Okay, so let’s be honest if a book has a broody, morally grey character, I’m immediately hooked. Like, shut up and take my money. Forget the golden heroes, or the knights in shining armour; give me someone with questionable morals, a tragic backstory, and just enough suave to keep everyone on edge.
(Also, full disclosure: I’ve been sick this week 🤒 so while I haven’t managed to finish any books, I have had plenty of time to sit here thinking about why we all collectively lose our minds over morally grey characters. Priorities, right?)
But why are we all so obsessed with them? Let’s break it down:
1. They Feel Real
No one is 100% good all the time (if you are, congrats… I don’t trust you 😏). Grey characters mess up, make bad calls, and sometimes even redeem themselves. It’s messy, it’s human (unless you’re not), and it makes them so much more interesting to swoon read about.
2. They Make Us Question Ourselves
Would I side with them? Would I make the same choice? Absolutely! Reading about them forces us to look at our own morals… and then gently nudge them out the window.
3. They Keep Us Guessing
There’s something irresistible about a character you can’t quite figure out. One moment they’re ruthless, the next they do something that makes you swoon or gasp. We watch, fascinated, trying to predict their next move… and failing every time. That tension, that thrill of not knowing, is part of their dangerous charm.
4. Let’s Face It… They’re Hot
Broody, morally dubious, tragic past, probably wears black — do I need to say more? Somehow, we’ve conjured up the most beautiful being in the entire universe, and we’d agree to anything just to get a glimpse of them. That “bad guy but secretly soft for the right person” energy is basically BookTok catnip right now, and honestly… we’re here for it.
Some of My Personal Faves:
Rhysand (ACOTAR) – he’s basically the blueprint.
The Darkling (Shadow and Bone) – did I root for him? Yes. Do I regret it? Also yes.
Kaz Brekker (Six of Crows) – he could rob me blind and I’d say “thank you.”
Jude Duarte (The Cruel Prince) – messy, ruthless, iconic.
So tell me, who are your favourite morally grey book crushes? And are you normal about them… or are you like me, feral? 😂 Drop your picks in the comments because I definitely need more to add to my ever-growing TBR pile.
(P.S. I’m off back to my blanket fort to recover, so make your recommendations extra juicy!)
Until next time…. keep reading, keep swooning, and never underestimate the power of a perfectly broody anti-hero 🖤
So… I’ve been a bit quieter here the past few days. Not because I’ve vanished into a bookcase (though that does sound tempting), but because I’ve been feeling rough. Yesterday my throat decided to betray me, and today I honestly feel like death warmed up. Not the cosy “tucked under blankets with hot chocolate” kind of sick day either, sadly it’s more like dragging myself around, feeling grumpy, and wishing someone would magically appear and bring me some stew.
And honestly, if there’s one thing keeping me from completely losing it, it’s books. Even with my brain operating at half-speed, I can’t stop myself from reading. Somehow I’ve ended up with three books and one audiobook going at the same time. Because apparently chaos is my coping mechanism.
So here’s what’s keeping me busy during my time of need;
The House Witch and The Enchanting of the Hearth by Delemhach, which also happens to be our October book club pick. I’m about 34% in and absolutely loving it. Cosy fantasy is basically medicine for days like this. The domestic magic, the food, the warmth, it’s like a little hug from the page.
And Fin… I need a Fin in my life right now. Someone to keep me fed, bring endless mugs of tea, and maybe make me stop feeling sorry for myself. (Soup is off the table, by the way. I don’t even like it.)
I love how our book club is introducing me to things I wouldn’t normally reach for and I’m already planning to grab the next book in the series for my November TBR because I cannot resist this kind of comfort reading.
Then there’s Limerence by LS Delorme, which is an ARC I requested. Surprise, it’s actually the fifth book in The Limerent Series. Did I know that when I clicked “request”? Of course not. Am I a little annoyed at myself? Sure. But I’m about 20% in, and it’s an easy, breezy read.
There are references to the earlier books that I’m missing, but honestly, it’s holding up pretty well on its own. Lesson learned: do a little more research before requesting ARCs next time.
And then we have the wonderfully weird A Night in the Lonesome October by Roger Zelazny. This book is delightfully odd, and I’m doing it properly; one chapter per day because the chapters are all dated. It’s basically a spooky little advent calendar for October. Talking animals, gothic vibes, sly winks at classic horror characters… it’s just weird enough to keep me intrigued, but short enough that my foggy brain can handle it. I genuinely look forward to each chapter, and it’s been a nice way to feel seasonal even when I’m feeling rubbish.
Of course, I can’t forget my audiobook saviour: The Fellowship of the Ring, narrated by Andy Serkis. I’m about halfway through, and I’d forgotten just how much singing Tolkien managed to cram into the first book. Honestly, the idea of Frodo and friends bursting into song mid-quest cracks me up.
But Serkis is amazing. He gives each character so much personality, and the pacing is perfect. If you’ve ever been intimidated by Tolkien, an audiobook like this is magic. Honestly, it’s keeping me sane on days when my throat and brain are both going, “nope.”
So yeah, four books. Maybe it’s too many? Probably. But when you’re sick, moods swing like crazy. Some days you want cosy and warm, some days dark and gothic, some days light and easy, and some days you just want someone else to do the reading for you. Having options is basically the only thing stopping me from going stir-crazy.
Reading while sick is funny like that. It’s both perfect and terrible. Perfect because I can finally let myself slow down, curl up, and enjoy reading guilt-free. Terrible because concentration is basically on holiday. I’ve reread the same passage multiple times this week, and don’t even get me started on how often I’ve hit “rewind 30 seconds” on the audiobook. But you know what? It doesn’t matter. Books are patient. They’ll wait for us.
Anyway, enough about my sick-day chaos. Let’s talk about comfort reads. If there’s one thing I’ve learned this week, it’s that we all need that one (or four🙄) books that make everything a little better. Here are my top picks for when you’re feeling rubbish:
My Top 5 Comfort Reads for Sick Days
The House Witch by Delemhach – cosy, magical, full of warmth. Perfect for days when life feels heavy.
Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree – coffee, found family, and light, feel-good fantasy.
The Neverending Story by Michael Ende – sometimes comfort means revisiting the books that shaped your childhood.
Persuasion by Jane Austen – calm, witty, and quietly romantic. Austen is basically tea in book form.
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien – whimsical, adventurous, and short enough that a foggy brain can keep up.
And of course, I have to give an honorary mention to any audiobook narrated by Andy Serkis. His voice alone can make a bad day slightly less terrible and the bonus? He’s narrated the entireLord of the Rings trilogy andThe Hobbit. If you’ve never heard his Gollum voice slip seamlessly into Gandalf or Sam, you’re seriously missing out.
So, that’s me: sore throat, grumpy, juggling four books, but somehow still comforted by them all. If you’re under the weather this month too, I hope your books are keeping you company as much as mine are.
Now I want to know: what’s your go-to comfort read when you’re feeling rubbish? And which fictional character would you want looking after you? Personally, I’m sticking firmly with Fin from The House Witch. He’s practical, magical, and way better than anyone bringing soup.
Until next time… may your tea be hot, your throat lozenges effective, and your books cosy 🥰
What if this time, she’s powerful enough to stop them all. What if this time, they don’t destroy her?
Arianna Jay is born into a life of magic, she’s a low level witch in a world where daemons and other supernatural beings walk the earth. She thinks she’s destined to a life as a nightclub owner while doing the occasional spell, until one fateful meeting with the man that has been haunting her dreams changes everything.
Gaelan Illis has spent thousands of years reliving the pain and devastation of losing his soul mate. He’s cursed to find her and lose her over and over again, but this time when he finds her, she’s not the same.
Could this be the life he’s always wished for? One where he gets to keep her forever?
As dark secrets start to unfold and the purest of evil after them – can true love really conquer all?
What I thought
I don’t actually remember applying for this ARC, but when it landed in my inbox, I was intrigued. The premise sounded perfect for spooky season: witches, daemons, magical books, and a world where the supernatural walk openly alongside humans. Add in fated mates, a strong FMC, and those “Charmed vibes” the author promised, and I thought I’d found a new autumn favourite.
Arianna Jay, a low-level witch destined for a quiet life, suddenly finds herself tangled with Gaelan Illis, a daemon cursed to relive the loss of his soulmate over and over again. This time, Arianna is different, stronger, and their connection could finally break the cycle… if the darkness hunting them doesn’t destroy them first. It’s a great setup, full of magic, romance, and danger.
The release was originally set for September 30th, but on October 1st I received an email from the PR company pushing it back to October 20th due to “editing issues.” Honestly, I should have known then.
Because while the concept was solid, the execution just wasn’t there for me. At over 600 pages, the book felt unnecessarily long, and by the halfway point I found myself skimming. The biggest problem, though, was the editing. Early on there were just a few errors per chapter, but by 50% the text was riddled with mistakes and wrong-word usage. It pulled me out of the story constantly, until eventually it became almost unreadable.
As for the romance, this one is very spicy. In fact, I’d class it as more erotic than straight paranormal romance. That surprised me, because the cover calls it a “Daemon Romance,” which led me to expect more urban fantasy with romantic elements. Instead, the spice dominates. For readers who enjoy explicit scenes with themes like primal play, knotting, “touch her and die” energy, and a “special peen,” (this gave me the biggest ick!) this will probably be a highlight. But for me, it felt abrupt, repetitive, and occasionally unnecessary to the plot. I’m more of a slow-burn reader who likes tension to build naturally, so this aspect really didn’t work for me.
This is actually my first ever DNF, and I don’t make that decision lightly. My inner perfectionist hates leaving a book unfinished, especially an ARC, but sometimes you just have to admit defeat. Life is too short to push through something that isn’t working.
All in all, I’m gutted. The Book Reader had all the ingredients of a book I should have loved, but the poor editing and heavy-handed approach to spice meant I just couldn’t connect with it. Maybe it’ll hit differently for readers who enjoy more explicit fantasy romance and can overlook the errors, but for me, it was a miss.
Thank you to the PR company and the author for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Right, let’s be honest, you’ve made mistakes. A few, a lot, and some you’d really rather forget. At work, you’ve sent emails that made you cringe halfway through typing (but still hit send 😅), missed deadlines that had you sweating, or nodded along in meetings pretending you knew exactly what was going on when really… nope, not a clue! Life has its own version of that too. The times you overthink, overcomplicate, or just get lost, wondering how on earth you ended up there. And love… well, love has a way of sneaking in mistakes that make your chest ache and your brain spin. You’ve trusted too quickly, said the wrong thing, maybe given a bit too much to people who weren’t ready to hold it.
But here’s the thing, who hasn’t done that and more, right? Mistakes don’t make you broken. They don’t make you a bad human. They’re just part of being alive. That embarrassing email, that awkward conversation, that moment where you completely misread everything, they all prove one thing: you showed up. You tried. You cared. And that matters more than you give yourself credit for.
Some mistakes are ridiculous, yes. Overcommitting, forgetting something obvious, saying something you instantly regret. Classic. But even then, even in the chaos and embarrassment, there’s something quietly beautiful about surviving it. You get back up. You carry on. You figure it out as you go. You learn a little. You laugh a lot and you grow a little. Even if it doesn’t feel like it at the time.
Life doesn’t hand out scripts or guarantees. It’s messy, unpredictable, sometimes hilariously awkward, and often exhausting. And you? You’re allowed to be messy too. You’re allowed to stumble, to make a fool of yourself, to get things wrong, and to still keep going. That’s exactly what makes you human, and exactly what makes you strong.
There will be moments when you feel like hiding under a blanket, avoiding emails, dodging phone calls, or pretending the world doesn’t exist. And that’s okay. Some days are for resting, for quietly recovering, for letting the mistakes of yesterday shrink into perspective. You’ve survived worse. You’ve weathered storms. You’ve carried on, quietly and steadily, even when it felt impossible.
You’ve got resilience tucked in there somewhere, even on the days it feels hidden. You’ve got kindness, even when your brain insists you’re failing. You’ve got courage, even when love or life, or work makes you question it. You’ve got yourself — and that’s a start.
So, when the world is loud, when your brain is critical, when the mistakes feel enormous, pause. Take a breath. Remember that even when you stumble, even when things go wrong, even when you doubt yourself, you are still here. You are still trying. You are still only human.
And maybe, just maybe, for today at least, that is enough.
September has slipped away like a ghost in the night, and suddenly the evenings are darker, the air is colder, and my TBR is starting to look like something straight out of a horror story. Luckily, before the pumpkins took over, I managed to have my best reading month ever — 9 books, 3,308 pages, with an average rating of 3.88 stars.
Honestly, I feel like some kind of bookish witch who’s finally mastered her spells.
3. Remain by Nicholas Sparks & M. Night Shyamalan – ★★★★★
Did anyone have this collab on their 2025 bingo card? Because wow. It’s emotional, it’s eerie, and it had me staring into the void at 1am thinking about life. Five stars, easy. 🔗 Check out my full ARC review of Remain here
4. The Ghost Merchant by Ben Andrews – ★★★☆☆
Cool premise, spooky vibes, but I kept wishing it had gone just a little bit deeper. Like ordering a fancy coffee and then realizing they forgot the syrup shot. 🔗 Check out my full review of The Ghost Merchant here
5. Atticus Arnott’s Great Adventure by Caroline James – ★★★★☆
Excuse me while I go and sob in Shakespearean. Stunning writing, devastating story — basically, this book emotionally ruined me and I loved every minute. 🔗 Check out my full review of Hamnet here
7. Yellowface by Rebecca F. Kuang – ★★★☆☆
This one is spicy, messy, and sharp. I loved the commentary, but the execution left me a bit torn. Think “hot take at a dinner party” energy. 🔗 Check out my full review of Yellowface here
Rebecca Yarros, you did not have to destroy me like this. This book wrecked me in the best way possible. Tears? Everywhere. Heart? Shattered. Would I read it again? Absolutely. 🔗 Check out my full review of The Last Letter here
✨ Faves of the Month While I had some brilliant reads in September, two completely stole my heart:
Hamnet — lyrical, devastating, and one of the most beautifully written books I’ve ever picked up.
The Last Letter — Rebecca Yarros reached into my chest, tore my heart out, stomped on it… and somehow I’m still saying “thank you, please may I have another?”
Both of these are staying with me for a long time.
🎃 What’s Next?
October is shaping up to be extra exciting — it’s our first everPaper + Wordbook club pick! We’re reading The House Witch by Emilie Nikota, which promises cozy kitchen magic, court politics, and a fluffy black kitten familiar named Kraken (yes, I’m already obsessed).
On top of that, another book club member suggested A Night in the Lonesome October by Roger Zelazny. It’s written in 31 short chapters, so the idea is to read one per day all month — basically a spooky literary advent calendar, and I’m so here for it.
And because no good TBR is ever simple, I’ve got a couple of ARCs that need finishing before the month is out. So between witches, familiars, daily gothic chapters, and my ever-watchful ARC pile, October is looking busy — in the very best way.
Will I top my September record? Probably not… but who knows, spooky season might have a trick or two up its sleeve.
👻 So, spooky season is officially upon us! Which books haunted your September, and what tales are you summoning from your TBR cauldron this October? Bonus points for black cats, witches, or a little literary mischief.
One final letter. His last wish. Go and be with her…
Beckett,
If you’re reading this, well, you know the last-letter drill. You made it. I didn’t. Get off the guilt train, because I know if there was any chance you could have saved me, you would have.
I need one thing from you: get out of the army and get to Telluride. My little sister Ella’s raising the twins alone. She’s too independent and won’t accept help easily, but she has lost our grandmother, our parents, and now me. It’s too much for anyone to endure. It’s not fair.
So if I’m gone, that means I can’t be there for Ella. I can’t help them through this. But you can. So I’m begging you, as my best friend, go take care of my sister, my family. Please don’t make her go through it alone.
Ryan
What I thought
Trigger Warning: This book contains themes of grief, loss, and heartbreak. Please read with care if you are sensitive to emotional content.
I don’t even know where to start because The Last Letter by Rebecca Yarros completely consumed me from the very first page. I ATE THIS UP, and by the time I reached the last 100 pages, I was sobbing uncontrollably. How dare Rebecca give me hope and then rip my heart into pieces? I’m still not sure I’ll recover. But wow, what an incredible journey.
Yarros has an unparalleled gift for crafting stories that hit you straight in the feels. Her characters are so vivid, so real, and so achingly human that it feels like you’re living their lives alongside them. Every laugh, every heartbreak, every fleeting moment of joy. She makes you feel it all. By the end, you’re not just reading a story; you’re experiencing it.
Plot and Themes (Spoiler-Free)
Without giving too much away, The Last Letter is a story about love, loss, hope, and resilience. Yarros weaves together past and present, showing how choices, secrets, and connections shape the lives of her characters. The emotional tension builds slowly but powerfully, and just when you think you’ve braced yourself, she delivers moments that will leave you gasping, crying, and clutching your heart.
Themes of grief, healing, and the power of human connection are explored in a way that feels honest and relatable. Whether it’s the way people cope with loss or how love can both save and break us, Yarros handles it with the perfect balance of realism and hope.
Why You Need This Book
If you’re thinking of picking up this book, I have one piece of advice: prepare yourself. Stock up on tissues, snacks, ice cream, and every comfort item you can find because this book will wreck you. The emotional depth of Yarros’ writing is breathtaking, and the story swings from hope to heartbreak in ways that will leave you reeling.
What I loved most about The Last Letter is the way Yarros balances heart-wrenching emotion with moments of pure beauty and love. She doesn’t shy away from the hard parts—the grief, the longing, the difficult choices—but she also reminds you why these stories matter. They make you appreciate the fragility and strength of life, love, and human connection.
Final Thoughts
This is a book that stays with you long after you close the cover. You’ll find yourself thinking about it hours, days, even weeks later. And if you’re anything like me, you’ll be reaching for the tissues more than once while reading. It’s emotional, it’s raw, it’s honest. And it’s an absolute triumph.
Bravo, Rebecca Yarros. Truly.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
You can grab your copy of The Last Letter by Rebecca Yarros from trusted retailers:
Halloween is just around the corner, and what better way to get into the spooky spirit than by entering a fang-tastic giveaway? My friend over at So many books, so little time is hosting a Spooky-Themed Giveaway, and I wanted to share the details with you all.
🎁 What’s up for grabs?
🕸️ Beetlejuice-themed book protector: Perfect for keeping your paperback or Kindle safe with a touch of Halloween flair.
🔥 Freddy Krueger candle: An unscented candle featuring the iconic horror character.
🎀 Horror-themed hair scrunchie: Adorable scrunchie featuring prints of your favorite horror characters.
📅 Closing date
Gleam-powered giveaway: Open worldwide and running until 29th October. This is their first time using Gleam, so let’s show some support!
📌 How to Enter Visit the official giveaway page here: Spooky-Themed Giveaway for all the details and to enter via Gleam.
I popped into town on Saturday morning on the hunt for a new read. Top of my list was Alchemised—but the Waterstones special edition had already sold out. There weren’t even any standard editions left on the shelves, not even an empty space where they should have been..
In the end, I ordered a copy from Amazon on Sunday. The corners are a little bashed from transit (something that would have been avoided if I’d grabbed one in-store), but at half the price it’s hard to complain; and once it’s on the shelf, the damage is unnoticeable. You know me though, I’ll no doubt still pick up the paperback edition when that’s finally released.
Still, the trip into town wasn’t wasted. With no Alchemised to bring home, I decided to wander through the local charity shops instead, and if you’re a book lover like me, you’ll know exactly what I mean when I say that charity shop shelves often feel like treasure chests; you never quite know what hidden gems you’ll stumble upon.
Among the rows of paperbacks and hardbacks, one title immediately caught my eye: The Lost Girl by D. H. Lawrence. First published in 1920, it tells the story of Alvina Houghton, a woman torn between duty and desire, between the constraints of her provincial English upbringing and her yearning for freedom and passion. It’s a novel about love, identity, choices, and the search for meaning in a world that doesn’t always make it easy for women to carve their own paths. Many consider it a semi-autobiographical reflection of Lawrence’s own turbulent life and complicated view of relationships.
But it wasn’t the title, or even the author, that truly floored me.
When I opened the book, I found an inscription written inside:
I hope you are near to the exit of the maze! Love G x
I froze, staring at the handwriting. It felt like the recipient had been going through something difficult, and G was offering them hope, that the hard part of their journey was nearly over, that they were close to finding their way through. It wasn’t just an inscription. It was a lifeline.
I stood there in the shop, my chest tightening. The message was so deeply personal, so tender, that it almost felt wrong to be holding it. A stranger’s story, captured in ink, still echoing decades later.
And then I did the unthinkable.
I put the book back.
Fast forward to today, Tuesday. And I can’t stop thinking about it. Less than the cost of a chocolate bar, and yet I walked away from a piece of someone’s story. But ultimately who was G? Who was the recipient of this book? Was it a gift to a lover, a partner, or even a close friend? Did they walk through the metaphorical maze together and find the “exit”? Or did fate intervene, leaving one or both of them lost, their story unfinished?
That inscription has stayed with me all weekend, and in a strange way, it made me reflect on my own absence from blogging. Like the recipient of that book, I’ve felt caught in my own maze lately; life, work, the everyday distractions that pull me away from the things I love. Writing has always been an “exit” for me, a way of making sense of things. Yet I’d let it slip.
Finding that book felt like a nudge. A reminder that stories, whether in novels or in life, are worth sharing. Even the ones with no neat ending.
So maybe this post is my first step towards my own exit of the maze. And if I’ve learned anything from this experience, it’s this: never leave behind a book that speaks to you. Especially one with words scrawled inside. Because sometimes, those scribbled messages mean more than the story itself.
As for The Lost Girl and the mysterious G, perhaps I wasn’t meant to carry their story forward. But their words found me all the same, and they’ve left me wondering about love, loss, hope, and the exits we’re all trying to find.
✨ Have you ever found an inscription in a book that stopped you in your tracks? Would you have bought The Lost Girl, or walked away like I did?
You need to remember this: being alone is not something to fear. It is not a reflection of your worth, and it is certainly not a punishment. Being alone is a gift, a chance to step fully into yourself, to explore the depths of your heart without the noise of the world, or the expectations of others. It is a quiet space where you can breathe, reflect, and remember who you truly are.
It’s easy to believe that love must come from someone else, that your value depends on who chooses you or who notices you. But you have already been chosen, by you. You are the one who has carried yourself through every storm, the one who has picked up the pieces each time life tried to shatter you. No one else has done that. And that is what makes you extraordinary.
So, love yourself louder. Celebrate your victories, even the small ones that others might overlook. Laugh at your own jokes. Take yourself out, write yourself letters, make plans that excite only you. Learn to enjoy your own company more than you already do, because it is not a lonely place, it is sacred. You do not need someone else to bring light into your life; you are capable of shining brilliantly by yourself.
Remember, being alone is not emptiness, it is a foundation. It is the soil in which your confidence, your dreams, and your resilience grow strong. One day, love may come knocking, or it may not. And that is okay. Either way, you will be whole. You will be enough. You will have built a life where you are not waiting to be saved, because you have already saved yourself.
Do not rush. Do not compare yourself to others. You are not behind. You are not missing out. Every step you take, every moment you spend in your own presence, is part of building a life that belongs to you and you alone. There is freedom in being alone, and there is joy in discovering that your own heart is the most loyal companion you will ever know.
So stand tall. Speak kindly to yourself. Honour your journey. Trust in your strength, your wisdom, and your beauty. Love yourself with the fierceness and tenderness that only you can give.
You are not incomplete. You are not waiting. You are already whole.
The Five-fold Chronicles: Book I Ever since finding the book in the attic, strange things have been happening to seventeen-year-old Ariana. She dare not tell her beloved grandfather, ‘Granpey’, for fear of making him worry. After all, he is more like a father to her, having raised her single handedly after her parents died in a car crash when she was just a few years old. The only person Ariana can tell is her best friend and confidant, Jack. Though surprisingly, romantic sparks are beginning to emerge in their friendship, but Ariana can’t be sure, as Jack has always had a schoolboy crush on the stunningly beautiful Jessica. As Ariana grapples with strange visions and appearances, one thing becomes apparent, she isn’t the only one who sees them. Finding the book has triggered events which lead Jack, Ariana, and her unlikely new-found friend, Jessica, through a portal into a new and magnificent world, where her arch enemy, the all-powerful Destroyer thwarts her every move. Ariana’s little rescue dog, Leo, is a Godsend and she can’t help but believe that his arrival is no coincidence. But what is in store for Ariana, Jack and Jessica as they launch into an adventure with a seemingly impossible goal? Will Ariana discover her true identity and prevent the forces of evil from changing the world forever or will the powerful Destroyer triumph over this brave but vulnerable young woman and her friends?
What I thought
Okay, so I don’t usually read a lot of YA and mostly find myself dipping in when something really catches my eye. And The Cocoon Within? That cover had me at “hello.” Seriously, it’s gorgeous and gives off all the mysterious-adventure vibes that made me immediately want to dive in.
We’ll set the scene, Seventeen-year-old Ariana finds a mysterious book in her attic (cue instant Neverending Story vibes) and — wait for it — a talking lion shows up. Yep, I thought of Narnia immediately. Throw in her adorable rescue dog Leo, her bond with her ‘Granpey’ (honestly, made me think of my own childhood with mine), and her complicated friendships with Jack and Jessica, and you’ve got a recipe for adventure, tension, and even a little romance.
Now, full disclosure: I felt like I’d been catapulted straight into the deep end. So many characters, so many events, so much happening all at once… it was a LOT. And the e-ARC I had? A few layout hiccups here and there made it trickier to stay in the groove.
That said, if you like fast-paced stories that throw you in and don’t let go, this could be your jam. There’s a lot to love here; imagination, quirky companions, high stakes, and even a dash of humour tucked in. I just wish there’d been a smidge more breathing room to let me fully settle into Ariana’s world before she’s off facing the big bad Destroyer.
All in all? Definitely worth a peek if you like layered YA adventures with a mix of mystery, romance, and action. And I’m already curious to see where Sabah takes us in the next book.
