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.

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.

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!

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

Review | A House with Good Bones by T. Kingfisher

March 19, 2026 DeAnneLeave a comment

Sam Montgomery is worried about her mother. She seems anxious, jumpy, and she’s begun making mystifying changes to the family home on Lammergeier Lane. Sam figures it has something to do with her mother’s relationship to Sam’s late, unlamented grandmother.

She’s not wrong.

As vultures gather around the house and frightful family secrets are unearthed under the rosebushes, Sam struggles to unravel the truth about the house on Lammergeier Lane before it consumes her and everyone else who stands in its way…

Amazon | Goodreads

Be warned, if you have a bug ick, go into this book knowing there is a lot of talk and descriptions of bugs. Lots of bugs.

That being said, we follow Sam, who is an entomologist as she goes home to visit her mother. Not just because her job is on hold, but also to check on her mom and make sure she’s ok. When she arrives, she definitely understands why there is concern, as it seems her mother has lost a lot of weight and her personality/memories seem to have been altered in some way – or have they?

I thoroughly enjoy T. Kingfisher’s brand of horror and am slowly reading a lot of her backlist, but I wouldn’t say this one was my favorite. For me the pacing seemed a little slow, though it was very atmospheric and definitely creepy. I enjoyed Sam as a main character, with her blend of scientific logic and fierce concern for her mother. I also really appreciated the twist on family and generational trauma that this put a lens to, specifically how those who raised you can shape you and their flaws, good or bad.

Happy reading!

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

Review | The Wizard’s Way by Lisa Kelly

March 12, 2026 DeAnneLeave a comment

Magic runs in her blood. She just doesn’t know it yet.

Twelve-year-old Katie didn’t expect much from a summer at her grandfather’s creepy old mansion—certainly not strange voices echoing up the fireplace or a magical scroll that opens a portal to another world. But when her grandfather vanishes, Katie discovers a hidden realm called O’Mirra…and a mission she can’t ignore.

With her little sister Jenny and a young apprentice wizard named Aiden, Katie must brave a cursed swamp, battle twisted creatures, and unlock her hidden powers to bring her grandfather home. But a dark force called Diabolus has bound itself to Madgar, a power-hungry would-be king determined to conquer O’Mirra. If Katie can’t master her magic in time, she’ll lose not only her grandfather—but her very soul.

Author Website | Amazon | Goodreads

Two sisters, a missing grandfather and a portal to another world – what could go wrong?

In The Wizard’s Way we primarily follow Katie, a 12 year old who is dealing with the recent divorce of her parents which she blames herself for and the fact that she always feels out of place – and her sister Jenny, an 11 year old who is nearly her opposite. In the wake of their parents divorce they go to stay with their grandfather. Both sisters have different opinions about their parents’ divorce so there’s definitely some friction and disagreements.

The story really picks up when their grandfather disappears to another world and Katie and Jenny decide that they are the ones to save him.

The story does start slow, but once it gets going there’s a lot of adventure, growth, a little coming of age and a bunch of fun characters to meet. Katie and Jenny are far more complex than you would think in a middle grade, both with their unique personalities, insecurities and feelings.

There is a decent amount of world building that perhaps brings down the pace a little, but once the story really gets going it will fully absorb you. This is slated to be the first in a series, so it will be interesting to see what happens with Katie and Jenny in coming books.

Thanks to the author for reaching out and sending me a copy of this one!

Happy reading!

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

Review | Automatic Noodle by Annalee Newitz

March 7, 2026 DeAnneLeave a comment

You don’t have to eat food to know the way to a city’s heart is through its stomach. So when a group of deactivated robots come back online in an abandoned ghost kitchen, they decide to make their own way doing what they making food—the tastiest hand-pulled noodles around—for the humans of San Francisco, who are recovering from a devastating war.

But when their robot-run business starts causing a stir, a targeted wave of one-star reviews threatens to boil over into a crisis. To keep their doors open, they’ll have to call on their customers, their community, and each other—and find a way to survive and thrive in a world that wasn’t built for them.

Amazon | Goodreads

What happens when a group of robots wake up to discover their business shut down without any communication and debts they need to pay? They run the restaurant themselves!

Automatic Noodle tells the story of 4 robots who ‘wake up’ to discover that a number of months ago they had been shut down by their contract holders with no warning. Facing their own debts and wanting to stick together they need to figure out a way to re-open their restaurant, the way they want to.

On the surface this sounds purely like a fun and cozy sci fi, but there’s lots of commentary through the robots eyes that hit very close to home in the current climate. California is its own nation after a war with the rest of America, and working on rebuilding. One of the changes? Robots have civil rights…but not all rights. It’s very reminiscent of the gradual gaining of rights after slavery ended, or after women started getting rights (such as being able to have their own bank accounts…which here, robots cannot). The robots are in constant fear of being discovered while also trying to make enough money to survive without being sold off.

The relationships between the robots (and some human friends) are genuine and each of their personalities is unique. It’s a quick read, but definitely has a lot of heart at its core, tackling subject and prejudices that are common even today.

Happy reading!

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

Review | Lunar New Year Love Story by Gene Luen Yang

February 25, 2026 DeAnneLeave a comment

Graphic novel superstars Gene Luen Yang and LeUyen Pham join forces in this heartwarming rom-com about fate, family, forgiveness, and lion dancing.

Valentina Tran was named after Valentine’s Day, which used to be her favorite holiday. But when Val learns the truth behind what happened with her parents and why she’s being raised by a single father, she realizes true love is a lie. This is reinforced when she meets the spirit of Saint Valentine, who tells her she and her family are cursed to always be unlucky in love. Val is ready to give into her fate, until one Lunar New Year festival, where a mysterious lion dancer hands her a paper heart, and ZING. Val becomes determined to change her destiny, prove Saint Valentine wrong, and give her heart to the right person.

Meanwhile, lion dancing is the only thing that has given Jae peace after his dad passed away. It’s also what keeps him connected to his father’s side of the family. Both Jae and his cousin Leslie notice Val at the Lunar New Year festival, and for some inexplicable reason, Jae hands Val a paper heart. But it’s Leslie, with his K-Pop good looks, who starts to date Val. Jae still feels this connection with Val and feels it’s somehow tied to how he feels about losing his father.

Both Val and Jae struggle with the spirits who haunt them as they are inextricably brought together in a love story that is satisfying, sweet, and moving.

As a kid, Valentina believes in true love and has an imaginary friend who helps her create valentines every year for Valentine’s Day which is not only her favorite holiday but also her birthday. As she gets older certain truths come to light and she comes to realize that love isn’t the easy fairytale she once thought it was. She has to navigate the hard truths that come with being a teenager, the child of a single parent, figuring out not only who she is but who she wants to be and how much she values certain relationships.

This story is not only about the complications of young love (or love in general), but also struggles with family and how they might let you down, finding your own identity outside of what is expected of you and more. Hands down my favorite portions were all the talk and depiction of lion dancing, they were beautifully illustrated and perfectly accompany Valentina’s story.

Happy reading!

Review | What Stalks the Deep by T. Kingfisher

February 23, 2026 DeAnneLeave a comment

The next installment in the New York Times bestselling Sworn Soldier series, featuring Alex Easton investigating the dark, mysterious depths of a coal mine in America.

Alex Easton does not want to visit America.

They particularly do not want to visit an abandoned coal mine in West Virginia with a reputation for being haunted.

But when their old friend Dr. Denton summons them to help find his lost cousin—who went missing in that very mine—well, sometimes a sworn soldier has to do what a sworn soldier has to do…

Alex Easton is back and this time they’re traveling to America to help out Denton, who we might remember from the first book in this series. Be warned, if you are claustrophobic or have an issue with caves/mines, this one might not be for you – since a lot of the book occurs in a mine, there’s a lot of descriptions of tight spaces.

As with the previous books, Alex and Angus journey together to help figure out what is going on in the Hollow Elk mine. Alex’s internal and sometimes external commentary on America and the situation is hilarious and as always their voice is unique and clear. I really enjoy the characters that Kingfisher crafts in this series, not just Alex and Angus, but the supporting characters too – they all have their own distinct voices, which can be hard to keep consistant.

I don’t know if more installments are planned in this series, but I would definitely pick them up if there were, I would love to see where Alex’s travels take them next.

Happy reading!