Sep 23 2026
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Book Review: Bodies of Magic by Freya Marske

Title: Bodies of Magic

Author: Freya Marske

Series: N/A

Genre: Fantasy

Rating: 5/5 stars!

The Overview: At the Academie of the Grand Duchy of Sieuxerr, every mage with the healer’s gift has five years to master their power and to prepare for the infamous Grand Exam—a five-day trial whose results will determine their entire future.

The list of exam rules includes:
• You will perform five practical cases.
• Your exam group is chosen at random.
• You pass together, or fail together.

It does not include:
• On the first day, your exam group will find a classmate’s dead body in the exam hall.

And as they will soon discover, this particular group all have something to hide… and all have a connection with the dead girl, a brilliant scholar who would have been first in their class.

Five scholars. Five secrets. Five days in which to solve a murder, pass the most important exam of their lives, and uncover a secret larger than all of their own combined. One with the potential to change the world.

Are you ready?

Let’s begin. –Goodreads (isn’t that a killer overview?!)

Niki’s Review:

One of my favorite books of the year!

I know better than to fall for the “for fans of X: this ridiculously popular book” spiel, generally. But in this case what is being advertised (A Deadly Education meets Grey’s Anatomy) is exactly what Bodies of Magic delivers! I’ve never come across a medical fantasy, let alone one with and academic framework, so I knew the moment I first saw it that I needed to read it ASAP. And you know what? It was fantastic.

Here’s the thing, when I pick up a book like this I’m expecting the medical school to play a strong role in the story (it did), I want a lot of detailed magical workings included (there were), and I want the mystery to be satisfying (it was decent). The author really delivered on all of the promises made, producing one of the best books I’ve read all year (and definitely one of my top academic books). It’s worth highlighting specifically what made the medical magic school aspect of this story so freaking good. You really get into the nitty gritty of how the magic works – everything from training on cadavers to experimenting with untested industry-advancing medical magic theory. Then we also get these complete case studies as part of their final exam where we get to follow the process all the way from symptom presentations to diagnosis to treatment plans. These students are brilliant, most at the top of their graduating class, and the amount of detail they get into during these final exams is so satisfying. It ticks all my boxes, and I’ll long remember this book for how perfectly it presented this aspect of the story. It was phenomenal.

So now I’ve explained how completely into the story I was for the medical magic, I’ll admit that the rest of the book was good, more than passable to be fair, but a bit more focused on the interpersonal relationship of the variety of “who is sleeping with who” than I usually prefer in books. It’s part of the reason the book is being likened to Grey’s Anatomy. And I think the main reason it worked for me where other books of the same vein may have not was because of how pertinent all of the social happenings were to solving the murder-mystery case. It felt very fitting and appropriate to include and also enhanced the collegiate atmosphere the story. I also found I was a bit more emotionally invested in the characters than I might have been otherwise. It worked because it was balanced so well with the magic aspect of the story, and the author never forgot to hone back in on the elements that were making the book special. Add to all of that some great pacing, a nice variety of focus, and an incredible momentum to the end of the book, and you can see why I’m so enamored.

Overall this was a huge success for me and I think it has a strong recommendability factor to those who love dark academia, to those who like mysteries in their fantasy books, all the way to the romantasy crowd. It hit a lot of good notes without diving too far into one thing, and I’m sure I’ll be recommending it often for years to come.

Thank you to my Patrons: Dave, Katrin, Frank, Jen, Karen, Sonja, Staci, Kat, Betsy, Eliss, Mike, Elizabeth, Bee, Poochtee, Kinsey, Alysa, Derek, Kelly, Grace, Carmen, Leticia, and Leah! <3

I’d like to thank Freya Marske, Macmillan Audio, and Netgalley for the chance to read an early audiobook copy of this book!

Other books you might like:

by Niki Hawkes

Sep 20 2026
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Novella Reviews: Finally Finishing the Seven Swords by Anthony Ryan (Books #5-7)

It’s kind of a running joke on my Youtube channel that I’ve been saying I’m going to “finally finish this series” for several years now. After all, they are so short, why on earth have I not been able to find time to read them?! As it turns out, the real issue involves overcomplicating my reading life for the sake of delivering on a bunch of arbitrary expectations I put on myself as a content creator.. but that is beyond the scope of this post. Either way, we’ve finally arrived at completion. Here are my thoughts on the remaining books in a short series I initially started in 2021…

Across the Sorrow Sea (#5) [3/5 stars]

I was worried that reading through this series more back to back would dilute the experience I had with each book, and I feel that happened a bit here. I don’t generally get on well with short stories or novellas because it doesn’t give me enough time to get really invested in the story. That said, I loved the world-building here, considering it another great installment in that regard for the series. I also liked the new character introduced, although I didn’t feel as much a connection to her as a few of the others we’ve met along the way. One thing I found satisfying is that the pivotal moment of this particular story moved things forward for me significantly. I finally feel like I understand where we are going and exactly what the stakes are, so now it’s just a matter of enjoying the ride!

The Road of Storms (#6) [3/5 stars]

I’ll admit I initially found this volume to be a lot more mundane than the previous novellas, likely because the setting was much less exotic and we seemed to almost have backtracked. I think it also prudent to admit that because of that, I had trouble staying focused while listening to the audiobook. I’d tell you the first half was dry and directionless, but that could feasibly be because I wasn’t as engaged as I should have been. As soon as I switched to the physical edition though, everything changed and suddenly the series was exciting again… although that could have been more to do with the massive conflict that took place rather than the format switch, but it’s hard to say. At the very least I was able to finish the novella fully engaged and very invested in seeing how the entire thing ends with the next book. The characters are all great profiles, some more favored (developed) than others, but other than sympathy for their plights, I’ve felt no really emotional connection to them. Is that due to the shorter page count? Ryan sure does manage to pack in a TON of things with such a small package, and the focus has been heavy on world-building (love). But at this point in the series I wish I felt just a tiny bit more invested. We’ll see what the final novella has in store.

The Infernus Gate (#7) [4.5/5 stars]

It has been my experience with each of these later books that it takes a hot minute for the story to get going. But once it does, hold on to your seat!! This finale was everything I’d hoped it would be and delivered a killer ending. Weirdly, halfway through I was wondering how we’d ever get to anything satisfying with so much ground to cover and so little time left, but I shouldn’t have doubted. The book had a ton of action sequences, some excellent backstory moments, and a lot of emotionally compelling situations. I didn’t have too terribly long to dwell on any of the things that happened, but I will still long remember the “punchline” of the story, which is probably more important, anyway.

Overall this series has been an absolute delight. I’m not sure it was quite worth how much I invested in the signed and numbered Subterranean Press hardcovers I’ve collected, but seeing as Anthony Ryan is an all-time favorite from reading his Draconius Memoria series, I’m still glad I have them. It created a unique and memorable atmosphere with its expansive world-building that is difficult to find even in full-length novels. I can’t wait to dive into my still unread books from this author!

Thank you to my Patrons: Dave, Katrin, Frank, Jen, Karen, Sonja, Staci, Kat, Betsy, Eliss, Mike, Elizabeth, Bee, Poochtee, Kinsey, Alysa, Derek, Kelly, Grace, Carmen, Leticia, and Leah! <3

Other books you might like:

By Niki Hawkes

Sep 13 2026
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Book Review: The Infinite State by Richard Swan

Title: The Infinite State

Author: Richard Swan

Series: Decurion #1

Genre: Science Fiction

Rating: 5/5 stars!

The Overview: In this blistering science fiction epic, international bestselling author Richard Swan presents a th rilling tale of survival and an eviscerating examination of totalitarianism.THE INFINITE STATE begins at a flashpoint in the lives of a widowed party member, a disgraced investigator, and a hypersled pilot—entangled in a plot to escape the suffocating authority of a fascist state.

WHO GIVES YOU LIFE?
PATER AETERNUS.

Katherine Fuller’s husband is dead. As an esteemed member of Pater Aeternus—governing party of the fascist, galaxy-spanning Decurion Empire—he has left behind an estate of immeasurable wealth. And Katherine is going to inherit it.

WHO GIVES YOU PURPOSE?
PATER AETERNUS.

Life under the Eternal Father is rigidly stratified, surveilled, and controlled—each new day to be endured, not lived. But with Katherine’s newfound fortune, she is presented with a rare and dangerous opportunity: purchase a virgin world, and create a better, fairer society.

WHO GIVES YOU JOY?
PATER AETERNUS.

But the Empire cannot allow its wayward daughter to succeed. And as Katherine works in secret, recruiting allies she’s not even sure she can trust, she will discover exactly how far Pater Aeternus is willing to go to stop her. Because Katherine is going to create something nobody has seen for many years. A democracy. –Goodreads

Niki’s Review:

If this isn’t already on your TBR, it should be.

I wasn’t sure I was going to like this going in, having a particular aversion to fanaticism in any form. But since Swan had dazzled me before with Tyranny of Faith, I took a leap of faith and dove in anyway.

I was hooked from the first page.

There were a lot of brilliant things going on in this book. World-building that felt expansive. Characters who were anything but perfect but more endearing for it. An ominous overtone to the entire book that made my skin crawl. Superb use of pacing – this thing started with a slow burn and eventually amped up to the point where I lost sleep… I had such an experience with this book even though parts of it were really uncomfortable to read.

There’s something slightly unconventional about the way Swan tells his stories. And it really works for me. The way all three POVs were woven together to give the reader the broader picture of what’s going on in this empire was superb. I can’t think of many books I’ve read lately where I felt a genuine fear and suspense for the characters’ survival. I cannot wait to see where the story goes next in Guerrilla Republic (coming out sometime August 2027) – I need it yesterday!

I listened to this on audio and thought the narrators chosen were a perfect match for their characters. They definitely enhanced the story with their precise delivery and cadence. I think the immersive experience they offered is partly why I was able to lose myself so entirely into the story while tandem-reading (where you read the book while the audio plays in the background). Occasionally it was a bit jarring to hear the same character represented by a different narrator, as is common with multiple narrators for a story when POVs start to merge, but it didn’t take long to acclimate. Highly recommend!

Thank you to my Patrons: Dave, Katrin, Frank, Jen, Karen, Sonja, Staci, Kat, Betsy, Eliss, Mike, Elizabeth, Bee, Poochtee, Kinsey, Alysa, Derek, Kelly, Grace, Carmen, Leticia, and Leah! <3

Also, I’d like to thank Richard Swan, Macmillian Audio, and Netgalley for the chance to read and review an early copy of this audiobook.

Other books you might like:

by Niki Hawkes

Sep 12 2026
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Book Review: Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card

Title: Ender’s Game

Author: Orson Scott Card

Series: Ender’s Saga #1

Genre: Science Fiction

The Overview: From New York Times bestselling author Orson Scott Card, Ender’s Game―adapted to film starring Asa Butterfield and Harrison Ford―is the classic Hugo and Nebula award-winning science fiction novel of a young boy’s recruitment into the midst of an interstellar war. In order to develop a secure defense against a hostile alien race’s next attack, government agencies breed child geniuses and train them as soldiers. A brilliant young boy, Andrew “Ender” Wiggin lives with his kind but distant parents, his sadistic brother Peter, and the person he loves more than anyone else, his sister Valentine. Peter and Valentine were candidates for the soldier-training program but didn’t make the cut―young Ender is the Wiggin drafted to the orbiting Battle School for rigorous military training. Ender’s skills make him a leader in school and respected in the Battle Room, where children play at mock battles in zero gravity. Yet growing up in an artificial community of young soldiers Ender suffers greatly from isolation, rivalry from his peers, pressure from the adult teachers, and an unsettling fear of the alien invaders. His psychological battles include loneliness, fear that he is becoming like the cruel brother he remembers, and fanning the flames of devotion to his beloved sister. Is Ender the general Earth needs? But Ender is not the only result of the genetic experiments. The war with the Buggers has been raging for a hundred years, and the quest for the perfect general has been underway for almost as long. Ender’s two older siblings are every bit as unusual as he is, but in very different ways. Between the three of them lie the abilities to remake a world. If, that is, the world survives. –Goodreads

Niki’s Review [5/5 stars]:

I’ve read this book twice – once when I was a teenager and again a few years ago, almost two decades later. Both times I read it, I felt the impact of the ending and all the great momentum that got us there. But it was only on the second read that I appreciated all of the more quiet moments of the book and felt like I really got the full experience. There were some grittier things the first time around that my wee little self wasn’t prepared to handle, but adult me wanted expanded on. I’ve since read through more than half of the Ender’s Universe books in chronological order and have enjoyed them thoroughly. I definitely wouldn’t have been ready for them twenty years ago, but right now they are exactly what I’m in the mood to read.

Ender’s Game sits on a pedestal of books that completely dazzled me. What made it so good? First off I think school settings instantly trigger a certain fondness for books. But this school setting took it further by utilizing young brilliant minds in a game that required a lot of tactics and strategy. There were plenty of scenes where we get to see the game played with some very satisfying outcomes. All for stakes getting higher and higher in this incredible momentum build, making it one of the best culminations I’ve ever read. Truly breath-taking stuff. Ender is such a cool character because he quietly breaks the mold, yet still seems poignantly human and relatable.

This was one of my first science fiction books, and it definitely fueled my interest in the genre and set a high standard of expectations. I think my 5-star rating reflects both how brilliantly I think it was written, as well as extra points for what the book meant to me personally in my reading journey. Ender’s Shadow, while different in many ways and perhaps not quite as brilliant on paper, hit me in the same meaningful way and is also one of my favorite books. Love for both of these stories has sustained me through a series that so far has been enjoyable, but not quite as impactful. Either way, I’m loving the journey.

Overall, if you have any interest in science fiction at all and have not read Ender’s Game, you’re sorely missing out. I consider it a staple of the genre.

Thank you to my Patrons: Dave, Katrin, Frank, Jen, Karen, Sonja, Staci, Kat, Betsy, Eliss, Mike, Elizabeth, Bee, Poochtee, Kinsey, Alysa, Derek, Kelly, Grace, Carmen, Leticia, and Leah! <3

Dave’s Review [5/5 stars]:

This was my second time reading Ender’s Game, and if anything, I enjoyed it even more this time. It remains my favorite science fiction book, narrowly edging out both Dune and Hyperion, which are also near flawless books. Even knowing where the story is going (and perhaps able to appreciate what he is doing because of that), I was impressed by how effectively Card balances an exciting military science fiction story with a surprisingly thoughtful exploration of Ender’s character and psychology.

The battle school setting is a huge part of what makes the book work so well. The zero-gravity battle room provides a genuinely compelling setting for the increasingly complex games, while the competitive environment among the children creates constant tension. What initially appears to be a training exercise gradually becomes something much more serious, and Card does an excellent job of showing how Ender learns to think several steps ahead of everyone around him.

Ender himself is an exceptional protagonist. What I particularly appreciate is how much of the story is devoted to his thought process. We do not simply see that Ender is brilliant—we are allowed to follow his reasoning as he analyzes problems, anticipates his opponents, and develops increasingly unconventional solutions. At the same time, his intelligence is balanced by his empathy and growing isolation, making him considerably more interesting than a typical child-genius protagonist.

One of the things I appreciated more on this reread was how effectively the novel sets up the rest of the series. The ending provides a fascinating bridge to Speaker for the Dead, which is almost completely different in tone and subject matter, while also establishing the foundations for the Shadow books and Bean’s story.

Having read it once before, Ender’s Game remains an incredibly entertaining, intelligent, and well-constructed science fiction novel. After many years at the top of my list, I cannot imagine many books being able to displace it any time soon.

Other books you might like:

Aug 30 2026
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Book Review: Science Fiction and Fantasy Short Stories by Andrew Erikson (ed.)

Title: Science Fiction and Fantasy Short Stories

Author: Andrew Erikson (editor)

Series: N/A

Genre: Science Fiction

Rating: 2.5/5 stars

The Overview: Science fiction and fantasy have gone hand-in-hand since their emergence at the end of the 19th century. Containing the best short stories of the masters of the two genres, this collection brings together the outstanding imaginations of writers such as H. G. Wells, George Griffith, Robert E. Howard and William Morris. Providing both an escape from the troubles of the real world and unique insight, these tales provide an experience that can’t be replicated anywhere else. –Goodreads

Dave’s Review:

This compilation is an journey through the early history of science fiction and fantasy, but I found the quality to be uneven. Some stories, particularly the H.G. Wells and Ambrose Bierce selections, remain interesting because of their ideas and the historical context in which they were written. Others are little more than pulpy adventures that feel dated today. I appreciated seeing how authors from the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries imagined technology, space travel, and alternate realities, but too many of the stories were overly wordy, meandering, or simply failed to go anywhere particularly interesting. There are some worthwhile curiosities here, but overall I found the collection more interesting historically than enjoyable as a reading experience today.

As usual with short story collections, I noted my thoughts in a couple of sentences after reading each one, and have compiled them below.

Under the Knife by H.G. Wells. A story about a man undergoing an operation, yet is able to perceive what is happening on both a small scale and large scale via an outer body experience. Interesting for a story written in the 19th century. No doubt it was terrifying going into an operation back then, with a very high mortality rate, especially for anything major.

The Door in the Wall by H.G. Wells. This one is about a door to some sort of alternate reality where life is simple and peaceful. It definitely seems to be a metaphor for different paths in life and making decisions.

Polaris of the Snows by Charles B. Stilson. I was not familiar with the author prior to reading this story. It is a fun, pulpy adventure story that takes place in the Arctic – perhaps somewhat of a polar Tarzan. This was nothing special, just a fun read.

The Artist of the Beautiful by Nathaniel Hawthorne. I have not read Hawthorne since The Scarlet Letter in high school. This story had promise at the beginning, but ultimately did not go in the direction that I thought it might. However, that is probably not unusual for speculative fiction from so long ago. It was also overly wordy and meandering in a few places, but likely just the style of the author/times.

The Darwinian Schooner by W.L. Alden. An interesting idea of a story about a schooner found at sea, but ultimately I felt that it never went anywhere very satisfying. There was potential for a deeper story. Modern authors likely would have taken this concept much further.

A Visit to the Moon by George Griffith. I cannot say that this was a particularly good story, but it was an interesting read due to its age. This was written in 1900, the same time as H.G. Wells’ serialized novel on the same topic. Some of the details seem quite ridiculous today, but it is fascinating to see how some authors envisioned such a trip the better part of a century prior to when it occurred in reality.

Moxon’s Master by Ambrose Bierce. This starts out with “do you really believe that a machine thinks?” No doubt this was a wild statement in the late 1800s, but with AI prevalent everywhere today, it hardly raises an eyebrow. However, this was an interesting relic of a bygone era, complete with outdated perceptions of technology. And the ending, well, still very much relevant in our world today.

Rats in the Belfry by John York Cabot. An eccentric man builds a bizarre mansion and then discovers a portal. This is perhaps a simple precursor to other similar works that have since presented much more expansive ideas based on this concept. Still, this brief story was worth the small investment.

On the Martian Way by Harry Gore Bishop. I was surprised to discover afterward that this was first published in 1907, before the Titanic. I would have guessed that it took some inspiration from that event. Overall it is an average story, with some interesting insight into what we would now say is a pretty archaic view on how “shipping” routes between colonies on different planets might look.

Within an Ace of the End of the World by Robert Barr. This is a story where a world food shortage occurs at the dawn of the twentieth century. It is discovered that food can be manufactured from nitrogen in the air, but of course that then causes other problems. It was written in 1900, and is a bit bland, but it is an early attempt at tackling certain topics which are still pretty relevant today.

The Phoenix on the Sword by Robert E. Howard. A Conan story. I have read a couple of Conan novels long ago. I am not a huge fan. This is more or less what I expected, but at least in short form, it is less of a commitment. It is mildly entertaining, but there is zero depth and it suffers from some very dated tropes that feel a little uncomfortable today.

The Tower of the Elephant by Robert E. Howard. Another Conan story, this one is about a young Conan attempting to steal an artifact from a guarded tower. Again, it is purely an adventure story from another era. It is a good bit of fun with the right expectations, but it lacks any depth. This one is probably slightly more memorable than the previous Conan story in this collection.

The Shadow Kingdom by Robert E. Howard. This predates the Conan stories, and is apparently regarded as a highly influential work, considered to be one of the very first truly gritty sword and sorcery story. Be that as it may, I did not find the story particularly interesting or enjoyable to read. It feels pretentious and needlessly excessive. I guess I can at least say that I have read it now?

The Sea-Witch by Nictzin Dyalhis. I was completely unfamiliar with this author, and perhaps if would have been best left that way. This was an overly long and largely uninteresting story about, well, a witch? It is Viking-inspired, but quite pulpy and I got very little out of it for the time I invested in reading it.

The Dancer in the Crystal by Francis Flagg. This story imagines a scenario where electricity becomes nullified. Despite the strong premise, the story itself is a little underwhelming. Written in 1929 and taking place in the 1950s, the effect of the complete loss of electricity in the story is actually nowhere near as catastrophic as it would be were this to occur in our world today.

The Regent of the North by Kenneth Morris. Cool, a Viking story! Except that I found it to be very mundane. It felt like reading a history book with elegant prose. This style of short story is just so different from what tends to be popular today.

The Folk of the Mountain Door by William Morris. A Nordic tale that was supposedly an influence on early twentieth century fantasy authors. That may be the case, but I did not enjoy reading it. The prose is strong, but archaic, and the text has far too many poems/songs for my liking. I also found the story itself to be pretty unmemorable.

Aug 26 2026
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DNF Q&A: The Unplugged Hours by Hannah Brencher

Title: The Unplugged Hours

Author: Hannah Brencher

Series: N/A

Genre: Non-Fiction

Rating: 1/5 stars

The Overview: No matter what you do for a living, how much time your apps save you, or how much entertainment your phone brings, it is possible to unplug–and find an even better life on the other side. In the spring of 2021, Hannah Brencher found herself depleted and exhausted–and she knew the culprit was her constantly plugged-in lifestyle. Like so many of us, Hannah had been turning to her phone to cope with life in a time of isolation and uncertainty. Those coping mechanisms had calcified into habits she didn’t know how to break. Sound familiar? That’s when the nudge happened. Turn off your phone and keep turning off your phone. And a challenge was 1,000 unplugged hours in one year. Soon after she shared her tracker sheet on her website, thousands of people downloaded it and signed up for their own 1,000-hour challenge. Now in The Unplugged Hours, Hannah demonstrates how the act of powering down changed her entire life. It’s a strikingly small thing to do and a surprisingly difficult habit to maintain, but turning off your phone has a substantial impact on your mental health, relationships, time management, and outlook on the world. A powerful weaving of memoir, cultural commentary, and spiritual insights, this life-changing book helps. Reclaim your ability to be present and engaged with the world around youSwap the hurried, constant pace of technology for a steadier, more rooted way of livingEstablish your own unplugged rituals and rhythms in daily lifeUncover the magic within the ordinary awaiting you just beyond the screenThe Unplugged Hours gives you the practical ideas and spiritual inspiration you need to stop scrolling and start living. –Goodreads

The Q&A:

Did you really give The Unplugged Hours a chance?

I think I read about 40% before throwing in the towel. That was more than enough time spent with the book to determine that it wasn’t working for me. I even kept reading several chapters past when I was ready to put it down, just to see if the experience improved.

Have you enjoyed other books in the same genre before?

Yes, I’ve made it a point to consume as many digital minimalism books as I can to help me along in my journey to stay off my phone. In most cases, simply immersing myself into a themed book like this is enough to inspire me to make changes. Unplugged Hours was odd in the sense that I didn’t even get a secondhand glow from reading it. Here are some of the ones I’ve enjoyed more lately:


By far my favorite book on the subject is Cal Newport’s Digital Minimalism, which I’ve read half a dozen times. The some of the others are not necessarily about DM per se, but they had a radical effect on making me re-evaluate how I spend my time.

Did you have certain expectations before starting it?

As I mentioned, I expected to feel at least a little inspiration from the book. I also was thinking it would provide a few actionable tidbits, rather than just being a passive narrative. Even non-fiction that don’t work well for me almost always give me at least something to ponder on. Not the case here, for whatever reason.

What ultimately made you stop reading?

I put this down because I realized I wasn’t getting any sort of self improvement “payoff.” It was written in a very creative writing class personal narrative way where it kind of meandered from one experience to another (almost like reading someone’s journal or testimony). My biggest issue was that these reflections were never drawn back to what makes her story relevant to the reader. It could have majorly benefitted from some structure – where an experience was included to illustrated a specific point, which would then be expanded on and highlighted for the reader. As it was, it feels like it was only halfway to where it needed to be to be relevant to anyone but the writer. Maybe some people would’ve been just fine with the casual presentation of the idea (I could only find one) within the book, but because I’ve read so many of these I’ve come to expect a certain level of engagement, which I just didn’t get.

I experienced this on audio and have to say I really struggled with it. The text was delivered in a very choppy, systematic cadence that reminded me most of someone giving a graduation speech or a talk at church. It had planned variation, but very little personality or authentic inflection. It was a struggle to listen to and definitely contributed to my decision to DNF.

Was there anything you liked about The Unplugged Hours?

The author presented a challenge of intentionally choosing to be unplugged for 1000 hours per year (or 100 hours per month, if you prefer) and even provides free trackers on her website: https://hannahbrenchercreative.com/unplugged.

That was pretty cool. And although I didn’t resonate with her at all by how the book was written, the essence of being less connected and more present in one’s life is something I can completely appreciate.

Would you read anything else by this author?

Given that my objections to the book were about the basic writing style, I don’t think I’d favor other works by her over the many others on my TBR.

So you DNF’d the book – would you still recommend it?

Unfortunately, I don’t think so. For actionable inspiration in this subgenre, I’d recommend any of the books in my list above long before I’d suggest this one.

This DNF review format was borrowed with permission from Nikki @ There Were Books Involved (who doesn’t blog anymore, but she still gets all the credit).

Thank you to my Patrons: Dave, Katrin, Frank, Jen, Karen, Sonja, Staci, Kat, Betsy, Eliss, Mike, Elizabeth, Bee, Poochtee, Kinsey, Alysa, Derek, Kelly, Grace, Carmen, and Leticia! <3

by Niki Hawkes