Blackthorn by J.T. Geissinger ARC Review

This is a spoiler-free review! Please read trigger warnings - reader discretion is advised. Blackthorn was published by Bramble on November 4, 2025 and is now available at select retailers.

I would first like to thank NetGalley and Bramble for providing me a copy in exchange for an honest review. Maven returns to her hometown with the impression she and her daughter, Bea, will only be there to lay part of the past to rest - literally. Life has an unexpected turn when her grandmother's body disappears into thin air and a past love is determined to reenter her life without taking no for an answer. With immediate guilt being placed on the Croft family - the Blackthorn's rival for generations - we see Maven dive deeper to find out the truth as Ronan, her past mistake, continues to insert himself into her life. I really enjoyed the gothic feel to this dark romance, as it was eerie and haunted the plot as we follow Maven and Ronan deeper into their lives. You could sense the uneasiness coming off the page, and considering the contents of this book, it certainly was not the only thing to cause readers to be put out of place.

I have not read a book for a very long time in which the main character had a child - it is honestly kind of jarring to see, as I am used to them having children in the epilogue or towards the very end of the book. That being said, the age of this child is clearly integral to the plot of the book, and Bea's presence was necessary for a number of plot devices. While she did not take on much of a "leading" role, she was still supplying a decent amount of drive when it came to Maven's story. Even though her presence was more so in compliment of Maven's plot, Bea was still important to moving the plot along in order to showcase Maven's determination, along with her ability to keep things hidden.

When I first looked at the trigger warnings, my first thought was how in the world are these going to come up in this story - I quickly discovered that the author was willing to go down taboo roads in this gothic dark romance. At first, readers would think that the "freak factor" would need to be upped tenfold after only reading the first third of the book, but let me tell you - it gets sent into the stratosphere towards the halfway mark and just continues to have the reader's jaw drop. As someone who feels as though they have read everything that falls under taboo, this book certainly had some firsts for me. It definitely takes a minute to dive into the freakiness, but Geissinger does not hold back once that portion is uncovered.

This was honestly a pretty decent combination of genres - you have the dark romance, enemies-to-lovers aspect at the forefront, accompanied by this supernatural and gothic aura that enhances the romance while creating this haunting nature over the story. Maven and Ronan's relationship is much more complicated than anyone could have imagined and as readers see their story unfold, they are presented with conflicting realizations and are left on the edge of their seat.

You can add Blackthorn on Goodreads now, and follow the author to stay up to date on releases and publications.

You can catch up with me and my current reads by friending me on Goodreads and following this blog, my Twitter (X), and my Instagram in order to stay up-to-date with any reviews, blog tours, and more!

Don't Let the Forest In by C.G. Drews Review

This is a spoiler-free review!

Andrew and Thomas return to school with secrets from one another, a daunting fairytale turned into a haunting reality, and the disappearance of the creative spark that lived within Thomas and his artwork. When they arrive back at Wickwood Academy, everything is out of order - Andrew's twin sister, Dove, is all but warm to him, while Thomas arrives in questionable fashion with a torrid secret. As readers dive deeper in Andrew's perspective, they are exposed to more than they could have imagined. With the forest luring Andrew and Thomas into dangerous territory as they protect themselves and those around them.

Jumping around from high fantasy to romance, I knew I was in desperate need to get back into dark academia - Don't Let the Forest In has been on my TBR shelf for nearly a year as I anticipated its release, and I finally found the time to sit down with it. I have to say, I basically loved everything about this book - we are immediately introduced to Wickwood Academy and the aura is prickly, intense, and full of a deep sense of dread. With Andrew somehow on the outs with both his sister and Thomas, he fights to find out why they are pushing him to the side.

As we see Thomas recount a traumatizing experience while actively working to put an end to the torment that has followed him back to school, we begin to learn more about the horrors that have been haunting him. Without the help of Andrew, I am sure that Thomas would have been left to his own devices to constantly be looking over his shoulder for years to come. Drews was able to create such a sense of being watched throughout this book - I felt as paranoid as Thomas and Andrew as I read their story. Every corner they turned, it was as though they were confronted with the reality of high school bullying or the fantastical horrors of fairytales come to life.

Andrew's personal journey was intriguing and pulled at my heartstrings - you could feel his pain come off the page and his internal struggle as he came to terms with himself felt so raw. His characterization was well-developed and readers are truly able to feel his fears and hesitation to explore the unknown. Both Thomas and Andrew had a lot of feelings to explore throughout the book, and because they are so interconnected with one another, their lives bleed into one another so much you feel as though they are one being sewn together.

For those who loved The Wicker King by K. Ancrum, readers will be thrown into dark academia encompassed by fantasy and the desire for characters to uncover the truth about themselves and what the future has in store.

You can add Don't Let the Forest In on Goodreads now, and follow the author to stay up to date on releases and publications.

You can catch up with me and my current reads by friending me on Goodreads and following this blog, my Twitter (X), and my Instagram in order to stay up-to-date with any reviews, blog tours, and more!

Belladonna (Belladonna, #1) by Adalyn Grace Review

This is a spoiler-free review!

The prologue really drew me into this story - I had heard mixed reviews of this series, and I had it on my TBR list for quite some time, so I was pleasantly surprised to be drawn right into Signa's journey. The banter that Death and Signa have right off the bat was so enjoyable, and as a long-time lover of enemies-to-lovers, I had high hopes for their relationship progression throughout this book. I have been yearning for a good grumpy male lead, and while Death does make his appearances worth while, I wish he had more scenes.

Sylas and Signa were a great little detective pair, and the tension between them throughout the book on top of the tension between Death and Signa was so fun to read - you could see the inner struggle that Signa was battling as she spent more time with each of them. Sylas is essentially the grumpiest man in the nicest room on the train, and his reactions to everything that Signa does in this story really added a layer of enjoyment. That being said, I loved the way that Death spoke to Signa, and the way he was always trying to make her figure out things on her own.

I was becoming very torn between who I liked more for Signa - Death or Sylas - but in the wise words of Katherine Pierce - "It's okay to love them both" - so I did. The pacing of the plot was slow for about two thirds of the book, and finally took off and was filled with a decent amount of action and discovery in its last third. The masquerade scene was truly chef's kiss - I loved every single minute of it, and it had such a great energy surrounding it, truly drawing the reader in.

The side characters - Blythe, Percy, Marjorie, Elijah, etc - certainly aided Signa's story, and the author was able to create an intimate circle of people surrounding the leading lady. I do wish some characters became more fleshed out as the plot progressed, but the select few that did receive that special attention were definitely worth it in the end. However, they were not the reason that I was invested in the story, and I found myself reading at a faster pace when their side plots took precedence over Signa's development.

The overall mystery of the story was certainly enthralling, and if the book was about one hundred pages longer, I think there could have been more development. A decent amount of twists seemed more obvious than they should have been, and it took a bit of the suspense out of reading when I could see what was going to happen chapters before it was revealed.

I love gothic romance, and with the added mystery aspect, I thought this was a fun read that could be a great entry way into the genre as you build yourself up. The setting of the story - at least what I was able to imagine in my head based off of the author's descriptions - was stunning, and truly gave that eerie feeling as murders need to be solved. The story has certainly intrigued me, and I will definitely try to revisit this series in the future.

You can add Belladonna on Goodreads now, and follow the author to stay up to date with releases and publications.

You can catch up with me and my current reads by friending me on Goodreads and following this blog, my Twitter, and my Instagram in order to stay up-to-date with any reviews, blog tours, and more!

A Study in Drowning (A Study in Drowning, #1) by Ava Reid Review

This is a spoiler-free review!

I was ready to dive into a stand alone, when to my surprise, I saw that a sequel was in the works for this book. Riding off of the faerie world as I just finished The Folk of the Air series by Holly Black, this seemed like the perfect path to head down as I continue to make my way through my never-ending TBR pile and transition to fall with a little gothic fantasy.

The beginning of the book was a touch slow to start, mostly due to the fact that readers are becoming acclimated to the world, but there was something missing that I could not quite put my finger on. I felt as though the world-building could have been expanded upon before we were thrown into the plot, as there were points in the book where I felt disconnected from the story. The second half of the book definitely makes up on this front, and I found myself truly enthralled with everything that had finally built up over the first two hundred or so pages.

Effy and Preston... I could feel the tension just by his name being written in the Borrower list for every book Effy wanted to check out in the library. I loved the academic rivals to teaming up with one another dynamic, and while Effy and Preston are not quite academic rivals, Effy does want to be in the literature college, and Preston had no problem being admitted. The way they interact once they are basically forced to cohabitate has a sweet slow-burn to it, and I only wish we got to see Preston's perspective.

This was the perfect read to start transitioning into fall weather, and the author was able to encapsulate such an exact environment when setting the scene for this book. I loved the way the characters were influenced by the manor itself, almost as if the manor was a character itself. The backstory of the Myrddin's faults and the allure of the tales of the Fairy King cause Effy and Preston to join forces and find answers that may reveal harsh truths. I truly felt transported to the book's setting, which made the read all the more enjoyable.

There were equal parts magic and mortal to this story, and they were equally addressed through Effy's true belief of the Fairy King's existence and Preston's hunt for human faults. Nothing magical ever felt as if it was being forced onto the reader, but rather flowed naturally as the story progressed. I appreciated the way Myrddin's book was a work of art within this book, which created a more tangible mystery to the reader as we joined Effy and Preston on their search for hidden truths. Reid tackled issues that went beyond magic and mortal, and touched upon a number of important topics that elevated the story while not becoming repetitive.

For fans of Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson and Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor, readers will be taken on a journey of libraries, monsters, and just a hint of romance. The perfect gothic fantasy read, just in time for fall and cozy weather.

You can add A Study in Drowning on Goodreads now, and follow the author to stay up to date on releases and publications.

You can catch up with me and my current reads by friending me on Goodreads and following this blog, my Twitter, and my Instagram in order to stay up-to-date with any reviews, blog tours, and more!

Silent Deception by Cathie Dunn Review

This is a spoiler-free review! Silent Deception is currently available for free on iBooks and Kindle.

I was looking for something short and maybe not-so-sweet when I came across this novella, and it was the perfect choice to help me get out of a reading slump. Minnie Goodridge has inherited a haunted manor, and comes across the charming presence of Gideon Drake upon her arrival to fix up the home that no person seems keen to enter. I usually tend to stay away from historical romance, but on occasion when combined with a touch of ghosts, I will be sucked in.

This novella brushes upon a budding romance between Minnie and Gideon as she makes the manor her home while digging into the dreadful past that seems to haunt the estate. Unknowingly tied to Gideon, she attempts to unmask the truth of a relative while he does the same, but he is immediately intrigued by Minnie's presence in his life.

Silent Deception offers the beginning of a romance that brushes the surface of what the future has in store for Minnie and Gideon. I loved the atmosphere that the author created, it truly felt hauntingly eerie as the story progressed, and reminded me so much of Deep and Dark and Dangerous by Mary Downing Hahn in that regard.

Both main characters had a decent amount of character development, considering this novella clocks in at just under eighty pages. I found myself wishing this was a full-length novel, and I really wanted to get more into the story and the romance. The plot moved along at a great pace that allows readers to essentially finish in one sitting, making you want to never stop reading until the end. The relationship between Minnie and Gideon feels very natural, especially for the time period, and I loved the way they slowly began to get to know one another.

If you are looking for a gateway into historical romance with just a dash of mystery, this novella is certainly an excellent step in that direction. On a separate note, I think this is the third book I have read with this girl on the cover -- they never seem to disappoint!

You can add Silent Deception on Goodreads now, and follow the author to stay up to date on releases and publications.

You can catch up with me and my current reads by friending me on Goodreads and following this blog, my Twitter, and my Instagram in order to stay up-to-date with any reviews, blog tours, and more!

Dracula by Bram Stoker Review

This is a spoiler-free review!

Going into this book, I had a different idea of what the tone and focus of the story would be -- and I was pleasantly surprised on how much I enjoyed the formatting of this classic. Stoker utilizes diary entries, journaling, phonographs, and newspaper articles to string together Jonathan Harker's encounter with Count Dracula, and the consequences that followed. The use of multiple perspectives of side characters in addition to Jonathan allowed the story to unfold and the reader is able to see the true outcome of Jonathan's stay with the Count.

There were a few points in the story where I felt as though Stoker was losing his audience, and I found myself pushing through side plots that only aided the main story for a brief moment. The majority of the book, to my surprise, takes place in both England and in Transylvania, with a number of locations as the tale moves back and forth between Jonathan and his wife, Mira, as she waits for his return home. Rather than focus on the environment or surroundings in this story, it was more so the emotions that took precedence as the characters sought to protect themselves from tales of the undead.

Introducing a number of side characters to Jonathan's story, Stoker is able to give the reader a more enhanced understanding of the way society viewed the lore of the Count. With Mira's letters and diary entries, along with Dr. Van Helsing and numerous other individuals, readers are truly given the full perspective -- if only we were able to have a single chapter from Dracula's point of view. There were times where chapters from Mira's entries felt as though they were taking away from Jonathan's story, and I was frustrated with the focus being turned to her worrying about him for forty pages instead of actually seeing what was going on with him and Dracula at his estate.

Humor is sprinkled in throughout the story, and while sparse, it does make the characters more enjoyable and personable, especially for the characters that do not have nearly as many dedicated chapters to their thoughts and diary entries. Some of the reasoning of solutions that characters would come with in order to protect themselves were downright hilarious, especially when claiming a string of garlic was actually a flower necklace.

As far as pacing goes, it takes a minute to readjust yourself to the language of the story, but a few chapters in and you will have the hang of it in no time. When Jonathan was while Dracula, the story moves quickly and entices the reader, but I found myself losing a touch of interest when we abandoned Dracula and moved to a new subplot. Once Dracula was no longer the main event, the story began to drag on and the last 15% of the book was tough to push through, but I was determined to see this classic to the end. I wish Stoker had expanded more on Jonathan's experience with Dracula, rather than only showing their interactions briefly compared to the aftermath.

An excellent piece of gothic literature that explores the horrors of men and monsters while remaining open to interpretation regarding the true nature of violence and society. A true classic and essential piece to truly understand the genre as a whole as well as one of the most popular characters in horror.

You can add Dracula on Goodreads now.

You can catch up with me and my current reads by friending me on Goodreads and following this blog, my Twitter, and my Instagram in order to stay up-to-date with any reviews, blog tours, and more!

The Yellow Wall-Paper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman Review

The Yellow Wall-Paper is available to read for free on iBooks! This review contains spoilers for The Yellow Wall-Paper.

With the intent of bringing his wife to a rental home for fresh air and a calmer environment to heal her from illness, a doctor unintentionally -- or perhaps, intentionally -- causes his wife to dive deeper into a madness. We see a woman isolated, alone yet almost never out of sight from her husband, John, or his sister, Jennie. Left to her own devices when they want her to rest, she begins to analyze and critique the old and decaying yellow wallpaper that surrounds her.

The author does an incredible job of describing this wallpaper with such detail that it not only becomes the prominent plot point of the story, but a character itself. No longer is the wallpaper a mere inanimate decoration for this woman's room, but rather something that is alive and stirring. The more time she spends alone in solitude with only this wallpaper, the more we see the woman descend into a madness that reflects the conceptualized place of women in their marriage.

Any time that the woman expresses a need to leave this country house or renovate the bedroom wallpaper, her husband dismisses the ideas and speaks to her in an infantilizing manner that is sure to contribute to her worsening depression. Left only with the yellow wallpaper as a companion of sorts, she is swept into following the pattern on the walls and hyper-fixating on what she believes is a woman trapped behind the paper. While not a true horror in name, the author does an exceptional job of creating an atmosphere where you can physically feel the woman's pain overcome her, even though it is not physical.

As one of the first takes on feminism and reflection on a woman's inherent role in a marriage, we see a woman -- who is never named, but rather referred to as someone's possession or in relation to another. A child's mother. A doctor's wife. But never given a name of her own, perhaps to encompass any individual who may relate to her and allow themselves to place themself in her shoes. She is left virtually helpless in a room that feeds on her loneliness and desperation to be free of the confines of the yellow wallpaper, while anyone who could help her leave is actively keeping her in a house she so desperately wants to be free of.

The more she becomes infatuated with the wallpaper, the more she shows a fear or aversion to John, suggesting that as she continues to live this life as a wife or mother instead of simply her own person, she is trapped by the constraints of what society and her husband expect from her. She is left misunderstood despite being explicitly clear on her feelings about the very wallpaper that heads her spiral, very much reflecting how women have been and continue to be treated in society's view of a marriage. Ignoring the true root of the problem in favor of his own ideas of how to "cure" his wife, the husband is shown to think he is doing what he can to help her, but rather is the one to undo her even more.

The Yellow Wall-Paper remains relevant as ever as a commentary on mental health, marital roles and expectations, feminism, and individual identity. In less than one hundred pages, the author is able to depict so many ever-lasting issues that continue to affect today's society.

You can add The Yellow Wall-Paper on Goodreads now, as well as other works by the author.

You can catch up with me and my current reads by friending me on Goodreads and following this blog, my Twitter, and my Instagram in order to stay up-to-date with any reviews, blog tours, and more!