Book Review: The Dead Husband Cookbook by Danielle Valentine
Posted on August 18, 2025 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.
The Dead Husband Cookbook by Danielle Valentine
Mogsy’s Rating: 5 of 5 stars
Genre: Thriller, Mystery
Series: Stand Alone
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark (August 5, 2025)
Length: 352 pages
I’ve read several novels by this author under her various names (Danielle Valentine is also Danielle Vega), and as a self-described author of books for “tweens, teens, and adults,” she’s definitely covered a lot of ground. However, over time I’ve realized that while her YA horror is fun, it’s her adult novels that really grab me. With The Dead Husband Cookbook, she’s once again proven that point, delivering the same kind of thoroughly absorbing and addictive suspense that made Delicate Condition such a standout for me.
The story follows Thea Woods, an editor whose career is hanging on by a thread after costing her publisher a lot of money in the wake of a very public scandal. In fact, her boss has all but admitted to planning to fire her, except out of nowhere comes a second chance. Maria Capello, a celebrity chef whose own life has been marked by plenty of sordid rumors and scandal, has apparently decided to write a tell-all memoir, and for some reason, she has handpicked Thea to edit her book. Because this would be the opportunity of a lifetime for their small publisher, Thea is allowed to keep her job—for now. However, she can’t afford to make any mistakes. One wrong move, and it could ruin her completely.
Otherwise, Thea is actually quite thrilled to be working with Maria. She has no idea why she was chosen—they’ve never even met—but Thea has admired Maria since childhood, faithfully following her cooking shows and recipe books, which idealized the picture-perfect home life. Still, Maria comes with some difficult conditions. First, Thea must travel to the Capello’s remote upstate farmhouse to do the work. Second, she will surrender her phone and live with no reliable internet connection while she’s there. And third, she will only have access to the manuscript one chapter at a time, handed over at a pace set by Maria.
Despite all this, Thea tells herself it will all be worth it. After all, the memoir is all but guaranteed to be a sensation, not just because Maria is a household name, but because everyone is still obsessed with the decades-old mystery of her missing husband, Damien. Officially, Damien Capello’s death was ruled a suicide, backed by a note and Maria’s alibi the night of his disappearance, but that hasn’t stopped people from talking. Did Damien really kill himself, or was it something darker? Thea knows Maria’s memoir might finally reveal the truth, but how much does she really want to know about her idol? Is she truly ready to learn Maria’s secrets? And what will it cost her if she does?
From the description of the novel to its unnervingly vivid cover, I just couldn’t let this one pass me by! What really worked for me was the way the story uses its structure to build interest and tension. The bulk of the narrative follows Thea in the present day as she navigates life’s challenges—a demanding toddler, an oblivious husband, a financially strapped mother, and now a tanking career. But once Thea arrives at Maria’s farmhouse, the tone shifts, tightening into the claustrophobic, controlled atmosphere the older woman has created.
It’s here we begin to see excerpts from the memoir itself, and I thought these sections were brilliantly done. Packed with juicy behind-the-scenes details, each chapter also included delicious sounding recipes with clever titles that directly relate to Maria’s stories. I loved how these parts gave us Maria’s perspective, not to mention making my mouth water! At the same time, they raised more questions than answers. What exactly are Maria’s motives for writing the book, and why now after so many years of remaining guarded about her past? Is she being as candid as she claims, wanting to set the record straight? Or is she in fact choosing her words carefully, trying to reframe how the public sees her?
Another highlight for me was how nearly every element clicked right into place. Especially the food angle! Each recipe and culinary detail felt authentic and thoughtfully integrated, and not just a gimmick. Cooking tied directly into Maria’s storytelling and character, deepening the themes of memory, family, secrets, and even control. I couldn’t help but wonder if Danielle Valentine is a connoisseur herself, because it’s that, or she poured hundreds of hours of research into the culinary world. Either way, it paid off beautifully, contributing to just how well the entire novel was planned and put together, even when the plot ran full speed into realm of outrageousness. And yet, it worked because a good foundation had been laid, and of course it was also fun as hell.
Overall, The Dead Husband Cookbook is exactly the kind of addictive and slightly unhinged thriller that’s easy to devour in just a few sittings. Danielle Valentine has once again delivered a novel that feels both meticulously plotted and wildly entertaining. If you loved Delicate Condition or are simply in the mood for a dark and twisty page-turner, this is the perfect place to dig in.
Book Review: A Forbidden Alchemy by Stacey McEwan
Posted on August 15, 2025 7 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 Forbidden Alchemy by Stacey McEwan
Mogsy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Genre: Fantasy, Romance
Series: Book 1
Publisher: Saga Press (July 1, 2025)
Length: 480 pages
Author Information: Website
Romantasy is everywhere right now, so much so that it feels like only a handful of titles are getting all the attention while many more just quietly slip through the cracks. One such book that almost flew under my radar is A Forbidden Alchemy by Stacey McEwan, and what a shame that would have been. It’s got everything from romance to grit, and with its rebellion plot with real bite, I was hooked good and fast into the world of its characters.
The story opens with Nina Harrow and Patrick Colson, two kids who grew up poor in struggling Craftsmen mining towns. But at twelve years old, all children are brought to the dazzling city of Belavere to test for magical potential, a moment that could change both their lives. Passing means becoming an Artisan, one of the privileged elite with the power to wield elemental magic. For Patrick, the possibility is exciting but not all-consuming, but for Nina, it’s everything she’s ever wanted: her one chance to escape poverty. But when they stumble upon a dangerous truth—that Artisans aren’t actually born with magic but are handpicked by a rigged system—their futures are set on very different paths.
Years later, the city finds itself on the brink of war. Nina, now an accomplished Artisan earth shaper, is reluctant to get involved, given the truth of her past that she has kept hidden for so long. Yet, she is inevitably drawn into the conflict, encountering the growing strength of the Craftsmen uprising, led by none other than Patrick. Even after all this time, their memories of one another—and the terrible secret they uncovered together— lingers between them. However, Nina has also built relationships during her time in magical training, and there are people she loves and must protect—loyalties that clash with a part of her heart still rooted in her humble beginnings. Before long, she may be forced to choose a side in a war where there are no clear answers.
A Forbidden Alchemy is one of those books where the romance and political plot are equally strong, avoiding stepping on each other’s toes. Obviously, the whole setup with the class divisions and the corruption at the heart of an unfair society are in no way new to the genre, but the attention to the details makes the background politics feel more than just window dressing. The fact that we meet both Nina and Patrick as children definitely helps, refining the idea that these are circumstances that have shaped them since the very beginning. The world feels lived in, having influenced and guided our characters’ choices and giving them motivation for the choices they make.
In some ways, this gives the romance an extra edge, considering Patrick and Nina aren’t just dealing with their complicated feelings for each other, but they’re doing it while being on opposites sides of a war. Admittedly, even the time jumps in the early chapters, while a little jarring, can work well in this context, showing how the years have made them the adults they’ve become, deepening the moments of connection and quiet yearning. That said, the presence of Theo, Nina’s first love, throws a slightly frustrating wrench into the mix. Personally, I felt the chemistry between Patrick and Nina were complex enough without adding even more tension through a sort-of love triangle, but that’s just me. I have never been a fan of that kind of drama, but of course, your mileage may vary.
And if I’m being picky, I would have also liked a bit more about the magic itself. We get plenty of history and politics, but a little more extra on Belavere’s backstory wouldn’t have hurt. Plus, more about idium! It’s only the mysterious mined substance that keeps the city running and makes all magic possible, after all. Still, that’s a small gripe. Everything else that matters about the world-building gets plenty of attention, making this an entirely compulsive and readable mix of fantasy and romance.
All in all, A Forbidden Alchemy is an engaging, character-driven start to a series that really deserves more attention. Definitely worth picking up for romantasy readers who enjoy elemental magic and enemies-to-lovers tension, and with a cliffhanger like that, you just know the wait for the next book is going to feel even longer.
Book Review: The Unseen by Ania Ahlborn
Posted on August 13, 2025 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.
Mogsy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Genre: Horror
Series: Stand Alone
Publisher: Gallery Books (August 19, 2025)
Length: 384 pages
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Horror enthusiasts, are you a fan of the “creepy kid” trope? If so, then The Unseen by Ania Ahlborn has got you covered. This is my fourth book by the author, and every time, I am left wanting to read more of her work. Simply put, she excels at blending domestic drama with supernatural suspense, and while this novel isn’t without some flaws, it nevertheless delivers on plenty of chills.
Set in an idyllic Colorado town already on edge from a string of missing child cases, the story follows Isla, a married mother of five who is still emotionally fragile from a miscarriage, the latest in a heartbreaking series of pregnancy losses. Despite having the large family that she’d always dreamed of, Isla still feels it is incomplete without a sixth child. In fact, the resulting depression had become so overwhelming and damaging to her mental health that temporary hospitalization had been required.
Now back at home recovering, Isla is outside one day when she spots a small, disheveled, and oddly proportioned boy stumbling around near the edge of the property. After coming to his rescue, she becomes instantly fixated. And when, a few months later, social services can’t locate any relatives, Isla convinces her husband Luke into fostering the boy. Naming him Rowan, they bring him into their home, despite Luke’s reservations and their children’s clear discomfort around the newcomer.
From the start, Rowan’s presence causes a ripple of unease around the house, driving the dogs into violent panic and making the other kids avoid him. However, this only makes Isla even more determined to make the new arrangement work. As her attention to Rowan becomes obsessive, more strange and frightening events begin to unfold, turning their home into a waking nightmare. Everyone can see that something is terribly wrong—everyone except Isla, who refuses or is somehow unable to recognize that Rowan may be at the center of it all.
The atmosphere was everything I would expect from Ahlborn, characterized by quiet moments heavy with dread and small gestures that feel slightly off. Not only is this novel unafraid to lean into the familiar horror tropes, it flat out embraces and capitalizes on them, tapping into the primal fears and uncertainties we all have as children. This is also combined with the anxieties of adulthood, especially parenthood, where the prospect of something being wrong with your child—or the way you raise your child—becomes an all-consuming worry that is as personal as it is supernatural.
That said, the multiple POV approach, while initially great for building tension, does eventually become a little repetitive and tiresome. For one thing, pretty much every one of Isla and Luke’s children have their own chapters, and through them we become aware of everything that’s strange about Rowan beyond his deformities and hair-raising behavior. As such, thanks to the kids, we’re repeatedly shown variations of the same realization: IT’S ROWAN! ROWAN IS THE ONE CAUSING ALL THE PROBLEMS! And yet, their concerns are dismissed time and time again, which stretches credulity given how quickly the scary incidents pile up. In particular, Luke comes across as a pushover, and it’s not long before readers start questioning how much a man can take before he finally fights back, especially when the safety and wellbeing of his children are on the line.
Still, even with these little hiccups, the story kept me fully engaged, making me excited to see just how far it was willing to push things. And push it does. It was impossible to look away during the final act, which is proof that Ania Ahlborn knows how to balance slow-burn dread with high stakes payoff. While opinions might be divided on the ending, I found it chilling and resonant, ultimately making The Unborn a memorable read that got under my skin and stayed there.
Book Review: Hemlock & Silver by T. Kingfisher
Posted on August 8, 2025 19 Comments
I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.
Hemlock & Silver by T. Kingfisher
Mogsy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Genre: Fantasy
Series: Stand Alone
Publisher: Tor Books (August 19, 2025)
Length: 368 pages
Author Information: Website
As someone who reads just about everything T. Kingfisher writes, I jumped into Hemlock & Silver with a lot of excitement—and, admittedly, sky-high expectations. And while it didn’t end up being one of my favorites, I still thoroughly enjoyed the ride. After all, she is one of those authors where even a “not a favorite” is still a very good read.
Billed from the publisher’s description as a “dark reimagining of Snow White, Hemlock & Silver is pure Kingfisher: quirky characters, intellectual curiosity, and a sprinkling of fairy tale inspiration. The story follows Anja, a healer who specializes in the theory and treatment of poisons. Armed with a chime-adder (their venom happens to be an ingredient in a great number of antidotes) and a regular habit of ingesting toxins to better understand their effects, her unusual methods have made her something of an oddity within her community. But one day, her quiet life is suddenly interrupted when the king himself appears at her door with a desperate request. Having recently suffered the loss of both his wife and one of his children, he’s now determined to save his only surviving daughter, Snow, who has fallen gravely ill. The best doctors in the realm have already been consulted, and not one of them can determine what’s wrong. Suspecting that Snow’s symptoms are from poisoning, the king is turning to Anja as his final hope.
Left with little choice, our protagonist agrees to investigate and is escorted to the isolated desert retreat where Snow has been sequestered since her mother and sister’s suspicious deaths. Once there, she begins careful observation of the princess, interviewing the staff, and testing all the food. When nothing turns up, and Snow is still sick, Anja is forced to consider other possibilities, including magical influences and the unsettling behavior of the mysterious, finely crafted mirrors that the late queen had brought with her from her homeland. Before long, Anja finds herself pulled into a hidden world that seems to defy all logic and her training, but it might be the key to unlocking what is ailing Snow.
Though “Snow White reimagining” is what it says in the blurb, Hemlock & Silver is in fact quite sparse when it comes to elements from the original fairy tale. Instead, it hones in on the concept of a magic mirror and turns it on its head in a very clever and original way. But because the book is more inspired by the spirit of the fairy tale rather than its storyline, I wouldn’t go so far as to call it a retelling, and prospective readers should know this going in, especially those with a soft spot for Snow White who might be expecting more faithfulness to the plot.
Still, what really stood out for me was the tone. As always, Kingfisher strikes a great balance between dark and unsettling themes, with just the right amount of wit to take the edge off. The pacing was spot-on throughout, and you know how I often nitpick slow beginnings, but even the early chapters of Hemlock & Silver stole my attention as we got to know Anja and how her unusual fascination with poisons began. She’s also a classic Kingfisher protagonist: smart, socially awkward, and just a tad too hard on herself. But there’s no doubting her deep commitment to her calling, and that passion is infectious. I always appreciate a competent main character, and Anja absolutely fits the bill.
The world-building was also fantastic, particularly the quiet presence of the animal saints in the background, whose lore added depth to the setting. That said, once we reached halfway point of the story and the mirror element took center stage, I did find myself struggling to fully grasp some of the mechanics. Whether due to the limited explanations or the rather vague descriptions, it wasn’t always easy to visualize how things were working, and occasionally I felt a little lost in the details.
But like I said, even though Hemlock & Silver isn’t my favorite T. Kingfisher novel, I genuinely don’t think she’s capable of writing a bad book—and this one still hit all the right notes for me. It’s a strong entry in the fairy tale inspired fantasy genre: a little weird and a little creepy, but also clever and funny, and best of all, deeply satisfying in the way it weaves together science and magic. If you’re a fan of Kingfisher’s work, or offbeat fantasy and clever takes on folklore in general, you need to pick this up.
Book Review: The Enchanted Greenhouse by Sarah Beth Durst
Posted on August 6, 2025 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 Enchanted Greenhouse by Sarah Beth Durst
Mogsy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Genre: Fantasy, Romance
Series: Book 2 of The Spellshop
Publisher: Bramble (July 15, 2025)
Length: 384 pages
I was so excited when I found out about Sarah Beth Durst’s plans for a companion novel to The Spellshop. A return to the world of one of my favorite books with a new cozy tale of magic and romance? Yes, please! Of course, you can still dive in if you are a newcomer, but those familiar with the first book will recognize the parable of Terlu Perna, a researcher at the Great Library of Alyssium who was turned into a statue for her use of unsanctioned magic. But she whose name was once just a cautionary tale now gets to have her own story of second chances and redemption in The Enchanted Greenhouse.
It begins with the crime and its punishment. A dejected but not entirely regretful Terlu is found guilty of illegally casting a spell to bring a spider plant to life (Caz!) and is sentenced to imprisonment as a statue. For how long, she doesn’t know, but she is only vaguely aware of time passing while her consciousness was locked into her wooden form. Then one day, light! And air! Terlu suddenly finds herself freed and back in her flesh form, but her surroundings are completely alien to her. She’s cold, confused, and all alone on a frigid little island, and all she can see around her are what appears to be a number of greenhouses containing dozens upon dozens of colorful and exotic plant species.
Soon, however, Terlu meets the island’s sole inhabitant, and apparently the one who had set her free. Yarrow, the taciturn caretaker of the greenhouses, was somehow under the impression that Terlu could help him restore the magic needed to maintain his plants, becoming disappointed when he learns she’s not who he thought she was. Still, he offers her sanctuary and promises to keep her presence a secret from the authorities, and in turn, Terlu resolves to help him figure out why the magic on the island is failing. After all, she is a librarian, and there’s no problem that can’t be tackled with a little research, some resourcefulness, and a lot of persistence—even if it means breaking the law again.
In true cozy romantasy fashion, The Enchanted Greenhouse gives our characters a second chance to find purpose, community, and perhaps even love. The focus of the narrative isn’t on conflict, and if there are any tensions at all, they lie in the smaller, more personal challenges. And it’s impossible not to be charmed here. Durst has an impressive stylistic range, mastering any genre with confidence and ease. Every book I’ve read by her has showcased a different strength, and she glides like a pro into this one, fully embracing the warmth and comfiness without sacrificing the emotions.
Speaking of which, the romance between Terlu and Yarrow is appropriately slow-burn, and awkward in all the cutest ways. Imagine two people with complicated pasts, both afraid of letting their feelings out because they have been hurt before. Calling it chemistry doesn’t feel right, exactly—maybe more of a stable equilibrium that’s constantly in balance, deepening slowly through shared kindness and purpose.
That said, The Enchanted Greenhouse is not without its flaws. The lighter plot is a doubled-edged sword, delivering a low-stakes experience that readers can kick back and relax with, but at times the pacing does grow too sluggish, especially when for the longest time it’s just Yarrow and Terlu on the island (the talking plants don’t really count when they are mostly there for comic relief and whimsy). Yarrow can sometimes be too impassive, leaving Terlu to do the heavy lifting when it comes to relationship dynamics. This might be why, despite sharing a world with The Spellshop, this installment doesn’t quite deliver the same emotional impact. Where The Spellshop featured a strong narrative hook riding on richer interactions with outside forces, The Enchanted Greenhouse focuses more on waging quiet internal battles with deep-seated doubts related to isolation and unresolved familial tensions.
And yet, I still love this world which continues to feel lived-in and full of vivid characters and wondrous magic. Despite it being slower and having slightly less of a pull than The Spellshop, The Enchanted Greenhouse offers a cozy, introspective return to a familiar and beloved setting. If you want to enjoy a low-key afternoon reading about the joys of small moments and personal growth, I recommend this gentle fantasy with a big heart.
More on the BiblioSanctum:
Review of The Spellshop (Book 1)
Book Review: The Library at Hellebore by Cassandra Khaw
Posted on August 2, 2025 11 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 Library at Hellebore by Cassandra Khaw
Mogsy’s Rating: 2.5 of 5 stars
Genre: Horror
Series: Stand Alone
Publisher: Nightfire (July 22, 2025)
Length: 288 pages
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Time for another unpopular opinion, but despite the love I have for the dark academia genre, The Library at Hellebore didn’t really work for me—and for a pretty fundamental reason: I just couldn’t connect with the main character! While other aspects of the book had a lot of promise, if I’m struggling to get a bead on the people living through it all, then everything else tends to get lost, simple as that.
Story-wise, the novel takes place at the titular Hellebore Technical Institute, which actually is a prison disguised as a school for the magically gifted who are simply too dangerous to be allowed to roam free. Our protagonist, Alessa Li, is one such individual, forcibly enrolled after a violent incident involving her abusive stepfather. Here, she and her fellow students are supposed to be contained for the duration of their “rehabilitation,” where they learn to control their powers safely until they are deemed “normal” enough to return to the outside world. But one year later, instead of the freedom they were hoping for, Alessa and her peers find themselves hunted down on graduation day as Hellebore’s faculty quite literally begin attacking and devouring the student body.
As a bloodbath ensues, Alessa and seven of her classmates manage to flee to the school’s library and barricade themselves inside. But even then, they are not safe—for they have completely forgotten about the Librarian lurking in the stacks, whose hunger is just as deadly as the rest of the faculty’s. Trapped between the horrors outside and the monster within, the group of students are forced into an unthinkable bargain in order to survive: offer a human sacrifice each night, or risk being consumed themselves.
First, let’s start with the positives. The Library at Hellebore delivers an atmosphere that is both gorgeous and grotesque. If you’ve read the author before, you know how it goes; Khaw’s writing is always sharp and visceral and a little surreal, which pairs well with the book’s descent into body horror. It’s not an easy style, but it does a good job immersing the reader into the chaos and dread of Hellebore’s world. I also appreciated the novel’s unique angle on the well-tread dark academia genre especially when it was filtered through the distinctive tone of the writing, which helped convey the nightmarish nature of the setting.
Next, the so-so: While not completely deal-breaking, I was not crazy about the dual timeline structure alternating between Alessa’s early days at Hellebore and the present-day siege. Yes, it helped with building tensions as the two narratives gradually converged, but ultimately it was uneven and distracting, structurally damaging its own impact. We are also forced to learn the characters and the ins-and-outs of the school up front, making it feel like you’re always falling behind.
Another thing I was ambivalent about was Khaw’s actual prose, which was a little too purple in places. Every paragraph felt like it was dressed up to be a showpiece, packed with layers of pretentious metaphors and obscure vocabulary. Likewise, it was as if every big idea needed to be communicated in some profound, performative way, which didn’t actually make the story seem smarter—just harder to follow. At times, I found myself thinking, had everything just been stated plainly, maybe the reading experience would have been smoother and felt a lot less like it was trying to be an advanced lit course.
And now, what didn’t work for me at all: characters, characters, characters! As a protagonist, Alessa was honestly insufferable, vacillating between nihilism and self-righteousness with zero nuance. From the very beginning, I just wanted to tell her to get over herself. Then there were the others trapped in the library with her. Right now, I can’t remember a single one of their names to save my life or even describe any of their personalities, because they left so little impression. Despite the diversity in the cast, none of them felt genuine or emotionally real, and that’s what I really care about—not what their identity labels are or what kind of fancy powers they have.
In the end, perhaps the most frustrating part of all is this: on paper, The Library at Hellebore should have hit it out of the park. There was so much about it that I should have loved, and yet it fell flat. Bold and bloody it might be, but there was just no spark there to truly capture my attention, no strong characters to carry the narrative, and not enough cohesion to ground the worldbuilding or storytelling. Not going to lie, I probably would have DNF’ed this one had it not been such a quick read at less than 300 pages, so there was that, but I sadly still came away disappointed. I’m thinking that Cassandra Khaw just might not be for me.
Book Review: Bald-Faced Liar by Victoria Helen Stone
Posted on July 30, 2025 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.
Bald-Faced Liar by Victoria Helen Stone
Mogsy’s Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Genre: Thriller, Suspense
Series: Stand Alone
Publisher: Lake Union Publishing (June 17, 2025)
Length: 300 pages
Author Information: Website
As you can probably guess from the title, Bald-Faced Liar by Victoria Helen Stone is a psychological thriller that explores the slippery nature of truth. But while there’s plenty of like here, especially in the way the author plays with identity and secrecy, this novel wasn’t quite as sharp or suspenseful as I’d hoped it would be.
Set along the sunny coast of Santa Cruz, Bald-Faced Liar follows a woman of many different identities. It’s why she’s grateful to be called Elizabeth, a versatile name that lends itself to countless nicknames and is common enough to allow her to fly under the radar on google searches. For most of her life she’s been on the run from her past, drifting from one city to the next, reinventing a new life for herself every time she moves. In Santa Cruz, she can blend in among the never-ending supply of tourists, whom Elizabeth also takes a certain voyeuristic pleasure watching from afar. Learning their names, scrolling through their social media feeds, and piecing together their dramas, she thrives on imagining the lives of others because her self-imposed detachment keeps her from participating in normal interactions herself.
Still, there’s a certain charm to her new home, and against her nature and better judgment, thoughts begin to creep in about putting down roots here permanently. After all, life is good, and dare she hopes she’s finally escaped the long shadow of her past? However, this sense of peace does not last. Cracks start to form in the carefully constructed illusion of her existence when she realizes someone is watching her. At first, it’s subtle—an anonymous online attack meant to sabotage her at work, followed by threatening messages in the mail. But soon, these incidents begin to escalate into more dangerous territory, causing Elizabeth to fear for her life. With no one to turn to—she’s lied to too many people for too long— she wonders if everything she’s been running from has finally caught up with her.
With such an eccentric protagonist, it’s safe to say that Bald-Faced Liar is the kind of story that runs on the strength of its quirky character work. When the book opens, we literally meet Elizabeth in a tight spot, eavesdropping on her neighbors and delighting in the scandalous details of their lives. From the start, it’s clear that while Elizabeth may appear outwardly ordinary, there’s something deeply broken beneath the surface. Her obsession with spying on others and the thrill she gets from uncovering their intimate secrets point to some unresolved trauma from her childhood. In fact, throughout the early chapters, the subject keeps popping up, leading readers to question: What exactly did she do to result in all the paranoia and constant lying? Was it something scandalous, a crime of some sort, or perhaps even something unforgiveable? At this point, all we know is that whatever it was, it turned her into a pariah and set her on her nomadic path.
On the story front, the novel also comes out strong. Because of all the questions hanging in the air, there’s a perpetual atmosphere of tension that lingers, especially as more side characters are added and the suspect list starts to grow. While none of the supporting cast are explored too deeply, admittedly this might have been a direct consequence of Elizabeth’s aloofness and guarded behavior. Regardless, several of them actually offered potential for surprising turns and red herrings. The setting of Santa Cruz also added a lot flavor, and the author did a good job of bringing the quintessential California beach town to life, making it easy to see why Elizabeth loved living here so much.
That said, the excellent setup of a slippery heroine caught in a web of paranoia eventually unravels under the weight of its own twisty plotline and shifting character tones. Take Elizabeth, whose moral ambiguity made her a fascinating study for the first half of the novel when you were never quite sure whether to hate her or root for her. But as the truth gradually came to light, it turned out the big bad reveal wasn’t nearly as damning as it was made out to be—at least, not to me. In fact, many readers would probably feel sympathy for Elizabeth, or, at the very least, not hold anything against her. Personally, I found her much more intriguing when I had a more conflicted response towards her. I hate to say it, but once her backstory filled out, she became less of an enigma, falling into a more familiar and clichéd role.
I also thought the ending overstayed its welcome just a little. After delivering a satisfying punch at the climax, the book probably should have wrapped up quickly on a high note, yet the extended denouement dragged on just enough to feel a bit silly, undercutting the tensions that the story had worked so hard to build.
Other parts of Bald-Faced Liar will strain your ability to suspend disbelief, but despite some hiccups along the way, this book still has a lot going for it. The writing is sharp and witty, and the pacing moves well. The story never forgets to stay entertaining, even when it’s straying into the absurd. It’s a thriller that walks a fine line between dark suspense and character-driven drama, resulting in a mixed bag for sure, but an interesting one.
DNF Round-Up
Posted on July 25, 2025 13 Comments
Apparently, my last DNF Round-Up post was all the way back in January, and I was really hoping I wouldn’t need to write another one this year. But then summer hit. Up until a couple of months ago, things were actually going pretty well on the reading front, but there’s just something about the season that just makes it so much harder to be patient. Whether I’m lounging poolside in the sun or stuck in an airport during a long layover during my vacation, I expect my reading material to deliver. So if a book isn’t entertaining enough or matching my mood, it’s “See ya!”
With that caveat in place, please take my opinions with a grain of salt. It’s possible you might enjoy these books for the very reasons I didn’t. Regardless, I find it helps me greatly to process my reading experiences to to articulate why a book didn’t click for me. So that’s where these DNF reviews come in.
I received review copies from the publisher(s). This does not affect the contents of my reviews and all opinions are my own.
Go Luck Yourself by Sara Raasch
Mogsy’s Rating: DNF
Genre: Fantasy, Romance
Series: Book 2 of Royals and Romance
Publisher: Bramble (March 11, 2025)
Length: 320 pages
Each book in the Royals and Romance series revolves around a different holiday kingdom. So think Houses of Christmas, Easter, Halloween, etc., all infused with magical realism and festive flair. In Go Luck Yourself, someone’s been draining the magic from Christmas, and the only lead points to St. Patrick’s Day. To get to the bottom of it, Prince Kris heads to Ireland on a diplomatic mission only to find himself face-to-face wth his rival, Prince Lochlann. But as the two are forced to work together, the last thing Kris expected was to fall for Lochlann, but of course that is exactly what happens. Although I really enjoyed the concept and thought the setup was fun, this just wasn’t my up of tea. Quirky, contemporary rom-coms are tough enough for me to get into even when they have a fantasy bent, but this one just leaned too hard into cutesy for my tastes. The main characters also came across as shallow and immature. In the end, none of it was clicking for me, but I can see the appeal for readers who enjoy a light, tropey queer rivals-to-lovers romance.
Notes From a Regicide by Isaac Fellman
Mogsy’s Rating: DNF
Genre: Science Fiction
Series: Stand Alone
Publisher: Tor Books (April 15, 2025)
Length: 336 pages
In Notes from a Regicide, Griffon Keming is left reeling after the death of his second parents—the ones who rescued him from abuse, supported his transition, and tried to offer him love despite the weight of their own pasts. After a bloody revolution, all Griffon has left of his father are the journal entries he wrote in prison before his execution. Searching them for clues, he begins to unravel the family’s complicated history. Dang, not much to say about this one other than the fact I was so very bored. It’s a shame, because the prose is beautiful, if a bit dry. Unfortunately, there’s just not much room to appreciate the writing, characters, world-building, or anything else when all I could think about was how little enjoyment I was getting. This might be the slowest paced book I’ve read all year, and it was a relief to abandon it.
Mogsy’s Rating: DNF
Genre: Horror, Science Fiction
Series: Stand Alone
Publisher: Nightfire (May 6, 2025)
Length: 480 pages
When Stasia Miller was three years old, she wandered into the woods and was consumed by a strange alien plant. Days later, a little girl who looks and sounds just like Stasia reappears, claiming she’s an alien and warning that her people will one day invade Earth. Naturally, no one believes her…until years later, when a mysterious signal from space confirms that the armada is, in fact, on its way. And I had such high hopes for this novel! After all, I love plant-based horror. But honestly, I don’t think I’ve read a slower alien invasion story in my life. By the halfway point, Stacia and her group of annoying friends were still puttering around aimlessly with no sign of any real action on the horizon. To make matters worse, the book’s social messaging was so heavy-handed and in-your-face, I was genuinely shocked that an author of Mira Grant/Seanan McGuire’s caliber would let her storytelling get away from her like that, even if she does have a reputation for not always being subtle. Either way, Overgrowth did not deliver anything it promised. I gave it way more time than I normally would to turn things around, but eventually I just had to throw in the towel.
Audiobook Review: Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V.E. Schwab
Posted on July 24, 2025 9 Comments
I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.
Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V.E. Schwab
Mogsy’s Rating (Overall): 4 of 5 stars
Genre: Fantasy, Historical Fiction
Series: Stand Alone
Publisher: Macmillan Audio (June 10, 2025)
Length: 18 hrs and 26 mins
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Narrators: Julia Whelan, Katie Leung, Marisa Calin
Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil is not your typical vampire novel. Although V.E. Schwab has always been known for blending her elegant prose with dark themes, this latest release feels like one of her most personal and ambitious works to date. It’s gothic, it’s moody, and very much character-driven, at times giving me a feminist version of Interview with the Vampire vibes. A slow-simmering story spanning centuries, Schwab’s latest focuses on power, womanhood, and the many forms of hunger that drive us.
The story unfolds across three timelines. The first of these begins in 1530s Spain, where we meet a young woman named Maria. Tired of being trapped in a suffocating life of obligation, she devises a plan to escape her insular village by marrying into a noble family, only to discover that her new life is just another kind of prison. Soon, however, she meets a stranger who offers her a different path—one that turns her into something more than human.
Another storyline takes us to 1820s London, where young Charlotte is cast out by her parents after being caught in a scandal involving her childhood best friend. Sent to live with her aunt in the city, she is expected to learn the proper ways of etiquette and quietly earn her way back into the fold. But while observing the older girls prepare for their debuts. Charlote catches the eye of Sabine, an elegant widow and influential Spanish countess who has seamlessly embedded herself into English high society. When Sabine offers to take her under her wing, Charlotte, captivated by the older woman’s charm and worldliness, finds herself quickly swept into her orbit.
The third and final storyline belongs to Alice, who lives in present-day Boston. After a night out on the town, which ends in a romantic encounter with a magnetic stranger, she wakes up alone, confused, and no longer human. But unlike Maria and Charlotte before her, Alice was not given a choice in her transformation. Deeply unsettled and furious at the violation, she sets out on a relentless quest to track down the woman responsible, determined to reclaim her autonomy in a world that now feels disturbingly unfamiliar and dangerous.
Though separated by time and place, each of these three women—Maria, Charlotte, and Alice—all share a common desire: freedom, and a chance to walk the path they choose. Yet as the stories of their lives unfold, it becomes clear that the cost of that freedom is steep and often comes with sacrifice. That said, it didn’t seem as though building an elaborate saga where all the pieces eventually clicked into place was a part of Schwab’s initial goal. Instead, the focus feels more individualistic, allowing each of her characters to fully take over her own storyline, give voice to her own experiences, and offer perspective to her own struggles.
Personally, I found this approach both wonderful and, at times, a little difficult. There’s no question that the author’s writing is at its best when she’s writing character studies and exploring their internal lives. It’s why The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is one of my all-time favorite books. But essentially giving that richly drawn treatment to no less than three protagonists in a single novel does ask a lot of the reader, and as a result, its structure sometimes breaks the overall flow. It didn’t help that I just recently finished Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s The Bewitching, a book built along a similar framework, featuring three women over multi-generational timelines. And so, for me, it was not surprising that both books also stumbled over some of the same issues, namely the occasional slow spot, interrupted momentum, and a touch of emotional disconnection.
Still, there’s no denying the artistry of Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil as a whole. While all three protagonists were powerhouses in their own way, I was most drawn to Maria but the least interested in Alice. And that’s the beauty of the book. Each reader will likely connect with a different woman in the story, for their own reasons. Schwab gives each of her characters their own space to inhabit, trusting that they will speak for themselves, whether it’s Maria expressing her defiance, Charlotte her longing, or Alice her fury.
In the end, I enjoyed Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil and found it to be a resonant read. A special mention goes to the audiobook edition, which is truly outstanding. Performed by Julia Whelan, Katie Leung, and Marisa Calin, the audiobook makes each woman’s voice feel distinct and authentic. The narrators capture really well the tone, cadences, and accents of their characters living in their respective eras and locales, making the experience incredibly immersive. If you enjoy audiobooks, this one’s worth a listen. And if you like atmospheric, character-driven vampire tales with an immersive historical backdrop, this novel is worth your time.
Audiobook Review: Never Flinch by Stephen King
Posted on July 21, 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.
Mogsy’s Rating (Overall): 3.5 of 5 stars
Genre: Suspense, Thriller
Series: Book 4 of Holly Gibney
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio (May 27, 2025)
Length: 14 hrs and 44 mins
Author Information: Website
Narrators: Jessie Mueller, Stephen King
When Never Flinch was first teased as Holly Gibney’s return, I was immediately hyped. Over the course of the several books, from the Mr. Mercedes trilogy (that I binged last summer) to The Outsider and Holly, she’s quietly wormed her way into my heart and become one of my favorite Stephen King characters.
In this story, Holly has fully stepped into the role of seasoned private investigator, when her friend Izzy Jaynes on the police force reaches out with a unique and disturbing case that has them stumped. A mysterious letter had been sent to the station anonymously, and its writer promised to commit fourteen calculated killings as revenge for an innocent man murdered in prison. Intrigued, Holly agrees to help investigate on the side, especially when the body count begins to rise as feared.
Meanwhile, in another part of the country, feminist author and motivational speaker Kate McKay is on the road promoting her new book when she starts receiving a string of threatening messages. When the threats begin escalating toward something more dangerous, Kate’s assistant Corrie Anderson calls up Holly to see if she would be interested in a bodyguard gig while the book tour is in town, and maybe possibly help them catch their stalker.
With Holly already knee-deep in two investigations, things only get busier as Buckeye City gears up for the arrival of soul legend Sista Bessie, in town as part of her comeback tour. Naturally, Holly’s close friends, the Robinson siblings, are pulled into the action, with Jerome lending a hand to help with the event while Barbara takes on an even more involved role, collaborating with Bessie for a special on-stage performance. Between concert preparations and the upcoming police-versus-firefighters baseball fundraiser game—all while a serial killer is on the loose—the city’s attention is pulled in all directions. However, these two events will prove to become more than just background noise, forming the focal point where threads from both of Holly’s cases end up colliding in spectacular fashion.
Personally, I really enjoyed Never Flinch, but it was nowhere close to being King’s best. Still, the storytelling was as ever compelling, building a solid sense of tension with the multiple plotlines running in tandem. As someone who has been following Holly’s growth through the works she’s appeared in, I found it satisfying to see how far she’s come with her character development. She feels more confident, capable, and fully in control, which made me all the most invested in the cases she was juggling. Even when the narrative meandered, I was always eager to see how she would piece everything together.
So perhaps that was also why I found myself growing frustrated with some of the other perspectives, which occasionally felt overstuffed. For example, Corrie and Kate’s chapters stretched on for a while without moving the novel forward in meaningful ways, and I often caught myself impatient for the momentum to return elsewhere, preferably with Holly. Instead, we got more of the same with the Barbara and Sista Bessie subplot, which often dragged more than it added, feeling disconnected from the main thrust of the dual investigations. Plus, it didn’t help that there wasn’t much of a mystery, since the identities of both perpetrators were known early on and were even given POV chapters. At times, it felt less like King was building suspense and more like he was ruminating on themes and mood, thus undercutting the tension and pacing.
However, the novel’s afterword does shed some light. King was apparently recovering from hip surgery while writing this book, and during that time, it underwent multiple rewrites. That context could explain some of the uneven stops and starts, and the meandering sections that didn’t always resonate.
That said, while Never Flinch might not be a Stephen King masterpiece, it is still a solid and satisfying thriller. With its strong lead and the excitement of dual mysteries, this one kept me interested despite its pacing hiccups. And one highlight that definitely did not disappoint was the audiobook. Narrator Jessie Mueller was incredible, delivering one of the best performances I’ve ever had the pleasure of listening to. And boy, can she sing! Her narration elevated the story, making it a must-listen if you are a King fan and enjoy audiobooks.
The BiblioSanctum 