Week 1 Reviews: Monster, Villain, Hero

From Goodreads:
Acclaimed author Michael Grant delivers a stunning follow-up to the globally bestselling Gone series—perfect for fans of Stephen King's suspenseful writing.

It's been four years since a meteor hit Perdido Beach and everyone disappeared. Everyone, except the kids trapped in the FAYZ—an invisible dome that was created by an alien virus. Inside the FAYZ, animals began to mutate and teens developed dangerous powers. The terrifying new world was plagued with hunger, lies, and fear of the unknown.

Now the dome is gone and meteors are hitting earth with an even deadlier virus. Humans will mutate into monsters and the whole world will be exposed. As some teens begin to morph into heroes, they will find that others have become dangerously out of control…and that the world is on the brink of a monstrous battle between good and evil.

From Goodreads:

Acclaimed author Michael Grant's globally bestselling Gone series continues with Villain, where old foes return and new ones rise, with action-packed scenes, gory battles, and plot twists that will leave readers scrambling for more.

It's been four years since the events of GONE. The Perdido Beach dome is down, but the horrors within have spread. The alien virus-infested rock that created the FAYZ is creating monsters—monsters that walk the cities and countryside, terrorizing all.

There are tanks in the street and predator drones in the sky, doomed efforts to stop the disintegration of civilization. Into this chaos comes a villain with the power to control anyone with just the sound of his voice. Dillon Poe wanted to be a comedian once…but everyone made fun of him. Dillon the loser. Dillon the freak. Now he's sending thousands to their death. Who's laughing now?

The only people who can stop a superpowered villain are superpowered heroes. Dekka, Shade, Cruz, Malik, Armo, and a new mutant with unmatched powers, are all that stand in Dillon's way. But when the lines begin to blur between hero and villain—some begin to wonder who's really the monster.

From Goodreads:

Monster. Villain. Hero.

Four years after the Perdido Beach dome went down, the alien virus that created it is still wreaking havoc, and virus-infested rock has created a new set of humans with mutant powers.

Rockborn gang members Dekka, Shade, Cruz, Malik, Armo, and Francis are fresh off their defeat of Dillion Poe and in need of answers to some very pressing questions about their own powers: who are the Dark Watchers? And what is this Fourth Dimension that only Francis can access?

But heroes don't get down time. When the alien-virus infested rock hits New York, a new foe, Bob Markovic, rises amongst the newly rockborn. Markovic's arrogance and lack of a moral compass already made him unbearable. With his newfound power to inflict a deadly disease, he could send all of humanity into a living hell. As they try to find their footing on morally gray grounds, the Rockborn Gang will have to make some tough decisions if they want to save the world.

Michael Grant bids farewell to the globally bestselling Gone universe with the finale to the Monster trilogy. Old friends and new foes come together in this battle for humanity. The mind-blowing and existential ending will make you rethink: What does it take to be a hero?

My Review:


Author: Michael Grant
Series: Gone #7, 8, 9, Monster #1, 2, 3
Read: December 29th, 29th, 29th, 2025
Source: Edelweiss/Own, Own
Reason Why: Love his books and this series, and they're a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2025 Books and Monster and Villain are WoW Books, and Villain and Hero are RR Books, Hero is a End of Series 2025 Book!
Publisher: Katherine Tegan Books
Published: October 17th 2017, October 16th 2018, November 5th 2019

Monster:

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Villain:

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Hero:

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Week 52 Review: The Storm

From Goodreads:

St. Medard's Bay, Alabama is famous for three things: the deadly hurricanes that regularly sweep into town, the Rosalie Inn, a century-old hotel that's survived every one of those storms, and Lo Bailey, the local girl infamously accused of the murder of her lover, political scion Landon Fitzroy, during Hurricane Marie in 1984.

When Geneva Corliss, the current owner of the Rosalie Inn, hears a writer is coming to town to research the crime that put St. Medard's Bay on the map, she's less interested in solving a whodunnit than in how a successful true crime book might help the struggling inn's bottom line. But to her surprise, August Fletcher doesn't come to St. Medard's Bay alone. With him is none other than Lo Bailey herself. Lo says she's returned to her hometown to clear her name once and for all, but the closer Geneva gets to both Lo and August, the more she wonders if Lo is actually back to settle old scores.

As the summer heats up and another monster storm begins twisting its way towards St. Medard's Bay, Geneva learns that some people can be just as destructive—and as deadly—as any hurricane, and that the truth of what happened to Landon Fitzroy may not be the only secret Lo is keeping…

My Review:


Author: Rachel Hawkins  
Read: December 26th, 2025 
Source: NetGalley
Reason Why: Love her writing and it sounded fantastic, and it's a SAC 2025 Book and a WoW Book!
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Expected Publication: January 6th 2026

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Week 52 Review: Thirty, Flirty, and Forever Alone

From Goodreads:

27 Dresses meets Crazy Ex-Girlfriend in this witty, serendipitous rom-com with a magical twist from New York Times bestselling author Christine Riccio.

When your name literally means "forever alone," it takes a lot of positive self-talk to stay optimistic in the hellscape that is dating. But on the cusp of thirty, Rikki Romona is determined to find her person.

Columnist, therapist, podcaster, entrepreneur—Rikki is an overachiever who thrives on schedules. She can absolutely handle two weddings in two days, and lock down someone to drag along as a plus-one.

And yet, She doesn't.

Rikki finds herself flying hopelessly solo at a themed wedding in New Jersey. A lonely Rapunzel waiting for her Flynn.

Enter Reed writer, podcast producer, wannabe actor. Surprisingly single with startling blue eyes, he seems perfect. The catch? He lives kind of far away, so dating him would be a bit of a hike. Like an intense, all-the-way-across-the-country hike.

After one unforgettable night together, Rikki's sure this is the end. But as she braces herself for heartache, the universe, it seems, has other plans…

My Review:


Author: Christine Riccio
Read: December 26th, 2025 
Source: NetGalley 
Reason Why: Love her writing and it sounded fantastic, and it's a SAC 2025 Book and a WoW Book!
Publisher: Montlake 
Expected Publication: January 1st 2026

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Week 52 Review: Heathens

From Goodreads:

She invited the darkness in, so she had no one else to blame…when I came for her.

It was a sinister game of submission. The Hunt.

She'd run. I'd chase.

And when I caught her…

Primal. Untamed. Merciless.

I've been watching her. Stalking her.

I will become the beast from her darkest fantasies.

Hunting her from behind a stag's mask made of bone.

Preying on her secret need for primal play.

I should be protecting her, but I'm not.

Instead… I am a Heathen.

And she is an innocent who chose this.

And if she made a mistake?

If she wants to try and escape me? Escape The Hunt?

It's far too late.

She's mine now.

My Review:


Author: Alta Hensley
Series: Heathens Hollow #1
Read: December 24th, 2025
Source: NetGalley
Reason Why: Love her writing and the series this was spun off from, and it's a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2025 Book!
Publisher: Dreamscape Media
Published: March 5th 2025

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Week 52 Review: Greta Gets the Girl

From Goodreads:

From New York Times bestselling author Melissa Marr comes a steamy tale of forbidden romance.

NY publishing is Greta Clayborne's life, and she's on a high since she edited a hot new series that was just adapted for television. In her career, everything is on track. On the relationship front, there are no relationships, not since she had her heart broken. Now Greta uses a dating app, Sappho's Kiss Society, for casual connections.

That's all the tattooed taciturn Lee was supposed to be when Greta invites the enigmatic woman to her hotel room, expecting to never see her again.

Kaelee has more secrets than truths. She changed her name, finished a couple degrees, and just sold her book in a deal that will replace the money she's spent on her tiny studio during grad school. Her life is writing, teaching, and too much time at the gym. But after she meets "Marie" on her app, she can't get the curvaceous woman out of her mind.

Long distance chat lead to another meeting, and the two discover that they both want more. Maybe. The possibility of something real seems in reach—until Kaelee walks into her meeting with her editor only to find that woman she's starting to fall for is her editor. Now Greta’s career and reputation are at risk, but when Kaelee's wealthy and influential family shows up to put a stop to the "embarrassment" of writing sapphic fiction, Greta has to decide what matters her heart or her career.

My Review:


Author: Melissa Marr 
Read: December 22nd, 2025
Source: NetGalley  
Reason Why: Love her writing and it sounded really fantastic, and it's a SAC 2025 Book and a WoW Book!
Publisher: Bramble
Expected Publication: January 13th 2026

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Week 52 Review: Princess of Blood

From Goodreads:

Once a servant, now a princess, a young woman thrust into power challenges everything about the underground Fae realm in the next installment of Sarah Hawley's new romantasy series.

Kenna Heron is still reeling from her lover's betrayal and the threat of an impending war. With only her two closest—and most powerless—friends by her side, she must navigate the treacherous politics of Mistei while coming to terms with her new identity as not just Fae, but princess of her own house.

With the king dead, three candidates are vying for the right to wear the crown next. A princess who claims the throne as her birthright and two rebel princes, both of whom are depending on the support of Blood House to break the stalemate between them. Old loyalties fray as new, dangerous alliances form, and Kenna finds herself caught in a web of violence, deceit, and unexpected passion.

Kenna has the power to shape Mistei's future… but someone's willing to kill to make sure she never gets the chance.

My Review:


Author: Sarah Hawley
Series: The Shards of Magic #2
Read: December 22nd, 2025
Source: NetGalley 
Reason Why: Love her writing and this series, and it's a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2025 Book and a WoW Book! 
Publisher: Ace
Published: September 30th 2025

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

 

Week 52 Review: The Swan's Daughter

From Goodreads:

In this lush and romantic novel from New York Times bestselling author Roshani Chokshi, a prince is only as good as his beating heart and a maiden is only as good as her honest word. But when love and the truth become impossibly tangled, the two must figure out how to survive together, or fall completely apart.

To find love is a curse ...

Prince Arris knows that marriage means murder. Thanks to a poorly worded wish to a sea witch, all one needs to rule the Isle of Malys is the heart and hand of the kingdom's heir. Historically, this has been construed quite literally.

Thus, Arris expects that the day after his marriage and murder he will wake up as a sentient tree alongside the rest of his predecessors. His only chance at a long life is finding true and lasting love. When Arris's parents announce a tournament of brides to compete for his hand and heart, a slew of eligible, lovely and (possibly murderous) bachelorettes make their way to Rathe Castle. Amidst glittering balls in ozorald caves, strolls through menageries of daydream trees and pearl crocodiles, tea time on glass boats and kisses that leave his head spinning, Arris cannot tell who is here out of love for him…or lust for power.

Until he meets Demelza.

As a veritas swan, Demelza's song wrings out the truth. Forced into hiding, Demelza strikes a deal. Arris will provide her with safekeeping in exchange for her truth-telling song to sort through his potential brides.

While Arris is used to dodging death threats and Demelza is accustomed to fighting for her voice to be heard, to survive the tournament of brides requires a different kind of bravery. And perhaps the bravest thing one can do is not merely protect one's life, but find the courage to chase a life worth living.

My Review:


Author: Roshani Chokshi
Read: December 22nd, 2025
Source: NetGalley 
Reason Why: Love her writing and it sounds really great, and it's a 2025 Retelling Reading Challenge Book, SAC 2025 Book and a WoW Book!
Publisher: Macmillan Young Listeners
Expected Publication: January 6th 2026

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Week 52 Review: The House Saphir

From Goodreads:

This is the tale of Bluebeard as it's never been told before--a romantasy murder mystery.

Mallory Fontaine is a fraud. Though she comes from a long line of witches, the only magic she possesses is the ability to see ghosts, which is rarely as useful as one would think. She and her sister have maintained the family business, eking out a paltry living by selling bogus spells to gullible buyers and conducting tours of the infamous mansion where the first of the Saphir murders took place.

Mallory is a self-proclaimed expert on Count Bastien Saphir—otherwise known as Monsieur Le Bleu—who brutally killed three of his wives more than a century ago. But she never expected to meet Bastien's great-great grandson and heir to the Saphir estate. Armand is handsome, wealthy, and convinced that the Fontaine Sisters are as talented as they claim. The perfect mark. When he offers Mallory a large sum of money to rid his ancestral home of Le Bleu's ghost, she can't resist. A paid vacation at Armand's country manor? It’s practically a dream come true, never mind the ghosts of murdered wives and the monsters that are as common as household pests.

But when murder again comes to the House Saphir, Mallory finds herself at the center of the investigation—and she is almost certain the killer is mortal. If she has any hope of cashing in on the payment she was promised, she'll have to solve the murder and banish the ghost, all while upholding the illusion of witchcraft.

But that all sounds relatively easy compared to her biggest learning to trust her heart. Especially when the person her heart wants the most might be a murderer himself.

My Review:


Author: Marissa Meyer 
Read: December 21st, 2025
Source: Bought/NetGalley
Reason Why: Love her writing and it sounded fantastic, and it's a 2025 Retelling Reading Challenge Book, SAC 2025 Book and a WoW Book!
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Published: November 4th 2025 

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Week 51 Review: Such a Perfect Family

From Goodreads:

A man with a deadly past marries into the perfect, most respectable family in this riveting thriller from New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh. . . .

A woman buried.

A woman broken.

A woman crashed.

A woman burned.

And the man who knew them all.

Love at first sight, a whirlwind Vegas wedding, a fairy-tale romance.

For forty-three days, Tavish Advani has been the happiest man in the world—until his new life turns to ash, his wealthy in-laws' house going up in a fiery explosion. His badly injured wife lies in a coma, her family all but annihilated.

Tavish thought he'd left the sins of his Los Angeles life behind, but it's not so easy to leave behind an investigation into the deaths of several high-profile women—all of whom he'd professed to love. Tragedy and death follow him no matter where he goes . . . but this time, he knows he's truly innocent.

Desperately trying to clear his name as the authorities zero in, Tavish begins his own investigation into the fire—and learns that his wife's picture-perfect family may have been nothing but a meticulously constructed mirage. The truth is much darker than anything Tavish could've imagined.

My Review:


Author: Nalini Singh
Read: December 17th, 2025 
Source: NetGalley 
Reason Why: Love her writing and it sounded so good, and it's a SAC 2025 Book and a WoW Book! 
Publisher: Berkley
Expected Publication: January 27th 2026

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Week 50 Review: An Ordinary Sort of Evil

From Goodreads:

New York Times bestselling author Kelley Armstrong returns to Victorian Scotland in the latest in the genre-blending Rip Through Time series.

Modern-day homicide detective Mallory Mitchell has grown accustomed to life in Victorian Scotland after travelling 150 years into the past into the body of a housemaid. She;s built a new life for herself. Even though she works as an assistant to forensic-science pioneer Dr. Duncan Gray and Detective Hugh McCreadie, she considers them true friends. And with Gray in particular, perhaps, someday, something more.

Late one night, Gray and Mallory are summoned urgently to the home of Lady Adler, a patron of Gray's undertaking business, and they assume there's been a death in the household. But instead, they arrive in the midst of a seance with a ghost demanding Gray's presence. The ghost is Lady Adler's former maid, who had gone missing but now requests that Gray investigate her murder. Although Gray and Mallory are skeptical, they agree to look into the matter, whether she's dead or alive. But unsure if there's been a murder or not, unable to call out the medium as a fraud, and concerned for the fate of the young maid, Gray and Mallory are once again drawn into a mystery much more puzzling--and more dangerous--than it first seems

My Review:


Author: Kelley Armstrong 
Series: A Rip in Time #5
Read: December 10th, 2025
Source: NetGalley
Reason Why: Love her writing and this series, and it's a Historical Fiction 2025 Book, Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2025 Book and a WoW Book!
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Expected Publication: May 19th 2026

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Week 50 Review: Platform Decay

From Goodreads:

Everyone's favorite lethal SecUnit is back in the next installment in Martha Wells' bestselling and award-winning Murderbot Diaries series.

Having someone else support your bad decision feels kind of good.

Having volunteered to run a rescue mission, Murderbot realises that it will have to spend significant time with a bunch of humans it doesn't know.

Including human children. Ugh.

This may well call for... eye contact!

(Emotion check: Oh, for f—)

My Review:


Author: Martha Wells 
Series: The Murderbot Diaries #8
Read:  December 9th, 2025
Source: NetGalley 
Reason Why: Love her writing and this series, and it's a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2025 Book and a WoW Book! 
Publisher: Tor Books 
Expected Publication: May 6th 2026 

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars