betterwithabookinmyhand's reviews
467 reviews

The Otherwhere Post by Emily J. Taylor

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

I have not been THIS into a book in a while so hold on tight!

Thank you PenguinTeen for the ARC of this book—I couldn’t put it down!

The Otherwhere Post is near flawless in my book. The writing was beautiful. I felt spellbound by some of the lines in this story. They really captured my heart and served to further lure me into this story.

Maeve, our MC, reminds me of some of my favorite morally gray characters. It wasn’t until I finished the book that I realized she reminds me of Lila Bard from A Darker Shade of Magic mixed with a little of the arcane magic from this new world.

This story is a must read, my new rec, a top 10 favorite book of I’ve read this year, and I can’t wait until its release day to continue to shout its praises! February 25, 2025! Mark your calendar!!

After the Forest by Kell Woods

dark mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

This was a really interesting take on Grimm’s Fairytale of Hansel and Gretel. What I appreciate about adult fantasy is it’s not afraid to go dark or put characters in real danger. Around halfway through the character was about to get pretty predictable and then they made a decision that just changed the plot in a fascinating way. I really appreciated the eerieness to the talking grimoire and the range of believable villains, not just one big evil character to battle with. 

What Have You Done? by Shari Lapena

challenging dark emotional lighthearted sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Lore of the Wilds by Analeigh Sbrana

adventurous hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

I’ve got a lot of love for this book! Not only do I have so much love and respect for the author, a fellow reader now published writer, but this debut ticks a lot of boxes! 

Romance 
Fae
Love of books
Cool magic 
Interesting worldbuilding 
Characters you care for

I’m glad the twist happened at the end because I needed a reason to be swayed in the romance, and now I am! Can’t wait for book 2!

This Cursed House by Del Sandeen

emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

Something in the Water by Catherine Steadman

adventurous challenging mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

The Honey Witch by Sydney J. Shields

emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.0

Your Blood, My Bones by Kelly Andrew

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Wrong Place Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister

mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

The premise of the book really drew me in and kept my interest throughout the book. I didn’t foresee many of the reveals and I felt nearly as surprised as the MC as she uncovered more layers to the mystery. 

This is one I’d recommend to those who like a good mystery and are looking for a different plot than they’ve read before.

Salt Houses by Hala Alyan

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

A heartwrenching read, beautiful and reflective.