Book Review:: The Book of Lost Hours | Hayley Gelfuso

A big idea can change the world, for what is the world as we know it, but ideas? It starts small, inside the mind of one person, who grapples with it, tries to fully understand it, articulate it into words to share with another mind, who will poke and it, test it, expand it. Some of them wither and die under scrutiny, and others balloon with importance and have the power to change the world as we know it. Democracy. Germ theory. And in the case of The Book of Lost Hours, the manipulation of time.

The Book of Lost Hours by Hayley Gelfuso Book Cover

This book is a wonder. Any book about time is going to bend our ideas of a timeline, and this one plays with the strings of time beautifully, skillfully, coherently, it will have you enthralled. This is a page turning thriller with so much heart and intellectual stimulation it will grip you and not let go until the final dang sentence.

It’s also the kind of book with twists and turns and the simple joys of small discoveries. With that, I don’t want to spoil one detail of the plot for those of you who go on to read this, which I very much recommend you do. It is marketed as a mashup of The Ministry of Time and The Midnight Library and I could not come up with a better description of this impressive novel.

Hayley Gelfuso, you are a genius and I think I will pick up anything you put down. Also, what do you mean this is a debut novel. Masterful work. Thank you, sincerely, for writing this fascinating book.

Note:: I received an early copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Details

Title:: The Book of Lost Hours
Author:: Hayley Gelfuso
Genre:: Sci-Fi/Fantasy Romance
Publisher:: Atria Books
Length:: 400 pages
Audio Length:: 13h 41m
Audiobook Narrator:: Carlotta Brentan
Published:: August 26th, 2025
The Litertarian Rating:: 5-Stars



If you liked this book, check out…

The Ministry of Time | Kaliane Bradley (review coming soon)
The City in Glass | Nghi Vo
The Gravedigger’s Almanac | Oliver Potzsch

Book Review:: Rose in Chains | Julie Soto

An ancient prophecy, a school for magicians, a brutal war – written by popular author Julie Soto – Rose in Chains is a highly anticipated summer romantasy release. But for me, there wasn’t enough to justify a high rating. Like, literally not enough substance to hold onto. There are some spoilers included in my review, but looks like most of it is included in the promotional materials so do with that warning what you will. Continue at your own risk!

Rose in Chains by Julie Soto Book Cover

So there is a war between these two factions of people, but only kind of? There is a big battle in which the main character’s brother, who was prophesied to save them, is lost. Then everyone from that kingdom is captured and essentially sold to be sex slaves to boost the magic of the new regime who is this evil lady with vicious mind reading capabilities.

I just…don’t get it. Almost nothing actually happens in the book. There seems to be a lot of angst, and well earned, but it’s also largely just a bunch of orgy parties where some potentially useful information is traded…sometimes? Everything is shrouded in secrecy, which makes sense because of the mind reading…but still. We have almost no context of the war once Briony is in her new placement of what the war is, where it is, or why it is.

Instead we have flashbacks back to days at school where there were some interactions between the two lead characters, but still…seemed largely unnecessary? It was kind of a lot of flailing around by Briony while she tries to figure out why she is being treated differently than the other sex/magic drain slaves and what happened to her friends. The main concerns seem to be retaining Briony’s virginity and ability to sire children in some unknown future while everyone else seems to be ultra-focused on Toven’s de-flowering her and pulling in her magic.

There is heart magic and mind magic and they’re totally separate, but also, pretty much all the characters can dip into each of them? Eh. Interesting, but kind of muddly in the execution.

But seriously, why is every single review of this book 5 stars with exuberant praise? To me everything it tried to do was mediocre at best. Is the idea of this seriously brooding unknown guy being halfway decent and protective that much of a draw that it can make up for having almost no plot to speak of? Really? I thought we could do better than that at this point in the romantasy novel timeline. Guess it’s just me though.

I do like the cover, and the audiobook narrator did a great job, but this one just wasn’t for me.

Note:: I received an early copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Details

Title:: Rose in Chains (The Evermore Trilogy #1)
Author:: Julie Soto
Genre:: Romantasy
Publisher:: Forever
Length:: 464 pages
Audio Length:: 16h 1m
Audiobook Narrator:: Ella Lynch
Published:: July 8th, 2025
The Litertarian Rating:: 2.5-Stars (generously)



If you liked this book, check out…

Heartless Hunter | Kristin Ciccarelli
Our Infinite Fates | Laura Steven

Book Review:: All the Perfect Days | Michael Thompson

Every choice we make effects innumerable other choices in our lives. Some of them can change our trajectories entirely. It might not even feel like a big decision at the time – looking back it is sometimes the smallest things that trigger the biggest changes. For Charlie, a small-town doctor, it’s a lesson learned the hard way in All the Perfect Days, a new novel by Michael Thompson.

All the Perfect Days by Michael Thompson Book Cover

See, one day Charlie has an episode when he’s helping a patient. There’s nothing medically wrong with him, but it keeps happening. When one of his patients dies unexpectedly, he realizes what is happening to him. Though he isn’t sure yet if it is a blessing or a curse, he sees how many days a person has left to live.

It is one of the age-old questions, isn’t it? If you could find out when you were to die, would you want to know? The same idea is explored in another book I read this year by another Australian author, Here One Moment, by Liane Moriarty. As you can imagine, it’s not a straightforward answer. As Charlie struggles with this new ability, he’s forced to confront questions of morality, chance, trust, and honesty. When you know when it ends, will it change the decisions you make along the way?

I absolutely loved this novel. It is thoughtful and well-executed, showing all the sides of the cube. There are many implications and permutations of this phenomenon, each of them interesting and meaningful not just to the characters, but the way we think about our lives, all in a highly readable story.

Note:: I received an early copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Details

Title:: All the Perfect Days
Author:: Michael Thompson
Genre:: Contemporary Fiction
Publisher:: SOURCEBOOKS Landmark
Length:: 352 pages
Audio Length:: 9h 48m
Audiobook Narrator:: Ryan Ennis
Published:: May 21st, 2025
The Litertarian Rating:: 5-Stars



If you liked this book, check out…

The Last Love Note | Emma Grey
Wished | Sarah Ready
If I Were You | Cesca Major

Book Review:: Anji Kills A King | Evan Leikam

I have followed Evan’s IG profile @BookReviewsKill for a long time, appreciating his considered thoughts on not just modern popular books, but the full breadth of sci-fi and fantasy literature. His massive collection of tattered paperbacks and well-worn trade editions from the background of his older videos evoked an instant feeling of comradery with a fellow book lover. I was thrilled when he announced he had a book deal with Tor and would be coming out with his very own fantasy series, and so pleased when I saw a copy of the audiobook in my inbox for early review.

Long story short, I’m impressed.

Anji Kills A King by Evan Leikam Book Cover

The premise is self-described in the title. Anji, a servant in the king’s castle, kills him in the prologue. It becomes clear shortly after that she was not quite anticipating the wider implications of his death either for herself, or the greater realm. What follows is a reluctant journey she can’t escape.

I really loved Moira Quirk’s narration of this novel. Anji has a strong voice and it felt all the more powerful with the right narrator to do her justice.

The novel is relatively fast paced. I found it got a little meandering around the two thirds mark where I was craving something new, but I can’t disparage it much on pacing, as it gets going right away and the integrity of the writing itself maintains itself all the way through. The world building is far from overwhelming, giving only bits and spurts in a way that kept it interesting and intriguing.

Overall, this is a very strong debut, and after that ending, I am so interested to find out what happens next for Anji. Way to go Evan, this really lived up to the hype I was expecting.

Note:: I received an early copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Details

Title:: Anji Kills A King
Author:: Evan Leikam
Genre:: Fantasy
Publisher:: Tor
Length:: 368 pages
Audio Length:: 10h 36m
Audiobook Narrator:: Moira Quirk
Published:: May 13th, 2025
The Litertarian Rating:: 4-Stars



If you liked this book, check out…

The City in Glass | Nghi Vo
Divine Rivals | Rebecca Ross
Our Infinite Fates | Laura Steven

Book Review:: Our Infinite Fates | Laura Steven

What is the meaning of life when you know it is so fleeting? Is it worth it to love when you know it will always end? What would you do, to save yourself? To live?

They’ve loved each other in a thousand lifetimes. They’ve killed each other in every one.

Our Infinite Fates by Laura Steven Book Review

Evelyn (Eve-lynn) has never lived past the age of eighteen, though she’s lived hundreds of lifetimes. Always on or before her birthday, her ethereal rival, Arden, finds her and kills her, ending both of their current lifetimes. Moments later, they reincarnate in other bodies, in another part of the world. It happens again and again and it hurts every time. With only fuzzy memories of her many pasts, Evelyn wants, finally, to understand why Arden is so determined to kill her in every lifetime so she can finally put an end to it and just once, grow up.

Arden has gotten very good at disguising themselves, so Evelyn studies every face, every glance, every person near her age she can in hopes to find them before it’s too late. And this time? She’s determined to beg at least a few more days. Her beloved sister is dying – she needs a bone marrow transplant from Evelyn, who is her only match. She may have lived a thousand lifetimes, but she’s loved her family in every one, and she won’t let her die. She’s the only one who can save her.

This story is layered in complexity and meaning and has such a compelling premise. A tagline this good makes you want to find out more, and its design keeps you turning pages. We get to experience the few memories Evelyn has of her past lives, the pieces she’s sorting through to find clues as to Arden’s motivations to kill her, no matter what. Even in lifetimes they’ve been desperately in love, Arden will not let her live past their birthday. The contrast between the intrinsic love and the violence of murder is fascinating. As far as they know, Evelyn and Arden are the only ones in such a situation, reincarnating and remembering their past lives. It is just the two of them, in all their infinite fates.

Our Infinite Fates has been compared to The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by VE Schwab, one of my favorites, and I would agree. Both novels have the mercurial factor of an outside, unknown force just beyond their understanding pulling invisible strings. They’re both written by very skilled authors. I can only imagine how difficult it must be to weave a tale this intricate and vast. And both have endings that are just *chef’s kiss*

Absolutely five stars from me. Though I was gifted the audiobook (the narrator was amazing), I’ve preordered the hardcover as well because I’ll be reading this again, no question!

Note:: I received an early copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Details

Title:: Our Infinite Fates
Author:: Laura Steven
Genre:: Fantasy
Publisher:: Wednesday Books
Length:: 352 pages
Audio Length:: 11h 12m
Audiobook Narrator:: Sofia Oxenham
Audiobook Publisher:: Macmillan Audio
Published:: March 4th, 2025
The Litertarian Rating:: 5-Stars



If you liked this book, check out…

The City in Glass | Nghi Vo
The Familiar | Leigh Bardugo
Divine Rivals | Rebecca Ross
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue | VE Schwab

Reading Diary:: A Discovery of Witches | Deborah Harkness

My experience with A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness has been different to every other book I’ve read this year, or ever. For this reason, it doesn’t feel right to simply ‘review’ this book. Instead, I’m going to walk through my journey with it (so far). I have a feeling you other readers out there will be able to relate to something, at least, in this experience. We’re lovers of books and story, after all. But for those of you interested, yes, I gave this book five stars, no question.

It begins with…

Let’s start at the very beginning. I heard of this book when it was first popular. I even checked it out from the library, and after an incredibly long wait, I had couldn’t remember why I’d wanted to read it in the first place (I mean vampires? Really? Weren’t we passed that, as a culture?). Plus, as usual, I had a long list of other books on my list that I prioritized instead. After that, I had no intention of reading it. Ever.

and then…

Then the TV series came to Netflix in the US, and during Halloween season, too! My husband and I were looking for something new to watch, and that’s what we chose one night.

Holy crap.

Instantly I knew it was something I had to read. Not only did the story intrigue me, this ages old mystery and people who have been around through ancient history (this is what I’m always missing from other vampire tales. Oh you’re a hundred years old? Who cares. Two hundred? Snore. ONE THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED?! Now we’re talking…), and a girl with magic who refuses to embrace it, but I was so curious about the construction of the story itself. There are so many storylines depicted in the show, I wanted to see how it was translated from the book. Yeah, I’m a book nerd and a story geek and an aspiring writer who is desperate to soak up every quirk and detail I encounter.

I had to read it. So I ordered the paperback trilogy boxed set.

We finished the first season in a few days, and we started the first few episodes of season two before I decided to stop and catch up with the books before continuing.

It begins (again)…

A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness Book Cover

I tackled this thing armed with all of my tools of the trade. My copy of this book is underlined, highlighted, and page flagged to within an inch of its life. Because I already knew the plot of the story from the show, I was able to identify the details and ‘clues’ throughout the narrative that had to do with the primary conflict in one color, I used another color highlight for the romance details I liked, and a third for the magic/creatures details. I flagged every scene or micro-scene that felt important or extra meaningful.

In short, I savored it. Every word, every detail, every choice by the author.

There are some odd things about this story, from a structure point of view. It doesn’t follow a lot of the formulaic advice you heard incessantly in writing circles. It takes its time. It makes itself easy to savor. I loved it.

The story is built in layers, and though there are probably too many scenes with Matthew and Diana just sitting around talking about intense magical theory, all that information is needed by the reader and can be forgiven. It’s hard to tell if I’d have been so engaged with these sometimes-tedious conversations if I didn’t already have some understanding of where it all was leading already. I suspect it wouldn’t have been quite as enjoyable if I was reading it with no context, but it could easily be the opposite. That’s the thing about books vs adaptations. The only other time I’ve seen an adaptation before reading the books is with The Lord of the Rings, and Pride & Prejudice, and neither of those were as enjoyable to read after seeing them come to life so beautifully on screen (feel free to come at me in the comments). But if I watch something after reading the book, I usually enjoy it a great deal less.

As I said, I stopped watching the show after season two, episode two or three, so I’m actually changing my tactic going forward. I’m currently reading Shadow of Night (book two), and I’m about halfway through. I’m enjoying it just as much as A Discovery of Witches, but I’m feeling the lack of knowledge of what is coming next doubly, since I had that for book one. Such a strange experience!

So tell me — have you read this All Souls series? Have you seen the show? Have I intrigued you enough to pick it up?! Tell me all!

See ya next time!

Details

Title:: A Discovery of Witches (All Souls #1)
Author:: Deborah Harkness
Genre:: Paranormal Romance
Publisher:: Viking Penguin
Length:: 592 pages
Audio Length:: 23h 59m
Audiobook Narrator:: Jennifer Ikeda
Audiobook Publisher:: Penguin Audio
Published:: February 2011
The Litertarian Rating:: 5-Stars
Spice Rating:: 1

Linky Links!!

Goodreads
Author Website
Amazon Affiliate Links
[Hardcover] [Paperback] [eBook] [Audible]

[trilogy boxed set]

If you liked this book, check out…

The Familiar | Leigh Bardugo
Burn for Me | Ilona Andrews

Book Review:: Toto | A.J. Hackwith

You think you know what the yellow brick road will bring. You have no idea. When you live life through the eyes of a bad dog, it’s a whole new world.

Toto by A.J. Hackwith Book Cover

The Wizard of Oz is an American classic. Toto is a hilarious take on what is objectively a bat-shit crazy tale. I guess this takes my original assumption that the events in Oz were just a dream Dorothy has and tosses it out the window, but hey, at least it’s done well.

This book is funny. I know I already said that, but it’s really funny. Toto is sarcastic and spunky and vein and thinks of Dorothy as the one he’s training to be a good human and not the other way around. Toto’s internal dialogue is *chef’s kiss*.

I found it to be a much wider tale than the film. There is far more depth to it, and the scope is wider. There are wars, and rebellions, and pestilence. There are also some interesting character quirks that might give you an idea of the kind of shenanigans you might encounter in this tale. The wicked witch of the west, for example, is an avid crocheter.

I found it to be a nice escape, but I didn’t find it very emotionally interesting. I didn’t care overmuch about anything happening, and it took me awhile to get through. That being said, it is an excellent book. I laughed a great deal and was so impressed by the cleverness throughout. Well done, Hackwith!

Note: I received this from the publisher & netgalley in exchange for review.

Details

Title:: Toto
Author:: A.J. Hackwith
Genre:: Humor, Fantasy, Retelling
Publisher:: Berkley/Ace
Length:: 352 pages
Audio Length:: 10h 45m
Audiobook Narrator:: Andrew Santana
Audiobook Publisher:: Penguin Audio
Published:: November 12th, 2024
The Litertarian Rating:: 4-Stars

Linky Links!!

Goodreads
Author Website
Amazon Affiliate Links
[Paperback] [eBook] [Audible]

If you liked this book, check out…

Libby Lost and Found | Stephanie Booth
The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife | Anna Johnston

Book Review:: Heartless Hunter | Kristen Ciccarelli

The world is a dangerous place when you have to hide who you are from everyone. Especially when you throw yourself into danger in order to save others.

Heartless Hunter Kristen Ciccarelli Book Cover

Rune is a witch in a land that burns them. The kingdom once run by three witch sister queens has been taken over by a rebellion, and they’re hunting down every last witch to purge them. Rune, keeping her own powers carefully hidden behind a fashionista facade, is helping other witches escape the realm. To do the job better, she courts powerful men at court for information. When the witch she’s been looking for for years is captured, she takes the biggest risk yet and pursues the most dangerous man in the realm – her best friend’s brother, one of the most ruthless Blood Guard members. But there are other magical elements at play, and both Rune and Gideon have everything to lose.

If you’re looking for your next romantasy read, look no further. This one has every juicy element you’ll love. High stakes, heroes, (low spice) romance, twists, risks, secrets, and lore. There’s a reason it’s so popular!

The whole thing is structured so well from the beginning – Gideon and Rune both have reasons that make the courtship, though highly unlikely, inevitable. Neither one of them are stupid or insufferable, but they come at life with strong biases that compel their actions in ways that make perfect sense for their character while continuing to complicate the story.

The least likely element of the story, to me, were everyone’s ages, lol. I mean, every character is so young! New Adult, for sure.

I am dying to read the next book, which comes out in February. If you’re impatient, you might want to add this to your 2025 TBR ๐Ÿ˜‰

Details

Title:: Heartless Hunter (The Crimson Moth #1)
Author:: Kristen Ciccarelli
Genre:: Fantasy
Publisher:: Wednesday Books
Length:: 416 pages
Audio Length:: 12h 8m
Audiobook Narrator:: Grace Gray
Audiobook Publisher:: Listening Library
Published:: February 20, 2024
The Litertarian Rating:: 5-Stars

Linky Links!!

Goodreads
Author Website
Amazon Affiliate Links
[Hardcover] [eBook] [Audible]

If you liked this book, check out…

Divine Rivals | Rebecca Ross
Burn for Me | Ilona Andrews

Book Review:: The Haunting of Maddy Clare | Simone St. James

What a perfect read for spooky season-a historical ghost story mystery, The Haunting of Maddy Clare.

The Haunting of Maddy Clare Simone St. James Book Cover. A decrepit barn with the sun setting behind it and a murder of crows surrounding it.

Ms. Sarah Piper is recruited by an eccentric world war veteran needing an assistant for his latest project: hunting a ghost who’s been haunting an old barn. He’s an academic writer searching for solid proof of the otherworldly, and Sarah rapidly agrees. The spirit is very much alive, and vengeful, especially of men. Sarah turns into an integral part of the investigation into what happened to Maddy Clare, and how they might be able to help her spirit settle.

What is there not to love about this book? Okay, the subject matter is pretty dark. Maddy Clare was horrifically traumatized before she died, and that subject matter is very heavy. I feel like it was brought to justice in the end though, which helps to pacify the discomfort of reading about such difficult events.

I loved the mid-century setting, the ghost hunting characters being respectable (albeit damaged) gentlemen, the supernatural phenomena, the ongoing mystery, and the slow burning romance that simmers beneath it all. I ate it up. I can see myself returning to this book every fall in the future. What a way to set the tone for the season!

What is your favorite ghostly mystery book?

Details

Title:: The Haunting of Maddy Clare
Author:: Simone St. James
Genre:: Historical Ghost Mystery
Publisher:: Berkley
Length:: 318 pages
Audio Length:: 9h 45m
Audiobook Narrator:: Billie Fulford-Brown
Audiobook Publisher:: Penguin Audio
Published:: October 4th, 2022
The Litertarian Rating:: #-Stars
Spice Rating:: 2.5?

Linky Links!!

Goodreads
Author Website
Amazon Affiliate Links
[Paperback] [eBook] [Audible]

If you liked this book, check out…

Haunted Ever After | Jen DeLuca (ghost story rom-com)
Every Moment Since | Marybeth Mayhew Whalen (murder mystery)
The Truth About the Devlins | Lisa Scottoline (murder mystery)

Book Review:: What the River Knows | Isabel Ibanez

When a book lists The Mummy as a comp in the blurb, you know your girl’s gonna pick it up. That’s as far as I got in the description (I love going in blind), and it was everything I’d hoped and more. There is something so intriguing about ancient Egypt, and when you add a touch of actual magic, you get What the River Knows.

What the River Knows Isabel Ibanez Book Cover

Young Argentinian Inez Olivera’s parents spend half of every year in Egypt, working alongside and funding archeological digs there. They’ve never let Inez make the treacherous journey so far across the globe with them, but when Inez receives a letter that the two of them have been lost in the sands of the desert, she sneaks away from her family in Buenos Aires and steals away to Egypt to meet her uncle, who worked with them there. Inez is determined to find out the truth of what happened to her parents, their lives in Egypt, and whatever she can about the magic ring her father secretly sent to her before he died. Between her tight-lipped uncle who tries to push her onto an Argentina-bound boat every chance he gets, and his handsome rogue ‘aide’ he sets to mind her the rest of the time, Inez has to scheme to find out the secrets her parents kept from her, and the rest of the world. Meanwhile, her uncle is in a race to discover the tomb of Cleopatra before his biggest rival, and the ring Inez’ father sent her might just be the key he needs to do it.

This book is a grand adventure with stakes that reliably rise ever higher the whole time, down to the last line (which had my jaw on the floor). It reads like nineteenth century historical fiction, if there were magic rings, and magic sandals, and magic neckties back then. I absolutely loved the tangled webs of secrets and lies that build and build and leave you wondering if what you think you know is the truth, or just another deception. It was seriously compelling, but the pacing was maybe slower than some readers might prefer. Inez takes time to describe the things around her, which adds to the complexity of the world and gives the novel a rich, complete flavor.

The best part, perhaps, is our heroine. Inez is a spunky, resourceful woman in a time when those of her gender had very little power, if any at all. A book like this doesn’t work well with weak or arrogant main characters, and luckily, Ibanez gives us a smart, cunning woman we can trust to act rationally with the information she has. With so many trying to hide their truths from her, anything less would have been torturous to endure.

Did I mention the will-they-won’t-they slow burn forbidden romance plotline? Inez and Whittford Hayes, her uncle’s ‘aide’, are undeniably attracted to one another, but life isn’t that easy, and when she doesn’t know who she can trust, the tension is utterly delicious. Every little moment that betrayed their feelings I ate up with relish, including probably the shortest chapter I’ve ever seen:

Bloody hell.

Whit

I consumed this story as an audiobook narrated by Ana Osorio & Ahmed Hamad. Ana, especially, impressed me. There are several accents to juggle, and in general she handled it gracefully. It was a real pleasure to listen to.

The worst part? Having to wait until November for the sequel. The ending has you begging for what happens next. Masterful storytelling, honestly — and I cannot wait for more! So if you’re looking for a little more mystery and adventure in your life, What the River Knows will certainly scratch that itch.

Details

Title:: What the River Knows (Secrets of the Nile, #1)
Author:: Isabel Ibanez
Genre:: Historical Fantasy
Publisher:: Wednesday Books
Length:: 404 pages
Audio Length:: 16h 36m
Audiobook Narrator:: Ahmed Hamad & Ana Osorio
Audiobook Publisher:: Macmillan Audio
Published:: October 31st, 2023
The Litertarian Rating:: 5-Stars

Linky Links!!

Goodreads
Author Website
Amazon Affiliate Links
[Hardcover] [Paperback] [eBook] [Audible]

If you liked this book, check out…

Divine Rivals | Rebecca Ross
Ruthless Vows | Rebecca Ross