Girl Who Reads

All Hallows Eve edited by Christopher Golden and Ellen Datlow ~ a Reviews

2026-09-09T06:30:00.000-04:00

by MK French

Are you putting together your reading list for Halloween? Short story collections can be a great option while waiting for trick-or-treaters to ring the doorbell (or when pretending to not be home).

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

September 2026; Titan Books; 978-1835415436
ebook, print (336 pages); horror anthology

If you see Ellen Datlow's name on a collection of short stories, get it now. She has put together amazing collections in fantasy and horror for decades, and has an unerring instinct for what will work together.

We open with "That Hannie Agnes," an adult looking back on a childhood Halloween, with the surety that the creepiness he once felt is real. This sets the tone for the collection. The underlying reality is mixed up with magic or creepy things, sometimes with a considerable helping of sadness and rejection. I enjoyed "The Kuker" by Alma Katsu, which didn't end the way I expected but was fitting. Many of the stories involve spirits or monsters from different cultures, or those pretending to summon spirits and actually do so.

It's a clever, spooky collection, with psychological horror as well as the supernatural.

Buy All Hallows Eve at Amazon

Born and raised in New York City, M.K. French started writing stories when very young, dreaming of different worlds and places to visit. She always had an interest in folklore, fairy tales, and the macabre, which has definitely influenced her work. She currently lives in the Midwest with her husband, three young children, and a golden retriever.

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The Wish List Trip by Kerry Lonsdale and Orly Konig ~ a Review

2026-09-08T06:30:00.000-04:00

by Susan Roberts

An unputdownable story of sisterhood, self-discovery and how not to smuggle your friend’s ashes through French border control… Addictive, escapist and bittersweet

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

September 2026; Bookouture; 978-1805507161
audio, ebook, print (306 pages); friendship fiction

I’ve read all of the books written by both authors and knew that readers would be in for a treat when the two friends decided to write a book together. This emotional and beautifully written book is about friendships at their highs and lows and reinforces my belief that female friendships are so important and help us get through the highs and lows of our lives.

Holly, Anna and Zoe met in college and almost immediately became best friends. They helped each other through school, and once they graduated, they started taking a special trip together each year. Their trips were important to them until that last trip to Greece, when Holly and Anna had a major disagreement and haven’t talked to each other for 5 years. Now Zoe is dead and is asking her two best friends to scatter her ashes at all of the places that they went on vacations in their 20s. Holly is reluctant to go – she doesn’t want to be around Anna and hates to leave her husband and son for two weeks. Anna is anxious to go. She misses Holly as a friend and hopes that the friendship can be rekindled. Zoe planned the trip before she died, hoping that her two friends could forgive each other and themselves and find their feelings for each other. Holly finally agreed to go, but she wasn’t going to be nice to Anna despite their travels together. At each city on their whirlwind tour, some of the barriers between them began to break down, but would the truce hold in Greece, the place where their friendship imploded? Would Zoe’s plan work, or would Anna and Holly go back to being strangers and ex-friends?

This book is a look at friendships at their best and their worst and the importance of female friendships. I loved these characters, and I loved Zoe’s plan to bring her friends back together after her death. There were a lot of secrets shared, and the final HEA ending showed both women not only forgiving each other but also forgiving themselves. Fantastic read!

Buy The Wish List Trip at Amazon

Susan Roberts grew up in Michigan but loves the laid-back life at her home in the Piedmont area of North Carolina where she is three hours from the beach to the east and the mountains in the west. She reads almost anything but her favorite genres are Southern Fiction and Historical Fiction.

Level Up for Love by Lenora Woods ~ a Review

2026-09-07T06:30:00.000-04:00

by MK French

Six years ago, Reagan Riley and Wesley Locke were competitors in their video game design program until Wesley ghosted her after a hookup. Now Reagan has given up on game design to stay close to family. She channels her creative energy into D&D, but her longstanding group fell apart. She and her sister look into joining a game at the local game store, and the DM is none other than Wesley. When a new game design opportunity opens up, both vie for the opportunity again. Now they have to figure out not only who will win the job, but who will win between them if a new relationship begins.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

September 2026; Dell; 978-0593975435
audio, ebook, print (368 pages); romantic comedy

Reagan is competitive and had a rivalry with Wesley, but he disappeared after a hookup, and she eventually started dating a friend. That relationship ended so spectacularly that she refers to it as the Cataclysm. It's a dramatic term, but she's a creative person trying to design games in her free time. She no longer runs D&D games, and her sister wants to join her girlfriend's game. It's hard to find a good table, and the tension between Reagan and Wesley is present. This carries into the game and the design competition they both are entering.

This is the second D&D-influenced romance that Lenora Woods has written. It's part of the backdrop to get Wesley and Reagan together again. Their campaign is fun, and a story that complements the overall romance. They work through trust issues in-game and outside of it, and that's what helps to bring the happily ever after they need.

Buy Level Up for Love at Amazon

Born and raised in New York City, M.K. French started writing stories when very young, dreaming of different worlds and places to visit. She always had an interest in folklore, fairy tales, and the macabre, which has definitely influenced her work. She currently lives in the Midwest with her husband, three young children, and a golden retriever.

6 Bite-Sized Reads: Short Stories & Novellas Under 250 Pages

2026-09-06T06:30:00.000-04:00

Have you seen the meme that says something along the lines of it's National Stay Home and Read Day? Well, today is the day to do that. September 6 is National Read a Book Day, and since it is Sunday, most people can stay home - it is the day of rest, after all! We've put together some of our favorite short stories and novellas that you can read in a day.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site.

UNDER 100 PAGES

The Wedding Setup by Sonali Dev

Genre: Contemporary Romance

The Vibe: Charming, heartwarming, second-chance romance.

What It's About: A heartfelt short story about one woman’s journey of self-discovery and what it means to be happy. "The characters are well written and the plot is well-paced," wrote Susan in her review. "For such a short story, it's still packed full of emotions: grief for the brother that died, the relationships that changed and the people who they all used to be, as well as the love that still lingers there." wrote MK in her review.

Buy The Wedding Setup at Amazon

The Bookstore Sisters by Alice Hoffman

Genre: Women’s Fiction

The Vibe: Emotional, cozy, sisterhood-focused.

What It's About: A heartfelt short story about family, independence, and finding your place in the world. This is the first book in a 4 book series. They are all around 40 pages, so if you also have Monday off you could stay up late and read them all. "I love books about sisters, and this group of books was all about the love between sisters," wrote Susan in her review.

Buy The Bookstore Sisters at Amazon

Her Second Death by Melinda Leigh

Genre: Mystery & Thriller

The Vibe: Fast-paced, suspenseful, gripping.

What It's About: A prequel to the Bree Taggert series by author Melinda Leigh, a murder investigation yields parallels to the Philly detective’s own frightening past. "If you are like me and haven't read any of the series, then this is a great introduction to the main character Bree Taggert." wrote Donna in her review.

Buy Her Second Death at Amazon

UNDER 200 PAGES

Crocodile Tears Didn't Cause the Flood by Bradley Sides

Genre: Magical Realism / Weird Fiction

The Vibe: Surreal, emotional, uniquely imaginative.

What It's About: Bradley Sides merges the South with the weird in his latest collection of magical realism short stories, Crocodile Tears Didn’t Cause the Flood. "Full of magical realism, this collection of short stories takes ordinary events and transforms them," wrote MK in her review.

Buy Crocodile Tears Didn't Cause the Flood at Amazon

Full Speed to a Crash Landing by Beth Revis

Genre: Sci-Fi

The Vibe: Snarky, action-packed, space-heist.

What It's About: A high-octane, sexy space heist from author Beth Revis, the first in a novella trilogy. "If you are looking for a quick but highly entertaining read this weekend, then this is the book you want to read," wrote Donna in her review.

Buy Full Speed to a Crash Landing at Amazon

UNDER 250 PAGES

On Tràigh Lar Beach by Dianne Ebertt Beeaff

Genre: Literary Fiction

The Vibe: Atmospheric, reflective, evocative setting.

What It's About: Eric Winchat, a young writer overwhelmed by the stress of her first book contact, discovers thirteen curious items tangled in the flotsam on the Scottish beach of Traigh Lar. Inspired by the objects, she tells the intriguing story of the owner of each one, uncovering a series of dramatic events. "Overall, this is an interesting collection of stories about women of various ages and backgrounds, and the ways ephemera can sometimes give inspiration for more than we think they will," wrote MK in her review.

Buy On Tràigh Lar Beach at Amazon

What are you reading for National Read a Book Day? Let us know in the comments!

A Thousand Painted Hours by Barbara O’Neal ~ a Review

2026-09-05T06:30:00.000-04:00

by Susan Roberts

In the shadow of the London Blitz, artist Elsie Turner clings fiercely to her canvases, refusing to let war dim the colors that define her. The bombs test her nerve, but the struggle also stirs memories of her golden youth in India and of the long-lost love of her life.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review

August 2026; Lake Union Publishing; 978-1662514968
audio, ebook, print (543 pages); historical fiction

This is a beautifully written book that spans the life of artist Elsie Turner from Colonial India to the London Blitz. The two parts of her life were lived in totally different environments, but no matter what she goes through in London, her mind and heart remain in India with her love of the land and the people – especially her best friend from childhood.

INDIA

Elsie was the daughter of a British civil servant in the Himalayan station of Nainital. As the second son in his family, her father had no rights to the family title and home. Elsie’s mother was a healer and became friends with many of the Indian women. She let Elsie run free and choose her own friends, so she soon became friends with the children of the local leader. Her special friend was Tanveer Singh, a Sikh prince with hopes and dreams of what he could do for the future of his people in India. Elsie always had a sketchbook in her hands, and her paintings during this time period reflected the beauty of the land and the people of India. Her friendship with Tanveer became more than just a friendship, but when she was 15, the oldest son in the family died, and her father was summoned to London to take on the family title. Elsie wanted to stay in India – it was the only life she had ever known, and she loved her freedom, but there was no choice, and soon she was on a ship sailing to her new life and leaving behind the land and the man she loved.

LONDON

Elsie didn’t really fit into the life of a titled young lady in London. She loved the new clothes that her mother bought her, but she wasn’t really accepted by the other young women who were all interested in finding a husband. Her family agreed to send her to art school for a year, and she blossomed and made lots of new friends…but she still couldn’t forget her old love. She made a proper marriage with Peter, an affluent young man who had fought in World War I and still suffered from what we would refer to as PTSD. Her life in London was really not happy, and she still had fond thoughts of India and her first love. Despite being married, she and Tanveer continued to correspond with each other over the years, and when she finally gave up on her marriage, she fled to his arms in India. She returned to London to take care of her mother, and when the Blitz in London started, the family was in grave danger as the bombs dropped. Would Elsie ever return to India, or would her life in India only exist in her memories?

COMMENTS

This was a long book, and I read it slowly because it was so beautifully written. I felt like I was in India thanks to the author’s evocative descriptions of the setting, and I was scared for the main characters as the bombs were dropping over London. The book was well researched, and I learned a lot about India during the time period when they were still under British rule. This is a beautiful, emotionally filled romance with believable characters and beautiful settings, and I enjoyed every page of it.

Buy A Thousand Painted Hours at Amazon

Susan Roberts grew up in Michigan but loves the laid-back life at her home in the Piedmont area of North Carolina, where she is three hours from the beach to the east and the mountains in the west. She reads almost anything, but her favorite genres are Southern Fiction and Historical Fiction.

August Libby Haul and Why You Should Get a Library Card

2026-09-04T06:30:00.000-04:00

by Donna Huber

September is Library Card Sign-Up Month. If you don't have a library card, you are missing out on one of the best resources in your community. In my state, almost every library is part of the statewide system. That means that with one library card, I can check out books at any library in the state (there are a few county systems that aren't part of the system, but the majority of the library systems are). Where I live, I have at least 5 brick-and-mortar libraries within a 30-minute drive. Here are some of my favorite resources I have access to with my library card.

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1. Libby

The resource I use the most with my library card is Libby. It is a digital library that allows library cardholders to check out ebooks and e-audiobooks. Because of our statewide system, I'm connected to the state consortium, which means I have access to the digital collections of every library that is part of our statewide program. Recently, Libby introduced partner libraries. Because of the statewide consortium, I don't have any partner libraries, but if your library card limits you to your community library, this new feature might give you access to more books. Check out the audiobooks I borrowed in August.

Shades of Grey by Jasper Fforde

I've recommended this book to my post-apocalyptic book club a couple of times, but it has never been chosen. I've heard great things about this author, so I decided to go ahead and listen to it. I enjoyed. I thought it started off a little slow, and I wish there had been more world-building upfront. I'm not sure I will pick up the next book in the series or not.

Buy Shades of Grey at Amazon

Final Jeopardy by Linda Fairstein

I listened to this book for my mystery book club at the library. It was okay for a book published in 1996. I'm not a fan of police procedurals, and though the main character is a prosecutor, there was a lot of details about investigations. There wasn't much action until the last 20% of the book, and even that momentum was broken by a super detailed description of how a police lineup works and videoing crime scenes.

Buy Final Jeopardy at Amazon

The Summer Share by Jenn McKinlay

I got an electronic advance reader copy of this book for review, but I didn't get it read, and then the next month review copies needed to be read. So this is when I really love my library. Though I had to wait a few months, I was able to get the audiobook. Since I listen while driving and on my daily walks and other times when I'm doing something mindless (like cleaning the house), audiobooks are great for getting reading in when you can't hold a book. I prefer McKinlay's cozy mysteries, but her summer rom-coms are fun. I don't care for the descriptive sex scenes, though. Read my full review.

Buy The Summer Share at Amazon

By checking these audiobooks out with my library card, I saved more than $50! I usually listen to 4 to 6 audiobooks a month, so the savings really add up. If your library doesn't have Libby, it might use Hoopla. Hoopla is similar, but usually you don't have to wait for a copy to be available, plus there are videos. My library system recently ended its subscription to Hoopla, so they added Kanopy so we can stream video (I have a couple of movies on the watch list that aren't free to stream anywhere else).

2. Book Clubs

I belong to two book clubs at different libraries. My mystery book club meets at my closest library (it is 1.5 miles from my house). We just selected our next year of reading at the end of July, but I haven't posted it yet. Check out the books we read last year. My post-apocalyptic book club meets at another local library (it's about 9 miles from my house). We also selected our new year of reading in July, and I posted that list. The great thing about that book club is that it has a virtual option, and we do get people from other states. Book clubs are great for getting you to read books you might not have picked up otherwise, and they offer a social aspect to a rather isolated hobby.

3. Non-Book Resources

Technology: There so much more available at libraries than books. Most have computer labs and other technology. We have a 3D printer and equipment for recording podcasts. We have technology to check out as well, such as laptops and hotspots. A new service is being offered: Google Career Certificates. Many of the certificates are IT related but there are certificates for management, AI essentials, digital marketing and more.

Passes: If you read my June Library Round, you might remember I checked out the State Parks Parking Pass - this saved me $30 on vacation. The zoo has discontinued its library pass program, but when my niece and nephew were younger we coulod get 2 adult and 2 children tickets to the zoo for FREE! We have several other passes for activities and places in my state.

Seed libraries, puzzle swaps, and more: Two libraries near me have seed libraries were you can get seeds with the idea that you will harvest the seeds at the end of the season and share them with the library. During the summer one of the programs was a puzzle swap where you could bring in one of your puzzles and swap it for one of the libraries puzzles. It was so popular that it is now a regular resource. We have a community puzzle set up at my local library and I think the other library has an ongoing Scrabble game set up. Some libraries allow you to check out baking pans and cake decorating supplies.

Social Services: The main library in my system has a social worker several days a week. That library is a gathering place for homeless people, but anyone in the county can make a appointment with the social worker (and it's FREE). The branch libraries, like my local library, have kiosks that help people find information and apply for governmental resources. Need a passport? There's a photo booth at the main library and at least one library in a region can process the passport (this isn't free but really useful when you live in a rural area).

Geneology: We have access to a lot of databases for research family history. The main library also houses the Heritage Libray which contains a lot of local historical documents that would useful in researching the history of the area as well as family history.

Events: Community interests groups, live music, author visits and special reading, classes, arts & crafts, lectures, etc.

Do you have a library card?

So that's just a few of the things that my area libraries offer that I love. With rising costs of just about everything your library card can be a great resource for trimming your budget. If it only saved me $50 a month for the audiobooks I check out that resource alone saves me $600 a year - what other card in your wallet saves you that much money in a year?

Oh, and many libraries are offering giveaways and raffles for signing up or renewing your library card this month. So go get FREE stuff!

What do you love about your library?

Donna Huber is an avid reader and natural encourager. She is the founder of Girl Who Reads and the author of how-to marketing book Secrets to a Successful Blog Tour.

Cards on the Table by Lana Harper and Jilly Gagnon ~ a Review

2026-09-03T06:30:00.000-04:00

by MK French

Tori and Cassie Bishop are descended from a Salem witch, but their Tarot readings don't pay the bills. Rose is a dying, wealthy widow who invites the sisters to her gothic estate to be her "witches in residence." The widow is desperate, and her family is conniving and awful. Some guests are drawn to the sisters in uncomfortable ways. Rose dies after a séance, and her millions vanish overnight. Now Tori and Cassie must untangle a web of greed and deception to clear their names. Someone else in Berwyn House is running their own con, and they’ve set up the sisters to take the fall.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

September 2026; Bantam; 979-8217093229
ebook, print (400 pages); supernatural mystery

Money is tight for the sisters, and Tori wants to protect her younger sister Cassie as much as possible. They agree to the job, which seems like a considerable amount of money to stay for two weeks and talk about the Occult and read the Tarot. Rose is bristly, and her family is obviously money-grubbing with secrets of their own. They're playing off each other and the sisters, putting them down and making us sympathize with them more. We don't like those characters much, for all that we get glimpses of a family feeling decades ago. When Rose dies during the séance, it becomes a murder mystery to prove their innocence.

I enjoyed the story overall and got sucked into the way the sisters interacted with each other as well as with the members of the household. The police presence was almost absent, and it was so bad in such a caricature kind of way. Aside from that, the finale was neatly done and explained everything that was going on. I appreciated it, but hoped to see more of Tori embracing magic and becoming more adept with it. There's something of an open ending, so maybe it can be part of a sequel.

Buy Cards on the Table at Amazon

Born and raised in New York City, M.K. French started writing stories when very young, dreaming of different worlds and places to visit. She always had an interest in folklore, fairy tales, and the macabre, which has definitely influenced her work. She currently lives in the Midwest with her husband, three young children, and a golden retriever.

The Summer Share by Jenn McKinlay ~ a Review

2026-09-02T06:30:00.000-04:00

by Donna Huber

When two misfits discover they’ve inherited the same beach house, sparks fly in the most unexpected ways.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

May 2026; Berkley; 978-0593955468
audio, ebook, print (368 pages); rom-com

I love Jenn McKinlay's cozy mystery series, and then a few years ago I discovered she wrote summer rom-coms when I read Paris is Always a Good Idea (it was recently adapted for the small screen). I wanted to squeeze in one more summer book before the season changes, so I picked up The Summer Share.

I liked Hannah and Simon from the start. I guess you could say that this is an enemy-to-lover romance. Though they don't really hate each other. They are just at odds in the beginning over what to do with the house that they inherited.

One thing I really dislike in rom-coms is the forced separation. You know, when there is a misunderstanding or cold feet or something ridiculous that could all be solved with one conversation. Thankfully, this book does not have that. Actually, it is mostly a feel-good story. There is a little tension created with Simon's father, but it happens super late in the book, so you know it isn't really going to do anything.

The only thing I didn't like about the book was the two detailed sex scenes. The book would have been just fine with the scene just fading to black without the need to describe private body parts.

If you are looking for a feel-good rom-com to end your summer with, pick up this book.

Buy The Summer Share at Amazon

Donna Huber is an avid reader and natural encourager. She is the founder of Girl Who Reads and the author of how-to marketing book Secrets to a Successful Blog Tour.

Back to School Reading: YA Fiction to Read

2026-09-01T06:30:00.000-04:00

by MK French

School's back in session. Whether you are looking for a gift to celebrate or reading material for those book reports, this list of young adult novels would be great for your teen (or for you!).

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. Free books were provided for an honest review.

Blightfall by Brandon Sanderson and Janci Patterson

September 2026; Delacorte Press; 978-0593707050
audio, ebook, print (496 pages); YA science fiction

Humans of the Defiant Defence Force have finally won freedom from alien oppressors. Arturo Mendez is the leader of Skyward Flight, and with this newfound freedom comes diplomatic missions to reestablish contact with isolated human settlements. It's supposed to be an easy mission, but Blightfall is anything but. It's surrounded by mysterious debris and covered in giant, invasive forests that have swallowed most of the planet. Upon arrival, Arturo’s team is attacked, and it quickly becomes clear that this human settlement isn’t what it appears to be.

This is book one of the Riftwake series. Brandon Sanderson is well known for writing multiple fantasy series and teaching writing at Brigham Young University (some are posted online), and Janci Pederson has written YA novels before moving to collaborations. As the first book in a space opera series, this one has to give us the background on what happened to humanity in the future, the alien Superiority that kept humans in reservation worlds, and Arturo’s desire to stay flying despite the DDF starting to wind down their efforts. It comes across a little heavy-handed in the beginning, which often happens with space opera or second world fantasy novels. Once we get past that and the mission starts, there's action beginning with the attack on the team, an unintended landing on the surface, and exploring the settlement.

The story feels more comfortable once the mission begins and we start trying to find out what happened on Blightfall and who's controlling it. We need the background to really understand how important later developments are, and how significant the team's findings are. We have growing relationships as well, with battles waged against the new threat. It's an interesting premise, one that will appeal to space opera fans.

Buy Brightfall at Amazon

The Gods Will Sing Our Song by Autumn Krause

September 2026; Delacorte Press; 979-8217027668
audio, ebook, print (432 pages); YA historical romance

In 1942 California, Ren Hamada was defined by his troubled past, and Violet Aratani had straight-A grades while helping her parents run their print shop. The two have little in common beyond the old magic in their family relics and the US government forcing them into a concentration camp with other Japanese American families. An old god's mortal form is tethered to the camp, and Ren and Violet can free him. Doing so will earn a reward, but is it powerful enough to save them?

Following the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Japanese American families were sent to relocation camps with nothing but what they could fit into a suitcase. Food is limited, and supplies are often siphoned by opportunistic guards to sell on the black market. One resident is seen as a demented old man, but Ren and Violet see him as younger and capable of magic. While they try to find a way to free the god from his mortal form, life in the camp is difficult. Guards do what they want and blame the inmates, many of whom disagree on how to respond. Some of them try to work within the system to survive and help others, while some of them are full of rage and frustration. In a small space with too many people crammed inside against their will, too much can go wrong.

This period of history isn't often talked about, and affected many people in the United States. The story brings it home to us in a practical way, letting us see the small joys and the tragedies that occurred. Ren and Violet grow to love one another in these conditions, each trying to do what they can to protect lived one's despite the hurt in the camp. The connections they make help them through, with an epilogue that feels like a sigh of relief.

Buy The Gods Will Sing Our Song at Amazon

Hawk & Sparrow by Ayana Gray

September 2026; Balzer + Bray; 978-1250411235
audio, ebook print (352 pages); YA supernatural mystery

Vesper Evans is a reporter determined to keep The Basalton Globe afloat. As she covers a society gala, she stumbles across a body. Many of the magical elite in the city want him dead, but the prime suspect is wealthy industrialist Maximilian Kite. Max will pay Vesper a substantial fee to find the true murderer and restore his reputation. As much as she doesn't like his world, the money would save the struggling paper. The catch is, the two must pose as a couple in order to unearth the truth. Vesper may in danger of losing her heart as well as her life.

Vesper grew up poor and lives above the Globe. She loves the paper and searching for truth; she'd always been called odd because of her deduction skills and observations, and tendency to call people out on it. At the gala to display a machine that can replicate magic, it's inventor is killed. She and Maximilian are present, and both are aware that he could be the prime suspect. He suspects another rival, and together they start looking into who might be the true murderer. Posing as a couple gives Vesper access to the monied set, but too many accidents happen to Vesper for comfort.

This is a murder mystery set in a second world fantasy where technology and magic butt heads. Class and gender restrictions mirror the Gilded Age, where new money vs old money and similar technological advances existed. This is a large part of the motive and how the murderer gets away with it until Vesper and Max start looking into the truth. It's a clever investigation with a romance that came together neatly at the end.

Buy Hawk & Sparrow at Amazon

The Dreamless by Jen Williams

September 2026; Wednesday Books; 978-1250409317
audio, ebook, print (336 pages); YA monster fiction

Mother Maura had sacrificed Elver again, and she has come back a second time. She is more jih than human now, with new powers. The Queen of Serpents warns her that she will soon be called from the land of mortals. At the same time, Artair and Lucian form an uneasy truce as they share the same body and try to work with the part of Maura's power that they stole. It keeps her from becoming a god, and the trio looks for something able to kill a god. At the same time, the trio tries to work through their growing feelings for each other.

This the second half of the Sleepless duology. While we get a bit of summary here and there in the first few chapters, it's best to have read the first book so you know why Elver is different, and why Artair and Lucian share a body. We pick up with them on the run from Mother Maura, who achieved godhood and needs the last fragment of power to make it truly work. They are on the run, and Elver's changing body and power set make her uneasy. Artair and Lucian have to figure out how to use the magic Lucian stole while they're on the run. Mother Maura is desperate to find that magic to be whole, so as she makes allies of her own, the group feels that the very first monster made will be the weapon to take her down.

The book is almost all action. They move from one place to another, try to figure out what to do next, and then dodge some gods or receive help from others. Elver, Artair, and Lucian feel like chess pieces, and most gods don't care what happens to mortals. Maura broke the rules to become a god, and she doesn't care about them or her followers either. It becomes something of a race to the finish line, which kept me glued to the book. The quiet moments give us the character growth and closeness to care about them, and the growing respect Artair and Lucian develop even as they both care for Elver. The finale held surprises, and I enjoyed seeing how it all came together. It's a fascinating duology I will gladly reread.

Buy The Dreamless at Amazon

House of Gardenias by Isabel Cañas

September 2026; Dutton Books; 978-0593620410
audio, ebook, print (288 pages); YA ghost story

Minerva Treviño is a coward, but gathers enough courage to flee her abusive father and take a job as lady’s maid to Encarnación del Valle. The widow lets Minerva have food and a place to stay, and uses magical chispa to light her home. Encarnación goes to the family’s mountainside estate to wait out the inevitable slaughter of the viceroy’s enemies when he returns to power. At la Casa de las Gardenias, Minerva is surrounded by servants and scheming del Valles, as well as forces far older and more bloodthirsty than anything she could have imagined.

Chispa is a magical substance mined from the mountains and used by the rich as lighting, heating, and a power source. It also turns out to be the solidified life force of people. (We find this out later, but that's not a spoiler.) Minerva fled into Encarnación del Valle's employ, and the old woman is frail but strong willed. Amidst the political turmoil, personal for Minerva only because her brothers sided against the viceroy, she initially cares only for her own safety. It's hard to think about ideals when she's hungry, beaten, and feels like her brothers abandoned her. We understand her point of view, because it's how most of us are.

Ygnacio is a disembodied spirit haunting the house, and watches the del Valle family and their servants jockeying for power any way they can. It's easy to make them turn on each other, much like Encarnación had thought of them, and he thinks Minerva would be a tool to make it happen. As cowardly as she feels, there is a core of loyalty and strength as well, which Encarnación had nurtured in their time together. For all her faults, the old woman had some good as well. She and several other characters are more complicated than they first appear, and that makes them fascinating to read about. I kept reading to find out what happens next, and how Minerva would get through the maneuvers of the del Valles. It is an intense finale, and kept me hooked on every page.

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Born and raised in New York City, M.K. French started writing stories when very young, dreaming of different worlds and places to visit. She always had an interest in folklore, fairy tales, and the macabre, which has definitely influenced her work. She currently lives in the Midwest with her husband, three young children, and a golden retriever.

The Whisper by Chelsea Iversen ~ a Review

2026-08-31T06:30:00.000-04:00

by Donna Huber

A sweeping, atmospheric thriller following a group of friends and the power given to them by the trees.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free audiobook was provided for an honest review.

July 2026; Sourcebooks; 9781464286056
audio (9h 17m), ebook, print; supernatural thriller

I'm starting to work on my Halloween features for October. I don't read horror or much fantasy, but I do love supernatural thrillers. I missed The Whisper when it came out in July. Did you miss it too?

I loved the premise of this novel. Four best friends grew up together until the unthinkable happened, and now it has been years since they've spoken to each other.

The book is told from each girl's POV. Each chapter is labeled with the girl's name, so that is helpful. Unfortunately, the narrator didn't give distinct enough voices to the characters, so if I stopped the audiobook in the middle of the chapter and came back later, I would be a little confused about who I was listening to.

The story also flashes back to the past when the girls are still friends in high school. That added another layer of confusion for me.

When I could listen for longer chunks of time with limited distractions, I really liked the book. I wish I had read the book myself instead of listening to it as an audiobook.

There is a lot going on in this book. There are a lot of characters, which did not help with keeping everything straight in my head. You will need to be really focused if you choose to listen to the book.

If you are thinking about your Halloween reading list and want more thrills than chills, then put this book on your list.

Buy The Whisper at Amazon

Donna Huber is an avid reader and natural encourager. She is the founder of Girl Who Reads and the author of how-to marketing book Secrets to a Successful Blog Tour.