October Bucket List Check-in Week 3

Welcome to the third check-in post for the October Bucket List. What have you ticked off the list so far? Leave a comment letting me know what you’ve done so far. If you’re keeping tabs on your blog, please leave a link in the comments where we can visit and check out your post.

Haven’t ticked anything off yet? No worries, this isn’t race, it’s about having fun and finding the adventure in the smallest of things. You still have time left.

If you’re just now hearing about the October Bucket List and want to join in, check out the post here! 

October Bucket List Check-In Week 2

Welcome to the second check-in post for the October Bucket List. What have you ticked off the list so far? Leave a comment letting me know what you’ve done so far. If you’re keeping tabs on your blog, please leave a link in the comments where we can visit and check out your post.

Haven’t ticked anything off yet? No worries, this isn’t race, it’s about having fun and finding the adventure in the smallest of things. You still have time left.

If you’re just now hearing about the October Bucket List and want to join in, check out the post here! 

O Caledonia by Elspeth Barker

Janet lies murdered beneath the castle stairs, attired in her mother’s black lace wedding dress, lamented only by her pet jackdaw…

​Author Elspeth Barker masterfully evokes the harsh climate of Scotland in this atmospheric gothic tale that has been compared to the works of the Brontës, Edgar Allan Poe, and Edward Gorey. Immersed in a world of isolation and loneliness, Barker’s ill-fated young heroine Janet turns to literature, nature, and her Aunt Lila, who offers brief flashes of respite in an otherwise foreboding life. People, birds, and beasts move through the background in a tale that is as rich and atmospheric as it is witty and mordant. The family’s motto—Moriens sed Invictus (Dying but Unconquered)—is a well-suited epitaph for wild and courageous Janet, whose fierce determination to remain steadfastly herself makes her one of the most unforgettable protagonists in contemporary literature.

Publisher: Scribner  | Genre: Literary Fiction| Source: Purchased  | Rating: see below

I was scrolling on Book Outlet’s website when this cover caught my eye. It has a very gothic vibe and the title piqued my loved for all things Scotland. When I read the short blurb on their website calling the book, ‘a masterful gothic mystery compared to Edgar Allan Poe and the Brontë’s’, I was sold. I clicked the button and order two copies, one for me and one for my Mom, (who also loves good gothic mystery set in Scotland).

This was not the book they promised. Instead of a gothic mystery, O Caledonia is a coming-of-age story about Janet, a bookish misfit who is a little on the wild side of life, and just so happened to be murdered. While the book opens and closes with her murder, there’s no mystery that unfolds. What unfolds is the life of a young girl who is treated rather poorly by her parents and friends for no particular reason. The only person who has truly loved her, and her wildness, passed away leaving her with a jackdaw as her only friend. Why Janet’s actions are little over the top, there’s no explanation. And when explanations do come, such as the reason for Janet’s murder, they don’t really make sense and some of the situations are downright ludicrous.

O Caledonia is a very bleak book with moments of dark humor thrown in at random. While I do have to say the writing is beautiful at times, the style is overly flouncy but with no substance. It’s also narrative-driven with very little dialogue. Rather than showing you Janet’s life, the narrator is simply telling you anecdotes and is in complete control of where the story goes.

I also found no comparison to Poe or the Brontë’s. There is a hint of Dodie Smith, in that both feature post-war, coming-of-age stories set in crumbling countryside settings but Elspeth Barker is darker in tone.

I found this book hard to rate. If I’m rating it as  mystery or suspense fiction, which is how it’s catalogued with the Library of Congress, I’d have to give it a 0.5. If I’m rating it as literary fiction, I’d say it’s barely a 3. The book is a bit long-winded at times, there’s no explanation for Janet’s wild ways, it presents half a story.  

Overall, this book was a bit different. While I’m glad that I read it, I’m not sure it’s something that I would be willing to read again.

If you’re looking for something different with a darker tone that’s not spooky but fits the vibes of spooky season, this could be the book for you.

 

 

The Sunday Post for 10/05/2025

The Sunday Post is a blog news meme hosted by Kimberly @ Caffeinated Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on your blog for the week ahead. Join in weekly, bi-weekly or for a monthly wrap up.

Hello, Lovelies, and Happy Sunday, I hope you’re all doing well! It’s the first Sunday of October and it’s still so hot. It reached 98º yesterday and I’m just over the heat. They’re calling for storms on Tuesday, which should bring about a cool down. Hopefully, we finally get some fall weather next week.

 

Here’s what’s been going on this week.

 

I was down with food poisoning Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, so it was a rather rough start to the week. I was finally feeling better Thursday and I was able to finish a lengthy work project earlier than expected, which was great seeing as I have another lengthy work project starting next week. I spent Friday having a bit of a kitchen clear out and ended up filling several large garbage bags with plastic containers that I no longer use as I’ve switched over to glass. I also organized some of my baking equipment. I still need to tackle the spices and my baking supplies but I’m waiting for my containers to arrive. Saturday, I had a bit of a lazy day, which was needed.

 

Health-wise, my Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos is playing up a bit. I had a feeling it was going to since I had food poisoning. While I haven’t had any subluxations this week, my joints have been extremely loose and painful so I’ve used a lot of braces in the last couple days. By Saturday, I was completely drained and napped a lot.

 

Here’s What I’ve read this week

I finished Don’t Let Him In by Lisa Jewell (audio), The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston (print), A Dying Fall by Elly Griffiths (print).

 

Currently Reading: The Outcast Dead by Elly Griffiths and Witches of Dubious Origins by Jenn McKinlay

 

Also reading: A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness. I’ve been loving this ‘real time’ readalong and I read chapters 11-14 this week. The book completely changes once you re-read it because there’s so many things going on that some connections don’t register until you’ve read the entire series then went back and started at the beginning. I have to say that Deborah Harkness is one of my favorite authors. Her writing is just so rich and descriptive.

 

Here’s what happened on the blog last week:

 

Wisteria by Adalyn Grace (Review)

Every Vow You Break by Peter Swanson (Review)

In These Hallowed Halls: A Dark Academia Anthology Edited by Marie O’Regan and Paul Kane (Review)

Hemlock by Kiersten Modglin (Review)

 

October Bucket List Challenge

 

Today is going to be a bit of a busy one, as it’s my Mom’s birthday and were getting together for a small celebration and dinner, but I look forward to visiting your blogs and seeing what you’ve been up to!

 

 

October Bucket List Check-In Post 1

Welcome to the first check-in post for the October Bucket List. What have you ticked off the list so far? Leave a comment letting me know what you’ve done so far. If you’re keeping tabs on your blog, please leave a link in the comments where we can visit and check out your post.

Haven’t ticked anything off yet? No worries, this isn’t race, it’s about having fun and finding the adventure in the smallest of things. You still have time left.

If you’re just now hearing about the October Bucket List and want to join in, check out the post here! 

Hemlock by Kiersten Modglin

She thought she’d escaped her poisonous past…

Thirteen years ago, Maggie Ellis left her small town and vowed to never return. In her rearview mirror were two men she loved and an ominous secret that would forever haunt her.

Now, tragedy has brought her back, and she’s determined to forget that fateful night. But in a town like Myers, with familiar faces and chilling memories lurking around every corner, moving on is easier said than done.

Before the ink can dry on the closing documents for her new residence, Maggie begins to feel unsettled. In every room, there’s the unmistakable sensation she’s being watched. The strange sounds, odd smells, and bizarre occurrences only add to her paranoia.

There’s something sinister about her new home…

When she discovers the devastating truth about the house and its grim history, Maggie’s worst fears are realized. In order to survive, she must unearth the secrets she’d always planned to keep buried.

After all, they say that is where the heart is, but as Maggie knows, home is also where the skeletons lie.

Publisher: Dreamscape Media | Narrator: Brittany Pressley | Length: 10 h 8 min | Genre: Thriller/Romance | Source: borrowed | Rating: 3

As a thriller lover, I’m always asking for recommendations and 99% of the time Kiersten Modglin’s name is mentioned. I’ve read one of her books (A Quiet Retreat) and found it to be just an okay read. A few weeks ago, a friend of mine recommended Hemlock, which I borrowed from the Libby App.

Here’s what’s going on. After 13 years, Maggie has returned to her hometown and purchased a house that’s a bit of a fixer-upper. While she was unprepared to discover that her ex-boyfriend is her neighbor, she was even more unprepared for just how off-kilter she feels in her new house. It’s not just the odd smells and strange sounds that unnerve her but also the feeling that she’s being watched. As Maggie dives deeper into the house’s past, she starts to question everything.

I went into this book expecting more of a paranormal bend and a heavy psychological thriller feel; instead, this one was more of a romantic suspense with a slight edge of a thriller. Had I went into this one knowing it was more romance-based, I think I would have enjoyed it more than I did.

This story is told through two different timelines. We have college Maggie, a girl who has just had her heart broken by her best friend, Clayton, and starts up a ‘let’s make him jealous’ relationship with Tucker, a bartender. Then we have present day Maggie who has returned to her hometown and finds herself entwined with Clayton and Tucker again.  The only thing different in present day is the fact there’s something going on in Maggie’s house and now she has a twisted history with both men.

I struggled with the characters. Maggie and Clayton were hard to like from the start. The only solid character was Tucker and I struggled to see why he was  so loyal to Maggie.

I wasn’t a fan of this crazy love triangle, that at one point turned into a quadrangle, that was happening through the entirety of the book. I feel as though it was the dominating plot and, honestly, I was over it by the third chapter.

There were a few interesting plot points thrown in but I don’t feel as though they received the attention they deserved. Like with A Quiet Retreat, too much focus was paid to one part of the plot while the other parts were glossed over.

What kept me listening to this one was the house. While I had a feeling what was happening, I was hoping there would have been more, which there wasn’t. I also think that some of the things that happened, like Tucker being her neighbor, were a little too convenient.

I also wasn’t a fan of Brittany Pressley’s narration, which surprised me as I normally like her style. I think it was more so the character was annoying.

If you go into this one viewing it as a romantic suspense, I think you’ll enjoy the book. Had it been labeled that, some of the issues I had with it wouldn’t have bothered me as much, which is why I’m rating this a 3.

Overall, there was a lot going on in this one but nothing really happened. I think it could have been shorter. Now that I’ve read two books by this author, I feel as though my complaints have been similar with both books. I’ll probably give the author one more go since she’s constantly recommended.

In These Hallowed Halls: A Dark Academia Anthology Edited by Marie O’Regan and Paul Kane

A beguiling, sinister collection of 12 dark academia short stories from masters of the genre, including Olivie Blake, M.L. Rio, Susie Yang and more!

 

In these stories, dear student, retribution visits a lothario lecturer; the sinister truth is revealed about a missing professor; a forsaken lover uses a séance for revenge; an obsession blooms about a possible illicit affair; two graduates exhume the secrets of a reclusive scholar; horrors are uncovered in an obscure academic department; five hopeful initiates must complete a murderous task and much more!

Publisher: Titan Books  | Genre: Dark Academia/ Anthology  | Source: Publisher | Rating: see below

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I picked this one up. It was sent to me a few years ago, I wasn’t sure if I was going to read it then I ended up needing to read one of the stories for  a work event ,so I decided to finish the entire anthology.

Given that this was labeled as ‘Dark Academia’ I was expecting the stories to actually fit within that label. Yeah, I was wrong. Out of the 12 stories, only 3 of them are actual ‘Dark Academia’ stories. Just because they feature a student, member of faculty, a school/university setting doesn’t make them dark academia. There’s a difference between dark academia as an aesthetic and dark academia as a literary subgenre and I think that a lot of authors are getting the two confused.

While I do recommend 3 of the stories (Phobos, The Department of Ontography, and The Hare and the Hound), I’m struggling to recommend this book as a whole. The genres vary as does the age ranges of the stories.

My average rating for this book is a 3. If I were to rate it solely on the fact it was labeled as a ‘Dark Academia’ Anthology, then I would have to rate it a 1.5.

If you want to see a quick recap of each story and my thoughts, please see below.

Overall, this was a quick book to read but it wasn’t the best book to read. If you go into it thinking of it solely as an anthology, you would probably enjoy it more than I did. 

1,000 Ships by Kate Weinberg  (Rating: 2.5)

This is a prequel to The Truants and follows Lorna’s early days at university and her affair with a professor.

I don’t feel as though there was enough content for this to have been included in an anthology. The story doesn’t hold up on its own. There’s too many loose threads, it’s as though the short story starts in the middle of a story. As a prequel to The Truants, (I’ve not read it), I’m sure it works great but it fails for a standalone. I gave it a 2.5 because I did find it intriguing and it made me want to know more.

Pythia by Olivie Blake (Rating: 3)

Dr. Thorn is being deposed by an attorney, who she believes is seeking answers in the deaths of two students at Dephi who were working on a supercomputer. Although there’s more going on with the computer and the questioning than was first revealed.

This was a well-developed story. Normally something like this wouldn’t have been my cup of tea as I’m not in to tech type stories but this one offered enough to keep my attention.

Sabbatical by James Tate Hill (Rating: 2.75)

Tate, a professor at a struggling university, finds himself accosted by a former professor seeking out a missing professor from his days at the university. As Tate seeks answers, he gets more than he bargained for.

This was a little too long and went around in circles for a bit. Sadly, it had no real direction and felt as though the author just threw everything at the wall to see what would stick.

The Hare and the Hound by Kelly Andrew (Rating: 4)

When Bunny was 14 a fortuneteller told his destiny and, while he would have liked to have believed it was nonsense, he knew the day the rabbit crossed his path all of it was true. Now his perfectly neat life is spiraling out of control.

I enjoyed this one. It’s based off a Nordic folktale and, while I wouldn’t classify this as ‘dark academia’, it’s one of my favorites in the anthology.

X-House by J.T. Ellison (Rating: 3)

Something strange is occurring at X-House, a remote, private all-girls school, and Mia, the new teacher, is more than what she seems. Determined to get to the bottom of what’s happening, she soon finds herself a victim.

This was the first story in the anthology that fit the ‘dark academia’ genre. While this one had potential, it was a little too YA for my taste and ended up being predictable and mundane.

The Ravages by Layne Fargo (Rating: 3)

When Renee discovers her girlfriend kissing another woman, she sets out to make her appear crazy by evoking the ghost of poet, Viola Vance.

This was a decent revenge story with nice timing and a frantic tone. While it was set on campus, this still wasn’t ‘dark academia’. I do think this was one of the stronger stories in the anthology.

Four Funerals by David Bell (Rating: 2.5)

A teacher feels responsible for a school shooting so he attends the funerals of the victims.

I’m not sure what the point of the story was. While it had legs, it never fully took off. Not my favorite in the book.

The Unknowable Pleasures by Susie Yang  (Rating: 2.5)

Sophie finds herself growing obsessed with her professor but things are complicated, as the professor seems obsessed with another student. How far is Sophie willing to go?

While this did fit the ‘dark academia’ genre, the story was vague and needed a bit more meat to it. It wasn’t as memorable as some of the other stories.

Weekend at Bertie’s by M.L. Rio (Rating: 3.5)

When Lou stumbles upon her professor dead at the bottom of her basement stairs, she’s dazed until another student, Daniel, arrives and reveals just how much they can both benefit from Bertie’s death.

This was an okay read. It was better than most in the book, still not dark academia. I have to give the author credit for their nod to Weekend at Bernie’s.

The Professor of Ontography by Helen Grant (Rating 4.5)

When Phoebe stumbles upon a seemingly abandoned building on campus labeled, ‘Dept. of Ontography’, she’s immediately intrigued but finds the door locked. Unable to let her curiosity go, she and her friend, Charlie, return on a drunken night out, although Charlie is never seen again. When she returns to the university as a professor, she’s determined  to get answers, both about the mysterious department and Charlie’s disappearance.

This one has to be my favorite story in the entire book. It’s dark, creepy, and everything dark academia should be. The suspense and pacing was brilliant. Highly recommend this one. While this one was my favorite, it’s not at a 5 because I think a few things could have been explained further. This one really should have been a full-length novel.

Phobos by Tori Bovalino (Rating: 5)

Mila had one task left to finish before she’s inducted into the Order of Prometheus, a secret society that has the ability to open any door you want to walk through and clean up any mess you make along the way. Although the task she has to complete is too much to ask, but she doesn’t realize how far she’s willing to go until she’s pushed to the edge.

This was a fantastic story, one that I’m going to be thinking about long after I’ve finished the book. It’s dark academia combined with secret societies, which is the perfect blend. It has a nice even pace, rounded characters, and a somewhat open ending. This also gives the vibes of a Lifetime movie or a Christopher Pike novel.

Playing by Phoebe Wynn (Rating: 2.5)

Grace is obsessed with being the best organist around, so obsessed that people around her are starting to wonder just how far she’d go to be able to play the organ just one more time.

This was my least favorite of the book. I found both Grace and her obsession to be annoying. 

Hello October and Welcome to Blogtober 2025

Hello, My Lovelies, I hope you’re all doing fantastic. My autumn-loving heart is thrilled that it’s finally October. I’m ready for cooler temps, foggy mornings, colorful leaves, round pumpkins, and spooky stories. I have so many fun things to do and fun places to visit this month. I’m also excited that it’s the first day of Blogtober. I have so many fun posts scheduled for this month.

 

To kick off October and Blogtober, I’ve included an October Bucket List. It will also be up on my Instagram page. Feel free to grab the graphic below and join in!

My life has been exceedingly busy lately and I’ve been wanting to slow down and enjoy the little things. When I started a new junk journal in September, I decided to start it with a list of things that I wanted to do to help me slow down, if for a moment or two, and enjoy the start of fall. It was random things such as enjoy a sunset, pull out my cozy sweaters, visit the new acai place that opened in my town, and start a gratitude ritual.

They weren’t big events, but they were events that allowed me to take a minute or two and be in the moment and in the season. They allowed me moments of calm in the chaos and it was something that I wanted to carry over into October.

I decided this would be something fun to share with all of you. The prompts are not strict. You can interpret them anyway that you like.

If you want to join in on the fun, there will be a check-in post every Saturday in October.  

 

 

What are you looking forward to this October? 

 

Every Vow You Break by Peter Swanson

Abigail Baskin never thought she’d fall in love with a millionaire. Then she met Bruce Lamb. But right before the wedding, Abigail has a drunken one-night stand on her bachelorette weekend. She puts the incident—and the sexy guy who wouldn’t give her his real name—out of her mind, and now believes she wants to be with Bruce for the rest of her life.

 

Then the mysterious stranger suddenly appears—and Abigail’s future life and happiness are turned upside down. He insists that their passionate night was the beginning of something special and he’s tracked her down to prove it.

 

Does she tell Bruce and ruin their idyllic honeymoon—and possibly their marriage? Or should she handle this psychopathic stalker on her own? To make the situation worse, strange things begin to happen. She sees a terrified woman in the night shadows, and no one at the resort seems to believe anything is amiss… including her perfect new husband.

Publisher: William Morrow | Genre: Contemporary Mystery/Thriller | Source: Publisher  | Rating: 2.5 

I’ve had this one sitting on my shelf since 2021 and finally decided to pick it up and give it a go. I’ve heard that you’ll love this one or hate it and, to be honest, I’m more in the middle with a meh.

This one had the potential to be great. A woman has a one-night stand during her bachelorette party with a mysterious stranger who follows her to her honeymoon on a remote island where she encounters a terrified woman who has disappeared. Sadly, instead of being a page-turner, the book was repetitive and predictable. I also found Abigail to be an unlikable character.

Unlikable characters don’t bother me if the plot is sound. Lucy Foley writes unlikable characters but I enjoy her books immensely. In this one, I struggled with the plot, the pacing, the characters, and the believability. There’s so much time spent mentioning Abigail’s love for horror movies, but she never once questioned the things going on around her. She also has a lot of doubts about her husband, who is basically a stranger but, hey, he’s rich and going to pay off her student loans so why not marry him. Then there’s the stranger that comes along and, again, why is she not suspicious of the fact he know so much about her then followed her to an island that’s just for tech billionaires.

Overall, I struggled from the start of this one. The first third of the book is exceedingly slow and repetitive. While it did pick up the pace, it didn’t hold steady. As a mystery/thriller lover, I needed more to satisfy me as a reader. If you’re new to mysteries and thrillers, this one could work for you and I do see why that some readers loved it and others hated it. I’ve also heard that this is not Peter Swanson’s best, so if you’ve read, and enjoyed, his other books just be aware when you start this one.

 

Wisteria by Adalyn Grace

Blythe Hawthorne has never let anyone tell her what to do—not society, not her overprotective father, and certainly not the man she’s bound herself to, no matter how rude and insufferable he is. In fact, she’s determined to be a thorn in his side for the rest of her days, even as he ensures that her life in his palace is anything but a fairytale. But as Blythe discovers a new side of herself linked to his past, she’ll have to decide if she’s willing to let an unexpected spark ignite…and to discover the truth about who she really is.

 

Series: Belladonna #3 | Publisher: Little, Brown |  Genre: Romantasy | Source: Purchased | Rating: 3.25

Due to Blythe tricking Fate, she and Aris are married. They’re living, unhappily, together, bound by the rings the Fate bestowed upon them. When Blythe’s father arrives at Wisteria to check in on his daughter and her new husband, Fate/Aris must keep up the ruse that they are a happily married couple but there’s something going on with Blythe’s father and soon they find themselves back at Blythe’s childhood home and the chaos that’s going on.

This is the third and final full-length book in the Belladonna Series and I was apprehensive going into this book as the main characters have shifted from Signa and Death to Blythe and Fate/Aris. If you’ve read my previous reviews (Belladonna and Foxglove), you’ll know that Blythe wasn’t my favorite character. In the first two books she’s immature, slightly annoying, and didn’t seem a strong enough character to hold her own book. While the ending of Foxglove shown potential for Blythe’s growth, I feel like Blythe was still too weak of a character to hold her own book and I didn’t feel as though she experienced any type of character growth.

Fate/Aris was a fun and interesting character. He has a story to tell, one that’s very layered and intriguing but I don’t feel as though the author allowed him to fully tell his story. So much could have been done with Fate/Aris and I feel as though his surface was barely scratched.

I did enjoy the banter between Fate/Aris and Blythe. This was something that was formed in the second book and continued on in the third book. While their interactions were great, their chemistry was lacking. I was waiting for the moment when Fate/Aris realized just what Blythe meant to him and, when it finally came, it was lackluster.

Another thing that threw me with this book was the change in tone. The series has changed as it progressed. The first book was a solid Gothic mystery. The second was a little more on the mild side of Gothic and featured more romance and mystery. This book, the third, completely changed and I feel as though it dove headfirst into a Regency Romantasy and completely forgot that it had Gothic roots.

I feel as though the change in tone caused this book to have a slow, rough start.

As this is the final full-length book in the series, there’s a lot that this book needed to address. Unfortunately, a lot of questions went unanswered and the conclusion of the series mystery arc seemed like half an answer.

Overall, this one left me wanting more. I wanted more of the Gothic feel, more of the mystery, more chemistry, more growth, more of Fate’s story, more of everything really.

There is a novella, Holly, coming out in October, which I hope addresses more of these questions but I have a feeling it’s not going to happen. 

The Sunday Post: September 28, 2025

The Sunday Post is a blog news meme hosted by Kimberly @ Caffeinated Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on your blog for the week ahead. Join in weekly, bi-weekly or for a monthly wrap up.

Hello, Lovelies, and Happy Sunday, I hope you’re all doing fantastic. Can you believe it’s the last Sunday of September? Where did the month go? My goodness, this year is flying by.

 

I’ve been away from the blog for a bit due to health things. I thought that I was going to be back to blogging in July, but that didn’t happen. To make a long story short, I was diagnosed with Hypermobile Ehlers Danlos syndrome at the end of the last year. The last few months I’ve been having something other issues and extreme allergies along with chronic hives. Turns out, I also have Mast Cell Activation Syndrome, which goes along with HEDS. Between the doctor appointments, lab visits, and the flares, I’ve been exhausted. And let me tell you, the brain fog is real. So, that’s what’s been going on with me, I’ll probably write up a longer post sometime in the near future going into more detail.

 

Now that that’s out of the way, let’s move on to the fun stuff.

 

I stopped in at Wheatberry Books, my favorite indie bookshop. Chelsea, the owner, is so friendly and always has the best recommendations. She recommended Darcy Coates, so I picked up a copy of Gallows Hill, which was the perfect choice to kick off my spooky season reading. I also purchased Fall I Want by Lyra Parish and The League of Lady Poisoners: Illustrated True Stories of Dangerous Women by Lisa Perrin. And they’ve recently started a rewards program, so I cashed in my first reward and only paid $6 for Gallows Hill.

 

Grandpa Joe’s Candy Shop was my next visit. I went in to pick up a few of my favorite British candy bars (Flake, Curly-Wurly, and an Aero bar). Unfortunately, they didn’t have the dark chocolate Aero bar (just milk and peppermint) so I settled for the milk chocolate and forgot just how sweet they were. I think I’ll wait until I find the dark chocolate before buying an Aero bar again. I also picked up some wine gums, which I haven’t had in ages. They have a massive wall of mostly imported sodas, so I picked up a few new ones to try and some favorites. I was pleasantly surprised to see that they sold Fentimans Victorian Lemonade. If you’re a fan of tarte lemonade, I highly recommend their Victorian Lemonade. It’s very tarte but has a slight hint of pear, which gives it a hint of sweetness. It also contains an interesting blend of herbs, including juniper berries.

 

I’m also one-step closer to finishing my front yard. I ordered the decorative brick for the retaining wall, and it was promptly delivered, which surprised me. I’m just waiting on the landscaper. Because the job is relatively small, he’s going to do it in-between jobs as it shouldn’t take more than a few hours.

In cooking news, I’ve restarted my sourdough journey. It’s been a few years since I’ve went down this rabbit hole and now I have two jars of starter sitting on my counter. Today is the fourth day, and because my house is always cold, I’ve never had my starters to take off as fast as these ones have so I have a feeling I’m either going to have to stir the smaller jar down, or move it into a bigger jar. Because they were active earlier, I think I’m going to get usable discard sooner so I need to pull up a few seasonal recipes. I’m also hoping that I can find a family member or friend who will want to ‘adopt’ a jar of starter because I generally take the discard that’s not ready to be used in a recipe and turn it into another jar of starter. Two jars of sourdough starter sitting on my counter seems reasonable. Three is one jar too many. If you’ve also went down the sourdough rabbit hole, what do you do with your early discard? Do you start another starter or just toss it?

 

I’ve also been cooking a lot of fresh veggies because my great-aunt and uncle’s garden was overflowing and she keeps bringing me boxes of carrots, squash, zucchini, radishes, green beans, and bell peppers. I generally make a big roasting pan or skillet then what’s leftover I’ll blend up and freeze to use as a pasta sauce. I’ve also frozen several bags of veggies and made several containers of soup starters.

 

 

Here’s What I’m Currently Reading

 

I started The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston, and I should be finished with it by the end of today. While I’ve been enjoying Poston’s writing, I needed something to satisfy my mystery craving, so I started Dying Falls by Elly Griffiths. I’m also reading an e-arc of Witches of Dubious Origin by Jenn McKinlay and I’m loving it.

 

On audio, I have Voice of Fear by Heather Graham and Don’t Let Him In by Lisa Jewell going. I should be done with Don’t Let Him In by Monday at the latest. I think I’m going to switch to the paperback of Voice of Fear because I can’t seem to get into the audiobook.

 

I’m also re-reading A Discovery of Witches as part of the ‘real time’ readalong that Deborah Harkness is hosting. I’m really enjoying this because you read the chapters on the day that the events are occurring. I don’t often read a book over, but there’s so much going on in this series that you almost have to read the books over to catch everything that’s going on and how the events tie together.

 

What am I going to read in October?

I know that I’m going to read Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman because my Mom wants to do a buddy read, since it’s been a minute since we’ve read the same book. I also have a few arcs that I need to read but, other than that, I think I want to mood read this month.

 

What have you been up to?

The Evil Inside by Heather Graham (Krewe of Hunters #4)

For as long as it has stood overlooking New England's jagged coastline, Lexington House

has been the witness to madness and murder. But in recent years the inexplicable malice that once tormented so many has lain as silent as its victims. Until now.

 

A member of the nation's foremost paranormal forensic team, Jenna Duffy has made a career out of investigating the inexplicable. Yet nothing could prepare her for the string of slayings once again plaguing Lexington House, or for the chief suspect a boy barely old enough to drive, much less kill.

With the young man's life on the line, Jenna must team up with attorney Samuel Hall to pinpoint who or what is taking the lives of those who get too close to the past. But everything they learn brings them closer to the forces of evil stalking this tortured ground.

Series: Krewe of Hunters #4 | Narrator: Luke Daniels | Publisher: Brilliance Audio |  Length: 9 hours 2 minutes | Genre: Paranormal Romantic Suspense | Source: Purchased  | Rating: 4.5

Set in Salem, during Halloween, this riveting romantic suspense combines a mystery that dates back to the Salem Witch Trials and the modern day mystery of a young boy accused of doing horrific things. Both cases are demanding justice.

When Samuel Hall discovers Malachi, a teen boy, covered in blood, standing in the middle of the road, he knows he needs help. What Sam didn’t realize was that the teen would need legal help when he’s arrested for murdering his entire family. Although something’s not sitting right with Sam. When he reaches out to friend and retired psychologist, Jamie Duffy, who once treated Malachi, he didn’t expect Jamie to offer up the help of his niece, Jenna, who happens to be a member of a special FBI unit. Jenna is just what this case needs. Not only does she have a way of getting Malachi to open up, she also has the ability to connect with the house’s dark past as well as the ghosts that still linger. As they dig deeper into the history of Lexington House, they find themselves growing closer to the truth and each other.

If you’ve read my previous reviews of this series, you’ll know that the books have had a few problems. I feel like with this book, the fourth, the series has finally found its footing. The mysteries were well developed, the investigation solid, the characters were well rounded, the romance shown, the paranormal was present, and everything was well balanced.

Sam and Jenna are my favorite couple in this series. They’re both working through some issues and they have some emotional baggage to sort through but they opened up to each other and had actual conversations, which I enjoyed. They also have a shared history; they knew each other in the past but, due to their age difference, they didn’t really rotate in each other’s orbit, so it was nice to watch their relationship develop into something more. They also had amazing chemistry and amazing banter.

The mystery and the way it ties into the past mystery was intriguing. There’s so many avenues that this case takes Sam and Jenna down and so many layers they have to sort through and it was very detailed. There’s also a lot on the line in this one as they are racing against the clock to prove Malachi’s innocence. There is a heavy paranormal element, which I was glad to see considering that this is a paranormal romantic suspense.

The pacing in this one was outstanding. It’s on from the very start and doesn’t stop until the last page. While this one was fast-paced, nothing is lacking or out of balance. It was so close to being a 5-star read but the whodunit aspect was slightly predictable and I would have like it to have been a bit harder to work out.

I will say that this one is a little gory in places. It’s not gratuitous but it’s a little more than the previous three books in the series.

Luke Daniels does a brilliant job narrating this one and I highly recommend the audiobook.

Overall, I enjoyed this one. It was the perfect combination: Salem, Halloween, Salem Witch Trials, spooky past and present mysteries, an amazing couple, and great pacing.  

The Knight and the Butcherbird and The Six Deaths of the Saint by Alix E. Harrow (short story roundup)

 

The Knight and the Butcherbird

Alix E. Harrow

 Nestled deep in the steep hills, valleys, and surrounding woodlands lies Iron Hollow, a rural community beset by demons. Such horrors are common in the outlands, where most folks die young, if they don’t turn into monsters first. But what’s causing these transformations?

 No one has the answer, not even the town’s oral historian, seventeen-year-old Shrike. And when a legendary knight is summoned to hunt down the latest beast to haunt their woods, Shrike has more reason than most to be concerned. Because that demon was her wife. And while Shrike is certain that May still recognizes her—that May is still human, somewhere beneath it all—she can’t prove it.

Determined to keep May safe, Shrike stalks the knight and his demon-hunting hawk through the recesses of the forest. But as they creep through toxic creeks and overgrown kudzu, Shrike realizes the knight has a secret of his own. And he’ll do anything to protect it.

Publisher: Amazon Original Stories | Length: 36 pages | Genre: Dystopian Fairytale/Fantasy  | Source: Kindle Unlimited  | Rating: 2

 Alix E. Harrow is hit or miss for me but so many people have been raving about this one so I had to give it ago. Unfortunately, this was a miss for me.

This one had the potential to be fantastic but it fell a bit flat. The story was okay but there needed to be more world building and backstory. I felt like I walked into an established series rather than a standalone novella. When I read a dystopian story, in this case a dystopian fairytale, I want to know the world it’s set in and how things came to be as they are. Sadly, there was nothing offered but a few tiny crumbs and I wanted to know so much more like why they chose to live in Iron Hollow, where the lifespan is short, instead of a city where the lifespan was longer.

I also struggled with Shrike. I found her selfish and her actions questionable. As for the Knight and his mystery, it was too obvious what he was concealing.

Overall, this was a quick read but left me wanting more. I don’t feel as though it contained enough information to satisfy my curiosity. I feel as though this would have been better as a full-length book rather than just 36 pages. 

The Six Deaths of the Saint

Alix E. Harrow

 

The Saint of War spares the life of a servant girl so she can fulfill her destiny as the kingdom’s greatest warrior in this short story of love and loyalty by New York Times bestselling author Alix E. Harrow.

 

Always mindful of the debt she owes, the girl finds her worth as a weapon in the hand of the Prince. Her victories make him a king, then an emperor. The bards sing her name and her enemies fear it. But the war never ends and the cost keeps rising—how many times will she repeat her own story?

 

Publisher: Amazon Original Stories | Narrator: Saskia Maarleveld | Length: 51 minutes | Genre: Fantasy | Source: Kindle Unlimited | Rating: 3

I was looking for something quick to listen to while cooking and this popped up on KU. I was a little apprehensive to dive into another short from this author but decided to chance it because it sounded intriguing.

Let me start by saying the writing is beautiful and the plot is interesting. The book follows a dying servant girl that’s been saved by the Saint of War so she can fight for a prince over and over again. It had all the right elements of a fantasy with a slight echo of Joan of Arc and unrequited love but fell a little flat.

The theme of the story is this girl discovering that she has agency but it’s bogged down by the repetitiveness. I’m not talking about the fact that she’s stuck in this never ending loop of war but rather that the author uses the same phrases over and over, which bogged down the plot given this was only 51 minutes long. I also wasn’t a fan of the change in perspective as it went from second to first. I understand why the author chose to do that but it gave the plot an off-kilter feel.

While I do feel like this could have been longer and smoother, I do feel as though the short story was complete, which is why I gave it a 3.

Overall, I’m not sure if Harrow’s short stories are for me. I think I’m a reader that wants more than what she gives.

A little sidenote: If you know your Arthurian legends, you’ll get more out of this story.  

 

The Raven Boys: The Graphic Novel by Maggie Stiefvater

Blue Sargent comes from a family of psychics. Only, she has never had the same clairvoyant abilities they had and has always felt too ordinary within the magic that surrounded her. Enter Gansey, a rich student from Aglionby, the town’s all-boys private school teeming with wealth, privilege, and trouble. Blue's always made it a point to stay away from its students, the Raven Boys.

 

But when Gansey asks her to join him and three other Raven Boys on his quest to find a long-forgotten Welsh king rumored to be sleeping beneath the mountains of their quiet Virginia town, Blue doesn’t hesitate. She jumps at the chance to finally be a part of something real and full of magic, a world she was born into yet one that always stood just out of reach. Soon enough, she’s swept into a strange and shifting world woven into theirs, one far more dangerous than anything they could have dreamt up.

 

Now reimagined as a stunning full-color graphic novel adapted by Stephanie Williams and illustrated by Sas Milledge, The Raven Boys unravels a thrilling plot around a cast of characters impossible to forget.

 Series: The Raven Cycle: The Graphic Novels #1 | Publisher: Viking |  Length: 256 pages |  Genre: Magical Realism | Source: Publisher | Rating: 4

Every once in a while, I’ll pick up a book that’s out of my comfort zone that I’ve heard raved about and, read it just for me (not to review, blog about, or post on social media) . A few years back, The Raven Boys was that book. At that time, I wasn’t reading magical realism or young adult book and I wasn’t sure if I would finish. or like, the book but I was intrigued, especially since they were searching for a lost Welsh King in the hills of Virginia. I was immediately hooked. The characters were so vivid and unique. It was part magic, part quest, part self- discovery, part dark academia, part found family, part romance, with a little secret society mixed in. I consumed the book and was eager to read more and I ended up finishing the series within a week.

When I heard that The Raven Boys was going to be turned into a graphic novel series, I was more than intrigued and, I was over the moon when I received an ARC from the publisher. As soon as this arrived in the post, I dropped everything and devoured the graphic novel in under an hour.

I was a little worried that I wouldn’t love the graphic novel the same way I loved the book due to the set up. Often times, graphic novels rearrange the narrative to fit the short format and the essence of the book is lost. I’m happy to report that the heart of The Raven Boys is still present in the graphic novel.

We still get to see Blue’s struggle with being the only non-psychic member of her family. The heavy weight she bares regarding the prophesy that if she ever kisses her true love the boy will die. The Raven Boys are still the Raven Boys. Gansey is the leader and caretaker of the group. He’s the one leading the quest to find Glendower. Ronan is still blunt, secretive, not one to run from a fight, and will be there when you need him. Noah is sweet, quiet, and loved by all who know him. Then there’s Adam, the boy with the chip on his shoulder who’s having a tough time in life and my heart still breaks for him. All of their unique characteristics remain.

While this is a quest book and Gansey and the gang are determined to find Glendower, the Welsh king, there is more to the story. We see Blue finding a place to fit in where she can find magic and people who accept her. The Raven Boys are also discovering more about each other and accepting who they are.

Stephanie Williams did a fantastic job adapting the book. Did the graphic novel contain every single scene? No. Did it contain a few ‘trivial’ bits? Yes. While there were a few scenes I wished they had included, leaving them out didn’t change the story. If you enjoyed the heart of the story, you’ll enjoy the graphic novel.

I also think that Sas Milledge did a fantastic job with the illustrations. Each character looked just how I pictured them. As the ARC was printed in black and white, I’m not able to comment on the crispness of the images, but from the few color images that were included on the inside cover, I think this will be a gorgeous book.

While I highly enjoyed this book, I can’t give it a 5-star rating for a few different reasons. I do believe that a few parts could have been explained differently as I have a feeling some readers, especially when it comes to the introduction to Gansey and his quest, could be lost if this is their first introduction to the book. My major issue is the size of the book. Personally, I would have preferred a larger size book as it would have allowed larger font. I think the size is going to be difficult for some to see.

I think this would be the perfect introduction of the series to younger readers, especially those who are reluctant readers. Diehard fans of the series are going to be split due to certain scenes that are missing. If you’re someone who appreciated the meaning/essence of the book, I think you should give this one a go.  

Overall, as a fan of the series, I enjoyed this one. It’s very rare that I enjoy graphic novels but they did an amazing job with this one. I’m eager the rest of the series in graphic novel form. 

The Writer and the Rogue by Lydia Drake

Desperate times call for drastic measures…and Miss Caroline Devereux is most certainly desperate. Her spendthrift father’s been gambling away every spare shilling, racking up debts, selling off their family’s coveted objets d’art, and bringing them to the edge of ruin. Up until now, she’s been able to stave off the creditors—and afford luxuries like tea—by penning sensational Gothic tales. But they’re out of time, and Caroline must play the one card she has left.

 

The Earl of Rockford cannot believe that any young lady would dare to blackmail him. Not only has she threatened to expose the darkest secrets of his family and destroy their name, but she’s done it all in an attempt to…marry him? And damned if he isn’t secretly delighted by her spirit. But first, Miss Caroline has a lesson to learn about who she’s dealing with…

 

No one warned Caroline that the handsome, wealthy earl she intends to marry isn’t remotely the gentleman she expected. Because the “Rogue of Whitechapel” isn’t about to go down without a fight…and the first to fall in love will be the first one to lose.

 Series: Debutantes of London #2 | Publisher: Entangled: Amara |  Genre: Historical Romance  | Source: Publisher | Rating: 4.5 

It’s been a minute since I’ve read a new historical romance and found myself immersed in the plot and characters. It’s also been a minute since I’ve read a new historical romance that has felt like an actual historical romance. I’m happy to report The Writer and the Rogue was both entertaining and historical feeling.

Caroline must find a way to save her family from her father’s gambling debt. She’s sold their valuables and her Gothic stories but the creditors are coming and she’s out of options. When she realizes that a letter in her father’s possession holds dark secrets about the new Earl of Rockford, she has no choice but to blackmail him into marrying her. Although the Earl of Rockford is a rogue, he’s not so easily manipulated and Caroline realizes she has no clue who the Earl really is and what he’s willing to do. While the Earl was annoyed at the start, he soon finds himself amused by Caroline’s unique character. What neither was expecting was just how compatible they are.

This was such a fun and witty read. I made the mistake of picking this up late at night. I thought that I would read a chapter or two then put it down, I was mistaken and read the majority of the book in one sitting.

Caroline and Gabriel made for such a fun pair. She’s determined to save her family from the creditors and she’s not going to let Gabriel escape because she knows that he has the status and the wealth to save her family. Gabriel’s not looking to be tied down, he’s been perfectly happy living the life of a rogue so while the secret Caroline’s keeping is enough to ruin him, he’s not sure he’s wants to give up his bachelor lifestyle. The banter between them was great. She’s quick witted and he always had a reply, despite being caught off guard. He wasn’t afraid to push her boundaries and she meet him each step of the way, which made for some entertaining moments.

The romance was brilliant. They had amazing chemistry to the point it was nearly jumping off the page. While there was attraction from the start, the author drew out the romance allowing it to develop on the page, which I appreciated.

While the book was fast-paced for the most part, it lagged a bit it lagged a bit during last third but eventually picked up the pace again. The only problem that I had with this book was the cause for the conflict and the fallout. The whole ordeal seemed a little odd.

This is the second book in a series but it reads as a standalone. I’ve not read the first book and wouldn’t have realized that this was part of a series if I hadn’t spotted it while gathering the title details for my review.

Overall, I think I’ve found a new favorite recently published historical romance and I’m eager to read more from this author. If you’ve been looking for a spunky heroine and a devilish hero this is the book for you.

A little sidenote: I have heard a few people say that this feels a bit modern to them because the heroine is forthright (and not afraid to be herself) and the hero is one that goes beyond the normal boundaries of the period. As a fan of classic historical romance, I don’t feel like this is modern at all. In fact, the writing reminds me a lot of Georgette Heyer’s writing style.