Book Review: Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix
Posted on January 6, 2025 8 Comments
I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.
Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix
Mogsy’s Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Genre: Horror
Series: Stand Alone
Publisher: Berkley (January 14, 2025)
Length: 496 pages
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Grady Hendrix is known for his horror novels with unique takes, sometimes with a social spin, and there’s no doubt he’s tackling some heavier and more complex themes in Witchcraft for Wayward Girls, even if some of them might be over his head. Whether or not Hendrix fully succeeds will depend on the reader—but he’s definitely taking some risks, and that’s always worth noting.
As the story opens, we’re transported to 1970 as 15-year-old Neva Craven becomes “Fern” at the Wellwood Home, a sanctuary for teen girls facing unplanned pregnancies. None of the girls here use their real names or talk about their pasts. They were here to do one thing only—carry out the rest of their pregnancies in secrecy, provided with the necessary medical care and support until they give birth, then give their babies up for adoption. Then they go back to their old lives, never to speak of this time again.
At the home, Fern and her newfound friends—with names like Rose, Zinnia, Holly—while away their days waiting for their due dates, chafing under the strict supervision of the owner, Miss Wellwood. Every two weeks, an eccentric librarian named Miss Parcae will stop by in her book mobile and provide some reading material for the girls. One day, Miss Parcae hands Fern a book on the occult that changes everything: How to be A Groovy Witch, a slim volume of spells that are guaranteed to get you what you want in life, if only you are strong enough to take what’s yours. This includes pledging your loyalty to your coven, even if it means having to take bold, sometimes messy actions. However, as Fern delves further deeper into the book’s secrets, things soon spiral into darker, deadlier territory—especially as the girls grow increasingly desperate to change their circumstances.
As events progress, witchcraft becomes our characters’ only path to regaining the autonomy and dignity they’ve lost. This thread underlies much of the story, becoming a powerful metaphor that resonates. Hendrix does an admirable job portraying the emotional turmoil of the young women at Wellwood Home. Each of them arrived there for unique reasons—some more terrible than others—yet they all share a common thread: their families, unable to bear the societal shame of their daughters’ pregnancies, have sent them away to erase the scandal, with the expectation that once their babies are born and adopted out, they can quietly return home and pretend none of it ever happened. While some of the girls are resigned to this arrangement, others are far less willing to give up their rights as mothers but are forced to do it anyway. Often, they are written off as too young and incapable of making their own decisions or deemed unfit because of their “wayward” reputation.
The author deserves credit for approaching these emotional struggles with clear intent and empathy, making the women’s rebellion—their choice of turning to a book of witchcraft—feel both bittersweet and empowering in its own strange way. That said, I couldn’t help but feel the execution was uneven at times. For one, the pacing felt inconsistent. After a strong start, the middle sections meandered and touched upon so many separate threads at once that it diluted some of the tension and urgency. Elements of the occult also felt slightly underdeveloped, as if the story was torn between taking a full-on plunge into the supernatural realm or staying firmly rooted in reality.
Using pregnancy and childbirth as a device in horror novels can also be tricky, though one good example of doing it right is Danielle Valentine’s Delicate Condition. There’s the undeniable feminine experience in the subject, which can be deeply personal, and raises the question of whether complex issues like emotional vulnerability and physical sacrifice can be authentically portrayed, especially when interpreted through a male lens. This isn’t to say that male authors shouldn’t write about these topics or that Hendrix’s take isn’t valid, but I will confess that, in at least one instance, his portrayal of childbirth came across as borderline exploitative and sensationalized for shock value. It made me feel kind of icky, and not for the right reasons.
Still, it may hit differently depending on the reader. Despite its flaws, Witchcraft for Wayward Girls was a worthy read, delivering a thought-provoking tale especially when considering the subject matter and taking the historical setting in context. The story is undoubtedly at its best when leaning into the raw emotions of its characters like anger and helplessness giving way to hope, determination, and defiance. Fans of Grady Hendrix’s previous works will want to pick this one up, as will readers who are curious about the premise and are also interested stories with a witchy punch.
Book Review: A Sea of Unspoken Things by Adrienne Young
Posted on January 4, 2025 8 Comments
I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.
A Sea of Unspoken Things by Adrienne Young
Mogsy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Genre: Mystery, Fantasy
Series: Stand Alone
Publisher: Delacorte Press (January 7, 2025)
Length: 288 pages
Author Information: Website
It’s hard to believe that A Sea of Unspoken Things marks my fifth book by Adrienne Young, but over the last few years, I’ve come to realize that I prefer her adult novels with touches of magical realism over her YA. If this is the direction she’s decided to pursue, I’m certainly not complaining—the mature and introspective themes found within tend to be a lot more interesting, and it’s clear the author’s writing has gotten even better and more refined with time.
In A Sea of Unspoken Things, the story combines mystery and familial bonds with a touch of the supernatural. While not without its flaws, the book did stand out to me as an unflinching look at grief and the terrible effect that secrets can have on a small rural town. James Golden is our protagonist who returns to her hometown of Hawthorne, California after the sudden and suspicious death of her twin brother, Johnny. Growing up, the bond between the two siblings had been so strong, at times it even felt supernatural for James. That was how she knew something was seriously wrong the day Johnny died. She knew, because she could have sworn that she felt the pain of the bullet that tore through his body and ended his life, even though at the time, the two of them had been hundreds of miles apart.
Back in Hawthorne, James is finding it hard to face the lingering shadows of her past. Tasked with getting her late twin’s affairs in order, she must also come to terms with the people she left behind and the way she walked out on them. That’s because very few manage to break free of Hawthorne, though James did, thanks to her artistic talents opening the door to art school and a successful career in the city. However, it came at the cost of leaving behind Johnny and their best friend Micah—a decision that still weighs heavily on her to this day. James wonders if her brother would still be alive had she stayed to look out for him. But as she sorts through his things, she begins finding details about Johnny’s life which suggest his demise might not have been an accident. He had been in the forest when it happened, killed by what was thought to be a stray bullet from an oblivious hunter. The police didn’t catch who did it, and might never will, which leaves James determined to uncover the truth herself.
While there’s a lot here to hold one’s attention, Young’s ability to weave in the characters’ complex relationships is what gave me the motivation to keep reading. James’ connection with her twin is beautifully rendered, though her voice often overshadowed my attempts to form my own ideas and opinions about her brother. You can tell James was ultra protective, and I wasn’t always a fan of how her infantilizing of Johnny sold him short. That said, her grief was palpable, and much of the story’s emotional weight came from this. Add in the fraught romantic history between James and Micah, which brought another layer of heartache—especially with the secret he shared with the twins when they were all teenagers, tied to a traumatic incident.
And that brings me to the aspects that didn’t quite land for me. While the mystery surrounding Johnny’s death serves as the book’s main driving force, with clues and revelations that gradually unravel to create an air of suspense, the story often felt weighed down by unnecessary distractions. For instance, the aforementioned incident involving teenage James, Johnny, and Micah did not have much impact on the overall narrative when everything was revealed, nor was it all that significant or surprising to serve well as a twist. And then there was the tease of a supernatural element, leading readers to believe there might have been a psychic connection between James and Johnny. In the end though, that also felt half-formed and ultimately unnecessary, adding little to the plot and feeling kind of pointless.
But once these dramatics were out of the way, allowing the focus to return to the mystery of Johnny’s death, the pacing became much more my speed. The build-up to the truth is indeed compelling, even if most of the action and suspense takes place in the second half of the book. At these moments, the author excels at capturing the mood and setting of Hawthorne, a small town whose residents hold plenty of secrets and bad blood, making every interaction and unresolved conflict a potential clue waiting to blow up.
In the end, A Sea of Unspoken Things is a beautifully written and evocative story about grief which also pulls double duty as a mystery suspense novel. Some threads, particularly tied to the otherworldly aspects of James and Johnny’s close sibling bond, could have been explored more thoroughly, yet the main character’s determination to do right by her dead brother by finding his killer is a big part of the books emotional core and makes up for any shortcomings. Mystery readers and fans of Adrienne Young who appreciate her more nuanced work will be sure to love this one.
Best of 2024 and The Year in Review
Posted on December 30, 2024 16 Comments
With only a couple days left in 2024, I figured I’d need to get this post up before it’s too late! But before we get to all the lists and fun stuff, a quick update on the state of The BiblioSanctum. What can I say? It’s been a busy year, not just the last few weeks. My December catch-up plans were shot to hell when I realized I wasn’t going to have time to cram a few more books into my reading schedule let alone get off my feet and write some actual reviews. So instead, I’ve decided to pour all my attention into getting ahead in 2025 and reading early new year releases. Current plans are for a number of reviews to go up in the first couple weeks of January, in order to get the ball rolling.
(A preview of some of the books I’ve been reading…)
Overall, 2024 was a good year, but it was also a rough one in some ways. Between balancing work, family and children, homeschooling (yes, I started teaching my oldest because she needed a more rigorous and advanced curriculum than public education could offer), I had to trim down many aspects of my life because I literally came close to losing my mind.
One thing you might have noticed is that this blog saw some changes, mainly in the posting schedule and a shift to focusing exclusively on reviews. Hopefully, next year I will be back in a good enough place to do challenges, book tags, weekly memes, and other fun features again. But making the effort to take a chill attitude towards book blogging has also led me to what I think are more positive habits in 2024. Finally allowing myself to DNF books has been very liberating, for one. And being able to relax and indulge in “just for fun” reads has also led me to books that are not on my review pile, checking out backlist titles and other genres.
(Historical Fiction and True Crime are a couple of “outside my comfort zone” genres I’ve been able to explore. And I finally got around to reading the Mr. Mercedes trilogy!)
And now it’s once again that time of the year where I look back at the last twelve months and do a round up my favorite reads. As I’m sure many fellow avid readers can relate, it’s hard to narrow a whole year’s worth of reading t0 a single list when the number of books you read are pushing triple digits, so what I do is highlight each genre category and all the books in it that are 4.5 stars and above…and then some!
Fantasy
Paranormal
Horror
Mystery & Thriller
Science Fiction
Fantasy dominated the charts again in 2024 while sci-fi as a genre has disappointed for the second year in a row, and I’m afraid that’s a trend which will continue for as long as messaging is prioritized ahead of good storytelling. All I will say is, thank goodness for the Dungeon Crawler Carl series.
No challenge updates to report because I stopped tracking midyear, but challenges are another thing I hope to resume in 2025. However, Goodreads has helpfully informed me that I have actually achieved my reading goal of 100 books this year–just barely!
And now, last but not least, my favorite part of end-of-year roundup posts: Goodreads stats and the pretty Year in Books collage!
More on The BiblioSanctum:
Best of 2014 and The Year in Review
Best of 2015 and The Year in Review
Best of 2016 and The Year in Review
Best of 2017 and The Year in Review
Best of 2018 and The Year in Review
Best of 2019 and The Year in Review
Best of 2020 and The Year in Review
Best of 2021 and The Year in Review
Best of 2022 and The Year in Review
Best of 2023 and The Year in Review
Book Review: A Pirate’s Life for Tea by Rebecca Thorne
Posted on December 24, 2024 5 Comments
I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.
A Pirate’s Life for Tea by Rebecca Thorne
Mogsy’s Rating: 3 of 5 stars
Genre: Fantasy, Romance
Series: Book 2 of Tomes & Tea
Publisher: Bramble (October 1, 2024)
Length: 444 pages
Author Information: Website
Why are cozy romantasies a mood read for me? There’s just something about their heartwarming stories with their low stakes. They’re a nice break from the genres with darker and heavier themes that I generally prefer, and they are the perfect escape when the moment is right. Happily, I had the second book of Rebecca Thorne’s Tomes and Tea series on hand. I dove back into the world with A Pirate’s Life for Tea, looking forward to catching up with Reyna, Kianthe, and the gang.
The story picks up as our newly engaged couple find themselves drawn into a swashbuckling adventure while helping their constable friend Bobbie on the case of some stolen dragon eggs. Their quest takes an unexpected turn, however, when their investigation leads them to encounter Serina, a former farm girl turned river pirate. Lately she has been giving the law enforcers of Arlon a lot of trouble, carrying out raids up and down the banks, stealing food to give to the poor.
But then, plot twist! Turns out Bobbie and Serina have a history. They were childhood friends, and maybe something more. But now one has been tasked with apprehending the other and putting her behind bars. As the hunt intensifies, things for Serina go from bad to worse as her escapades earn her the ire of a corrupt lord who is using his influence to pressure our protagonists into helping him capture her—and he’s not likely to give Serina the benefit of the doubt if he gets to her first.
If you enjoyed the first book, there’s a good chance you’ll like this sequel. A Pirate’s Life for Tea continues capturing the quirky charm of the characters as well as the cozy laid-back atmosphere of the series, packing the plot with the usual hijinks and shenanigans that ensue, but this time with a bit of that high seas flair. Sweet romance is in the air too, and not just between our lovely duo Reyna and Kianthe. Amidst the ever-present danger of Arlon’s forces and the mystery of the missing dragon eggs, they somehow also manage to find time to play matchmakers for Bobbie and Serina.
As you can probably tell, the actual conflicts in this book are thin and the story lacks the weight of a truly gripping adventure. Much of the entire plot feels like an excuse for a girls’ day out, having our characters playact at being adventurers when they are, in fact, very bad at their jobs. Bobbie’s investigation skills are a joke, for instance, and Serina is a truly terrible pirate. Reyna and Kianthe seem to delight more in their gossip and meddling in the romantic lives of their friends rather than, ya know, getting an actual mystery solved.
You just get a sense that these are not serious people, but perhaps that’s the point. It’s just a group of friends enjoying life, enjoying love. Like I said, the series leans heavily into the light-hearted and chill low-stakes vibes. Another member of their ragtag crew may get her chance at romance, and even with all that’s going on, there’s always time for a tea break.
Ironically, in the end, where the book fell short for me was in delivering what I had expected the most—more Kianthe and Reyna. While they’re still as sweet and supportive as ever, there’s very little development in their relationship dynamic here. Instead, the spotlight shifts to other characters, which might be satisfying to some readers but left me feeling underwhelmed. Given how central their love story was in the first book and all they went through to be together, it would have been nice to get a more substantial sequel to remind us why we’re pulling for them.
All told, A Pirate’s Life for Tea is a solid continuation of the series for fans who loved Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea, even if it didn’t quite recapture the full magic of its predecessor for me. That said, it does a good job keeping the same warm, feel-good vibes, and the camaraderie among the characters. Still, it hit the spot and that’s what matters.
Moe on The BiblioSanctum:
Review of Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea (Book 1)
Audiobook Review: The Business Trip by Jessie Garcia
Posted on December 20, 2024 13 Comments
I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.
The Business Trip by Jessie Garcia
Mogsy’s Rating (Overall): 2 of 5 stars
Genre: Mystery, Suspense
Series: Stand Alone
Publisher: Macmillan Audio (January 14, 2025)
Length: 9 hrs and 7 mins
Author Information: Website
Two strangers. One flight. A tangled web of lies and deception which begins to unravel when both women, with no prior connections, wind up seated next to each other on a plane departing Madison, Wisconsin for Denver, Colorado. Jasmine, fed up with her dead-end job as a bar waitress and desperate to escape the clutches of her abusive boyfriend Glen, has finally stashed away enough of her tips to afford her ticket to a new life. Leaving no trace of her plans, she sneaks out of Glen’s trailer under the cover of darkness and secretly makes her way to the airport. Meanwhile, in a much different part of the city, Stephanie is a polished executive preparing for an important business trip to the west coast, where a high-profile industry conference with her fellow news directors awaits. Soon after making arrangements with her neighbor to check her mail and feed her cat, Stephanie leaves to catch her plane, excited to leave behind the stress of her newsroom, even if it’s just for a little while.
The day after that fateful flight, Jasmine’s friends and co-workers begin getting angry calls and texts from Glen. Where is Jasmine? No one has a clue. Many, however, believe she may have finally found the courage to leave her possessive boyfriend. This theory seemed to be confirmed when one of Jasmine’s childhood friends receives a text from her, gushing about meeting a really great guy, one who actually makes her feel loved and special. In Stephanie’s case, however, there are a lot more people asking questions. Initially, her absence following her trip raises few alarms, with those closest to Stephanie getting texts from her basically saying the same thing—something urgent had suddenly come up in Atlanta, requiring her immediate attention. To her neighbor, Stephanie divulges even more, claiming she had met someone at the conference and is taking some time off to explore the romance. In reality, unbeknownst to anyone who knows Jasmine and Stephanie, their shared, seemingly routine flight had thrust both women into a chain of events that ultimately led both to vanish into thin air, leaving behind only cryptic clues about a mysterious man—the same man in both their stories. Who is he, and what role does he play in their disappearance?
At first, everything about The Business Trip started off strong. The opening chapters were interesting and attention grabbing. Focusing on Jasmine and Stephanie, this intro section delved into each woman’s circumstances, ranging from personal struggles to professional ambitions, explaining how they each ended up on board the same flight as seatmates. The writing in this part was sharp and engaging, immersing me in the characters’ contrasting lives—Jasmine and her determination to get away from Glen, a real piece of shit who steals her money, smacks her around, and doesn’t even allow her to have her own car; and Stephanie, a recently divorced workaholic who seems to spend more time doting on her cat than talking with her adult son, seemingly in high spirits ahead of attending her industry conference.
The second part shifts the narrative to the next day, focusing on the people left behind, each wondering what happened to Jasmine and Stephanie. Text messages fly back and forth between friends, colleagues, and loved ones, creating intriguing layers of suspense. For a while, things seem normal. It is assumed that Jasmine is laying low, in case Glen tries to track her down. And Stephanie, of course, is at her conference. But beneath the surface, there’s a subtle sense that something is off. In this way, the plot continues to tempt the reader with the illusion that everything is fine when we all know that a bombshell is looming—and when it finally drops, it hits hard. We learn the truth, that neither Jasmine nor Stephanie is okay.
As the mystery unfolds, the frantic search for answers is paired with the introduction of another major character—a key figure central to everything in the story. But here’s where things started to fall apart for me. While the early plot development was on point, it starts faltering once we move into the second half of the novel. In the mystery-suspense genre, suspending disbelief is often a requirement, and I’m no stranger to going with the flow when it comes to a wild premise. In this case, though, the leaps in logic become increasingly implausible and, eventually, just plain dumb.
A lot of things just didn’t make sense. Characters seem to randomly lose their ability to reason or to think. For example, just how does one work in the business of news reporting, especially with a focus on crime, and not think to contact a lawyer when things go sideways? And without spoiling anything, there’s also a character who is suddenly revealed as a mastermind, yet their knowledge and competence seem oddly selective, as they manage to completely fail in other areas of life. And then there’s a character who appears to solely exist for the purpose of swooping in at the most convenient moments to solve problems that would otherwise derail the plot.
The author also seems to take liberties with how police investigations and forensic processes are carried out, choosing to bend or ignore rules when it suits the story’s needs. There is really such a thing as too much creative license. Even then, I can usually forgive a lot. Yet, it was the final twist that completely lost me. It was so clumsily executed and so far-fetched that it dropped my rating by an entire star. Don’t get me wrong, a good twist doesn’t have to be realistic, but it should feel earned, or at least convincing enough within the world of the story. This one didn’t feel that way at all—in fact, it was the kind that made me roll my eyes and say, “Really?”
In sum, The Business Trip started strong and kept me entertained for much of its runtime, but it went downhill in the second half. Despite its flaws, I have to say it was still a fun, fast-paced read, and fans of twisty thrillers might find enough here to enjoy. For me, though, certain inconsistencies and over-the-top plot points really tried my patience, and the final implausible twist was ultimately just too much.
Book Review: Revenant-X by David Wellington
Posted on December 16, 2024 10 Comments
I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.
Revenant-X by David Wellington
Mogsy’s Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Genre: Science Fiction, Horror
Series: Book 2 of Red Space
Publisher: Orbit Books (November 5, 2024)
Length: 512 pages
Author Information: Website | Twitter
When David Wellington’s Paradise-1 came out, it wasn’t exactly to rave reviews, though I found myself enjoying it all the same—far more than I expected, in fact. That experience (along with that infuriating cliffhanger) actually left me eager to see how the space horror action will continue, and I was quite excited to check out Revenant-X. In the end, I thought it was an engaging sequel, stronger than its predecessor in some areas, but there were some weaker parts as well.
The story picks up right where the first book left off (so make sure you’re caught up before you read this next part!), with Firewatch agent Alexandra Petrova and her team stranded on a desolate, nightmarish planet. Her team has dwindled to include her former flame Sam, whose physical form is now a digital projection; Zhang, the nervous medic forced into a leadership role; and Rapscallion, their puckish artificial intelligence which resides in the patchwork robotic body that he cobbled together from a mess of printed parts.
The environment they’ve found themselves in is equally disorienting and bleak. Petrova is still dealing with a psychic alien presence that has invaded her mind, and occasionally takes control. The planet’s former colony along with its mining operation has been completely destroyed, overrun by a mysterious plague which has turned its residents into a horde of feral, bloodthirsty creatures called revenants that bring to mind space zombies. For this already broken down and fragile team, simply staying alive at this point seems straight-up impossible.
Not unexpectedly, the horror elements are more in-your-face this time, leaning heavily into the action. Despite the high stakes though, the main problem with Revenant-X comes down to its massive page-count, which really doesn’t warrant 500+ pages (as I recall, this was a similar complaint I had with the first book, which was 700ish, so an improvement, I guess). After the short intro, I noticed a pattern in the story, which pretty much boils down to our characters embarking on a long quest to get from Point A to Point B. Along their journey, they encounter many difficulties that range from getting lost to revenant attacks—lots and lots of revenant attacks. These scenes, while full of thrills and excitement, are nevertheless light on depth and unfortunately start to get a little tiresome after the first half-dozen times it happens.
That said, I’m still enjoying the character interactions and the gradual development of their relationships. Each member of the group has a unique backstory and a personal arc that continues to evolve as they confront their individual challenges, like Petrova’s struggle with the entity known as the basilisk, everyone’s adjustment to Sam’s current existence as a hard light construct, Zhang’s battle with his own mental health, and of course who can forget my favorite, Rapscallion and his peculiar approach to his human crew’s hangups. All the revenant activity in narrative somehow manages to avoid overshadowing all these moments of character growth, keeping me invested in their survival.
Ultimately, Revenant-X is a solid sequel that builds on the foundation of Paradise-1, even if it does run a little long and doesn’t fully capitalize on its action-heavy potential. But if you enjoy sci-fi horror movies like Alien and especially the later ones in the franchise, then I think you’ll feel right at home.
More on The BiblioSanctum:
Review of Paradise-1 (Book 1)
Book Review: The Relentless Legion by J.S. Dewes
Posted on December 11, 2024 17 Comments
I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.
The Relentless Legion by J.S. Dewes
Mogsy’s Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Genre: Science Fiction
Series: Book 3 of The Divide
Publisher: Tor Books (November 12, 2024)
Length: 512 pages
Author Information: Website
J.S. Dewes takes us back to the world of The Divide in The Relentless Legion, the third and final book in the space opera trilogy. The story picks up soon after the ending of The Exiled Fleet, so just a heads up—this review may include spoilers for the first two books if you’re not caught up yet!
After escaping the collapse and surviving the dangers from Core, Adequin Rake and her Sentinels now find themselves racing against time to save the human colonies from a deadly bioweapon. As part of a scheme masterminded by the maniacal August Mercer who thinks he will be “saving” humanity with his actions, the genetically engineered virus would in fact eradicate a significant portion of the population. It’s up to his grandson Cavalon, allied with Rake and her crew, to stop Mercer’s vision from becoming reality.
The Sentinels are facing overwhelming odds as they prepare for this confrontation. Split across multiple perspectives, with Rake, Cavalon, and the tough but private Jackin North taking center stage, the story takes us to a desolate part of the universe where our characters are holed up as they make do with limited resources. However, their efforts to thwart the virus are hampered when one of them is captured by Mercer and compromised, creating tension between the survivors. Friendships are formed, alliances are tested, and sacrifices are made as the team is pushed to their physical and emotional limits.
As always, the world of The Divide stands out with its intriguing glimpses into alien tech and posthuman elements. Dewes has saved the best and most dastardly villain for last, as well as threat that resonates with readers in these uncertain times. Overall, the plot is packed with action and adventure while still making enough time for the softer, quieter moments in which characters get to bond. That said, though, the novel is not without a few flaws along the way.
For one, The Relentless Legion somehow did not feel as well paced as its predecessors. While the action comes fast and furious, the transitions between them do not feel as balanced. This time, there were definitely more pages dedicated to downtime where much exposition and conversation take place, bringing in more drama than I’d bargained for. While I appreciate it when an author develops character relationships, I prefer it when they don’t come at the expense of the story’s momentum. These emotional beats could have been better integrated, making the relationships—especially one romantic subplot in particular—feel more natural and the characters’ choices less questionable.
But for readers looking for as much heart as there is action in their sci-fi, this makes The Divide series a pretty good contender. Even though The Relentless Legion did not reach quite the same heights as the previous two books, it’s still a solid read and a satisfying conclusion to a trilogy that I love as a whole. If you have not read J.S. Dewes yet, don’t wait—she is an author to watch. I can’t wait to see what she does next.
More on The BiblioSanctum:
Review of The Last Watch (Book 1)
Review of The Exiled Fleet (Book 2)
Novella Review: The Mistletoe Mystery by Nita Prose
Posted on December 10, 2024 5 Comments
I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.
The Mistletoe Mystery by Nita Prose
Mogsy’s Rating (Overall): 3.5 of 5 stars
Genre: Mystery, Holiday
Series: Book 2.5 of Molly the Maid
Publisher: Random House Audio (October 1, 2024)
Length: 2 hrs and 38 mins
Author Information: Website
I don’t usually go out of my way to read novellas in the series because they often feel like throwaway or filler stories that are entirely skippable. But since it’s nearing Christmastime and Molly the Maid is at the center of The Mistletoe Mystery, I couldn’t resist picking it up to get into the holiday mood.
Nita Prose returns to the world of her beloved character with this short tale that takes place after The Mystery Guest. Molly and her boyfriend Juan Manuel have taken the big step and moved in together, and now they are preparing for the holidays. For Molly, Christmas has always been bittersweet since the passing of her dear Gran, who had carried on cherished traditions for the two of them that aways made the season feel magical, but Juan Manuel is determined to bring back the cheer by making this year’s festivities extra special.
Still, it wouldn’t be a Molly the Maid book without a mystery, and our eponymous protagonist has been noticing her boyfriend’s unusual behavior—his sneaking around, keeping secrets, and overall acting suspicious. It’s starting to concern her, making her worried their relationship isn’t as strong as believes. Emotional turmoil aside, though, sleuthing is what Molly does best. As the Regency Grand Hotel where she works prepares for its annual Secret Santa gift exchange event, she uses the commotion to uncover the truth about Juan Manuel’s strange behavior, putting her detective skills to the test.
If you’re like me and waiting impatiently for the next Molly the Maid novel, The Mistletoe Mystery makes for a great distraction to tide you over. While it’s not going to be anywhere near as satisfying or complex as a full-fledged story from the main books, it’s a lighter and more intimate interlude that will delight fans all the same. Rather than the usual high-stakes murder mystery, we’re getting to spend more personal time with Molly and the people closest to her, getting a look into her day-to-day life outside of her escapades at the hotel. It’s a sweet, heartfelt story that makes character relationships its focus.
Characterization continues to be this series’ main strength. Though we still see her struggle with reading and communicating with people, Molly is as charming and endearing as ever. However, one downside is that I think many of her personality quirks were played up to manufacture drama and miscommunication, which I confess is one of my pet peeves. On a more positive note, Juan Manuel gets his chance to shine in this story as Molly’s boyfriend, getting the attention he deserves. The two of them are so adorable together, but again it pained me a little to see how the book’s main conflict was deliberately created to stress the bond between them—especially since he of all people should know how Molly has trouble interpreting social cues.
As the title suggests, The Mistletoe Mystery also perfectly captures the atmosphere of the cozy and festive season, and as expected, leans heavily on the kind of tropes you see in romantic holiday movies. This makes the plot entirely predictable, but that’s probably not a bad thing for a novella about the warmth, joy, and love of being together at Christmas.
In the end, The Mistletoe Mystery is a pleasant little side story offering a low-pressure, comforting read for fans of Molly the Maid. Sure, it’s not going to be packed with the intricacies of a full-length novel, but it’s still a great opportunity to revisit the characters and immerse yourself in their world again while awaiting the next installment of the series.
More on The BiblioSanctum:
Review of The Maid (Book 1)
Review of The Mystery Guest (Book 2)
YA Weekend: The Whispering Night by Susan Dennard
Posted on December 7, 2024 5 Comments
I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.
The Whispering Night by Susan Dennard
Mogsy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Series: Book 3 of The Luminaries
Publisher: Tor Teen (November 19, 2024)
Length: 384 pages
At last, the final book of Susan Dennard’s Luminaries trilogy is here. The Whispering Night brings things to a thrilling and emotional conclusion, and I was excited to see how everything would play out. Having followed this series from the start, I was invested in the ending which made this well worth the read, though I couldn’t help but notice some of the issues I’d had with the first two books remained unresolved.
The story picks up with Winnie Wednesday finally setting into her new life as an elite member of the Luminaries. The werewolf threat that the hunters have faced has been brought under control…at least for now. Far from being the pariah she was before all this began, Winnie’s latest escapades have made her more popular than she could ever imagine. She has rekindled her old friendship with Erica, and even started something a little more intimate and complicated with Jay Friday. On top of that, their community’s biggest celebration of the year, the Nightmare Masquerade, is just around the corner.
However, the attention becomes more than Winnie can handle when she is unexpectedly crowned queen of the Masquerade—a role that many feel she did not do enough to earn. As the revelries continue throughout the event, Winnie is forced to fend off this resentment along with other threats related to the mysterious scandal surrounding her father’s disappearance years before. Enter the Dianas, the secretive and antagonist group that stands in opposition to the Luminaries. Witches who are said to use forbidden magic, the Dianas’ exact motivations are unknown, but Winnie’s father had been mixed up in their business. Together with Jay and Eric, she must find out how and why, and also uncover the truth about the figure known as the Whisperer and find out how all of it is connected to the long-standing war that has always existed in Hemlock Falls.
As a protagonist whom I’d had mixed feelings about, Winnie Wednesday has certainly grown on me since we were introduced to her in the first book. She’s emerged as a much more interesting character when she’s not on the defensive all the time, not to mention a lot more pleasant. A Winnie who is not constantly trying to prove her worth has more time for her real personality to come through, and it’s one with a great deal of introspection and a wicked sense of humor. Friendships also appear to agree with her, and the interactions she has with her peers in Hemlock Falls have really come to the forefront in this book now that Winnie’s solitary existence is behind her. Erica shines in this book as she steps up as a loyal ally, and the romance with Jay is getting its well-deserved moments as well.
But the world-building of the Luminaries trilogy remains one of its most confusing aspects, and unfortunately, we never really get clarification on how it’s connected to the outside world. Hemlock Falls still feels strangely isolated, existing in a bubble. It’s clear now that Dennard has kept this lack of connection in place on purpose, but the gaps do leave the series overall feeling incomplete, with a sense that pieces of the puzzle are left out.
When it comes to wrapping up the story, though, The Whispering Night is satisfying with its mix of action, resolution, and emotional payoff. It’s true that some parts felt chaotic, especially during the build up to the ending, or when the supernatural elements felt rushed or glossed over, but on the whole most of the major questions were answered. That said, the conclusion leaves the door open for the potential of more stories, and I wouldn’t be surprised if the world-building issues I mentioned above are addressed in future books set in this universe.
Overall, The Whispering Night is a solid conclusion to the Luminaries trilogy. It’s not without flaws but does deliver on the elements the series’ readers have come to enjoy. I would recommend it as a fun YA paranormal adventure, and if you’ve been following Winnie’s journey from the beginning, this finale is absolutely worth picking up.
More on The BiblioSanctum:
Review of The Luminaries (Book 1)
Review of The Killing Moon (Book 2)
Book Review: Memorials by Richard Chizmar
Posted on December 3, 2024 13 Comments
I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.
Mogsy’s Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Genre: Suspense, Horror
Series: Stand Alone
Publisher: Gallery Books (October 22, 2024)
Length: 480 pages
Author Information: Website
Earlier this year, I had the pleasure of reading the first two books in Richard Chizmar’s Boogeyman series before attending an event where I got to hear the author speak. During his talk, I was thrilled when he announced that not only is the third installment in the series in the works, but also that he would be releasing a new standalone novel in the fall.
This book turned out to be Memorials. Transporting readers back to the 1980s, the story follows three college students on a road trip through rural Appalachia to film a documentary about roadside memorials—markers that usually take the form of white crosses or signs adorned with flowers, wreaths, or other items to form a shrine. They can be found all over the country alongside highways or residential roads, memorializing someone who passed away from a motor vehicle accident at or near the location where the death took place. Richly atmospheric and heavy with the gravity of its subject matter, the novel blends elements of mystery, suspense, and horror with the enduring traditions of folk superstition.
For Billy, Troy, and Melody, the week-long journey isn’t just about earning a good grade on their American Studies class project; it’s also a chance for the three friends to deepen their bond and embrace their independence. However, in Billy’s case, the documentary carries deep personal meaning as well. While all three of them have experienced the loss of someone close to them, Billy’s parents were killed in a car accident years earlier, and the plan was to make their roadside memorial a part of the film.
But what begins as a carefree expedition through the halcyon Pennsylvanian countryside soon spirals out of control as a sense of unease starts creeping in. As our characters delve deeper into the backroads, they begin to suspect someone might be silently watching them from the shadows at deserted campsites. They come across a town where the locals eye them with suspicion or outright hostility. Strange symbols are spotted carved or painted on some of the memorials they visit. It’s even possible that their van was sabotaged, as the increasing fear that they’re being followed turns their road trip into a nightmare.
Memorials is perfect for fans of slow-burn, atmospheric horror with a touch of Americana. There’s just something so unique about the eerie backdrop of rural Appalachia—where the mountains and forests seem to hide ancient secrets, the people and their stories steeped in their traditions and isolation—and Chizmar’s writing really brings those vibes to the forefront. I also loved the premise of the novel with its focus on roadside memorials, sights that are common along every drive. Yet, when you take the time to consider what they symbolize, it’s hard not to wonder at their tragic backstories behind them, with each memorial representing someone who was loved and cared for, someone whose life left an impact and was honored.
But when I say slow-burn, I mean REALLY slow-burn. Honestly, I feel the pacing is where the book falters. The first half drags, with no clear direction. After following Billy, Troy, and Melody through the first few towns, watching them film at several memorials with no real conflict emerging, I started to worry that this wasn’t the suspenseful horror promised in the publisher blurb. After all, even though I enjoyed the novel’s clever structure which intersperses description of Billy’s filmed interviews and shots of the memorials reminiscent of the found footage genre, it also reminded me of The Blair Witch Project for all the wrong reasons—namely, the dreary repetition and aimless wandering.
The heart of the story should also lie in its characters, but I personally did not find any of them all that compelling. Billy was a wishy-washy protagonist who was probably the blandest of the three, but his first-person narration was the main perspective. While the backstory of his parents’ deaths may have fueled the main plotline, the excessive self-pitying sometimes made it hard to connect with him. Meanwhile, Troy and Melody had more interesting personalities, but they were shallowly developed which made them feel like caricatures at times. Related to this, several of the side characters they meet on their travels also seem to lean heavily into small-town stereotypes that feel like surface-level writing.
It wasn’t until the second half that the emotional stakes were raised, mainly due to THINGS FINALLY HAPPENING. Up until this point, the story felt stagnant, but once the tension picked up, it kept me on edge until the end. Stylistically, Chizmar proves his strength as a writer when he’s in his element, drawing readers into the unfolding drama with heightened drama and suspense. The later parts of this book hold some of the best moments, leading me to think the overall story would have been much stronger had the first half been edited down or spruced up with a bit more conflict or action.
Overall, Memorials ended up being worth the ride, but just don’t be surprised if it takes a while for the wheels to get rolling. Still, I was happy I got to read this atmospheric tale of horror and suspense with its nostalgic undertones, set against a haunted landscape that is distinctly American. That said, I’m beyond excited or Richard Chizmar’s next Boogeyman novel, which I hope will deliver a faster-paced, more thrilling experience.
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