are no winners or losers. There is only love.鈥�
A bittersweet epilogue to A Dowry of Blood, Alexi鈥檚 perspective adds depth3.5
鈥淚t isn鈥檛 a contest, there are no winners or losers. There is only love.鈥�
A bittersweet epilogue to A Dowry of Blood, Alexi鈥檚 perspective adds depth and nuance, but it doesn鈥檛 quite recapture the haunting magic of the original tale....more
"You did not let me keep my name, so I will strip you of yours. In this world, you are what I say you are, and I say you are a ghost, a long night鈥檚 "You did not let me keep my name, so I will strip you of yours. In this world, you are what I say you are, and I say you are a ghost, a long night鈥檚 fever dream that I have finally woken up from. I say you are the smoke-wisp memory of a flame, thawing ice suffering under an early spring sun, a chalk ledger of debts being wiped clean."
A Dowry of Blood has been on my radar for what feels like forever, and I鈥檓 so glad I finally read it. This book is more than a reimagining of Dracula鈥檚 brides鈥攊t鈥檚 a hauntingly beautiful tale of love, obsession, power, and liberation. From the very first page, S.T. Gibson鈥檚 prose completely captivated me. Her writing feels like poetry, weaving a dark, sensual, and melancholic spell that lingers long after you turn the last page. It鈥檚 the kind of storytelling that grips your soul and refuses to let go.
The story is told through the eyes of Constanta, a young woman turned into a vampire by a figure who remains both her lover and her captor. Through her letter-like confessions, we see centuries of passion, manipulation, and betrayal as she comes to terms with her autonomy and the toxic power dynamics of her 鈥渇ound family.鈥� Gibson鈥檚 writing makes you feel every ounce of Constanta鈥檚 pain, her yearning, and, ultimately, her triumph. It鈥檚 deeply immersive, and I was utterly entranced.
One of the most striking things about this book is how it explores relationships, especially unhealthy ones, in such a raw and nuanced way. The complexities of Constanta鈥檚 relationship with her maker and her fellow consorts, Magdalena and Alexi, are so richly portrayed. Their dynamic is fraught with desire, jealousy, and tenderness, and yet there鈥檚 this ever-present undercurrent of fear and control that makes the atmosphere feel both suffocating and intoxicating.
The gothic vibes are everything. Every scene feels drenched in moonlight and shadow, with lush descriptions that make even the most gruesome moments feel achingly beautiful. The imagery of blood, wine, and decay is so vivid that it becomes a character in its own right. It鈥檚 not just a story鈥攊t鈥檚 an experience, darkly romantic and utterly mesmerizing.
I also loved how this book takes the vampire mythos and reimagines it in a way that feels fresh and personal. It鈥檚 not about the horror of vampirism but the humanity that remains鈥攐r is lost鈥攊n its wake. Constanta鈥檚 journey is one of reclaiming herself, her power, and her freedom, and it鈥檚 told with such grace and raw emotion that I couldn鈥檛 help but root for her with every page.
A Dowry of Blood is an absolute masterpiece. It鈥檚 a book that makes you feel deeply, with writing so exquisite it feels like a spell has been cast on you. If you love gothic novels, lush prose, and stories that delve into the darker side of love, this is a must-read. It鈥檚 haunting, tragic, and hopeful all at once. I can鈥檛 recommend it enough....more
4.5 I don鈥檛 know how Heather Fawcett does it, but she鈥檚 managed to pull me right back into Emily Wilde鈥檚 world with just as much (if not more) charm, w4.5 I don鈥檛 know how Heather Fawcett does it, but she鈥檚 managed to pull me right back into Emily Wilde鈥檚 world with just as much (if not more) charm, whimsy, and adventure as the first book. Emily Wilde鈥檚 Map of the Otherlands is an absolutely delightful sequel鈥攆ull of fae lore, academic escapades, and of course, the ever-enigmatic Wendell Bambleby.
One of my favourite things about this series is how Fawcett balances the magical and the mundane so perfectly. Emily is still her wonderfully prickly, socially awkward self, and Wendell is still as effortlessly charming and exasperating as ever. Their dynamic continues to be one of the strongest aspects of the book, full of wit, tension, and just the right amount of yearning. I adore them both individually, but together? Pure magic.
The expansion of faerie lore in this book was so well done. Where the first book focused on the folk of Hrafnsvik, this one takes us to an entirely different part of the world, with new Otherlands to explore and new dangers to face. The world-building is lush and immersive, and Fawcett鈥檚 descriptions make every encounter with the fae feel both enchanting and deeply unsettling. I was completely absorbed.
If I had one small critique, it鈥檚 that the pacing in the middle dragged a little. The plot didn鈥檛 feel quite as tight as the first book, but honestly, I was enjoying the characters and the world so much that it didn鈥檛 bother me too much. The ending more than made up for it, leaving me eager (desperate) for the next instalment.
Overall, Emily Wilde鈥檚 Map of the Otherlands is an enchanting sequel that builds on everything I loved about the first book. If you鈥檙e a fan of cosy academia, folklore, and a slow-burn romance with a fae prince who is far too charming for his own good, you鈥檒l absolutely love this. I know I did.
Pre-review-This was pure cosy fantasy perfection. Emily and Wendell鈥檚 dynamic continue to own my entire soul, and the worldbuilding was just as enchanting as the first book. I would like to personally thank Heather Fawcett for my emotional support faerie academia....more
鈥淢y eldest sister was right; I would smile blithely if someone tried to saw off my leg. But no one ever told me I was allowed to scream鈥�
Ava Reid鈥檚 Jun鈥淢y eldest sister was right; I would smile blithely if someone tried to saw off my leg. But no one ever told me I was allowed to scream鈥�
Ava Reid鈥檚 Juniper & Thorn is a gothic fantasy masterpiece that brims with dark enchantment, emotional depth, and unsettling beauty. This novel blends folklore, horror, and psychological introspection into an intricate tale of identity, control, and the yearning for freedom. It鈥檚 a haunting, spellbinding journey that will linger with you long after the final page.
Be warned鈥攖his isn鈥檛 for the faint-hearted. Reid crafts a visceral Gothic horror story, unafraid to confront heavy themes like bulimia, parental abuse, and trauma. The content is raw and harrowing, but it鈥檚 integral to the narrative鈥檚 dark, haunting beauty. Readers should approach this with the appropriate trigger warnings.
The prose feels like a dream slowly unravelling into a nightmare. Reid鈥檚 writing starts with the allure of a fairy tale and transitions seamlessly into horror, capturing the darker, unspoken corners of these stories. Marlinchen鈥檚 voice鈥攙ulnerable yet resilient鈥攄rew me in. Her struggle with control, both over her body and her identity, was heartbreakingly real, making her growth throughout the story deeply satisfying.
At its core, Juniper & Thorn is a story about reclaiming agency and breaking free from cycles of abuse and control. Marlinchen is a deeply relatable, multifaceted protagonist whose growth is both painful and inspiring. Her voice anchors the novel, leading readers through moments of horror, tenderness, and hope.
The blend of gothic horror and Slavic folklore creates a lush, immersive atmosphere, while the subtle but impactful feminist undertones give the story a powerful resonance. Fans of dark, character-driven narratives will revel in this tale that feels as timeless as it does innovative.
Yes, Juniper & Thorn is a deeply unsettling read at times, but it鈥檚 also a reminder of the beauty and resilience that can emerge from even the darkest circumstances. Ava Reid has crafted a novel that is as much about love and self-discovery as it is about monstrosity and power. A must-read for those who love gothic novels that are as haunting as they are unforgettable. ...more
4.5 鈥淓ven the devil does not trust men to honour a bargain, so it does not deal with them. It offers power only to women.鈥�
In 2023, I read Krystal Suthe4.5 鈥淓ven the devil does not trust men to honour a bargain, so it does not deal with them. It offers power only to women.鈥�
In 2023, I read Krystal Sutherland鈥檚 House of Hollow and was completely enamoured 鈥� the lush prose, the eerie atmosphere, the sisterhood threaded through horror. It instantly became a favourite, and a four-star read for me. So, when I heard Sutherland was working on a new novel called The Invocations, it shot straight to the top of my TBR. I didn鈥檛 need a synopsis 鈥� her name alone was enough. And now that I鈥檝e read it, I can confidently say: she鈥檚 done it again. This book is everything.
This is a story about girlhood 鈥� not the soft, pastel kind we often see romanticised, but the dangerous, bloody, sharp-edged kind. It鈥檚 about women reclaiming power in a world that constantly tries to strip it from them. The anger in this novel is palpable and earned. If you鈥檝e ever wanted a story that leans fully into female rage, this is it. But it鈥檚 also tender 鈥� showing the depth of female friendship, the strength found in vulnerability, and the hope that can bloom even in the darkest corners.
What hit me hardest was the way Sutherland explores fear. Not just supernatural fear, but the real kind 鈥� the everyday terror that comes from walking home alone, from trusting the wrong person, from knowing the world isn鈥檛 made to protect you. The detail that stuck with me most was how in this universe, only women can perform invocations. And what do most of them wish for? Not love, not power, not riches 鈥� safety. That gutted me. It鈥檚 a quiet, devastating truth that Sutherland handles with grace and fury.
The dynamic between Zara, Jude, and Emer is one of the book鈥檚 strongest points. They鈥檙e wildly different 鈥� in personality, background, and world-view 鈥� but their bond grows organically, forged in blood and trust and defiance. I adored watching them evolve from reluctant allies to something resembling a found family. They didn鈥檛 always agree, but they chose each other, and that made every moment they shared even more meaningful.
If you loved House of Hollow or Ninth House, I think you鈥檒l devour this one. It鈥檚 already one of my favourite reads of the year 鈥� and possibly a new all-time favourite....more
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