Mini Thoughts
Hello, all!
One of my favorite aspects of the previous book was its atmosphere, and Morris continued to nail it here. It has all the Gothic, spooky vibes you could want, plus it blends historical mystery and fantasy together in such a cool way. It also has a 'monster-of-the-week' feel that I love. I enjoyed learning more about our two MCs, Sam and Hel, and seeing their relationship develop (it's one for the slow-burn fans.) I liked how Morris incorporated Celtic myth and folklore into the plot. You could tell how much research must've gone into the work to get the story just so. However, it didn't capture my attention as fully as I'd hoped, but I still liked seeing Morris bring it all together. It's not a new favorite, but I would still recommend checking out the series.
This might be a bit of a hot take, but this book is just fine. I've had it on my TBR for so long, and I'm glad I finally picked it up, but I didn't love it nearly as much as everyone else seemed to. There were some elements I enjoyed, such as the writing. I had been putting off reading Wang's books because I thought they would be daunting, but her writing was surprisingly digestible. I read the majority in one sitting because it was so easy to just keep flipping the pages. I also found the setting and magic system very interesting. My main gripe with it was that I didn't particularly like Sciona at all, though I appreciated her complexities. I was way more invested in Thomil and his background. This story tackled a number of important themes, and I do think it was well-crafted; however, I just wasn't as invested in it as I had hoped to be.
I was worried that, given the setting and older characters, this would lean more on the cozier side, but it absolutely did not. Fracassi didn't shy away from the gory, gruesome bits, and I appreciated it. The initial chapters, which focused on introducing Rose's daily routine and her relationships at Autumn Springs, felt a bit slow, but once the first few incidents occurred, the story quickly hit its stride, and I was hooked. Rose was such a capable main character, and I liked watching her ferret out clues. She was clever and did what needed to be done even when she was afraid. I thought the mystery was well done and threw me for a loop. I thought I knew where Fracassi was taking it, but I was so wrong. I would've liked to learn more about the killer's motivations, but I was still satisfied with the ending. I highly recommend checking this out if you're a fan of slashers.
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| Pub Date: 3-17-26 Adult - Historical Fantasy |
Wayward Souls- Susan J. Morris: Samantha Harker and Dr. Helena Moriarty may come from illustrious families, but they've made names for themselves working at the Royal Society for the Study of Abnormal Phenomena. Sam is more fond of the research side of things, but got a taste of field work while assisting Hel on a previous case. It also led to the Society distrusting the pair, but they've been given another chance to prove their loyalties when they're assigned a case in Ireland to uncover the mysterious disappearance of two fellow agents. Only this time, the pair will be accompanied by Jakob Van Helsing to oversee them. Their investigation takes them all over Ireland, and as Sam and Hel's connection grows deeper, so do the secrets between them. Hel is haunted by the sins she committed in her father's name, while Sam is plagued by death omens that mark her as the next victim. Can Sam and Hel uncover the truth before it's too late?
One of my favorite aspects of the previous book was its atmosphere, and Morris continued to nail it here. It has all the Gothic, spooky vibes you could want, plus it blends historical mystery and fantasy together in such a cool way. It also has a 'monster-of-the-week' feel that I love. I enjoyed learning more about our two MCs, Sam and Hel, and seeing their relationship develop (it's one for the slow-burn fans.) I liked how Morris incorporated Celtic myth and folklore into the plot. You could tell how much research must've gone into the work to get the story just so. However, it didn't capture my attention as fully as I'd hoped, but I still liked seeing Morris bring it all together. It's not a new favorite, but I would still recommend checking out the series.
Rating: 3/5
*Big thanks to the publisher for the copy!
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| Pub Date: 7-25-23 Adult - Fantasy |
Blood Over Bright Haven- M. L. Wang: Sciona has only ever had one goal in mind: to become the first woman ever admitted to the High Magistry. She's spent years dedicated to studying magic, determined to prove that she is just as capable, if not more so, than her male colleagues. When Sciona gets the opportunity to become a highmage, she finds her challenges have just begun. Sciona is dismissed and ridiculed at every turn and given a janitor instead of a qualified lab assistant. Despite the hurdles thrown her way, Sciona's will never falters, and when she discovers there is more to her new assistant, Thomil, than meets the eye, she decides to use his knowledge to her advantage. Through their tenuous collaboration, the pair uncover dark secrets that will change the course of magic in their land forever.
This might be a bit of a hot take, but this book is just fine. I've had it on my TBR for so long, and I'm glad I finally picked it up, but I didn't love it nearly as much as everyone else seemed to. There were some elements I enjoyed, such as the writing. I had been putting off reading Wang's books because I thought they would be daunting, but her writing was surprisingly digestible. I read the majority in one sitting because it was so easy to just keep flipping the pages. I also found the setting and magic system very interesting. My main gripe with it was that I didn't particularly like Sciona at all, though I appreciated her complexities. I was way more invested in Thomil and his background. This story tackled a number of important themes, and I do think it was well-crafted; however, I just wasn't as invested in it as I had hoped to be.
Rating: 3/5
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| Pub Date: 9-30-25 Adult - Thriller |
The Autumn Springs Retirement Home Massacre- Philip Fracassi: Rose DuBois lives a quiet, albeit uneventful, life at Autumn Springs Retirement Home. Her days are full of cups of tea, catching up with friends, and the occasional double feature in the rec center. When one of her friends passes away in their apartment, Rose is saddened but not very shocked-- they are all in their sundown years, after all. But then another body turns up, and then another, and Rose grows suspicious. Along with her best friend, Miller, Rose begins investigating and quickly determines that a killer is on the loose. But when those closest to her are targeted, Rose knows she only has a limited time to uncover the culprit before ending up their next victim.
I was worried that, given the setting and older characters, this would lean more on the cozier side, but it absolutely did not. Fracassi didn't shy away from the gory, gruesome bits, and I appreciated it. The initial chapters, which focused on introducing Rose's daily routine and her relationships at Autumn Springs, felt a bit slow, but once the first few incidents occurred, the story quickly hit its stride, and I was hooked. Rose was such a capable main character, and I liked watching her ferret out clues. She was clever and did what needed to be done even when she was afraid. I thought the mystery was well done and threw me for a loop. I thought I knew where Fracassi was taking it, but I was so wrong. I would've liked to learn more about the killer's motivations, but I was still satisfied with the ending. I highly recommend checking this out if you're a fan of slashers.
Rating: 4/5
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