SILVER IN THE WOOD by EMILY TESH

 SILVER IN THE WOOD by EMILY TESH  (PGS 112)

Goodreads Review: There is a Wild Man who lives in the deep quiet of Greenhollow, and he listens to the wood. Tobias, tethered to the forest, does not dwell on his past life, but he lives a perfectly unremarkable existence with his cottage, his cat, and his dryads.

When Greenhollow Hall acquires a handsome, intensely curious new owner in Henry Silver, everything changes. Old secrets better left buried are dug up, and Tobias is forced to reckon with his troubled past—both the green magic of the woods, and the dark things that rest in its heart.

Fangs with Benefits by Kath Richards

Fangs with Benefits by Kath Richards -- 362 pages

Molly Mason is not a team player. She does more work than the rest of her team, but when a promotion becomes available, they bring in an outside hire over her. To add insult to injury, she's tasked with training him. This is easier said than done, though, when he has the digital literacy of a toddler and is, infuriatingly, the hottest man she's ever laid eyes on.

Elijah Thorne's reintegration into human society is going swimmingly. He scammed his way into a job, got new clothes, and successfully convinced a myriad of New Yorkers that he is human, not a vampire. The one person he can't win over, though, is his intimidating colleague Molly.

When Molly discovers Elijah's secret, he realizes that being human isn't as easy as he thought. She'll help him act the part if he'll help her get promoted, but when they fall into a colleagues-with-benefits arrangement-no feelings involved-can they keep things professional?

Dear Debbie by Freida McFadden

 Dear Debbie by Freida McFadden-327 pages

⭐⭐⭐⭐

A brand new twisted thriller that will have you cheering "good for her!" from the #1 New York Times bestselling and global sensation Freida McFadden, author of The Housemaid!

Sometimes, enough is enough…

Debbie Mullen is losing it. For years, she has compiled all of her best advice into her column, Dear Debbie, where the wives of New England come for sympathy and neighborly advice. Through her work, Debbie has heard from countless women who are ignored, belittled, or even abused by their husbands. And Debbie does her best to guide them in the right direction.

Or at least, she did.

These days, Debbie’s life seems to be spiraling out of control. She just lost her job. Something strange is happening with her teenage daughters. And her husband is keeping secrets, according to the tracking app she installed on his phone. Now, Debbie’s done being the bigger person. She’s done being reasonable and practical. It’s time to take her own advice.

And now it’s time for payback against all the people in her life who deserve it the most.

From #1 New York Times and international bestselling author Freida McFadden comes a biting, subversive thriller about what happens when women finally choose to take justice into their own hands – with killer results.

Thoughts: I liked this one. There's a reference to Taylor Swift and I like the advice Debbie gives in her columns that she never sent. I would say it's darkly humorous. I saw some of the ending coming, but not the biggest twist. I continue to enjoy reading McFadden's books and I'm looking forward to reading more.

Tower of Dawn

Tower of Dawn BK 6 by Sarah J. Maas, 660 pages

Synopsis: Chaol Westfall and Nesryn Faliq have arrived in the shining city of Antica to forge an alliance with the Khagan of the Southern Continent, whose vast armies are Erilea's last hope. But they have also come to Antica for another purpose: to seek healing at the famed Torre Cesme for the wounds Chaol received in Rifthold.

After enduring unspeakable horrors as a child, Yrene Towers has no desire to help the young lord from Adarlan, let alone heal him. Yet she has sworn an oath to assist those in need—and will honor it. But Lord Westfall carries shadows from his own past, and Yrene soon comes to realize they could engulf them both.

In this sweeping parallel novel to the New York Times bestselling Empire of Storms, Chaol, Nesryn, and Yrene will have to draw on every scrap of their resilience if they wish to save their friends. But while they become entangled in the political webs of the khaganate, deep in the shadows of mighty mountains where warriors soar on legendary ruks, long-awaited answers slumber. Answers that might offer their world a chance at survival—or doom them all . . .

My Thoughts: I know so many people dislike this book, as they are not Chaol fans. However, this book shows an incredible amount of character development and growth for him. I also love love love Yrene. I love that this book happens parallel to the previous book and everyone is finding out what they need to find out. 

A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas

A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas | 757 pages | 2021

Nesta Archeron has always been prickly-proud, swift to anger, and slow to forgive. And ever since being forced into the Cauldron and becoming High Fae against her will, she's struggled to find a place for herself within the strange, deadly world she inhabits. Worse, she can't seem to move past the horrors of the war with Hybern and all she lost in it.

The one person who ignites her temper more than any other is Cassian, the battle-scarred warrior whose position in Rhysand and Feyre's Night Court keeps him constantly in Nesta's orbit. But her temper isn't the only thing Cassian ignites. The fire between them is undeniable, and only burns hotter as they are forced into close quarters with each other.

Meanwhile, the treacherous human queens who returned to the Continent during the last war have forged a dangerous new alliance, threatening the fragile peace that has settled over the realms. And the key to halting them might very well rely on Cassian and Nesta facing their haunting pasts.

Against the sweeping backdrop of a world seared by war and plagued with uncertainty, Nesta and Cassian battle monsters from within and without as they search for acceptance-and healing-in each other's arms.

(Synopsis taken from Goodreads)

The Secret Dead Club by Karen Strong

The Secret Dead Club by Karen Strong (240 Pages)

Summary: Wednesday Thomas sees ghosts. But that doesn’t mean she has to talk to them. After a terrifying experience in an Arizona state park with a wicked ghost, Wednesday and her mother Olivia sell their RV and move back south to the family home in Alton, Georgia. Wednesday’s determined not to use her gift anymore—until she meets a group of girls who also know about the spirit realm. There’s free-spirited Miki Okada and Southern belle Danni-Lynn Porter who seem to know about the ghosts who roam the school’s hallways, popular girl Alexa Scott who tells Wednesday to stay away from Miki and Danni-Lynn and not draw attention to herself, and mysterious neighbor Violet Delgado who died last year but still haunts the house across the street. Wednesday feels these girls have some kind of shared history, but it isn’t until Miki gives her an official invitation to the Dead Club that she starts to understand there’s a lot more going on with the ghosts in Alton and the girls who can see them. And when another malevolent ghost threatens to harm Wednesday, it will take the help of new friends both living and dead to save her and banish the evil being to the spirit realm where it belongs.

Opinion: Truthfully, I forgot I read this book. And ultimately that is what this book is: forgettable. The action at the end was the best part, but I never got invested in the relationships between Wednesday and her new friends. Those relationships felt lacking and random. I don't think I'd recommend, but perhaps you'd like it better than me. 

The Night Librarian by Christopher Lincoln

 The Night Librarian by Christopher Lincoln (256 Pages)

Summary: Twins Page and Turner know about the magic a library holds—they’ve been going to their beloved New York City public library for years, especially since their parents are always traveling for work. But a secret mission involving their dad’s rare and valuable edition of Bram Stoker’s Dracula uncovers a world they’ve never known, featuring a mysterious Night Librarian, famous heroes (and villains) that have broken free from classic books, and an epic battle to save the library from total destruction.

Opinion: I really enjoyed this Mark Twain nominee (2026-2027). Everyone loves a story where the main character grows into their potential and this story fits that trope very well. I also really liked Page, especially her relationship with Alice. There were some points in the story that didn't feel fully fleshed out, but I'm happy with the ending and the illustrations are gorgeous.