Can’t Wait Wednesday: Alchemy of Secrets by Stephanie Garber
2 July 2025
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Alchemy of Secrets, Book Reviews, Books, Can't Wait Wedesday, Fantasy, Stephanie Garber, Wishful Endings
“Waiting On Wednesday” is a weekly meme that was originally created by Breaking the Spine. Unfortunately Breaking the Spine are no longer hosting so I’m now linking my posts up to Wishful Endings Can’t Wait Wednesday. Don’t forget to stop over, link up and check out what books everyone else is waiting for. If you want to take part, basically, every Wednesday, we highlight a book that we’re really looking forward to. This week my book is: Alchemy of Secrets by Stephanie Garber. Here’s the cover and description:
The HOTLY ANTICIPATED adult debut novel by the beloved, #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING author of the Caraval and Once Upon a Broken Heart series: a contemporary fantasy kicking off a brand new series!
It starts with a class in an old movie theater.
Folklore 517: Local Legends and Urban Myths, taught by a woman called the Professor. Most students believe the Professor’s stories are just fiction, but Holland St. James has always been convinced that magic is real. When she tracks down a local legend named the Watch Man, who can supposedly tell you when you’ll die, the world finally makes sense. Except that the Watch Man tells her she will die at midnight tomorrow unless she finds an ancient object called the Alchemical Heart.
With the clock ticking, Holland is pulled deeper into this magical world in the heart of Los Angeles—and into the path of a magnetic stranger. Everything about him feels like a bad idea, but he promises Holland that her sister sent him to protect her. As they chase clues and stories that take them closer to the Alchemical Heart, Holland realizes everyone in this intoxicating new world is lying to her, even this stranger. And if she can’t figure out whom to trust, not even the Alchemical Heart will save her.
Expected publication: October 2025
The Mid Year Freak Out Book Tag, 2025
30 June 2025
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: blogging, Book tag, Book Tags, book-blog, Books, reading, Reviewing, The Mid Year Freak Out Book Tag
I don’t think I’ve completed this tag before but I’ve seen a couple of bloggers recently posting and I liked the prompts so decided to give it a shot.
I’m not sure who created this tag so if you’re in the ‘know’ give me a shout so I can credit them.
Without further ado:
1. BEST BOOK YOU’VE READ SO FAR IN 2025:
The Rush by Beth Lewis. This book could also have fit ‘the biggest surprise’ prompt. I had such a good time with this book. It’s beautifully written and highly evocative.
2. BEST SEQUEL OF 2025 SO FAR:
Emily Wilde’s Compendium of Lost Tales by Heather Fawcett. This was the final chapter in the series and was a perfect ending. I highly recommend this series.
3. NEW RELEASE YOU HAVEN’T READ YET, BUT WANT TO:
Paved With Good Intentions by Peter McLean – this is one of my June review books that I can’t wait to pick up but unfortunately my reading has been much slower than I anticipated, mainly as a result of more socialising and being very busy with visitors. This will be, later than I would like but, my next read.
4. MOST ANTICIPATED RELEASE OF THE SECOND HALF OF 2025:
The Blackfire Blade by James Logan. I absolutely loved The Silverblood Promise and it was in my top ten reads for 2024 so I’m really excited about this one.
5. BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT OF 2025:
I’ve had quite a few books that I’ve had to set aside this year, which could simply be a mood thing. The book that does spring to mind for this prompt is Sour Cherry by Natalia Theodoridou. To be totally honest I still feel like I want to give this another try though and see how I get on, even more so as I read at least half already.
6. BIGGEST SURPRISE:
Victorian Psycho by Virginia Feito – I haven’t posted my review for this one yet but it’s one grisly gothic story.
7. FAVOURITE NEW AUTHOR (DEBUT OR NEW TO YOU):
Greenteeth by Molly O’Neill. I absolutely loved Greenteeth. I practically inhaled it.
8. NEWEST FICTIONAL CRUSH:
Nothing springs to mind unfortunately!
9. NEWEST FAVOURITE CHARACTER:
I think the two central characters from the Emily Wilde series (above) – Emily and Wendell – are definitely up there.
10. BOOK THAT MADE YOU CRY:
None so far.
11. BOOK THAT MADE YOU HAPPY:
Vianne by Joanne Harris. Such a beautiful story, I couldn’t put it down.
12. FAVOURITE BOOK TO MOVIE ADAPTATION OF 2025 YOU’VE SEEN:
Mmm, this is ridiculous but I don’t think I’ve seen any adaptations this year – what have I been doing? I’m sure I’ll think of something as soon as I post this.
13. FAVOURITE POST/REVIEW YOU’VE WRITTEN THIS YEAR:
Grave Empire by Richard Swan – simply because this was another excellent book that I can’t recommend enough.
14. MOST BEAUTIFUL BOOK YOU BOUGHT OR RECEIVED THIS YEAR:
The Knight and the Moth by Rachel Gillig – I love the cover for this. I haven’t read it yet but I’m excited to pick it up.
15. BOOKS YOU NEED TO READ BY THE END OF THIS YEAR:
So many books on my shelves for the remainder of this year. I’m not going to list them all here because I’m going to be posting ‘my most anticipated reads’ very soon.
I’m not tagging anyone. Take this as an open invitation to take part if you so wish.
Booking Ahead/Weekly Wrap Up
22 June 2025
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Book Reviews, Booking Ahead, Books, Books Bones and Buffy, Caffeinated Book Reviewer, Fantasy, Sunday Post, Weekly wrap up, What's on my Plate
Books read this week:
This week my reading and blogging has been slow – but this is because we have a visitor and will also have another visitor next week so time seems to simply fly. I’m still listening to Shield of Sparrows by Devney Perry – I’m going to go against popular opinion with this one and say I’ve not fully bought into this one yet. There’s still time though so who knows. I finished Swordheart by T Kingfisher and absolutely loved it, so I now have two series that I’m desperate to continue with – both by Kingfisher. I am now reading A Far Better Thing by HG Parry – and I’m loving it. I’ve literally read over 30% in one sitting so I think I’ll make good progress with this one.
Next Week’s Reads:
Hoping to complete A Far Better Thing by HG Parry, I’m also confident that I can fit Paved With Good Intentions by Peter McLean in, and time allowing I’ll be listening to some more of Shield of Sparrows by Devney Perry.
Reviews Posted:
- The Bodies by Sam Lloyd
Outstanding Reviews
- Victorian Psycho by Virginia Feito
- Swordheart by T Kingfisher
That’s it for me this week, what have you been up to, any good books to shout out about. Let me know.
Review: The Bodies by Sam Lloyd
19 June 2025
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Book Review, Books, Review, Sam Lloyd, The Bodies, Thriller
My Five Word TL:DR Review: Very Chaotic but Seriously Gripping
The Bodies is a book that actually grips you from the get go and from that point is totally relentless. It’s a book that is insane, it makes you question yourself, I mean, what would you do. It’s a book that makes you hold your head in your hands saying ‘no, no, no’. But you won’t want to put it down. It’s fast paced and each chapter goes from bad to worse. You think you have a grip of what’s going on – but you really don’t.
I don’t want to give away a lot about the plot, but, at the same time, and given the blurb, I don’t think I’m giving anything away when I say Joseph Carver makes some shocking decisions to help his son. He wakes up in the dead of night, noises are coming from downstairs, this is basically Joseph’s nightmare scenario given his past – which will soon become crystal clear – but he creeps downstairs, dreading what he will find – only to find his son in the kitchen covered in blood.
Now, what did I love about this book.
Well, this is an author I’ve read before and enjoyed very much. The writing was really good. It’s one of those books that you can simply fall into. I mean, this is a contemporary setting so it’s easy to imagine but the prose is really good and Lloyd is excellent at building tension.
The characters. Goddamn I wanted to bang some heads together and I’m not a violent person. Joseph isn’t some kick ass dude. He’s about as scared of everything as I would be but at the same time he’s really ‘real’. We’re not all heros but Joseph loves his son, he feels like he’s failed him and he’s simply desperate. Then we have the rest of the family. Max, Joseph’s son from his previous marriage, is the one in trouble. He’s studied for years, he wants to become a doctor and now, his future is on the line. Joseph has a new wife and step daughter. Erin and Tilly.
This story almost has a breakneck pace and is one of those stories with short sharp chapters and plenty of tension. I was literally on the edge of my seat and the beauty of the pacing and tension is that you have little time, not only to take a breath but also to try and second guess what’s really going on.
Then there’s the twists. The twists are real. I was like ‘what just happened?’.
Anyway, I had a nail biting blast with this book. I expected to love this, I did go in with high expectations and this book delivered. An absolutely compelling read.
I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.
My rating 4.5 of 5 stars
Can’t Wait Wednesday: The Place Where They Buried Your Heart by Christina Henry
18 June 2025
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Book Review, Books, Can't wait Wednesday, Christina Henry, fiction, Horror, reading, The Place Where They Buried Your Heat, Wishful Endings
“Waiting On Wednesday” is a weekly meme that was originally created by Breaking the Spine. Unfortunately Breaking the Spine are no longer hosting so I’m now linking my posts up to Wishful Endings Can’t Wait Wednesday. Don’t forget to stop over, link up and check out what books everyone else is waiting for. If you want to take part, basically, every Wednesday, we highlight a book that we’re really looking forward to. This week my book is: The Place Where They Buried Your Heart by Christina Henry. Here’s the cover and description:
A woman must confront the evil that has been terrorizing her street since she was a child in this gripping haunted house novel, perfect for fans of The Last House on Needless Street and Tell Me I’m Worthless.
On an otherwise ordinary street in Chicago, there is a house. An abandoned house where, once upon a time, terrible things happened. The children who live on this block are told by their parents to stay away from that house. But of course, children don’t listen. Children think it’s fun to be scared, to dare each other to go inside.
Jessie Campanelli did what many older sisters do and dared her little brother Paul. But unlike all the other kids who went inside that abandoned house, Paul didn’t return. His two friends, Jake and Richie, said that the house ate Paul. Of course adults didn’t believe that. Adults never believe what kids say. They thought someone kidnapped Paul, or otherwise hurt him. They thought Paul had disappeared in a way that was ordinary, explainable.
The disappearance of her little brother broke Jessie’s family apart in ways that would never be repaired. Jessie grew up, had a child of her own, kept living on the same street where the house that ate her brother sat, crouched and waiting. And darkness seemed to spread out from that house, a darkness that was alive—alive and hungry.
Expected publication: November 2025
Books and travelling with Lynn 