Cyn's Workshop

Today I’m reviewing The Deep Well—a horror novel that feels like something Stephen King might’ve written early in his career: moody, character-focused, and more interested in unease than cheap scares. The story takes its time getting started, but the slow burn pays off with solid character development and an atmosphere that steadily tightens as the mystery deepens. There’s also a small but meaning...

Today I’m reviewing She Gets the Girl and its sequel novella Joy to the Girls—a contemporary YA sapphic romance duology that’s heartfelt, charming, and emotionally grounded. At the center are two compelling leads: Alex, who is navigating life with an alcoholic mother and the weight that comes with it, and Molly, a thoughtful introvert grappling with connecting to her Korean heritage. Their relatio...

Today I’m reviewing A Treachery of Swans—a sapphic fantasy retelling that blends The Swan Princess with subtle Goose Girl allusions, layered in magic, political intrigue, and constant misdirection. At the heart of the story is Odile, a main character who kept me second-guessing everything. Clever, guarded, and never fully transparent, she makes the narrative feel like a chess match where every mov...

Today I’m reviewing House of Hearts — a moody dark academia novel set in a haunted private school, steeped in family curses, soulmates, and lingering ghosts. The atmosphere is rich, the premise compelling, and the gothic vibes are absolutely doing the work here. The story shines in its eerie setting and emotional stakes, especially when it leans into the haunted-house energy and the weight of inhe...

Today I’m reviewing Guardians of Dawn: Yuli—a fun, charming fantasy that feels like classic magical girl energy meets Korean-inspired fairy-tale retellings. Think Sailor Moon and Cardcaptor Sakura vibes, blended with a fresh take on stories like Little Red Riding Hood. Yuli instantly stands out as a protagonist: fiery in spirit, bold in personality, and perfectly matched with her flame-red hair. T...

Today I’m reviewing A Fate So Cold by Amanda Foody and C.L. Herman — a breathtaking fantasy filled with rich magic, sharp character dynamics, and twists that hit harder than expected. I absolutely loved this book from start to finish. The worldbuilding is immersive, the pacing tight, and the emotional tension keeps building until that final moment — and that ending? Completely jaw-dropping. One of...

Today I’m reviewing Girl, Goddess, Queen — a beautifully written retelling of the Hades and Persephone myth that delivers romance, depth, and layered mythology on every page. This novel shines with its immersive worldbuilding, powerful character dynamics, and a fresh take on a classic story. From start to finish, I loved every minute — it’s lush, emotional, and absolutely stunning as a modern myth...

In this episode, I’m breaking down my November reading wrap-up: 14 books out of my 20-book goal. From standout favorites to surprising disappointments, I’m recapping everything I read this month and sharing quick thoughts on each title. Whether you’re looking for new recommendations, curious how the month shaped up, or just love a good reading recap, this episode offers a fast, spoiler-free overvi...

Today I’m reviewing The Rebel and the Rose by Catherine Doyle — a sweeping historical romantasy full of political tension, forbidden loyalties, and a romance that burns slow, sharp, and absolutely worth the payoff. With revolution simmering, royal secrets unraveling, and stakes that rise with every chapter, this book delivers drama, emotion, and danger in equal measure. Doyle builds a world where...

Today I’m reviewing Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire — a tiny book with impossible emotional weight. It’s short, sharp, gorgeously imaginative, and somehow shatters you in under 200 pages. McGuire takes the classic portal-fantasy idea and flips it on its head, exploring what happens after kids return from magical worlds — and how heartbreakingly hard it is to come back to a reality that no...

Today I’m reviewing Sky on Fire by E.K. Johnston — a short and fast-paced space opera with great characters, strong representation of asexuality, and a found-family crew you can’t help but root for. The story balances quiet emotional moments with interstellar stakes, delivering meaningful ace rep without making it the whole plot — something YA sci-fi desperately needs more of. The writing can be a...

Today I’m reviewing The Devils by Joe Abercrombie — a brutal, bloody, and brutally fun return to grimdark fantasy. This novel is peak Abercrombie: razor-sharp dialogue, characters who are morally feral in the best way, and a world where loyalty is a gamble and survival depends on how efficiently you can betray someone. Following a group of chaotic mercenaries with shifting motives and sharper swor...

Today I’m reviewing How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix — a horror novel that’s equal parts hilarious, heartfelt, and deeply creepy. Hendrix blends camp with genuine emotional storytelling in a way only he can, creating a haunted-house narrative that’s as funny as it is unsettling. With family drama, sibling rivalry, puppets (yes, puppets), and grief wrapped in ghostly chaos, this book pr...

Today I’m reviewing Alchemised — a provocative, emotionally heavy dark fantasy that marks a dramatic shift away from the author’s previous work and into a world far closer to The Handmaid’s Tale than Hogwarts. This story delivers alchemy, power, and rebellion wrapped inside a narrative about control, bodily autonomy, and what happens when a system tries to break women until they become useful — or...

Today I’m reviewing If Looks Could Kill by Julie Berry — a razor-sharp, genre-bending YA thriller where ancient myth crashes into Victorian murder. This dark reimagining pits Medusa — the girl turned monster — against none other than Jack the Ripper, flipping the narrative on who is truly monstrous. Smart, subversive, and addictively plotted, this book blends feminist myth-retelling with historica...

Today I’m reviewing Hour of the Pumpkin Queen — a perfectly autumnal blend of cozy horror and slow-build suspense, wrapped in folklore, fall aesthetics, and that creeping dread that sneaks up on you chapter by chapter. With its rich seasonal atmosphere, eerie tension, and a heroine trapped between tradition and terror, this book hits that sweet spot between comforting and unsettling. If you live f...

Today I’m reviewing Starling House by Alix E. Harrow — a lush, atmospheric Southern Gothic that wraps you in creeping dread, decaying beauty, and the kind of secrets that burrow under your skin. This novel gives us cursed towns, uncanny inheritances, morally gray choices, and a house that feels as alive as any character on the page. If you love haunted atmospheres, folklore twisted through a moder...

Today I’m reviewing Deadly Ever After by Brittany Johnson — a sinister take on the classic fairytale vibe where love, danger, and dark secrets collide. Trapped in a world between life and death two princesses must traverse the dangers,m and find their inner strength if they plan on. surviving their return and solving one princesses murder. If you like morally gray characters, dark romantic plots,...

Today I’m reviewing The Moss by Lisa Lueddecke—a beautifully written, atmospheric fantasy that blends folklore, mystery, and emotion into one haunting story. Set in a world where the land itself feels alive, The Moss explores grief, belonging, and the unbreakable ties between people and the places they call home. With Lueddecke’s signature lyrical prose and slow-burn tension, this novel delivers a...

Today I’m reviewing Girls Who Play Dead by Joelle Wellington—a pulse-pounding YA thriller that’s as chilling as it is empowering. This novel dives deep into the world of true crime obsession, exploring how society glamorizes violence against women while silencing their stories. With sharp writing, unflinching tension, and a heroine who refuses to stay a victim, Girls Who Play Dead is both a grippi...

Today I’m reviewing Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir—an unforgettable sci-fi adventure that blends high-stakes survival, ingenious problem-solving, and a surprisingly emotional story about connection. Following Ryland Grace, a lone astronaut who wakes up light-years from Earth with no memory of how he got there, this novel is equal parts thrilling and heartfelt. Between the razor-sharp science and o...

Today I’m reviewing a romcom that’s as moving as it is hilarious. The story follows a beauty pageant queen with big dreams of becoming a horror movie star—while also dealing with the chaos of undiagnosed ADHD. What makes this book shine is its perfect balance of comedy, vulnerability, and heart. It’s funny, emotional, and authentic—exploring identity, ambition, and self-acceptance in a way that fe...

Today I’m reviewing Moth Dark—a mesmerizing urban fantasy that weaves magic, memory, and mystery into a modern setting. Instead of faraway kingdoms or ancient legends, this story unfolds in our own world, where the ordinary collides with the extraordinary and shadows blur the lines of reality. With its gritty urban atmosphere, haunting twists, and themes of time and identity, Moth Dark feels both...

Today I’m reviewing Make Me A Monster—a dark, atmospheric novel that hooked me from the dedication and never let go. With its gothic setting, unpredictable twists, and exploration of grief and identity, this story had me on the edge of my seat. Equal parts haunting and beautiful, it’s perfect for fans of Mary Shelley and Edgar Allan Poe, and a must-read if you love novels that weave together famil...

Today we’re reviewing The Knight and the Moth—a haunting, atmospheric fantasy that blends mystery, romance, and darkness in all the best ways. With its lyrical prose, morally complex characters, and themes of sacrifice and survival, this novel kept me hooked from start to finish. If you’re drawn to gothic fantasy, tragic heroes, and stories where beauty collides with horror, The Knight and the Mot...