Jul 25 2026
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Book Review: Blind Date with a Werewolf by Patricia Briggs

Title: Blind Date with a Werewolf

Author: Patricia Briggs

Series: Mercy Thompson World #whatever.5

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Rating: 2.5/5 stars

The Overview: When the formidable werewolf Asil finds himself set up on five blind dates by unknown ‘friends’, his solitary life undergoes a dramatic change, in this captivating collection of stories by the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Mercy Thompson series. -Goodreads

The Review:

I had some reservations before diving into Blind Date with a Werewolf. For starters, I’m not much for short stories, so I was a bit wary of wasting time not feeling engaged. But since there was a strong through-line between them, it read more like a novel “in stories” as the cover tag puts it rather than stand-alone snippets. That helped a lot. I also wasn’t sure if I was in the mood for a romance, which the title leads you to believe this book is going to be. But I’m such a big fan of the Mercy Thompson/Alpha & Omega world that I knew I didn’t want to miss anything potentially plot-advancing, even on a minor scale… so here we are.

As it happens, I liked it better than I thought I would. The book was nothing like I expected. The blind date aspect was clever and cheeky, acting more as setups for fun supernatural mysteries than legit romantic encounters. There was indeed a romance angle – a very slight one that served more to set things up for future books than as any sort of major highlight within this one.

Was the story a bit too silly? Perhaps. I’ve always liked Asil as an enigma character. He’s a bit scary because we don’t really know much about him or why everyone in this world fears him. And he’s old.. as the book puts it, “Not quite as old as dirt,” which always made me picture a grizzled, cranky old man. But because everything has to be over-sexualized, I was informed many times while reading this that despite his age, he actually has the appearance of a much younger man. Of course he does. Because apparently werewolves don’t age. Anyway I amused myself by continuing to picture him as an old man on all of the dates/adventures. What’s more, the story took away a lot of Asil’s mystery – having him act very out of character (by my reckoning) for the sake of adhering to the book’s theme. Nothing about his mannerisms drew me back to that scary werewolf with history and depth. Briggs often likes to take these big bad wolves and show the reader their softer sides. Like, they’re deadly beasts to everyone else, but you’re special so they can behave like puppy dogs for you. Sometimes it’s charming. In this case it kind of wrecked a character I’ve spent several books wanting to know more about. At least his wolf is still a badass.

That said, I’m sure there’s a good reason for all of this setup. And the composition of the book itself was creatively done. The structure of the stories, the strong thematic elements throughout, the tie-backs, the series-relevant supernatural mysteries, the fun cameos, and the setup for what will likely be a somewhat important addition to the series going forward were major merits. The whole time I was reading it I was marveling at how cleverly done it was, even if I didn’t absolutely love the plot.

As the book has spoilers for things that happened in some of the most recent Alpha & Omega books, I would not recommend picking this up on a whim as a taste-test of the world. It’s very much for the fans, and it’s clear its purpose is to advance the plot of some of the more secondary characters in this world. As a big fan, I am very eager to find out how all of this will play into the next main book in the series.

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

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by Niki Hawkes

Jul 23 2026
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Introducing: My Co-blogger Dave!

You may have noticed a new voice on the blog (no, I am not co-writing as an alias). It’s my pleasure to introduce my Partner and new co-blogger: Dave Clark. We’ve been reading friends for years and I’ve always admired his superbly written and insightful reviews, and have long taken inspiration at his dedication and consistency. When the opportunity arose to invite him to post with me on this platform, I was ecstatic. We have a lot of similar SFF interests (you may see some dual-reviews), but Dave is much more well-read, diving into multiple genres and is currently working his way through several award-winning books lists (like the Pulitzer and the Hugos). I think he’s going to add a delightful variety to our core of book reviewing. Here’s a few things he wrote about himself as a bio:

My story with books is a simple one. I have been reading (and accumulating) books for my entire life. You will rarely see me without one in reach. I got started as a kid, reading them under the covers with a flashlight when I was supposed to have been going to sleep. Sometimes I still lose some sleep to reading, although I have since upgraded to proper lighting in hopes of minimizing the strain on my aging eyes. The majority of my reading is within science fiction and fantasy, but I also like to branch out for some broader exposure. So I do read literary fiction, horror, or an occasional selection from just about any other genre.

I’m so happy to have him here, and I love the new life his presence has breathed into the space. Here’s to many years of geeking out together about books! <3

by Niki Hawkes

Jul 21 2026
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Book Review: To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf

Title: To the Lighthouse

Author: Virginia Woolf

Series: N/A

Genre: Literary Fiction

Rating: 3/5 stars

The Overview: The serene and maternal Mrs. Ramsay, the tragic yet absurd Mr. Ramsay, and their children and assorted guests are on holiday on the Isle of Skye. From the seemingly trivial postponement of a visit to a nearby lighthouse, Woolf constructs a remarkable, moving examination of the complex tensions and allegiances of family life and the conflict between men and women. As time winds its way through their lives, the Ramsays face, alone and simultaneously, the greatest of human challenges and its greatest triumph—the human capacity for change. –Goodreads

Dave’s Review:

Virginia Woolf’s To the Lighthouse is widely considered to be a pinnacle of twentieth-century literature. Its deep symbolism, introspective style, and philosophical musings about the passage of time and life serve as a wealth of material for study and discussion. That said, I found it much easier to appreciate than to actually enjoy.

Anyone expecting a conventional narrative will almost certainly struggle, as I did. There is very little in the way of plot, with the author instead focusing largely on the inner thoughts and shifting perspectives of her characters. While this stream-of-consciousness approach has merit, it comes at the expense of momentum. Long portions of the novel feel more like introspection than storytelling. The pacing is glacial, and I was frequently waiting, hoping, for something interesting to happen.

The characters likewise failed to engage me. Woolf spends much time in the minds of a number of them, but the style renders them largely indistinct and unmemorable. They blend together, making it difficult to relate closely or to form a real attachment to any one individual. At this point, a couple of weeks after having finished the book, very few of the characters left any lasting impression on me. They really function merely as mouthpieces (mind pieces?) for the author’s ideas, a choice which often caused me to struggle with engagement.

Despite these frustrations, the book succeeds at what I believe it is intended to do – that is to ruminate on the passage of time and life. The lighthouse can be seen as a symbol of long-term goals, and the many ways that they shape our lives as we aspire to achieve them. It is certainly symbolic of a plethora of other things that attentive readers will pick up on as well, given some patience. Woolf is clearly a strong writer, being almost poetic at times. The density and style do at times require a careful analysis, similar to that of poetry, to extract some of the layered meaning. If I ever revisit this work in the future, I will be sure to do so at a point where I am prepared to devote the necessary time and focus.

I can certainly appreciate why To the Lighthouse is considered a masterpiece, even if it never connected with me on the level that was likely intended. It is a book whose ideas outlive the characters or story. I am glad to have read it, even though the journey was difficult and ultimately not as rewarding as I had hoped to find it.

Jul 16 2026
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Book Review: Faith of Beasts by James S.A. Corey

Title: Faith of Beasts

Author: James S.A. Corey

Series: Captive’s War #2

Genre: Science Fiction

Rating: 5/5 stars!

The Overview: The monstrous Carryx empire was built by subjugation and war. Thousands of species are bound to their Sovran’s command in an endless, blood-soaked test: be useful in the eternal conflict or be slaughtered. Dafyd Alkhor, highest among their human captives, is feared and despised by the very people he champions. Ruthless in carving out his niche in the eternal war machine of the empire, he will reshape human nature itself as a tool for their alien masters’ use.  But Dafyd’s loyalty is not what it seems. The Swarm, an agent of the Carryx’s deathless enemy, has been smuggled into the Carryx world-palace along with the human slaves. It’s discover a way to bring down the empire’s eternal reign. But the longer it lives among and within humanity, the more it forgets that it is a weapon. As the human captives spread through the battlefronts of empire, the awesome power of the Carryx becomes clear. And with it, a desperate plan for their destruction. But empires hide secrets, and even the deathless enemy may not be what it appears… –Goodreads

Niki’s Review:

My favorite book of the year so far!

Which is amazing considering it’s the second book in a trilogy (I always brace for middle-book syndrome). I don’t know why I was worried, though. These authors have been dazzling me for years and it’s to the point where I don’t even look to see what new books from Corey (or Abraham) are about – I just devour them.

I’ve said this before about most of the works I’ve read from these authors, but it continually amazes me how connected I always feel to these very flawed, painfully HUMAN characters. I’m not much of a character reader, generally, because I don’t often form bonds (or care to remember names) of the people in the stories. To me most characters feel little more than plot vessels. But it’s authors like the Corey team, Abercrombie, and Hobb who convince me the people I’m reading about are real. I’m realizing that what these character profiles have in common is how so deeply flawed (ahem.. human) they are, almost to the point of making them unlikable. THESE are the characters who’s stories move me. So maybe I am a character reader after all, I just need to buy in to how realistic they feel.

This series is so deftly written. There’s a recognizable cadence to this team’s writing style (which at this point feels like a warm hug) that is unique to their SFF series. It creates the most brilliant setups – some of the most breathtaking, fully engaging scenes I’ve ever read. Where I feel what’s going on viscerally and lose all touch with reality. It’s that X-factor that truly separates wonderful books from the absolute astounding books in my opinion. The sorts of books that make you want to find someone to talk to about them immediately. Where you finish them and find yourself reeling and still thinking about them days (or weeks/months/years) later. Only a few authors have ever done this to me before. The Corey team has now done it thrice.

After reading Faith of Beasts, I now have a newfound appreciation for why people love thriller novels. I read the back half of it on the edge of my seat. The Corey team are brilliant at cultivating momentum and suspense, and this poignant sense of danger that has me both wary and excited to turn to the next page. I can’t tell you the last book I read that actually raised the hair on my neck while I was reading it. If you can’t tell, I was super invested.

One thing we didn’t get in the Expanse was a lot of creature creation, as the series primarily takes place within our solar system. It’s almost like the duo are making up for lost time, because the abundance of aliens in Captive’s War is off the charts! It gives the story such an otherworldly (no kidding) feel. Great world-building is one of my favorite draws to books, as I love feeling completely transported to other worlds. That might be one reason why I don’t always mind when characters aren’t as strong. This series has it all though – character, world-building, writing, voice, pacing, momentum… it’s so rich! It has so many great components that I’m sure we could spend a dozen books exploring it, but how cool is it we get the best of the best compacted into a single trilogy? This is great, I can’t wait to see how it ends, and holy crap is the next one out yet?!

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

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by Niki Hawkes

Jul 11 2026
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Book Review: Among Others by Jo Walton

Title: Among Others

Author: Jo Walton

Series: N/A

Genre: Fantasy

Rating: 2/5 stars

The Overview: Startling, unusual, and yet irresistibly readable, Among Others is at once the compelling story of a young woman struggling to escape a troubled childhood, a brilliant diary of first encounters with the great novels of modern fantasy and science fiction, and a spellbinding tale of escape from ancient enchantment. Raised by a half-mad mother who dabbled in magic, Morwenna Phelps found refuge in two worlds. As a child growing up in Wales, she and her twin sister played among the spirits who made their homes in industrial ruins, but her mind found freedom and promise in the science fiction novels that were her closest companions. When her mother tries to bend the spirits to dark ends with deadly results, Mori is sent away and must try to come to terms with what has happened without falling prey to the darkness. –Goodreads

Dave’s Review:

Among Others is one of those books that sounds great on paper, and seems perfect for anyone who spent time reading classic science fiction and fantasy during their younger years – which certainly describes me. However, if you are actually looking for any sort of narrative to go along with that nostalgia, you will probably need to look elsewhere.

The novel follows Morwenna (Mori), a teenage girl attending a British boarding school. It takes place over the course of about a year, 1979, and is presented in the format of a diary written by Mori herself. The fantasy/magical elements are very subtle here, while the emotional core centers on Mori’s immersion in books as a coping mechanism for her childhood trauma. She goes extensively into the books that she is reading – and there are a lot of them over the course of the year. For me, this was the most fun element of the story, but unfortunately, they are not very well integrated into the narrative, often serving as more of a diversion from the lack of much of any plot than anything. I enjoyed the references to many authors and books that I have either read, or own and are waiting to be read, but anyone without much background in the classics may find all of the unfamiliar name-dropping to be tedious and repetitive.

Mori herself is an interesting and sympathetic narrator, but her arc feels flat over the course of the book. There is a conflict with her mother that is mostly internalized, and some dark things in her past which sound more interesting than anything that occurs over the course of the book, but this is alluded to only sparingly. There are also some magical elements that are so subdued and ambiguous that they seem almost unimportant. I also found the conclusion of the book to be very anticlimactic. Some of this may be a result of the diary format itself, which in general tends to be a reflective way of telling a story rather than immersing the reader in actions of the present.

The book contains magical realism elements and is written in a lyrical yet accessible style that will probably appeal to fans of Susanna Clarke or Ursula Le Guin (in fact, Le Guin wrote the introduction to my edition of the book). However, I find both of those authors to be superior to Walton, or at least to what we get in this book, which is the only Walton that I have read. The endless lists of books and name-dropping are more akin to the likes of Ready Player One, and although the writing style of Among Others is better, Cline uses them to tell a riveting adventure story, whereas Walton makes them too much the focus of the bare-bones story.

Sadly, this book did not work for me at all. It did win both the Hugo and Nebula awards, and it is apparent why it has some avid admirers, but the author’s approach just did not work for me. The classic science fiction and fantasy book references kept me going through the novel’s relatively short length, but I was relieved to be moving on to something else when I reached the end. Ultimately, Among Others feels more like a celebration of the genre rather than a compelling novel in its own right.

Jul 6 2026
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Book Review: The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett

Title: The Tainted Cup

Author: Robert Jackson Bennett

Series: Shadow of the Leviathan #1

Genre: Fantasy

The Overview: In Daretana’s greatest mansion, a high imperial officer lies dead—killed, to all appearances, when a tree erupted from his body. Even here at the Empire’s borders, where contagions abound and the blood of the leviathans works strange magical changes, it’s a death both terrifying and impossible. Assigned to investigate is Ana Dolabra, a detective whose reputation for brilliance is matched only by her eccentricities. Rumor has it that she wears a blindfold at all times, and that she can solve impossible cases without even stepping outside the walls of her home. At her side is her new assistant, Dinios Kol, magically altered in ways that make him the perfect aide to Ana’s brilliance. Din is at turns scandalized, perplexed, and utterly infuriated by his new superior—but as the case unfolds and he watches Ana’s mind leap from one startling deduction to the next, he must admit that she is, indeed, the Empire’s greatest detective. As the two close in on a mastermind and uncover a scheme that threatens the Empire itself, Din realizes he’s barely begun to assemble the puzzle that is Ana Dolabra—and wonders how long he’ll be able to keep his own secrets safe from her piercing intellect. –Goodreads

Niki’s Review [4.5/5 stars]:

A few years ago I read Foundryside by this author and absolutely loved it. Then this book came out in 2024 and people have been absolutely raving about it ever since. Needless to say I went into The Tainted Cup with ridiculously high expectations. And you know what? It didn’t disappoint.

World-building is my favorite component to SFF books. It’s the category that can often make or break my rating scale. I love it when authors can dazzle me, and this is exactly what happened with Tainted Cup. The basic magic system around the cool, engineered plantlife was great, enough to sustain entire series from other authors. Then you add in some subtle magical talents, which definitely made the characters more interesting. But wait, more?! Nothing big, just a freaking leviathan… it was superb. Between this and Foundryside, I’ve come to love this author for his wild creativity and great magic systems. If you’re a fan of Sanderson’s world-building, definitely give Bennett a try.

I also loved the characters. Which is weird because I don’t think I had much of an emotional connection to them. They were novelties – highly interesting profiles that I can’t wait to learn more about in future books. I tend to really like flawed, enigma characters because they often have some of the better growth arcs. The quick wit and banter between the two main characters was easily my favorite part of the book. The back and forth was hysterical and made both characters immediately more endearing. Also, Ana might be my spirit animal.

This is a fantasy/mystery hybrid and I think it will appeal to readers of both genres. Lots of fantasy books include mysteries, but not many feature them quite to this degree. It unfolded with a very satisfying and quick pace, and there was enough substance for me to try to form my own theories. I think the punchline for the mystery, the “big reveal” if you will, could’ve been a touch stronger and a mite less straight-forward, which is my only slight letdown from the book. But it more than made up for that with all of the other amazing components.

So great world-building, interesting characters, lots of humor, a quick plot, and a fun mystery to solve – this book is solid! I can’t wait for the next one. :D

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

Dave’s Review [4.5/5 stars]:

The Tainted Cup initially found its way onto my radar when it won the Hugo Award last year. I knew little about it, and had never read anything by Robert Jackson Bennett prior to this. It is quite fortunate that the book came to my attention, because it is one of the best fantasy novels that I have read in some time. It is unique in that it is a fantasy novel very much in the style of a Sherlock Holmes or Hercule Poirot detective story, while also showcasing the imaginative worldbuilding that we come to expect in top-tier modern fantasy.

The mystery itself is compelling and near perfectly paced. The author drops clues mixed with twists and revelations throughout. The central conspiracy unfolded in a way that always kept me guessing and wanting to read just a bit further. I am unsure whether the author gives the reader enough clues to solve the mystery before the detective does, as I was kept guessing until the end, but that in no way diminished my appreciated for the book.

Much of the book’s charm and humor comes from the two main characters. Ana, the lead investigator, is unforgettable. She is sharp, eccentric, and intimidating, and we never quite know what she is thinking, as she is not the POV character of the story. Ana is very much the Sherlock Holmes of The Tainted Cup. Instead, we see the story through her assistant, Din. He is methodical and observant, our eyes in the narrative. He does not always understand Ana’s unconventional methods (as neither do we), but he trusts in her abilities and intentions. Their relationship evolves naturally over the course of the investigation, and their dynamic of both mutual respect and dry humor is an incredibly endearing accompaniment to the mystery itself.

The worldbuilding is another standout in this book. Bennett details a civilization with some bizarre yet interesting biological augmentations that seamlessly blend into the political machinations of the story. There is also an ever-present threat of massive leviathans, which, if I am honest, did not factor into the story as much as I might have expected. Perhaps this will be a more prominent element in subsequent books, as this is the first of a series. The setting, though, is pretty original, and serves the story perfectly.

Sure, there are some other mystery or detective stories in science fiction and fantasy, but at the moment, I am failing to recall any that I have read. That may be why this one stands out as quite unique in my mind. I would probably most liken this to some of the works of Brandon Sanderson, as the worldbuilding and writing style most remind me of his. This is a great start to a series that has a lot of promise. I plan to continue with the next book very soon, and also want to explore some of Bennett’s earlier novels as well. 4.5 stars.

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