Fantasy, Literary Fiction & Romance
Book Reviews
August 2025
Rating: 3.0 ★
Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Gothic, Romantasy
Review: If someone asks whether I want to read about gothic castles, animated gargoyles, and a magic system that involves drowning to divine the future, the immediate answer is yes. The Knight and the Moth was one of my most anticipated releases of the year, and in my mind, Rachel Gillig remains one of the queens of atmosphere. She is one of the few authors who can craft a somewhat fresh take on a genre that has been overdone (and let’s face it, Shein-ified).
With that said, this didn’t hit the mark to the extent that I was hoping. I find her fantasy concepts to be genuinely intriguing, but the rest of it felt formulaic. That’s not a jab at formulaic writing – I have loved many formulaic books – but I felt like I was too aware of how predictable and familiar it was to fully lose myself in the story.
Unfiltered Thoughts: Rachel Gillig has such a talent for writing a love interest that I almost want her to ghostwrite the MMC concepts for all romantasy books.
“‘Which is more intricate?’ he mused. ‘The designs of men, trying to reach gods, or that of gods, trying to reach men?’ My hammer collided with a chunk of granite. ‘What is either to the intricacies of women, who reach both?'”
“If you only ever look up at something, can you ever see it clearly?”
Rating: 4.5 ★
Genre: Literary Fiction, Contemporary Romance
Review: Oh, how I love a detached voice. Yes, dear Sally, please transport me to a hazy dream where nothing feels real but everything hurts twice as much. And of course, thank you immensely for the torture.
Okay, so I clearly have a type. Give me a wispy, drawn-out lifelong heartbreak in a book with no punctuated dialogue and I can’t help it – I absolutely eat it up. There is something about strategic silence that I absolutely adore, and this is a perfect example of how an author says more by saying less.
Unfiltered Thoughts: What a beautiful knife in the heart.
“I’m not a religious person but I do sometimes think God made you for me.”
“No one can be independent of other people completely, so why not give up the attempt, she thought, go running in the other direction, depend on people for everything, allow them to depend on you, why not.”
“She believes Marianne lacks ‘warmth’, by which she means the ability to beg for love from people who hate her.”
Rating: 4.0 ★
Genre: High Fantasy, Adventure
Review: I don’t know if it’s just me picking up the wrong books, but it’s feeling drier than the Sahara Desert out here in terms of good character work. Thank f*** for Joe Abercrombie and this tall drink of water. Even if the plot was trash, I would still continue the series because of how much I love this cast.
How spoiled are we that the plot is also compelling? I loved how this developed off of The Blade Itself (The First Law #1), and while I wouldn’t describe Before They Are Hanged as super fast-paced or action-packed, I am curious and invested. The blend of political intrigue, a few battle scenes and the quest offshoots with little dabbles of magic is top-tier entertainment in my humble opinion.
There are aspects of this that are a little slow, but I never find it boring, and it does feel like it’s intentionally going somewhere specific; I’m really hoping that the final book in the trilogy will tie it all together. Also, I like how the character arcs are being handled – subtle but satisfying.
Unfiltered Thoughts: Say one thing for Logen Ninefingers, say he’s my favourite character.
“There was no such thing as luck. Luck was a word idiots used to explain the consequences of their own rashness, and selfishness, and stupidity. More often than not bad luck meant bad plans.”
“Doing better next time. That’s what life is.”
“‘I would have thought your pain would give you empathy.’
‘Empathy? What’s that?’ Glokta winced as he rubbed at his aching leg. ‘It’s a sad fact, but pain only makes you sorry for yourself.'”