Cyn's Workshop

What happens when a scatterbrained witch accidentally summons a ridiculously attractive demon? Apparently, you get a quirky, magical romance that's perfect for fall! 🍂🔮 Today I'm reviewing The Witch Fix by Kennedy Rhodes, a fun, witchy paranormal romance filled with magical mishaps, a charming demon love interest, and a little supernatural chaos. Meet Ava, a witch who runs a coffee shop, struggl...

September was another slower reading month, but you know what? I'm perfectly okay with that! 📚✨ Between writing my next book, working through another round of manuscript edits, and juggling everyday life, I finished 10 books this September. And while I didn't read as much as I originally hoped, I discovered some incredible stories along the way! This month was packed with fantasy, romantasy, dys...

Today I’m reviewing An Education in Malice by S. T. Gibson, and this book was absolutely intoxicating. 🩸🥀 Give me sapphic vampires, dark academia, obsession, and a Carmilla-inspired story, and apparently I am very easy to please. Set within the insular world of academia, An Education in Malice delivers a sensual, gothic atmosphere alongside its complicated relationships and vampiric elements. Bu...

Today I’m reviewing The Lure of Wolves and Whispers, and this fantasy completely surprised me! 🐺🖤 What initially feels like a familiar deadly-competition story quickly becomes something much bigger, with rebellion, dangerous trials, political intrigue, family, betrayal, and plenty of romantic tension. At the center of the story is Maeve, who enters the competition not because she dreams of winni...

Today I’m reviewing Blood Over Bright Haven by M. L. Wang, and I genuinely have no notes. This book was incredible. It gave me everything I want from fantasy: compelling characters, fascinating worldbuilding, a unique magic system, and themes that gave me so much to think about long after I finished reading. One of my favorite aspects is the way science, physics, mathematics, and magic work togeth...

Today I’m reviewing A Feather So Black by Lyra Selene, and this was one of those fantasy books that completely consumed me. I was physically reading it whenever I could—and switching to the audiobook whenever life forced me to put the book down. 🖤🦢 Blending fae mythology with Swan Maiden folklore and shades of The Swan Princess and The Twelve Dancing Princesses, the story follows Fia as she vent...

Today I’m reviewing Missing Girls and Lost Boys by H. Elliott, a dark reimagining of Peter Pan that takes the familiar story of missing children and transforms it into something much more sinister. 🔪🖤 This one plays with the mythology of Peter Pan, Wendy, the Lost Boys, and Neverland through a darker lens, blending fantasy with mystery and horror elements. Instead of the whimsical Neverland we g...

August did not go according to my TBR plans. 😅 I went into the month with another wildly ambitious reading goal and finished 10 books—but surprisingly, it wasn’t because I was reading bad books. Between reader fatigue, everyday life, and getting completely sucked back into writing my own books, reading time kept turning into writing time. And despite reading less, August gave me some fantastic bo...

Today I’m reviewing Umbra by Catalina Matei, a dark fantasy romance and the first book in the Echoes of Fate series. 🌑✨ Released August 27, 2026, Umbra kicks off a brand-new fantasy series blending dark fantasy and romance as Matei begins building the world, characters, and larger story that will carry through Echoes of Fate. 🎧 Tune in for my spoiler-free review as I share my thoughts on the ch...

Today I’m reviewing It’s About Time by Carol J. Perry, the first book in the Wicked Salem Mystery series and a spin-off of her popular Witch City Mysteries. 🔮⏰ Published June 30, 2026, this new series brings us back to Salem for another dose of cozy mystery goodness, blending murder, mystery, and Perry’s signature witchy New England atmosphere. As the start of a brand-new series, it’s also an op...

Today I’m reviewing When Flowers Wilt by G.E. Masters, the first book in the Deal with the Devil duet—a sapphic paranormal romance that brings supernatural intrigue and romance together in one seductive story. As the beginning of a duet, When Flowers Wilt sets the stage for a larger story while developing its central sapphic romance and paranormal elements. And with a title like Deal with the Devi...

Today I’m reviewing Shadow Reaper, a dark fantasy adventure packed with dangerous magic, secrets, and a world where survival comes with a price. 🎧 Tune in for my spoiler-free thoughts as I break down the characters, worldbuilding, pacing, and fantasy elements, along with what worked for me, what didn’t quite land, and whether Shadow Reaper deserves a spot on your TBR. Follow on Spotify for more f...

Today I’m reviewing We Are Legion (We Are Bob) by Dennis E. Taylor, the first book in the Bobiverse series—a sci-fi adventure that combines artificial intelligence, space exploration, existential questions, and a wonderfully nerdy sense of humor. After Bob Johansson dies and wakes up more than a century later as a computerized consciousness, he discovers he’s now the property of a government prepa...

Today I’m reviewing Heir by Sabaa Tahir, the first book in a new duology set in the world of the An Ember in the Ashes series. Returning to this world means returning to its complicated politics, dangerous power struggles, and characters forced to reckon with the consequences of the generations that came before them. Heir expands the universe while introducing a new generation of characters whose...

It’s time for my July Reading Wrap-Up! 📚 After June’s reading fatigue hit me hard, July was all about getting back into the groove, tackling my TBR, and—because apparently I enjoy giving myself impossible challenges—trying to make a dent in another wildly ambitious reading goal. This month brought 14 books across fantasy, science fiction, romance, horror, and more, with everything from surprising...

Today I’m reviewing Vicious Miscreations by Jenn Neal, the first book in The Fractured Worlds series—a New Adult dark urban fantasy pitched as Six of Crows meets Arcane, with one particularly deadly twist: the plants can kill you. 🌿💀 Set in a treacherous world overrun by sentient carnivorous plants, Vicious Miscreations blends dark fantasy, urban atmosphere, and botanical horror into a dangerous...

Today I’m reviewing The Secret Astronomers by Jessica Walker—a visually striking YA novel that turns an old astronomy textbook into the heart of an intimate story about connection, identity, and finding someone who understands you. Set in rural West Virginia, the novel follows two high school pen pals who communicate through notes, drawings, and artwork left inside an 1888 astronomy textbook. Rath...

Today I’m reviewing A Ballad of Falling Dragons by Sarah A. Parker, the highly anticipated sequel to When the Moon Hatched—and while I didn’t love it quite as much as the first book, that second half absolutely delivered. This sequel flips the balance of its predecessor. The first half leans much more heavily into the romantasy side of Raeve and Kaan’s relationship, and while I love these characte...

Today I’m reviewing Local Heavens—a bold cyberpunk reimagining of The Great Gatsby that captures the heart of the original while transforming it into something entirely fresh. Set in a neon-lit futuristic world, this novel expertly blends classic literary themes with cyberpunk aesthetics, exploring wealth, obsession, identity, and the illusion of the American Dream through a queer lens. It honors...

Today I’m reviewing Every Exquisite Thing by Laura Steven—a stunning YA fantasy that reimagines The Picture of Dorian Gray with emotional depth, unforgettable characters, and a story that feels both timeless and incredibly relevant. This novel masterfully balances dark academia, gothic atmosphere, and heartfelt character development while exploring identity, beauty, self-worth, and the pressure to...

Today I’m reviewing Of Flame and Fury—a unique fantasy that swaps dragons for phoenixes, delivering an action-packed story filled with rivalry, political intrigue, and breathtaking aerial races. Set in a world where phoenixes are both revered and exploited, the novel blends fast-paced adventure with emotional stakes, exploring loyalty, corruption, and the bond between humans and these legendary cr...

Today I’m reviewing The Escape Game by Marissa Meyer—a fast-paced YA mystery that completely pulled me in from start to finish. Set against the backdrop of a competitive escape room show, the story combines puzzles, secrets, and murder into an addictive mystery that kept me guessing until the very end. Every clue matters, every revelation changes the game, and the twists just keep coming. What I l...

Today I’m reviewing The Demonic Inventions of Aurelie Blake by Mara Rutherford—a clever and imaginative fantasy that asks a terrifying question: what if every act of innovation unleashed a demon into the world? Set in a society where invention is both feared and necessary, this story combines unique worldbuilding, witty banter, and compelling characters with a magical system unlike anything I’ve r...

Today I’m reviewing The Flame in the Frost—a fantasy romance that blends Norse mythology, fae politics, and a deliciously slow-burn romance into a surprisingly immersive adventure. Set in a world of Seelie and Unseelie courts, wild fae, and ancient mythological influences, this story stood out for its rich worldbuilding, compelling character dynamics, and the way it slowly develops both its plot a...

Today I’m reviewing Voidwalker—a dark fantasy packed with dangerous magic, high-stakes adventure, and secrets lurking beyond the edges of reality. Blending action, mystery, and supernatural intrigue, this story explores what happens when immense power comes at an equally immense cost. As the protagonist is drawn deeper into a conflict shaped by ancient forces and hidden truths, the stakes continue...