The Sweetest Fiend review

Book: The Sweetest Fiend

Author: Raven Kennedy

Pages: 479

Date(s) Read: October 3^rd, 2026 to October 27^th, 2026

Date Published: September 22^nd, 2026

Rating: 4/5

Genre: Fae, Fantasy, Romantasy

Characters: 4/5

Writing style: 5/5

Story: 4/5

Ending:  5/5

Cover: 4/5 (Fairyloot)

Format: Hard Cover

Date Bought: September 3rd, 2026

Book Cost: $40.00

Review:

The Sweetest Fiend is an imaginative retelling of The Pied Piper.

 

In The Sweetest Fiend, Esti, a much-discriminated fiend, is one of over 100 people taken by the Pied Piper when he rids her town of the plague in lieu of payment from their govern. Forced to a remote town, she begins to see there is a motive for the Pied Piper taking the citizens and unravels a plan to save the world. Along the way, love for him blooms as they fall for each other, but after a world shattering secret is revealed, will their love survive...that one isn't answered in this book.

 

I really enjoyed this. The banter between her and the Piper is amazing, it had me laughing and kicking my feet. There's so much chemistry here; it's sizzling. I loved the side characters' conversations and quips too; I don't think anyone could dislike Conrad.

 

Esti herself is a wonderful main character. She's sweet, moral, kind, determined, and strong but extremely guarded. I really enjoyed her character growth. The Pied Piper himself is charismatic, sexy, and flirty. I could not get enough of his innuendo and comments. He will charm you right away.

 

The ending though, mind blowing. I'm already desperate to find out what happens, and Book Two hasn't even been announced. The only thing left to do now is wonder and wait while I leave this delectable romance ruminating while I wait for answers.

Swallows review

 

Book: Swallows

Author: Natsuo Kirino

Pages: 352

Date(s) Read: September 24^th, 2026 to October 24^th, 2026

Date Published: September 9^th, 2025

Rating: 3/5

Genre: Thriller?

Characters: 4/5

Writing style: 5/5

Story: 3/5

Ending:  2/5

Cover: 1/5

Format: Hard Cover

Date Bought: August 3^rd, 2025

Book Cost: $14.50

Review:

Swallows is an interesting book but falls short, it's not a thriller either which was what I expected.

 

In Swallows Riki becomes a surrogate mother in a desperate bid for money. It's rather uneventful, but the writing style makes you feel like more is happening than it is.

 

This book does pose a lot of questions about a woman's reproductive age and value as a person in relation to it. It shows how surrogacy preys on desperate women with few choices. There's also a deep exploration of parental family dynamics and procreation, as well as family expectations about grandchildren and continuing family lineage. It's truly a multilayered book that looks at the intricacies behind one's decision to both have children and be a surrogate.  There are also interesting characters, motivations, and relationships that center around the characters that show how decisions can become complicated by bringing other people into your choices and decisions. That part of the book is truly well done.

 

But outside of its deep philosophical questions about womanhood and motherhood, it just falls flat as a story. The story really doesn't go anywhere. The ending was abrupt and a huge letdown as well after all of the buildup.

 

I love Natsuo Kirinos writing style and her other books, but this left me feeling very hollow.

The Wretched Divine review

 

Book: The Wretched Divine

Author: Adalyn Grace

Pages: 512

Date(s) Read: September 28^th, 2026 to October 18^th, 2026

Date Published: September 22^nd, 2026

Rating: 5/5

Genre: Romantasy, Angels, Fantasy

Characters: 5/5

Writing style: 5/5

Story: 5/5

Ending:  5/5

Cover: 5/5 (UK)

Format: Hard Cover

Date Bought: September 1^st, 2026

Book Cost: $16.00

Review:

The Wretched Divine is romantasy done to perfection.

 

In the Wretched Divine knight Aurelie becomes bound to both an Angel, Yuriel, and a Demon named Severin in a bid to save her father Varen -- a knight commander turned demon.

 

The banter and sexual tension between Aurelie, Severin, and Yuri are off the charts. I couldn't get enough of either. The scenes with Aurelie and Severin in particular are smoldering. I also liked Aurelies friendship with both Vex and Ilaria. Ilaria's perspective adds a lot of depth to the story and is always a nice change of pace. Getting a look into Yuri's past really pushes the momentum and gives a lot of insight into his thinking and actions, giving a character that would be flat by any other writer a tremendous amount of dimension. 

 

Aside from perfect pacing, the world-building is truly immersive. You feel fully invested in the history and lore. Information is fed to you steadily so you never feel overwhelmed or bogged down by info dumps.

 

If you are looking for a flawless and fantastic romantasy this needs to be at the very top of your TBR. Honestly, this is my book of the year, and it might be yours too.

Somebody Worth Killing review

 

Book: Somebody Worth Killing

Author: Jessica Payne

Pages: 304

Date(s) Read: September 27^th, 2026 to October 14^th, 2026

Date Published: June 16^th, 2026

Rating: 3/5

Genre: Thriller

Characters: 3/5

Writing style: 5/5

Story: 3/5

Ending:  1/5

Cover: 3/5

Format: Hard Cover

Date Bought: September 3^rd, 2026

Book Cost: $25.82

Review:

This was a novel I had a lot of hope for and paid a lot of money for ($25!) And I have to say im underwhelmed in every way.

 

In Somebody Worth Killing Nadia is a hitman...er...woman. She gets a big deal hit job with an even bigger payday; the only problem? The hit is her husband.

 

It's a super compelling concept, very Mr. and Mrs. Smith.

 

It's a shame, but the story just falls apart in the last 15 percent. I haven't seen anything this rushed since that math test I had where I marked the last 25 questions "c" in a bid to finish before the end of class. Everything about the ending is rushed: the resolution, the mystery man behind the hit, what her husband really does, the logistics about her job and his, and even the questions about her grandmother. Its like the author sat down, got 35 pages from the end and thought, "I'd better wrap this up".

 

It's compelling, fun, and fast-paced until that last bit of the book, and then it falls apart faster than my homemade onigiri. It feels like there might be another book at some point, but I'm too let down to wonder if I'll care enough to pick it up by the time that happens.

The Witch Queen review

 

Book: The Witch Queen

Author: Heather Walter

Pages: 544

Date(s) Read: August 11^th, 2026 to October 10^th, 2026

Date Published: August 4^th, 2026

Rating: 5/5

Genre: Fantasy, Romantasy

Characters: 5/5

Writing style: 5/5

Story: 5/5

Ending:  5/5

Cover: 3/5

Format: Hard Cover

Date Bought: February 4^th, 2026

Book Cost: $32.48

Review:

The Witch Queen is a fabulous ending to the duology. A must-read if you liked the first.

 

In this sapphic fairytale fantasy follow-up to the Crimson Crown we follow Ayleth, now queen, as she hunts down witches, battles Blodwyn in Court, and deals with reignited flames for Jacquetta.

 

I loved everything about this: the differing POVs, the romance, the pacing, and above all else the ending. This book was everything I had hoped it would be and more.

The Emperor's Enemy review

 

Book: The Emperor's Enemy

Author: Jasmine Mas

Pages: 448

Date(s) Read: September 23^rd, 2026 to October 3^rd, 2026

Date Published: September 15^th, 2026

Rating: 2/5

Genre: Fae, Romantasy, Fantasy

Characters: 3/5

Writing style: 1/5

Story: 2/5

Ending:  3/5

Cover: 5/5

Format: Hard Cover

Date Bought: September 4^th, 2026

Book Cost: $31.60

Review:

Wow, this is a tough book to rate! It's bad, so so so bad and yet, I could not put it down.

 

In the emperors enemy Zora must work with her arch-nemesis, Tarantula. He's the emporers right hand man and now that he's captured she has to train with him, spar with him, and go on missions with him while trying to take down the mysterious but equally evil empero Emperor'sr. They both finding working together harder than they thought when both are both polarized and attracted to the other in this true enemies-to-lovers romantasy.

 

OK, where to begin. This book is bad, like astonishingly how-did-she-get-published bad. To think someone actually read and published this trash is beyond me. It's a train wreck.

 

The world building doesn't exist at all. All I can glean is the world is somehow both ancient and modern (there's missiles and planes but no photographers so they just paint portraits of big events!) There's also weird modern things like the term cosplaying or his request that she sit on his face (I'm not joking) that really break the immersion in a fantasy world. None of the particulars in this world fit together in any cohesive way. I just could not picture it, and anytime I tried to make it make sense I just found myself stressed out with a headache.

 

Aside from the lack of world building everything is dropped suddenly and randomly, like the author came up with it on the spot with no buildup or relevant background information, events and missions just happen and you have no real context. A good example is around three thirds of the way through she passes the trial of some godlike being never once previously mentioned. No, the trial wasn't ever before mentioned either.

 

God, the more I think about it, the more I could kick myself for being taken in for thirty-one dollars because of a pretty cover.

 

Here's where things get interesting though, it's a bad book, there's no denying but it does do some things well. First, the chemistry and yearning are off the charts. I was so invested in the romance, more so than any books recently. The banter is great, I enjoyed the animal sidekick and her friends. I have to admit that despite everything holding this book back it was a total blast to read and I couldn't put it down.

 

Essentially this book is so bad it's good.

 

But will I read the next one when it comes out? Maybe, but not at full price.

Tomb Raider Colossal Collection Volume 1 review

 

Book: Tomb Raider Colossal Collection 1

Author: Various

Pages: 888

Date(s) Read: August 27^th, 2026 to October 2^nd, 2026

Date Published: July 1^st, 2025

Rating: 5/5

Genre: Comics

Characters: 5/5

Writing style: 5/5

Story: 5/5

Ending:  5/5

Cover: 5/5

Format: Hard Cover

Date Bought: August 25^th, 2026

Book Cost: $65.39

Review:

The Tomb Raider Colossal Collection volume 1 is a stunning edition of the first half of Topcows Tomb Raider comics.

 

We follow Lara Croft as she goes on several adventures across more than 24 issues of the classic comic series. These stories are fun, fast-paced, and true to the games.

 

The art is stunning. 80 percent of the book has some of the best comic art to print, with vibrant colors that help bring life to gorgeous pencils. Panels are expertly rendered and Lara herself has all of the sex appeal, charisma, and personality of her video game counterpart. There is also a rather large and magnificent cover gallery featuring works by master artists such as Adam Hughes and Andy Park; there are even two Michael Turner pieces. In particular, I loved the Randy Green works.

 

The book itself is a master of craftsmanship with tightly bound, glossy, thick pages. It's a stunning hard cover book that even has headbands. This is a book worth every cent.

 

If you love Lara Croft, hot women, and great art, this action-packed collection is sure to please.