emery

my first batman media. he's interesting but i'm not hooked on him yet.

I received this book as an ARC from the author

I really really enjoyed this book! I thought it started a little slow which had me struggling to get super into it at the very beginning. Thankfully, it quickly caught my attention and I didn't want to put it down! I adored all of the characters and would honestly read books about every one of them on the crew. I thought the action was great and I did not guess any of the plot twist (although I'm not the best at that haha). Overall, there was very little I didn't like in this! 

I will say I'm not a fan of miscommunication so I was annoyed at the characters a lot but it didn't take much away from my enjoyment in the end! I definitely would recommend this.

I received this audiobook from NetGalley and Macmillan Audio.

Healer Anja makes a habit of drinking poison. Not to die, but to practice. Forever searching for cures where others have given up. Her peaceful days of herbs and experiments end abruptly when the King calls upon her. His beloved daughter, Snow, is fading fast, and he hopes Anja's peculiar talents might save her.

Armed with a grumpy guard, an unbearably vain cat, and her own relentless curiosity, Anja tries every remedy she knows. Nothing works, until a gleaming mirror reveals a secret world on the other side. But in this strange, enchanted realm, the cure Anja seeks may prove even more dangerous than the sickness itself.

This Snow White inspired fantasy/horror novel was an absolute delight to read! I'm already a big fan of T. Kingfisher and every new book I pick up makes me a bigger fan! This story was full of whimsy and fun while also having darker elements. 

Anja is a very likeable and relatable character who I really enjoyed reading about. Her one track mind when it comes to poisons and finding cures was really interesting. She felt like a complex, real person to me.

Of course, the cat was a star. Anytime there's an animal sidekick type character you know I'm going to love them. He brought some comic relief to an otherwise fairly depressing story about a princess slowly dying and trying to figure out how to save her. He added a good balance.

I listened to the audiobook for this and really liked the narrator as well! She brought the characters to life perfectly. Overall, this was a very fun read and I would definitely recommend if you enjoy fairytale retellings!

I received this book from NetGalley. 

I love a good haunted house story and anything queer so this book was right up my alley. This had twists I didn't see coming that had me genuinely gasping. There were so many moments that had my skin crawling it was so creepy but also heartwarming sweet moments as well. It had a really good balance of vibes. I highly recommend this one!

⋆˙⟡ 4 stars ⟡˙⋆

Sent by Publisher .ᐟ.ᐟ Peachtree Teen + NetGalley

PUB DATE .ᐟ.ᐟ June 2, 2026

☆ all ratings and opinions are my own ☆

➳ my thoughts:

the vibes of this book were perfect for me! im always a sucker for friends to lovers and this really delivered that. the slow burn tension of will they won't they is so enjoyable to read! the adventure itself was also very engaging and had me very nervous the whole time.

the characters were also so incredibly likeable to me. chloe was a very complex character who had many different sides to her. hyacinth grew a lot throughout the book and came into her own by the end. and coffee!! who doesn't love a mini dragon sidekick!

almost everything worked for me in this book. the beginning's pace was a little slow for my taste which is really the only reason this wasn't a 5 star read but it was still very good~ i would definitely recommend!

⤷ extra info:

⋆ quests

⋆ sapphic

⋆ friends to lovers

⋆ princess x lady knight/bodyguard vibes

⋆ fae / human