If You're Seeing This, It's Meant for You by Leigh Stein ARC Review

This is a spoiler-free review! If You're Seeing This, It's Meant for You was published on August 26, 2025 and is now available at select book retailers.

I would first like to thank NetGalley and Ballantine Books for providing me a copy in exchange for an honest review. A combination of literary fiction intertwined with mystery and thriller, Stein's novel pulls the reader in as a viewer in this influencer-centric search for a missing Tarot card reader who vanished without a trace. This book is weird, gothic, and obsessive - every character has a compulsive attribute about them as they work towards fame and attention. You can see that when the attention or focus is not on one of them for too long, they begin to unravel at the seems. The internet is a compelling place that can have sinister consequences when one strives to do whatever it takes to stay on top.

I wish this book was a little weirder - the author really could have pulled through on that end and made the characters and subplots more erratic and disorienting. The mysterious and eeriness that surrounded Becca's disappearance was definitely hovering over the book throughout, but it felt underwhelming in what my expectations were going into Stein's work. Her disappearing certainly haunted the narrative, but with a "haunted" mansion being the center of the story and the main location of the book, it would have been great to see the author really turn the story more twisted for the characters and for the house.

The house feels like it is its own character - it carries an energy that overtakes the page, and the characters seem to treat it as a great entity rather than a 10,000 square foot house. There is a mysteriousness to it that consumes its residents and draws outsiders to want to look in and see what stories and secrets it holds. The energy given off by the house definitely adds to the uneasiness felt throughout the story as the search for Becca continues and answers are sought out. Considering one of the main focus points is to preserve the house for its next heir, it is always lingering in the background, whether the characters are using it for their videos or the owner is attempting to acquire more money to restore the mansion.

Dayna and her rabbit, Owen Wilson, take center stage in this gothic tale as she returns back to the hype house after a not-so-mutual break up with her boyfriend through a Reddit post. Her career in journalism has been not quite a flourishing as she had hoped, and moving into the hype house in order to help its owner save it from decay could be her ticket back into the game. You could tell that Dayna's influence in the house creates some tension between the influencers there, as they fight for her attention - or more so, for Owen Wilson and using him in their videos. Attempting to profit off of Becca's sudden disappearance through a social media campaign, Dayna's presence seems to be the thing that ties everything together once Olivia, Becca's biggest fan, comes to live in the house.

Stein's work poses an interesting combination of modern internet influencers with the gothic nature of the unknown and uncertainty. The pacing moves quickly and draws the reader in as they are sucked into the search for Becca, but also become an inside viewer to the realities that these influencers live in order to make content, at whatever the cost.

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House of Hearts by Skyla Arndt ARC Review

This is a spoiler-free review! House of Hearts will be available on September 2, 2025.

I would first like to thank NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group / Viking Books for Young Readers for providing me a copy in exchange for an honest review. I have been itching for a gothic dark academia book, and when this standalone popped up, I knew I had to dive in. With Violet searching for answers after her best friend passes away at an exclusive school, she is determined to attend and finally set the record straight - was her friend murdered, or was there something more at play?

As Violet assimilates herself into the school environment and meets the students she believes played a role in her friend's passing, she soon discovers that there is much more than what meets the eye when it comes to the secret society's true intentions. She forms an unusual yet enticing bond with Clavin Lockwood - the brother of the very boy she believes killed her friend or at least had a hand to play in the "freak accident" that lead to her demise. As Calvin and Violet interact, it is clear that their relationship will certainly have an interesting course.

The "intermission" chapters from Anastasia definitely added an extra element to the story that allowed readers to take a step back from the story at hand and look at the origins of what is driving this society's interests. As Violet's journey progresses, the information that we learn from these interlude chapters sheds light on information Violet uncovers and leaves little clues on where her story is headed and what revelations she will make as she works with Calvin. It would have been interesting to see even more development on Anastasia and Helen's sisterly relationship and what caused such a riff between the two - while we do get brief glances, more interactions would have beneficial for the significance of what plays out.

This book was a lot shorter than I expected, and I honestly wish it was longer - to no fault to the author, the plot moved very quickly, and I would have loved to see the background lore expanded upon, along with Calvin and Violet's banter and back-and-forth to develop as a more will-they-won't-they situation. That being said, I flew through this book in just about two hours, and the writing did have me locked into the story. I do think that the side characters, while important, did take up a lot of story space that could have been dedicated to more intriguing plot points.

This book has the same vibes as Boys with Sharp Teeth by Jenni Howell and We Are Villains by Kacen Callender but with a touch of paranormal whimsy that is seen in Bunny by Mona Awad and Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo. I had a fun time reading this and truly enjoyed the paranormal aspects that the author added it to the story - it made the stakes higher and drew me in to understand how everything would turn out for Violet, Calvin, and the rest of the Lockwoods.

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Den of Liars (Den of Liars, #1) by Jessica S. Olson ARC Review

This is a spoiler-free review! Den of Liars will be available on July 1, 2025.

I would first like to thank NetGalley and Feiwel & Friends for providing me a copy in exchange for an honest review. I love a good heist novel, and considering the past few mystery books I read have been lacking in heists, I was so excited to get approved for this galley. Right from the start, readers are introduced to an exciting world that was more modern than I expected. The pacing for world-building is quick but not confusing, and while it took me a second to familiarize myself with all of the new places and books of importance, the story was not overloading the reader with new information every two seconds.

Lola is such an interesting character, and you can tell that she is headstrong from the second she shows up on the page - with the brief prologue, readers are given the tone of her character and she holds true to her determination as the story goes on. Her backstory definitely plays into her character and the choices that she makes along the way. The character of the Liar and the Thief intrigued me so much - it was exciting to see how they differed while also seeing how similar they were. The pull between those two characters and Lola keeps the reader entertained and longing for something mischievous to come into play.

The heists are one thing, but when one goes array, the only way to continue on for Lola is to participate in the Dice Tournament - which poses an entirely new risk to Lola as she journeys on to become a true member of the Tentacles, the Thief's gang. As their bond has grown over their time together, she is determined to prove herself and be taken seriously by the Thief. With their bond already formed, it was interesting to see how Lola still was not a member of the Tentacles despite being able to pull off a number of schemes and heists with the Thief.

I am such a major fan of the main lead falls for the villain, so I was thrilled to see hinting of that trope throughout the book and just mentioned in the summary. It plays out such a complex relationship as there is always more to the villain's story than appears in the beginning. With the Thief seeking revenge against his brother, the Liar, Lola is now right in the middle of their sibling feud, and when pulled between them, whose side will she choose?

For fans of Ace of Shades by Amanda Foody and Caraval by Stephanie Garber, this new and exciting young adult romance brings action, romance, and intrigue to a unique story. There is something new at every turn, and readers can expect to be in for page-turning surprises. I cannot wait to see what the rest of the series has in store, and will certainly be keeping my eye out for any works by Olson.

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We Are Villains by Kacen Callender ARC Review

This is a spoiler-free review! We Are Villains was released on March 25, 2025 and is now available for purchase at select retailers.

I would first like to thank NetGalley for providing me an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. I have really been in the mood for a mystery book and when the approval came through on NetGalley, I was quick to download and get started. The premise reminded me of a few other mystery books I have read in the past, and I was interested to see where things were headed for Milo as he attempted to uncovered who killed his friend, Arianna.

Much like Boys with Sharp Teeth by Jenni Howell, our protagonist is on the hunt to determine who killed his friend, and is willing to go to extreme lengths to reveal the truth and get justice by any means necessary. Milo appears to be a wallflower and tends to stay in the shadows of others, but as more attention is drawn to him as the days go on, he is thrown into a whirlwind of events that have consequences for everyone. As readers learn more about Milo and his life outside of Yates, we are also exposed to his relationships with the students and how he views himself as an individual and on a deeper level.

The perspective changes nearly every chapter, and with short chapters, it became more of a challenge to keep track of who was talking - especially considering the perspectives are written in first person. While I do appreciate multiple perspective books, it felt as though this should have been limited to three perspectives instead of the larger amount that we had in the book. There were a number of characters who were more interesting to read about, and I would have loved to dive deeper into the more sinister individuals rather than dwell on some characters that in my eyes were not nearly as intriguing.

As this is a young adult book, I expected a certain ceiling or threshold that the author would reach without going into adult territory, but I fear that they kept this book hovering over more middle grade than young adult. I felt a little out of my element when reading this, and wish that the maturity was turned up a tad - considering this is a murder mystery, I wanted the stakes to be higher in certain scenarios. That being said, there were definitely chapters or events that fell into the young adult category, but it would have been great if the book felt more cohesive when detailing particular actions or diving into characters and their personalities.

This is a super quick read and you will be able to tackle it in a couple of hours - I was entertained, but felt as though it was missing a little something that would push it over the edge into something memorable for me. The mystery element was played well, and I have to say it definitely kept me intrigued throughout the entirety of the story.

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Boys with Sharp Teeth by Jenni Howell ARC Review

This is a spoiler-free review! This is an ARC review - Boys with Sharp Teeth will be available on April 8, 2025. 

I would first like to thank NetGalley and Roaring Book Press for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. The premise of this book - and its gorgeous cover - drew me in immediately, and I was thrilled that a paranormal mystery would be making its way into my pile. This book does not waste any time in introducing the main character and the haunting reason on why she has enrolled in Huntsworth Academy. Right off the bat, I was reminded of how I felt when reading The Secret History by Donna Tartt - there was something sinister in the air, and you could tell that there were secrets hidden between the walls of this school and its students.

Marin has infiltrated this prestigious school in order to uncover her cousin's murderer, and in order to do so, she has enrolled under the alias Jamie Vane, and is quick to associate herself with the group of students she suspects of being guilty. With Henry, Adrian, and Baz at the top of her list, she begins her quest to gain evidence and confessions to the crime that took her cousin from her, all while trying not to tip them off or reveal her true identity. However, things are not as they seem at this school, and something much more unnerving has encompassed the lives of some of these students. As Marin grows closer to her peers, she unknowingly thrusts herself into a paranormal conundrum that has its talons in the very individuals she seeks answers from.

Henry and Adrian's relationship is so incredibly complex and as readers, we are able to see how co-dependent and intricate it is, even without necessarily having their perspectives throughout the book. We see their lives tethered together through Marin's eyes and the slow progression of Marin herself being weaved into their intimate and alluring dependency. My mind kept referring to the trio as the evil Challengers - everything from their interactions to their intimacies are convoluted and go well beyond the surface level. Adrian and Henry go in tandem with one another - where one is, the other follows - and this certainly causes some riffs as the story goes on and Marin develops differing relationships with the boys.

I fell in love with the setting of this book - Howell does an excellent job immersing the reader into the story and making you feel as though you are walking the halls or attending the parties with the students. The introduction of paranormal elements was a great choice - much like Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo, we are able to enter a dark academia setting while experiencing something greater than mortal beings. This addition to the story only solidified my interest and captured me into the plot - we discover everything as Marin does, and it allows us to stay oblivious to the true nature of some of the students until the very moment the information is revealed and we are thrust into the mortifying truth.

Boys with Sharp Teeth was one of my most anticipated 2025 reads and it truly lived up to all of my expectations. Rarely do I see a young adult mystery that captures the true horrors of what people are capable of while also diving into the unknown and paranormal. This is the perfect book for those looking to ease into the genre without being overloaded with information. Howell's incorporation of Decartes and classical literature elevated the undertones of this novel to the fullest extent, and makes me even more excited to Meditations, which has been sitting on my shelf for a few months begging me to crack it open.

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The Divine Flesh by Drew Huff ARC Review

This is a spoiler-free review! This is an ARC review - The Divine Flesh will be available on March 4, 2025. Please read trigger warnings - reader discretion is advised.

I would first like to thank NetGalley and Dark Matter INK for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. There is an insane amount of body horror in this book, and after the excellence that was The Substance (2024), I was excited to see what the genre had in store for us this year. This book was so much more intense than I expected - the author does not hold back, and brings the readers in for a ride they did not see coming. The fascinating concept of the Divine Flesh and Jennifer existing together a single body truly adds a level of self-awareness and power dynamics to their characterizations.

The internal struggle we see not only with the Divine Flesh and Jennifer, but a multitude of side characters, was a great touch by Duff. We are able to contextualize the significance their actions have on the outside world, and how their power struggle influences a domino effect on a number of people. The intensity of change in which every character had to experience, whether it being trapped, hunted, or seeking a common goal, was absolutely more than I expected. This book went places I never expected, and the author truly pushed the boundaries of body horror and everything in between.

Jennifer and the Divine Flesh being one individual while simultaneously being two entirely different beings really drove the story to its true conflict point, and without their internal battle with each other, so many consequences could have been avoided. The Divine Flesh's reasoning to be separated from Jennifer differed from Jennifer's own reasoning to be separated, and with that came the downfall of so many individuals. Daryl's involvement with both the Divine Flesh and Jennifer could be considered the major factor that lead to the explosion of events in this book, and his presence throughout the story has significant impact on Jennifer and the Divine Flesh's actions.

Horror enthusiasts will be thrilled by Huff's work, and the squeamish should proceed with caution. The tone of the book is heavy and extreme - every single action had an immediate consequence that could lead to even more potent reaction from another character. Every single page had presented with something new and absolutely unimaginable - there were so many instances where I could not believe what I was reading. Every page felt as through I was exposed to something so completely out of the park, and Huff's ability to create so many nuanced characters while still upholding the integrity of the book's main theme kept me drawn in.

Emotionally, these characters are put through the ringer, and physically, they are completely transformed by the end of this book. Much like how humans evolve and grow, these characters are challenged beyond their wildest expectations and realities in order to get to their final form. Literary fiction and body horror merge together to form a symbiotic connection, much like Jennifer and the Divine Flesh's beginning relationship.

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Valuing Only Us (A Sullivan Young Story, #1) by Cory Desmond Wolfe ARC Review

This is a spoiler-free review! This is an ARC review - Valuing Only Us will be available on January 22, 2025.

I would first like to thank NetGalley and Pine Hollows Projects for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. The premise of this book reminded me of HBO's Industry meets Tom and Greg from HBO's Succession, so naturally I was intrigued. The author chose to break the book in quarters, which meshed well with the environment of the story in maintaining the sense of how the book was paced. Alec and Ted are given alternating perspectives, and with different backgrounds and current complications, they are dealing with their own successes and failures while attempting to maintain their relationship.

The writing style reads a touch too stoic and mechanical for my taste - while we do have dual perspectives, one in first person and the other in third person, and read much like someone listing off things that they did throughout the day, rather than having a more natural flow. I had a hard time connecting to Alec and Ted, and found their actions to be all over the place - with the short chapters, it became a quick turnaround of small details, rather than a more fleshed-out chapter for each character.

The stakes in this book were not high enough for me - there did not seem to be a sense of urgency until well beyond the 80% mark. Alec and Ted's relationship was much more distant than I expected it to be, and the fact that they basically kept so much from each other had me wondering why they were even together. The side characters had minor importance until around the same point in the book, and did not add much to the story until actual problems arose for Ted and Alec. The plot was inconsistent with the goals of the characters, and riddled with abandoned ideas - Alec and Ted's relationship needed to be expanded upon in order for the reader to truly grasp on why they were so drawn to each other.

In my honest opinion, the concept of this story is definitely compelling, but needs some work in order to really grab the reader's attention. Some proof-reading and edits would serve this book well, and style choices needed to be locked down. As I previously noted, the choice of having one character's perspective in first person and the other's in third person was a bold choice, but left me more thrown after every chapter switch, as it was always an adjustment in reading perspective.

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You Could Do Damage by K.C. Mills ARC Review

This is a spoiler-free review! This is an ARC review - You Could Do Damage will be available on February 25, 2025.

I would first like to thank NetGalley and Black Odyssey Media for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. The premise of this book reminds me so much of those vertical romance ads you see on TikTok, especially being an arranged marriage. This appeared to be a more dangerous version of Terms and Conditions by Lauren Asher, and since I ate that book up, I was intrigued to see how crime would come into play.

With dual perspective chapters, readers are able to go into Nari and Kincaid's minds, and of course with knowing how both parties feel, we as readers form our own opinions on how things were handled by the characters. I would have loved to see more of Nari's background - it felt as though we only had a glimpse of what she has been through, and I think it would have made some of the chapters more impactful if we had known more.

Kincaid is always truthful with Nari, and I found a great appreciation for that - often in mafia romances or crime romances, you see the male lead keep secrets from the female lead in an attempt to protect them, and yet Kincaid never lies to Nari. He is upfront about the arranged marriage from the beginning, and is always ready to answer any questions or negotiate terms with Nari when prompted. He is very protective of Nari, and there are some consequences to that in the sense that Nari learns more about what Kincaid truly deals with and how dangerous he can be when in particular situations.

Nari is too trusting to some and not trusting enough to others - this creates a more complex character study for her, but her overall sense as a character was that she is a little awkward and unsure of herself. Her past is muddled and there are a number of things that have impacted her sense of self, but she seems to trust Kincaid very quickly once they cross paths.

The ending felt very rushed and the betrayal seemed to come out of nowhere... I was not a fan of how the final two chapters were handled. I think the author was setting up some conflict between Nari and Kincaid, but it fell short in being well-developed. If this first installment was longer, then I could see the conflict carrying out in a more detailed fashion, but since it has been set up as a cliffhanger, readers are left with these two new revelations and no resolution until the sequel is available.

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History Is All You Left Me by Adam Silvera Review

This is a spoiler-free review! The version I am reading is an ARC -- any changes made for the final publication are not reflected in this review.

I am not exactly sure what I was thinking when I thought this would be a quick and easy read while I was on vacation -- it is definitely emotional and you see so much pain and grief that Griffin and Jackson go through that I literally could not bring myself to read it for a few days. I have read They Both Die at the End, and this book definitely is up there on the heartbreak scale, at least in the first third of the book. Not everything is incredibly sad, but the beginning definitely sets up Griffin's story to be a rocky road as he navigates life without Theo.

I was straight up crying from page eighteen to about page one hundred. I have no idea what possessed my body during those pages but my god they were so incredibly sad and heartbreaking to read. Since the book goes back and forth from two years before Theo's death to his funeral, it really tugs at your heart strings, especially seeing the life he lived and then immediately going to him no longer being there anymore.

Griffin is dealing with so much on top of Theo's death, and his character is definitely not the most likeable at times. You really see the way that grief affects him, and watching him struggle to make sense of what has happened really puts it into perspective on how grief is not linear and how anger and frustration play into grieving. Even without getting Jackson's point of view throughout the book, you can tell that his initial distain for Griffin was more out of mild jealously and feeling as though Theo would drop Jackson in a heartbeat if Griffin would get back together with him.

With Griffin's OCD, readers are able to see how his compulsions stem into his grieving and begin to take over his life and thoughts as he attempts to cope with losing Theo. We see him become more open about them as well, and as Griffin begins to confide in people about how he really is doing, we also see him go deeper into a state of denial -- I would even argue that he was trying to get revenge on Theo in some instances, even with Theo being gone. He becomes somewhat self-destructive towards the end of the book, and while understandable that he could not come to terms that Theo was not only gone, but shared some intimate details about Griffin, he definitely began to isolate himself from people who wanted to support him. It is a stark reminder that people are so incredibly individual and human, and without compassion and understanding from others as well as from ourselves, grief can feel so very alone.

Both Jackson and Griffin were using each other as support after Theo died, but I felt as though they were mildly competing with one another on who knew Theo better and who had more memories with him. When they would go out together and talk about Theo, it would feel genuine in the beginning, but slowly it would gain this somber atmosphere that would encompass them as they tried to grieve. Silvera did a pretty good job at depicting two different methods of grief and coping, especially when Griffin and Jackson were pretty much placed in the exact same situation.

I do not typically reach for a contemporary read, but Silvera manages to build a compelling story exploring grief and coping with struggles in a heartbreaking read. If you are looking for a quick yet provoking read on humanity after death, this is a great choice. With complex characters and writing that pulls emotion out of its readers, Griffin's story will certainly take you on a journey.

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The Cherished by Patricia Ward Review

This is a spoiler-free review!

I would first like to thank NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reader copy of The Cherished in exchange for an honest review -- this is an uncorrected proof, and there may be changes to the book in the final version.The Cherished releases on April 18, 2023.

I first have to say that I absolutely love the cover art for this book, and it is one of the main things that drew me to reading it. Combined with the description, my expectations were high, especially because I was in the mood for a good horror book. However, the writing was not what I expected, and it felt as though the story was dragging on while at the same time throwing in random information or characters that did not have anything to do with the plot.

Jo, Abigail, and Robert all have a nagging voice about them that makes almost everything that they said sound grating to the ear. Jo is sixteen years old and thinks in the most outrageous ways that cause her character to be hard to follow, especially as the main character. Abigail's character felt two-dimensional at first, but then started to get a little bit more in depth as the story went on, but never really expanded in a way that made the reader want to read about her.

The plot felt sporadic and was moving at an inconsistent pace -- I felt as though I was reading a book that had passages removed, making it harder to follow what exactly was going on. Instead of a horror book, it felt more like a short story you would read in English class that barely touched the surface of what horror embodies. Instead of being a little spooked while reading, I actually felt annoyed at almost every single character, especially Jo, because no one would communicate with each other, or they would talk in vague warnings that were not going to help anyone.

Hattie's character, while interesting and helpful to the plot, actually provides yet another annoyance to the reading experience. She just feels very out of place and not well developed enough for her implied importance to actually take root in the reader's view of her. The relationship she has with Tom is very much father/daughter, but they also try to warn Jo about certain things while not telling her anything all at all, which is frustrating to read.

I found that the plot's pacing was making it hard to read the book -- it was slow in the first half, but then it started to jump around quickly and begin to incorporate ideas that seemed to be only half-developed rather than something more solid. 

Overall, I think that the concept was definitely there, but the execution was not living up to how it needed to be played out. I felt a little bored during a lot of the chapters, and other chapters were kind of just jumping around and did not feel as though they were completed. Expecting a horror book, I was disappointed to say the least -- there was certainly nothing scary about this book, and while the concept would be considered eerie, it just did not pull through.

If you are looking for a quick read that has somewhat of evil fairytale elements, then The Cherished will definitely check those boxes for you. 

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The Priory of the Orange Tree (The Roots of Chaos, #1) by Samantha Shannon Review

 

This is a spoiler-free review! A list of trigger warnings can be found here.

I have to admit, I was extremely intimidated to read this book. I received an ARC in 2018 at Book Expo America and it has been sitting on my shelf ever since, taunting me -- it's huge! But, it was finally time I picked up a high fantasy book, and I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised. I read The Bone Season a few years ago, and from what I can recall, I enjoyed Shannon's writing, and was excited to dive into a new genre of hers.

Like many readers, going into a book that is notorious for having tons of characters and interconnecting plot lines can lead you to push off reading a book. However, after reading the first four Game of Thrones books, I felt that I was up for the challenge. The author dives right into one of the main plot lines, but does not make it so convoluted that the reader is left spinning in circles trying to understand what is going on. As we switch perspectives between The West and The East in Part I, we follow groups of characters on their own journeys that affect other characters throughout the book.

Part II introduces us to The South, and we see characters begin to travel across lands and encounter each other in passing or through gossip. Unfortunately, Part II is also where many beloved side characters meet their fate and we are left in what seems to be in a constant state of characters dying left and right. The character development of Sabran and the Eastern dragons take precedence in the beginning, and we see the nature of religious differences between lands. I found that the more we discovered about one land, the more we are able to see the sides of this conflict arise, especially when the action finally gets rolling after the world-building was established in Part I.

Parts IV and V are where true conflict arises and revelations are made by the characters, in addition to characters moving to different parts of the world as their discoveries come together. For hundreds of pages, we see characters and their journeys, and at this point in the story they slowly start interacting with one another and searching for similar items and people.

Part VI absolutely blew me away. Everything comes together in a final encounter with nearly all of the characters we have been following throughout their own quests and travels. Seeing the Eastern dragons and the Nameless One together at the very end was cathartic and epic. After reading over 800 pages of world-building and adventures, you could feel the finale drawing in. The complexities of all the characters follow them and are interwoven through pain, suffering, and self-discovery. Relationships are built just as quickly as they fall, and Shannon brings such emotion into characters that were once struggling to open themselves to another.

If I had to critique one thing about The Priory of the Orange Tree, I would say that I wish that the author had explained more of the lore surrounding the creatures that exist in this world. While they were described physically sometimes, it was somewhat hard to imagine what they looked like, and even register that these creatures can speak with humans. The glossary at the back of the book did help with some things, but it was just a tad inconvenient having to flip back to the glossary and search for what they were talking about when it could have just been expanded on in the actual text.

I really enjoyed the defining characteristics of the dragons in this book -- we typically see dragons portrayed in media and literature as winged creatures who spew fire, but Shannon takes a different approach and has dragons forged from air and water, with only some adorned with wings. It differentiates the world we are reading, and it made it all the more interesting when first starting the book.

For fans of Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon, and Daughter of Smoke and Bone, this is the book for you. The Priory of the Orange Tree is a great gateway introduction to high fantasy if you are a newcomer to the genre.

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