Book Review: Crimson Kingdom by Robin D. Mahle & Elle Madison

Title: Crimson Kingdom

Author: Robin D. Mahle & Elle Madison

Series/Standalone: The Lochlann Feuds Series (Book #3)

Genre: Young Adult, Romantasy

Pages: 346

Publisher: Indie Published

Year Published: 2022

Format: Ebook (Kindle Unlimited)

"Rowan thought she had escaped her life as a prisoner.

But even in Lochlan, she is chained by the memories of everything she left behind in Socair.

Of everyone she left behind.

With her people clamoring for war, the responsibility falls on Rowan to enter into a marriage alliance to keep her kingdom safe. That should be easy, considering she's already received proposals from half the clans in Socair.

But even with plenty of options, she's left with no good choices.

Will she play it safe? Or will she risk everything for the kind of love she never wanted to begin with?

The kind of love that could break her."

My Rating: 4.5/5

I absolutely love the characters in this book series. I love the wit, the jokes, but also the writing style. The only thing that I haven't enjoyed the most is sometimes the pacing in the middle. This book lost my interest in the middle due to the miscommunication used. While it makes sense that there would be communication lacking in the second book and leading into this one, I was getting a bit frustrated with the waiting to communicate important ideals until the end of the book . That being said, still an excellent book, and I will be continuing on. 

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: The Testaments by Margaret Atwood

Title: The Testaments

Author: Margaret Atwood

Series/Standalone: The Handmaid's Tale Series (Book #2)

Genre: Adult Fiction, Dystopian, Feminism 

Pages: 422

Publisher: Nan. A. Talese

Year Published: 2019

Format: Hardcover Copy (Library)

"When the van door slammed on Offred's future at the end of The Handmaid's Tale, readers had no way of telling what lay ahead of her- freedom, prison or death.

With The Testament, the wait is over.

Margaret Atwood's sequel picks up the story more than fifteen years after Offred stepped into the unknown, with the explosive testaments of three female narrators from Gilead.

In this brilliant sequel to The Handmaid's Tale, acclaimed author Margaret Atwood answers the questions that have tantalized readers for decades.

'Dear Readers: Everything you've ever asked me about Gilead and it's inner workings is the inspiration for this book. Well, almost everything! The other inspiration is the world we've been living in.' - Margaret Atwood"

My Rating: 4.25/5

This was not what I expected from the second book in this duology. The different perspectives, the different narratives and an inner look at how Gilead became what it was in the first book. I also didn't expect to see the specific characters we heard about. While it answers a lot of questions, I was hoping to see the direct fallout of the narration and the fall of Gilead overall. That being said, it doesn't appear to be Margaret Atwood's style to write the dystopian rebellion stereotype. I can respect that. If more were to come from this series, I would certainly read on. 

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Title: Carrie Soto is Back

Author: Taylor Jenkins Reid

Series/Standalone: Reidverse (Book #5)

Genre: Historical Fiction, Contemporary, Sports, Adult Fiction

Pages: 384

Publisher: Ballantine Books

Year Published: 2022

Format: Audiobook (Library Copy)

"Carrie Soto is fierce, and her determination to win at any cost has not made her popular.

By the time Carrie retires from tennis, she is the best player the world has ever seen. She has shattered every record and claimed twenty Slam titles. And if you ask her, she is entitled to every one. She sacrificed nearly everything to become the best, with her father as her coach.

But six years after her retirement, Carrie finds herself sitting in the stand of the 1994 US Open, watching her record be taken from her by a brutal, stunning, British player named Nicki Chan.

At thirty-seven years old, Carrie makes the monumental decision to come out of retirement and be coached by her father for one last year in an attempt to reclaim her record. Even if the sports media says that they never liked the 'Battle-Axe' anyways. Even if her body doesn't move as fast as it did. And even if it means swallowing her pride to train with a man she once almost opened her heart to: Bowe Huntley. Like her, he has something to prove before he gives up the game forever. 

In spite of it all: Carrie Soto is back, for one epic final season. In this riveting and unforgettable novel, Taylor Jenkins Reid tells a story about the cost of greatness and a legendary athlete attempting a comeback."

My Rating: 5/5

I love Taylor Jenkins Reid's Reidverse. The way these imagined celebrities feel so real, the way they have such individual personalities, but feel so real to the time and our world. I feel sad sometimes that I can't look up more information about where they would be now. Carrie Soto is far from likeable. That is made clear from the beginning, but as the story goes on, you grow to love her as she is. The determined, unrelenting and resilient athlete she is. The way she copes in her life through all of it, despite what everyone things, inspite what everyone thinks. I hope her next corner is all the better, and I wonder if Taylor Jenkins Reid will add to these stories.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman

Title: Dungeon Crawler Carl

Author: Matt Dinniman

Series/Standalone: Dungeon Crawler Carl Series (Book #1)

Genre: Science Fiction, Dystopia, Adult Fiction, Adventure, Humour

Pages: 464

Publisher: Indie Published

Year Published: 2020

Format: Ebook (Kindle Unlimited)

"The apocalypse will be televised!

A man. His ex-girlfriend's cat. A sadistic game show unlike anything in the universe: a dungeon crawl where survival depends on killing your prey in the most entertaining way possible.

In a flash, every human-erected construction on Earth- from Buckingham Palace to the tiniest of sheds- collapses in a heap, sinking into the ground.

The buildings and all the people inside have all been atomized and transformed into the dungeon: an 18-level labyrinth filled with traps, monsters, and loot. A dungeon so enormous, it circles the entire globe.

Only a few dare venture inside. But once you're in, you can't get out. And what's worse, each level has a time limit. You have but days to find a staircase to the next level down, or it's game over. In this game, it's not about your strength or your dexterity. It's about your followers, your views. Your clout. It's about building an audience and killing those goblins with style.

You can't just survive here. You gotta survive big.

You gotta fight with vigor, with excitement. You gotta make them stand up and cheer. And if you do have that 'it' factor, you may just find yourself with a following. That's the only way to truly survive the game- with the help of the loot boxes dropped upon you by the generous benefactors watching from across the galaxy."

My Rating: 4/5

My husband and I have decided to do buddy reads once every couple of months. It keeps us reading, inspires conversation and helps limit our blue light before bed. This was his pick for this one, and I had heard a lot of the series from friends. I'm gonna say really quick that this book is geared towards video game players, which makes a lot of sense due to the title, description, etc. I would also say that it has a cruder sense of humour, which I appreciate. Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I would have liked to cut some of it back, maybe a little, but I did have fun reading it. We plan to read the next one as soon as we get a library hold in.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave by Elle Cosimano

Title: Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave

Author: Elle Cosimano

Series/Standalone: Finlay Donovan Series (Book #5)

Genre: Adult Fiction, Cozy, Mystery

Pages: 309

Publisher: Minotaur Books

Year Published: 2025

Format: Audiobook

"Finlay Donovan may have skeletons in her closet... but at least there's not a body in her backyard.

Finlay Donovan and her nanny/partner-in-crime, Vero, have not always gotten along with Finlay's elderly neighbor, Mrs. Haggerty, the community busybody and president of the neighborhood watch. But when a dead body is discovered in her backyard, Mrs. Haggerty needs their help. At first a suspect, Mrs. Haggerty is cleared by the police, but her house remains an active crime scene. She has nowhere to go... except Finlay's house, right across the street.

Finlay and Vero have no interest in getting involved in another murder case- or sacrificing either of her bedrooms. After all, they've dealt with enough murders over the last four months to last a lifetime, and they both would much rather share their beds with someone else.

When the focus of the investigation widens to include Finlay's ex-husband Steven, though, Finlay and Vero are left with little choice but to get closer to Mrs. Haggerty and uncover her secrets... before the police start digging up theirs. But who will solve the mystery first?"

My Rating: 5/5

This was by far my favourite book in the series. I have to give most of the credit to Mrs. Haggerty's character and the use of women-led groups. The character growth between books is also noticeable. With a cast of incredibly lovable characters, a mystery that feels intriguing without being terrifying and a toddler who just won't keep his pants on, who could ask for more? 

Sidny

Book Review: Game Changer by Rachel Reid

Title: Game Changer

Author: Rachel Reid

Series/Standalone: Game Changers Series (Book #1)

Genre: Adult Fiction, Sports, Romance, LGBT

Pages: 400

Publisher: Carina Press

Year Published: 2018

Format: Paperback (Own It)

"New York Admirals captain Scott Hunter takes his pregame rituals very seriously. In this case, it's not just a lucky smoothie he's craving- it's the man who made it. 

Pro hockey star Scott Hunter knows a good thing when he sees it. So when a smoothie made by a juice bar barista, Kip Grady precedes Scott breaking his on-ice slump, he's desperate to recreate the magic... and to get to know the sexy, funny guy behind the counter.

Kip knew there was more to Scott's frequent visits than blended fruit, but he never let himself imagine being invited back to Scott's penthouse. Or kissed with reckless abandon, never mind touched everywhere all at once. When it happens, it's red-hot, incredible and frequent, but also only on Scott's terms and always behind his closed apartment doors. 

Scott needs Kip in his life, but with playoff season approaching, the spotlight on him is suddenly brighter than ever. He can't afford to do anything that might derail his career... like introducing the world to his boyfriend. Kip is ready to go all-in with Scott- but how much longer will he have to remain a secret?"

My Rating: 3.5/5

I have already watched the Heated Rivalry show before reading this, so I knew a lot of the plot points that were going to be covered in the books. I did enjoy the internal dialogue, though, about how Kip felt during the relationship and how Scott felt about coming out of the closet. I liked the steamy scenes, but I found that there were moments where they were a bit repetitive. This could also just be because I am a cis woman.

Thank you for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: The Final Girl Support Group by Grady Hendrix

Title: The Final Girl Support Group

Author: Grady Hendrix

Series/Standalone: Standalone

Genre: Thriller, Adult, Fiction, Horror

Pages: 326

Publisher: Berkley

Year Published: 2021

Format: Paperback (Borrowed)

"In horror movies, the final girls are the ones left standing when the credits roll. They made it through the worst night of their lives... but what happens after?

Like his bestselling novel The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires, Grady Hendrix's latest is a fast-paced, frightening, and wickedly humorous thriller. From chain saws to summer camp slayers, The Final Girl Support Group pays tribute to and slyly subverts out most popular horror films- movies like The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, A Nightmare on Elm Street, and Scream.

Lynette Tarkington is a real-life final girl who survived a massacre. For more than a decade, she's been meeting with five other final girls and their therapist in a support group for those who survived the unthinkable, working to put their lives back together. Then one woman misses a meeting, and their worst fears are realized- someone knows about the group and is determined to rip their lives apart again, piece by piece. 

But the thing about final girls is that no matter how bad the odds, how dark the night, how sharp the knife, they will never, ever give up."

My Rating: 3/5

I liked the concept of this book, I liked the original aspect of this book, but the writing style wasn't quite what I expected. While parts were fast paced I felt that other aspects dragged. I didn't care for the main character, and found that the way they all were fairly stereotyped, I wasn't super into. I didn't see the plot twist coming, but once it got there, it did make a lot of sense. I would be curious to read more of his work, but I won't be picking up another one super soon. Any suggestions?

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: Marsha: The Joy and Defiance of Marsha P. Johnson by Tourmaline

Title: The Joy and Defiance of Marsha P. Johnson

Author: Tourmaline

Series/Standalone: Standalone

Genre: Nonfiction, Biography, LGBT History

Pages: 306

Publisher: 

Year Published: 2025

Format: Audiobook (Library Copy)

"Black transgender luminary Tourmaline brings to life the first definitive biography of revolutionary activist Marsha P. Johnson, one of the most important and remarkable figures in LGBTQIA+ history, revealing her story, her impact, and her legacy.

'She is the preeminent and foremost scholar on Marsha P. Johnson... To us, Tourmaline is the expert.' - Janet Mock, Allure.

"Thank god the revolution has begun, honey.' Rumor has it that after Marsha P. Johnson threw the first brick in the 1969 Stonewall Uprising, she picked up a shard of broken mirror to fix her makeup. Marsha, a legendary Black transgender activist, embodied both the beauty and struggle of the early gay rights movement. Her work sparked the progress we see today, yet there has never been a definitive record of her life. Until now. 

Written with sparkling prose, Tourmaline's richly researched biography Marsha finally brings this iconic figure to life, in full color. We vividly meet Marsha as both an activist and artist. She performed with RuPaul and with internationally renowned drag troupe The Hot Peaches. She was a muse to countless artists from Andy Warhol to the band Earth, Wind & Fire. And she continues to inspire people today. 

Marsha didn't wait to be freed; she declared herself free and told the world to catch up. Her story promises to inspire readers to live as their most liberated, unruly, vibrant and whole selves."

My Rating: 5/5

I think that as we start to rediscover history, we will find more and more of what has been whitewashed and hidden away. People who society at that time deemed undeserving of having their stories told, people who truly led revolutions, and impacted society greatly, but due to any amount of diversity were erased from their own narrative. 

This appears to be the case of Marsha P. Johnson. While I am a white, cis woman who is starting her journey in reading more historical nonfiction, I would say that I am learning more and more about just how often this has happened. While I can't change the actions of the past, I can acknowledge the horrors and injustices and do better going forward. Part of doing better is learning, learning about things that are cut out from school, past histories and more. I think this book is incredibly important to read, as we watch documentaries about this time to gain a better understanding of the freedoms and world we see today. The work is far from over, but understanding the buildup in history helps us fight tomorrow's battles. 

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: You Must Not Miss by Katrina Leno

Title: You Must Not Miss

Author: Katrina Leno

Series/Standalone: Standalone
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Magical Realism

Pages: 304

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Year Published: 2019

Format: Audiobook (Library Copy)

"Magpie Lewis started writing in her yellow notebook the day her family self-destructed. That was the night Eryn, Magpie's sister, skipped town and left her to fend for herself. That was the night of Brandon Phipp's party.

Now, Magpie is called a slut whenever she walks down the hallways of her high school, her former best friend won't speak to her, and she spends her lunch period with a group of misfits who've all been socially exiled like she has. And so, feeling trapped and forgotten, Magpie retreats to her notebook, dreaming up a place called Near.

Near is perfect- somewhere where her father never cheated, her mother never drank and Magpie's own life never derailed so suddenly. She imagines Near so completely, so fully, that she writes it into existence, right in her own backyard. It's a place where she can have anything she wants... even revenge."

My Rating: 2/5

This wasn't what I expected from this novel, which was my own fault. If I had done any research about this book, I would have read that there were elements of magical realism. For me, that is either a real hit or a real miss. I'm guessing you can see which one it was for me. This book felt long for me and just didn't have the momentum I was hoping for. I would be curious to read more work by the author, but if this is her normal writing style, I can't guarantee no DNFS.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: Internment by Samina Ahmed

Title: Internment

Author: Samina Ahmed

Series/Standalone: Standalone

Genre: Young Adult, Dystopia, Realistic Fiction

Pages: 386

Publisher: Little, Brown Books

Year Published: 2019

Format: Audiobook

"Rebellions are built on hope.

Set in a horrifying near-future United States, seventeen-year-old Layla Amin and her parents are forced into an internment camp for Muslim American citizens.

With the help of newly made friends also trapped within the internment camp, her boyfriend on the outside and an unexpected alliance, Layla begins a journey to fight for freedom, leading a revolution against the internment camp's Director and his guards.

Heart-racing and emotional, Internment challenges readers to fight complicit silence that exists in our society today."

My Rating: 5/5

This had been on my tbr for a while, and when my hold came up on Libby, I decided now was as good a time as any to read it. I recalled hearing that some people felt this was unrealistic, and for those people, I have news: read this now and tell me it doesn't ring true to a lot of things going on in America currently. There were interactions that felt a little unrealistic, but it doesn't change anything about the plot line itself. I would recommend it definetly is reading less dystopian, and more realistic fiction as time goes on. 

Thanks for reading,

Sidny