Dark Knights of Steel II: Issue One by Tom Taylor, et al.

 Dark Knights of Steel II: Issue One by Tom Taylor, et al.-32 pages

⭐⭐⭐⭐.5/5

An entire medieval world was forever changed when a spaceship crashlanded from a doomed planet. Monarchs died, kingdoms rose, long-buried treachery came to light…and a League was born. Now an ancient, violent war brews beneath the waves, one that promises untold destruction should it break the surface. If the League hopes to weather it and protect the lands of its realms and beyond, it must first root out the treasonous agents hiding in plain sight amidst its own ranks! Worldwide bestselling writer Tom Taylor (Detective Comics, Nightwing) and acclaimed artist Otto Schmidt (DC vs. Vampires, Green Arrow) welcome you back to the epic high-fantasy world of Dark Knights of Steel, where the darkest days yet still lie ahead!

Thoughts: I really enjoyed reading the original Dark Knights of Steel, so when I heard about this sequel, I was intrigued. I am enjoying it so far. I really like the fantasy elements mixed in. It's not your normal superhero story.

Absolute Wonder Woman Vol. 3: Season of the Witch by Kelly Thompson, et al.

 Absolute Wonder Woman Vol. 3: Season of the Witch by Kelly Thompson, et al.-216 pages

⭐⭐⭐⭐.25/5

Eisner Award winners Kelly Thompson and Hayden Sherman continue their bestselling, critically acclaimed take on Wonder Woman with the debut of Absolute Zatanna!

The Mark of Hecate, the symbol on Diana’s arm, shows up at a series of crime scenes in Gotham, drawing her into Batman’s orbit and kicking off a deadly team-up—the very first in the Absolute Universe!

But back in Gateway City, a familiar face has emerged—Zatanna Zatara, the Mistress of Magic. This time, her appearance is no dream—instead, it’s pure nightmare fuel, as Zatanna and a strange new Suicide Squad are set loose on the city with one mission...kill Wonder Woman at any cost. Will it take a witch to destroy a witch?

Plus, the return of artist Mattia De Iulis for a mythic tale of gods and monsters as Diana journeys to the ends of the Earth to deliver justice!

Collects Absolute Wonder Woman #15-20 and Absolute Wonder Woman 2026 Annual #1.

Thoughts: This series continues to be good. I enjoyed this latest collection and look forward to the next. This ends on quite the cliffhanger.

The Love Hypothesis

The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood 373 pages

Synopsis: As a third-year Ph.D. candidate, Olive Smith doesn't believe in lasting romantic relationships—but her best friend does, and that's what got her into this situation. Convincing Anh that Olive is dating and well on her way to a happily ever after was always going to take more than hand-wavy Jedi mind tricks: Scientists require proof. So, like any self-respecting biologist, Olive panics and kisses the first man she sees.

That man is none other than Adam Carlsen, a young hotshot professor—and well-known ass. Which is why Olive is positively floored when Stanford's reigning lab tyrant agrees to keep her charade a secret and be her fake boyfriend. And when a big science conference goes haywire, putting Olive's career on the Bunsen burner, Adam surprises her again with his unyielding support and even more unyielding. . . six-pack abs.

Suddenly their little experiment feels dangerously close to combustion. And Olive discovers that the only thing more complicated than a hypothesis on love is putting her own heart under the microscope.

My Thoughts: This book was great. I enjoyed the flow of their fake relationship. The characters were interesting and I thoroughly enjoyed that the book focused on STEM women and the stigma of women in the field of science. I also watched the movie that's on Amazon Prime and while scenes were out of order and slightly different, they still did an amazing job at keeping the heart of the story and the similarities the same! I definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes fun romance!

A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna

A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna | 352 pages | 2025

Sera Swan was once one of the most powerful witches in Britain. Then she resurrected her great-aunt Jasmine from the (very recently) dead, lost most of her magic, befriended a semi-villainous talking fox, and was exiled from her magical Guild. Now she (slightly reluctantly and just a bit grumpily) helps Aunt Jasmine run an inn in Lancashire, where she deals with her quirky guests' shenanigans, tries to keep the talking fox in check, and longs for the magical future she lost.

When she learns about an old spellbook that holds the secret to restoring her power, she turns to Luke Larsen, a gorgeous historian who might just be able to help her unlock the book’s mysteries. Luke, who has his own reasons for staying at the inn, never planned on getting involved in the madcap goings-on around him and certainly had no intention of letting certain grumpy innkeepers past his icy walls, so no one is more surprised than he is when he not only agrees to help, but also finds himself thawing.

Running an inn, reclaiming lost magic, and staying one step ahead of the watchful Guild is a lot for anyone, but Sera is about to discover that she doesn’t have to do it alone... and that the weird, wonderful family she’s made might be the best magic of all.

(Synopsis taken from Goodreads)

The Witch by Freida McFadden

 The Witch by Freida McFadden-344 pages

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Some secrets don't die―they wait.

When Julia Barlow loses her job and her apartment, she has nowhere left to go but Pemberton, her family's sprawling seventeenth-century estate in rural Massachusetts. Officially, she's there to check in on her aging grandmother. Unofficially, she's hoping the old house will give her a place to disappear.

Instead, Pemberton begins to unravel her.

Every night, the grandfather clock stops at exactly 3:41 a.m. The lights flicker without warning. And a disembodied voice cries for help outside Julia's bedroom door.

As Julia digs into the house's dark history, she uncovers the story of a woman executed for witchcraft in 1692―and realizes the past may not be finished with Pemberton yet. When decades of family lies begin to surface, Julia must confront a terrifying truth: Pemberton may be haunted by women whose voices refuse to stay silent.

Thoughts: I liked this one. It's not my favorite McFadden book, but it's pretty good. I liked the added paranormal element. She always keeps the reader guessing and I have yet to guess the entire ending. I find her books to be easy, mostly fun reads. 

The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity, Vol. 3 by Saka Mikami

The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity, Vol. 3 by Saka Mikami

Kauro Hana wa Rin to Saku #3, 192 pages

⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

Rintaro and Kaoruko have been spending more and more time together, beginning to feel comfortable with each other despite their schools' rivalry. Yet their growing bond is nowhere near strong enough to break down the barriers between their two communities. In fact, Rintaro is starting to feel at a loss with his own friends, as keeping his relationship with Kaoruko a secret means continuing to lie to them! And so, Rintaro calls Kaoruko and her friend Subaru to a meeting, hoping to find a solution...

The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity, Vol. 2 by Saka Mikami

The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity, Vol. 2 by Saka Mikami

Kauro Hana wa Rin to Saku #2, 192 pages

⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

Chidori High second-year Rintaro is a gentle soul, with a fierce face and an even fiercer reputation. Used to being judged by everyone around him, he finds himself thrown off balance when he meets the open-hearted Kaoruko, a girl who attends a rival school and should be his polar opposite in every way. But her genuine attitude slowly makes his walls crumble. Despite their growing relationship, the rivalry between the two schools becomes a deep chasm that may be hard to cross, especially after Kaoruko's best friend, Subaru Hoshina, finds out about their relationship...