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I was a huge fan of Foxfield’s last book, It’s Behind You, and was so excited to hear she published another YA thriller! Tag, You’re Dead is a twisty thriller that you can read in a single sitting — I couldn’t put it down.

We follow three POV characters playing a high-tech, city-wide game of tag with a big prize — the chance to join social media star Anton Fraser’s live-in crew. All our characters have their private motivations for wanting to win and their secrets surface as the game goes awry.

I love Foxfield’s twisty plots and surprising reveals, as well as her totally despicably characters (who I can’t help but love — I’m a big fan of Erin’s). The horror elements are light enough to not be scary, while adding extra tension to the book. Tag, You’re Dead is a perfect spooky, entertaining, read-it-in-one-sitting book for your summer TBR.

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I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This review is spoiler-free.

A Dowry of Blood is a book that has been on my radar for a long time, given it’s popularity on TikTok and other social media platforms. When I found out that it was being picked up by Orbit for traditional publishing, I decided to finally give it a read. For me, the hype is real — I really loved this book!

A lush, gorgeous, and bloody reimagining of Dracula’s brides, A Dowry of Blood is told through letters from Constanta, his first bride, She details their life together, starting the day she was turned and continuing through the centuries as their relationship grows from two to four. I loved all of the characters in this book and the complex relationships between the brides and how they lean on each other for survival in a toxic and abusive relationship.

A Dowry of Blood is a story of love, abuse, lust, and the dizzying power of immortality. Gorgeously written and totally compelling, it is one you don’t want to miss.

(Just dear lord, don’t read the epilogue. This was added for the traditionally published version and it’s awful. Please Orbit, make this bonus content and not part of the actual book!)

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I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This review is spoiler-free.

When you pick up a Frances Hardinge book, you're guaranteed a unique reading experience. She's one of the best storytellers in the business, and her books are equal parts whimsical, humorous, and dark.

Unraveller was one of my most anticipated books of the year (I screeched when I realised she had a book out this fall), and absolutely loved it. The worldbuilding and magic are immaculate - I loved the concept of cursing and the way she explores it in this book - and her characters are so lovable and wonderfully written (even when you want to shake them).

If you're looking for a standalone fantasy adventure that's the perfect escape from reality, I cannot recommend Unraveller more highly. It's easily one of the best books of the year!

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I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This review is spoiler-free.

I have been waiting years - YEARS - to read The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle. This 1968 children's story has inspired readers and writers for years - for many it is the reason they fell in love with fantasy books in the first place. Now that it is finally available in the UK, I've read it. And let me tell you, it was worth the wait.

The Last Unicorn is, for me, one of those rare children's books that I know I would have adored as a kid, but still really enjoyed as an adult. Like all good children's books, it is dark and bittersweet, but also gentle and uplifting. The relationship that the unicorn forms with Schmedrick and Molly, and the journey they go on, had so much depth and there is so much lovely subtext, yet still feels like a suitable children's story. And the introduction by Patrick Rothfuss is so incredibly charming and sets the book up really well!

If you've been eager to get your paws on this book, the wait was worth it. This would be a perfect read for a quiet autumn night.

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It's no secret that I'm a huge Junji Ito fan, and am always going to pick up his latest title. The Liminal Zone is his most recent collection of horror stories, and it's a great one. I love his ingenuity and imagination, and I think this is one of my favourite collections of his work. It's a little shorter than I expected, but still packs a punch.

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I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This review is spoiler-free.

I think Carrie Soto is Back may be my new favourite TJR book. As a tennis kid (I played for nine years. AND share a love of the sport with my father), there was absolutely no way I wouldn't connect with a father-daughter tennis story. Throw a fierce female character on top of that? Gold.

I really loved Soto's coldness, ambition, and drive to win. Her critiques of women's tennis, and female athletics in general, are so spot-on - one of my favourite scenes in this book is simply two women talking about the double standards in women's sports. She's the perfect vehicle to explore and address these issues. I find that sometimes Reid can be a little weak when it comes to secondary characters, but this was not the case in Carrie Soto is Back. From her father to Bowe, to her agent to Nikki Chan, Carrie is surrounded by contrasting characters that compliment her personality and her story so well.

Although the book is incredibly tennis-heavy, I really think that people who don't have a love of or familiarity with the sport will still enjoy the tension, the strategy, and the joys of the games as Carrie fights to defend her title. Carrie Soto is Back is the perfect book to dive into, especially if you want something compelling enough to read in one sitting.

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I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This review is spoiler-free.

Intense, provocative, weird. Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke and Other Misfortunes is a book I'd been desperate to get my hands on ever since I first heard about it on social media. What did I think of it? It's gross, uncomfortable, chock full of body horror, and absolutely fantastic.

This is a book that wont click with everyone - I urge readers to check content warnings before picking it up- and I definitely wouldn't recommend it to non-horror readers. But for readers like me who enjoy reading books that push boundaries and touch on uncomfortable topics, THGWSWLS is a great read. It's fast-paced and utterly compelling, combining a literary writing style with some serious disturbing content.

There are three stories in this volume -- the titular THGWSWLS is definitely the strongest of the three. It's a story of a relationship spiraling into darkness told via chat logs and emails, with a hint of serious consequences. I can absolutely see why it became such a phenomenon within the horror community and was propelled into the mainstream. The other two stories feel a little like they sit in THGWSWLS's shadow. They were good and well written, but there is a lot that makes the titular novella feel unique.

This collection is thought-provoking, disturbing, and will sit in your mind long after you finish. I would highly recommend it to seasoned horror readers - it is perfect for your spooky season TBR.

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A lovely collection of Christina Rossetti's poetry! I had only ever read Goblin Market before - and it happens to be one of my favourites - and was surprised by how much I adored her other works! I'm not much of a poetry reader, but there was something about her work that really spoke to me. 

I could take or leave the devotionals at the end - religious works just aren't my thing - but absolutely loved the rest of the poems in this collection.

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I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This review is spoiler-free.

I'm not much of a poetry person, but Goblin Market has always been a favourite of mine. As soon as I heard that Not Good for Maidens was a reimagining of Christina Rossetti's poem, I had to have it in my hands!

Bovalino does a great job of incorporating the dark sensuality and temptation of Goblin Market into her own writing. I loved her imagining of the market below the streets of York and the supernatural draw that the women of the city feel, whether they want to or not. Her description of the market and its various levels and wares was fantastic and the goblins themselves were so incredibly cool. She does a great job setting up the fantasy elements in this book!

I think my mixed feelings about Not Good for Maidens mostly surround the dual timeline. I often find that when books have a dual POV or timeline, one is far more interesting than the other -- that is definitely the case with here. I absolutely loved May's point of view chapters, which tell the story of why the sisters fled York 18 years prior. May is a great character with a fascinating story, and I couldn't get enough. However, I found the present day timeline much more dull by comparison. Lou just didn't have the same strong sense of character (although it could be argued that this is intentional) and I just didn't click with her story at all. Maybe it would have been stronger if May's storyline was one book and Lou's was the sequel? I'm not sure.

I also wish that there was a stronger sense of place in this book. When a fantasy/horror story is set in a place like York, I would expect it to have a lot of atmosphere. I personally love stories that have a strong setting, especially when that setting is so central to the book, and this one didn't quite hit the mark.

Overall, Not Good for Maidens is a good read but I feel like there was potential for it to be a much stronger book.