Curated by Jen Moyers (@jen.loves.books)
Today, I'm sharing reviews of books that are perfect for the season! I've picked a few fall books, a vampire tale, and some great, witchy reads.
For each book, I'll share an excerpt from a full review written by one of us—you can click the links to dive deeper into each book. If you decide to purchase any of the books, our affiliate links to Bookshop.org and Libro.fm are in the full reviews. We earn a small commission if you shop through those links, and we truly appreciate your support!
Okay, on with the books!
"Those of you who follow me know that I love a new version of a classic, and I’m particularly a sucker for a Jane Eyre retelling, so when I saw that there was a Jane Eyre retelling set in Ethiopia with a fantasy twist, I requested it immediately. Wow, did Lauren Blackwood’s Within These Wicked Walls satisfy my every hope and expectation!
"This book does what the best retellings do: it takes its source material as inspiration and then spins out a new story and a new world. Here, the Jane character is Andromeda, a debtera—a type of exorcist—who can cleanse homes of the Evil Eye. In desperate straits after her mentor cast her out, Andromeda takes on a job at which ten other debteras have failed. She’s employed by the mysterious Magnus Rochester who lives in near-solitude at the far end of a desolate desert. All but a few servants and the nanny who raised him have abandoned him, apparently scared away by the curse no one can defeat." Click to read the full review.
"This exposition provides the framework for an interesting story that examines and comments on current events as well as the events of the past. My favorite part of the book is Jane. She is strong, fierce, and unapologetic about her actions. I most appreciate the attention the author pays to let the reader know that while Jane is fighting for the "good" side, she also is not this perfect and "all good" iteration of a female lead character. She is human and therefore makes decisions that could be viewed as self-serving (don't we all!) and rash. She is dynamic and nuanced and fantastic." Click to read the full review.
Shea Ernshaw's WINTERWOOD (from Jen):
"Winterwood is just phenomenal. Shea Ernshaw beautifully builds a novel that feels like a dark fairytale, and I loved the line she draws between 'the legends [Nora] know[s] to be true' and the stories the boys and townspeople tell, which 'are lies. Born from fear and spite, not from history' (loc. 475). The legitimacy of Nora’s family story, which is centered on women, and the defiance of the norms the town tries to force upon them are supremely empowering. At one point, Nora declares, 'My family is older than witches. . . . Older than the word itself' (loc. 1330). Oliver and Nora each have a loneliness, an emptiness, that draws them together, though they have a hard time overcoming their mutual mistrust. Their earnest attempts to take a risk and be vulnerable to each other are moving, even while both make it clear why it might seem safer not to let down the walls they’ve used for protection." Click to read the full review.
Sangu Mandanna's THE VERY SECRET SOCIETY OF IRREGULAR WITCHES - Finding an Unlikely Home (from Ashley):
"I absolutely loved everything about this story that centers found family and embracing who you truly are. There is so much exploration of what it costs to pretend to be different than you are so that society is more comfortable with you, and we learn with Mika how powerful it is to find people who accept you as you are.
"This book is beautiful, hopeful, and full of surprises, and I was completely enthralled! I listened to it on audio, and the audiobook is phenomenal. It is an enchanting story, and I'm sure it will be one of my favorites from this year. I will definitely be reading more by Sangu Mandanna soon!" Click to read the full review.
"Another strong point of the novel is the setting. Willow Hall is steeped in mystery, and as Lydia is learning and discovering herself and her powers, Willow Hall provides a creepy, mysterious backdrop. The story is set in 1821 only a few years after the last of the Salem witch trial hangings, so that added an element of intrigue to the book.
"I also enjoyed the love triangle that Lydia is involved in and observing Catherine's coyness and cunning with the men in her life. The addition of the love stories gives the novel a bit of a traditional romance book feel, but because there are some heavier moments in the novel, the love component gives the reader something familiar to root for." Click to read the full review.
(A note to our readers: click on the hashtags above to see our other blog posts with the same hashtag.)
Interested in what else we're reading? Check out our Featured Books page.
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