Review | The Arcane Realm Chronicles by Larissa Antonioni

April 15, 2026 DeAnneLeave a comment

“I only killed in one of two ways. By the high lord’s command, or to protect her.”

Renwick

Renwick, the high lord’s most trusted assassin, has been captivated by Davina for years. He has always kept his feelings buried beneath layers of duty, but a growing threat surrounding her makes it hard for him to keep his distance.

Balancing duty and desire, he is torn between his loyalty to Lord Arwen and his need to protect Davina. She is the key to secrets that could unravel the realm, and Renwick wants her–magic, darkness, and all.

Davina

Sixteen years ago, Davina’s parents died under mysterious circumstances, leaving her with a legacy of dark secrets and forbidden magic. Ever since, she has hidden her abilities while serving at Asterin’s Temple, determined to live a quiet life alongside her best friend.

When a murder eerily similar to the one from her childhood surfaces, Davina’s world shatters and her magic threatens to escape.

Their Story

Thrust into a realm of lies and power, Davina and Renwick’s paths collide. Pursuing powerful enemies, and unraveling the truth behind the mysterious murders, they must decide if love can triumph over duty–and if hope can illuminate shadows of the past.

Amazon | Goodreads

Now he’s had her, and he’ll never let her go.

Renwick

Once the high lord’s most trusted assassin, Renwick is no longer bound by obedience alone. His bond to Davina—his Kindraid, his fated mate—ties him to her pain, her power, and the truths she has yet to face.

Protecting her means defying the very systems that shaped him. As the realm fractures under tyranny and betrayal, Renwick must confront the secrets he’s kept and consider how far he’s willing to go to keep his mate alive.

Davina

Davina is broken and captive in the high lord’s manor. Her magic is stolen, her body is destroyed. But she was not weak. She is heir to a throne she never wanted and power that grows by the minute. Haunted by voices whispering of ruin and rule alike, Davina must decide what kind of queen she will become. The darkness within her grows stronger with every truth uncovered, every betrayal revealed.

Their Story Continues

Bound by magic, pain, and a love forged in shadows, Davina and Renwick stand against a corrupt, devastating world.

As ancient powers stir and their home edges closer to collapse, they must decide whether love can survive the weight of crowns and chains.

Will Davina and Renwick survive the pressure and admit they need each other more than ever?

Amazon | Goodreads

Picking up this one immediately after finishing the first one was definitely the way to go. We jump right back into the story. There are a lot of reveals and immediate action needing to be taken. There is a ton of adventure in this installment and the romance just keeps growing.

I didn’t feel like the pacing was as solid as the first one, but it was still enjoyable and a great continuation. I still really enjoyed the writing style and found it easy to consume, so even though it moved a little slower for me, I still devoured it.

Happy reading!

Review | As You Wish by Danika Brown

April 14, 2026 DeAnneLeave a comment

Honey Braxton doesn’t break rules, she enforces them. As an auditor for the Bureau of Magical Compliance, she specializes in wishing wells. Her audits are thorough, her judgments final, and her detachment absolute.

Her latest assignment lands her on the orchard of Ethan Hale, a skeptical single father who has no time for magic, or the cheerful meddling of his three children.

When Honey discovers that the kids used the family’s long-forgotten wishing well to keep the farm afloat, she knows her revoke the unauthorized wishes, file her report, and walk away.

But something about Ethan and his family tugs at her tightly guarded heart and Honey finds her once-clear rules beginning to blur.

With her boss pressuring her to close the case, and the orchard hanging in the balance, Honey faces a uphold the rules and risk destroying the fragile happiness this family has found—or break them, jeopardizing the career she’s spent her life building.

And in the midst of it all, she finds herself considering the one thing she swore she never making a wish of her own.

Amazon | Goodreads

When you combine a grumpy dad, three mischievous daughters, a straight laced rule following auditor, a baby goat and Cluck Norris – you know it’s going to be a fun time. What surprised me about what I thought was going to be a very light hearted and magical rom com, was all the hard hitting emotional gut punches. Honey and Ethan are so well developed it’s hard not to feel like they are real people, with their individual life issues – Ethan with his struggle to keep everything together for his three girls (but stubbornly refusing to look for help) and Honey with her plans and determination for her life to follow a very specific path.

They definitely clash, for a number of reasons, but they come to understand each other. There are lots of misunderstandings, flares of temper and hardships – but there are a lot of beautiful moments too. The relationships that are built, not just between Honey and Ethan, but the town itself, really set the stage for what I hope are a number of upcoming books.

As You Wish came out today! Make sure to pick it up!

Happy reading!

*Disclaimer: Amazon links included may be affiliate links that I receive a commission on if purchased through.

Review | The Forgetting Navigations by Marlee Jane Ward

April 11, 2026 DeAnne1 Comment

Abandoned in a lifepod in the vastness of space, Evey is left for dead. When the bookish freight hauler Shirr rescues her, the two form a connection over tea and unspoken trauma. Just when things feel safe again, their peace is threatened by a relic of their past, and they’re forced to embark on a mission across the stars to protect themselves and others from the threat of violence. THE FORGETTING NAVIGATIONS is a brutally honest exploration of what it means to be a survivor, set against the brilliant backdrop of the cosmos.

Amazon | Goodreads

The start of this book is immediate action, you immediately know the stakes are high for our main character, Evey, and that she is in immediate danger. The story and the events that came before unfold slowly as Evey does what she can to survive. The writing is very atmospheric and even in moments where there isn’t a lot of action, very compelling and fast paced.

There is a lot of alluding and discussion of SA, especially the aftereffects of the trauma. Evey goes through quite a journey in this story, learning how to heal and how to come back to herself after what she goes through, as well as reclaiming herself in the process.

Thanks to Interstellar Flight Press for the review copy through Netgalley!

Happy reading!

*Disclaimer: Amazon links included may be affiliate links that I receive a commission on if purchased through.

Review | A Universe of Wishes

April 9, 2026April 8, 2026 DeAnne2 Comments

From We Need Diverse Books, the organization behind Flying Lessons & Other Stories, comes a young adult fantasy short story collection featuring some of the best own-voices children’s authors, including New York Times bestselling authors Libba Bray (The Diviners), Victoria Schwab (A Darker Shade of Magic), Natalie C. Parker (Seafire), and many more. Edited by Dhonielle Clayton (The Belles).

In the fourth collaboration with We Need Diverse Books, fifteen award-winning and celebrated diverse authors deliver stories about a princess without need of a prince, a monster long misunderstood, memories that vanish with a spell, and voices that refuse to stay silent in the face of injustice. This powerful and inclusive collection contains a universe of wishes for a braver and more beautiful world.

AUTHORS INCLUDE: Samira Ahmed, Libba Bray, Dhonielle Clayton, Zoraida Córdova, Tessa Gratton, Kwame Mbalia, Anna-Marie McLemore, Tochi Onyebuchi, Mark Oshiro, Natalie C. Parker, Rebecca Roanhorse, Victoria Schwab, Tara Sim, Nic Stone, and a to-be-announced debut author/short-story contest winner.

Amazon | Goodreads

The fourth installment in the We Need Diverse stories anthologies, this one contains 15 own voices stories that involve a wish in some ways. I enjoyed all of the different writing styles and cultures represented in this anthology. There are a few tied to other series, such as V.E. Schwab’s A Darker Shade of Magic series, so be warned if you haven’t read any that are from those universes.

In many ways the stories carry a theme, not just of wishing, but of what each character may want deep in their heart, even if that is not achievable. Some stories definitely leave you wanting to know more of the story, while others feel complete.

Overall it was an enjoyable read, told in each of the author’s unique styles, but not all of the stories captured me. I always enjoy We Need Diverse Stories anthologies because you do get that wonderful mix of cultures and experiences, but this one, while enjoyable, wasn’t my favorite so far.

Happy reading!

*Disclaimer: Amazon links included may be affiliate links that I receive a commission on if purchased through.

Review | The Body by Bethany C. Morrow

April 7, 2026April 7, 2026 DeAnne1 Comment

The Body is a pulse-pounding supernatural horror story from bestselling author Bethany C. Morrow, where one woman must survive a series of bizarre and escalating attacks on her marriage.

Mavis broke from her parents’ congregation years ago, but she still hasn’t recovered. Their impossible expectations and soul-shredding critiques have dug deep into her mind, and she’s taunted by the knowledge that even when she’s done nothing wrong, she’ll never be right.

Now Mavis is afraid she’s about to lose the only thing she has: her husband, Jerrod. The man she’s always known was too good to be true. No one thinks she deserves him—not even after surviving the serial cheater they wanted her to stick by—and soon they’ll all find out they were right.

Mavis is already unraveling when a brush with death shows her what real fear looks like. Soon, she’s under constant attack from all directions. As the assaults turn increasingly vicious and bizarre, Mavis realizes that Hell isn’t reserved for the afterlife.

And sinner or not, no one is coming to save her.

Amazon | Goodreads

This was a book I hadn’t heard about until I received in in my Owlcrate horror box, but I figured I would give it a go.

The Body centers around Mavis and her husband Jerrod, the former of which starts the book off with a rather nasty car accident that leaves her shaken and injured, but not terribly so. She’s more shaken by the fact that the people who hit her were a couple she knew. That event sets off an essential landslide of eerie events.

This was an interesting take on religious horror, but there were times I felt it didn’t quite go far enough with the supernatural element. It definitely could have been fleshed out more and more developed in the premise. There was also a lot of back and forth timeline wise, which at some points was a little confusing as it was abrupt at times.

Overall it certainly had that creepy factor and a whole different take on how binding certain things can be – but I felt it didn’t quite go far enough in the way of fleshing out the concept.

Happy reading!

*Disclaimer: Amazon links included may be affiliate links that I receive a commission on if purchased through.

Weekly Reading Update | 3/23-3/29

March 30, 2026 DeAnneLeave a comment

Hi everyone! I’m trying to be more diligent about keeping track of my weekly reading and post about this on instagram, so figured I would post here too!

Last week was a little bit of a struggle in terms of reading, I had grand plans but other things demanded my attention and it was a struggle with some of my chronic illnesses flaring. Still, I’m happy with what I managed to get done and the progress I made.

One of my goals this year it to get my backlog on Netgalley up to date, and both Meet Me at Blue Hour and Hart & Souls were from that list.

What did you manage to read last week?

Happy reading!

Review | Hart & Souls by Lisa Schmid

March 28, 2026 DeAnneLeave a comment

After getting bullied at Figueroa Elementary, Stix Hart wants nothing more than to fly below the radar at middle school. He’s heard all the horror stories, but none involved ghosts.

On Stix’s first day of sixth grade, his anxiety is off the charts. It doesn’t help when he spots a kid who reminds him of his old bully, Xander Mack. Soon after, he encounters two other students who take a keen interest in him. He quickly learns the spooky truth—the trio are lost souls in need of a solid. When the ghosts tell him they’ve been stuck in middle school for decades, it’s up to Stix to figure out how to help these not-so-normal new friends.

Solving this paranormal predicament will take some serious sleuthing and a tremendous act of courage. Can Stix solve this mystery and help these spirits move on before it’s too late?

Amazon | Goodreads

Stix is starting 6th grade/middle school at a new school where he may or may not have classes with people he knows, he’s struggling with anxiety and panic attacks and worried about bullies. Add on to all that the fact that he meets three ghosts of students past, who need his help. Sounds like a doozy of a first day, doesn’t it?

I really enjoyed Stix’s journey through this book, not just in his endeavor to help the three ghosts he encounters, but also learning how to have his own agency and navigate his anxiety and middle school all at once. We see a lot of the struggles that many kids face when going into a new grade or a new school and seeing Stix deal with his anxiety and panic attacks, also learning to come more to grips with things like friends growing apart and the awkwardness of the age.

The three ghosts he meets have their own stories and issues, so it’s great to see Stix bond with them and help them with their unfinished business. The moments where he’s trying to converse with them and other people happen upon him are adorably awkward and require quick thinking on his part. As it’s a middle grade read it is very quick, but wraps up really well with everyone’s story feeling complete.

Happy reading!

*Disclaimer: Amazon links included may be affiliate links that I receive a commission on if purchased through.

Review | Meet Me at Blue Hour by Sarah Suk

March 27, 2026 DeAnneLeave a comment

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind meets Past Lives in this gripping, emotional story of two childhood friends navigating the fallout of one erasing their memory of the other, from acclaimed author Sarah Suk.

Seventeen-year-old Yena Bae is spending the summer in Busan, South Korea, working at her mom’s memory-erasing clinic. She feels lost and disconnected from people, something she’s felt ever since her best friend, Lucas, moved away four years ago without a word, leaving her in limbo.

Eighteen-year-old Lucas Pak is also in Busan for the summer, visiting his grandpa, who was recently diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. But he isn’t just here for a regular visit—he’s determined to get his beloved grandpa into the new study running at the clinic, a trial program seeking to restore lost memories.

When Yena runs into Lucas again, she’s shocked to see him and even more shocked to discover that he doesn’t remember a thing about her. He’s completely erased her from his memories, and she has no idea why.

As the two reconnect, they unravel the mystery and heartache of what happened between them all those years ago—and must now reckon with whether they can forge a new beginning together.

Amazon | Goodreads

In this book we follow Yena, who is the daughter of the famous Dr. Bey who discovered memory removal technology. By using specific sounds associated with memories they are able to remove memories that people wish removed. As you can imagine this is an exciting technology but also controversial. Yena is spending the summer in Korea with her mother to hopefully spend some time with her, but also perhaps find some direction for herself. Dr. Bey is on the edge of a breakthrough, starting a study to see if they can use the same technology to restore memories that have been lost – so as you can guess, finding time to spend with Yena isn’t the easiest.

We also follow Lucas, who was Yena’s childhood best friend until he and his family moved away four years prior without a word. Lucas is in Korea visiting his uncle and grandfather, who is suffering from Alzheimer’s. He’s heard about Dr. Bey’s new study and desperately wants to get his grandfather into it.

What follows is an incredibly deep story that asks important questions regarding whether or not memories should be tampered with, how their removal could very well cause a ripple effect among those close to the individual who had memories removed and more. Combine this with a lot of talks regarding Alzheimer’s as we see the struggle that Lucas’ grandfather has with his diagnosis, and the pain Lucas feels as he witnesses that struggle. As the story unfolds we do find out why Lucas’ family left without a word and why Yena hasn’t heard from him since and get to see them rebuild the relationship they used to have while wrestling with their personal dilemmas.

I was not expecting this story to be as emotional as it was, both in the discussion of memory loss, but Yena’s relationship with her parents and her relationship with Lucas. There are a lot of hard truths about families and relationships that just go straight to the heart.

Happy reading!

*Disclaimer: Amazon links included may be affiliate links that I receive a commission on if purchased through.

Can’t Wait Wednesday | 3/25/2026

March 25, 2026 DeAnneLeave a comment

Can’t Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings based on the meme Waiting on Wednesday by Breaking the Spine. In this weekly post people share a book that they’re excited about being released.

This week’s pick comes out on April 14th, so it’s coming up really soon! I’ve got it on pre-order, but I’m thinking it will definitely be featured in a book box or two.

October, 2026: Lee Turner doesn’t remember how or why he killed his college roommate. The details are blurred and bloody. All he knows is he has to flee New York and go to the one place that might offer refuge—his father’s new home in Japan, a house hidden by sword ferns and wild ginger. But something is terribly wrong with the house: no animals will come near it, the bedroom window isn’t always a window, and a woman with a sword appears in the yard when night falls.

October, 1877: Sen is a young samurai in exile, hiding from the imperial soldiers in a house behind the sword ferns. A monster came home from war wearing her father’s face, but Sen would do anything to please him, even turn her sword on her own mother. She knows the soldiers will soon slaughter her whole family when she sees a terrible omen: a young foreign man who appears outside her window.

One of these people is a ghost, and one of these stories is a lie.

Something is hiding beneath the house of sword ferns, and Lee and Sen will soon wish they never unburied it.

Amazon | Goodreads

Happy reading!

*Disclaimer: Amazon links included may be affiliate links that I receive a commission on if purchased through.

Review | Come Tumbling Down by Seanan McGuire

March 21, 2026 DeAnneLeave a comment

When Jack left Eleanor West’s School for Wayward Children she was carrying the body of her deliciously deranged sister—whom she had recently murdered in a fit of righteous justice—back to their home on the Moors.

But death in their adopted world isn’t always as permanent as it is here, and when Jack is herself carried back into the school, it becomes clear that something has happened to her. Something terrible. Something of which only the maddest of scientists could conceive. Something only her friends are equipped to help her overcome.

Eleanor West’s “No Quests” rule is about to be broken.

Again.

Amazon | Goodreads | Wayward Children Series

I’m finally diving back into the Wayward Children series and honestly, I’m kind of upset it took me so long. While you could probably read any installment in the series by itself, I wouldn’t recommend it. There are definitely characters that you see throughout the series and this one is a perfect example as it’s the conclusion of Jack and Jill’s story, which carried through 3 of the books so far.

I loved returning to Jack and Jill’s story and seeing the conclusion to their paths. Most of the book is spent in their world, the Moors, and includes not only them, but a number of other students from the school. Diving more into Jack’s motivations and psyche as well as seeing the aftermath of what happened in the first book. We see some real emotional depth and very human reactions from Jack, dare I say some vulnerability, so it was really nice to see more fleshing out to her character.

Happy reading!